You Are Too Kind!

Okay, so near the end of the 2007-2008 school year (when I was still a school teacher), my students and I put together a class blog. It is linked on the side of my blog and also here. This was a REALLY fun project that my students chose as a way to publish their group writing pieces. It's pretty darn cute if you have a minute to check it out... gives you a little insight to how kids in 4th grade think and write and what they think is important.

Well right before the 2008-2009 school year started, I had a little party with my former class to end the summer with a bang. The party was an idea that my kids had come up with and that one of me student's moms took off and ran with. She put together such a fun party! The kids and I had the greatest time and I couldn't think of a better way to wrap up my teacher career (if you can call 3 years of teaching a career). This cute mom took a bunch of photos and rather than having her send them to me in a series of emails, I gave her the sign in name and password to our class blog to have her upload them to the slideshow.  That cute stink added a post to our class blog... a post that should have made my cry, and would have if I were a crier.... although my eyes DID well up with tears. Anyhow, if you care about me at all, you should humor me by checking out my former students' posts and pictures and then telling my how adorable they are and how it made you want to be in 4th grade again. In case you're wondering, there was a guitar solo, balloon animals, and sign painting at our party. THANK YOU TAMMY!

p.s. I REALLY miss the 4th grade....

Quirky Me.

I was tagged by my cute friend Mechelle. This is a fun tag because it gives you insight to the quirks that we all try to hide in person, but feel brave enough to write about on our blogs. :)

Rules: Link the person that tagged you. Mention these rules on your blog. Tell 6 unspectacular quirks of yourself and tag 6 fellow bloggers. Got it? Let's go!

1: I fear that I am a little more than slightly OCD. Each morning I wake up and follow the same routine as I get ready for work. If my routine is even slightly altered by an outside force, the rest of the day is a complete wash. Here is a glimpse of my daily schedule: When I leave for work I put my purse, my water bottle, and my banana on the passenger's seat in the exact same spot. Then I turn the radio to 103.5 before turning my air to "recirculate" with the temperature right between hot and cold. Once I'm at work, I put my car keys in the front pocket of my bag, set my water bottle and banana on the front right corner of my desk, remove my ipod from my bag, etc......

2: At some point in my early adulthood I trained myself not to cry. I think I viewed it as a weakness at the time, although I know better now. I rarely cry. I can't even cry when I think it would make me feel better. I can feel my eyes start to well up with tears if the mood strikes me, but they never leave my eyes and even that doesn't last long. I often tell people that I cry or did cry hoping that I can convince my subconscious to release the tears, but it doesn't seem to work. The last time that I can remember REALLY crying was almost two and a half years ago over a dumb boy... WHAT A WASTE! I think there may be something wrong with me. :)

3: I LOVE hoodies! I can't explain this zeal for such a casual garment. It just is what it is. It probably didn't help that I worked retail for a few years and got a 40% discount on purchases at my store. I own nearly 30 hoodies. They fill an entire closet next to my room.... and then some. They vary in style from pullover, full zip, half zip, long sleeve, elbow sleeve, logo, floral, striped, solid, fur-lined, fleece-lined, etc. I also own 12 winter coats, but that's another story.

Here are just some of my many hoodies in action.

4: I LOVE reading! I always have. I think that would explain why I was painfully shy growing up, I would rather have been reading than doing anything else all through grade school. However, I am notorious for STARTING books. Notice I didn't follow that up with finishing. I have shelves of books that have books marks resting halfway through them. I just get so excited when I hear about new books that I can't wait until I finish the current book and the poor thing gets deserted. I spend hours on end at Barnes and Noble and often offer it up as a date idea to boys when it's clear halfway through the evening that I don't want to suffer through conversation with them any longer (am I evil?) 

Here are just SOME of my current reads.

5: I think I'm pretty immature for an adult. I love to play games, run around and chase my nieces and nephews, watch cartoons, read children's literature, eat Snack Packs, etc. Last weekend I lead my friends in a game of Sardines (a cousin game to Hide and Seek). They were reluctant at first but warmed up to it so well that we played it for nearly 3 hours! I personally own a Nintendo DS with a number of games and a Wii. I often lock Norm out of the house, or play Steamroller with my mom to wake her up, hang up on phone conversations for no reason, prank call friends and loved ones, pull pranks on people at work, dress up in costumes for occasions other than Halloween and the list goes on! Heaven help me....

6: I am a methodical eater. All items on my plate are to remain very separate. Foods of different natures are not allowed to touch each other. I begin by eating the hot foods, so I can enjoy them before they get cold, then I eat any vegetables or fruit, finally I eat any cold non- veggie or fruit food. In the case of mixed meals, such as a Cafe Rio salad, I do NOT mix the ingredients. I try to get an equal amount of food category in each bite I take. As I'm writing this, it's very clear to me that I need a hobby.

I tag Ali, Tatiana, Marcie, Hollie, Natalie, and Tammy.

THIS is Worth Your 2 Minutes and 45 Seconds (give or take a few)!

Waldo Ultimatum

I've Never Won Anything Before...

Yes, it's true. I've finally won something... I'm blushing. (I'm hoping that my next achievement will be a Dundie!) After spending most of her day on Wednesdays for an entire school year in my classroom, this lady still manages to help me out and make my day!

The rules of this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.

Here we go.... Drumroll please...

This freakishly talented lady posts pictures and details of all of her latest wonderful creations. Plus each of her posts features her wit and comedic sarcasm... along with pictures of my ADORABLE nieces and nephews! I should also mention that she openly gives of her time to help her crazy, younger sister with any project she decides to take on. I sure love her!

