I have finally gotten my classroom to a point where I feel like I can leave within an hour of school getting out (we are done-done around 4:45, so I usually end up being there until 7-ish). Today I left at 6 (it felt weird to see light outside). I decided that getting out early meant I could make an awesome dinner.
I get really annoyed with people who constantly Pin things on Pinterest, but just pin them to look at them and have something on their pin boards. So anytime I don't know what to cook for dinner, I pick something off my pinboards. If it's a Pin Win, I comment on it to say that it worked out. If it's fail (like the 2 cupcake recipe), then I delete the pin.
Tonight I made Chicken and Artichokes in a White Wine Sauce (note this also includes mushrooms). I was a little paranoid about making it because you have to coat the chicken in flour and then fry it on the stove, but the directions here were really easy to follow, and I did not burn the chicken or have raw chicken when I was done cooking. Everything was really great-I could have done without the artichokes, but Matt said he liked them.
Here is a link for the recipe: http://annies-eats.net/2010/08/02/chicken-and-artichokes-in-a-white-wine-sauce/
And on a side note-do not go to the grocery store after getting out of teaching small children all day on top of being hungry. I bought a ten-pack of Kit-Kats, chocolate chip cookie dough, Halloween cupcakes, a box of Nutter Butters, and the cinnabar bun things from the fridge section. Oops.
Funny things from my classroom:
My kids keep taking my markers and eating them or drawing on things. Today I fixed this by putting velcro on all the markers. Then I put them high out of reach. Take that kids!
Left my lunch unguarded to open a milk for a kid. I came back, a little girl had not only eaten my Lean Cuisine meal (I'd had like 3 bites) but she had also drained my bottle of water. Flash forward 2 hours: There is a bag of goldfish for snacks behind my desk (as in, a snack for me). Same little girl goes back there, gets my bag, and has 2 handfuls of my Goldfish in her mouth before I can stop her. I wasn't mad, all I could do was laugh!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
School Year Quotes
Miss D: "Class why do we go to math centers?"
Class Response: "So you can let us have a little fun cuz you's a mean teacher the rest of the day."
Girls in my class at the reading center playing school:
Girl 1: "Okay, you get to be Miss Dellinger first. Then I get to be Miss Dellinger."
Girl 2: "No I want to be Miss Dellinger first!!!!"
Girl 3: "No I am Miss Dellinger sit criss-cross applesauce!!"
Boy: "But Miss D. I don't want to play with shapes, shapes give me headacheeeessss!!"
While passing out hand sanitizer before lunch:
Boy: "You have to be careful with that stuff Miss D. If you give us too much, our germs become SUPER GERMS and then they are immune to our germs and we will get sick."
(The look on his face was like 'duh')
While there were people at our school voting in the primary elections, this little boy said to the voting officials:
Boy: "You have to watch out for those Seperatists. They are the bad guys. Like the Democrats, they're bad too. You have to vote for people who support the Republic, like the Republicans. They are the good guys! VOTE REPUBLICAN!"
Same boy later at lunch: "I wish I were 18 so I could vote Republican Ms. D"
While talking about the weather and rain:
Miss D.: "So when the rain falls down, it goes in the rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and into the ground. But what happens to the other water? It goes away because of something called, and this is a really big word, e-vap-or-a-tion. Does anyone have any idea what this might mean?"
Boy: "Yeah um it means that the sun comes out and drys up the rain. Then it goes back up into the clouds. Clouds are made of water. Then it falls back down again as rain or snow or ice. IT'S CALLED THE WATER CYCLE MISS D. DUH!"
Class Response: "So you can let us have a little fun cuz you's a mean teacher the rest of the day."
Girls in my class at the reading center playing school:
Girl 1: "Okay, you get to be Miss Dellinger first. Then I get to be Miss Dellinger."
Girl 2: "No I want to be Miss Dellinger first!!!!"
Girl 3: "No I am Miss Dellinger sit criss-cross applesauce!!"
Boy: "But Miss D. I don't want to play with shapes, shapes give me headacheeeessss!!"
While passing out hand sanitizer before lunch:
Boy: "You have to be careful with that stuff Miss D. If you give us too much, our germs become SUPER GERMS and then they are immune to our germs and we will get sick."
(The look on his face was like 'duh')
While there were people at our school voting in the primary elections, this little boy said to the voting officials:
Boy: "You have to watch out for those Seperatists. They are the bad guys. Like the Democrats, they're bad too. You have to vote for people who support the Republic, like the Republicans. They are the good guys! VOTE REPUBLICAN!"
Same boy later at lunch: "I wish I were 18 so I could vote Republican Ms. D"
While talking about the weather and rain:
Miss D.: "So when the rain falls down, it goes in the rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, and into the ground. But what happens to the other water? It goes away because of something called, and this is a really big word, e-vap-or-a-tion. Does anyone have any idea what this might mean?"
Boy: "Yeah um it means that the sun comes out and drys up the rain. Then it goes back up into the clouds. Clouds are made of water. Then it falls back down again as rain or snow or ice. IT'S CALLED THE WATER CYCLE MISS D. DUH!"
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Day in the Life...
Last week (late post, I know), I had an interview on Monday, then went to my aunt's house to visit. While there, my grandma called and said she needed to go to the hospital. We sat there for HOURS, and it took everything in me not to kill one of my little cousins who was being a brat. We finally left at 4 AM and got home around 4:30 (found out she has Diabetes and high blood pressure plus an infection). I just crawled into bed with my little cousin instead of trying to drive home so late at night.
The next morning, I had a phone interview with a school. BEST interview of my life-while we interviewed I had several files open on my computer to help me out with questions, and I was cuddled up in bed in warm pajamas. I was kind of half asleep from being up all night though, so I did not do as well...I just enjoyed being able to lay in bed instead of stressing about what to wear and driving to the school.
Interestingly enough, I had to hop out of bed after the interview to be at court at 1:30. You see a few weeks ago the Sheriff's Department called my house, and said I had been subpoenaed to appear as a witness in court for a theft/robbery for someone I did not know. He would not give me any information about the case. I just assumed it was for a robbery I witnessed at a grocery store in like January, and I was confused as to why it would just not be going to court. So I went to court under the impression that this is what I was witnessing for.
My cousin came with me because honestly she had nothing better to do, and we thought there might be some interesting characters at the courthouse. Is it a little ridiculous you have to pay to park at court? I mean really, I was subpoenaed, so it's not like I couldn't go...why should I have to pay to park?
Here is my awesome park job...and yes I fixed it. In my defense, I was trying to look at the spot number while I parked so I would know how to pay for my spot.
So my little cousin and I both set off the metal detectors. My high heels and her diamond ring. The guy told us only real diamond rings set off metal detectors. So ladies if you want to know if your ring is real, take it through a metal detector!
We went to our courtroom, and we were SURROUNDED by interesting people. Some people looked like they had just come from the club or rolled out of bed. Saw a few people from high school, of course.
When we went inside, I got confused about where I needed to go because I did not hear my name called. When I tried to ask when everyone was moving around, I got yelled at by the bailiff to sit down in the front row...where all of the "accused" were sitting. A nice young lawyer finally explained that I needed to wait until the person I was there for was called, then someone would call me to testify. So I went and sat back down.
Later on, I got called up to be answered some questions by the prosecutor (I think?). He asked me for my license plate number. I was confused, but I told him and then he looked confused. Then he said, "Do you know why you are here?" And I said no, that no would tell me and I did not know this person. He laughed, really hard because I looked so confused. Then he asked for my old license plate number, and I said it was stolen but that it was ZVH-2046...then he said this: "We caught that guy driving around with your plate. He used it to rob an ABC Store in Gastonia" OHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Not what I thought at all!
See this post: http://littlemisshollydolly.blogspot.com/2011/04/license-plate-blues.html
I was laughing when I went back to my seat because I could not believe that is why I was there. I was told that they would never catch that person because the only way he would get caught was if he had my plates on and a cop ran the plate and knew it was stolen. He basically put it on his get a way car (a car identical to mine) so when the guy called the tag of the car after the robbery, they could not identify the robber. Luckily a cop got him that night!
I ended up staying longer than I was supposed to-I thought I had to go up and be sworn in, but it turns out the person just needed me to verify the incident and who I was. Crazy!
The next morning, I had a phone interview with a school. BEST interview of my life-while we interviewed I had several files open on my computer to help me out with questions, and I was cuddled up in bed in warm pajamas. I was kind of half asleep from being up all night though, so I did not do as well...I just enjoyed being able to lay in bed instead of stressing about what to wear and driving to the school.
Interestingly enough, I had to hop out of bed after the interview to be at court at 1:30. You see a few weeks ago the Sheriff's Department called my house, and said I had been subpoenaed to appear as a witness in court for a theft/robbery for someone I did not know. He would not give me any information about the case. I just assumed it was for a robbery I witnessed at a grocery store in like January, and I was confused as to why it would just not be going to court. So I went to court under the impression that this is what I was witnessing for.
My cousin came with me because honestly she had nothing better to do, and we thought there might be some interesting characters at the courthouse. Is it a little ridiculous you have to pay to park at court? I mean really, I was subpoenaed, so it's not like I couldn't go...why should I have to pay to park?
