Five Question Friday!

It's been a while since I participated in 5 Question Friday but I decided to link up today.  Stop by Mama M's to join on in!

1. How many pets do you have?

One... and he's a little devil of a dog.  I love him but don't like him most of the time.  Why?  Because he barks at everything, will leave us 'presents' out of spite, and basically hates everyone.  Did I mention that he's also a nervous tinklier? 

2. If you could switch places with anyone in the world for one day, who would it be?
This is a toughie.  There are lots of people who tell these unbelievable stories or make these wacky choices and I would love to be them for a day to know exactly what's going on.  

3. What is your favorite money saving tip?

I try to wait a while before I make a purchase.  If I forget about it then I didn't really want it.  I also try to clip coupons but I'm super unorganized and forget to use them half the time.

4. What do you want your kids to be when they grow up?
Happy and healthy.  It doesn't matter to me what Abby is when she grows up as long as she's happy with who she is.

5. What is your favorite quote?
There are a lot of quotes that I love but the one that I've used most often in life is... 'Sharing is caring.'  Not sure where it came from (could be from Barney for all I know) but I've been using since my siblings were younger and would fight over toys.  I still use it sometimes and they usually laugh or roll their eyes!

When Ducks Attack

I have a zillion phobias... mainly having to do with nature.  Which is funny because I majored in Environmental Science.  Anyway, my biggest fear is spiders.  I hate them and quite honestly, I think they have it out for me.  I see them everywhere but usually when I'm alone and sometimes they even crawl on me.  Never my husband, only me.  It's a conspiracy, I tell you.  They want to eat my brains!

Ok, so I know I'm ridiculous but today I realized that I am ridiculous on so many levels.  It was such a nice day that I decided to take Abby to visit the ducks.  We took a couple strolls around the pond looking for the ducks who seemed to always be on the opposite side of us.  Finally, there was one sad looking goose with what looked like a broken wing (poor guy).  I wheeled Abby closer to the pond and pulled out our bread.  Abby loved it and I kept throwing it some bread.

Shortly after, 2 ducks from the other side of the pond must have caught wind of what was going on because they flew on over.  Abby was so excited!

Then a couple more flew over.  Abby was beaming, leaning forward in her stroller, and chatting with her new friends who by now had made their way out of the water.

But then it happened... what felt like 40 ducks, all out of the water and all coming closer and closer to us.

I could feel myself panicking and kept trying to reassure myself that ducks are harmless.  It didn't help... my heart was racing.  Could something as cute and innocent as a duck really be scaring the bejesus out of me?

Yup... I was scared but I tried not to panic.  We calmly walked back up the hill with all those little ducks following us and made a run for it!

I felt kind of crazy so when I got home I looked it up and ducks do attack.  Apparently, they flap their wings a lot, try to bite and make lots of noise.  Honestly, I wouldn't be scared of a duck or two but a flock (or is it gaggle?) is a different story.  I guess we won't be feeding them when Daddy's not around anymore.  Add ducks to my list of phobias... I am absolutely ridiculous.  If this keeps up, I may become a total shut in!

Check Me Out!

Woo Hoo!  I got a make over!  First, let me say that I give all of the sites that offer layouts and headers for free lots of credit because this new look took me forever!  I actually purchased the image for my header and button but used this confusing, time consuming, annoying AWESOME program called GIMP to change all of the colors.  I would love to show you the original image but I saved over it and can not figure out how to download the raw image again.  OOPS!

Aside from the long process of fine tuning the header and button, I had to figure out how to actually apply everything to my blog.  Did I ever tell you that I was a little ADD in school?  Well, not exactly ADD but more uninterested in certain classes.  Computer class was one of those classes.  It was early in the morning, the lights were dim and the professor was super boring.  Needless to say, I begged someone to complete my final for which happened to be designing a webpage.  If only I had known then that HTML coding was important!

So, this whole blogging experience has been a real challenge to me and there have been a few sites that have really helped me along the way.  If your interested in creating some custom layouts, headers or buttons check these sites first. If they can't help you then they will at least give you a great jumping off point.

• The Cutest Blog on the Block - This site offers a great selection of designs but also gives a ton of tips and tricks to do some of your own customizing.
• Manic Mother - As much as I loved the Cutest Blog on the Block, I found this tutorial on creating a blog button much easier to follow.
• GIMP - Here's the link to the photo editor I used.  I didn't want to make the commitment to photoshop and this is a free program.  It works pretty well but it gets glitchy sometimes... not sure if the glitches are program errors or user error though!  It's kind of hard to get the hang of but the results are worth it!
• Blogger Tips and Tricks - This site explained how to center the titles of posts... something that was driving me crazy!

So what does everyone think?  Is it easy to read?  Do the colors work together?  Do you like/not like?  I'd really love some feedback!

One Billionaire, Two Kids, and $100 Million in Child Support

I watch the news every morning... well, it's usually just background noise while I'm trying to find the spunk I need to start my day.  Every so often a story will catch my attention and the other morning this story definitely made my ears perk up.  Maybe this is a hot button issue for some and I normally try to avoid controversy on my blog but I just HAVE to give my opinion.  I would love to hear what everyone thinks too!

Donald Bren, who apparently is a real estate billionaire and one of the richest men in America, is being sued by his adult children for back child support.  It's not as though he never paid child support.  As a matter of fact, their mother testified that he never withheld support and paid out nearly $3 million between 1988 and 2002.  They are suing because of the amount... apparently they feel, or the law dictates, that they should have been paid $400,000 a month.  That's equivalent to about $100 million!

Now, I'm not going to comment on the relationship Donald Bren has with his children or the mother of his children but $100 million for child support?!?  When you've already received $3 million for child support?!?  Do these people have any idea how absurd those numbers are?  Could you imagine?

I know I come from a family who has had it's share of financial hardships to say the least but it always shocks me to learn that there is such a HUGE difference in income levels across the country.  I don't want to get into a numbers game because statistics can be a tricky thing but I think it's safe to say that if the average American made $3 million in their lifetime than we wouldn't be in the economic crisis we are in.

I understand that these two grown children probably have a way bigger problem with their dad than money.  I also can understand that if he's living a certain lifestyle then he should be taking care of his responsibilities and affording them the same.  But all I can think is, are these people serious?!?  We are talking about a ridiculous amount of money and it just comes off as greedy to me.  To put this into perspective... the $18,000 a month that they received is more than my mother made in a year and she was raising 5 kids!

I also want to make it clear that I am not saying that people should be limited to the amount of money that they earn.  I feel that if you work hard then you should reap the rewards.  However, there are millions of Americans that work hard everyday just to get by.  These are the people who are working every weekend and holiday while the higher earning execs are spending time with their families.  There is a huge inequality here.  The average person does not make what they are worth.

Aside from that, these kids didn't earn this money.  They were born and they were taken care of.  They did not go with out.  So, maybe their dad was an a**hole.  Maybe they were entitled legally or morally to more money.  But it's not like they were living in poverty while their dad was living the good life.  They had food, shelter, and apparently he even paid for their education.  They need to move on and live their life in a way that ensures their children will have better then they did.

My hope is that these two people understand that wealth has nothing to do with money or material things and that if they do win their lawsuit they decide to donate that money to children who really need it.

Ok... I'm going to step off my soapbox now.  What are your thoughts?

Where's the Sunshine and Rainbows?

"The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions." 

 ~Ellen Glasgow~

I try to keep my blog upbeat and happy and, honestly, I haven't really felt that way lately.  So, I've been coming up dry whenever I think about writing a new post.  Finally, I have decided that I'm just going to write how I feel because this blog is meant to be a true representation of me and a way for me to express myself.  I wouldn't be being honest to myself or you if I always pretended that life was full of sunshine and rainbows.


Lately, I've been finding myself wearing my comfies for too much of the day, hardly ever putting on any make up, and being super tired.  So tired that yesterday I actually put Abby down for a  morning nap and she didn't take one but I did.  She wasn't crying but just playing and talking in her crib... but still, I felt like such a bad Mommy!!!  


I also find myself putting off all chores and responsibilities that I deem unnecessary... washing floors, making certain phone calls.  The problem?  These things are actually necessary!


So, why?  I have lots of reasons... but mainly it has to do with life.  There are times that life just gets the best of you and problems seem bigger and badder than they actually are.  So, as much as I wanted to sleep yesterday afternoon, I decided to work out right before Abby's nap.  I was too sweaty and gross to hop back into bed when she did so I HAD to shower.  This morning I did the same.


Guess what?  I feel better!  Not so tired, more energized and way less like a waste of space!  Amazing!  Who would have thunk? I can see glimpses of the rainbows and sunshine again! 


What do you do when you're in a bit of a rut?  What does it take for you to be 'you' again?

I'm Back... but not for long...

HELLO Bloggy Friends!

Oh, how I have missed all of you!  I have been running around... very much like a chicken without a head. We've been traveling... Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey.  Then there were play dates and a fundraiser to get ready for this weekend.  Yup, I'm leaving for PA tomorrow to fundraise for the 3-Day.  I am POOPED!!

We did have a great time and Abby got to meet some new relatives.  I am a huge family person.  I think it's so important to know where you came from and there is nothing like the support that family can give you.  So, seeing Abby play with cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Great Grandparents... it was heartwarming.

Most importantly... I think our little devil dog may have finally warmed up to her.

Ok... so maybe I'm being a little too optimistic since he was on a leash and had no choice but a mom can dream can't she?!?

I hope everyone is doing great and hope to catch up with all of you soon!

A Pictures Worth a Thousand Words....

At the Patriot's practice.... I see a future cheerleader in the making!