Prairie Shark

Day 19:

Blog about your favorite local restaurant. 

Confession: We have only eaten at the chain places in town, not any cute "local" places. 

And now I'm realizing that we need to get out more...out of our box, that is.  

There's one place I'd like to try called Wave Pizza Company. Yes, I love pizza, but my motivation is from curiosity more then a craving. The first time I drove by it I remember thinking, "What's that thing sticking out of there? Is that a....it's a SHARK! Hahahaha. A shark in Nebraska. A beachy restaurant in the middle of Nebraska. With a shark." Even though we haven't eaten here, this is my favorite local restaurant to drive by. 

Source: restaurant.com

I cannot make these things up, people, but I applaud the ones that do. 

I shall name him Prairie Shark because he is in the middle of the prairie instead of the ocean where he belongs. He kind of looks like he's either fierce or in agony up there, doesn't he?

All of this shark talk has me thinking about this scene in Clerks now...which I naturally quote to Tim almost every time we have chips and salsa. 

My Top 10 Websites

Day 18: 

List the 10 Instagrams you stalk or your favorite Instagram feeds.

Ugh, I just am not getting this blog challenge right. I'm not keeping up every day, and I'm not always sticking to the prompt. I'm still going to call this a success for blogging at all this month, though. :) 

Soooo I have been on Instagram for a while, but I haven't really started following anyone or having my own followers until the past few weeks. I don't know that anyone I follow regularly posts enough for me to "stalk". 

So let me put my own spin on today's prompt...again...because my blog, my rules. ;) 

Here are the top 10 sites I visit regularly: 

1. gmail.com

To quote Strongbad, "Here I go again with the email." Gotta keep up with my adoring fans, you know. 

Just kidding. I make sure I'm not missing anything from school or my family. Sometimes I get coupons by email, too, and get nerdishly excited. It's the little things in life, and they're even better when they are $5. Kidding. The best things in life are priceless. 

But $5 off things can be nice, too. 

2. yahoo.com

I like to get at least a quick idea of what's going on and read a few articles now and then. 

3. Weather.gov/Weather.com

These two go hand-in-hand because when I check one I usually check the other as well. I just really like to make sure I know what's happening with the weather. I get really nervous with bad weather when a) I have to drive b) Tim has to fly or c) I have recess duty. 

4. blogger.com

Naturally. Even if I don't post for prolonged periods of time, I have a few blogs that I like to keep up with.

5. merriam-webster.com

Don't judge me. I like words, and I like knowing what I'm reading. Like many writers/readers, I am drawn to look up words often. Sometimes I like to double-check that a word I'm using in something I'm writing means exactly what I think it does so it has the effect I'm hoping for. 

6. pinterest.com

I call it "research" sometimes because I look up school things...but I have honestly found a lot of handy ideas for around the house, too. 

7. proverbs31.org

Proverbs 31 Ministries is geared toward women, and I love their daily devotions. I first caught wind of them from the radio station I listen to a lot on my way to and from work, KLOVE. One of the ladies does a little blurb on the radio each day, and it's crazy how often it fit perfectly for what I was feeling. Many mornings it was a little extra boost to lift me out of a funk, calm my nerves, or silence my fears. I love how real these women are honest about challenges and truths. 

8. pandora.com

I have music on pretty much anytime I'm on the computer. Even when I'm away from the computer I tend to tote my iPad and speaker around the house with me with some tunes. 

9. youtube.com

Because where else can you find and share gems like this? (This one goes out to all of you dear people who are just as crazy about grammar as I am...for better or worse!)

10. facebook.com

Of course. Sure, it can be a time-suck, and it can get dramatic sometimes, but I like being able to keep in touch with friends and family a little more easily in between phone calls and visits. :)

Am I missing out on anything good? Let me know what some of your favorites are! 

The Fear of "Enough" - Part 2

Friends, I don't like the way I ended that last post. I've felt like I needed to put in more words to help us power through those moments, but I wasn't quite sure what to put. Let me offer you a follow-up post now to fill in some of those gaps.

Source:Pinterest

Sometimes I think we don't feel like enough because we feel like we must juggle everything and solve all the problems, but we don't. We need to accept that some things are beyond our control and gain peace from that. It's okay if your best isn't enough to solve every single problem. We have a God that can handle everything.

Romans 8:28 helps spell it out: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." See? God works. Yes, we can serve God with our talents and time, but He is always there. We may tire or get frustrated or stressed, but we can trust that God is endlessly at work with a plan greater than we can know falling into place for our lives. He already sent Jesus as part of that plan to die for every single imperfection in our lives. Do the best you can, but accept that your best will never save the world. God already did.

