31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 14 - What is in my handbag?

Okay I have never been much about carrying a hand bag or purse though I do like them because frankly, I am a container person! Anyways, I have a new purse/handbag that I love that I got on Little Black Bag. The one thing I carry besides my bankcard and drivers license is my nook. Its the one thing you can always find in my bag if its not beside me being read or waiting to be read. Other than that, I am not sure what you are suppose to put inside the bag. I can usually get by with just my card holder in my back pocket but that also means I am carrying my nook with me. So a handbag is nice in that it does help me to transport my nook from place to place. Asking me this question would be one of the most boring questions. I really have no clue what you are suppose to carry in your purse. I do have some pens, advil, biotin, keys and my cell phone. The bag itself is big enough to carry so much more. Occasionally place mail in it, but that just ends up annoying me. I do have another bag I carry grading in but again, still not very interesting, unless the kids get creative on answering their math questions.  I have asked others what they carry but still have no idea what I should do to improve the contents of my bag. Though if it was okay to carry around the stuff to make a margarita I would be the first to jump on that ban wagon! I do at times carry several bottles of water with me when we go out and about and I know I will want something to drink. lol

Maybe tomorrows topic will spark something interesting...or this bog could get just that much more boring....lol....peace out!

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 13 - Favorite Quote

Well, of course I have more than one favorite quote. The one I like enough to tattoo on myself is, "Not all who wander are lost." JR Tolkein. I love this. I have always felt like I was one to wander from one place to another but I knew I would get where I wanted to be. So though I may seem lost to some, I don't feel lost but rather I take the scenic route. (:

Another favorite quote is EE Cummings, "I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart, wherever I go, you go." I just feel that this embodies what love is. When I hear it I think of those I love and choose to share my life with.

One more quote is "Well behaved women rarely make history." This just reminds that we don't have to necessarily live by the rules society has set for us to be memorable. Life is what we make it. This does not mean it gives permission t be rude or to break laws, either.


Okay, I am really not in the mood to blog. I am sure its because my nook, which has the voice of Eric Church, is begging me to turn it on and read. So, I am checking out and going to start reading. Peace out!

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 12 - If I won the lottery...

Oh what a fun idea! If I won the lottery, the first thing I would do is thank GOD. What a blessing that would be in our lives. My next task would be to take some money and give it to my grandpa Charly. He has worked hard every day of his life and it would be cool to know that he could continue to do what he loves to bargain and create and not have any financial pressures (though I don't know his finances or if he is pressured). My next task would be to provide a retirement for both my parents and Jason's parents. Whether they chose to retire or not, but to give them money to take care of themselves. For all the gifts they have blessed our lives with I would want to be able to give them this back. The next would be to let Jason quit his job, buy his Harley and do whatever he has planned (on a budget! LOL) He has given me so much to be able to do what I have done. I would set up a trust fund for Evan. I would also want to find ways to add blessings to our siblings, nieces, and nephews lives.

Now I believe that you can give to God in many ways. That it doesn't always have to be through a church. I would first quit my job as a Math Teacher and actually work with a school district to be a volunteer math teacher. Have the chance to go in and work with kids and help them learn one of the skills they need to know and understand.

My next would be to start a foundation to help support a cure for Alzheimer's Disease and to support families who have a love one who is struggling with Alzheimer's. I really have an idea in my head and I would be able to the time and money backing to help support this cause. Even without the lottery, I hope that I am able to say this I have done before my days are done.

So, not sure if that is as exciting as someone else's would be but that would be the jist of mine. The main thing is I would want to be smart with the money and not spend it all and be back to where we are or even in a worse position.

Peace out for now ~

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 11 - Most Proud Moment

Okay so I am a day late on starting this one, partly because I was in the mountains having fun with the family and was tired when we got home and second the topic is a tough one! My most proud moment....really moment....I need moments. I have several proud moments in my life but to name only one seems, impossible. But I will try but knowing myself, I won't limit it to only one (:

I would say that one of the moments I was the most proud was when I became a mom. I really don't think that there is any greater joy than having the knowledge and understanding of what it feels like to love another unconditionally. Just loving them because they exist. Not because they expressed love or kindness to you but just because they were in your arms. The amazing part is that feeling never goes away. It just grows throughout time. My son can truly make me happier than most. Not sure he realizes this, because I am his mom and I do get on to him. But sometimes I wonder if I get on to him because I feel that I have failed in some areas of my part of raising him. I have more joy in my heart for him but I also have the greatest fear that I may have not done my job right. I am very proud and blessed to be his mom. I love him more than words could express. I pray for him to be happy and to find his bliss. That he thinks things through before jumping into something that will change his life forever. He has given me so many things to be proud of that I am not sure he even realizes that I am that proud of him and that proud to be his mom. I truly see him as a gift that God has entrusted me with and even more so blessed me with. From the day I found out I was pregnant with him. from the time we saw him on the sonogram, when we decided his name, the day of his birth and to every day since I have lived a life of this proud moment. A moment that I believe will last my lifetime.

