thursday's ten or so: to make me laugh

i have a quirky sense of humor.
meaning you may not find any of this funny.
but i'm laughing a lot these days thanks to several sources. so the least i can do is share :-)
here's a very few of the things making me laugh.


i can't help but laugh when i see this. until i'm at work, and then it seems like every child in the building is lining up behind this one!

this one cracks.me.up. anthony also laugh-approved it. 

i don't use pinterest just for recipes and home organization tips (but i'm always trying something off my boards!)


it has other uses too. one of my bff's natasha and i constantly send each other gems we find that we would never post publicly...but there are a few exceptions that i'll share here.

 (the next one pretty much sums us up)

(oh and this one too)

the amazing amanda shared this with me when she was at our house for dinner the other night. we laughed our butts off, so i HAVE to share it with you.



all those "hey girl" memes make me giggle a lot. but THIS one is just extra-special.

replace "men" with "everyone"...

natasha sent this one to me too. if you work with children (your own or someone else's) you'll relate to this at least a few times!

this one makes me laugh and cry simultaneously

and finally...

which leads right into this. you HAVE to watch this. and just know that i WILL instagram it.





***photo/video credits...all of these have been found on facebook, twitter, youtube or pinterest. :-)

thursday's ten or so: a week off

we're out for "summer break" this week.
and here's what's been done so far


on the completed or in progress list
re-organized the closet in our room (it.was.insane. and it's not done yet.)
painted my nails in the spirit of the fourth of july

played a super competitive game of spoons with anthony, his two sisters and his sister's boyfriend (blood was drawn. more than once.)

cleaned the kitchen. and again.
finalized the menu for the month of july
baked cookies. was thankful that they tasted good.

attempted to catch up to the laundry monster that has taken over our entire upstairs (see first item and add 1000% to the insanity)
bought a new pair of toms that i LOVE (finally used my birthday money...yeah, from march.)

(they say "let love rule", which is pretty much me to a t) 

taught 3 piano lessons on a holiday
prayed for thunder rumbles to turn into rain. repeatedly.
thought about exercising
reached my first weight loss goal of the summer...and not stopped. (operation get healthier is in full swing around here!)
snuggled with emi

 watched (lots of) tv with the hubster
changed my facebook profile pic to this one 

still to do?
set up the hammock
hang out with one of my bff's tonight (yay!)
host our first night of movie lead-ins to dark knight rises...we're showing batman begins at our house friday night
more time with emi
and a whole lot more cleaning
and hopefully another blog or 5.


i've got to admit that being on an academic calendar (even though it's REALLY modified) is quite nice.  a free week off over the fourth of july? anthony and i are talking about trying to go somewhere for the fourth next year (like dc or boston, maybe san diego, even nyc) since it'll be "free" vacation for me and he gets more vacation days than i do!  and then we can still take an anniversary getaway later in the year.  just speculation for the moment...but how about it? anybody have a recommendation for the PERFECT place to spend the fourth?

it's a great day to hike (with a stroller) for a great cause!

today i join friends and hike up a trail
double stroller in front of me

it'll be a fun event for the kids i'm staying with this weekend
there are games, inflatables, and food available after the hike
so i'm sure they'll be nicely worn out just in time to go down for a nap :-)

i think we'll ALL take a nap this afternoon

and then my husband will join us for dinner

a movie night will ensue (it's something they do with their parents on friday or saturday night, so the familiarity will be nice for them)

and then we'll go to bed early, since the boys (2 and 4) will really have no concept of an "extra" hour of sleep.  hopefully putting them to bed a bit late both last night and tonight will result in a somewhat later awakening...

wishful thinking, right?

i hope you all have a wonderful day!  i'll post pictures of our hike if any turn out well...
xoxo

thursday's ten: summer movie edition

so.  i haven't been to the movies since...
um, i don't remember. i do remember that i went with natasha, and that we laughed and laughed at inappropriate things...
right.
bridesmaids.
(a sometimes inappropriate but hilarious and somehow redeeming movie.  do i recommend?  depends on who you are ;-)

and before THAT?
i have NO idea what the last movie in the theater was.

so.

here's a short list (because there are probably more) of recent-ish movies
that i would like to see.  sooner rather than later
(hey, the good news is that we're moving about 2 miles away from the only $1.50 theater in the area...so that's cool)


1.  the help. 
but...i need to read the book first!  anyone local have a copy i can borrow?  i'm pretty sure the library will have a waiting list a mile long...perhaps i should just break down and buy it ;-)
2.  mr poppers penguins
i know, i know.  i'm a dork.  but...it's PENGUINS.  and the book is adorable, so why not the movie?
3.  water for elephants
(yeah, i told you it had been awhile...)
4.  cars 2
but of course!
5.  midnight in paris
why?  because it's paris...and critics actually like it so i'm willing to give it a chance
6.  captain america
because no.one.will.shut.up.about.it so now i'm curious :-)
7.  something borrowed
because my sisters in law REALLY wanted to go see it together and we never did...so i'm planning to have them over to watch it as soon as i get moved ;-)
8.  the adjustment bureau
because i'm a sucker for movies like this
9.  cedar rapids
because it looks stupid funny
10.  happythankyoumoreplease
because the storyline looks intriguing

what about you?  have you seen any of these?  tell me whether you think they're a must-see, a horrible waste of time, or somewhere in between.  and of course, if you have any recent movie recommendations please share them! full disclosure is that i had to look up recent movies to even come up with half this list, so i probably NEED to be told the good movies out there! :D

PLEASE feel free to play along!

hey, it's ok (tuesday)

hey, it's ok!

