What I wore + What we did at school

(This post idea is stolen from E Tells Tales.  I adore her.)

From left to right:

Shirts:  H&M, Forever 21, Banana Republic (white button up), Gap (cardigan)

Pants:  Walmart, Walmart, Forever 21 (Yes, I found colored skinnys for $9 at Wal-mart- and I bought four pairs!)

Shoes:  Forever Young (All three pairs!)

Seniors:  They bombed their parts of speech test, so it was time for some reteaching. To spice it up I took all the kids outside one afternoon to play a parts of speech game.  It was windy and a little bit miserable, but it was one of those days that is trying so desperately hard to be spring and we want spring so desperately bad in return that I thought we couldn't just ignore her valiant efforts.  ( Her?  His?  Is spring a boy or a girl?!?)

I taped pieces of paper to the wall, each paper with a part of speech on it.  Then, I made the kids line up on the other side of the field.  When I said a word they had to run to the wall and hit what part of speech the word was.  They ate it up, you know they did.

They tested today and did buckets better than the first time they took the test.  PHEW!

We've also been reading The Alchemist, which I am kind of liking less and less.  It starts strong, but the middle is pretty slow and boring.  Today my third period class was harassing me because they've hated all the books I've made them read this year.  I don't know what came over me, a case of the giggles or what, but I just sat up there on my stool and laughed away.  "I know!  It's true!  I have made you read some pretty boring books, haven't I?!?"  And then they all laughed along.  Sometimes when those kids start wanting to attack you it's better to just admit they're right and laugh and then all of sudden we're all on the same team again.
(Senior books we've read this year:  Othello, Catcher in the Rye, Les Miserables, Lord of the Flies.  Those aren't that terribly boring, are they?)

Juniors:  It's my favorite time of year with the juniors... It's Gatsby time!  I always save Gatsby for the spring because I love spring and it feels like this incredible reward that I give myself after a year of putting up with teenage drama.  The Great Gatsby is the most unique book- it is the only book that I like more every time I teach it.  This is my fourth time teaching it and I find myself stoked out of my mind for every junior class period thinking, "Oh, wait until they find out about the mistress!  I can't wait until they realize what a little sneaky devil Gatsby is!  Oh when they see how Tom reacts they are going to FREAK out!"  I threaten my students with classroom exile if they dare look up spoilers or ruin the ending for someone else and boy, do I mean business!  You ruin Gatsby for your classmates, you die.

The reason why I love this book so much is a true mystery to me because I hate every single person in it.  No character is likable, and yet I just can't get enough of the despicable dudes.  Half the time I just sit there pondering who I hate the most.  I find myself totally consumed by Fitzgerald's beautiful language. (I'm convinced there's no better American writer.)  The layers upon layers of text allow me to get something new from the text every time I read it.

We're just about to get to the part where all the shiz starts to hit the fan.  Ohmygosh I can't wait for my students to see what happens! Can you tell yet that I LOVE this book?  (P.S.  It's April's book club selection, so if you haven't yet, get reading!  We will have our discussion on it on April 28.)

Sophomores:  I'm in a total slump with these little dudes.  We're reading Ender's Game and I'm just not into it.  At all.  This is my third year teaching Ender, and certainly my last.  I didn't like it that much the first time I taught it, but my sophomore boys always eat it up.  So I sacrifice myself and my selfish literary passion once a year for a month so that my sophomore boys can have it their way for once, (because those poor sophomore boys really never get what they want in English class, do they?) but I just don't think I can take one more year teaching this book.  Sci-fi is not my genre and Orson Scott Card is in desperate need of a good editor.  I just don't love the book so in turn I don't love reading the book, talking about the book, or writing about the book.  Which is what we do all day in class.

Any killer ideas to spice up some Ender's Game?

A little F to the A to the Q.

I've decided it's high time I answer some Frequently Asked Questions around here!  People have been sending me emails high and low, night and day wanting to know all about the true Life of Bon!  I just can't keep up with the emails any more, they come so fast and so furious!  I shall have to do a FAQ post!

