How I Prepared Myself for 2012

Today is the last day of 2011 and I have taken the steps below to prepare myself for 2012. I feel it is a magical time for change and clean slates. Much thanks and inspiration to Gala Darling for this feature.

So What Did I Do to Prepare Myself for 2012?

~~Cleaned out all of my email accounts on Yahoo and AOL.
~~Emptied my garbage can.
~~Did laundry, even if there was not a lot of it.
~~Made sure to make my bed so I got that routine down.
~~Got a very sparkly manicure on Wednesday at my favorite nail lounge Blush on East 5th Street.
~~Charged my cellphone.
~~Writing my 2012 Goals List.
~~Asking friends to help set goals for myself; goals they knew I could be capable of achieving.
~~Cleaned out my wallet and handbag.
~~Cleaned out my closet.
~~Thnking of a wish to make at midnight.
~~Started to plan out events I want to go in my Keep Calm and Have a Cupcake planner.
~~Made sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.
~~Got tea light candles for my dinner table
~~Even though this will happen after today, buy myself a bunch of beautiful flowers. Maybe have some delivered to work?
~~Wrote 2011 year in reviews features.

What are you doing to prepare yourself for 2012?

My 2011 Pop Culture Favorites

With some inspiration from Stephen King, I asked myself this question -- Did I have a great year pop culturally speaking? I would have to say yes; even if some of the things I enjoyed did not appear in 2011 and that is fine. Here is a list of 20 things that made me squee with fandom. Please remember -- I am more interested in entertaining myself than in a OMG this is a great moment/statement. So let us get this ride started.

20: The Secret Circle (television show on the CW Network, Thursdays at 8pm)
--When I found out this series is based on another series written by L.J. Smith, I had my tread lightly shoes on as the CW Network took another series by L.J. Smith and made a televised version of The Twilight Saga. Yes I am talking about The Vampire Diaries. 'The Secret Circle' did not redefine my idea of what a supernatural drama can be or what a program about witches and warlocks can be. But the main pieces of a teen drama are laid out perfectly from the young women learning about their abilities to first loves/crushes to the bad girl troublemaker and the history of a small town. 'The Secret Circle' demonstrates an admirable confidence in its pace and destination, and it also has the excellent Britt Robertson ('Life Unexpected') giving the journey of Cassie Blake an emotional grounding that is likely to make the whole affair satisfying to genre fans and myself.

19: Bye Bye Beautiful by Nightwish (song)
--When I asked a friend to make me some metal mix compact discs as I needed new music, little did I realize this song would hit me so hard. The power chords, the lyrics, the thumping of the drum...love it.

18: The Walking Dead (television show on AMC, Sundays at 9pm)
--My feeling about season 2 of the Walking Dead were summed up by Stephen King. Here is what he said verbatim: No romantic zombies (good), and a terrifying premiere episode set in a traffic jam outside of Atlanta (better). I only wish the survivors weren't quite so talky. In all those weighty conversations about the Meaning of Post-Apocalypse Life, I sense AMC chintzing on the budget.

17. Dork Whore by Iris Bahr (book)
--If you enjoy the type of humor where you want to turn away from the painful embarassment and yet you can't all the while you're in stitches, then you'll like this book.

16. Jenna Marbles (comedian who posts videos on YouTube)
--This girl is hilarious and real. She says things that most people would be afraid to say. I like that.

15. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (movie)
--For all those that do not know, yes I am a Twilight fan. I am on Team Alice by the way. I can not stand Bella and Edward and I can write up a blog post on just that subject alone but that is not what I am talking about here. This first part of the movie version of Breaking Dawn was done very well and ended at a great point leaving the viewer wanting more.

14. Hack/Slash by Tim Seeley (graphic novel)
--Zombies? Check. A goth heroine? Check. Lots of blood and gore? Check. Great stories that you can somewhat relate to? Check.

