Difficult day....

I've noticed a lot of posts in the blogosphere on life as a twenty-something lately.  It's rather refreshing to hear other people going through a lot of the same problems.  Sorta makes it feel as though we're all in this together....

Today was a difficult day.  I completely fell apart at work and found myself ducking into the bathroom so I could regain control of my emotions.  Unfortunately, this was after not one, but TWO of my co-workers saw my hasty entrance into said bathroom and wanted to ensure I was okay.  Which was sweet but I found myself struggling with what to say.  "Yes, I'm fine.  Just a bit emotional because I feel like I'm still waiting for my life to start.  Thanks for asking though." I think I went with the "I'm fine, just tired" card instead.  Which I suppose is partially true.

The problem is I'm not even remotely where I thought I would be at this point in my life.  Like most girls, I had it all planned out:  graduate college, get a job teaching kindergarten in a good school, find the love of my life, settle down and eventually start having babies.  Pretty fairytale life huh?  So far I can cross out graduating college.....and that's it.  Now I don't even know what I want in my life anymore.  I thought teaching was right for me, and it might still be, but lately, I just want a break from kids.  I'm burnt out.  I work three jobs, seven days a week, all of which are with children.  Don't get me wrong, I love children but when I was working my butt off in college, I didn't envision working in daycare for the rest of my life.  Nor did I expect to be working three jobs, yet still be living paycheck-to-paycheck.

I have some hard decisions to make this year and I am at a complete loss for what to do.  In the past three years, I have applied for over 900 teaching positions and still nothing.  We're coming up on the time of year where I need to start gearing up to apply for more.  With all the budget cuts, teaching jobs in the midwest are getting harder and harder to come by and I'm just not sure what I'm suppose to do.  Do I apply for jobs outside of the state I've lived in all my life?  Do I start looking into a different career?  What do I do in the meantime until I can figure all of this out?  And, most importantly, am I prepared enough/strong enough/brave enough to make these decisions?

I've been looking into other career choices lately too.  I loved planning events for the sorority in college and I think I have enough organizational skills that I could be a decent event planner.  I have also always loved children's literature, but I'm not sure what I would do with that yet.  I'm just not sure if I'm even suppose to leave the education field. 

Sometimes I wish I could just get a thirty-second glimpse of my life ten years down the road.  Just a quick peek to make sure I'm doing okay and maybe give me a clue on what I should be doing to get there.  Too bad life doesn't come with a crystal ball huh?

I guess I just didn't expect life to be this difficult.  As little girls, we're fed all these wonderful stories about life but the problem is, real-life isn't a fairytale.  Real life is hard.  It's confusing.  And let's face it, it's scary.  Despite all this, I'm going to continue to cling to the quote "everything happens for a reason."  I may not understand why things are the way they are right now and that's okay.  I just need to remember that there is a reason for it.

So What Wednesday!

I'm trying something new tonight and linking up with another blog.  I don't know this blogger personally so I don't know if this is kosher but I thought it sounded like fun! :)

Head over to Life After I "Dew" if you want to read what others are doing!

SO WHAT IF....

1.  I decided to hit the snooze button, ahem, three extra times today and went to work without washing my hair.  I've been exhausted lately and the extra sleep felt amazing!

2.  I just ate a quarter of the tube of cookie dough.  That stuff is twelve kinds of awesome!

3.  I stopped the photo a day challenge.  It was my challenge and I'll stop if I want to!  Besides, I've decided my life isn't exciting enough for a fun photo a day!

4.  I check my e-mail, facebook and blogs a million times a day.  I like to keep up with technology!

5.  I'd rather use a mechanical pencil over a pen.  I just like my handwriting better in pencil!

6.  I'm going to bed as soon as I post this.  As I said before, I'm exhausted!

Ahhhhh, it's the weekend!

I'd like to retract my previous statement.  Apparently, it can get colder!  Like -22 degrees colder and let's face it, that doesn't even factor in the wind!  Again, why do we live here?

