Day 22 - A Website

A great website out there is CSN Stores. I've partnered with them a couple of times in the past to do some reviews and giveaways that I've posted about on my other blog. CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from a platform bed to fantastic fitness equipment to cookware and even shoes! Plus, most of their items have free shipping!

They've contacted me again and I'm so excited to work with them to find something great to review! I'm having such a hard time deciding between their thousands of items. I'm thinking a rope swing now that it's cool enough to be outside, bean bag chairs for my classroom, more cookware, knives, kitchen gadgets for John, or be selfish and find me a great new pair of shoes. Head on over to CSN Stores and see if you find anything YOU think I should review!

Day 21 - A Recipie

Ok, I'm going to share my most favorite cheesecake recipie. Just know the cook time and temperature (at least in my oven) need to be upped to get a nice texture. Oh yeah, substitute chocolate where ever it says lemon, and you have an AMAZING chocolate cheesecake!

So the infamous Lemon Cheesecake from Betty Crocker.

Day 20 - A Hobby

I have several hobbies. I get sick of one thing and move on... (kinda like this blog). From everything like crocheting, scrapbooking, reading books, to video games, blogging, and traveling each are hobbies I rotate through. Right now I'm on a scrapbooking hiatus. Except I've been making photobooks for free from many different sites and counting them as my scrapbooks! I'd also add couponing to the list. John and I have gotten kind of addicted! This weekend us and 6 of our friends will be heading to the truck race for free! ($200 worth of free tickets.) Thanks Smiths!

Day 19 - A Talent

I have done many things throughout my life. Here are a few of them.

Music
When I was young I played the piano. In elementary school I wrote my very own piano piece and won first place in my school and district but came in fourth at the next level, and didn't continue. In fourth grade I started playing the clarinet. I continued that through high school where most people to playing an instrument MUCH more seriously than I ever did. I've always enjoyed singing. I sang in choirs at church and with children's groups for as long as I can remember. Singing harmony and reading music are two of my favorite talents.

Arts and Crafts
I've tried everything from sewing to card making to scrapbooking to crocheting and everything in between. I'm horrible at sewing. Ok at cards and scrapbooking, and since I taught myself how to crochet, I think I'm pretty good. However, I've learned that digital scrapbooking is so much more my style.

People Skills
I tend to be everyones llama. I get to hear about everyone else's problems. I'm ok with that, and I've been working on the art of giving sound, non-judgemental advice... Although that seems to be taking much more time to get consistently good at.

Teaching
This is the obvious one to me. While this year seems like I'm starting over I'm such a better teacher today then I was 6 years ago when I started doing this. I really enjoy the teaching kids part of teaching.

Overall I have no overwhelming, outstanding talents that wow everyone, but I have what I need to be great at being me!

Day 18 - My Wedding

Here are a few of my favorites from the day. June 7. It was incredibly hot that day. Especially for me... my face turns bright red if I'm outside in the heat for more than two minutes. (I swear it was 100 degrees, John promises it was only 95 ;)

We were married in the St. George LDS Temple on June 7 '03.

THe happy couple, just married and seald for time and all eternity! SUCH a blessing!

One of my cousin's girls. Now 7 years later, she's such a gorgeous young woman! (they drove 12 hours to be at our weeding and then we spent some time at disneyland with them on our honeymoon!

Probably my most favorite picture of John on our wedding day. I love how it TOTALLY shows off his personality!

A great picture of us!

Yet another great picture of my dad and I. I'm so sad that none of my siblings will get pictures like this on their wedding days! Love you!

Before the reception we headed to get some Bridals and STILL MORE wedding pictures at other locations.

My happy (goofy face-making) family before the reception... I can't believe how young all my siblings look/are! So crazy. It doesn't seem that long ago. (in December, the youngest will graduate from High School!)My brother with the garter.... which he caught at both the receptions!

Day 17 - An art piece

See this post, for my very most favorite piece of artwork EVER!

