Ann Again...and again

So I get the mail from my outside mail bin. I bring in a bunch of advertisements and nonsense. As I'm rifling through the pile of papers a yellow jacket smiles back at me from the Pizza Hut ad. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!! I throw the paper out the door and my dog goes chasing after it. I go after him so he doesn't get a stinger in his mouth, again , and, well, I believe I need a little Virtual Girls Night Out!!! This is our Virtual Girls Night Out (boys welcome too). Our social evening without having to get out of our footie p.j.'s. We're here to blog-hop and play. The Virtual GNO is your chance to hang out with your blog friends and hopefully make some new friends as well! So sign Mr. Linky below and join in the fun! Let's Dance! U2 - Get On Your Boots (Video no longer available) I'm going to be heading to Seattle with the family soon. It's just a 3 hour drive so that car ride shouldn't be too bad. ( Ear plugs Ann... don't forget to pac

I just couldn't get enough of my cousin Terek. Poor guy . (I wish I still had that coat!) Visit more images at Jen's Cheaper Than Therapy "A Thousand Words Thursday"

Time for another installment of " Is It Wrong ?" Is It Wrong... To keep signing your children up for after-school activities because you just want those extra minutes of no screaming? Is It Wrong... To take your hungry kids to Costco so they'll gobble up the samples because you're too lazy to cook? Is It Wrong... To offer food to the neighbor kids that you know they're allergic to so they'll stop coming over to your house every day ? * Not that I've done any of these things. Just wondering.

I finally lost the weight and was able to fit into a gorgeous pair of slate grey pants that I'd found at Ann Taylor. In my earlier attempts to wear these pants I found the pocket outline to show way too much. It drew attention where I did NOT want any attention at all, so I cut them out. (I think I saw Stacy London from TLC's "What Not To Wear" do it once.) That was a while ago, so when I put the pants on yesterday to accompany my mom to her church service, all I was focusing on was the fact that I could actually fit into them. Finally! (The Wii Fit is workin' for me!) The time came for us to walk to the alter for Communion. I was in front of my mother. Imagine her surprise when she see's her daughter kneel down at the alter only to have a bit of cheek show where once there was a silk lined back pocket. "Ann!" She loudly whispered "Pull down your top! I can see your bottom!" I looked over my shoulder at her 'What?!?' It

Oh my goodness, I need this party! I'm so ready to throw the t.v. out the window if everything is going to be about the economy. I can't take it anymore!!! I believe it's taking a toll on us all. I had a situation with a driver who honked at me and I responded in a very unfamiliar way. The driver and I both ended up at the grocery store and I went up to this stranger and said "Excuse me. You honked at me?" And she went off! Yikes! I stood my ground and gave it right back to her. That is so-o-o unlike me. I blame the economy! ;-> Argh. I don't want to be angry any more. I want to laugh and feel good. Let's start now! This is a Virtual Girls Night Out (boys welcome too), a social evening without having to get out of our cozy pajamas. We are here to blog-hop and play. The Virtual GNO is a way of meeting up with bloggers you know, and make some new friends as well. So sign Mr. Linky below and join in the fun! Time To Dance! Seal " Get

While my youngest is busy at school our Maddy is keeping the Barbie's company. And a sweet 'Thank You' to the " Rockin' Mama " Caryn who was my Valentine's Day Goody Swap partner from Kailani's An Island Life . Caryn sent these goodies and I can't wait to make these cookies. Thanks again Caryn!! *****Go see other photos at Jen's "Cheaper Than Therapy" A Thousand Words Thursday*****

Since I started spending time in the 'blogosphere' my husband has noticed a change in our checking account. The change is that there is a little more " change " in it. Before I began writing my little stories, this was a typical family morning routine: wake-up to the alarm, make coffee, get my girls up, make breakfast, get everyone dressed, drive to school THEN go browse at Target , or Kohl's , or Michael's . You get the picture. There would always be a little something that caught my eye, or something that would look adorable on my girls. Nothing absolutely necessary, it was pure frivolity. Well, now my browsing is done on the computer, meeting fellow bloggers and following their morning routines, or train of thought, or lovely creations. I've found that my shopping now consist's of the grocery store and Etsy . I know this doesn't help the nations economy however, it's great for our family's economy! And that's where my focu

I'm embracing my inner "Cougar" and showing David Cook once again. ( I *puffy* heart David Cook. ) The story line part of the video has absolutely nothing to do with the words he's singing. Ridiculous. But I love the song. David Cook " Light On" (*video no longer available*) Videos *That has got to be one of the dirtiest counters in town. That poor boy scrubs it for practically the whole video.*

I don't mind when my girls have friends over. I'm happy that these kids seem to like being here. They're silly and funny and it keeps me on my toes. However, I think I've been making our house a little to inviting day after day and I'm getting burnt out. After picking my girls up from Sunday School a little friend asked if she could come over. I wasn't surprised. Her parents and I did the nod of "Is it OK? Yea, It's OK" and the girls piled in the van. Then another little friend ran over and asked if they could play as well. Alright. That makes one friend each. That's fair. Come on over. When we made it into the house the phone was ringing. When my youngest answered I heard her say "Let me ask my mom". Uh-Oh. It seems that a little neighbor friend had a play-date going but they were bored and wanted to come over and have the play-date at our house. I have no idea of what came over me when these words came out of my mou

