Laughter, Laughter and More Laughter

I love my older sister D. We are twins in more ways then one. We look so much alike (even though there is a 10 year age difference) we have been mistaken for twins. We have the same mannerisms and speech. And boy do we share the same sense of humor!!

This weekend seemed to be the best laugh fest we have had in quite some time. I don't know what it is when we get together, but we can get each other rolling!! We quoted Ace Venture Pet Detective 1 and 2 on the car ride to Dallas and we haven't seen that movie since it came out! The laughs just kept on coming.

The best was in Restoration Hardware. This store is huge and there are three or for rooms when you look down them, they look similar and makes you feel there is a reflection from a mirror to make the room appear bigger (but there is no mirror!). So here is how this conversation goes:

Sis: Is that a mirror
Me: Can you see yourself?

I don't think I laughed so hard. Throughout the whole shopping trip, I kept up the whole is this a mirror thing. She was a good sport about it. She better be because if the shoe is on the other foot, she would not let up on me!

We finished out shopping out at a great tapas bar. We had sparkling sangrias that had blackberries and raspberries in it. We also ate the grilled avocado stuffed with crab meat. That was the best meal ever! Don't you love a certain restaurant and keep going back? You know you are getting quality!

I moved to Texas about 18 years ago because of my sister. She has helped me out so much and has been such an inspiration and role model. But if you were to ask her, she would say she wasn't any of those things. I adore her and love hanging out with her. Most people do not get to see her the way I do which is sad because she is so much fun!

Can You Relate?

Last night, late last night, I couldn't sleep and was just stumbling along. You know, StumbleUpon. Anyway, from there are went to Pinterest and looked at humor, because I am a firm believer in laughter being the best medicine.

I also believe it is better when you can relate to things. It gives it more meaning or makes it more funny.  I do this when I teach and I do it in my personal life. These are what jumped out at me late at night that I totally relate to and make me laugh. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

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I got rid of the scales, so on to phase 2 of my evil plan: Removal of mirrors. Some are really stuck to the wall! LOL

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This is LT and I, but I also have to say it is reversed when he is behind the wheel! I have the same look as the boy in the picture. I think it goes with the saying, don't let them see you sweat.

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This is sooooo me!! I have been known to not answer knocks at my door. Sometimes it's my neighbor wanting help (her house smells like cat) or my friends with Christmas decorations to get me out of my bah humbug attitude. My house is my sanctuary. Heck, if I don't answer the door, I can't accept the subpoena now can I? LOL

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Ok, I confess…I love this show. Maybe because of this scene right here. I will confess, I say "right meow" to my students, but they don't get it. I think that is a good thing that they don't! LOL! It would open too many doors.

Watch this video if you do not know the movie. I swear you will be playing the cat game too!

Smile and laugh! It makes you feel better! I hope I made your day a little brighter today. 

My 5 Ways to Look Young

Aging is a fact of life and most people fight it.They want to stay looking young. I get that, heck I want that too. What I want more is to age gracefully. I am not necessarily fighting aging, just trying to hold back the tide awhile. I will say I have been blessed with the genes that make me look much younger than my age and I want to maintain that look. You saw the picture comparing my Senior high school photo to a photo 25 years later and the only thing that really changed was the hair style (and some weight).

My thoughts on growing old

I bought a sun hat yesterday at Costco and posted the picture on my Instagram. I want to make sure to keep the sun off my face as much as possible. That thought led to how I am taking care of my face right now (and should have started much earlier) and want to maintain my appearance. So I came up with my 5 ways I fight aging and try to maintain my youthful appearance.

Before you start a routine, you need to know what face time you are: dry, oily, combination. You need to make sure you are getting the right product for the right face. You could go to a beauty store like Ulta or Sephora (that is what is in Texas) and they can help you determine your face and what products you should use. You do not need to by their products!! Think of it as a fact finding mission. When you get the information, you can go to a discount store like Walgreens, CVS or Duane Reed (this are the only ones I know of off the top of my head). You do not need to by expensive products.

With all that said, here are my top 5 ways to maintain a youthful appearance:

1. Hydrate!
I think this is the number one thing you can do to your body. We have all read why we need to drink half of our body weight in water and how are bodies are made up of mostly water and it helps the body to function. Water also does a couple of other things. It plumps the skin making it appear young.

2. Cleanser
I think cleaning the skin is a step missed, especially in the evening. We all do good at washing our face in the morning, but we need to do it at night also. We need to get rid of the day's nasty. One important thing when choosing a cleanser is to know your skin type! You should stay away from things with alcohol since it will dry your skin out.

