On My Mind

What's on my mind right this moment? Do you really want to know?

1. I should make a to do list for Little Miss' birthday party this weekend. This could be a blog post in itself.
2. I still need to order a meat tray from Winn Dixie ASAP.
3. I still want some fall boots. Side note: my friend Jen gave me a pair today! Holla!
4. What outfit combo should I try to "showcase" the new boots?
5. I've got a department meeting in the morning. I wonder if KC is going to bring a snack?
6. There's still so much to do for my psych club fundraiser. I hope the students get it together.
7. I really wish someone would call me for a photo session. I've been itching to get behind the camera again. 
8. In reference to the above thought, some extra cash would be nice with the holidays coming up.
9. I need to get in touch with JC about doing our family photos this year. I hope the Hubby smiles for more than one. {That would be nice}
10. I still haven't finished reading Outlander. In my defense, I am almost done with it.
11. I am looking forward to spending some time with friends and family this weekend for Little Miss' birthday. It is always nice together.
12. My car is dirty. {busy mommy life}
13. I am glad I finished my first gallery wall this weekend. {picture on Instagram} Now I've got to start working on one for the living room.
14. I've been eating a lot of candy and sweets lately. Kind of worth it. I'll try and do better.
15. It's time to paint my toe nails or get another pedi.

What's on your mind tonight?

I Want To Be A Football Star

The following video was posted by Buzzfeed and I absolutely adore it!!!!!

Can you imagine a classroom and educational atmosphere like this?

I got to admit I thought the give us a substitute comment was HILARIOUS!

What do you think?

An Editing Skill Learned: Clipping Mask

I would hardly call this a "major skill," but it has been something I've been trying to figure out on my own. Of course, as luck would have it all I had to do was watch a 4 minute video clip on YouTube. Today, I learned how to properly insert an image into a template and resize it so it doesn't look oblong and distorted.

I was so easy!! I had posed this question to the FB photography group I am in, but I didn't get instructions I understood or did what I wanted. Oh well. Now I know.

Cute templates for cards, posts and session info are in the near future. Lord knows I have downloaded some cute ones {now I can use them}

Turning 29

My 29th birthday is tomorrow. No, I am not sad or freaking out it's the last birthday of my twenties. It really is just another birthday to me. In fact, I love birthdays! Bring on the happy birthday's, sweet treats and presents! The Hubby has some stashed somewhere in the house. I know they are there, but I love surprises so I have been waiting to see what bought me.

On my Facebook page, I posed the following question, "Any suggestions or ideas for a must do before the big 30?" My Hubby says I should want to try and climb Mt. Everest. Um...no. I'm not really a death defying risk taker. Let's be honest.

Another FB fan, Marlena suggested I cross something off my bucket list. This got me thinking about what would be on my list of wants, adventures, and ideas for my 29th year of being me. 

I am not very good at large challenges like this. I totally flaked out on the September photo challenge. As you will see, the list I created is very realistic overall. Additionally, this list can be done even after the big 3-0!

In no particular order, here is my 30 before 30:

1. Go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal studies
2. Drink butter beer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
3. Take a family vacation
4. Take another photography class
5. Enter a photography contest
6. Have a girls night at Painting with a Twist
7. Finish painting and decorating the home office and bathrooms
8. Go to a fancy makeup store and learn how to do my makeup better.
9. Eat at a restaurant featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives
10. Take daughter to Disney World
11. Family trip to go see  and play in snow. Do you want to build a snowman?
12. Meet a celebrity TV/Movie
13. Attend an event which requires a fancy dress
14. Drink champagne
15. Have a staycation at the Gaylord Palms Resort
16. Go to the shooting range with The Hubs (a first for me and he would love it)
17. Go to a sporting event with a sports enthusiast (more fun)
18. Make a Vlog Post
19. Meet an author of a book I have read
    
20. Go to a blog conference
21. Maybe get another dog. I think I would like a Corgi.
22. Eat a food that I've never eaten before
23. Do a girls weekend away maybe at the beach
24. Go back to the place where the Hubs and I went on our honeymoon for a little getaway.
25. Stay out late with friends just talking and hanging without getting tired before 12 am!
26. Ride in a limo
27. Go to a comedy club for the first time (not vulgar though)
28. Pay for a strangers meal in a random act of kindness
29. Do something brave
30. Participate in a good book club or bible study

So what do you think? Where should I start? Do you see anything you want to do with me? Regardless of whether I do just one or two dozen of things on this list I know it's going to be a great year!