Gee... is there some kind of "love" thing going on? I'm being reminded everywhere I turn that love should be in the air. Thank goodness I love "love" or I'd be annoyed to no end right now ;-> . So yeah, I'm giving in to the hoopla and sharing some love at our Virtual Girls Night Out. This is a Virtual Girls Night Out (boys welcome too :-> ), a social evening without having to get out of our cozy pajamas. We are here to blog-hop and play. The Virtual GNO is a way of meeting up with bloggers you know, and make some new friends as well. So sign Mr. Linky below and join in the fun! Time To Dance! The Cure " Friday I'm In Love " The Cure - New Music - More Music Videos Yes, their nutty, and terrific! Am I the only one who remembers The Cure? C'mon, be honest. Remember their video where they're inside a armoir tumbling down a hill? Ah, the '80's. If you remember it all your shoulder pads were too small. Let'

Lordy, Lordy. I need some mercy today. As you're reading this I should be at the dentist. *gulp* I'm sad to say that I have some kind of condition that makes my nerves very, very difficult to numb. It takes everything the dentist has to get me to a point of not being able to feel the work being done. So, today I am being sedated for the first time. My glorious mother is driving me there and back and gracious friends are driving my children home from school. (My lovely husband will take charge in the morning.) After many intense memory sessions, I remembered the exact moment my dentist "issues" began. I was 7 years old, at the dentist to get a cavity filled... again. (My genetics has left me with poor teeth. Darn my sweet-tooth parents!) I was lying in the dentist chair when something over-came me and I started to go into a panic about the novocaine. My dentist had no patience and put his hand over my mouth so I wouldn't scream. The thing was, he had h

I want the door held opened for me. I want the chair pulled away from the table for me to sit in. I want flowers! I want cards! I want appreciation! ( Wait... I'm getting off topic here. Valentine's Day is coming soon Honey, if you're reading this ;-> ) Miss Manner's had a question today from a gentleman asking if he should continue to hold doors open for women. He was raised in the South however, when he moved North he found his gesture to annoy more women than he ever expected. I kind of get it. I asked friends their opinion and it created an interesting discussion. Some women think it shows weakness on their part to have a man open a door. Some feel very uncomfortable, they feel a stranger is getting too close. OK. I hear ya'. But just to take the gesture for what it is, showing respect for your presence, that's what I go with. I do NOT feel that I owe a man anything other than a 'Thank You' when a door is held open. (I'm talkin

First things first! The winner of the "He's Just Not That Into You" Soundtrack and hoodie... True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 52 Result: 22 Powered by RANDOM.ORG That belongs to Creative Junkie ~ "Very cool giveaway ... and I'm loving that song now!" Congratulations to you!!! I was so totally honest with this. No cheating, no peaking. I counted each and every entry. Thanks to all who commented and grabbed buttons and Twitted and posted and... whew. I appreciate your efforts so much . And how about this... my dear friend Kat at Sassy Irish Lassie is continuing in the spirit by holding this give-away now! You have another chance!!! Please go visit her and enter to win :-> And now for the Tuesday Tune Lily Allen - "The Fear"

So this guy makes a pair of jeans and puts his name on the back pockets. OK. That's fine. That's been happening since the beginning of denim jeans with Levi Strauss. HOWEVER I have to say, this guy has crossed the line. Have you seen Ed Hardy Jeans ? Seriously? I mean, come on! If you have these jeans, I don't mean to offend. It's just a fashion choice I find puzzling. I know that if I wore these jeans there would be more of Mr. Hardy then he intended. My back-side would show his full first name and his middle initial! I think I'll stick with my little red Levi's tab, thank you very much. ** I hope you had a great time at the Virtual GNO! See you next Friday! **

Oh yeah baby! The full moon will be here on Monday. I love it. You never know what kind of craziness will happen. And with next Friday being the 13th I think we're in for quite a week. Hold on to your hats! This is a Virtual Girls Night Out (boys welcome too :-> ), a social evening without having to get out of our cozy pajamas. We are here to blog-hop and play. The Virtual GNO is a way of meeting up with bloggers you know, and make some new friends as well. So sign Mr. Linky below and join in the fun! Time For Some Music! To go along with my give-away this week from " He's Just Not That Into You " here's another great song from the soundtrack. Tristan Prettyman " Madly " Tristan Prettyman - New Music - More Music Videos The movie comes out today. If you see it, let me know what'cha think. I know I'll see it but I'm focusing on seeing all of the Oscar nominated movies first. Guitar Guy and I try to see them all but we usually onl

I feel odd when I pick-up my children from school. Am I paranoid? I get the feeling that the little clicks of certain mommies are watching me walk by and making comments after I've passed. How old am I again? I didn't grow up in this neighborhood but I did live in the same town. When I was young this neighborhood had a bad reputation. But as time passed gentrification changed the area a bit. Yes, there is a Starbucks. And yes, there are cute shops locally owned by wonderful artists. The "old-timers" aren't happy with these changes however. And I think most of them attend my children's school. I guess I represent this "change" and I'm not appreciated for the fact that I get out of my pajamas to pick-up my girls from school. I have big-girl pants and I'm going to wear them! Perhaps I'm not appreciated for the fact that I like to give my children hugs and kisses when I see them, not a "What the hell took you so long?" (

With the support of the One2One Network my " Tuesday Tunes " is having it's own give-away this week! Check this out: Erin McCarley " Love, Save The Empty " Erin McCarley - New Music - More Music Videos I love this song. The piano just gets me. This is just one of the great songs on the " He's Just Not That Into You" Soundtrack . Also showcased is Maroon 5, Lily Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae, Wilco, The Ting Tings, Keane.... Man! There's a lot of great music on this soundtrack. You can buy it in stores starting today, HOWEVER, I bet you'd like to win it instead, right?! WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!! Also included in this give-away is a super cute hoodie. A little black number, goes-with-everything style. Cute! Alright. Let's get it started. Here's what you do to enter to win this fun package. 1.) Leave a comment to earn 1 entry (Include e-mail address please) 2.) Write about the give-away on your blog to earn 1 entry (Let me kno