Flashback Friday. Did You Think I'd Forgotten?

Flashback Friday is back and better than ever. Okay, I won't go that far, being that it's tough to top some of my previous Flashback Fridays, but seriously, this one's pretty good. Read on!

Today, I thought I would start out with a flashback boardgame style.

So, do you remember any of these oldies but goodies?

As much as I hated the tedious set-up of this game, what with all of the pressing of the cardboard store fronts into their appropriate plastic slots and whatnot, I loved this game. No really. Like, when you were in fourth grade and you'd say to your friend, "If you love it so much, why don't you marry it?" It was that kind of love. My own little plastic credit card? Cha-ching! Remember how excited you would get if one of your items went on clearance? I bet I could shop 'til I dropped AND beat you back to my color-coded parking lot anyday! Let's just say.. And so began my addiction to all things shopping. I blame you, Mall Madness.

This game was a sleepover staple. Obviously, you didn't want your face covered in those ridiculous plastic zits, so you either took the dare or upped the ante and told the truth. A few of the crazy things I can remember doing include: licking water out of a bowl like a dog, walking around the room clucking like a chicken, eating a handful of dog food covered in some sort of ketchup/mustard condiment medley, as well as a more-than-healthy-dose of prank calling.. neighbors, grade school crushes, you name 'em, i called 'em.

And just when it couldn't get any worse- After a full day of shopping, followed by the 90's version of Truth or Dare, why not dial up a bunch of hotties to find out who secretly admires you? Funny how ALL of the telephone numbers began with "555." Anyone remember the winning phrase, "You're right! I really like you!" I can almost hear it now...

What would a flashback be without one of my favorite outdoor games? Obviously, I had to include a Skip-It. Growing up, my nextdoor neighboor and I would hold contests to see who would score a higher number on their Skip-it. This resulted in numerous trips to the nearest Toys R' Us to buy brand new replacement Skip-It(s) after we would break ours with the repeated smacking of the counter into the asphalt driveway. Pink, blue, yellow.. I had them all.

Although I never owned a pair of these, and truth be told, don't recall ever trying them on and bouncing around in them, I do recall said nextdoor neighbor owning a pair of these moonshoes and my being slightly jealous that summer when she busted them out. It's okay though. Shortly thereafter my parents gifted me with a pogostick. Same difference, right?

Speaking of pogosticks, who remembers "Pogo Ball?" Unfortunately, I do not have much to report on this either, as I spent most of my time pogostick-ing, but I will admit that these silly little pogo balls somehow incorporated themselves into my grade school phys-ed classes. Yes, that's right. Pogo Ball relays. Potato sack, what? That's old school. If you didn't Pogo Ball, you were a loser.

That's all for this week's Flashback Friday. I had almost forgotten how much fun these are to put together! Don't EVER let me go for more than two weeks without posting one! Shame on you, fellow bloggers! Just kidding. I'll be back to blogging once this weekend is over. Hubs and I will be returning to Hometown, New Jersey for a little R&R as well as my baby cousin's Christening. Pictures to follow!

Happy Friday!

I Just Wanted To Say...

that I am so excited about my Flashback Friday post for tomorrow. So excited, in fact, that I sort of, kind of, might have thought about posting it an entire day early.




Let's just say it's worth the suspense!
























PS: Anyone know how to create a super cute "Flashback Friday" graphic that I could potentially use for each FF post? I'm hopeless when it comes to that kind of stuff!

Can You Keep A Secret?

While folding the laundry last night and catching up on a myriad of DVR'd programming, I may or may not have hijacked the seven dollars I found in the pocket of Hub's jeans. And then used it to buy my pretty little self a mocha latte and blueberry muffin this morning.

Wordless Wednesday.

ok, so maybe this particular Wordless Wednesday

post requires a little introduction.

Making his debut for the first time ever on

I Love You More Than Carrots,

my parents third child, a three-year-old

Jack Russell/Pug Mix, aka "Jug"

Hurley

Vacation Destination, Decided!

Anybody remember this post? You know the one I'm talking about- It was only written last week and it was a plea for help choosing the M's July vacation destination.




