He Said/She Said

He Said/She Said is a new (to me) Meme hosted by 2 Messy.  It seems to be a fairly irregular one, but anything that brings Hubby and I into something together is a plus.  So here are the latest questions (from last Saturday, and both Rich and my answers.

HE SAID:

1. When do you feel your best? "There are morning people and there are evening people.  I'm a mid-afternoonish person, where I feel good from about 1 to 4."
2. In those last few moments before going to sleep, what do you think about? Some days, nothing more than whatever is on the television or audio book at the time.  Other days, it's a time to focus on all of the hidden fears in my brain that come out to torment me in the dark of night.
3. What do you dream about most often? Don't know.  I rarely remember my dreams. And those I do remember don't seem to follow any pattern.
4. What do you want to be when you grow up? A wizard.  But failing that, I'd settle for a storyteller which can be a magic all it's own.
5. How old is too old to live with your parents? I don't think there is a wrong age, but there are wrong times in which to do it.
6. What is your hobbie of choice? Role-playing games and collectible cards, with a side of coin collecting.
7. How many siblings do you have? 1, a sister.
8. How many bones have you broken? Just one, but it was a vertebra!
9. How many times have you moved? Five times.
10. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Home is where the heart is.
11. If you won the million dollar lottery what would be the FIRST thing you would buy? A home.
12. What was your first girlfriend/boyfriends name? Jane.
13. How old were you for your first kiss? I refuse to answer on the grounds that I will appear lame.  Real answer: 20 or thereabouts.
14. Who is your favorite person to hang out with? Amber.
15. Do you like short or long hair on the opposite sex? I dunno.  I don't think I have a preference there. Longer, I guess, since I was saddened when Amber's hair got cut.

SHE SAID:

1. When do you feel your best? In the morning, when I'm getting into something that needs to be done.
2. In those last few moments before going to sleep, what do you think about? It depends on the night.  Sometimes I lose myself in the tv show or audio book playing, other times, I spin a fairy tale in my mind to help me fall asleep.
3. What do you dream about most often? My dreams are always varied and always weird. Usually, it involves either Rich or the kids.
4. What do you want to be when you grow up? Do I have to grow up?
5. How old is too old to live with your parents? I'd say it depends on the person.  Some people should move out before they even turn 18, others should be there most of their lives.  It just depends on the situation. 
6. What is your hobbie of choice? Reading.  Often.
7. How many siblings do you have? 1 sister, 2 step-brothers and 2 step-sisters.
8. How many bones have you broken? Um.... I THINK just one - a small bone in my foot.  But I've sprained the same foot numerous times as well.
9. How many times have you moved? Ten times.  Between college and temporary moves, it's been a lot.
10. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Tough one.  There are a lot of places I'd love to visit - England, the Netherlands, Poland, Ireland, Japan, Australia... but live... that one is more difficult.  Gonna have to go with Rich on this one - wherever he and the boys are, that's where I want to be.
11. If you won the million dollar lottery what would be the FIRST thing you would buy? A house somewhere with 4 bedrooms and a yard for the kids to play in.
12. What was your first girlfriend/boyfriends name? Well.... I don't think he considered himself my boyfriend, but his name was Ramon.  The first one that called me his girlfriend was Frankie.
13. How old were you for your first kiss? I think I was 12.  Sometimes around then.
14. Who is your favorite person to hang out with? Rich, most of the time.
15. Do you like short or long hair on the opposite sex? Generally, I like longer.  Which shows how much I love Rich since I'm still with him even with short hair.

I Made it From Pintrest - A new weekly Meme

Image by
 Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator

I'm a huge fan of Pintrest. It's been a great place for me to find inspiration, keep track of ideas, and see what friends are finding an interest in.  The problem I've had in the past is the same problem that I've had with a lot of plans.  Great ideas, no follow through.  I have tons of crafts, recipes, gift ideas and organizational but rarely do anything with them.  But no more!  I'm going to make Pintrest into a go-to place for me to get dinner ideas, make crafts for the boys/for holidays and utilize household and organizational ideas.  And to help give myself the motivation to do this, I'm going to start a weekly blog hop (because I seem far more likely do something when others are paying attention).

Every Monday, I'll post a new entry, with link-up, for the projects things I've done thanks to something I've found on Pintrest.  This Monday, tune in to see my reviews of the Chai Tea Mix that I made the other day, and the toasted ravioli that I'm making for dinner tonight.  (Not many pics for the Chai Tea mix, but the ravioli will be another matter.)  There may be more, depending on what I do over the weekend.  But those two are happening.

So if you'd like to join me on my journey with a journey of your own, come back Monday to read my reviews and link up your own reviews.  In the meantime, you can  .

Five Question Friday

I'm back again with another of my old favorites, the Five Question Friday hosted by Mama M at My Little Life.  She gets great suggestions from other bloggers and puts them, along with the nifty graphic above and a neat linky on the page, up for anyone that feels like answering to add their two pennies in.
So now it's time for my answers.

