99 Things

99 Things


Found this over at  NavyGirl blog....Hmmmm....

Instructions: The post is a list of 99 things you could have done, and you are supposed to bold the ones that you yourself have done.



1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disney World

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris - on the list for summer 2011!

13. Watched a lightning storm - Saturday night even!

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - again, on the list!

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

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 your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself 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

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - see number 12!
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 - this year!

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

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

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 a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

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. Got a tattoo


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


Woooo, there's a few things on here I should get crossed off!  43 out of 99.  Hmmm...

Five Question Friday!

Link up with Mama here!

1. Who is the better cook, you or your spouse?

I got the kitchen, he has the grill.

2. How often do you talk to your mom?

Sometimes everyday, sometimes every other.  Sometimes...we just don't want to talk, so then once a week.

3. Are you adventurous in the kitchen or stick to the recipe?

Little bit of both. After the first time or two with the recipe, I will start to switch it up.  Or sometimes YOU JUST KNOW what will be better.

4. Is your second toe longer than your big toe?

On my right foot, yes!  Know what it means?  I'll tell you.  The nice little ladies that do my feet say - it means you wear the pants in your relationship.  AHAHHAAA.  I love how they think.  Guess it's a superstition, or maybe even wives tale?

5. Do you dress up for Halloween? (Bonus question: What will you be this year?)

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. This year, I'll pass!  Going to a wedding on Halloween eve instead. Maybe I'll sport Black and Orange tho!

MILS Friday Fill In #18

It's Friday ALREADY!?  I am doing this weeks AND last weeks since I ... was missing...

Head over to visit Wifey at Wife of a Sailor!

1.Are you a night owl or an early bird?

Both!  Early bird because I have to be during the week. I love when I can wake up with the sun. Night owl because I never think about being tired the next morning - until it's the next morning!

2.What makes you jealous?

Ooooh, the dark ugly side!  Jealous -
I am jealous of nothing!  Make it possible for yourself!

3.Have you started Christmas/holiday shopping yet? When will you finish? (There’s only 63 days left!)

I have started. I will finish the week before Christmas.

4.What would you have a personal chef make you tonight?

Right now? I want turkey and stuffing. I would love stir fry with zucchini and eggplant. Umm, an apple pie. I could really keep going...Cake with buttercream frosting.

5.Where was your first kiss?

I was 5. Kenny. On the tire mountain at school during recess!  Really tho...Ummm as a teenager, hmmm, I can't remember.  That might be a bad thing!

Questions from last weeks MILS #17

1.What are some things on your bucket list? (from New Girl on Post)

2.How long have you been a MilSpouse and where have you been stationed so far? (from Raising Roscoe)

3.What is a list of songs that sums up your life so far? (from Confessions of a Sailor’s Wife)

4.What is your favorite kind of pizza?

The kind I can eat!  Mmmm, Za sounds tasty right now... White pizza, chicken, onions, mushrooms.

1. Premier - sharing the awesome jewelry & the business

2. We're under the 2 month mark!

3. I have great health, family and a happy life.

5. What are 3 good things in your life right now?

List of songs?  WOW!  I got all kinds....

Taking Chances - Celine Dion

Freedom 90 - George Michael

Thnks fr th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy

Lip Gloss - Lil Mama

I Decided - Solange

I Could Not Ask for More - Sara Evans

Angel - Natasha Bedingfield

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley

Just Dance - Lady Gaga

Here for the Party - Gretchen Wilson

There are SO many more...but...I'll stop here!

Chief and I reconnected back in January and got serious in May. He's been in Hawaii just over 2 years, less than a year to go!

Learn how to garden. Take golfing lessons. Visit another country. Share family traditions. Build a home for habitat. Become a jeweler full time - quit my day job.

Happy House-iversary to Me!

I can't believe it's been one year since I closed on my house. And to think of all of the changes that were made in SUCH a short time. And to think I have so much more I want to do to the house. Here are a few of the updates. It's funny even looking back at these, knowing how much more has been done since this!

The banister/steps on the back deck were added last November. This is USS Back Porch. Many nights have been spent on the deck this summer.

This is Minny's room  - she has a ton of closet space behind me along with a huge sitting room that you can't see. Painted in Heffalump Purple with Sparkles

I wasn't kidding when I said I brought the beach to my house. My favorite room in the entire house. The bathroom.  The blue is the sky, the tan tiles, the sand. the bright white fixtures. This is my little slice of heaven when it's -20 outside!

From the front of the house...no more flag pole, shrubs or bushes in front of the house...Steps/Brick repainted.  All new doors and windows. Phase 3 - remove all rock and make grass only. I sure would like something diff than black trim, but, it will do for now!

This was the start of the awesome floors I did in the house. Refinished the hardwoods DARK, I love them!  So warming.



Just getting started in the kitchen!  This will be the one room I completely redo someday.  You can't see it but, the breezeway/soon to be dining room is behind me...I will post pictures after it's complete next week.