First, let me say thank you for all of the suggestions. Just hearing your stories about the Pacific North West had me bursting at the seams, pulling out maps and travel brochures like they were going out of style. I even hopped on a few camping websites to see if we could snatch up a new (and larger) tent! Not that I don't mind snuggling up to Hubs in the tight quarters of our perfectly good, perfectly teensy two person tent, but I'm much more of a six-person-tent-for-two-people kinda gal. Alright, alright. Case in point? Hubs and I will definitely be touring the Washington/Oregon area, however it will not be this July.




Second, I'll be taking down the Vacation Poll you see there on your right hand side, since Hubs and I have officially booked our vacation just a few moments ago. The winner of the poll? Chucktown, South Carolina. I am dying to experience all that Charleston has to offer and Hubs and I will be planning a trip there later this Fall. I totally missed the bandwagon, as Hubs was parked down there for a work project for just under a year and I never once made the trip down to visit. Shame on me, I know.




So, where to? You're not going to believe me. And it was completely and utterly Hub's idea. Come the first week of July, we'll be packing our suitcases full of bathing suits and flip flops and jumping on a plane headed here:

The sunny islands of Turks & Caicos.

It wasn't an easy decision. There's been a lot of saving in the M household lately, what with the future purchases of a new car and a new house leading the charge, therefore, we didn't intend on splurging on the first of two summer vacations. But after some careful consideration, we realized the next opportunity we may have to see the beautiful islands of Turks, may not be until we're 50 and the kids are off to college and there's one less Sheepie running around the house. We also have been toying with the notion that this may be our last year of traveling sans.. you know.. baby. (Eeeek!) Hence, we decided to make this, our summer vacation, worthwhile.

And I thought I was on a budget before? Sheesh.. I best be saving all of my pretty little pennies now! But it will be so-o-o worth it. Turks and Caicos, here we come!

The Final Product.

Remember all of my earlier posts where I shared obscure photographs of a DIY weekend project that Hubs and I had been tirelessly working on? (Guess What We're Building?) Well, we finally shellacked (gosh, i love that word) the last of the boards and have a final product to share! Here's a couple of photos of the completed Cornhole/Bagg-O boards:

After much, much, much discussion as to what we should paint on the boards (Hubs lobbied for the Maryland flag, a crab or two, and numerous beer labels, while I was rooting more for the Vineyard Vines Whale, a JCREW critter board or some type of Lilly-esque paisley pattern) we agreed to disagree on a smattering of the Villanova colors. Corona in hand while braving the sweltering heat, Hubs and I set to laying out our own personal painter's tape creation. I painted the predominantly navy board, while Hubs went for a more streamlined less-is-more theme on the white board. All in all, I think they turned out pretty great. Don't worry, we gave ourselves plenty of pats on the back for our teamwork! Now if only we had the bags to play a game with...

there are few things in life i truly enjoy more than the kind of life contemplatin,' patio-grillin,' front porch-sittin,' days' a wastin,' sunset-watchin,' margarita-drinkin,' sundress-wearin' extra-long weekend Hubs and I shared these last four days.

m a r t h a s v i n e y a r d, j u n e 2 O O 8

Happy Weekend.

Wishing you a Memorial Day Weekend full of

this:

while wearing lot's of this:

while enjoying lot's of these (but not too many)

maybe while playing some of this

Happy Weekend!

i love you more than carrots' regularly scheduled blogging will return post holiday.

Pay It Forward. Want to Play?

Lis, over at Lis Loves started this wonderful trend

that seems to be sweeping the blogging community by storm!

And since I'm all about giving this month, I thought I'd give it a whirl!

Here are the rules:

• The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a small gift from me within one month!
• You must be willing to host a pay it forward too! As well as send the gifts out to your recipients within a month.
• Post this same thing on your blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in! Please remember to leave your e-mail!
  

Do you ever have those days that you know are going to be just great days because as you soon as you get in the car and turn the radio on, it's playing the song you wanted to hear most in the whole wide world and it's only just started?

Sigh. I love those kinds of mornings.

Love Me Some Ol' Bay.

I may have eaten an entire bag of these delicious

crab chips while sitting on my deck drinking

one of these after work last night:

And it was glorious.

