Loyalty and a big wad of cash.

Lately I have been accused of being a fair weathered fan.

Psssh.  I just don't like to watch a team lose.  Does that make me fair weather?  Okay fine, then I am.  But in my defense, isn't everyone "fair weather" in the literal sense?  Does anyone spend all day outside when it's freezing cold? (Okay, snowboarders and skiers, you win.)  Like my brother once said, I'm just a fan of excellence.  And if a team isn't performing "excellently" then I don't necessarily think it's my duty to continue to show up to watch them lose.

Cue the Utah Jazz.

I've long been a jazz fan. (See here here and here.)  But this season I might be acting a bit fair weather.  To start with, I don't think the coach has any clue how to coach.  Secondly, the Jazz pretty much decided they were going to throw their season down the tube when they traded all their good players in hope for a good pick in the draft next year.  So they basically decided to suck this year.  I don't think I have to support that.

The result is that we started the NBA season off with a pathetic 0-8 record.  OH AND EIGHT.  We were the only team in the NBA to not have a win.  I watched the first five games in their entirety and then just up and quit.  The players weren't trying so why should I?  I have since devoted my time to things that make me happy like my puppy and bubble baths and sparkles.  Being a fair weather fan sure feels fine and dandy to me!

The problem is Greg.  He's the most loyal person I've ever met.  In terms of our marriage, it's awesome. No complaints!  In terms of our relationship with the Jazz, it is agonizingly painful.  He insists on watching every possible game.  Today when I came home from school, Greg was all up in my grill.  

"Let's go to a jazz game tomorrow!"  The boy had our weekend all figured out.  You see, he hasn't had a Friday night off from rehearsing or performing for months and he won't have another one off until January.  We must celebrate this free Friday night in style.  Jazz tickets for everyone!

I groaned.

"You really want to watch the jazz?  You know they're the worst in the NBA."

"Oh, come on Bon!  Show some loyalty for crying out loud!"

"Who are they playing?"

"The spurs."

"Yah, no way."  (The Jazz can't beat the Spurs even when the Jazz have a decent team, let alone this group of misfits we've got running the court this year.  Spurs are currently 8-1 and Jazz are 1-8.  Doesn't take a genius to figure out what the score on that one will be.)

Greg was offended.  "You really need to figure out your loyalties, Bon."

"I am loyal to good teams!  But what's the fun in watching them play terrible and lose by 30 points?  I am not required to support mediocrity!"

"Supporting a team isn't always fun, Bonnie.  Sometimes it's work, but it's worth it in the end." 

Sounds like a freaking marriage speech, doesn't it?  I told you.  Greg decides to be loyal to someone or something and he is full throttle pedal to the metal balls to the walls all the way do or die sickness and in health sunshine or rain until death do us part and I think I'm out of metaphors.

So that's where I'll be tomorrow night- if you're wondering.  Paying $20 to sit in nosebleed seats watching men who get paid 26 times what I do miss jump shots and free throws and turn over the ball.

In other news... it's group giveaway time!  I've changed the way I am doing the monthly giveaway.  In the past, sponsors have all given an individual prize- a candle or a $15 Target gift card or a pair of earrings.  Last week when I was out to dinner with some blogging buddies I figured a couple of things out.  My buddy Kelsey has won countless giveaways.  She let me in on a little secret and that is that winning group giveaways isn't all it's cracked up to be. Sometimes it's not even worth the hassle as sponsors send the gift card to the wrong address, strangely disappear, etc.  And sometimes, she said you just get sent stuff that you would never use- coffee cards for someone who doesn't drink coffee, necklaces that are broken, nail polish you would never wear.   And I thought, sheesh, all that hassle and sometimes the girls don't even like the prizes?  THEN WHAT IS ALL THIS HOOPLAH FOR?

Bing.  An idea was born:  pool all the gifts together for one grand prize and let the winner spend it how she wants.  I sat on that idea for a few days, decided I loved it, and then fully converted.  This is how I will be doing my group giveaways in the future, a wad of cash.  If a sponsor has a handmade business, she can of course give that prize instead, but this way it keeps the whole process a little cleaner.

So I present to you, November's giveaway!  180 big ones to be spent any way you want, sister.  Sponsors who contributed are listed below.  Mandatory entry is to follow Life of Bon on facebook and the rest is optional.  This month's sponsors are top notch so make sure to send them some love as they are all giving their own money and resources for this giveaway.  (Giveaway ends November 22.)

Katie// Kaylin// Emily// Kate 

Kelly//Danielle// Kelly// Dayna 

Lauren//Lauren// Madeline

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dinner conversation

Setting:
6:00.  Wednesday.
Our apartment.
It is dinner hour, the couple is seated and eating something that really doesn't look very good.  Bonnie cooked it.

Bonnie:  So I got a ticket today.

Greg:  What?  Bonnie are you serious?

Bonnie:  Yes.  I got pulled me over for an illegal left turn.

Greg:  Bon....

Bonnie:  I know, but it wasn't too bad because he didn't actually give me the ticket for that so it's not a moving violation.

Greg:  What'd you get a ticket for then?

Bonnie:  Not wearing my seat belt.

Greg:  Bonnie you weren't wearing your seat belt?!  How many times have I begged you to wear it?

Bonnie:  In my defen-

Greg:  No.  There is no defense.  You should always be wearing your seat belt.

Bonnie:  But I was literally pulling out of the school's parking lot.  I hadn't had time!

Greg:  I don't care.  You put it on before you start the car.

Bonnie:  Sheesh, stop being so dramatic.  Also you know I've gotten way better about wearing my seat belt, I wear it probably 90% of the time.  That stupid beeper in my car makes sure I put it on.

Greg:  Then why weren't you wearing it today?

Bonnie:  I had seriously just gotten in the car!  The beeper hadn't even gone yet.

Greg:  There's no way that's true.

