Thursday, January 27, 2011

Pictures of the Day

This made me giggle..


What the hell?!  Who does this?!


My kids keep asking me for donations to find a cure for squirrel aids.  I tell them they are bizarre, but for real... I'm concerned..  I'm also concerned with the fact that in two days, I have sold about $300 worth of Oreo Balls.  Thats 600 actual Oreo balls!!  No wonder obesity is a problem.. and I'm contributing...one Oreo ball at a time.

You know what makes me happy?  
PUPPIES!!!
That is all..

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Shine

I'm obsessed with this blog.  



I can't even remember how I stumbled across it, but I'm obsessed!  This sounds amazingly stalkerish but I pretty much want to be this woman!  She has a beautifully designed house, 4 gorgeous children, a supportive husband, great faith, and a successful small business.  She gets to stay home with the kids, she does int. design as a hobby, she has great taste design wise as well as in clothes.  Such an inspiration!

I will say that her blog has probably inspired my new tendency towards neutrals. She has also inspired lots of different projects from my Christmas presents this year to the ornaments my club made at our party.  Everything she does looks so classy and put together but is ridiculously inexpensive to put together!

Amongst the posts about her new projects and new designs she sometimes posts amazingly inspirational thoughts on scripture.  Today's post was about one of my all time favorite pieces of scripture.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.   Matthew 5.16 (NIV)

If you were in Y-Club during my year as Chaplain you heard devotion after devotion about this scripture.  Its my favorite.

I've never been one that likes to talk about my faith.  Growing up in youth group, I always felt like there was this big push to get out there and talk about Jesus and save people and frankly.. I just wasn't comfortable doing that.  Not in a you just need to get out of your comfort-zone kind of not comfortable mind you, it was a crippling, panic attack inducing, freaking out kind of uncomfortable.  It's not my thing.   

When I read this scripture I feel like, despite my inability to go out there and convert the non-believers (please read that last bit with as much sarcasm as you possess), I can still be an example of God's love through my deeds.  I think that is when I started developing a heart for service.  That is also when I started my daily prayer that I will behave in a way that others may see Christ through me.  I have since added that God grant me the patience to interact with my little middle school babies so that I am a good example of God's love for them.

Today's post, while about my favorite scripture, made me think about it differently.  She referenced a version of the passage that I have never heard, but that I LOVE.  Its from the Message.

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

How inspirational!!  She also made this print.. I might just have to buy this one to help me remember to be generous with my life!!

Here it is in her office.

Remember to shine!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Gedanken #2

Another middle school basketball game, another random post...

#1  I have a confession.  I HATE coaching basketball cheerleading.  Now, everyone probably knows it by now, but just in case you weren't sure.. I really hate it.  Its not the girls--I love them.  Its not the basketball players--I like them.  Its not the actual cheering part--They don't suck too bad.  Its the time.  It sucks up SO MUCH time. I keep telling myself I just have to make it through the season.  I know that I can do it, but I mean.. I'm equating it with Girl Scout camp on the hatred scale.  For those that don't know about the girl scout camp experience, it is also about at the same level as Dan Rad.  I would make a chart for you but I don't have Word, yet.    Oh well.  I was hoping that we would be able to get out of cheering the tournament which would make today our last game.. Alas, my head was nearly bitten off for suggesting such an atrocity.. Imagine, cheerleaders not wasting their time when the team could really care less. So anyway, we are cheering Saturday.  It will literally be a 12 hour day for me on Saturday.  I'm not paid enough for this shit.  I miss my puppy!

the stinker.

Another reason I'm hating having to spend my time on cheerleading is because I'm a month late starting on FCCLA projects.  Our region competition is March 12.  We haven't even STARTED.. I'm feeling the pressure. Freaking FCCLA.

I know.. I asked to be a cheerleading coach.. I wanted to do it sooo bad, but as my mother reminds me life is all about having experiences and learning from those experiences.  As Ms. Frizzle would say... "Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy".  I have learned from this experience that I don't want to coach.  Yes, I love cheerleading, but I think that it is best left in the past.  Perhaps at another point in my life I might want to try coaching football or competitive cheerleading, but at the the moment the outlook isn't good.  Bless the girls hearts, they keep asking about next year.  Since I'm not telling anyone what I'm doing next year until all the details are worked out (the big announcement will be sometime in Feb), I just smile.  I'm crap at keeping this big of a secret!  Its killing me.. I know I'm going to crack at some point.

