miscellany monday

I'm linking up with Carissa on this Monday.  My brain is exhausted and miscellany is about all I can pull together! :)

 

I so miss sleeping in with this cutie every day like I did in the summer!

 

 Just when I didn't think I could love Target any more...I had a discovery...

Cup holders!! IN the Target cart!!

I have two different Targets I go to.  The one I usually go to isn't a new Target and therefore they don't have the cup holders.  The new Target I get to at times, do.  (I realize I may be way late in the game on this one.)  When I walked in and found these, I thought I might squeal from excitement.  I've said that carts need cup holders forever.  And now two of my favorite things go hand-in-hand--a cup holder and Target. Mucho love.

This is the lovely glider we found for sweet Adeline's nursery.  Yet another awesome piece found at our local antique/flea market.  I'm not only in love with the way it looks, but also the deal we got! This only cost us $39 and had recently been reupholstered! Be still my thrifty heart!

miscellany monday

Joining up with Carissa today for Miscellany Monday!

1.  My faith is restored...In Wal-Mart.

I bought all of the above for $21.30...saving $10.09 on this trip! But something I did that helped me out was price matching.  I was so hesitant to do this...it just seemed like too much effort and not worth it.  Silly me...it was super easy! Bring in the ad, or print out the ad online, tell the cashier which store has the item and for what price.  Wallah.  They change the price with no questions. (I did this for Triscuits, strawberries, and grapes.)

And let me add, I got two freebies due to their great prices and utilizing coupons.  Ivory bar soap...free.  Tank top...free. Love it.

2.  I have professional development today and tomorrow.  Work? In the summer? Gross.  (Yes, you can call me spoiled.)

3.  I've learned lately that being short is sometimes a difficulty.  But being short and pregnant is something else.  Point proven as you watch me get into our new truck (which I'm driving at the moment until we find a new vehicle for me.) This truck sits up kinda high and doesn't have running boards.  I'm thanking Ford for making a handle on the top of the inside of the truck so I can climb myself into it.

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4.  Reusable ice cubes are destined to make our lives easier in this house.  Justin works outside and, therefore, packs a cooler for lunch.  Ice is important.  It's especially important in this crazy heat.  I found these awesome reusable ice cubes at The Container Store this past weekend.  Hello time saver!

5.  Today starts the second week of my summer break. My first week was perfect.  Relaxing, productive, and laid-back.

Monday-Morning walk with Cheri, lunch with my mom, ran errands
Tuesday-Morning workout, found great deal on changing table at local flea/antique market and bought it, lunch with Page, cooked-out for dinner
Wednesday-Morning walk with Cheri, lunch with my mom and dad, relaxing evening at home
Thursday-Went out of town with my mom for our annual church conference at which I was a delegate (vote on certain decisions for the church) and she's on the board of trustees, meetings during day, dinner and nice, relaxing evening with my mom
Friday-Morning worship service at conference (very inspirational), meetings, afternoon of shopping with my mom, spent evening hanging out with my dad and Justin during my mom's evening meeting (they came to meet us so Justin could take me back home since my mom and dad stayed around town to meet up with old friends and my mom had more meetings), then we all had dinner together and Justin and I headed back home
Saturday-Slept in, cleaned, worked on our yard and mulched all of our beds, went fishing and had a picnic dinner with our best friends, Chad and Cheri
Sunday-Church, lunch with family after church, went to grocery, went back to church for mission trip planning meeting

Perfection.  I have a feeling (or at least hope) they'll all be this way!

miscellany monday

It's been a while since I linked up with Carissa, so I'm excited to do so today!

One-- We've had numerous snow days lately.  And in all honestly, I'm loving them.  What's better than an unexpected day off where your hubby is off as well? And let me be honest about something else, I get really tired of hearing people say, "Just wait until June when you're still in school."  Really? Hm, I had no idea.  (Yep, that's sarcasm.) I'm okay with it...so please quit trying to make these sweet blessings seem not so great.  They are just what they seem...perfection!

