Sans Stick...

Here is our Christmas Card for EVERYONE IN BLOG LAND to enjoy!
(and for the record, YOU ALL ROCK CUZ I DIDN'T NEED MY SUNSCREEN,
uh, I mean glue stick... hehehe)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Bear Lovin...

Misadventures of a gluestick... (warning, foul language ahead...)

...sadly, I wasn't going to blog about this, far too frustrating & embarrassing if we're being honest, but then again... when am I ever NOT honest?
Never, so... I digress.

It all started when while talking to my dear friend Karen she lent me her fantastic template for her address labels & told me the correct paper to buy etc.

Me: "You mean I don't have to hand write every one?"
Her: "Uh, nope, who does THAT anymore?"

So, it was with much excitement & great curiosity that I headed to staples to purchase a package of Avery Easy Peel Clear Mailing Labels.
(Template 8660 in Microsoft Word, and yes I know I have a MAC and YES my MAC runs MSword... SHUT IT!)

I came, I saw, I bought & left for home... all the while thinking, "wow, why hadn't I thought of this LIKE A MILLION YEARS AGO?!"

More digressing...

So, I get home, have my list of address all ready to go, pop the paper into the printer & out them come, glorious 'ready to stick' address labels for my soon to arrive (better f'n arrive asaFp for the money I spent & the fact that I ordered them over TWO WEEKS AGO! sorry, mentally screaming in my head at the idiots at iPad/aka:snapfish...)

I look at them & they look great but why do I have this sneaking suspicion that some thing's not quite right? Hmmm, better get a closer look to be sure, don't want to put them on cards if they're all foobarred, right?

SON OF A.......! THEY'RE OFF THEIR CENTERS! COMPLETELY OFF KILTER!
grrrrrrrrr so I check the settings & try one more time...

Not!
So!
Much!

Seriously ready to scream at this point (& sadly this is barely where the story begins, although at the time I couldn't have known...)


I tried so much that I literally went through the ENTIRE PACKAGE OF LABELS &
NOT
ONE
CAME
OUT
RIGHT!

(someone please come push this dirty fork into my forehead please?)

So, what would anyone do in that situation?
Well what I WANTED to do was to throw myself bodily from my bedroom window to the street below but that would be fruitless as I knew I'd just bounce, so what's the point, right?

I then thought, "ok, fuck it, I can't get these stupid ass labels to print, it's COMPLETELY sucked any/all Christmas spirit out of me for the time being, so I'm gonna MAKE THEM MYSELF WITH REGULAR PRINTER PAPER, SCISSORS & A GLUE STICK!
Hell, I'm crafty, this should be a piece of cake, right?

(*sigh* you stupid stupid girl...)

Addresses are all printed out now on REGULAR BORING WHITE PAPER
(get over it Amy, it's better than the alternative!)

So, feeling slightly victorious, I saunter into the living room with my welfare labels & set them down so as to go grab scissors & a glue stick.

Ok, done.
Now for my little check list:

Cards all folded & in their envelopes? *check*
Festive holiday stamps on every envelope? *check*
Return address stamped in upper left hand corner of every envelope with our own designed 'Momma, Ruby & Ebenezer' family depicted in little black animated characters? *check*
Each address cut out individually & lined up on the ottoman waiting to be glued onto envelopes? *check*

Now, to the glue stick...

I go into the kitchen & reach into my little china cabinet in the hallway ( don't ask, it's usually where I keep most arts & crafts items just because, don't judge me!) hehehe

So, I grab the glue stick & head into the living room, thinking: "This really isn't that bad, sure it's a little more work but really, aren't my friends worth that?
Yes they are, GODDAMN IT!

So, I take the top off the stick & proceed to smear the lovely substance to the back of the address, gently but with firm even pressure, press the homemade label to the envelope & move on to the next one...

...upon moving the first one aside to start the second one, I notice that the label just fell right off the envelope.

What the?!?!?!!#$%@#?

Damn glue stick, I'm not in 4th grade anymore so why can't I make a GLUE STICK WORK?@#!
This ISN'T rocket science... damn you, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN...

I grab the first label again & AGAIN I attempt to smear the glue onto it & affix it to the envelope...
*EHHHHHHHHHHHH* thank you for playing!

JESUS CHRIST ALL MIGHTY WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?@#$%$%^$

I looked again at my STICK only to realize that, oh it's a STICK allright, but not of glue...
MORE LIKE RUBY'S FACE STICK /SUNSCREEN FROM THE SUMMER!

YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME?? I WAS TRYING TO GLUE LABELS TO MY CARDS WITH HER FREAKIN' SUNSCREEN? OMGGGGGGGGGGGGG

Could you even IMAGINE what would've happened had I tried to prevent sun damage to her little face with GLUE? OMG talk about being a total DUMBASS!

If I didn't know I would absolutely bounce, I REALLY WOULD'VE JUMPED!

I was so horrified that I could be THAT STUPID that I sat there in angry silence for what seemed like FOREVER... until I realized that my daughter, little miss Ruby Cate, was sitting in her chair in front of me, just staring up at me with this little look on her face as if to imply:
"are you ok Momma?"

One look at her little face & I knew I couldn't lose my cool... I merely walked ever so calmly into the kitchen, replaced the face stick to it's original home & dug the glue stick out from the silverware drawer.
(Yes, that's apparently where I stuffed it at one point, who knew?)

And as my beautiful little girl watched on with much curiosity and a stunningly sweet smile upon her face, I got every last one of those cards done... all the while saying to her: 'This is Momma's work Ruby, no touch ok? No touch..."

Towards the end of the 36 cards, my little noodle bug was repeating to me "No touch... No touch..." having been proud of herself for not only listening but LISTENING.

Yes it's hysterical, yes I'm an idiot, yes you can laugh at this & yes I DID manage to get all my cards out on time, but hear this... anyone who received a card from us had best appreciate it for MORE than just the card it appears to be, but more for the INTENSE LABOR OF FRUSTRATING LOVE that it TRULY WAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & TO ALL A GOOD FREAKIN' NIGHT!
*laughing*


(GLUE STICK HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!)

One & Ten...

It's funny, when I look back at pictures I can't believe that her little baby face was ever how she looked. To me she's always kinda seemed the way she is now & maybe it has something to do with the fact that I see her every minute of every day & have not ONCE been apart from her for longer than an hour or so. To me, she's always had that full head of hair, that beautiful toothy smile, those sparkling almond eyes and a giggle to melt a strangers heart.

Pictures say alot, these were taken one year ago today, upon our arrival home, and I honestly can just now see how very little she was, with that sweet chubby baby face and innocent expression...


...my girl is growing up right before my eyes & it's pretty amazing stuff...hard to believe it's been a whole year since Ruby & I have been home.


It flew like you have no idea...

...and if ONE precious year can fly that fast,

so can TEN!

I just pray I continue to pay the utmost of attention to it all &
to never have my digital camera too far from my waiting hands.

Happy One Year Home Ruby Roo...

...I'm the luckiest Momma in the whole world!


(We are truly a match made in heaven...)

Black & White...

... & Beautiful!

Watercolor...

Create...

Breaking bread... TOGETHER!

Ok, I just! Don't! Get! It!

Why is it that some parents let their kids eat ALONE?
I don't get it, I honestly don't.
And I know I'm gonna ruffle a few feathers here but too friggen bad, my blog, my rules!

That said, what on GOD'S GREEN EARTH is more important than TEACHING YOUR CHILD THAT MEAL TIME SHOULD BE FAMILY TIME?

It's no wonder most kids today want to eat on the run, grab fast food, eat while plunked in front of the T.V. or playing a video game?

I don't profess to be the world's foremost authority on child rearing but I do know that I have just a wee bit experience in this and I can tell you that from the YEARS of observing many different families, I have been privy to some PATTERNS that form.

Kids who LEARN ( and yes folks, this is a learned behavior, kids aren't just born knowing that family 'together' time is precious...) to sit AT A TABLE TO ENJOY THEIR MEAL WITH OTHERS end up doing better overall both emotionally and mentally!

Don't plunk your kid down in front of a meal (irrelevant whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner...) and then walk away to get 'a few things' done.

I'm here to tell you that the dishes will wait.
That laundry that's SCREAMING at you to GET IT DONE, can wait.
The bills you need to write out, don't know that you're not doing them THIS VERY SECOND, thus, they too... can WAIT!

You know who can't & shouldn't wait?
Your child.
Your toddler.
You teach them now that you're not putting much value into sitting down to share their meal time with them, what kind of message does that send to them in other areas of their lives?

