Things I Love Thursday--My Dear Husband

This is the first time to participate in Things I Love Thursday. There are so many things I love...but how do I pick? Then, as if on cue, my husband walks through the door with a Sprite.

See, last night we spent a couple of hours in the local emergency room in order to find out that my horrific back pains are actually my kidneys and I have a kidney infection.

My loving husband has been taking great care of me. I doubly love him today.

While taking in the view at Tybee Island, GA...DH: "First one to reach Europe wins!"

Simple Woman's Daybook--July 12, 2010

Monday, July 12, 2010

Outside my window...it just finished raining for the second day in a row. What a blessing!

I am thinking...I need to organize my coupons. They are out of control!

I am thankful for...friends who call for no reason.

From the kitchen...roasted chicken.

I am wearing...an asTate t-shirt and jean capris.

I am creating...beginning band lesson plans.

I am going...to stay home!

I am reading...The Overton Window by Glenn Beck.

I am hoping...to finally steam clean my carpets this week.

I am hearing...a podcast on Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

Around the house...the bedroom is clean!

One of my favorite things...rain.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Do some work for work, visit some friends, spend time with my husband and puppies.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...the view from the boat @ Tybee Island, Georgia.


Want to join the fun? Visit The Simple Woman's Daybook for more info!

Menu Plan Monday--July 12, 2010

Time to get back into the swing of things! Here is this week's menu plan:

Monday: Roasted chicken
Tuesday: Taco soup
Wednesday: Goulash
Thursday: Southwest Mini Crescent Burritos
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: Eating at mother-in-law's house

Want to know more? Check out Orgjunkie.com for more recipes and ideas!

Summer Vacation

Let the summer vacation begin!

Since the end of May, I have been to Washington, D.C. with the high school band, taught at Dixie Band Camp, floated down Current River, took the high school color guard and drum major to camp, vacationed in Savannah and Tybee Island and traveled to Nashville with my parents and sister. It has been a very busy summer so far.

The next two weeks are the only "free time" I have before summer band begins and school starts in August. What do I have planned?

Nothing!

Well, that is not entirely true. We are traveling to my husband's home town this weekend for a short visit. Plus, we are thinking about having a yard sale next weekend. But as for weekdays, I am happy to be at home.

On Guard!

I have ventured into cutting my husband's hair. It has actually been a pretty smooth process.

New clippers. Check.
Towel. Check.
Husband sitting in the bathtub. Check.

The husband suggested that I use the #1 guard. I thought the #1 guard would be super short but he said the barber uses that guard. After the first strike, I began laughing.

It was very short. Too late now!

In the end, the cut looks good even if it is shorter than either of us had planned. His hair grows very quickly so he will be back to his normal #1 guard length in a few days.

The Blind Side

If you have not seen The Blind Side, go get it right now. What an amazing movie! Not only is the story interesting and touching (as well as true) but Sandra Bullock gave an amazing performance. Great performances, great story.

Now I really want to watch a football game...

Wii!

I received my birthday present a few weeks early. My sweet husband gave me a Wii! I think I am one of the last people in America to own a Wii. It has been fun playing games with my husband that do not include shooting military weapons and massive amounts of blood and gore.

His favorite game so far is bowling. Me? Tennis. I was not fortunate enough to have my sister's talent for tennis in real life but I have (some) skills at Wii tennis.

No one puts baby in the corner

...except my school.

The latest, coolest, most hip prom accessory weighs around 10-20 pounds, can be dressed up and oogled over by teens or glared at disapprovingly by older women.

You guessed it...a baby.

After a parent voiced a concern, my school decided to overturn it's decision to allow a teenage mother to bring her newborn to prom.

My thought: it's prom. Not the most baby-friendly environment. Plus, if grandma will willing to keep the kid, why would you want to bring your baby to prom? It seems that you would spend most of the evening attending to his/her every scream. It would not be an evening to look back on with fond memories.

I am sure the teenager thinks it would be fun to dress your newborn in a cute dress/tux and parade the tyke throughout the ballroom. The baby is just that...a baby! It is not a doll or a toy.

I will now jump off of my soapbox.

Spring Read Thing 2010

I have decided to participate in Spring Read Thing 2010! It seems that I rarely have opportunities just to sit down and read for enjoyment. I am very excited to dive in to my stack of (dusty) books.



Books to finish reading:
The Real George Washington by Jay A. Parry
Marie Antoinette by Antonia Fraser
Play--The Foundation That Supports the House of Higher Learning by Lisa Murphy

Books to begin reading:
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire
Revolutionary Characters--What Made the Founders Different by Gordon S. Wood
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Order of the Ancient by Karl Bastain
Club Dead by Charlaine Harris
A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror by Michael Allen
Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships by Susan Shapiro Barash
Grits Friends Are Forevah: A Southern-Style Celebration of Women by Deborah Ford

Want to join the fun? Start here at Callapidder Days. Happy reading!

Parent & Teacher Conferences

My band students range from 6th graders up to seniors. There are over 100 students in the band program. During the course of our 6-hour long parent/teacher conference tonight, only 10 parents walked through the band room door. It is frustrating that more parents do not care about their child's education.

Reward Day

The high school band was given a reward day today due to their hard work in preparation for their concert band assessment concert. Their performance was on Saturday and they gave an excellent performance.

On the agenda: Rock Band, Apples to Apples and pizza.

Mission accomplished!

Menu Plan Monday

After taking a couple of weeks off from MPM, I am returning with a vengeance! I am shopping from my limited stock this week and only need to pick up four items!

Monday: Stuffed Shells, salad, green beans

Tuesday: Roasted Crock Pot Chicken, salad, rice, carrots

Wednesday: Rice and Veggie Stir Fry

Thursday: Hamburger steak, salad, green beans

Friday: Out

Saturday: Out

Sunday: Out

Simple Woman's Daybook...March 2, 2010

Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook!