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Two-- We are temporarily attempting to live on one income right now.  Justin's job is off and on during the winter, so whatever he makes we're putting straight into savings (or using toward any unexpected expenses each month).  How awesome is God that he blesses you tremendously in times where you think it will be so rough? Our budget balanced at $0 today when I re-hashed it all.  Nothing extra, not at a negative...zero.  That $0 tells me that God is once again supplying exactly what we need.  What a precious blessing.

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Three-- Am I shallow if I say that The Bachelor makes my Mondays a little brighter? If so, I think I'm okay with that.  It's a couple hours of relaxation that I need after a non-stop day of orchestrating the every move and every second of the day for 22 nine and ten year olds.

not mine but they look just as delicious!

 Four--I made homemade, made-from-scratch, chocolate chip cookies last night.  I have no idea what got into me...I'm usually a break-and-bake type of cookie gal.  They are scrumptious.  Perfection.  I'm convinced I may need to own a bakery one day...all my recipe triumphs are sweets.  (And I sort of felt like I finally arrived as an adult and wife when I had everything needed to make them in the cupboards.)

Five--I love reading everyones pregnancy updates.  Maybe more than I enjoy reading books.  Okay, actually, more than I enjoy reading books.  Really, I'm living vicariously through y'all.  I'm at peace with that...and feel so blessed to learn from all you sweet ladies for when I'm in that season of my own life.

Six--Whew.  It's felt good to be random! I have missed this!

miscellany monday

It's been too long...so I'm very excited to be linking up with the lovely Carissa today!

One-Yikes.  I am a bad, bad blogger lately.  Even some of my mom's friends have commented on the fact that I'm not posting lately.  (To those friends and others that are thinking it...I'm so sorry! I promise I have some ideas coming...and I am re-prioritizing my life a bit which will lead to more posts.)  Honestly, blogging is my outlet.  I love it and how it allows me to free my thoughts.  Seriously, if I don't write...I'm so unsettled! Thanks to those of you that are so supportive and kind enough to inspire me to keep up the blogging!


Two-Contentment.  One thing that is really, really lacking in my life right now.  Whew...advice would be more than lovely on ways you have overcome times like this in your life.  I'm feeling it like I never have.  However, I am so thankful for one thing in this season...that I have the steadfast promise of Christ's love and His grace in my life.  He loves me through all seasons and all soul battles and I know He loves me far too much to leave me in this struggle for too long and He definitely won't let me come out of this unchanged in one way or another.  (Um, yep, that's a run-on sentence from this 4th grade teacher and daughter of a grammar-crazy mother.  Forgive me, Mom...I'm leaving it that way.)

Three-Thanks to those of you that joined in on the link-up.  I've always enjoyed joining them myself...and it was equally fun and encouraging to read all of your great posts you linked up! You gals are so creative and inspiring! Hope to do the same thing for the Christmas season!

Four-I mentioned back a couple months ago that one of my goals this year was to take things a day at a time.  Surprisingly (well not...because it's totally through God's grace and help), it's working.  I have had moments of pressure and stress thinking ahead this year, but for the most part, I have taken it a day at a time! It has been such a blessing to see how it has changed my daily perspective in the classroom and how I approach each lesson (well mostly) with eagerness and excitement.  It's also caused Fall Break to sneak closer and closer without me really noticing....I love that!

Five-We've decided to get a security system for our home (well besides our vicious pup)! ;) I'm excited that it fits in our budget.  It's something I definitely want when we have kiddos, so we've decided with the great pricing they're offering right now, we're going for it! What do you all think about your security systems? Anyone out there have them and have positives/negatives to share? 

Isn't being miscellany so much fun? Feels good for the soul! Happy Monday y'all!

miscellany monday

One-Oh my goodness.  Literally I feel like that the past two and a half weeks has been one extreme whirlwind.  I don't remember starting school throwing me for such a loop the last two years.  The crazy thing is it hasn't been stressful, just busy.  We have started a new math program and are using a new addition to our curriculum, plus we have changed how we do our planning.  All of these things have seemed to make it near impossible for me to catch my breath.  I think that maybe, just maybe after this week I will have a new method to my organization madness and things will be a bit back to normal.  My goal:  not to bring a 20 pound bag of school stuff home every night to work on.

