Procastination is my game

Sometimes I wish I wasn't, but I am a procrastinator. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've started a paper with the due date looming 12 hours away or found myself still doing laundry at 10:00 the night before a trip. And lesson plans? Don't get me started on how I put off my lesson plans. Oh I get 'em done before my 28 darlings walk in Monday morning, but I'm never one of those who are ready for the next week by Friday afternoon. Never.

That just ain't how I roll.

After a long, glorious, beautiful, sunny, warm, restful spring break, it's back to the real world tomorrow. We have professional development all day, and the kiddos will join us on Tuesday. I've been asked to present some ideas on technology (egads!) to the whole faculty (yikes!) tomorrow, and I'm writing on my ridiculous little blog instead of gathering information for my sure-to-be-riveting presentation.

And you know what? The procrastination doesn't end there.

I want you to see some pictures Nikki and I took at my parents' house this weekend. Lucky you.

Mama and Millie wallowin' around in the sunshine

Daddy snapped this little nuthatch coming out of his hidey-hole.

the view across the road...seeing this makes me instantly think of home and feel warm and fuzzy

the largest moon in like 400 kajillion (or, uh, 18) years coming up over the pond

I like that you can just barely see the tops of the trees.

This shot makes me hit my knees in thankful prayer that I decided to upgrade my camera. What a glorious creation our Moon is!

Although I know you're desperate to see every single picture I've got saved on my computer, I have a presentation to prepare. Procrastination, get behind me!

Don't you hate when responsibility rears its ugly head?

Happy new week, yall!

My happy place

I made a trip to glorious Auburn with Mimi and Grandad on Wednesday. I'm convinced that this lovely little town truly is God's country.

Many of my happiest days were spent here, and it'll always be home to me.

We started our trip off right, with a stop at Momma G's. An all-the-way Momma's Love makes this girl a happy camper. This place is a definite must-do any time I'm in town.

My precious Kira and I had lunch at Momma G's the day I officially moved away from Auburn in 2007. I was overcome with nostalgia and sadness at the prospect of leaving my adopted hometown for good, so Kira suggested we leave our mark at this beloved hole-in-the-wall. I'm so glad we did.

(Look for us over by the--newly renovated and MUCH nicer--bathroom.)

Mimi and Grandad shared stories about their time in Auburn back in the late '50s/early '60s. Grandad was a building science student then, and Mimi peddled Avon door-to-door to help support their young, growing family. This four-room house near the corner of Glenn and Dean was the setting of many of their memories. It's the house that my dad, then a wee little one, first called home.

Grandad laughed about his makeshift study in the attic (the only quiet place in the house), and Mimi recalled hanging (lots and lots of) diapers to dry on the clothesline in the backyard.

We drove to Toomer's Corner to see the oaks. We wanted to see firsthand what they looked like after being poisoned several months ago.

They looked a bit scraggly. Quite honestly, I think they've looked a bit scraggly for a few years now...even before Mr. Harvey Updyke decided to kill them. They're still majestic and beautiful, though, and I plan to enjoy them for the rest of their time with us.

We reveled in our first trip to Auburn since the National Championship win.

We wrapped it all up with a visit to Auburn Hardware. It's one of those lovely old hardware stores where you can find literally anything under the sun: cookware, serving pieces, horseshoes, tools, barrels, Wickles...

This day was such a blessing: a visit to one of my favorite places with two of my favorite people. The icing on the cake? I got to see my all-time favorite sign on the way home:

Who doesn't like a gentle reminder at 70 mph about eternal damnation? This never fails to make me smile.

Happy Saturday, yall!

Happiness in a jar

(Excuse the weird lighting. I live in a cave.)

I've always been charmed by the simple functionality of Mason jars. In looking to upgrade my hodgepodge of had-'em-since-college plastic cups, I was inspired by this post and this one. I'm now the (very) proud owner of 12 beautiful, half-pint Mason jars. I christened one this morning with some cranberry-pomegranate green tea and, quite honestly, it made me smile.

I love smiling.

And I love my new upgrade.

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

• the grace and blessings of God
• precious family and friends
• a job to return to on Monday
• glorious, fabulous, restful, delightful, sunny spring break
• beautiful weather
• more sunshine in the PM hours
• simplicity
• an entire day spent with Mimi and Grandad in God's country (aka, Auburn) yesterday...such an adventure...post to follow
• some new blog buddies and followers lately...so excited to have you onboard!
• LA's Thankful Thursday post...I'm glad she lets me be her friend :)
• the much-needed haircut I got today, even though I now look like an older, brunette, decidedly less precious Shirley Temple...thanks for loving me through this
• Frank, who still makes me excited to drive and gets ridiculously good gas mileage
• news that my friend Megan, who teaches school in Japan, is safe and doing okay
• a life that, when compared to much of the world, is undeniably, embarrassingly privileged
• seeing beauty in the small, mundane things
• a working dishwasher
• Paul McDonald making it to the next round on American Idol...I'll never see him and not think of college
• Mama's long visit with Allie (aka, my Girl Scout Mama) today...makes me happy when my mom's happy
• this silly little blog...it's way more fun than I ever imagined it would be when I first started it
• my two houseplants that I've managed to keep alive for several years now...they bring me more joy than I ever imagined simple little potted plants could
• T-fifty or so schooldays until summer break :)

HAPPY WEEKEND!



Nastiness on a Wednesday

You know what's not fun?

Going out for a morning stroll and feeling your foot suddenly slip on something.

Thinking, "Please, oh please, oh please let that be mud!"

Losing your balance and catching yourself with your hand.

The devastating realization that the slippery pile upon which your hand rests is most definitely...not mud.

The desperate search for a spigot outside so that you don't have to wash the...not mud...off in one of your recently-cleaned sinks. Not finding a spigot. Lamenting that you'll never again get that sink clean enough. Lamenting that you'll never be able to get that hand clean enough.

Woohoo! Happy Wednesday, yall!

Wishing my spring break had been "not mud"-free,
Julie

Spinach-Mushroom-Pepper-Caramelized Onion-Goat Cheese-Pesto Pizza on a Whole Wheat Tortilla

Did you know that one of my many, many talents is naming recipes? I mean, how descriptive is that title? You don't even need me to give cooking directions. Alright, bye! Happy Tuesday!

Just kidding.

I know you won't believe it, but I'm actually not good at naming recipes. I don't like to leave anything out (I think it's a bit misleading), so I end up with ridiculous names like that title.

I did indeed make the above-mentioned pizza for supper last night, and it was a winner.

The recipe was inspired by this post. She's a new blog buddy of mine, and she's got some fabulous recipes...check her out!

I like this because you could completely adapt it based on your tastes or what you have in your kitchen. I made a version with black beans, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, sour cream, and cilantro the other night.

Tasty...and so easy you could probably make one with your eyes closed. (I couldn't, but maybe you could. Send pictures.)

Really good at spring break,
Julie

Craftastic

Meet the craft that consumed four hours of my life today:

(Try not to be jealous of my cutting-edge hanging system...patent pending.)

You like? I'm a large fan of the finished product...perfect for spring! I got the idea from this super duper blog, and as fun as it was to make, I have a question.

Is there something wrong with me?

You don't have to answer that honestly; I have feelings too, you know! It just seems that, well, things take much longer than they should when I'm crafting. I mean, four hours??? True, you do have to cut out all of those tiny circles and hot glue them together with a button, then hot glue them on the wreath. Plus, the burlap was a booger to get all cut up.

But still...four hours? I'm sure this would be a quicker process if the circles were pre-cut. Anybody care to cut out the rest of my circles? I've got two more wreaths to make. Anybody? Hello? No takers?

Aside from being a time-consuming endeavor, this wreath was mucho fun to make and I'm pretty tickled with it. I think the burlap makes it look rustic and delightfully homespun. My mind is absolutely swimming with potential color combinations. Red and green for Christmas...red, white, and blue for 4th of July...team colors...endless. Don't you think this would be a charming baby shower decoration? Quick! Somebody have a baby, stat!

Somebody else try this, time yourself, and report back to let me know if I'm (vaguely) normal or an absolute snail.

And if you're at all a lover of crafts, check out the rest of this website...I dare you not to be inspired!

Spring break's #1 fan,
Julie

The time I met PW

My love for the Pioneer Woman is well-documented. I think she's kinda fabulous. Frank carried me to the big city of Atlanta yesterday to meet PW and get my books signed. It was such a fabulous day.

