Sorry to ALL of my readers (ha!)

I really don't think anyone reads this which is why I didn't feel bad slacking off so much on the 30-day challenge thing!  Either way....I need to catch up!

Day 23 - a youtube video.  These always crack me up :) 

Day 24 - where I live.  Columbus, OH...except I'm in the 'burbs (and I love it). :)

Day 25 - your day, in great detail.  My day wasn't too interesting.  I woke up to a phone call telling me I would be subbing this afternoon for a 2nd grade teacher.  I had to use my heated seats for the first time today on the way to work (growl).  When I got to work, I did some prepping for the lessons I would be teaching.  I taught my lessons to my four groups of kiddos.  Lessons included reading (obviously!), working with magnet letters to make and break words, and working with onsets/rimes on dry erase boards.  After that I did some laminating and ran some copies and ate a quick lunch.  Then I subbed in 2nd grade.  The plans were easy (sort of annoying).  The kids played a new math game called 'Sweet Thirteen' for math and then went to special (music).  While they were at special, I prepped my lessons for tomorrow.  Afterward, we read James and the Giant Peach and illustrated what we thought the cloud-men would look like.  After the kids left for the day, I went back to my room to get a few things done and then went home.  Now I'm home blogging and waiting for the hubby to get home!  (I should probably be doing laundry.)

Day 26 - your week, in great detail.  I guess I'll start with a week ago today.  I taught every day except Wednesday because Wednesday we had a late start so I didn't see my kiddos.  I still had to go to meetings though.  I subbed 3 of the 5 days we had school.  Friday night we had some friends over to play cards and then went to a neighborhood bar which closed at midnight.  I guess that's what you get for going to a hole in the wall!  After that we went to another bar and watched some people try to sing karaoke...pretty entertaining!  Saturday we went to the OSU game (huge win)!  After that we came home for a bit and then went out to dinner with some friends at Max and Erma's.  Next we went out with friends to help celebrate a friend's promotion.  Sunday I slept in a little (I've been totally exhausted lately) and then made a few dips and headed up to my Dad's house for my Grandpa's 87th birthday party.  I ended up making pineapple salsa (they requested it) and chili cheese dip.  Both were pretty good but I'm not sure if I'll make the chili cheese dip again.  Sunday night I wrote my lesson plans for the week and watched the season premiere of Desperate Housewives and Family Guy - both good!  You already know what I did today!
 
Day 27 - my worst habit.  I think I have a lot of bad habits.  One thing I hate that I do is I start cleaning/organizing and then I get into an OCD mode where I feel like I need to throw a bunch of stuff out or re-organize EVERYTHING.  It ends up being very messy in the process and it drives me nuts.  (See my previous blog post!) 

Does it always have to get worse before it gets better?!

I just realized I skipped day 20 of the challenge.  How annoying!  Anyway, I'm in the middle of cleaning/organizing my office.  This has been on my to-do list for a while but I kept putting it off because I knew that once I started, it would get worse before it got better.  Right now, I'm at the worst stage...the room is a mess and I'm stuck in the middle of it!  I know I'll feel better when it's done but right now I'm going crazy.  I don't know where to put anything and I feel like I want everything OUT of the room so I can start with a clean slate!  Anyway.....at least I finally hung up my degree :)

Now to play some catch-up on the challenge....

Day 20 - a hobby of yours.  I like to scrapbook but I really haven't done very many.  I made one for my mom's birthday one year, one for our wedding, one for our honeymoon and a digital scrapbook for a cruise we went on with family.  I have fun doing it but like I said - haven't done a ton...I never have much to scrapbook about!  I guess when I have kids I will have plenty :)

Day 22 - a website.  I don't like this one.  What kind of website?  I guess I like http://www.makeupalley.com/.  It has reviews on various beauty products and also a forum that you can chat with other gals (and guys)!  It's a fun place to go but I always want to go shopping after reading the reviews!

Yum!

