Only Me

I'm asking for your help.

2012-02-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

So. Definitely have been absent from this blog for quite some time. What has fueled my return to the blogging world as a blogger (I've never left as an avid reader and occasional commenter) has been to ask for help from the (few?) people who may have been readers my blog.

You see, my cousin Terri was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer in November of last year. My family and some family friends are banding together to organize a benefit to help her financially deal with the weight of this diagnosis. Alone the diagnosis is heartbreaking enough, but looking at the past few years of Terri's life, the unbelievableness of this whole thing is just beyond words (clearly as I have to resort to making them up.) Here is an excerpt from the press release our committee has put together:

"In December 2009, Terri Luanna DaSilva, her husband Heron, and their then 6-month old daughter Marisa, put their lives on hold and moved from New York City to Vancouver, Canada in order to care for Terri’s mother, Jeanne Robinson, who was battling late stage bile duct cancer. Terri and her family lovingly supported her Mom, and baby Marisa was the light of her grandmother’s life, bringing countless moments of joy into a life ravaged by cancer.

In the aftermath of Terri’s mother’s death in May 2010, Terri and her family moved to Dartmouth, MA to be with Jeanne’s family while her husband searched for employment. Finally, in July 2011, Heron landed an electrical engineering job at Honda in Ohio where they eagerly embraced their new life.

Now, a short 5 months after leaving Dartmouth, Terri is faced with her own cancer battle in a new state where she has yet to develop a support network. The goal of this committee is to raise funds to assist Terri and her family with mounting medical bills, transportation, travel and child care costs, accessing home supports, and providing her with the most cutting edge treatment available."

So. My "big sister" (we always used to tell people we were sisters as she never had any siblings) is literally fighting the battle of her life. For her life. I am asking if any of you would like to help support Terri. Also, if you have a blog, if you'd be willing to feature her and her struggle in the hopes that more help and positive thoughts can be sent her way.

To make that easier, Terri began a blog to follow her experience kicking cancer's ass. It's ridiculously inspirational. She has to most amazing attitude despite what she faces. Please visit her blog, comment encouragingly, support her in this struggle, and spread the word of her struggle so that we can all help in her battle.

Her blog: gracefulwomanwarrior.com

We've also created a page where you can go to get more information about the benefit we're hosting to help Terri, Heron and little Marisa. All the information you may need to help in any way you can is located here: gracefulwomanwarrior.org

As a parting gift here are some great pics of Terri and I from recently:

Surprise!! Celebrating Terri's 37th birthday back in NYC (she didn't know I was coming!):

Surprise #2- Nicole (Terri's BFF from high school) came down from Toronto to surprise Terri on the streets of NYC!!:

(I still tear up when I look at these)

Out celebrating that night at Cafe Wha in NYC:

We're going back a few years here. Terri and I attended New Kids on the Block on their first reunion tour and had THE MOST FUN EVER. We went together to see New Kids when I was little, maybe 7 or 8 years old back in the late 80s/early 90s so of course we were going when they got back together after 15 years!

(baby Marisa was in Terri's belly- her first concert!)

(Let's equate the fact that I look like I just ran a 5k in this pic with the amount of fun I was having. And maybe the amount of wine I consumed. Maybe.)

And here we have a crappy iPhone photo from last May when Marisa turned two, and Terri, Heron, Marisa and Nicole came to visit Massachusetts. This is Nicole, Terri, myself, and my sister Erin out and about:

So that's it for now folks. Please see Terri's blog for updates on her, check out the committee's website for information on how to help. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. Thank you so much in advance. She's going to beat it, there's no other choice.

This is kind of rude

2011-06-08T16:37:00.001-04:00

But I'm posting today to mention an AMAZING contest that's been posted on the blog Oh Happy Day! Um, it's a free trip to Paris.

No that wasn't a typo- airfare and hotel. Seriously.

So here's one of my entries- a blog post about the contest. Even though I don't want more people entering because that lessens the likely hood of me winning! :) Joking.

Mostly.

Good luck!

Oh, and it's rude because I've been slacking in the blogging department as of late. And of course I return to post and get an extra entrance into an amazing contest. Feel free to judge me. I'm judging me.

Who doesn't love a challenge?

2011-02-02T14:06:00.000-05:00

I am taking on this challenge.

Welcoming suggestions for restaurants, not too local but not too far- it is a school night!

Guilt!

2011-01-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

I loved the video Anthology magazine posted on its site that showed a bedroom wall covered in vintage book pages. I decided to do something similar in my guest room. I figured I'd put painter's tape in stripes along the wall and then on top of that put double sided tape so that I wouldn't ruin the walls. Then stick the pages to the tape.

I found a book at our local antique shop, didn't know anything about the author or book but I loved that it had photographs and renderings throughout the pages. It legit took me a few days to start the project because I felt really guilty about tearing up a book, nevermind one almost 100 years old.

Enter today's snow day and I figured I had no more excuses. I started tearing it up and stuck it up to the wall. I love how it came out. We'll see how the tape/pages fare in time, but then I thought about the book. Pictures to come soon.

Then I don't know why but I google searched the author and the book. Enter more guilt. He was a well known photographer and his books are fairly well know as well. I paid $30 for the book, so I knew it wasn't just any old book, but it was one of the only one I like the pages inside for the room. Eek.

I just ordered another copy of the book off of amazon.com because I feel so guilty about tearing up a book published originally in 1938 and it will be prominently displayed in the room once I finish all the other decorating. Who said interior decorating was easy!?

In more important news

2011-01-10T13:31:00.000-05:00

than whether I accomplished the goals I set for myself to accomplish before my 29th birthday, I finally won the last issue of Domino magazine that I needed to have the complete set!

Nothing like starting 2011 off with a bang!

2011-01-01T22:21:00.000-05:00

Goodness gracious. Sometimes I wonder about myself, like really, am I sane? Does a normal person react the same way I do to certain things?

For example.

This morning my cell phone rang, my parent's house was calling. Well, someone from their house was calling. I answer my new iPhone (thanks Mom and Dad for the early bday present) and put it on speaker because I'm still in bed and it's just easier. It's my Mom, except she sounds weird.

You know those voice changer things that people speak into and it changes their voice to sound like something else? Well. My Mother sounded like she was sick, losing her voice and speaking through a voice changer. She sounded like she was whispering. I couldn't understand a word that she said.

I asked if she was sick? Was she alright? And then panic mode set in- what was going on? For some reason my mind automatically jumped to the sane (doubtful) conclusion that my Mother was hiding under her bed, whispering into her cell phone because she/my family is being attacked. I keep asking her if she's alright but I can't understand what she's saying to me.

Then she hangs up on me.

I now go into uber-panic mode. Jump out of bed. Throw on a sweatshirt. Grab my car keys, impatiently wait for my newly installed garage door opener (thanks Dad, last year's bday present, installed about a month ago, no worries, better late than never) to open and then I drive like a maniac to my parents house.

On the way I called my parents house and my Mom answered. In a normal voice that was not all Darth Vadery. I yell out, are you alright????? She's like, yes, I'm fine! Something was wrong with one of our phones, I was just about to text you.

I pull over and immediately start laughing and crying hysterically. She's fine. My Father is fine. My brother is fine. Everybody's fine [well, maybe except me] and no one is under attack. I couldn't stop laughing, or crying for that matter, because I had worked myself up so much. Jeesh.

Am I going out on a limb here to say that I may have a problem? This isn't normal, right?

The plot thickens: [actually, you could argue it becomes crystal clear]

When I did return to my parents house later in the afternoon under normal circumstances to tell my Dad about a new house project for us to build (a C table for my living room) and ask to see my Mom's laptop so I could show him the plans. He promptly proceeds to pull my Mother's laptop out from underneath the couch.

That's where they're keeping their computers from now on.

If someone breaks into the house, the thieves won't look there but if it's sitting on the kitchen counter where she normally keeps it, she's shit out of luck.

Somehow to me, this seems insane, while my reaction earlier in the day seems utterly normal under the circumstances....Thoughts? Advice? Phone numbers of therapists for me to begin seeing?

Countdown...

2010-11-26T11:47:00.000-05:00

So I was thinking in the shower this morning (come to think of it I do this often- lesson plans, what I'm going to wear for the day...interesting) that there are some things I want to accomplish before I officially kiss my 20s goodbye. I remembered a series of posts by Nicole of titled "30 Before Thirty" where she created a list of 30 things she wanted to accomplish before turning 30 and it inspired me to create my own.

A list of thirty things to accomplish seems a bit ambitious, although I guess if pushed I could come up with some.

So I'm officially contemplating that list of thirty, more info to follow, but in the meantime, since year 29 is looming in about a month or so, I have a short list I'd like to accomplish before then:

1. Finish bedroom (includes decorating, a headboard, installing shelving, finding artwork.)
2. Lose 10 pounds.
3. Find something glittery to wear for my 29th bday.
4. Plan fantabulous 29th bday celebration.

And I'm off to see if Dick's has any good sales on sneakers for the gym since mine are a few years old, which is gross if you think about it, and to run a few errands.

Any suggestions for things to add to the 29 list? Or for the big 3-0? Happy Black Friday!

Um kind of amazing!

2010-09-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite blogs for crafting inspiration- Twig and Thistle- is having an amazing giveaway- one of the Silhouette digital cutters!!! How crazy is that?

The possibilities of what I could do with that machine would be endless....not that I want the competition but here's the link for anyone else interested in entering and at the least checking out Kathleen's visual treats on her blog!

Score!

2010-09-11T15:15:00.000-04:00

(Yes I know I've been M.I.A. for literally months. I apologize.)

But this is so excited that I feel the need to blog about it. I purchased a photograph off of etsy a while back. I find it very soothing and serene. It is the inspiration for my bedroom redecorating. I love the gray color of my bedroom but lately it's just been kind of blah to me. I found bedding at Anthroplogie that goes really well with my new vibe, except it was about $300 for he comforter and two shams. I found it back in May.

Well.

I just checked out the sale section of their website and the comforter is on sale for $70 and the Euro shams are $15 each- UM HI AMAZING!

So I just ordered the comforter and two shams for my new bedroom!!! Super excited for this bedroom re-do!

And just for the record I'm still doing ridiculous things that would most likely only happen to me I just haven't blogged about them. For example I have returned to my routine of going to the gym at night which I seemed to have abandoned pretty much the whole summer. I thought I remembered the combination to my lock. Turns out I didn't. And had to ask the gym to kindly cut my lock so I could get my stuff out of the locker. Way to go me.

My new obsession

2010-06-02T13:18:00.002-04:00

(besides getting the last two issues of Domino magazine I need to have the complete collection- grrrr) is purchasing an antique/vintage typewriter.

There are a ton on ebay that aren't expensive! The cheap ones also don't guarantee that they actually type (you buy cheap you get cheap) but even some that say they do type aren't too bad!

If it's not one thing with me it's another entirely!!

Humbled.

2010-05-22T19:19:00.002-04:00

I got the nicest, most sincere and sweet letter in the mail yesterday.

I don't even have the words to express how I felt reading it.

Made my day. More than my day. Days plural.

Debbie Downer

2010-05-12T12:50:00.001-04:00

I've been quite the Negative Nelly lately. There's been a lot of things on my mind, some probably not as big a deal as I'm making them, others quite upsetting and it's taken it's toll in the last few weeks.

Big picture topics of these issues are:
1. Boys
2. My weight
3. Weddings
4. Money
5. Cancer
6. Family

It's a constant cycle going through my brain right now. Some times are more stressful than others. I usually am good at differentiating between things I can control and things that are out of my control in terms of what to stress over and what not to stress over. I'm not doing so well where that's concerned right now.

Let's see, issue #1 is something I do have control over but at the same time do not. I feel like the scene in Sex and the City where the girls are out to break fast and Charlotte is super hungover and says exasperatedly, "Where is he already??? I've been dating since I was sixteen- I'm exhausted!" Granted I've only been dating since I was 18, was in a long-term relationship for five years where I had my heart ripped out of my chest, stomped all over and then shoved back in followed by two pseudo-relationships that lasted no longer than a month, and my current situation, a friend with benefits since roughly August of 09. I feel like I do nice things for people all. the. time. I don't do them in the expectation that I'm going to get something in return, but I'm hoping that karma is going to repay my good deeds at some point with a man who I want to marry and have children with. The waiting part is beginning to really suck and I'm not sure what to do about it. Not to mention that I'm pretty much the only single person out of my friends and family. Awesome.

Issue #2 definitely in my control. I like to whine and bitch that it isn't, but it so is. I simply wish I was the type of person who enjoyed working out, and who did not enjoy fat, not healthy for me food. Sadly since that is not the case I have to force myself to work out and eat healthy which turns them into chores that I don't want to do. If there's one thing I'm good at it's justifying not working out and not eating healthy. I did well on week 1 of the LBN diet; week 2...not shaping up so well.

Issues #3 and #4 go hand in hand. Weddings are expensive. Being in them, also expensive. I don't even know how I'm paying my own bills this summer, nevermind how I'm going to pay for a bachelorette party this Saturday, a wedding gift two weeks after that, drinks at said wedding (although my parents will be there so maybe they'll buy me a drink or two) followed by a J.Crew bridesmaid dress for second wedding of the summer, I'm assuming bridal shower and bachelorette for said second wedding, gifts for that wedding as well. Third wedding of the summer I'm not in but still am participating in shower and bachelorette festivities, gifting as well. There's whole other can of worms attached to issue #3, not one I'd like to get into on here though.

