Holiday Birthday

So today is my birthday!!!!  It is the 11th anniversary of my 25th birthday.  (You can do the math.)  It is my most favorite day of the year.  It is the one and only day where I can do what I want and hopefully get away with it.  You have to be nice to me and treat me like a princess.  (Of course if you ask my Mom, she would tell you this is also goes for every other day of the year.)

Would you like to hear my birth story?  Well there was an IU basketball on December 28, 1979.  Mom and Dad were up late watching.  Mom's water broke.  Went to the hospital and I was born the next afternoon.  Dad had to go home after I was born and finish painting my room.  It wasn't done because I was 2 weeks early.  (Mom has been trying to catch up with me ever since.)  The nurses sent me home in a Christmas stocking and so my little life began.  Mom and Dad got a surprise tax break in 1979.

I thought I would share with you my top 10 complaints (and maybe a few good points) of having a holiday birthday.  I have very strict rules and regulations for my family and friends.  (And thank you so much for following them.)  Lee asked me the other day why I get so bent out of shape over my birthday.  Well I just do.  I expect the very best on that day.  Plain and simple.  (Dramatic, much?!  Moi?  No way!)

Before I go on my rant, just remember I've had 36 years of birthdays.  I've got a lot of pent up anger.  Believe you me, my family knows the rules.  They try very, very hard to follow them.

1.  Your birthday gets forgotten.  Friends forget.  Co-workers forget.  The cashier at Target forgets.  I mean really?!  Is it too hard to ask for the red carpet to be rolled out for me?  (Of course not my immediate family.  They know better!)

2.  Your gifts get wrapped in Christmas paper.  My grandmother made this fatal mistake one year.  And gave me a special 'holiday' birthday card, too.  Let's just say she NEVER made that mistake again.  (Sorry Grams.  Don't strike me dead for telling that story.)

3.  Your gifts get combined.  I'll just buy you one gift and we will call it Christmas/Birthday.  Unless I give you permission to do that, then no.  Do I combine your Christmas gift with your birthday in June?  I don't think so!

4.  Hard to have a party or get together.  Everyone is busy with the holidays.  Growing up I never got to have a party with my friends on the actual day.  I always had to have it in January when things calmed down and people were home from visiting family.  It just wasn't the same.  Never got the chance to have a school party either.

My 20th birthday.  This was a great birthday.  A ton of friends and family went out to dinner and of course their was cake afterwards!  December 29, 2000.

5.  People are so burnt out from Christmas, they just don't have time for your birthday or really care.  They are still recovering from the holiday.  Did I not make an effort to come to your birthday dinner in August?  Did I not make you a cake?

My 30th (GASP) birthday.  I had a really, really nice dinner out with my 2 BFFs.  We had a really nice evening together.

6.  Birthdays are special to me.  Not just my birthday but I like to make my family and friends feel special on their big days, too.  Keep that momentum going from Christmas!  Let's have fun on the December 29!

Another great birthday!!!  I won a trip to Orlando through work to go see Purdue play in the Champs Bowl.  My brother and I went and had a really good time.  Florida for my birthday.....doesn't get any better than that!!!!!  December 29, 2006.

7.  I will always want a cake for my birthday.  I don't care if we still have Christmas leftovers.  I still want a pretty, non-holiday cake.  Period.  No exceptions.

It was my golden 29th birthday.  We only had a 2 and 6 candle.  I say close enough!

8. Since I'm so negative I have to end on a few high notes.  One being, I never had to go to school on my birthday.  That is a good thing.  I think I have only had to work once on my big day.  That is a win in my book.  (Not sure how I managed that.)

9.  For the longest time I didn't know my actual birth date.  Just that it was 4 days after Christmas.  It is what I heard my parents say.  Of course once I understood the calendar system, I learned the date.  Sometimes my birthday is still 4 days after Christmas when you ask.  Old habits.  I learned a new one this year.  I'm 4 days younger than Baby Jesus.  I heard/read somewhere someone talking about their birthday on Dec. 23.  They were joking and saying they were 2 days older than Jesus.  So I'm going with the I'm 4 days younger thing.

10.  Sometimes I get to spend my birthday with my relatives that live far away.  Either because they are coming and going or I am traveling to and from.  If my grandmother wasn't with us for Christmas, I always knew I would have her for my birthday.  Sometimes I get to see my cousins and aunt/uncle as they are traveling through Indianapolis.  So that is an extra bonus getting to celebrate a little with them, too.  They always make me feel special.

December 29, 2012.  A little cutie helping me blow out my candles.

