Monday Music Moment, Vol. 9

So, here we are on the LAST day of February! Can you believe tomorrow is the start of March?

Crazy.

Well, today was not my favorite day just because I've been hit by what I can only assume are seasonal-type allergies. My eyes are feeling kinda fuzzy, I'm sneezing a lot, and I have swelling/drainage going on in my sinuses. Yuck. I didn't sleep well last night, and that did not make me feel any better this morning. But, lo and behold, I made it through the day and I'm actually not feeling as awful as I expected to feel at this point in the day.

The wind has been whipping out here for a while now, and it's actually creating forest fire issues in areas close to me. Today is the first day that it's noticeably smoky and hazy outside. It literally smells like a bonfire. It's kind of creepy. But at least we're due for a good storm tonight, so hopefully that will help the fire problem (and my allergies!).

I've been thinking about what I want to bring you for today's Monday Music Moment, and I've decided to bring you a song from the ever talented British starlet, Adele. Her voice has always been one of my favorites. The first time I heard "Chasing Pavements," I was sold. I found a video of her doing a live performance of her song "Someone Like You," and I just sat and watched it in awe. Her voice is so powerful. As usual, I'll post the lyrics under the video. Enjoy!

I heard that you're settled down,

That you found a girl and you're married now.

I heard that your dreams came true,

Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?

It ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited,

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face,

And that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you,

I wish nothing but the best for you, too.

Don't forget me, I beg.

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

Yeah...

You know how the time flies,

Only yesterday was the time of our lives.

We were born and raised in a summer haze,

Bound by the surprise of our glory days.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited,

But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.

I had hoped you'd see my face,

And that you'd be reminded that for me it isn't over yet.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you,

I wish nothing but the best for you, too.

Don't forget me, I beg.

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

Nothing compares,

No worries or cares.

Regrets and mistakes,

They are memories made.

Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you,

I wish nothing but the best for you, too.

Don't forget me, I beg.

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

Never mind, I'll find someone like you,

I wish nothing but the best for you, too.

Don't forget me, I beg.

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

"Sometimes it lasts in love,

But sometimes it hurts instead."

Yeah, yeah...

There you have it! Hope you enjoyed the song; feel free to leave requests for songs you'd like to see featured as a Monday Music Moment. :) I'm always looking for a new sound!

See you tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday!

♥ Marlee

Saturday Special!

Hey kids,

I know I don't normally post on the weekends, but today I had one of those perfect car rides. Have you ever had one? I picked a great CD that had a variety of artists on it. It was actually the soundtrack for the movie Twilight. I love this soundtrack for a variety of reasons, one of them being that it has such a wide range of artists. It begins with Muse and includes Paramore, The Black Ghosts, and even a lovely tune by Iron & Wine.

But here's the best part.

I started the CD just after getting on the road from my apartment. The very last track finished literally as I was pulling into my parents' driveway.

How perfect is that??

The weather was gorgeous, so I kept my windows down for most of the 45-minute drive. And I just felt...good. Have you ever had a drive like that? Perfect weather; perfect music; perfect scenery.

It's a feeling that's an incredible balance of peace and energy.

I can't really explain it any other way.

So, anyway, just thought I'd share that with you guys. Hope everyone in my neck of the woods (or anywhere else with great weather) was able to get out and enjoy some of the great outdoors.

I'm spending this evening at my parents' house and we're watching the Canes play. It's good to spend time with family. I hope you have plenty of opportunities to do the same.

I'll wrap this up now, but have a fantastic weekend, everyone. I'll see you folks here on Monday for our next Music Moment!

♥ Marlee

Friday Funnies, Vol. 8

Hello and Happy Friday, friends!

I have to say, this has been one crazy week for me, and I don't know about you guys, but I was sooo ready for Friday to come on.

I decided today to share some funny pictures with you that come from another great time-wasting site called Very Demotivational. It takes the concept of those profound and motivating posters such as this gem:

For those who can't quite read it, it says:

"Whether we play a large or small role...

by working together we achieve our objectives."

Very Demotivational takes a...um...different approach. Check out some of their posters:

The most disturbing part is that this is an actual product somewhere...

Here's one for any Harry Potter fans out there:

I really hope someone else got a laugh out of this one other than just me.

And we'll end with this jewel:

Now, I will advise that you exercise caution with this site, and I don't know that I'd really call it safe for work. There are plenty of less than family friendly posters. I just wanted to choose a few that I thought some folks might enjoy. :)

I hope this brightened your day. It certainly brightened mine looking for them for you!

Have a great weekend. Relax. Unwind. I know I plan to!

Until next time.

♥ Marlee

Thoughts on Thursday, Vol. 8

Hello there!

I know I'm coming at you a little late, but I've been grading things and also catching up with a good friend from elementary school. :)

Here are a few topics and thoughts for your consideration.

First up, some thoughts on self-control:

"Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them, if they will not apply themselves to me." ~Michel de Montaigne, Essays, 1588

"It's alright letting yourself go, as long as you can get yourself back." ~Mick Jagger (!)

