Miscellany Monday…

Good morning bloggy buddies. I hope you all had a great weekend. We did a lot of relaxing and some fun family time. Well, what else is there to do when you have 2 feet of snow outside your door? And by the way, more is expected in a few days!! Anywho, here are my random musings for today…




ONE. A few weeks ago I was on a blog (forgive me because I forgot which one I was reading) and the host was sharing some great blog tips for making your blog a success. One of the things mentioned was to write your posts in ‘Windows Live Writer’ and then have them transferred to your host site. Well, after lots of downloading…it worked and I am now using this program. It is so much quicker than Blogger and the pictures load so much faster. I highly recommend it.

TWO. What is with men and gadgets?? This weekend we went car shopping. The lease on my truck is up (yes, I drive a gas guzzler..LOL!) in a few months so we decided to start the search for a new one. Honestly, I am not picky with cars. The hubs usually does all of the researching and I just so to give the final approval : ) We came across the 2011 Ford Explorer and let me tell you….gadgets galore!! There are so many great features that you could actually get overwhelmed. But let’s be real here. Am I really going to be plugging in my IPod? Do I need to talk to the car and tell it to call  my mom and do I need to see her picture on the screen when she answers? I am never going to use any of these fancy features. I barely listen to the radio since the kids are always watching the DVD player! But, men and gadgets….the hubs is sold : )



THREE. Next weekend is going to be awesome…I am finally getting a night without my children!!! This never happens. My birthday is coming up and my mom has agreed to take the boys so the hubs and I can go into NYC. I made plans to see a show, go to dinner and stay overnight. It will finally give me a reason to wear these…

And do this…

And maybe even go here : )


Have a great day…

CSN Stores Winner....

Well....my first giveaway has come and gone. Thank you to all who entered. I am excited to be giving back to my readers and hopefully I will have some more exciting things coming up soon. I will have you know that I used Random.org to pick the winner put was not able to take a snapshot of the page. Hopefully by the next giveaway my computer skills will be better : )

Anyway...the winner is comment #21:

Jumping Jack said:
I want to win, so I can get a big cork board for my sewing room.

January 25, 2011 1:43 PM

I will be sending you an email shortly. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

See you all on Monday....

Phone Photo Friday and more good stuff...

Yay…the weekend is finally here!!  We just had another major snow storm this week and Christopher’s Pre-K was closed Wednesday and Thursday. I am a gal that is always on the go. So try being stuck in the house with 2 feet of snow for 2 days with 2 kids…not as fun as you might think : )  I am looking forward to getting out of the house this weekend and maybe getting some retail therapy for those winter time blues.

Now, continuing on with the topic from yesterday, our trip to NYC. I thought I would share more pics for Phone Photo Friday....


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Here is the view from the second floor of the M&M’s store in Times Square. Who knew they could fill 3 floors of retail space with M&M’s?? This is actually right where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. You would never want to be there when that happens though…it is pure mayhem!


Next….us sitting in Sbarro waiting for Chris to bring pizza. Note me in the reflection of the mirror….LOL! Anthony was trying to stand on the table and Christopher was making silly faces. My kids don’t do well when they are hungry : )


And this was taken yesterday. I was shoveling a foot of snow while Christopher built a snowman. Poor Anthony was napping and missed all of the fun : )


So, grab the button and link up. We are waiting to see what fun photo’s you have to share! Thanks again to Shannon for allowing me to co-host with her!

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Now, a few more quick things to tell you….

First….my bloggy BFF Allie sent me this awesome heart wreath she made for me for Valentine’s Day. I just love it. She also made me a beautiful magnetic Advent calendar. So, thanks Allie….you are amazing!!


And I made this cute little camera case the other night. The case that came with my camera is ugly and doesn’t have strap. So I whipped up this one in no time….it is much more me : ) I am linking this up over at Allie’s place.








 
Lastly….today is the last day to enter my CSN stores giveaway. Do it now before it is too late!

Have a great weekend ladies….

A Day in NYC….

This past weekend we ventured in to NYC with the kiddos. What were we thinking taking 2 little ones to walk the streets of Manhattan in 18 degree weather?? LOL!  The main purpose of our trip was to see the International Motorcycle and Boat Show at the Jacob Javits Center. Again, I ask myself, why are we going? We already have both a Harley and a new boat.  Yes, some of you that are thinking…she rides a Harley? Well, I used to ride on the back before we had kids. I have not been riding since I had Christopher.  And just another tidbit that might shock you…I have tattoos. Quite a few of them : )

Here are a few pics of the skyline was we approached the city.



Driving through the city can be very frustrating. The streets are mobbed with people at all times. But you know what, I miss it. I used to work right across the street from Macy’s and it was great to go shopping on my lunch break. The hustle and bustle of it all was exciting to me.