Two-Not that I ever really got into Oprah (I have just watched her here and there)...but I think it's kinda sad this is her last season.  Kinda the end of an era.

Three-Two words:  Jersey Shore.  Justin and I stopped on that show for a few minutes the other night and watched for the first time.  Seriously the most crazy, random, ignorant show I've ever watched.  I decided that you must have to be influenced by something other than life itself to actually get into that show or understand even a glimpse of the humor.  Pure craziness.

Four-I've only shot a gun once.  It was when my dad was holding it and I sorta got to hold it with him.  We shot at a muskrat that was messing up our pond on our family farm.  (Pretty redneck moment now that I think back on it. Ha!)  But I would shoot one again if the pit bull that comes running into our backyard quite often ever went toward Boone or my hubby.  Whenever he hears us in our backyard (which is often), he runs through his fence (which his owners continue to leave unfixed), and comes straight toward Boone.  This Sunday while I was upstairs, I heard Justin slam the basement door and then heard Boone yelping and barking in a way I had never heard him do before.  Well needless to say, I looked out in the backyard and there he was--in all his pit bull glory.  I'm not trying to judge, and yes I'm probably jaded by all the stories on the news, but as Justin tried to "shoo" the dog out of our yard, it jumped at him.  Um yep, that's enough for me to consider shooting a gun for the second time in my life.

Five-I'm craving fall.  It always hits me once I go back to school.  I love, love, love summer...but I get so excited when I see fall clothes coming out and the leaves start to turn colors.  So comfy, cozy!

Six- I might, just might be slowly moving toward the Mac side.  I've always been a PC kinda gal...but after having two in a row and having my iPhone, I'm a little antsy about having a Mac instead and trying that side of the technology world.  Any advice or tips for you gals out there? PC or Mac?

Now, go join the lovely Carissa's miscellany monday and link up for yourself!

miscellany monday

One-

 Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear theblessedlife,

Happy Birthday to you!

image source 

Today marks one year for my blog! What a fun journey it has been and I pray it continues to be! Thanks to all you sweet people that read and comment.  What a joy it is to get to know you all and read your blogs as well! What started out as just a fleeting thought a year ago, has turned into such a special place in my life where I'm able to express myself and share and reflect through a passion of mine, writing.

Two- I'm going to warn you that the only posts I may be able to muster up here for the first few weeks of school are these great link-up type posts.  Please forgive me...every ounce of creativity is being used to make some intense 4th grade content material exciting for 21 little minds.  Pulling out some creative-genius type posts (even ahead of time) is a little much for me at the moment.  Thanks for baring with me!

Three- I won't confess the fact that our Saturday night entertainment was lying on the couch together and trying to come up with every hilarious (clean) video we could think of on YouTube to watch.  This amazing one was one we may have watched at least five or six times.  How do you give birth to such cuteness?!

Four-  I will always have a love for sweet tea.  I am from the south.  Those two things go together.  But the thighs don't seem to appreciate the sweet tea as much as my tastebuds do.  Because of that, I have gotten myself back to drinking unsweetened tea (for some of you this is the only tea you may know, but for us southern gals, it's the "next best thing").  I am loving unsweetened iced tea with lemon right now.  The more ice and the more lemon, the better.

Five- This weekend I was able to catch up with a childhood friend at a friend of ours wedding.  Isn't it so awesome how you can go forever without seeing or talking to someone and still be able to enjoy each other just as much as you did when you were inseparable in elementary school? It was so wonderful to catch up and to even laugh about things that happened back in high school.  The best is when those things make you laugh as much as they did when they actually happened.

Six- Don't tell my hubby.  (Just joking, I've confessed this to him too.)  I've really never gotten into the whole "Disney World" thing.  He grew up going there and loves the place inside and out.  I grew up loving all things Disney princesses, but only went once when I was 5, and never really got into Disney that much.  But I am getting really exciting for Disney World.  I didn't think I would...but I am.  If nothing else, for the fact that my hubby and I will get to be together for six straight days without anyone else (besides the thousands of people at Disney) or anything we have to do.  Can't wait!

miscellany monday

One-No I have not abandoned my blog.  Or reading your blogs.  We just got back from a wonderful family vacation to Washington D.C.  and I have not had time to blog or really be on the internet much at all.  It was a nice break.  Pictures to come and I'm looking forward to catching up on my blog reading and posting this week!

