2011/12/31
Last Friday of 2011
I am thankful for eating a WARM chocolate chip cookie! I can't remember the last time we baked chocolate chip cookies (just a week ago we had sugar cookies!), and I do love them so :) But, what I love MORE is the time when we are making the dough and making cookies andjust that time spent together :))
2011/12/29
Thursday Thanks!
I had a good day :) I had an awesome run this morning in 50 degree weather!! I felt alive :) SO, today's thanks is for the ability to enjoy life!
2011/12/28
Thankful times two!
Tuesday - I was very thankful for an AWESOME run! I went out late, and ended up running in the dark and a bit of sprinkly rain, but it was an AMAZING run!! Then after I got home, it started CRAZY snowing! I feel pretty lucky that we have had such a mild winter, and that I have been able to run outside and exercise outside :)
Wednesday- Today I am thankful for the sunshine! It goes with yesterday's thankfulness, too. I love that today was 45 degrees and SUNNY :))) Though I hope that the weather won't be too warm and ruin our ice skating on Friday!!
Wednesday- Today I am thankful for the sunshine! It goes with yesterday's thankfulness, too. I love that today was 45 degrees and SUNNY :))) Though I hope that the weather won't be too warm and ruin our ice skating on Friday!!
2011/12/26
THANKFUL!!!
Saturday- It was our Christmas, and it was PERFECT :)) So, thankful for my beautiful family!
Sunday - We spent playing cards and eating yummy prime rib! Lots of laughs!! And, we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie --which I think was even better than the first!
Mon- Today I am thankful for the extra day off with my honey! We went for a drive :))
Sunday - We spent playing cards and eating yummy prime rib! Lots of laughs!! And, we went to see the new Sherlock Holmes movie --which I think was even better than the first!
Mon- Today I am thankful for the extra day off with my honey! We went for a drive :))
2011/12/23
Thankful!!
Today I am thankful that my mommy and daddy brought me up to be an honest person :) After I saved $84, which was 41% of my total order (highest percentage of savings so far), the cashier gave me an extra $50 change, but I gave it back to her, and I didn't even think twice about doing so. The lady behind me in line said, "Just know that good karma will follow you."
2011/12/22
Family and Friend time!
I am thankful that we have break, and we can spend it with our family and friends! Today we went bowling and to the new Chipmunk movie! GOOD times :))
2011/12/21
THX!
Um...let's see, I was having a crazy day. So, at first, I thought it would be hard to find the thankful thing today.
So, here it is:
1) I left my lights on while I waited over 45 minutes (in pain) for my prescription. I am thankful that the battery didn't die!!! PHEW :)
2) I got a prescription!!! Hopefully this means some relief soon!
3) I am thankful that I found a killer deal on a present. I ended up saving over $55 on it!! WOO HOO!!
4) I also found my exact sports bra at Rawson's for only $8 (normally $45).
5) Spending time with my wee one making sugar cookies...brings back such sweet memories of when my oldest were young!
So, here it is:
1) I left my lights on while I waited over 45 minutes (in pain) for my prescription. I am thankful that the battery didn't die!!! PHEW :)
2) I got a prescription!!! Hopefully this means some relief soon!
3) I am thankful that I found a killer deal on a present. I ended up saving over $55 on it!! WOO HOO!!
4) I also found my exact sports bra at Rawson's for only $8 (normally $45).
5) Spending time with my wee one making sugar cookies...brings back such sweet memories of when my oldest were young!
2011/12/20
Monday and Tuesday thanks
So, yesterday was a day with a high high and a low low. I am thankful for the time I had cross-country skiing! It was beautiful, and I always feel so alive out in nature!!! Then, when I returned home, we had to put our dog down :( I am thankful that she is out of misery. It was definitely her time, but soooo sad. Consoling our little one was heartbreaking...though we cuddled for a long time and rocked. I am thankful I can be that person for her in her life when she needs it the most :)
Today I am thankful for having girl time!! We had an awesome lunch with Sophie, who is one of my former students, and she used to teach our little one swim lessons! We had such a fun lunch!!! Yeah for the Breadline! And, it just rocked catching up :) Turns out both our little one and Sophie had the same 4th grade teacher, so it was fun listening to them!! We did lots of shopping, and ran some errands. GOOD times today :))
Today I am thankful for having girl time!! We had an awesome lunch with Sophie, who is one of my former students, and she used to teach our little one swim lessons! We had such a fun lunch!!! Yeah for the Breadline! And, it just rocked catching up :) Turns out both our little one and Sophie had the same 4th grade teacher, so it was fun listening to them!! We did lots of shopping, and ran some errands. GOOD times today :))
2011/12/18
Sunday
Well...I have several things for which I am thankful today :)) We had a fun family day, and I am thankful for days that we can spend doing things together!
I am also thankful for finding my cross-country ski boots, because I am going with a group of friends tomorrow!! YEAH :)
And, thankful for spending time with friends and making homemade pasta yesterday! We made ravioli, which we ate for dinner tonight with homemade sauce. YUMMY.
I am also thankful for finding my cross-country ski boots, because I am going with a group of friends tomorrow!! YEAH :)
And, thankful for spending time with friends and making homemade pasta yesterday! We made ravioli, which we ate for dinner tonight with homemade sauce. YUMMY.
2011/12/17
Such a gift!
Being a step-parent is hard. Being a step-child is hard. Heck, being a parent and a child is hard, but it can at times be extra-hard when you add in the hyphen of step!
So, for eight years, Ricky and I have been together. My boys were in 7th and 10th grade when we moved up here. And, Rick's daughter had just turned 2. We had been dating for about six months, when the moved happened.
Needless to say, teenage time is tough. Add into the mix a move and a bio dad who was pretty hands-off (absolutely NO conflict, but also pretty apathetic...we made all the plans for the kids to spend time with him; he never initiated), and you end up with some angry little boys. Add to that, a step-dad with VERY LITTLE patience or parenting skills--he's the highway or my way type of parent, and you get a rocky, at best, start.
Life has happened, and we have somehow survived! I never gave up, even when times were tough. And, boy they were tough (I moved out and lived on my own with the boys TWICE). This doesn't even add into the mix the conflict of dealing with another set of step hyphen problems with me as step-mama. (THAT'S an entirely different entry!)
Ricky has grown as a parent, for sure. I am so proud of him :) When my oldest, Cody, graduated and went to the Marines, well, let's just say he realized where Rick was coming from all of those years, rough and tough, but full of love, even if he didn't show it. The two of them have bonded incredibly! They are best of friends now, and have been for almost four years. Cody did apologize to Rick for being an instigator and master deflector--"If I get my mom and Rick fighting, then they will lay off of me." Rick has even said the *L word to Cody :)))
Now, my youngest...that's a different story entirely. Jordie and Rick are so much alike, and OFTEN I felt like they were brothers, squabbling over this or that, and constantly putting me in the middle :( In the end, I truly wondered if they would EVER find their own common ground--even if everyone around them could see it from the beginning.
Jordie is at his second year of college, and he is going to school to be a veterinarian. He is doing incredible at school, and he loves what he is doing! I can tell that Rick is proud of him--even if he won't admit it out loud. The past year has been better between the two of them, offering some hope. I can see Jordan making an effort, and I can see Ricky trying to accept that effort.
Fast forward to this week...Jordie has been home from college, and we have had some awesome family dinners!! LOTS of laughter. You can just see a difference between them. Well, now the two of them are conspiring about my Christmas present. There have been several secretive phone calls, and this morning Jordie came up to get money from Rick. I went outside to give Jordie a hug, and I told him, "I know you guys are conspiring. And, I know I will love whatever it is, but what makes me the HAPPIEST mama on the planet...is seeing the two of you in cahoots." Jordie just squeezed me tight and said, "I love you, Mom!"
THERE IT IS...I will take it. I know things won't be perfect, and there will always be frustrations, but I cannot tell you how long this has been coming. My heart is so full right now, I need nothing else.
Truly...this is for what I am thankful today. THANK YOU.
So, for eight years, Ricky and I have been together. My boys were in 7th and 10th grade when we moved up here. And, Rick's daughter had just turned 2. We had been dating for about six months, when the moved happened.
Needless to say, teenage time is tough. Add into the mix a move and a bio dad who was pretty hands-off (absolutely NO conflict, but also pretty apathetic...we made all the plans for the kids to spend time with him; he never initiated), and you end up with some angry little boys. Add to that, a step-dad with VERY LITTLE patience or parenting skills--he's the highway or my way type of parent, and you get a rocky, at best, start.
Life has happened, and we have somehow survived! I never gave up, even when times were tough. And, boy they were tough (I moved out and lived on my own with the boys TWICE). This doesn't even add into the mix the conflict of dealing with another set of step hyphen problems with me as step-mama. (THAT'S an entirely different entry!)
Ricky has grown as a parent, for sure. I am so proud of him :) When my oldest, Cody, graduated and went to the Marines, well, let's just say he realized where Rick was coming from all of those years, rough and tough, but full of love, even if he didn't show it. The two of them have bonded incredibly! They are best of friends now, and have been for almost four years. Cody did apologize to Rick for being an instigator and master deflector--"If I get my mom and Rick fighting, then they will lay off of me." Rick has even said the *L word to Cody :)))
Now, my youngest...that's a different story entirely. Jordie and Rick are so much alike, and OFTEN I felt like they were brothers, squabbling over this or that, and constantly putting me in the middle :( In the end, I truly wondered if they would EVER find their own common ground--even if everyone around them could see it from the beginning.
Jordie is at his second year of college, and he is going to school to be a veterinarian. He is doing incredible at school, and he loves what he is doing! I can tell that Rick is proud of him--even if he won't admit it out loud. The past year has been better between the two of them, offering some hope. I can see Jordan making an effort, and I can see Ricky trying to accept that effort.
Fast forward to this week...Jordie has been home from college, and we have had some awesome family dinners!! LOTS of laughter. You can just see a difference between them. Well, now the two of them are conspiring about my Christmas present. There have been several secretive phone calls, and this morning Jordie came up to get money from Rick. I went outside to give Jordie a hug, and I told him, "I know you guys are conspiring. And, I know I will love whatever it is, but what makes me the HAPPIEST mama on the planet...is seeing the two of you in cahoots." Jordie just squeezed me tight and said, "I love you, Mom!"
THERE IT IS...I will take it. I know things won't be perfect, and there will always be frustrations, but I cannot tell you how long this has been coming. My heart is so full right now, I need nothing else.
Truly...this is for what I am thankful today. THANK YOU.
2011/12/16
Friday
Geez...so much for which to be thankful.
I am now on Christmas break! WAHOOO...this is a time to focus on family and friends and recharge.
Many of my students gave me incredibly thoughtful gifts. It feels so good to be loved!
We are going to spend time with friends tonight! I love the laughter and love of this time of the year!!
I am THANKFUL indeed!
I am now on Christmas break! WAHOOO...this is a time to focus on family and friends and recharge.
Many of my students gave me incredibly thoughtful gifts. It feels so good to be loved!
We are going to spend time with friends tonight! I love the laughter and love of this time of the year!!
I am THANKFUL indeed!
2011/12/15
Thankful Thursday!
Today several of my students gave me Christmas presents...so sweet and thoughtful :))
Also, I have been reading my students' memory projects, and I was absolutely bawling this morning! Such tender little hearts, I have in my classroom! And, I feel so honored to have the privilege to read the writings of their hearts!!! WOW!
Also, I have been reading my students' memory projects, and I was absolutely bawling this morning! Such tender little hearts, I have in my classroom! And, I feel so honored to have the privilege to read the writings of their hearts!!! WOW!
2011/12/14
Two days of thanks!
Yesterday I was thankful for winning a $150 gift certificate for filling out my Get Lit Passport! I am so stoked!!!! I did it for the exercise and the possibility of winning a prize, and I won the BIG one!! Yeah!! I can't decide for sure what I am going to get, but I am considering buying an "expensive" pair of jeans. I have never owned any before, so I might, only I am going to lose more weight, so I don't know if I want to get those jeans just yet...I could buy a smaller pair to be some motivation. We will see!
Today I am totally thankful for having a job where wearing a blue and gold tutu and my Cat in the Hat Converse is TOTALLY cool!! I had a blast today! Yesterday was Pool Party at the North Pole dress-up day. I wore cute shorts, toe socks, flip flops, and a Hawaiian shirt.
Today was Blue and Gold Day! I made a cute tutu, and I LOVE it :) It was fun to wear today!! Plus I wore my Cat in the Hat Converse that I LOVE, too! They even have my name on them.
I also had my hair completely covered with a can of shaving cream at the pep assembly. THIS was interesting. The staff did win for craziest hairdo! Yeah me and Steve.
HOW cool is it that I can have this much fun at my job?!?
Today I am totally thankful for having a job where wearing a blue and gold tutu and my Cat in the Hat Converse is TOTALLY cool!! I had a blast today! Yesterday was Pool Party at the North Pole dress-up day. I wore cute shorts, toe socks, flip flops, and a Hawaiian shirt.
Today was Blue and Gold Day! I made a cute tutu, and I LOVE it :) It was fun to wear today!! Plus I wore my Cat in the Hat Converse that I LOVE, too! They even have my name on them.
I also had my hair completely covered with a can of shaving cream at the pep assembly. THIS was interesting. The staff did win for craziest hairdo! Yeah me and Steve.
HOW cool is it that I can have this much fun at my job?!?
2011/12/12
I'm so thankful!
I love my hubby so much :) He is such a good man! He makes me thankful for the life we have. Whether it's the little or big things, he makes my life just right!! He is supportive of me, and I am so proud of the changes he has made in life to become a better man. THANKFUL that he is my man!
2011/12/11
Thanks 4 the weekend!
Saturday -
I was very thankful for my incredible Cheer Boosters! We had a rockin' Princess Party! It was SO MUCH FUN :) What a fantastic fundraiser! It was the first time we did it, and we have tons of great ideas for next year :))
Sunday -
Today is SO EASY!!!! I am thankful that I now weigh under 200 pounds! I don't have a clue how long it has been since I have been under 200, but I know it's been a LONG time!!! And, I know that I am not sad to be leaving the 200s behind!!!! I will NEVER be in them again, NEVER.
I was very thankful for my incredible Cheer Boosters! We had a rockin' Princess Party! It was SO MUCH FUN :) What a fantastic fundraiser! It was the first time we did it, and we have tons of great ideas for next year :))
Sunday -
Today is SO EASY!!!! I am thankful that I now weigh under 200 pounds! I don't have a clue how long it has been since I have been under 200, but I know it's been a LONG time!!! And, I know that I am not sad to be leaving the 200s behind!!!! I will NEVER be in them again, NEVER.
2011/12/09
Love my Friday shirt :)
I designed a new Friday shirt this year, and I LOVE IT! I love wearing it, and I am thankful for how many people ask me aobut it, and I can share with them about wearing red on Fridays to support the troops!
It's SNOW secret...
This is my door to my classroom :) I teach 7th and 8th grade English, and my kiddos love my door!! We just finished AMAZING essays about what they love about our school, matching the theme on the door.
2011/12/08
Thursday full of thanks!
Today I drove my mother-in-law to Wenatchee for a medical procedure. I really appreciate that when I need help, I can count on my friends! It takes coordinating when I am gone, seeing as how I am always such a busy girl.
One of my best friends kept my step-daughter after school until I could come get her. And, since she has a fourth grader, too, they did their spelling test and practiced math facts!!
And, another good friend of mine, took over drama rehearsal and kept the kiddos today!
I AM TRULY THANKFUL that I have such awesome friends who are always willing to help, if needed :))
One of my best friends kept my step-daughter after school until I could come get her. And, since she has a fourth grader, too, they did their spelling test and practiced math facts!!
And, another good friend of mine, took over drama rehearsal and kept the kiddos today!
I AM TRULY THANKFUL that I have such awesome friends who are always willing to help, if needed :))
2011/12/07
I LOVE MY CHEER BOOSTERS!
I have THE best cheer boosters ever! Tonight we met up to plan out our Princess Party! The girls were a blast, and I LOVE their parents :))) I feel really lucky! I am very thankful!!!
