Reading Faux Pas {Faux Pas Road Show}

Mrs. Monologues here hijacking Michelle's blog today for the:




Reading Faux Pas
a.k.a. If you do any of these things I will probably think less of you

1. The I Only Read Classic Literature Person
Blech, this type of person makes me want to give a swift throat punch as soon as they start talking. NO ONE reads only classic literature, and if you say "oh, Mrs. Monologues but I do" you are full of shiat. Everyone reads other books, even if it is Harry Potter. Don't be that snobby person and try to act better than me. I know you have been known to read your trashy books. Don't lie.

2. The I Never Read Person
Really, wow, that is amazing. You can go an entire day without reading a single thing? Do you drive to work? Do you go to the bathroom and just keep your eyes closed? Is reading to you like sunlight is to vampires? Everyone reads. Maybe you don't read books, but you read something. You check your e-mail, you read TMZ (don't lie I know you do).

3. The Judgy Reader
You know this person. No matter what the book, they read it and hated it. Unless of course they read it before you did, then it is "the best book ever". Ugh, don't be jealous that I am better than you and find better books to read. I know I know, they are probably unhappy people anyways, but say to me again that The Help was just an okay book and I will kick you in the shins. Don't say you were not warned.

4. The Read It Person
This person has read every book. You mention a book and before you even can finish the title you hear "read it". Blech, you have not read every book known to man, stop being that person. You are almost as bad as the judgy reader. Oh snap I went there.

5. The Only Reads One Genre Person
I don't know if this is BAD thing, but it can be frustrating talking books with this type of person. If it is isn't their genre they want nothing to do with it. I just want to grab them by the shoulders and scream "you are missing on out so much!" If you are this person, grab a book outside your norm. You will be glad you did.


What kind of readers annoy you?



This post is part of the faux pas road show. Details about how you can join can be found here

ladies night.

blogging & social media is pretty damn fantastic, isn't it?  

when i started my blog back in 2007, i was writing for me. i didn't think it would lead to some amazing connections & friendships.  seriously, i have been blessed with perhaps the most awesome group of girlfriends...ever.  and, i owe it all to my computer.  ha!

{picture hijacked from the workaholic momma - thanks, j!}

bottom row {left to right}: how i met my edo, diary of a domestic failure, jim & katie plus baby, in no simple language

top row {left to right}: c'est moi, beach bum & baby, whitney caroline designs, naturally caffeinated family & the workaholic momma

aside from beach bum and baby & the workaholic momma {who are bff's in real life}, we all met thanks to blogging & twitter.  katie is the newest gal in our circle & she is the cutest mama-to-be ever!  

as usual, we had a great time.  lots of laughing, lots of chit-chat and even some rapping courtesy of whitney {who knew she could recite every. single. word. to rappers delight??}.  we all lead such busy lives & don't get to see each other often, but i truly cherish the times when we do get a chance to get together.  i've said it once and i'll say it again...i'm truly blessed to have these gals in my life.  they are everything a friend should be...and more. 

to relive our first date, click here.

to relive our anniversary dinner, click here.

the fab five.

Thanks to Trop 50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 fabulous wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to help grant a friend's wish!

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fabulous - how do you define it?  exceptionally good, marvelous, incredible...superb?
yes, all of those things describe five bloggers {of the many} that i absolutely adore.
and, why do i adore them?  they have spunk, personality, honesty.  they inspire, encourage, believe.
they are creative.  they are faithful.  they are happy.  they are sad.
they are humorous.  they are colorful.
these are bloggers from all walks of life.  each is at a different point in her life.  but, each has a gift and that gift is to share about their amazing journey.
each journey is different, yet each holds a place in my heart.