Also attached to issue #4 is this summer. I am making less at my new school and we do not get a balloon check to cover our pay in the summer as we used to at my old school therefor I am in dire straights for the summer. I have applied for summer school at both new and old schools in hopes that I get both. New school pays $27 an hour and I'd be teaching in the morning and old school pays $30 an hour and I'd be working in the afternoons writing grant plans for the students involved in the program like I did last summer. Praying. To. God. that I get those. Even one will do. Better than neither.

Sadly issues #5 and #6 go hand in hand as my aunt is currently dying from cancer. She lives in Vancouver which is located across the continent from where I'm located and my mother, her sister, has been flying back and forth to be with her. I don't want to type anymore because I'm about to cry and I'm still at work.

This is me in a nutshell right now. A hot mess.

Thoughts

2010-05-12T08:34:00.000-04:00

Facebook has been blocked at school.

Our server has been acting up and I cannot get to gmail or our school's grade/attendance system X2. Progress reports need to be input tomorrow. I know I can input them at home, I think, I haven't tried X2 at home, but part of me feels like I shouldn't have to, it should be available at work. What a novel idea! I also feel anxious that I cannot check my email. Oh iChat isn't working either. I cannot chat with Nikki or Meaghan throughout the day. I feel very secluded.

On top of those communication issues there is a giant lack of cell phone service in our school so I can't even text during my prep without difficulty.

Giant FAIL for my school right now.

Also, I really really really want this comforter for my room:

Awesome. I can't find a picture. But here's the link. It would fit perfectly with the new vision I have for my room.

So would an actual headboard. Sigh. This is just a day of "wants" and frustrations.

I want

2010-05-11T16:38:00.002-04:00

this.

Please.

Sinking.

2010-05-06T10:53:00.002-04:00

I am overwhelmed by life right now.

Do you ever

2010-04-19T20:22:00.002-04:00

have a moment where you think to yourself, "what the fuck am I doing?"

I heart etsy.

2010-04-19T19:33:00.000-04:00

Can I just say that Etsy is the coolest thing ever?

I've had my eye on a print for probably months. Originally it was printed on like paper from a book I think, so you could see the text from the page in the background, but that slipped from my fingers and once I got my taxes I finally ordered the print. Here it is in a frame I bought:

I loooove it. And along with the print came this note from the artist:

Oops, I probably should have put the card on mirror image. But it says, "Thank ya Jamie! Hugs from San Fransico, Charmaine"

I mean, I just think it's so cool that with each purchase pretty much, I receive a hand written note from the artist. I love it! Each purchase I've made from madebygirl has come with a note as well.

I just love it. I will come back again and again as a result.

April Vacation Goals

2010-04-12T14:53:00.000-04:00

I am hoping to move my closet (a.k.a. second bedroom) into the actual closet that's in my bedroom, thus creating room for an actual second bedroom.

Right now I have an Ikea monstrosity in my second bedroom housing my clothing. I find that I don't put stuff away after I wear it/wash it and the room easily turns into a mess. Right now I have the Ikea set up, a three-drawer bureau and shoes in my second bedroom. In my actual bedroom I have a second three-drawer bureau and the skinny hard to utilize closet which holds dresses and some shoes.

A bit excessive, I know.

Here's the problem/challenge: my actual closet is narrow which makes it hard to maneuver in. Also, I can't put bars across it because it's the access point for my attic. So I have to be creative. In the back of the closet are two built in cubbies. I'm thinking of putting a shelf in each to act as storage. There are also three drawers below those cubbies.

So if I store workout clothes, sweatshirts, etc. in the built-in along with long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts and tank tops, I think that'd work. Oh and maybe skirts. Along the long wall where I can't put a bar I'm thinking of putting coat hooks and investing in some of these bad larry's to hang my dresses on so that they're hanging, but out of the way. Maybe too, my button down shirts. I plan on utilizing under-bed storage for shoes and possibly some other sweatshirts. The three drawer bureau currently in my room will hold unmentionables, pjs and work pants (?). I'm also thinking of getting a standing coat rack for in my bedroom to hang stuff that I have yet to put away.

And then the fun part of creating an actual second bedroom! Depending on if I get an actual roommate in the near future or not, I may buy a day bed, or a cheap twin bed, depending on price of each. That's coming secondary to whether or not I can pull this closet redo off or not. One more week to plan and then it's execution time!!

On a positive note

2010-04-11T21:56:00.000-04:00

I made some purchases of things for my house this weekend.

On Friday I ordered this print which I've had my eye on for literally months on etsy:

From this shop.

I'm thinking of redecorating my bedroom artwork/decorations based on this print.

I also ordered these two prints from made by girl:

For my front hallway/stairs area. Available here.

And this print:

I'm not sure where this is going, but I love blogs, coffee and hopefully one day someone. Available here.

In other super news

2010-04-11T19:45:00.002-04:00

I have gained back all of the weight I lost last fall/early winter.

Awesome.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

2010-04-07T07:40:00.000-04:00

Although, people who are willing to do this, clearly won't see the err in their ways unless they are held accountable, which I hope they are.

This poor girl and the other students who went to the prom.

So sad.

And mean.

I hate

2010-04-04T20:59:00.000-04:00

being blown off.

I think the major reason why is because I wouldn't say I was going to do something and then not call or text informing the person waiting on me of my change in plans.

It irks me.

Even though

2010-03-30T08:53:00.002-04:00

I don't like marshmellows besides in smores I want to make these for Easter.

I'm on my way

2010-03-29T20:41:00.002-04:00

to being drunk.

On a Monday night.

Some things are shitty. Some are not so shitty. I'm masking them by imbibing. Whatev. Feel free to judge.

The long life update post.

2010-03-27T08:54:00.000-04:00

I have a feeling this post is going to be all over the place. My brain is all over the place right now, so that's fitting. There are some things to update so why don't I just skip the pleasantries and jump right in.

The date.

My reaction- eh. Not good, not horrible, just eh. I think I was more disappointed than anything. And I know it sounds shallow to admit, but my disappointment is based in the looks department. And let me also preface this portion of the post with the admission that yes, I am aware that I'm being superficial, and yes it bothers me. If Tuesday's episode of Lost was any indication, than would I really mind a tropical island with polar bears and numbered bunnies as being hell? Not so much. I'll have a killer tan while I'm in hell.

So, my cousin and I instant message most of the day while we're at our respective jobs. She knew about my impending date, and asked if I had found him on facebook. We'll call him Emeril. I told her I had looked for Emeril but didn't have any luck. Literally .5 seconds later, she immed me "I think this is him!!! HE'S CUTE!" and of course I was psyched. I checked out the profile, which was under high lockdown (only visible was the profile pic, hometown and current town) and figured that it probably was him. Current and former city matched and there was a resemblance to my former student, we'll call her Mary.

Um hi, he was cute! I'd even be tempted to use the word hot!!! I was so excited. I let myself think, this could really be it!? We talked on the phone a few times and he was super nice, loved going out, being with friends, was handy (went to a vocational high school) and generally seemed like a good guy. I was really excited for the date- holy crap, what if he seriously became my next relationship! What I've been waiting for for legit, five years! Awesome!

So fast forward a few days and it's D-day. I had a really relaxing day, slept in a little, went for a run outside, cleaned my house, leisurely showered and got ready. He picked me up at my house around 5 (it was a school night so we went to an early dinner) and when he got out of the car I hope the disappointment I felt wasn't apparent on my face. People who know me know I can't hide how I'm feeling on my face, you can read it from a mile away. Granted he doesn't know me so hopefully I'm in the clear. He wasn't horrendous looking, it's not like Sloth from the Goonies got out of the car to open my car door for me, but let's just say the person standing in front of me didn't match the facebook profile picture I had seen. Visuals would help but I would be a total bitch and it wouldn't be right for me to use his actual facebook pictures.

Ok, I looked online for an equivalent photo of a young, good looking Portuguese man but all that came up was pictures of jelly fish. Not helping. Well, let's just say that if you grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts you can spot an attractive, well-dressed Portuguese man. Or at least form an image in your head of one.

This is what came out of the car and double-cheek kissed me:

Yes, that is Emeril from the Food Network. Except my Emeril had a goatee. And was a bit thinner. Legit Emeril look-alike. And my Emeril likes to cook too...seriously?

So after the awkward double-cheek kiss (I was so thrown off) he opened my car door (point) and we set off to go eat. We ended up at Not Your Average Joe's which is the way to my heart, really. I love that place. Dinner was good, I had two ruby red margaritas with dinner (in addition to the two glasses of wine I had before he picked me up) and after dinner we decided to go get a drink at the Airport Grille. I will fully admit that I just wanted to go home, see my boyfriendboy who had planned on coming by after the date so we could watch The Pacific and How to Make it in America and relax. But I was a good sport and agreed to the drink.

So we get to the Airport Grille, which I love. The decor in the lounge reminds me of Casablanca, love it. So I had another glass of wine. He had two glasses of wine at dinner I think, and a dessert wine at the Airport Grille. I don't know if it was the drink, the fact that I'm a good listener, my charm, or what but Emeril decided that it was completely appropriate to confide something in me that he hadn't even told his sister before. I'm not going to spill his trauma because it is exactly that, a trauma and I'm not trivializing or making fun of him at all, it's super serious. Super serious. I wouldn't even know what to do if my closest friend confided this to me. Let's say it's along the lines of him being the victim of a crime that someone committed and would most definitely go to jail for it. It's a despicable act.

But for some unknown reason Emeril felt that two hours after meeting me it was ok to drop this bombshell on me. I was speechless. Now, I'm not a pro at dating by any means but I am aware that the first date is supposed to be more light-hearted conversation, not life-altering/shattering confessional time.

So after we finished our drinks he drove me home, walked me to my door and double-cheek kissed me goodnight.

Sadly boyfriendboy had fallen asleep at home and wasn't coming over so I just went to bed a very disappointed little lady.

I compare this date to my three other successful first dates (The Ex, boy I dated for a month and boy I dated for two months) and it just falls flat. Those other three first dates there was attraction, excitement, an energy- if that makes sense. And also, when I'm drinking that usually makes me more lovey/flirty which didn't happen with Emeril.

And the poor guy sealed his fate by texting me, "Hey there mamasita. How's ur day so far? Those good vibes working for ya?"

Do I even need to explain that one any further?

Bring on the weekend!!!

2010-03-19T13:03:00.002-04:00

I am in such a pleasant mood! Here is a fun bulleted list as to why:

1. It's beautiful outside (64 degrees to be exact, hello top down on the convertible after school!)

2. I am done for the day- no 4th block (prep period) no detention (it's Friday)

3. I am excited to run outside tomorrow and Sunday.

4. I have a mostly commitment-free weekend ahead of me aside from:

a. Saturday school tomorrow morning.

b. Babysitting for my cutie cousins tomorrow night.

c. And what would be the third bullet in this-sub list deserves it's own number:

5. I HAVE A DATE SUNDAY NIGHT. With a- from what I can tell- really cute guy! Details to follow.

I'm so excited to sleep in my own bed tonight, take Lala for a long walk after school, maybe get takeout from Joe's for dinner even though I'm on the poor side this week, and just relax.

Weekends are the best.

Not good.

2010-03-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

I can feel myself getting sick. My throat is a bit achey. I've been taking vitamin C like it's my job and I think I'm going to throw some airborn into the equation even though I'm not convinced it works.

Is it bad though, that I'd be ok with the possibility of a sick day in the next few weeks?

I hate sounding like one of those teachers but March is a long month.

I know, I know, welcome to the real world, working full weeks without days off for more than four weeks in a row. I hear you, I'm just tired.

Wah, wah, wah.

On a totally unrelated note.

This is what I'm thinking of doing to my closet/second bedroom (via here):

Gray/white striped walls with a magnetic/chalkboard wall or portion of wall. Instead of the yellow accent as shown in the home above, I'm thinking of purple accents! Love, love, loving this idea! I was inspired by this wedding to incorporate purple, which I heard yesterday, can't remember where, is going to be the color for interior decorating this year. Heart.

Over it.

2010-03-16T09:53:00.000-04:00

I'm over this week.

And it's only Tuesday.

Losing an hour of sleep has royally effed me up. Add on top of that the fact that I have a sort-of roommate (f.b. has been staying over [although we've morphed back into a semi-normal friend mode, as opposed to the friend-boy relationship that had been occurring since August] pretty regularly for the past two weeks or so) and I'm not getting the normal amount of sleep that I am used to.

I just want my day to be over, go to the gym and go to bed.

Except that it's only 9:51, I have half of a block of my freshman and then an hour and a half with my juniors, then my hour and a half prep, then detention, then home to eat quick, then the gym, and THEN I can finally shower and go to bed.

I. Can't. Wait.

Sorry for the whine. I could go for some real wine come to think of it...

