What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Rachel over at Calton Corner is going to start linking up with Jamie for What I'm Loving Wednesday and since I only tend to blog once a week, I thought I would totally copy her and start too! :)

So, here goes -

I'm LOVING that I am headed to see my family in ARIZONA today!! In fact when this posts I will be in the air on my way there! (Don't hesitate to say a little prayer for ya girl).

I am LOVING this song! I'm a sucker for hymns, and guys singing a Capel

la.

I am LOVING this product and may be addicted to it. I add it to water and diet coke!

and i am LOVING and really thinking a lot about this quote:

"What if we woke up tomorrow with only the things we thanked God for today?"

5 Question Friday

Sometimes the 5QF depresses me because it has to do with kids and spouses... but oh well. I will make do :)

1. Do you and your spouse go to bed at the same time? I can't answer this but I would hope when and if I get married we would go to bed at the same time the majority of nights.

2. A question for the ladies... What kind of facial hair do you like on your man? Again I don't have a man... but I'm a scruff kind of a girl. No baby face but not lots of facial hair either.

3. What's the worst vacation you've ever taken? I would have to say a trip to D.C. as a kid. Our Volvo broke down in a real sketchy part of NY and we had to wait hours for it to be fixed. Or it could be my one and only trip to Disney where my mom got sick with Colitis and Dad was sick with Diverticulitis... we DID get to play in the pool for a week at the hotel but missed all of the major attractions.

4. What was the first-ever blog you followed? I cannot even remember. Blogs became popular in college and I had a LOT of friends with a livejournals and opendiarys.

5. Do you enjoy amusement parks? They're ok. My first experiences weren't great. When I was small we used to go to the Enchanted Forrest in Rhode Island. It was a Fairy tale-themed amusement park. I went on the kiddy roller coaster and had the wind knocked out of me and vowed never to go on another ride. I have stayed true to that - I will do the merry-go-round and sometimes the ferris wheel... but I am usually the bag holder :)

Five Question Friday!

1. Have you ever had roommates? Does my sister count? I shared a room with her until she moved out when she turned 18 and I was 7. After that it wasn't until my last semester of college and student teaching when I lived with my friends Dave Shoemaker and Brian Jurczyk. We rented a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house in East Hartford. We affectionately called the house the ShoeCzyKle house (Shoemaker, Jurczyk, Muckle). Brian moved out and (Mike) Gowdy moved in. The house then became the ShoeDyMuck house. Fun times.

2. How many names do your children have? Um, can't answer this one. My siblings and I all only have 2 names - a first and middle. But I CAN say all of my siblings and I have multiple nicknames we answer to... and that tradition has carried over to all of my nieces and nephews... and even the dog!

3. Did you watch the Royal Wedding? I was so annoyed with all of the coverage of the wedding leading up to it that I INSISTED i would NOT watch a second of it. Well I turned on the TV when I started getting ready for school last week and it was on and... WHO DOESN"T LOVE A WEDDING?! I DVRd some of it and watched the "I Do's" and the first kiss but that's about it.

4. What is the messiest room in your house? Mine! No but really. I have SO. MUCH. STUFF and I need to get rid of a lot of it. My bedroom is so small and I have a lot of school and music related things... time to start purging.

5. What is your ideal mother's day? Spending time with my momma :)

and a side note: Please pray for the Miller family. Sam (20 years old) passed away last Sunday afternoon. I was a youth leader for he and his sister Anna before they moved about an hour away. They are heavy on my heart. Dave (Dad), Ginny (Mom) and Anna could really use your prayers in the coming weeks. Sam suffered from epilepsy for about 12 years. Mrs. Miller shared tonight at his wake that he was just not "Sam" anymore - much of his creativity, musical and artistic talents had been stolen from what on some days were multiple seizures and the eventual damage it did to his brain. It caused depression and mental illness.

