In lieu of a breakdown...

I'm really frustrated.

Yesterday, I received word that, because of a mistake someone else made at work, I may not be paid for my work for the entire month of August.

And, unless the person who made the mistake rectifies it, there is nothing I can do about it.

Other than quit. And don't think I haven't thought about that.

Royally ticked off, I came home yesterday, screamed loud enough to force Marvin the Dog to beat a hasty retreat under the office futon, and ate a bowl-full of cold leftovers for lunch.

Yeah, it was that kind of day.

The kind of day where my nerves, blood pressure, and anxiety all shot straight through the roof, and, worse yet, stayed there.

Ugh.

But that's enough of that.

I'm really working on not dwelling on the negative and fixating on things beyond my control, so let's move onto a world full of sunshine and roses and people who know how to do their job, shall we?

A while back, Jordan, from The deFlon Family, gave me The Versatile Blog Award.
Thanks, girly! You're the sweetest, and I really appreciate the fact that this award gives me some strict ramifications, with which I cannot whine and moan about work.

Take, for instance, the fact that I now must list seven things about myself. (Which totally seems easy until you realize you're a terribly boring person.)

1. I'm a good cook. But I'm a horrible baker. While cooking, I don't measure very many ingredients. I use recipes for inspiration, but I really just chuck in what it calls for in the amounts I think will be useful, plus I always add any additional ingredients that I think will taste good. And, thankfully, most of the time, they do. But with baking? Those skills don't serve me so well. Because of my improvised approach to measuring - plus the fact that I always try to add healthy, dense ingredients like wheat germ and flax into every recipe - most of my baked goods end up resembling rocks and tasting like paste.

2. When I'm tired, I get a sore throat and nauseous. Which means I constantly think I'm coming down with something. And, in a way, I guess I am. It's called exhaustion, and I sometimes feel like I'm always teetering on the brink of it.

3. My husband I have taken only a handful of photos together since our wedding. Seriously, I have nothing framed in my home other than photos taken before or up to October 2008. This either means we're horrible about bringing along a camera, or we're just not terribly photogenic.

4. I fold laundry every Monday night with a bunch of fellow Navy wives. And, on Thursdays, everyone comes to my house with their craft projects, and we work and talk for the entire afternoon. We laugh about the fact that all of us worried we wouldn't make friends when we got here, and now, we spend three to four afternoons or evenings together. I couldn't have asked for a better group of women in my life.

5. I've never taken Tylenol, aspirin, Midol, Motrin, cough medicine, etc. in my life. Seriously. Not a bit of it. I've taken vitamins my whole life, and I'll up my vitamin-intake when I get a cough, cold, or the flu, but I've never taken a drop of synthetic, OTC or prescription medication in my life. I used to think I had a very high tolerance for pain, but now, I just think I have a freakishly tough immune system.

6. My husband I do not enjoy watching TV together. Now that LOST is over, we have absolutely no shows in common. Except for one: Man v. Food. For some reason, we both get a kick out of some has-been frat boy traveling the country in search of local restaurants' major eating competitions. We could watch a marathon of it, if we had to. And, with the way we bicker over current TV programming, we just might have to.

7. I'm not a very sympathetic personal trainer. While I relate to women who are struggling with poor body image and weight issues, I absolutely hate when clients complain about how hard their regimen is to do. It's frustrating for me when they whine about how much pain they're in, and I constantly feel the urge to yell, "Listen! I'm here to help you! So shut up, and finish this set of push-ups! This is what you're paying me to do! So stop complaining!" Trust me, I don't say this. To their faces, anyway. But honestly, I really wish I could. There are no excuses, as far as I'm concerned. If you have the money to pay for me, and you show up for our appointments, then zip your lip, and get the job done. I don't mind a little good-natured ribbing, but there's no excuse for constant moans and groans about how much you hate me because I'm making you exercise.

Now, to pass this onto 15 bloggers I love, have recently discovered, and/or think are fantastic...

1. A sweet new blog friend of mine Kristen at All in My Twenties
2. The lovable Je, at Freckle on the Nose of Life's Complexion
3. New graduate student Smile Steady
4. Long-time blogfriend Kat at My Girls and Me
5. My almost-ready-to-be-a-momma friend Lucy Marie at Lucy's Life
6. The girl who reads my mind sometimes, Amber, at The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous & Newlywed
7. The adorable Melissa at Little Mrs. Married
8. Fellow Southern Hilary Lane at The Tale of this Newlywed
9. Another former Floridian Kassie at Raindrops on Roses
10. The newly expecting Callie Nichole at Through Clouded Glass
11. Kindred spirit Mrs. Life Accounts
12. The wise Hillary at The First Year Wife
13. Fellow journalist Denise at Musician's Widow
14. New momma of two and dear friend Gina at Namaste by Day
15. A better wife than me, Kayla, at Livin' the Great Life!

***

Happy Thursday, everybody!

Future Unsure

Ten years ago, I thought I knew where I was going.

Granted, I didn't know my husband; I didn't have a college degree; heck, I hadn't even started college yet.

Which means, really, I knew nothing.

Yet, I thought I had it all mapped out.

Go to college. Get a degree. Get a master's degree. Work as a professional woman. Get married. Work a little more. Have babies. Raise babies. Possibly work from home. Retire luxuriously with my husband in a little cabin in the woods.

Bing. Bang. Boom.

Just as if life was like one of my many to-do lists, I had a series of boxes just waiting to be checked off.

Degree? Check.
Job? Check.
Husband? Check.
Babies? Check.

And, for a while there, I stuck to the plan. I graduated college. I got a job.

I even found a husband, though not the one I imagined I'd find.

And, then, life happened.

Jobs were won. Lost. I moved into a profession I never thought I would. And my husband joined the U.S. Navy.

We don't have a baby yet, and we're currently living in a state where I have no family, no long-time friends, and no previous area know-how.

We've diverted way off the course, if you consider my teenage dreams.

So many boxes have yet to be checked.

And, to some extent, I don't know when they will be.

I don't know when we'll be blessed with a baby. I don't know how my career will change and develop, yet again. I don't know what my husband will do once he leaves the U.S. Navy, if he leaves the Navy at all. And I don't know where we'll end up next, let alone where we'll finally settle down and build our "forever home."

Blame the military lifestyle.

Blame the fact that I feel like I literally blinked and realized I wasn't 21 anymore.

But, no matter how you slice it, the life I'd planned out so carefully during my younger years has yet to come to fruition.

I have no idea where I'll be in 10 years.

Not even a clue.

My husband could very well still be a sailor in the Navy. We could have all four of my dream children. We could own a home in the Midwest, the Pacific, or, heck, right here in South Carolina.

Or the hubs could be a civilian again. We could have less or more children than I ever thought possible. We could be day-tripping across the country in a motor home.

The future, it seems, is unsure.

And, frankly, that scares me. The part of me that craves a schedule, craves a plan, craves a list of specific, well-thought-out goals, gets an itch when I realize I may not get my dream house, my dream family, my dream life, when I thought I would. Or, honestly, ever.

But, along with that fear, comes hope.

Hope that, though my life has been uprooted and my checklist's been re-written time and time again, I may get more than I ever thought possible.

I may get a life I never even pictured in my wildest dreams.

And, when I do, I'll sit back, rocking my first, second, third, fourth, or fifth baby, in a house or that rickety old motor home, on a Navy base or in a home all my own, and laugh at that little girl who thought she had it all figured out.

Who thought she knew where she was going and how she was getting there.

Who thought she knew where she'd be in 10 years.

