My friend, Brandy, over at Not So Average Mama tagged me.  I haven’t done a tag in so long, I thought it’d be fun. She made this list of questions and I have to answer them.  Then after that I have to make a list of questions and a few friends will have to answer those questions and then link it up below in the comments.

So here goes…

1. Did you Graduate Highschool? Yep. 1994. I actually attended an alternative high school for the last 6 months of school because I had skipped school so much I was losing credit. I ended up finishing my senior year 2 months early.

2. What is your favorite book series? Probably the “Twilight Series” or “The Work & A Glory” series. That series is based on LDS Church history, but it revolves around the lives of a fictional family. I’m really not a reader, so I’m sure there’s lots of great series out there. I just haven’t read them. I’ve read both of these series at least twice.

3. Have you ever stolen anything? Can I take the 5th? Nah, I’ll admit it. I’ve stolen stuff… make up, cassette tapes, money, a car, other girl’s boyfriends… Nothing recently though other than Sei’s heart. haha

4. Have you ever been arrested? Brandy, why do I feel you made the questions just for me? Yes. Yes I have been arrested a few times- AS A TEEN. See above post. Again- not anytime recently.

5. What movie scared the crap out of you? I remember being scared of “Candyman.” I’m not really sure why. He was just kinda freaky. I like being scared though, so I saw it several times. I can’t think of anything else. I don’t like masks or people crawling, so if the movie involved that then chances are it freaked me out. Ooh- I really loved “The Ring” – a lot. I’ve seen it probably 10 times, but I wouldn’t say it “scared” me. Or maybe it did. Idk.

6. What is your favorite kids show? Like right now or when I was a kid? I loved “Little House on the Prairie” and “The Brady Bunch” growing up. But right now they all pretty much make me wanna slit my wrists. “Yo Gabba Gabba” cracks me up because Biz Markie is on it with “Biz’s Beat of the Day.” I have him on my Ipod Yo!! I think most people hate that show, but I think it’s a trip. I’ve also seen cool people on YGG like Tony Hawk.

7. What is one thing you would love to change about yourself? Only ONE thing? I’d be ME all the time.

8. Are you where you expected yourself to be? No. I AM married to an awesome man and have like the raddest kids ever, but no.

9. If you could live anywhere, where? Hawaii. I haven’t even been there, but I know that’s where I belong. Sorry Texas. Texas is awesome and I love bragging about being a Texan, but all my life I have felt “land locked” for lack of a better term. I belong on an island.

10. What was your dream career? Professional beach bum. I just wanna hang with my family, at the beach, surf and LIVE life.

Here are my 10 questions:

1. Do you have a pet?
2. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done and are willing to admit to?
3. Where would you travel if money was not a factor?
4. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve eaten?
5. How many loads of laundry do you do a week?
6. Did you or do you play any sports?
7. Who is your celebrity crush at the moment?
8. Name one song from when you were in high school and what it reminds you of.
9. What is the last movie you saw in a theater?
10. What is your earliest memory?

Alrighty, now for my tags…

Robin @ Robin Keeping Record

Lauren @ Busy Bee Lauren

Super Happy Girl @ More Cowbell

Nobody @ Nobody Called Today

Cheryl @ Those Crazy Callisons

Swampbaby @ Happy Chaos

Get to work!!

Update: Brandy was admitted to a different hospital this week and had the tumor removed. It ended up being the size of a BASKETBALL. She’s now calling herself “Franken-Belly.”  She will know the results of what the heck “Spike” the tumor is by the end of this week. She is home now with her family. Thanks so much to everyone who has ordered Mary Kay from me to help or sent money in for Brandy. Please continue to pass on the link this post. Also, an online auction to benefit Brandy is being organized and I will link to that when it’s up and ready. If you’d like to donate something for the auction let me know or contact Shan at Last Shreds of Sanity.

I am trying to help a friend in need. Brandy is her name- aka “Not So Average Mama”- and I know her personally. She has been having some major health issues this past year. This weekend she found out that she may have ovarian cancer. She has a mass the size of a VOLLEYBALL attached to her ovary.

You can read about it here: http://notsoaveragemama.com/2010/05/15/a-quick-update-and-an-answer/
and here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notsoaveragemama/4613737941/

Brandy’s husband owns his own business and they don’t have health insurance. So far they have done fine paying out of pocket for all the tests and dr. appt. But now it will be too much. I want to help her. She is a mom of 3 little girls, super talented graphic design artist as well as tattoo artist. She actually designed my blog. You can check out her work at Stitchblade Designs.  Anyway, to help I am hosting an online Mary Kay party. Any proceeds– 100% — from orders placed thru me via email or website (put BRANDY in the comments) from now thru the end of May will go directly to Brandy. All I ask is that you either take a look at my website or at least share this post with friends. The more we get the word out the better chance we have of helping. Interestingly enough, you can help doubly if you purchase one of the limited edition lipsticks they have. $1 per tube will be donated to the Mary Kay Ash foundation which helps fight domestic violence as well as fund research on cancers that affect women.