Play with your kids.
Get dirty.
Share their meals with them!
Talk to them.
Trust me, it seems like such a little thing, but whatever 'IT' is that you feel you 'JUST HAVE TO DO', can't POSSIBLY be as important as that living breathing bundle of love you waited so long to have in your home. Waited so long to hear them call you' Momma'.
Waited so long, period.

I bet if you asked yourself to think back to all that time you spent waiting, I'm sure that you can recall MANY MOMENTS when you thought to yourself,
"man, if I only had (insert child's name here) with me here right now, I wouldn't care at all about my emails or my blogs or my im's... I'd just want to be with my child!"

So, I ask you... whatever happened to that?

Love & togetherness is a learned behavior, not instinctual...

...please teach love & togetherness, not solidarity.

All our kids as well as the future, will be better for it.

Good Stuff...

...is all that comes to mind when I think of what just happened to Ruby & Me, it's so heartwarming & amazing that you'll want to grab a drink, get a tissue (just in case) and nuzzle up for a good read!

Ok, so fairly recently I received a wonderful email from a woman, named Lois.

She lives in New York & I've never met her before, but she reads Ruby's blog religiously and had emailed me to say that the blog is an inspiration to her & her family.
Her beautiful bio daughter married a handsome Chinese man & together they have one of the most adorable bio daughters, I've ever seen next to Ruby.

She happened upon my blog by way of Bert Hamblin, (remember my ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS PEPPER MILL I AM BEYOND PROUD OF & USE EVERY DAY SINCE IT'S ARRIVAL IN THIS KITCHEN?!)

Well, she wrote the sweetest letter & I was surprised and happy to receive it!
(I always love hearing from lurkers who find the courage to finally say 'hello'!)
I immediately wrote back to her thanking her for such a lovely letter, telling her how completely scrumptious her little granddaughter is, and to also share with her my love for Bert Hamblin's pepper mills. I told her that as a single mother with a single mother's paycheck, I was blessed to have been able to save up & afford the one mill that we have.
Someday I'd love to get the little six inch pepper mill for Ruby so when we cook together she can feel like a 'big girl' with her 'own' special mill...

...but that will have to wait a while.

It's ok cuz Ruby doesn't really seem to mind since she's just happy to be part of the messy fun that is cooking in my house!
Ruby simply ADORES helping Momma in the kitchen!

Ok, so that was a few days ago, fast forward to just now...

Mailman arrives,
knock on door,
have to sign for a package?
Really?
From where?
From who?
I LOVE SURPRISE PACKAGES!

After signing for the package ( thanks Mom! ) I get a good look at the box & notice the return address & OMG IT'S FROM BERT HAMBLIN!
NO FREAKIN' WAY!
I DIDN'T ORDER ANYTHING!
My mother chirps in from the back round,
"You better NOT have!"

So, I run upstairs with the package, call Ruby over & the two of us open it up together...
...one guess what was inside:


See that short little six inch er on the left?
Yep, that's right, that would be Miss Ruby Cate's
VERY OWN PEPPER MILL
courtesy of one EXTREMELY GENEROUS WOMAN with a heart potentially as big as my ass!

Lois, I am BEYOND TOUCHED at your generosity and kindness in doing this for my daughter!
She has done NOTHING but hold onto her mill for DEAR LIFE & run around the house with it saying:

"Momma! Mill-A-Mill! Ruby's Mill-A-Mill!"
I asked her, "Ruby, can you say Pepper?"
Ruby replies with, "Pepper!"
I ask her, "Ruby, can you say Mill?"
She smiles & replies with a high pitched, "Miiilllll!"

I then ask her, "Ruby, can you say, Pepper Mill?"

She giggles & says:

"MILL-A-MILL MOMMA!"

And so, the Mill-A-Mill is born & I've never seen a smile quite this big on my child's face, ever.

It currently matches the one that's sprawled across my heart as I type this.
It's moments like this in life that make me smile from the inside out...
...it's just 'Good Stuff'.

Thank you, a thousand times THANK YOU Lois for such a grand surprise for my sweet & extremely happy little girl!

I promise the first time we cook together with them I'll post not only the recipe of what we made, but pictures as well!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

XoXoXoXo

-Amy & Ruby Cate
(& one very loved, very short little six inch pepper mill made with love by Mr.Hamblin...
Bert, you ROCK!)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

OMG I LOVED THESE AS A KID...!

...DO YOU PEOPLE REMEMBER BRISTLE BLOCKS?@$#$%$%!!

OMG!!!

MY BROTHER & I USED TO PLAY WITH THESE FOR HOURS ON END!
Now, granted our blocks didn't have the little heads/faces on them, ours were just regular old blocks... but we STILL LOVED THEM!

When I EVER saw them the other day at Target, I nearly shit myself I was so PSYCHED!

Needless to say, these bad boys will SO be under our tree this Christmas, as I've already asked the big man in RED to be sure to deliver them to my Rubes.

We don't go hog wild in this house as far as gifts go...

(single mom + single paycheck = only a few gifts under the tree
& two or three little guys in her stocking)

Thankfully Santa was all too happy to oblige on the blocks so
I CAN'T WAIT for Christmas morning when Ruby sees them sitting under our little
tree waiting for her to PLAY WITH THEM!
So much fun, this time of year, as Ruby gets older...

*bigGRIN*

Hey Krista...

...this one's for YOU!

*smile*

And God Said...

...LET THEM EAT CAKE!

That's right, see this delicious little lemony hunk of heaven? It currently is sitting in my fridge waiting to be enjoyed later on today with my friends!
(aka: Ruby's Aunts)
Auntie Jen and Aunt Catherine are coming over before Cath heads back to Florida, so we're gonna have a little tea time celebration courtesy of KAREN (who rocks by the way) since she SURPRISED THE SHIT OUTTA ME and sent this cake to my HOUSE!
No lie, she is just FULL of surprises that girl!
(it's why we love her, among other things...)

So, I'll let you all know how it was but I'm pretty sure it'll take my breath away.
Cake usually tends to have that effect...

*grin*

Want some? COME OVER!

"No thank you, Momma..."

My daughter refused to go to sleep last night, period. Apparently she was under the impression it was a 'MAISY MARATHON' night on Noggin. (not so much...) SO- I put her in my bed just until she fell asleep & then was going to transfer her to her crib. (she usually is so dead to the world the transition is SEAMLESS!) This night, we both ended up falling asleep. Then, I got up 1am to pee (shocker) and when I returned, she was no longer snoring, but was awake, sleepily, and looked at me & said "diaper? bed?" so I took her to change her diaper & then asked "Ruby, do you want your bed or Momma's bed?"
she said 'bed', I asked again, Ruby, Momma's bed? .. clear as a bell she said "no thank you Momma, Ruby bed!"
Apparently she isn't too keen on co-sleeping once the sleep has been achieved. LOL
And, how nice that even when half comatose, she's still polite?
*smile*

MY GIRL!

So, "Ruby Bed" it is...


*yawn* Now, I'm going back to my bed & lose myself in a good dream... c'mon HUGH baby, meet me on the FLIP SIDE!
*drool*
LOVE THAT MAN!

G'night!

Thankful...?

...what do YOU think?

13 Words...

...how many of you are confident enough in your friendship with someone that you feel you could do them justice in EXACTLY 13 words?

No more - No less
just
13

See, it's tricky... anyone can describe someone, even someone they barely know in one or two words, doesn't take much creativity for that...

...and anything more than like 20 words is just one expletive short of overkill.
~SO~
Since my favorite number is 13, I'm issuing an open challenge- as it may be,
to those of you who feel you know me well enough to do my 13 justice.

Only two rules:

Be HONEST
&
be KIND.

LOL
;)

hehehe

The few I want to ABSOLUTELY take on this challenge are:
Karen
Katherine
Michelle
Jen
&
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST...
Aunt De

(Psst, Jen & De, it's you two specifically that I mention 'be kind' for!
lol YOU KNOW ME TOO WELL!)

Whenever you're ready, leave your 13 as COMMENTS.

*grin*

Mine, Yours & Ours...

...it's safe to say that everyone has shit they deal with on a daily basis,
some days obviously harder than others.
Some have family issues, others are dealing with health problems, some are just overwhelmed with life in general & want to crawl under a rock & hide for a while.

It's funny how most people are pretty quick to judge a stranger when the truth is, if a stranger were to do the same to them, they'd be outraged to say the least;
"How dare he judge me, who does he think he is? He doesn't know what it's like in my shoes!" etc...

...but think about it, nobody knows what it's like in any other shoes but their own.
Shoes are funny things...

Mine are sometimes tight on me, yet on occasion they fit like Cinderella's glass slipper...

Yours could cramp your feet in the worst way tomorrow and then on Friday make you feel like you could run a marathon...

