And The Golden Dustpan Goes To.......

.....Mrs. James' class for the cleanest classroom!

We proudly hung our dustpan up on the front board to display for the week.
I can already see that it's going to be hard to give it up to next week's winner.

That's right- my class won the prestigious Golden Dustpan Award for having the tidiest classroom! This was the second week they gave out the award and I won! I hate that I wasn't the very first teacher to receive it (you know how competitive I am), but I'm happy none the less. My kids all started applauding when they announced the winner! They were so proud of themselves.... as well they should be! Every afternoon my designated 'helpers' clean and tidy up the classroom. I bet you've already guessed by this point that I'm just as 'anal' about my classroom as I am about my house.


Some say that cleanliness is next to godliness. I'm not too sure about that- but I know cleanliness is a high priority for me.

So- congrats to all of my sweet peas for doing such a great job of keeping our pea pod spic-n-span!

Aaaahhhhhh - Chooooo

Once again I'm sick. Thursday I awoke with a scratchy throat and a slight case of the sniffles. Friday morning I awoke with the same symptoms. By Friday afternoon I was dizzy, having chills and body aches, had a SEVERE headache, sinus congestion, and cough. I've never gotten so sick so fast. I came home and was in the bed asleep by 5:30. I didn't get up until after 10 Saturday morning. I spent the entire day on the couch with the heated blanket. The worst part about this cold is the headache I've had. It's killing me!

Today I'm even more congested and instead of a dry aggravating cough- my chest now burns and all sorts of yuckies are coming up.

Just great.

If I'm not any better by tomorrow I'm heading to the doctor after work. I hope I can get over this before next weekend. The hubby and I are having a romantic weekend away in Vicksburg at a Bed and Breakfast. Not to mention that Wednesday is our first field trip of the year- to the pumpkin patch- so I will need all my strength to survive the day.

The only thing I hate about working with children is that I'm always sick. Veteran teachers tell me that it gets better with time - as my immune system builds up it defenses. I hope they're right! I worked in a hospital for almost 2 years and only caught 2 colds. I guess people are right when they say kid's germs are different.

Precautions I've Been Taking To Avoid Sickness:

1.Germ X. I've Germ X'ed my hands, and my students hands, so much that they're peeling! I've found I prefer the apple scent.2. Clorox Wipes. Every afternoon I give every student a clorox wipe and we clean the room trying to kill the 'yuckies'.
3. Airborne. This stuff was created by a teacher. You take it to help boost your immune system to avoid catching colds. I take it daily but to no avail. I prefer the Lemon-Lime Flavor

4.Good Ole' Vitamin C. I take one large vitamin C tablet every morning- religously!

5.Hand Washing. Again, same thing with the Germ X. We're washing our hands so much they stay 'pruned'!

If anyone has any other suggestions that I could add to my daily defense plan please let me know. I need all the help I can get!

Mr. Gucci

Yesterday one of my sweet peas said the funniest thing. That's one of my favorite things about teaching kindergarten- the silly things kids say!

I had to speak to one little girl in paticular, whom I'll call Toots (as in short for Tootsie) about talking during naptime. She immediately responded by saying "Please don't move my stick Mrs. James because I really don't want to have to see Mr. Gucci." I said "Who's Mr. Gucci?" She quickly informed me that "Mr. Gucci is my daddy's belt."

I laughed until I hurt! I'll admit, being blonde, it did take me a minute to figure out that Mr. Gucci was a Gucci belt. But once it clicked in my head it was toooo funny! I told her mom what she said and she just laughed and laughed!

So, when I have children and they act up, if 'time out' doesn't work then I'm going to purchase my own Mr. Gucci!

Hilarious!

The Obsession Continues

So, not only do I love the Twilight saga, but I also love the Twilight soundtrack. I downloaded onto my iPod a few months ago and LOVE it! The song I blogged about previously, Supermassive Black Hole by Muse, is one of the songs from the soundtrack. A few of my other favorites are 'Eyes on Fire', 'I Caught Myself', 'Never Thinks', and 'Full Moon'. I added these songs, as well as a few others such as Older, Magic, and some Anna Nalick songs to my player below.

Speaking of Older by Colbie Caillat - It's the best song describing my emotions these days.... Along with her song Circle.

