My Life as Annie

July 7th Questions:
1. What is your blog about? How long have you been blogging? Why did you begin blogging? Is it the same reason that you continue to blog today? How has your blog changed over the time you’ve had it? In six words, sum up your blog.

• my blog is about me. my family. my life…
• been blogging for three years this last may…
• for izzy.
• on her blog, yes.
• i have added paid posts in the last six months or so, otherwise it is pretty much the same.
• it’s about my life as annie…

2. When you go for a haircut, do you do something drastic? Or are you more of a ‘just a trim’ sort of person? Do you color your hair? If so, how often? Tell us about your best, and worst, hairstyle. What sort of hairsyle do you think looks good on you now?

• nah, never drastic… well, not in many years now.
• just a trim person.
• I highlight.
• every 6-8 weeks.
• best-performed in dallas at the galleria while Izzy was in the hospital. It was perfect. worst-a symmetrical style that was lopsided when Amanda was a baby.

3. Tell us about your 4th of July celebration. Show us some pictures (if you have them). What did your family do? Did you go and see a big fireworks display? Or did you stay home and have a (semi) quiet family fireworks celebration? On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), how patriotic would you say you are? Do you routinely talk about our country’s issues within your family unit? Do you and your significant other see eye-to-eye on political issues? International friends: tell us how you celebrate your country’s birthday/new year/significant annual event.

• we went to my brother mike’s house. he grilled burgers and hot dogs. we ate and visited and then headed out.
• i posted pics here.
• me and emelia went to my friend miki’s house to watch a big firework display.
• 8. I don’t wear flag shirts everyday, but I am happy to be living in America.
• yes and no. Matt does and since we talk I do too, but otherwise no.
• yes and no again. I’ve been banned from saying obama is the anti-christ in our house… enough said

4. If you only had enough time each day to read one section of the newspaper, which section would you read? Why this particular section?

• does the crypta-quote count? i love doing that but never have time! next in line would be the ads.
• for fun!

June 30th Questions:

1. What’s the last thing you grab before you run out of the door in the morning? Are you pretty good at being on time? Or do you constantly run behind? If/when you’re late, what is usually the reason(s)? Purse. cellphone. sunglasses. drink.

2. What is the last thing you bought from a vending machine? Where were you? How much did you spend? Do you use vending machines very often? Peanut m&m’s and a coke (when Amanda was having her wisdom teeth cut out).

3. What does the hand-soap in your bathroom smell of? What color are your bathroom walls? What color are your guest towels? What sort of decor, or theme, do you have in your bathroom? (Post a picture if you dare!) It’s bath & Body something blue to match the decor. Can’t think of the name. I like the eucalyptus hand soap a lot too from bath & body. My bathroom walls are white painted beadboard. My shower curtain says believe, it has light blueish colors and tans… has a rug and towels that match. (Hall bathroom)… I may take pics later or find some I’ve taken…
4. What three words do you think of when someone says ‘body’? lotion. odor. spray.

June 23rd Questions:

1. What are your children doing right now? If you don’t have children, what is your significant other/roommate/friend, etc. doing right now? Amanda is sitting in the chair, eating popcorn chicken… just home from work getting ready to go to the gym to work out with Lorenzo. Bailey is in his room working on his computer. Emelia is sitting in the chair watching Noggin with Iz, she just finished swimming and is going to Frontier City (amusement park) with her friend tonight. Isabelle went to bear today so she is relaxing on her pallet watching noggin and looking at me.

2. How many times a day do you look in a mirror? And be honest with us! WHY do you look? Is it a habit? Do you think you’re attractive? If you avoid looking into a mirror, why? Be honest with yourself! I look in the mirror when I comb my hair and brush my teeth… and put on makeup for the day (1). I look in the mirror when I brush my teeth at night (2). Maybe I should look more often

3. What do you do/eat/say that makes your mother mentally cringe? What do your children/significant other do that makes YOU cringe? watermelon gum. makes her cringe. She hates it! I cringe if and when my kids do public gas expulsion. It’s not allowed

4. Which do you focus on more, eating less or exercising more? Do you think one is more important than the other? Do you have a weight loss system that works for you? How much exercise would you say you do in a day? A week? How active (overall) is your family? What sort of physical activities does your family like to do together? Eating less. I think eating less works for me. I don’t exercise enough because I don’t have make time!

June 16th Questions:

1. Do you think that gift cards are suitable gifts to give? Do you find them to be impersonal? Do you like receiving gift cards? If so, from where and do you cash them in right away, or do you wait for the right item/price to come along?  I heart gift cards!  I sometimes give cash rather than gc though because sometimes they limit the recipient.  I do like to get them though and I usually forget to use them when I have them.  I have three in my wallet now.  One for Chili’s that was a gift at Mother’s Day at church, I was one of four numbers drawn that day… and one for Macy’s that I found and am not sure where it came from.  I think I got it for someone as a gift and got something else and then my bank has a rewards program and you get stuff when you accumulate points, I ordered and received a $100 macy’s gc this week.  It’s in my purse, I don’t go to Macy’s much so maybe eventually I’ll spend it.  Maybe for a gift

2. Have you ever counted up all the pills and/or vitamin capsules that you take every day? How many are there? What do you take on a daily basis? Do you give your children vitamins? If so, what kind? I take a vitamin.  one. Izzy takes juice plus.  

3. What five things would you put in a time capsule?  a bible, sd card full of current pics and videos, newspaper, bills and coins, and a believe sign.

4. Would you rather be overdressed or underdressed for a party? Why? Tell us about the last time you were overdressed and/or underdressed; what happened? Did anyone notice you were over/under dressed?  Probably overdressed. Although really neither.  I know I have felt both underdressed and overdressed at times and after scanning the crowd realize there are people who are less dressy and more dressy than I am.  The last time I thought about it was at a play.  I felt underdressed when riding the elevator with a group in formal dresses, I was dressy casual.  I then looked around and saw people very casual to very dressy.  So it was no big deal!  

