Makeover Schmakeover

I'd like to just start off by saying that HTML and "coding" and using CSS and all that stuff is a huuuuge pain in my arse! MAJOR props to everyone out there who makes/designs blogs and webpages because I just don't think I could do it. (Obvi, which is why I don't. And they do.) But seriously, I get in these little moods where I decide to make my blog look cool and cute and super snazzy, and then I end up spending hours upon hours trying to figure everything out and making things look perfect (such a curse) only to find out that some code didn't work, and things are more screwed up than they were to begin with. 

It's exhausting. And makes me want to pour myself a glass of wine. At 10:00 a.m. While I'm hopped up on cold/flu medicine. No bueno.

In any case, what you see is what I've done so far. Probably not finished. Probably going to attempt to work some more at it. But, I'm okay with what I've got (for now). Hope you like it! And anyone who's HTML-savvy and wants to help a sista out, feel free to leave me a comment letting me know. I'll love you forever! :)

WILW

I am LOOOOOOVING that it's the FIRST day of FEBRUARY! I love this month. It's the month of L-O-V-E. And my birth month. And the shortest month of the year, which I think is cool. And unique. 

2011 birthday fun; wonder what's in store for 2012?! :)

I am LOOOOOOVING that my mama and sissy brought me some soup and Jamba Juice since I'm still stuck at home sick. :( (That's something I'm, by the way, NOT loving. Hmph.) 

I am LOOOOOOVING that I finally bit the bullet and "joined" Pinterest. Even though I was basically a member beforehand anyway. You see, I have this awful habit of going to some websites (i.e., Pinterest, Blogger, Twitter), scoping things out, stalking following my friends and/or other people I know to see what they do and how things work, visiting said websites fairly frequently, but then REFUSING to "join" or "give in to the trend." Can you say LAME with a capital L?! I know, I call BS on myself. I don't know why I do it, really... especially because I always end up giving in and joining and then basically becoming obsessed with the sites anyway. {sigh} Whatever. Point is, I gave in. I get a little credit for that, huh? :/

I am LOOOOOOVING that I've been keeping up with workouts and eating healthily (minus this week). Every year, at the start of the year, I say (like everybody else) how I'm so sick of feeling so blah and how I wanna get in better shape and eat healthy and all that. Well... we all know how that goes, don't we? But, I'm pleased to say this year that I've really stuck with things, and I like it. I think the biggest change is that I'm not FORCING myself to work out like crazy every single day or follow some strict diet; I'm just exercising to the point of feeling good and putting into my body what makes me FEEL healthier. Lifestyle changes. No complaints. I'm itching to get back into gear once my head stops feeling like it's gonna explode.

I am LOOOOOOVING that I get to spend a little extra time with my babies this week, even though I've been ridonculously ill. But they tend to help me feel a little better. How could you not when you look at their sweet faces?!

And, as ALWAYS, I am LOOOOOOVING that sweet ol' hubby of mine. He's been giving me lots of extra TLC this week since I've been sick, and I appreciate him more than he'll ever know!

What are you LOVING today? Head on over to Jamie's blog, link up, and share!

Xoxo,

H

Subbing and a famous student

I've started subbing since finishing student teaching, and let me tell you, it has been an adventure! Some classes have been more... challenging... than others, but I've really enjoyed myself so far. Last week was my first full week of it, and I WOULD be starting my second week this week, except for the fact that I've been sick as a dog since Sunday, sooooo things are on hold for a hot second. That is one nice thing about subbing, though- you can be as flexible as you need to be. I'm supposed to sub tomorrow for the kiddos I student taught, so I'm praying I'll be feeling better and will be able to. I miss themmmm.

Anywho, one of the highlights of last week (aside from the time where a child peed on another boy's pant leg- but, that's an entirely different post in itself) was my famous student. Yep. I said famous. And she is so because her name is Angelina. Anyone wanna take a guess at her middle name? If you guessed Jolie, you would be correct. Totally correct. And I wish I was totally kidding. She was the sweetest little thing ever, but I couldn't get over her name. I mean, really? Sometimes I wonder what goes through parents' heads when the time comes to name their offspring. Now this little girl is going to have to go through the rest of her life explaining herself to people or dodging jokes or snickers or confusion. Some people may think it's cute or cool. But I think overall, she's going to have a frustrating time. Hm.

