Six Word Saturday

Unfortunately the only words I can think of right now are all of the 4 letter variety. This will have to do:

Fought with Fondant, barely escaped unharmed.

To play along, read Cat's post here. As for me, I'm partying with the 9 year olds all day. Later!

Flashback Friday

The Young-un 2004

I think he may have found his calling... carpet weed-whacking.

Thankful Thursday

I think it goes without saying that I have a lot of stuff. If I'm being truly honest, I think a more accurate statement would be I have a lot of crap. Each January we do a massive purging to make room for Christmas presents, birthday gifts, and the house guests we tend to have each spring. This weekend is the young-un's birthday party, which will bring the grandparents, and family friends from Louisiana. Which meant my "storage" room needed to reclaim it's life as a guest room, and the "play room" need to transform back to the loft.

Any other person might lose their sanity in the face of this situation. It might cause said individual to devour an entire box of tagalongs. But no longer! Today I am thankful for my two BFFs, freecyle and Craigslist. Unused coloring books? put em on freecycle! Kid's camping set still in the box? Picking up a couple of bucks on the list. I ♥ these websites! And its good to know my stuff is going to someone that has a use for it.

There's a light somewhere, I'm sure

I had a lot of big plans when January rolled around. I love lists, and I made several of them while sitting under the blanket watching a month's worth of Tivo. Some involved home decorating, some were recipes to try, some were lessons I wanted to try in my classroom. I just looked at my desk calendar and realized that this is the last week of January. Really? I've already fallen 27 days behind? Sometimes it feels like I move in slow motion while the world around is spinning at a furious pace. I wish I could be as productive as some of my teacher friends, but I honestly don't know where they find the time. I am booked from the time I wake up, till the time my husband pries the laptop from my hands at night.

Throw in birthdays, baseball, family visits and whatever social obligations that have squeezed themselves onto the calender and I think maybe I'll be out of this tunnel by March... oh wait. Nope, that's when we start spring break/easter plans. Uggggghhh! Here are just a few of my half finished projects/ to do list items:

I bought this hideously mistreated storage bench off craigslist this summer. Yes, I said summer. After many battles with the Mr over it, I finally agreed to just get rid of it. Until I came home to find this... (right beside his new power sander)

And how far has that storage bench progressed? After three types of sandpaper, a steel bristle pad and a layer of paint stripper, here's the back.If anyone has any suggestions how to get the green paint off, please let me know. It's driving me crazy!

When we tired of breathing the paint chip filled air of the garage, we decided to tackle the 3-D puzzle of the Sydney Opera House the Mr had received many Christmases ago. The problems began when trying to read these.

Let me just save everyone else the headache and say that if the puzzle has directions, you should just walk away. Walk. Away. It looks so pretty and tempting and such a team building activity...Then it turns into a frustrating mess of puzzle/cardboard/throw away pieces. Progress has grounded to a halt and I refuse to do anymore work on it.

Oh look, it's the kitchen table. Formerly known as the crafting table. But after much cajoling, and because who doesn't love to put together IKEA furniture on their 3 day weekend, I talked the Mr into my very own desk. In his very sports oriented office.

It fabulous no? It even has little spindle-y dividers on top that I can put my ribbon on. However, the creating of a space for me, meant that the entire office had to be re-arranged. Furniture, computers, bookshelves, all the "extra" items that wandered in (you know what I'm talking about). And of course, I needed to organize all my stuff...

I'm still bringing boxes of scrapbook paper downstairs (from my closet where they were hidden away) and have found lots of little goodies that I totally forgot about buying. I may even be inspired to do a little goodie bag giveaway soon.

So, I know there's a light, it's just getting really hard to find it when both my morning and evening commute are in the dark.

Guess Who's coming to dinner?

Reservation for 2? Yes please!

