Newspaper

Ignore the messy room, but doesn't this look adorable? I found this outfit when I was flipping through the newspaper, and it jumped out at me! The original outfit was a white dress and the belt/scarf combination was pink, but those don't exist in my closet. Nope. So, like any other time, I improvised!
This is a purple dress, that you may have seen before, with a massive scarf that I hung around my neck with a black belt that cinched it all together. I wore black 3/4 tights and black flats, and I looked pretty adorable! It's not really much, just a few plain colors matched together, but it looked really nice with the big gold ($4!) necklace that I placed between the scarf at the V. I wore this to a graduation party, and I had a sweater with me just in case, but it was fairly warm so I didn't actually need it. Happy Closet Hunting!

Dress: $10                             Old Navy
Tights: $10                            Walmart
Scarf: $5                                Old Navy
Necklace: $4                          Forever 21
Shoes: $5                               Target
Belt: $5                                  Thrift Shop

Best Friend For(N)ever

I’m crying because I lost my best friend
She was never there for me in the first place
Found ways to get out of our dates
Came up with things to do rather than see me
My mother needed to email her just so she’d see me
She wouldn’t have dinner with us any other way

I’m angry because I lost my best friend
She wasn’t there for me when I lost my great-grandmother
Found a way to leave me stranded when I needed to leave school
Came up with things to do rather than receive her Christmas gifts
My mother felt the need to ask me why she wasn’t coming over
She doesn’t know why, and neither do I

I’m confused about my best friend
She was never there, I should have asked why
Found a reason why, instead of taking all the blame
Came up with a few ideas to do by myself, without her
My mother needs to tell me that there are other best friends out there
She doesn’t have to be the only one

I’m upset about losing my best friend
She was never there because I’m not as important as anymore
Found a new boyfriend she did, left me again to be with him
Came home and wants to ignore me, that is fine, I have better things to do
My mother and I have more time to be home alone like we used to
She might realize, someday, that she left her short friend behind

I’m looking for my best friend
She is always there, and only a phone call or a text away
Found a new person to be with, to complain with, to bake cookies with
Came home and found recent pictures of us, laughing & having a good time
My mother loves my new best friends; they’re always so funny
She was right, my mother, there are better people out there
                                         Than those who leave you behind.

Italian Wood

Anyone enjoys a good funny story, and this one has to be one of the funnies I've heard so far this week! This is a true story, and sorry, but no accompanying pictures that relate to the story. We were all hanging around the table the other day, comparing childhood stories when one of my friends started laughing and asked us if we knew the term 'Italian Wood.' We shook our head no and someone said "What's 'Italian Wood.' Next we heard the following story!

"My dad and I used to have a few friends that liked to go snowboarding out in the back yard. However, we needed a few trails! Luckily my dad had a few friends who could help us out! We went trailblazing and had a good old time."

"Now, there was alos a housing development going near my place, it wasn't quite approved by my family and friends, but it did come into some use! So my dad, me and his buddy headed out to the new housing development and collected the new 'Italian Wood.' It wasn't actual wood, it was the silver stakes that the developers put into the ground to help with the placement of houses or what have you. Well we traveled around the development collecting all the 'wood' that we could! Dad said that we needed the wood to help build a fence, or something or other in the yard, I never did quite figure out what they were all used for!"

"So why did you call it 'Italian Wood?'"

"'Cause we're all Italian's you dope!"

He Knows My Sunshine

As long as He knows where to place the sunshine for me

I don't need a man in my life

Except for the ones who love me

I don't need a path laid out for me

As long as he knows what is best for me

I don't need my own singing voice

As long as there is music made by Him

I don't need to have a ring on my finger

To know that the man I love is true

He sends sunshine to light my way

The devil may send artificial light

In belief that I will follow

But what I know is what he doesn't know

Is that I have my own eternal sunshine

  That only He can fuel forever

God is Never Wrong

GOD IS NEVER WRONG!

A king who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger. Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said "Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lose my finger." The slave replied: "My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and he knows the "why" of all these things.

What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!" 

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. Later, he left for another hunting trip and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices. On the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released.

According to them, he was not so complete to be offered to the gods. Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave whom he received very affectionately. "My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for the lack of a single finger, I was let go! But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?"

"My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger, therefore, remember everything God does is perfect. He is never wrong." Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us,
forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don't be in a rush. Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. And do not be afraid. God is never wrong! You know why this message is for you? I do not know, but God knows, because he never makes mistakes.......

The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. He is the way of all those who trust in Him, as he says in 2 Samuel  22: 31.  "God's way is unerring; the promise of the LORD is fire-tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."  

What you do with this message is up to you. May God put in your heart the desire to send it to someone. God knows why He chose you to receive this message. Please bless someone with it. God is never wrong!

Fruit Salad

Hello Summer! Need a few ideas for your friends and family to nom on? Well, here's an answer!