Two-I have yet to open our crock pot after two years of marriage.  However, I'm planning on dusting off the box, bringing it out from the basement, and using it this fall and winter.  I know some people swear by their crock pots. What are your favorite (easy, yummy, and healthy) crock pot recipes? Please share!

Three-Couch to 5k begins this week.  Yikes! I'm getting so pumped, though.  And I'm hoping (and praying) this excitement rubs off on my hubby...poor thing.  He's so busy with school, work, and side jobs that I'm hoping he can squeeze in the time here and there for us to train together.  I'm so looking forward to getting my body into shape.

Four-Is it normal to think your first born might not be as sweet and well-behaved as your puppy-child? Seriously...I'm the oldest in my family.  I know how all the hardcore attention, parenting, and spoiling goes to the first child.  Well Boone gets treated pretty well for a dog...more like our baby.  We often laugh about this and wonder how in the world we will get a human baby as "well trained".

Five-I'm not trying to be political or anything.  Really...I promise.  But The View?...really President Obama? Come on.....don't you have better things to do and, shall I add in there....more important things to do.  (Needless to say, we didn't see him while we were in DC....he was too "busy".)  I just feel like it's kind of like the rule that a parent shouldn't be their child's friend, but instead their parent.  I just don't think the president should go for the popular role when he's supposed to be the leader of our nation.  That role should be beyond the control of popularity status.  Do your job....and do it well.  Beyond that, it doesn't matter what people think.  Okay, I'm stepping off the soapbox.


Six-I forgot how hilarious my 20 year old little brother is.  (I'm talking tears in my eyes...trying not to pee my pants funny.)  He really had me laughing so much over vacation.  (And then when you get him and Justin going together...that means even more stomach cramps from laughing.)  He is my little bro, and of course we still "pick" at each other here and there,  but I so enjoyed being around him this past week.  With him being away at school and me so busy with life in general, I don't get to be around him enough.  I love that I truly enjoy being around my family...what a blessing.

Seven-Our pastor shared an amazing message on Sunday morning about the importance of radical giving as a christian.  I love, love radical giving.  We're called to it as Christians and it simply makes life so much more joyful.  Have you ever paid for the car behind you in the drive-thru? Ever left a huge tip just because? Have you ever given of your time even though you were incredibly busy? If so, you've been Jesus to someone.  I just love that!

Happy Monday and Happy Miscellany to you today.  Enjoy the day. 

miscellany monday

One-I'm directionally challenged.  Really, I can get lost so easily. I am very thankful for my Garmin because of this.  And I'm pretty sure this may be one reason that God gave me my hubby...he's the opposite of me and can find his way around anywhere.

Two-At this point in the summer with just a couple weeks of freedom left, I really try to remain in denial that school is starting so soon.  My classroom is pretty much ready, but if you're a teacher, you know how many more little details haunt you until the kiddos are walking in the door and you just have to realize you've done all that you can to prepare.  That constant thought about it coming so soon is quickly forced to the back of my mind quite often right now.

Three-We now have a wireless printer and I'm thrilled.  We found a great deal we couldn't pass up.  Love that!

Four-The only time I have been out of the country is to Eleuthera in the Bahamas for a mission trip...a gorgeous outer island.  It was gorgeous.  Stunning.  Seeing the Caribbean is something completely different than seeing the ocean here in the US.  Since that was about three years ago, I'm ready for another stamp on my passport.  I would love to travel out of the country again sometime soon.  On my list of must-sees are Italy and Greece...but I'm open to adding to that list.

Five-Have you seen the movie preview for Despicable Me? The part where the little kid just won the stuffed animal and she shouts out, "IT'S SO FLUFFY"? That makes me laugh so hard.  Justin does a reenactment really well and I randomly ask him to do so I can get a laugh.  We've decided that this part alone is enough to sell us on seeing the movie!

