No, I'm not Oprah. And I don't have one of those fancy blogs that has sponsors who do give-aways. So, don't get your hopes up. There will be no things given away for free here. Sorry.
But I was inspired by a friend and parent of a former student of mine to come up with a list of 50 of my favorite things. It can include anything from the simple everyday things to the more rare or extravagant things. I think the purpose of this is to help give yourself a reminder of all of the good things you have in life that bring you joy. You should also have a goal to do at least one of those things each day (the more, the better).
So, here we go. In no particular order:
1) playing with my kids
2) reading
3) baking
4) watching movies at home
5) laughing (probably my #1 fav. and it goes hand-in-hand with many of the things on this list)
6) going to church
7) watching tv
8) visiting my family
9) playing board games (something I don't get to do very often anymore, but have loved since I was a kid)
10) staying in a hotel (I get relaxed just thinking about it)
11) date night
12) a good cry (you know, via a book or movie...or song or commercial...)
13) going on vacation
14) family pictures
15) hanging out with friends
16) singing
17) dancing
18) listening to music
19) doing anything or nothing in particular with Kevin
20) catching up with old friends (via facebook or get togethers)
21) blogging
22) doing small acts of kindness (just a little something to brighten someone's day)
23) brainstorming (I'm much better at coming up with ideas than I am acting on any of them)
24) word play
25) doing crafts with my kids
26) being pregnant (I never felt healthier than when I was pregnant)
27) short hot baths (so hot they hurt at first)
28) looking at old pictures
29) writing
30) listening (Ever since middle school, I've kind of been the one that people have come to with their problems or stories. I've always liked listening. I've felt honored to be the one they come to. I don't pass judgement, and I don't offer suggestions/solutions unless I'm asked. I think sometimes people just need to vent or get things off their chests and that sometimes that in-and-of-itself is more help than anything I could say anyway.)
31) taking a nap
32) passing on traditions/childhood favorites to my kids
33) holidays
34) pedicures (I've only had two in my whole life, but they were both wonderful.)
35) getting complimented
36) road trips
37) coloring (yes, in coloring books)
38) finding new clothes or shoes that actually fit
39) giving gifts
40) praying
41) sitting in silence
42) taking care of others (Even in high school, I was known as motherly.)
43) happy hour/girl's night
44) weekends away (whether with Kevin or with the girls)
45) watching movies at the theater
46) eating cereal at night
47) watching my kids sleep
48) cooking with Kevin for our friends and family
49) sleeping in a freshly made bed
50) watching football (I've watched the Cowboys since middle school. In high school, I was one of the few in the band that actually watched the games. I loved watching my little brother play when I could. As time consuming as it was, I was stoked to be able to start Mason down the football path this year as well.)
So, that's that. It took me much longer than I thought it would to make that list. I'm sure there are things that I left off. I'm sure that this list will change as time goes by. But for now (until I can think of anything better) this is it. So let's say that rather than being a list of my top 50 favorite things, it's really a list of 50 OF my favorite things. And at the very least, it has shown me just how much joy I take in doing the things that I do every day.
Any thoughts? Do you have a list of your own? The ball is in your court!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
When I Grow Up...
Now how cute is that?! Have I mentioned that I have baby fever? Anyway, I digress...
This is something that we've all thought about hundreds of time in our lives. When we're really little, it's usually the fantastical (super hero or princess). A little later, it's a little more practical (firefighter or ballerina). By the time middle school rolls around, we're starting to get a more realistic idea of what we want to be when we grow up that is actually based on our strengths and interests. Then comes High School and College. That's when we either solidify our previous aspirations, or completely change our minds.
For me, it went a little something like this:
Elementary School: (I can't seem to remember what I wanted to be before that) I always wanted to be a mom. I just idolized my mom (and still do). I wanted to have 4 kids like she did. I wanted to make Halloween costumes like she did. I wanted to sing and dance in the kitchen and make cookies like she did.
Middle School: Due to an assignment we had at school that required us to design, decorate, and make a scale model of a bedroom we'd love to have, I got it into my head that I would like to be an interior designer. Also due to that assignment and reflection on the kind of teacher that would give an assignment like that (and my other favorite teachers over the years: Mrs. Webb and Mr. Coffee), I figured I could also be a teacher. I didn't think the teacher/interior designer/mom was unrealistic at all.
