Fun Facts about Me

~I am a huge sticker collector. Mostly vintage 80s stickers, but I love all stickers really!! Most of you know this, but I still had to mention it. :)

~I am very scared of drive thru car washes. They scare the crap out of me. It's all very bad. I don't like the huge bristles coming at me. I don't like the noise. I don't like the smell of the soap. I don't like the possibility of getting stuck in there. I know it's weird, but I can't help it.

~I live in Texas but I was born in Ohio.

~I love tabloid magazines!! Love them!!!

~I love the website called Sporcle. It is all about trivia and there are new questions everyday. It is really fun and fabulous!

~Most of you know I am a writer, but I am very old school about my writing methods. I always hand write everything as a rough draft before I go to the computer. Crazy I know.

~My husband and I are ultra conservative.

~I make an excellent corn casserole!

~ My middle name is Leann.

~I still love Beverly Hills 90210 and Saved By the Bell!

~One day I was at lunch at Subway with a friend and while we were eating, Kelly Clarkson walked in to order a sandwich. I got to talk with her and get her autograph. She was super nice! My husband and I saw the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift and Jordin Sparks when we were in Hollywood last year.

~Alan and I had a big wedding. Instead of toasting with champagne or sparkling cider, we used glass Dr. Pepper and Coke bottles. The photo below shows some pictures of our wedding reception. You can kind of catch a glimpse of those soda bottles at the bottom of the cross. Click on it to enlarge if you want to see it better! :)

80s Survey

My friend Tiffany at Dreams Do Come True sent me an e-mail and told me about this survey so I thought I would fill it out and share it with everyone! Thanks, Tiffany!


Pop Rocks or Bazooka? Pop Rocks

New Wave or Breakdancing? New Wave

Neon or Tie Dye? Oooh, this is a hard one. I guess I'll pick Tie Dye.

Duran Duran or U2? Duran Duran. Simon Lebon. Come On.

Bop or Teen Beat? I read both but I'll choose Bop

Keds or Converse? Keds!!

Pac Man or Ms. Pac Man? Ms. Pac Man rules!

Hopscotch or Jump Rope? Hopscotch

Family Ties or Growing Pains? Growing Pains

Joan Jett or Pat Benatar? Pat Benatar

Alf or Mork and Mindy? Alf

Favorite family on TV? The Tanners on Full House

Favorite superheroe on tv? Wonder Woman

Favorite flavor of Bubblegum? Regular Hubba Bubba

Favorite Pixie Stick Flavor? Cherry

Favorite Board Game? Sorry

Favorite Video Game? Pole Position

Did you own a boombox? Yes, I called it a jambox

Did you have a brass name belt? Mine wasn't brass, but I did have a western belt with my name on it. STYLIN!

Did you poster your room with magazine photos? YES! I had Corey Haim, Kirk Cameron, Alyssa Milano..

Did you own a Rubix cube? Yes and I still do

Six Million Dollar Man or Bionic Woman? Bionic Woman

Did you wear "fat" shoelaces of different colors? Yes! Neon ones!

Did you hang a tassle from your rearview mirror? I did the year I graduated. I also put green and white ribbons on my car antenna. Kick Em Colts!

Did you own black rubber bracelets? Yes

Did you wear leg warmers? Yes and I still love leg warmers to this day! I have 4 pairs in my closet! Not even kidding.

Do you remember where you were in 1988? I was in 8th grade.

Did you idolize Madonna? YES! Most of my favorite Madonna songs are from her earlier albums like Madonna 1983 and Like a Virgin 1984 but I do remember LOVING the song "Causing a Commotion" from the Who's That Girl album. I was in 7th grade then.

Did you always use "like" in a sentence? Yes of course. I was a teenage girl.

Did you have a neon phone? No, but I had a pastel swatch phone. Jealous?

Did you love Kirk Cameron? Ohmagod Yes! He was all over my walls.

Did MTV rule your world? It really did! I was in 1st grade when MTV first came on the air. I loved it so much! I got in trouble one night for watching it because Headbangers Ball was on. It was actually the Twisted Sister video "We're Not Gonna Take it" and it gave me a nightmare that night. Mom hated MTV!

