Saturday, May 29, 2010

Oh Happy Day

Fresh sun-kissed highlights....check.

Large blueberry iced coffee...check.

My favorite pair of purple sunglasses...check.

Day of beach, mini golf, clam chowdah, and the Cape...check.

Time to wear white again...check.

It's officially the holiday that introduces us to SUMMERTIME - Memorial Day Weekend!

We have tons o' fun planned for the weekend. Can't wait to share with stories and pics.

I hope you all have a fun-filled fab weekend ahead as well. Happy Memorial Day!!! :)

We're off to Cape Cod...

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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sap and Cheese straight ahead...

I've always been one to tear up when I'm emotionally touched by something.

Always.

I cry at every single wedding. I get choked up in the card isle at Target. I lose it if I see a movie about an animal that gets sick or dies (think Old Yeller, Homeward Bound, Marley and Me). If I'm in an airport and see two loved ones reunite...forget about it.

But lately, these darn reality shows have really been tugging at the heartstrings.

Did I really just admit that?

Since I've graduated college, I really haven't watched much tv... that is until we got DVR. I have several shows that I'm quite addicted to: Glee, Gossip Girl, So You Think You Can Dance. Nothing new there.

However, I have recently discovered a new love: The Biggest Loser.

Yes, I am aware this show has been on for six years. But like I said, I've never really watched much tv. I am QUITE addicted.

And boy, oh boy. I cry during every single episode. Happy moments. Sad moments. Take one peek at me at any given moment, and I'm a blubbering mess. The show is just so touching, and it makes me so happy to see individuals really trying to better their lives.

With that being said, I was so happy for the final four and even happier for Michael with his recent WIN!!! And everyone looked absolutely AMAZING!!! Of course I bawled through the ENTIRE finale.

Makes me want to get up and do something inspiring...

Image: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Who DOES that?

Me.

That's who.

I've been known to do some pretty scatterbrained/ridiculous things in my day: Forget my best friend's birthday. Put my keys in the freezer. Forget to wear deodorant.

Oh, and once, I wore a black heel and a brown heel to work at my previous job...during training (when I was still trying to impress everyone). YIKES! Talk about embarrassment.

Today, however, tops them all.

Let me preface. I was super DUPER tired this morning. I barely slept last night because 1) It is literally 95 degrees in our house 2) I was dreaming about ticks all over my body 3) I was stressed about my day today.

I had to give two final lessons for the year to third and fourth graders. I was pretty nervous and was "rehearsing" my lessons all morning.

Then, I hopped in the car with my chocolate, peanut butter, banana smoothie and headed to the school...running a bit late of course.

When suddenly, I realized my ultimate scatterbrained act.

I forgot to brush my teeth.

No time to turn around. No time to make a quick pit stop for a toothbrush and toothpaste.

I started hyperventilating.

I called Mr. Ruby to see if he could run in the bathroom to check if my toothbrush was wet...just in case I forgot that I had brushed my teeth. He didn't answer.

I faced the facts. On a very important day, that I was ALREADY super nervous for, I had done the most despicably unhygienic act imaginable: I did not brush my teeth.

Most of you do not know me in "real life". However, everyone who knows me is very aware of my OCD for brushing my teeth.

I have never, ever walked out of the house or gone to bed without brushed teeth. Never. Right after my appendectomy? Brushed my teeth. After a crazy night on my 21st birthday? Brushed my teeth. During a girly slumber party when all my friends had already passed out? Brushed my teeth.

But not today, My Friends. Not today.

Good heavens - Might as well have just gone to school naked!


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Couldn't ask for a better day..

So, our good friends got married this past weekend.

When I say the weather was perfect..I mean perfect. A warm, sunny, day with just the right amount of breeze. This is amazing simply for the fact that for two days prior, it was freezing, rainy and miserable. Our friends lucked out and we joked that they sucked out all the perfect weather for the entire summer just for their wedding day. Well worth it. :)

As my friend J so appropriately put it regarding the bride on her perfect day, "I mean, seriously, she pooped soft serve that day." HA!

So, I have a picture-taking problem. Especially if I've had a few cocktails. I took over 220 pics at their wedding. Sheesh!

Too many pics to choose from, so I closed my eyes, spun around and chose the following for you to enjoy! :)

















Ending the night with a nice walk on the BEACH!!! A bit (pleasantly)different from our KANSAS weddings back home!!!


Monday, May 24, 2010

10 DAYS!

Oh my goodness!

I go HOME in 10 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is nothing like going home, and I will be heading there on a plane next Wednesday for a dear friend's wedding.

I've known this friend since kindergarten, and I remember the exact moment we met. We were playing on the jungle gym, she looked at me and asked if I wanted to be her friend. From that day forward, we were inseparable buddies. I seriously can't WAIT for her wedding.

However, wedding with friends from home that I haven't seen in two years = intense workouts every single day until that point + watching every single thing that goes into my mouth.

Today, I took a new spin class.

Holy cow.

For the first time ever, I wasn't the only one bright as a tomato and dripping in sweat. It was the best workout I have ever had. No lie.