Liberty of London Purchases

2010-03-14T17:41:00.000-04:00

So apparently today was the day that the Liberty of London for Target line launched and there was still a good selection at my local Target when I got there this afternoon, while online it was pretty much sold out.

I tried on two shirts and a dress, and only liked one of the shirts:

Loved loved loved it.

And this storage container (which I'm using in my living room to hold the remotes and some coasters):

And I can't find a picture of the candle or set of mini journals I bought, but I love it all.

Next on my list is the Garden Collection at H&M which is in stores Thursday. I've seen this dress which looks really cute:

I also want to check out this dress and tank top:

Umm what else.

Well, I may have a date next weekend. With a really cute guy.

A former student of mine is setting me up with her brother, he's supposed to call me today, so we'll see if we set anything up. I'm going to need a cute outfit!!

My plan is to get my eyebrows threaded on Thursday and then stop at the Galleria to try on some of the H&M stuff and find a date outfit!

And

2010-03-09T10:01:00.000-05:00

he just told me how a family friend went to the Gold Rush and got a lot of gold and bought all of Horseneck Beach and then sold it to the state for like thirty million dollars and they like have a forty foot stretch of beach front property blah blah blah blah blah.

I. Don't. Care.

No offense, I don't mean to come off callous or rude to my students, I listen, rather intently and say "wow that's cool," or "that's neat." But really he just talks to hear himself speak and to be a kiss up.

I feel guilty

2010-03-09T09:43:00.003-05:00

but there's a student in my class right now who is super annoying. And he always talks and comments and is a know-it-all.

It drives me bonkers.

I need to

2010-03-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

jump on the Cougar Town train.

In the television sense.

I may or may not already be a passenger on that train in real life.

Latest home update!

2010-02-27T22:06:00.001-05:00

So I saw this amazing bureau here and other places that I can't remember at the moment:

So I decided that would work perfectly with my white bureau's- the one in my bedroom in particular.

My process was printing the words "secret", "sleep" and "lazy" in a jane austen font that I got off-line, coloring the back with pencil and then tracing those letters onto the drawers. I then painted those words onto the drawers with gray paint I got from Lowe's still from the giftcard I had from my house warming! Here are some pictures:

Margarita, music (lap top), cell phone.

Tool box (to maybe take hardware off drawers), gray paint.

Half painted already-half pencil stencil of "secret" on my drawer that contains the secrets.

The printed word "sleep" which I will color on the back with a pencil and trace onto the drawer for my pj's.

Primitive carbon-copy.

Finished product.

Close-up.

I love it.

Um

2010-02-26T12:54:00.002-05:00

this is something I don't even have words to describe.

I love

2010-02-26T09:07:00.002-05:00

sleepovers.

Flattered yet disturbed.

2010-02-26T07:32:00.000-05:00

Those are two very random things to feel at the same time.

This morning I woke up, showered, got dressed, came downstairs, started the coffee maker, put my Meal for One in my lunch bag and poured a bowl of Cheerios (same thing every morning, I'm a creature of habit, at least in the am).

While I eat my Cheerios I check my email, google reader and facebook. When I open my computer iChat automatically opens up as well.

I received an instant message this morning from someone not on my buddy list. YoMommaFat510304 to be exact.

I accepted the message so I could see what it said only because if I declined it, it would bother me not knowing what the message was.

This was the message from YoMommaFat 510304 received at 6:16 am:

"hey...you're hot. and you have no clue who this is :)"

My response:

"it's too early"

What the hell? I mean, let's be honest, I don't hate the fact that someone thinks I'm hot (unless they're just effing with me) but I'm kind of disturbed about the whole thing.

Only me.

This is why

2010-02-25T18:59:00.003-05:00

I heart my SBF Lizziebelle:

(a text message convo between the two of us this afternoon)

me: just avoided eye contact with [a girl from high school we were super bffs with who in college turned into a slight beyotch but we've since buried the hatchet. technically.] at target like a champ

lb: she is like the basilisk

me: HAHAHAHAHAHA

lb: I need professional help

me: if you do then we should go together bc I knew what you were talking about without missing a beat

lb: we need to be committed....TO THE WORLD OF WIZARDING!

This is why we're SBFs, bffs and second cousins. Love her.

UPDATE: In editing this post and putting a link to the word "basilisk" I have discovered that there is a Harry Potter wiki. I may not end up watching Lost or Mad Men at all, I may just read this all night!

Another good thing!

2010-02-25T18:51:00.000-05:00

So tomorrow night at the Zeiterion Theatre has RFK: The Journey to Justice which I was so excited to see.

So excited.

Spring semester 2009 I took a grad class at Bridgewater, Assassinations, with one of my favorite history professors- Dr. Thomas Turner. The grad students were assigned a 25 page research paper on an assassination of our choice, I chose Bobby Kennedy. After completing the paper I knew Bobby was my favorite Kennedy. I heart him.

So anyway, I saw that the Z was putting on this show and could. not. wait. for it to be February!

Well, it's February and I officially don't have enough money to buy a ticket to see the show tomorrow night. Super. My Aunt Dori works in the box office there, but I didn't feel comfortable asking her if she had any comp tickets. I know she wouldn't mind, but I just don't feel right asking. As I had that thought I was pulling into the parking lot at the gym and literally that minute my Aunt Dori was calling me! She offered me free tickets to the show- how freaking awesome!!!!!

I'm so excited to see this show tomorrow night, even though I'm probably going alone, nbd!

Plus my friendboy is on his way over to watch this weeks episode of Lost and some more episodes of Mad Men.

Love it!!

LOVE!!

2010-02-25T18:06:00.000-05:00

There are a lot of blogs on my google reader. One of the blogs I read is Makeup Bag and there was a contest giving away free false eyelashes, all you had to do was leave a comment.

I've entered tons of blog contests like this before, never winning.

Except I WON! How exciting!!!

I received and email informing me they needed my mailing address to send me my false eyelashes! I'm so excited! Now I just need something fun to wear them to!

I love getting stuff in the mail! I have some exciting stuff coming soon actually
-Eyelashes
-Laura Mercier Oil Free tinted moisterizer
-Season 3 of Dawson's Creek from ebay
-Season 2 of Mad Men from ebay

PS Mad Men is an AMAZING show! It makes me want to wear frilly pretty dresses/nightgowns to bed! Random.

Finished!

2010-02-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

Ok, here's a picture of the completed "headboard" along with the creative process:

That would be the finished product. I'm thinking of getting some dark gray pillows to prop up behind the white ones, and then have the pink ones be under the comforter so you can't see them at all. When I have money.
Ok, so first I tested two light yellows from Home Depot on the wall:

Then taped up computer paper to figure out how many fit width wise and height wise to make the stencil:

Then drew out the design trying to come as close as possible to this headboard I saw in Domino magazine:

*I used a pencil I received from a girlfriend as the "save-the-date" for her wedding this summer. Ridiculously cute/unique.

Then I drew it on a regular sized paper I had folded in the same amount of squares that fit on my wall.

Then drew each square from my drawing onto an individual piece of computer paper.

Then taped them up to the wall to make sure they lined up and actually worked.

Then cut them out and taped them back up again.

Then traced the outline with a pencil.

And painted that biatch in!

And what you have now, is the final product with two coats of paint and the bed moved back up against the wall:

Total cost of the project: Nada!

I could have ordered a stencil from The Stencil Library which is what they used for the domino headboard, but that cost something ridiculous like $40 so I figured I could do it myself somehow. It may not have been the most logical process of how I recreated the stencil, but it worked for me. Plus for the paint I used a Lowe's gift card for, so that didn't cost me anything. Although at Home Depot I did pay $5 for the two paint samples, so I lied, it cost me $5. But I heart it!!

Vacation projects

2010-02-20T11:40:00.000-05:00

This week was February vacation and it was AMAZING to have the week off. I am currently in denial that it's almost over.

Things I accomplished:
1. Rearranged my whole living room (including couch, TV, desk, everything) by myself.
2. Painted a headboard on my bedroom wall that my bed is up against. Why? This is how I explained it to my Dad, who isn't really on the same decorating page as me:
Dad: What are you up to today?
Me: Not much, painting a headboard on the wall in my bedroom....waiting for reaction
Dad: You're what?
Me: It's going to look good, I'm painting the shape of a headboard on the wall in my bedroom.
Dad: Why don't you just buy an actual headboard?
Me: Because I have no money and a gift card to Lowe's so the paint will cost me nothing. Unless you want to buy a headboard for me.
Dad: Negative.

So there you have it, I just finished the second coat of paint and pictures will follow once it dries and I can put the bed back in place instead of in the middle of the room. Here's an inprocess picture to tide you over:

LaLa refused to get out of the way, and was in the middle of yawning. But that's the stencil/template I made on the wall, that I traced and then painted in. Also in the middle you can see the two colors I tried out before deciding on the one on the right of LaLa's nose.

Did not accomplish:
1. Grading anything.
2. Planning anything.
3. Working out as much as I had wanted.

Oh well. I still have today and tomorrow to do some grading and planning.

Or not.

"Try it, you might like it!"

2010-02-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

-Danny Wood, New Kids on the Block

That was a quote from a video back in the day, that I or my cousin Nikki taped off of tv of the New Kids on tour. They were eating, and Danny was telling the camera that his mother used to tell him, "Try it, you might like it" about new foods.

I rarely attempt this because I worry about wasting a precious meal either out to eat or store bought in the event that I don't like it. Case and point, lunch today.

Normally I get the Chicken with Almonds Lean Cuisine and I decided to branch out and bought two new ones: one with veggies and whole wheat pasta (I failed to notice at point of purchase that this meal came without chicken) and rice with chicken, veggies and cranberries in an apple sauce. (Not apple sauce apple sauce but some sort of apple glaze business.)

Both I did not like. Now, I did not mind the pasta with veggies option that I had yesterday but my complaint is that it doesn't have chicken aka not enough to it. The second meal which I had today, really didn't agree with me. I should've known but I figured I'd take Danny Woods' words of advice, but unfortunately for me, I was not a fan of either. Back to my chicken with almonds.

Not until the end of the week though, I bought lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, mushrooms and almond slivers to make salads for the week, I've just been too lazy to do so. I think that'll be my afternoon activity.

And watch, we'll have no school tomorrow and I won't need a pre-made lunch. At least I'll get to sleep in and make bacon and eggs for breakfast because I actually have those ingredients! Oh maybe I'll buy waffle mix and maple syrup to make waffles too!!!!!!!

Yummmm......is it 3:00 so I can go home and eat something yet?

Despite

2010-02-04T17:59:00.000-05:00

over ten years going by Dawson's Creek still manages to make me cry.

Spoke too soon

2010-02-04T11:29:00.002-05:00

Got an im from The Russian:

"hey lovely, how are you"

Grr.....I can't just ignore it and be a jerk. I have to man up and be honest.

Excuse me while I change into my honest pants....

You know what's kind of funny?

2010-02-03T13:20:00.002-05:00

I don't think The Russian was enamored with me either, I haven't heard from him.

Much less messy when it's mutual!

I hate

2010-02-03T07:29:00.000-05:00

when you can tell that someone thinks you're an idiot and not doing something right when in fact I know how to use effing email and if I'm not receiving it, it's a problem beyond me since I'm getting emails from other people!!!!

Sorry, just needed to vent.

I feel gross

2010-02-02T08:48:00.000-05:00

I went to the gym last night, showered when I got home and then this morning instead of showering again, I just wet my hair and washed my face. But my hair feels gross. I feel like it looks greasy. And smells. I feel like when I get out of school today I'm going to run home and shower before going to the basketball games this afternoon.

Yuck.

"Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War" and "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..."

2010-01-31T19:11:00.001-05:00

Two things to sum up my weekend:
Russians and lesbians.

Interesting to say the least. The first quote is courtesy of R. A. Thibault an esteemed former colleague. I explained to Mr. Thibault that I had a date from my stint on eHarmony with a guy who is from Russia. His response was: "Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War." I think I laughed for a good five minutes.

So the date. Eh, maybe the worst date I've gone on but it wasn't horrible by any means don't get me wrong. Knock on wood, I haven't been on any terrible dates, where I've been like, "get me out of here" so that's good, but I have had really good dates, and this one wasn't one of those. So it was my worst, but not the worst. He and I won't be taking this any further. And a follow up from Mr. Thibault after I texted him to say it wasn't the greatest: "Well that's good! I can cancel the U2 overhead flights that Mark [my Dad] and I had dialed up and we can put away the 'nuclear football' the cold war is over once again!!" I died laughing. Glad the free world is safe again.

Now the lesbian topic. Quite the weekend for me. I had seen a coworker at the mall Saturday and she told me that some of our colleagues were going out for drinks tonight and that I should join. I had plans for a friends bday but wanted to meet up with them afterwards. Super. So later on that night I texted her to see what the plan was and this was our text convo:
Me: So where are you guys?
Her: Heading to Providence
Me: Oh boo!! Where in Providence?
Her: Gallery [gay bar in Providence I've been to before, super fun- dance party USA type place]
Me: Woah woah woah, I've had some fun times there!
Her: You've been to Gallery?
Me: Duh!
Then no response.

