:)Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
:)How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
:)How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
:)MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
:)You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
:)Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
:)Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There were no internet or message boardsor FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.
:)Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
:)If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
:) "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will wash this in cold water on the delicate cycle and only dry it for 30 minutes…unless I forget to pull it out
:)Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
:)Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
:)I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a creep from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
:)Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?
Decorating Disaster! Help!
So, my bathroom used to be this blue. Not a bad color- but kinda boring and kinda dark for such a small space. Plus it really didn't fit in with the warm tones of my family room and kitchen- the two rooms just adjacent to it. So... I thought, I have some extra time during the summer, and I won't be crazy busy, so I'll paint. I've really been meaning to do this since I moved in, almost two years ago, but hey, I'm a busy gal. I decided to take some before pictures so that I could celebrate just how cute the finished product would be in direct contrast.
I've been on kinda a purple kick lately. It can be a great color: not too girly, not so dark, easily compli-mented by a wide choice of contrast colors... so I looked at a variety of shades. Most importantly, DON"T ALL OF THESE COLOR SAMPLES LOOK PURPLE? I chose my favorite and well, this is what I ended up with... 
You got it- PEPTO BISMOL PINK!!! For awhile I was in denial. I thought, maybe it's the lighting, the time of day, maybe the paint isn't completely dry. It's been about three weeks now- the paint's dry. It still looks like an antacid.Suggestions?
IKEA Addict
Ahhh. So today I got my hands on the new 2010 IKEA Catalogue and I'm in love. I know that my home already looks like an IKEA showroom but there's always room for more, right? Like this really pretty dresser...
I don't even know where I would put it or what purpose it would serve- plus I already have it in black- but does that really matter?
This would look really great, maybe in the dining room?
This would look really great, maybe in the dining room?
I can already see vases of flowers on top and my cute little pumpkin bowls in there, or...these purple dishes! Cool!
I don't know where I would fit it...maybe on the wall where the big mirror is that Jake made me...but then where would the mirror go? I could put it in the front room where I have the entertainment center that my brother-in-law Jim scored for me from his brother Tom (you know, Tom Linton from Jimmy Eat World? Ya- I have his entertainment center-I think that makes me cool by association-well, probably not). But then that entertainment center wouldn't fit anywhere in the family room and I am NOT lugging that thing up the stairs-it's huge!
Take a look at this yellow dresser.
I'm picturing white walls, big windows with breezy light yellow curtains, a white iron bed, white comforters and pillows...how cheerful...now I just need that room to make the dresser complete. Hey, a girl can dream...but I am buying those purple dishes.
Ca-pi-tol! Ca-pi-tol!
So as much as we all love vacation, sooner or later we have to go back to work. (Back-to-liiife. Back-to-re-a-lity!) Because of the new coaching position I took at Capitol I started even earlier than usual this summer. But hey, I can't complain- I still had about a month off. And I had plenty of fun and lots of time for productivity and relaxation.Usually I'm eager to get back to work to see everyone and get into the routine of things again; but this year I have such mixed feelings because of my promotion. I'll make more money, no complaints there, but I know I'll just miss teaching my little kinder kiddos so much! I remember the day Mr. Sanders stalked me out to the parking lot to offer me the Reading First coaching position. He asked if I had my Masters and I told him I did. Then he asked if I would be interested in being the Reading First Coach- I wasn't. Unfortunately, I wear my heart on my sleeve (which tends to get me into all sorts of trouble by the way) and couldn't help but make a disgusted face. I think there may have been somewhat of a gagging noise well. It took me awhile to come around and then, about 4 weeks later, I accepted the offer. It felt like I was selling my soul to the devil himself. If you've taught under Reading First, you know what I'm talking about.
This last week and a half I spent a lot of time packing up my room. I hadn't thought twice about it before, but the day I went to start boxing stuff up I realized that that wasn't my classroom anymore and I got kinda teary-eyed. I wasn't part of The Dream Team or The Fantastic Four...I wasn't going to be across the activity center from Anna. I was going to be in- an office.
I just love our little kinder pod. If you've never been to my work it's probably different from most schools you've seen. We have four classrooms that open up to a huge common area, a.k.a. the activity center. Because we each have only three walls, we can see each other as we teach. At first I thought that would be a little unnerving, like I was in a fishbowl with everyone watching my every move. But really, it has just made us really close. Even more than the kids I know I will miss working so closely with my team.
