Top 5 Tuesday (A Day Late)

So, Dana - guess you're not taking my suggestion of top 10 Tuesday!

This week's top 5 is favorite places to shop.

Mom and Dad, I'm sure you're laughing already.

So, once again, I'm going to have to narrow this one down - and the only one that is in any special order is number 1.

1. Target - hands down, my fave place to shop. I mean, wear else can you pick up a cute outfit, adorable shoes, toothpaste, an iPod, some books, and some toys. And of course the popcorn or pretzel and lemonade that always help get the MH through the store! As a matter of fact, I was just there last night!

2. Marshall's/TJ Maxx - I'm always up for a bargain, and always up for a great hunt. Their shoe department is fabulous, and kid's clothing finds are always pretty good!

3. Sephora - I am such a girly-girl. When it comes to makeup (even though I don't wear a ton at once!) and all things girly, I could play forever. I just love browsing and looking at everything they have!

4. Lane Bryant - I love that I am the smallest size in there (and slowly working my way out), and I can rock a bargain in that place like nobody's business! And it's the one store (in my opinion) that actually offers fashionable plus-size clothing. Also LOVE their bras.

5. Gymboree - yes, since becoming a mom I am obsessed with shopping for MH. Is that any surprise? I am a Gymboree addict - absolutely love their stuff. The quality is amazing and it's so generously sized and well made that she gets several seasons of wear out most things I get there. AND, once again, I know how to rock a sale. No full price for me - EVER!

Seriously, you could close stores 2-5 and I'd be okay, as long as I had my Target. Sad, isn't it. Just another one of those addictions!

If you haven't done so already, make your list and go link with Dana at Supernanny, Where Are You?

A Confession

OK, I'm ready to admit it.

Until reading her blog, I had no idea who Ryan Gosling was.

When I did learn about who he was, I couldn't really see what all the hype was about.

Okay looking, but nothing that special.

Nothing like my McDreamy.

I had not yet seen The Notebook.

Read it, yes. About 9 years ago.

I am not one for love stories.

Romantic comedies, yes.

Mushy love stories, not so much.

I can. not. believe. I. haven't. seen. this. movie. until. now.

I finally rented it after seeing so many people list it as one of their favorite movies.

It was even free, since my video store does a free birthday rental.

It was due back 18 minutes ago and I don't even care if they charge me for 5 more days.

It was that amazing.

Seriously, I don't have much else to say.

I am breathless.

I laughed.

I cried.

My heart skipped some beats.

I cried some more.

I am still choking up thinking about the entire story.

And Jen, I totally get it now.

I, too, am totally in love with Ryan.

(and aware that once again, I'm writing like Wendi)

Seriously.

One of the greatest movies I have ever seen.

And want to watch again and again.

If you have not yet seen The Notebook, get thee to a video store immediately!
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PS- it looks like we WILL be charged for 5 more days by the video store, as they had locked their doors and would not let DH in! Sadly for me, DH put it in the drop-slot anyways!

Maybe I should retake the test?

OK, so in lieu of the fact that I can't seem to find a few free minutes to blog (and believe me, I've got plenty to say!), I decided to take the "How Evil Are You" test.

I'm wondering if maybe I should go back and retake it.

Seriously, I answered the questions honestly.

And last time I took one of these "tests", I was defined as being an envious sloth.

So imagine my surprise at this!

You Are 22% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

Now that 22%, you should really watch out for!

Bwahhh, haaa, haaaa, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The Perfect 33rd

My 33rd birthday was far more exciting, a lot more fun, and way more special than I had been anticipating!

First, I woke up to this:

Actually, DH gave me a camera battery. A second battery to be exact. All of the above loot was from The Mad Hatter so DH wouldn't be in big trouble with me.


Apparently, I've commented on far more than one occasion about how great some people's blog pictures are, and how I wish I could take such great pics, and DH hopped on it!


At first, I was completely in shock and told him I couldn't accept such an extravagant gift.


He told me I've had a really crappy two years, and he just wanted me to have something really special that I would enjoy using. Of course, there were some emotional tears (by me, of course) after that!

Between his comments on how it was a gift the whole family would enjoy, many comments from others about how thrilled I'd be to have it once I got over myself and started using it, and getting further confirmation from my mom that he'd been working on this gift for over a month, researching, shopping for, and finding THE perfect camera for me (he actually has another one he needs to return!), I decided that the only thing I could do was accept this gift graciously and gratefully.


Now I need a photography class AND a Photoshop class!


