Too much to do

will post tomorrow. Sorry:(

Brings back memories

I thought this sounded like fun, and with so much to do I feel like cheating when I do this but it still counts.

A) Go to http://www.musicoutfitters.com.
B) In the search box, enter the year you graduated from high school. Get the list of the 100 most popular songs of that year.
C) Italize the songs you liked, strike through the ones you hated, and bold your favorites. Do nothing to those you don’t remember or don’t care about.


1. End Of The Road, Boyz II Men
2. Baby Got Back, Sir Mix A-lot
3. Jump, Kris Kross
4. Save The Best For Last, Vanessa Williams
5. Baby-Baby-Baby, TLC
6. Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton
7. My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It), En Vogue
8. Under The Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. All 4 Love, Color Me Badd
10. Just Another Day, Jon Secada
11. I Love Your Smile, Shanice
12. To Be With You, Mr. Big
13. I'm Too Sexy, Right Said Fred
14. Black Or White, Michael Jackson
15. Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus
16. I'll Be There, Mariah Carey
17. November Rain, Guns N' Roses
18. Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane
19. Remember The Time, Michael Jackson
20. Finally, CeCe Peniston
21. This Used To Be My Playground, Madonna
22. Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough, Patty Smyth
23. Can't Let Go, Mariah Carey
24. Jump Around, House Of Pain
25. Diamonds and Pearls, Prince and The N.P.G.
26. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, George Michael and Elton John
27. Masterpiece, Atlantic Starr
28. If You Asked Me To, Celine Dion
29. Giving Him Something He Can Feel, En Vogue
30. Live and Learn, Joe Public
31. Come and Talk To Me, Jodeci
32. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
33. Humpin' Around, Bobby Brown
34. Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover, Sophie B. Hawkins
35. Tell Me What You Want Me To Do, Teven Campbell
36. Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg, TLC
37. It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, Boyz II Men
38. Move This, Technotronic
39. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen
40. Tennessee, Arrested Development
41. The Best Things In Life Are Free, Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
42. Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
43. The One, Elton John
44. Set Adrift On Memory Bliss, P.M. Dawn
45. Stay, Shakespear's Sister
46. 2 Legit 2 Quit, Hammer
47. Please Don't Go, K.W.S.
48. Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes), Mint Condition
49. Wishing On A Star, Cover Girls
50. She's Playing Hard To Get, Hi-Five
51. I'd Die Without You, P.M. Dawn
52. Good For Me, Amy Grant
53. All I Want, Toad The Wet Sprocket
54. When A Man Loves A Woman, Michael Bolton
55. I Can't Dance, Genesis
56. Hazard, Richard Marx
57. Mysterious Ways, U2
58. Too Funky, George Michael
59. How Do You Talk To An Angel, Heights
60. One, U2
61. Keep On Walkin', CeCe Peniston
62. Hold On My Heart, Genesis
63. The Way I Feel About You, Karyn White
64. Beauty and The Beast, Calms Dion and Peabo Bryson
65. Warm It Up, Kris Kross
66. In The Closet, Michael Jackson
67. People Everyday, Arrested Development
68. No Son Of Nine, Genesis
69. Wildside, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch
70. Do I Have To Say The Words?, Bryan Adams
71. Friday I'm In Love, Cure
72. Everything About You, Ugly Kid Joe
73. Blowing Kisses In The Wind, Paula Abdul
74. Thought I'd Died and Gone To Heaven, Bryan Adams
75. Rhythm Is A Dancer, Snap
76. Addams Groove, Hammer
77. Missing You Now, Michael Bolton
78. Back To The Hotel, N2Deep
79. Everything Changes, Kathy Troccoli
80. Have You Ever Needed Somone So Bad, Def Leppard
81. Take This Heart, Richard Marx
82. When I Look Into Your Eyes, Firehouse
83. I Wanna Love You, Jade
84. Uhh Ahh, Boyz II Men
85. Real Love, Mary J. Blige
86. Justified and Ancient, The KLF
87. Slow Motion, Color Me Badd
88. What About Your Friends, TLC
89. Thinkin' Back, Color Me Badd
90. Would I Lie To You?, Charles and Eddie
91. That's What Love Is For, Amy Grant
92. Keep Coming Back, Richard Marx
93. Free Your Mind, En Vogue
94. Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
95. Just Take My Heart, Mr. Big
96. I Will Remember You, Amy Grant
97. We Got A Love Thang, CeCe Peniston
98. Let's Get Rocked, Def Leppard
99. They Want EFX, Das EFX
100. I Can't Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt

Actually, I can't even remember some of these songs, so I may have loved and/or hated them but just don't recognize the artist or maybe the title. I try not to HATE anything, that's why nothing is crossed out. But there are songs on the list I certainly didn't like, that's for sure.