BONUS:  I do share this birthday with some cool people.  One being my very good friend from high school Dawn.  One year we even had a joint birthday party, which was a lot of fun!!!!  Another is Chrystal who is a dear family friend.  She was born on my 5th birthday and we had some joint celebrations as well.  (Even have the home video to prove it.)  So if you ladies are reading this.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Me and Dawn on our 18th birthday.  1997.

Me and Dawn at our high school reunion in 2010

***It should be noted that these rants are not aimed at anyone.  This post is all in good fun.  I know I sound like a spoiled brat.  (Take that one up with my Mom and Dad.)  Hopefully if nothing else, this post made you laugh.

****It should be noted I originally wrote this post for December 29, 2014.  I guess I wasn't brave enough to post.  Being a sassy 36 I'm not afraid anymore.

High Five for Friday

Happy Friday!  Thanks for stopping by and checking out my High Five for Friday.

1.  I am extremely nervous and excited for this upcoming weekend.  I am going tent camping for the first time with Lee.  Eeeeeck!  (Yes you are reading that right.  First time.)  My parents are not the outdoorsy kind (unless you count playing golf and mowing the yard.)  I may have slept in a tent one time at Church Camp but I'm not counting that.  It was just one night and I was steps away from the cabin.  Don't get me wrong I have gone 'camping' before.  Like in a cabin, with electricity and running water.  Even spent a week in Canada doing so.  (Had a wonderful time but came home with pneumonia.  That's a story for another day.)  I do love the great outdoors.

Canada 2008.  Janelle, Me, Lee, and Joel.

So why start camping now?  Well we wanted to go someplace affordable and different.  For me I wanted a beach.  And Lee was open to any suggestions.  I had heard about the Indiana Dunes but never been there before.  (Northern Indiana is kind of a mystery to me.  Never spent any real time in the 'Region' or there a bouts.)  We both started researching and decided upon Indiana Dunes State Park.  We found a campsite available and it was booked.  Lee has been camping lots before so we have a good start on supplies.  All I really had to buy was a blow up bed (remember I have a bad back) and a chair.  Saturday we are going to get all our supplies together and do a little shopping.  I have already mapped out things and made several packing lists.  (Those event planner skills always coming in handy.) 

Don't you just love a good list?!

Bless Lee's heart, he's agreed to take this girly, city girl into the great outdoors.  I hope he does realize I will just be sitting back relaxing in my pink camping chair, watching him do all the work.  (Ha-ha, I kid!)  I am looking forward to going off the grid and relaxing on the beach.  Wish me luck!  3 nights and 4 days of camping.  Please don't let it rain.  Please let the bathrooms be clean.

2.  My kit cats have been extra cute this week.  Don't ya think?

Callie

Excuse me Baby Kitty.  That is my drink!

Diva Sabrina

She loves a good sunbath.

3. On Thursday I won a $10 Starbucks and $10 Barnes and Noble gift cards from fellow bloggers September Farm and Tealaholic.  I spent the Starbucks one right away ;-)

I won a major award!!!!!!

Iced White Chocolate Mocha.  Ummm I was bouncing off the walls the rest of the day.

4.  If you remember, last week I mentioned my adorable niece is on a summer swim team.  Mom was able to go to a meet this week and watch her swim.  Isn't she the cutest?!

Seeing her swim is bringing back memories of my days on the swim team.  I found an old 'yearbook' and thought I would share some pictures of me and my brother Andy.  1989.  I was 9.  Andy just turned 7.  #babies

Newburgh, Indiana

The team.  Andy is bottom right.  I'm in the middle in the back.  Just look for the bangs and big eyes.

Terrible picture but that is Andy in the middle.

That is me.  I was a killer diver and flip turner.  Self taught.

5.  Some of my family members were involved in a car accident earlier this week.  Hit a deer.  This isn't a high of the week, but the fact that they are all ok IS.  Did a lot of damage to the car and could have been much worse.  Luckily the driver attended Megan's Driving School back when she was a teenager, so she knew what to do ;-)  All kidding aside I am so grateful everyone is okay.

I'm linking up with:

Five for Friday

TGIF!!  It is finally Friday!!!  Do you have any big weekend plans?  Not me.  Here are Five things from my Memorial Day long weekend home in Norwalk, Ohio.

1.  Where to start?  Let me just go in order of all my pictures.  This stud muffin is my BFF-forever Ryan.  We have been friends for 15 years.  Roommates in college.  We are more like family now.  For some reason he loves to go visit my parents in Norwalk.  Crazy kid!  This is Ryan and Bailey, my parents new rescue cocker spaniel.  She is absolutely the sweetest thing.  Loves everyone and everything.  Ryan was no exception.  My parents got so bent out of shape because she slept with me the first night we were there.  Cuddled right up next to me.  Smothered me in kisses.  She is the BEST!

