artsy

artsy

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

2012.



Resolutions.

What a big word.

Filled with all kinds of hidden meanings.

To me, when I hear that word, I instantly think of diets that fail, exercise that goes undone, and elaborate plans that never get put into play.

On that note, I think I'll come up with some "ways to better myself and those around me." (I think that was just a long description for the word resolution, but that's the way the cookie crumbles)

1. Give and/or receive at least 8 hugs a day. One of my preschool CDs even has a song about it. It's just healthy.

2. Smile at truck drivers on the road. They have a long way to go, and it's fun. I've already done it!

3. Write at least one letter a week. It's always fun to receive snail mail, it'll keep my handwriting neat, and it will help the U.S. Post Office, making me a true patriot.

4. Stop obsessively following awesome blogs without at least posting once in a while on this one. Basically, Be. More. Consistent.

5. Find new books to read. Actually, find more everything to read. It can be the news. Just read more, so I'll have more topics to elaborate on with the Husband.

6. Use my phone for it's primary use more than I do now. Phones were originally invented to call people, not to text, play games, take picture, etc. Call people I care about more :)

7. Budget, exercise, eat healthy, and drink lots of water. There's no need to create more stress for me. I seek out enough on my own already.

I like the number 7, and I like Harry Potter, so that's enough for me.

Happy Resoluting!

~A

Monday, December 19, 2011

Clean Apartment!

It's Monday.

Which means a clean apartment is a huge accomplishment.

Also. We are having pizza night tonight. Cause we can.

Also.

GO STEELERS!


And speaking of Steelers...this is easily the coolest thing you will see today. Possibly in 2 days.



~ A

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

First Annual

What is great about being married:

Knowing that saying things like "ooo, Ben...this is our first annual Soltoff Family Christmas Card" will totally set Ben off

...and cause him to shout at me from the couch "Inaugural! It's Inaugural!"

:-D

IT'S TUESDAY!!!

This is generally how I feel today:


~A

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas Trees!

It's for sure a Monday.

But, anyways.

Ben is sick and feels like poo, and i get to feel smug and say "I told you so" about him being sick. It's not really a win for me, except that we get to have my favorite soup tonight :D

Here's the real topic though.

Christmas Trees.


The lighting stinks, but here's ours for this year! Our FIRST FAMILY CHRISTMAS TREEEEEEEEEE!

It's a faker. We aren't going to actually BE around ON Christmas Day, and I didn't want needles on the floor the tree to die for lack of water. So we found one at Wal-Mart a fancy store that had just the right shade of multicolored twinkle lights. 

Here's my thing with Christmas Trees. First of all, they should preferably be live. Because there should be some element of adventure in obtaining a tree. Second, the lights MUST be color, and they have to be the kind of soft color, not this neon fiddle-faddle I've seen in recent years. Nostalgic color!  Third, the ornaments all have to mean something. My family has it's own personal Christmas elf that brings us a new ornament every year, and I got to bring all mine with me when I got married. Combined with Ben's light-up Star Trek ornaments (which until recently I wasn't so excited about) and his others, our tree has a bunch!

Some stories about Christmas Trees. 

Actually just one.

Ben and I helped my parents get a tree this year because my brother broke his collarbone in our annual Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving. (backstory time) For many years now, my family has always gone to a certain place to get the tree (Cox's Farm for those of you in NOVA), and my siblings and I have a certain tradition about getting it. Mainly, the kids are required to run around and in and out of the trees and the firepit and the other Christmas decorations while the parents pick out the tree. It's complete with a pause in the game to roast marshmallows over the small fire. We always go in the evening, and it's always a crisp, cold night. My mom frets about the tree height, and we kids always tell the parents that the tree they eventually pick looks great. (end backstory)

And that's how it was this year, with the addition of Ben!!