***

Thanks to Aubrey S. at High-Heeled Love, I got to tell this little story. She gifted me with the You're Going Places Award. Thanks so much, girly!
So, now, I'd like to pass this award on to:

1. Alicia at The Diary of a Crazy Wife
2. Brittany at Sweet, Sassy, and oh so Classy
3. Jess at All-American Jess
4. Taryn at Mr. Jones & Me
5. Moe at A Million Margaritas
6. Taylor at Then There Were Three...
7. Amy Lynn at The Un-Wife Housewife Life
8. Steph S. at A Day in the Life of Grad Student's Life
9. Ashlynn at A Cushy Baby Blog
10. Claire at A Peachtree City Life

Go ahead, lovely ladies. Tell us where you think you'll be in 10 years. And then pass it on to 10 of your favorite bloggers.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Jack-ette of All Trades

I've never been really good at anything.

Honestly, I haven't.

Not that I'm necessarily bad at a lot of things, either.

I'm just not stellar at a lot.

I'm halfway-decent at quite a few things I do. I'm a pretty good teacher, a quality trainer, and an above-average cook.

But I'm not exactly Teacher of the Year, Trainer to the Stars or Top Chef.

And no one is lining up to nominate me for much else, either.

This, my friends, has always been my issue in life.

I like a lot of things. I adore writing and reading and working with children and scrap-booking and cooking and sewing and politicking and counseling and dancing and teaching and fitness and public speaking and sleeping in and painting designs on all my old furniture.

And, for obvious reasons, I've yet to find a way to channel all that into some kind of award-winning career.

How else do you figure a girl with degrees in journalism, history, and a master's specializing in health communication ended up as a high-school teacher?

It's a winding road I walk, I tell you.

Anyway, I'm kind of a jack of all trades. Or, because I'm a girl, a jack-ette. (Not to be confused with anything of the coat or windbreaker variety.)

I'm good at a lot; superior at nothing.

But, as an adult, I've kind of grown OK with that.

I'm less interested in receiving recognition from my career than I've ever been. What I do doesn't really define me, anyway.

I've gotten to the point where I'm OK if I just do my best, even if that's not as good as someone else's best.

I've grown to love my versatility despite of myself.

So, when Marlessa over at Southern Loves gifted me with The Versatile Blogger Award, I was so touched. Thank you, Marlessa!
In acceptance of this award, I must list seven things about myself:

1. I'm afraid of the dark. In college once, a horrible boyfriend took me to see the horrible horror movie The Grudge, which scared me so badly that I proceeded to spend weeks sleeping in my roommate's bed with her, much like a little sister. When I finally returned to my own room and bed, I slept with the light on. For a year.

2. I have no idea how many children I want to have. The hubs and I always said we wanted four, but that, after four little ones, if it's possible, we're the kind of people that would end up caving and saying, "Oh, what's one or two more?" Obviously, we really like kids. And,obviously, haven't had our own child that requires constant midnight feedings yet.

3. I like shopping but hate the mall. HATE IT. I will go shopping anywhere over the mall. I dread that place. I even have to emotionally talk myself up when I'm forced to go the mall and get my Clinique skin-care products once every four or five months.

4. In college, I took a part as an actress in a dinner mystery murder to raise money for a local food bank. It was Shakespeare-themed interactive play. I played a modern-day-vernacular-using twist on Lady Macbeth and got to wear an outfit the likes of which most Renaissance fairs have never seen. And, though I was not the murderer, the audience always voted me the culprit. Still don't know what this says about me.

5. When my husband and I are older, I want to open a local breakfast cafe/diner. Our many teenage children can work there with us (see #2.) It can be small enough that we know our "regulars" but big enough that some new-comers want in on what we're serving, both the edible and the emotional. There's something downright missional about serving quality pancakes, omelets, cups of coffee, and good conversation to your community. It feels more like a calling than a job. And though I have no restaurant experience (and my husband only has restaurant managerial experience) I think we could do it and be great at it.

6. I'm terrified about getting a tattoo of my own. (Big fear of needles: Party of One.) But I love my husband's tattoos. And I'm so excited to see him get the one we designed for him when we have our first baby.

7. I'm actually a really serious person. Unless I'm on vacation. Then Vacay Brittany takes over, and I'm tons of fun! My husband even comments on it every time we get away. His favorite line is, "You actually think I'm funny when we're on vacation! You're laughing!"

And now, for the 15 bloggers I'd like to give The Versatile Blogger Award to:

1. Alicia at The Diary of a Crazy Wife
2. Name Twin at Molly Lou Gifts
3. b.e.g. at brown eyed girl
4. Brittany at Living Life Abundantly
5. Annie at Adorkable Annie
6.Mrs. Potts at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen
7. Amber at The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous & Newlywed
8. Hilary Lane at The Tale of this Newlywed
9. Garden State Prep
10. Gwen at Handbag Obsessed
11. Karen at Green Onions
12. Maria at Two Hearts Made Four
13. Jessica at Called to Serve
14. Gina at Namaste by Day
15. Katie at Loves of Life

***

Happy Thursday everybody!

Forgetting the Bad Days

I had a horrible day yesterday.

Horrible.

Downright nasty.

I swear, I almost slugged someone I was so mad.

And I had plans to re-hash it all here. I was going to rant and rave about the unprofessional nature of American culture and how a lack of work ethic seems to be our society's defining characteristic. I was going to wax on about the necessity of common courtesy, punctuality, and graciousness. I was going to beat the pulpit and sound a battle cry for reformation like none other.

And then, I decided against it.

Because negativity breeds negativity.

And no matter how justified I may be, it's not doing anyone a bit of good to focus on the bad.

Especially when there's so much good in the world.

Case in point: My Name Twin.

Yes, the little proprietress over at Molly Lou Gifts and I rock the same name and love it. (She's not the only one out there, either.)

And Mrs. Molly Lou really is one of my kindred spirits. She always makes me smile and laugh and swell with encouragement when I need it the most.

Like when she gave me the following:
It's the I Love This Blog Award!

See? She really is the sweetest.

So, today, instead of dwelling on my down moments, I'm going to look up and hand out some love.

But first, I'm required (by Blogging Law) to list 10 things I love:

1. Books and places filled with them - When I'm old, I'm going to have a library in my house. The walls will be lined with dark cherry shelves, and I'll have an elegant silver ladder that will move on a tracking system around the entire room. I'll whiz about the room on the ladder, picking books and jumping into a plush reading settee, where I'll sip coffee and read, read, read. This, my friends, is exactly why I won't buy a Kindle. Because I love reading books; I love holding books; I love sitting in the presence of books; I love sniffing the pages of books; I love it all a little bit more than the average bear. Libraries and bookstores are my own idea of heaven, at times.

2. Cheese - I'm not sure how this one happened. I wasn't raised in a big cheese-eating family. But now, oh man! I love me some cheeses! Feta and gouda and bleu and sharp cheddar and, well, yum! It's gotten to the point that I make it my personal goal to find a cheese that matches every meal I cook. I'm pretty successful, most of the time. Although, Asian cuisine still eludes me.

3. Floral prints - Ask my mother, who had to drag me away from every floral print couch, recliner and dining room chair we found in IKEA last month. I have a thing for florals, and it's serious. You can't have too many in a room, in my opinion. If I had my way, my poor husband would have to exist in a fabric garden. Oh, how they make my feminine heart sing!

4. Grading (except not really) - I don't know what it is about grading papers that gets me. Perhaps it's all the grammatical errors. Perhaps it's my overuse of the phrase "NEEDS MORE PROOFING." Perhaps it's simply the fact that I have a stack of essays on my desk that never seems to recede. It mystifies me, really. Still, the point is, whatever the opposite of grading papers is? That's one of my big loves. That feeling when there's nothing left to grade, i.e., summer, makes my heart sing.

