ohitislove

top five tuesday: farewell to lost

2010-05-25T10:23:00.001-04:00

sunday, i said goodbye to lost. i feel so connected to this tv show for some reason. i don't remember feeling so uneasy about the end of friends or sex and the city. either way, the finale was awesome and i felt at peace when it finally ended. however, i don't know when i'll be deleting it from my DVR. so, here's some of my favorite things about lost.

1. vincent. oh, vincent. i loved that he showed up in the finale. i hadn't forgotten about him or anything, but i remember a time when everyone thought that he was the smoke monster. either way, i love vincent and that he was a part of the finale.

2. charlie. three words: not penny's boat. i was SOOOOOO sad when charlie died several seasons back, and the way he died was so poetic and tragic. i loved charlie--he had such a special place on the show.

3. characters that were dead, but resurfaced in the finale: BOONE!!!!!! i haven't seen you (except on vampire diaries commercials) in so long! it was awesome that both he and shannon both returned in the finale. charlie and daniel faraday also returned! love it!

4. the island. the island itself was a character. it was such a beautiful place (it looks like it on TV at least!) and the landscape was such an important part in the foundation of the storyline. apparently, all but 4 places (and there were tons of different 'locations') were shot in hawaii.

5. flash whatevers. i HATED the time travel......every 3 seconds the island jumped in time. i was glad when locke figured out how to make it stop! but, the flashbacks were awesome, because we were able to see what the stories of the characters were. i also liked the flash sideways because we were able to see what it would be like if the plane never crashed...and although some characters seemed happier, they were all still flawed in some way. i'm glad we finally got some closure on what it all means though!

although it's all over, and i don't know what i'll have to watch that keeps my interest like L O S T has, i feel at peace with the way that the producers and writers have rounded out the series.

random thoughts (on a saturday this time, though)

2010-05-22T15:41:00.000-04:00

although i found time to write on tuesday, i haven't sat down at the computer since, really. i'm several days behind on facebook and my blog stalking reading. today i was able to get caught up though. lots of random stuff, though....so here goes.

*the husband has several athletes attending states this coming weekend. i couldn't be more proud of his. this is his first year as head coach for the track team.....he's done a great job!

*tooth numero quattro is coming in. let the fussiness continue. i'm also saddened to think that every picture i EVER take of matthew from here on out with always be a toothy grin. although i've taken like, 500 pics of him, i feel like i don't have enough without teeth. too late, i guess!

*summer is fast approaching. i can't wait to be at the beach with my family. matthew has his first dose of sand yesterday. he DID not eat it, which was nice. however, he did throw it. this does not bode well for an entire coastline of SAND....considering we were only in a little turtle sandbox.

*i'm so excited for sex and the city 2 to come out. i just love that show and have high expectations for the movie......i can't get enough of those girls. and this time, they ride camels. nothing says awesome like manolos and camels!

*update: i have not found any new sandals for this summer. am getting desperate. send links to awesomely cute sandals, please. i beg of you.

*jersey shore 2 starts in a few weeks. thank god......i am sort of getting panicky, now that LOST is almost over. what am i going to do for summers shows, i was wondering? and now......of course.....jersey shore. jersey shore will always have a place in my heart b/c the husband was watching the "pilot" episode when i was in the agonies of labor. needless to say, i was able to understand the plot line even though i was having horrible back labor.

*speaking of LOST. i'm freaking out. and i'm also mentally preparing myself to be disappointed. we'll see what happens. desmond, don't let me down.

*i worry that matthew is getting to much roughage from the amount of time he spends chomping on his toes. they are very linty.....these toes of his.

well, i will continue to have lots of randomness floating around, but until the next time i am rushing by the computer, i'll keep them to myself!

top five tuesday: a few of my favorite things

2010-05-18T22:26:00.000-04:00

normally on tuesdays, i have some sort of idea of what i want to write about for my list-o-mania. today though, i woke up sort of uninspired. and i haven't written in a bit, because i've been super busy....and away from home....well, at least the computer, a lot.

so, i've decided to just compile a quickie for today. 5 of my favorite things.....not favorite things to do, see or eat. just my actual favorite things. here goes nothing.

1. jammy pants. i love, love being comfortable in my house! i cannot abide by sitting around in jeans or work pants after i've come home. so whether it's the fleece, flannel or cotton variety, sign me up.

2. beautiful shoes. i love a shoe with a high heel and a peep toe. but typically, shoes with a high heel and a peep toe are NOT comfortable. and these days, with a baby in tow, i can't teeter around on sky high shoes. so, i'm always on the lookout for cute flats. something in pink, maybe with a peep toe.

3. new books. i love the smell and the pristine cover. i love covers that have different, raised font and the size of the book is important to me as well. the 5.99ers are to small and squat for me. and although they're more money, i'll always buy the same title in a thinner, bigger book. i know that this means i'll have to hold the book with two hands at the beach, but i don't care. i also cannot abide by loaning out my books to people who do not care for my books in the same way i do. i DO NOT break the spine, nor do i fold pages back. i DO NOT dog ear the pages. how hard is it to find a little scrap of paper to mark your place? ugh. books have feelings too, people!

4. chapstick. the relationship i have with chapstick is a rocky road. i buy, buy, buy, but never make any real commitments. it's a shame really, how many chapsticks i've abandoned to the winter coat pocket, the out of season purse, or the car compartment-thingy. i love opening the chapstick for the first time, rolling it up and putting it on. i just can't keep it around long enough for the long haul. i'm a chapstick commitment-phobe.

5. my macbook. even though it's getting up there in age, i love it sooooo much still. it has served me well these past few years--from categorizing my photos, to helping me create awesome movies and of course to surf the internet wirelessly. although sometimes we disagree about whether it is actually "connected" to the internet, i will continue to give it the love and affection is deserves. my PC has nothing on my mac.

happiness times eleventy billion

2010-05-08T07:25:00.000-04:00

this sunday, not only will my son be baptized, but i will be celebrating my first mother's day. now, this time last year, the husband did make a big deal, and he even got me a gift! but, this time last year, the monkey man looked like this:

and really, matthew (not the awesome DS that the husband got me) was the best present of all. this year, though, i'm so thrilled to be spending the day with my family, and most of all, matthew. it's hard for me to think back to a year ago. i mean, he was a little alien baby, and now he's this little person:

*actually taken in february. his cheeks are MUCH smooshier now. and yes, i'm pretty sure smooshier is a word.

a year ago i was hardly into my second trimester, and now i'm worrying about whether he'll like fruits or vegetables better. a year ago i wasn't able to consume chinese food or kashi cereal and now i'm delighting in matthew's two front teeth and his ability to sort of roll over. although, with the whole rolling over thing, i like it when toby does that too!

my life has changed incredibly in the last year, going from non-prego person...

to prego person...

to lady with a baby.......

*please note that he is soooooooo teeny he is here. 8 days old.

but it has only changed for the better. i'm in a wonderful place in my life, with the husband and the cutest baby beside me. although i worry everyday about being a great mom, and most of the day i spending doubting my abilities, and that i'm wrecking him in some way (i am only sort of joking when i say we're saving for his therapy, not college), i'm so happy to be the mother i am, because matthew has made me the mother i am. i know i'll continue to grow and change in my relationship with both the husband and matthew, i'm so excited for what lies ahead. i really understand what family means, and i have matthew to thank for that. and i'm finally happy. times eleventy billion.

random thoughts thursday

2010-05-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

*my cricut cake has been a huge hassle this week. i'm working on cupcakes from my friend ashley, and the cricut cake is not behaving. ugh. i know i just need to continue to fiddle with it, but between matthew's baptism, the husband's track schedule and a general lack of time, i'm too busy to spend any quality time with it.

*i just watched burn after reading by the coen brothers. it was JUST as awesome as when i saw it the first time. this was also the first movie my friend jshay recommended that DIDN'T make me want to punch him in the ear. he recommended "no country for old men," and i almost ended our friendship.

*i did the final headcount for matthew's baptism, which is this sunday. it is 47. holy crapola. and that is without my/the husband's work people and other friends--just family. i guess i better get crackin' on that potato salad NOW.

*i realized tuesday night that i messed up my top five tuesday post this week. apparently, rather than hitting save, i hit "post." not happy about this, b/c i didn't give an introduction and a closing, not to mention a #5. the language arts teacher in me is not happy.

*i forgot to send in the census info. oooooooops. i'm sure it's somewhere in our ginormous stack of mail. so you know what happened? the census taker came by the house....just as the commercial promised. nope, i'm not harboring an "illegals" here, census lady. unless you count the dogs. no, seriously, she used that word....it felt very NOT pc. and i stubbed my pinky toe on the way to the door, and it's all black and blue.

*there has been a recall on infant and children's tylenol. which as been awesome, because matthew is in the midst of his two top teeth coming in. let me tell you, two teeth coming in without any pain reliever for the little one has been in a word: AWESOME. yeah, notsomuch. darn you tylenol company.

*i already have two bug bites. and i was outside for like 4 minutes yesterday. boo

*i didn't have creamer for my coffee yesterday. so i didn't have my coffee. and i almost died.

*matthew's swim "lessons" have been cancelled due to lack of enrollment. i was so disappointed, the husband considered just paying more so they would hold the class. it was such a cute gesture, but i told him we'd just look elsewhere!

*matthew loves the dogs so much now. he gets so frustrated when they don't come over to him, especially when he is playing on the floor. i want to tell him to get used to it, b/c they do the same thing to me....and i CAN talk.

top five tuesday: candy bars that rock

2010-05-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

1. twix. my all time favorite candy. like, ever. chocolate, cookie, and delicious caramel. the only downside....only two to a package. i especially love the little teeny ones that are around during halloween and christmas.

2. butterfinger. crispety, crunchety and peanut buttery. although i don't really love the whole bart simpson angle, these are awesome.

3. milky way. mmmmmmmmm...nougat. what is nougat? i don't even care what it is, but it's good. i love the little nuggets at christmas time. perfect portion.....that's why i have to eat them by the handful.

4. take five. oh sweet lord, i love this candy bar. chocolate, yes. peanuts........oh yes. caramel, peanut butter and pretzels......YES!!!!! my only question is...how do they keep the

bachelorette party (round one!)

2010-05-03T15:29:00.001-04:00

whoot. mama had a night out with just the girls....and it was all to celebrate one of my good friend's last nights out. jen and i have been friends since the beginning of high school.....so, rather than do the math, just let it go at "a long time." i'm beyond thrilled for her and her future husband, matt.....they love each other so much, and you can just tell by looking at them that they have found their true love.

we celebrate jen's last night out as a single gal by surprising her at a dueling piano bar, howl at the moon. it is a chain, but the one we partied it up at was the one in baltimore. if you haven't been to a dueling piano bar....go. right now...seriously, it is SOOOOOOOOO much fun. lynn, robin and i shared a hotel room at the radisson lord baltimore. it was a nice hotel, but we had to search out an ice machine, as the one on our floor, which conveniently was across the hall, but inconveniently OUT of ice. i mean, the only thing that machine has to do is shoot out ice......bah. either way, we followed some dude to floor 19 (his choice, not ours) in search of ice. at floor 18, we found some. yay!

*lynn is on the left and robin is on the right.

we relaxed at the hotel for a bit before eating dinner at an outdoor pub style restaurant called luckie's....which is located directly across from howl at the moon. the best thing about luckie's was that they had macaroni and cheese as a side dish...which of course i ordered! all the bars and restaurants gathered together are known as powerplant live. it's pretty awesome! jen and her bridesmaids showed up to the bar, where we already were waiting for her. she was really surprised!!!

the night was filled with all sorts of fun. jen got up on stage and was serenaded by the two pianists. she even got to sit on the piano. she looked the part of a bachelorette, all decked out in her hot pink boa.

we all had delicious drinks (i had one drink called a pear-something or other....it was yummy!). at howl at the moon, they had the great idea to have "bucket" drinks, which is exactly what it sounds like....a huge bucket full of (insert favorite drink here) with bunch of straws jammed in. not exactly sanitary, but both fun and delicious.

*jen, myself, lynn and meredith.

besides meredith (the pretty redhead on the right), jen's maids are her sister, liz, and her sister-in-law, kelly. i haven't seen liz in a million years, and have only met kelly once or twice. they were a lot of fun and were super nice.

*liz on the left and kelly on the right.

**please note that the guy to the left of the girls is NOT in the wedding party!!

besides the piano players, other sometimes join in the fun. the guitar player was amazing. he was really rockin' out.

the evening was relatively drama free, HOWEVER, there was a smidgen of drama. some dude literally just fell over.....as in, like passed out standing up. he really cracked his head on the floor, because no one caught him....he sat up and there was blood everywhere, and of course NURSE LYNN to the rescue. it was like ER. seriously, she helped him sit up and asked him if he was alright....and told the security that an ambulance should be called. she was so cool, calm and collected....it was great to see her in action. while i decided it best NOT to take a picture of the bloody-head guy....i did take a picture of the towel! crazy!

*the bloody towel....sort of like the bloody glove? is that reference too 90s of me?

overall, i think everyone had a great time--especially the bride to be. i had a fabulous time, even though i was really worried about matthew and the husband. OF COURSE because i was away, the little monkey slept through the night....but, i'm glad because the husband had a long day at a meet, so it was good they could both get plenty of rest. i swear, though.....he grew in the 24 hours i was away! (matthew, not the husband!)

i can't wait for jen and matt's wedding.....to have more fun with all of the girls and celebrate both jen AND matt. whoot!

grab your ipod, we're goin' on a roadtrip!

