Wants

You know that old lesson about needs vs. wants? I am very good at the
wants, just in case you were wondering.

And I have discovered a new want.

Do I need these?

Nope.

But would I like some them?

Yes.

Oh, and PS- I am a big Disney fan.

A Question and Who did you see the most today?

Before I answer my 5 year journal question, I have a quick question for you:

What songs to you consider KEY to a good road trip playlist?

Fiance and I are heading to MI in a week to visit some of my friends from college.  We are doing the crazy thing and driving from NC to northern MI, and so we need some good music!  Suggestions?

And now, for my 5 year journal question:
Who did you see the most today?

Sadly, my cat Belle.

I am at home today, waiting for the install guy from Lowe's to show up.  Roomie bought a storm door and it is getting installed.  Since I'm on summer break, I get to wait.  I don't mind, just waiting.  And keeping busy.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Monday Made It!

As I attempt to be a more regular blogger, as well as a more brave blogger who connects with other bloggers... I am going to link up with another linky party.

This time it is 4th Grade Frolics's Made It Monday linky party!

On my first official week of summer (I'm transitioning from a year around school to a traditional school) I "made" a couple of things.  I said "made" because, well, they didn't take too much time or effort, but they are all very exciting to me -- because after two long years of a no-crafting-because-I-was-too-busy-with-grad-school-and-other-things I felt like I was dipping my toes back into the world of crafting.

Oh, it felt so good! :)

I started VERY simple... inspired by this pin on Pinterest:

Right now, I have a couple of house keys on my key chain -- one for where I live, one for where I will live once I get married, one for work, and one for my parents house.  And of course the three house keys are all the same size, two are the same color, and it just gets confusing when I'm trying to unlock one of the houses at night.

Enter the brilliant idea! Use nail polish to distinguish...

I don't really paint my nails and had to buy nail polish -- and of course I am cheap and went to the Dollar Store.  Needless to say, my color choices were limited.  The dark blue looks the best, the light blue the worst.  BUT, still helps when fumbling to figure out what key to use! :)

The next inspiration... Objective "Boards" inspired by these two pins:

  

To whoever originally did these -- the pins don't go back to you, so if you want credit, let me know.

Anyway, Here is my version:

Sorry it is upside down -- I can't figure out how to turn it right side up. AND, yes -- I turned it in Microsoft Picture, but once I upload it... it flips it back upside down.  Bummer!

Anyway, my "Objectives" frame broke.  Yep... but that is ok.  Back to the Dollar Store I go!  And I may pick up more of the black frames for other ideas inspired by pinterest.

I'm a little worried about if they will show up well, but I really like the background paper I used.  It will go with my safari theme.  Remind me to tell you someday why I chose that theme for my room. :)

Anyway, I have other projects in progress and hope to have something to show you NEXT Monday.

Whew -- 11:58pm... barely making Monday, but doing it!

Who did you text today?

I like to think that I like to process things through writing -- but that just isn't true.  I have never been good at doing any sort of daily journaling... including this blog thing.

BUT, I do think.

A LOT.

And I like the idea of being able to come back to something and see what I was thinking a year ago, two years ago, etc.  I came across the idea of a 5 year journal on this website.

For me, I am going to adapt it.

I will try to answer the question, daily. here on my blog.

Yea, we'll see -- but we'll also try!  It gives me a place to start, and it can be quick.

So... today's questions, drumroll, please...

6. Who did you text today? 

I texted my fiance, Tim. :)  We officially hit 99 days until our wedding -- WE ARE IN THE DOUBLE DIGITS, BABY!!!  WAHOO!!!

I have been working on some teacher stuff and will share soon!  Hope everyone is having a great day!

Currently: July

Well, this is my first time linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade's Currently linky party... kind of scared to actually do it.

BUT...

I am trying to get back into blogging -- both in the personal journal-keeping way and in the new-to-me teaching way.  I am so excited to be a teacher -- it has been a journey, but I'll my very own classroom starting in August.  Oh... I can't wait... but I am also scared.

