I saw two things today that really made me wonder about people:
1. A computer store named "Puter Place." I can't put my finger on it, but I just don't like it.
2. A guy standing outside an office building on his smoke break with a shirt on so tight it was gaping between the buttons. He had to have weighed 110 lb. soaking wet and looked rather stylish, but his shirt was entirely too tight.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
You're Not Going To Believe This!
Remember when I said I wanted this purse...
Well, you're not going to believe this! I was reading about it more on etsy and it's only 15 inches across. Which means the bag is probably smaller than your computer screen! And you're never going to believe what the seller says. And I quote: "The pictures shown on model may vary from what you expect due to the size of model(s)." It's made in Malaysia, but are the people there really THAT small? I never knew.
I think I'm just going to make one. Or attempt to make one. Which means I'll be making my own pattern to some extent. This should be an adventure!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Blunder of My Life
I lost my keys almost a month ago. I actually have a post saved about losing them, but I kept typing cuss words so I thought I better just cool my jets and not post it. Here's the short version- one of my best friends was having her wedding reception. I was the one putting together the days relaxation for her- pedis, lunch, then getting ready together while munching on little snacks. I ran to the mall to check in with the nail salon and grab a cami for my dress. I really only stopped in two stores, breezing through a few more asking if they had a certain cami then heading to the next shop. When I got ready to pay I realized my keys were gone. I backtracked through the store so sure I would find them. But they weren't there. So I backtracked through the mall- for about TWO HOURS looking for them. I was in a panic. The silver lining was that the automatic key had fallen off the week before so I could get in and out of my car. No problem- one quick call to my bestie and they were pulling through the parking lot to pick me up. Day salvaged. I smiled all day (on the inside freaking out that I had lost every key known to man including keys to my school.) So the next day I called the mall security but still no keys. I actually called them so many times they got short with me. I was freaking out by then, but I had a few errands to run for TJ so out I head with TJ's keys to my car. The day was going just fine until I got home. The house key was on the side of TJ's keys he had kept- in OKC- at the fire station I had just driven to to take him homemade chocolate chip cookies. Enter my moma- she had a set of house keys to our house and she brought them after a very long layover for me at Subway with a baby past her naptime.
These kinds of situations have gone on continually for a month. TJ and I had honestly almost forgot they were gone. Yes, it was annoying, but bareable by this point. Until Wednesday. During our staff meeting our assistant principal announced she has a great story. She proceeded to tell how the district office had called her and said there was a set of keys that Sooner Mall had traced back to my school district. The keys were then traced back to my school. They were then traced back to my room number. I have no idea how all of that played out, but I am so thankful that someone decided to work so hard to get my keys back.
So the prodigal keys have returned! Bring the fatted calf. We're having a party!
These kinds of situations have gone on continually for a month. TJ and I had honestly almost forgot they were gone. Yes, it was annoying, but bareable by this point. Until Wednesday. During our staff meeting our assistant principal announced she has a great story. She proceeded to tell how the district office had called her and said there was a set of keys that Sooner Mall had traced back to my school district. The keys were then traced back to my school. They were then traced back to my room number. I have no idea how all of that played out, but I am so thankful that someone decided to work so hard to get my keys back.
So the prodigal keys have returned! Bring the fatted calf. We're having a party!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Streams of consciousness
Today was the first day of school. My feet are aching. And I'm blogging. I should be working on my seating chart layouts and tweaking my lesson plans for tomorrow, but I need a minute to just be Amanda and not Mrs. Aragon. But first I'll say today was wonderful. Maybe the best first day I've had. The little ones were delightful, everyone got on the right bus, and they loved The Kissing Hand.
I feel like I have two (or three) personas in my head swimming around. There's Mrs. Aragon, the teacher, the moma, and then Amanda. I love them all, but some days it's really hard to be true to all three of them. Of course, if you're a moma you know that the "just you" version of you fades into the background. Someday you love it, some days you loathe it. Then there's the whole stay at home mom vs. working mom debate. Truthfully, I think everyone wants a piece of what they're not doing. Kinda like the straight haired girls all want curls and the brunettes want to be blondes. It seems the grass is always greener on the other side and I will admit that last night I cried like a little baby that I was leaving for work today and leaving Faith with someone else to watch after her.
