Wednesday Hodgepodge---Just in time for Turkey Day!

1. Turkey-love it or leave it? White meat or dark? What's your favorite thing to make using leftover turkey?

Love it!!! White meat only please: ) I don't make anything fancy with leftover turkey. i do love turkey sandwiches and turkey and rice. My mom growing up would always make turkey and rice in a skillet. The only place I can get it now, off season that is, is at Cracker Barrel on Saturday nights. We don't have one near us unfortunately.

2. Gotta burn off all those carbs the day after a holiday feast so which would you rather do-run a 10K or climb a mountain?

I would rather run a 10K. My hubby and I do a Turkey Trot 5K the morning of Thanksgiving on Main Street in Laurel. So that puts us ahead of the game before the feast.

3. Do you feel like social networking has made your relationships better or worse? Explain.

Better I guess. I love connecting with old friends and students. Often as a teacher you never find out what happened to some of your favorite students, so social networking has allowed that, which is fabulous. Of course with that being said, I almost quit FB twice this year because of ignorance and political opinions. I'm all about free speech, but I am not about insulting others just because there is an outlet. No wonder schools have such issues with cyberbullying. Apple...tree... just sayin'.


4. How do you find and express gratitude for the hard things in your life?
Phew... this is a hard one Mrs. D.  I know I am grateful that I am able to have a roof over my head, a successful career, and a loving family. I still question this path I am on every day though. I know God has a plan for me, and I try to allow myself to be guided, but sometimes I don't understand how I got here. How did I end up a cancer survivor? How did I end up not able to have children? I know God would not give me anything that I can't handle, but I'm starting to think he has too high of expectations for me : )

5. In the US, the day after Thanksgiving has been dubbed 'Black Friday'. Is most of your holiday shopping done live and in person, or is it done more through the magic of the Internet? How do you feel about stores opening at midnight Thanksgiving night? Will you be out amongst the masses on Friday?
Growing up "Black Friday" was a tradition for all of the women in our family. So once of appropriate shopping age, I joined my aunt, mother, and grandmother for the craziness of shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Over the past three years though, it has become too much. I don't truly believe I am getting that much better of a deal, besides I've become an excellent summer Christmas shopper. Now with this nonsense of opening Thanksgiving night, goodness! Is there any gift that is really worth it? I will be out that morning though since I live across the street from Kohl's, Target, and Hobby Lobby. I will not be venturing to a mall. I will get my coffee and walk across the street. Will I buy anything? Probably. I usually get up early anyway to send my hubby off to his week of hunting. A hunter's widow I am this time of the year. He hunts, I shop!

6. Speaking of the color black-which black item in your wardrobe would you say is your favorite?
This is a very hard question. I think I have 2 favorites. I have a LBD that I love. i have had it for 10+ years, oh and it still fits : ) It is off the shoulder with a flirty ruffle around the bottom. I just love it. My second favorite, currently, is my black Dansko shoes. After 17 years of teaching, there is a lot to be said for a pair of supportive black shoes. I really don't want varicose veins in my legs from hours of standing in heels. I did have my time of wearing very cute heels to teach every day. Now is not that time however. I just had no idea how comfortable a pair of shoes could be. I would highly recommend them to anyone who is a teacher.

7. What do you appreciate about your life today?
I appreciate having a close family. We are so fortunate to live in the same state. I see my nephews all the time. My hubby and I see our parents once a week. Not only re we close geographically, but also in our relationship. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, everyone pitches in to help that person "survive." Although having cancer was horrific, it brought us even closer. We don't take a single day for granted.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I really miss my grandparents. I lost my grandmother and grandfather about 7-8 years ago. My grandmother never met my husband. I believe she would have really liked him. My grandfather did meet my hubby. I remember he said to me, "Is this guy finally the one? We have been waiting a long time for you to get married." Nothing like being blunt and to the point. He didn't make it to the wedding though. My grandparents loved to dance and play tennis. My grandmother was always dressed to the nines, and used to call me "Wendy-Doo." I don't know why but she always did. What i wouldn't give for one more Thanksgiving with both of them.

Pinterest Inpiration and a scare!

Is it possible for a website to change who you are or at least make you a little better? If so, Pinterest is my saving grace. As a teacher, I love Pinterest! This year my classroom took on a whole new level of color, creativity,  organization, and cuteness. I just had to share some of my Pinterest inspired products.First up---my teacher toolbox. I don't know why, but this box keeps me so organized, AND it keeps my desk drawers clean.


Next up, my adorable birthday balloons. My students get so excited just to pick out a balloon.
Also, bin ribbons. Seriously?? I have used bins like the one in this picture (dollar store) for years!! Never once did I think to run a ribbon through them.How simple?

The rest of the items are ones I actually found on Pinterest and printed off of another site. These are my favorite because I didn't do any of the work... tee hee. What is a teacher's motto? "Work smarter, not harder." (Took me a long time to learn this motto).

Voice level chart

Cute polka dot cards for my schedule.

These adorable sayings that I framed with $2.00 frames from Ikea.

On a more serious, and less classroom focused topic, two weeks ago I found another lump. Needless to say, I have been stressed beyond belief. I went last week to have it checked, especially since it was on my unlucky left side; the side that got me into this cancer mess in the first place. Of course I had to have two sonograms and a mammogram. Three hours later, no cancer! Just an oil cyst. Phew! I guess this is my "new normal" so to speak. There is a lot to be said for peace of mind. 



We laughed, We cried ....

I never got around to posting about my night in the spotlight! My one and only time walking the runway. The event was quite spectacular! The night began with the audience watching a woman go through all the steps/stages you have to go through when you find a lump (mammogram, sonogram, biopsy), then the final stage diagnosis. It was very overwhelming, especially for those of us who experienced all of these stages. Then the two women who started this organization read letters from young cancer survivors that received help from the We Believe Foundation.

Then the fashion show started. All of our clothes were from South Moon Under. Paul  Wharton was our emcee for the evening. He was hysterical. A few models would walk the runway through a door. Then the door would close and the lights would go down. The TV screen would show a slide show to explain the survivor's story. Then the lights and music would come back on, the door would open, and the survivor would strut her stuff. It was an emotional roller coaster.


In the lobby, each survivor had their own door with a quote and pictures of those people that helped them through their journey. My quote that I chose was "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." We were able to take our doors home, and mine looks amazing in our living room.

My hubby, My Mom and , My BFFS

The last part of the night was the auction. They asked people to "bid" $500 for chemo for a young cancer survivors who can't afford treatment. It was amazing to watch all of the paddles go up. I think they raised enough for at least 50 rounds of chemo! As we were leaving that night my amazing hubby shared that he bid on something.I was kind of surprised. He said he paid $250 for fertility preservation for a young cancer patient. I just started to sob. I love him so much.