Ten Things Thursday - Wishful Thinking

I am simplistic, which I believe to be the opposite of materialistic.  I do not enjoy shopping.  I find "fashion" to be very overrated.  I enjoy classic comfort and style.  A pair of jeans, a black t-shirt and some flip-flops and I am in heaven.  Maybe you think I am plain or that my style is outdated, but that is okay because I am happy just being me.  As Oscar Wilde puts it, "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." 

This does not mean that I do not have a wish list for things that I do not really need.  I guess this is why they are called "wish" lists.  For me it is definitely a "wishful thinking" list because there are quite a few that are beyond frivolous for my simplistic attitude.  I mean, I do have to feed my kids.  But, oh, to just get my hands on a new wide-angle lens would make this simple girl very, very happy!  Don't get me wrong, I do plan on owning everything on this list someday, it just might take me 10 years to mark this list as complete!

1. Nikon 10-24 mm Wide-Angle Zoom Lens:   I think my next lens needs to be wide-angle.  I am very limited with the lenses I have now.  My 50mm is my favorite, but it is not wide enough to take scenery shots.  There is a Tamron 10-24mm lens that is comparable and less expensive, but my heart is set on the Nikon.  I will have to add this to my 10-year plan!
2. Nikon 105mm Macro Lens:  I know, real simplistic of me.  This is another big-ticket item, but one that will open a new photographic world to me!  Someday...
3. Cameron Lens Mug: OK, this is a little more in my price range, but my frugal nature just will not allow my finger to click "add to cart" on this.  $30 could buy Cameron a new bicycle helmet, which his big head is in desperate need of!
4. Bolle Sunglasses:  Back when I used to hike, rock climb and cycle a lot, I had a great pair of Bolle sunglasses.  I actually inherited them from my first marriage.  Don't worry, my ex-husband and I are friends again, so I think I can write about it.  He found the sunglasses in his stash one day when we were on our way out and they fit me perfectly.  This is rare with me and sunglasses.  I loved how they felt and how they looked, which is also very rare.  The sunglasses came with me after the divorce, but met a tragic end at the hands of a certain 18-month baby girl.  Since that tragic day I have purchased numerous drug store sunglasses knowing I would lose them or they would meet with the same fate as my lovely Bolle pair.  I think it is now time I treat myself.  Well, not right now, but sometime soon.
5. A laptop:  What's a bloggy, wanna-be photographer Mommy to do without a laptop?  If you really want to know, I will tell you because I don't have one.  I know, poor me!!
6. Backpacks: This list item is plural for a reason.  I am planning on hiking New Hampshire's 4,000-footers, so I need some gear.  I also plan to do some family hiking.  This is where things start to feel so materialistic and frivolous to me.  I would like this REI Stoke 9 backpack for day hikes, like the ones behind our new house.  It is lightweight and would be perfect for when I can finally run again and start running the trails.  I would also like this Deuter pack for longer hikes, like a lot of the 4,000-footer hikes will be.  Good news is that I already have a backpacking pack for the overnight trips.  Then, of course, the kids will need packs too.  I thought Cameron would like this one in green and Olivia would like this one in purple.  This is the list item I am going to focus on now, as I want to get hiking NOW!
7. iPod:  I have one, but it is time for a new one.  Mine is 10 years old and does not hold enough songs and it is not green.
8. iPhone:  I know, I'm pushing it here.  For someone who dislikes being so "connected" to the world, why would I ever want one of those.  Plus, that commercial "if you don't have an iPhone, well, you don't have an iPhone" annoys me.  But for some reason, I really want an iPhone.  I will admit they are pretty cool.  I think I would even switch to AT&T :)
9. Clipless Pedals: and some new shoes to go with them.  Both are at least 12 years old (again, from my first marriage).  I have not done research on the clips yet, so that link is just random.  If anyone rides and wants to give me advice on what to purchase, let me know!!
10. This Dress: Because I would love to own a nice new dress and this one is so me!  I do like to feel feminine, and beautiful and sexy every once in a while, but I still want to feel like me.

That's it.  Ha ha!  Instant gratification is not my style.  These are all things I would love to have one day, but I don't ever buy anything without thinking about it first.  I know that these are all things that I want, but I also am realistic that my family cannot afford these things right now.  I am fine waiting.  I am very patient :)

Ten Things Thursday - Fall 2010 Edition

Here we go! It's Fall, my favorite time of year. In celebration of this wonderful season, here are ten things I absolutely LOVE about Fall:

1.  Skeleton pajamas.  They look great when you dress up as a pirate and make pirate faces!

2.  Cows.  OK, so technically cows are around all the time, but I don't visit them all that much.  The Sandwich Fair has lots of cows and I do love the Sandwich Fair!