For Today...

Outside my window...overcast and cold.

I am thankful for...a great weekend with friends and husband.

From the kitchen...taco soup. Yum!

I am wearing...jeans, sweater and comfy tennis shoes.

I am creating...a menu for the week.

I am going...to Jonesboro on Friday afternoon.

I am reading...The Real George Washington. (Yes...STILL!)

I am hoping...that the weather gets warmer soon. I am ready for spring!

I am hearing...Rush Limbaugh.

Around the house...lots of stuff I am placing on Ebay.

One of my favorite things...climbing into bed with fresh sheets.

Picture...My girl Ellie.

Spring Read Thing 2010

I am very excited to begin picking out books for Spring Read Thing 2010! Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting the event March 20-June 20th. I will soon post my list of books and look forward to seeing what others are reading, too.

As my friend Jason would say, "Books: Check 'em out!"

Free Chocolate!

A friend gave me a few coupons for FREE Jello Mousse Temptations so we used them!

We selected dark chocolate and were not disappointed. They are delicious from the fridge or straight from the freezer!

Simple Woman's Daybook February 8

FOR TODAY
February 8,2010
Please visit Peggy for more of The Simple Women's Daybook.

Outside my window...Looks like a snow globe!
I am thinking...that I need to start organizing the closets.
I am thankful for...my loving husband and great family and friends.
From the kitchen... Parmesan chicken
I am wearing...jeans, boots and an ASU t-shirt.
I am creating...yard sale stickers
I am going...to be out of school again tomorrow.
I am hearing...Glenn Beck
Around the house...organizing and light cleaning
One of my favorite things...receiving a letter in the mail.
A few plans for the rest of the week: pack for next week, clean out the coupon book, finish reading a book
Picture Thought : My niece Charlee!

Meal Plan Monday Feb. 8

I am trying to cook out of the pantry and freezer this month. We will both be super busy and away from the kitchen next week so I've planned meals for two weeks. This meal plan is linked up at I'm An Organizing Junkie!

Monday
Taco Soup (Use jalapeno ranch and shredded cheese as a garnish...yum!)


Tuesday
Homemade Pizza


Wednesday
Church Dinner


Thursday
Crock Pot Chicken and Dressing


Friday
Ritzy Chicken Nuggets


Monday
Meatloaf

All-State Auditions 2010

We've had a busy weekend! All-State Jazz Band auditions were held on Friday with Concert Band auditions today. My school had a student make jazz and another make concert bands. Three of my private lesson students made concert bands. I am proud of all of the students who auditioned.

Simple Woman's Daybook February 1, 2009

Click here to visit the original Simple Woman!

Outside my window...Sunny with a great deal of snow still on the ground.

I am thinking...God has blessed me so much.

I am thankful for...electricity and heat!

I am wearing...jeans and an Arkansas State University sweater.

I am remembering...the fun from this weekend spent with good friends.

I am going...to study and clean tonight.

I am currently reading...The Real George Washington by Jay Parry.

I am hoping...to get caught up on work tomorrow.

On my mind...spring break.

From the kitchen...a hot cup of cocoa

One of my favorite things...sleeping when it is raining outside.

From my picture journal...the girls!

Snow!

It snowed all night Thursday and all day yesterday! Our area received around 10 inches of snow. All area schools were closed Friday and a few friends stayed the night (thanks to our gas heat). We made dinner, snow cream (a first for everyone but me), and played games. This morning, we had a delicious breakfast and played in the snow.

A great start to the weekend!

Snow Storm 2010?

Today is the anniversary of the 2009 ice storm that wrecked havoc on northeast Arkansas. The exciting thing is that we are expecting another winter storm tonight or tomorrow. As you can imagine, the stores are sold out of bread and milk.

Up too late...again!

I need to go to bed earlier. The AM alarm seems to come earlier every morning.

Today was a teacher in-service day and I spent most of my time surrounded by stacks of music. Scores, solos, trios...you name it, I looked through it. In the process, I managed to select solos and ensemble pieces for the beginning and intermediate band woodwinds and narrowed down the high school concert band assessment pieces.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

January 18, 2010
Visit Peggy, the original Simple Woman!


Outside My Window......Dark and cloudy.

I am thinking...about my spring calendar. It is filling up quickly!

I am thankful for...my loving husband, family and friends.

I am wearing...slacks, orange top and tennis shoes.

I am remembering...that I need to mail a letter in the morning.

I am currently reading...The Real George Washington.

I am hoping...that we decide on concert band assessment music tomorrow!

On my mind...teachers teaching to the test. I have many thoughts about this and will share them (hopefully) over the coming weeks.

Pondering these words..."My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." ~Thomas Jefferson

From the kitchen...husband is making dinner!

One of my favorite things...laughs with my husband.

From my picture journal...

Ibecooking Aprons

Want a chance to win a cute apron? Visit the Apron Goddesses for more info!

In My Humble Opinion...

I am a member of a message board that has many well-meaning mothers among it's membership. These women are staying at home with their pre-k children and are providing the kids with an excellent education. However, they get discouraged when their 3-year-old cannot recognize all of the alphabet letters, cut with scissors, color inside the lines, work with worksheets or sit still for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Remember this: they are children. Young children! These stay-at-home moms are giving their children priceless opportunities to learn while playing and (most importantly) time. School, straight lines and worksheets will come soon enough.

New Year, New Semester

Christmas break sped by quickly and now it is time to dust off the grade books for another semester. The spring promises to be even busier than the fall but I look forward to every day. I look forward to seeing the kids again and hearing all about their vacations.