Did you drink 40's or wine coolers? I drank Bacardi Breezers but not until 1990 when I was in 10th grade.

Favorite 80s hair band? Poison or Whitesnake

Favorite old school hip hop group? Run DMC or Salt N Pepa

Were you amazed by HBO and Cable TV? Yes! It was awesome and much better than just having 10 channels

Did you love remote controls? Haha, it was nice not to have to turn the knob manually. How lazy is that?

What color was your bedroom? Yellow

What phrase did you totally overuse? Psych or Lylas

Which phrase drives you nuts? Who's Your Daddy

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Hello everyone! I thought I would let you all in on some things I am loving right now!
























I am loving the Wild Honeysuckle fragrance from Bath and Body Works! It is wonderful! Normally, I am a Sweet Pea girl when it comes to Bath and Body Works, but I stumbled upon this fragrance accidentally this weekend. I love the anti-bacterial foaming hand soap from B&BW, so I bought an assortment of soaps in different fragrances. I try to buy Alan soaps that aren't "so girly." He informed me on Saturday that he needed another container of "foamy soap" so I took out the Wild Honeysuckle and placed it in his bathroom.
*Yes, we have enough bathrooms to permit Alan and I both to enjoy
private bathrooms. Incidentally, we also have separate closets!*
But I digress! Anyway, something told me to try out the soap once it was opened and that was it...I wanted it for myself. It really does smell great! I replaced his soap with Cotton Blossom.




















I am loving Mardel Christian Bookstore right now! I stumbled across this store the other day when I was coming out of Pier One and I had to check it out. I knew I would probably like it because it is a bookstore and I love any type of bookstore. Mardel is awesome!!! It had all kinds of stickers (YAY) and crafts and pens and art supplies as well as books and some lovely crosses. Plus, the prices were pretty reasonable! You must check it out if you have one near you.























I was watching an episode of CougarTown and Courteney Cox told her son on the show that she just bought him some Fudge Pops. I thought...hmmmm.... that sounds so good. So, I picked up a box at the grocery store this weekend and YUM! Delicious!






















I do not normally shop at this particular store, but I was coaxed in this week. They are currently having a Monopoly game going on at Albertsons much like the one they usually have at McDonalds sometime during the year. I am a sucker for games and I have to buy groceries anyway so I might as well try to win prizes. Fun!
























I am loving Forensic Files. I watched an episode the other night when I was up late and couldn't sleep and I'm now hooked. I have started to load up the DVR with rerun episodes of this show. I already knew I would love it because I like CSI shows, but this one is more in depth and really kept my attention. Forensic science is so amazing!




Well, there you go! These are some of my favorite things! Have a blessed day!

Re: Anonymous Post

I logged onto Blogger today and this is what greeted me...


Anonymous said...
Hi!
I like your blog, but have you considered changing the name? I found you while looking for blogs on writing and while I enjoy your posts, the don't have anything to do with writing or writer's block. Just a humble suggestion.




I'd like to start off by saying thank you to the anonymous reader for saying that you do in fact like my blog even though you don't like the title. I chose the name for my blog simply because I am a journalist. I thought "The Writer's Block" was catchy for the following reasons...
A. I am a writer.
B. This is my personal space (my neighborhood if you will)

Get it? The Writer's Block? It even states "Welcome to my Neighborhood!"

My intended purpose for this blog was to write about whatever came to mind on that particular day whether it be 80s memorabilia or something going on with my family life.

I am not an avid blogger because I have too many other responsibilies and my writing schedule does not permit me to post as much as I'd like.

I thought the name of my blog was kind of catchy and I was hoping my readers would understand that the title is tongue in cheek. I would never suggest someone change the name of their blog because it didn't flow with the content in my opinion.

I'm going to borrow some of my friend's blog names for just a moment to make a point...

Megan's Blog is called Twisted Tree ~ She doesn't blog about trees.

Lindsay's Blog is called Pixies and Bears ~ She doesn't blog about pixies and fairydust although she does blog a lot about bears... hmmmm. Bad example.

