Grilling Goodness

***Does anyone know why AutoPost isn't working for me?!?! Gah!***

Grilling Goodness must go on hiatus. I hate to do it because I know you love this weekly delight, but I have a lot going on. This will be the busiest July ever...packing, moving, getting my oldest ready for kindergarten (bittersweet) and we must squeeze in some fun. Maybe by the time July is over, we'll be well on our way to a new house...stayed tuned. I don't plan to cease all blogging...but it may slow down a bit.

I hope your Fourth of July is spectacular with food, friends, fireworks and a freedom celebration!!

Praise God for this country and the freedom we have to worship Him!!

Grilling Goodness

****Stinkin' autopost didn't post this morning...anyone else having trouble???****

Griling...grilling with company. I have some friends in town from Texas and I told her that she had to write the questions this week...so here we go!!!

1. When you were growing up dreaming of having children...dreaming of what their names would be...did you stick with those names?

2. Are you affected by the death of Michael Jackson?

3. Do you use your dishwasher and your fireplace?

4. Have you ever been on a mission trip?

5. Will your kids participate in a Vacation Bible school this summer?

6. What about the economy is affecting you the worst?

7. Do your kids do chores?

8. Do you use energy efficient light bulbs?

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My Answers!

1. I don't remember dreaming up names...I'm sure I did. I do know that I named all my stuffed animals Fluffy or Samantha...needless to say, those are not my children's names...although Evan is fluffy.

2. Not one bit. I have no words.

3. We use our dishwasher all the time. The fireplace. The thing we just HAD to have when we bought our house...we've never lit it.

4. I have never been on a mission trip. I think I would like to go somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Or when.

5. Ella has already been to VBS this summer...she loved it! She's still singing the songs!

6. I suppose the way we are most affected is the gas and grocery prices. We keep our 'financial nose' pretty clean so we don't have to deal with the increasing rates for everything. Until we buy our new house, that is. Even then, God will be taking care of us!

7. We still haven't started a regular chore list...lazy momma, I guess. Ella makes her bed everyday without being told to. Other than that, I just tell them what I need them to do when I need them to do it.

8. We only have a few energy efficient bulbs...but in our new house...we probably will use them everywhere.

Thanks for the questions, friend!!!

I hope you all have time to play...I hope I have time to visit. Loser!

Leave me a comment if you get to play!!!!

Grilling Goodness

Happy Friday, Friends!!! Thanks for joining me! Let's start the grill, shall we?

1. What do you like most about your skin?

2. Does your spouse mind grocery shopping for you or with you?

3. Do you have access to a pool for the summer?

4. Do you have plans for Father's Day?

5. Is there anything that terrified you as a child that you find .... now?

6. If you could do something instantly, what would it be?

7. What would you do to entertain visitors from out of town?

8. If your best friend owes you money, do you bug them until you get it?

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My Answers

1. I like that my skin is fair...except when I'm sitting next to my very tan friends in the summer. I've said before that if I could just get my freckles to merge, I'd have a great tan...yesterday I told my friend that she was one big freckle. She said "at least you won't be as wrinkled as me when you're old." We shall see.

2. Hubs doesn't mind being sent to the store. If I email him a list, he's good to go. Thursday night, he went with me because we were already out...and I SO appreciate the help because my little people can get crazy in stores!

3. You bet! We are members at our local YMCA...they have an indoor pool (but it's HOT in there), and they also have a small waterpark...which I successfully fried at on Wednesday. Also, I happened to have a very sweet friend who has already invited us over once this summer...a nice inground pool 2 minutes away. Nice. (thanks friend!)

4. Haven't gotten anything nailed down for Father's Day yet. Hubs wants to try a different Chinese buffet...I'm not normally down with that, but for Father's Day...I'll let him ditch us for lunch and go! ha!

5. I don't really remember being terrified of anything...selective memory, I suppose. I wasn't very fond of the mouse-sized, flying waterbugs (i.e. roaches) that we dealt with in one house. But I have not seen such a thing since we left that house.

6. I would instantly lose 40lbs. Wish it were that easy!

7. I'm at a loss. I really don't care much about anything 'historic' in our area. We have a few museums and a zoo...but I guarantee you that it will be 8,000 degrees outside. We could go to the waterpark I mentioned above. We could go to Chuck E Cheese, Incredible Pizza, the movies or sit at home and have a Wii tournament. I don't know!!!!!!! (God willing, we are having guests next week and she's a reader (blog friend I met in real life!)...maybe she'll voice her opinion!)

8. Um, well...usually it's the other way around and she doesn't bug me. I paid our sitter the other day and she owes me half...but she currently has my laptop...so I shall not bug her or she could give my machine a nasty virus or glue the keys down. No thanks.

Leave a comment if you play along...I realize I haven't completely made my rounds from last week, sorry. I will do my best to get around soon.

Keep praying about the sale of our house...we may very well get an offer soon. Four showings this week...all very encouraging!

Have a fabulous weekend, people!!

