Tag Archives: love

Love You Like a Love Song Earwig

Posted on by Run DMT
11

Every time Selena Gomez and the Scene’s song plays on the radio, my kids yell and beg from the back of the mini-van for me to turn it up.  It’s a cute song, so I don’t mind.  Like an 80s throwback, it’s got a good beat and it’s easy to dance to you.  Even the video is an 80s throwback.


 
And much like the bubble pop music of the 80s, this song will get stuck in my head for days. At least the lyrics are sweet so I don’t mind when they keep re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-petaing in my head (except when that part plays over and over in my head).

It’s been said and done
Every beautiful thought’s been already sung
And I guess right now here’s another one
So your melody will play on and on, with the best of ‘em
You are beautiful, like a dream come alive, incredible
A centerfold miracle, lyrical
You’ve saved my life again
And I want you to know baby

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat

Constantly, boy you played through my mind like a symphony
There’s no way to describe what you do to me
You just do to me, what you do
And it feels like I’ve been rescued
I’ve been set free
I am hypnotized by your destiny
You are magical, lyrical, beautiful
You are… And I want you to know baby

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat

No one compares
You stand alone, to every record I own
Music to my heart that’s what you are
A song that goes on and on

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

And I keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat

I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby
I, I love you like a love song, baby

I love you…like a love song…

When I really listened to the lyrics, I realized the song could be so much better than a bubble-gum pop hit.  If someone slowed it down and sang a more soulful version of it with just an acoustic guitar, you would then hear the beauty in the love song.

Surely, someone has figured that one out already.  I couldn’t be the only one.  (Nope, I’m not and don’t call me Shirley.)  

Although the volume of the video is very low, Dena’s version is definitely worth listening to, so crank it up.


 
I even found a tutorial guitar lesson, which I was sure to pass along to my guitar playing hubby.  Maybe he’ll serenade me for Valentine’s Day.

For that, I’ll love him like a love song and I’ll keep hitting re-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat-peat.



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

If Dr. King Were Alive Today

Posted on by Run DMT
7

If Dr. King were still alive today to witness the struggles of the gay community, what would he say?  Would he call the gays an abomination or would be love them and stand beside them to fight for equality?

If Dr. King were still alive today to witness the Occupy Wall Street movement, would he call them communists or would he stand beside them to speak out against cooperate greed and plea with the powers that be to level the playing field between the haves and the have-nots?

 

If Dr. King were alive today, what would he ask of us?

Wake up everybody.

 


Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Pink Prayers for Miss Sharon

Posted on by Run DMT
6

Just before Christmas, I received some startling news about the girls’ preschool teacher, Miss Sharon.  Finding myself at a loss for words, all I could do was cry and pray for her to survive this.

Miss Sharon will begin the New Year with a double mastectomy.  Through it all she has maintained a positive attitude and her sense of humor, which we would only expect from this amazing woman.

Later this fall, when I when we run the Race for the Cure, we run for Miss Sharon without a doubt.

We are all sending you healing prayers for a quick recovery.  We love you, Miss Sharon.

 

A Serendipity-Style Date

Posted on by Run DMT
12

Last Sunday, Allan and I celebrated our 12th anniversary.  Twelve years, really?  Wow.

For our anniversary, I wanted to plan something different other than dinner and a movie.  So when I stumbled upon this idea from The Dating Divas on Pinterest, I knew this was the date to plan for us.

Allan and I love the movie Serendipity.  Since the way we met happened by chance or nearly met a few times before our first encounter, we love any and all romantic comedies that revolved that theme, however, Serendipity holds the number one spot.  (You can watch the trailer here.)

Basically, the two main characters meet by chance in a department store when trying to purchase the same pair of gloves and then spend the rest of day together.  At the end of the day, they try to exchange phone numbers but fate steps in so they decide to test fate by writing the numbers on a five dollar bill and in an old book.  If either item crosses their paths again, then they’re meant to be together.

When Allan and I celebrated our tenth anniversary in New York City, we tried to replicate Serendipity movie moments, like ice skating in Central Park.  Next to our wedding day and our honeymoon (and the birth of our children, of course) that weekend in NYC was the best time ever.

So for our Serendipity-style date, I recreated those special NYC moments with a Tampa flare.  I started with an invitation hidden inside the Serendipity DVD case.  With snowflakes embellishments and typewriter font, I created an invitation that cleverly outlined our date.

