Benvenuto! Ciao!

That's welcome and hello in Italian. I thought a little Italian would make a nice segue into this weeks random. Maybe not but anyway here we go...another dozen courtesy of Lid at 2nd Cup. Come play along and be sure to link your answers back to Linda's blog. Grazie!

1. How do you feel about "Gladiator" sandals, also called "Roman" or "Jesus" sandals? A fashion yea or nay?

If you are Kate Moss-yay

If you are me-maybe. With the right outfit and a tan and a few more walks uphill. Maybe.

2. What is your favorite pizza?

Margherita. Although I cannot tell you the last time I ate pizza. I love it but I have mustered up all my will power to resist in recent months. No small feat as I live in North Jersey and it's kind of famous for its fabulous pizza.

3. There are plans in the works to sell roughly 1,000 items from Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. This means you could buy Picard's chair for your family room. If not a Star Trek item, what prop, background, set, etc. from what TV or movie would you buy if you could? [Ex: Hurley's "I Love my Shih tzu" shirt from LOST, the plantation home "Tara" from Gone With the Wind, or Tracy's tambourine from the Partridge Family.]

If you're dreaming might at well dream big...How about the Hamptons beach house Diane Keaton's character owned in the movie 'Something’s Gotta Give'?

4. Name a local food or restaurant that your area is famous for.

Besides pizza? Well, there is The Best Bagel shop in NJ...

Yes, of course I took a picture. They do have fabulous bagels but I cannot tell you for certain that its the only bagel shop in NJ claiming to be the best.

5. What is your current favorite snack?

watermelon

6. Hypothetical: You are required to be a reality show contestant. Which show would you choose based on your probability of success? (You cannot choose "none.")

A. Dancing with the Stars

B. Biggest Loser

C. Survivor

Survivor. But only if hubs came too. You know, to do all the gross stuff. And all the hard stuff. Essentially I’d swim in crystal clear waters and work on my tan. And naturally I'd participate in the challenges because I think I may have mentioned here once or seventeen times that I'm a teensy bit competitive.

7. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being uninhabitable and 10 being cleanliness that meets the standards of OCD, how clean is your vehicle's interior?

My car is very clean. I can’t say its a 10 because I’m sure there’s some dog drool on the back window courtesy of the super model so I’ll say 8+. Keep in mind I don’t cart around young children anymore which helps immensely in the cleanliness department.

8. It doesn't feel like Spring until _________.

The eyes begin to itch and water and the daffs pop open.

9. Something that made you laugh really hard recently is ____.

The husband. He's a funny guy. And I mean that in a good way.

10. Tell me about a goal you're working toward.

Really? I'm gonna need to lie down for this one. How about figuring out what I want to be now that I'm all grown up?

11. Share a thought-provoking or inspiring quote this week.

I've been reading lots of quotes appropriate for a graduate since my daughter is graduating in 20 something days, not that I'm counting, and I especially like this one...

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Henry David Thoreau

Good advice for a college grad. And I think not bad advice for her mom too. See #10.

12. oops...I was so proud of myself for scheduling this post and read it this morning and realized I left off #12-... Name one thing that you do as a parent that you absolutely know will make your kids happy. If you're not a parent, feel free to substitute "friend" or nomenclature that works for you.

shopping, making their favorite foods, pedicures...my kids are in college (well, my oldest graduates in 20 something days...did I already tell you that?)...so we love to have family dinners, shop and have our toes painted together...its the little things ya know.