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Pop Art Ornaments Christmas

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If you're wondering why on I would post our Christmas photo on this blog, it involves getting a $25 gift certificate to Shutterfly.  For the life of me, I cannot find the link to the info now.  If I do, I'll share it with ya!

An Audience of Readers

When I'm out in public I run into people I know who comment about reading this blog.  A lot of times I have to ask, "What blog? My blog?"  It shocks me.  People read what I have to say?  I sure hope they don't really take my advice.  Unless it's advice that comes via The Pioneer Woman.  She's awesome.  (By the way, if you know her, hook me up with a meet and greet!  I might pull an Ellen and start a campaign to meet TPW.  I mean, she's in the same state as me.  OKLAHOMA!)  Okay, back to the blog thing...Originally, I started this blog to keep family in touch.  Then I started sharing family recipes.  Then I shared about the adventures of being a teacher.  You just never know what you're going to get these days.  From the nice pile of leftovers on my hardwood floors to encouraging you to be you, it's all in here.  All of this to say, if you read this blog leave me a comment sometime.  I love reading them.  I cherish them.  I write them down on little fuzzy pieces of heart shaped paper.  Then I snuggle with them all night long. 

Enough about the comments.  I really write this blog because it's my own little piece of an adult world.  A world free of food splatters, sippy cups leaks, and stinky booties.  A world free of whining, crying, and thrashing.  I do love being a SAHM, but I also like doing things that have a purpose for me.  Writing has a purpose for me.  Cooking has a purpose for me.  Lists have a purpose or me.  I don't do idle very well.  I'm always moving. Always thinking.  Always doing. So whether you enjoy my crazy tangents or you just feel sorry for my lack of normalcy, I'm glad you stop by.  I'm thankful that you do.  So bringing this post to a close I'll leave you with this deep, deep quote...

I feel a very unusual sensation - if it is not indigestion,

I think it must be gratitude.

- Benjamin Disraeli

La Vida Loca

I'm really contemplating changing the name of this blog to La Vida Loca.  Much more fitting, right?  I mean, I have a life AND it IS crazy.  La Vida Loca.  Yes, that sounds nice.

I'm pretty sure our recent photo session with MelHun Photography embodied the essence of my la vida loca.  Three small kids, four adults, a papi with his motorcycle...it all adds up to craziness.  Let's just say our last two photographers stopped doing family sessions shortly after they worked with us.  I try not to take it personally.  However, if Melinda Hunley quits I won't be surprised.  We just have that effect on people.

Despite the craziness, Melinda did a fabulous job. We have a ton of amazing shots to capture this moment in our lives.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to have family photos.  I know in a short time Steven and I will be sitting on the couch reminiscing through these photos wondering how time flew by so fast. 

Musical Interpretation

Have you ever heard a song and wondered, "What does this mean?"  Some songs are like poetry.  You hear the song and it leaves you boggled.  Like all those old poems in Humanity class you had to read, recite, and give your interpretation to the weird and twisted great work. 

I have no doubt that if you are a country music fan, you've heard Hello World by Lady Antebellum.  It's a beautiful song.  You're probably thinking, "I know what that's about.  It's about a man who finally 'checks' back into the world that he has been missing out on."  Yes, this is true, but do you know WHY he's checked out?  This I will tell you, but first some of the lyrics from the chorus....

Well, hello world, how've you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

Sometimes I feel, cold as steel

Broken like I'm never gonna heal

I see a light, little hole in the little girl

Well, hello world

Are you ready for the reason?  He's been checked out because he's been doing laundry.  What?  You don't see the connection to laundry?  I'll break it down for you...

Well, hello world, how've you been?

Good to see you, my old friend

- He's been in his laundry room so long he has forgotten that the world continues on without you.  He's just stepped outside and recognizes this life altering fact.

Sometimes I feel cold as steel

Broken like I'm never gonna heal

-Pressing himself against the washing machine on the cold cycle loading clothes he's become frigid.  Once the cycle has started, he closes the top loader and moves to the dryer to fold the load that has just finished. It's been on the high heat cycle.  He's crying over the amount of time he's missing with his kids.  He then feels a burning sensation on his thighs.  He wonders if the burn will heal.

I see a light, little hole in a little girl

Well, hello world 

-He's clearly washing a load of his little girl's clothes.  They have a small hole in the knee of some light colored pants.