I Love the La La. Again.

vineyard vines.

rue la la.

go there, pronto.

leave me your email if you need an invite

then you can get one of these, like i did.

Camp Adam.

Yep. That's right.

I voted for screamin' Rock Hottie.

Vacation, Where To?

Hubs and I could use your help. We're at a loss when it comes to deciding where to spend a week's vacation in July. We're already spending a week at the beach in August and planning a European getaway for our second wedding anniversary in October. Therefore, we're trying to stay within the confines of the continental US for our July vacation. We're open to suggestions. We need suggestions. To the right of your screen, you'll notice I posted a Vacation Poll. Listed are the few ideas that Hubs and I have been tossing around. Feel free to vote or leave us some new ideas! We love wine, sun, sand, hiking, climbing and camping. I love shopping and bed and breakfasts more than I love tents. You know, just a few details to steer you in the right direction. Much appreciated!

Have You Seen Me?

Have You Seen Me?

Riviera VonZippers

Last Worn At: A House Party by way of a Preakness theme, Arlington VA

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Paired Beautifully With: The Lilly Margherita Dress last seen in this post

Sentimental Because: They were purchased on my honeymoon

on the island of Kuaui, Hawaii in 2007,

after losing my favorite pair of Ralph Lauren sunglasses

at the top of the Waimea Canyon.

My Mom Will Tell You: This is why I don't always

deserve nice things. Because I sometimes misplace them.

Reward if returned.

And if I find out that an over-intoxicated i-wish-i-was-back-in-college-therefore-i-drank-my-face-off-and-most-likely-made-an-ass-of-myself -"hey-look-at-these-awesome-sunglasses-i-might-just-take-them-even-though-they-don't-belong-to-me" partygoer walked off with said sunglasses? I will hunt you down.

Marital Musings.

Hubs: Guess what I forgot to pack for this week?

Me: Don't know. What?

Hubs: Just boxers. And socks. You know, boxers AND socks.

Me: [attempting to stifle the laughter]

Hubs: It's not very funny. I've had to wear my Under Armour Lighthouse Liquors athletic shorts underneath my suit pants. Athletic shorts. Under my suit pants.

Me: Omg. That's hilarious. And no socks!?

Hubs: Socks? They would be tube socks. Thick, black, bunch-y Under Armour tube socks.

Me: Aw, honey..

Hubs: I've been slipping my shoes off underneath my desk, my feet have been overheating!

Me: [still laughing]

Hubs: This is what happens when I have to pack my bag myself! And these guys only think I'm professional.. If they only knew what I was wearing underneath my suit!

Teehee..

Tagged? Awe-Summm!

Jenny, over at Lucky in Love, tagged me for this pretty little award. Thank you, Jenny! If you're not a loyal reader/follower of hers, you are surely missing out! Jenny loves her husband, peanut butter, puppies... and still plays MASH! How could you not love her blog? She also makes the most darling cakes! They're simply amazing!



My Queen duties include:
1. List 7 things that make me Awe-Summm
2. Pass the award onto 7 bloggers that I love
3. Tag those bloggers to let them know they are now Queens too
(and link back to the Queen who tagged you)


Seven Things That Make Me Awe-summ:
1. I'm an Oncology Certified nurse. This means I have extra fancy credentialing letters after my last name (BSN, RN, OCN).
2. I can eat an entire sleeve of double stuff oreos in one sitting, with or without a glass of milk.
3. I can touch my uvula with my tongue. (Did I really just announce that to the public?) You know, your uvula? That little hangy punching bag-like-thing in the back of your throat? Yep. You got it.
4. My husband says I make the best scrambled eggs in the whole wide world.
5. After winning a multi-state radio contest, L.F.O and Christina Aguilera played a private concert at my high school. For clarifcation purposes, I didn't win the contest personally.
6. I often speed read through books so quickly that by the time I'm finished, I've forgotten what they were about! It's terrible when trying to recall which books I have and have not read! I can't help it that I've been reading since the ripe ol' age of 2!
7. My legs are exactly the length of a yardstick. How do I know this? One year, way back in grade school, it was during math class that we were forced to find objects within the classroom that were the exact length of a unit of measurement. My legs just so happened to fit the length of a yardstick!


