C is for Closet

8:19 PM Posted In , Edit This 5 Comments »
Yikes. It shouldn't be called closet, it should be called our top secret hiding place.


Behind the crappy, seldom working doors of my old closet was all of my dirty laundry. literally. We gave the term "skeletons in the closet" a whole new meaning. It was rough. Stuff was everywhere, unorganized, an overflowing mess. When company was coming over, just shove the clothes piled on our bedroom floor into the closet and PRAY that nobody opens it.

Anyway, stuff was outta hand and given the fact that we have a beautiful new bed, we needed a beautiful new closet. So, I bought one of those nifty organizers for about $100. @ our Lowe's.


We painted the inside of the closet Rosemary Green to match our bedspread.



Hubs installed it and I got to work organizing it. I picked up some baskets @ Homegoods and we are good to go...


Now, if only I can keep it looking this nice forever!

B is for Bed

8:17 PM Posted In , Edit This 1 Comment »
and what a bed it is.

After a few weeks of debating, harassing family members, begging husband, calculating costs...we are the proud owners of a new bed.



See, my old bed was fine. Actually, I love my old bed, but it was small...very small. It was a gift from my grandmother or aunt when I was moving into my first apartment. While I lived in my college town it served me very well. Plenty of space for one, comfortably firm, a bed of pillowy-top perfection...until we moved into our house. My seemingly comfortable full-sized bed transformed our happy home into a constant nighttime argument...Normally something like this;

husband: MOVE OVER TO YOUR SIDE OF THE BED!

me: if I move over anymore I will fall off the edge

husband: That's impossible because I am on the absolute edge of the bed and you
have at least two feet on the other side of you.

me: hmph.

husband: I will go sleep in another room if you don't scoot over.

And sometimes he would and sometimes he wouldn't. Anyway, we needed more space.


We found a mattress that we loved very quickly, but we wanted to be sure we loved this mattress so we shopped around. We had a lady look at us like we were crazy because we wanted to spend LESS than $1,000.00 and someone told us that we should spend as much money on it as we could because it would be a lifetime investment. We decided that our first mattress was the best bet, so we went to our local Sam's Club and picked it up! It was about $860.00 for the mattress, box spring, and the universal bed frame! And the best part is, it is the MOST comfortable bed I have ever slept on!




Sure it takes up most of the space in our bedroom...but what else do you REALLY need in a bedroom?? We still have our dresser, chest of drawers, and our nightstands, so I think it is a nice fit!

FYI

8:34 PM Posted In Edit This 0 Comments »
FYI--

I haven't forgotten to post my ABC blogging...

but I can't find my camera cord...

I have about 3 posts stockpiled but I am waiting until I have pictures to go with them...

so stay tuned. 

A is for At Work

2:55 PM Posted In , , Edit This 1 Comment »
Well, since I am becoming a dedicated blogger...AND because I can already think of letters A-D; I am going to try yet another 26 days/26 letters type of postings. Now, I don't want you to get all excited and check in on me everyday, because fact of the matter is, I'm probably not going to be able to post every single day. But my loyal 2 or 3 readers out there will certainly understand.

Ok.

A is for AT work....
yes, I am back at work. As a school teacher there are a few breaks that I look forward to throughout the year. However, I have an added bonus. I teach at a year-round school. For those of you not in the educational world, that means we go to school for nine weeks and then have a 3 week break in between nine week sessions. Yes, that means I work over the summer, gasp, but it really is NBD.

Anyhoo...I had the best break ever. I will probably post more about it later, ya know, as the letters in the alphabet come up...but needless to say, I wasn't ready for my break to be over. I love my students, most of the time, and they are, for the most part, good kids, but they are not my family. I had such a good time hanging out with my family over break. Especially my sister and her boys. She always looks forward to my breaks so we can run around together and I totally miss it! I also really miss the fact that her boys take naps in the afternoon. I am finding myself increasingly more jealous of my little nephews because I am seriously draaaaaaaaaagging right now! We hung out in the morning Christmas shopping and stuff, the boys fell asleep in the car on the way home, we carried them to their beds, then I would go to my own house and take a nap as well!