13. Zenescope Entertainment (graphic novel publisher)
--I love fairy tales; especially Alice in Wonderland. When I heard that this publisher has writers adding comic style art/retelling of various fairy tales, i was hooked. Thanks to Veronica for turning me on to this company!

12. Gossip Girl (television show on the CW Network, Mondays at 8pm)
--This show is not new by any means. I still love it.

11. I Have Fun Everywhere I Go by Mike Edison (book)
--I love reading sorrid, twisted memoirs as well as an entertaining autobiography. When I found out about Sugar Slam 2011 from Natalie Slater of Bake and Destroy (who is straight-edge and a pro wrestling fan which I found odd that she would have Mike Edison judge this contest as he has no plans on sobering up but then I learned that she is not a preaching straight-edger and since Mike worked in the wrestling industry, well there you go.) and wrote a blog about it, the author of this book was one of the judges. When I looked into his career and his book, I instantly bought it and read it in a week. It is that good. Sharp, powerful writing. Get the book!

10. How Do I Look (television show on Style Network, Mondays at 10pm)
--Here is the show description: Hosted by Jeannie Mai, this show lets two of your closest friends and relatives and a celebrity stylist take turns at dressing you the way that they want to. Each one goes on a shopping adventure in your name to buy three new outfits and chooses a new hair and make up which contribute to the 'new look'! I am all about transformation and change for the better. Yes i do know that looks are not the be all end all but it is the first thing you see in a person and it is usually how first impressions are made. Some of the outfits on this show are classic; some not so but it is fun to watch.

9. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (book)
--Let me first give you the description that is on Amazon: Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

"Daughter of Smoke and Bone" is a lush, tragic urban fantasy that crafts its own genre, and has a solidly interesting heroine as well....unlike that other vampire romance series. Definitely a must-read.

8. The vocal stylings of Corey Taylor (musician and lead singer of Slipknot and Stone Sour)

7. Worship Music by Anthrax
--I got into heavy metal through the influence of my big brother and Anthrax was one of my favorite bands. Unfortunately, when Joey Belladonna left the band,I felt the essence of the band left as well. Their sound was turned down and their metal sound turned more of a hard rock sound. It wasn't bad, as i enjoy that hard rock sound. but just wasn't the Anthrax that I loved. I pretty much wrote these guys off during the John Bush era. But now that Joey Belladonna is back, so is the thrash metal sound. This is by far their best album since Among the Living, and it's good to have them back. If you're a fan of classic Anthrax thrash, then I think you'll really love this album.

6. The passing of Elizabeth Taylor
--She was an Hollywood industry icon; looked up to by various young actresses; a heart of gold. She will surely be missed and there will be no one else like her.

5 Page by Paige by LauraLee Gulledge (book)
--A graphic novel about a young teen growing up in NYC? Sign me up! According to Gulledge's bio on her website "the story is her journey as an artist and transplant in New York". In the book, Paige is 16 and has moved from VA to NYC with her writer parents. It is a tough time to a teen's life to move and teen readers will resonate with this aspect of the story as well. Despite Paige's many wonderful traits/characteristics, she is filled with myriad of insecurities as well. Through her developing friendships with Gabe, Jules and Longo, as well as with her sketchbook, Paige discovers more about herself and how she fits into the world around her and how others may see her. All of these are themes that will connect with especially female teen readers. As I read this graphic novel; which took me one day; I was throughly impressed how the illustrations perfectly matched the story. Some of the images were just so expressive and vivid which moved the story along and made it relatable. Another book recommendation!

4. Drew Brees surpassing Dan Marino's all time regular season passing record.
--Do I need to say any more than that? WHO DAT!

3. The Big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax) concert at Yankees Stadium on September 14, 2011
--My brother and I have always gone to heavy metal concerts together so when I heard that the Big 4 were finally coming to NYC , I had to get tickets. Much thanks to David for helping us with this endeavour! It was a metal good time, even though both my brother and I were very tired at work the next day...