1. Do you prefer to drive to your vacation spot or fly? Generally, I prefer to drive.  Yes, it takes longer, but it usually costs less for the four of us and we get a chance to see new and different things that we wouldn't have been able to if we'd flown.  Granted, our vacation spot for the past several years has been the same (visiting family in the North East) but we always seem to stop somewhere different for lunch or for gas or even for the night.

2. If you could live any where in the world, where would you go and why? This is a tough one.  I like Nashville, as we've got a lot of friends, the people are (generally) friendly, and the cost of living is a lot less. Plus, my dad lives near here and it means we get to spend quality time with him.  But there are times when I'd love to move back to the northeast - Philly, northern New Jersey, that general area, because of the family and friends there, plus the large number of universities where Rich might be able to get a job.  From a pure beauty standpoint, though, I'd love to live in Montana.  I've been there once to visit and I fell in love with it.  It is truly the most beautiful land I've ever seen in my life.

3. Should grown women wear leggings? If they feel comfortable in them, then why not?  But I feel like that about any clothes - it doesn't matter what the world at large thinks of you in them, it matters how you feel when you wear them.

4. If you could change your name to any other name, would you? And what would it be? When I was a kid, I wanted to change my name to anything other than Amber.  As I said in the Friday Fill-In earlier today, I was teased mercilessly because of my name. And I wanted to be someone, anyone other than Amber.  But now, I'm actually happy with it.  It is who I am and it fits me.  Though, to be honest, I still love the name Anastasia and, if I were forced to change my name, that would be the name I'd choose.

5. What magazines to you have subscriptions to? At the moment, I only have a subscription to Parents.  I rarely read the print version anymore, though.  My Kindle is wonderful for that.  I did have subscriptions to a few comics - Green Arrow, Birds of Prey, Doctor Who, Charmed, Adventure Time (for the kids) and a few others, but I cut most of those down to nothing to save money.  When I have the money to get a new subscription to something, though, it's going to be the digital version of Real Simple.  I love this magazine and wish I could afford to get it monthly!

Four Fill -In Friday

I've got a busy day planned ahead, but I wanted to get this out quickly.  Later today, I may have another post for another meme.  And maybe, just maybe, a post with actual content as well.
Once again, I'm back with Feeling Beachie's Follow Friday Four Fill-In Fun.  I missed this meme and am glad to be back!  Here are the statements, with my answers.

1. When I was little I was called Amber, Hey Tree-Sap, Amber-Waves-of-Grain... Kids could be cruel.  In high school, though, it was much better.  Then, I was either Amber, Am or Zebra.
2. Mounds are my favorite candy. At the moment, anyway.  Ask me in an hour and I'll probably have a different answer.  I just love candy far more than I should.
3. If I could have one magical power it would be teleportation. I'd love to be able to get anywhere, instantly.  Then I wouldn't feel like I'm always in a rush to get places!
4. If I could go back to school it would be to become a therapist.  I find I'm pretty good at helping with people's problems, helping them work things out, being a good listener... all the things that, in my mind, a good therapist should have.

And that's it for now!  Off to bring Pete to school, get the cars registered, get some shopping done, work more on my household planner, pick up the kids from school, and who knows what else.  See you all later, and have a great Friday!

Five Question Friday for 3/9/12

Mama M has a weekly meme that helps us get to know one another a little better.  Every Friday, she posts five questions.  Then it's up to you to answer them, link back on her blog, My Little Life and, above all, have fun.
So, here are the five questions for today and my answers.




1. Are you looking forward to the time change this weekend?


Gods, no!  This weekend is my birthday so I will, in essence, lose an our of celebrating my birthday.  Grrrrr....


2. Are you getting the new iPad/would you want a iPad?


I used to want one, but I'm actually pretty happy with my Kindle Fire.  Yeah, I can't get a lot of the same apps, but I still get a lot of fun out of it.  That's the important part.


3. If money was not a problem, what is the one thing you would splurge on?


I would travel to Dragon*Con.  It's a con that I've wanted to attend for a long, long time and I just never seem to have the money to go and do it right.

Or maybe I'd pay to have a site redesign for here and Views from the Reader Side. Yes, I AM a geek.  Why do you ask?


4. How did you and the Mr. (or Mrs.) meet?


I thought I'd written about Rich and my meeting before, but the only thing I could find was a post about the day he asked me to marry him.  So I get to talk about the meeting now.  And I don't mind, because it's such a great story.

I met Rich on a message board system in 2001.  It was more a geek board than a dating board, though several relationships and marriages came from being a part of this board.  When we first met virtually, it was because we found each other commenting in the same threads fairly regularly.  Over the course of the next year, we became friends.  Not good friends, but friendly.  I was dating someone else at the time, so I wasn't looking for love.