Day 16 - A Song that Makes you Cry

Probably the song I cry most when I hear it is this one. It's my mom and I's song. Every time I hear it I think of her. Think of being a kid. I also think of all the perfect times this song has played randomly on the radio when I needed to know she cared but she was far away. Love you mom.

Day 15 - Dream House

I'd have to say, my current house is pretty close to perfect for my dream house. When we talk about moving, I cry at the thought of leaving behind my house! I wish the backyard was all done the way we wanted it and that ants knew their place was outside, not making a nest in my shirt on the floor overnight. But other than that, I really truely do LOVE my house! You can go back in the archives to see pictures, inside and out. They're older pictures, so you can use your imagination to invision now, three years later.

Day 14 - A Nonfiction book

Um... I don't really read a lot of nonfiction

Day 13 - A Fictional Book

Ok, so books are just WONDERFUL. My life revolves around children's books and you HAVE to go here to the new website of my ALL TIME FAVORITE read alouds. When I was teaching 1st grade these were the kids favorite! (my mostly hispanic student population)

Seriously, if you don't go check this out, I'll be so sad!

Day 12 - OCD

I'm OCD about a lot of things. Probably the biggest one is when it comes to professionalism, being spelling and grammar. I HATE when things that are published, e-mailed, printed without being proofread. I most especially hate it when it's me! I personally feel that spelling and grammar are easy to get a second opinion on before being sent, published, posted, etc.

Sometimes I get in a hurry and don't do it, then I notice it later and get all mad at myself. Especially, because I know how annoyed I get at others lack of spelling and grammar so I KNOW there are people that feel that about things I write.

Let's face it, if you want to be seen as unprofessional, it's easy to do and happens WAY too often. Let's proofread!

Day 11 - Recent Photo of Me

This was taken in July, in Indiana. Our way of introducing our new phones to all our friends!

Day 10 - Photo of me over 10 years ago

Sorry its not the highest quality, it's a picture of a picture in a book, taken with my cell phone no less.

This is a picture of my dad and I. I'm probably about a year or so old. I luckily have a TON of pictures of my dad and I. I'm SO thankful for that!

Day 9 - Photos I took

I take ALL kinds of pictures. In fact, it's one of my favorite hobbies. Here are a few of my favorite I've taken.

This picture was taken in May of this year. We were visiting my Aunt and Uncle in LA and they took us over to see the "Friendship Bell" ( I think it was a gift from Korea, but I could be wrong). It is looking out onto the Pacific Ocean and these purple flowers just begged for me to take their pictures!

This rose picture was also taken in LA in May but in 2009. It was one of the roses waiting to be planted on the LDS Temple grounds in LA. I don't think I've ever seen such a PERFECT rose!

This picture was taken in July 2009 when we went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. By far one of my very most favorite pictures I have of John EVER! It wasn't planned or posed for. He wanted to venture out, and I was having a hard time with the elevation and heat, so I sat down while he hiked out. The thunderstorm rolling in was amazing as well!

This picture was taken in April (I think) 2009. We were on our way to the reception of a good friend of mine, and Provo canyon was AMAZING! Love this picture.

And of course, a San Diego picture! We love, love, love San Diego. This picture was taken at the Cabrillo Nation Monument. It is a GORGEOUS place right where San Diego Bay meets the Pacific ocean. We walked down to the tide pools, but we got there at high tide. So I have pictures of crashing waves instead of barnacles and starfish. Seriously, a very neat place to go visit!

Day 8 - Angry/Sad photo

This is the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. On our drive across the country we stopped here. I remember hearing about this when it happened. It is a beautiful memorial. I choose this picture because I'm angry that people would be so cruel and desperate to bomb something and kill innocent people and I'm devastated that so many people children included, lost their lives.

Day 7 - Happy Photo

This picture has THE BEST story and it makes me happy. Plus I didn't have to go searching for it!

This is my nephew.

And THIS is his story.

