12 Weeks to Better Photography

I'm very excited to be joining Meredith as well as some other bloggers in a 12 week photography course. As I write this I am anxiously awaiting my nifty fifty in the mail. Apparently UPS doesn't come to my house until very late in the evening because it's supposed to be here today and has not arrived yet!

Anyway, I will be going through 12 lessons, one each Tuesday, and posting the results here. I will also be linking to the other bloggers who are participating and hopefully we'll all be doing better by the end!

Feel free to leave comments, suggestions, criticism, etc. on the posts as I'm definitely looking to improve my skills!

Exciting Purchase!

I had some points wracked up on our reward system credit card and splurged on one of these:

It's a Canon 50mm/F1.8 lens for my camera. I'm so excited!! It'll give me a whole new arena of fun to explore in my photography hobby. The lens is nicknamed the "nifty fifty" and it provides awesome pictures with a great narrow depth of field. I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival in the mail! Then, I'll be sure to post some pictures I've taken with it.

Speaking of pictures, my blog has been a little devoid of them lately, hasn't it? Well, hopefully this will help!

Day 2

Today is the second day of my Clomid cycle. I was really nervous about taking them. The major side effects associated with it are hot flashes and insomnia. So, I had to decide whether to take it in the morning or at night. If I took it in the morning, I was worried about getting hot flashes in the middle of school. If I took at night, I was worried about, well, insomnia.

Luckily, I've been side-effect free!

I'm trying really hard not to get my hopes high. I'm excited, REALLY excited, but I don't want to be disappointed. It feels kind of strange, too, because we didn't PLAN on getting pregnant so soon. But, the reason we're starting to try so quickly is because it may take longer than expected. I'd rather it be much sooner than much later.

I'm having those feelings of breaking rules or something. You know, you spend so long telling yourself that you can't do something - like you've set a rule for yourself - and then you allow yourself to break that rule. I'm having an interesting time getting past that feeling of doing something wrong.

So, operating get pregnant is underway. 10 days of progesterone pills (including horrible back cramping, bleck) - check. 3 days of waiting for my period - check. 2 days of my period - check. Now I have 3 more Clomid pills and I wait. And hope. And pray.

It's all in God's hands.

STOKED!!

Rob's business made the front page of the biggest gaming website in the world!!

Here's the story:

The Gamer Lounge on IGN

BTW, I took all those pictures - so does that mean I'm famous too?

Wedded Wednesday

Wedded Wednesday is a collaboration
of married bloggers sharing their inspirations,
anecdotes, struggles and thoughts regarding
the amazing union of two separate people, as one.

Being married to an entrepreneur has its moments. I am SO proud of Rob. I am proud of his accomplishments and his drive to make the best life he can. I am grateful for the sacrifices he makes for us and his desire to make us "rich so we can retire early and spend all of our time with our kids and families." He has worked so hard.

You know what's coming.

This has been a difficult week for us. We have spent the last week and a half prepping and planning for the grand opening and now it's come and gone. But, the stress still lingers. I tend to be unusually calm under pressure. I feel like I think clearest when I'm in situations that require big decisions. Rob, on the other hand, gets emotional and loses some sense of logic. He tends to get impatient and defensive and my attempts at a calm discussion don't always end nicely. But, we balance each other out and we manage.

Leah reminded me of communication today. There have been moments when I feel like if I just suck it up and hold on to the emotions I'm feeling with the stress in our lives, it will be better. But, then I remember the times I've done that before and the problems it has caused. I know, though, that this too shall pass. Rob will not always be stressed and I will not always be stressed because he is stressed. I take comfort in knowing that at the end of the day, we'll be together side-by-side and loving each other more than ever.

Downside

The biggest downside to being off birth control? Acne. I feel like I'm 16 again... :(

I'm not sure that it was the birth control that was entirely controlling it, so much as the lack of major hormonal swings.

Anybody have any suggestions? I'm just trying my best to keep things under control!

BTW, Valentine's day was this weekend. And, while I said Rob and I weren't doing anything because of the business, he did make me a fabulous dinner of chicken in cream sauce while we watched a movie together on the couch. It doesn't sound like much, but it was wonderful to just relax together after a long day on Sunday.

Gamer Lounge Grand Opening

It was a HUGE success!! The local band, Beckon, played for about 25min before the grand opening and they were fantastic. You should definitely check them out when we get the video up. Then we had the unveiling. It was awesome. Check it out:

The band: Beckon

Before the unveiling:

Again, before the unveiling:

Immediately after the curtain was pulled:

 Stop by if you're ever in St. Peters! We'll be open for 6 weeks.

Check out our website for updates as well.

Woo-hoo!!

We got our tax return today!! Doing taxes sucks, but it sure is worth it in the end. :)

Is anyone else celebrating with me? Too bad we won't have it for long. Is it sad that we've already decided what it will go to?

Come on out!

I've revamped the blog. I wanted a more "springy" look and made a new header and changed some html to give the blog a facelift! All you google readers come check it out!