Here is my awesome park job...and yes I fixed it. In my defense, I was trying to look at the spot number while I parked so I would know how to pay for my spot.
So my little cousin and I both set off the metal detectors. My high heels and her diamond ring. The guy told us only real diamond rings set off metal detectors. So ladies if you want to know if your ring is real, take it through a metal detector!
We went to our courtroom, and we were SURROUNDED by interesting people. Some people looked like they had just come from the club or rolled out of bed. Saw a few people from high school, of course.
When we went inside, I got confused about where I needed to go because I did not hear my name called. When I tried to ask when everyone was moving around, I got yelled at by the bailiff to sit down in the front row...where all of the "accused" were sitting. A nice young lawyer finally explained that I needed to wait until the person I was there for was called, then someone would call me to testify. So I went and sat back down.
Later on, I got called up to be answered some questions by the prosecutor (I think?). He asked me for my license plate number. I was confused, but I told him and then he looked confused. Then he said, "Do you know why you are here?" And I said no, that no would tell me and I did not know this person. He laughed, really hard because I looked so confused. Then he asked for my old license plate number, and I said it was stolen but that it was ZVH-2046...then he said this: "We caught that guy driving around with your plate. He used it to rob an ABC Store in Gastonia" OHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Not what I thought at all!
See this post: http://littlemisshollydolly.blogspot.com/2011/04/license-plate-blues.html
I was laughing when I went back to my seat because I could not believe that is why I was there. I was told that they would never catch that person because the only way he would get caught was if he had my plates on and a cop ran the plate and knew it was stolen. He basically put it on his get a way car (a car identical to mine) so when the guy called the tag of the car after the robbery, they could not identify the robber. Luckily a cop got him that night!
I ended up staying longer than I was supposed to-I thought I had to go up and be sworn in, but it turns out the person just needed me to verify the incident and who I was. Crazy!
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Most Epic Fail of All
Today I had a really long day with back to back triple interviews. After I was done, I headed to Books-A-Million because I can pick up WiFi there for free with my grandma's membership card for their rewards program. I sat there for a few hours critiquing a resume and cover letter for a friend of mine. When I got done I headed out to where I parked my car.
When I got to my car, my trunk wouldn't pop. I didn't think it was a big deal because sometimes my button doesn't work on my keyless. I went to manually key into my car when I noticed that my driver's side mirror was gone. I thought someone had hit my car an ran, so I was MAD. And yelling some choice words. Then I realized my driver's window was gone...so clearly someone had knocked off my mirror then used it to bust out my window. All of my bags were gone from my backseat (make-up bag, Vera Bradley duffel, everything). I immediately call the police, and while on the phone, I tried to unlock my doors, but my key wouldn't work.
Then it hit me. It wasn't my car.
The police officer laughed when I embarrassingly told him what happened. Then, while I am on the phone still and my keys are in the door...the owner of that car comes up. A young 16 year old girl and I was like "Uhh I thought this was my car" Hahaha. She said she knew she shouldn't have parked near me....our cars are same model, make, year, and color....hilarious.
I am loving all of the sarcastic comments on Facebook, ya'll. Loving it!
Sorry officer!
Monday, July 25, 2011
If I Write A Blog, They Will Hire
(Did anyone get the "If you build it, they will come" reference? I thought it was funny)
I have had what feels like a billion job interviews. I have driven around the state...no ALL OVER the state at the beck and call of several principals. The other day I went to an interview, and they were running late so I got to talk to the women who were waiting. Two were recent graduates like me, and two were not. Of the two that were not recent graduates...one had been a teacher for 8 years in that county....and the other one had been a teacher in SAUDI ARABIA for the past 17! I mean, how do I compete with that? I wanted to turn around and walk out, but I did pretty well in the interview. Maybe if I get lucky someone will want to hire me as a recent graduate with fresh teaching knowledge and 0 experience.....
This has led me to create the resume I wish that I could hand in:
Objective:
To obtain a job where I can earn money only to waste it on a cute wardrobe, fabulous accessories, shoes I’ll never wear, and going out to eat at places I cannot afford.
Education:
All the education I needed came from reality television: Survivor, The Real World, The Real Housewives, Kate Plus Eight, and 19 Kids and Counting
Anything else I know came from reading Southern Living and Paula Deen magazines front to back for the past five years
Professional Experience
Principal for a Day through Accelerated Reader Program-May 2000
•Sorted mail into teacher boxes
•Napped on couch
•Greeted anyone walking into the office
•Canceled homework for the whole entire school
Battle of the Books Team Member-2000-2002
•Memorized facts from stories for competition
•Never part of a winning team
Additional Experience
Head of Recruitment for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at UNC-Asheville-January-May 2009
•Persuaded girls to rush sorority
•Planned SUPER cute recruitment events
Head lifeguard/Manager at Robinwood Lake-WAY TOO LONG OF MY LIFE SPENT HERE
•Sat in a chair and tanned, collected money every once in a while from customers
•Sprayed Sun-In in my hair about once every five minutes
•Talked with random people and listened to my iPod
Honors
All of my Girl Scout Badges-way too many years of my life
Girl Scout Silver Award-2003
School Spelling Bee Champ-2000
2nd Most Accelerated Reader Points (SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST)-2001
Most Likely to Wear Red to a Black and White Only Event(Gamma Phi Beta)-2008
Most Spirited Sorority Sister-2008 AND 2009!!!
Most Likely to Accidently Destroy the World (Gamma Phi Beta)-2007-My personal favorite
Skills
Shameless gossiping
Texting faster than you can type
Always finding something to talk about
Talking in general
Blogging
Googling
Facebook Creeping
Things that I have considered doing:
And, if I could get this where it said UNC 49ers, I would order it. And wear it with pride:
PS-thanks to Renn, I am now addicted to Pinterest. If you are on Pinterest, leave me a comment so I can follow you!
I have had what feels like a billion job interviews. I have driven around the state...no ALL OVER the state at the beck and call of several principals. The other day I went to an interview, and they were running late so I got to talk to the women who were waiting. Two were recent graduates like me, and two were not. Of the two that were not recent graduates...one had been a teacher for 8 years in that county....and the other one had been a teacher in SAUDI ARABIA for the past 17! I mean, how do I compete with that? I wanted to turn around and walk out, but I did pretty well in the interview. Maybe if I get lucky someone will want to hire me as a recent graduate with fresh teaching knowledge and 0 experience.....
This has led me to create the resume I wish that I could hand in:
Objective:
To obtain a job where I can earn money only to waste it on a cute wardrobe, fabulous accessories, shoes I’ll never wear, and going out to eat at places I cannot afford.
Education:
All the education I needed came from reality television: Survivor, The Real World, The Real Housewives, Kate Plus Eight, and 19 Kids and Counting
Anything else I know came from reading Southern Living and Paula Deen magazines front to back for the past five years
Professional Experience
Principal for a Day through Accelerated Reader Program-May 2000
•Sorted mail into teacher boxes
•Napped on couch
•Greeted anyone walking into the office
•Canceled homework for the whole entire school
Battle of the Books Team Member-2000-2002
•Memorized facts from stories for competition
•Never part of a winning team
Additional Experience
Head of Recruitment for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at UNC-Asheville-January-May 2009
•Persuaded girls to rush sorority
•Planned SUPER cute recruitment events
Head lifeguard/Manager at Robinwood Lake-WAY TOO LONG OF MY LIFE SPENT HERE
•Sat in a chair and tanned, collected money every once in a while from customers
•Sprayed Sun-In in my hair about once every five minutes
•Talked with random people and listened to my iPod
Honors
All of my Girl Scout Badges-way too many years of my life
Girl Scout Silver Award-2003
School Spelling Bee Champ-2000
2nd Most Accelerated Reader Points (SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST)-2001
Most Likely to Wear Red to a Black and White Only Event(Gamma Phi Beta)-2008
Most Spirited Sorority Sister-2008 AND 2009!!!
Most Likely to Accidently Destroy the World (Gamma Phi Beta)-2007-My personal favorite
Skills
Shameless gossiping
Texting faster than you can type
Always finding something to talk about
Talking in general
Blogging
Googling
Facebook Creeping
Things that I have considered doing:
And, if I could get this where it said UNC 49ers, I would order it. And wear it with pride:
PS-thanks to Renn, I am now addicted to Pinterest. If you are on Pinterest, leave me a comment so I can follow you!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Under Construction
I didn't realize how DIFFICULT it is to upload new templates. I want to smack myself for starting this late at night. Excuse my ugly blog. The changes on blogger are RIDICULOUS...it needs to go back to the old way where I could copy and paste and my blog would be PERFECT with a nice text, background, and color scheme. Just ignore it for a couple of days until I straighten it back out.
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Old North State
There has been little to no time for blogging. I have been all across the state for interviews and a friend's wedding. In the past few weeks, I've put 2000 miles on my car traveling all across North Carolina. I love North Carolina and think it's beautiful and all, but I am tired of driving around it!
