Random Facts | Friends Around the World | Arte y Pico Award

Hmmnnnn... shall we take a trip?

Some (maybe not so) random facts about yours truly:

1. When I was in elementary school in Hawaii, I was part of the LEAP (Language Enrichment Arts Program) during grades 1-5. Similar to the GATE (Gifted and Talented Program) you might be familiar with.


2. During those years, I participated in annual Speech Festivals and Writing Festivals.


3. And brought home the highest award (4 stars) almost every year. Almost.


4. I was invited to speak at different schools and clubs (though I can't remember those darned speeches).


5. And received letters from all sorts of VIP's (leaving me wondering who these "famous" people were).


6. In that particular class, I had the same teacher throughout all those years, who encouraged me to run for student body Vice President, even if I was a year too young (position held for 6th graders). We were moving after 5th grade, and they made an exception to allow me to run as a 4th grader.


7. During the campaign, some boy would constantly aggravate me during recess. I finally dropped my sign and pulled that boy across the yard. By his hair.


8. No one else messed with me after that.


9. And I won. By a landslide.


10. That teacher? Who coached me all those years? She still lives in Hawaii and I even had a chance to visit her some years ago, shortly after Hubz and I got married. To this day, we still keep in touch. I'm just not sure if she saw my little playground stunt.
    

That Crazy Mom, April, tagged me with this along with a similar one from Cathy at Me and My World and the lovely Verabear.

And now I'm taggin:

• Not a Day Goes By
  
• Irresistible Fascinations
• Stay at Home Mom
• Earthly Explorations
• Reflexes
  

My girl in Singapore tagged me with this - thanks Jade!!

::Start Copy Here::

Rule:
1. Copy from ::Start Copy Here:: through ::End Copy Here::.
2. Add your blog to the list. Feel free to add all your other blogs. Just make sure to post this to each of the blog you added in the list.
3. Tag other online friends you know.You don’t need to be tag in order to join. If you want to join just post this one in your blog.
4. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list.That way, everyone is happy and can meet new friends too!
5. Come back once in a while to get the master list! Let’s see how this makes our Technorati and PR goes up!
6. DO NOT REMOVE THIS: scrap page made by Yen. Using alphas and tapes from Kate H., flowers from Ida,paper by Catrine.

1. Me and Mine 2.Creative In Me 3.Little Peanut 4. Pea in a Pod 5. Sugar Magnolias 6. Chez Francine 7. Le bric à brac de Cherie 8. La Place de Cherie 9. Supermodel Wannabe 10.Sweetheart Allen 11.Darling Allen 12. PinayLoveStories 13. FilipinoLifeAbroad 14. Bestfriend Blog's 15. Allen'Wifey 16. In The Life Of...Mne 17. Everything Has A Reason 18. In My Kitchen 19. Life and Me by PinayJade 20. Exploring Asia by PinayJade 21. Dance of Motherhood 22. YOUR LINK HERE

Okay peeps, if you're reading this, or if you're listed at the Link2Love page, you are OFFICIALLY TAGGED! :)

Naomi at Irresistible Fascinations just awarded me with this:

Thanks, girl!!

Art y Pico Award Rules:

1. Pick 5 blogs that you feel deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging atmostphere (regardleess of what language).
2. Each award should have the name of the author with a link to their blog.
3. Award winners to post the award with the name and link to the blog of the person who gave them the award
4. Please include a link to the "Arte y Pico" blog so that everyone will know where the award came from.
   

I would LOVE to pass this award on to:

• Mommy Moments
• Happy Meals & Happy Hour
• Life and Moi
• Can of Thoughts
• Verabear
  
  

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What's Your Number?

A Work-At-Home-Mom's "To-Do" List.

Neverending, isn't it? My girl, Vhiel, tagged me with a list of the 5 things I do the most each day:

• EXERCISE
  Rise and shine to get my early workout in
  
  
• MEALS
  Fix a healthy breakfast for the boys before they leave for school, ready to go with packed lunches; Prep a homemade dinner for later that evening.
  
  
• PRE-PRE-SCHOOL
  Work on pre-school curriculum with my potty-trained 3 year old, going on scheduled snack/meal, recess and potty breaks
  
  
• WAHM
  Get four solid hours of uninterrupted [nobody hollering or crying in the background of a conference call] work time for my telecommuting job in hospitality
  
  
• PLAY
  After homework's completed, take the kids to the park for some after-school play time outside, and get ready for some snookie after they go to bed. ;)
  

Oh wait. That's a list of what I WISH I did every day. lol - not what actually gets done.

Realistically?

The kids will eat cereal with cocoa, and Jacob will eat lunch at school while JC brings in lunch from something we probably got at Costco. Ditto for dinner, unless I'm in the mood for a Filipino dish or something to throw onto the grill.

Our curriculum for Joel consists of KPBS and Noggin', with some choice books and DVD's - and maybe some outside play time in our humble backyard with the dog. And hell no - he ain't potty trained yet. We'll be working on that later this month (pray for us, please).

Work hours get squeezed in throughout the day, but my productivity is at its best if I can stay in the office for at least 2 hours straight. In the morning and the afternoon. Yeah, right - like that's gonna happen. Try that with a toddler who's fascinated with his nekkid self while you're on a conference call with your bosses.

Play time? Homework takes forever most days. I'm amazed at the amount of homework that comes in these days. And if they actually finish while there's still daylight out, you're hoping it's not scorching out there at 100+ degrees. Like it is today. At midnight last night it was 88. Eight-eight.

And hell - the snookie's been a little slow since I've been sick all week. Just twice.

Which I still think isn't bad. Tell me I'm not wrong. What's your weekly number?

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Stumblin' Along

Still fairly new to the blogosphere, I sometimes I feel like I'm just stumblin' along.

Well, now, I literally am. lol - I got tagged by Blessed Sanctuary with this Stumble Upon Meme. Check it out - and think of this as an open invitation to all of yous ;)

---

--START COPYING HERE--

Here are the rules:

1. Copy from "START COPYING HERE" to "STOP COPYING HERE".
2. Add your site(s) to the list. Just be sure to post the "StumbleWorthy List" at each site you add.
3. Let me know your blog’s name and url by leaving me a comment HERE. I will add you to the master list.
4. Come back and copy the master list back to your site, often. This will allow the new comers to achieve equal benefit as the late comers do.
5. Register in StumbleUpon and install the toolbar.
6. Go to the sites found on the list and give them a thumbs up (I like it!).
7. Add me as your friend in StumbleUpon: Blanne.

Note: Your url will be deleted in the Master List if you do not comply to the given rules.

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE LIST OR CLICK HERE TO GET A BANNER THAT YOU CAN PUT ON YOUR BLOG. THE MORE PARTICIPANTS, THE GREATER INCREASE IN TRAFFIC! :)

~StumbleWorthy List~

1. Hit-or-Miss 2. Mommy's Little Corner 3.Unpredictable Life 4. The Journey 5. Sigh 6. Say Cheese 7. Make Every Day Your Lucky Day 8. Blessed Sanctuary 9. Hailey's Beats and Bits 10. Photo Hook 11. A Sweet Taste Of Life 12. Nyumix's Blog 13. Juliana's Site 14. Juliana’s Lair 15. Juliana’s World 16. My Library 17. Fun.Fierce.Fab 18. When Silence Speaks 19. Etc Atbp 20. Mariuca - Wishing On A Falling Star 21. Dance of Motherhood 22. Emila’s Illustrated Blog 23. The Other Side of Emila 24. Mariuca's Perfume Gallery 25. Read my Mind 26. Picturing of Life28 27. Spirit of Bonoriau 28. My Careless Whispers 29. Coffee Cup Princess 30. betterthanEzraH 31. Just Another Day 32. Lifepassedby 33. Simple Life 34. A Housewife's Journal 35. Life Together Starts 36. Scrap For Dollars 37. Jesie Blog Journey 38. My Drift 39. Pinay Mommy Online 40. Thesserie 41. Mirage as Usual 42. Photography on the Move 43. KitchenMaus 44. Vienna Daily 45. Days Of Our Life 46. QueenB 47. GreenBucks 48. My Bug Life 49. Filipino in Canada 50. Artsy Creatures 51. Click Here to Forward 52. Day by day 53. Breather 54. Ramblings of the Phat 55. Zubli Zainordin A Total Blog 56. Maiylah's Snippets 57. My Wanderings 58. Picture Clusters 59. Crissy's Haven 60. Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 61. Day Break 62. Pheandy's Blog 64. Perpustakaan 65. The Cat/Dog Log 66. Living Well 67. Art by Anima 68. YOUR BLOG/SITE HERE!

--STOP COPYING HERE--

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A Mother's Love...

It is indeed great to be a mother. Motherhood is such a great blessing. In a child's eye, the mother is the most beautiful woman in his life, for it is from her that he was loved and cherished unconditionally.