The Princess Party is going to be a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#thx365
The Princess Party is going to be a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#thx365
2011/12/06
Thankful Tuesday :)
Today I am thankful for the smell of our Christmas tree. I know that sounds silly, but it smells so good. It's way better than anything in a can! It makes me think of being in the mountains :) LOVE it!
2011/12/05
Busy, but lucky!
Today was nuts, and I just felt a little like I was on non-stop go. BUT, when I really think about it...I am so thankful for the incredible opportunities for which my family and I are afforded. There are many people in this world who are not able to do the things we do.
I couldn't even begin to choose what was most fun today...just feeling lucky that we get to do it all :)
I couldn't even begin to choose what was most fun today...just feeling lucky that we get to do it all :)
2011/12/04
Lots of thanks!
Friday- My kids are the best! They are so loving and amazing human beings! I truly feel honored to be their Mama :)) SO, definitely I am thankful for my kids!!!
Saturday- I love being LAZY, and I actually don't do it that often, but Saturday morning was a lazy morning :)) It was a busy afternoon/evening, but I did TOTALLY relax all morning, drinking my coffee, and just being mellow!SO thankful :)
Sunday- I am thankful today for RESULTS. Why? They remind me that all the hard work is worth it!!I was able to buy and wear a cute pair of jeans from the JUNIORS section of the store!! WOO hoo :)))
Saturday- I love being LAZY, and I actually don't do it that often, but Saturday morning was a lazy morning :)) It was a busy afternoon/evening, but I did TOTALLY relax all morning, drinking my coffee, and just being mellow!SO thankful :)
Sunday- I am thankful today for RESULTS. Why? They remind me that all the hard work is worth it!!I was able to buy and wear a cute pair of jeans from the JUNIORS section of the store!! WOO hoo :)))
2011/12/01
Thankful Thursday
I AM TOTALLY thankful for my new drama group! We are doing our show at the end of January, and today was our first rehearsal. The kids are AWESOME!!! The show is going to rock. I have never had such a good first rehearsal ever :) LOVE IT!!!
#thx365 on Twitter
#thx365 on Twitter
Wednesday's Thanks a Day Late!
I did twitter my thanks for yesterday, but I guess I missed blogging it :(
So, I was totally thankful for a co-worker who gave me a bunch of her workout dvds that she doesn't use anymore. I was very excited!! Some of them go with the exercise balls and bands she gave me earlier this summer, which I still love using. I REALLY love the Denise Austin 12 in 12 minutes!
#thx365 on Twitter :)
So, I was totally thankful for a co-worker who gave me a bunch of her workout dvds that she doesn't use anymore. I was very excited!! Some of them go with the exercise balls and bands she gave me earlier this summer, which I still love using. I REALLY love the Denise Austin 12 in 12 minutes!
#thx365 on Twitter :)
2011/11/29
Thankful Tuesday
It's easy.
I had a terrible headache this morning that I woke up with, and it lasted much of the day.
However, thank goodness it finally dissipated towards early afternoon! I AM VERY THANKFUL for my headache going away!!
I had a terrible headache this morning that I woke up with, and it lasted much of the day.
However, thank goodness it finally dissipated towards early afternoon! I AM VERY THANKFUL for my headache going away!!
2011/11/28
I love Mondays
I really do love Mondays :) Yes, I do!! I always see them as a fresh start to the week, a new beginning, a reset.
So,today I am thankful for being a teacher!! I love my job, that really most of the time doesn't feel like a job. I have so much fun with the kiddos! They crack me up, and I love how eager they are to learn.
I feel so lucky to do something I LOVE!
#thx365
So,today I am thankful for being a teacher!! I love my job, that really most of the time doesn't feel like a job. I have so much fun with the kiddos! They crack me up, and I love how eager they are to learn.
I feel so lucky to do something I LOVE!
#thx365
2011/11/27
Where I have I been?
Well, I have been on two other blogs...hard to keep two going, much less three!
Blog #1 is the blog that I started back in 2006!! Hard to believe that this next February I will be coming around on my 6th anniversary?!?!? The other thing is that this blog serves as an excellent example about how hard it is to lose weight and stay focused! My experiences since this past summer definitely seem different than any of the last almost six years!!! Blog #1 is right here!
The other blog, I am pretty much done with for now, as it did serve it's purpose, but you are more than welcome to go and check it out!!! It was an interesting experiment that did achieve positive results. Blog #2 right here!
HAPPY reading :))
So, now...to this blog, which on several occasions I have considered actually deleted or combining or whatnot. But, alas, it is still hanging around, and here we are again.
Well, I love Twitter! I have loved it for a long time now!! Anyhoot, there were a lot of tweets following Thanksgiving, from a lot of different people about why is Thanksgiving just one day, why aren't we thankful all year long...Truly you could say that about most of our commercial holidays, like why don't we show our love all year long instead of just on V-Day?! Whatever.
I do happen to LOVE Thanksgiving as my favorite holiday of the year!!!! LOVE IT! But, I am also a very appreciative person on the other 364 days of the year, too, though sometimes life will be a bit grumpy, and I will not see the positive through the negative sunglasses I might be wearing. SO...I decided that I will tweet everyday for what I am thankful! I am using hashtag with it, and you are more than welcome to join me! #thx365.
And, I am not promising that this will only be a thankful blog. Sometimes the stress of life helps you eventually see the good, right?!? I will promise that I will find SOMETHING that for that day I am thankful, even if it's hard!!
Today's post will be a compilation from Thanksgiving through today...
Thanksgiving I was very thankful for my family and getting to see my son, who is away at college. Although my oldest son and his wife were not able to come--they live in Vegas--it was awesome having Jordie around. I love watching the LOVE between him and his baby step-sister. They are soooo funny together! She truly worships the ground he walks upon!!
Friday-I was very thankful for an INCREDIBLE workout!! I decided to go for a walk, but part way through I just felt the urge to jog. And, jog I did. I ended up jogging 1.5 miles straight, which is the farthest I have done outside. And, you know what...the last two days I have been appreciative of HOW SORE I AM!!! I ended up going for 3.5 miles walking, so the total trip was 5 miles!! Awesome. It's great when we are able to see our bodies do more than what we think they can!
Saturday- My heart was full of thanks! We had a second turkey dinner with Rick's oldest daughter and her family, and Jordie and Ramsi came, too! Of course, Grandma Pat was here, too. It was fun!! I took the cutest picture of my three grandkids and my step-daughter together on the couch eating cheesecake :)) So stinking cute. I feel so lucky to have such incredible family. The food was great! I love to cook!
Sunday- I know this sounds silly, but I am thankful that my house is CLEAN!! It's such a good feeling to start out the holiday season. Everything is caught up, and today we are going to play Christmas music and start decorating!!! I love that I have decluttered so much!!!
There ya have it, folks! See ya tomorrow on the thankful side of things ;)
Blog #1 is the blog that I started back in 2006!! Hard to believe that this next February I will be coming around on my 6th anniversary?!?!? The other thing is that this blog serves as an excellent example about how hard it is to lose weight and stay focused! My experiences since this past summer definitely seem different than any of the last almost six years!!! Blog #1 is right here!
The other blog, I am pretty much done with for now, as it did serve it's purpose, but you are more than welcome to go and check it out!!! It was an interesting experiment that did achieve positive results. Blog #2 right here!
HAPPY reading :))
So, now...to this blog, which on several occasions I have considered actually deleted or combining or whatnot. But, alas, it is still hanging around, and here we are again.
Well, I love Twitter! I have loved it for a long time now!! Anyhoot, there were a lot of tweets following Thanksgiving, from a lot of different people about why is Thanksgiving just one day, why aren't we thankful all year long...Truly you could say that about most of our commercial holidays, like why don't we show our love all year long instead of just on V-Day?! Whatever.
I do happen to LOVE Thanksgiving as my favorite holiday of the year!!!! LOVE IT! But, I am also a very appreciative person on the other 364 days of the year, too, though sometimes life will be a bit grumpy, and I will not see the positive through the negative sunglasses I might be wearing. SO...I decided that I will tweet everyday for what I am thankful! I am using hashtag with it, and you are more than welcome to join me! #thx365.
And, I am not promising that this will only be a thankful blog. Sometimes the stress of life helps you eventually see the good, right?!? I will promise that I will find SOMETHING that for that day I am thankful, even if it's hard!!
Today's post will be a compilation from Thanksgiving through today...
Thanksgiving I was very thankful for my family and getting to see my son, who is away at college. Although my oldest son and his wife were not able to come--they live in Vegas--it was awesome having Jordie around. I love watching the LOVE between him and his baby step-sister. They are soooo funny together! She truly worships the ground he walks upon!!
Friday-I was very thankful for an INCREDIBLE workout!! I decided to go for a walk, but part way through I just felt the urge to jog. And, jog I did. I ended up jogging 1.5 miles straight, which is the farthest I have done outside. And, you know what...the last two days I have been appreciative of HOW SORE I AM!!! I ended up going for 3.5 miles walking, so the total trip was 5 miles!! Awesome. It's great when we are able to see our bodies do more than what we think they can!
Saturday- My heart was full of thanks! We had a second turkey dinner with Rick's oldest daughter and her family, and Jordie and Ramsi came, too! Of course, Grandma Pat was here, too. It was fun!! I took the cutest picture of my three grandkids and my step-daughter together on the couch eating cheesecake :)) So stinking cute. I feel so lucky to have such incredible family. The food was great! I love to cook!
Sunday- I know this sounds silly, but I am thankful that my house is CLEAN!! It's such a good feeling to start out the holiday season. Everything is caught up, and today we are going to play Christmas music and start decorating!!! I love that I have decluttered so much!!!
There ya have it, folks! See ya tomorrow on the thankful side of things ;)
2011/10/12
Have you...
checked out my other blogs lately? I am blogging...just not here so much!
Weight Loss Blog
Challenge Blog
Weight Loss Blog
Challenge Blog
2011/10/08
Pretty quiet
A place where a talker finds relief, indeed! Loquacious, NOT!
I think me be over-blogged! I have my Trisha Weighs In blog, and I have been rather faithful there the past three months, and then I have my blog, again, rather faithful.
War of the Scales
But, poor Loquacious Indeed, ignored...not forgotten.
Life is so ridiculously busy that I don't find the time to meet Lucille, much less visit for a blog or two.
So much has been happening, so many cool changes and new things on the bucket list to check off!! I have been living life for sure :)
I think me be over-blogged! I have my Trisha Weighs In blog, and I have been rather faithful there the past three months, and then I have my blog, again, rather faithful.
War of the Scales
But, poor Loquacious Indeed, ignored...not forgotten.
Life is so ridiculously busy that I don't find the time to meet Lucille, much less visit for a blog or two.
So much has been happening, so many cool changes and new things on the bucket list to check off!! I have been living life for sure :)
2011/08/25
Oh, Coffee, how I love thee--
I love coffee, yes I do. And, now like Mexican restauarants in our community, we have a bazillion coffee places, and I like so many of them.
I love coffee at G-Ma's Attic!! Great atmosphere, Blue Star, crazy lady running the place :)
A new(new owners anyhow) coffee drive-thru in Okanogan, Free Bird, Zoka coffee, and my step-daughter works there :)) Convenient on the way to school.
Pumphouse is a forever love of mine! I love Batdorf coffee, all the girls know me, and I am stoked about their new building that will include both drive-thru and sit down!!!
Salmon Creek Coffee Company, this place is just cool. I LOVE the atmosphere. I love the artwork. They do music on Thursdays. Blue Star, YUMMY Breadline sandwiches :)
I know there are other coffee stops around, but these are my favorites right now!
COOL BEANS.
I love coffee at G-Ma's Attic!! Great atmosphere, Blue Star, crazy lady running the place :)
A new(new owners anyhow) coffee drive-thru in Okanogan, Free Bird, Zoka coffee, and my step-daughter works there :)) Convenient on the way to school.
Pumphouse is a forever love of mine! I love Batdorf coffee, all the girls know me, and I am stoked about their new building that will include both drive-thru and sit down!!!
Salmon Creek Coffee Company, this place is just cool. I LOVE the atmosphere. I love the artwork. They do music on Thursdays. Blue Star, YUMMY Breadline sandwiches :)
I know there are other coffee stops around, but these are my favorites right now!
COOL BEANS.
2011/06/20
Summer :)
School's out and summer is here! Life was nutso in May, and the calendar was FULL!
We made it though, and now it's time to RECHARGE!!!
I started my summer break with a fun motorcycle trip to the Lind Combine Derby. This was fun on all levels :)
I loved the ride over and back. We traveled with a group of riders, and this was my first time doing so. I was nervous at first, but it ended up being a blast!!! Great people and BEAUTIFUL scenery!!
Then the Derby itself...OMGAWSH! I have NEVER seen anything like it!!! We are definitely going back next year. I don't know if I enjoyed the Combine Derby or the grain truck races more.
Good times!
Then we came home from there,and I left for Vegas!!!!! This was a fun, fun, fun trip!!!!!!!!!
I stayed with my sisters, and spent lots of time with my mommy and daddy, and then Cody and his wife and one of their friends came up for the weekend. SOooooo let me just say, it's a blast to be in Vegas with your adult son!!!!
We did so many fun things, and we laughed so much and so often, that I definitely feel like I had an ab workout :))
I will post another entry just about the Vegas trip soon!!
We made it though, and now it's time to RECHARGE!!!
I started my summer break with a fun motorcycle trip to the Lind Combine Derby. This was fun on all levels :)
I loved the ride over and back. We traveled with a group of riders, and this was my first time doing so. I was nervous at first, but it ended up being a blast!!! Great people and BEAUTIFUL scenery!!
Then the Derby itself...OMGAWSH! I have NEVER seen anything like it!!! We are definitely going back next year. I don't know if I enjoyed the Combine Derby or the grain truck races more.
Good times!
Then we came home from there,and I left for Vegas!!!!! This was a fun, fun, fun trip!!!!!!!!!
I stayed with my sisters, and spent lots of time with my mommy and daddy, and then Cody and his wife and one of their friends came up for the weekend. SOooooo let me just say, it's a blast to be in Vegas with your adult son!!!!
We did so many fun things, and we laughed so much and so often, that I definitely feel like I had an ab workout :))
I will post another entry just about the Vegas trip soon!!
2011/05/22
Stumble Upon
I have recently stumbled upon my new favorite website:STUMBLE UPON It rocks!!! It takes the stuff you like as a filter, and then it finds you super cool websites that you otherwise wouldn’t ever probably find!
So to start I am going to share some of my favorite artsy new websites I have discovered through SU! I will blog some other lists in the next couple of days like books, quotes, fitness, cooking and food.
Here is one of my favorite cool random things: http://wonderfl.net/c/iNy0/fullscreen It’s fun and I would love to know what it took to create it!
As well, this is pretty wild http://darkpsychedelic.ru/FV_18.html .
Kaleidoscopes remind me of when I was a little kid: http://inoyan.narod.ru/kaleidoskop.swf
Street art ROCKS!
http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=2014
Cool Money Shots
http://dcist.com/2007/11/15/photo_of_the_da_129.php
Super creative photos
http://www.pickchur.com/2009/07/when-a-photograph-is-not-just-a-photograph/
Inspiring
http://www.goodmorningandgoodnight.com/
Cool blog with wicked pics! After you see this page, go to her home page.
http://myloveforyou.typepad.com/my_love_for_you/2010/03/kate-mcgwire.html
A SLR Camera Simulator!!! Great tool to practice!
