Friend Makin' Monday

Wow! The first Friend Makin' Monday of 2010!

Today's theme is favorite holiday pictures.

Check out more at Amber's blog!

I adore this picture of my husband and me with our almost one year old niece! He met her for the first time over Christmas and I got to see her for the third time. Not the most flattering picture of me, but it's all about the baby!

Friend Makin' Monday

Before I get into my Friend Makin' portion of the post, I have to mention what happened this morning. As I mentioned in previous posts, over the weekend my husband had the flu. I have been so afraid of catching it, but so far, I am feeling totally fine. So I got up this morning, leaving sleeping hubby in the bed because he is taking a sick day, and got ready for work.

When I got to school, I mentioned to a friend that my husband was sick over the weekend and she said I should talk to my department head because the school does not want any students or staff in the building if they have even been exposed to the flu. So....

They sent me home!

I couldn't believe it.

Yes, please. I will take a day off that doesn't count as an absence in order to avoid spreading germs at school.

I have that giddy feeling I get when a snow day is announced.

(I also heard a rumor they are thinking of closing the entire school tomorrow and Wednesday.)

Yikes!

In honor of my "snow day" (I can't really call it a sick day)...Tell me what you love to do if school gets cancelled.

Call it a lazy day?

Get organized?

Cook something yummy?

OK, on to Friend Makin' Monday!

Amber at {ae filkins} is hosting another FMM and today's topic, which I love, is

What are your favorite candle scents??

I am one of those people, who loves sniffing out any candles that smell like food. Not all food, mostly yummy scents reminiscent of baked goods fresh from the oven. I know there are many people out there who despise these kinds of scents, but I am a lover! My bff is one of those people. Although we are so much alike in most regards, our candle sniffing tastes are very different. She is a lover of Granny Smith Apple.

These are my lovelies:

Buttercream

as in delicious buttercream frosting

Cinnamon & Sugar

like warm cinnamon buns!

Frosted Pumpkin

Pumpkin is such a nice fall scent, but sometimes it can be too spicy smelling for me. The addition of the word frosting and the baked goods on the jar made this one seem delish!

Christmas Cookie

maybe it's the memories attached to baking and decorating sugar cookies during the holidays, but this scent is at the top of my list!

I think my love of baking definitely informs my selection of candle scents!

And as for my not-so-favorites:

There are a lot that I don't care for, but this would be one of them!

Lemon Lavender

The lemon part is okay, but not a fan of Lavender and I always consider whether or not the candle color matches my decor and this one is a miss!

Friend Makin' Monday

This week's theme for Friend Makin' Monday is:

If you were in a movie, which movie would you want to live in?

Check out Amber's blog to see the rest of the answers.

I would have to say that I would choose to be in the original Step Up.

I would love to attend a school were dancing and choreographing was part of my education! Of course, as long as we are playing make believe, I would have fantastic dancing talents like Jenna Dewan.

Not to mention that dancing with this guy would be pretty fantastic...

::sigh::

It would also be pretty fun to live in Clueless. I would die for Cher's closet!

Friend Makin' Monday

The theme for this week's Friend Makin' Monday is...

things that make you happy

Check out all of the other responses on Amber's blog.

1. my husband

2. my family

3. my BFF Cristina

4. being a teacher

5. getting into my cozy bed at night

6. reading/learning

Friend Makin' Monday

Today's theme for Friend Makin' Monday is:

What are your hobbies?

What do you wish you knew how to do?

Hobbies

blogging! :0)

working out

reading

baking/cookie decorating

being crafty like stamping or scrapbooking

volunteering for Special Olympics

In a Perfect world I would be able to:

sew & quilt

do my own blog makeovers

decorate with style and chic-ness

play an instrument, preferably the piano and sing too!

paint or draw really well

Check out the rest of the posts at Amber's blog!

P.S. The goal for this Friend Makin' Monday is to get up to 50 followers! One more to go as of posting time! I mean ideally more than that, but I am just rounding up to the closest 10 right now!

Friend Makin' Monday

It's Friend Makin Monday again!

Today's task is to:

List 5-10 of your favorite things! These can be things you think everyone must have, a collection of things you have, or some product or miracle invention that has changed your life

***I am stealing a very clever idea from another blogger whose Friend Makin' post I just read. There was a very similar topic back in July which I have copied. Anything in blue is a new comment that I am adding today. (Makes it a bit easier, but now I have more bloggy friends who have not read this before...)***

Diet Coke! (Coca-Cola light in Germany)

I tried to give this up when we moved to Germany, because Cola Light is just not the same as Diet Coke, but alas, the addiction continues....

Kitchen Aid Mixer

My mixer is still with our shipment of stuff that has not arrived yet, but I am excited to get it back! We almost didn't bring it because of the difference in electrical outlets here, but to buy one here with a European plug costs about 500 Euros or more! The only sad thing is that I don't know if I will do as much baking here because it seems like some key ingredients (baking soda, brown sugar, & vanilla are very different...)

Sharpies in every color of the rainbow

LOVE them!

Bare Minerals Makeup

Yup, still love it. Stocked up before we moved because I can't buy it here!

Books!!!

If you check out some recent posts, you will see proof of my love for books. I have ordered from amazon.com, amazon.de, half.com, and borders.com since moving here a little over a month ago!