3. Moisturizer
Using a moisturizer really does help with dry skin, especially in the winter months. It helps to plumb the skin and to alleviate scaly looking skin and dry patches. Now that it is summer, you can go to a lighter weight moisturizer.

4. Sunscreen
MUST, MUST, MUST wear sunscreen! Can I stress it enough? I know we all like to have a little color to our skin (fish belly white is not attractive, I get it!), but it is not worth the damage it will do to your skin…think wrinkles, leather-looking skin, and skin cancer!

TIP: You can combine your sunscreen and moisturizer and put them on at the same time! You have just eliminated a step. How cool is that! Plus I have found when I add moisturizer to my sunscreen it helps it go on easier and doesn't cover my face as white as sunscreen by itself.

5. Exfoliate
Let's be honest, you can do all of the above but we still will have dead skin cells that accumulate. So, exfoliation is the answer. There are so many out there and can range from light to oh my goodness is that sandpaper!? You can even make your own facial scrub. I am sure there are a gazillion recipes on Pinterest. Exfoliations should not be done daily. I do mine about once or twice a week.

Stressing Over Baby Ducks!

I told her she could not let this happen while on my watch. What happens? Baby ducks hatch! Be advised, I could not get close enough for super great pictures and I did not need to stress her out more than I already did. 

I checked on them Thursday night and there was no movement. This afternoon around 1 p.m., there were cracked shells! I didn't see them so I went back inside. A few minutes later I looked outside and there they were! So fuzzy and cuddly cute! They were just snuggled up around mom.

I looked out again about 10 minutes later and they were gone! Nope, they were in the pool! I was in awe of these little baby ducks already walking and swimming. A few were even diving under the water! I guess there really are natural instincts. But how were they to get out?

This is were I started to stress. Heck I will stress over anything. They duckies would swim to the steps were they went in but could not get up on the rock that was left in there. Not to worry, yet…I put on my super hero cape and ran out to help. 

I put in more rock. Nope they did not like it. A skimmer they can waddle up. Nope, snubbed their beaks at it. I found some hard plastic cover thingy. Nope, again! Dang, this super hero was getting a complex and running out of ideas! I finally found a board to float in the water an anchor on the side.

Finally they got up on the side of the pool!! Nope, not by my ingenious idea, but but getting on the rock and jumping up on the side. It was pretty funny to watch. They would jump up and either fall back in because it is a curved edge or they would turn around and show their siblings how to do it and they would fall back in the water. After a few minutes, they were out of the water, sleeping like little baby ducks.

During all of this, I was on the phone with LT worried about the babies getting out of the water. What if they didn't and got exhausted from swimming? What if they died? 8 little babies were weighing heavy on my mind and heart. My super hero LT found they make this thing called Frog Log

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It sits on the side of the pool allowing animals to safely and easily get out of the poo. I was ready to buy one and have it shipped but the duckies proved they did not need it…at least that time. Who knows if we need to buy one later. One thing I know is it is at my sister's house and not mine. I don't think I could survive the stress!!

Oh, and in the state of Texas it is illegal to do anything to momma or the eggs even relocate them. If a momma duck lays eggs, they are there until they are able to fly which is about 2 months after hatching.

Have you ever seen this frog log? Do you have one? What are your thoughts on this?

Today is...

I can't believe it has been 4 years. Yes 4 years since Lt and I went on our first date. Some of you will think this is nothing and not a big deal. I am here to tell you it is a huge gargantuan deal!

You see, I was previously married at the age of 19 and divorced at 26. As a young woman, this played hell with my psyche. Still does today if you want to know the truth. It is something I am still dealing with and will continue to deal with since it will pop up at different times. One of the issues I dealt with for a long time was abandonment. I would do anything to be the first one to end the relationship before they did it to me (and like it was done in my 1st marriage). Because of this, I did not really want a relationship and the ones I did have only lasted about 3 months and to be honest, not quality keepers.

I had my sister and bro-in-law, my family, job so I was pretty good with the way things were. But there comes a time, as always, that we grow up, or grow outside our box and need something more. This is what happened to me. So I tried and after a few frogs and frogs that were disguised as princes, but were still frogs, in walks Lt.

Our first "trip" and my favorite picture of us.
He never smiles so this is rare treat!