{source}

this is summer's blog.  she is a wonderful person - inside & out.  she & i have struck up a friendship that i didn't think was possible to have with someone you don't actually know in real life.  but, you know what?  it works and it works well.  i love & appreciate her honesty, her vulnerability and her determination.  i see a lot of myself in what she writes about.  there is an emotional connection there that i don't get with too many other bloggers.  if all goes according to plan, i am going to meet her {in real life!} in march.

psst:

summer is also an amazing baker. 

have you visited jessica's blog, craftily ever after?  well, you should.

she's so stinkin' creative.  she also has an etsy shop.  her craft ideas & tutorials are easy, budget friendly & fun to make.  she occasionally hosts a giveaway & always has pictures of her super cute daughter sprinkled throughout her blog.  best of all?  she offers free printables like this:

  {source}

click here to find out how you can get a copy of this super cute valentine's day subway art...for free!

jessica's blog may or may not have gotten me hooked on mod podge.  and, that crack-like addiction to mod podge led me to this blog:

{source}

amy is the mastermind behind mod podge rocks!  her blog is chock full of fun crafting and decorating ideas...all of whom use mod podge in some form.  trust me when i tell you that there are varieties of mod podge in your craft store aisle.  really.  i own two different kinds, but the possibilities are apparently endless.

anyways, amy's d.i.y. tutorials & other fun projects are VERY inspirational and definitely encourage those creative juices to flow.  go check her out!

speaking of inspirational, what about gussy??

maggie is the girl with the ruffles.  i should know...i own a few of her pieces.  i've gifted them as well.  

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maggie is inspirational & awe-inspiring.  she is living her dream, y'all!

she's been a friend & a mentor to me.  she's also showered me with encouraging words & prayer when i've needed it.  she & i don't know each other outside of the blog world, but one day our paths will cross.

in the meantime, i encourage you to read her blog.  right now she's featuring other fabulous artists who have quit their day job {just like gussy did!} in order to live & fulfill a creative dream.

and, if you haven't had enough, then go buy yourself some gussy goodness.  

{source}

last, but certainly not least, is my friend jennifer.  she is so much more than perfectly disheveled.

{source}

i met her over at momlogic.  we've emailed & chatted on the phone before.  she & i both had a bit of a rough 2010, but we're looking to the future with hope...and  humor.  i love and appreciate that jennifer writes with such honesty about parenting.  she IS the parenting blog that my blog has always wanted to be but just never will be.  Jennifer keeps it real, y'all.  If you're a parent, then you'll definitely appreciate her blog.  

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Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to support a friend's wish. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

the ladies.

in october 2009, i was fortunate enough to meet four of the most wonderful bloggers friends.  we got together over halloween weekend to celebrate the one year anniversary of our friendship. 

{from left to right:  me, whitney caroline, beach bum & baby, naturally caffeinated family & rachel}

we went out for dinner & drinks. 

{one of the special halloween themed cocktails at a bar we went to. not only did it "smoke" but it also bubbled & popped.  trust me, there is something to be said about a drink that "spits" at you...}

there was lots of girl talk & giggling. 
we had so much fun.

i'm telling y'all...i'm lucky & quite blessed to have these girls in my life. 

for daddy butch.

sweet summer's daddy passed away on the 24th.  please join summer's friends as we have a day of silence to honor her father.




The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 NIV

thirty-three.

i turned thirty-three last month.

honestly, it was like any other day weekend, but sweeter.
some cards, some presents, flowers, a nice dinner & a fun night out weekend with friends & family.

{so long, thirty-two!}

on my birthday eve, we hung out with a very good friend who was in town.  our buddy, josh, lives in istanbul, turkey so visits with him are very few & far in between.
we danced to some beach music, drank many beers & told stories about our threesome.
{just so you know, the threesome i am referring to is three-way calling.  remember that back in the day?  anyways, josh was the guy who hooked me & adam up.  many, many years ago.  when we were fourteen.}

i hate to admit it, but adam & i fought on my birthday.
c'est la vie. 
all was quickly forgiven & forgotten because we {along with three of our friends} drove down to kill devil hills, north carolina to see jackass flats play at the outer banks brewing station. 

i think it's safe to say that we've achieved "groupie" status with this band.  we saw them for the first time back in 2004 at a wedding and we've been hooked & going to as many shows as we can since.  they play locally, but we have gone to fredericksburg and now to north carolina to see them.

i got a birthday shout out from the boys {they said it was my birthday, that i had never been kissed & that i was indeed only turning 20 years old}. i also met another nine-eighteener {read: another gal celebrating her birthday on september 18th}.

we i drank lots of beer.  we i danced around.  and we all laughed.  

 {why, yes, i'm double fisted.}

i even played on a wooden pirate ship out behind the bar.

{i'm the queen of the world!}

it was such a fun night!