Signs That I Am Getting Older

I felt like writing today. It hit me out of the blue. The only problem is that I had no clue as to what to write about. So, I went to my Pinterest "Blogs and Bloggers" board for some Pinspiration.

Here is the topic I decided on: Getting Older (hence the title, right?!)

1. I have a birthday in a couple of weeks. Yup. The last birthday of my 20s. Am I stressing out about almost being 30? Nah. Not now anyway. I do not want to be a teenager again or relieve my early twenties. It's very much been there done that. I look forward to what life has in store for me as an adult, a mom, a wife, etc. Embrace it. No regrets. 
2. My daughter is going to be three in a few weeks! Holy crap....that was fast. This particular topic is a whole blog post in itself. I still have a lot of plans to do for her Sheriff Callie Birthday Party.
3. In the last week or so, I've been going to bed at or before 9 pm. I've been sick so I can blame that right? My body was fighting this virus thus I was extra sleepy. There is some truth to that.
4. I feel asleep watching a TV show. Yea. It happened. This is a family trait. I have aunts who can never make it through a movie or some shows. (you know who you are)
   
5. I recently went to my high school reunion. I loved it. You can read about it here. 
6. I give sage old advice to my students. I kind of love this if I am being honest. 
7. I've complained about certain types of music
8. I am a creature of habit and like routine. 
9. The Hubs and I sometimes argue about going out.
10. There are somethings on TV that I can't handle watching. It makes me uncomfortable. 

Okay, friends I told you mine now it's your turn to tell me yours. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page!

Happy Fall From Me To You

{my simple moment} – A new ritual. A single photo, maybe two – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, significant, blessed moment. A moment I want to treasure and remember

inspired by SouleMama
________________________

"Pumpkin Love"

Another Simple Moment: A Glowing Birthday

{my simple moment} – A new ritual. A single photo, maybe two – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, significant, blessed moment. A moment I want to treasure and remember

inspired by SouleMama
________________________

"A Glowing Birthday"

Reunion: Class of 2004

I just went to my 10 year high school reunion.

OMG. 10 years-- Where the heck did time go? I don't feel a decade older. It's like I never left! (This is a very literal statement. I work at my high school alma mater).

Wow.

How was it?

In one word (probably more since I am blogging about it) AMAZING! I know other people might think much less of their high school reunions, but not me. Sure, there was a time a few months back where I wasn't sure about the whole thing because it wasn't being planned well and I was anticipating a rush, thrown together soirée. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to help, but I wasn't about to stress myself out and run around like a chicken with its head cut off because of it.

Luckily our class VP who took over the planning a couple of months before knew how to delegate and because her planning everything turned out fantastic. So much so, we have a plan for the next one.

It was a small-ish gathering throughout the weekend starting with a homecoming football game. I wondered for a while looking for my classmates. It took my a while but eventually I found them and our group started to grow. Some people were trying the fashionably late approach.

Saturday was done in two parts. First we had a family picnic at the local park. It was a lovely day. The weather held out long enough for the kids to play and the adults to catch up. There were lots of hugs shared and moments of reminiscing through laughs, pictures and random stories.

Th conclusion of our reunion weekend was the adult night out to one of our high school hang outs. I arrived early to setup my photo booth and display the class time capsule.

I had a wonderful time working the photo booth for the party. I had one of my Besties Hannah helping me make props and drag people to have their picture taken. It was our goal to get at least one picture of everyone. There were times that photo booth room was bouncing with lots of fun. It makes me feel good about my contribution when people say they want copies of my pictures!

Here are some pictures of me from that night:

I think it's also quite interesting to see where people end up ten years after high school. Many of us are married or divorced with kids. Others find themselves traveling the world for their jobs. There are quite a few people in the medical profession in some way, education, cosmetology or law enforcement.  

Side note, it's important to reach out to people beyond Facebook. A lot of people do not interact or use FB regularly so they didn't know about the reunion. Part of our plan for next time is to gather a lot of home addresses and use "snail mail" for some of our communications.

Things I will remember for quite some time:

• How LuLu can make a comment that makes everyone almost pee their pants.
• The look on Jeremy's face with he saw Casey M and Jon F (priceless)!
• People arriving to the reunion already tipsy and later trying to take their picture.
• Friendships that are timeless.