Five Friday Things: Adulting, Healing, School, Tattoos, and Habits

One. If anyone say inside my life right now, my adult card would be immediately revoked. I'm just going to own up to that now. My apartment is a disaster, I have no idea where my extra sunglasses are, my kitchen is a mess, this blog is sorely lacking, and I'm pretty sure my classroom is just a couple of seconds from imploding upon itself.

Two. I am still peeling from a sunburn that is almost three weeks old and how I'm healing from a motorbike wipe out. I don't know where all of this skin is coming from, but I'm pretty sure I am on my sixth new layer of skin.

Three. We are already three weeks into the 4th quarter! This school year has positively flown by which is so bittersweet. I am grateful for the prospect of summer vacation, but this has been one of my best groups of students in the five years I have been teaching. I will really miss them. (But please don't tell them that.)

Four. I am really itching for a new tattoo. I have in mind what I want, now I just need to get it.

Five. I am really feeling this new crossroads in my life. I am working to finish up well in Thailand, but the struggle is real. I'm trying to set myself up to continue in the States positive habits that I have developed here and am also trying to get myself to a place to be able to resolve some bad habits I have fallen into here. Here's to making the most of the next six weeks!

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Five Friday Things: 5 Things You May Not Know

Today I am joining up with 5 on Friday, Oh Hey Friday!, Friday Favorites, and Kelly's relaunching of SUYL. Since I'm apparently trying to see how many blog link-ups I can join at one time, I thought I would share with you today five things you may not know about me. I just updated my "About Me" page this fall and, let's face it, I haven't gotten all that more exciting since then.

One. I have never had the chicken pox. Due to a poor family history with chicken pox, my parents chose to have us vaccinated against the disease when we were young. The vaccine worked and I have so far escaped the itchy torture of the childhood disease. I have had more than my share of strep throat though. I lost track after 17 instances, thankyouverymuch.

Two. To describe a person or food from Italy, I say "Eye-talian." I guess the normal thing to say is "Ih-talin" with a short "i." I was not aware I said this until a friend pointed it out to me shortly after I moved to Bangkok. So I have lived all of my life thus far sounding like a fool whenever I speak of the things of Italy. Good thing I don't live there, I suppose.

Three. I am also unintentionally really bad at geography. As of two weeks ago, I just found out Guam is in the Pacific. I have spent the majority of my life thinking it was by Cuba. I also struggle to remember which, between Toledo and Toronto, is the US and which is in Canada. I also think India should be an 8th continent and I am forever unsure of where exactly Japan belongs in relation to China and Russia.

Four. I really am not a fan of surprises. I startle easily and my initial instinct is to hit at whatever emerges in my way. This doesn't work so well when students try to be funny and startle me. Likewise, I often read the summary of a movie before I go to the theatre because I much more enjoy being able to watch the story unfold as opposed to having to figure out the story as I go. I also Wikipedia TV series when I start watching them. I have been known to read the online summaries of books as well. And, not that it has ever been a concern, but the idea of a surprise party makes me really uneasy. #Funsucker #Iknow

Five. All the apps on my iPhone are organized in pages by frequency of use and they are alphabetized within the page. I get made fun of all the time, but haters gonna hate. Maybe it is part of not liking surprises, but I like to know that each "thing" has a place to belong and is in some semblance of order.

And in the case you are further interested...
What's in a Name? About the Author. Now You All Can Know. 10 Things about Yours Truly.

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything

Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Planning, Rain, Unpacking, Grey's, and August

In an effort to begin blogging more regularly, I am joining in on some Friday fun. Join in if you wish!

One. Where. Did. This. Week. Go? I had inservice meetings all week and very little time in my classroom. The time in my classroom was spent finishing up projects from the spring semester and trying to make sense of things for this upcoming semester. Plus, I have a student with an extended absence and limited internet before the first day of school, so I'm essentially planning for the first two weeks of school before the first day even begins. It will all be good, but it all seems like so much right now.

Two. Rainy season has finally come to BKK. Both northern and southern Thailand have been having the typical daily rains of rainy season, but it's really only been in the last three days that rain has finally come to the city. I love listening to the rain at night and walking out to cooler temps in the morning.

Three. I still need to finish unpacking from my return to BKK. And finish folding laundry from a week and a half ago. I don't do well with hanging around my apartment too much, but sometimes it's just a must. The projects I have left aren't all that time consuming, I just need to get them done. So between lesson planning and house cleaning, but weekend should be plenty full and productive.

Four. I have two more episodes left of Grey's Anatomy before I'm all caught up again. I refuse to admit to the number of episodes Amy and I have been watching each day to get caught up, but it's been enough. I think we've sat down to watch only six or seven times? #Guiltybutnotashamed

Five. I can't believe August is here already. I felt like July was creeping along for the longest time and now it's all gone. Real life starts on Tuesday. Bring it on?

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything
Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Freedom, Returns, Repairs, Television, and Hair

In an effort to begin blogging more regularly, I am joining in on some Friday fun. Join in if you wish!