There are only two resolutions I have done a really crappy job with- drinking less DDP and losing weight. They're related, I'm sure. In my defense I do drink A LOT more water, usually more water than DDP. But the losing weight part has wholly sucked. I'm teaming up with a friend at work and we've created a plan. A secret plan. A plan that's sure to work (cross your fingers) to make my final resolution come to fruition. I'm sure pumped and it starts September 1st. Look for a more slender version of me coming soon. Because now I've said it out loud. And I don't want to look like a big quitter so I have to stick with it.
Last night Faith fell out of her bed. And not just fell out of her bed. We woke up to her screaming last night. TJ ran in and all he saw was her little feet- she had fallen in between her bed and her nightstand head first and was wedged in there! How scary!!!! She is fine, not even a bruise, but it was definitely one of those "hold your breath" moments.
I think thats it. I cleared my mind and got it off my chest. Now back to seating charts.
I feel like I have two (or three) personas in my head swimming around. There's Mrs. Aragon, the teacher, the moma, and then Amanda. I love them all, but some days it's really hard to be true to all three of them. Of course, if you're a moma you know that the "just you" version of you fades into the background. Someday you love it, some days you loathe it. Then there's the whole stay at home mom vs. working mom debate. Truthfully, I think everyone wants a piece of what they're not doing. Kinda like the straight haired girls all want curls and the brunettes want to be blondes. It seems the grass is always greener on the other side and I will admit that last night I cried like a little baby that I was leaving for work today and leaving Faith with someone else to watch after her.
There are only two resolutions I have done a really crappy job with- drinking less DDP and losing weight. They're related, I'm sure. In my defense I do drink A LOT more water, usually more water than DDP. But the losing weight part has wholly sucked. I'm teaming up with a friend at work and we've created a plan. A secret plan. A plan that's sure to work (cross your fingers) to make my final resolution come to fruition. I'm sure pumped and it starts September 1st. Look for a more slender version of me coming soon. Because now I've said it out loud. And I don't want to look like a big quitter so I have to stick with it.
Last night Faith fell out of her bed. And not just fell out of her bed. We woke up to her screaming last night. TJ ran in and all he saw was her little feet- she had fallen in between her bed and her nightstand head first and was wedged in there! How scary!!!! She is fine, not even a bruise, but it was definitely one of those "hold your breath" moments.
I think thats it. I cleared my mind and got it off my chest. Now back to seating charts.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Mr. Sandman, Bring Me Some Tissues
Ladies and Gentlemen, the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
A little girl named, let's call her, Paith, suddenly became scared to death of her bed. She woke up one morning happy as a lark and at 2:00 that afternoon went into fits of hysteria as her daddy, we'll call him CJ, put her down for a nap. He followed her routine, the routine she had set herself, but to no avail. She wailed. She screamed. She cried out "Whoa Baby" in moments of delirium (not kidding, she really did). Her parents, CJ and Namanda were unnerved and perplexed. How could their little Paith have had a change of heart so suddenly about her wonderful bed? See, you have to understand, little Paith had slept through the night 98% of the time since she was FIVE WEEKS OLD. She told us when she was tired, got her cozy (blanket) and baby and stood at her bed at nap and bedtime on her own. And worse than that, little Paith's parents had slept through the night 98% of the time since she was FIVE WEEKS OLD. They were accustomed to and relished in their child's sleep patterns. And now, NOW, little Paith was creating a hitch in their getalong. And they had no idea what to do. So Namanda, little fickle Namanda, turned to a social networking site, we'll call it LaceBook, with a cry for help. And boy, did she open the floodgates. People from every end of the parenting spectrum gave their 2 cents (sometimes their nickels and dimes, as well) as to how Namanda and CJ should gain control of this situation. And truthfully, they tried them. Pretty much all of them. They rocked, they sang, they swayed, they forced he to cry it out, they turned on a nightlight, they used music, etc. But again, no dice. Paith just wasn't going to sleep in that little jail cell of a crib any longer. She would sleep in the guest room, in her parent's room, in her room on a mattress, but not that darn crib. That darn crib that cost a pretty penny, an arm, and a leg and that converted into a toddler bed that she wasn't having either.