Wedded Wednesday

I thought I might take on the challenge of this theme I saw on another blog. Here goes.

It is Wednesday, right? Okay, good.

What is Wedded Wednesday? Read for yourself:

Wedded Wednesday is a collaboration

of married bloggers sharing their inspirations,

anecdotes, struggles and thoughts regarding

the amazing union of two separate people, as one.

Saturday will be our 20 month wedding anniversary. I know what you're thinking. Who still counts months? It's kind of our thing. The number 13, that is. Our first date: August 13, 2008. Friday the 13th to be exact. Our first kiss? 13 Days later. We got married on June 13, 2008. Also Friday the 13th. So every 13th of the month is special. Its a little thing we share. I love it.

I remember the first time I understood what it felt like to be in love. To love someone so much that it hurt. It was January 2005. I cling to that feeling. Relish in its glory. In its pain. To have those fleeting thoughts of accidents and this could be the last time when he walks out the door. Only to have them swept away by a kiss.

Our wedding day. When we made that commitment that not matter what, we'd keep remembering that feeling of love so deep your heart hurts. It makes me smile. When I changed my name. I joke about my last name, but I'm proud of it. I'm proud of him.

The fights and arguments. I consider them moments made for future entertainment. The first feelings of accomplishment at doing something together. Buying a house, car, lawn mower. Putting the Christmas tree up together.

Cherishing the time we have on this earth and knowing I am blessed enough to have him to share it with. That is wedded bliss.

Purely. Simply. Love.

Fears.

Since making my previous post, I feel like a weight has been lifted. I no longer feel like I have this big burden I'm carrying around on my own. But, that doesn't mean that I'm not still apprehensive. That I'm not still scared. This whole situation is terrifying.

The decision to try. That first step to stop taking the pill. That was a big decision. We'd spent the entirety of our marriage without this worry of getting pregnant and all that it entails. Then, we took the step. We crossed the line into the world of trying to conceive. Well wasn't that a joke. To think of all the money spent on birth control pills and now we're going to spend money on just the opposite. Ironic. 

Then come the doubts. After a never-ending cycle, the thoughts of trouble started creeping in. Like I said before, I've always had issues with my cycles. But until now, it never meant anything. I didn't really think about it. I've always wanted to be a mom. More than anything. And finally we decided that it was time, only to hit a road block. What if I never get that chance? That scares me more than anything. More than spiders. That's a lot. 

Okay. Enough of the drama. I got past that fear. I talked to my mom. She calmed my fears. I talked to my doctor. She calmed my fears. There are solutions. So, here we go. Clomid. Enter more fears.

When the doctor prescribed me the Clomid, she said, "If you're not pregnant in three months...." Holy crap. That was, like, fast. I got really excited. And really scared. I had kind of settled back into that "it's not possible to get pregnant mode." No ovulation means no baby. Now its real again. It's like going off the pill again. But this fear is okay. It's apprehension. Excitement. Then fear again.

Clomid can cause multiples. My friend is a NICU nurse and she sees lots of Clomid multiples. Um... multiples? Ack! My brain can't handle it! But, again, after discussion and prayer, we were okay. If God decides to give us multiples, so be it. 

But what if it doesn't work? Then what? Up the Clomid? Explore other drugs? IUI? IVF? How much does this cost? How risky is it? When is it time to just move on? 

Then, after all of these "what-if's" have given me multiple anxiety attacks I feel that calm that only God can provide. Just when I needed it; when God knew I needed it, I came across this verse:

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

And I remember, everything is going to be okay.

The Gamer Lounge is Famous!

Well, going to be.

My husband's business will be opening in the Mid Rivers Best Buy on Sunday for a 6-week trial period. We need your support!! This could be potentially huge for us and the business.

In fact, KMOV Channel 4 is going to do a news story on it's good news section tonight at 10pm. They will be interviewing one of the co-owners and giving a sneak peak at what's to come.

We are REALLY excited and hope that this is a huge success. Tune in!

Operation Get Pregnant

Yes, you read right. Rob and I have officially crossed into the world of trying to conceive. It's a big step for me to post on my blog that Rob and I have decided to try to have a baby. I've been struggling with posting this for a while, but I've decided that this is what my blog is for. The decision to try to have a baby is a very personal one. I had hoped that we would just make this decision, try for a little while having this fun little secret between the two of us and eventually announce here that I was pregnant. But it doesn't seem to be going that way.

We've actually been across the line for a little while now, but it's proving to be a little more difficult than we anticipated. Actually, scratch that. Its been just as difficult as I anticipated (part of the reason we decided to start trying - it could potentially take a while). Without going into gory details that even women don't really like to read about, unfortunately my body does not seem to behave like a "normal" woman's body should. I have never gotten regular periods and, as I've discovered through charting, I have not been ovulating.

