he's leaving me.

So remember a little while back when I showed you pictures of the cutest little notebooks ever?! Well, I do. I also remember telling you that you would have to wait to find out what my big plans for them (or some. or one) was.

I am pleased to let you know what those adorable little notebooks were for now.

Notes.

kehehe.

I know. Original.

But seriously. The Hubs is leaving me.

For real.

I happen to love him so much I am sending him away with a notebook full of nice notes.

Ok. The Hubs isn't leaving me leaving me. Thank Goodness. No, The Hubs is going on a mission trip. To Ethiopia. He is going to be gone for a forever very long time. For real. So I am planning to use the little notebooks to write little notes to him in it. You know, that way while he is away he will have a little note to read each day he is over there. Just to refresh your memory, these are the adorable little
notebooks . . .

And now one of these little beauties if being filled with little notes for The Hubs. 

Also, I found some pretty amazing stickers. They are bunnies and chickies and duckies and flowers and bees and everything wonderful. And every page is going to have at least one little sticker on it. It's gonna be awesome. Actually, it is awesome. 

Also. I found this adorable little photo album. On clearance. Sad part about it is that it is glittery red. Not that I care. I don't. In fact, I happen to love it. But it's not for me. It's for The Hubs. And it's not terribly manly. But then again, neither is the notebook. Obviously I'm not so good with the manly man part of cute stuff. Probably because such a thing does not exist : ) or does it? 

Anyhow. That's that. My grand plan and idea. I have been secretly writing random notes in it for The Hubs to read. I think I even wrote a novel in one of them so he will have some reading material while he's away. 

In Ethiopia. 

I don't want him to go. 

penny picking cards

It's birthday season. Well, not really. But pretty much. Two of my sisters have birthdays within days of each other. This makes it easy to remember that I have to get them their goodies. Anyhow. Yesterday I went out and about to find the perfect card for each of them. Well. That was just a little bit tricky. I'm indecisive. But, you probably know that already if you know me or have been following along for any amount of time. I feel like it come up in nearly every post. And here it is again. I am indecisive. Very. Much. So.

And I was at the store. Trying Picking out birthday cards for my sisters. And then I realized that Vater's birthday is coming up. In July. Now, normally this means I wait until the day before his birthday and then get a card and mail it to him five weeks after his special day has past. But this year I'm going to be on top of things. It's true. I probably wouldn't normally do this (get Vater's birthday card so early on) but I am sending a package out and I'm to lazy to go to the post office and pay for postage to Thailand twice within two months. Mumys Birthday treats are already 11 weeks late in getting to her.

But, like I was saying. I was looking at cards. I picked up who knows how many cards. I just couldn't decide. It was ridiculous. After about seven hours of looking at the same cards I threw a bunch on the ground, closed my eyes, and dropped three pennies. I opened my eyes and picked up the cards the pennies fell on.

Genius.

Why didn't I think of that in the first place? Before I wasted nine hours of my life trying to decide which card to get.    

eh. next time. and I know there will be a next time. with me it's inevitable.

true story.

the end.

Ice Cream Party

Want some ice cream?

Great! Cause there is gonna be an Ice Cream Party! 

At my house. 

For you. 

To come over for some yummy ice cream. 

Whenever you get your little tail over here (a little advanced notice would be nice)

Cause we got our fun little ice cream maker in the mail! woot hoo : ) 

Seriously though. It will be awesome! I'm gonna go get all the sweet ingredients so that we can make some sweet wonderfulness. What a happy thing! 

green

This evening we were working out in the yard and after the grass was mowed nice and short we set out to rake up the grass so it wouldn't turn brown and make the grass underneath it miss out on much needed sunshine (even though there seems to be a lack of sunshine these days). So Pup was hooked up to a little line runner thingy in the back yard so he could be outside too. He Loves it out there.

Well, when we were coming inside I noticed two things:

1. My feet and shoes were covered with grass.

2. Pup's paws were green.

See? 

Green. 

I think he knows green is my favorite color and he wanted to do something special for me. You know, instead of coloring a picture like little kids do he colored his paws. How he did that . . . I'm not so sure. But I'm guessing it's from running and digging and sitting outside for an hour tonight : ) 

Crazy grass. 

two things

Two things made today an especially wonderful day:

1. I got my diploma in the mail. Which means I am officially and 100% done and finished with school. Oh, it is so nice to have that pretty little diploma in my hands. It makes me feel very accomplished.

