reviews

I felt like reviewing some things. I was going to review some children's books but there are so many good ones.. and some poor ones.. so I am just going to leave you with these somewhat random reviews instead.

I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert
I can't really recommend this book unless you already know that you like Stephen Colbert. If you like him, you will enjoy the book. He has a very random, and often offensive, sense of humor. Could be why I did enjoy the book. It is a fast read and he leaves notes in the margins which are very random, and probably one of my favorite parts. It is funny in a "I can't believe he said that" sort of way.

Sesame Street by Genius People
I should just ask the family that I babysit for if it is ok for the kids to watch this every day. I love Sesame Street. It is very educational for kids, and still entertaining for adults. They could probably reuse old episodes (that I used to watch through all the fuzz on the TV in my own early years) but instead they make it relevant for today's parents. They had a "Dancing with Triangles" show where the puppets looked and acted like the judges on Dancing with the Stars. Funny.

Word World by More Genuis People
This is really clever. All of the objects/characters are made out of words so the kids get used to seeing the letters, but somehow the objects/characters still look like they are supposed to. I'll just say I love PBS although I'm not a big fan of Dragon Tales. (It sounds like they watch a lot of TV but I promise that they don't!)

one lucky generation.

I just hope that New Kids on the Block have their first show (in about 15 years that is) in Chicago, and that I can get tickets somehow.

I would have never drempt.. but I am glad someone did.






Thank you, Jess, for thinking of me when you saw this article. I just realized that the NKOTB posters I put up in my college dorm rooms may have helped that connection.

maybe a bit narcissitic

6:30-reception starts
9:30- stuffed full of really good food, yet still eating, and someone mentions the time

"They better get this dance started. I won't be able to fit in all of my moves by 12:00!" -me

10:00- I left because the only 2 people there that I knew (friend from highschool and her fiance) left. Well, they were the only people I knew besides the newly married couple and another high school friend/her boyfriend. I love wedding dances but I was lame and left before showing off ANY of my dance moves (well, I did show off the Christmas tree AT the table. So that can count, right?)

If you are having a dance party this week you should invite me. Or always.

Maybe I'll make Jody play DDR with me tomorrow. Yay.

mia roommate(s)

I hadn't seen my roommate in awhile and I know that I usually run into her for about a minute or two every other day. Some of my friends asked why I hadn't called her yet. Good point. Why hadn't I? So I did. She didn't answer.

Then as I was leaving for home to see some family members there was something in our hallway that really reeked. Granted, I live with a variety of people that don't eat hamburgers for dinner so I thought the smell could, in reality, be "strange" and not really "reek" but with the mind already turning about where M.I.A roommate was... I decided I should do some investigative work.

I called her place of work to schedule an appointment in an hour, since she is popular and really good I knew she would be busy and they would be unable to schedule me (since I just got my hair cut and didn't really need a haircut but didn't want to seem like an over concerned mother, either). They told me she was out of town on a family emergency. Which calmed my heart a little, considering that she wasn't dead, but I would have rather heard "she decided to go to Florida last minute."

My uncle told me that I watch too much TV, but I told him I may watch too much NEWS. Hopefully my parents weren't paying attention. Oh shoot, mom, don't read that part! Anyway, I will agree that my imagination/mind can be a little over-active, but at least some part of me gets lots of excercise!

Anyway, everyone in her family is now OK. And seeing my family was also great. I never understand how Jami can be so "swank" and Jason so funny, and their significant others so great. Also Wyatt is adorable and a typical boy (into everything, lots of running and mischief). I love that Angie is my cousin, and her husband Jeremy also my cousin (different sides) so I know them both well (I promise that no genes crossed over, they were completely unrelated). And Rachel is extremely cute. My aunt Cris has her own company with her sister where you can buy adorable baby blankets and her husband, my uncle Ross, is also quite funny and teaching Rachel all kinds of trouble. And you can't beat my parents (unless at euchre) or grandparents. My brother is really fun to watch with the little ones as well. My Uncle Ron and Aunt Peggy are loving and two of the most generous people I know. Peggy needs to make her own craft website.. you'd buy stuff.

salsa

I know someone that goes salsa dancing every week at Willowbrook Ballroom and he informed me he'd really like to get more people to attend. I was only able to get one other girl to go with me, but Lydia was an amazing choice.

