More than halfway

I'm just over halfway done with my 52 Things list.

I'm lacking severely in the number of bottles of water I've consumed as well as how many books I've read for the year. And there's a couple things on the list that I know I likely won't be able to complete (get a new tattoo) and one thing that I think I will take off the list (attend BlogHer conference) and replace with something else (?).

As for right now, summer is just speeding along. We'll be going on vacation next month - traveling to visit family in CT and then day trips to NYC, RI and MA. Very much looking forward to it!!!

Maybe once I return, I'll have found my - still missing - blogging mojo.

Sometimes paradise isn't far

Recently we decided to surprise the kids with a weekend getaway to Key Lime Cove, which is about an hour north of us. We didn't tell them ahead of time, and I packed the suitcase without them knowing and loaded the car while they were at school.

They were curious as to why I was going to be picking them both up from school that day, and that we were heading to go pick up daddy from work right away, but they didn't question much.

We just talked about where we were going to go eat for dinner and they tried to talk us into Chuck E Cheese. It wasn't until we were headed straight for Key Lime Cove's parking lot that the signs were spotted and my son yelled out "IT'S KEY LIME COVE! I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I WANT TO GO THERE!!!" My husband asked "How about we go there now?"





They still didn't quite get it even after we went inside and stood in line to check-in that we were staying. My son, with sad eyes, says "But mom, we can't go in there." (as he looks thru the window at the water park) and I ask why, and he replies "Because we don't have any of our stuff. Our swimming suits."



And I tell him not to worry, that I packed them, and that the suitcase was in the car. They were beyond thrilled! And it was a nice time - that is until Saturday afternoon when security came up and knocked on our room door to let us know our car had been broken into. Yeah, not impressed with that. Not sure what security does in the meantime - because they certainly weren't patrolling the parking lot at all, seeing as how it was a spa employee that reported it. And for $250 a night, well, you'd think there would at least be security cameras or something. Yeah, not so much.

But anywho....the kids had a fabulous time. I think we spent a good 5-6 hours total at the water park before our weekend was so rudely interrupted. It wore the kids out, because once we were in the car on the way home, they were both out within minutes.





We may go back someday....right now the whole traumatic car experience is still too fresh in my mind.

Valentine's Day Came Early

We don't typically do much for Valentine's Day. Hubby is not the card-buying, mushy-gushy type, so I just sort of followed suit and agreed not to make much of the holiday.

This year I wanted to do something special because I'm getting all sorts of fun things, and he was pretty good at spoiling me this Christmas. I'm looking forward to a NKOTB concert and Meet & Greet, as well as the BlogHer conference this summer. So, it was only fair that I do something nice to show my gratitude.

Except I wasn't sure what to do. And while I'm sure my gift would not be a big deal for some, I felt it was something special and from my heart.

Hubby's favorite cookies are Oreos. And just about anything cookies n cream. So I made him up a basket full of goodies....



Take a closer look .... regular oreos, and then hand-dipped oreos in milk & white chocolate, decorated with festive pink, red and white sprinkles. I also included dipped marshmallows, and homemade cookies & cream bark.



There was one non-edible, purchased item that I included. A personalized pillowcase (obviously personalized with our names), that also helps set the tone for the remainder of his Valentine gift....



After I gave him everything, he says to me "If I had known you were going to do all this, I would have gotten you something." And the stinker - hid a box of turtles along with a Valentine card for me under my pillow. :) What a happy Valentine's Day.

Giving Back

One of the items on my 52 Things list is to give to a charity/cause.

I have been thinking about where I would like to help. In the past I have supported several different causes; Susan G. Komen foundation, March of Dimes, and the American Cancer Society to name a few.

I am debating on if I'd like to make several, smaller donations, or just one to a specific organization. At this particular time the front runners are the American Cancer Society as well as St. Jude.

For those of you who donate - which organizations do you help? And are smaller donations just as beneficial as larger ones? If I decide to help a few with smaller monetary amounts, will it still make a difference? Tell me your thoughts....

S~U~R~P~R~I~S~E

I haven't been able to talk about this prior, since I am still not 100% sure if my mom reads here or not (and honestly, I'm not gonna ask, I'd just rather not know if she is, I think).

So, anyway....there were a couple things on my 52 Things that I was able to cross off this past weekend.

This past Monday was mom's 60th birthday. My brother, my dad and myself hosted a surprise party in her honor. It was Saturday, and she had no idea. She was surprised and the one that bet the waterworks would start immediately was the winner.

She enjoyed herself, and it made us happy to make her so happy.

My brother and I went in on joint gift that would also be something special for dad as well. We treated her with a 2-night stay at a bed & breakfast in Galena, Illinois. They'll get full breakfast each morning, and also get dinner one night at Fried Green Tomatoes, not to mention the tour/purchase voucher for the winery, too.

They'll be packing soon and can't wait!

And even with all of that, one of mom's favorite things about the party? Her cake.



A total hit, and I cannot say enough good about the Super Target bakery!

Is it spring yet?

We got a whole bunch of snow in December, and just when we had the time to take the kids sledding, the temperature dropped and we had windchills well below zero. After that, all the snow melted away with a 'heat wave' and a bunch of rain.