A meme

Saw this over at Eva from A Striped Armchair and thought it looked like fun. The things I have done I put in bold:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (just in high school)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped (no but I really want to)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch (cross stich and crochet)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (many, many times)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (only when I was born)
47. Had my portrait painted (and drawn)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (wish my veins were better as I have the rarest blood type)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (hope to do this someday soon)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (once and will never do it again)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

The Year Without a Santa Claus

Ok, let me start out by saying that I am not the biggest fan of Christmas. Having the kids has helped renew my joy (somewhat) but I just don't really enjoy this holiday. I know that I am really in the minority when it comes to that, but it is such a stressful time of year for me.

But, the other night The Year Without a Santa Claus was on. I have to admit - this is my favorite Christmas special..hands down. And, I am pleased to say that my girls have really taken a liking to it. Grace was singing the Heat Mizer and Snow Mizer songs all day. Then I remembered that a few years ago my mom gave me a copy. So guess what we watched again? And are going to watch again today? It's ok - I don't mind. We pop up popcorn and the four of us snuggle in the living room watching it. That's what Christmas and family is all about.

Have a great night!

Book Lovin' Penpals

Well, it's been a pretty productive day. I worked for awhile this morning and have this week all set...or at least as set as I can get it. Then it was time to focus on house and family stuff. Had to get the kids clean and they both wanted to try taking a shower today. It was kind of funny because they are only 3 and 4 so I had to help them with everything, but if they wanted to try who was I to stop them.

I made a big pot of chili for supper. We actually had some freezing rain today and now we are due for some more snow. Don't think driving is going to be a whole lot of fun tomorrow.

Another thing that I did was create a group on ning called Book Lovin' Penpals. I have seen a bunch of people looking to communicate through people via snail mail. I know that email is so much easier most of the time, but there is something special about getting a letter in the mail. I used to have penpals a long time ago and would love to have some again, especially some who share my love of books. If anyone is interested just let me know.

Hope you all had a great weekend - off to read for a little bit...if the kids actually let me:)

Manderfield's Bakery

When we lived in Manitowoc we did have a few local bakeries. They were good but did just carry the basic things - a few different breads, donuts, pies, etc... Now that we are in a more populated area we figured we would have more choices. Well, my girls are addicted to coffeecake - it is a Sunday ritual for us to get a few different kinds of bakery, but coffeecake is one that has to be included.

A few weeks ago, we forgot to get it when we were shopping (we used to just grab it from the grocery store when we were there). And, as expensive as it was, we just did it for convenience more than anything (they run about $5 each and aren't that big). So, we started looking for bakeries near us, and were told to go to Manderfield's. All I can say is WOW! They have a huge selection of things - my personal favorite is the sweet dough. It quite large and only costs $2.15. We got the Cherry Pie bread and the family has been raving about it. I haven't tried any, but will in the morning with my first cup of coffee.

Do you have a favorite type of bakery? A place to get it from?

What do some parents think sometimes

Last night Grace cried herself to sleep. Granted, it was a long and busy day. She had a field trip to the Fox River Mall with her class that lasted all day (she is used to going to school for 2 hours or so a day). They were going to go and shop for gifts for kids that were either in the hospital or staying at the Ronald McDonald House - it is such a wonderful place, we stayed there for a few nights while Grace was recovering from her surgery.

They were HEAVILY chaperoned with a 1 adult to 2 kid ratio - otherwise there was no way they could go, it's a large mall and is always busy, but at this time of year I am sure it was insane. They also got to go to Build-a-Bear which the girls have been to many times before (too many) and make an animal for their class. The bear will come home with each child for a week and document what it got to do. Sounds pretty neat.

But, the reason she cried was a bad enough one that I actually emailed her teacher about it, even though it wasn't her fault. The woman who was chaperoning Grace was there with her daughter. And she kept buying her daughter things (even though they weren't supposed to) and of course when Grace asked if she could get something of course the answer was no. My poor little girl! How dare this woman buy things in front of her and then tell her she couldn't get anything. I can't imagine doing that, or what would possess you to do that. You couldn't even get her something for a dollar. Either that, or don't buy anything at all, which is what you were supposed to do. My heart broke for her, as she told me that it wasn't fair and cried, all curled up next to me.

What do you think?