There's a big scientific equation behind the cycle a woman's body goes through each month and for some the equation is missing certain variables. My doctor thinks I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). For some women this diagnosis results in the complete inability to ever conceive. For others, it's just a little hurtle. My mother has the same diagnosis and she successfully (though with much trying) conceived my brother and I. It is by no means a death sentence to our chances of conception. But, like I said earlier, it may prove more difficult. Whether it's PCOS or not, I'm not ovulating and that's a problem. This is where the big decisions come into play.

What do we do? Keep trying and hope that I eventually ovulate and we catch that chance? This could happen as little as two to three times a year, if that. This makes our chances pretty slim. So, do we chase these chances? Do we seek medical help? What would the medical help entail? Medication? What risks are involved? So, I enter the world of possible infertility treatments. I made an appointment with my OB/GYN and we discussed my options. There were two. I could continue charting and hope that I eventually ovulate and we actually get pregnant. Or, we could try a medication called Clomid. :::Cue worst-case scenario-induced panic:::

What is Clomid? Clomid is a medication which, in essence, induces ovulation. For many women it works immediately and there is success. For a small percentage of these success stories, it may cause multiples. :::Cue more worst-case scenario-induced panic::: For some it doesn't work. It didn't work for my mom.

After much discussion, Rob and I have decided that we are going to attempt a very low dose of the medication and see if anything happens (we pray that it does!). If not, we'll go from there. Am I okay with this decision? After much thought and prayer and deliberation, yes.

I hope I don't bore you with this stuff. I guess I'm looking to have someplace to lighten my mental load because, while it is important for my husband to know and understand what's going on, no matter how much I talk to him about it I know, as a man, he'll never quite understand. He is trying his best to understand and is doing so well at being supportive. But, I think his brain shuts down at any mention of periods or cervical mucus. Do you blame him? I don't. I wouldn't blame you for wanting to stop reading right now. I'm rambling.

So, here we are. Rob and I want to have a baby. Anovulatory cycles = no baby. And so begins round 1 of Clomid (something I'm still coming to terms with). Wish me luck!

Business

You may remember this post a while back talking about my husband's business. A year later, with a lot of time, effort, and negotiations I'm proud to announce a big event. Beginning February 14th, The Gamer Lounge will be taking up a temporary residence inside the Mid Rivers Best Buy. Think The Geek Squad for video games. They will have a small section of the store set up for all things video game related: game play, tournaments, launch parties, general information. It's going to be really fantastic.

There are a lot of ideas being thrown around right now which include giveaways, coupons, and other customer incentives. They've discussed having a place to donate used games to be donated to places like Cardinal Glennon, The Ronald McDonald House, etc. They will be boasting the latest technology in the gaming world and, for all you gift givers out there, can point you in the right direction if you're not quite sure what to get as a gift.

So, come check them out and give us some support! If all goes well, Best Buy may consider expanding the business into more stores! We are VERY excited and VERY nervous. We need all the support we can get. Or, even if you're curious, just come check us out. You may even see me up there!

Revelation

Recently, I had an epiphany of sorts in terms of how unbelievably fast time goes as you get older. Don't you remember being a kid and thinking that a couple of hours in the afternoon seemed like forever? Not to mention your birthday and the exciting day when you got to say you were (insert number here) and a half. As the new year rolled around, like many others, I found myself reflecting on the past year and all of the events that occurred to safely store away in the vaults of my memory.

Then I realized that Rob and I are well on our way to our 2 year anniversary. What!? When did that happen? I felt like I spent the past 5 years waiting to get married, including a 2 year engagement, and here I am nearly 2 years into my marriage! Wow. It feels like just yesterday that Rob and I started dating and we marveled at the feeling of being one of those couples who hit "the year mark." Now we've been together over 5 years.

Watching James and Isabella makes me so happy and sad at the same time. James has been walking around saying things that he's going to do when he's five and a big boy going to kindergarten. ::Sob:: And Isabella is surprising me every time I see her. She's two now. Check her out at Christmas.

And don't get me started on Oliver and Dudley. My firstborn is going on 4 with Dudley trailing close behind at just over 3. As Rob and I look to the future to start a family, I hope to everyday keep in mind that we never get these times back. I love watching James and Isabella grow up and I can't wait to see what their futures hold, but a small part of me wants them to be little forever. It is so bittersweet.

Christmas Cards

I'm a little late on them, but I got my Christmas cards done and sent out! They turned out great (at least I like them). I love expressing my creativity (what little I have) in photoshop. Fun!

It's officially Christmastime!

Not to skip right over the Turkey - believe me, I respect the Turkey - but I'm just too excited about our Christmas decorations!

Quickly, Thanksgiving was wonderful, as usual. We had dinner with my family on Wednesday and his on Thursday and thoroughly enjoyed both!

Rob had to work Friday so did a little shopping (not until 10 thank you!) and we just spent the evening together. On Saturday, the real fun began. Observe:

The tree in all it's glory. I LOVE our tree. It is beautiful and makes me smile.

"Our First Christmas Together" ornament from last year. :)

This years ornament: "Merry Smoochmas"

My angels. I Love my angels.

