Holiday Decorations!

These are the pictures of our decorations! I could only add a few, but at least it's letting me add them now :).
Picture 1: our couch with all my holiday pillows! :)
Picture 2: our living room tree with the janky lights...it's still pretty, though.
Picture 3: My A Christmas Story collection! :)  It's the house and the school so far.
Picture 4: The Keep Calm and Jingle on is from the Etsy store  http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThoughtsToPrint?ref=seller_info
I'll be hanging it in our hallway, and I think it's going to stay there year-round to keep the spirit alive! :)
Picture 5: My Flurryville Snowmen and their new perch.
I don't really have any pictures of holiday festivities (fail!), but these will do :)
Happy Holidays!

Christmas Quiz

I know I'm a little late for this, but it looked like fun. I stole it from Amber at http://www.brunchwithamber.com/.

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate?Hot Chocolate--I've really only had eggnog in the form of a McDonald's shake...it wasn't bad, but it's just the idea...:)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?Santa wraps presents! He also has fancy handwriting...
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?We have white lights (white and blue on the white tree), but I keep seeing those bright LED lights and I think they look pretty cool.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?I have in the past, but I didn't this year. The white tree didn't even get decorations this year. Oops.
5. When do you put your decorations up?Typically they go up on November 1st. I LOVE Christmas! This year, I didn't get them up until after Thanksgiving...it may have even been after the first of December. I'm going to leave them up a while longer, because I always get sad when I have to take them down.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?Turkey rolls! They're amazing!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?My parents would always spread the carrots on the lawn that we put out for Rudolph. That was pretty cool.  Also, just the excitement of waiting for an appropriate time to get up (5 AM!) and how beautiful the tree looked!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?I was older than I should have been, but I like to believe that I believed longer to keep the excitement of Christmas alive...it's not nearly as fun without Santa!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?As kids, we always opened our Christmas Pajamas. :)  I think I should start that tradition again :).

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
The regular tree is a random assortment of stuff from when Bryan and I were kids and cool ornaments that people get us for Christmas and birthdays.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?I dread it, but it really didn't feel like Christmas this year, and I think it's because we didn't have any snow.  As long as the roads are clear, I guess it's okay.

12. Can you ice skate?
I can! It's a lot of fun, but I haven't done it in a while.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?I've had too many amazing gifts to recall just one.

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Hanging out with my family, shopping for the perfect gift for someone, the beautiful decorations...I would usually say that people are nicer around the holidays, but I didn't really see that a lot this year.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
My mom's mint ice cream/oreo dessert.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Going to my mom's Christmas night :).
17. What tops your tree?I don't have any tree toppers! :(  I've found that all the ones at the store are too heavy for a fake tree to handle.
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?Both! :)
19. Candy canes: yuck or yum?Yum! They're especially good in a mug of hot chocolate!

20. Favorite Christmas show?
Elf, Love Actually, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story...all of them? :)
21. Saddest Christmas song?Christmas Shoes. I seriously hate that song.
22. What’s your favorite Christmas song?I love all the classics, but Etta James' Sleigh Ride is probably my favorite.

It's December already? Say what?

• How did I get so busy, and yet still feel like I'm doing nothing? :)

• I can't believe it's already December.

• So far, two trees are up...one is decorated.  Hmmm.

• Our stockings are sitting on a chair.

• I don't have a wreath on our front door. Yet.

• The Flurryville guys our out, though!

• One fell from its perch and broke. Crap.

• I still play with Webkinz...yup, I'm 32!

• I'm REALLY looking forward to Christmas break.

• I would like to flee to the Cleve. I've mentioned our strange love for Cleveland, Ohio. I cannot explain it, so I just embrace it.

• I'm already tired of snow. We've had one snow day. That's enough, Winter.

• I got double charged at Sephora for mascara...they're being nice about it, but no one has solved my problem quite yet.  I still love you, Sephora. It was a human error...and I don't even blame her. It was her first day and they were BUSY. I'd have been crying behind the register.

