Summer Song

For the past few years there seems to be a song that comes out in the spring and then by summer it is THE song. You know the one that you crank up the volume to and drive with your windows down and can't stop dancing too. Last summer for me it was this song and at times I still can't sit still when I hear it. Enjoy... http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=157700



What will this summer's song be? I am anxious to know.

My little getaway

This past Friday I headed to Arizona for a long weekend. I really needed a break from life here. I was visiting my college roommate, Tracy. We lived together all 4 years and now she is married and has 3 kids of her own.

My time there was pretty busy. I was able to see the area where the Superbowl was held, it's called Westlake. We walked around the stores, had coffee outside in the 70 degree heat, and sat and listened to a girl perform for the spectators. Another day we took a 3 1/2 hour hike up a mountain with a 4, 2, and 1 year old. That was a crazy experience! We ate a picnic lunch at the top of it, threw rocks, searched for lizards, and used lots of patience with the kiddos!

It was fun to drive around and enjoy the warm breeze and take in the view of the mountains. It was quite peaceful. Tracy and I hit up a few malls and parks for the kids. A huge highlight was getting the pleasure to eat at In-N-Out 2 times while I was there!!! Those burgers, fries, and shakes are too good to pass up if you are by one.

One night I met up with my best friend from high school. We lost contact over the years and I hadn't seen her in 12 years. So that was great fun getting to hang out with her and catch up on life.

While I was there, I forgot what it was like to be cold since I got a bit burnt and were outside all the time. I soon remembered as I walked off the plane and felt that cold draft come before I even got outside. Thankfully spring will be here next week...right?!?!

Chicks, cars, and service men

Story#1

For about 2 weeks I needed to get a few things for my car. The first necessary component was purchasing new tires. This is quite a costly endeavour but it had to be done. I was recommended to try this tire shop because they had great deals. I am always looking for a bargain so I headed right over. The sales guy was informative and was ranting and raving about a particular tire. So I decided to go with his suggestion. Four days later I am driving up to Elgin at 6:30 a.m. and my tire pressure light goes on in the car. I pull over and check everything out...no flat...that was good news. So I would do what any normal person does and head to a gas station to check the tire pressure and fill up on air. After I do that I reset the tire pressure light and I am good to go.

Later that night I am driving home and what starts flashing and ringing...the low tire pressure light. Now I didn't mind it the first time because with the cold air and what not the pressure drops, but twice in the same day was not cool. Unfortunately the tire shop wasn't open or I would have gone straight there. So the next day I take it there and the same guy who sold me my tires is assisting me. He runs out to the car and checks the tire pressure and told me that I put 2 pounds extra in a few of the tires. I am thinking, big deal. So he continually repeats his story and is trying to tell me that the light is on because there is too much air. HELLO....I am not an idiot. The light in my car doesn't go on because of too much air but because of too little. Then he says, but one of them is below the air level, would you like us to look at it? Hell yes I want you to look at it. So after sitting for over an hour another guy comes to talk to me. The way he started the conversation was in a way that he was accusing me that I did something wrong. After getting some clarification, he ended up saying that when I got the tires put on the car the worker must have forgotten to put the seal around my tire and scrape my rim. I wasn't too happy to hear that they just didn't do the appropriate work after I paid them a chunk of change.

Story #2

The next thing I needed to buy were some windshield wipers. I had gone to Walmart to purchase them (they would be about $13), but they were out of the size I needed. I did my research and knew what size and which brand were recommended for my car. On my way to school I thought if I saw any auto stores I would stop in and pick up the wipers. So I headed into this auto store where a worker was more than happy to assist me. He looked up in his computer my car type and all that to find the info, despite me already telling him the size and brand that was needed. (I am aware that I don't need that particular brand, most will do). So I see him bring up a whole listing of wipers and then tells me that ones I need will cost me $25. I said well is there anything cheaper and he said only the plastic ones for $3.

Ok, now I am ticked off. This is twice in a week where I feel like it is one of those situations where men are trying to rip me off or not do their job because I am a woman and don't know what they are talking about. I wanted to go over and smack some sense into these workers. Needless to say I didn't purchase any wipers from that store.

Spring will soon be here

With baseball season approaching soon, I can't help but think that spring is on the way. For the past two years I have had the privilege of attending many Chicago White Sox games, since my dad purchased season tickets. I loved going down to chi town, grabbing some great Maxwell Street food, creating memories with friends and family, and enjoying a beautiful day at the game.

This year no season tickets were bought, so this wonderful experience won't occur as much, but I still go to a few games. I might even hit up some spring training which would be fun! Go Sox!