2. The Occupy protests.
--I am all for people who fight for what they belief in. As many of you are aware, I fight for animal rights. At least I have an idea of what I am fighting for. These protests started popping up worldwide without a clear vision of what they were protesting as well as offering any solutions for their issues. Then celebrities started to get involved which in retrospect was a complete conflict of interest since they fall into the spectrum of the rich otherwise known as the 1 percent. All in all this ranks as my #2 pop culture favorite as it will fall into pop culture more due to the entertainment/celebrity influence instead of the history books.

1. The Big Bang Theory (television show on CBS. Thursdays at 8pm, also in syndication on TBS and FOX)
--A show about geeks and their lives? Definitely can relate. This show is well written with humorous lines as well great character acting. I can overdose on this show all week and even if I saw all of the episodes already, they are still hilarious.

So my fellow readers, what are your 2011 pop culture favorites? Why not answer the question in the first paragraph as I did? Remember -- what you enjoyed or were entertained by in 2011 does not have to be from 2011.

Things I Love Thursday -- 12/29 Edition

Why hello there fellow bloggers! I have been chillin' at home this past week as it is winter break for me. Enjoying the crisp cold air, the stillness of NYC, and just overall relaxation. With that said, here is what I am in love with this week.

~~The website 8 Tracks. It is a website where you can make mixes and share them with your friends. A new form of the mix tape you would make! i love it.

~~This mashup for the best songs of 2011


~~The television show Suburgatory. How did I miss out on this show??

~~Buxom Buxom lash mascara. I usually do not wear mascara as I feel it makes my lashes clump together but this one does not do that. It makes my lashes look so full.

~~Finding some new music, especially this band called Glasnost. Check him out here -- Glasnost Music

~~Cleaning out my closet and donating more items to The Bowery Mission!

~~Thinking of a grand gesture for my 34th Birthday.

~~Getting new calendars.

~~Having my mom comb out all of the tangles in the back of my head

~~Red Velvet cake pops.

~~Having a respect for detail.

~~Being all caught up with my work when I return from winter break.

~~Uncrowded holiday markets.

~~Obsessing over products from LUSH.

~~Random people in Union Square holding signs telling you to smile because you are beautiful.

~~Apple crumb doughnuts.

~~Sincere charity.

~~Using headbands as necklaces

~~Finding joy in everything.

~~Having week long Daria marathons.

~~The sounds of winter in NYC.

~~Having a week off from work.


What are you so much in love with this week?

2011 Christmas Haul

Rockefeller Center Tree, photo taken by moi.

As I have my own Daria marathon playing on my television in the background, I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to write up my 2011 Christmas Haul. It has been a crazy festive time. Donated clothes to The Bowery Mission, wore an ugly Christmas sweater to work, drank hot chocolate, visited various holiday windows, and wore mistletoe. I think because I work in Kindergarten is the reason why this holiday season for me has been magical. I want to wish you all a festive day! For myself, today is all about my wonderful family, the food that my mom has prepared for us, and enjoying each others' company. I also cannot wait to share the joy! My wish for all of you that read my blog is that you are surrounded by loved ones and have a wonderful, relaxing day. Happiest holiday to you. With all of this being said, here is what I received this year. Please do not think I am rubbing it in -- I do know the true meaning of the season.

From my students
Gift sets from Bath and Body Works
$25 dollar gift cards from American Express and Macy's
Godiva Chocolate assorted truffles gift set.
Russell Stovers chocolate gift set
Scarf/gloves set
A wallet
Makeup case/bag
Red velvet cake pops (!!!!)