I love dancing (even though I have trouble just trusting the guy and trying to lead myself- which does NOT work in salsa dance.. or life). I really thought it was going to be fun because of all the awkwardness. It was one of the (very) few times I have been wrong. It was just really fun.

I wish I could describe to you McDancer man.. whom we have dubbed Ricardo. Hilarious, and a really great dancer and teacher. Although he did tell me he liked one hip more because the other one was lazy, and apparently that is where the magic is.

Maybe I wanted to blog about it because it was so great. Or maybe because I really like this picture!

winter walk

I wanted to share some of these photos, even though they make me upset. I love (and am yet always frustrated) that you can't capture the beauty of God. I took a ton of photos on a walk with my dad after a winter snow. They are alright, but I am not brilliantly happy with them. I think it is because I saw the real thing and can't REALLY share it with you.

igoogle readers: Sorry about all of the updates. I had some issues with slide.

paranoia and the worry gene

Today I wanted to cut a pear. After my previous (posted) experience with the garlic, I decided I should make sure I really know how to cut a pear.

This website was not helpful.

getting rid of vampires

So, I learned today that a clove of garlic comes from a bulb of garlic. So when a recipe calls for "two cloves" it means two of the parts you break off from the bulb (see picture below). Which means, when I made chicken to put in a stir fry for the family that I work for, it shouldn't have looked as though it was breaded.. in garlic. (I'd like everyone to know that I am hysterically laughing at myself AGAIN for this mistake).

The recipe turned out fine since the chicken was for a stir fry but I'm sure the family is wondering where all their garlic went. (I'm still laughing!)

lists

Here are some funny moments from my job:
"I had a bad dream that I didn't change my underwear for three days." -three
"This is George Washington, I am drawing his mo hawk." -three
"I am on a diet from ranch dressing. It makes my tongue hurt." -five
I have no funny quotes from the seven but she was really good today which is a BLESSING!

Other good things:
My community is cool, crazy, and great. I missed them.
Ashlee and Allison are coming to visit me this weekend!
Jody bought me CHERRY DONUT HOLES. I love them. So very much. (And also her.)
I received package from my padres today.
My friend in the service got one of three packages I sent him. I would rate it the 3rd out of the 3 but at least he got one!

Mad things:
I want to make a collage but Snapfish doesn't let you pick which pictures are big. Any suggestions? (Shutterfly is a little better, but not by much.)

mysterious yellow goo

Even if it was paint, how did it get all over my shoes? I walked from the house to the school today with the kids... and I had yellow paint on my shoes. It wasn't there when I left or at least half way to the school, but I discovered it as I left the school. Where did it come from?

The Hustle

I blogged about it, I couldn't keep this information to myself. I was quite sad, before this weekend, that I had forgotten these steps since I last learned them in the 5th grade.

The Hustle

four counts each

steps back

steps forward

steps right

steps left

kickball change

"skate" (swivel side to side)

disco

punching bag

front back side kick to turn (like country dancing)

start over

blind mice

Maybe I have three homes.

I am currently visiting my friend Jess in Iowa. I left for her house after spending time at my cousins' house in Des Moines. There was the hustle, dance dance revolution, crayola explosion, play time, good chats, and Enchanted. Apparently my two year old cousin informed her mom she wanted me to live in their house. This was after bringing in 2008 with some of my college friends. Which was after I had some time with the parents and my dad's side of the family. Which takes me to last Saturday when I was able to spend time with some other cousins from Rockford, Florida, and California at my grandparent's house. All while missing Chicago friends but having an amazing time at each place with each person.

My point is.. I am really blessed. To miss my Pella/Des Moines home (college friends and extended family), Chicago home (Avalon/Axis), and original home (family/grandparents/country life/cows) while enjoying the place I where am.

crayola explosion

I can't blog right now because I think my cousin Bailey just drew a picture of me doing the disco on her crayola explosion glow board. I want to see what she drew, but it also means it is my turn. I was hoping that she would keep (forever) the pictures I drew of her dancing- but it's just too fun to play with.