Music Mondays!

The Road to the Final Four....starts now!

Music Mondays!

This one's for you Mom!

I Don't Celebrate Birthdays...

Nope. Not at all. And its not because I'm afraid of growing another year older.....it's because I prefer to see it as a trip around the sun. Each year in my life marks another successful trip around the sun. Today marks my 31st trip around the sun. Pretty good if you ask me. When I look back on it and reflect I think of the many things that have happened to me in this past year. Some good....some bad....some made me better....some made me humble.

My Birthday Balloon from my Mom

Momma Makes the Best Birthday Cakes

Seeing that I was born on Thanksgiving, I have always imagined my birthday to be different than people who don't have birthdays that surround a national holiday. However, I have something that most people don't have. I am always guaranteed to be surrounded by loved ones on my special day. And I never need to worry about a birthday dinner....mine is always full of home cooked treats that we only sink into once a year. Instead of pie I always have a tasty chocolate cake.

It's hard to measure a year...but it all adds up to a pretty good trip around the sun. So here's to one more trip around the sun....and many many more!

Music Mondays!

Music Mondays!

This is a special video with a song a love. I found the video amazing and it reminded me that as humans, we many think we only touch a life for a little bit. But our impressions last a lifetime.

Fill in the Blank Friday! Happy Fall Ya'll!

1. Nothing says fall like going to the pumpkin patch, enjoying cold weather, Big Blue Madness, and seeing KY number 2 in the preseason basketball polls.

2. My favorite autumn tradition is going to the pumpkin patch with my class. It is so exciting to see the look on their faces as this is many times the first pumpkin patch experience for them.

3. My favorite fall treat is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte!

4. Fall makes be think of Paducah because of all the wonderful memories I have of Fall Festivals, jumping in leaves, and seeing the season's change.

5. Autumn free form word association go! pumpkins, cool weather, open windows, no humidity.

6. My go-to outfit in the fall is leggings and a sweater dress.

7. My favorite holiday is (Halloween or Thanksgiving) I have to say I am very partial to Thanksgiving. I was actually born on Thanksgiving Day 1980. Because of this, my birthdays were a bit different from other....pie instead of cake. However, now that everyone is grown, my family always celebrates my birthday on Thanksgiving. When I was little I would get upset because I couldn't have a birthday party like other kids, so my mom would always tie a balloon to my bed for me to wake up to on my birthday to make it extra special. She still does sometimes.

Music Mondays.......

Heard this on the radio the other day and my mind went back to the mid-90s for a little while.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

1. The most selfless thing I have ever done become a teacher at an at-risk school. It has given me a true sense of empathy and the knowledge to know how to make a difference.

2. When it comes to working out I am inconsistent. I have a true love hate relationship with it. However, I went to they gym for the first time in a while this week, and it did feel pretty good after.

3. A woman should always know how to hold her liquor. No one likes the drunk girl crying int he corner.

4. I wish I could pack my bags and move to NYC tomorrow. And then I'd erase that off the bucket list!

5. A best friend is someone who knows all the trash, and still loves you anyway.

6. I can't get enough of Donnie Wahlberg.

7. This weekend I am going to enjoy an extra day off work, go to UL Homecoming, and catch up around this house!

Meeting one of my heroes

2008

Music Mondays! 20 Years of Nirvana!

This music revolutionized a generation...and me.

Steve Jobs

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something-your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life"

-Steve Jobs

As we all know, the world recently said good-bye to someone who had a huge role in changing it. It was Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. He was a modern day Thomas Edison or Henry Ford. He revolutionized technology for all of eternity. And what is perhaps is one of the biggest irony's of his passing, is that much of the world found out about it on the very device that he helped to invent.

I want to take a little time to share with you a few of the things that Steve Jobs has done for me. First of all, he got me in trouble in the 2nd grade. You see, our class had an Apple computer. You know, the ones that were "portable and light weight", but needed about 3 boxes to transport? Yeah, that kind. This was also when floppy disks were actually floppy and had that hole in the middle. Well, one day, while on the computer, I was taking one of the disks and swirling it around my finger. Which in turn, ruined the disk and the game that was on it (Perhaps Oregon Trail?). Anyway, what I remember about this incident was that I was so afraid that I was going to be in big trouble. When the disk stopped working, our school secretary (who had grown up with my dad) came in to see if she could figure out the problem....which she then determined to be that my swirling had permanently damaged the disk. I remember she jokingly (I think) said, "I'm gonna tell your daddy". I think that I spent the next few days fearing that she would, in fact, tell my daddy.