The one thing that is clear is that
Ours are both unique in that,
neither is perfect, neither is impossible,
but
both are ours to keep, for better or worse.


Next time you get the urge to judge someone based solely on outward appearances or because of how they talk or what they're wearing or their chosen mode of transportation, remember this...

...we all have feet, thus we all need shoes and sometimes,
just sometimes, wouldn't it be nice not to add to the cramping unnecessarily?

And before you charge down my throat on the we don't all have working feet,
'some of us are in wheelchairs' etc...

I'm fully aware of the physically challenged people of the world, lest you forget...

...I am one of them.

Everyone deserves to be seen for who they are inside, not for what you see at face value.

So the next time you see someone who stands out in a crowd for whatever reason, remember that to someone else, you might just be that person sticking out.

Remember that this Thanksgiving when you're going around the table with what you're thankful for... I know for me, friends & family are high on that list, but at the top?

My Daughter.
(who loves me even when I'm barefoot)

One Year Down...

...forever to go.

One year ago today, Ruby & I officially became Mother & Daughter in the legal eyes of China.
Seeing our names together, side by side on such an official document was overwhelming & heartwarming all at once.
My emotions swept over me in one fluid motion
and my heart, not that unlike the ever popular Grinch's, grew ten sizes that day.

Love, my love for my daughter, is pretty powerful stuff.

Happy 'Forever Family' day baby girl.
Oh how amazing you've made my life in only one short year.
The gift of 'you' is more than I ever imagined I could have...

...and now that you're here, it's like winning the lottery-

ONLY BETTER!

<3

Tuesdays with Uncle Steve...

...It's that time again, and this week, in lieu of Thanksgiving being around the corner, rather than make something specific for dinner tomorrow night (which is what I usually do) Uncle Steve & I are going to send out for these FANTASTIC OUT OF THIS WORLD WRAPS from a little local place called 'WRAPTURE'.
Last time we indulged in their delicious wraps was when Karen & Gwen were up & boy did everyone enjoy their eats!
I believe Uncle Steve got the Asian stir fry ( snow peas, scallions, bean sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, onion & garlic) with steak over noodles.
Karen got the grilled steak wrap: Goat cheese, roasted poblano peppers, roasted corn, garlic puree, limed onions, greens & grilled steak wrapped in a red pepper wrap.
And I got the: Portabella Mushroom wrap: Big huge thick chunks of portabella mushrooms, cheddar cheese, baby spinach, red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, roasted garlic puree & steak wrapped in a white flour tortilla.

SERIOUSLY DELICIOUS STUFF PEOPLE!

But since we're going to be partaking of them again, I realized that in doing so, that leaves you all with no recipe to indulge in yourselves... SO:

In honor of this being the first official Thanksgiving home for both Ruby and me,
(last year instead of enjoying turkey, we were munchin' on Noodles in China!)
I figured I should share with you all the things that I typically volunteer to make every year.

Caramelized Onion & Cornbread Stuffing

~and~

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes.

Both SINFULLY DELICIOUS!
(man do I just love Thanksgiving)

Ok, so here's the cornbread recipe first...

Caramelized Onion & Cornbread Stuffing:

Ingredients:
2T butter
2 onions chopped
6 large corn muffins, cubed. (I prefer mine from the bakery)
1 egg
hand full of fresh sage leaves, chopped
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chicken stock
salt & freshly ground pepper

Instructions: (PREHEAT OVEN TO 375)

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onions & cook, stirring for about
10min or until soft & caramelized. Add sage & scrape into large mixing bowl.
Add cornbread pieces, season well with salt & pepper & give a good toss until well combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, cream & stock & pour that over cornbread.

Stir stuffing together & spoon into a buttered baking (Pyrex) dish and put into oven for about 30 minutes or until hot & crusty on top.
ENJOY!

Now, on to the DESSERT!

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cakes

Ingredients:

CAKE-
1 yellow cake mix
1 egg
8T butter melted

FILLING-
1 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 15oz can pumpkin
3 eggs
1t vanilla
8T butter melted
1 16oz box powdered sugar
1t cinnamon
1t nutmeg

Directions: (PREHEAT OVEN TO 350)
Combine cake mix, egg & butter. Mix well with electric mixer & then pat into bottom of lightly greased 13X9 pan.