2. I was out and about and when I got home The Hubs surprised me with flowers! I about died. That doesn't mean The Hubs has never gotten me flowers before or surprised me before, he has. But today was extra special for some reason : ) Getting the flowers was so out of the blue and completely unexpected. I love surprises (the good kind of course). This was one of the best surprises I've had in a long time. It was so sweet and wonderful of The Hubs. Though, he's pretty much always like that. It's probably why I like him so much. I just want to carry the vase around with me from room to room and stare at the pretty pink, yellow, and purple tulips. I love The Hubs.

de-lish-ish-ness

Today something happy happened. Something happy usually happens every day. But today it seems a little happier. And I guess it didn't really "happen" but it kinda did. Because I made it happen.

Anyhow. Way back when The Hubs had a birthday, (remember?) one of his presents was a loverly Amazon gift card (thanks Mumsie and Vater : ) Gift cards are always nice cause you can go and get just what you want. Though non-gift card gifts are nice too because that shows the thought put into getting the gift and such and so on. But what can I say? I love gifts, so I really love everything! You should knot that from Mumsie and Vater gift cards are a special treat, cause they come from half way (or is it all the way) around the World. Yes. It is true. They come from across oceans and several continents. Which therefore, makes them even better.

As I was saying, The Hubs got an Amazon Gift card. Now, you probably know that Amazon has oodles and boodles of goodness and that you can shop around and find some treasures. Because there are so many treasures it is sometimes hard to pick what you want. At least it is for me. Thankfully not so for The Hubs. And since this was The Hubs' birthday and not mine I knew he was sure to get something good. As he always seems to. Without having issues of indecisiveness.

Well, The Hubs told me after several weeks of thinking about how to use his gift card that all he wanted was a new pair of headphones. No problem. I could order them for him.

"What else do you want, Hubs?" I asked him.

"Nothing. Just earphones. And then with what's left of the gift card I want you to pick something out for us."

Now, I know The Hubs knows how IMPOSSIBLE it is for me to decide on Anything. I can't. It's not in my bones. I look at everything and think it is lovely, and naturally I want to keep it forever. But when it comes to actually Buying said item, I can't do it. I just can't go through with it (I even have a hard time buying food. The Hubs doesn't . . .  which is probably a good thing or I would only be skin and bones. Or not, I really love food too much to not eat anything, my diet would just consist of rice and pop tarts. I have a very balanced diet when it comes to me cooking meals for only myself to consume).

But, like I was saying. The Hubs wanted little old me to decide what to get for us. Our home. Our usage. Our delight and enjoyment.

Good Grief.

And that brings us to today. You see, After 83 days of thinking about what to use the remaining money from his grift card for after getting him his head phones (which by the way . . .  he knows how cheap I am . . . and how cheap head phones will be when ordered online - so he knows that I will have to decided what to spend the bulk of his birthday goodies on. joy) I have decided what to get.

And I am excited. It's genius really. Why didn't I think of this before today? I am so excited I just want it to get here tomorrow!! bah!! :D And . . . the double exciting part is that this particular item was eligible for free shipping! Which pretty much makes it ten hundred times better :) yes. yes it does.

Aren't you just dying to find out what I got for The Hubs and me to enjoy together?! Good. Cause I'm gonna tell you . . .

Are you ready?

 ta da!!!

This little sucker! 

Isn't it Awesome?!

So Adorable! I just wanna squeeze the little thing! 

OMGosh. 

I am soooo excited about this! 

The Hubs is going to be knocked off his feet and call me a genius. Forever! 

I. love. it. 

bah! I can't wait for it to get here so I can make the World's most de-lish-ish-ness ice cream Ever! 

Plus, the green Totally matches my kitchen. Can it be any more perfect than that?! 

I think not. 

When I get this little cutie in the mail I will officially invite you to come over and enjoy a sweet little cup of the World's most de-lish-ish-ness ice cream ever! Keep yours eyes and ears open! :)

Also. Thanks Mumsie and Vater. This would not be possible without your sweet gift to The Hubs : )

 

Sunshine in a bottle

I have found heaven and sunshine. In a bottle. It's true. It's pretty amazing stuff if you ask me. Wanna know what it is? Lucky for you I'm willing to let you in on my little secret.

This is delightful stuff. 

It smells like sunshine and the ocean all wrapped up in one.

Ok. Well, maybe not sunshine exactly (cause who really knows what sunshine actually smells like?). 

And it probably doesn't exactly smell like the ocean either. 

Although it could come in close, since a lot of the time there will be coconuts near the ocean and this does in fact smell like coconuts : ) 

De-lish-oush

Which really, when you think about it, when you mix sunshine and ocean together you will often times come up with the delightful fragrance of coconut. 