"I am,

indeed,

a king,

because I know how

to rule myself." ~Pietro Aretino, 10 May 1537

"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically - to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'" ~Stephen Covey

"Nothing makes it easier to resist temptation than a proper bringing-up, a sound set of values - and witnesses." ~Franklin P. Jones

And now, some thoughts on gossip:

"What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth." ~Jewish Proverb

"If you reveal your secrets to the wind, you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees." ~Kahlil Gibran, Sand and Foam

"Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell." ~Shana Alexander

"The best way to keep one's word is not to give it." ~Napoleon I, Maxims

(Don't know if I agree totally with it, but it's something to kind of give one some pause.)

"I look at it this way. I'm not an eavesdropper; I have an attention surplus disorder." ~Robert Brault

(That's one way of thinking about it.)

And lastly, some thoughts on karma:

"My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

"Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny." ~Tryon Edwards

"Our deeds determine us as much as we determine our deeds." ~George Eliot

"Thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges." ~William Shakespeare

(This one made me smile at the thought of Shakespeare using the word 'whirligig.')

"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity." ~Edwin Hubbel Chapin

I think that'll wrap up our edition of Thoughts on Thursday for this week. I apologize for being a little short on words, but I hope that given the hour at which this post is coming to you, you can be understanding. Hopefully others' words have managed to offer you a bit of advice or at least given you some pause for thinking.

I'll see you folks tomorrow after a mostly sound night's sleep. :)

♥ Marlee

Writer's Corner Wednesday, Vol. 8

Hello, friends!

I have had one crazy week, and it's only Wednesday! We spent Monday and Tuesday preparing our third and second grade kiddos for their big concert for their parents on Tuesday night, and it was absolute insanity. We're talking about coordinating around 200 kids between the ages of 7 and 10. Insanity.

So I didn't get home yesterday evening until almost 7:30, and today I helped with my Principal's after school guitar program, so I got home around 5:30. It's just been a long few days. Today we took spring pictures, and tomorrow we'll take our class picture. I have to figure out what to wear!

Ugh, anyway...I thought today I'd do another sort of narrative writing for you. The topic came to me as I was driving home today. I started thinking about how teaching is such a hard profession. As teachers, we do way more work than anyone could possibly imagine, and there's a lot of frustration. A LOT. But the things that get me through are the small moments. So I thought I'd write about those for you today.

Small Moments

Yesterday was his birthday.

You know the type: quiet (sort of), labeled "disadvantaged" because of where he comes from.

He doesn't have much; he's had his share of tragedy...and yesterday was his tenth birthday.

He's the kind of kid whose eyes dart around a lot, like he's used to looking out for himself.

But yesterday, his one wish was that his class would sing to him.

So just before the end of the day, with my arm around him, we sang.

That smile was amazing.

It was pure, unadulterated joy...just for a song.

Today I was working with some kids learning to play the guitar.

(I'm not expert myself, but I know enough to help them with the basics.)

We were learning a few chords today, and I was moving from group to group.

I sat down with a trio of girls and asked them to show me what they'd learned.

They hesitantly played through the chords, and I showed them how they can figure out which of their fingers needs to be pressed harder on the strings.

When she strummed the chord and every string rang out, there was that smile, again.

She could see the possibility of success more clearly than before, and I helped her get there!

I made friends with one kid a couple of weeks ago at guitar practice.

He's a fifth grader, but he's also got some delays, and his speech is slightly affected.

But I learned his name, and we talked.

Sometimes it's just about giving someone the same treatment as everyone else.

Sometimes it isn't about feeling different or special; it's about feeling normal.

Now every time he passes in the hall, I get that same special smile that says to me:

Thanks for just being my friend.

Teaching is a struggle.

It's a lot of days that seem long.

It's a lot of time spent wondering when things will finally click and if they even heard anything you said today.

But that moment...that smile.

It was on the face of my student as he figured out a fraction equivalence chain today.

It was on the faces of our second and third graders as their parents (and teachers) gave them a standing ovation after their concert.

It's fleeting, and if you blink you might miss it.

But keep your eyes open for it and it will become the warmth that sustains you when you're feeling burned out.

Small moments.

They're what teaching is all about.

Until tomorrow,

♥ Marlee

Tasty Tuesday, Vol. 8

So, I really don't have a lot to say today, and that's mainly because this day was chock full of events that kept me at school until 7:15. And after you put in about 12 hours, you're ready to come home and just unwind.

So forgive me, please.

I did want to let everyone know that the chili cook off went pretty well. :) My chili was a hit, even if it didn't win first place. I'm proud of myself for trying out something new. I dare say it won't be my last batch of chili!

In other news, I would love some suggestions for ways to cook the half-dozen drumsticks I have in my freezer. Any great marinades you know about or seasonings you love? Leave some ideas in the comments below, and I promise tomorrow's post will actually be worth while.

Sorry again for the wimpy post today/tonight, but hopefully it will be one of only a few occasions like this.