Oh well... here it goes.  My currently...

I'll try to post again later -- but we'll see! Until then -- happy summer! :)

Hello?

Hello?

Is anyone out there?

Yea, if not -- it is totally my fault.  I haven't exactly updated this thing in about one million years.  But can I use being in grad school as an excuse? plus working? plus attempting to remain friends with people I care about? oh yea, and maintaining a relationship with one amazing guy (my soon-to-be husband -- more on that with another post)? All good - no great! - things... but needless to say, journaling my thoughts for the interwebs took the back seat.

ooops.

Well, I would like to try to be back.  We'll see as I have a lot on the horizon.

starting a new, full time job as a 5th grade teacher.  getting married in October.  while trying to be the best me.

Yea.  I always bite off more than I can chew.  Story of my life.  Don't think I'll stop anytime soon.

Anyway, for a while I felt this pressure to come back with some deep, profound post.  Then I decided that would never happen. So instead, why not post things that strike my fancy!

Like sharing this article with you!  I recently found this blog (don't remember where now...), and I have appreciated her thoughts on life, love, marriage, etc.  Today's post resonated with me.  Not because I am in hurry to have kids (yes, I want them, and so does Tim), but more because I can see myself needing her reminders.

Kids are meant to be a joy -- yes they are work (hence, why I am not in a hurry -- I am still enjoying the being selfish part of non-kid-dom).  But more than that, they can be a joy.  If you try not to be super-mom or super-parent.  We don't have to sign them up for a thousand activities.  We don't have to do the cutest activities.  But we do have to love them, while take care of ourselves and our marriage.  We do have to discipline them so they can become productive citizens.  By giving them everything they want, we certainly aren't doing them any favors for 20 years down the road.  Wouldn't we all say life can be hard sometimes? and that we don't always get our way?  Then why do we think we need to make life easy and without hurt for our children?

anyway, I know all of this is easier said than done for me -- especially since I have no kids.  BUT, I do plan on having them someday.  SO, I want to file this article away for that day when I have tried to be super-mom and need the reminder to just be mom.

AND, PS -- I have friends with babies/toddlers -- and they make it look realistic while enjoyable.  I am blessed!

All About Me: A to Z

Why not do a get to know me post, as I haven't been around in forever... I am sure the interwebs have all but forgotten who I am!


A. Age: 28


B. Bed size: Queen.  I love it now - but the question is, will it be big enough when Tim and I get married?

C. Chore that you hate: Can I answer "all of them?"  but if I must choose... dusting.  I hate it!

D. Dogs: I love dogs.  Don't have one, but will someday!

E. Essential start to your day: waking up on the right side of the bed.  Don't ask me which one that is (because really, it is just waking up in a good mood!).


F. Favourite color: blue, although not periwinkle.

G. Gold or Silver: silver, all the way.

H. Height: 5'10".

I. Instruments you play: None.  I love music and will probably make my children learn some instrument at some point since I always regretted not knowing how. 

J. Job title: 5th grade teacher!

K. Kids: not yet, but someday

L. Live: good old North Carolina.

M. Mother's name: Debbie.

N. Nicknames: ummm... I don't really have any.

O. Overnight hospital stays: None; hoping to keep it that way for a while!

P. Pet peeve: excuses.

Q. Quote from a movie:  "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."  - Dumbledore

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: one brother... he is younger

T. Time you wake up: way too early -- normally 5:45am

U. Underwear: always... why do you want to know?

V. Vegetable you hate: Broccoli.  still can't stand it.

W. What makes you run late: leaving late.

X. X-Rays you've had: teeth at the dentist? back growing up -- have scoliosis.

Y. Yummy food that you make: enchiladas?  Or my puppy chow -- people LOVE when I make the stuff.

Z. Zoo animal: chimps, gorillas, or any of the primates.  I could watch them for hours.

Up too late

Why I Love Christmas

I am writing this post in March -- and having it post in December.  I am pretty sure this one is going to surprise me when it pops up on the blog.  But, why not write about it when the inspiration hits?