To make filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese & pumpkin until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla & butter and beat together. Next, add powdered sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg and mix well. Spread pumpkin mixture over cake batter and bake for 40-50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake, center SHOULD BE a little gooey. (hence, the name!)

Serve with fresh whipped cream on top &amp;amp; ENJOY!


(& don't forget to wear your 'FUN PANTS' aka: Thanksgiving pants!)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

One year since 'got'cha'...

(a letter to my daughter on our special day...)

Dear Ruby,

It's hard to believe we've been Ruby & Momma for a solid year now when really,
it feels like a lifetime, since before I knew you in my life, you lived in my heart.

While Momma was in China waiting to see your precious face in person, I knew I had to figure out a way to mark that special first day of ours in a very unique way. After much thought, Momma decided to mark the day with a special little gift... but not just any gift, one from your place of birth, from China. Sure I knew I could just as easily buy a bunch of little things from the states & give you a new little gift every year but it wouldn't be the same, and I knew it.

So, while at the Cloisonne place in Beijing, I purchased a bag full of little Christmas tree ornaments, all very precious, all unique, all from China and all just like you, one of a kinds. I knew that every year, on the anniversary of our 'got'cha' day, I'd let you reach into that bag full of little red boxes & take one out. Then you'd carefully open it as I watched & whatever ornament was inside, was to be our newest addition to our Christmas tree that year.

There were 33 ornaments originally. (in the excitement of arriving home that first night way back on Nov 30th, 2005... family members got some & that's ok.) I have since had friends get a few more here & there & now Momma only needs six more to make our original 33 back. Momma has some very wonderful kind friends who she can ask to bring some back for us when they travel to China, so please don't worry. I'll find a way to get those last six ornaments baby girl... I promise!

Oh, and why 33? Because that's the number of years that Momma had to wait to find you.

My hope is that someday, when you've opened all 33 ornaments, and they then adorn your Christmas tree in your home, that just the mere sight of them all, makes you smile.
And seeing all 33 of them helps to bring back memories of each & every 'got'cha' day that we've celebrated together since our very first one.

I love you so much baby, to the moon & back, and the sun & back, and the stars & back and to China & back!

Happy Got'cha Day baby, you're my living breathing dream come true!

Love always,

-Momma
XoXoXoXoXo

ps. A few photos from the morning of our first got'cha anniversary... let the traditions begin!

Got'cha Day Ornaments:
Nov 20th, 2005 (teapot)
Nov 20th, 2006 (Navy heart w/butterfly)
...to be continued.

101 'Amy'isms', just because... (get some tea, it's a good read)

1. I'm obsessed with tweezing hairs, period. Regardless of where they are, however the peskiest of them all are the random face/neck/chin hairs. GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR!

2. I've been known to offer to tweeze someone else's random hair upon noticing it, drives people nuts & they think I'm insane. (they're probably right)

3. I love the smell of 'Sexy For Him' by Victoria's Secret... good God all mighty, DROOL CITY!

4. I will only burn Yankee Candles & usually only prefer the home baked goodies types of scents... although my fav is Macintosh.

5. Mac's are also my computer of choice.

6. I talk way too much, I should probably listen more.

7. I still giggle like a silly person whenever I see Ruby's name on anything... (ie: prescriptions, social security card, early intervention paperwork, etc...) just LOVE seeing it in PRINT!

8. Love the smell of baby powder but only when freshly sprinkled on freshly clean baby toosh... (C'MON LITTLE NUTTER, AUNTIE WANTS TO CHANGE A TEENIE DIAPER!)

9. I love to read but ironically enough have a difficult time keeping up with my book club.

10. I knit, but only scarves & only the knit stitch.

11. I sculpt with polymer clay & have been known to make a Christmas ornament or two.

12. I see (but mostly hear) dead people... no lie. It's mainly my own relatives but have been known to occasionally hear from someone who has passed while I'm in the presence of their living relatives. Weird things get told to me, and as I know this is a gift to be able to hear these things, in my heart I know that I must relay them to whoever they're for. Things may not make sense right away but eventually, everyone I've ever done this for has found validation in what was said. Of course, you start telling people you're hanging out with that their dead relatives are speaking to you and, well... things generally tend to get a tad bit weird. Understandably... & instantly whoever it is I'm speaking to, looks at me funny & wants to go home. LOL Hey, don't kill the messenger.

