Chocolate Monster [Day 8: Something I Crave]

Forget love -- I'd rather fall in chocolate!

I. Love. Chocolate. 

Dark chocolate bars, peanut butter cups, Kisses, Snickers, Snowcaps, chocolate milk, chocolate covered pretzels, Nutella, Oreo cookies, chocolate frosting, chocolate covered frozen bananas, mochas, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered cherries, Peanut M&Ms, Frosties, chocolate milkshakes, Cocoa Puffs... 

I could go on. For a long time. 

I. Always. Want. Chocolate. 

Blessing #126: Trivia Night
Last night one of my BFFs and I walked over to the local Irish Pub for a pint (we'd just kicked some serious punching bag booty at kickboxing, so we deserved it!), and found out it was trivia night. We decided to stay and play a couple of rounds. We won the second round and got a free pitcher of beer! The evening also reminded me of a Trivia Night I went to at the end of my first year of teaching. Our team named ourselves "School's Out For Summer" (hmmm... kind of obvious we were teachers...) and we came in second place over all. It's always fun to rack your brains with friends and try to come up with the answers to the most random questions. Gotta love Trivia Night!

♥

Getcha Beeeeaaah Heeeaaah [Day 6: A Fun Fact About Me]

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

A fun fact about me: I had my very first beer -- ever! -- for my 21st birthday during a Red Sox game at Fenway Park in Boston, MA. 

My dad asked me what I wanted to do for my twenty-first because it would be a really special birthday: I'd be having my first beer! I'd had a glass of champagne and wine before in France while under the supervision of my mom, but this would be my real first beer, and my dad asked "If you could do anything for your 21st, what would you do?" I replied: have my first beer at a Red Sox game in Fenway. So, my dad bought two tickets to Beantown, we flew out there for the weekend, and sat in the first-baseline season seats (right behind the dugout) that belonged to my uncle's law firm. During the second inning, I had my first beer ever!

What a great memory!

Blessing #124: Non-fat Chai Tea Lattes
I love chai tea lattes. They're like coffee in that they taste different from each coffee shop, but I always enjoy the spicy-sweet goodness. Especially after a hard workout class in the morning, and the air outside is cold and crisp after a week of rain. Yum.

♥

How To Turn Great Into Blech [Day 5: A Favorite Quote]

A quotation at the right moment is like bread in a famine. 

I love quotes. 

There are so many emotions I often feel about life and at times find myself lacking any way of really expressing them. Then I stumble upon the most perfect quote that so accurately encapsulates... everything. This makes me wonder why I couldn't possibly come up with those sentiments on my own. Other times, when I read a quote it will spark some inspiration within me to change my perspective and take action to change an area of my life that is stagnant or heading in the wrong direction.

This brings me to one of my favorite quotes: 

Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.

It's a quote that inspired a change in my blog and my perspective on daily life. The words are from the novel The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo. It's the beginning of a quote by the crystal merchant for whom Santiago works. The lesson to be drawn from the rest of the quotation is that one can be fulfilled in life only by pursuing one's Personal Legend; the crystal merchant has not done this. Santiago is constantly warned not to settle for what he has and instead continue to pursue his Personal Legend. Ignoring the ultimate lesson of this part of the story, the beginning of the quote is what I hold onto because I believe it is true: any blessing that you ignore can become something that burdens you. 

Ignore the blessing of family and fail to appreciate all they have done, and they can quickly become people towards whom resentment and annoyance is built up. 

Ignore the blessings that exist in day-to-day life and life's simple events can become burdens. 

While certainly it is important not to "settle" for something one doesn't really want out of life if one can work to change it, there is also nothing wrong with finding joy in the things one does have and in the good things life has handed out. In fact, how else do you make it through life with all that is going on in the world? 

There are so many things, people, and moments in which to find joy in this world. Counting the good things and focusing on the blessings I have gives me the strength to fight against what is wrong. 

I don't want to ignore my blessings; if I ignore them all, soon I'll have none left. All the great in my life with have turned to... blech. 

♥ 

Universally Acknowledged Truth... [Day 4: A Favorite Book]

[Disclaimer: Epic. Fail. I realize I have completely and utterly failed to blog for 30 days straight. I have, however, managed to keep up with Movin' March, so I'll take that victory and pick up blogging where I left off. No legitimate excuse for my failure, just didn't really feel like it. Sad, I know. But I'm back now!]


