Five on Friday - Fun with Names

Remember when you were a child and you would write your name and make up something for each letter? It could be something funny, a word to describe you, a place you wanted to go, or pretty much anything you and your friends decided it would be.

I've spent a lot of time in the past month reflecting on myself and this week I'm going to reflect on my son. His name has 5 letters, so it's prefect for this weeks Five on Friday post.

Demanding. Not in a bad way, but demanding of my time. It seems like everything he does demands my time or attention. At times I feel like saying "do it yourself, I'm trying to read this magazine" and then I remember he's just a child. I'm his mom and one day I will wish a little voice was saying "Mom, can you help me with this?"

Young. He can carry on a adult conversation better than some adults I know. He knows things that I don't. He is almost as tall as me and can wear my shoes. But he is also only 8 years old.

Laughter. Ever since he was a baby and I heard his first giggle he can make me smile. His laugh that is infectious. He also knows how to make me laugh. He will make a funny face or strike a pose and before I know it I am laughing so hard my sides hurt.

Animal Expert. Yes, technically that's two words, but it's true. This kid knows more about animals than I ever thought was humanly possible. At age 3 he knew the difference between a squirrel and a chipmunk - heck I don't even know the difference! He thrives on memorizing animal facts.

Nerd. I mean this in the nicest way. He would rather read a book than play outside. He got excited on the first day of school when he got a planner and a real textbook. Tuesday is his favorite day of the week because that's when he has Science Club. He loves math and he thrives on getting good grades. Totally not me when I was a kid!

Five on Friday - Memorable Moments

Everyone has good days and then there are those days that are better than good. These days I like to call the best days of my life. Sometimes these days leave something in our lives that will last forever - other times these days come and go with only a glimpse of what could have been.

Either way, they are all memorable moments. At one point in time, these moments were the best days of my life.

• The day I gave birth to my son. I think my favorite moment that day was when everyone had left the hospital and it was just me and Dylan in the hospital room. 
• The day I got married and the day I got divorced. Yes, strange I know - but it's the truth. 
• The day I saw my article in The Orange County Register. 
• The day I passed the State Board exam and became a licensed esthetician. 600 hours of hard work had finally paid off - and I did it even though people said I would not.
• The day I realized that I would do anything for my child. Even if it means sacrificing something I want or need. This is the day I learned what love really meant. 

Take a minute and think about the best days of your life. What are your most memorable moments?

Five on Friday - New Year Wishes

There are only two days left in 2011 and many people are talking about making New Year Resolutions.

Will you make them? Will you keep them? The top 5 resolutions are ... and so on.

Well, after making and breaking New Year Resolutions for more years than I care to count, I have decided to do something different this year.

I'm making New Year Wishes!

Wait, that's the same thing - just a different word, but it's not. A resolution is something you vow or promise to resolve/fix. A wish is something you hope for. You can't break a wish.


So for today's Five on Friday I am going to share some of my New Year Wishes ...

1. Spend more time reading the books and magazines I have piled up. I really want to read them, but just never seem to find the time. I wish to find the time in 2012. 
2. Organize the 6 years worth of photos on my computer so I can find what I'm looking for. I'm thinking I will start by year and then my month or occasion. Or maybe by occasion and within that months/years. I wish to spend less than an hour finding a photo in 2012.
3. Stop second guessing myself. I spend way too much time over-thinking and analyzing things. Yet on the other hand, I'm known to make snap decisions that I later regret. See, there I go already. I wish to think things through in a timely manner, without worrying what others will say in 2012.
4. Finish decorating my apartment. I have been here going on 4 years and still no window coverings, my bedroom isn't finished, and now it's time to change Dylan's room. I wish to have the decorating bug bite me in 2012.
5. Learn more. Just because I'm not in school anymore doesn't mean I have to stop learning. I don't need a classroom or a textbook to learn when I have the internet and public library. Maybe I will check out a book on Greek Mythology or U.S. History. Maybe I will learn a new craft. I wish to broaden my knowledge of everything in 2012.

What do you wish for in 2012?

Five on Friday - Favorite Blog Posts

I spent last night looking through old pictures and reading some old blog posts. Never before is it more true that my thoughts, put into words, are telling a story. People say that whatever you put on the internet will be around for years to come. I sure hope so. I want my son to be able to read this blog years from now and remember everything we did together - and even read the posts that had nothing to do with visiting the zoo, but that were my way of sharing my thoughts and feelings.

So this week's Five on Friday is a listing of some of my favorite blog posts.

A New Chapter - my very first blog post, where it all began.

Wii Love Christmas Morning - the year Santa brought Dylan to tears.

He Doesn't Need "Mommy" Anymore - the day I cried

Another Milestone in Life - one of the proudest days in my life.

  Is the American Dream Still Alive? - a turning point in my life.








As much as I enjoy reading friends current postings, it's always fun to randomly select an old blog post and read it again - or maybe read it for the first time.