From my family
My new Apple MacBook Air. His name is Dr. Dramis Cooper.
Sparkly bracelets
Sparkly flower hair clips
A black shrug
Sparkly sweater
Black pants
New Orleans Saints bed slippers
Obey Your Body salt scrub

From Michael
New boots with a cute bow on the sides.
A bag from Metal Mulisha
Logitech headphones for my computer

From David
$400 dollars for my new computer
The Completed Animated Series dvd set of Daria
The Complete Fourth Season dvd set of The Big Bang Theory
The Complete Second Season dvd set of Gossip Girl
The Complete Third Season dvd set of Gossip Girl
The Complete mini-series dvd set of the original V
Pirate Snoopy doll
A New York Mets plush apple
Zach Ryder "Broski" t-shirt

Tell me what you received in the comments below!

Things I Love Thursday -- 12/22 Edition

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL! HAPPY HANUKAH, FESTIVUS, KWANZAA, BOXING DAY, GOOD RIDDANCE DAY and the many other holidays surrounding us at this time. Here is what I am in love with this week:

~~That my The Rock's speech after Survivor Series is over 100,000 views. Can not believe it!

~~This video from one of my all time favorite wrestlers "Rowdy" Roddy Piper


~~Officially on Winter Break! Oh yeah!

~~The new boots I got from my close friend Michael. So friggin comfy!

~~After making a plea to my Facebook and Twitter for help with iMovie and received no response, i conquered it all on my own!

~~This version of Lady Gaga's song "Marry The Night"


~~My new Metal Mulisha bag also from Michael! Thank you!

What are you in love with this week?

Reflections on Winter Solstice

As I sit here in my room with my brand new computer on one of the shortest days of the year/longest nights of the year, I think it is perfect time for me to start reflecting on the year that was 2011.

This year for me has been a whirlwind. From traveling to three new states, to attending a lot of sporting events, to reading books, to making YouTube videos and posting photos, to writing in this blog and in my own journal, to opening up my heart to others, to discovering radical self love, and learning to just be. This year has also had a bunch of lows -- from losing friendships, deaths, my dog Sweetums getting sick, to experience loneliness hardcore, to my computer of 6 years finally going kaput (thus getting this awesome MacBook Air!), and my grade assignment being changed for the 8th time in my 8 years at the school i teach at.

But what has this year truly taught me? Time to make a list!

2011 has taught me:

~~That everyone will not like me.
~~That your own company/time with yourself is a special gift.
~~To have a creative imagination
~~That sometimes a hug can really cure all.
~~That sometimes stuff happens that you simply can not control.
~~That not everyone will enjoy your humour or style and that is okay.
~~That i have a pretty good core bunch of people to bounce ideas off of.
~~That my body is a temple and i should treat it as such, even if i detour that path sometimes.
~~That purple Converse sneakers are my favorite mode of transportation.
~~That my love life is still stable and passionate, even though David sometimes drives me batty!
~~That no challenge or risk is too big for me to handle. If I could not handle it, it would not appear!
~~That just listening is a cure all.
~~That I need to slow down in my life and just enjoy the stillness.
~~That i learned the difference between the word friend and the word acquaintance.
~~That it is perfectly okay to say no
~~That it is perfectly okay to be a little bit selfish.
~~That carrying a bubble gun in your purse and shooting it is one of life's simple pleasures.

So I will conclude you with this:

Today is the darkest day AND the beginning of days getting longer.
The darkest day turns into more light.
Dark being about reflecting on what has been this year.
The light opening up to what's to come.

What will your 2012 look like? Next week will be my annual Dani Goals List!

Thanks to Charade Style for the awesome graphic!

Joisey Review: The New Museum

While on a brisk walk to the Bowery Mission to donate some coats that I know I would not need, I decided to pay a trip to the New Museum which is located at 235 Bowery. This is their current exhibition: “Carsten Höller: Experience” is the most comprehensive US exhibition to date of the artist’s engaging work. The current show gathers together a number of the artist’s signature works in an arrangement that transforms the viewer’s experience of time and space. Originally trained as a scientist, Höller is frequently inspired by research and experiments from scientific history and deploys these studies in works that alter the audience’s physical and psychological sensations, inspiring doubt and uncertainty about the world around them. His work often draws on social spaces outside of the museum such as the amusement park, zoo, or playground, but the experiences they provide are always far from our usual expectations of these activities. Höller’s art takes the form of proposals for radical, new ways of living by creating sculptures and diagrams for visionary architecture as well as transportation alternatives, such as his renowned slide installations. These concepts may seem impossible in the present day, but suggest new models for the future.