I can't take credit for this idea though -- again, it comes from this blog.

1. I believe in Christ.  A day to celebrate His birth, and ultimately celebrating why He came to this Earth.  Humbles me every time to know He died for me.
2. The anticipation.  Call me crazy, but I think the best part of Christmas is actually when you crawl into bed on Dec 24th and think to yourself "tomorrow is Christmas."
3. Relaxation.  My family does very little on Christmas.  It involved a lot of sleeping, playing with the new toys and watching TV.  Oh, and eating.  Now that I am older, I at least help my mom with that portion of it.
4. Christmas Music.  See this post from last year.
5. Time off.  It is the perfect excuse to take some time off, rejuvenate and NOT think about work.  I think every job should allow you paid time off at Christmas. 

Why do you enjoy Christmas?

I choose joy

I consider myself to be a realist.

At times the glass is half full.  Other times it is half empty.  And most of the time?

It just is.  The glass has water in it.

That being said, my roommate and I often talk what it looks like to live with joy, with hope.  It can be a struggle for both of us.

I know that I live with hope.  I know Christ.  He is my Savior and someday I will get to see Him face to face, in a place that is without the sin that has so corrupted this world.  And when I live in light of that?  Hope is easy.  Joy is easy.

But most days I forget about that truth.

I instead let life get in the way.  How will bills get paid while I am in school? Will I ever learn to trust Christ with everything? Will I ever know what it is like to have a boyfriend? be married? have children?  How will I get all my school work be done?  Will the people in my life who don't know Christ come to know Him as their Savior?  What do people think of me?  Am I too fat? too dorky? too tall? too quirky?

I get lost.

And then I talk to roomie and we discuss how we should choose joy. choose hope.  choose trust.

And I have learned over the last few months of attempting to choose joy, hope, trust, that it is a moment by moment decision; a hour by hour decision; a day by day decision.

I have been reading Sarah Markley's blog off and on for a while know.  Yesterday I saw this post and decided I want to join her in a quest to choose joy.

While I don't know if I will find 100 joys in December... or if I will be able to remember to photograph those things... of if I'll even remember to blog about it... I am going to choose joy.

Today I choose joy.

I am joyful because I had a super, duper productive night last night.  I mean, the type of productiveness that meant I crossed off 5 plus things off of my must-do-this-before-the-end-semester-which-ends-on-Dec-8th list.  And it felt good.

I am joyful because I have an awesome roomie who listens, keeps me accountable and is willing to live an authentic life with me.

I am joyful because I have a great group of friends who check in on me.

I am joyful because after last night's awesome convo with the roomie, I felt the Lord lift my anxieties off of my shoulders.

How are you choosing joy today? 

The 3's

Forgive my very long blogging break.  If you follow my blog, you know it happens.  Life has certainly gotten in the way... starting grad school, staying social, working part time, keeping up relationships... well, they all take time.

That being said... I am going to get back into blogging very, very slowly.  Here is a meme that I got tagged in...

The 3's:

Three names I go by:
1. Jaye
2. Jaye P.
3. Jaye Patricia (but that is reserved for the grandparents)

Three jobs I have had in my life:
1. Chick-fil-a... I worked in the back
2. far too many temp jobs; the best when I was a secret shopper and I ordered drinks to see if the wait staff would card me.  And no, I didn't get to actually drink the drink!
3. Girl Scouts, Membership Director and now a 100th Anniversary Project Coordinator

Three places I have lived:
1. Virginia Beach, VA
2. Ann Arbor, MI
3. Raleigh, NC

Three Favorite drinks:
1. Coca-Cola
2. Water
3. Barq's Root Beer

Three TV shows that I watch:
1. Glee
2. Teen Mom
3. Criminal Minds

 Three Places I have been:
 1. Budapest, Hungary
 2. Germany
 3. Istanbul, Turkey

Three of my favorite foods:
1. Pizza - Mellow Mushroom for special occasions and Papa John's if I am ordering in...
2. Chinese - cheap Chinese may be the best...
3. Quesadillas


Three things I am looking forward to:
1. being done with this semester
2. seeing people after Thanksgiving
3.  Christmas music :-)

Three people I think will respond:
1. you're assuming I'll tag anyone... HA!


Three pets I have/had:
1. Rosie, the best Rottweiler there ever was.
2. Lana, my first crazy Siamese
3. Belle, my current crazy Siamese

Three places I want to visit before I die:
1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. England/Ireland

Good Things: June 2010

Here goes all the awesome of June:

1- felt rested when I woke up
2- dinner at Becky's
3- my last ever Thursday night meeting for work!
4- Invictus -- pretty good movie
5- Kilwin's ice cream.  Do I need to say more?
6- lots going through my head
7- CPK w/ Laura -- I really enjoy that girl
8- bible study ended early, GLEE finale
9-  Beauty and the Beast at the DPAC
10- home to clean and organizer, that always makes me feel good
11- Virginia -- man, do I love the smell of salt air
12- mom's picnic for work
13- lazy day, nice dinner with the rents for mom's birthday
14- unpacked, the Pocketbook App
15- I love Girl Scouts -- they are some smart girls!
16- Day Camp
17- Tiffany was in town!  yea for seeing a friend for the first time in forever
18- got a night at home... lots done... and I slept on the couch!  I love sleeping on the couch
19- the Back to School Carnival went off without much of a hitch
20- baby sitting is good money
21- cleaned out my car -- boy did it need it!
22- BJ's for grocery shopping -- got lots for my money!
23- PURGED! 
24- scrapbooked :-)
25- Criminal Minds is my new show; it is disturbing but fascinating
26- Little Point Sable!!! :-), oh and maple sugar candy
27- Ece and Mete, they are a pretty cute cousins
28- Met baby Gabe!
29- Dune Buggy Ride at Silver Lake, MI
30- got good time with the mom in the car

With all that I have done this past month... maybe that means I should update this blog.  Not sure why I am not.  I have been isolating myself a lot lately and I am not sure why.  Trying to think through that...

Life is good, though!  I start school in about six weeks and I get more excited each day.  As well, more nervous...  Hope you all are staying cool.  It is HOT here.

Glee: Funk

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode 21: Funk

Jesse heads back to Vocal Adrenaline.  Their sneak performance leaves the New Directions crew in a funk.  How does Rachel deal with Jesse's betrayal.  Can Quinn express her feelings about Puck and the baby?  And do Sue and Will have feelings for each other?

Things I Loved:

•  the pearl necklace Sue wears on her "date" with Will... with her tracksuit.  Sometimes I love how well they have designed the caricatures in this show.
• the cheerleaders loosing it when Sue looses it.  What will they do with out the National Championships?
• Kurt at the National Championships.  Chris Colfer is one of my favorites.
• Finny D and Pucky Puck.  Good Vibrations.  Took me straight back to the 90s.  And I found myself wanting to get up and dance.
• All the guys sticking up for Rachel.  They are a team! :-)  Oh, and Kurt sitting down as soon as Will tells them to.

Things I'm Not a Fan of:

•  Will going to Sandy for drugs to get out of his funk.  Seems out of character to me.  
• Terri crushing on Finn.  Already done... multiple times (Dawson's Creek, The OC).
• Rachel getting egged -- I could have cried!  Mean Jesse.  Bad Jesse.  Never come back!

Favorite Lines:

•  Kurt: Rachel's one of us. We're the only ones who get to humiliate her!
• Kurt: I'm so depressed, I've worn the same outfit twice this week.
• Will: Today, I want to talk to you about regrets. Who has some?
  Rachel: Giving my heart to Jessie, just to have it crushed like the stage floor at a performance of Stomp.
  Quinn: Thinking "Trust me" was a sensible birth control option.