You need:
1/2 Cantalope                                     1 lg. Mixing Bowl
1/2 Honeydew                                    1 super dooper knife
1    Whole Watermelon                      1/2 inch ice cream scooper
11 oz. canned Mandarin Oranges      
4     Strawberries

Directions:

1. If you haven't already, cut the Cantalope, Honeydew and Watermelon in half. Set the Halves aside for now (or to nom on while you're watching your late shows!)
2. Using the ice cream scooper scoop out the fruit from the skin and place into the large bowl to mix in everything. You can keep the empty skins of the honeydew and the cantalope to fill with the extra watermelon, but thats only if you haven't eaten the extra watermelon yet!
3. In the mixing bowl, add the scooped watermelon, honeydew and cantalope. Also mix in the mandarain oranges and if you would like more strawberries, by all means add more CUT strawberries!
 4. Oh right, major point here. DRAIN EVERYTHING BEFORE MIXING!
5. Last but not least, add all the mixed fruites into the carved out watermelon that you kept aside and didn't throw out! As an added touch, leave four strawberries in a pattern on the top.

☺ Enjoy! ☺

Shirley & Marcy

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school.
He didn't want his mother to walk with him.
She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.
So she had an idea of how to handle it.
She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn't notice her.
The neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbor girl he knew.
She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.
Finally she said to Timmy,
'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied,

'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said,

'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodnest ,

' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy ....'
'Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?
'Well,' Timmy explained,

'every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cuz she worries about me so much.
And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodnest

(surely goodness) and Marcy

(mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life',

so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always

I know you smiled!
I sure did, Pass this on
And brighten someone's day

The Kid

Angel, Angel, Angel. I can't get that sweet girls face out of my head. Well, when she's sleeping she looks sweet. I wonder what goes on in her mind. If her mind is even awake.

Dave came in later that day. We've seen him around, he was no stranger to the police station. Every week he was back.. in his fathers office complaining about a student in his class or about someone that gave him a weir look on the street. Spoiled kid that Dave Boxer. I have to watch what I say though, his Dad, David Boxer Sr. could have my ass on a plate if he wanted to.
Boxer Sr. I'm sure is aware of his sons' missing guns, but since we sent him off to investigate this murder and the two people already dead I figured I could give him a break by taking with his nancy-pancy son.
If possible I wanted to find out who the murderer was before this double homicide became a triple.

Before Dave came in I ran through the facts again, the gun used in the murder in the unlocked room was found in Rick's and Angels car clear across town, and there was a nylon string found outside the window. But really, how has it moved in this far across town in a few night span? Was there another killer?
Dave came in, long legs and all, sauntering around like he owned the station. Not quite yet by freckle faced friend, not quite yet. He plunked himself down at my desk and looked around my office.  I moved in about a month ago after the last detective left after 35 years of working for Nodnol. Good man. Even better office. I had pictures of my neices and nephew lining the walls, filling darkend areas of where Fuller, the detective, had hung newspaper clippings and various awards.
Finally Dave broke the silence, it's always interesting to see how long it takes to make this kid talk. "Can I have my gun back?"
"Why?"
"Well, if I don't get it back in the case by the end of the week, Dad's going to flip."
"Try saying that in a way that I'll understand, kid."
"Don't call me kid!"
"Don't give me attitude!"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
And then there was silence again. Peaceful, blissful, silence. Odd, fidigdy, awkward silence.
"Dave, is there something else that you need to tell me?"
Dave fidgeted again. There was something else. Shit. I really didn't want to interview the Boxer's kid.
"Promise that you're not going to tell my Dad?" This time he dropped a few octaves, he sounded like a young girl which made me laugh. Fortunetly I stopped myself in time.
"What's wrong son?"
"The apartment that I stay in, the one my dad bought me when I graduated from college, it was broken into the other night. I saw the person who broke in." I remember thinking, Yeah? And you didn't mention this before? Twit.
"It wa a girl. And I saw her at the hospital when Dad and I went in to question her and well... it was the same girl. And man, was she hot!" He looked up at me then, "I mean, it was definetly the same girl."
"Did she say anything to you?
"Yea," he squirmed in his chair. I was really tempted to turn on the big interrogation headlight, "She said that if I said a word I'd be next, not Rick."
"You sure that she said Rick?" Now I was really interested in Dave's story.
"And I was scared shitless, sorry detective, the only thing that really got my attention again was when I was reading the police blotter online. My Dad emails them to me when he's a part of it, I think he wants me to be his secretary or something. I went to college for enginerring, not secretary stuff. The guys name she said was definetly Rick."
Crap. This was not good in any form. Rick wasn't the first victim, that Craig Porter was. Crap. Which may mean that Rick was the intentional next target, but he died in a car accident. And now she's holed up in the hospital. But can we pin this on her?  But now I'm what the next person had in store for them. Was there a list? What is our town coming to?
Dave asked for his gun again, and I said it was still down with ballistics. A white lie, but I had to get to the bottom of this. What the hell was going on in Nodnol?

Travel Destinations

I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots.

 Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.

I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.

I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.

I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not

 too much on physical activity anymore.

I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to

visit there too often.

I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.

Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.

One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the

stimuli I can get!

I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

Please do your part! Today is one of the many National Mental Health

Days throughout the year. You can do your bit by remembering to send

an e-mail to at least one unstable person.