On another note, Valentine's Day is coming up (so is my birthdayyyy!). Anyone doing anything fun for the romantic holiday?! What about ideas for what to get your significant other? I loooove some of the craft ideas featured on Becky's blog. Anyone else have any other gift ideas? This blogger could for sure use all the help she can get in coming up with something, so don't hesitate to send any thoughts you may have this way! :)

Xoxo,

H

2012.

I feel SO incredibly lucky and blessed for 2011. It was the best year of my life to date. 

It was the year I married my best friend. 

The year I changed career paths and began my teaching journey. 

The year hubby and I moved into our new house. 

The year we added a new little addition to our fam.

It was a year full of MANY ups and downs but one that I can look back on and be so immensely thankful for. It only makes me that much more excited for 2012 and what the future holds. Taking vacations with my hubs. Celebrating 1 year of marriage. Going to and participating in friends' weddings and baby showers. Starting my full-time teaching career. Maybe Hopefully expanding our little family even more. Oh 2012, I can't wait to see what you have in store. 

I definitely feel more motivated to get more/back on track this year with so many things... *Staying/being/feeling healthier

*Becoming more domestic :)

*Practicing more patience and going with the flow

*Finishing the work we still have left on our house

*Accepting what is and what I can/can't change

*Supporting my husband on his obnoxious CPA journey

*Having faith in God's plan

*Appreciating the little things in life (and all of the wonderful things I have)

Hope everyone had a fun, safe, and happy new year! :) What are your new year resolutions??

Back. In. Action.

I've basically decided that I should no longer say things like, "I SWEAR I'll post more," or "I PROMISE I won't go so long without posting next time"... because I think that actually kind of jinxes me. I feel like making such promises actually causes me to write even LESS, and that's no bueno. Besides, instead of feeling guilty for the days/weeks/months I'm unable to write as much, I've decided that I'll just write as much as I can whenever I can, and that will be that. Hmph.

I've been playing with my blog layout! (Duhh, Heather.) I don't know how I feel about it, so we'll see how it goes. I'm trying to pretend like I'm super tech/HTML-savvy and make it look all profesh. I don't know how far THAT will get me, though...

What else has been going on? Wellllll... WE'VE MOVED INTO OUR HOUSE! Dun, dun, dunnnn! I'll post before and after pics asap, but let me tell you, it feels uhhhh mayyyy zingggg to finally be in our own place with our own space! I definitely don't feel as stressed out, and life is just... good. :) I've also finished student teaching. Can you believe that? I already miss it soooo much. I feel SO blessed to have been able to work at the school I was at, with the co-workers I was with, and with the kids I was with. Truly life-changing experience. I'll be subbing until I get a full-time position, and the "fear of the unknown" sort of makes me anxious. I know everything happens for a reason, though.<3

What's new with you all?! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! New Years is almost heeeeeere! :)

Xoxo,
H

TGIF. DUH.

It's been one heCK of a week, let me just say, and I am soooo glad it's FRIIIIDAYYYYY. Today was a bit of a long day at school because my mentor teacher wasn't there, and it was just me and a sub (who was a bit... reserved...). Needless to say, the kids were cuhhhhrayyyyyzaaayyyy! I've been feeling pretty confident and proud about the work I've been doing as a student teacher, and I feel like I've gotten the kids to respect me and everything for the most part, but... today... wow. They were just bouncing off the walls and thought they could talk to me like I was doo doo on the bottom of their shoe! Uhhh, come again? You said WHAT? How 'bout we go back and try that again. K. Thanks. I mean, sheesh. This isn't the first time my mentor teacher's been gone, but this IS the first time the kids went bonkers when she left. No worries, though, homegirl did her best to DID keep those kiddos in check. Mm hmm.

We've been working lots at our house, too! I've been going back and forth about whether or not to post pictures of our progress but have decided that I think I'll just wait until we're completely done with everything. I think it'll be more exciting that way! RIGHT?! Right. :) That way, the "before" and "after" pics will be, like, way dramatic, and not just, Oh. Yeah. Seen that already. Moving on. Recently, we've been working on and/or finishing:

• Getting our granite installeddddd!!!
• Painting all the rooms in the house. Still waiting to do the last couple when other things (below) are complete.
• Staining our cabinets. (OH EM GEE. One of the things I'm MOST excited to see at the end!)
• Tearing down a wall in the master bath (so that the shower appears more open).
• Retiling the master shower and bath tub.
• Knocking down the fur-down (piece of wall/ceiling that sort of juts out. Idk. Apparently, it was much cooler to have back in the day. When this house was first built. Now? Not so much. Outdated. See ya!) in the master and guest bathrooms. (Also totally opens up the rooms.)
• Retexturing the bathroom walls/ceilings (after knocking down the previously mentioned walls).
• Painting and putting up molding throughout the house.

Now, I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting... because the list is pretty much never-ending... but, those are some pretty big things we've done or are currently doing. I'm SO pumped and ready for it to all be doneski.

Hope everyone has a ballin' weekend! Hollaaaaa for an extra hour of sleeeeeeeep! :) LOVE LOVE.

Xoxo,

H

MISS ME MUCH?!

So I just glanced at my last post... which said that I should be ashamed of myself since I hadn't written in so long at that point. And NOW I'm even MORE ashamed since it's been more than a month since THAT ONE. DUMMMMMB. I hate using the excuse of "life has just been SO crazy"... but it really has been! :/ It's tough being a newlywed, student teaching, fixing up and getting ready to move into a new house, AND blogging all at the same time! I know I need to make a bigger effort, though. I said I wanted to start this blog to document what's been happening in my life... so I need to do that! Boy, is it surrrre easy to let it slip by, though! When I'm not at school or working madly on our new house (which we are STILL not in, btw- grrr... but that's another story entirely), I'm attempting to spend time with my also-extremely-busy-husband orrrrr sleeping. Ohhhhh, life.

But! I've missed you all! All 7 of you! :) And I've missed simply writing about my day-to-day experiences and what's been happening. I'll try to give a quick update about what's been happening and do my *very best* to blog and keep this thing updated more so that I'm not saying in everyyyy post, "OMG, I HAVEN'T BLOGGED IN FOREVERRRR," blah, blah, blah... and so that I don't have to give MAJOR recaps every time.

Here's the skinny... student teaching has been going amazingly well! I loooooove my kids and the wonderful 3rd grade team I'm working with. My cooperating teacher has been BEYOND amazeballs, and I feel very lucky and blessed. I only have 4 more weeks left, too. Is that not CRAAAAZAYYYYY?! I seriously can't believe how fast the time has gone!!! Our new puppy, Bentley, has been adjusting fairly well, too! We love him. :) His big sister (our other dog, Laycee) is finally getting used to having him around. They're playing well and getting along. Hubby started his new job and is looooving it. He's been busy, though, and I miss himmmm. :( The day after he started, he went to Dallas for a couple days for training. Then the following week, he went to Chicago for a whoooole week. It was a great experience for him, and he was super pumped, but I missed having him around! He's back home now and getting settled into things at his office here. And our housssse... hmph. Things are moving along... slowly. Very. Slowly. It's tough, working full-time and then trying to get over there in the evenings to work on things! But we are making DEFINITE progress, and it's already looking like a brand new home! Yesterday, we moved everything from storage into our 2 back bedrooms because we didn't want to pay for ANOTHER month of storage, and the 2 bedrooms are painted and done being worked on. We're still not living in the house yet because we aren't quite done in the kitchen and bathrooms. But we're getting there! *HOPEFULLY* it'll only be a few more weeks before we're actually in... hopefully. But then again, I've said that before. TOO. MANY. TIMES.

Well... that's what's been happening, in a nutshell. I'm making it a GOAL to write more, so as not to write ridiculous novels once or twice every month. ;) MUCH love to all, especially Amanda! Thinking of you, girly!<333

Xoxo,
H