2010-05-01T10:19:00.000-04:00

yay! i'm so excited (and freaked out) about today/tonight. i'm excited because i'm spending the day and night with two of my favorite girls: lynn, my bestie and her sister, robin (also.....they're my sister-in-laws, but the three of us are way closer than most in-laws). i'm also freaked out because i'm spending the night with them, as in AWAY from MATTHEW for the first time. the husband will be with him, so i'm not too worried, but what if he needs me? i just keep telling myself "it will be ok," b/c i know it will be.

anyway....the drive to lynn's is kind of long, and i'm picking up robin, also....which isn't exactly on the way. so, i've created a new playlist on my ipod. now, a good (or bad) playlist can make (or break) the roadtrip. i have to include the right amount of alternative (my fave), current hits (lynn's favorite) and classics (robin's fave). i also have to throw in some kanye and old school faves...for car dancing purposes, of course. i've included a few of the songs on the playlist, i'm leaving in a few hours, and i'm not quite done with it yet, so this is just a sample. enjoy, and imagine yourself groovin' in the car with me for several hours to the sounds of:

animal by neon trees
viva la vida by coldplay
africa by toto
under pressure by david bowie/queen
haven't met you yet by michael buble
stronger by kanye west
everything is alright by motion city soundtrack
maggie may by rod stewart
when we were young by the killers
non-dairy creamer by third eye blind
pride by u2
one by u2
i've gotta feeling by black eyed peas
bohemian rhapsody by queen
if i had a million dollars by barenaked ladies
umbrella by rihanna
empire state of mind by jay-z/alicia keys
take me out by franz ferdinand

now, that's not all.....i have to figure out the rest, because the WORST thing that can happen on a roadtrip mix is that you have to hit play again......i need to gather the rest of my songs in order to have the perfect mix of awesome, fun and nostalgia. look for me today on the highway...i'll be the one screaming at the tope of my lungs, telling everyone to make sure they "don't stop......BE-lievennnnnnnn"

random thoughts on a typical thursday

2010-04-29T15:01:00.001-04:00

*last night i discussed the newest episodes of the hills/the city with the husband. he was less than thrilled, and it's weird that i can talk about their lives like i know them. seriously, i need to watch better programming.

*i bought four dresses for the different events (one baptism, one graduation party, 4 weddings, 3 showers, 3 bachelorettes, 2 rehearsal dinners) i'm going to. i planned out already what i'm going to wear to each event...so that no ONE person sees me in the same outfit. i had to make up a flow-chart for this. i'm NOT kidding.

*it has been unseasonably cold. yick. where did the warm weather go?

*the cricut cake has been harder to use then i thought it would. i've been working hard at getting the gumpaste JUST the right thickness for optimal cutting! i'll post pics of cupcakes/cakes soon!

*i love how drama involving me can occur even without me being within 35 miles of where the drama is happening!

*i am currently watching the movie post grad. i figured the husband wouldn't want to watch it. mainly because it has the chick from the gilmore girls (the daughter) and looks not that great. so, i'm watching it while at work. something of interest to note (to me at least)...the character's younger brother gets admonished by his mom for licking kids' heads at school. this is the same child actor who was on private practice last week and had pika. a disease where kids or adults eat anything and everything, like dirt and paint. niche actor, no?

*i can't wait to go to the beach this summer. while matthew has 4 bathing suits, i have none. not that i'm looking forward to purchasing those. ugh. but i AM looking forward to actually going.

*speaking of matthew's swim suits.....i signed him up for baby swim classes! i cannot wait...it starts in two weeks!

*my dvr only taped half of america's next top model. i am upset about this for two reasons...i had to find out when that specific episode is going to be on again AND i have to wait to watch it. instant gratification is what i need.

*toby keeps eating grass and then barfing. he has apparently learned to go barf in private though, because he now does so in the privacy of the dog hut...aka...the laundry room. although this pleases me (since he no longer barfs on the carpet), i would really just prefer that he didn't eat grass and then barf!!!

that's about all for now. i'm sure i'll think of more, but i'll regale you with those next week.

if a picture says a thousands words...you better get a calculator!

2010-04-28T10:33:00.000-04:00

this last week was busy, especially with the husband having three track meets, and me out of town for a day. rather than recap every ~~important and awesome~~ detail, i'm just going to provide you with pictures. granted, a lot of them are of matthew, but hey....he's mine, and i'll photograph him ~~a billion times a day~~ if i want. enjoy!

last wednesday:

*picture of matthew dressed like a little man. sweater and dress pants....check and check.

thursday:

*matthew lovin' life in his exersaucer.

friday:

*the wuggles sacked out on the blanket on the floor. they were like that for quite a while. they have a hard life.

saturday:

*apparently, the husband must dress like a ninja to feed matthew. either way, it was cute, so i took it. matthew LOVES oatmeal, by the way.

sunday:

*lynn trying on a shirt at White House, Black Market. please note robin in the background grimacing. i wonder if she is mad i'm not taking a picture of her? perhaps she does not enjoy her sister "shakin' her groove thing" in a store?

*picture of a hole in a wall in a dressing room. reminiscent of a truck stop bathroom, no? the sales clerk gave me a weird look for taking a picture of this, but i thought it was hilarious!

monday:

*matthew figured out that he could put his foot in his mouth. and it was delicious....or so he said.

tuesday:

*picture of dinner from last night. recipe taken from the pioneer woman. i added crab on my own. go here for the recipe!

so there you go, my week in pictures. i really should take more of myself.

top five tuesday: things that were important in HS, and still are today

2010-04-27T14:15:00.001-04:00

one of my favorite, favorite, FAVORITE blogs that i stalk is confessions of a young married couple. the author recently wrote blog entries about her hometown and HS, which got me to thinking about MY high school experience. there were sooooooooo many things i agonized over in HS...some important, some not so much. even though my HS years are far behind me, some things that were important to me then are still important to me now.

1. who you sit with at lunch. this is very important--it could mean a great conversation, or listening to your coworkers complain about their wilted salad, horrible family and general crappy life ad nauseum. BUT, if you choose your seat wisely, it could mean taste-testing different soda (invoking the pepsi challenge?!), laughing uncontrollably at jokes or being "that table." either way....who you sat with in HS was important, and it is important now!!

2. how you did in gym class. i LOVED gym class, and although i'm no athlete, how you did in gym class mattered then and it matters now. people judge you based on your physical prowess and whether you played a sport or not. could you master serving the birdie during the badminton unit or did you sit out on the sidelines because once again you have "cramps." this translates to "who wants to join my kickball league" or "YOU want to round out my golf foursome...uh, ok?" in adult life. so, how did YOU do in gym class?

3. your scores (SAT or otherwise). in high school, those three letters struck fear and anxiety in most of us. however, those don't really matter anymore-it's all in the past. however other scores still can cause great anxiety (think-credit, gpa, etc). i guess it's not really about the "score" per say, but more about who has the better one.

4. your extracurriculars. some were cooler than others....some meant you were college bound...some meant you were going to be in BIG trouble with your parents. either way, every person, no matter how nerdy or dorky had SOME sort of extracurriculars. the same goes for now. some extracurriculars are more acceptable than others. if you're a man's man, you probably play golf or maybe you're on a softball team. keeping up your yard is another biggie (the husband is a fan of FOREVER mowing the grass!). for the ladies, being a storyteller, whether through scrapbooking, blogging or photography, keeping track of events in your life is an important extracurricular.

5. the company you keep. even though we're older, we are still judged by the people that we hang out with. while at this point, i don't particularly care what other's think......everyone wants to be liked. luckily, i haven't changed who i hang out with very much...same bestie, same boyfriend.....well, husband. either way, the saying that held true in high school, still holds true today: "you are who you hang out with."

random (purposeful) thoughts on a random (it comes every week) thursday

2010-04-22T14:20:00.000-04:00

another episode of items roaming around aimlessly in my head. enjoy.

-i tried to remember the phone number of my best friend from HS (not sure why.....remember, random, people, random). i got all but the last two. good thing i have her current number memorized.

-i've been watching sex and the city reruns on demand. from season one. wow.....i don't really like season one, after seeing the other seasons. yet i still watch. (no judgement, people.....i'm running out of things to watch, which is why i posted about dr. drew yesterday.)

-i'm very nervous about something coming up (more details to come later). i shouldn't be nervous, but i'm all panicky. do i have you interested?

-i've been going through old pictures....love it. i can pinpoint what year it was depending on the color and cut of my hair.

-does rihanna only repeat words to make the chorus in her songs? i heard her song "rude boy" on the radio today...and it mainly consisted of her saying "rude," "boy," and "boom" over and over again. not unlike her song "umbrella" where she makes the word umbrella have about 52 syllables. makes me want to punch her in the ear....but, she's been through enough.

-the movie furry vengeance looks awful. that is all i have to say about that.

what's roaming around in your head today?!

dr. drew: advocate or opportunist?

2010-04-21T15:26:00.001-04:00

i love reality television, especially the shows on VH1 and MTV (i know, i know, i should be watching channels that are more "age appropriate," but i can't help it!). two that i follow throughout pretty religiously is celebrity rehab/sober house and 16 & pregnant. i watch both of these shows because they are entertaining and also SOOOOO very different from my mundane, suburban (although awesome) life. i was watching the season finale of 16 & pregnant this morning, and i got to thinking a lot about dr. drew.

dr. drew is always the voice of reason on celebrity rehab and lends and ear to the teen mothers on the finale shows. but, is he there as an advocate for the addicts and teen mothers, or is he using people's issues as an opportunity to make more money for himself. is he trying to show the viewers that people can get their lives back after being addicted to drugs and alcohol, or is he making a quick buck by selling people's problems as a glamorized version of sex, drugs and rock & roll?

i've talked to my mother-in-law at length about the show 16 & pregnant, because one of her classes focuses on families and child development. we have talked about whether the show glamorizes teen pregnancy, or if the show might help in the prevention of more teen pregnancies. i would HOPE that the show is making teens think twice about things, but i don't know if it actually is. while i think that dr. drew shows the ups and downs, i think that it isn't possible to show how hard it is to have a child, let alone have a baby AND be a teenager.

on celebrity rehab/sober house, i don't know what to think. i think by that show just being on the air, dr. drew is using the celebrities that are struggling to get sober. i mean, what addict is going to watch this show and be like "oh yeah, i should stop taking drugs and drinking to the point where i'm black-out drunk?" at least teens ARE watching 16 & pregnant, and might learn something. but i'm not so sure about celebrity rehab/sober house. i suppose that celebrity rehab/sober house is to show that hope still exists, even when someone is truly at the bottom of the barrel.

so, while i'm not sure whether dr. drew is an advocate or opportunist, i will continue to watch. mostly because like an car accident, i can't look away. i'll just hope that dr. drew is producing show after show for good reasons...to help people, not to exploit them.

top five tuesday: places i haven't been, but want to go to

2010-04-20T18:29:00.000-04:00

last week i wrote about my top five places that i HAVE been. this week, i thought i would do a top five of places i WANT to visit, but haven't (yet)!

1. atlantis resort in the bahamas. it looks freakin' awesome. i had a student that went there (yeah, her parents were rich...cause who else could afford to take the entire family....i'll be going with just the husband...and even then, we'll have to have a second mortgage) and she said she had such an amazing time, she cried when she left. sign me up!

2. spain. i took spanish in HS and in college. i reeeeeeeeeeeeeally want to go, so i can use "donde esta el bano" for real, b/c when i went to mexico, everyone spoke english, and i didn't have to say it. i still did, though! although i would like to see the running of the bulls, please know that i do not want participate. mainly because it involves running. fast. and if not fast enough, being trampled and the like. boo to that.

3. ireland. basically, i love potatoes, and i have a lot of green. oh yeah, and i'm irish. so, yeah...i want to go to ireland.

4. costa rica. i really want to visit here, but one time when i was away for a "girls weekend," the husband rented turistas on demand. since he saw some crazy, whacked out movie, we aren't allowed to go to costa rica. i did not see this movie, nor will i. b/c i WANT to go to costa rica.

5. oregon. pictures i have seen of this pacific coast state are amazing. i especially want to go and visit the university of oregon, where steve prefontaine ran.....if you don't know who he is, go here. there have been several great movies made about his life: prefontaine (the one with jared leto) and without limits (the one with billy crudup). anyway.....i want to visit oregon, and take pictures of its scenic beauty.

there you have...places i plan on visiting, even if i have to get a second mortgage on the house!

i love a man in a track uniform!

2010-04-19T21:40:00.000-04:00

the husband and i have been together for a little bit now. like 13 years this november....so yeah, for a little bit (we've only been married for almost 4. c'mon people, i didn't grow up in the south!! and i can say that, 'cause my mom did!). i feel like i've known him my whole life.......he's seen me at my worst, my best and everything in between.

he puts up with my crap and is an amazing father. that's pretty much all i could ask for, b/c will all of my neuroses, if i didn't have him, i don't think i would have a man. that's why i snagged him when we were young.....i trained him right!!!

anyway....the husband is very athletic...always has been, always will be. since he was student teaching (in 2002), he has been coaching in some form or another. he currently is the head coach for the varsity and middle school track teams at his school. the monkey man and i went to visit him at his meet today. and no, he really wasn't in a track uniform, i saw him doing his coaching thing, running around.....and i got all blushy and my heart started racing. twitterpated i think is the word for that feeling, no? i felt like i was back in HS when i saw him running for the first time.

i'm so proud to know him....even back when he was the boyfriend, instead of the husband. he's always been dedicated, whether it was to me, his sport or to his athletes. and although i don't think he'll don a track uniform anytime soon, seeing him in his NL "coach o" gear is just as awesome!

*pole vaulting. kind of his thing.

*one of my favorite pics from HS. the husband running with some good friends.

*more pole vaulting. look at those biceps!

**fast forward like, more than a decade....

*here he is doing some pre-race stretching with the XC team

either way, track uniform or not.....he's mine. although, if he runs away, i'm not sure i could catch him! better keep those neuroses in check!!

love at first read

2010-04-18T22:19:00.001-04:00

everyday i like to catch up on all of my blogs that i ~~stalk~~ read. one of my very favorite blogs is the postsecret blog, which is exactly like the books they sell. post secret is an ongoing project based out of maryland, where people sent in their secrets. i love reading these....they are funny, endearing or sometimes even sad. either way, this blog is only updated every sunday--so i really look forward to reading it all week.

today there were some interesting secrets, but more importantly, i saw two new blogs that i want to ahem, follow. found is one of them. found is a blog about all things found. i love found art-whether is a note, poetry or what have you. it is actually a magazine as well....but i'm content for checking out the site for right now.

the second blog i read about today was 1000 awesome things. this blog is very neat (i sound like i'm 82). the writer of this blog is counting down 1000 awesome things (in his opinion), one awesome thing at a time. the blog is hilarious, and the "things" are discussed in short, quick reads.

all in all, i'm in love. i love the new sites that i have "found" today. that's what i love about reading and following blogs. you never know where you are going to be taken by reading someone's writing. some of it is crap, but some of it is, well.....awesome.

give a little bit...

