Friday, October 22, 2010

To My Boys

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to MY BOYS!!!!

Our first born, Samson (a.k.a. Sammy, Tiddles, Shiddles, Little Buddy Boo-Boo) turns 4 today!

And my wonderful hubby of 4 and a half years turns 26 today! Yes, he is a year younger than me and yes he reminds me of this frequently.

(This picture was taken during an intense game of Manhunt. Of course he's barefoot...)


Thursday, October 21, 2010

Pumpkin Lovin

One Word: Mmm.

Seriously, Trader Joe's can do no wrong.

Especially when it comes to their their Pumpkin Bread Mix.

Or all of their baked goods, really.

So easy. So delish.


Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Fall Fabulista

The following is my current Fall Fabu-list-a:

Scentsy Fall Scents. If you do not know what Scentsy is...you absolutely MUST check it out. My stepmom introduced me to this amazing product last year for my birthday. It's a wickless candle that plugs into the wall, and there are millions of scents. My fave right now is Cozy Fireside - it makes our entire living room smell like autumn goodness.



Fall Foliage.
Duh. I mean, how can I not get happy by simply driving around/taking the dogs for a walk/looking out the window to see the foliage frenzy that surrounds us. Love.



Scary Everything. I love, love, love Halloween time. Costumes. Candy. Scary everything. We went with some pals this weekend to a haunted house (more like a haunted forest). Let's just say that this is a before picture. I almost peed my pants multiple times and kept screaming "Ok, Ok, Ok, I get it!" every time a creature or goblin popped out and ran after me. This was one of the most terrifying experiences ever as my heart NEVER stopped racing. And I loved it.



Dressing for the occasion. I love Halloween costumes. Preferably homemade. My mom used to make the most amazing costumes growing up - and she went all out. My favorites? Snow White and a Stop Sign. I felt so rad. This years is homemade as well. I'll give you one guess what it is...

What's on YOUR Fall Fabulista???


Monday, October 18, 2010

I never stop scratching my head...

I often think that it would be so much fun to secretly follow my husband with a hidden video camera.

You have no idea how entertaining it would be.

I am always catching him in an act that either makes me a). scratch my head in wonder b). laugh or c). stare in disbelief.

For example, I will walk upstairs and catch him dancing and singing in his boxer briefs. Or the time I caught him "practicing" a confrontation while he was driving. Oh yeah, and the time I looked over and saw him slowly spitting out an icy-water-mixture only to suck it right back in (multiple times).

The list goes on and on.

Or this weekend. We had been awake for awhile watching Saturday morning tv. He got up to get something, and this is what I saw:

I asked him why he was walking around with only one slipper. He got this sad look in his eye, and replied "Well, because I can't find my other slipper."

So he walked around the rest of the morning like this.

Then, there was last night's incident. We were craving homemade chocolate chip cookies, so we ran to the grocery store to pick up a few ingredients. We were in the baked goods isle, and I was distracted trying to figure out if I wanted semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate etc.

Through my peripheral vision, I saw Mr. Ruby pick something up off one of the shelves.

Didn't think much of it and continued making important decisions.

But he did it again. This time, I looked over and saw him chewing.

Me: "What are you eating?"

Mr. Ruby: "There was a bag of Ghiradelli chocolate chips open, and I wanted to try them."

First I laughed hysterically. Then, I realized there were several people staring in disbelief. I immediately left the isle without my chocolate chips.

This is my life. And I love it.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Self-Control Practice


Today, I had a major self-control test: from laughter

That is my weakness.

I am always the one to laugh during the most inappropriate times: work meeting, awkward moments, church, when a child says something that you positively should not laugh at.

I can't help it. I'm immature. And I have no laughter self-control.

Well, today's self-control test was a doosie.

I was working with some third graders for my pre-practicum, and we were working with pumpkins. I had the kids measure, weigh, count, and explore different properties.

We got to the part of the worksheet that asked the students to predict the pumpkin with the "biggest circumference".

I pointed to the word "circumference" and asked the students if anyone knew what that word meant.

One student excitedly jumped out of his seat, raised his hand, and before I could call on him he blurted out "CIRCUMCISION". Poor thing realized right away that wasn't it and quickly sat down.

People. It took everything in my entire being not to fall on the floor wiping tears from my eyes.

But I refrained. I was able to maintain self-control, act like I didn't hear "circumcision", and call on another kid.

I think I deserve an "A" for that test...


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Photo Envy

*This post has been inspired by multiple, recent requests from friends asking me to share my advice on purchasing a camera. (Most of it has been "borrowed" from an e-mail I wrote to one of my besties earlier this morning).

Now, let me first begin by saying that I have ALWAYS loved pictures. No, really. I used to spend hours with my grandma looking at old pictures of family and even people I didn't know. I got my first camera in 4th grade. Yeah, it was disposable, but it was a camera. Oh, and I was that girl in high school/college/today who obnoxiously took/takes pictures of every.single.thing. I like to document memories. Sue me.

However, I have to pick myself up off the floor from laughing hysterically every time someone asks me for camera advice. Between purchasing 5 cameras in the last 5 years, you'd think I'd be an expert. However, I know nothing about lighting, lenses, or exposure time. I just know that I like to document life experiences and God's creation!!!!

So, after breaking my third (or fourth...I seem to have lost track) camera, Mr. Ruby and I were in the market for a camera. We did a ton of research, had many conversations about what we really wanted, and spoke to one of our most awesome professional photographer friends.

What did we finally decide? We did not want a (gasp) DSLR. At first, that's what we set out to buy. Then, I broke down in tears in the middle of Best Buy because I was so confused (not a joke). I went back and forth about 24 times between DSLR's and Point and Shoots. But after our sales guy Fabio (also not a joke) convinced me to think about the pros and cons of purchasing a DSLR vs. the TOP point and shoot out there, I really thought about the reality of what I wanted.

So, the reality? I wanted good pictures. No, amazing pictures. But, I am also a huge advocate for convenience. I take my camera EVERYWHERE! I decided I couldn't really picture 1). lugging a DSLR on every vacation, out to dinner in case a "photo op" occurs, or to every other significant life event and 2). Do I really have the time right now to actually LEARN how to use a DSLR? Of course not. And that's the thing. I have friends who have spent anywhere from $1,500 - $3,000 on a DSLR, but their pictures are the same as mine because they don't really know how to use it.

So... after tears, arguments, changing my mind 24 times, calling our pro photog friend, and Fabio's advice, we decided on a CANON G11. It is the absolute BEST you can get with the quality (almost) of a DSLR but the convenience of a point and shoot. And you can even get additional lenses. We're still learning how to use it, but it's been awesome so far!!!

And, at the rate I'm going, I'm sure I'll be due for another camera in about 1-2 years. So who knows...???

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Leaf Peepin


Despite the fact that I spent the entire car ride finishing my book, I was still able to fully enjoy a beautiful autumn drive up to New Hampshire. That's not to say that I didn't hear comments the entire trip about how nerdy and anti-social I was.

But I digress.

Let me tell you, there is nothing like a New England Fall. Nothing. We soaked in the beauty that is New England in the fall during Mr. Ruby and I's annual Leaf-Peeping Tour.

And by annual, I mean we've done it the past 3 years we've lived here.

Breathtaking.

Take a peek at some of our peeping adventures: