What now?!

I know, I know... I despise everything that is popular

2012-01-21T22:40:00.000-08:00

Before you say, "wait, she hates all things currently trendy and popular" let me begin by informing you I did just read all three "Hunger Games" books and loved them (although the first one was definitely the best) and those are VERY trendy and popular.

Now that I have let you in on that fun fact, I will say it...

I think "Pinterest" is completely idiotic.

I, like everybody else, tried out this new networking site. I even "pinned" and "liked" the links, fashion and recipes people had posted. And, as you read on a previous blog post, I did enjoy the "sock bun" idea from one Pinterster (sp?).

However, I found that I could not really get into the whole concept behind this website. After about 10 log-ins, I was bored. I tried my best to enjoy Pinterest, but just could not succumb to its grasp.

After tackling with the cause of this for some time, I have come up with the top TEN reasons why we just did not click:

1) Pinterest is basically a giant google search narrowed down. It is true. Everything people so creatively post on Pinterst can be accessed by googling a subject or idea. I guess it makes it easier to find said things and track them, but isn't that what your favorites are for?

2) I am never actually going to be able to afford the outfits featured on people's boards. Those are runway outfits... nobody can buy them in real life.

3) DIY projects are so not me. I would rather save the time and buy the item from a local artist and support my community. Not to bash on people who can recreate these DIY projects. I am in fact jealous, but I have discovered I am better off leaving these projects to those with true talent.

4) I forget that i have anything on my boards. For example, there was a delicious recipe for a cake on Pinterest. I "pinned" it to my imaginary board. And there it remained. When I wanted to bake said cake, did I return to the site and search for it on my board? No. I simply googled it. There is was. Super easy. Another reason why google kicks a%$!

5) I don't want to read people's captions about each item on Pinterest. Mainly because I forget to write my own and then it looks like I wrote the comment. This can be especially detrimental when the previous caption-writer is a moron.

6) Wouldn't it just be better to read a craft/style/home blog or go on etsy? Or Tumblr?

7) People post random quotes. This reminds me of high school, when I would write quotes all over my binder. Why would anybody want a random quote on a pretend cork board?

8) There are TONS of beautiful home decorating ideas on Pinterest. However since I do not live in A) a huge mansion b) a log cabin or c) a beach home, these ideas would all look ridiculous in my 1300 square foot townhouse. Not to mention, I cannot afford a $10, 000 couch. Sure. It is fun to look and get ideas, but again...isn't that why search engines and blogs exist?

10) The whole I idea one has to be "invited" is, in my opinion extremely juvenile. I have not heard of anybody denied membership to Pinterest. Perhaps if they were more exclusive, it would interest me to a greater degree? Maybe a test and initiation of sorts?

In conclusion, I really did want to LIKE Pinterest (just like I attempted to do with the "Twilight" series). However, I have decided I would rather waste my time in more productive ways. Like playing "Words with Friends" on Facebook...

NYE

2011-12-31T16:30:00.001-08:00

Today is New Year's Eve. A time for renewal, resolutions and goals for the future. For many, it is also the biggest night of the year to party! For years, I felt the same. My friends and I would spend weeks figuring out where to celebrate, what to wear and how to where to stay. After the planning was complete, outfits were purchased and the big day had arrived...I found that New Year's Eve never quite lived up to its hype. It often ended with drama, boredom or simply a feeling of being let down of the promises of the night it was supposed to be.

After talking with a good friend (and former roommate) today, I decided to list memories of New Year's past. The good, the bad and the ugly:

1) Last year, after viewing some wonderful fireworks on Queen Anne hill, Adam and I opted to play it safe and cab it back to our hotel. However, there were NO cabs to be found. We walked and walked...past a shady night club, shady people and about two miles back to our hotel. This might be a slight exaggeration but being that I was in heel, it might as well of been ten miles.

2) Speaking of cabs, we should have learned this lesson several years ago when there were not cabs available in Belltown either. Lesson learned- it is impossible to hail a cab in Seattle on NYE.

3) Going back a bit farther in time...way back to when I was a 23-year-old student teacher and still living at home. Because there was not enough excitement in Mill Creek at this time (although The Jet may have been a lively option) a huge group of us girls decided to stay in Seattle and hit up a party at this club called "China Harbor." Thinking back on this night still makes me cringe.

I won't go into all of the details, but let's just say it involved me getting a bit intoxicated (pretty sure I missed the toasting at midnight), having my purse and coat stolen from coat check, a fire alarm pulled at the hotel and a HUGE headache the following morning.

4) You think I would have learned from the night at China Harbor, but that was not the case. In 2004 (2005 at midnight) we were invited to yet another party at a club. This one had the promise of being more adult, since there was a great band performing (G Love and Special Sauce). The night started out okay, but we soon realized the drinks were both expensive and scarce...pretty sure I waited for 30 minutes to get a beer. When we finally secured a bottle of bubbly, somebody took it and downed the whole thing right in front of us!

The night ended with me getting hit in the face (long story), my friend patting me on the head and driving about 6 people home in my grandfather's car. It is okay, the lack of alcohol (two beers the whole night) and slap really sobered me up.

On a positive note, the following morning (on New Year's Day) was the first time I talked to my (now) husband, Adam when my roommate and I decided to prank call him (really mature, I know). I guess things really do happen for a reason.

Happy New Year everybody!

"She's Crafty" ...or not so much.

2011-12-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

There are many things I am skilled at. I run races at a quick pace (not record-breaking but still fairly decent), can read a novel in several days and throw a softball harder than many men. One area ,however, that is not my forte...crafts. At all. I mean I am probably the least "crafty" person you will ever encounter. To truly understand this, we need to go back. Way back to middle school...

During electives rotation, I was enrolled in "Home and Family Living" and we were working on a sewing unit. Each of us to select a pattern for a stuffed animal to sew and work on it during class. I still do not understand why we not given a simpler task to begin the unit-such as sewing on a button. Or even a useful skill... such as hemming pants, but I digress.

Anyways, I struggled constantly with my stuffed dog. In the process, I broke two needles and one sewing machine and the poor guy ended up looking nothing like the picture (poor guy). To make matters worse, the teacher graded these IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE CLASS-embarrassing. Needless to say, she was not too pleased with my product, especially when it fell apart in her hands.

Years later, in college I was seriously lacking funds and decided to make "no-sew" blankets as gifts for Christmas. Since this did not involve any actual sewing how difficult could it be? After purchasing the required fleece fabric from Michael's, I went to town. The first side of the blanket went pretty well. However as I progressed to the other three sides, the blanket became smaller and smaller. Soon, it did not really resemble a blanket at all. It sort of looked like a distorted pillow.

Luckily, I landed a holiday job at Starbucks...meaning my family received real gifts and not the fleece messes intended for them.

Don't worry...there were many other "failed" crafting attempts in college that did end up as presents for others: Picture collages, poem books (sorry Emily) and of course Moge Poge(sp?) picture frames and boxes.

After college my crafting attempts came to a halt. It is a good thing I teach middle school because I do not think the kids or their parents would have been pleased with my bulletin boards or art projects in the classroom.

Recently, I joined the site "Pinterest" where posters "pin" ideas for fashion, decorating, cooking and...CRAFTS! Perhaps I could tap into my inner artist after all- everything looked so easy to create. The clever fall and winter decor made with random objects found around the the house would be a breeze to duplicate! I would just need to get some basics to get me going...

But it was not to be. I nearly had a panic attack from the massiveness of JoAnn fabrics. There was way too much to take in, and after adding up the prices of what was in my basket, I decided it was not worth it. So, I headed to Pier 1 to purchase items for my tablescape. I reasoned it would be cheaper in the long run (as I would most likely mess up the homeade decorations and have to start over).

Although I have struggled with crafting throughout the years, one artistic feat I did have was baking and decorating "Cake Pops" for my co-workers. Even though they did not not look as nice as the ones on the box, they tasted delicious and that is what really matter, right?

Oh, and I can make a KILLER "Sock Bun!"
http://thatwifeblog.com/2011/08/the-sock-bun/

Halloween..it's the one night a year...

2011-10-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

I am all for letting your "inner slut" shine through on Halloween. Go ahead. Dress as a "sexy ladybug" or a "sexy construction worker." Heck, even sport a "prostitute" or "Stripper" outfit. It is the one time a year where we can truly become somebody else for the day.

That being said, the one genre of "slut gear" that irks me is when said sexy costume is a child's costume. I mean when the actual character is a child and then the costume is sluttified*...seems a tad paedophilic* if you ask me. Here are some examples I have spotted around town over the years. (These are costumes that should never be worn in the "sexy variety")

- Sexy Strawberry Shortcake (pretty sure she was about 4 years old...eww)
- Sexy Raggedy Anne
- Sexy Alice in Wonderland (she was, like 10 in the book)
- Sexy Gingerbread Boy (this one is just plain wrong...dressing as a sexy boy?)
- Sexy Miss Muffett
- Sexy Bo Peep
- A Sexy baby (okay, I did not really see this costume, but would not be surprised if some college girl wore it last weekend).

I admit... in my day, I have created some scandalous costumes. Halloween would stretch over a 4-night (hazy) escapade, requiring one to come up with separate costumes for each drunken evening. Sometimes, said costumes were not even for Halloween, but for a Fraternity Philanthropy (exhibit A: piece of red, sequin fabric tied around to resemble a shirt/bra).

As I get older, I realize I should cherish those days, when Halloween was just a reason to show some serious skin.

Now that I am out of my 20's, I realize grown women look ridiculous in "Legs Avenue" costumes- or maybe we look even better (minus the freshman 15?), but nevertheless, the sexy gear has retreated to the costume bin in my storage closet.

My only plea is for all college girls (and perhaps some older women as well)... to pick your "sexy" costume responsible. No normal man is going to be into an adult women dressed a slutty "Dora the Explorer."

*not sure if these are real words, except maybe in the Urban Dictionary, but they seemed to fit with the context of this entry!

It is fall

2011-10-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I absolutely loved summer and despised when the days became shorter and evenings colder, darker and usually (in Seattle anyhow) rainier. Summer was always my favorite time of year. I could hang out in my jean shorts (jorts) and flip-flops and read a good book outside until 7 or 8 pm. Oh yeah, and as a teacher, I also have the summers off, making it all the more relaxing.

I never understood when people claimed that fall (FALL) was their favorite season. How could anybody like fall? They would try to persuade me with talk of cute sweaters, new boots, and the great scenery of the leaves changing. Never, did I comprehend their reasoning. SUMMER, not fall was the best season.

This year, however, I am beginning to rethink my past beliefs. Fall just might be my favorite season after all. Why the change of heart, you might ask? Here are a few reasons for the change:

1) The fact I had purchased a new pair of black boots and was ecstatic when the morning was finally cool enough for me to sport them with my new skirt, rather then wearing my peep-toed pumps. Also, the boots are much more comfortable...

2) It is much more enjoyable to go for a run in the crisp air than in the scorching heat. I also was able to take in the fall foliage as I ventured around Edmonds.

3) Being lazy is easier, MUCH easier when it is not sunny outside. Finally, an excuse to watch Lifetime movies during the day.

4) Fall is excellent weather for wine-tasting. Unlike the summer months, when reds are more difficult to drink, fall provides the perfect palate for a variety of different kinds of wine!

5) All of my fav TV shows are back. With new episodes. No more re-runs. Although, I am still waiting for the Pretty Little Liars premiere this week...

6) My warm, puffy coat. Enough said. I know it is not the more attractive, stylish thing in the world, but it is SO cozy!

7) I have an excuse to not wash my car. It might rain after all.

8) Hot totties...with marshmallow vodka. Yum.

9) Fall is an excellent time for experimenting with hair color. Time to go dark again?

10) Halloween. Who doesn't like carving pumpkins and eating tons of candy? Not to mention... "Halloween is the one night a year where a girl can dress like a total slut and nobody can say anything about it." (Sorry, had to throw a "Mean Girls" quote in here- best movie of all-time)...

Happy Fall everybody!

Since I have nothing to write about...

2011-09-26T20:34:00.001-07:00

For the last couple weeks, I have had a plethora of blog ideas. I usually think of them as I am driving home. Upon sitting down to type, I would realize that none of them work out as well as I had anticipated.