The actual motorcycle show was okay. I thought there would have been some better vendors and more custom choppers.  The kids were pretty good considering. Of course they needed to sit on every bike.



Does this guy look familiar?? It is the Geico gecko and the custom bike the Paul Jr. (from the TLC show OCC) built. The bike was really amazing in person.


After the show we headed to Times Square to do something ‘for the kids.’ I knew they would enjoy going to the new Disney store or  to Toys R Us. As we were walking…there were some surprise guests on the streets. The kids were so excited.

Can you see the ‘2’ Elmo’s and Spongebob?


This was the highlight of the day.


You never know that a day in NYC will bring : )

Stop back tomorrow for Fun Phone Photo Friday……

Semi Wordless Wednesday...

When an almost 2 year old goes to answer the phone....

Happy Wednesday!!!

Home Tour Tuesday…Invasion of the Pantry

This week’s HTT is awesome…because it has me talking about food! The theme is ‘show us your pantry and your favorite snack.’ I have to tell you….I am a snacker. Sometimes the hubs calls me a ‘closet eater’ because he will find me in the kitchen at midnight having some oreo’s…LOL!






Anywho….I don’t have a big pantry at all. There was a small wall in the kitchen next to the fridge that was backed up to the hall coat closet. We decided to make the closet smaller and add a pantry cabinet when we remodeled the kitchen 2 years ago.


My pantry cabinet has mainly snacks and cereal. We have plenty of chips, pretzels, goldfish and crackers. There really isn’t a lot of sweets. I guess we are more of a ‘salty’ family…LOL!



Oh, I also have my calendar hanging in the pantry cabinet. You have to have a place to write the weekly playdates….LOL!


The top of the cabinet just has junk…..like cups and straws. I think I may need to re-organize after taking this picture!


Okay…lastly….may favorite snack in the pantry…Snyder’s Peanut Butter Pretzels!!


As you can tell by the half eaten bag…I love these!! You gotta try them : )


Happy Snacking!!

My First Giveaway…..

Happy Monday! With the New Year off to a good start, I am excited to do a few ‘new ‘ things around here. Last week I attempted a new blog design. And this week, even more fun stuff! As you all know, I have been working on re-organizing and cleaning these last few weeks. I figured now is the perfect time to purge and start fresh. Well, while the hubs was away last weekend I took on a big project….cleaning the office. This an annual task that needs to get done, but I do not enjoy doing it. I went through all of the file cabinets and sorted, shredded, and purged mail, files and junk!  Once I was finished I had the sudden urge to look for some new  modern furniture  that I could use for storing and organizing. Of course I headed over to the CSN website.

I found a few awesome things…

Magazine Stand


Organizational Unit


Photo/Memo Holder

The CSN stores have just about anything and everything you could need for you, your family and your home . So, I am giving away a $20 gift certificate to CSN stores! YEAH!!  If you haven’t checked out CSN stores, you had better head on over there now.

One lucky reader will win a $20 CSN stores gift certificate.  It can be used at any of their 200 + online stores, but it will not cover shipping.  Ends 1/28/2011 at 11:59 pm EST.  Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified within 24 hours. Winner has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Please be sure to include your email address in with your submission.

Mandatory Entry:
It is easy...just follow me on Google Friend Connect.

Extra Entries:
1.)  Visit the CSN stores and tell me what you would buy if you won.

Good luck….

I am officially a ‘Co-host’ of Fun Phone Photo Friday….

As most of you know, I have been participating in Fun Phone Photo Friday with my buddy Shannon. She started this ‘party’ a few months back and I am loving it. In this day and age we are all so attached to our cell phones. And with the capabilities that some of these phones have (you can probably start a war using your phone…oh, remember that movie…War Games?) people are constantly taking pictures and videos with their phones. My kids think it is quite fun to take pics with my phone too.  It amazes me that a 2 year old is taking pictures in the first place. You would not believe what I find when I scroll through my phone. It can be scary!!

Anyway, yesterday Shannon asked me to ‘co-host’ Fun Phone Photo Friday with her. I was so excited. You see, I make a fantastic host. So come over and you will see for yourself. If I could offer you a glass of cheap wine through the computer, I would! Thank you again Shannon for thinking of me….it is so nice to have a ‘bloggy family.’

Now, grab the new button, link up and show us what you have on your  phone. I am sure there have to be a few good pictures on there and we would all love to see them.

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Here is my photo….it is Anthony waiting patiently with me in DMV. I always have to be sure I have a stash of crayons and paper in my bag!

Have a fab weekend everyone…..

