Photo Challenge: Day in your life

I did this one time on a message board that I am part of and the response was a lot of fun. So I hope some of you would like to participate.

The challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to photograph a day in your life. It can be any day, but there is a simple rule – You can not take pictures of any people. The idea is to use objects to convey what it is you are doing.

Who’s up to the challenge?

Prime Time Emmys

Nothing really jumped out to me as OMG, Stunning last night...or anything too horribly ugly. But here are some of my thoughts:

Best Dressed:



Tina Fey & Mariska Hargitay



Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen (I love that Modern Family!)



Julie Benz


Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy, what a gorgeous couple!

The handsome men:



Ryan Kwanten. (I think he is from True Blood??)



Jon Hamm, oh so handsome!



Neil Patrick Harris. I <3 the Doogie!



Jim Parsons! All the pictures of him look waxy...too much make up, but hello it is SHELDON!! And he won!!! Nerds rule!



And seriously, there is no one more handsome than Mr. George Clooney!

And the WTF's:



I have no idea what is going on with the top half of Rose Byrne's dress. And the hair is a fright.



So many people chose Lea Michele as one of the best dressed of the night. I hate it, hate the bottom, all the ruffles.



Oy, Lauren Graham, oy!

And an undecided:



Honestly I don't know what I think about January Jones dress. Normally she is just stunning. The color is gorgeous...the cone bra is odd, the hair is a mess.

Another Monday has arrived.

Monday comes way too early. At least this week is leading up to a holiday weekend.

How was your weekend, my lovely family and friends?

I went to Hobby Lobby on Saturday. Oy. Such a dangerous place for me…really any craft store is. Shelley had mentioned that the Hobby Lobby near her in Arkansas had a great sale on fall/Halloween items. So I stopped at Borders (couldn’t find anything I wanted) and then headed over to HL. Boo on my local Hobby Lobby as they didn’t have anything on sale for Halloween. Oh there was a LOT of cute stuff, but not on sale. However, there was one aisle of Thanksgiving directions, one aisle (both sides) of fall leaves/flowers, one aisle (one sided) of Halloween decorations, and then 9 aisles, both sides of Christmas stuff as well as all the Christmas trees out. Really? It isn’t even September yet!

However, I saw plenty of Christmas stuff that I want. Does anyone do themes for Christmas or do you just decorate with everything you have? I have a lot of snowmen and usually that is my theme for everything. But this year I want to start getting a penguin themed tree going.





Did anyone else watch the Primetime Emmy Awards last night? (My next post will have some fashion from the night.) Anyone that knows me knows how ecstatic I was that Jim Parsons (Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory) won lead actor for a comedy. Much deserved and he is absolutely hysterical. And Modern Family is one of my favorite new comedies so I was thrilled for their huge win as Best show, Comedy. I have a soft spot for ol’ Al Bundy, Ed O’Neil. And that show is just a riot. I was bummed that LOST got shut out completely, though. Your thoughts on the show? How did you like Jimmy Fallon as a host?

I need Autumn to hurry up and get here!

After a three day severe heat advisory in AZ, I just have to say I miss:

I love this!

Sesame Street Corn Maze info

I once did a corn maze. Me, my mom, a co-worker, brother Jeremy, and his then girlfriend. We were in there for a good couple of hours and were completely lost. Jeremy threatened someone with bodily harm and then we decided we were forging our own path out of there. Silly us found out the next day that the answers to the clues that we were bombing on following were on the bottom of the map. Duh!

I imagine this Sesame Street corn maze would be an all day affair. *sighs*

And so it begins...

Another week, that is. All yesterday all I thought about was how nice a nap would be…I was so sleepy that it was a fight against myself to not go curl up in bed for a while but I resisted. I should have obviously caved and took the nap as I woke up at midnight with a headache and didn’t sleep for more than maybe an hour tops (not straight through, mind you) for the rest of the night.



But, at least, yesterday morning started out fantastic! I got up, came downstairs, got me a bowl of totally not good for you sugary cereal, sat on the couch in my pj’s and watched cartoons. Yep! I sure did. Watched about 2 hours of “Phineas and Ferb” before getting up and going to take a shower and getting on with my day. It was the perfect way to start the day. No one else was up (the brother is the only one home with me right now and he was sleeping) and I just had peace.