I could go on and on with the rest of the song, but I'm sure you're convinced of my genius interpretation.  I am for hire if you need further assistance, but until then I'll leave you with a picture of my final loads of laundry.  The last 3 that need to be folded.  The last 3 loads of 10. Well, hello world!

Menu {yawn} Monday

I am tired.  So tired.  The Puerto Ricans wore me out.  They made me tired and fatter.  They also made me laugh so hard I'm pretty sure a little pee came out.  All in a week's time.  So this week I'll be hitting the gym and crying over my menu.  The menu means back to reality.  Back to laundry (which we'll discuss later this week).  Back to picking up my house.  Back to dinner on the table by 5:30.  {Sigh}  Life is so hard.  Not really.  It was just really cush in Chicago.  Really Cush.

Monday-Eggplant Parmesan (scroll down below the Chicken Parmigiana pic), Olive Garden Style Salad, Roasted Garlic Dipping Sauce and Bread
Tuesday-Fried Chicken Drumsticks, Loaded Baked Potatoes, and Side Salad (this meal isn't helping the size of my booty)
Wednesday-Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil Pasta and THE Bread
Thursday-Ginger's Stuffed Burritos with Red Beans and Rice
Friday-Baked Chicken, Green Bean Casserole, Cheesy Biscuits
Saturday-Murder Mystery Dinner in Guthrie, OK
Sunday-Dinner at my Mama's (Mom, if you're reading this, we're coming over Sunday. Love you...bunches)

Menu Monday

Here's what's on my menu...

Monday-Chicago Style Pizza
Tuesday-Puerto Rican Food
Wednesday-Puerto Rican Food
Thursday-TURKEY Thanksgiving #1
Friday-Leftover Turkey
Saturday-TURKEY...Thanksgiving #2

Really, that's what we're having.  Fortunately I will not be dishin' up any of these meals.  I mean who wants the white chic cooking up the Puerto Rican food?  Not me.  I'll leave that to the experts.  And the Chicago Style Pizza...yumm-o!  Hopefully I can throw down at least one whole piece.  Let's be real, I'll probably throw down the entire pizza.  Just be ready for some weight loss tips and menus filled with lettuce next week.  I will be large and in charge after consuming so many calories.

Just a little side note, Torres Tidbits will be on a vacation this week.  No more posts until next week.  Don't cry.  Oh, they're tears of joy?  Well in that case, I unfriend you.  Oh, this isn't facebook?  Ummm....I'm stumped.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Textification

Texting has ruined our universe.  Ruined it.  The written word will never be the same.  Take writing projects for example.  In fourth grade I had multiple students sit down for the first draft conference and most of their paper was written in texting form.  Say what?!?  Yes, texting form.  Heck, I remember the days when the kids asked if they were supposed to write in cursive.  Now it's, "Do I have to write out the word, or can I use the number?"  What has this world come to??? 

Since we all know I was such a phenomenal teacher.  And when I say phenomenal, I mean rock star.  And when I say rock star, I mean rock star royalty.  Kind of like Madonna.  Frankly, I was so good I should have had just one name.  Torres.  None of that Mrs. Torres stuff.  Sorry.  I just had to reminisce how wonderful I was.  It makes me feel better about wiping my kids' bums all day long.

Back to being phenomenal...

Since I was, you know, phenomenal, I decided to do a lesson on decoding my texting.  I wrote a paragraph on the white board in texting form, and then they had to rewrite the paragraph in the correct form.  One of the more genius ideas I've had.  Here's an example of the assignment...

1 day i was walking down the hall @ skool i slipped on a banana peel & fell down i was layin on the floor trying 2 get up when my bff walked by she helped me up & then walked awy  i was lik what she didnt evn say nething 2 me she just walked off mayb shes mad mayb shes not but idk what 2 thnk mayb ill just b mad 2 lol

The kids were so frustrated trying to figure out what I was trying to say.  Figuring out the correct punctuation alone would have been enough, but decoding the 'words' was over the edge. To make matters worse I told them it was for a grade (because I was that nice).  Then we graded it in class.  Most received an "F".  Then I told them I'd cut them a deal.  If they stopped writing their writing projects and assignments in texting form, then I'd graciously throw this assignment in the trash.  They accepted.  I won.  Again, I was a phenomenal teacher!  Conniving, but phenomenal.