MacBook Pro (essential for my blogging!)

live.eat.sleep.mac

Chi Flatiron

LOVE IT

I have a new flat iron now that I bought for our ten day "look see" trip to Germany. That is how deep my obsession goes...before we even knew if we were going to move here, I bought a 120 dollar flat iron with the correct European plug so I would not have to go without one during our 10 day trip. The Chi DOES NOT work with the conversion plugs, so I didn't want to risk blowing it out. I figured even if we didn't move here, 12 dollars a day for good hair was worth it! My new flat iron is a Sedu and it's great too.

And of course, I could never live without my wonderful husband, my great friends, and my supportive family. I don't think any of them really want their pictures up on my blog, so I will just say that they are beautiful and awesome!

Friend Making Monday

I have not participated in a Friend Makin' Monday in awhile, but this week's topic of Fall Shows at Amber's blog caught my attention! Because of my husband's wonderful talents and tech savvyness, we are able to watch all of our favorite U.S. shows here in Germany with the help of a Tivo stationed at his parents house in California and a Slingbox which allows us to stream the shows from the Tivo to our computers. He also has a Sling Catcher which will allow us to stream the shows to our television once we purchase one. We end up watching the shows the day after they air in California, but I am okay with that because I have a lot of free time in the afternoon once I am done working.

Anyway...onto my favorite shows....

There are lots, so I am just going to list them:

1. The Biggest Loser!!!

2. Grey's Anatomy

3. Desperate Housewives

4. Top Chef

5. Project Runway

6. Nip/Tuck (guilty pleasure)

7. America's Next Top Model

8. Gossip Girl

9.90210

10. Melrose Place

Mostly I am super pumped for the new season of The Biggest Loser. It is my favorite show and I get so attached to the contestants. Towards the end, I cry during every episode, especially the makeover show.

If you are visiting my blog for the first time, leave a note to say hello!

It's Friend Makin Monday again!

Today's task is to:

List 5-10 of your favorite things! These can be things you think everyone must have, a collection of things you have, or some product or miracle invention that has changed your life

Diet Coke! (Coca-Cola light in Germany)

Kitchen Aid Mixer

Sharpies in every color of the rainbow

Bare Minerals Makeup

Books!!!

MacBook Pro (essential for my blogging!)

Chi Flatiron

I didn't post this originally and I can't believe I forgot it!

LOVE IT

Friend Making Monday

I found this idea at Jen's blog and really liked it. I would never miss a chance to brag about my wonderful best friend(s).

Similar to many other people, I consider my husband my best friend. When you choose a life partner and you share every aspect of life, it is hard not to be best friends. Especially in recent weeks, dealing with our relocation to Germany, my husband has been so sweet and supportive I can't imagine what life would be like without him.

There is another special person in my life though that is my girly bff, my other soulmate for many reasons. Cristina and I met in college as we were placed together freshman year at Villanova. We both opted to be part of the "alcohol free" zone in the dorm which was a total blessing because the rest of the girls were paired alphabetically. With our last names starting with F and W, we never would have been together if it hadn't been for that choice.

My bridal shower 2007

Cristina's bridal shower 2007

We had only lived together for about a month or so before we decided to live together again the following year. Our bestfriendhood quickly blossomed as we discovered we loved living together and were totally in sync in many aspects. We lived together all four years in college and were pretty much inseparable.

Ever since college, we have not lived close to each other. I am in Oregon and she was in New Jersey and now in Virginia. It sucks living so far from your best friend because you miss out on the simple things like meeting for lunch, going to the movies, and shopping together (all things we did a lot in college, especially the shopping part). I can't call her up and have her come over on a Friday night to watch chick flicks and I can't cry on her shoulder or let her cry on mine when things are hard because we have such a distance that separates us.

I have realized though, that true friendship transcends physical distance. Even though I don't get to see her often, we talk on the phone every week and our connection is still as strong as ever. We have a way of relating to each other that is comfortable, consistent, and perfect. If I have something to complain about, she gets it. We think alike, can finish each other's sentences, and even though we are not close in distance, we are close in our hearts. We are on the same wavelength about most things and we just get each other in a way that tells me we will be friends forever.

My wedding August 18, 2007

Cristina's wedding September 8, 2007

Cristina was the Maid of Honor at my wedding and I was the Matron of Honor at hers a few weeks later. She is the most amazing friend and I love her with all my heart. She is thoughtful, she remembers to ask about things that are happening in my life and that are important to me, she sympathizes when I am sad and she celebrates when I am happy. She even laughs at my jokes which makes me adore her all the more.

I hope that someday, we can live closer. I would love to be able to take prego pics with her one day and have playdates with our kids. I would love to be able to go out for drinks when life offers things to celebrate and to have new adventures together like the ones we had in college. I know, however, that even if we are not in close proximity, we will always be the best of friends because we fit together in a way that I have not experienced with my other girlfriends. I am always a person who does not have a lot of friends, but the ones I have mean the world to me and provide me with quality relationships. Cristina is the best example of that. If I have exciting news, it is her that I call. If I am pissed off, it is her that I complain to. She is the best and I am so glad that fate brought us together 9 years ago.

I don't think I could ever do her justice in words, but I tried.

I heart Cristina!!!