June 9th Questions:

1. Tell me, what do you have planned for father’s day? Do the kids really help you pick out a gift, or is it all you? If you don’t have a significant other, what do you have planned for your father? What gift do you plan on giving to the father in your life? My mom has planned something special for Father’s Day and I will participate in that. She is pretty excited about her idea :)… My dad is hard to buy a gift for, but this year I am contributing to a larger gift he has chosen. That’s easy! Matt is hard because his birthday is the week before and then our anniversary is around Father’s Day too. It’s hard to come up with something for that many occasions all in the same weekish. I gave a Mannix dvd season 1 and some other things for his birthday a little early.

2. What did you do over the weekend? Friday night went shopping with the kids for camp, Saturday packed for camp and shopped for my mom’s birthday present (a bathing suit)… Sunday church and nap and church.

3. What is your favorite saying, quote or expression? WHY is this your favorite? Is there a story behind your favorite quote? I use the word “fine” a lot. Like when there is a concern anywhere about Iz I always say, “she’s fine.” If asked how I am doing I seem to always say, “I’m fine.” and when Matt calls to ask how Izzy’s day is going I usually reply, “fine.” He is not a fan of the fine word. Oh well… and I don’t know why I use that word it just works fine in many situations.

4. How “green” are you? Tell us what you’re currently doing to help the planet. Tell us what you could do better to help the planet? I’m not very green. Sad I know. I bought the reusable bags at Walmart. They packed them in plastic bags for me to take home … I drive a big SUV which is not very green, but am thinking about shopping for a hybrid suv of some kind at some point. I could probably do a lot of things to “help the planet.”

Karen from WriteFromKaren has started a new meme, appropriately titled the ‘Monday Morning Meme’. It’s a lot of fun - won’t you join in?

1. What kind of water do you drink? Bottled water, tap water, sparkling water….? How MUCH water do you drink in a day? If you’re not drinking water, what ARE you drinking? I don’t like water. At all. I drink coke mostly… with sonic ice, but if I were to drink actual water… ours is well water and the best.

2. Would you rather be Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, or Belle? Why? Sleeping Beauty. I love to sleep

3. Are you an urban dweller, a suburbanite, or a country person? Are you happy where you live? Without giving too many details, tell us about the place where you live. What makes it different than other places? What do you like the most? The least? Suburbanite I guess. I’m pretty happy where we live, it’s close enough to stores etc. The schools are great. Overall it’s a good place to be.

4. What little annoying thing does someone (pick any person) do that drives you absolutely crazy? Have you told this person this? Why or why not? What do you think this person would say is the most annoying thing about you? Matt leaves his dental floss on the table by his chair in the den. Creeps me out to pick up the string! Throw it in the trash!!! I’ve said that a time or two (maybe more)… I guess he forgets? He would most likely say that my reminders are the most annoying thing about me. Oh well.

Karen from WriteFromKaren has started a new meme, ‘Monday Morning Meme’.

1. If you wrote a book, to whom would you dedicate it? My parents
Why would you dedicate it to that person? They are my cheerleaders.
What sort of book would you like to write? Non fiction, faith related book.
If you became a best selling author, would you use your real name, or a pen name? I would use my real name
Why? because it’s non-fiction.

2. So moms, tell us about your Mother’s Day. What did you do? church, lunch, nap, mom’s…
What gift did you receive? sweet cards made at school by iz and em, candle holders by amanda, flower/plant by mom, sung by matt’s mom, frame by secret sis, gift card from church.
How did your family make your day special? they let me nap!
If you’re not a mom, tell us how you made your mom’s day special.

3. Now that gas prices have gone up so much, where are you going to come up with that extra money? I’m doing cads and topos for an oil co. and also continuing paid postings.
Do you have to give something up? not yet.
How much does gas cost in your area? right now it is $3.65
How much does gas have to go up before you make drastic changes in your lifestyle? It cost me $100 to fill up yesterday. I think if it is much more than that I will really plan my outings.

4. What was the last DVD you watched? juno
Did you rent, or did you own the DVD? rented
If you rented, how much did it cost? $5
What was the last DVD you purchased? lonesome dove series
What was the last movie you saw at a theater? hairspray
How much did it cost you? $7.00
If you go to the theater, do you purchase snacks and/or soft drinks? sometimes.
If so, how much do you spend at one visit? depends… about $10 per person.

(saw this over at jodi’s) Karen from WriteFromKaren has started a new meme, appropriately titled the ‘Monday Morning Meme’.

1. What did you do over the weekend?
Saturday ran errands and did some grocery shopping… made dinner for all the kiddos and their friends.  Sunday church in the morning, lunch, store, nap, church, and bed!

2. What’s for dinner tonight? What is for dinner Tuesday night? Do you normally plan your meals ahead of time? Why or why not? tonight is leftover bbq pork loin.  Probably on buns.  Tomorrow night tacos with guacamole. I do try to participate in menu plan monday and plan my meals for the week.  It just seems to make life easier to have a plan.

3. What advice do you have for the last person who honked their horn at you? WHY did they honk their horn at you? Was it jusitifed? I can’t remember specifically.  Probably didn’t move quick enough when a light turned green.  Doesn’t happen often, but my advice would be to relax and it was probably justified.  

4. Have you ever faked an illness to get out of doing something? If so, what was the illness? What was the thing you wanted to get out of doing? How many times have you faked an illness? How many times do you call in sick to work? If you’ve never faked an illness, would you if you needed to get out of work for something really important? Not in years and years.  I loved faking sick to miss school.  I don’t think I would fake an illness to get out of something.