...to be a little creeped out by certain people without being able to pinpoint an actual reason.
...to declare some days pajama days (as long as you're home, that is!)
...to be annoyed that the battery on your iPhone seems to be getting worse and worse. as well as numerous other things.
...to be holding out for the iPhone 5 (or whatever they decide to call it) this fall.
...to once in awhile have a 'ramen noodles for dinner' night, not because you can't afford anything else, but because you actually LIKE ramen noodles. (kimchee is really good with ramen, in case you're wondering...)
...to have laughed until you snorted several times while watching bridesmaids
...to occasionally snort while laughing
...to be really excited about little things like apartment hunting, engagement pictures, and invitation wording

hey, it's ok (tuesday) .13

hey, it's ok

...to have thought the local air show was a cool idea until you were just praying that the 2 children under the age of two you were with would sleep through all the noise
...to not really want to pay for an eye exam just to get new contacts.  grumble, grumble
...to kind of want to go to mt vernon and see if there really is a secret passageway after watching national treasure 2
...to occasionally (often?) have children's songs running through your head when there are no children present
...to pretty much be on a first name basis with folks at the cable company
...to really, really hope that the issues that the cable company and i have had the past year don't follow me to the next residence.  i'm hopeful -- after all, i had the same exact service at my old place with nary a problem  other than a rare service outage.
...to be considering doing the women's half marathon in september.  except that (a) i have never done that sort of distance before and (b) it's like 2 weeks before the wedding.  is that insane?!
...to be plotting the quickest route from the house to car and other destinations when the cicadas invade full-force
...to want a do-over for the night's sleep that didn't.happen because of all the coughing you did
...to be shocked that gas stations still exist where you don't have to pay at the pump first.  or even with cash first!

(amber has the original -- go visit her!)

hey, it's ok (tuesday) .8

(go to amber's blog for the original)

hey, it's ok

... to want to reach through the tv screen and shake Haddie (parenthood) for being such a selfish brat

... to get completely excited about the smallest things

... to get a slight thrill about putting away dishes.  there's something about restoring everything to their order...yes, i'm sick.

... to heart oreos.  specifically double stuf.  more specifically, with mint cream.

... to use the word heart.

... to sometimes watch silly old movies and get completely immersed in the stories (three men and a baby anyone?)

... to smile every time you see emi using her christmas present (anthony and i got her a small "cat mat" and she LOVES it)
... to stay up way past your bedtime talking to your love on the phone :)

Thursday's Ten: Christmas traditions

today's list: your favorite personal or family traditions for this time of year :0)



1. opening one (just one!) gift on Christmas Eve
my parents always let me, and i loved it.  i think i'll continue the tradition with my kids with Christmas pajamas :)
2. Christmas Eve Mass
i'm not catholic, but i love the service
3. sleeping just one night per season underneath the Christmas tree
that wouldn't be hard for me this year...considering the tree is just across the room from where i sleep anyway...
4. black Friday Christmas shopping -- online and in person
i know some think it's crazy but i love it!
5. wrapping presents. it may not be a tradition, really, but i have a rule at Christmas that there will be NO bags involved unless it's just a particularly hard gift to wrap.
i love wrapping gifts.  is that weird?
6. movies -- A's family watches the same movies every year, starting with Elf on thanksgiving night and including White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life...and a few others ;-)
and anthony and i watched Love Actually tonight...and i think we'll do Four Christmases before Christmas day
7. the Advent wreath. this year I put it up late, and didn't prepare by finding any books to do during the season...so unprepared, but hopefully this is the only year that will be a problem.
there's something so peaceful and lovely about lighting a candle and whispering simple words
8. my open house party...that's another thing that just isn't happening this year :( 
but there are plenty to attend, and i hope that next year's will more than make up for this year's lack
9.  caroling.  i haven't done it for YEARS, but maybe i should change that.  my cell group (small group) talked last night about the possibility of caroling sometime before Christmas, so who knows? :-)
we actually snuck to a friends house to sing a song for them last night...which is what brought the conversation up 
10.  playing Christmas music...constantly
normally i have only holiday music playing after thanksgiving.  this year has been a little strange in all regards.  i'm missing directing a choir, i'm missing decorating a space that's truly mine, and i've discovered pandora to play in the car...but i suppose i could choose a pandora Christmas station...

i'm sure as the years go by and i have children things will get even crazier.  but those are the simple traditions i've kept for the last 5 years or so.  what about you?

