Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much to blogger Evil Pixie for the beautiful earrings. I love love love them! She sent me these beautiful Pixie Drop earrings. And I'd take a picture of them and post it here but my camera is 'misbehaving' so I'm re-posting the picture from Evil Pixie's blog so you can see the lovely gift I received in the mail (and after the week I had, thank you thank you thank you- it was a wonderful pick me up and they are just stunning!). Thank you again Evil Pixie for the earrings!!!!

xoxoxox,
Mags

* Image taken by Evil Pixie and used with her permission- thanks!

I still just love awards!

I've recently been following a blog called Pfeiffer Pfilms and Meg Movies, which is all about Meg Ryan and Michelle Pfeiffer and I thinks it's a fun spot, and the author of that blog, Paul, has given me an award- thank you Paul!


As with all awards there are rules:
1 - Thank and link back to the person that awarded you this award,which I've just done.
2 - Share 7 things about yourself.
3 - Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4 - Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Here are the seven things about me:
a. I have freckles
b. I want to move to England or Ireland to live but have no idea how to go about making this happen
c. I need new black penny loafers because mine have identical holes in each shoe, over the big toes
d. I think I'm outgrowing being an atheist
e. Mac's driving makes me nervous which is ironic since I taught him to drive
f. I still didn't see some of the most famous, popular Christmas movies of all times like White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Story. Can I still watch 'em in January?
g. I want a big blizzard so we get a week's worth of snow days.

Now, I'm supposed to 15 recently discovered bloggers. This makes me feel terrible because I haven't been out trolling the world for new blogs to read; I can't keep up with all the ones on my current list (thank you to those who do not post daily- hahaha!) So the following nominations are to people I read who I've either recently discovered (we're not going to define recently) or who I know who have been blogging for less that a new. And no, there are not 15...

1. D-Nice
2. Mignardise
3. Pink in the City
4. Mommy with a Penis
5. Phlog
6. The English Writer

Thanks again to Paul for the award. And thanks to all the great bloggers out there!

Mags

Random Thursday

Mac has a girlfriend. It's his first one. She's cute and seems nice. But Mac has a girlfriend. And I officially got ditched the other night; he went to do something with her instead of me. It's official. And weird and I'm not sure I like it.

I have over 100 followers. That is so cool! I hope I can end the year with over 100. Thanks to all of you who follow.

This is the next to last day of Round 4 in the voting for Top Blog. I'm 13 votes behind making it to the top 5. Please vote for me. I'd love to make the top 5!!!!!!!!! I know, from looking at the numbers, that I won't win but with a surge of voting for me at the end and I could make the top 5 at least! And a huge big thanks to all of you who have voted for me all along!

Today I get to see the Broadway musical Annie. I'm chaperoning a school trip! This is a cool perk! I have no insurance and I barely make above minimum but I get a free theater ticket and food to one of my all time favorite shows!

I had a chance to drive a transport last night. And it looks like I might be able to drive a whole bunch over Christmas vacation if I want. I'm torn between the lure of cash and the time off to rest.

I discovered I can be bribed with Oreos. Yeah. I worked the concession stand the other night at a high school boy's wrestling match and was bribed by the athletic director with Oreos and I caved. By the way: I'd never been to a boy's wrestling match before and it's icky. And this was a long one- it was a 4 school invitational. Ah, what I won't do for the bliss of chocolatey goodness and creamy filling.

Earlier this week I wrote about the Christmas movies I'd watched and not. Well, the day that posted, I went to the library. I was speaking with the librarian about the Christmas movies I have NOT seen like White Christmas, specifically. What caused the conversation was a huge stack of Christmas DVDs that she was putting in a display. It wasn't in the stack; someone had checked it out. But as the words are spoken and hanging in the air above our heads, like a balloon attached to a cartoon, a guy returns a stack of movies and White Christmas was on top. It was fate and too much coincidence. I checked it out and it is here, at my house, ready for me to watch this weekend. (So was The Bishop's Wife, which I had to snag as well.)

So, I work in a library but I'm not reading much this month. Part of my issue is that I have head aches and need new glasses. I'm going to have to cave in and get the stupid bifocals this time. Ugh! The other part is that I just feel like I'm struggling to find anything that appeals to me. I have a huge list of books I want to read, like about 103 to be exact, but I just can't seem to find a focus.

Christmas Swap on Pink Saturday, plus a movie! And please vote!