He has also had a huge impact on my career and how I teach. It really bothers me when I hear people say "Who really NEEDS an iPad/iPod/iPhone?" Well, I'm going to go ahead and tell you about some people who really NEED an iPad/iPod/iPhone. You see, Apple products have for a long time been embraced by those in the disability community because of their adaptive features. People who are visually impaired benefit from the enlarged print and screen that is easy to access, as well as the text to speech and the new speech to text features. Those who are hearing impaired can have access to subtitles while watching movies and television on other devices in real time. Individuals that have motor impairments can manipulate the touch screen with much more ease than a keyboard or paper and pencil. In turn, it is easier for them to do everyday tasks such as pay bills or make a grocery list. And individuals with Autism benefit form the the many communication applications that help them to use pictures to communicate and often reduce their frustration that can develop by not being able to convey their wants and needs to others.

One thing that my mom has always said and I believe as well, that everyone's life has a meaning and a purpose. But the irony here is that Steve Jobs' life meaning and purpose was to revolutionize technology. And in turn, this technology helped to provide meaning and purpose to other peoples lives.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

1. Something popular that I can't stand/just don't "get" is the whole Harry Potter and Twilight craze. It just doesn't do anything for me.

2. Something unpopular that I secretly love is The Brady Bunch. It is my all time favorite show. I could watch it over and over and over again.

3. When I've had a bad day I sit in a quiet room, call my mom to vent, and then watch some good trash TV.

4. I'd prefer staying up all night to getting up early any day.

5. Something that makes me nervous is flying. As much as I love to travel, I still get nervous every time I get on a plane, and I don't calm down until I'm back on terra firma.

6. Something worth fighting for is standing up for what you believe in. Solidarity!

7. When people think of me, I hope they think that I am a fun loving individual that is independent and goal oriented.

One Picture

Today's is the final day in this 10 day challenge about me. It turned out the be a quit difficult one. You see, the challenge was to post one picture of my self. Seems simple, right? Wrong. You see, I love pictures. Not because I'm narcissistic and love to look at myself, but because pictures hold so much meaning. So much value. Pictures are the only thing on this Earth than can capture a split second in time that will never come or go again. What really amazes me is that I can't tell you off the top of my head what was going on in my life 10 or 15 years ago, but show me a picture, and it all changes. I can tell you if I was sick that day, what the other people in the picture were up to that day, and why I was wearing a certain outfit. Hell, I can even give to the correct excuse as to why my hair wasn't looking good that day.

With all that being said, it was a challenge for me to only choose one picture to share. One picture to tell my story. There are so many pictures, or moments in time that mean so much to me, it's hard for me to just share one with the world. So, I decided to cheat just a little. Instead, I made ONE picture slideshow that helps to tell my story of who I am and how I got here!

A slideshow by Smilebox

Music Mondays!

I've been listening to a lot of my old favorites lately....love me some Pearl Jam!

Two Songs

I have always been a music lover. I remember as a little girl sitting the the back seat of the Oldsmobile and singing along to Madonna's "Poppa Don't Preach" and not even knowing what the song was REALLY about (I think it was about a girl who's dad didn't like her boyfriend). There are many songs that I love and hold dear to my heart. Many times, they have a special meaning or significance to my life. I think that's what I like the most about music. A simple song can transform you back to a place in time that you may have otherwise never thought you would go back to.

ONE

This song gets me every time. I remember being made to learn the lyrics in school. Little did I know, that on day in the future, I would no longer reside in the Bluegrass State and this simple song would take me back to the hallways of Morgan Elementary School. I also look forward to going to a big Cats win and singing this along with a few thousand of my closest friends!

TWO

If there is one song that encompasses me...this is it.

