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!

I Literally Died

Really?
You literally died?  How is that exactly?

The word "literally" is just completely unnecessary. 

If you say, "There were literally a hundred bees on me!"  Trust me. We believe you.

100 bees, got it. No need for the literally.

If someone says, "I literally died from embarrassment!"  You wouldn't be here to tell us. 

You're dead.  From the embarrassment, so it seems.

It's like...if I were given the choice to either:

a.) Spend one day with someone who says "literally" in their casual conversations or

b.) Tear off one of my fingernails.

I'm picking option B without hesitation.

So please, dear readers, let's stop all this "literally" nonsense. If you are guilty of using this word, now's the time to stop.  Don't kid yourself by saying you'll only use it every now and again. 

You need to give it up. Cold turkey.

Everyone you say it to either understands you are serious or they think you are ridiculous for saying things like, "The line at the post office was so long, I literally waited for like five hours."

If we work together, we can make the world a place where our children can play outside without being confused by idiots using this horrible word incorrectly.

I hope you have enjoyed my Public Service Announcement. 

Tell your friends. Let's make it happen.

P.S. I'm still working hard to get "Thursday" changed to "Prefriday."

~Lauren: Making the world a better place, one ridiculous thing at a time.~



Duck Hunting Season

You know what I just don't care for very much?

Hunting.

I know about all the "hunting helps keep the numbers where they need to be, blah, blah, blah..."

but...

Why would you want to kill something that looks at you like this...

You know what kind of hunting I can handle?

That's more like it.

Super Watchable Movies

There are just some movies I could watch over and over and over and over and never get tired of.

I know everyone has those movies.

It doesn't matter if you own it, or just stumble across it on TV...

you always watch it.

And laugh at it.

Or cry at it.

Or quote it.

Or all of the above.

Here are some of those movies for me...

1. The Emperor's New Groove

The vioce and humor of David Spade. HILARIOUS! A must-watch.

I think it is so important of a movie, that I make sure I show it to my class each year.

Seriously.

2. The Princess Diaries

What a story!  Girl with frizzy hair who learns she is a princess!
Fantastic.

3. A Cinderella Story

Chad Michael Murray...case closed.

4. Dumb and Dumber

Really?  Do you even have to wonder why this movie is amazing?
"Hey guys...big gulps, huh?"

5. Legally Blonde

Elle Woods is out to prove she can make it in Law School.  And she wears a lot of pink.

6. Disney Classics including but not limited to:

Beauty and the Beast

Aladdin

The Lion King

Cinderella

Yes, I am aware that my taste in movies can be compared to that of a 13 year old girl.

I can't help it, I just love these movies!

What movie could you watch over and over and over and over?

Thank You

There's a lot of stuff I like.

I'm not particularly hard to please, so I thought I'd take this time to send out all my thank you notes for the week...

On the rare occasion that I happen to stumble across the Jimmy Fallon Show...I sometimes see his Thank You Notes bit.  It make me laugh every time.

Click HERE to watch some clips...If only I had my own background music...

1. Thank you Marie Callenders, for staying open until 10pm so Becky and I could get our $6.99 pie to share during this semi-annual pie sale. Even if we did have to drive to Chander to get it.

2. Thank you Becky for proving, yet again, that I can always count on you to make hideous faces in pictures. The same rule I gave Josh applies to her as well...If you do that in my picture...you will be put on the blog.  :)

3. Thank you Popcornopolis popcorn. Zebra kind.  You are delicious and your flavor makes me not mind the idea of gaining weight (for a few minutes). Go get some. Chandler Mall.

3. Thank you amazing Fall weather we've been having.  You make me smile like crazy.  - To all my wonderful hoodies: Here I come!!

4. Thank you October Break.  Thank you for being you.

5. Thank you blogging for giving me yet another thing to do instead of all the things I should be getting done.

6. Thank you Glitter Toes for making my feet look so jazzy.

7. Thank you Ross Dress 4 Less for introducing me to my new and fantastic Betseyville purse.

8. Thank you Picnik for making my photo editing much more fun!

9. Thank you stores for allowing Halloween to get here without making us feeling like you are cramming Christmas down our throats. I have seen no xmas commercials yet. Thank goodness.

