Honestly...

So I said I'm going to be more honest with myself...

These are my favorite fall food.

My BFF loves them too.

That's the reason she's my BFF.

Well, not the only reason, but a really good reason.

I lie to myself about "punkins".

They're only sold during Halloween season(which Wal-Mart seems to think is August-October)They are my favorite fall color.

They taste AMAZING! Sugary, mallowy, sweetness.

Did I mention, you can only get them for 3 months out of the year?

So...I lie.

I tell myself it's ok to eat an entire bag.

I hoard them like a squirrel.

I don't hibernate or have to save up all of my food until winter....but I eat them like I do.

I tell myself lies. I make myself believe that its ok to binge on "punkins".

While "punkins" may not seem like that big of a deal, it's still a lie.

The real reason I ate the whole bag is....I have no self control.

I have no self control in other areas of my life, as well.
Eating candy is just one of those areas.

If I lie to myself about my lack of candy eating self control...

what bigger lies am I making myself believe?

Just being honest.

Really???

Let's be honest....

I'm a liar.

Not so much to other people, but to myself.

I lie to myself every. single. day.

I tell myself lies so often, I start to believe they are true.



This past Sunday, Andy Stanley started a new series at Buckhead. It kicked my butt.

The series is entitled, "Your Move". It's all about making the tough decisions that we have to make in life, and how do you decide what to do.

Part 1 was titled, "Really?"



Are we really honest with ourselves when we do things? Do we lie to ourself about our reasons? Do we lie to ourselves and to others to cover up the real reason we make a decision to do something?

Why did you really break up?

Why did you really not want to go out again?

Why did you really not call?

Why did you really want to lose weight?

Why did you really buy that house? that car? that new low-cut shirt?

Why did you really???



If we're honest with ourselves...

If I'm honest with myself....

It's all about me.

It's all about what makes me feel good.

It's all about making people like me, whether its who I really am or not.

It's all about getting people to notice me...to compliment me...to envy me.



I do things not because I need to.

I didn't need new clothes.

I didn't need a new car.

I didn't need to not answer his call.



I wanted new clothes...to keep up with what was "fashionable"

I wanted a new car....so I could say, "Look at me!"

I didn't answer his call because I was worried what my friends would think about him...and about me.



It's hard to be completely honest, not so much with other people, but with myself.

As Andy said, "we're experts at selling ourselves on what we want."

We believe our made up reasons for our bad decisions.



I make bad decisions because I want to be happy.

They may not be the best decision...the right decision...the thought out decision...

they are the decisions that will make me happy.



Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?"

My heart is deceitful, and I "listen to my heart" all the time.



So, I'm hoping that I can become more honest with myself.

It takes work for sure.



Look in a mirror....no really, go look in a mirror.

Say it out loud....no really, say it out loud.

Ask yourself....

I'm asking myself...

Why am I doing this REALLY???


The real reason I'm....

I'm in love...

with these photographers.

This is Amanda....

Although she looks like a famous supermodel, she's one of my favorite people in real life. She's in my amazing small group. Amanda looks amazing here...and I want them to make me look that way on my wedding day. All of their photos are done without using photoshop...they're just that good.

So...Amanda got married....

Her wedding was so fun and the pictures totally captured the day. I hope my wedding is that much fun too....and that my photographers are this good. Now I just have to find someone to marry me...and save about a bazillion dollars to afford it all...

Check out their other stuff...

www.grayphotograph.com

God is great, beer is good, people are crazy...

Two things I love...

and

What could be better than fried everything, funnel cakes, rides, AND Billy Currington?



He's playing the North Georgia Sate Fair (Marietta, GA) next Thursday. Now I just have to convince my friends that we're redneck enough to go.

It's Fall Y'all!

Fall is by far my favorite season. I love all things fall. Fall clothes, fall smells, fall foods, fall colors, fall activities....I love fall.

Here are a few fall things I'm loving right now...

I love these new cords from Old Navy.

They're only $15 right now. Run out and get a pair. I have them in Camel and Chocolate. I love the trouser fit, but they have bootcut, too. And for only $15!