Please take a moment to see if you can help whether financially or just by getting the word out. This is not a customer phishing scam. I will not use your information to contact you again unless you opt in for contact. Again: Any proceeds– 100% — from orders placed thru me via email or website (put BRANDY in the comments) from now thru the end of May will go directly to Brandy. All I ask is that you either take a look at my website or at least share this post with friends.

Thank you so much.

Amazingly enough I was nominated for a Dottie Award at MomDot.com. I’m nominated for The John Lennon Award- Nicest blogger.  I’m not sure how I ended up in that category- haha- but I’ll take it.  I would be so grateful if you’d vote for me. It’d make me feel sooo good and then I’d be nice and actually earn the award. :)

While you’re there vote for my friend, Not So Average Mama, for Most Likely to be detained by Homeland Security & The Micheal Moore Award (mouthiest Blogger).

So, go on… exercise your right to vote. Voting Closes Sunday the 25th.

Thanks y’all!!!

I have whacked out dreams often. Most of the time I can’t really remember them, but other times I wake up and I’m like, “What the hell was that??” Kinda like in this post. Last nite I was up late chatting with a friend, then up at 5:30am  getting Tristan off to Hawaii with my parents. I didn’t get a lot of sleep. So while the kids played around me I dozed off on the couch. I started dreaming I was in a gym surrounded by kids from my jr. high and high school- but I was an adult. Without any warning the floor started opening kinda like on “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I full on expected a swimming pool under the floor and was ready to jump in because I’m wild like that. I jumped- without looking- and landed in water. But the water was full of alligators and sharks. And there was no ladder to crawl out with. I woke up in a frenzy feeling like I couldn’t breathe. (NOTE: This dream was not drug induced. I did not take sleeping pills or anything. I only dozed off on the couch.)

So… my question for you: Do you think this dream meant anything? Or was it just the result of staying up too late, watching Shark Week and being on Facebook too much?

What do you think?

What’s your interpretation?

I wrote about the cool Uprinting Photo Contest. Wanna know how I learned about it? I mentioned that this blog and my  Eazy Mealz blog  is sponsored by  Uprinting. The Uprinting Blog Sponsorship program is awesome and it’s been a very rewarding experience being apart of this program. They are easy to work with, answer my questions, and host awesome giveaways! I also believe that because of their sponsorship my blog traffic has increased. I also won a 16 x 20 in a Uprinting giveaway my bloggy friend was hosting thru their sponsorship program. So I know firsthand that Uprinting does great work!

Why UPrinting.com isn’t your average printing company:

Blog Sponsorships:
If you are looking to find a sponsor for your blog, UPrinting.com is definitely interested. We offer giveaways, advertising and more for qualified bloggers.

Non-Profit Sponsorships:
The U-Community Program sponsors hundreds of non-profits and education to improve our local communities.

Social Justice Projects:
The UPrinting Kiva account promotes small business growth in developing countries.

Green Printing:
UPrinting supports a sustainable future by recycling, using non-toxic inks, and offering eco-friendly recycled paper stocks for business cards and postcard printing.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO COMMENTS!! Winner will be announced 6/24!

Ok… I promised a giveaway so here it is… Are you diggin’ my new blog look? Yes??? Didn’t Brandy with Stitchblade Designs do a rad job?? Well, how would you like a new super awesome HEADER for your blog designed by the master herself?!?!? Because that’s what you will win if you win this giveaway!!! (**Please note this is NOT for a complete blog design like I just received. It is for the top- the header- of your blog.)

Brandy is awesome. She really is. I’ve never even met her in person although I plan to soon, but I feel like I hang out with her all day because we chat online and on the phone. She’s super talented in so many ways- She sews, she designs and her tattoo work blows me away!

So… to win a new blog header this is what I need you to do to enter:

** MAIN ENTRY: Visit Stitchblade Designs, check out her work – tattoos, graphics, etc… and come back here to comment with what you saw on her site that you loved.  I can tell you my ultimate fave is the spider tattoo.

That’s all you have to do for one entry.

Want more chances to win??? Ok… but make sure to leave AN INDIVIDUAL COMMENT for each one…

* Subscribe to my blog up on the top right of my screen. (1 entry) Comment to let me know you did so. If you’re already subscribed just say that.

* Visit Not So Average Mama and enter one of her sweeeet giveaways. Come back here and comment about which giveaway you entered. (1 entry for each giveaway you enter)

* Follow Me on Twitter (swampbrat76) and tweet about this giveaway with @swampbrat76 in the tweet. Leave me a comment with your twitter ID or link to the tweet. 

* Link to this giveaway on Facebook. Comment here with your FB name. If I am not “friends” with you on FB just be honest. (1 entry)

* Write a blog post about this giveaway with a link to me and a link to Stitchblade Designs (www.stitchbladedesigns.com). (2 entries!!) Leave 2 different comments letting me know you posted about it and include a link to your post.

There you go. That’s a TON of ways to enter and win this ULTRA cool prize!!! What do you have to lose?? Nada, that’s what. So… enter now. This giveaway will run until 11:59pm on Tuesday, June 23.  I will use Random.org to pick the winning comment and I will annouce the winner June 24. I will also email the winner, so please make sure you LEAVE YOUR EMAIL IN YOUR COMMENT if your name does not link to a way for me to reach you.  If I don’t hear back from the winner within 48 hours I will need to pick a new winner.

