The reason why I'm feeling awesome...

...I paid off this B today:

Booyah! My income tax money hit my bank account so I used the moolah to pay the remaining balance on my car off today. I called to make the final payment and I was so excited that I seriously teared up. I've been making payments on this thing for five loooooooong years. It's such a relief to know that I'm finished with it! Yay! This car is mine all mine and I don't owe anybody anything for it. GREAT feeling. You can't tell me nothin' right now.

Now I'm snuggled up on my big comfy couch with my heated blanket ready to watch The Bachelor. Brad better not pick Emily. I love that chick so much, and that's exactly why I don't want her to be chosen. She's too good for him. She can do better. I want her to come back as the next Bachelorette instead of becoming his fiancee. We'll see how it plays out. 

Oh, and I've also got one of these guys as a little Bachelor watching treat:

An Oreo Cheesecake Bar. Mmm-hmm.

Happy Monday, all!

"In Lunch Lady Land, your dreams come true."

School pizza days are my favorite. Today was school pizza day and I was counting down the minutes until lunch time. Chicken ring days are pretty spectacular too, although they're not as good as they used to be. The deep fryer was jerked out of the kitchen last year and now everything is baked to be more "healthy". Boo. Bring back the deep fryer! I miss fatty goodness.
School pizza has always been a delicious treat for me. The day that's it's on the menu is a day that makes you say, "My belly is going to shout with jubilee after I fill my lunch tray up and begin eating this delicious cafeteria miracle". It's a day that my students don't pack a lunch and actually want to eat the school food.
Did you all love school pizza? I always go for the cheese. I'm a plain cheese pizza kinda lover. What's the best thing about school pizza, you ask? Why, that's easy. School pizza is served up with a spoonful of corn. Pizza and corn is probably the strangest yet most delicious lunch combination of all time. It's the perfect little duo. A match made in Lunch Lady Land heaven.

Just look at these guys. True. Love.

Who would have thought that pizza and corn would be such a perfect match? Whoever made this combo is a food genius. It's probably the same person that first paired peanut butter with jelly. Now, I can't say that when I'm at home and order a pizza that I suddenly have a hankerin' to whip up some whole kernel corn to go along with my Papa John's. That would seem a little odd. But somehow, within the walls of a school cafeteria, it's perfectly normal. You just can't have one without the other.
Our school doesn't serve these anymore, but I used to love the Octagon Mexican pizza when I was in school. It's a tasty treat and exposure to geometry all in one. What's not to love? Does anybody still have these at their school? Ship one to me if so.

And for your Friday night enjoyment, I'll leave you with the always enjoyable Lunch Lady ditty. May you dream of hoagies and grinders, navy beans, meatloaf sandwiches, and slop, sloppy joes. Eat well, friends.

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday.

{one} what color is your kitchen?It's a terra cotta color. I didn't really like it when I moved into my house because I was a bit afraid of color. It quickly grew on me and now I love it. It's different and fun. Like me.

P to the S- This isn't my house. It appears to be some strangers bathroom. I'm just using the picture off Southern Living.com to show the paint color. Basically because it was too much effort to get off the couch to take a picture of my own Terra Cotta wall and download it and all that jazz. You feel me? Am I feeling lazy this evening? Perhaps I am. 

{two} do you have a good luck charm?No. I feel like that would be dumb.
{three} do you prefer to write with a pen or pencil?Pens. I actually needed a pencil last night and couldn't find one in my house.
{four} can you use chopsticks?I don't even try to use chopsticks. I stick to forks and spoons. I know those guys.
{five} do you prefer baths or showers?Showers.
{six} what is your favorite salad dressing?This depends on the type of salad. I love caesar salads, so of course I'd have caesar dressing on that. I've always loved Italian dressing.
{seven} can you sing the alphabet backwards?Can't say I've ever tried. I'd have to go really slow if I did. My brain doesn't think backwards.
{eight} do you have any allergies?When I had my allergy test, the only thing I was allergic to was dust and dust mites. Sick. It came up as a severe allergy. That means change sheets often and vacuum all the time. Everything else was just fine, so nothing severe. Luckily no food allergies. Praise the Lord. Oh, and I'm also allergic to nickel, but I feel like that's fairly common. I can't wear any jewelry or belts (the belt buckle is what bothers me) containing nickel.
{nine} crunchy or creamy peanut butter?Creamy. Jif is my favorite peanut butter. I love PBJs.
{ten} have you ever hitch hiked?Heck no. I watch too many Lifetime movies to attempt that mess. Lifetime has about made me too afraid to do anything. Including dating.