Unless you hurt someone's feelings or make a real mistake, don't apologize for being who you are...even if you let yourself think that you're not being who someone else wants you to be. So what if you need to ask another question to clarify what someone else is saying? If you're cold, take back those covers from your warm and cozy significant other! Sharing is caring, friends. Armrests are public property -- yes, even on an airplane -- so don't apologize for using it...unless you bumped someone when you tried to put your arm there. Often we say "sorry" when we should just say "Excuse me" and go about our business. I am extremely guilty of this, and I really was left thinking after watching this video. So be confident and be YOU. You won't impress everybody, but you'll feel more at peace with letting your good qualities shine.

And if somebody tries to make you feel bad about being yourself, shake it off. You can get mad, or you can use humor to keep it from plaguing you. Like this girl. I want to be more like her when somebody is talking negatively about me.How often do we let comments haunt us? And how often were those comments said for that very purpose? Letting them sink in is letting the other person have some control over yourself. Do like Elsa and just Let It Go. It's not worth stressing over. (And if you are stressing about something someone said, why not talk to them about it? Maybe they need the peace that comes with apologizing for being a pain.)

Source: BuzzFeed

Go out and rock who you are today, friends. Accept that you will make mistakes and leave some things on your To Do list unfinished. Go do the best you can. You're awesome.

The "Enough" Fear

We hit the road this weekend to see my side of the family so I'm a few days behind with the prompts. I'm changing up today's post by using a prompt from the weekend instead of the listed one. Yup, I'm a rebel.

What is the fear you want to overcome? 

I've thought a bit about this one since the beginning of the month when I read the prompts. I thought it'd be kind of easy. I mean, c'mon, I can name the things that I'm afraid of. When I started thinking about my biggest fears, though, I got nervous to share one of them because I thought it'd sound really stupid. That helped me realize what one of my biggest fears really is. 

I get scared that who I am is not enough. 

I worry that who I am will disappoint people around me if I don't do enough of what they are looking to me for. 

Do I encourage my friends enough? Do I call my family enough? Do I take care of my husband enough? Do I teach my students enough? Do I love on the dogs enough? Do I organize the house enough? Do I help other people enough? Do I make people laugh enough? 

The list of "enough" could go on and on, but why should it? 

I'm worried about measuring up to other people's standards and my own, but it seems so silly. I know that I will never be enough for everyone around me because I'm not perfect and neither is anyone else. We all get disappointed by the people in our lives for big and small reasons. 

God knew I wouldn't be perfect and thankfully does not expect me to be. He doesn't expect you to be perfect, either. He knew Adam and Eve wouldn't be able to resist the fruit He told them not to eat, and He knew that we wouldn't be able to love the people around us selflessly with our actions or words. He knew people would get sick, angry, depressed, lonely, frustrated, hurt, and all around rotten at times. But He also knew we'd need love...and He sent Jesus to die and rise again so we could have love even when we are awful. We can have hope because we are loved. We are enough in God's eyes even when we aren't enough in the eyes of the world. 

I want to overcome that feeling of failure that goes hand-in-hand with not feeling like I'm enough. I want to push away that side of me that tries to feel defeated before I try something new. I want to stop guessing people's reactions before they even have the chance to react to something I say or do. I want to stop being afraid to be the imperfect me who tries to do better each day. I want to stop being afraid to be me. 

The beautiful thing about this is knowing that I'm not alone. I've heard it and read it and watched it in so many different ways around me to know that it's a natural thing to feel. The reason I wanted to post about this instead of something like being afraid of deep, deep water (Fun Fact: also a real fear of mine) is that it's not talked about openly. I've felt like I had to keep this kind of insecurity to myself so I wouldn't seem weak, and it used to make me feel ashamed to admit. I'm done feeling that way, though, guys. We shouldn't be ashamed to talk with the people around us who can help us when we feel this way. I'm thankful to have family and friends to talk to when I feel this way and learn that I'm not alone. I hope that I can return the favor, too. 

Consider the Alternatives

Day 11: 

Not considering monetary gain, what is your dream job? 

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I love teaching, and I am blessed to be able to have a teaching job where I can share the love and grace of God with my students. This truly is my dream job, friends. 

But again, I won't take the easy way out. :) 

If I were not a teacher, I would be a writer. Probably not one with books on a Best Seller list or anything, but I'd put stuff out there somehow. 