2010-04-17T15:58:00.000-04:00

today, my friend ashley and i helped out at a bake sale to help end childhood hunger. the bake sale benefitted the share our strength organization, which is holding bake sales nation wide in order to raise money to help end childhood hunger in america.

did you know that almost 1 in 4 children in AMERICA are hungry. and not like "midnight craving" hungry. 17 million children in america face hunger everyday. we live in america, people. there is a starbucks and mcdonalds on every corner, and we can't fix this?

well, i'm trying to help end it (not singlehandedly, of course). my new friend jen, from my kitchen addiction, was the person in charge, not only of the one i "worked" at, but for the entire state! there was tons of delicious baked goods, and although it was FREEZING, people stopped by now and then to buy some delicious treats.

the bake sale was held at the hershey outlets....we were stationed outside of pacsun....near the carter's outlet. one thing we realized quickly.....we had to get the kids. once the kids saw the goodies, we were golden. some people bought a lot, some people just donated money. either way, it was a nice feeling knowing that i was making a contribution. like i said, it was freezing....if the weather was better, i think more people would have been out shopping. at least it wasn't raining!

here are some pictures of the event. jen said she would be hosting another bake sale sometime in the summer, and i'm excited thinking of the cupcakes i'm going to make for it already!

*one of the two tables of delicious goodies.

*my cupcakes. that's right....someone bought one. whoot!

*ashley and i. please notice my black fleece and brown pants. i was not expecting it to be freezing...and my jean jacket (wow...that sounds SO 80s) wasn't cutting it. so i had to clash. oh well.

*that's jen, host of the event. oh yeah..and ashley too!

*one of ashley's cute cookies.

for the event, of course i made cupcakes. i made vanilla with "tiffany blue" vanilla buttercream icing and chocolate with peanut butter buttercream icing. i should have bought single containers to sell the cupcakes in, but i ran out of time. they were hard to package, but they were pretty!

so, you didn't make it to the actual bake sale to give a donation or to purchase some goodies? that's ok. if you'd like to make a donation, you still can. visit the share our strength to make a donation today, or to find out how you can get involved to help end childhood hunger in america.

try, try again

2010-04-16T14:52:00.001-04:00

i'm THISCLOSE to finishing my 2009 digital scrapbook. i typically don't hit snags until the beginning and ending pages. i find that i work best when i think of a layout as both pages...but the beginning and end pages have to tell a story in and of themselves. i leave both of those to the end, because i don't really know what the scrapbook will look like starting out. i've done scrapbooks all sorts of ways......alternating page colors; a minimalist scrapbook with no use of mats or frames; heavy use of stamps, etc. so, unless i have a theme picked out ahead of time, i leave the beginning and end pages for last.

i really like to look at gina miller's gallery for inspiration. while i find that her pages are too busy for my style on a 2 page layout, i think that they work well for my beginning and end sheets. this time, i looked at a gallery on the the lilypad website, a great place for digital scrapbooking. i found a design that i wanted to emulate:

i really like this page because of how simple it is....just using pieces of ribbon to make the statement. here's is what i came up with for my end sheet:

i didn't love the result, though. i mean, it's fine....it's just not what i had in mind for the end of my scrapbook. so i went to gina's own website for inspiration. i found this while looking around in the gallery at her site, gina miller designs:

from there, i went to work. i loved how simple the layout was, only utilizing a few papers and some extra embellishments. also, there was plenty of writing. and i wanted room to write, since it was the end of the scrapbook. here is what i came up with for my end sheet:

i really like how it turned out. while i typically do not use this color scheme, it suited my needs. i really like the pink and the black with the green. i was able to tell the story the way i wanted to and as you can see i changed a few things around....played with the sizing of the elements and used bigger pictures. overall, i love the end result.

what did i learn? that if i'm not satisfied with something, keep working at it until i am. i think i knew this before, i but i guess there is a lesson to learn in every situation.

random thoughts on a random thursday

2010-04-15T11:39:00.000-04:00

another installment of random things i am thinking about. how many times do i have to post about random things for "random things" to not be random.....but quite purposeful? either way.....here are things i've been thinking about, but don't qualify for a post all to themselves.

*i finally bought my son some shorts. and then the weather went from 80 degrees to 45. awesome.

*i need to buy bathing suits. this does not excite me in any way. i went into victorias secret, and was APPALLED by what she considers a "bathing suit." let me tell you, she isn't keeping any secrets with those "bathing suits."

*the house is slowly becoming overrun with toys....and no, i'm not talking about awesomely fun toys like arcade machines or huge tvs. i'm talking about baby toys. i always swore i would never be that parent with all of the fisher price crap in the front yard, but apparently i'm not opposed to it being all over the living room. boo.

*the husband is obsessed with moving the tv. like, right this minute. this both panics me, because i do not know how i want to set up the living room, once we move the tv, but also makes me laugh. i love it when the husband gets all HG on the house. "no, no, christin....i think the tv should go here, that way both the tv AND the fireplace are the focal points of the room."

*if i see that hover-round commerical one more time, i'm going to punch tom kruse in the ear. you know, tom kruse, the inventor of the hover round.

*i purchased the cricut cake. i'm beyond excited for it to be delivered. i can't wait bake up some cupcakes and then put flowers that LOOK like it took forever to make, but in reality, just took minutes. can you tell i've been watching to much home shopping network?!

*i saw a commercial for the final season of the hills. this both worries me, and also relieves me. it worries me because how will i stay on top of speidi and the gang once the show is off of the air? this also relieves me, because i will no longer have to shamefully say that i watch the hills.

*i need to do laundry. i contemplated buying more clothes so that i do not have to. this is not a good way for a mom to think. i haven't thought that way since college. not good. at least i did not act on this impulse, and instead, gathered up my heap of clothes and did the responsible thing: gathered them up so that they husband can carry them downstairs so they can sit outside the laundry room for 3-5 days before going into the washing machine.

well, writing about those random thoughts helps me clear out my head. not completely or anything.....but it feels a lot less cluttered. maybe i should de-clutter more often?!

top five tuesday: favorite places i've been

2010-04-13T15:17:00.001-04:00

i thought long and hard about this week's top five. i couldn't think of something that i wanted to write about....but i'm currently working on several scrapbooks, and i will be working on a scrapbook of my honeymoon soon (a honeymoon we took in 2006, no less!).....and i got to thinking about all of the wonderful places i have visited recently. i use the term recently pretty loosely.....say the last five years or so!

1. santorini, greece. mark and i went to greece and turkey for our honeymoon. it was magical. while in santorini, we hiked to the top of a volcano, swam in hot springs, and saw santorini in all of it's beauty.

*i know i look sweaty....but i just climbed to the top of a VOLCANO, people. cut me some slack!

2. belize. i went to belize as part of a cruise in the caribbean in 2007 with the husband. although we were there only for short time, we were able to take in all of the beauty. all of my pictures from there look like they are from a calendar.

*doesn't this look it's from a calendar?

3. LA, california. i visited LA with my good friend ashley....her sister sam, lived out there for awhile before relocating to virginia to be with her beloved, ben. my favorite part of visiting california was seeing the sunset in the west.....over the pacific ocean.

*standing at the entrance of the santa monica pier.

4. negril, jamaica. favorite vacation, hands down (besides the honeymoon with the husband). i LOVED going with my sister-in-law and her significant other. it was fabulous in every way....drinks poolside (never, under any circumstance order a "bob marley." it will only mean you throwing up poolside), amazing snorkeling and ping pong tournaments inside, when it rained every afternoon.

*some friends we made in jamaica.

5. the beaches of delaware and maryland. i know this one is a gimme....but it is my favorite vacation we do every year. sometimes twice. i love to go with friends, or family. we have our "must do things," like eat a grottos and phillips. i always pick up salt water taffy for my mom. i always complain about walking the boardwalk......and crabs biting my toes. but it's still my favorite. i can't imagine NOT going at least once a year. also, i get to see duckcedo (pronounced like tuxedo) every year....this is a black and white duck that lives where we rent!

*until last year i thought duckcedo was a boy. and then i saw *him with babies.

*at cape henlopen.

it's the little things

2010-04-12T09:55:00.002-04:00

*caution* this post is going to be heavily baby-related. you can turn back now, or keep reading...i'll even have pictures of the little monkey!

the past two weeks have been the hardest since matthew has arrived. at the beginning of his life, we KNEW that he wasn't going to be sleeping well....in fact, we had to wake him to eat for the first week or so. but on the eve of his 2 month "birthday," he slept through the night. as in, did not get up for many hours in a row. mark and i rejoiced, after i freaked out, thinking something was wrong.

all was right with the world for almost two months....until the dreaded "4 month wakeful period." holy lord, the past two weeks have been horrible at night. mark and started to dread the nighttime, recognizing that we both would not be getting a full night's sleep, as we had become accustomed to. the "4 month wakeful period" is also known as sleep regression. sleep regression happens typically at 4 months and 9 months--both are periods when babies grow and develop in HUGE ways.

*here he is in his new jumperoo. look how hard he's concentrating!!!

during the day time, matthew was fussy....but not that bad. we realized that not only was our precious baby getting two more teeth, having reflux issues, as well as difficulty sleeping. when he wasn't fussing, he was having a great time--trying to roll over, grasping at toys and belly laughing. i was so happy during those times, i almost forgot that eventually night would come, and i wouldn't sleep.

last wednesday was especially difficult, and it was mark's night. after a bit of the baby's crying and hearing the husband's frustrations, i got up to see what i could help with.....i wasn't up long, just enough to see that my boys were ok. but, it meant a lot to the husband. it must have, b/c here's what i got on thursday:

they were completely unexpected, and it meant so much that the husband sent them. i told him later that he didn't have to send me anything, that i was just doing my job as a wife and mother. of course he said that i didn't have to get up with him in the middle of the night, either.

so, what have i learned here? it's really the little things that matter when times are extremely difficult. (cliche, i know) although it was hard to get up every hour, seeing matthew smile and laugh during the day was more than enough to keep me going. the husband's gesture of flowers meant so much, that when i had to get up at 5 the next morning after a super long day, i didn't even mind.

last night, matthew slept through the night....and i woke up panicked. is something wrong? why didn't he wake up 2, 3, or 4 times? it was like he was 2 months old again...had I not grown at all, even though he has???? in times like these, it really is the little things that make the hard times bearable. the two people i love the most make my life both trying and extremely joyous. i'm just lucky that the joyous times outweigh the trying ones by A LOT. and getting flowers every once in a while doesn't hurt either!

random thoughts on a random thursday

2010-04-08T10:27:00.000-04:00

now that i have a child, the idea of randomness seems sort of silly to me, because everything right now has some sort of purpose with him. if he is crying it is not just because he likes the sound of his own shrill voice, but b/c he is hungry, tired, needs to be changed, his belly hurts, he's teething, ETC. however, it is not that way with me. i have many thoughts going rumbling around in my brain.....even though they may not be the most academic, here are a few nuggets:

i am enjoying the nice weather....however, it is too hot. it should NOT be 90 degrees in april....which is why my child has no shorts. i have him in some sort of t-shirt/short combo. although the color is brown, he looks like a girl. oops! shopping, here we come!
what is the difference between ann taylor and ann taylor loft? i've been in both and the clothes look exactly the same. except at ann taylor, they're like 30 bucks more expensive. so i guess the difference is 30 bucks?!
very, very soon, the husband is going to become a pack mule. i started listing all of the summer beach necessities for the little one, and it is crazy. the picture in my mind of the husband schlepping all of said items fills my heart with joy. heh heh.
i've become super bossy. as if i wasn't BEFORE the baby arrived. but when i want something done, i want it done sooner than THISMINUTE. even though i recognize this, i don't know what to do about it. i feel bad for the husband, as this affects him greatly. it isn't like he moves like a tortoise either....he moves at a regular pace...and does EVERYTHING i ask of him.....patience is not a virtue that i have.
i want the cricut cake. it is amazing.......it is going on sale soon...........just not soon enough (see above bullet point).
i need to find three dresses for this summer.....for weddings, rehersal dinners, etc. where can i find a dress that is casual, yet dressy enough . i want to look amazing, but effortless...i don't want to look like i'm trying to hard. i have four weddings, four bridal showers, and four bachelorettes. i can't wait for all of the girl bonding time!
chai lattes are delicious. seriously......i like them especially now....over ice. yum. i've tried to make them at home, but they are not the same. starbucks, there is a reason that you are on every corner, and people are willing to buy coffee for $5.
i'm obsessed with a show called "i shouldn't be alive" on animal plant. it's about people who have survived in crazy conditions....the most recent one i watched entailed a man who was attacked by a grizzly bear. twice. and then there was a massive storm....all while he was half way up a mountain. and he LIVED. crazy.

i guess that is enough random thoughts for today. i could go on at length, but these are the important, interesting things i've been thinking about recently.

top five tuesday: favorite things about spring

2010-04-06T08:03:00.000-04:00

spring is my favorite time of year, especially when it is unseasonably hot (as it is now). i love everything about spring except for the fact that our teeny backyard turns into a swamp, and the dogs leave little muddy paw prints on EVERYTHING. here is the spring edition of my favorite things.

1. flip flops. every year, i'm on the look out for the next amazing pair of flip flops. i wear these as soon as it gets warm, and until it gets too cold. my piggies need to breathe!!! i owned THE PERFECT pair several years ago, but they died.....the middle thongy thing ripped. so, since they perished, i've been looking for THE PERFECT pair take 2. alas, to no avail. the hunt is on, though!