I keep saying that "This Too Shall Pass" but I'm beginning to wonder just when it will pass. I'm beginning to become quite fond of my friend sadness, which I've found is often accompanied by quiteness and seclusion. Then again, I think that's just my depression speaking.

UPDATE

Today I blogged about several things: my girls trip to Mobile, a difficult time I'm going through, my first kindergarten crud cold, and the Twilight Saga. So, please scroll on down to view all of my new posts. I back dated them for the sake of my journal.

So, scroll on down and enjoy!

*Update* 1/8/10

Because I've decided that I'm ready to take my blog off of private I chose to 'hide' several of my posts discussing my 'dry season'. Those of you who had invites when it was private will know what I'm going through. I would still prefer for those insights to be kept a private matter. When I'm ready to bring them to light, I'll re-post them for everyone to read. Until then, your discretion is appreciated.

Thanks for understanding!

Twilight Saga

Last night I finished reading the last book of the Twilight saga. This was such a good saga! I'm so disappointed that it's over! I woke up this morning wanting to read more about the characters lives but then I remembered that I'd finished the book....... sigh.... I really miss the storyline. I guess now I can look forward to the New Moon movie coming out in November.... and then Eclipse coming out sometime next Summer. Also, I'm really hoping that Stephanie finishes writing Midnight Sun - Edward Cullen's side of the story. The rough draft was leaked and thus discouraged Stephanie from finishing the project. However, the latest update on her website stated that she is planning on finishing the book...


Stephanie- please finish Midnight Sun because I'm already going through withdrawals! Also, why not write a book for Reneesme, that would be nice! Thanks!

I highly, highly recommend this series. It's not just some silly book for teenagers. It's a really great story that readers of every age will enjoy! This saga is now my all time favorite story, even beating Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I love, love, love this book!

I'm currently reading How Full Is Your Bucket. I'll blog about it once I'm finished.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Happy Fall! I'm so excited that it's finally officially Autumn! Just a few more days until October =) The early signs of Autumn are beginning to show- hopefully the cool weather will soon arrive!

I had a great artsy weekend getaway and was sooooo thrilled to be in a big city with lots of stores! Needless to say, I snagged lots of cute fall-ish outfits! Fall is my favorite season for fashion!

To me this really is the most wonderful time of the year!




(I still haven't forgotten about posting pictures of my classroom 'mystery' changes! ;) And I'm going to blog about my getaway weekend soon. Stay tuned! )

Gotta Get Away

WARNING
This post is really long! Continue at your own risk!

*I'm a bit late blogging about this, so I'm backdating it*

Since our last artistic outing last October, my kindred spirit, T, and I have been trying to find the time to get away again. It took us almost a year, but we finally escaped! We have been dying to get together and paint again, but just couldn't work our schedules out right. Finally, we were able to get away to Mobile for a charity art event this past weeked. Last year we came back the same night, and it was REALLY late when we finally arrived home. This time we decided to stay the night. So, here is an overview of our fabulous get away!

I picked up T early Saturday morning. We wanted to get to Mobile early enough to do some shopping before the charity event that evening at 6. I think my favorite part of the trip was the girl talk we had on the way down there and back! (T, I think you'll agree with me on that one!) Our first priority of business was to find a hotel. T and I are so much alike- we both are extremely picky about where we stay (blame it on our OCD). So, before we would commit to a hotel we had to check out the room for cleanliness, smell, decor, etc.... We were dressed alike in black shirts, jeans, and black flats (not intentionally, but great minds do think alike!). I swear the front desk workers at the hotels must have thought we were lesbians! They made some comments to suggest we had other intentions besides just 'looking' at the room. It was hilarious! We finally settled on the Hilton and quickly unloaded the car to go shopping. Our room was really sweet!


We ate lunch at the Picadilly cafe and then did some serious shopping! =) We had so much fun! I don't think Bel Air mall was ready for the two of us! My goal was to buy a new Fall wardrobe. I succeeded but the only catch was the boots. I wanted to find some cute black boots and brown boots to wear with my skirts and dresses during Fall. I had a few pairs already, but wanted a different style. However, I decided that since the weather would not cool off for another month at least, there was no point in buying boots then. So, I decided on some cute brown flats and some gorgeous black suede wedges. (I did end up buying boots the following weekend after a cold snap hit! haha). I ended up with several new accessories, purses, dresses, tops and skirts. New wardrobe for Fall- check!

