It's Party Day!

Please excuse me... I'm pretending to be a professional party planner right now.  My house looks like a red and teal tornado ripped through it, and guests will be arriving in t-minus 10 hours. :)  I'll be back tomorrow to share some photos and a message for my sweet boy on his first birthday.  (Cue the tears... How has it possibly been a whole year?!?)

Let's Be Shallow and Talk about the Bachelorette

First... I'm totally going to get fashion glasses.  I have a strict budget of only $20.00 though... So, it may take me a while to find the perfect pair.  (Obviously, I need them before the first day of school so my students don't know they are fake - haha.)  I'll post pictures (of course) when I find them. Thanks for your good advice and opinions.

Now, onto the real topic at hand today.... The Bachelorette.

I guess if you aren't into shallow conversation and a little bit of "trash tv", you might want to skip this post.  I'll come back tomorrow to air my own dirty laundry.  Don't worry. ;)

So... I'm totally into The Bachelorette. Seriously, I look forward to Monday nights every weekend - how thoughtful of ABC to give us a "silver lining" to the worst day of the week.  I did NOT like Emily going into the season, but she has really impressed me.  I'm still not quite sure about the "beliefs" and "faith" she sometimes mentions; but, I do respect her as a mom and I think she's a good example of a strong, independent woman that still appreciates romance and being "taken care of."

I usually consider the "overnight date" night as the true test of character, and she passed.  What did you think?  How much did you absolutely fall in love with Jef when he turned her down out of respect for little Ricki and his family?  I'm a sucker for morality! Haha! I'm also pretty positive she told Ari ahead of time that she was going to not offer the "key" to him - I mean, clearly, he knew that's what normally happens at this point in the game.  I thought it was a noble decision though - I probably couldn't have resisted myself with him either. ;)  On that note, I did think it was a little tricky that she always waited to see what the guys said about the card first even though she already knew what she was going to do... We women - always wanting to be desired!!

I happen to already know who wins.  (Well, I think I do and now I've got a 50/50 chance of being right) because my sister reads cheater websites and told me without even so much as a "spoiler alert." I won't ruin it for you though. It's safe to read on.



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Honestly, I would have been happy with any of the final three (which I can't say on most seasons). Sean broke my heart last night.  That line about "When she walked in the room tonight, I honestly thought - that's my wife" - I die! Lucky for him, there are probably about 10 million girls dying to be his wife now.  The next Bachelor? You think?

Arie is super cute.  I mean, obviously in the physical sense, but his personality is cute too.  I loved the little outtakes at the end of last night's episode.  I feel like he is real, and I appreciate that.  I'm not so sure that his "lifestyle" is ready for the gigantic change that a wife and six-year old would bring; but, whatever.

Jef has had to grow on me.  I NEVER would have put him in the final three at the beginning... But, he totally won his way into my heart with the puppets (so corny, but adorable) and sealed the deal with the letter on the hometown visit.  Plus, what girl could turn down that family ranch? (I told you this was going to be shallow.)  I think he's going to rock meeting Ricki.  BUT, all that said, I just don't see he and Emily together.  What do you think? (For those of you that know me in real life, he totally reminds me of Kathryn's old boyfriend Dustin - don't you agree?)

AND... Can we really end this post without discussing Emily's amazing body and awesome clothes?  I'm sure I will look that way by the time Sam turns six.  Everyone gets skinnier, tanner, bigger boobs, and better clothes after having kids - right? ;) She really is beautiful though  I've decided a cross between Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson.  Honestly, I think she is the prettiest without all the make-up and fancy dresses - like when she is on the beach, but I wouldn't turn down a couple of those fancy gowns either. All that said, I'd like to see a size 10 Bachelorette with freckles and frizzy hair next time.  Do you think all the guys would fall in love with her? 

Alright, enough fluff for one day.  (I'm totally procrastinating actually sitting down to write all the things I've been thinking about this week as my baby gets ready to turn one.  Ridiculous!!)

Please share your very deep and important thoughts on The Bachelorette.  :)

Fashion Glasses - a Do or a Don't?

Believe it or not, I'm feeling kind-of sentimental lately.  I've been in a thinking mood as my boy gets ready to celebrate his first birthday, my summer is officially "half-way over," and I'm beginning to adjust to my new "normal"... I'm planning a little series (that's a fancy way of saying "several posts on a related topic") soon on being a working mom - just some reflections as I've finally been able to process last October - June and what it has meant for me as a wife, mom, teacher, woman, etc... BUT, you aren't getting anything "meaty" today.  Our internet is out at home, so I'm stealing what little time I have alone at Panera while my mom keeps Sam to update my online class and catch up on a few emails.  I wrote this post a few weeks ago, but hadn't posted it yet... So, today seems like a perfect day!

I hope you will have some useful insight on this very important topic ;).

Happy Friday!

Remember when you were in middle school and secretly hoped for braces or crutches or glasses?  You know, the dorky-yet-cool fads that you never "qualified for"?  Haha.  I'm still waiting for the day when Urban Outfitters sells stick-on freckles for those not naturally blessed with the incredibly cool pigment mutation. ;)

Anyway, I digress...

I never quite outgrew the "I wish I had glasses, but instead I got perfect vision" phase.  In fact, it has only gotten worse in recent years as glasses have become such a fashion statement in Hollywood, etc. They make such a statement... You know - "I'm so cool, I even look cool in glasses."

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I've been to the eye doctor several times since high school; but, the truth is, my vision is fine.  I've gotten a prescription before for a VERY slight astigmatism, but they really hurt my eyes more than they make me look cool.  So, despite a few unsuccessful attempts at wearing glasses, I've settled for only two eyes for the last 28 years.

NOW... I'm feeling brave and ready to embrace my inner dork.  I'm starting a new job in August, at a new school; and... I'm seriously contemplating re-inventing myself with FASHION GLASSES.  I need something to make me look a little more intellectual anway...

Here's what I had in mind:

Joanna Goddard from A CUP OF JO - I kind-of want to be her.

So, what do you think?  Are fashion glasses (i.e. glasses that serve absolutely no medical purpose) a Do or a Don't?  Be honest.  Seriously. And, don't pretend you've never secretly hoped for a bit of a vision problem. ;)