Bucket Lists

Last Saturday I was part of the choir who sang at 2 Confirmation Masses. The Bishop asked the kids if they had a bucket list. Well here is were you insert the "deer in the headlight" look. They had no idea. He asked if any of the adults did to which lots of hands were raised. Then he explained what a bucket list was and there were a bunch of "ohhh"s that went around the room. Well it got me to thinking, I've said I would put together a bucket list but I've never really sat down and put one together. I do know most of my "to dos" would be travel to here and do this.

Do you have a bucket list? What's on your list? I found a few websites that have suggestions of what to put on your bucket list. Here are some of them: 

- Get in the Guinness Book of World Records
- Bungee Jump from Royal Gorge Bridge (OMG have you lost your mind - this is NOT on my list)
- Bathe in the Ganges River During the Purna Kumbh Mela
- Attend the Olympic Games (ok this one is on my bucket list)

- Drive your dream car

- Drink Beer at Oktoberfest (add this one to my list as well)
- Go to the Super Bowl (not on my list but I beg B-man would love to do this)
- Visit Redwood National Park (yep add to my list)
- Make Your Own Wine in Napa Valley
- Learn to Tango in Buenos Aires
- Ride a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia, Turkey (I've been in a hot air balloon already)
- Ride on the Singapore Flyer
- Party at Mardi Gras (yes please)
- Ride a Gondola in Venice, Italy (again yes please)
- See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) (ooh ooh pick me)
- Go on an African Safari at the Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
- Spend the Night at the The Myrtles Plantation (one of America's most haunted houses - ooh)
- Play Golf on The Old Course at St. Andrews 
- Milk a Cow (yea I'll pass on that one)
- Chase a Tornado (no way, I'd milk the cow first)
- Cage-Dive with Crocodiles (OMG)
- Visit the Taj Mahal
- Ride an Elephant (OMG I would die a happy woman)
- Be part of a flash mob (would love to do this)
- Swim with dolphins (check this one off my list - you really should do it - it is AMAZING!)
- Learn to sing (check so maybe um in my case sing with . . . Michael Buble)
- Stay in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora (yes please)
- Go to Ferrari World
- Be a movie extra (that would be so cool!)
- Ride a Cable Car in San Francisco (been there, done that - with wine in hand too)
- Get a Ph.D. Degree (don't known what I want to get my Masters in yet so yea not happening)
- Become a Foster Parent (human or animal I think this would be great!)
- Drink a $1,000+ Bottle of Champagne
- Learn CPR (already certified) 
- Watch a Movie at a Drive-In Movie Theater (check this one off my list)
- Buy a Round of Drinks for the Whole Bar
- Become a Space Tourist
- Stay at the Icehotel in Sweden (I'd do it) 
- Hold a Koala (yes please)
- Participate in a protest
- Write a book (maybe, I've toyed with the idea before) 
- Visit the Auschwitz Concentration Camp (yes this is on my list)
- See Old Faithful (yes)


WOW that is a lot of ideas. So again I ask, why is on your bucket list?

These dreams go on when I close my eyes

"These dreams go on when I close my eyes." You can thank me later for getting that Heart song stuck in your head . . . but seriously lets talk about my dreams.

As I have mentioned I have a vivid imagination and my most interesting dreams usually entertain zombies - but not today folks. My most recent crazy dream happened 2 nights ago (there was no sleep last night between Smiley and the headache that I was dealing with) and it was one of those "back in high school" dreams.

Yep one of those dreams and I know what you are thinking . . . I had pants on. My dream was that it was the first day of school and I was going back to my High School (PSHS . . . I said uh ungowa got the Pantha Powa!) and I was trying to find my first class. Apparently in the last 19 years the school has grown in physical size and layout. The classroom I determined was on the upper level and since I didn't know what the subject was, but for some reason I thought it was either English or History (which they didn't have those classes on that level), I couldn't find the room number. Then I asked a teacher (the bell was about to ring and I didn't want to be a loser who was lost on my first day) where it was and he told me it was on the other side of the upper level and then asked me if I had a shop class on my schedule and when I said no me took me to the shop wing to show me why I needed to take this class.