Ryan's new buddy, Bailey

2.  Have you ever heard of the show Parenthood?  It recently ended and Mom and I were big fans.  One of the stars named Monica Potter, opened a home goods store in her hometown of Garrettsville, Ohio.  Mom wanted to go visit so we made the 1.5 drive to the far, far east side of Cleveland. 

Monica Potter has a blog called Mrs. Potter.  She has all kinds of fun tips and of course online shopping.  The store is literally in the middle of nowhere.  (Hello Amish country!)  We were slightly disappointed in our trip.  And especially the customer service.  We did find a few things to purchase though.  On the way home we stopped at an amazing Amish bakery, so the trip wasn't a complete bust.

It was a beautiful day.

The Monica Potter Store

Monica was not there that day.

Mom shopping away.

I spent a lot of time in the hair accessory area.  I got the bottom right white lace headband.  I really liked some of the others but with my big head they came flying off.  No joke!  LOL!  The one I got ties in the back.

3.  On our trip home from Monica Potter store and Amish country, we drove back along Lake Erie.  Ryan is obsessed with the water.  We stopped at a little park and took some pictures.  It was a beautiful evening and a nice drive home with the windows down looking at all the BIG lake houses along the shore.

Lake Erie

Ryan

Got to work on Mom's picture taking skills.  Chest up and no concrete barriers.  LOL

4.  Nieces, nieces, nieces.  I don't think I need to say anymore than that.

My heart absolutely melts over her.  She told me, 'I just love you, Meggie.'  Puddle on the floor.

Gammy finally got an ole fashion umbrella stroller at Target.  The girls had more fun playing with it than their toys.

Baby K LOVES when you read her books.  Grandpa happily agreed.

Can you even handle this?  FASHIONISTA!  A onesie, sunglasses, high heels, and her $1 mirror from Pier 1.

Because she lets me take pictures of her when I say silly faces!

Baby K is very easily entertained.  No need for fancy toys.  Lava rocks from the landscaping will do.

This picture is terribly blurry because 1.5 yr olds don't hold still.  This baby doll fell into Gammy's cart at Target.  She carried her everywhere.

Again blurry.  But Aunt Meggie and Great Aunt Sally curls live on!  I apologize in advance Baby K.

She took this picture after her nap.  She is such a cuddle monster after she wakes up.

5.  The day after I got home from the long weekend, these 2 things happened. 

Facetiming at lunch time.  I missed them already!

Eating everything in sight.  Oh Baby K.

Funny story about Baby K here.  We were asking her, 'Where is Grandpa?'  Trying to get her to say 'golf'.  Well instead out comes, 'Who knows?'  All 4 of us started laughing hysterically.  That's her Daddy's smart attitude.

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought her back.  BTW she is fine.  It was like 2 minutes.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!  

I'm linking up with September Farm, for Five for Friday.

What I'm Watchin Wednesday: Netflix

Hello my name is Megan and I can't stop binge watching Netflix.  I haven't showered in 2 days.  I haven't left the apartment in a week.  I haven't seen another living human being in over 10 days.  My cats are feeling ignored and my dirty dishes are piling up. 

Gotcha!  Ha-Ha.  Actually none of that is true.  I'm taking a shower everyday and going to work.  I'm communicating with the outside world as much as I can stand.  I have however binge watched 2 series on Netflix in the past 2 days and feel kind of guilty.  (In my defense one of the series I had already watched half of at a friend's house.)  Luckily nothing is on the old TV right now as the summer season begins.  Although I did get sucked in to American Ninja Warrior last night.  Yelling at the TV at the stupid idiots who didn't make it past the first obstacle.  I mean how embarrassing for them!  (Again....self....really?!  I would like to see your fat bum try that.)

Back in the day when Netflix first came out, I was a member.  You know when they sent you the DVD and you had to send it back.  Well then I got poor and had to cut out expenses where I could.  And Netflix got all fancy and now you can just watch everything online.  My friends have had for years but I just couldn't cave in to signing up again.  (It isn't that expensive.  Just $8.99 month.  First month free!)  Deep down inside, I knew I couldn't control myself.  I love TV.  You know this about me.  Real Housewives of Anywhere, Big Brother, Grey's, Scandal, Good Wife, Chicago PD, Little Couple, Teen Mom, Tiny House Hunting, Chicago Fire.....the list goes on and on.  I love TV.  So the thought of being able to watch a whole season at once is pure happiness.  For the record I was right.  I couldn't control myself.