13. I type far too fast (as told to me by my friend Jen, little mister Nutter's Momma!)

14. I have tea & toast nearly every morning for breakfast.

15. I can count my closest friends on one hand but am beyond proud to have each & every one of them in my life.

16. I love my parents more than they know.

17. I sit & stare at Ruby at least once a day & wonder what I did right in this world to deserve her. I am in awe most days...

18. I love to laugh.

19. I tend to stay friends with ex's.

20. I still am close to & talk with my recent ex's mother... she's a doll.

21. I have MS, but MS doesn't have me.

22. I have a fantastic family who I'm blessed to still have around.

23. I miss my deceased relatives, but my Nonna is still here, she never left. Only physically. (CIAO NONNA! TI AMO TANTISSIMO PER SEMPRE!)

24. I love my TiVo & never watch shows when they're actually on, who the hell DOES that anymore anyways? Oops, I'm sorry, probably all you 'dial up'ers huh? MY BAD! LOL

25. I LOVE THE RED SOX & HATE THE YANKEES! (get over it)

26. I own two autographed photos of Jason Varitek #33 *DROOL*

27. Favorite tv shows are: Dexter, House, Desperate Housewives, The Class, How I Met You're Mother, Two & a Half Men, Men in Trees. (in no particular order)

28. I have a MEGA CRUSH on Hugh Laurie!!! (age tis' but a number!)

29. I HATE TO FLY! (yet I hopped several planes & trekked my ass to China & back... ah, the things we do for LOVE!)

30. I have been in love before.

31. I have never been married or engaged.

32. I drink a crapton of water every day.

33. Is the age I was when I first held my daughter in my arms.

34. Is how old I currently am even though most days I feel like a kid.

35. I've been a nanny for so long now that if I had to do something other than that as my profession, I don't know what I'd do!

36. I am always honest to everyone about everything. (that pisses some people off)

37. I make a mean risotto.

38. I actually love to cook anything &amp; everything. I can bake & enjoy it from time to time but prefer cooking & rarely measure. I guess you could say I'm a chip off the old RR's block HOWEVER, she's clearly skinnier than me.

39. I show people how much I care about them through the meals I prepare. Food is love.

40. I love my back being rubbed, it rarely happens but when it does (thanks Karen) it's fantastic!

41. I love my friends more than they know.

42. I still get giddy whenever I buy a brand new box of Crayola's... mmmmm who doesn't love the smell of a fresh box of CRAYONS!

43. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of GOT'CHA day for Ruby & Me... WOW.

44. Sometimes I think that it's odd how I don't mind at all putting my thoughts in such a public forum for anyone to read.

45. Every day I worry about Ruby's future.

46. Sunday's are my LAZY day. (I'm still in my pj's from last night & it's 5:33pm.)

47. I love getting snail mail, it makes me giddy. (letter writing is a lost art)

48. I don't wear perfume, only bath & body works warm vanilla sugar lotions & spray's & shampoo/conditioner etc...

49. If I were to wear perfume someday, it would be 'LIGHT BLUE' by Dolce & Gabbana.

50. I can't believe that in less time than it takes me to change Ruby's diaper I've just rattled off 50 things about myself, see, I told you... I talk too much & type too fast. hee hee

51. I need to lose more weight.

52. I miss those friends who have dropped by the wayside.

53. I still think of them from time to time.

54. I think my daughter has the most perfect hair on the planet.

55. I once started the process to undergo gastric bypass surgery, but changed my mind & decided to lose the weight the old fashioned way... with patience, discipline & hard work.
(didn't want to be some one's science project & get all hacked up, thanks but I'll pass.)

56. I wasn't as disciplined or hard working as I had hoped.

57. Sometimes, if I am left alone with my thoughts for too long, I start to cry because I realize that I am the only parent Ruby has & that scares me.

58. I love my little niece Isabella, she's a goddamned doll baby and she's walking now even though I haven't seen her in action yet. (I know she's diggin' those squeaky shoes I got her in China)

59. I used to have gel nails but got rid of them prior to adopting. Who has time?

60. I'm selfish when it comes to sleeping, I like my bed to MYSELF. (I can, however, share with my little doodle bug when she's sick & LOVE doing so.)

61. Sometimes at night before drifting off to sleep, I wonder who in the world is thinking of me at that exact moment? Maybe you...?

62. I hate politics & never once voted a day in my life. Sorry, I know it's a privilege however, I don't understand any of it & feel that it's my vote to make so until I understand what it is I'm voting for, never once will I mark down some one's name just because 'so & so' suggested I do so. Comprende?

