It's a Fave Rave!

It's Tuesday--I like to think of it as a Tell-All Tuesday. Since my birthday was last week, a lot of people have been asking what I'd like as gifts and what some of my favorite things are. It's hard to be put on the spot and say, "Oh hey, I love this/that!" So, I sat and thought about it for awhile, and here goes:

What is your favorite book?

Please, that's like asking me to pick a favorite child! But I'm currently reading this:

The Unfinished Garden by Barbara Claypole White

and this:

Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster

What is your favorite song?

Uh, duh. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield.

What is your favorite color?

I love the combination of Purple & Silver--so elegant!

What is your favorite destination?

I'm going to drag my husband back to Oaxaca some day. I love traipsing around in the mountains & the  ruins. :)

What is your favorite memory?

Christmas the year I was in second grade. I didn't know it then, but we were given presents from the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, & the church. I remember it as the year my teacher came for Christmas.

What is your favorite TV show?

Any show involving the acronym: NCIS

The cast of NCIS

What is your favorite movie?

Simply Irresistible. It's a little known film starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, but I watch that thing all the time--I wore out a DVD and had to get another copy! Truthfully, the movie isn't that great, but I love it. Probably because the protagonist is a total klutz that leaves all her emotions on the table and I can relate to that.

buy it here: Simply Irresistible

What is your favorite food?

I love food. Especially anything that is made with chocolate. Yum!

What is your favorite dessert?

Amazingly, as much as I crave chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, my favorite dessert is Cheesecake. Like this absolutely fabulous one made for me by Vinny D's stepdad. It was heaven from a spring form pan.

What is your favorite treat?

Since moving back to  NW Iowa, I am suffering a deficiency of Starbuck's mocha's and Sonic Cherry-Limeade slushies.

What is your favorite car?

Mercedes. Benz. E550. Cabriolet.

Some day you will be mine, my pretty...

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

This totally goes against my love of classic, preppy clothing, but I love tank tops. I have sleeve issues, so I wear a tank top almost everyday--hey the layered look is in!

Snag this super cute cowl neck UofM tank top from Meesh & Mia here.

What is your favorite fashion accessory?

Earrings. As much as my husband hates them, I love dangly earrings.

What is your favorite perfume?

Right now I'm in love with Coach Poppy & Poppy Flower

Thanks txnpolarbear for the Christmas gift!

What is your favorite leisure activity?

Reading. Uh, duh.

Who is your favorite author?

It's a three-way tie between Nicholas Sparks, Susan Elizabeth Phillips & Kristin Hannah

Who is your favorite actor/actress?

Actor:

That's another tough one, but I'm a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds.

Actress:

I'm really into Kristen Bell right now.

Who is your favorite singer?

I love the soulful sound of Adele's voice.

Who is your role model?

Easy.

My mother, by far. The courage it took to leave her home (pregnant with me!) and travel around the world to start a new life--amazing. I have issues picking up the phone if I know I'll have to talk to a live person.

Where is your favorite place to be?

Fully engulfed in a cozy blanket and a good book. Bonus points if my husband is nearby. Double bonus points if he's reading, too!

These are the things that make my heart and soul happy. Some mentally, some spiritually, and some purely superficially. What are some of your favorite things?

Another Year Wiser?

So ... today is my birthday. As the saying goes, I'm another year older and another year wiser. But am I really? Wiser, that is? I've said countless times (and will continue to say) that time flies when you're chasing around a family. I'm not quite sure where my last year disappeared to.

It's me!

But, today is my day. The one day a year that is dedicated to me

(and Pi and Potato Chips, but I digress).

It's the day that I get to sit and think about the things I've done, the ones I'm doing right now, and the stuff I want to do in the future.

Like the stuff on my Pinterest bucket list.

And also I think about random stuff like this:

(Because, honestly, I wouldn't really be me if I didn't think random thoughts.)

1.) What do you think is your biggest flaw? What have you done about it?

     I have awful social anxiety, and it seems the older I get--the worse it gets. I do a lot of deep breathing (wooosaaahhh) exercises, and during the worst of scenarios I hide behind my husband. The man can be an ass, but there are times when he uses that to stick up for me. <3 font="">

2.) If you could change your name, what would your new name be?

   Growing up named Lamphone in a world of Sarahs, I thought about this a lot when I was younger. I've wanted to change my name to everything from Alexis, to Chantelle, to Zoey. I think I've finally accepted my name, but I do still wish I had a middle name. I'm thinking of giving myself one soon!

3.) Whom do you secretly envy? and why?

   Okay, this is something that I've finally been able to learn and take to heart in the last year. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has their own issues. While there are days when I would love a more awesome wardrobe, there isn't anyone that I envy. Very mature of me, I know. ;)

4.) What time of the day do you feel most energetic? What do you usually do in those moments?

   I rock lunch like nobody's  business. That period from 1100-1500 is when I get most everything done in the house. I don't do mornings well, and I usually need a nap around 1600. Next thing you know, I'll be eating early-bird specials.

5.) If you could be a fictional character from a movie or novel, who would you be? Why?

   I used to want to be Cher from Clueless. She was beautiful, had great clothes, and a pure heart. Yes, there are pictures of me from that era in my preppy-trend clothes. I'm not sure if I'm proud or ashamed.

6.) What are you really bad at?

   I stink at sticking up for myself. I will fight to the death for my family and friends, but I have a hard time standing tall when I'm the one being belittled. For anyone that thinks bullying doesn't have lasting effects, I think I'm a prime example that it does. :(

7.) What type of person angers you the most?