I hope everyone had a great Tuesday, and I'll see you kids back here tomorrow.

♥ Marlee

Monday Music Moment, Vol. 8

It's so hard to believe that February is almost over...does anyone else feel like this year is flying by already?

For today's Monday Music Moment, I thought I'd bring you an interesting video I heard about on the radio and then looked up myself. This lovely little ten year old girl's name is Maria Aragon, and she's of Filipino descent, but was born and raised in Canada. Her cover of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" has gotten the attention of many people, including the Lady herself, who has since spoken with Maria and asked her to duet with her when she comes to Toronto on her tour.

Exciting stuff! Now, I'm going to step out onto that conservative limb and say that while this song is very pretty, I'm not a huge fan just because of the message that it sends. Believing in yourself is great (that part of the song I really take no issue at all with), however, I'm not of the school of thought that sexual orientation is something one is "born" into. It's just my opinion, backed by my religious foundation. However, the most "charged" line of the song isn't included in Maria's rendition, which is appropriate considering she's only ten.

Beliefs aside, enjoy the song. It's an incredible showcase of this young lady's talent, and I feel confident that we'll see more of her in the future. I'm going to post only the lyrics of the song that she sings; if you're interested in looking up the other lyrics, feel free to google it! :)

My momma told me when I was young

We're all born superstars

She combed my hair and put my lipstick on

In the glass of her boudoir

There's nothing wrong with loving who you are

She said 'cause He made you perfect, babe

So hold your head up and you'll go far

Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way

Baby, I was born this way

Baby, I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way

Baby, I was...

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Give yourself prudence and love your friends

Subway kid, rejoice the truth

In the religion of the insecure

I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin

Believe capital H-I-M

I love my life, I love this record, and

Mi amore vole fe yah*

Don't be a drag, just be a queen

Whether you're broke or evergreen

You're black, white, beige, chola descent

You're Lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities

Left you outcast, bullied or teased

Rejoice and love yourself today,

'Cause, baby, you were born this way

'Cause you're beautiful in your way

'Cause God makes no mistakes

You're on the right track, baby

you were born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret

Just love yourself and you're set

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way

Baby, I was born this way

Baby, I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way

Baby, I was...

I'm on the right track, baby

I was born this way

My momma told me when I was young

We're all born superstars.

*Loosely translates to something like 'Love cannot exist without trust.'

Oh, and ps...this girl writes all her own chords when she does covers like this. Amazing.

Happy Monday!

♥ Marlee

Friday Funnies, Vol. 7

Well, today I've done a variety of interesting things. I've attempted to help keep four classes of third graders focused for a rehearsal of a musical performance coming up next week. I've also danced with some of said third graders, quite possibly singing along to some Justin Bieber. I've been hanging out with my kids today, and it's been a lot of fun.

So, as I was thinking about what to focus on for this edition of Friday Funnies, I thought what better than kids?

So today I bring you an assortment of quotes about love (appropriate with Monday having been Valentine's Day), all as told by kids. Enjoy, and comment on your favorites (or your favorite "from the mouth of babes" moment).

When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love.

Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.

When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.

Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.

Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.

Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.

These next quotes are funny quotes by kids that have to do with church.

A 3-year-old was heard saying the following prayer:

"Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen."

Another great take on the Lord's Prayer from a four-year-old:

"And forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said:

"Ryan, you be Jesus!"

I just love the unpredictability of the things that kids say. They are always so candid. Hope some of these brightened your Friday! Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday for our next Monday Music Moment.

Until next time,

♥ Marlee

Thoughts on Thursday, Vol. 7

Here we are again. :)

I have to level with you guys, because I feel like I can open up about certain things in this arena of my life (meaning here on my blog). I had a really rough weekend last weekend for a few reasons. Things that I really don't want to see changing are changing in my life right now, and they are things that are really outside of my control. It hurts my heart to think that I'm losing people from my life who have been around for so long, but I'm hitting a point where I have to start thinking more of myself. I've always been someone who gives and gives to others (sometimes at the risk of forgetting all about me), and that's something that has to change.

So, on that note, I'll be using those feelings to guide me in choosing our Thoughts on Thursday this week. I hope that you can understand--and I don't want to get too detailed, because I hate when other people pour out every little tidbit of their lives in a blog like this. I just felt like you should know that there's a purpose behind my choices for topics. And if you've ever gone through (or, heaven forbid, are now going through) a period where you've lost friends as a product of growing up and kind of growing apart, I hope these thoughts will offer you some solace as they have for me.

First up: thoughts on adversity.

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." ~M. Kathleen Casey

"The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief." ~William Shakespeare, Othello

(This is one of my favorite quotes. Ever.)

"We acquire the strength we have overcome." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I would not pass it round. Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don't embrace trouble; that's as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say meet it as a friend, for you'll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it." ~Oliver Wendell Holmes

"Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known." ~Garrison Keillor

Now for some thoughts on change.

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

(Easier said than done, but sound advice nonetheless.)

"It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory." ~W. Edwards Deming

(Wow. Blunt, but effective, eh?)