Each floor of the exhibition explores a different general theme within Höller’s work to provide a carefully choreographed journey through the building and the artist’s oeuvre. The fourth floor focuses on the theme of movement—featuring the artist’s spectacular Mirror Carousel (2005), which provides riders with a notably different physical experience than the traditional fairground merry-go-round, while at the same time reflecting and illuminating the space surrounding it. The third floor gathers together works that seek to provide an altered or utopian experience of architectural space. For example, his Giant Psycho Tank (2000) invites viewers to float weightlessly in the water of a sensory deprivation pool, providing a tenebrous, out-of-body experience.

Over the years, the artist has employed psychotropic drugs, flashing lights, and other stimuli to potentially alter the viewer’s mental state. His new site-specific installation on the second floor, Double Light Corner, flickers back and forth on a central axis, creating an immersive, hallucinatory experience. The work is paired with a recreation of Höller’s Experience Corridor in which the viewer is given the choice to undertake a number of self-experiments. The sculptures, Giant Triple Mushrooms (2010), icons of the kind of personal exploratory journey that his work has always centered on, will also be on view. Taken as a whole, Höller’s work is an invitation to re-imagine the way in which we move through the world and the relationships we build as he asks us to reconsider what we think we know about ourselves.

The exhibition is organized by Massimiliano Gioni, Associate Director and Director of Exhibitions, with Gary Carrion-Murayari, Associate Curator and Jenny Moore, Assistant Curator. (Source: www.newmuseum.org)

This exhibit has gardenered much press lately from Time Out New York magazine all the way to Interview magazine and one question that pops in my head is WHY??? This exhibit is a great big come-on with the main attraction a slide that you can do for free at a playground. Also what they do not tell you is the Giant Psycho Tank, which essentially is a jacuzzi tub with Epsom salt, is either a naked or a bathing suit activity for only about 10-15 minutes. So if you were like me just roaming one of your favorite neighbourhoods in NYC and are kind of reserve with being naked in front of strangers, then this is not for you. But maybe that is the point of this exhibit -- to get you to think outside of your comfort level. I truly do not have an idea and I did not need to spend $12 dollars to have that reaction. If you are a fan of avant-garde art, then please go and enjoy. This exhibit is there until January 15, 2012. For myself, it was a waste of time. Then again, I would not have known that without at least going in.

Things I Love Thursday -- 12/15th Edition

THIS BLOG POST COMES FROM MY NEW MACBOOK AIR! He needs a name...I am thinking either Christian, Sebastian, Seth (after my nephew), or Dromis. I am not too sure. Anyway, besides being in love with my new computer here is what I am in love with this week:

~~Watching Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special with my class during lunch and screaming when someone says the secret word.

~~This song on repeat, even though I hate Party Rock Anthem:

~~Gettng Boss Tech gloves so I can text in the cold, that is if I need to.

~~Making winter ornaments.

~~Having the ability to find things in stores.

~~Trying Peppermint Mocha Latte at Starbucks and deciding it was not for me.

~~Big Bang Theory marathons!

What are you so much in love with this week?

Happy Haulidays from Chronicle Books

As most of my fellow readers, followers, peeps, and friends know -- I am a book hoarder. I have stacks and stacks of books in my "To Be Read" pile. I have books I want to give to my friends. I attend book signings of favorite authors and celebrities. My house is virtually becoming a library; much to my family disgust.