Ok, who is ready?  The Journey to Regionals CD was released today.  Safe to say I'll be listening to it all day at work.  The Season Finale is tonight... 9pm.  I am so excited -- but also really sad.  No new Glee until the Fall.  What will I do?  What do you think happens?  Will New Directions or Vocal Adrenaline win Regionals?

 

Glee: Theatricality

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode 20: Theatricality

Rachel meets her mom.  Burt sticks up for Kurt.  Everyone learns that deep down inside, they are all freaks... and a team.

Things I Loved:

• The Finn/Kurt/Burt scene.  Talk about intense -- but good.  Burt sticking up for his son, talking about the weight words can carry.  All great.
• "Beth"  The "Kiss-mates" did a great job -- and it made me totally fall for Puck, again.  One of the producers said in an interview it would... why do girls love to see bad boys be good?
• Rachel and her mom: the same love for Gold Stars, too cute.  And their rendition of Poker Face?  Made me actually like the song!
• Matt finally spoke!  Yea!

Things I am Not a Fan of:

• The boys dressed up as Kiss.  No one should ever wear spandex, especially boys.
• Finn in the giant, red, Lady Ga-Ga outfit.

Favorite Quotes:

• Tina: My mom won’t even let me watch Twilight. She says she thinks Kristen Stewart seems like a bitch.
• Artie: (about Tina's new look) It's so weird.
  Finn: This so isn't you.
  Tina: I feel like an Asian Branch Davidian.
  Will: Tina, are there any other looks you can try?
  Santana: Biker chick?
  Finn: Cowgirl?
  Mercedes: Hood rat.
  Quinn: Computer programmer.
  Brittany: Cross-county skier.
  Puck: Catholic schoolgirl.
  Brittany: Happy meals, no onions. Or a chicken.

Glee: Dream On

photo from gleeimages.com

Episode: 19: Dream On

We all have dreams.  Some attainable, some not so much.  If all of our dreams from High School don't come true, do we turn into bitter, star-sucking, black hole-creating adults, or do we just shift to more realistic dreams?

This weeks episode explored dreams lost, dreams attainable and dreams unattainable.  Does everyone's dream come true?

Things I Loved:

• First and foremost: Artie's Safety Dance.  OMG, was it beyond awesome.  I immediately rewound the DVR (can you rewind a DVR???) and watched it again.  That's right, didn't even finish watching the show to watch it.  That is how killer the dance was.  Kevin McHale is an awesome dancer -- too bad he is in that wheelchair! 
• Emma being an actual guidance counselor to Artie.  She properly guided him to realize that he may not walk again.  Heartbreaking to watch, but I like how Glee doesn't try to sugarcoat EVERYTHING (although most is sugar coated)
• Neil Patrick Harris.  He was awesome and made me laugh out numerous time.  The best?  Those jean jackets!
• The flashback of Will in High School -- more of those awesome 90's styles please!

Things I am Not a Fan of:

• The cheese level, especially coming out of Will's mouth?  NPH is creating black holes by cutting the Glee Club.  At some point we just have to say enough!
• Emma being an actual guidance counselor to Artie.  Yes I loved it... but I also hated it.  I just felt so bad for Artie.
• I felt like their were two endings -- The "I Dreamed a Dream" sequence and the "Dream a Little Dream" -- I know it was because there were two storylines to close out/preview to... but I just felt like it was too much.

Things I am Not Sure About:

• Jesse -- So we see why he really change schools.  Makes me not like him -- yes, it gives Shelby depth, but we see that Jesse might not really care for Rachel.  And I don't want him to hurt Rachel.  I guess I really want to like Jesse and I can't decide if I can or not.

Favorite Quotes:

• Rachel: (About a cassette with her mother on it) What if she's singing on the tape? What if she's terrible? Or worse - what if she's better than me? 
• Bryan: (to Will) I was introduced to Jesus. He was my Honduran social worker. I straightened up, put down the pipe, met the love of my life, Wilma, and now I run a successful used Hummer dealership. Don't make that face. Global warming's a theory
• Will: You take away glee, you’re not just putting out those kids’ lights. You’re creating 13 black holes.