Which I happen to LOVE. 

But if you don't love sunshine or ocean you will probably not be able to fully appreciate this yummy smelling delight. 

Anyhow. That's my new excitement. I have some soap now. 

Finally.

so yes. that's that. 

Happy Saturday to you :D

p.s. and no, I'm not trying to sell this to you. If I were I would be a little more forceful. But it is amazing. You should give it a sniff sometime. It's the prefect amount of coconut. Not too strong. Not too sweet. Just right. Now, they just better not discontinue making this product. They ALWAYS do. You know? When you find that One product that you LOVE and that is Perfect for you. When you pop round the store to get another one cause you finished the first one off, it's gone. Because they decided to stop making it. Well, I'll just tell you one little thing right now . . . if they stop making this delight I just might have to go on strike. And stop using soap. Again. 

Let's just hope that doesn't happen :D 

k. bye. 

Friday Happenin's

Today I was digging through my purse to find something, chap stick probably. Anyhow, I realized that The Hubs' phone was in my bag. I guess I was holding on to it for him for some reason or another and forgot to give it back to him. Good thing he didn't need it. I hope. But still. The Hubs' phone was in my bag.

Fast forward a few hours. I was driving home from school (because I subbed today. boy do I love subbing.) and turned the volume of my phone back up. Not three seconds after I put my phone back in my bag it started ringing. What impeccable timing I thought. I couldn't have planned that better myself. If I had waited even a minute longer I would have missed the call. And I don't get phone calls all too often. Eagerly  I reached for my phone and noticed that it was The Hubs calling. His picture popped up. I was so excited and a little surprised that it was him because in the back of my head I knew it wasn't possible that he could be calling me. But in my moment of excitement, I answered the phone.

"Hello!?" and he wasn't there.

Obviously. Because I had his phone. In my bag. That was sitting two inches next to me. Genius, Hannah, really bright of you.

The Hubs' phone somehow became unlocked and dialed my number. I'm just glad that it randomly chose to call me : )

And my heart was crushed a little bit.

But then I came home and I got to tell him the funny story and chat about what was going on and about how much I love subbing. And other stuff too. Like puppies and ponies and waterfalls.

And that is the highlight of my Friday.

That and the fact that it's Friday.

Woot woo : )

blubbering

Today I had to say good-bye to a very dear and loverly friend of mine. It's not a forever good-bye, but it's a good bye till I see you when I see you. And it makes me sad. Because the see you when I see you is going to be forever away.

I don't really like good-byes, though I'm not sure who does. But because I have been saying good-bye to sweet family and friends for what seems like my whole life, a little bye here and there doesn't really seem to phase me. We will move and the friends I'm leaving will cry. I will want to. I will try to. But tears don't come. In fact I never cry. Well, that's not really true. I cry when I'm chopping up an onion (when I'm not wearing my contacts). And I was blubbering like a little fool the other day as I watched "Dear John". Oh. Good. Gracious. I do not know what got into me. I do not blubber. Especially over movies. But my goodness. All I can think to say is that it was just a really sweet movie, so much so that I was a big pile of mush and bubbles. It's true.

I feel bad when I'm in real live situations and I just can't make myself cry, even though I really am sad. We were leaving our wonderful home in Texas and as I was saying good-bye to some of my sweet friends they would start to cry, and I felt bad because I couldn't join in with them. Even though I was sad.

But today, was a sad day and when I came home from saying bye to my loverly friend my sweet puppy just laid right next to me and let me be sad. What a sweetie.

Anyhow. That's enough of that sad sappy stuff. Smiles are better. Way better. As is laughter. And that is why I watched "Tangled". Hi-larious. Anyhow. I hope you are having a happy Wednesday!

 

celebration central

This weekend we celebrated loads of things. Graduations, Mamas, and Proms.

Fun. Fun. Fun :]

First, my graduation. Yep. That's right. I graduated this weekend. Saturday to be exact. Friday night was the special Masters of Art in Teaching graduation and Saturday was the big whole school wide graduation.

 

. . . except I didn't actually go to my graduation. But if I had, that's when it would have been. And that's what I would have looked like (pretty much). These are just some pictures I took with a buddy when I was graduating from college. Another graduation I didn't actually attend. . . . humm . . . I'm noticing a pattern here. eh. I still did all the work. I still finished. And I still got my diploma. 

 . . . but instead of staying (or going) for the graduation ceremony, I opted out and chilled or chillaximumed (as Katie would say over at her guest posting on the wonderful Story of my Life) with friends and family (both times). Maybe I should have walked . . . but eh. Oh well. I didn't :D

Then there was prom. Not mine. haha. Although, that would be kind of funny. Or, just really weird. But no. It was my little sister-in-law's prom. She was a doll. So pretty! 