5. Big dogs - I like animals a lot. And, really, I love almost every dog I've ever met. Big. Small. Old. Young. Scruffy. Smooth. I'm a fan. But when it comes to owning a dog, I like mine large. I like a dog I can full-body hug, and while I love snapping up a puppy in my arms, I don't miss holding a dog every chance I get. I like watching my big Dane-mix lumber along. I even enjoy the huge flaps of fur and skin he has bunching around his mouth and neck and hindquarters when he's just lazing around. I like sitting next to them on the floor, a big old dog head snoozing in my lap while I read a book. I even think it's cute when they try and act like a little puppy and attempt to fit back in my lap, only to squash me with their sheer size. Nothing sweeter than a big dog, in my world. Nothing.

6. Techno music - I know this makes me a freak, but I'm just going to admit it. I love techno music. It's the only kind of music I like that has minimal lyrics and a driving beat. Blame it on the fact that I'm fitness instructor who listens to this stuff for a living, but the fact is, I'll even listen to it outside of the gym. So, go ahead. Judge me. I'll just be hear be-bopping along to a synthesized beat.

7. Bracelets - I wear a lot of them. Cuffs and bangles and beads and stacks and stacks of pearls. I always wear bracelets. I even have a student who walks into my classroom every morning, takes off my bracelets, tries them on, and then puts them back on my wrist. A little weird, but I consider it our thing.

8. Babies - It's probably just because I teach high school, and anybody who spends that much time around teenagers wants to return a little bit more to the innocence of youth. But honestly, it's all I can do not to swoop up every baby I see in the grocery store and sniff that delicious smell that comes out the top of their head. It borders on an obsession.

9. Popcorn - I think I've covered this enough around here. Popcorn and I are soul mates.

10. Homemade desserts - I'm not a huge cookie-lover. I can take or leave cake. And pie and I aren't all that close. But when they're homemade, fresh out of the oven, made from scratch? I'm in. That's when every buttery, sugary calorie becomes worth it.

Now, I want to pass the love along to another 10 women who's blogs I love:
1. Taylor at Then There Was Three...
2. The Shabby Princess
3. Sam at The Ruby Turtle Hippie Times
4. Katie at The Perks
5. Marlessa at Southern Loves
6. Mrs. Bee at the Secret Life of Sass & Lex
7. Alissa at Newlywedded; Life, Love and Me
8. Lisa at Must be doin' somethin' right...
9. Jenny at Lucky in Love
10. Jules at Chic & Pink

Enjoy ladies! And Happy Thursday everyone!

An Unabashed Hug

Before I started graduate school, I took a job working with chronically ill children at a camp.

By far one of the best jobs I've ever had, I learned a lot about myself and others there.

Heck, I even met my husband there.

It was a special place, a place, kids said, that was "filled with love" - a grand idea we all espoused while working there.

But underneath it all, it was a place just for kids. Sick kids, yes. But kids with attitudes. Kids with problems. Kids who were angry, depressed, and socially freaked out. Kids.

While we did our best to make that place all sunshine and rainbows, underneath it all, we knew some kids had issues that we wouldn't be able to fix in our short stints with them.

One such child, with such problems, we'll call Matilda.

She was 14. She had epilepsy. She had cerebral palsy (CP). She had a host of other problems that amounted to a life for this little girl that was nothing if not difficult.

She was severely delayed mentally, socially, and, to some extent, physically.

She struggled to walk, wore braces on her limbs, and limped. She held her right arm in toward her torso, immobile, characteristic of a child with CP, who had had strokes and resulting shunts put in her brain. She had seizures that sometimes caused just her face to twitch and other times wracked her whole body with such violent shakes that it would take her days to recover.

She also had bright red hair, freckles, and huge obsession with Hilary Duff.

Because of the irregular activity in her brain, this adolescent girl acted more along the lines of your typical 7 or 8 year old.

A 7 or 8 year old, mind you, who was largely unaware of how others viewed the world around her.

Because of that, she struggled to communicate, to relate to any of her peers. She stared off at times as if trying to escape from a world where other kids her age didn't understand her garbled speech, where adults didn't tire of repeating things over and over and over again to her because her brain didn't have the capacity to remember them.

She didn't understand boys and why others would see them as any different than girls; she didn't understand clothes, and why running around naked in front of others was not OK. She didn't understand her own size, and how crawling into someone's lap as a young teenager was largely seen as inappropriate.

Sad though it was, her brain just didn't let her understand the social mores, the proper etiquette, and the guarded language and gestures others put up around her to remain "cool" in our society.

Stripped of that ability, her mind just didn't comprehend.

But, because her mind also didn't have the ability to hold a grudge, to join a clique, or to pick on someone younger and weaker, it left room for one other skill - a skill Matilda knew all too well.

The ability to unabashedly and wholeheartedly love somebody.

Matilda has, to this day, the biggest heart I've ever seen.

I spent seven days working with her, and throughout each one, she'd squeeze my hand and smile up at me at during the most random of moments.

She'd express joy when we'd go fishing, when I'd take her swimming, when we'd play dress up, when we'd read books at night, when I'd tuck her into bed.

She'd scramble into my lap, as big as she was, and sing songs, brush my hair, or gently touch my earrings with her finger tips.

And, whenever she felt like it, whenever she thought it needed to be said, she'd reach her arms around my waist and hug me, beaming up at me and saying, "I love you."

Not that I was special. For, really, Matilda loved everybody. She was grateful for any fun experience with anyone. For example, as her parents led her away at the end of our week together, she hugged each one of her peers - all of whom also struggled with epilepsy, though not as severely - good-bye and wept, whispering "I love you."

In that week together, she probably hugged me 18 times a day. Maybe even more. She hugged all of us that much. I was so used to her arms around my waist and her hand squeezing mine that by the time she left, I physically missed them.

She made that camp a place that was really "full of love."

Because that week, I may have taught Matilda a few things: We learned to put on lipstick, and we learned to play hopscotch. We even learned to float on our backs in the pool.

But Matilda, with every single hug, taught me a lot more.

She taught me that humanity is, underneath it all, good.

That, once you strip away the baggage that societal pressure puts on most of us, the human spirit is loving and caring and openly communicative with others.

That love is really and truly our basest emotion.

That, beneath every other motive, caring for others is the most natural thing we do.

And that, when all other means of expression escape you, all you really need to do is reach out your arms in a hug.

Just like Matilda.

***

Thank you, Lisa, for tagging me to tell the story of my most memorable hug with the Blog Hug Award. (Lisa has been such a great friend to me while my husband has been away, as she is dealing with the same thing with her boyfriend, who is currently deployed with the Army. Go check out her blog!)
And now, I'd like to "hug" the following bloggers:

Gina at Namaste by Day
Katie at Loves of Life
Crazy Shenanigans
Lil' Woman at Little Woman, Little Home
Melissa G. at The Missionary Mama

Tell us the story of your most memorable hug, my dear ladies!

And as for the rest of you, play along, as well, if you'd like.

I hear by "hug" you, too! Happy Thursday everyone!

Oh, the irony!

It takes an act of God to get me dressed on the weekends.

Saturday roles around and - I swear - my body actually repels all synthetic fabrics, under-wire undergarments, and form-fitting pants.

Once the weekend hits, you're likely to find me in an elastic waistband and an oversized sweatshirt that allows me to walk around sans bra more than anything else.

My body, just like my mind, needs a break.

So it was no surprise that last weekend, I walked into the grocery store wearing an old bathing suit covered with a one-size-too-big maxi dress.

A one-size-too-big strapless maxi dress.

A one-size-too-big, pink and purple maxi dress.

A one-size-too-big, pink and purple, TIE-DYED maxi dress.

Don't ask me why I still wear it.

Better yet, don't ask me why I still own it.

Because I'd be forced to tell you that that dress is my idea of heaven - it's big; it's comfy, and it affords me the ability to go stealthily bra-less. (Yes, my idea of heaven is a place where people don't need bras. Because God loves me, and I figure, he'll give me that sweet relief once I get there.)

So there I am, casually wandering the aisles of the otherwise empty grocery, grabbing yogurt and fruit and cereal, when I see her.