#2  I guess I could have written about this Sunday, but I was too busy introducing y'all to Bennet and showing you me crafty work.  I ran 4 miles on Sunday.. FOUR MILES!  without stopping.  or dying.  I'm most proud of that second one.  This summer I couldn't run 1 mile without stopping, let alone without dying.  Best of all was my time.  39 min!!  That is under 10 min per mile!! Barely, but it is..

#3   Saturday when I was running guess what came on ABC Family.. You'll never guess it so just give up..

Boy.  Meets. World!!!!!!!!!
Its the little things in life that make me happy!

#4  I L. O. V. E. this outfit...  but will never own it..
Anthropologie  $600
I loved the print on the skirt part and was hunting all around the website for the skirt, BUT guess what... Its a dress!  Its a strapless dress that they just put the lace pullover over.  How smart!!  and so cute!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Crafty Sunday

So there is this little boy that I will be watching next year.  I'll tell y'all more about that next month once I know more details, but this is the kiddo..

Introducing Bennet...

My kind of kid, right?
Anyway, I got a hankerin' to be crafty today so I decided to make him a little onesy.  I got the idea here.  Here is the final result...

The lighting is bad, but the onesy is light gray.  The letters are red and white seersucker and the stitching is black embroidery thread.  I used fusible web to adhere it to the onesy and then I stitched around each letter.  Hopefully it doesn't fray too much!  


Next on my list is finishing the basket for the FCCLA silent auction.  I'll let y'all know how that turns out!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Gedanken

Oh middle school basketball... Without it, when would I blog? I will say that I'm glad I have found an enjoyable way to pass the time, because honestly it might be the most boring thing I've ever had to sit through.. But I digress.. Here is what I'm thinking about this lovely Saturday I get to spend sitting in my spot (which I'm surprised hasn't developed an impression of my butt yet) on the bleachers that are made of the hardest plastic known to man.

#1 Middle schoolers don't know how to think. I don't know if it is a maturity issue or just a generational difference, but I'm pretty sure that even when I was in middle school I had problem solving skills. Its like their brains shut down when faced with a problem. They are so used to having something to reference (computer, phone) that they have to ask someone how to solve the simplest of questions.  We are doing them a disservice to just answer them.

#2 I'm looking for some new stud earrings.. I know what I want but I haven't seen them anywhere.
I have found a drawer pull that looks like the earrings that I want.. Just reasonably smaller.. I don't think I want drawer pulls hanging from my ears..
This is the drawer pull.  Obvio I want them a bit smaller.
#3 I also need black boots. I just got a new pair of cowboy boots (RIP other ones.. wherever you are). They are dark brown and I was hoping that I could get away with wearing them with black. Alas, I can't. I look horribly fashion challenged and color blind to boot (pun very much intended). However, I'm picky about boots. They need to be flats because anything with a heel will quickly find a home in the back of my closet. Height is another issue. It needs to be taller than an ankle boot so it doesn't look stupid when I tuck in jeans, but it can't go above mid-calf because of my massive calves. Its a challenge..
These are kind of what I'm looking for and the price is right, but they are a bit too tall.  

I love these!  I mean, they aren't professional, but they sure do look comfy!  However, the price is wrong Bob.
#4 I never thought these words would come out of my mouth (or well, fingers) BUT.. I want jeggings. Or at least a dark wash pair of skinny jeans.. My current obsession with light gray tops paired with the fact that the only pair of skinny jeans I own are a super light wash and are also distressed (making them uber unprofessional) really makes this a need, not a want. I tried on a few pairs at Target but none of them spoke to me.. Well they did speak but they didn't say what I wanted them to say.. I'm thinking I need to run for a few more centuries before I can pull off jeggings. I'm thinking that better quality denim might be the trick, because I really like the skinny jeans I have now (bought at LOFT for.. get ready.. $13), but I just can't bring myself to drop bank on the ones I want.
Banana Republic $90

Gap $70
#5 I don't feel like I can afford to get numbers 2-4 because I really NEED Rosetta Stone. I'll tell y'all why next month, but needless to say that it is becoming more and more of a certain need. Do you know how expensive it is!? All 5 levels are like $750 which is definitely the best deal, but I know know if that is over kill. Is it really as good as the reviews? I would love to hear from any of y'all that have actually tried it! I'm also toying with the idea of just doing the online access thing instead of getting the software.. Its a lot cheaper, but then mama and daddy couldn't use it too. I also don't know if it teaches all the same stuff. Feedback is much welcomed!

#6 Deja vu is the weirdest thing ever. I had never experienced it before this year. I had heard people talking about it, but I just didn't buy that it actually happened. It happens all the time now, and its so weird. It usually happens at school so i think that it happens because everything is such a routine. The same thing happens every 9 weeks so I guess the same situations are bound to present themselves, but it is still weird.