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html
AMAZING photos, breathtaking
http://gipsypalace.com/national-geographic-contest-for-2010/
Fun play of things backwards!
http://ifyouwatchitbackwards.com/
Unique architecture
http://dornob.com/lofted-forest-home-organic-curves-natural-materials/
OMGawsh so stinking cute!!
http://www.pbh2.com/wtf/for-sale-one-useless-but-adorable-cat/
Animals and art!
http://www.illusionking.com/body-art-hand-animals/
Art meets photography, talk about mixed media
http://thewondrous.com/amazingly-creative-drawing-vs-photography/
I want this shirt!!! Some of my favorite ways to say good-bye!!
http://www.threadless.com/submission/308022/the_goodbye_shirt
Awesome advertising
http://gencaykarakus.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/10-creative-advertising-ideas-from-students/
FUN
http://littlegreatideas.com/willyou/index.php
So to start I am going to share some of my favorite artsy new websites I have discovered through SU! I will blog some other lists in the next couple of days like books, quotes, fitness, cooking and food.
Here is one of my favorite cool random things: http://wonderfl.net/c/iNy0/fullscreen It’s fun and I would love to know what it took to create it!
As well, this is pretty wild http://darkpsychedelic.ru/FV_18.html .
Kaleidoscopes remind me of when I was a little kid: http://inoyan.narod.ru/kaleidoskop.swf
Street art ROCKS!
http://www.streetartutopia.com/?p=2014
Cool Money Shots
http://dcist.com/2007/11/15/photo_of_the_da_129.php
Super creative photos
http://www.pickchur.com/2009/07/when-a-photograph-is-not-just-a-photograph/
Inspiring
http://www.goodmorningandgoodnight.com/
Cool blog with wicked pics! After you see this page, go to her home page.
http://myloveforyou.typepad.com/my_love_for_you/2010/03/kate-mcgwire.html
A SLR Camera Simulator!!! Great tool to practice!
http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator.html
AMAZING photos, breathtaking
http://gipsypalace.com/national-geographic-contest-for-2010/
Fun play of things backwards!
http://ifyouwatchitbackwards.com/
Unique architecture
http://dornob.com/lofted-forest-home-organic-curves-natural-materials/
OMGawsh so stinking cute!!
http://www.pbh2.com/wtf/for-sale-one-useless-but-adorable-cat/
Animals and art!
http://www.illusionking.com/body-art-hand-animals/
Art meets photography, talk about mixed media
http://thewondrous.com/amazingly-creative-drawing-vs-photography/
I want this shirt!!! Some of my favorite ways to say good-bye!!
http://www.threadless.com/submission/308022/the_goodbye_shirt
Awesome advertising
http://gencaykarakus.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/10-creative-advertising-ideas-from-students/
FUN
http://littlegreatideas.com/willyou/index.php
Relay 4 Life
Geez, I've been relaying now for...I am not even sure how long! I will have to figure out when my first year was.
Our Relay was started by Shawn Townsend and Marty Staggs, who are both fighting cancer right now! I admire their strength and courage!!! They are both such good men, surrounded by such good families. We love them all!
While the lights are still on and day is with us, I walk laps for those FIGHTING cancer right now!!!
I also walk laps of appreciation for those who are in remission and I hope for them to stay there!
I walk laps of appreciation for the health of my loved ones, friends, and myself!
This year by far was the most emotional for me. Once the lights go out and the luminaries are on, I always walk a lap in memory of specific people who have lost their cancer battles.
This year, it was more laps :(
YOU ARE MISSED:
Carol Downey
Parker Brown
Missy's Daddy
Jeanelle and Jolene's Mama
Jonnie and Justin's Daddy, and Janet's Husband
Jose DONUT Rodriguez
MY HOPE IS THAT ONE DAY WE WILL CURE ALL CANCER...
MAYbe
Well, if you read my MAY WILL BE post, you know that it's been nutso!!!
The past two weeks were especially crazy, but they have been FUN and AMAZING!
I especially loved going to two musicals! Our local community theater performed 7Brides 4 7Brothers, and I have such special connections to that show. Besides just loving the music and story, and having several people involved who I care about, it was the first musical that I ever directed, back in Cashmere. And, my leads of my show, fell in love during the show, and got married with a 7Brides 4 7Brothers theme! Cool, huh?!
Then we journeyed over to Spokane. First, I LOVE Spokane. I was born there. I have MANY special memories of that place, especially Riverfront Park!
Anyhoot, we saw Wicked, which was PHENOMENALLY! I read the book, but HOLY SMOKES...the musical gave me goosebumps!!! One of the best I have ever watched!!!!
I love that I can give this opportunity to my students and other people in life. I love sharing these kinds of experiences!
My MIL told me that she was so glad that I was in the family because since I have been I have introduced her to many new experiences and things she would've never done before.
These past few weeks also felt like BIRTHDAY BONANZA!! We had so much happening in the birthday realm, lots of surprises and get togethers, and treats, my goodness! I had three VERY special people in my life (1 hubby and 2 kiddos) in one week, ZOIKS!
May is almost over! Probably feels like a whirlwind because it was! LOL!
I am looking forward to mellow time. We are planning on a camping trip next weekend with friends and family, that will be restful and recharging, and a wonderful way to finish out May :)
BRING on June!!!
The past two weeks were especially crazy, but they have been FUN and AMAZING!
I especially loved going to two musicals! Our local community theater performed 7Brides 4 7Brothers, and I have such special connections to that show. Besides just loving the music and story, and having several people involved who I care about, it was the first musical that I ever directed, back in Cashmere. And, my leads of my show, fell in love during the show, and got married with a 7Brides 4 7Brothers theme! Cool, huh?!
Then we journeyed over to Spokane. First, I LOVE Spokane. I was born there. I have MANY special memories of that place, especially Riverfront Park!
Anyhoot, we saw Wicked, which was PHENOMENALLY! I read the book, but HOLY SMOKES...the musical gave me goosebumps!!! One of the best I have ever watched!!!!
I love that I can give this opportunity to my students and other people in life. I love sharing these kinds of experiences!
My MIL told me that she was so glad that I was in the family because since I have been I have introduced her to many new experiences and things she would've never done before.
These past few weeks also felt like BIRTHDAY BONANZA!! We had so much happening in the birthday realm, lots of surprises and get togethers, and treats, my goodness! I had three VERY special people in my life (1 hubby and 2 kiddos) in one week, ZOIKS!
May is almost over! Probably feels like a whirlwind because it was! LOL!
I am looking forward to mellow time. We are planning on a camping trip next weekend with friends and family, that will be restful and recharging, and a wonderful way to finish out May :)
BRING on June!!!
Motorcycle MAMA :)
People who know me well, know that I have LOVED riding on the back of a motorcycle for years, about 15 or so. I decided to learn how to drive last year at the end of the summer, and so Rick bought me a cute little Honda Shadow, a perfect bike to learn on!
Then, this past winter I decided to use my tax return and buy myself my very own big girl bike! I bought an ER-6 Kawasaki 650r!!! She is absolutely BeAuTiFuL!!! And, for that reason I have named her Belle :)
The weekend of Mother's Day I took the motorcycle training course, and it was AWESOME! I can't believe all that I learned about driving a motorcycle!! I aced the written test with 100%, and the driving test with the same :)) Woot woot, smart motorcycle mama!!
The past two weekends following the class, we have gone on some decent rides, and I can't believe the practical difference I feel from after taking the class compared to prior. I LOVE CURVES AND CORNERS now!!!!!!
I love the freedom I feel being on my motorcycle! It's amazing. I feel so confident and alive :)
The scenery is so beautiful everywhere we go! Whether we go for a quick ride up to Salmon Meadows or a longer ride up passed Omak Lake, around to Nespelem, over to Republic and Keller and back around through Tonasket home, a nice 200-mile ride.
We saw wild turkeys, deer, lots of baby horses and cows, longhorn cattle, pigs, and a GI-NORMOUS bear!!!! He was so big that when I first saw him, I thought he was a strange-looking horse. HELLO!!!
I also love the smells when we ride!! Up in the mountains, it smells fresh, crisp, and like pine!!! Ahhhh, so relaxing :)
I am excited because Ricky also bought a new bike (so, he has two including his big cruiser), and we are planning so super cool (and, longer) adventures this summer! I can't wait to drive some of the rides that I have been the passenger for so many years on, like the North Cascades Highway!!! That will be a fun one, for sure!
I look forward to the many miles that I will add to my bike. So, far I have 2000 already!!!!!
I am pretty dang proud of myself for accomplishing this! I can mark a couple of things off my bucket list: Learning to drive a motorcycle and buy my own bike!
2011/05/03
Lucky ME :)
I have been reading my students' poetry books, and I have laughed and cried. As well, I feel so lucky to have the job I have.
My students trust me, and they share their little hearts on the paper that I have the priviledge to hold and read. WOW.
Sometimes I think I need to pinch myself! I know I worked hard to be a teacher, but CERTAINLY I never truly understood how incredible it would be.
I love teaching! I can't believe that I am paid to do what I love every day :)It's been 12 years, and it just gets better!
My students trust me, and they share their little hearts on the paper that I have the priviledge to hold and read. WOW.
Sometimes I think I need to pinch myself! I know I worked hard to be a teacher, but CERTAINLY I never truly understood how incredible it would be.
I love teaching! I can't believe that I am paid to do what I love every day :)It's been 12 years, and it just gets better!
2011/05/01
May will be...
FULL and satisyfing!!
May brings flowers, right? I did leave flowers on somebody’s porch today. Actually two somebodys…one I know, and the other totally random!
May also brings our family lots of other exciting things! Ready for the list? I KNOW...list girl! Maybe I should change my blog name to List Girl :)
3 birthdays – my son, my step-daughter, my man – and, we are of the mind of ALL out celebrations! Birthdays are BIG with us…it’s the one day that you celebrate and are thankful for that person being alive and in your life!
Mother’s Day – of course, and we have a handful of mamas we celebrate!
2 plays – This year I am going to 7 Brides 4 7 Brothers (taking my MIL as one of her Mama Day presents), and then I am headed to Spokane to see Wicked!!!! I have wanted to see this show for so long!!!! I can’t wait :D
Motorcycle endorsement class – an entire weekend! But, then I will be officially endorsed! That’s one of my bucket list items: to buy myself a motorcycle (check), to earn my permit (check), and to take the class and become endorsed (soon to be a check!)
Relay for Life – I do this every year, and every year it seems I have more people I am honoring :( I wish it wasn’t that way! All the more reason to keep on with it!
We still have our normal routine of softball (three times a week) and Brownies (twice a month), and of course school (which we are gearing up for our MSP testing, oh boy!). And, I have cheer fundraising and also union stuff happening, since it’s a negotiating year.
Hopefully we will have some camping and horseback riding squeezed into the month! Most probably on Memorial weekend, if the weather cooperates. I can’t wait to use our new trailer!!
And, I still have ME time! I have massage every other week, though I am considering gearing those up to weekly! I want to start up Zumba classes in May! And, I am thinking about tanning (I KNOW>>>> bad, but I am headed to Vegas mid-June, and I don’t wanna fry!).
But, most of all…May brings HAPPINESS!
May brings flowers, right? I did leave flowers on somebody’s porch today. Actually two somebodys…one I know, and the other totally random!
May also brings our family lots of other exciting things! Ready for the list? I KNOW...list girl! Maybe I should change my blog name to List Girl :)
3 birthdays – my son, my step-daughter, my man – and, we are of the mind of ALL out celebrations! Birthdays are BIG with us…it’s the one day that you celebrate and are thankful for that person being alive and in your life!
Mother’s Day – of course, and we have a handful of mamas we celebrate!
2 plays – This year I am going to 7 Brides 4 7 Brothers (taking my MIL as one of her Mama Day presents), and then I am headed to Spokane to see Wicked!!!! I have wanted to see this show for so long!!!! I can’t wait :D
Motorcycle endorsement class – an entire weekend! But, then I will be officially endorsed! That’s one of my bucket list items: to buy myself a motorcycle (check), to earn my permit (check), and to take the class and become endorsed (soon to be a check!)
Relay for Life – I do this every year, and every year it seems I have more people I am honoring :( I wish it wasn’t that way! All the more reason to keep on with it!
We still have our normal routine of softball (three times a week) and Brownies (twice a month), and of course school (which we are gearing up for our MSP testing, oh boy!). And, I have cheer fundraising and also union stuff happening, since it’s a negotiating year.
Hopefully we will have some camping and horseback riding squeezed into the month! Most probably on Memorial weekend, if the weather cooperates. I can’t wait to use our new trailer!!
And, I still have ME time! I have massage every other week, though I am considering gearing those up to weekly! I want to start up Zumba classes in May! And, I am thinking about tanning (I KNOW>>>> bad, but I am headed to Vegas mid-June, and I don’t wanna fry!).
But, most of all…May brings HAPPINESS!
2011/04/29
I love, love, love LISTS!
With summer not so far off...I have been thinking of what I would like to do this summer :) So, I figured first I would write up my Classics READING LISTS for this summer!
Classics I will read this summer with my 8th grade, gonna be 9th grade girls (I have read them all except P & P)
Gone with the Wind
Pride and Prejudice
Fahrenheit 451
Catcher in the Rye
Classics to read this summer (that I haven’t read yet):
Johnny Tremaine – Esther Forbes
The Scarlett Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carrol
Fallen Angels – Walter Dean Meyers
The Hound of the Baskervilles- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Sound and the Fury – William Faulkner
Things to do this summer:
Learn to French braid – use the Bratz doll, you tube and hairdresser
Read 10 classics
Read 10 books for fun (some young adult and some for me)
Visit two friends I haven’t seen in awhile – Abigail in Portland, Laura on west side
Camp in our trailer
Camp while on a motorcycle trip
Go to the Combine Derby in Lind
Travel – Vegas! And, maybe Yellowstone
Hike at least 5 times – Mt. Rainier
Write - I would like to write for my blog, for a couple of magazines, and maybe work on my novel!
Concerts - Go to at least two :) Already have tickets for two shows, but they are surprises, so I can't post them yet!
Classics I will read this summer with my 8th grade, gonna be 9th grade girls (I have read them all except P & P)
Gone with the Wind
Pride and Prejudice
Fahrenheit 451
Catcher in the Rye
Classics to read this summer (that I haven’t read yet):
Johnny Tremaine – Esther Forbes
The Scarlett Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carrol
Fallen Angels – Walter Dean Meyers
The Hound of the Baskervilles- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Sound and the Fury – William Faulkner
Things to do this summer:
Learn to French braid – use the Bratz doll, you tube and hairdresser
Read 10 classics
Read 10 books for fun (some young adult and some for me)
Visit two friends I haven’t seen in awhile – Abigail in Portland, Laura on west side
Camp in our trailer
Camp while on a motorcycle trip
Go to the Combine Derby in Lind
Travel – Vegas! And, maybe Yellowstone
Hike at least 5 times – Mt. Rainier
Write - I would like to write for my blog, for a couple of magazines, and maybe work on my novel!
Concerts - Go to at least two :) Already have tickets for two shows, but they are surprises, so I can't post them yet!
Buckle UP!
Just because you can’t keep up…that’s not my problem! I am of the mind that I grab life by it’s monkey bars and swing through it,enjoying every second I can.
And, believe it or not, some of my moments are actually mellow! I do schedule downtime, whether that’s my bi-weekly massages or our vacays. I love it when we have a PJ day or just veg out.
By design I choose to fill some of my free time with activities that I love to do, whether that be sports, or my horse, or motorbike or whatever. I like to be active, which if you check out BUSY it usually refers to someone who is active!
I know that the DASH between my years on this planet will be FULL of activities and incredible life experiences. I know that my evergrowing bucket list will be conquered!! So, does that make me busy, sure.
But, I would rather be busy than be a lump who misses out on everything, who learns nothing new, who doesn’t live.
Ultimately, of course, it’s about balance. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND that I am out of whack sometimes. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance.
In the end, it all levels out, and makes for an exhilirating ride, one well worth it!
Some perfect quotes for the occasion:
“We come into this world head first and go out feet first; in between, it is all a matter of balance.” Paul Boesel
“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.”
Kin Hubbard
“To acquire balance means to achieve that happy medium between the minimum and the maximum that represents your optimum. The minimum is the least you can get by with. The maximum is the most you're capable of. The optimum is the amount or degree of anything that is most favorable toward the ends you desire.” Nibo Qubein
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Stephen King
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." Albert Einstein
“They can because they think they can.” Virgil
“I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” Barbara de Angelis
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” William Arthur Ward
And, believe it or not, some of my moments are actually mellow! I do schedule downtime, whether that’s my bi-weekly massages or our vacays. I love it when we have a PJ day or just veg out.