Sam decided Sunday afternoon that life was just too overwhelming for him and texted his dad and sister goodbye. I wish tonight that Sam could have seen the showing of love and support tonight - I wish so much he knew how much his life was valued by friends and family. If he could have seen the constant flow of people to pay their respects to him... it just seems his death could have been avoidable.

This song has been on my heart as a prayer for his family... I pray that the Lord does calm their spirits and give them the peace that surpasses all understanding.

5 Q F!

Hard to believe it is Friday again already... but I'll take it!! :)

1. If you could buy any car, money not an option, what would it be? Gosh am I boring. I would totally buy my current car. I *LOVE* it! The only thing I might change is the exterior color - I really like the black. I think it is rich looking... but the reason I didn't choose black is because during the winter it shows alllll the dirt and yuckiness. And with the winter we had, I'm glad I went with the metallic green! I may also have added a few extras with the interior, but overall.... i just love my 2007 Volvo XC90!!

2. What was your worst first date ever? Again, I'm super boring. I have only had 2 "official" first dates. My FIRST first date wasn't until I was in college. Ryan and I had been friends for a good year and a half before we both were honest and admitted there was some serious chemistry there. He came down from Middletown (where he lived) and went to a mutual friend's cottage in Mystic. Our friend's family hosted an awesome party where we spent the whole day just hanging out, playing games, and going out on his boat. I still think of that day and smile. It was definitely a stand out day... and I guess what makes it super horrible (which of course I didn't see it as super horrible when it happened, just now when I look back on it) would be the fact that he was "knee driving" because he was so busy smoking pot! Ack! I was so dumb and naive back in the day :)

3. How old were you when you fell in love for the first time? I think I was about 24. It was definitely with the guy mentioned above! We basically couldn't keep our hands off each other and were spending every spare minute we had together. At the time we told each other we loved each other all the time... but looking back I know I was in love with the man he had the potential of being. Of course he was selling and I just KNEW i could change him. Yeah. I got REAL smart about 2 years later. :)

4. When was the last time you reconciled your checkbook? I don't "balance" my check book very often, but I check my bank account daily to see what has cleared and what hasn't.

5. If you were going to fashion a "wanted" ad for a best friend, how would you word it? Wanted: Super cool person (male or female, but preferably male!) who can make me laugh! Loyal, trustworthy, honest, and someone who has goals for life but is also ok with doing nothing on any given night a must. expect to call and get my voicemail. if i like you i might call back. texting preferred. foul language users, back stabbers and general low lives need not apply.

5 Question Friday!

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition? Church. There is NOTHING like Easter Sunday morning! I usually cry every year - the hymns are just so emotionally moving to me. Dinner with the family is a close 2nd favorite tradition :)

2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" type of person? First of all, I'm not sure why these questions are in quotes. I digress. I am a shower person, unless it is a cold, winter night... in that case I will take advantage of the 'rents whirlpool tub!

3. Can you parallel park, and if so, when is the last time you did? I can! I had to in order to pass my driving test. I think it's easy, but some people have a tough time.

4. What is your favorite Easter candy? Cadbury mini eggs! They used to only be available at Easter, but this year I noticed they came out with green, red and white balls.

5. Easter: Do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday? Well, seeing as I don't have kids I do focus on the religious aspect of the holiday. I would like to have a good mix of both for my kids when and if I am blessed with them. I think the Easter Bunny part of Easter is fun... but I would really like to focus on the meaning of Easter, which essentially is the making of my faith!

Five Question Friday!

I can't believe it is already Friday! and i'm on the verge of vacation!!!!!

1. What is your favorite sign of spring?

I would have to say my favorite sign of spring is the longer days. I love that we now change our clocks a few weeks earlier, so that adds to the loveliness of the season! Another sign I love is the smell of rain after a warm day. I was running errands last weekend and it wasn't super warm, but the sun was strong enough that it had warmed up the pavement and we had a quick shower... i just love that smell! Or the smell of fresh cut grass... which I haven't smelled yet but Yankee Candle has a candle that comes awfully close! OK, I was only supposed to name 1 favorite sign...