“The best time to ever be
Was our time spent in New York City
And how each moment
Was like a scene from Serendipity.
So let’s relive that date
With some ice and some skates
And lunch at Datz Deli.”

We began the date at Datz Deli.  The restaurant was so busy that the only available seating was at the bar.  We were all right with that.

To stick with the NYC motif, I ordered the Rockin’ Rueben, but Allan ordered a BBQ Brisket sandwich.   I couldn’t eat the whole thing, but I knew I would be hungry again after ice skating.

For the past two holiday seasons, city of Tampa has erected an ice rink at Curtis Hixon Park in the middle of Downtown Tampa, appropriately named Tampa’s Downtown on Ice.  Although the rink is small and on this particularly Sunday, very crowded, it filled the bill for the ice skating portion of our date.

Unfortunately, it was hard to hold hands as we skated as we had to swerve around small children.  I even fell on my knees at one point, which made me laugh so hard.  No matter how small the rink was, we still had huge fun and we left a Serendipity sign to let others know we were there.

Since Allan and I worked up quite a thirst ice skating, we popped over to Taps across the street from Tampa’s Downtown on Ice for a quick pint.  We drank to a fun date and toasted twelve great years.  Here’s to many more of them!

PhotoStory Fridaythe hollie rogueUnknown Mami

Live, Love, TRAVEL

A Northern Sky, a Cool Yule and a Miracle

Posted on by Run DMT
7

Does any else feel like Christmas threw up on them?  That’s the ugly metaphor I’m choosing to describe the Christmas chaos I’m feeling.  You should see the state of my house.  I think the tree is finally decorated, but I still have a gazillion cards to post and a pile of last minute gifts still yet to buy and of course, tons of wrapping to do.

However, all of that will be put on hold, because today I am chaperoning a field trip to Legoland with Allana’s class.  I plan to write some cards on the bus on the way, but with how car sick I get, I could literally puke Christmas.  I may need to rethink that plan.

Anyhow, this Music Monday post will be a little light today because I’ve got so much to do, like blog about our anniversary date in the midst of the Christmas madness.  Yesterday, Allan and I had a fabulously fun Serendipity-style date, but I’ll explain all that in great lengths in another blog post.

While you wait for all the details, I’ll tease you with a movie clip from Serendipity set to Nick Drake’s Northern Sky.

If you didn’t know already, I have this thing for movie soundtracks and I absolutely LOVE the Serendipity soundtrack, so I have to include the song even though it’s not a Christmas song.  It’s a very fitting song for our anniversary because my Allan comes from a northern town in England and of course, like I said, a perfect way to tie in a tease about our Serendipity-style date.

But Christmas music has been the Music Monday (and Xmas Dolly’s Monday’s Music Moves Me) theme for the past month, so I’ll share a Christmas song from Serendipity.

And since tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah, I’ll leave you with some Matisyahu.  Besides, it will take nothing short of miracle to help me with all this Christmas chaos.



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Family Photos 2011

Posted on by Run DMT
11

Just as I had expected, she did it again.  Kelly captured some gorgeous shots of my family for our Christmas portraits.

Funny thing, we didn’t have to travel far for our portrait session.  All of these photos were taken at the North Pointe Village in our neighborhood.  Upon a closer look, you may notice the Pasco office building, Residence Inn, Carrabbas, International Beer Garten or an abandoned Up the Creek Mongolian Buffet in the background.

If you love these photos as much I do,  please leave a comment on Kelly’s blog so I can win an 11×14 print.  Thank you in advance! :-)

30 Days of Giving 2011

Posted on by Run DMT
13

30-Day Giving ChallengeFor the third year now, I participated in the 30 Days of Giving Challenge.  The act of giving may not seem like a challenge, but it actually requires quite a bit of scheduling and planning.  Even with all the planning, situations pop up to cause a bump or two on the road to giving.

Some gifts are simple, like a mailing a card to a loved one.  Some things require more work, like preparing a meal for friend.  In the end, no matter how small or big, it’s the thought that counts and that gesture means so much to someone else.  The smallest gift can have the biggest impact on others.

