Currently

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Hoping: to feel a lot better tomorrow. diagnosed with Strep this morning at the Walgreen's minute clinic after a quick and brutal sore throat set in late last night. Ouch. Spent the whole day in bed and of course, I have a ton of lesson planning to do before we are back at school on Dec 1 and I have a week full of lessons. Oh did I mention, I will also be observed at some point that week which means that every single lesson will need to be spot-on. Lovely.

Planning: lessons! See above.

Eating: since I hadn't eaten much all day thanks to angry throat,  was able to somewhat enjoy a ChickFila nugget meal WITH fries and still come in under my calorie limit. #win

Drinking: milk this morning and a diet dr pepper now but the carbonation is almost too much for my throat still.

Reading: an advance copy of "The Life Intended" by Kristin Harmel. It's a little different but I am enjoying it. Anxious to see how it all plays out, that's for sure. And if you haven't read "The Sweetness of Forgetting" - you must. Absolutely fabulous!!!

Watching: Still only committed to "The Mysteries of Laura"...Downton is back in January though so I'll add that to my weekly watches. Yay!!

Cooking: Today. Nothing. Mac n' Cheese in the microwave for Ethan tonight - since he declined ChickFila.

Blogging: enjoying it but still not blogging as often as I once did. I suppose that's good and bad. 

Listening: OK - I'm officially sucked into the Serial podcast after reading about it from a couple of different bloggers. Got all caught up on the 9 episodes over the weekend. Now I have to wait 2 weeks for the next one since they come out on Thursdays and there won't be one on Thanksgiving. 

Thinking: about how nice it will be to have 5 consecutive days off in a row. Hello Thanksgiving.

Needing: a lot of rest.

Wanting: to wake up tomorrow and be 10lbs lighter. Is that too much to ask?

Hating: that my throat hurts every time I swallow.

Loving: the "feel" of the mall and certain stores during the Christmas season. Love it.

Avoiding: the stores on Black Friday. Since I have no one to go w/me, I just don't go. Instead, mom and I will be going to see Mockingjay Part 1.

Anticipating: Christmas.

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they’ve encountered during the week, etc.).

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1) Can't this just apply to everyday?

2) I'm home from school/work with Ethan today, who is under the weather with some nasty congestion and a cough. I'm hoping we can beat this junk today so he can go on his field trip tomorrow. 

3) I'm reading 3 books right now. That's nuts, I know. I'm also 1 book away from meeting my 52 books read this year goal on Goodreads. I'm happy with that...comes out to more than one per week since we still have 4 weeks left and I'll likely finish at least 3-4 more books before December 31. For me, 52+ books in a year is good. I don't know how people do 100+ books in a year...maybe they aren't working full time, and if they are, then I really have NO idea how they do it. I suck at audio books, so that's not an option for me.

4) We are seriously thinking about selling our house and moving. There are 2 main reasons for this... (1) the hillbillies that live behind our house (outside of our neighborhood) are in the county where it is permitted to shoot guns...they have built a shooting range in their backyard. Last year, a bullet came through my neighbors bedroom window. I can't stop thinking about when we will be next. (2) There is a strong chance that a Dollar General store will be constructed immediately outside of my neighborhood. Now, I realize that these two reasons make it sound like I live in the most run down, hillbilly trailer park ever, but let me assure you that I live in a 200+ home subdivision with HOA dues of $300 a year and houses that range from $190-260k...so no, we do not live in a trailer park. or a dumpy neighborhood. I'm no longer happy here and my unhappiness will increase exponentially if the Dollar General store is built. I knew I hated that store for a reason...I never shop there and now for sure I never EVER will. Crooks. The only plus side: we need a bigger house anyway.

5) I have an insane travel bug right now...which is funny since I just went to Charleston, SC last weekend. But I think this is more of a "travel someplace new" travel bug...like Seattle or London. I miss traveling.

6) I cannot believe how cold it has been already...we even had snow on Tuesday morning...enough that we should have had a delayed start at school, but they messed that up (again)...so I drove with white knuckles all the way to school. Thankful I don't live too far away. The high was 28 degrees that day. Nuts!

7) No plans this weekend. That's probably good since we were out of town and crazy busy last weekend. Well, I say no plans, but really it's the usual plans - YMCA, grocery shopping, lunch w/mom...nice and low key - the way I like my weekends.

8) For the past few years, I have wrapped up 24 Christmas books and Ethan opens one each night and we read it at bedtime. I love love love this tradition we have created. I ordered two new Christmas books for our collection: Here Comes Santa Cat and Memoirs of an Elf.

9) How do you deal with that feeling of "so many books to read and so little time"??? Seriously, it frustrates me so much. All I want to do is read, but that's impossible. Ugh.

10) Why in the world do we have school next Monday & Tuesday? It seems like everyone else is off the WHOLE week!?!?! Argh!!!

Dorothea Benton Frank FanFest 2014 Recap

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Beside the fact that my husband's work truck broke down in Charleston at 3:55pm when the event started at 4pm, the weekend was great!! 

Here are a few pictures from the 1st Annual DBF FanFest...good times!!

This was at the end of our walking tour on Saturday. There was a lunch demo w/DBF & her daughter who is a professional chef, but we did not have tickets for this part of the event.

This was Friday evening after the Welcome and Q&A, DBF signed our books and took pictures.
 Not only is she funny, she is super sweet too!!!

My favorite of all her books...so far!

Walking Tour - one of the few cobblestone streets in Charleston.
I could go on a never-ending walking tour of Charleston...I love hearing about the history.
Apart from the freezing cold temps and wind, it was fabulous!!

Looking down.

Loved the sun rays!!!

