Happy Halloween 2011!

Some thought we didn't dress
up last year...hmmm...what are
they trying to say???

When my parents were just starting out with our little family of five, they were like any other fledgling family financially. I often laugh with my husband that both of our favorite evening meals as children were when we had breakfast for dinner. Neither of us understood until we were in our parents' shoes that those favorite meals were the last ones right before pay day and grocery shopping, making do with what was in the kitchen. Some of my favorite memories are from that time when my Mama and Daddy used their ingenuity to provide for us with what they had. They taught us that happiness is not in the "things" you can get but in looking more closely at what you have. We were richly blessed with lots of love and wanted for nothing.

Our Vampire Old Lady

One of the things my parents did economically was dress us up for Halloween. I have seen 8 mm film with Sister and me wearing clown make up on our faces (probably Mama's make up used creatively) and our hair teased and ratted into the round clown hair. We are laughing and rolling around on the floor with new-born Bubba having the best time. The only down side that year was that our neighbor on the corner made cupcakes for trick-or-treaters, and we weren't allowed to eat them because there was a razor blade scare, which was the weirdest thing to me. Who was dumb enough to think razor blades were treats? Seemed like a dirty trick to me.

Darby's date last year wasn't
nearly as scary as she was!

Another memory I have is the first year Sister and I received our first vinyl dress and plastic mask costumes with the little nose and eye holes. I think they both were Barbies although I remember comparing the mask to my doll and thinking the little nose holes made her look more like Miss Piggy. We had grilled cheese sandwiches that night before our adventure out, and Gayla thought she would eat her dinner while wearing her mask. Mama or Daddy made her remove it at sometime in the meal and somehow our masks got mixed up. All I could focus on as we walked from door to door later on is, "Why does my mask smell like cheese?" Combine that with the design's structure making you create a sauna for your face, and I was never really keen on having masks again.

One of the only other Halloween's I remember is when we were all three in Elementary, and our school hosted a carnival set up throughout our classrooms. We purchased tickets to exchange for games that provided plastic trinkets or handfuls of candy to its participants. I spent all of my tickets walking around the numbered squares placed on the floor of Ms. Young's classroom in hopes of winning a cake for my Daddy. I won a huge German Chocolate confection on my first trip around and just thought that was the bees knees. I continued to play and walk each go around. After I won my second cake, I was politely asked to go find another game. I wasn't hurt because My Daddy bragged on me that night for winning him his favorite cake. In later years, I would try to win him more cake but never was triumphant.

She's talented!

Now that I am grown, I sit in amazement at Hubby Dearest's and Darling Daughter's obsession with this holiday. We probably have more Halloween decor than Christmas decor. They each have costumes that they embellish and improve on each year. Darby is even getting quite the reputation among friends and family for creative make up artistry. I keep thinking I will get into the spirit and start developing an alter ego of my own, but I have yet to catch the spooky bug. I guess I'll keep looking for a yellow hoodie sweatshirt and some overalls so I can be a Minion and carry my Dave Minion around with me.

Family Night: Halloween

We had so much fun last night during family night. Thanks to Shawn and Amanda for joining us in Halloween Shopping! The Rangers kept us on pins and needles too, and all I have to say about that is, like Aggies, Rangers never lose although they may run out of time.


Have you been to a Halloween store lately? Darling Daughter and I both would like to know why Halloween is turning into "sexy ____" dress up day. I don't even think it's so much sexy as trashy. IN THE TEEN SECTION no less there were sexy fairies and sexy lady bugs and on and on.

I love that Darby takes after her daddy and, the scarier her costume is, the better. We still laugh about her going to a party a couple of years ago where the teens were going to go trick-or-treating. When I dropped the Darbster off in her half lizard, half monster costume, she was surrounded by boys and girls in similar costumes save one or two wearing high heals and such. Darby was ticked that they only got to go to two or three houses before those not wearing sensable shoes were too tired to continue. I think that sealed the deal for her...no sexy lizard monster for her!





















Another thing we noticed this year is that the pickings are pretty slim at the Spirit store. They seemed to have spent too much on the crazy merry-go-round with possessed babies to have purchased enough stock to be interesting. They had some pretty scary stuff though...it just cost too much! I am off in search of a yellow hoodie sweatshirt, some yellow face paint and a pair of denim overalls...I want to be a Minion and carry Dave around with me! Wish me luck!

