Question #20 Are You A Car Person?

Last night, the fam and I went to the Cleveland Auto Show.  We usually go every year and enjoy getting out of the house and doing something different.  Plus, A and L love cars!  ;)  We took my mom this year...she was a car show virgin!  Last night was a lot of fun.  We went right after work and had dinner there.  After dinner, L went DIRECTLY to the booth that sells die cast cars....big shock hahaha!  We actually got out of there without buying him a car, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed some leather coin purses in the shape of animals a few booths down....bad...just bad!  Two Christmases ago, my mom got me an AMAZING owl purse (I don't know if I have talked about how much I love owls on my blog, but I LOVE owls).  She bought it on eBay. I have had SO many compliments on this purse...not even kidding...I've had people grab my arm and drag me to their friend so they could show off my purse.  If I had a nickle for every compliment I've gotten on this purse, I could buy three more of them (the purse is $88!)  Anyway, this lady was selling matching coin purses and key chains to match my purse.  She actually had two purses too!  My mom and I were so excited.  She said she sold her stuff on eBay, so I guessing this is actually who my mom got my purse from.  I ended up getting the matching coin purse and key chain.  Duh....they are ridiculously cute!

 My new coin purse and key chain!!!

 My awesome owl purse!

OK, so on with my actual question....Are you a car person?  What is your favorite car?  I'll admit, I like cars, but I am not really a "cars" person.  Does that makes sense?  I can appreciate the design and form of a vehicle, but anything deeper like engine size or whatever is completely a different language for me.  Walking around the car show last night, I realized that I wasn't all that impressed with other cars like I used to be because I now finally have the car I've been wanting for years.  Yeah, yeah, I know....a Ford Edge isn't all that great of a car, but for practical, affordable purposes, it's my dream car.  Don't get me wrong, the BMWs, Mercedes, and Audis are awesome, but they don't have any place in my real world!  I'm just as happy with my Edge.  I was pleased to find that almost the exact same model, color and all, was displayed at the car show.  Coincidentally enough, it was parked RIGHT NEXT to the almost exact same Ford Escape my mom just bought a week or two after we bought our car.  What are the chances of that happening?  Needless to say, I thought that was just too cool.  Hahahaha.  What can I say....I'm easily amused ;)

My gang and I in front of "our" car at the car show!

Question #19 Best and Worst Dressed

The Oscar's were last night.  I love award season.  It's so fun to see all these stars dressed up!  The fashion is either amazingly awesome or awesomely ridiculous....and I love it all!  There's nothing better than sitting in front of your TV at home, with dirty hair and in your comfy yoga pants judging all the outfits of these stars.  Hahaha.  You know, because I am so perfect!  No doubt anyone not living in a cave probably has his/ her best and worst dressed of the evening....do tell :)

My favorites were Jessica Chastain, Charlize Theron, and Naomi Watts.  If I had to say who had the best hair it'd be Anne Hathaway hands down.  I adore her short hair style.  It looks so amazing on her.  I can't look at her without the strong desire to chop all my hair off.  In the past, I've never shied away from a short hair cut....maybe a change is in the future!  I actually really love Charlize Theron's hair really short too.  If there is anyone that can pull off a haircut like that and still be amazing, it's her.  Runners up would be Sandra Bullock (I wasn't terribly fond of her hairstyle) and Octavia Spencer.  I would have really liked to see Melissa McCarthy and Adele pull off some really fabulous plus size fashions off, but again, I was left disappointed and they were left looking like they were wearing a grey garbage bag and a black, sparkly garbage bag.  I always feel a little disappointed that the plus sized women don't find something better.  I realize we are in a society (and especially Hollywood) where being plus sized means you are limited to designers, but they are rich, commission someone to make a dress for you!  Wearing an amazing dress and looking just as beautiful as the rest of the teeny women in Hollywood would be an amazing boost for plus sized women all over.