And I did make a totally scrumptious lunch yesterday of Italian sausage ravioli. Yum!!! (I made an equally delicious stroganoff dinner, thank you very much.) I envision myself to be a total bad ass chef. I love recipe books…I love reading recipes and always think “Yep, I can make that.” Yeah…I don’t cook that often. But in my mind I am 4 star all the way.


Remember when Bath & Body Works had the cute little pink and black ladybug air freshener that I had to go buy immediately for my car? Aaaaah, they have a purple one!! I must own it!! And the scent is island margarita. FABULOUS!!! As I said – pay day, I have a date with B&BW for some new treats for me



If I had the money and the time off of work, I would be all over Jet Blue's All you can jet deal. For $600 you get to fly wherever you want (within the Jet Blue network) between September 7th - October 6th. I could have some serious fun with that one!

Have you heard about the $578 million dollar school in Los Angeles?? Check it out here. I can't even imagine...

Oh Friday, I bow before thee!

This has been the longest week EVER! I swear it has felt like Monday all the way through to today…and today still has some Monday qualities to it.



TGIF, my lovelies! Cheers!! What is everyone up to for the weekend? I am not quite sure what I have planned due to an unexpected issue that popped up. I have a free movie ticket, however, so I will probably still take in “Eat Pray Love”. (If you live in a state that has AMC theaters and you go to the movies a lot, you should sign up for their Movie Watchers card. It is free and you get points for all movies you see which give you discounts at the concession stands and free movies.)


Where do you find yourself doing most of your blogging? I ask this because I find that I do most of my blogging while at work. Well the basic blogging, that is. I always have an email box open at all times and adding to it as the day goes on for either my blog or my private journal. Writing is therapeutic to me, even if all I am writing about is mindless fluff. So I usually do the outline of the blog while at work and then when I get home I add in the graphics and links, if any.

So my topic of the day is Do you have any odd, borderline OCD, habits? Because, baby, let me tell you, I’ve got some!

* If I am eating a fruit snack (love the Scooby Doo ones the best), the pieces have to all be separated so they aren’t touching and I divide them by color. Blue is eaten first, green last. (I divide candy pieces by color as well.)

* I can not leave my room in the morning until I double check that computer/monitor are off, radio is off, fan is on, and TV remote is by the bed. I will get half way down the stairs and have to go back up and double check.

* I also can not leave the drive way if I am the last one to leave the house without making the garage door is shut. I have been known to take a picture of the closed door just for piece of mind. (I have a fear of the house being broke into for some reason.)

*I can not sleep if the top sheet is tucked in. They have to be pulled free of the bed or I get a feeling of being confined.

Just a few oddities. I love my oddities…they give me personality, they are quirky. I like being quirky.

Bath and Body Works and I have a date on payday! They have too many awesome new scents (including the fabulous Halloween ones) out that I need to stock up on.


How cute is that???

Shop their Halloween Boo-tique

My parents are in Idaho until Tuesday. They left Molly behind so I spent Thursday evening watching TV downstairs so she had company. (We watched “Wipe Out” because let’s face it, it is hilarious when someone gets socked in the face or falls down. I laughed, Molly just chewed her bone. She isn’t much for conversation.) She did however get a little rambunctious over her big green ball. She is so cute. (Tyson, for the record, was upstairs being the grumpy cat that he always is.)

Day 30/30!!

First off…I made it!! Whoot!! Okay, now to settle down and here we go with day 30!

Day 30- Who are you?

I’m a daughter, sister, and aunt.

I am a friend to many.

I am a dreamer.

I am inquisitive.

I am stubborn.

I believe that some people don’t deserve a second chance while others deserve a third and fourth.

I believe that sometimes your pet is the best friend you can have. (Unless we are talking Tyson, then he has no interest in being friends.)

I am a lover of books.

I think cinema is the perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.

I love pop culture.

I embrace geekdom and my fangirling ways.

I am leery of trusting most people.

I want to wander the world without having to put down roots.

I have an extremely active imagination.

I have eclectic taste.

I am perfectly imperfect.

I am 100% me with a little influence from those in my life.

In short, I am the best ME out there!

Day 29/30

Day 29- In this past month, what have you learned

Hmmm, let's see...

Sometimes people just disappoint you. They may not necessarily be doing it to be spiteful or on purpose, but it happens. You can either hold it inside and grow bitter over it or you can choose to let it go. (Of course if it happens from the same person frequently, obviously you need to speak up and speak out...)

It is perfectly acceptable to dislike your co-workers.

I am strong.