I mapped out my trip on Google maps...here is where I've been: 1674 miles and 1 day and 8 hours of nonstop driving (according to Google Maps)
I have seen some interesting things along the way:
A bear someone had JUST hit and killed with their car
A water well where 9 foot tall wooden figures of Batman, Captain America, and Spiderman were all just chilling by the wall
Acres of Corn/Tobacco
The East Carolina Coon Hunting Association Meeting Lodge
And my personal favorite (yes this is real):
Yes, that's right folks. For all of you Farmville playing people out there...Farmville does exist. It is a real place. And it is right here in North Carolina. You can stop and plow the fields, harvest your crops, and feed the chickens and cows.
I mapped out my trip on Google maps...here is where I've been: 1674 miles and 1 day and 8 hours of nonstop driving (according to Google Maps)
I have seen some interesting things along the way:
A bear someone had JUST hit and killed with their car
A water well where 9 foot tall wooden figures of Batman, Captain America, and Spiderman were all just chilling by the wall
Acres of Corn/Tobacco
The East Carolina Coon Hunting Association Meeting Lodge
And my personal favorite (yes this is real):
Yes, that's right folks. For all of you Farmville playing people out there...Farmville does exist. It is a real place. And it is right here in North Carolina. You can stop and plow the fields, harvest your crops, and feed the chickens and cows.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
What Can You Find in My Trunk?
I am leaving tomorrow morning for the beach to go to a friend's wedding, and I had to clean out my car for the trip. When I moved out of my apartment, I kept throwing stuff in there, but I never took it inside. Between road trips and other things, my trunk has completely filled up to the point of being forced to put all groceries in my back seat. I decided today to clean it out because enough is enough...and if I didn't clean it out, where would I put my luggage tomorrow?
This is what I found while cleaning my trunk out:
1) Clothing
2) 8 cans of Diet Mountain Dew
3) About 30 children's books
4) 2 old purses
5) A cake stand/punch bowl
6) Mixing bowls
7) Flour sifter
8) Oxygen hose (my mother's hahaha)
9) Graduation cap and tassel
10) 40 Hangers
11) Frying pan
12) Canisters of flour, sugar, and rice
13) Tax papers
14) Graduation papers
15) Emily's RSVP card for the wedding (oops)
17) Case of classroom cd's
18) Kindle cord (I don't own a Kindle)
19) iPod cord
20) Phone cord
21) Printer cord
22) Knife set holder-no knifes
23) vegetable peeler
24) Pink and green yarn
25) Knitting needles
26) Crochet needles
27) Ribbon
I am pretty sure I left things off...I also found $7 in change. Oops.
This is what I found while cleaning my trunk out:
1) Clothing
2) 8 cans of Diet Mountain Dew
3) About 30 children's books
4) 2 old purses
5) A cake stand/punch bowl
6) Mixing bowls
7) Flour sifter
8) Oxygen hose (my mother's hahaha)
9) Graduation cap and tassel
10) 40 Hangers
11) Frying pan
12) Canisters of flour, sugar, and rice
13) Tax papers
14) Graduation papers
15) Emily's RSVP card for the wedding (oops)
17) Case of classroom cd's
18) Kindle cord (I don't own a Kindle)
19) iPod cord
20) Phone cord
21) Printer cord
22) Knife set holder-no knifes
23) vegetable peeler
24) Pink and green yarn
25) Knitting needles
26) Crochet needles
27) Ribbon
I am pretty sure I left things off...I also found $7 in change. Oops.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Updates!
I have been really busy lately and have not had time for blogging. So here's an update post for anyone who cares.
Job Hunt/First Interview:
So I had my first interview last Monday. It was in Person County way up near the Virginia border. I did not want to drive the 3.5 hours there on the morning of, so I stayed the night in Greensboro with one of my best friends, Emily. We had a really good time the night before grilling out and what not. Of course I did NOT sleep the night before. I got up the next day at 6 and left by 7 (even though my interview wasn't until like 11:00 and it was 1.5 hours away). I had to stop at Target to buy shoes because I forgot mine. The way up was pretty uneventful other than my steering wheel would not stop shaking whenever I got up to a speed over 60 miles per hour (had to get my tired balanced after which fixed the problem).
I still ended up getting to the school early, so I found it and then went for breakfast. I thought this place was in the sticks, but when I keyed in places to eat on my GPS and realized the nearest fast food place was 12 miles away...I knew I was in the sticks. Nothing wrong with country at all, just something I am not too used to growing up near Charlotte. I ended up eating at a total hole in the wall, which is apparently where all of the locals go. My breakfast was greasy and delicious, and everyone was so supportive towards me about my interview and wished me good luck when I left.
When I got to the school, I had to wait for a few minutes and I saw some of the other people interviewing there. I knew I had a one-up on a girl because she was NOT dressed well at all and her hair was still wet. When it was my turn to go in, the principal made a big deal that it was my FIRST interview then told me I was 1 of 6 out of 200 picked for the interview, and they would hire one of us. I barely answered their questions because I was freaked out, and I talked with my hands the whole time. Like out of control talked with my hands.
I did not get the job, BUT it was because the principal thought I would be better for a primary grade teaching position instead of the 5th grade spot they had. And it was just a little too out in the sticks for me. On the way home, I stopped at like 10 schools and dropped my resume and cover letter in the hopes of getting more interviews.
Then I spend the day/night the best way possible: with Dana and Emily! Dana and I hit the pool to tan, where we saw someone actually drown and get saved, and we also hung out in the whirl pool. AND we got ice cream for $1 and just really felt like little kids haha. We went and grabbed pizza that night with Emily and shopped at Target (and yes we couponed for that pizza)!
I have had 2 more interviews since the first one, and I have another lined up...but I'm going to wait a little bit before I post about those!
Silly Lily and Her Not So Bummer Summer with Aunt Holly
All of last week I kept my niece because her day care was closed and because I wanted to take her to Vacation Bible School at my church. She loved VBS! I am so glad she liked it because VBS at our church is a little intense. It's 3 hours everyday and pretty structured. She was happy because some of her classmates from Kindergarten were in her VBS class, including her little "boyfriend" Ben. The teacher told me they sat next to each other and talked everyday! And when we left everyday, Ben made his grandma pull up next to her so that he could say bye to Lily. And her mom told me she came home with his number and address one day at school haha...looks like Lily has a little crush! Everyday when I took her, she would be like, "Do you think Ben will like um talk to me today Aunt Holly?" Hilarious.
She REALLY liked the final cookout for VBS. There was a huge bounce slide and she kept going up and down it. She probably went down it about 50 times the whole time we were there. She was a little mad at me because I made her eat first, but she got over it once I finally let her play.
We spent the whole week reading Junie B. Jones books. Lily reminds me of Junie in so many ways because she has this little sassy attitude sometimes and she hates school. Well, we bought Lily some of those books and she has not stopped reading them! We read two whole books over the course of two days because she did not want to stop reading! That made me really happy.
We also took Lily to Chuck E. Cheese. I learned that 90 tokens can last about 15 minutes with her. She BLEW those tokens fast, and I thought it would take her 2 hours. She kept putting them in the machines that take like 2 seconds to play. For $20 she left with some candy and little toys. We had such a great week together though, I was sad when it ended.
Summer of Fun with Matthew:
I know that Matthew reads my blog, so I hope he sees my list of fun that we will be completing/blogging about this summer =]
1. Go the zoo
2. Go to Lazy 5 Ranch
3. Go to NASCAR Hall of Fame
4. Race go carts at Victory Lane Speedway
5. Play volleyball/hike around Blythe Landing
6. Go to wing night at the Rusty Rudder every week
7. Go to a Gastonia Grizzlies game
8. Go to a Charlotte Knight's Game
9. Go to Alive After 5 in Belmont
10. Go on a real, old-timey picnic complete with red checkered picnic blanket
11. Go hiking (we can picnic at the same time!) at South Mountain State Park
Any ideas to add to our list? =]
Job Hunt/First Interview:
So I had my first interview last Monday. It was in Person County way up near the Virginia border. I did not want to drive the 3.5 hours there on the morning of, so I stayed the night in Greensboro with one of my best friends, Emily. We had a really good time the night before grilling out and what not. Of course I did NOT sleep the night before. I got up the next day at 6 and left by 7 (even though my interview wasn't until like 11:00 and it was 1.5 hours away). I had to stop at Target to buy shoes because I forgot mine. The way up was pretty uneventful other than my steering wheel would not stop shaking whenever I got up to a speed over 60 miles per hour (had to get my tired balanced after which fixed the problem).
I still ended up getting to the school early, so I found it and then went for breakfast. I thought this place was in the sticks, but when I keyed in places to eat on my GPS and realized the nearest fast food place was 12 miles away...I knew I was in the sticks. Nothing wrong with country at all, just something I am not too used to growing up near Charlotte. I ended up eating at a total hole in the wall, which is apparently where all of the locals go. My breakfast was greasy and delicious, and everyone was so supportive towards me about my interview and wished me good luck when I left.
When I got to the school, I had to wait for a few minutes and I saw some of the other people interviewing there. I knew I had a one-up on a girl because she was NOT dressed well at all and her hair was still wet. When it was my turn to go in, the principal made a big deal that it was my FIRST interview then told me I was 1 of 6 out of 200 picked for the interview, and they would hire one of us. I barely answered their questions because I was freaked out, and I talked with my hands the whole time. Like out of control talked with my hands.