Share your favorite Mother's Day quote and link your blog here:

1. Irresistible Fascinations / Naomi 2. Dance of Motherhood / Dette 3. You're next!

Special thanks to Naomi for sharing this with me! In turn, I'd like to share this with Alexandra, Cassie, Katy, Sue, ApplesH and anyone else (including YOU!) who'd like to join in celebrating this upcoming Mother's Day. :)

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My Crazy Eights | Rose Award

ver wanted to know 8 crazy random things about me? Well, you're gonna find out anyway - I got tagged by my new friend, The Sassy Southerner:


Check out my Crazy Eights - yo!

1. When I attend a conference and finally meet someone in person (who only knows me by my name in email), they think they're gonna meet an 80-year old lady with her hair in a bun and glasses on the tip of her nose. Then - in walks me.


2. Hubby and I escape to Vegas 2-3 times a year - you'd hardly recognize me over there. Let's just say that hubby likes to shop for my Vegas digs. ;)


3. I exemplify: "It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for."


4. I'm an organizational fREak. I love to get things organized but can't put my friggin' laundry away by the end of the week.


5. I'm addicted to movies. Screw TV (and those damn commercials) - I can only watch it if I TiVo it. I've got 500+ DVD's stashed and waiting to get systemized (lol) into my new discsox's.


6. I like to get stupid with the kids. Put my fat ass on roller blades for a race around the block, trying to teach myself to swim laps during their swimming lessons or get loud at the - well - anywhere. They should be embarassed.


7. I am a romantic FOOL. I used to dream of quiet evenings after family dinner, weekly dates with the hubz, or maybe even a surprise on my birthday. Then I woke the eff up.


8. But then again, we get our snookie on, like, 3-4 times a WEEK. It doesn't matter if it's already midnight. Someone please tell this mutha to stop complaining already?!

TAGGING RULES:

1. Each player starts with 8 random things about themselves


2. Athe end of your post, tag 8 people and include their names & links


3. Those who are tagged will would post about their own 8 random things, including these rules as well


4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment on their blog and tell them they’ve been tagged, and to come back and read your blog for the whole story.

If you're up for a game of eights, I'm now tagging...

• Pinay Jade
• Life of Syn
• A Mommy's Life
• The Happy Plc
• Not a Day Goes By
• Tales from the Tracks
• Earthly Explorations
• BaReFooTeD Me

The lovely Vhiel at Can of Thoughts passed this beautiful award to me!



Isn't it gorgeous?! Thanks, girl!!

"A rose is a flowering shrub of the genus rosa. It is an ideal gift for someone dear to us like friends, partners in lives and even parents. It’s the classic expression of love because a rose flower pours forth your innermost feelings to your beloved in the most beautiful way.

So give a rose to your loved ones and friends
and make anyone’s heart bloom with joy!"
Guess what ladies? I'm passing this beautiful rose on to each of you as well. Bloggin' just wouldn't be as much fun without my bloggy friends. Enjoy!

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Talk About Inquisitive!

ere's a thought to ponder...

"If you were the ruler of the world and you could have anything you wanted as well as have people do anything you wanted, do you think you would get greedy and mean or would you be a good and fair ruler? "

Me?

I just think it's a trip to hear this question coming from a kid. Definitely an inquisitive youngster. I'd like to say that I'd be a good and fair ruler. I'd like to say that I wouldn't let it all get to my head. But these are all what-if's. We don't always know what we're going to say or do until or unless we're there, right?

But if I were to choose? I guess I'd have to go with the latter. I can actually still hear the ecstatic acclaims throughout the office when I was still on property. My associates were pushing me to go for the Assistant General Manager position, saying, "If it's YOU in the AGM spot, then we'll DEFINITELY get things run right around here!!"

Okay. Coming back down from my high now. But doesn't it feel nice just to hear it?


TAGGING RULES
This question came from "The Kids Book of Questions" by Gregory Stock, PH.D. To play along:

1. Answer the question above on your blog (Remember: Don’t respond as you think others want you to. Respond the way you actually feel! )


2. Add your name/link to the list below
   


3. Pass the tag!
   

THE QUESTIONED BLOGGERS LIST
Jhong, Alpha, Women Xplore, Em, Something Purple, Our Journey to Life, My Planet Purple, Princess Bela, Princess Vien, cookie jar of entertainment, allinkorea, kim, idealpinkrose, korean food, Vamp Squad,Manna from Heaven,And Life Goes On, Can of Thoughts, A Mother's Stuff, http://www.housewifeatwork.blogspot.com/, Pinay Jade, Dance of Motherhood,

This tag came to me from Pinay Jade, and now I'm tagging:

• Mad About Kids
• Life, Or Something Like It
  
• Xbox Wife
  
• Of Live, Love and Being a Mother

Go on, girls - if you feel like playing, holler up and let us know. ;)

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A Makeover at Dance of Motherhood

I'm in love!!