When you order from a Chinese restaurant and the woman keeps screaming "Cash or Charge" in the phone, just hang up the phone!! She will end up sending you a mystery substance for "dessert" and it will be gross!!

However said mystery substance and the fortune cookies will allow for a night full of giggles and laughing with a couple of the best people you know.

Greg Vaughan still gives the greatest hugs (my GH friends will get that one).

An Italian waiter at a gelato place that flirts like crazy definitely makes for a fun time.

I do seriously love my life and the people in it. <3

Wednesday Randomness

I have been working on a reunion of sorts for some of us that went to school in Incirlik (Turkey) in the 80’s. We finally settled on a date of April 15-17, 2011 in Vegas. Now to find a good hotel to stay at. I am picky about where I stay in Vegas. Such as I will never, never, ever stay at the clown infested Circus Circus. (And while I think Excalibur is cute, I won’t stay there either.) I’m leaning towards the Wynn.

· New Kids on the Block, Boys II Men, and Backstreet Boys touring together? I’m there! Mainly for the NKOTB factor because hey, I am never going to not be fangirl over them!

· I went to see “The Expendables” over the previous weekend. Anyone else go see it? Total action movie with all the biggest bad asses in action movies. The cameo by Bruce Willis and Arnold was great! And I love Jason Statham. The story was weak, of course. The acting not that great out of most of them. But it was a big rocking explosion, gun fighting, brawling movie.



· And what is with the influx of horror movies all the sudden? You can tell when it gets closer to fall, the cinema market is flooded with them.

· I didn’t get to “Eat Pray Love” over the weekend but look forward to seeing it either Friday night or Saturday.



· I saw yesterday that there was talk of a Lord of the Rings theme park opening at Universal in Orlando, next to the Harry Potter theme park. Uh…okay…I am a geek and I would be there, plotting how to move in to the attraction in the middle of the night. Seriously? Oh my! I am so excited over the thought of it all!

·I’m heading to my friend Tina’s house on Saturday to meet the new boyfriend and have been informed that I am going to be playing Wii bowling. I have NEVER bowled in my life in real life, let alone on Wii. This might be interesting. However, since that time I have had “Score Tonight” from Grease 2 in my head.


(I love “Grease 2”. I met Maxwell Claufield at the Daytime Emmy Awards in 2004. He was with his wife, Juliet Mills, who was on “Passions” at the time. I might have babbled about him being Michael Carrington…and he loved it.)

· And how are you all? How has your week been so far? Any big and exciting plans for the weekend?

Day 28/30

Day 28- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?


July 2009 (I didn't have any pictures of me from August 2009.)


July 2010 (Dig my mad photoshopping skillz!! hehe!)

Hmmm, how have I changed? A year older, I think a year wiser. I feel mentally stronger.

Day 27/30

Day 27- Why are you doing this 30 day challenge

Hmmm, good question!

To prove to myself that I can finish it. It may have taken me a week longer than planned due to being exhausted after vacation, but I am going to finish the 30 days. I told myself I was going to blog every day and don't do it. I told myself I would do the 365 days of gratitude and dropped out. So this...this I am going to finish!

Day 26/30

Day 26- What you think about your friends



How fitting for this to be the question of the day when today is National Best Friend's Day! I think anyone that knows me knows how much I love and adore my friends. They provide love, humor, companionship, inspiration, creativity, and support on a constant basis.

Day 25/30

Day 25- What you would find in my bag



My bag.



Let's see...I was in the process of transferring purses. I can't fit all I normally carry in the smaller purse. (missing from the picture is the camera since I was using it but always carry it and the cell phone since I was on it.) My wallet, some gum (Extra spearmint is my fave), my work badge, a purple pen (I normally carry a notepad with me but it doesn't fit in the new purse), aspirin, a mirror, Burt's Bees chapstick, and Bath & Body Works Liplicious lip gloss in cotton candy

Happy Friday the 13th!!

Spooky? Unlucky? Horrorific?

I love Friday the 13th! Love it the best when it is in October so it can also coincide with the spooktacular day of the year, Halloween!

Did you know that August has the only Friday the 13th in 2010? ( And May has the only Friday the 13th for 2011, just for future reference.)

And fear of Friday the 13th is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia?

Just thought you should know.

So that leads to the questions:

Do you have any superstitions? I can’t think of any that I really have. I mean I do seriously have some odd quirks but none of them are associated with anything but me being odd.