My worst dressed were Kristen Stewart, Catherine Zeta Jones, and Zoe Saldana.  I will say, I don't think Kristen Stewart's dress was ugly, it was just ill fitted.  But her hair and make-up was just awful....did she just roll out of bed?  Good grief.  I realize she has a hurt foot and was hobbling around for the cause, but still...at very least wash and brush that rats nest of hair.  Gross.  You can only take angsty so far...then it's just called being dirty!  Ew.  I really don't know what Catherine Zeta Jones was thinking.  The whole entire package was a disaster.  The dress was awful, her hair parted down the middle was so outdated, and her make-up was really heavy.  She looked SOOOO much older.  I am sure she was trying for just the opposite, but she failed miserably.  And she's such a beautiful woman...you really have to be trying hard to make her ugly.  I just wasn't feeling Zoe's dress.  Too much happening...flowers, bow, belt, the grey to black fade at the bottom...not into it.

Alright...your turn!

Question #18 Shopping Anyone?

This weekend we bought a nice, new corner desk to replace the rabbit's cage (our bunny, Ollie, passed away a few weeks back).  Now we have a desk to put our big computer on.  This is good news because now I can blog and not have to be in our basement wondering what kind of trouble L is getting into!!  Clearly, this doesn't STOP L from getting in trouble, he can just do it in front of my face now.  Good stuff.  Cool, I totally just vacuumed my family room while thinking of what I wanted to write and skipped the running up and down steps.  This is all just too cool!

 New desk....yup....I'm in the middle of blogging....Yay for being above ground on the computer!!!  ;)

Alright, I don't know if you noticed, but I've kind of been on a shopping binge...last weekend Ikea, this weekend new desk...and that's just 30% of it ;)  I am addicted.  Are you a shopper like me or is shopping torture to you?

I hate shopping when I don't have any money (which, sadly, is more often than not) because you always find stuff you want, but can't buy.  We just got our tax refund...bad news....I can't stop.  I just love shopping for deals and I have this one store (well, technically it's two, but they are owned by the same person , are next to each other, and basically the same store just different stuff in each) that is like crack to me.  This weekend, they had a 75% off sale and I couldn't/ can't stay away.  To be fair, most of what I bought this weekend was gifts.  In the next few months, I have 3 birthdays, 2 babies, and a wedding shower.  I figure I better shop while I can afford it!  Plus, now I can buy more because everything was 75% off!!!  I am such a good shopper, I actually have friends and family texting me with items they are looking for...for example, one of my good friends just found out she's having a baby and she needs everything!  Yay!  This is a perfect way to satisfy my shopping need, my love for baby stuff, and helping a friend. I have already helped her find a co-sleeper, baby swing, and crib/ changing table (all at my favorite store, of course!) 

 Here is a text from my friend giving me my next shopping challenge....challenge accepted!  Hahahahaha!

I love shopping....maybe I should be a personal shopper...not sure I am going to find anyone in my town that needs a personal shopper....maybe we need to move...hahahahaha!!!!  How about you?  Are you a shopper or hater?

PS- I forgot all about Ziva's birthday...she's gonna be four in two days....here's what she got for her b-day!  She is sooo happy :)

Question #17 Seasons

Last night and this morning I was brutally reminded that it is winter.  The wind has been blowing really hard and it's snowing.  It's enough to take your breath away.  So, today I thought I would ask what is your favorite season?  Living in Ohio, you practically can experience all four season in a weeks time.  The weather here changes so fast you can't keep up.  However, as far as I can remember, it wasn't always this way and we had a lot more clear cut seasons.  I always liked that about Ohio...you got to experience spring, summer, fall, and winter. 

If I had to chose a favorite season, I guess it would be fall.  I love the leaves changing colors, the warm days and cool nights, Halloween, picking out pumpkins, getting your sweaters and pants out, Thanksgiving, mums, I love all of it!  Fall is the perfect transition season.  That being said, I really do appreciate and enjoy all of the seasons.  In spring, the air is fresh, everything is warming up, flowers are blooming, Easter....it's all so fresh and rejuvenating after a hard winter.  Everything is coming back to life.  Summer is great because it's so hot, gardens grow, flowers are bright, the sun is out, picnics, swimming, Fourth of July....I love it all!  I know a lot of people who aren't huge fans of winter.  I would say winter is probably my least favorite season, but there's a lot about winter I still love.  There is nothing like a fresh layer of snow, sitting inside all warm and cozy, Christmas and New Year's, hot chocolate, snow days....shoot I even like driving in the snow.  I take it like a challenge given to me by mother nature.  Slow and steady! 

