30 Day Blog Challenge Day 14

We're almost there...half way that is to the end of my blog challenge.  I am slowly wishing I didn't sign up for it.  Haha!  But today's challenge is easy.
A picture of you last year - how have you changed?
Here's a picture of me at roughly the same time last year.

How have I changed?  Well, I am no longer 7 1/2 months pregnant for one.  I now have a 9 1/2 month old baby girl named Audrey. I actually just threw that shirt away yesterday because it had a stain and I still rock those gaucho pants.  My hair is no longer that long.  It is just now hitting my shoulders.  I also don't have those boobs anymore.  Yet another sigh.  Other than that I pretty much look the same.  I should put the stained shirt and pants back on and pose the same just so you can see.  I genuinely don't change much from year to year.  I am not a weight fluctuator and I don't do drastic things to myself.  I guess I am very much like the book, "Sarah Plain and Tall."  Haha!  Here's how I roll these days...no longer a bump, just a baby on my hip.

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 13

I'm starting to see a trend here.  I am excited to blog earlier in the day but then put it off until late in the night for whatever reason.  By this time I am annoyed I have to do it...so what's the point.  Maybe tomorrow I'll do it mid afternoon.  I still need to vacuum, again.  Yay for shedders.  Anywho, today's topic is:
Goals
Well, my main goal is to make sure Audrey grows up secure, happy, loved, and respected.  I want to teach her how to be a good citizen in our world, to make good choices, and to be an all around fantastic human being!  We'll see how that goes.  I also want to continue to be a better teacher and try and work my magic to make my students even more successful kindergartners than they already are.  This coming year I will be working on my Level 3 Dossier (last step besides being Nationally Certified).  This is a big to do and basically like an enormous thesis paper.  My goal is to complete it and pass it and thus bring in bigger bucks.  I also want to continue (hopefully I am) to be an amazing wife, sister, and daughter.  I want to be a great person to be around and such.  Anywho..is that to much to ask?  I think I can do it!  Oh...and I want to gain some weight.  That's a goal!  Yup!

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 12

Something you don't leave the house without

Now I'm not sure if this refers to ANYTIME you walk out the door or like actually get in the car and get outta town.  I'm assuming it's actually leave the house and not like just check the mail.  Well I guess there are a few things that I never leave the house without.  First, it's my underwear.  Haha!  You can never be secure enough unless you have your undies on.  Sometimes I wish I had an extra pair in case you have to go to the hospital. But really now, probably my keys and my wallet.  You can't start the truck unless you have the key and I need my wallet because it has my license and ATM card in there.  I also bring along my cell phone.  I need to be in constant contact with whomever has the Ladybug (unless it's me).  So there you have it. Nothing out of the ordinary...the true basics!!

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 11

Today's challenge is:
Favorite tv shows
To be honest with you...I really don't feel like blogging today.  We had to take one of our dogs to the vet and then went to a very beautiful outdoor wedding where the albino me got sunburned.  It is now 10pm and I have just finished vacuuming up what appears to be the remnants of a Pomeranian around the house.  We do not own a Pomeranian, but we do own 3 very large dogs who are shedding.  Not that any of this has to do with my challenge today, but thank you for listening.  I will give you the list of my shows and a small explanation.  Let's just say that I LOVE tv.  It has become hard to watch tv with a toddler or infant...whatever stage she is in.  But bless DVR because I can watch it whenever.  I still have 12 episodes of Ellen to watch whenever I get the chance.  I love reality tv, however I don't watch all of it...just most of it. Haha!  I also enjoy the 1 hour semi drama shows.  I hardly watch any half hour comedies...not sure why.  They are shorter and quicker to watch.  I am sure I will forget some of my shows, but I'm sure you don't even care.  Now I don't know what constitutes favorite...but I love all my shows, hence the reason why I watch them.  Here goes...maybe I can do by channel or something like that.
Fox: So You Think You Can Dance, Raising Hope, Cops, Glee, Hell's Kitchen
NBC: Love Bites (new show and it's good), The Voice
ABC: Bachelor Pad, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, The Middle, Private Practice, Wipeout
CBS: Amazing Race, Big Brother, Survivor
Bravo: ALL the Real Housewives shows
TLC: Quints by Surprise, 19 Kids and Counting, Police Women
A&E: Parking Wars
E!: Anything with the Kardashians, Kendra, Holly's World
MTV: All Teen Mom whatever (whether they are 16 and knocked up or already popped one out...whatev), Real World, any of the Challenges


So there you have it.  Pretty girlesque tv shows and lots of em.  I know I'm lame...and you still love me.  Ta ta for now folks!

