25 Things

1. What is your occupation right now? Project Manager for an Engineering firm.
2. What color are your socks right now? Brown and cream…probably with cat hair.
3. What was the last thing that you ate? Leftovers – Curry Beef.
4. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes. Jason had to teach me because when my mom did, she kept starting me out in 3rd. You can imagine how that went…..
5. Last person you spoke to on the phone? BFF - Melissa
6. Do you like the person who sent this to you? That would be Melissa…and yes, I guess I like her.
7. How old are you today? 34
8. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Ice Skating…that is a sport, right?
9. What is your favorite drink? I don’t think I have a favorite…water…is that too boring?
10. Have you ever dyed your hair? Nope, never. The closest I have ever come is spraying Sun-In and then laying out at the beach.
11. Favorite food? Seafood
12. What is the last movie you watched? Paul Bart: Mall Cop
13. Favorite day of the year? Honestly, I can’t say I like any one day over the other.
14. How do you vent anger? Scream, slam doors…eat chocolate.
15. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies.
16. What is your favorite season? Spring. I love the newness of everything….plus it just smells good outside in the Spring.
17. Cherries or Blueberries? Love blueberries…so much so that we bought 2 blueberry bushes last summer…they are now dead….we never planted them.
18. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? Since I’m posting this on my blog, instead of emailing it out….I guess this really doesn’t apply, now does it?
19. Who is the most likely to respond? I’ll take all the comments I can get….
20. Who is least likely to respond? ? I NEVER respond to things like this…only did because Melissa mentioned me in her list about 10 times….including this one….so I had to respond!
21. Living arrangements: Ok…that is really weird. First of all, it really isn’t a question. Second of all…well, I don’t really have a second of all. Anyway….I live with my husband, daughter and son – plus 2 crazy cats.
22. When was the last time you cried? Um…I'm not really a crier. However, every time I laugh my eyes water…maybe because I don’t really cry…..Hmmm….never thought about that before.
23. What is on the floor of your closet? Um, shoes and junk….yeah, that pretty much sums it up.
24. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? Well, since I’m not sending this to anyone…this doesn’t apply. However, per Melissa, we have been friends for 25 years….so we should celebrate!
25. What did you do last night? Went on a date with my husband.
26. What are you most afraid of? Probably something bad happening to my family.
27. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? Cheese….who eats plain burgers?
28. Favorite dog breed? NONE….don’t like dogs.
29. Favorite day of the week? Saturday.
30. How many states have you lived in? 3 - Massachusetts, Maine, Florida
31. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds.
32. What is your favorite flower? Roses.
33. Secret vice: I wish I had a secret vice…..I don’t….plus if I did, I wouldn’t tell. It wouldn’t be a secret, now would it?

Butter Bell and Travel Journal

For Christmas I received a Butter Bell, among other goodies, from my sister-in-law, Christy. Last fall, I saw my first butter bell. It was at book club, at one of the member's homes. I had never heard of a butter bell. She made homemade bread, that really didn't need butter at all. However, when Laura asked, is this a butter bell, as she pulled the bell up, I got excited! Aaaa, a butter bell. No more hard butter. No more melting butter in the microwave, leaving a puddle of butter behind. That night I immediately came home and googled, BUTTER BELL. I almost purchased one that night, but then thought better of it. Did I really need a butter bell? No, I decided. However, when I was coming up with my Christmas list for our family gift exchange, I added it at the top of my list. See the Food Network video here.

I was blog surfing this afternoon and came across this blog. I didn't get very far when I read this post about a travel journal. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the idea. I will most definitely be purchasing one for me, Hannah and Jacob for our next trip. This isn't really Michael's type of thing...but I may have to purchase him one as well!

I'm still a fat blogger....so, I'm going back to Weight Watchers tomorrow night. Want to hold me accountable? I would love it....and desperately need it. When you see me next, ask me how much weight I've lost.

Milk Glass

My Mom, Hannah, Jacob and I all went antiquing a few weekends ago. We hit the Goodwills, with no luck - so decided we would drive south and check out a few of the junk/antique shops. I found a Milk Glass Compote. Michael gave me flowers for my birthday. I immediately thought of my new compote and went in the garage in search of wet floral foam.

Here is the end result.

Now at all junk stores, antique shops and garage sales I will be on the lookout for Milk Glass.

Christmas and Shrimp Ceviche

I haven't blogged, not for lack of adventures - just lack of inspiration to type.

We celebrated Christmas Eve here in Tallahassee with DeeDee and PaPa. Christmas morning we drove down to Michael's dad's and spent the long weekend there. Melissa and I met in Orlando to do some shopping the Saturday after Christmas - we spent almost 3 hours in IKEA and spent $20 between the two of us.

New Year's Eve the kids spent the night at my parents - which is a tradition. Michael and I went out for dinner and did some shopping. The Botley's came for a visit. I wanted to get a photo of us together, like last year, but we never got around to it.

On Christmas Eve I made appetizers again this year. I made Shrimp Ceviche Cocktail, which was my favorite appy this year.

1 lb. shelled, deveined, large cooked shrimp

1/2 medium seedless cucumber, diced

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced

1/4 c. green pepper, chopped

1/4 c. red onion, diced

1/4 c. snipped fresh cilantro

1/4 c. lime juice

1/2 t. salt

Combine, cover and refrigerate up to 1 hour before serving. For best texture, do not prepare this recipe more than 1 hour in advance. Once combined with the acidic lime juice, the shrimp will begin to firm up and eventually become tough and rubbery.