Just because I'm a teacher doesn't mean that I can't also be a writer, but things would definitely be different if I could focus on writing more. I think being a teacher gives me some good inspiration sometimes, too...and some ideas for how to set up a children's book. Now I just need a less-than-lame idea to run with to write one. (The only one I have in mind seems like it could either be really silly or really stupid in the end...then again, isn't a lot of writing like that?!)

These two quotes sum up a lot of what I feel about writing and why I'd do it for a living if I could: 

'

My Celebrity Dinner Party

Day 10: 

If given the chance to invite 3 famous people over for dinner, who would you invite?

Oooh, this could be fun. 

After a whirlwind of cleaning up around the house, I'd set about making an awesomely yummy dinner (probably with some awesome veggies from the garden!), set the table, and then my guests would arrive.

I decided to make it a Girls Night, so I'd settle down to dine with...

Lauren Graham

Source: Google

Emma Stone

Source: Google

and 

Emma Watson

Source: Google

I'd pick these 3 because they seem to be down-to-earth, intelligent, and playful. I think that any conversation with these three could go just about anywhere and be really entertaining and interesting, but I think they'd be very real and honest, too. Anytime I see one of these women in the media I see their grace and humbleness while still getting to see their true playful personalities come out, too. They have a host of talent on-screen and seem to be like great people in real life, too. Definitely low-key dinner guests, too -- you know the kind you don't feel like you have to impress because they are so laid back? Yeah. Those kind of guests are the best. 

I would also insist on going out to do karaoke because I know that at least 2 out of 3 of them have some rockin' karaoke style. Here's proof: 

and 

Let's Go See the World

Day 9: 

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? 

Everywhere. 

There is so much to see in the world, and although I feel like I've traveled a fair amount, I know that I've only seen a fraction of the wonders out there. 

But I won't take the easy way out here with such a broad answer...after all, I have to start somewhere in order to see everywhere.

I want to travel outside of North America. I've been outside of the United States a number of times to visit our lovely Canadian neighbors, but that's the only other country I've been to. I'd love to change that. 

Of course I'd love to go down to some beach down in the southern part of North America sometime, but I'd rather head east to Europe before tackling beaches. My dream vacation to Europe would include a handful of stops. It's a place rich with history.

Germany - I'd love to explore some of the places I hear about from my husband and his family...including castles!! 

Disney fans, did you know that the Cinderella's castle is modeled after the Neuschwansetein Castle in Germany? Pretty cool, huh?!

Source: 8thingstodo.com
Click here for more info :)

Poland - Hello, ancestors and great food!

Italy - Rome...the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the wonderful architecture there, too.

France - The Eiffel Tower, naturally, and the beautiful art in the museums. Notre Dame has intrigued me ever since I read The Hunchback of Notre Dame for a book report in high school. It's also just so heavily referenced that I feel like I'm missing something unless I see it first hand. I actually have some French in my family blood, too!  

Ireland - It just seems beautiful there. 

I'm sure there are plenty of places I could add to my list, but I'll leave it at that for now. That's already about 2 weeks worth, I'm sure!! 

Where would you pack your bags and journey off to see?

Source: pinterest

It's Aliiiive!

Day 8: Share your dream house.

I spent almost two years living in an apartment before Tim and I got married, and I was ready to get away from the crazy music and the upstairs neighbors' elephant feet. Here I am just over a year out of apartment life and loving our beautiful home. 

Can I just take a minute to tell you how awesome my husband is?! I'm seriously in awe of this man's talents.

He has redone our living room floor completely (redoing subfloor and everything...it was nuts.), 

pulled all the carpet,

redone the trim, 

painted pretty much any and everything that can be painted (some of it more than once!!), 

installed can lights in the living room (huge thanks to my brother-in-law Greg for helping with that one!), 

replaced/installed fans, 

made our lawn look fabulous, 

redone some of the concrete in our driveway, 

removed some of our concrete to repair a crack in our foundation, 

and so many more things that it doesn't seem fair to forget to mention. 

I have very little handy skills -- unless you count fetching tools. 

If that counts as being handy then I am AWESOME at home improvement. 

Tim sacrificed some space from his beautiful lawn for us to embark on a gardening adventure. I was pretty psyched because my thumb has gotten green tinges to it since my first year of teaching when every plant I was given perished under my care. We bought a small variety of seeds, got them going, and planted them in late May after all the frost (finally) stopped. 

Aaaaand most of the seedlings died. I was so bummed! After my state of denial ended, we bought some seedlings and found much, much more success. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I now present you with pictures of our rockin' garden!!! 