2. What was your best birthday ever?

I would have to say 29. My friends made the day so fun and I felt very special! I was loving life and working out regularly and it showed. Overall it was a great year where I learned a lot.

3. What is your favorite dessert?

Anything to that involves chocolate. My current favorite is fat free sugar free Jell-o brand chocolate fudge pudding. Super yum.

4. What is the best excuse you've used to get out of a ticket?

Never gotten a ticket... but I've come close. I was driving home from Michigan and got pulled over in Ohio. The officer was super nice and I told him I didn't realize the speed limit changed from 75 to 65. He let me go with just a warning. Let's hope I can avoid any flashing lights in my rear view mirror on this trip!

5. Do you wake up to your alarm, with your alarm or after hitting snooze several times?

All of the above! I wake up at least 2 or 3 times a night. Sometimes it's the dog that wakes me up to let her out - especially the past month since she's been on medication that makes me drink more... which of course makes her have to pee more... so I guess that counts as waking before my alarm. I obviously wake up with my alarm - some days just before it goes off and some days as it goes off. And some days... it's just necessary to snooze a few times.

Happy weekend!! :)

Five Question Friday!

1. If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?

Only 1 thing? I would change the fact that I love food so much... I mean really... why does it have to be so good? I would like to have more self control :)

2. Write about a time when you got lost.

The first thing that comes to mind is my road trip with Dishmoney to pick up Christie after her cruise. I think we crossed the Geroge Washington Bridge 7 times within the course of an hour... and somehow ended up in Harlem.

3. Camping or 5 star hotel?

Never been camping (although I would LOVE to try it!) so I'm going to have to go with 5 star hotel... although I've never been in one of those either.....

4. Have you donated blood?

Never. Want to, but haven't done it yet.

5. Do you have a budget or do you 'fly by' most months?

Definitely not a budgeter. Need to do more of that. I'm sure I'd be amazed at how much money I "waste" if I sat down and wrote a monthly or even bi-weekly budget.

Five Question Friday!

I'm a bad, bad blogger.

In order to have a regular, weekly post, I'm linking up with Mama M for 5 Question Friday! I'm hoping this will get me to blog at least once a week!

1. Have you ever had surgery?

I have had minor, day surgery. About a year and a half ago I had my gallbladder removed. I reported to the hospital at 6am and I was home by Noon. I dealt with the pain for about 3 years thinking it was an ulcer. Not having that pain any longer is AMAZING!

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?

I have not!

3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?

I can't think of a medical emergency that I have had to take part in... but I think I would be calm. For me, the panic and stress usually sets in a bit after the emergency occurs.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?

Um, Poppa Muck has a garden! He does an elaborate vegetable garden every year and has already started his 2011 garden! Living at home makes me a lucky beneficiary! Tomatoes, Squash, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Spaghetti Squash, Beets, Eggplant... those are the regulars. This year he is trying to grow BRUSSEL SPROUTS!!! yumma!

5. When did you move out of your parents house?

ha! I moved into a house with 2 close guy friends in East Hartford in the spring of 2004. After graduating from college I decided I wanted to get a job closer to home and moved home "temporarily" in January 2005. Now, that was over 6 years ago. **SIGH**.

sensational seven

it's late and i'm tired! but here's a bulleted list of 7 positive things that happened this week:

