ramblings

(Happy Birthday tomorrow, Katie!)

Working part time and subbing occasionally leaves me at home alone a lot, with no one of human intelligence to talk to. Bailee and Olive are super great listeners, but awful advice givers. So, lucky you. I'm grasping for human contact. Listen to my words so I stop talking to dogs and the walls around me.

Things have felt pretty slow this week. Especially in comparison to the first two weeks of March.
My brother and his girlfriend came and visited us for a week and then one of our old youth from Florida came and stayed also. Our house was full of memories and fun times. The best way to spend days if you ask me!

Last week, the stomach bug hit us hard. First Husband, then it inevitably hit me. Only mine decide to stay and turn into a cold/flu. (And I didn't even lose a single pound. What good is a stomach flu if you don't lose some extra weight?!) Today was the first time I woke up and was able to take a full breath. Which is perfect timing because next week is our Spring break and we are taking 30 youth to Ohio for a mission trip. I've never been to Ohio, so I'm pretty excited to explore. Bonus, it's only 5 hours away (compared to our Spring break mission trip last year, which was 14 hours away in Arlington, TX.) I'm a Texas girl through and through (fun fact: my 5 times Great Grandfather was one of the signers for the Texas Declaration of Independence) but I'm not a fan of 14 hour road trips with hormonal/crazy and teens. (But if you are one of those teens reading this, I love you so so big.)

My friend had a small birthday celebration in Nashville this past weekend. We tried to get into The Pharmacy but an hour and a half wait was not so appetizing. So, we found the cutest Mexican restaurant and still ended up waiting an hour and half, but totally worth it. We live down the road from Nashville, but I always forget about it. I'm sure there's all kinds of exploring to be done in that grand city. I'm a lover of big cities. Not a fan of cow towns. I've had my fill of those. I like knowing there's something cool happening at any given moment. Good or bad, I know...but I focus on the good.

I found a wood wick candle look alike without the crazy expensive price tag. So, there's that.

(Insert rant of bad hair experience #45867. If I've seen you face to face in the last month, you've already heard this story and you can skip to the next paragraph.)
I got my hair cut a few weeks ago. I was forming dreads and my ombre was boring me, so I figured I needed a trim and new color. Well, can I just say, there are few things more frustrating than finding the right hair stylist. We've been here almost a year and half and I still haven't found "the one." I may be too picky, but it's my hair! I'm allowed to be picky! Now, my hair is thick. Like, too thick. And every time I go to a new hair lady, they go on and on about the thickness of my hair. They call all the ladies around to touch and feel and lift my crazy amount of hair. I'm 100% used to it. I don't know any different, because I've always had this hair. Well, this new lady kept on commenting how much hair I had. After the 20th time, I started to get nervous. I started to realize maybe she didn't exactly know how to cut and style this kind of hair. I had a roommate in college who had crazy gorgeous curly curly hair and I remember her struggle of finding people who would dare touch her locks. (She did however let me cut it once, only once though. Maybe that's a sign.) Never did I think my thickness would cause a professional to stumble. Well, homegirl stumbled. Instead of thinning my hair (you know, those scissors that don't cut all the way through?) she straight up cut chunks into my hair. I'm not talking layers. No, random chunks missing. And, because my hair was "too thick," there's spots all over where she didn't put any dye at all. Folks, my hair is half the amount it usually is. Of course, that probably puts me in the average of how much hair people normally have, but I don't know what to do with it! I've got a half mullet on one side where she was trying to "get rid of the thickness." I have to wrap the ponytail holder another time, I don't have as much volume, goodness. Not cool.

Our lease is up in December and we are not going to renew it. Which means.... house hunting and buying our first house! I'm so so so ready. I LOVE moving and unpacking and painting and decorating. Ahhh, I get so carried away on Pinterest. So ready to put some of those pins into action. Maaaaybe I've already been "window shopping" for houses. Probably not the best idea since I get too emotionally attached to items, but I can't help it! Sue me.

Actually, don't sue me. We have nothing you'd want.

After taking a year away from teaching, God has shown me that perhaps I do belong in the classroom. The desires have come back, I will admit. Although, just the other day I woke up wanting to be a doula and then a photographer and then "You've Got Mail" came on and my biggest dream of being a children's bookstore owner came back to me. So, whatever it is, a full time job is in my near future (hopefully.)

I really wish I loved vegetables and running like I love cheeseburgers and sleeping.

Thank you so much for sitting with me and talking. I really enjoyed it. Same time next week?

things

These are random thoughts running through my mind.

(Hey new iPhone, thanks for being awesome and making self portraits easier with the front facing camera!)

We have officially been TN residents for over a month now and I couldn't be happier. My only issue is having 2 measly days of snow. Now that I'm aware of what TN is capable of, I don't understand why we can't have that more often.

Speaking of curtains (just go with it.) Our living room is my favorite place. I'm so proud of how the decorations have come together. There's just one thing missing...curtains. It drives me crazy. Not only are most curtains expensive, there are so many choices! I want these curtains to make a statement in my living room. Oh, the troubles.

