Because love, actually...

...is all around.

"You don't know how lovely you are"

As always, late-night talks with Amy are wonderful and enlightening; she's so brilliant that you can't walk away from a conversation with her without knowing a little bit more about yourself and how you fit into this fucked up-yet-somehow-incredible world.

Anyway, I was reflecting upon our conversation and I remembered that she said something about females being really critical of each other and it occurred to me that that's why I've had so many more guy than girl friends. She's right--girls with tear. you. apart. But guys? They don't judge. They don't size a person up by her weight or her clothes or her hair. If a guy thinks a girl is fun to be around, then that's it--that's all that matters. He doesn't care if her body is model material or if she wears clothes from Abercrombie & Fitch or if her hair is long and blonde. So guys have their flaws (ha! we won't go there, right?) but I can't help but to imagine how much more beautiful the world would be if we all acted like guys--for once!--and stopped the superficial, critical judging. And maybe then would we actually be able to love and accept ourselves, too.

Holiday Favorites

• FAMILY



• Christmas music EVERYWHERE!



• Tree ornaments & decorations



• Guaranteed AT LEAST two days off of work AND school (11.27 & 12.25)



• Planning & making gifts



• Hot chocolate



• Christmas lights



• Reindeer and gingerbread men = cute!



• Wrapping paper & bows



• "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"



• Gingerbread houses



• Beanies



• Tights



• "Home Alone 2"



• Christmas cookies in tins

Teaching 11.25.08

• Always keep in mind: it's about THEM not you!


• My three super smart/willingly responsive/eagerly engaged students = love


• Earrings (from Claire's) and necklace (scrabble pendant from Etsy) compliments


• "Hey, I saw you at the candy store at the mall!"


• After the activity, they wanted MORE puzzles to solve!


• PB & J - obsessed kid


• "You're my favorite, and not just because you gave us candy!"


• Engaged and participating students = priceless :)

Survey says...

• Favorite Thanksgiving food: green beans and stuffing (but not together, silly!)


• One fashion you wish never went out of style: shoulder pads...JUST KIDDING!


• Favorite piece of clothing: dresses and sweaters


• 1st thing you do in the morning: pee, brush teeth, make coffee


• Dream job: filling up my own boutique with all of my own creations, but being a secret agent would be cool, too


• When you need alone time: I get irritable


• Celebrity who personifies you best: Natalie Portman (except she's way more gorgeous but I adore her so it's all good)


• 1 thing people wouldn't know about you: I love organizing but I hate cleaning


• You? CrAzy.


• 1st thing that comes to mind when you hear:


• Model - thin


• McDonald's - happy meal


• bedroom - clean


• men - unfair

but i'm okay, really

My stupid, stubborn heart--stop bleeding!
"Keep on keeping, keep on beating";
I know you're tired--weary and worn--
But there's something glorious in being torn.

You're a little bit raw and I'm a little bit mean;
Our arguments are swollen and our conversations are lean.
Your sympathy was staged, your care an act;
Bitter words have been spent and cannot be taken back.

I wouldn't let you speak and you wouldn't let me breathe;
There was no extracting the poison that boiled beneath
Our skins nor was there any removing the angry darts
That flew like daggers to rent our bodies apart.

When everything hurts and you, my heart, ache,
I'm a mess of flames but it keeps me awake.
You incite searing pain but that's a pleasure I will;
I'm in love with feeling, which you, heart, instill.

Wedding Inspirations