Thursdays are Happiness Reports: October--Having More Energy

Good lord! I am so glad this month is over. I did diddly squat to my goals and it's pathetic to keep writing that. I don't know what is worse: missing my goal consistently or writing about it constantly. I failed this month...fail, fail, fail! And to boot, I am more tired than I was at the beginning of October.

At least November is a pick me up! Can't wait...being thankful comes naturally to me. This first week will be coming up with a written plan to follow each day. I am going to incorporate the 30 Day Mom Challenge from iMOM.com to keep that going. In the second week, the goal is to pray purposefully every day, listing all the people and things I am thankful for. The next week will be to make a point to thank at least 10 people a day...you'd be surprised how the words "Thank You" improve someone's mood. Then finally, I am going to create something...will give that some more thought.

Thank you (look at me already getting started on next month!) for continuing to support this little bit of crazy each day! Visit my blog each Thursday to see how My Happiness Project is going! Here's the plan by month so far:

• August--being organized
• September--eating healthier
• October--having energy (hang my head in shame at the failure)
• November--being thankful
• December--focusing on family and friends
• January--focusing on marriage
• February--focusing on parenting
• March--being creative
• April--being helpful
• May--working smarter
• June--being adventurous
• July--loving Jaimee

Write on Wednesday--I Thought I Saw...

Gill at INKPAPERPEN, I just have to write this once so I won't use it as my piece for this week! "I thought I saw a putty tat!" Whew...now that that's taken care of...DING!

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 20 - Write the words " I thought I saw" at the top of your page. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Write the first words that come into your head after the prompt. Don't take you pen off the page (or fingers off the keyboard). Stop only when the buzzer rings! Do this exercise over and over if you wish. Write beyond 5 minutes if you like, you can link it up as an extra post.

I thought I Saw...

YOU
I thought I saw you pumping gas into your car and my heart leaped.
The way she stood was just like you.
Poor gal probably thought I was a crazy attacker running toward her.

YOu
I thought I saw you at the mall window shopping.
The way she wore her hair was just like you.
I must have looked like a stalker following her from store to store.

You
I thought I saw you pass by our house last week.
That silver car was just like yours.
I must have been insane to run out waving like a maniac.

you
I thought I saw you in my dreams last night.
Your laugh and smile were just like you.
I ran through all those rooms to catch up with you so I could hug you again.

I think I see you everywhere.
I wish it were true.

Ding!

Try Something New Tuesday--Insane Sideline Mom (Glittery Sign and All!)

Yep, I have found my calling on the Insane Train! I am "that" mom when it comes to supporting my kiddo. Coach asked Chad and me before the first hockey game what kind of cheering parents are we. We told him to watch us and let us know after the game. Turns out, we are the loud kind that are totally excited to see a year of skate school and private lessons paying off as our Darling Daughter zooms out onto the ice to steel the puck away from the opposing team. We are the kind that invite our friends and family and fill up half of the team's stands with just our gang. We are the kind that make signs, yell loud and stomp our feet when the team scores. We are the parents who high-five and go-team each other for never giving up and always finding a way to make this dream of hers come true. Yessireebob! We are the best kind of sideline crazy parents tsk-tsking at the rents who are bumps on the bench, or worse...critical of the coach, team or player when they oopsie. Go Flyers! Hoorah Darby! Everybody plays and everybody has a great time! That's what matters!

The list isn't growing but is shrinking! Got anything you suggest I try?

· pomegranates
· making jam
· Russian cuisine
· New Boston Pioneer Days
· business travel all in one day
· Be an insane sideline mom with glittery sign and all
· kayaking
· 5k training to eventually RUN a 5k
· mud bath
· banya (not just food; they have a spa too)
· Zumba
· Ballroom dancing class
· Watch a Bollywood movie at a Bollywood theater
· Quilting
· Take Darby to see a Midnight show of Rocky Horror
· Participate in a flash mob
· Boot Camp
· Art Class
· Dance on a Bar
· Puerto Rican food
· Meditate at a Buddhist temple
· Volunteer at a homeless shelter (Well, I am at least waiting to hear if I get to do this! All the training and paperwork are completed.)
· be a tourist in my own town
· snow ski
· order and eat hash browns "all the way" at Waffle House
· Make a Funny Face Book

Star Struck Even by Class III M Stars...

