Dreams Come True #dreamcometrue #kindle #paperwhite

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Erika

Animal and Mineral’s birthday is on Friday. I received an email from Amazon this morning with the subject “Happy  Birthday,” and I assumed it was for them. A gift from a relative because even though they’re going to be 10, they are way behind other 10-year-olds and don’t have email addresses. Nor do they have cell phones.

But! No! I read the email and it said, Happy early Birthday love mom and it was for a KINDLE PAPERWHITE.

(engadget.com)

(engadget.com)

Oh my GOD, you guys! My birthday isn’t even until MAY!

And what is a Kindle Paperwhite, you may ask? Let me tell you!

It’s a dedicated reader — not a tablet, not like a Fire or iPad — and it’s backlit. It’s back-lit! You can read in the dark, without a light shining on! It has 221ppi which allegedly means something about pixels! You can choose from six fonts! It’s a touch-pad!

I am so freaking excited. SO EXCITED. I’m having a hard time not using shouty-caps for everything! I cannot wait to read on it! I seriously think it may improve the state of my marriage, since My Chemical Romance likes to go to bed at 9pm and I like to go to bed at 12am 1am 2am 11pm after reading with the light on.

Also, remember my Vision Board Affirmation Board for 2013? A Kindle was totally on it and it’s only January 23 and I’ve already received it! I can’t wait for all of my other dreams to come true!

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Update on My 33rd Birthday List

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Erika

I have crossed two things off my bucket list for my 33rd birthday: Zumba and donating $10. I gave an extra dollar because I was a day or two late.

Zumba was interesting. I know I’m uncoordinated but I didn’t realize the extent of my lack-of-coordination til I was in the class –

Wait, did I mention I joined a gym? No my blog has not been hacked. My Chemical Romance’s insurance has a deal with gyms where you can get a membership for cheap. So I joined.

Anyway, I am uncoordinated. The minute I started to follow along, it was time for a new move. Dammit. Six years ago, between The Informant and My Masterpiece, I was a gym rat, but this was before Zumba. I loved step, spin and cardio kickboxing. Now I cannot imagine my but is healed enough for spin (or ever will be) but I’ve attended step and yoga. Kickboxing is too much torture.

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I’d rather be doing this.

The step class was like going back in time: I always loved step, and especially one particular instructor, Bridgett. She still teaches, so if you’re ever in Yuma, Arizona, and looking for a step class, go to the Valley of the Sun YMCA on 4th Ave.

This class was okay. The instructor was kind of shrill and I felt like she called the steps late, but I’m sure I’ll get used to her. I plan to go back.

I donated $10 to Child’s Play, on recommendation of My Chemical Romance. It’s well-known in the Gamers’ community as a charity that donates video consoles and games to hospitals and pediatric centers.

Child’s Play works in two ways. With the help of hospital staff, we set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, books, and other fun stuff for kids. By clicking on a hospital location on our map, you can view that hospital’s wish list and send a gift.

Child’s Play also receives cash donations throughout the year. With those cash donations, we purchase new consoles, peripherals, games, and more for hospitals and therapy facilities. These donations allow for children to enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, interact with their peers, friends, and family, and can provide vital distraction from an otherwise generally unpleasant experience.

Child’s Play Charity is a nonprofit and keeps their administrative costs under 6%. They also appeal to lazy donaters:

What’s the easiest/fastest way to donate?

Text “GAMERS” to 50555 to donate $5 directly to Child’s Play! Charges will appear on your bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance.

I’m planning to choose a new charity each month.

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Turning 33

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Erika

My birthday is in about two weeks. I’m turning 33. Yes, I know, zomg!! I’m so young! Especially when you consider my childrens’ combined age is 30. Phew.

I’m going to be the age my mom was when I was born. In 1979, that was practically being a middle-age mom. I don’t think of myself as a kid, or young, but sometimes I feel a bit scattered for 33. Shouldn’t I have a better idea of what I want to do when I grow up? Shouldn’t I have some more stability, rather than just taking every day as it comes (and hoping for a nap)? Sometimes I feel sort of flaky and disorganized, like I’m juggling-knives-that-also-happen-to-be-on-fire. That probably comes with having so many children, but other women my age seem much more together than I feel.

There are things I accept, now that I’m turning 33. I accept that I enjoy cooking and hate cleaning. I accept that despite missing pop culture, it will be years before I can watch tv regularly again. Also I’m crossing off “run a marathon” AND “do a triathlon” from my bucket list. (I would, however, like to try Zumba.) I accept that where I live is dependent on My Chemical Romance’s career, rather than my desires. And that drinking milk makes my stomach hurt (that took FOREVER to accept, but for the most part, I’m over eating foods that hurt me). Also, I accept that writing is my only form of creativity — but that’s okay. I’m a good writer, and at least I have one form of creativity in me!

Another thing I think about, as my 33rd birthday approaches: My birth dad never saw 33. I am going to be older than he ever was. He’s younger even than my husband, frozen forever in some very dated photographs. It’s so sad, even though he is more conceptual to me than anything, especially because he has no living family. But conceptual still counts — I have often explained the idea of a birth dad to Animal and Mineral. My Chemical Romance adopted them when they were 3, just like my dad adopted me when I was 8. We all three have birth dads. Theirs is alive as far as I know; mine died when he was 32. I’m almost 33 and I have a lot of life in me.

MOMMYBLOGGERFASHIN’ (at 32)

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Hair: Washed! With EO brand (no SLS or SLES) shampoo, from Whole Foods.
Face: make up (a little). Bare Minerals or Pure Minerals or something, for powder and blush, plus Lancôme mascara, which I love.
Shirt and shorts: Kohl’s, Croft&Barrow (I might need a solid-color-tshirt-and-shorts intervention but come on! My shorts are pink!)
Shoes: Toms. No flip-flops til I get a pedicure.

Filed under: Daily Life, family | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Happy Birthday to The Informant

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Erika

Seven years ago, I was all this

At the UC-San Diego Birth Center

and The Informant was all this

"Hello, world! Let me tell you all about everything..."

And My Chemical Romance was all this

They BOTH look so young!

A year later, we were living in Arizona and The Informant was all this

She didn't like the chocolate cake... til she tasted it!

When she was two, she was all this

For those who knew me as a child: She.Is.Me.

By the time she turned three, we lived in Charlotte, and had a birthday party at Monkey Joe’s and was all this

She loves pink.

At four years old, she was all this

I was really sick on her birthday; I don't even think I was at the table!

And all this, at five

She loves this outfit. Now it's Syd's.

She spent her sixth birthday in Florida with my parents. When she got back, she was all this

Three birthdays in a row in Charlotte! It was a miracle.

Today, she is 7 years old, and she’s all this

Happy Birthday, Informant!

 

 

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