Now that was a little mushy but its true and not to knock the value of it I am done. But to catch up I will be posting Day 12, too.

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 10 - First Celebrity Crush

OH! I love this topic!!! I have no doubt in my mind who my first celebrity crush is, funny thing is after 30 years its still the same one!! Anyone who knows me or meets me learns fairly quick that I am a major Rick Springfield fan. I use to think I was a fanatic but after going on the 4th and Final Rick Springfield & Friends Cruise I learned I have a healthy crush. I definitely know the difference between fanatic and major fan!

Here is a picture of my mom, Rick and myself last year on the cruise. This was the absolutely coolest experience I have had! The coolest part (aside from meeting Rick) was that I got to go with my mom. It was both of ours first cruise. Talk about making some amazing memories!

I remember when Jessie's Girl came and out and all of us girls on our street growing up wanted to be Jessie's Girl or Rick's girl. I thought (and still do) he was the best looking guy ever! To this day I have two of his albums in my classroom and by the time my students leave they know who he is and his music. Someone has to expose them to the good stuff! I tell my students that he was my Justin Bieber. I just never grew out of it. Some I know think I am crazy but thats okay. There is something about his music that has always made me happy and chills me out, instantly. I mean there are days that only Rick plays it helps to keep me balanced.

This picture says a lot. On the first night of the cruise I was fortunate to get my picture taken with Rick, I was  in total Awe. You can tell if you look at my eyes.

 It was shortly after this I realized the difference between a major fan and a fanatic. Fanatics will walk up to Rick and try to make out with him! They have very little, if any respect for his space. He walked around where there were hundreds of fans pulling on him, grabbing and groping him. I am sure by the end of the night he is not able to see with all the camera flashes. However, he does this for the fans. He is a very humble spirit and you see that right away. He is kind to everyone and not one time did you see him be rude to anyone. He truly appreciates that his fans love him and he loves his fans. His wife was on the cruise too. I got to meet her. I told her thank you for sharing her husband. It would take a very strong woman to be able to do what she has done.

Here are a few more pictures of the cruise. It was an awesome opportunity and I hope that one day I get to join in on another one of his fan trips!

 My amazing mom and Rick! He is much taller than I really had expected.

Above:  Rick rocking the stage at the opening concert for the cruise.\
Below: Rick and I. I am not tall I had on the highest heels I own that make me about 5'9-10".

 Above: This was his encore. He came out with sleep pants and his uggs on it. For 62 he looks AWESOME
Below: Again at the opening concert!

Below: This was the Beatles Tribute he played. It was a blast. Not a big Beatles fan but would be if it was Rick singing! lol

 Below: These pictures are not the greatest, but this is the concert with his first band, Zoot. Sadly, the lead singer, Darryl Cotton, lost his battle to cancer this year. What an experience to get to see this band in action after 40 years apart!

To end my picture sharing and my blog on my first celebrity crush. another very nice view (:

Laters <3 Peace <3

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 9 - Tattoos and piercings

Tattoos and piercings...hmmm. Yea I have em. I will start with piercings. I have the normal ear piercings and at one point I had my ears pierced double. But my right side grew back so my right ear only has one piercing. Now my left has three. The double and when I was 14 (24 years ago) I had the top of my left ear pierced. It has never grown back. I have gone months if not a year without wearing an earring in it, too. As of piercings thats all I have. Though I really wanted to pierce my tongue. But since I have a heart murmur its not recommended to even have your teeth cleaned without taking high doses of antibiotic so I never ventured for the tongue. When I was younger I wanted to pierce my nose. My dad talked me out of that one.

