1.28.2010

Day tripper

Nyquil. Dayquil. Multi-vitamin. Vitamin C. Tylenol. I'm sorry liver...but it's all in your best interest.

I have never blown my nose more times in one day in my whole life. Literally every 5-7 minutes. I've gone through an entire box of tissues by myself. Like the big boxes of tissues...my nose is looks exactly how they portray it on the claymation dolls for Kleenex commercials. I'm definitely an advocate of Kleenex over toilet paper now.

In the mornings I'm still super "floaty" feeling from the Nyquil, then I take the Dayquil before school, so it's a double dose for a few hours...man have the mornings been rough...needless to say, we've been taking it easy in 4th grade this week. I also think it's thrown off my perception of time. I literally though it was Thursday, starting on Tuesday, but then today I could've sworn it was Friday...tomorrow I probably won't even wake up because I'll be convinced it's next Sunday.

Any remedies for the common cold would be greatly appreciated.

Everything tastes the same when you're sick. I made spinach and sundried tomato stuffed chicken breasts last night with mashed potatoes and it all tasted like bran cereal. Also, since I can't breathe out of my nose very well, I had to take very small bites to make sure I could breathe through my mouth as a chewed. Gross. All I want now is some Kneaders french toast...not like it would even taste remotely like french toast...

Meanwhile, I've never felt so good about coming home every day and sitting on the couch, catching up on all my tv shows from the week (love hulu.com!). In case anyone was curious...here are my shows I'm absolutely addicted to, in no particular order:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. The Office
3. Community
4. The Vampire Diaries
5. Flash Forward
And most recently, The Biggest Loser. I wouldn't say I'm addicted to that one though...not yet anyway. And I do love a good American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance when it's on.

This is the worst time of day...6pm...too late to take Dayquil, but to early to take Nyquil...well...guess I'll have to rough it for another couple of hours...holy crap just get me to Saturday. And sadly, after all that complaining out in the open, I feel the exact same. *sigh*

-W

1.25.2010

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I hurt. My whole body hurts. Remind me never to go to an hour of body sculpting and then an hour of zumba...overzealous much??? What am I trying to prove to myself anyway?! Well...actually...after talking to a fellow zumba-er...zumbee...zumbier...I dunno...we decided that we would work out for 5 days a week for at least an hour a day as long as that meant we could WHATEVER we wanted...which...so far, is what's happening. Is it working? Yes, I'm eating whatever I want :-) Oh, and the workout is paying off too. I'm not sure which is better/worse...having a low carb, dairy free diet and rarely hitting the gym or always hitting the gym and eating all the pasta and ice cream you want? My feelings are still mixed on the matter...I just have zero self-discipline so I guess that's why I choose the latter.

On another note, Nyquil is a girl's best friend. I know they say diamonds, or Midol, or super trendy boutique accessories, but no, "they" are wrong. Nyquil. My throat has been itchy and dry the past two days, my head hurts, and once you throw sore muscles on top, it's the best sleep I ever got with a cold medicine ;-). Anyone else guilty of topping off a little night cap even when you're NOT sick just because you know you'll sleep AMAZINGLY well? I always have super crazy dreams when I take it though...wasn't aware that was one of the side effects, but for the wonderful benefits, I'll take it.

K here's the complaint of the week. Sometimes some parents are stupid. Down right inconsiderate, selfish, childish, and too self-absorbed to realize that their life decisions might just affect the little people in their lives that will end up having to go to therapy because of their stupid choices. And then the teachers who are with these little people, for longer than the parents themselves most of the time, have to try to solve these problems for these little people so it doesn't effect how they perceive life, at least while they're at school. So many kids at school have such broken lives, where they're clinically depressed, angry, or have little coping skills because they have too many severe daddy issues. K so I get that parents aren't perfect, and many marriages do end, but seriously parents...stop neglecting your offspring even in such events and stop setting them up for inevitable life failure or some drug addiction...because you're making my job a lot harder. K. Just had to get that out.

Not related to anything thus far, I have a theory...a shampoo theory. You know how your hair always looks fabulous after you just get it colored/cut/styled, etc.? Of course it's because the people that you entrust one of your most noticeable features is a professional, but I also think the shampoo is at work. I think when you change your shampoo, it confuses your hair, but in a good way. The only thing my theory is based on is personal experience, because every time I buy shampoo I like to switch it up, and for the first 4-5 days I have a really good hair week, then it's just average. But then when I switch shampoos or get it done (where my stylist usually has a different shampoo than I do), it's another good hair streak. So, what I'm thinking of doing is buying a few different shampoos and using one for 4-5 washes, then switching, and develop some type of cycle. I'm thinking it'll probably be good to get a volume shampoo, probably one with color protection, and maybe a moisturizing one (I do live in Utah). I think the combination might be brilliant. I dunno...I'll have to test it out...

