This Is The Year

Remember the TV show Without a Trace? I'm watching reruns on ION television right now. Eric Close is hot. Just sayin'. I like sparkly things. Like a LOT. My newest favorite sparkly thing? I'm LOVING this Glimmersticks Diamond eyeliner from Avon. LOVE. I'm also loving this Co. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint. Also? I tried some of this at Victoria's Secret the other day. Pure Seduction is my most favorite scent. I use the shower cream, lotion, and body spray. I'm running low. I went in to check if they were having any kind of sale on my stuff and found SHIMMER body lotion! How freaking awesome is that?? It really did make my skin shimmer! I'm totally getting some when it goes on sale. Between my eyeliner, lip gloss, and shimmer lotion - I'm totally going to look like a Cullen. (Threw that in there for you JK ). Eric Close is pretty hot. Just had to point that out again, cuz he's on the TV right now...looking good. Anybody watch DWTS? I...

So did y'all have a good weekend? Mine ROCKED! Remember how excited I was for the ReAL season home opener? Yeah - we TOTALLY killed it! La Galaxy? David who? And may I point out that MY soccer hottie plays the position that defends David Beckham's (the world's soccer hottie) position. I guess we know who outplayed who in that set-up, right? Now I know there aren't many of you who are as interested as I am in watching this highlight reel. Repeatedly. Just to relive the glory of the night. But what if I told you you could play a little game of "where's Xazmin?" That's right...I'm totally in the highlights! A couple of times. I'll tell you where...since you don't know where I'm sitting, and where to look. So we are sitting in the front row of the SE corner of the stadium. To the left of the goal. It is called the Colonel's Corner and is sponsored by KFC. So look for the big red wall that says "Colonel's Corner...

Do you totally have that song stuck in your head now? Today I'm linking up with Mamarazzi ....I'm sharing my happy list! 1. Meeting a dear blog friend and creating lifelong memories made me very happy. I know I'm totally cut out of the picture...but that's what makes it a good one! 2. My new phone. It's not as fancy as all you with your smart phones...but I still likey a lot. 3. I'm happy that I am starting to recover from the death cough I brought back from Portland. 4. Soccer makes me happy. I've missed watching this boy. (p.s. Myya - his name is Chris Wingert - since you asked .) I'm really happy to be going to the ReAL season home opener with my man tonight....our favorite date night. Yes, he knows I like to watch that guy up there - and he is totally not threatened...because our relationship rocks like that. 5. I'm even happier to be watching my talented son perform with a small group of other talented young violinists this evening befor...

I have a LOT to tell you about my week in Portland. But let's face it, you really just wanna hear about my face to face meet up with the one and only MiMi . So I'll just skip to Thursday. It was something I have been looking forward to for sooooo long. And there was much preparation to be put into this meeting. I mean, so many things to consider. What will I wear? Shall I wear my hair up, or down? And most importantly - what was I going to do about THIS? Yes friends, this is the collection of shoes I took to National Conference. I am a high heel girl. I luuuuurve me some sassy high heels. But since MiMi has repeatedly referred to herself as a midget on her blog (which she's not) - I wasn't feeling the desire to be Goliath to her David. So for the first time EVER in life - I bought myself a pair of dress flats. I think they're pretty cute for flats. I wore them the first time on Tuesday when we flew into Portland. I could not get used to them! So once...

So I'm a little late to the party. Gimme a break - I am the sickest I have been in YEARS! But wild horses couldn't keep me away from Amanda's Crafty Cutter Love party! Today I'm sharing a project that I actually shared a couple of years ago for Mod Podge Mania (which is coming up at the end of this month BTW!!) I started out with this cute little wooden chair that had been part of a small desk set for my kids. I sprayed it white, and let it dry completely. Next I found some fun, happy cardstock. The 12x12 size was perfect to cover the seat, with just a little trimming to make it fit properly. I then used Mod Podge to adhere it to the chair. I next used my cricut "Walk in my Garden" cartridge - by FAR my favorite cartridge. I use it for everything! I cut a cute little ladybug and flower, and the word "smile". I used my Mod Podge again to hold them in place, then covered with several generous coats of Mod Podge and let dry completely! I love ...