She's the cute one in the pretty dress. Little beauty! 

The Hubs and I stayed over for Mother's Day. Saturday night (whilst Prom was going on) my Mother-in-law asked me if I could draw. Now, I am no artist. I even told her so. I can draw butterflies, flowers, caterpillars, bees, and that's about it. But that's all she wanted. You see, she was teaching Sunday School in the morning and wanted the kids to have little cards to take home to their Mamas. This is where I come in with my mad artistic abilities. 

"bee" impressed. I know The Hubs was. 

then the kids colored them and gave them to their Mamas. 

Anyhoot. I went into this weekend a student and came out a graduate and an artist. Amazing what one weekend can do to change our lives forever. 

toodles! 

judge a book

Reading is something that I have always loved to do. I can open up a book and forget about everything. I will stay up late at night just so I can turn the page to see what happens next, just to get one page closer to finishing the book. I love seeing my bookshelves full of books. I love going into bookstores and libraries and longingly looking through all of the books they have waiting to be opened, read, discovered, and taken home. There is something peaceful about sitting (or laying) down with a good book.

When I read books I like to be entertained. I don't want to have to get in the mood to read a book. If the book is some in depth study kind of high thinking book I don't really care to read it. I also usually judge a book by its cover. I know you really aren't supposed to do that. But I can't help it. If the cover looks cute or interesting to me, I'm more inclined to read it. Or if it's a cookbook. I'm addicted to cookbooks. I think I could never have enough. What I need to do is rip out all of the pages of the good recipes and bind them into one big fat cookbook with nothing but usable recipes : D

Anyhow, these are some of the good books I've found recently, or ones that look yummy to me. 

I really liked this book. I saw it on sale for $2 (two dollars! -as if that means something other than $2) and snatched it up. I was drawn in by the title and the cover (it looks cute : ) and the price. It's about a girl in high school who helps clean at her Mom's hair salon. She's a overweight and friendless. But she makes a friend and starts a new little life for herself with the help of her friend. Anyhow. It's really good. 

[The hubs always tells me that I'm in a strange stage of life. I like to color, crochet, bake, and read teen books. I can see how this is kind of true. I don't really fit into my designated age group category very well. I'm just gonna say, in regards to the books I like to read, I'm allowed. I'm just reading the things the kids now-a-days are into. And since I am an almost certified teacher (!) it's really just a good thing.]

Then there's this book. I Love it. I Want it. I Need it. I can't check it out from my library anymore (that's not true, I can, it's just not there at the moment. Shame really).

Get it. Now. You will thank me later : )

And then there's this one. It's on my reading wish list for this summer. I'm going to go snatch it up in the next day or so. 

I'm excited I actually have time to read it. 

. . . and that I don't have to read something like this: 

Happy Friday! 

my secret stash

I have a little problem. Really I have lots of little problems. And for some reason I love to share what my little problems are. Don't you love it when I share the gushy details of my life? My problem is this. I like handbags. A lot. I have a variety to choose from depending on the season, my mood, or the occasion. Normally I stick to the trusty ones, a select few. But sometimes I need to mix things up a tad so I move into a new bag. I also move into new bags when I find that all I am pulling out of the bag I am currently using are old tissues, receipts, trash, or pretty much anything other than what I am looking for. Somehow that is what my purse has become over this past semester. Normally I'm pretty good about keeping it tidy. Well, not this time. No sir. Wanna see?

Good. Cause I'm gonna show you. Get excited.

The culprits: 

 The findings: 

As you can see there is a massive pile of trash, a equally massive stack of receipts and a lot of other good things. Including: a ziplock bag (from my trip to Disney World way back when - you know for the liquids and such you have when you are flying), a card, lotions, hand sanitizer, medicine, an empty drawstring bag, pens and pencils, peanuts and pretzels (I've been saving them from my trip to Disney World that I got on the airplane), mints, gum, a little flashlight/whistle thingy, two books, a watch, tissues, a check book, floss (yes, floss . . . thanks Mom : ) pennies and dimes, a bunch of hair clips (that I have been looking for for the past five months . . . this is where they've been hiding! ha), a boarding pass, tickets for Disney World Parks, safety pins (that I used to pin on my marathon bib), and my Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon Metal :D

And now the bags are both empty. And everything is put away or thrown away. Or something. But it's not a mess anymore.