So I carried on with my evening. Then today I get a text from her that says: "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..." aka, are you a lesbian? Hm. How to respond. Without offending, or assuming. So I responded with this: "Yeah in restrospect duh wasn't the best response, I had been drinking. I have been there before with a friend I used to work with, we saw former students, it was awk. Lol is this an awkward conversation? I'm not gay but I love a good dance party as much as the next guy!"And then crickets, no response. I'm thinking crap did I offend her? But then she responded later on with, "I laughed so hard at your entire response" and all is well in the universe.

So all in all an interesting weekend! Other fun details:
*AMAZING dinner with my lovers Friday night. Lots of laughs and drinks, the perfect combo with great friends.
*Fun sleepover Friday night with the friendboy. That's what we'll call him because he's not a boyfriend, but it's a step beyond simple friendship. Maybe more than a step. Whatev.
*Saturday school then the gym where I RAN THREE MILES. Holy crap. Love that.
*Then coffee with the Russian. Again, eh.
*Home to watch more Dawson's Creek and then take a nap (got to bed prob around 3 am Friday and woke up at 7:15)
*Dinner at the Airport Grille Saturday night for a friends bday, then bowling at Wonderbowl- super fun!
*Slept in a little this morning, then got together with the bridal party for a planning sesh for one of my lover's bridal shower.
*Gym where I only ran one mile, eh wasn't feeling the gym.
*Home, more Dawson's, shower and napping. Then my parents for dinner.

I'm tired! Watching the Grammy's, figuring out what I'm doing in World tomorrow and then bedtime!

"Don't mess with the bull young man, you're going to get the horns"

2010-01-30T08:40:00.000-05:00

Movie, anyone?

Every Saturday that I wait for the kids who have Saturday school to get dropped off, I picture the conversations that each character in the Breakfast Club had with their parents when they were dropped off for detention in the movie and I wonder what the parents of my Saturday school kids are saying, if it's anything- if they're pissed they have to drop the kids off at 8 am on a Saturday, if they could care less etc.

Random.

One of my favorite movies ever.

deja vu:

2010-01-28T20:16:00.000-05:00

Noun, the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time.

So on my practically daily trip to Target this afternoon to get candy for my students (they've been awesome this week), pick up a prescription and pictures of my previous semester students to put up in my classroom, I went to check out the price of the Pride and Prejudice (the one with Colin Firth, I still have not seen it and I hear it's amazing) dvd- I do this often because it's $30 which is a lot and I always check to see if it's gone on sale, it hadn't- BUT I did find Dawson's Creek seasons 1 and 2 on DVD together for $20!!!! Score!!!!

So why the vocabulary lesson? Simple.

Watching Dawson's Creek from the very beginning, as I started to tonight, has literally brought me back to 1997 when I would watch this show and anxiously anticipate the day when I would get my first kiss, or better yet (!) my first boyfriend. Literally, I feel that same anticipation, longing, desperation, frustration, excitement and sadness I experienced when I was 15 years old. I wanted those things so badly.

Except it's different this time. It's different because I know how amazing it is to have a first kiss. I know how great it is to have a boyfriend. I've had both of those things since watching the show the first time around and it was awesome. Definitely lived up to and even exceeded the hype and expectations I had created in my head from watching seasons of Dawson's Creek and Felicity.

Problem is, watching the show now, as a 28 year old, may actually make those feelings worse and magnified because I know how great it is to have someone there for you, to want to be with you, and to want you- and that may actually be worse than not knowing what it's like to have any of those things in the first place.

Knowing what it's like, how incredible it is, and then losing it only to have to wish and hope for it all over again- I'd take the 15 year old version of what I'm feeling as opposed to the 28 year old version any day.

I wish

2010-01-26T18:36:00.002-05:00

Anthropologie would furnish my life. And by my life I mean my house and my wardrobe.

I'm a Craft Machine

2010-01-25T10:34:00.000-05:00

Friday night I finished my cross-stitch (picture in previous post), Saturday I took the doors of the really pretty tan/seashell cabinet thing that was in my bathroom (picture in previous post) and began the process of painting it white which I completed Sunday afternoon!

It only took FOUR COATS OF PAINT for those horrid seashells to disappear. I painted a coat Saturday afternoon and then Saturday night because I did nothing Saturday night except watch He's Just Not that into You (how fitting) and went to bed early. Sunday I woke up, made myself bacon and eggs because why not, and put a third coat of paint on the shelves (I really don't know what this thing is technically, it's not a hutch, it's not shelves, I don't know...) and hung around the house not quite sure what to do with myself. I went to Target (fun run-in with the Ex and the girl, he waved as we drove by each other....Happy Sunday!) for some random stuff and back home to finish my crafting projects.

My Dad was equally as bored as I was so we ran to Lowe's and Home Depot to check out potential shelving for the closet in my bathroom (next project) that afternoon and he ended up buying me three new lights for outside my house- Thanks Dad! Love when that happens!!

So here's the finished product for my bathroom, one step closer to organization!
*I had the white paint leftover from moving into my house
*Bought the baskets at pier1 with a giftcard I had from my housewarming party
*The mirrored tray was mine that I fell in love with at Target last year and waited for to go on sale before I bought it but hadn't found the right place for it in my house- until now!
*The "J" mug is from Anthropologie
*My perfumes- well, I clearly have a problem
*Bare necessities for makeup that I use everyday, my other stuff is in a train case stowed away
*Little dish for jewelry before I put it away also from Anthropologie a while ago when I went to visit Lizzie in Charlotte

I just love it now!!!

This is my next project- putting some shelves in here for towels and sheets, and also some storage for winter/summer clothes and my hamper. One thing at a time, don't judge me, it's a mess:

Happy Monday everyone, hope it's a great week!

How soon is too soon?

2010-01-24T16:49:00.002-05:00

So as I mentioned in the About Me portion of this blog, over the summer I joined eHarmony. I had emailed back and forth with a few guys, and got to the point of aim conversations with two others. It was poor timing on my part that I joined and got to the convo part at the end of the summer, beginning of the school year when my schedule was just insane. I didn't have time to really spend getting to know new people, I barely had time for the people I already know and know I like, nevermind new people that I wasn't even sure I'd grow to like.

The first guy I was imming with got real annoying, real fast. He told me rather quickly that he wasn't talking to any other girls, from eHarmony or real life, and was curious if I was. Um, guy, I've never met you, we've chatted online a handful of times and I've seen one picture of you. I'm not putting all my eggs in your basket- for all I know it's a hoop with no bottom and with my luck all my eggs will end up splattered on the ground. (Did that analogy work or just sound dumb?) He also wanted to go for a walk along the Cape Cod Canal as our first date. Now, a walk on the Canal sounds amazing, if I know you and know you're not some psycho. I would prefer a well-lit restaurant where we both meet there for my personal safety. Needless to say, that didn't work out.

Guy number two that I was imming with, it wasn't anything in particular, just that I was way too busy to get to know someone, and it kind of stopped.

Well, he immed me again recently asking if things had died down. I said that they had, although we're starting new courses soon which I'm sure will kick up the dust again. I gave him points for persistance though. We talked some more, and he asked if I was interested in getting coffee. I said sure (I figured why the heck not) and we made plans for next Saturday to meet.

Two things. One, he uses emoticons WAY too often. The winking ones. I can see for emphasis every once in a while, but we're not 14 years old anymore, I think we're a little beyond them? Maybe I'm being too judgey. Two, he's been calling me "lovely" as of late. Tonights im read, "hey lovely." Now I only have one relationship to gauge when the nickname portion of the program began, and come to think of the the Ex and I weren't huge nickname people. I don't think I called him "babe" or "hon" or anything at all. He I think called me "babe". If memory serves me correctly, which really isn't anything to go by. I just feel like it's weird and too soon to be referring to me any other way besides my name. Am I just being a bitch? I don't know, it turns me off. Again, you don't know me yet. What if I'm not lovely to you at all? What if you hate me? I also feel like Guy #1 did this too. And I felt the same way.

Updates on this front to follow for sure.

Finished product and work-in-progress

2010-01-24T12:59:00.005-05:00

I finished my cross-stitch last night, on another eventful Saturday night. I'm not happy with the "you" and the spacing of words but live and learn and hopefully my next one will improve on those things. Here's a picture of the finished product:

I'm also painting a cabinet thing I had in my bathroom that came with my house. It had a pretty sea shell motif on it, and for some unknown reason it's only taken me a year to paint it white. Right now I'm waiting for the third coat of white paint to dry. Here's what it looked like before:

I took the two doors off and am going to put baskets on the open shelves. I think I'm going to need a fourth coat, so once I'm done with that and have painted the *hopefully* last coat of paint, a picture of the finished product will be posted as well.

Happy Sunday!

Umbrella beats cross-stitch.

2010-01-22T20:28:00.005-05:00

Like paper beats rock.

So last weekend my big event was working on my cross-stitch project.

Tonight was shaping up a little bit better than that. I was waiting for a guy to come over and take out my old boiler and water heater when my friend Jen called asking if I wanted to meet for drinks!! Of course I told her yes, and once the guy was done and my old boiler and water heater were whisked away, I met Jen downtown.

Had two French Kiss martinis- yum! And was going to meet up with my friend Ross for a drink and food after that. Except he flaked. So I went home. And put on sweat pants (still have my cute shirt from Ann Taylor Loft from my Auntand Uncle for my bday on top though, jic something comes along out of the blue) and slippers.

Then I made some nachos. And decided to whip up a drink because my slight buzz was feeling nice and I wanted to continue that. I was limited though in terms of my liquor cabinet. This is what I settled on:

And this is what I created:

And then adjusted because the picture would look better with the umbrella at this angle instead.

Except I can't figure out how to rotate it. Super.

This is my Friday night.

Don't judge.

My crazy Sunday night....

2010-01-17T20:16:00.004-05:00

Tonight is essentially a Saturday night since it's a holiday tomorrow and no work.

This is what I'm doing:

Yes, I am cross-stitching and no, I did not age 40+ years overnight.

My life is really that exciting.

If you're curious I am cross-stitching: "all I really want is you" on navy fabric with turquoise thread. I was inspired by these. I love the monograms, actually I heart them all. I felt like I could make them though and save some money. I initially thought they were a bit pricey but I now know why she charges what she does- the plotting out of the writing is very overwhelming and super time consuming. My hands are cramping and my neck hurts. But I have a feeling I'm going to love it when I'm done. Pictures to follow.

SOCLOSE

2010-01-15T13:02:00.003-05:00

Only two issues short of having all published issues of Domino magazine.

I feel accomplished.

What am I going to obsess about once I have them all?

Also, I want a creative way to display all my issues of Domino once I have them. Yes, guilty as charged- I want to gloat.

Right now they're in magazine holders from Ikea on my love, aka my West Elm Parson's desk. I feel like I can get more creative than that.

I may rearrange my living room when I get out of school. I need something productive to do. I have been down in the dumps too often lately.

Oh first I have to stop by my parents house to see my Mom, I still haven't talked to her since I found out about her friend Pam. Yuck.

Back in the dumps.

Another reason

2010-01-14T21:49:00.004-05:00

or should I say bonus or plus of having a significant other is you have a default person to talk to when things are shitty.

When you don't have anyone you feel like you're bothering people to talk about things that are wrong. Even though those people would never feel like they were being bothered, sometimes it's nice to just have someone there automatically.

A close friend of my Mom's passed away today, I haven't talked to my Mom, I don't really know what to say, but I do know it would be great to have someone to just talk about it with without having to be the one to reach out.

HELP!!!

2010-01-13T14:20:00.007-05:00

So I am in need of a new rug for my living room. I want something neutral and simple. I checked my usual sites for house stuff, west elm, pottery barn, cb2, crate and barrel, anthropologie (not that I can afford a rug from there) and the like. Eh, nothing really struck me. I then went to overstock.com and I have a few options/ideas I'd like run past you, feel free to comment or email me which you prefer as I enjoy help and suggestions.

Here we go:

Option 1, cheapest and I really love the pattern, I'd go with the one on the bottom, the "chocolate" option. And did I mention it's cheap? $65.99 for an almost 5x8.

Option 2, again, price not that bad and I like the color too. I'm just not sure gray

will look right with my living room, which is why I also enjoy this rug in the brown option:

I still think I like the houndstooth print better. Color-wise too I think I like it better.

Option 3, I really like the print of this rug and also enjoy the price- $169.99. Not bad.

Ok, thoughts? Please!

Renee to the rescue!!!!

2010-01-09T10:43:00.002-05:00

A very good friend has offered to grab lunch with my at Joe's so I won't have to suffer the shame and humiliation of using my birthday certificate alone- love her!!!

Yay, Saturday school is almost over, heading to my parents to start some laundry, then the gym and lunch with Renee!!

Happy weekend to you all!

Oh and one other thing!

2010-01-09T09:51:00.001-05:00

If you subscribe to the email list from Not Your Average Joe's every year on your bday you get a coupon for a free meal and dessert. So mine expires tomorrow.

I have no one to go with for dinner tonight. I'm deciding between eating dinner at the bar alone and taking my dessert to go, or getting the whole thing to go.

Cue depression.

One is the loneliest number.

2010-01-09T09:05:00.002-05:00

Well, one and a half I guess if you count LaLa.