I did not get the job, BUT it was because the principal thought I would be better for a primary grade teaching position instead of the 5th grade spot they had. And it was just a little too out in the sticks for me. On the way home, I stopped at like 10 schools and dropped my resume and cover letter in the hopes of getting more interviews.
Then I spend the day/night the best way possible: with Dana and Emily! Dana and I hit the pool to tan, where we saw someone actually drown and get saved, and we also hung out in the whirl pool. AND we got ice cream for $1 and just really felt like little kids haha. We went and grabbed pizza that night with Emily and shopped at Target (and yes we couponed for that pizza)!
I have had 2 more interviews since the first one, and I have another lined up...but I'm going to wait a little bit before I post about those!
Silly Lily and Her Not So Bummer Summer with Aunt Holly
All of last week I kept my niece because her day care was closed and because I wanted to take her to Vacation Bible School at my church. She loved VBS! I am so glad she liked it because VBS at our church is a little intense. It's 3 hours everyday and pretty structured. She was happy because some of her classmates from Kindergarten were in her VBS class, including her little "boyfriend" Ben. The teacher told me they sat next to each other and talked everyday! And when we left everyday, Ben made his grandma pull up next to her so that he could say bye to Lily. And her mom told me she came home with his number and address one day at school haha...looks like Lily has a little crush! Everyday when I took her, she would be like, "Do you think Ben will like um talk to me today Aunt Holly?" Hilarious.
She REALLY liked the final cookout for VBS. There was a huge bounce slide and she kept going up and down it. She probably went down it about 50 times the whole time we were there. She was a little mad at me because I made her eat first, but she got over it once I finally let her play.
We spent the whole week reading Junie B. Jones books. Lily reminds me of Junie in so many ways because she has this little sassy attitude sometimes and she hates school. Well, we bought Lily some of those books and she has not stopped reading them! We read two whole books over the course of two days because she did not want to stop reading! That made me really happy.
We also took Lily to Chuck E. Cheese. I learned that 90 tokens can last about 15 minutes with her. She BLEW those tokens fast, and I thought it would take her 2 hours. She kept putting them in the machines that take like 2 seconds to play. For $20 she left with some candy and little toys. We had such a great week together though, I was sad when it ended.
Summer of Fun with Matthew:
I know that Matthew reads my blog, so I hope he sees my list of fun that we will be completing/blogging about this summer =]
1. Go the zoo
2. Go to Lazy 5 Ranch
3. Go to NASCAR Hall of Fame
4. Race go carts at Victory Lane Speedway
5. Play volleyball/hike around Blythe Landing
6. Go to wing night at the Rusty Rudder every week
7. Go to a Gastonia Grizzlies game
8. Go to a Charlotte Knight's Game
9. Go to Alive After 5 in Belmont
10. Go on a real, old-timey picnic complete with red checkered picnic blanket
11. Go hiking (we can picnic at the same time!) at South Mountain State Park
Any ideas to add to our list? =]
Things I've Gotten For Free
I have not updated in a while because I have been REALLY busy with interviews, babysitting, and other things. I have also been couponing, so I thought it would be kind of fun to do a post about the things I got for free this week in picture form.
Things I got completely for free:
Things I got for less than 50 cents:
Things I got that were between 50 cents and $1:
Everything above came from Harris Teeter because they were having this awesome coupon deal where you could double coupon's up to $1.98 instead of the usually $0.99 limit.
And I would like to add that during the month of June I had like 5 free bagels with cream cheese and coffee from Bruegger's Bagels.
Things I got completely for free:
Things I got for less than 50 cents:
Things I got that were between 50 cents and $1:
Everything above came from Harris Teeter because they were having this awesome coupon deal where you could double coupon's up to $1.98 instead of the usually $0.99 limit.
And I would like to add that during the month of June I had like 5 free bagels with cream cheese and coffee from Bruegger's Bagels.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Fallen Hero
http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Gaston-County-marine-killed-in-action-123667179.html
http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/642307/family-and-friends-react-to-death-of-fallen-marine
Please take a moment of your time to watch this story about a United States Marine from my hometown of Stanley, North Carolina. He recently turned 21, and he graduated one year behind me from East Gaston High School.
Please keep his family, friends, and his girlfriend of 5 years in your prayers.
Nic o'Brien is truly a hero, and I know that he will not be forgotten.
"If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scenese; they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines."-The Marines Hymnn
"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”-Ronald Reagan
Rest in Peace Nic O'Brien
http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/642307/family-and-friends-react-to-death-of-fallen-marine
Please take a moment of your time to watch this story about a United States Marine from my hometown of Stanley, North Carolina. He recently turned 21, and he graduated one year behind me from East Gaston High School.
Please keep his family, friends, and his girlfriend of 5 years in your prayers.
Nic o'Brien is truly a hero, and I know that he will not be forgotten.
"If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scenese; they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines."-The Marines Hymnn
"Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”-Ronald Reagan
Rest in Peace Nic O'Brien
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hendersonville Recap
For the weekend, I went with Matthew to visit his family and friends in Hendersonville. I LOVE going up there because it's always a pretty drive, I get to see a lot of people, and there are a lot of places Matt and I like to eat at/hang out at when we are there.
We got there really late Friday night, so we just watched a few episodes of Dexter. I was freaked out for some reason, and slept with both lights on in my room, ha! We slept in really late, then went and picked up Matt and his dad's new toy:
We took it back to his house and took it for a cruise around their property, and we took his two puppies for the ride with us. Rex was completely calm and enjoying the ride, Louie on the other hand, kept trying to jump out of my lap and clawed my legs up. We put Louie out for Lap 2 and let Rex stay with us. While we were driving around, we saw a turkey and four chicks fly up into a tree when we went by (I never realized how high turkeys could fly). We laid around for a little while and ate lunch with his parents (I am still sad that we did not go to to Hot Dog World).
Matt had told me we were going to dinner at his friend's house with his parents, and I assumed it was just us. Matt did not inform me that it was actually a Going Away to the Army party for his friend Nick. I was a little surprised to see so many people there, but I am happy that I got to meet some of Matt's friends that I have always heard about. The guys played Cornhole for a long time, we ate hot dogs, and sit around and talked about what they all used to do in high school (they were bad kids..haha).
Here is the cake Justin decorated for Nick:
And Matt's dad has the best tan lines I have ever seen:
On Sunday we went to church with Matt's family and came home and grilled steaks. We went to Kilwin's on Main Street so that I could pick up my favorite candy, and I got some dog treats for the puppies.
Here is us after church:
And here is Louie & Rex with their big brother Matt:
I see a strong resemblance between all three =)
We got there really late Friday night, so we just watched a few episodes of Dexter. I was freaked out for some reason, and slept with both lights on in my room, ha! We slept in really late, then went and picked up Matt and his dad's new toy:
We took it back to his house and took it for a cruise around their property, and we took his two puppies for the ride with us. Rex was completely calm and enjoying the ride, Louie on the other hand, kept trying to jump out of my lap and clawed my legs up. We put Louie out for Lap 2 and let Rex stay with us. While we were driving around, we saw a turkey and four chicks fly up into a tree when we went by (I never realized how high turkeys could fly). We laid around for a little while and ate lunch with his parents (I am still sad that we did not go to to Hot Dog World).
Matt had told me we were going to dinner at his friend's house with his parents, and I assumed it was just us. Matt did not inform me that it was actually a Going Away to the Army party for his friend Nick. I was a little surprised to see so many people there, but I am happy that I got to meet some of Matt's friends that I have always heard about. The guys played Cornhole for a long time, we ate hot dogs, and sit around and talked about what they all used to do in high school (they were bad kids..haha).
Here is the cake Justin decorated for Nick:
And Matt's dad has the best tan lines I have ever seen:
On Sunday we went to church with Matt's family and came home and grilled steaks. We went to Kilwin's on Main Street so that I could pick up my favorite candy, and I got some dog treats for the puppies.
Here is us after church:
And here is Louie & Rex with their big brother Matt:
I see a strong resemblance between all three =)
Old Lady Style
Today I went shopping with one goal in mind: to find something very nice, professional, and business like to wear to teaching interviews. I have a lot of dress clothes, but I wanted something really nice so that I would make a great first impression.
During my shopping trip, I learned that apparently I dress like a 60-80 year old, or Laura Bush according to my friend Emily.
I tried on a lot of business suits at Belks and I really liked this one (except it was in a light blue color):
I liked it because I thought it was professional, and I could wear the blazer with different colored pants/skirts and it was on sale from $200 to $40-ish. Well, I could not make my mind up, so I decided to picture message my friends. One loved it, and one said it looked like Laura Bush. I decided to have it held and think about it....when the sales lady found out I was holding it for myself she said, "This is for you?! No this is for a grandma! You do not need to buy something like this." And she would not hold it for me! It was actually really funny, and we were all laughing about it.
I decided to go look for something at TJ Maxx because I had saw a skirt/blazer set there recently and I hoped it might still be there. It was, so I tried it on. It was beige with a little bit of shimmer and some ruffle around the jacket part, and it did not have a collar. I walked out of the dressing room and a woman outside said "Super cute suit! But it's way too old for you! It makes you look thirty years older!" I guess I'll be ready to go shopping by myself when I'm 60.