By design I choose to fill some of my free time with activities that I love to do, whether that be sports, or my horse, or motorbike or whatever. I like to be active, which if you check out BUSY it usually refers to someone who is active!
I know that the DASH between my years on this planet will be FULL of activities and incredible life experiences. I know that my evergrowing bucket list will be conquered!! So, does that make me busy, sure.
But, I would rather be busy than be a lump who misses out on everything, who learns nothing new, who doesn’t live.
Ultimately, of course, it’s about balance. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND that I am out of whack sometimes. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance.
In the end, it all levels out, and makes for an exhilirating ride, one well worth it!
Some perfect quotes for the occasion:
“We come into this world head first and go out feet first; in between, it is all a matter of balance.” Paul Boesel
“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.”
Kin Hubbard
“To acquire balance means to achieve that happy medium between the minimum and the maximum that represents your optimum. The minimum is the least you can get by with. The maximum is the most you're capable of. The optimum is the amount or degree of anything that is most favorable toward the ends you desire.” Nibo Qubein
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Stephen King
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." Albert Einstein
“They can because they think they can.” Virgil
“I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” Barbara de Angelis
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” William Arthur Ward
Dr. Carol Downey
Tomorrow is Carol's memorial...
This is what I am printing out to include in her memory book there.
Dr. Carol Downey –
I can hardly believe she is gone. I cherish her as one of my friends. She was such an amazing lady. She was our vet, too. Her compassion when our first horse died demonstrated her huge heart. Rick was overwhelmed and yet, she stood by his side through the entire process. And, when the bill came, it didn’t include her time, though we would have gladly paid it, as we felt it was PRICELESS.
I was lucky enough to know Carol outside of the vet world, though her job allowed us to spend time together, too. We had some of the best conversations that I have ever had. What an intelligent woman, Carol was! I will remember our deep musings about love, relationships, parenting, and even brain theory! She answered and helped me with any question I had about riding and my new horse. And, when he was sick and I was so scared, she was willing to think outside the box, and she saved him because of that!
We shared fellowship through meals. I loved our lunch and dinner dates. We always had good food and incredibly lively chatting. We shared a love for her daughters. I love them both, and am especially close to Nadine because of our time together when she was the editor for the yearbook. I consider those girls my adopted daughters, and I knew that I would love Carol because I loved her babies!
My only regret…we had always talked about going for a trail ride. Carol so missed riding, and she had no one to go with her. We just never got around to it, and that makes me sad. Last week I went for my first trail ride of the year, and I was thinking of her often, wishing she was riding along next to me, but realizing she was with me in my heart.
I would love to organize a memorial trail ride in her honor…maybe that’s something I could do this summer.
I miss you, Carol. Thank you for teaching me life lessons about finding your passion, and remembering to keep life balanced.
LOVE YOU,
Trisha Bradley and Rick Roach
This is what I am printing out to include in her memory book there.
Dr. Carol Downey –
I can hardly believe she is gone. I cherish her as one of my friends. She was such an amazing lady. She was our vet, too. Her compassion when our first horse died demonstrated her huge heart. Rick was overwhelmed and yet, she stood by his side through the entire process. And, when the bill came, it didn’t include her time, though we would have gladly paid it, as we felt it was PRICELESS.
I was lucky enough to know Carol outside of the vet world, though her job allowed us to spend time together, too. We had some of the best conversations that I have ever had. What an intelligent woman, Carol was! I will remember our deep musings about love, relationships, parenting, and even brain theory! She answered and helped me with any question I had about riding and my new horse. And, when he was sick and I was so scared, she was willing to think outside the box, and she saved him because of that!
We shared fellowship through meals. I loved our lunch and dinner dates. We always had good food and incredibly lively chatting. We shared a love for her daughters. I love them both, and am especially close to Nadine because of our time together when she was the editor for the yearbook. I consider those girls my adopted daughters, and I knew that I would love Carol because I loved her babies!
My only regret…we had always talked about going for a trail ride. Carol so missed riding, and she had no one to go with her. We just never got around to it, and that makes me sad. Last week I went for my first trail ride of the year, and I was thinking of her often, wishing she was riding along next to me, but realizing she was with me in my heart.
I would love to organize a memorial trail ride in her honor…maybe that’s something I could do this summer.
I miss you, Carol. Thank you for teaching me life lessons about finding your passion, and remembering to keep life balanced.
LOVE YOU,
Trisha Bradley and Rick Roach
2011/04/28
Bibliophilia
Sounds nasty, but it just simply means someone who loves books, and that would be me! So, whatcha been reading? That's a question I am asked often, which I love to tell people, of course!
Books, books, books. I love reading.
So, what have I been reading lately? Well, I started a Classics Book Club for my 8th grade students. We meet once a week at lunch, and we even had a sleepover where we watched all the movies that matched the books we read!! Our list so far: Lord of the Flies, The Time Machine, Romeo and Juliet, Outsiders. I had already read all the books except The Time Machine (which surprisingly, I really enjoyed, seeing as how I am not much of a science fiction fan). Now we are reading Jane Eyre. OH MY…I hate to admit as an English teacher that I skipped that book, but I did. I think I thought it was too girlie back in the day. It’s so good!!!!! Next up, another book I have yet to read, Pride and Prejudice. (I did start the Zombie version of it once.). Then we are going to read Gone with the Wind (one of my all-time favorite books EVER). I am looking forward to reading it again!! It’s been awhile. We have other books planned for our summer, too, so I will keep you updated.
Because of this book group, I have decided to challenge myself and read at least 10 classics this summer that I have never read before! I am excited to do this. Now to just decide which 10... Stay tuned for that list :)
Other books I have read lately
Like Water for Elephants – Great read! And, now, of course, it’s a movie starring the Twilight boy and Reese Witherspoon.
I also read the Hunger Games series. HOLY guacamole…I did NOT want it to end. Also in production right now to hit our big screens next year.
I just this past month finished reading a trilogy (The Face on the Milk Carton, Whatever Happened to Janie, and The Voice on the Radio) by Caroline B. Cooney. INTENSE! It snuck up on me, as the first book was kinda slow until about mid-way through. The books are less than 200 pages each, so quick reads alone.
What a storyline! The books are about a teenage girl, Janie, who sees herself on a milk carton as a missing child. The story then progresses through what she finds out about her kidnapping. And, it’s not what you think. It’s not the kidnap scenario I had in mind, and boy does her life become complicated. The books just push you along, wondering WHAT IF this were to ever happen to me or someone I know. WOW.
The Uglies series – 4 books total (Scott Westerfield) – Fantastic! Page turners, for sure. I don’t normally like anything remotely science fiction, and really these aren’t so science fiction as they are more realistic future sort of books. Like I could totally see this happening someday. It really made me think about all sorts of things in life. Great characters!! I love that the main character is a girl, Talley, and I could definitely see this as a movie!!!
I am starting up with an adult book group again. I am happy about this because from my first experience I most definitely tried new books that I would have NEVER picked up on my own, and I absolutely loved them.
Eat, Pray, and Love was one, Wicked another (which by the way…who is going to see Wicked the musical in May in Spokane??? That’s right! ME!), Three Cups of Tea (one of my fav books of all time), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (fascinating and inspiring book).
This is going to be a mellow group, as we are going to read a book a season. Not too stressful on the commitment. We are going to meet once every three months at probably the Breadline. I will keep you updated! I can’t wait to start reading books others want to read and opening up my horizons!
Bring on the books. I admit it...I'm a BOOK LOVER!!!
Books, books, books. I love reading.
So, what have I been reading lately? Well, I started a Classics Book Club for my 8th grade students. We meet once a week at lunch, and we even had a sleepover where we watched all the movies that matched the books we read!! Our list so far: Lord of the Flies, The Time Machine, Romeo and Juliet, Outsiders. I had already read all the books except The Time Machine (which surprisingly, I really enjoyed, seeing as how I am not much of a science fiction fan). Now we are reading Jane Eyre. OH MY…I hate to admit as an English teacher that I skipped that book, but I did. I think I thought it was too girlie back in the day. It’s so good!!!!! Next up, another book I have yet to read, Pride and Prejudice. (I did start the Zombie version of it once.). Then we are going to read Gone with the Wind (one of my all-time favorite books EVER). I am looking forward to reading it again!! It’s been awhile. We have other books planned for our summer, too, so I will keep you updated.
Because of this book group, I have decided to challenge myself and read at least 10 classics this summer that I have never read before! I am excited to do this. Now to just decide which 10... Stay tuned for that list :)
Other books I have read lately
Like Water for Elephants – Great read! And, now, of course, it’s a movie starring the Twilight boy and Reese Witherspoon.
I also read the Hunger Games series. HOLY guacamole…I did NOT want it to end. Also in production right now to hit our big screens next year.
I just this past month finished reading a trilogy (The Face on the Milk Carton, Whatever Happened to Janie, and The Voice on the Radio) by Caroline B. Cooney. INTENSE! It snuck up on me, as the first book was kinda slow until about mid-way through. The books are less than 200 pages each, so quick reads alone.
What a storyline! The books are about a teenage girl, Janie, who sees herself on a milk carton as a missing child. The story then progresses through what she finds out about her kidnapping. And, it’s not what you think. It’s not the kidnap scenario I had in mind, and boy does her life become complicated. The books just push you along, wondering WHAT IF this were to ever happen to me or someone I know. WOW.
The Uglies series – 4 books total (Scott Westerfield) – Fantastic! Page turners, for sure. I don’t normally like anything remotely science fiction, and really these aren’t so science fiction as they are more realistic future sort of books. Like I could totally see this happening someday. It really made me think about all sorts of things in life. Great characters!! I love that the main character is a girl, Talley, and I could definitely see this as a movie!!!
I am starting up with an adult book group again. I am happy about this because from my first experience I most definitely tried new books that I would have NEVER picked up on my own, and I absolutely loved them.
Eat, Pray, and Love was one, Wicked another (which by the way…who is going to see Wicked the musical in May in Spokane??? That’s right! ME!), Three Cups of Tea (one of my fav books of all time), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (fascinating and inspiring book).
This is going to be a mellow group, as we are going to read a book a season. Not too stressful on the commitment. We are going to meet once every three months at probably the Breadline. I will keep you updated! I can’t wait to start reading books others want to read and opening up my horizons!
Bring on the books. I admit it...I'm a BOOK LOVER!!!
Holy SASSAFRAS!
Another day, another blog. Could it be? I am on a roll?!
So excited!!! One of my good friends is heading up the super cool Vintage Faire this Saturday!!! Be sure to check out their website! I can’t wait to go, and though Saturday is going to be a nutso busy day, and a bit of an emotional roller coaster, I think it will be INSPIRING. I even have a handful of friends who are vendors. YEAH, for something like this coming to our community! GOOD JOB ladies!!
This week I feel good that I have kept everything together, and I haven’t forgotten anything. Those that know me, of course, can confirm that I am a busy lady, usually by choice! That’s right, if I was a doctor, you better bet that I would be TRAUMA ER all the way! Somehow this week became extraordinarily booked up. Every day had at least TWO extra things happening, and sometimes even more than that!
Zippity, zip. I am really looking forward to Sunday because life will resume to our normal pace, which is more of a marathon than a sprint, I’d say. Maybe we will go for a horse ride or else a motorcycle ride, and I plan on simply relaxing, boy howdy, do I need that!!
Feels so good to be back writing! So, I can’t decide about having two blogs or just combining them and bringing them together as one. I am working out and eating healthy and losing weight, AGAIN. I feel like that should be in my other blog, but then I think it’s sorta silly to have two blogs. I also don’t want to delete the Trisha Weighs In blog because that was my start in this whole blogging business, yep, my blog baby. I guess for now, I will keep them both, but I can’t say with what regularity I will blog both. I could certainly give this blog up to the other one, and keep it the same name, as it’s all about weighing in. Hmmmmm.
My 40th birthday is now 43 days away! I am so excited for my Vegas trip :) I can’t wait!!!! My parents live down there, as does my little sister, so I have plenty of FREE places to stay. My son and his wife (the best DIL on the planet) are going to come up to Vegas (and, truth be told, will be moving there soon) when I am there, too. And, SP’s (my DIL) birthday is only two days after mine (all the more reason I love her, fellow Gemini). We are going to PARTY like country folk stars, LOL. Seriously, I plan on seeing Bruno Mars on my trip! He’s playing in an intimately quaint little place (less than 2500 people). YAHOO!
Even though my little sis has a place of her own, she decided to book us a SWANKY place. It happens to be one of her part-time jobs, so she gets a KILLER deal! They have an amazing pool with a LAZY river, too! PERFECT!!!
I know how to kick my summer off right! I can’t wait!
So excited!!! One of my good friends is heading up the super cool Vintage Faire this Saturday!!! Be sure to check out their website! I can’t wait to go, and though Saturday is going to be a nutso busy day, and a bit of an emotional roller coaster, I think it will be INSPIRING. I even have a handful of friends who are vendors. YEAH, for something like this coming to our community! GOOD JOB ladies!!
This week I feel good that I have kept everything together, and I haven’t forgotten anything. Those that know me, of course, can confirm that I am a busy lady, usually by choice! That’s right, if I was a doctor, you better bet that I would be TRAUMA ER all the way! Somehow this week became extraordinarily booked up. Every day had at least TWO extra things happening, and sometimes even more than that!
Zippity, zip. I am really looking forward to Sunday because life will resume to our normal pace, which is more of a marathon than a sprint, I’d say. Maybe we will go for a horse ride or else a motorcycle ride, and I plan on simply relaxing, boy howdy, do I need that!!
Feels so good to be back writing! So, I can’t decide about having two blogs or just combining them and bringing them together as one. I am working out and eating healthy and losing weight, AGAIN. I feel like that should be in my other blog, but then I think it’s sorta silly to have two blogs. I also don’t want to delete the Trisha Weighs In blog because that was my start in this whole blogging business, yep, my blog baby. I guess for now, I will keep them both, but I can’t say with what regularity I will blog both. I could certainly give this blog up to the other one, and keep it the same name, as it’s all about weighing in. Hmmmmm.
My 40th birthday is now 43 days away! I am so excited for my Vegas trip :) I can’t wait!!!! My parents live down there, as does my little sister, so I have plenty of FREE places to stay. My son and his wife (the best DIL on the planet) are going to come up to Vegas (and, truth be told, will be moving there soon) when I am there, too. And, SP’s (my DIL) birthday is only two days after mine (all the more reason I love her, fellow Gemini). We are going to PARTY like country folk stars, LOL. Seriously, I plan on seeing Bruno Mars on my trip! He’s playing in an intimately quaint little place (less than 2500 people). YAHOO!
Even though my little sis has a place of her own, she decided to book us a SWANKY place. It happens to be one of her part-time jobs, so she gets a KILLER deal! They have an amazing pool with a LAZY river, too! PERFECT!!!
I know how to kick my summer off right! I can’t wait!
2011/04/27
Cue: Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again"
It has been soooooooooooooooo long. Life has been busy. Busy, but good. Filled to the brim, but not splashing over, thank goodness. This Spring has been especially busy, since we have fiddle lessons, Brownies (of which I am a leader), softball, cheer, and that’s just the extra stuff above and beyond al of our normal responsibilities! And, to think last year, I was following TWO kids around and only a handful of years ago, it was THREE!!! Sometimes I wonder how we do just one now. Ahhhh, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We did have a wonderful family vacation to California over the Spring Break. We did the touristy things like Disney Land, and the Walk of Fame, along with Balboa Park (OHMYGAWSH—one of my most favorite places in this world to be!). We did girlie things like pedis and manis, and family time of eating out, barbequing and watching movies, plus ocean time! I so love being with Cody and his wife SP!! We even met her family and had YUMMY authentic Mexican food.
