twenty-five sheri facts you thought you could live without knowing ...

1. My preferred method of yogurt stirring is by butter knife.

2. The first time I was pulled over by police I got out of the car - shit almost got REAL.

3. I refer to Pete Rose a LOT when making fun of random hairstyles.

4. Reading Rainbow is a beloved favorite of mine. Anyone remember the "Miss Nelson is Back" episode? Come on!! That was GOLD.

5. I once lost my mother's original wedding band while on a sailboat. I blame the slip-off on the tanning oil and yes, I've felt guilty ever since. (I'm never letting Scarlett anywhere near my wedding rings).

6. I don't feel comfortable in my own backyard - I always feel like the neighbors are going to peek out and point and laugh at me. And I don't know why I care if they do.

7. I've always had a sort of fascination for the morbid. Growing up I had a lot of horror movies and books about serial killers - along with my stuffed animals of course.

8. As a reformed smoker (11 years!) I really can't bring myself to even buy a pack of cigarettes for someone - and god forbid I inhale second-hand smoke...

9. I would love to work in a library.

10. One of my favorite snacks is nutella slathered on golden oat Bel Vita biscuits.

11. It takes me a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally long time to let things go - especially situations in which I've been treated unfairly.

12. If I could eat one meal for the rest of my life it would be eggplant parmesan with pasta and a delicious salad, italian bread, glasses of red wine and water followed by ice cream.

13. Analog clocks can still trip me up from time to time. I've always been a words girl - I just hate numbers.

14. Once while hiking my friends and I were nearly ten miles lost in 90+ degree weather with our only water supply from streams we came across. We ended up having to hitchhike back to our car.

15. I am not a fan of the circus. Not a fan of clowns, not a fan of chained animals, not a fan of loud noises or bright flashes.

16. I don't really eat red meat... or much pork. I'm more of a poultry kinda girl.

17. I hardly ever answer my home phone or my front door. Peddle your goods elsewhere, gang.

18. I had always wanted and recently got my first iPhone. I'd take my Windows phone back in a heartbeat.

19. I had two imaginary friends when I was very young and they went by the names of Noonie and Bernantha. I haven't yet ruled out writing a children's book about them.

20. I have written several children's books but can't seem to get them published. They reserve those slots for people like Katie Couric and Leann Rimes these days.

21. I have an engraved bracelet that reads, Scarlett June, you're my moon and I won't leave the house without it on my right wrist.

22. My teeth are cavity free.

23. My favorite cocktail is a Grey Goose and tonic with lemon.

24. I really hate: the terms chick flicks and girls night out, the phrase You Go Girl and most bachelorette parties. I'm not your normal gal.

25. I'd love to start a business with my creative friends --- who's putting up the dough??

trigger songs from the 80's...

I'm always mentioning how I love that certain songs can conjure up such vivid memories. Today I thought I'd share ten of my favorites - (memories, not songs) and we'll go with an 80's theme. Enjoy!

Faithfully, Journey: This song was on a mixed tape that I listened to while on a flight to Disney World. I remember staring out at the clouds so anxious to just get there and start enjoying time with my family. We'd been through the ringer that year and my father had won the trip in a contest he found in USA Today. (Miracles do happen).

You Give Good Love, Whitney Houston: Ridiculous as it may sound, I was convinced this was my "good luck song." Maybe twice while listening to it a family friend called to invite my family over to use the pool which is exactly what I had been hoping for. The song was in heavy rotation on 92 Pro FM - but it couldn't have been a coincidence, right?

Doin' It All For My Baby, Huey Lewis: My family and my godparents' family went in on a beach house the year this song was popular. (Can you believe this song was ever popular?) We had an absolute blast. I remember that musty-ass smell throughout the house, "the funky chair" the week-long sleepover feeling, my godfather's ridiculous sunburn which rivaled John Candy's burn in Summer Rental, long days on the beach, going to see Adventures in Babysitting... it was a week none of us will ever forget. Or was it two weeks? Guess I forgot.