I ended up going to New York and Company and buying a skirt, a pair of shorts, a few shirts, and a necklace because I had a coupon there. I never realized how particular they actually are. My coupon only printed the bar codes which I thought would be fine, but I ended up having to go charge my iPod in my car, go back into the mall, connect to WiFi, download the coupon, and bring it back to New York and Company. I was so annoyed that I probably won't be shopping for a while, even though I got really great deals. Here is what I got:
During my shopping trip, I learned that apparently I dress like a 60-80 year old, or Laura Bush according to my friend Emily.
I tried on a lot of business suits at Belks and I really liked this one (except it was in a light blue color):
I liked it because I thought it was professional, and I could wear the blazer with different colored pants/skirts and it was on sale from $200 to $40-ish. Well, I could not make my mind up, so I decided to picture message my friends. One loved it, and one said it looked like Laura Bush. I decided to have it held and think about it....when the sales lady found out I was holding it for myself she said, "This is for you?! No this is for a grandma! You do not need to buy something like this." And she would not hold it for me! It was actually really funny, and we were all laughing about it.
I decided to go look for something at TJ Maxx because I had saw a skirt/blazer set there recently and I hoped it might still be there. It was, so I tried it on. It was beige with a little bit of shimmer and some ruffle around the jacket part, and it did not have a collar. I walked out of the dressing room and a woman outside said "Super cute suit! But it's way too old for you! It makes you look thirty years older!" I guess I'll be ready to go shopping by myself when I'm 60.
I ended up going to New York and Company and buying a skirt, a pair of shorts, a few shirts, and a necklace because I had a coupon there. I never realized how particular they actually are. My coupon only printed the bar codes which I thought would be fine, but I ended up having to go charge my iPod in my car, go back into the mall, connect to WiFi, download the coupon, and bring it back to New York and Company. I was so annoyed that I probably won't be shopping for a while, even though I got really great deals. Here is what I got:
Friday, June 3, 2011
Favorite Appetizer
I'm participating in a blog share on Kellys Korner, and if you are not following that blog you should be!
My mom's cheese ball is my all time favorite appetizer, and I would eat it as a kid even though I hated three-fourths of the ingredients in it as a child. And it's easy, which is a plus. I associate cheese ball with every major holiday in my family because someone always asks us to make it.
Mom's Cheese Ball
2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 of a small onion, minced
1/2 of a green pepper, minced
1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained
1 package of nut topping
1 teaspoon of seasoning salt
Ritz Crackers
Stir together cream cheese, onion, bell pepper, pineapple, seasoning salt, and a portion of the nut topping (reserve some nut topping to garnish). Once those are mixed together well, shape the mixture into a ball on a serving dish. Press the remaining nut topping into the cheese ball to decorate. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour, then serve with crackers.
My mom's cheese ball is my all time favorite appetizer, and I would eat it as a kid even though I hated three-fourths of the ingredients in it as a child. And it's easy, which is a plus. I associate cheese ball with every major holiday in my family because someone always asks us to make it.
Mom's Cheese Ball
2 - 8 oz packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 of a small onion, minced
1/2 of a green pepper, minced
1 small can of crushed pineapple, drained
1 package of nut topping
1 teaspoon of seasoning salt
Ritz Crackers
Stir together cream cheese, onion, bell pepper, pineapple, seasoning salt, and a portion of the nut topping (reserve some nut topping to garnish). Once those are mixed together well, shape the mixture into a ball on a serving dish. Press the remaining nut topping into the cheese ball to decorate. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour, then serve with crackers.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Happy Two Years Matthew!
May 31st, 2009 Matthew made our relationship "Facebook official" haha and we have been dating for two years as of Tuesday. A few ups and downs, but mostly lots of ups!
Matthew and I met in Special Education, a class we both had to take at UNC Charlotte for our majors. I was sitting quietly in class whenever I heard a loud noise and turned around to see Matthew with a very red face sitting behind me because he had bumped the table. He was one of like 4 guys in our class, and the only one not married or old. I'm pretty sure all of the forty girls in our class were checking him out.
Well, a couple of days later we had to sign up for different special needs to make a presentation about in small groups. I wanted to present about blindness because of my dad, and we ended up being placed in the same group together. We started to talk a little bit to each other, and I walked him to his truck (which was very far away), and he offered to take me back to my dorm. On the way, I invited him over for dinner and he said he'd see me about 7:00.
Dinner was one epic fail that night. I had these "thin-sliced" chicken breasts, but they were like giant hunks which was very strange to me. I wanted to make Chicken Alfredo, so I baked the chicken for a really long time because it did not seem to be cooked all the way through. Come to find out, the chicken breasts were rolled up and you were supposed to unroll them before cooking....oops. Right before he came in, I smelled something burning, and I realized that I had let the rice burn. It was burnt on the bottom, so I tried to save it by scraping off the bottom that was burned...it was the driest rice EVER. Matthew took a sip of water after every bite, and he did not ask for seconds. He claims it was not "that bad," but I know that he is lying haha! We went for a walk around campus, and he asked me for another date for the next evening.
I will never forget when Matthew pulled up in his black truck wearing a pink button-up shirt! He took me to Red Lobster, which really impressed me because to me Red Lobster was such a "fancy date" haha. I was afraid to order something expensive, so I strategically waited until he ordered to place my order for something cheaper. I had shrimp skewers, and I struggled to eat them because they would NOT come off the skewers. I tried to pay at the end of our date, but he would not let me...such a gentleman!
He then took me to see the movie Up, and I almost cried during the beginning. Following the movie, we went to a gas station where a man came in with a gun (eventful first date, I know) and Matthew hid me behind him...I knew he was a keeper then!
And the rest is history....
Favourite Memories:
1. When going to dinner with my friends, Matthew held his wet hair out of his truck window while driving down the Interstate and made his hair stick straight up.
2. Going to Chicago and going to the top of the Sears Tower where he pushed me out on the glass ledge.
3. On my 20th birthday, he surprised me by dropping me off for a full body massage, then taking me to Greenville for a "Petting Zoo" that turned out to be the seventh row of the Taylor Swift concert!
4. Going out on a Lake Summit, where he tried to kill me/force me off the boat.
5. Going to the "Edge of the World" with Matt and his best friend Josh, along with a few other places in Hendersonville.
6. Driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway so far up in the mountains, that we drove into snow.
7. Going to Apple Festival, and when Matt paid for our small amount of food the lady said, "$26" and laughed when Matt had a shocked look on his face.
8. Going to my first football game ever (other than high school) at Death Valley at Clemson University. Right before we went, I told his dad how much I hated football...go figure Matt's died is a former football coach. And the lady who sold us breakfast at McDonald's was named Holly!
Matthew and I met in Special Education, a class we both had to take at UNC Charlotte for our majors. I was sitting quietly in class whenever I heard a loud noise and turned around to see Matthew with a very red face sitting behind me because he had bumped the table. He was one of like 4 guys in our class, and the only one not married or old. I'm pretty sure all of the forty girls in our class were checking him out.
Well, a couple of days later we had to sign up for different special needs to make a presentation about in small groups. I wanted to present about blindness because of my dad, and we ended up being placed in the same group together. We started to talk a little bit to each other, and I walked him to his truck (which was very far away), and he offered to take me back to my dorm. On the way, I invited him over for dinner and he said he'd see me about 7:00.
Dinner was one epic fail that night. I had these "thin-sliced" chicken breasts, but they were like giant hunks which was very strange to me. I wanted to make Chicken Alfredo, so I baked the chicken for a really long time because it did not seem to be cooked all the way through. Come to find out, the chicken breasts were rolled up and you were supposed to unroll them before cooking....oops. Right before he came in, I smelled something burning, and I realized that I had let the rice burn. It was burnt on the bottom, so I tried to save it by scraping off the bottom that was burned...it was the driest rice EVER. Matthew took a sip of water after every bite, and he did not ask for seconds. He claims it was not "that bad," but I know that he is lying haha! We went for a walk around campus, and he asked me for another date for the next evening.
I will never forget when Matthew pulled up in his black truck wearing a pink button-up shirt! He took me to Red Lobster, which really impressed me because to me Red Lobster was such a "fancy date" haha. I was afraid to order something expensive, so I strategically waited until he ordered to place my order for something cheaper. I had shrimp skewers, and I struggled to eat them because they would NOT come off the skewers. I tried to pay at the end of our date, but he would not let me...such a gentleman!
He then took me to see the movie Up, and I almost cried during the beginning. Following the movie, we went to a gas station where a man came in with a gun (eventful first date, I know) and Matthew hid me behind him...I knew he was a keeper then!
And the rest is history....
Favourite Memories:
1. When going to dinner with my friends, Matthew held his wet hair out of his truck window while driving down the Interstate and made his hair stick straight up.
2. Going to Chicago and going to the top of the Sears Tower where he pushed me out on the glass ledge.
3. On my 20th birthday, he surprised me by dropping me off for a full body massage, then taking me to Greenville for a "Petting Zoo" that turned out to be the seventh row of the Taylor Swift concert!
4. Going out on a Lake Summit, where he tried to kill me/force me off the boat.
5. Going to the "Edge of the World" with Matt and his best friend Josh, along with a few other places in Hendersonville.
6. Driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway so far up in the mountains, that we drove into snow.
7. Going to Apple Festival, and when Matt paid for our small amount of food the lady said, "$26" and laughed when Matt had a shocked look on his face.
8. Going to my first football game ever (other than high school) at Death Valley at Clemson University. Right before we went, I told his dad how much I hated football...go figure Matt's died is a former football coach. And the lady who sold us breakfast at McDonald's was named Holly!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Curse of the Right Tire
I am convinced my car in cursed. The proof can be found in blog posts from the past year:
1. First flat tire/dented rim
2. Continuous honking horn
3. Totaled Car
4. The ice incident (no blog post)
5. Second flat tire from having old tires (no blog post)
6. Stolen License Plate
7. Today.
The last time I had a flat tire, I HAD to get two new front tires. These tires were purchased in February/March of this year. I have not had any problems with these tires, and today marked the day I first started dating Matthew two years ago. I knew I would not see him during the day, but after a really busy day I was looking forward to a special date tonight (and fried green tomatoes at a place his mom told us to go to). I got ready and headed off to Charlotte. On the way, I noticed a strange, yet familiar sound coming from my car. I pulled over immediately, and I saw that one of my BRAND NEW tires was incredibly flat. I had a problem with this because a) I didn't run over anything to dent my rim and b) these are BRAND NEW tires.
Matthew tried to teach my how to change a tire last time I had a flat so I could be "independent" and handle it on my own next time. While I am a great student academically, I am not a very good "real-life-skills" student, and I was scared I would seriously damage my car if I tried to do it myself. So, I retrieved my spare tire and tire-changing kit from my trunk, then sat on the back of my car and tried to look pathetic so someone would stop and help me (I kept a tire iron thing next to me in case someone creepy stopped-maybe it could have been used for self-defence). AND NO ONE STOPPED! WHAT? This is the South. I thought people stopped to help innocent girls stranded on the side of the road??
I ended up calling my brother, boyfriend, neighbours, cousins, and my aunt and uncle. My Aunt Shirley (Extreme Couponing Aunt) and Uncle Brad live in Mount Holly, but they were both sick. However, when no one answered my phone calls, they ended up coming any ways to help me out (I love them very much for this). My uncle changed it pretty quick, and he made me jack it up and watch him change it so I could maybe learn something. However, while I was sitting on the ground, I noticed a stinging feeling in my leg...because I was on an ant hill and was covered in fire ant bites...not my day!
We finally got the tire off and discovered a large, thick piece of glass in the tire...like one from a bottle. UGH! Not covered under warranty, so I will be taking it to be fixed tomorrow, or I will get a new tire. The ironic thing is, I was supposed to have my tires rotated last week, and I never got around to it. If I had only rotated my tires, one of my old, need-to-be-replaced tires would be flat instead of one of my BRAND NEW tires!
At least I started and ended the day well. This morning, I got to take my little niece to Kindergarten and pick her back up. On the way there she colored, and when I told her I would see her after school she replied, "How about 9:00? OR you can come for lunch then take me home. What about 1:00? AUNT HOLLY PLEASE!" Poor thing hates school already! Haha...I asked her if she was ready for first grade, and she said, "NO because then I have to go all the way to TENTH GRADE!" I didn't have the hear to tell her it was all the way to Twelfth Grade! She's such a hot mess.
And Matt took me to eat at Firebirds (it was a reasonable meeting place for me to meet him while driving on my spare). It was pretty tasty, and we were pretty much the only ones there...it really didn't compare to fried green tomatoes and Southern food though =[
1. First flat tire/dented rim
2. Continuous honking horn
3. Totaled Car
4. The ice incident (no blog post)
5. Second flat tire from having old tires (no blog post)
6. Stolen License Plate
7. Today.
The last time I had a flat tire, I HAD to get two new front tires. These tires were purchased in February/March of this year. I have not had any problems with these tires, and today marked the day I first started dating Matthew two years ago. I knew I would not see him during the day, but after a really busy day I was looking forward to a special date tonight (and fried green tomatoes at a place his mom told us to go to). I got ready and headed off to Charlotte. On the way, I noticed a strange, yet familiar sound coming from my car. I pulled over immediately, and I saw that one of my BRAND NEW tires was incredibly flat. I had a problem with this because a) I didn't run over anything to dent my rim and b) these are BRAND NEW tires.
Matthew tried to teach my how to change a tire last time I had a flat so I could be "independent" and handle it on my own next time. While I am a great student academically, I am not a very good "real-life-skills" student, and I was scared I would seriously damage my car if I tried to do it myself. So, I retrieved my spare tire and tire-changing kit from my trunk, then sat on the back of my car and tried to look pathetic so someone would stop and help me (I kept a tire iron thing next to me in case someone creepy stopped-maybe it could have been used for self-defence). AND NO ONE STOPPED! WHAT? This is the South. I thought people stopped to help innocent girls stranded on the side of the road??
I ended up calling my brother, boyfriend, neighbours, cousins, and my aunt and uncle. My Aunt Shirley (Extreme Couponing Aunt) and Uncle Brad live in Mount Holly, but they were both sick. However, when no one answered my phone calls, they ended up coming any ways to help me out (I love them very much for this). My uncle changed it pretty quick, and he made me jack it up and watch him change it so I could maybe learn something. However, while I was sitting on the ground, I noticed a stinging feeling in my leg...because I was on an ant hill and was covered in fire ant bites...not my day!
We finally got the tire off and discovered a large, thick piece of glass in the tire...like one from a bottle. UGH! Not covered under warranty, so I will be taking it to be fixed tomorrow, or I will get a new tire. The ironic thing is, I was supposed to have my tires rotated last week, and I never got around to it. If I had only rotated my tires, one of my old, need-to-be-replaced tires would be flat instead of one of my BRAND NEW tires!
At least I started and ended the day well. This morning, I got to take my little niece to Kindergarten and pick her back up. On the way there she colored, and when I told her I would see her after school she replied, "How about 9:00? OR you can come for lunch then take me home. What about 1:00? AUNT HOLLY PLEASE!" Poor thing hates school already! Haha...I asked her if she was ready for first grade, and she said, "NO because then I have to go all the way to TENTH GRADE!" I didn't have the hear to tell her it was all the way to Twelfth Grade! She's such a hot mess.
And Matt took me to eat at Firebirds (it was a reasonable meeting place for me to meet him while driving on my spare). It was pretty tasty, and we were pretty much the only ones there...it really didn't compare to fried green tomatoes and Southern food though =[
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Headlamps & Mattress Pads
I am TERRIFIED of bad weather especially when I think about the fact that there are hundreds people who have died in the Southeast over the past few weeks. So, full-fledged panic took place whenever the wind started going crazy here AND we were put under a tornado warning. We did not have a tornado at my house or damage, but I was very prepared with:
1. My headlamp from the NASCAR race
2. My mattress pads from my college dorm room
3. Norts & Nike running shoes.
#1-In case the power went out, I would not have to waste a hand holding a flash light AND the light is so bright that it lights up whole rooms.
#2-In case there was a tornado and my roof was to fall in or things were to fly around in my house, I feel like my 4 inch memory foam mattress pad and 2 inch memory foam mattress pad would at least provide some sort of buffer against things falling on my family's head/body.
#3-In case I see a tornado coming towards me, these two items would be necessary in order to RUN away from it!
Our house is okay, I'll post pictures of any damage I see tomorrow. And my rooster is no longer crowing, maybe Doodle has been sucked away by the wind....one can only hope.
On a serious note, my aunt and uncle's house experienced a tornado tonight. Praise God they are SAFE and their house is still standing! Their back porch was relocated to the woods, but that can be rebuilt =] I love my Aunt Shirley, Uncle Brad, Lindsey, Wayne, and Leah so much and I am so glad they are all safe and sound!
Also, my grandmother had JUST left out house when the storms got bad, and she was driving STRAIGHT into the worst part of the storm and where the tornadoes were happening. We could not get in touch with her (my extended family kept calling her too), but she finally called a few minutes ago, and she is not safe at home with power! She said there was debris all over the roads, and that the power was out in many places.
Side note: The free headlamp comes in handy! So far, I have used it to find things in my purse, read a menu in a dark restaurant, and it could have come in handy if the power went out tonight!
1. My headlamp from the NASCAR race
2. My mattress pads from my college dorm room
3. Norts & Nike running shoes.
#1-In case the power went out, I would not have to waste a hand holding a flash light AND the light is so bright that it lights up whole rooms.
#2-In case there was a tornado and my roof was to fall in or things were to fly around in my house, I feel like my 4 inch memory foam mattress pad and 2 inch memory foam mattress pad would at least provide some sort of buffer against things falling on my family's head/body.
#3-In case I see a tornado coming towards me, these two items would be necessary in order to RUN away from it!
Our house is okay, I'll post pictures of any damage I see tomorrow. And my rooster is no longer crowing, maybe Doodle has been sucked away by the wind....one can only hope.
On a serious note, my aunt and uncle's house experienced a tornado tonight. Praise God they are SAFE and their house is still standing! Their back porch was relocated to the woods, but that can be rebuilt =] I love my Aunt Shirley, Uncle Brad, Lindsey, Wayne, and Leah so much and I am so glad they are all safe and sound!