Friday the 13th is a horror movie lovers day, thanks to Jason Voorhies stalking Camp Crystal Lake and butchering idiotic camp counselors. Surprisingly there isn’t a big horror movie coming out today. Are you a horror movie fan? I hate being scared. I am not into the gore or the fright. But I also have morbid curiosity that means I will watch any horror movie that I find on the TV and then kick myself afterwards when I am too freaked out to sleep.

Michelle’s Top Ten Horror Movie Survival Tips:

01 – Do not go into the dark house alone when you know there is a serial killer on the loose.

02 – Mysterious sounds coming from the bathroom stall next to you means get the hell out of dodge.

03 – The correct answer to “Are you home alone?” is "MOMMMY!!!!" (This does not apply if # 9 is already in play.)

04 – And if you are asked “Do you know where the children are?” the only suitable reply is “If they know what is good for them they will be in bed.”

05 – Don't go out in a boat in the middle of the lake, thinking you are safe. The creepies pop up out of the water just as often as they pop out of the dark corners.

06 – Zombies eat your brains, wear a helmet all the time.

07 – Don’t trust anyone! You never know who has the ax behind their back waiting to chop off your head.

08 – Your cell phone isn’t going to work, don’t bother.

09 – Eventually you will find out that the killer has mommy issues, just be prepared for it.

10 – The crazy killer never actually dies, he just comes back for so many sequels he ceases to be scary. Wait it out, eventually you will just roll your eyes and walk away.

Do you have any advice to add?


If I had been thinking in advance, I would have asked my friend, Rose, to do an interview with me. She is the founder of a paranormal group in New York. I guess I’ll save that for October.

Day 24/30

Day 24- A letter to your parents



Dear Dad and Mom,

I know that frequently I exasperate you and that you often wonder what the heck is going on with my thought process, but trust me when I tell you that you raised a pretty smart cookie. You raised me to know right from wrong and to make wise decisions. Okay, they may not always seem wise at the time, but I do have a plan. And like John “Hannibal” Smith, I love it when a plan comes together.

You taught me the value of family. Sure we all may bicker from time to time, but it doesn’t change the love that is there. (And let’s face it, no one is as entertaining as Jeremy!)

Mom, you have the best taste ever in sports teams! Go Yankees!!

Dad, you have the mechanical skills that I have no possession of whatsoever.

I am blessed to have two parents that are still married in this day and age. And I am even more blessed that you have unconditional love for me, even if I cause you to roll your eyes often.

Love,
Michelle, daughter numero uno!

Nostalgic Inspiration

I “met” Kristie off of Lesli’s “Pretty Random Thoughts” blog late last year. The first thing I noticed about Kristie is how absolutely sweet she is. Very open and welcoming and one of those people that just has the aura about them of someone that is “good people”. As she settled into blogging life, she started to talk about her favorite thing – the 80’s. How can you not love the 80’s?? Kristie posts happy pictures of all things 80’s and it brings up the most fabulous memories of my childhood. I look at the pictures that Kristie blogs and just smile. Smurfs? Oh I remember getting up on Saturday morning and going to watch them back when Saturday mornings were all about cartoons. Members Only jackets? Yep, had one. Strawberry Shortcake (vintage), Full House, Growing Pains, Family Ties, MC Hammer parachute pants, Tiger Beat magazine, The Pirate Movie, Xanadu, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, Lip Smackers lip gloss, the list can go on and on. Kristie is the master of the happy nostalgic memories, she brings them on constantly. And I am very happy to say that my original opinion on Kristie was correct – one of the sweetest and loveliest ladies out there!




So I asked Kristie my questions and here are her answers:

Who inspires you?

Since I was a little girl in the 3rd grade, I always new I wanted to become a writer. I loved the creative writing assignments and I always volunteered for any extra credit writing opportunities. I can remember wearing my pencils down to the erasers, writing with pens until they ran out of ink, and throwing away countless sheets of wide ruled notebook paper. I wrote poems, letters, notes to my parents, notes in class (haha) and I also began writing children's books at a very early age.

When asked who inspires me, I cannot leave out my wonderful teachers (especially my elementary teachers.) I feel they were instrumental in being the first to inform and introduce me to the idea of writing as well as encouraging me that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. I am also greatly inspired by my parents. I'll start with my father. He was not one to come down hard on me if I made a bad grade or if I brought home a lackluster book report. He would instead ask me one question.

"Did you try your best?"

When I replied with a YES, then he would shrug his shoulders and say,

"That's good enough for me!"

