Blue & White and / or Purple & White

Hey, this is the first time I'm taking part in this link party .... pretty exciting stuff!

We Want to Know Wednesdays Q&A

Hosted by 

Mamarazzi & Crazymama

This week's questions are from Mamarazzi, and she wants to know...


1. What are your Top 3 blogging tips for other bloggers?

I'm pretty new to blogging and don't have too many tips but what I can say is:

Tip 1 -> Post comments, it's the only way of letting people know you are 'out there'
Tip 2 -> Take part in link parties, read other link up's and follow tip 1, leave comments
Tip 3 -> Remove your word verification, as  much as it annoys you it annoys your readers

2. What book have you read lately that you would recommend?

I'm busy reading the Stephanie Plum series, but I'm sure  most people have read those. I did however recently read Infidel, by Hirsi Ali ... eye opening and really interting.

3. What is as physical feature you have been complimented on?

Does  my  hair count? I changed my hair quite drasticly and have gotten quite a few shocked looks most of the time followed by a compliment.

4. What colour is your toothbrush?

Navy & White   and Purple & White ... that's right, I have two. One at home and one in my handbag.

5. What question would you like to add to a future WWTK?

How did you meet your significant other?  

Your bird can sing

When I saw this on Sarah Kate's page I just had to do it .... and it was really good fun.

Thanks Sarah Kate!

This is what you do:

Pick your favorite band of all time, of course! And then answer the following questions using only the titles of that bands' songs, not their lyrics. So you might want to pick a band that has released more than one record.

Pick your band:

aerosmith

Are you male or female:

my girl

Describe yourself:

drop dead gorgeous

 

How do you feel about yourself:

she's on fire

Describe where you currently live:

the farm

(this is 100% true)

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:

taste of india

Your best friend is:

crazy

Your favorite color is:

pink

Describe your current love situation:

gotta love it

What’s the weather:

lighting strikes

If your life was a television show what would it be called:

attitude adjustment

What is life to you:

amazing

What is the best advice you have to give:

don't get mad get even

If you could change your name what would you change it to:

mia

Your favorite food is:

cheese cake

Your favorite time of the day is:

darkness

You know that:

falling in love is so hard on the knees

 

Aah Paris!

I took Friday off and we decided to drive down to Paris for the day. I just love how we are able to do this, not that we do it often but I love the fact that we could if we wanted to. 

  

To be honest we tend to let life get in the way of doing things like this, which is why I'm happy that for once we just did it.
 

We got up early'ish' on Friday and hopped in the car. I love road trips. It's relaxing and I get to spend time with Himself catching up and re-connecting without the usual distractions. 

The kids, well they were just fantastic. They listened to music and chatted to each other and did not once start nagging or acting up. Honestly, my our kids are great!

We spent 4 hours in the Louvre, just walking around looking at all the amazing things on display.  Cat really loved it.  After lunch (a very expensive lunch!) we rented those guided tour headphone sets. Really cool. It has a special setting for the kids so they could listen and learn and play games and do all kinds of things.  

Tiger, being seven and totally obsessed with his penis was amazed by all the statues and the penises on display.
 

While checking out the re-creation of Napoleon's apartment (which really is something incredible) we told the kids that we were thinking of re-decorating the house in a similar style.  They did not think it was a good idea.

After leaving the Louvre we took a quick metro ride over to the Eiffel tower. I had visions of walking up the champs elysees towards the arc de triomphe and then from there walking to the Eiffel tower and then strolling over to the Notre dame. Unfortunately, Himself broke both his knees playing rugby and well let's just say that walking is not something he enjoys doing. Thank goodness for the metro. 

The day had turned lovely and sunny, the perfect kind of winters day. Unfortunately  there was a three hour wait to go up the tower and the summit was not open so we decide to give it a skip and come back another time.
 

I told Himself that we are going to have to come back soon, maybe just the two of us for a romantic Paris trip. We've been to Paris quite a few times over the years but never on our own.  I could do with a romantic weekend away .....  sipping wine, romantic strolls....

oops, excuse me for getting distracted ....
 

After a quick dinner at McDonald's (ooh the shock the horror! I know! but we did have some macaroons for dessert) we hopped back in the car for the trip back.  Tiger was asleep in about two minutes, Cat declared that she was feeling full of energy and to prove it she was going to stay awake for the entire trip.  She was willing to bet her dad 10 euro that she would be able to do this.
 

Two hours later, we were still in Paris!  The traffic is CRAZY! Traffic lights mean absolutely nothing, they are not even used as a suggestion of who can drive when. Once you reach an intersection everyone drives at the same time, in all directions. In-between the cars driving in all directions there are people on bicycles, scooters and motorbikes.  

At one point, an ambulance arrived followed by about four cops on motorbikes. After about 15 minutes they managed to clear a way for the ambulance to pass.

 
Needless to say, I would be quite happy never to have to drive in Paris.
 

And Cat, well according to her she just closed her eyes to listen to her music, she did not sleep.  And the reason it took so long to 'wake her up' when we got home was cause she could not hear me over the music. ( I decided not to point out that the headphones were around her neck).