Also, my grandmother had JUST left out house when the storms got bad, and she was driving STRAIGHT into the worst part of the storm and where the tornadoes were happening. We could not get in touch with her (my extended family kept calling her too), but she finally called a few minutes ago, and she is not safe at home with power! She said there was debris all over the roads, and that the power was out in many places.
Side note: The free headlamp comes in handy! So far, I have used it to find things in my purse, read a menu in a dark restaurant, and it could have come in handy if the power went out tonight!
Extreme Couponing Day of Awesomeness
I really need something to fill my free time or a job, but at the moment I am VERY obsessed with getting things for $1 or less (preferably free) using sales and coupons. Last night, I took my coupons plus some my Aunt Shirley/Coupon Partner gave me along with a current sales paper for every store in my area. I laid out a master plan, and here is what I got for my money today:
Ingles:
Bar S 16 oz Jumbo Franks. Normally $1.78, BOGO, plus coupon, made each pack $0.39 cents
Lipton Ice Tea (24 bags). Normally $2.08, BOGO, plus coupon, made the box $0.24
I also bought Lee and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce for $1 a bottle.
*Side Note: I have been looking for my boyfriend Matt's favorite Ranch Dressing for a year and a half, ever since they stopped carrying it in the stores in his hometown. I have walked into every grocery store for the past year and a half looking for this dressing without luck. Well, last night my Aunt Shirley gave me a coupon for THE SAME DRESSING. And I FINALLY found it at Ingles and I got to use my coupons. WIN. Top that one Matt!
CVS: BEST DEAL OF THE DAY!
My Aunt Shirley gave me a coupon for $5 off a $15 or more purchase at CVS. I had a coupon for Biore Pore Strips to get a Biore Face Cleanser for free up to a $9 value. Each Biore product was $8, so my total came to $16 (Note, neither products were on sale they were full price). With both coupons, I got the face cleanser and pore strips for $3.84 WITH TAX!
Bonus: Because I bought two Biore products, I received another $5.00 off coupon for any purchase value over $5. I had a coupon for a $1 off Nivea body wash that was full-price $6.29 and came with a free sample of lotion. With both coupons my price was $0.29, but with tax I paid $0.78. My taxes were more than the total (You have to pay taxes on the amount pre-savings, FYI).
Bi-Lo:
For $22.24, I got a large bottle of French's Mustard, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce, a can of my dad's favorite Turnip Greens ($0.14 normally $0.99), 2 Dole Peach Parfaits 4 pack ($0.50 each), 6 tubs of Crystal Light mix for the price of 2, Ken's Steakhouse Marinade, Lawry's Signature Steak Marinade, 4 Hefty Paper Plate packs for $0.95 each, and a 150 oz/100 load of Purex Laundry Detergent. My total before savings was close to $70, but after my coupons I only paid $22.24 with taxes.
Side Note: There were a few items I had coupons for that I would have actually MADE Money ($0.08-$0.60 per various items) that would have brought my total down and given me more items, but Bi-Lo was sold out (probably because other couponers got there first), so I had to take a rain check for each item because I plan on going back for them when they are restocked.
Tomorrow I am going to Harris Teeter and Food Lion to see what damage I can do there. At Harris Teeter, Birds-Eye frozen vegetables are BOGO, but I have a coupon to buy one bag and get one free. I am wondering what they will do if I use a BOGO coupon when it is already BOGO. I am hoping money will be credited to my total bill to get both free, but who knows.
Ingles:
Bar S 16 oz Jumbo Franks. Normally $1.78, BOGO, plus coupon, made each pack $0.39 cents
Lipton Ice Tea (24 bags). Normally $2.08, BOGO, plus coupon, made the box $0.24
I also bought Lee and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce for $1 a bottle.
*Side Note: I have been looking for my boyfriend Matt's favorite Ranch Dressing for a year and a half, ever since they stopped carrying it in the stores in his hometown. I have walked into every grocery store for the past year and a half looking for this dressing without luck. Well, last night my Aunt Shirley gave me a coupon for THE SAME DRESSING. And I FINALLY found it at Ingles and I got to use my coupons. WIN. Top that one Matt!
CVS: BEST DEAL OF THE DAY!
My Aunt Shirley gave me a coupon for $5 off a $15 or more purchase at CVS. I had a coupon for Biore Pore Strips to get a Biore Face Cleanser for free up to a $9 value. Each Biore product was $8, so my total came to $16 (Note, neither products were on sale they were full price). With both coupons, I got the face cleanser and pore strips for $3.84 WITH TAX!
Bonus: Because I bought two Biore products, I received another $5.00 off coupon for any purchase value over $5. I had a coupon for a $1 off Nivea body wash that was full-price $6.29 and came with a free sample of lotion. With both coupons my price was $0.29, but with tax I paid $0.78. My taxes were more than the total (You have to pay taxes on the amount pre-savings, FYI).
Bi-Lo:
For $22.24, I got a large bottle of French's Mustard, KC Masterpiece Barbecue Sauce, a can of my dad's favorite Turnip Greens ($0.14 normally $0.99), 2 Dole Peach Parfaits 4 pack ($0.50 each), 6 tubs of Crystal Light mix for the price of 2, Ken's Steakhouse Marinade, Lawry's Signature Steak Marinade, 4 Hefty Paper Plate packs for $0.95 each, and a 150 oz/100 load of Purex Laundry Detergent. My total before savings was close to $70, but after my coupons I only paid $22.24 with taxes.
Side Note: There were a few items I had coupons for that I would have actually MADE Money ($0.08-$0.60 per various items) that would have brought my total down and given me more items, but Bi-Lo was sold out (probably because other couponers got there first), so I had to take a rain check for each item because I plan on going back for them when they are restocked.
Tomorrow I am going to Harris Teeter and Food Lion to see what damage I can do there. At Harris Teeter, Birds-Eye frozen vegetables are BOGO, but I have a coupon to buy one bag and get one free. I am wondering what they will do if I use a BOGO coupon when it is already BOGO. I am hoping money will be credited to my total bill to get both free, but who knows.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Extreme Couponing with my Aunt Shirley
In case you have not been watching Extreme Couponing on TLC, you need to watch this before you read this blog so you can understand my inspiration for Extreme Couponing/my obsession with it.
It all started when last week, I took a trip to the Bi-Lo with my Aunt Shirley and Candyce. We were going to get a few things we all needed, and we decided to go to the self-checkout. Well, someone had left their Bonuscard reward coupons at the coupon printer, and my Aunt Shirley decided to gank them. Candyca kept insisting that we needed the Bonuscard to make them work, but my Aunt Shirley scanned one and it worked. This started a frenzy. I used a coupon, and Candyca used a coupon plus a sale price to get a large container of Hi-C for $0.97.
Ever since then, I have been collecting the Sunday papers trying to get coupons. This was not working out very well, because you don't get very many. Well, my grandmother told me & my aunt (I was at her house supposed to be working on job applications) that on Wednesday, she always threw out her coupons that were put in her mailbox. Apparently, the post office distributes these inserts on Wednesday and most people throw them away in the post office....GOLD MINE.
This led to my aunt Shirley and I driving to two different post offices to dig out the coupons from the trash cans...and yes, we only took coupons & the only trash in the cans was paper & mail so it's not like it was gross. And, we wanted to be EXTREME after all.
We ended up clipping coupons at her house for about an hour and a half. Then we went on our first couponing trip to Bi-Lo because they will let you double coupons up to $0.99. Shirley saved $67 and I saved $20, and it was AWESOME. I just really like buying things without having to give away any of my money. Also, I want to get good enough to go on the show, haha!
After I finish this post, I am going to Harris Teeter to buy M&M's. With my coupons and the fact that they are tripling this week, Harris Teeter will owe me money.
If you are reading this and don't use your coupons, save them for me please!
It all started when last week, I took a trip to the Bi-Lo with my Aunt Shirley and Candyce. We were going to get a few things we all needed, and we decided to go to the self-checkout. Well, someone had left their Bonuscard reward coupons at the coupon printer, and my Aunt Shirley decided to gank them. Candyca kept insisting that we needed the Bonuscard to make them work, but my Aunt Shirley scanned one and it worked. This started a frenzy. I used a coupon, and Candyca used a coupon plus a sale price to get a large container of Hi-C for $0.97.
Ever since then, I have been collecting the Sunday papers trying to get coupons. This was not working out very well, because you don't get very many. Well, my grandmother told me & my aunt (I was at her house supposed to be working on job applications) that on Wednesday, she always threw out her coupons that were put in her mailbox. Apparently, the post office distributes these inserts on Wednesday and most people throw them away in the post office....GOLD MINE.
This led to my aunt Shirley and I driving to two different post offices to dig out the coupons from the trash cans...and yes, we only took coupons & the only trash in the cans was paper & mail so it's not like it was gross. And, we wanted to be EXTREME after all.
We ended up clipping coupons at her house for about an hour and a half. Then we went on our first couponing trip to Bi-Lo because they will let you double coupons up to $0.99. Shirley saved $67 and I saved $20, and it was AWESOME. I just really like buying things without having to give away any of my money. Also, I want to get good enough to go on the show, haha!
After I finish this post, I am going to Harris Teeter to buy M&M's. With my coupons and the fact that they are tripling this week, Harris Teeter will owe me money.
