Seven Layer Meme (aka More Than You Ever Want to Know About Me)

Life is like an onion: you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
~ Carl Sandburg

To continue with the end-of-2008 ruminating/soul searching...I stole this from one of my new favorite blogs, Confessions of a Middle-Aged Suburban Diva. Please repost if you're so inclined, and leave me a comment so that I can take a peek.

LAYER ONE
* Name: Rapunzel
* Birth date: August 20
* Birthplace: Columbus, OH
* Current Location: Florida
* Eye Color: Blue
* Hair Color: Brown
* Height: 5’2”
* Righty or Lefty: Righty
* Zodiac Sign: Leo

LAYER TWO
* Your heritage: a mix of many - the only ones I know for sure are Welsh and Cherokee Indian
* The shoes you wore today: barefoot
* Your weakness: Do I have to name just one? Chocolate, Chardonnay and Romance come to mind - all have been my demise at one time or another
* Your fears: Again, too many to count but the biggie has always been: Losing someone I love, either by choice or by death
* Your perfect pizza: Every veggie known to man
* Personal goals you'd like to achieve:
To be an Excellent Mom
To be in Better Shape - mentally, physically and emotionally

LAYER THREE
* Your most overused phrases on social networking sites: awesome, wonderful, fabulous
* Your first waking thoughts: Where is Everyone?
* Your best physical feature: Ummm..with an alias of Rapunzel, what do you think?
* Your most missed memory: Huh? I guess I'd like to remember more of my kids growing up, it went so fast, it's just a blur

LAYER FOUR
* Pepsi or Coke: Coke
* McDonald's or Burger King: hate fast food in general but you can't beat McDonald's fries!
* Single or group dates: Single, just me and my man (there's that Romance thing again)
* Adidas or Nike: neither, Reebok is the only brand that fit me well
* Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: neither, either crappy Crystal Light or the real, fresh-brewed sweet tea
* Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
* Cappuccino or coffee: Cappuccino but can't manage that daily (hmm..why not?)

LAYER FIVE
* Smoke: Never, never, never. My Mom has lung cancer..'nuff said.
* Cuss: Unfortunately, yeah
* Sing: Horribly
* Take a shower everyday: at least
* Do you think you've been in love: Oh, yeah
* Want to go to college: I used to think I did but now, not so much
* Liked high school: hated it
* Want to get married: BTDT, twice. Never say never again but...not in the near future.
* Believe in yourself: Sometimes
* Get motion sickness: Occasionally but I tend to avoid those situations whenever possible
* Think you're attractive: Today? Hell no
* Think you're a health freak: Health Conscious but am willing to toss that aside on too many occasions
* Get along with your parent(s): Yes, now that I'm an adult.
* Like thunderstorms: Absolutely, as long as everyone's home safe & sound
* Play an instrument: no

LAYER SIX
In the past month...
* Drank alcohol: Yep.
* Smoked: No
* Done a drug: No
* Made Out: Yes..swoon...
* Gone on a date: Yes
* Gone to the mall?: Unfortunately, yes *shudder*
* Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: No
* Eaten sushi: A California roll
* Been on stage: No
* Been dumped: No
* Gone skating: No.
* Made homemade cookies: Yes but they flopped!
* Gone skinny dipping: The water's too cold even if the temp is 80 degrees
* Dyed your hair: Yep, a monthly have-to
* Stolen Anything: no

LAYER SEVEN
Ever...
* Played a game that required removal of clothing: No
* Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: um..yeah
* Been caught "doing something": not since I was a teenager, but only because I've been very, very lucky!
* Been called a tease: long time ago, nowadays I tend to deliver what I promise. ;-)
* Gotten beaten up: Only emotionally
* Shoplifted: No
* Changed who you were to fit in: Not in a long time, the 40's are all about accepting myself and f**k 'em if they don't like me

LAYER EIGHT
* Age you hoped to be married: never had a set age
* Numbers and Names of Children: Kali, 24; Lily, 18; Bambi, 17
* How do you want to die: naked in bed, an empty champagne bottle and sexy man by my side
* Where did you want to go to college: The University of Florida
* What do you want to be when you grow up: at Peace
* What country would you most like to visit: France

LAYER NINE
* Number of drugs taken illegally: 2
* Number of people I could trust with my life: 5, and the funny thing is, one of those people I've only me in Real Life one time (You Know Who You Are!)
* Number of CDs that I own: not a clue but half of them are scratched, lost or otherwise inoperable..grrr..
* Number of piercings: Two -- one in each ear but I never wear earrings in the 2nd hole
* Number of tattoos: None
* Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: Maybe twice
* Number of scars on my body: other than the usual bumps & scratches, two major scars: one at the bikini line where I birthed my babies, the other on my inner/upper thigh where a grapefruit-sized tumor was removed. Scariest days of my life.
* Number of things in my past that I regret: No regret really, just wish the timing for various things was different

Who Is Standing in my Way?