All I've been watching lately is Sex and the City because my tv shows are all on vacation, or something, and nothing is on really. I just saw the episode before Carrie meets Jack Burger (who after re-watching is so needy and annoying it's ridiculous, he has no self-confidence it's laughable) and she admits at her book launch party that she is really lonely to Miranda. That's me, minus the book launch party.

It's a combination of a lot of things. In no particular order: having to rely on my Dad when my heat doesn't work and feeling like the daughter who won't ever grow up and be independent, having nothing to do last Thursday night and waiting for it to be 8:00 so I could go to bed at a semi-normal bedtime without feeling like a total loser, being single for five years, friends who all have significant others, going from a job where I had a great group of colleagues who became really good friends to a job where I have colleagues who are great, but not really my friends....and did I mention being single for five years? Yeah.

I think it's really been the change in jobs which has brought this to the surface. Lunch time used to be the highlight of the day, probably just like for the kids. We would laugh, yell at each other, make fun of each other, get mad at each other and everything in between, including a chair or two being thrown, but it was awesome. Now I eat lunch alone in my classroom because the teacher's room is just too serious for my liking. They talk about school policy, students violating the plagiarism rule, town politics- all great topics every once in a while, but not something I really want to talk about on my 20 minute break from the kids. So after a few attempts at eating in the teacher's room, I just stay in my room. I actually never really leave my classroom except to make copies or occasionally visit. I know I'm not making enough of an effort here.

So when you take away those friend interactions that I had on a regular basis both inside and out of school, I've been relying on my core group of old friends more than I have in the past. Which isn't their fault. They're awesome. I don't get to see them as much as I'd like though. It's a bunch of factors, me being available more than before, us all being super busy, and I don't want to use this as a factor but it is, they all have significant others which takes up a huge chunk of their time- as they should! It most certainly should! I totally get that. I feel like the balance is off-kilter because I don't have someone to spend that "other" time with, which would take a lot of pressure of my friends. Does that make sense?

Take for instance, my birthday last weekend. A lot of friends couldn't make it for a variety of reasons. Relatively understandable. The hard part for me when stuff like that happens is that sometimes I feel like I put in more effort than I feel like people are investing in me. My friends are all I have. I don't have anyone else as a "default" to celebrate things with, be sad about things with, run errands with, go shopping with- they're it. Which is an unfair amount of pressure on them. I definitely see and know that. It's not fair to them at all. But to use the phrase I hate more than anything else in the world- it is what it is- I have more time for them than they have for me.

I feel like this sounds super selfish and childish. Like a spoiled little girl. But it doesn't change that it's how I feel.

That's also why I think I've been relying on a guy friend of mine probably more than I should. We used to joke that we were each other's "interim" boyfriend/girlfriend. Someone to hang out with, go out to eat with etc. in between significant others. Problem is that has gotten a bit more complicated as of late, and again, because I seem to have more "down time" than I did before, it's on my mind more than it probably would have been before. But also in my defense, the context of our friendship has changed since summer, so that's also playing a factor.

Or maybe I'm just too much in my own head and it's because it's December, way too snowy for my liking and freezing that I'm stuck inside over analyzing shit? Winter blues?

Does anyone else find this time of year extra trying? Am I overreacting? In desperate need of sun and warmth? Thoughts? Feel free to put on your honestpants and give me your two cents!

Domino Update

2010-01-08T09:52:00.002-05:00

Since posting that I wished to acquire the entire collection of Domino magazines published from 2005--2009 I have come very close to meeting my goal. Only six issues are evading my capture! August 2007, October 2006, May 2006, March 2006, Jan/Feb 2006 and October 2005. I am *so*close* to having them all.

Which, let's discuss. Is this weird? That I have a strong desire to own all the published issues of a home magazine?

Hmmm....I find it a bit odd, but I'm really excited to have them all one day.

Weirdo. But I embrace it.

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

2010-01-08T09:27:00.002-05:00

I hated Ren and Stimpy as a sidenote.

But I am in such a great mood because it's finally Friday!!!!

This week has just dragged on and on. Let's recap because my kids are taking a quest (quiz/test) and I'm bored.

Monday- school, detention, stuff at home, gym, chat. The chat was productive. Not conclusive per say, but productive. We'll see what happens from here on out. I'm glad it was brought up and semi-productive. I went to the gym again Tuesday for kickboxing but was sadly disappointed when it wasn't my favorite instructor Jimmy but my arch-nemesis!!! The Lady who throughout class yells out "OUI OUI" I don't know how you spell what she was yelling, it was not "yes yes" in French, but in any case, super annoying. She was teaching the class for the night. Ugh. So I left halfway through. Annoying. Because of that I returned to the gym Wednesday night and did Zumbaa and yoga then the treadmill for a half an hour. Go me.

I was planning on going to the gym last night but didn't because I was exhausted and it was one of the most boring nights of my life. I was counting down to 8:00 so it was a semi-acceptable time to go to bed. Not only did I fall asleep probably by 8:30 but I pressed sleep on my alarm until almost 6 am this morning. I usually get out of bed by 5:30. I must have been tired and in need of sleep.

I am sooo excited for tonight- after school I'm going to my parents to do some more laundry, then the end of the freshman girls basketball game, the beginning of the girls varsity game and then to Durfee for the boys varsity game with Sasha who I haven't seen in FOREVER. I'm looking forward to seeing her very much!!

I'm also hoping and praying that both NSTAR and the Portland Group (people who manufacture my hotwater heater/boiler) figure out why the eff my boiler shuts off when the temp is in the teens and below because they're both meeting at my house with my Dad this morning. Actually they have been there for approximately 51 minutes. This weekend is supposed to be cold at night and I'd love it to not have to wake up to a frozen house if possible. Thanks.

Welcome to 2010.

2010-01-04T13:36:00.012-05:00

Sadly, vacation is over. Tear. It was a good one though. Let's recap, shall we?

Ok. So first day of vacation (Tuesday 12/22) technically was the last day of school and I picked up my sister at the train station in Providence and we then hightailed it to Boston for the Celtics game:

Sadly my "husband" as I like to refer to him as, did not play (Kevin Garnett for those

of you not in the know) and not only did he not play, he wasn't even freaking there!!! I was not happy, but it turned out to be a really good game. We had a good time.

I worked Wed and Thurs at be jeweled and then got a little tipsy Christmas eve. Started with a glass of champagne after we closed be jeweled, continued with two more glasses at my house and then at my Aunt's house that turned into a glass of wine and some V&T's....whoops.

Christmas day woke up bright and early at 6:45 am and went to my parents to open presents. I got some really great gifts- New Kids on the Block dvd, For Like Ever poster, gloves from Aldo I wanted, tshirt from etsy that I LOVE, can't tell you how much I love it, umm and the freaking Parson's desk from West Elm- um, hi. It's beautiful. I heart it with all my heart. You can see it and the rest of the mess that was/is my living room in this pic:

And once I get a mat for my For Like Ever poster, that's going on the wall right above the desk! Love it!!

Ok, so after Christmas died down things were still busy. Saturday after Christmas I don't remember what I did, probably slept in, I also believe I went to the gym. Lightbulb- oh and I also went to a friend's house for an "Uglier Sweater than Mike's" party. Sunday went to see Wicked with my fam in Providence (was supposed to go to the Pats game with Josh and Renee and her husband but because Mom bought the Wicked tickets without double-checking, I was double-booked) and I feel like I had something Sunday night but that's eluding me as well.

Monday went to Providence Place with my Mom and four little cousins and brother so they could play games at Dave and Buster's which was fun, but really tiring. Don't think I did anything Monday night. Tuesday I went to the Ashland Public Library to pick up some copies of Domino magazine they were holding for me (and as the librarian ever so nicely said [sarcasm], they had been holding them for a while) and then the Natick Collection. I was looking for a dress for my birthday and also I really wanted to go to Anthropologie. There needs to be one of those way closer to me. I really love that place. So I got a dress there for my birthday which of course I can't find a picture of online to post here, but it's really cute. Navy, white and teal striped, belted waist, super cute. I also go the most amazing bra ever at Aerie, comfortable and quite the push-up! I've found my new favorite place to buy bras now, fyi.

Then on the way home from the mall I got a call from my Dad that my heat had gone off, and would not go back on. Super. I was supposed to go to Tokyo with the Bunco girls for dinner but did not make it because I was running around buying electric heaters so my pipes wouldn't freeze and you know, explode. Ugh. Slept at my parents house Tuesday night, and finally restarted the heat around noon on Wednesday. Went to the gym and then back home to like reorganize my life. Josh came by for dinner and we hung out until he had to go to work and I went to bed.

Wednesday night I got invited by Mike (ugly sweater Mike) to go to the Venus de Milo for New Years Eve. I've NEVER done anything dressy and fun for New Years so I was really excited to go. I had my work cut out for my looking for a dress for New Years eve on New Years eve. Especially when that morning I was going to Ikea with my Mom. Bright and early we went to Ikea, I got a plant for my dining room, a frame for my For Like Ever poster, another set of silverwear, more wine glasses, shower curtains and they didn't have the shelf I wanted for my bedroom. Oh and I got a bedside light for my room and some storage boxes. We stopped at the Galleria on the way home for me to check out Forever 21 and H&M but no luck there for a dress. When I got home my sister and I ran to the Dartmouth Mall- nada, then Target- nada. I was thisclose to going to the Target in Wareham to see if they had a dress in my

size but the time stopped me. It was like 4:00 and I needed to be ready by 6:30 so by the time I went to Wareham and back, that wouldn't have worked out well for me. So I decided to search for navy tights and wear the dress I was planning on wearing for my bday.

Apparently navy tights are the most difficult thing in the world to find. Back to Target- nothing, Macy's- nothing, CVS- nothing, FINALLY at Walgreen's they had some. Rush home, stop quickly at a liquor store because I am in need of a drink (cheap champagne- perfect) and start to get ready. Shower all that fun stuff, and finally put the tights on. So not the same navy as in the dress. Perfect. I decide eff it, no tights for me I'm wearing the dress with my J.Simp brown heels and I'm good to go. Here's a picture of the dress, and if you make note of my face in the picture, you will have an indication of a. how fun New Years eve is at Venus and b. how I may have drank a tad bit too much on New Years eve at the Venus (Sorry for the sideways pic, I can't figure out how to rotate it):

Here's a better view of the dress, and me looking more sober-ish:

Ok, so New Years Eve was fun, pretty much like prom for adults. With alcohol.

So needless to say I had quite the hangover headache New Years day. I woke up early, but stayed in bed until like 11:00 regrouping. Didn't do much during the day, cleaned, organized my house and don't remember what I did that evening.

Saturday the 2nd was my birthday night out. Technically my birthday was yesterday but because who wants to celebrate on a Sunday night, Sat night it was! I had a dilemma though, because I had worn the dress I was originally planning on wearing already- nothing to wear! Enter my like fourth trip to Providence Place with my sister of the vacation. I ended up getting this shirt from J.Crew and LOVING it (a lot of visuals today):

Sadly a few people who I really was looking forward to celebrating with couldn't make it out for my birthday but I still managed to have an AMAZING night! Here's my favorite picture of the evening. I believe Mrs. Mare Studios herself was taking the picture (friend Renee, self-proclaimed nickname) and the instant she took the pic a poor girl fell down the stairs behind my sister, cousin and myself and this was our reaction:

Fun night. Then later that night I made my first official screw-up of 2010 (I'm pretending it happened while I was still 27, so it's not part of my year 28) which I don't want to get into the details of, but let's just say it's a doozie. Onwards and upwards right? Learn from mistakes.

So when I finally dragged myself out of bed on my actual birthday I discovered my heat had shut off and would not turn back on. Again. I turned the space heaters back on and went back to bed. It turned on at 10:30 only to shut off a few minutes later and not turn back on for a while. I was pleasantly surprised by a visit from Meaghan who couldn't make it out the night before, which was awesome to see her pull into my driveway. We disected the evening, the screw-up, I gave her her Christmas/birthday gifts and she gave my mine. Oh. My. God. I LOVE IT. Small background: high school was awesome, I had amazing friends, we had a high school lip sync contest, my friends and I kicked ass in it, highlight of high school. For me anyway. Well, in cleaning and moving Meaghan discovered that her future-husband (who was one of the emcee's of the lip sync) had saved our score card from the judges. So she framed it for me. Ohmygosh, words can explain how neat it was to see that! I didn't even know it existed! (We got a perfect score btw.)

We then talked about wedding details (they're getting married in August) and she was off to run errands. I stayed home periodically attempting to restart my heat- fail. I couldn't shower I couldn't go anywhere. I was also snowed in. I could've shoveled to go to my parents house to shower but I was feeling annoyed by the whole sitch and refused to do that. I sat on my couch pouting, watching Sex and the City, facebooking and regretting the screw up. So FINALLY at like 2:00 in the afternoon I was able to get the heat going, finally showered and headed to my parents house. Watched the end of the Pats game there, listened to my brother and mother work on his research paper on Al Cappone, sat on the couch and ate onion dip with chips and veggies. I was in a foul mood. I felt guilty and selfish for feeling that way, but I felt like what a boring birthday, waiting for heat to come on on not only my bday but the last day of vacation.