I can’t believe there are only FIVE more school Mondays until SUMMER!! I am very excited for summer, as we have lots of fun things in store, as usual :) I HEART SUMMER!
I have been thinking a lot about life lately. Maybe because the big 40 is only forty something days away. Maybe because I am reading a fabulous book right now : The Teen’s Guide to World Domination and Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp.
Don’t let the title mislead you. Though the target audience is a teen one, I feel that it is totally applicable to any adult. I decided to read it because several of my students were, and they were loving it. I had to see what it was all about. I am so glad I did. WOW, can I identify!!! It’s very inspiring, and it makes me feel are warm and reflective inside. A definite read…
I recently received an email from a friend. She is someone that I have known FOR a long time, over 20 years. We have that sort of friendship where we can go for a year, or even more, without seeing or talking to each other, and the minute we are together, it’s like we were never a part.
Anyhow, we were talking about some of my goals in life, and I have one that I had hoped to do by 40, but it looks like it might have to wait a few years. She said to me, "I believe that you will achieve your dream one day my dear, of all the people I know you are the one to accomplish the things you set your mind to."
It felt good to have that validation, and you know what? It’s true. I look at the things I have accomplished in my life, and I should be proud. I do have some goals that I have not reached yet, but they are still goals so long as I am working towards them and still breathing.
We did have a wonderful family vacation to California over the Spring Break. We did the touristy things like Disney Land, and the Walk of Fame, along with Balboa Park (OHMYGAWSH—one of my most favorite places in this world to be!). We did girlie things like pedis and manis, and family time of eating out, barbequing and watching movies, plus ocean time! I so love being with Cody and his wife SP!! We even met her family and had YUMMY authentic Mexican food.
I can’t believe there are only FIVE more school Mondays until SUMMER!! I am very excited for summer, as we have lots of fun things in store, as usual :) I HEART SUMMER!
I have been thinking a lot about life lately. Maybe because the big 40 is only forty something days away. Maybe because I am reading a fabulous book right now : The Teen’s Guide to World Domination and Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp.
Don’t let the title mislead you. Though the target audience is a teen one, I feel that it is totally applicable to any adult. I decided to read it because several of my students were, and they were loving it. I had to see what it was all about. I am so glad I did. WOW, can I identify!!! It’s very inspiring, and it makes me feel are warm and reflective inside. A definite read…
I recently received an email from a friend. She is someone that I have known FOR a long time, over 20 years. We have that sort of friendship where we can go for a year, or even more, without seeing or talking to each other, and the minute we are together, it’s like we were never a part.
Anyhow, we were talking about some of my goals in life, and I have one that I had hoped to do by 40, but it looks like it might have to wait a few years. She said to me, "I believe that you will achieve your dream one day my dear, of all the people I know you are the one to accomplish the things you set your mind to."
It felt good to have that validation, and you know what? It’s true. I look at the things I have accomplished in my life, and I should be proud. I do have some goals that I have not reached yet, but they are still goals so long as I am working towards them and still breathing.
2011/03/03
PHEW, in the blink of an eye
February is the shortest month, and yet...I can't believe how busy it was for me this year! ZOIKS! It was a complete blur, or at least it felt that way. Though I did find some time to smell the roses (beautiful ones I received for V-Day), it was non-stop go. THUS, no blogs...but, I'm back!
Next week, I will return to my normal schedule of blogging, themes and all.
For now, I will just catch you up on what my February looked like!
I made a lottery tree for and attended the Carol Downey auction! TONS of people came :) We sat with Tom for the evening, and it turned out to be a GREAT night!!!
Super Bowl! We always spend it with the Lockwoods with their family and friends. Talk about delightful food and friends :)
Yearbook - We had a gi-normous (40 pages) yearbook deadline. We made it, and our book is really going to rock this year!
Brownies - I love being a Brownie leader! We sponsored our Healthy Heart Event again this year! Good times :) We had more girls this year, and boy howdy we were moving and grooving.
Speaking of Brownies, did someone say GIRL SCOUT COOKIES?! Yummy!!! February was our selling time!
National Honor Society - I am the advisor for this, too, and so this is the time of the year, when we give out applications to prospective members and work with them on their applications.
Birthdays - I had several important people in my life who had birthdays this month!
Play - Our show was last weekend. It was such a BLAST! And, it was so silly and full of laughs. I love directing, and I had such a super cast!! We had a crazy rehearsal schedule (some practices right after school, and others later in the night). If you know anything about a show, you know what it takes to make it happen...costumes, programs, bulletin board, advertising, previews, props, set, cast dinners and party, etc.
Hockey - We went to the Wild game in Wenatchee. The day was Laini-bug's birthday, and it was FABULOUS! It was such a funnnnnnn day! I sang to her 17 different times!!! LOL. SO many laughs.
Rode my motorcycle - still haven't named her yet, but I do LOVE LOVE LOVE riding her!
MOVED - We moved all my stuff out of the house I was renting up to Rick's, and also packed some stuff into a storage unit. That was quite the overwhelming job, but SO much of a relief when it was finished!
Confidence Pageant! Our little one did a confidence pageant. We were so proud of her!! And, the young lady running the pageant is one of my favorite senior girls, and I was actually her mentor for the event!
Valentines Day - We always make homemade cards, and we made the cutest ones ever this year! I loved that we had a yummy dinner. We had a lovely dinner at home. I sent care packages to my kiddos for V-Day :))))
We went to see Gnomeo and Juliet (ADORABLE!)! I also run a book group for some 8th grade girls, and we read Romeo and Juliet in February!
Crab feed - We went to a crab feed with our good friends the Lockwoods. The crab was scrumptious!
ONE OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS...I coordinated to have a Holocaust survivor to come and talk to my 8th grade students. It was AMAZING and inspiring :) Truly this was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had in my teaching career!!! As a human, I feel changed.
Of course, then you can add normal life stuff, like our fiddle lessons, Brownie meetings, the house chores, teaching, etc, life was nutso, but happy :))))
I was all excited about March showing up, so I would slooooooooooooooooooooooooooow down, but instead, I realize March is going to be a bit chaotic, too! But, fun chaotic :)))
We have World Thinking Day (for Girl Scouts), delivering GS cookies.
We have two auctions to attend, one for Marty Staggs on March 18th (just delivered another lottery tree!), and the Okanogan FFA on March 12th. We have an oyster feed on March 11th. YUMMY food and good times with friends and family :)
I have the ALUMNI B-Ball Battle that my yearbook group is sponsoring on March 19th.
And, I am starting up with exercising next Monday!!!!!!!
Stay tuned, and I am glad to be back :)
Next week, I will return to my normal schedule of blogging, themes and all.
For now, I will just catch you up on what my February looked like!
I made a lottery tree for and attended the Carol Downey auction! TONS of people came :) We sat with Tom for the evening, and it turned out to be a GREAT night!!!
Super Bowl! We always spend it with the Lockwoods with their family and friends. Talk about delightful food and friends :)
Yearbook - We had a gi-normous (40 pages) yearbook deadline. We made it, and our book is really going to rock this year!
Brownies - I love being a Brownie leader! We sponsored our Healthy Heart Event again this year! Good times :) We had more girls this year, and boy howdy we were moving and grooving.
Speaking of Brownies, did someone say GIRL SCOUT COOKIES?! Yummy!!! February was our selling time!
National Honor Society - I am the advisor for this, too, and so this is the time of the year, when we give out applications to prospective members and work with them on their applications.
Birthdays - I had several important people in my life who had birthdays this month!
Play - Our show was last weekend. It was such a BLAST! And, it was so silly and full of laughs. I love directing, and I had such a super cast!! We had a crazy rehearsal schedule (some practices right after school, and others later in the night). If you know anything about a show, you know what it takes to make it happen...costumes, programs, bulletin board, advertising, previews, props, set, cast dinners and party, etc.
Hockey - We went to the Wild game in Wenatchee. The day was Laini-bug's birthday, and it was FABULOUS! It was such a funnnnnnn day! I sang to her 17 different times!!! LOL. SO many laughs.
Rode my motorcycle - still haven't named her yet, but I do LOVE LOVE LOVE riding her!
MOVED - We moved all my stuff out of the house I was renting up to Rick's, and also packed some stuff into a storage unit. That was quite the overwhelming job, but SO much of a relief when it was finished!
Confidence Pageant! Our little one did a confidence pageant. We were so proud of her!! And, the young lady running the pageant is one of my favorite senior girls, and I was actually her mentor for the event!
Valentines Day - We always make homemade cards, and we made the cutest ones ever this year! I loved that we had a yummy dinner. We had a lovely dinner at home. I sent care packages to my kiddos for V-Day :))))
We went to see Gnomeo and Juliet (ADORABLE!)! I also run a book group for some 8th grade girls, and we read Romeo and Juliet in February!
Crab feed - We went to a crab feed with our good friends the Lockwoods. The crab was scrumptious!
ONE OF THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS...I coordinated to have a Holocaust survivor to come and talk to my 8th grade students. It was AMAZING and inspiring :) Truly this was one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had in my teaching career!!! As a human, I feel changed.
Of course, then you can add normal life stuff, like our fiddle lessons, Brownie meetings, the house chores, teaching, etc, life was nutso, but happy :))))
I was all excited about March showing up, so I would slooooooooooooooooooooooooooow down, but instead, I realize March is going to be a bit chaotic, too! But, fun chaotic :)))
We have World Thinking Day (for Girl Scouts), delivering GS cookies.
We have two auctions to attend, one for Marty Staggs on March 18th (just delivered another lottery tree!), and the Okanogan FFA on March 12th. We have an oyster feed on March 11th. YUMMY food and good times with friends and family :)
I have the ALUMNI B-Ball Battle that my yearbook group is sponsoring on March 19th.
And, I am starting up with exercising next Monday!!!!!!!
Stay tuned, and I am glad to be back :)
2011/02/01
Tuesday Truth
I have been overwhelmed by reading my 7th graders "I Believe" lists! HOLY. Some really deep stuff. Those kiddos are full of truth, if only everyone would listen!
I truly believe I have THE best gig in town. How many people get to read the hearts of so many people? I feel lucky, and I appreciate that my kiddos trust me enough to share how and what they really feel.
This is my 7th year teaching in Okanogan, and my 13th year teaching. I still pinch myself that I have the opportunity to do what I do ever day. I LOVE TEACHING!
I had to have a sub last Thursday, as I had to attend a meeting in Chelan. I had THE best substitute, thank goodness. I really respect him, and I feel so lucky when I am able to have him in my classroom, when I have to be absent. He left me the best note ever...it ended with him telling me how much my students appreciate and respect me. HAPPY MOMENT, indeed :) It's those moments of truth that define why we are in the business of teaching.
KISS!
I truly believe I have THE best gig in town. How many people get to read the hearts of so many people? I feel lucky, and I appreciate that my kiddos trust me enough to share how and what they really feel.
This is my 7th year teaching in Okanogan, and my 13th year teaching. I still pinch myself that I have the opportunity to do what I do ever day. I LOVE TEACHING!
I had to have a sub last Thursday, as I had to attend a meeting in Chelan. I had THE best substitute, thank goodness. I really respect him, and I feel so lucky when I am able to have him in my classroom, when I have to be absent. He left me the best note ever...it ended with him telling me how much my students appreciate and respect me. HAPPY MOMENT, indeed :) It's those moments of truth that define why we are in the business of teaching.
KISS!
2011/01/31
Sick-o
I do not like being sick, I do not like it one bit! I am battling a sinus infection, AGAIN :( Still go the dizzy going on, too.
Even with that, I was in a good mood today! There was lot to celebrate! Today was the first day of our second semester. I can't believe that half of the school year is over!!! HOLY! Seems like only a blink. Before you know it, summer will be here! I can't wait for this summer; it's going to be a biggie!!!!
And, January is now over! YAHOO! I love February :) It's a busy month, but I still love it! This month means a move, the holiday of hearts, a couple of events, a couple of auctions, the production of my play, lots happening :) Let's hope that the goundhog does NOT see his shadow, and that we can kiss winter good-bye!
So, even though I don't feel super hot, I loved today being the end of January. I actually felt quite a bit of moxie!
KISS :)
Even with that, I was in a good mood today! There was lot to celebrate! Today was the first day of our second semester. I can't believe that half of the school year is over!!! HOLY! Seems like only a blink. Before you know it, summer will be here! I can't wait for this summer; it's going to be a biggie!!!!
And, January is now over! YAHOO! I love February :) It's a busy month, but I still love it! This month means a move, the holiday of hearts, a couple of events, a couple of auctions, the production of my play, lots happening :) Let's hope that the goundhog does NOT see his shadow, and that we can kiss winter good-bye!
So, even though I don't feel super hot, I loved today being the end of January. I actually felt quite a bit of moxie!
KISS :)
I heart the weekend!
Though this weekend felt like it zoomed by...it was a good one!
Friday night I was able to spend a couple of hours with my good friend Lorri. I always love our girl time :) I am excited to spend time with her and the family on Sunday for the Super Bowl!
Saturday was spent with lots of packing, sorting, and some moving. UGH. And, then I also finished reading the second book in the series I am reading right now. Uglies, check. Pretties, check. Specials, started!
Rick and I also found some fun tv reality shows to watch The Last American Cowboy and Boomtown, both on the Green Channel. We liked the Cowboy show more. But, it was fun to relax and discover these two new shows.
Sunday was spent doing much of the same as Saturday. So much work to move, ya know?! Then we have done a bunch of organizing at Rick's, and rearranging. We put up some bunk beds that I had at my house, and those are a chore, but well worth the smiles when it was all done!
I didn't recharge as much as I would have liked, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks. This upcoming week: WOOOO WEEEE, busy!
READY?
Dinner at the Breadline with my good friend Kris, and we are going to buy our hockey tickets! I am so excited!!!! Brownies, and we are kicking off cookie sales at the end of this week, oh my! Fiddle practice in Tonasket. Chiro appt (trying to still get the neck in order). The official move on Saturday. Cleaning and painting on Friday night. Dealing with all the loose ends (PUD, cable, etc.). Making treats for one of my classes (I owe them), and for my advisory group (but, I must confess, I am feeling like I will just be buying some sort of yummy). Monthly grocery shopping and meal planning. Benefit auction on Saturday night for Carol Downey (gotta make a lottery tree that I am donating). Super Bowl on Sunday (gotta make yummy food for that party). And, don't forget play practice (gathering props and painting set, too) and just normal life stuff like cooking, laundry, dishes, working, grading papers, you know! And, I am hoping to squeeze in a doctor's appointment for this sinus bit. Maybe reading...at least as I fall asleep.
I have about five other things, that I have moved to next week's list, because this week's is just toooooooo busy, which goes directly against my KEEP IT SIMPLE motto!
I can't wait until Sunday at the Super Bowl. AHHHHHH...that will be RELAX time :) KISS!
Friday night I was able to spend a couple of hours with my good friend Lorri. I always love our girl time :) I am excited to spend time with her and the family on Sunday for the Super Bowl!
Saturday was spent with lots of packing, sorting, and some moving. UGH. And, then I also finished reading the second book in the series I am reading right now. Uglies, check. Pretties, check. Specials, started!
Rick and I also found some fun tv reality shows to watch The Last American Cowboy and Boomtown, both on the Green Channel. We liked the Cowboy show more. But, it was fun to relax and discover these two new shows.
Sunday was spent doing much of the same as Saturday. So much work to move, ya know?! Then we have done a bunch of organizing at Rick's, and rearranging. We put up some bunk beds that I had at my house, and those are a chore, but well worth the smiles when it was all done!
I didn't recharge as much as I would have liked, but that won't happen for a couple of weeks. This upcoming week: WOOOO WEEEE, busy!
READY?