A quick little project…

I usually do not post on Thursday because we are up and out too early and I do not have the time. Yes, I should be smart enough to do it the night before, I know. But it doesn’t always happen. I just have to share something I made and something I bought. I think it is just too darn cute.

I made this coffee coaster….


To go with this coffee cup I bought at Marshall’s for $2….


Now you can visualize me sitting and drinking as I read your blogs : )

I am linking it up over at my friend Allie's…

Almost Wordless Wednesday…

I forgot to show you the red I tried to put in my hair. I told my hairdresser I wanted a ‘big chunk of red’…..but it didn’t turn out that way…LOL! Oh, well....there is always next time.



Link up over at Daphne's place...

Home Tour Tuesday…

This week’s Home Tour Tuesday is “Light’s Out – what is on your nightstand?”  I have to say, I am liking this HTT linky. I love seeing in people’s homes to get ideas and inspiration. So I am in my glory that I get to see people’s homes as I sit in my pj’s and drink a cup of coffee!




I have showed you my bedroom before. Now, please remember that the furniture in our room is typical ‘guido male’ furniture. The hubs picked it out when we moved in (11 years ago) and I agreed. What was I thinking?? I hate it. There is way too much glass and mirror. But the argument is that the hubs doesn’t not see spending money to buy a new set when there is ‘nothing wrong’ with the furniture we have. So, I guess I am stuck until it ‘accidentally’ starts to break.


Now, our nightstands are build in. I have to say, there is nothing too exciting on my side.  Of course, there are pictures of the kids and of the hubs and I. Now that I look at it, I do not have a picture of Anthony on my side. I think I may need to re-arrange…LOL! I have the video monitor but I never use it. It is time to pack that away. I can see in the kids’ rooms from my bed. Heck, they just come walking in anyway. And I also have a clock. Chris has the 'alarm clock’ on his side, but I need my own.


There are a few things that I keep in the top draw next to me. But first note the clock…it has the weather. Since I never watch the news and I need to know the weather, this is perfect. Please also pay attention to the temperature yesterday. Yes, it says 28 degrees. Okay, on to the draw items. I need to keep lotion as I am constantly lathering up. This cold weather is not good for your hands! The remote is on my side. I tend to go to bed last and I like to watch tv before I fall asleep. And lastly, a pacifier. Anthony tends to come strolling in our room at some point in the night and I like to have one 'in case' he needs it..LOL. I told you, not too exciting!!


Happy Tuesday!

Miscellany Monday….

Ah…the weekend continues today as we celebrate the holiday and the kids are home…AGAIN!! Between the snow days and the holidays the kids are home more than they are at school. Geez!! This weekend the hubs was away for work from Thursday through Sunday…..so it was a little overwhelming being with the kids non-stop. I give a lot of credit to single parents….it cannot be easy. Anyway, here are some random thoughts that came from my weekend….enjoy.



ONE. Ok....let's talk about "HTML" codes for a second, shall we. Who in the heck decided to make it so darn annoying to figure out??? It is like reading Chinese. As you can see, I tried to give myself a little bloggy facelift over the weekend. I thought a change around here might be nice. Well, needless to say, hours upon hours later, I still have yet to completely understand the mumbo jumbo of HTML codes. So for now, what you see is what you get. I have lots of respect for my fellow design bloggers, like my buddy Shannon, who have figured it out and now are designing for others. I may be calling you in the future!!

TWO. I took Christopher to his trial ‘acting’ class on Saturday. I really was not sure what to expect. The kids are only 5….how much acting are they really going to be doing? My kid can’t remember what he ate for breakfast, nonetheless remember lines?? But I was rather impressed. They watched the Wizard of Oz and started to learn the song. Apparently they are going to be making the yellow brick road and doing a little scene from the movie. After class Christopher came out yelling “I am going to be the tin man!” He was so excited. He now thinks that ‘acting class’ is going to be replacing Pre-K!! So, I wonder, do you think Brad Pitt ever played the Scarecrow??

THREE. My husband’s cousins had their little baby girl this weekend. Little Zoey came right on her due date. I very rarely hear of that happening. Anyways, we went to see her last night. Wow….I forget how small babies are. She was too cute. It made me sit and reflect on my births and how lucky I was to have 2 easy labors. Here is my thing though. The mom who just gave birth did not want her hubs ‘looking’ down there when the baby was going to be born. She ended up having a C-section so it wasn’t too much of an issue. But I thought her comment was a little weird. Who would want to deny a man of watching the birth of his child? My hubs was down there, practically delivering my kids. When you are giving birth, there is no shame. You don't care who is looking. At least I didn't. And let's be real, it is never going to 'look the same' down there after you have kids. And it is not like your hubs is never going to see your private area again. I guess we all have different thoughts...even on our 'crotch'....and that is what makes the world go around!!

Happy Monday!