High School: The prospect of having to decorate people's houses with gaudy florals or other things that weren't my taste kind of turned me off of the whole interior designer thing. But with having 2 more of my favorite teachers of all time (my band director, Mr. Gibson and my AP European History teacher, Mr. Thomesen), I was pretty sure that a teacher is what I wanted to be. I was either going to teach 1st grade or high school. I figured that in 1st grade they're still cute and sweet, and in high school they'd be able to understand and appreciate some sarcasm.
College: By this time, I was certain that teaching was what I wanted to do. But I still wanted to be a mom more than anything...I always did. And that dream came true a little sooner than planned. Then I finally narrowed it down to Elementary school and after observing in Kinder and 1st and student teaching in 3rd and 5, I was hoping for a job in 2nd grade. That dream, too, came true...at the last minute.
Now: I am so, SO lucky. I am so blessed to be able to say that I have become what I wanted to be when I grew up. But at the same time, I find myself asking, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" I know I've blogged (and ranted) about this before, but there it is. And I'm pretty confident that I'm not alone in that. I think that a lot of people love a career that they've chosen, but still come to a point when they want something different, too. So I still don't know the answer to that question: baker, nurse, lottery winner...who knows?! But I have faith that the answer will come soon enough. :)
So how about you? What did you want to be when you were little? How did that change over time? Is there anything else that you want to be now?
This is something that we've all thought about hundreds of time in our lives. When we're really little, it's usually the fantastical (super hero or princess). A little later, it's a little more practical (firefighter or ballerina). By the time middle school rolls around, we're starting to get a more realistic idea of what we want to be when we grow up that is actually based on our strengths and interests. Then comes High School and College. That's when we either solidify our previous aspirations, or completely change our minds.
For me, it went a little something like this:
Elementary School: (I can't seem to remember what I wanted to be before that) I always wanted to be a mom. I just idolized my mom (and still do). I wanted to have 4 kids like she did. I wanted to make Halloween costumes like she did. I wanted to sing and dance in the kitchen and make cookies like she did.
Middle School: Due to an assignment we had at school that required us to design, decorate, and make a scale model of a bedroom we'd love to have, I got it into my head that I would like to be an interior designer. Also due to that assignment and reflection on the kind of teacher that would give an assignment like that (and my other favorite teachers over the years: Mrs. Webb and Mr. Coffee), I figured I could also be a teacher. I didn't think the teacher/interior designer/mom was unrealistic at all.
High School: The prospect of having to decorate people's houses with gaudy florals or other things that weren't my taste kind of turned me off of the whole interior designer thing. But with having 2 more of my favorite teachers of all time (my band director, Mr. Gibson and my AP European History teacher, Mr. Thomesen), I was pretty sure that a teacher is what I wanted to be. I was either going to teach 1st grade or high school. I figured that in 1st grade they're still cute and sweet, and in high school they'd be able to understand and appreciate some sarcasm.
College: By this time, I was certain that teaching was what I wanted to do. But I still wanted to be a mom more than anything...I always did. And that dream came true a little sooner than planned. Then I finally narrowed it down to Elementary school and after observing in Kinder and 1st and student teaching in 3rd and 5, I was hoping for a job in 2nd grade. That dream, too, came true...at the last minute.
Now: I am so, SO lucky. I am so blessed to be able to say that I have become what I wanted to be when I grew up. But at the same time, I find myself asking, "What do I want to be when I grow up?" I know I've blogged (and ranted) about this before, but there it is. And I'm pretty confident that I'm not alone in that. I think that a lot of people love a career that they've chosen, but still come to a point when they want something different, too. So I still don't know the answer to that question: baker, nurse, lottery winner...who knows?! But I have faith that the answer will come soon enough. :)
So how about you? What did you want to be when you were little? How did that change over time? Is there anything else that you want to be now?
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Absence...
Is it true? Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? If so, then you must REALLY love me now. Sorry, it's been so long since I've blogged. Things have just been...well...not great lately. Work has been overwhelming, extra-curriculars for the kids have been exhausting, and my health (although still stable on the leukemia front) has been iffy at best (upper respiratory infections, an ear infection, acute gastroenteritis, and just overall yuckiness). Suffice it to say, I haven't had blogging on the brain much. Not that I haven't tried. I've sat and stared at a blank screen on many occasions. I've even started numerous blogs that I just didn't think were blog-worthy after all.
