A Day with Dad

For the first time ever, my dad took me on a Harley motorcycle ride. All I asked was he take me on an adventure, and he did not let me down. We rode for an hour in our leather and helmets and finally he surprised me by taking me to the Arizona Arboretum! Let's just say my dad knows the biologist in me. We walked for an hour through gum tree forests, cactus houses, and hummingbird gardens. We spent the walk cracking jokes about all of the old people and birdwatchers.  We then stopped by grammy and grampy's house on the way back for an AWESOME lunch. I love my dad and it was a great trip! Oh, and PS.......

EVERYTHING looks more beautiful on a motorcycle <3

Tis The Season!

And so have begun some of my favorite things about Christmas time......
Christmas music, Hot Chocolate, Hot cinnamon Cider, holiday parties, Gingerbread houses (which are a lot harder to make then I thought by the way!) Sharing gifts with friends and so much more!

Not my usual footwear....

I bought a pair of moccasins!!!! Not quite my style but I adore them and am going to try them on for size (haha get it) and they are fur lined inside.... So perfect for winter

An Expensive Obsession

It's officially Christmas shopping time and i have one thing and one thing only on my mind right now..... SHOES

I can't seem to get some of these new styles out of my head and I even catch myself daydreaming about ways to come up with ways to afford them. Here are some of my newest obsessions in case you were thinking of getting me a REALLY nice Christmas gift ;)

I've never been a fan of oxfords, but this HIGH (haha get it?) twist makes me drool a little. A such a cute way to make macasins sexy. I'm shoe crazed. 

The Highs and Lows of a day in High School

Today I spent 4 hours teaching at my school and experienced the true workmanship of fine high school teaching. Today changed teaching for me on so many levels. This is just a snapshot of what a fine teacher goes through with their kids:

High: Upon arriving to 1st hour I was informed of a dull day of reviewing ahead so I went to observe the Survival Biology class next door. Thinking I would just be watching those kids for the next few hours, I was  instead handed an exam form and told to take the kids out to the greenhouses, give them a flint and a cotton ball, and make sure each of them has made a "passing" fire that lasts 3 minutes by the end of the period. No big deal. Just a day in the life. I couldn't stop snickering at these kids making fires. Yelling at the tough boys to put their bonfires out, telling the girls it wont kill them to actually get a little dirt on their knees, and sitting by the garden waterfall watching chaos ensue made my entire morning. Oh, and I've also decided I should learn some survival skills myself.

High: Second period I went back to my kids so that I could journal them. During the free time review the boy that incessantly asks me questions (many of which I don't know the answer to) started firing review questions at me. I decided to play the game a little differently this time. Instead of answering them I started asking circle questions to get HIM to come up with the answer. Other kids joined in on our heated quizzing. Soon, I had half of the class trying to shout out answers to my steady stream of fast questions. When I walked away I felt so smart and rewarded......and I hadn't even answered one question. Mr. Doyle came over and told me how well I did that =)

Low:During this class everybody was noting that Jake (The cool kid in class) was absent. I was also interested since he sits by me, is a generally good student, and is always busy being way to cool for school. As the bell rang he walked in. Everyone got excited to see him, said their hellos and went to their next classes. As they left he disclosed to Mr. Doyle and I that this morning he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. As he said this tears started streaming down his face and I closed the door to the room. He explained that he may not be in class for the next few days and that his mom would keep contact. Mr. Doyle assured him that everything will work around his needs and schedule. Mr. Doyle asked if he wanted to take a few moments in the room before he left. I watched this popular, handsome, active student muster up all of his might and say "I'll be ok" and leave. Mr. Doyle and I both sat in the empty room stunned and saddened. This is something a teacher must throw all rules and expectations away for. Mr. Doyle did just that and I hope to be just as good at it as him.

Meet SlowMoe

This is SlowMoe. He's famous on the boardwalks in San diego. He is a retired brain surgeon. What he does during the day I still have no idea but in the evening hours he rides his rollerblades back and forth down the length of the beach in slow motion to loud music coming from his fanny pack. I had heard about him for years but never had the pleasure of seeing him myself until this week. It makes my whole day every time he rides by. =)

I can feel it coming.....

First hot cinnamon dolce latte of the season. It's about time =]

Oh The Places I'll Go.....

Some of the new places I've added to my list of Places To Go:

Crystal River in Florida

Specifically Three Sister's Springs

Here I want to paddle down the river where the water is crystal clear

and manatees tend to swim with you!!!!!

Tsavo National Park in Kenya

On top of the endless expanse of exotic animals,

It's an elephant rescue orphanage!

They help elephants that are orphaned and injured and release them 

back to the wild!

You can visit and play with the elephants!

