I WON!

So a few weeks ago, my mom won a pair of super cute earrings from a blog she found (www.suaviloquy.blogspot.com). Well, as you would guess, I decided to check it out too! And guess what? Today I won some awesome stationary. Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot! From what I understand, the stationary is handmade by a woman in Georgia. She uses eco-friendly materials and donates part of her profits to animal shelters. Way to go Wendy Conrad! And thanks for the free give-away April! Goes along really well with the paper I'm supposed to write tonight about why I'm environmentally aware. :)

I'd like a serving of life with a side order of happiness please...

Hi.

My name is Cate, and I'm an Oreo addict.

My addiction started a few weeks ago when Morgan and I decided to get cookies and milk for our movie night snack. Somehow, over the years, I forgot how happy eating soggy chocolate cookies makes me. Today was my loooonnnng day of work. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving it, but 8 hours of pure kid time can be draining. I'm sure all you moms understand. Morgan called when I got off and asked if I wanted a ride home. I was hesitant at first, but finally decided that a ride would be nice. I moseyed on over to our appointed rendezvous point, and stood on the corner. All of a sudden, I saw that Morgan was already parked and standing on the sidewalk. This was my thought process:

That was fast! How did he already get here?

Wait...why is there a picnic blanket on the ground next to him? And why is he holding a gallon of milk?

Oh my gosh. Are those Oreos?

Yep. You guessed it. Morgan surprised me with an Oreos and milk picnic. Are you jealous yet? Definitely the highlight of my day. I think I'm going to need to join an Oreos Anonymous program soon though. The first step is acceptance, right? :)

Let's go to Vegas baby!!

So funny story. On Friday Morgan and I played darts while we tried to decide what to do for our fantastic (and apparently not-so-planned out) date night. I won the first game, then Morgan won, and on the third game, it was neck and neck. I threw a dart and it hit the board, but the score didn't register (it is an electronic board) and the dart fell off. Morgan SWORE it hit the bullseye...and I thought he was just trying to let me win. This is what our conversation looked like:

Morgan: "Babe! You hit the bullseye!"

Cate: "No...I don't think I did..."

Morgan: "I'm pretty sure you did..."

Cate: "Okay, well I'll throw it again, and if I hit the bullseye, that's it. We have to get married tonight."

Morgan: "Deal."


And this is the dart I threw following our conversation.

Not only did it hit the bullseye, but it hit the most central dot on the whole board.

Our engagement/bridal/wedding picture.

So sorry none of you could make it to the wedding! But a deal's a deal! The funny thing is I wasn't even trying to aim. I just chucked it at the board. Apparently my subconscious self really wants to marry that big goober. (I guess my regular conscience does too) :)

Don't worry...be happy

My roommate recently got a new cell phone, which she also uses as her alarm clock. She has all these nifty little songs she can play as her alarm...and consequently I've been waking up to John Mayer and Boys Like Girls. A few days ago, she changed it to Bobby McFerrin's (sp?) "Don't worry be happy." I've decided that this should be my mantra.

Ugh. Sometimes life is so hard. And it's so easy to get sucked into the vortex of "My life is horrible all I want to do is eat chocolate ice cream," but then I hear the words to this famous song and realize, oh yea. Be happy. And then I see Morgan doing his Chemistry homework and I think, I am so lucky! Not just because he is extraordinarily good looking and I'm madly in love, but because I could have waaaayyyy harder classes this semester. Chem 105 anyone? No thanks, I'll stick with Speech Anatomy and Basic Hearing Science any day.

Do you ever get the craving to water color? I do. It's probably a good thing that I forgot to bring my paints to school this year considering my crazy intense schedule, but it would be a nice stress reliever. Too bad I don't have my paints tonight...it looks like Morgan might be busy doing chemistry homework for awhile. Maybe I should go put on some Bobby McFerrin for him. :)

Don't worry. Be happy.

Um...who's poking my voodoo doll with a needle?

So...some days are better than others. Today is one of those days where I felt like this:

My computer died today. I took it in to the shop and they are going to look at it and see if it is fixable, but it's highly unlikely. Chances are, I'll be in the market for a new laptop soon, and will be a few hundred dollars poorer. So much for getting paid last week. 

Apart from losing my trusty friend, work was HARD today. And I mean I wanted to pull my hair out. I felt like I was dealing with little monsters who absolutely would not do what they were asked, of in any way, shape or form cooperate. Does anyone have any tips for working with kids when they refuse to do something? I try all the usuals (giving them choices usually works), but sometimes just feel like I'm at a loss! Someone once said working in schools was the best form of birth control. I'm starting to understand why. 

And now I'm at home, staring at a mountain of homework, which ironically enough requires the use of a computer. 

As Bob Wiley stated over and over again in "What about Bob?": "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful. I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful!" (At least that's what I keep telling myself.) :)

Oh the marvelous month of September

At work today we sang a song about September, and how the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler. Now, I don't know about you, but my days still seem pretty dang long. Between school and work, I'm exhausted at the end of the day. Sometimes I look at the clock and wonder if I somehow teleported into a parallel universe where time ticks backwards. As for the nights getting cooler...I'd have to agree. I've already busted out my fall-ish jackets. You know the kind...the lovely "it's-too-hot-for-a-coat-but-too-cold-for-a-shirt" apparel. 

As I was pondering the marvelous month of September, I started thinking of all the great things that will happen in the next 15 days. According to one website I found, today is "Make a hat day." (And to think, I left my sewing kit at home. Guess I'll have to wait until next year.)

Tomorrow is "Collect Rocks Day" and Wednesday is National Apple Dumpling Day. The Band-Aid was invented on September 22nd, which also happens to be the first day of Fall. The Office season premiere is September 25th, "Crush a can day" is on September 27th, and most importantly, the safety pin was invented on September 30th.

Honestly, what other month could compete with collecting rocks and crushing cans? I vote that every day should be "National September is the Best Month Day." (But I also like August, November, December, May, and June. Maybe we could establish some sort of rotating holiday observance. Kind of like how the weather service rotates the names of hurricanes every season.)

Because Katherine said so.

(This entry is dedicated to one awesome roommate named Katherine! )

Thanks for kicking my sorry butt to update the blog you all so faithfully read.

Well, it's the new school year, and I'm already drowning in a sea of homework and reading and studying. I am working this semester in a Kindergarten classroom, as well as nannying for a little boy...and so I've finally realized how shockingly difficult it is to balance class, work, studying, and a social life. And to top it all off, my roomies and I put together an intramural volleyball team. I think I might be certifiably insane.

But speaking of roomies...I just have to say that mine are the best! :) Love you girls! You keep me afloat. Ash - you're going to do amazing out there. Kat - may the force be with you. we'll figure it out soon! Alyssa - it's okay, we can overanalyze together! go women!!!!