Unfortunately there's another part to this story this year. Ben and my dad got the huge, massive average-sized tree into the house, and cut all the wrapping stuff off, tralala all normal and stuff. My mom was pulling down some of the branches and found a NEST of some kind in the middle of the tree. Then, someone else saw something MOVING and all heck broke out. You would have thought a fully-grown dragon was in the tree, from all the gasping and poking and sudden movements we were making. After a while, Ben and my dad had the great idea to take the tree back outside, and let whatever was in there just scamper out. Just in case, my little sister and I got out our dogs, to eat whatever came out of the tree protect us (they just sniffed the tree). 

It ended up being a tiny field mouse. 

womp. womp. 

I was thinking our night would end up more like this:



In summary, I think Ben will be inspecting our trees thoroughly whenever we decide to get live ones. 

Also, here's me playing with puppies.  Because I really want one and can't have one. The one looking at the floor and not at the camera was awesome, he was going around and jumping on all the sleeping puppies. I'd name him Killer or Brian or something fantastic like that.


Tomorrow's Tuesdayyyyyyyy!!!!! (new girl ftw)

~A

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Baby Names!

Sometimes, Ben and I sit around and talk about baby names. You know. For the future.

Tonight's discussion was ridiculously productive.

I deduced that it would be incredibly clever to get a dog and name it Beowulf. And then name the cat Grendel.


obvs Beowulf. 


YIKES! 

but duh. Grendel.



~A



Friday, December 2, 2011

"Get the biggest aluminum tree you can find, Charlie Brown, maybe painted pink"

Christmas movies are always a highlight to the holiday season, especially for me. Now while there seem to be an increasing number of made for tv movies about this time of year (ABC Family I'm talking to you...Holiday in Handcuffs? Really?), there are also some classics that I absolutely love. 

The Santa Clause: This is a hilarious movie, but it also addresses a lot about Santa Claus, without making it too much about the commercialism of the season. This is one of those family movies that children will love for the story, and adults will love for the jokes and the story.

Home Alone: Along the same lines as The Santa Claus, this movie is a great one to watch with the family because it has stuff in it for all ages. I am completely in love with the house and the Christmas decorations that are set up inside. And who doesn't hope their kid will be as ingenious as Macaulay Culkin if left at home by themselves?

Elf: There are so many lines I could quote from this movie, and it's one of the newer holiday movies that I am really partial to watching. If my mom were here, you'd better believe we'd be quoting lines from this movie for several minutes straight. In fact, we watched part of it as a family on Thanksgiving, and my grandma and her boyfriend had just come over and were watching it with us for the first time. About every 2 minutes, my mom and I would say "oh, this is a great part coming up" or "this part is so funny, watch!" Basically, this movie is definitely on the must-see list!

It's a Wonderful Life: I had never watched this movie all the way through until a few years ago, and you better believe that I cried after watching it (actually, I think I ended up crying during the movie). There are so many life lessons you can take from this movie, and from George Bailey's life, but it all comes down to the title of the movie. What I learned is that life is a wonderful thing (hm, sound familiar?), and we shouldn't take ours for granted, no matter what our situation may be. 

A Charlie Brown Christmas: This is one of my absolute favorite movies, and not just at Christmastime. I have so many personal connections to this movie, and I love re-watching it several times throughout the season. When I was in high school, through a series of events, I ended up directing a play version of this movie at my church. That year was a tough one for me, and my family ended up going to get our Christmas tree without me (it's a huge grand tradition we have, getting our tree, but I'll save those details for another time). The long and the short (haha) of it is that the tree initially didn't fit in the tree stand, and so my dad did what dads do, and sawed off a few inches of the trunk in order to try to fit it in. No luck. He sawed off a few more inches...and a few more...until it ended up fitting. However, by this point, the tree was about 5 feet tall, after starting at about 7 or 8. When I came downstairs and saw the tree, I started crying, because I have a thing where Christmas trees have to look a certain way (big), and this one certainly didn't. My mom (of course) came to the rescue and said "but it's your Charlie Brown Christmas tree" and made me feel lots better. We crammed all of our ornaments onto that tiny thing, loading the branches down with as many as 3 ornaments each, and in the end, it's one of the only trees we've ever had that I can clearly remember. All this to say that this movie is one that holds a lot of meaning and memory for me. 

