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.

Back To My Roots

In three days I will be here...

Good ol' New York.

As many of you know, I was born in New York.

My roots are there.

Well, I wasn't born in New York City.

I'm from Long Island.

If you have never been there, you have never seen one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

There are so many reasons I love going back there.

I will list them because who doesn't love a good list :)

(in no particular order...)

Reason #1 - Family.

They are crazy and fun and I never want to leave once I'm there.

#2 - The beach. East coast beaches are different than west coast beaches. Both good, just different.

#3 - The colors you can see during the actual different seasons they get to experience.

#4 - White Castle

Never going there means you are seriously missing out.

#5 - The Statue of Liberty

#6 - The Empire State Building

Standing at the top of this enormous building, looking out over the city, central park, bridges, rivers, etc. is one of my favorite places to be and truly one of my utopias.

# 7 - Hot dogs from the vendors on street corners.

Seriously. Amazing.

#8 - The history you can see all around you.

From Ground Zero to Ellis Island.

New York is beautiful.

You just have to see past the pigeons.

Which are there to greet you INSIDE the airport.

Eww.

I will miss you all, but hopefully I will update while I'm away.

I'd love to hear some of your favorite places or utopias...

My Utopia

Utopia: An ideal place or state.

I have a few places/situations that I would consider utopias.

Disclaimer: These are some of the other things in life.

Of course, good times with loved ones is the ultimate utopia.

Here we go...

1. Relaxing in a pool, listening to great music and getting a glimpse of beautiful palm trees.

When relaxing in the pool lately I love listening to Bob Marley or Orianthi.

2. Relaxing on the couch, watching tv, snacking.

*I love you, DVR.*

3. Sitting in a quiet classroom full of students, (yes, it happens) watching them work so dilligently and knowing you just taught them something so new and almost everyone really "gets it."

**Smile and sigh**

4. Concerts - Specifically outdoor festivals.

Not as mud oriented as Woodstock, but just as "feel good."

Outdoor music festivals give you such a feeling of peace.

Enjoying and truly appreciating music and friends while feeling a breeze all around you is really something.

In May I went to the Bamboozle Festival in Anaheim, California.

Amazing music, amazing weather, amazing friends.

***Encompassing feeling of content. Again, Smile and sigh.***

An outdoor music festival ( a.k.a. Warped Tour)

in Arizona in the middle of the summer...

Hopefully, still amazing, but H-O-T, H-O-T, H-O-T!

So...on Tuesday I will be in the middle of one of my utopias...

with lots of SPF 50!

(Seriously, SPF 50...I know.)

I think everyone should discover what they consider to be a utopia and then try to go to that "place" as much as they can.

Just be careful when you're there.

Live Life in the Fast Lane

Saturday, Josh and I went four wheeling with my sister-in-law, her fiance, my nephew, and soon to be niece. We went to an off road place right next to Lake Pleasant and it was tons of fun! Very hot and VERY DUSTY, but fun.

Caden and Taylor

The desert was in full bloom. There were gorgeous flowers everywhere.

I now know I am grateful for the following things:

1. goggles (to keep the dust out of your eyes)

2. scarves and bandanas (to keep the dust out of your hair and mouth)

3. water (cuz it just plain rocks)

4. cell phones (when you get lost from your party, they really help)

5. sun screen (even though I didn't wear any and got really burnt, I still like that I can wear it!)

Go out today and do something exciting.

Really. Do it.

Go!

-

(And don't forget to wear sunscreen!)

Never Too Old!

Happy  Easter!

Easter was wonderful.

I still get an Easter basket.

That's ok if you're a little jealous.

I LOVE it!

You are never too old to get an easter basket.

This year, my Easter basket consisted of...

1. Yummy candy including some Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs!

2. Two giftcards...for food!

3. A paddleball

4. Jelly Beans

5. Silly String  :)

6. Silly putty!

7. A mini bowling game

8. Mini Robin Eggs

9. Warm and fuzzy feelings.

ALL very good things!

Easter was also filled with family time which always makes me very happy and reminds me how lucky I really am.

I really like never being too old for things.

It keeps us young.

The big 25 is comin up soon...

hmmm...older?...yes.

Better?...Oh YA!

-------------------------------------------------------

In other news...

I went to a friend's funeral yesterday

and that is a bummer. Too young.

Like I said...tell people you care about them.

Do what you can to make the lives of others better.

It makes a difference.

Also, on an entirely unrelated note...

I love my Crock-pot, which I have used twice this week alone (and it's only Wednesday), which happens to be almost as many times as I have used it in the past few years.

But it makes my life so easy

and it makes for a very happy and non-stressed Lauren!

Yin and Yang

There is always some good to go along with some bad.

When something makes you happy there is always something to complain about.

Here are some good things and some things I would love to complain about...

Good: Four day work week!!!!!!

And rain...everyone likes rain, right? And we need rain in this desert!

But...rain is water. Water should not be inside...

Not so good: This is what I got to find in my classroom when I arrived this morning!

OKAY...I may be exaggerating just a little...

That's not really my classroom, but it proves my point that it sucks that the roof in my classroom leaks everytime it rains more than the usual five drops.

 I have these amazingly awesome long bookshelves that Josh made me and they sit in the front of my room under the white boards.

They hold all of my chapter books.

They get wet. Shweet. Grrr. They don't seem to be damaged this time.

Thank goodness.

Good: Josh and I made a pretty great deal quite a few months ago.

The deal means that I do all of this...

And Josh does all of this...

It's a pretty sweet deal.

Another good: It is hilarious and so cool when I find reasons that prove my best friends are really the yin to my yang.

Yesterday Becky and I were getting pizza for girl's night.

She walks up to the counter and orders a small ham pizza.

Not being able to hear her at all, I walk up to the counter and order a small pineapple pizza.

Whoa! It was great.

When we are little old ladies we will only order one pizza and I will pick off my ham and give it to her and she will pick off her pineapple and give it to me. And nothing will be wasted.

Again, just like I previously mentioned... it is insane how in sync we are.

Sometimes it's creepy.

Well, I guess there wasn't much for my to complain about this time, but don't worry...

There's always tomorrow!

And remember...everytime you complain about something, look for two things to find that are just awesome.

*Don't forget to do what you can to support the people of Haiti. Whether it is money, water bottles or really good thoughts, please do it.  (If you would like to donate water bottles, you can drop them off in the office of the school I work at.  Sixth grade is collecting them and a parent is going to make sure they get shipped. If you need to know what school it is just email me or message me on facebook. Thanks!)

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!

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.