Namanda and CJ quickly realized that the only people that knew little Paith well enough to make a decision about her was them. They had been a part of her evolving patterns since the beginning. That it was more important to listen to their child's needs than to adhere to a certain parenting style that required an A+B=C method. So that's what they did. With the help of another website, we'll call it Pegslist, they were able to obtain a big girl bed for Paith, who doesn't seem so little anymore, sadly. They laid down with her at night and started a new routine that made her feel safe and comfortable. They did stay with her until she fell asleep and sucessfully (and sometimes not so successfully) rolled out of her bed and tiptoed out to the living room. Because Paith wasn't trying to control or manipulate them. She was scared. Of what? They don't know. But they knew their daughter enough to know the difference. And because Paith will only need or want them to read bedtime stories and sing to her for so long. Then she'll be too old or too cool for that. And they choose to cherish those moments, even if they rearrange CJ and Namanda's evenings totally. And the house doesn't get picked up. And they trip on Diego and Dora when they get up in the morning.
And guess what? Three days ago, Namanda read Paith the Bible, sang her a song and walked out. She expected waterworks, screaming, and banging on the door. Little Paith got out of bed, walked to her door and stopped. She turned around, crawled back into her bed, and fell asleep. I cried. I mean, Namanda cried. Because she was doing it on her own. She was overcoming something that even she thought she couldn't. That we weren't sure if she could. How brave of my little 19 month old angel. I don't know that I've ever been prouder of her.
And if I can be honest, I cried because now she doesn't want or need to be rocked, that now she climbs up into her twin sized bed with a real quilt and pillow and says "Bible" and waits for me to read to her. That she's no longer a baby, that she can "pee bee" in the potty and tells me "no way" and "I want one, pretty please." I cried tears of joy for her and mourning for myself.
So, do I think all those people on Facebook were wrong? Do I think all the things they did or tried with their babies was just BS and they need to adhere to our method? No. I just think that you are the expert on your little Paith. And they are the expert on their little Paith. And that we should all give ourselves a little more credit than we do, cut ourselves and our babies some slack, and breathe.
A little girl named, let's call her, Paith, suddenly became scared to death of her bed. She woke up one morning happy as a lark and at 2:00 that afternoon went into fits of hysteria as her daddy, we'll call him CJ, put her down for a nap. He followed her routine, the routine she had set herself, but to no avail. She wailed. She screamed. She cried out "Whoa Baby" in moments of delirium (not kidding, she really did). Her parents, CJ and Namanda were unnerved and perplexed. How could their little Paith have had a change of heart so suddenly about her wonderful bed? See, you have to understand, little Paith had slept through the night 98% of the time since she was FIVE WEEKS OLD. She told us when she was tired, got her cozy (blanket) and baby and stood at her bed at nap and bedtime on her own. And worse than that, little Paith's parents had slept through the night 98% of the time since she was FIVE WEEKS OLD. They were accustomed to and relished in their child's sleep patterns. And now, NOW, little Paith was creating a hitch in their getalong. And they had no idea what to do. So Namanda, little fickle Namanda, turned to a social networking site, we'll call it LaceBook, with a cry for help. And boy, did she open the floodgates. People from every end of the parenting spectrum gave their 2 cents (sometimes their nickels and dimes, as well) as to how Namanda and CJ should gain control of this situation. And truthfully, they tried them. Pretty much all of them. They rocked, they sang, they swayed, they forced he to cry it out, they turned on a nightlight, they used music, etc. But again, no dice. Paith just wasn't going to sleep in that little jail cell of a crib any longer. She would sleep in the guest room, in her parent's room, in her room on a mattress, but not that darn crib. That darn crib that cost a pretty penny, an arm, and a leg and that converted into a toddler bed that she wasn't having either.
Namanda and CJ quickly realized that the only people that knew little Paith well enough to make a decision about her was them. They had been a part of her evolving patterns since the beginning. That it was more important to listen to their child's needs than to adhere to a certain parenting style that required an A+B=C method. So that's what they did. With the help of another website, we'll call it Pegslist, they were able to obtain a big girl bed for Paith, who doesn't seem so little anymore, sadly. They laid down with her at night and started a new routine that made her feel safe and comfortable. They did stay with her until she fell asleep and sucessfully (and sometimes not so successfully) rolled out of her bed and tiptoed out to the living room. Because Paith wasn't trying to control or manipulate them. She was scared. Of what? They don't know. But they knew their daughter enough to know the difference. And because Paith will only need or want them to read bedtime stories and sing to her for so long. Then she'll be too old or too cool for that. And they choose to cherish those moments, even if they rearrange CJ and Namanda's evenings totally. And the house doesn't get picked up. And they trip on Diego and Dora when they get up in the morning.