63. I think most people are good, but I also think most people are two meltdowns away from crossing that proverbial line.

64. I love my glasses... I no longer like my face without them.

65. I wonder if I'll ever find love again & get married someday?

66. I wonder what questions Ruby will have for me when she can finally start articulating her thoughts better.

67. I am planning to take Ruby back to China when she turns 10. I think it is important that she see where she came from.

68. I love reading other adoptive families blogs.

69. I said a prayer the other night for Christi & Abbey's safe return home... God listened.
(one peek at her post about the bag-o-vomit during the flight back & you just KNOW GOD HAS to have a SENSE OF HUMOR!) Welcome home you two... glad you arrived safe & sound!

70. I CAN'T STAND GUACAMOLE! (bogus nasty green shit, BLECK!)

71. I no longer drink alcohol.

72. Is the year I was born, man I'm gettin' up there...

73. I used to drink alcohol every Saturday night out with the girls (and by girls I mean Jen & company...) and we'd be known for ordering RED DEATHS! (usually by the half dozen)

74. Sometimes mornings after a shot, I wake up with numb arms from the elbow's down.

75. I once woke up with useless arms altogether. Literally two hanging hunks of flesh. Didn't get them to move for over an hour... which normally I'd have been kewl with BUT I HAD TO PEE AND I HAD ON PJ'S WITH PANTS!

76. I now wear only NIGHTGOWNS to bed just because of that.

78. I miss Ebenezer... I wish he was still here with me physically. I need an Ebby hug.

79. I love both chocolate & bread but if I had to give one up for the rest of my life, chocolate would go.

80. My favorite number is 13... always has been. Guess it's an Italian thing.

81. I can speak Italian & hold my own with relatives... it's more than I can say for my genius of a brother. (sorry Adam, but you could still learn you know, it's never too late)

82. I would like to learn how to play piano someday.

83. Maybe Ruby & I will both take lessons together someday & give my mother's Steinway a reason for being downstairs other than for holding up picture frames.

84. I wish I remembered my Nanna. (my Mother's Mother.)

85. I wish I had her gift for playing piano by ear.

86. I hope I tell Ruby enough & share enough & document enough so that one day, when I'm no longer here, she'll have answers to things she wonders about.

87. My favorite sandwich is peanut butter & jelly.

88. I only buy all natural peanut butter; ingredients: peanuts & salt.

89. Less is more...

90. I HATE KNICK NACKS! (sorry Mom)

91. I doubt I'd ever be as brave as my friend Karen... I don't think I would've ever shaved my head. You're my hero woman.

92. I love that I can be privy to watching two of my closest friends go through their pregnancies especially since I'll never have biological children. Jen & Kristina, you both ROCK! Can't wait for little mister MAN & little mister NUTTER!

93. I'm generous to a fault, even with strangers.

94. I never wear socks, always barefoot or sandals. Only shoes/boots in winter when absolutely necessary.

95. I love the cold, hate the heat.

96. I wish I had the funds & the room to adopt once more.

97. I'd love to be a contestant on Deal or No Deal, yes, I said it... two reasons: 1. I'd give Howie Mandel a BIG ASS BEAR HUG! (gotta love a germophobe) and 2. I'D TELL THE BANKER TO BITE MY ASS! *grin* (& probably leave with .50 cents. LOL)

98. If I ever did get on that show & won any substantial amount of money, I'd give most of it to my parents & just save enough to get Ruby & I a newer, safer car.

99. I'm a VW girl & only drive stick shifts.

1oo. I know how to make homemade limoncello (thanks Dad!) but never once would drink it myself.

101. I would love for 101 other bloggers to take what I've done here right now & do it on their own blogs... it's pretty cathartic. For those of you who do choose to do it, just go with your thoughts. As you can see from mine, there was no real rhyme or reason to it, I just jotted things down as they came to me & honestly I could probably think of 101 more but really, for now... this is enough. =) Oh, and be sure to let me know if you've done 101'you ism's because you KNOW I'd love to check em'out.

-Amy

PS. If you haven't seen Vicious Circle (HBO SPECIAL) or the recently aired COMIC RELIEF 2006, OMFG WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Seriously... in honor of my LOVE for a fellow MASSHOLE, I give you Dane Cook's RANDOM BITS'N'PIECES... ENJOY!