Then, my mom, MH, and I headed to the beach for some of this:

DH and my dad joined us around 6:00 (my absolute favorite time of day on the beach) for some of this:

and this:

Of course, a family photo to commemorate the day:

And a nice one of the two of us (well, as nice of me as you can get after a full day at the beach):

It was a fabulous "hump day" birthday.

Thanks so much Mom, Dad, DH, and MH for making sure (as always) that my birthday was a day I won't soon forget! The weather was fantastic, and the ending to the day was my idea of perfection. I am one very lucky girl! As DH has already said, 34's going to be tough to match!!!

Wordless Wednesday

It's My Birthday, Now Come out and Play!

Woo-hoo!

Today's the day!

I am 33.

So very exciting.

Today is also my 3 month anniversary of starting my blog.

Lots of 3s . . . maybe I should go play Powerball!

I digress.

So, for the big party, you might want to check out this.

And since I'm so proud of my first Photoshop accomplishment (I don't want any of my readers to ever lose faith in the fact that I will always be the mommy learning to blog), I feel the need to shamelessly repost it:

In the continued spirit of learning, I have even figured out how to use Mr. Linky so you can create a post on your own blog and link back to me here.

Now, for my favorite birthday memory (I've actually got 2 - unless DH has something REALLY amazing up his sleeve for this one!):

My 16th birthday. I was on a 6 week cross-country teen tour (45 fifteen and sixteen year olds, four staff members, and our fabulous bus driver Arlene), and although I was having a ball, I missed my family. We were in New Orleans on July 30th. After touring the French Quarter and doing some other sightseeing, some of my closest friends and I chose to celebrate my birthday by dining at the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Later that day, when we were back at the hotel, settled in, and then re-assembled in a meeting room, a bell-hop came wheeling in a cart filled with oversized boxes. No one had any clue what they were, but we quickly discovered that the labels had my name on them. Having NO idea what they could possibly be, we opened them, only to discover that my amazing parents refused to let my 16th birthday go by without a major celebration. I wasn't home to have a party, so they sent to party to all 50 of us! The boxes were filled with all of my favorite foods, candies, snacks, and other treats (purchased bulk at BJ's Wholesale Club, of course) with specific instructions for a 16th birthday party I would never forget. Mom and Dad, the tour was one of the best experiences of my life, and the birthday was one of the most special I can remember. I don't know too many other parents who would send a party for 50 on the road via UPS!

Wow, just realized that my 16th birthday was actually 17 years ago!

Anyways, now for a more recent birthday memory - my 30th. The Mad Hatter had been born just shy of 6 months prior, DH and I had just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary that Spring, and life couldn't get better than where it was. I had everything I could have asked for and would have been happy to celebrate my birthday at home, just the three of us. However, DH outdid himself and made me a beautiful dinner party at one of our favorite restaurants (it was going to be a surprise but DH has difficulty keeping secrets, so the party is to this day referred to as the "UN"surprise birthday party). The drinks were flowing, the food was wonderful, and I could not have asked for better company. Both family and friends alike joined me in celebrating a birthday where for the first time in my life I felt entirely complete. Turning 3o was fabulous - it was not about getting older, it was about having everything I could ever want, and counting my blessings for all of it. And I must add that each birthday since the Mad Hatter has arrived has been equally sweet.

Who knows what this birthday will bring?

Maybe some of the best memories yet!

And now, friends, I am anxious to hear from you!

What is your favorite birthday memory?

Lurkers, now is the time to de-lurk!

There is no better time than a party!

Make sure when you fill out the form below, you include your name and blog title.

And thanks again for helping me celebrate!

MLTB Bloggy Birthday Bash Details

I'm sure you've all been waiting with bated breath since this post.

Ha!

In the true spirit of my blog name, I decided that I was going to work hard at learning something new for my birthday.


It has taken me some time (ok, lots of time - and I'm sure there is some way I could have done this much more easily, BUT there is of course a learning curve), and I have managed to design my first graphic in Photoshop.


Definitely not as easy as some of you make it look.


That said, I present to you:

Start thinking now.

Since this is my boring hump-day birthday (you know, the mid point between 30 and 35 with no real significance), I need you all to help me jazz things up.

Think about your favorite birthday memory EVER, and write a post about it.

Then come back on over here and link up with me.

If you want to use my creative masterpiece, feel free to put it on your blog along with your post. I have NO idea how to create the code for you to link back to me by clicking on it, but if you do, GO FOR IT!

And if you don't know either, but still want to use it, just save it to your computer and upload it as a photo (I think. I'm still learning.)

And regardless of whether you use it or not . . .

I am looking forward to hearing your most fabulous birthday memories (and sharing mine with you!)!

Now, just cross your fingers that this learning mommy can figure out how to work Mr. Linky!