In reality I think one person asked me maybe maybe one or two of these questions.  But come on.  Let a girl dream.

THE F.A.Q.s of THE LIFE OF BON

I'm a dashing young woman and I'm looking for my very own Hubs.  Any suggestions? 
Yep. Don't be boring.

Of course there are other strategies like threatening to hurt him if he doesn't hang out with you, taking him to meet your family the week you meet him, or shoving your face right in front of his until he finally kisses you.  Those tactics all worked for me, but I make no guarantees, ladies!

Do your students all have crushes on you?
I don't know.  I've never asked them.  The girls sometimes want to know where I bought my wedges and the boys always complain because I make them participate in literary discussions... so if those count as crushes, then yes.  They all have crushes.

I like your new blog design!  Who did it?
Moi!  Deidre has always done my blog design for me, and I have definitely been the worst to work with ever.  We go back and forth for about four days before I can even choose a header that I like.  About 48 hours after it all goes up I usually decide I don't like any of my design decisions.  I then sit and wonder how long I have to wait before it is appropriate to ask Deidre to do my blog design again for me.  So last night I took matters into my own hands and figured out how to do my own header all by myself.  It's a start!  My cousin so kindly told me that my old design was like Wal-mart and my new design is like Super Target.  So basically my design decisions are improving, but not by much.

Do you ever worry that your students will read what you write on your blog?
No.  The thing is I think my students probably get more than enough of my ramblings at school.  If they want to go home and see more of me, then go ahead, hop on my blog, kiddos!  But I'm guessing most of them like to forget they know me when at all possible.

What's it like being a "repressed very young Mormon wife"?
This quote came from good old gomi, which I am not linking because I don't like my readers to contribute to the traffic of such a nasty site.  But in short, it feels totally great.  I take "very young" as a compliment seeing I'm hitting 27 in June and am starting to feel like my uterus is rusting.  I think it's pretty obvious that I'm fine being called a Mormon.  I admit the wife gig can be tough, but only when Hubs represses me by making me watch horribly written shows like Vampire Diaries.  Those are undoubtedly my darkest wife days.

Speaking of, how did you feel when you got your very real "get off my internets" page?
I was offended because everyone knows that there is no such word as internets.  How dare they link an English teacher to a site with poor grammar?

I hear you read a lot of books.  What are some that totally suck?
Twilight, Moby Dick, Huck Finn, Ender's Game.  (I used to only mildly dislike Ender's Game but now that I have taught it three years in a row I can say with assurety that I hate it.)  For Banned Book Club this month we read a graphic novel, Watchmen, and Mr. Shields is going to shun me for saying this, but I totally hated it.  Sooooo not my style.

I once wrote a whole post about crappy books and that can be found here.  Of course you can find some of my faves here and here.  Or join my book club here.  (We're reading Great Gatsby in April.  You're gonna wanna join in!)

Does your family read your blog?
Some do, some don't.  Strangely enough I have a bunch of boy cousins who are always telling me they read my blog regularly, and I gotta admit, it makes me feel pretty damn good!  (Braithwaites, I'm talking about you!)  My mom never misses a post, even though I'm sure she wishes she had sometimes.  My sister in Germany is the best about reading and commenting, but it's hard to know if she's being super supportive of my dreams or if she is just homesick out of her mind. Either way, I'll take it!  I'm pretty sure my other sis with five kids never reads, but who can blame the woman?  She's got five kids!

Would you suggest I get a blog?
Yes, if you are a narcissist.  But unless you are wholly and completely in love with yourself, you ain't gonna hack blogland. You must love talking about yourself and looking at pictures of yourself endlessly. You must then love sharing that with the entire world so they can tell you how awesome, beautiful and witty you are.  Except for when they tell you that you are not awesome, beautiful, or witty.  But then again that would probably be good for a narcissist to hear too, don't you think?

P.S. If you're not already following me on twitter and Instagram you're missing out.

Twitter

Instagram:  @thelifeofbon

Why you gotta be so mean?

Why do people have to be mean?  I'm not talking a little snippy here or ornery here, I'm talking blatantly downright rude.