Happy Monday! Now go link up your own miscellany to Carissa's blog!

miscellany monday and an anniversary

This Monday is extra special to me because we are celebrating our second wedding anniversary! I'm blessed to be married to an amazing man of God that serves others willingly and invests in others without any reservation.  He's my best friend and simply a wonderful person.  So this miscellany monday post is dedicated
to my love.  

One-You love me for who I am.  You claim you wouldn't love me if I wasn't my goofy, sometimes negative, sometimes a little ditsy, self.  I love you for you too.  You're charming, always positive and never putting up a fight self.  

Two-About that fighting stuff.  You don't get too worked up.  Ever.  I can be steaming at the ears and stomping around the house, and you still take a deep breath, let it pass, and hug me until I have to give in.  I love you for that.

Three- I roll my eyes when I hear another "zoom" or ruffling of an exhaust or motor coming from your computer, but really I love that you're so knowledgeable about cars.  Its' your thing, and I appreciate that.  I look forward to the day you teach our son all about cars and get him into projects with you and the day you teach our daughter how to change her own oil and check her tire pressure.  Your knowledge is manly and I love that you're a manly man.  

Four-Your love for God and ability to take the time to truly hear what He is speaking to you inspires me.  You are always willing to give your time to mission trips, working with the kiddos at church, and investing in lives.  You always let your kindness and joy for life shine.  What a blessing God created when He created you.

Five-You're an amazing puppy-dad.  You play with Boone, throw the ball in the lake for him at least a thousand times when we go, you find the perfect sticks for him, and you let him cuddle up with you on the couch.  This can only mean you'll be an even better human-dad.  In God's time, I can't wait to have kiddos with you.  (I hope they get your great personality and are as chubby as our chubby baby pictures combined.)

I could go on and on.

I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with a second year of marriage that has nourished our love even more.  As you always say, keep God at the center and we'll only grow closer together.  That's my prayer for this next year together.  Whatever falls into our path, may we continue to look at our amazing God and grow deeper and more passionately in love with Him and each other.  I love you babe....happy 2nd anniversary!

(leaving our reception)

miscellany monday

 

Goodness, I am finally taking a moment to participate in Miscellany Monday.  Love it! But I haven't joined in quite a few weeks.  I'm making a point to do it this week because it's just too much fun to pass up!

One-I blame Jimmy Buffet for my crazy yearning to go to the beach.  I was already longing for it like crazy, but then Justin and I watched some of his fundraiser concert for the gulf coast last night. I grew up going to the gulf coast every summer.  This summer we aren't.  Not because of the oil spill but because we already had a different summer trip planned.  My heart really yearns for the ocean...no joke.  There is no place that I see God's beauty in His creation more than sitting on the shore of the water.  I can find a peace there that no other place brings.

Two-We have baby twin deer that hang out with their momma right around our house.  They are almost always by our neighbor's tree across the yard.  But sometimes they show up in our backyard to bed down, or by our mailbox, or in the woods on either side of our house.  They are spotted and so adorable.

Three-I am hoping my teaching career allows for another shark dissection sometime.  (I never thought I would have said that.)  My first year of teaching was the year that my grade level dissected sharks.  First year of teaching! Yikes! I was terrorized and traumatized by the thought.  I had never dissected anything in all my school years.  But I survived a week of having six dog fish sharks in rubbermaid containers in my classroom.  With awesome volunteers we somehow managed to dissect the sharks with (very dull) dissecting tools, found whole parts of fish that had been swallowed, and I loved every minute of it!

Four-I have a crazy obsession with naming our unborn (and/or un-adopted) children.  Really.  I've decided it's an obsession.  I'm not saying what names I really adore just because those will be shared as the right time comes.  I will share that I love the idea of strong biblical names, strong family names, naming kiddos something unique so that they have a unique identity, and naming a kiddo a strong name that gives them a story to share.  But know that I have a list in my journal and am always saying to Justin, "Hey what do you think of.....?"

Five-Bugs love me.  Mucho.  It's like my skin screams "besame" ("kiss me" in espanol).  My ankles were eaten alive this weekend at my husband's grandparents' estate yard sale.  Justin's grandpa had amazing apple, pear, and peach trees that the bugs must love.  While we were cleaning things out getting ready for the yard sale, they left their midday snack of fruit and snacked on my ankles.  Gross.  The same thing happened to me a few summers ago on our mission trip to the Bahamas.  Two words.  Sand fleas.