For dinner my Mom made baked stuffed shrimp which was AMAZING and she even got me green beans which I love. So we then had cake and ice cream and I opened presents. My Mom paid for the stuff I got at Ikea so that was my gift from her, and from my brother and sister I got earrings from be jeweled that I really wanted, can't find a pic online, but I love them and a garage door opener from my Dad!!! Sooo excited about that! I love having a garage and don't really complain about having to get out of the car, open the door, get back in the car, drive into the garage, lock the car and then shut the garage door. Reverse for leaving the house. I mean hey, I could have no garage. But ohmygosh this is going to be amazing! Hopefully it gets installed soon, can't wait!!

So on the way home from my parents (I was tired and not feeling so hot after too much onion dip and just kind of down in the dumps mentally) I started thinking about a situation I have going on, which involved a guy, but it's not where I want it to be. It's just ok the way it is, but it's not really making me super happy. In the card from my parents my Mom wrote she and Dad really want me to be happy (not that I think they don't think I am, but that that's what they want for me in this new year) and I think a change in this situation would make me happier. So I'm going to have a conversation this evening that I think will change that. That is if I have the balls to actually have the conversation. Fingers crossed.

And that brings us to today. Last night I went home and went to bed pretty early in preparation for waking up bright and early for work today. Knock on wood the heat was working when I got up, and today was an ok day at work. Glad it's over. I have some prep work for tomorrow, but then I'm heading home to do some laundry (I have like two giant piles of dirty clothes), have dinner, and head to the gym to run and *hopefully* have the conversation I need to have. I have a knot in my stomach thinking about it. I just need to put my honestpants on an lay it all on the table. And take it from there. Good luck to me.

Thanks for bearing with my on this post if you made it to reading all the way to the end! Happy 2010 to you all!!

Woah look out!!!

2009-12-30T20:57:00.001-05:00

For the first time ever I have plans for New Years Eve!!!

I will be looking for a sparkly dress ASAP!!!

Possible bday dress.

2009-12-29T22:19:00.002-05:00

So, I did have some positives out of today.

I got my four free issues of Domino magazine, even though the librarian was a biatch, it was worth it. So yay for that.

Then the Natick Collections/Mall which is ridiculously huge, is an amazing mall. I tried on the sparkly shirt I wanted to from J.Crew, eh not sure if I loved it, so I didn't bite the bullet.

Then I spent way too long in Anthropologie. I could seriously live in that place. I love it so much. I bought a dress that I think will be perfect for my bday but of course there aren't any pics of it online, and I left it in my freezing house so I don't know the brand to google that shit. Pictures to come. I also bought a candle, cup for my makeup brushes and a tray for my jewelry. Love those purchases, wish I had a ton more money to have bought some other stuff too. Oh well!! Another trip there is def in the near future.

I think I'm going to call it a night! Maybe tomorrow will lift my shitty-pre-birthday week curse with my heat miraculously being able to be fixed!!! That'd be the best birthday present ever!!

Night!

Could this vacation be off to any worse a start?

2009-12-29T21:06:00.005-05:00

This post contains information of a TMI (Too Much Information) nature, probably more than any of you really need to know about me. But I'm going to continue, feel free to stop reading if you don't want to be grossed out.

Today was my real first day of vacation aka first day I really got to sleep in. Let's see, vacation started last Wednesday and I worked at be jeweled Wednesday and Thursday 10 am- close both days. Then Thursday was Christmas eve where I drank a bit too much at my Aunt's on my Dad's side of the fam, had a *guest* over Christmas eve and woke up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning to open presents with my fam. Got there around 7 am. We opened presents where I got way too many things (slightly spoiled this Christmas) and had bacon and eggs for bfast. Came home, took a nap and then went to my Aunt's house for Christmas with my Mom's side of the fam.

Went to my Uncle's house on my Dad's side Christmas night, no drinking for me! We played LCR which got very intense but is always fun. Oh!! I have a great picture:

If you're interested in how the game is played click on the link above, too long to explain. So not too late of a night there, maybe 10ish. Then Saturday, what did I do....oh got up, went to the gym then to my Aunt's house to see my Uncle who came over from Nantucket. At night went to my friend Mike's house for a little soiree and then stopped at McDonald's on my way home. I made it safely, with all my clothing intact and believed the universe had given me a break from its fast-food hatred.

Well.

Sunday wasn't anything special, house stuff, I set up my new desk (West Elm Parsons Desk- Love!!) and put a lot of crap downstairs into the basement. Went to my friends Heather and Pat's house with some old colleagues and had a good time. Here comes the TMI part, feel free to skip down.

UPDATE: Deleted the TMI part.....

Ok, back to normal those of you who skipped that last paragraph. Today I decided to go to the Ashland Library and the Natick Mall, the library to get my free Domino magazines they were holding for me and the Mall to check out Anthropologie mainly and some other stores. That trip was a success then I needed to get home in time for Bunco dinner at Tokyo in Fairhaven. Well, I had called my Dad earlier and asked if he would pick up LaLa because I would be out all night and he did. Only to discover once he got to my house, that my heat had shut off and wouldn't restart. What. The. Fuck. Needless to say between buying electric heaters so my effing pipes don't freeze while we try to get the boiler fixed tomorrow I didn't make it to Tokyo on time.

Combining all those things with the fact that I'm breaking out like a freaking 14 year old with acne this has been a superly shitty week so far. So not the pre-birthday week I had envisioned for myself. But I need to keep this in perspective, there are people going through a lot worse than me....ok I have my non-cranky pants on again, going to watch Harry Potter with my brother and sister.

I heart her blog and even though I don't really know know her, I heart her too:

2009-12-28T17:46:00.004-05:00

Please read:

My name is brandy. And I have a blog.

And a plea.

I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog- single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.

He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.

The holidays have hit us hard. He’s recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma- an incurable cancer, that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me, rather than worrying about himself. He’s the most selfless individual I know- (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would promote or encourage but when I’m overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort, two things I desperately need at this time.

As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren’t sure what’s happening. He’ll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what’s going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as ‘brandy’s hot awesome dude’). If you don’t pray, please keep him in your heart.This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.

I want to give a big thank you to the blog owner who scraped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven’t seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).

I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.

I did.

Back to my blog roots.

2009-12-20T17:53:00.003-05:00

Well. I seem to have moved away from the original purpose of my blog- to talk about the ridiculous things that happen to me. Not on purpose, just happened.

Consider me back to reality.

So, unless you've been living under a rock or live somewhere else besides the East Coast of the United States you'd be aware that we got quite the snow storm this weekend. Well we got a ton of snow. I shoveled my stairs and walkway. Not that I've actually left the house (my Dad has yet to plow/snowblow my driveway so the Cabrio is still in the garage) but I could walk if I needed to. So after shoveling and showering, getting comfy in my sweats grabbing my laptop, new book and cell phone headed downstairs.

And then proceeded to fall down my stairs. Hard.

My ass is super sore. There'll be bruises.

But on the plus-side I didn't drop my laptop.

And I'm back!!!

UPDATE: MAJOR bruising. Major. Ridiculous. Maybe the worst bruise I've ever had.

Secret Santa is the devil

2009-12-17T13:36:00.006-05:00

Apparently the staff here at school does a Secret Santa every year, two days a week for the last two weeks before Christmas break you leave a small gift for someone and on the last day before vacation the trend has been to give a "cool" pen to the person. Fun. Except I didn't know what to get my secret santa, I don't really know her very well. I got her apple shaped post-its for the two days this week in a bag of Reese's and Hershey's (you know the ones with the milk chocolate, dark chocolate, krackle and Mr. Goodbar?) Which I think seems ok? I don't freaking know. I was roaming around Target aimlessly trying to figure out what to buy. I also bought her snowflake gel-window decals to decorate her classroom door with-is that stupid? Who cares. I have yet to get my gift yet to gauge how off I am on this whole thing, only time will tell.

Ok just walked down to get the detention lists and got my gift. I'm in the clear. I got a holiday candy bar (that I'll be giving away tomorrow in class) and a little snowman pen. Perf.

But that's actually not the reason that Secret Santa is the devil. It's really the devil because I ate half of the Reese's and Hershey's because they're in my side desk drawer. Which is actually my own fault, but I'd prefer to blame Secret Santa.

Let's see, I've been slacking in the blog updates so what else is new.

My Mom didn't "accidentally" forget to get me tickets to the New Kids Christmas concert, she legit did, so I won't be attending that sadly. BUT I did request the New Kids on the Block Coming Home DVD which is such dejavu to the days of me taping their specials and appearances on TV and watching them over and over again. This time around I can do it with the convenience of a DVD player!!

Why don't I give you all a run-down of my Christmas List? Sure, why not.

This light from Ikea for my bedroom:

This light from Ikea for my hallway:

The shirt from the etsy shop elizandaxle:

This poster from the cover of Domino magazine:

This rug for my living room:

This jacket from J.Crew that I mentioned before:

These gloves which I've looked EVERYWHERE for and FINALLY found thanks to Meaghan:

And just for shits and giggles, I threw in this desk from west elm:

So. Because I have Christmas then my birthday literally a week after, I try to make a pretty extensive list, jic. My Mom totally ruined any element of surprise for my gifts though. She told me that she ordered the poster but never received an email confirmation so wasn't sure if it went through correctly. Ok, gift number one. She then said I could check her email to make sure it didn't go to the junkmail folder (which it had) and once I opened her email I saw an email from west elm confirming an order. Holy crap. I totally just added that for the heck of it. Can't believe I'm going to be an owner of the Parson's desk from west elm! Insane!! She then proceeded to ask me about the tshirt I wanted from etsy because the packaging was weird and she wasn't sure she ordered the right thing. I explained that etsy is everything handmade so they usually package everything really neat and pretty. Gift #3. Jeez. I'm pretty psyched for Christmas and my bday now! For a last minute list I'm making out pretty well!

What else. I'm up to a total of 13 pounds lost. My goal is 20 by my bday. So far I ran on Monday this week, did kickboxing Tuesday, attempted to run last night but was foiled by a constant cramp and my headphones breaking. I'm going to go tonight too. I'd looove it if I could be down 20 lbs by January 2nd (the night of celebration for my bday, not the actual birthday). I have a vision in my head of an outfit for that night and I plan on shopping at the Natick Collections to make that outfit a reality. It'd be great to be 8 pounds lighter when I do shop for that outfit.

Positive thoughts.

And last but certainly not least, boy updates. There are some. Another day, another post though. All in good time. For now my Christmas list will have to do.

NG

2009-12-02T12:17:00.001-05:00

no good.

I'm losing my voice and I sound like a 13 year old boy going through puberty.

But part of me likes how I sound. Odd.

Love it.

2009-11-30T19:16:00.002-05:00

Hahahah I love this picture (from weheartit.com)

Random and ridiculous.

2009-11-30T16:20:00.001-05:00

I'm watching Little People Big World on TLC and one of the sons, Zack, had to go into surgery for a shunt he has in his head and the family has to pay for it all out of their pocket because insurance companies don't issue little people insurance.

That's fucked up.

I am thankful for

2009-11-27T11:08:00.003-05:00

*my amazing family. They are absolutely the best ever. Love them.

*my fabulous friends, which I **can't wait** to grab dinner and drinks with tonight!!

*my job, while I do mention that I miss my old school at any chance I get, I do love my new school and new kiddos.

*my house- I am thankful that I bought this house every single day!!

*and last but not least, I am super thankful for the fact that today I put on my size 12 Abercrombie jeans which I can't even remember the last time I wore them, it was that long ago that they fit- AND THEY FIT!!! Even after yesterdays food!!!!!! Amazing.

Anyway, hope you all had a super Thanksgiving!

Mystery #2

2009-11-23T13:31:00.004-05:00

Ok, despite the fact that mystery #1 has yet to be solved (yes, the sweater is still missing. Actually, it's gone, I've accepted it) I have another oddity on my hands.

So Friday, I came home from school and put my lunch box in the kitchen. I put it on the little console/table thing I have next to the stove. There was a J.Crew catalog there that I had wanted to check out before recycling, and I noticed it looked wet, like the wrinkly dry paper look. Weird. Then I looked on the stove and the cookie sheet that was on there also had water on it. I put the cookie sheet in the sink and grabbed some paper towels to mop up what was on the stove.

Well.

When I took off the burner things and cleaned up the water there was a TON of it. Like sopping wet paper towels to clean it up. WTF??!! Where did this come from? Then I started panicking mentally because the pipes in my house are cast iron which can apparently leak over time. My bathroom is directly above the kitchen. STRESSS. I looked at the ceiling and it didn't look wet. Brought a chair in from the dining room and felt the ceiling, dry as a bone.

So then it was IPS (Introduction to Physical Science, 8th grade) experiment time. I put a layer of paper towels over the top of the stove and the table/console next to the stove and went up to the bathroom.

Ran the sink for a while, ran downstairs and checked for leaks. Nothing. Back upstairs. Flushed the toilet. Rand downstairs. Nada. Back upstairs praying it wasn't the effing tub, how much of a pain in the ass would that be?? Not to mention that I have like $4 in my checking account, which I'm pretty sure wouldn't be enough to fix a plumbing problem that big. Ran the shower for a few minutes, back downstairs and not. a. single. drip. in the kitchen.