I had a little altercation with a fellow teacher today.  It caught me completely off guard as I generally think very highly of the teachers at my school and have no problem getting along with any of them.  I would like to write more about the experience, but right now I need to distance myself from it, so I will tell you the details another day.  (Do you do this?  When I feel emotional about something I find I have to take time before I can write about it.  Like my brain has to sort of what happened so it can sort out my feelings which will in turn sort out the writing.  I know, it's like, WHAT?!?)

Mainly it just got me thinking about why people feel the need to say hurtful or rude things.  I understand the point of a little constructive criticism, but what is with people who interrupt you, never ask about your life, and are abrupt and downright rude?  I have thought this before when I have gotten rude comments on this blog (Like here. I went off. This is Bonnie mad.), but it has been a long time since I have had a run in like this in person.  (Not like the internet makes it any better.  Why do people think they can hide their meanness behind the computer?)

Have you checked out Nat's #mightylove project?  That's the type of thing I need to remember on days like today.

-Give back love
-There is more good than evil in the world.
-There is more love than hatred.
-People who are rude are fighting battles we don't know about so we must be kind back.
-The kinder you are the easier it is so continue to be kind.

Why do you think people are rude?  Is it really just the "insecure" thing that people always chalk it up to? Or that they themselves are having a bad or stressful day?  If so, I think that's a pretty craptastic excuse to be a jerk to someone else.

Enough of that.  I'm excited to introduce Katie to you.  Some of you might want to throw stones at me, but I will be the first to admit that I don't struggle much with my weight so I can't say much about the subject.  I do, however, have an immense respect for those who do struggle and who diet and discipline and control and motivate others to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.  That's what Katie does.  She holds herself and others accountable for weight.  And in the meantime she's trying to figure out this whole growing up thing- just like the rest of us!

---

Hi everyone! I'm Katie and I blog over at KTJ Weighing In. I write mainly about my day to day life, life in Pittsburgh, my world travels, and I focus on my weight loss journey. I write about the highs and lows and hopefully share a little motivation to others on a similar journey.

I'm excited to be here today and  I really appreciate Bonnie allowing me to guest post! Thank you, Bonnie! 

Today I just want to ask: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Recently I was talking with a friend and she was feeling a bit lost because she is in her mid-twenties and doesn't know what she wants to be "when she grows up." Sure, we are all adults now, but I still have a hard time believing that I'm actually an adult some days. Who said we had to definitively choose what we want to do for forever by x age? What happened to all the dreaming of all the possibilities that could be?

Source

In first grade we had career day. My mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I told her that I wanted to be a nun. Seriously. My mother was surprised, but she made me a little nun outfit and I went to school dressed as one for career day. People thought it was so cute and nice that I'd make such a choice. Then they realized that I was just confused.

When I was little, I went to Catholic school. All my teachers were nun and thus, I thought that a nun and a teacher were one in the same. It wasn't until I dressed as a nun all day in first grade that I realized how mistaken I was. Now it is hilarious to think about. I can only imagine what people were thinking when they saw me dressed as one.

For the remainder of most of my childhood I wanted to be a teacher. First an elementary school teacher, then high school. I thought I wanted to teach history or world cultures. But, every teacher I have ever had and my parents all told me that I should be a lawyer. In high school we actually had to write a paper about where we would be in 10 years and I wrote that I'd be teaching at a school. When my paper was returned the teacher actually wrote "if you come back in 10 years and you are not an attorney I will give you $100." 

So it seemed that I was always pegged by people to be an attorney, spoiler alert I am now actually an attorney. I guess they were all right?

Anyway, between the period of time that I wanted to become a teacher and actually became a lawyer, I wanted to be many things. If I wasn't tone deaf I would have loved to be a singer, I wanted to be an Olympian, a doctor, etc. So many dreams or ideas of what I could be and the possibilities seemed endless.

Now, I'm very happy in my career. I love being a lawyer, so far. I enjoy what I do. Still, if I could do anything in the world, I think the best job would be going to the countries ahead of time and be one of the people who plans out all the challenges for the Amazing Race. That would be an amazing dream job! In my opinion, of course. 

So, what do you want to be when you "grow up?"

Say hi to Katie here!

On Missing Out

A few nights ago I lay in bed talking with Greg, recounting the events of the day.  I told him something that my little sister, Mary, had told me- that she was thinking about moving out from my mom's place so that she could live in an apartment, meet more young people, and have more of the "college experience."

"She just doesn't want to miss out, you know?"  I said to Greg.

"I don't believe in missing out,"  he replied shortly.

"Excuse me?"  The dude had given me a weird reply.

"Yah, I just don't believe that you "miss out" on some things in life.  Whatever you end up doing you have certain experiences and opportunities that only that choice would have allowed you to have.  If you choose something else, then you have different experiences and different opportunities.  But it's not like you just miss out completely.  If she lives with your mom she'll have great experiences here.  If she moves out she'll have other great experiences.  But she won't miss out.  Whatever she chooses, she'll have the experiences she's supposed to have and she'll learn what she needs to learn and grow how she needs to grow.  I don't think you can live your life always afraid that you are missing something."

I guess I married a pretty smart man, huh?

"So you don't feel like you missed out by getting married so young?  You don't look at your single friends and feel like you missed out the young party life?" I probed.

"Not at all.  Because I've had the experiences I need to have and I've learned so much in this time.  And I don't think others who stay single or choose other paths are missing out on what I have.  They have other experiences."

I admit I have struggled comparing my lives to that of others- like I'm always chasing that elusive "perfect life." (Seven years ago I even wrote a post all about how scared I was of missing out.) Others seem to have perfect vacations, perfect clothes, perfect marriages.  It's hard to not compare and feel somehow insufficient, or like I'm "missing out" on these great experiences that life has to offer me.  Like I'm just sitting on the couch in the basement while everyone else is out there living these terrific lives.  I'm hoping to remember the words of old Hubs- that whatever I do I will have the experiences I need and that they will all somehow combine into a beautiful, happy life.

I don't believe in missing out.

Do you?

Weekend Love

This picture has nothing to do with the post.  I just like it because it's silly.

If you're wondering, I'm taking all three shirts back.

This decision came pretty easily after I looked at March's credit card bill.  Somehow we spent every penny we earned in March and then some.  Given, we had some pretty big expenses... plane tickets to Hawaii, a condo rental in St. George for me and my girlfriends, a plane ticket to Arizona for Ashley's wedding, fees to get my teaching credential in California, etc.  Add to this all of our regular spending and the March total made me want to crawl into a hole and cry.

Thus, the three shirts are going back.  (The yellow one may or may not be returned.  We'll see if H&M returns shirts that have been washed...)  And thus I am implementing a No Spend April.  Yay for no spending!  I can only spend on groceries and gas and the very occasional meal out.  Whaddya think?  Is it possible?  Being that we saved NO money in March, I am bound and determined to spend nothing extra in April so that we can put a big chunk away into savings.

Isn't money talk the worst?

This weekend I will be watching 8 hours of Mormon church on TV.  Say what?  We do it twice a year.  Instead of going to church we get to stay home in our pjs, eat disgusting amounts of ice cream, and listen to the best of the best speakers give us inspired counsel.  It is a time of year that fills me with immense peace and joy.  You can check out their talks here.

For your weekend reading:
+ The biggest, most exciting Mormon announcement ever here
+ I LOVE spring, but it carries with is some difficulties for a school teacher like me.
+ I spent last night making lasagna and helping to put a baby to bed with my best friend, Amy. I'm so lucky to have her
+ Making fun of my awkward wedding pictures was the most fun I've had all week.
+ At our blogging roundtable on Wednesday we talked a little about writing the hard stuff.  I wrote this post on risky writing and not being afraid of your readers in September.  It is one of those posts that I am mighty proud of.

