pickle's new "music video"

She is learning the guitar.  She loves to sing.  She loves Justin Bieber.  She's 14.

She wrote a simple song about him the other afternoon.  It is partly the way she feels about him, and partly teasing herself about her crush.  (I love that she can laugh at herself.)

She recorded herself last night.  She put it on youtube.  My girl--who never really lets anyone else hear her sing put herself out there.  She didn't doll herself up, or wait until she was an accomplished guitar player or had a few more voice lessons.  She just did it.  And she said I could share it here!

So I am.  Cause I am a fan.

Because my posts have been a little serious lately...

I thought it was time to lighten the mood a bit.  My bloggie-friend (which means we haven't met in real life but I'm sure if and when we do we will laugh our heads off!) Hillary over at The Other Mama (check out her blog--it's super cute!) is starting a new blog-carnival today--called Friday Favorites.  To join in, I'm supposed to post my favorite something.  Could be anything.

My hubby thought I should post about my favorite husband.  Good one, hon.

I thought and thought (for like FIVE whole minutes!)...and came up with my favorite....nothing.  Nothing!  Do I have no favorites???  Of course I do...think, brain-o-mine!  I decided I needed my nighttime treat to help me think clearer.  And then it came to me!  Literally.  In a mug.

I am going to post on...(the suspense is killing you isn't it?)... my favorite way to eat ice cream.  Seriously, I am.  It's all I got tonight, and I feel like being a little silly.  So here we go (drumroll, please).

Dawn's favorite way to eat ice cream:

1) in a mug.  (This was foreshadowed above--I'm fancy like that).  Any type of mug is fine, although I really like my minnie mouse mug if you had to press me on it.  I felt that was important to clarify in case you think I am completely apathetic about such important choices.

2)  propped up in our bed, with my comfy pjs on, and my heated mattress pad warming the sheets.  The ice cream chills me and I climb in the covers and it's all warm and toasty.  Ohyes.  The thermal joy of it all.

3)  scooped and brought to me by my hubby.  He has been the designated ice cream scooper throughout our marriage.  I can wield an ice cream scoop as well...but my dad always did it for us when I was a kid, and now hubby does.  It's pretty sweet, huh?

4) at the very end of the day.  The closer to sleepy-time the better, cause you know, it's healthy to slam sugar and fat right before you go comatose for seven hours.  And if we wanted to dream a bit, it's at the end of a day where I felt productive, and got everything done I meant to.  But since that has only been known to happen in reality three times, I choose to enjoy it on other days as well.

5)  watching something I love to watch on TV.  It could be So You Think You Can Dance,  American Idol, The Office (by the way, still recovering from Pam nursing the wrong baby tonight) or House.  We also love to eat ice cream while we watch The Biggest Loser--cause we love irony. And yeah, I know..eating in front of the TV...late at night...breaks all the rules.  Ohwell.

6)  with my man next to me.  Obviously.

7) with a surprise cookie on the bottom of the mug.  Hubby does this every now and then to surprise me and it's love in cookie form.  Or he's trying to fatten my up for some reason, which is one thing I don't need help with.

So there you have it.  My favorite way to eat ice cream.  If you think I sound like a sweet-toothed sloth--yeah, I resemble that remark. At least at 10 pm I do.

After this nightly ritual, I thought it only appropriate to also let you know my favorite workout video.  Consider it a bonus.

You're welcome.

Oh, and in case you are looking for something with a little more substance...follow Kristen as she writes from her Compassion Blogger trip to Kenya.  I'm loving it.

we'll work on the words another time

This made me so happy. Jason Mraz watch out!

the first Christmas gift I'm buying

Ready or not, the Christmas season is on it's way. Every year I think I want to get my gift shopping done early...so I can enjoy the season. In the midst of all the selections of gifts to choose from I don't think about this:

It's true and it is NOT OK.

4500 kids die everyday from water related illnesses. Mamas are burying their children because they couldn't provide them the basic necessity of clean water.

Unfortunately I know the pain of losing a child. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Aidan's death couldn't be prevented. If there was something anyone could do to save Aidan's life, they would have done it.

However, these deaths CAN be prevented and YOU can do something.

So, today, November 13 let this be your first gift.

Ten dollars.

Ten dollars will provide one person in Africa with clean water for 10 years.

TEN YEARS.

Before you head out to the mall or toy store, consider this as your first gift of Christmas. It could very well be the best $10 you spend this holiday season. Spread the word.

Click here to be taken to the secure donation site. 100% of your donation will go to provide clean water. Click here to learn more about the First Gift campaign. Clink here to learn about the orgnization charity:water.

43

I'm 43 today. How did this happen??? Seriously. I mean I'm still wondering what I'll be like when I grow up! As I've said before, I feel much younger on the inside than I look on the outside. :0)

I woke up to this birthday present from God.

this is the view from my bedroom window this morning

That's not all I woke up to. I usually write some birthday love on the bathroom mirrors on my family's birthdays. Today I found some birthday wishes on mine! Pickle had written, "Happy ??rd Birthday, Mom!" complete with many, many hearts. I love how she used question marks with the "rd". Just to be sure I knew she knew my age. Cracked me up.

My birthday is a Friday this year! Friday is my day off from work. I'm going shopping with my mother-in-law who is visiting from FL, and my mom is joining us for lunch. This afternoon I'm hanging with Bubba preparing for his birthday bash tomorrow...and then the groupies are coming over tonight. Next week hubby is taking me to Denver to stay overnight and see Wicked! I've been wanting to see that for a long time...

Oh yeah, and it's going to be 75 degrees today in Colorado. Gotta love that!

Seems like a great birthday to me! I hope my birthday is a great day for you too! :0)

Linking up with the Company Girls today over at Home Sanctuary. Hi girls!

Winkers on Sunday

Okay bloggies--many bloggers post beautiful pictures and worship songs or Bible verses on their blogs on Sunday. Others are super-reflective. Others don't blog at all on Sunday.

Me? I'm posting the winkers video link. Just saw the link on Missy's blog and I think it is the scariest and funniest thing I've seen in a long time.

So many to choose from...please comment and let me know your favorite!

my sister's boyfriend sang this at our wedding...

I had to share this. A friend posted it on Facebook.

She's feeling it, huh? LOVE it. Watch out Susan Boyle.

Yeah, I tend to overshare...

If you think I've got a lot to say....

imagine what she'll be like once she starts drinking diet coke! :)

I know...you think I must have been just like that as a baby. Back in the dark ages when I was a born, people didn't own video cameras. So, I guess we'll never know...

But, I must say, I totally get her.

For Kerry and Jeff

I want to post this song in honor of my sister Kerry and bro-in-law Jeff who are grieving the loss of their precious daughter Sadie, born still just over a month ago.

Been through some hard stuff myself...and have been "held" over and over again.  Trusting you feel it too Kerr and Jeff.  I love you.