I am however happy to be back at work because I will start eating better again. I mostly pack a lunch at work but got pretty used to eating fast food everyday during break! Let's see...only 44 more school days until spring break . . .

I wonder if I could talk my principal into letting fifth graders take naps after lunch???

resolutions.

12:25 AM Posted In , Edit This 2 Comments »
I suppose it would be easy for me to repeat the same resolutions I have had for years. I could be like eeeeeeeverybody else and say that I want to lose weight or work out more, but I will spare you the details. For some reason, recently I am less concerned with the number on the scale and more concerned about how my clothes fit or how I look in the mirror. 

Fact is, I do want to lose weight, I do want to work out more (Zumba!), I do want to be healthier; but I don't want to work at it. Quite the predicament, huh? Oh well, I suppose I will try harder this year, and since I recently took up 'salads', I can try to eat healthier. 

But what I really want, more than anything, is to get organized! I recently (December 31 to be exact) donated 5 bags of clothes to Goodwill and could probably donate about another 500. Husband and I have decided to get a bigger bed so we have cleaned and painted our current room, moved into another room in our house, but are only slowly working on getting a bigger bed. Today however, I decided that I want a new closet to go with my new bed. One of those cool metal wire organized closets. We will see, if I ever get around to purchasing one I will be sure to post before and afters. 

Maybe I will stick to at least one resolution this year. 

Crap, I better make one that will be easier to stick with...hmmmmm, I resolve to constantly think I have the best nephews in the world. 

Sweet. Now I can check off one resolution that I can unconditionally keep the whole year long!!!

Letter Never Sent

10:07 AM Posted In Edit This 2 Comments »
Dear Rain,

Before you jump to any conclusions, just hear me out. It's not you, it's me. We have been growing apart for some time now. Although I am struggling on the inside, this is the way it has to be. 

I am over you.

You see, it probably started sometime in high school, you probably ruined something that I cared about in my mundane high school life; but college is where you really started mistreating me. It wasn't fair that I was good to you, occasionally splashing in your puddles while you were watching and you continued to dump on me every time a cloud appeared in the sky. I tried to put some distance between us, I graduated college and moved back home where it never rained as much as it did in my college town, but you followed me. You have not left me alone in weeks it seems. You have been haunting my every outing. 

I do think this is in large part due to me. I have changed. We have grown apart. It is probably all my fault but I can take no more. You have been making my socks wet for years and I have casually turned the other cheek, pretending that the would dry by the time I sat through class or maybe I could just slip off my socks while they dried, but enough is enough. I haven't been able to wear my new favorite Merrell's because husband says they will get ruined with all the rain. Now you are threatening my Christmas with your rain? You have gone too far. I know we had a history and I hope we can be friends again one day, but this is too much for me to handle right now. I will always love you, even if it can only be from a distance. You are sometimes too beautiful to look at, but lately you have been ugly with your power, and I don't love ugly. 

I am sorry it had to end this way, but you will see that it is for the best. I will always cherish what we had. 

graciously yours,
amy e. 

Three New Obsessions

9:34 PM Posted In , Edit This 4 Comments »
Well. I must admit. I have three new obsessions. Ok, not exactly all of them are obsessions, but I feel like I have to at least say one is a new obsession so maybe I will stick with it.

1. Running-- Ok,this OBVIOUSLY is the "obsession" I am not too zealous about. My sister and I have begun running in hopes of trying our first 5k this October. I have never, ever, EVER enjoyed running for sport but I am trying my hardest to get into it. Last year...actually, almost exactly one year ago, my brother-in-law ran in our local distance run. My sister and I went along to stand on the side of the road cheering him all the way to the finish line. Somewhere along the way there was this really hot chick running in a sports bra and spandex shorts. MA and I said that next year, that would be us. Well, at the time, MA was 9 months pregnant with Bertlebee and I was a MAJOR fatty. We haven't quite made it down into our spandex yet...but at least we are trying and we are shooting for on October run here in our hometown...We are trying to run as much as possible and we are following a couch to 5k program...hopefully more info on this later!