After shopping to our hearts content, we headed out to the charity event. This was a blast! All of the proceeds went towards Ginger Woe's father who is suffering from cancer. Ginger Woe is a local artist who worked with us on our last artistic outing last October. There was wine, champagne, food, and a silent art auction. Here are some pics of our time.....

*Note: The number of fingers I'm holding up indicates how many drinks I've had..... T was my designated driver! Thanks T!

My blank canvas!



Getting Started on my painting- "Java Blues"


Almost done!


Adding the highlights.....

T's pears..... I love them! =)



Loved the flower next to me! Pretty! =)


Number 2....


Number 3....

Yay- I won a door prize!



T and I - number 4....


"Java Blues" by Sylvi G

They had some gorgeous art by local artists at the silent auction. I fell in love with a sunflower... and a biding war ensued. I gave up once I reached my limit..... oh well.... I found another nice piece of art a few weeks later to put in my office.

The Sunflower that I bid on... so cute!


Haha, love it!


Loved this piece by Ginger Woe... so pretty! This was also one of the auction pieces.


Another auction piece....


A Picasso interpretation by a local artist.... auction piece.


LOVED this auction piece also!


Another Picasso interpretation. Going by my mood lately, this melancholy piece is what I should have painted. I think I will paint this at home on my own.

After the charity event, we went back to the hotel. We ended up going to grab pancakes around midnight. It was so nice to eat when I wanted, sleep when I wanted, go where I wanted.... and not have to worry about time or work or the rest of the world! We slept in late Sunday morning and headed back to Target, Bel Air Mall, and Michael's. We made it back home around 8ish Sunday night. We had so much fun! I cannot wait until we do it again! Hopefully we can plan another trip in November to do some Christmas shopping.

T- I had such a great time! I cannot wait until we do it again! =)

Here is the piece I fell in love a few weeks later. I ended up buying it for my office.

Not My Style

I cannot get this song, Supermassive Black Hole, out of my head! I downloaded it onto my iPod and it's now my pump it song when I'm running. Let's just say this song is totally out of character for me- and I kinda like that!


Uhhh..... LOVE it!

muse - supermassive black hole songs
Free mp3 download | free music download

Third Day Curse

I'm cursed when it comes to the third day of school.

Last year one the third day of school I had a student throw up on me.

Today- the third day- I had a student pee on me..... Yep, you read correctly. A student urinated on me.

I knew I had to change clothes but was faced with three dilemmas.

1. I carpool with someone and today she drove- so I did not have my car.
2. I live an hour away so going home/getting someone to bring me clothes was out of the questions.
3. This month our check was not direct deposited... so I had not gotten paid and had $8.47 in my checking account. Hardly enough to buy new clothes. (People who get paid only once a month can relate!)
   

Thank goodness for my dear carpool friend! (I'll have to come up with a pseudonym for her later). She let me drive her car to the mall. I was petrified! She just bought a brand new car... and the way my luck was going today I just knew this would be the time I would have an accident. Thankfully I made it back with her car in one piece! She also let me use her debit card to get some clothes- and I would pay her back once I cashed my paycheck.

Well, I get to the mall at 9:30 and discover that the stores do not open until 10. Big problem considering the entire front of my pants/shirt is covered in urine... and I smelled really bad! I stood outside the gate of NY&Co watching the sales associates prepare for the day.

I was able to convince a very pregnant lady to hear me out for just a minute.... after hearing my story she slipped me into the store. I ran straight to the dressing room and stripped down. She then passed me some wet wipes.... and when I say I bathed in wet wipes, I mean I literally bathed in them! The lady asked me what I wanted to wear and I said "I'm wearing brown shoes so anything that matches them will be fine". She tossed me some pants and a shirt and I was off to check out.... still wearing the tags on my clothes!

I got the name of the sales associate and I plan on sending her a nice thank-you gift! She was really very sweet! I also owe my carpool friend more than just money! She was a life saver!

Lesson I learned in school today: Next year, call in on the third day of school!