Oh, and THREE giveaways going on this week:
Shabby Apple giveaway here
J. Crew giveaway (and my favorite blogger ever) here
Beach getaway giveaway here

Terribly Important Facts about Absolutely Nothing

+ Last night I attended our second blogging roundtable.  It was fantastic.  It feels good to talk nothing but blog for two (or three!) hours with people who don't get sick of hearing about sponsors or link ups or giveaways. The company was divine.  When I started blogging I never imagined I would make such good friends in the process.  That'd be what we call a perk! (Photos and more details to come.)

+ My best friend straight up stood me up tonight.  The night was unbelievably gorgeous- 70 degrees and no wind.  We were set to play some tennis at 6:30.  She never showed.  I texted and called to no avail.  Finally I left the empty tennis courts on a perfect spring night.  It felt like a sin.  I don't love being stood up.  It reminds me of when I dated a Bolivian who stood me up on the reg.  I guess there were a lot of jerks before I met old Hubs.

+ Because tennis didn't work out and I felt like I needed to do something active to combat the 1.5 hours I spend driving every day, I dragged my feet to the gym.  While there I tried doing a move I have no business doing (I watch other people and then try to copy their moves.  Doesn't always work) and pulled that hip muscle right out of where it is supposed to be.  I heard it pull, I felt it pull.  I even let out a little "Ahh!" when it happened and the buff boys bulking up looked at me like I was some kind of chump.  They would be correct on that one.

+ I have not been sleeping enough.  Yesterday I fell asleep during 7th period.  They were taking a test and I just sat there at my desk grading an essay and all of a sudden the bell rang!  I think I was only out for a couple of minutes, but geezers!  A teacher falling asleep in class, who's ever heard of it?

+ As per the point above, today I fell asleep at a traffic light.  I knew it was going to be a long one because I sit at that traffic light every day and it's a left turn and it's always at least two minutes, maybe three!  So I closed my eyes for just one second at that red light and next thing I knew the car behind me was honking up a storm.  I'll be hitting the hay early tonight, folks.

+I switched up the seating charts today.  In her journal one very shy girl in the class confessed to me that she has a crush on Jeff, a cute, nice boy in the class.  Naturally I moved her and Jeff next to each other.  I'm hoping she works up the nerve to say a couple of words to him.  Just call me matchmaker, kiddos!

+I asked a fellow teacher today if we could borrow some of his classroom books for Banned Book Club next month.  He said no.  Teachers, why you gotta be prudes?

+ I am beyond excited about the giveaway that I am participating in today.  It's probably the most creative giveaway ever.  $300 travelocity hotel gift cards and $100 Victoria Secret gift card so you can go on a sexy beach getaway.  Also, I have major issues with balance, if you haven't noticed.  I'll go a month without doing a giveaway and then BAM, three giveaways in one week.  I realize it's ridiculous and terribly inconsistent but at least I recognize it for what it is?  That's worth something?  Maybe? (Shabby Apple giveaway here and J. Crew giveaway here.)

+Ok I seriously have to go.  My hip is killing.  Time to soak in the tub.  No more gym for me.  Ever.

Spring is finally here. You know what that means...summer is just around the corner. Sunshine, bikinis and the beach. At least that's what I think of. To help you kick off the warm weather season, some blogger friends and I would like to give you a head start on planning for your next beach getaway and new bikini. To be honest, I'm kinda jealous that  I can't enter.  Don't forget to check these lovely ladies' blogs. They are fab!

21 Amazing Bloggers 1 Winner: $300 Travelocity Hotel Gift Card + $100 Victoria's Secret Gift Card 1 Mandatory Entry + lots of bonus entries
There is just one mandatory entry and that is to leave a comment below telling me "where you would go on your beach vacay". The rest are bonus entries and totally up to you!

Dreaming of Dimples | So Shay | This Won't Hurt A Bit

Saturated Canary | Glitter and Gloss | KV's Confessions

Jessica Who? | Gentri Lee | Her Late Night Cravings

For Lauren &Lauren | Meg O. on the Go | Hey, Hollywood

The Life of Bon | Ramblings of a Southern Belle | The Sunshine Diary

Lipgloss and Crayons | House of Rose | the Anna Delores blog

The Vanilla Tulip | Choose to be Happy | The Vintage Modern Wife

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 Good luck! 