Miracle on 34th Street: I might cry about this one, because it's just so good. Every single year (since my brother and I were little) we have watched this movie on Christmas morning. I guess one Christmas my parents got tired of us waking them up at THE crack of dawn Christmas morning, and so they put this movie on for us, and said to come wake them up after it was over. We were good kids, and watched the movie all the way through, and to this day, we continue the tradition. Now my baby sister watches too, and my brother goes back to sleep after the first 5 minutes, but in a world where so many things are uncertain, I love having traditions like this one to look forward to each year. In addition, the story is just wonderfully told, and I love every bit of the experience (by the way, we watch the newer version, in case you were wondering). This is something I cannot wait to pass on once Ben and I have kids of our own. Plus. New York City at Christmastime. What's not to love?

There are plenty of other movies out there that are oldies and goodies (A Christmas Story, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, etc.), but these are the few that really stick out in my mind, and that I am excited to begin watching with Ben this year. 

I'm gearing up to start some yummy holiday baking tomorrow (Peppermint bark! Toffee!) and sing along to Christmas carols on the radio all day long. Hopefully I'll be able to continue to share some of the holiday traditions I have, as well as the new ones I'm creating with the hubby!!!

Remember, "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

~A

Thursday, December 1, 2011

No-Shave November (also Movember)

IT'S DECEMBER 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These things are finished until next year!!!






(cue Handel's Hallelujah Chorus)

(some beards/mustaches were pretty cool though)
(like this guy)


(Dan Bylsma ftw)

Happy December 1!!! Get those calendars up and start planning your ABC Family 25 Days of Christmas countdown now, hoorayyyyyyyyyyy.

~A

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thankful List...yum :)



I know this is a little bit late, but I wanted to share just a few things that I am thankful for, in no particular order (a lot of them are really random, but it's me, so it's no surprise)

christmas music (and even playing it before thanksgiving!)
warm blankets
packages waiting at your doorstep
the nutcracker
kisses (despite mustaches)
pittsburgh penguins
hugs from students
pajama day at school
ordering jimmy johns "just because"
brownies
brownies with ice cream
warm brownies with ice cream
my waterbottle keeping me hydrated
the melting pot (especially when you get to catch up with awesome ladies!!)
decorating your first christmas tree
visiting dreamy puppy 
bailey's
peppermint candles
fantasy football
snuggling
christmas movie marathons
a healthy, happy family (minus fractured clavicles, wrists, and general sickness of course!)

...and of course, making toffee!

I am going to definitely remind myself to post SOMETHING every day in December...because there's so much funness to be had!

~A


Monday, November 21, 2011

CROSBY RETURNS!!!!!


...and scores 4 points right out of the box. 

Pens WINNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!

:)

~A

Friday, November 11, 2011

November Already?!

Friends, I apologize.

I've been gone far too long, and I missed you all too much. Ben and I have done lots of fun and exciting things in the past few weeks, and I'll try my hardest to catch you up.

We went apple picking and I made apple pie!!! We also went to visit the Soltoffs in VA and had a great time catching up with family. It's always nice to go home to see everyone. Plus, my Aunt Delores and Uncle Alan were visiting as well, so we got some awesome delicious fresh homemade bread to take back to PA with us!!! (if you don't know, my Aunt Delores makes this homemade bread that is to die for, it's that good).

For Halloween Ben and I picked out some candy from Wegmans (several of our favorites from the bulk food section just in case we had no trick or treaters) and we had no trick or treaters :( But we (i.e. Ben) carved a pretty awesome pumpkin and got to snuggle together to watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (a family tradition) so it was still a pretty good day.