I think I'll make this a reoccuring thing...

as long as I give the credit to Jimmy Fallon.

You have all witnessed it. This was not my idea...

There. All that legal stuff taken care of.   lol

Who would you write a thank you note to this week?

Where Did It Go?

Somewhere along the last two months, summer has come and gone. Where the heck did it go?

One day there were six weeks left and then, all of a sudden

(with no warning at all, might I add!) 

I'm down to six days.

Here's a look at this totally awesome and fabulous summer.

1. Swimming

2. New York

3. Arts Integration Conference

4. Brian and Lela's Wedding

5. Five Scoop - Jim Dandy Sundaes

6. Beautiful week with friends in Flagstaff.

7. Taking pictures of everything to remember everything.

8. Soaking up beach sun and playing in waves.

9. Friends, shopping, eating and rocking out at Warped Tour.

10. Laughing everyday with my completely amazing husband, family and friends.

It was a good summer.

All behind me in memories now...

Time to go back to work.  Uh...do I really have to!?

C'mon, just a little more time...

Like...until...October!

Sigh. Ok, I guess it's ok.

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...

Who Doesn't Love Shoes!?

Have you ever heard of TOMS shoes?

They're pretty awesome.

For every pair of TOMS shoes you buy,

TOMS will donate a pair to a child in need.

One for One.

Not only does TOMS promote a great thing, but everyone says how amazing and comfortable they are.

*Double "feel good" deal!*

Check out TOMS shoes at http://www.toms.com/

Now, I've been wanting to get my toesies into a pair of
TOMS shoes for quite a while now.

Well, guess what!?

The lovely Alexa of "It's a Love Story" has another blog

that you should definitely go to by clicking here.

(you can also read her other blog by clicking on the "Love Story" button on the side of my blog)

Why should you go to this blog of hers??

She is doing a giveaway for a $50 gift certificate to TOMS!!!

No strings attached...just comment on her post and you're entered!

GO! You have until July 3rd.

Do it! I did!

YAY!

P.S. If you dont like chances at free things and you don't put in for the giveaway, that's ok, but you should still go buy yourself a pair of
TOMS shoes.

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.

Gimme Some S'more!

A perfect night is when Josh finally gives in to my whining about wanting to make s'mores!

With a few ingredients...

And your kitchen stove...

You get to have something so delicious!

And messy.

Mmmm...even though you really can't eat more than one because after that you pretty much feel like you could never eat another s'more in your life!

But we all know it won't be more than a week until I'm itchin to make them again!

Go make some! 

Happy S'moring!

Life Happens

It happens everyday.

Life can make us happy and life can make us cry.

Either way, it's life.

Everything happens for a reason.

I believe that.

Tell people you love them.

You never, never know when you won't have the chance.

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

I went to the best concert in the world with some of my BFFs this weekend.

We had a blast and I got to purchase my TWLOHA merchandise.

We also spent the afternoon at Newport Beach.  

There is nothing like the feeling you get from spending time at the beach.

(My TWLOHA shirt is just like Kelle's blue one here, but mine is black.)

I love my friends.

 All of you, no matter how great of friends we are, I love you.

Know that.

Snow Love

I LOVE sledding.

I also LOVE making snow men and women.

Playing dress-up on a snowman is my new fav hobby.

They are like my adorable little snow children (in a not weird way).

There's no LOVE like our SNOW LOVE.
Next time we're going bigger and better in the snowman building department.

It was a long Prefriday.

I've said it a bazillion times before, but i'll say it again. I think Thursday should be changed to be called "Prefriday.  Thursday doesn't seem to roll off the tongue and Prefriday or PreFriday if you prefer, is much more awesome.  Calling the day after Wednesday Prefriday will only make Fridays that much better.  Ok, now that it is out there in Blog Land, maybe it'll catch on. Maybe...?  Don't be afraid to use it. When someone asks you why you call it that, let them know why. It's just cool. Like you. Thanks!

Join the Movement!

(That part sounded so funny after I wrote it, that I really did laugh right out loud.)

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?

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!

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.