Tiffany's Blog is called Dreams Do Come True ~ She doesn't blog about granting people wishes all the time.

I think you get my point... While I appreciate your opinion, I hope I am clear as to why I chose the name in the first place.

Most of my friends know that I have talked about starting another blog completely devoted to my love for all things 80s. I haven't done this simply because I don't have enough time for this blog much less another one.

I really like my blog name. I am proud of the accomplishments I've made through writing and I've set my goals high for my future in journalism.

Does anyone else think I should change the name of my blog?

Top 5 Tuesday (80s Edition)

Hello everyone! I've decided to use images for my answers to make it more fun! Enjoy and feel free to answer these questions on your blog, too! I would love to read your answers or see your pictures if you decide to answer with photos as well! :)



Top 5 MTV music videos from the 80s~
1. You Might Think by The Cars
2. Thriller by Michael Jackson
3. Jump by Van Halen
4. Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
5. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

























































Top 5 Favorite TV Shows of the 80s
1. Who's the Boss?
2. Punky Brewster
3. Alice
4. Our House
5. Facts of Life

































































Top 5 Favorite Teen Movies of the 80s
1. Some Kind of Wonderful
2. Can't Buy Me Love
3. License To Drive
4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
5. Teen Witch

































































Top 5 Favorite Cartoons of the 80s
1. Shirt Tales
2. Smurfs
3. Jem and the Holograms
4. Muppet Babies
5. Alvin and the Chipmunks

































































I hope your Tuesday is Totally Terrific!

Flashback Friday Survey

When you think of MTV in the 80s, which video is the first one that pops in your head? Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar and I also thought of You Might Think by The Cars


Favorite Madonna Song? Holiday


Favorite song by Hall and Oates? Kiss on My List


Favorite song by Rick Springfield (besides Jessie's Girl)? State of the Heart


Favorite one hit wonder? Catch Me I'm Falling by Pretty Poison


Favorite teen movie? Can't Buy Me Love


Most Hated 80s song? Don't Worry Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin


Favorite song by Poison? Fallen Angel


If you had to live inside an 80s tv show for one week, which one would you choose and why? I think I would choose Charles in Charge and here's why. I used to be in love with Scott Baio and I always thought Nicole Eggert was so cool. Plus, there was always something fun and interesting going on in that household.


Favorite Pet Shop Boys song? Domino Dancing


Who was the best 80s leading man in a teen comedy? I choose Keith from Some Kind of Wonderful


If you could choose an 80s show to make a comeback, which one would it be? I choose Who's the Boss.


I would love to hear your answers to these 80s questions!!! Happy Weekend everyone!

Hot Tub Time Machine

Alan and I went to the movies this weekend! We went to see "Hot Tub Time Machine." The last movie we saw was "This Is It." That was a great movie, Hot Tub Time Machine was not. It kills me to say this, too, because you all know how much I love the 80s. When I heard about this movie, I knew I had to convince Alan to go with me. I mean hello 80s, time machine, awesome soundtrack...Oh man it was not good. At all.

I know, I know...What did I really expect from a movie called Hot Tub Time Machine? It was very predictable and cheesy. That didn't bother me as much as the constant dropping of F bombs, crude humor, nudity and raunchy sex scenes.

For those of you planning to see the film, please stop reading now in order to not spoil the film for yourself. *SPOILERS*

This movie should've been rated X. Seriously.



















There was sex in beds, sex in hot tubs, sexual acts in bars, horrible language, 4 men in a hot tub (all naked), drug use, gambling, male on male oral, naked boobs and butts galore. Did I mention male on male oral???? Plus, there is a nasty scene with what appears to be sperm all over a guys face. It's all very very bad. I left there feeling dirty and embarrassed that we paid to see such filth. Even if it was only a matinee charge.

The soundtrack was cool. That's about it. Oh, and I do love John Cusack. But, I'd skip it if I were you. Or at least wait until it comes out on DVD.

You should've seen Alan's face when the credits finally started rolling. I wonder how many Star Wars or Superman movies I'm going to have to watch to make up for this bomb? Seriously.