*Note: Victoria's Secret gift card is only valid in US. Winning entry will be verified.

Watch Out! Eight types of spam that lurk in your inbox!

Because I am anxiously waiting to hear from jobs I have recently applied for, I have been paying more attention to my spam box.  I usually never even venture into that ugly territory, but lately I have thought, "I must!  I must see if there is some important info that has gotten lost in the sea of useless spam!"

There isn't.

But I've discovered a couple of other important things along the way and I am here to share that information with you today.  I know you dread the task of looking through your own spam box.  That'w why we're going to look through mine instead.  I promise you, it's so much more fun!

EIGHT TYPES OF SPAM THAT LURK IN YOUR INBOX

Waiting to steal your money, your husband, and your identity! Oh my!

By The Life of Bon

(And yes, I am getting quite carried away with my titles lately.)

1.  The bossy man demanding that you owe him your love and trust.  They're usually asking for money, but not always.  Sometimes they just want you to respond.  I don't know why.  This dude below demands that I "do not betray his confidence."  Dude.  You're a scammer.  Back up off of me.

2.  The lady that doesn't speak English and wants to be your bestie.  I have enough friends, k thanks.  The question is though, what does this lady really want?  There's got to be some kind of ulterior motive, right?  Or is this really just some lonely soul out there in the universe begging me to befriend her?

3.  The "get more twitter followers."  This doesn't really deserve its own category, I just wanted to talk about this.   Twenty bones for 1000 twitter followers?  Sheesh!  People are cheap now days!  Also I have seen quite a few people who do this.  It ain't too hard to figure out when the nerdy kid who nobody likes has 2000+ followers.  They're a bunch of bots following you and well know it!  I think it's weird.  If you do it, then, well, to each his own, but let it be known- I THINK IT'S WEIRD.

4.

4.  The people trying to convince me to cheat on Hubs with another cheating wife.  Tempting, I mean wow, it's terribly tempting, it's just...

5.  The spam mail that clearly does not understand its audience.  How did you know that I am dying to meet single black people just like myself?  Internet spammes, you be geniuses!

6.  The spam that makes you terrified of everything and everyone. Am I dating a sexual predator?  You're right!  I totally am!

7.  Spam that uses every dirty trick in the book including but not limited to: somebody dying, faith in God, love for humanity, you are the last hope to save this person.  And money.  Of course, money. 

8.  Spam that blatantly asks you to send all your personal information over the internet to a site you don't know and a person you have never met.  Why yes!  That sounds like a terrific idea!



The question is, who falls for this stuff?  These spammers must have some success or they wouldn't keep doing the same tricks, right? Someone out there is sending their credit card info to a stranger over the internet, meeting black singles and cheating on their wife.  Simultaneously.  WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?  As soon as we stop these people we will stop the spammers themselves.  No success and these guys will be forced to find another way to find a living.  It is our mission to find people who fall for spammers and alert them that they are all fake.  Not real! Not a one of them! Wise up, people!  Share if you want, twitter, facebook, you know the ways.  The more people who are aware of spam the less spam we will receive!

And because I am always so curious.  Have you ever fallen for one of these tricks?  Come on.... tell the truth....

Would you like to be in our clique?!?

So I'm kind of obsessed with Taylor from The Daily Tay.  I started calling her Tay Tay totally against her will and have now demanded that she be my bloggy best friend.  I think I literally wrote her an email that said, "I need bloggy best friend. It's you whether you want the gig or not."  I think I like Taylor so much because she is pretty much the blonde female version of Greg.  She is witty, sarcastic, and does improv.  She's also got a deep, sexy voice.  At least I imagine she would!   I am hoping that one day both her and Hubs make it big in the comedy industry so I can spend the rest of my life following them around and laughing.  That, my friends, is what we call living the freaking dream.

Currently Taylor and I are in a Blog Clique.  A blique, if you will.  Here's a few of our rules:

1.  You have to keep it real.
2.  You can't enjoy taking photos 24/7,

3.  You have to wear salmon colored tank tops on Fridays.

That's it!  Only three rules!  If you fit the bill, you're in.  Anyway, the two of us put our little minds together and sat down to discuss a few things  blog and non-blog related.  You're going to want to stick around, too, because we might be giving away $50 to J. Crew.  And when I say we might that means we are.