Bonnie:  Okay, you're right.  It's not.  The beeper had gone off, but I really had only been in the car a minute.

Greg:  How much is the ticket?

Bonnie:  It's not bad at all, it's only like probably around $25.

Greg:  There's no way that's true.

Bonnie:  Dang it!  How do you know every time!

Greg:  Because you're a terrible liar.  So how much is it really?

Bonnie:  Forty bucks.

Greg:  For real?

Bonnie:  Yes, for real.

Greg:  So your only ticket is that $40 one, then?

Bonnie:  Well, I also got a ticket for no proof of insurance and no license on me but those can be erased if I just go down to the court and show them proof of both.

Greg: So it's three tickets?

Bonnie:  Technically, yes.  Although none of the tickets are for what I was pulled over for.

Greg:  I give up.

In summation, it's not easy to be married to a forgetful wreck of a driver like myself.  Also I really am not a compulsive liar, I just like to minimize damage if possible.  And I really am getting better with the seat belt thing.  Growing up, seat belts weren't really emphasized too much in my family, so I grew into a bad, bad habit of never wearing it.  I really am mostly better about wearing it now, (Greg's a seat belt Nazi.) it's just not automatic.  Also, the whole thing sounds quite comical written out, but the actual getting pulled over part was awful.  I started crying in front of the officer because it had just been one of those days already and because cops always make me frazzled.  Especially when he asks for license, registration and insurance and I have a copy of none of those in my car.

It's hard to be such a mess, really.

What I wore + what we did in class, November 2013

Picture #1:  Blouse: Gap Outlet (sold out), Skirt: Forever 21, Tights: Forever 21, Shoes: Forever Young, (not online, similar here.)
Picture #2:  Sweater: Chicnova, Pants: Wal-mart, Scarf: London, similar here. (When I went to London in 2011 I stalked up on scarves.)
Picture #3: Blouse: Forever 21, Scarf: London, Skirt: Eshatki, shoes: Gap Outlet.

A couple of notes on clothes:
* The sweater in the second picture is one of my very favorite sweaters this season.  It's sparkly and is perfect for fall and pre-Christmas.  You can find it here at a very reasonable price.
* The pants I am wearing in the second picture I found for $10 at Wal-mart in the spring. They are leggings/pants.  I bought a pair in black, white, gray, and yellow and they are absolutely my favorite pair of pants.
* I love the color of the skirt in picture #3 but the waistline is too high and the pockets are placed right at the hips so I always feel very large in it.  You've been warned.

And now, what we did!

Seniors:

We've been plowing through Hamlet the past couple of weeks.  Shakespeare is such a challenge and I do not wish it upon anyone.  Every year I start out with great ambitions to teach my senior classes two Shakespeare plays (So many great ones to choose from!  Macbeth! Othello! Hamlet! Taming of the Shrew!), but by the time I'm done with the first play I need a 6-12 month break from Shakespeare and teenagers so we never happen to get to the second one.  I love Shakespeare and I love teenagers but the two together are rough.  Seventeen year olds hate Shakespeare and it ain't hard to see why.  Half the words he uses we don't use anymore, half of the words he makes up himself.  So much of his writing is puns and metaphors and double meanings and it's just layers upon layers of text to dig through.  I think if I ever teach college I will absolutely thrive on teaching Shakespeare, but teaching it to regular Seniors is definitely a struggle.

That being said, I feel like all teens should leave high school with at least a few Shakespeare plays under their belt so I make sure to at least teach one for every year they are with me.  This year I am teaching Hamlet.  To make it more understandable for the tikes we have acted out a lot of the scenes.  I begged the drama teacher for access to the costume room and found a few hats and paraphernalia to dress up the parts.  The kids are pretty good about volunteering to read parts and although it's slow going, I do believe they are getting the gist of it.  A couple of especially juicy scenes I have had the students all act out in modern language and I also had them pantomime one of Hamlet's famous soliloquies- it was hilarious.  I have found that with high school students it's really amazing what they can do if you make them.

(All pictures of students are used with written permission from parent and student.)

Juniors:

My juniors just finished "reading" The Scarlet Letter.  The Scarlet Letter is a total beast and students typically hate it (Hawthorne- so wordy!  So many descriptions!) so to make it more manageable, I put the students in groups and assign each groups two or three chapters to read and present to the class.  This way the kids get a taste of Hawthorne, but don't have to endure the entirety of the book.  I'm considering scrapping Scarlet Letter all the way next year.  I just don't know if it's worth the trouble.  This year I had the least success of the four years I have taught it this way and I wonder if it's just time to let the old dog die.  I am struggling a bit with my junior class.  In the past I have taught either three or four classes of juniors and it has been my favorite grade to teach.  This year I am only teaching one class so I feel like I can hardly even get my crap figured out before the class is over and my only shot at the lesson is gone.  I tried to get my kids to discuss some of the big issues in the book like "who decides if something is right or wrong," "how does our society alienate groups or people" and "what kind of prejudice do you see then that relates to now."  They only kind of took the bait.

AP Literature:  This class was the toughest for me at the beginning of the year, but I find myself enjoying it the most now, mainly because the curriculum is so free and open.  Obviously I am supposed to be preparing them for the test in May but how I want to do that is totally up to me.  I wish I were given that freedom with my regular classes- "Here's the goal- do whatever you want to get there."  My AP students are still quiet and reserved and often times I will get better discussions from my regular students just because of the number of kids and the different personalities.  But my AP kids are silent geniuses (all eight of them!) and I find myself oddly attaching to them, quietly and slowly.  There are absolute no discipline problems.  (No tardies! No cell phones! No late work!) and they always have their homework in on the day it's due even when I forget to remind them.  Sheesh!  Sign me up for straight AP classes!