2. This new CD by the lead singer of Bright Eyes. I am obsessed with Bright Eyes mainly because husband and I shared our first dance to their song First Day of My Life played beautifully by my brother on the guitar. I have been finding this cd to be very calming in my mostly stressful job. I love my job, it is just VERY stressful right now...but that is a whole other post in and of itself. . . 

3. ZUMBA ZUMBA ZUMBA!!! This is TOTALLY my MAJOR obsession in my life right now. I have jumped on the bandwagon and if getting off is wrong--- I don't wanna be right!!! My girlfriend recently got certified to teach Zumba in our area and started 2 classes per week at a school on the end of my road. She could honestly teach a class 7 days per week and I would be there EVERY SINGLE DAY!!! The best part about this for me is that I don't really feel like I am working out...it feels more like a dance party, and let's get real, who doesn't LOVE a dance party?!?! I have also seen a difference in my body since I began Zumba-ing...there are subtle changes I can see in my body just on a weekly basis, and, as I said before, I don't feel like I am working out so I don't hate it!!! Anyway...I hope this keeps up and if my body starts looking better I may even post some pics! 

Anyway, that is all for now, I am sure I will have something to blog about soon when I get my students' state standardized test scores back. . . WISH ME LUCK!!!

MIA. . .

7:58 PM Posted In , , Edit This 3 Comments »
Well Well Well...look what the cat dragged in....

Ok, I have been MIA once again. I have trouble with this whole blogging thing. I read multiple blogs a day and can check in on them every few hours, but as for me...I feel like I never have time to write...but I will start...and I will start now.

Since I have been on yet another temporary hiatus, I will reflect upon the past few months. . . 

Let's see, my last post was on May 12th...a lot has happened since then...

I finished out my first year of teaching with a bang! It was great and I will dearly miss those girls (I teach an all-girls' class) but I was happy to see them move on to middle school at the same time. My first year of teaching brought on many trials and troubles that I did not ever imagine having in college, but more importantly, it also brought many more rewards than I ever thought possible. I will post more about teaching at a later date...

When I finished up the school year I only had a short 3 week break due to the fact I teach at a year-round school so we packed it with a lot of fun!

Over Memorial Day husband and I went camping with my brother, sister-in-law, and a BUNCH of their friends from OH. We had a great time so I decided I will try to recap wit pictures. . . 




This is me at our campsite enjoying the fact that I do not have to wear makeup for the WHOLE weekend!!!


When we camp, our favorite part is the food!!! We eat so well when we are out in the wild!


Enjoying an evening by the bonfire. 


Husband cooking his fresh trout on the campfire! 
We had a great time and can't wait to get back there...we love being in the outdoors away from all of our normal routines.

We went to the beach during my break...but this post is getting a little long, so I will post more on that later...

I'll be back . . . 

E is for Enough...

7:35 PM Posted In , Edit This 2 Comments »
Alright, enough is enough...my sister is right. I have decided that I am the official world's worst blogger...where's the bloggie for that one!?!?!

Since I have left you all out there in the world without me for a while now, I have decided to update you on what's going on in my life...

1. We are still in the middle of 10,000,000 little house projects in our new home...while we are living in the house and are even having people over (ok, ok...just family so far...) we still have tons and TONS of things to finish, but I do promise that I will finally post pictures very soon

2. I have also been overwhelmed with getting my students ready for our statewide standardized tests. There is a whole other post I would like to write about how unfair I think "high stakes tests" are, but that is for another time and place. My past 3 months have involved "cramming" for this test, I haven't felt like a teacher in FOREVER because we are so busy cramming and I don't really feel like we are learning...oh well, there I go again with that other post.

3. I am exactly T minus 10 days until I am camping with my brother and SIL...Last Memorial Day was my first camping trip and, contrary to popular belief...I LOVED IT!!! I can't wait to go back and I really, really, really love spending time with Nicholas and Jessica...and of course Erin and Matt as well...as well as 1,000 of their other friends!!! We will be headed out over Memorial Day weekend and I can't even begin to explain just how much I need this trip!!!

