Mechanical Horses = Pure Bliss

Claire is obsessed.  If she sees a carousel or any mechanical horse ride she goes nuts.  And how can I resist letting her ride when she looks like this:

I love this particular ride because it's free.  That's right - FREE!!!  All I have to do is push a button.  It's at my grocery store, which is even better because this way Claire gets excited about going to the store with me.
Now on actual, bigger carousels  Claire will be all grins but also yell, "Whoa!" over and over. It's stinkin' adorable.  I love this kid!

Sleep

Ever since I can remember I've hated sleeping.  As a child I thought it was an enormous waste of time, and that attitude has somewhat stuck with me into adulthood.  However, the older I get the more I realize how much I need sleep.
This point has really hit home the last week.  I have been off work for a few weeks, and will be reporting back next week, so I have been working on getting Claire and myself back into our regular routine.  Since we've been getting up early I've made sure Claire's in bed by 8, but I've been staying up way too late.  And by way too late I mean 11:30 or midnight.  My alarm goes off at 4:4o, with me snoozing it until 5.  So yeah, I'm getting about five hours of sleep.  The side effects of this sleep schedule have not been very obvious to others, but I can tell: I'm more quiet around my friends, I've been having a difficult time concentrating during conversations, I'm not very articulate when trying to get a point across, and for me the worst side effect has got to be feeling down.  Yesterday I felt so depressed, even though I have no reason to feel this way, and I really think it's due to lack of sleep.  So last night I went to bed early and I feel 100% better today.
With school coming I am concerned I will fall back into my minimal sleep habit.  In the past I've tried to suck every second out of my evening, usually resulting in falling asleep around midnight.  Then I feel miserable the next day.  Well, I think it's time I grow up and realize that to be a happy and productive person I need to sleep more.  It's not a waste of time after all.

The bed that I must spend more time in! 

Book Review: Guided Math

Guided Math by Sammons Laney
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book would probably be great for a beginning teacher.  If you have been teaching awhile and have done guided reading, I would say this book is a waste of your time.  Especially if you are familiar with Debbie Miller, Fountas and Pinnell, and Marzano.  This book did a great job of explaining why guided math should be done, but not a lot of how it is done (which is what I was looking for).  I was quite disappointed as I want to try guided math next year (hence, I don't need to be convinced), and wanted some structures from someone experienced in guided math (not a lot of this, unfortunately).


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Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, so I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about the addition of the undead.  However, I didn't much mind it.  It sort of added a touch of Kill Bill to the famous plot.  I did find it a little humorous to imagine the Bennet sisters slaying zombies in their early nineteenth century gowns.

Now, for my criticisms, plus some spoilers, so consider yourself sufficiently warned:
First of all, there is a scene where Elizabeth kills ninjas and takes a bite out of one of their hearts.  Gross. Too far.
Secondly, I didn't much like the subtle - and some not so subtle - sexual innuendo.  As absurd as zombies are, they fit so much better than Mr. Darcy speaking of his balls, or Elizabeth referring to the outline of Mr. Darcy's sexual parts (I can't remember the exact phrasing), through his pants.

Overall, I would say that if you love Pride and Prejudice, and aren't offended by an author taking some farfetched creative liberties with the plot, then you will probably like this book.


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July Favorites

Beauty gurus on YouTube do videos of their monthly favorites, and I enjoy watching them so I thought I would blog mine.  The difference will be that I don't want to just showcase beauty products, though there will be some.

Anyway, I have five favorites for this month.  I'll start with the three I have a photo of:

1. Sephora by OPI nail polish in Already Famous
This polish has a shimmery taupe base and lots of refined gold and silver glitter.  I'm not generally a fan of glittery polishes, but the glitter in this one is not chunky at all; just nice and sparkly.  It's a gorgeous color for summer.

2. Bumble and Bumble Quenching Complex Leave in Conditioner
I only have a sample of this (which has lasted two weeks), but as soon as I'm out I will be purchasing the full size.  While at Sephora recently I told the sales associate that I was looking for a new leave in conditioner that wouldn't weigh my hair down.  She loaded me up with samples, some of which have been complete duds, and this gem was in my haul. I put it in after showering and it makes the ends of my hair look shiny, thick, and healthy.  My hair is prone to looking quite stringy, but this has prevented that from happening.  As soon as I'm out of my sample I will be purchasing the full size.