Hm. Where in the world did, I kid you not it was probably at least a gallon of water effing come from if it didn't come from the ceiling directly above the stove??????

Weirdddd!!!!

I told this story to Nikki and she was like, "I'm waiting for the 'Oooooooh that's what it was!' moment!" I was like, well, there isn't one, I still don't know where the eff all that water came from. Bizarre.

SCORE!!!!

2009-11-17T15:17:00.004-05:00

So, after some research today, beginning with an email to the Boston Public Library, continuing on to a World Cat database search (library database, I believe for all of Massachusetts), which led me to various libraries across this lovely state that carried Domino magazine, I have stumbled across the Ashland Public Library which has graciously offered to give me four issues of Domino!! June/July 2008, August 2008, September 2008, October 2008- how amazing is that???

I have a few more emails/calls to other libraries but so far, I'm pretty psyched!!!

I need to now research where the eff this library is located (I am familiar with Ashland because the company I worked for the past few summers has an office there- OnProcess Technology) and if it's anywhere near Ikea so maybe we can take a brief detour on Saturday and pick them up!!!

Hmmmmm...

2009-11-16T19:15:00.003-05:00

I have two totally unrelated things to talk about right now.

1. New Kids on the Block Christmas charity show. December 20th in Boston. Tickets went on sale last Saturday. They're already sold out. I saw that they were doing the show, it's at the House of Blues which is small= close proximity to my loves. Small problem- I don't have the money right now for tickets.

So last Wednesday at dinner (my family goes out to dinner to the same restaurant every Wednesday before my brother has tutoring) I brought it up to my Mom and Dad, saying that I'd love to go and that the tickets would be a perfect Christmas or bday (January 3rd) gift and that they went on sale the following Saturday. My Mom said she wouldn't be in town, she left for Canada with my Nana on Thursday to visit my Auntie Jeanne. I figured she's usually really good with gifts and stuff, so that it'd be all set.

Then my Dad just called and was like, hey what are you doing etc. I said I was watching tv, thinking about going to the gym, the usual. He then asked about the New Kids tickets. I said they went on sale last Saturday, but that I didn't have the money to get them. He said, well if you want to order them you can put them on my card, I told him they were sold out (they are) but thanks for thinking of me. He said, oh, Mom just called and was asking. She said she told you to ask me because she wouldn't be here. I said I didn't think she said that to me, that I brought it up at dinner that time, but that was it. He said oh, oh well, well you'll get some Celtics tickets soon! Which I'm also super excited about going to, don't get me wrong. But was really hoping to see New Kids. And I'm half disappointed, half thinking I'm getting the tickets.

My question is this: My Mom is usually on the ball with gifts etc. and I'm wondering if the phone call today was to check and see if I bought the tickets for myself when in fact she had already bought them. Last Christmas she bought me tickets to see Britney Spears but I had already bought them for myself. No worries, I saw her twice so it all worked out- the tickets were for different shows. But I'm wondering if she was worried about repeating that mistake? Or if she really did think of it and mention it to Dad who offered for me to order the tickets. Or if Mom knew they were sold out already and could go that angle with the phone call. Or I'm just thinking about it too much.

Thoughts?

2. The Gym. I went Saturday. And Sunday. Planned on going tonight. My plan was foiled for my usual Butts and Guts Monday night class. I had a dentist appointment in Fall River at 3:30 and the class isn't until 7:30 so what the heck was I supposed to do in between? I don't really want to drive to the city twice in one day. I called my friend Kathy from Durfee to see if she wanted to watch Sex and the City (I've been slowly catching her up on the series) but she had already made plans. Mother effer. Now I'm comfy on the couch with LaLa and don't want to go out. But I feel guilty about my dinner and want to work out. But don't want to get off the couch to do it.

I'm def not making it to Butts and Guts, but maybe I could run. Hm.

Ok maybe I will go because before LaLa was all cute and cuddly next to me on the couch now she's whining at me and it's really annoying.

Just Jack!

2009-11-16T11:46:00.002-05:00

I feel like Jack McFarland from Will and Grace on the episode when he's obsessed with buying stuff from ebay and keeps on being outbid by Dr. Danger I think it was, and he's running around on a scooter, well I guess it would be scooting around on a scooter, to make sure he bids in time to win whatever it is he's bidding on.

Long winded, sorry.

I am constantly checking ebay for domino magazines even though I won't have any money to purchase them until pay day Thursday, it's like I can't stop looking at them! I keep on thinking I'm just randomly going to come across a whole set of the magazines somewhere like at a random yardsale, or some flea market somewhere....yeah prob not going to happen.

In the meantime I'll just continue stalking ebay during my prep periods and downtime at home!

I'm so excited!

2009-11-15T21:02:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited!!! I'm so- scaredddd!

Just kidding, I'm just excited! No Jessie Spanno crazed dancing going on though, just pure excitement!

This week/weekend has so many great things going on in it I just can't wait for it to be here!!!

Let's see. School this week, yeah normal, nothing major. Although I do have my second observation planned for Friday, this time I'll be observed by the principal (which I coincidentally know how to spell because Mr. Belding told somebody that the principal is your PAL so it's spelled princi-P-A-L. Two Saved by the Bell references in one blog post- go me!) which freaks me out, but at this point, bring it on, I just want it over with. So anyway, that is Friday and we'll be working on the Civil War, so I'll need some fun activity for my kiddos on Friday. I guess that is kind of major. Whatever.

I guess I'm also semi-excited about going to the gym this week. I've lost 10 lbs so far (YAY) which makes me want to go to the gym even more. I went yesterday and today. I'm going to Butts and Guts tomorrow night, Cardio Kickboxing Tuesday, hopefully running Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly Cardio Strip Tease Friday before dinner. Probably not though, depends on when we're going to dinner. But anyway, yeah the gym, I'm actually looking forward to going, who'd have thought it!

Thursday is payday, and seeing as my brand new budget goes into effect this week I think I'll actually have money left over after my bill paying and planning etc. I plan on ordering a Domino mag or two off of Ebay (I am "watching" a few different issues that are listed, not sure which one I'm going to bid on yet) and maybe some Christmas cards. I'm thinking these:

and these:

Both courtesy of Parrot Design Studio on etsy.com

Friday night is dinner for Renee's bday, not at all overdue considering her special day is IN AUGUST. Don't judge, we're busy. So it's Nikki and I celebrating Renee and I think we're going to the new Airport Grille which I'm hearing great things about. Yay. Probably a drink or two afterwards somewhere. Good stuff.

THEN Saturday is fun-filled as well. Nik and I will be grabbing breakfast I believe, and then we're heading to Ikea!!! It's more of a scouting trip for me, checking out a possible bed, some shelves, maybe some frames, and who knows what else. I don't think I'll be making any major purchases, but I'll have my camera and will take pics of stuff that I may potentially want to buy on our next trip there.

Saturday night though, I'm meeting Cousin Jess for dinner in Providence and then the Providence Bruins game! How fun is that??

And then to cap of a wonderful weekend, I am going to see Rent in Providence with Josh Sunday night!! I'm so excited!!

Then it's Thanks-freaking-giving! Can't believe it's already here. Not sure what's going on that week, but I do know I want to see New Moon and The Blind Side, they both come out on Friday!!

All very good things, which will no doubt make up for a weekend of going to the gym, rerereading Harry Potter book 7 and going to bed at 8 pm. That is all I did this weekend. Bring on the new week!

I'm so losing it!

2009-11-13T17:31:00.002-05:00

I just laughed out loud at LaLa for a good five minutes!

Like laugh til I snort laugh.....I'm turning into an old dog lady. Who goes insane. Super.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

2009-11-12T13:44:00.003-05:00

my new planner.

I spent a good hour yesterday night transferring dates and such from my old planner to my new one! And by dates I mean detentions, Saturday schools and dentist appointments, no date dates to speak of. Yay me.

I really love my planner. It makes me happy. I'm so glad I went with the purple at the suggestion of Meg and Renee- love!!!

Let's see, what else am I loving....well I can tell you I'm not hating the gym, which in my world equals practically true love! I went yesterday to run because Tuesday night instead of going to kickboxing I had nachos for dinner. The gym was a must-do yesterday as a result. And I'm thinking of making the trek after school today to run again. I ran yesterday while listening to Jessie James' cd:

Which I'm loving.

Also loving Gravity by Sara Bareilles. It's playing right now.

Any other updates? Saw my Durfee crew Tuesday night, that was fun, miss them.

Busy weekend next week! Lemme whip open my planner and I'll update you- ok!

Friday- Dinner with Nikki and Renee to celebrate Renee's bday, um which was in August, yeah we're all a little busy to say the least.

Saturday- Ikea trip with Nik then dinner and Providence Bruins game with Cousin Jess and some of her friends at night.

Sunday- Rent at PPAC with Josh which I'm super excited about.

Ah! I have to go get the detention lists!

Everything I could've hoped for and more!

2009-11-11T15:17:00.003-05:00

Have I mentioned that I love office supplies? It's weird. I love a nice pen, new pad of paper, clips, post-its, anything you can imagine, if it comes from an Office Supply store, I'm loving it!

I got my planner in the mail today! It was backordered, probably because it's so fabulous!!!

It's shiny and purple, first of all.

Second of all it's big. It may not fit in my bag but that's ok, I still love it.

It has two ribbons to hold my place each week with one ribbon and the other one for the whole month view.

I don't even think I can explain all the amazing things about this planner. I'm going to go write in it while watching Ellen instead of typing about it here.

J. Crew love part 1

2009-11-11T12:17:00.004-05:00

Here are two items on sale that I would love to have. If I have any secret (or not secret) admirers who would like to purchase either of these for me, I'd love you forever.

Velvet jacket? Yes. In dark purple? Yes, please.

Sophisticated dress? Sure. In a beautiful lilac? Thank you! Not sure how I'd like it on me, but I'd like the opportunity to try it on to see for myself. Maybe sophisticated enough for a certain wedding that's happening this summer.....

Did I mention they're both on sale?

Oh! I think my planner just arrived! Ok off to the gym so that I can fit in either of these fine articles of clothing in my dreams....

Kinda excited

2009-11-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

to see my friends from Durfee tonight!

Not so excited about the venue- a bar that I think the last time I went there, smoking was still allowed indoors....but whatev, it's about the company!!!

Weird part 2

2009-11-10T10:24:00.002-05:00

So as you know, I've been obsessively looking for Domino magazines. I called libraries. I called magazine stores. I have resorted to the fact that I'm going to have to use ebay to make my purchases.

There is a listing for all 36 issues of Domino. It's listed as "buy it now" for $800.00.

That's almost a thousand dollars for magazines. That is assuming that each copy of the magazine is for sale on ebay for $25.00 which would equal the $800. That though, is not the case. They're roughly $10 and maybe $5 for shipping, but I've talked to a sellar about combining shipping so it's cheaper. Which, estimating that each magazine could maybe be like $15 at the most, I need 33 issues, which would cost me $495, nowhere near the $800 charged for the whole set at once- that's crazy!!!

Anyway, so I'm going to be ordering some, once I have some extra money and let the inspiration reign!!

My sister

2009-11-09T22:20:00.004-05:00

MET BILL CLINTON TONIGHT!!!

She's working the stage door at the Glamour magazine Women of the Year awards dinner and Bill Clinton came in, shook her hand, and he shook her hand again when he left!! I'm so jealous!

And Kerry Washington complimented her necklace- three strands of pearls wrapped with a gold chain with her be jeweled Alexis Bittar white flower pin attached to the side. Amazing. She's amazing.

So cool!!!

I'm contemplating

2009-11-09T18:55:00.002-05:00

purchasing issues of Domino from ebay. I called the local library to see if they have/had copies and they don't. One local library did, and I called but they're closed on Monday, will be calling tomorrow.

I don't know why Domino has become my new obsession. But it has.

I guess it's better than crystal meth or something along those scary lines.

Another little tidbit about me btw, is that when I get something in my head I kind of go crazy trying to make it happen. Domino- google searches, calling local libraries, contemplating calling Boston Public libraries, ebay, you name it, I'm doing it. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. But I don't need to scare you away just yet with my "investigating" skills. All in good time.

On that note

2009-11-08T21:32:00.002-05:00

if anyone has old copies of Domino and wants me to have them, please feel free to donate them, I'll gladly take them off your hands!!!

You may think I'm joking but I'm totally serious.

Weird.

2009-11-08T21:29:00.002-05:00

So in my futile search for my old Domino magazines (wtf did I do with them?????? ugh, anger) I am contemplating purchasing old copies of the magazine just to have. Like from ebay or something. I wonder if libraries had subscriptions and if they did, what they did with the old copies. I'm asking my favorite person at DHS tomorrow, the librarian.

This is just a day of confessions about how weird I really am.

Who searches on their computer for a half an hour (it's been roughly that long) for old copies of a discontinued magazine?

Me apparently.

Sadder than when Domino magazine closed-

2009-11-08T20:42:00.002-05:00

I can't find all of my old copies of the magazine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the heck did I do with them? I explicitly remember keeping them, and I can picture where they were in my apartment, yet I have no idea where they are in my house, if they are in my house....tear.