This is the view from DBF's back porch...seriously...heaven...Charleston is across the harbor. We also saw a cruise ship depart. What I would do to live in her house....did I mention it's a former Civil War Barracks?!!? Amazing!!

Goodbye breakfast...and more book signing.
What a great weekend!!!
Can't wait until next year!!

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they’ve encountered during the week, etc.).

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1) Wahoo!! Today is my Friday!! Amen!! We are hitting the road at 5:30am tomorrow morning for good 'ol Lowcountry - South Carolina!! I'll be having lunch at Poe's Tavern and meeting Dorothea Benton Frank in the evening. Awesome day in store!!

2) That scarf I ordered from GAP last week....it is beautiful, but it's WAYYYY too chunky/bulky for me. Have to take it back. Bummer!! I love scarves!

3) I paid a little visit to the ER on Tuesday morning....about 4am. It wasn't too fun. Ended up staying home from work that day, hoping to feel better, but instead ended up grossly nauseous from the stupid pain pills.

4) As a result of above mentioned ER visit, feeling like total crap and losing lots of sleep, I have done NO reading for 2 days. What? Guess we know what I'll be doing in the car en route to SC.

5) Totally bummed that "The Mysteries of Laura" was not on last night. Argh!!!

6) Thankful there are only 7 more work days until Thanksgiving break. Good thing too, because I couldn't take much more than that.

7) Ethan started some swimming lessons this week. He can "sort of" swim, but needs to refine some of his skills and technique. It's nice to have a little activity for him after school again, though it was nice to have a few weeks without too. Hopefully the TaeKwonDo stuff will pick up again...not sure what is happening there.

Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts

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Bookish and Not-So-Bookish Thoughts is a weekly blogging event hosted by Bookishly Boisterous. It allows book bloggers (and non-book bloggers) to write about pretty much anything, bookish or otherwise (i.e. share exciting plans for the weekend, rants on things they’ve encountered during the week, etc.).

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1) DEVOLSON!! Found this on a teaching blog and it's SOOOO true in my world right now!! 

2) And since we're on an education spin...can I just say I'm totally over the amount of homework my 1st grader has had!! Seriously, I want my pre-schooler back so that I can have some semblance of a life after 4pm every day. Nope, now it's homework, homework and more homework and then our nightly reading to meet our 60 minutes per week requirement, followed by bedtime. We are currently working on TWO Thanksgiving projects...one is about Thanksgiving traditions, which is a sad joke in our house, because the only constant on that day seems to be watching the Macy's Parade. Last year we ate at a friends house, the year prior we made our own turkey...see, no traditions. The other project is a "disguise the turkey" project, where we will be disguising him as Walt Disney (my son's choice) and then have to research a few facts about Walt, decorate the turkey, get a pic of Walt to put on the turkey, etc. I'm tired.

3) I'm really enjoying "The Look of Love" by Sarah Jio...should finish it in the next couple days. I've enjoyed everything I've read from her. Hopefully she'll have a tour stop nearby and I'll be able to meet her. Speaking of meeting authors...9 days until I meet Dorothea Benton Frank!! Woop!!! Next week is a 4 day work week for me so we can leave on Friday for Charleston. It's doubly-good...I need the break from work and for a fun weekend getaway. Yes!!

4) Thinking seriously of going FULL blonde w/my hair. I've been having somewhat of a hair crisis for the past couple months and when I got highlights last time -at a new place- they suggested in a friendly/fun way that I should go full blonde...maybe something to do over Christmas break...hoping for something like this: 

5) Someday I hope to be in the position of working  a job because I WANT to work that job, not because I NEED to work. Needing to work totally sucks.

6) I think I'll take the little man to see Big Hero 6 on Sunday. He's been asking for weeks and it only comes out this Friday. Silly boy!!

7) Who knew it would be so hard to find Disney Christmas wrapping paper...and I should be more specific...Disney Christmas wrapping paper that is NOT from Frozen...we need Mickey and friends please!! We are actually using it to disguise our turkey (see #2)...apparently the idea is to disguise him so no one finds him and wants to eat him for Thanksgiving. A few years ago, a student disguised their turkey as Taylor Swift. That was funny. These will be hanging in the hallway. I'll have to take a couple pictures and post them for you.

8.

I absolutely LOVE this scarf from the Gap. So I practiced some retail therapy and bought it for myself. I feel better. Until the bill comes. LOL!!!

9. This morning I saw a FB post from author Sarah Jio canceling her trip to Turkey. Apparently she has many fans/readers there. She stated she cancelled for security reasons, which is completely her right. I am appalled at her so-called fans as just about every single one of them left a nasty/mean/rude comment, one (or more!) even saying she is no longer a fan. People are nuts! And stupid. And idiots. And...well you get my point.  Would you bail on an author just because they  cancelled a tour stop near you? Heck, I wouldn't be able to like any authors, because NONE of them come to this ridiculous "city" I live in and I have to drive 3 hours to see anyone, because those cities are bigger.

10. Is this week over yet? I don't like wishing my life away, but find myself doing it more and more. Probably need to make some (major) changes. *sigh*

Week in the Life

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This past week has been the official "Week in the Life" event, led by Ali Edwards and I'm happy to say that I participated once again and am working on finishing up my album. What is WITL, you ask...it's a documentary project capturing the simple pieces of daily life, things you probably wouldn't normally take a picture of.

WITL is something I've done for the past 5 years and while it's a bit of work during the week, it's so worth it when we look back on the albums I've created. The other great part of WITL is that the week changes every year, so we are always capturing different seasons and/or events. 

Here are few of my favorite pictures taken during Week in the Life 2014: