Awesomeness by Mistake

Tonight I decided to make chicken tortilla soup. I made it sometime last year and it turned out awesome. This is what it looked like...

The reason I was excited to make it right now is because I got one of these for Christmas...

This cast iron pot is amazing.
So anyhoo, I was making my baked tortilla strips to put on top of the soup and when I started cutting them, I had created the coolest tortilla strips ever! Behold!...

I would tell you how I did it, but that would make no sense. Maybe sometime. Don't you love it when something awesome happens by accident!

I Love Lucy

I have been waiting for this year's Lucille Ball calendar and yes indeed I received it for Christmas. (yay!) The calendar is amazing. Each month is a different bright color with pretty flowery frills and swirly designs and a gorgeous portrait of Lucille Ball. I highly recommend you go to the calendar store and peruse it.

She is stunning.

Here is a preview...

Each year, the Lucy calendar is themed around "I Love Lucy", which is fine, but this year's was so wonderfully different.

Many people (well, some of you do) don't know about my long-time love for Lucille Ball. I have loved her since before I can remember and I have collected I Love Lucy and Lucille Ball memorabilia for a long time. I even drew a portrait of her when I was in high school (with all the intricate shading, rubbing, and what-not) that turned out amazing. It is one of my most prized possessions.

(Yep, I did that!)

Lucille Ball loved making people laugh and she didn't have to try very hard to do it.

She was awesome and I love her. I think everyone has their person from "a little before their time" that they simply love.

Who do you love?

Sedona, Refrigerators and Christmas! Oh my!

Diana and I took our overnight trip to Sedona on Sunday just to get away and spend much needed time together. We had tons of fun. We ate amazing chicken salad sandwiches at the Brewery in Tlaquepaque (*most fun word to say!), saw a living Nativity and walked around looking at all the touristy stuff. I can't believe this gal and I have been best friends for so many years. Best 17 years of my life!

Tonight, my other BFF (Becky) and I are doing the Christmas lights date. It's gonna be awesome. Cant wait!

Onto stuff that is not so awesome (Grrr face >: ) Yesterday after I drove home from Sedona I spent some time with my mom and then went home to meet Josh there just as he was getting home from work. As I walk into the kitchen I am greeted by a puddle on the floor in front of the fridge. I say to myself "What the heck!?" and yell "Josh, we've got a problem!"

So I open the freezer door and things are all soft and not frozen. Great. We have only had the fridge for the five years we have had our house. It's still practically brand new. We moved into our house the week of Christmas in 2004, SO since it has been five years I immediatly said, "the warranty isn't good anymore. I'm sure we didn't get the 5 year warranty!"

I go to look in the file cabinet and there, right in the area labeled "Appliances" is a folder with "refrigerator" written on it. (Uncle Gene is awesome at making sure I have things when I need them, because it was written in his handwriting!)

Anyway...I open the folder and the first page I see is the warranty information... dun dun dunnnn! I look at the coverage start date :Dec.23, 2004. The end date: Dec. 23, 2009!

I screamed as Josh was talking to his dad on the phone and I'm pretty sure my father in law can't hear out of that ear anymore.

Anyway, after calling and dealing with a woman who was very hard to understand and only added to my frustration, I got an appointment for someone to come look at it, but the first available wasn't until Wednesday. We had to take EVERYTHING out of the fridge/freezer and throw most of what was in the freezer away.

The upside... Josh's parents always had a really old fridge in their garage that they would just use for drinks and extra storage. A few years ago when they bought a new kitchen fridge, their old one went into the garage and we go the really old one for our garage. It keeps things so cold and I was glad to have that to at least put in all the stuff that I could save.

We'll see what happens when the repair person comes to look at my poor ice box.

Oh, ya...the saddest part of all...we got everything all cleaned up and wiped out and then we sit down and say "let's have a nice cold drink"...then we realize...we now have no ice.

I kid you not, I took two glasses over to our neighbor's house and asked for ice. They filled our glasses and gave us a whole ziploc full (which we can still keep in the garage fridge's freezer :)

Christmas is in 3 days!!! Aggghhhh!!!!!! So excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Posts in One!? Awesome!

The Holidays are here!