Then came January, 2002.  There was a get together in New York of members of the board.  This was an annual thing and always brought in a pretty big crowd.  I was living in New York at the time, so I opened my apartment to a couple of friends, one of which was Rich.  We had a fantastic time that weekend, learning a lot about each other and getting closer.  It was a good friendship.

Not long after he went back home to Philadelphia and I realized that things weren't going well with my boyfriend.  For my own sanity, I ended it with him.  I was chatting with Rich online, telling him about how I broke up with my now-ex and that I just wanted to date for a little while.  I wasn't even thinking of him at the time, but he pointed out that he was available.  He came back to New York in a couple weeks and from that point forward, I knew that I was in love and that I'd found the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

5. Summer is right around the corner. Bikini or one-piece?


Do you see the body in the picture up there?  The one that is in the size 20 dress?  Well, I'm bigger now than I was then.  If it isn't a one piece, I'm not going out!

Monday Listicles - Oh, The Things I Can't Do

 Today's topic on Monday Listicles (hosted by Stasha at The Good Life and inspired by Jessica at My Time as Mom) are 10 Things You Can't Do.  Sadly, I'm really good at listing my shortcomings.  But hopefully, I'll be working these listicles more in future, so you'll hear some positives as well.

1. Phone Calls I have a serious phobia about the phone.  I dread having to pick up the phone and call people - even people I know well, some of the time.  What if I'm interrupting them?  What if I sound like a complete idiot when I need to ask something important?  What if what if what if?  I'm not much better in person (or when people call me), but I can force myself in those instances.  I'm incredibly grateful for the invention of the internet and e-mail, because it lets me avoid my phobia for other means of contact.
2. Cooking Ok, if I actually tried I might get better at it.  But I don't like cooking so I don't try it as often as I should.  I haven't figured out how to spice things properly so I usually end up not spicing them at all and they come out bland.  Luckily, my husband likes to cook... though he's trying to push me toward cooking more so he doesn't have to. Because if he didn't cook, it would probably be fast food and instant meals more often than not.
3. Housework I try to keep on top of things but I suck royally.  I was much better at it before being married with children - I could keep up with the clutter of one person.  But trying to keep up with the clutter of four (because my husband doesn't see the need for neatness) is beyond my ability.  I keep trying to find a way to organize myself and my life but so far, no luck.  This, of course brings me to...
4. Organization Again, I can't seem to get on top of this.  I make lists.  TONS of lists.  I make schedules. I read books and websites about organization.  But does it help?  Of course not.  When it comes to this, I think it's overload.  I'm just trying too many things at once.  What I really need is to get someone to come in, sit down with me for a month, and help me figure out a system for my life.  But that's not likely to happen.
5. Backing into a parking space I don't know what it is, but when it comes to backing up, I completely suck.  I can't seem to make it between the two lines without trying about 30 times.  Woe to anyone who is within about 3 spaces on either side.  It's why I don't parallel park and I try to find somewhere that I can pull through in a parking lot.
6. Remembering important things I blame this one on my kids.  I'm convinced that both of them sucked memory and smarts out of me while they were in the womb.  It's the only reasonable explanation as to why I used to have brains and a memory and don't any longer.
7. Growing Things I try.  Really I do.  I've tried flowers, herbs, vegetables, you name it.  I manage to kill them all.  I even killed a cactus in college.  Yes, my thumb is thoroughly black.
8. Patience My patience is far lower than it should be for someone who wants to be crafty and is the mom to two boys.  Sometimes I'll have flashes where I can explain over and over again something to my kids, but more often than not, I just want to get them out of my hair or be finished with something as quickly as I can.
9. Fighting Depression I've suffered from depression for a long time. You'd think I know ways to keep myself from sinking in.  But no... far more regularly than I would like, I allow myself to sink into it's depths and stay there.  I know I should fight it, but it's too hard sometimes and I just can't force myself to do it.
10. Staying on Top of Things I'm usually good for about a week.  I keep on top of cleaning.  I get my books reviewed right after I've read them.  I get swaps out early.  I clean out my e-mail on a daily basis.  I post for my blogs daily. I do the memes that I enjoy doing. I read my favorite RSS feeds through my Google Reader or Feed Squares or whatever.  Then something gets missed for a day.  Then another day.  And another.  Next thing I know, I'm three months behind and know that I'm never going to get caught back up, so I scrap everything and start over again.  At which point, I'm good for about a week...

So those are the things I can't see to do.  And honestly, it was harder to come up with than I expected it would be.  Part of it is because of the broader categories that I put in, but part of it is that I'm not feeling quite as down on myself today as I usually do.  Having a little boy come in to snuggle and tell me about the monster in his room named Plan who has blue scales, a long nose, is spiky all over and is, most importantly, his friend, made me remember the things that I'm good at.  But I did manage to come up with ten things for this list.  So go me.