“No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”  – Aesop

Our gifts

    • Donated canned goods to a food drive.
    • Donated items to Goodwill.
    • Recycled my old running shoes to benefit the homeless through Fit Niche.
    • Filled shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

    • Brought gifts to a local animal rescue shelter.
    • Dropped spare change in the Salvation Army red kettle.
    • Donated items to Toys for Tots.
    • Bought a coffee for a frequent play date host in my moms group.
    • Sent coupons to a military base in Japan through Overseas Coupon Program.

    • Added a love note to my kids’ lunch boxes.
    • Planned a picnic lunch for my kids and enjoyed a “special” lunch together at school.
    • Planned a lunch date with hubby.
    • Baked cookies for the firefighters.
    • Volunteered at my children’s school.
    • Arranged guest speakers for the Great American Teach-In at my kids’ school.

    • Spent an evening with an old friend to catch up to give the gift of time.
    • Baked cookies for my running club and tossed $5 in the coffee fund.
    • Welcomed new neighbors of a 16 month old with a baby safety kit.
    • Sent a “thinking of you card” and Publix gift card on behalf of my moms group to a friend in need.
    • Mailed a set of hand drawn Angry Birds by Allana to Stacy Uncorked for Princess Nagger’s birthday.

    • Mailed a Thanksgiving card to my grandmother.
    • Mailed a get well card to my ill uncle.
    • Brought a home cooked meal to a friend at work.
    • Purchased meal vouchers for families in need through Groupon’s Feeding America program.
    • Sent $10 gift certificates to several friends via Restaurant.com’s “Feed It Forward” program.

Pssst!  Speaking of gifts….Don’t miss this one!

Photobucket

In My Life

Posted on by Run DMT
9

For the past year, I’ve worked extremely hard on repairing some broken relationships.  It took a lot of patience, trust, honesty and understanding to rebuild those relationships, but it was so worth it.  Now, my life is full of laughter rather than pain.

Or so I thought.  As I expended my energy into one relationship, other relationships unraveled because I hadn’t been as plugged into some big events as I should have been.  My lack of presence and support was perceived as a lack of empathy.

When I heard I let my sister and friends down for various reasons, it stopped me dead in my tracks.  Somehow between running around after my family and running in races, I had missed some important events and it’s not like me to not be there for loved ones.  However in these incidences, I wasn’t and I hurt them terribly.  When I heard I let them down, I cried for weeks.

Even now, the pain I know I caused brings tears to my eyes. I live a rich life because of my family and friends. Their relationships are bountiful blessings. Without them, my life would be empty and lonely.

Somehow I have to find balance between my own family, my extended family on both sides and my friends.That’s why I am so grateful for the 30 Day Challenge, because it forces me to stop and remember everything and everyone that is important in my life, whether it’s spending time with them or sending them a note to say, “I love you. I appreciate you in my life.”

Of course with schedules, it’s hard to coordinate time to spend together, but we’ll make it happen.  And for that, I’m thankful.

 

For the next four Music Mondays, I’ll be counting my blessings through song.  Each week in November, I will be singing my praises and giving thanks by sharing a song that symbolizes one of the many blessings in my life.  Come count your blessings with me and link up while you’re here.  What a blessing that would be!



Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

A Beautiful Thing

Posted on by Run DMT
17

PhotobucketI’ve expressed my love for all things Italian on this blog many times before so it should come as no surprise that hubby took me for an Italian meal for my birthday.

At Bella’s Italian Café, we enjoyed a delicious three course meal starting with Bella’s Famous Chopped Salad, a finely chopped chicken breast, crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, red cabbage, gorgonzola, ditalini pasta and romaine all tossed in a dijon vinaigrette.

Although we should have split our entree, we each ordered the Salciccia Al Forno , Italian sausage tossed with penne pasta, mushrooms and ricotta in a creamy tomato sauce, then topped with mozzarella and baked.

 

Of course, we made sure to leave room for dessert and selected Tiramisu (a classic Italian dessert with layers of lady fingers, zabaglione – Marsala flavored custard, espresso whipped cream and mascarpone topped with whipped cream and warmed chocolate sauce) to top it off.  Much like restaurant’s name, our meal was simply beautiful.

 

Whereas others would be tired of eating Italian food, this past week we’ve been piling on the cheesy pasta dishes.  Per my request, Iron Chef Allan concocted a baked penne casserole and it was better than I hoped for!  This stringy cheesy layered mess really satisfied my craving.