But accepting this job and packing up my classroom has only reminded me of how extremely BLESSED I've been in my career. I remember when I first started at Capitol I didn't even have a teachers' desk. Then a couple months later we got a huge landslide of dinero from the State. Apparently they hadn't been reimbursing Phoenix Elementary School District for all day Kindergarten for the past up-teenth years. We had $164,000 to spend at our school alone. We ordered anything and everything you could ever want and our classrooms became every kindergarten teacher's dream. As a first year teacher that was definitely cool. Then, Jen's mom retired from the classroom and gave me everything she had ever created or acquired in all her years of teaching Kindergarten. Thanks again Margaret! Even more than all the material stuff, I've been blessed to work with AMAZING people. I've considered Anna, Xochitl, Eliza, Kristin and Linda as some of my closest friends. We've shared joys, successes, crazy quirky moments, and many, many tears. And then, somehow, I've managed to impress my principal and the people up at District. Debbie Ortiz made my day when she said that she's going to miss seeing me teach and that it always made her day happy when she got to observe my room. Wow! What a compliment! I didn't even realize she knew who I was! Then she said she was planning on enrolling her grandson at Capitol this year so that he could be in my class- dodged that bullet! When she held our first coaches meeting she just went on and on about my teaching techniques. I felt a little sheepish with all of my 3 1/2 years of experience in a room full of veteran coaches with 20 or more years of teaching under their belts. So, ya, I've been greatly blessed!
Celeste
Six years ago I lost a friend who was more like a sister. I will ALWAYS remember her and love her. I still miss her and wonder how life might be different if she were still here. There are so many things I admired about her. She was real. She was always above "catty girl" behavior. She was smart. She had her priorities straight. She saw things in perspective. She was selfless. She overlooked my faults and weaknesses and loved me in spite of them. She was witty. She was a slob like me. : ) We always had so much fun together. I know I can be with her again someday, and that makes me smile.
Bringing it with P90X
So, today's the day...Bekah ordered P90X and it has officially arrived. We pumped ourselves up by taking a few "before" pictures, which was VERY motivating. And if you're wondering, yes, I do realize this picture is blurry-trust me- it's better this way; and no, I am NOT posting the rear shot. It's for everyone's own good.
After finishing the first workout I just hope I survive. It was rough and I was, I'll admit, a little bit of a weener. But it felt good to really sweat, just like I used to every night in ballet. I'd like that body back, thank you.
California, California, here we cooooome!
We rented a Mustang convertible so we could completely appreciate Cali's seaside weather. Just hum the song Girls Just Wanna Have Fun for a theme song here...now you get the picture!
Bakin' on the beach in Santa Monica.
The final, and very necessary, dinner course at BJ's in Hunington: the Pizookie. It's always a race to see who can eat the most!
Wanna-be biker babe at the Harley Davidson shop.
Sunset at Hunington
These are my girls!
Mo Denver
So for some reason I was really nervous to fly. I actually love to fly, but I guess I haven't flown for awhile so maybe that was it. Myla took me to the airport and I made it through security alright (snicker, snicker, we'll get to that later) with plenty of time to spare. Of course I was one of the last to board-after they snatched my carryon because there wasn't any room...grrr...and so as soon as I got on the plane I tried to scope out a decent seat.
I had very few qualifications: 1.I didn't want to sit by any-let's say- space hoggers, and 2. I didn't want to sit by any men-because they can be space hoggers, slightly stinky, and well, creepy. You just never know. Not all of you men out there, Im not trying to diss anybody, please don't get upset but come on you know more than I do the possiblities...think about the last time you were in a men's restroom. Now I've never actually been in one, I don't think, but I have heard horror stories. Plus I received very specific instructions from Jake NOT to talk to any strangers, especially guys, on the plane or heaven forbid they snatch me up like in the movie Taken. (Terrible movie, blah) Thanks dad. These are things that, because of Jake's line of work, seem far fetched to the rest of us but VERY likely to him. So I was nearing the back of the plane and hadn't found THE seat so I saw two women, an empty seat between them, held up traffic behind me, and clumsily merged in.