Well, first, let me say that science camp did happen and of course it went GREAT! I am so lucky to have a class I love so much. I actually have fun with my students (even when I have to "yell" at them for stuff. (I never really yell, it just seems that way to me. I can think I do it and then my kiddos say stuff like "what? you never yell at us!") That makes me smile :)

Another great part of school life is being able to work with my best friends. Ya, we're lucky. My teammates are the most awesome people I could have ever gotten to work with.

(*I am posting this picture despite how awful I believe I look in it.)

(Cameras really do add ten pounds. )

Now that camp is over and I can actually breathe and think if other things... it's time for Christmas!! Woo hoo!

Oh, and if you recall the whole lost reservation fiasco of camp '09
(I know you're saying, "Lauren, how could we forget!")

... this year I got printed confirmation of next year's reservation AND I saw the woman enter it into the computer with my own eyes. I'm not going through that again, sheesh!

Ok, back to Christmas... Josh and I got the tree put up this week and I know I say this every year, but, I really love our tree. It is so beautiful. I just want to stare at it for hours.
(Which I know I achieve by the time Christmas is over. )

The weather has gotten colder and it really is beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas!

I still have to finish shopping for everyone, make some sort of delicious treat for neighbors and friends and wrap all the wonderful gifts I get to give to people I love.

One more week of school and then two weeks off!

What do I get to look forward to for the break?

1. My annual "date" with Becky where she takes me out to look at Christmas lights. I love that we do this. People say we are lovers*, I say they are jealous!
*P.S. We are just awesomely best friends and people really are probably jealous. Dont worry Kole, you're marriage is safe :)

2. My other BFF Diana and I are going to spend a night in Sedona! For no other reason than just to spend time together because I pretty much never see her and it sucks. It's going to be so fun and I get to buy this game they apparently only sell in Sedona called Yamslam.
Look it up. If you love Yahtzee, you will be like "I love Yamslam!"

3. Family time: a.) The big Christmas Eve shin-dig at my parent's house-it's pretty much one of the highlights of my year.
b.) The time Josh and I spend alone opening our presents to each other (which we have decided we may do on Christmas Eve morning because we are at my parent's house all night and then we wake up and go to his parent's house Christmas morning, and because we love making our own rules!)

c.) Celebrating the fact that Josh proposed to me six years ago on Christmas Adam (Dec. 23- get it? because Adam came before Eve, hee hee, love it!). Maybe i'll post about it after it happens.

C'mon Christmas break!!!!
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Surprise! Since I haven't posted in a long while, I will do another post within this post.

The Eight Crazy Nights!!!

Remember how awesome I was just saying my friends are? Well, we decided a few months ago that we were going to conduct our own series of Eight Crazy Nights. These nights consist of eight different Saturdays at different people's houses, each with a different drink (optional for the non-drinkers), and a different game.

We are half way done and so far we have had so much fun!
Here are the details of the first four Crazy Nights:

#1 - Vodka bar and Singstar (we had to miss this one, but it looked awesome)
#2 - Malibu Barbies (Malibu rum and pineapple juice) and Bunco
#3 - Dirty drinks (like Sex on the Beach) and the game Dirty Minds: For example..."I am pink and when you put me in your mouth I get soft." I don't know what you're thinking, but it's bubble gum! :)
#4 - Appletinis and Apples to Apples

These nights have been so fun and I cannot wait for the rest!
This may have to be a year-round thing. Good friends, good times! You should come!

The Story of Lauren's First Gray Hair...

So science camp is the highlight of 5th grade. (Other than me!)

Now, we are going to camp December 2-4. This happens to be TWO weeks away. I am in charge of science camp and the time is approaching so I have been trying to keep up on all the final stuff. We always book the facilities for the next year when we are there. Last year we did this as normal.

So... since the time is approaching (remember, TWO weeks away!) I called the place to let them know the classes the kiddos would participate in. As I call and give them my name and the school name, this is the reply I received...



"Umm, we don't have a reservation for you at all..."



I reply with a very calm (Ya right!)... "WHAT! I have 100 5th graders who think they are going to camp in TWO weeks!"



So, I speak with the supervisor, Rich (who I wanted to hug by the time I hung up the phone) and he tells me that it must not have been put in the computer calendar and so they were not planning on us coming for the entire last year!



Now readers, be aware that the reason we always book the next year when we are there is because they fill up so quickly.



Naturally, I am freaking out because I know they wouldn't just have the dates open...