And guess what? Three days ago, Namanda read Paith the Bible, sang her a song and walked out. She expected waterworks, screaming, and banging on the door. Little Paith got out of bed, walked to her door and stopped. She turned around, crawled back into her bed, and fell asleep. I cried. I mean, Namanda cried. Because she was doing it on her own. She was overcoming something that even she thought she couldn't. That we weren't sure if she could. How brave of my little 19 month old angel. I don't know that I've ever been prouder of her.
So, do I think all those people on Facebook were wrong? Do I think all the things they did or tried with their babies was just BS and they need to adhere to our method? No. I just think that you are the expert on your little Paith. And they are the expert on their little Paith. And that we should all give ourselves a little more credit than we do, cut ourselves and our babies some slack, and breathe.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Resolution Check
Here's the short version of my resolutions so far this year:
1. Guests at the house- had our best friends (Corrie and Brent, Emily and TJ) over and go to know the new TJ in our life, Emily's husband! So much fun to watch the girls play together. I can't wait until Lundyn is here! Here's a little back story- our house still doesn't feel like our home to me very much. We've lived her almost a year, but it still seems like a rent house, almost. I'm trying to fill it with love, but I don't want to just fill it with furniture and call it good. It's hard for me to find a balance. Corrie's house (and the house she grew up in) makes you feel at home the minute you walk in. When we lived in the Quorum when we were both newlyweds our apt looked like a dorm room and Corrie and Brent's made you wanna sit down and talk with friends. Yesterday when Corrie came over she said that our house really felt like a home. It made my heart happy.
2. Guitar- we've been jamming a little. Practicing just worshiping God with songs that flow out of my heart. Awkward at first, but I've had some amazing time with God doing this. And, I just found out our long time friend's dad owns a guitar shop in the next town over. New strings? Don't mind if I do.
3. Weight- I bought that really popular book, Women, Food, and God. I'm not buying it. But the author said "Alot of people won't buy into this" so I feel like I have to keep reading. I don't want to be her stupid statistic. While we're on the topic, I feel like this is going to be my downfall forever. I have been chubby since I was like 2 years old. Part of me knows that I'll be overweight no matter what so I don't ever care if I weight more than slightly overweight. The other part of me knows I could stand to lose a substantial amount of weight and gets discouraged by that. The other part of me wants to lose weight and do what it takes. And the other part of me wants to eat chocolate cake. I'm contemplating doing WW again, but I hated those meeting so much I don't wanna go there. I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight which is good, but my pre pregnancy weight was a lot so that's not good. And while I'm on this topic even more, chubby girls don't want to work out. Ya know why? Because no one wants to be pitied while they're sweating like a dog on a treadmill. Admit it- you see a little skinny chic working out and you think "wow, she's really in shape, pretty, hot, etc." You see a chubby woman working out and you think "oh, poor thing." I could go on forever on this topic. I wish I could just be happy in my skin. But my skin ain't lookin' so hot, so there's that. Whatever. I'm over it.
4. Blog- yep.
5. Camera- trying, but its such a bitty of a camera.
6. Lesson Plans- back to work next week. I'm going to rock this one out. I don't have a choice. When you have a class of 25 5 year olds organization and planning is imperative.
7. Garden- amazing. wonderful. the best resolution ever.
8. Hair- just got a cut a few weeks ago. I typically go to my sister in law to cut my hair (Shana at Finesse in Norman) but I freaked out right before our 10 year reunion and had to get my hair cut right then. I went to Great Clips by Target and this girl did an awesome job. And better yet, it only cost $15!!! I've decided she's going to be my go between when I can't afford my sister, but need a trim. Oh, this is a funny story that put me in my place. The other day we were driving down the road and TJ lovingly embraced my head and said, "You're hair looks so nice. You brushed it, huh?" Ha! I laughed and laughed, but I was offended a little on the inside. So I bought a new flat iron. I think the one I had was the original patent product from the early 90s. Its not a her-styler from the mall, but its amazing.
9. Water- yep.
10. Decorate the Bedroom- yep. We were thrown a little off track because we had to get Faith a new bed (that's an entirely different post) so we dove in head first and got her an awesome bedroom suite off of Craigslist. She sleeps in a twin sized bed now. Everytime I see her little body in it I die a little. Stop growing, little one.