(AKA proof that not every living plant dies under my care.)

Celebrity Tomatoes

So many cherry tomatoes!

Cantaloupe is a-growin'.

Peppers

Basil - one of 2 surviving seedlings!

Cilantro's already almost done for the season.

Tim's corn...because why not.

Some sort of onion? It was actually already growing in the yard.

Bonus: our neighbors' grape vine has grown into our yard! 

We'll be rethinking our spacing next year...we have some jungle areas goin' in there! 

 Yup, we call this a success!!! 

Smiles and Tears

Time for another round of....

Day 6: What are the 5 things that make you happy? 

• Spending time with my 3 favorite guys: my husband and our pups. I mean, just look at these fuzzy faces! 

Danny & Squirt and some brotherly sniffing.

• Adventuring...whether that's traveling to new places, trying new things, or just tackling a new recipe in the kitchen, I love it. It's just so hard to sit still! 
• Coffee coffee coffee!!! But seriously, a day without coffee is probably a day with a grumpy Michelle. 
• Creating things. Writing, capturing something on my camera, cooking, making cards, decorating my classroom, crocheting...it's all so fun! I LOVE having more time to do this stuff right now! 
• Music. I listening to pretty much any and everything, but it's usually based on my mood. I love country music, especially the older stuff, but sometimes I like to rock out to Journey. I might listen to Matt Maher one minute and Ke$ha the next. I often put on instrumental stuff like Piano Guys when I'm doing schoolwork, and sometimes a girl just needs to belt out some Disney or musical numbers. And let's face it: a little *NSYNC or S Club 7 are necessary, too. Let's just say that sometimes my iPod is outlawed on road trips because it's a little too random for people to handle. :)

Day 7: List 5 tear-jerking movies you've watched. 

1. Lone Survivor

We just watched this one the other night, and it was intense. 
Part of me wanted to turn it off or fall asleep because it was so emotional and some parts were so violent, but let's face it: even thought I knew I was watching a movie, it was based on a true story. This is what went down. And it is just one story of many where people face this. Watching it was horrific and terrifying and hard, but we are blessed to be sheltered from this most of the time. There are people brave enough to go out there and LIVE this to protect other people like you and me every day. I can't complain about seeing it for 2 hours of my life. At the end they gave blurbs to follow up on the people involved, and they also have pictures of the real people who lived this story.
It definitely had an extra punch watching it the day after we celebrated the freedom these men were fighting to preserve.

2. The Notebook

I know, I know. This one almost seems obvious.
I didn't cry just because of the story by Nicholas Sparks, though.
I cried because this story reminded me so much of my grandparents.
They loved each other so deeply and were devoted to each other.
They died a week apart.
My family watched the most amazing love story happen in real life,
and this movie parallels that love and devotion
and the beauty in finding that kind of love with another person.

3. Pay It Forward

This movie.
The twist I didn't see coming.
The beautiful outlook the little boy has.
The dedication of the teacher to open his students' eyes to the world,
to look beyond themselves,
to do more than just spit back answers to test questions,
but to problem solve.
The faith the little boy has in his alcoholic mother.
The impact of caring for other people.
Watch it if you haven't. Seriously.

4. Cyberbully

Social media.
We can keep in touch with friends after college and high school,
reconnect with childhood friends,
share life happenings with family across the country,
and kill time when we can't sleep or while we're stuck waiting somewhere.
But for some people it becomes a nightmare.
Bullies have 24/7 access to emotionally scarring someone.
Even making "jokes" about how someone looks, acts,
or just is. 
This is a bigger problem than people realize sometimes,
but it's a problem that causes young kids to harm themselves
and some to take their own lives.
Again, watch it if you haven't...especially if you are a parent or someone who works with kids.
We need to know what today's kids are up against so we can help them
and hopefully fight back against this kind of bullying and pain.

5. Dead Poets Society

**SPOILER ALERT!!!**

We watched this movie in high school for Lit class senior year.
A friend of mine was in a different class and asked if we'd gotten to the part where the kid killed himself yet. I freaked out about it because NO, we hadn't, and ohmygosh, he KILLS himself?!?!
Somehow he convinced me that he was just kidding so I was blindsided when we did get to that part!!
[Thanks, Josh! Hahaha.]
But it also makes me cry when I watch this movie and see the bond these students form with their teacher, and the way Keating loses a bit of himself when he has to leave his students.
Any teacher who tells you that they don't leave a bit of their heart with each class they have is either a) a liar or b) someone who teaches for the wrong reasons.
I love this movie for capturing that bond,
for having Robin Williams,
lots of literary references,
and A Midsummer Nights Dream. 

