Almost Done!

I have one more paper to write for school, for my last class (until I start student teaching), then I'm done. Done!

Yes, I'm avoiding, but then I'm also "warming up" by writing a little in my blog... Yeah, that's what I'm telling myself.

So for an FYI I'm just going to explain what I've been doing because in addition to wifing Superman and mothering Sunshine, Princess, Snap, Crackle and Pop, I'm also going to school. I am trying to become a teacher, an English teacher specifically.

Yes I know the teaching profession is a thankless job, especially for secondary educators but I love it! I love reading and writing and I want to share that love. When I go to "Back to School" night for my kids and thumb through their textbooks I get excited. From 7th-12th grade English, I get excited.

Yeah, I'm weird. It's okay. Since there are a ton of English teachers out there I have to assume I am not completely alone in my weirdness. LOL

I left high school in 1983. I did not graduate but took my G.E.D. There were a number of reasons I was not able to graduate with my class and I regret the choices I made in high school but things have worked out and now it's okay.

I tried to go to the local community college but I was so tired of school that I ended up withdrawing from all my classes (and yes, the Ws have followed me ever since). A friend was going to the LDS Business college in Salt Lake City, UT (she was a year behind me) and I started out in 1984 going to school in earnest.

I did very well at the LDS Business College, but I had a goal. I wanted to get into Brigham Young University and go on Study Abroad in London. I did those things. I transferred to BYU in the summer of 1985 and went on Study Abroad London in January of 1986 for six months. It was the best time of my life! I talk about that experience here.

After Study Abroad I took time off from school to go on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was called to serve in Japan, Kobe mission for 18 months. That was a unique and amazing experience, but definitely different then my time in London!

When I returned from my mission I floundered a bit. I did not have anymore goals. I met with a counselor at BYU and told him I wanted to be a writer but I also wanted to be independent (i.e.; a wage-earner) even with my goal of being a wife and mother. He discouraged me from my goals and basically shrugged at what I could possibly do. 

During the years I vacillated on what I wanted to do between medicine, teaching and English. I was pre-med for a couple of semesters (thus my medical terminology, anatomy & physiology classes), an Elementary Education major, then after Study Abroad I was a History major, then finally I settled on English. I decided, finally, that I wanted to study English even if it wasn't lucrative. It was what I truly loved.

When I got married in 1991 I stopped going to school. I took a few classes after Sunshine was born and finished up my AA so I would have something to show for all the years of schooling. I really Really wanted to finish my BA and took classes on and off in between the years of having kids but it got to be too much. I was even in a cool program with the school district (when I was working as an aide) where they paid for my schooling to become a teacher. At that time I had to change my major to Liberal Studies and I was working toward becoming an Elementary teacher (again) with a Multi-Subject Credential.

But then I got pregnant with Pop and had to drop out. I was too sick to go to school and too sick to even work.

I did go back to work for the school district when Pop was about six months old on a part-time/temporary basis. Then I started back at school--again--this time as an English major & I got a Substitute Teaching Credential and worked as a Sub for a couple of years. After that experience I wasn't sure I ever wanted to teach. At. All. Ever.

I still continued to take classes through the school I am still with today, National University, until the money source went dry and I had to quit again.

When Sunshine was graduating from high school and getting ready to go to college I was filling out the FAFSA for her I discovered that I could get more money for college than her! So I went back.
All my classes have been online. I take one class a month. I have been gung-hoing it for the last two years to finish both my BA and get a Secondary Education Credential. The Teacher Education (TED) classes have been difficult but worthwhile. I also had to take 4 CSET tests and I passed all of them!

I thought I was going to graduate this last May but it turns out I have to do my Student Teaching, which I won't be ready for until September (and the deadline is June) so I won't be able to do it until next year, February 2014, so I will be able to graduate, with my BA and Secondary Ed Credential, next May, 2014!

Booyah!

It only took me 31 years.
And... I'm planning on getting my Masters... and maybe a PhD. I want to teach college.

Still Not Dieting...

I don't believe in diets but  do believe in dietary changes (even temporary ones) to lose weight or improve health. The last time I visited my doctor she listed "Obese" as one of my "illnesses" and told me I have a "Sluggish Metabolism." Really? I've been saying this for years. I know I can't eat like anyone else, I have to think about everything that goes into my mouth. It's annoying. I don't like the message it sends to my kids and I don't like how it makes me feel about myself. 

