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Memoir Monday: Unwrapped

Monday, December 14, 2009

Welcome to the newly spruced up Tank! Whatcha think? It's so ME, right? I want to send some beautiful love and KUDOS! to the folks at Bloggy Blog Designz.  I wasn't sure what I wanted, I hemmed and I hawed.  I gave very little direction.  I told Jenna, I want a Betty Boop"esque" character with big boobs/butt (like me) and long red hair (again, like me).  And I gave her three colors.  I also told her I wanted to keep my fishy "tank" as well.  So, THIS is what she came up with!  Awesome right?  She was very patient with me as I ask for little nuance changes, "please add this", and "oh yeah I want that."  I have to tell you, with not much to go on(from me the customer) she absolutely made all the right choices to suit me, my personality and my newly BLINGED OUT BLOG!  THANK YOU BLOGGY BLOG DESIGNZ!  You guys ROCK!


You know what's even cooler than my blog overhaul?  I WON IT!  Jenna, you are the BOMB!  Mwah!  Ya'll head on over there are give her some love when you are done ogling my new boobs, ass, diggs!


Anyglamour, it's Monday.  Time for TravyG's Memoir Monday, where all of us share some story of yesteryear and give you something to laugh about, or cry about, or whatever.  It's all in the name of sharing right?




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When I was little we lived in Utah.  My mom is from Jacksonville, FL and my dad is from Pleasant Grove, UT.  They met while my mom was going to school out there and well, the rest they say is history.  We lived there until I was eight when the building market in Utah tanked.  My dad worked in construction and the construction market was booming in Florida, so we moved to Florida.  My grandparents were here and we were supposed to be in Florida for two years until things picked back up in Utah.  (That is not really the point of this post just merely background info.)


So, while we lived in Utah, every other year or so my mom's parents would travel out for the holidays to see us.  The years they weren't coming to visit, my grandmother would send a big box full of Christmas gifts for us.  I remember more than most people about my childhood.  My sisters barely recall living there at all.  Yet, I remember the Christmas's when my grandparents were there, and the ones when they weren't.  I have vivid memories all the way back to two.  I often think it's strange how much I remember about my childhood, yet I can't tell you what we had for dinner two days ago.


Anymemory, one year in particular, my grandmother sent presents.  My mom, had wrapped them, and put them under the tree.  She was exhausted this particular year.  My sister had been born November 16th.  She was really sick all the time with asthma, in and out of the hospital.  I remember seeing her in the NICU with all the newborns.  She looked like a butterball turkey next to those little preemies.  She weighed 10lbs when she was born, so next to babies weighing 2 or 3 pounds she looked like a toddler.


Anyway, my mom walked next door to my aunt and uncle's house as my other sister and I were supposed to be napping.  I don't remember what she needed, just that she was gone briefly.  I was 4 1/2 at the time, which means Brooke had just turned 3 because her birthday is today, December 14th.  (HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROOKE, LOVE YOU!)  When she returned, she found that we were not at all sleeping.  In fact, we had been quick busy.  UNWRAPPING EVERY SINGLE PRESENT.  Not only that, we ripped every box to bits.  We were banished to our rooms.  Probably for our own safety.  I do remember being in more trouble than I care to recollect.  (Mom says she wanted to beat us within an inch of our lives that day, and that she cried for hours, and that she considered us receiving nothing but coal.)



To this day, my sister still likes to know what she is getting before Christmas.  Or any other time.  If I know what she is getting, I can't tell her.  She will seriously get wicked pissed, and not talk to you if you won't tell her.  It's crazy.  My mom had to get quite creative in the hiding of gifts when my sister was little.  Oh, and mom hates wrapping Christmas gifts now!  She says gift bags are the coolest invention ever.


Merry Christmas My Lip Smackers and Hot Talkers!  Love you all! 

35 comments:

ScoMan said...

I was also born on November 16th. November 16th birthday people rock.

My brother was always playing with his presents and always harasses people to know what they got him. One year mum got him good by wrapping presents for him and dad and mum and my other brother all in boxes with the wrong label, so he'd been focusing his attention on the wrong one the whole time.

Unknown said...

Yeah, still pretty sure that I can say this...kids suck.

Trust me, it's school holidays in Oz day 3 and I'm over it.

Lee said...

The new looks ROCKS! LOVE it! And it is SO you!! I would unwrap what I would find and very carefully wrap it back just like I found it. I don't know if I was caught or not...but I don't like surprises, I wanna know!!

Anonymous said...

You and your new blog look are both terrific!

Anonymous said...

Love the new look, well done u. Ha ha, I also hate Christmas surprises. My first hubby was happy enough for me to select my own gift and simply hand him the layby tag to make the final payments. Soo much easier and so little disappointment.

Dual Mom said...