Five on Friday - Ornaments

I use to have a beautiful Christmas tree decorated in snowflakes, glass balls in shades of blue and green, silver icicles, and seashells. That all changed when I became a mom 8 years ago. I still have the beautiful ornaments - packed away in a plastic bin - and someday I will hang them on the tree again.

Until that day, my tree will be decorated with childhood favorites from Disney to Star Wars and whatever else my son wants to hang on the tree. Don't worry, I still manage to sneak a few of my favorites on the tree too.


My families five favorite ornaments. (well, six, there was a tie)

Can you guess which ones are my favorite?

Five on Friday - Starbucks Love

It's no secret that I am head over heels in love with Starbucks coffee.

Any time of day. Any time of year.

Today a friend posted on Twitter "Honestly don't know what I'd do without coffee" (of course I was drinking my morning Starbucks when I read this and without even thinking I replied "Me either. It's like oxygen - I need it to survive"


Now we know this isn't true, I can survive without coffee. I just choose not to. 


Today's Five on Friday is dedicated to coffee and why I love my Starbucks.

... and when nobody else would, Starbucks gave me a Gold Card. Now that's Love.

Five on Friday - Christmas Wish List

It's December and in my house that means it's time to start making out that Christmas Wish List. The one time of year that you can ask for anything you want, no limitations, with the hopes that Jolly Old St. Nicholas will bring you what you asked for. The hopes that you have been good all year and stayed off the naught list fill your mind as you write out that letter to Santa.

As a single parent, I not only get to write my own Christmas Wish List, but I get to buy my own presents and wrap them too! How lucky am I?

You may be wondering why I do this. Well, Santa is big in my house and one year I didn't have any presents under the tree from Santa. Dylan was about 3 years old and asked me if I was on the naughty list. I couldn't have my child thinking I was bad, so every year after that I got presents under the tree and a stocking from Santa. This may be his last year "believing" ... so I'm writing my best Christmas Wish List ever. Of course, I won't be getting these things, but that's why it's called a wish list.

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl all year long. I have made my bed and brushed my teeth every night. I took Dylan to LEGOLAND and the zoo. We even took three vacations this year - San Diego, Monterey, and we just got back from visiting my Dad in Lakeport. I work hard and don't ask for much throughout the year. Please look over my list and bring me something special.

1. Blue iPad 2 with iOS 5 and iCloud
2. Citizen Eco-Drive watch with mother of pearl face and diamonds
3. Frye "Jane" Tall Leather Boots - size 7 please
4. Anything you can fit in your sack from Sur la Table
5. A house with a washer and dryer and a backyard so Dylan can have a dog

Love,

Michelle

That's my Five on Friday (no limitations) Christmas Wish List - What's would you ask Santa for this year if you could have anything you wanted?

Five on Friday - Thanksgiving

This week I have decided to combine my Five on Friday with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for and for some reason, possible the same reason most people are more loving and joyous in December, we don't think about these things throughout the year. Why is that?

Did someone write it in stone that we are only allowed to be thankful during the month of November? Is it written that we can only be loving and joyous during the month of December?

Well, I guess that is for another day and another post.

In no particular order, here are 5 things I am thankful for ...

Family - Can't live with them and can't live without them. That seems to be the summation of most families and my family is no different. Family gives support and picks us up when we are down. Family gives us a reason to celebrate and a reason to rush home to the comforts and confines of our own home. Family has stories to tell that have passed down from generation to generation. Family is home.

Work - I don't know how many people can honestly say that they 100% love their job, but I do know that most of us (including myself) are simply thankful to have a job. I happen to be lucky, as least I think so, because I have a job that I love. I get to write. This job is not my full-time job, but just having the opportunity to work with a wonderful team of writers at OC Moms is a blessing.

Nature - Now this may seem strange, but I truly am thankful for the beautiful world we live in. I can drive less than 10 minutes and sit for hours watching the waves crash against the shore. Contemplating life and the mysteries of the vast oceans. I can travel to places where there is not a single sound of traffic. Where nothing can be heard but the birds chirping, the squirrels collecting acorns, and the deer eating corn that has been thrown out for them. Nature is the best way to connect with what is important in my life.

Health - I have been lucky and thank God every day that my family is happy and healthy. Sure we get the occasional cold like everyone else, but it goes away in a few days with rest and sometimes medicine. I have no serious health conditions that would make a simple cold a matter of life and death. I have no allergies that require me to carry an epi-pen, and I have the ability to get medicine when I need it. This is something that so many people take for granted and we need to be thankful that we have healthy families ... and give aid to those that are not as fortunate.

Dylan - Bob Dylan, Dylan Thomas, and Dylan McKay (yes, from 90210) ... without these men, I would not have a son named Dylan. The best thing that God has ever given me - and although I have listed this last - the one thing in my life that I most thankful for. My son gives me joy and hope. He makes me laugh and he makes me cry. He is so much like me and in some ways, he is everything that I always wanted to be.