Saturday, April 30, 2011

Best Friends Forever

Hello, My name is Alycia and I am an addict. It has been less than 24 hours since my last purse purchase. In my whole purse life, I have never spent much money on a purse. It just doesn't seem logical since I switch so often. However, about a year and half ago I entered my first COACH outlet store. We were on a super strict budget and I was behaving very well. Keeping it together and walking away was not easy but achieved. Since then I was able to get my hands on a "fake" one...Thanks Danielle. It just wasn't the same. Whenever we would go to the mall I would scope out the real COACH store but would NEVER pay that much for a purse. Earlier this year, someone posted that the Oshkosh outlet mall would soon be opening a store. Opening day was April 29...you do the math...yesterday. It just so happens that we had a little extra cash since we just had 2 days off of school and I didn't have to pay for daycare. I know my fellow Dave Ramsey friends would love to tell me where I should have put my extra money but sometimes a girl needs a new purse (or two) so stuff it...oh sorry...I'm a little passionate about purses. Wanting to get the best price, I printed off coupons for 30% of your purchase...little did I know that they were handing out similar coupons. Purse heaven. I am a clearance shopper by nature so I headed to the clearance section. 50% the price and then an additional 30%. You know the sound, it was like the heavens opened up "AHHHHHHHAHHHHHHAHHHHHHH". It was like Utopia (oh yeah a history word). So without further a do...meet my new BFF's.




This is Kenley's favorite. Won't this one be cute in the summer? Although it doesn't meet ALL of my requirements since it isn't divided down the middle. It meets the other requirements. Can't you just hear the song "Isn't she lovely?"












After our adventure and Scott's crazy driving I wasn't feeling well when we got home. I needed to sleep off either my car sickness or love sickness so I went right upstairs. Then I decided I had enough energy to put my "stuff" into my new BFF. When I was done I laid it on Scott's pillow. Scott just happened to be coming to check on me and kiss me good night. The conversation went something like this:




Me: Do you want one pillow or two? (as I was looking at my purse)




Scott: It doesn't matter.




Me: Uhm...I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to my BFF.




Scott: Oh. (looking slightly confused) What a sweet little girl! Are you cold? Do you want one cover or two?




I love that guy! He gets me!






Friday, April 29, 2011

Fabulous Friday

In no particular order a list of Fabulous things about today:








  • I started and ended my day with Kenley snuggle time.





  • It was so beautiful today, the fire drill today was like sweet music to my ears





  • Scott's thinks I'm super awesome so he took me to the new COACH outlet in Oshkosh..Yeah Baby.





  • He filled up my gas tank and got me a car wash without me even asking...everyone say "AWWWWW"





  • I know that I married my prince charming....OK do it again ...."AWWWWWW"









  • There is still hope to be a real princess for all the single ladies since Prince Harry is still available.





  • I learned a new statement..instead of "You got burned" it's "You got faced..." Whatever that means, right?





  • I nailed an IEP meeting with a parent who has been nothing but a pain in my tush. I think she's gonna buy me a Best Friends Forever necklace...just sayin.





  • My boss was at the meeting and he kept asking me random questions, where I felt like I was in an interview...and I nailed all of them I almost to shouted "HUH...You got faced" but I didn't think it was appropriate.



  • It is was an awesome day and I look forward to an even greater Saturday.





Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Worse Student EVER

Well today was an exceptionally interesting day. I had an opportunity to "spice" up my day and attended a "Differentiation" conference. It's no wonder Wisconsin is in the current financial state with all those "teachers" attending those high class conferences at Holiday Inns, stuffing 5 teachers in a car to be paid $.25 a mile, and receive reimbursement for lunch of no more than $7.00, I know this just seals the deal Walker, those "teachers" only care about the money and NOT the kids. OK, not really looking to debate, just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in that the teachers ARE NOT overpaid, actually, when kids behave like the one I will talk about today we are certainly underpaid. I was uber (it's the new word for super) excited because I had seen this woman speak before (yes, they allowed me to attend a different conference 2 years ago during the SUMMER-with no additional pay-I might add) and she was worth my time. I learned a ton. Every time I have been to a conference, no matter how amazing I am at my job, I'm always knocked back down to reality. Yes, I know that I do a pretty good job working with the kids and using strategy based learning while differentiating to meet the needs of individual students . My lessons are at least a horse and pony show while actively engaging the kids (I have an ego problem). However, there are a ton of things I can improve on.