On a sidenote, on my mission to find these old issues in my house, I ventured into my basement. Let me point out that my basement is DISGUSTING and I avoid going down there at all costs. So I venture down there, and start looking in the little space under the kitchen addition which is bigger than a crawl space but def not high enough for me to stand up [[aww I'm at the part of Wall-E where Eva realizes that Wall-E loves her by watching the footage recorded while she was "asleep" because she had found plant life on earth....if you have never seen the movie you have NO IDEA what I'm talking about...you should totally just go watch it.]] so I'm crouching looking through boxes and I find a bunch of cards and ticket stubs and stuff that I had on my desk in my apartment. I see a hole in the ceiling that was definitely chewed by some kind of rodent and I start searching more quickly. I apparently pick up an old bday card from Meaghan a *tad* bit too hard and it freaking starts playing Mmmbop by Hanson and scares the shit out of me- thanks Meg! One braid! HFF Foreva!

LOL I just lost five years off my life. On the plus side, I found my Wedding binder! And I found the binder I started for house stuff, and two other issues of Domino but I know I had more than four of them saved!!! I'm so sad....

Another problem.

2009-11-08T19:51:00.002-05:00

So recently, since cutting back on the excessive drinking, I've been staying in more, watching movies, getting to bed early, great stuff. Not joking at all there, I love sleeping, so a great night in of a good dinner, movie and maybe reading Harry Potter before bed and I'm a happy camper!

But lately, I've been watching the same movie. Week after week. With a different one thrown in there once in a while, but this one has been my go-to distraction. And it's not like a sappy girly movie, like the Notebook (although there are PERFECT nights for the Notebook, and I've watched that on occasion when you just *need* to cry) or Love, Acutally (which is actually my favorite movie of all time and was a possibility for this evenings movie.)

So without further adieu, my new favorite movie to watch on a semi-constant rotation is Wall-E.

He's seriously the cutest robot ever. And he falls in love. And I cried. Go ahead, judge, I don't care. I love when Wall-E is following Eva around just admiring her, but freaks out whenever she sees him doing this- oh! it's on right now!! He's so clumsy and tries to be all smooth, it's the cutest thing and always makes me laugh!! Oh he builds a model of himself out of trash! I seriously laugh every time!

And I know this is weird, but Wall-E kind of reminds me of LaLa. Yes, he's a trash-compacting robot and she's a Chihuahua, but I see a resemblance. Ok I'm going back to my movie, then I'm going to read Harry Potter (I'm re-re-reading book 7) and go to bed. Feel free to psychoanalyze the fact that I've been watching Wall-E over and over again, and what that says about me. Enlighten me.

I have a small problem.

2009-11-02T13:20:00.003-05:00

It has grown into a larger problem now that time has gone on. And I've learned about blogs. And Google Reader.

See, when I was in a relationship I'd say this started roughly eight, nine, ten years ago? (Good God, it's been that long?) When I was in said relationship, I thought I was going to marry this person and I started organizing things, pictures, information, etc. about that wedding, just to be prepared for when that day came. Instead of a proposal and a sparkly diamond ring, I got a cheating boyfriend, his crazy new girlfriend and shortly thereafter they welcomed a bouncing baby boy into the world. Def far-off from my envisioned future for he and I....

I kept my Wedding Binder, organized into sections based on the ceremony, reception, favors, dresses, veils, bridesmaid dresses, flowers, etc. for when the day would come again when I'd dream of my wedding.

Fast forward five years after that relationship imploded and despite a major lack of new relationships and therefor potential weddings, my obsession with all things bridal has just continued to grow! I partially blame that on two best friends getting married this Spring/Summer and helping them in any way possible. Partially.

One of my Google Reader subscriptions is to the UNBELIEVABLE wedding blog Style Me Pretty which is pretty much the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. Every day, many times a day, the site is updated with fabulous and utterly amazing weddings- real weddings- that are out of this world. Apparently a trend is to take pictures of the bride's shoes, and they're usually like Christian Louboutins or Manolos (I don't even know if I'm spelling either of those names correctly, that's how unassociated I am with those brands of shoes) so never in a million years would these weddings be within my reach, but does that stop me from "starring" (adding to my favorites) the posts in my Google Reader for future reference? Hell-to-the-NO.

I just added another amazing blog- Ruffled. No words. I wouldn't consider myself indie or eco-friendly but vintage? Those are the weddings I love the most!! It's an obsession I can do nothing to stop!

Then from that site I saw this site, which is the coolest thing: Wedding Chic Couture which has the coolest stuff for your wedding day.

I need to stop. I am getting NOTHING done at school and I have a lot of stuff I need to be doing. But they're just all so pretty!!!

How can you not get sucked into all this????

A logical response would be when you DON'T HAVE A POTENTIAL WEDDING TO PLAN.

Except I'm far from logical. I think it's part of my charm.

Food for thought.

2009-11-01T10:56:00.003-05:00

This is weird.

I have no problem going somewhere to eat a meal by myself. Lunch, dinner, as long as I have a magazine or book, I'm good to go. I'd obviously prefer to have someone there with me, but if I want to eat out and no one is around, no problemo, I'll eat alone.

I really want to go out for breakfast right now. It's been forever since I've gone out for breakfast. It may be my favorite meal to eat out for. When I had a boyfriend pretty much every weekend we'd go. Loved that.

I can't seem to go out to breakfast by myself. Which arguable could be the easiest meal to eat alone. I've done New York Bagel by myself but I REALLY want bacon and eggs from a real breakfast place.

Maybe it's because it's generally the meal that couples go out together for? I don't know but maybe I'll grow a pair and go some food!

I'd eat home but I ran out of Cheerios Friday and have no other breakfast foods....

Gloves!!

2009-10-29T11:27:00.003-04:00

I would love a nice set of warm gloves for the winter. There was a pair that I saw in a magazine from H&M but since they don't have online shopping I have no way of uploading a picture, but what I do have are three pairs of Coach gloves that I'm loving:

These are my favorite, and of course they're the most expensive at $128:

These are the most practical of the bunch in grey which would go with both black and brown, and they're a tad cheaper at $98:
These may be the happy medium between the two- cheaper, and a pretty color:

For now, they're just wishes!

Oh and ps, the planner I ordered is on back order from seejanework.com so I'm not sure when I'll be getting it but I hope it's soon!!

I also need new mascara (I'm addicted to Dior Show) and some Frederic Fekkai glossing cream....maybe a trip to Sephora is in order?

Oh!

2009-10-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

And I don't know if people are scared, nervous, feel silly or dumb or what the reason is, but please feel free to comment if you're so moved to.

Maybe that's it, there's nothing comment-worthy lol.

In any case, feel free to comment so I don't feel like I'm blabbing away like an idiot to the world wide web with no one reading.

Which may very well be the case.

Ok enough, I'm going to correct tests.

Fire and Scolding

2009-10-28T13:10:00.003-04:00

No, I did not say scalding, I said scolding.

Those are two words that, in that order, were my morning.

I've gotten really good at getting stuff organized the night before work so the morning is less stressful. So I've been doing the dishes the night before, setting out my bowl and spoon for cereal, knife to cut the strawberries for said cereal, butter knife for pb&j, fork to take pickle out of jar and into baggie, coffee mug cleaned and drying on counter, four packets of splenda for said coffee, and last but not least, my coffee all ready to be plugged in in the am and perk away.

So I did all this last night and this morning got ready, came downstairs and plugged in the coffee pot. Then I got the bread, sugar-free jelly and pickles out of the fridge for my lunch. I start to make my sandwich when I hear that the coffee pot isn't making its usual noises. It sounds sick. So I listen harder, and yeah, not working. So upon further inspection I notice that it looks like the top piece and bottom piece have like, come apart. This is essentially the coffee pot I have:

(cofeeperculators.jpg)

And it looked like it was coming apart where the black bottom meets the silver pot itself. NG (no good.) So I attempt to maybe reconnect it, and when I lift it up I realize it's really light, aka there's no water in the pot itself. I unplug it, use a cloth and take the top off, then the pieces inside to see the actual pot itself and it sparks. So I put cold water inside the pot and it sizzles like a pan you just take off the stove and put in the sink: NG. There's smoke. I open the window to avoid the smoke detector going off. I decide to submerge the whole thing in the sink jic (just in case) so that any sparks or potential fires are put out.

Super.

So I make my lunch, eat my Cheerios with strawberries and head to work. I stop at the ATM first to take out money to buy a coffee. ATM spits my card back out at me and says to contact my financial institution. WTF (what the you know what) I figure my account is negative and just forget about my coffee and head to school.

Get there, am set up for today, ready to collect the kids' permission slips to watch scenes from Roots and Amistad. I watched both yesterday and knew what scenes I wanted to show the kids. I collect the permission slips for block one and two students forgot theirs. I had told them ahead of time that if their parents preferred they could have an alternative assignment. So instead of saying, well sucks to be you, here's your assignment to complete in the library! I said, why don't you head to the office and call home, see if your Mom or Dad could email me and just say you have permission. I sign their agenda books and they're on their way.

Kids are watching the clips, and my classroom phone rings. It's our Principal. SUPER. She asks me why two of my students are in the office calling home. I explain. She asks what the movies are I'm showing. I tell her. She asks when they got the permission slips. I tell her yesterday. She says "Well, I'm sure I made it clear that we would prefer to not have our students leaving class, and now I have them in the office and I am giving them a hard time about being out of class, so we'll talk about this later on."

SU. PER.

Then after the period my department chair comes in and says so....I was like yeah, I obviously shouldn't have done that, I figured it was better to have the kids have their parents email me than to just automatically give them the alternative assignment, he said oh I agree, just you know, if you have to have them call home, have them use the planning area phone (we're on the third floor) as opposed to the office phone (on the first floor, attached to the Principal's office) etc, etc, etc. So ultimately, not a huge deal, but I HATE HATE HATE getting in trouble or being scolded for shit.

So that's how I started my day! Fun!

Now I get to go by Benny's after school and buy a new coffee pot. And never forget to not put water in it ever again.

Oh, also my bank account was not in fact negative, I have no idea why my card was rejected. Another mystery to solve.

Careers I will NOT be pursuing:

2009-10-26T12:56:00.002-04:00

Stripper.

This Friday was a low-key one for me, which was just what the doctor ordered. I didn't go out, laid low, and decided to go to the gym for the Cardio Strip Tease class that's from 7:30 to 8:30. I've been wanting to try it but just haven't gotten there because it's on a Friday and it's at the Fall River WOW which is kind of out of the way, but the powers aligned and I was good to go last week.

Let me just preface this by saying that the music was great (aka BRITNEY, fitting for a class of stripper moves), the instructor was super nice and the other women in the class (all three of them) were nice too. I just could not stop laughing though.

I like to think I'm an OK dancer. I took dance for more years than I'd like to count, I have rhythm, I have choreographed before, granted it was a high school lip sync contest, but we did win first place! So I mean, this shouldn't have been as big of a disaster for me as it was.

Let's just say that the Foxy Lady won't be calling me for my services any time soon....I probably looked like I was having a medical emergency along the lines of a seizure or something. The window that looks into the daycare room from the work out class room, should probably have been blocked, I most likely scared the children.

But nonetheless it was really fun! And I plan on going back again, hopefully bringing some friends with me. Because if there's one way to bond with your friends, it's definitely by group exercise with a stripping theme!

Funny the way it is.

2009-10-22T12:38:00.002-04:00

Shameless Dave Matthews reference there. But seriously, it is!

I *just* posted about the agenda that I want to order from seejanework.com and literally a day or two later I get an email from them saying that if I subscribe to their blog in my reader (btw if you're not using google reader yet you're insane) they will send me a 40% off code for one item on their website!

Cha-ching! $40 agenda? Not for me? $24 thank you very much!!

Now the tough part....which color?

Feel free to comment your thoughts.

Go Bears!!

2009-10-21T11:31:00.003-04:00

So before I run off to our sexual harassment training in a few minutes I have one more funny story about yesterday. Not only did I bless my first block before they left for the day but I misunderstood a voicemail.

So I see I have a voicemail on my classroom phone, check it, it's the guidance secretary. She is just letting us know that we'll be re-instituting our collared shirts on half-days deal. I think, ok I have collared shirts, nbd (no big deal) but I don't really see why a school-wide voicemail was necessary for that but whatev.

I get to work today (in my black Lily Pulitzer polo) and I notice my boss has on a football jersey. Mentally I say, wtf is he wearing? Odd.

Then I run the superlative forms from homeroom down to the first floor and pass a co-worker with a UMass Dartmouth tshirt over a long sleeve tshirt and I think, Wow, he's really dressed down today!

Then, light bulb.

No, not collared shirts but COLLEGE shirts. Which is why the guidance secretary sent the voicemail, because you go through guidance for your COLLEGE applications so let's promote COLLEGE to our students.

Dully noted. (I don't even know if that's the right word for that saying and I like saying it. I should probably find that out.)

UPDATE: I just looked at my blog and saw this post and thought, "Go Bears"? What the heck was I talking about? That's because I participated in college oh, negative percent of the time and forgot that the reference was to the Bridgewater State College Bears....oh if I could go back in time the fun I'd have had in college....