If you are reading this and don't use your coupons, save them for me please!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Please Pray for my Mom
Last week, my mom came to the hospital with chest pain and struggling to breath. One of her stents around her heart (something to help unclog arteries) was 95% blocked. She has a problem with scar tissue filling up the stent and clogging it, and it was again filled up with scar tissue. After her surgery, she seemed to be fine and stable. We were talking about movies we were going to watch when suddenly she began to cry from sudden pain. After an awful few nights & multiple blood transfusions & time in the Coronary Care Unit (ICU for heart patients) she started to do much better. Her problem was that she had internal bleeding, and her kidneys were struggling to process the dye used during her surgery. She was doing fine once again today and up and walking, but because she took her blood thinners again it made her internal bleeding start again. So now she will be getting some more blood (she gets so much I feel like she is going to pull a Bella from Twilight and start sipping it out of a solo cup). Hopefully giving her blood without the blood thinners will stop all the bleeding again.
But the best thing I feel that can be done (and the only thing I can do to help) is ask for prayers for my mom. Just please ask God to heal her and take care of her pain. I would really, really appreciate it.
But the best thing I feel that can be done (and the only thing I can do to help) is ask for prayers for my mom. Just please ask God to heal her and take care of her pain. I would really, really appreciate it.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
License Plate Blues
Let me create a picture of my week to set the mood for this post: First, I was attacked by a rooster (refer to this blog post). Second, my mom spend a couple of days in the hospital then was sent home. Third, my Dad called 911 when she had problems breathing and she complained of chest pain. Fourth, a heart cath revealed that she had blockage in an artery. Fifth, she had to have a stint put in to ease the blockage around her heart and has been in recovery since 5 PM today. This is my pity party post clearly.
My car was parked in the parking deck since 2 AM last night, and before that it had been parked for about 7 hours in the Emergency parking lot. I moved it in the middle of the night to the parking deck because I was worried about hail/trees because of the incoming storm. As far as I know, my car had a license plate on it throughout the time I parked it and moved it to the parking deck.
Fast forward to about 7 PM today. I was TIRED of eating at the hospital food court (although the food is pretty tasty) so I decided to go eat at Bojangles. I walk out to my car, unlock my doors, then walk to back to the trunk of my car because it looked different. That's when I realized that my license plate was gone. I looked all around my car and walked around the deck, but I could not find it. I walked back inside to the security desk to see if anyone had turned one in (Yes, I am that optimistic).
The security guard let me down when he said someone probably stole it. We filled out a report together, then I had to call the police, then go fill out a report with them. Now I have to go take the report and get a new one tomorrow. RIDICULOUS! The cops said the only way anything would ever come of it was if a cop pulled over a car with that tag. Apparently people steal tags because they don't want to put insurance on their car to get the tag, pay the tag fees, or they have a stolen car. Awesome.
If I ever see that tag on another car, it will take all of my willpower not to ram their rear-end with my car.
And to end the story, I stopped at Target to buy a few things I needed at the hospital. When I came out, a cop was behind my car checking it out. I can't wait to get pulled eight million times tomorrow on the way to get my new tag.
My car looks so sad.
My car was parked in the parking deck since 2 AM last night, and before that it had been parked for about 7 hours in the Emergency parking lot. I moved it in the middle of the night to the parking deck because I was worried about hail/trees because of the incoming storm. As far as I know, my car had a license plate on it throughout the time I parked it and moved it to the parking deck.
Fast forward to about 7 PM today. I was TIRED of eating at the hospital food court (although the food is pretty tasty) so I decided to go eat at Bojangles. I walk out to my car, unlock my doors, then walk to back to the trunk of my car because it looked different. That's when I realized that my license plate was gone. I looked all around my car and walked around the deck, but I could not find it. I walked back inside to the security desk to see if anyone had turned one in (Yes, I am that optimistic).
The security guard let me down when he said someone probably stole it. We filled out a report together, then I had to call the police, then go fill out a report with them. Now I have to go take the report and get a new one tomorrow. RIDICULOUS! The cops said the only way anything would ever come of it was if a cop pulled over a car with that tag. Apparently people steal tags because they don't want to put insurance on their car to get the tag, pay the tag fees, or they have a stolen car. Awesome.
If I ever see that tag on another car, it will take all of my willpower not to ram their rear-end with my car.
And to end the story, I stopped at Target to buy a few things I needed at the hospital. When I came out, a cop was behind my car checking it out. I can't wait to get pulled eight million times tomorrow on the way to get my new tag.
My car looks so sad.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Goodbye Doodle
One night last fall, I could not sleep because I kept hearing a rooster crow. I thought it was my dad's watch (it crows every hour-twelve crows for midnight, one crow for 1:00). I got up and tried to turn off everything in the house that could make noise, and I disconnected my dad's watch. The crowing still would not stop. The next day, I found out that the crowing would not stop because my dad had taken in a stray rooster. And roosters do not only crow at dawn, apparently they crow anytime during the day or night.
We think the rooster came from a neighbor's farm. My dad decided it would be a great idea to name him Doodle and feed him chicken feed (that he went and specially bought for him). So, the rooster ended up hanging around. I thought this was really awesome at first. I mean, how many people have pet roosters? And he did take very pretty pictures.
However, what I thought was a sweet, loving rooster turned out to be a cold, calculated killer. My grandmother told me she was attacked by a rooster when she was thirteen and she still has gash scars on her ankle. Roosters actually have "Spurs" that will cut very deeply. I started to worry, but I was fooled by his friendly appearance and thought, "Oh no, Doodle would never do that!"
Well, one day I walked out my front door and there stood Doodle in all of his glory. I decided to walk by him (again, fooled by his apparent friendliness), and this was my first run-in with the rooster. Once my back turned, I heard wings fluttering and his crowing. I ran for dear life. I hopped in my car, and locked the doors. Doodle preceded to walk in circles around my car and crow. I have been told I should read the book, "Junie B. Jones Has A Peep in Her Pocket." In the story, she is afraid of the roosters on the farm because according to That Jim, the roosters can peck your head to death! I am starting to think Junie B. is right.
After my last run-in with Doodle, I have been very cautious of him. Well, today when I went to go to my car, he was standing on my porch (the scene of our last ordeal). I did not want another rooster attack, so I waited patiently for him to strut on his merry way. I suppose I shifted my weight and upset him, but suddenly I heard the fluttering of wings again right as I saw Doodle headed straight for me. Then, I felt a sharp pain across my legs, and I picked up a chair from our porch and threw it at him. He took cover under my porch. Being the baby that I am, when I saw the blood coming from my leg, I started crying very loudly. This led to my dad (the rooster's former beloved owner) to chasing it around our yard with a rake.
The smallest gash on my knee.
Doodle escaped my dad today, but his days are numbered. Someone is going to finish him off tomorrow for my dad. I hate that he has to die, but we have children in our neighborhood who could be hurt a lot worse than me if he got got a hold of one of them.
Meanwhile, I am scheduled up for a Tetanus booster.
Wanted, Dead or Alive (Actually, just dead).
Side note: My sweet boyfriend Matthew said he would protect me from the rooster...haha.
We think the rooster came from a neighbor's farm. My dad decided it would be a great idea to name him Doodle and feed him chicken feed (that he went and specially bought for him). So, the rooster ended up hanging around. I thought this was really awesome at first. I mean, how many people have pet roosters? And he did take very pretty pictures.
However, what I thought was a sweet, loving rooster turned out to be a cold, calculated killer. My grandmother told me she was attacked by a rooster when she was thirteen and she still has gash scars on her ankle. Roosters actually have "Spurs" that will cut very deeply. I started to worry, but I was fooled by his friendly appearance and thought, "Oh no, Doodle would never do that!"
Well, one day I walked out my front door and there stood Doodle in all of his glory. I decided to walk by him (again, fooled by his apparent friendliness), and this was my first run-in with the rooster. Once my back turned, I heard wings fluttering and his crowing. I ran for dear life. I hopped in my car, and locked the doors. Doodle preceded to walk in circles around my car and crow. I have been told I should read the book, "Junie B. Jones Has A Peep in Her Pocket." In the story, she is afraid of the roosters on the farm because according to That Jim, the roosters can peck your head to death! I am starting to think Junie B. is right.
After my last run-in with Doodle, I have been very cautious of him. Well, today when I went to go to my car, he was standing on my porch (the scene of our last ordeal). I did not want another rooster attack, so I waited patiently for him to strut on his merry way. I suppose I shifted my weight and upset him, but suddenly I heard the fluttering of wings again right as I saw Doodle headed straight for me. Then, I felt a sharp pain across my legs, and I picked up a chair from our porch and threw it at him. He took cover under my porch. Being the baby that I am, when I saw the blood coming from my leg, I started crying very loudly. This led to my dad (the rooster's former beloved owner) to chasing it around our yard with a rake.
The smallest gash on my knee.
Doodle escaped my dad today, but his days are numbered. Someone is going to finish him off tomorrow for my dad. I hate that he has to die, but we have children in our neighborhood who could be hurt a lot worse than me if he got got a hold of one of them.
Meanwhile, I am scheduled up for a Tetanus booster.
Wanted, Dead or Alive (Actually, just dead).
Side note: My sweet boyfriend Matthew said he would protect me from the rooster...haha.
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