Wearing a buttoned-up polo shirt and crisp khaki pants.

The mother of two of my "favorite" students - one of which, you all may remember, once accused me of smoking mar*juana in my past.

I'll admit, I attempted to hide behind the condiments section. After all, I spend 40+ hours a week attempting to masquerade as an upstanding citizen and role-model to my small-town community by working as a high-school teacher. (Ha!)

But with my big pink-and-purple tie-dye virtually screaming, "Look at me! Look at me!" it couldn't be helped.

She saw me.

My face hung lower than my chest in my un-supportive dress. I'd been caught. Bra-less.

So, we had the inevitable teacher-parent conversation. We chatted about her darling children and their progress in school. My job. Her job. Graduation dates. The weather. Church that morning. What she was shopping for. What I was shopping for. My favorite squash recipe. Her favorite way to hide ground turkey in her husbands' preferred meaty dishes. Her younger children. My dogs. The neighborhood. What she was reading. The price of corn these days.

She oh-so-politely ignored my dress while I pretended to furiously scribble down her recipe for Mexican lasagna.

It was awkward.

Still, we finally managed to graciously part ways, each of us breathing a sigh of relief. The worst was over. We'd done our job as good Southern women and covered the four Fs of conversation - family, food, fun, and faith.

Mama would be proud.

I was just relieved she hadn't mentioned the dress.

Until I saw her son - my student - this week.

I told him I had had a nice conversation with his mom in the grocery store that weekend.

He laughed and said she had enjoyed talking to me, too. And then he laughed some more. Snickered, really.

"She also said you were wearing a crazy dress."

It was this point that I started praying, begging God to send help, a distraction, something.

"She told me she thinks you must have been quite the hippie back in the day."

It was at this point that I told God to "Forget the help! Just let the ground open up and swallow me whole and take me up to my bra-less heaven right now!"

But God didn't answer my prayers. And I was left wondering what to say to when, essentially, that was just the honest truth.

I mean, let's call a spade a spade.

If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, and is wearing pink-and-purple tie-dyed cotton...

***

The funny thing is, I returned home later that day to realize Brittany, over at Sweet, Sassy, and oh so Classy, had tagged me with the following Preppy Mafia award!
Literally, Britt, you are too sweet and kind! Your benefit and trust in my preppy fashion sense is most gracious. Although I'm sure I've let you down in many ways with the story I just recounted, and if you'd like to renounce my membership in the preppy mafia now, I totally understand.

That being said, I'm a good sport. And I thought, Heck! I'm not all hippie! I've got a little prep in my step now and again!

So why not play along (before they revoke my mafia membership) and answer the following preppy questions:

1. Who is your style icon?

source

Oh my. That's tough. I enjoy a big range of fashionable looks. I might have to go with Sarah Jessica Parker, mostly because she always looks comfortable and eclectic. I'll admit, I'm not nearly as brave as she is, but I do enjoy how she mixes chic pieces with cozy knits and pretty florals. The only difference is her shoes. I don't hear heels. I'm always a flats girl. Always.

2. What is your favorite socialite book?

Open admittance: I didn't know there were such things as "socialite books." My apologies. But never fear. I've now been properly schooled, and I will travel out and find one post-haste.

3. What is your favorite party theme?

Tea parties! Mostly because I love tea. And vintage china. And finger sandwiches. And lots and lots of bright, beautiful, mismatched dishes. And party dresses. And cardigans. And flowers. And ruffles. And antique silver. And...maybe I'm more preppy than I thought...

4. What is your go-to Halloween costume?

Well, I'd say a hippie, but...

In all seriousness, I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, and we really don't celebrate it. So I don't get dressed up. Sorry to be such a party-pooper. Horror and gore (and the color orange) are just not my thing.

5. What is the extravagance you just can't live without?

Books. I love to read, buy, and swap books. Although, apparently not socialite books, as I've been unaware of their existence up until now.

6. Who is the living person you admire?

I adore my parents, and I think they've raised a wonderful family and kept a wonderful home over the years that I'll never be able to replicate, no matter how hard I try.

7. What is my greatest fear?

Well, I'm a huge advocate of killing all snakes. Everywhere. Because I hate them. A lot.

But on a deeper note, I'd have to say losing my husband young. As dark as it sounds, with the hubs now in the military, I worry about something happening to him before we can have children, raise them, and grow old together. I don't want to be widow; I don't want to marry anyone else. My heart breaks for those who this has happened to already. They are much stronger than I could be; it would devastate me. (I know how ridiculous this sounds, but it's a fear of mine, nonetheless.)

8. What's the trait you dislike about yourself?

I sincerely lack patience when it comes to order and routine. Other people who don't see the method to my anal-retentive madness can inadvertently feel my wrath, and I hate that.

9. Which talent would you most like to have?

I have secret dreams of singing and dancing on Broadway. Which will never happen because I can neither sing nor dance. But I can dream. And sing "525,600 Minutes" in the shower over and over again.

1o. What is my greatest achievement?

Oh, tough one. I don't know. I have to admit that the most important things in my life were blessings, not achievements. My friends, my husband, my family, my faith, my jobs, my passion for exercise and literature. Those are what make my life beautiful, and I am so incredibly grateful for them all. But I was gifted all that by God. I didn't "achieve," per se, any of it.

So, to be honest, I don't know if I have a greatest achievement yet. But I do have a lot of blessings.

11. Who are the 10 people I'd like to tag with the Preppy Mafia award?

OK, I'm going to pass this along to some of my preppier friends....

Maria at Two Hearts Made Four
Anonymous Prep at Adventures of Anonymous Prep
Jess at All-American Jess
Heather from Beautiful Life
b.e.g. at Brown-eyed Girl
Maegan at Classy & Fabulous
Mrs. Potts at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen
Name Twin at Molly Lou Gifts
Shaina at Post Smith
Susannah at The Edwards Edition

Any of the rest of you want to embrace your inner prep? The award is yours, too! Consider yourself tagged!

***

Be back tomorrow with more ramblings! Happy Thursday!

When a stubbed toe makes you smile

I'm not sleeping terribly well this week, as you can imagine.

So, on Tuesday, I barely had my eyes open when I stumbled up the path to my house after work.

And then promptly tripped.

Over a long, rectangular, cardboard box, sitting smack dab on top of my "Welcome" mat.

I was shocked; I was surprised; I was hopping around on one foot because I'd stubbed my toe.

I also couldn't, for the life of me, remember what I'd ordered and why FedEx had happened upon my house that afternoon.

And then, I saw the magic words, typed in green and purple on the box: 1-800-Flowers.

I sprinted inside and tore into my package like a woman on a mission. I was so crazed by the thought of fresh foliage that I completely missed the little note attached as I stared in awe at what was in the box.

A beautiful bouquet of one of my favorite flowers: Tulips.
So I did what any woman, on very little sleep, missing her hubs, and nursing a sore toe, would.

I cried like a baby.
How beautiful! How wonderful! But who were they from?
I finally found the note, taped to the box. And I was even more shocked when I read who my flower guardian angel was.

Amber, from Life As We Know It.

Amber, a girl I've never actually met in real life.

Amber, one of my first blog friends ever, and one of the kindest, most giving and open-hearted people I've ever known.

Amber sent me tulips.

Amber, who's never met me before, sent me tulips because she knew it would be a rough day for me.

Let's just say this little random act of kindness didn't go unnoticed from that point on.

I was bawling like a baby. I was so touched and honored. I couldn't send her a thank-you fast enough.

What a blessing! And at a perfect time, too.

So thank you, Amber! You definitely made my day and made me smile. After I dried off all those grateful tears, of course. You are such a wonderful friend, and I'm so glad to have met you!

***

I have two awards I also wanted to pass on to some of the wonderful friends I've met recently out there in the blog world.