Happy Pink Saturday! I have a two fold post today. First, Beverly the host of the PS event at How Sweet The Sound has given a theme of "favorite Christmas movie" to share this PS. I will be getting to that, I promise. I have to do some pink business first.

I participated in a Christmas Swap. I received the most wonderful and cutest package from the blogger of Happily Ever After in Seattle. Look at all the sweet and wonderful, and thoughtful goodies I received! I can't say thank you enough- thank you thank you thank you! What a wonderful treat to come home to!


Thank you again for such wonderful pink pretties!!!! And a special thanks to Lisa Marie at This Girl Is... for hosting such a fun event!

As for my favorite Christmas movie... well, it's a bit non-traditional, like me. The Holiday is a romantic comedy starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude law and Cameron Diaz. I love this feel good, sappy Christmas fare.

In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie

Oh and voting! I just found out I made round 4 at being nominated for one of the best blogs of 2010 at The Blog Guidebook (click here to vote!). Please go vote for me! I can't believe I'm still in the running- how flattering! Thanks to all who voted before and who will be voting!

*I apologize for the crappy picture quality. I took them with my phone because I have a video on my digital and it timed out uploading. So, I'm sorry for these horrid shots of such pretty things!

Busy busy busy!

I've been so busy! I know it's partially the time of year, but I feel like I'm super busy even when not doing holiday stuff.

This week alone I've had Mac's choir concert and tonight is his band concert. I had to sort all the Alcatraz Prom pictures with the photographer last night. Monday night I helped ITSam- he needed a ride to his son's band concert so I did that ('tis the season to be nice, right?). Something every night this week!

Friday we're going to help Daddy-O decorate the rest of the house for Christmas. I committed to working an extra secretary shift over the weekend. I promised to take Princess Christmas shopping Sunday, which is a good thing since I haven't bought a single gift! (Thank goodness I have a list of what I want to get!). XRay Girl wants to have dinner one night this week, I haven't seen Curly socially in a month, and I only could see Princess for 2 hours the other night.

Additionally, I promised Mac to help him with a HUGE paper that's due tomorrow and he wants to get some serious extra credit in Spanish class so he needs to MAKE a pinata. Are you kidding? I offered to just buy one, but that's not allowed. I told him to ask Daddy-O for help since that's an art project.

Add to this a new job and then working extra as my "peripheral" jobs... ugh. I've been so very tired. I've been trying to make hats for the Alcatraz kids (with the help of my elves, thank you very much!), blog, read blogs, read books, relax, hang with friends and there's no time for anything. I'm really not complaining; I just feel so overwhelmed. I actually went to bed last night at 8:20pm.

The purpose of this post was originally two fold- to just say thanks to everyone who is reading me (and voting for me as one of the top blogs- please keep voting!) and to tell you that I'll be back to reading soon... maybe over Christmas break?

I could also preview a few other upcoming posts: Christmas food, my 40 things to do before I'm 40 (PLEASE more ideas needed!!!!) my new job, kiwi fruit debate, and the Christmas swap.

I do miss you!
Mags

40 for 40

I have to say that "great minds think alike." I'm completely not kidding. This is the weirdest irony. It's like a giant "jinx, you owe me a Coke" moments. I've been playing around, writing a post about doing 40 things before I turned 40. I was going to post it this week, beg readers for ideas after they read the "rules/limits" publish the list on the Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov 29) and start on the list Dec. 1. BUT, guess what? BRAGGER already posted a list asking for suggestions from readers of 50 things she should do before she's 50. Now I feel like a big, plagiarizing, copycat.

I debated whether or not to give it a whirl & I decided what the heck! And I also emailed Bragger who gave me the green light to go forth and blog. (this isn't the first time she and I have had similar, tandem post topics. I swear you read enough of a person and you can become one with the blogger portion of their brain) And I'm going to mention Bragger frequently in this post because she did it so well the first time and... well, why should I recreate the wheel?

I want to do 40 new things that I haven't done before, before I turn 40 next Sept. 26. I'm scared for turning 40, and not really looking forward to it, hate the horridness that is that number, but I have to do it; turning 40 is better than the alternative. In an effort to not dwell on the old part, I've decided to try and do 40 things I've not done before.