If you're looking for me tonight, I'll be at Saltgrass with my not-so-secret celebrity boyfriend, Jeff Bagwell. If you'd like to stop by, I'm sure he wouldn't mind signing a few things, and he may even have his company pick up the tab. I may even let the Mr join us :)

Six Word Saturday: Resolution Update

Girl Scout Cookies can ruin Resolutions.

To play along with six word Saturday, read Cate's post here. I am now off to the Farmer's Market to try to combat the evilness that is peanut butter paddies!

Flashback Friday

Prom 1999

Little brother got more than he bargained for at his Senior Prom... his sister as the photographer's assistant! (can't you just feel the love?)

Thankful Thursday

By the time Thursday rolls around, I am worn out. And by worn out, I mean ex-haust-ed! And it usually sneaks up on me... I'll get everything planned out on Monday then BOOM- it's already lunch on Thursday. With that in mind, my Thursday thankful may sound a little strange, but without it, I would be giving up by Tuesday instead of Thursday!

Today, I am thankful for Crossfit. Yes, that's right, I am thankful for my butt-kicking, sweat creating, asthma-attack inducing workouts. It's one of those "hurts so good" experiences that makes me wish it was over, until it actually is over. I can't begin to explain the transformation I've made both physically and mentally from this program.

Physically, I've lost 15 lbs and 7% body fat in the past 12 months. I can walk up and down the stairs several times without getting winded. I can "run" my 400m in under 1:20. I can juggle kettlebells. I can do 357 Tabata reps.

Mentally, I'm more focused. I have more energy. I leave all my stress behind on the gym floor. I'm happier, and want to do more than just hang out on the couch. I'm proud of myself for finishing each workout, and I know that I'm setting a positive example for my son (he loves to jump rope at the gym).

So, thanks Crossfit for helping me find a way to navigate the insanity of my life and feel better while doing it.

Is there a cure?

I think I have an inaugural hangover. We watched coverage in my history classes yesterday, discussed past inaugurations, played inaugural bingo and I fell asleep early last night listening to the music of the neighborhood ball. I'm pretty sure I'm suffering from Obama

To make your own Obamicon, go here.

*I do realize this post in no way makes up for not posting since Saturday. I promise I'll get back on track :)

Six Word Saturday

Went to gym. Sore all week.

To play along with Six Word Saturday, read Cate's post here.

Flashback Friday

Sadly, my pro career never materialized.

Thankful Thursday

Ok, after yesterday's little tantrum, I am trying to recapture my zen. Deep breathing, some good wine and a seriously yummy joy of almonds apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate helped me let it go...*AHHHHHHH*

So I thought I'd take a minute to be thankful rather than be stressed, or be frustrated. The first thing I'm thankful for is

He's been going through a lot lately, but he goes out of his way to help me when I'm about to fall apart. Like eating the "experiment" chicken I made when I was feeling all Top Chef inspired (ginger, curry and chili powder aren't that good together). Or finding deals online and ordering them for me (my super snazzy cricut expression comes to mind). Or cooking dinner for me when I come home from a grueling crossfit workout and can barely stand up. Or washing all this weeks pots & pans because I h-a-t-e to wash dishes and needed the sink empty. Or clearing out my side of the garage so I wouldn't have to dash through the rain/cold/dark to get in the car every morning. Or emailing me at work whenever there's a free starbucks coupon on slickdeals. Or driving me 7 hours to see my family several times a year.

Thank you for being the one I come home to every evening and for finding all those little ways to let me know you love me. I'm thankful you're in my life.

Need a minute.

I have been at school all day with 8th graders. During exam week. With a cold front. And I'm pretty sure there was a full moon at some point. I even held tutorials during my lunch. I have literally been in the room with students since 7:30 A.M. I visited with my high school visitors (former students) until 4:20. And then I arrived home to this.

That little red light blinking away. Who could it be? A call from my congressman? A congratulations you just won the Publisher's Clearinghouse call? A hang up? Oh, no. That would be a little too much positive to balance out the negative in my day. It. was. a. student.

