Mother Hen pulls me back to blogging

I have been on Haitus for a couple of weeks. I was reading blogs but didn't feel motivated to post on my own. I've been trying to spend my pregnant time and energy on other things. But how can I refuse a meme when I've been tagged?

Mother Hen over at http://www.shipfullofpirates.com/ has tagged me with a 6 Quirky Things meme.

Here are the rules:

Link to the blogger who tagged you.

List the rules.

List your six quirks.

Tag 6 others.

Okay, here are my quirky things:

1. I do not like salsa. I spent five years in Texas- three in San Antonio and I was not converted. I have never liked, and still don't like, salsa.

2. I love to climb trees. No, I'm not climbing any while I'm pregnant, but I have never outgrown my passion for a good climbing tree.

3. I believe Big Foot, Champ (in Lake Champlain), and the Loch Ness Monster could (and probably do) exist.

4. I have obsessive compulsive disorder when it comes to having things in a certain place in a certain way. I don't care so much about dirt and dust, but I must have a place for everything, everything in its place. Ever since High School my friends (and now my husband and kids) will move things just so see how long I can go before I have to "fix" it.

5. I love bright, funky nail polish (green, yellow, orange, black, blue)on my toe nails but will only put clear, sheer or nude polish on my fingernails.

6. I can't eat bananas while I'm pregnant. Can't even be around them. They set off my gag reflex. Same with brushing my teeth... of course I have to brush my teeth but it must be very quick or I'll end up in trouble.

There... I'm done. I don't think I have six people to tag but I will do:

Brenda over at http://timeandseason.blogspot.com/

Kara at http://ramblings-n-writings.blogspot.com/

Jendi at http://www.jendisjournal.com/

That's three people which is six divided by two!

Catch Up!

Sorry for going MIA this week. Monday and Wednesday were incredibly busy and the DH has been hoarding the computer more than usual. Tuesday... I just found I had nothing to say. Such things happen.

The first thing I want to post today is.... It's Spring! Today is the first day of Spring. I am getting so anxious to start my container garden, and go rock hunting on the beach, and eat outdoors. Of course we might get snow this weekend. I really hope the kids don't have to hunt eggs in the snow.

2nd item of business... Rachelle Gardner over at http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/ is holding a writing contest. There are two different parts to it and the prize is pretty awesome for those of us wanna be writers. You have until Saturday to enter. Check it out!

3rd item of business... I didn't get a scholarship to the writing conference I wanted to attend. I got REJECTED! But that's just the name of the game. Getting rejected is actually okay at this point. It shows that at least I'm out there trying. Now, 100-200 rejections later and I might be getting a bit more dejected about rejection.

Last item... Brenners over at http://timeandseason.blogspot.com/ holds Write it Out Wednesday. I seem to be bad at posting it on Wednesday but here is my take on this week's exercise.

Jane (Girl in left forefront): Can you believe it? Prince Harry just winked at me!

Candance (Girl middle) to herself: Of course he just winked at you... your dress is stuck in the backside of your knickers.

Susan (Girl on right): Jane, will you accompany me to the loo please. I have something important to show you.

To have the above make more sense to you, check out Brenner's blog. You can also get the next exercise. Cheers!

I have been tagged again...

Kara S. over at http://ramblings-n-writings.blogspot.com/ has tagged me so here goes...

1. What was I doing ten years ago? I was living in Renton, Washington (suburb of Seattle) and I was navigating my way through my first baby and being pregnant with a second. My husband worked a cushy coorporate office job and I was thrilled to be a stay at home mom.

2. Five things on my to-do list today. Get out of pjs, school kids, pick up house, laundry, go to Bible Club.

3. Snacks I enjoy? White Cheddar Popcorn, cookies, fritoes and cottage cheese, french fries, Hershey's kisses.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire. Travel, start a working guest farm, treat my family, help people struggling with mortgage payments, write, write, write.

5. Three bad habits. Nail biting, junk food consumption, lack of discipline.

6. Five places I have lived. Seattle, WA; Boise, ID; Fort Worth, TX; San Antonio, TX; Grand Rapids, MI

7. Five jobs I have had. Retail Cashier, wife, mother, homeschool teacher, writer.

I'm going to tag Dana over at http://mysimplegifts.blogspot.com/ . She was just tagged a while ago so I'm not sure she's up for another.

Poor Blogging Etiquette on my part!

Oh me, Oh my, Jendi over at http://www.jendisjournal.com/ pointed out a fauxpas on my part. I recently tagged her for a meme and she graciously played along but pointed out (very nicely, too) that I failed to play when she had tagged me in December. I do not know how I missed her tag. I was waiting to be tagged (I've been tagged twice now... so don't feel it necessary to send tons of tags my way.) and read her blog faithfully everyday. I'm just gonna plead frazzled Christmas nerves.