I would love help from you. Please give me some suggestions! This is not a contest and there are no prizes if I do something you suggested. And while there are no RULES to your suggestions, there are some guidelines because, as Bragger put it, these suggestions should be "reasonable" (Bragger). Guidelines are as follows (you know I love to bullet things!):

• Affordability. I don't make much over minimum wage an hour so money is an issue. I don't have a ton of money and sponsors so I need to keep costs for these things reasonable and affordable. If you want to give me a suggestion and then provide all the funding, I would seriously consider that, but until that happens, please keep costs to a minimum.

• I can't quit my job or take lots of time off to do stuff. Please keep "time" in mind when suggesting. (Though if someone would like to fund a summer in Italy, we could certainly work that out!!!)


• The 40 things don't have to be adventurous, death-defying acts (Bragger). I don't do heights and I don't do scary. If you've read here long enough, and if you read my "old" blog, then you really do know I will not parachute out of a plane, ride a roller coaster, bungee jumping or any of that scary crappola. Not this girl.


• "It has to be something I have some control over, so it would be a waste to put 'win the lottery' as one of the 40 things" (Bragger). As would get married. Or publish a book.


• "I would prefer that items on the list not turn into lifetime commitments" (Bragger) like having a baby or getting a pet or getting married.


• Nothing that would be considered ridiculous or stupid. Silly is okay but stupid-- uh, no. Like get married or have a baby or touch spiders.


• It cannot include things that have pain associated with them, like another tattoo. I also cannot get anything pierced because Daddy-O said I would be moving out (If I do move out before 9/26/11 I cam totally getting my nose pierced, though) if I came home with a piercing. OUT- not even threatened me with the Shed but OUT.


• I also hope that you will take what you know about me into consideration and suggest things that are "Maggie Like".

I'm sure there are other "guidelines" I could suggest. Right now, though, these are the ones that sound reasonable and make the most sense. I was talking to Mac and Princess the other night about this concept and they helped me start the list. Now, I edited what they said because some of it is stuff I already did (like learn to belly dance- I took classes on this, thank you very much) and stuff that was not affordable (go to all Disney Theme Parks, including Disneyland and EuroDisney) or was ridiculous... or inappropriate. Here are the ideas they suggested.

1. cook dinner every night for one month (Mac's idea, which was followed by cackling, hysterical, rolling on the floor laughter, and punctuated by a snide snort)
   
2. take a zumba class
   
3. take ballroom dancing lessons
   
4. learn to juggle
   
5. read a book by a Russian author (in the English translation)
   
6. take a mini-road trip to somewhere I've never been
   
7. give someone else a makeover (facial, style hair, give a mani- and a pedi-)
   
8. Leave a couple books around in public places with inscriptions that they're free to those who find them
   
9. Mail a postcard to "Post Secrets"
   
10. bake cookies to send to troops, and then send them (rather than eat them all myself)
    
11. make a Baked Alaska
12. get highlights in my hair
13. take a pottery class
14. make bread once a month
    

Just because I have this started list doesn't mean that all 12 of these things will make the final cut. I want YOUR ideas and YOUR suggestions. So, please please please- feedback is wanted!

I can't wait to hear what you suggest!

Maggie

Work Cited: Bragger. "I Need Your Help." Bragger. Blogspot, 2 Nov. 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

An aside: if you haven't already and would like to vote for my blog as one of the best of 2010, I would appreciate it! Please and thank you! And go here to vote!

Tickled Pink Saturday

I have three reasons to be tickled pink this particular Pink Saturday (thank you to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hostessing this weekly event!) that I just have to share!

FIRST!
I want to say thank you to Evil Pixie, blogger buddy extraordinaire for nominating me for blogger of the year. I am officially one of the top 25 best blogs, so far, as chosen on The Blog Guidebook. My status can go up, with a little help from my readers. Voting commences today. It says "Voting starts Saturday at 6 a.m., and ends at 6 p.m. on Friday. The five blogs with the lowest votes will be eliminated." This is for Round 1. So, if you click HERE (or on the button) and vote for me as "best blog" I'd be much obliged! I'm just tickled Pink that Evil Pixie would nominate me for such a wonderful honor! Thank you dear Pixie!

Here's what Evil Pixie wrote about me: The blog is written by Maggie O’Sullivan, and it is warm, funny, and frequently brilliant. Maggie writes about her life as a single mother, struggling to provide for her little family but always keeping her sense of humor. It is honest, insightful, and fun. Most importantly, it is real. She discusses everything from her relationships to her struggle in making ends meet. This is a blog that completely deserves your award. Thank you so much. I can't say thank you enough! (And though the award itself isn't Pink, the lettering is!) So please please please vote for me!