2. toby loses interest in anything other than chipmunk hunting. i feel so bad for toby, because once spring rolls around, he sits on the back deck staring at the rock retaining wall, waiting for a chipmunk to appear. he has never caught one yet, but not for lack of trying. he just stares at the tiny places where chipmunks pop out of. this is our fifth summer in the house, and every year it is the same. i take great pleasure in watching him "protect" the house from a chipmunk invasion.

3. the husband evens out his "i coach track" (read: farmer) tan. because he refuses to wear any sort of sunscreen at meets and at practice, his neck and arms get a nice golden tan (read: super red at first). once the weather is nice, he is once again a slave to our yard, and his tan evens out. i love watching him work in the yard. if only i were motivated to help.

*taken a few years ago, when he put in a patio and sidewalk. he's going to kill me (and he looks like he's trying to in the picture also) for posting this, but i thought it was hilarious.

4. everything smells pretty. i don't know it is because the snow and dreadfully dreary weather has hidden all of the pretty smells, but once everything is in bloom, the world smells wonderful. i love the smell of fresh cut grass. the tulips are blooming (if the squirrels haven't eaten my bulbs) and everything looks and smells like a new place.

5. ritas. whoot. ritas is awesome, especially since i can walk there (granted it was like a half mile round trip, with the huge stroller, but hey....i got ritas). although i'm not pleased with this year's new flavor (peeps.......seriously, ew), i will continue to go get delicious blendinis and water ice. that's right, water ice, not italian ice.

what are you favorite things about spring?!

off the grid

2010-04-05T09:53:00.005-04:00

no, i haven't fallen off of the face of the earth, my internet connection did. and although i have a droid, which has an amazing browser, i couldn't bring myself to type entire entries on the small keypad.....because well, as my husband would say, my entries are usually "wordy."

i wasn't able to post about my awesomely delicious irish-themed dinner party, complete with car bomb cupcakes.

i wasn't able to post ad nauseam about my baby's first tooth (which is just too awesome for words, btw).

i wasn't able to post about how i love LOST, and that the episode two weeks ago was amazing....but the sun/jin episode was awful.

i wasn't able to write about how the weather is deliciously wonderful and how my baby boy loves springtime.

i wasn't able to exude my happiness over the fact that my husband is coaching an athlete that has the potential to make it to states.

i got a new hair cut (same hair cut, different color), but wasn't able to post pictures of the new do.

i couldn't chronicle all of the weddings, bachelorettes and bridal showers i am attending this "wedding season."

so you see, having the internet be down for a few days really put a damper on my ability to describe in way too much detail the minutia of my life. and what awesomely, great, wonderful minutia it is.

the stress factor

2010-03-24T07:28:00.001-04:00

we all have stress in our lives, but in differing amounts. even positive events can cause stress....the holidays, weddings, babies????? um, yes and yes. i knew it would be tough when matthew arrived, and so far, life hasn't been THAT much different than i thought it was going to be. i can handle the mom thing (one day at a time, mind you), but when there are too many stressors in a given timeframe, i start to get a little frazzled. (read: mini meltdown).

last monday, my perfectly wonderful, beautiful, peppy, annoying dog, zoey, had to be rushed to the vet. when i got home from some outings with matthew, i came home to her shaking uncontrollably. when i picked her up to comfort her, she started yelping over and over. cue a tearful phone call to the husband, who was at work 45 minutes away. also cue emergency vet appointment.

so, at this moment.....how do i get my very sick pup in the car, along with all the baby stuff....oh yeah....and the baby! ugh. luckily the vet is only a few minutes away, but i was freaking out (on the inside, people.....i never let people see me sweat. unless you were at the outback with me the night before. then you saw crumble....but that's is another story).

so, mucho dinero, blood test, xrays and hours later, i found out that zoey has canine disc disease, which is not uncommon for doxies. even though i'm not typically this type of person, i found myself being the person who thinks it can never happen to their dog. she is currently on pain meds as well as muscle relaxers. needless to say, she is is a druggie-doggie haze for most of the day.....she only weighs 14 pounds, people!

what i did i learn from all this? (yes....as a teacher i believe ever trial and tribulation can teach us something).....i learned that i can do it....even when stress is at it's maximum, i can handle the situation. you can either freak out or rise to the occasion. so, i swallowed my fears, choked back the tears and took half of my family to the vet. now, i was not thinking: rise to the occasion that day....this is all in hindsight, of course. but in hindsight, i realize that i'm stronger than i really think. even if i did have a mini-meltdown on monday night in the comfort of my own home. so, i say......rise to the occasion people, only if it is for freaking out which type of easter themed item you are taking to your in-laws this easter season.

**all i have to say is thank god for the husband, cause he is always ah-ma-zing in stressful situations.

top five tuesday: food from childhood

2010-03-23T11:44:00.002-04:00

now that i'm an adult, no one else is responsible for the food that i consume......but it was a different story when i was younger, and my parents paid for the groceries. this is a top five list of the childhood foods that i loved...but weren't prepared by my mother....b/c that is an entirely different list. i was in the grocery store yesterday, and i passed all the "crappy" food, i realized how much i still yearn for some of the foods i enjoyed immensely as a child. i'm sure you have your own list of childhood foods, and maybe some of mine are on yours......who knows, maybe we can even share a pack of big league chew?

1. lunchables. my all time favorite childhood food. i went to catholic elementary school, so i had to pack EVERY SINGLE day. and it was awful....as i am not a fan of pjb&j. it was so exciting to get these to take to lunch--my favorite was the ham and cheese. typically, i only got this lunch treat on field trip days. if i had to eat one of these now, i would probably yack, because there aren't any more good kinds left. i saw a chicken nugget lunchable. what the heck? there aren't any microwaves for students to use! ew.

2. nerds. maybe not "food," but i'm still counting it. i especially loved the double dipped ones: strawberry banana. yum. we weren't really allowed to have these at my house after my younger sister spilled an entire box, didn't clean it up properly and an army of ants invaded.

3. anything by tastykake. growing up, i lived only like 10 minutes from the tastykake plant...which always smelled delicious. personal faves? kandykakes, nutty buddys and junior chocolate cakes. yum!!!

4. swiss miss pudding. this one grosses me out, because as an adult, i only buy the pudding in the refrigerated area. i was thinking about why can be in one area (jello....refrigerated........swiss miss...regular old aisle) and one in another, and it grossed me to out to remember that i used to eat the pudding that wasn't refrigerated. ew.

5. sunny d. i know, i know, this isn't a food, it is a juice.....but i'm counting it as well. i loved, loved, LOVED this stuff growing up. i swear, my parents couldn't keep it in the house. it was so delicious. i would even mix it with gatorade mix to flavor it. kinda gross to think about now, but i loved it back then!

there you have it....my top five foods (and drinks) from childhood. now if you don't mind, i'm going to grab a capri sun and watch salute your shorts.

randomness...

2010-03-17T22:11:00.002-04:00

some random things i've been thinking about recently....let's start with today.

today to celebrate st. patrick's day, i went to dinner at an asian bistro. festive, i know. either way, i wore green. include my chucks. that's right people, i have a pair of green chucks that i literally wear once a year.

john travolta needs to stop. seriously, if i see another commercial for that movie "old dogs," i'm going to punch someone at my cable provider in the ear. wasn't wild hogs enough of the "semi-old guy gettin' crazy?" and also, robin williams needs to stop. he seems super creepy in old dogs. but then again, i've been freaked out by him since one hour photo came out.

i carry more toys around now than an assortment of gum, lip gloss and loose change. i'm surprisingly fine with this.

i watched "she's all that" today. i have both a newfound love and hatred of freddie prinze, jr. good lord, he really was the king of high school cheesy movies. so delightful and awful at the same time.

our vet SERIOUSLY overcharges. yes, i understand it was an emergency. but seriously, NO ONE was in the waiting room. did they really need to charge me an additional 75 bucks for the emergency visit, when i was the only person (and dog...and baby) there???

i can't wait for date night this weekend. i seriously considered just asking my MIL to watch matthew while the husband and i take a nap. but then i thought better of it.....we should go out to dinner, and maybe i'll be able to eat a hot meal!

house was weird this week. in tv related new, i wish burn notice was still on.....but the episodes don't come back on until summer. boo.

that's it....for now. many thoughts crowding my mind. hopefully, writing them here has emptied it out a little, and made room for more spazzy thoughts.

top five tuesday: things i can't live without

2010-03-16T10:16:00.001-04:00

there are many, many things that i cannot live without, and this changes as my life changes, but thisminute, here are the things i must have to get through the hour/day/week, etc. and no, i'm not that petty that i didn't include sentimental ideas like family and friends.....OBVIOUSLY i need those "things" to get through the day.....these are the material things, people. i do have some feelings!!!!

1. bouncer seat. dear sweet lord, whoever invented the bouncer seat should be given a medal, because this literally has saved our lives. not only does it quiet down our sweet little one, it travels easily and when matthew is crying uncontrollably before bed, it lulls him to sleep. thank you, creator of the bouncer seat.

2. cupcake courier. how else would i travel with my yummy nuggets of deliciousness? this container means that i can now take WAY more than 12 cupcakes to go....i can take 36. and who doesn't want 36 cupcakes?

3. dvr. (i do hate comcast, who charges us wayyyyyyy to much) how else would i watch all of my crappy TV shows? usually during the 8-10 pm hours of the evening, i am busy playing/bathing/swaddling/feeding (the list could go on) and miss all my shows. thankfully, the husband procured a dvr for me just before matthew arrived. thankfully, i can catch up on shows like hoarders and real housewives. phew!

4. coffee. seriously, i would not make it through the day. and for that matter, thanks to the husband who brews the coffee before i get up in the morning. oh coffee (and husband), how i love thee.

5. the internet. the only way i would be able to get all of my items (books, baking stuff) without leaving my house in the bitter cold and three feet of snow.......so thank you, al gore, for creating the internet!!

so, there you have it. my up to the minute things i need to get through everything. what do you need to make it through the day?!

the new normal

2010-03-11T10:17:00.001-05:00

do you know what i keep waiting for? for things to get back to normal. but i don't know what that means anymore....since matthew joined our family, things have been turned upside down, not in a bad way, mind you....it is just chaotic for most of the day. it seems like everything is constantly in upheaval mode. it takes me forever to leave the house with him in tow, i never know if i am going to get an entire night's sleep and i'm constantly worried that i will forget something important (i. e. food or diapers) when we are out. sometimes i don't feel like myself, that instead someone has taken over...some person who can actually handle being a wife and a mother AT THE SAME TIME!!!!! i sometimes think.....how did i get here? and what have they done with the old me?

BUT...these past three months have brought more joy into my life than i ever thought possible. i look around at my wonderful life and i don't even recognize it....how did i get so lucky to be blessed with all the love and joy i have in my life....even if it is more chaotic now than it ever has been, i have learned something important about myself: i can juggle (no, not in the actual beanbag sense) but i can do SOOOOOO many things at once...or at least attempt to. i live my life by lists and schedules, but this little man has taught me one thing: relax and be flexible.

so i don't think things are ever going to get back to normal....i think there is just a new normal. and i love the new normal....it has just taken a bit to get used to. i think there is a learning curve with this whole "i have a child now" thing. i don't know how it is possible for someone who can only coo and cry as his means of communication to teach me things....having a child has changed my life, only in positive ways....even if i feel like my life is never going to get back to normal.....it's just the new normal. and like i said, i love, LOVE, love the new normal.

top five tuesday: songs that i've heard 9 million times, but still love

2010-03-09T18:36:00.000-05:00

for today's top five tuesday, i've decided to include songs that i have heard sooooooooo many times, but still love them. don't worry, i've included a link for each one, so you can listen the awesomeness yourself!

1. semi-charmed life by third eye blind. this was one of my favorites when it came out in the 90s...still one of my favorites over a decade later. bought the cd, now it's on the ipod. love, love, love it.

2. maggie may by rod stewart. i know, kinda corny. but still one of my faves. i love the line "it's late september, and i really should be baaaaaaaack at school...."

3. all for you by sister hazel. anytime this is on the radio (which is only on my XM 90s channel) i will listen to this. if i were on a desert island, and only had a few songs to listen to, this would be on the list. reminds me of soooooo many different good times with good friends.

4. you get what you give by new radicals. highly underrated band of the 90s. i love the ending segment of lyrics...."fashion shows with beck and hanson, courtney love and marilyn manson." who knows what the lyrics mean, but i love them anyway!

5. just a friend by biz markie. this song will never get old for me. my favorite is when i hear it in the car...that way i'm able to blast it with my windows down, acting like the awesome gansta i really am. just kidding. good visual though?!

i'm 29 and scared of....

2010-03-08T21:51:00.002-05:00

1. the dark. yes, i still tuck myself into the covers when i hear something "out there." even though i know in my logical mind that the covers cannot protect me, i can't help but put my feet, arms, etc back under the covers where they're safe!!!!

2. unsolved mysteries and the host robert stack. why was the second "segment" always about ghosts. ack......so scary. just the theme song sends me gives me the creeps.

3. water i can't see the bottom of. i have a hard time in the atlantic ocean....which is especially difficult since we go to the beach there twice a year!!!

4. plane crashes (while i'm on the plane!). i've always been nervous on planes, especially long flights. now that i've seen lost, the next time i fly i will wear sneakers and have many essentials: flashlight, gun, radio, canteen, etc.

5. coy fish that are in every water feature i've ever seen (except my own water feature in my own yard) what the heck? why are they so gross and huge? their beady little eyes looking back at me, begging for food. yick.

there are many, many others, but i figure i could save those for another day....enough neuroses for one post.

practice makes perfect??