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another." ~Anatole France

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl

"We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves." ~Lynn Hall

And last, but most certainly not least, are some thoughts on action.

"I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts." ~John Locke

"The shortest answer is doing." ~Lord Herbert

"Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement." ~Alfred Adler

(This is one of my favorite quotes, too. So, so true.)

"Ironically, making a statement with words is the least effective method." ~Grey Livingston

"As I grow older I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do." ~Andrew Carnegie

I think that'll do for today. Lots of really great thoughts and really sound advice up there. I have to say, just taking time to read through quotes and think on them...it's super cathartic for me. I hope something made you stop and think.

So glad tomorrow is Friday. This weekend will probably be a pretty busy one, but that's a good thing, I think. I'll see you back here for tomorrow's edition of Friday Funnies.

Have a great night!

♥ Marlee

Writer's Corner Wednesday, Vol. 7

Happy Wednesday!

For today's Writer's Corner Wednesday, I thought I'd give you an update on how poetry has gone in my classroom, along with a poem that one of my students wrote that just really impressed me.

So, this has been week 2 of poetry, and one of my big pushes has just been for them to practice writing poems. They can rhyme, or not. They can be shape poems, or written in stanzas, or couplets, or whatever they want. My big theme with poetry has been than anyone can create a poem, because the poem is what the poet makes it. Remember last week how I stressed the power of a poet's words?

We finished Love That Dog, and I was worried about how they would handle Jack's big moment when he finally writes a poem about losing his dog. That was a majorly cathartic moment for Jack, and I wanted my kids to be able to appreciate that without fixating too much on how "sad" the poem is. I think it was successful. We talked about how Jack was able to really express how he felt, and that he probably felt better after getting that out, just like we do after we talk things out with a friend.

What I loved about reading this book was that it let my kids watch someone play around with other poets' words and create their own poems. It's so cool to me that some of my kids are doing the same kind of thing that Jack did, and I wanted to demonstrate with an example by one of my students, Kyle.

Now, we read a couple of well-known poems together as a class because they were poems that Jack's teacher had read and that he responded to in the book. A couple that my kids really loved were "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams, and "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost. I'll share them with you in case you aren't familiar.

The Red Wheelbarrow

so much depends

upon

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain

water

beside the white

chickens.

-----------------------------

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

So, both of those are fairly well-known poems, and even though I work with third graders, they became a couple of their favorites. Crazy, right?

Well, here's Kyle's poem, and then I'll tell you why it made me so excited.

The Lighthouse

Everyone depends on a lighthouse

To guide ships safely

Away from the rocky shore

Away from the rocky shore

I mean, can we talk about the proud momma moment I had when I read this? He borrows the structure of his first line from "The Red Wheelbarrow," and the repetition at the end from Frost. And we talked about it and he could explain that to me! It was so cool.

We're working on creating final copies of a few of our favorite poems that we've written, and my intention is that by the end of the week, we'll have an explosion of poetry on our wall in the hallway.

Maybe I'll try to get a picture of the finished display to share with you guys next week.

I guess that wraps it up for today--hope everyone in my neck of the woods is enjoying the warmer weather. I know I am!

I'll see you kids tomorrow for some Thoughts on Thursday. Feel free (as always) to suggest topics. Have a great evening!

♥ Marlee

Tasty Tuesday, Vol. 7

Wow! I just really noticed that we're at volume 7, which means I've been doing this for almost 2 months! I'm enjoying writing, and I hope that you're enjoying reading.

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I'm actually coming to you for ideas and suggestions. See, I'm signed up for my first ever chili cook-off at my church this weekend, and I'm not really sure what direction to go with my chili. Obviously, I want the recipe to be as much my own as possible, but I'm always open to suggestions.

Here are my thoughts so far, with the help of my parents' suggestions, too.

I'm planning on cooking some pork chops and chicken prior to making the chili so that I'll have some really flavorful meat to use in the chili itself. I have a plethora of chicken and a good number of pork chops, which is why I'm choosing to use them instead of buying ground beef or sausage. I have chili powder, and I have dry beans that I can soak and use (black and pinto beans).

From there, I'm kind of making things up as I go along. I'm planning on heading to the store this week to get some diced tomatoes and chilies, an onion or two, some peppers, some corn, and maybe a few other items.

So the question I pose to you today is this: what do you like in your chili? What have you used and gotten good feedback from others? I'm not necessarily looking for full-on recipes, just suggestions--spices or ingredients that have been a success for you.

I look forward to your feedback, and I'll let you know how things turn out next week!

Enjoy the lovely weather we're having and I'll see you kids tomorrow!

♥ Marlee

Mmmm...chili...

Monday Music Moment: Valentine's Edition

Hello and Happy Valentine's Day to all of the lovers out there!

I wanted to choose not only a beautiful song, but a beautiful love song to honor all of those celebrating their love this day. It's one of my favorite days as a teacher, too, just because I always get sweet sentiments from my kids--not just the chocolate (though that's nice, too)--but the cards and the extra love.