For example, I went to Hawaii (Maui) with Adam for our one-year-anniversary. It was fabulous. Absolutely fantastic. But, as my friend's mom informed me at a wedding shower, "nobody wants to read about how wonderful your life is." So true. Plus, I lost the cord to download pictures from my camera, so I would not be able to post the stellar photo of myself, surfing...

After thinking it over, I was planning on writing not necessarily about my great time visiting the 50th state, but a blog comparing Seattle to Hawaii. I know what you are thinking-that sounds odd. It was, so I have yet to post that entry.

There were other possibilities but, in the end, none worked out the way I had envisioned in my mind.

Since I LOVE to read, I decided in the end, this entry would be a list of my personal favorite books.

Here it is. A list of the best books I have ever read.

1) Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

This is a memoir about a boy's miserable childhood in Ireland in the 1940's. His family is dirt poor, and cannot even afford shoes. To make matters worse, his good-for-nothing father spends the little money they do have at the pubs. Oh, and they keep having more children. And half of them die before the age of three. Sounds depressing, but McCourt writes in a way that makes it almost humorous.

2) Jemima J By Jane Green

This is one of my favorite "chick lit" reads. A girl living in London wants to lose weight and get a boyfriend. She meets a man (who lives in California) online and leads him to believe she is thin. Jemima does lose the weight right before she takes off on a journey to Los Angeles to meet him. I know this plot sounds dumb and cheesy, but trust me, it is incredibly well-written. In fact, I literally devoured it in one night!

3) 19 minutes by Jodi Picoult

Most people are more familiar with Picoult's book, My Sister's Keeper, but in my opinion, 19 Minutes toally blows it out of the water. This book is told in multiple points of view (which I LOVE) as they unravel the events leading up to, and following a school shooting. Picoult's uncanny ability to develop many characters is amazing and a difficult task, and she nails it!

4) Sex Wars by Marge Piercy

Before you start raising eyebrows at me, this is NOT a book about sex. Not really anyway, although there is certainly a lot of it in the story. It is an historical fiction novel set in the time of women's suffrage, and showcases some of the era's well-known figures-Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Victoria Woodhull, and Cornelius Vanderbuilt...and the villain, Anthony Comstock (famous for his laws banning porn and birth control). I actually learned a great deal while reading this, and also was completely enveloped in the story.

Other recommended reads (because I am too lazy to write anymore reviews, this is just a list). Again, these are all books SO outstanding, I have read them multiple times:

5) Firefly Lane by Kristen Hannah (have Kleenex ready)

6) The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (long, but a fast read...I promise)

7) The World without End by Ken Follett (the sequel to Pillars.)

8) The Help by Kathryn Stockett (better than the movie...and I thought the movie was fairly decent, as far as movies modeled after books go...)

9) Harem by Dora Levy Mossanen (Great historical fiction read about life in a Sultan's Harem, and I learned a great deal about Eunuchs as well)

10) Courtesan by Dora Levy Mossanen (follows a woman's life as, well, a Courtesan)

11) The Queen's Fool by Phillipa Gregory (can you tell I enjoy historical fiction?)

12) Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi (great read for guys too! Learned a great deal about the man behind the racket, including some interesting bits about his hair!)

13) Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner (again, not a sex book! She has many other great reads too)

14) Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult (because everybody likes to read about Amish community)

Observations

2011-09-08T17:36:00.001-07:00

Since my mind is way too exhausted to come up with a clever post (the first two days back at school have wiped me out, I decided to just observe things in my day-to-day life. Some are funny, others annoying, and some just...well, random.

Here are some (random) observations, made by me, over the last few days:

1) Socks should NEVER be worn with Capri pants. Particularly if they are knee-high bright pink socks. And especially on a day where the weather is in the high 80's.

2) There are many people who choose to double-park (in the best spots) in the QFC lot by my house. These are not people with big cars...but average to small cars.This is confusing to me, and annoying when I am attempting to find a place to park. Either people in Edmonds cannot park, or are inconsiderate.

3) Apparently the new craze is to light fireworks on labor day. At least in the Lynnwood/Edmonds area. I was not aware of this and may have to check into purchasing some fireworks of my own next year.

4) Every single year I have been a teacher (7 years now), the person with the job of predicting enrollment is terribly wrong. And, I might add that they are paid A LOT of dough to be so consistently incorrect.

5) It is always hot the first week back at school, even if the summer has been cold. Not fun in a school with no AC and over 30 middle-schoolers in one room. Some of whom who are unaware they need to start applying deodorant.

6) Painting a room looks much easier on those home remodeling shows. You know...the ones where they finish painting an entire room in under an hour and make it look super-eary? Well, it took me over an hour to paint a minuscule bathroom, and I was left with spots that needed to be touched up, and paint all over my arms and face.

7) There are an increasing number of people who use the self-checkout for a full cart of groceries. Surprisingly, there is no limit on the number of items in these lines. It is agonizing when you get stuck behind them. Even more so if all you are attempting to purchase is a single pack of gum, and a bottle of water.

8) Speaking of water...the price of water at my work (out of the vending machine) has gone up this year. Currently, it is at 1.50 for a small bottle. Hmmm...perhaps it is time to start remembering to bring my own?

9) Yet another observation from the vending machines is the fact that "Rockstar Energy Drinks" have been added to the options. Seems ironic as all soda/energy drink items are not allowed for students. I guess somebody thinks teachers need even more caffeine. The coffee is no longer enough to keep us trucking through the day.

10) I noticed that 80's styles are back. Since I was not not old enough to dress like Madonna when it was "in" back then (I usually sported the leggings with big shirt look), do you think it is acceptable to wear these clothes now? There is an unspoken rule stating you should not partake in a trend you already wore growing up. What I am wondering, is that since I was just a kid in the 80's, do I get a free pass to rock a "Like a Virgin" outfit?

11) Justin Timberlake is actually a decent actor. I typically doubt the acting chops of pop stars/singers (Miley Cyrus, Jessica Simpson, etc.). After viewing "The Social Network" and "Bad Teacher" I would have to say...the former N'Sync boy band member is fabulous in movies (and SNL skits).

12) I used to think the commercials for the microwave meals that cook in one minute (rather than 3 minutes) were silly. After all, can't we wait 3 minutes to eat? Is anybody really in such a hurry they cannot wait the extra minutes for a delicious processed meal? Today at lunch, when ALL microwaves were occupied (and I was in a huge hurry) I started to rethink my prior opinion. Or maybe, I could just start making a sandwich....

13) And lastly, a FINAL observation made today regarding fashion: Nobody should be allowed to wear the combination of sandals with socks. The only exception is if you are a senior citizen... otherwise, it just hurts my eyes to look at. If it is chilly enough to pull on the socks, slip on some shoes!

Fro-Yo to go!

2011-08-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

As you read in my previous post, I have been going a bit "stir-crazy" this summer. However, I did accomplish at least one incredibly imporant feat. Tasting frozen yougurt from ALL of the local venues.

Seriously, somebody needed to do it. So you are welcome in advance for what I undertook on my time off.

My love of all things frozen yogurt goes back. Way back. This blog will start where it all began...

It was the summer between 4th and 5th grades and the Mill Creek Plaza was definitely a "hot spot" for all of us kids. There was no fancy "Town Center" as stands today. We could either ride bikes to Albertson's, Shari's, a couple pizza places, and a Crownbook Store (you know, the small bookstore that existed before the GIANT chains took over, but I will save that rant for another day).

The magical summer when I was 10, a new place opened. A frozen yogurt store, called TCBY. I remember riding there with my friend, Shannon after scrapping together enough change to purchase two 99 cent sundaes. The yogurt was delicious and I was hooked.

Now, frozen yogurt has become the newest dessert trend in the area, with new stores opening weekly! Here is my synopsis of the three I have tried recently:

Menchies, Lynnwood: EVERYBODY was talking about this place, but since I despise driving, especially on the freeway, I was estatic when one opened near my house.
Pros: LOTS of flavor and toppings to select from. I opted for the tart and the red velvet cake, along with some cookie dough on top. I liked being able to serve myself and the yougurt had a good texture and flavor.
Cons: Serving yourself means so does everybody else. I was okay with this until I saw a boy stick his hand in the gummy bears. It was also a bit messy. My husband, Adam, announced that his yogurt was gross and that nothing compared to TCBY and was confused as to why it was so popular.

Revolations in Edmonds: This new fro-yo spot in downtown edmonds is always packed with families, couples, and teens. I had heard great things, so I went here next. Yes, on the very same day I visited Menchies. Don't judge. I was on a mission, and also, the Mechies was for lunch...this was dinner.
Pros: Lots of flavors and toppings. It was almost exactly like Menchies, with many different options to select from. I liked being able to sample as many as I wanted as well. My traditional chocolate flavor was pretty good, but not great. The stawberry topping I selected a stopping was delicious and all of the fruit seemed to be very fresh.
Cons: Again, the thought of so many people handling food grosses me out, and although I did not see anybody grab with their hands here, I am sure it occurs. Also, this place was pricy. Over five dollars for one yogurt. And, mine was not even that full!

TCBY, Lynnwood: My old favorite, now closed in Mill Creek, but this one is actually closer to my house now. Since Adam was raving about its greatness,I decided to make a little visit yesterday (before you think I am an addict, this was NOT the same day I visited the first two).
Pros: This yogurt was definitely the best of the three. I ordered a small bowl of the traditional tart flavor and my old fav-white chocolate mouse! Both were rich, creamy and had great flavor. Also, no grubby hands touching the toppings (cookie dough and sprinles). The girl at the counter wore gloves.
Cons: Not as many options, but I am thinking this is a good thing, as many of the yogurt options at the first two were nothing to write home about. It is also in a bad location, which is why I think it might not be as crowded?

The newer stores in the area may offer more selection as far as toppings and flavors go, but come on, TCBY has been around for ages. Also, customers may get a kick out of being able to serve themselves for a time, but the novelty will eventually wear off...or they will get grossed out when they see somebody sneeze or stick their hand in the toppings.

A confession...

2011-08-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

I have a confession. I think I might be ready to go back to work. Shocking, right?

As a teacher, I have the option of taking the summer off. I have not exercised this option until this year. In the past, I have taken classes, worked as a server, and taught summer school. This was the year I decided to give myself a bit of a break (besides the two weeks worth of classes I enrolled in).

When I pictured my summer of freedom, the possibilities were endless: lying out in the sun and reading, going on fun day trips, hiking, and maybe taking up a new hobby.

However, I did maybe one of these things. It was difficult to sunbathe due to the lack of sun in the PNW this summer, day trips were put on hold because of traffic concerns and the lack of any creativity on my part regarding where to go. Oh, and I NEVER went hiking. I really did not have anybody to go with and it is not safe to go alone. There are bears out there.

Oh, and the hobbies I desired to take up (playing the guitar and rock climbing) proved to be pricier than I thought.

Needless to say, the break has still been relaxing, but...I am kind of ready to go back to work(after my trip to Hawaii, of course).

There are definite signs I need a busier schedule, including:

1) I have begun having full-on conversations with my dog. Not just the usual, "good boy" or "ready to go on a walk?" I mean, I am asking my dog questions and answering for him, like, " Teddy, do you want to come upstairs while I get ready?" It is beginning to come rather creepy. Poor Teddy. He probably just wants me out of the house, so he can take a nap.

2) I have cleaned the baseboards in my entire house TWICE this summer. Each day in fact, I embark on a new cleaning project.

3) On my walks with Teddy (he now gets two per day), we (Teddy and I) now know many of the senior citizens and stay-at-home-parents by name. Some have asked if I have a job.

4) Going to the gym is typically my major event of the day. When I am working, it is an activity I have to fit into my schedule.

5) Trips to places like Target that I would accomplish at a rapid pace during the school year now can last a couple of hours.

6) So far, I think I have read over 30 books. The other day, I checked out a book from the library that I had already read in July, and did not realize it until chapter 4. I am not sure what this says about the genre of books I have been reading.

7) Two days ago, I made a visit to the teacher store and actually became elated with the various borders and stickers I might purchase for the new school year. Can I add that I am not the least bit crafty and despise any sort of classroom decorating. Usually, somebody has to help me put them up.

