Final 10 Day You Challenge

It is the final week of Lauren and Tiffany's You challenge. It is hard to believe 10 weeks have already passed us by.  I have enjoyed linking up with these ladies as well as fellow bloggers.  I can't wait until the next one. 

I chose this photo of my husband Gerry(and I holding hands while we were riding in the car on our latest trip back to the coast(MS & LA).  I just love that we do that.  Tomorrow will make 9 years that we have know each other.  Does it count as a anniversary when it was the day you met?  Oh and it doesn't hurt that I was also enjoying some Starbucks; that green straw.    A White Chocolate Mocha with Vanilla Soy Milk and extra espresso....so delicious.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

Until next time............

You Challenge- Week 9 "Music"

Yes its Tuesday and time to link up with Lauren and Tiffany again. 

This week is MUSIC!

I have been thinking about this post since the beginning of this YOU challenge.

 I was raised on music and love many different kinds.  My favorite thing to do is to turn up the music when I am hanging out at home or picking up which is all of the time.  My husband is the one singing the tunes out loud and playing the same song over and over until he knows every word.  He also introduced me to every other kind of music that I hadn't listened to before.  Our children are music lovers as well and are always wanting to sing and dance.  We are one music loving family to say the least.

I just couldn't do this post without giving you a little bit of my background.  My Mom was always playing Aerosmith, Eagles, Led Zepplin, Fleetwood Mac etc...I had a step parent-for a while who was a drummer in a band so we were also involved in music in the lines of Creedence Clearwater Revival and such.  I lived with my grandmother for a few years and I picked up much musical diversity from them as well.  One Aunt was always playing Rap in one of her music phases.  The other was playing Eddie and the Cruisers, The Rolling Stones, The Dixie Chicks, Van Morrison and anything else we could sing to the top of our lungs to while being back to back sitting behind her bedroom door. It is just what we did. 

We always had big bonfires and such on the weekends and had family gatherings often.  Oh and every Saturday night where we lived played old country songs all night.  We jammed to Hank Williams Sr. and Jr., George Jones, Randy Travis and so on.  We even did some Cookie and the Cupcakes, Al Green and some much older stuff.  Every wedding you went to or party out in the country you were sure to hear songs like Clarence Carters Strokin' and pretty much any other good dancing song.  I come from a cajun background, so I have a love for blues, jazz and that down on the bayou music.  As I got older I became fond of classical, alternative, R & B, I love the monster ballads era, rock, christian music etc.  So you can see how difficult choosing 2 songs would be for me.  I have lived in the life of music.  I don't really care for Opera much, techno or hardcore screaming music.  However, if I am in a bad mood songs with screaming makes me feel better sometimes.  I know I am weird.

The best way to do this is just to go with 2 songs that pop in my head.  I omitted the parts that don't apply and also the repeat chorus to try to shorten the length.

Pink is in my top favorite female artists list! This video is so funny and I can relate to this song.

I don't know if I can yell any louder,

How many times have I kicked you out of here?

Or said something insulting?

I can be so mean when I wanna be,
I am capable of really anything,
I can cut you into pieces,
When my heart is, broken.

Please don't leave me

I always say how I don't need you

But it's always gonna come right back to this

Please don't leave me

How did I become so obnoxious,
What is it with you that makes me act like this,
I've never been this nasty,

Can't you tell that this is all just a contest?

The one that wins will be the one that hits the hardest,

But baby I don't mean it,

I mean it, I promise

I forgot to say out loud,
How beautiful you really are to me,

I can't be without,

You're my perfect little punching bag,

And I need you,
I'm sorry.

Please, please don't leave me

Baby, please don't leave me (no, don't leave me)

Please don't leave me

(I always say) I always say how I don't need you

But it's always gonna come right back to this

 I always say how I don't need you,

But it's always gonna come right back to this,

(Please, Please) Please don't leave me,

Baby, please, please don't leave me.

There is profanity, so sorry if it offends anyone, but this song gets me on my down days.

Lately I've been hard to reach
I've been too long on my own
Everybody has their private world
Where they can be alone

Are you calling me?
Are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me?
I'm reaching out for you

I'm just so f**king depressed
I just can't seem to get out this slump
If I could just get over this hump
But I need something to pull me out this dump

I took my bruises, took my lumps
Fell down and I got right back up
But I need that spark to get psyched back up

And I know some sh*t's so hard to swallow
But I can't just sit back and wallow
In my own sorrow but I know one fact
I'll be one tough act to follow

One tough act to follow
I'll be one tough act to follow
Here today, gone tomorrow
But you'd have to walk a thousand miles

In my shoes, just to see
What it's like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what it'd be like
To feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each others' minds
Just to see what we'd find
Look at sh*t through each others' eyes