So.......weekend plans!  Can I just say that today is the FIRST day I have had off since New Year's Day?  After working 19 STRAIGHT days at a combination of three jobs, I am thrilled that I have today off.  No, actually, thrilled doesn't even begin to describe it.  I'm esctatic! 

So, what have I done with my day so far?  SLEPT IN!  I'm sad to say that I got home from work last night, promptly changed into comfy clothes, made dinner and a drink (trust me, you would have too if you had that day I did!) and fell asleep on the couch.  By 8:30.  Yep, I'm proud!  After putting myself to bed at 9, I slept for the next twelve glorious hours.  And let me just say, it was Fab.u.lous!  Catching up on sleep is truly a perfect way to start a weekend! 

I have also called and caught up with my best friend, whom I have not spoken with for over a month.  Isn't it sad how life can get in the way of good friends?  Now, I'm enjoying a cup o'cafe and contemplating taking a shower.

Other plans for the weekend:

*  Lunch with Morgan (the work bff)

*  making a batch of cheesy potato soup to freeze

*  laundry

*  Meeting my new baby cousin

*  work meeting on Sunday (totally ruining a perfect weekend off!)

*  getting some vitamin D (aka....tanning)

It's shaping up to be a wonderful weekend!

Hello from the Frozen Tundra!

Could it possibly be any colder? 

 

This is what I found when I got out to my car tonight after work.  Seriously, it is currently -9 degrees (NEGATIVE NINE!!!) and DROPPING.  Factor in the wind and we're looking at -25 degrees.  BRRRRRRRRRRR!

Raise your hand if you're up for moving somewhere warmer! :)

Speaking of cold weather, last Friday we had our Winter Gala at work.  This is where the preschoolers put on a program for their parents.  I was put in charge of the backdrop and decorations and it all came together in the end!  The parents just loved seeing their babies up on stage! :)

I LOVE my walrus, although I can't take credit for it.  I stole borrowed the idea from Mrs. Jump.

The baby penguins had the names of all the preschoolers on their tummies.

Hard to see but it's a penguin mosaic on the blue paper.

If I lived in a snowglobe....

Alright, it's time to put on warm jammies and snuggle up in bed with lots of blankets!

I'm a cousin!

This post is a bit late but as the title states, I'M A COUSIN!!!!  On Monday (January 17th), my uncle and his wife welcomed baby Cole Bryan into the world!  Born at 7:48am, he weighed in at 9lbs, 10 oz.  Mommy and baby are doing great and I get to meet him this weekend!  

Now......let it be a known fact that I WANT kids someday.  I want there to be a couple mini-me's running around.  HOWEVER, I am a wimp.  When it comes to pain, well, let's just say, I have a hard time with menstrual cramps!  That being said, I am amazed that my aunt was able to go through 72 hours of labor WITHOUT any form of pain medication!  When that day comes for me someday, THERE WILL BE AN EPIDURAL!!!!  But a big congrats to Sherri for making it through.  

I am so excited to meet Cole this weekend!  I love babies and I just know that my uncle and aunt will be FABULOUS parents!

Congrats Bryan and Sherri and welcome to the world Cole! :)

 

My Daily Addictions

Everyone has something that they need to get them through a day.  I have quite a few and let me just say, without these things....I.AM.LOST!

Coffee

Man, oh man, without this I am not a whole person!  I become a crabby, unhappy, thirsty, TIRED girl.  Now if I were a millionaire, I would make a stop at Caribou every single morning!  Alas, as I am not, I usually make it at home, add half the container of creamer and go running out the door.  Voila!  Happy, AWAKE lady!

P.S.  How CUTE are the travel mugs in the picture above?  I'm thinking I need one!

KDWB Morning Show

I don't know what it is about this morning show but I've been listening to them since I was probably about 14.  They help me keep myself on track in the morning.  (I say on-track because let's face it, I have a hard time being on-time!)  And they're just plain entertaining.