They just finished reading Hamlet and for their final test I am making them act out a scene.  The scene has to be 8-10 minutes and has to have exact lines from the play.  I'm even hardcore enough that I am making them memorize their lines from the scene and practice with costumes, a set, the whole shebang.  They have been practicing the last three class periods.  Today it was so cute to see them rehearse- they had all come with their lines memorized and were blocking and acting and quoting Shakespeare and I tried to not look too stupidly proud of them.  Final performances are on Thursday.  I can hardly wait.

Shakespeare, you dirty dog!

Today was a really good day at school.  We're reading Hamlet in my senior classes and before we ever started the play I promised that as we read I would do my best to help those rascally little perverts find every dirty hidden meaning possible.  The looked up to me with those big brown eyes, "Do you mean it, Teacher?  Will you really show us the dirty stuff?"  I crossed my heart and hoped to die and vowed right then and there to to point out to them every sexual innuendo I could find because, well, seventeen year olds.  They can't get enough of it and sometimes a teacher must resort to desperate measures to get her kids to pay a lick of attention.  As promised, I have faithfully pointed out all sexual innuendo and my reward has been a class that is very very engaged.  Suddenly they can't get enough of old Billy Shakes.  Ah, teenagers.  They ain't too hard to figure out.

(Also, on a separate but related note, I always love it when parents tell me that they are so grateful I teach clean literature like Shakespeare instead of all the "dirt" and "garbage" that is produced nowadays.  That is when I truly know they know nothing about Shakespeare.)

In other news, my pup is really growing up! It's the craziest thing.  (I've never been responsible for any living thing besides me before, so bear with me while I tell all of you folks who are likely responsible for several tiny humans what it's like to be in charge of a 2 pound dog.  I'm sure you have no idea what responsibility is or anything.) He's twice as big as he was a month ago and it breaks my heart a little to see how fast he is growing.  He answers to his name now. (Ish.)  I used to have to carry him down the stairs because he was too scared to go on his own and now he just charges right down them like a man on a mission.  I know it's dumb, but freak, it kind of pains my heart a little bit to see him descend those stairs by himself.  He's growing faster than I want him to which begs the question, how in the world do people ever let their babies go to kindergarten?

In other news, I've got a lot of reading to get done tonight.  I am finishing John Green's Looking for Alaska and I really need to get reading A Thousand Splendid Suns for this month's blog book club.  Remember, if you aren't reading yet to grab a copy and start now.  I promise you will be glad you did.

Taking over for the rest of the day is Kate.  She's also got a husband and a dog so she's kind of like to me except for she lives in Virginia and likes to drink wine while she dances around her kitchen which I have never done but imagine I would be pretty dang good at.  You're up, Kate!

Hello, fellow Life of Bon readers! My name is Kate and I blog over at Thoroughly Modern. During the day I run the 4-H program for my county here in the beautiful commonwealth of Virginia, and at night I try to be the best wife and puppy mother east of the Mississippi.

*/

Family selfie session!

 In short, I'm just your average, twenty something brunette who also happens to be a big ol' scaredy cat procrastinator.

That's right. You heard me--PROCRASTINATOR.

Maybe this is just me, but when I was in college it was kind of cool to roll your eyes, sigh, and talk about how you're such a procrastinator. I would be up until 3am, playing John Mayer on repeat until I couldn't take it anymore, and then I'd get up early to finish and print off that 8 page paper with only 15 minutes left to jump in my car and head to class.

Birthday cakes: A typical result of my procrastination in college.

These days, even though I'm a grown-up with a grown-up job, I still procrastinate like it's the only thing I know. Some may view procrastination as laziness, or a result of ADHD, but I know there are two big forces behind my procrastination: fear and self doubt.

Looking back, there was always fear involved--fear of failure, or the fear of creating work that was not up to standard. I also couldn't help but doubt myself. The truth is, when I have these big, important projects coming up, I slowly start to doubt that I am capable of creating high quality work that is completely my own. All that negativity just creeps in and settles in my soul and brings me down. It reaches the point where all I want to do is avoid it, so instead of doing what needs to be done, I'll play candy crush, or read a book, or even go do laundry, because I just don't want to face the fear that I will never be good enough for the standards I've set for myself.

Pretty heavy stuff for a Tuesday, amiright?!? As you can imagine, I procrastinated writing this post. Yes, I did have quite a bit going on with work and family these past few weeks, but once again I was scared. I put too much pressure on myself trying to come up with a unique, eye-catching guest post, and before I knew it I was at my deadline and I needed SOMETHING.

Luckily, this post came out of my procrastination, and it has been cathartic being able to realize the origins of this nasty habit. Will I keep procrastinating after this moment? Absolutely. But I hope I will be slightly more aware of what's keeping me from doing the task at hand, and I will push through that fear and self doubt and start building up my confidence. Not that I'm biased or anything, but I've got a pretty swell husband who has always believed in me, even when I don't believe in myself.

We don't look this shiny in real life. Three cheers for professional photographers!

Thanks for taking the time to sit through this little therapy session! When I'm not attempting to reach self-actualization through my blog posts, I also write about pop culture, retail therapy, and my love of carbs and music. Come join me at Bloglovin, and you're also welcome to stalk me on ALL the social media: Facebook, the Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Have a beautiful day!

Tribute time! I nominate the ten year old!

The above picture has been pre approved by my mom.  When I asked if we could get a pic tonight she immediately demanded to know if it was "for the blog" and when I said there was a good chance it would hit the blog she then determined we must take it with a good background.  Just standing by the couch wasn't going to do.  "Take it by these Halloween decorations!" she insisted.  Because there's nothing like Halloween decorations on November 11 to really highlight a dang good picture.  After the picture was taken my mom wanted to preview the picture just to make sure it was up to Debi Blackburn standards.  "Well, my eye's a little freaky, but I guess it'll work..." she relented.  The picture passed.

All this hooplah about a picture is because tonight we celebrated my mom's birthday.  Her actual birthday is tomorrow (Monday) and of course, we'll celebrate Monday too, but if you can start the party a day early, why the heck not?!