Manners, people...C'mon

Some people just don't say please or thank you and frankly, I think it is rude!! Why can't you be polite and acknowledge when someone did something for you or you are requesting something to be done?

I went to the store and purchased one item but bought 6 of them. So when the clerk told me the price I informed her that I bought more than that. She simply said, oh they must have been stuck together and carried on with her business. Not a thank you or I appreciate your honesty. People like her make me not want to speak up next time and just rip the store off since it was their mistake to begin with.

A please or thank you or even a friendly smile can go a long way!!!!

GREAT NEWS!

I passed my APT state exam for my IL teaching certificate. YES!!!! I cannot tell you how relieved I was to find out that I passed. Let me tell you the anxiety I was experiencing all day, well pretty much sucked. To find out that I don't have to retake it and relive stress, headaches, and pressure was such a relief!

Thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement...I wouldn't have made it through with out you. Now to just finish up classes and teach for a month and have that license. The end is in sight.

Change

Sometimes I embrace it, sometimes I am scared of it, sometimes I look forward to it, sometimes it makes me anxious, sometimes I don't know how to handle it, and sometimes it confuses me.

This is the season I am in.

Next holiday

Valentine's Day is less than a week away! A great idea for a little treat to give to coworkers, your child's class of students, or friends and family are cupcakes!!! It is not too late to order gourmet cupcakes. Two festive cupcake that go well with Valentines Day are "White Chocolate Raspberry" and "Double Chocolate". Check out www.crazydeliciouscupcakes.com to see more flavors and how to order.

xoxoxoxo

Complete Randomness

I am wondering when I can hang up the boots for the winter! I think we've gotten plenty of snow this winter....

It is frustrating when I have worked hard on eating healthy and working out and have plateaued for a month. I am trying to stay positive, but sometimes when you don't see the results I am ready to give up.

I feel like I am out of clothes to wear this winter. As a girl, I go through this a couple of times a year. Yet I do have a whole closet full of great clothes. This winter I have not been interested in wearing any my sweaters so my wardrobe is limited. So what needs to happen? Spring needs to come!

And there looks like a bunch of good movies coming out on Valentine's Day. Wahoo!

State exam

At school today I was talking with a professor about taking my final state exam this past Saturday. Ok, the exam was KILLER hard. Many people I spoke with that had already taken the exam said that it was a breeze and nothing to worry about. But since I know that I take tests differently and like to be super prepared, I still went all out by purchasing a study guide and questioning those who have already taken the exam. Going in I felt very prepared and like I was ready to conquer. Those feelings soon changed as I began reading the questions. I struggled through the entire thing! It was draining, frustrating, and time consuming. While I was testing I couldn't help but think about those who said that it was a piece of cake. Did I miss something? Did I study the wrong thing? Where did I go wrong? Why do I have to be the only one not getting this test? I felt that I was lacking or inadequate.

As I was sharing some of my experience with this professor she told me that she heard from several others that the exam was hard too! When she said this, I was so relieved. I was grateful to hear that I wasn't the only one who had a difficult time. I almost wanted to kiss her because I felt so comforted. I was not alone in how I was feeling or what I experienced. I was so thankful and this put me at ease. So when I get the results back in a month and find out that I might have to retake it, I won't feel stupid, alone, or that I failed.

A year ago

It is weird to think that one year ago the Bears were headed to the Superbowl. That was such an exciting time for Chicago and for me (since I love football). I can remember the rush of feelings and anxiousness of Superbowl Sunday approaching. At the time I was teaching and the Friday before the big game everything in class was related to football; food, activities, attire... We had so much fun! As this years Superbowl approaches, there is not much excitement or anticipation. I will most likely watch the game and I am hoping for not an annihilation but for some competition.

But overall, I really do wish the Bears were in it again.

If you wouldn't mind

Tomorrow is the big day! My last state exam. I am anxious, nervous, can't wait until it is finished, feel slightly confident, thankful it will be over tomorrow...As I have reminded myself this week by praying and reaffirming myself with Scripture please pray that God will give me peace, confidence, and wisdom in order that I can accomplish this task in front of me (pray that I pass too!).

Thanks

LIFE.....

I find it interesting how through out your life you go through seasons. Some are hard and some are easy. Some are enjoyable and some are sad. I am in a season of being stretched and tested. It is exhausting, frustrating, and draining, but with out sounding too "Christiany", I am glad that my hope is in Christ. I know that when I come out of this season, I will be strong and well equipped for the next step in God's plan. I am constantly reminding myself to take one day at a time. And I repeatedly say to myself that God has a plan for my life, one to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me a hope and future. Those words I have close to my heart. Sometimes songs speak more clearly than I can express, some lyrics that I find myself singing are "Oh no You never let go, through the calm and through the storm, oh no You never let go every high and every low, oh no You never let, Lord, You never let go of me...There will be an end to these troubles, but until that day comes, still I will praise You!"

