I'm Not Ashamed

I can honestly say I'm not ashamed to admit that I talk to myself at the grocery store.

It's just too hard not to...

You see a good deal and you say (out loud) "Ooh, ten for ten!"

or

You see what you think you need for a recipe so you say (out loud) "I guess that would work."

but then you think more about it

so you say (out loud, of course) "Well...I don't know."

I understand this may be more of  just a "thinking out loud" kind of thing

and not really a "I'm a crazy person talking to myself" kind of thing.

Either way, I don't judge people who talk to themselves at the grocery store and you shouldn't either!

And the reason I know I'm not alone...

As I was going to check out I walked past a woman (who was alone) and heard her say

"Ooh, buy one get one free!"

Not crazy. Case closed!

Sunday: A Day of Relaxation...Ya, Right!

I love a day where I don't leave the house and I can just get things done...

This day happens ONCE every OTHER month...give or take a week or two.

It is always on a Sunday because Josh works on Sundays.  I usually have a standing date with my mom on Sundays because mother-daughter time is so very important.  But today, my parents are in Las Vegas (hopefully, winning lots of money and having way too much fun!) so I stayed home to relax get things done.

Here's what I have accomplished today:

3 loads of laundry- done, folded and put away

clean sheets/comforter on the bed...mmmm, heavenly

new blog design and header (small details still in the works)

finished reading "Catching Fire"

dinner cookin'

P.S.   Josh and I took a day trip to Sedona yesterday.  We spent way too much money in the chocolate shop there, ate way too many french fries at the brewery and had good quality time together (except for the small amount of time I spent yelling at traffic...who closes the 101 over a weekend!?)  On our way home it was just sunset and as we were passing Carefree Highway, all the hot air balloons were around us. It was such an awesome sight to see.

Hunger

I did it!
I finally read The Hunger Games and I LOVED it!
Sometimes people talk about how great a book is and then some more people talk about how great a book is and then later on some more people talk about how great a book is...
THEN I decide I will read it.

Also, if anyone knows anything about me, I only finish reading about half of the books I begin.
The two reasons for this are:
1. I either don't have enough time to sit and read a book and too much time passes between readings and then I forget what was happening and I would have to start all over again and really, who has time for that!?
OR
2. I start reading a book and it just doesn't keep me super interested or guessing or on the edge of my seat and then I don't feel motivated to pick it up anymore.

Few books have truly kept me interested.

Here are just a few incase you were wondering...yes, most of them are children's chapter books or young adult...so sue me, I'm a teacher!

*The Twilight Series
*All of the books by Dave Pelzer (A Child Called It, The Lost Boy, The Priveledge of Youth, etc.)  You will cry your eyes out, but SOOOOO good.
*The Giver by Lois Lowry
*Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
*The City of Ember (Not even the whole series...just the first two...then I lost interest.
*Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (One of my favs.)
*Stone Fox (Short, you can sit and read it in an hour or less, but AMAZING...again, have some tissues ready.)
*P.S. I Love You (From before it was a movie...WAY better.)
*The Davinci Code
*Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series (Don't judge me...they are HILARIOUS!)
*Mick Harte was Here by Barbara Park

Those are the ones I can think of right now.

The books I started and REALLY need to find the motivation to finish (or re-read and THEN finish since it has been so long since I read them.)

*Wicked   -I'm so close...yet so far away.
*The Host   -I was so excited...met Stephenie Meyer...got my copy signed...never finished it.
Lame, I know.
* The Prophet of Yonwood   -Third book in the Ember series...I think I'm on page 10 or something.
*Angels and Demons   -Don't know if this one's gonna happen...

But at least I read AND finished The Hunger Games!
You know what this means now, right?...

Time for book #2!

I'd like to give a special thanks to my NOOK Color for being so awesome.

I'm crediting the finishing of The Hunger Games to my Nook,

because without it, it may not have been done.

What are you reading?

Is it any good?

Let me know.

I just may eventually pick it up!

It's a Good Thing

It's a good thing I left my house late the other morning.
It's a good thing I was only stuck in all that traffic and not in the accident that caused it.
It's a good thing even though it might seem like a bad thing at first.

It's a good thing I like to drive.
I sure spend enough time doing it.

Good things = Good life.

All the Pretty Colors

Isn't it crazy how a perfect, beautiful, bright and shining sunset can hold so much power within it?

Seeing an amazing sunset can change your whole mood.*

Next time you see one that catches your eye, just stare at it.
Put down your phone.
Turn down the radio.
Pull over if you have to.
Take some time.

All your cares melt away.
It's really a very warm and fuzzy feeling.

*I would have taken a picture of the one I saw today, but I was driving.  Like always.

I'm definitely having major camera withdrawals though.

This year...

Aren't you all itching for a grand 2010 recap?
No need to sit there biting your nails on the edge of your seat!

Here we go...

In 2010...
1. I got rid of my first car (who also doubled as my first love).
2. I got a brand new car and quickly realized it is the very best car in the world.
3. I lost a friend.
4. We got an adorable new nephew.
5. I began my fourth year of teaching, 
6. I got the best, sweetest, most funny class.
7. I realized I don't miss New York.  Only my family there.
8. I became a vegetarian.
9. We celebrated our 5 year anniversary.
10. I got much better abut blogging  :)
11. We finally joined a bowling team (and placed second!)
12. I achieved one of my dreams of photographing a bolt of lightning.
13. I started a 365 project...and made it to day 26.  ha!
14. I saw my best friend graduate as an RN.
15. I achieved another dream of finally seeing Something Corporate in concert...TWICE.
16. I decided I really don't care for New Year's Eve as a holiday. meh.
17. I fell in love with Josh all over again...every day.

I'm a lucky girl.  I know this. 
Maybe I'm a little spoiled.  Maybe I'm a little high maintenance sometimes.
Maybe I'm not nice to everyone I meet and everyone I know, every single day.

But I know for a fact I live my life the best way I can.
I love.
I laugh.
I give.
I teach.
I learn.
I feel.
I cry.
I comfort.
I work.
I play.
I LIVE.

I'm not making some crazy New Year's Resolution. 
These are the things I'm going to strive to do in 2011.
They're simple.
They're complex.
They're me.

Happy 2011 Everyone!
Let's make it great.