Things I did this past week, that I have never done before: Purchased a pair of dress-flats. Flew on an airplane. Was violated by the pornographic airport scanning machine. Spent more than 1 night away from my girls. Had dinner at a brewery. Found a bottled Pibb Xtra (they only have it in the fountain here). Attended all my classes the entire week. Met one of my most favorite girls EVAH ! Stood in a hailstorm/rain downpour for a stinkin' DONUT! (MiMi had a hood! She only took it off for the picture!) Braved the world of voodoo. Got honked at by a bus, for being in the bus lane in a car! Hung out in a gay bar. Sat in a hotel lobby gabbing until nearly 2 in the morning. I can't wait to elaborate on my week in Portland. It really was a wonderful week, even if I did come home feeling like a truck is parked on my chest. I have some sort of nasty cough and sore throat - no beuno! But it was so worth it! Especially the part about meeting MiMi ! Yes people, she IS as fabulous in p...

that I brave the "friendly" (?) skies! I am nervous beyond belief. I don't know what I'll do being away from my kids for so long. Especially my little monkey. She is my constant chattering shadow every day while the kids are at school. I'm going to miss her terribly. I'm going to miss you all too! I'm not sure I'll have a chance to blog or visit this week, but I'll be thinking of you! And despite my anxiety, I am incredibly excited thinking that in 2 days I will meet the incomparable MiMi !!! Wish me luck! Love you all!

5 lb bag of oats before 5 lb bag of oats after My Pantry floor. The End.

I have mentioned a few times lately that I'm going to be doing some travelling here in the near future. And if you've been reading recently, you know that I have never flown - and that I'm terrified. It will probably go a little something like this: You probably think I'm joking - but I'm not. Now you may be asking yourself - "What in the WORLD would be enough motivation to make this girl get on a plane after 34 years, when she has such a fear of flying?" Next week is the annual National Conference for Expeditionary Learning Schools (ELS). ELS is the organization our charter school is affiliated with. Expeditionary Learning (EL) is the teaching model our school uses to deliver curriculum. The conference is 4 days of immersing yourself into EL, taking master classes, participating in discussion groups, learning in the EL style, just like our students do. Sounds like an amazing opportunity, right? Yeah, that's totally not enough motivation for ...

The ever fabulous Tanya over at Frou Frou Britches (she is seriously so adorable and funny) has given me an award. Or awards. I'm not sure which. She blogged about 2 awards and then passed one or both to me. I couldn't tell. So I'm just gonna post them both! I'm supposed to list 7 random things about myself. The thing is, I feel that I have been MORE than free in sharing details about me. Particularly over the past week! Wouldn't you agree? I'll try my best to come up with some new material. Here goes nothin'. 1. I used to wish I could grow up to be a mermaid. Or a Unicorn. 2. I hated school, skipped class all the time, and barely graduated by the skin of my teeth. Which makes it ironic that I now sit on the board of trustees for a public charter school. 3. I think Mitt Romney is foxy. 4. I am trying to single-handedly bring the term "foxy" back in style. 5. When I come home from somewhere after dark, no matter how late it is, I make someon...

Good for the soul, eh? We'll see. I confess that I COMPLETELY spaced Mod Podge Mania on Monday. Um, but since no one mentioned it, I'm guessing nobody really missed it. I confess that I made a gift for JennyKate weeks and weeks ago, and I still haven't sent it to her. Why is she even still my friend? I confess that if I was hot, I would spend obscene amounts of money on clothes. And shoes. I confess that I am mother of the year - I totally forgot to go to the morning crew meeting at Pixie's school this morning where she was awarded Student of the Month. I confess that sometimes I get bored listening to my husband's stories about work - and halfway through I find myself thinking about something else, and realize I totally missed what he was saying. I confess that I still love playing with Barbies. Also - Polly Pockets are freakin' awesome. I confess that I am terrified of flying - and I will be doing it for the first time in less than 2 weeks. It is for a ...

Well, not a single one of you guessed correctly my lie (please click here before continuing if you don't know what I'm talking about ). I don't really know why, but I sorta said that like Yoda. Are you ready to know way more than you ever wanted to know about me? I think you will see that it is all much less scandalous than I made it sound. At least I hope so. #1 - I used to sneak out the bedroom window in the middle of the night to go meet my boyfriend and then sneak back in before morning. TRUE . But it was quite innocent. The summer I turned 15. I liked a boy who was the cousin of my brother's best friend. Does that make sense? Boy and his cousin would walk up to our house, and my brother and I would sneak out the window (we had really strict parents - sorry mom and dad, but you know it's true - and had to get creative when it came to having a social life). My brother and Boy's cousin would take off to do 13 year old mischief, and Boy and I would h...