4. I am exactly T minus 30 days until my school year is over! I am excited, but I am super sad! These girls are my first class and I HATE to have to see some of them move on to middle school, but I know most of them are ready to get out...

5. I am not counting down the exact days until the beach, but it is getting closer...this is proving to be both good and bad. I can't wait to go to the beach, play in the ocean, feel the sand, just RELAX-- but the weight loss plan hasn't been going so well lately. I have been stuck at the same weight for about 8 weeks now and it is driving me crazy...I really need to step it up in the next couple days. 

6. While at the beach, husband and I will celebrate our first year of marriage! I can't believe our very first year is coming to an end, it has certainly flown by!

7. In order to prepare for the beach...meaning: in order to not have my butt burned off the first week of the beach, I have started tanning in a tanning bed here in town. Spare me the drama, I KNOW they are terrible, I KNOW I should never, ever, under no circumstances lay in a tanning bed, but lets get real...I just look so much better with a lil color on my body!!! I have only been once and I can already feel my skin burning away...maybe I won't lay so long next time. . . 

8. I  have started eating salads....Yes-sir-ee-bob...you heard it hear first. I have started eating salads! The "no thank you, I do not eat anything green or healthy" stage is beginning to give way and husband could not be happier. He, along with every member of my family before finally giving up on me, have been trying to get me to try new things for as long as I can remember. For me, it was always a texture thing, but I am really getting into salads now! Of course they still have some sort of meat in them and some form of cheese and of course, full-calorie ranch dressing, but I'm trying. Stop judging me-- I have to take baby steps. 

9. I have decided to stay at the same job next year...It's not that I was every really considering a move, but the thought did cross my mind. My job is hard, our school is hard to work at, but at the end of the day, I love our schedule and I love my girls, so I could never leave them...not yet at least.

10. I am not sure if I really have anything else to write about, but I thought it was a good idea to wrap this post up at 10...hmmm...maybe 10 lbs. I would love, love, LOVE to lose 1o more lbs before summer got into full swing...that would make my weight loss grand total right around 25 lbs and I would just really enjoy that! I guess I better get going on that goal!!!

Well folks, that is it in a nutshell...what has been happening for the past, well, however long it has been since my last post. Now sister, sister-in-law, sister's sister-in-law, mom, dad, brother-in-law, and brother-in-law's mama will know what is going on in my life...It sure is nice to have abut 7 readers...maybe one day I will up my game...aaaaahh, one day. . . 

D is for Dang baby, you look good and Dodge. . .

10:24 AM Posted In , Edit This 3 Comments »
*DISCLAIMER*
Just so you know, I wrote this post quite some time ago...I have been overwhelmed with work/buying a house/life/procrastination, etc...I could go on and on...that I haven't been blogging like I promised...Soooo, I am posting without pictures. I needed to resize the pics, and I never go around to it...so this post is minus the pics...I promise I will put them in sometime soon b/c you won't understand why I like it unless you see the pics!!! So, without further adieu...


There is something to be said about a working man. I do love it when my hubby wakes up early with me and dresses nicely to head on to his office job, but I love it even more when he puts on his grubby clothes and gets ready to do manly things around the house or on his car. Well, I had the privilege to wake up from a nice Saturday afternoon nap and find this in our garage…

*I have to load this pic...*

Yes, it is my husband and my papa, my two favorite men working on my husband’s car. This is, of course, after they already worked on my Daddy’s car. They are putting on rear brakes. Don’t let my husband know this, but, as much as I complain about that stupid car, I really do love it…and we could only get about $1000 for it, so we might as well drive it into the ground!!!

*and this one...*



So, do you want to know the best part about my husband putting new brakes his car???





They ACTUALLY work!!! So now we are driving in a relatively safe, hot little car…I must admit, when I am driving behind him, I really do like the way he looks at me in his rear view mirror with those Oakley shades. . . .mmmmm….
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