Another of my favorites.  A few years ago, Hallmark released ornaments called Illuminations. They light up and transition in color beautifully. I got them 90% off when they discontinued them. Gorgeous.

:) Snowman!

I realize it's really dark, but the outside. We have two wreaths and an angel. This is our first year with lights on the roof and I love them!

Introducing the Man Cave

I tried to get a picture in all it's glowing glory, but the flash kind of ruined it. This is my husband's creation. I'm loving the fact that he isn't spending guys night in my living room anymore... :) Sigh... he is such a nerd. And I love him for it!

Cold

As I've mentioned before, I love my job. But, can I just say that its been a finger-numbing 60 degrees in my classroom since about mid-October? I don't handle the cold well and I'm at the end of my rope. Does anyone have a space heater they would like to donate?

On a lighter note, I'm hosting our first annual cookie-baking extravaganza. This is going to be one of three cookie baking dates I'll have this year. I'm super excited. Us ladies are going to bake cookies and hang out upstairs while the men sit in our newly forming man-cave in the basement. Bring on the sweets!

I have to admit

I've got the baby fever. What can I say? There must be something in the water, because every time I turn around someone else is pregnant. Do you know what the beauty of it is? I get to play "auntie!" There is nothing I love more in the world than being an aunt and with those around me becoming mom's I get to play the aunt role a lot. It's fantastic. I'm sure when Rob and I make the decision to start our own family I will discover how much better motherhood is, but, for now, I'm contented being an aunt. But I can't resist drooling over the baby gear. Check out these adorable nurseries!

Rob and I have talked about it before and while I know our feelings may change, we would want to be surprised about the sex. Which works out because I'm not really a fan of "pink" or "blue."

 I love the bright colors and fresh, clean feel. We'll see how Rob feels about it when we get there... :)

And, just as a last minute clarification, I'm NOT pregnant! Just enjoying the pregnancies of those around me!

Benefits of being a teacher

As I'm discovering (though not claiming I didn't already know), there are quite a few benefits to being a teacher. Observe.

• Long holiday breaks - this is the most obvious, and I must say, the most enjoyable. Who doesn't like a long summer/winter/spring/fall break?
• Job security - Now, I can't say I had the easiest time finding a job, even as a math teacher. However, if there were ever a secure job to have, it's in the field of education. We'll always need teachers!
• When we decide to start a family, it will be much easier to work my schedule around my children. Allowing me to work, while still play the integral part of mom.
• Mastering subject matter - there is something about being very knowledgeable about a certain subject that appeals to me. Especially teaching science. It's like going back to school, except that as the teacher I learn it so much better.
• It is so awesome getting to share something I am passionate about. I love math. And, even teaching science (I teach physics to one class) I get to share that passion with my students. Isn't that what everyone likes to do? Share those things they are passionate about?
• Having a job I love. I love what I do. I love my students. I love my coworkers. It's fantastic getting up every morning and knowing I'm going to a place I love. 

And, when I list them, the benefits WAY outweigh the negatives. I am so thankful for a job I love. What are you thankful for?

Back, again

I seem to find myself in the same place with this blog over and over. I continually look at the link sitting on my bookmarks bar at the top of my web browser and think, "I should blog today." But I don't. I have the ultimate lame excuse every time. I just so busy. But am I? Am I that overwhelmed with my everyday life that I can't take 15 minutes out of my day to reflect on it? I notice the weeks and month sliding by so quickly that it scares me to death on how many memories I may be missing. It's been two months since I blogged last. No, three. Ouch. Where to begin? Teaching? Marriage? Family? My boys? Maybe I can successfully condense it down to a somewhat readable post.

• August began a new school year and can I say, I LOVE my job! Granted, I'm realizing just how little I know about science, but how good is it to be able to say that I love going to work? I am teaching 6th, 7th, and 9th grade science. Although, I've convinced myself that I'm a math teacher as well since I'm in the midst of physics with my 9th graders. I am also the librarian for half of the day. It's fabulous. 
• September was just a fleeting moment. Adjusting to my new position and fighting to keep my head above water was a challenge, but I made it and I'm finally settled into a routine. It also brought some major decisions. Rob and I bought new cars. Yes, carS. Multiple. Two. Was this the worst decision we've ever made? Possibly. We both needed them. I got a beautiful, used, 2009 Chevy Malibu, for one heck of a price, I might add. Rob, on the other hand got this baby:

• A 2010 Chevy Camaro, in cyber grey. Now, before you get in a tizzy about these major purchases, Camaros are not as expensive as some may think. We can certainly handle it, but it's definitely a huge change to our monthly budget. And, Rob will probably sell it in a year or two when we decide to start a family. You see,  Camaros hold their value quite well. Just consider it an investment. And, who knew? Our insurance on these two cars is less than our insurance was on our old ones! 
• October was pure insanity. My sister-in-law celebrated a birthday. I celebrated a birthday (23!). My niece celebrated a birthday (2!). Parent teacher conferences. Halloween parties. Its finally over! Here's Isabella on her birthday:

• She's winking! So stinking cute!
• And, here we are in November. Half way through I might add. It's been very exciting so far. Some friends of ours got married. And I got some very exciting news that I'm not allowed to share yet. (No, I'm not pregnant). And, here I am, finally taking a moment to sit and reflect. What a awesome life I'm living. I'll leave you with one happy couple!