Dinner at the Breadline with my good friend Kris, and we are going to buy our hockey tickets! I am so excited!!!! Brownies, and we are kicking off cookie sales at the end of this week, oh my! Fiddle practice in Tonasket. Chiro appt (trying to still get the neck in order). The official move on Saturday. Cleaning and painting on Friday night. Dealing with all the loose ends (PUD, cable, etc.). Making treats for one of my classes (I owe them), and for my advisory group (but, I must confess, I am feeling like I will just be buying some sort of yummy). Monthly grocery shopping and meal planning. Benefit auction on Saturday night for Carol Downey (gotta make a lottery tree that I am donating). Super Bowl on Sunday (gotta make yummy food for that party). And, don't forget play practice (gathering props and painting set, too) and just normal life stuff like cooking, laundry, dishes, working, grading papers, you know! And, I am hoping to squeeze in a doctor's appointment for this sinus bit. Maybe reading...at least as I fall asleep.
I have about five other things, that I have moved to next week's list, because this week's is just toooooooo busy, which goes directly against my KEEP IT SIMPLE motto!
I can't wait until Sunday at the Super Bowl. AHHHHHH...that will be RELAX time :) KISS!
Monday already?
Not feeling to full of moxie this morning, especially since I awoke with a headache! Dang sinus stuff.
I am in a decent mood, even with the pain, and I have lots to jabber about. I will write more tonight :)
KISS!
I am in a decent mood, even with the pain, and I have lots to jabber about. I will write more tonight :)
KISS!
2011/01/28
Fav-or-ite!
My escape would be reality tv shows. I love them! I know they are not real. But, it's still fun to watch. Here's my most top ten list, though not necessarily in any order.
Biggest Loser
Pawn Stars
American Pickers
Flying Wild
Real Housewives (all the cities)
Bachelorette/Bachelor
Top Chef
Top Show
Sister Wives
Sarah Palin's Alaska
And, other shows I enjoy :)Though don't always watch, thank goodness for my DVR!
Glee
Bones
House
48 Hours
American Idol (I realize these last two are probably technically reality shows, but I consider them a little different)
CSI
Law and Order
Two and Half Men
Raymond
The Office
Lie to Me
The Good Wife
Favorite series
Weeds
Tudors
Deadwood
Dexter
Dead Like Me
Spartacus
Californication
Prison Break
6 Feet Under
Big Love
Thank goodness for an escape when my mind needs a break :) I love a good story! KISS
Biggest Loser
Pawn Stars
American Pickers
Flying Wild
Real Housewives (all the cities)
Bachelorette/Bachelor
Top Chef
Top Show
Sister Wives
Sarah Palin's Alaska
And, other shows I enjoy :)Though don't always watch, thank goodness for my DVR!
Glee
Bones
House
48 Hours
American Idol (I realize these last two are probably technically reality shows, but I consider them a little different)
CSI
Law and Order
Two and Half Men
Raymond
The Office
Lie to Me
The Good Wife
Favorite series
Weeds
Tudors
Deadwood
Dexter
Dead Like Me
Spartacus
Californication
Prison Break
6 Feet Under
Big Love
Thank goodness for an escape when my mind needs a break :) I love a good story! KISS
2011/01/27
Feeling rather thankful :)
It's been a thankful sort of week! Last Friday night at the Cascade vs. Okanogan basketball game, the National Honor Society group that advise ran a Duct Tape Dollars fundraiser for Marty Staggs, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.
We made $452 in under ten minutes! It was so awesome to see people participating!! It was cool that Cascade folks added to the tape, too!! It made me very appreciative.
I am also thankful that I was able to give two twin beds away to a family, who recently added an extra teenager to their home. We loaded them up yesterday afternoon, and I'm excited that the beds have a new, and much needed, home. As well, it's one less thing I have to worry about in my house that I am packing up!
So, today I slept in an hour :) I have a meeting in Chelan. I am thankful for the extra sleep, for the different schedule today, for the fact that I have a GREAT substitute, and that the meeting is at Campbell's which has super yummy food!!
It's all good! Remember find the thankful in your day! KISS
We made $452 in under ten minutes! It was so awesome to see people participating!! It was cool that Cascade folks added to the tape, too!! It made me very appreciative.
I am also thankful that I was able to give two twin beds away to a family, who recently added an extra teenager to their home. We loaded them up yesterday afternoon, and I'm excited that the beds have a new, and much needed, home. As well, it's one less thing I have to worry about in my house that I am packing up!
So, today I slept in an hour :) I have a meeting in Chelan. I am thankful for the extra sleep, for the different schedule today, for the fact that I have a GREAT substitute, and that the meeting is at Campbell's which has super yummy food!!
It's all good! Remember find the thankful in your day! KISS
2011/01/26
What's in a name?
I love words, as you know by now. I am a word nerd, and proud of it! I think words are fun. I love to learn new words, and I especially love to learn their etymology. Sometimes the history of a word is even more interesting than the word itself!
The problem when you are a word nerd is that if you use words that other people have never even heard of they think you are showing off or they simply don't know what you are talking about.
I was also thinking about the power of words. I think so many words have been used and abused that they don't mean as much as they are supposed to mean. Like, "sorry." How many times do we hear that in a day, and how many times is it even genuine? I save my "sorry" for when I really need it, really mean it.
How about when people ask you how you are? They expect a simple answer, and are they REALLY wanting to know how you are doing? I remember when one day I decided to answer the how are you question with, "My pet parrot died." Of course, I did not have a pet parrot, nor did it die. But, you would not believe how many people initially responded with something like, "That's good." Or, something to that nature, and then realized after they spoke what I really said. Definitely words can be used mindlessly :(
Or, how about when we make a word have more power than it deserves? When we use words to hurt people? I can think of all sorts of examples, none that I choose to use right here, but you know what I am talking about. What if we made all those words lose their power? What if we decided that they meant the opposite of what they mean?
I also think Old Shakes had it right when he questioned about the rose, and would it not be a rose, have rose qualities, smell so sweet, if we called it something else?
Oh, words, you are so complex. How do you make my life more simple, I wonder? I guess you allow me to communicate, even if sometimes I am misunderstood. Well, with that I will use one last word: KISS!
The problem when you are a word nerd is that if you use words that other people have never even heard of they think you are showing off or they simply don't know what you are talking about.
I was also thinking about the power of words. I think so many words have been used and abused that they don't mean as much as they are supposed to mean. Like, "sorry." How many times do we hear that in a day, and how many times is it even genuine? I save my "sorry" for when I really need it, really mean it.
How about when people ask you how you are? They expect a simple answer, and are they REALLY wanting to know how you are doing? I remember when one day I decided to answer the how are you question with, "My pet parrot died." Of course, I did not have a pet parrot, nor did it die. But, you would not believe how many people initially responded with something like, "That's good." Or, something to that nature, and then realized after they spoke what I really said. Definitely words can be used mindlessly :(
Or, how about when we make a word have more power than it deserves? When we use words to hurt people? I can think of all sorts of examples, none that I choose to use right here, but you know what I am talking about. What if we made all those words lose their power? What if we decided that they meant the opposite of what they mean?
I also think Old Shakes had it right when he questioned about the rose, and would it not be a rose, have rose qualities, smell so sweet, if we called it something else?
Oh, words, you are so complex. How do you make my life more simple, I wonder? I guess you allow me to communicate, even if sometimes I am misunderstood. Well, with that I will use one last word: KISS!
2011/01/25
This I Believe
I love NPR. I love the series, This I Believe! Whether it's light-hearted though thoughtful like always treating the pizza dude right, or it's serious and deep, I love listening to the essays.
With my 7th graders, I always have them listen to a few of my favorite younger people essays, and my most favorite is an incredible little boy, who for his kindergarten's 100th day of class brought in 100 beliefs rather than 100 marbles or pieces of cereal. Of course, for the radio air time, they shortened his down to 30 (which is how many I have the kiddos write). You can hear his essay HERE.
You should definitely look around a the essays! Some are from famous people, some are from us regular folks, too. They are about all sorts of topics, and from all ages. You could even submit your essay, and maybe you would be chosen and recorded and played on NPR. (If that happens, let me know, OK?)
I have yet to submit one. It's on my list to do some day when I write the essay I want to submit :) But, for now, I will give you my thirty truths that I feel right this moment.
1) I believe that you can't make every person happy.
2) I believe perfectionism is a disease.
3) I believe music makes everything OK.
4) I believe nature is spirtual.
5) I believe you can really do whatever you set your heart to do.
6) I believe forgiveness is freedom more for the person who gives it.
7) I believe all wounds can heal, some just take a lot longer.
8) I believe love does make the world go around.
9) I believe animals can be family, too.
10)I believe losing weight is my life lesson.
11)I believe everyone has a talent.
12)I believe family isn't just blood.
13)I believe kindness is necessary.
14)I believe cooking is joyful.
15)I believe people can change their minds.
16)I believe friendship is true.
17)I believe everyone should spend more time outside.
18)I believe natural foods taste better.
19)I believe gas shouldn't be so expensive.
20)I believe everyone should have a passion.
21)I believe surprises rock.
22)I believe I will write a novel someday.
23)I believe people should move more.
24)I believe everyone should work at a job that they love.
25)I believe we should learn to forgive ourselves.
26)I believe I am a dreamer.
27)I believe some people should not be parents.
28)I believe technology makes our life busier.
29)I believe all houses should have big huge porches.
30)I believe life can be simple.
And, with that, KISS!
With my 7th graders, I always have them listen to a few of my favorite younger people essays, and my most favorite is an incredible little boy, who for his kindergarten's 100th day of class brought in 100 beliefs rather than 100 marbles or pieces of cereal. Of course, for the radio air time, they shortened his down to 30 (which is how many I have the kiddos write). You can hear his essay HERE.
You should definitely look around a the essays! Some are from famous people, some are from us regular folks, too. They are about all sorts of topics, and from all ages. You could even submit your essay, and maybe you would be chosen and recorded and played on NPR. (If that happens, let me know, OK?)
I have yet to submit one. It's on my list to do some day when I write the essay I want to submit :) But, for now, I will give you my thirty truths that I feel right this moment.
1) I believe that you can't make every person happy.
2) I believe perfectionism is a disease.
3) I believe music makes everything OK.
4) I believe nature is spirtual.
5) I believe you can really do whatever you set your heart to do.
6) I believe forgiveness is freedom more for the person who gives it.
7) I believe all wounds can heal, some just take a lot longer.
8) I believe love does make the world go around.
9) I believe animals can be family, too.
10)I believe losing weight is my life lesson.
11)I believe everyone has a talent.
12)I believe family isn't just blood.
13)I believe kindness is necessary.
14)I believe cooking is joyful.
15)I believe people can change their minds.
16)I believe friendship is true.
17)I believe everyone should spend more time outside.
18)I believe natural foods taste better.
19)I believe gas shouldn't be so expensive.
20)I believe everyone should have a passion.
21)I believe surprises rock.
22)I believe I will write a novel someday.
23)I believe people should move more.
24)I believe everyone should work at a job that they love.
25)I believe we should learn to forgive ourselves.
26)I believe I am a dreamer.
27)I believe some people should not be parents.
28)I believe technology makes our life busier.
29)I believe all houses should have big huge porches.
30)I believe life can be simple.
And, with that, KISS!
2011/01/24
Making My Moxie MOVE
You know how people often say, if they could just bottle a kid's energy? Seriously, I would love to store a bunch of my moxie! Sort of like a solar power system storing up energy for later.
Sometimes finding inspiring people can give you that little extra moxie when you need it. Like when I was walking up Robinson Canyon yesterday, and I just wanted to stop and take a breather (literally), and instead I imagined myself on the Biggest Loser show, with the trainer yelling at me that I could do it. No break for me, I made it all the way up and kept on moving, even increasing my speed once I hit the flats.
I recently read this article! I love reading about women who inspire me to be better!
I have recently been watching I Used to be Fat on MTV, which highlights young people who spend a summer and lose big time!! You really see their moxie shine through!!!!!
I know that losing weight will make my life less BIG. It does simplify things!! Not to mention, that it increases one's moxie! RIGHT?!
I just feel so full of energy! THIS is going to be a good week I am making life lighter both in weight and in packing up my house! Look out, I'm revving up! KISS!!!
Sometimes finding inspiring people can give you that little extra moxie when you need it. Like when I was walking up Robinson Canyon yesterday, and I just wanted to stop and take a breather (literally), and instead I imagined myself on the Biggest Loser show, with the trainer yelling at me that I could do it. No break for me, I made it all the way up and kept on moving, even increasing my speed once I hit the flats.
I recently read this article! I love reading about women who inspire me to be better!
I have recently been watching I Used to be Fat on MTV, which highlights young people who spend a summer and lose big time!! You really see their moxie shine through!!!!!
I know that losing weight will make my life less BIG. It does simplify things!! Not to mention, that it increases one's moxie! RIGHT?!
I just feel so full of energy! THIS is going to be a good week I am making life lighter both in weight and in packing up my house! Look out, I'm revving up! KISS!!!
2011/01/23
Splendiferous!
I had a splendid weekend :)
We had the mini-cheer camp on Friday, and I was running concessions with my National Honor Society group. We also had our Duct Tape Dollars, in particular, Money for Marty. We were raising money for Marty Staggs (recently diagnosed with cancer). I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY!!! We raised $451.60 in ten minutes. It was super cool how the Cascade people were also very generous :)
Then Saturday we had set work. All of our flats are up, now we just have to paint and collect our props! I love how everything starts coming together. A lot of work, but a big pay-off in the end.
Ricky and I decided to hit up some movies this weekend. We calculated that if we went to one movie at night time, admission would be $15.00, but if we went to two movies at matinee time, that's only $20.00. SO, we watched True Grit on Saturday and The Dilemna on Sunday. I liked True Grit. I am a Duke fan, but I liked this version, too, and glad it was a little different. The Dilemna was good, too. Funny and serious, a lot like The Breakup. On our way home, Ricky and I talked about who we would tell in the situation Vince was in. I'm just glad it's a dilemna I don't have to deal with!
Also, today I went for a nice long walk down and up Robinson Canyon. It was awesome! I really was sweating :) The weather was great; I love the fresh air and the blue skies. I am also truly in love with my i-pod! It makes exercising so much more easy. I was singing and even dancing along the way. I'm sure I was quite the sight :)
I finished reading Uglies, and started the second book in the series, Pretties. I accomplished a few things on my to do list, too. So, all in all, it was a good weekend!! Hope your weekend was splendid, too! KISS
We had the mini-cheer camp on Friday, and I was running concessions with my National Honor Society group. We also had our Duct Tape Dollars, in particular, Money for Marty. We were raising money for Marty Staggs (recently diagnosed with cancer). I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY!!! We raised $451.60 in ten minutes. It was super cool how the Cascade people were also very generous :)
Then Saturday we had set work. All of our flats are up, now we just have to paint and collect our props! I love how everything starts coming together. A lot of work, but a big pay-off in the end.
Ricky and I decided to hit up some movies this weekend. We calculated that if we went to one movie at night time, admission would be $15.00, but if we went to two movies at matinee time, that's only $20.00. SO, we watched True Grit on Saturday and The Dilemna on Sunday. I liked True Grit. I am a Duke fan, but I liked this version, too, and glad it was a little different. The Dilemna was good, too. Funny and serious, a lot like The Breakup. On our way home, Ricky and I talked about who we would tell in the situation Vince was in. I'm just glad it's a dilemna I don't have to deal with!
Also, today I went for a nice long walk down and up Robinson Canyon. It was awesome! I really was sweating :) The weather was great; I love the fresh air and the blue skies. I am also truly in love with my i-pod! It makes exercising so much more easy. I was singing and even dancing along the way. I'm sure I was quite the sight :)
I finished reading Uglies, and started the second book in the series, Pretties. I accomplished a few things on my to do list, too. So, all in all, it was a good weekend!! Hope your weekend was splendid, too! KISS
2011/01/21
On the 8th day...
I often wish we had an eighth day of the week. A day taht would just be a free day. I know, I know, that's what our weekends are supposed to be, but generally most of us have a huge to do list that we save or can only do on our two days off from work.
So, on this 8th day of the week, that I dub Freeday, you wouldn't have to do anything or feel obligated to do anything at all. I realize for the sake of normalcy, we would probably have to have people have this Freeday on different days, since technically we can't have the whole world on hold on the same day.
But, this is my wish, so on my Freeday, I have a bunch of favorite things that I would do.