Tattoos. I have four but want more. I would love to have a partial sleeve but tattoos are not really seen as the best thing to have when you are a teacher. My first tattoo is on my ass. It's a devils tail that is in the shape of a question mark with a halo. I got this to remind me that only I can decide if I am good or evil. The reason behind it was when I was the event planner for the city/chamber I went in front of our city council and a large portion of our bible thumping community to request permission to have beer and wine sold at a bike rally I was organizing. I had some people say some very mean things to me and get very personal. This was something that was expressed as wanted and I was the one who was given the job to fight for it and I did. FYI, I won and since then there have been several events in the community that now allows alcohol sales. During these meetings I dealt with a lot of people passing judgement on me and saying mean things. I was even laughed at by one of the local preachers. That stung but preachers are human and I have the power to choose not to enter his church, too. Anyways, the last day of the event, I went to dinner with friends and my husband. Afterwards, I went and got the tattoo. Not even a month later I had my second one on my right foot. I grew up wanting to be "Jessie's Girl" (you know the song by Rick Springfield, if not what a sad life you must live). Well I am Jason's girl so on my right foot I have it with flames and a Hawaiian flower. Tattoo number three came shortly after the second one. When my niece, K-bird (who was 4 at the time) saw my foot she grilled me about it not having any pink in it. So, my third tattoo is a heart with a cross and a ring. Stands for Love, Life and Loyalty. The heart is pink for my K-bird. My last tattoo has faded and really did not work out as planned. Its on the side of my left foot, part of it has faded and part is too dark and just didn't work the way it should have. It had scroll work and hibiscus flower and it says, "Not all who wander are lost." One of my favorite quotes. One day I will figure what to do to fix it but it was also the most painful of my tattoos too, so there has been no rush for it to be done. lol. I plan on a couple more tattoos. I want a peace sign that has the word veritas with it (The truth will bring you peace). I also would like a bird not sure what kind but I want  a bird. I am sure I could sit here and type all day talking of tattoos I want. But I won't its been a long day and I am worn out. So have a good one ~ <3 Peace <3 ~

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 7 - An Old photo of me

So day 7 of the 31 day challenge! I have officially made it through one week! WOO HOO!!! Today's topic is to share an old photo. This is a picture of my mom and me when I was probably about 6 or 7 years old. It has been one of my most favorite pictures. I even keep it in our safe all locked up. I couldn't tell you exactly why its one of my favorite pictures it just is. Its a picture that makes me feel happy and reminds me of how happy life can be. I can't even tell you where the picture was taken. I think it might of been on a trip to Six Flags in Dallas but I am not sure. I just know that it makes me smile and reminds me that I had was blessed with a wonderful childhood and even better than that, parents that love me dearly, yesterday and today.

31 Day Blog Challenge: Day 7 - 10 Favorite Foods

So today's topic is 10 Favorite Foods. YUM! Well I am sure this will be fairly easy but I am going to be very specific about the foods I love. Some of which I am no longer able to eat (not because I can't, but because I can't - this will make sense in a few).

1.) One of my favorite foods is Potato Soup. Not just any potato soup but my granny's potato soup. She made the BEST potato soup. I have never been able to duplicate it but I am sure it's because it just doesn't have her touch. I miss her cooking. She also made the best stew, too! Oh and oatmeal cookies! I am sure I could go on and on, here. 

2.) Since I am on the soup thing one other favorite is Chicken Tortilla Soup from Casa Blanca in Ruidoso. It is absolutely wonderful! I plan on figuring out how to make it. As of now I can say that they use grilled chicken, onions, celery, and they add avocado to it but I think it is added at the end. Its warm but not mushy. Really one of the best things to eat in Ruidoso, NM.

3.) Now when my husband is cooking I absolutely LOVE his grilled veggies. He combines yellow squash, zucchini squash, red, green, yellow and orange bell peppers with mushrooms. He seasons them to perfection and grills them on the grill. I could eat this vegetable medley on baked potatoes, turkey burgers or anything else I could find. I usually will eat more veggies than anything else he grills.

4.) Jason also has mastered grilling portabella mushrooms. I have tried them at several restaurants but no one comes close to what he can do. Again, if he cooked like this all the time I would be a vegetarian (or something close). Though I really enjoy a nice grilled steak to go totally vegan.

5.) Now if I ask nicely, especially for my birthday, my mother-in-law will make me her green chile enchiladas. Which are amazing. She has taught me how to make them but I am pretty sure hers still taste way better than what I can produce!

6.) My mom is an amazing cook. She definitely knows her way around the kitchen. However, she cooks with her nose meaning she knows what to add and how much by using her sense of smell. Which I did not inherit. One of my favorite foods that she cooks is roast with mashed potatoes. There is nothing like eating her roast when you need that home cooked meal. It is one of the ultimate comfort food.