I love Halloween candy...who cares if Halloween is a month away. Candy tastes better in the shape of a pumpkin.

Two of my favorites...

And I used to be a huge Bath & Body Works fan. Not so much anymore. Except for in the fall. I LOVE this...

What are your fall favorites? Maybe I should add them to mine...

Want to Help?

If you live in the Atlanta area, I'm sure you don't need the news to tell you that it rained...a lot. If you're not in the Atlanta area...it rained...A LOT!

The creeks and rivers overflowed too quickly for many people to even know what was happening before it was too late. Many neighborhoods were under water, houses flooded, roads washed away...and a school under water.

This is Clarkdale Elementary School. It is in Cobb County...the county where I teach. Our county is divided by areas. It's an Area 1 school and so is mine. It is only a few miles from my school, and I've spent many a day in meetings and workshops with their teachers. Clarkdale was flooded on Tuesday. Like the mobile unit I teach in, their mobile units were destroyed too....they floated off their bricks!

School started back for us today, but the Clarkdale students and staff won't be going back there any time soon. They are relocating to two other elementary schools in our Area, Compton and Austell Intermediate.

I talked with a few of the teachers yesterday, trying to find out what they needed from us. They were still in shock. School supplies, student records, and personal items...all lost.

If you'd like to help the students or teachers of Clarkdale Elementary as they settle in to their new, dryer, home....

Monetary donations for the Clarkdale Elementary School Relief Fund may be made through the Cobb Schools Foundation. The foundation’s secure donation Web site accepts credit/debit cards. Cash, check or gift card donations may be mailed to: Cobb Schools Foundation, 514 Glover St. Marietta, GA 30060. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Donations of school supplies and teacher instructional supplies can be made at your local Cobb County school. The warehouse staff will pick up donations at your school and take them to the warehouse for distribution to Clarkdale students and teachers.

WXIA-TV (11 Alive) and The School Box have volunteered to take donations of school and instructional supplies at Atlanta-area School Box locations. The stores will receive donations through the weekend of Sept. 26-27.

Stop waiting...ask me out!

Stumbled upon the best challenge ever. I was reading my friend Camisha's bloghttp://sassyflipflop.blogspot.com and loved this.

It's a challege to guys to stop waiting and just ask a girl out. We're not getting any younger so what are you waiting for? Just ask...most girls will say yes.

Still On My Mind

As I stopped this afternoon to pause and pray for the people of Sichuan I realized so many people here don't even know about the earthquake of 2008 or the people there. It only gained minimal media coverage. You may have seen it on CNN that day or your 11 o'clock news. In Sichuan we heard about it for weeks.

If you'd like to know more....or are wondering what you can still do to help...check out...

www.afterquakemusic.com

www.sichuan-quake-relief.org

Where were you...

on May 12, 2008 at 2:28 PM?

Don't remember?

It is a moment I will never forget.

May 12, 2008 was the day that an 8.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the Sichuan Province, China....Beichuan, Mianzhu, Dujiangyan, and the surrounding areas.

While life continued as normal in America that day, May 12th is a day that China will never forget.

On May 12, 2008...

87,000 people lost their lives.

1.5 million homes were destroyed.

On May 12, 2009...as we remember,

200,000 people still remain jobless.

20,000 people still remain missing, buried beneath rubble.

On May 12, 2008 I was in my apartment when it began to shake. I couldn't find matching shoes. I threw on flipflops and ran out the door, barely able to make it down the stairwell that was moving in all directions. I joined my neighbors along with Todd and Scott outside. We were all ok, and didn't realize until later that even though our area of town received minimal damage, our city would never be the same.

Chengdu, China is my favorite place in all of the world. My heart is there and my heart breaks for the people who live there. Most of them live in darkness, most of them do not know God. When tragedy strikes in America, we are lucky. We usually question God. We know and serve a HUGE and powerful God. We are able to see Him in circumstances, even when they seem grim. Unfortunately, most people in China do not even know God, so its hard to see Him in anything, you can't question someone you don't know about or don't believe in. So my hope and my prayer today, as we remember those who lost their lives in the Sichuan earthquake, and more importantly, those who survived, is that even in the midst of tragedy, and as the people continue to rebuild their lives, that it will continue to open the hearts of the people to the amazing God that I'm lucky to know. God is able to take rubble and turn it into something good and for His glory.

Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I celebrated Mother's Day a day early with my mom...and now I'm writing about it a day after...welcome to my life.

My mom is the greatest. I don't tell her often enough, but seriously, she is the best ever. Here are 27 reasons why she is the best...one for each year she has put up with me.

1. She raised my brother and I by herself after my parents divorced. She found a pay stub from when I was younger and she paid all of our bills plus all the extra stuff we wanted...on a salary of $19,000. I've never once been hungry or in need.

2. I wasn't the nicest child to my mom growing up. I told her many, many times that I hated her. She just took it and still loved me anyway.

3. My mom has bought me 6 cars over the years. 3 that I totalled. One brand new car. She didn't have her first new car until last year.

4. My mom worked full time, went to graduate school full time, and still had time to read me bed time stories, attend my school activities, and help me with school work. Parents who say they don't have time are lying.

5. My mom sacrificed hundreds of hours of sleep on my school projects growing up. We would stay up until 4 or 5 in the morning making my presentation perfect, editing my papers, or making elaborate tri-boards. I won Invent America, Science Fair, and many other awards thanks to my moms help.

6. My mom has helped me move more times than I can count. She even moved all of my furniture plus a washer and dryer all alone while I was away at camp during college. She is amazing!

7. When I started teaching, my mom called me every single morning for 2 years to wake me up. She was my personal alarm clock. It only ended when I moved to China and we had a 12 hour time difference.

8. My mom came to China for her spring break just to visit me...she brought the best American candy and food with her!

9. My mom put up with my brother and I arguing and fighting ALOT. I'm not sure how she lived in the same house with us.

10. My mom is strange and quirky. Every day I see more of her in me. I get my strange sense of humor from her.

11. I inherited my completely flat feet from my mom. They look like Fred Flintstones feet.

12. I also inherited not having 2 permanent teeth from her. My mom took extra summer jobs just to pay for all of the dental work I've had done over the years. She needs the same work done on her own teeth, but sacrificed for me, and has never spent the money on her own teeth.

13. My mom has the best handwriting ever. She loves doing caligraphy and personalizing things. I get my love for monograms from her. Our signatures look identical. I used to forge her name on notes in high school all the time.

14. My mom let me get any pet I ever asked for. I've had a million cats, dogs, hamsters, fish, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, frogs, turtles, and chicks. She only said no to the goose and the pot bellied pig.

15. My mom loves KitKats. She thinks they are my favorite candy too. They are not. Every year for Christmas and Easter, Santa and the Easter Bunny always gave them to me....I wouldn't eat them so she got them all.

16. My mom keeps Diet Coke in business. I swear that the artificial sweeteners have contributed to her memory loss. She never drinks coffee but has to have Diet Coke to function. She only likes it in a can. Bottles and fountain drinks are gross to her.

17. My mom loves antique cars. She had a red and white Chevy Nova when she was young and always wanted another. She bought one for herself last week as a Mother's Day gift.

18. My mom can't cook. She got it from her mother. Her specialty is spaghetti. We had it alot growing up. Like 4 times a week alot.

19. My mom got remarried a few years ago...to her best friend from growing up. They have cute pictures of when they were in high school. It's weird that Michael has known my mom longer than me.

20. My mom loves digusting foods. Fried chicken livers and Circus peanuts just to name a few.

21. My mom used to draw on my boiled eggs that I took in my lunch to school. They always looked like me or my friends.

22. I like to eat apples but not when they turn brown. My mom cut my apples every day growing up so that they were still attached to the core but were in slices I could eat at lunch. They didn't turn brown. I'm still not sure how she does it.

23. My mom loves to sew. She made all of my halloween costumes growing up. She made my jumpers, balloon suits, and skirts. She has a problem with starting projects and never finishing.