 

Post-its

Seriously, I use these things ALL.THE.TIME!  My mind is constantly going and having a supply of post-its on hand helps me keep up! 

Carrie Underwood's "Play On" CD

This CD seriously ROCKS MY SOCKS OFF!!!!  I honestly listen to this CD at least once a day and it has taken up permanent residence in my car.  I love how the songs can soothe me on a bad/sad day and lift me up when I'm in a great mood!  I don't think I can even pick a favorite song on this CD....I LOVE THEM ALL!!

Cherry Pepsi (or Dr. Pepper)

By lunchtime I'm starting the downward slide on the energy front and a can of Cherry Pepsi seems to have the ability to perk me right up!  Now I know that a can of pop everyday is not the best thing for me but it keeps me going and that's all I care about! :)

My Computer

I LOVE my computer!  Whether I'm reading blogs, looking for teaching ideas, keeping up with friend's lives on Facebook, reading e-mails or (gasp) doing pratical things like paying bills, I'm on my computer MULTIPLE times a day!  In fact, there are nights that I seriously need to tell myself "no!  You don't get to turn on the computer tonight!" because if I do, I won't go to bed for hours!

And that's about it!  What are some of your must-haves to get you through the day?

Change the World....

Have you heard about the "church" who planned on protesting nine-year-old Christina Green's funeral?  Christina was the youngest victim of the Arizona shooting and her funeral happened today.  Apparently there is a "church" called the Westboro Baptist Church that goes around the country protesting at funerals of soldiers and high-profile people that would gain media attention.  They claim to be anti-homosexuality and, it would seem, anti-American.  Their original plan was to protest at Christina's funeral, but fortunately, they did not.  Hundreds of Tuscan citizens got together and created eight to ten foot angel wings that were to be worn by volunteers along the route of the funeral procession.  Their intent was to sheild the protesters from the view of the family.  A radio show decided to help the process further by offering radio airtime to the group in exchange for not picketing at the funerals of the victims. 

This makes me so sad.  It's sickening to think that there are people out there that think picketing a funeral is okay; especially a funeral of a brave soldier or an innocent child.  It makes me so mad that there are people like this in our world, attempting to gather followers in their little cult.  I'm so proud of the people of Tuscan who gathered together to try and stop this.  It shows that there are good people in the world and that if we all band together, we can change the world we live in. 

My heart goes out to the victims and their families.  It was such a senseless act and I hope America continues to band together to stop things like this from happening in the future. 

"You're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world. 

Don't listen to them when they say,

You're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change the world.

Oh the smallest things can make all the difference,

Love is alive, don't listen to them when they say,

You're just a fool, just a fool to believe you can change...

the world." 

~ Carrie Underwood "Change"

Dear February,

Can you pretty please hurry up and get here?  The people at Lifetime Fitness are trying to keep their New Year's resolutions to work out and thus making me go cah-razy by dropping off their massive amounts of children in the child center!  If you could just hurry up and get here, enough of them will have failed at keeping their resolutions that life will be back to normal!  Thanks so much! :)

In other news, Chloe got mail today.  Yes, you read that right....the CAT got mail.  Apparently when you're a new customer at Southview Animal Hospital they send you a card with a brochure telling you their info.  Attached to the card was a little catnip toy for Chloe.  She's thrilled!  Here are some pics to prove it:

She likes to throw it in the air and try to catch it.  HILARIOUS to watch!

  

Also, I realize I didn't post a picture yesterday for "A Year of Photos."  I took it but just forgot to post it!  As a result, you get TWO pics today.  Lucky you.

I found an idea online to make these so we decided to give it a try in Kindergarten.  They turned out super cute!

This is now hanging in my living room!  My roommate bought it on her way home from work yesterday and I love it!  The city is LA.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend thus far!  I'm off to make some cocoa (to hopefully help coax my voice back) and curl up to watch a movie!