Answers to questions and a whole lotta other things you probably don't want to know.

Wasn't that the longest title ever? So, remember when I did the post a couple weeks ago for you all to ask me questions and I'd answer them? Yeah. I completely forgot about it! I had two lovely readers, Liesl and Amanda, ask questions. You all are winners for playing my game. I'm sure the suspense has been killing you as you've waited for the answers. Here's my short Q&A session.

1. What made you decide to start a blog?
I have been blogging for almost two years. I started my blog in May of 2009. This was during the time that 'notes' were all the rage on facebook. The '25 Random Things About Me' note was the popular note being posted on facebook. Writing my list of 25 things on facebook made me think to myself, "Self, I like writing about you. I should probably start a blog so I can write about you all I want." And that's pretty much how this little blog was born. My very first post I wrote was about food. Does this surprise you? It shouldn't. I wrote just as crazily then as I do now. I remember writing that post while I was out at my parents. We had been swimming and grilled out that day. I was loving on life and was happy and just wanted to write. The second post was the 25 random things about me note from facebook.

I started this blog for me. As a way to write my thoughts, feelings, and random facts. I'm glad that it has remained that way during the past two years. I've picked up a lot more readers, and I find it flattering and funny that there are people out there that actually want to read my stupidness. Even if I lost all my followers tomorrow (and I better not because that would be the saddest day ever), this blog is ultimately for me. I love to write and it's an escape of sorts and a way to document my life through my 20s.

2. When did you decide to be a teacher?
I remember doing a career report in 4th grade. The career I chose was teaching. In middle school I took one of those career aptitude tests. My #1 result was a teacher. I think my 2nd result was a farmer. Teaching has just always been what I wanted to do. I can't picture myself doing anything else and being completely happy. In the beginning of college I had some trouble narrowing what and who I wanted to teach. At first I considered middle school reading, but I thought long and hard about middle schoolers. I thought about how awkward I was in middle school and quickly decided against it. I don't want to go back to middle school in any form or fashion. I decided on elementary ed and I think I made the right choice. I really kinda think I was born to be a kindergarten teacher. It's all I know and I love it. Eventually I'll want to move up, but for now, I'm very happy.

That concludes the Answer portion of the Q&A session. I will continue on with some more facts from my brain. The inside of my head is like one of those machines filled with balls that they use to pick lottery numbers. My thoughts are those balls spinning around and around. The randomness just pops out with no telling what. It's always a surprise. In a way, reading my blog is kind of like winning the lottery every time you read a new post. That makes you feel really lucky, doesn't it?

Speaking of lottery, the week that I won the Wizard of Oz teaching unit from Abby, I also won some St. Patrick's materials from another teacher blogger. I sure was one lucky lady that week. I really think I should've struck while the iron was hot and purchased a lottery ticket. That's the win that I really need.

I haven't been on my blog too much in the past week. Last week was beyond busy. I was so glad to have the weekend here, but sadly, Satan decided to come dwell in my throat and nostrils this weekend. I think it's just seasonal stuff, but it made me feel a little puny. Today I've felt much better though. I spent some time at school (as usual during the weekend) and ran a lot of errands. Tonight I had family time and ate a good home cooked meal. Can't beat that.

The highlight of my day? That would be seeing a jolly sized woman wearing a blue velvet cloak and carrying a huge wooden staff walking on the side of the road. The staff had some little jeweled medallion at the top. It was extra fancy. I saw her as I was driving. I'm just sad I couldn't get a picture fast enough, but she looked a bit like she was an extra from a Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings movie. She did have a striking resemblance to Hagrid from Harry Potter. She was seriously wearing one of these numbers:

I bought a bag of Reese's Pieces eggs today. I'm already half way finished with the bag. They are so good. They're just like regular Reese's Pieces but jumbo.

My hands always feel so disgusting after I've been shopping. Nasty shopping carts.