   Idiots. I can't stand friggin' idiots. Those lacking common sense and decency should be stuck in a canister and sent out to sea.

8.) Who never fails to make you feel good about yourself?

  My three best girl friends: Mary, Janna, & Patty. They help bring out all the best parts of me. :)

9.) What is the first thought that usually crosses your mind when you pop your eyes open in the morning?

   Fuck. That is, literally, (yes, literally not figuratively) the first thought in my mind every day. The variety changes day to day though: Fuck it's early, fuck my back hurts, fuck I'm tired, fuck I'm cold, and so on ...

10,) Do you love yourself?

   In a word, no. As I've gotten older, I've accepted myself, but I don't think I  quite love myself yet. I'm getting there, though.

So, those are some of the thoughts running through my mind today. I told you they were random!

The year of the snake has been good to me so far, and

I'm kind of looking forward to what else is yet to come.

Women: We Don't Just Clean Things, We Make Them, Too

I am a self-proclaimed, huge nerd. I love to learn new things.

Factoids. Tidbits. Trivia.

My husband refuses to watch Jeopardy! with me because I know so many more of the answers than he does. (sore loser) I am especially interested in things women can do as well as (or better) than men.

Needless to say, Women's History Month is one of my favorite months of the year. (And it doesn't hurt that it happens in my birthday month!)

There are so many strong, intelligent, creative women out there, it's wonderful to have an entire month to celebrate them--and us.

I've been sharing a few of these on my Facebook Page, but something even the Hubbs found interesting were some of the things invented by women. Namely, those things usually associated with male users.

Here are some that stood out to us:

• the circular saw invented by Tabitha Babbit in 1812
• the electric hot water heater by Ida Forbes in 1917
• the engine muffler by El Dorado Jones also in 1917
• the fire escape invented by Anna Connelly in 1887
• Kevlar (used in not only bulletproof vests, but also radial tires and crash helmets) invented by Stephanie Kwolek in 1966
• Liquid Paper was invented in 1951 Bessie Nesmith
• the rotary engine by Margaret Knight in 1904
• Scotchgard fabric protector invented in 1956 by Patsy O. Sherman
• Submarine lamp and telescope invented by Sarah Mather in 1845
• the windshield wiper in 1903 by Mary Anderson

Who knows how many other amazing and useful things were invented by females? Until the late 1800s women weren't allowed to own property or enter legal documents--including patents. So, all property and patents were filed under their husband's name.

Now look at us! We're not only mothers and wives, but we're in almost every career field available to men. We've come a long way, ladies.

Keep on creating,

I Heart Reading

Since tomorrow is Dr. Seuss's birthday, today is Read Across America Day. This is an event that I can get behind 100%. I love to read. It's one of those things that goes hand in hand with loving to write.

I have always been a reader. My mother read to me often when I was little so that she could practice her english. I am so glad that she did. Not only does she speak amazing english, but I was opened up to a world of, literally, endless possibilities.

As I got older, I started to devour books. I loved Nancy Drew, the Babysitters Club, the Boxcar Children, anything by Roald Dahl--I could keep going. When I found an author I liked, I read everything by them at the library. (I still do this!) I used to fill my little red wagon with library books every week!

Choosing is so tough--reminds me of a mini-me :)

When I got to high school, the one genre I couldn't get into was classic literature--specifically British classics. That lasted until Sophomore year when our student teacher in Advanced English brought Great Expectations to life for me. He translated the wordy Olde English into terms that I understood. (It didn't hurt that he was a total babe, either!) Now, Charles Dickens is one of my favorite authors. :)

In 2004, I moved in with my, now, husband. He grew up hating reading--seriously hating it. I didn't understand. He didn't understand how I could spend ours at a time with my nose in a book. That was until we were at Camp Lejeune and he was assigned to guard duty at the ASP (ammo supply point). The men were at the duty hut for 48 to 72 hours at a time and worked 12 hour shifts.

You can only watch so many movies, and play so many video games.

The Hubbs came home one morning and told me that he had been reading.
What?!
My husband? Reading?!

I immediately interrogated him. What had he been reading? Who had he been reading? Did he like it? Why now? Did he want to continue reading?
It turned out that he was reading a novel about Marines (go figure) and he liked it because it was something that interested him. He also said he wanted to continue reading, but didn't know how to pick out more books he'd like. Using my library expertise I found a few authors he might be interested in, and chose a few for him to try.
I could see the memory of all the horrid things he was forced to read in school flash in his eyes. (He confessed he has a problem with reading comprehension.) For the first time since he shipped out to Boot Camp, my husband was nervous. I remember thinking, sheesh, they're just books! 

I told him very calmly, "It's okay, if you don't like it, don't read it. You can just try another one."

With those two sentences, I created a monster. In less than a year, he owned more books than I did! (I think he still does, actually.) The day he dragged me to the used book store in Jacksonville was one of the happiest days of my life.

the current state of our bookcase
I think it might be time for another one....

One of my proudest accomplishments is opening my husband to reading. Not only for his enjoyment, but because now I have a partner in advocating reading to our girls. It's nice to know that if I'm not around to read them a bedtime story, Daddy has no problem stepping in. (Although, Mommy is better at it I've been told.)

Reading together is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children for so many reasons, but mostly because it's time we get to spend together.


Tonight, we're finishing "Ramona the Brave" by Beverly Cleary. Happy Reading!