Trick-or-Treat!

In our town we have a large Halloween parade on Halloween night so we switch things up around here and trick-or-treat the day before.  You could find Papa Smurf, a tricky Leprechaun, and a pretty Princess running around our neighborhood.  

Things I Have Done

Last week I told you about things I've never done.  This week I'm going to share with you things I HAVE done.

 1.  fallen in love
 2.  had 3 beautiful children
 3.  visited 23 states
 4.  had 5 surgeries in a 6 year period
 5.  been a bridesmaid
 6.  traveled to the Bahamas
 7.  met Mickey Mouse in Disney World
 8.  played the flute
 9.  appeared on TV
10.  held the hand of a dying person
11.  had my heart broken
12.  swam in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
13.  read Anne of Green Gables a bazillion times
14.  watched Anne of Green Gables a gazillion times
15.  been to Prince Edward Island where Anne of Green Gables was dreamed up
16.  worked the night shift
17.  lived alone
18.  volunteered
19.  marched in a parade
20.  gotten a speeding ticket
21.  graduated college
22.  been named a Destination Guroo for Trekaroo

What are some of the best things YOU'VE done?

For more Writer's Workshop visit Mama Kat

Things I've Never Done

I'm 35 years old and I've never:

 1.  traveled to Europe
 2.  shopped Til I dropped on 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive
 3.  swam with the dolphins
 4.  participated on a game show
 5.  purchased a vacation home
 6.  driven a luxury car
 7.  tried recreational/illegal drugs (yes, this includes pot)
 8.  cooked Christmas dinner
 9.  snuck into a movie
10.  traveled to all 50 states
11.  learned to speak a foreign language
12.  milked a cow
13.  read war and peace
14.  built a tree house
15.  seen Casablanca
16.  broken a bone
17.  won the lottery
18.  gotten straight A's in school
19.  danced in the rain
20.  eaten brussel sprouts
21.  learned to play the piano
22.  written a book

For more Writer's Workshop visit Mama Kat

Wordless Wednesday: Disney Edition

Happy Birthday

To my Beautiful Baby Boy,

Eleven years ago I welcomed you into this world.  You weighed in at 8 pounds 8 ounces and were 21 1/2 inches long.  Somehow, I've been unable to stop time and you've grown to be as tall as me.  I've got to tell you Bud, as a mom, it isn't fun going from holding a bundle of baby boy to looking eye to eye with him.  It makes me sad that time has passed so quickly.  However...

Each and every day you make me proud to be your mom.  You are an amazing kid with talent on the soccer field, a memory like none other, and super smarticle particles going on inside that brain.  I wish for this birthday, and every day, to be one you embrace with an open heart and an open mind and soak in all that is around you.  Continue to grow and mold into a wonderful young man and go out into the world and show them what you've got. 

Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Freschetta is Proud to Support Pink (giveaway!)

As you are probably already well aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is hard not to know someone who has been affected by this disease.  I have been touched by this disease both personally and professionally.  I long for a cure so I never have to hear the words "I have breast cancer" again.  I encourage all of you to PLEASE do your monthly self exams, go to your doctor for your yearly exams, and go for your mammograms.  If you don't take care of yourself, who else is going to do it for you?

I am proud to announce that FRESCHETTA has launched a Proud to Support Pink  program.  From September 25th through October 31, when you purchase a specially marked  package of FRESCHETTA pizza you will be helping them reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  They are also donating 50 pink iPod Shuffle players each week to cancer centers around America.  Be sure to visit the Proud to Support Pink website and facebook for your chance to win a your own pink iPod shuffle, print a coupon, share a breast cancer journey, and more. 

As a busy mom, I love to have quick meals on hand in the freezer for crazy hectic nights so I was thrilled when Freschetta sent me a coupon for one of their pizza's.  My kids love them and I appreciate a quick, great tasting dinner. 

WIN:  I am happy to announce that one of my winners will win a prize package of your own!  Your prize package will include a coupon for any FRESCHETTA Pizza and 2 pairs of FRESCHETTA Proud to Support Pink earphones (one for you and one to share with a friend). 

ENTER: Entering is easy.  Tell me a way you take care or YOU.  Please be sure to include your email for easy contact.

Additional entries: 
Follow Life in the BAT Cave on Google Friends Connect
Subscribe to Life in the BAT Cave via email
Follow Life in the BAT Cave on Twitter
Follow Life in the BAT Cave on Facebook
Follow Freschetta on Facebook

Rules:  Leave a comment for each entry.  Please include your email for easy notification.  This giveaway is open until Monday, October 17 to those in the US.  One winner will be selected via a random number generator and notified via email.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. 

Disclosure:  I was provided with a coupon for a free FRESCHETTA pizza and 2 pairs of Proud to Support Pink earphones for the purpose of conducting a review and this giveaway.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

Me with my bloggy buddy and real life friend

Chrissy from Life as a CEO and Jersey Shore Families 

at the recent Girls' Lunch Out.

No more birthdays?

My eldest child's eleventh birthday is coming up in two weeks. A few weeks ago I had asked him if there was anything he might want to do for his birthday and he said he'd think about it.

Now, we stopped doing big birthday parties and have moved to just inviting a few friends to do something special.  Last year we took 3 of his best friends on a haunted hayride after we had pizza and cake here at home.  It was the best birthday celebration I've had for him.  Everyone involved talked about it for a long time after, proving it doesn't have to cost a fortune to have a memorable birthday.  So I was expecting him to come up with something fun like this again.

Imagine my surprise when he said he didn't want to do anything for his birthday.  I asked him if he was sure and he assured me, no, he didn't want to do anything.  I asked him a bunch more times, I offered suggestions, I looked to my husband for reassurance I wasn't hearing him wrong.  Nope.  He doesn't want to invite his friends for a party. 

I realize he is getting older.  I also realize as he gets older things are going to change.  He is going to grow out of some things and make his way towards others.  But I wasn't ready for this.  It made me sad.  I don't want  my baby to grow up so quickly (mind you, this 10-turning-11-year-old is as tall as me already).

Next year he will begin middle school and I know even more changes are in store.  I asked him if he was sure he didn't want to have one more party with his friends, perhaps a trip to the movies or a sleepover here, and then he could end his celebrations next year.  But he is sticking to his original no. 

I know I have to respect it, and perhaps even admire it some. But as I said before, I'm just not ready.