 {stuck in the middle of travis, ring leader of jackass flats & his lovely fiancee, ashley}

the drive home was l-o-n-g, but the trip was so worth it.
best. birthday. ever.
{well, maybe not as fabulous as when i celebrated my 30th birthday in mexico, but still...}

so glad i was able to celebrate my day with good friends & good music.

hi friends!

whether you are new to my lil' slice of the internet pie or if you've been watching my blog evolve...

{source}

i figured it would be fun to share a few things with my readers.  some of you may already know these juicy random tidbits.  others may not.  and, yes, i am totally copying what rachel did because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

1. i get lazy on the weekends.  i mean, really lazy.  if we're not headed out or if we're not having people over, then don't expect me to shower, wash my hair or put on makeup.  i may not even change out of my pj's.  don't worry, though, i still brush my chompers.
2. i am about as unorganized as they come.  but, there is a method to my chaotic mish-mosh.  too bad i'm the only one who can figure it out.  and, now that i'm returning to school to become a teacher, well, i need to mend my unorganized ways.
3. as much as i love the summertime, i love autumn even more - there's something about that cool, crisp fall air.  it's cleansing & refreshing for the soul, i think.
4. i have dimples.  it cracks me up when people ask me, "did you know you have dimples?"  um, i've only been staring at this same face in the mirror for close to 33 years now...
5. i am half chinese and i am very, very, VERY bad at using chopsticks.  when we go to eat dim sum {or yum cha} or go to eat at any asian restaurant for that matter, i always ask for a fork.
6. i mentioned in point #2 that i'm returning to school to become a teacher.  grad school starts in less than three weeks.  i'm nervous as hell.  i'm also excited.  i've been putting off the inevitable for so long now.  if i had not dropped out of grad school back in 2007, i would be teaching by now. 
7. i have this thing about my nose.  i mess with it all the time.  it's like i've got some rogue nose hair or something.  someone even asked me if i dabble in the nose candy because i mess with my nose so much.  um, no.  aside from breathing {which is some vital shit}, this nose is 'exit only.'
8. i have a potty mouth.  it's bad.  it's so bad that i can't even do one of those 'drop a quarter in a jar each time you say a bad word' deals because i would owe money to the jar.  my favorite cuss word rhymes with duck.  i also say shit a lot.  shit, shit, shit.
9. i enjoy road trips.  especially road trips in the spring/early summer.  windows down.  sunroof open.  radio blasting.  not a care in the world.  just pack up the car, buckle up the kids & go.  it's even better when the destination is hatteras island, nc.
10. this blog as seriously veered off of the mommy blogger path it was originally on.  i guess it's because my kids have been at my parents house since father's day {jealous??} & i haven't had any good material to exploit them with.  don't worry...this, too, shall pass.
    

my symphony.

{source}

thank you, rachel.

hair today, gone tomorrow.

well, that was yesterday's saying.

my last haircut was in january.  i never, EVER go that long without so much as a trim.  as for color, i won't lie.  i use box color to stretch out the time between salon quality dye jobs.  my stylist knows this {and she's okay with this}.  highlights, on the other hand, are something i haven't had in a long while.  a long, long while.

on wednesday, i did it all - all over color, a fun cut & highlights {or as my stylist says, "some perky around the face."}.

before {hair fresh from the shower}:

after {just a bit wind-blown}:

if i was smart, i would have taken a picture of the back {i'll do that this weekend}.  it's short.  it's fun.  i've had a short, choppy bob cut before.  i love it.  and, best part of all?  i got to share my fun day at the salon with this wonderful gal {she got her hair cut, colored & highlighted, too}!

versatile?

that's me.  at least that's what mrs. molly lou thinks!  {seriously, go check out her blog & her store.  she is a doll.  you'll love her personalized plates & platters.  trust me, i own three.}

i've been awarded this:

and, because i've been dubbed "the versatile blogger" i must now share with you s-e-v-e-n things about myself.  why seven?  i don't know.  this could be very easy to do or very difficult to do.  and, knowing me, i'm certain it will be the latter {because i'm stubborn like that}.

anyways...

no sense in beating around the bush...here are seven things about me that you may or may not want to know or need to know...but now you know.  ha!

