What I can't live without...

Let's just say up front that my husband, children, dogs and family in general are at the top of this list but since you already know that we'll just skip to the random stuff that makes my life happy.

In no particular order....

1. My camera.  Whether it's my beautiful Nikon D90 (gifted to me in Italy by my wonderful mother) or my phone camera, I live for taking pictures. While capturing the big moments in life are important, I love capturing the random moments and being able to look back at them.  It puts a smile on my face. 

2. Cheetos and instant mashed potatoes.  Yup.  You heard me.  Cheetos and instant mashed potatoes...preferably together...as a meal.  When I was in high school and my stepfather had to travel, my mom and I would make this huge batch of mashed potatoes and do a face plant in a bag of Cheetos at the same time.  Try it!

3. Vampire Diaries.  I also watch Downton Abbey, Pretty Little Liars and The Carrie Diaries but if I was forced to pick just one it would be Vampire Diaries.  I LIVE for Thursday nights at 8pm!

4. Scrap Club.  First Sunday of every month from 10-4.  It's my time away..a creative outlet...a chance to recharge my batteries and so much more.  This is the day that 4 (sometimes 5) of my truly amazing friends and I get together in my mom's super kick-ass scrap room and just hang out.  We scrap, edit pictures, eat  brownie cookies, laugh, make lunch, celebrate birthdays, laugh some more, learn new things and drink lots of  blue moon margaritas. 

5. Clean sheets.  Aren't they the best?  My entire house can be trashed but if I'm able to crawl into clean sheets at the end of a long day everything seems okay. 

6. Girls Night.  We all need them so you can stop pretending like this wouldn't make your list too.  This is a chance to hang out with other women, bitch about our husbands, express concern about our kids growing up, drink, eat, gossip about the ones who didn't show up, drink some more and laugh about it all the next day. 

7. Snuggle time.  Okay, so this has to do with the kids but it's something I can't live without.  I love gathering all of my babies around me (snuggled under multiple layers of blankets) for weekend movie time.  They let me snuggle and pet all I want because they're too involved in the movie to notice.  It's even better if they've had a bath....sigh....

8. Traditions.  Thanksgiving at the parentals followed up with a walk on the cart path and football in the home theater room.  Christmas Eve munchie food and gift opening.  Easter egg hunts or birthday lunches at the kids' school.  I live for them all.

9. SHOT.  Strategic Hierarchical Operations Team.  I can't give away any more details except it applies to work and alcohol....but not in the office or during working hours. 

10.   Hair appointments.  One may say that this is something that I can do without since it's  been almost a year since my last appointment.  Wow...that's pathetic.  But nothing makes me feel better than a cut and highlights.  And I'm normally way more on top of this but it's  been a busy year. 

11. Nail night.  Every other Thursday unless it's a holiday or I'm on vacation you can bet I'll be at Judy Nail's with mom getting our nails all beautified.  And let's not forget the summer months when we indulge in pedi's too:)

What about you??  What can't you live without???

Did you know....

1. I'm really, really, really scared of spiders.
2. I love purses.  I buy a new one every season and then store the old ones in a couple of boxes in the attic.  I've never reused a purse...
3. My hair is longer now than it's ever been.  This isn't exactly a preference on my part but the inability to find 3 spare hours for a cut and highlights.
4. When I become "obsessed" with something it tends to take over my life completely.  I managed to watch 2 1/2 seasons of Downton Abbey in only 3 days and after becoming addicted to Pretty Little Liars I had to read all of the books. 
5. I don't mind sorting, washing and folding laundry.  I have a problem with putting it away.
6. Overcomitting is one of my worst habits.  I'm slowly starting to say no to things but it takes me forever to get over the guilt. 
7. My mom is my best friend. 
8. Seeing my daughter in pig tails makes me melt. 
9. I only close the blinds in our bedrooms...and only when it's time for bed and then open them back up as soon as we're awake.  Closed window treatments make me feel claustrophobic.
10. I love the color black.
11. I dance to Kelly Clarkston's "Stronger" CD when steam cleaning our carpets. 
12. Procrastination should seriously be my middle name.  What was my mother thinking when she chose Elizabeth instead??
13. I love to cook but only in a clean kitchen.  Unfortunately I haven't cooked a real meal in 3 days.  Oy!
14. I see myself as a work in process... there's always room for improvement.
15. Target is one of my many weaknesses.  Seriously, can you go in there and spend under $100???  If so, please share your secrets with me!
16. Gummy bears, Easy Cheese, light string cheese, cheddar & sour cream chips, scrapbook supplies and my childrens' cheeks are just a few more of my weaknesses.
17. I love going to the chiropractor. 
18. I truly believe that vacations without my children are very important.  I always come back a much better mother...at least for a week or two. 
19. When I was pregnant with Ayden, I picked a HUGE fight with Jason because he didn't get up to purchase the milk I asked for within 3 seconds of me asking.  Nine years later, he still judges how important something is to me by asking "Is this like the milk thing?".  I guess it made an impression.
20. What in the world do  they put in the Taco Bell Doritos Locos Tacos???
21. I have to have the fan on in our bedroom in order to sleep.  This is a serious issue when traveling. 
22. My favorite vacation is our annual sailing trip with my parents.  I can wear the same clothes for a week and no one will care. 
23. All three of our dogs sleep in bed with us.  There is barely enough room for me and Jason. 
24. I have a weakness for my middle child. 
25. I am the luckiest girl alive.  I have an amazing husband and three beautiful babies who love me despite all of my issues.  When we're all together, my world is complete.