Minny "grilling"at the new house.

And last but not least, my favorite addition to the new house, a puppy to love. We missed him so much!!!!

I love my home and am so happy life unfolded the way that it did. How amazing. <3

Role Call!

Here I am! 

Things have been busy and I am still trying to get used to this schedule I have created for Minny and I. I know Minny is struggling with the hours we're keeping now too, because once we hit the weekend, she is ready for bed!  I have the kid who refuses to go to bed until she is forced to. Why?  She's her mother's daughter!  She can't miss a thing!  Needless to say, Minny was asleep on the couch by 9pm Friday night, but I had nothing to do with it!

Last week I received my "Fall Swap" package from Allie at My Marine and Me.  Thanks Allie!  How cute is she?  2 super cute plates, cups, a frame, fall towels and canny!  How fun was this swap? 

Last week we watched KickAss. Oh my goodness!  Note to self, do not watch with little eyes and ears around. Thankfully Minny was already in bed.  Definitely a great movie, certainly NOT what I expected.  Yesterday we watched....Stomp the Yard 2!   Love the steppin movies. 

Saturday was a day for the ladies!  I signed Elise up with Premier and am excited to have her for sure!  Looking forward to her training show coming up. She has been a customer since I started as a Jeweler, and has always talked about doing it, but...never did, until Saturday!  Saturday night Sarah Pants, Mavin and I had an ABS outing. Why is it when you get together with your best girlfriends you are always guaranteed a laugh or more?  Heavens. I had to work at Tailgate hosting karaoke that night. And who knew a cowbell could bring so much entertainment?  We got lost on the way home, laughed a lot and created more memories.

Minny and I were driving along last week when she said, hey mom look.  Dangit. Why does she have to just tickle me like this....right over top of her glasses even.

Pat - Maivin's hubs - and his parents for YEARS have always had the "who found the eggnog first" contest. So I love finding it...Can you believe ALREADY yesterday it was found at the grocery store?  Sprinkler Girl just had to bring it home already!  Sure glad I sent her off to get Biscuits for me last night!

Pants and I hit Target last night after I returned my karaoke equipment, I spent $22 and saved... $49!  Right?  Crazy, I know!  I was SO excited. Picked up a bunch of stuff we needed for the house.

Do any of you have a guilty pleasure?  What is it?

shhhhh....this is mine.  and since it's getting colder here, I will be in the "Happy Capsule" more.

Five Question Friday

Link up with Mama over at My Little Life

1. What do you listen to while driving?

Turn it up loud, sit down, LET'S GO!  I love all kinds of music! Right now it's the local Top 40 station. Love the old school funk most! 

2. What is your least favorite thing about Fall?

Here in MN it means that WINTER and SNOW are around the corner. I was kind of hoping that shiny thing they call a snowblower was just for looks...damn.   

3. What does your dream house look like, inside and out?

I live in my dream house. Sounds funny, eh?  I bought my first fixer upper, forclosure home ALMOST a year ago. I have put in new windows, doors, painted from top to bottom, refinished hardwoods, new carpet upstairs, deck railing, tore out and had a contractor come in and make a whole new bathroom. Carribean blue walls, tan stone tiled shower and floors with bright white fixtures, and a sun on the ceiling.  See where I went with that?  Yep, the beach. Even in the middle of winter here.  Needless to say, it is my first home, and I did it as a single mom, and rocked it out!  I would be happy here the rest of my life. If Chief decides to retire back to MN, we have a comfy cozy little place. :)

4. Would you ever own a minivan?

Ahahahhaa, oh. ahem. No. Bless the hearts of the people who drive them. I won't even own a conversion van. No. That's my final answer.

5. Do you wash new clothes before wearing them?
Depends what it is, really. Underwear, socks, yes. I don't think so about anything else. New sheets - FOR SURE

MILS Friday Fill In #16

Link up with Wifey at Wife of a Sailor!

1.What is the longest road trip you’ve ever taken?

Longest...I went with my mom and my grammy out to British Columbia one summer. We left Minnesota, drove thru the Dakotas, and then the mountains, stayed a few places along the way. Stopped in Washington to visit a family friend and then many places along the way in Canada where we had family. Saw lots of really aweseome things, went across this bridge - where my mom and I were scared to pieces...

Shopped in Chinatown where we got a lobster, that stayed in the trunk over the course of the HOT day, and then into the freezer, that proceeded to snap out at my mom over dinner!  Was priceless. I was all of 13 on this trip. Certainly something I will remember the rest of my life. We stayed with a Phillipino lady in Vancouver who was a friend of the family. Introduced my to cellophane noodles and tofu. YUM!  We visited Victoria by ferry, and I was in love.

2.Do you collect anything? Tell us a bit about it.

Dollheads.  I know! Sounds crazy!  Here's my favorite post of things I collect....

3.What is your favorite part about being an adult?