Just as soon as I walk in, it's like all eyes on me
And so I try to avoid any eye contact
'Cause if I do that then it opens the door
For conversation, like I want that

I'm not looking for extra attention
I just wanna be just like you
Blend in with the rest of the room
Maybe just point me to the closest restroom

So why don't you all sit down
Listen to the tale I'm about to tell
Hell, we don't gotta trade our shoes
And you ain't gotta walk no thousand miles

In my shoes, just to see
What it's like, to be me
I'll be you, let's trade shoes
Just to see what it'd be like

To feel your pain, you feel mine
Go inside each others minds
Just to see what we'd find
Look at shit through each others eyes

Nobody asked for life to deal us
With these bullsh*t hands we're dealt
We gotta take these cards ourselves
And flip 'em, don't expect no help

I was never the type of kid
To wait by the door and pack his bags
I sat on the porch and hoped and prayed
For a dad to show up who never did

I just wanted to fit in
Every single place, every school I went
I dreamed of being that cool kid
Even if it meant acting stupid

But I already told you my whole life story
Not just based on my description
'Cause where you see it, from where you're sittin
It's probably 110% different

I guess we would have to walk a mile
In each others shoes at least

Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful
just stay true to you

And to the rest of the world
God gave you shoes to fit you
So put 'em on and wear 'em
Be yourself man, be proud of who you are
Even if it sounds corny
Don't ever let anyone tell you you ain't beautiful.

Those are my 2 and I am off to get my music fill.

Technology has came such a long way. I LOVED sitting outside with my battery/plug in boombox recording, rewinding, playing and re-recording music from the radio....it was the best! 

You Challenge- Week 8 "Films"

Joining the lovely ladies Lauren and Tiffany for week 8 of this challenge.  Wow, only 2 more weeks left. 

So the challenge is 3 films, which is a challenge in itself.  Before I get started I do want to state that I am totally in love with all older Disney movies and am determined to have my children to watch all of them.

I love so many but here goes three films I could watch more than a few times and still not get tired of: 

This movie has everything drama, love, heart ache, lessons, magic, fun, singing, familiness and I could just go on and on.  Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing are always great in any movie they play in and every time I hear the song "Coconut" it makes me want to get up and do a little dance if you can call it that.

This is a very long movie, but if you watch it you won't be sorry. 

What can I say, bodies full of tattoos, accents, badness; that is why I could watch this movie over and over.

I may have to do a favorite movies list soon, because there are SO much more.

Stay tuned for the list of our Favorite Halloween Movies Marathon we plan on crossing off of our families Fall Bucket List.

What are three films you could watch over and over??

You Challenge- 7 Wants

Week 7 joining Lauren & Tiffany on the 10 Week You Challenge. 

 So this week is four books.  I usually end up reading more kids books than anything, but here are four books I have liked the most and would look at more than once.

This is the very first complete series I have ever read.  I tried to read the Vampire Diaries to see what happened instead of waiting for the following season, but it wasn't the same so I didn't finish them. I finished them all in like a month and a half.  I just couldn't put them down. I love that it keeps you guessing and you really couldn't guess what happens in the end. Out of the 3 my favorite was Catching Fire.  

EATING FOR LIFE

I love pretty much every single recipe in this book. It is by far my favorite recipe book. It isn't about calories, it is about getting the right amount of everything your body needs.  Its not about dieting it is about a healthy lifestyle.  A very informative and inspiring author.  I also like Transformation, which in addition to this book helped me lose 30 pounds previously.

THE HELP

I love, love, love this book and the movie. It has so much heart & you can just feel it, or at least I can.

As you flip through the pages you are like wow, wow, wow.....and what a great idea.  I caught this book on sale for only 1.99 and I ended up going back for 2 more so I could use one for each of the kids and keep one to make copies of.  That is how much of a awesome book this is.  I love every book that is creative, fun, thrifty and kid friendly. 

So there are four books I like.  What are four books you like?  

Are you linking up too?

You Challenge- 5 Foods I Love

I am joining Lauren and Tiffany for week 6 of the You challenge.

I am a serious foodie!  It is so hard to pick just 5, because there are so many different cuisines I love.

Here's my top 5:

Ci Ci's Spinach Alfredo Pizza. It has the perfect blend of everything, not too little and not too much.  I will go just to get this pizza. I love many kinds of pizza, but this is my absolute favorite.

 Skip the salsa or bean dip, give me some Queso!  Queso Blanco Dip you get in Mexican restaurants is just to die for.  We recently tried queso with chorizo in it and it is so delicious, but it is SO greasy.

Pot Roast is my ultimate soul food. It takes me to a happy place.  I am not a big meat person, but I can eat pot roast all by itself with nothing on it.  This says A LOT, because I normally do not eat meat without something on it.