Well...when I received this email from Chronicle Books, how could I say no: It's been a tough year for non-profits, libraries, reading rooms, and literacy programs. But you can make your favorite charity's holiday season bright by entering the 2nd Annual Happy Haul-idays Giveaway!

This year, we're not only giving away up to $500 worth of Chronicle books to one lucky blogger and one commenter on the winning blog post—we're also asking the winning blogger to choose one charity to receive up to $500 of books from us. It's just our way of spreading holiday cheer and sharing the gift of reading.

So if I had $500 to spend on books, what books would I get? Such a tough question...let me tackle this.

Here is my list:
1: The Lifeboard: Follow Your Vision. Realize Your Dreams. ($14.95)
2: Brain Boot Camp: Work Out Your Mind and Boost Brainpower with Your Very Own Electronic Coach ($29.95)
3: Curious Lists: A Creative Journal for List-Lovers ($12.95)
4: 1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment ($9.95)
5: Smut: Volume 2 ($14.95)
6: Batman: Murder at Wayne Manor: An Interactive Mystery ($24.95)
7: Dante's Divine Comedy: Boxed Set ($100.00)
8: Christopher Walken A to Z: The Man • The Movies • The Legend ($16.95)
9: Obsessed With Football: Test Your Knowledge on and off the Gridiron($29.95)
10: Women Know Everything!: 3,241 Quips, Quotes, and Brilliant Remarks ($16.95)
11: Simple Steps Toward a Healthier Earth ($12.99)
12: DC Superheroes: A How-to-Draw Kit ($16.95)
13: Other Goose: Re-Nurseried and Re-Rhymed Children's Classics ($19.99)
14: In the Garden with Van Gogh ($6.99)
15: Sylvia Long's Mother Goose ($22.99)
16: Atlanta ($29.95)
17: One Line a Day ($16.95)
18: The Ultimate Metallica ($35.00)
19: All My Friends Are Dead ($9.95)
20: Sexy Truth or Dare: Pick-A-Stick ($14.95)

The charity I would like to choose to receive $500 dollars worth of books (if I win) is Read Alliance which works to improve the educational trajectory of at-risk kindergarten and first grade students through one-to-one tutoring in basic reading skills. For typical students who come from a low-income home in New York City’s most disadvantaged communities—the learning unfornuately stops when the school day ends. The tragic result? 60% of children in inner city school districts nationwide, including a large proportion of New York City’s public school population and 100% of Read Alliance students, read below grade level. Without intervention, the achievement gap between these at-risk students and their peers will continue to grow, with detrimental effects on achievements later in life. In fact, studies show that struggling readers from low-income communities are 13 times less likely to complete high school than their peers who read proficiently. I simply do not like this data and studies and as a teacher, this charity is close to my heart.

Now remember, if I win, I will choose one lucky commenter on this entry to win the same haul of books that I chose. So comment comment comment!

UPDATE: I did not win this year. But it was fun entering! I crossed off the books I either ordered/put on my Amazon wish list. Thanks to everyone who posted a comment!

Things I Love Thursday -- 12/8 Edition

As I sit here in this cafe' typing up this post all I keep thinking about is my new computer and when it will be in my nice possession. Granted I do enjoy going out to the internet cafe' and walking in NYC but sometimes the comfort of home is more appealing....

This week has been a fast moving one which means the excitement of the holidays are upon us! Especially with me. With that...here is what I am so much in swoony love with this week:

~~Having an activities Advent calendar. It just makes my holiday season more festive and fun!

~~Ominous black skies.

~~New scarves

~~Getting hugged out during Yo Gabba Gabba by my nephew.

~~Gingerbread Chai lattes.

~~Making paper snowflakes for my window at work. If only I had glitter...so much glitter...

~~Trying something different at my fave coffee shop.

~~Grilled cheese sandwiches that are very gooey dipped in tomato soup.

~~Oriental sesame chicken wings.

~~Being true to myself.

~~Watching Christmas specials with my lunch class. So far I have watched Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special. So much fun!