Well, the highly anticipated night cap is settling in, so that is all for now. :-)

-W

1.19.2010

There's a Class for This

This picture explains my life.

I tried the driving range with my husband and cousins over the weekend (thanks MLK for that holiday), and felt pretty much like a fool the whole time, but hey, no better stress reliever than seeing how far and hard you can hit something.

First, notice a few things. A. There's snow on the ground and the "heated" driving range didn't feel so warm when you add a wind factor.. B. So I got the whole 'rotate your hips' thing down, 'follow through on the swing', 'keep your eyes on the ball', yeah, most of the time, not bad. But, look closely at the tee...
Yes. The ball is still there. I'm reading to much into this, but I think I golf swing might tell a lot about a person (I'm sure someone's written a book on this). For example, I honestly tried here, gave it my best, tried to pick up a few techniques, swung the crap out of it, and dang. That ball didn't move (and yes that is my lack of spatial reasoning abilities kicking in). SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THAT! I think this is the perfectionist in me coming out, but I HATE not being good at things! So anyway...back to my analysis... I'd say my effort represents my attitude towards most things, I really do try, because I can't let myself do poorly on things (tried, can't). The fact that the ball is still there (besides the obvious) represents the fact that I still have a lot to learn and if I'm going to learn it, I should probably deep six the perfectionist attitude. And, the HUGE pile of balls next to me means that I still have a lot of opportunities around me and it's okay to fail, because I can always try again.

That was deep for a blog post. But seriously, this picture represents my life. Too bad I didn't get the one on film where I swung so hard I literally spun in a complete circle, with yep, you guessed it, that happy little ball sitting perfectly still and content on the tee. I should be more like the ball on the tee...happy and content until someone whacks the living daylights out of me.

-W

1.13.2010

A Lack of Color

You know those bands that you LOVE but you occasionally forget that they might have just produced a new album in the past five years? Then you find it, download it, and love the band all over again? You know, that feeling? Yes. Totally having it! Death Cab for Cutie got me through many a dramatic high school moment, and I heard something in a store the other day and realized...HELLO?! Where have I been? Their new album, Narrow Stairs, good stuff. Comes highly recommended (by me). I always used to say if Ben Gibbard were better looking, or if I were blind, I'd marry that kid in a heartbeat. (But it's okay, cause the real thing aka James IS good looking AND sings amazing, two-fer, score).

Different note, my one and only beautiful little niece is WALKING! She's 11 months on the 20th. She's kind of a big deal...first grandbaby on both sides of the family (needless to say spoiled??). I can already tell her spicy personality is going to give her parents loads of fun when she's a teenager ;-) But as an onlooker and only partially responsible for her upbringing (hardly, if any really), she's a blast. But seriously Ryan...I can't believe I found out this literally life changing news from your facebook status.

Next topic. I made it to Wednesday! Which means yes, I am amazing. My observation today went ridiculously well. My principal (had to think of the right spelling on that...your principal is your "pal"...princi-p-a-l) even told me she thinks I should become a principal one day because I would be a great one-holy cow! I can't say that I have the slightest desire to do that, but I'll take the compliment, thanks. I love being a teacher though. I think you only truly appreciate and become pro-corporal punishment once you are a teacher. Sometimes I want to duck tape their mouths and put superglue on their pockets, but I love 'em. The little things they say totally make it worth it (i.e., "Mrs. Houlin, what's your favorite deep sea creature?" or "the bottom number in a fraction is called the demon-ate-her").

Lately I just can't get enough of the color purple. I think I only have like 3 purple shirts, but I even bought some purple flats that I adore. I've tried explaining to my sister lately that things don't have to match, as long as they coordinate. For example, she could wear a mustard yellow shirt with burnt red mary-jane's. They're not the same color, but they just go, it works. ..She's still getting used to the idea. Which reminds me, how come everytime you go to Old Navy the only sizes they seem to have of anything is XXS and XXXL???? Do I just go at the completely WRONG times?? I found the most adorable shirt EVER but ofcourse, I'm no X in either direction.