The Quest

To get fit, that is. Recently, I've felt the need to get a reign on my summer's worth of laziness and weight gain. Don't get me wrong, by no means am I fat, but I'm not where I once was. At one point in time (before the wedding...) I used to look in the mirror and think, "Yep. I'm hot." Not so much anymore.

Is cellulite hereditary? If anyone has the answer to this question, please let me know, because I'm about to go boot camp style on my thighs and I don't want it to be all for naught.

Speaking of toning the thighs, the hubs bought a bike. Finally. I pulled out my old bike (okay mom forced me to take it home since it never made it over here after the wedding) and have been riding it around a little bit. Enjoying the breeze in the cool summer air. As well as a little burn - did I say little? I meant fire - in my thigh area. Getting a bike has always been something we've thought about we finally bit the bullet and did it.

Nothing too expensive - no, really - considering the amount of money bikes cost, but a nice road/trail bike he can take on the street as well as the Katy Trail.

Here's to my quest to lost cellulite. Hopefully I'm not banging my head against a wall on this one.

Only because...

... I forced myself to have a night off, am I finally writing in my blog. I don't know where to begin. The past two months have been a whirlwind. Admittedly, I was pretty much lazy through the beginning of July. However, I honestly haven't stopped since mid-way through. But, dear readers, I've got so much to tell you. Another night. I'm wiped. I'm exhausted. I'm a new teacher. 'Nuf said.

I leave you with a picture of my first visit to the ocean (next time I'm going with Rob!!!). Please ignore the pasty white Irish skin. I don't tan, I freckle. I dream of color - and I don't mean the red kind.

Deer in the Headlights

That pretty much describes me right now. Complete and utter shock induced by my recent acquisition of a job. A job! I got a job! I will be working for a private school teaching 6-9 grade science. Yes, science. I realize that I'll be a certified MATH teacher, but the opportunity was too good to pass up.

For the past month or so I've been having some serious doubts about my career as a teacher. What was I thinking? Why on earth would I want to be a teacher. The amount of work involved is not for the faint of heart and after being denied a couple of times, I was beginning to think God had other plans for me. Right-O.

I applied at this school after a friend from church told me they were hiring middle school teachers. The day after I turned in my application they called for an interview. The interview went great, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I'd already been denied jobs which I thought the interview was well for. The same day, they called and offered me the position.

I'm stoked. I'm a freaked. I'm pretty much trying to keep myself from hyperventilating. I'm extremely nervous already. I should probably bring a brown paper bag with me to school the first day. It won't be pretty.

The science thing is okay with me. I know it's not what I originally set out to do, but I'm at peace about the job (well, aside from being so nervous I could puke).

Plus, they are taking me to Florida for a teacher training seminar. I'll get to see the ocean for the first time. But, that's a whole other story.

For those readers who are teachers, I could really use some advice. I don't even know where to begin to set up my classroom and start prepping. I'm anxious to get a hold of the curriculum, but what else is there? I need someone to calm me down.

Yay for a job and yay for Florida!!!

Product RAVE

I don't think I've ever really raved about a product on my blog, which says a lot. If I am so happy with something that I feel the need to share it on my blog, it must be good.

SMALL DISLCAIMER: This post may be a little TMI for some (it's really not that bad). If you don't want to read about bras and boobs, don't continue.


That said, as I pointed out in an earlier post, I've gained a little weight and have decided I need to ramp up my exercise routine. (Can I increase an exercise routine that never existed?) How I was going to exercise was a bit of a problem for me. I thought about getting out my old bike, but it's buried in my parents shed and probably needs a new tube. I thought about walking/running, but was worried about my feet. Well, I got some new shoes for a great price (perks of working at a shoe store) and they've been feeling pretty good. I really wanted to try the couch to 5k program, but ran into one issue. Keeping "the girls" in place. I've done various forms of exercise in the past and anything more "strenuous" than walking was a problem because I could never find a bra that really held them in place. I mean, they can cause some pain if you don't have proper support! So, now that I had some good shoes, I decided I needed to find a good bra.

SUCCESS!!! I searched the internet and came across a message board that was talking about big-breasted women who run and the bras they wear. Over and over, I saw this bra.

 Um, WOW. I was pretty skeptical to start out. They didn't really carry my true size, but I went ahead and ordered something pretty darn close and anxiously awaited my package in the mail. I pulled it out, still skeptical and from the looks of it thought, "Yeah, this can't possibly do anything. There's nothing to it!" I put it on and I swear the heavens opened and the angels sang. This bra is fantastic. Not only did I RUN around the house and bask in the glory that my boobs weren't hitting me in the face, but I could do jumping jacks in this baby and they hardly moved an inch! I'm sold.