I have come to the realization that I am about as domestic as a toddler. Scratch that. I think the preschoolers can make yummier meals and play house on the playground better than me. I wish I had the skills to sew like crazy. Then I could make my own curtains and not have to buy many clothes. And then there's cooking. Don't even get me started. I have about 3 things I can successfully make. Chili, scrambled eggs, and brownies. That's it. Truly, for real, not joking...that's it. Poor Husband, I have completely failed as a wife in those areas. Going grocery shopping intimidates me. What are the main things every house needs? I don't know! How do you go grocery shopping when you don't know what you need? Are you supposed to have tons of recipes memorized so you automatically does on the list? Clearly I need help. I need a grocery fairy. And a cooking fairy. And throw in some money while you're at it.

I want to lose weight. I want to work out. I want to eat healthy. Yet, I'm so overwhelmed I do nothing and feel miserable. 

I think I want to dye my hair red.

Valentines day is coming up and I am kind of dreading it. I become this crazy hopeless romantic when it comes to gift giving and receiving. I imagine these wonderful, romantic, unattainable gifts that inevitably let me down when I receive or give to others. I need to realize every present, big or small, is special and thoughtful. I also need to calm my imagination down. Most people truly just want to know you thought of them. I feel as thought I have to prove my love for them in crazy big ways, therefore I expect the same. It's not a good habit. I'm working on that.

I hate doing laundry. No, more than hate. I loathe. Super loathe. I'd rather get rid of all my clothes and keep 7 outfits to rotate. Hmm, maybe.

Confession: I watch The Bachelor. There, said it. If you also watch this trainwreck of a show and don't know why, visit Alycia at (The Crowley Party) She has the funniest recaps of all the episodes. She gets it. She gets me.

I miss having my brother nearby. He is truly one of my best friends. Even though he is younger than me, he is a worthy role model in my life. No one can make me laugh like him, or get me angry like him. I was spoiled these last few years to have him live in the same city. Now, I miss him like crazy. We still talk almost every day via Facebook and texting (most of our conversations are about new YouTube videos and Downton Abbey.) It's just not the same. I love you, Brother!

Now I feel all sappy. Stupid.

Well, I guess I'll sign off here and scope Pinterest for an hour, searching for motivation to do something more with my life...

10 things...

1. It's been raining all day. Which makes it a lot harder to get things done. All I want to do is curl up and read...or watch White Christmas for the 100th time this year.

2. Tomorrow is my Dad's birthday. It's also apparently the end of the world. That should be interesting.

3. My birthday is Christmas Eve, but I haven't been still enough to think about it. How old will I be? Oh, and I totally failed on my 24 before 24. I'm ashamed.

4. I wish I could snap my fingers and be in Tennessee.

5. I love unpacking and making house. Love.

6. I don't know that I want to teach forever. There, I said it.

7. I'm addicted to Candy Crush.

8. I'm ready to have a real, sweet, perfect birthday and Christmas with my Husband. The past 2 years we have been moving. Not fair at all.

9. Can I have snow?

10. We need a bigger bed. Apparently I kicked Husband out last night. He was on the floor when I woke up this morning. Sorry, Handsome.

things.

Oh, man. I'm so sorry to the 3 readers of this little blog. It's been way too long. I don't think I can say life has been exceptionally busier than normal...so I guess I'm just slacking. But, I'm back from my hiatus, totally missing you guys, and ready to get back into the routine! These are the random ramblings in my head as of late...

Sunday, November 11, 2012, I cracked. One look from my furbabies and all the Chrimma decorations appeared in my living room, waiting to be unpacked. It's uncanny how that happens. Okay fine, it's totally lame to blame this on my girls, but it sure does sound better than the truth: I'm a weak Christmas fanatic. There, I said it. But, as I type this, I am sitting next to the prettiest tree and listening to Pentatonix's Christmas Album (Go to iTunes and buy this album, now!) AKA, I'm okay with the fact that it's before Thanksgiving. No guilt here. Last year I had the decor up before Halloween, so I'd say this is progress.

Speaking of Thanksgiving (kind of) I am so very ready for a week of no Kindergarteners! Woo Hoo! A week without constantly telling them to blow their noses (I mean, can they not feel the snot running down their face?) A week without bending down 500 times a day to tie their never-staying-put shoe strings, without markers/chalk/glue/glitter on my pants, and a week without sing the "Days of the Week" and "Months of the Year" songs! Sounds great to me! And Husband, this goes for you too. I will not tie your shoes and you better learn to blow your own nose.

Can we just agree that puppy hiccups are the cutest?

I have super exciting news to share with you! I mean, it's life changing. Not just news about me, but about some other people. Oh man, it's big. To bad I can't say a word, yet. (And no, I am not pregnant. Please don't get that rumor started!)

I finally got some new specs. They make me feel very nerdy-chic. Plus, they are actually prescription, not some fake plastic posers from Claire's, so I'm totally legit.

I hate hospitals. I hate needles. I hate blood. I hate blood work. Basically, I hate today.

My Husband hates Egg-Nog and I don't know how I feel about that.

While you are visiting the iTunes Store, go ahead and purchase Zooey Deschanel's Christmas album. I promise, you will not be disappointed. Unless, you are one of those people who hate rainbows and flowers and all things awesome. Then, nevermind.

Did you know that "nevermind" isn't a real word? I always have to add it to the list of words on my phone, and my computer puts the red line of death under it every time I try to write it. Nevermind. Never mind.

Happy Tuesday, all!