Adirondack Park- New York

This national park is in New York just North of New York City

but is considered one of the "wildest" places in the U.S.

Mirror Lake and its famous sunflower fields are just some small 

attractions ;)

Hope for the doubtful....

Celebrating 48 years of marriage for my Grammy and Grampy brought forth a dinner with a view. At Rustler's Roost we had a beautiful view of my land, we tried some new things like fried rattlesnake, and got to celebrate 48 years of happiness with the two happiest grandparents I know. Aren't they precious?

And if that's not good enough....mom and dad are coming in a close second at 23 years! Or as Dad likes to call it...."The better half of my life" <3

Music to my Ears

As usual over the last few weeks I've drained iTunes....or maybe I should say iTunes drained my bank account. But the good news is I've managed to find some new tunes to turn up. Here are some of my new favorites....

Brighter than the Sun

Colbie Caillat

It's happy and fun

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

 Elton John

 "It'll take you a couple of vodka and

  tonics to set you on your feet again"

Talking to the Moon
Bruno Mars

OBSESSED!!!!!!!  


I'm Not Your Toy
La Roux
Makes me sing in my brush
every morning  

Shake Senora
Pitbull
The old one made me
happy, this version makes
me dance  

The Best Thing I Never Had
Beyonce
Every word is oh so perfectly said

                                                                                  

Feel It in my Bones

Tiesto(Tegan and Sara)

I adore this

Nothing Even Matters

Big Time Rush

Makes me feel like a little girl again

I Wanna Go

Britney Spears

Can't help but bob your head

and tap your feet

Love Letter

Shwayze

So Summer-y!!!!

I've made some additions....

To my Basket List....

1. I want to find a pearl in an oyster
          This all started when a girl at my work told me about the factory in Phoenix that will sell you boxes of oysters. You have to "chuck" and open them yourself but she said they have found a few pearls here and there. It's now something I feel I MUST do

2. I want to have an unexpected run in with a famous person(s)
           This one is more by chance but my friend was telling me about her Vegas trip. Apparently the table she was whored out too happened to be cute young boys. When they were talking it turned out the boys were members of a very famous band and she didnt realize it until she took a step back and looked at them. They had a great time all night. Now something that's on my list.

3. I want to fly on a Jet plane
       After my best friend was offered a free trip on her CEO's jet we came to the conclusion its definitely something to add to the list.

10 things I learned this week...

1. I love my best friends

2. I'm just like my dad

3. Justin Timberlake wrote the McDonalds jingle

4. I'm just like my mom

5. I make damn good french toast

6. There is a reason I do what I do (see above pic!)

7. I'm way to easy to please even though I expect a lot

8. Correction: his name is "adam"

9. Chandler has its own non-emergency line

10. Let sleeping dogs lie

What did you learn this week? 

Obsessed

A few of my new obsessions....

The Beatles<3

I wanna hold your hand, Here comes the sun, their innocence, the colors, their youth, the drugs, peace, the 60's, and how happy listening to my new Beatles playlist makes me in the early morning. Obsessed.

My new Couch to 5k running plan. It's easy so far and it makes me feel so good. Although I may be feeling different at week 9 ;)







80's Music

I've always had an extreme love for 80's music but i think I'm officially obsessed. 80's bands were the only bands man enough to say the most romantic things in a rock hard ballad wearing leather pants. And I swear songs like these turn me into a hair band member whenever I'm in my car ;)

The new book I started, The Hot Zone<3 It's a true story about a virus back in the day that killed millions. It's terrifying but I'm obsessed.

A Turn of Events

I stayed home this weekend while the rest of the Arizona population went to Vegas. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a tad jealous and annoyed.....initially. Especially since I'm broke as a joke until Tuesday. So I accepted my fate as a loner for the weekend and prepared to do some serious scrapbooking. I didn't get one photo put on paper. In fact, I ended up having the most unexpected, fun, and fulfilling weekend off at home that I've ever had. Here's some highlights:

-Wine night with some classy and witty ladies, mix wine with witty and you get too much laughing

- Drove to the middle of nowhere, literally            
- Helped grandparents move and hung out with my
brother's funny friends
- Spent some much needed quality time with family
 friends that I hadn't seen in a while
- Met an unexpected group of ladies whom I missed dearly at Dos Gringos aka my new favorite summer days/nights place
- Saw Chelsea Snyder (I think this made my weekend)

-Woke up early, oggled houses in PV and  climbed

Camelback Mountain for the first time ever. Mission 

Accomplished and so proud of myself!

-Chased a peacock off my roof (WTF?)

- Pool party with family and friends with a sweet tea

vodka and lemonade

-Washed my car!