On one Freeday I might watch an entire television series on Netflix, maybe four seasons of said series!
Or, I would read a book for the day, swinging in a hammock.
Maybe it would be nap day one week, and I would just sleep all day long.
I also love riding my horse, and usually when we go, it is an all day affair. I do feel like it's Freeday when I am out on Joe.
Let's not forget riding my motorcycle! I can't wait for the snow to be gone and the days to be warm, so I can ride my new motorcycle, and I can't wait to ride all day long!!!
I could see myself spending one Freeday pampering myself: pedicure, massage, hot tub, big fluffy robe. You get the drift. This day could certainly be shared with friends :)
Hmmmm...maybe I don't have as many Freedays as I would like, but I realize I do have a lot in my year.
I wish this weekend wasn't so busy. I would love a Freeday, but it's going to have to wait probably for a couple of months.
Happy Friday, KISS!
So, on this 8th day of the week, that I dub Freeday, you wouldn't have to do anything or feel obligated to do anything at all. I realize for the sake of normalcy, we would probably have to have people have this Freeday on different days, since technically we can't have the whole world on hold on the same day.
But, this is my wish, so on my Freeday, I have a bunch of favorite things that I would do.
On one Freeday I might watch an entire television series on Netflix, maybe four seasons of said series!
Or, I would read a book for the day, swinging in a hammock.
Maybe it would be nap day one week, and I would just sleep all day long.
I also love riding my horse, and usually when we go, it is an all day affair. I do feel like it's Freeday when I am out on Joe.
Let's not forget riding my motorcycle! I can't wait for the snow to be gone and the days to be warm, so I can ride my new motorcycle, and I can't wait to ride all day long!!!
I could see myself spending one Freeday pampering myself: pedicure, massage, hot tub, big fluffy robe. You get the drift. This day could certainly be shared with friends :)
Hmmmm...maybe I don't have as many Freedays as I would like, but I realize I do have a lot in my year.
I wish this weekend wasn't so busy. I would love a Freeday, but it's going to have to wait probably for a couple of months.
Happy Friday, KISS!
2011/01/20
Simple thanks...
Today's list is sorta silly, but still thoughtful!
I am thankful that my neck is feeling better and the dizziness, though not gone, is subsiding a bit.
I am thankful for the sunshine the last few days, especially since it doesn't look so promising today!
I am thankful that the American Idol judges were a pleasant surprise last night!
I am thankful for having a good attitude yesterday, even when the day felt like it had the potential to SUCK :)
I am thankful, VERY thankful, that this is a short week, and today is already THURSDAY!!
KISS :)
I am thankful that my neck is feeling better and the dizziness, though not gone, is subsiding a bit.
I am thankful for the sunshine the last few days, especially since it doesn't look so promising today!
I am thankful that the American Idol judges were a pleasant surprise last night!
I am thankful for having a good attitude yesterday, even when the day felt like it had the potential to SUCK :)
I am thankful, VERY thankful, that this is a short week, and today is already THURSDAY!!
KISS :)
2011/01/19
I know it's word day, but...
I stumbled upon this story, and I just had to share it! Get your tissues out (happy and sad)! Read the comments, too!
2011/01/18
Today's Truisms
What I think and believe to be true...
Surprises are spectacular :) Both giving AND receiving, though I have been giving a surprise a week since the new year. It's fun! It makes my heart feel all happy.
Random acts of kindness rock! Same thing, being responsible for random acts of kindness (of course, anonymously) or being on the receiving end of said random act (especially anonymously). I have decided that I will be the giver of random random acts of kindness throughout the year, at least once a month.
Free things are fantastical. I love it when I can buy one thing and get another free. This just happened to me with meat at Safeway. Or, I love it when I have a free coffee for filling up my coffee card.
Our stuff weighs us down. Throwing stuff out and organizing what's left makes me feel a million pounds lighter! It's just like weight, that as soon as you lose some, you have more energy. I get this!!
Get outside! I definitely believe that we should spend quality time outside, not just the in and out of our cars and houses and jobs time. We need the fresh air!
Simple things matter more. I love receiving a card or a homemade present more than anything bought in a store. Yes, I realize that gifts are nice, too, but often it ends up being a part of that stuff that weighs us down. This year my 8th grade students wrote a project that ended up with the potential to be a present. I had several of the receivers of this present personally notify me and tell me that it was THE BEST gift they had ever received. This even works for food. Think about when you are way up in the mountains and you eat some nuts or a piece of fruit and how simple and just right it is. I have come to realize that SIMPLE THINGS MATTER MORE and that making life simple makes life better.
KISS
Surprises are spectacular :) Both giving AND receiving, though I have been giving a surprise a week since the new year. It's fun! It makes my heart feel all happy.
Random acts of kindness rock! Same thing, being responsible for random acts of kindness (of course, anonymously) or being on the receiving end of said random act (especially anonymously). I have decided that I will be the giver of random random acts of kindness throughout the year, at least once a month.
Free things are fantastical. I love it when I can buy one thing and get another free. This just happened to me with meat at Safeway. Or, I love it when I have a free coffee for filling up my coffee card.
Our stuff weighs us down. Throwing stuff out and organizing what's left makes me feel a million pounds lighter! It's just like weight, that as soon as you lose some, you have more energy. I get this!!
Get outside! I definitely believe that we should spend quality time outside, not just the in and out of our cars and houses and jobs time. We need the fresh air!
Simple things matter more. I love receiving a card or a homemade present more than anything bought in a store. Yes, I realize that gifts are nice, too, but often it ends up being a part of that stuff that weighs us down. This year my 8th grade students wrote a project that ended up with the potential to be a present. I had several of the receivers of this present personally notify me and tell me that it was THE BEST gift they had ever received. This even works for food. Think about when you are way up in the mountains and you eat some nuts or a piece of fruit and how simple and just right it is. I have come to realize that SIMPLE THINGS MATTER MORE and that making life simple makes life better.
KISS
2011/01/17
P.S.
My Monday ended up full of more moxie than I expected :) It was a slow start, which can be a really good thing, and definitely directly connects with my theme of simplicity!
I did a country-line dancing video for thirty minutes, and that ended up in tons of fun and sweat :)
I did more packing, and more moving. Each little bit feels that much closer to making life less hectic. I will be glad when it's all done in a couple of weeks!
Play practice was fun! It's such a funny show, and I feel so ALIVE and full of energy when I am at rehearsals!
So, in the end, I had more moxie hiding out inside of me afterall! KISS!
I did a country-line dancing video for thirty minutes, and that ended up in tons of fun and sweat :)
I did more packing, and more moving. Each little bit feels that much closer to making life less hectic. I will be glad when it's all done in a couple of weeks!
Play practice was fun! It's such a funny show, and I feel so ALIVE and full of energy when I am at rehearsals!
So, in the end, I had more moxie hiding out inside of me afterall! KISS!
Moxie Monday
It feels like the weeks are zipping by! I can hardly believe that this is my third Moxie Monday of the year!
Today I feel lazy. We have no school in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and I don't feel as sassy as on a normal Monday!
I will be busy today with drama rehearsal and packing up a few more boxes at my house. I also want to squeeze in some exercise.
Maybe once I have my coffee or get those endorphins going, maybe then I will feel like Miss Moxie!
Or, maybe my moxie today is to be mellow...KISS!
Today I feel lazy. We have no school in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and I don't feel as sassy as on a normal Monday!
I will be busy today with drama rehearsal and packing up a few more boxes at my house. I also want to squeeze in some exercise.
Maybe once I have my coffee or get those endorphins going, maybe then I will feel like Miss Moxie!
Or, maybe my moxie today is to be mellow...KISS!
2011/01/16
Weekend Wrap-up
It was a good weekend, and thankfully it's a longer one with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It was busy, but relaxing at the same time...I know, I know, OXYMORON!
Saturday we went ice skating up in Winthrop, which was a blast! Make sure you call ahead because warm days will close it down. We really didn't think we were going to get to go, since it was 40 degrees, but in the end, the rink held out! I forgot how much I LOVE to ice skate, and I am so thankful I didn't fall!!
Then Sunday, I decided to go for a long walk! I went over 4 miles, and it was great weather. I feel so alive when I am out there walking and enjoying the sunshine.
Of course, it was serendipitous that I happened to walk a different route that I ended up walking by a storage unit place that is close to our house. I didn't even know it was there!
So, that brings me to another part of making my life follow along the simplicity road. I did spend some time packing, moving, and unpacking stuff from my house up to Rick's.
I will be so glad when that is all finished. Things happened to fall into place, and someone will be moving into my place in February, which really makes my life simpler, as I had a lease until April.
But, my oh my, I DETEST moving. THOUGH, with this direction in life, I am definitely going to part with some things, and I am not keeping storage longer than June.
The plan is to keep working on Rick's house (when it's ready and done, I will feel like it's "our" house), and then have a huge yard sale between some of his junk and my (and, my parents) stuff soon to be in storage.
That's the plan! And, it feels good to have it. What a nice way to end my thirties!
Saturday we went ice skating up in Winthrop, which was a blast! Make sure you call ahead because warm days will close it down. We really didn't think we were going to get to go, since it was 40 degrees, but in the end, the rink held out! I forgot how much I LOVE to ice skate, and I am so thankful I didn't fall!!
Then Sunday, I decided to go for a long walk! I went over 4 miles, and it was great weather. I feel so alive when I am out there walking and enjoying the sunshine.
Of course, it was serendipitous that I happened to walk a different route that I ended up walking by a storage unit place that is close to our house. I didn't even know it was there!
So, that brings me to another part of making my life follow along the simplicity road. I did spend some time packing, moving, and unpacking stuff from my house up to Rick's.
I will be so glad when that is all finished. Things happened to fall into place, and someone will be moving into my place in February, which really makes my life simpler, as I had a lease until April.
But, my oh my, I DETEST moving. THOUGH, with this direction in life, I am definitely going to part with some things, and I am not keeping storage longer than June.
The plan is to keep working on Rick's house (when it's ready and done, I will feel like it's "our" house), and then have a huge yard sale between some of his junk and my (and, my parents) stuff soon to be in storage.
That's the plan! And, it feels good to have it. What a nice way to end my thirties!
2011/01/14
Favorite Friday!
I decided this week to highlight some of my favorite blogs. I have a rather long blogroll, so I figured I would choose ten, as I can always highlight others one another week!
What all of THESE blogs have in common is their nature: INSPIRING! Whether the blog makes me reflect and appreciate my life or makes me want to CREATE, they all inspire me in some way or the other.
Lumps and Lipstick. I read this blog the most often. Dori reminds me to appreciate my life and the health of all of those I love. Reading her blog, I usually smile, laugh, and cry. I especially love her candid way of writing. She's definitely a says-it-like-it-is kind of gal!
sixtypiggies. I am in awe of what this lady accomplishes. I love everything about this blog: the ideas, pictures, design, creative ideas!
Can’t Stop Making Things This blog inspires me and makes me want to create!!! I love all the ideas that are doable and genius! SUPER cool :)
Now That’s an Improvement I know the author of this blog, and this lady CAN write! I love the concept behind this year's blog, such a thoughtful project! I also loved her blog from last year:
My Year with Robert Downey.
Leanne Collier Photography I also personally know this woman, and I LOVE her photography! She's so talented and creative and real!
A Year of Slow-Cooking Can you say YUMMY? I have tried out a few of these recipes, and I love cooking, and I love my Slow Cooker, sooooo...super blog!
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl I enjoy reading blogs about weight loss. I read the book that was published from this blog. That was cool to have it in that format. This gal is real, and she battles that weight coming back, which I totally get!
My Natural Weight Loss I have recently started following this blog, and I LOVE the recipes!! Fun blog, inspiring, useful, all that!
But You Have Such A Pretty Face This is another blog I have recently started reading, and I enjoy it, too! Just keeps ya motivated :)
Like I said, I read lots of different blogs! I probably have another ten blogs that I peruse regularly. That's it for today, KISS!
What all of THESE blogs have in common is their nature: INSPIRING! Whether the blog makes me reflect and appreciate my life or makes me want to CREATE, they all inspire me in some way or the other.
Lumps and Lipstick. I read this blog the most often. Dori reminds me to appreciate my life and the health of all of those I love. Reading her blog, I usually smile, laugh, and cry. I especially love her candid way of writing. She's definitely a says-it-like-it-is kind of gal!
sixtypiggies. I am in awe of what this lady accomplishes. I love everything about this blog: the ideas, pictures, design, creative ideas!
Can’t Stop Making Things This blog inspires me and makes me want to create!!! I love all the ideas that are doable and genius! SUPER cool :)
Now That’s an Improvement I know the author of this blog, and this lady CAN write! I love the concept behind this year's blog, such a thoughtful project! I also loved her blog from last year:
My Year with Robert Downey.
Leanne Collier Photography I also personally know this woman, and I LOVE her photography! She's so talented and creative and real!
A Year of Slow-Cooking Can you say YUMMY? I have tried out a few of these recipes, and I love cooking, and I love my Slow Cooker, sooooo...super blog!
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl I enjoy reading blogs about weight loss. I read the book that was published from this blog. That was cool to have it in that format. This gal is real, and she battles that weight coming back, which I totally get!
My Natural Weight Loss I have recently started following this blog, and I LOVE the recipes!! Fun blog, inspiring, useful, all that!
But You Have Such A Pretty Face This is another blog I have recently started reading, and I enjoy it, too! Just keeps ya motivated :)
Like I said, I read lots of different blogs! I probably have another ten blogs that I peruse regularly. That's it for today, KISS!
2011/01/13
TRULY Thankful
I haven't been feeling well this week. I woke up Sunday unable to turn my neck the whole way, and then by Tuesday it was crazy swollen. I did go to the chiro, and felt better yesterday. I had a massage last night, and I was feeling like I was definitely on the upswing. This morning I woke up early and really sick, light-headed, dizzy, nauseated. I even tossed my cookies.
I went to school, bound and determined. But, after getting sick there, too, I knew I would have to go home. I was able to get a GREAT sub on short notice (LUCKY)! And, I quickly wrote up sub plans, and left feeling very guilty, as I had several things I had to do today!
I rescheduled one thing, but I really didn't want to have to cancel drama practice. Thankfully one of my co-workers agreed to supervise, so that's covered!
I am thankful for the fact that I have a zillion sick hours and don't have to worry about being off when I really need to be. I am thankful that my principal is so caring and concerned. I am thankful that I had a SUPER sub today. I am thankful that our secretary did some extra favors for me to help me feel less guilty and stressed about going home. I am thankful that my co-worker was willing to cover my drama practice!! I am thankful that I came home and slept for hours. I am thankful that I feel better now (though still dizzy and my neck is still swollen). I am thankful that tomorrow I have another chiro appt.
I am thankful that I had the energy to write this thankful blog!! This morning I felt so terrible that I figured I would be skipping it today!!! KISS
I went to school, bound and determined. But, after getting sick there, too, I knew I would have to go home. I was able to get a GREAT sub on short notice (LUCKY)! And, I quickly wrote up sub plans, and left feeling very guilty, as I had several things I had to do today!
I rescheduled one thing, but I really didn't want to have to cancel drama practice. Thankfully one of my co-workers agreed to supervise, so that's covered!
I am thankful for the fact that I have a zillion sick hours and don't have to worry about being off when I really need to be. I am thankful that my principal is so caring and concerned. I am thankful that I had a SUPER sub today. I am thankful that our secretary did some extra favors for me to help me feel less guilty and stressed about going home. I am thankful that my co-worker was willing to cover my drama practice!! I am thankful that I came home and slept for hours. I am thankful that I feel better now (though still dizzy and my neck is still swollen). I am thankful that tomorrow I have another chiro appt.
I am thankful that I had the energy to write this thankful blog!! This morning I felt so terrible that I figured I would be skipping it today!!! KISS
2011/01/12
Wondrous Words
I can't believe it's already Wednesday! Geez, Louise, this week is scooting by so quickly.
