Halloweeeen.

Here is my costume for school on Friday...
A brain donor, suffering from an identity crisis.
That's my cauliflower brain, in a jar.
My students chose my identities ranging from Obi Won to Obama.
Yes. I am one of those teachers, who dresses according to their subject.

I would feel a lot better about the picture on the left, if I didn't really look like that right now.
Friday night with the ever so classy Mrs. Michelle Obama.

And if you couldn't guess it... I'm a peacock.
Hey, it was a good excuse to buy a new dress from Forever 21.

I'm taking a little break from the blogging world for a while.
I'm sick and tired and a whole host of other not-so-awesome adjectives.
See you soon.

Last minute costume ideas.

I wish I were in Nevada right now, so I could stay home from work tomorrow for Nevada Day. But I'm not. So, I'm going to work tomorrow in costume. We'll see what Wal-mart has to offer me at 6am.

These are some of my favorite ideas, all found here.

White trash - outfit, purely made of white trash bags.
Snow white trash - pregnant, buck-toothed, barefoot.
Shooting star - star stickers everywhere and water guns.
Alice in Wonderland - blue dress with a mini cardboard box/ house around the waist.
Chia pet - grass somewhere, somehow.
Static - socks, towels, dryer sheets, and crazy hair.
Booby trap - bra outside of shirt, mouse traps, he he he.

I'll make sure to post a picture, of whatever I come up with.
Gosh I'm so happy it's Friday. Hope you are too.

Lifting burdens.

Some days I find myself thinking over and over and over again...

"God has taken care of me for 23 years.

Amy, you know better. Of course, He wont stop now."

This video made me feel a whole lot better. Thanks, Nie. Enjoy.

P.S. Bryn's AMAZING wedding photos here.

More pics, as promised.

Here are a few more pictures from the wedding weekend. Bryn looked absolutely stunning, and the day probably couldn't have been more perfect. It was such a wonderful getaway, to catch up with so many best friends, all in one place. As hard as it was to get away, I'm so glad I went. Jill Thomas was the photographer, and I am beyond excited to see her photos of their day. She's as sweet as she is talented. Remember this shoot of hers? Dreamy.

Gosh the weather was gorgeous. Aren't these centerpieces pretty?

I love these two. Kim went back to work in the Philippines after the wedding.
Make sure to give her lots of love here, especially if you know what it's like being an expatriate.

More fun in the pumpkin patch. I know. I want Ray's dress too.

Me and Brittney tie for the hottest dates.
Is it bad that I bribed mine to kiss me... with blue licorice?

My girls. Love you.

Fishy face vs. Kissy face. I lose.

And they lived happily ever after.

A weekend in Cali.

The wedding was so much fun. More pictures to come!

Thank you.

Iris from kirei girl da madrid,

Thank you so much for this cute Tokyo girl shirt! I thought I couldn't be more excited than I was when I found out I won my first giveaway, but then... your fun little package from Spain came in the mail. : ) You rock, girl. And it's official. I love Asian everything.

Mom,

Thank you for sneaking those Lean Cuisine's in my freezer. We both know my intentions of cooking my own meals are not turning into reality any time soon.

Hellion students,

Thank you for not waking me up, when you saw me sleeping in the middle of my classroom floor during my prep period. Also, thank you for taking a picture of me sleeping, printing it, and creating a "Have a good weekend. We're sorry we're so bad." card out of it.

"You know who you are" student,

You told me you can't ever see me with kids. When I asked why, you told me I was too cool to be a parent. Thank you?

My overwhelmingly long hair,

On this oh-so-windy day, thank you for getting caught in my car door. Though it was absolutely embarrassing at first, I laughed for a while with the Chinese restaurant man, who saw the whole ordeal.

B-Po,

Thank you for falling in love and getting married! I'm so excited to celebrate with you and so many other friends in LA this weekend. Warm weather, here I come. See you back here on Sunday, hopefully with plenty of wedding pictures to brighten your day.

Amy

Coolest video ever.

Because skype was a huge part of my life for six months... coolest video ever. Thanks Nat!
P.S. I want to go to Korea. South, please.

Miss Kate.

This evening's phone conversation with Little Miss Kate, my 4-year-old niece...

Me: Kate! What are you gonna be for Halloween this year?

Kate: Belllllle.

Me: Oooh. You'll make such a pretty Belle!

Kate: Thanks.... What are you gonna be for Halloween?

Me: I don't know. What should I be?

Kate: A bride. Or a dead bride. But you need to find a groom first...

jennieslade photography

Hmmm. I will have to work on that one, Miss Kate. [Isn't she cute?]

C.S. Lewis gem number one.

"Nothing that you have not given away
will ever be really yours."
C.S. Lewis

My time.
My house.
My experiences.
My education.
My passion.
My tears.
My talent.
My energy.
My pride.
My food.
My hugs.
My joy.
My heartache.
My kisses.
My stories.
My smiles.
My heart.
My love.
My life.

image from the lovely sara's blog

Can you think of any others?

At home.

It's official! I bought my new condo and moved in last weekend. I couldn't have done it without the hours and hours of help from friends, family, and my "energizer bunny" Mom. Love you guys.

For a long time, I've been living out of suitcases. I haven't really felt at home anywhere. Maybe it's because I've been away from my home country, away from my home city, and probably more than anything... away from a special someone I love. Whatever situation I have found myself in, nothing has felt quite right. Something's been missing. I didn't find it in my travels around the world. I didn't find it in my quick out-of-state move. Or in my seemingly all-consuming job. But I think I've found that special something in my new little condo. It's all mine. And it feels so good to be comfortable... and at home again.

