The Top Five Continues

Three weeks in a row, so wtg for me and Rachel who shamelessly stole the idea! But here we go with this week's things to love:


This one may seem a bit weird, but really I'm kind of addicted to these things. My first encounter with the fuzz ball remover as I call it, was when I was first married and Mike needed help getting his Class A uniform spiffed up for one reason or another. This is a must have for the part nylon and easy to snag pants and jacket. Next thing you know I'm using this baby on anything I can get my hands on in our tiny apartment. I went without one this past year, but recently went and bough a new one and I have been in the throws of de-fuzz balling the last few days. Oh blissful heaven!

As I've mentioned before my redneck boyfriend has me watching NASCAR. I used to be a very big no ball = no sport person. NASCAR to me was THE most boring and pointless thing to watch after golf (sorry dad). But we made a compromise, I watch a race every now and then, he keeps up with the Mariners. Next thing you know, I'm reading up on the sport (yes I said it!) and getting into it. A year later, I know more about what's going on than he does. This past Sunday was the race at Talladega, which, thanks to Will Ferrell, is fairly well known. It was an awesome race, and I'm only sorry that the kids were with their aunt Teri and didn't get to watch this nail biter with me.

These are not new to me, but lately they have been a staple at my house. It only takes about 5 minutes to cook up a yummy steak sandwich. Love it! I've been paring it with the next thing a lot lately.

These are awesome! I'm really bad with fresh vegetables. Really, it is more wasetful for me to try to cook fresh veggies than using the plastic package to steam them in my microwave! My only complaint is that the mixed medley with the asparagus pieces did over do the asparagus, but not as bad as I would have done on my own. I've tried several different kinds and love them all so far.

I loved this book when I was younger. I sobbed so hard when I first read it, I had to put it down for a few minutes. I'd been putting off watching the movie adaptation because the previews made it seem the movie focused more on the imaginary place than the friendship between the boy & girl. But, it was on Starz this weekend, so I gave in. I was pleasantly surprised. For me, no movie is ever as good as the book, but some do very well, others ok, and even more just suck at adaptation. This one is somewhere between ok and very well. And I still cried my eyes out at the end.

Could Joel be a Parslemouth?

If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me explain. In the Harry Potter series, it is discovered that Harry has a very unique talent. He can communicate with snakes, in other words, he's a parselmouth.

Here is why I ask about Joel. A couple of weeks ago, the kids and I went to the zoo. One of out favorite exhibits is the reptile & nocturnal exhibit. Once inside the reptile exhibit, I started noticing something quite strange. The snakes kept coming to the glass when Joel was looking at them. And it didn't stop there. At the enclosures for the crocodiles and turtles, the same thing. These creatures kept flocking toward him. It was really weird!

Now I'm wondering if it'll happen again the next time we go.

All About Me

My wonderful friend Amy decided that now that I am a part of this whole blogospere, it opens me up for "tag" games. Fortunately for her, I don't mind doing them. I won't be tagging anyone else though. I have 2 people on my little network so far, and one of them tagged me, the other I think did something similar recently, so I will spare her. But, I will say for anyone that starts up a new blog, it's a good place to start (hint hint).

1.WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My paternal grandmother (middle name) and my paternal aunt (first name)

2.WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED.
Sometime last week, can't remember the exact day, but I'm a cry baby, so couldn't have been too long ago.

3.DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Absolutely not

4.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
Smoked Turkey

5.DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Yes, I've mentioned them a time or 2

6.IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
More than likely, I'm friends with a lot of kooky people

7.DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
Only a little

8.DO YOU HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes.

9.WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Sometimes I think I would, but with it put before me, I'm not sure if I would actually take the leap. Maybe over one of those big huge bouncy landing pads....

10.DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Not usually, but sometimes if my feet are really swollen, its the only way I can get them off.

11.DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Her I can be argumentative, strong in what way? Physically, I can usually find the umpff I need to get a job done. Emotionally....I've weathered storms thus far. Mentally, definately as long as it isn't math. The stuff makes my cry!

12.WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk, & plain old vanilla

13.WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Eyes & height

14.RED OR PINK?
Pink

15. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I'm habitually lazy (yes, I admit it!)