One of my favorite things we do in my family for birthdays is "tributes."  It's almost my favorite part of birthdays- all my family members tell me why I'm awesome.  Generally people probably aren't as great about saying nice things to each other as they should be, so that's why tributes is a great excuse to tell people you love why you love and admire them.  Not to be confused with tributes from The Hunger Games.  No no.  That's something else entirely.

My nephews' tributes are always the best, especially Davey's.  That ten year old really knows how to hook you up with the truth.

The year I got married, "Bonnie's great, but mostly she's always with Greg so I don't really see her too much."  Note to self: I'm neglecting my family.

The next year:  "I love Bonnie because she knows all the jokes."  You hear that folks?  I know them all!  ALL the jokes!  My coolness raising in Davey's eyes.

His tribute to my mom this year:  "I love Nana for a lot of reasons, but the main reason is that she is usually the one who makes the dessert."  AMEN!

(Also while we're on the subject of my nieces and nephews I have to tell you the most hilarious thing my three year old niece said to me last week when I was babysitting her.  I was wearing bright pink lipstick and she asked me why it was so bright.  I replied, "I like to wear bright lipstick sometimes- do you like it?"  "Yah... but it's a little bit ugly."  She answered deadpan.  Leave it to a kid to give it to you straight!)

Lots of nice things were said about my mom because my mom really is about as great as they come.  The general theme seemed to be, though, how much we admired her for the work she put into relationships.  My mom never acts too busy to spend time with you.  She's got a million things on her plate, but you would never guess it because she never seems stressed or harried or like it's a burden to be with you.  She focuses on the individual and she makes people feel important and special.  My mom will ask question after question to every person she meets- she genuinely wants to know all about them.  She values her relationships more than anything and it is my hope than one day- maybe one day- I will be half as good as her at making people feel loved.

LOVE YA MAMA!

Beautiful weather and other gifts from God.

REMINDER:  November's book club selection is A Thousand Splendid Suns.  We will discuss this book on Tuesday, November 26 (the Tuesday before Thanksgiving).  Last month our book club participation was pretty small- I would love to have a more active discussion this month of the book.  It is one of my top ten favorite books- absolutely beautiful- and a book I think every woman should read.  You've got three weeks- go get it read!

 

The weather is absolutely gorgeous today.  We're more than a week into November and we've got temps in the 60s all through the weekend.  The temperatures are more that ten degrees higher for the average of this time of year.  The weather man keeps telling us that any day the weather's going to turn, that it's going to get nasty, that fall is on its way out!  Any day now!  Then somehow fall lingers a few more days, promising us it's fleeting but showing otherwise by sticking around.  There will be a day or two of cold, wind and rain that reminds us of how nasty winter can be. "Fall is over!" I think!  The bad weather is here! But then fall comes right back, never gone for more than a few days, demanding that this is his moment and he will shine.

Every day that the weather is beautiful I think to myself, "I have to enjoy this day!  It's our last day of gorgeous weather!"  But then it's not.  There are more and more and more days of 60 and 70 degree weather, sunshine, perfect temperatures.  I suppose there is some kind of life lesson in this, that there will always be beautiful days ahead.  That it can get cold and nasty for awhile, but we never have to worry that this will be our last day of beauty.  No matter how much we anticipate the bad, the fact is we have many, many beautiful days ahead.

For your weekend reading: 

Some of my funnest posts to write: (I know funnest is not a word but there is no logical reason for why not, so I stick it to the grammar man and go ahead and use it anyway!)

+ A few important how to guides for all internet users.
+ Everything I don't understand about Twilight.
+ My favorite basketball team, the Utah Jazz, are 0-6 for the season.  Two years ago I wrote this article promising to break up with them.  I wish I had.
+ Some of the disadvantages to having a blog: people know things they really shouldn't/
+ It's my mom's birthday on Monday!  The woman amazes me.

Would you like nine girlfriends? Me too.

Today I am introducing you to nine ladies who you are seriously going to love.  The longer I blog the more I discover what an amazing community it is and how many terrific girls there are out there. This month's batch of ladies are smart, clever, and absolutely hilarious.  I have made so many connections and found such great friends through blogging and it is my hope that you will too.  Here's some ones you might want to check out if you want a seriously awesome blog bestie and a great daily read. (I highlighted a couple of favorite posts from each blog so if you want to you can just skip right to the real deal.)

 

LAUREN @ FIZZ AND FROSTING

Lauren's blog is perfect for people like me who like to look decent but who also must go to work all day in the clothes they have chosen.  I see so many fashion blogs where the people are adorable, but I know in a million years I could never wear that for the eight or ten hours my job requires.  Lauren's styles are cute, comfortable and affordable (her favorite stores are Target, Gap, and Old Navy.  Win!)  I loved this post where she showed us how to rock leather leggings (do I dare?) and this post where she sports the "trendy" polka dots.  The perfect blog to check out for realistic and cute outfit ideas.

Blog/ Pinterest

LAUREN @ THE ALBCRECHTS BLOG

What will first catch your attention at Lauren's blog is the adorable blog design and the stunning pictures. (Lauren can you teach me how to use a camera?)  Besides being aesthetically pleasing, Lauren's blog feels very genuine and true to life.  She writes a lot about her faith and many of her posts are inspirational or motivational.  I especially loved this post about working hard and not giving up in regards to marathon training. (So beautifully titled The Soul of the Diligent)  And for another side of Lauren make sure to read this hilarious entry about "translating" speech in the South!

Blog/ Facebook

KELLY @ TODAY WAS A FAIRY TALE

Kelly's blog feels like I'm going home and hanging out with my best friend.  Probably because Kelly actually does live with her best friend so when I read her blog, bam, all of a sudden I have roommates again!  She is relatable and true to life.  She states that she always tries to be completely honest on her blog and you can feel that as your scroll through her posts.  I am definitely one to always appreciate some genuineness in the blog world, so Kelly's blog is a breath of fresh air.  I loved this post on the downfalls of being an adult (why does growing up have to be so hard?!) and this post about mean online comments was an absolute home run.  I wish I would have written it myself!