This tender-hearted woman has a blog filled with some of the most entertaining, yet true, stories of mischievous children. She also posts lots of beautiful photos of her DARLING children that show the makings of what I'm sure is to become a well-known photographer. :) Plus she is my on call hair stylist and esthetician. Thanks to her, my odds of getting married someday have gone up drastically.

This blog belongs to a BEAUTIFUL girl that I had the privilege of growing up near. She is super intelligent and ridiculously funny... which makes for a very entertaining blog. I catch myself laughing out loud at her posts frequently. She has a real talent for writing, not to mention a tender, loving heart that makes everyone feel welcome around her.

This blog is owned by a friend of mine who I respect and hate at the same time for his intelligence.... only because he is unbeatable at trivia games. His posts are very well-written with an almost hidden, dry humor that proves just how intelligent he is. I don't know how one person is capable of thinking of/thinking up so many things, so quickly!

The publisher of this blog is a girl.... woman, I guess :) that I went to junior high and high school with. She was a friend that I always looked up to and admired and I love to check her posts to see all the fun things that her darling family is doing. It's fun to keep tabs with friends like this that I have so many FUN memories of.

This bog is kept by a girl... woman :)... that I went to college with. She and her husband were both loyal friends of mine and we shared many unforgettable memories (some that I'm sure we wish we could forget!) They have the most beautiful little girl and I love to see her latest pictures along with all of her cute craft ideas (that I will probably never do).

I have to re-link back to the blog that "nominated" me. I LOVE her blog. It's so fun to keep tabs on my darling, former student and to see all of the fun things that her mom is doing... it makes me excited to me a mother someday.....

Not the Biggest Loser, Just a Loser...

I am currently munching on a bag of plain M & Ms and my friend Graham is now $50 richer... you do the math. (sigh)

Another One Bites the Dust And a Barking Child's Dog Bend!

I am happy to report that yet another member of the Sugar Free Challenge has caved, leaving only myself and two others. I was with the other two remaining members a couple of nights ago and we made guesses at who would fall next. The thing is... I don't know that any of us will. One of the boys is painfully laid back; it has probably never occurred to him that he's missing out on sugar. The other boy is painfully stubborn.... much like me. We decided that we'll probably have to track one another down when we're on our death beds to say that we decided to break the challenge before we died of old age. Maybe I'll still be blogging then. I'll be sure to post the results.

Also, I did yoga for the VERY first time in my life tonight. It was quite the experience. I will say that it was much more difficult than I had anticipated. I did break into a sweat and begin some heavy/fast breathing. I really enjoyed it, especially the nap I took the last few minutes during the "cool down." I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my gym will hold a class called Yoga for Inflexible People.

Kill me.....

Just thought I'd give an update on the sugar situation. I hate it. I've been dreaming in chocolate and it's all I can do to keep myself from walking down to the vending machine at work for a bag of Peanut M & M's!

Also, one of the members dropped out of the bet yesterday (bless her heart, she had a break up) which means my odds of winning are much better. :) I should mention that I am sorry for her misfortune although I plan on capitalizing on her loss.  Now if I could just get the others to crack soon so I don't have to go on living like this... kill me!

On a more positive note.... I broke out in hives the night before last. That's been a real neat experience. I've only had hives one other time in my life... on my trip to Hawaii with some friends. I'm starting to notice a trend in friend trips and me being sick or afflicted....

I'm rather cynical when I write late at night, so I'd better save the space for another day.

Sugar Free

I am known for having a sweet tooth of sorts. I have had the recipe for Muddy Buddies memorized since I was 9 years old. And I have made a batch in under 10 minutes on EVERY Thursday that an episode of "The Office' has aired.... since it's inception! Also, I have recently discovered a delicious recipe for simple sugar cookies with delicious buttercream frosting that I enjoy making for any occasion. Additionally, my friend Erika introduced me to cupcakes made from scratch.... I never knew it was possible!! For my 25th birthday this past June, I had FOUR people give me large bags of Peanut M & M's because they know just how much those chocolatey morsels mean to me. My life is ruled by sugar!! 

I had no idea how bad it was until some of my friends decided to enter a sugar free challenge. There are five of us involved, three of which have severe cases of the sweet tooth, myself included. I don't know how my friend got the idea for this challenge, but it couldn't have come at a better time! The terms are that we each put some money in the pot, you get ONE DAY a week when you can eat sugar, the other six are sugar free, and whoever lasts the longest takes the money. It just so happens that 3 of the 5 people involved are stubborn ol'mules, myelf included. It could be interesting....

I am beginning my 3rd week of the sugar free challenge and I am doing okay. The first 3 days or so were not pretty. I had no idea just how much I relied on sugar.... or how much sugar I consumed on a daily basis. I was a BEAR to everyone the first few days as I felt my body go through sugar withdrawals.  Then things planed out and I was okay..... just okay. Until the first day I could eat sugar; I ate a small bag of Peanut M & M's, two fun size Kit Kats, a chocolate chip cookie, and two Tootsie Roll Midges. I was ill, to say the least. 

Week two wasn't so bad. I've had to readjust my daily menus to fruits and food with natural sugars to keep me awake at my desk. Labor Day weekend was part of our week two and we decided to lift the ban for two days since we were all out of town together. I made Muddy Buddies, sugar cookies, a different Chex Mix covered in white chocolate that we lovingly call Santa's Crack, and I bought myself a bag of Peanut M & M's. I was ill. Again.

Today I made the decision that in order to win this bet and release myself from the chains of complex sugars, I am no longer going to take my free day of sugar each week. I am nervous just thinking about it! But it's time. I don't like having such a strong dependency on things; especially something as silly as sugar. So, wish me luck. Here goes nothin'!

(p.s. If anyone out there happens to know a sugar free recipe for Muddy Buddies, send it my way.)