What the what I say? Where the heck did all of that come from?

According to Dream Moods Dictionary (www.dreammoods.com) when you look up LOST (the most dominant theme in the dream) this is what you find:

To dream that you are lost suggests that you have lost your direction in life or that you have lost sight of your goals. You may be feeling worried and insecure about the path you are taking in life. If you try to call for help, then it means that you are trying to reach out for support. You are looking for someone to lean on. Alternatively, being lost means that you are still adjusting to a new situation in which the rules and conditions are ever changing.

Outrageous Riders!

This morning on the radio on my way into work the local radio station was listing different celebrity riders for when they are performing. Some of them are known to be outrageous and just plain stupid. So it got me to thinking, when I am rich and famous and I go on tour what would I have in my rider? More on that later. For now let me share with you some of the celebrity riders that I found online today during my Google search.

Lady Gaga
- A nude mannequin (are you really surprised about this - it's Lady Gaga after all)
- 1 pack long straws (must be extra long)
- An elliptical machine
- 6 Activa (does Jamie Lee Curtis come with them?)
- 1 container of homemade guacamole (what no chips?)
- 2 Bottles of White wine (I'm good with this)
- 1 Bottle of Red wine (No glasses? Oh wait that must be what the extra long straws are for)

Mariah Carey
- $200 Bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2 Vases full of white roses
- 20 white kittens (does she adopt them after her tour?)
- 100 white doves (well at least the kittens eat well on tour)
- Room must be 75 degrees (too warm for me)

Justin Bieber (gag)
- Large package of Swedish Fish
- Apples and Caramel
- Herbal teas (actually a smart choice - did I just say that?)
- 4 packages of white tee shirts
- 3 packages of lo-rise socks

Adele
- 2 Bottles of Red Wine
- European Lagers (party at Adele's dressing room - whoo hoo)

Kanye West (gag)
- Imported and recut Versace towels
- A chauffeur who drives him wearing only 100% cotton clothing

Britney Spears (gag)
- McDonald's cheeseburgers (no buns) - and you wonder why you put on weight?
- 100 figs and prunes (um not going there)

Mary J. Blige
- A new toilet seat installed in her dressing room bathroom before she arrived (I don't see a problem with this)

Jennifer Lopez
- Her trailer must be furnished in all white (flowers, tablecloths, couches, candles, etc) - uh white?

John Mayer (blah)
- Organic fruit
- Soy milk
- Soft head toothbrushes
- Listerine mouth wash
- Mint flavored Sensodyne or Tom's of Maine toothpaste
- Altoids (OK I may not particularly like the guy but at least he tries to keep his mouth minty fresh and his demands are not too crazy)

Nicki Minaj
- Buckets of spicy fried chicken -no thighs, lots of wings (man that girl can eat)
- 3 packs of gum (all different flavors)
- 2 space heaters (guess she gets cold easily)

Madonna
- 20 International phone lines (I guess for her 300 person entourage)
- Lillies, white and pink roses with stems that are trimmed to precisely 6 inches

OK so some are not as odd as you would think but I'm guessing some of the really strange or overly demanding requests are not published. An agent has to protect their client.

 

What would be in my rider? Well lets see. . . if I was famous and they all bowed at my feet then I think I would have:

- Really soft linens and towels (now my assistant could arrange to have some that were my own placed in my trailer/dressing room)

- Good pillows. I am a stickler about my pillows. B-man laughs at me for all the pillows I have on the bed (I don't like really fluffy or soft pillows and I can't sleep flat so . . . good pillows.

- Quality food. . . . if I am rich I now can have the best of the best when it comes to food (not organic this organic that - just really good quality food)

- Fiji water (for when I'm rehearsing or performing). Singers know to keep hydrated and I just personally like Fiji water. I know someone who only drinks Starbucks water and well if it works for him great!

- I'm not a champagne person so probably good bottles of wine (no they don't have to be uber expensive)

- A safe play/sleep area for Smiley. She and B-man would naturally be going with me wherever I went so her happiness and safety are priority (even over my pillows).