1. i started working with the autism kids after school. they have their own club, so i get to see these kids that i absolutely adore 3 afternoons a week!
2. wednesday i broke up a fight at school. it was in the hallway during a transition, and i didn't get hurt! seriously, i went to bed thinking how it was possible that i didn't get punched in the process of getting in the middle of 2 7th grade boys throwing punches at each other. God definitely protected me!
3. wednesday night we conducted a successful business meeting at church. i'm so blessed to be a part of ghbc!
4. thursday was john & gabe's SIXTH birthday! doesn't seem possible. got to skype for about an hour with tim and luke while bridget put the birthday boys to bed.
5. mom & dad celebrated 49 years of marriage thursday. almost unheard of this day and age.
6. i'm 5 days of school away from vacation! AND we actually got a FULL WEEK of school in this past week. first full week since january 3rd (even though we had a half day monday and an early release tuesday for parent teacher conference... it wasn't a full week for the kids but it was for teachers).
7. got to spend this afternoon and evening with some GREAT friends! had a blast celebrating Brennan's 1st birthday and then got some girl time in with rachel and kathryn while kyle, clint and lauren went out for a bit. it was a much needed, very relaxing evening!

super!

seven sensational things from this past week:

1. it is currently thundering! it sounds like spring or summer outside... but it definitely still looks very much like winter! i don't think i will ever get used to thunder while there is snow on the ground... but it's pretty cool. the snow on the ground makes the lightning SO bright, too! oh, how i long for the snow to be gone. soon enough i'm sure i'll be complaining about the heat and humidity. add the previous two sentences to the list of reasons why i love living where i do and being able to experience all 4 seasons!

2. speaking of snow... we had 2 more snow days this week! i'm still amazed at how these storms keep coming... one after another. the jet stream is locked into a perfect track for us to be bombarded. and we have been! right now my last day of school with students is monday, june 20th. we have a rescheduled FULL day (shoot me now) of professional development to make up. so, my last day is tuesday the 21st. from what i've heard about the weather pattern, it is supposed to be changing after this coming week and they're talking about a warming trend. (is my weather geek factor completely off the charts, or what?).

3. i *COMPLETELY* forgot to mention in my post last week that my very best friend from high school... stacey lee orenstein gordon... affectionately referred to as "slo" or "jew girl" (yes, my inappropriateness did indeed start in high school)... had a BABY on 1/23/11! i don't think it is possible for me to be happier for her. she and her husband, lee, are going to be great parents! how do i know this? because little michael benjamin was a VERY wanted baby. i don't know personally the struggle with trying to conceive, but i can relate to being at the same place in life and having that biological clock tick-tick-ticking away... and how it feels to walk past the baby aisle in target or wal*mart and want to cry because it seems like it will never happen. i know this baby will be SO loved... and i wish there were more people in the world like them.

4. last night i got to pick up my recently-turned-10-year-old niece briana from cheer practice. this place is unreal! i walked into the gym and was greeted in the lobby by a sign that read "practice is closed to spectators :) ". um, not THIS spectator! i proceeded to walk into the gym... and holy macaroni! my niece is seriously AMAZING. they have a competition next weekend in hartford that they are preparing for... as well as a competition in FLORIDA in the coming months. these 4 girls (one of which is a former student of mine... she's in 9th grade this year... pretty cool) take my twig of a niece and toss her up in the air while she proceeds to do a kick mid air, add a toe touch before she SPINS TWO FULL ROTATIONS before landing in these 4 girls' arms. i know they may have their reasons why practice is closed to spectators (distractions for the kids) but now i know why practice should be closed to worrying aunties. crazy worried or not, my niece has some SERIOUS talent! so proud of her!!

5. i am just two short weeks... (or 8 full days plus 1 half day and 1 early release day, but who's counting?) from winter break! i'm excited to spend some time with mike and thea both on my way to and back from virginia! speaking of virginia... amanda... i'd like to put an order in for some warmer weather. i'll take 50-55 degrees. don't even need sunshine... just warmer temps. you've got 2 weeks, i expect you to come through.

6. can i just mention how much i love staples? as in, the store. this past week i went to get ONE thing... and ended up getting a few things to further help me organize my room at the middle school. it seems i could easily spend my paycheck each week (ok that may be an over exaggeration) on things to get me organized... but i just love it!

7. i just finished making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and they're delish! been on a baking kick lately. so far i've made 2 loaves of bread and these here cookies since yesterday afternoon. now i need to start giving it away so i don't eat it all myself! :)