I seriously sweat so much, my fingers got pruney.

Hey, gotta be hot for my friend's wedding.

And speaking of weddings, we went to one of the most beautiful weddings ever this past weekend. Pics soon to come...

Thursday, May 20, 2010

My Random Assortments in Life

I have so much going on right now.

Although I am technically no longer working full time, my days are still jam-packed with...stuff.

Observing in a classroom. Working at an after school program. Working out. Giving mini lessons in a classroom. Running errands. Studying. Going to the grocery store. Writing papers. Cleaning. Blah, blah blah.

To give you an idea of the random assortments I face in my current daily life, the following is a stack of literature sitting on my bedside table:

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Don't judge the chaos.

And no, I still have not gotten around to reading Something Borrowed. It just sits on my bedside table collecting dust. :(

And yes, that last one is a children's book. I'm in the process of creating a reading comprehension lesson...

Sigh.

For now, I will simply have to deal with the motley crew that is my bedside table.


Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Study Distractor Alert

So, I passed my Praxis II Elementary Ed: Content exam! Phew! Such a huge sigh of relief.

1 down, 1 to go.

But, this doesn't mean I can step off the gas.

Seriously - I have SO much to do before the end of the school year. I need to use every minute of my time wisely.

However, I'm full of procrastination techniques.

Instead of using any ounce of free time available to study or work on assignments, I choose to "window shop" (because I don't have the money to "actual" shop) on modcloth.com. I spend WAY too much time there. Am I the last to know about this website? Because honestly, I like every single article of clothing I see. Everything.

It's full of unique, vintage, indie-ish pieces. And the prices aren't bad either!!!

Take a look at some of my cute recent finds:









***I'm totally DIGGIN denim, florals, and ruffles this season!!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

STUDY BREAK!!!

Ok, so I desperately need a study break = Time for bloggy update!

My brain is mush from so much studying, lesson plans, papers, and exams. So, I figured I'd give you a quick update. Just in case, you know, you are dying to know what's going on in my head right now! ;)

Mrs. Ruby's Life at a Glance:

* I had a fantastic/exhausting weekend. Exhausting, like, only got 6 hours of sleep the whole weekend exhausting.

* To student teach within the time frame I hope for, I'm on a very strict school schedule. Therefore, I'm trying to squeeze in a ludicrous amount of schoolwork in before summer officially starts. (a.k.a. death)

* One little gal at the Y was playing with my hair, and she accidentally scraped my eyeball with her fingernail. Eww.

* I found out that I'm going to be working FULL TIME again at the Y this summer. I'm going to be an outdoor camp counselor for 5 & 6 year olds. I.couldn't.be.happier.

* I am going home sweet home to my cozy sunflower state in THREE WEEKS. AHHHH!!!!

* Two things are really weird/crazy/amazing/twilight zone-ish for me to grasp my mind around:

1). I am regressing in life (for a short time, I am aware). But, I went from a well-paid, traveling, recruiting, suit-wearing professional to a studying, minimum wage earning, cardigan-wearing, camp counseling, master's hopeful student.

2). In just one month, Mr. Ruby and I will be celebrating our FOUR year wedding anniversary. We will have been married as long as it took me to graduate high school and college. Wow. Time flies when you're having fun.

That is all.

Deep thoughts, I know.


Friday, May 14, 2010

AMAZING supermarket find!

Holy cow.

I get awkwardly excited when I discover something new to enjoy.

Yes. I am one of those people who develops obsessions over new found discoveries: stores, songs, books,workout moves, and especially foods! I go into major burnout mode. This means that I overindulge in my new discovery for days/weeks/months until I can no longer stomach its presence any longer. New songs for example? I listen to them over and over (and over) again until Mr. Ruby, my dogs, and even my ipod want to kick me out of the house.

Some of my latest new loves include: spin class, modcloth.com, and peanut butter chocolate banana smoothies.

But, I recently spotted a new delicious creation at the supermarket:

Wheat Thins Flatbreads

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Ohmygoodness!

The Tuscan Herb flavor is particularly tasty, and I pair two of these crackers with a Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge for a healthy, and LOW-CALORIE snack.

2 (BIG) Wheat Thin Flatbread crackers + 1 Laughing Cow Cheese Wedge = 95 calories

Sheesh!

Naturally, I've eaten two boxes in one week.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Let's play a little game


What do the following items have in common???





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If you guessed that they are my biggest distractions and relentlessly torture me by not allowing me to get my homework done...then you guessed correctly!!!

When it comes time to sit down and start studying, I find everything humanly possible to be distracted with:

Text messages. Facebook. Blogging. Internet shopping (with money I don't have). Catching up on the 13 episodes of the Biggest Loser. Hanging out with the hubs and pups.

Ugh.

The worst part is...I have no time to waste. I am crunching an intense, two-three year program into one year. And even though I quit my corporate job a few months ago, I'm amazingly busier now than I was then. Is that even possible???

Well, I'm doing it again.

Procrastinating.

Well. Gotta go. Lesson plans are calling my name!!!