SECOND!
Princess went to her Prom tonight and she looked amazing. Alcatraz has a prom for their juniors and seniors and call is the President's Winter Ball. The dresses the girls wear are all donated and this is a huge, big deal. Princess had a donated dress that was not very becoming. So...

I borrowed the dress from a high schooler I know. Daddy-O got in the act and bought the shoes. Curly took care of all the jewelry and XRayGirl donated Bath and Body Works products for pre-prom preparation. I took her for a hair cut and color earlier this week- and to get a tiara. As I said, she looked amazing. Better than amazing. Beautiful. Stunning. She was a princess. Absolutely gorgeous. She had a wonderful time. It was a fancy dinner and dancing. She was the belle of the Winter Ball. It was my pleasure to be there. I was so proud of her and so happy this could happen for her. Here are two pictures of her (due to privacy issues, I can't show her face. You just have to take my word for it that she looked stunningly beautiful, like a true princess...) dress. Did I mention she likes pink?

I was tickled pink she was Cinderella for a night, and that we could all be her "mice'!


THIRD!
I'm tickled pink over my new job. I know I've mentioned it before, but I just can't wait to start work at Alcatraz in their school library. I start work on Wednesday. I am beyond happy and thrilled to be back there. And as the librarian!

Maybe I should wear pink shoes on my first day?

Happy Pink Saturday!
In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae

I got a blog award!

Thanks to fellow blogger Jesse at "The Art of Jesse" for giving me such a nice Blog award- it's the "Pass the Baton of Friendship."

As with many blog awards, it comes with "requirements." The obvious one is I have to display the award.

Next, I have to answer these questions:

1 - too small when you were asked, what you wanted to do when you were big; What did you reply?
2 - What were your favorite cartoons?
3 - What were your favorite games?
4 - What year was your nicest birthday and why?
5 - What were the things you absolutely wanted to do, and not yet done?
6 - Which 'was your first love? sports? or what not?
7 - Which was your first musical idol?
8 - Which was the most' beautiful sought (and eventually received), Santa Claus, Jesus' Child, Saint Lucia, Christmas gift?

1-I wanted to be a garbage man when I grew up. I was about 3 years old when I said this. I also wanted to be an actress.

2- I was never a huge cartoon watcher as a child. I remember Coyote and RoadRunner.

3- We loved games, especially board games as kids: Monopoly, Clue, Life, Sorry, Aggravation, Old Maid, Perfection were some of our favorites.

4- I'm sure I've had other nice birthdays but the one I remember most, since I'm thinking about my childhood, is my 11th. My parents let me have 10 girls stay over night; they all came and it was awesome.

5- I already have a huge Bucket List. I would say that so far I want to live in England, and I want to spend a summer, at least, in Italy.

6- First love was with books and that's a romance that still lingers on even today. I also loved music and theater early on.

7- Music idol was probably Bon Jovi. Go ahead and make fun- I can take it.

8- The best Christmas gift ever was the Barbi Dream house my grandfather made me for my 8th Christmas. It was amazing, and much better than the plastic one at the store.

Now I have to pass it on to 10 people:
I give it to Curly, Gulo, and Sam/P. They are folks who don't blog but they read me every single day and are my friends and I wanted to give them something. Love you ladies!

4. Bragger
5. Lilith
6. Jimmie Earl
7. Evil Pixie
8. Jain at Food for Thought
9. D-Nice
10. Wiley

So there you have it! Thanks for Jesse!

Maggie

Pink Sunrise on Pink Saturday

I got to school the other morning and the sun was coming up and it was so beautiful so I tried to capture it here. What a lovely way to greet the day! I love the shadow of the trees and all the textures of pink in layers. And I was excited to see I caught the birds in the last shot.

Thank you to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturdays.

Please visit fellow pink blogger Jacqueline at Purple Chocolate Home. Her blog is so classy looking, and creative. She has so many wonderful ideas and great pictures!

In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae

A 30 day challenge+ Day 1 to kick it off!

I love the blog Why Are you Stalking Me? I love her for many different reasons (wit, sarcasm, life outlook, writing style) but one is because she posted this awesome idea. Here are 30 topics, one a day. Sort of a 30 days of truth sort of thing. I think I'm going to give it a try.