As if the peepee story is bad enough, when I left my classroom this afternoon the toilet in my classroom bathroom was over flowing.... YUCK! I left it for the janitors to deal with! I'd had enough 'stuff' for the day! =)

Inspirations

I was browsing the web this evening for inspiring teacher quotes! I had a great first day of school! I have a very bright and sweet group of kindergarten kiddos! I'm excited to see how far they go- the sky's the limit!

Quote of the Week:
"We all have 24 hours in a day."
Ms. Hoppa- you'll get that one! ;)

Here's what I found...

I'm thinking of printing this out and framing it to go in my classroom.... I LOVE this one!

Unity
By Cleo V. Swarat (thanks to Dan for correcting our info!)

I dreamed I stood in a studio
And watched two sculptors there,
The clay they used was a young child’s mind
And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher:
the tools she used were books and music and art;
One was a parent
With a guiding hand and gentle loving heart.

And when at last their work was done,
They were proud of what they had wrought.
For the things they had worked into the child
Could never be sold or bought!

And each agreed she would have failed
if she had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school,
and behind the teacher stood the home!

Teacher's Prayer
Author Unknown

Lord, Please help me,
To strengthen their voices,
bodies and minds,
To express their feelings and
control them sometimes,
To explore what's near
and venture afar,
But most important to love
who they are.

This one was just plain cute!

Two More Days Till School
By: Leslie Kimmelman

I'm finally going to school this year,
and now the big day's almost here.
I'll learn to write and count and read--
Only two more days till school.

I got new pants and shirts and socks,
a brand-new red and blue lunch box;
I'll paint and sing and dance and play--
Only one more day fill school.

My hair is washed, my sneakers squeak,
I'm so excited, I can hardly speak!
New things to do, new friends to meet--
Hooray! It's the first day of school!

Meet Mandy

Look what was waiting on me when I arrived home from class tonight......

My new TomTom..... or Mandy as I've named her. The voice/preference I selected was Mandy... but it was a tough decision as I also liked Lori and Bonnie!

I've programmed in a few favorite places - including work, I know I'm a dork- and I can't wait to see if Mandy has a better sense of direction than I do! This thing has it all- it will even look up gas stations, restaurants, stores, etc... in your vicinity! Pretty neat!

I feel so hip and tech savvy! ;)

This is the free GPS I received for buying new tires.... discussed in this post.

*I apologize for the picture being so dark and blurry. I took this with my camera phone (my camera's batteries are dead). I'm just excited that I was able to FINALLY figure out how to get my pictures onto my computer..... one word - EMAIL! haha

All Good Things

..... must eventually come to an end!

I found this flair button on facebook and thought it was cute!

I've been on summer vacation for three months- but tomorrow I must return to the real world. My days filled with sleeping late, wasting the day away in my PJ's, afternoon naps, and my favorite cooking shows have come to an end. Teachers return tomorrow and a new batch of sweet peas will arrive bright and early Thursday morning!

So, how did I spend my last day of freedom? I wore my PJ's all day, washed clothes, cleaned the house, packed my gym bag for next week, finished up my homework, and did a little yard work! I went to the grocery store the other day and had to think about what I would take for lunch next week..... I haven't had to think about things like that in a while! =)

I will say that the weather was GORGEOUS for my last day of summer. However, it felt nothing like summer. Instead it felt like a warm Autumn day. It was sunny buy very cool and breezy- wonderful! =)

I've said it before and I'll say it again- I'm ready for pumpkins, chilly nights, cool days, hay rides, trick or treaters, jack-0-lanterns, the beautiful colors of Fall, Halloween, and the electricity in the that that signals it's October! October is my favorite month! It will make it's grand entrance in just over a month! =)

Ahh... if only it were tomorrow!

Well, I'm off to try and get to bed early. Maybe I'll get lucky and have sweet dreams of Autumn days!

Wish me luck!

Classroom Cutesies- Part 1

A few weeks ago (before we went to the beach), I was beginning to think I'd die of boredom! So, I decided to go ahead and start on my classroom early- that way while everyone else was working on theirs, I could take the rest of my summer vacation off! Plus, I had several projects that I knew would take alot of time to complete.

Last year I inherited tons and tons of stuff in my new classroom - the teacher before me retired after many years of teaching. While I was greatly appreciative, the majority of her things were not my style. However, I had just signed my contract and was not yet receiving paychecks- so I had to make do with what I had.