Day 21 - a recipe.  I have a rule for my recipe book.  No recipes are allowed in unless I make them and approve of them :)  So far I don't have tooooo many recipes but I have a few here and there (mostly desserts so far!)  This is a recipe I like for fall...these cookies are fun to eat by the firepit on a cool night!


S'mores Cookies

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 dash of cinnamon

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups miniature chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
2 Hershey bars, chopped

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking soda, salt, and dash of cinnamon. In a second larger bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Slowly beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes, and remove from the oven. Push 3 to 4 marshmallows and a few pieces of hershey bar into each cookies. Return to the oven and bake an additional 3-4 minutes until fully cooked. Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies.



Here are some I made about a year ago:

Hidden Talents....

Day 19 - a talent of yours.  I honestly have no idea for this one.  All of my talents are hidden ...even to myself!  I am trying to think of anything I could possibly post here and I can't think of anything that would qualify as a talent.  I guess if someone else can think of a talent I have, let me know!

p.s. We have four cars.  Four cars is too many for TWO people!  I have been aching to get rid of at least one and hopefully two for a long time now.  Today someone is supposed to come look at Nick's car.  I'm hoping they show up and it works out.  I'm so over having these extra cars (even though I still get both garage spots)!  :) 

Weddings :)

It's game day!  We have a noon game so I'm up early on a Saturday!  Not really, I'd never wake up that early unless I was going.  My dogs woke me up at 7:30a :(  So much for sleeping in!



Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding.  I am already married so I guess I will talk about my wedding that I already had.  HOWEVER, keep in mind that I want to get married again (to the same guy, obviously)!  I think he's finally breaking down and might agree to a vow renewal (or as I call it...our second wedding)!  I loved my first wedding but my second will be totally different.  My second wedding will hopefully be on a beach with only close family and friends.  I will carry lilies again because they're my fav but my dress will be light and flowy.  My hair will be half up with some curls and Nick will wear either khaki or gray for his suit (no tuxes needed unless he wants one).  I won't get into all the details because I've thought about this way too much - I love weddings!

Now onto my wedding that I actually had and is not just a far off fantasy!  :)  I've included some pics of the major details....

My bouquet was awesome.  Lilies are my favorite and this turned out great!  We now have a stargazer in our garden that reminds us of the wedding :)  

My bridesmaids wore a bright pink.  They probably hated their dresses (as most bridesmaids do) but I loved them. :)  I think my girls look beautiful!

 My cake was exactly what I wanted - square tiers offset with buttercream - no fondant!  Each tier had different flavors.  Our favors were personalized M&M's - common but still fun!  I loved the stamped label we put on the packages :)

I also needed to include something for the kiddos at the reception so I made a coloring/activity book.  By the end of the night, I had enough art to fill up the fridge :)

 Last but not least.....the bride and groom! 

Art.

I got to sub this afternoon again.  That's 3/5 days this week and I already have 3 sub jobs booked for next week!  I'm so glad that even though I'm part time, I'm able to sub for extra money....and I love never having to look for sub jobs - I'm always requested and I never even have to leave my building! 


Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc).  I wish I had some pictures of my sister's art...she is awesome!  She definitely got that from my mom and I missed out on that gene.  I'm crafty but not an artist at ALL!  I really like all forms of art so it's hard to decide what to post here.  I guess one of the cooler things I've seen is the Chihuly glass at the Franklin Park Conservatory.

Speaking of art, did anyone else watch that TV show on Bravo called 'Work of Art'?  I liked it.  Some of the art was really weird but it was fun to watch the artists in their creative modes!

I hate crying.

Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly).  This is hard.  I hate crying.  Most of my friends probably haven't seen me cry....I avoid it.  BUT if I had to think of a song that made me cry (or nearly), I guess I would say 'Tears in Heaven' by Eric Clapton.  Great song, but sad....especially if you know the meaning.







I figured out how to post youtube vids...proud?  Haha....I'm lame.