Then I started to think about the possibility of motion sickness...I had only really experienced motion sickness once on a plane, and yes-I tossed my cookies...well, Pop'ems. Me and Chels were headin' back from San Francisco and just before our flight we gorged ourselves at the Ghirradelli Chocolate Factory. Come on, can you BLAME US? On top of THAT we snacked on Pop'ems (Oh if you've never had them they are absolutely de-licious! Look in the Entemen's baked goods section next time you're at the grocery store and BUY THEM. They are little chocolate dougnut holes, not the glazed, or chocolate covered, no, no, no, they've got to be the chocolate covered devils food.) So really, afer taking into account all of the chocolate goodies I consumed I can't really say with confidence that my motion sickness that day was entirely due to flying, it was definitely a combination of many factors.
But, nonetheless in recent years, MUCH to my dismay, I have become really sensitive to movement. I say much to my dismay because if you know me you know I LOVE to go FAST: on rollercoasters, motorcycles, jetskiis, quads, in cars...and I love thrill rides. The last trip to Knott's I rode a few (awesome) rides and then because of a sensitive tummy I spent the rest of the day in...Camp Snoopy, ugh. It was very disappointing. The next couple trips to the State Fair I couldn't eat anything I wanted, ride all the rides and repeat like always...no, I got queezy and had to sit down for a while. Finally, the last little dorky parking lot carnival we went to I actually puked in some bushes. It was embarrassing, depressing, and a little gross. I've talked to similarly aged friends and have discovered that they've experienced the same phenomena. So I guess that's why "grown ups" aren't fun. That's why moms never want to ride the rides. What a sad existence... Well, anyway, I started to get nervouse that plane riding would produce the same nauseating effects and I didn't see any barf bags, and I was sandwiched between two women I didn't know and I was thinking, "Oh no, what if this is a terrible experience!"
As soon as we started to taxi out on the runway I remembered how much I looove to fly. The pilot must have shared my need for speed because he just gunned it. I was pushed back into my seat and I just kept silently cheering, "faster, faster, faster!" Soon we were up in the air and I felt just fine.
Something was alarming even though the whole motion sickness thing wasn't a problem... a short while after take off I realized that the woman next to me was actually... a MAN. I have issues with my eyes apparently (among other things) but really, how did I miss THAT? He had longer hair so when he looked out the window I guess that's all I saw but come on, on closer observation he had man arms and bushy hair exploding from his shirt...sometimes I wonder about myself.
I had very few qualifications: 1.I didn't want to sit by any-let's say- space hoggers, and 2. I didn't want to sit by any men-because they can be space hoggers, slightly stinky, and well, creepy. You just never know. Not all of you men out there, Im not trying to diss anybody, please don't get upset but come on you know more than I do the possiblities...think about the last time you were in a men's restroom. Now I've never actually been in one, I don't think, but I have heard horror stories. Plus I received very specific instructions from Jake NOT to talk to any strangers, especially guys, on the plane or heaven forbid they snatch me up like in the movie Taken. (Terrible movie, blah) Thanks dad. These are things that, because of Jake's line of work, seem far fetched to the rest of us but VERY likely to him. So I was nearing the back of the plane and hadn't found THE seat so I saw two women, an empty seat between them, held up traffic behind me, and clumsily merged in.
Then I started to think about the possibility of motion sickness...I had only really experienced motion sickness once on a plane, and yes-I tossed my cookies...well, Pop'ems. Me and Chels were headin' back from San Francisco and just before our flight we gorged ourselves at the Ghirradelli Chocolate Factory. Come on, can you BLAME US? On top of THAT we snacked on Pop'ems (Oh if you've never had them they are absolutely de-licious! Look in the Entemen's baked goods section next time you're at the grocery store and BUY THEM. They are little chocolate dougnut holes, not the glazed, or chocolate covered, no, no, no, they've got to be the chocolate covered devils food.) So really, afer taking into account all of the chocolate goodies I consumed I can't really say with confidence that my motion sickness that day was entirely due to flying, it was definitely a combination of many factors.