8) Each morning, I tune into the "Today" show and "Saved by the Bell" re-runs while drinking my coffee. While this is nice, I actually sort of the quick-paced mornings when I am working. I sort of enjoy the hustle of having to get ready in 45 minutes. Not the 5:30am wake-up though.

Now, I am by no means complaining about having the summer off (for those of you screaming "shut-up" at your computer while reading this blog). I just think I am one of those people who likes the structure of a schedule.

I LOVE being busy and working to fit everything in during the day. Most of all, as much as might complain about it during the school year, I LOVE my job. And I miss it after the first couple of weeks off.

And there you have it, my confession. Now, I will just have to see if I eat my words come October!

A facial; a wake-up call

2011-08-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

For my 30th Birthday, my wonderful sister (thanks Meag!)sent me a spa day at my favorite salon in Edmonds. This package included a facial, which I immediately booked for the soonest appointment possible.

I waltzed into the Ombu Salon sans make-up and ready for some great relaxation while I was the recipient of a nice face massage and treatment. God knows, I needed it, as my skin had been feeling rather well...tired as of late.

The facial was an excellent one; excellent rejuvenation of my skin with some serious exfoliation. I was lying there, wishing that I could afford facials on a regular basis when the esthetician stated:

" You should really look into a skin-care regimen. You know, now that you are in your 30's. It can help stop any further damage to your skin."

Just to be fair, she said this after I informed her that my "skin care regimen" involved some Aveeno face wash and sun screen. And, I was not really too insulted as she was older than me and informed me that she too, was a sun worshipper in her teens. And had proceeded to lay out in with no sunscreen, just oil. She continued stating that most of the damage to my skin had occurred at least 10 years ago (baby oil days). Apparently, the only way to rid my skin of that damage is with laser treatments.

She showed me some of the products she used at the counter after the service. I only bought one item (the exfoliate, which is amazing) before I got sucked into buying EVERYTHING she used on my skin.

Afterward, I headed to Target and stocked up on: Lifting lotion with Retin A, moisturizer with sunscreen, night cream, and toning lotion. I was set. Ready to protect my skin. After all, who wants to look like leather when they are 60? Not this girl?

Since that day at the salon, I have been faithfully using the exfoliate, the creams, applying sunscreen and I even donned a hat while reading in the sun.

The hardest part of all of this is that I cannot see the immediate results that my ADD personality demands. I was hoping to see my skin looking and feeling MUCH younger overnight! Not the case. Although, it does feel a bit smoother now, a few weeks into the treatments.

The big question is: will being cautious now save me from looking old and aged later? or is it too late?

Has the fun I had in my teens ruined my looks forever? Well at least if that is the case, I had fun doing it. I would not take back the careless days of summer, spread out on a beach towel at a pool, the beach, or in a backyard.

I would have, perhaps like to go back and tap my teenage self on the shoulder and hand her a bottle of SPF 30!

Looking back...

2011-07-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Now that I am officially in my "30's" I figure I must be older and wiser now (at least than I was in my teens). Looking back, here is some advice I would give to "teen-age Allison"...

1) Bleaching your hair white-blond will not look good. Especially if you do it yourself. Also, your roots will look horrible. The pictures will haunt you for years to come.

2) Be yourself. Don't worry what everybody else is or is not doing.

3) The following trends are extremely ugly. Please refrain from wearing: HUGE jeans, white eyeliner, skin-colored lips, glitter on your face, butterfly clips, black mini-skirts with shorts attached, platform flip flops and super-flare REALLY low-rise jeans. Oh and sequin tube tops.

4) Try harder in your classes in high school and opt for some challenging classes. All you really have to worry about now is school. Make the most of it. Running the student store and weight training are NOT challenging classes.

5) It is NOT a good idea to drink an entire water bottle filled with vodka. Particularly when you are 15-years-old and weigh 100 pounds. You will get sick and throw up everywhere. Then, the next morning...mom will wake you up early to go hiking. (I still wonder if she knew I was REALLY hungover)?

6) Value the friendships you have now...don't take anybody for granted. Keep in contact with old friends as you grow-up.

7) Running away from the police during a snow storm is NEVER a good idea. It can only turn out one way. Badly.

8) Appreciate and spend time with your family.

9) Eating healthy does not include consuming a large diet Coke and a bag of Otis Spunkmeyer cookies for lunch. In fact, stop drinking soda now. Later, you will have LOTS of cavities due to this habit.

10) Enjoy being young, not having to worry about anything (other than what is going on this weekend), and learn from your experiences, whether they be positive or negative.

And that, "teen-age Allison" would be the advice I would have given you looking back at what life was like back then.

Not to say that this same advice could not be applied today as well...so if I find myself wearing white eyeliner or losing contact with old friends, I will remember what I would have told myself as a teen and do the same now.

Beep me... my love/hate relationship with technology

2011-06-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

My love/hate relationship with technology(namely cell phones) goes WAY back...to middle school. The year was 1995 and I had just earned a pager after a summer of baby-sitting. I was pretty stoked about it, since pagers were the "new thing." They were a much better option than the giant "Zach Morris Cell phones" available at the time.

My pager was a shiny, light-blue shade and it allowed me to receive archaic text messages from friends. Now, I would know who was trying to get a hold of me and I could call them back (sometimes from a pay phone). I loved the freedom of people being able to reach me when I was not at home. And, as a 13-year-old, I often was not at home.

Since I did say this was a love/hate, let me tell you the hate part. Not only could my friends track me down...so could my parents! And, I was expected to call back when they beeped me.

This relationship with technology continues today, but now it is much more extreme than a simple beeper. People can now contact one another ALL THE TIME! While this is sometimes really cool and helpful (when you are lost trying to find some body's house, during an emergency, etc) mostly it is just annoying.

Two of my favorite memories were when I traveled through Europe. Obviously the trips were amazing but so was the lack of technology. When I was there I did not have my phone. It was heaven. Nobody could reach me and I could only search the web or check email from the REALLY OLD computer in the hotel (MOTEL/HOSTEL) lobby. And I survived. Thrived even. No cell phone...no problem!

Since I cannot always use the excuse that I am in Europe, I know have to purposely leave my phone at home when I am running errands, walking Teddy, or out to dinner. This gives me just a piece of the technology-freeness (not sure if this is a word, but oh well) I felt in Europe.

Since obtaining a new cell-phone last year, I now have a new issue...the Internet. Now that the Internet is available on my phone, I often find myself online and randomly searching the web. I will check facebook, look for Groupons, "Google" things I am wondering about. Not only is this rude to the people I am with (or unsafe, if I am in the car) it is flat-out annoying to me too!

Don't get me wrong, sometimes the Internet is fabulous to have at your fingertips. Sometimes it cures the boredom of sitting in a waiting room. Mostly though, it is absolutely not necessary to be online.

Another irritant that cell phones and technology have brought upon us all... people now assume one should be able to reach anybody, at anytime, in any format (text, call or email) and said recipient should either answer or respond immediately.

Is this fast-paced society we have created more effective? Or just more annoying? The jury is still out on that one. I do no that once in a while, we all need a break from being connected at all times.

So, I challenge you... go "retro." Try leaving your phone at home when you are out running errands. It will be just like back in the 80's and 90's. You know, when you could only be reached AT home and everybody just had to wait until you returned to reach you...

Getting the artificial stuff out of my life...

2011-06-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the 80's, I learned that sugar was bad for you. This was reinforced all the time (low-sugar cereal, reduced sugar juice, etc).

It was only natural that I was drawn to all things artificial... if they contained less sugar or fat (or none)the assumption was that they must be better for me, right? I regularly searched out all things fake...syrup for pancakes, whipped cream, creamer, ice cream (yuck, I know)and Popsicles.

Two of my main addictions, used daily, were spray butter and sugar-free sweeteners (for my coffee). In fact, until I made the decision to stop using "fake food products" I could not even recall the last time I had used REAL butter. On anything. Seriously.

For those of you who are wondering, "what hell is spray butter?" I am not even sure how to describe it properly. I guess you could call it: a mix of chemicals that are combined to mimic the flavor of butter.

Oh, and you can spray the chemicals right onto your food...no knife required. This in itself should have scared me. I was literally spraying chemicals onto my food! My husband was particularly not a fan of the spray. He thought it sounded like I was putting cleaner on my toast.

My other vice was sugar-free sweetener in coffee (splenda, syrup, equal, etc). Not just a little bit either. I would unload the stuff in there, pleased that I was cutting out 100 calories and making a healthier choice. Or was I?

A couple of weeks ago, I started getting headaches at work. Like, REALLY bad ones. Bad enough that I had to take Advil nearly every day. This was not normal, so I decided to pinpoint the cause. A friend had mentioned once that she could not use "fake sugar" as it gave her pounding headaches, so I decided to cut those out.

And, what do you know...NO MORE HEADACHES! Plus, I found that when I used real sugar, I did not need to use as much.

My next challenge was to start using real butter...not nearly as fun to use, but probably much healthier.

Last Friday, I accepted the challenge and spread an English muffin with honest to goodness REAL butter.

It was delicious...and I actually felt more satisfied. Not hungry right away like I was with the fake stuff. The best part though? I could actually taste the English muffin. The spray butter's artificial saltiness had been completely overpowering the taste of the bread.

Even though it has only been a couple of weeks since my life-style change, I already feel much better. Headaches are gone, I can taste my bagels again, and I am not creeping Adam out anymore.

So, the moral of the story is: getting rid of the fake things in your life (whether it be people or food products)feels fabulous...

Happy Father's Day! Or...Sh*t my dad says (and does)

2011-06-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Hi there. Long time, no see (or write). The reason? Well, as all of my teacher friends know, the end of the school year is quite a busy time. Plus, Adam has been using the computer for work...leaving me with only my phone to post from, which I have decided takes WAY too long!

I have had this post in mind for weeks now, however. Longer actually. Since my "Mother's Day" post, I knew I also had to honor my dad with a blog entry (although he will never see it, since he has not yet picked up on "The Facebook" of online blogs...one of things I LOVE about him)

So, this is a list of humorous things my dad has said, done, or taught me throughout the years! Love you dad... We will begin with things he has SAID.

1) "Hit the fish over the head!" (said to me prior to me having a nervous breakdown over having to kill the fish. And, ironically, fish if one of my favorite dishes. I just could not stand to actually slaughter the little guy myself.

2) "Stay away from the Alderwood Mall. It is full of fat people in vans trying to find close parking spots." This is a CLASSIC line from my dad. But...as blunt as he might sound...he was correct. The mall WAS in fact full of fat people, trying to find close spots. Thanks for the warning pops!

3) At L.A. Fitness last year: "Hey Allison, do you know ____________? (as he is introducing me to a teenage boy)He goes to Jackson High School and plays baseball there."

Dad...if I KNEW this 17-year-old boy, I would hope you would be HIGHLY concerned, considering that I graduated from Jackson over 10 years ago!

4) "I think it is fine that Teddy is spoiled. Dogs are supposed to spoiled and played with. They are NOT just pieces of furniture." Finally, somebody condoning the fact that we have a very spoiled puppy!

Now...sh*t my dad has done...

1) Once again...at LA Fitness, in front of a sign reading "please keep your shirt on. No cell phones" I glance over and notice my father wearing NO shirt and talking on his cell phone! Classic!

2) My dad despises when people are late...but what is funny is that he is often late himself! When I call to say I am arriving late, he cracks jokes about how I am always late...completely ignoring the fact that he is also late the other half of the time.

3) Saying things TOO loudly is another trait my dad has. While this is sometimes funny, other times it is embarrassing. He will say things like, "boy is that server stupid" loudly enough for the server to hear. I swear, when I am with him at dinner, we probably get our food spit in half the time.

Important Lessons that my dad has taught me (besides to stay away from the mall):

1) My dad always encouraged me (and my sister)to be athletic and competitive. I thank him for the fact that I can throw a softball (HARD)..like, not a rainbow throw. I also thank him for completely understanding the rules of baseball.

2) Never letting me use my size as an excuse. I inherited my height from my dad's side, but I never let it stop me. Even when I was cut from the Volleyball team, I still managed to play basketball for years!

3) To try to stay calm in all situations. I swear, I have almost never hear my dad raise his voice. He handled things rationally. One particular situation comes to mind where he had to pick me up from the Mill Creek Police Station (way TOO long of a story to explain here). Although, I did have to push his car up the hill in the snow...he still did not yell at me. Although, getting frostbite was most likely punishment enough!