Grilling Goodness

1. What's the heaviest thing in your purse?

2. Do you mostly use cash or debit/credit cards?

3. Do you cut your hair shorter in the summer or pull it up a lot?

4. Do you like your man scruffy or clean shaven?

5. What have your children done/said to embarass you lately?

6. Do you use plug-in type air fresheners around the house?

7. Do you have any interest in the NBA or NHL finals? (Do you even know who's competing?)

8. What is weighing heavily on your mind lately?

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My Answers

1. My Wallet. Not because it's overflowing with dough, but because it's bulky and has pictures, change and a calendar inside.

2. Forever now, we have been debit card people...but quite frankly, I'm tired of keeping up with receipts and writing everything down. We've started using more cash lately.

3. My hair is short because it just is...it's not dependant on the season. But the other day, it was laying super flat and I was just wishing I had enough for a ponytail. Debating about letting it grow out a little.

4. Either, really. When hubs is off work, he lets himself get a little scruffy...and it's not bad so long as he's not trying to snuggle in my neck or something. Being scratched is no fun. But when he's smooth, with a fresh hair cut...he cleans up well.

5. OH my my. My facebook friends have seen some of the latest statements by my children...or shall I say the boy child, anyway. My son said to a woman at Walmart 'Hey...some of your teef fell out.' I wasn't facing him or her so I sort of refused to acknowledge it...that's probably terrible. I'm not sure at all whether the lady actually caught what he said or not. At the yard sale last week, this guy came up in an unbuttoned flannel shirt, baring lots of skin. Evan said to him 'Hey...I see your belly button'. We all had a good chuckle...but we voted for the guy to 'cover that mess up'. Oh well. Seems to be Evan's gift to be brutally honest with folks.

6. I used to light candles all the time...but I have turned to Air Wick plug-ins. I like Island Paradise and Mountain Breeze.

7. I only know a smidge of what is happening with these events because hubby talks about them. He's been watching the NBA finals...I don't protest. I halfway watch it while I'm on the laptop. At least we're in the same room!! But hockey...not interested. I can't follow the puck at all. Hubby usually only watches the highlights on SportsCenter. I can deal with that. (overall, hubby is REALLY blessed to have a sports-minded wife...I don't fuss about him watching ball games.) Oh and I do know who is playing in the NBA finals, but I have no clue about the NHL.

8. Other than the marriages around me, I am really sad about the Air France crash. I just hurt everytime I hear about it and the bodies they've found. And I am so thankful that my husband isn't flying all the time like he used to.

Thanks for dropping by!! I hope you have time to play along...please leave a comment if you do.

Have a great weekend!!

Grilling Goodness

Howdy partners!!! Thanks for joining me! Dig in!

1. Do you like a scent that others might find strange?

2. Are you a pack rat or do you purge regularly?

3. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer that keeps you out of the heat?

4. What is your favorite number? Why?

5. What color do you choose most when painting your nails?

6. Have you done anything abnormal this week?

7. What's the best thing happening this weekend?

8. Did you have to dissect anything when you were in school?

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My Answers

1. The 'weird' scent that I like is that of a new shower curtain. That strange, plastic/rubbery smell. I'm so kooky.

2. A little of both. I have gotten a lot better about getting rid of things that I know we'll never use again. In fact, I have gathered a trailer load of goods for a yard sale today and Saturday. It will be great to have some extra cash...for a short time, anyway.

3. To stay out of the heat...I vote for naps!! I think I'll take the kids bowling this summer. I'm sure we'll hit Chuck E Cheese at some point. Ooo, and this bounce place has open play a few times a week.

4. I like the number 8. I'm not exactly sure why I like this number, but maybe it's because I like how I write it. I don't write the normal figure 8...I draw two circles to make my 8s. I've noticed over the years that most of my exaggerations include an 8. 'It's 8000 degrees outside today'...

5. I usually choose something in the red family. From a red that is almost pink to the deepest burgundy...

6. I haven't worn earrings since Sunday. Abnormal? For me, yes. I changed earrings last weekend for my outfit and when I took them out, I didn't put my normal hoops back in. So it's been several days without earrings...weird.

7. The yard sale will bring in some dough. (which will probably be spent on school uniforms...God provides in all kinds of ways!!)

8. No dissection for me! That's what happens when you go to a small, not-so -famous-for-academics, public, city school in the ghetto.

Leave me a comment if you play along!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Grilling Goodness

1. If you had 10 hours at home alone, what would you do?

2. Do you have a fond memory of your dad?

3. Do you prefer the pool or the beach?

4. What's the furthest you've driven for one day of fun?

5. Solid, clear solid, clear gel or aerosol? Deodorant of choice, that is.

6. Do you tan or burn/peel?

7. What's your favorite pasta-based meal?

8. Do you wax or pluck your eyebrows?

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My Answers

1. Ten hours alone!? Wow. First, I would put ice on my head because I have a boo-boo from falling when I fainted. Ok. I would probably see what needed to be done that day. I'd make a list. I'd do the most important things...and then I'd take a nap. And go get my toes done.

2. My dad. There are so many fond memories. I particularly liked all the times that we spent in the garage. He would be working on a car and I'd get in a good chat. I don't remember exactly what we ever talked about, but I remember it as being the place that we could talk...and somehow tempers never flared in the garage. The 'horse' power took over.

