Happy Mother's Day, and other fun things...

Hey everybody! I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I was working all day in the cosmetics department so I celebrated Mother's Day Saturday night with my family. It was a nice evening. We all went out to dinner to celebrate my mom and aunt. The actual day was when my grandmothers got together and had a nice lunch at my aunt's house. It sucks that I had to work. But that is life. I was fortunate enough to spend time with most everyone Saturday night.

My mom and I are a pair. One minute we can be the best of friends and the next moment one of us is going all Dark Phoenix on the other. My dad likes to joke that there's too much estrogen flowing between us. I think it is because my mom and I are super close and as such we know how to push each other's buttons. It might have to also deal with the fact that I now live with my parents again and this only means that my mom's premonitions of us turning out like Grey Gardens will be coming true. (I really don't know what to think of that.)

Actually all kidding aside, I am very fortunate to have my mom in my life. We nearly lost her almost 11 years ago to a brain aneurysm. It was a terrifying ordeal and one that I still can't believe happened. My mom is a fighter though, even before all that scary stuff with brain surgery and the works, my mom has been a fighter. She has always done everything in her power to make a great life for my brother and me (my dad too.) My mom is also one of the funniest people I know.

We both have a cackle. And when either one of us starts laughing there is no stopping us. The cackling just goes on and on. She's also really goofy. Don't let my mom's southern belle attitude fool you. She loves nothing more than being a ham.

My mom also believes in thinking highly of her children. Wherever I go with my mom, she insists on telling everyone, "This is my daughter! Isn't she gorgeous?" At dinner Saturday night we got to see a familiar face at the restaurant and all my mom could say was, "Have you met my daughter? Isn't she so beautiful? Feel her skin, it is so soft!" I mean, yes, it is highly embarrassing, but at the same time I feel so loved that my mom says such nice things about me.

I also am very fortunate to have my mom's sister in my life. We call her Auntie. She is like a second mom, sister, and best friend. Their mother is my Nana and my dad's mom is just called Grandmother. All of these women are so important in my life and such a source of strength. I love them and even though I wasn't there for them on Mother's Day, I think about and celebrate these great women all the time. They inspire me and I hope that if I ever have children of my own one day, that I will continue to pass along the love and strength that I have received from them.

I could go into other topics and issues about this weekend and Mother's Day, but I won't. I will say though, it is hard being single again. Now that my husband is no longer my husband, I find myself still sad and grieving over the loss of my in-laws that I no longer see. I communicate every once in awhile, but it is hard. I also am reminded (as with most family functions) that the life I thought I was building is no longer there. I don't know if I am going to have a family of my own one day. And that makes me sad. However! Don't cry for me Etheria! I truly am going to be fine. I have so much love around me and I am inspired by the love of so many other people. I love seeing other people happy and full of their own family stories. It gives me hope, and that is truly what keeps me going.

So, I want to share some photos of the "moms" in my life. Most of these are from a few years ago, so enjoy a non-toy set of pictures! (I don't do this often, but I know that some of you enjoy seeing this other side of me. So enjoy!)

Generations of some cool women! (Me, my mom, my Nana and Auntie!)

See what I mean? My mom loves to be goofy!

My brother, mom, and me! Wearing our sunglasses at... daytime!

I think she was on an important phone call...

Totally goofy, and that is why she is a beautiful person.

My Auntie! Her real name is Marsha. But even when I am 76, she will always be Auntie.

My grandmother (dad's mom.)

My grandmother hates taking pictures, but I think she is really photogenic.

This is my mom's mom. I love that she believes with all her heart that women of a particular age must go blond. 

And here we are again! I believe this was Mother's Day 2012. 

Anyways, enjoy the photos and get ready folks! I have some fun stuff in store. Toy stories are going to heat up and I will be posting something very soon about a way in which you all can participate in a big event coming up this Summer! Stay tuned and I hope you are all doing well!

Sweet Valley Surprise!

Hey everybody! Click below to read about some things that have been going on around these parts!

April 2014 Bodacious Baddie!

Previously on All My Toys...

After her fall from the After Life right into the body of Moth Lady, Miss M has been on a journey to convince someone that she is indeed the real deal. Of course her entire reason for returning to Earth was to find some mysterious dragon figurine for Maleficent, so maybe that plot point will get wrapped up eventually.

In other news, a renegade group of powerhouse females calling themselves the Cat Ladies are trying to solve the mystery surrounding Miss M's death. Their sleuthing skills have led them on a trip to the sewer in search of the Rat King. In similar sewer news, She-Ra has been looking for her friend (and maybe secret love) Sea Hawk. With the help of Wonder Woman the two women have found out that a fellow by the name of (wait for it) the Rat King might know where the pirate is at.

Also, Miss M found the perfect chance to prove her existence and love to Michelangelo at a fancy fundraiser to save the Wii U. The goal: true love's kiss. That act of desperation totally backfired and in an attempt to end her sadness and the mental war for control over Moth Lady's body, Miss M threw herself off the side of a mountain. So now, let's see if Miss M is ready to embrace the After Life once more!

Miss M presents: Save the Wii U!

Dear Diary,

I'm sure you're tired of reading this diary, but I died and came back to life in the body of Moth Lady. I know, why must I always repeat this in entry after entry? But what if some dork from the future finds this diary and flips to this page out of all the pages I've written in and they have no clue what is going on? What then diary? What then? They must know the truth. That I died in a sewer explosion. My cute little self was blown to bits by the devious wrestler Velvet Sky and I lost the love of my life. That's all about to change though diary. After making a deal with the devil, er, Maleficent, I returned. And though Michelangelo still doesn't believe that I am who I say I am, he will. I know he will be attending the posh fundraiser to save the Wii U from extinction, and I am going to use this as my chance to get him to finally realize that I am back. I just hope that the mental space I am sharing with the real Moth Lady won't muck things up. It's really hard to share a body with a villain. Especially when said villain lives under a bridge and is friends with every insect known to humanity. Goodness I could just curse Maleficent for this. Totally just curse her to the moon and back. 

-Miss M

April 2014 Woman of Wonderosity!

With one of the big three already down for the month of April, it is time for another round of interviews! Check out this month's Woman of Wonderosity! You'll be glad you did.

Trolls! On Easter!

Hey everyone! Happy Easter for those who celebrate. And for those who don't, enjoy a nice chocolate egg with peanut butter in it. I've been eating a lot of Easter candy lately. Part of it is due to work. We've had baskets full of eggs filled with candy for customers at my job in the department store. And... we kinda keep forgetting to offer the eggs to customers and instead have been eating Nestle Crunch and Butterfinger eggs. I feel like I could turn into a rabbit at any minute. 

Click below for more!

April 2014 Heroic Hottie!

Dear Diary,

Living under a bridge with a pet roach is draining. The food is rotten. Literally. I'm still trapped in the body of Moth Lady and her inner psych is still trying to kick me out. I miss my old friends when I was alive the first time and in my original body. I know I was returned to the living by Maleficent in hopes of finding some silly dragon figurine, but Maleficent's wishes can wait! She tricked me and now I walk through the shadow of the valley of poverty and take a look at my life and realize: it sucks! The only thing I've been able to do for now has been to stalk, lovingly, the former people in my life. In fact, I think that is just what I'll do. I'm going to lovingly stalk Michelangelo and see what he is up to. Maybe he'll realize the position I'm in and just love me, love me, say that he'll love me. Oh diary, help me. I really miss music. Of course, living under the bridge means I get to dance to the sounds of the local discotheque where the music is loud and drunken brawls practically occur every night. I miss civilized life. Oh well, farewell for now diary!

-Miss M