So there you have it. Your next movie night is all planned for you. Stock up on your popcorn and tissues, folks. 

Videos and More

Okay, I'm making this challenge more like a "Blog Every Other Day"...my bad...so it's another two for one day. [Not gonna lie, I was having too much fun cooking and lighting off fireworks with my hubby yesterday.]

Day 4: Share a video you are loving at the moment.

Oh my goodness, I HAVE to post more than one. 

These just make me laugh so much. 

You should probably put your drink down now so it doesn't come out your nose, especially for #2.

Day 5: What do you miss?

It's hard to believe I'm getting ready for my 4th year of teaching, but whoa, here we are. I'm so thankful to be doing something I love as a career even though it gets pretty crazy sometimes trying to balance all the roles a teacher takes on AND trying to have a life outside of school. I'm beyond thankful to be working in a job where I get to talk about Jesus each and every day with my coworkers and my students. It's awesome, and it makes even the "bad" days ones I can be thankful for. 

And you know what else is awesome? Our little family. I love getting to take care of my sweet husband and our two dogs, and I am so blessed by the ways they love me each day. I love that we've taken this house and turned it into a home as we've worked to put our own touch on it and fill it with memories. It's pretty awesome to have a roommate who is also your best friend and love of your life...and knowing you're stuck with each other for good. :) 

One thing that I do really miss, though, is the sense of belonging that I used to have. Being with my family often was comforting. And you know those good friends you had in high school and college, the ones you could just be yourself with? Things could get real without getting weird. 

I'm talking laughing 'til you cry over nothing that makes sense to other people, deep conversations about life, advice and hugs to get you through the tough times, and brutal honesty. 

I'm talking fighting like siblings and being so mad that you are in disbelief over how much anger is flowing through you but apologizing and being closer for it in the end. 

I'm talking the people you could call up because you want to go shopping but you don't want to go alone and you need an honest opinion about how your butt and thighs look in those skinny jeans before you make a choice you'll regret.

I'm talking the ones you can whine to when you know you're being a baby about something but you just have to be frustrated about something anyways for a while, but later you know they will tell you that you need to get over it.

 I'm talking the ones who can point out your flaws or your wrongs without you getting mad because you know they mean it with genuine love.

I'm talking the ones you could watch movies, play board games, and cook homemade pizza with. 

I'm talking the ones who could admit you're afraid to when you're at a point where you have to act like you've got it all together but have no clue how to act like an adult at the moment. 

I'm talking about the ones who wouldn't blink twice if you invited them over for dinner before realizing you really don't have much in the house to cook and you haven't put on any make up on and you are wearing the comfy hoodie that goes down to your knees. 

I'm talking the ones who are your family outside of your family.

We've made some friends since moving here with the neighbors across the street and with my coworkers, and I know we'll make more as we get more involved at church and even in doing some volunteering in town. It all comes in time, but change is hard. Starting over is hard. Comfort comes in time with familiarity, and we are getting there.  

I'm thankful for the technology like blogging, Skype/FaceTime, and Facebook that make keeping in touch with our family and friends MUCH easier than it used to be. I don't know that I would have been able to do all of these things since graduation without it. 

Music Speaks to the Heart

Yup, you get a second helping today...and now I'm all caught up. :)

Day 3: Tell us how your blog got its name.

I don't know about you, but I tend to have a soundtrack to my life. Well, to the different phases of life. 

The Judds will always take me back to being little and helping Mom clean, riding in the car with Pops, or when I was rocking with my momma in the rocking chair because I couldn't sleep.

Outkast's "Hey Ya" is definitely sophomore year of college when we were brave enough to be leaders, crazy enough to dance like there was no tomorrow in front of many colleagues and professors, making our own fun when necessary, and comfortable enough to just be ourselves together.

Bon Jovi's "Halfway There" takes me back to the laughter and carefree feelings in car rides between Lincoln and Seward in the Tank, karaoke at CIT, a roadtrip to Denver, and an Alaskan wedding reception (accompanied by the most epic air guitar solo in the history of air guitar solos). 

"Savior Please" by Josh Wilson got me through the nerve-wracking night before my first official day as a kindergarten teacher with a class of 24 kindergarteners. 