Six- I love seeing wind turbines.  If we could, I would have one in our backyard.  I just think they're so cool.

Seven-My current health kick is trying to train myself to eat less.  Really, I'm one of those people that can just eat and eat if something tastes good.  I kinda ignore that "I'm full" voice sometimes. :) So I'm trying to make sure to have a to-go box when I leave a restaurant and have enough food left from dinner to have leftovers for a second meal.

Okay, that's all.  Happy Monday and happy miscellany! (I actually enjoy Mondays during the summer!)

miscellany monday

One-My real life best friend, Cheri, just started blogging! I'm so excited! She's such a crafty gal and so funny...which I can tell is already coming out in her writing.  Her and her hubby are our "double date soulmates".  We love them mucho.  Do take a moment to stop by her blog...I'm sure you'll enjoy reading! I'm already hooked.  Click here to visit Everyday Blessings.

Two-I'm head over heels.  For a cup.  A clear, plastic tumbler from none other than Target.  It goes with me wherever I go.  I love, love that it meets all my tumbler needs: lid, straw, and doesn't sweat.  Seriously....if you are as into drinking (non-alcoholic beverages) as I am...and love a good to-go cup whenever you can find one....this tumbler was meant for you too.

image link

Three-We celebrated a Happy 1st Birthday times two for our adorable twin nieces this weekend.  What a precious blessing these two are (and their big bro, Cooper, is as well)! Don't let the "unsure" looks on their faces confuse you....they loved diving into their strawberry cupcakes once they got going!

Gentry

Hadley

Four-I'm having a hard time being random today.  I think it may be all my unfinished grad school assignments lurking over my head.  Boo.  Hopefully I'll be back to my random self soon.

Five-I have a weird thing about these miscellany monday posts.  For some reason, I can't end with just 2 or 4 or 6 random thoughts.  It just bothers me.  I have to end on an odd number of items to make me feel better.  OCD? Maybe.  Weird?  Probably.

Happy Monday!

miscellany monday

It's that time of the week again!

One--Today I have been pondering how long you are considered a newlywed.  Just how long is it? Until you start to get gray hair? Until you have your first kiddo? Until you are calling each other "honey" which, no offense, but gag...I cannot get myself to call Justin "honey"...it's "babe" or "baby" around this bungalow...which may make you gag and that's okay too.  Anywho..I'm wondering because I wore a "Life is Good" newlyweds t-shirt today to class and someone said "aww, how long have you been married?" and I said...well actually almost two years...I just like the t-shirt.

Two--When in the world are teachers going to have to quit "jumping through hoops" to simply do what they are called to do and are passionate about...teaching kiddos.  Period.  That's it.  That's all I signed up for.  This grad school thing is getting my blood boiling....Two words---research proposal.  (Maybe it's not just teaching and you feel the same way about your profession...)

Three--I love and adore Lean Cuisine's French Bread Pepperoni Pizza...I could probably eat one for lunch every day of my life.

Four--I have been super productive in my home improvement projects lately...including some new areas for me...and I cannot wait to share the projects and details with you.  Now if I could just find the time to upload the pics and write posts ahead of time so I actually share them with you...

Five--We are eating only preservative-free, grass-fed, free range, [insert other key organic term here] meat and poultry around here.  I am loving it! It's a little "movement" I started in our home and Justin has quickly gotten into it as well which makes me so happy that it's something we have decided and changed as a couple.  I am so happy we finally switched over and can be at peace knowing we are keeping our bodies free from all the unnecessary "junk" in meat and poultry that isn't this way.  To each his own...no pressuring here...but it's been a fabulous change for us!

Six--I love that our puppy loves water.  We live on a lake and he loves when we go to the dock let him swim.  It's definitely when the lab in him comes out to play!

I could go on forever...this is keeping me from having to work on my research proposal after all.  Happy miscellany!

miscellany monday

One--I'm double dipping in this miscellany monday because I also just adore A Frugal Friend's Mailbox Monday.  (I've always been a multi-tasker...I hope linking up double isn't a bloggy faux pa!) Check out what I got in my mailbox the past couple weeks for FREE!