3. Noosa Yoghurt
This stuff is amazing!  I am constantly searching for a new and improved yogurt, and I think the search is over.  It comes in six flavors: mango, honey, strawberry rhubarb, peach, raspberry, and blueberry.  I have tried all but the blueberry, and they have all been fabulous.  My least favorite is the honey, not because of the taste, but because I like to mix the honey into my yogurt, so I'll stick with Fage for that flavor.  However, the rest are scrumptious!

And here are my two favorites which I have no pictures :(

4.  This one's a book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
Truth be told I was forced to read this for work, but I'm so glad I was.  Basically this book is about how your thinking can help make you more successful or hold you back.  There are two mindsets: the growth mindset and the fixed mindset.  Growth mindset means you can always get better and grow.  You rebound from failure.  The fixed mindset means you put limitations on your capabilities.  Failure makes you give up.  After much reflecting I discovered that I have the growth mindset for others, but a fixed mindset for myself.
Though I read this for work, I think this is a wonderful read for anyone.  It has changed my parenting, and I've even talked to Chris about it and he has changed as well.  I would have had him read the book, but well, he hasn't read a book since college.

5. And for my last favorite, a TV show: Suits
This show is a brand new series, and honestly what drew my attention to it can be summed up in two words: eye candy.  In my opinion, the two lead actors are super hot (one more than the other, but I'm not telling which I prefer ;) ), and the show comes on after Claire goes to bed, so I figured what the heck, and tuned in to the series premiere. It didn't take me long to get hooked, as I genuinely enjoy the plot lines, no matter how farfetched they are.  It's on Thursday nights at nine on USA, if you're interested.

Date Night

Almost every Friday my mom and stepdad watch Claire for a couple of hours so that Chris and I can have some alone time.  Actually, that's not true.  They watch Claire because they want some time with their granddaughter, and if Chris and I are around she pretty much ignores them and clings to us.  So we vamoose.  

Here is our date night starting with my outfit:

I look miffed, but really I'm not.  I'm not the most photogenic person and this was the best shot.  

Here's what I wore:

Gray shorts from Banana Republic

Pink tank from Forever 21

A pink sparkly bracelet from Premiere Jewelry

A small infinity bracelet from Dogeared Jewelry

A small bee necklace from Dogeared Jewelry

And here are my shoes:

They are from DSW online.

Claire helped me add some lipgloss:

Don't I look so much better?

Claire and Chris anxiously await my parents' arrival:

My parents arrived soon after and Chris and I were off.  We went to a little Mexican restaurant that we had never even heard of before.  Now I'd like to say that we went there because of spontaneity and our adventurous spirits, but the truth is we had a coupon.  At any rate, the food was very good.  We ordered margaritas, I had some guacamole.  Chris ordered the special which was a burrito, an enchilada, and a taco.  I got some flautas. We had fun and I think we'll go back the next time we, cough, have a coupon...

Lime margaritas on the rocks with salt - yum! 

I am a lucky girl to have such a handsome date!

After we left we drove around for a bit, found a coupon for ice cream, and hit the local Baskin Robbins.  Then we headed home.  It was a great evening!

BTW I know that I am sooooo lucky that my parents do this for us!  I am so thankful that Chris and I get alone time and I love seeing their relationship with Claire blossom.  

My favorite summertime scent

I love Victoria's Secret Pink Sunny and Happy because:

1. It smells sooooo good!  There is no scent description on the bottles, so you're stuck with me trying to describe it, something I have never done before.  It smells like orange cotton candy with enough of some kind of perfumey (floral perhaps?) scent to keep you from wanting to eat it.  

2. It's a body spray, which is perfect for the scorching heat.  Perfume can be heavy, while this is nice and light. 

3. The scent lingers. 

4. Sometimes when I put on Bath and Body Works body sprays I cough and sneeze my respiratory system is overwhelmed.  I have never had that problem with this product. 

5. The name says it all: Sunny and Happy.  

As for the cost, when I purchased these at the end of May they were on sale for two for $20.  Which I don't think is too bad.