Breakout, Swing Out Sister: This is actually my least favorite song in the world. That's including TV show theme songs and various anthems sung heinously by that guy at the hockey games. This song was playing while I was forced into a wallpaper store by my parents one evening. It may have only been twenty minutes but I'm pretty sure it was closer to nine hours. I really would've rather done my math homework.

The Flame, Cheap Trick: Being driven to and from basketball practice on Friday nights. What? You're surprised I'm not in the WNBA????

Dress You Up, Madonna: My friend Kim, my basement, various outfits, various dance routines. Singing at the top of our lungs. And I had this amazing light pink sleeveless shirt with the image of "80's-cool" Madonna on it. It was the bessssssssssssst!

No Easy Way Out, Robert Tepper: Staring out the rear window of a friend's parents' car driving away from the theatre where we'd just seen Rocky IV. Man, I love that movie! DRAGGGGOOOO!!!!

I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Whitney Houston: This video shows Whitney at her greatest, with a long curly wig and outfits and makeup to die for (in the 80's of course). I remember dancing around my living room just wishing I could look that cool...

Manic Monday, The Bangles: Playing 'Hotel' in my old bedroom. My dad gave me outdated schedule planners from his secretaries and I thought they were the coolest thing ever. Kim came over and we taped room numbers to the three doors in my room, used old sets of keys to hand out to the 'guests' and an old phone to schedule arrangements - all which would be written in the planners of course. So fun!

Little Red Corvette, Prince: This was my absolute favorite song when I was around five or six. I remember my dad taking me along on errands and stopping at this little store called Blueberry Hill for some Country Time Lemonade. Mmmm.

This post was so fun for me ... I may have to do more installments in the future. 

 What songs transport you to 'the good old days' ??   

hagging out ...

Ever go out with a group of people and realize you are the oldest person amongst the crew? And are older than a few of them by more than five years? Or eight years? That's a pretty awesome feeling isn't it? (Nope). Well, this happened to me Friday night while celebrating a friend's birthday at a bar with a bunch of his friends. I don't really ever remember it happening to me before which is why I think this is such a big deal. I know it doesn't matter... at all... to anyone but CRAP! Who wants to be the oldest person anywhere??

Not helping matters, I've recently started to notice I am looking older. I'll see it in pictures, especially the ones taken in natural light - are you KIDDING ME, sunlight?? How bout you stop being such an asshole??  I've caught a few extra lines cropping up around my mouth and yes, there are often some bags under my eyes. I guess I could blame those on being a mom to a toddler but I think we all know it's the mid-thirties bullshit that everyone has to deal with. I've been buying random creams and serums trying to fight the inevitable. Some of which have disgusting odors and/or burn my face. All of which are just too expensive to explore any further. So, here I go. Into the deep end.

I will take some responsibility of course for my years of sun bathing and tanning. And I know I couldn't have talked my younger self out of doing either. A lot of us just can't resist a golden hue. Especially in our glory days.

Sure, everybody says I look the same, I don't look my age, they don't notice the lines... nobody wants to tell a friend that they are hagging out. I mean, I like to be honest but I could never look at a friend and say, How old are you? Yeah, that's what I figured... I can tell by those lines around your mouth. Nice way to get a busted eye. So, the real truth is between me and the mirror (and the sunlight). Don't let me down, Olay Regenerist. Or Garnier stinky-face serum. Or various dewy complexion promisers. We'll re-evaluate next year... and your asses will most likely be fired.

*** While this post is utterly ridiculous in nature - please take a few seconds to read about a heartbreaking situation that my friend's family is enduring. A mom of three, soon to be four, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and her insurance will not cover the natural treatments that she needs to help heal her body while keeping her unborn baby safe. This is her second attempt at a fundraiser. Please click here to read her brief bio and make a donation if possible. Share the link with everyone you can (facebook/twitter) to help increase her chance of reaching that goal! Her family is depending on the kindness of strangers --- Thank you!