#95

#95 Buy someone a “just because” gift

So. I had a lot of fun making my bowholder for sweet little Emme. I'm not gunna lie...I really was impressed with my skillz! I've been wanting to buy someone a "just because" gift to let them know that I love and appreciate them... well...I had a friend ask me to make and ship them a bow holder (all the way to Italy!!!) so I decided to make a few and give to Jude's favorite ladies! I'm thinking about opening up an Etsy shop (which I'm obsessed with now) and selling them...but...that also kinda stresses me out!

Anywho. Thanks to Amy, Brooke, Tori, and Violet for being some of the most awesome gals I know and having the sweetest lil princesses! And thanks to Jusika for inspiring me to make more!!!

...bday bash...

So. My birthday was a couple of weeks ago...but I never had a "celebration"...what with having given birth just a month before! Derrick had asked me if I wanted a party...but that just really sounded like too much work! Sooo...after thinking about it...I decided...I wanted to go bowling! LOL. Derrick and I used to bowl ALL the time when we were dating...We even had "names" that we would always use: "Sup" and "Yo"...I know, SO cool, right?

Anywho...a bunch of us got together the other night to fulfill my 30th Bday wishes...and it. was. comedy! First of all...apparently the only bowling alley in Phx that doesn't have leagues on Friday evenings is in the GHETTO! I mean...wow. (J-Town anyone?) It was fabulous! Then we got to spend the next couple of hours bowling next to AZ's finest! (I mean...I wouldn't have had DLo's mom watch the kids had I thought to put my babies in the packn'play!) We played girls against boys...and needless to say...the girls would rather have gabbed then bowled! It was fun, though!

We went to Westgate for some ColdStone afterwards...MMMmmm. It was pretty crowded- I guess that's normal for a Friday night...It's been awhile since I've gone "out"- Anyway...the fun def. continued at Coldstone...where we saw "The Snookettes: Snookie, Bookie, and Lookie" you've seen them before...girls with BAD fake tans, dyed black hair, and "bumpitsgonebad" ...fab.u.lous! And then...as we were outside enjoying our desserts...some sorta drama started going on inside. ?! What in the world is going on?! There's a celebrity inside?! What?! So of course...being the jollygreengiant that I am...I stand up and look through the window. Nick Jonas?! A JoBro at Westgate?! LOL! I mean...that's cool...he didn't LOOK like Nick Jonas...but the HUGE bodyguard and the screaming teenieboppers kinda confirmed it. I got a picture on my iPhone...but the quality is horrible! (He's the one in the hat) And THEN...Lindsay saw a young girl SOBBING that this was "THE BEST SPRING BREAK EVER!!!" b/c she got to see NJ. LOL. Oh my word! SOBBING! Little did Lindsay know...as she's making fun of the girl to us...that the girl and her posse were sitting right next to us! (She realized it shortly after I yelled "BEST 30TH BDAY EVER!!!!") The girl was cracking us up...she would NOT stop talking about NJ...and at one point said "Nick Jonas is to me what Johnny Depp is to you" to one of her crew. LOL. Just. Wow.

Needless to say...it really was a great way to celebrate my 30th! Thanks to Jaime, Jonathan, Lindsay, Violet, Daniel, DLo, WT peeps from the bowling alley, the Snookettes, Nick Jonas, and sobbing girl for making my birthday so memorable! :)

...ode to momma...

So. I haven't done this in a while...but I think it is long overdue. Growing up...my mom and I...wow...did we EVER butt heads. (haha, buttheads) I think it was largely in part due to the fact that we are both VERY stubborn...and VERY controlling...which of course also entails that we are VERY bossy. Add the fact that my mom is Korean...and we were bound to be at each others throats! My poor dad! Those "teen" years were rough! You know...when push comes to shove...I really just wanted to please my mom...and when what I thought I was doing (which I thought was ok) was completely WRONG in her eyes...it caused me to rebel...well, that's just ONE explaination of it all I suppose!

Anywho. After Derrick and I got married...it was almost like I didn't know what to do with my freedom! Granted...my mom DID still call me at 10:30 at night to see where I was ("scooby dooby dooo where ahh youuu?")...but many days would go by before I saw or even called my parents. Wow. That sux! Looking back at those college/newlywed days- I have many regrets not spending more time with my mom and dad. ...but...