• I tried to get sweaters at New York and Company and couldn't use my kick-ass coupon with their buy one get one in store...so I went online and used my coupon, and got seven sweaters.  With free shipping.  Take that, in store employee!  I feel like I somehow beat the system.

• I'm scared to attempt to post pictures. Anyone else having issues?

• I've started working out again. I panic when  I don't think I'll have time during the week...but yer I can't get myself to work out in the morning. I'm way too uncoordinated tired.

• I would really like a nice relaxing day...I don't see that happening soon.  Oh well...me and everyone else, right?
• We saw The Muppets movie this weekend. I LOVED it.  It was so funny and a happy ending...which we all could use right now.  I'll take a good, happy story over "reality" any day of the week. Please and thank you.  The movie comes highly recommended by yours truly.

Well, sorry for my lack of posting! :)  Have a great week! I'm off to watch some terrible Christmas movies! Tis the season! ;)

<3  Gretchen

Sunday Musings

I woke up with a migraine. Again. I never feel it coming...and then it's already here! I took a Maxalt, which seemed to work, but took a looooooooong time. I had sleep with the heating pad on my head for quite a while first.  And even then it took a while.
Not exactly the way I planned on spending my Sunday.

We ate Buffalo Chicken Dip for dinner.
Oops.
It was pretty tasty. B didn't like it as much...it was too ranchy for him.
I'm taking some into work tomorrow because we made a full batch. Hopefully people eat it!

I got my hair colored again (No pics because I haven't showered yet today. See Migraine).
I bought two OPI colors, Getting Miss Piggy With It and Animal-istic :).  Very pretty!

It's play week.
Rumors by Neil Simon.
I hope people come, because it's a lot of work to put a show together.

I'm not sure why I can't do pictures yet. Is anyone else having this problem?  It appeared to work (getting my hopes up!), but then stopped. Rawr.

I'm pretty geeked for Thanksgiving and a four day weekend! It will be blissful to be able to sleep in!  Any fun plans?

Enjoy your week, lovelies!

<3 Gretchen

A post! Wow!

Whoa! I've been pretty MIA lately.
Sorries!
Our play is in TWO weeks.
Okay, less than two weeks for opening night.
Yikes!
The kiddos are doing awesomely!  So, that means rehearsals this week are going to make me want to tear out my hair.
No biggie.
The play's called Rumors.
Neil Simon wrote it.
It's pretty funny!  The kids really like it and are seriously funny.

Anyway!

I had a WHOLE bottle of wine today.
Oops.
It was Moscato, which isn't thaaaaaat bad, so it's all good.
I guess you could say I'm slightly stressed out.
But my face is numb! So it's all good!

I'm sure my momma is so proud.

So, I'm taking a poll!  What's your job?  What do you do? Do you love it?

We made Melts today.
If you don't know what The Melt Bar and Grilled is, you need to get your sweet little hiney to Cleveland and enjoy. Seriously.
We make our version of the great grilled cheese maybe every two months. I cannot wait to get back. Yay, Cleveland!
We made chex mix, too.  A double batch.

Exams are in two weeks or so.  I cannot believe the end of the trimester is upon us.
I need to start decorating for Christmas.
My two hour nap today may have gotten in the way.
I did do 5 loads of laundry, though!
That has to count for something!

Oh! Mrs. Monologues is hosting lots o' give aways!

Check it out here. IF technology lets me post the button.
Stupid technology.


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Have a fantabulous week, lovelies!

<3 Gretchen

Picture fail.

Here's my accent finger! :)
(Okay, so I cannot get blogger to work for me.  Go to amazon and check out the colors and picture in your heads the awesomeness that is my accent finger of Mrs. Claus!)
The light pink is China Glaze's Go Go Pink, and the accent finger is China Glaze's Mrs. Claus.