Here's to the 7 Queens I'm passing this itty bitty award on to.. You gals are Awe-summ!

1. (jlc) at French Kiss
2. megs at Perfectly Imperfect
3. crystal at Shortbread
4. jamie at Confessions of a Twenty-Something
5. pp&ms at Pink Pearls and Muddy Sneakers
6. mrs. hibit at Love in the Suburbs
7. Pink Cupcake

Wordless Wednesday: West Coast Style.

l a k e t a h o e

2 o o 6

Out With the Old. In With the New. Beach Tote, that Is.

Last year's beach tote:

I really have no qualms with this bag. Perfect size for a couple of beach towels, bottles of water and suntan lotion. As a matter of fact, I used it so much there's still some OCMD sand in it from last year's Beach Week. It really was the perfect fit... for 2008.

This year's (coveted) beach tote:

I need this bag. Hubs, are you reading me? With this bag I will be embracing my Maryland-thru-marriage-heritage. You just can't go wrong with a classic Blue Crab! L.L Bean Tidepool Boat and Tote. B-o-a-t and T-o-t.. Ya got me? Don't forget to check retailmenot.com for free shipping codes! You'rethebesthusbandeverinthewholewideworldandiloveyoubunches!

Hoagie Saturday.

Mmm. Hoagie Saturday.

Yep, it's as good as it sounds.

A tradition that started back in December when Hubs and I moved into our house, each Saturday we walk about a block and half to a tiny yet unbelievably scrumptious "sub shop" tucked quaintly amongst the houses of our tree-lined streets. With the smell of freshly baked breads and Italian spiced meats wafting down the street, it's a must stop-in-and-order whenever we pass by.

Especially during late Saturday morning dog walks.

And so the tradition began.. Hubs would go in and order "the usual" while Sully and I hung out on the stoop, happily greeting the other Saturday regulars. We then walk the subs back home, divvy up the potato chips (Hubs always gets more than me!) and lazily share stories from our work week, conjour up plans for the weekend and toss around summer vacation destination ideas.

Until this Saturday.

Unfortunately, both Hubs and I had to be at work early this morning, in two very different, very far away cities! Therefore, neither one of us was able to meet up for our Saturday morning walk to the sub shop.

Instead, during our early afternoon dog walk past the sub shop,

I could've sworn I heard Sully whimper as I tugged at his leash,

coaxing him across the street and in the other direction.

Saturdays just aren't the same without Hubs OR our hoagies!

*Sigh*

via

You Guessed It! We Have a Winner!

jules

from Chic and Pink

"Are you building one of those beanbag game thingys?"

yes! that's what we're building!!

here are our boards, primed and ready for painting!

around here, we call this game Corn Hole,

(stop laughing!)

however it has many other names:

Bags

Corn Toss

Bean Bags

Bean Toss

It's the perfect addition to summer barbecues and tailgates!

Now, if only Hubs and I could agree on what to paint on each of our boards!

At first, I was thinking pink and green paisleys and he was thinking a crab and corona label. Now I'm thinking the pink Vineyard Vines Whale set on a navy background and he's thinking the Villanova "V." So much for matching, right? I tried to convince him that he could have a Vineyard Vines whale on his board, too!

CONGRATULATIONS, Jules! Don't forget to email me your mailing address and keep an eye out for a summer surprise!

(iloveyoumorethancarrots@gmail.com)

Thanks SO much to everyone that played along! I had an absolute blast putting together this giveaway and sitting down to the computer each night reading all of your guesses! Happy Friday!

What We're Building.

No, I am NOT giving away the answer just yet... that would be too easy!

but I do have to let you know

that there is only ONE more picture post

scheduled for tomorrow morning!

*gasp*

how could that be?

i'll explain. unfortunately, due to the ridiculous nature

of weather we've been experiencing this past week,

Hubs and I haven't been able to get outside

and put the finishing touches

on our fun little project!