24. My mom always finds the best Christmas presents and buys them way before Christmas. The problem is she hides them and can't remember where she put them. I've gotten presents in March or April from the previous Christmas once she found them again.

25. My mom is messy and disorganized but she always knows exactly where things are. She likes organized chaos.

26. My mom was the fun mom growing up. She let me have parties and was always the mom that let everyone spend the night. I usually didn't even ask because she never said no.

27. I talk to my mom every single day. I usually call her when I'm driving. She never calls me because she knows that I'm going to call. I always ask her for her advice, but I rarely do what she says. I usually do the opposite, but in the end wish that I had listened to her. Mom is always right.

Happy Mother's Day Mama Mia! You're the best! Thank you for everything you do for me.

Happy Earth Day!

I'm doing my part to save the earth by using my super cute new Vera Bradley shopper tote....I'm one step closer to being "Granola".

It's a limited time only deal in stores. $12 and you can look cute while grocery shopping too. They made the bag with a version of the Night Owl design. Hurry to your Vera store and get yours before they run out!

Why is it...

that I always want Chick-fil-A on Sundays??

Chick-fil-A is hands down my favorite fast food restaurant. I love every single thing on the menu...and they even have Diet Dr. Pepper (not that I'm drinking caffeine). I've spent way too much money at Chick-fil-A over the years...from the one on campus at Georgia College and at Valdosta, to the school spirit nights at Mountville where I used to teach. My heart and my money belong to Chick-fil-A.

Since I'm craving a sandwich with extra pickles, waffle fries, a mint chocolate chip milk shake, and a sweet tea....I thought I'd post some fun fact about my favorite place...

Did you know:

- Chick-fil-A has sold more than 209 million sandwiches. Laid end to end, that is more than 13,280 miles of sandwiches. That is enough sandwiches to stretch from Atlanta to Seattle, Washington and back 5 times! Or from Atlanta to Moscow, Russia twice.

- If you stacked the Chick-fil-A sandwiches sold on top of each other they would reach the International Space Station. Chick-fil-A in outer space...now that's a good idea.

- The amount of Chick-fil-A nuggets sold would cover 1/4 of the Earth's circumference.

- You can get 52 combo meals simply by being one of the first 100 individuals at a new chick-fil-a opening. Thats worth over $260- You have to camp out the night before but its a blast.
- Did you know you can order (1) nugget! It’s true- ask next time your there.
- Coupons never expire. If you have an outdated coupon they will still honor it.
-The Chick-fil-A in LaGrange gives you a free sandwich on Mondays if you bring your church bulletin.
- The Chick-fil-a cow never talks. Its part of the rules! There is a moo manifesto!
- You can turn in your kids toy for a free Ice cream- as long as it has not been opened. No matter how old the toy is!
- If you buy 2 kids meals- you get 8 nuggets, 2 small fries, 2 drinks, & 2 ice creams for cheaper then you can buy a 8 nugget combo.

Feeling Preppy

I'm not sure what you would classify my personal style as...Classic? Preppy? Country? Southern?
But spring time makes me happy...and makes me feel preppy.
Some of my new preppy favorites are...
These new croakies for my sunglasses:


And I finally caved and got a car decal:


Check them out at http://www.thepinkmonogram.com/

The Cougar

Before moving to China I didn't watch much T.V., but thanks to an ex-boyfriend and many hours of free time, last year I discovered so many great trashy shows that I LOVE! Highlights of my week include Gossip Girl, The New 90210, and The Hills. So because of my new found love of trashy T.V., I have to admit I was a tiny bit excited to find out about a new show...

Meet "The Cougar"

The Cougar airs tonight on TV Land at 10pm.
Now I'm aware that with a show called The Cougar on such a fabulous station as TV Land, it can only promise to be bad television at its finest. I just hope it lives up to all of my expectations.

A love/hate relationship...

I'm really an oxymoron. I don't like getting in the ocean and I despise sand...but I LOVE the beach. I have the palest skin ever but I love laying out. I hate fish but love eating "seafood".
Here is a tribute to the many things that keeps me loving (more than hating) the beach...



