its really simple

i think we've found ourselves a future subscriber to real simple magazine. she couldn't take her eyes off it!

give me an "A!"

every wednesday evening since last october, i have found myself in the middle of about 40 kids, screaming my head off in complete and total excitement as our high commander (our one and only, mike eisenman) calls for order to begin our AWANA club meeting. for those who are unfamiliar with the club like i was, AWANA is an acronym that stands for "approved workmen are not ashamed" which is taken from second timothy 2:15. the main emphasis of the program is to encourage, teach, and inspire our young people to memorize God's Word. our AWANA night is an outreach for kids from 1st through 5th grade and each night contains a few basic essentials: opening prayer/announcements, song time, bible time, handbook time (where the kids work on memorizing verses), and GAME TIME. that’s where julie and i come in.

game time and the AWANA game circle is my domain. i was BORN for it. sure when i first started i was TOTALLY nervous about getting in front of kids (yes kids) and directing the games but THANKFULLY julie and cobie were there to make everything go smoothly. we play lots of games; beanbag games, balloon games, and even the classic AWANA relay games. i try to put emphasis on competing hard, while keeping a good attitude. and i encourage good sportsmanship and the importance of both winning and losing with graciousness. these are not easy lessons for those who are competitive (like myself), but slowly some of these character traits are sinking in. i thoroughly enjoy the perks of being the game director: wearing and using a whistle, utilizing the "5 count" to keep the kids on point, pretending to view an instant replay of controversial calls, and being entertained by the kids as they compete along with their leaders.

i have truly been blessed to be part of the AWANA mission and i can’t wait for tomorrow night when julie gets to unleash her relentless whistle blowing skills on the unsuspecting saplings. okay, okay, she’s not that bad.

i am. muahahaha...!

happy birthday papa bear!

he can fix anything with just a rubber band and paperclip.
he doesn’t give high fives; only high sixes.
when people pay attention to him, he keeps the change.
the contents of his taco never fall out.
a bird in his hand is worth three in the bush.
mosquitoes don’t bite him.

who is he, you ask? he's the most amazingly wonderful papa

in the whole wide world. =)

happy birthday papa bear.

pennies & dimes

my very FIRST itunes purchase on my NEW MACBOOK (merry christmas to me!) is the album "pennies & dimes" by my bestest friend in the whole wide world, stacy lantz!

check her out! ...but don't be gross about it.

eva's first christmas

even though my whole family wasn't together for christmas this year, it was still pretty special because it was eva's FIRST! and while we all weren't in one room, we were all "together" on skype. i loved it. so many faces on so many screens. simply glorious.

eva certainly enjoyed herself too:

i love making her laugh and smile.
it's literally SUNSHINE for the soul.

politically correct carols

10. O Holiday Tree
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Day of Winter
8. Frosty the Snowperson
7. Chestnuts Roasting on a Safely Contained, Continuously Monitored, Eco-friendly, Non-toxic Outdoor Fire

(for Which I Do Have a Permit)

6. Higher Power Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
5. Grandma Allegedly Got Run Over By an Unidentified

Non-Human Perpetrator
4. Deck the Halls with Boughs of Unendangered Foliage

(If Office Policy Permits)
3. Hark! The Herald Mythical Winged Creature Sings
2. I Saw Mommy Greeting Santa Claus with a Purely
Platonic Expression of Inoffensive Mutual Affection
1. I’ll Be Home for a Short Period of Time in December

shark bait

i get "the itch" every once in a while to change things up. tonight i scratched that itch and i couldn't be happier. i traded in my plain, boring white walls for a fabulous "shark" gray. i blared my mcr and 3 hours later... i was done! its amazing what you can get done when you stay FOCUSED.

before.after!