Here we are to Wednesday Words. Speaking of words (tee hee), I only have one word that I can honestly say that I don't and won't say. That would be the "N" word. Have you heard the news about the publisher in Australia who is going to publish Mark Twain's Huck Finn sans the "N" word. Now, even though I won't say the word (my own personal upbringing, as my dad's family is all from southern Texas), I still can't believe that they would change the book. I do believe it has a purpose in the text, and it truly shows the racism. I don't feel that it glorifies it at all. Well, that's my opinion.
Words, such a funny thing, how powerful they are. Why do we give some words more power than other words?
Well, enough seriousness over words. Today I am giving you a list of my favorite silly words :) I use them all, and I just love the sound of them!
No particular order or reason to the words, other than they make me smile :) Some of the words make me think of certain people. And, they I've said it. KISS
Here we are to Wednesday Words. Speaking of words (tee hee), I only have one word that I can honestly say that I don't and won't say. That would be the "N" word. Have you heard the news about the publisher in Australia who is going to publish Mark Twain's Huck Finn sans the "N" word. Now, even though I won't say the word (my own personal upbringing, as my dad's family is all from southern Texas), I still can't believe that they would change the book. I do believe it has a purpose in the text, and it truly shows the racism. I don't feel that it glorifies it at all. Well, that's my opinion.
Words, such a funny thing, how powerful they are. Why do we give some words more power than other words?
Well, enough seriousness over words. Today I am giving you a list of my favorite silly words :) I use them all, and I just love the sound of them!
woebegone
froufrou
glabrous
squabble
spoonerism
chortle
zoiks
yahoo (usually followed by buckeroo)
scuttlebut
galumph
canoodle
No particular order or reason to the words, other than they make me smile :) Some of the words make me think of certain people. And, they I've said it. KISS
2011/01/11
Carpe Diem! Seize 1-11-11
Today's truisms are all about living for today. What a cool date it is...1-11-11! I feel so strongly that keeping things simply is focusing on today, not living in the past, and not worrying about the future. Dreaming? Yes! But, that should not equal stressing out!
I so often feel like I am running a crazy rat-race, and I need to stop and breathe.
What does George sing?
I find these quotations motivating! I could easily see them on signs at Grandma's Attic :)
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." ~Mahatma Ghandi
"The past is a guidepost, not a hitching post." ~L. Thomas Holdcroft
"The trouble with the rat-race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat." ~Lily Tomlin
"Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think." ~Chinese Proverb
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." ~James Dean
"To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly." No exceptions. ~William James
"Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending." ~Author Unknown
Hope these inspired you, KISS :)
I so often feel like I am running a crazy rat-race, and I need to stop and breathe.
What does George sing?
Life’s not the breaths you take
The breathing in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain’t what it’s all about
Ya just might miss the point
Try’n to win the race
I find these quotations motivating! I could easily see them on signs at Grandma's Attic :)
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." ~Mahatma Ghandi
"The past is a guidepost, not a hitching post." ~L. Thomas Holdcroft
"The trouble with the rat-race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat." ~Lily Tomlin
"Enjoy yourself. It's later than you think." ~Chinese Proverb
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." ~James Dean
"To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly." No exceptions. ~William James
"Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending." ~Author Unknown
Hope these inspired you, KISS :)
2011/01/10
It's Monday again already?
I realized that I probably should have a follow-up to last week’s Moxie Monday before I move forward.
1)I did drink tea every day at least once. It’s so simple. I just love it!
2)I did write every day except Saturday.
3)I did finish two books, and I have started another new one!
4)I did de-clutter one SMALL area at Rick’s. Just a small area, but it made such a big difference!
5)We did move the yearbook room! We have a few things left to take down off the walls, but starting today, we will have class in the middle school classroom, which will definitely SIMPLIFY my life!
6)I only exercised half the time, 60 minutes. But, I was able to be outside in the sun for the exercise, and it felt sooooo good!
So, for this week’s Moxie Monday…
Last week I looked at weekly goal that really do simply my life. I plan to keep those going again this week, and I am not ready to add something to it.
This week, I decided to look at some of the things that are happening for me this year, to make my life more SIMPLE!
1)Moving out of my rental house, organizing everything (recycling, garage sale)
2)Writing my novel
3)Losing weight – see my other blog! You can click HERE to check it out.
4)Getting my motorcycle endorsement (currently have my permit)
5)Go camping more(both in our fifth wheel and with our motorcycles)
6)Go on several weekend motorcycle trips
7)Finishing home improvement projects at Rick’s
8)I would love to organize a girls’ trip to Vegas…maybe for my 40th b-day!
9)Finally, clean out my email…at school and at home! That will NOT be a simple job, but definitely will simply my life.
With that, KISS, kiss!
1)I did drink tea every day at least once. It’s so simple. I just love it!
2)I did write every day except Saturday.
3)I did finish two books, and I have started another new one!
4)I did de-clutter one SMALL area at Rick’s. Just a small area, but it made such a big difference!
5)We did move the yearbook room! We have a few things left to take down off the walls, but starting today, we will have class in the middle school classroom, which will definitely SIMPLIFY my life!
6)I only exercised half the time, 60 minutes. But, I was able to be outside in the sun for the exercise, and it felt sooooo good!
So, for this week’s Moxie Monday…
Last week I looked at weekly goal that really do simply my life. I plan to keep those going again this week, and I am not ready to add something to it.
This week, I decided to look at some of the things that are happening for me this year, to make my life more SIMPLE!
1)Moving out of my rental house, organizing everything (recycling, garage sale)
2)Writing my novel
3)Losing weight – see my other blog! You can click HERE to check it out.
4)Getting my motorcycle endorsement (currently have my permit)
5)Go camping more(both in our fifth wheel and with our motorcycles)
6)Go on several weekend motorcycle trips
7)Finishing home improvement projects at Rick’s
8)I would love to organize a girls’ trip to Vegas…maybe for my 40th b-day!
9)Finally, clean out my email…at school and at home! That will NOT be a simple job, but definitely will simply my life.
With that, KISS, kiss!
2011/01/09
Wonderful Weekend :)
I am feeling kinda listy this weekend.
I figured out AND filed my taxes on Friday! Gotta like it! Simple, online, DONE!
We made an impromptu trip to Renton, and I came home with a new motorcycle for me!! She’s SO beautiful!! I will try and post pics soon! I haven’t figured out what to name her, and I keep pinching myself that I now own a “real” bike. She’s a ER6-N, and she is metallic blue. SIGH. I feel BIG adventures are coming!!
We had friend time with the Lockwoods. I love spending time with them!! We had yummy BBQ burgers and tater tots, a simple but delicious meal. And, we watched some tv together. It’s funny how we can just chill, and it is so much fun!! Heck, I even wore my jammies over. Now, that’s true friends.
I had a lovely, long walk today in the sunshine. It was a little chilly, but not too bad. I love walking. I love the sunshine. I love spending time thinking and listening to my i-pod. I love my i-pod! It has a pedometer on it!!! How cool is that?? And, it keeps track of all my walking.
I planned out our meals for the week, and shopped for groceries. I made sure to also plan out our snacks, so I’m ready for the busy week ahead. Tonight I also modified my Shepherd’s Pie recipe, and it was even better than normal! I also made garlic bread with my homemade bread, YUMMY!
I started a new book, which is also a series. It’s pretty intense already, so I’m totally into it. The Uglies by Scott Westerfield, I love the characters!
It’s simply been a lovely weekend! KISS
I figured out AND filed my taxes on Friday! Gotta like it! Simple, online, DONE!
We made an impromptu trip to Renton, and I came home with a new motorcycle for me!! She’s SO beautiful!! I will try and post pics soon! I haven’t figured out what to name her, and I keep pinching myself that I now own a “real” bike. She’s a ER6-N, and she is metallic blue. SIGH. I feel BIG adventures are coming!!
We had friend time with the Lockwoods. I love spending time with them!! We had yummy BBQ burgers and tater tots, a simple but delicious meal. And, we watched some tv together. It’s funny how we can just chill, and it is so much fun!! Heck, I even wore my jammies over. Now, that’s true friends.
I had a lovely, long walk today in the sunshine. It was a little chilly, but not too bad. I love walking. I love the sunshine. I love spending time thinking and listening to my i-pod. I love my i-pod! It has a pedometer on it!!! How cool is that?? And, it keeps track of all my walking.
I planned out our meals for the week, and shopped for groceries. I made sure to also plan out our snacks, so I’m ready for the busy week ahead. Tonight I also modified my Shepherd’s Pie recipe, and it was even better than normal! I also made garlic bread with my homemade bread, YUMMY!
I started a new book, which is also a series. It’s pretty intense already, so I’m totally into it. The Uglies by Scott Westerfield, I love the characters!
It’s simply been a lovely weekend! KISS
2011/01/07
Friday Favorites
Yeah! It's Friday, now that's a favorite in itself :) The words in green have links!!
First off, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Friday shirt that I wear for Red Shirt Friday, which is to show my support for our military.
Blue Star Coffee – New coffee stand A-Way-Cup - This is my ABSOLUTELY favorite coffee. They are out of Twisp, and I highly recommend visiting their roaster, if you are in the area. Normally, I can only get Blue Star coffee at the Corner Bistro (which is more of a sit down experience, right?), or Smallwood's, which is not open in the winter. BUT, now...the coffe stand across from Choice, newly opened up with the new year, and they serve MY coffee :))) I love the new coffee place's name, so clever and cute: A-Way-Cup. Get it? A wake-up or a cup that you are taking away? LOVE it!
Stella Dot jewelry, especially my new ring :) Whenever I wear it, I get tons of positive comments.
New flannel sheets - Yeah for Christmas!
EOS chapstick - love the smell and the unique form. I have the summer fruit flavor.
Egg nog tea – That’s right! I just found this blend this year!!!!
Starbucks winter blend coffee - I personally think it's better than their Christmas blend.
Netflix – We are definitely addicted!!
Sticky notes (I think I am addicted!)TEE HEE
Hunger Games series (Suzanne Collins)- I read Hunger Games in a day, and the other two books in a total of a week. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
Culligan hot/cold water dispenser - makes having my tea so much easier!
Massages from Trace' (Heaven's Touch)- Need I say anything?! I love Trace'.
Bogs - I bought a pair for me and for my step-daughter. LOVE them. So cute, comfortable, and chic!
Random notes left in random places at random times by the people who love me - and, even better when on sticky notes, LOL!
My i-pod - I received this from Cody for my birthday this last year. Temporarily, I lost it for about a month, though I didn't "lose" it, I just didn't know exactly where it was. I found it just this week!!!! YEAH!!! SOOOOO happy :)) And, now that my step-daughter has one, too, we are able to share all of our itunes cards (helps that we like the same kind of music!).
Socks - Anyone who knows me well, knows my dealio about socks!
Well, that's more favorites than I intended to write about today. Maybe next week I will go more themed and less random, and I will write about my favorite blogs or websites or...stay tuned. KISS!
First off, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Friday shirt that I wear for Red Shirt Friday, which is to show my support for our military.
Blue Star Coffee – New coffee stand A-Way-Cup - This is my ABSOLUTELY favorite coffee. They are out of Twisp, and I highly recommend visiting their roaster, if you are in the area. Normally, I can only get Blue Star coffee at the Corner Bistro (which is more of a sit down experience, right?), or Smallwood's, which is not open in the winter. BUT, now...the coffe stand across from Choice, newly opened up with the new year, and they serve MY coffee :))) I love the new coffee place's name, so clever and cute: A-Way-Cup. Get it? A wake-up or a cup that you are taking away? LOVE it!
Stella Dot jewelry, especially my new ring :) Whenever I wear it, I get tons of positive comments.
New flannel sheets - Yeah for Christmas!
EOS chapstick - love the smell and the unique form. I have the summer fruit flavor.
Egg nog tea – That’s right! I just found this blend this year!!!!
Starbucks winter blend coffee - I personally think it's better than their Christmas blend.
Netflix – We are definitely addicted!!
Sticky notes (I think I am addicted!)TEE HEE
Hunger Games series (Suzanne Collins)- I read Hunger Games in a day, and the other two books in a total of a week. AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
Culligan hot/cold water dispenser - makes having my tea so much easier!
Massages from Trace' (Heaven's Touch)- Need I say anything?! I love Trace'.
Bogs - I bought a pair for me and for my step-daughter. LOVE them. So cute, comfortable, and chic!
Random notes left in random places at random times by the people who love me - and, even better when on sticky notes, LOL!
My i-pod - I received this from Cody for my birthday this last year. Temporarily, I lost it for about a month, though I didn't "lose" it, I just didn't know exactly where it was. I found it just this week!!!! YEAH!!! SOOOOO happy :)) And, now that my step-daughter has one, too, we are able to share all of our itunes cards (helps that we like the same kind of music!).
Socks - Anyone who knows me well, knows my dealio about socks!
Well, that's more favorites than I intended to write about today. Maybe next week I will go more themed and less random, and I will write about my favorite blogs or websites or...stay tuned. KISS!
2011/01/06
Thankful Thursday
Every day now since the beginning of November I have been writing on my whiteboard at school the things in my life for which I am thankful, so this seems a natural topic to add to my blog!
Here we go for this week, I am thankful for:
My mommy's meatloaf recipe - I made it last night! It is so yummy. Hard to believe that as a child/teenager I HATED it. Now, it's one of our family favorites!
Big decisions that I have made recently, and how I feel so much relief by making them, and moving forward!
Random acts of kindness - I LOVE, LOVE doing nice things for people anonymously! I have been on the receiving end, and I know how amazing it feels. I just did one thing recently that really warms my heart, and I only wish that I could have been there when the person received it to see the reaction, but I know EXACTLY what it would have been like.
Rick being home recuperating and doing more house chores like making dinner or doing dishes and laundry! I was SO appreciative to spend Christmas break with him this year, but it has also been very nice that for my first week back to school that he has been home to do some of the things I normally do! It has made my first week back not so hectic :)
My time volunteering in my step-daughter’s classroom – I love those kids, and I was just thinking about how I’ve been able to watch them all grow since Kindergarten.
That Rick is a mechanical genius!! Our Direct TV has cancelled our local Fox station (GASP), and without it I would miss some of my favorite shows (Glee, American Idol, House, Bones, to name a few). But, Ricky was able to hook up our old antennae through our Direct TV box, and viola we have all the local channels again!
Finally...finding my i-pod! I had NO idea where it was. And, to be honest, it's been tough having my life spread out in so many places (2 houses, 3 classrooms). But, I found it last night and was ABSOLUTELY tickled!!!
What makes you feel all thankful inside? Happy Thursday, and I leave you with a KISS!
Here we go for this week, I am thankful for:
My mommy's meatloaf recipe - I made it last night! It is so yummy. Hard to believe that as a child/teenager I HATED it. Now, it's one of our family favorites!
Big decisions that I have made recently, and how I feel so much relief by making them, and moving forward!
Random acts of kindness - I LOVE, LOVE doing nice things for people anonymously! I have been on the receiving end, and I know how amazing it feels. I just did one thing recently that really warms my heart, and I only wish that I could have been there when the person received it to see the reaction, but I know EXACTLY what it would have been like.
Rick being home recuperating and doing more house chores like making dinner or doing dishes and laundry! I was SO appreciative to spend Christmas break with him this year, but it has also been very nice that for my first week back to school that he has been home to do some of the things I normally do! It has made my first week back not so hectic :)
My time volunteering in my step-daughter’s classroom – I love those kids, and I was just thinking about how I’ve been able to watch them all grow since Kindergarten.
That Rick is a mechanical genius!! Our Direct TV has cancelled our local Fox station (GASP), and without it I would miss some of my favorite shows (Glee, American Idol, House, Bones, to name a few). But, Ricky was able to hook up our old antennae through our Direct TV box, and viola we have all the local channels again!
Finally...finding my i-pod! I had NO idea where it was. And, to be honest, it's been tough having my life spread out in so many places (2 houses, 3 classrooms). But, I found it last night and was ABSOLUTELY tickled!!!
What makes you feel all thankful inside? Happy Thursday, and I leave you with a KISS!