Please, please, please, do not call a teacher at home to ask about homework. I beg of you. I am not a DR. I am not "on-call". I do NOT need to be reachable 24 hours a day. I have a teacher web page and e-mail. I even have voicemail at school. I do not need to come home to your voice on my answering machine too.

*ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH*

Ok, you may now resume whatever you were doing, I'm off to check about an unlisted number.

What's girl to do...

I need to make invitations for the young un's birthday. I really need to get them glued together. This mess needs to turn into a finished product pronto.











But just when I sit down to start the process, I hear it. That magical theme.











How am I supposed to get things done now? It's 2 hours people! It's like a train wreck you can't help but watch...






But I did manage to get one done during the commercials. Only 11 more to go :)

New website addiction

As we sat downstairs tonight, enjoying the now Christmas Storage bin-less living room, the Mr draws my attention to a stack of paperback books hiding beside the couch. The conversation went something like this:

Mr: What are those books?
Me: Need to go to half price.
Mr: You read them all?
Me: A couple of times.
Mr: I was reading this one website where this guy mentioned something about his wife having a ton of books just laying around because she'd already read them, and there's this website that lets you swap books. I'm just saying.

That was his loving way of saying, you have too many books that you pay big bucks for, read a couple of times and then leave all over the house. I will admit that I am happiest curled up on the couch with a book, and I can't go to a bookstore without making a purchase, so maybe he has a point. My solution? Paperback Swap. This site is like a giant swap meet for books. You register (for free) and list books you no longer want. For your first 10 books, you get 2 credits (2 credits= 2 books for you!) to order books from other members. If they don't have a book you want, you can add it to your wish list. I spent about half an hour looking through books and found several I wanted. There are books on quilting, political thrillers, study guides and children's books. I am in love!
The library is great, but I'm horrible at returning my books on time. With paperback swap, the books are actually yours to keep (or re-list once you've read them). How fantastic is that? If you're a bibliophile, this is a very cheap (the cost of postage) way to get books, or to clear out your stash. Enjoy!

Six Word Saturday

I saw this concept while catching up on my blogging today, first at Angie's, then followed it back to Call Me Cate. The idea is to sum up your week in six words. She got the idea from a book (that I may just have to get my hands on) and I'm all about being to the point (insert eye roll here). So here's my week in a much shorter version than my previous post:

School started again. My brain didn't.

P.S. Thank you Fabulous K for my lovely new look. What a fresh, fun way to start the new year! Head over to see more of her drool worthy designs!

All in week's work

The first week back after Christmas Break is usually a nightmare for teachers. The kids aren't back in their sleep routines, the teachers aren't back in their sleep routine and nobody wants to be there. Throw in the fact that this year my district scheduled exams for after the break and you have even more fun. It has been a total headache of exam reviews and geography bees and trying to keep resolutions. I made it in by 7:30 every morning, which did help in feeling more on top of the day, but by the afternoon, I only made it out by 4:30 2 out of 5 days. It's amazing how many post its I've written to myself by the time 3:30 rolls around...

Add to the school routine the Mr's band schedule & rehearsals, the young un's upcoming birthday, teeth cleanings, spring sports schedule & all the normal appointments of the week, and I don't remember why I thought things slowed down after New Year's. I did make an effort to stay on top of things this year, for my own sanity. I started a family calendar at Cozi, that keeps track of every one's schedule and will also send reminders to my cell phone. I can also create shopping lists or things to do lists. The best part is that it's online, so I can add/delete events from anywhere (like during my planning period--goodbye post=it's!) and so can the Mr.

That way I can see which weekend we have free to take all the Christmas boxes back to storage :)

So pardon my lack of blogging this week, I'm still trying to get back in the zone and get the schedule under control.

A little multiple choice

I do not like driving to school in the A) rain, B) cold, C) dark, D) all of the above?