But, nonetheless in recent years, MUCH to my dismay, I have become really sensitive to movement. I say much to my dismay because if you know me you know I LOVE to go FAST: on rollercoasters, motorcycles, jetskiis, quads, in cars...and I love thrill rides. The last trip to Knott's I rode a few (awesome) rides and then because of a sensitive tummy I spent the rest of the day in...Camp Snoopy, ugh. It was very disappointing. The next couple trips to the State Fair I couldn't eat anything I wanted, ride all the rides and repeat like always...no, I got queezy and had to sit down for a while. Finally, the last little dorky parking lot carnival we went to I actually puked in some bushes. It was embarrassing, depressing, and a little gross. I've talked to similarly aged friends and have discovered that they've experienced the same phenomena. So I guess that's why "grown ups" aren't fun. That's why moms never want to ride the rides. What a sad existence... Well, anyway, I started to get nervouse that plane riding would produce the same nauseating effects and I didn't see any barf bags, and I was sandwiched between two women I didn't know and I was thinking, "Oh no, what if this is a terrible experience!"
As soon as we started to taxi out on the runway I remembered how much I looove to fly. The pilot must have shared my need for speed because he just gunned it. I was pushed back into my seat and I just kept silently cheering, "faster, faster, faster!" Soon we were up in the air and I felt just fine.
Something was alarming even though the whole motion sickness thing wasn't a problem... a short while after take off I realized that the woman next to me was actually... a MAN. I have issues with my eyes apparently (among other things) but really, how did I miss THAT? He had longer hair so when he looked out the window I guess that's all I saw but come on, on closer observation he had man arms and bushy hair exploding from his shirt...sometimes I wonder about myself.
Well after being delayed in the air for nearly AN HOUR- no big deal-I was able to read AN ENTIRE ENSIGN- we finally landed, with grace, I might add in the pilot's favor. I was just awfully impressed with his skills.
I made my way to BAGGAGE CLAIM, grrr, and found Brent, Monica, and little Scarlet. Scarlet was so cute. She was sooo excited to see me even though she probably doesn't even remember me at all. But it made me feel really special; she gave me a great big hug.
The thunder there was unreal- sooo loud! When we went outside it was storming real hard and it even started to hail. I ran over and tried to get in the hail and probably looked liked a complete crazy person to anyone watching-but hail! That's rare when you come from Arizona, you don't just pass up a chance like that.
All of the items that I unknowingly snuck past airport security in my carryon. Count 'em- 12. That's a little worrisome as far as Sky Harbor Airport security is concerned...
We took a couple long drives up into the mountains to check out the ski resorts. It was really cool. I'm psyched to come back this winter and "hit it hard" as Jake and I say.
We took a couple long drives up into the mountains to check out the ski resorts. It was really cool. I'm psyched to come back this winter and "hit it hard" as Jake and I say.
Vail-gorgeous. Need I say more? The poppies were as big as my stretched out hand and came to my waist or higher. I will live here someday. I don't know how because it is after all a "rich playground" in the words of my aunt Joyce. But there's gotta be a way...
The view of downtown Denver from Brent's office building.
Here's the Eldora Mountain area: beautiful.
Standing on the Continental Divide
Don't mess- Mo and Brent are hardcore!
I got rocky road and I don't regret it...
I got rocky road and I don't regret it...
Aunt Joyce's beautiful backyard. She has an amazing vegetable and flower garden. Definitely an inspiration.
Here's Mo at the coolest park ever. It's called Central Park in ...where Monica wants to live some day. I hope she does- it's just darling. Reminds me of Agritopia in Gilbert where I had looked at a house-but better.
16th Street Mall in Downtown Denver.
Rollin' Down the River
Happy Fourth of July!
Here we are on the way to see fireworks in Queen Creek. Several phone calls later to Queen Creek dwellers B-rent and Miranda we actually found them. Thanks guys!
Lucy goose looking ravishing.
"Manning" the grill. Ya Baby!
My darlings...I thought the taffies would look like little firecrackers on top!
Summertime
The best thing about summer is hangin' out poolside. And popsicles- and barbecues-and watermelon... and fireworks. Okay, so there are a lot of great things that go along with summer...who can choose? Lucky for me, both my mom and sister have pools so we have no dearth of pool parties to attend. Myla let us come take a dip in her pool today.