I remember when he wanted my phone number and I said something like "what the hell, let's see where this leads." Remember I was getting pretty jaded at the whole "dating scene" and ready to throw in the towel. He just popped up out of the blue.

We meet at a Genghis Grill, locally. I have always been the type of girl that was extra careful. Too many wackos out there! I met him there and we proceeded to have a great time at dinner. He was so cute and funny. I really didn't' want the evening to end. And then it happened. He asked to continue the date at the Londoner in Dallas. Well, that meant I had to drive with him (or vice versa). That was a no-no in my books. So what did I do? Yep, I jumped in his car and said "Let's go!".

Since that day, we have been together. 4 years. Wow. I am so glad I took a chance, got his number, and went on a date. He really is one of the best men I know, pure quality. That doesn't mean he is perfect or we don't tiff now and then. That is natural and I think it is growth for us.

Our first "trip" to Houston and putt putt by the beach.
We try to go back every year!

Here is the scary thing…he is just like my dad! People tell you, you will marry a man like your dad. I said no way! Well, that came back to bite me on the patootie! LOL

So here is to 4 years! Congrats to us!!

10 Lines of I Do...

I was going through Stumble Upon. You click the "stumble" button and it scrolls through the internet for the categories you like. Here is my Stumble Upon if you want to follow me. No pressure (ok a little pressure, but it's all good)

Anyway, I came across Language is a Virus. It gives you different writing prompts. The one that intrigued me was the prompt that said "Write 10 lines, each starting with the words, I don't…" Honestly, I am not one to start I sentence with the word don't. It makes me feel like I am putting negative vibes out so the universe will give me negative vibes back. I try to be more positive. It doesn't always work…I am human. I make mistakes and I find out I am not perfect or even the best. My cross to bear, but I am dealing with it.

So I want to do this prompt with the words I do…

• I do believe in family. I put family as one of my top things important in my life. I am blessed to have a great family, albeit a little dysfunctional at times, that rallies together. The best part is expanding the family to Lt and my great niece and nephew!
• I do act like my Westie, Gavin, is my child. This is as close to a child as I can get and he is the best, even if he acts all boy!
• I do go to a homeopathic doctor who believes there are other ways to cure what ails you than to prescribe medicine. I love that he treats head, heart and body.
• I do believe sarcasm is my greatest weapon and strength. Please to not get on the other end of it, it could be deadly or humorous. It is a fine line I walk sometimes.
• I do maintain laughter IS the best medicine. I love comedy and comedians. LT keeps me in stitches almost all the time, even when you gets my hackles up. It is like a child, I can't hold on to my mad if he makes me laugh. It is nothing for me to act or say something funny. I crack myself up!
• I do believe God has a plan for me even if it is not my plan, or I can tell what it might be. I trust in Him
• I do love nature: trees, flowers, leaves, long shadows, hikes, sunshine, fresh grass, etc.
• I do read way too much and it is not even educational! I like romance and mysteries. My dirty secret is out! I also read things that interest me like Grain Brain or How to make body butter.
• I do believe in the power of prayer, even if it is not answered in my time or my way.
• I do put others and their happiness before my own.

I challenge you to project positivity. Name one of your I do… 

Would You Try This??

I went to Grapevine Mills Mall the other day and saw these kids in a plastic bubble trying to move on water. I thought, what the heck?

So the sis and I stopped to watch and laugh at the boys (there were no girls trying it while we stood there). There was not one boy who could stand up and run. All of them were moving on the water by crawling inside their bubble. It was a hoot!

When their time was up, the attendants would reel them in with the attached rope. There was only room for 3 bubbles on the make shift pool and the pool itself was shallow. It seemed a child could stand it would not even be hip deep on them. Maybe up to my knees if I was to judge it.

Here is how they would get in and out:

• An attendant would unzip the bubble, which allowed the air inside to escape thus deflating the bubble. 
• The person inside the bubble would climb out and in went another kiddo who would sit down, almost laying inside the bubble.

• The attendant would zip up the bubble and then attach a huge hose where they would inset air inside the bubble thus "blowing" the bubble up. 

• From there is was a free for all on how to move to the other side of the pool.

Here are my thoughts about this….thing.  I couldn't do it. Too claustrophobic for me. I know you can see out, but you are still enclosed and can not get out whenever you like. You are dependent on someone else and when they are ready for you to stop. Plus you can't stand up. You  have no balance. I think I am too much of a control freak to give up that much control to someone else.