I am a big dork...yes, I know we have established this more times than not...but I am a star-struck big dork. I have always prided myself on maintaining only a handful of super celebrities that I would like to meet (Mathew Mc, Ellen, Reba and Queen Latifa). And I would probably die of heart failure should any of these ever happen. However, every time anyone of fame or infamy visits my blog, I get all goofy in the head as well. When Elizabeth from Flourish in Progress visits, I equate my giddiness to the popular girls saying hello to me in the halls of high school. When I received an e-mail from Florence Henderson, I about puked on myself with excitement. So last night was no different when the artist Daniel Martin Moore e-mailed me back about my post "It Is Well With My Soul", which is interestingly enough the second most popular post I have written so far.

My e-mail to him on September 28, 2011:

Your cover of "It Is Well" spoke to me last night. I blogged about it today and wanted to share that with you. My older sister was killed when her car was hit from behind by a tractor trailer this past March. I am devastated and have been having a crisis of faith. Your voice and this song gave me the first peace I have felt in months. Thank you.
Jaimee

His response to me yesterday:

jaimee,

thank you for your message.  i'm gladdened to know the song found its way to you in a time when you needed it.  my heart goes out to you for your loss, and i wish you all the best as you move forward.

be taking care,

dmm

I Am Truly Blessed Beyond What I Deserve

As hard as I try to stay positive, I think I am always waiting for something to go wrong. I love when everything goes above and beyond my expectations though...it reminds me to have more faith in the world. This weekend was just about as close to perfect as we can get. Darling Daughter's first hockey game was a winner not only because her team whooped up on the other but because her entourage was extensive and full of team spirit. We all hollered for our girl and her team and made complete sillies out of ourselves. It was GREATNESS!

When we were leaving to head to her celebratory lunch, I asked DarbyGirl if she wanted to call Memaw and Papa to let them know she won. After she left them a voicemail and handed me my phone back, I said with the same enthusiasm, "Now let's call Aunt Gayla!" It's moments like those that rip the air right out of you (and make me wonder how young early Alzheimer's usually kicks in). Ever the wise child, Darby comforted me and said, "She already knows." That girl saves me every time from myself. I love her, love her, love her. We sent pics to her Uncle Bubba and Aunt Dana. You could tell DarbyGirl loved being everyone's winner by her giant smile and chit-chatty demeanor.

We spent the rest of the day DIY-ing for Sosie's wedding. It was so comforting and gave me great peace in my heart to have the Little Rascals and their little-uns at our house playing, laughing and just being together. It's when our house is full of friends and family that it really feels like home. We are blessed beyond measure.

My Birthday Wish...

PHOTO SOURCE

For the last almost eight months since losing MyGayla, I have told my friends and family that I don't want to have a birthday. Part of that was the fact that the 19th of every month just reminds me that my sister is no longer here. The other part is that I don't want to someday be older than her. It's strange that a rational person would think this way, but I have found that in grief even the most rational people make irrational statements and choices as part of trying to make their reality not so. I came to realize yesterday that I am ready to grow old because that is what I am supposed to do. If anything, the death of my beloved sister-best-friend has taught me that I have to start embracing every day I have for the joyful blessing that it is.


Now here's where I need all of my friends' help. I have a wish list of material things that would make any girl's day. However, I am also aware that these THINGS cost money that we don't have. Therefore I put them away as dreams for someday. Another thought that has stuck with me for the last few months is that the outpouring of love for Gayla after her death has been almost overwhelming at times, and I wonder if we were as passionate about letting her know we loved her while she was alive. Then it hit me...what I really want for my birthday.


I love, love, love to receive mail. It has made my day since I was a little girl to receive personal posts. My birthday wish is that my friends and family will send me birthday cards with their memories of me written inside. Since I will be (eh-hem) thirty-seven celebrating the eighth anniversary of my twenty-ninth birthday, my goal is to receive at least 37 hand-written birthday wishes in the mail before November 19, 2011. Chad and Darby have agreed to help me not open these birthday treats until the day of my birth. Chad also says that I don't need to be disappointed if no one participates...let's prove him wrong!


Now this is tricky...how to put my address out there but keep myself and family safe from cyber stalkers...I am posting this on my facebook with a pic of my mailing address. For anyone not on my friends facebook list, e-mail me at jaimee dot hunter at sbcglobal dot net and I'll send you the address.


Looking forward to it! Much love!

Thursdays are Happiness Reports: October--Having More Energy

So True!