Philly Cheese Steak with all of its gooey cheese and the crunch of the toasted bun...mmmm.  I am a lover of cheese!

Truffles are the most delicate little balls of mouth watering sweetness. I love chocolate, so these are always on my love list.  There are so many options to try & they never get old.  A instant cure for a sweet tooth or a better mood.

Oh my goodness, now I am craving some delicious food. 

Whats on your top foods list?

~Check out my featured post for the Fall Crawl Link up today over at The Artsy Girl Connection! Come and link up your Fall creations. ~

You Challenge- 6 Places I Love

Week 5 of a 10 week You challenge hosted by Lauren & Tiffany.

Born and raised on the coast so it will always be in my heart.

I feel at home in:

&

NC is growing on our family the longer we live here.

A few things we have done in NC.  Went to the Hot Balloon Festival; Hiking at Riverbend Park; Feeding the ducks at Hickory Lake; Ran a 5k for Hearts for Heroes, and most recently climbed Table Rock Mountain above Linville, Gorge.

These are a few of the places I would like to travel to with my family.

London, so I can see all of the King Henry VIII Sites.



Venice, Italy

Rome

Where are some places you would like to go?

You Challenge- 7 Wants

 All of the questions I have answered in this weekly YOU Challenge really have me feeling like I know a little bit more about myself...if that makes any sense.

1. I want to grow old with my boyfriend  husband until the end of time.

2. I want a really good camera.  I buy them yearly & I just haven't found the one that fits what I need it to do.  They cost SO much & I just have to wait a bit longer to get what I want.  I am a serious photo taking fool. I love it!

3. To continue on a path of being a better person. Strengthening my faith, recovering from being a procrastinator, getting it together, controlling my anger issues, & being confident in me on the inside & out.

4. I want the mindset that I CAN & WILL be healthy & fit to be embedded in my brain.  I know all the things to do but my mind & my body just won't agree.  I lost 30 pounds last year & then I don't know what happend.  I ran a 5k with my husband, had a accountibility partner, did some therapy with a online group etc.... My motivation is seriously nonexistant lacking.  (once this happens, my husband & I are going to get remarried. We will finally be able to get professional wedding photos done.) 
*It is hard to understand knowing all the reasons you want/need something & how to get there but just not following through.  Surely I need to get to a doctor(haven't been to one in over 10 yrs) & get my busted back and nerve issues delt with.

5. I want to learn multiple languages.  Sign Language, French(I had 2 years long ago) and Spanish. My dads side of the family all speak cajun French fluently, but I didn't grow up around them so I missed out.

6. I want to own a lovely home out in a country setting with my family.  To be financially comfortable with not owing anything out and owning everything we want to have.

7.  I want to be taught how to dance.  I have watched dancing instructions, been to random dancing events and I have absolutely NO rhythm of any kind.  Even my bad rhythm has no rhythm. LOL.

Cheers to getting to know YOU!

You Challenge- 8 of my Fears

Here are 8 things I fear:


1. I do not fear the animal just being bitten by it.  This includes snakes, spiders, & anything else that bites big!
                     IT IS A CAKE BEFORE ANYONE ELSE FREAKS OUT! 

 Sorry if it scared you. It scared me at first to but then I saw it was a cake and it was funny.  Phew!

2. I am not afraid of heights, however, I fear the risk of falling and the ground catching me.

3.  I fear losing my husband or children; or me going first & them being in pain.  Losing my mom or other immediate family before I get a chance to move back to Mississippi & spend "LIFE" with them.  Even though I know its moving on to eternal life & its not a bad thing.  It should be a happy moment, but I have to admit even the thought hurts my heart.  *I have a fear of abandonment.

4.  I fear losing function in my body that will immobilize me.

5.  I am extremely Claustrophobic; which adds to the fear of being suffocated or drowning. I can not breath if anything is too close to my face and I freak out.

6.  I fear getting wrinkles and losing all my teeth.    * I don't mind getting older and wiser; just the wrinkles part gets me. My grandmother is in her 80's and has very few if hardly any on her face, so hopefully I will be lucky and take after the good genes.  

* I often have dreams all my teeth are falling out at the same time while I am awake and it just terrifies me.  I am not really sure what to call this fear.

7.  I fear someone breaking into the house at night time and even though I am prepared(I THINK).

 I am so paranoid that I will choke up and my family will be harmed because I couldn't protect them. I have problems sleeping at night because every little thing that happens I am up walking around the house checking to make sure all is good.  My husband is gone a few nights of the week, so I am here by myself with 2 little ones a pretty good bit of time.

* I am always afraid my children will get kidnapped so I am that paranoid mom that makes my kids always stay within an arm length of me just incase.  Better safe than sorry.