1. my ten year college reunion is this weekend.  i considered going, but sadly i'm not.  word on the street is that a fifteen year high school reunion is planned for sometime this summer.  i went to our ten year.  i seriously doubt i'll go to our fifteen year.  it's a little too much, a little too soon if you ask me.
2. my husband & i have known each other since we were thirteen.  we've been together since we were sixteen.  i'll be thirty-three this year.  wow.
3. i'm not an overly confident person.  i really shouldn't doubt myself so much, but i do.  
4. people say i have an evil laugh. i don't think it's evil.  i think it's catchy.  and contagious.  and fun.  okay, okay, it can sound sinister at times, but only if need be.
5. for someone who isn't very confident {in herself}, i sure do like to talk.  a lot.  sit next to me sometime and i'll flap my yap.  your ear will get numb from listening.  on the flip side, i can be very quiet, too.  i'm a good listener.
6. i'm half-chinese and i really can't use chopsticks very well.
7. i don't always wash my hair on the weekends.  i almost never wear makeup on the weekends.  i don't always shower on the weekends.  i'm not gross or lazy.  i'm not stinky either.  i just give my skin & hair a break. {don't worry, i change my unnawears. ha!}

was that too much?  it was for me.  i think it took me over a half an hour just to come up with those seven silly things!  i suppose i should "gift" this award to other bloggy friends out there, but every last one of us is a versatile blogger.  so participate, please!

share seven things about you!! 

*psst...this was my 700th post! holy blogging, batman!

love.

{play along, please! visit summer's blog for the 'it's friday, i'm in love' series.}

i've been dark & twisty lately...like meredith grey {and, no, i haven't watched the season finale yet. twitter just about killed me with the spoiler alerts. i kinda gave up on the season early on, but i guess i need to get caught up and watch it. but, i digress...}.

dark & twisty isn't much fun.  especially because dark & twisty likes to sneak up on you and then wallop you over the head.  seriously.  have you ever noticed how fast a bad mood comes on?  pretty scary stuff.

{spooky pic, huh? i found it here.}

dark & twisty.  that's been my thing for a while.  a long while.  it's going to take time.  there's gonna be one hell of a healing process.  the uncertainty.  the worry.  asking why & what if.

i've got to move on.  i owe it to myself because, while i might own sixty gazillion black shirts, dark & twisty just isn't my thing.  no sir.  especially not when i have so much to be thankful for, so much to look forward to and so much to be proud of.

{saying found here}

so what am i in l♥ve with this friday?

lots of things.

my man.  my hard, hard, HARD working man.
my kiddos.
my kitty cats.
my pup.
my dirty, squeaky car.
the roof over my head.
a full belly.
clean water to drink & hot water to bathe in.
this computer.
internet access.
my blog.  without it, i would have never 'met' you.
my job. it's not what i really want to be doing, but it's paying the bills.
the fact that we've knocked down our credit card debt by two-thirds in 3.5 years.
vanilla bean ice cream with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips sprinkled on top.
pedicured toes.
freshly colored hair {i've got gray, y'all}.

there's a lot to be thankful for, but i'm especially thankful, grateful and oh, so in l♥ve with the fact that i've got hope.

{the inspiration is from here}

hoppy times.

{aidan & malia - halloween 2003}

how wrong is it that i'm using a halloween photo for an easter post??
but, have you ever seen a carrot-bunny combo cuter than this?
nope, i didn't think so.

but, really, what does this bunny & carrot have to do with easter or passover? nothing. except to remind you to enjoy your day with the ones that you love.

whatever you believe, enjoy this beautiful spring day.

say what?

please head on over to kaitlin's blog, life of a busy wife, to participate in her new blog hop...


today is the inaugural edition. you know, the very first one. me, feeling exceptionally lazy & lame this morning, took the easy way out and posted a link to a blog post from earlier this week. i'll get 'on the ball' next weekend. i promise. {i blame it all on the lack of coffee this morning & the serious mountain of laundry that is waiting for me in the mud room.}

anyways, get over there! i know you guys have some 'say what?!' moments you wanna share.

keep calm...we have a winner!

it excites me very much to announce the winner of my "keep calm & blog on" giveaway...

brittany ann
{a.k.a. my sista from another mista!}
check out her blog by clicking here...

congrats, girl!!

email me with your preferences {color choice & "blog on" poster size} & mailing addy so that i may get this lovely item to your doorstep a.s.a.p.!!

thank you, thank you to all who entered and welcome to some new faces/followers!!