7.) Another favorite for me is Papa Murphy's Margarita chicken pizza (I think that's what its called). It has chicken, spinach, a cream sauce and feta cheese. It is one of the best tasting pizzas. However, I am the only one in our house who will eat it and I could eat the whole thing without thinking. Its not something I can get unless I have a plan on how I can share it with someone else.

8.) A new favorite lately is frozen yogurt, especially strawberry. I am very fond of the Healthy Choice frozen Greek Yogurt and the TCBY Frozen yogurt bars. Definitely worth trying. It is a great low calorie treat.

9.) For drinks my favorite drink is a nice margarita. In fact, I miss having my Margarita Fridays. The best day of the week. There is nothing like kicking back with a friend, enjoying a margarita and catching up or letting go of the past weeks stress. When it comes to a margarita I prefer a salt rim and it to be on the rocks. I also like the beer - a - rita. The best one of those is in Ruidoso at Lucy's. They make one that has a corona beer chaser which is awesome. Though the margarita itself is the size of 4 regular margaritas plus the beer so you either should plan to share or definitely have a designated driver! And I guess really a margarita isn't a food but hey if ya haven't eaten it could be considered the best dang appetizer!

10.) Now my last favorite food would anything with coconut. Not sure why I love coconut but I do. I love coconut cake, coconut ice cream, and coconut pie. I prefer coconut milk over regular milk and I absolutely love coconut water. So, coconut would definitely be one of my top ten favorites!

So these are my 10 favorite foods. Some I can enjoy often and some I will always wish I could enjoy once again. Life is too short not to find different foods to enjoy. The key is not to do it in an unhealthy way. Though I battle with being a stress eater. I work hard not to over do it except on a rare occasion. Enjoy life eat a little and savor the foods you love, I know I will!

31 Day Blog Challenge: Say 6 - Three Personality Traits I am Proud of

And on to day six. I am kicking butt at this! Probably not, but in my own world I am rocking this blog challenge. I imagine there are many more blogs that are more entertaining than this challenge I have chosen but this isn't about writing to impress for me its actually just making sure I take the time to write each day. This challenge has made me do that. Anyways on to the topic for today.

Three Personality Traits that I am proud of owning? Wow. My first thought is, "What is considered a personality trait?" So the teacher in me decided to Google it. I know what a geeky thing to do, but I don't want to get it wrong! (LOL) So, the site I looked at talked about asking your self two main questions, "What do I like?" and "What am I?" Interesting to think about. It goes on to express that traits are actions, attitudes and behaviors that we posses. Okay, so this gives me something to go on...I think.

I would say one trait that I am proud of is my ability to love the middle school aged kid. This is one of the hardest ages to love. They are literally a walking basket case full of raging hormones. However, I spend every day laughing and loving this age of child. Now don't get me wrong, there are students who push and test me all the time. I just have to remind myself that these are the ones that most often need more love or attention than they are getting from other places in their lives. One of the greatest gifts is to let a student know that they are cared for and that someone believes in them. Once they realize that you mean it they will do what they can to impress you. This is the most challenging of ages and most often its the age most want to ignore. But when you choose to ignore it or avoid it you are missing out on watching how this person is choosing who they will be. It may not be their finalized draft, but they are definitely testing out who they are and where they belong. This is the 2nd age that they need us the most. Having the patience and the willingness to just listen to them is a trait that I feel I am blessed to have.

My second trait that I am proud of is my loyalty. I am a loyal person. If I commit to you my love and friendship I am committed. I am in it for the long hall. I will do what I can, when I can to help in any manner that is possible. I will stand beside you. I will not let you stand in the rain alone. If I have the capability to help you then I want to do so. I do not want to stand on the sidelines and watch you struggle. Once I commit to being your friend I am there. However, I am usually there till you deem it unnecessary, which usually leaves me in a state of hurt and confusion. I am not one to walk out or give up.

My third trait that I am proud of is I don't give up easily if at all. Given a task I will give my all and do my best to make it succeed. I was not born with a "I can't" or "I don't know how" attitude. Once I have set my mind on something I will use every resource feasible to make sure that I accomplish the task before me. Once I have committed to something I usually don't back down. I will usually see it succeed. I don't really have a tolerance or an understanding of an attitude or mind set that is based on "I don't know how" or "I can't," those thoughts do not occur to me. When I finally give up on something it is not for the lack of trying, but usually I can't get the support to help me succeed or the pathways I have chosen are not leading me to the result. Typically I will look for help because I am not afraid to ask. I would rather ask than give up knowing I really never made much of an effort. That would not do my soul justice.

So those are three personality traits that I hold dear to my heart. Okay its late and I am tired! Til' tomorrow. Peace!