A little ironic?

The radio station I listen to in the mornings does a segment called the "five-o'clock funnies" every morning.  Basically, they take 20-30 second clips of various comedians doing part of their routine.  As I woke up this morning, I heard someone talking about whispering.  It went something to the extent of this:

Isn't whispering weird and sorta creepy?  I mean really, a person can exclaim in a normal voice "I love kids" and no one thinks anything of it.  But now picture that same proclaimation in a whisper and you've got a serious creeper on your hands!

After hearing this, I got up for the day and promptly realized that I had lost my voice and would be whispering ALL. DAY. LONG.  To children.  Those of us who work with children know this:  the voice is the best tool!  Without a voice, the day can be pure chaos!  There's something about the teacher not having a voice that brings the NAUGHTY right out of children.  Fortunately, I got lucky.  It wasn't as chaotic today as I assumed it would be but it was still tough-going.  Here's to the weekend being here where I only have to work one job and can catch up on sleep a little bit.  Because really, being sick just sucks!

You Know You're From Minnesota When.....

You measure distance in minutes instead of miles.

You've had school cancelled because of snow or freezing temperatures.

You wear shorts and tanks in March when it's 50 degrees out but complain when the temperature dips below 60 degrees in August.

You drink POP and not soda or coke.

You know how to correctly say Shakopee and Wayzata.

You laugh everytime you hear about a snowstorm out east shutting down the entire coast.

You know at least 5 people who own a cabin.

You call highways "freeways"

And the number one way you know you're from Minnesota......

You take photos like this on your way home from work because even YOU are impressed with the amount of snow that has already fallen!

In other news, Chloe-cat got her stitches and staples removed today.  She wasn't too pleased to be back at the vet but seemed much happier when she realized she was going home with me.  She was also more than thrilled to be allowed to play in the bathtub again!  Crazy cat LOVES water!

(This is also my Photo of the Day!)

New Design!

Yep, that's right......there's a new design that took me MOST of the night to figure out!  This blogging stuff has gotten a whole lot more difficult than when I first started back in college!

Anywho......have you heard about the birds?!?!

Holy Hannah!  In Arkansas, on NYE, 3,000 black birds just randomly fell out of the sky....dead.  No one really knows why it happened but scientists are blamming NYE fireworks.  Apparently the fireworks caused the black birds to 'leave their roost' and the stress killed them. 

Are you buying this?  I'm not.......

Seriously?  The fireworks made ONLY the black birds leave their roost?  What about the rest of the birds? 

Then, I just heard on the news that in Louisana, this phenomenon happened again.  This time, about 600 different types of birds fell because they ran into a telephone line.  600 different birds ALL ran into the SAME telephone line AT THE SAME TIME???

Doubtful!

Moving on though.......I had a dinner of champions this evening!  While looking through my less-than-exciting fridge, I noticed that I had eggs that are due to expire this weekend.  Not wanting to waste food, I decided to create a meal involving eggs.  The result?  Fried eggs over toast.  Well at least that was the intention.  Everything started out great!  I had the eggs in the pan, happily frying themselves up.  But things started to get a little tricky when I went to flip said eggs.  Let's just say, it did not go to well.  At all.  So what started out as fried eggs, quickly turned into scrambled eggs.  Not wanting to give up however, and realizing I had a lot of eggs to finish, I set out to try one more time.....this time with ONE egg in the pan.  SUCCESS!  And the best part is that I'm pretty sure everything was thoroughly cooked!

First attempt at fried eggs...EPIC FAIL!

 Successful attempt!

The grand meal, complete with baby oranges (also known as cuties) and a glass of milk!

(This is also my pic of the day!)

Night all!

Confess Sesh!

That's right, it's time for another 'Confess Sesh!'

Things I'm willing to confess today......

(one)

I may or may not have had my 'crabby pants' on at work this morning.  And unfortunately for those around me, I couldn't have cared less.