Three Films

I've always found it interesting how the genre of movies that a person likes in many ways often parallels their life and their personality. Personally, I've never really been into horror films or action adventure movies. And if you want some proof, I didn't even see The Sixth Sense or Saw II, both of which have Donnie Wahlberg. I tend to like two kinds of movies: off color comedies that require the viewer to have a wicked sense of humor and a taste for dirty jokes. The other type being chick flicks. Like many women my age, I have often watched a chick flick and laughed and stood in awe of the many ways in which it paralleled my own life. Here are three of my most favorite movies:

ONE

Riding in Cars with Boys. I love everything Drew Barrymore. I love her style, her sense of adventure, and her pride in being an independent woman. On many, many, many occasions, I have had both strangers and friends tell me how much I remind them of her. I take it as the best compliment that I could receive. And I LOVE her movie Riding in Cars with Boys. It is one of those movies that I could watch over and over and over again and never get tired of it!

TWO

Dirty Dancing. Who doesn't want to be Baby? When I found out that this movie was actually based on someone's real life experience, I must admit that I was a bit jealous. Every girl, and I don't care who you are, has watched this movie and dreamed of what it would be like to take a simple vacation and have a torrid affair with a bad boy. No matter what else is going on, if I'm flipping through the channels and this movie is on, I stop and relive "Nobody put's baby in a corner". I also have to give my mom credit for introducing me to the classic film...she was CRAZY FOR SWAYZE back in the 80s.

THREE

The Hangover. And why? Because it reminds me of people I know and have hung out with. Not that any of my nights have ever been that crazy, but trust me, there have been a few that I have woken up from and wondered how I made it out alive.

Four Books

I have never been much of a reader. I'm not really sure why. Growing up my family always had books in the house and my parents would read to me all the time. And my older sister Kellie is addicted to reading. I honestly believe if she could put books into a syringe and inject it in her veins, she would! However, from time to time, I come across a book that I love and can't put down.

ONE

Someone Like Me. I stumbled across this book by pure accident. I was trying to find children's books that had characters with special needs. However, along my search, I found this wonderful memoir of a many with Cerebral Palsy and no limits. This books depicts how he lived with CP and overcame the odds to achieve his dream of being in the United States Navy.

TWO

Eat, Pray, Love. When I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I love the story and the author's real life sense of adventure and finding herself. After reading this book, I was truly inspired and began to not only think of how I would "eat, pray, and love" my way through life, but I also began to search for my "word".

THREE

The Color Purple. This is one of those books that I could read over and over and over again. I first read it in the 9th grade and I fell in love with it. I just love the story and the many meanings that lie with in this great piece of literature.

FOUR

The Last Lecture. I was first introduced to Randy Pausch and his book The Last Lecture a few years ago while watching Oprah. I was so moved by his story of living and dying with pancreatic cancer. I was amazed at the bravery and courage that it must have taken to write a novel that depicts how someone would tell their own life story for the last time.

Five Foods

I love food and I love to eat! It's amazing, because as a child, I was the pickiest eater ever. I survived my childhood by living on PB&J and cereal. And now as an adult, there isn't anything I won't try! Here are my top 5 most favorite foods!

ONE

Hands down, the best thing that I ever put in my mouth, was my MaMaw's fried chicken. She could fry a chicken like it was nobody's business. I have many fond memories of her in the kitchen with that big black, iron skillet frying up a chicken like only she knew how. And she would make a white gravy and homemade biscuits to go along with it. I remember she gave me some good advice once when she was teaching me how to make gravy. She said, "Don't forget. People Bitch when their gravy is runny". I still haven't forgot MaMaw! Her kitchen was filled with much more than food. It was full of laughter, stories, good times, and memories!

TWO

Sushi. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I dared to even try sushi! Maybe it's because sushi has such a bad rap with people. However, I have learned in recent years that it's something I love. It goes to show that it is true, you don't know until you try it!

THREE

Ice cream! I mean, we all scream for it don't we?! Personally, I think there is no better treat in the world than ice cream. One of my favorite ice cream treats is a peanut butter milkshake made with chocolate ice cream! To this day, the best peanut butter milk shake that I have ever had was at United Dairy Farmers...a delicious ice cream place that I have only seen and experience in the Cincinnati area!