I will say it again, I've never made resolutions before this year. I feel like I'm doing well. When school starts I know I'm going to have to work dilligently to continue blogging (although I'll have great new material with the crazy things kindergarteners say) but I'm hoping it will be a change of pace and new inspiration on the weight-loss journey.
1. Guests at the house- had our best friends (Corrie and Brent, Emily and TJ) over and go to know the new TJ in our life, Emily's husband! So much fun to watch the girls play together. I can't wait until Lundyn is here! Here's a little back story- our house still doesn't feel like our home to me very much. We've lived her almost a year, but it still seems like a rent house, almost. I'm trying to fill it with love, but I don't want to just fill it with furniture and call it good. It's hard for me to find a balance. Corrie's house (and the house she grew up in) makes you feel at home the minute you walk in. When we lived in the Quorum when we were both newlyweds our apt looked like a dorm room and Corrie and Brent's made you wanna sit down and talk with friends. Yesterday when Corrie came over she said that our house really felt like a home. It made my heart happy.
2. Guitar- we've been jamming a little. Practicing just worshiping God with songs that flow out of my heart. Awkward at first, but I've had some amazing time with God doing this. And, I just found out our long time friend's dad owns a guitar shop in the next town over. New strings? Don't mind if I do.
3. Weight- I bought that really popular book, Women, Food, and God. I'm not buying it. But the author said "Alot of people won't buy into this" so I feel like I have to keep reading. I don't want to be her stupid statistic. While we're on the topic, I feel like this is going to be my downfall forever. I have been chubby since I was like 2 years old. Part of me knows that I'll be overweight no matter what so I don't ever care if I weight more than slightly overweight. The other part of me knows I could stand to lose a substantial amount of weight and gets discouraged by that. The other part of me wants to lose weight and do what it takes. And the other part of me wants to eat chocolate cake. I'm contemplating doing WW again, but I hated those meeting so much I don't wanna go there. I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight which is good, but my pre pregnancy weight was a lot so that's not good. And while I'm on this topic even more, chubby girls don't want to work out. Ya know why? Because no one wants to be pitied while they're sweating like a dog on a treadmill. Admit it- you see a little skinny chic working out and you think "wow, she's really in shape, pretty, hot, etc." You see a chubby woman working out and you think "oh, poor thing." I could go on forever on this topic. I wish I could just be happy in my skin. But my skin ain't lookin' so hot, so there's that. Whatever. I'm over it.
4. Blog- yep.
5. Camera- trying, but its such a bitty of a camera.
6. Lesson Plans- back to work next week. I'm going to rock this one out. I don't have a choice. When you have a class of 25 5 year olds organization and planning is imperative.
7. Garden- amazing. wonderful. the best resolution ever.
8. Hair- just got a cut a few weeks ago. I typically go to my sister in law to cut my hair (Shana at Finesse in Norman) but I freaked out right before our 10 year reunion and had to get my hair cut right then. I went to Great Clips by Target and this girl did an awesome job. And better yet, it only cost $15!!! I've decided she's going to be my go between when I can't afford my sister, but need a trim. Oh, this is a funny story that put me in my place. The other day we were driving down the road and TJ lovingly embraced my head and said, "You're hair looks so nice. You brushed it, huh?" Ha! I laughed and laughed, but I was offended a little on the inside. So I bought a new flat iron. I think the one I had was the original patent product from the early 90s. Its not a her-styler from the mall, but its amazing.
9. Water- yep.
10. Decorate the Bedroom- yep. We were thrown a little off track because we had to get Faith a new bed (that's an entirely different post) so we dove in head first and got her an awesome bedroom suite off of Craigslist. She sleeps in a twin sized bed now. Everytime I see her little body in it I die a little. Stop growing, little one.
I will say it again, I've never made resolutions before this year. I feel like I'm doing well. When school starts I know I'm going to have to work dilligently to continue blogging (although I'll have great new material with the crazy things kindergarteners say) but I'm hoping it will be a change of pace and new inspiration on the weight-loss journey.
Most Moms...
Most moms take those monthly pictures of their children and have them forever. Put a huge stuffed animal by a baby and watch them grow. Or in their crib and see how long it takes for their feet to stick out the bars. I, of course, didn't get on that bandwagon soon enough. I tried, but I forgot so many months that it didn't seem worth it. But I will have these forever and ever, amen. We take them almost every time we go see daddy at work. And not every kid gets to do this.
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
August 2010
Can you believe it?
And just because this is the cutest picture ever....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)