(for those of you that guessed

bird something or other

fortunately, you're wrong).

good guess though,

what with the hole in the board and all...

but i tricked you.

so KEEP guessing.

i suppose tomorrow's picture post is rather telling,

however, in the event that i have stumped you all,

i will be posting hints throughout the day.

i'm beginning to think i should reward for creativity

because so many of your guesses have me belly-laughing out loud!

Sanity Saver.

Sullivan is a sheepdog.

He likes to herd things.

Especially his owners.

Have you ever tried vacuuming/dusting/gardening/mopping/laundry-folding with an 80 pound puppy nipping at the backs of your calves? I didn't think so. Take it from me, it's nearly impossible. If it weren't for these overpriced, all-natural, made-in-the-USA chew toys, I wouldn't be able to get anything done around the house.

So, Mr. Inventor of the Rawhide? I could kiss you on the mouth. Myself and my sanity thank you.

Guess What We're Building?

have you guessed what we're building?

you should, because it ends with a fabulous giveaway!

photo no. 5

Guess What We're Building?

photo no. 4

drill bits and scrap wood

(the easy way out)

maybe it's time to up the anty. don't give up yet.

the pictures get better tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday: Aloha Edition.

w a i m e a c a n y o n

k u a u i , h a w a i i

2 0 o 7

Happy Nurse's Week and Oncology Nursing Month!

Don't forget to tell your favorite nurse, especially if she's an Oncology nurse, just how much you love and appreciate her!

Guess What We're Building?

keep those guesses coming..

photo no. 3

we're not building..

1) a porch swing, even though i would really, really, really love one!

2) flower boxes. thanks to mother nature and the recent deluge of rain she has graced us with, there will be no more buying of flowers and therefore, no need for more flower boxes. Hubs said so.

3) a toy chest/cradle/anything baby. no bun in the oven here folks!

4) a bookshelf. come to think of it, we probably should be building a bookshelf or two. Hubs is getting pretty tired of finding my books shoved in all odd corners of the house!

5) a pool. (out of wood?) keep guessing!

6) a gazebo. okay, we're not exactly The Yankee Workshop here, guys. but thank you for thinking we're capable of such craftmanship!

Don't be dismayed! Stay tuned for pictures and hints!

Guess What We're Building?

since there are so many fabulous guessers out there

and i really really really want somebody to guess

what we're building:

photo no. 2

Tasty.

yummy.

Hubs and I went to see

X-Men Origins: Wolverine on Saturday night.

I may or may not have spent

the entire movie drooling over Mr. Jackman.

And remembering the fifth grade

when I may or may not have wished I was Jean Grey.

So Far, You've Guessed...

Okay. I can't stop laughing out loud.

The guessing has started and it's really cracking me up!

So many great guesses so far,

but unfortunately,

nobody's guessed

what we're building!

i've realized i need to clarify some of the rules

that i hadn't thought about before:

one guess per picture post

so make it a good one!

remember, i will be posting pictures DAILY

some are major hints, others are just hilarious.

and of course, i will review the guesses and let you know

what we aren't building.

we are not building:

1) a deck, for the roof OR the backyard. we already have one of those and even though it's in need of a little deck lovin'we're renters and not ready to shell out all of that money.

2) a house for the soon-to-be Mrs. Dunn. based solely on your blogging skills and the cuteness factor of you and future hubs, i would totally build you guys a house, however Hubs and I currently only have enough in savings for one future house. Our house!

3) a patio/deck/thing. see above.

4) hurricane shutters. no hurricanes in these parts. although, i should hold my tongue. the weather's been pretty crap-tastic lately, so i shouldn't put anything past mother nature.

5) a doghouse. (great guess!) but sadly and much to Sullivan's dismay, we are not building a doghouse. chances are he would eat his way out of house and home, for sure.

6) a saw horse. Haha. although we really could have used a couple of these to build our *fun* little project, we are not building a saw horse. Hubs would rather balance the wood on two of our Adirondack chairs. which means chances are we'll need a couple of new chairs.

don't fret.

the answer is

yet to be guessed!

keep guessing!

Guess What We're Building?

Remember, it's a GIVEAWAY!!

photo no. 1

Can You Guess What We're Building? (Hint: It Ends With a GIVEAWAY!)