Recently I have been really trying to be better about my eating because I can tell the difference on how I feel. That's what I think a "diet" should be about. Yes I want to lose weight but it's mostly because at my current weight things are uncomfortable for me. That's what matters. That and the fact that my blood pressure is too high (I have to take meds and I'd rather not). I know what to do and I've been striving to do it but when I don't have the "right" foods available it's difficult.

Yummy!

I also crave sweets. Chocolate mostly. Which isn't taboo on my "diet" but I have to be careful of sugars so I have to make my own sweets and --to be honest-- I don't like taking the time. So if I cheat it's to sneak a Reese's cup or a handful of chocolate chips (with peanuts, yummy!) to satisfy the craving. 

The eating plan I love and know works for my body type is outlined in The Metabolism Miracle. I learned years ago that I have "Metabolism B" or what is also known as a sluggish metabolism. So the information from my doctor was not news, nor was it a surprise. I know what I have to do and I know it works. By eating the way I know I have to I lost 5 lbs in about 10 days. Yay! But I haven't lost anymore because I've been "cheating" too much with the carbs lately. 

We went shopping and now I have a house full of the right foods so I should be doing better soon and when I lose a little more I will feel more comfortable with exercise as well. It's a Catch-22 for me. When I'm too heavy even walking is painful. That's bad. And that's why I "go on a diet." Because it's not really a diet, it's the way I have to eat. 

I highly recommend The Metabolism Miracle to anyone that struggles with a sluggish or slow metabolism. That's who it's geared toward. A sluggish metabolism is connected with pre-diabetes, PCOS, Type 2 Diabetes, menopause & a myriad other dis-eases. I recommend taking the test on the website to see if it would work for you!

In the meantime I am off to eat my cottage cheese & protein shake!

Good things

I know I have a lot of good things in my life. I love my kids. They are a lot of work but they make me happy and whole. As I mentioned earlier this week, I don't think I'm the greatest mother in the world but I do love my kids. I want them to be happy, successful and fulfilled.

I love my husband. He is a good man. He makes me laugh, a lot. He works hard, harder than anyone I know, and is tenacious. He is a great example to me of someone that gets things done!

I have amazing parents, who are still married to each other. I love them dearly and don't like that they are getting old. I am getting old so, yeah, so are they. I don't like it. They are still very active and very much a part of our lives and I am so grateful for that.

I love my brothers. Even though I don't talk to them as much as I probably should, or would like to, I love them all. I worry about their families and want for them what I want for my own children; to be happy, successful, fulfilled.

I have good friends. Some at church, some not. My BFF, Gypsy, is my lifeline.

I love going to school and am grateful for that opportunity. I don't want to stop. Yeah, I'm a little nuts.

I have a good life. I am frustrated by things that could be easily fixed with money but money isn't everything. I think it provides freedom and that's the only Harrumph! I have about it. I could use a little more freedom. But it's not everything, I have a lot of freedom. I don't have to spend most of my day looking for food, preparing it and making sure my kids are fed, clothed and warm. Those things are easy.

I am grateful for God in my life. I love God and have had a relationship since I was young, before I even really had a clear concept of who God was. I was born that way.

Today is a good day and I have gratitude.

A few highlights:

• Superman "gets" to work at Catalina today. Jerk. That means I don't have to make dinner, it's YOYO! (You're On Your Own)
• I have five papers to write for my last class before student teaching. They're due before Saturday. Yes I procrastinated. Yes I'm still procrastinating. ::sigh::
• The puppy isn't making me crazy so much anymore. Thank goodness for the crate!
• All the kids are home now, school is over. A blessing and a curse.

Books, Movies & TV!

I've been busy... I guess, or rather, actually I have just not posted any reviews in a while so I'm covering several things today.

First I want to talk about a couple of books. I recently finished The Language of Flowers (one of the books from my aunt) and I loved it! I am not a gardener but this book talks about all kinds of plants and their meanings. The story unravels in a good way and although there were some discrepancies in the story (head-scratching things that distracted me), overall I truly enjoyed this book and after it was over I kept thinking about it. That indicates a well-told story to me. I highly recommend this book. I wouldn't call it a light read, or a romance but it is well-written and worth it.