Jake got us pizza and ice cream cones from Pizza Mart for lunch (Yum) and played with us until he had to go back to work. : ( But no, Jim, this is not what we do all day while you're at work. : )
As you can see, we had a lot of fun playing with the waterproof camera Jake got me for Christmas. Even though I know its waterproof I still gasp every time Jake submerges it. I don't know why...I guess it's just an involuntary reaction when I see something electronic and expensive hit the water. Jake always looks at me confused like, "What?" And then I realize how silly I am, and remember with relief "Oh, yeah. It's made for that use."
My camera wasn't the only thing that went under today...unfortunately, Linc threw Myla's phone in as well. Yikes. But it was fun watchin' the kids swim and I remembered how much fun it was for me and my sisters to go swimming at my Aunt Jenna Vee's pool with our cousins when we were kids.
FOOD! FAMILY! FUN!
If you know anything about me at all...you know I LOVE FOOD! Lucky for me, I also LOVE to COOK! Well, I had oodles of tamales to steam and eat from my Hot Tamales (and we're not talkin' food here) Party so I thought I'd share the wealth- and spare myself the added pounds by consuming all of those little tamales myself. So I invited the fam over for Sunday dinner to celebrate Myla's Birthday.
I cooked most of Saturday and Sunday, but it was well worth it.
(Unfortunately, I also like to taste, taste, taste while I'm cooking so when it comes time to actually eat, I'm already full!)
Here's the spread from bottom to top: Mexican rice, refried beans, cheese, red pork, and bean/cheese quesadillas, tamales, fixins' and watermelon. Fresh guacamole and pico de gallo made great appetizers. Loose also brought brownies and Blue Bell Icecream (the best) for dessert.
Yum, yum!
I thought I'd brighten things up a bit so I picked some zinnias from my flower garden to add some color to the feast!
FAMILY!
Here's the Birthday Girl!
B-rent trying to keep Charlie still so I can get a somewhat decent picture of that rambunctious pooch!
Emma the "dog whisperer" and Shera with that CRAZY look in her eyes...
Maika, well... looking crazy.
Also looking a little nuts.
What's a nice Sunday get together without a few camping chairs to keep things interesting?
The Lewis Lovers!
CUTE!
CUTE!
CUTE!
Fun at Fossil Springs
We hiked down to Fossil Springs to see for ourselves all of the changes that everyone has been talking about. I was a weener like always and took a good 20 minutes to "get used to" the water. By then Jake and Shera were off exploring. I'm not going to lie, I think my favorite part of going up to Strawberry to camp and hike Fossil Springs is eating at Strawberry Lodge. Mmmmm....pie....
Jake was really sad that they tore out the dam. He said he's so mad that he is going to write his Congressman... hmmmm. Even though it looks a lot different than it used to, it's still beautiful. One of the most beautiful spots in AZ. We hiked further down the creek to swim and play and still managed to have a great time. No dam jumps but a damn good time. Sorry, I couldn't resist...
Disclaimer: If you're wondering about my face, no I didn't get in another car accident. I'm just not wearing any makeup. Oh! The horror!
Hot Tamales!
Well, we finally had our tamale party that we've all been dreaming about and drooling over. It took three hours for the four of us, Anna, Eliza, Linda, and myself (Arianna we missed you!) to finish assembling the tamales. Then, another hour and a half for them to steam...let's just say...my feet hurt! Ofcourse without Anna our fearless leader we wouldn't have known what the heck we were doing.
This is the third time I've been able to convince her to give me a private cooking lesson, so let's just say, I'm feelin' like a professional. I won't bore you with the list of delicious Mexican delicacies that I can now make from scratch- okay, yes I will- green chile enchilada sauce, green chile chicken enchiladas, chicken taquitos, refried beans, Mexican rice, avocado salsa, restaurant style salsa, Mexican soup, pico de gallo, and now...red chile pork and roasted green chile and cheese tamales!
And when I say from scratch- I mean it. Anna doesn't mess around, she's all business after all, and we wouldn't want to upset her now...or, well, you know...it'll get real green and ugly! Let's just say, Anna MAD! Anna SMASH! (He, he) It was so much fun to have everyone over.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