What is your favorite holiday?  Do you love snow or sun?  Or are you like me and soak up each season as they come?

Question #16 and Weekend Wrap-Up

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?  Personally, I haven't given the question a lot of thought, so off the cuff, I'd say some sort of big cat.  Maybe a white tiger?  I guess I wouldn't mind an orange tiger either.  As we've established in a previous post, I am a cat person.  While being a normal house cat would be fine, I like the idea of a big cat better...more power.  Roar!  Hahaha.  I love how graceful big cats are. It's also really awesome how they still purr like a domestic cat.  Cats in general are great because they can be completely bi-polar and it's accepted by all!

The animal question flows right into my weekend wrap-up.  Sometime...I believe it was in late November, we took L on a train ride through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  He loves trains and the area is really beautiful any time of the year.  They had recently opened a little store/ train depot where we bought our tickets and even bought a few Christmas gifts.  They have a little play area and we noticed a contest to name their mascot, an Otter.  L immediately picked Ollie for the otter (we had a rabbit named Ollie...he just passed away two weeks ago) and so we filled out a form for him and forgot about it completely.  In January, I got a phone call and it was from the little store.  They had picked the winning name for the otter and it was Ollie.  They wanted to have a little reception/ ceremony for the winners (there were six).  I thought it sounded fun, so we RSVPed.  It was this past Saturday.  Four of the six kids showed up and L was the youngest by at least 5 years.  Ollie the Otter was a cartoon and he was painted on the wall of the store by the kid's play area.  There were color form clothes, etc to stick on the painting.  It was all very cute.  We met the artist and she was really sweet.  She did a little demonstration on how to draw (L wasn't really into the art lesson, but my mom got into it!), then a park ranger came in and swore the four kids in as Junior Park Rangers.  This was super cute, they got a button badge and a patch (he wore the badge all weekend and kept telling me he didn't have anything to save anyone with...it was pretty funny!)  They also gave each kid a bag with a really nice stuffed otter, a bunch of wildlife toys, a signed picture of Ollie, etc.  Overall, it was really fun.  We had a heck of a time getting L to cuddle his Ollie...he wanted nothing to do with it until later in the day at nap time....he's such a funny kid.  Needless to say, we know L will never tell us if he could be any animal, it'd be an otter.  Hahaha!!!

My mom and I had been talking about taking a trip to Ikea for years.  Well, on Sunday, we finally broke down and went.  The nearest Ikea is 2 1/2 hours away in Pittsburgh, PA.  So we loaded L up and heading to PA.  I'm not even gonna lie....that place is HUGE!  I'd love to say L was having a really good day and was behaving, but really he was awful and complaining about everything.  We did end up spending 2 1/2 hours there, so I can't blame the kid for getting cranky towards the end.  I was pretty overwhelmed and exhausted too.  I ended up buying a chair, a six drawer dresser, a two drawer dresser, a set of 12 silverware, 18 glasses and a few little odds and ends.  Wow....you definitely have to have an idea of what you are looking for/ budget when going to Ikea.  I'm glad I got the chance to see what it's like to go there, but it may be a while before I will be heading back!  Hahahaha!

Question #15 Favorite Ethan Hawke Movie

Since I wrote a normal post about how freaking dumb cancer is, I figured I'd still do a question too.  A little more specific of a question.  And don't forget random....I LOVE random questions.  For years now, my BFF and I have swooned over Ethan Hawke (I'd say she's more into him than I ever have been, but I definitely think he's not hard on the eyes).....I mean, since "White Fang"...that's a long time ago (side note...that was my brother's favorite movie and I never seemed to mind watching it...hmmm....).  Anyway, obviously one of the best Ethan Hawke movies is "Reality Bites"....if you weren't school girl crushing after that movie, something is wrong with you.  So here goes Ethan fans....what is your favorite Ethan Hawke movie?