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 10

Today's lovely challenge is:
Something you're afraid of
Well, I'm afraid of a lot of random things, but two things popped into my mind straight off the bat.  The first is heights...of sorts.  Now I am not really afraid of being on the roof unless it's super pitched and I am not afraid of being on a ladder.  However, I am afraid of being on the top of the Stratosphere in Vegas and getting thrown into the air on that stupid ride.  Why did I do that?  Not too sure, but never again.  I am also afraid of driving or riding in a car on a winding road up a mountain.  I have really thought about it and I sincerely think that I may die falling off a cliff in my vehicle.  We have to travel over a mountain like this right outside San Diego and EVERY time I have to close my eyes and tell Elijah to let me know when it's over.  So scary.  The road resembles this:

No thank you.  And...I will NEVER go on that clear glass walkway thing at the Grand Canyon.  I will wait in the car for you.  I'm getting chills just thinking about it.
The other thing that I am most afraid of are these little big guys.

These creepy little cockroaches.  Thank goodness the huge ones are in NYC and Florida. I can only imagine seeing something the size of a checkbook scamper across the floor.  I had never seen one in my life until I went to UNM and there were dead ones in the ceiling light fixtures.  One time there was one walking across the floor and I slowly grabbed my bag and picked my feet up.  I prayed to God that he wouldn't come near me because I would either crap my pants, have a heart attack, or make a scene.  I now know that they are everywhere and have happily made it to my neck of the woods.  Thank goodness we got rid of the railroad ties because they enjoyed those.  When Elijah did his little stint at Truly Nolan I was told, "Once you see one, you know there are 32 more out there because that's how many babies are born each time."  Thanks honey.  I guess my brother had a small outbreak in his house (and he lives down the street). I hoped they weren't in our house and sure enough the next day I opened the cabinet in our bathroom and one of those little freaks was sitting on a cotton ball.  We never saw anymore after that so maybe he had Rabies or something and got lost.  I swore that I would burn the house down, move, or live in the car if they EVER got in the house.  I am that afraid of them.  I will Raid my body if one ever touches me.  
So there you have it.  2 things that I am most afraid of.  What are you afraid of?

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 9

Wow...it's day 9 of the challenge and I have made it this far!  Woo hoo!  Today's challenge is...drum roll please.  I know how excited you are to read this...come on now!
 A favorite picture of your best friend
Well...I'll have to look back into the archives to see which I like the best. For whatever reason we don't take that many pictures when we are together.  As of late it has been few and far between.  She works, as do I and she is a mommy of 2 beautiful little girls.  So...we both lead busy lives, but that's okay.  This lovely lady is my "toasted sister" as I like to call her.  She got cooked just a bit longer than me.  Her name is Genise and I met her..wow, maybe like 6 or 7 years ago.  We were both working at this place that's secret and only Victoria knows it.  Anywho, we both got this seasonal position and had to work together.  I wasn't so sure of her at first.  She can come across as bitchy (before you get to know her).  Or at least that was my perception.  She probably thought I was a stupid nerd, so there.  Well we became fast friends and I am so glad because a former friend was slowly unraveling her friendship string when I needed her the most.  Too bad for her and not for me.  I then got an amazing best friend who WAS there for me and did not judge and stood by me.  She even coached me during labor (thank you!!) and took the first pictures of Audrey.  I don't know what I would do without this beautiful person in my life.  I kid you not...we are like the same person.  It's crazy!  I love her to death and if anyone has the pleasure of being her friend, they are very blessed.  Love you!

I love this picture of her.  So pretty!  Giavana is so small.  She's going to be in kindergarten this year!

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 8

Today's...or rather tonight's challenge is:
A place you've traveled to
This place that I travel to is a place that is very much like home to me.  When people book their vacations or trips they pick exotic locales or places they have never been.  Every year all I want to do is go "home."  Even though I have never officially lived there (except during the summer growing up) I still consider it home.  Home is where family and love is.  This place is San Diego.  Fortunately for me, this home is so much sweeter than the desert and there are just too many things to do!  We weren't able to get out there last summer as I was a beach whale, but we are heading out there again at the end of this month.  I have Audrey's Nana waiting for our arrival.  Nana is my mom's sister, Susan.  She is my surrogate mom, my confidant...and oh so funny!  My Grandma is also there as are all my cousins from both sides of the family. Elijah's Grandparents also live in California and not too far from San Diego, so we will get to see them as well!  I am so excited for them to finally get to meet Audrey and have some good family bonding time.  We love to hit up the beach, mostly Pacific Beach and Mission Beach.  I particularly like Mission Beach because Belmont Park is there and some neat little shops.  We also might hit up the bay so Audrey can be in some calmer waters.  We LOVE us some Sea World and will definitely head there.  We are going to go to the zoo, which I haven't gone to since I was younger, so that should be fun.  We also like going for the outlet shopping.  We have one outlet here and really, there aren't that many good shops to choose from!  Overall, the scenery is great.  Green, plush, fantastic weather, and the beach.  One day we want to pack the UHaul and move on out west...let's hope it's not just a dream!  Oh yeah, Ikea AND In N Out Burger is there too.  2 more pluses!  Here are some pictures of a trip a few years back!

Sea World...dolphin show!

Shark walk

Handsome fellow

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  Me and Aunt Susan...aka Nana!

Boogie boarding!  So fun!

Beach bums

Okay, this is better!  Darn...my boobs look nice.  Good ol days!