Something we were withholding made us weak, until we found it was ourselves."- Robert Frost

Who is standing in your way?

Imagine someone regularly tying small weights around your ankles as you try to climb a mountain. Doesn't sound fair, does it? But that's exactly what you can do to yourself, a little bit at a time, if you don't watch out. When you think of who and what is standing in the way of your dreams, it's easy to forget your own responsibility. Even the best of us can be guilty of unknowingly hurting our own progress. Procrastination, lateness, being disorganized, pessimism, not being honest with yourself, severe self-criticism, downplaying achievements, focusing only on weaknesses while ignoring strengths, keeping goals a secret, demanding perfection, giving up after a small setback--these are all ways you can make it tough to be (and do) your best. Smart systems, the right attitude, and a promise to keep going no matter what will make a world of difference.
from Sparkpeople.com

The above image reminds me of an expression my friend Jersey and I often use, back from the days spent posting at a certain homemaking site: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

Same thing with removing myself as a roadblock, just gotta do it one step at a time. Old habits are hard to break, but it can be done once I get out of my own damned way.

Today's Inspiration

Today's Note from the Universe, very powerful but I'm still having a hard time with the concept. It's difficult for me to imagine that I am that powerful, I have that much control over my life, which is even more interesting considering the fact that I'm considered a bit of a control freak! Something to ponder, though, perhaps for the New Year I need to make more of a concerted effort in this area?

Rapunzel, it's easy. Your thoughts become things. Don't fight it. Don't think there's anything else. Don't entertain the false premises of fate, luck, or a God who judges, withholds, or decides. You decide. You manifest. You rule. This is why you are here. This is what you came to discover. You were born to experience your absolute dominion over every flimsy, malleable illusion of time and space; to have, do, and be anything.

Truthfully, it couldn't be any easier. All you have to do is think of what you want and refuse to deviate from that thought. This will, invariably, set you into motion, stir up the magic, and unleash the full force, power, and majesty of a Universe conspiring on your behalf.

It's worth everything you've got, Michele. Be strong, be vigilant, take action, and the Kingdom of Heaven shall appear at your very feet.

I've got your back,
The Universe

On My Hearth: Southwest Chicken Soup

I'm on vacation until January 5th and Beren has today off as well, so we plan to get a few things done around the house and then spend the afternoon in the pursuit of happiness! I don't want to deal with cooking dinner tonight so the crockpot is definitely in order and since we've finally run out of leftover holiday food yet I don't want to make a grocery store run today, I was looking for a way to use up some of my pantry & freezer items. Combining several recipes I found on the net, I have the following simmering in my slow cooker:

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can kidney beans
1 small onion, diced
a pinch of cumin
a pinch of chili powder
1 package taco sauce

If I had any green peppers I'd probably add them, but as it is the soup smells fabulous so I'm hoping for the best. I'll most likely serve them alongside some corn muffins, will let you know how all turns out!

Rest in Peace, Ms. Eartha

Eartha Kitt ~ January 17 1927 - December 25, 2008



Another of my favorite ladies has passed, I'm thinking she and Bettie are having a helluva time wherever they are!

Christmas in the Tropics

Santa's Been Here!


Early Morning Coffee on the Patio



A Light Breakfast

Even Mom & Dad arrived in their new holiday pajamas!

Lily enjoyed the afghan I made her boyfriend as much as he did!

Lily gifted Beren's daughter with miniature key lime pies, her favorite!

Jackson is all worn out from playing in the wrapping paper

The Day After Christmas - 75 degrees on the Beach!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas..

and we all made our way over to Kali's house...



where we enjoyed a fabulous dinner of salad, bread, stuffed shells, baked ziti, and roasted brussel sprouts - yummy! Of course there was also lots of wine..



we all ate til we were stuffed to the brim, laughed and joked and had a great time!





Thank you, Kali and Kevin, for being such wonderful hosts!



Now, the long wait until Santa arrives..Goodnight, all..

A Yuletide Meme

I saw this on my friend Susan's blog and decided to share it here as well. Feel free to copy/paste and join in on the fun, please leave me a comment if you do so that I can read your answers as well!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Although I am mostly a paper & ribbon kind of gal (real ribbon, not the plastic stuff), this year I am also using a bunch of red Target shopping bags. They're cheap, pretty, practical and most importantly, reusable!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Always, always a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? It varies, but never before the first of December. We've occasionally purchased it on Thanksgiving weekend but in that case it sits quietly in the corner and waits to be decorated. One holiday at a time, please.

4. When do you take the tree down? Again, it varies depending upon how many needles are covering the floor and how motivated I am to un-decorate. It's usually just after the New Year, though.

5. Do you like eggnog? I do, especially spiked with a bit of nutmeg on top..yumm...

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The one I remember most vividly is a doll my Mom let me open in the wee hours of Christmas. I was sick with a cold and sleeping in her bed, I must've been 4 years old because she was still a single mother then. I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling horrible, she consoled and comforted me by allowing me to open just one gift before Christmas morning.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents are hard only because they have most everything they want, we end up buying them trinkets or gift certificates.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My eldest daughter

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a small one but I don't put it out anymore.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Always mail, sorry but I think holiday e-cards are tacky!

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't really think of a worst.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It's a Wonderful Life, I still cry every time I watch it.

13. When do you start shopping? The day after Christmas, LOL.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can recall.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My ex-in-laws' Italian cookies..fortunately for my waist line I can rarely get my hands on them nowadays!

16. Lights on the tree? Absolutely - my mom always used the big ones, which I actually prefer to these tiny things because you need so many more and the effect is just not the same. Next year I think I'm going back to the biggies.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Winter Wonderland followed closely by Santa Baby.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Always home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Of course!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? It varies, this year it's a precariously placed silver star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?Christmas morning for the bulk of them, but on Christmas Eve we all get new pajamas to open. :-) When my kids were little they also got a Christmas book in addition to the pjs but they have outgrown that now.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? the fact that the season starts way too early, I don't want to see Christmas trees mixed in with Halloween costumes! *shudder*

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? The gold cherubs I bought when each of my children were born; each is engraved with their names, date of birth, time and birth weight. They are precious and bring back such wonderful memories of their baby days.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We have a big Italian dinner on Christmas Eve, have been doing that for 20 years or so. We never did a huge Christmas dinner, too worn out from the night before, but several years ago when going through my divorce I started a new tradition - Chinese take-out on Christmas! LOL! I did it then for practical reasons but it's become a favorite, fun part of our holiday celebration so it stuck.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a cure for my Mom's cancer, think Santa can handle that one?

Solstice Blessings

We had a lovely Solstice Weekend filled with family, friends, and feasting! We served various snacks and desserts, chatted around the chiminea outside and then lit our Yule log, each of us making a wish. The party went far into the longest night of the year, Beren and I finally tucked ourselves into bed well after midnight.


~Bambi and Lily waiting for the guests to arrive~


~Making our Wishes~


~Kids around the Yule Log~


~Mom & Dad~


~Happy Hosts~

~Kali, Kevin & Jackson~

~Stuffed Mushrooms and Desserts~

~Snowflake Cupcakes, the perfect end to a wonderful evening!~

A Surprise for Beren...Shh....

As you all know, My Man Beren is a passionate sailor and gets out on the water every chance he gets. In addition to that, he fashions himself quite the pirate, as clearly indicated by our infamous Pirate Patio! :-)

For the past month he's been keeping a sailing log, chronicling his adventures (or lack thereof) on the water. Unbeknownst to him, I've copied his journal notes onto a blog for him.

This is a secret, I plan to unveil the website on Christmas morning. Shhh...! In the meantime, I thought it might be fun to have friends & family visit and post comments if possible, will make it a lot more fun for him to read and enjoy! There aren't many posts right now but I plan to continue blogging for as long as he keeps writing.

Here's the link, thanks so much for joining me in this gift to my Pirate Man! ;-)

http://www.chip-wrecked.blogspot.com/

Waiting for Santa

Just a week until Christmas,
and how we all scurry!

Baking and decorating and wrapping galore, from the two-legged creatures right down to the four!




~Bambi and Boyfriend Beautify the Tree~


~Kali searches for her ornaments~


~It's always been Lily's job to place the star~




~Curious Christmas Kitties~


~Visiting Grandma's House where she has a Doxie under her tree!~



~Cookies for Santa~


~Ok, Santa, I think we're just about
ready for you!~

Happy Birthday, Kali!

~Happy Birthday, Kali!~

My beautiful eldest daughter turned 24 today, can hardly believe it! It's every mother's lament, "where does the time go?"

To celebrate her special day, we had a family dinner here at the Castle, 15 of us cuddled around my dining room table to honor the Birthday Girl.





We served a simple antipasto as an appetizer, Penne with Shrimp and Herbed Cream Sauce as the entree, and Strawberry Whipped Cream cake for dessert.













As always, wine was flowing, friends & family were feasting, love & laughter filled the castle. It was a perfect way to honor my Kali, my firstborn, the one who taught me everything about being a mother, and so very much more.

I love you, Sweetheart! Here's to many, many more birthday celebrations!