I did my best to not get run over on the scariest stretch of interstate this girl has ever driven on. I wandered around Atlanta. I killed time people-watching at the mall. I marveled at the hundreds of people waiting in line (many of whom had been waiting 6+ hours) to get their hands on the new iPad. Is it worth all that? Somebody let me know...I know nothing about those newfangled gadgets. I bought a ridiculously cute, on-sale headband at Anthropologie. I visited a two-story Target (I almost took a picture, but didn't want the fancy Buckhead people to know I wasn't one of them).

Once at the bookstore, I made fun new friends in line.

(Ashley, me, Lauren, Lauren's precious little girl...PW loved her bitty skinny jeans!)

We entertained ourselves by reading this book:

(I wish I could go back in time and re-do college: elementary education with a minor in feline aesthetics.)

Winding our way through the aisles, we got our first glimpse of Ree. She was just as precious and chatty and friendly as she is on her blog.

 Finally, it was my turn. I had been racking my brain about what to say to this complete stranger I feel like I already know. I had a really cool, low-key intro planned and then, I threw all that out the window and did this:

I turned into a bumbling goober. Through and through. I mumbled something along the lines of "Oh-my-gosh-I'm-so-excited-to-meet-you-I-drove-all-the-way-from-Birmingham{deep breath}you-look-just-like-your-pictures-I-just-saw-your-boys-they're-so-handsome-I-love-your-website-you-inspired-me-to-start-my-own-blog!" Way to play it cool there, chief! Ree was so sweet and took a few minutes to talk to (or, if they were anything like me, sit and listen to) every. single. person. She asked me where I was from (and even knew how far Bham was from Atlanta) and had a fit over my ring.

We then took our official picture. I got a good laugh when I saw it on my camera. Let me narrate for you:
Ree: Would you like to take a picture?
Julie: Yes! I'm just still kinda nervous.
Ree: Don't be nervous! Just come on in here.
Julie: Thanks, I will. In fact, I'm going to stand as close to you as I possibly can and put my bosoms dangerously close to your face. If we don't take this picture soon, I may even try to climb onto your lap and hug your neck.
Ree: Sounds great! Let's do this.

(Personal space apparently means nothing to me.)

I'm sorry I said bosoms earlier. This is a family blog...it won't happen again.

I'm so glad I got to meet her. Definitely worth the trip. On our way out, we spotted Marlboro Man. I snapped a couple of creeper shots from behind a bookshelf because that's how I roll.

Such a fun way to kick off my spring break. Happy Saturday to all!

Thankful Thursday : spring break-style

Today I am thankful for...

• the grace of God
• my sweet, sweet family and friends
• my health
• my job
• the exhausting, 12-hour day I put in today . . . I'm worn out, but I feel very productive and I'm thankful to have a job!
• my sub plans getting done and my classroom getting cleaned (well, at least it's cleaner than it was)
• a perfectly-timed, much-anticipated day off tomorrow (post to follow!)
• a successful Honors Club meeting this afternoon
• laughter
• Frank . . . goodness gracious, am I ever crazy about that car!
• a phone date with my sweet Neeley this weekend
• good news from Sheila tonight
• a new job for Olivia . . . answer to a prayer!
• my Bubba's summer internship news . . . another answered prayer!
• exclamation points!! It annoys! the stink out of me when people! overuse them and that's exactly! what! I've! done! in this post . . . my apologies (!!!!)
• Paul McDonald still alive and kickin' on American Idol
• "springing forward" this weekend . . . so ready for some more sunshine in my life
• glorious, much-needed spring break (Five years ago, no plans for spring break would've made me feel like a hardcore loser. These days, it makes me want to skip. And sing. And roll around in a grassy meadow . . . and then promptly use my NetiPot, all while swallowing a handful of Zyrtec.)
• hot showers, and clean, hot water whenever I want it . . . makes this sudden return to winter a little easier to bear
• warmer weather around the corner
• the desire to slow down and see the beauty in each moment as it comes

HAPPY WEEKEND!



Know what I love?

Bradford pear trees. More specifically, Bradford pear trees when their tiny, beautiful white flowers start blooming. Even more specifically, Bradford pear trees when their tiny, beautiful white flowers stick around while the bright green leaves, excited to meet the world, push their way through.