I'll post pictures soon. This photo from ikea, with the red bike in the middle, is hanging directly above my king sized bed. I'm spoiled.

For your entertainment and my memory, this conversation took place a few weeks ago.

rc willey mattress man: is this mattress just for you?
me: (awkwardly) yep. just me. i'm big girl.
mom: she is hoping to fill it someday.

True indeed. But for the meantime, I have no problem occupying it, all on my own. What makes you feel at home? P.S. I will never let my Mom live that down.

Just in case anyone knows what this feels like.

"And maybe, just maybe, her heart needed to be broken. Broken and shattered and stomped into pieces. Then she could finally look down at the pieces, study each one and spend some time getting to know the person she’d become. And when she finally had all the pieces back together again, a little crooked, a little jumbled but sealed firmly with love, she’d realize she was more beautiful than ever. Because this time, she would love herself."

via heartwarming
P.S. This post is one of my very favorites.
I wish I was brave enough to write so honestly.

Feeling hopeful.

I love this.

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Ether 12:4

And this scripture is how I plan to live my life this week. I'm feeling good about feeling hopeful.

photo via

Today in class.

Let me just tell you about one of my favorite students. He's Pagan. Hoping to become Muslim. Thinks death is beautiful. Aspires to be a mortician. And oh so much more. He has to be one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Not kidding, one of my favorites. Apparently, when I wasn't looking today in class, he pierced himself. With safety pins. Twice. In his shin.

Hmmm.

Amor.

I rediscovered this on my desktop this morning. I have no clue where it's from, but I LOVE it. Have a wonderful day, filled with lots and lots of amor.

No drugs.

This is pretty good, considering I gave them ten minutes to prepare.
I'm sure they wont mind, since they were begging me to put it on youtube...

So... I wont take no drugs,
No more, no more.
You might overdose.
It's not fun...
No drugs...
You get the best of both worlds.
Get caught with drugs, you might right with the cops.
You get the best of both worlds.
Mix it all together and you know you get the best of both worlds
I wont take no drugs.
No more, no more.
You might overdose.
So don't...

P.S. I took this video with a hand held flip video camera.
Seriously the coolest gadget I've seen in a while.
I might be purchasing one for myself. And soon.

Stage 2: My Condo.

Here's a sneak peak of my kitchen and living room. I'm getting more excited by the day.
No. I don't plan on keeping my washer and dryer in my living room, permanently.
And yes. There will be a refrigerator in that empty space, eventually.
I am one lucky girl.

P.S. I realized today that the new census comes out next year...2010.
I smiled with excitement. Yesssss. New maps and data and demographics.
Wow. I'm such a nerd.

Such a beautiful quote to start your week.

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
Mother Teresa

You stubborn little puzzle piece.

Maybe I'm the only one in the world, who feels this way. Or maybe you do too. But it seems like my life is all pieced together. It has taken some time, some uncertainty, and some really gutsy decisions to get it this way. But all in all, the puzzle of my life is turning out quite nicely.

In some ways, it's turning out prettier than I pictured. And it's fitting together, in some ways, sooner than I expected. But there's this one little puzzle piece. [You stubborn little puzzle piece.] Right in the middle. I thought I found you once, but I have seemed to have misplaced you. Now, I can't find you anywhere. You really are throwing off the whole rest of the puzzle. Oh. You stubborn little puzzle piece. I would give just about anything to find you right now. I'm missing you, pretty badly today. Truth is. As pretty as the rest of my puzzle is, I really don't know how to appreciate it without you in the middle of all of it.

photo via

October, already?

Wow. Can you believe it's October already? September was one of the most challenging months I can remember, but I made it through. And after the kind of week I've had, that is good enough for me.

My plans for October include:
relaxing during General Conference weekend with Mom and Dad
hopefully closing on my condo, within the next week
decorating my newest favorite place
visiting IKEA for the first time
filling in on a friend's rec center volleyball team
watching movies in my new king sized bed, for my entire four-day "Fall Break"
doing lots of progressive relaxation and meditation exercises with my AP Psych kids
partying with Bryn at her wedding in Los Angeles
hosting a "Pink Out" high school volleyball game for Breast Cancer Awareness
thinking up an insanely creative and fun Halloween costume
finding something equally insanely creative and fun to do on Halloween
and getting back to spending time at on of my very favorite places, Canary Garden.

I'm excited to hear about all of your fun plans.

delightful picture via poppytalk

I don't feel good about this.

I avoid blogging about politics as often as possible, but I don't feel very good about this idea. President Obama wants school days and school years to be longer.

"Now, I know longer school days and school years are not wildly popular ideas," the president said earlier this year. "Not with Malia and Sasha, not in my family, and probably not in yours. But the challenges of a new century demand more time in the classroom."

The article references academic success stories of longer school days and school years throughout the country and around the globe. I get it. Logically, it makes sense.

However. We could talk about how longer days and years would interfere with family time. I believe in families. Plus, extended time in school would inevitably make even the best of teachers burn out. (As passionate as I am about teaching, I don't know how long I could last.) And we could also mention problems with funding. Oh, funding. That would be a nightmare.

But. Let's talk about the welfare of the students, as people, versus future contributors to the American economy. I taught every age of student in Taiwan for six months. I taught some of the younger ones until 9 at night. Their lives were school. And at eleven and twelve-years-old, it felt like they were carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. As screwed up as our education system is in America, when I was there, I found myself feeling so grateful, over and over again, that I didn't grow up with that kind of academic life and academic pressure.

What do you think? Honestly.