BUT THEY DID! Rich said "You are lucky because our reservation numbers have been so low so many more dates are open."



Holy Cow! So...just then (TWO weeks before camp!) I booked the reservation.



And that...is the story of why I probably have my first gray hair.



Praise the heavens it worked out.

A Sleeping Ferret = Me Laughing

Sometimes Josh sees a ferret in a pet stores sleeping in a very hilarious way. Then, he points it out to me and... of course I took a picture. It's very important for me to take pictures when I see something so shocking or hilarious because I would be doing the world a dis-service if I didn't share! Click here and scroll to the bottom of the post if you want to be reminded of the last funny pic I took.

Anyway...back to the ferret... see for yourself... priceless.

Sooo...we went to Las Vegas over October Break. Lemme take a minute to give October Break the full props it deserves. There is no greater week off that I am given as a teacher. It fully rivals Spring Break.

I love you October Break.

Ok, back to Vegas. It was fun. Like it always is. We stayed at the Luxor. It was cool.

We sampled many different (20 to be exact) kinds of soda from many different countries at Coke World. Just for the record: A beverage from Italy called Beverly tastes like poison if i could imagine what that would taste like. Super fun though.

We had a great vacation and on the way home while going through the Joshua Tree Forest I got to take an awesome picture of the silhouette of a tree against the sunset.

Good times.
How has your October been so far?

Supermodelquins!

I find it to be strange...

You see the Old Navy Supermodelquins all over the TV and you don't think anything of them. They are just another "mascot" associated with a brand.

Until you see them at the store with your own eyes! Now, I don't really shop at Old Navy so I am not around the stores frequently. Tonight I was walking past an Old Navy to go into Office Max and as I was walking past the window there was a small part of me that said "OMG, there they are in real life!! (even though they can't be in "real" life because they're plastic!!!) It's ok, I'm cool enough to admit that sometimes i'm a little lame. I'm sure you would feel the same way.

Auntie and Uncle Drifter

Do you and your husband ever speak in British accents for no reason??

No?

Ya, ya, us either.

:)

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Here is an actual conversation that took place over the course of about 30 minutes between josh and I.

Josh: This place is dumb. (Talking about work)

Lauren: I'm sorry. I wish we didn't have to work.

Josh: I know! That'd be awesome.

How do you feel about being beatniks?

Lauren: Harley would make such a good hippie dog.

Josh: We could hang out a truck stops.

Lauren: And get fleas.

Josh: "So Josh, What did you do today?" "Oh, tried to talk the wife into being homeless."

Lauren: Aha ha ha. I really don't mind the idea of the lifestyle, I just don't like the idea of not sleeping in a bed. Call me spoiled!

Josh: But I like the idea of not having to be somewhere at a specific time.

Lauren: We still would. Even drifters keep appointments!

Josh: Would you ever expect a beatnik to be on time?

Lauren: No, but then again, people have stopped expecting us to be ontime!

The kids could call us Auntie and Uncle Drifter!

Josh: We could make them handmade bracelets for their birthdays.

Lauren: For their birthday's we could make them things like a collage of trash.

Ok, yours is a much better gift.

But we could make them handmade bracelets right now.

Josh: No we can't. We have jobs. We don't have that kind of extra time.

Josh: Ya, i'm jive to the lifestyle.

It was always my backup plan.

Lauren: How do you feel about arm pit hair?

Josh: Mine or Harley's?

Lauren: Mine. That's part of the lifestyle.

Josh: You'll have to get laser hair removal first.

Lauren: Well, that's really gonna push back the timeline.

Josh: Lasik for the both of us too.

Wow, being homeless is expensive!

Lauren: I prefer drifter over homeless.

Josh: I prefer beatnik.

Lauren: But some beatniks are very prissy with all their snapping and berets.

Josh: Oh, and I need a new acoustic too.

Lauren: Wow, it really is expensive to do nothing!

Lauren: Gotta work now. Thanks for that conversation!

Josh: There will be plenty of time to talk in front of the truckstops.

Just another reason why I know we're right for each other!

Can't Stop Won't Stop

I think it's time everyone out there in blog world learns about quite possibly one of the best bands ever!

I would like to formally introduce you all to...

The Maine

Now, this band is pretty amazing. Here is a list of reasons why:

( I like lists, incase you didn't catch that by now.)