When I got pregnant with Jude...I was excited to see my parents become GRANDparents. I had NO idea how wonderful the reality of it would really be. My mom...she REALLY wanted a grandson. I mean...she ultimately wanted a healthy baby for me...but she REALLY wanted a grandson (there are SO many girls in my family- literally, I have ONE boy cousin). My dad was apprehensive at first about Jude...mostly b/c he was so tiny and "breakable" (his opinion)...but my mom...was...a...freak! I'm sure you remember my blogposts! LOL. And...since May of 08...I've seen my parents at LEAST every week...and talk to them almost everyday! It's great!

...however...

This is an ode to my mom. I cannot begin to describe how much I love and need my momma. She is one of the strongest women I know...she has such a big heart...she loves her family- even though sometimes she has a quirky way of showing it...she takes care of her siblings- even though they are in their 40/50s...she is such a great cook- I can't get enough of it (something about mom's cookin' right? Even when I use her recipe...it's just not the same!)...she's super witty ("you want my fist?!" or "pain in the bucket?!")...and is not afraid of anything or anyone. She has been so supportive of Derrick and I throughout our marriage...and I cannot tell you how "there for me" she's been after having Emme.

Thank you, mommy...
* for pushing me to be a better person...
* for always be willing to help me- whether financially or emotionally, mentally or physically...
* for listening to me...
* for teaching me Korean...
* for loving my husband...
* ...and my children...
* for being an example...
* for taking me to church, even when I didn't want to go...
* for driving all over the valley for me (for piano lessons or youth group) -you were an excellent chauffeur...
* for sheltering me from stupid things (even though I SO badly wanted to do whatever/whenever at the time)...

...and, I'll never forget...

* ...rice paddle moments...
* ...LONG car lectures...
* ..."See bee see? Ohhhh, I din know dey be dare! Habba you been day-are?"...
* ...millions of voicemails...
* ...CheJudo Island...
* ...our "Bible studies"...
* ...number 13...
* ...going to see Cinderella with you at the ghetto theatre when I was sick...
* ...having you in the delivery room, holding my hands tight, as I delivered MY daughter...
* ...and so so so much more...

I love you, momma...and I dunno what I'd do without you!
(...however, don't kill me for posting the following picture! LOL!!! It's of Jude and my mom being ultimate FOBs!)

#71

#71 Allow my teaching certificate to expire

Well. I did it. I'm no longer allowed to teach. Legally. This was such a huge decision...one that I wrestled with...a lot. (Believe it or not!) I mean...I would absolutely love to have my own classroom again. I miss teaching so much. ...but...realistically. I never want to step foot in a school again. I know, right?! I mean. If I could just teach....just do what I do...and do it to the best of my ability. If I could just use the resources that I've purchased...research how to be better my students...go to conferences and then have opportunities to apply what I've learned...then I'd do it in a heartbeat (when my kids are older)...but... reality is...I wouldn't have time for any of that. That my time would be spent in pointless meetings...that the admin would discourage me...that I would feel inadequate b/c I'm constantly looking at test scores...that my time would be spent more on paperwork and the politics of teaching...than actually teaching. And. My students deserve better than that. I know, right? I could go on and on...

So. After much thought...I decided to let my certificate go. If I change my mind later on...I can always jump through all the hoops to recertify...it's not like there wouldn't be hoops regardless! But honestly...I can't imagine ever going back. Too much has changed...already in the 4 years since I've had my own classroom...and even more so in the 2 years that I've been home with my kids. (Budget cuts much?!) ...and...I'll never EVER regret staying home with my babies. EVER.

#15

#15 Bake goodies for DLo's staff

I have been wanting to bake something DELISH for Derrick's co-workers for some time now...but hadn't gotten around to it. I decided last night to bake some "from scratch" chocolate chip cookies for them since they had a mtg this morning. They didn't come out as scrumptious as usual (sorry!)...I think b/c I used "no salt" butter...but they were still yummy!

Here's the recipe for the Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1cup butter (not margarine- do NOT soften)
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 12oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use Hershey's milk chocolate)
Optional: 1 cup walnuts

Preheat 300 degrees. In medium bowl- combine dry ingredients. In large bowl- blend sugars w/ electric mixer. Add butter, mix at low speed to break butter into 1in chunks. Increase speed and cream. Add eggs and vanilla- blend. Add dry ingredients- blend. Add chips (and nuts). Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased sheet. Bake 20-24mins @ 300 degrees. Makes 2.5 dozen cookies. Yummmm!

#70

#70 Turn 30









Well. I'm 30! And...how...boring! Haha. It was just an ordinary day...kinda sad, huh? I guess that's what life is like now that I have children! But...I'd like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes!

...TIL...

...sweet baby smiles...