American Idol starts in 3 minutes :-)

-W

1.11.2010

Eight Days a Week/You can't always get what you want

Stress (noun). 1. Importance or significance attached to a thing. 2. A situation, occurrence, or factor causing this. 3. A mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.

So here's my love-hate relationship with checklists. I'm OCD enough to make checklists, because I like listing things (mostly just so I can cross it off later), but lately, it's causing exactly the mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition mentioned. January sucks. Not only is it freezing outside, but there is SO MUCH TO DO. If I have an increased heart rate, does that count as aerobic exercise? And maybe a rise in muscular tension is unintentional muscle toning...wouldn't that be nice.

I have to be observed a billion and seven times this month at school (teaching that is), the teacher work sample (a "senior project" of sorts, last thing I have to give to BYU) is looming and the due date is only getting closer- February I think? Meanwhile, I still haven't even read the whole packet of what exactly is required for this enormous monstrosity of a paper. Not to mention, at church I'm now in charge of planning all activities for all of the women once a month.

If I can make it through January, I am Superwoman.

Eight days a week...I'm not sure if I really would be productive if there was one more day in a week. My level of productivity right now is off the charts and I don't know if it's like half-a productivity or worthwhile productivity, but I'm always doing something...so...decided. Eighth day would definitely be well spent doing nothing. Much like this past Saturday, where I enjoyed my new washer and dryer by doing 5 loads of laundry and then played Beatles Rock Band for like 4 hours with the fam. Hmm..that might have actually been productive..

It would be nice to reach the point in my life where my most stressful decisions are which gym class I should attend that day (even though Zumba would win everytime, hands down) and should I watch Grey's and t-vo The Office or vice versa? Well. I'd like to think that anyway. Unfortunately, I have that annoying personality that thrives off of business (James just called it 'busiosity'--Serendipity reference, good movie) and doing nothing for too long would drive me crazy. No stress just might be stressful.

Maybe this post title should actually be, You Can't Always Get What You Want.

-W

1.05.2010

Fight for your right to party

So I'm absolutely, uncontrollably and undeniably in LOVE with Zumba. Zumba is basically the jazzercise of the 21st century...except...no leotards (thank you). Latin dance meets aerobics. Anyway, I've been going for about 8ish months religiously 4-5 days a week. Well this is all well and great, except for the fact that it's popularity has exploded. The gym I go to does it in a decently sized studio, but seriously the capacity of that room is about to burst open with sweaty, overweight latin women. There's usually a line out the door waiting to get in about 10-15 minutes before the class starts.

Mostly I can deal, but tonight was especially frustrating. So, there were these like two little girls (we're talking like 9-10) standing right in the front line. (Sorry, but unless you're over 18 and a workout junkie, don't stand in the front.) And THEN there are these two teenage girls right behind me. Now it's packed, so we're like barely arms length apart. Anyway, I'm doing my thing (you know, shakin' it), and I step back for something, step on the girls foot, roll my ankle, and my foot is tingling and numb the rest of the class. AH!

I think one of the reasons it's so crowded lately is because of everyone's New Year's resolutions to you know, make it to the gym more, lose the extra 10 lb's from the holidays and the extra 20 from the 10 past years they made the same resolution but gave up once Valentine candy went on sale. Just commit already!

The Beastie Boys were not joking...you gotta fight for your right to party. Zumba on!

-W

1.04.2010

The Way I Am

Attempt number 4 at starting this thing. Is there ever really a good way to start your first blog post? I've come to a few realizations about how people start blogs.
1. An awkward introduction of the person, their likes, dislikes, life dreams, etc...it's like a first day of class introduction, except you don't even really know who you're introducing yourself too..like I said..awkward.
2. Starting with a super trendy/quirky first line...wasn't feeling creative enough...
3. A fantastic life event that was inspiring enough to write it down.
4.....doesn't matter. Think I've started.

I can't believe I'm watching the Bachelor right now.

Christmas break was amazing, and amazingly productive. Florida was beautiful and warm! I also wish Florida was a lot closer to Utah. The 5hr 15 min flight back nearly got the best of me. James mentioned more than once, "If this is hard for you, how do you feel about a 16 hour flight to Italy?" (Yes, we're planning on going in the next few years). And the answer to that question? Yet to be discovered. But Nyquil is sounding more of a possibility. I also cleaned out all the closets in my house and organized them. I'm either super anal or super bored. Whatever, it's done.

10% laptop battery power left. First blog post? Check.

-W