See? I get so much accomplished when I stay at home :D

dirt is good

My small group takes turns bringing snacks to nibble on on Sunday nights. This past Sunday it was our turn to fix a treat. Since the hubs and I had been out doing lots of yard work over the weekend I decided to make some dirt cake. 

It turned out a little like this

and it tasted delish.

sadly, I love this a little bit too much and so it is all I have been eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am tempted to make some more just because it is that tasty. 

All Done

I am proud to announce that today I completed my very last day of school. I am finished with student teaching, both the student/class part of it and the teacher part of it. I have had the best semester ever. My teacher was Amazing! I love her and have learned loads from spending my days in her room. She is gracious and wonderful, all of her students respect her and enjoy being in her class. They say it every day in 8th grade language.

It was bittersweet to leave my students. I know I will see them again though so it's not the end of the world. I get to sub a few times and I'm going to their graduation at the end of the month so I will see their loverly little faces and hear their cries of joy for language arts yet again.

My teacher and students made me a big fat card. I. love. it.  

But since I forgot my camera on the one day I really intended to remember it, I just took a little picture of my sweet card once I got home. . . . and the pup just happened to walk in right in time to get his picture taken with me and my beautifully fat card : ) . . . what a curious cutie . . . 

It is hard to believe today was my last day student teaching. It is crazy to think that after today I won't have any homework I have to spend my evenings or weekends working on. Now my job is to apply for and find a school that wants me to be a teacher. My principal told me this morning that if someone hired him, I will be sure to find a job. I thought it was very sweet and encouraging of him. I just hope and pray I am able to find one for this next school year.  

I don't know if I can say it enough, I have been blessed to have the wonderful students and teacher I spent my weeks with this semester. I don't know what I'm going to do now that I don't have to wake up in the morning and make my way to their classroom every day. 

In addition to this wonderful card I also got a few letters from individual students. They went a little like this, except of course the one the was confiscated for inappropriateness. oh, 8th graders. (note: names have been changed, but spelling, punctuation, and symbols are all the same : ) 

My favorite teacher (:

Your the best teacher ever. It Sucks that today is your last day :'( Yes I did get a little teary eyed a minute ago. Well I hope to see you around (: 

Your the best,

Sally

ps: Your also the nicest teacher as well (: I'm surprised you stayed in this class for as long as you did . . . I'm glad you did though (:  

[yes, this girl cried when she found out it was my last day. she about had me in tears. so sweet!]

~

We Love You.

Your the best. 

You are a brave and amazing teacher. And if your wondering Why i say brave well you figured that out by being are [our] teach[er] im going to miss you so much you were the best we will all miss you very much.

ps. i hope i see you in my class room again. <3

by: your favorite Betty 

~

im going to miss you being in our class everyday, even though you're a bully and pushed Mrs. Jones down and spilled her coffee, NOT NICE. Hahaha. Well, im your favorite student and you love me more than anyone: including Mrs. Jones! [= 

love,

Sue

A.K.A - Your favorite student. <3

[Note: I did not push Mrs. Jones down or spill her coffee. Funny story, kind of. but not really, I was walking in the hall next to Mrs. Jones last Friday. We noticed a grape on the floor in the hallway. Mrs. Jones said, "Hey, there's a grape. I should pick that up." But she didn't pick the grape up and neither did I. We kept walking on our merry way. Not ten seconds later out of the corner of my eye I saw Mrs. Jones fall to the ground, coffee spilling and papers flying across the floor. Mrs. Jones had landed hard on one knee and had the other leg out like she was doing the splits. We were baffled at first and then we saw the culprit. A grape. Yes, another grape was laying on the floor. And she slipped on it. And just like in the cartoons when someone slips on a banana peel and falls, Mrs. Jones slipped on a grape and fell. Sue was in the hall as this happened and even though she knows I did not push Mrs. Jones, she insists on calling me a bully. Anyway. that's that.]

~

heyyyyyy, (:

im gonna miss you so darn much! omg, i dont want you to leave! it wont be the same; cuz i wont be able to ask you for the Answer - or use your glitter pens. (: When you sub for Mrs. Jones, im gonna be sooooooooo happy! im already excited!* this is sloppy but, oh well. haha. your so pretty, now when you leave guys are gonna be sad cuz they constantly talk about how hot you are, no joke, its annoying. hahaha. But, i'll miss you so much <3 i love you! [8

<3 your favorite student veronica

~

I feel so loved! My kids are all such sweetie pies. I love them all to death! I love these notes and the sweet messages they wrote to me on my card. I will cherish them forever. 

. . . and, apparently I have a lot of favorites. I never knew it until today though : ) I'm glad my students all clarified that they were my favorite : )