So back this super annoying student. Yep, you know who I'm talking about. ME. Really, I know it's hard to believe that I would ever misbehave. I just can't help it. I have no self control. So as result of my behavior today, one of my team teaching partners informed me that I am no longer allowed to take away students' cell phones, since I could not keep from texting...I told her it was my secret lover (I saved the song for later)...tee hee...it wasn't and I'm not gonna tell her who I was texting. Actually, I was texting several people..some of them were in the same room as me. Here is where I can't contain myself, I am often like a teenager and when someone says something that might remotely be considered inappropriate...I giggle and then I text someone the statement "Hee hee she said "butt". I know so mature. This a 2 fold behavior: 1. I want to see if the person's cell phone will start playing a tune and 2. I want to see them start laughing so people will look at them funny (evil I know-I can't help it). As this wonderful presenter was going over her information, if one of the activities she discussed was something I have tried I would do a big "Whoot Whoot" (it was only loud enough so the people I was sitting next to could hear me) paired with a raise the roof dance motion. Once again, my team teaching partner had to remind me that I was doing the "fat lady call" and that it was time for a new statement. Man...a fat lady call? Just when I thought I was looking slim. I had wonderful intentions to fully pay attention the whole time but I am a mover. It's hard for me to sit still for long periods of time. Really, I just want to DANCE. Here's the reality, I can't be still so I find reasons to get up, I go to the bathroom, get something to drink, or I offer to get the materials for our learning. My mind wanders, so I doodle and I surf the web or I take out my phone to check the time and suddenly, I am compelled to text or face book. If I have an idea that I think should be discussed with a co-worker, I must do it immediately, I can't wait til a break...it's annoying and I disrupt people. There is a problem and I admit, I seem to have no control over myself. The enjoyment of learning is there for me but I just can't do it for 8 hours straight. Nope, it's not my style. This speaker was amazing with tons of practical ideas and engaging. My self control was below basic today. I rounded out my performance today with my own versions of "Oops I did it again" and "Secret Lover". I am sure my colleagues will never look at me the same...I'll bet they still think I'm pretty neat because they love me just the way I am.

I must admit, I really do want to follow the rules and for the most part I do. Really, in my life overall, I am a total rule follower and at times a goody-goody. It's just that whenever I become the student again whether it's in a class, at a conference or at church, I am suddenly labeled as out of control or a serious behavior problem. I swear I can't help it. The main reason I went to college was not because I had a love of learning (it was part of it), it was mainly because my dad said I shouldn't. He wanted me to work or go to a "local" college. Maybe that's why I rebel...that's a different post and a therapy session. I did learn a lot and it was definitely worth the tax payers dollars, don't worry our principal has already given us an assignment.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A Mouse in the House











I just want to start by saying, this is not the "layout" I had planned. I can't seem to figure out how to add photos mid post. I'm going to have to really try to work out that kink because it's kind of annoying.





