Day 28: My dream home

I know I said this before, but I'd love a home theatre.


A laundry room with plenty of space to fold clothes and put them in baskets, so each family member can come in take their basket and put their own clothes away. I want the red electrolux washer and dryer set :) Another feature I'd like my laundry room to have the wash basin sink to soak stains.





















Some where in my house I want a doggie shower.  From the sounds of it we are going to have lots of pups and it would be nice for them to have their own shower and not get my other ones all hairy and scratched up! A specific place we can keep all the dog supplies would be great too.




Central Vacuum.


A roomy kitchen with bar seating and a formal dining room attached. I want to be able to have lots of people in the kitchen. It seem like that is always where people tend to gather so I want people to be comfortable.


Hidden outlets. Wouldn't one of these be nice in the kitchen on the island, maybe one the office. It would also be nice to have a few in the floor in the living room.


A bar where we can entertain and serve some home brewed beer among other things.

How cool would this be to have in the bathrooms!

 I want my home to be a gathering place. I want people too feel comfortable just popping over to say hello and have a drink. And where all my kids want to be and their friends always want to come over. I want to be able to have summer barbecues, birthday parties, Halloween parties, Thanksgiving, etc. I realize that all of those things have more to do with the environment then the things you have, and no matter what our home ends up looking like I'll always have the open door policy. But its also nice to have the space and equipment to accommodate :)

Day 27: Picture of a hobby I have...

Scrapbooking! I love having a movie or tv show on and sitting down with all my supplies and putting memories together in a book. 

Day 26: Something I Miss...

My family and friends!

I like branching off out into the world, but at the same time it is really hard to be away and miss out on things where I grew up.

Day 25: What someone would find in my bag...

A MESS! Ok lets see what's in this bad boy. I haven't cleaned it out in a while, this could be interesting...

• Wallet
• Sunglasses (not in a case)
• Hand sanitizer (everything here is dirty!)
• Size 6 diaper
• Newborn diaper
• Wipes
• Nook Color ( I've finally started reading the Harry Potter series! I'm on the second one.)
• Chap stick
• Light long sleeved hoodie (it gets pretty chilly on some of the subways)
• Mascara (just in-case I forgot to put it on in the morning, or need another coat!)
• Hair ties (I actually think every bag I own has at least 4)
• Gum
• Gum wrappers (I also think every bag I own has at least 4) :)
• Toy car (Seriously, you would think I was a mom if you looked in my bag!)
• Kleenex
• Socks (The toddler has classes at Gymboree and they require the adults to be in socks)
• Doggie clean-up bags (I'm not sure why... I rarely have this bag when walking them...)
• 3 pens (why 3, I have no idea!)
• Umbrella (I think this is habit from Dominica)
• Camera
• Dove go fresh body mist (I don't want to be smelly)

Wow I have a ton a junk in that bag!

Day 24: A Letter to Someone I Love

                                                                                                                                August 4 2011

Dear Mia Monkey
                                                                                           
     I just want you to know that I love you more than words can possibly say. When your mom first told me she was pregnant with you, she and I had a rather large argument about it. I was worried because she was so young. But eventually we worked it out. The first time I saw you was at her first sonogram. I had no idea what I was looking at but when we heard your heart beat I cried and knew that I was already completely in love with you. Your mom and I became really close over the course of her pregnancy with you. When she called and told me she had come home from work because she had been having contractions all day I dropped everything I was doing and drove over. We sat around and talked for a while about how we couldn't wait to meet you and wondering if it was really labor. Finally we went to the hospital and about 4 hours later you greeted us. I was lucky enough to be in the room when you were born and of course I was crying. When the nurse put your pink hairy little body in your mom's arms, you were the most beautiful little baby I had ever seen. Then when I got to hold you, I never wanted to give you up! You made me melt. Now that you can talk its amazing to see all that you have learned at to be able to have conversations with you. I can't believe it has almost been 3 years! You are so grown up and even a little sassy! You are turning out to be an amazing little person. I am so lucky to have the privilege of being your Aunt.

     I know it's hard because I am so far away, but I want you to know that you always will have someone to love you, to believe in you, to listen to you, and to help you when you need it. You can always Skype, call, email, and I promise to visit when I can. Someday you will even be able to come and visit me! In spite of the distance I will always try to be the very best Aunt I can. Someday I will have my own children, but don't you ever worry, you, Miss Monkey will always have a very special place in my heart.

     I know right now you are too young to read this or to understand it, but someday you will be able to. I love you all the way to the moon and back Mia, and I promise I always will.

Love Always,

     Aunt Shannon

Day 23: Something I Crave

What I'm craving really depends on where I am and what's going on. Had I been asked this question while living in Dominica my answer would have been Ice Cream and Milk hands down. They were rare on the island and I missed them soooo much! However, now living in New York I crave nature. The stars are what I miss most. I never thought I'd say that, but not being able to see them because of the glow of city lights makes me so sad! That was one of the things that was amazing about Dominica, the stars were so bright and you could see them so well with so little electricity and unpolluted sky. I would just stand out side and stare at them.

Another thing I crave sometimes is starting a family. Especially, when most of my family and friends are starting their families. Being around a newborn and a toddler everyday doesn't help either! (I'm a nanny) Sure they are a handfull at times but I love those little tykes! Children are just so amazing. They change so fast and they learn even faster, they are little human sponges. But at the same time, I love it just being the two of us, and can't imagine having to share my husband with a baby!

I also crave stability. I want so badly to settle somewhere. Not knowing where we'll be in a couple years is incredibly unsettling. I know where I WANT to be but who knows where this road will actually lead us.

Then of course I crave normal things like chocolate, french fries, diet coke, a hot bath, etc.

What kinds of stuff do you crave?

Day 22: What makes me different

I hate this one. This is one of those questions they always seem to ask at interviews as well, and I feel like I can never say how I actually feel! So thats why I chose this one for my 30 Day list. I always say what they want to hear, something about how I'm outgoing and I'm a people person, blah, blah, blah. But if you REALLY want my opinion, people are people, and mostly, we are all the same. You can try as you might to  make yourself different, but somewhere, someone is the same. I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing either. If most people saw someone trip and fall, they would ask if that person was alright. Most people would help an elderly man cross the street. And generally, if you give them the chance to be, most people are nice. Don't get me wrong there are some bad eggs out there, but I have found that MOST people are good. I think that brings us together as a species, and gives us hope that maybe if we can unite as a whole, we could live in a more peaceful world. So being the "same" is a good thing if you ask me. Now I'm sure some of you may not like this answer or agree but it's just how I see it.

I do have my freak eye lashes, I suppose those would make me different ;)

My Poor Lily Girl...

I'm interrupting the 30 day challenge to bring you some breaking news. My Lily girl has ringworm on her leg:( Poor Lily has the WORST luck. Ever. Bad things are always happening to her. Even on our way to the vet, she stepped in some gum. She is one unlucky pup. But we love her to pieces!

Look what they did to my baby!

The cone is so she doesn't get ringworm in her mouth and so she doesn't lick the medicine off. 

Unfortunately she has to wear the cone for TWO weeks :( Poor thing keeps running into corners and door jams. I really do feel bad for her, but at the same time its kinda hard not to laugh. After two weeks she should be back to normal and hopefully without a her cone!