#7 I love babies! Which is a good thing considering that at some point I want lots of them. One of my favorites of my cheerleaders has a sister that is MUCH older than her. This sister recently (like in August) had a baby and she brought it to the game today, so I got to hold her and play! I think that it is sad that that is my favorite part about coaching.. getting to play with little brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

ich verspreche

Dear faithful readers (all 2 of you),

I. SUCK. AT. BLOGGING.  There.  I said it. Its out in the open.

Maybe I'm just not an interesting enough person to have a blog.  I generally just settle into a routine and rarely feel that anything is blog worthy.. And THEN when something blog worthy does happen (like snow-pocolypse) I don't know what to say about it.  Maybe I'm just not a good enough writer.. Oh well.. Thats just sad.  This is what I've decided though.. I need to blog so that I have some memory of how I felt at this point in my life.  In a few years when I'm going back to teaching and experiencing that 1st year again at another school, I need to remember that I felt it before, I survived it, I'll survive it again.  I also need to document the endless humorous moments that come along with teaching middle schoolers.  Humor is what gets me through the day and some of those moments need to be shared.  I promise I will be a better blogger friend.  Ich verspreche.

So let me bring y'all up to speed.  School started back.  I got a brand new bunch of kiddos and they are pretty good for the most part.  I've only given a few demerits so far that  those were mostly just like warning ones for the rest of the kids.  I don't know if they are actually better kids or if I"m just finally succeeding in having more patience like I ask God for every morning.  I had kids for one week and then BAM...

Blizzard 2011 started on a Sunday night.  I was still exhausted from having basketball games all weekend, but pretty proud of myself for having ran and gone to church that day.  That night the snow started coming down and Megan decided that it would be a good idea to head on over to Jonathan's...scariest driving experience of her life.. Jenna and I were checking the news every 5 seconds to see if UGA and MC were closed.  After every school in the counties surrounding MC closed they FINALLY closed.  Now instead of having to go to bed we could play!!  We bundled up and took the puppies out to play!  Jamie had texted me and told me that the crew was on some random hill behind some building WITH A REAL SLED!  Kelly had brought a real sled!!  It. Was. WICKED!

Monday was okay I guess (where is the sarcasm font?)..   I ran, watched TV, played with Doo, went sledding again, oh and then I watched Auburn win a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!  Despite Scam and Fairley, I will still pull for my number 2 team.. WDE!

It was a day to day thing but school ended up being canceled for the whole week which also meant that basketball games were canceled too!!  The rest of the week was spent either in my bed or on the couch.  I read a few books, ran every day, watched some movies, did some crafting, and spent time with the Doo.  It was great!

Mama, Daddy,  and I were planning on leaving Saturday after my basketball game, but since we didn't have school or basketball we decided to leave on Friday instead.  The ski resort is like 30 min north of Asheville so we decided to just stay in Asheville.  I. LOVE. Asheville.

Can I just talk about Asheville for a minute?  The first time I went to Asheville was when I was a freshman in HS and I was in Black Mountain for CONA.  I didn't know anybody going to CONA and I mean, I was a freshman, so Mama was staying at a precious bed and breakfast in Asheville (you know, just in case).  Wednesday during our free time Mama came got me and we went back to the B&B and watched Pretty Woman in her big bed.  Its a GREAT memory.  Its a little thing but it will forever make Asheville have a special place in my heart.  Mama and I went back last SB to go to Biltmore.  Perfect mom/daughter trip!

This time we stayed at Brookstone Lodge (i love Hotels.com; yes I would like welcome rewards) and our (well my) mission was to find good food!  I feel like I've been really good with my diet lately and I even did good during my snow-cation, so it was time to enjoy myself!  Our first night we hit up Tupelo Honey Cafe.

SO GOOD!  We started with grit cakes which are basically fried grits with some chili sauce, sour cream, and homemade salsa.  Mama got tomato soup and a grilled pimento and havarti cheese sandwich; Dad got shrimp and grits; and I got a grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough bread with havarti cheese and, wait for it, CRANBERRY MAYO!  For my side, I got the most delicious mashed sweet potatoes you've ever tasted.. Perfection.