What are you waiting for?!?!??! Good luck!!

Soooo…??!?!?? What do you think??? Does my blog  just look SUPER RAD or what???  Brandy, over at Stitchblade Designs is so talented. And PATIENT. I had to ask so many questions and can be really indecisive and obnoxious and she didn’t go insane (that I know of…)  You see my lil bald cop/Seiuli, at the top? Yes- the original pic had curly blonde hair & no badge.  My girl Brandy worked her magic and Wa-La, my man was bald with a badge, just like in real life.  And the chick had black hair. Niiiice. Does the blog  just capture ME or what???

You MUST, MUST, MUST go check out her blog at Not So Average Mama and visit Stitchblade Designs to have her do your blog or other website. She’s awesome.

Oh, oh, oh and stay tuned because next week I will be announcing an awesome GIVEAWAY that you won’t wanna miss.  It has to do with blogs…. and Stitchblade Designs… ooooh…. aaaaahhh….

• Tristan, Alec and Isabel are at the ex’s now. Let’s just hope there’s not a repeat of last summer.
• Sei and I went to dinner and a movie with my brother and SIL. Ok, DON’T see “Drag Me To Hell.” You will lose brain cells. I jumped a lot, but I think I laughed more than anything. A goat talked in it- if that helps you decide NOT to go see it. On a positive note, the “Mac” guy is in it. He’s cute.
• I have some major excitement coming up on my blog. I can hardly wait!!!! Visit Stitchblade Designs and Not So Average Mama for a clue. Not So Average Mama is also hosting another cool giveaway you should check out- especially if your child wears glasses!! Check it out HERE.
• Lakers are in the finals. I live with Sei- the Kobe fan. Gag. But I did read THIS and it made me feel a lil better. Please read some of the comments and take the poll!!
• I’ve been cutting carbs a lot and have lost a few pounds this week. I’ve been doing it without diet pills, but I’m not above using them. I wanna look good on vacation!!
• Taj found an old birdcage and naturally he has his pet FROG inside it. I love my Tajy.
• Speaking of Taj, he’s quite the swimmer. He’s been swimming floaty-less since last summer. This year he swims underwater a lot, which is cool but scares me at the same time. Here’s a short video of him. No looking at my husband.

Hey, remember these lil plants from back in April?? Well, this is what they look like now!!:

Yeah. We pretty much rock at gardening…

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I’ve been having a bum time lately. Idk what the deal is. I kinda feel like I did in high school where I’m thinkin “Who the heck am I?” Do y’all ever do that or am I just weird? I feel like I’m such a mix of like 40 different personalities. Thankfully my husband loves every one of them- for the most part. I know he has a hard time understanding my “rebellious” nature, but he tries his best not to look at me like I’m a total dirtbag. lol “Dirtbag” is my word of the day. I was listening to Wheatus’ song “Teenage Dirtbag” and Tristan thought that was the funniest word ever. lol Heard another funny saying I’ll be stealing. When we were chatting, Not So Average Mama said “I think we all have a first crap bag…” referring to sucky exes. lol Crap bags indeed!
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I had a garage sale this week and made $175. YAY! We have a trip planned to Florida this summer which will be our 1st complete family vacation since I was pregnant with Taj. We don’t have the money to go because all our money (and then some;) has been going to an attorney in Canada. But thankfully my parents own a timeshare in Florida, with a built in kitchen, etc… so basically all we have to do is get there and buy groceries and hang on the beach. I am thankful that certain people haven’t completely ruined everything. And now with the $175 we can decide between gas money to Florida or 1/2 an hour of attorney fees. Decisions….

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I’ve still been doing P90X although not 6 days a week. It’s more like 4 days a week. I switched from Classic to Lean because let’s face it- pull ups aren’t gonna make my butt smaller. The lean version concentrates more on weightloss. Sei is doing the classic version. Oh- speaking of pull ups… If I jump I can do one. ONE- which is the same amount I could do in 5th grade. Yesssssssssssssss.

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That’s about it. I would write more but I don’t wanna bore you with my depressiveness. Have a happy day!

I’m sure there have been things going on I could write about. Like our weekend trip to Turner Falls in Oklahoma or our nite time Easter egg hunt. I am just lame and don’t feel like posting. So…

I was reading Not So Average Mama today and she posted a video of her daughter singing the “Hannah Montana” theme song. It was really cute and it reminded me of a couple of videos I have had on my phone of Livie being… Livie. I’ve posted other genius videos of her doing her ABC’s in sign and whatnot, but this is the entertaining Livie we get 24-7! The 1st video is Livie in October (so she wasn’t 3 yet) singing “Nobody’s Perfect” and “See You Again” by Hannah/Miley Cyrus. If you have a tween girl then you know what those songs are. “1-2-3-4… everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has those days…”
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The 2nd video is Livie’s version of “Single Ladies” by Beyonce. She’s singing the chorus “If you liked it then you should’ve put a ring on it…”

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