16.WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My boyfriend

17.WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Jeans and really cute black Vera Wang shoes from Kohl's on sale

18.WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Sourdough Jack from Jack in the Box

19.WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Commercial on Star 101.5

20.IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Forest Green

21.FAVORITE SMELLS?
Cucumbers, Downy Fabric Sofetner, Strawberry, Cinnamon, Vanilla

22.WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Ace (one of the salesman from work)

23.FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Baseball (on tv, but better in person) football (in person, loose interest on tv), NASCAR is my new one...you can all thank Wes for that.

24.HAIR COLOR?
I think naturally it's a dirty blonde bordering on light brown, but at the moment, its blonde

25.EYE COLOR?
Brown

26.DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No

27.FAVORITE FOOD?
Real Philly Cheesesteak, Alaskan Salmon, Burgers

28.SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
How about unexpected endings?

29.LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED.
Chocolat

30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
White & Black

31.SUMMER OR WINTER?
Depends where I'm living. Here it's summer

32.HUGS OR KISSES?
hugs, though I can't get enough of Joel's kisses

33.FAVORITE DESSERT?
Chocolate Chip Cookies

34.WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?
I've started about 3 that I just can't seem to finish, and I couldn't tell you the names at the moment.

35.WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
My mouse

36.WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT?
Big Brother & the movie with Marlee Matlin...Sweet Nothing in My Ear

37. FAVORITE SOUND?
Music

38.ROLLING STONES OR BEATTLES?
Beatles.

39.What is the farthest you've been from home?
Define home. I could take forever answering this one. If it's defined as from where I grew up, then Izmir, Turkey. If it's described as from where I've ever made my home the a tie between Cozumel & Greece.

40.DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I'm an expert packer!

New Things to Love

I'm trying to stay with my commitment this week, and will valiantly try to come up with 5 new things. Not that I had a bad week, just hard to think of things that make me say wow on the spot. But, here goes...

1. Bath & Body Works Body Creme. I've tried a few different scents, right now I have Passion Fruit. I don't like real flowery or musky scents, so the fruit scents really appeal to me. Another I like is Sweet Pea. I know, a flower, but not overwhelming. This stuff is very creamy, but doesn't leave me feeling sticky, which is a good thing.

2. Mineral Powder Foundation. I've always considerd foundation a necessary evil. It's the stuff that will make me break out, but I never look right putting make up on without it. I had been looking for Bare Minerals because my sister suggested the brand. I was in Alderwood Mall looking for it and came across one of those kiosks in the middle. I didn't have the kids, so I got talked into trying some of their stuff. I forget the brand, but the stuff is amazing! It evened my skin tone without looking cakey, and I could barely feel it on my face. I've been hooked ever since. Sadly, the kiosk is gone, but now Mary Kay is selling their own mineral powder. I can't wait to try it.

3. Healthy Choice Frozen Cheese Steak Panini. It looked interesting, and they were on sale at Safeway, so I picked up a couple. I had one for lunch Saturday and it was awesome! Normally I don't like the way things that are supposed to be crunchy come out of a microwave, but this thing was truly great!

4. Raffles. The bar my boyfriend works at was having a kind of benefit this weekend for an accident victim. One of the things they did was raffle off a bunch of cool prizes. There were dinners, pizza from Papa John's, t shirts, & hats. The one thing my boyfriend was eyeing was "a really cool motorcycle helmet." He doesn't have a motorcycle, but he really wanted this helmet. The other big prize was tickets to the NASCAR all star race in Charlotte in May. He won tickets to the race. He was a bit dissapointed, but not too much, because he is a NASCAR fan. He's made me into one to actually. Anyway, he started talking about us going to this race, I told him to take someone from there with him, I could not afford to fly out there when I'm getting ready to move there a month later. But, he's determined to make it happen. We'll see, he may change his mind once he finds out how much the hotel will cost, let alone the plane tickets. But, I'm still excited that he won, whether I get to enjoy the proze or not.