30-A may quite possibly be my favorite road in all of America. It's a 20 mile stretch of road that runs between Panama City Beach and Destin. On 30-A you'll find my favorite place to stay and several of my favorite restaurants and shopping places.
I LOVE Seagrove, I LOVE Seaside, and I LOVE Grayton Beach. It could be because many of my favorite memories from college and the past few years were made there. From Young Life beach trips to Bachelorette parties to just girls weekend getaways. From hanging out with the girls to meeting new boys, whenever I think of the beach I think of some place or some memory made on 30-A.


I live for the few meals a year I get at The Red Bar. I can almost taste the Panne Chicken just thinking about it.

Seriously, I love food and I've tried restaurants all over the world. The Red Bar is in my top 5. If you haven't been. Get in your car and drive there now. The 5 hour drive is worth it.

Bud and Alley's...from the amazing margaritas and cheese dip at The Taco Bar, to the beer and local guys at the roof top bar...part of my heart belongs to Bud and Alley's.


When I venture off of 30-A, though my redneck side pulls me towards Panama City, my sensible side says go towards Destin. My favorite place to shop is the Silver Sands Outlets in Destin. Best J. Crew and Gap deals ever! I also love A.J.'s for dancing and a good time...and Sandestin is amazing too. Try the shrimp at Hammerheads, but stay away from the category 5 hurricane drink ( just trust me on this one). After dinner you can shake your booty at The Village Door or head to Rum Runner's Piano Bar for good drinks and great music.

After Spring Break '09 my love for the beach is far outweighing my hate.

Friday Treats

When I lived in LaGrange I loved getting baskets from Creative Call-ins. http://www.creativecallins.citymax.com/home.html

They make the best cheese petals and orange blossoms ever!

The only problem is, I don't live in LaGrange and its about $3.50 for a dozen. I'm hosting a bridal shower in a few weeks and wanted cheese petals and orange blossoms so I thought I'd try to make them myself. I can make alot more for alot less money.

Here are the recipes:

ORANGE BLOSSOMS

3 eggs
1 1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix above ingredients together. Bake in junior muffin pans, putting 1 teaspoon batter in each cup. Bake approximately 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Yields 65 to 70 little blossoms.

GLAZE:

1 1/4 lb. sugar
Juice and grated rind of 2 oranges
Juice of 2 lemons and grated rind of 1 lemon

While still hot, dip in above glaze mixture. Cool on rack. One box of ready mix cake mixture can be used instead of above cake ingredients (yellow cake mix).



CHEESE STRAWS

1/4 lb. Cheddar cheese, grated
1 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika

Mix all together thoroughly. Roll or cut into straw shapes. bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.


I'll let you know how they turn out.

When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

Bailouts, inflation, the cost of stamps on the rise, and the fact that you're probably really just a slacker and forgot until today that tomorrow is Valentine's Day...
Fear not...
http://www.someecards.com
has you covered.

When you can't seem to find just the right words to say to your sweetie or don't know how to come across as perfectly sarcastic....try an ecard.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Friday Treats

I had the best grape and apple salad the other day from the salad bar at Jason's Deli. I found a recipe online and hope its the same. I thought I'd post a recipe for a Friday Treat. I haven't made it yet but I'll let you know when I do. Its super easy. I only make super easy foods.



Grape and Apple Salad

4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. sour cream
2tbsp. and 2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 lbs. grapes
4 apples diced

Wash and dry grapes. Dice apples.
Beat remaining ingredients together with mixer.
Stir in grapes and apples.
Chill and serve.

You can add chopped nuts and brown sugar on top for extra flavor and cuteness.

I of course will be using fat free cream cheese, fat free sour cream, and splenda.

Check back next Friday for another treat.

One Can Never Have Too Many T-Shirts

I found this super cute UGA shirt over at

http://www.southernbellestore.com/

They have southern t-shirts, football t-shirts, and some Christian t-shirts that are actually pretty cute too...no God's Gym or Jesus He's the Real Thing shirts though...