What's that saying? "If you want to entertain and amuse God, make a plan." I must have meant October is all about exerting all my energy to mend and heal. I started the first week by falling in the front flower bed and jacking up my foot to where I couldn't wear a shoe, much less work out. Week two I am wearing shoes only long enough to go to the doctor for the chest cold that turned into bronchitis. Now this week, I have coughed myself into irritating my hiatal hernia so that I cannot eat anything but rice, yogurt and mashed potatoes. On a plus note, I have lost five more pounds this week but easy lost is easy gained back. Also, with the help of all the meds I am sleeping more than eight hours each night. Maybe it's like training a new born to sleep through the night and my body will like it so much that it will become the norm. I have one week left in October, and I am going to do SOMETHING in the way of exercise. The drinking only water thing is going well since everything else irritates my stomach. Like I said during eat healthy month...have a plan but be flexible or you'll go insane.

Thank you for continuing to support this little bit of crazy each day! Visit my blog each Thursday to see how My Happiness Project is going! Here's the plan by month so far:

• August--being organized
• September--eating healthier
• October--having energy
• November--being thankful
• December--focusing on family and friends
• January--focusing on marriage
• February--focusing on parenting
• March--being creative
• April--being helpful
• May--working smarter
• June--being adventurous
• July--loving Jaimee

Write on Wednesday: Bring Me Sunshine In A Cup...

Gill at InkPaperPen inspired me yet again! Ding!

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 19 - Sunshine in a cup. Write the words of Emily Dickinson: "Bring me sunshine in a cup" at the top of your page. Set a timer for 5 minutes. Write the first words that come into your head after the prompt. Don't take you pen off the page (or fingers off the keyboard). Stop only when the buzzer rings! Do this exercise over and over if you wish. Write beyond 5 minutes if you like, you can link it up as an extra post.

Bring me sunshine in a cup...the sunshine in my life is my darling daughter. Each day I get to wake up is another adventure I am blessed to have with MyDarby. Still being fairly new to parenting (fifth year mama to a 14-year-old girl), I worry about her...A LOT! From what my mother tells me, this doesn't end just because she grows up. Where other mothers in my tenure are sending their darlings off to kindergarten for the first time, I am watching mine get on the bus for high school. My counterparts are braiding hair and tieing bows while I am side glancing today's outfit for dress code violations. My peers are volunteering for class mom and play dates while I am begging for ten minutes a day of communication other than grunts and shrugs. With so much uncertainty in parenting, I have one thing I can always fall back to...no matter what is to come, who she will be, what she will do, I love my girl with all my heart, unconditionally, unfaltering. My cup runeth over with the pure joy and unending love I have for MyDarby.

Try Something New Tuesday: Pinterest Inspired Lamp

So last week I wrote about discovering Pinterest and becoming an instant addict. The fun continues! This week I have been completing little Pinterest Projects all over the place. I made Darby a One Sentence Journal for documenting her high school years as well as a Dream Bucket. Although I am very proud of those two items, this fun Tissue Paper Lamp was the winner of my week. To boot, Darling Daughter loves it too! Yay, J-Me!

Supplies: Balloon, tissue paper strips in multiple colors, tacky glue, lamp socket kit from Lowe's and a light bulb.

1. Blow up the balloon and use tacky glue to adhere the twisted paper roses to the balloon. To make the rose, cut a 2 inch x length of the tissue paper strip. Twist the strip into a long tissue rope. Tightly roll the strip into a circle, creating your rose.

2. For an extra measure of security, I sprayed the rose-covered balloon with a matt finishing spray. Let the project dry for 24 hours.

3. Once the lamp is completely dry, gently cut the balloon and let it deflate. I had to gently remove balloon bits from inside the lamp shade. It looked like one of those flower-covered swim caps from the 50s.

4. I then cut a hole in between a couple of the top roses to insert the socket of the lamp kit. I screwed in a light bulb, plugged it in, and ta-da! A funky light for darling daughter!

Try Something New Tuesday: Pinterest Inspiration: Grocery Sack Reuse

I used to think that my once-a-year Garage sale was genius because, instead of pricing each individual piece of crap, I would give out the grocery sacks we collect all year for $5 and tell our patrons, "Anything you can fit into that sack for $5." I cleared out our bag collection and our junk at the same time. Well if that was my genius, then this is whatever is WAY SMARTER AND COOLER than genius.


Originally pinned from "Tatertots and Jello", a blog of DIY crafts and ideas, this is a tutorial for taking your grocery bags and an empty cleaning wipe container and making a dispenser for your car, your laundry room or your mommy bag! It makes that jumble of plastic sacks a neat and compact bag dispensary! Hubby dearest was a doubting Chad until I let him demonstrate with my finished product. Now he wants one for his truck and his dad's boat!