3. Depends. The pool is closer and cleaner. The beach is just awesome. The sound of the waves. The smell of the air. Pool air doesn't quite cut it...something about the chlorine. I suppose I like the pool better because it's easier to manage. But I would certainly like to visit the beach more often.

4. Yesterday, I drove? rode 160+ miles, one way, to go to a waterpark with my best friend and our children. We had a fabulous time...and we are SO happy that we were able to take advantage of a discount. Ella and I rode waterslides together and Evan just loved splashing anywhere you took him. It's a sure-fire way to ensure yourself a good night's rest...unless you are burned to a crisp.

5. Solid, most of the time. Clear gel for sleeveless days. But ALWAYS something!!

6. BURN and peel. And pray for my freckles to merge so I can have a tan!!

7. Mmmm...I really like a particular Alfredo sauce at a local Italian place...no matter the noodle, it's the best!

8. Pluck, pluck, pluck. But they are blonde and I miss lots of the little, fine ones...so I'd really like to go get my first wax job.

Mr. Linky is not behaving. If you play along, please leave a comment...thanks so much!

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Grilling Goodness

HELLO!!!

Welcome back for this week's edition of Grilling Goodness!

Let's see if I can rock out eight questions...

1. Do you have a cell phone that allows you to check your email?

2. Have you ever caught a foul ball at a baseball game?

3. What foreign accent can you imitate the best?

4. Do you have plans for Memorial Day?

5. Does your hair look decent if you let it air dry?

6. When is the last time you went to a waterpark?

7. Do you turn on your porch light every night?

8. Have you ever had to call the fire department?

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My Answers

1. No fancy-schmancy cell phone here. Hubs has an iphone. I'm not convinced that that is what I want, but I would really like a full keyboard and the ability to check my email. Oh, and if I could update my Facebook status via cell phone, that'd be cool. (now someone will probably tell me there's already a way to do that. :)

2. I do not recall ever catching a foul ball at a ball game...not even with my face.

3. Hubby says that all my imitations sound alike...British. I stink at it. He rocks.

4. I'm playing Bunco Monday night...no other plans for during the day. The man will be home from work so we may end up finding something to get into.

5. Decent? Eh. I don't think it would keep me from answering the from door, but it is certainly not nice enough to leave the house on purpose.

6. Our YMCA has a 'waterpark' but it's not like the massive ones with huge slides (it does have two, but I've never been on them) like Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags, for instance. That was probably the last one I went to...about 10 years ago...and I hope to go there this summer!

7. We rarely turn on our porch lights. Only when we are expecting company or someone will be leaving our house in the dark...and then we usually turn them off before we go to bed. My next house should look really pretty with all the lights on at night...so maybe then I will.

8. We have never called the fire department for a fire. We once had a swarm of bees land on and cover our entire mailbox. We called the fire department, I suppose to see if they knew what we should do...I don't know. We were 23...and pretty much just didn't want to get stung to death. Ok...we were dummies. The fire dept said they could not handle such a thing...so we took matters into our own hands. We poured gasoline on the mailbox. But we didn't just walk up to the mailbox to do this. We did a drive-by gas-splash. That's right. I drove and hubby chunked gas out of the car and onto the mailbox. I said we were 23, remember. Dummies.

Grilling Goodness

Loser. Slacker. Bum.

Sorry I haven't done a grilling session in a few weeks...but let's forget all that and dish it up hot today!

1. Where do your shoes 'live'?

2. When it's 'clean house' day, where do you start?

3. What instrument would you like to learn to play?

4. How is your mood when you're tired? Hungry? Ill?

5. If you could change a decision you made this week, what would it be?

6. Have you ever used public transportation regularly?

7. What are you thankful for this week?

8. What do you need to do more often?

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My Answers

1. My shoes reside in my closet. But I'm wondering, in my new house, if I'd like to have cubbies or shelves in the garage or laundry room to house all shoes so they can park near the door and not trapse through the house. (We don't want to wear shoes throughout our new home - including visitors!!)

2. I start in either the kitchen or the master bathroom...depends on what needs it worse. I can sort of go in one big circle, hit each room and end up other the other side of the house when I'm done...and it would be nice if I had time to do everything in a day like I used to. (goal for the summer!)

3. I would love to learn the violin. Or the piano. I just have SO much time on my hands...ahem.

4. Tired mood = a little testy. Hungry mood = Mellow, shut down. Ill mood = irritable.

5. I would choose not to be a procrastinator. Sigh. I say that too often.

6. I have never had to take the bus to work, but I did ride the bus to school for a few years when I was young. I've never lived near a subway, so I certainly haven't gone that route.

7. I am thankful for my job. God has really blessed us by me being able to contribute to our family income...and from home at that! It's incredible. And it's allowing us to do things that we weren't sure we'd ever be able to do. Thank you, Lord!

8. I need to stop and play with my kids more often. I am hoping that I can use my time more wisely this summer so the kids and I can have a lot of fun before my first baby goes off to kindergarten in the fall.

I hope you've had a great week, my friends!!

Please sign Mr. Linky and visit one another!

Thanks for playing!

Grilling Goodness - Lazy Edition

Shamelessly lifted from a 'tag' on facebook. I can't claim this as my own.