Because my dear friend Mrs. Potts at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen, plus my Name Twin at Molly Lou Gifts, gave me The Sunshine Award. Thank you, my sweet friends!
This award, for bloggers who inspire positivity and creativity in the blog world, needs to be passed onto seven other bloggers who brighten my day and make me smile.

So I'd like to pass this bit of sunshine onto:

LG at Groovin' with the Grizas
Heidi Renee
Ashley at Joshley and the Charles
Amber at Life As We Know It
Lil' Woman at Little Woman, Little Home
Heather at Living, Laughing, Loving, Learning
Maria Lane at Two Hearts Made Four

You all are my sunshine!

***

Also, one of my newest and nicest blog buds, Maria Lane at Two Hearts Made Four, gave me the Your Blog Makes Me Smile Award. Thank you, hun! You're so kind!
I need to pass this along to a few bloggers who make me smile with their posts and their comments. Which, frankly, is like all of you!

But for now, I want to hand this on to:
Mrs. Potts at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen
Name Twin at Molly Lou Gifts
Natalie from Miss Brightside
Southern Belle Mama

Also, if you don't have either of these awards yet, please know I want to give them to you, too! You all are my sunshine and ,my smiles on a cloudy day. Or week. Or month. Or year! You make my life's moments better! Thank, my friends!

***

Until tomorrow, Happy Thursday!

Well, if you insist...

I'm always surprised when I read a good friend's blog, and they've gifted me with an award.

I'm always so honored.

And a little flustered.

I start to blush a little. Right here behind my laptop.

I'm so grateful for my readers; as I've said many times before, getting to know you all has been such a blessing. I'm honored to call you friends.

That being said, I owe you all a serious award catch-up post. I've been gifted with so many awards, and it's high time I passed them out to some deserving ladies I love.

***

First up, the Gina at Namaste by Day, Sam at The Ruby Turtle Hippie Times, Hilary Lane at A Tale of This Newlywed, and Brittany at Tales of a Southern Belle and Her Beau all gave me the Beautiful Blogger Award. Thank you so very much, all you wonderful ladies!
I have to list seven things about me (Eek!) and then pass it on to seven beautiful bloggers (Easy Peasy!)

Seven (New-ish) Things About Me

1. My very first job was at a local museum as a historical re-enactor. Seriously, at the young age of 13, I used to dress up in pioneer-woman garb and pretend to churn butter, explaining to touring weekend groups about how "hard life was on the uncharted frontier." As if I wasn't lame enough as a teen...

2. I have struggled with the fashion world for years, but this new craze of feminine, flowing fabrics detailed with flowers and ruffles is making me happy. I can walk into any store and find something that fits me, and, better yet, that I like. However, this same trend is also filling me with a deep sense of paranoia, as I'm terrified this trend will eventually end, and I'll be left holding onto its last vestiges, looking like a has-been.

3. I'm obsessively watching the Olympics. I am watching them day, night, late, early. I'm watching every event, from figure-skating to curling. It doesn't matter what it is; I'm tearing up; I'm cheering them on; I'm critiquing every triple lutz and luge run I can set my eyes on. I love the Olympics.

4. I'm starving. Like, really, starving. I've been out-eating my husband this past week. I'm even craving things like hamburgers, steak, and beef stir-fry, i.e., things I never eat, let alone want to eat. I think my metabolism has gone awry. Or my iron's low. Either way, I'm not lovin' it.

5. I had yet another wacky dream last night, where I was living with my father and raising five children. I don't know where my mother was, and I don't know where my husband was. It was just me, five kids, and their grandpa. I also had super-long hair that was died jet black - a beauty choice I would never make. I woke up wishing I could return to my pre-dreamless slumbers.

6. I know I'm going to eat my words in about two months, when I feel the Florida heat and humidity pressing upon me, but I'm kind of sick of the nightly freezes, and I'm ready for spring. Mostly because I want to wear pastel-colored clothes and paint my toenails. There. I said it. Summer is now going to teach me a lesson.

7. I have designed - in my head, of course - all of the rooms in our new home. Which we won't be living in until June. But I'm already fantasizing about the color schemes, and the textiles, and the accent pieces. I have a feeling this is what's going to get me through the military-enforced separation from my husband. Seriously, a girl has to dream, right?
Now, I want to pass this award on to the following seven beautiful ladies:
1. Erin from Tobin Tales
2. Mrs. LifeAccounts from The Life Accounts
3. Kelsey Claire from Lavendar, Leopard, and Lace
4. Maegan from Classy & Fabulous
5. Tanya at Growing towards a dream
6. Claudia at ...and so I ran
7. Christine at A Leap of Faith

***

Next up, Erin from Tobin Tales gave me the hilarious Master of Karate and Friendship Award! Thank you, Erin!
As a recipient of this award, I am now required to list six things I'm a master in, followed by six master's-of-friendship bloggers.

Done and done. Let's go.

Six Things I Master

1. I'm a master popcorn-popper. I can pop it on the stove, in a bag, in a Tupperware container in the a microwave. Nothing stands in the way of me and a bowl of fluffy kernels.

2. I'm a master bargain-shopper. Seriously, I just don't pay a lot of money. For anything. I'm kind of frugal; OK, I'm a cheap-o. But this does allow me - out of desperation - to find bargain basement prices when shopping for clothes, decor and everything else under the sun.

3. I'm a master flats-wearer. Look, as much as I adore a gorgeous stiletto, I just can't wear them. They all hurt me. I'm on my feet all day. But I rock a gorgeous ballet flat. Whenever required.

4. I'm a master waker-upper. I don't ever hit the snooze button. I rarely, if ever, oversleep. Sure, I'm cranky when I arise, but hey, at least I've arisen. I'm pretty good at rolling myself out of bed come h-ll or high water.

5. I'm a master homebody. I'm very social, but I love being in my house, in comfy clothes, lounging around. I can "waste" a full day wearing sweatpants, cuddled with blankets, watching movies and reading books. Heaven, heaven, heaven.

6. I'm a master purse-destroyer. Seriously, I can stuff more crud in a purse than most people can stuff in a car. And the thing is, I never find half of it once it's in one of my bags or satchels. It's forever lost in the Deep Abyss of the Brittany Bag.
Now, my six master's of friendship have to be:
1 Hilary Lane at The Tale of This Newlywed
2. Brittany from Tales of a Southern Belle and Her Beau
3. Jess at What's Normal Anyways?
4. Sonya at A Day in the Life
5. Newlywed in the Suburbs
6. Lisa at must be doin' something right

***

Last but not least, Kelsey Claire and Lavendar, Leopard and Lace, and Maegan at Classy & Fabulous, gave me the Blogger BFF Award. You ladies are so sweet! Thank you!
I have to pass this on to five of my Blogger BFFs and explain why I gave it to them, so...

1. Gina at Namaste by Day because she's always there when I need her
2. Sam from The Ruby Turtle Hippie Times because she's a true confidante
3. Name Twin at Molly Lou Gifts because she's such a good friend; she even offered to help me unpack my whole mess of a house when we move
4. Mrs. Potts from Experiments in a Galley Kitchen because even with her crazy schedule, she always takes the time to tell her "tribe" that she cares about them
5. Katie at Loves of Life because she checks up on me just when I need it the most

***

Also, thank you to Mrs. Life Accounts and Tanya, who gifted me with some other awards I've posted about here and here! You all are so wonderful! Thank you!

Thank you all for stopping by and reading my little space on the Internet every day! You are so appreciated.

I still have a few more awards that I promise I will get to over the next week or so. Never fear.

So, until tomorrow, Happy Tuesday!

Somebody pass me a calculator

Grades are due.

Insert the collective wail of high-school students and their teachers here.

Yes, it is the end of the semester for my students, and grades are due.

Which means I spent all of yesterday going...