Before I go on and tell you which Ethan Hawke movie is my favorite, I want to tell you what brought this whole topic up.  This picture......

Yes, that's our beloved Ethan Hawke.  Looking like he is suffering a serious mid-life crisis.  I mean, really?  He looks terrible.  And manliner?  No.  Just No.  I can't stop talking about this picture....it's like a train wreck I can't stop watching.  It's so embarrassing.

Man....I am seriously so distracted by the disaster of a picture...I almost forgot to tell you my favorite Ethan movie.  I love "Great Expectations".  That movie is so visually beautiful and the story is great.  There isn't anything I don't love about it.  I love all the green clothes Gwyneth Paltrow wears.  Overall, I just love the movie.  "White Fang" comes in second.  And probably "Reality Bites" afterwards.  I know there are lots of people of who love the "Before Sunrise" trilogy.  I watched the first two a long time ago and wasn't super inspired, but I kind of think maybe if I watched them now, I could appreciate it more.  I also really enjoyed "Gattaca" and "Taking Lives".  After looking at his movie resume, I've come to realize I may be more of an Ethan Hawke fan than I thought.  Interesting....

  So I will close this post with a MUCH better picture....Troy Dyer....who doesn't love Troy Dyer?

Cancer Blows UPDATE

Seriously, is there a single person alive who hasn't either directly or indirectly been effected by cancer?  Ugh.  What a freaking pain in the butt (and for me, that is literal).  I remember a year, or five after I was diagnosed, I'd go to the Dr.'s for a cold and come out looking like a pin cushion because they wanted to test my numbers.  Just in case.  If I had a dollar every time I've heard that I could retire.  And worse, it's not just doctors you hear it from.  It's literally everyone in your life.  And for YEARS after having cancer.  You know at this point in the game, I have no more of a disposition to get cancer than any other average Joe?  None the less, my family and even myself, are bound to worry about any strange little change in my body.  Granted, I am usually the least worried out of the bunch.  Still, it takes it's toll.  I'd be lying if I said I never worried a little about it.

So, anyway, what prompted this rant is that I found a hard lump on my ankle.  I have had a small, hard lump on the outside of my left arm for a few months that I just chalked up to a fatty deposit or something.  Well, now I have a similar lump on my left ankle.  Goody.  Under the advice of my mom, I now have to go to the Dr.'s.  Boo.  I honestly can't decide if I am more worried about what it is or more annoyed at having to go see ANOTHER Dr. who probably doesn't know what's going on and will send me to another, and another....you can see a pattern here, I'm sure.  My best guess is that it's nothing to really worry about.  I am a little worried that even if it's just a calcium deposit or something like that, I'll have to have it removed and that ticks me off.  Ideally, I'd like to go through a whole year without having surgery.  I know, it's a lofty goal!  Ugh.  I actually feel raging mad about this whole situation.  I am so fed up with body crap.  I don't want to think about this stuff let alone worry about it.  Grr.  Yup, definitely more angry and annoyed than worried.  Alright, I'm gonna take my lumpy body and go get ready for work now.  And in a half hour....sigh....I'll go call the doctor.  Yippee.     

UPDATE:
I went to my internist and she wasn't sure what the lumps were.  She sent me to a surgeon.  I was supposed to have an appointment on Thursday this week, however, they called because there was a cancellation, so I went in yesterday.  The Dr. said the one on my arm is a lipoma (fat deposit...just what I thought!), but he was a little perplexed by the one on my ankle.  He did an ultrasound of it and still wasn't a hundred percent certain what was happening, but he thought it could possibly be an inflamed vein.  For three weeks, I have to wear a compression sock and take anti-inflammatories.  If it doesn't go away by then, he said he'd have to open it up and figure out what was causing it.  Here's hoping the compression socks work!!!