I had almost written off the opportunity of taking the kids sledding, when we woke up to this...



That's our patio table out back. I'm wondering if that glass table top will be able to withstand all that. Perhaps I should trudge around and sweep all that off.

At any rate - we took the kids out. Well, I went with for a little while, but due to the fact that I don't own boots nor any snow pants -- I stayed in plowed areas while the kids and Mike hoofed it through the snow to go play.



I stood by for a few photos and then decided my ears couldn't handle it anymore (yes, I went out without a hood or a hat). But - it still counts as completing something on my 52 Things list!

Stayed tuned for my Sexy Sweethearts Valentine giveaway! I'll be posting soon, but for now...here's the prize, a fun goody-box of love stuff!

You can scratch that off the list

I donated blood today. It all started last year when I got in on Manic Mommy's virtual blood drive.

At that time I signed up for the Brighten Lives program and vowed I'd go as often as I was eligible. I donated in January, March, June and then when I went in September, my iron was too low. Shortly after that, my back drama started and blood donation took a backseat to my health.

The 2009 Virtual Blood Drive is in full swing, so what better time for me to get my butt back to the blood center. I get to participate in the blood drive, I was entered to win Blackhawks raffle tickets at the blood center, I got to mark off an item on my 52 Things list, and I'm SAVING LIVES.



It doesn't get any better than that. (Well, unless of course, I win that 6 day, 5 night stay at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort.)

52 Things

Just the other day at lunch, my BFF mentioned doing 52 new things in 52 weeks. I got to thinking....I'm not sure there are that many *new* things I'd like to do, but that there are things that I don't get to do nearly as often as I'd like. So, no New Year's resolutions for me (well, aside from wanting to lose weight, but I'm really not making that a resolution; too much pressure), just a list of 52 things I'd like to get done in 2009.

1. Go on a date with my husband. (Done 1/11/09 .. Read Here!)
2. Read more books in '09 than I finished in '08. (11/23.5)
3. Bake cookies with my children.
4. Take the kids to a waterpark. (Done 2/20/09 .. Read Here )
5. Attend my very first BlogHer conference.
6. Not be dependent on pain medication for my back/leg. (Weened off, late January 09)
7. Watch more Christmas movies during this year's holiday season.
8. Eat at a new restaurant. (Done 1/11/09 .. Read Here!)
9. Visit 2 scenic areas to take pictures. (0/2)
10. Take a family portrait.
11. Attend a Cubs game.
12. Attend a NKOTB concert. (Done 4/2/09 & 6/26/09)
13. Take the kids to the park.
14. Give my husband a great Valentine's Day gift. (Done 2/13/09, Read Here!)
15. Do something special for my mom & dad. (Done 2/7/09, Read Here!)
16. Buy a new CD. (Purchased Lady GaGa & Michael Jackson CDs)
17. Donate blood. (Done 1/8/09 .. Read Here!)
18. Grill & eat outside on the patio.
19. Get a 2nd tattoo.
20. Drink a bottle of water for every day of the year. (60/365)
21. Take the kids sledding. (Done 1/10/09 .. Read Here!)
22. Give to a charity/cause. (Donated to Let's Get This Foundation, donation to Susan G. Komen still pending)
23. Dye my hair a new color. (Done 1/21/09 .. Read Here!)
24. Talk with my PCP about my stomach issues and finger/joint stiffness.
25. Take the kids to a live performance. (Saw Disney On Ice, Done 1/23/09)
26. Make at least $200 on ebay. ($90.41/$200)
27. Plan a get together with my girlfriends.
28. Go to adult swim at the community center at least once.
29. Take a (or many) walk. (Many taken so far this summer)
30. Bring my own lunch to work everyday for a week. (Done 1/30/09)
31. Bake a special treat for my mom's 60th birthday. (Done 2/1/09, made delicious Andes peppermint chunk brownies)
32. Go apple picking.
33. Send a secret to Post Secret. (Done, mailed 2/6/09)
34. Play a game with the kids.
35. Take photographs of the kids to compile & design a 2010 calendar for the grandparents.
36. Enjoy a froo-froo drink from Gloria Jean's or the like.
37. Smile at a stranger.
38. Plan a party. (Done, party thrown 2/7/09, Read Here!)
39. Buy a new pair of sandals. (Done 7/20/09..New Crocs!)
40. Sit on the porch and read a book.
41. Add 10 more blogs to my "follow" list. (Done 2/3/09, check 'em out in my sidebar)
42. Snuggle on the couch with my cat. (Done many a time, hey, it's American Idol time!)
43. Watch a new TV show. (Watched "The Secret Life of an American Teenager 1/5/09)
44. Use my Walk Away the Pounds DVDs.
45. Buy a lottery ticket. (Bought an instant "scratch" ticket -- won $6, Done 1/15/09)
46. Meet at least ONE of the NKOTB. (Done 4/2/09)
47. Follow 5 new people on Twitter. (Done 1/12/09)
48. Change my blog background. (Done 3/2/09)
49. Plan a vacation. (Vacationing to CT, NYC, RI & MA, August '09)
50. Take a day off work, just for ME.
51. Organize file cabinet & put away overflow that is sitting on desk.
52. Take photos & blog when I complete any of my 52 things.

Here goes!