And now we're into November! Which is a pretty fantastic month cause it's my MIL's birthday. We got her a cold weather set with gloves, hat, and scarf, so she can still go and sit outside when it's chilly.

My birthday was next (cause there's no way we're talking about the mess that was the Steelers-Ravens game), and I got sick on my birthday (hooray...not). Ben was going to take me out to Baby's (a favorite restaurant), but that has been postponed until I feel better. I did get a fabulous bag from my family, some awesome earmuffs (cat and Steeler), gloves, and a cookbook from Ben, as well as cards and lots of well wishes, which made my yucky day much better.

My little brother's birthday was the day after mine (yea, our parents loved that they could just throw joint parties when we were young), and it sounds like his day went really well also. I can't believe he's already 22!!! I remember when we were tiny kids, running around in our underwear and fighting over who got the nice Peter Pan sword and who got the bent one.

There's my update! Not so much sarcasm, because I'm still feeling under the weather, and because I'm still feeling sad about Joe Paterno being let go, but hopefully I will BE VIGILANT and CONTINUE TO BLOG!

...besides, Christmas is RIGHT around the corner...and I have 209457237569 things I want to share with you about my most favorite holiday!!!

~A

Sunday, October 9, 2011

The Steelers I'm Used To!!!

The Steelers are playing awesomely today! Although I have my suspicions they aren't really from this time and place...



We all know they get fatter each year. And everyone has to admit...they both look better with beards.



Both bamfs. The end.



The guy you love to love. Also, I suspect Ward is a android sometimes. No one can smile that much ALL the time.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST



Troy Polamalu. Human or Klingon? 
You decide.

Some things I'm looking forward to in the future of the Steelers are games where they look like this, and still manage to save the day.


This is just funny. 


But which Steeler is this charming and adorable, yet incredibly awkward onesie-wearing character?


That is the real question. 

~A


Saturday, October 8, 2011

Pumpkin Patches, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Whoopie Pies

Friends, it's been way too long. 


We went to a pumpkin patch today (!!!). Apparently until today I had never been to one. The "pumpkin patches" of my childhood paled in comparison to how incredibly rough and rugged this one was. You ACTUALLY went out to an ACTUAL patch and PICKED your own PUMPKIN?!!??!!


I was amazed. To me, pumpkin patches were pumpkins set out in a big pile in a relatively flat area and you could "pick" your own at the "patch."


Now I know the truth.



We so cute on the hayride :)


Ben actually just modeled picking this one. It had slugs on it, so we passed. 


I got baby punkins! A little girl on the hayride back said I could "use them as earrings." Then she screamed because a fuzzy caterpillar crawled onto her shoulder.


I felt so domestic after I created my "fall" "centerpiece"

BUT NOW FOR THE REAL IMPORTANT NEWS


Ben and I watched this movie tonight and I remembered how much I loved it.

Yea, he is probably one of my fave mancrushes. Even more than Kirk Herbstreit, mostly because he is a bamf who does things like shoot two long rifles at the same time and say things like "I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you" before jumping out a waterfall. 

HERE IS THE BIG NEWS! I heard from a friend that he is in RICHMOND, VA filming a movie about Abraham Lincoln RIGHT NOW!!! He is obvs playing Lincoln. 

The best part of this whole ordeal? Spielberg is basing the movie on a book called Team of Rivals. 

...

Guess what book I found on our shelf tonight?



Turns out Ben got it as a present from my mom years ago. Wow.

I could go on and tell you other awesome things I found out today, like how the dad in Last of the Mohicans is also the voice of Powhatan in the Disney movie Pocahontas, and how another of my fave men, Christian Bale, was the voice of Thomas, John Smith's friend, in the same movie. 

PLUS, Ben was predicting there being a "firefight" in the movie (which there kind of was at one point) and I EVEN connected Last of the Mohicans to Boondock Saints!!!!! Russell Means is the dad in LOTM, and also Powhatan in Pocahontas, and Billy Connolly (the dad in Boondock Saints) is a rando voice in Pocahontas as well!