1.  Gather a dozen bags and flatten them out pushing all the air out. I used several more than 12 because my container was the large wipes.

2. Fold the bags in half again pressing all the air out. This took me a couple of tries.

3. Overlap the handles of the bags onto the top of the previous bag. If you’re only working with 12, then you can make a long line. If you’re doing more, you may just want to work with a few at a time.

4. Fold the first bag’s handle upward. This will be your middle and the first bag you pull out of the container. All the other bags will be connected to this first one.5. Tightly roll up the sacks, tucking in the new handles as you roll.6. After you roll the grocery bags, insert the roll into your wipes container, tucking the first bag’s handles through the top.7. From here, you decorate your wonderful little container using whatever supplies you have available. GENIUS!

That's Some Cough Syrup with a Kick!




PHOTO SOURCE

Not happy about too much last night, including that there was no family night, I was ready for sleep when my head hit the pillow. Doc Hardline gave me some codeine laced cough syrup earlier in the week to help me sleep through the coughing fits that sound like they are going to strangle me. Wow! I now know how people get addicted to this crap! It has a kick...luckily, I don't like not being in control so I am safe from ever getting so pulled into it that I call it "my precious" other other crazy pet names for vices.

Nevertheless, getting pulled into a deep sleep and held there by the sickly sweet concoction was probably the best night of rest I have had in months. Not because it was restful and refreshing because I feel like there are weights tied to each of my hands and feet this morning. It was my best night of sleep because I finally dreamed of MyGayla. In fact, I spent the whole night with her hanging out like we used to and then creating a made-up mystery for us to solve like crime fighters, a game we played as children re-enacting shows we had watched on TV.

Always the ones to point out the obvious, Sister and I discussed that this was a dream and she was actually gone in real life. After tears on both our parts, we decided together to just take the time we were given in my mind and run with it. We found the criminal, saved the day and had time for making dinner together.

On an interesting note, in my dream, we lived in a high-rise apartment, number 752. I looked up the meanings of the numbers...very intriguing! The number seven "always indicates Spiritual Enlightenment. Our Spiritual Center is our 7th Chakra." The number five is a "male number indicating sensuality, the five senses, Karma (literally learning your lessons through the five senses)." Finally, the number two is "a female number indicating balance, sharing, give and take, two way communication." I have goose bumps thinking about how the mind is a most interesting place to hang out. Don't misunderstand, I am not the hippy-hippy chick with the karma candles and incense with crystals. I just thought if a number on our apartment stuck in my mind, then it must be at least entertaining to find out what those numbers stand for.

RECIPE: Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

I love cooking with the crockpot and having things ready for dinner when I get home from work! This has to be the best Baked Potato Soup I have ever had (even in a restaurant!), and it was easy peasy, baby! Darling Daughter and Hubby Dearest liked it as well (SCORE!). I served it with cornbread, but HD said we should have it with steaks next time.

Slow Cooker Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:
 5 pound bag of Russet Potatoes, washed (peeled is up to your preference) 
 1 large yellow onion, diced (I puree mine b/c of my texture babies)
10 cloves of garlic, whole
8 cups chicken broth
16 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon seasoned salt 

Garnishes:
- Crumbled bacon or bacon bits
- Shredded cheese of your choosing
- Green onions (we skip this)

Directions:
- Dice potatos into 1/2 inch cubes.
- Add potatoes, onion, garlic, seasoning and chicken stock to crockpot.
- Cook on low for 10 hours.
- Remove and puree the garlic cloves (they float to the top), 1/2 to 1/3rd of the crockpot mixture, and the cream cheese.
- Reintroduce puree mixture to the remainder of the soup in the crock pot.
- Top with your choice of garnishes & serve!Serves about 10-12 servings. I am freezing the leftovers and will have to let you know if it holds up to freezing.

Thursdays are Happiness Reports October--Having More Energy by Sleeping and Hydrating



PHOTO SOURCE
My therapist loaned me a book
titled The Worry Cure.
1. Accept the present situation
and uncertainty.
2. Commit to taking action where
action is needed.
3. Live for NOW not a future
that is unknown.