Work is still overwhelming, I'm still not feeling great, but we're on a bit of a hiatus from the extra-curriculars for a while, so I thought I'd try to catch up a little bit.
Some thoughts on absence:
Absence can be a breath of fresh air: a break from your kids that you love, the rare day that the most difficult and annoying child in your class is absent (because those are always the kids that have the best attendance), the moment your pain (physical, mental, emotional) goes away
Absence can be a strain: having your spouse work an opposite schedule and not be around to help with the kids and chores (I don't know how single parents do it), taking a day off of work (even if it's truly needed, it's such a pain to prep for a sub), the absence of money
Absence can be annoying: absent-mindedness (especially your own...it's so frustrating when I can't seem to remember anything), the absence of manners
Absence can be heartbreaking: the absence of faith (I think that would just be a very sad and lonely way to be), the death of a loved one
So, is it true? Does absence make the heart grow fonder? I think it depends on the situation. What do you think?
Work is still overwhelming, I'm still not feeling great, but we're on a bit of a hiatus from the extra-curriculars for a while, so I thought I'd try to catch up a little bit.
Some thoughts on absence:
Absence can be a breath of fresh air: a break from your kids that you love, the rare day that the most difficult and annoying child in your class is absent (because those are always the kids that have the best attendance), the moment your pain (physical, mental, emotional) goes away
Absence can be a strain: having your spouse work an opposite schedule and not be around to help with the kids and chores (I don't know how single parents do it), taking a day off of work (even if it's truly needed, it's such a pain to prep for a sub), the absence of money
Absence can be annoying: absent-mindedness (especially your own...it's so frustrating when I can't seem to remember anything), the absence of manners
Absence can be heartbreaking: the absence of faith (I think that would just be a very sad and lonely way to be), the death of a loved one
So, is it true? Does absence make the heart grow fonder? I think it depends on the situation. What do you think?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Movie Mash-Ups...
So a while ago, there was this episode of Cougar Town (one of my favorite shows) where they played this game called Movie Mash-Ups. Of course, they used it as a drinking game, but I still thought it was a pretty awesome idea. Basically, you pick 2 movies that have a shared word in the title. But one of the movies has to have the word at the end, while the other has to have it at the beginning. Then you briefly describe the plot of the new combined movie for people to guess. For example: A single woman tries to stop her friend's wedding from being disturbed by 2 uninvited guests. ....(My Best Friend's Wedding Crashers)
Here's a clip you can check out if you want.
So, I thought we could give it a shot. I'll try to come up with some for you to guess:
1) An arrogant and outrageous leading man on a San Diego news station covers the story of a disfigured recluse who befriends and mentors a young boy.
2) A group of middle-aged men create a college fraternity that leads a group of children to compete in a battle of the bands competition.
3) Three bachelor's are left with the task of caring for a new baby who is then adopted by a successful business woman who moves to the country and develops her own brand of baby applesauce.
4) A group of office workers hate their jobs and while facing layoffs, they decide to rebel against their mono-toned boss. But then they must rescue a princess from another planet before the villain sucks all the air out of her planet's atmosphere.
5) A aging patriarch of a mafia family passes control of his empire to his reluctant son whose plans for his daughter's wedding get out of hand with the help of a flamboyant wedding planner.
6) A depressed middle-aged father gets a crush on his daughter's beautiful friend who has been held in an enchanted castle and has fallen for her beastly captor.
Now you give it a shot. Post your answers and some movie mash-ups of your own!
1) An arrogant and outrageous leading man on a San Diego news station covers the story of a disfigured recluse who befriends and mentors a young boy.
2) A group of middle-aged men create a college fraternity that leads a group of children to compete in a battle of the bands competition.
3) Three bachelor's are left with the task of caring for a new baby who is then adopted by a successful business woman who moves to the country and develops her own brand of baby applesauce.
4) A group of office workers hate their jobs and while facing layoffs, they decide to rebel against their mono-toned boss. But then they must rescue a princess from another planet before the villain sucks all the air out of her planet's atmosphere.
5) A aging patriarch of a mafia family passes control of his empire to his reluctant son whose plans for his daughter's wedding get out of hand with the help of a flamboyant wedding planner.
6) A depressed middle-aged father gets a crush on his daughter's beautiful friend who has been held in an enchanted castle and has fallen for her beastly captor.
Now you give it a shot. Post your answers and some movie mash-ups of your own!
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