With so much going on, I have found it hard to focus on coming up with questions this week...so I'm taking the easy route and posting things I found on FB. Sorry...I hope you don't mind.

This fill-in-the-blank doo-dad actually has 50 blanks but I'm sticking with eight...mostly so I will have more material should I have another brain-vacation soon.

So please, play along if you'd like...these are not questions, but will still help us learn more about each other!

And P.S. My answers are different here than they were on Facebook just in case some of you already saw my post there.

1. My ex is...such a distant memory. Not sure you could really say he was my 'ex' because I don't know that we were ever an exclusive couple. But he turned out to be older than he told me he was. He turned out to be a creep. And he turned out to be...well...an ex. (boy will my dad be asking questions!)

2. I should learn to...be a better student of The Word. I'm guilty of leaving It out of my day...oh how It could make my days much sweeter. My pastor says something like 'if you can't be fed only once a week physically and survive, why is it that you think you can survive being fed only once a week spiritually?' I must get better about this.

3. I love...the thought of living much closer to my best friend later this year. We are already exchanging ideas of impromptu dinners together and convenient childcare/carpool/fun. Can't wait!

4. People would say that I am...blessed. I have a great marriage. An old friend of mine has had some issues this week and it has really made me count my blessings. My husband is wonderful. Neither of us are perfect so we have our moments, but because we believe in our vows, we believe in each other and we believe in God's will for our lives, we are committed...it's a sweet security.

5. I don't understand...quantum physics. ??? I don't know. (brain-vacation)

6. When I wake up in the morning…I open one eye to look at the clock. Then I open the other eye because I have terrible vision and I need both eyes to see. Then I huff because I usually wake up before I'd like to and I'd like to go back to sleep. I huff more when the alarm goes off for hubby...and he doesn't get up...and doesn't get up...and doesn't get up...and I'm awake to keep him from oversleeping...and I might kick him...and he doesn't get up...

7. I lost...the original diamond in my engagement ring. I must've hit my hand on something that day and bent one of the prongs and my precious gem fell out. When I discovered that it was gone, I made a horrible sound in the car and burst into tears. It was horrible. My stone was replaced, free of charge, because we had a lifetime guarantee through the jeweler. What a blessing!

8. Life is full of...ups and downs. And the rollercoaster I'm riding now is all about selling my house. We've had two sets of folks say they're interested only to never hear from them again. They may show up one day...but it stinks to be let down. So now, I will not get excited until I see a signature on paper and a check in my hand.

Grilling Goodness

Oh Goodness...time for some grillin'!

1. When you were in school, did you study hard or cram the night before?

2. What can pull you out of a really funky mood?

3. Do you keep the invoice after you've paid the bill?

4. Do you have yard sales? Shop at them?

5. When was the last time you rode a rollercoaster?

6. Spring cleaning...do you do such things as wash your windows?

7. How often do you clean out your refrigerator?

8. Have you ever been a victim of identity theft?

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My Answers

1. I did a little cramming...not so much of a studier. When I did study, I simply reviewed the notes I had taken in class. During the test, I could almost tell you exactly where I wrote the answer in my notes...sort of a photographic memory.

2. Going out for dinner makes me happy. No cooking. No dishes. Unlimited coke.

3. There are some bills, like the mortgage statement, that I retain, but after I pay the phone/utility bills, they are destroyed. I pay them in person and my check is the receipt.

4. We have had one yard sale since we got married and we raked in over $900! I've had the stuff to do another one, but ended up donating most of it. I didn't want to fool with it...but when we start clearing out to move, I think I will have a yard sale. I have baby stuff to get rid of! :)

5. Rollercoaster!?!? How I love them!! I rode the Mystery Mine at Dollywood last summer. Loved it! We are planning a trip to Six Flags this summer...rollercoasters here I come!

6. [hangs head in shame] I have never washed our windows. I like to clean the ceiling fans, baseboards and underneath the sofas, but other than that, it's business as usual.

7. I clean out the refrigerator when I don't have any more bowls for leftovers. We should eat more leftovers so the turn-around will be shorter.

8. Yes...we've had our bank account stolen twice. But we recovered our money each time. We never carry cash, but me thinks we should give it a shot...especially at restaurants where they walk off with your card when you pay.

I will do my best to keep Grilling Goodness rolling, but there may be times this summer, or during our move (eventually), when I will become a slacker. Thought I should warn you!

Have a fantastic weekend!!

Grilling Goodness #26

Hello Grillers! Welcome back!!

I've enlisted some help to come up with this week's questions. I got a couple from my best friend and several from my dad. I'm glad they helped me out...this is fun, but it gets tough at times!

Let's get started!

1. Do you prefer reality tv or dramas or comedies?

2. If you could have free cosmetic surgery, what would you have done?

3. What are you itching to get but you have 'bitten the bullet'?

4. Do you have a bad habit that you hope your children don't pick up?

5. What was your favorite meal growing up?

6. What meal did you have as a youngster that you don't have as an adult?

7. What is your earliest memory of a "vacation"? Where'd you go?

8. What was the "Best Thing" you ever got for Christmas, before age 12?

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My Answers

1. Several of my favorite dramas/comedies are gone that I'm pretty much a reality tv junkie. I like: The Biggest Loser. Dancing with the Stars. House Hunters. Deadliest Catch. And more.