He's right you know? All we really have/need to do in this life is try our best and do our best with what the good Lord has given us, whether it be writing, cooking, sales or whichever career path you've chosen.

I am continually inspired by my mother's love for me and her undying support for my choice to try and reach my goals and be a published author. I am blessed beyond belief with the woman I call "Mom." She is my biggest supporter and I am inspired to be just like her through her kindness toward others, her giving nature and her friendly and fun personality.

My husband is my rock. He inspires me everyday to be the best wife, the best cook, the best house cleaner and the best writer. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who believes in me and lets me stay home and follow my dreams.

Last, but certainly not least, I am inspired by my friends. Mainly those friends that I've made through blogland. I am continually inspired through your posts, words of wisdom, words of encouragement, praise, compliments and general support. Some of you are already on the path to becoming life-long friends and I'm so grateful and blessed by you all.

Things that inspire me:

Everyday life ~ I constantly carry around a notebook pad so that I may jot something down if need be. For examples, I write down peoples names, a street name, a conversation I overheard between a teenager and their parent. You never know where the idea will take you in your book. For this reason, I also carry a camera as well. I'll take a snapshot of an old house to describe later or a teenager's clothing choice.

I am inspired by television shows like icarly, Wizards of Waverly Place, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. I am even inspired by Saved By the Bell even though it first aired over 20 years ago because the same situations still happen today ~ just with different style and different lingo. The heart of the matter and content remain the same.

Who/What are you grateful for?

I'm grateful for Our Lord Jesus Christ, my loving parents, my adoring husband and my lovely friends. I am truly blessed by all of you.

I try to motivate myself everyday. I strongly feel that the best motivation comes from within. No matter how many people and/or things inspire me, I would have nothing if I didn't believe in myself and in my ability as a writer. Most importantly, I need to believe in my ability to succeed. It's not without blood, sweat and tears and a little rejection. But just like Dolly Parton quotes, "If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."


(You can find Kristie at The Writer’s Block, where she will entertain with her fabulous love of all things 80’s, awesome stickers, and just her all around lovely personality! Thank you, Kristie! I am blessed with your friendship and am thankful that you participated. xoxo)

Day 23/30

Day 23- Something you crave for a lot

This falls into two categories. I crave sushi currently!!! (And Tina is taking me out for my birthday lunch on Saturday to our fave little sushi place, Zen 32!)



But I crave a better financial situation (I am so destined to win the lottery one day).



I crave peace of mind.



I crave wisdom of words.

Randomly Speaking...

** Have you seen the Eminem and Rihanna video for "Love the way you lie" yet? (You can check it out here: "Love the Way you lie") It is a little unsettling to watch, the song and video strongly documenting abuse. I like the song. I read that both of them are getting slammed for "glamorizing" abuse. Maybe I am blind, I don't see how that video was glamorous. That video was brutal.

** And how about Steven Slater, the Jet Blue flight attendant that had enough. I have laughed so hard over this. I have had many days at different jobs wanting to do the exact same thing and walk out. I think it has been a little overblown, though. And what is going to happen to the lady on the plane that was causing a disturbance? Isn't it against the law as well to behave that way on a flight? Hmm!

** Pop Tarts store opens in Times Square. I'm a fan of pop tarts in small doses, I definitely couldn't eat them every single day. The store sounded intriguing at first, then I started to read about it and my teeth started to hurt at the thought of all that sugar. I bet it does amazing business.

** Anyone been to the movies lately? I went to see "The Other Guys" starring Mark Wahlberg (Hello, Marky Mark!) and Will Ferrell. The movie was absolutely hilarious! I can only take Will Ferrell in small doses, but Mark Wahlberg polarized him enough that I laughed through the entire movie. There is even bonus Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Derek Jeter.



This weekend "Eat, Pray, Love" and "The Expendables" opens. I need to catch them both. (I love a good chick flick as much as I love a good action movie! Plus "The Expendables" has Bruce Willis...) I also need to still go see "Inception"!


** I need a new mantra. New year (birthday was on Monday), time for a new mantra. Besides I think that everyone uses "Live, Laugh, Love" so I need something more me. What about you? Do you have your own personal mantra?

** I want to send big get well soon wishes and love to my cousin, Joyce!! :) Hope you are up to par soon!

** Can I just end this with the fact that I am so excited that Vanessa Marcil is back on "General Hospital"?? LOVE that Brenda Barrett!