So here's to you, all those in love or something like it. Enjoy "Marry Me," by Train. It's a beautiful love song and a beautiful video. Lyrics are posted below.

Forever could never be long enough for me

To feel like I've had long enough with you

Forget the world now, we won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Together could never be close enough for me

To feel like I am close enough to you

You wear white and I'll wear out the words "I love you."

And "You're beautiful."

Now that the wait is over

Love has finally shown her my way

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Promise me, you'll always be happy by my side

I promise to sing to you when all the music dies

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Say you will

Mmmhmm

Marry me...

Mmmhmm

Happy Valentine's Day, friends. I'll see you here tomorrow for our next Tasty Tuesday.

♥ Marlee

Friday Funnies, Vol. 6

For today's Friday Funnies, I've decided to showcase one of my favorite time-wasting addictions. It's a hysterical website called Damn You, Auto Correct! It's a site where people can send in mistakes that their auto correct feature on their phones make. Now, many of the submissions are a little less than family friendly, but I figured I could wrangle up a few that were shareable here. Enjoy!

Oh, DYAC, you have provided me with endless hours of laughter. I hope this brightened your Friday, and I'll see you kids next week!

♥ Marlee

Thoughts on Thursday, Vol. 6

Here we are again...almost at the end of another week! Can you believe how far into 2011 we've already come? It amazes me when I think about it.

For today's Thoughts on Thursday, I thought I'd explore quotes about a few important qualities that I've been reflecting on lately.

First up is self-respect.

"In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned." ~Jane Haddam

"He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self." ~Cyril Connolly

"I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence." ~Frederick Douglass

"They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them." ~Mahatma Gandhi

I love every one of those. I've been reflecting a lot on people in my life who I hold as high examples of self respect, and I've really been thinking about how I stand among them. I feel like I'm someone who's pretty true to myself. It also makes certain relationships in my life stand strong and others fall to the wayside, because surrounding oneself with people who possess the traits one admires is a great way to foster those traits in oneself, don't you think?

Now, some thoughts on being yourself.

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." ~e.e. cummings

"Almost every man wastes part of his life in attempts to display qualities which he does not possess, and to gain applause which he cannot keep." ~Samuel Johnson, The Rambler, 1750

"Hateful to me as the gates of Hades is that man who hides one thing in his heart and speaks another." ~Homer

"I am much better employed from every point of view, when I live solely for my own satisfaction, than when I begin to worry about the world. The world frightens me, and a frightened man is no good for anything." ~George Gissing

"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?" ~Fanny Brice

Lastly, some quotes on integrity. A most important attribute if ever there was one, in my book.

"I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day." ~Abraham Lincoln

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none." ~William Shakespeare

"Transcend political correctness and strive for human righteousness." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

"Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught." ~J.C. Watts

"Character is much easier kept than recovered." ~Thomas Paine

So, there you have it. I think reflecting on the traits I want to see in myself makes me take note of the traits of those in my life. It makes me think about who I look up to, you know? What about you? Feel free to sound off on other things you think are important in the comments section, and I'll see you folks here again tomorrow for our Friday Funnies.

♥ Marlee

Writer's Corner Wednesday, Vol. 6

Welcome to our sixth installment of Writer's Corner Wednesday.

I wanted to write a bit of a narrative of sorts; it'll be kind of stream of consciousness...but here we go.

We're covering poetry in my classroom right now. We'll be working on it for a couple of weeks.

I love poetry. Something about the ability of a poet to take just a handful of words and paint a picture...it's just always resonated with me. Teaching poetry is one of my favorite things, and I haven't gotten to really teach poetry since I started teaching.

See, my first year, we had a writer in residence come and work with the kids on poetry, and there wasn't a lot for us to do after she was done. And last year...well...last year I wasn't in an environment that allowed me a lot of creative liberties, and let's just leave it at that.

But this year...I'm really getting to talk to my kids about why poetry is so awesome.

I found this book by an author named Sharon Creech, it's called Love That Dog. I actually found it kind of by accident, but isn't that always the case? It's the story of Jack, a student. It's as though you're reading his very own journal in his class, where he's writing his thoughts and feelings in regards to poetry. Now, Jack doesn't think that he (or any other boy) can write poetry, but he changes his mind as he's exposed to different types of poems by iconic poets like William Carlos Williams and Robert Frost.

I'm reading this book to my kids as we study poetry, in the hopes that they'll see that the power of the poem is granted entirely by the poet. Jack has this moment when he realizes that what poets really do is paint pictures with words. That's what I want for my kids. I want them to see the power in their own words; I want them to believe that they can create whatever they want--whatever they imagine--just by using the right words.

So far, my kids are loving the book. We'll see where it takes us, I suppose.

I've always been the outlier amongst my friends because of my love of poetry. I have friends who like poems, but they don't get as excited as I do. That's okay, because as I've told my students, poetry isn't for everyone.

But the great thing about poetry is that it can be written by anyone. Anyone can be a poet; anyone can write a poem about anything. For what else in life is there that kind of opportunity?

