Pokemon....the great uniter

NEVER in a million years would I ever think that there would be a game created that would keep the attention of all of my kids, equally…..but whaa laaa!  Along came Pokémon.   It started back in the day when Gavin was in Kindergarten at Alfred Vail School.  “MOM!” he would yell.  “I need Pokémon cards!!!”  So it began, with the cards….all….over….my….house; arguments would ensue….”he be bent my card, he lost my card, HE ATE MY CARD!!!!”  

 Soon that died down (thankfully) and along came the game boy game; which is still in play to this day.  First it was Game boy, then DS, now, the DSi.  Still exciting, still uniting.  Thanks Pokémon, for keeping my kids entertained for all these years!! Xo

Loudly yours,

Alicia

ps-In the picture above is my almost 18 yr old playing Pokémon with his 11 yr old sister while helping his 8 yr old sister with her game. <3

Five question Friday!

 This week's questions from http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1.    . Can you drive a stick shift?

Yes! I learned in college from a guy I had a crush on.  We worked at the shoe store together.

2.  What are two foods you just can't eat?

The 2 foods I just cannot eat are anchovies and liver. Blech.

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?

I do buy GSC!  I have 2 Girl Scouts in my house!  My favorite kind is Dulce De Leche.

As a matter of fact, I have to pick mine up today!

4. How do you pamper yourself?

I pamper myself by going for occasional pedicures, or giving one to myself with one of my best friends!  Also, I make time for girl time and run away next door to escape from it all. Thank God for my Sisters and girlfriends who I hang with! xoxoxo

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?

          I really don’t have a nickname, but my sister calls me Aleese, 
          short for Alicia. I also am called Mommy quite often, but that’s 
          just a result of birthing all of them! J

Five question Friday!

Five Question Friday 

1.  Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row?

Embarrassed to say, yes….but in my defense, it is usually an outfit that I changed into late in the prior day.  The worst one was when I was caught by a neighbor!! “Isn’t that what you were wearing yesterday?!?”  Oh my gosh….I had to tell her yes. <<blush>>

2.  If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in,

which would it be?

Oh, my gosh! If you know me well enough, you would know it would be NYC!!  I just love being there. Don’t even mind the hour and a half commute it takes me to get to the office in Long Island City, since I get to go right through the heart of the City.  <3  My favorite, though is driving back home down 37^th Ave.  I so want to stop and shop!!!

I have been there several times, but I still have so much to see there.

3.  Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

It all depends on where we are going!  If it is a place like Florida (from NJ) then definitely fly.  My kids may not behave as well as I want them to at home, but on a trip, they are great.  I can’t wait to take them to Ecuador.  I am just dying to go back.

4.  What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?

My idea of spring cleaning is taking the winter clothes down to the basement and bringing up the spring/summer clothes. It is a daunting chore, but has to be done.  Since we have been having nice weather, my basement has been raided by the kids for short sleeves! It is almost time.  It is also time to clean the things that normally don’t get cleaned, like curtains and such.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?

                The best book I have ever read…..gosh there are a lot, but what comes to mind is Think and 

               Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill.  I also love to read Joyce Meyers and The books on Love Languages.

Change is not always fun....

A little part of my heart died this morning as my hubby confirmed to me that a dear friend is indeed moving to another state far, far away.  Change sucks. Right now, I hate it.  I am losing too many beloveds. One of my very best friends in the whole world is leaving and she is taking with her a wonderful family with whom we share faith and many memories.  My 2^nd baby is getting ready to spring the nest as well and it is a little overwhelming. Normally, I love change. I embrace it, love its challenges….when it comes to things.  When it comes to changing in the people department, I am not as open.  I admit it.  Saying goodbye sucks.  It makes me very sad and it’s been tough.  It makes it harder to do the normal everyday things, like writing this blog.  I just haven’t been able to think long enough to write until now.  I know time heals most wounds and thank God I do have other friends and children, but not like the two of them.

Loudly yours,

Alicia

Five questions from Friday5.org

Friday 5 for February 11: Late Nights

This Week's Friday 5 

1.    What’s the best thing about being awake when the rest of the world seems to be sleeping? 

• Well, if I happen to but up late, (which rarely happens) it is a time for me to get things done (usually straightening the house or pay some bills).