Top that with at super soft, non-chafing, moisture-wicking material and I've got it made.

I guess I can't use "them" as an excuse for exercise anymore.

Book Review: The Lost City of Faar

The Lost City of Faar by D.J. MacHale

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
Bobby Pendragon travels to his second territory in search of the evil Saint Dane to try and uncover a plot to destroy Coral. Bobby has grown up quite a bit in this book which automatically makes it much better than the first. There is a lot of imagination in MacHale's writing and a I appreciate his descriptions and inventive settings.



One pet peeve I have about this series so far is what seems to be continuous plugs for random name brand products. Several times he refers to a product followed by said product's slogan. A bit annoying in my opinion.



I'm a little worried as I continue the story that it is going to be much the same for me as "A Series of Unfortunate Events" was in the repetitive nature of the plots from book to book. I truly hope MacHale can keep me interested. I have heard a lot of good things about these books. Maybe my expectations are just too high.


View all my reviews.

4 and 9

Only four more days until I can officially feel my liberation from Lindenwood.

• Complete coursework: Check
• Pay all balances: Check (Can I hear an amen for no student loans?)
• Attend graduation: Check (yes, I did walk for those who are wondering)
• Receive diploma: To be mailed June 22

I am so unbelievably happy right now, you can't imagine. I've fought my last battle over my account balance and I'm free!

Let me enjoy this for a moment.

Okay, moving on... 

... The newlywed 9... ahem, 10? Hmmm... I've decided it's time to start some sort of exercise routine. Fortunately, I haven't really had to focus too much on my weight since the wedding. I didn't diet for the wedding. Now, I'm finding the scale creeping upward. It's the scale, right? That's what I was telling myself, when much to my dismay, after a little trip to the doctor, I've seemed to have gained approximately 10 pounds. I don't like it. I don't like it at all. 

I blame it on my job. (I have to blame it on something, right?) I've always worked jobs which require a bit more physical activity than most. I worked for close to 5 years shelving books at a library (quite the romantic spot, if you ask me) which required a lot of repetitive lifting and squatting. Lifting and squatting. Now, say it with me, lifting and squatting. Oh, and walking. And lifting and squatting.

Proceed to teaching. Anyone who is a teacher knows how much time is spent on your feet. And, as a middle school teacher I was always trying to keep the energy alive in my classroom by moving around, "dancing," and doing other random activities that outright make me look like a complete idiot. Nuff said. Oh, and the lack of real lunches probably helped. I was usually able to sneak in a fruit and jello cup (one of my favorite snacks) and some yogurt. Quite the diet.  And dinner? Dinner and student teaching don't mix.

Fast forward to the present. I found a summer job working retail. The hours suck, that's a given. And, I'm sure to bring a book with me every day. Isn't it exciting? This sedentary job has taken me off guard and my traditional eating habits just will not do anymore. 

I'm now beginning an adventure in meal-planning and an exercise  regimen. Meal planning so far has been pretty fun. Exercise? Not so much. I've thought about taking up running. Doing the couch to 5k seems fascinating. I may try it, though I fear I will regret it with my plantar fasciitis. Bring on the pain. If that doesn't work, I may pull out my old bike. It's not too rusty. Do you think it's still cute? It's purple. I got it around the time I was 10. If those don't work out, I'm not sure what I'll do. Any suggestions? I'm probably going to pull out the Wii Fit. Just for some more "relaxing" work. I don't imagine that will fix my 10 pounds though. 

Okay, I'm done with my weighty woes. Tell me I'm not the only one though. How did you keep your weight in check? And hurry, I had to pull out my swimsuit yesterday... my legs don't quite look as nice as they did last time that thing saw the light of day... Here's to losing 10 pounds.

Girls Week

I had a bit of an abbreviated girls week, but it was a blast. We went to the zoo and shopping and it was a great time! Since I haven't posted pictures of James in a while, here he is at almost 4. I can't believe it! I sneaked a of picture of mom in there too... :) I was playing a little bit with making his eyes pop. What do you think?

Happy Monday!!!

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

I had to make a couple of changes to the html of my blog layout to accommodate the larger image sizes from flickr . Can everyone see it or is it too wide? Thanks!

The Hubs

The Hubs, originally uploaded by sjluto.

Love this picture of Rob, just thought I'd share!

The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
I liked the story, I liked the characters. The book is a bit juvenile, as it should be when written from the perspective of a 14 year old boy. There were a few times when I got a little annoyed by it, but I kept going mainly because I liked the plot and knew that as the series continued he would get older and the juvenile feel would eventually go away. (hopefully) We'll see how the rest goes.


View all my reviews.

Let Summer Begin!

While I've technically not done anything regarding school in the past 3 weeks, Saturday will mark the beginning of summer - the end of school. I graduate from college Saturday! Wait, it's been 4 years already? You mean I've been with my husband for 5 years (almost) already? Huh, let me let that sink in for a few minutes...