So it's day number 2 and I wondered what will I have to blog about today, after much consideration I decided I would talk about my basement. You know where the "magic" (laundry) happens. About 5 1/2 years ago we made a decision to move. In whirlwind, we decided to buy a house. We looked at like a bazillion houses (and yes, it's a number). Each of the houses I loved had finished basements. What really sold me on this house was the basement and the fenced in yard. The basement was finished to perfection. It looked so cozy and comfy. I remember standing there closing my eyes, dreaming of my family snuggling on a couch, watching movies, and eating popcorn, actually I think I may have even smelled the popcorn in my imagination. If you've seen my house, it wasn't the kitchen that I fell in love with since it's super tiny. Anyway, back to the basement, we had literally lived here like 5 minutes or maybe it was two weeks, this was back in the olden days when Scott worked first shift and left the house before the sun rose. One early morning, I went to the basement to start some laundry. As I entered the unfinished part, there IT was...I'll never forget...it's etched in my brain. There in the middle of the floor was the biggest mouse I've ever seen. I know INSANE, right? Well I did what any mom would do, I screamed like a little girl. I mean, this mouse could attack my little boy, it would have had to have been raised from the dead and I do believe in miracles. Anyway, it was like 5:45am or something like that since I didn't know what to do, I screamed and paced. Then I did what any rational adult would do, I called my Daddy. I had a vision of him jumping in his car immediately coming over and scooping up the dead mouse in one swoop, you know it's logical to think that your daddy would drive 45 minutes just to save you at 6:00 am. First of all, my dad was not a happy camper and secondly, he would not come to save the day. He told me I had to pick it up and throw it away. OMG, how dare he. Anyway, I waited and waited because I thought maybe it would take care of itself. In my state of panic, I did think about waking up the neighbor but I didn't want to seem crazy, I mean they barely knew me. I finally worked up enough courage to throw out the mouse. I screamed and screamed the whole time I tried to pick up this creature. Yes, I know I was so brave. That whole little incident has ruined my LOVE for the basement. We have spent some time down there but it's rare that I'll suggest heading down. Once in a while I'll suggest that we should really start using the basement and when it comes down to it, it's hard people...I mean do you understand that 5 1/2 years ago there was a dead mouse found in this basement. When we do go down there the kids always want to turn off the lights to make it dark like a movie theater and my answer is always "NO!" Such a party pooper I am. Somehow I managed to spend 5 months training for my first half marathon on the treadmill in the basement. I would rise early in the morning and slowly, creep down the stairs and then sprint to the treadmill (I did consider this my warm-up). When I was on the treadmill, I would forget about the mouse. The time has come again when I need to evaluate the usage of the basement, it's an amazing extra space. Now if someone told me this story I would tell them to "put on their big girl panties and get over it"...I think it's time that I take my own advice. What do you think?

Monday, April 25, 2011





You might be asking, what is that sight? That my friends is our laundry. It's clean, so don't go calling Social Services on us, we already have them on our speed dial. My darling husband and I have an agreement, he does the laundry, plain and simple. His idea and my idea of doing the laundry are not the same, but you know the old saying "beggers can't be chosers". In my ideal world, the laundry is washed, dried, folded, and put away. In Scott's world, well, let's just say he has his own unique system. And since I'm a giver, I help out in his system, I follow his lead (after all, he is the leader of our house) and I put laundry in the washer, then the dryer, and then I add to his towering pile of clean clothes. Once the tower gets to this height, he'll usually fold. You will be happy to know that the dirty laundry baskets are mostly empty, for right now. So I do look forward to several baskets of laundry to put away tomorrow. I'm gonna let him do laundry his way and try to keep my mouth shut (which is super hard).


OK so this is my very first blog post EVER. Well I have posted comments on a few blogs and stalked a few others, recently I decided it was time to start my very own. Of course when you do something so crazy, a lot of things run through your mind including: Will anybody care to read about what I have to say? Who knows and I kind of don't really care , well OK I do care, but in order to seem like I have it "all together" I'll pretend that I don't. So why the "Totally Untogether Working Mom"? Well because contrary to popular belief, I don't have it all together. Now I make every effort to appear like we are the perfect family of four. I mean, I am a teacher and Scott a corrections officer, one would think we'd run a pretty tight ship. In addition to our amazing careers and high Christian values, we have 2 children (almost exactly 2 years apart), 2 cats, 5 fish, 1 leopard gecko, and 1 dog, we also have a chain linked fence and I drive a Dodge Caravan, what's not all together about that. Well a whole lot! I am a working mom with 2 children trying to keep it all flowing, while I believe I do a fair job, I am a work in progress. I want this blog to be about being "real" in a world where we are expected to achieve perfection on a daily basis. Also just because I'm a teacher, doesn't mean that my grammar is perfect, just trying to survive people...I hope you enjoy my reality!