New meaning to a long weekend...

One of the perks of teaching is the off time. This past weekend I had a "long weekend". We were off Friday and Monday. Well, I had BIG plans. I was going to finish organizing my craft room *pics soon to come* and hit up all the cutest antique stores in town. Little did I know, my plans would swiftly change. I ended up at the emergency room with a terrible "stomach virus". I'm not sure if it was a virus or a side effect of the Z-pack I was on for bronchitus. Nonetheless, my big plans changed!! I'm slowly recuperating and feeling back to my old self. I've lost 10 lbs and a pant size. I barely eat enough to keep a bird alive these days but eating more each day.

I had ample time to watch movies so.. it's Movie Review Time.

The Wedding Planner: classic chick flick and absolutely adorable, happy ending, good movie
Enough: typical woman-power movie, keeps you on your seat, good movie
Juno: good movie displaying "today's world", not a must-see but good
Enchanted: my favorite of the four, darling for both children and adults, classic chick flick but also classic disney movie

Why I blog...

The other day I was trying to think of something to blog about. This is a real task for me sometimes because I don't have children, dogs are only so interesting to read about, and my interest vary vastly from most people who read my blog. So, I thought, "Why do I blog anyways?"

Here are the reasons I thought of as to why I blog...

1. I love to have "documentation" of the past. Whether it be scrapbooks, pictures, or journal entries, or blogs. When I'm 30, 40, 50, and older I will be able to look back and "remember when."
2. I want my kids to know what I was like and what I did when "I was their age" someday!
3. I don't want to forget the details like Addi's curls, Levi's grin, Hannah's blue eyes, and Lila's contentment.
4. I love to keep in touch with family from Birmingham.
5. I am shy and have a hard time saying my feelings; I guess it's easier for me to post them on the WWW and let everyone read them. Wow, that makes no sense at all! But, that's me!
6. It's a creative outlet, and I'm defintely creative. Probably too creative at times in the sense of I always have 5 projects going on at once, but this gives me somewhere to write and daydream about anything and everything.
7. It help me to let those that I know and love understand how much I appreciate them and all they do!
8. Last but definitely not least, it gives me a chance to share how a Christian can live a funfilled life. Also, it gives me a chance to share the blessings I've received in my life with Christians and non-Christians alike!

Why do you blog?

Five Random Things I love about Daniel

1. You always make me feel special no matter what's going on or who's around.
2. You will do anything to make me happy.
3. You make the best meals!
4. You are so good with kids, even when I think your being 'annoying' or 'extreme'.
5. You are my Naniel.

Awesome Scrapbook Page Layouts

This is a great site I just found with neat layouts for scrapbooking pages! Pick how many pictures you want to include and they have various layouts to pick from.

Hartselle Happiness

I took half-a-day today. Wow, I didn't realize how much I needed a break. The kids have been nothing short of wild lately. My eighth graders are getting that freshman fresh-mouth as I call it. They are almost freshmen and are definitely beginning to act like it. Also, words can almost not describe my tenth, eleventh and twelfth graders lately! If anyone has any hints to survive the last 5 weeks of school, let me know.

So, Mom and I headed to Hartselle to shop their downtown district after fourth period today! The weather was absolutely amazing, and we had a blast. On our way up, we ate at one of my favorite restaurants, The All Steak Restaurant, for lunch where I enjoyed a New York Strip, baked potato, and Ceasar salad. All Steak is in Downtown Cullman and definitely worth the drive if you are ever looking for a great place to eat!! They also have THE BEST orange rolls ever in the history of man-kind; well, if you ask me they do! Did I mention I have enough left over for lunch tomorrow? Yay! Another positive thing, I am out of school next Friday and Monday for a mini-spring break. Daniel is also off on Monday!! whoop!!

Update: I didn't buy a thing, Mom even bought lunch! Not bad for a half a day of work and half a day of play!

Our new "addition"...

Well, we definitely didn't have a baby, but she has become Daniel's baby. This is our new "puppy", Tipin! She's 18 months old and been with us for 2 weeks now. Again, I apologize for just now updating about her. She fits our family and life-style perfectly! We got her from a girl I went to school with at Susan Moore named Katy. She was a couple years older than me, but our parents have kept in touch over the years. Tipin is an AKC registered Golden Retriever and 'completely trained', aka well behaved. She came from a wonderful home and Katy had her hands full with Tipin's mom, Ally, because she travels with her job and two dogs was too much. It was really a once in a lifetime opportunity that we just couldn't pass up. We definitely weren't looking for a dog; it just sort of happened! But.. I'm very glad it did!

On the way home when we first picked her up!

After Daniel and Tipin were playing one night!

We don't usually let her on the furniture or pillows, but last night there was a pillow on the ground. She was so tired she just laid down and her head just happened to land on it. It was perfect! I told her to stay and ran to get my camera!! Adorable. I didn't even make her get up after I took her picture, but I did go to bed with her soon after!