I bumped into "Designed by Lara" a couple of weeks ago in search for a new template. Holy cow! She had some really pretty designs going on - all sold only ONCE. At first I was going to purchase one of her pre-made templates, but as soon as I saw that she creates custom orders as well...

Needless to say, I was sold. :)

And in love with my new makeover. Just in time for my Tuesday Toot!

Thanks Lara!

Pssst! Lara has some specials going on over at her blog. And if you're in need of some tax relief - head on over there today!!!

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12 Months of Personality

I got another tag! This one came over from Viehl at Can of Thoughts.

Thanks, girl!

I'm an Aquarius (water actually seems to follow me everywhere!), so February is my birth month:

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

(I'm not much of a romantic - nor am I as superstitious or ludicrous as I was before. Though, some might argue that point.)

TAGGING RULES:

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months (see below).
3. Pick your month of birth.
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving them a comment.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when yours is up!

And now I'm tagging...

• A Mommy's Life
• Verabear
• Life with Moi
• Of Live, Love and Being a Mother
• Sway My Way
• Whine and Please
• Heart of Rachel
• Life, or Something Like It
• Livin' With Me
• Watching Clouds
• Xbox Wife
• Hip Mama Blog

(Click continue to view all 12 months)

***

The Twelve Months

JANUARY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people’s flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY: Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH: Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL: Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people’s problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY: Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE: Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY: Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people’s feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER: Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER: Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn’t pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER: Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER: Loyal and generous. Sexy. Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Image courtesy of Astrology Weekly

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Tuesday Toot | The Empty Pot

We've got a budding actor in the house - meet "Ping," from "The Empty Pot."

They drama team offered 3 showings to a packed house:

• --Friday Night Dessert Theatre
• --Saturday Night Dinner Theatre
• --Sunday Afternoon Matinee

(Ahem) Not only did our boy take the lead in the annual drama production, but he also made his first directorial debut in a vignette entitled "The Magic Brocade."

This proud momma whooped and hollered during the credits - lol. Even if the lil' sh*t is now officially taller than me, he wasn't the least bit embarassed. He's all, "That's my mom!" :)

"The Empty Pot" by Demi is a lighthearted Chinese folk tale which teaches children the importance of honesty.

Do you have any favorite folk tales from your childhood?

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Love Traffic

Pinay Jade over at Life is Beautiful just tagged me with this - a friendly way to increase both your traffic and technorati rating. :)

So hey folks, if you're reading this and if you feel like playing, join on in! And if you'd be so inclined, feel free to add me to your faves by clicking the button below:

TAGGING RULES

1. Copy all the links below and replace your blog beside the appropriate letter. For example if your blog name starts with the letter "D" then replace the link beside "D" with yours, and put the replaced link at the bottom of the list. Also add the person who tagged you at the bottom of the list.

2. Tag at least 5 people and encourage them to take part of the game - tag blogs only and only those without bad rated material like pornographic, violence, racism etc.

The List:
A acowboyswife.com
B bloggingcents.com
C chatbugkaren.com
D Dance of Motherhood
E everythingandanythingblog.com
F
G GeekMomMashup.com
H hoysater.no
I ipentimento.com
J juliesjournal.com
K kabalyero.com
L Life is Beautiful
M My Happiness Haven
N nicusor.com
O originalmx5.net
P peapodsquadstuff.com
Q qweddings.com
R ringtailsquealer.blogspot.com
S stephanmiller.com
T TenaciousCreations.com
U utada-online.net
V valmg.com
W wickedbabylon.com
X xaviermedia.com
Y yimto.com
Z zbudapest.com

Replaced link: delusionsofgrandeur.org
Previous tagger: Life is Beautiful

I am tagging...

• Livin' With Me
• Pyxarn
• Real World Mom Unplugged
• Mad About Kids
• Life, or Something Like It

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The One About Q&A

Where the hell have I been?

When you have 3 hours of conference calls that coincide with Period End... it pretty much takes over the day. Add in a 6 hour road trip, your son's 7th birthday, and another son taking the lead in the school play (more to come on that!)...