(ish)

i still have a few things left to do before my "reading/tv/art room" is completed. but don't worry, i'll keep you posted. =)

quick fix

i live in a home that needs some serious updating but i like to decorate on a dime, so i decided to add a curtain instead of requesting to remove the sliding doors, patching, painting, etc.

and since its no secret that i'm a HUGE fan of urban outfitters, when i happened upon a FABULOUS shower curtain COVERED in owls, it was no surprise that my will hadn't a chance of resisting. i immediately clicked on "add to cart" and a week later i was singing soprano vibrato as i opened my package from uo.

before:

after:

...a little definitely goes a LONG way. =)

scribble your heart out

i found a really cool site that lets you DOODLE. how cool is that!

here are a few of my cave doodles:

thanksgiving = nesting?

what is it about the thanksgiving holiday that makes my nesting instinct kick in to overdrive? i think it’s my procrastination, that’s what. i’m not a fan of being in the kitchen, so when i needed a serving platter, i all of a sudden had an overwhelming urge to haul everything out of the cabinet and reorganize it. i’m SUPPOSED to be making stuffing, but instead, i now have an organized cupboard to gaze upon. not to worry, i’ll leave the cupboard door open and perhaps that will distract everyone from the fact that THERE IS NO STUFFING! i really don't think that's gonna work though.

alright, back to the kitchen i go to ACTUALLY make some food, like my fabulous mashed potatoes. but not without first saying "happy thanksgiving to everyone!"

a $300 secret

i have a secret. an amazingly, wonderful secret that is sure to make someone i hold near and dear to my heart squeal with delight and perhaps squeeze out a tear or two. psh! who am i kidding. this person's eyes are going to be swimming for days! (giddy with de!ight)

e.l.f.

i've been trying for a month now to make this little angel smile at me. it doesn't matter that she's only a few weeks old; i want to make her smile NOW. (patience in the inward parts) i spend almost every day with my sister and eva (sorry mama!) and i love every minute of it. the day she starts to recognize me will certainly be one to remember.

i love you little elf!

the next big thing

have you ever gone completely nuts in your car when you were the only one in it? i JUST did. i heard on the radio about a concert in tampa called the next big thing with MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE that will be here in LESS than a month! and guess who is going? .....ME!!!!!!

i'd like to call upon my friends from the planet kashyyyk to help me express to you my excitement in this matter:

to say that i am "stoked" is an understatement. i am psyched OUT! a&a and my chem are the two bands i've ALWAYS wanted to see in concert. they are my "must haves." and since i just saw a&a a couple months back, this december 5th will complete me.

ggggggggggggg! (most satisfying smile)

my little elf

i would like you to meet my niece, eva lynne fernandez, aka e.l.f. =) she was born in clearwater on october 19th at 10:38pm after 21 HOURS of (grueling) labor. so incredible. she was 8 lbs, 14 oz and all 20 inches of ADORABLE baby. i still can't believe she's real. sometimes, when i'm not with her, i open her photo on my phone and i just STARE at her. she's completely mesmerizing! i've seen and held TONS of babies, but her? she's.... REAL. i don't know how to explain it. it's just one of the COOLEST things ever.

whenever i get to hold her, i whisper in her ear that i'm her favorite aunt and the one (besides her parents) who loves her the most. how's THAT for subliminal messaging. =D

(she's not even a day old and she's already throwing up gang signs. she is SO the daughter of franklin. hahaha.)

...is it possible to love someone THIS much

even when that someone

has no clue you exist?

(i LOVE you eva!)

cherry red speakers

my little sister and i have an... understanding of sorts. we both LOVE getting stuff in the mail: letters from loved ones, just-because-cards, and now... GIFTS! it all started out small; i mailed her sweet little nothings scribbled onto pieces of paper, she bought me a hat. i bought her a sock coin purse and so on. we NEVER had any intention of making it a "big deal" until she decided to amp up on me. and boy was i GLAD! she mailed me a package and inside was a wicked-SWEET pair of bright red head phones! ...for me to wear at the GYM she says. (gulp.) since she was sweet enough to see them, think of me, AND purchase them, its the least i can do. so that's just what i'm gonna do. i'm gonna wear those FABULOUSLY vibrant red (and large) head phones with PRIDE. i even told her i'd even buy a pair of rainbow leg warmers to make the "look" complete. i think.... =)