Bloglovin/ Twitter

DANIELLE @ DAN IN REAL LIFE

Danielle's blog is eccentric and a little bit quirky- just like she is.  If Phoebe from Friends had a blog, I feel like it would look similar to Danielle's.  It's just a tad nerdy but at the same time, but it's the kind of nerdy that makes you feel safe and protected and like everything is going to be alright in this world.  Her wedding post is one of my favorite ever and I could scroll through her pictures all day (love her dress and headpiece!)  Also this post about having a partner through life and being there for each other good times and bad had me tearing up.  (Oh, and her "about" is as unique and hilarious as they come.)

Blog/ Facebook

MADELINE @ P.S. MY NAME IS MADELINE

Madeline is a fellow teacher like myself so naturally I am going to love her, no questions asked!  She's a fourth grader though, that woman is the real brave one!  I loved this post on the day of the life of a fourth grader-  the day she wore pajamas to school and all pandemonium broke loose.  I also really connected with this post about comparing our lives to others' and how life should be about celebrating, not about jealousy and competition.  Oh, and if you like the mushy stuff, her most recent post celebrating six months of marital bliss is pretty darn adorable.  And one more thing- I absolutely LOVE her blog design- so simple and clean.  No one can get mad at that!

Blog/ Instagram

REBECCA @ I ATE SKINNY

Rebecca's blog is one of my favorite in all of blog land for her candid honesty and unapologetic vulnerability. She has a bit of an edge to her, but instead of coming off harsh and crass it is sincere and endearing.  I think what I love about her is she doesn't feel the need to hide anything or act like her life is perfect.  She talks about marital struggles, dealing with bipolar disorder, and living far away from her family.  It's this total honesty that will bring me back to her blog over and over again and if  life ever takes me up to Alaska I would make it a prioirty to visit with this woman because I feel like she has much wisdom to impart on me.  My favorite posts of hers are always the "depressing" ones, but it's because that's where her honesty and rawness really shine through.  I especially love this one and this one.

Blog/ Bloglovin

KELLY @ THE RHEEL DAZE

The best word I can think of to describe Kelly's blog is fun.  (Just look at that picture that she sent to me, you can tell this girl is anything but boring.)  I think a big challenge for bloggers is that we all tend to become a lot like each other- not Kelly.  Her blog truly stands out.  It is absolutely hilarious and full of crazy, quirky stories.  This post about her friend's breakup had me laughing out loud (It's titled "My friend's horrifying break up is really making my day."  HA!).  And since I am always feeling guilty for not working out enough this post titled "I'm trying really hard to like yoga" made me feel like I can stop being so hard on myself.  Kelly doesn't take life too seriously and after reading her blog you'll feel like it's time to loosen up and just have a good time already.

Blog/  Facebook

KAYLIN @ STAY BLONDE, SKI LOCAL

Kaylin's blog has a little bit of hometown taste to it, probably because she grew up, went to college and started her first career all in the same small town.  She loves it though, and explains the benefits of small town life in this post.  Because of her small town upbringing I feel like she has a "girl next door" flavor to her- gorgeous but at the same time relatable and down to earth.  She has a category on her top side bar just for "shizzle" and she dubs herself as "what one would call a developing blogger."  I love that she can poke fun of herself a bit and not get too uppity about anything.  She's also totally inspirational- this post on losing 25 pounds with weight watchers will inspire you to get your butt in gear!

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DAYNA @ PRINCESS BURLAP

(I typically write all of the intros, but Dayna had written her own intro that was just too hilarious and witty for me to mess up with anything of my own.  So this is all Dayna)  

Hi y’all! I’m Dayna over at Princess Burlap, and I blog to inspire (and sometimes offend).  I grew up in a house where The Boogeyman was real and the only rule was No Ouija Boards. I was a wrist cutter and a crier and a dreamer and a throw-myself-at-walls-and-screamer. 

I’m getting married in three months and my betrothed had a vasectomy. Sad face. And so it has been foretold that we shall enter into our married lives first as lovers, then, as pincushions. But wait! Bad news for me is good news for you! Adventures in infertility will make for a mighty fun blog adventure, being sprinkled as they will between posts about ghosts , confessions to being lost and found, and all the fun crumbles of life as I live it.

Truth is, life can be sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami, sometimes all at once and that is so not delicious. But it’s life and it’s such a wild ride, isn't it? Some days you’ll laugh with me, some days you’ll cry with me, but you’ll always get unbridled, unhinged and unfiltered me. That’s a promise. And a threat. 

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Kids these days? Parents these days!

Kids get a bad rap these days.

Nearly every time I tell someone that I teach at a high school they gasp in amazement, "Teenagers?  Wow, you are brave!  How do you do it all day?"

I usually just kind of smile and say, "I know- I'm nuts!" and most of the time that ends the conversation there.

But sometimes the conversation goes on.  Sometimes those people are insistent on proving to me that I have made a terrible life decision in spending 182 days a year 8 hours a day with such little rats.  They have many complaints about "teenagers these days" and they make sure I know them all:

Teenagers are lazy!
Teenagers are entitled!
Teenagers don't do a lick of work!
Teenagers are dishonest!
Teenagers are narcissists!
Teenagers are addicted to their cell phones!!
Teenagers don't have any respect!
Teenagers won't read if their lives depended on it!
Teenagers only care about themselves!
Teenagers are full of excuses!

The conversation usually ends in a huff and a puff and a "kids these days!"  I stay mum because I'm not one to waste energy on a pointless fight, but I always think to myself,  "You've got it wrong.  It's not the kids.  It's the parents."

