Vote for Cammie!

So, I entered Cammie in the "Million Dollar Cutest Dog Competition". We would LOVE it if you would vote for Cammie! :) You can only vote once per day, but keep coming back to vote again!

VOTE for Cammie! :)

Simple Things

As my summer break is quickly coming to an end, I am realizing just how much I love the mornings!

I love waking up to a dreary day with the smell/taste of coffee and the "Today Show" followed by "Live with Regis and Kelly" on the TV.

Ahh yes, it really is the simple things in life that can make someone happy.

Fun Times!

I just got back from a fantastic trip back home to Michigan! It was so great to see family and friends and to really appreciate the beautiful town that I grew up in. It was a bummer that my hubby couldn't make the trip with me. He couldn't get off time from work, but at least we will both be able to go back for Christmas! There is no place like Frankenmuth during a gorgeous Michigan summer! By the way, I thought I would try adding some links so you can see a little more detail of the town and places I went to.

I flew in last Sunday August 2nd and went directly to my aunt's house for her surprise 50th birthday party! My sweet cousin has wanted to throw her a party and has been talking about it for probably the last year and a half. It was so great to see his plan carried out into a successful party. She had not one clue that anything was going on!

Next up was lunch with my mom and mother-in-law. We have made it a tradition to go to Red Lobster for the best drinks ever! The Sunset Passion Colada is mainly pina colada with some strawberry daiquiri mix on top! If you go, I recommend going for the large size (it rings up as the "alotta colada" on the receipt! so funny! ) because there isn't much difference in price and it is soooo worth it! :) If you go to the link, the drink is on the left next to the "specialty drinks" link.

I was also able to see some friends for dinner and drinks and had a great time catching up! I unfortunately was bad with the picture taking during those visits! :(

As with any vacation, there was very good food and drinks involved. Now that I don't live in MI anymore, whenever I go home, I have to hit certain places that I love. Tiffany's has the best atmosphere and a beautiful patio right in downtown so it's great to sit out there and enjoy the weather. Their pizza is phenomenal!

Here is a picture of us eating lunch. My dad had to work so he isn't in the picture:

My brother and I:

I became slightly adventurous on the trip! We rented mopeds! We actually rode them to a neighboring town where my mom and aunts grew up and had an absolute blast! :) I totally felt like I was riding a motorcycle. It was so cool riding in the road with the traffic and going through town. The moped could go up to about 37 -40 miles per hour! I chose to take the safe (or dorky - however you want to look at it) route and wore my helmet most of the time.

Among many other fun things, we went on my parent's boat. The weather turned out to be not the greatest (we had to wear sweatshirts) but it was a relaxing ride.

It's always so hard to leave family once they have visited or we have gone back home, but I have such wonderful memories from this trip that will last a life time!

Also, I'm a little bummed because my school year starts in about a week! I can't believe how fast the summer went! It's hard to believe that I will be starting my 3rd year of teaching!

ABC

Saw this on a blog and thought it would go along with my "trying to be creative" post a little while back. :)

A - Age: Just turned 25! I can't believe I'm a quarter of a century old!

B - Bed size: King

C - Chore you hate: I would prefer to not clean toilets

D - Dog's name: Cammie Leigh

E - Essential start your day item: Geez, let's see...I guess breakfast.

F - Favorite color: Pink and my second favorite is purple. My favorite color is evidenced by the bridesmaids dresses for our wedding seen here:

(The coloring in the picture is terrible and the dresses were a more vibrant pink)


G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Gold (White)

H - Height: 5'4

I - Instruments you play: I took piano lessons for a few years and can still play when I go home, but would love to eventually get back at it regularly...that would, however, require us to buy a piano which I don't think we will be doing anytime soon.

J - Job title: 8th Grade Science/Social Studies Teacher

K - Kid(s): 0

L - Living arrangements: We bought our first house! It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year already. We are loving being able to do things around it! :)

M - Mom's name: Lynne

N- Nicknames: Waldo, Krissy, DeeDee, Otter

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Luckily I haven't had to even be in the hospital for something related to me.
P - Pet Peeve: Slooooooow drivers! There are a lot of them in the South. (In addition, I would like to add that my newest pet peeve is when I have this post perfectly spaced the way I want it and then see it become mega spaced when I view the posted blog! Why does it do this? Anyone??)

Q- Quote from a movie: "Well, um...actually a pretty nice little Saturday. We're gonna go to Home Depot, get some wallpaper maybe some flooring, you know things like that. Maybe Bed Bath and Beyond. I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."

R - Right handed or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: 1 wonderful brother

T - Time you wake up: Between 6:00 and 6:15 during the week

U- Underwear: Well, I'm not sure if we mean brand or type here, so I'm gonna go with brand and say Victoria's Secret.

V - Vegetable you dislike: I'm not a super picky eater so this is a hard one, but I guess I'll say that I have to be in the mood to eat summer squash.

W - Ways you run late: Generally I am early because I have this fear that it will take me longer than planned and that I will actually be late. But if the dog refuses to cooperate outside or if I get stuck being behind said "slow drivers" up in "P".

X - X-rays you've had: On my back...

Y - Yummy food you make: BBQ Spaghetti

Z - Zoo favorite: I'm not sure if most zoo's have them, but I am in love with dolphins and even swam with one on our honeymoon! But, for more general zoo's, I will say the penguins.