I had to stop and take this picture before I left for work the other morning. I had a feeling this torrential monsoon we're in the midst of would wash away the blooms, and I was right. I'm glad I made myself stop for two minutes to marvel at this gorgeous creation.

Absolute spring-y perfection. That creamy white and brand-spankin'-new green are two of God's most glorious colors, don't ya think? If we get something this pretty to look at here, I can't begin to imagine what sort of goodies we've got waiting on us in Heaven.

I think I'll spend some time reflecting on this picture tomorrow when the temperature refuses to rise above 45. You know, 'cause it's wintertime again. Those lovely Bradford pear trees remind me that winter can't last forever!

Oh. Just kidding.

It was raining (and I was umbrella-less) when I left the doctor's office this afternoon, so I ran through the parking lot until I saw Frank. And then I saw a huge dent in the back bumper, left by a very red car.

Yall, I nearly fell to pieces. My heart pounded. My stomach churned. I would've said a bad word, if I knew any. I thought about crying. I envisioned the very red car careening off a cliff.

I bent down to see if the very red paint would scratch off. Not so much. I wailed.

I needed to put my purse down before further surveying the damage. I pressed the unlock button on my handy-dandy new clicker, and it didn't work. That very red car had hit Frank so hard that my clicker wouldn't even work anymore . . . waaaaaahhhh!

Right before I started to tear out my now dripping wet hair, I noticed that the driver of the very red car had taken the time to put a new license plate on Frank. They even stopped long enough to reupholster the seats with leather. How kind! Oh, and they replaced Frank's Hyundai symbol with a Honda one.

Yeah. I most definitely kneeled in a puddle scraping red paint off the wrong car. Frank sat two spaces over, mortified, letting the dismal reality of his new life sink in.

I understand if you, like Frank, no longer want to claim me. Sometimes I don't even want to claim myself.

You're a dirty liar, Phil.

You know what the temperature is right now? 42 degrees. Another ten degrees and it would be freezing . . . literally. 42 degrees is hard to stomach when the temperatures lately have been balmy and springlike and fabulous and wonderful. Bleh. What a tease.

What do dumb ol' groundhogs know, anyway? Phil doesn't seem to particularly enjoy his yearly task, so I think the early spring call this year was just to spite us. Dumb ol' groundhog.

In love

(It was raining buckets, but I couldn't turn down a first-day picture.)

He's here! This darling little 2010, new-to-me Hyundai Sonata is mine. He shall henceforth be known as Frank (you know, Frank Sonata). We've been together about 6 hours now, and we're pretty much in love. He drives beautifully, even on a ridiculously rainy day like today. He's got fully functioning windshield wipers, brakes, and blinkers . . . what more could a girl ask for? I can only imagine all the fun we're going to have together . . . fasten your seatbelt, Frank!

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for . . .

• the grace of God
• my darling, wonderful family and friends
• my health . . . still rockin' the crud . . . it's kinda my default state now
• getting a push from God to squash my stubborn streak long enough to do the right thing today
• a fun field trip coming up tomorrow
• the weekend dangling right in front of my face
• my simple little life
• the many thousands of miles Mitzy travelled with me over the years
• the fact that I'll be driving in my new car this weekend!!!! Yippy skippy!
• CarMax . . . they have been absolutely fabulous to work with
• spring break beginning in exactly 1 week . . . yessirree
• some fun plans around the corner
• LA's very first Thankful Thursday today :)
• Paul McDonald still kickin' it on American Idol . . . watch him here
• the deliciously comfortable bed I've got . . . I'm not ashamed to say that I actually look forward to jumping in it every, single night
• my new jeans
• beautiful weather
• gorgeous blooming Bradford pear trees (even though my sinuses immediately seize up in their presence)

HAPPY WEEKEND, and I hope your sinuses like you more than mine like me!

Nappy Napperson

I'm not a big napper. Once in a blue moon, I'll take a nap and then wake up feeling great. Most times, though, I wake up feeling like a complete zombie after a nap. A zombie with a dull headache who feels worthless for the rest of the day and who regrets ever taking that dadgum nap in the first place.

I was so tired after work this afternoon that I could barely keep my eyes open. I curled up on my couch and slept for an hour. What the heck? I never take a nap after work.

I'm feeling supremely zombie-like right now. I should probably just pull the plug on this day and go to bed.

Thanks for nothing, dumb ol' nap.