8. I guess you could say I have a fear of escalators.

*I do the pause, feet dance, pause, feet dance and jump on quickly move.  Not really sure why other than I saw a movie when I was younger where some kids were on an escalator and one of them fell while wearing pearl beads & they went into the side of the escalator.  She was choked her to death because she couldn't get them off.  Ahh! I know.

So now you know everything that scares the crap out of me. What are some things that scare you?

You Challenge- Nine Loves

I wouldn't miss linking up for week 2 of the challenge via Austin Family Diary.

So here is my 9!

1.  I LOVE GOD and praying!  

2. I LOVE my family and everything about them from the bottom of my heart!

*~My husband means the world to me and my kids, well that's a feeling that can not be received from anything else. The feeling of being loved back is so beautiful.

*~ They are so creative, funny and just precious; I love learning from them.  I am lucky to have been blessed to have them, they are my life.  I love spending time with them and they make my life worth while.  They give me the greatest laughs and that is just perfect because who doesn't love great humor.

3. I LOVE Fall weather! From the comfortable cool breeze and the leaves turning the beautiful shades they do each year.  Also, the best part is when the leave have all fallen we get to play in them.

4. I LOVE sitting on the beach with my toes in the sand inhaling that intoxicating salty water smell the breeze blows and getting that warm tingly feeling the sun gives me.

*~ It is by far the most enjoyable and relaxing feeling I have ever felt. It makes me feel at peace and the best part is that it doesn't cost anything.

5. I LOVE and appreciate the beauty of many kinds of Arts!

*~Whether they are made, bought or are just there.  This includes portraits, statues, crafts, taking beautiful photos, and reading beautiful words.

*~I LOVE music,  It makes my insides happy and it doesn't know me but I feel like it does and the perfect words are spoken. There is a song for everything.  They all give me such joy.

6. I LOVE finding great deals and saving money.

7. I LOVE old stuff! 

*~From watching old movies like the black and white Bewitched, I Love Lucy, All in the Family, Gone with the Wind....etc. 

*~This ties in with great love of Vintage and Classic looks. I love stories of Kings and Queen history as well.

8. I LOVE making and eating delicious food(especially good southern soul food).  I like making them my own and I can say I never make something the same way twice because I can't help but to change them up. 

9. I love certain smells like:  Fresh brewed coffee, Black Cherry, Apples and Cinnamon, Fresh cut wood, Eucalyptus, Victoria Secret lotions, Malia from Hollister, Georgio Armani-Acqua Di Gio, fresh cucumbers, fresh lemons, Sweet Pea lotion from B&B, Lavender and Vanilla Febreeze air freshener, Rubbing Alcohol and Lysol(I know these are a little strange), White Tea and Lily air freshener, and the smell of Gain laundry detergent.

I love so many things...9 isn't long enough...LOL.  These are my top loves out of the many I have.

You Challenge- 10 Secrets

I happened to run across Austin Family Diary, saw this and here I am. I am excited to do this!

My 10 Secrets!

1. I wait until almost the last minute to complete something and when I start on it I want it perfect.  This is the result of me being a procrastinating perfectionist.

2.  I am so indecisive when it come to choices because I over analyze the situations result with each choice.

3. I am not a huge fan of animal smell, hair, saliva, constant barking, people letting their animals lick them on the mouth or animals eating out of dishes that people will be eating out of.  They are fun and cute but that is it.

4. I received the gift of being artistic and crafty, however I did not get the gift of the way with words. I wish I could be the poetic person that knows the perfect ways and things to say everything and make everyone feel it....like my sister Brandy. 

5. Every time I see a scary movie I have bad dreams. This only started happening after I gave birth to my first child.  Werewolf eyes are the worst! Haha, I know its silly.

6.  I love corn but again after I had my first child my body changed.  It makes me SOOO sick, but I eat it sometimes anyway because I love it.

7.   I DO NOT sniff in very strongly due to not wanting to smell something stinky. If I smell something stinky I instantly breath through my mouth. My husband says why would you want to taste it?? That doesn't happen to me though.

8. It drives me insane to hear someone eating with their mouth open or smacking. 



9.  I CAN NOT cook anything unless all of the dishes are clean.   I do the most cleaning at one time before someone comes over.  Its like a triple tornado with DH and the kids.

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Albert Einstein

10.  I have a huge fear of being rejected and I often try too hard; even though I always have the best intentions.  I often feel like I fail over and over and I search and hope that one day someone out there will "GET ME" and just accept me for who I am...friend wise.  I had best friends when I was younger, but have yet to find that person as an adult that is just there for me.  My husband is my ultimate best friend, but sometimes I need that different kind of personality.

Those are my top 10 Secrets....and of course I have more. : )