Because the fact is that some teenagers are those things.  And the trends show that more and more teenagers are that way with every passing year.  I was talking to one of my favorite teachers yesterday after school.  He's taught at this high school 33 years and he said to me, "I tell you, Bonnie, it gets worse every year and it's only going to continue to get worse.  The ninth graders this year are something else entirely.  They don't have a clue in the world of what's going on.  If I could have known 33 years ago what I'd be dealing with today I never would have believed it."

But I firmly believe that it's not teenagers' fault.  It's their parents fault.

Teenagers are lazy because their parents don't make them do chores around the house.  They are lazy because this generation of parents will happily do the work their kids don't.  They are lazy because when they don't want to go to school mom calls and excuses them. (I can't even tell you how many times I have seen a perfectly well student prance out of my classroom with an excusal note from mom that they are "sick").  They are lazy because when they are not ready for a test mom says they can stay home.  They are lazy because instead of part time jobs they have playstations.

Teenagers are entitled because they are given cell phones at 10 years old.  They have no idea what it costs to pay for the cell phone, the never ending text messages, the oh so important apps.  They go for a decade (at least!) owning a cell phone without ever having to pay a cent for it.  They are entitled because they are given iPads and xBoxes for Christmas and when the next Christmas rolls around they get the newest edition just. for. being. them!   They are entitled because they got a brand new car for their 16th birthday and parents make the car payments and cover the insurance and do you need gas money, honey?

Teenagers don't have any respect because no one ever showed them how.  I distinctly remember my first year of teacher when a kid stormed into my classroom, giving me attitude about a quiz I wouldn't let him make up.  He was raising his voice and very clearly upset and I said firmly, "You leave this classroom and when you come back you show me some respect or else I will not be working with you."  No one ever talks to me that way and I never talk to anyone else that way.  He was clearly taken aback and apologized immediately, "I didn't mean to show disrespect, I'm just frustrated."  When mom came for parent teacher conference four weeks later I watched in embarrassment as he sassed off to her, made snide remarks, treated her like dirt and she just took it.  She never corrected him, never taught him how to have a conversation with respect.  She cowered.  And then kids come charging into the high school using the same attitude they learned to use with their parents and all us teachers shake our heads and say, "kids these days." Nope.  Not kids these days.  Parents these days.

Teenagers are addicted to their cell phones because they have no limits on when and how often they can use them.  They are given free reign and don't have the age or maturity yet to know how to monitor or limit themselves.  They are addicted to their cell phones because when they go out to dinner with the family the parents let them tweet and text and play candy crush through the entire meal.  They are addicted to their cell phones because they look at mom and mom is on her cell phone, not bothering to engage in a conversation with them.  No one is telling them when is okay to have their phone out and so it's always okay.

Teeangers won't read because their parents don't read to them.  They weren't read to as children.  They have no books in the house.  Their parents have never told them what their favorite book is because parents don't have a favorite book.  Teenagers don't read because families don't discuss books and because when a student doesn't like to read the parents asks his English teacher if he can just pass the class without having to do the reading please?  Teenagers don't like to read because they weren't raised on it, they were never shown its beauty, they were only shown a TV.

Teenagers are full of excuses because their parents allow the excuses.  They don't want to roll out of bed in the morning so they have "depression" and mom doesn't make them go.  They can't focus on Shakespeare, they're bored, so boom, the kid has adhd.  He needs extra time for his assignments and he doesn't have to complete the whole thing.  When kids fail the class the parents call in, raging mad at the teacher, not the student, because surely something like that could not be the student's fault.

Teenagers are narcissists because their parents told them they can do no wrong.  Their parents told them they are special and beautiful and better than all the other kids so teenagers think they are special and beautiful and better than all the other kids.  They are told they are perfect, that they can't mistakes, that they are above discipline and above rules.  If a kid doesn't like a teacher then lets just switch him out.  Get him a new teacher instead of learning how to deal with a clashing personality.  Lets hand pick his whole schedule because only the best for our superior child.

So no.  I don't believe teenagers are getting worse with every year.  I believe the parents are, and that's the sad truth.

I realize this is a fairly pessimistic view of parents today, but the fact of the matter is I'm tired of teenagers having to take the brunt of the blame for their generation.  They are only what they are because they were raised that way.  I also realize that there are millions and millions of teenagers who have none of the above qualities.  I see them every day.  I teach hard working, funny, smart kids who show respect and bust their butts for my class.  And it ain't hard to see- those kids are also that way because of their parents.

One of those days

It's been one of those days.  You know.  Those days.

I started with a snowy drive this morning and a commute that turned from 20 minutes to 60 minutes with terrible traffic conditions.

Then I hit a roadblock with my senior classes.  I think I'm getting in my groove at my new school and then all of a sudden I have days like today where I'm convinced that the kids will never really respect and love me like they did at my old school.  My fourth period class was beyond chatty and disrespectful today.  I finally just gave them the Teacher glare while I waited for them to quiet down.  Eventually they all got the message and shut up, but it took a good few minutes.  As soon as they were quiet I started to speak and the second I did a kid started talking at that exact same moment just to piss me off.

Those are the moments when I have to try my best to be disciplined. To not just lose control at those little freakers who think it's funny to be rude.  So I just glared at him and said, "Child, don't you mess with me.  You pull crap like that again and you will do your learning in the hall for the rest of the week."

And he shut up.  But still.  Kids don't do that kind of stuff when they like you. When they're on your side.  They do that kind of stuff when they don't respect you.

Then this afternoon I went in to Big O Tires to see if they could fix my windshield washer sprayer.  The guy looked at the car, said it would be $250, and I said wow, no thank you, not today.  Then the guy said, "ok that'll be $20."  

"For what?" I replied.  "You didn't fix anything."

"It's $20 for the estimate."

"Your charging $20 just for looking at my car?"

"Yes.  That's right ma'am."

Cooks and swindlers, every last one of them.

That's when it's time for me to come home, get in my pjs and do a puzzle to de-stress myself for the next three hours.

