Sew Committed

Today, I finally committed to a sewing machine.  My sweet family gave me money to buy a sewing machine for my birthday.  Exactly a month ago.  So I've been searching and thinking and reading reviews and talking to people and thinking some more.  I just couldn't decide!  You see, I don't know a ton about sewing yet (I've taken one Intro to Sewing class and I made a pillow!) and so it made me nervous to buy one without knowing much.  Anyways, after much debate that bordered on obsessive, I picked one.  It's a Brother and seems like one I can grow with but also it is not too fancy for my beginnerness.  My first project is going to be a t-shirt quilt of all my Aggie and Grace Bible Church shirts.  I can't wait to make it!  And thanks to Aunt Cheryl for giving me step by step directions on how to make one!

Top 10 ways it FEELS like Christmas

So, I'm a Feeler, at least according to the Meyers Brings Test Thing.  Ben would easily describe me as a "feelings" person.  I go by my feelings a lot...to my detriment at times I'm sure and also to my joy.  Anyways, sometimes things just aren't real to me unless I feel like they are.  Hence the forth coming post.

Often around this time of year, everyone beings to say, "Can you believe it's November?!" and, "It just doesn't feel like it should be November yet."  Well, I thought, and said, the exact same thing UNTIL today!  Today, it finally feels like November and even feels a little like Christmas.  Let me tell you why.

1. Today at church, the choir sang an amazing Christmas song that they're going to perform at the Celebration program.

2. I had a gingerbread latte at Starbucks recently and plan on having a Peppermint Mocha soon in a red cup.

3. The house is cold even without the air on!

4. I heard "All I want for Christmas is Yoooou, Baby" today in Old Navy.

5. I wanted to quickly flee Old Navy because it was insane and messy and insane.

6. Same goes for Gap and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  I do not plan on returning on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon until February unless I have no choice (you really know I'm going to anyways, right?)

7. I wore my camel colored boots last night to a party for the first time this season.

8. I ate turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, ham, corn casserole, and many pumpkin flavored sweets last night at said party.

9. Every group I'm a part of has a Christmas celebration coming up.

10. And finally...Christmas and Thanksgiving plans are in the works and I can't wait to spend the time with my family and friends!

What makes it feel like Christmas to you?

Crayola's going green!

If you have kids or if you're a teacher, or if you just like to use markers, you might have noticed that the Crayola kind are now black instead of the white they have been since forever.  I have noticed this all year and several times in between the "Mrs. Cooper!!"s and the taps on my arm, I hypothesized about why.  Perhaps its a marketing tool.  A new look.  A fresh start. 

Well this past week, I accidentally stumbled upon a blog that talked about why!  You see, Crayola is using an innovative technique that uses recycled bottle caps to create their markers.  Having a black barrel allows them to use more recycled materials, keeping more than 1 million plastic bottle caps out of the landfills.  Interesting huh?!  Way to go Crayola.  Way to go.

Red Cups and Sleeping in

Today was a good day.  Let me tell you why.

I got to sleep in (until 6am) because I had training today at another campus and didn't need to arrive crazy early.  I am learning A TON!  I can't wait to use it with my students.

I got to eat out at a restaurant for lunch!  And, just so happened that it was the birthday of the lady that I went to lunch with so I got to share in her birthday lunch.  She is another bilingual teacher so we talked the whole time in Spanish.  Very fun.  AND THEN we got Starbucks.  In a red cup.  On a cold day.  Ahh bliss. 

I got home way earlier than usual.  I usually stay late at school, but today I wasn't at my school so there was no reason to stay late.  I got home, I researched sewing machines (more on that later), and even took a little nap.

The night has been so productive.  I made a super easy dinner of waffles (leggo my eggo!), eggs, and turkey bacon.  All good except for the turkey part.  Yes, its healthier but oh so disappointing.  Then we went to Target where I got new markers, gel pens, and highlighters.  I'm a big pens/markers/color person and Ben had gotten me a pack of sharpies and gel pens that I already had so I switched them for some new ones.  Again, bliss. 

And finally, I worked out with GIAM on the Ball workout.  We were rockin it and my legs feel like jelly now.  Good feeling. 

Happy Wednesday!

Birthday treats

This past Friday was my 27th birthday - and that just sounds weird.  I started the day with a gift from Ben - a purse I had been wanting filled with goodies he knows I love such as gel pens, a cat folder, new sharpie markers, and cute socks (yes, I did say I'm 27).  Then he took me to Starbucks for birthday breakfast.  And it makes it all sweeter to know that Friday is his day off so he voluntarily got up at 6:15am with me! 

It was a hilarious and fun day at school as well.  Every year, we do Book Character Dress up Day on or as close as possible to Halloween.  The ladies on my team all dressed up as Cinderellas from different Cinderella versions!  I was Cinder-Elly, the cool, city Cinderella.  We also had Mexican Cinderella, Cowgirl Cinderella, Caribbean Cinderella and of course the traditional one.  Anyways, I felt so loved at school.  One of the parents of my kids brought me a vase full of beautiful roses, my sweet teammate Ashley baked a delicious Buttermilk cake using my mom's recipe, and we ordered Papa John's pizza for lunch. 

That night, my parents, my sister, and my nephew Jacob who shares a birthday with me (he turned 14) came in town from Allen.  They were so sweet to make the trek down to Katy.  We went out to Yard House for dinner and then came home for cake, ice cream and presents.  Boy I love me a good family party.

The next day we did various girly things such as shopping and eating a girly lunch at a place that sells coffee and flowers.  Genius combination.  And finally, after the fam returned to Allen, and to culminate the birthday specialness, Ben took me out to "the most romantic restaurant in Houston" called Peli Peli.  It was a wonderful atmosphere and I even got a picture with the Chef!  Thanks everyone for making me feel so loved and special on my birthday!