This year I went all out! I've spent roughly $650 from this paycheck alone on my classroom. I HATE that I don't have more pictures from last year so you could see just how different my room is now!

Any who- alot of the things for my classroom I've made. I wanted a cute door hanger for my classroom. Instead of paying out the wazoo for one, I decided to use my own flare and creativity.

Here's my creation!
I found these canvases at Big Lots for $3. I bought new brushes for $3. The ribbon came from Wally World for $2. I used the paint I already had in my classroom.

I painted the canvases, hot glued the ribbon on, and VOILA! It has been Sylvia Graced! haha

The whole project cost $8 and only took 1 hour (including the time it took the paint to dry!).


Stay tuned for Part 2 - the most drastic change I made to my classroom! Until then, here's a sneak peak....

Hmm... what on Earth could I be up to?!?

Neat-O

I love this video- and the song! It's really neat-O!

So, turn up your speakers and enjoy!


Shadowed Hand Puppet Show

Reminiscing

Today I felt older.

Not older, as in wrinkled skin, gray hair, aging old..... but older as in I felt like I'd seen a thing or two.

Today was the start of the Fall semester at MSU. There was an electricity in the air- the type that you associate with Autumn. The parking lot was packed- as it is every Fall. And then by October it's died down as many have changed their minds about college. The lines were endless- people standing in line at the bookstore, people standing in line to get their I.D. made..... and so on....

I couldn't help but chuckle as the new students we brimming over with excitement- but nervous at the same time. They were chatting about what degree they were perusing, what their schedule was like, and which class they had next.

To them, it was all brand new and exciting. To me, it had lost it's luster many semesters ago.

Here are some numbers.....

• This is my 16th first day of a new semester....
• 5 years ago I was starting my second semester as premed.... in Birmingham... on a completely different road in life- both spiritually and physically.
  
• This is the fifth degree I've started on- three of which I've achieved. (I decided against pre-med after two semesters).
  
• This degree will the the 4th one hanging on my wall....

Let's just say that when it comes to college, I've seen a thing or two. I know the ins and outs sometimes better than I know myself. So, standing there amidst the buzz of the new students, I felt older....experienced...outdated.

I sat in denial for a good half hour.

Has it really been 5 years since I graduated high school and started summer classes at UAB....

Has it really been 5 years since I was walking the campus of UAB, living in my own apartment, carefree...... utterly spoiled beyond what should be acceptable.

Has it really been almost 5 years since I felt God calling me to teach... I remember that November day as if it were yesterday- the day I decided to move back home and pursue teaching..... longing for the life I now live.

Has it really been 3 years since I was at MCC taking classes full time- all the while working the evening/night shift at Anderson's Hospital... getting only 4 hours of sleep and seeing my husband only on weekends....

Has it really been almost 3 years since I graduated with my associate's degree- and thought I knew it all.....

Has it really been 2 1/2 years since my first day at MSU- I was scared to death.....

Has it really been 1 year since I graduated with my bachelor's, started my master's, smiled for days after I accepted a job teaching kindergarten.... the summer I turned a corner in life.

Has it really been that long?

So, tonight I started on my Educational Specialist degree..... another school year is starting. I go back to work next Monday, and will meet a new batch of curious eyes that Thursday as the students return.

Tonight felt like Autumn...my favorite time of year.... and amidst the sadness I felt as I realized just how much time has passed.... I was suddenly unbelievably content with my life today... just as it is.

Quotes for this week:

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it.
You can't keep it, but you can spend it.
Once you've lost it you can never get it back."
Harvey MacKay

"You never know what's coming for ya'"
Benjamin Button

"Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unattainable.....attainable. Have the patience, wait it out.
It's all about timing."
Stacey Charter

Twilight

This book review will be short and sweet.....


I'm addicted.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I give this book 5/5 .... you've got to read it!

As I mentioned previously, I was a skeptic... but I'm now an addict. I started reading this book Saturday evening around 5 (the hubby and I took the Mustang to the drag strip- so, I had all night to read)- I finished it last night at 8. That means I read the book in just over 24 hours. I'm now on my way to Meridian to pick up the next book, New Moon. Thank goodness that Twilight had the first chapter of New Moon as a 'sneak peak' to tide me over until I can get the other book. I don't think I could have made it through this morning without having my Edward fix! I'm now counting down the days until the New Moon movie comes out in November.