2. Free cosmetic surgery...well, well...I'd have a nose job...NO WAIT! More importantly!! I'd find a surgeon who could make my feet narrow. I have the widest feet on the planet and it is hard to find shoes for these things...cute shoes anyway. So I'd be willing to sacrifice my pinky toes and more to have narrow feet. Yes, then I'd be a freak. (and yes, I do know that even your pinky toes are important to your balance...but I see no other solution, people!!)

3. A new camera. I have really grown to dislike my silly little camera. It's probably severe user error...but still.

4. Sarcasm. It's not a good trait. It can be very hurtful.

5. My favorite meal growing up was my dad's biscuits and gravy. No one else makes them like he does...and I almost can't remember what it tasted like. I don't make it the way he did.

6. My mother used to make fried Spam. I haven't touched SPAM in like, 20 years.

7. The earliest memories I have of getting in a vehicle for a long period of time was probably when I was 4 or so. My great-grandmother lived in Mississippi. I remember going down there to see her. I remember that she had red-ish carpet. And fire ants in the yard. I remember stepping on an ant hill and getting fired up...and screaming so loudly that my dad, who was mowing the grass, could hear me.

8. Cabbage Patch dolls. That's all I can come up with. You have no idea how selective my memory is from my early years. It's probably a good thing.

Thank you so much for coming to play along!

I hope you have a blessed weekend! Hug your loved ones!!

Grilling Goodness

Hello fellow Grillers!!

I apologize for the surprise 'day off' last week. Even though I was traveling, I completely planned on posting questions...but when I got where I was going, the wireless internet stunk!! I managed to post what I did, but I just couldn't get anything more posted.

Thanks for coming back!!

1. What's one of the best things you've seen lately?

2. Has Spring brought you something you don't like?

3. What kind of sandwiches do you like?

4. Do you carry GermX with you at all times?

5. Does each person in your house have their own hamper or do you have a central hamper for everyone?

6. How often do you balance your checkbook?

7. What's the hardest thing you've done lately?

8. Are you a texter?

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My Answers

1. My definition of 'best' is going to be the 'funniest' thing I've seen lately. We were driving home from Texas...the long, boring route (wait, is there any other?) when we drove passed one of the more non-shack-looking homes along the road. And even though this home was one of the better, they had the most hilarious choice for a planter that I've ever seen. It...it was...a toilet! I am not kidding. I know you're not supposed to say 'never'...but...I can honestly say...I will NEVER have a toilet that doubles as a planter!

2. Spring...it brought ANTS!!! We saw a few when we left for vacation...but they were unsupervised for six days. They found the cereal and the sugar...on the opposite side of the kitchen. Ants make me angry!! I won't bother them outside, but dagnabit, don't come in my house!

3. I mostly like hot sandwiches...grilled cheese, philly cheese steak...but I certainly don't mind a nice pb&j every now and then.

4. I do carry GermX...in my purse and in the car. I use it when I know for sure that something we've touched is disgusting...gas pumps, toilets, chewed gum under the picnic table, etc.

5. We use one hamper for now. But it's possible that I will have a nice, new, big house later this year and my plan is for each person to have a hamper in their own closet...and each person will have a laundry day. It sounds like a fantastic plan. I may even go ahead and put it into action!!

6. I balance the checkbook at least twice a month...every time hubby gets paid, since I have to add his pay in anyway, I check it all over to see how we're doing...and to make sure that my favorite Mexcian restaurant hasn't taken out twice our normal bill on a day we didn't even eat there. It pays to balance, people!

7. The hardest thing I've done lately...hmmm...logging lots of hours in the car was kind of hard. Listening to whiny kids while logging lots of hours in the car was kind of hard. I've been blessed with a not-so hard week otherwise.

8. I am now! I sure do feel like a 12 year old. I had texted back and forth with my best friend...and my hubby got all over me because it wasn't included in our plan. Well...now it is. And it kept me entertained while logging long hours in the car.

I hope you've had a great week!

Me? It feels good to be home!!

Grilling Goodness #24

Hello all!! Welcome back for your weekly dose of Goodness!!

1. Do you prefer to write with pen or pencil?

2. What was off limits to you growing up that you do all the time now?

3. What is the age difference between you and your spouse?

4. Did you hurt yourself in anyway this week?

5. Do you like wallpaper enough to hang it in your home?

6. What do you need to do that you've been putting off?

7. What did you do this week that you wish you hadn't?

8. Did anything keep you up late this week?

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My Answers

1. I suppose it depends. I have a certain calendar that I use for work...and I always use a mechanical pencil. But if I were writing a note, or pretty much anything else, I use pens.

2. Dad? Are you reading?? I paint my nails in the house....ALL.THE.TIME!!! Hubby doesn't send me out to the front porch no matter the weather. Yay for my hubby!

3. My love is 74 days older than me. Forever. :)

4. As a matter of fact, I did hurt myself. I dropped something on my big toe Wednesday. Why is it that a hurt toe can make you want to say things you don't normally say??