They even have super cute koozies, and everyone knows how much I love a cute koozie.




Plus free shipping!

Be My Own Valentine

So as I was wasting time in Target yesterday before my spin class, I found these and I LOVE them! What do you think??





Maybe a gift to myself since no one else buys me gifts...

A New Leaf...

So I'm a new person.
I finally decided that I needed to be healthier. Yes, while Chick-fil-a milkshakes do contain a daily dose of calcium and Willy's burritos do have some vegetables and protein....I wasn't happy with what the scale was telling me.

I've started working out every day...I haven't missed a day in over 2 weeks...and I mean really working out...weights, eliptical for over an hour, and spin class!

And I love it! I love working out...I actually look forward to getting off of work and heading to the gym. Who knew the gym could be fun?

And....

I haven't taken a nap in 2 weeks. I LOVE NAPS! They are my favorite thing in the world, only second to eating. Actually, I think I prefer sleeping over eating. But they weren't doing much good.

I read an article about how you can lose 10+ pounds just by getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep a night. And I thought I'd give it a try. I've been in bed every night at 10 o'clock. I feel great!

And I gave up caffeine. No more Diet Dr. Pepper to start of my day. I used a coupon at Subway last night and had to buy a drink. I gave the cup to the lady behind me in line and just drank my bottled water. She was so excited to get a free drink, and I didn't even miss the soft drinks.

Anyway, hopefully soon you won't recognize me. I've lost 8 pounds already and am feeling better than ever. Hopefully the hard work will pay off and I'll be able to stick with it. If you see me start to drink a Coke or take a nap...remind me I need to be going to the gym instead.

I'll keep you updated, but hopefully this is the new Rachel.

Things I'm loving...

Right this minute.

Because it changes often.

1. www.google.com/reader

I've discovered that I love reading blogs. Some of them belong to my real friends, and some to my imaginary friends

2. http://www.wordle.net/

So fun to make cute word art

3. http://www.youversion.com/

I'm reading through the entire Bible this year. Something I should have done long ago. This site has a pretty great daily reading plan. I also like my new Chronological Through the Bible in a Year Book.

4. http://www.verabradley.com/

I'm loving my cute new Morgan bag with the new spring colors.

When Country Comes to Town...

So this weekend my boy "Country" came to town. He actually ventured all the way from Alabama to the the big city. And he had a blast! I even took him to a big department store! We ate at Noche, which I LOVE! They have the best margaritas and tapas. We went to Dad's Garage and laughed histerically. And of course, we went to Taco Mac. Two of them. Country is in the passport club and he's trying to drink 300+ beers...alcoholic much?

My friends are the greatest. I went to a thing at church and they entertained Country at Taco Mac while I was gone, though he probably could have entertained himself for hours with all of the beer selections.

Our conversation on the way home:

Me: So did you have fun with my friends?
Country: Yeah, they're great. Boobs Magee is sort of a conservative hussy.
Me: So what did ya'll do?
Country: We played truth phone.
Me: Oh, so tell me about it...
Country: Oh you just had to be there...you wouldn't understand....

Great, so Country hit it off with my BFF's and now I'm out of the Circle of Trust.

Loft Loves Teachers

I love Ann Taylor Loft.
I have bought my teacher clothes there for years.
Its about time they recognized and started to appreciate all of the money I've spent there.

They've started a new program.
Loft Loves Teachers.
Visit their site to sign up...
http://teachers.anntaylorloft.com/

You get 20% off your first purchase and 15% off all purchases.

Finally, a perk for being a teacher...
now if I could just go eat lunch in a restaurant like a real adult.

I'm Torn

I love wearing winter jackets and in the south that doesn't happen often enough...


but I also love flipflops and sandals. Can't we just combine the two looks?





I just bought this cute jacket from American Eagle on Clearance. $60 and I love it!
I got the sandals at Target.
I'm thinking of wearing them together to get the best of both worlds....

25 Random Things About Me

So I gave in to peer pressure. Everyone is doing it, so here goes...