5. Carrot Sticks. I know, weird. But, my vet suggested carrot sticks as something to give the puppy to chew on to discourage her from chewing on things like my shoes. I decided to try it, and she loves it! And they work for the guinea pigs too. Bonus!

Parking in Seattle

Yesterday I had to drive into downtown Seattle for work. I had to file some paperwork at the King County Courthouse. For those of you not from this area, let me describe downtown Seattle. While the streets running north south are not level, they aren't too bad, the east west streets on the other hand can be a nightmare. Thank goodness I don't have a manual transmission. Anyway, on top of that a majority of the streets are one way, and since a rarely venture to downtown, I can't keep them straight. Parking is a nightmare. You have 2 choices, pay an arm & a leg for a garage or lot, or drive around for hours hoping a street space opens up. Since my business was only going to take about 30 minutes, I didn't see the point in wasting my money. Fortunately, after driving around for about 20 minutes I found a spot. Now all I had to do was parallel park. Yay me, I did it flawlessly. Then I had to figure out the stupid new machines they have now instead of the old meters. You have to pay for up to 2 hours, then stick the reciept in your window. It takes coins & cards. I thought I had enough change. I wanted to get about 40 mins worth, figuring that would give me enough lee way with travel time. I came up about 10 minutes short with my change. Silly me, I'd just emptied my change into the jar at home, what I get I suppose. So, I used my card, problem is, I'd already hit print ticket, so this new transaction counts as new time, not extended time. But, I went ahead and purchased it. Better safe than sorry. I made it back in plenty of time for the first ticket of course. But, its still less than the 12 bucks I paid last time.

Things I Love Right Now

There is a radio station here that I listen to on and off in the mornings. I channel surf between the Bob Rivers show on KZOK and Fitz in the morning on the Wolf (local country station). On Mondays, the morning crew on the Wolf each list 5 things they love right now. It ranges anywhere from a movie they saw over the weekend to a new dessert to an article a clothing. Whatever is something that made them say wow over the last week. I love the idea, it kind of helps you start the week off on the right foot so to speak, instead of the same old gloom and doom, "is it really Monday and I have to go back to work already?" attitude. So, I thought I would start doing the same. I don't promise to keep it up every Monday, but I do promise to try to do it most Mondays. So, for its innagural week, here come 5 things I love right now:

5. The Fitz in the morning show for giving me the idea.

4. Papa Murphy's deelite pizza. Papa Murphy's is a take and bake pizza place. They have a line of pizzas called deelite. There are 3 or 4 varieties of deelite pizzas, basically meant as low cal "healthier pizzas". Normally I would stear clear of these because pizza is supposed to be high cal junk food. That is it's purpose. BUT my niece Brittany got me hooked on one that has chicken, bacon, artichokes, and spinach. It is SOOOOO good.

3. The Woodland Park Zoo. I took the kids to the zoo Sunday. We got cut short because Sunday's are slow to move days for us and we got a late start. Once we got to the zoo, it started raining. We toughed it out for a bit while it was just drizzling (those of us from Seattle don't really even notice it) before calling it a day. But, even with as little as we got to see it was a nice distraction. I was also reminded what a fabulous zoo we have here. I'm going to miss it.
2. Those rare days in this area that the weather just surprises you. A couple of weeks ago it was some random early spring snow. This past weekend it was 70 + degree weather, clear skies, and that wonderful feel in the air that tells you spring really has arrived.

1. ABBA. Yes, the glorious Swedish group has been long gone for years, but thanks to my mom I grew up aware of them, and developed a great appreciation for them as I got older. Living in Europe was great because ABBA is still huge there. When we lived in New Jersey Mike took me to see Mama Mia! on Broadway for mother's day. I wasn't sure I would like it. I tend to be a purist and hate when some of my beloved artist's songs are messed with, but it was FABULOUS!!! I left singing and smiling and skipping up 5th Ave, in heels! Last month the show came to the Paramount and mom and I took Joey and Mackenzie to it. They absolutely loved it, and are now asking me to download ABBA songs onto their IPODS. Oh, and Meryl Streep is going to star in the upcoming movie. I can't wait!
So, there you have it. See, life ain't so bad, is it?