Netflix

First show I watched was the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.  I remember reading about this show last fall when it was going to be on a major network station.  It has a funny plot line about a young girl who is a 'mole woman' and lives in an underground bunker with a crazy religious man (Jon Hamm) and 3 other woman.  They are escaping what they believe is the apocalypse for 15 years.  Turns out there was no apocalypse and the women are finally rescued.  The series is about Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) and her life outside the bunker and everything she has missed in the last 15 years.  I know what you are thinking....sounds dumb.  But it is pretty funny.  Some great one liners and a super funny cast (Jane Krakowski, Carol Kane, Tina Fey).  I don't think it would have survived on network TV.  On Netflix it seems to have been quite a hit.

Netflix

Second show I watched was Grace and Frankie.  Starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.  I love Lily in all her classics.  I'm not a big Jane Fonda fan as she publicly didn't support the Vietnam War.  (That hits a nerve with me but that is for another blog.)  It is the story of 2 woman who try and survive after being dumped by their husbands of 40 years.  Turns out their husbands (Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen) are more than best friends/law partners.  They have fallen in love with each other and are leaving their wives to marry each other.  Grace and Frankie have never really gotten along but find themselves leaning on each other for support.  I enjoyed this show more than I thought.  And so did everyone else as it has been picked up for a second season.

Netflix

Next up for me?  Well on June 12 the third season of Orange is the New Black (OITNB for short) is released.  If you live under a rock and don't know about this show, you can check out my blog post here.  Let me just say that this show came out when me and my friends needed it the most.  I have a very close friend who has had to go through the justice system just like Piper in OITNB.  It came out when we all needed to be able to feel comfortable with it and learn to just laugh about it.  It is a very long story but just know that this show is not too far off from what really happens.  I can't wait for season 3!

Do you have Netflix?  What shows do you enjoy binge watching?

Happy One Year Blog Anniversary to Me

Because all good blogs start with a kitty picture or two.  Callie aka Baby Kitty.  Falling asleep in my lap.

Sabrina.  Queen of the castle.  I'm her peasant.  Just her supplier of treats, food, litter, water, treats, toys, pets, and more treats.

 Testing...one....two......testing....

Hey!  I guess this ole thing still works!  Man I haven't posted in forever.  I'm sure you have just been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting, too.  Ha-ha!  Well I just paid to renew the blog today, so I figured I better start using it again!!!

So what exactly have I been up to?  Sitting on the beach in Jamaica for the past 6 months.  Drinking fruity drinks while being fanned by some cabana boys.  (Ha-Ha, I wish!)  Actually I've just been doing the normal living human things.  Feeling very unmotivated to write any blog posts.  I promised myself when I started this blog, I wouldn't write if I didn't feel motivated.  I guess I got into that old winter slump, too.

One thing I struggle with writing, is sometimes I just don't want to put it all out there.  Believe it or not I can be kind of a private person.  (Hard to believe with my big mouth.  I actually can be a shy person when you first get to know me.)  As I've gotten older, I've been super careful of what I post on social media.  Because when you put it out there on the internet, you can never take it back again.  I worry that someday, something I write will come back and bite me in the bum.  Life is about taking chances though.  And I feel like I have something to say.

Writing a blog makes it really easy for you to get to know me and what I am doing in my life.  You can read my stories. You get to see pictures of my life. You can see all these things on social media if I am not writing about it on here.  But what bothers me is I don't get to see your life, your struggles, your heartache, your joy, etc.  Is this making any sense?  I guess I just went through a phase where I didn't feel like it was fair that you could read all about my life and I knew nothing about yours.  It just didn't seem fair.

My biggest supporters of this blog were not my immediate family.  (Or so I thought!)  My Dad has only read this blog a couple of times.  He is a man who loves to write and I thought he would be one of my biggest fans.  But that is okay.  I talk to him everyday and he lives this life with me.  (Even from 4 hours away.)  Just like my close family and friends.  They are there with me during these experiences and they might not want to read about them.  My 2 biggest fans are my Aunt Sally and sister-in-law Stacey.  I'm pretty sure they read every post and talk to me about them, too.  That means a lot.  (I also have some distance family, friends, co-workers who are also great supporters!  I appreciate every reader!!!)  It is always fun when a friend I don't talk to on a regular basis, mentions a blog post.  And yes Mom I know you read this, too.  It isn't as exciting for you because you know all my stories ;-)

It has been one year since I started this blog.  Total I have had over 14,318 hits on my blog.  In the month of April, I didn't write one post, but had 683 views.  From all over the world, too.  Kind of exciting.  So I am going to keep writing this blog.  Maybe I will become famous someday.  (Tee-hee!)  Maybe I will make a supplemental income off this blog.  But regardless, I am going to keep telling my stories and sharing my 384,402 pictures of my nieces.  I hope you will keep reading because I have a lot to say. 

There are those nieces.  I promise Baby K was happy.  She just didn't want to stop playing long enough for a quick picture.  17 month olds.  Geez!