"Yes, that is actually your grade. What do you mean how did you get it? You haven't been to school in a month! I don't care that you had menstrual cramps! So did I! And trust me, they don't last a month! "

Or...

"No, you may not 'make up' the 18 assignments you managed to neglect for the last nine weeks. Not only would that be impossible for you to do in the next, oh, six hours, but when, exactly, do you expect me to grade said assignments, my dear? Yes, I actually grade every assignment. And, come to think of it, since when have I ever graded late work? Unless you call marking a zero on it 'grading.' Then, sure, I'd be happy to 'grade' your late work."

Or...

"Ma'am, I promise you, your daughter has a B in my class. And that's a good thing! Yes, she's going to get into a good college, even if she ends up with a B in my class. She's a smart girl, and I'm pretty sure she's happy with her B. I wouldn't worry about it. No, ma'am, I don't think she needs a tutor. No, ma'am, you don't have to proofread her homework for her even more than you already do. And ma'am, I hate to do this to you, but it's almost midnight, and I have to go to bed. Can we continue this conversation tomorrow? And not on my cell phone?"

Ahhh, yes. The sweet smell of success.

And abject fear.

There is nothing like it.

But there's also nothing like try to write a blog post in all this craziness.

Which is why I tried.

And failed.

So I figured, now's as good a time as any to pass out an award, thank a friend of mine, and tell you all about a wonderful opportunity out there for us fun-lovin' female bloggers.

So let's get to it, shall we?

***

Much like some of my students, I'm woefully behind on my homework. Again.

I've been given so many sweet awards from my dear blog friends, but I'm still slowly re-posting them.

Feel free to give me a zero for bloggy friendship. According to my own grading policies, I deserve it.

Still, I promise, I will eventually get to them all!

And today, I want to thank the oh-so-lovely Alissa at Newlywedded; Life, Love and Me for gifting me with the Best Blog Award. Leesie, you are so sweet! Thanks for thinking of me!
And now, I'm to pass this award on to 15 other bloggers who deserve it.

Done and done. Let's do it!

1. Fellow fitness blog friend, Tania, at Growing Towards a Dream
2. A wonderful blogger who's experiencing a long-distance Arkansas relationship just like my husband and I used to have, Maegan, at Classy & Fabulous
3. A fabulous friend with fabulous taste, Gwen, from Confessions of a Control Freak
4. The person I wish I could hug every time she e-mails me, Mrs. Potts, from Experiments in a Galley Kitchen
5. A fellow soft-hearted teacher, Ambs, at Following the Sun
6. My soon-to-be fellow South Carolinian - when I move, not her! -one of my Name Twins, at Molly Lou Gifts
7. A sweet friend and fellow Florida blogger, Perfectly Pleasant
8. A kindred spirit to me, dealing with her own military-enforced husband separation, Shaina, at Post Smith
9. A recent birthday girl, Sus, at The Edwards Edition
10. My e-mail "sister," Sare, at The Hrebiceks
11. The girl I'm trying to convince to go to law school in South Carolina so we can live closer, Sam, at The Ruby Turtle Hippie Times
12. An encouraging Navy wife, The Mrs., at Trying Our Best
13. A sweet new mommy and fellow teacher, Jenny, at Irish by Marriage
14. An encouraging mother and role-model, Becky K., at Hospitality Lane
15. And last but not least, one of my newest blog friends, with the cutest little baby bump, Longbrake Living

Thanks, girls, for being such wonderful presences in my life!

***

OK, so I won a giveaway a while back from my dear friend Gina. And frankly, people probably thought we fixed the whole darn thing.

Because Gina and I are kind of like long-lost sisters. And she basically gave birth, almost three years ago, to a child that could be my child. And she has the same obsessions I do. And the same weird thoughts. And works in a school. And texts me. And we talked on the phone once in real life, and it basically made my year.

So, yeah, we're tight. Just the kind of tight that makes people think, "No way. Gina rigged her giveaway. Just so she could give it to her long-lost sister Brittany."

But the thing is, she didn't.

She also didn't plan on sending the package to me so that it arrived on my gloomiest day ever.

But she did.

And holy guacamole! Did it turn my frown upside down!

Because I got a box full of goods, from one of my favorite people, filled with perfume and lotions and make-up! Heaven, I tell you, heaven!

So I did what any normal girl would when facing a box full of beauty products: I tried them all on and sniffed and poked and wallowed in their glorious-ness.

And also made up words like glorious-ness. Because I can.

And because Gina rocks!

I also may or may not have forgotten to take a picture of all of it. Allegedly. (Sorry, Gina!)

I tell you all this just so I can give her a huge public thank you! For the gift! For being a friend! And for holding my hand through a lot of tough stuff lately!

Thank you, Gina, thank you! You mean the world to me! I am so blessed to call you a friend.

***

Speaking of friendly packages, if you'd like to make the day of another blogger, head on over to my dear friend Katie's blog, Loves of Life.

She is having a Simply Love swap, and trust me, it's going to be fun! You don't want to miss this! There's tons of women signed up, and it's a simple and affordable way to spread the love to those you care about out here in the blog world.

But hurry! The sign up ends tomorrow!

***

So, anyways, that's it for me today. Thank you, everyone, for muddling through my non-post post!

And now, I've got to get back to grading. And calculating percentages. And rounding up decimal points.

No one ever tells you teaching English required so much math.

Somebody pass me a calculator.

Happy Thursday everyone!

***

P.S. Make sure to check back in tomorrow. I have a pretty big surprise to reveal around here. And while pigs aren't flying, let's just say, I think I've finally drank the Kool-Aid. See you then!

Start preparing your acceptance speeches, ladies

I got an e-mail last week from my blog-and in-real-life friend Melissa.

She told me she'd nominated me for the 10th Annual Weblog Awards. You know, the infamous Bloggies!

Upon reading the news while perched at my kitchen table feeling run-down and under-the-weather, I literally started to tear up.

Because you have to understand that, as is the usual with sweet Melissa, her timing was perfect. She gave me that little boost I needed to get through a rather dreary, depressing afternoon. She made me feel like "me" again.

In essence, she made me feel loved.

And so, knowing that I'm not the only woman who has bad days, and that I'm not the only woman who blogs, and that I'm not the only woman who loves reading other blogs, I signed on and did a whole host of nominations myself.

Because there are bloggers I love in Asia, and there are bloggers I love in Canada, and there are bloggers I love who take photographs and travel and review music.

There are bloggers like you all who touch my heart every single day.

So I did the most logical thing possible, and I nominated as many of you as I could.

I wanted to pass on the love Melissa gave to me.

So now, I encourage you all to vote. Show your blog-friends some love, and enter in your nominees for the The Bloggies.

You have until 10 p.m. tonight to make your vote count and let someone know how much you admire them.

***

I also wanted to take a chance today to pass on the The Glamorous Blog Award that my friends Mrs. Potts, over at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen, and Jenny, over at Lucky in Love, gave to me.
Thanks, Mrs. Potts! You are such a true friend, and I can't wait to meet you one day in person and give you a big ole hug! And Jenny, you are so sweet! Thank you for thinking of me! I heart the both of you!

Now, I need to pass this along to seven other lovely bloggers, which is the easiest task ever because so many of you are so darn wonderful, it's not even funny.

So without further ado, I'd like to bestow The Glamorous Blog Award to...

New momma Helga Marie over at ...just a thought
The incredibly honest and enjoyable Adorably Distracted
My new blog meet-up buddies Jess at All-American Jess and Justine at Almost There
My let's-talk-running-shoes new blog bud The Linz at Destination 26.2
One of my newest and kindest bloggy friends, Elizabeth, at Musing Experiences
The cutest purple-lovin' woman ever, Kelsey Claire, at Lavendar, Leopard, and Lace
And all the rest of you glamorous ladies, all of whom I love and adore!

Thank you, girls, for being you and making my days brighter and my smiles wider.