4) My dad instilled in my to always be supportive of others. As I played MANY sport and participated in many activities throughout the years, my dad could always be found at all of them, cheering me on (or sometimes umpiring or coaching). When I switched from softball to tennis, I thought my dad would be disappointed. Instead, he came to as many of my matches as he could and complimented my playing, even when I lost!

So...dad (even though you will not see this)here is a toast to you and all of the little quirks that make you the father that you are!

Thanks!

Lessons learned...from my mom!

2011-05-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

Since it is Mother's Day, I thought I would let my mom know all of the things that she taught me without knowing it. These were mostly things (like rules) that I would argue with her about (or roll my eyes at) when I was a teen-ager. At this time I, of course, thought that I knew it all and that my mom was clueless. However, now that I am "grown-up" I appreciate these little things and even (gasp) find myself trying to embed them in others!

1) Never leave wet towels on the floor, bed, or in the laundry basket for too long or they will get mildewy. I used to mock this rule and carelessly toss my towels all over the house. Now, I make sure mine are hung up.

2) Too much make-up will make you look like a prostitute. Okay, so I don't think my mom worded it quite that way when I was 11, but she did tell me that I was beautiful without make-up and to save it for when I really needed it. Looking at a photo of myself at age 12 after having a friend give me make-over, I can see she was right.

3) Stop laying in the sun covered in oil. Use sunscreen. Wear sunglasses. You will regret it when you are older and look all wrinkled. True. Totally true. Should have listened to that one!

4) Always make your bed, no matter how rushed or tired you are in the morning. It makes your bedroom just look a little more put together. Plus, it feels WAY better to get into a made-up bed at night.

5) Some of the kids you hang out with are bad news and will get you into trouble. I honestly hated when my mom told me this. I could make my own decisions. I didn't have to follow anybody. However, now I find dolling out the same advice to my 6th grade students when they have friend issues. And, my mom was right. Lots of the kids she was speaking of did turn out to be "bad."

6) Always wear your seat belt. My mom actually would refuse to start the car until all passengers were safely belted. I am actually surprised today just how many people do not buckle up.

7) Eat healthy foods, not junk. As a kid I despised my lunches. All of the other kids would get to enjoy cookies, chips and soda. Meanwhile, I would have a sandwich, crackers, an apple,and a fruit roll-up (the 100% fruit kind)with a (100%) juice to wash it down with. My family also never went to Costco to purchase pallets of muffins, doughnuts, or chips. We actually ate organic food before it was popular. Now I am glad that I was encouraged to eat healthy and still try to today. With the exception of ice cream of course!

8) You are not too short. Your feet reach the ground, right? After completely missing out on the whole "growth spurt" that my peers got around 8th grade, I would often complain about wanted to be taller. It never happened and my mom made me appreciate myself the way I am and to stop comparing myself to others. I may not ever model runway fashion, but I can bust out more double-unders than most people at my gym!

Thanks mom, for making me the person I am today, and I am sorry for not listening to your advice when I was growing up!

30 before 30

2011-04-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

The other night, my friend, Kelly, told me about a book given to her as a gift prior to her 30th Birthday...called "30 Things to do before you are 30." Being that I myself am about to reach this milestone birthday, thought I would come up with my own list of 30 things I hope to accomplish or do before July 6th. I realized as I was coming up with things, that I had already completed some of them (those are in bold) Here it is:

1) Backpack through Europe
2) Get a puppy
3) Go on a Redhook Brewery tour- I worked there for several years, yet never once went on the tour.
4) Run on a beach (perferably someplace warm)
5) Visit my college town of Pullman and go to: The Coug, Sella's, The Bookie, Pita Pit, and Gamma Phi Beta (for a picture opp)
6) Have a night out in Seattle that is reminiscent of my 23-year-old nights out. This would include going to Chopsticks, Ozzie's, Pescos, The Ballroom, and perhaps Tia Lou's and the Red Door.
7) Going back to my roots-meaning my real hair color, which I have not seen since I was in Middle School.
8) Purchasing a house
9)Squeezing an entire tube of toothpaste into the sink. This was something I read about in a "Ramona" book when I was little...I have wanted to do this ever since.
10) Go horseback riding again. Have not been since I was younger.
11) Bake a cake with more than one layer.
12) Learn to change a tire.
13) Sing Karaoke
14) Fall in love and get married
15) Run a 1/2 marathon. No, I have absolutely ZERO desire to run a full one.
16) Randomly break out into a dance number like they do in the movies (perhaps a "flash mob"). I have secretly always thought this would be amazing!
17) Buy a ridiculously expensive purse for myself. Like, not one from the Brass Plum where I usually get them.
18) Get a tattoo...
19) Plant vegetables in my yard that don't die and are actually edible
20) Go Sky-diving. Kidding, that is DEFINITELY not on my list...the idea terrifies me and I could care less if I ever do this.
21) Go wine-tasting in Napa/Sanoma
22) Take dancing lessons (I guess I would have to get Adam to agree to this one as well)
23) Write and publish a book
24) Dive in the mud again. Have not done this since I played softball in high school. Will be able to check this off when I compete in the "Warrior Dash" this summer...it will be technically after my 30th, but only by a few days!
25) Visit my sister in the Big Apple
26) Rollerblade around Greenlake...and ignore the weird looks people give me
27) Purchase a bike and try to ride it places...maybe to Redhook to go on the brewery tour? However, I will not attempt to ride it on the streets. Trails or sidewalks only!
28) Go Kayaking. Again, preferably some place warm (maybe I could fit this in the same day I run on a beach)?
29) Go on an unplanned road trip
30) Keep setting goals for things I want to do/accomplish even after I turn 30. After all 30 is the new 20, right?

Reasons why I should be paid more (and be allowed to keep my National Board Stipend)

2011-03-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

In the following week or so, these are the issues I had to deal with at work:

1) A student who is a potential gang member was expelled for threatening to stab another student in his math class. Said student was let back into school the next week (because he did not actually have a weapon) causing us to have to move the student who was threatened out of my class and into another.

2) I discovered that a group of girls in my class had essentially started a "fight" club and would meet to beat on one another in the restroom during their passing time. In addition, they would try to distract their math teacher, allowing them to do this in class as well. All of their parents are in denial that their "angels" would ever do such things, although the Vice-Principal has gathers a couple dozen witness reports from other students citing exactly what they were up to.

3) One member of the "fight club" group took things a bit too far, nearly strangling another member in the bathroom. I was the one who ended this fight and now the mother of the "strangled girl" is pressing charges against the other...completely ignoring that her own precious daughter had a very big part in the whole situation. Said mother is currently harassing me with emails, in attempts to now appear to be a caring parent who is involved with her daughter's schooling. I am guessing this is to prepare for when her and her daughter's character are in question during the hearing?

4) Oh, did I mention that the girl whose mother is pressing charges was suspended for 45 days for bringing a knife to school back in October? Yup, quite a model student.

5) Two boys in my class are now suspended for fighting before school. One of them ended up in the hospital with a broken arm. That mother is also pressing charges against the other boy, even though they were equally involved in the fight.

6) Because of all of the the suspensions, I was left with a class of only 21 students for two days last week. While it was nice, I am still expected to give these students the opportunity to make up any missed work. Oh, and I will also be judged on whether or not they pass the state test.

7) Tomorrow, I am getting a kid with major behavior issues in my class, because there were so many problems with the teacher of the class he was in. But don't worry, I am sure I can change his entire attitude even though his parents don't seem to make the effort.

8) Two girls that I have in my class forged notes as to get out of their Science class early and go home. One got out, the other note was caught by the office. They didn't seem to understand why this was a big deal.

9) Did you notice that I have even mentioned any challenges that have to do with actual "teaching?" This is because the actual teaching is the easy part.

10) I am still teaching amidst all of these problems. While all of this was occurring, we: Studied the Aztec and took a quiz (which every kid got an A or a B on), learned about the Literacy elements of theme and character, figured out strategies for reading non-fiction text, and used metacognition to think about reading.

With all of these challenges, I feel that I should definitely be allowed to keep my Board Stipend (which will probably cease to exist next year) as should other NBCT's. However, the "solution" currently in the works is to take away my stipend and add more kids to each class (since I am considered "highly qualified").

The question I have, and have pondered for a while is: When will we as a nation start holding parents more accountable? It is not my job to teach kids manners they should have learned at home. It seems like everybody thinks the schools are the way to handle any major problems with youth. Schools are where we try to change gangs, nutrition (school lunches), childhood obesity, family problems, friendship and social issues, and more...

Your kid is fat? Blame the school's and their "unhealthy lunches" and only "two trimesters of PE" without bothering to take a look at what they are eating at home and sheer number of hours they spend playing video games, rather than moving. Isn't it time to take a good hard look at why just turning to schools to solve all of our problems is NOT working.

All the pieces of the puzzle have to be in place to see any real change- Schools, parents, and the community. Right now, unless something changes, I have a real concern for the future of our county.

Although, maybe I can sue these parents for giving me wrinkles before I should have any?

The white hat trick

2011-03-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

When I was in high school, there was this thing that my friends and I referred to as "the white hat trick." It was basically a theory that all guys looked better when wearing white hats (even better if they were backward).

Then, when the hats were removed, said boy could be completely average looking, or (gulp) ugly.

White hats, for some unknown reason, just caused the attractiveness of males to increase tenfold. Perhaps it was because they covered strange hair, an odd-shaped head, or a peculiar face (previously shaded by the hat).

Seriously. This theory tested to be true time and time again. In college, I discovered friends from other schools who also knew of "the white hat trick" and it's effectiveness to woo girls. It was being done all over the state...maybe even the country!

Alas, white hats went out of style when I was in college, replaced by a new trick...the "long hair trick" (I know, I am pretty clever with names).

In college, the "frat cut" finally went out of style and long hair became trendy. Long hair on guys showed that they were laid-back, carefree, and "different" (even though the majority of males thier age had the same style).

Instantly, men with longish hair were deemed to be more desirable and attractive.

Then, similar to the removal of the white hats, college boys might cut their locks for the summer- and reveal their true appearance. No longer could they hide behind their hair.

Today, the girls I teach site "skinny jeans" as a prerequisite for a boy to be "attractive" (perhaps a Beiber influence)? If a boy does not wear said jeans, he not considered cool by the female teenage population.

I sort of get the "white hats" and "long hair" as a way to hide who they really are...skinny jeans do not really fit this idea. Sorry guys. Nobody looks good in skinny jeans, even the Bieb. And they certainly do not hide anything either.

Maybe they will put away the skinny jeans when they learn of the "white hat trick" from their fathers?

I guess, the bottom line is, if we girls have make-up, push-up bras, and highlights, guys deserve to have some tricks of their own too?

Would you like socks and srunchie with those?

2011-01-30T17:31:00.000-08:00

My first experience with a salesperson attempting to sell me additional items while making a purchase was at Nordstrom when I was nine.

I had finally saved up enough allowance and dog-sitting money to buy a new pair of Guess jeans (yes with zippers). As I counted out my money at the counter, the woman asked me, "would you like some slouch socks or a scrunchie with these?"

Caught off guard by this new (to me) sales approach, I mumbled, "yes" before realizing I only had enough for the stone-wash jeans. The scrunchie and socks would have to wait.

As I grew older, I realized this was a common tactic of sales people and I even practiced it myself while working in the student store in high school ("would you like a soda with your Otis Spunkmeyer cookies") as well as when I worked at Abercromie and Fitch ("perhaps some perfume with your ripped jeans?")

Usually, the items offered make "go" with the original purchase. However, I have noticed lately this is not always the case. See the following incident below:

Today, I decided a nice vanilla ice cream cone would really hit the spot after walking my dog. I cruised in the drive-thru and placed my order via the screen and waited for my total.

Instead the voice replied, "would you like some oatmeal to go with that?" Oatmeal? really? Not only does oatmeal NOT go with ice cream, but it was also three in the afternoon. Hardly oatmeal time.

"No thanks," I replied.

But the voice did not give up on me yet..." Would you like to try a large fry or a large soda with that?" Now I was just getting annoyed. If I wanted a large soda or large fries I would have ordered them. And again, neither really compliments a small ice cream cone.