The next day we went skiing.  It had been a while since I have really tested my skills so I was kind of nervous that I was being overly confident in my unproven skills; however, I was pleased to find out that I was still pretty good.  Wolf Ridge had a good mix of runs.  Some were very enjoyable and leisurely.. others scared the shit out of me!
View from the Upper Lodge

That night, after coming back and warming up in the hot tub, we hit up Cucina24.  It was a little fancier than we thought it would be but the food was all seasonal and fresh!  Mama got pizza, Daddy got trout (sans head and eyeballs), and I got lemon spaghetti with scallops and crab meat.  SOO GOOD!!  Sunday we headed back to Athens and the real world.


School started back that Tuesday, and thats when I found out about the basketball games...  Our make up schedule called for us to have a game EVERY SINGLE NIGHT this week.  So that is where I've been.. at basketball games.  Tuesday, however, after our middle school games I headed over to Stegeman for the UGA v UT game with Ashley, Chels, Jamie, and Jill.  I had a pleasant surprise to find out that Berri was there too!! Y'all should be proud of me for trying to keep one of my resolutions.. spending more time with people over the age of 14.  It was a heartbreaking loss, but hey, I still had a good time.

Right now, I'm sitting at a middle school girls basketball game.  That is why I've been rambling.. because I have time.. LOTS OF TIME..

So.. what's going on now?  Lets talk about books.  Over Christmas break I decided to reread the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. The first time I read them I was a soph in college and I loved them but she had only written up to the thrid book at that point.  Now there is a fourth and a fifth.  During the snow-cation I finished the 3rd and got to the one I had really been wanting to read.. the 4th.

Would Jessica and Marcus get together and stay together?!  The entire series has been about the evolution of their relationship, sure they had to have the rocky bits to make them  characters that we could relate too, but OBVIOUSLY they HAD to end up together.  *Spoiler alert* They don't.  I haven't been that disappointed in the outcome of  a story since Kevin Spacey really wasn't an alien in KPax.  I'm so upset that I don't even want to read the 5th book especially since i read that the whole 5th book only spans an 18 hour time period and takes place in an airport.  I feel like the rekindling on that relationship is doubtful which provides absolutely no motivation on my part to read it.  The series has little chance to redeem itself.

Since I was in such a book funk I decided to FINALLY read Eat. Pray. Love. which I borrowed from Meg forever ago.  She loved it, but I was skeptical since the movie sent me into a minor panic attack and left me in tears certain that I would never find my Felipe AND I wouldn't ever get to live in another country because the DoD thing just didn't seem to be working out.  Maybe it was just a bad time.. So I decided to give the book a shot.

I love it!  Its so easy to relate to!  It explains things so much better than the movie.  I feel like it is a little mini how-to guide for having reasonable expectation when living in Europe.  I'm currently at the part where she is at the end of her stay in Italy and I'm jealous.  Just jealous.

I want German to just come to me.  I know that she worked really hard, but I feel like the fact that Italian is a fun and pretty language probs helped a lot.  German is not pretty.  Why do I want to learn it?  I've tried to figure out why I like Germany so much.  I think that since it is the origin of my last I've always thought of myself as having German heritage, but lets face it.. I'm probs only like 1/32 German--the Beltz has probably stuck around longer than the blood, but I consider myself of German heritage none-the-less.  SO why do I want to learn this rough language?  Why do I want to live there? Because I just do and this book is helping me realize is all the reason I need..

That is all I have to allow for now..  Hopefully I wont make a liar out of myself and I'll be better about updating..

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My Running Notebook 1.2-8

Sunday, January 2nd
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 18.15 min

Monday, January 3rd
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 30.37 min

Tuesday, January 4th

Distance: 1 mile
Time:9.25

Wednesday, January 5th
Bike: 3 miles 
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 11.3 min

Thursday, January 6th
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 20.3 min

Friday, January 7th
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 19.52 min


Saturday, January 8th
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 19.5 min

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My Running Notebook: 12.25-12.31

A little something new I thought I'd start for the new year, in keeping with my new year goals, is a running notebook.  Maybe if I know that I am going to have to report on my running accomplishments/defeats I will be more motivated to make it happen!  So here it goes...

Saturday, December 25th
Distance:  5K
Time: 29 min
Comments:  on the track, Merry Christmas to me!

Sunday, December 26th
took the day off

Monday, December 27th
Distance:  2 miles
Comments:  didn't time it, on the road with mom

Tuesday, December 28th
rode the bike 7 miles

Wednesday, December 29th
Distance: 2 miles
Time: 21 min
Comments:  on the road, Dooley on the leash

Thrusday, December 30th
Distance: 3 miles
Time:  33 min
Comments:  on the road, Dooley on the leash

Friday, December 31st
Distance:  1 mile
Time:  9 min 25 sec
Comments:  on the road...death...