(two)

My work BFF Morgan is heading on a 12 day vacay during which 7 of those days she'll be sitting on a cruise ship.  My little green-eyed monster is out in full swing!

(three)

I ate Kraft Mac and Cheese for lunch today......what makes it bad is that it was the Toy Story people.  Yes, I am three years old!

(four)

I didn't partake in Bloody Monday's today and I feel as though I have let my little British man down!

(five)

While picking kids up from school today, I noticed a VERY HOT gentleman outside the school.  I later found out he was the principal.

That's about all I've got today.  In other news, the resolutions are going well so far.  I drank more milk and water, took my photo of the day (see below), added an activity to my planner (thus, actually USING it) and even sent out thank you notes, which I really feel qualifies for the "send more cards' one.

Unfortunately.......

(six)

My bed hasn't been made since I made the resolution.......

I'm off to bed 'cause this girl is TIRED!

New Year......New You?

Happy New Year!

How was your New Years?  Mal and I headed up to Osseo to hang out with Bekah and Chad and let me just say it was a blast!  Highlights include playing dicecapades and Bonanza (more commonly known as BEAN FARMER!), drinking and celebrating the new year at Duffy's.

Havin' fun already! :)

This was a gift from one of my kindergarteners!

BEST GIFT EVER!

Sweetest hats ever!

All-in-all, it was a great New Years!

Now......dum-dum-dum-dum DUM......it's resolution time.

(one)

Get a better hold on my finances! 

This one is going to require organization and that I actually MAKE some money!  With three jobs, I'm thinking I should be fine! :)

(two)

Send more cards

Let's face it....everyone likes to get mail and no, I'm not talking about bills!  I'm going to send more birthday cards, anniversary cards and just because cards this year!

(three)

Use my gym membership more often!

This means I may actually have to gasp.....WORKOUT!  I tend to use the membership strictly in the summer for the pool.....this year, I'm going to actually try to workout more often.  And no, I'm not going to put a number as to how many times per week....that just seems like setting myself up for failure! :)

(four)

Make my bed more often

Does anyone else have this problem?  I NEVER make my bed.  Oh, there are times when I may quick pull the covers up but actually make it?  Um....only when people come over!  This year, my goal is going to be to actually make it (decorative pillows and all) more often......at least 3-4 times a week!

(five)

Keep my room clean for longer than 3-4 days.

I have this problem where I'll clean my room and it will stay clean and organized for a few days.  And then......life happens.  With my life being so busy, I find that at the end of the night, I come home and just fall into bed.  This means clothes are left EVERYWHERE, there are constantly piles of mail on my desk and cups seem to just stack up.  This year, I'm going to take the extra few minutes to quick put things away when I get home so that my room can stay clean and organized!

(six)

Use my planner....ALL YEAR!

I love to organize and I LOVE planners.  But I notice that I tend to use one for a few months and then I just stop.  And that's when my life starts to get out of control.  This year, I'm going to CONSISTANTLY use it ALL YEAR!

(seven)

Highlight my hair

I have never dyed or highlighted my hair......ever!  I hate how dark it gets in the winter though and I have been toying around with highlighting it for the past three winters.  I think this is the year! :)

(eight)

Take a picture every day for the entire year.

I read an article somewhere about a lady who decided to take at least one picture a day for an entire year.  In the end, she had a great picture journal of her year and had a blast taking different types of pictures.  I think this sounds like so much fun!  My goal is simply to take one picture a day...some might be creative, some might be just for fun.  We'll see where this goes!  Here's today's picture:

"These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!"

(nine)

Spend more time with my grandparents

One of my sets of grandparents lives about 10 minutes away from me, yet I never see them.  My goal is to drop by and see them more often....maybe on Dancing with the Stars nights! :)

(ten)

Drink more milk and water.

Should be easy enough.....oh wait, this is me we're talking about.  This one is going to require a conscious effort on my part!

And that's that!  What are some of your resolutions? 

Happy 2011!