I don't know if it's that I am suffering with the nothing-tastes-right-because-I'm-congested thingy or if, after a week of drinking nothing but water, I just don't care for the taste of my soda I broke down and bought. Either way, staying hydrated this week has been a must with all the cold meds I have been consuming. Also, sleeping 8 hours each night was a breeze with the cough medicine the doc gave me. I am feeling more energetic and have been able to stay busy each evening after work instead of crashing on the sofa and being a lump. I have been cooking dinners, making "I love you" pressies for Darby, and trying to get the house in order.

This next week will be a kicker though...seven days of working out. I have my choice of the recreation centers, videos at home or walking around the neighborhood (so glad the heat wave of 2011 is over!). Wish me luck!

Thank you for continuing to support this little bit of crazy each day! Visit my blog each Thursday to see how My Happiness Project is going! Here's the plan by month so far:

• August--being organized
• September--eating healthier
• October--having energy
• November--being thankful
• December--focusing on family and friends
• January--focusing on marriage
• February--focusing on parenting
• March--being creative
• April--being helpful
• May--working smarter
• June--being adventurous
• July--loving Jaimee

I'm OBVIOUSLY a Big Dork!

Inspiration found on Pinterest

According to Marshall Kirkpatrick, I am now a member of the Big Dork Club (although I think I have always been a member) because I am finally into Pinterest. Go read his blog about this new addictive web site to see a full description of the many uses of Pinterest. I liken it to the cork board I hung on my wall as a kiddo that collected anything of interest to me. It's funny to see Darling Daughter's bulletin board piled with years and years of hand-made arts and crafts, certificates for her latest and greatest feat of awesome childhood-ism, pictures of funny faces, award ribbons, special messages, etc. Yeah, this is a digital version of that, which helps walking contradictions like myself (pack-rats who are also clutter-phobes).

What's awesome for for this crafty gal is that I can "Pin" those items of "Interest" to me (get it? Pinterest?) and see all the virtual cork boards of my friends and strangers. WARNING!!! Snagging ideas for future fun is freaking addictive, y'all! Once you get started, it sucks you in...WAY IN! Like you look up from your click, click, clicketing and multiple hours have snuck right past you!



I am totally
going to buy a scarf
and wrap my head up now
that this totally easy tutorial
has been discovered!

Last night, I grabbed three recipes that were of interest to me, ran to the store to buy supplies and made dinner and dessert. This totally knocked out the "I don't know; what do you want to have for dinner?" conversation. I even got up this morning and started a slow cooker baked potato soup for dinner tonight. In addition to Fun Foodie items, I collected 155 various crafts, card ideas, holiday fun items,  inspirational quotes, etc. just last night! I may be in more trouble because I discovered the Iphone App for Pinterest this morning...looks like Angry Birds just got some competition for my attention! Anyone want to give me an IPad for my birthday so I don't go blind using my little bitty phone? :-)

Come follow me on Pinterest and let's share ideas! I login using Facebook so if we are friends on Facebook, we can connect on Pinterest.

Try Something New Tuesday--Waffle House O.M.O.

"What is Waffle House O.M.O.?" you ask. It's lunch at the "Aweful Waffle" on my own. Further more, it's probably a one time endeavor. Missing myGayla terribly, I decided I wanted to walk her path of being okay with meals at Waffle House by myself. I ordered her favorite hashbrowns with peppers, tomoatoes, cheese and ham, opting not to go forward with my plan of hashbrowns all the way (Bert can keep his chili--beans! really!). Although completely yummy with a little salsa on top, I am sure the lovely waitress was stricken to find me crying in her booth as I stared longingly off into space while eating this ugly mess of fried food. After snapping back to reality, I gulped down the rest of my lunch and tipped her 100% as I fled for the safety of my car. I wonder if I'll ever look at pedicures and Waffle House the same way again.

The list isn't growing but is shrinking! Got anything you suggest I try?

· pomegranates
· making jam
· Russian cuisine
· New Boston Pioneer Days
· business travel all in one day
·  Be an insane sideline mom with glittery sign and all
· kayaking
· 5k training to eventually RUN a 5k
· mud bath
· banya (not just food; they have a spa too)
· Zumba
· Ballroom dancing class
· Watch a Bollywood movie at a Bollywood theater
· Quilting
· Take Darby to see a Midnight show of Rocky Horror
· Participate in a flash mob
· Boot Camp
· Art Class
· Dance on a Bar
· Puerto Rican food
· Meditate at a Buddhist temple
· Volunteer at a homeless shelter
· be a tourist in my own town
· snow ski
· order and eat hash browns "all the way" at Waffle House
· Make a Funny Face Book