2010-03-07T16:20:00.003-05:00

apparently, on the weekends, i'm going to make cupcakes. that is what has happened for the last few weekends now. last weekend there was devil's food with mocha icing, the weekend before that there was winter cupcakes and the weekend BEFORE that......there was valentine's cupcakes. today, i made two different batches of cupcakes. why, you might be wondering....am i just trying to make a huge mess for the husband to clean up? well, yes, that is one benefit....but the main reason two batches: one batch to try a new recipe, and the second to keep practicing my decorating. oh, and the third reason (today in particular) is that i just bought new gel paste colors (americolor) that my friend ashley (a fellow baker) recommended. i also used my new beater blade, which was awesome....it is a paddle attachment with a scraper attached, which works like a charm, so i don't have to scrape down the bowl every few minutes.

the cupcakes i decided on to work on my recipes: mint filled brownie cupcakes. this recipe came from martha's cupcake book. the mint filling may sound hard to accomplish, but really the recipe just called for a york peppermint patty. the cupcakes are delicious, but i was unhappy with the final product when they came out of the oven...the mint was a little "explody" out of the top of the cupcake. i just put some powdered sugar on top for good measure, and they looked a little more polished.

the cupcakes i made to practice my decorating: vanilla cupcakes with white chocolate ganache glaze. the white chocolate ganache was easy to make...i just followed the regular chocolate ganache glaze recipe, but used white chocolate instead. i tinted the white chocolate ganache with "warm brown" from my americolor set, which only turned out ok. i then piped on different designs with regular vanilla buttercream tinted different colors. i tried a plaid design, which was difficult because it is hard to pipe straight lines, but i was pleased with the result. i also tried some handwriting, some zig zags and polka dots. the polka dots turned out kinda crummy, but i'm sure it will taste delicious just the same! the colors i used? warm brown, sky blue and navy blue. i really liked how the colors turned out and the icing doesn't taste like it has a lot of color in it, like it sometimes can with other commercial food colorings.

this was a good way to spend my sunday early to mid afternoon. i am happy with the results, but i'm still going to keep figuring out new recipes and working on my decorating. i want things to be perfect.....and while today i feel that the execution today was a B- (the handwriting was actually pretty decent, so i can give myself higher marks there), but if you know me at all, i'm always aiming for an A.

spring has sprung

2010-03-04T17:38:00.001-05:00

good news, people of the greater central pennsylvania area. i am here to tell you that spring* has sprung. well, this news came courtesy of the husband, who informed me at 6:31 this morning. how do we know that spring has sprung, you may ask???

THE HUSBAND SAW THE FIRST GROUNDHOG OF THE SEASON!!!!!!!!! (though they are cute destructive and cuddly-looking vicious critters varmints, i love them)

happy spring, everyone.

*on a side note, i also know spring is around the corner, as my local rita's is opening on saturday. whoot!

a source of inspiration

2010-03-03T20:57:00.001-05:00

i have recently started digital scrapbooking, and i really, really love it. since i started, i've been working on several projects, including a book for a cruise i went on with the husband, my sister-in-law and her significant other. we went to key west, cozumel and belize. it was awesome, and it was also in 2007! needless to say, i'm a little behind in my scrapbooking!!!

i've gotten my friend ashley into digital scrapbooking as well. her twin sister sam does all sort of creative things, including digital scrapbooking and photography. sam recommended several awesome websites, one of now which i use as a source of inspiration.

sam introduced me to gina miller (and her designs). gina miller is awesome and there is a great website that showcases her layouts and projects. below is a page that i used to help me create my final page in my cruise scrapbook (reproduced with her permission).

here is my take on gina's beautiful layout:

inspiration can strike at any moment. but sometimes, you have go to looking for it. i knew what i wanted in my closing page for my cruise scrapbook....and gina miller helped me figure out what i wanted it to look like. i love the end result, especially since this is thinking outside of the box for me. i wouldn't have created this type of layout myself. thanks, gina!

top five tuesday: things i love, but shouldn't

2010-03-02T12:05:00.001-05:00

once i started thinking about today's top five, i sort of thought it lent itself to guilty pleasures. BUT i think guilty pleasures are more of the cringe-worthy feeling you get when someone finds out you like/enjoy said guilty pleasure. i don't necessarily cringe at loving these items, i just know that i shouldn't. moderation is key with these items, but i just can't help being head over heels in love with them.....even if i shouldn't be.

1. soda. OH HOW I LOVE YOU, soda. you can quench my thirst while in the car, or while at home. you have the ability to cure a monster hangover.....there is nothing quite like your bubbly self. i know i haven't seen much of you lately, as i'm drinking more water....but i still feel your presence when i go through any fast-food drive thru.

2. fast food. fast food....you have caused me nothing but trouble, yet i come back to you time and time again. you leave stains on my clothes, poundage on my hips and wrappers in my car. you are bad news, yet i love you so. i know that at each restaurant i have my favorites and that no matter which delicious option i choose, i will be satisfied.

3. programming on mtv. dear mtv...please stop putting awful, awful tv shows on that i become obsessed with. it makes me sound stupid to talk about love for the jersey shore and 16 and pregnant. perhaps it is i that should just change the channel?

4. swearing. I LOVE IT. and it's inappropriate. i just can't help it. that's why i have given it up for lent. and it's hard to give up something you love so much. hopefully the lord will appreciate this sacrifice!! :-)

5. dressing like a bum. i enjoy sweatpants....as soon as i get home, i take of my jeans (or other sort of pants) and put on comfy, cozy sweatpants (and no...not the tight leg-hole opening kind that the weird kid in middle school would wear). ahhhhh, the feel of fleece and flannel is so freeing. it's only a bad thing when i wear them when people are over! oops!!!!

men v. women (part 1): the tv debate

2010-03-01T22:25:00.003-05:00

i read somewhere that women are more closely related to female primates than the males, and vice versa. and we wonder why we can't communicate. the husband and i get along relatively well (read: he puts up with my crap), but we do have our moments. so, i got to thinking.

a fundamental difference can be found in tv watching habits. i am happy to sit through hours of the same show without changing the channel ONCE. i do not particularly mind commercials. sure, they're kinda annoying, but not big deal....they're pretty short, and eventually my show will come back on, and i won't have missed a moment. HOWEVER......the husband does NOT watch tv this way. apparently, when a commercial comes on, that is time to watch another show, rather than watch a commercial. flicking around until the show comes back on. I DON'T GET IT. sometimes part of the original show gets missed because of watching the second/third/fourth/hundredth show. sometimes he misses out on awesome new products (like the snuggie, for example!!).

i know that most of my female friends watch tv "my way," whereas most males i know watch tv the way the husband does. neither is right/wrong. i just don't understand. and the husband does not understand how i can watch commercial after commercial.

so where does this leave us??????? i'm a big fan of agreeing to disagree, but are there two separate tvs in our future? will it come to watching tv in different rooms like older people do (have they just given up?) will we ever see eye-to-eye on this important life issue?

primates don't typically have TV in the jungle, so they don't have to worry about these kind of problems. man, primates have all the luck.

i have a fondness for themes

2010-02-28T09:58:00.009-05:00

some friends and i have started a "dinner club" of sorts. we get together at one couple's home and they make dinner for the whole group. then the next month another couple reciprocates, etc. last night, our friends did an italian theme. on the menu: fried ravioli, chicken marsala, parmesan risotto, and tiramisu for dessert. it was to die for!!! so, since it is our turn next, we can't dissapoint, because jesse and ashley did an amazing job.

next month is our turn. it is during the month of march, so i'm sure we'll do some sort of irish theme, but i'm on the lookout for other great themes.....for our next turn. here are some ones the husband came up with:

mexican
gourmet school lunch (i love this idea!)
hawaiian luau
seafood feast

but that's it....we are having a hard time coming up with other themes (i want to have a lot of options).....so, i started looking around on the internet for ideas.....and man did i find some. but not ones that i really, really want to do. so, hello out there in internet land.....do you have any themes i could use for subsequent dinner (parties)???

some ideas i MIGHT do (that i found online):

souper party (where different soups are the main event, i guess)
backyard bbq
80's theme (not sure how to pull this off just yet)
chinese new year

i also found this dinner party blog that had A TON of great stuff. i'm going to continue to look around (on the internet, of course).....but i'm looking for your feedback as well....have you gone to any great themed dinner parties or thrown one yourself???

in any case, i'll be looking for irish ideas for the second meeting of our dinner party club!!! (i didn't realize how nerdy that sounded until just now)!!!!

if i were in charge of the olympics

2010-02-27T11:48:00.008-05:00

i'm sad to say that this year i did not watch any of the olympics. not a SINGLE minute. and i love the olympics.....don't know why i didn't watch it (maybe disheartened by the luge guy who passed away??) anyway, i go to thinking (last night at bingo with my friend ashley) about what i would rock at the olympic games.

to be honest, i don't think i would rock at anything in the olympics, at least in the traditional events. so, if these events were olympics events, i'm sure i would ROCK them.....at least get a medal, if not gold!

1. that parachute from elementary school gym class. man, i was awesome at that thing. i could do popcorn (where balls of some sort where placed on top and then flung into the air), but my speciality was really flinging it up in the air and then running underneath. i would probably "silver" in this event!

2. pogoball. i LOVED this as a child, and i'm pretty sure i would still be awesome at it today. gold medal would be hanging from my neck if i participated in this event. i thought i was super cool when i would pogoball AND jump rope at the same time. it's truly a wonder that i had as many friends as i did growing up.

3. turtle racing. even though my i would make my sister (5 years younger sister) pull me on this (by attaching a jumprope, of course) up the hill, i was awesome at maneuvering this vehicle. maybe my sister and i could enter as a pairs event?

4. tv tag. ohhhhhhhhhh, i always had like a million shows thought up ahead of time. mr. belvedere anyone? i was sorta slow though......bronze?

5. crocodile mile. sing it with me now: "you run, you slide, hit the bump and take a dive." although my dive never had good execution, i always ran and slide with the best of them. i'd be guarantee to medal in this "summer" event.

although i fear i will never win an olympic medal in any of the aforementioned sports, i will always hold these events near and dear to my heart. what olympic events would you have if you were in charge of the games?

how to cure the snow day blues

2010-02-26T15:34:00.010-05:00

i really don't have the snow day blues (i love snow days, since i'm not making them up!!), and i especially love it when the husband is home, BUT i know some of my teacher friends (who have already had 3 snow days) do have the snow day blues. how did i "cure" mine and the husbands? by baking, of course. a little while back (on said snow day) my friend ashley asked on FB if everyone bakes during snow days, and i said..........YEP. what else is there to do?! might as well eat delicious baked goods!!!

so.....for your viewing pleasure (and for some people that live in my area, eating pleasure) i made devil's food cupcakes with mocha buttercream icing and milk chocolate swirls. i took the devil's food recipe from martha's cupcake book.

then i found the mocha buttercream icing online. i looked around for a good one, that wasn't too difficult, as i didn't have a lot of time to play with (matthew was only napping....so i didn't know how long i REALLY had to bake with). so, when i took my cake decorating class from wilton, i had a "tried and true" buttercream icing, so i went to the wilton website. it was really easy....and turned out perfectly

i made the chocolate swirls by melting milk chocolate and then piping it onto wax paper in swirl designs. i just wanted something pretty to go along with my cupcakes, i wasn't sure what i really had in mind. i just freehanded them....some turned out pretty well, some turned out kinda crappy. i will have to continue practing this until i'm satisfied with the result.

end result:

oh, and as for taste the husband's reaction (and i quote): "these are now my top." well, i'll let some other people be the judges, but that will have to wait until we are shoveled out! i hope i inspired you to bake something delicious today (or heck, just buy something delicious).....whether you had a snow day or not! did the husband get inspired, you ask?? sure did....here's a pic of what he made to cure the snow day blues. lunch!!!

two things: grocery stores and michael buble

2010-02-25T11:23:00.005-05:00

ok, first let me say that i'm probably going to ramble and go off in five directions in this post. but in my head they really are related. grocery stores and michael buble. let me start with michael buble.

can i just say that i love michael buble's new(ish) song "haven't met you yet." love, love it. he's so cute, and i just cannot get enough of that song (thank god vh1 plays it constantly on jumpstart in the mornings). but, i don't get the video. he's in a grocery store and about a million crazy things happen in there. case in point: falls in love with hot girl, marching band starts playing, he can jump high enough to sit on TOP of the shelving.............??? i don't understand how the song (about meeting someone and making it work) has to do with any sort of crazy adventure one might have in a grocery store.

this brings up another point: what is with music videos that have NOTHING to do with the song. this is similar to EVERY perfume ad that has been on since before christmas. ENOUGH dior. we get it......or actually, we don't.

soooooo....grocery stores (see how it is related b/c of the michael buble thing)????? i hate them. truly. going to the grocery store is quite terrible...it is especially difficult now because we have to bring matthew along. BUT i do wish grocery shopping was more like the michael buble video. if grocery shopping was an adventure like that, i would surely go more often. the only time grocery shopping is an adventure is when i go with my friends ashley and walt. that is fun. when we go together, it's like my life becomes a musical (with matching dance numbers and everything). unfortunately, i typically go sans ashley and walt, therefore my grocery shopping trip is crap.....i hate dealing with everyone who keeps their stupid carts parked in the MIDDLE of the aisle, kids who are walking so SLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOWLY and cashiers who are like 900 years old. ugh.

where is the marching band in my giant? although, if there was a marching band at my giant.....i'd probably just get annoyed!!! :-)

shutterfly, oh how i love thee

2010-02-24T08:29:00.025-05:00

dear shutterfly:

i have just discovered you, and you are truly awesome. let me count the ways. first, you are easy to use. i could probably tell my dad (who prefers more retro things like....basically anything NOT computer) about your site and he could figure it out. second, i was able to upload in my pics in like 3 seconds. ok, maybe not that fast, but it didn't take forever. third, you printed out my photo book and sent it to me in just a few short days. shutterfly, you're so good to me, you even gave me 50 free prints. fourth, i loved, loved, LOVED the end result...my photobook looks perfect. you captured my 2007 memories so perfectly. thank you, shutterfly, thank you. i'm sure at some point you'll do me wrong, but until then, i'll keep coming back for more.

these are two of my favorite pages from my 2007 digital scrapbook. they are pages from my california trip

i'm currently working on some other digital scrapbooking, one for a cruise the husband and i went on in 2007, a baby book for matthew, along with others. i used a product called my memories suites, which is pretty inexpensive. i didn't buy photoshop to use just yet because i wasn't sure if i was going to like digital scrapbooking or not (i do, i do).....but there are some perks to digitial scrapbooking. the main one....NO MESS. everything is kept right on the computer (hence the digital) and i can do it while being with my family....i don't have to go off in another room and be by myself (although that is a perk of paper scrapbooking!!)

while i miss the actual feel of paper scrapbooking, i don't miss the time. i was able to create my 2007 scrapbook in just a few short days, instead of weeks and months. i think i'm going to continue with both....at least for now, because i have SO many supplies for paper scrapbooking. but, if you are a digital scrapbooker, i'd love it if you shared with me your books, techniques and ideas. i'll be posting mine here from time to time, and i'll also be posting all sorts of goodies that i have been finding hiding in little corners of the internet that i didn't know existed!

top five tuesday: shows i miss

2010-02-23T10:54:00.010-05:00

well, even thought i haven't kept up with my blog, i have kept up with my television watching. and what i realized is that i miss all of the shows i used to watch. so much of television is total crap today--it makes me yearn for the awesome shows i used to enjoy (even if they were crap too!)