You may not be someone who likes to write, but I encourage you to tap into that creativity somehow.

You never know what you might wind up creating.

Until tomorrow.

♥ Marlee

Tasty Tuesday, Vol. 6

Okay, so before I get to today's post, I wanted to mention a couple of things.

1) My lovely friend Shannon is awesome and is giving away a print of a painting that she has made. Here is said painting:

Now, I post about this today for multiple reasons--one is that it's flipping cute and I want it, and two is that if you're interested in entering, you only have to do a couple of things--go to her blog shannon*bear and comment on the post about the giveaway, follow her on Blogger, and post about the giveaway if you'd like. So, enter if you'd like, but remember that I have my eye on this, so don't be too hurt if (read: when) I win it.

2) Can we talk about the site redesign? I'm kind of loving this girlier, lighter look. What do you guys think?

(Okay, /sidebar. On to today's post:)

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I won't lie...I'm at a bit of a loss. I started doing a little bit of research, and I came across an article/gallery about food trends in 2010. I was intrigued, and I thought I'd share my findings with you. (The original post can be found here.)

So let's take a look at the 10 Biggest Food Trends for 2010.

1. Organic Chocolate

Apparently, this stuff is supposed to bridge the gap between "guilty pleasure" and "not too bad for you." The post I read says that, "Health nuts cursed with an insatiable sweet tooth have begun seeking low-fat alternatives to decadent desserts." These are preferable because they "boast organic and all-natural ingredients." I think if I'm having chocolate

2. Coconut

"Coconut flavors have taken off in the last year, largely because product makers have figured out a way to keep the fruit pure and natural while retaining its taste. “People are just embracing that flavor. It’s one of the biggest things that’s happening here,” says The Fancy Food Show’s Ron Tanner, who listed coconut water, ice cream, and yogurt among the most popular products. “There’s been an ongoing consumer shift away from carbonated beverages and that’s no secret,” adds Arthur Gallego, communications director for Vita Coco, which manufactures coconut water. “People are looking for a noncarbonated water-type alternative that does more,” he added, describing the beverage as “thicker, milkier, more syrupy” than water."

3. Gluten-Free Food

"Gluten-free products are not just for those unfortunate folks dealing with hypersensitive allergies. “So many people have wheat allergies, and even if they don’t, they just feel better if they don’t eat wheat,” The Fancy Food Show’s Ron Tanner says. While it used to be difficult, if not impossible, to make pasta without gluten (which is essentially the glue that holds the dough together) companies like Conte’s Pasta have figured out how to produce gluten-free dishes like ravioli and pierogies. It’s a good thing, too, because it can be “devastating” to give up anything containing wheat, barley, or rye, says the company’s Judy Sabella, who claims she often receives phone calls from teary-eyed customers, thanking her for bringing them back to the world of pasta."

4. Exotic Citrus

"Ever since a summer craze for blood oranges, food makers have been looking to infuse exotic citrus fruits into as many dishes as possible, not only juices but also cooking sauces (think Hawaiian-style chicken and pork), candy and ice cream. “Citrus is always kind of a nice palate cleanser,” says Angela James from Silver Moon Desserts, whose new lavender limoncello sorbet is a big hit thanks to its “sharp flavor” that doesn’t overwhelm the palate. “It can be really flavorful without being overpowering and it’s just a very clean flavor.”"

5. Nostalgic Comfort Food

"During difficult times, history shows that people turn to old-fashioned sweets like peppermints, peanut butter cups, and Oreo cookies to feel better. More sustainable alternatives include homemade meatloaf and mini hamburgers, most popular during the 1950s and '60s, because they offer a sense of “hominess and comfort.” Companies are catching on to this belly-pleasing remedy for stress and are coming up with foods that honor the classics. At Daddy Cakes, the makers of cake and pancake mixes are taking this trend a step further by pairing up with designer Paul Frank to add a little monkey cheer to their products."

6. Anything Pickled

"A “renaissance in pickling” is responsible for the onslaught of pickled products that were featured at the Fancy Foods Show, explains Ron Tanner. “Years ago, farmers used to pickle their own products and now you see people beginning to pickle green beans and coming up with different kinds of cucumber pickles.” There has also been tremendous growth in pickled Asian products, like this pickled ginger from the Baycliff Company. People are realizing that they can develop “really tasty things” just by pickling them, Baycliff’s Adam Johnson says. “Virtually every kind of culture pickles things.”

7. Smoked Fish

"White fish and smoked salmon are favorite staples at New York Sunday brunches, where they are regularly mixed with mayonnaise, onions and capers. But the smoking technique is spreading to other products, too, explains Adam Caslow of Acme Smoked Fish, which showcased this “delicate” smoked Bering Cisco at the Fancy Foods show. “People are looking to be wowed by food, and adding smoke flavor really intensifies the natural flavors. It adds a whole other layer of flavors and smells that are interesting and get people thinking in the same way that they’d think about a fine wine,” he says.