Do you all have problems with blow dryers? I do. I go through them like toilet paper. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but I do feel like I buy new ones fairly often. It's always the same thing. They start sparking and fire shoots out of them. What am I doing wrong? Is this a normal thing? And, yes, I make sure that I keep the dust cleaned out of the back. This going-through-hair-dryers-like-hotcakes thing has been an almost yearly thing for me since high school. Sometimes in college I'd go through two or three a year. No joke. I just had to go buy a new one today. Me and electrical things don't mix.

I love fried okra. I had some yesterday and today. My belly has been pretty happy.

I can't find my iPod right now and that makes me sad. I'm just hoping I misplaced it in my house and it's not really lost as in someone else is listening to my jams.

I say this every Sunday, but I really don't want the work week to start. I just hate the morning routines. However, I am pretty excited about the upcoming week. Our theme this week is light/colors/rainbows and I found a lot of fun science and art activities for the week. Plus, I'm going to use the Wizard of Oz unit that I won and do some fun stuff from that. Three cheers for spring time and fun themes!

Have a happy week everybody!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday.

{one} do you wear holey jeans? if so, do you buy them that way?I have one pair of holey jeans. I've had them since college. Now I only wear them for our school Decades day (hippie style). I'm probably too old to wear them for any other reason.

My holey jeans.

{two} do you get a full 8 hours of sleep per night?Um, no. I usually get five or six. I go to bed late. Usually between midnight and 1:00.
{three} what’s your favorite way to eat an Oreo?I don't really eat Oreo's that much. If I have one, I twist them apart and do that whole bit.
{four} do you wear shoes in your house?No. I take my shoes off as soon as I get home. 
{five} who would you call first if you won the lottery?I'd get a bullhorn and climb up on my roof and literally shout it from the rooftop for all to hear. Then I'd call my Dad. That'd probably be the happiest day of his life...to hear that I might finally be a little financially stable.
{six} have you ever been in a food fight?Well, not really. The closest thing was at a middle school camp. My group and I always sat at a long table in front of a huge window. This window went from floor to ceiling. One day we all threw our hot ham and cheeses and pineapple slices at the window to see if they'd stick. They did and then they'd slide all the way down the window. We got in trouble.
{seven} do you snore?I hope not.
{eight} do you know how fast you type?I took keyboarding classes during 8th and 9th grades. I was a pretty fast little typer. I don't know the exact wpm. I'm probably not as fast as I used to be.
{nine} can you do a headstand (without using a wall)?The only one I can do is in the shallow end of a pool.
{ten} how do you like your popcorn?I don't eat popcorn at home. The only time I really eat it is when I'm at a movie. That stuff is good.

Weekend stuff.

I am so sad this weekend has come to an end. This week is going to be a busy one. A lot of work stress. It's bad to wish the week away, but I'm already looking forward to Friday afternoon. Sunday evenings are my time to clean my house, do laundry, and prepare myself for the upcoming week. Just thinking about the week ahead has caused major stress this evening. I had to go get some grease in my system. Mmm. Cheeseburger. A big hunk of greasy meat covered in cheese will always do the trick. I hate when I'm like this. I'm stressing AND I'm PMSing which means I'm in a crankity mood because my ovaries are about to explode. I have PCOS which gives me cramps straight from Lucifer himself in the fiery pits of hell. My chin is breaking out which makes me feel lovely and beautiful. I want to eat everything in sight and I want to chug Coke like Napoleon Dynamite chugs Gatorade and then I want to say, "Ahh. What's it to ya?".

Let me try really hard to be a little less complainy and a little more positive. It's going to be hard, but I'll try.
This weekend was a pretty good one. Saturday was a lazy day, as most every Saturday is for me. I slept in, which was nice. I had actually fallen asleep on the couch after Friday night's Chili Supper. I was so tired when I got home that I seriously took my jeans off, threw them on the living room floor and passed out on the couch with my heated blanket. I didn't wake up until late Saturday morning. I remained on the couch until late afternoon watching...you guessed it, LMN. I like to stay predictable. I peeled myself off the couch and got myself ready and went to lunch with Ashley. This "lunch" was technically my 3rd meal of the day, so I settled for an appetizer. I ordered fried dill pickle chips. You know. Something light and healthy. I LOVE fried pickles. Anything fried equals love to me. So good.

Later that evening Ashley, Erica and I met up for drinks before going to a late movie. I wanted a drink that made me "escape" to a warmer and happier place. I chose the beach as my escape in my head, so I had a couple of delicious Mango Mai Tai's. Very Good.