Do you ever feel that there's not enough wine in the world?  Today was one of those days. It wasn't a bad day, per say, it was one of those "every-little-thing-goes-wrong" sort of days.  That's all.
We had cheese, crackers, and wine ($6 a bottle Lanbrusco...yum!) for dinner. Is it sad that I started to type whine???
It was delicious.
Do you ever feel that you don't know what you want to be when you grow up?
I guess it's good that I don't feel like a grown up yet.
Is it sad that I'm excited to teach Macbeth?  Screw these sonnets...on to the good stuff.
I also cannot wait until the play is done. They're doing great *knocks on wood* but I'm EXHAUSTED. Plum tired. I just want to get home at a normal hour. These 50+ hour work weeks are killing me.
Thank goodness for kitties and my husband's hilarious wallet that resembles George's from Seinfeld.

(I tried to add another picture. Today is one big EPIC FAIL.)

Happy Monday, folks!

<3 Gretchen

Knitting and Friends and Books and...

How was everyone's weekend?  We played music trivia yesterday and our team got 3rd place! :)  Also, I, along with a colleague, took 42 students on a field trip (Career Day!) and we not only survived, but the kids were amazing!!! :)  It was nice :).

• So, on the recommendation of Crazy Shenanigans-JMO I'm thinking of taking up knitting. Just after looking at Amazon for a few seconds, I feel like I'm already in over my head :).  Any recommendations of where to start?  What sort of needles to get? Yarn? 
• I've decided that any time anyone says/does/suggests something that I feel is ridiculous, I'm going to tilt my head, look at them as if they are crazy, and walk away. Because that's the response they deserve.
• B and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on Friday. :)  We went to Harvey's and ditched the diets. It was awesome.  
• I was working out today and watched the last episode of Friends. And cried.  That is the best TV show ever made. I watch it every time I catch it on TV.  I miss it.  I really haven't gotten into a TV show since then.
• Sorry my posts are typically picture-free. I know it's visually boring. I'm terrible at remembering to take pictures.  
• I got a lot of Christmas shopping done this weekend...mostly online.  I also got myself some goodies from Sephora.  Yay for friends and family events!  If I remember, I'll post the loot when I get it.
• I've been doing pretty good at working out in the morning before work. I can only do about 30 minutes, but it's better than nothing. I finally got about 75 minutes in today. It felt pretty good.  I've lost 8 pounds so far!
• I've been reading "Can You Keep a Secret?" recently. I love Sophie Kinsella, and I'm pretty surprised that I've never read this book.  The main character is so much like me!
• Any good book recommendations?  I'm trying to read more, as I used to, but don't really have a lot of time now. I'm trying to make more time for me, since work already gets over 50+ hours a week!  I need balance, and gosh darn it, I'm going to get it!

Well, I hope you have an awesome week! Do something fun/nice for yourself!

<3 Gretchen

Things I would like to accomplish. Someday.

I have lofty goals.
I think that's okay.
I just have NO energy (or time) to attempt to accomplish them.
I'd like to, though.
I think I need a swift kick in the pants.
Ahem.  Here are my lofty (and not-so-loft) goals.

1. I would like to write a book.  I haven't really chosen a topic. I'm not sure if it will be fiction or non-fiction...but I'd like to write a book.
This is something my brother could do in his sleep...and I really wish he would...because then I could life vicariously through him.
2. I would like to create a blog dedicated to all of the silly/awesome things my dad says and does, but I don't want to embarrass him.  Everyone would LOVE it though, because he really is a riot :).  Kind of like Shit My Dad Says, but my dad doesn't say shit...they're gems of awesomesauce.
3. I want to write a song so amazing that it ends up on the radio.
4. I want to learn how to play piano.
5. I want to do a cover album of a mish-mash of my favorite songs and have the original song writer/singer be really impressed :).
6. I want to cook a full meal...tons of courses, and have the timing down perfectly.  I'm terrible with cooking timing...I can make a decent meal, but something will always be cold because I either forgot to make something, or made it too late, or underestimated the cooking time...it's exasperating.  I just watched the Pioneer Woman's cooking show...she's so freaking adorable and makes it seem so easy, but ten buck I mess everything up.
7. I want to learn to knit/crochet.  Whichever is easier to do first.
8. I want to have time to blog every day...and actually have interesting things to say.  Most days I'm too tired to sort my mail.
9. I want to be organized.  (See above) 

What are some of your lofty and not-so-lofty goals?