1. friends. best. show. EVER. well, sit-com at least. i always watch this show when it is on re-runs, which is to say a lot of the days of the week, either on tbs or tnt. either way, i miss that there aren't any new episodes on. what a great show. chandler is my favorite character!!!

2. sex and the city. i loved this show so much because i watched it with my college roommates. although the "sex and the city" lifestyle is a far cry from my own, i enjoyed the fashion and hearing crazy stories about trouble with men. this show may be cliche, but every girl can find a piece of herself in each of the characters.

3. felicity. this show was on when i was in college. it started when i was a freshman and followed all the way through. i love keri russell and her decision between ben and noel. although it also is cliche, i think it was sort of brave to follow a crush to college. i just miss scott speedman and scott foley. yum.

4. all shows on tgif. i miss step-by-step and family matters. boy meets world....it doesn't get much better than those wholesome shows that actually teach a lesson/moral. they may be cheesy, but i would rather watch those shows than some of the garbage that is on tv today.

5. the old real worlds. the real world that is on now (and for a lot of the past seasons) is awful. i'm so sick of the plotline: get drunk, get in fights, don't show up for work. i'm over it. the first few seasons of the real world were great....my favorite season was either hawaii or seattle. ohhhhhhh...i just loved it when stephen slapped irene. oh wait....that is the same sort of thing that is happeneing now too, isn't it? sigh.

well, i just wish tv was liked it used to be. now i sound sort of old. i'm not going to make a comment about "kids these days" but.....tv today just isn't the same. now excuse me, i need to go hulu it up, and recapture my youth!

i'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack

2010-02-22T10:13:00.006-05:00

ok, so i haven't posted in almost a year. that's pretty terrible....and i was doing so well with my regular postings. this is not to say that i have not been busy. the rest of my 2009 that you did not hear about brought two major accomplishments. in august i completed my master's degree program and graduated from PSU. whoot! then, the big, big, BIG news....i had my first child, matthew on 12/4. so, in the past few months i've been busy learning how to be a mom AND still remain true to myself, which is not an easy task.
i am finding it difficult to not talk excessively about my child. and as a person who has been childless for a lot of years, i know how "those" moms are....annoying. i don't want to be the person that only talks about her kid. i want, nay....NEED to find a balance in between. however, my friend jesse sobered me up quickly....i told him that i was still going to be"cool" after i had a baby. and he told me straight-faced: "christin, your mom was once cool too." uh-oh....this is going to be tricky!!!!! i guess cool will now be a relative term!!!

in other pursuits, i'm currently updating my resume. this is only my 6th year of work, and when i went to find my resume, it was on a floppy disk. seriously....it was like i was time traveling to retrieve the data. i felt instantly old, and couldn't believe that i used something so archaic. oh well, at least it made me laugh.

i'm still baking, trying new recipes and decorating cupcakes. so, occasionally i'll post all things yummy on here. i'm not sure what this blog holds in store for me....but i know one thing...i want to devote myself to writing again. i need to have something to document the everyday moments that i tend to forget about.

pleasures (guilty and otherwise)

2009-04-21T16:10:00.002-04:00

i haven't really been online recently...in all of my spare time, i have been reading, reading, reading...and not my usual blogs...ACTUAL books. wooo hoooo!!!

one of my absolute favorite authors, megan mccafferty just published her fifth book, perfect fifths. it is the culmination of a series that i have been following since 2000 or so. and it's finished...so in time for the fifth book, i wanted to re-read the previous four books, which has been difficult, since i introduced the series (and have shared my books with) one of my students who wanted to read it in time for the fifth book. sooooooooo...i'm still not caught up just yet. but i have purchased the fifth book, and let me tell you, it's been troublesome to not just go right to the fifth and final (sniff) book. but.......i want to reconnect with all the old characters!!!!

so, i feel pretty good about that pleasure. it's the next one that troubles me...and i'm sure it will trouble you too. or at least feel guilty about if you like it.

poker face by lady ga ga (spelling??) i LOVE this song. but it feels so wrong to love this song. i just know people would make fun of me if they knew how much i love this song, but i figured, whatever. plenty of people have guilty pleasures. :-) the video, though...i would really take or leave. it's sort of creepy...and what is the deal with that metal attachment to her face. let me tell you...i'm not ga ga over that. lord...bad joke. kill me now. or not.

happy vacation

2009-04-13T18:23:00.005-04:00

i am ready to head back to work tomorrow. i can't usually say that on any given monday. however, i feel refreshed from my lovely four day weekend, afforded by the luxury of being a teacher. yay.

over the vacation, i did not do much. which is about the same that i do on regular weekends, so i guess i accomplished what i usually do, which again is, not much. this is not to say that the husband didn't accomplish a lot. cause he did. he always does though. thank god for husbands (especially my cute, hardworking one!)

on friday, we had a great day pretty much to ourselves, where we lounged around watching re-runs of the west wing, possibly the greatest show ever. we capped our evening with an evening viewing of i love you, man. it was pretty funny but paul rudd was so awkward it hurt to watch. rashida jones nailed it though. i've missed her on the office!

the rest of the weekend was devoted to familial obligations. which, in our family means, get together and consume a huge amount of food. this holiday was no different. the only injustice: this holiday focuses around HAM. i love HAM. and i can't have HAM. damn the ham. that is all i will offer on the matter of me NOT being able to have HAM. damn the sodium nitrates. ok, that really is it.

i made delish cupcakes...for saturday, i made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla and chocolate buttercream. however, i decorated them to look like sunflowers. they turned out great!!! then on sunday, i made chocolate cupcakes again, but this time with mint buttercream garnished with an andes mint (either a whole one, or one crushed up, depending on your preference).

today was pretty good too. the husband met up with two of our good friends, who are both teachers. one is ashley, and the other is jackie. we went to houlihans! their potato soup is to die for!!!

sooooooo, that's how i spent my four kid-free days. what did the easter bunny bring everyone?!

(cup)cake bonanza

2009-04-06T16:59:00.003-04:00

i've been baking up a storm, but i've been too lazy or busy (you choose!) to post the pics. so, i'll post them all here now!!!

a few weeks ago, i made completely from scratch chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. i got the recipe from a blog called eggs on sunday, but the recipe was adapted from the food network, i believe.

they turned out ok, but i realize i don't really like peanut butter icing, but everyone else gave them pretty good reviews. i thought the cake was a little dry for my taste, but perhaps i'm just low-rent and like the box mix. oh well!

then, i finally finished up with my first cake decorating class that i took with my good friend, ashley. although i knew i my heart of hearts that i would have to attempt the rose, i also knew that i didn't want my last cake looking like crap. so, here is the final result. i barely tinted the cake icing pink, just to give it a little color. then, i used a brighter pink for the roses and the polka dots. i am pretty proud of myself. people at the husband's work wondered "who brought in the professional cake." when he told me that, i scoffed and said, were these your blind co-workers? but alas, i have to give myself some cred...it does look pretty good! good enough to eat at least!

then, about two weeks ago, i went down to visit my sister-in-law for a girls weekend (it was superfun!) and i knew i wanted to take some cupcakes. so, i made vanilla and chocolate, box mixes. i also ran short on time, so i just used the all of the frosting that i had left in the fridge. i thought they all turned out pretty cute. the vanilla and chocolate icing mix looked extra fancy, if i do say so myself!

i really am enjoying this new hobby, and i believe the husband is too. however, i have a feeling he's had his fair share of cupcakes. i guess i'll have to find a new "tester." any takers?

karma

2009-04-01T16:46:00.004-04:00

it rained here all day today, and about 40 degrees....which in my mind equals a totally miserable day. but then i came home, and i remembered that every time i get home, it's my favorite time of day!

so, when i was greeted by the wuggles, i put them promptly outside in the nasty, miserable weather. and sternly said "get off the deck..." and they went on their way.

as they finished their business and i dried them off with a towel (toby's favorite part of any day!!) i began to think about their lives...and one question came to mind: WHO DID THEY PISS OFF IN ANOTHER LIFE?

seriously...my little doggies are so low to the ground, than in any type of wet/blustery weather, their entire bellies and most of their front gets soaked. and then when i dress them in "protective outerwear," they get pissy with me. their protective outerwear consists of a doggie hoodie or sweater, depending on the day!

but truly, what did these little pups to do someone/something in their former lives to come back as a dog that is two dogs long, but only a half-dog high?

all i can think of is that these little guys have so much to deal with between the weather and not being able to get very many places due to their height/weight ratio, that they deserve to come back as something else taller and shorter than a doxie next time 'round.

top five tuesday: celebs i can't get enough of

2009-03-31T19:22:00.010-04:00

and by can't get enough of, i mean stalk. well, not really stalk...but follow closely. well, ok, i just read about them in trashy magazines, but you know what i mean. while i am a language arts teacher, and would love to say that i only read the classics, that just isn't true. unless you consider demi and ashton one of the classics.

in no particular order, of course...my top five celebs (or celeb couples) that i can get enough of...

1. jake and reese. i want them to get married and have lots of cute kids. now i know reese already has two beautiful children with ryan phillipe, but i'm sure she could have a few more with the handsome jake gyllenhaal.

2. speidy. spencer pratt and heidi montag are terrible reality show "actors." however, i cannot get enough of reading or hear about their crazy ways. are the married, aren't they married? did he beat her up, what about the "tape?" seriously...does it get any better than the sort of reality that these two kooks are living in? i don't think so.

3. britney spears. oh, how far you have fallen, queen of pop. truly, britney use to have an amazing body, killer clothes and a trashy sense about her. now she has two kids, a regular i've-had-two-kids-body, makes shoddy clothing decisions and a trashy sense about her. she is truly a train wreck...and if she isn't up to her antics, then what will i read about when i go to the salon?

4. scarlett johansson. she is truly beautiful. i really think she is this generations marilyn monroe. and she is married to ryan reynolds. while i dislike that she is going for her "singing career" i really have enjoyed her in the movies that she has put out. i most recently saw her in he's just not that into you , which was trite at best, but she did a pretty good job and looked amazing.

5. jon and kate plus 8. now i know you might say that these people aren't really celebs, but they are becoming celebs slowly. this family used to live in my town...seriously, like 5 minutes away. not only are the children absolutely cute...jon seems wonderful. and kate, well, she seems kinda witchy, but who am i to judge? i don't have 8 children, least of all 6 at one time.

so there you have it...my fave people to read gossip about. or what i like call "truth." i mean....if it's in OK magazine, it's gotta be true, right?

top five tuesday: tom hanks movies

2009-03-24T20:25:00.004-04:00

my friends and i were talking about doing a movie night thing on the regular, where each couple/person brings a movie. the best part: we have themes. OH HOW I LOVE THEMES!!! so, i start thinking about all the themes that we could do, and it spurred me to think about my top five for this week, and what did i come up with? tom hanks movies. oh yeah, and cast away was on this weekend too.

in no particular order...for more info, check out the truly amazing internet movie database or IMDB.

1. joe vs. the volcano. seriously, you have to check this movie out. i saw this movie a million years ago, and every time it comes on, i will watch it. two words: brain cloud. i promise you'll laugh a lot! plus, he hooks up with meg ryan!

2. radio flyer. he played a small part, but this movie is amazing. check it out...also has a very, very young elijah wood.

3. that thing you do. just plain fun. i love him as the saucy manager/agent of the wonders.

4. a league of their own. i love this movie for so many reasons, but tom hanks is the icing on the cake, as the drunk, cantankerous coach of the rockford peaches! yay jimmy dugan.

5. turner & hooch. i'm throwing this one in for two reason: 1) the dog that eats all of turner's stuff and 2) the look on people's faces when this movie comes of TBS/TNT. apparently, a new classic?

what tom hanks movie would you put on your list?

inspiration.

2009-03-23T18:00:00.003-04:00

i'm still feeling sort of down in the dumps about the disappointment at work. however, after talking with some people, and gaining a little perspective, i feel better about it. not a whole lot...but better in general.

today, whilst driving home, i heard a song on my alternative station (alt nation on sirius/XM...check it out, it rocks!) and while i have listened to the song (i am the greatest man that ever lived..by weezer) many times, because weezer is amazing, but i found a new meaning in the lyrics today.

"Somebody said all the worlds is stage,
And each of us is a player.
That’s what I’ve been tryin to tell you.
In Act 1 I was struggling to survive.
Nobody wanted my action dead or alive.
Act 2, I hit the big time.
And bodies be all up on my behind.
And I can’t help myself because I was born to shine.
And if you don’t like it, you can shove it.
But you don’t like it, you love it."

when i got to thinking about these lyrics, it made me feel a little better about my situation...here's why.

1. "each of us is a player." we all have our parts, and maybe i just haven't figured mine out just yet.
2. "act 1/struggling to survive." my first year teaching. seriously--survival mode.
3. "act 2/hit the big time." every year since then. year two was amazing-as is this year.
4. "i was born to shine." even though i'm bummed about my position next year, i know that i'll do a great job. i just have to say positive.

so, even though i was surprised to find inspiration in this song today, it reminded me that i can do anything...i just have to remain positive and find the good in all situations.

i'd like you to meet...