5. Not a fan of wallpaper. There are two rooms in this house that have a simple border around the top of the room, but that is the extent of my wallpapering.

6. Lots of things. I have some items for donation that I need to drop off. I need to file a stack of personal papers. I need to vacuum the cheerios out of my van. I need to paint my toes...in the house.

7. I really wish I hadn't let the laundry pile up. Oh. Add that to the above 'I need to' list. grrr

8. House Hunters. A girls night out. Basketball. Coke Zero. Those are the guilty parties.

Thank you for stopping by to my little piece of internet real estate! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. See you next week!

Grilling Goodness #23

Oh goodness...it's that time again!! I think I need you folks to submit questions...this is getting tougher...or maybe I just need more caffeine!

1. Are you competitive?

2. What do you most often eat for breakfast?

3. Do you have a 'raggidy' piece of furniture?

4. What do you wash your face with?

5. What colors does Spring make you want to wear?

6. Do you like working your flower beds?

7. What is something you want that you've never had?

8. How many miles do you have on your car?

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My Answers

1. Absolutely, highly competitive. I've been involved in sports for 18 years and I've always loved to win! I like to play softball and volleyball for church...but sometimes other people involved aren't as serious as I am...I need a 12-step program.

2. I typically eat a cereal bar. I also like oatmeal with raisins. I always eat something. my stomach growls as soon as I'm awake!

3. Boy, do I! Our kitchen table, the 'deal' we found when we got married, it's pitiful. Wobbly chairs that were once chewed on by the dog we used to have. It's sad and I can't wait to move (eventually) so I can get a new dining set!

4. I use Cetaphil antibacterial soap. It was recommended by the dermatologist I went to 9 years ago.

5. Oranges. Greens. I don't typically do yellow, but I might try it.

6. I do not have a green thumb. It's all I can do to weed and re-mulch just to make them look nice for potential buyers. They will have a blank canvas to work with.

7. At the risk of sounding whiny, I want a bigger house. I'm ready for the house that my kids will grow up in...the one where they will bring their friends to...I want to be the 'go to' house when they are teenagers.

8. It just rolled over 170k. My Toyota rocks...the mechanic thinks it's good to go for a while.

As always, thank you so much for joining me for the grillin'!! I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Grilling Goodness #22

I don't know about you, but it was a long week for me...I'm looking forward to the weekend!! Thanks for stopping by for your weekly dose of whatever comes out of my brain!! It took me a while to make my rounds to see your answers from last week...I'll try to do better.

1. Did you learn anything new this week?

2. Will you wear green on St. Patty's Day or do you not give a hoot??

3. Do you wash clothes throughout the week or only on a specific day?

4. What is one of the most popular 'spams' you get in your junk email inbox?

5. Are you where you want to be? (you decide the meaning of the question for your answer)

6. Do you know how to swim?

7. Do you take trips with your girlfriends?

8. What was your favorite purchase this week? (big or small)

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My Answers

1. I learned that there IS a Magic Eraser Mop!! I WILL own one soon! I used my ME to clean a few ugly squares of linoleum in my kitchen...and realized how much the whole kitchen could use it...but I really didn't want to scrub it on my hands and knees. I thought 'I need a ME mop'. It's one of those things that crossed my mind but I never remembered to check the store or even the Mr. Clean website. A little birdy told me that she was 90% sure she'd seen one at Walmart. Boy was I curious. I was in Target later that day and somehow I thought to look there, and by golly, they had it!! I'm so excited!! And so is my kitchen floor!!

2. If I remember, I don't mind playing along...but it's not something we pay a lot of attention to. I have to admit that I have no clue what the history is of that day. I just grew up not wanting to get pinched. I suppose hubs would like it if I skipped the green. I'm just sayin'.

3. I wash clothes any time I see a washer-filling-pile. I would really like to get back on my schedule of focusing on laundry on Mondays...Maybe I'll give that a whirl next week.

4. XYZ[at]yahoo.com, claim your (insert prize here). And I'm thinking...are people really so gullible? Do they really think they've won a huge gift card or a trip to Florida?

5. I'm not where I want to be in regards to where we live. In regards to the size of our family, yes. In regards to this very moment, no...I could use more sleep.

6. I can swim as in go under water,goof around, you know, not drown, but I have not completely learned proper swimming techniques to swim laps at the Y. I want to...maybe 20lbs from now.

7. YES!!! Oh how I love girl trips!! I've only gone on shopping trips and scrapbooking trips...but I really want to go on a spa trip. Or a beach trip. A girl cruise? That would rock!

8. My favorite purchase this week...I'm torn between several things. I got to do extra shopping this week because it was a certain girl's birthday. I bought her some new clothes. I LOVE buying clothes for her...probably because I really hate buying clothes for myself. The other thing I bought this week, that I'm SO excited about, was a new Bible. I've wanted to get a new KJV Bible for myself for a while. I have an NIV that I don't use much, and I have a Holman Christian Standard that I like, but I really wanted to get back to the 'main' translation. We were looking for a Bible for Ella's birthday and ended up finding me the most awesome, small Bible. Small enough for my purse, yet large print for my 188 year old eyes. It's soft and flexible. It has awesome detailing on it...just beautiful to me. Good stuff.