Take my advice- read this saga.

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffeneger

I give this book 4.5 / 5 stars

My good friend, Chickadee, and I are big Eric Bana fans. So, when I began seeing advertisements for his new movie The Time Traveler's Wife I began investigating. Once I found that his new movie is actually based on a book, I decided to give it a try. I'm also a huge Rachel McAdams fan!

I highly recommend this book! The story between Henry and Clare is so unbelievably moving that you become entranced in their love and thus cannot put the book down! =) This is a real pager turner! I just finished reading it about 20 minutes ago and I'm still teary eyed from crying like a baby. I couldn't wait to see what what going to happen to Clare and Henry, but at the same time I hated finishing the book because I didn't want the story to end. I'm definitely going to miss these characters.

The movie opens in theaters Friday. Chickadee and I are going to have a girls night out and watch the movie. I just hope the move is half as good as the book!

In case you've been living under a rock and have not seen the millions of previews on TV for this movie, here is the trailer......

For my next reading love affair, I've decided to take the plunge and dive head first into the Twilight series. I will admit that I've rolled my eyes several times at the mention of the movie or book series. However, I decided to be 'open minded' (there I go again!) and watch the movie. I ended up loving the movie! I bought the book a few weeks ago but decided to read The Time Traveler's Wife first. I'm actually excited about the next installment, New Moon, coming out in theater's in late November. I'm starting on Twilight this weekend. I've heard the book is better than the movie- so, we shall see!

Top 5 Facial Favs

There's nothing like waking up the morning after a beauty night and loving the way your skin feels! So, I thought I'd share my top 5 favorite facial products...

1. Pure Simplicity Purifying Face Mask - Pumpkin




I don't think you can even buy this at Bath and Body Works anymore. I've been using it for a few years now and love it! Needless to say, I have quite a stash of it! =)
It smells like a fresh pumpkin pie - Yummo! This mask is designed to help retexturize your skin - leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and clean! This stuff is fabulous!

Also ladies, this was a product on Oprah's favorite things list about 3 years ago and was named as one of the best gifts for Christmas by Oprah 2 +- years ago.





2. Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Acnescription™ Exfoliating Acne Cleanser



I've never had acne but like every other woman in American I have breakouts from makeup, stress, etc... Bath and Body Works Acnescription cleanser is tough enough to tame acne, but gentle enough to use everyday- even for those who just have a few small breakouts. It deep cleans but doesn't dry out your skin.
$16 at any Bath and Body Works location







3. Patricia Wexler M.D. Dermatology Acnescription Oil-Free Hydrator with SPF 30 for Acne


Moisturizing is key to great skin. Nuff said!

This facial lotion actually absorbs oil. I can only speak for myself, but I can say with certainty that I HATE how my face can sometimes get oily after only a few hours of makeup wear. Most lotions, even those that claim to be oil-free, will leave me shiny. This stuff does not! I can even put it on before I apply my makeup and not have to worry about any shiny side effects! Plus, it has SPF 30!

$39.50 at any Bath and Body Works location



4. Oil of Olay Daily Facial Cleansers Deep Cleansing Cloths




These little scrubbing wipes have it all built in- mask, scrub, toner. I love how they are quick to use, easy to take when traveling, and the price! Each pack contains 30 cloths and can be found at any Wal-Mart of drugstore for roughly $6. I use these in the mornings as part of my getting-ready-for-the-day routine. I use the Acnescription cleanser at night. I prefer the deep cleansing cloths, but they also come in moisturizing and sensitive skin packs.
$6-7 at any Wal-Mart or drugstore




5. Bare Minerals


I was always a staunch Clinique girl until my mom got me hooked on bare minerals. Sorry Clinique! I always hated how sticky and heavy my face felt when I used a liquid foundation and powder.... ugh, Gross! Bare Minerals is so light that I can't feel I'm wearing makeup. I also like their shimmer blush. I've tried to less exspensive versions found at drugstores and found they just do not work as well as Bare Minerals. So, spend the extra money to get the better product. For pricing/plans check out Bare Minerals.

Beach Trip

* I'm a bit late blogging about this- so for the sake of my journal I'm backdating this post.

WARNING: This blog is extremely long and contains over a dozen pictures!