 

 

Since I did my weekend round-up on Tuesday I thought it would be totally ok for me to to do 2 on Tuesday on a Wednesday.

This week Andrea wants to know:

What celebrity female do you think is absolutely beautiful?

and

If you could steal anyone’s look, who would it be?

I have always loved Angelina Jolie.

I don't care about what you think of the fact that she 'stole' Brad from Jen. Or any of these other things that everyone always have a million things to say about.

I have always just thought that if I believed in re-incarnation that I would pray everyday to come back looking like her. To me she is totally beautiful.

Don't know how anyone cannot find her beautiful

I also love Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon's style.

All three of them seem to be be able to go from relaxed and comfortable (like jeans or maxi dresses) when the occasion calls for it to absolutely fabulous when attending red carpet events.

Not to mention that all three of them look just stunning after having had two kids. (I have no doubt that Jennifer will look just as good after baby nr 3 is born).

And last, but by no means least I LOVE Pink. I lover her for her style & her music and for the fact that she was not photographed looking unbelievably amazing 3 weeks after having her baby.

　

Ok so I mentioned more than two but I answered both questions, I guess that counts, right?

Weekend round-up

Yes, yes I get that it is Tuesday already but I'm running a bit behind so you'll just have to put up with it.

Here it is:

A visit from the stork

Our dog, Lulu had four puppies on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly two of the puppies died over the course of the weekend. They were both really tiny and suffering from seizures. I tried to keep them going by feeding them from a bottle but in the end they were just too weak to survive. The remaining two on the other hand seem to be thriving.

Lulu, Rori & Zulu

Also, on Thursday evening I left my glasses on the kitchen table. When I picked them up on Friday morning they were broken. Straight down the middle.

I think there must be little gremlins living in my house cause no one has any idea of how that happened. I still have not replaced them, luckily I'm not totally blind without them but the longer I'm without them the more I'm noticing my need for them.

I've also changed my hair. It's been annoying me quite a bit lately and Himself was not loving the colour.

Some people (like the kids) might think this was a bit drastic but I like it.

Needless to say I am the worlds most un-photogenic person. Himself & I even got into an argument last night on account of it. He cannot believe that I take such bad photo's. After about 25 takes he got so annoyed with me he gave up leaving me to try and do it myself. This was the best out of about 100.

Hitting the High Notes

Driving home from school the other night we could hear Tiger singing in the back of the van:

All the single ladies, all the single ladies

All the single ladies, all the single ladies,

Put your hands up, up in the club

Then later the same evening Cat was walking around singing as well, only this time it was:

Take me down to the paradise city

where the grass is green

and the girls are pretty

ooh o won't you please take me home

That's right, we don't discriminte, we listen to both Beyonce and Guns N' Roses in our house.

I wonder what other 7 year old boys know the lyric to?

Not what I knew the lyric to at  9, think my parents would have freaked out



Valentines Day ... original topic I know

We don't really do anything for valentines in our house ... Himself doesn't like to be told what to do.

According to him the fact that he is still married to me should be proof enough that he loves me.

Yeah I don't know what I did to deserve such a romantic guy.

At least his proposal was romantic ... and that is where the romance ended.

But that's another story for another day.

So as agreed I did not expect any flowers or cards or chocolates or any such things for today.

Himself was still in town by the time I finished work yesterday which meant that I could meet up with him and drive home together instead of taking the train.

I walked into the pub (central meeting point and it is 3 doors down from where he is renovating one of his new buildings) and he's got a bunch of pink roses lying on the counter.

I'm puzzled.........

'What's with the flowers, I thought we're not doing anything?' I ask, secretly feeling happy.

'O these they are not from me, they from Silvana. She felt bad for not speaking to you at the party on Friday.'

Now, I'm not going to complain, who doesn't like to get flowers even when it is from a hostess feeling guilty about not speaking to you.

And the party, well it was dull. I know it is terrible to say but honestly it was. It's not like I'm this big party animal and throw killer parties all the time but honestly my kids birthday parties are more exciting. Not to mention that one of the big reasons we went to this party cause one of the other guest was/is a possible investor for Stack-Cup. But this was not the right time to discuss investment opportunities.

Speaking of ... no wait there is no way to switch topics smoothly here. What I can tell you is that it seems the big freeze is over, at least for now.

We are back to 'balmy' temperatures of around 3

How was your Valentines?° C or 37° F and I for one am really glad.

Buzzy Bee zzzzz



No time to think just do do do ...



When I stop I sleep ... if only I looked this good doing it!

Busy busy busy like a bee and then asleep like a baby (a baby who actually sleeps through the night, meaning not like my kids slept when they were babies).

Summary of my life at the moment.

But I'm hoping to have more to say after the weekend that is if I don't freeze to death first.

Let me tell you it's cold here! Have you heard about our weather in your news? They are not lying folks. We have gone from a balmy spring like winter to arctic temperatures ....

Tomorrow is Friday! I can't bloody wait!

Say What?

So we're driving along to drop the kids off at school this morning and Cat (9) says to Tiger (7)

'Remember we're playing poker against Loic and them today'.

You're doing what? I ask cause I'm pretty sure I didn't just hear her say poker.

'What, we're playing poker'. (exasperated voice)

Now I can't play poker, and Himself tells me that he can't be bothered to remember how to play poker

but apparently our kids can and they do during break time at school.

So this is what my kids do during break as school?

Tag, you're it or wait first I'm it and then you're it ....

 So I got tagged by Amber ... Thanks Amber!
I really like reading other people list but must admit that it was quite hard to come up with my list of 11 facts.

Anyway, here goes: 11 Facts about me

1. I knew about my husband before I even met him & I met him when I was 13 years old ... it was not love at first sight.
2. The first cake I ever baked, for Cat's first birthday was a total disaster! My brother-in-law baked a new cake on the morning of the party. 
3. I've turned into the baking queen since then (well at least in the opinion of my family and our close friends).  
4. I prefer writing with a pencil and when I do have to write with a pen I loath writing with a black pen.  
5. I work as a technical editor, am an avid reader and can't spell to save my life!  
6. I'm a Hollywood gossip addict.... it's sad I know but I can't resist.  
7. I like wine but knew nothing about it so I followed a 3 month wine course ... meaning I now know the basics.  
8. I have immigrated 3 times since 2000 ... the house we are living in at the moment is the longest I've lived in one place since getting married (4  years) and despite this every now & again I wonder what life would be like in some far-away country.  
9. I love watching both Rugby & Cricket (more than my man) ... and I even understand the rules (I will admit that he is better with the rules though).  
10. I'm terrible at dressing myself in a flattering way. You know, hiding the bad & the ugly & making the most of what I've got. This is why I end up wearing jeans and sneakers.
11. I can't pull of sexy. Just don't know how to do it and I look totally ridiculous when I try.    

My 11 answers to Amber's questions:

1. What was the first pet you ever owned?

Mmh the first pet that I can remember was a chow called Khuna. He was as black as the night. My parents finally give him away though cause he used to get out of the yard and go and fight with other dogs. (pretty much like our dogs do now) .

2. What is your go to accessory to dress up any outfit?

Oh, hard question, I do jeans and sneakers nearly every single day. Let's see I like a good pair of shoes and some nice bling like a striking pair of earrings or a bracelet.

3. Your favorite meal to cook?

Cereal with milk ... does that count? I bake! But when I want to cook a nice meal that will have everyone in the family happy it would have to be chicken wings, french fries (called Friet in Belgium) and salad.  I do my fries in the oven so it's healthy.

4. You're auditioning for American Idol: what do you sing?

O I would never ever do it but let's imagine that I could in fact sing ....I think I would choose Black horse and the Cheery Tree.

5. Favorite flavor of ice cream?

Vanilla or Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

6. 3 words that best describe you

I asked my Himself and he said: short, young and not hairy
So I would say, friendly, unassuming and un-confrontational. 

7. You end up on "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" like TODAY and have a baby - what do you name her? and if it's a him?

Ha Ha ... that would be a nightmare! except for the naming part, I like picking names. So if I could choose the name without having to consult my man: 
For a girl: Georgia Mae. I think it has a nice ring to it. 
It would never be pronounced correctly here in Belgium though.  
For a boy: I love the name Jack but I would probably go with Harrison Callen Smith. My grandfather-in-law passed away last year so I would use his initials HCS.

8. What was the most anxiety provoking experience you had in the last week?
 
Nothing ... my life is dull. The week before Duke (our dog) jumped the fence and attached another dog and that was bad but this week has been quiet.

9. What's your favorite way to de-stress after a rough day?
 
Glass of wine, some good nibbles and either a good book or a good movie.

10. How many pairs of shoes do you own?  How many would you like to own?

I own about 12 pairs of shoes but I could own many many more and would not mind one bit. I mean can one really own too many shoes?

11. What is a vacation you'd like to go on that isn't as obvious as the typical "beach" or "historical destination?"

If money was no object, I would love to take my kids and show them the world. Then to end it off I would send them to their grandparents and go away for a adventure type holiday on a tropical island with Himself. 

Now, here are my 11 questions to you, can't wait to read your answers:

1. What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
2. If you were to be stranded on an island what 10 things would you want to have with you?
3. Do you have any irrational fears, and what are they?
4. If you could be anyone for a day, who would you want to be and why?
5. What do you order at Starbucks?
6. If someone were to wake you up in the middle of the night and give you something to eat, what would you like it to be?
7.Do you have a guilty pleasure, and what is it?
8. If you had to chose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
9. If they made a movie of your life who would play you?
10. Who is your favorite actor/actress?
11. What is in your handbag right now? 

 And I'm tagging you:


Stephanie over on How to Survive Life in the Suburbs
Sarah Kate over on Nothing But Blue Skies
Cynthia over on Commonplace Crazy  
Whispering Writer

Here are the rules to this particular tag:

Stick to it, don't stick to it ... the choice is yours but have fun!

• Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog

• Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

• You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.

• Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.

• No tag backs.