(Insert the opening chords of "You Light Up My Life" here.)

***

Happy Tuesday everyone! And don't forget to vote by 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time tonight for your blogs of the year!

Be back tomorrow with a good old dose of Workout Wednesday!

Happy happy, joy joy!

Guess what, guess what?

The dear, sweet Jules over at Chic & Pink so graciously gave me the Happy 101 Award!

Isn't she a doll? Thank you, Jules!

This award, meant to be gifted to bloggers who make you smile, has two requirements.

1. List 10 things that make you happy
2. List 10 bloggers who brighten your day.

So, let's go for it, shall we?

10 Things Currently Making Me Happy (As a Clam)

1. The fact that we have six days of school left before Christmas break. And - Bonus Alert! - four of them are half days! Glory be! That being said, these next six days are going to be tough, tough, tough getting my students ready for semester exams. But after that, I have 2.5 weeks of amazing Christmas freedom! I. Can't. Wait.

2. The fact that I told told my students they "were like my kids" yesterday, and one of my 15 year olds immediately jumped in with, "Yay! I have a new mommy!"

3. The fact that my God-mother gave me a bunch of white, crocheted snowflakes last year, which, this year, I hung on my Christmas tree, on my window garland, and all over the house, making it a downright Winter Wonderland in my Florida home. They make me smile every time I come home.

4. The fact that I've managed to read two books this week. I worked hard - for my own sanity - to make reading for pleasure a priority this past week, and what do you know? It totally worked. I'm happier, and I've managed to chip away at the stack of material awaiting my attention.

5. The fact that I've managed to find some steals while I'm out shopping for Christmas gifts. I don't know if it's the tanked economy or what, but there are some great deals out there. And as we all know, finding a great deal can be downright exhilarating! I couldn't be happier with some of the items I've picked up for friends and family. (Steal Alert: Did you all know SteinMart is carrying Vera Bradley? Because they are! This Steal Alert comes courtesy of mother, who called me frantically the second she found a Vera wallet after meandering through her favorite store.)

6. The fact that I saw The Blindside and left the movie theater downright inspired. Granted, I cried through the entire movie, but I was still downright inspired. What an amazing (true) story.

7. The fact that I've become downright obsessed with tea. In an effort to cut down on my highly caffeinated coffee consumption, I've cut out my afternoon cup(s) of coffee and switched to green tea - when in dire straits - and herbal in all others. And I am loving it. It's delicious and warming and fulfilling. I've officially joined Team Tea! (Granted, without totally leaving Team Coffee. Sure, they may be conflicting alliances, but we're working it out. When it comes to warm beverages, I say, can't we all just get along?)

8. The fact that the series LOST resumes in LESS THAN TWO MONTHS! AND I SAW A PREVIEW FOR IT SUNDAY NIGHT! AND I SCREAMED ALOUD AT 10 P.M. BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED BECAUSE IT IS LOST, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE! AHHHHH!!!

9. The fact that I found - gasp!- brown leggings that were not made for a woman who happens to be six months pregnant. Miracles do happen!

10. The fact that I had pie last night. I love pie.

So now, for the 10 dear blog friends who brighten my day when I need it most:
New blog friends Laura, at Awake Amidst A Dream, and Erin, at Tobin Tales
My blog friends turned 6 a.m.-panicked-text-message friends Gina, at Namaste By Day, Sam, at The Ruby Turtle Hippie Times, and Katie, at Loves of Life
A (very brave) soon-to-be substitute teacher, Brittany, at Tales of a Southern Belle and Her Beau
My Name Twins at Molly Lou Gifts and Notes from the Grove
Sweet blog buddies, whose comments constantly make me smile, Mrs. Bee at the Secret Life of Sas and Lex, b.e.g. at brown eyed girl, Sus from The Edwards Edition, and Lyr from Breaking Through

I know, I know. That's 12 women, not 10. But give me a break.

I'm an English teacher.

Math? Not. My. Thing. And trust me, if I had my way, I'd keep going, giving it to you all and re-giving it to those of you that I know already got it!

Because you all - and I say this quite seriously - brighten my day to no end. So thank you, all of you, for adding sparkle and smiles to days that sometimes need it desperately!

I so appreciate it. And all of you!

So until tomorrow....

Happy Thursday!

Fabulous what?

Sure, I've been called fabulous. And maybe a few of my dear friends and older family members have used the word "doll" to describe me (when I'm being nice.)

But no one, I repeat, no. one., has called me a Fabulous Sugar Doll.

Until now.

In fact, several of you apparently think I'm one wonderful confectionary child's play toy.

Because my dear friends Gina, Mrs. Potts, Name Twin, and Kassie have all given me the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award!

Thank you, sweet friends! Or should I say, thank you, you Fabulous Sugar Dolls, you!

Either way, I love the ingenuity of this award. I've never heard of it.

And so, I'm going to muster up some serious ingenuity, follow the rules and pass it on.

Because I totally have to live up to my title of...
Now, as is customary for Fabulous Sugar Dolls (seriously, who thought this name up, because I am in love with it!), I must list 10 interesting things about myself (without giving away that - seeing as how hard it is to come up with 10 interesting things - I may actually be rather undeserving of this "fabulous" award. Shh. Don't tell anybody.)

So, I give you The Last 10 Things the Internet Probably Doesn't Know About Me (Yet.)

1. The only way I will eat baked beans is if they are mixed in with mashed potatoes. And by "mixed in," I totally mean stirred and mushed into the pile of buttery, smashed taters. Seriously. You have to try it. It will change your outlook on the "sweet" bean forever.

2. I was chatting on the dreaded Facebook with three of my blog friends at once this weekend. And it kind of blew my mind. Almost as much as the time I had a little text reparte' going on with one of them. I loved it, until my husband put a damper on my fun by reminding me that it would be easier to just call her if I was going to use the phone to communicate with her, to which I replied, "But what if we don't know how to talk to each other when there are voices involved?" Which made me realize I sounded exactly like my technology-reliant students. And I was shamed.

3. Some school supplies salesman sent me a stack of brightly colored Post-Its shaped like arrows, which say, in big, bold letters "COME SEE ME" on them. My students have decided they are the most intimidating Post-It ever, and so, I've taken to walking around my classroom while my students are working, threatening them with the old, "Don't make me use the 'COME SEE ME' Post-It. Don't make me do it!" The sad part? This totally works.

4. A woman wearing leg warmers, spandex undies, and nothing else on her lower half took my class at the gym yesterday, and I seriously thought I was involved in some kind of hidden-camera show. Especially after she insisted on standing no more than 3 inches away from me while performing all exercises. Except I totally wasn't on T.V. Although I'm sure my inability to control my facial expressions was priceless. If I wasn't so embarrased - for her, for me, for the whole class - I'd have filmed it.

5. I've decided that I can get a bit road-ragey at times. Seriously, people who are inconsiderate and don't follow basic traffic laws really make me mad. I get especially irked when people honk or make obscene gestures simply because I am following basic traffic laws. Because, people, if it says "No Right Turn on Red," I'm not turning right on red, no matter how much of hurry you're in. Sorry, but that's the just they way I roll, er, drive. Period. Yes, I'm one of those people. A rule follower. So sue me.

6. I'm going to be an aunt again! The hubs' sister is pregnant with her second, and the whole family is so thrilled. One of our current nephews, the soon-to-be big brother, has decided he wants to name the new baby "Transformer Dinosaur. Catchy, no? Then again, this is the same child, just last week, who asked his mother a real thinker, a question that has stumped scientists for generations: "What happens when I poop in your brain, Mom?"

7. Some of my favorite times in my classroom are Monday afternoons. I normally stay at the school and work till 6 p.m., long after all the students and most other teachers have left. I really, really love the quiet and the steady rhythm of grading stacks of papers and writing stacks of lesson plans. It's incredibly soothing and peaceful, while also being productive. It's the only time in the week I can really hear myself think.