Well, it didn't leave me much time for bloggin'. And I'm totally late with this - my bad!! :(

Here I go:

Savvy PR Chick over at Life or Something Like it tagged me with this meme:

4 Jobs I've Had:

• Navy Exchange Sales Clerk
• Hotel Operations Manager
• Cluster Hotel Sales Manager
• Executive Assistant
  
  

4 Shows on my TiVo/DVR:

• Lost
• Grey's Anatomy
• American Idol
• Don't Forget the Lyrics
  
  

4 Places I've Been:

• California
• Mexico
• Philippines
• Hawaii
  
  

4 Favorite Foods:

• Anything Chocolate
• Pancit Malabon
• Blue Crab and King Crab Legs
• The Ultimate Surf & Turf
  
  

4 CD's Recently Listened To:
Crap. I haven't listed to any CD's/iPod playlists for a while... let's try music genres...

• Christian Rock
• Old School Hip Hop
• Country
• Pop
  
  

4 Things You Can Do to Make My Day:

• Have a good hearted laugh
• "Pay it Forward"
• Leave a comment ;)
• Do something out of the ordinary for someone you love... Mom, Dad, a friend or significant other... Anything to brighten their day :)
  
  

4 People I Tag:

• Vera Bear
• Shonnte
• Whiney Momma
• Pinay Jade

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Tuesday Toot | Book Club Makeover

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had started a local book club – for a couple of crazy reasons. Well (lol) I guess I’m getting a little adventurous, coz I decided to give my book club blog a total makeover.

Whoo-hoo! Hope you check it out – it’s actually a Book and Movie Fan Club – mostly coz I like to lose myself in both. ;)

Do you belong to a Book Club or Movie Club? Or what about... a virtual book club? I've never done that before?!

Happy Tootin’ Tuesday!

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Tuesday Toot #3 WAHM Productivity Level

For the 3rd edition of my Tuesday Toot, I have to tell you - I’ve been on this incredibly productive roll. In the last 3 days, I’ve actually completed the following:

• Moved plants into the backyard
• Prepped the front yard for new flowers
• Remodeled my blog (hurray!)
• Customized my template in Cr8Buzz
• Cleaned off the piles of paperwork on my desk
• Organized the medicine cabinet & first aid supplies
• Got the boys to clean out the playroom – beginning with the CLOSET
• Organized all of our receipts to send with our electronic organizer to the CPA
• Created a *new* static "Link2Love" page on this blog for my new bloggin' friends!

All this and I still somehow managed to get my hours in for work, feed the boys 3 squares (okay – leftovers included, I admit) and run around like fools playing hide and go seek.

It might help if Joel could count past 3.

Lol - I just hope I can keep this productivity level up.

Yeah, right.

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Conquering the Kitchen Counter

What does Tuesday Toot mean?

"Well, it means every Tuesday, you get to post an accomplishment that you have done. As moms sometimes, we are quick in praising our kids and others about their accomplishments but we are “shy” when it comes to our achievements so … here is our chance. -Mommy Community"

Last week I was inspired by Melanie to finally clear off my kitchen counter. Which, can be quite, cumbersome, if you're like me and like to use this valuable counter space for your household's hub.

Mail, bills, school notices - I swear, I can NOT stay on top of everything coming in! The counter I use is our unofficial bar, and divides the kitchen from the family room. Yes - right out there in the open in the middle of the whole house.

Skinny *ss is always on my back about this mess. Mutterin' under his breath and talkin' smack. The worst part?

I can't talk back 'coz I know it's true. :( lol

But.... now I can!!

Let's just see how long this lasts. :)

Is your hub in the kitchen, too? Bet it looks better than mine did!

Continue...

The Ultimate Compliment

Whoa. I JUST got off the phone with my boss, and I'm dancing on clouds!!

I've been working from home for several years now, always trying to figure out how to manage the work/life balance. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

But since I went part-time from 40 to 20 hours a week, I've been really particular about NOT working extra hours to get the job done. Yes, I want to do the best job I possibly can. No, I don't want to forever bend over backwards for it - with little respect for myself and my family time. I told you I'm a b*tch. ;)

I was nervous that this decision would affect my annual review... but, I'm taking advantage of this meme to toot my own horn: I received the highest merit increase given in our entire region in at least 5 years.

Turns out, both of my bosses had to go to the Regional Vice President for approval, who naturally pushed back. But I have to tell you, it wasn't the $$ that did it for me (though it'll help to pay towards some credit cards!)

I