Let's go with D for the moment shall we? And why do I not like rainy, cold, dark mornings? Because rather than dropping off the young un a block from school, I drop him off in the nice sheltered covered drop off area, along with the other 470,000 parents. Seriously, My longest "wait time" in this line pushes 45 minutes. AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHH!

After school wasn't that much better (though the sun did manage to make an appearance), as my computer decided to load my personal settings for 2 years. It made me miss my 4:30 exit. *tear*

*wow, that is a really scary picture of my forehead. Sorry!*

And while I'm pretty sure I should go to sleep soon to ensure that my morning commute stays the course, I find myself drawn to the Whatever, Martha mini-marathon on FLN right now. The vicodin and muscle relaxer make it all sooooo much better.

Resolution Shmesalution

Day one: Arrived at school 7:25. Paleo meals for breakfast and lunch (pork chops--yummy!) Left school at 3:15 to visit the Dr about my lower back pain. Got meds. Semi-Paleo for dinner (spinach salad with turkey, apple, walnuts & a little blue cheese that I was too lazy to pick out). Took meds--vicodin is my BFF! Tried to facebook, but the pain meds don't mix so well with wall posts (think drunk dialing!) so I'm off to bed with the audio of the Fiesta Bowl lulling me to sleep. Hook 'em!

Christmas Wrap Up (Part 1)

Christmas was a little different for us this year. Normally, we have a house full of family to celebrate with, but recent events left everyone homebound. So our Christmas Day was a much quieter experience.

The young un gets his first look at the presents

"Just what I wanted!" (can you beat that smile)

The Mr. took a unique approach to name tags (To Ewe, From Mi)

Favorite presents? That's easy!

"Louisiana Girl" Flat Wallet
Hunter Pence Astros Jersey

Everything :)

Our Christmas Day was relatively low key. We set up Magnetix roller coasters, stored jewelry in a lovely new jewelry armoire, and tried out the bluetooth. We also took a trip to our favorite cinema- Alamo Drafthouse- for a late lunch and a Bedtime Story. Movie was cute and a light hearted touch to the festivities.

The day after Christmas was as loud and chaotic as Christmas Day was quiet. I braved the 7 A.M. Target crowd for a little gift card shopping spree. Let me just say that $200 will buy you a lot at half off! I was back home revelling in my success (mercury glass candle sticks, red glass birds, glass trees) by 7:45. I'm already planning all the fantastic displays I'll be able to create!

But that was only the start of the day, we still had to pack up all the remaining Christmas presents and hit the road for a 7 hour drive to good ole Russ Town for the second half of our family Christmas celebration. The celebration that involves lots of food, and a serious game of bingo. The celebration I'll blog about later :)

Making a list

Alright, it's 2 days into 2009 and I suppose I should set some goals to work towards this year. I'm pretty sure that the 30th birthday played a huge part in the resolution making for 2008, and surprisingly I found myself sticking with a few, like Crossfit and drinking less soda. Unfortunately a few of them didn't make it past the first month, like organizing personal paperwork and cooking. Rather than dwelling on the things I didn't accomplish, I've tweaked them into more clear, manageable goals.

Personal Resolutions:
Crossfit 3 times a week.
Run/Walk for 30 minutes 2 times a week.
Menu Plan Monday during the school year.
Paleo 4 days a week.
One day a month technology free (No phone, computer, Tivo).
Take a girl's only trip.
Start Etsy Store/Craft Booth.
Blog at least 3 times a week.
Eat out once a week.

Work Resolutions:
Arrive at school 20 minutes early.
Leave school by 4:30 each day.
Develop 4 on-line lessons.
Analyze data rather than just signing off on it.

Family Resolutions:
Visit one new place each month (park, event, festival, restaurant)
Family dinner at least 3 times a week.
Family game night once a month.

Alright, there they are. In writing for all the world to see. Blogging and resolutions go together right? For accountability. For shared successes. For shared failures. I'll share mine if you'll share yours :)

Year in Review

I've been stressing over the first post of 2009 all day. I have been on hiatus for the past week, and it seems like so much happens in the week between Christmas and New Years. My head is literally spinning trying to decide what to write first. I have resolutions, but before I look ahead, maybe I should take a look back first.

A- Astro's Spring Training Camp. It has been a dream of my husband's to go to spring training for a long time, and this year we got an opportunity to attend 3 games in Kissimmee.

B- Bed & Breakfast. We had a mini vacay to San Antonio this summer to the fabulous Beauregard House.

C- Cake Decorating. In an effort to "broaden my horizons" I took the Wilton Cake Decorating Course.

D-DCI. Drum Corps International took us to both California and Indiana traveling with the Mr.

E-Express Baseball. Season tickets are hard to come by, but through the wonderful world of Craigslist, we scored some amazing seats behind third base.

F-February Flu. For the first time ever, both the Mr and I had the flu. It was a miserable month.

G-Getting Older. I turned 30 this year, and have to say it was a little scary. I still find myself looking in the mirror, and thinking, man, I'm in my 30s.

H-Hummer Happening. Boys+H3+Dirt=Fun!

I-ICU. My brother spent 11 days in ICU in November after a head-on collision. After 24 days, he was released from the hospital, making what the Drs called a miraculous recovery. He is currently attending PT twice a week, and his brain seems to be getting back to normal. I would say he's at 85%.

J-Junk. We have a lot. We sold it. Thank God for Craigslist!

K-Keeping up with the Chreste's. I finally started a blog :) And it's become a lifeline to friends in other cities.

L-Launch. While in Florida, we found ourselves just in time for a night launch. Endeavour lifted off at 2:30 A.M.

M-Mii. I can't lie, the wii is addictive. It started with a little guitar hero, and moved to hula hooping. I can even play darts from my couch!

N-NKOTB. I attended no fewer than 4 New Kids concerts between ages 12-14. It made perfect sense to see if they could still reduce girls to tears with just a smile on the reunion tour. (And, yes, they could).

O-Orange Crush. Fall league Division Champs.

P-Parties. We threw an underdog themed birthday party (for boys and dogs), a pretty in pink baby shower and a pretty happening New Year's bash.

Q-Quitter. Usually I preach the virtue of following through, but in this case, quitting as cheer coach was the only way I could save my sanity.

R-Ruston. We found plenty of reasons to visit the homestead last year: wedding, birthday, Peach Fest, football games and an unexpected hospital visit.

S-San Francisco. I made my first visit to California to spend a couple of days with the Mr. On one of his off days, we road tripped to San Fran for a day of baseball and wandering Fisherman's Wharf.

T-Texas Motor Speedway. 2 races a year give us a chance to visit with old friends and enjoy a little dutch oven cooking courtesy of dad. Our family has been going since the track opened and we always have a great time (whether it's 102 or 32).

U-Untapped potential. (of my cricut, that is) I think I watched that infomercial a thousand times before begging the Mr for one. I do not know how I did anything before this magic machine :)

V-Victory for Louisiana Tech. 2 big wins that I got to witness: Mississippi State and the Independence Bowl.

W-Wedding. Lil Bro got married in February. Yes, the flu February. He had it too. It was a bit on the stressful side with 2 people sick the week before, but in the end, when the time came, it was perfect.

X-eXercise. I love crossfit! This has been the first time since college that I have worked out on a regular basis every week. And the effort is paying off...

Y-Young un. The young un had an eventful year with his first year of kid pitch baseball, 2 airplane rides, a dozen webkinz, meeting Nolan Ryan and being a 3rd grade pioneer.

Z-Zany. From January to now it's been a zany ride. Reconnecting with old friends, pink hair, being in a horror movie, being stuck in O'Hare for 15 hours, dropped cakes, trips to Canton in the hundred degree heat, Corpus with 150 band kids, The great floor renovation, trying to load drum major podiums on the top of the Hummer and countless miles of travel.

So there's our 2008. I wouldn't have it any other way.