My five favorite personal websites...

I've always been crafty I'd say. However, I've recently gotten addicted to several craft blogs. I love the ideas and inspiration these websites offer! Even if your not crafty, look around and see what catches your eye:

1. Todays Creative Blog - She features a new, creative blog each day! The site has lots of great links.
2. Tip Junkie - This blog has a great tip or idea daily! Who doesn't love a creative tip to make life simpler? Her "tags" are especially helpful!
3. The Stickler Blog - I found this blog off Teale's site. They have been renovating a house and update the blog from time to time about their renovations. This is what orginally got me hooked on their site. Also, she has a simple tutorial to make hairbows! She also makes some adorable clothes for her girls.
4. Serendipity - Mother of 6 and has awesome ideas to do with kids of all ages! Also, check out her April Fool's Post! Priceless!
5. Steece's Pieces - Not necessarily a craft blog, but I love to see what's going on in their life. And she's always sooo positive!! She's definitely an inspiration to me.

On a side note:
We're going to celebrate my birthday (2 months late Friday) at the Melting Pot. So, I'll post pictures next week from the Melting Pot! Also, be looking for a post about our new puppy soon; we've had her for 2 weeks now. I should have already posted about her, but SAT testing got the best of me.

"Junk" Jackpot!

After school today, I stopped by my local favorite thrift store!!! I hit the jackpot. I'm currently working on fixin' up my craft room. The walls are "ladybug" red, and the accents are going to be baby blue. I love the contrast between the two colors!! I got five aqua blue/baby blue Ball mason jars ($2.50 each), two wooden white candlesticks ($1 each), old spools some with blue thread on them ($3 for a big sack full!), jar of buttons ($2 for a baby food jar full), and a suprise for my Mom for Mother's Day. (She reads my blog, so I can't say what it is yet. I'm going to be crafty with it; I'll post a picture of the finished product!) Perhaps I'm quirky, but I love old stuff. Especially when I have a purpose for it!!

Wordless Wednesday

Photographer: Eric Gevaert
www.cardsunlimited.com

Twister Tuesday...

Here's a mind twister for you! Good luck...

Try to guess the word letter by letter.
My first is in water but not in tears
My second in listen but not in hears
My third in three but not in she
My fourth in clear but not in tea
My last in hang but not in grand
My whole assembles in a band.

Solution (scroll to the bottom of the page)

One of those weeks...

• Monday: Testing started. We discovered Tipin wasn't fond of being left alone in a cage. Mom's car decided to quit working all together, and we got stranded on the side of the road for an hour waiting on a tow truck.
• Tuesday: Still testing, and I took Mom to Centerpoint to get a rental car. They only had a smaller car. So, we waited to see if something bigger came it. Nothing bigger ever did come in. I found out at 10:40 I had a PEPE observation at 11:00.
  
• Wednesday: Testing. Also, I had an incident at school with a student threatening me.
• Thursday: I felt as if I was going to puke all day. Of course, we were testing that day too.
• Friday: I ran out of gas on the side of the road, my phone died while waiting on Mom to bring me gas, AND I've currently locked my keys and cell phone in my car. So, I'm stuck at home with bad weather and NO PHONE TO SEE WHEN DANIEL WILL BE HOME. SIGH. Oh, and we tested today.
  
• By the way, we are still testing next Monday and Tuesday too.
• AND... I haven't had a prep period in over a week! But I get one next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! I also finished my second round of the PEPE cycle (for all you educators you know what that means!!)
• OH, and I have one of the cutes puppies in the world!!
  

Favorite Sites

Sorry for my absence lately. I've had a little bit of a stomach bug and we got a new puppy this weekend. So, I've been a busy bee!! I'll post pictures soon. I'm staying in Oneonta until Thursday afternoon so look for new pics on Thursday or Friday of the new puppy!


In the meantime, I've been making a collection of my favorite websites. Here are my top five favorite commercial websites in random order:

1. Martha Stewart- The lady may not pay her taxes, but she sure is creative. (Or at least her design team is!) You can always get cute craft ideas or yummy recipes off her website for any season!
2. Tip Junkie Blog - This site is a commercial based site, but is ran by a lady who is crazy about creatie ideas!! She has cool free give aways too!
3. HGTV's Rate My Space - People post their home, and you can rate and leave comments on their design ideas! Very interesting and always something new!
4. ALEX - Alabama Learning Exchange This site is ran by the Alabama Board of Education and has awesome lesson ideas for any age level! I have some printed off to do with my kids at home someday!! You can search any age for any activity!!
5. Hobby Lobby - I love seeing what they have on sale each week!! I'll post my latest "great deals" soon. They have a 40% off any regular priced item coupon this week!!

Check out one or more of my favorite sites and tell me what you think!! Also, what's your favorite commercial website?

I'll do a post sometime soon about my favorite person websites or blogs to lurk!