3.  Kids and cows at the Sandwich Fair.  Seriously, cows are just so sweet!  

4.  Baby cows in the orange glow of an October sunrise... at the Sandwich Fair.

5.  Woolen, handmade by Mama, hats and sweaters and mittens, oh my!  (Our first really cold Sandwich Fair experience in 10 years of attendance.)

6.  The kid cage.  Every year (except last year, but that is a whole other story for another day), we meet up with our dear friends and go to the Sandwich Fair.  At some point during the day the kids always end up in the tractor pull arena which we have nicknamed "The Kid Cage."

OK, so enought about the Sandwich Fair.  It is obvious my most favorite thing about Fall is the Sandwich Fair, but only because it contains so many of my favorite things and my favorite memories!

7.  Sunlight.  Yes, the sun is here every season, but there is a different glow about it in the fall.

8.  Golden leaves.  So pretty with the fall light shining through them.

9.  Friends in trees.  

             

10.  Corn mazes!  There are too many to choose from now.  We recently spent an evening at the Beans and Greens maze and it was fantastic.  Daddy was not with us, and the kids started to panic that I did not have the ability to lead them out.  It was pretty amusing.  They thought we would be stuck in the maze forever and of course they were tired and their feet hurt and they just couldn't walk anymore...

But even they could not deny the beauty that was around us and how great it was to spend all that time together lost in the corn field.

I will admit, the sun setting behind us was making my pace a little quick, but we did make it out and we even found the hidden treasure chest!

There was a bit of complaining in the form of "Mommy, I can't walk anymore!" and "When are we going to be done?" and "But Mommy, I don't think you are going the right way."  Mostly, though, the kids had a wonderful time.  Everytime we found a new letter or crossed over or under a different bridge they were energized and encouraged for about 18 seconds before the whining started again.  I really enjoyed myself.

So, there you are.  Ten fantastic reasons why I love fall!  What is your favorite thing about fall?

Ten Things Thursday

Today is Olivia's first day of pre-school.  She is attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same school we brought Cameron to for the past two years.  She did not want to go to school.  She has been very sad about it for the past few days.  Cameron and I dropped her off this morning.  Cameron was such a sweet brother.  He kept telling her wonderful things about the school and also told her that he cried the first time I dropped him off, but he still had fun at school.

When we got to the school, her eyes were welled-up with tears.  I hugged her and started to get emotional. Cameron hugged her and we said goodbye.  She held out her hand and with her tear-filled eyes said, "bye."  It was so sad.  I cried the minute we were out the door.  Then Cameron cried.  We both blubbered about how awesome Olivia is and how we are both going to miss her.

So, to commemorate the day Olivia first went to school, here are ten awesome things about my baby girl:

• She adores her brother.

• She loves to eat.  Cheese is her favorite snack, but she has to break it up into tiny little pieces first so that she "has more".
• She always lets Cameron have the big half of the cookie.
• She is brave.  When she broke her leg she showed us all how strong and brave she is.  And today, when she went to pre-school, even though she was sad.  Her bravery amazes me!

• She can entertain herself and us for hours!  Her favorite toys right now are her horses and her "Jessie" doll.  But when she doesn't have her toys, she pretends her feet are toys.
• She loves to wear dresses, but she also loves to wear "boy" clothes.  She shares pajamas with her brother and thinks that is the coolest thing ever!

• She always forgets to put her undies back on after she goes potty.  I think it's hysterical!  Damien doesn't :)
• When she wakes up in the night her hand automatically reaches for my hair.  I love this.  I smile every time she does it (well, except when she pulls too hard...)

• She says "please" and "thank you" almost all the time.  She is polite and kind.  Especially out in public and I think that is AWESOME!
• She is the best daughter and little sister and blesses us every day with her beautiful smile!  Her smile can warm anyone's heart.

Ten Things Thursday

A little behind on blogging.  Such is life!  Here is a Ten Things Thursday photo highlight of the things we have been up to this summer.

• Swim Lessons every day for six weeks!  (Only $80 for two kids for the whole summer.  Take that "swim club lessons!"

• Riding bikes. 

• Golfing.

• Hula-Hooping.

• Driving.  Happily.  Well, most of us are happy anyway...

• Dressing in fancy clothes for church on Sundays...

     ...where we always ring the bell before service.

• Exploring at the ocean...

   ...and science centers near and far.

• Swimming without instructors.

• Making new friends.