Thursday's Ten: things in the not-so happy category

i try to keep it positive around here, really i do.

but sometimes you just NEED to vent

so join me, won't you?

here's 10 things i'm less than thrilled about today:

1. that my car was the victim of a hit-and-run about 30 minutes after the graveside service on friday. no one in it, thankfully, but it's pretty banged up. i won't even get into the story.

2. that for 2 months in a row i've had to call my cable provider *after midnight* to get my service turned back on. i'm current with my payments...but i found out a few minutes ago that my email address was never transferred and so it looks like i haven't paid a thing. instead they set up a stupid bogus email account when my service was transferred and never bothered to tell me either the address or the password. um...

oh, and while they figure this out i have no access to my main email address. NOT.HAPPY

3. (relating to #1) that even though i didn't do anything wrong, i have to deal with the insurance and repair of my car...and pay a deductible. doesn't quite seem fair, does it?

4. that my health insurance basically sucks. i'm actually canceling it today and looking for an alternative healthcare plan a couple of months from now. that way, i'll be able to do my research and save the money that i have been spending on health insurance (which is a LOT) until i can find a plan that's either decent or more affordable--hopefully both!

5. that although i've meant to, i haven't yet made it to bed at a decent hour this week.

6. that i haven't yet unpacked like i meant to. things keep coming up and i feel like i need a good solid few days to concentrate on it. otherwise i get overwhelmed when i only have a few hours

7. that i don't yet have jobs lined up like i would prefer for the next 2.5 weeks where i'm between nanny positions. while i can definitely use a couple of days off, i need to keep income coming in!

(i say that knowing that i will be provided for...jobs have already come in out of the blue. it's just that even though i'm living in this amazing time of provision, i also feel like it's my responsibility to stay busy and productive, ya know?)

8. that i haven't yet found all my clothes. that could be solved had i done #6

;-)

9. that i haven't been to a movie in awhile

10. that i have to remember my pesky inhaler when i think about exercising that doesn't involve wiifit

what about you? what are you shaking your head...or your fist...about this week?

Valentine's Day 2010

This year was a low-key and wonderful one. Beginning with this amazing bouquet (I'm so glad he is willing to go off the beaten flower path--I've had some truly lovely flowers because of it!)

and then to a concert by the King Singers (a rare and special event indeed) where I re-discovered my wedding church!

I should explain--in college I was a member of a choir that was literally at a different church most Sundays when we were raising funds for our Europe tour. And...there was ONE church that when we walked into all the girls said "wedding church!" because it was just SO lovely and perfect...and I could never remember which one it was.
The concert was at that church yesterday...and the funny thing is, Anthony's grandparents were married there!
I seriously feel this...connect...with it, and went a little crazy yesterday when I realized it's my dream wedding place. Anthony was laughing at me. A lot. And reminding me that our own church is probably a lot cheaper...but it's also not a very pretty church...so it'll definitely be a place that I'll look into when the time comes. Anyway, back to V-day...

But first, just look at these pictures! Gorgeous, no?

We then went to Anthony's apartment where he made lasagna...played some video games...(Little Big Planet and Peggle)

And then we went to see Valentine's Day. Such a cliche, but so fun. And it was an adorable movie anyway. A's description was "it had it's parts..." which I believe is guy-speak for "typical chick-flick, but it wasn't as bad as I thought"
:D

It was fun to just kick back and spend an afternoon and evening together. I heart us. :)

Thursday's Ten

I'm awfully nostalgic lately as I'm in the process of applying to teach in several area counties. So, this Thursday's Ten is all about teaching, and how it's portrayed on screen. While I had several moments where I felt like the teacher on Charlie Brown (wah-wah-wah-wah), there were also so many moments of inspiration. This list of movies reflects teaching in the way I experienced it. The good, the bad, the wonderful.

(sometime I'll have to start sharing my teaching stories. I truly had some hilarious moments...and there are many, many more to come!)

You'll notice quite a few musically themed teaching movies...naturally :0)

10 Great Teacher Movies

1. Mr Holland's Opus
(I mean, duh. This one's a given)
2. Mona Lisa Smile
(liberal teacher comes to stuffy conservative school and teaches the girls what life is all about...while learning a bit about that herself)
3. Take the Lead
(ballroom dancer begins teaching inner-city students...what begins as their punishment ends beautifully)
4. Doubt
(teachers who care deeply about their students, so much so that they will defy the Church to protect them)
5. Music of the Heart
(gah, I love this one. Keeping arts in education. Nuff said)
6. Stand and Deliver
(teaching students to care. Not an easy task!)
7. Sister Act 2
(besides being hilarious, it's all about an inner-city choir. Um, hello mirror)
8. Lean On Me
(just plain inspiring)
9. Akeelah and the Bee
(beautiful story of a teacher/student)
10. Freedom Writers
(young teacher with lots of creativity...and lots of obstacles)