A to Z Challenge- Marriages that Rock!

I came across the video above as I was browsing the internet one day and thought the topic to be quite interesting-"Is marriage all it's cracked up to be?" Ironically, the topic is a great lead in to my A to Z Challenge theme of Marriages That ROCK! Just a quick recap...the A to Z Challenge is a month long challenge to blog each day in April (not including Sundays-with the exception of April 1 since it is the first of the month) using each letter of the alphabet each day. You can choose a theme or be random. It's your choice!



I have a strong faith in my marriage. My husband and I have been married for 17 years this summer. We practically grew up together. In the beginning, there were some non-believers as we were quite young entering married life and to top it off we already shared a daughter together. What are the odds of the marriage surviving? Yet, we have. We've been through quite a bit, obviously being with each other for so long there are bound to be sunny and cloudy days. However, the sunny days outweigh those much more! We've also had a lot of fun along the way. :)

So, I've decided to take the theme for the challenge into Marriages that Rock! Ways to keep your marriage full of life, love, and fun. I am not a professional and don't intend on giving "professional advice." Rather, I'm taking something simple and having fun with my thoughts on what keeps a marriage strong. Hope you enjoy this month long journey! See you in April! :)

10 Things to Smile About: March

It's the last Tuesday of March and it's time for 10 Things to Smile About-March edition! I am really enjoying this monthly blog entry.  Thanks Emmy!


1. SPRING BREAK!

2. Rodeo time!

3. My niece's baptism

4. Discovery of Instagram

5. Dr. Seuss Week at school

6. Spring cleaning!

7. Act of Valor movie-intense!

8. My daughter begins teaching dance class to young girls

9. Girls night with my nieces

10. Luke Bryan's song, "I Don't Want This Night To End." Love, Love, Love it!

Silver Lining

Today was what I like to lovingly call a "molten chocolate cake" kind of day.  Otherwise translated as: 

Let's substitute the Alexander name for mine and you have it!  However, I never let a day like that go by without finding the silver lining behind it all.  

We are about to hit test week.  Here in Texas, test week is a huge deal!  A lot rides on the outcome of results of the tests.  What you also must know is that this is the first year of a new standardized assessment.  So, everyone has been working really hard to prepare for a test that we only have touched the surface.  We've learned a lot this year, but without knowing exactly what the test looks like you just don't know what to expect.  

As I was driving home, I thought about all the students and teachers as well as all those that helped prepare for test week.  (Let me add...this is only week 1 of testing.  We'll have another week at the end of April.)  I was able to do a little something for just about everyone until I thought about the specialists on campus.  I wanted them to know they were thought of and appreciated!  They work so hard behind the scenes to make things happen.  So, I visited one of my favorite stores, Hobby Lobby and ideas started coming to me.  I am not the most creative bug.  It takes some time to get my creative juices going and then there I go!  I decided to create these cute little "sundaes" as a treat to thank them for being such Sweethearts!  

Sundae cups, colorful candies, cellophane bags, and umbrella straws

I placed the cellophane bags in the sundae cups.

I added the candies into the bag. 

I thought the umbrella straw was a nice touch!

Voila! 

Sundae treats!

I hope they like them!  I will place them on their desk earlier in the morning with a note of appreciation.  :)  

So, my silver lining today was doing something thoughtful and creative for a group of people that do so much!  

I hope you found the silver lining in your day! :)

Passions and Talents

My daughter teaching dance class. 

I love when I see someone do something they love, something they enjoy.

On top of attending school full time and working an almost full time job, my daughter decided to take on teaching dance to young girls at a local community center. At first I was not for it only because she has quite a full plate already. I didn't think the added responsibility was in her best interest. However, as grown children do...they do what THEY want. So, she signed up to teach. She did a spring break camp over the break and began her weekly classes this week. I went to watch her first weekly class. Oh how she made me proud! She had Taylor Swift playing in the background as she taught them basic steps to ballet and jazz. They ended class with a good stretch and then she gathered the girls together to have small girl talk about what they liked about class (since it was their first one with her.) I was so pleased to see my daughter doing something she loves to do, something she was passionate about, something she is blessed to have talent in doing.

One thing I love to encourage is following your passions. If you have something that you love to do and/or something you carry a talent for, you should not waste. (I am always "preaching" this to family and friends when I see they have talent.) I almost did that with my daughter by not supporting something she had a passion to do. What was I thinking? That is not like me! I do know I was just thinking of her overall well-being of trying to juggle all the responsibilities. But, when you are happy doing what you do....doesn't it all just work out?

