Wednesday, December 23, 2009

To Grandmother's House We Go!




The MR. and I are headed off to visit family today after I get off work.

We will stop in Cumberland and spend tonight there.  Tomorrow (XMAS Eve) he is headed to York.  We are spending the actual holiday apart, which we have been doing every year.  We thought it would be nice to have our first Christmas together be our first Christmas as husband and wife.  I will miss him, but I am so excited about the following year that I am actually very happy that we have made that choice. 

He will be back on the 26th for my grandmother's XMAS party.  We will leave together to go back to York, probably on the 28th.  This is where we will spend the next few days to celebrate New Year's at our "usual", a family friend of his parents... a very good time :-)

This sounds great on paper.  However, I am a homebody.  Once I move, I make a place my "home".  Even though it is a small, some-what crappy apartment that we live in, I am proud to say that it is officially our home.  And since it is so, leaving for over a week literally scares the living geezes out of me! 

I am leaving my car at "home".  I am trying to remember to unplug everything.  I am trying to remember not to forget anything... ESPECIALLY MY PILLOW (the only thing that could possibly comfort me on our journey).  I will hopefully turn the heat off... it's expensive enough while we are living in it.  I just remembered that I forgot to hold our mail. 

And the kicker... the worst feeling in the world (for me) is coming "home" from a trip to a DIRTY house.  But, unfortunately, I didn't have the time lately to actually clean it.  It is relatively spick and span, but there's something about coming "home", knowing that you finally get to relax on your break, have nothing to do, and walk in and see dirt on the carpet.  Or see ONE dirty cup that you left out the morning you left.

That's okay, though.  I love my family.  I love his family.  I love spending time with them and seeing everyone.  But "home" is where my heart is :-)

Sunday, December 20, 2009

food that is not good for me.

I am making buffalo chicken dip tonight for the fiance and friends as a sort of celebration.  They have completed student teaching and have graduated with their degrees!  SO excited for them.  I will probably eat half of the stuff myself.  And I believe we are also celebrating with Jack and Diet coke :)  One of my favorites!

ALSO-super excited about the XMAS gift I bought for the FI yesterday.  An awesome silverish-grey Calvin Klein slim-fit dress shirt.  HAHA.  And a nice tie to go with it.  It was the first time I ever bought I tie.  WOW.  They are expensive.  They are made up of WAY less material than the shirt, yet cost almost just as much!  Silly.  I also bought him a tie rack!  That one is a complete surprise, but he really needs it and I am tired of seeing his ties laying everywhere in my...  achem... our closet.  And the movie 'The Hangover'!  I am so excited to see it.  He asked for it and probably knows he is getting it!

Friday, December 18, 2009

There's just something about this time of year...

Why does XMAS still give me butterflies?!?! 

  • I know my gifts already (because I asked for things I need).
  • There is no excitement over getting to sleep before Santa gets here.
  • I used to love snow and winter.  I now hate snow and I hate cold.
  • I used to love buying gifts for people.  I still love giving things, but I wish they were free.
  • I do not enjoy sleeping in my mother's house.  I love my family, but I no longer have a bed there.  I sleep on my 10-yr old brother's bunk bed.
  • I get depressed seeing how much people spend on Christmas.  A friend told me an interesting fact: America spends $450 BILLION every year on XMAS.  Yes, really.  It would only take $10 billion to provide EVERYONE IN THE WORLD with fresh water... yeah, I am a party pooper.
  • I feel guilty when people spend money on me.
  • The list goes on...
YET... I still get butterflies around this time of year. 

Maybe it's becuase I am thinking of different things now that I am older.  Maybe because I am thankful for Jesus.  Or my fiance.  Or my job.  Or my happiness.  Or my friends.  Or my family.  Or my new beginning to life and marriage.  Or the fact that I am getting 11 days off work :)

Monday, December 14, 2009

I should be fired...

I am blogging instead of working.  This is technically my plan period, but I am tired of music. 

Well, kind of... I am actually listening to the radio.  But still... just not the beautiful recorder echoes of 8-year-olds.