Today I've got Emily on the blog talking about what made her start blogging. She addresses one of the most fascinating subjects to me- why we can bear our souls to perfect strangers but cringe when someone we know brings up our blog. She brings up some great points on this- she's one smart cookie.  I do hope you'll visit her blog and tell her I've sent you, she really is fantastic.

 

 Today I’m guest blogging over at The Life Of Bon. She gave me free reign (Foolish Bonnie!) So, without further ado... Hi Life of Bon readers! I'm Emily from Sparrow in the Treetop. This is me (and my dog Cliff):

 

And this is an essay about why I blog: I clearly remember when I started blogging, why I thought I should. It was because I had discovered this world - a whole other one where people were capturing their lives. Not just posting à la facebook: “I’m gonna make my kid’s picture, my profile picture” but they were really putting it all out there on the internet. Themselves. How they felt about motherhood, why they were feeling restless with their life. Why they felt compelled to do X Y Z. I found myself drawn to blogs written by women who had kids or lived organic and healthy lifestyles. Probably because I admired what they were doing – but the ones I really admired the most, were honest. Transparent. (But not too transparent – not everything needs to be recorded for all eternity – amiright?). There was this “something” there, you don’t find in everyday life. It was a little glimpse into the real world, of how life can be messy but beautiful at the same time. After I got into writing my own blog and I became more deeply embedded in the blogging world, I remember thinking everyone, (everyone!) must also be doing the same thing. But you know what’s strange? There’s this whole population out there, who has no idea what a “dashboard” is. They don’t arrange their freshly baked cupcakes nicely, or chart their work outs, or enter into DIY projects just to challenge themselves. Gasp. And I became embarrassed about my own foray into the internet world when I was speaking it out loud. Because I wasn’t sure how the two “me’s” compared to one another. Have any of you ever felt that way? Like you want to share your life with the internet, but then you don’t want your dad bringing up the elements of it when you’re home for the weekend?

 
(that ^^ should have said, "Cooler of Booze" - I made this sign... not one of my shiniest moments)

What is that? I’m fine with telling the virtual world that I don’t know what I’m doing with my life or why I’m feeling uncertain about a job decision, or am lacking faith, but I recoil when my aunt says to me, “We read on your blog the other day…” In “real” life it’s harder to say what you feel. Out loud. But there are so many times in life when it would help us. Can I get an amen? And then blogging did a crazy thing for me. This actual composition of my life gave me clarity. I’d been concentrating on saying what was on my heart while I was writing, and then magically, it started to transfer to everyday interactions. I started feeling more comfortable with my own voice. My voice became stronger. It became me. The reason you keep going back to some blogs time after time again, is because it makes you feel confident. Not confident because you compare yourself. But confident because you realize, you’ve got a voice too. And it’s got just as many stories to tell. Thanks so much to Life of Bon for having me! I’ll be here all month, hanging out on the side-bar if you wanna here some more stories about The Life of Emily over at Sparrow in the Tree Top.

Find me on Twitter: @FullofMirth
I take pictures too: @FullofMirth

Why I can't have nice things and other stories of camera woes

The truth is folks, I am very much so afraid of this.

I have been blogging like a fiend for the past two years and as far as the camera goes, a dinky point and shoot and a camera phone are all I've got to show for myself.  Somewhere in the back of my mind I have known for a long time that I need to get one of these bad boys.  Every day I see blogs with beautiful photography and I wonder if I could do that with a nicer camera and a few tips.  But alas, all I've got is my point and shoot.  I tell myself I will make a DSLR my next big purchase and then every time I am about making the jump to a DSLR I inevitably talk myself out of it.  I'm an indecisive crazy!

9 REASONS WHY I HAVE NOT INVESTED IN A FANCY PANTS CAMERA FOR MY BLOG

1.  To start with, I can't even get the name down.   The camera is called a DSLR.  Or is it DRSL?  DSRL?  Ah, screw it all, we'll just call it a fancy pants camera! What in the world does that acronym mean? If I can't even figure out the name of the camera how am I supposed to figure out what it does?

2.  A thousand bucks.  That's what most of these bad boys cost and that's just the base price.  One of my good friends who loves photography says she has bought lens that in and of themselves are that expensive- in addition to the camera itself.  Shizer!  There goes every penny I've ever earned.

3.  I am overwhelmed easily.  Especially by things I don't do well.  I can see an absolute panic fit going down when I realize there are buttons, buttons and more buttons and I have not a clue how to use any of them.

4.  It's so big!  Definitely not big enough to shove in my purse, which is what I do now.  Does that mean that I have to carry a purse around everywhere AND a big, honking camera bag?  Because I think we all know that is never going to happen and the expensive camera will just get left in the car.

5.  I've got some pride and the fact of the matter is I am afraid that people who don't know anything about cameras will make fun of me for carrying around a big old camera. It's huge!  I'll look like an idiot!  Last time I got a pedicure the man doing my nails made fun of me for how big my point and shoot camera was, and that's just a little old thinger.  In the ever swelling "iPhone cameras are God" crowd how will I ever fit in with a DSLR?

6.  On the flip side of #5, I'm afraid that people who do know something about cameras will make fun of me for fiddling around with an expensive bugger and not having a clue how to use it.  I am already kind of afraid of real photographers anyway.  They're so intimidating with all their gadgets and lights and filters.  I'm afraid the real deals will be able to spot me from a mile away as nothing but a wannabe.  I feel like if I did have a nice camera I would have to go around with a sign around my neck that said "This camera cost a lot of money, but I am not a pro, I don't think I'm a pro, and I will never be a pro. Please judge accordingly."

7.  I am afraid people will make fun of my pictures.  I've seen some people say some not nice things about un-photographers who have DSLRs.  Facebook statuses abound, "Just because you have an expensive camera doesn't make you a photographer!"  I mean, rude, right?  So I guess I'll just take my camera phone and crawl into a corner now.