:) :) :) :) :)

What a day!

(...but JMU should NOT have fallen for that trick play and let that two-point conversion happen. Lame.)


We also bought whoopie pies at the pumpkin patch.

~A

P.S. I would go on about my Star Trek: Insurrection experience, and the grossness of the Boston Bruins game opening the 2011-2012 hockey season, but I'm tired. Maybe next time.



Sunday, September 25, 2011

Pumpkin Bread - your new favorite thing

Usually I am not one to post recipes and things on here, because I think it's a very typical "bloggy" type thing to do.

But Oh. My. Gosh.

This pumpkin bread is a recipe I found last year, as I began my exploration of the blogosphere. I was looking for something to make that wasn't a cupcake (because Ben thinks they are too fattening those take a long time to decorate), and I found this delicious recipe. It says to add either chocolate chips or walnuts, but I choose to add both, and I always sprinkle a little extra cinnamon on top to make it smell even more wonderful. Usually I get 3 loaves out of the recipe, which is awesome, because then I can mail it out! This year, so far, The Bells and The Soltoffs have gotten bread mailed to them, and I am definitely planning on mailing out more :)

Basically, it's the first thing I baked that made me feel not guilty about eating it like fall. Plus it was something I could bake and Ben would also eat it.

Here is the recipe. Enjoy!!!

~A

P.S. Happy footballing todayyyyyyyyyyyyy

P.P.S. Tony Romo is wearing Kevlar armor in tomorrow's game to protect his (repaired) punctured lung and his crushed rib. He is wearing stuff police wear for riots. And my mother-in-law has him for her QB in fantasy football. Ridiculous? Yes.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

The Fall

Friends, it's OFFICIALLY FALL!

That means it is now ok to get super excited about these things:

Leaves turning gorgeous colors, tailgating, apple cider, football, all things pumpkin, sweaters, burning leaves, Halloween, hay rides, jeans and boots, chili, scarves, scarecrows, and watching feel good movies while snuggled under a warm blanket, sipping hot cocoa with a loved one.


This picture makes me think of Anne of Green Gables. Which makes me think of fall :)

I love fall.

~A



Saturday, September 17, 2011

Tic Tac's Toes

Today is this guy's Sweet Sixteenth birthday





Oops...wrong guy. Still. Tic Tac is JUST as intense as Will Muschamp, if not more.




This little guy WISHES he could be as awesome as Tic Tac (look how tiny he was...awwwww)



I love this old man so much! His smelly little toes, how he so solid, how he makes a "wuFF" sound when you pick him up, and his soft eyes. 

I'm pretty sure my family is super glad I was obsessed with getting a dog when I was in 4th grade. And that I said he looked like a "little white Tic Tac" when we got him, because his name is so great. 

Happy Birthday old man! Live it uppppppp!!!!!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

International EMERGENCYYYYYY

It's International Chocolate Day.

My heart just stopped because I didn't find out until now.

I only have 4 hours and 2 minutes left to gorge on as much chocolate and chocolate products as I can physically take.

That's all I have to say.

Except.

I hope I look like this:




And afterwards , I hope I don't end up like this:


Fun link:

Candy Holidays Throughout The Year OOOOO

~A

Monday, September 12, 2011

Whoa Whoa WHAT

Seriously. What.

Before I voice my LARGE complaint, let me share a bit about how life has been. Penn State lost tremendously to Alabama, and JoPa looked sad the whole time because he had to stay in the box.

JMU WONNNNNNN!

The Steelers lost. Actually what I think they said on the radio was "they got spanked." It's true. I mean, there isn't much else to say after 7 turnovers. Shall I share why the Steelers lost? Because the Ravens defense was so good. And do you know who picked the Ravens defense for their fantasy team? NO NOT ME.