I think the purpose is to do these one a day for a month but I might have to take time out to write something about, you know... my life. Not that it's all that interesting but there could be a good family, Mac, teaching, other interesting thing, story along the way. So I'm going to do this, but I might a skip a day or two along the way. It might take me longer than 30 days because I can't neglect my regular blogging!

And because I'm bossy, a control freak, OCD, I will change this up slightly. This list is big on "write a letter" type of writing. I might answer the daily question and address the required topic but I'll probably do it in my own style, with my own flare, to it, regardless of the requested "write a letter" format.

So here is the list:

Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself

Starting tomorrow (unless something else awesome happens today that I have to tell you about!) I'm gonna attack these topics! Feel free to join and play along!

And here is Day 1 just to get me started- something you hate about yourself.

This is a hard one for me because there is lots I hate about myself right now but I'm not sure I want to just throw it out here. As you know I hate my weight but I feel if I would set my mind to it and create a plan and stick to it, I could probably lose weight. Being overweight is what I hate the most right now, I would say.

I'm also frustrated with myself that I keep my mouth shut about stuff that matters but I don't want to hurt people's feelings. In the end that's probably a good thing but I don't like having to be reserved and reticent. I do this with family and friends as well as at work.

As I re-read this topic I also see if says to just tell something I hate about myself. It doesn't say I have to develop a solution to my own problem or explain why I hate. it says to just say what the issue is. So, I hate keeping my mouth shut and I hate being fat.

Hmmmmmm, I don't feel like this is very therapeutic or helpful. Maybe I should add to the list of things I hate is this particular topic.

Done with day one,
Mags

Random moments aided by flashbacks

Okay, so with blogger's little brain fart yesterday, I didn't have the chance to get everything posted that I wanted to post. I was supposed to have two posts but I was lucky to get the one to actually work. And you might want to check that out. In case you missed it, fellow blogger Evil Pixie interviewed me and posted my interview answers on her blog. If you want to know more about me, check it out at her place, Evil Pixie!

And since we're speaking about other bloggers, I want to give a HUGE thank you to Wiley. She gave me an award. An award that SHE created just FOR ME. She made the Blogitzer Award her very own self... you know, like Pulitzer but for bloggers? She was "touched" by the post I wrote about Mac's unfortunate vagina cheerleader incident. She gave my writing a thumbs up for humor. Thank you Wiley!
I also had a super amount of fun with Princess yesterday!!! We went to the mall in Northern Civilization and she told me all I need to know about cute formal dresses- the what's hot and what's not if you will. Boy, was I educated! We had some dinner and tried on hats everywhere we went. Oh! And she had NEVER been to Starbucks so I had to induct her. She she is now in love with Vanilla White Mochas. Oh yeah, baby! It was a great time. We also got some fleece and she's going to make a blanket for herself. She's never made one of the "cut and tie" fleece ones before so it's a project. She's awesome. Tomorrow night she's going with me to Mac's choir concert. He has a solo and she wants to hear him sing.

I also want to drink a Cosmo toast and give a warm welcome to new followers, and to those who've been reading me forever! I appreciate you all! And thanks to those newcomers. I hope you enjoy! I can't believe I have 92 followers. I am totally going to do something special at 100 followers. I don't know what, but something.

There is a teacher who has been absent for 4 days. She's got a terrible stomach flu/ throat infection thing. She teaches sophomores and that class is reading Frankenstein. All the days she's been gone, the kids just read and do a worksheet. The English teacher in me is going crazy because I want to TEACH while she's gone. It's such a waste to to have me just sitting there, doing nothing and the kids are bored shitless. I hate it. But I can't do ANYTHING about it.

And there is quite a bit of teacher drama at this school. I learned a long time ago teachers get involved in lots of drama and politics. I learned a long time ago I want nothing to do with that and usually eat lunch in my room and am kind to my fellow educators but that as far as it goes. I might find 1 confidant (hello Gulo) and stay out of the rest. Well, yesterday I got sucked in and it wasn't on purpose.