FOUR

Breakfast....but I don't really ever eat it in the A.M. I love breakfast food, but not when I wake up! I love a great brunch or breakfast for dinner!
FIVE

My momma's chicken and dumplings. It is my most favorite thing that she knows how to cook. My mom is a great cook, and I'm not just saying that. It is a very rare occasion that she makes something that is not very well received. Many times I hear people that chicken and dumplings are too hard to make, but not for my momma! They are slap ya momma good!

Six Places

Today the challenge is 6 places. I love to travel and see new places. There are many places that I have been and many places that I still want to go. I love traveling and experiencing different ways of life. Here are my top 6 places to visit. Each of them have significance to me, some I have already seen, some I am still dreaming!

ONE

New York City. In 2009, my sister Kellie and I had the opportunity to travel to NYC. It was something that I had always dreamed of and it took my breath away to finally have that dream come true (although I am still dreaming of going there with my Mom some day). I will never forget the feeling that I got when I got off that train in Grand Central Station, rode the escalator up, and landed on the streets of NYC. While we were there we ate in Little Italy, took a tour of Brooklyn, had an interesting experience at The Empire State Building (it is NOTHING like Sleepless in Seattle), saw Lady Liberty up close, and took a tour of Ellis Island. Now, I'm not one for the mellow dramatics, but I literally got chills walking through those halls knowing that my Great-Great Grandpa Murphy walked the same halls years ago when he came over from Ireland.

TWO

The Pacific Northwest. The past March, I had the unexpected opportunity to travel to Olympia, WA/Seattle, WA/Victoria, B.C. The scenery there was like traveling through a post card. Pine trees, snow capped mountains, sea planes going in and out of the water, and the Original Starbucks!

THREE

Chi Town! I love Chicago. I have had the chance to visit there twice and I loved it both times. It has such an old historical feel mixed with a modern and contemporary vibe! Although I am a life long St. Louis Cardinals fan, I had a blast going Wrigley Field and drinking an Old Style beer (which may be the cheapest and worst tasting beer I have ever put in my mouth). I also got to go to the top of the Sears Tower, see Navy peer, and eat some Chicago Style Pizza!

FOUR

Washington, D.C.. I believe that no matter what your traveling preferences are, every American should visit our capitol at least once in their life time. My sister Kellie and I went around 2006 for a day trip. While we were there I took my first subway ride, had a Capitol tour, saw Joe Lieberman on the floor, saw Dorothy's red slippers (bucket list check!), and learned that the Washington Monument is not as close to the Capitol as it looks and you should not attempt to walk the two miles to get there!

FIVE

Paducah, KY, AKA, my hometown. At first thought, you may think that there really isn't much in Paducah, but here are some fun facts for you. It is home to the National Quilting Museum and the Annual Quilt Show which attracts quilters from all over the world. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's first baby Rumer was born there. It's annual telethon is the biggest small town telethon in the nation and attracts an array of celebrities annually. In addition, it is also the birth place of Vice-President Alben W. Barkley.

SIX

Australia. This is the one place in the world that I have never been and dream of going to. I have always been fascinated with the country, it's people, it's culture, it's animals. I honestly can say, had I been in the Oprah audience when she gave away the Australian adventure, I would have been one of those fools crying because I was so over joyed!

Seven Wants

Today was easy. There are many things in this world that I want. The challenging part of it all was narrowing it down to simply 7.

ONE

To travel the country of Australia. I have always been fascinated with this country. I dream of going there and experiencing all that there is to experience in the Land Down Under.

TWO

To see my Kentucky Wildcats cut down the nets after winning the Final Four. Last year, I got to see them play in the Final Four, only to witness a heartbreaking loss to UCONN. However, my sister Kellie and I already have our tickets to the 2012 Final Four in NOLA this year. I'm ready to cross this off of my bucket list.

THREE

To have something I've written published. It is one thing to have your mother tell you that you are a good writer, but it is completely different when someone you don't know loves what you have written so much, that they think you should share it with others.

FOUR

A Lexus. As a teacher, you sort of come to accept it that you get summers off, but will never make enough to drive a luxury car.