1. I broke my arm 3 times roller skating. I don't roller skate anymore.

2. I once won an American Idol karaoke contest on the radio. I can't sing.

3. My all time favorite color is blue because it matches my eyes...but recently I've been embracing the "girly" me and I love pink and red.

4. I love childrens movies maybe more than I love adult movies. A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo are on the top of my list.

5. In high school I was a terrible driver. I totalled 3 cars in the months. I like to think that I've gotten a little bit better over the years.

6. I am a fast driver. During college I got my license taken away for 6 months for speeding. I had to pay alot of money and retake the driving test to get it back. I also had to walk to work.

7. I want to own a store. A monogramming, cutesy, Vera Bradley-carrrying, stationary selling store.

8. When I was little I had a pretend store. It was called Clown and Bee. My mom was my only customer. She said that if I ever open a real store I still have to call it Clown and Bee.

9. I have flat feet. Like Fred Flintstone flat. They are ugly and I hate them.

10. I have 2 fake teeth. Thanks to my genetics I was born with out 2 permanent teeth. I used to have a retainer with the fake teeth on it that I could take out at night. Gross.

11. I am obsessive/compulsive about locking my keys in my car. I did it twice in high school and now I check and recheck my purse at least 10 times before I close the door.

12. Before I was a teacher I was a mental health counselor. My favorite clients were a couple that met in the mental hospital and got married. They were both Schizophrenic. The husband believed that he wrote the song Hotel California for a contest and that it was stolen from him.

13. I vacationed in Vietnam and never ate Vietnamese food. I was afraid of getting sick on vacation. I only at western food and McDonalds for a week.

14. I hate sand and I hate the ocean....but Seagrove Beach is one of my favorite vacation spots.

15. My favorite snack food is Golden Flake Cheese Puffs, AKA "Heaven"

16. I collect koozies. If I ever get married I will give out koozies at my reception.

17. I was born in Fort Worth, TX but have never been back since I was a baby.

18. I also collect Starbucks city mugs....but I don't really like coffee.

19. I talk to my mom every day. Until last year, she used to call me every morning to wake me up for work. Living in Asia with a 12 hour time difference didn't really work for her schedule so I had to rely on my alarm clock.

20. My friends call me Rachrea ( said rah-kree-uh). It came from my friend Gav who thought my BFF was talking to a ghetto person on AOL instant messenger in college.

21. I love kittens and puppies but don't really like cats or dogs. Which is why I have no pets now. I realized they all eventually turn into cats and dogs.

22. I hate fish. I had a boyfriend who took me to Red Lobster on a date....hence the reason he's not my boyfriend.

23. I love mexican food and could eat it every day. White cheese dip is my weakness. If you do not like it, then we cannot be friends. Relationships have ended over cheese dip before. True story.

24. I love scarves. I had 10 made in China. I own approximately 30. It is cold enough in Georgia to wear them about 3 days out of the winter.

25. Paisley is my favorite pattern. When in doubt of what to get me as a present...pick something paisley.

Get Well Soon!

I love the South.
My roomie had surgery this week.
And our kitchen looks like an after a funeral family reunion.
You know what I'm talking about...
the sorry your Great Great Aunt Ida once removed died,
but here's a casserole.
Casseroles and fried chicken make everything better.
Or at least that is what is taught in southern etiquette class.
So while my roomie is knocked out on drugs, I'm pigging it up in the kitchen.
Thanks thoughtful coworkers, your casseroles are much appreciated.

It's Raining...

It's Pouring.

So I teach 2nd grade.

In a trailer.

The only way to reach the main school building from said trailer is down a muddy gravel hill.

It's always fun to go into the building when it rains.

It only rains when we need to go inside.

Did I mention that I hate rain?

Did I mention that I hate my trailer, er, mobile classroom?

So to cheer myself up on this nasty rainy day I just bought myself a new raincoat.

www.rei.com/outlet is having a 20% off sale until tomorrow.

I got this cute little jacket in Azalea. For $50 I think its worth it.