8. Bacon Sweets

“Bacon is one of those foods that everyone, even vegetarians, like,” claims Katrina Markoff, founder of Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Markoff has been adding bacon bits to chocolate-chip pancakes since she was 7 years old, and now sells them, along with dozens of other bacon-infused treats, across the country—everything from bacon coffee to bacon caramel. “There’s something to that salty, smoky with sweet [taste]. It just works so well.” The combination is so popular that Markoff has begun receiving requests to create a vegan alternative to her most famous concoction, the bacon chocolate bar. “We can’t keep any of them in stock.”

9. Tricked-Out Popcorn

"Rural Route 1 Popcorn in Wisconsin is best known for mixing chocolate and nuts with homemade popcorn—and giving the combinations whimsical names like K’nuckle Popcorn (white fudge over popcorn and whole almonds) and C.C. Winkle (milk chocolate fudge over popcorn with cashews). “Most people have a taste for chocolate, and then when you mix it with all that extra crunch that popcorn gives you, and then you throw in the nuts, it’s the snack that has at all,” says store manager Peggy Biddick. Why the timeless addiction? “Every generation loves popcorn and I don’t know if it’s nostalgia… but it gives people nice warm feelings about snacking with their families.”

10. Spicy Snacks

"Though snacking habits know no age, adults are craving bigger flavor variety than, say, plain ol’ potato chips. “We were finding that people were really looking for things that gave them a kick,” says Debbie Marden of Deep River Snacks, which recently came out with three types of ultra bold-tasting chips. “These combinations contain plenty of garlic, ginger, onion to keep the mature palate happy,” and the ingredients “entice you so that you actually have to eat more.” Chocoholics, too, can partake in spicy snacking with treats like Super Chile Toffee Squares that are manufactured by Poco Dolce. This “sweet heat” is “slow-building” and “complex,” qualities that older customers tend to enjoy, the company’s Candice Beltz explains."

Well that wraps up this edition of Tasty Tuesday. I hope you enjoyed reading! Let me know if there are any other food trends that you've really gotten excited about, and I'll see all of you here tomorrow for our Writer's Corner Wednesday.

♥ Marlee

Monday Music Moment, Vol. 6

So, today's Monday Music Moment actually comes from ABC showing Shrek the Third this past weekend. I wasn't completely watching it...more like listening to it. And at one part, I noticed a song in the background that I just thought was lovely. I only heard a piece of it, but I was determined to find it and use it for this Monday Music Moment. I did my research, and after a lot of searching, I determined that the song I heard was called "9 Crimes," and that it's sung by the wonderful Damien Rice along with a beautiful young lady by the name of Lisa Hannigan.

I've heard Damien Rice's stuff before, and he's fantastic. I just thought the melody of this song was hauntingly beautiful. So, I bring to you: "9 Crimes." Lyrics are below.

Leave me out with the waste

This is not what I do

It's the wrong kind of place

To be thinking of you

It's the wrong time

For somebody new

It's a small crime

And I got no excuse

And is that alright? Yeah

Give my gun away when it's loaded

That alright? Yeah

If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?

That alright? Yeah

Give my gun away when it's loaded

That alright? Yeah, with you?

Leave me out with the waste

This is not what I do

It's the wrong kind of place

To be cheating on you

It's the wrong time

She's pulling me through

It's a small crime

And I got no excuse

And is that alright? Yeah

To give my gun away when it's loaded

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright? Yeah

If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright? Yeah

If I give my gun away when it's loaded

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright?

(Is that alright with you?)

That alright? Yeah

If I give my gun away when it's loaded

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright? Yeah

You don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright? Yeah

If I give my gun away when it's loaded

(Is that alright with you?)

Is that alright?

(Is that alright with you?)

And is that alright? Yeah

(To give my gun away when it's loaded)

Is that alright? Yeah

(You don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?)

Is that alright? Yeah

(To give my gun away when it's loaded)

Is that alright? Is that alright?

Is that alright with you? No

See you tomorrow!

♥ Marlee

Friday Funnies, Vol. 5

TGIF!

I'm ready for this weekend, though I'll be doing a fair amount of work over it. At least I can sleep until maybe 8 tomorrow. Mmmmm...extra sleep! (Even if it is only another hour or so.)

For today's Friday Funnies, I've been thinking about a website that I remember coming across in college called People of Walmart. It's literally an entire website where people can send in pictures of...let's say...interesting sights that they come across in the classy world of Walmart shoppers. Now, I'm a Walmart shopper myself, but I know how to dress to go shopping. Because even if it's Walmart, it's still in public.

Here, I'll show you what I mean.

Didn't you know that it's really the purple-haired girls who have all the fun?

(Gilmore Girls moment: "Purple heads will not be denied.")

I guess she stopped by Walmart on the way to the...prom? ...costume party? ...?

Wow. Just...wow.

I'm really hoping she works at an animal shelter.

That's...colorful.

Look! Jennifer Garner shops at Walmart, too! :-)

Just gonna leave this one for you to digest on your own.