Mr. Soltoff. Picked. Against. Me. And if that weren't bad enough, he took Joe Flacco (from DelaNOWHere) as well. I actually fell asleep in the middle of the third quarter because my body couldn't take anymore horribleness.

The Jets defense was good though.

BUT. But but but. HERE IS MY COMPLAINT!!!!!

I got my security deposit back from my old apartment complex today. Guess what I was charged for? "Excessive Debris - $25" "Debris Left Behind - $10" "Laundry Room Wall Damage - $5" "Hall Light Dome Missing - 10" I LIVED THERE FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF HALF A YEAR!!??!?!!?!

My main problem here is that this apartment (prior to moi) was largely inhabited by college-age males. Who do things like damage laundry room walls. Do you know how long this apartment went before being turned over? 10 FREAKING YEARS!!! Of COURSE there's going to be debris. There were probably plates left from before my sister was born (9+ years ago, in case you wanted to know)

What really gets me is that the old gang of 23B were (sort of) together a few months ago, at a friend's wedding. They took a picture. Yes, WITHOUT ME. What they should have done was pool their money to pay for the excessive debris they left at their old stomping ground.

Now, the only thing I can be sure of is that I know specifically who destroyed the "Hall Light" because I am fairly sure I was present when that happened. And, a former resident of 23B currently, and forevermore, lives with me. (Hint: it's not me)

I am planning his demise anxiously awaiting his return home.

23B, if something happens, and Ben is accidentally missing in action, I'm coming after you.

~A

P.S. This is seriously stressing me out on the unfairness level. I'm supposed to be exercising, and instead I'm eating cookies.


P.P.S. Here's the picture I got left out of. Who votes I photoshop myself in?

P.P.P.S. Three of those men are married now. And they are letting a girl cover their "debris" fees left over from their wild days? Psh. Ridiculous.

Monday, September 5, 2011

The Perfect Afternoon

Yup, second blog post in one day. It's because I wanted to let you all know what I'm watching.


Plus, added bonus, it's raining outside. But not a thunderstorm. Soft rain. 

Yes, I'm getting ready to make my second cup of tea.

These afternoons are so wonderful. 

~A

Monday Monday

Whew it's been a busy week or so since I've blogged! I'm hoping that once I get into the school routine, I can blog more often, since so many hilarious things happen, and I def def want to share them.

Soltoff Life (lately)

1.) I cut all my hair off and donated it. Yes, it is still longer than Ben's.

2.) Since I don't really have friends up here, I have convinced myself that learning all I can about the Star Trek universe will somehow make me cooler (uh, what?). Like, I found out there is this huge convention called Dragon*Con, and WIL WHEATON is speaking at it (Wesley "Awesome" Crusher if you didn't know)!!!!! What I really want to know though is what the "*" stands for in Dragon*Con. Is it a secret that you only learn if you actually go? I feel like if I actually ever went to something like that, I'd be laughing literally the entire time.

3.) Star Trek (2009) is about 2059729846 times more cool than TNG. Because it has Zachery Quinto.

4.) Also. They're making a sequel. With Zachery Quinto.

5.) IT'S FOOTBALL TIME AGAINNNNNNNNN!!! Ben and I spent our entire Saturday watching football (and eating ice cream). I got burned on my neck and on my shins from the PSU game. Random.

6.) Last night we had a fantasy football draft with our friends ooooooo. None of us know what we're doing, but I, of course, spent the entire day reading about fantasy football strategies, and they all said to make a plan and stick to it. I made a plan, I stuck to it, and then abandoned it in the second round. As a result, I lost the Steelers defense. UGHHHHHHHHHH. Heartbreak.

7.) Right now Ben is still in his pjs and has a cute cowlick.

8.) During the draft Ben and I ate chili and played epic "draft" music. We were prepared to be in the draft for multiple hours, and I think it took 28 minutes.