1. They are from Tempe, Arizona.

2. This band was sooooo good that some of the members had to finish high school early so they could go on tour!

3. Their lead singer has an amazing voice. His name is John O.

Reason #4 is a very important one.

4. Since The Maine started out so very local, they played many many shows here in AZ in a small amount of time. Because these guys are so awesome, they always try to spend time just "chillen" with their fans. (Which I am) Therefore, I was able to get these shweet photos with John Ohh.



Awesome, right?
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5. They have a Christmas song titled "Santa Stole My Girlfriend." I am positive it is the only song on the face of the Earth in which Santa is called names and it is still a song that you can love! You've got to admit, that's pretty cool.

6. This picture rocks. It is from their music video for Into Your Arms which they were just allowing fans to go and be extras in. Darn me for having a career that keeps me from being an extra in a music video! Lol! I don't know if I ever thought I would say (type) that sentence!
7. The Maine does a cover of Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar On Me that is close to the original. They pretty much turn everything they touch into gold. Listen to it on Itunes. Now.
Go find them and listen to them and love them! Thanks. That's all!

Random

So...i'm sitting here thinking "What should I do a blog post about?" No ideas...

Well, I guess it will just be full of things very random! Yes, that sounds fun!

1. Josh keeps asking me to make him Scotch Eggs. Could that just sound anymore gross? Anyway, here is what they are...

hardboiled egg

wrapped in sausage

rolled in bread crumbs

then...

deep fried.

Ewww.

Apparently, they should look something like this.

I would love to try making this for him, but let's be honest, I don't make things that are gross.

2. The Simpsons are turning 20. They rock.

Every moment in life worth remembering can be related to a time in Simpsons history.

3. Purple nails rock my world. No picture. I should have taken one, but oh well.
They are so pretty!

4. Remember the game Mall Madness?

I am dying to break out this gem and play it again! Any takers?

Lastly, I can't believe I forgot to post about this when it happened...

Picture this...

Josh and I are driving down the road when all of a sudden he says " Holy crap, you have to look inside that truck. "

"There are tassels hanging from the roof! "

So, since I know you would all do the same thing, what do i do?!

Pull out my camera, of course!

I know what you're thinking.

"How do I get that in my car?" mixed with a little "Man, they must get all the ladies!"

That's all for now!

It makes me happy when...

1. My husband comes home from work and walks through the door with flowers in his hands. Not only because he loves me, but because he keeps celebrating a holiday that I made up.

Yep, I think thats love.

2. I remember how much I love my childhood dog Winston, and I actually give him lots of attention. (Photo attention in this case!)

3. I see how much fun my husband and my dad have while working together.

4. I can spend a whole day watching TV and laying on the couch.

5. I have a really good conversation with a friend I just don't get to see enough.

I think people often find happiness in their life but it seems so normal that it doesn't get appreciated. You should take a minute to look around. Find the things happening everyday in your life that truly make you happy and take a minute to appreciate them.

Life is good! Try to see that. There is always a silver lining.

I'm such a Rebel!!!

Finally...the time has come and I am the proud owner of a Canon Rebel T1i. I love it so very much. It allows me to take the very best pictures. Here it is...Some pictures I have taken with it have turned out very cool. Here are a few...

I love them and I hope you do too. If you would like me to take photos of you, let me know! Maybe we can work it out because I would love to!


Pinetop!
I realized I never updated about our little trip to Show Low/Pinetop. It was very relaxing and it was so nice to just kind of explore and have nothing we had to do. I am a sucker for quarky roadside attractions. Many people dont know that about me. If it is the "World's Smallest" or "World's Largest" or just something amazingly cool (By amazingly cool I mean it is sometihing most people find very lame and yet, my family humors me by acting excited.) I always feel we have to stop and see whatever it is! Anyhoo, on the way to Show Low while passing through Superior, Josh pulled off the road and there it was...The World's Smallest Museum!" I know what ur thinking...SWEEEET! Cause that's what i was thinking too. ;) I have the BEST husband!





At the museum they had a big fountain made entirely out of different sized tires. I think it looked like something right out of the movie Cars!

When we got up north we went to Sunrise, found dandelions that were the size of a baseball!!!, found and walked along a beautiful lake and just spent quality time together. It was wonderful.