Anyway, now that my mistake has been pointed out, I plan to rectify the situation by doing the meme. I believe we are all properly recovered from Christmas to enjoy a little reminder of the festivities. So here goes...

1. Do I wrap or bag presents? I have children. I wrap. Bags provide too much temptation.

2. Is our tree real or artificial? Artificial all the way! I like my tree up way to long to keep a real one alive. We burn a pine candle to create the real tree smell that my DH likes.

3. When do we put our tree up? Day after Thanksgiving. We are usually too slothful to do it on Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take your tree down? Was I supposed to? No, seriously, we always say we're going to take it down on New Year's Day but again we are to slothful. It usually happens by the second week of January.

5. Do I like eggnog? Yes, as long as it's non-alcoholic.

6. What was my favorite gift I received as a child? I would have to say a Fisher Price play set by my Uncle Dale. I was always shy around him but when he gave this to me one Christmas I ran right over to him and gave him a hug.

7. Do we put up a Nativity scene? Yep, it's set up before the tree. It's ceramic, the shepard is missing a hand and Joseph's staff is broken but the kids love it.

8. Who is the hardest person to buy for? Grandpa Lewis.

9. Who is the easiest person to buy for? My pre-teen daughter. If it's pink, fluffy or horse related it's good. Her ideal present: a pink, fluffy book on horses.

10. Worst gift ever received? I truly can't think of anything. People who buy me gifts, know me pretty well. My DH received a really poor quality champange. Of course it could have been the best in the world and we still wouldn't have appreciated it. We aren't drinkers.

11. E-mail or Mail Christmas cards? I prefer old fashioned snail mail, both to give and receive. I never seem to get as many as I send out, though. Humph.

12. What is my favorite Christmas movie? Does a Charlie Brown Christmas Special count?

13. When do I start shopping for Christmas? August and September... as soon as I see the decor come out in the stores. My goal is to have everything purchased by Thanksgiving.

14. Have I ever recycled a gift? Nope, but I'm not against re-gifting.

15. Favorite Christmas treat to eat? Fudge

16. Clear or colored lights? I like colored. The DH likes clear. Currently we are clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard On High.

18. Do you travel on Christmas or stay home? Currently we are located far from the rest of our loved ones so we stay home. If we lived a bit closer we would travel to see them. We can't afford to fly six of us cross-country.

19. Can I name all of the reindeer? Ahhh, besides Rudolph? Let's see: Dancer, Prancer, Donner and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, ???? and Blitzen. It would appear I'm shy one.

20. Do we top our tree with an angel or a star? Angel.

21. When do we open our presents? We open one family gift on Christmas Eve and the rest after Christmas breakfast.

22. What is the most annoying thing about this time of year? Political Correctness! and crowds.

23. Do I prefer to shop the mall or online? I prefer the mall. I'm touchy-feely when it comes to my purchases. This is why I shop before Thanksgiving.

24. Do we decorate inside or outside or both? Currently we are only decorating inside. The DH is in charge of outside and he's been non-festive for the last couple of years.

25. Favorite Christmas Cookies? Secret Lewis family sugar cookie recipe, "Grandma Ethel's" sugar cookies with lots of buttercream frosting and sprinkles.

26. Do I wear Christmas jewelry or clothing? NO! I refuse to wear the "festive" sweater look. I watch "What Not To Wear". I wouldn't be opposed to small, tasteful, unobtrusive Christmas jewelry. Nothing tacky.

27. How do we decorate our tree? Ummm... I've let go of having the perfect tree. I let the kids hang as they will and only speak up if we get too big a clump in one section. I also refuse to let tinselly garland on the tree. We use ribbon.

Okay, folks. That was it! And I extend, once more, my apologies to Jendi. I will tag someone else with this when it gets a little closer to the season again. Or perhaps in July.... evil laughter... bloggers beware.

I'm playing tag!

Dana over at http://mysimplegifts.blogspot.com/ has tagged me! I've been tagged! Yeah! Yes, simple things really do thrill me. Here are the rules. I have to post five (useless) things about me w/ pictures. (Okay, I'm not doing the pictures.) I have to name and link to who tagged me and name and tag five others, leaving a comment on their blog. Okay, here goes:

1. I have a degree in Fashion Marketing that I have never used.

2. I'd love to be an actress but I have no ability to memorize lines.

3. I wanted to be an archeologist in 4th grade until I figured out that meant digging up dead people.

4. I am vain. I am guilty of Googling myself with shocking results. Apparently someone with my same name has chosen to work in an industry I deem unfitting. (XXX) And no... I have not visited nor explored said doppleganger's work.

5. My guilty tv pleasure is Lost. I'm addicted.

Okay, I'm going to tag: jendi at http://www.jendisjournal.com/ , trixie at http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/ , deanna at http://www.inashoe.com/ , kim at http://www.inashoe.com/ and Mrs. U over a http://makingahouseahome.blogspot.com/ . Tag! you're it!