We were at dinner after Grandma Ginna's funeral and he came over to our table very sad. I asked him what was wrong and he said his mom wouldn't let him have any more dessert. I asked him what he wanted and he said Jello. I said, "You need to go tell your mom that Aunt Erika says Jello isn't dessert its a fruit! Grape, lime, strawberry, etc." So he heads off to tell his mom Aunt Erika's side of the story. They're all the way across the room from us and I don't hear what's going on but I do watch as their conversation ends and he walks back to the tables and loads up on Jello, with a HUGE smile on his face!

Win one for Aunt Erika! lol.

It was hilarious. Not to mention that he had almost EVERY type of Jello that was on the table. When I told him that Jello was mostly water and now he was going to have to use the bathroom a lot for the rest of the day, the look on his face was priceless! (that's also when he decided he should stop eating more jello)

During all of this I asked him if he'd ever had jello jigglers. And he hasn't. So one of these days we're going to have a jello jiggler date!

Day 6 - 20 of my Favorite things

This list is in no particular order and just like me is totally random... but what else would you expect from me?

1. national parks


2. chile rellenos from Los Lupes


3. my iPod touch


4. teaching children


5. waterfalls


6. math


7. my car (09 Dodge Caliber)


8. Tuffy


9. John's homemade tacos


10. John's homemade salsa


11. berries


12. bountiful baskets


13. amazing photography


14. mooshinindy.com


15. swagbucks


16. no dining out challenge (monthly)


17. mr. clean magic erasers


18. ice cream


19. reading a good book


20. naps/sleep/my bed (i think all of these count as one)

Day 5 - Favorite Quote

I don't know if this counts as a quote, since I'm just quoting myself but its:

"It's OK to make mistakes, that's how we learn. "

This is and always has been the mantra in my classroom. After all, if kids are afraid to make mistakes, how will they try anything new, or difficult? Besides, I have to have an *excuse* for why I'm always making so many mistakes!

Day 4- Favorite Book

Of Course my favorite book is a Children's book. And again, there are SO many to choose from. However, this one takes the cake.

David Shannon's Good Boy, Fergus!

If you click on the link and then look at this picture of Tuffy, you'll soon see why!

Day 3 - Favorite TV Show

So I know this show hasn't been on for a while, but the reruns are. It's clean and hilarious. Nothing's better!

Reba (here are some bloopers)

Day 2 Favorite Movie

Ok, so did you think that I wouldn't pick a Disney movie?

If so then you're SO wrong.

The problem is picking WHICH Disney movie! There are so many GREAT ones! Like Finding Nemo, Mulan, Cars, and Emperor's New Groove. Or think of the possibilities when you take into consideration the live action Disney movies like Cool Runnings, Enchanted, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Mary Poppins, or NEWSIES! However, in recent years, Disney and I have had a very similar mind track when it comes to movies Ratatouille, Wall-E, Meet the Robinsons, and UP.

Seriously... how DOES one (like me) decided? How can I pick just one of these movies? Most people I'm sure have never seen half of them, and the half that has, most likely, doesn't think as highly of them as I do.

However, I did choose. I choose Meet the Robinsons. Maybe it's because its about the importance of family, or the adoption undertone, or the T-Rex scene. However, the part of the movie that I relate to the most is the underlying theme "Keep Moving Forward". I think I love it even more because it's a quote straight from Walt Disney himself. Watch til the very end, for the quote and listen to the lyrics of the song.

And this song...my #2 most favorite.

Day 1-Favorite Song

So I know, I know, I'm an adult with NO children. I get it. However, those people at Disney know how to write songs that get a message across. Seriously my last few (ok maybe all, ever) of my favorite songs have come off of Disney movie soundtracks.

If you haven't seen The Princess and the Frog you should! It has a great message about family, getting your priorities in order, and "Digging a Little Deeper" to find out who you are. This is my current favorite because it fits the place I feel I am at in my life right now. Enjoy, and know I'm watching the entire movie, cause it's amazing!

So here's my favorite song "Dig a Little Deeper" off the Princess and the Frog soundtrack.

(and sorry, you'll have to click over to youtube to listen because all the clips had wouldn't allow me to embedd it)