Pulling up to the window, I retrieved my ice cream cone (sans oatmeal, fries, or a large soda) and drove off.

I did not go for the sales pitch, but my guess is many people do. My only objective is: if you are going to try to tag on additional purchases at least make sure they compliment the original.

Also, if I could go back to that day where I bought those Guess jeans, I wish I could have also purchased the slouch socks AND a scrunchie. Both of those go with the jeans much better than the oatmeal would have gone with my ice cream...

Not trendy?

2011-01-04T21:10:00.000-08:00

For some reason, when something is trendy (or "on-trend" as Meaghan told me to say), I make an honest stab at trying to like it. This attempt usually fails miserably and I decide to stick with what I know and like. Maybe I am boring. Maybe I am not trendy. At least I am being me, and that is what matters, right?

List of my failures with pop culture:

1) Twilight. No, not the time of day. The books. The movies. Basically anything to do with this phenomenon. And yes, I did read the first book and could barely get through it. Worst writing ever. It sounded like how I teach my students to get rid of dead words. The author does not use "said" once. Not once. Really?

2) Skinny jeans...I just feel they make my legs look like pig legs. Half a dozen times, I have hit up the stores in pursuit of these jeans. I have tried both cheap and expensive ones- they looked equally disgusting. Big thighs, small ankles. Yuck. I did however buckle and go for a straight-leg option (necessary for tucking into boots).

3) Ballet-style flats. This is one trend I wish I could wear, but I need the heel height, and always feel I make others uncomfortable when wearing flat shoes.

4) scarves and long necklaces. Again, I really like both of these styles, but cannot seem to pull them off. Seeing others pulling together an outift with a big necklace inspires me to find one as well, but to no avail. Same with scarves. When I try to wear either, I look like a kid playing with my grandmothers costume jewelry, or they do not quite go with my outfit.

5) Most fantasy movies. My sister, Meaghan, will agree with me on this one. They just plain creep me out. The Never-Ending Story" is the worst (I became physically sick twice after viewing this one), followed by the "Lord of the Rings." The whole trilogy. For some odd reason though, I LOVE Harry Potter... go figure.

6) "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series. Everybody was raving about it, so I put my name on the (100 or so person long) hold list at the Edmond's library. Finally got it last week. Read the first 150 pages and am bored and am choosing to abandon the book.

7) Gingerbread lattes, pumpkin spice lattes, Eggnog lattes, or any other holiday flavor for that matter. Each year, I attempt to try one after the initial excitement that they are BACK for the season and decide (year after year) ...my plain, boring Vanilla is much tastier.

8) Napoleon Dynamite. Yes, I realize I am taking you back a bit, but remember how popular this movie was? Back in 04' (or something) I was stoked to see it playing at the movie theater in Queen Anne. It was going to be SOOO funny. I was wrong. This movie was just kind of dumb. And the worst part was that for years people quoted every line from it, wore "Vote for Pedro" t-shirts, and acted out that dance scene. Since most people seemed to think it was hilarious, it kind of made me wonder, "maybe I am just not that funny?"

9) Gin and Tonics/Vodka Soda. It seemed that sometime in my mid-twenties, most girls switched from beer to these beverages of choice. I of course would usually order my usual champagne, but became curious about these new more "adult" drinks. Were they really delicious? One night I bravely ordered a Vodka Soda with LOTS of lime (I hate gin and tonic, so that drink was out of the question). I took a ship. Not bad...but not good either. Then, each sip became worse than the last. It took me quite a while to get that sucker down, and I was left with an awful taste in my mouth. Also, the whole time, I wished I had ordered champagne or beer. Now I know better.

I realize this list sounds rather negative, but there were also many trends I did enjoy quite a bit (New Kids on the Block, overalls, colored jeans, tall boots, pea-coats, and embarrassingly... wearing REALLY flared jeans). Maybe not liking the current trends today means I am boring? Or maybe it just means that now I am not afraid to go against the trends and find what I really like to wear, read, and watch...

Exercise ADD?

2010-12-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me well, you know that I often try different "methods" of working out, sometimes even embarking on the latest trends. However, most of these methods do not last long. Soon, my ADHD tendencies kicks in and I become disinterested in the latest craze. This has been a pattern for quite some time.

In college, I decided that the elliptical was an interesting piece of equipment to try out. It was easy to, I could watch TV (usually Regis and Kelly) while moving on it, and it was even manageable hung-over! Diligently, each day, I would hit up the "REC" for an hour of fierce ellipticaling (I realize that this is a made-up verb). This clearly was not an effective work-out, as I was about 20 lbs heavier at WSU than I am now (although it also may have had something to do with the pizza and beer). Nevertheless, I have considered the elliptical and evil demon since...and have not set foot on that bad boy again.

After college, I realized it was time to get serious about my health and took up running which I used to do a great deal of in high school Cross-Country. Running was a wonderful release after a day of student-teaching, and began to run 5 days or so per week. After pounding the pavement for several months, I entered and ran in a 1/2 marathon, then another. Then...the boredom began to kick in. I did not really have the desire to run anymore 1/2 marathons nor a full one EVER. I still continued with running, but kept my eyes peeled for new ways to stay in shape.

HOT Yoga/Bikram Yoga was the next adventure in fitness for me. Living in Seattle at the time, Hot Yoga studios were nearly as abundant as Starbucks stores, so I had no problem finding one. By the way, the only real difference I noticed between Hot and Bikram was that in Bikram there is carpet on the floor, and people talk before class in Hot Yoga. This is not allowed during Bikram, unless you want to get the evil eye. In both Bikram and Hot, participants are lead through a series of poses in a hot (scorching hot) room. It is incredibly challenging, and I sometimes felt as though my skin and organs were on fire.

Yoga was great. For a while. When I had the new member specials. After that, things started to get pricey. Really pricey. Most studios did ofter monthly unlimited deals, and encouraged members to attend Yoga classes 4 or more days a week. There was no way I could do that as I began to grow tired of the classes. Each time, class is EXACTLY the same...and I mean exactly. The instructor leads the group through the same 26 poses each time. Not only that, but I also was sick of having to plan when I could eat (you get sick if you eat 2 hours or less prior), and making certain I had enough water. The last straw was when a man ripped one right in front of me during a class. I started laughing and was met with a scowl from the Yoga master, as she informed me that I should be so in tune with my own body that I should not have noticed. That was the last class I attended.

Zumba was another exercise trend I tried out last year. Lots of friends and co-workers were raving about it, so I decided to pop in after noticing a class going on at LA Fitness. I loved it, and did not even feel as though I was working out. I was dancing like I was in a club and felt as though the only way this class could be topped would be if I had a delicious cocktail in my hand!

This exhilaration was sort-lived when the classes became so crowded that I could not shake my tail feathers properly. My last Zumba class EVER entailed a verbal confrontation with a delightful young lady and her boyfriend who walked into class WAY late and kept shoving me and others around us to get a spot. Just like in Yoga, Zumba had a "last straw" for me as well. The previously mentioned boyfriend was literally right behind me with about 2 inches of space (very awkward while performing a hip-thrusting movement). After he accidentally ran right into my ass, I high-tailed it out of the aerobics room.

In late June, 2009 I began a new adventure in fitness, called "Crossfit" and am happy to report that I have yet to get bored and quit. This is due to the fact that Crossfit specializes in not specializing. This means that each day is a new workout and challenge, so it is perfect for those with a short attention span, such as myself. Basically, I get to do a little bit of everything ...running, gymnastics, lifting, and flexibility. Each day a different warm-up and WOD (workout of the day) is posted, and a trainer demonstrates the skills needed for the workout and checks to assure they are being executed correctly. WOD's are also modified as needed. Most WOD's are timed and it really does help a competitive person like myself to have a clock to race against.

Some people have asked if Crossfit is worth the price, since the membership is a bit more than a typical gym. The answer is easy: Crossfit is relatively cheap for group personal training when I began to compare prices for personal training sessions. And, it is really not much more per month than most global gyms. Plus, I am in much better shape than I have been from any other work-out. Past injuries and ailments have vanished, my running times are faster, and I have gained a great deal of strength and flexibility. Perhaps I have finally arrived at a fitness program that I will continue to stick with after so many failed attempts? I will keep you posted.

In case you want to try it out...

Here is the main crossfit site:

http://www.crossfit.com/

The site for my crossfit gym:

http://www.crossfitmukilteo.com/Home.html

Taylor Mali on what teachers make...this is funny!

2010-11-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Waiting for whom?

2010-11-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

So, unless you live under a rock, you have mostly heard of or seen the new documentary, "Waiting for Superman." Now, as a disclaimer, I have yet to view the film. However, I have the show on Oprah about it, as well as reading myriad of articles/reviews around it.

Several of the ideology behind the movie I can agree with. There are teachers who have been teaching for too long and, well...suck. They should not be teaching, but can also not be fired. At least not very easily. We have all had these sorts of teachers in school. You know, the ones that fell asleep during class, simply assigned a chapter to read with question before plopping down behind their desk. Or maybe you had the token teacher. The one who would slip a bit of whiskey into his or her morning coffee. And, I agree...these teachers should be fired. But we all know that. Nothing new here.

Most teachers, however, work extremely hard and care deeply about their lessons and students. It is not as though people teach for the money.

The part of the movie that I highly disagree with is how much blame people seem to place on the schools, teachers, and administrators. Constantly, during the movie we (the United States of America) are compared to other countries. Countries who are (gasp) out-performing us. The people who bear the grunt of the blame for this? Teachers.

Where is the part where parents are held accountable for their children? Has it never occurred to ANYBODY that maybe in these other countries parents read to their children, teach them behavioral and social rules, help with homework (or at least provide a quiet place to study), and emphasize the importance of a good education? I am guessing that they do.

As a teacher, I witness the lack of parental support often. This is not only at the low-income school I work at now, but also in middle-upper class schools I have worked at in the past. Parents excuse their kids from school to go shopping or because they want to sleep-in, have their kids play video games after school, and don't seem to teach or emphasize respect or good behavior. Most kids today seem to think they will just "get" good jobs and don't understand that this takes hard work.

Last week, I had a new student in my room. After reading her "getting to know you" letter, I learned that when she is older, she would like to be a stripper. Apparently, her dad suggested this as a career. During this same day, I had two boys in the office for fighting before school, four kids absent, and three kids walk into class late. At a school slightly north of mine in Stanwood, Washington many students were discovered to be addicted to heroin. Heroin! And, it is the teachers faults our kids are not performing better than their peers in other countries?

Charter schools are focused on in "Superman" as the solution to all of the problems. I do not think that is the case. They are not the only solution, at least not in my opinion.

While I am sure some are well-run, I have heard of many that under-pay staff, do not give teachers time to plan, and do not provide the necessary support (such as para educators). You could not pay me enough money to teach from 7am or 7pm, which many of these schools have their staff doing. Nor would I want to have a cell phone that students could reach me on. I have a life, I am not a parent, and it is NOT my job to parent your kids.

Furthermore, the 5 kids featured in Superman do have the support at home. Their parents care enough to research and become aware of these great charter schools in their areas. They did not show the rest of the population. Those students whose parents are not involved. Where were they in this movie? They were not in it, probably because it would have taken the blame off of the teachers and placed some of it back where it belongs. With parents and the communities.

So, what is my solution you may ask? For starters, I think parents also need to be held accountable for their children's scores, if I am going to be. How this would work, I am not sure. Also, more programs are needed for preschool. Studies show that children in preschool preform better later on than those who do not attend. The attendance policies should be stricter. It is not a 10-year-old's fault if his parents are not waking them up for school. The parents should be held accountable.

Classes for parents offered through the schools could also help, as well as more counselors (including drug/alcohol counselors) for students. Many of these programs have been cut to fund more math training for teachers. I am pretty sure kids will start to perform better in math once their parents are there to support them and they are at school on-time. Everyday.

Schools in the inner-city are underfunded and often lack the necessary supplies and materials for their teachers. Because of this, many teachers are reluctant to teach in these areas. These are the areas where attendance if poor, their is a lack of parental involvement, and the turn-over rate in both students and staff can be extremely high. Finding a solution to this would help immensely.

In most of these countries the US is compared with, not all students are taught as if they are ALL going to college. In high school, they can decide which track they are on. One that is college-based, and the other, more vocational-based. The result is: more interest in the classes, higher graduation with USEFUL skills, and the better chance of finding a job and contributing to society. Perhaps we might like to try this system here?

