I took this photo of Erika and me at The HOB the other night and I just love it. (I’m on the right.) It’s one of those turn the camera on yourself self-portrait shots and I think I did a pretty good job, if I do say so myself.
I love taking “self-portraits”.
First off, I think it’s only fair to tell you that I am NOT a Neil Diamond fan at all. Not in the least! BUT, every time I hear this song, it grows on me, especially when it conjures memories of good times and great friends.
Saturday night, we celebrated my hubby’s birthday with friends at one of our favorite watering hole, the House of Brews, which we’ve nicknamed “The HOB”. On Saturday nights, there’s a decent guitarist and he always includes Sweet Caroline in his set. Of course, the crowd (mostly made up of us) can’t resist belting out “BA BA BA” in the chorus. It’s “SO GOOD! SO GOOD SO GOOD” and so much fun to be loud and obnoxious with your friends!
On another note, I want to thank everyone for linking up and participating in Music Monday with Run DMT for the past month. Next week, October rolls in and I am ready to sink my teeth into Halloween. So for the next four weeks, I will be sharing my favorite Halloween tunes. Share your favorite spine tingling tunes too, if you dare. Muhahahahahaha!
Visit Amanda, Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.
After months of lessons and countless hours of practicing the piano, the girls had their first recital last Saturday and the whole family came out to hear them play.
For their big debut, the girls had to memorize one piece. Emmalynn was so nervous, but Allana showed no signs of any stage fright.
(Please excuse the clicking sounds in the videos. That’s me video recording and snapping photos at the same time.)
We showered the girls with hugs, kisses, praise and a huge applause for a fabulous job, but Grandma presented our petite pianists with flowers for their first concert.
Every busy mom understands and treasures “Me Time”. Some moms feel guilty about carving a little time in their day to dedicate to themselves. I am NOT one of those moms. I crave my Me Time and typically running is my ultimate Me Time, however these days, my Me Time is pretty scarce with an infant. Although I’ve been able to squeeze in some aerobics when the baby falls asleep, I still haven’t been able to fit in any runs. All in due time, I suppose.
Another favorite “Me Time” pastime is a pedicure. Having my piggies pampered is like a Calgon experience. It takes me away.
A couple of Fridays ago, I had just that moment. I snuck off to the salon to give my gnarly mommy toenails a makeover. As soon as I walked into the salon, the person behind the desk ordered me to pick a color and I walked over to the wall of colors to make my selection.
The names of the colors always make me giggle, like “Hot in Havana” or “Beachy Green”. Depending on my color mood, I will pick a color based on its name. That particular day, I was in a hot pink kind of mood and as I read the labels on the bottom of the bottles, only one would due: B-Girlz.
A huge smile stretched across my face. Once my feet were soaking in the sudsy warm water, I texted my sister to share the news. I knew she would get the old school reference and only my sister would truly appreciate it. I pictured her breaking out in laughter about the name of nail polish as memories of spring break road trips from our drunken Daisy Dukes college days sprung to mind. Good times.
Isn’t it funny how a simple phrase, a shared joke or song can take you back?
And if you don’t know B means, let us explain.
When my blogger buddy, Running Betty, created my Music Monday avatar, she asked for one small favor in return: Spread the word about the wonderful, charitable event happening over at allplussizebras.com.
In honor of the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure Event, allplussizebras.com will donate $250 to the participant with the most votes.
Here are the details:
Please help us get the word out by letting your friends, “tweeps”, and blog readers know that voting is now open at allplussizebras.com for a $250 donation to one walker in an upcoming Susan G. Komen 3 Day For the Cure event. Walkers registered for the contest at allplussizebras.com during the month of August. After nearly two days of deliberations, the staff at allplussizebras.com have named their ten finalists. Now, it’s up to the public to vote for the favorite finalist.
The Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure Reach Your Goal Contest attracted walkers from all over the country, but the following ten ladies have been named finalists:
Abby Clark
Amanda Kent
Cathy Youngling
Cedar Bennet
Kristen Marrs
Laurie Brosius
Monica Ng
Mylynka Cordona
Robyn Gornicki-Davis
Tammy Klueger.
Votes will be tallied at http://www.allplussizebras.com/vote and the polls will remain open until 9 am EDT on September 30, 2010. The walker receiving the most votes will be declared the winner and a $250 donation will be made to her fund raising page at the3day.org. In addition to voting, visitors to allplussizebras.com can read more about the finalists and contribute to one or more walkers if they choose.
When more people visit the page to vote, more donations to the Susan G. Komen foundation will be made through these dedicated ladies, so please tell everyone you can. Thanks!
For more information, contact Brian Darrow: brian@breastalliance.org
So, that’s it. It’s that simple. Just click on the link and vote for one walker before September 30. Just visiting the site is a win-win situation in the race for a cure.
As far back as I can remember, my Aunt June played an important part in my life. We spent many holidays at her home where I ate several helpings of her homemade lemon meringue pie and Strufoli (Italian honey balls covered in rainbow sprinkles).
Growing up, Aunt June came to every recital and school play. As my sister and I grew older, she was present at our graduations and weddings. Then when my children came along, she was there to celebrate their births, christenings and recitals too.
Aunt June, a beautiful and tough woman, had a hard life raising five children and caring for a husband with MS. But somehow in the midst of it all, she started a hair salon out of her home. As her business grew, she moved her salon out of her garage, found an office space and a new home for her salon appropriately named June’s Beauty Salon. Then a few years later, she opened a second salon while working nights as a cleaning lady to put her youngest son through college. She never saw it as a sacrifice, but simply a new challenge for the well-being of her family.
A true woman of strength and courage, Aunt June repeatedly tried new endeavors. She studied and trained to become a travel agent and then an LPN. As the years passed, her health declined due to years of smoking and she began losing her hair. What seemed like unfortunate situation had a positive outcome as it led her down a path where she found a new niche and opened a wig shop.
As a child, I spent countless hours spinning in her hairdresser chairs until I became dizzy. As a teen, I would look for any excuse to drive my car. I would soon find myself at her hair salon because I was in the neighborhood, but really I loved visiting with her.
When I told my daughters that Aunt June was dying of cancer, Allana remembered her great aunt with the her fiery red hair and her wig shop, particularly the hot pink wigs on display. When I remember my Aunt June, I will also remember her for her fiery red hair and a feisty wit and will to match.
September 5, 1939 – September 10, 2010
First off, I want to thank everyone who linked up and played along for Music Monday last week. It was great to see some old friends and some new ones join in the fun. As promised, one lucky participant will win a $15 iTunes card and that winner is…
Congratulations Thom! 
Now moving along to this week’s Music Monday selection and link-up…
Friday evening, my aunt passed away. Since she deserves more than simply a footnote in a blog post, I will give her a proper memorial in another post, however I wanted recognize her passing in song with one of my favorite songs. She slipped away surrounded by loved ones and only one song seems fitting to celebrate her life.
Over a year ago, I began participating in Diane’s Musical Monday meme. I loved hopping from blog to blog viewing each person’s pick. I enjoyed listening to the variety of music, discovering new songs or revisiting forgotten favorites but ultimately adding some great tunes to my running playlist while making friends.
Then earlier this summer, Diane passed along the Musical Monday torch to Amanda and we all continued to play along. Thanks to Amanda, we never missed a beat.
Along the way, I also discovered Tara’s and Shelley’s Music Mondays and played along there too.
However, these days the Music Monday blog hops seem to be slowing down and I wanted to help get things moving again. Starting this today, I will try my turn at hosting a Music Monday blog hop and to kick it all off, I’m giving away a $15 iTunes gift card to one lucky participant.
***To win this card, simply link up here at Run DMT with your Music Monday post and visit at least two other Music Monday links listed on Mr. Linky. Leave a comment on their blogs saying that you’re visiting from Run DMT. Then come back here and leave a comment to share which blogs you visited.***
Plus, if grab you my jazzy new Music Monday button (created by the ever-so-talented Running Betty) and add it to your Music Monday post, leave a comment here letting me and you can earn one extra entry. It’s like music to your ears, isn’t it?
Mr. Linky and the comments section will remain open until Friday, September 10 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) and a one lucky winner will be selected the following Monday (9/13).
Now, to get everyone moving and starting off on the right foot, I’m sharing one of my favorite running songs. This week, I become a mom on the run again and this song always keeps me moving. What moves you?
Most parents understand how much babies love black and white images. The contrast captivates them like a moth to a flame.
While we were in the hospital, the nurses placed some black and white designs in Liam’s bassinet for visual stimulation. He favored one design in particular.
Once we were home, I taped the black and white shapes from the hospital to the sides of Liam’s swing. One month later, he still favors the circular shape.
Either Liam really loves Target or he’s a boob man.
