Bloom

I wanted to post about this great Christian online book club- Bloom. I found this while reading the popular blog, Bring The Rain (click the button on the left of my blog to visit this site). For those of you who are unfamiliar with this blog, it is written by Angie, a woman who lost her fourth daughter, Audrey Caroline. This blog is her diary of her journey through losing a child. I read the blog over Christmas break, starting from the beginning, and wept and wept. I encourage all of you to visit this inspiring blog.

Getting to the point- Angie, along with her friend, started Bloom Book Club. They choose a book, assign pages, and each week they post a video discussing their views on the book and how it touched them. You can also chat with other Christian women about the book and how it relates to you.

I missed the first book, Crazy Love, but I'm hoping to go back and read the book along with the corresponding blog posts.

The current book is 'Same Kind Of Different As Me'. Today the ladies posted the first video for this book. They also have a place where you can volunteer to provide books for women who cannot afford them. I'm very excited about reading this book along with them. I love to read, and I love book clubs even more! :) If you are interested, click on the button below to go to the Bloom Book Club. It's not too late to get a book and start with the girls. If you would like to donate books, that would be awesome!

The Lovely Bones

The book was an okay read. To me, it sort of dragged on- for example, you find out in chapter 1 who kills her, so there's really no mystery to the story. (This is only my opinion). The hubby and I went to see the movie last weekend and I was sorely disappointed. I'm not sure I would recommend this book, or the movie for that matter.

Just in case your interested, and haven't seen the previews on TV, here's the movie trailer.

The Lovely Bones

The book was an okay read. To me, it sort of dragged on- for example, you find out in chapter 1 who kills her, so there's really no mystery to the story. (This is only my opinion). The hubby and I went to see the movie last weekend and I was sorely disappointed. I'm not sure I would recommend this book, or the movie for that matter.

Two Four

I'm now 24 years young. I can't believe that- as my mom says- next year I'll be a quarter of a century old.

It feels like this should be my big 25th birthday- I think I'm going through my quarter life crisis. You laugh, but I'm beginning to wonder. I sporadically bought a new car, Friday I made the life-changing move from blonde to brunette, and lately I've been on this 'I Need A Change' kick. Then again, maybe it's just something in the water I've been drinking.

Any whooooo- I had a great birthday! The hubby took me on two different 'b-day' dinners, we went to see 'The Lovely Bones', and he made me the sweetest home-made card! :) Awww.....

Today I met my good friend T for coffee this morning, I met my hubby for lunch in Livingston (we ate at this really good Amish restaurant, yummo!), spent some time with my daddy, then my brother took me to dinner this evening. I was off of work today so it was nice to just enjoy my day with the ones I love most!

It's bee a great four-day birthday weekend! I have a feeling I'm going to have trouble getting up in the morning! :)


On a side note- I am planning on posting pics of the new 'do. However, I'm going back on the 28th to add some more dark low lights (since my hair was soooo blonde, alot of the color is already washing out). I'll post pics of the final product!

cute finds at pb

I decided to go ahead and order a few birthday gifts to myself, from myself, haha. Yes, I buy myself a birthday gift every year. Weird, I know. I also found some cute items to place on the 'hint, hint' list for the hubby. While browsing through one of my favorite places to spend money, Pottery Barn, I came across several cute finds.....

I love this door mat- definitely ordering this one. It's also $29! Cheap, for pottery barn.

New table lamps have been on the list for home improvements. I came across these and love the idea of being able to place objects inside the lamps! Hmmm..... can we say birthday gift! =)


I've been looking for new bedding for our master bedroom. Our bedroom furniture is the same color as in this photo. I have some light blues now, and was really wanting to get back to white (too bad I already gave away the white bedding we were using before... bummer). I think I've settled on this bedding, but I still need to find pillows (not a fan of the tan, but would love these pillows in white/blue stripes.

I've been looking for slip covers to go on our couches- just to change things up a bit color wise. I haven't found any I've liked thus far- at a reasonable price. Any suggestions on where to find some simple, inexpensive slip covers?

I will admit that I have 'the fever'. So, I couldn't help but browse through the nursery items. I absolutely LOVE this nursery! I'm so tempted to go ahead and purchase it just to already have it when God blesses us with a little one. When the time does come this will definitely be where my inspiration will come from........... adorable!


Happy Friday :)

on a happier note

I finally have good things to blog about! =)

Yesterday was MY day. So many good things happened. First, my principal finally came and did my mid-year evaluation. It could not have gone any better! I am so glad that is over with! We are scored on a scale of 1-4, with 1 being bad. I made all 4's. The only bad thing was that another K teacher asked if she could observe me teach reading, math, and maybe science. Awkward. I do not like having people watch me teach- especially my fellow teachers.

Let's see... what else. Oh, I'm getting 2 college students in my classroom. They have to do many hours of observations before they can enter the Eduaction program at MSU. They'll be in once a week from 8-12. At first I was NOT happy about this, but I've began to see the positive side. When I did student teaching my first placement was horrible. At one point I almost dropped out- the teacher was that bad. Now granted, these students are not doing student teaching, but I can still use this as an opportunity to show them the good side of education, give them good resources they can use one day, and hopefully spark a love of teaching and children in them.