The 7th grade Eng. teacher was giving a test. She needed "readers" (which is part of the job of a special ed. aide- we read tests aloud) for all her classes where there was a special ed. kid. I'm only in her room 1 period a day. She told me and I signed up my class and the other 2 in the "master book" in the special ed room where people do this to ensure a reader is available. I had checked my schedule and knew I could do the other 2 periods. Well, my boss found out and told me that wasn't how it was done. She said the class teacher is supposed to send her and my supervisor an email and they will assign people to read; it's not the aide's decision to make. O-kay. I apologized. She said it was just a 'miscommunication' and she wouldn't worry about but wanted me to know how it was for the future. But she said it in a snotty, snippy way. I said it was my fault and I would correct it with the English teacher. My boss proceed to send an email to the teacher, "cc-ing" me and my supervisor with the appropriate way to do it and told her she should know better. Well shit.

So I got to her room and apologized, explaining it was my mistake and I was sorry for the email and I was trying to help. I also told her I had said I was going to let her know my mistake and suddenly we all had the email, and I was sorry and it was all just a small misunderstanding- me trying to do "more" than what was my job. Well, the classroom English teacher was PISSED!!! At my BOSS! She said she was going to talk to her.

She said I was a teacher and capable of making this sort or arrangement and I knew if my schedule was busy or not. She said furthermore, they should treat me like the teacher I am rather than a babysitter and be nicer to me since they were lucky to have someone with my experience. She also said if she were me she'd look for another job rather than work for someone who obviously thought I was incompetent. She told this to my boss. She loves me in her room and knows I'll team teach and go above and beyond, just in the week I've been there. Wow. Wow. I don't think I've had anyone stand up for me like that. Wow. This is going to be interesting...

Mags

I'm A Star!

Okay, not a star exactly but I am being featured at Evil Pixie's blog. She decided to interview fellow bloggers and then post the interview results. And she asked me to be the maiden voyage- the FIRST interview. Of course I said yes, and am very flattered. So, if you'd like to know what great mysteries of the world I shared and what secrets I revealed, head on over to see me at Evil Pixie's Blog!

Can you have too much Maggie? Uhhh, don't answer that.

Mags

*I would like to note that this was supposed to publish this morning around 6am but it didn't. Then I couldn't get on blogger all day to see what was wrong... blogger was down, at least for me! Sorry Pixie for not getting this up sooner!

Which pair to wear this Pink Saturday?

Here are three of my favorite pairs of shoes, all with some pink of course! And all fits a different mood, while they all fit the same foot. It's almost time to put away flip-flops, or so most people think, but I have toe socks and will wear them all until the snow flies.

And just on a random pink note. Someone asked me the other day why I like pink so much. I like pink because it's a happy color. It makes me smile. I look good wearing pink and it also goes with so much. It can make the drabbest gray have some zing, pep and style. I like that it's a girlie color and that it comes in so many different shades so there's always a shade that fits my mood.

Of course, as always, thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday. This week I want to feature a pink blogger who is also supporting and sponsoring a good cause. Valerie's son is in Afghanistan. She came up with the idea of Cans For Cookies US Troops. Check out her web site for the details but the general concept is to encourage people to contact her for a name and address and then to bake and send 2 dozen cookies to a soldier.

In shoes we trust,
Maggie Mae

Cherry on Top

Look what lil' ol' me received from the fabulous and wonderful Wiley!!!! An award!!! We all know I love awards, but this one is special for several reasons! First, because the wonderful Wiley gave it to me. And because it's pink! And because it's all about cupcakes, which have to be the world's best dessert! So thank you my dearest Wiley for bestowing such an honor upon moi!

As always with these awards, I have some things to do to show my appreciation! The rules are simple: talk about three things about myself I love, and then pass the award on to bloggers I love. I can so do this!

1. I like my sense of humor. Several years ago, when I first started teaching, I learned I was funny. I didn't care that I made a fool out of myself on occasions because if it got a laugh, I thought it was awesome. Around that same time I had a Sam who always told me to "never be afraid to go fro the funny." I've followed that advice ever since then. And since then, I've sort of played to that strength. Sometimes I go for the funny and find it wasn't that funny. Sometimes the "funny" sounds better in my head that when it actually comes out my mouth. But I think I have a small talent for making people laugh.

2. I like my brain. I'm not a dumb person and I like I can think. I like that I have a big vocabulary. I like to reason and think and sort. I like words and learning new things. I think knowledge is power and I try to not weld it as a weapon, but I like just having, and SHARING, knowledge. Sometimes I feel like a font of worthless knowledge but it's still my knowledge.

3. The third thing I like about myself is my creativity. Now, my creative synapses are not always firing but when they do, I like what I can generate. I'm not a very crafty person so my creative side is usually seen through something I've planned like an event or an activity or a trip. Or through my writing. Or the way I dress.