9.) We are pretty dang awesome though. Reason: yesterday we went to a park and threw a football around while there was epic lightning and thunder happening. Then I realized we were in the middle of an open field, and suggested we postpone the game.

10.) My fantasy football team name is Star Trek Kitties, and everyone should cheer for them because they're going to win!


End.

~A

P.S. I feel like I can't do a post without some kind of other media involved. Cutes There you go.

Friday, August 26, 2011

I Can't Even Handle It

WHAT the hey is going on today? Why is it so awesome already?

This is probably the main reason:



I had Coconut Crunch coffee with breakfast. Coffee heaven.

PLUS my Aunt Delores's ridiculously amazing homemade bread. Of course I toasted it (since it IS breakfast), but toasty homemade bread and coffee and a little 19 Kids and Counting will make the morning suddenly 1000% better.

Well it is no wonder that my day has just gone from awesome to more awesome. First I perused some AMAZING teacher blogs and got slightly jealous that I am not a first grade teacher with a limitless budget to decorate and amazing-ify my classroom.

THEN I found out that PSLs (duh, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, get with it, this is America) are coming back to Sbucks in JUST. ONE. WEEK. (Plus like 3 days.) (So like a week and a half) (That counts as a week to me)

THAN (yea, I changed the grammar cause it's even more awesome!!!) I found out that there is going to be another Muppets movie in November! Usually I am not a big fan of the Muppets (*gasp* yes it's true), but this one has AMY ADAMS who is one of my faves. Plus it looks like she sings. Plus there are about 4 or 5 trailers that are just the best.

CHECK THIS STUFF OUT!!!

http://disney.go.com/muppets/

And here's just one of the trailers:


Plus, heehee, I might go peach picking tomorrow :)

Guys guys, you can OF COURSE visit anytime. Life is like this all the time no it's not here in State College!

Tralala it's FRIDAY! Thanks Rebecca!

~A

P.S. Irene isn't coming way out here to Central PA to visit. I'm crushed. Hopefully the rest of you survive her dastardly effects. 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Trauma Drama!

Oh you guys. I just had to throw that one in there for us East Coasters who got hit with the not really MASSIVE earthquake the other day.

I'm super pumped for Irene. She and I are going to chill this weekend and enjoy the cooler weather.

On the up and up, I haven't had time to clean take pictures of the apartment and so the tour has been postponed. Hopefully just for a little while because I do want to show you guys around. We're actually going out this evening to get bedroom curtains because the mean construction people finally decided they are finished constructing outside and so turned back on the streetlight that happens to shine RIGHT into our bedroom.

So. Today I am filling out paperwork and getting things ready for my NEW JOBBBBBBB!!!

I'm going to be a 2 year old preschool teacherrrrrrrrrrr!

For those of you who say "but Amanda, isn't that just like getting to play all day long?" and my short answer for you is "yes."

But not really. Teaching children starts when they leave the womb (and if you're lucky, you can start teaching them IN the womb what good music sounds like). And so...basically...I am ridiculously pumped about this. I get to work with kids (i.e. have FUN) every day!

Plus, my sister came to visit me :) :) :) this past weekend!!!

Ben gave you all the highlights, and I won't hash out every detail, but realize that if you haven't played the game Killer Bunnies, you haven't really lived yet.

Lastly before I go, because the apartment is a mess and I want to clean it before Ben and I sit down to a wonderful crockpot chili dinner (made by BEN!?!!?), I want to let you all know that love CAN be found on a mini golf course. It may take dinner at Countryside Cafe beforehand, and it may take a second round of golf, but love can be found. And I'm so glad Ben and I started dating 6 years and 1 day ago, when he asked me out over AIM. Romance never dies people. Remember that.

Love and chili,

~A

Monday, August 22, 2011

Why Today is a Great Day

From start to finish:

First day of school!

Toy store shopping!

Visit from the in-laws!

I got a package!

Our new patio!

Amanda got a new job teaching 2-year-olds!

Wine!


~B