Okay, I'm done. I'm going to have quite the weekend! I have a (hopefully final) job interview tomorrow at 10am that I've been mentally prepping myself for all week. I'm really hoping I get this job! I don't know if my nerves can handle much more of this interview stuff. It really just throws me all off...

Then, I'll be cleaning all day on Friday to prepare for my graduation party on Saturday. God, please keep the rain away. I don't think I can fit all these people in my house. Amen.

Which, brings me to graduation. Did you walk in your college graduation ceremony? I'm debating this. If I walk it's really going to cut me close on time to get ready for my party. Like, really close. As in, I may be late to my own party.... I know its a great accomplishment and all, but I really have no attachments to Lindenwood. No one I really need to say "goodbye" to. Part of me wants to walk, but then I think it's probably going to be a long boring ceremony that I'm going to wish I had skipped. It's not like I actually get my diploma that day. What did you do?

Meanwhile, while I go contemplate the decisions I need to make, I'll leave you to contemplate my newest favorite photo:

What do you think? Pretty? Creepy? Let me know!

Book Review - The Graveyard Book

I'm kind of bummed to make this my first book review, since I didn't even finish the book, but here it is:

Neil Gaiman's (an author recently brought to the spotlight for his book Coraline, now a movie) The Graveyard Book is the most recent winner of the Newberry Medal, an award for outstanding children's literature. I love children's books, but must say I was pretty disappointed with this. To be honest, the story was fine. It was imaginative, interesting, curious, and often left me wondering what the heck was going on. If done properly, a book which creates these emotions can hook a reader and suck them in for an inevitably good read. However, I did not feel that way. In fact, I couldn't bring myself to finish it.

This is the second time I've tried reading this book, and the second time I've failed to complete it. To be honest, I blame it entirely on the improbability of certain events and facts in the plot. Now, before you get started on the "it's a fantasy, it's supposed to be improbable" standpoint, let me explain. At the beginning of the book, the child is an infant and somehow devises a plan to escape his crib with the thoughts of an average 10 year old. Okay, maybe he's smart for his age. This occurs over and over. In many situations he has the mindset of someone much older than him but there is no reason nor rhyme to this. The author didn't explain that the child was unusual in any way aside from growing up in a graveyard. In fact, I feel the author meant for him to be a "normal" boy. But when I am consistently reminding myself that this boy is only 6 or 7, not 15, I just got annoyed. There was just too much that didn't make sense to me.

Maybe it was the writing style? Maybe it was just me? Either way, I'm telling you why it didn't work for me. I give this a 2 out of 5, mainly because the idea and story was there, but the characters were its ultimate downfall. Obviously, someone liked it (my husband included) to award it a Newberry Medal. But I'll leave that decision to you!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Mother's Day Miscellany

Happy Mother's Day!!! I think this day is an excellent reminder to honor those women who are near and dear to us without whom we wouldn't be here! I love you, Mom!!

I graduate on Saturday! Finally! I am so happy to be done with school and kiss that place goodbye! No more dealing with the annoyances of Lindenwood! That's another story entirely. I'm a little nervous though because I'm having my first real party at the house on Saturday. I'm excited for everyone to finally get to see our house, but I really hope it doesn't rain! I don't think my house is big enough for everyone to be inside! Pray for a beautiful day!

I mentioned my graduation present in my last post. For those who may be wondering, my awesome husband got me a Canon Rebel XSI DSLR camera. I am stoked! They had a deal at Best Buy where we got the camera, an extra lense, and a camera bag for an awesome price. I've been spending much of my free time reading up on it and playing. Be sure to check out my Flickr photostream (link up top) for updates!

Rob figured it could be a good investment as I'd like to hone in on my photography skills and he wants to build me a website to add to his portfolio. I'm thinking about trying to start up a small side business taking pictures of children and families. I don't know if I have the talent for this, but I'm certainly willing to learn if it means I can do something I love. We'll see! I can't wait to set up a session with my nephew and maybe my neice!

Speaking of my photostream, what do you think? I went to Main Street in St. Charles and was just snapping pictures of things I liked. Some turned out, some didn't, but I think that's the way it works, right? I only got a few up, I have a LOT more I plan to post when I get a chance.

Summer's almost here! They are cleaning out the subdivision pool and the weather is steadily getting warmer! I LOVE summer. Warm weather, ice cream, sitting outside in the sun. It's my favorite. I just wish I didn't burn so easily... I feel like I should take out stock in sunscreen.

Does anyone have summer plans? I'm hoping to get a job and start planning for my classroom!

Now, watch, knowing St. Louis, it'll be 50 degrees tomorrow..

My New Photostream

I've been doing some work with my photography hobby lately and decided to start a Flickr profile to share them. Check them out and tell me what you think! There isn't much there right now, but I hope to be adding a lot more in the future! The link is also at the top of my blog. Good night!

WOW Sandwich

World of Warcraft, that is. I'm sitting on the couch next to my hubby and my neighbor, both of which are deeply engrossed in this game that is slowly abducting husbands across the world. Ladies, watch your men. Once they start, there's not turning back!