I have this twisted stupid idea that gift bags are a cop out. I also think gift cards are a cop out. Is it any wonder why I need a "rest" in a mental health facility when the holidays are over? I'm my own worst enemy, I get that.

Tracie said...

Oooh la la!! I love the new look!

I never did anything like that because I was a perfect child. Stop laughing. It's true.

BigSis said...

LOVE the new look!

Ed said...

The new look is sweet!

Shell said...

Love your new look!


Too funny about opening the presents. My middle son has already opened some of the presents that my parents got for the boys. He came up the stairs with SUCH a huge grin on his face that it was hard to be mad at his obvious joy.

Moooooog35 said...

Looks great!

Could use some more pink, though. I still have some retina intact.

Unknown said...

I am IN LOVE with your new look---Jenna did a wonderful job. I'm in love with your fish tank, too! CONGRATS AGAIN! Jenna rocks!

June said...

Looking HOT!

The last time I snooped around and found my presents I was so disappointed. My Mom had gone out and bought all these prissy looking clothes for me and I pretty much pissed her off on Christmas day because, me being so much like her, I acted like an ungrateful little bitch and told her I wasn't a Barbie and wanted to take all the clothes back.
Nice, I know.

Travis said...

Lots of love for the new makeover!

I was a present guesser. My mom would just ball up her face when I guessed right on the second or third try, and I knew I had it.

The Missus gets mad bc I guess her presents before she even buys them for me!

Neuffj said...

Your words are far too kind! Thanks for the shout out! I am thrilled you love your new look so much. I love black and pink together! It's soooo, well hott!

DiPaola Momma said...

Oh babe the "girls" are lookin' Fab and that tail balances the whole look out.. after all what's Boom Boom without the POW?! BTW I'm the QUEEN snoop of all snoops and usually know everything ahead of time myself. Then I get disappointed that there wasn't any surprise. Yep you can't please me I'm never happy.. whaaatevvverrrrr

Ducky said...

BadaBing that pucker is deadly woman! Hizzz-ot!

I'm with Lee...I was always the mastermind behind unwrapping or finding the most well hidden gifts. I too like to know ahead...especially if I'm going to have to fake liking it :O)

Stephanie said...

First time here but I LOVE the look of your blog:)
And I can only imagine how upset I would be if I came in and found my kid unwrapping all of the gifts under the tree! eeek! Great post:)

Raoulysgirl said...

I love the new look! I have to adjust my eyes a little...the pink's a little bright and makes me all wonky for a minute...but after a while, it's good!

So pretty!!!

Anonymous said...

ah the days of unwrapping early! I do remember those!

said...

Your blog looks like the girl who got a hot new handbag and knows how to work it!

Lily said...

Love the new blog design!

Nancy C said...

This blog design is fun, and so very, very you. Yay for winning!

My mom peeked at her gifts once and unwrapped...A Ten Commandments Charm Bracelet.

Guilty much? (And PS--who wears "Thou Shall Not Steal" around their wrist?")

The Fifties were weird.

Cameron said...

MOMMA, YOUR NEW LOOK IS STRAIGH UP FOXXXYYYYYYYY HOT!
Cameron
www.conquerthemonkey.com

gayle said...

That was a cute story!!! Made me think of a few of my own...don't know if I'll have time to write them...just got home from work. You are so very lucky you remember so much of your childhood. I can't and so wish there was some why to bring it back to my mind.
Again I love your blog!!!

Liz Mays said...

I'm loving your new look.

I can not believe the Christmas devastation you brought down!!! You really did deserve coal! LOL

drollgirl said...

hahah! that is quite a story, and you are lucky your mom didn't kill you guys for that stunt! my parents would have MURDERED me if i did that! for reals!

oh! and your blog looks might sassy! :)

Iva Messy said...

heyhey!! look at this new place!! FANTASTIC!!

Busted Kate said...

Well I can't help but shower you with love and adoration! You got award on Busted Plumbing: http://www.bustedplumbing.com
Congrats!

The Peach Tart said...

The new look is fabulous darling.

Happy Hour...Somewhere said...

The red hair and booty look divine~! And love your fish tank. I would so be with your mom on wanting to skin you guys alive for doing that but you were so young. I never want to know what I'm getting~! But if I had the chance at age 4, I'm not sure what I would have done!

Claudya Martinez said...

The blog is friggin' gorgeous! GORGEOUS!

You and your sister are very naughty!

Hissyfits & Halos said...

Hey girl! I've been super busy, and so sorry I haven't stopped by till now--but WOWZA your blog looks awesome! I like the Betty Boop'esque red head. Perfectly you. :) Take care, and I'm really proud of you getting through a post without talking about balls!

Jennifer G. said...

Your blog looks amazing! And your sister and I are close - I'm on Dec 17th. We Sagitarius are wacky, eh?

Anonymous said...

I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?