I also read the entire Lily Bard series by Charlaine Harris. I read recently that she will not be writing anymore in this series and I can see why. One thing about Ms. Harris' writing that I find amusing is that her characters go about their everyday business (like house cleaning) and Ms. Harris writes about it. I don't know if that's a southern thing or just something the author thinks about but I've noticed it in all her books. Sookie does a lot of house cleaning as well. Interesting. 
The Lily Bard series was captivating and I enjoyed the mysteries. Each book is pretty short and per Ms. Harris style, does not go exactly as you expect. A mystery I cannot solve in the first chapter is a good read for me. 

I am currently rereading a Georgette Heyer (The Grand Sophy). I absolutely adore Ms. Heyer's work and will be rereading a few of her books. 

Man of Steel--Full Cast

Over the weekend I watched two new movies. Man of Steel is the new Superman movie and I have to say I absolutely loved it. The story moved around in history and covered nearly everything the first three Christopher Reeve Superman movies did in only 143 minutes! Russell Crowe (not singing!) and Kevin Costner played Jor-El and Jonathan Kent (respectively) and both were magnificent. Diane Lane did a fine job as Martha Kent and surprisingly I thought Amy Adams' Lois Lane was perfect. She was brave as well as accident-prone as we expect from Superman's love interest. There was also a tiny bit with Lana Lang (Clark's high school sweetie) and a bit of Smallville. The Hercules/Jesus mythology was strong and Henry Cavill's Superman was an admirable and archetypal example (even though he's really a Brit). I liked the portrayal of Superman's humanity. I look forward to another one!

Brad Pitt looking yummy ... as usual.

I also saw World War Z with Brad Pitt. He looks delicious, as usual. Portraying a family man who worked for the U.N., he is basically forced to go back to work to help find "Patient Zero" in this newest Zombie flick. I love Zombies so I was excited to see this movie. I did not read the book and am unaware of the differences. I know that they changed the ending (originally this movie was supposed to be part of a trilogy) and the issue is basically resolved so I don't think there will be any sequels. (It wouldn't really make sense.) 

The Zombies in this movie move faster than any other Zombie I've seen. Other than that they look the same. Some of the other issues were that it only takes a bite to change into a Zombie (unlike The Walking Dead, where all you have to do is die). While not finding a cure, [SPOILER ALERT] Pitt's character does find a vaccine. This is an entirely new concept in my understanding of Zombie-verses. I am kind of interested in reading the book now, just kind of. 

I talk a lot about Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) but I have also been watching Angel. I am on Season 5 of Buffy now and Season 2 of Angel. I have to say that so far I enjoyed Season 1 of Angel more than 2. Buffy is still keeping me fascinated (the impromptu entrance of her sister is interesting). 

Wesley, (Charles) Gunn, Angel, Cordelia

Buffy and Dawn Summers

Angel is ticking me off, but I think we're supposed to have myriad emotions with this character because Vampires are inherently evil and he struggles against this natural tendency, which makes him very intriguing. 

Recently I found a BBC series called Copper and I watched the first episode. I love period pieces and this one takes place in New York City in 1864. Considering it's BBC I'm thinking it must be pretty authentic and I thoroughly enjoyed the first episode. I will be continuing to watch this. 

Matt Passmore/Jim Longworth

Season 3 of The Glades finally came out and I watched all of those in less than a week which explains why I'm behind on my school work. I now have six essays (750 words each) to finish up by Saturday. No problem. I enjoy The Glades because it's in Florida, they're mysteries, and the main character is easy on the eyes and quirky. All things I love. 

So that is what I've been up to lately with my free time. 

Flower Beauty

I am a huge Drew Barrymore fan. I have been since E.T. through Never Been Kissed & Ever After and every Adam Sandler collaboration ever; Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, and they are currently making a movie called "Blended."

Today is Beauty Tuesday. In my role as Beauty Advocate I am telling you about some new products that are available. In addition to her busy celebrity life, Drew started a new makeup company that came out recently (sold in Walmart) called Flower Beauty.

All the reviews I've seen have been good although I haven't tried any of it yet. Today I came across some tutorials Drew herself is making with beauty tips using Flower Beauty products that come out every Tuesday.

How cool is that?

My favorites are the bronzer tutorial (watch and learn about the "magic 3") and the eyeliner. She discusses the merits of brown over black eyeliner and I happen to agree with her.

Excited to add some Flower Beauty products to my shopping cart the next time I am out!
Thanks Drew!