We went to see this:

It was such a good movie. I laughed so much. I don't know if my friends and I just have a different sense of humor than everyone else in the theater or if everybody else was just dumb because we were the only ones laughing a lot. Have you all seen it? Did you love it? I have a serious major girl crush on Jennifer Aniston. I always have. I've loved every movie she's ever been in. And y'all. This woman is 42. She's amazing. She's beautiful and has a great bod.

It hasn't gotten the best reviews, but I enjoyed it. It had a great cast, minus Heidi Montag. Rolling of the eyes along with a verbal "ugh" was my natural reaction when she appeared on the screen.
This movie was what I needed this weekend. It was light and funny. I mean, it has poop jokes. That's a great movie, in my book. I recommend going to see it if you haven't already. If for nothing else, you need to go see it so you can know what it means to "take a Devlin".

I hope everyone had a good and restful weekend. Can't wait until the next one.

Life is Sweet.

I've been absent from my blog for a few days. I've been pretty busy. I wish I had some really cool story to tell about what I've been doing, but I don't. I've been at home. Mainly in my kitchen. This isn't a room I frequent much, unless it's to retrieve a cold drink from the fridge or a snack from the pantry. I've been in this foreign land known as the kitchen because I was preparing things for my fundraiser for my classroom. I've been a chocolate melting machine. I made 41 chocolate pops, 37 marshmallow pops, and 26 chocolate dipped pretzel rods. Then I packaged and tied ribbon on it all. Took stinkin' forever. I attempted to make cake pops. Big mistake. I'm going to leave those to Bakerella. I don't really know where I went so wrong, but mine weren't forming into balls as needed for cake pops. Mine were more like cake poops. They really looked like patties. Cow patties. The perfectionist in me couldn't take it, so I threw them in the trash. It was a definite fail. I should have taken a picture of them to show you all, but I was flustered and mad at myself because I couldn't get it right, so taking a picture was not on my mind.

 Last night was the big night I'd been preparing for. The school's Chili Supper. I'm still exhausted from it. This is our annual winter time family event to raise money for classrooms. Each teacher is responsible for a game or booth of some type. Whatever profits we earn, we get to keep for our classroom account. For the past five years I have done a Sweet Shop. It has always rolled in the Benjamins for me. This is how I was able to buy that iPad for my classroom. It's a lot of work to get the Sweet Shop ready, but it's worth it and I actually do enjoy it. It's fun, pink, and involves sweet stuff. What's not to love?

Scrumptious stuff is sold here. 

The set up. Three tables full of goodness.

Do you like the toilet seats behind me? I feel it really added a little something extra to the pretty factor.

I made these little rose pops. Fancy.

And these little heart pops.

I had a several ladies ask me if I had my own business or a website. To me this was pretty hilarious. If they only knew half of my baking mishaps. Like the cake pops.

Chocolate dipped pretzel rods. These are a best seller. Everybody loves sweet and salty.

Chocolate dipped strawberry marshmallows. Easiest things to make ever.

For those of you that don't know, I hate strawberries. I won't eat them or any strawberry flavored things. I was curious about these strawberry marshmallows just because they were pretty and pink and actually smelled really good. I decided to be brave and try one. I ate a plain one (minus the chocolate and sprinkles) and started chewing. I tasted the strawberry-ish flavor and gagged. I spit it in the trash. I'm pathetic. I know.

Monkey cupcakes that a parent of one of my students made.

This wouldn't have been possible without a lot of help from some very nice people. A local bakery in town donated items for our sale. Also Wal-Mart gave us a gift card to help us buy baking supplies. I also had many parents of my students that made items or purchased candy for us to sell. I was blessed with generous community members and great families in my classroom this year.

Me with my Block student. We're both Sarah's, so this picture was necessary.

My little classroom mascot, Marley at the Chili Supper.

The little girl that had him for the evening had Marley dressed up and was pushing him around in a stroller all night. I swear this monkey has a better life than I do.

I had a pretty successful night. During the two hour event, I made $240. Not too shabby. Also, each homeroom made a canvas using the thumbprints from each child to make a picture. Our class canvas had a monkey theme, of course. The canvas was auctioned off and it brought in $175! Woo! I'm going to pull out my teacher supply catalogs and plan a big order since this girl is having $400 added to the classroom account. Cha-ching.