Why did you start blogging?

Tay: Because I got to the end of my Limited Two diary and it just felt like the natural next step.

That and the fact I was living in Kansas City fresh out of college in Nebraska and had no friends

to share my sarcastic thoughts with ...

Bon:  I had a bossy ex boyfriend who thought he knew exactly how my life should pan out.  He told me I was a good writer so I should write more!  I should take whatever opportunity I can get, even if it seems totally pointless like writing on the back of cereal boxes or writing on a blog.  I chose the blog.  The boyfriend is since history.  The blog remains.

Tay: I love Bon's stories about her dad the most, so it only felt right so share a photo of my dad and I.
(While attending The Book of Mormon, fitting right?)

What is your least favorite thing about blogging?

Tay: Editing photos, html, formatting, etc... 

I also don't enjoy comparing my life to fashion bloggers, I guess it's just hard for me to accept 

nine-month-old boys have a better wardrobe than me.

Bon: I struggle with having a filter, so I never know what's appropriate to say or not to say.  To me if it is appropriate for me to think in my head, than naturally it is appropriate for me to share with thousands of strangers on a very public forum.  I am learning, (slowly!) that some things shouldn't be said.  (Handicapped parking post and pantless student post come to mind).  Also, I feel bad for my family.  The internet knows more about them than they would ever wish.  No one wants to be related to a writer.

What was it like growing up in the middle of nowhere?

Tay: Just as awesome as you'd think it'd be.  I detasseled corn as a kid (when I wasn't just hiding in the cornfields),  rode my scooter from one side of town to the other  (one trip involved accidentally dumping my retainer in the Burger King trash, I dumpster-dived to get it back. And wore it for five more years...) And had a pet squirrel named Sally, whom I fed vanilla oreos.  Obviously I had an awesome childhood.

Bon:  Price is known as the armpit of Utah and Utah is known as the armpit of the United States.  So basically I grew up in the armpit's armpit.  Just stand back and be impressed for a minute. When they put up a new stoplight in town I complained for weeks because my daily time spent in the car jumped from seven minutes to eight minutes.   Weekends involved throwing flaming toilets off of bridges and pretending to be a cult in the mountains. Let's just say my small town upbringing really helped foster my creativity.

This is what the armpit looks like covered in snow.

What are some of your favorite writings from each other?

Bon:

Taylor has a gift for writing satire. That and making fun of herself.  She's my go to when I need a good laugh.  You might like some of the following...

The Most Indistinguishable Girl in the World

Like the Dos Esquis guy, only less cool

Got a New Haircut

I love haircuts, just kidding I hate them

ABCs of Blogging

I think the title explains itself

Stuff Bloggers Don't Say

Such as "I hate followers!"

Tay:

Bon often manages to hide a serious topic within a usually comical, very well written post. When I want a post that makes me laugh or cry or just feel anything at all, I turn to her. Here are a few of my faves:

I believe:  

You know, in stuff like movie theatre popcorn and an ice cold coke

Truths: 

Trying to write as honestly as possible

Three: 

Written on the three year anniversary of my dad's death

Stupid Questions:  

Sometimes it just feels good to make fun of the high schoolers I teach.

To meet a Hubs part one and two: 

Because everyone needs an old fashioned love story

Next up, we have sent each other a few words and then wrote down the first things that came to mind.

My thoughts regarding...

Mormons

Tay:

Bon and her "hubs"

Rulers of blogland

All get married pretty fast, and all seem unusually happy about it

Nice dressers

Need to know more, The Book of Mormon broadway show intrigued me so...

Bon:

Me

Misunderstood (We have this total complex where we feel like the world hates us.)

Mitt Romney

Bloggers

Happy

Reality TV

Tay:

Hate it

Love it

Ruining our society

But it's addicting

RHOC is a train-wreck I can't stop watching, especially with Vicky's new fact.