"Here Come Those Eyes" by Chris Rice puts me back at the end of an aisle with my mom and dad at my sides, tripping over my dress on the way to meet my husband-to-be, laughing for joy and thanksgiving, proud to share this all with family and friends.

"What Does the Fox Say?" was the anthem of the entire first semester of this last year of school...until it was replaced by "Everything is Awesome" from The Lego Movie and then "Let It Go" from Frozen. All 3 songs went from annoying to endearing pretty fast.

I was a junior in college preparing to go to a new college 9 hours away from home. Being a homebody by nature, I was terrified of living so far away. I listened to "Wide Open Spaces" by the Dixie Chicks to gear up for the adventures awaiting. It wasn't the voices or the music that got me: the lyrics defined the beginning of a new chapter. 

A young girl's dream no longer hollow

It takes the shape of a place out west

But what it holds for her she hasn't yet guessed

She needs wide open spaces

Room to make a big mistake

She needs new faces

She knows the high stakes

She knows the high stakes

Yes, I'd journey somewhere new. 

I'd be on my own with my family so far away. 

I would make my own choices.

I would make some mistakes. 

I'd grow to be wiser and stronger with each step. 

It would be tough, but it would be great. 

This blog became a place where I could share the moments that shaped me. I could wonder, marvel, hurt, explore, and just be here. 

We need to have adventures in life, and we need to embrace the good and the bad that come with our journey. It's risky to go out and try new things, but if we don't then we won't grow. The world is full of wonders, but we have to be willing to step out into the big, scary world to find them. 

I'm not done making messes yet. 

I'm not done growing yet. 

I'm not staying in my comfort zone.

I'm still venturing into all kinds of wide open spaces.

Throwback Thursday

Day 2: Selfie Time! A Favorite Photo of You

Technically I'm late posting...oops. So that makes it a Throwback Thursday and not just a selfie! 

[It took FOREVER to find this picture!]

This was my user picture for a long time on here, and it's the one that come to mind as soon as I read this prompt before jumping into the challenge. 

I love this picture because it reminds me of a lot of things. This was taken the day after I turned 23...and the day after I got my nose pierced. I was home for the summer, and I faced an upcoming school year of methods classes and student teaching before GRADUATION. Many, many adventures were coming my way, and I was feeling really optimistic about everything. I was so sure of myself because I knew I was ready for it after 4 years of working for this,

after 2 preschool jobs,

after years of babysitting experience, 

after being reminded so many times of how awesome kids are. 

This picture reminds me of when I was practically fearless. I'd get an idea, go with it, and I really didn't care what people thought. 

People don't expect a little Lutheran school teacher to have something as radical as a nose piercing. Sometimes I think that people don't believe anyone with piercings or tattoos or crazy hair colors or an occasional drink or a smoking habit or anything outside a stereotype can love Jesus as well as they can. This was a small, safe stand I took to try to break that mindset a little bit. 

I don't have a nose piercing anymore. I had to take it out last year for a surgery. I put it in a container for safekeeping at the hospital, but it wasn't in there anymore by the time I got home. I didn't stress out too much about it. I was sad, but I didn't put anything else in. I just would have taken it out for our wedding a few months later anyway.

I certainly didn't aim to preserve these things when I took this -- I just wanted to show it off -- but it's funny how we inadvertently attach memories to little things like selfies.

This Week's Goals

Once upon a time I participated in a challenge to blog every day. While my total ended up being 288 posts rather than 365, it was a great experience.

Time for another challenge!

I learned about this from my friend Emily (and her blog is awesome, btw, so you should stop by and check it out!). She found it through another one of her blogger friends. The details can be found here, but basically there is a prompt for every day in July. I may sub in some of my own ideas here and there, but it looks like there are some fun prompts so here we go.

Day 1: What are your goals for today? (Or this week, month, year, etc.)

This week I would like to...

• Write a blog post every day
• Tame the cilantro in the garden and the weeds in the flower bed in the front yard
• Catch up on a few phone calls
• Upload/edit pictures from the Dallas World Aquarium last weekend [Sidenote: Awesome place. Go check it out if you get the chance!)
• Finish a project that's been in the works for about 2 weeks now
• Research some ideas for my classroom
• Enjoy a Date Night with my hubby 
• Look up how to crochet a "magic circle" so I can start a new project
• Try out a Bible study at church Thursday night
• Make chicken enchiladas for the first time (a.k.a. attempt to successfully disguise leftovers from the chicken tacos we are also having this week)

There you go. A glimpse into my To Do list for the week. I'd love to hear about the endeavors you're hoping to take on this week, too!