~~Writing out my Christmas cards and getting them out early!http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

~~Counting down to Santa.

~~Love Lettuce facial mask from Lush.

~~That you can Make Your Own Muppet on FAO Schwartz online! Thanks to Gala for the tip!

What are you in love with this week?

My Activities Advent Calendar for December

As I am sure a lot of people are aware -- it is Christmas month and I am more excited this year than ever. It might be due to being a Kindergarten teacher and that is okay. This year I am doing an activities Advent calendar to count down to Christmas after reading some great articles online about it. I am big on traditions so here is an outline. Some of the things will be done by myself, with others, with David, or with my family.

December 1st: Start decorating house and gather Christmas music.
December 2nd: Get a delicious scarf from the Union Square Holiday Market (support small businesses!) and start going through my winter accessories to donate to The Bowery Mission.
December 3rd: Visit nephews and start to get cards ready.
December 4th: Donate winter accessories to The Bowery Mission. Help someone in need.
December 5th: Watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer with my class.
December 6th: Make paper snowflakes and hang in windows.
December 7th: Wear custom made mistletoe headband to work.
December 8th: Try and take photo with Santa Claus.
December 9th: Go to Bryant Park and watch the ice skaters. Ever since breaking my left ankle and left foot I am deadly afraid to put anything on my feet besides shoes.
December 10th: Eat some Ferrero Rocher chocolates and try a peppermint mocha at Starbucks.
December 11th: Go with David or by myself for some hot chocolate at Jacque Torres Chocolate. If you are reading this and would like to join me, please do!
December 12th: Watch Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special with my class.
December 13th: Get some chocolate coins or candy canes and give them to the people who make me smile.
December 14th: Make a gingerbread house for my classroom during recess.
December 15th: Get a sparkly manicure and pedicure at Blush Nail Lounge.
December 16th: Start getting letters and decorations together for Secret Santa party at school.
December 17th: Start wrapping my gifts before attending Family Wrestling Entertainment in NYC.
December 18th: Take picture in Santa hats with David in Union Square.
December 19th: Watch Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon) with my class.
December 20th: Visit Rockefellar Center Christmas tree.
December 21st: Wear Christmas themed/ugly Christmas sweater clothes at work.
December 22nd: Wear mistletoe headband again.
December 23rd: Check out Christmas themed windows along 5th Avenue.
December 24th: Dinner with David (this will be our 3rd engagement anniversary)
December 25th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Christmas specials with David after opening presents and having dinner with family.

Are you doing a activities Advent calendar this year? If so, please let me know!

How to Celebrate Me -- A Step by Step Guide.

For the past two weeks I have been feeling...well...lonely. My fiance' has been super busy with work and his own interests/friends and I do not want to take him away from that. I have called or texted my own friends to see if they want to hang out, go out, see a movie, or any other way to say HEY lets get together and I was met with either a) no response or b)the words "not interested". This all got me thinking...what the heck is wrong? Am I really that bad of a person to be around? Luckily enough one of my friends told me that sometimes my actions can come off as rude, uncaring or condesending which set me for a loop. Did I feel like I was attacked? Yes but in a good way. Here I am thinking that everything is so fine and dandy when in reality it is not. I thanked my friend a lot for telling me the truth and for pointing out the errors of my ways. So as a teacher and the way my personality works, if I am faced with a problem I must come up with some sort of a solution. I also want to be a girl that is worth celebrating, a girl that people want to be around. Without further adieu...

1: Take Responsibility for my actions and words.
I have learned that the word "okay" which I have used a lot is a conversation killer. It shows that you truly do not care what the person is saying. I am a victim of that word and I truly do not want to be. I must also realize that I am not a victim. My problems are my own -- David did not cause them, my family did not cause them, my co-workers did not cause them, I CAUSED THEM. I must take ownership of my failures as well as my successes. This will surely be helpful!