My last post was about our anniversary. Well, that Friday we packed up and headed to the beach. We'd been looking forward to this trip for months! We usually stay at the Hilton Garden Inn (that's where we stayed during our honeymoon). This year we decided to try the condo thing. My good friend Chickadee recommended a few. We ended up with a great condo on the ninth floor- it was ocean front and the views were breathtaking.

So, here is a recap of our trip......

We left Friday morning around 8. We stopped for ice (we brought a few snacks in our cooler), gas, and yoohoos. We ended up eating a quick fast food breakfast and then lunch at O'Charley's in Foley. We were a bit early arriving so we headed to the souvenir shop for some goodies. We had 2 pennies pressed and bought some cute stuff. We started a tradition on our honeymoon of buying a Christmas ornament at the beach each year to commemorate each anniversary. This year was no exception- our ornament turned out to be a pretty sand dollar (it's hard to pick out shell ornaments that acually match my Christmas tree theme of blue, white, and silver). Afterwards we headed out to our condo. We loved the condo! It had so much more room than the hotel plus we were able to bring snacks to cook. We then headed out to the beach to relax! We always rent our beach chairs to save us the hassel- this year was no different. We walked on the beach, swam, sunned, and just relaxed. While walking I found a small hermit crab! I was so excited! I ended up giving it to a little girl and she loved it! Later that evening we went to eat at Bubba's (the live music, margaritas, seafood and fried dill pickles were great!), rode around on the strip for a while, and stopped by a store so I could by some goggles.

We also went to the state park pier to watch the sunset. We had a blast watching the other people catch huge fish! The sunset was amazing! We stayed up late just sitting on our balcony and watching the boats and listening to the sounds of the ocean. Here are a few pics from Friday....

Me getting ready to go and chow down on seafood!

Me again...

The view from our balcony. Gorgeous!

The front of our condo overlooked the main strip. Again, the views were gorgeous!



You could see the bridge to Florida from our condo.
The State Pier

Again...


It felt like you walked a mile by the time you reached the end...

Sunset from the pier...


Me at the end of the pier...
The two of us at the end of the pier....


Again...
Watching people catch fish as we walked back. I was sooo afraid I was going to drop my camera in the water!

Saturday was spent on the beach! It was a bit hazy but the sun finally came out in full force around noon. I looked like a dork swimming around in my goggles- but hey, I caught another hermit crab! We walked to the rocks and Bob helped a boy release a baby sting ray- a foretelling of something to come! Later while we were swimming, I was standing about 2 feet away from Bob when I felt the sand under my foot move. I accidentally stepped on a sting ray! He was about the size of a mazagine but he didn't sting me with his barb. After that Bob wouldn't get back into to water. Scaredy Cat! That evening we were sad to learn that Ruby Tuesday had closed- that's Bob's favorite place to eat at the beach! So, we ended up eating at Hooters. Again, the buffalo wings, margaritas, and fried dill pickles were great! =) Afterwards, we went to the track where I whipped my hubbys boootay at gocarts! We came back to the beach that evening to play in the water and then ended up swimming in the indoor pool. Again, we stayed up late watching the boats and listening to the ocean from our balcony.
Here are a few pictures from Saturday....

Me...

Bob...

Our little spot in paradise...
Sandy toes!
Sunning with the iPod...

The second hermit crab. I found this one while using my dork goggles.. haha

All cleaned up and ready to go eat....

Strike a pose...

The Track....

Bob talking smack.... That's okay- I schooled him!
Me after I won! =)

Throwing down the deuces in my dork goggles! lol

Sunday was a sad day. I did NOT want to leave! We took our time going home. We stopped in Mobile to eat, shop, and visit Hobby Lobby. Unfortunately Hobby Lobby isn't open on Sunday. Luck was on my side and I was able to find cute fabric for my classroom at Wal-Mart (blog on classroom changes coming soon!).

My Sad-We're-Going-Home Face

One last picture of our gorgeous view.....

I bet you've stopped reading by now! =)
And that concludes our beach trip 2009!

We're planning a trip to the mountains for Thanksgiving- just the two of us! =) We're looking at different cabins, but we've never been to Gatlinburg. So, if any of you guys have been before, please feel free to recommend places to eat, attractions, and most of all a good cabin location!