So, there you have it. If you care to see more, and there are plenty more pictures to see, you can head on over to their website. Though, I warn you, because I chose more tame pictures. Many pictures involve tight or see-through clothing, or just inappropriate dress altogether. Enjoy at your own risk. :-)

So that wraps up this edition of Friday Funnies. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! Feel free to share any personal anecdotes from the world of Walmart below in the comments section.

♥ Marlee

Thoughts on Thursday, Vol. 5

Happy almost Friday to you all again! :-)

This evening, I've been mulling over some good topics for this week's Thoughts on Thursday, and I feel like the topics it would be appropriate to post about come from things going on around me. This week, friends from two different circles of my life have suffered the loss of a loved one. I felt that finding some quotes about grieving would be fitting.

"Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o'er-fraught heart and bids it break." ~William Shakespeare

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~From The Wonder Years (What a great show, right?)

"We acquire the strength we have overcome." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep." ~Henry Maudsley

"Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway." ~Mary C. Crowley (This is one of my favorite quotes.)

Another topic I felt was appropriate, especially in a time when so many people are dealing with grief, is hope.

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible." ~Christopher Reeve

"Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them." ~Vincent McNabb

"Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without words and never stops...at all." ~Emily Dickinson

"Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have is not permanent." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark." ~George Iles

I just really loved some of the imagery in those quotes...beautiful. Now, let's end on a more positive note, with some quotes about sanity.

"Might we not say to the confused voices which sometimes arise from the depths of our being: 'Ladies, be so kind as to speak only four at a time?'" ~Madame Swetchine

"The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you." ~Rita Mae Brown

"You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." ~Robin Williams

"No man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions." ~Henry Ward Beecher

"No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness." ~Aristotle

I mean, if Aristotle says so, it must be true, right?

Sorry for posting so late today...I've been a little sluggish at writing. I hope Thursday treated all of you well. Feel free to share any quotes that you lean on to lift you up when you're feeling down. Have an awesome Friday and I'll see you back here tomorrow for another round of Friday Funnies!

♥ Marlee

Writer's Corner Wednesday, Vol. 5

So, I was trying to think of something that would be fun to post about, though at this particular moment I can't promise I'll be contributing something of my own today. Perhaps inspiration will strike by the end of this post.

Today, we focus on...the limerick! :-)

Now, I wanted to do a little bit of research so that I could give you some background on the limerick, so check this out:

"The form of poetry referred to as Limerick poems have received incredibly bad press and been dismissed as not having a rightful place amongst what is seen as 'cultivated poetry.' The reason for this is three-fold:

1. The content of many limericks is often of a bawdy and humorous nature.

2. A Limerick as a poetry form is by nature simple and short - only 5 lines.

3. And finally the somewhat dubious history of limericks have contributed to the critics' attitude."

It seems that the poems that really began what we now know as the limerick can be traced back to the 14th century in England. Limericks were actually first used in Nursery Rhymes and other poems for children. But since the pattern of the limerick was sort and easily imitated, they began to grow in popularity amongst beggars and the working class in the pubs and taverns of the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. (Meaning most of those who began making them up were a little less than sober!) Limericks began to have a "dirty" connotation at that point.

The limerick is made of five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines have 7 to 10 syllables and rhyme with each other. The third and fourth lines have 5 to 7 syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Now, here are some examples! (I tried to find some that were humorous without being obscene.)

There was an Old Man who supposed,

That the street door was partially closed;

But some very large rats,

Ate his coats and his hats,

While the futile old gentleman dozed.

****

There was a Young Lady whose eyes,

Were unique as to colour and size;

When she opened them wide,

People all turned aside,

And started away in surprise.

****

The ingredients promote disbelief

As I thought I was eating some beef.

But a product with oats

More fitting for goats

Is giving my stomach some grief.

(Hmmm...eaten any Taco Bell lately?)

****

The limerick is furtive and mean

You must keep her in close quarantine

Or she sneaks to the slums

And promptly becomes

Disorderly, drunk, and obscene.

(A limerick about limericks! Love it!)

****

A limerick fan from Australia

regarded his work as a failure;

his verses were fine

until the fourth line

...?

(You have to make the first two lines rhyme for the accent to be awesome.)

****

There was a young lady named Kite

Who speed was much faster than light.

She left home one day

In a relative way

And returned on the previous night.

****

God's plan made a hopeful beginning,

But Man spoilt his chances by sinning;

We trust that the story

Will end in great glory,

But at present the other side's winning.

***

Archimedes, the well known truth-seeker,

Jumping out of his bath, cried "Eureka!"

He ran half a mile,

Wearing only a smile,

And became the very first streaker.

****

A young man from Timbucktoo

Whose limericks stopped at line two.

I think that's a good number of limericks for one post. I tried my hand a couple, but couldn't quite pull them together. What about you? Compose your own limerick and post it in the comments below! If I come up with a good one, I'll share it tomorrow with our Thoughts on Thursday. Don't forget to let me know if there are any topics you're interested in reading quotes about. :-)

Until tomorrow...

♥ Marlee