8. My husband and I have set a rather strict (and low) spending limit on Christmas gifts for each other this year. And I have absolutely no idea what to get him. Then again, I don't really know what to get anybody. I have one gift purchased. Just one. And she was (and always is) incredibly easy to shop for. I don't know why, but Christmas shopping stresses me out like no other. I second-guess everything. Will they like this? Will it fit? Do they hate this color? What if this reminds them of some tragic past event? How will I ever keep this hidden in my house for more than a month? What if it's too expensive? What if it's too cheap? What if, what if, what it? AAAHHHH!!!

9. It's less than a month till my birthday, and my husband and I both forgot. When he finally remembered that little fact Sunday night, he said the following to bring it to my attention: "Wow. You're getting old. Just like that, you're aging. So what kind of gift do you want?" Ahh, true love.

10. I had to lecture my college-student, teaching intern about texting during class. A high-school class that she was supposed to be observing then critiquing. A class that she will eventually have to teach on her own, with me sitting in the back. Observing. Critiquing. And definitely not texting. Sweet heavens, I'm worried about the state of education in this country.

So now, as an honory Fabulous Sugar Doll, I get to pass this award on to 10 other sweet women out there!

And so, I'd like to pass the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award to:
Happy Dash at Happy Day World!
Lil' Woman at Little Woman, Little Home
Just Add Walter
Ashley at Pink-ture Perfect
Ashley at Joshley and Charles
Maegen at Classy and Fabulous
Tracy-Girl at Then I Got to Thinking
Taryn at Mr. Jones and Me
Kayla at Livin the Great Life!
Emily from Show me Your Way

Also, a special thanks goes out to Emily, Happy Dash and Maegan, who also gave me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you, sweet friends! You are too kind! Go take their blogs for a spin, ladies. I promise you won't regret it.

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Come back tomorrow for another round of Workout Wednesday's "Don't Be 'That Girl.'" Until then, Happy Tuesday!

If you can't say anything nice...

I don't even want to say it.

I'm just going to sound like even more of a Whiny-Pants Drama Queen after last week and this weekend.

So I will give it one sentence and than be done with it:

I had an incredibly stressful day at school yesterday, like Whoa-What-I-Am-Doing-Why-Am-I-Here-How-Did-I-Get-This-Job-Stressful Day, and then proceeded to throw my back out, causing a pain I can only describe with the phrase "Sheer Agony," which then caused me to hurt so good, er, I mean bad, that I became nauseous from the pain and vomited again, which caused the back pain to escalate to a pain I can only describe with the phrase "Sheer Agony: The Meaner, Eviler Sequel." (Hey, I didn't say it was going to be a short sentence, did I?)

Apparently, it's just not my week.

So, I'm taking matters into my own hands and channeling my inner Bambi.

If I can't say anything nice, I'm not saying nothin' at all.

And since it's a known fact that I'm actually incapable of saying nothin' at all, I will just have to say something nice (and hope and pray that it comes back to me in the form of a wonderful rest of the week. Please, Lord. I'm begging you.)

So what's nicer than a few blog awards, right, girls? Especially for such wonderful friends who have had to listen to me complain for almost seven days straight and still love me and support me through it all. (Dear friends, you all are the best! The absolute best!)

So, Maestro? Drum roll, please...

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The oh-so-wonderful One Heart, Two Hands gave me the Your Blog is Fabulous Award!

Thank you, dear friend! You are so kind!

This award dictates that I must list five of my current obsessions, and then pass it along to five more fabulous bloggers.

So, what I'm digging right now...

1. My husbands' current work schedule.
Sure, he sleeps like the dead. But he's been home for dinner almost every night for the last month. This is huge, people, HUGE. He works in restaurant management and is often closing down restaurants till 1 a.m., leaving sad Wifey here alone with one huge bowl of popcorn and a cup of chicken broth as my secret-single-girl dinner.

I really hate eating alone. And I cook for him, because I'll be honest, it's not worth it to me just to cook for one. So with Patrick working days and having nights off, I can drop the secret-single-girl dinners and the lonely meals with only the T.V. for company. Plus, I have an even better excuse to put off grading papers while I eat.

2. Old Navy
Is it just me, or do they basically put everything on sale? Seriously, my entire wardrobe is taking a startling shift toward Gap's lower-end, standalone sister store. And I'm living in it and loving it.

Because if I need a sweater, they're on sale at Old Navy. A cute scarf? Check out ON because they're buy one, get one free. Perhaps you fancy a crimson, fall-inspired umbrella? Hit up the Nave! They're 50 percent off! (Also, they've finally created acceptable, quick-dry workout clothes. Thank you, Lord!)

3. Fabric softener
OK, here's the thing: I fought using this stuff for a variety of reasons. I mean, it's a synthetic chemical that's got unhealthy, non-biodegradable properties and could very well be leaching pre-cancerous catalysts into our open pores as we walk about in our freshly laundered wardrobes.

And, also, my mother never used it.

Because after all...it's a synthetic chemical that's got unhealthy, non-biodegradable properties and could very well be leaching pre-cancerous catalysts into our open pours as we walk about in our freshly laundered wardrobes. (We are such hippies, Ma.)

And yet, despite all this, my husband likes to throw caution to the wind. Apparently, he defies pre-cancerous catalysts. So much so, in fact, that he went out and bought himself his own bottle of fabric softener, because he was sick of "non-soft jersey."

So I began to use it. And I am here to say that...

Synthetic chemicals, be d*mned! I love it! The smell! The softness! The luxury! (Mom, you have no idea what you are missing!)

4. Babies
OK, more specifically, How-I-Plan-To-Tell-Our-Families-When-We-Get-Pregnant-With-a-Baby scenarios. After last week, I can't stop thinking about the best way to announce to my parents, brothers and best friends that we're having a baby. And every time I let myself drift off into Dreamland, I return with a plan that's gotten more and more grandiose.

Let's just say the current draft incorporates blinking Christmas lights, Silly string, a life-size child's rocking horse made entirely out of cake, and a perfect replica of a Green Bay Packer's uniform, complete with a miniature pigskin, cut to the size of the average 3 month old (you know, for my Dad.)

5. The new Dove Beauty Campaign for Self-Esteem in Girls
Have you all seen these commercials? Seriously, I bawl like a baby every time. I think every single woman relates to these. And their message - of self-love and belief in inner beauty - is so necessary for young girls (and women.) Oh, I just love it. Love it. Love it. Love it.

It really makes me excited for the next generation of women, who I hope will have far less hang-ups about their bodies than I do. Wonder how their blogs will read...

Now, I have the pleasure to pass this fabulous award onto these five fabulous ladies...

Sam from The RubyTurtleHippie Times
Katie from Loves of Life
Lucy Marie at Lucy's Life
Jenn at Jeans Friday
Neha at Live rather than exist

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Now, the amazing and wonderful Amber, over at Life As We Know It, who was (and is!) one of my first and dearest bloggy friends, gave me The Circle of Friends Award!
Thanks so much, you wonderful lady, you! You are the bestest!

I just have to pass this award on to some of my nearest and dearest bloggy friends! (Um, this has to the easiest task ever!)

So...I'd like to give this to...

Gwen at Confessions of a Control Freak
Ashley at Joshley and Charles
Taryn at Mr. Jones & Me
Lyr at Breaking Through
Michelle at There must be more to life than dishes and laundry...
Sare at The Hrebiceks
Gina at Namaste By Day
Lauren at Thread by Thread
And to anyone who hasn't gotten it yet, because I consider you all such amazing friends!

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So that's it for me today. I hate to inconvenience anyone, but if you could send up a quick prayer for me and my back/stress, I'd really appreciate it. You all are so kind. Thank you!

Happy Thursday everyone!