I think there is a solution to the problems with education, and we can make improvements as a country. However, teachers and schools are not the only issue. Parents also need to be factored into the equation and need to be held accountable as well.

29 and counting...

2010-08-29T23:49:00.000-07:00

As I was lying in bed this evening, I was struggling to fall asleep. School starts back up again this Wednesday and tomorrow is full of meetings and planning. Fortunately, I have gotten the opportunity to take my old job back, but this means more work than normal (cleaning, organizing, etc). So...I should be fast asleep at 11:45, but alas, I struggled and thoughts kept creeping into my head. The most recent... "WOW, I have not written an entry on my blog lately!"

And now, here I am after months of nothing. Sort of a busy year...getting transferred schools (back at Voyager), a wedding (Love you Adam), and a new puppy (Teddy). One would think this would spark all sorts of ideas for writing, but every time I get an idea it is usually when I am falling asleep. In the morning, the spark is gone and writer's block has again taken over.

Which is why this time, I opted to get out bed and write. So here goes:

When I turned 29 this July, it hit me: I am getting old. No, it is not the number that causes me to feel this way, but a series of events, realizations, and happenings that have sparked this list. Looking back over my previous blog entries, I noted that I had also created a list after turning 28...so perhaps birthday's are a time of reflection for me?

1) A former student "friend requested" me on facebook this year. She is a sophomore. In college. She was my student when she was 12.

2) After getting married last week, I will now have a new last name. This year at work, I will be referred to as "Mrs. Brown" rather than Ms. Perry or Miss Perry. The "Mrs." just seems to scream middle-age.

3) When I went out several Thursday's ago, we were the OLDEST people in the bar. Seriously. Except for a few REALLY old drunk regulars. Apparently, most people over the age of 25 do not go out on weeknights. It did remind me though of how much I enjoy Pink Halo's! And jello syringes, and sitting atop a piano.

4) On the same night, we were not carded at Chopsticks. You know, the dueling piano bar? I am embarrassed to admit that I went up to the bouncer and demanded to know why? He laughed.

5) It is not rare that I can be found at home watching a movie with a glass of wine on a weekend rather than hitting up the town. Unless said town is Edmonds

6) On that note, we have moved from Seattle to Edmonds. Many people here have bumper stickers which read, "It is an Edmonds kind of day" plastered to their cars. Two thoughts cross my mind when I see these: 1) What does an Edmonds day consist of? and 2) If I EVER have one of those on my car, feel free to rear-end me!

7) I now use SUNSCREEN rather than oil when outside during the summer months. Also, I now visit the dermatologist occasionally to survey the damage I did to my skin when I did bake in oil.

8) When at the drugstore, I used to wonder, "who buys all of these wrinkle-prevention" lotions? Now, I am the one purchasing them. However, I still do not think they actually work.

9) Today I was excited about the sale at Ann Taylor Loft.

10) Sometimes I miss my college days. However, I am very glad that when I was in college, there was no Myspace or Facebook. The only embarrassing reminders of a bad night out would appear on the "Party Pics" order form.

11) Some clothes from when I was in Middle/high school are now back in style. The question is...will Cross-Colors ever come back? Hope not.

12) I was called "Mam" at the store the other day. Yes, the cashier was most likely just trying to be polite, but it stung a little nonetheless.

13) Already, I am beginning to forget things, like where I put my keys, whether I paid a bill, etc. However, maybe I have always been this way?

14) My car is a four-door sedan. And it is silver. When I was a little girl, my dream was to own a purple convertible bug. The childhood Allison would not be at all pleased with the safer and more practical pick of the adult Allison.

Although at times I may feel I am growing older and becoming more of an adult in many aspects, I feel proud for all that I have accomplished in the last 29 years! Wow! I am very much looking forward to the last year in my 20's and to see what the 30's have in store for me!

2010-05-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

So, in class, my students are writing a commentary writing piece. In order to collect ideas, I had them brainstorm a "things that bother me" list. While they were diligently working on their pet peeves, I realized that I should create my own list. And, let me tell you, LOTS of thing bother me. Tons. Here is what I came up with:

1) People who incorrectly use their, there, and they're. They are different words. Learn how to use them properly. Especially if you are over the age of 14. If you need help with the grammar lesson, I would be happy to invite you to my 6th grade classroom for a day.

2) Wet towels on the floor, or really any place except the towel rack.

3) Hair. Not on peoples heads. I mean hair in the sink, stuck to the soap in the shower, or on the floor. Yuck

4) People who give their pets back to the animal shelter. Although, I guess it is better than abandoning them, people give the most ridiculous reasons for bringing them in. Example: A German Shepard was taken to the shelter because his owners did not realize he would grow into a large dog. Really? You did not know he would become a large dog?

5) People who talk loudly on cell phones in public so everybody can hear their conversations. This earns "double annoyance points" if said person is on ANY piece of workout equipment or on a blue tooth. Don't know why, but I find blue tooth headsets incredibly creepy-always thinking the person is speaking to me when, in fact, they are conversing with somebody at the other end of the line.

6) 3-D movies. Yes, it is a cool concept. I remember viewing "Captain Eo" at Disneyland as a young child and being amazed as the creatures (as well as Michael Jackson) flew out at the audience. Now it seems as though every movie coming out is in 3-D. My suggestion to the movie producers is to only create movies in 3-D when it will actually enhance the movie. Sometimes it causes the audience to lose the plot.

7) When you are all ready to make cookies, and realize you are all out of ONE ingredient-eggs, vanilla, etc.

8) People who do not wear deodorant. Enough said.

9) Fashion trends that look terrible on those of us not lucky enough to be built like models: Ugg boots (so comfy, that it is well worth the appearance of "cankles"), skinny jeans with boots over them, those shirts that look like they are for pregnant women, jeggings, and tube tops (although I am guilty of sporting these in college)...just to name a few!

10) Checking out a stack of books from the library and not liking ANY of them. This often happens to me and I am thinking that perhaps I need to spend more time reading the back and the first couple of pages.

11) When I wave at somebody and yell "Hi _________!" Only to realize said person is a complete stranger. Then pretending to wave in another direction.

12) The fact that now when I see people, I ask them questions based off what I have read on the FB pages rather than off of actual conversation. It is, now that I think about it, incredibly strange. While it is nice to stay caught up, I am not sure the best way to begin a conversation with an acquaintance is to ask, "So, I saw on Facebook that you just had a baby. Congratulations."

So, there it is. My list. For today anyhow. I am sure I could come up with a "new list" tomorrow.

A cleanse to start the new year!

2010-02-15T19:53:00.001-08:00

Hey there! So, I realize that it has been eons since I last wrote! As of late, I have suffered a bit of writer's block and could, seriously, find NOTHING to write about... until recently.

Last week, in a attempt to jump-start 2010, Adam and I embarked on a "cleanse" called the "Hollywood Diet." I also figured it might turn into a great blog entry.

Now, usually, I absolutely cannot stand any diets what-so-ever, and believe in exercise and healthy eating as the only ways to really lose and keep weight off.

The reason behind our brilliant idea to try this diet was to clear our systems of any toxins and allow ourselves to start off a healthy diet on the right foot! Immediately, I googled "cleanse diets" and discovered one with minimal side-effects called "The Hollywood Miracle Diet."

Most of the reviews were okay, most cleansers stating that the weight lost did not stay off (duh...it is a CLEANSE and you have to eat healthy once you are done)! There were also complaints about the cost. One reviewer commented, "it would have been cheaper to purchase juice and drink it three times during the day."

Reading on, I learned that to correctly participate in the "Hollywood Diet" one must not eat ANYTHING for the entire time, and must drink the special juice three times during the day. Also, NO caffeine (perhaps this would be more difficult than I anticipated)! Cleansers could opt for either the 24 or 48 hour cleanse.

As a reward for fasting, cleansers would be detoxed and be free of headaches, acne, insomnia, and a myriad of other conditions brought on by toxins in the body.

Since we were new to this, I opted for the 24 hour plan. The site also recommended that those new to this should pick a day when they did not have to go anywhere. Brushing this advice aside (like I was going to ditch a day of work to stay home and starve), I announced to Adam that we were starting on Monday. Work would serve as a better distraction from food than sitting at home, where the refrigerator would be beckoning me to consume the food within.

On Sunday I strolled into the local GNC in search of the "Hollywood Diet" and located the bottles in the "Cleanse" section. An overly peppy girl attempted to persuade me NOT to buy the Hollywood diet drink, showing me other cleanses that were healthier and actually allowed one to eat during the day.

"Um, okay. I will look at some of these others," I said. Mainly to get her to go away. The other bottles of pills consisted of a two-week plan. Way to long. Why would it take two weeks to cleanse yourself of toxins. I just wanted to get this over with. Quickly.

"I like these, " she said, thrusting a bottle with a picture of some sort of herb on the label.

Ignoring her advice, I bought two bottles of the "Hollywood" juice instead and headed home.

At 5:30 Monday morning, I broke the first rule on the label and drank two cups of coffee (like I was really going to not eat ALL day with no caffeine)! Maybe I can say that my 24 hour fast began at 7am?

The first part of the day was not bad...I sipped on the (surprisingly) tasty juice throughout the morning. This is easy, I told myself. Those reviewers were crazy. During my lunch break, I googled 'The Hollywood Diet" again, and read that some people cleansed once a week. Hmmm....maybe I could do that? I could become one of those super-healthy granola- types who went to Yoga and only ate organic food.

As my 5th and 6th period students entered the classroom, my head seemed to throb a bit, so I popped a couple of Advil. It was then I realized that I felt almost...well, HIGH?

I began talking super-fast, and could not stop fidgeting. I tapped my fingers, paced the room-which was actually a good thing as the kids were taking a big test that day and it allowed me monitor the room with ease. A couple of time between 2 and 3, I did start to feel slightly dizzy and had to stop walking and grab a seat.

Luckily, the bell rang at 3pm and after deciding I was too light-headed to grade the tests, decided to drive home and try to wait out the rest of this fast.

I called Adam on my way home and he (in typical Adam fashion) accused me of sneaking snacks at work. Which I did not do, in case you are wondering.

" What did you do today?" I questioned him.

He described an excruciating trip to Costco where samples of delicious items seemed to jump out at him, asking him to just have a little taste. He said he needed to leave in order to resist. This was a good reminder for me not to stop by the grocery store. Errands could wait until tomorrow...when I had more energy.

"You going to the gym? It says on the Hollywood Diet site that you can work out on the stuff."

Was he crazy? I could barely walk, let alone would running be fathomable! I told him "no" and that I would be home soon. Suddenly, I felt incredibly delirious and wondered if it was safe for me to be driving? Probably not.

Once home, Adam and I spent the rest of the evening snapping at one another, as I rolled around the couch clutching my stomach and bitching

I had never gone this long without eating, except for maybe freshman year of college when I had Mono.

We drank the last serving of our "magic juice" in silence occasionally bursting out in unprovoked laughter-like i said, not eating all day can make one feel rather "high."

Proudly, I can say...we did make it the entire 24 hours!

I am not sure if either of us actually lost the 5 pound promised, but I will say, the first meal we had (egg-white omelets with spinach) was GLORIOUS! New appreciation for food was diffidently a positive side to this silly diet.

Other than that...pretty sure the reviewer who claimed you could just buy fruit juice and do the same diet was right on! Also, heeding her advice would have saved me 20 bucks!

Conclusion- The Hollywood Diet is more of a test in self-restraint than a "detoxifying cleanse."

Turkey Day

2009-11-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

Living in a 600 square foot apartment for years, nobody expected, let alone asked if I would like to host any sort of holiday gathering. There simply was not enough room...unless of course, we removed ALL the furniture.

After moving several weeks ago, I blurted to my mom (without thinking first), "We could host Thanksgiving here this year."

I blame my outburst on the excitement of moving, and the realization that we now live in a home where we don't always have to be in the same room! However, although our house is larger, we still only have the furniture from our apartment, presenting the issue of were to seat guests.

A big fan of mingling (and not a fan of sitting for hours while stuffing my face), I suggested having a sort of, "Thanksgiving buffet" where people could pile their plates and then chat. Sounds like a great idea- lots of people meandering around with full plates accross our brand-new carpet....