• Partying with our lifeguard friends.

Happy Summer everyone!  Hope you are enjoying it as much as we are!

Ten Things Thursday

Oh how I love lists!  I make lists all the time.  I love little pads of note paper, I love fun pens.  I love a good pen.  You know what I'm talking about, one that writes really smooth.  I do not like colored pens.  I'm a fan of blue ink.  This week I spent a lot of time making lists.  Household budget, a grocery list, things to pack for the beach, fun things I want to do this summer.  

I have taken to carrying a notebook around with me to jot down little lists as I go through my day.  It is fun, as I do really love little note pads :)  And then on Wednesdays I can go back through my notebook and come up with a super fun Ten Things Thursday to share with my readers.  This week it seems that my brain kept thinking of random old movies I watched in the 80's.  So here are ten random movies that left an impression on me:

1. The Stuff ~ a silly horror movie about tasty goo that turns people into monsters starring Scott Bloom (beautiful blue eyes), which of course got me thinking about...
2. The Right Stuff ~ about the race to the moon (yes, we did go to the moon) and starring one of my favorite actors, Ed Harris
3. Better Off Dead ~ John Cusack as "Lane Meyers".  "I want my two dollars!"  I thought of this while reluctantly watching Hot Tub Time Machine.
4. The Great Outdoors ~ I had a huge crush on Chris Young in the 80's.  It is camp season right now, and I loved camp, and thinking about camp always gets me thinking about this awesome movie!
5. Willow ~ Madmartigan, Willow Ufgood, Queen Bavmorda, Fin Raziel... absolutely love this movie.  Must watch it again soon!
6. Top Gun ~ I cannot think about Val Kilmer without thinking about this movie.  I had the VHS and I watched it so much that it got fuzzy, especially during the volleyball scene.
7. Critters ~ Furry man eating creatures from outer space, starring Scott Grimes.  I was always a sucker for a cute, freckle-faced redhead :)
8. Space Camp ~ Someone asked me what I dreamed I would be when I was little.  I always thought an astronaut, until I realized I was afraid of flying.  But when I think about wanting to be an astronaut when I was little, I think of this movie.  Back when Joaquin Pheonix was "Leaf" Pheonix, Lea Thompson, Tate Donovan...
9. Chances Are ~ Robert Downey Jr.  Enough said.  Ok, not enough said because I absolutely love RDJR!!!!  This movie was cheesy and awesome and I need to watch it again.
10. 1969 ~ Of course, once I start thinking about RDJR I don't stop, so it made me think about the movie 1969 where he starred alongside Keifer Sutherland.  Another add to my Netflix Queue...

The list could go on, but it is only Ten Things Thursday!  Do you remember these movies, or do you have some favorites of your own?

Ten Things Thursday

Ten Jobs I have had:

1. Gas station attendant.  Yes, I pumped gas and washed windows.
2. Baker's assistant.  Gained the freshman 15 the summer before I went to college.
3. Waitress.  Many different establishments.  The shortest of which was Friendly's when I was a sophomore in college.  I quit the same day I started! 
4. Dish washer.  Every Saturday and Sunday morning at the dining hall at Ithaca College.  
5. DMV counter clerk.  $100 to restore your license from suspension, please?
6. 9-1-1 administrator.  Paid bills.  Boring job, but fun people!
7. Homeland Security Grant Specialist.  Just for NH, but cool nonetheless.
8. Wedding videographer.  Self-employed.  Just for kicks!
9. Daycare provider.  Love me a little baby that I can give back at the end of the day!
10. Stay-at-home-mommy.  By far the greatest job with the greatest reward.

What jobs have you had in your lifetime?  Your favorite?

Twenty-Something Things Thursday

I had to make my Ten Things Thursday a little longer this week.  Here are (about) twenty things that I handmade for Christmas this year:

Aviator hat for sweet Little Cameron

Odessa hat for my niece Meaghan

 

The Boyfriend Hat for Cody

Butterfly Hat for Ashley

 

Ribbed-edge hat for Aidyn

Earflap hat for Charlotte

Artistic photo courtesy Kelly over at Super Sevins 

Earflap hat for Cameron 

Dress for Olivia

 

Pillow and warmers for Cameron

Pillow and warmers for Olivia

Warmers for nieces and nephews 

 

The Boyfriend Hat for Wit

 

Butterfly Hat for Jennifer

Rolled-edge hat for Cole

Not pictured is The Boyfriend Hat for my brother Nate and an Earflap Hat and mittens for my niece Evelyn.  Phew!  That's a lot of creating, folks!!!