TV/movies

Kind of funny that the GB and NYG game was played in 24 below temps and the Superbowl will be played in the 60s. I would have enjoyed seeing the Packers play the Pats, but I do like that both Manning brothers play in back to back Superbowl games.

A part of me is missing, since 24 is not on!

"27 Dresses"....I loved!!!! A great chick flick to start off my year.

There are no shows on this season that I am super excited about. I am anxiously waiting for the return of "The Hills"! I am also looking forward to "Big Brother" and "The Inferno or Gauntlet" (whatever MTV is calling it) starting up again.

Driving

Do you ever wonder how you get from one place to the next? I can't figure out how my foot knows the exact pressure to put on the gas pedal in order to obtain a certain speed and stay at that limit, which eliminates me from looking at the speedometer. Does it ever seem to you like your car just knows where it is going? There have been days where I am totally preoccupied with my thoughts but end up where I need to be and wonder, how in the world did that happen?

Random thoughts....

Update

School is starting up again this week. I am not looking forward to this, but I realize that it gets to me closer to the end of my school journey and boy does that bring a smile to my face! So I will be taking 3 classes and in the midst of that preparing to take my final state exam.

I feel blessed to be able to have a job where I work when I can, that would be nannying and tutoring. An exciting thing happened this past week. A family called and asked me to tutor their child, but what is so great is that the class that I took last semester are the some of the exact tools I needed to assist this student. I am not sure I would have been able to help this student to the fullest, but now I feel confident and have an idea of where to begin and what to do. Yeah!

Back on track

After being sick for about a week and my body recovering, I have not been able to work out. Now granted, I couldn't imagine exercising while not feeling well, but then on the road to recovery I kind of enjoyed skipping out on my workout. Isn't it easy to fall out of a habit instead of picking one up...usually?

Since I am feeling great, I knew that it was time to get back into the workout routine. In a weird way I was kind of looking forward to it because my body was use to it and I knew that it will help me stay healthy and get fit. This morning I did it. And boy, it felt good. Tomorrow I may be a little sore, but that doesn't bother me one bit. These words of "looking forward" to a workout I thought would NEVER come out of my mouth. Since this habit has now been in place for a while it wasn't nearly as bad to get back into this routine.

Here we go again!

There were 3 major state exams that I needed to take while I am finishing my state certification. In November I took 2 of them and I just decided to take the 3rd one at the end of January. They are crazy intense and don't want to take it so soon, but I am also thinking that I will be done and over with them and won't have to think about it again, if all goes well. If you think of me pray that God would give me wisdom and peace! I am also hoping that my study guide will come quickly so I can get a jump on the action!!!

Money IS the root of all evil

There are days when this phrase is ringing in my ears loud and clear. Today happens to be one of those days!!! If anyone knows me, they know that I am a very careful spender...some may even call me cheap. I am very aware of how much money I have and I like to make smart decisions on how to spend my hard earned money. As a student I am working hard to survive and enjoy life. There are days like today that I just wish I didn't have to worry about every freaking nickel, penny, and dime!

I am dreaming of the day when I don't have to decide between getting a Starbucks drink or picking up fast food for lunch. I am dreaming of the day when I can go on a vacation and not have had to save up for it over a few months. I am dreaming of the day when I can go shopping a drop a few hundred dollars and it not be a problem. I am dreaming of the day when I don't have to worry about money. I guess I will have to keep dreaming. I am reminded that all these "dreams" are wants and things that I don't have to have but sure would love to have and enjoy. I don't think God has planned my life to always have to live paycheck to paycheck. I am not doubting that living this way has taught me things like good spending habits, how to live debt free...but there will come a day (I am confident of this, but don't have a clue how it will happen) when I will be able to celebrate my dream!

A penny for your thoughts.

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! My new year is starting off right with a drink and treat from Starbucks! Although it is sad to see that their holiday cups are gone, something new and fresh lies ahead.


Last year I made a list of things I would like to accomplish through out the year. I am pleased to say that I accomplished most of them. I really like this idea and am going to try it again for 2008. Some of the things might be ones from last year (I liked them so well I couldn't get rid of them) but there are a few new ones in there too.


-make a new friend
-take a trip to Vegas for my birthday
-be more consistent with my God time
-continue to work out 3 times a week
-take a risk
-go parasailing
-help someone in need
-discover more of who I am and what that means
-keep my car cleaner


I may have forgotten a few...I will add them if I think of them. Have you made any "resolutions", what are they?