Please sign Mr. Linky if you play along...Happy Friday!!

Grilling Goodness #21

Howdy partners! I suppose I am feelin' particularly southern today or something!

Thanks so much for joining me for another meal on the grill! You guys rock!!

Play along, whenever you can post it is fine, but please sign Mr. Linky so we can all visit you!!

1. What do you do when you get mad?

2. Do you wash your hair everyday?

3. How often do you speak to your parents?

4. Your nails - painted or nude?

5. What pair of shoes do you wear most often?

6. If you could do anything you wanted to do this weekend, what would it be?

7. What's the best cough medicine you know of?

8. How do you feel about 'springing forward'??

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My Answers

1. Depends on who I'm mad at. With most people, I shut down. If I know you well enough, I'll let you know about it. If I'm really, really upset, I cry. And then I go to hubs or my best friend to vent and find comfort.

2. Typically, yes, I do wash my hair everyday. There is a very rare day here and there where I am having a lazy day and I'll let it go...but I don't usually leave the house without clean hair.

3. I'm in contact with my dad via email at least once a week...but neither of us are huge phone people, so that is a little more rare. I don't speak to my mother very often at all...we just aren't close so we don't call each other much.

4. "My nails" are acrylic, paid for and painted. I love them!

5. It's a toss up between my sneakers and my boots. Soon-to-be in the running...flip flops!

6. I would be on the beach!! But I'm going in about a month, so I won't complain!

7. We just got Delsym for the boy. He's had one dose and I can tell already that it's working.

8. I love having longer days...but I don't like the initial loss of an hour of sleep!!!

Have a safe and glorious weekend!!!

Grilling Goodness #20

Welcome, my sweet friends, to another edition of Grilling Goodness! If this happens to be your first time playing, simply copy/paste the questions to your blog, answer them and share with your friends! Sign Mr. Linky below to let us all know that your post is up so we can all come see! Enjoy!

1. What is your favorite thing about Springtime?

2. Do you prepare special, maybe even fun, meals for your kids? Example, please.

3. What are you looking forward to this weekend?

4. Within driving distance, where do you like to go for a little getaway?

5. Laundry detergent: liquid or powder?

6. What does your spouse do around the house that you appreciate the most?

7. Do you converse with the grocery checker or pay and bolt?

8. Have you ever had an MRI? (If you feel comfortable sharing why, please do.)

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My Answers


1. I love the life that spring brings...everything turning green and blooming. It's beautiful. Unfortunately, all of that comes with pollen.

2. Other than cutting their sandwiches in the shape of hearts or dinosaurs, no. I'd really like to try some fun spins on normal food. I'd love to get some ideas today!

3. Tonight I'm going to a dinner. It's the 'finale' of the Apples of Gold Bible study I've been doing for the past two months. Our husbands are joining us; our kids are not. This program has been such a blessing to me. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet more mature women from my church and learn from them. I hope that my path crosses theirs more often.

4. We like going to St. Louis...free zoo...the Magic House...Lamberts along the way. We're planning a trip for this summer. Nashville is a good spot for a getaway as well...it helps that it puts us close to my dad.

5. I grew up with powder detergent. I think I've used liquid detergent since I got married...until this week. Something led me to buy a huge box of powder detergent...so far, I like it better.

6. My love helps me with the cooking and the laundry. It's fantastic. It floats my boat.

7. I must admit, unless I am greeted by the cashier, I tend to just stand there and watch my total increase. It's terrible...I should be more friendly.

8. I've had one MRI. I tore up my knee about 4 1/2 years ago and I had the MRI to see how bad it was. I did such a number on it that I needed surgery. My oldest child was a crawling 8 month old...she was more mobile than I was for a day or two.



Thank you so much for joining me once again for my humble meme! I hope you have a glorious weekend with your family!!

Grilling Goodness #19

I've been a slacker on posting this week, per my dad, but I wouldn't dare leave you hanging without a Grilling session!! Thanks for coming by!

1. What is your favorite family activity?

2. Do you know how to play poker?

3. Have you ever been to a chiropractor? Regularly?

4. Have you ever slopped pigs or milked cows?

5. How are you doing with the goals you made for the New Year?

6. Is there something you dread doing every day?

7. What room in your home would you most like to buy new furniture for?

8. If I had a dollar for every _______________, I'd be able to ______________.

(not a question, I know, but it's my game!)

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My Answers

1. I'm not sure I have one favorite thing, but it's anything we can do together where everybody is happy and not whining. Going to the zoo. Swimmng at the Y. Hanging at Chuck E. Cheese's. Playing Mario Kart on the Wii. Traveling.

2. Yes, but I don't play. Hubs plays in a non-cash game with a few friends every now and then. We've hosted the game several times and I once played with them. I beat the guys!! But because I don't want to make a habit out of making them look bad, you know, bruising egos along the way, I choose to hideout in another part of the house so they can act like bafoons.

3. I've had a consultation with a chiropractor, but no adjustments. They did a scan of my spine to see how out of whack I am (watch your comments, ha!). Even though I've carried two babies, one of them being really big, we were surprised that I'm not more crooked. I do, however, have one leg that's longer than the other. They said that wasn't uncommon. He suggested adjustments, but I haven't gone back.