Responsibility, even if sometimes it is overwhelming. Watching my daughter grow into the most amazing little lady. Reconnecting with Prince Charming "Chief" of my dreams and being in love.  There are days I'd throw it all in to be 5 again tho!

4.What song brings a tear to your eye?

Anything Bing Crosby sings. Reminds me of my daddy...RIP dad.

5.Describe your first plane ride (how old you were, where you were heading, etc).
Does it count if I was 2 weeks old? My mom was the Queen for Daughters of the Nile here in Minneapolis. We went to ... Santa Fe, New Mexico for a huge convention. My mom was pretty important!

It's about time!!!

The past couple weeks have been nutso for me!  With Minny's new schedule to include Girl Scouts, Dance, Therapy, Church and other social events along with my day job, Premier business and that big 9th birthday celebration, holy cow, holy busy!! Did I mention someone may have been in port, too?  "insert giddy here"
Our lives get progressively busier every year she goes back to school. For those of you with kiddos, do you see the same pattern here? Wowzas. Speaking of which...Minny just had a birthday...How many of you or your kids were losing molars by age 9? WOW. This picture is from the first one she lost on Sunday. Tuesday if you can believe it, lost the other one in class!  Oh my my my...

I am pretty excited. I place an order with Mrs. Gambizzle today and can't wait to receive the pieces!  The necklace is for me and the keychain for Chief's mom for the holidays. I can't believe it's less than 3 months until Chief will be visiting! I can't tell you how DING DANG excited I am. Every day is a day closer.
And that means he will be telling me just where we're moving. And I am excited and nervous and and and about that too. He has some really great opportunities to choose from for sure.
I heard from my middle brother Joe today. He and his wife are flying in the night before Thanksgiving from Montreal to surprise my mommy!  Needless to say, I picked having Christmas at my house for the holidays this year...and no one spoke up about Thanksgiving...You know what that means?  Yep, I'm hosting both! I am just thankful that I have a home, and an awesome family to celebrate with. Chief will be the only one missing, but soon enough we'll be able to celebrate together all of the holidays.  It's a surprise to my mommy that Joe and Myrtelle are coming, James lives about 40 minutes from me and Michael lives 20 minutes. Mom is almost 3 hours, but it will TOTALLY be worth the surprise.
I am sending my Fall Swap package out today and am super excited for her to receive it! Yay!
We watched Obsessed last night...Woooweee!  Gooooood movie if you haven't seen it. Wow. Not what I expected at all.
More soon, back to my crazy life!

Birthday Fun!

Somebody turned 9 yesterday, yep, Minny. We had a BLAST! I used to have birthday party anxiety...but after yesterday, no more! We prepared cuppycakes, a chocolate fountain with tons of different foods to dip, played pin the tail on the donkey and Mummy wrap. The kids loved the mummy wrap, and I would definitely play it again at a party!!! We are so blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives. Here are some photos from an awesome day.

Breakfast in Bed, just as she asked for.

Her spectacular cake.

sorry the pics are sideways!  ooops!  One of the mummys!

Another mummy breaking free!

This was toooooo cute

Chocolate Chocolate cake, made special for M by Sprinkler Girl.

Special shout out picture for Chief as he's in port right now!!!

MILS Friday Fill In #16

Friday means MilSpouse Friday Fill-In. Wife of a Sailor has all the questions, so link up if you wish and join the fun.

What is the silliest get-up you have ever worn outside of a Halloween party? (from To The Nth)

When my friend Jeremiah decided to move to another state with his family we had a huge going away party for him. He always had the fun spikey hair that reminded me of cartoon hair. Anyways, I spent 3 hours getting ready for his party - on my hair. My extra long crazy fun hair matched his that night. I don't remember that my outfit was anything extraordinary, but my hair sure was!  He loved it!

What is something that you gave up in order to live the military lifestyle? (from Pennies from Heaven)

I haven't given up anything, since Chief and I are in different places. I can see in the future when we make the decision to move forward what I will give up...the place I call home, even tho I will keep it for us to come back to. Having my girlfriends near. And maybe the bird...I can't see him taking travel well. 

If money wasn't a factor and you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? And why? (from Life and Times of a Displaced Jersey Girl)

Atlantis. Machu Picu. Great Wall of China. Russia. Italy. Egypt. I can't pick just one. I want to see the history, and take in the culture.

If you were going to join the military, what branch would you join? Or which MOS/rating would you choose? (from And Never Did You Think)

Back when I was young and dumb I wanted to join the Marines and be a MP. Yep. Then I decided I wasn't cut out for the military. 

What is your favorite thing to make for dinner? (from Armendinger Party of 4)

This week - Tator Tot Hot Dish, I've made it twice! Part of it because it's been so chilly here lately. I love to make hamburger, rice and gravy with lots of pepper, and a dash of salt.  Mmmm...I'm hungry.

My fav to do...GRILL!  Everything. In the summer. I may even attempt to grill this winter dangit!