2.    Where can you go when you get a case of the late-night munchies?

• I usually run to the filing cabinet where I store my Zone Perfect Bars….I try to eat balanced and that is the quickest thing to reach for that is balanced.

3. What open-all-night establishment has saved you from  catastrophe, and what were the circumstances?

• CVS….whenever we run out of a prescription that is needed for the next day.

4.    What’s the worst thing about being awake when the rest of the world seems to be sleeping?

• Since I am surrounded by noise for most of the day, there is no worst thing! J

5.    When you are up all night at home for whatever reason, what’s most likely to be on the television to keep you company?

• Usually, I would turn to TCM (Turner Classic Movies), but now that I have Netflix on both floors, it will be whatever movie or sitcom I’d like to watch!

Ugly Betty

Recently, my family and I have discovered the wonders of Netflix.  One of my favorite parts of Netflix is the ability to watch sitcoms as well as movies.  As you can already tell by the title, one of my favorites is Ugly Betty. I have been addicted to the show so much so that I have been occasionally asked by my husband to detach myself from my addiction (thankfully, Netflix saves your selection at the last point you watched!!)  I love the characters, especially Betty since she always tries to do what is right and usually succeeds.  As a half Latina who was not popular in school, I find myself relating to her high school plights and really love to watch her as she always seems to save the day.   I am on the last season of Ugly Betty and even though I am excited to see how it all ends, I am also sad that they decided to end the show. Sometimes, my 8 yr old daughter watches with me....she looked at Betty and said, "she's not ugly!"  My daughter is so right...after all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Betty is beautiful in so many ways.

Five question Friday!

Actors/Actresses

1. Favorite actor/actress growing up?

My favorite actress growing up was Molly Ringwald.  

 I just loved (and still do) watching her in all her movies.

2. Favorite TV show/movie they were in and why?

   My favorite movie Molly was in was 16 Candles.  It was a movie I  could relate to since I was not the prettiest girl nor the most popular in High School.

3. Favorite quote by said actor/actress?

“I just want them to know that they didn't break me.”                               Molly Ringwald  as Andie in Pretty in Pink

4. Favorite image of said actor/actress?

My favorite image of Molly was at her birthday party with Jake at the end of the movie.

5. What would you like said actor/actress to appear in?

I would like Molly to appear in a follow up Sweet 16 movie or appear in a sitcom, like Glee.  :0)

Snuggle people....

No man is an island¹³, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory¹⁴Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. ¹⁵ http://isu.indstate.edu/ilnprof/ENG451/ISLAND/text.html

  According to John Donne, "no man (or woman) is an island, entire of itself". I could not agree more.  Some people run into trouble when they think they are the end all, be all, of the world.  I am sure you all know someone who is selfish enough to think of mostly themselves…..you have to feel sorry for these people. If a person is smart, they know that alone, they are nothing. We were created to need other people and other people were created to need us.  It is that simple.  

Have you ever heard the phrase “he/she completes me!”? That is just an impossible statement to me.  One person simply cannot fulfill every single one of another person’s needs.  That is why we have friends and other family members (who are hopefully your friends).

 

While I do believe a spouse can fill many needs in the very important relationship of marriage, a spouse simply cannot do it all. Take for instance my family.  My husband LOVES war games and WWII….I, on the other hand, am not a big fan.  Hubby has tried to get me involved in the games, tried to lure me in using friendlier character games, with interesting situations…but they were just never for me.  Thankfully, our oldest boys have grown up LOVING the games AND WWII, so he had that in common with them and they having grown up sharing that love together. It bonds them and I am happy to be witness to the relationship that blossoms as a result of their common love.  

I believe that every person needs to build their “team” and work together to fill each others needs. I have the luxury of getting instant love from my little snuggle bunnies pretty much on demand.  Sometimes, when I am working, my youngest will come in and just sit on my lap and snuggle for a few, then she will go back to whatever she was doing…her way to say “I love you!”  We need to have “snuggle people” to help us get through life…we just need to remember to snuggle back.

Loudly yours,

Alicia