On the moving front, my kindred spirit, T, has been helping us look for a place. She called last night with some good news. If everything goes according to plan we will be moving by the first of February.

I called and made an appointment with my hair stylist. I'm going to go from this blonde, blonde, blonde hair to..........brunette! I finally settled on a color and I'm ready for the change! I will definitely post before/after pictures. This is just my season of change- new hair color, new house, new car....

Yesterday was our first day back at MSU. I was happy to have a class from 4-6, and not 6-10. Even better was learning that this class is hybrid, so we only meet a few times. This is the way my other class is also. It's going to be so nice to be able to come straight home after work, spend some time outdoors, cook dinner, and actually sit and relax for a few hours instead of making it home after ten every night.

But, the best thing that happened yesterday was.......... having the principal announce that school was canceled today for a SNOW DAY! And, there's a good chance we will not be in school tomorrow either. So, I just got out of bed and I'm still in my PJ's. Here's to a snow day spent on the couch eating comfort food in my pajamas, sipping hot chocolate, watching Food Network, and doing some reading!

*update* School was also closed for Friday! Yay!

Now, all I need to make this day complete would be the SNOW. I don't think it's going to happen, but here's to hoping!

Make A Wish

When I was a little girl, my brother and I used to pick dandelions. We would hold then up to the sun, make a wish, then blow the seeds away...... We called them 'wishers'.


Once again I sit dreading what tomorrow brings- back to work and another semester of school. Yet, at the same time I find myself daydreaming of the possibilities that this new year brings- the hope of moving in the next few weeks, finishing my Ed.S in July and taking a much needed year off from the doctorate program, the beauty found when winter relinquishes it's grip and allows Spring to resuscitate the world, lazy summer days spent talking with my Dad while enjoying a cold Coke, finding my way back to where I'm supposed to be.....

Once again, I'm hoping for the future. I feel the exact same way I did this time last year. Earlier I read this post from one year ago and gasped when I realized just how fast 2009 disappeared. I'm still counting down the days until Spring break, etc... That's just who I am. However, this time around I'm not wishing time away- instead, I want to savor every minute.

At times, yes, life can really stink.

But every now and then, life is utterly beautiful- and is further illuminated by the peaceful hope ushered in by new year.

So....
Close your eyes and make a wish.
Now is the time dream.

October, November, December

I am still alive- believe it or not.

The past few months have been a blur. Good things happened. Sad things happened. I needed a break from things- even blogging. I'm still in my gloomy frame of mind.

But alas, I'm back. I've been debating on how to catch my blog up on the past few months- at times I considered just leaving those three months as a mystery.

Lucky for you, I changed my mind.

October

The hubby and I took a well needed get-away to Vicksburg, MS. I'm a huge history buff and had been planning this escape for months. We stayed at a fabulous B&B, called Anchuca Mansion, click here to check it out.



I survived another field trip to the pumpkin patch and began counting down the days until Thanksgiving break.

November

I cried almost daily over my stats class.

Decided on a whim one Tuesday afternoon that I wanted a new car. That same day I drove home in a brand new $32,000 2010 Camry XLE (without my hubby even seeing it yet). A few days later, on Friday 13th, I made it official and put my name on the car. Of course,the first thing I did was put limo tint on it! I cannot stand riding in a car that doesn't have tint. I hate feeling like everyone can see me.... silly, I know. I love my new Camry. It has every option you can imagine (but for $32 K it better be loaded, right?).

The Camry the day I brought it home (before the tint).

The Camry next to my trusty old Altima. When I was 18 my mom bought me this car. I walked on the lot, picked out this brand new $25 K Altima SL, and she paid cash for it that day. That was a once in a lifetime opportunity! The Altima was the car I drove to my honeymoon in and had when I graduated college. Hopefully, the Camry will be part of many new memories, like bringing my first child home from the hospital in. =)

Over Thanksgiving break I killed a 5 point buck while hunting with my Daddy. This is a memory I'll forever treasure.


December

On December 2nd I took a personal day from work to take care of a few things. Everything went well and I could not have asked for a better day. A big thanks to everyone who sent up prayers!

Went to the movies all alone (felt so old in doing this!). Watched "The Blind Side" and fell in love! Awesome movie!


Finished up the semester and did some much needed celebrating. Thank goodness I passed stats!

Survived my class Christmas party- still not sure how I made it out alive. I was recognized during the Christmas awards program as 'growing the most students on the Winter CPAA assessment'. I was thrilled and very proud of my students. Needless to say, my class rocks!

I was a grinch this year and skipped several Christmas parties (including the faculty party at work).

While everyone else was counting down the days until Santa came, I was counting down the days until I could take down all the silly Christmas decorations. Yeah, it was that bad.

Was ecstatic that the hubby bought me John Mayer tickets! He's coming to Birmingham on Feb. 9 and I'm planning on going with my friend Mizz Hoppa. I know you are soooo jealous! (I also highly recommend his new album, Battle Studies. I posted a few songs from this album on my playlist at the bottom of my blog- 'assassin' and 'edge of desire are my two favorites').

Finished reading "Dear John" by Nicholas Sparks. Now I cannot wait to see the moving coming out in January!




I bet you've stopped reading by now! =)
You are now up to date!

Happy New Year