Under the Sea

Last weekend the Greater Cleveland Aquarium opened. I have been patiently awaiting the arrival of the aquarium. I love love love aquariums! If I visit a city that has an aquarium, you better believe I will be dragging whoever I am with there to see it. I don't know why I love them so much... I just do!

We took yesterday and today off work and Dan was so excited to take me to the aquarium one of the days. What a wonderful husband he is... he doesn't even like them! Anyways, we decided to bring Gabby along with us... even though she had already gone to the aquarium once this week. We knew she would be a blast! I wish my nephews were around so we could take them. Now that would be a blast!

Here are just a few pictures from the day!

Home Sweet Home?

You are now looking out what could potentially be our new home!!!

We made an offer tonight, so we'll see what happens! :)

Just keep your fingers crossed for us and imagine hanging out and drinking coronas by our pool!

Like music to my ears...

I love music. I mean, I really really love music. All different kinds. I have an addiction - I am constantly on Itunes - they would probably go under without me. I am always looking for new music. One of my favorite things is to go to the library and check out Cd's - free music and I get to check out a lot of new things!

I am constantly listening to music - all day at work, at home, at the grocery store, at the mall... I always have my Iphone and Ipod fully charged and ready to go and headphones with me at all times. I just don't feel like myself if a day goes by and I don't get to listen to music for at least 30 minutes.

Dan always jokes around with me that I ONLY listen to hip hop music. He says it's the ghetto in me. I argue with him all the time - it's just not true. I always say, "Just look at my itunes!" 5000+ songs and trust me, not even half of them are hip hop songs. I just prefer hip hop for things like working out and cleaning.

I thought I would share a playlist I have on my Iphone and Ipod touch. It is called "Forever Faves" - my absolute most favorite songs. No matter how many times I listen to them they never ever get old. If I am having a bad day, these songs are guaranteed to brighten them. I will let you judge for yourself if all I listen to is Hip Hop...

My "Forever Faves" in no particular order:
1. Ain't Too Proud to Beg - Temptations
2. Hook - Blues Traveler
3. Magic Stick - 50 Cent & Lil Kim
4. Love is a Battlefield - Pat Benatar
5. One Headlight - Wallflowers
6. The Difference - Wallflowers
7. Just Like Heaven - The Cure
8. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
9. Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows
10. Satellite - DMB
11. Crush - DMB
12. Steady as We Go - DMB
13. Hustler Musik - Lil Wayne
14. Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
15. Lights - Journey
16. Cracklin Rosie - Neil Diamond
17. Forever in Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond
18. Don't Stop Believing - Journey
19. River Deep, Mountain High - Tina & Ike Turner
20. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
21. I'm Not Ok - My Chemical Romance
22. Float On - Modest Mouse
23. When You Were Young - The Killers
24. Can't Leave Him Alone - Ciara
25. Born Too Late - The Clarks
26. If I Can't - 50 Cent
27. Cleaning Out My Closet - Eminem
28. More Than A Woman - Aaliyah
29. Only Want to Be With You - Hootie & The Blowfish
30. Her Diamonds - Rob Thomas
31. Mad World - Gary Jules
32. #1 - Nelly
33. Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
34. Bad Girl - Danity Kane
35. I Love a Rainy Night - Eddie Rabbit
36. Ready or Not - Fugees
37. #1 Crush - Garbage
38. Maneater - Hall & Oats
39. Breaking Your Mind - Jack Johnson
40. Losing Hope - Jack Johnson
41. Dirt Off Your Shoulder - Jay Z
42. Upgrade You - Beyonce
43. Ego - Beyonce
44. Black Horse & The Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall

So there they are... my 44 absolute favorite songs -

Cow Tales and Toblerones

This year, Dan and I have been together for 5 years. Ah! Where has the time gone! Dan is one of the greatest things that have ever happened to me. I love him and all of the time we have spent together. I have so many wonderful memories and I can't wait to make more!
Over the past 5 years Dan and I have settled into some of our own traditions. I love traditions. I love the stability of them. I had a rough childhood (a whole other blog), and never really had a lot of traditions growing up. So, I love that we have started making our own traditions that we will be able to continue with our children someday.

One of our traditions is our Christmas Eve. Every year, we make a nice dinner, always filet and twice baked potatoes and after dinner we do our Christmas together.

After dinner we sit down to open presents, always stockings first. There may be different little things in our stockings, but one thing is always the same. I always put Toblerones in Dan's and he always puts Cow Tales in mine.

This year while we were opening our presents we started talking about why we like these candies so much. I explained to Dan that when I was a child growing up in Youngstown, I would always walk with my biological father to gas station down the street so that he could buy cigarettes and beer. He would always let me buy either a Cow Tale or a Moon Pie. I loved the little treat and it made everything seem not so bad.
I asked Dan why he liked Toblerones. He said that the first time he had them, he was on a family vacation. They were at a nice hotel and he asked his Dad if he could have them out of the mini bar. He has loved them ever since.
He laughs and tells me I'm ghetto. I laugh and tell him he's a snob.

We laugh about how different our lives were growing up. It's amazing that we found each other. But I'm glad we did.

Happy 2012!

Happy New Years!

A new year...
A fresh start...
everyone filled with hope and optimism.

I have been reading everyone's resolutions on Facebook, but I hadn't taken the time to think of any for myself. I thought I better get on it!

So, for 2012, I resolve to:
- Eat healthier
- run a 1/2 marathon
- work on our financials
- make more crafts
- learn to sew

I have a feeling it is going to be a great year!