4. I have never slopped pigs or milked cows. I have never worked on a farm. A garden, yes, but not on any kind of animal farm.

5. I'm down 12lbs!! My goal was to lose 40lbs this year...so I'm working it!

6. Honestly, I dread watching what I eat so that I can lose weight. I'd much rather have the metabolism that my best friend has so I could eat whatever I feel like eating all the time and not get fluffy.

7. Our sorry dining set has had it. The chairs are wobbly. It was a cheap deal that we found right before we got married...so it's eight+ years old and really needs to be replaced. I'm holding out until we have a new house. Until then, I hope no one collapses a chair while they're here.

8. If I had a dollar for every freckle on my body, I'd be able to go ahead and buy a new house without worrying about selling this one first.

Please tell Mr. Linky that you've played this week! Have a great weekend!!

Grilling Goodness #18

This is my 400th post!! Wowee!!

Welcome back for another installment of Grilling Goodness! I hope that you've had a wonderful week!

Let's get going! I hope you can play along and sign Mr. Linky so we can all visit each other!!

1. How long has your longest friendship been?

2. What made you happy this week?

3. Are you planning any kind of event right now?

4. Do you wear your wedding ring? What is it made of?

5. Do you shave your legs in the winter?

6. What time do your kids go to bed?

7. Right this minute, is your laundry caught up?

8. Do you want flowers for Valentine's Day?

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My Answers

1. Longest friendship? - is with a girl named Amy...we started hanging out when we were 13. We don't get together very often, but we can always pick up the phone and it's as if no time has passed.

2. Happy this week? - Having Chicken n Dumplins at my Bible study class on Tuesday...and not gaining weight!

3. Planning? - A birthday party for my favorite daughter!! One of her little girlfriends had a 'girls only' party and she has put in her request...only her little friend is an only child...no brother in the picture. We're compromising...I think we're having the family over for pizza...and three little girlfriends will be dropped off and they'll spend the night. Evan will get to eat pizza and cake just as if it were a normal party...yet, he'll be downstairs in his bed while I campout with the girls upstairs. It'll be fun!!

4. Wear ring? - Yes, I wear my wedding ring...but I do take it off when I sleep. I have a gold band with diamonds set inside...and my engagement ring is a wide band with a princess cut diamond. Still love my ring!

5. Shave? - Yes...I shave my legs no matter the season. I don't like to be prickly!

6. Bedtime? - Don't freak. They go to bed at 9pm. I will try to back it up later this year because my oldest will be starting kindergarten. (eek!)

7. Laundry? - Are you kidding?? Does that ever happen for anyone? I'm telling myself that no one is ever caught up on laundry so I don't feel so bad about it!!

8. Flowers? - I won't turn them away...but I enjoy getting flowers randomly throughout the year for no reason better. (see here, my blog is a great place to drop hints!!)

Alright my friends, there you have it! I hope you've enjoyed the questions this week!

Have a great weekend...and be sure to kiss your sweetie tomorrow!!!

Grilling Goodness #17

Wow...Fridays seem to roll around really fast these days....I've put on my thinking cap and come up with eight entertaining questions yet again!! Enjoy!!

1. Have your children corrected you somehow this week?

2. Are you waiting for a particular something to happen?

3. Do you chat online?

4. What is the oldest thing you own?

5. What's for dinner tonight?

6. Are you artistic?

7. Are you getting an income tax refund? Plans for it?

8. Do you use 'zero payments/zero interest for XX months' to buy things?

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My Answers

1. Of course...my little smarty-pants kids. Evan told me that I was supposed to turn left because 'the arrow in the car told me to'...I had to explain that I used that arrow to tell everyone around me that I was changing lanes...I didn't have to turn left!! Oh, then there was Ella telling me that I shouldn't say 'shut up'...even if I was only talking to the neighbors dog...I should've said 'Hush your mouth, dog!'

2. As a matter of fact, I'm waiting for the buyer of my home to show up on the doorstep and relieve me of this starter home that has long been started.

3. Yes, I'm a chatter...on facebook and gmail.

4. I believe that would be a twin-size bed that used to belong to my great-grandmother. I have no idea how old it is though.

5. Dinner will be something with boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders. Maybe rice and green beans.

6. I am artistic!! In several ways. I used to do more with my ability; drawing, painting, pottery...but now it's scrapbooking, a little painting and blog designing.

7. We already have our refund!! We do not get as much as some of our friends because we choose not to loan our money to the government, interest-free, all year long...we like to give them as little as possible, but we still get a refund every year (praise God it's not the other way around!!). Our refund, minus tithe, is going straight into our savings account and THAT feels good!!

8. We have taken advantage of '0 payments/0 interest' options on many occasions. My wedding ring was bought that way...so was our furniture, tv and laptop. It's a great tool as long as you can afford the payments. That's the part I don't like...payments in general bog me down...they don't exactly hurt us financially, but they do take away money you could do something else with. so we don't do many of these deals anymore.

Now that was fun!!!

Thanks so much for joining me!!

Have a great weekend!!