Anyhow, to prepare for the first-ever Turkey Day buffet, I am heading out today to purchase a 15 lb turkey. Perhaps I will buy one of those Butterballs. Did I mention I have never in my life cooked a turkey? The turkey I "cook" typically comes pre-sliced at the deli.

Armed with a copy of my mom's Betty Crocker Cookbook (circa 1960's), I am determined to whip out a turkey, stuffing balls (a family fav), and some delish mashed potaotes. The one smart idea I had was to delegate the other food items to others.

We will see how this venture turns out on Thursday. And hey, if the food is not edible, I can always serve enough alcohol prior to feasting, that nobody notices (or cares) about the quality. Right?

Recipe for "stuffing balls" from the Betty Crocker Cookbook (1960)

12 cups bread, cubes 1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup minced onions
1 1/2 cups chopped celery, stalks and leaves
1 cup chopped mushrooms (optional)
2 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon ground sage
no-salt-added chicken broth (optional)

Heat oven to 375, roll stuffing into balls. Place on a tray or in a baking dish. Cook for about 20 minutes!

A change will do you good?

2009-10-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is my 6th year teaching, so I have officially made it past the dreaded "5-year-mark" in which (according to statistics) 50% of all teachers quit their jobs and go into another field.

I began my journey in the field of education at a middle school on the "wealthier side of the district" subbing in for a woman who was on maternity leave. It was a great experience, I was convinced this was the type of school I would want to work at. The sub job came to an end and their were no openings at that school for the upcoming year.

Wanting to stay in the district, I applied and was hired that summer to teach at a school on the "other side of 99" or basically, the ghetto. Really. It is located in the highest crime area in Snohomish County. Never, did I think I would want to work in a school like this.

However, I totally grew attached to my new building. The other teachers were laid-back and easy to work with, the office staff was great, and the administration was very supportive. I realized that I truly enjoyed working with kids who needed my help, and appreciated it (well, as much as a middle-schooler can). Each day, I felt as though I might make a difference. There were challenges, for sure, but they all made my job more interesting and I grew as a teacher and a person during my time there.

This dream job came to an abrupt end two weeks into the 2009-10 school year, when it was announced that the projected number of students fell short of what was expected. In turn, the school I had begun teaching at in the district had an increase in students. They needed another 6th grade teacher. Being the lowest in seniority, I was involuntarily transferred.

Devestated, I packed up my belongings (which took two full days-who knew one could accumulate so many items over 5 years) and prepared myself for the changes to come.

So far, I am trying to remain positive. Maybe I will learn a little something about myself as a teacher? Maybe, but right now, I am not so sure. Most of the students are incredibly nice, work hard, and are all-around great kids. However, I no longer feel like I am making any sort of difference. The majority of these kids would pass the state tests if I just sat and starred at them all day. Seriously. Also, the parents are something left to be desired. Basically, they run the school and dictate behavioral procedures.

Still, two weeks into my new assignment, I am playing catch up; getting to know the students and attempting to understand the parent-driven procedures. Usually, I am a planner and this change has really thrown a wrench in my organization. This is the first time in my teaching career in which I have actually thought about what other job I might do if I changed professions? Sad, but true.

Hopefully, next year I will be able to switch back to the school and kids I have grown to love, but for now I am am attempting to make the best of the situation and trying to stay positive.

When June comes, will I reflect on the school year and realize "YES" I did learn something? Will I be a better teacher for embarking on a new experience and trying to make the most of it?

I am not counting my eggs before they hatch, but I sure hope so...

Oh, and that picture is a wolverine...the mascot of my former place of employment! Kind of creepy looking, aren't they!?

A Surprise...

2009-09-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

Let me begin by saying I am rarely surprised. By anything. Teaching Middle School and hearing things like, "somebody peed all over the bathroom floor" or catching 13-year-olds making out in the hall (yuck) causes one to become immune to occurrences most would find shocking.

Even as a kid, I was difficult to surprise. I used to peek at ALL of my Christmas gifts (no matter how hard I tried not to look) and could always count on my mom to send me a "surprise" care package in college for each holiday (it always included a pair of socks). There was even one year when I wanted to plan my own surprise birthday party (sad, I know).

Basically, I am somebody who usually knows what is going on...I am constantly on my toes at all times.

This all changed however on my first day back at school this year. I have to say... I have never, ever been so surprised in my entire life.

As all teachers know, the first day of school is when you are pretty much in your "teaching zone" just attempting to get through the day. There are mixed- up schedules, new names to learn, concerns with lockers, supplies, etc. There is no time for thinking- it is "Go, go, go" all day long.

Around 2:00pm, I was most diffidently in the "zone" focusing on the many tasks at hand that first BIG day, unaware of the world which existed outside of Voyager Middle School.

Suddenly my boyfriend Adam, of nearly 4 1/2 years walks into my classroom, moves his way to the front and in front of all my students, bends down on one knee and asks me to marry him!

Finally, I was surprised. So surprised, I was in fact... speechless. With my mouth agape for several moments, I stared at Adam in awe and amazement.

Of course, I answered "yes" once I ceased shaking and my heart slowed back to a semi-normal rythym.

I love the fact that Adam was so thoughtful and thought up such a wonderfully special and romantic moment to remember and share the rest of our lives. I cannot wait for him to continue surprising me and leaving me in awe for the rest of our lives together. Truly, I am blessed to have found such a wonderful guy!

* There is a video, but at this time I am not able to download it to the blog... hopefully I will figure it out soon!

Tonight were gonna party like it's 1999!

2009-08-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

It is now August, meaning it is almost September. And as all teachers (and parents) know, this means "Back to School" time! As a teacher, I both dread and look forward to the start of a new school year. There is quite a bit of work to do, but it is also a fresh start: new students, new ideas, etc.

Preparing to go back this year caused me to reflect back on the summer of 1999, when I was "going to school" myself. This was the year beginning joyful experience at Washington State University (Go Cougs!). The year when I would leave the life I knew and embark on an adventure. When I think back to momentous "back to school" occasion, I am reminded just how much things have changed in the last 10 years. Here are some examples from my college years:

1) My mom and I drove over listening to a book on tape. Do cars even have tape decks any more? Also, I was elated over my brand new (gigantic) desk top computer. The thing was huge, covering most of the desk in my dorm room. Laptops are way more convenient, especially for studying. It was not like I could bring my computer to Starbucks to type a paper.

2) I was equipped with a stack of calling cards, in order to make the long distance calls home. Nobody had cell phones, and even those few who did certainly would not carry them around chatting away. Junior year, I remember thinking how odd it was to see Freshman walking to class while on their cells.

3) After Rush week (now called "Recruitment") we were given white tank tops, thrown into the back of several pick-up trucks and paraded down Greek Row while Fraternity boys doused us with water. This has since been outlawed. Now after Recruitment, the girls all have a nice brunch and listen to a speech on sisterhood. Personally, I feel my experience was more fun and diffidently more memorable!

4) There were NO designer jeans! In fact, we never wore jeans when going out. Black pants or skirts were the style. Paired with a delicious sequin or other brightly colored halter, what could look better!? Oh, and don't forget the stacked-heeled boots!

5) Speaking of clothing, at my moms house the other day, I spotted a photo of myself in college wearing overalls! Yes, styles certainly have changed a great deal in the past 10 years. Secretly though, I am waiting for overalls to reemerge and still have a pair stashed at the top of my closet! They are not the most flattering of attire, but oh so comfortable.

6) Acting like an idiot when you were wasted could NOT end up as an embarrassing photo on Facebook (we did not even have MySpace). You simply had a bad night, and hoped that everybody else was also too intoxicated to recall your antics.

7) However, the picture of your embarrassing night could end up on the "Party Pics" order form. I learned my lesson one night after a friend and I thought it would be hilarious to flash the Party Pics camera man (not one of my prouder moments). Not so funny when I noticed that several guys had actually ordered the photo (pervs).

8) WSU was one of the first schools which had wireless Internet and class registration online! Friends of mine at other schools still had to register IN PERSON! Can you believe it! Craziness!

9) Smoking was allowed in bars, and so was showering once you got home, if you wanted to go to bed without your pillow reeking of cigarettes in the AM. This is one change I am glad occurred!

10) This is just a sampling of the changes that I have noticed. One thing however that has remained a constant...Sex and the City! We used to spend lazy Saturday mornings watching episode after episode. Girls today are still tuning into this enticing program, just as my friends and I did 10 years ago.

Also, this time in my life reminds me of all the of the wonderful friends I have made over the years. There are friends made in high school, who even if we have not seen each other for a time, when we do- we simply pick up where we left off. Then, there are friends made in college, bonded over nights of long conversations, break-ups, and of course- Papa John's Pizza.

These are all friends that I depend on today and have become a very important part of my life. In some ways, we are the same girls we were in 1999, looking forward to new beginnings and what lay ahead. Perhaps we are all a little older, maybe a little wiser, but still looking forward to the future.

Adventures in Bikram Yoga

2009-07-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

For years, I have been an "anti-yogi" deeming it a "fake workout" and completely boring, however recent events led to a shift in my thinking...

Let me begin by stating that I am a runner. Sometimes, I run 6-7 days a week. In the winter this means running on the treadmill, which although slightly boring still brings the "runner's high" after. Occasionally, I will dabble in a kick-boxing class or perhaps some step aerobics when a change of piece is needed.

Not wanting to knock something before trying it, I attended several Yoga classes offered at L.A. Fitness. I was....BORED. Really bored. And, I certainly was not tired or sweating in the slightest when I left. In fact, I believe I went and ran on the treadmill after I was finished. Because of this, I have mocked Yoga workouts, stating, "Yoga is boring. It is not even a real workout."

Now, I have to eat my words. Last week, I purchased a 10 classes (for $20.00) at the Bikram Yoga Studio of India in Fremont hoping it would help the knee/leg that was injured while walking Linus the Beagle (see earlier blog). Never in my life, have I struggled so much through a class. Especially a class consisted of stretches and poses where I never moved off of a mat.

* Bikram Yoga is yoga practiced in a room heated to a boiling 105 degrees and the fans are turned off during each of the 26 poses, except for the Savasanga (where you lay down).

Sweating from the moment I began the first pose, up until the very end of the 90 minute (yup, you read that right-90 minutes) class, I kept trying to sneak water or wipe my face with my towel, only to have the teacher remind me to wait until in between poses.

When I left class, I felt as though I had taken a shower... in my shorts and sports bra! Gross. Right? I thought so, but I also felt totally amazing and cleansed! Never before had a Yoga class, or any workout class caused me to feel so wonderful!

Now, I am not saying that I could do this everyday, especially once my new member trial period expires. Bikram Yoga is not cheap (about 130 dollars per month) and I sometimes I find it difficult remembering to drink enough water during the day or drink coffee right before. Both of these things can make one feel dizzy, nauseous, or light-headed.

However, I would like to commit to attending a Bikram class once a week. So far, I have been four days and I just feel "more aligned" and my knee is not quite as sore. So, I will admit... no longer am I against yoga. I have converted.

For those of you living in the Seattle area, here is the Yoga Studio I went to...and there is also one in West Seattle: http://www.bikramyogaseattle.com/class/schedule.php

Timelines...

2009-07-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

On July 6th, I turned 28. Now, I know that for most people, 30 is the BIG birthday. You know, the one that arrives and suddenly you are supposed to be an adult. Not for me. For me, 28 was always that magical age when I was meant to have my entire life together. It was my "grown-up" adult age. Now that this day has come and gone and I have been 28 for about one week now, I have to say: I truly do not feel any different.

What did I expect to happen at age 28 you might ask? Well, to answer that questions, it all started with a rather stupid assignment handed to us in Human Growth and Development class during my Freshman year of college.

The teacher asked us to each create a timeline of what we wanted our lives to look like from this point forward. More talk followed about how this would allow both her and us to know who we were as people and who we wanted to become. I rolled my eyes as she rambled on and on.

Wasn't I in college? This assignment seemed a bit like one I might have received in Middle School. Still, I went ahead and created my timeline. At age 18, 28 seemed eons away. The farthest ahead I usually thought was to finals week or the next date dash!