2009-03-22T14:55:00.011-04:00

while i usually use this blog as a forum for all things happening in my life, including the start of my baking career and musings on the mundane and exciting things in my life, i really haven't introduced you to the main attraction. i have waited to introduce you, because, well, words don't really adequately describe this person. meet the husband. i affectionately call him mark.

i have know mark for over a decade-we met in high school, and started dating in 1997. i know, i know...lame, but sweet. flashforward to 2009, and we couldn't be happier. he's seriously the best person i know, and i know a lot of really good people. you know how i love lists, so here goes. the ten best things about mark (the husband).

1. he loves me unconditionally. truly. i know that i can be temperamental, annoying and just plain crazy, but he loves me maybe not in spite of all that, but maybe because of it? who knows...maybe there is something wrong with him? JK. you need proof of his unconditional love? please note the halloween picture from several years ago, where he went as "papa bear" and i went as goldilocks. if that doesn't show unconditional love, i don't know what does.

2. he gives completely of himself. besides being a wonderful husband, friend, brother and son, he is a gifted teacher and coach. he would do anything for anyone, especially the kids that he interacts with on a daily basis. he gives more back to the people in his life than he ever expects to receive.

3. he's handsome. not only am i extremely jealous of his crazy metabolism, but he's an athlete. to date, he's completed two marathons and one triathlon. as the kids would say, "he's a beast." however, besides his great physique, it is his babyface that i love to gaze upon.

4. he can't get enough of the wuggles. he is the best "dog daddy" to our little doxies. and they love him. they look forward to hearing the garage door open everyday, and mark walking through, ready to play. i love this about him--because deep down i know he is a big dog lover, but he really has embraced our little dogs, because he knows that even though they are tiny....they have big hearts.

5. he is a bookworm. i love to read and so does he. some of the my favorite days we have spent together have been curled up, either at the beach or on the couch, reading side-by-side. while we do not enjoy many of the same authors, the fact that he loves reading so much is important to me. he will often read a quote or a line that he knows i will enjoy, which brightens my mood---always.

6. he loves history. he tells me history jokes to make me laugh, enjoys reading about history, teaches history...and my favorite, loves to travel to see where history has happened! for our honeymoon, we spent 13 days traveling through turkey and greece, visiting places like the crete and instanbul. he was in his zen place. to see his face light up with delight when being in a place so rich in ancient history, was just the most amazing thing!

7. he makes me laugh. whether it is phone calls about animals loose by the sides of the road, or telling me funny anecdotes about things that happened at work, he always, always makes me laugh. sometimes he might tell a lame joke or two, but i always laugh.

8. he is handy. i love the fact that he can fix most things around the house, and he also knows about cars. growing up with a dad who used a rubber mallet for a cure-all, mark's handiness is a breath of fresh air. i truly appreciate the fact that he built our back patio and sidewalk! he's also painted the majority of our house, put in shelving and our next project is to re-do our basement!

9. he loves his family. mark's family is very important to him. it is awesome that he makes time for everyone in his life, even his extended family. i love this about him, because it really cares about everyone in his life.

10. he is true to himself. for better or worse, mark is an honest, truthful person. he sticks to his beliefs, and while he accepts other points of view, he knows what he believes in, and is willing to stand up for what is right.

i could go on and on, but all you really need to know that the husband is a great person, and the most important addition that i have made to my life. he makes me a better person, and i can't wait to see where life takes us.

who knows what the future will hold...

2009-03-20T17:14:00.004-04:00

i'm a relatively happy person. relatively. but i also can be negative when things don't go my way. some may say that i'm spoiled, but i really trying to be the person i want to be: a person who can see the good, even in a disappointing/negative situation.

at work today i received some disappointing news about my position next year. really disappointing news (as in, i was pretty much a blubbering mess for an hour today). however, i think that in the end, that i need to look on the bright side: i still have a job, and i still work with great people. so, i have made the decision to be positive, and not let what i see as a disappointment affect how i am going to act in the future. it's time for those big girl pants that i keep tucked waaaaaaaay in the back of the closet!

because who knows the future holds. today's disappointment may be next year's blessing. and today, after all the blubbering.....i am choosing happiness.

i choose to be happy. it's that simple.

top five tuesday: songs on my roadtrip mixes

2009-03-17T20:59:00.005-04:00

although i have not used the word 'road trip' as a verb since college (as in, "im roadtrippin' it to Penn State this weekend"), i still listen to a lot of the mixes that i made.

i am especially fond of the mixes that i made for the specific purpose of driving back home, with my best friend (and now sister-in-law) lynn. she's an amazing singer, and i can have fun singing with her, no matter what the song.

however, i have a few that MUST be on my roadtrip mixes. (in no particular order)

1. bohemian rhapsody by queen. this is my favorite of all favorite songs to have on a car mix. just about everyone knows it, and most people sing along. how can you not? everyone has their favorite part. my favorite part you ask? scalaboosh, scalaboosh...can you do the fandango? warning: those words might not be completely accurate!

2. drunken lullabies by flogging molly. while lynn and i didnt' get into ANY drunken bar fights while we were in college (or at any time for that matter), i love listening to this in the car because it harkens to 'shenanigans.' and who doesn't love shenanigans?

3. sweet baby james by james taylor. i love this song. it is so slow and sweet...my parents used to sing it on car trips to visit my grandmother (she lived in kentucky). some of my friends used to make fun of me for having this song on a mix, but i think it totally has a place on all my mixes.

4. don't stop believin' by journey. friend tested, husband approved. my husband and i don't see eye to eye on many musical stylings. however, we see absolutely EYE to EYE on this little ditty. we scream this at the top of our lungs when we are on the way to the beach...i love to hear him sing, "....took the midnight train going annnnnyyyyyy-whhhhhhhhhheeeereeeeee." however, i am unsure how to feel about the new lead singer!!

5. the escape song by rupert holmes. best song ever. ok, well, maybe not EVER, but it's pretty awesome. i love this song because it reminds me of the movie "the sweetest thing" where the main characters played this song. my roommates and i danced to this song in the car whilst screaming out the lyrics: "if you like pina coladas, and gettin' caught in the rain"

there you have it....five MUST haves on any roadtrip mix. at least on my roadtrip mix. what about yours?

who wants cupcakes?

2009-03-16T22:25:00.006-04:00

ok, i really am excited about this whole new adventure that i am embarking on. since i have taken the first cake decorating class with my good friend ash, i have made one cake, 65 mini cupcakes, and 24 regular cupcakes. am i'm thinking about making more. am i nuts? well, probably, but i don't think that this recent obsession has added to the big cup of crazy that i usually am.

yesterday evening, i wanted to practice making my icing for next week's class, where we will be continuing to make roses. last week's icing was OK. and i am not OK with OK! practice makes perfect...and i want to not necessarily be perfect, but i want to be darn good.

and i also wanted some chocolate cupcakes! :-)

so, i made some pink homemade icing, and got to work. i also filled the cupcakes with the icing. this time, only the icing was homemade. which sort of disappoints me, but it cuts about half of the work (especially since i'm focusing right now on decorating), and giant also had a 10 pillsbury box mixes for 10 bucks! so, while i have not made homemade cupcakes just yet, i have a plan (oh, how i love plans). the husband is still deciding on what kind he wants....it is either between caramel turtle cupcakes or hankie pankie cupcakes, both ideas from my favorite cupcake blog!

however, the final product, which is a devil's food cupcake, with buttercream icing, turned out perfectly. i am so happy with the way the icing turned out. i even made several different colors, with icing that i had left over from my last cake decorating class. the finishing touches are the rainbow sugar sprinkles that add a pretty effect and a yummy crunch. stay tuned to see which cupcakes the husband picks!

my favorite time of day

2009-03-13T17:48:00.009-04:00

everyone has a favorite part of the day...whether it is getting up early to enjoy coffee and the newspaper before the sun comes up, watching the stars at night when the moon is full and bright, or even if it is the middle of the day watching ellen...everyone has that favorite time of day.

MY favorite time of day is anytime i get home, but from work, especially. anytime i pull in the driveway is the best time of day, because as soon as i enter my house, i am greeted with the warmest welcome possible: two dachshunds with their tails whipping wildly about and eyes dancing with delight.

it is truly the best time of the day, because no matter how terrible or long my day is, those two weenie dogs never fail to lift my spirits and make me smile. they are always happy to see me, no matter what.

let me introduce them to you. we affectionately call them "the wuggles."

toby is our oldest. he is five, and we have had him since he was about 6 months old. my husband told me that we couldn't get him because our apt. lease said "no dogs." i was so sad and pouty, it was like i was 13 and not getting the latest nintendo gaming system. however, when the hubs came home later from work, and said questioningly, "you didn't get the dog?" it led me to believe that he was saddened by my not respecting his wishes, and getting the dog anyway. so, when he left me to my own devices again, toby was ours.

toby is so sweet and gentlemanly. he is handsome in sort of a refined way. he usually doesn't bark, unless his sister, or the dog across the yard provokes him. he has great disdain for inclement weather, but adores lying in the sunspots in the living room. his favorite 'toy' is any towel, which he likes to shred and then fall asleep on.

zoey is our second dachshund. we knew in the long run that toby would need a friend, but we thought we would be getting a larger dog, since the hubs is a runner. but, after owning toby, the husband is a changed man...we went to a dog breeder, who had all sorts of dogs...and his eyes were only for this sweet, teeny black and tan doxie. she was in a box with other, larger puppies, and we had to 'rescue her,' as my husband says. we also chose her because she seemed so quiet and relaxed...a perfect friend for toby, our quiet pup. fate fooled us, when it turns out that zoey was just sick...and as soon as she had two days of antibiotics in her, she turned in the ADHD dog she has been ever since.

zoey is our ray of sunshine, but she is also a total spaz. she has such a soft coat, and the longest ears that flap when she runs. however, she has horrible breath, and due to her bad dental hygeine, has no front teeth. sadly, santa did not bring her any this year. she is loving and friendly, and always wants to be petted. her favorite pastime is sitting in our great room in 'her chair' staring out the window and the aforementioned neighbor dog. she enjoys carrying around the husbands socks and underwear, as if they were her doll babies. she loves being outside, in any kind of weather.

so, there you have it, my favorite time of day. i hope that sometime you get to have a creature that is so friendly, loving and warm as a dachshund. they truly make my day, everyday.

ok, i'm obsessed.

2009-03-12T22:07:00.007-04:00

it has come to my attention that i may be *slightly* obsessed with items that are sold only through infomercials. it's not that i want to be obsessed with these wonderful items....it's just that i am a sucker for anything that is less 20 bucks...especially if you call within the 'limited time' and you get two of said item, and the price is reduced to $9.99.

recent obsessions:

1. the snuggie. i believe this product speaks for itself. if one more person tells me that this item is pretty much just a 'robe on backwards' i'm going to flip out. i mean, you can even read with it. i NEED it...and i'll take mine in blue. thanks.

2. the slapchop. it peels entire onions...and garlic, and grinds nuts down to mere bits. it works in SECONDS, people. and i'm super-excited about the limited time offer here: the graty. a cheese grater with a cute name. i NEED it, as in yesterday! (note: look how happy the salesperson looks just holding the slapchop).

3. shamwow. i don't even know why i want one of these, except that it soaks up that whole soda...i've never had a dishtowel, or an entire roll of bounty, for that matter, be able to do that. i mean, it's true...i will NEVER use it to clean my car....but i might dump an entire soda out on the floor...and what would i do then, if i didn't have a shamwow? it holds 12 times it's own weight. sign me up!

this is not a new obsession....i have been over the moon for things 'as seen on TV' pretty much my whole life. i'm not sure what the mystique behind all the products are...but i know where it started. the Jack LaLane juicer, which i stumbled across when i watched 'amazing discoveries' for the first time. man, i knew quality, even when i was 12.

past obsessions:

1. nads. even though the name sounds nasty, i wanted this hair removal system all throughout college. i mean, how could you go wrong? it's all natural, and doesn't hurt to rip your hair out by the roots. you can even eat it. even bearded girls can get smooth faces with this amazing product.

2. flowbee. OMG...a hair vacuum. could there possibly be anything so awesome as this product? oh man....i didn't really want it to cut my own hair, but my sister's hair...and i guess our barbies' hair. either way...in a word: AMAZING.

