Tagged x3

Misslionheart tagged me for Monday Motivation Meme. The rules of the game are simple enough…just list 5 things you wish to achieve during the week ahead and hopefully get motivated!

1. Try can catch up with bloglines! As if that'll ever happen though...even if I get caught up tonight, tomorrow it starts all over with a whole slew of new posts LOL
2. Mail out some thank-you cards.
3. Write up the review of the Snikiddy snacks I received for The Opinionated Parent
4. Take Lucas to get his 2-month shots :(
5. Finish at least one scrapbook page! Maybe the half-finished one will even count!

Glo tagged me for this one:
What I was doing 10 yrs ago: 1998...that year brought many changes...I was living in CO at the time. I went through a divorce, found a place to live, and realized living on my own was actually quite nice!

Five things on my to do list for today: See meme above!

Things I would do if I were a billionaire: That's more money than I could even imagine! Definitely donate to a few charities, pay off our parents'/siblings' mortgages/debt, take a "dream vacation" - probably Australia, buy one of those luxury RVs so we can travel across the country, buy a home, and retire!

Three of my bad habits: procrastination, running late (which I guess would also fall under procrastination), impatient

Five places I have lived: Ramstein, Zweibrucken, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey

Five jobs I have had: cart pusher, teller, cashier, outpatient records clerk, secretary

Five people I want to know more about:
Stephanie
Tricia
Heather
Stephanie
RK

And Debbie tagged me for 6 facts about myself.
1. When I was a toddler I somehow got my foot caught in the spokes of a bike and sprained my ankle...I had a little cast put on.
2. One time I was jumping from bed to bed in a hotel room (I was maybe around 5 or 6) and missed the bed and hit the railing. I had butterfly stitches in my forehead.
3. I once had had my thumb slammed in a bedroom door. I fractured the tip of my thumb in 3 places and they had to take my thumbnail off.
4. My teenage crush was Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains.
5. He was the only celebrity I sent a letter to; and it was worth it because I received a signed photo and short note back from him. (Ok it was a stock photo and a photocopied letter, but at 14 that was enough for me!
6. I used to collect unicorns when I was growing up; now I collect Willow Tree figurines.

Debbie also gave me an award. Thanks Debbie!

The rules for this award are:
1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. The award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules.
I'm passing this on to:
Melissa
Conny Wenk
Shannon
Christina
Laura
~~~~
Just a reminder about Parker's Toyraiser which goes until May 10th.

Friday Freebie...and more

For US: Fill out the form for a free Schick Quattro Titanium razor -while supplies last, so hurry!

For Canada: Become a member of Canada Talk Now and receive a Tim Horton's Gift Card. Canada Talk Now is a Canada-wide network of people who make a difference. Members participate in a diverse range of online surveys and focus groups to share their opinions and preferences on a wide variety of topics.

For Australia: Fill out the form for a free sample of Milton Anti-Bacterial Tablets.

For UK: Submit your information for a free sample of Lancashire Tea.

~~~~~~~~
I forgot to pick the winners for the Pay It Forward Book Exchange! So using Random.org here are the winners:

Tammy from Praying For Parker (Jane Austen Book Club)

Mel from Omaha Mama (Summer Sisters)

Jessie from Adventures in the Jungle (Dream Language)

I'll email you ladies for your addresses so I can get the books out to you ~ congratulations!

~~~~~~~~
I've been given a couple bloggy awards that I need to recognize and pay it forward!

Killlashandra from Full Time In NM, Julie from Gigi's Little Blog, and Karen from Karen's Ramblings have all given me award.

Xandra, from Heart of Service has created this fun award. Here is what she says:"it's for blogs that I must read every day without fail . . . They make you laugh, cry, think and feel connected every time you read a post. They give you a thrill as you see them loading into your browser and you get an equally satisfying thrill when you see that they have commented on your blog."

Thank you ladies! I'm honored you consider my blog a "daily dose!"

Karen from Karen's Ramblings passed on the


This award was originally created by Mica at Garb-oodles Soup. Mica says: "I have met so many lovely and very talented ladies here in Blogdom, what more can I do or say to express my humbled heart to each, than to give all my Dearest Readers and Friends a special award filled with Love. So, Spread The Love dear ones, Spread The Love to those you love. Accept my award in which I have specially designed and share it with others. Enjoy the day." See here for the full details of this Award.

I know it's probably "cheating" but I'm passing both of these awards on to all the bloggers I read - because really, if I read your blog then you're a "daily dose" and I'd like to "spread the love" to each of you!

Monday Mish Mash

There are a few odds and ends I'm just going to put all together in this post!

First: Leticia from Cause of our Joy has organized the first-ever Down Syndrome Carnival with some great posts from parents from all over. I'm honored to be a part of this!

Second: A couple of contests coming up. 5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Comfy Easy PC System. It's a uniquely designed keyboard with software for ages 1-5.

Overwhelmed is looking to start a home-based business and is having a Name That Business Contest contest - go see what you could win!

Third: Some Bloggy Awards!

Janeen and Annie have both given me the . I don't consider myself a very courageous person and don't think I've done anything out of the ordinary to deserve this award, but thank you so much ladies, for thinking of me as courageous!

According to the rules this is to be awarded to "Those bloggers who are battling, or have battled, with physical or mental illness, those who are survivors of abuse, poverty, or who have overcome other challenges in life. Those who serve in the military, or work/volunteer in dangerous situations in order to provide a service, or to help others. This award is for the strong, brave, and courageous."

So I'm passing this on to these bloggers dealing with medical issues:
Amy from Laughing Through The Tears - she's been through a lot of medical issues and it's been extremely difficult for her to get around. She just recently had a hip replacement and is due for her other hip replacement next month. She always sounds so upbeat and positive!

Dori from The Ups & Downs of our Life - she has been through so many different doctors this past year trying to find out what is going on with excruciating back pain she's had; I know it's been frustrating for her, but she's hanging in there!

I know Annie already gave Tammy and Parker this award, but I couldn't not give it to her as well; I'm sure she'll get this more than once! Parker recently had surgery for a trach and they are now learning to adjust to that and all the ins and outs that go along with caring for someone with a trach. They are both courageous!

Laura from This Is Me - she's a single mom to Aaron who has a unique set of his own medical issues and history, to include back surgery. She handles all of this on her own and with such grace and a positive attitude!

For the military families: Andrea from Sgt & Mrs Hub, Eden from Once Upon A Dream, Jenna from A Joyful Journey, Kacey from The Amazing Ella Grace, Sandra from Diary of a SAHM, Carrie from My Lil' Corner of the World, Michelle from Snippets, Michelle from Learning How To Deal, and Alycia from Where My Treasures Are.

and to Sarah from The Barkers (her husband is in law enforcement) and Jennifer from Pinwheels (her husband is a volunteer firefighter).

Karen gave me the Nice Matters Award. Thanks so much Karen, you are someone I would have definitely given this award to!
I'm passing this one on to the following bloggers I've had the privilege to meet in person (and can attest to their niceness!): Mayhem & Miracles, Gentle Retreat, Overwhelmed With Joy, Sweetest Cherry in an Apple Pie and A Penny For Your Thoughts
I could give this to many more bloggers, but I'm all linked out for today!

Jennifer gave me the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award. I know I've passed this on to several bloggers before, and I'm not even sure who hasn't received this one yet...so if you haven't - considered yourself awarded! Thanks Jennifer!

I think that about sums it all up!