It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Ah, Jane...

I am a fan. Jane Austen's novels still feel relevant, probably because whether we'd like to admit it or not, human relations have hardly changed at all in the last 200 years. Despite the advent of technology, education of women, and the "metrosexual"-izing of men, it's all pretty much the same. I think this is why many females still fall in love with Jane's work. Most especially Pride & Prejudice. It's always the one I think of first when asked, "What's your favorite book?"

I could read that book constantly and never get bored, I think. Never cease to be enchanted by the language or the twisted Lizzie-Darcy relationship. And while it's been cinematically recreated (I though Kiera Knightly was great as Elizabeth) and the BBC did a fantastic job of making it into a mini-series (Oh. My. Darcy. Colin Firth is... glorious), there's really nothing like reading P & P.

Plus, it's the inspiration for pretty much every rom-com we all love. Consider the most basic plotline we see over and over from good ol' Hollywood (sometimes the roles are reversed): girl meets boy, girl hates boy for legitimate reason, girl gets to know boy, boy realizes he likes girl, girl still hates boy, boy does something redemptive, girl falls for boy, everyone lives happily every after. Sound familiar?! Sometimes there's a twist, like "girl likes boy, but then finds out who he really is, then hates boy," but mostly it follows the oh-so-delicious plotline of my beloved P& P. No wonder I can't stop loving rom-coms, even if I think I've "grown."

*sigh* Be still, my heart...

Blessing #123: Workout Buddy
I am so blessed... to have an awesome workout buddy! E has been crucial in making sure Movin' March (that's what I call my 30 day move challenge) is a success. I would not be nearly as courageous and open to trying new classes at the YMCA if I weren't going with her. It makes working out so much more fun to have someone there you can count on to encourage you. Today we're going to go buy some new workout tank-tops. Now that I'm 26 days into the challenge (wow!), I'm realizing I need more than my old T-shirts to keep me from feeling so sweaty. More official workout gear is called for, and I love an excuse to go shopping! Again, workout buddy = amazing.

♥ 

If You Build It... [Day 2: A Favorite Movie]

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that was once good and could be again. 

Oh, this was a tough one. Truthfully, I've been avoiding this post all day because I couldn't bear to pick a favorite movie.

And then I realized the actual challenge: a favorite movie. Not your favorite movie. Implies that there could be more than one favorite, which is certainly true for me. I have many favorite movies from various genres -- the stress of picking just one haunted me all day!

Which brings me to a favorite movie of mine. A movie I can watch whenever (no particular mood necessary). One that I can start watching from any point in the story and still be happy. A movie about a few of my favorite things: family, faith, and baseball. A movie who's final scene makes me cry no matter how many times I've seen it.

...Field of Dreams...

I love this movie! Cheesy, I know, but hey... I'm always looking for cheesy in my life. I know there are quirkier, cooler, smarter, edgier films I could have chosen (and absolutely enjoy!) but there's just something so appealing and comforting about a movie that is simple and happy. Josh Radnor (the actor who plays Ted on the hilarious How I Met Your Mother) said it well: "I'm not a pollyanna -- I get that the world is rife with horrors. But I also know the world is rife with everything else." There is value in a work of film that makes you feel hopeful and happy, even if the premise is a bit out-there.

Sometimes you just need to sit back, smile, enjoy the cheese. And maybe cry about a game of catch between a father and son.

Blessing #122: Fro-Yo
I love frozen yogurt. Most especially from the build-your-own places that let you pay by weight: then you get to put on as many toppings as you'd like on as many flavors of yogurt as you want! Some days it's tart fro-yo with cereal and gummy bears. Other times I crave chocolate with berries. Today I picked cheesecake and raspberry fro-yo with dark chocolate chips and crunchy yogurt chips.

Why have all of my recent blessing been food-related?! 


♥

Sweet Song [Day 1: A Favorite Song]

I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you and the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake

And always give more than you take

I love music of all kinds. And I don't particularly like being asked what is my favorite music. My iPod is filled with so many different artists and songs; I love putting it on shuffle to just see what pops up. 