FIVE

To visit NYC with my mom. It is something that I have always talked about and a dream that I know will come true one day.

SIX
To be on a game show. When I was in college, I auditioned for "Wheel of Fortune"...only to be cut in the final round. I plan to rectify this one day.

SEVEN

Be great at something. I have always wanted to be a "go to" person on a topic or subject for other people.

Eight Fears

Today's challenge is 8 fears. I think that fears are something that are difficult for us as human beings to face and admit to. When we admit to having a fear....it becomes real to both ourselves and to those around us.

ONE

Mice. And for those of you who want to say, "They are more afraid of you than you are of them"...you're wrong. Finding on in a washing machine after you have done a load of laundry really helps you to form an opinion on them.

TWO

Flying. Which is an interesting paradox considering I am a frequent traveler. However, to overcome this fear, I pop a Benadryl and sleep the entire flight.

THREE

The dark. No, I don't sleep with a night light or anything like that, but I'm also uneasy when I hear something and I can't see where it is coming from.

FOUR
Failure. The thought of not achieving all the goals I have set for myself or not being accomplished in my career terrify me.

FIVE

Death. It's not that I'm afraid of what comes after death, I'm afraid of leaving this world before I have done everything that I have wanted to do.

SIX

Over sleeping. As much as I hate getting up early, I hate being late even more. If for some reason I do oversleep, I go into a total panic. I'd rather show up to work with no make up than show up late.

SEVEN

Not getting A's and B's. I know it sounds like I'm an overachiever (which I am), but when I am taking a class, I don't settle for anything less than the best.

EIGHT

Not knowing who I am in old age. I've witnessed what it's like with my own eyes, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Nine Loves

There are many things in this world that I love and adore...it's very hard to narrow them down to just nine. But after thinking about the nine things I love the most, here they are:

ONE

Kentucky basketball. It is a sports tradition like no other. Unless you are a part of the Big Blue Nation, you will never fullly understand it.

TWO

Writing. It is a passion that I have had since I was a kid. I credit my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Bach for being the first person to give to me a love of writing.

THREE

Traveling. I love to travel and I start to get the itch to go somewhere if too much times lapses between my trips. I have to take at least one big trip a year, and I make sure that I have several road trips in between.

FOUR

Coffee. Although I do enjoy indulging in specialty drinks such as a pumpkin spice latte, I love a hot cup of black coffee. I'm a firm believer that if you put sugar and milk in it, it's not coffee anymore.

FIVE

Donnie Wahlberg. I loved him in the late 80s when he had a rat tail and I still love him today.

SIX

My job as an early childhood special education teacher. I get to finger paint and change lives all at the same time. I couldn't ask for better.

SEVEN
Laughter. I truly believe that laughter is the best medicine. Even on the worst days of my life, I have managed to find something to laugh about.

EIGHT

My grandparents. My MaMaw and PaPaw both had a tremendous influence on who I have become today.

NINE

My family. They have seen what my hair looks like in the morning and they still love me anyway!

Music Mondays! Fireworks!

Ten Day Challenge

Something that is trending right now in the blogging community is the 10 Day You Challenge. (Which should probably be called the 10 day ME challenge since it is in fact all about me). Today's challenge is to reveal 10 secrets about myself. Enjoy!

ONE

I'm a democrat. Not really a shameful secret...and certainly not a secret to everyone. I just don't think some people know this about me.

TWO

I can sometimes be forgetful about putting deodorant on in the morning. So I put some on at night just in case I forget.

THREE

I'm not a natural red head.

FOUR

If I don't wear my clothes long enough to get them dirty or sweaty, I will forgo washing them.

FIVE

I had a crush on Kirk Cameron in the 80s. FAIL.

SIX

I have always wished that I could have been a hippy of the 60s. I truly believe that if there is such a thing as past lives, that I was one.

SEVEN

In reference to number 6, if that is the case, I want to come back as an attorney in my next life

EIGHT

Sometimes when I'm bored or can't sleep, I'll play on the Internet and find random information or look up things I've always "wondered about".

NINE

I'm not the best housekeeper in the world. My house is by no means filthy, but there have been occasions where I have been afraid for people to stop by.

TEN

I still listen to boy bands!