Second and just as important…germs. Now, I am not a germ-a-phobe, but all those kids, people breathing in the air and getting their germs on the plastic walls. Then for me to go in and breath some of their leftover air and touch the plastic where their grubby paws touched. No thank you. I would rather be breathing airplane air. At least I will be going somewhere cool and exciting, not just spinning in a plastic bubble like a rat!

So that is my thoughts. I think it is great for kids who don't already have fears, phobias and wackiness already in their makeup (like me!). They are more daring and have a "who gives a flip" attitude. Ahhhh to be young again.

So my question to you is…would you try this? 

Do You Believe in Omens?

You know…when something bad or weird happens before a trip begins or you start a new job or go on a first date. It sets the mood for the rest of the day. I never really thought I did. But I learned my lesson yesterday at the first day of summer school.

I went in at 7:45 to turn on the lights in my room, all ready to get the party started. When I flipped the switch, I heard a couple of pops and saw sparks fly out from the light switch. WHERE MY FINGERS WERE!

I took this picture about 4 hours after
it happened. Most of the black got rubbed
off except on my thumb. 

The switches were black and so was my left hand thumb and pointer finger. I just kinda stared at the switch and then thought "get out, get help". I told the principal, who was next door and he and another guy ran over to check it out. I asked if I got hazard pay and showed him my fingers. Wholly crap! They wee both black!

So now the principal and I are just starting at each other thinking "is this how the rest of the first day of summer school is going to go?" The answer is yes! We had so many technology problems. I was running around with my head cut off! My cell phone did not stop ringing from everyone needing help. Don't worry, by lunch things settled down and got back to normal.

Lesson: How the day starts could be a mirror to what the day will be, summer school is always an adventure and anything goes. You would think after 9 years, I would learn that.

Have you had an omen kind of day? Tell me about your omen and your day went. I would love to hear from you!

Age is Just a Number

1988 vs 2014

In today's society, beauty is number one priority. Look at all the magazines, movies, models, and anyone in the spot light. Women strive to look like them: flawless, thin, gorgeous and young.

I could fill the post up with pictures of women over the age of 50 who look a heck of a lot better than I do. Yes, I know they have the money to spend to look that good or a really good plastic surgeon or a personal trainer. All of that doesn't really help with a woman's psyche…namely mine.

So when I updated my personal Facebook with the picture above and to the right, you can trust a fellow classmate from way back when to pull out your senior picture from high school. Thanks Jeff!

Yep, that's me on the left my senior year in high school. Quick funny off-topic story about that picture. I went out partying with friends the night before and got in late to find a note on my bedroom door from momma telling me my senior pictures were changed to that morning at 8 am! Looking good for a party girl, huh?

I look at my senior picture and see a very young girl with some wacked out 80s hair! LOL! Why I thought I should rock a perm, I will never know. I can, however, look back and see that I really did not look so bad back then and how smooth my skin looked then. This was probably one of my better pictures, too. 

The photo on the right is me, last year I believe. Wow, time sure has flown. That is 26 year span up there in the picture. While I do not look like a young girl on the right, I think I might look even better than when I was younger. Yeah, I can pick the latest picture apart about my wrinkles and weight, but I am going to chose to look at the positive. I look happy with life and thanks to my parents gene, I look about 10 years younger than I really am. And let's face it, there are apps to remove the wrinkles, but they can't give the glow of a happy life. 

So while there are things happening in life that make me struggle to understand, accept, and move forward, I know things will get better. LT likes to tell me "we got this", well I am here to tell you, I do! I look at that picture and everything I have gone through between the two time spans has made me the woman I am today and shaped my morals and values. LT should be glad he made the cut! LOL!

Just Not Feeling It

The title says it all.

Last week was a huge emotional roller coaster of emotions that I am still riding on today and am struggling to overcome and accept. With that said, feeding the blog is not on top of my list.

First,  LT and I were enjoy ourselves and went out to see Ralphie May in concert at the Improv in Addison, TX. Great night, lots and lots of laughs, even got our picture with Ralphie!

One of the rare times Lt actually and willingly smiled for the camera!
Enjoy it because it won't happen again for a long time.

I also learned a new terminology that I will be using and have to share. It is hilarious and apropos. Here it is: When a women is on her monthly, it shall now be referred to as "shark week". I just hope everyone can survive shark week! LOL

That next morning we awoke to news a family member unexpectedly passed away. No one knew she was sick because she kept it all hidden. So, of course, we are all shell shocked and trying to figure it all out. If you remember, LT's mom passed away in March, so this has hit a little close to home for us.