8.  I have a history of not taking care of my stuff as well as I should.  For example my point and shoot camera I keep in a sock in my purse.  I faithfully lose my keys every four months.  My car is missing its right rearview mirror.  AND I THINK I AM RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO HAVE A CAMERA THAT COST OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS?  I think not.

9.  What if I buy a big fancy pants camera and then my pictures are STILL awful?  Or I am too dumb to figure out how it works?  So my pictures look just the same as they did before and now I am out a grand.

Now it's your turn.  Camera people- go.  Tell me every reason why I should or should not invest in one of those expensive little buggers.

A Thousand Words

Today you are going to see a lot of pictures that have absolutely no business being on a blog.  Blogs are for beautiful pictures where you look good, where the lighting is perfect, where people are happy and healthy.  These picutres are none of those things.  But they are endearing in their own, freak way and I couldn't help but laugh as I looked at all of these.  Okay some of them.  Others are just cringe worthy.  

Happy Monday!

March 2010.  The predecessor to fashion blogging... posing on cars.  Why yes, I am a freak of nature who likes to relax on the hood of her car.  Doesn't everybody do this?

This was two months after I bought my first car.  I was overly excited, obviously.  Also, I remember loving that dress and now I just look at it and think, "oh girl..."

April 2010 Death by maniacal light saber holder in 3, 2, 1...
This was one of my first ever classes. I student taught this group of wild ninth graders. The kid behind me with the coy "too cool for school" look may have been one of my favorite students ever.  Every time I was chewing gum he asked me for a piece.  I always said no until he offered to buy individual pieces of gum from me. He once offered to pay a dollar for a piece of gum.  I told him that was a terrible deal and he responded, "okay, fine, TWO DOLLARS?!?"

A picture of my friend taking a picture of a fake cop.  FAKE COPS?  What has the world come to?  That friend's name is Brooke and now she lives in Alasha.  The places we'll go.

I owned my car for three months and had already ran into a curb and knocked off the hub cap.  These were in my bad driving days- the day this picture was taken I had gotten two speeding tickets.  SOMEONE HELP THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WHEEL.  Also, I am still a bad driver.  But I get less tickets.

August 2010- For Mandy's birthday a bunch of shirtless boys came over to our apartment.  Don't ask what is going on here because no body knows except for that I think it is clear that they think they are much better looking than they are.  But don't we all think that?

August 2010- My first ever picture of Greg.  He's not desperate for attention, is he?

I have no idea who this woman is or why there is a picture of her on my computer or why she is jumping off of a bed.  Somehow this picture just exists.  Can someone somewhere tell me who she is and why she's on my computer, oh please?!?  (Also, is it just me or does she look like she is about to take a hard fall?)

June 2010- For my 24th birthday my friends surprised the crap out of me with a surprise birthday party.  After they all shouted surprise this guy came up and gave me a huge hug and told me that I deserved the best birthday ever.  I had never seen him before and I have never seen him since.

Why can I even make that face?

SHIRTLESS GINGER.  Foaming at the mouth.  Now do you understand why I could not resist this man?

October 2010- Halloween.  This guy was dating our friend, Brooke, for awhile.  They stopped dating, praise the heavens because Brooke was really too good for him.  But he dressed up like Michael Phelps for Halloween and that was almost enough to keep him around except for, well, no.

August 2011 My husband sleeping on the airport floor with three other women.  

August 2011.  THAT MAN ON THE RIGHT IS HAGRID.  We saw him at an airport in Scotland and our friend, Josh, insisted on singing him a song on the guitar.  It was all sorts of awkward and remains as one of the best moments of my life.  You could tell that Hagrid just wanted to hightail it out of there, but he was kind enough to sit and listen to Josh's love song which makes me think even that much more highly of everything Harry Potter.

Weekend shenanigans and a BIRTHDAY!

Two daughter in laws and a mother in law.

Today is my mother in law's birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!

It's a day that is a bit hard to celebrate because my father in law, Gary, had open heart surgery yesterday.  He had a valve replaced in his heart and a bypass.  He is recovering extremely well- as well as can be expected, but still he will be in the hospital for 4-6 days at best.  Thus, her special day will be spent mostly at the hospital, worrying about others.  How fitting for Becky.  Still, we will try to celebrate at least a little bit, hitting up Cheesecake Factory for lunch and doing our best to decorate the house and make her feel special.

I adore my mother in law.  I realize that sentence has rarely been spoken in the history of mankind, but I say in unapologetically.  As far as the mother in law lottery goes, I hit the dang jackpot.  Becky is as selfless a person as I've ever met.  Yesterday I was thinking about where we could go to dinner or what dessert I could make for her and I realized I don't even know what restaurant she likes because we always go to the restaurants that everybody else likes.  I don't know what her favorite dessert is because she spends her life making everybody else's favorite treats.  I have never once seen Becky mad.  That woman is as calm as a summer morning.  I've seen her stressed and I've seen her sad, but I've never once seen her mad or mean in any way to anyone.

I see so much of my mother in law in Greg.  Oh, there's no doubt about it- he's got the stubbornness, the passion, the fiery wit of his dad.  But underneath those qualities, he's also got the softer, more gentle qualities of his mama.  His love for culture and plays, his incredible sensitivity and awareness of others' feelings, his never ending thoughtfulness- those qualities all come right from his mom.

Happy Birthday, Becky.  May you never spend another birthday in the hospital!

For your weekend reading:
+ Can you believe it's already been a year since election day?  I didn't vote for President last year, but I did vote for a few other VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.
+  A year ago I wrote this post on having babies.  I still find myself afraid (very afraid!) of babies but I also find myself thinking about them more and more.  Is it almost time?
+ How much do you fight in your marriage?  What is "normal"?
+ Sometimes I read old posts of mine like this one and cringe.  How do you handle criticism?
+ One of my favorite guest posts any one ever wrote on my blog from my blog bestie, Tay Tay.  You want to be in my "clique"?  Here's how.