Iron Chef Allan’s Baked Penne

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 onion

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 cartons of Pomi chopped tomatoes

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 cup fresh basil , finely chopped

1 tsp dried oregano

Kosher salt

Ground black pepper

1 lb pasta

1 lb shredded part skim mozzarella

3 cups whole milk ricotta

1/4 cup grated parmesean

1 egg

Directions

Prepare penne according to al dente directions on box.

In a saucepan, soften onions in olive oil for about 10 minutes.  Add garlic to onions and cook for about 1 minute.  Add tomatoes, 1 Tbsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, red pepper flakes, basil and oregano.  Simmer for about ten minutes or until warmed through.

In a large bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, egg, parmesean, 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper with half the tomato sauce.  Pour mixture into a 9 x 11 baking pan.  Top with remaining sauce, mozzerella and parmesean cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown at 350 degrees.

 

Now link up and see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are serving for this week’s Friday Food Fight.


*Also submitted at*

PhotoStory FridayI am a Food RENEGADE!friday potluck guest host girlichef

Join the VCA Pawfect Twitter Party!

Posted on by Run DMT
2

VCA Animal HospitalI swore off owning pets for years.  Then we rescued a lost dog in our neighborhood and we found ourselves pet owners when our girls begged us with their own puppy dog eyes to get a dog.

For weeks, I hunted rescue sites, called the local animal shelters and then searched through Craigslist until we found our Lucy, a black Pomeranian.  When we adopted Lucy, she was a fluffy disaster with dandruff, knotted fur and a scruffy coat.  We changed her diet and within a week, she had sheen to her coat and a spring in her step.  Of course, being responsible pet owners, we had her chipped, spayed and groomed.

These days, our filthy Craigslist outcast looks like a completely different dog.  All due in part to the quality care and love she received.

My belief about feeding our pet the best quality food and providing her with best possible care is no secret. I only feed my family the best foods and give them the best care therefore, our pet ( an extension of our family) should only receive the same treatment.

In fact, my strong opinions on the matter are what prompted Stiletto Media to contact me to participate in their first Twitter Party.

Latina on a Mission in part with VCA Animal Hospital will be hosting a Twitter Party on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

As stated on the VCA homepage, their mission is the same as mine with regards to my pet: “Where your pet’s health is our top priority and excellent service is our goal.”  More about VCA Animal Hospitals:

VCA operates more than 540 animal hospitals in 41 states across the nation. These hospitals are staffed by more than 1,800 fully qualified, dedicated and compassionate veterinarians to give your pet the very best in medical care. Over 200 are board-certified specialists. Our hospitals provide a full range of general medical and surgical services as well as specialized treatments.

Visit VCA Animal Hospital to learn more about their services and to find a location near you.

As for the VCA Pawfect Twitter Party, pounce on Latina on a Mission  to RSVP and enter to win some pawfect prizes.  Then, be sure to follow yours truly, @denisermt , our party panelist, @VCApethealth and…

Also, “like” VCA Animal Hospitals on Facebook.

Need the VCA Pawfect Twitter Party details again?

VCA Pawfect Twitter Party
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. EST

Required Hashtag:  #VCApets
Language:  ENGLISH and SPANISH
Follow via TweetGrid:  http://bit.ly/VCApets

VCA Pawfect Twitter Party Prizes include:

Capturing Summer Fun with Your Pet (Grand Prize)
• $100 Amex gift card
• Digital Picture Frame
• VCA branded gifts for your pet

Beach Safety Kit
• $50 Amex gift card
• Beach cooler and towel
• VCA branded gifts for your pet

Pet Travel Pack
• $50 gas card
• Pet traveler’s seat for your vehicle
• VCA branded gifts for your pet

Cat Wellness Kit
• $50 Amex gift card
• Cat shampoo, vitamins, and feline dental chews
• VCA branded gifts for your cat

Dog Wellness Kit
• $50 Amex gift card
• dog shampoo, vitamins, and doggie dental chews
• VCA branded gifts for your dog

Winners will be chosen with random.org from those who RSVP and are answering Twitter Party questions, while using the #VCApets hashtag. 

*Disclosure: This is a paid campaign created in collaboration with Stiletto Media and VCA Animal Hospitals.*