- Twinkies (love them, miss them, so happy they are coming back but yes I would use my celebrity to get them)

So what would your rider include?

It's a mad mad world!

I can't believe that it has been over a month since I last wrote something. I know it has been crazy at work and that leaves me exhausted when I get home so I spend my time playing with Smiley and doing something crazy like laundry but still over a month! Bad Ashley - no cookie for me!

Like I said above things have been crazy at work so I've barely had time to take a bathroom break or even have lunch let alone write in my blog. Now that is has calmed down again I can share all my wonderful thoughts with all of you lucky people. Missed me? Thought so.

We are now in March so lets do a recap of how I'm doing with my New Years Resolutions (blah ha ha).

1. Learn at least 12 words in German and to be able to use them in a conversation properly.

- My BIL has been very good to me by helping remind me of my counting 0-10 in German (even corrected my spelling errors that I posted previously). He even gave me at least 2 phrases to practice. Well I have been a bad girl and haven't been practicing or asking for more phrases. We are in month 3 so I need another phrase from him.

2. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week.

- I have been a good girl on this one. Only 2 times have I bought lunch twice and brought the remaining days. I have also been better at bringing my breakfast all 5 days to work so I can treat myself to Starbucks every once in a while to go with my breakfast. So kudos to me. Just need to keep on track with this (I've even inspired on of my co-workers. He is striving for the same as I but only seems to have succeed with one day a week for his lunch bringing. Baby steps I tell him).

3. Play for 60 minutes a day.


- Yea this hasn't happened. I'm lucky if I manage to get to do much more than the regular house hold work (which I'm not doing well at). Smiley is moving and shaking (but no she isn't doing the Harlem Shake) these days. She has discovered balance and is walking all over the place. My exercise usually consists of me chasing after her). Sadly I see the results every day and it brings me down all the time.

4. Drink water every day.


- No progress here - oh sure I'm great at instilling water for Smiley but me, not happening.

5. Buy a plant and keep it alive all year long.

- Spring is coming so I've been eyeballing the plants that are slowly being brought out. Will have to pick my victim, I mean plant here very soon.


6. Try one new recipe a week.

- I have been pretty good about this. I established Sunday Dinners at my house for the family and if I don't try a new recipe I try a new method of cooking or a new side dish or a new spin on an old favorite. So this is going pretty good. Have to really get back to trying a new dish each week.

7. Try one new food a month.

- This hasn't been a success. I did try Korean BBQ with B-man this past week and it was "interesting". So that counts as trying a new food. Sadly it is my first new food of the year. Must be more open.

8. Find a way to bring in more cha-ching for my family.

- Signed up for online surveys that are supposed to pay either cash or gift cards but it takes several surveys before you even get a $10 gift card. Humm - still looking for new ways to make money. Thinking of a yard sale in the spring.

9. Save more money.

- Need to do this more. Was doing ok with $50 per pay period but I've switched to paying that money to my crazy credit card bills instead. Need to get back to this. I also want to take all the change we have around the house and put it in the change thing at my bank for Smiley's savings account. Just need to do it. Maybe one day when I'm off and can run to the bank.

10. Be a better wifey.

- Not sure I'm doing that well. I'm so tired all the time, we never get to cuddle or have alone time because of our schedules, my working late, being sick, Smiley time takes over, or just being tired all the time.

11. De-crap my house.


- Still need to work on this. See yard sale idea above for possibly ways of doing this.

12. Let my inner Martha Stewart shine.

- I have my dragon counted cross stitch but every time I think I'll start it, I just don't. I come up with an excuse not to do it and do something else. Like take a nap or do laundry.

On a happier note, I mentioned about Smiley is walking. She really is getting better with her balance and I love her face when she takes off. So cute. She has also become clingy to me. She is saying "ma ma" but doesn't connect it to me. Oh and she loves to drop her sippy cup and then say "uh oh". So cute. 

Pinterest was my friend . . .

On Sunday Pinterest became my good friend. In my quest this year to try new foods I made 2 recipes off of Pinterest.

The first recipe was spinach lasagna rolls (roll ups). I got the recipe on Pinterest from this link: http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/04/spinach-lasagna-rolls.html

I will tell you first that I don't like Ricotta so I replaced it with cream cheese. One word of advice - spray the foil with your favorite oil spray to keep the cheese from sticking. Oh and I had to put the dish under the broiler for few minutes to get it nice brown and bubbly. So what was the verdict. I though it was interesting. B-man, my BIL and my sister liked it, my sister even went back for seconds but the biggest test was . . . Smiley liked it too. Might try this one again.

And here is a picture of the left overs (only because I forgot to take a picture before we ate):

My second recipe was from Pinterest also it was the Pomegranate syrup. I got the recipe from this link: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/simply-sweet-pomegranate-syrup/?socsrc=bhgpin121912pomegranatesyrup&crlt.pid=camp.uZDK4wfB

It was so easy to make and truth be told I haven't tried it yet only because I don't have any Gingerale in the house and that is what I'm planning on mixing it with.

Here is the final result:

I also turned to Pinterest for a non food link this weekend too. It was something called the sock bun that creates soft curls in your hair overnight. Here is the link: http://aspottedpony.com/for-moms/how-to-use-a-sock-to-get-beautiful-curly-hair-without-heat/1517/. Well it didn't work for me. First off I am positive you have to have long hair - not medium length hair like I have. Second the act of putting the hair in the bun is hard. Second all but the ends fell out of the bun and all I had was frizzy ends - not what I was looking for.

Also the hubby and I went to a new restaurant on Saturday night for dinner - a French restaurant. My meal was interesting. B-man enjoyed his. He had a whole lobster and french fries. Yep that was what was on the menu. Oh and it was too cute to have him ask me what frites were (thanks to my mother I at least know that much even though I never took French).

So how'z you doin?

Ok so I'm checking in on my New Year Resolutions (NYR) and so far this is how things are going:

1) I've been reminded of how to say 0-10 in German (can't spell properly yet but baby steps). I also know how to say "How are you?". My most recent phrase is about asking where the bathroom is . . . which is a start one for me. Don't have it down yet. So progress is being made - woo hoo.

2)  I have a confession - last week I goofed. I bought my lunch 2 times instead of just one. Sad face.

3) Haven't really been doing this as much as I would like. Oh sure I'm playing with Smiley but we are confined to a small space. This weekend was supposed to be nice (LIAR Mr. Weatherman) and we were going to go to a park. NOT!!!

4) I've only been drinking water when I have choir (Monday evenings and Sunday mornings). Sad face.

5) Still need to get a plant. Come on spring so I can roam around Home Depot and Loews.

6) I'm totally on plan with this. I've made 1 new Pinterest recipe and 2 recipes for Sunday dinners for the family. They agreed to be my taste testers. Also I made a new cake recipe that was yummy.

7) Need to still do this. Haven't really had the opportunity yet so need to find something.

8) More $$$ - no luck yet.

9) I've started putting money away in the savings account so I'm doing good.

10) Need to schedule date night for this month.

11) Done a little decrapping (that totally doesn't sound good) as we put the Christmas Stuff away - cleaned a little bit in Smiley's room too.

12) I sorted the thread to my dragon project - keep forgetting to find my hoop so I can start.

So how are you doing with your resolutions?

And we are off . . .

I tried a new recipe today from Pinterest . . . Italian Baked Shrimp

I'm not much of a shrimp person so I had to get another opinion on how they turned out. First off I would say that this recipe is very very easy. The only thing I changed was I cooked them for longer than the allotted 15 minutes. I baked it for another 10 minutes and even threw the broiler on. What can I say, I needed them to be more pink before I felt comfortable eating them and serving them.

Here is the link to Pinterest if you want to try it for yourself . . . I thought it was OK but then again as I said I'm not much of a shrimp person but I had Smiley's BFF over and D liked them a lot. She eats more seafood than I do so she is a better judge of the recipe.

http://pinterest.com/pin/92886811036308642