Bon:

Obsessed

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Bachelor

Scripted

Not real celebrities

On having babies

Tay:

(I just wanted to hear Bon's response to this one.)

Bon:

Scared

Excited

Poopy

No sleep

Redheads (because my husband is a redhead we have this nightmare that we are going to produce 6 strapping redhead boys.)

Improv

Tay:

Life changing, for the better

Teaches me to come from a play of "yes"

The most fun thing I've ever done

Addicting

Dream job

Dogs

Tay:

Ditto to everything I said above about improv.

Moving to California

Tay:

I'm not, but Bon is.

So Bon? What are your thoughts on California?

I think you should pitch a TV show to Bravo-

The Real Mormon Housewives of L.A.... 

Bon:

Where do I park?

Are my new high school students going to try to beat me up?

Will I get mugged?

I'm the worst driver ever- an accident is inevitable!

I've obviously never lived in a big city.

Real Mormon Housewives of L.A., here I come!

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19 wedding pics you don't want to send out with your invitation

Tonight I didn't feel like writing a post.  When I don't feel like writing a post I usually try to figure out why.  If I trudge on with my post when I don't want to, it usually ends up being a pretty awful post.

So like the pure detective I am, I sat down and thought, "Why don't I want to write a post?"  The answer was pretty simple.  I was tired, I had been working all day and I was kind of in a bad mood.  So instead of writing a post I looked at old bridal/engagement pictures to cheer me up.  I couldn't help but laugh that we had more bad pictures than good ones.  Boy are we a couple of goofs!

And just like that, a post was born.  I present to you, 

NINETEEN WEDDING PICTURES YOU DON'T WANT TO SEND OUT WITH YOUR INVITATION.

By The Life of Bon

1.  The mouth too big/ can't stop laughing pose.  For your information this was taken after Greg thought the ice was cracking, threw me off his back and yelled, "Bonnie!  Run!  The ice is cracking."  It's every man for himself in the wild.

2.  The crazy eye pose.  I promise Greg wasn't doing this in purpose- the photographer just somehow managed to get it at the exact right moment.

3.  The "You want us to do what?!?" pose.   You know how some girls are ugly criers?  I'm an ugly laugher.  My face seriously contorts like that every time I laugh.  Ah, well, what can you do?

4.  The old man teeth/ leaning against a tree pose.  Because we all know couples always lean against trees with each other.

5.  The "Oh my gosh, you seriously want me to pose in the bushes?" pose.

6.  The "Button up your jacket, dang it!" pose.  Also known as the "Boys don't know how to hold flowers" pose.

7.  The "Oh my gosh I'm getting married.  What am I thinking?!?" pose.

8.  The "dang it, woman, how many times have I told you to cover your mouth when you sneeze?" pose.

9.  The "We  just happened to be standing here and both instantly fell asleep" pose.  Also known as the "Take it easy on the eyelashes" pose.  But seriously, could this picture be any more awkward?  You know.  Just standing here.  Eyes closed.  Faces touching.  Being weird.

10.  The "I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be putting this hand right now" pose.

11.  The "Wait, what did you say we're supposed to be doing right now?" pose.

12.  The awkward "I am going to squeeze you until you can't keep it in" pose  Doesn't Greg look so uncomfortable here?  I can't stop laughing when I look at his face.

13 & 14.  The "Now I get to dance!" pose.

15.  The "Seriously, Greg.  That's enough" pose.

 16.  The long neck pose.  I had to include this one because back in the day I had an extremely rude boyfriend who used to always tell me that my neck was so long I looked like a dinosaur.  It was this picture that convinced me there may have been some truth to his words.

17.  The sun bursting through our skin pose.  Um... photographer?  Did you not notice that?

18.  The "getting a little too into this kiss" pose.  If this wasn't myself and my lover in this picture I would be totally grossed out by the graphicness of the kissing.  As I'm sure you are.

19.  The "I really don't want to pose for this picture" pose.  Can you tell who is being uncooperative?  ME!

Now vote!  Which one is your favorite worst pose?!?  I think mine has to be #17- the awkward kissing one!