2: Be honest with what I do for work and outside of work.
I love the fact that I am a teacher, especially to Kindergarteners. They have renewed my love of play, my love of excitement, my love of curiousity, my love of innoncence. So why downplay it? It truly makes me happy.

3: Wear more pretty things, even if it is just to a Starbucks by myself.
When I woke up this morning and as I was putting my outfit together, I decided to wear a feather headband, a blue sweater, purple drapey blouse, black jean skirt, tights, and my mocassin booties and let me say I have never felt so happy in my life. I felt confident walking down the hallways at work, teaching my class, and walking to the coffeeshop where I am typing up this post. Dress up. It is worth it.

4: Remember to SMILE SMILE SMILE.
Smiling sends signals to your brain that you are happy. Don't you want to be happy? Yeah I thought so.

5: Live every moment as a celebration.
If I feel like work is a drag, I am not putting my all into it. If I feel that seeing my students in the morning is a great miracle and a joy; even that student that gets on my nerves; I am happy throughout the entire day. Treat every moment in my life as a present. That co-worker who you have not seen in a long time? CELEBRATE. That ice-tea you know you need in the morning to survive and wake up? CELEBRATE.

6: Compliment and praise/celebrate others.
Oh boy....this one, I will admit, I have had lots of lack in. I have not recognized the hard work my fiance' does (he is a teacher for kids with autism). I have not asked how my friend Josy's day is going or how she has been. My dogs -- I have lacked in giving them pets and hugs and attention. UGH! No wonder why people do not want to be around me! I need to celebrate THEM as well. I have been so negative and judgemental as of late and I do not like. MUST STOP NOW. I need to give more compliments, be charming, listen with an attentive ear, and so forth.

7: Stop striving for perfection and just BE.
I know I am not perfect and sometimes I might come across that way. I have to just BE and realize that all of this is a work in progress and I am doing great.

8: If I am by myself, treat it as a GIFT.
I am by myself as I type this. As soon as I am done I will walk around the Union Square Holiday market and I will be happy. My company is special and will treat it as such.


Thanks to Charade for the inspiration to write this post. If I come up with any more ways to celebrate me, I will post them.

Things I Love Thursday -- December 1st Edition

I have been a pretty bad blogger as of late. Granted my notebook is getting filled up with ideas and thoughts but without a computer I can not post those thoughts and get feedback. Luckily enough in the next week or two I will go get my new computer! Going Apple baby! Anyway here is what I have been in love with from November 17th until today.

--Braving the wind to go to my first college football game with David. It was Army vs. Rutgers University at Yankee Stadium of all places. The funny thing is I said my hands were cold and a young gentleman turned around and gave me his gloves from the NYC Marathon! It was a nice gesture. Army lost though. :(

~~Hot apple cider with apple cider doughnuts....mmmm....

~~Having advanced screening tickets for Breaking Dawn Part One on November 17th at 8pm. It was a truly magical experience talking with fans. I even won some prizes! I won a autographed doctor scrub from Peter Facinelli (he plays Dr. Carlisle Cullen...get it?), a Twilight Saga Scene It DVD game, a Vampire baseball keychain/bag charm, a Twilight inspired wine charm set, and a host of other goodies that I am blanking out on.

~~Having clementines for lunch.

~~No lines at my bank!

~~National Metal Day (11/11/11) lasting all month.

~~Clean winter boots.

~~Learning to say no, even though I am sick with loneliness lately.

~~Pretty labels for stationary.

~~Using my scarf as a makeshift hood when it rains.

~~A one man one act play.

~~Having the ability to stretch forward and pout my palms on the floor.

~~Giving books to my friends.

~~Pumpkin pancakes!

~~My brothers sense of humor.

~~Crisp cold air in my face.

~~Time with music I love.

What are you so much in love with this week? Also Much thanks to those who commented on my Happy Haulidays post! Let us all cross our fingers and hope to win!