I had a pretty good day today at school.  During the beginning of the year, I was having some on-days and some off-days.  I can honestly say that even though I have been going home tired lately, I haven't been going home with a headache.  I was getting frustrated when things weren't going my way at school.  Whether it being misbehaving students, forgetting things, listening to my principal yell, lesson plans just not really working out, etc.  Either I am not letting these things get to me because I am not noticing them -OR- it really is getting better!  Students are so much better behaved!  Even close to the holidays!  They might be finally getting used to my rules.  I am writing more things down and forgetting less!  My principal LOVES me!  She bought me a wonderful XMAS gift!  My lessons have (pardon my bragging) been AWESOME!   And the kids are just loving them.

And I am standing up for myself.  Our school counselour today asked me to start coordinating the "Character Ed" Program and to keep HER updated.  I think it's like a program of artsy stuff (singing, instruments, visual art, dancing, etc) that basically somehow relates to good character traits... respect, honesty, cooperation, peace, etc.  So I said, "Oh, I didn't know that it even existed.  When is it?"  Her response, "OH, the last week of school".  My response, "You are definitely going to have to get back to me after the break.  If you ask me to do that now, I will not even think about it over break."
GO ME!  I HAVE GUTS!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Babysitter offering services FOR FREE!

My school has this thing...

Because I am a 'related arts' teacher... apparently I don't need a plan period for any reason. 

PP: "Oh, Mrs. M has a meeting at 8am FOR AN HOUR this morning?  Just ask Maria to babysit her class."

Maria: "Sure, I can do that."

I am a sucker.  The poor kids are supposed to be learning and I can't teach them math and reading, so I just sit there and babysit.  In the short school month of December, here is my babysitting schedule (as of now)

Dec 8 Mrs. W, 3rd Grade 8:15a-8:45a
Dec 8 Ms. M, 4th Grade, 8am-9am  (How am I supposed to pull both off on the same day?)
Dec 9 Mrs. M, 2nd Grade 2:45p-3:20p
Dec 15 Mrs. W, 3rd Grade 8:15-8:45
Dec 17 Ms. G, 3rd Grade 8-9a
Dec 18 Mrs. K, 2nd Grade 8:15a-9a

That is, until I get called unexpectedly and without notice... sorry, that was redundant.

***I SHOULD CLARIFY SOMETHING:  Don't get me wrong, I am INCREDIBLY lucky, happy, blessed, and thankful that I even have a job.  There are people who do not have jobs and I am being paid to play instruments and dance with children... for the most part.  I really do like it, but I think I will start charging $10 babysitting fee from now on :-)

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Wedding Plans :)

I have some serious exciting DIY plans for our wedding.

The problem is:  I can't do them all because it will look ridiculous to have that much "stuff" going on.  So, I have chosen a few really exciting things that I WILL finish.

(My colors are red and pink... kind of girly, and not really 'me', but I really like the feel of the romantic thing)

Here they are:
  • For the ceremony:  DIY white tissue paper pomanders to hang in the aisles of the church.
  • Save the Dates:  I ordered 250 business cards with our info FOR FREE online (+ shipping), which I am going to attach to magnets and send with a picture.
  • Guest Book:  I found a REALLY cute idea on Martha Stewart Weddings, create cute little pieces of paper and envelopes of brightly colored paper and attach envelopes into a scrapbook.  The guest writes a message on the paper and finds an empty envelope in the book and places it in there for us to read later.
  • Centerpieces:  I have two different centerpieces because I have a lot of tables.  One is a plain vase with pink and white silk cherry blossom stems.  The others: a vase with water and dried curly willow branches inside.  On top: red tissue paper pomander.  Possibly with some ribbon around the vase.  (I found vases on dollartree.com for $1 ea.)
  • Place cards and table numbers:  I found the BEST IDEA EVER.  Each table has a "number" which is really the word 'love' in different languages.  So there will be a 'love' table, an 'amore' table, etc.  Each place card has the person's name and ______ table on it. SO cute.
  • In addition as sort of a favor: Each person will have a copy of a poem in their table's language on pretty paper sitting at their chair :)
  • Also at each place setting:  I have learned all kinds of paper and napkin folding techniques.  Each person will have their napkin folded in a fan and in the center will be an beautiful kusudama origami flower folded by yours truly.
  • My dad is making my huge and beautiful 5-tiered cake.  That is the epitome of Do-it-yourself.
  • Last, but not least:  Candy buffet.  I bought a bunch of different-shaped and -sized vases from Michael's which will be filled with pink and red candies.  Each person will have a beautiful favor bag (which I decorated) to fill with their selection of candies.

So excited!  Wish me luck!