As I carefully started on my timeline that evening, I concluded that 26 was the perfect age in which to be married by (to a man named Chris-most likely selecting that name because I knew nobody named Chris). Anything after 26 would obviously deem me an "old maid." By 28 I had twin girls, and then by 30, one more boy.

I won't even get into the ridiculousness that happened later in my pretend life (including retirement and living in Europe by age 50). After viewing my retirement plan, I am pretty sure that that is a fantasy!

This was nearly 10 years ago that this assignment was given, and as stupid as I felt it to be, I completely remember each and everything that I put on the timeline.

Am I disappointed that I am not on track with this life I gave myself? Well, I like to think of it as not "off-track" but just delayed slightly. In some ways though, I realize the benefits of this assignment (although I felt it to be so incredibly meaningless at the time).

One day, I do hope to retire and live someplace that I truly desire to be (such as Europe). While this may not be as early as a hoped for, it is still a possibility.

Other parts of this timeline were rather silly and things I do not have control over. Why did I insist I needed to be married by 26? What was I supossed to do to ensure this goal was met? Carry my time line around like a psycho and insist to any guy I dated that I had an expiration date by which I HAD to be married with kids by? And even if I had been married at 26, it would have been highly unlikely that I would have twins by 28 (especially considering there are NO twins in my family).

I have heard others mention their own internal time lines, saying things such as, "I want to go to graduate school by the time I am 30." Or, "By 35, I want to have kids."

Are these time lines that we set for ourselves a healthy way to set goals, or would it be better to just set the goals with no "Magical Age" in which we expect them by? By setting a "Magical Age" are we pushing ourselves to work harder, or simply setting ourselves up for disappointment?

Sales...have they lost their appeal?

2009-07-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that i cannot stay away from-it is a sign reading "sale" in the the front of the store. Sales used to be a special and exciting time. I remember flipping through the "Nordstrom Anniversary Sale" catalog as soon as it arrived in the mail. My mom, sister, and I would go and stock up on the deals for back to school clothes. Specifically, I remember when I was in middle school and was SUPER thrilled to discover that Doc Martin shoes were on sale! The Nordstrom sale was, like, the only time you could buy anything at a discount!

Other major stores would do the same...a BIG sale several times each year. Other than that, sales consisted of a small rack in the back of the store, usually filled with either XXS or XXL items. In today's economy, it seems that EVERYTHING is on sale, all the time. I am not kidding. When walking into Peridot the sales woman announced to me that the entire store was 30% off! The entire store. Seriously. At Banana Republic, every sale item was an additional 30% off the lowest price. So, I bought 3 shirts for around $40.00. Total. These were not cheap items to begin with by any means either.

While this was exciting and all, I started wondering...have "sales" completely lost their appeal and charm? I now refuse to buy anything not on sale, as I know that it will most likely be discounted the following week. This is even true at the high end boutique "Sway and Cake" where I was looking at a dress. I returned the next day to find it marked down 40%!

However, I no longer feel the excitement or build-up of a big sale as I did receiving those Nordstrom catalogs in the mail. How could I, when every day is now a sale day?

I admit though, I still do enjoy a good deal. Here are some of the BEST deals I discovered while out shopping the other day:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/ This is great one! Especially if you are looking for a dress! Many are 50% off the original price!

http://peridotqueenanne.blogspot.com/ Peridot is a small boutique in lower QA, conveniently located right next door to Diamond Nails (my Pedicure spot). This is the place where the entire store in on sale!

http://www.swayandcake.com/ Located right by Nordstrom and the Medical Dental Building downtown. Lots of great deals on summer items, as they are already getting in fall stuff!

When the going gets tough...don't go?

2009-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

All of my life I have this issue with anything that is difficult for me...that is I find it incredibly frustrating. It derives from my strong desire NOT to have people see me fail. Instead I will throw myself into those activities in which I excel. This started in Kindergarten when we were learning handwriting. At which, I was awful. Apparently (according to my mom) I had "taught" myself to write already and was not holding my pencil the correct way. Rather than listen to Mrs. Kemp, I chose to keep on holding my pencil incorrectly and still do to this day. Although this was quite a while ago, I believe I did not want my fellow classmates to see me struggle. Even at age 5, I was a stubborn little bugger!

This trend continued on into my later schools as well. In Middle School when my "Advanced Math Class" was difficult,rather than working past it... I simply switched into the regular and focused on subjects in which I was more gifted. Again, I did not want my classmates to see me stuggle with the advanced math concepts.

In high school, I was an okay soccer player (and played JV in 9th and 10th grade). My Junior year, I quit playing soccer. I was worried I would get cut, because I did not believe that I was skilled enough for the Varsity team. So...I switched to something I was good at-Cross Country. The same scenario occurred with softball, when I switched to tennis.

Now today, as an adult I am facing a similar situation with my summer job. It is hard and I am not that great at it. For my "regular" job, I am a teacher which is something that comes naturally to me. Serving does not. Yes, I realize that serving is not exactly brain surgery, but I find it to be a challenge. I constantly find myself asking for help (usually from my fellow crew members who are about 5-7 years younger than me-which is hard in itself). Finding the right buttons on the computer is excruciatingly hard. I cannot figure out how in the world to carry 4 plates BY MYSELF at once. Every time I attempt this, I worry that I will drop every body's meals on the ground. Figuring out my tips after a shift is equally annoying. Oh, and the other day, I completely forgot to put in an order for a bacon cheeseburger. Luckily the cooks totally helped me out, but I felt SO incredibly stupid. This is diffidently a job that is a struggle for me. I do not feel that serving is a gift or talent I posess.

I could have just taught summer school again; doing something that is naturally easy for me-teaching kids. However, I feel that now that I am an adult I should know what it feels like to do something that is difficult and learn from it. Which is exactly what I plan on doing this summer. Wish me luck!

Willkomen!

2009-06-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

For some reason, for two years Adam and I dressed up as Bavarians (although I am not sure that is what the tittle said on the package) for Halloween. There was a one year gap in between this attire where I insisted that we dress as the Baby and Johnny from Dirty Dancing. Adam was not happy with his costume as nobody could really tell who he was. I guess he and Patrick Swayze do not have much of a resemblance to one another. Anyways, the following year, Adam asked if we could wear the costumes with the Lidershosen (sp?) again, thus affirming his love of Bavarian culture and the perfect reason to head to...LEAVENWORTH!

Which is just what we did this last weekend. For those who have not been to Leavenworth before, it is a town where people regularly wear liederhosen, eat brats, and a man plays some type of long horn at breakfast. In other words, we would have fit in PERFECTLY in our Halloween costumes! But, don't worry, we did not wear them.

A nice short drive (about 2 hours on HI-2) Leavenworth is nestles in the mountains just beyond Steven's pass, and could be a nice stopping point on the way to Lake Chelan. The weather was beautiful, people were friendly, and the wine tasting rooms were fabulous! Here are some of the top places we would recommend while visiting:

Where to stay:

Enzian Inn

(This place was great-free breakfast, a putting course, and a great swimming pool)!

800-223-8511 509-548-5269

http://www.enzianinn.com

Food:

Visconti's of Leavenworth
636 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA, 98826
509-548-1213
Delicious food, but come on an empty stomach...this place serves 5 courses of Italian cuisine! My favorite was the Gnocchi!

Tasting: Keep mind that i am not really a wine expert and although I can swirl wine around in my glass and comment on the flavors, I really judge wineries and tasting rooms on the ambiance, people who work there, and the feeling I have while visiting. My palate can really only differentiate between "good" and "bad" so there will be no comments here on smokey flavors, hints of fruit, etc. I just know that all of these wines were "good" and the environment was an enjoyable one in which to spend the afternoon!

1) Ryan Patrick Vineyards

http://www.ryanpatrickvineyards.com/
636 Front Street, Suite 2, Leavenworth, WA, 98826
509-888-2236

- We liked this one because the woman working was extremely nice and helpful. Also, the wines are great! A colorful rose was especially good. For $2, you get to taste about 7 different wines!

2)Krestel Vinters

http://www.winesnw.com/kestrel.htm

- This is the place that creates the "Lady in Red" series, and the "Blond" series depicting women in red or white dresses on the front. All of the wine we tasted here was smooth and tasty, and the older gentleman working the counter was entertaining and knowledgeable about all of the wines. Make sure you eat BEFORE you come here! They will pour you all of their available wines (about 15 of them) for about $2 per person!

3) http://bergdorfcellars.com/

This is a HUGE tasting room, with plenty of counter space for the many people that visit (and it was crowded when we arrived). The highlights of this visit include delicious chocolates from the SChocolate ( http://www.schocolat.com/history1.html) next door, and a tasting right out of a barrel!

Getting fit with FIDO...and hurt.

2009-06-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

If you look in the Jackson High School 1999 yearbook, you will see that I was voted "Most Accident Prone." This never made sense to me...I have not broken a bone since I was three. Now I get it. I am simply REALLY clumsy, and somehow manage to end up tripping, falling, banging into various things on a regular basis. It is not even like I engage in dangerous sport or activities. I run. On flat surface. On a path.

A few weeks ago, I was volunteering at "Get Fit With FIDO" at the Seattle Animal Shelter (great program if you like running and dogs). Excitedly, I selected a nice Beagle named Linus as my running buddy that morning. He was a small but sturdy little guy who was anxious to gallop along at Myrtle Edwards Park. Everything was going fine until...I some how found myself entangled in Linus's leash.

Flying forward, I braced myself, and in an attempt not to land on Linus, I came crashing down on my knees. More embarrassed than injured, I hurriedly scampered to my feet. Immediately, people surrounded me, asking if I was okay. Slightly confused, I glanced down at my knee.

Blood was gushing everywhere. A nice couple who witnessed my humiliation grabbed a hold of the leash and helped me to walk to the water fountain where the other FIDO volunteers were waiting. My sister Meaghan looked puzzled when she saw this couple with Linus, and me limping while pressing a napkin to my knee. "Did your sister get hurt again" a lady from the animal shelter asked. (I was bit by a dog earlier this year, but that is another story).

Everybody ignored my claims that I was okay, and called for back-up. I insisted that I did not need a ride back, and hobbled along for the remaining 1/2 mile.

Needless to say, I probably should not have pretended I was okay and just gone in for stitches. Now, I have a huge scar on my knee, and it is stiff when I wake up in the morning! Is this a sign I am becoming "old?" It never used to hurt when I fell...

Perhaps I should invest in some knee pads and elbow guards?

P.S.

Linus, the Beagle handled this whole ordeal quite well (he seemed very concerned after I tripped over him). Sadly, he is still searching for his forever home. If you are looking for a nice Beagle, let me know! That is him, in the photo above!

Ahhh...Pedicures!

2009-06-25T09:02:00.000-07:00

One of my obsessions is getting pedicures. In fact, I go every two weeks. Nothing is more relaxing to me than reclining in a massage chair, reading US Weekly, and having my toes done! For the past 5 years, I have been going to Diamond Nails on Queen Anne, where you can have all this for only 15 dollars!

It is not quite the same as going to Gene Juarez, but for 15 dollars, you can't beat it. (Oh, and they will use the razor on your feet- after your feet have been soaking, the women will half-hide the razor and show it to you. Just nod your head "Yes" if you would like it! Highly recommended!

Diamond Nails (Queen Anne)

533 1st Ave W

Seattle, WA 98119

(206) 281-1231

What Now?!

2009-06-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

So, after I graduated from College (GO COUGS) in 2003, I began penning a novel (a memoir of sorts) about my life, and the lives of me and my friends. As 23-year olds new to Seattle and going out all the time, I had MANY interesting anecdotes to share!

Needless to say, I became rather busy with work, and let this fall to the wayside. Now, my life is not quite as exciting, so I am not sure if anybody would enjoy reading about how I get up at 5:30, teach 6th graders, and then come home and watch TV...I am guessing, it would not be a bestseller!

Anyways, today, my good friend Chrissy was talking about starting a family blog so people could see pictures of her adorable 6 week old little girl, Livvy. She suggested that I start a blog too, so I did. I am not promising much. I have no cute baby pics. I am not crafty (I have attempted scrapbooking once, and the outcome was horrible). I do not have photos of delicious meals I have prepared. This will just be a blog of random thoughts, wonderings, etc. of my life! Hopefully, this will lead to a new novel??? Enjoy!