China Glaze's Foxy

Sorry for the craptastic photos and paint job...this color is just so pretty I had to share! :)

I've been loving the dark fall colors lately...it's hard to choose a favorite color/brand :).  This particular polish went on very smoothly and easily.  This is two coats. China Glaze always seems to go on easily, at least that I've discovered.  It's not too pricey, which is also nice, and they have great colors!
What's your favorite nail polish color/brand?

*I was not compensated in any way. This is just my honest opinion about the brand/color.  I purchased the polish myself :)  Not that I would turn down any freebies! ;)

Go Lions! Go Tigers! Go Bears?

Well, I suppose I have Wizard of Oz on the brain.  The hubby is happy because both his teams are kicking major booty!  He's such a loyal fan :)
Here's another brain dump (someone in the bloggy world used that phrase last week and I liked it!).

• I have migraines.  I kind of thought I did...and I've had them for about a year.  They're not too severe, but they suck.  I get throbbing/pulsing pain, nausea, and language problems (I cannot find my words!).
• I had one last night/today.  Good times, especially since I had to go take down the float (4th place out of 4...seriously.), and I still have some papers to grade and add into the gradebook.  Teachers lead such fun and exciting lives.
• I did get a hair cut yesterday...just a trim. I got my eyebrows waxed, too. It's been a while and right as she was about to rip the cotton strip off, I told her how terrified I was of the pain since I couldn't remember to what degree it hurt.  She really appreciated that ;). 
• Spirit week is done. Now I can have normal work days again...until the holidays. :)
• Sunday is laundry day. It would be nice to have time to do some during the week. I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future.
• I <3 spell check.  It is my hero.
• We went to see a musical last night called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  It was super funny.  The character Leaf was my favorite.
• We're making Polish Meatloaf tonight for dinner...yay!  It's from a Polish meatball recipe that we turned into meatloaf. Way easier (not that meatballs are all that complex...). Mashed potatoes and frozen veggies?  Yum!
• I wore leggings with a tunic sweater for the first time yesterday. I liked it, but I felt pretty self-conscious all night.
• I'm so excited for the holidays this year! I love decorating for Christmas and shopping for presents :).
• I've lost 8 pounds so far. Yay!  I'll be down to my goal weight in a month or two!  I'm on myfitnesspal.com (GVATM if you want to add me).

Well, I hope you guys have an awesome week!

<3 Gretchen

Hooray for Wednesday!

• Today was another workout so I can drink wine sort of days...not that I'm not loving that I've lost 4 whole pounds so far! :)  It was just one of those weeks  days. :)  Not that it was a bad day...just a wine day :).  You ladies know what I mean. We got Middle Sister Sweet and Sassy Moscato...yum.

• Sorry I've been so absent lately! Work is just very busy...and I've been so tired lately!  It's going to get even crazier with float building (Homecoming is next weekend already...um, Fall begins FRIDAY. Friday, people!) and play practice. :)  

• I have been reading though, and trying to comment as much as I can.  Does anyone else come home to 84 blogs in their reader each night?  Is it just me?

• We've already got our set mostly set up! We need the walls and everything, but furniture is out and mostly in place. It's so nice and such a change from other years. Also? No set changes. Once everything is in place, we're good to go. :)  

• I need to order more coffee for my Keurig. I really want to use my points to buy a new, fancier Keurig, but I'm waiting because my machine isn't that old and works pretty well still. It makes really odd noises now and then...any other Keurig owners experience this? Also, some mornings it fakes me out and acts like it's not going to give me my coffee. WTF?