I Love You

I am on spring break this week and loving it!  The much needed time off has been dearly appreciated.  When I do have time off, I enjoy doing my spring cleaning and reorganizing.  Somehow it helps relax the mind and relieve some of the daily stresses of the typical work days.  As I was cleaning a pile of papers that had seemed to be stacked in a corner of my room-forming it's own life- I stumbled upon a flip book that my son made when he was in the second grade.  Each of the pages are below:  

I 

‎

L

O

V

E

Y

O

U

My son is now in the 8th grade and will be heading to high school next year.  I showed it to him to see if he remembered making it.  After looking through it a while, I asked him-"do you know what it is?"  He states "Do you know or are you asking me about it?"  I tell him: "I do know what you are doing, but I want to know if you know or if you remember."  Ha!  Then it hit him what he was doing.  He says "Mom, it says I love you."  What a sweet memory I have of my child.  I thank the wonderful teacher who provided me with such a memorable keepsake of my son.

If your children are on spring break, I hope you are enjoying every moment with them.   

Books and more books!

I've been invited to a baby shower for a former teacher from my campus.  Her baby shower theme is books. We are to bring our favorite childhood books to fill the baby's library.  What a sweet idea! I just loved it!  I am going to have to keep that in mind when one day in the far future when my kids start having kids. :)  

Well, I don't have any particular childhood book that was A favorite because I really loved ALL books and still do!  I am a book-a-holic!  I buy books like crazy!  I have children's books from when I use to teach.  I can't part from them.  I have books that I buy all the time.  Some are personal ones for enjoyment, while others are for professional use.  I can never have enough.  I did try the Nook thing, but didn't take to it too much.  However, I won't give up. I hear it's easier to carry my books around on the Ipad.  

I enjoyed Judy Blume during my adolescent years.  Now, I enjoy books by Nicholas Sparks, Jodi Picoult, and James F. Wright.  Of course I have some professional favorite artists such as Todd Whitaker.  If you haven't figured out, Barnes and Noble is my favorite store! :)  My goal is to have a library of all my books in that future new home of ours. :)  I already have it all planned out.

  

Okay, so I didn't pick out one particular book that was a favorite.  Being the classic kind of gal that I am, I went with some classics.  :)  A child should not go through their childhood without hearing or reading some of the classic stories.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Here is book I think all parents should read:

This one is about a mom and her child and how all the "lasts" are as important as all the "firsts" of a child's life.  Very touching.

So, do you have any childhood books you remember as a child?  Are there any you read to your children? Do share! 

Purse Hunt and the Liebster Award!

Why is it when you are out looking for something, it can't be found. Yet, when you are not looking or can't have it, it's all around! I don't get it? I needed a new purse. Okay...I WANTED a new purse. I'm a big "purse girl" and I love designer purses, but I just wasn't looking for a designer purse right now. Just one that I could have at a reasonable price. I love Coach purses, but I haven't found one I really love just yet. There is a Louis Vuitton that I would like to have, but it puts a knot in my stomach to pay the price of one!   Therefore, I just wait.  So I go on my purse hunt for that basic, practical, yet cute everyday purse and unfortunately I couldn't seem to find one I wanted. These were just a few out there that I liked until I found the one I had a little love for...


This one reminded me of a purse I had as a teen.  I suppose all the colorfulness to it. 

This one was just plain cute, but doesn't really go with my daily attire. 

This one was just CHIC! 

Stylish!

Loved...but hmmm..I don't know?



Then I saw this one and thought...hmmm..this just may do for now. :) It's like a bag and a purse in one.  A girl could always use one of these.  :) 


Now on to bigger things! I received this award a little earlier this week from my new blog friend Gossip Girl! What a SWEET surprised:) I am farily new to the blog world.  So receiving this award was too fun!

http://myworldaccordingtomeii.blogspot.com/

The Liebster Award is for groovy blogs with less then 200 followers. It's a great way to find new blogs and help others get discovered. Thank you Gossip Girl for choosing my blog! I feel honored that you felt my blog was one to brag about...or perhaps just needed some followers! haha! Just kidding. So now I have some obligations since receiving this award comes with some things I must do: 
In order to accept the award you must do a few things:
1) Thank the person that nominated you on your blog and link back to them.
2) Nominate up to 5 other blogs for the award.
3) Let them know via comment on their blog
4) Post the award on your blog
By the way....Liebster means "dearest."  How fitting! :)  Thank you again Gossip Girl!

I have a small group of followers at this time.  And most of the blogs I follow do not qualify since they have a gazillion followers or are not as active right now-so I am finding out!  :(  Therefore, I am going to be on the look out for some great blogs that I can pass this award on to at a different time. 

Hope you all have a great weekend! :) 

Ciao!