Totally Inspired

I just read my friend Meg's blog and I was inspired to share a few nostalgic photos of myself and one super cool one of my husband, Alan. By the way, he would die if he knew I am posting this pic of him. You'll see why in a just a minute...

I wish I had more photos on hand, but here's what I've got... Have fun!




This is me and my Mom. I think I was in 9th grade in this pic.























This is a picture of me when I was a junior in high school.


























This is a picture of me and two of my close friends at prom. I'm on the left with the outrageous puffy sleeves.

























These are graduation pics.










































Here is that picture of Alan looking cool albeit fuzzy. Sorry about the quality. You get the drift though...haha

























Have a great day!

STICKERS!!!!

You all know the way to my heart is with stickers! Well, Janel went into overdrive with sticker craziness and I LOVE her so much for it!!!! I got a ton and I do mean a lot of stickers from her today. So much variety and interesting stickers that will look awesome with my collection. She also included 5 book plates from Etsy that are way cute! I love everything!

Thank you so much, Janel! You totally made my day! I look forward to sending your package to you in a few days.


Check these out!






















I also wanted to show you the new picture that is now in our master bathroom. I love it so much and just wanted to share! It says...
"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me" Philippians 4:13





















Happy Weekend Everyone!

New Blog Design!

First of all, a BIG thank you to Tiffany at Dreams Do Come True!!!!

I won a free blog makeover from her yesterday and just look at the finished product! AMAZING! Thank you sweet friend! You have totally made my day!

Please take a moment to replace my old blog button with the new one when you get a chance! Thanks y'all!

I am so happy right now! Thank you, thank you Tiffany!

Happy Mail

I have received some amazing happy mail gifts within the past week and I am just now getting around to posting about them. I am so thankful for all of my wonderful friends and their generosity. Thank you all so much!


First of all, I want to thank Meg for this incredible book she sent me last week. I LOVE this book so much and it is totally right up my alley. It's called "Just Can't Get Enough" and it's all about toys and other awesome things from the 80s. Look at it...it's a trapper keeper book! So cool!

Thank you so much, Meg!

I also received a very cool package from Jamie! She sent a variety of interesting gifts and it was so much fun to go through all of it. Incidentally, she also gave me some stickers with my card as well as with this happy mail package but I already put them in with my sticker collection! Check out these goodies!

Also, a HUGE thank you to Sonja for my happy mail this month! She really put a lot of thought into my package and I appreciate it so much! She even included some vintage strawberry shortcake stickers! Ah, that is music to my ears! Vintage strawberry shortcake + vintage stickers = Totally awesome!

Take a look at all of this goodness!









Thank you so much, ladies! You bring many smiles to my face!

What's in Your Purse?

Do you ever wonder what your friends carry in their handbags? I confess, I sometimes get a little curious!

Here is a picture of my purse and what's in it today! :)


























~Brighton wallet/checkbook (I hardly ever write checks, but I always have it just in case.)

~Wet N Wild Jumbo Juicy Lip Balm (Watermelon)

~Perfume (David Yurman)

~Black Jetstream Pen

~Coin Purse (Cream colored sequined vintage clutch)

~Cell Phone (Samsung Solstice)

~Another wallet (just for my coupons) Hey! I'm thrifty!

~Compact (Complete with the letter "K")

~Sunglasses (tortoise color)...They are actually J Lo Brand. Don't laugh!

~Urban mini survival kit (Includes band aids, pain reliever, lens wipes, a hairband, sunblock and Purell.)

~Lipstick by Estee Lauder in Sweet Beige




So... there you have it. That's what's in my purse. I'm sure you were all dying to know. lol

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Easter Sunday with their families.








































































































Here's my Easter mEGGa Mix: All songs Sugary Sweet

1. I Want Candy by Bow Wow Wow
2. Candy Girl by New Edition
3. Raspberry Beret by Prince
4. Cherry Pie by Warrant
5. Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard
6. Cherry Bomb by John Cougar Mellencamp
7. Sweet Love by Anita Baker
8. Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics
9. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
10. Sweet Child O Mine by Guns N' Roses







Happy Easter! Hope it's Eggcellent!