Grand Surprise Plans!

Well I had grand plans of getting posts done on all the wonderful things I got from Hannah who was my secret pal for March, the fun we've been having cleaning up the house, yard, and shaving Tuffy, getting to go to my niece's dance recital, and getting John to write the review of his pans from csnstores. However, John surprised me with a little overnight getaway to Vegas so I'm off to pack. We had talked about going down for a day, but this will be nice! I will be internet free for at least the next 36 hours. I don't know where we're staying and I must say I'm THRILLED by the surprise factor! It's not very often that one of us can keep a secret long enough to surprise the other! Now I have ALL kind of things to post about when I get back.

Hey ICLWers!

Welcome to all of you! None of this has anything to do with IF. Unfortunately, treatments aren't in the picture right now, or in the near future. Here's what's currently going on in my life keeping me up into all hours of the night/morning.

Right now my life feels very up in the air. Found out this month LOTS about my job.

1. The state of Arizona, unless a 1cent sales tax increase is passed will cut 20% of our schools budget (which in our very small, 2 school district, equals teachers).
2. The state of Arizona just passed a law (which I LOVE btw) that teacher tenure is basically out the window. Teachers will be hired and kept based on student achievement not how many years they've been working. (Again, LOVE this!)
3. Our superintendent is moving on to bigger and better things. This is a wonderful thing for him and his family (we're really close), but not an ideal situation for me (I know so selfish).
4. Our school board isn't great at follow through. As in, they say one thing and then DO something completely different. Example: They send us ALL the timeline for hiring new super, but then in the VERY first step (posting the job opening) do it 2 weeks early and they have it replacing one of our principals too... Not the best people to have looking for someone new... in my opinion.

You see, I'm the type of person that needs to know, I need answers yesterday, I don't like what if's and quite possiblies, or NOT knowing anything.

So we're playing the waiting game to see how this hiring process goes, who our new superintendent will be, and if there is money so that I have a job next year. So I open for suggestions like I have been throughout this school year to other possible job fields that have openings that isn't linked to teaching at all, or teaching positions (preferably both in a state with mandated infertility insurance coverage!).

Besides all of this being dumped on me this month, 2 uncles, and another gentleman I knew passed away this last week.

March has totally kicked my butt, and it's not even over yet! But I'm ready with a smile on my face to survive this last week of school before spring break. Besides ICLW is the highlight of my month!

Show and Tell: Boutiful Baskets Edition

If you live in Utah, Idaho, Washington, Arizona or Nevada you have got to check out Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op. It is seriously the coolest thing since sliced bread! :)

Look at all the fruits


and veggies


Everything in those two pictures was only $15!!!!

They also have cool add on things each week like the "Mexican herb pack" $6.50

And then they also have 9-grain bread $10 for 5 loaves and last time they had tortillas...Oh my those tortillas were HUGE and SO SO SO yummy!

So excited to get my basket this weekend! In the meantime... Be sure to check out what the rest of the class is showing!

My husband's the cook!

Well, if you know me in real life, you know I'm not the homemaker type. Never have been. Last week some of my family was in town and we had some other company at our house as well. Since John is always cooking, the favorite place to gather is on the bar stools to watch him work his magic in the kitchen.


Here are some of his creations:

My favorite dish ever: Chile Rellenos

And don't forget his eggs benedict (without the eggs for me thought ;)

Oh and his RIBS... DIVINE!

He does this using pots and pans that are 7 years old and on their last leg. They've been great, but it's about time we start replacing them. Lids are broken, handles are glued on. It's just time.

So needless to say, when CSN contacted me about doing a review of one of their products from one of their 200+ online stores and suggested these beauties I showed John and it was like Christmas morning for a little kid. He is THRILLED to be able to test these new pans. I can't wait until they get here so I can show you all the things he can use them for!

Show and Tell: My Newest Jewlery

Make sure to check out what everyone else is showing this week!

I've been wanting this necklace from therhouse couture ever since she's opened her etsy store and it was posted on there. My MIL gave me a gift card for Christmas and I was telling John that was what I was going to buy while we were in Indiana. My mom was in the room as well and was asking me "why in the world would you want a necklace that said eventually?" John says I handled the situation well (which is a good thing). I don't remember what I said, just being offended that she a) didn't understand and b) would kind of make fun of me for wanting it didn't bode well for me responding well... but thankfully, I did.

Anyway, I didn't order it while we were in Indiana and then life happened and while I didn't forget about the necklace, I did forgot to order it. So a few weeks ago when I got on after Valentine's day to order the necklace it wasn't there. I was so sad! (it's back now and I still will order it at some point in time)... So I started looking to see what else they had. I found this beauty...

(my pictures don't do it justice and it's not on their website at the moment).

This necklace is so perfect for me! I say this phrase all the time and I truely believe it, too! When I found it I showed it to John who said "It even sounds like you!" So he bought it for me!

All my students and other kids I'm around love that I have "a necklace with words". They all try to figure out what it says. One girl that I'm particularlly close with read it and just smiled. She thought it was perfect for me too.

I've used it in teaching lessons at church.

I've used it to remind myself that I'm not in ultimate control. Especially when I found out this past weekend that my dear friend is moving away this summer. I've kept telling myself "everything happens for a reason." I don't know that it has made it any less emotional, but it has helped by giving it a purpose. Even if I don't know what that purpose is yet.

So to mrs. r and her crew... thanks for my newest necklace and giving me reason to find purpose in everything!