100 Things About Me.

100 Things About Me

1. I am a mother of two.
2. I am a perfectionist, and a chaotic mess all wrapped into one crazy package.
3. I was born in California.
4. I was made fun of a a child for having bad skin.
5. I applied to 7 Universities and got into 5.
6. I have had 5 cars.
7. I hate doing laundry.
8. I love to drive along the pacific coat highway.
9. I don't like to wear makeup.
10. I would rather wear pajamas than anything else.
11. My ancestors are french royalty.
12. I wouldn't watch tv if it weren't for DVR.
13. Trueblood is one of my favorite shows.
14. I only got one C in all of highschool and college.
15. Riesling is my favorite wine.
16. I hate diets.
17. I love thrift stores.
18. I got botox at 27.
19. I don't like to ask for help.
20. I have a love/hate relationship with yard work.
21. I am an interior designer not a decorator!!!
22. My children drive me nuts.
23. I have an fantastic "rain man" like memory.
25. I am hungry all the time!
26. I tend to start projects and have a hard time finishing them.
27. I dream of traveling to Paris someday.
28. I have 13 animals.
29. I have only been stung by a bee one time.
30. I have never broken a bone.
31. I haven't slept in in 6 years.
32. I love chocolate.
33. I have excellent credit.
34. My mother died when I has 13.
35. I love to dance.
36. I love to write or receive letters.
37. I am a clutter magnet and it drives me crazy.
38. I have never been to New York.
39. My favorite place is Coronado Island.
40. I have had 7 jobs in my life.
41. I like dogs better than cats.
42. I love a bargain.
43. I own a 1960 VW Karmann Ghia.
44. I love my library card.
45. I can't get by in the morning without coffee.
46. I have good metabolism, but still have to watch my weight.
47. I am an avid recycler.
48. I cannot drink tap water without lemon.
49. I am not a good liar.
50. I do not like canned peas.
51. I love bread and cheese.
52. I have a strong respect for history.
53. I am a Marine Wife.
54. I am the first in my family to attain a college degree.
55. I love stars.
56. I collect cobalt glass.
57. I can't have house plants because my cat will eat them.
58. I am almost always late.
59. Once you get me started, don't let me stop until I am done.
60. I am a Daddy's girl.
61. I know what it is like to live on public assistance.
62. I have been married for 8 years.
63. I don't smoke.
64. I hope to live longer than my mother did.
65. I don't mind getting dirty, but like to be clean.
66. I don't like to floss.
67. I have been to Japan.
68. If I don't get into a book within the first chapter I can't read it.
69. I have driven 14 hours to be with the one I love.
70. I love iced tea with lemon, no sweetener.
71. I am an antique junkie.
72. I tend to think I am right.

73. Sometimes I laugh so hard I can't stop.
74. I love to laugh.
75. I miss my family.
76. The Eiffel tower and Fleur de Lis are my self adopted emblems.
77. If it is out of sight, it is out of my mind.
78. I am a list maker.
79. If I set my mind to something, I can do it.
80. I still have my favorite childhood stuffed animal.
81. My favorite color is green.
82. I love the concept of summer and winter, but not the heat or the cold.
83. The Midwest is my home.
84. I love pillows and blankets.
85. I missed my 10 year high school reunion and am starting to regret it.

86. I can't have cash in my wallet.
87. I can't sew a straight line.
88. I can clean like no other, but hate to do it.
89. I am a procrastinator.
90. I enjoy nature, but hate bugs.
91. I make up my own words.
92. My husband thinks my words are silly.
93. Everyday is an adventure at my house.
94. I like to walk.

95. I bite my nails.
96. I love flowers.
97. My style is casual, comfortable and casual.
98. I have expensive taste.
99. I like to get my way.
100. I like to be organized.

Productivity (or lack thereof)

Productivity (or lack thereof) is often a topic that I blog about. I suppose it stems from my personality type; I am either an overachiever or I totally slack off, there really is no in between with me. Perhaps it is because my mother always told me, "don't do things half assed!!" So, I don't which means, if I don't do my best, I don't do it at all. That makes my life difficult because I am always running on all cylinders (busy, busy, busy!), so when things do slow down (ie: the kids go to bed) all I want to do is read a book, watch a show or go to sleep. To tell you the truth, the last thing I want to do is wash dishes or clothes or pick up messes. So, that is generally how things go for me. I let things get out of control until the point which I can't stand it any longer and then go on a mad cleaning spree. My husband has figured out that it's best to leave me alone during one of these fits because I am probably muttering obscenities to myself and do not want to be bothered. ha ha. Maybe, if I just kept things under control, I wouldn't have this problem. However, that is easier said than done.
This weekend I went into the office for about 6 hours while the boys were out doing"guy stuff" and then when I got home I took my oldest son with me over to a friend's house to help out with some cleaning. While I was there I was a superstar bathroom cleaner and vacuumed the whole house twice. I was pretty exhausted from that exertion, but still we managed to go to a car show and out to dinner that night. Pretty much nothing happened at my house that day. Sunday was a different story, I got several loads of laundry done (however, much of it is still awaiting folding), cleaned out my closet, gave the boys and hubby haircuts, went grocery shopping, made dinner, and got ready for the school week. All in all it was a pretty productive day, I even managed to get my nails done :) Yes, there are baskets full of clean clothes that either need put away or folded and yeah, my counter could probably use some attention, but I feel good about the balance of activities this weekend.