-Met up with my long lost friends and caught up and

girl chatted  then saw Hangover 2 (Not very good btw)

-Early morning life chat date with aunt Sheila at Starbucks
- Family pool party with unlimited fruit bowls and watermelon

What a great weekend...maybe I'll get my scrapbooking done next weekend ;)

10 Things I Learned This Week (and a half)

1. Accomplishing something is  the best feeling there is

2. Love is  stubborn, you can't tell it what to do

3. I know way to many awesome people

4. The  US is beginning to use hydropower from the ocean waves = GOOD!

5. I am one lucky gal

6. I laugh a lot...all day long

7. PostSecret has an app coming soon <3

8. His name is "Michael"

9. Google got hacked (WTF?)

10.   There's always another side to the story

I'll be up up and away

Item # 16 on my list = DONE 

Today I did something a little different, a little out of the ordinary if you will.  I fell through the sky like a penny tossed by the gods. Some might say.....I flew. It's something only a portion of people do in their lives and I can now say I'm one of those people. 

It's exactly what I needed

So I've crossed one more item off my "bucket" list (although I'd be more inclined to call it a basket list...baskets being prettier) and tomorrow morning I start on the next....what productive summer I've had so far ;)

And the best part.....Starbucks gave me a congratulations coffee for free for conquering this feat =)

10 things I learned this week...

This week was long and surprisingly chalk-full!

Being the DD doesn't necessarily mean you'll get out of feeling crappy the next day
Ballet is beautiful
I can make breakfast ;)
Men are slutty, simple as that
"initiating conversation shows your interested Mel" <--oh so true
I hope I'm like Grammy when I get older.....happy
Moles = slower aging
There simply isn't enough time in a day
The sound/smell of coffee is an instant alarm for me
Confidence is sexy

What did you learn this week?

I hope you don't mind...

I found this song while on an iTunes raid and I think it may have replaced my love for the original <3
Aka....I've been listening to it all day =)

Her other songs aren't bad either!

"Imagination is Genius"-Walt Disney

So check out what I imagined up....

Before I sent it to the black hole hard drive, I thought I should share with you all what I've been so proud of! This is the digital story I made for my technology class and aside from some text issues I happen to think it's fantastic =) 

"There are some people that live in a dream world, 

and there are some that face reality. 

Then, there are those that turn one into the other"-Walt Disney

10 things I learned this week.....

(Thanks Ash ;) )

Shania Twain is attempting a comeback....huh?
People don't remember you, they remember how you make them feel
After a certain amount of hours without sleep, your eyes will get sticky
Pessimism and negativity are ugly
Walt Disney was awarded 22 academy awards plus many others making him the most awarded individual in television
The Starbucks payment app is one of the greatest concepts invented
CNN is wrong....quite often
The best things really do happen when you least expect them
livingsocial.com.......WHO KNEW!?
My mom is awesome<3

Let's start checking some boxes!

I have almost TWO MONTHS of nothing but work to do until school starts up again....What the heck will I do with myself!?!? So much free time makes me a little nervous so here it is...the list I made of "Summer" things I want to do:

Question is....who's going to help me get these things done? ;)

Study Buddy

Welcome to the next few days.....

Oh joy! Finals week is here which although it means only one week left of school, it also means no sleep for the next few days. Criminal Minds, chocolate covered raisins, and a grande iced vanilla coffee will be my study buddies for the next few nights!

"I simply remember my favorite things...."

I finally decided to make a leap into the blogosphere and it took me quite a while to decide how to begin the adventure. The best I could come up with would be to tell you about myself through a few of my favorite things. I find that lately I have caught myself realizing how thankful I am for certain things in my life and these are just a few of them:

Hanging out with my parents after a long day

I don't get to do it often and it seems to be when I am happiest. After a long day they always manage to ground me and remind me where my values came from.

The smell of coffee

ok we all know I drink it excessively, but I think this is really the reason why

Driving with my sunglasses on

I always feel like I can be anything

The people I know

I feel like the people I know are so different from the people everyone else knows. They are all so different and amazing. I always catch myself laughing at things they have said or done while I'm walking. 

Cinderella Stories

Whether its Disney or not I adore a classic or twisted Cinderella Story

Girl Talk

Bucks with the besties, relationship talk with the girls at work, life chats with family friends, personal chatter with Reg, or catching up with far away friends....I relish every moment of it

Science and Nature

it seriously boggles my mind. Getting my NatGeo is like having Christmas once a month. 

Clean Sheets

those are always the best nights of sleep I have

Wearing High Heels

I always feel so beautiful in a few inches higher. 

Funny Text Messages

I love getting unexpected texts especially from unexpected people.

It's always great laughing out loud by yourself. 

and the list is never ending.