It all started during student teaching when I was spending HOURS after school working on things for my classes. Poor Rob needed something to fill his time so he decided to start "WOWing" again. The problem is, I'm not spending hours after school on work anymore and he's still playing his fun little game... hmm...

I suppose it gives me guilt-free time to read a book!

Which, by the way, I think I'll start posting reviews on my blog.... we'll see how it goes.

Sincerely,

A Good Read

Recently, I discovered an awesome website called Goodreads. Thank you internet gods! My favorite hobby (who has time for those?) is reading, it always has been. I go through spurts where I read constantly (now) and some times where its maybe not so much. Often the lack of activity in the world of my favorite hobby is due to the lack of time, entrancing material, or ability to move on after the end of a good relationship (with a book, that is). When I have time, and a good book, you'll likely find me reading. There are moments, though when I must mourn the publication of the final book in a great series and will abstain from diving into a new world for a little while - Harry Potter and Twilight were my most painful moments.

It's quite amazing, really, that one can become so attached to characters whose lives only exist on the pages of a book, created in the mind of some genius author who means to torment me by sucking me into his/her invention only to cut my relationship off and leave me wondering what happened for the rest of their lives. Phew, that was a long sentence...

My relationships with books are love/hate. I love meeting new "people" learning about them, and feeling the emotions that emanate from the pages as if I was right there with them. If you know me, you know I don't cry at just anything, and usually only when I'm mad or frustrated. I have a respect for a book that can make me laugh, or cry, and invoke a plethora of other feelings that I didn't know I was capable of feeling. I often stop to wonder how a word can carry so much feeling and meaning opening little places in my heart and mind I didn't know existed.

But, I digress... back to my newfound website. This place is great! I have found so many good books to read from here and I love my ability to read reviews and see what other people are reading. I am also able to write reviews for books I have read and keep tabs on my list of books I want to read.

I just finished the Mortal Instruments series and it was amazing! If you liked Twilight, I'd give this series a whirl. I'm willing to bet you'd like it too.

I'm debating beginning putting book reviews on my blog... what do you think? I don't consider myself an exceptional writer (especially of reviews) but, I know I always like to see what other people think before I dive into something. Let me know!

Done!

I finished my portfolio for school today! I've been working non-stop on this thing for the past two weeks and I'm glad to say it's finally finished!

Also, I've had my second job interview with a school district and will have my third on Tuesday. Then, onto a building interview, hopefully! I've got the inside scoop on a couple of positions and I hope something works out.

As for tonight, I've spent entirely too much time in front of my computer and I fear my eyes might just fall out of my head. I think I've got blisters on my fingertips. I'm done for tonight. Cheers!

Back to Work!

What a break! One of the best parts about being a teacher is, of course, the breaks! Much needed breaks! I have been SO stressed out and I needed this for my health and sanity. Unfortunately, my break was almost as busy as my time working, but it didn't consist of lesson planning, so I'll be okay. No, really, don't worry, I'm quite alright. I had a minor break down last night at the prospect of going back, but all is okay now.

Most importantly, however, my best friend, Valerie, got married! She was so beautiful and had a beautiful wedding. I'm so happy for them. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves... (I never said they were good pictures...)

Sweet flower girls!

So happy!

Gorgeous!

Pastor Nathan did a great job. The bridesmaids are her sisters (one has a baby on the way!)

Saying the vows

Toasts!

First dance. Love the dress!

Just got back...

...from an interview for a summer job. Wish me luck! I should find out in a couple of days.

Prayers Please.

I just found out today that my grandmother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. This is her second battle after defeating the disease 15 years ago. Breast cancer likes to rear its ugly head in my family and we're not going to step aside this time!

Psalm 103

A Psalm of David.

 ¹ Bless the LORD, O my soul;
         And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
 ² Bless the LORD, O my soul,
         And forget not all His benefits:
 ³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
         Who heals all your diseases,
 ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
         Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Just wanted to share a bit of truth

Check out Lindsey's blog for a bit logic.

Pardon My Dust

I'm trying to revamp my blog and it has taken a lot longer than I expected. I'm tired, and I'm going to bed. Enough said.

Tuesday Musings

1. I haven't blogged in exactly 91 days.
2. Student teaching sucks the life out of you.
3. It was a blast.
4. I'm going to miss my kids.
5. I'm not going to miss not having free time.
6. Rob is the best husband ever.
7. He does the dishes and cleans the bathrooms.
8. What more could I ask for?
9. I'm on spring break and it's amazing.
10. I really want to start blogging regularly again.
11. I need motivation.
12. Is anybody still out there?
13. I've been feeling a little down this week.
14. I'm not sure why.
15. I love my family.
16. I love God, though I don't always understand His ways.
17. They are still perfect.
18. I'm not.
19. I need to find a summer job.
20. I don't want to work this summer.
21. Growing up sucks.
22. I'm loving every minute of it.