The red ones last...

So as I was grading papers and chose a snack to enjoy last night, I went of course to a pack of fruit snacks. As I opened the package I started my usual routine. Laying all the fruit snacks out in my hands and then sorting them out by color. I first eat them in order to even out the number of each color. Then I eat them by color choice, yellow ones first and red ones last. Josh of course laughs at me when I do these things. It occurred to me that I guess my brain does work in funny ways more often then I realized.

My house if you ever saw it on a day to day basis is not neat and tidy, nor do I claim it to be that way to people, but I do have my things organized. I love to file things, sort in piles, and organize things. If a stack of DVDs were in front of me, I would probably organize them by title. I find it challenging to put things into alphabetical order and feel so accomplished when I do.

So world...does anyone else sort out their fruit snacks, candy treats, etc. and save the best color for last??? Or do you just randomly grab them out of the package and eat them.

Childhood Fun... in a new way?!?

So I enjoy earning swagbucks. You can check it out on the side of my blog. But through their facebook page, I came across a fun website over the weekend called Santa Claw. Real Art Design company decided to create the largest claw machine ever. It is huge! You remember the claw machines as a kid you might have played with all the toys inside that you just had to try and win (most of the time, not win :P ) What is so great about this claw machine is that you get to play the game from home, and it is located to Dayton, Ohio. I decided to give it a shot and play over the weekend. Of course the line is extremely long to play, so I just left the window open all day on my computer until it was my turn. So 7 hours later, I played the claw machine, located about 6-7 hours from me. So with my fearless husband's help, I won! IT is just a big green bouncing type ball. They will be shipping it to me for free in the next few weeks. Of course, the prizes aren't anything spectacular. But they have other types crazy/silly prizes as well. It really didn't matter to me what I won, just had a great time with the experience. Then it hit me. What a small world.

It made me think about how virtual the world is really becoming. Is all this technology really helping society or hurting society? I see people consumed by their cell phones to the point that they don't even realize that people are around them. I see a lack of communication between people now, because they only know how to do it through texting/typing. Then I see the advancement in medicine with technology, or the fact that now I can connect with friends across the world from the comforts of my home. My mind tends to go back and forth with it. I think a lot of it depends on the user. I think a lot of it depends on the type of technology as well. What are your thoughts?

Time is Flying....

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted on the blog. Life has been ....well ....life I suppose. Typical day to day routine that seems to slip by. I feel so behind this year. I don't have my Christmas shopping done yet, Christmas cards may not get sent, etc. My to do list just keeps growing. As the December things have come upon me this year, I kept thinking what I did last year. Then I realized not a whole lot, since early December last year was when I had my back surgery. Wow, a year already! A lot of things have happened in a year, for the good or the bad, but I'm thankful for each experience. Each thing has taught me something new about life and the importance of people around me. The older I get the more I realize that seeing my family and friends is more important to me than receiving gifts during the holidays. So if my Christmas cards turn into New Year Cards, or no cards at all, I want to wish all my family and friends a very Merry Christmas!!! May you have blessed season!

Frugal Living...

I know that everyone has their own definition of frugal living. Lately, I've been trying really hard to cut back on spending and finding resources to use to help us in this endeavor. I have found some great tools and blogs out there that have really helped me. I thought since I have found them helpful, maybe you will as well. So I would like to share some websites I have been using:

http://www.thriftyandchicmom.com/

http://mommainflipflops2.blogspot.com/

Even though I am not a mom, I have found some great giveaways, coupon deals, and offers on these sites. They have some great reviews on products.

http://theprudentpatron.com/

This site has really helped me to get freebies, as well as great deals for great prices. She shares freebies, coupons, weekly store deals, etc.

Swagbucks has been my recent tool to use online. It is a website where you earn points to cash in on prizes by mostly just doing your everyday searching. I thought it might take a lot of work, but it really doesn't. In particular I really like the gift cards, i.e. amazon, that you can use your points towards. I'm hoping this will help with my Christmas shopping this year. If you are interested in joining swagbucks for free. Click the image on the side of my page.

http://www.listia.com/

Is a site very similar to ebay, but it is free items. You earn points to list things, and then you can bid on other items. Some items do have shipping charges. It is a great way to get rid of items you don't need anymore, and get items you do need.

Well these are just few of the resources of have been using lately. Does anyone else have any they would like to share?

The Missing Piece...

I really enjoy putting together puzzles. So about a month ago, Josh and I dug out a puzzle that was in our closet that we bought probably a year ago. As you can see in the picture, it is fall themed, so I decided to give it a try. Josh started to work on it with me to get the border accomplished, then of course time got away. Work has been busy and so the puzzle has been sitting there....with the only changes being made to it by Mara, our cat. Today I decided it was a much needed day of rest. We have just been busy lately, and I needed a day to myself. I've relaxed today, did a bit of cleaning, and I decided it was now or never with the puzzle. So tonight, I worked really hard at finishing it. I got towards the end and realized that I may be missing a piece. Nothing worse than the feeling of missing just one puzzle piece. Luckily after doing some searching in the other room where I was working on it, I found it just under the couch!!! Hurray!!! The puzzle is now complete.

It made me think about though that sometimes in our lives we feel like we are missing a "piece". There are times, when I just don't feel right or I'm missing something. Sometimes as we are searching for the "missing piece" it can be a challenge, but I think that we always end up stronger when we do find it. Lately, I've been feeling like I'm missing something, but I'm comfortable with the feeling, not empty. I think it is just a transition in life for something better....so now I just wait and search for that missing piece. I know that once again my puzzle will be complete!

Alarm Clock...

In Liberia, we had an automatic alarm clock called the rooster. He would give us his call every morning, and we got so in the habit of it, that we didn't have to use an alarm. Until it came to Liberia's Independence Day, and the rooster was no longer around.

Now, that I am back from Libera, our cat Mara, has decided to do something new each morning. She comes into our bedroom about 10 mins before the alarm is to go off, and she meows. Now, I'm not talking about just a simple, sweet, soft meow. This is a loud, you need to be out of bed now, "meow"! I'm not sure why. We do not give her any attention when she does it to encourage it. She is not neglected in anyway. She is just one needy cat. :) She meows for a while. Then when I get out of bed to shower, she waits by the bathroom door, until I get out, meowing and pushing on the door. Followed by her waiting by my feet, giving me love, until I feed her and give her water for the day. I love my cat.

Hoping that Mara decides to take a break in the morning, because I sure would like to sleep-in.

Anyone else out there have a pet with a morning routine?

Bookworm...

(one of my all time favorites from elementary school)

Our librarian at our school does some really great things with our students! She is encouraging the students to read all the books from the following list before they finish elementary school. I think is a fabulous challenge for them. I have decided to take the same challenge. The list has more than 100 books on it, but I sure hope this school year, I can finish reading all the books on the list. I love to read! It is one of my favorite hobbies, but what is so great about this list is that it has challenged me to read books that I never thought of picking up to read because it didn't interest me by the title. There have been a couple of books from the list, that I had to force myself to get through the first few chapters. After I began reading it though, I began to appreciate the book and the writing, even if it wasn't a type of "genre" that I would read normally.

Here is the list posted by the National Education Association in 1999.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm

From this page I found a newer updated list from the NEA from teachers in 2007. I hope to read these books as well.

http://www.teachersfirst.com/getsource.cfm?id=8498

Maybe this will encourage you to enjoy picking up a children's book or young adult's book, and enjoy the world of reading once again!