For the next week or so, I will be posting pictures of a fun little weekend project that Hubs and I undertook here at the M household. I'm slowly coming up on my 100th post and have been thinking about hosting my first giveaway. Giveaways seem to be rather popular amongst the "twenty-something bloggers" and I think it's about time I de-virginize my giveaway self.

And what better way to do so than with a "Guess What We're Building" game?
Hey, we're all about FUN and SURPRISES here in the M household!




Every day this week
STARTING TOMORROW, MONDAY between 8 and 9 AM
I will post a picture (or two!) of our weekend project.
It might be a picture of a tool we used, or an action shot of one of the steps in the "process o' FUN!"



I don't think I'm going to give up any hints just yet..
Just pictures.
If we've truly stumped you, I'll let you in on a secret or two at the end of the week.



And sorry real-life friends, you guys are off-limits- only because you already know what we're building! Duh!



What's the giveaway? I can't tell you yet, because I, myself don't even know! Chances are it will be sweet, stylish and fun (Kind of like yours truly!) and personalized around the winner of the contest!



So, invite your friends to guess,
the more the merrier! Remember to check back regularly for posts entitled,
"Guess What We're Building?"



The first person to guess correctly wins!
Good luck and Happy Guessing!




PS: In order to win,
you must also be a follower of I Love You More Than Carrots!

Dear Anonymous Commentor.

In response to my last post regarding the must-read "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan, an Anonymous commentor left me this priceless little paragraph:

" As uncomfortable and angsty as they might be,
the middle place years are your true salad days.

"salad days, / When I was green in judgment, cold in blood."
-Wm Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra

Most often "salad days" refers to the time of youth after high
school or college before you marry. But for those of us who
have met our lifemates, the days before children are true
salad days. With more money and time at your disposal,
vacations and lazy days at home, long nights together with no
fear of interruption are the days you will look back on in the future.
They will sustain you through life's challenges and help renew
your love when you think all is lost. "


Dear Anonymous Commentor,

A true and deep heartfelt thank you goes out to you. You do not know the depth to which your words touched me and how those words have moved and reassured me. This "middle place" holds many unknowns, for both a young wife and a young woman. Unknowns filled with both fear and hope. It thrills me and excites me to continue filling these days sans children with those lazy days and long nights you speak of. I know the future holds many things for us; challenges as well as celebrations. I cannot wait to spend, and promise to spend these "days" strengthing the foundation between myself and my husband for the benefit of our future. I've thought about these words a lot today and I'm sure will continue to think about them in the future. It sounds like you've had some experience. Thank you. Thank you for answering those silent questions of a woman and a wife, stuck happily in that middle place.

The Middle Place. Shameless Book Plug.

Yesterday, while sitting in the Mazda dealership waiting for a new tire, I downloaded Kelly Corrigan's "The Middle Place" on my Kindle. First, you need to understand that I typically choose books based on the proverbial back-cover "blurb" and therefore, I scooped up this gem-of-a-memoir as soon as I read that it's about the relationship between a daughter and her father. Sometimes this haphazard way of choosing books is an absolute bust, but more times than not, it is a huge success.



I couldn't even get through the prologue without welling up. Please pick it up. It's worth the out-loud laughter as well as the tears. Never before have I become so immediately absorbed in a story- so compelled to stay up just a minute longer to read the next page.




Kelly Corrigan writes about that "middle place" between childhood and parenthood. When you've grown up, become a wife, a mother and yet, still, you are someone's daughter.




"...And that's what this whole thing is about. Calling home. Instinctively. Even when all the paperwork- a marriage license, a notarized deed, two birth certificates, and seven years of tax returns- clearly indicates you're an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you're still somebody's daughter."

I Love The La La.

Newest Obsession: Rue La La

If you're not privy to this invitation-only online boutique, you need to be.


Seriously, why haven't you left me your email address already?

Hubs, if you're reading this, please navigate away from the page immediately.




Let's take a gander at what will be arriving on my doorstep on, if not before, May 15th.
A little something from today's Lilly sample sale:

the Margherita dress

Hubs, if you're still reading, you can just hang onto my stipend for the next couple of weeks.