Anyhow, while I still haven't found the key to success, I'm at least realistic about getting things done. That's all I can do.

Missed My 10 Year Reunion

So, last night was my 10 year high school reunion, and I missed it. Much to my surprise, I do not regret my decision to stay home (and by stay home, I mean stay 1800 miles away in Illinois). The event was held at the W Hotel in Hollywood, which is, from what I hear, a fabulously posh venue. I am sure it was a great time and while I do wish I would have gotten to see some of the people I have missed over the past 10 years, I guess I feel like I would have been like a square peg in a round hole there.

WHY you ask? Well, to start, I wasn't what you would call popular in high school, I didn't belong to any clubs or school organizations, I didn't go to school dances (except prom), hell, I didn't even date anyone until senior year and he was 21 and in the Navy. My group of friends was great, don't get me wrong, but we were proud to be unique, independent and did things our own way. Facebook has allowed me to get in touch (or stay in touch) with friends from high school, so even out here in the Midwest I don't feel all that out of touch to tell you the truth. Another major reason I feel like I would have been out of place there is because my life is so much different than most of the people I went to school with. I got married when I was 19 between my sophomore and junior year in college, had my first child during my senior year, upon graduation I was a stay at home mom for about 6 months before we moved from San Diego to the Midwest. Five years after leaving California, I have put down roots here and feel strongly that I fit here more than I ever did in California. Sure, I miss the sunshine on those snowy winter days and miss the ocean breezes on those hot, humid summer days. But all in all, my life is complete here. I have two beautiful boys, a wonderful husband, great friends, a lovely home and a good job! My commute to work is 5 minutes, with all of 4 stop lights, through corn and bean fields! No traffic or no road rage for me! My boys have 2 acres of land to play on and our property backs up to a wheat field and the woods. Sure, this place is really too much for two working parents to take care of, but I really enjoy toiling in the garden and getting dirty. If we still lived in California, we would live in an apartment half this size and have a 5 x 8 patio and obnoxious neighbors. I wouldn't know how it feels when the first bulbs start to poke up through the cold ground in the spring and how nice it is after a hot summer when the days cool down and the trees begin to change. I certainly do not take for granted those perfect days when the weather is perfect here, because the weather is so dynamic here it might snow the next day.

Looking back at my life when I was 15 or 16, I can clearly remember myself saying that I would never have kids. At that point, I probably would have laughed hysterically if someone were to tell me that in 12 years I would be a mother of two and living in the Midwest. One thing I have come to realize in my life is that things change, you never know what life is going to deal out, but for all the craziness everything always seems to work out the way it is supposed to. I feel blessed to be where I am at right now, I hope for a bright future for our family.

So, to complete my thought on the reunion... The real reason I chose not to go was because my son started 1st grade 2 days before the reunion and I couldn't justify taking him out of school or paying the money for such a short trip. Had there been different circumstances, I might have actually gone. Who knows where I will be when the 20 year comes around? Only time will tell. Anyhow, I hope everyone had a good time and got home safe and sound. 

Five Years Later and We Meet the Neighbors!?

What I want to know is how you can live across the street from someone for five years and never become at least acquaintances?! A few weeks ago, I pulled out of the driveway to take the kids to daycare and noticed that the neighbor across the street pulled out just behind me. What I did not notice is that she was behind me all the way to the daycare. We pulled into adjacent parking spots and started to get our kids out of the car when I hear, "oh my goodness, Ben lives across the street!!" Evidently, our kids haven been in the same class for the past year together and we never even realized it. As it turns out, our kids are very close in age! Mine are 6 and 3 and hers are 5 and 3! I couldn't believe it; we were both embarrassed that we have lived literally across the street from one another for five whole years and never even met!!!

So, yesterday evening when we got home from daycare, I took the kids over to say hello and it turned into an impromptu play date! The kids took to each other very well and we had to practically peel them apart when the sun was going down and the mosquitoes were biting! It was almost 9pm by the time we got inside for the evening, and we hadn't even ate dinner yet! (oops!) So, I made chicken nuggets and cut up fresh peaches and strawberries.

First thing this morning, I keep getting asked when we are going back over to play! The kids don't quite understand that most people aren't up at the crack of dawn and most certainly don't enjoy visitors at that hour! haha But, we do have plans to play and perhaps swim this weekend if the weather holds out!

We live in this house for five years and then put it up for sale and then finally meet the neighbors; it seems a bit backwards. Perhaps this is another sign that we aren't meant to move at this time?! It's not in my hands anyhow, so we will just hold tight and see what happens. In the meantime, I am glad to finally feel more connected--so what if it's a little more than late!!!