3. oxiclean. i actually bought some of this stuff, and it seriously does work...i used to use it to wash my white flip-flops when they got all nasty from my dirty feet. however, billy mays is sort of creepy...but when he puts the oxiclean in that bowl full of purple juice and the napkin comes out white: say what???? awesome!

i have realized that not everyone embraces all things 'as seen on tv.' but they are missing out...i love hearing those magic words: this is a revolutionary product, and it can be yours, but only for a limited time. i swoon at the thought of the package arriving at my house!

maybe it's just because the infomercials of today remind me of a simpler time: mike levey, and his crazy bill cosby sweaters.

but either way....i'll take two, and make sure you thown in a book light FOR FREE!!!!!!!!

adventures in baking

2009-03-11T22:49:00.014-04:00

so, yay! i started a cake decorating class, with my good friend ash. she writes, pointless stories, a blog that you should check out. she and i have been friends for about four years now...and she wrangled me into this!

so, i got into the class thinking that i am only going to spend 15 bucks (because i had a 50% off coupon!). however...over $100 later, i am ready to decorate. and i'm excited about it....because, if you have read my other post...you will see that i recommend to "go big or go home." this apparently, is one of those times.

i've leveled my cake. it sort of looks lopsided. i spent three hours making home-made icing. which i think is still too stiff. so, i'm unsure about everything related to that...except the icing. the icing on the cake is a rockin' pink color. the icing i made for the 'decorations' that we will 'master' in class tomorrow will be a pale yellow. do you sense my apprehension? it's not that i'm worried...well, ok. i am worried. give me a paper to write, and i'll get an A. give me a cake to ice....and, well....yeah.

but......tonight i made mini-cupcakes. they are so cute. i go the idea for the little buggers, from a new book i picked up, hello cupcake. the icing was a snap to do, using store-bought, can kind that gets heated. the cupcakes only took about 30 minutes to make, including baking time.

when i iced them though, i didn't realize how, let's say...."bright" they are. when all the cupcake designs are together, they look like something i would make for dr. seuss. but, whatever...i'm proud of myself and my crazy little cupcakes.
i love how they turned out, especially the quantity. one box of cake mix provided me with over 60 little cupcakes. however, when the hubs tried one "to see if they were poison" he said they were more like a "cupcake shot." yum!!!

i'm so excited to try more recipes for cupcakes. i'll make sure i keep updating pictures of all my goodies!

customer service

2009-03-08T23:47:00.007-04:00

on saturday, the hubby and i did some shopping down at the outlets. not only did he need to buy a new pair of running shoes, but i needed to get a new battery put in my watch. so, we stopped at the fossil store...i pull my watch out of my purse (aka....the trash bag) and mark's FIVE watches. one was so old, he may have had it in middle school. another watch was literally hanging by one pin.

so, i put all of these on the counter, and the young gentleman said that it usually is $10 per battery, however, since i had so many, he could do everything for a total of $10. SAY WHAT? he asked if i could return in a little while....so we went to buy my man some running shoes, etc.

we returned to the store, and only three of the watches had been fixed (yay, mine was one)..he was still working on two of them. he said he needed some more time (very apologetic, i might add). so, we went next door to starbucks, and bought two overpriced coffee-esque drinks, but i digress.

upon arrival, the clerk informs us that he cannot fix the remaining two, including the one from 1985 (or there-abouts). so, he says "there's no charge." SAY WHAT (again.) we offered two more times to pay them for the trouble, or at least the $30 in batteries, but to no avail.

i was shocked....this sort of customer service just doesn't happen anymore....especially to me. it made me very happy, and i am only going to fossil from now on for my time-telling needs.

service....with a smile. all the peeps at walmart could learn a lesson from the sales clerk at fossil.

things i recommend

2009-03-05T22:15:00.020-05:00

there are lots of things that i enjoy in life....too many to list here. however, i can make some recommendations for you. of course, these are just things that i would recommend....but go ahead and enjoy if would like!

1. own a pet. it will truly change your life....for both the better and the worse. owning two naughty dachshunds (toby is the red one and zoey is the teeny black & tan one) has been on the most rewarding experiences. however, they also quite time consuming and often use the floor as their personal toilet. in our house, we use the words "potty trained" quite loosely.

2. read jodi picoult. she is truly an amazing author. i have read many of her books. she tells haunting stories that really make you think. one of my favorite things about her is that she has the ability to reach many people, from all walks of life.

3. travel with friends. love them or hate them, you will find out who your true friends are when you spend any length of time away from home with them. i highly recommend it, because almost every time i've traveled with friends, it's been awesome. i especially love our yearly hike to the beach....good times!

4. play yahtzee. you may have played this game on road trips with your family....or perhaps that is just me?! either way, i have rediscovered this game through my sister-in-law and her man. the game is fun...even though it may seem sort of 'old-school,' it can provide entertainment...and cheaply too. go ahead and click on the link...you know you want to!

5. go to the beach...on the east coast. beach on the east coast is truly awesome. the shelly/pebbly beaches, the dirty water, people wearing 'surf mocs.' you can't beat it. favorite thing about the beaches on the east coast are getting fries and being attacked by seagulls! just kidding....that is my favorite when it happens to other people!!!

6. the movie:my life as a house. made in 2001, it stars kevin kline and a teenage hayden christensen. it is a coming-of-age story that is steeped in drugs, cancer and dysfunctional families. it all ties in nicely at the end and has some moments that make you think about your life and "what it all means."

7. buy something completely impractical. my weapon of choice was a really fast car....when i lived out in western pa, in the WINTER. it was completely ridiculous to buy...i didn't listen to anyone's good advice! i just went on impulse. it was truly awesome, though. i really enjoyed owning that car...for a brief moment in time, i felt like i was cool.

8. watch movies from the 80s. including movies written and directed by john hughes. these movies, which i do not have to name for you, but i will: breakfast club, weird science, st. elmos fire, real genius, etc. the themes that were present in many teen 80s movies still resonate today. which is why they are considered "the new classics," i suppose!

9. go big or go home. one time at least in your life, go all in. don't do it half-assed. really decide for yourself that you are going to throw yourself into it, whether it is a hobby, your job, or heck...even your addiction. but do it at least one time, because at the end of the day, you want to say that you have given 110 % to at least something. let's hope that people just don't call it alcoholism, though!

10. listen to motion city soundtrack. they are an awesome alternative band. their songs are happy and peppy, with great guitars and vocals. i have enjoyed all of their albums...even though they aren't on the traditional radio stations, you should definitely check them out.

scars

2009-03-04T18:34:00.005-05:00

today, whilst driving, i looked down at my hands at the scar from last year's superbowl bash....when i was cutting onions for my cheeseburger stromboli, and sliced right through my middle finger (almost!).

and i got to thinking about scars...and what they say about a person's history. scars tell a story, good or bad....they are what remains to remind us of what happened, and what could have been.

and i have a lot of them............

best scar: on my chin. i fell off of my bike when i was biking through gravel. landed on chin, needed 42 stitches (some inside, some outside). a piece of stone was still lodged in my chin. if you rub over the scar, you can feel the indent left from the stone!

most embarrassing scar: on my left pinky toe. i had a tumor (not a 6th toe, as some people like to joke) removed when i was little...and my toenail went with it. so, i have no toenail on my left pinky toe...it looks weird when the asian chicks paint in anyway when i get a pedicure!

longest scar: on my abdomen. lots of internal injuries from a car accident in 2001. yikes. if i ever get a c-section, i would totally look like a human T-chart.

scar most people ask about: my ankle. it looks like i was burned, or in some sort of bear attack. nah....it was just from a skin graft due to the same car accident that gave me the "longest scar." people always stare at it, but after nearly a decade of having this scar.....it's just me.

scar that has the most "history": the scar(s) on my right knee where i perpetually fell off of my bike or my rollerskates. i always seemed to go down on that knee for some reason....and there is a whole slew of scars on it, making one large scar!

so, while some people don't like their scars, and while people sometimes ask and stare at mine...scars make us who we are. scars tell a story, our personal story.

P.S.

2009-03-03T21:01:00.001-05:00

follow me on twitter

:-)

top five tuesday: worst TV shows/stations

2009-03-03T20:40:00.006-05:00

my husbands really enjoys watching television. and while i like TV, it just doesn't hold the same entertainment value that it does for my husband. so, that pretty much means i don't care to have control of the remote (please note that i didn't say i don't GET to control...i just don't really want to!...big difference.) so, i am going to list for you the top five worst programs/stations in my humble opinion.

in no particular order...

1. absolutely anything on the SciFi channel. the programs are absolutely awful; to that end i mean, all of the "movies" are titled exactly what they are about. DINOCROC...about a huge dinosaur crocodile from 10 trillion years ago. also, the production value of the "movies" must be about five dollars. seriously, i could make a better movie with a budget of $100 and my two dogs.

2. the "jams" channel. seriously--how much booty, bling and people "gettin' crunk" needs to be on that station? the raunch is cranked up....and it's enough. we get it! chicks in fur writhing around = hot.

3. trucks has to be the worst show ever. i can't stand that guy, Stacey David. he is truly horrible--he is the most patronizing host, and his name is stacey. enough said.

4. rock of love, tour bus. it is truly a train wreck. i have to admit, i used to enjoy that show (back when it was the stationary-not-moving-edition), but i really cannot watch it anymore. those chicks are out of control. don't they have fathers who would be ashamed of them? maybe they're on there because of their "daddy issues." well, in any case, they need some tissues for their issues....cause, WOW!

5. best week ever. please, just stop. if i have to look at Doug Benson handing out roses again, i'm not sure what i'll do. that show used to be so funny, but it is just ridiculous now, and more of a skit show than commentary on the week in entertainment.

so, there you have it...my top five worst TV shows/stations on television. of course, those are just my opinions!

2009-03-02T13:22:00.007-05:00

here's an activity that i spent about an hour on today.

i found it on one of my favorite blogs, fake interviews with real celebrities

here's what you do:
1 - Go to “wikipedia.” Hit “random”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to “Random quotations”
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together

these pictures are the results! :-)

things to think about

2009-03-02T10:40:00.006-05:00

so, i don't really read the newspaper, nor do i watch the news....too depressing. but, when something crazy happens, i usually find out about it, either by friends, or my students. the world is a pretty crazy place, and i by no means life a crazy life....i just like to sit back and watch it all happen! :-)

case in point: chimp attacks lady and eats her face off. WHOA. when i heard about that, it really made me reconsider having a chimp as pet. seriously, can you imagine that? i can...but that didnt' stop me from trying to find pictures of it on the internet. however, i found nil. disappointing!

second case in point: how did the snuggie get to be such a huge cult phenomenon. it's crazy...the commercial is awful, but i desperately want a snuggie, if for nothing else to embarrass my husband at sporting events. one of my students said that it basically is a robe on backwards, but i disagree. it looks completely ridiculous, but i think it would get the job done!!!

third (and final) case in point: rhianna and chris brown are back together. WTF??? they got in a huge fight, including biting each other, and they are getting back together. now, i'm married, but is the dating pond that bad, that they have to stay together, even coming off of a fight where they took a BITE out of each other???? yikes.

see what i mean....crazy!

back in the saddle again!

2009-03-01T20:30:00.002-05:00

so, after talking to ashley....i've decided that i have had enough of a hiatus and should add to my blog. much has happened since my last post.....the start of school, thanksgiving and christmas, julia's first birthday. my newest obsession is talking about children....my own, that hopefully mark and i will have in the future.

i am reading the books, checking out websites....writing emails about the best hospitals in lancaster....we are in the research part of "the plan." i am in love with the plan....i just wish that the "workin' it" part of the plan started sooner. :-) but i just feel we are on the verge of something great!

finally finished!

2008-08-03T19:31:00.002-04:00

so i finally finished my stupid grad class--i got an a-...which means my gpa will no longer be a perfect four-point-oh. dammit...i mean, i feel like i have worked really hard to get my four-oh. sad face. although i am VERY happy that my class is over and that i can relax for the rest of the summer now.

met with my team...we discussed all sorts of stuff including rules, discipline, etc. it was very productive and i am so excited about starting the school year...it is shaping up to be a great year. i can't believe that this will be year five for me. kind of crazy, really.

so...in other news, mark and i are at the beach with the crew....walt, ash and jesse. the weather should be pretty nice the entire time we are down here, so it will be nice to try to get a little bit more of a tan before i start back to school.

stacey graduates on wednesday, i can't freakin' believe it....i hope she is happy, that's all i really care about.

mark and i have been enjoying ourselves lately...seeing a lot of the maderewiczs, which is nice....nice to hang out with other married people, since most of our close friends are not married/single...

fun times for a few more weeks at least! :-)

downtime

2008-07-16T13:49:00.003-04:00

i finally have some downtime, so i figured i'd stop being lazy and actually write something on here!! the past week has been fairly crazy...starting with the typing of my huge annotated bibliography that was ridiciously long! granted, it was my fault that i did not start it until the night before it was due....but whatever, we all know i'm lazy! :-)

so, from there, i was up for over 24 hours (not because i had to be....it was that i was like a coffee-addled crack fiend) because i had no less than two pots of coffee in the process....so after staying up watching two movies and some nick at nite, i finally decided to troll craigslist and other websites for hours....until mark woke up and we could "start" our day!

we had breakfast at the diner at 7:30 or so and then proceeded from there! lynn and i went to the billy joel concert, which was freakin' a-mazing! then we sat in an hour of traffic (litterally had to turn the car off!) and then finally was able to sleep

the next day we went to meredith's wedding...she looked SO pretty! and the reception was nice as well...then came xmas in july!!

sunday through today have been relatively quiet with the exception of sending in the wrong annotated bibliography and then deleting the one that i needed to send her....and only after four 'data recovery' programs was i able to get it back and send it in "with points taken off of course"

so, as you can see, i have a lot to complain about...and a lot to be happy about.

oh, and btw, totally rockin' it on rockband....we got some new songs....i love me some oasis and weezer! yum!

peace

busy

2008-07-07T20:28:00.003-04:00

i haven't written since i basically started this thing...my own fault, i suppose. i have been enjoying the summer, with the exception of my grad class, but that is to be expected, b/c i'm pretty lazy! :-)

i have been keeping busy with bothering my husband, playing with the dogs, water the plants and reading, reading, reading. oh yeah, and i cleaned some stuff too!

our floors are finally finished (yay!) and the new roomba is am-freakin'-mazing!!! i love it...love, love, love it...basically, b/c i don't have to vacuum anymore...it does it for me!

the weight loss thing has been going....after many weeks of nothing lost, nothing gained, i finally took a few weeks off for 'vacation' while i was at the beach, and i took the week off before the beach to prepare for the eating....meanwhile gaining like 5 pounds...yikes.

so after returning from the beach i got myself back into gear....and am down 42.8 pounds (not this week along, mind you) ha/ha

this week was alright...i went to 3 bbqs....overate at only one of them...i didn't really watch my points on day (i didn't realize a pasta dish i had at TGIFridays was a whopping 25 points...and oh yeah, i also had BK that day too! whoooo) so, needless to say i had to watch my eating carefully....

did 'cardio step' today....it was awesome, and it totally kicked my ass...very, very sweaty!

wow, i wrote tons....enough for now...perhaps will post pics of the upcoming nuptials i will be attending (not my own, for obvious reasons!!)

2008-06-28T19:15:00.001-04:00

first post

2008-06-28T19:01:00.002-04:00

so today i created this blog....i've been kind of wanting to do this for a while now, but haven't really gotten around to it. the only reason that i got around to it today is because i am avoiding work...no real suprise there. i have started my summer grad class and it stinks, but oh well i guess...i have to take it. the class in on research methods...bleck...but the course is only six weeks long...and i can do just about anything for six weeks, even if i really don't want to.