Where in the World Wednesday

happy hump day, y'all!!

it's that time of the week again:

you know the drill...post a picture of you somewhere in the world - here, there, anywhere you consider traveling. then, post the link on this week's post over at classy in philadelphia's blog. also, be sure to use the really cute WITWW graphic that feris made. oh, and then have fun viewing everyone else's pictures...it's like a virtual vacation {and you're meeting new bloggy friends & visiting with old bloggy friends at the same time!}.

this week, i'm posting a throwback...

just a pic of the kids & i from august 2004. we were on a week-long family vacay in hatteras, nc.

i miss those days when my kids were itty-bitty. in the picture, aidan was just over a year old & malia was 3.5 years old. it's hard to believe that next month malia will be n-i-n-e.

Where in the World Wednesday

it's that time of the week again!! you know - it's time for some fun with classy in philadelphia as she hosts yet another weekly installment of where in the world wednesday.

{i'm on my lappy top & i'm too lazy to download the WITWW icon...please accept my apologies!}

you know the drill. post a pic of you anywhere in the world...whatever you consider to be traveling. tell us a lil' bit about the pic and then post the link over on this week's WITWW post at classy in philadelphia's blog.

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this week i'm sharing a photo of me & my sweetie. we didn't travel far in this photo...we were simply a few miles up the road from our home at the virginia beach amphitheater.

the date: august 15, 2007

the concert: dave matthews band

memories of the show are kinda bittersweet {wow, my hair was really light back then!}. these were the best seats we've ever had for a dave show {and we've been going since the 1990s} - 8th row orchestra. this was also the last concert that WE saw in which musical extraordinaire, leroi moore, played with the band. he was injured in an accident & was too fragile to play with the band during 2008's summer show and, sadly, many months before the 2009 summer show rolled around, he had passed away. but, don't fret...we're all still dancing with the groogrux king.

many thanks.

{source}

i just wanted to take a moment to let you all know how much i appreciate each & every one of you. whether you follow & lurk, follow & comment or just stumble upon my little piece of the internet just because...well...i thank ya!

i don't always reply back to comments. i need to get better about that. i'll admit, most of the time it's due to pure laziness. i have good intentions of replying, i do. but, often times i'm hindered from doing so because of that 'noreply {at} blogger {dot} com' foolishness. anyways, just know that i love each & every comment...from my faithfuls, my anonymous peeps {even though i know who you are!} and my new followers.

blogging has been a blessing in disguise. it's opened a whole new world for me. i've never been a journal writer, but blogging has given me an outlet that i suddenly cannot seem to do without. i'm sure many of you feel the exact same way...and perhaps that's why we've found each other. who knows.

anyways...

i just wanted to say thank you. from the bottom of my ♥. your kind words, your encouragement, your support, your bloggy friendship, your generosity, your amazing talent, your honesty, your faithfulness...it all means a lot. a whole lot. each & every one of you is truly unique and you've all touched a part of my heart.

thank you. thank you for being you. thank you for finding me.

red & white swirls.

i participated in an ornament swap hosted by katherine at just lovely and i was paired up with a really fun gal, pammycakes.

she is a doll! if you're not already following her blog, please do so. she's gorgeous, she's sweet, she's a fashion inspiration {trust me, i'm a mom of two...i need all of the fashion inspiration i can get!}. just go visit her blog, you'll see.

anyways, pammycakes gifted me with a lovely glass ornament from pottery barn. swirls of red {my favorite color!} & white. it fits right in with our {very fake} tree. i love it...thank you, pammycakes!!

guess where i am?

i'm in two places at once today.

one being that interview.

the second being this interview.

go check me out over at Marlie and Me...i was featured for today's installment of "Thursdays with Teresha."

a couple things...

this friday is the deadline to get on my ho ho ho snail mail list. you want a holiday card from me, please email me your mailing address. remember, two lucky people from the snail mail list will also receive a little surprise from moi. you don't know what it is & i don't plan on posting on who those lucky two are until after cards {and two packages} have been sent out & received.

and...

on a different note, i was recently nominated by shannon from welcome to the nuthouse {love her!} to be 'interviewed' over at marlie and me. my 'interview' will be featured this coming thursday. don't worry, i'll remind you so you can check it out.