Contract

They said if I did this
I would recieve compensation
I was thinking money
                        or food for my family
And I signed the contract

They pinched me
         stabbed me
         shoved me
         injected me
        examined me
I was searched
         evaulated
         bruised
And waited for my compensation

They scared me and skewered me
         shared me        spared me
                    abused me
I was stitched up and promised payment
And began to wait for death

They left me at the hospital
Broken, beaten yet somehow still alive
I was too trusting, niave and honest
And I waited for my compensation

They said if I did die
I would recieve compensation
I was thinking money
                        or food for my family
And I recieved a free funeral

- In response to La Operacion [and other stories of unknown results]
 

Buttercream Icing

Working on a surprise party for someone? Or just in the mood for making a cake? Then try this recipe that I found in the kitchen!

Yum! Doesn't it look just absolutely YUMMY??? Let me assure you, it really is that delicious. The rest of the family thought so too! Except... they didn't see this mess...

Or this mess...

But the end result is this delicious icing for a cake in a box! The recipe is as follows... good luck!

Buttercreme Icing:

1/2 C Shortning
1/2 C Margarine
1     t  Vanilla
4    C Sugar (Confectioners)
2    T Milk
(If want Choclate Buttercreme Icing) 3/4 C Cocoa + 1-2 T milk )

1) Creme the Shortning and the margarine together with a beater.
2) Add in the vanilla and beat throughly
3) Add the sugar slowly at medium speed
4) Add Milk and beat all ingrediants until there are no lumps.
5) Add in chocolate or food coloring

If you do have extra icing (like I did) put the remaining icing in a air tight container and freeze it. The icing lasts longer and it wont get all moldy! ♥

Saved!

Once again, my closet is smarter than me. This three piece ensamble was hanging in my closet one night before I went out to teach again.  I've had this skirt forever it seems like, and I never seem to find a shirt or shoe combo that seems to fit it nicely. Then after buying that black jacket, everything seemed to fit!
The skirt is red with designs that are just too pretty. The shirt is my off white shirt (I should look into getting a replacement, I seem to wear it pretty often!) with an off-white tank top underneath. The black jacket matched the black heels with the silver buckle, but it could also go well with my new hells that I just bought for $20 that come with cushions! (They are really comfortable!)
I also found this small black clutch, but after one date out with someone that I'm not inclined to continue a relationship with (you DO NOT want to date a friends older brother! Things can go bad very quickly!) I realized it had a hole so I plan on scrouging around the Salvation Army stores looking for a new one. I used this one until the bottom began to wear thin!
The jewelry I was a little eh about, I ultimately should have gone with nothing besides my rings and silver/gold patterned watch. (Totally fake and from Walmart, but who can tell?)
Check your closets, friends, before you go out and buy more! If I can find a chic outfit like this in the back of mine, then I'm sure you can too!

S.O. [16]

"It's like trying to rake leaves without a rake."

One of my past teachers actually said this to our class in reference to students in need of special education, however, the amount of care and education that these students are receiving is not enough! Not NEARLY enough! We give these students all the materials and interventions that we can however, well, like my teacher said, "It's like trying to rake leaves  without a rake." They may have all this at this disposal, but they can't pick it up and use it all.

Sometimes we need to build the rake to collect the leaves. First we need a grip, like a grip on reality. It's not like many of us do, thank you public schools for enabling that idea in our heads. We can't get very far with just a grip, we still need to go from the grip in our hand to the knowledge, er, the leaves, on the ground.

Then we need the staff. That's the big long part that connects the grip to the spindles at the end. You can pick up a few things but not much. You can stab the leaves enough to pick up a few but you still have the ENTIRE lawn to do! At least we kind of made it to the ground, we still need to bend over a little but at least we're there!

Oh Heck no, we are NOT done! If we want to have a lawn like the Jones across the street we need to finish our rake soon! We need the spokes to pick up the maximum amount of leaves! According to the nearest hardware stores, the more spokes you have on your rakes and the more of an area on Earth that your now completed rake can take up, the more leaves you can officially retain.

So in a way, my teacher was right. Without the proper approach to education, we can't teach our special education students. And if we can't teach or reach our special education students, then we, as a whole, are not very good educators.

Jello Orange Slices

This was recommended to my by a friend, and I thought I would like to try it with my kiddos. Please thank her, Thanks! 

Nicole's Jello Orange Slices:

Slice oranges in half. Scoop out all the orange and flesh. Save the peels in a bowl form.

In a bowl please follow directions of making Jello by using the package.

Pour liquid Jello into orange halves. Refrigerate for approximately 4 hours, or until firm.

To serve, slice each half into 3 wedges.

Enjoy! ☺ 

Forever

I'm not a "Belle"

I'm a "Beast"

Not a "Princess"

But a "Dwarf"

A "Lost Child"

Not a "Pixie"

A "Thief in the Night"

Not an "Only Girl"

"Sea foam" following

A "Broken Heart"

I'm not a "Jane"

I'm a "Wild Animal"

A "Wild Child"

Seperated from Society

Lost in the "Pit of Lost Dreams"

Cannot be rescued from "Hell"

"Glass slippers" are Lost

On my "Large Feet"

I'm "Asleep" and Will Not

"Awake" Until "Forever"