You see what I mean by a roller coaster? We were climbing high enjoying the scenery and then whoosh, we sail downward at a fast breakneck pace not knowing when or where the loops and curves were coming. And let me tell you they were coming!

I applied for a position in administration. I am totally qualified and have been working in that area for over 5 years. Had a great interview and I like to think I impressed them with my knowledge. I have a great support system boosting me up. Then I heard who else I was up against and I knew it was all over for me. And I was right. She, who has zero experience in that area or even in high school education for that matter, gets the position. Good ole' boy system at it's finest. Still trying to deal with this and so far, I am beating myself up pretty bad. I can't even write about it. Maybe in the next couple of days, I will be ready to put fingers to keyboards and vomit my feelings. But right now it is buttoned up like Fort Knox with only anger getting out.

That night, I had high school graduation in which I cried like a momma when my students walked the stage. Maybe some of my crying that night was about the family death and losing a chance for advancement coupled with pride and sadness of my kiddos.

All I know is in 2 days, my life became the biggest, fastest, scariest, and sickest roller coaster ride out there. Heck compared to my last week, Six Flags has only kiddie rides! I don't' know how I will get through it, but I know I will. Lt and I may come out of it a little bit stronger, but a lot of wear and tear. I am beaten up pretty bad both emotionally and mentally. It is going to be a battle to wade through the mire of my psyche and come out on the other side stronger, but it must be done. And as Lt always says…we got this. (Even if it will take me a while to get there)

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Holy Smokes, Is It Over Already?

We are down to the last few days of school left; three days to be exact. We have a list of things to complete before we can call the year over and done. So here is what I am looking at doing all day Wednesday, Thursday morning (the rest of the day is devoted to getting ready for graduation that night), and Friday morning. Lots to do people with little time to do it in it seems!

1. Build Summer School Classes
2. Enter Summer School Students 
3. Save Grade Book
4. Clean up and store files
5. Clean up rooms 
6. Clean up e2020
7. Turn in Keys
8. Clean out small file cabinet
9. Change file cabinets
10. Move desks
11. Pack and label rooms
12. Print schedules
13. Inventory and order modules
14. Eat lunch with Clarks on Friday
15. Eat lunch with my team Thursday (celebrating successful year!)

It's a busy 2 days my friends. I am hoping to have most everything done today. With that said, I will not be blogging Thursday at all and hoping to have pictures to share about graduation of Friday.

So have a wonderful week and wish me luck on having everything done on time, if not earlier! ACK! It is already 9 a.m. so I need to get with it! 

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Canvas Crafting

That sneaky little crafting bug snuck up on me and nipped me! I just had to make this canvas art I saw at Scruggbug Corner. Herchel made this gorgeous canvas wall art and I knew I just had to do something too.

Here is her canvas. Can you say adorbs!! I totally fell in love with it and off to Hobby Lobby I went Saturday.

Scruggbug Corner

I did not find her stencil and I searched all over the store. I did, however, find this stencil with a bird in the tree. In my searches I found an 8 X 8 burlap canvas and then chose my colors, which is the hardest part for me, let me tell you!

It was such a nice morning, that I decided to set up shop outside on the patio with my Westie at my feet. I started by putting down my stencil and taped it so it wouldn't move. I did not measure it, just eyeballed it.  I felt it needed a little something something so I added the word "welcome" to the bottom because I thought it would look great on the wall by the front door.

I started with the brown tree trunk, then the green leaves and welcome in cream. Finishing it off with a pop of a turquoise bird. The tree limbs were super small so I had to use a really small stencil dauber. I think I could have used an even smaller one!

Once it dried and I took off the stencil, it just needed a little extra. The little leaves didn't come out the way the stencil had it (I was probably heavy handed with the paint because I wanted to make sure the burlap took the color), so I got out my handy dandy black Eco pen size .45 and outlined the word "welcome" and added the lines in the leaves.

I finished it off by hanging it in the front entry way with my pictures of myself with LT and my sister D. I think it turned out pretty good for a first time. I am happy with it and in the end that is what matters.

I know as I keep trying, I will be getting better. I was just so happy to be breaking out of my box and attempting something new. There is just something amazing that happens when you make something yourself. It is almost a euphoric high. I hope you all get to experience it sometime.

My next projects will be with things I am partial to like birds, trees, Westies and monkeys. So tell me…what would be your canvas art?