• I bought Bridesmaids today! I <3 that movie! It's so funny. I pretty much want to be Kristen Wiig. Or at least like her. She's so funny!

• I also bought cotton balls, twinkle lights, and make up for The Wizard of Oz even though we're not doing that until winter. Halloween is a drama teacher's dream holiday. So many cheap costumes and so much cheap make up. YAY.

• We had our entryway painted this past weekend...it's a burnt orange color and it looks amazing! I have a blog post all planned out in my head for it. :)  I still need to upload the pictures.

Well, I'm exhausted. Happy almost Thursday (which, really, is almost Friday...which is almost the weekend!) :).


<3 Gretchen

I love lists. Lists, lists, lists.

Okay. So I'm a terrible blogger when I'm working. I'm sorry.
I also have a cold. Boo. It's not bad as colds go...it's just the pressure on my face that get's to me.
On to my list :).

1. I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte today...with nonfat milk!  260 calories, and totally worth it! (I worked out while sick just so I could get one.)
2. I went shopping today even though I feel crummy and didn't buy anything (my mom bought me the PSL).  Maybe a cold is the secret to saving money?
3. Even though I am the worst. blogger. ever., I've still been reading all your blogs! Promise! :)
4. I've been burned twice in a week by companies that ship through Amazon.  I bought a cute 3 pack of socks (weird, I know) that only arrived at my house with 2 socks (Amazon was awesome about it), and I bought a Furminator (coolest cat hair brush ever) and it had been obviously opened and scotch taped closed, returned, and apparently promptly sent to my house. Say what?  I wrote to the company, but shockingly haven't heard from them. Ugh. Major disappointment.
5. I mistook my first car payment for my jeep as junk mail. Oops.  They were really nice about my idiocy.
6. Does anyone else get tooth pain with sinus pressure?  It's really strange.
7. I've been trying to drink more water, but I'm really bad at it at work.  It's hard to want to when you know you can't pee for 150 minutes at a time.  (That's a looooong time to not be able to pee.)  Anyone out there with a job where you can use the bathroom when you need to? 
8. I made chicken noodle soup last night...but it's more like a casserole because I added too many noodles. They soaked up all the broth. Oops.
9. Well, I think it's nap time for my poor sickie self.  Time to pop in a Christmas move and veg :).

I hope you have an awesome weekend!

<3 Gretchen

It's time for a random post!

I love lists. :)

• Tomorrow is the first day of school. I'm actually feeling okay...could it be because this is my 6th year of doing this or has it just not kicked in yet?
• Yesterday I did 5 loads of laundry.  Today? I didn't do anything! :) (Not even my hair!)
• I need to paint my nails and toes nails (China Glaze Recycle and Foxy, respectively).
• I've actually been losing weight! (Really slowly)  I've been keeping track of my calories on myfitnesspal (look me up! gvatm), and I think that's really been helping. Even if I go over my calories, it's never by too much. (okay, sometimes it is...oops!)
• What are you wearing to work tomorrow?  Do you plan your outfits ahead of time or wing it in the morning?
• I think I'm wearing this stripped target dress with a cardigan and heels.  

• I can't find a picture of the shoes...sorry!

• I try really hard to plan ahead, but no more than a day. If I plan a week ahead, I end up hating the outfit and wasting so much time in the morning. I have to be comfortable with what I'm wearing or the day just starts off crappy (and typically goes downhill from there).
• Is anyone else like that?
• I tend to get in a clothing rut in the winter because it just gets so darn cold here and all I want is to be warm and comfortable.
• Is anyone else as obsessed with etsy as me?  I've been trying to be really careful with what I buy, but sometimes it's really hard!  There are so many cute and unique things on there!

Well, I hope everyone has a great week!

<3 Gretchen