-gobs of pantene shampoo and conditioner

-lotion samples w/ spf!

-FREE coupon for mac and cheese

-Prilosec samples

(I pass these on to my grandpa...love being able to give away freebies!)

-cascade dish detergent actionpacs (LOVE these!)

-John Frieda samples

-P&G coupon booklet

-toothpaste

-Dr. Scholl's shoe insert (ummm...but who can use just a righty?)

-my beloved TOMS I won thanks to Lindsey's fabulous giveaway!

 I ordered the olive color and they truly do go with anything.

Two--Does the annoying "on-hold" music bother anyone else as much as it does me? Oh my...that's enough to get me started on the wrong foot with the person about to pick up on the other end.  Needless to say, I was very kind to "Michelle" when she explained tonight on the phone just why our mortgage payment had mysteriously gone up....lovely little surprise.

Three--Did you know? that you can get permanent marker off a whiteboard by using a dry erase marker? Well I didn't but one of my smart 4th graders did.  One of my little sweeties (we will say) accidentally (I hope) wrote on our board with a permanent marker.  Well my smart student took a dry erase marker, traced directly over the box drawn with permanent marker, grabbed the eraser and erased the line....walla! The permanent marker mark was gone!

Four--I rearranged my kitchen counter tops this weekend.  Why do I have the crazy need to do that so often?! But it does make me happy!

Five--We are sweating like crazy in our house....our AC unit is out...the 90 degree temps sorta snuck up on us.  Thankfully a nice AC guy is coming to fix the problem soon.  Until then....we are loving box fans!

miscellany monday....yay!

One--We finally decided this weekend to sell my car.  I wrote a letter to it here if you're interested in the history I've had with my car and our little "spiff" right now.  The best part of this....we're not making payments and we're not going in debt for this.  I'll clue you in on all the details on how to get on track yourself to do this once we work through all the details and the new gently used, shiny, automobile is parked in our little bungalow's driveway.

Two--I'm slowly attempting to get over my like obsession of Diet Coke.  I so love the bubbly, fizzy goodness of this drink.  Boo to that nasty fake sugar i'm pumping into my body, though.  I mean really...it causes awful headaches when weaning myself from it...doesn't that say enough in itself about the crud I've been drinking for the last 7 or 8 years of my life? My alternatives....water and unsweetened tea with lemon.  I am convinced I will get my diet to the place I want it to be before trying to get pregnant in a few years...not when we're already there.

Three--My puppy is scared of me.  Seriously.  I am the "meany parent" that gives him his flea and heartworm medication each month.  For some reason now, that's all he thinks I want when I tell him to "sit".  He lowers his ears, tucks his tail between his legs, hunkers down, and fastly walks to the nearest table to get underneath and hide from me.  Used to it was just when I started to get into the cabinet where he knew his medicine was....but now....he associates the word "sit" coming out of my mouth with, "oh no...mean mommy is ready to give me that nasty medicine."  I would probably hide from my mom too if I thought she was going to put nasty oily stuff down the whole spine of my back.  Justin loves this and the fact that he now gives his daddy more loving and has recommended Boone and I take time to really bond this summer and build our relationship back up.

Four--After today, I have 9 days left of teaching this year.  I am beyond ready to let one of my kiddos tear that final link off of our summer countdown paper chain.  I jump for joy inside each afternoon when we take one more off the chain before going to the buses.  Don't get me wrong...I will probably cry like a baby on that last day of school when all of us teachers stand outside and wave to the buses as the kiddos leave us for the summer...because I'll be waving to my first group of kiddos that I have taught for two straight years in a row.  I know them so well and, in a way, I feel like I have sorta raised them during the days the past two years.  We do spend more time in the classroom than at home.  But oh my do I need a time of relaxation and rejuvenation.

Five--I love randoms! And I love that the sweet Carissa at lowercase letters by carissa graham. has opened up her "miscellany monday" to other bloggers out there in bloggy world.  Go check it out and link up too! It's always fun to be a part of a little bloggy party.


Blessings on your miscellany!