But, today I need to pick a favorite song. There are many I could choose from that remind me of wonderful people, fantastic memories, beautiful places, great times... Today, though, I decided on a song that makes me cry every time because whenever I hear it and sing along, I think of my mom.

The lyrics at the beginning of this post are from the song "My Wish," by Rascal Flatts -- the song I've chosen as a favorite. 

My mother played this song for me during my last quarter of college in spring 2008. I was in the midst of student teaching and had recently found out about my acceptance into Teach for America, which meant I was also preparing to move to Phoenix, AZ, for two years. It would be the first time I lived away from my parents (I attended college 40 minutes from home). As thrilling as that was, I was also constantly holding back a meltdown because I was going to miss my mom! She was incredibly supportive, encouraging, and excited for me, even though I knew the whole situation was making her sad.

One day, my mom told me she wanted me to listen to something. She put on "My Wish," and told me that it expressed everything she felt for me. She wanted me to know that no matter how sad she sometimes seemed about me leaving, she was so proud of me for who I was becoming and the choices I was making. It made me cry then, and it still makes me cry now. We purchased necklaces as part of my graduation gift, and one of the matching charms we chose is a star imprinted with the word "wish" to remind us of our song. Reminds me no matter where I am or what I am doing that somewhere my mom is loving me and hoping life becomes all that I want it to.

The past couple of months, time with my mom has become even more precious and the little things we share (Gilmore Girls, soy chai lattes, shopping, Meg Ryan movies, french fries, movies and popcorn... to name a few) feel all the more important.

Even our song.

Blessing #121: Olive Garden breadsticks
Ohmigosh. Let me start by saying I understand that the Olive Garden is not considered a "real" Italian restaurant. When it comes right down to it, though, I don't care. I love love love those breadsticks. As soon as I sit down, I order a drink and ask if we can get some breadsticks. Prefer not to wait until I order. I need something to munch whilst I look at the menu, after all! Oh, those glorious, warm, garlic-y, oh-so slightly crusty on the outside but soft on the inside breadsticks. Yum.

♥ 

Brunch and Blanks

I wish I could crawl into one of those [crepes] right now. I'd eat my way out from the inside. 

This morning I went to a wonderful mother-daughter brunch with some lovely ladies. My mother stayed at home -- she's really tired today -- but everyone wrote out a sweet card for her. She is loved! Fantastic company aside, I really love brunch. A lot. Breakfast is something I can always eat, but brunch is best because it combines my favorite things about breakfast and lunch. Sweet and savory. Yum yum. 

We looked at pictures and reminisced about a trip to France many of us took together in the Spring of 2002. What a spectacular experience. One of the most memorable parts of the trip is this string of photos we have of the girls posing with men on motorcycles. Sounds ridiculous, right? 

It all started on our second day in Paris, on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. We saw this handsome older man riding his motorcycle on the sidewalk, and one of the mothers asked if we girls might pose with him for a picture. He charmingly obliged (as Frenchmen are inclined to do) and smiled for the camera. Immediately following this, he saw something out of the corner of his eye and went running down the sidewalk and into the Metro entrance. Minutes later he walked out dragging a teenage boy behind him. Turns out, this man was an under-cover cop (un flic) and the young boy was part of a gang of thieves stealing from passengers on the Metro. 

That picture with the beau flic was just the beginning: a handsome Tome Cruise-look-alike outside a castle in Fugeres, a father-son pair at a gas station in Normandy, two very good looking young guys in Avignon (one took quite a liking to me -- the feeling was mutual -- and let me sit on his motorcycle. Sometimes I'm still curious about what might have happened there if my mother hadn't been 20 feet away... oh, Antoine...), our home-stay brother just outside of Cannes... What started as something quite embarrassing for a group of teenage girls turned out to be one of the best parts of our trip! Thank goodness one of the moms knew better than to let our shyness get in the way of good memories. 

Today is Friday... that means it's time for Fill-In-The-Blanks! 

1.   I am currently obsessed with       The Ellen Show. She is just so funny and does the best things with her guests and audience. One day, I'd love to dance on the Ellen Show! I've begun recording episodes to make sure I don't miss any surprise Justin Bieber appearances (oh, that's another current obsession: the Biebs).

2.  Today I am    feeling good     because,    brunch was fabulous, I am almost finished getting through the process of becoming a substitute teacher, my tummy is better, and I'm looking forward to mom's last chemo session next week!!! 

3.  The age I am is    25    and the age I feel is    23, most of the time. I feel like 23 was a great year, I learned/grew a lot, and I haven't changed a whole lot since. Some days I feel older, though, like the day I realized I would have to get a new cell phone and my reaction was: "Ugh! Now I have to learn how to use a new phone!! Can't I just keep this one?!" Sounds like my parents! 

4.  My favorite place is     wherever I am feeling happy and enjoying life. 

5.  Something I have been procrastinating is     returning emails. Which is ridiculous, because I have plenty of time to do so, yet I have quite a few emails I need to answer. One day... 

6.  The last thing I purchased was        prescription from Walgreens. 

7.  The thing I love most about my home is       that it's where my heart is -- I dont' have to go back to one place to feel at home!   

Blessing #119: Crepes

Crepes are amazing. Light, sweet (but not too sweet), and great for any filling: Nutella, fruit, cinnamon sugar, whipped cream, almonds, cheese, meat, mushrooms... it's all delicious! Great for a part because all you have to do is supply various fillings, and then impress all of your friends by whipping up batches of fluffy, thin crepes. They are also indescribably delectable from street vendors in Paris. One of my favorite things to do there was go whenever possible to our Crepe Man at his stand in the Latin Quarter, who knew us after a couple of visits and kissed me on my birthday. Crepe stands are kind of like the French equivalent of New York hot dog vendors. Oh, now I want more crepes!

♥ 

In Excess

Anything in excess is most exhilarating. 

One day this week (if it's warm enough for an iced coffee drink), I think I'll head to Starbucks to order a drink in the new, 31 oz. Trenta cup. 31 oz.?! Seriously!? Apparently, there are many things you can fit into this cup.

Don't get me wrong, Starbucks is one of the things I enjoy in excess. Who really needs a Venti Iced Skim Caramel Macchiato, when all that's desired is a quick jolt of caffeine? I wish I were "too cool" to love it -- that I would choose to support local coffee shops instead of the coffee equivalent of McDonald's -- but alas, I choose the 'Bucks every time. 

Another thing I enjoy in excess is a reality show. Nothing like spending an entire Sunday afternoon parked in front of a "My Fair Wedding" marathon. There seems to be a direct correlation between how many episodes of any given reality show are airing that day and how interested I am in said reality show. The more time I have to watch it in succession, the more likely I am to enjoy every gloriously awful episode. My favorite marathons are of the Shore and Housewife variety, though. 

If I could have this following item in excess, that would make my life complete. He's also... 

Blessing #118: My Nephew

Oh. My. Heart. He stole it! Within 36 hours of entering this world, my nephew stole my heart and has yet to return it. Too bad he lives thousands of miles away, and it's not likely I'll be getting my heart back anytime soon. Never have I met such a precious child. His big blue eyes, and the way his red hair flips up in the front -- beyond adorable! And those yummy cheeks. And, of course, that delicious baby smell. Truly, he smells so incredibly wonderful, I can hardly stand it! If I could spend excessive amounts of time with him, that would be a dream come true. 

♥ Our first snuggle sesh ♥ 

FITB Friday

1.  The best day ever was     the first day in my classroom. I saw my dream come true! I was a "real" teacher. So amazing!  .

2.  My favorite meal of the day is     dinner   because   it's the meal I usually spend with others .

3.  This weekend      is the last little blissful bit of Spring Break...  .

4.  Never in my life have I      bought a pair of really expensive jeans. And I don't plan to any time soon    .

5.  The only thing better than      Skyping with my friends   is      actually being WITH my friends in person!  .

6.  I could really do with some      blog ideas  .

7.  The most recent thing I bought myself was    some shoes    .

...One of these day's I'll post again. ♥ 

Blessing #113: Skype

I don't know if I've mentioned this one before, but... I am so blessed to have Skype! It allows me to talk with friends and family who are far away face-to-face. I'm also working on being able to use it at school so that my students and I can Skype as a way to have people come "visit" our classroom! How cool is it that you can sit in your PJ's at the kitchen table and see your BFF on your screen?! I love Skype.