A Must

A while back, as my hubby and I were scrolling through the movie choices available on "On Demand" and reading the short description, we came across one that piqued his interest. After viewing the preview, he thought it looked great and it was right up his alley. But being the nice husband that he is and knowing the types of movies that I don't generally care for, he said "we don't have to watch that because you probably won't like it". Probably in the back (or not too back) of his head he was most likely thinking that I would succumb to my usual movie inspired heavy eyes and fall asleep (like usual) if we don't select one that would hold my interest.


To his surprise I said "No, let's watch that. It actually looks really good." So we selected the 'purchase' button not knowing just how phenomenal the movie would be.


You may or may not be surprised to know that our movie choice for the evening was the one and only "Twilight". As I mentioned earlier, certain movie genres just don't suck me in, and vampire movies would be one of them. However, this movie was different. I REALLY LOVED it!


Needless to say, my love for this movie helped to generate my birthday list. I was very excited to open my hardcover "Twilight" series and even more excited to start reading it. (BTW, I knew the books would be good when my aunt (who hardly ever reads) is addicted to them! So, currently, I'm working my way through the first of the four books in the series.


Thanks to my brother and my Netflix subscription for the bday, I also have "Twilight" lined up and ready to go in my queue just so we can be amazed at its greatness again. I am also looking forward to the subsequent movies and books!


So, even if you don't generally go for the vampire themed movie, I would check this one out! I was pleasantly surprised. :)

Oh, P.S... go to this link and watch the trailer. Be prepared to be sucked in!

Free you say?

As my birthday approaches (it's a big one too, I might add!), my inbox is full of options in which I can partake in within a week and a half or so. (BTW, I HIGHLY recommend in registering yourself at all your favorite locations so you too can enjoy some birthday perks!)

1. One free scoop from Baskin Robbins.
2. Free appetizer or dessert from On the Border (aka the best known Mexican restaurant around! Such a decision too! I wonder which will win? The appetizer or dessert?)
3. Another free appetizer or side of ribs from Texas Roadhouse. (a phenomenal steak place!)
4. Probably my fav: A free Creation from Coldstone Creamery. (just a side note: slightly disappointed b/c they seem to have changed their bday policy since last year. This year, it's only a "like it" size (the smallest they offer) and it's supposedly with just 1 mix in. Here's to hoping they will let me choose a creation they have already created called 'Birthday Cake Remix'. This would be my top choice every time I got to Coldstone)
5. A free entree or 11' pizza of my choice at a local Italiano restaurante!
6. $5.00 off a $20.00 purchase at O'Charley's.
7. A free shake with a sandwich purchase at Arby's.
8. A free gourmet burger at Red Robin!
9. A free blizzard at DQ! (Georgia Mud Fudge here I come...)
10. A free entree up to 15 bucks at Lonestar!
and for the only non food one...
11. A free lip gloss trio from Sephora!

I really enjoy seeing all the "free"'s all over this blog!

Well, the hubs and I will be cashing in #10 tonight and possibly purchasing a headboard/footboard from someone off Craigslist, so off I go! Also, If you haven't browsed Craiglist, you really should! You can find some FANTASTIC deals!

Have a nice night!

Trying to be creative

So, as you might be able to tell by my very sporadic blog posts, I am not too creative in coming up with things to blog about. So, as I am sitting here, I decided that I should at least try a little harder. So, without further ado, here is my attempt...

Things that make me smile (in no particular order):
1. Waking up next to the love of my life
2. Sunrises on my way to work
3. Getting kisses from my dog
4. When my dog smiles. It's the sweetest thing when her little teeth show! :) I have a picture on my phone but unfortunately no cord to put it on my computer!
5. Eating at outdoor restaurants when the weather is perfect!
6. Laying on the couch doing nothing
7. The crazy things that my husby comes up with. (Prime example: This quoted directly from an email this week: "Chocolate paper would be fun to write on with my tongue..." oh how I love him!)
8. A glass of wine (or a beer) depending on my mood.
9. The you tube video listed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fVDGu82FeQ Makes me laugh EVERY single time I see it and I could watch it 10 times in a row!
10. Relaxing by the pool in FL
11. Talking to family/friends on the phone. (This is super important since we live so far away from them :(
12. Reality television (I find the people very entertaining, especially those who really think they can sing when they audition for American Idol)
13. A clean house
14. Smoothies
15. My dog praying. She started this when she was young and we always got really excited and praised her when she did it and now she does it A LOT! It's the cutest thing ever.
16. This kind of goes along with #11 but...my brother! He is such a wonderful person and I am so lucky to have him as my bro! Some girl is going to be very lucky one day!
17. Coming home from vacation to find that my hubs has redone the landscaping! What a sweetheart! :)
18. Christmas break, Spring break, Summer vacation! Ahh...the joys of being a teacher!

As I am writing this list, I realize that it could go on forever, so I will spare you.

In relation to the title, does anyone have any suggestions on what I could blog about? I find myself thinking "hmm...maybe that would make a good blog..." but then think that maybe it will be boring for you all to read. Or maybe I should just not hold back and write what I'm thinking.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

P.S. After looking back over this, I realize that apparently exclamation marks make me smile too since I seem to use them quite often.