Now, I'd like to say this award goes to:

• Why Are You Stalking Me?
• Bragger
• Retired in Alaska
• Frosted Petunias
• Creative Carmelina
• Evil Pixie

Wiley rocks!

Wiley rocks. I mean, Wiley totally rocks. She's my loyal blog reader from "down under" as we Americans say about anyone who lives in Austrailia. And she sent me a present.

She sent me Tim-Tams. These are, unarguably, the best cookies on the face of the Earth. I know, I know. I feel completely disloyal to my former favorites, the Mallomars. But TimTams by far surpasses all other cookies... even the infamous Oreo. I know, I think I'm going to cookie hell for this.

But she sent me some a awhile back to prove how delicious they really are! Then I open my mail yesterday and guess what super treat I find in an envelop? A WHOLE HUGE package of Tim Tams. For me! A chocolate wafer cookie with chocolate filling, dipped in chocolate. The word YUMMERS comes to mind!!! They should be called "Almost as good as sex" cookies.

Thank you Wiley from the bottom of my heart, for the treat. Sent all those miles. To me. Wow. All because I was having a bad week. Thank you.

I think I have the best blog readers on the face of the Earth.

I beg your forgiveness!

This happens to me every few months. I get so busy with work that stuff at home that I can barely keep my head above water and I have no time to do much of anything online.

So I ended up writing a post where I apologize to everyone because I'm a crappy blog buddy. I'm really sorry that I haven't read any blogs for about a week.

Again, the schedule I'm keeping is a busy one right now. Taking my kids to earn their volunteer hours along with school and doing mom stuff just keeps me busy.

I also find when I shut down with blog reading i tend to shut down with friends and family stuff. I just hole up inside myself and don't really do anything with anyone. I mostly just... watch TV. I really don't read, talk on the phone, see friends... nothing. And nothing is wrong, that I know of. It just is something I sometimes do.

I'm really sorry I haven't read your blogs. I also promise that sometime this week I'll be catching up. It can be done. It's just done.... slowly. I miss you all.

Love,
Mags

And the award goes to me!

As with all good blogger awards, there come rules.

1. Brag about the award.
I got an award and it's so cool! I love awards. They're like presents. And I love presents. An award!!!!! For me me me!!!!!

2. Include the name of the blogger who gave you the award and link back to that blogger.
Wiley gave it to me- thank you, thank you, thank you!!! She so rocks. If she didn't give it to me first, I'd give it to her! And I'm super-duper excited because she moving to the States and then we can hang out. Hey, I know she could be 2000 miles from me, but that's better than the current 3 million-jaillion miles and a bunch of oceans and mountains and stuff away that she is now!

3. Choose a selection of blogs that you find brilliant in honest content. Show their names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with this award.
So I present this award to the following:

• Jain at Food for Thought is brilliant in presentation, word, and deed
• Shan at Shansland is funny, creative, an excellent mom, and beautiful inside and out
  

4. List at least ten honest things about yourself...
Geez, 10 honest things about me? Really? Okay here goes:

1. My real middle name is not Mae; it's Janelle.
2. I worry about what other people think of me and I hate that I do. I wish I was more like French women who just don't give a flying monkey's butt what people think and do their own thing anyway. Guess that's why they're French and I'm not.
3. Being in love scares me to death and I avoid it because I just can't fathom being hurt again. Our hearts don't regrow or bounce like I pretend they do. I just can't stand the thought of romantic disappointment again.
4. I get pissed off at the weather, which is stupid because I can't control it, but the rain made the roof leak and screwed up all my clean clothes, making me wash them AND dry them all over again.
   
5. I want Mac to get a summer job but I can't MAKE that happen, just like I can't MAKE anything else happen.
6. I'm seeing a pattern that I have control issues so I'm honest in that I have control issues.
7. I'm really hating my job right now. Yes, I am lucky I have a crummy pay job with no benefits and it's better than being unemployed. But that doesn't mean I still have to like it, right?
8. I worry I won't be able to afford Mac's college tuition. Sperm Donor is NOT an option; let's not go there, shall we?
   
9. Chocolate doesn't solve all the problems of the world but it seems to help.
10. I like to get mail that's not bills. I love to get letters, cards and magazines. These make me happy.
    

I'm it!

I got tagged by Wiley to play a get to know you game. I haven't been tagged in a long while so I'm looking forward to this. And thanks to Wiley for giving me something to write about today!

The rule: list 7 things about yourself, preferably 7 cool or unusual things.

Who am I tagging? All of you, any of you, whomever wants to play!

1) My Brother and sister-in-law are going to have a baby boy in June!!! I'll be an Auntie again to a niece AND a nephew! Can't wait!

2) I like schmaltzy, bad 80s, hair band rock ballads. It's like a bad addiction. Most people walk away when they hear my iPod. Mac refuses to listen to my music in the car. "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Carrie", "More than a Feeling", "I'll be there for You", "Every rose has it's thorn" and "Can't Fight this Feeling." Yup, I'm a sucker.

3) I cannot eat Spaghetti-O's any more because about 5 years ago when I opened the can there was a perfectly formed and pressed spider in the can, lying right on top of the noodles, about as big as a quarter. A brown spider with a tinted orange body from the O's. Since then I have never been able to eat them, or even look or smell Spaghetti-O's without that image and it makes me gag. Seriously, five years later I gag. Mac can't eat them either.

4) I love to learn stuff so I get stuck on a topic and I buy a bunch a books about it, read a bunch about it, and then write an abstract complete with a bibliography of the material, put it in a file folder and save it for a time when I might need to write a paper. I have abstracts on WWII love letters/ correspondence, Princess Di, Jackie Kennedy O, the absurdity behind the works of southern writer Flannery O'Connor, girl groups of the 1950, Anastasia Romanov, the madness of Poe and his narrators, Amish, and the concept of madness in female characters in turn of the century American Women's authors. Yup, I'm sick.

5) I took piano lessons for 3 years, on and off as a kid, so I learned enough to read music and I can plunk out notes. I really would like to learn to play well, and to also learn to play the guitar.

6) Love is what makes the world go around. I believe in it, want it and it is the best feeling in the world when you have it and it feels devastating when you don’t. Songs have been written about it, movies made, wars fought over it, and it is worth having.

7) I want to be remembered as a fun, happy person who made others smile, raised a beautiful boy child, smiled often, was a good daughter and mother, was a good wife (maybe I will be someday!), followed her whims and heart, was true to herself, laughed too loudly, cried too easily, loved passionately and deeply, and maybe touched someone.

Kisses,
Maggie Mae

Not one, but two awards!

I am such a lucky girl! I received two awards from one of my biggest fans, Jesse at the Art of Jesse. Thank you so very much; I appreciate them both- you are too sweet!

The first award is the "Child" award, I shall call it.

The rules for this award are:

1. Post the sentence : Nenhum olhar è mais puro do que uma criança: The phrase in the Portuguese language means... "There is nothing so pure as the look of a child."

2. Post the logo on your blog and link it.

3. Mention the blog that gave birth to this award: "Arte Da Li"

4. Pass it on to 10 blogs and leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they've been awarded.

The second award from Jesse is the Sunshine Award!

And the rules are:

1. Put the logo in your post or within your blog.

2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.

3. Link the nominees within your post.

4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by leaving a comment on their blogs.

5. Share the love and link to the person who gave you the award.

All of my readers deserve this award so I bestow it upon all of you! But for those who like to see their names in lights, I especially hope the following folks take the award and run (run back to their blogs of course, and post it up!): Lilith, Nan, Evil Pixie, Shan, Anna, Duchess of Tea, Finn, TaDa, Bragger, Jimmie Earl, D-Nice, Wiley, and Carmelina!

Thank you again Jesse!

Love and pink lipsticky kisses,

Mags

Duh Maggie!

So I went to Mac's play and he was amazing, of course. And I was totally going to post a picture of him. Except I video taped his huge tea party scene on my digital camera and it's going to take about a million years to upload the video AND then get to the pictures. So, I guess Mad Hatter Mac will be on Sunday instead. And hopefully by then, Shan will have received my email and can explain to me how to upload video to "youtube" and I can post his scene in case anyone wants to see him in action! I am obviously technologically impaired, as we all know!

I'm also going to plug my participation in a food project. There's a marvelous blog called Food For Thought and the blogger take pictures of food she makes inspired by books she reads and posts it with the reviews she writes. She is AMAZING! And I gave it a try, and while I feel my effort was rather weak and lame, I still tried and made something I haven't ever before! So you can see my food for South of Broad (one of the best books ever written) and my foodie pictures tomorrow if you click here.

that's all folks!
Mags