Wednesday, September 28, 2011

What I'm Loving Wednesdays

I was inspired by my friend Katie to do one of these (check out her witty blog here)...so.


1. TV shows that make me laugh OUT LOUD  : )

The Middle- a humorous look at a middle-class American family. The middle child Sue is so awkward but determined. Cracks me up every time. In the episode tonight, the parents had to duct tape the dishwasher and stuff the cracks with towels to run it (who hasn't had broken appliances you couldn't replace for awhile?)


It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia- I know this isn't new, but I'm only just now finding out about it. It's like a version of Seinfeld, updated. It has the guy from Horrible Bosses, with the unusual voice. Yes please. I think everything he says is funny.


2. My Smoothies

My new concoction for smoothies now is a frozen fruit mix, then I mix it with berries or whatever I have. No milk, yogurt or anything else. It feels so fresh and delicious!

The frozen fruit mix is very tasty:
3 medium bananas
1/2 cup sugar
2 cans crushed pineapple (with juice)
2 cups orange juice
2 cups ginger ale

 Mash bananas thoroughly. Add sugar and other ingredients (put in freezer).  I put in small tupperware cups so that I can take out one cup to thaw and put in blender with berries.


3. Volunteering

I finally found a volunteer opportunity that suites me well. I've tried packing food boxes, Christmas Angel, soup kitchen etc but did not feel any of them were my niche.

Helping teachers is what (I think) I'm good at!! Copying, bulletin boards, advice, resources! Plus I am a teacher, so I think like a teacher, so I try to organize things in ways that make sense to teachers! I've taken a few days off from subbing this week and am helping a new first grade teacher (started 6 weeks into school year as the school had to add another section due to large class sizes)..........I know for sure I am meant to help out any teachers I can so that they are not as stressed and can have more enjoyable days. yay.

4. British films

This is not new, but I've felt an extra urge this week to watch some of my favorites. Over the weekend I watched Bridget Jones and last week I rented The Holiday. I fast-forwarded through some of the scenes with Jack Black and Kate Winslet. I really just like the Cameron Diaz-Jude Law stuff in England. I love Jude Law in that movie--who's with me?! Adorable.

I also like Run Fat Boy Run, Wimbeldon, Love Actually, Notting Hill, About A Boy.......hmmmm...am I forgetting any? There is something about London movies that sucks me in. And New York movies. Love.




5. Personal Theme Songs

Do you remember ages ago on Ally McBeal when she had some personal theme song that would pop into her head, yadda yadda yadda, I forgot why and the rest of it but hey.

I had a personal theme song last year that I would listen to every day on the train going to work. It inspired me. It made me happy. It made me reflective. It made me want to be extraordinary.  That song lasted about a year as a sortof "favorite". Well more like a year and half, because I still play it alot.


Basically it's the closest thing to expressing my heart/soul/mind when I have no words that do it justice.


I love having a go-to song to wake me up/get me inspired/change my mood. Well I just love music. Singing, dancing in my living room, getting motivated at the gym, music while I'm on the computer.........anyway.


Do you have anything similiar to what I'm talking about? Am I crazy? (like Ally McBeal dance with ghost babies crazy?)

Here are a few that I remember from the past couple years:

Andvari by Sigur Ros for winding down, on the train after work:.......although I may have blurred my love for this song with my love for Robert Pattinson as this song was in Remember Me in a love scene. Should I admit that?
Hello by Martin Solveig & Dragonette to feel youthful : ) it's so great!


That should conclude my blog on music I love what I'm loving Wednesdays! Would love feedback on things mentioned above or things YOU'RE loving!



Monday, September 12, 2011

Goodbye British Army!!


2006-a wedding for one of his friends-
wow is my hair dark!

Today was my sweet le Rey's last working day with the British Army! He is officially out in a month, but during the next 4 weeks he is granted time to "transition" into civilian life. He said today is the day he's been waiting for because he doesn't have any more duties and can start sorting out the next chapter (our chapter!).  I so wish I was there to celebrate with him, but we are still organzing my visa paperwork. It's ok. After 3 deployments, and 3 safe returns, I won't complain about small stuff like that. 

As you may know, I have been waiting for basically as long as I've known le Rey for his army days to be over. 


I've been quite open and honest and verbal about this (when have I ever been quiet about anything, right?), but I also want to say (even though le Rey will probably not read this coz he doesn't go on the internet very much and would also probably not like this little post about him, the private guy that he is) that I am immensely proud of le Rey and what he accomplished.



There are many things I admire about his time in the army:
1)It was his dream and he went after it
2)His service during his deployments
3)His commitment and perserverance through all of his trainings, duties, office politics, wear on his body, etc
4)His courage to get out of the army to start a new chapter in his life (with me! no more time apart!)





I feel I have probably talked negatively more often than I talked positively about his career with the army, but I have told him, and will say again that it is amazing that he went after his dream! How many people can say that?! He moved at a young age to another country, found his way, waited (in a hostel for months upon months), made it through basic training & 7 years & deployments and did it well!

I am so thankful that we are finally here. As hard as it has been sometimes, we made the best of it and I can now see the growth in both of us (especially me) in regard to communicating with each other, patience, appreciation and love. What a difficult but rewarding journey it has been to get to this point. Nearly every day I have moments when I think of le Rey and smile. No matter the distance or barriers for us to speak to each other-I have always felt loved.

Goodbye Army! He's mine now!



Thursday, September 1, 2011

Fragrant Friend

I've seen other blogs with "Memory Monday" or "Wordless Wednesday".............but since I don't know all the in's and out's yet, I am going to do "Thankful Thursday".  It's always good to count your blessings, don't ya think?

I am thankful for good times with friends. 


The other night I had a great time with a friend. We were laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.


She and I have been friends since we were 15 or 16, and even through all the moving around (college, around the world, etc), we are still friends!  I like how she knows everything about me and accepts my idiosyncrasies.  She's so caring and understanding.

She's also super smart, determined and hard-working. She's a doctor!!  Can you even imagine all the work that goes into completing that degree??!!

When we were watching Toddlers & Tiaras the other night (um, don't act like you've never watched it.......), they were filming in Henderson, Nevada and I love that we have memories where I can say: "Henderson, uh-huh ya we went there." And she says "Ya we did!" all sassy-like. Add that to nights out, trips, shopping, relationship crap, and more and you get a lot of memories!!

We also had a lot of fun walking around the house in a "jazz walk" (like how dancers strut onto a stage before they dance). I may have pulled my calf muscle, but that's ok.

She's great.

Something that cracks me up about my friend is that she has an enormous amount of lotions and perfumes.

Don't get me wrong, this works out well.  She smells good all the time and always has lotion when others need it. 

But she really has a lot of lotion. If you don't believe me, have a look at the pictures I took for a laugh  proof.









 This does not include her purse, car or work, folks. hee hee


Love you girl!!!