One. This is my last free weekend before inservice on Monday. Students will come a week from Tuesday. So far, I am not a fan of the year round schooling schedule. I did not go in to teaching for the paycheck, but I would be lying if I did not admit the twelve weeks of summer vacation were a huge perk. Can somebody please just pay me to be a housewife, husband optional? Thankyouverymuch. I am sure I will feel more ready when the students all come back but, until then, I'll just be over here mourning the loss of summer freedom.

Two. Coming back to Bangkok after five weeks in the States and one week at the beach as left me working like mad the last couple of days to restock my apartment, finish unpacking, and deep clean everything. I'd like to say it's just five weeks away that I'm recovering from but, again, let's be honest... I'm recovering from a lot more than just that.

Three. I came back to my apartment pretty much all fixed into tip-top shape, minus the shower drain which has been extra high maintenance. Except for my nonfunctioning internet which was really a genuine inconvenience virtually all year, I just had a bunch of little things that didn't work properly. But, my internet has been restored, my wall is fixed, and my stove fan works. #Firstworldproblems #Iknow

Four. Amy and I have spent the last two days binge watching Grey's. We have to get ready for this upcoming season, of course. Grey's Anatomy in a nasty habit, I know, but it's an 11 year investment. I can't back out now. 

Five. I am itching to chop my hair again. It'll be two years in September since I did it last, so it's about that time. I chop my hair every two years and I move every three. I'm consistent like that. I have too much hair for Thailand. I think the back of my neck will thank me.

A. Liz Adventures/Carolina Charm

Hello! Happiness/The Good Life Blog

The Farmer's Wife/September Farm

A Little Bit of Everything
Grace and Love/Momfessionals

Food and Music, Weather, Bad Bloggers, Instagram, and NoDak Bloggers

As has become my fairly new usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. In light of my impending adventure, I've taken up eating a siginificantly increased amount of Mexican food and listening to much more country music than usual. Since I already eat Mexican food at two or three times a week, I've started eating it about once a day. It's not like I can't make it for myself in Thailand, but I'm not taking any chances and am working to get my fill before I leave. My music choices though? Certainly not the best. I've been listening to the Shania Twain Pandora station for the last five days. Nothing says country music like listening to the women of the early '90's. #Notrealcountry #Dadandgrandpawouldbeashamed #Stilljammingout #Cowboytakemeaway

Two. What is up with this summer weather? I'm not a big fan of heat and humidity (so what am I moving to the tropics?) but I'm so over wearing jeans (and sweatpants, let's be honest) and hoodies. I'm ready for some sunshine and heat and general not freezing when I get out of bed in the morning. Or go outside. Or sit on the couch with the windows open. Or go to bed at night. Or any other time of the day.

Three. I just spent the last two and a half days in Grand Forks hanging out with Kelly and Kyle. And like the bad bloggers we are, we never took a single picture. Not one single photo in 68 hours of being together. But take my word on it-- Kelly and I did all of the fun stuff. We went out for half priced apps, hit up the mall and Target, bought slushies at Loaf and Jug, and drove around aimlessly like we did in college. Old habits die hard, for sure.

Four. I re-signed up for Instagram last night. Courtney called me out and said I needed an account, but when I went to reactivate my old account, I received notice that I had been kicked off for a "violation of the Terms of Agreement." I guess my old pictures of dyed Easter eggs and other food really frustrated somebody. They certainly could have come over and dyed Easter eggs with my sister and I if they had just asked. No need to go get me booted of the site.

Five. I know I won't be in North Dakota much longer, but I will always be a North Dakota girl at heart. I'm joining up with everybody else at The Samantha Life to find other NoDak bloggers. We are a rare breed, I'm sure!

Hooky, Inventory, Correcting, GPA's, and Summer... School in One Form or Another

As has become my fairly new usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. I'm playing hooky from work today. Not really, but I kinda feel like it! I'm using a personal day and making my way down to the Fargo Marathon. It's half marathon weekend and I am so. not. ready. More about that one on Monday.

Two. Yesterday I pulled out all of my grammar books for the big ol' inventory. (I inherited the worst of inventories when I started this job.) I also made my end of the year cleaning list. It's so hard to believe we have only 11 days of school left, and I have only 9 left to teach!

Three. I also have to finish up my correcting. The good news is that I am not nearly as far behind in my correcting has I have been at this point in other quarters, but neither am I in as good of a place as I have been in other quarters. I know what my weekend project is... and I have a lot of car time in which to finish it!

Four.I have one paper remaining for this semester's graduate work. I had every intention of finishing it last night, but I ran out of brain power. It feels so good to be finishing up with this semester's coursework. I may be kissing my 4.0 goodbye, but that's not the end of the world. #ThatiswhatIkeeptellingmyself #IreallywantmyA

Five. School in one form or another is clearly dominating my life right now. Hopefully a solid weekend's worth of work will allow me to start next week in a much better place. And if nothing else, it will all be over in two weeks anyhow! I'm going to spend the first three days of summer sleeping and then I'll probably be bored by the second week in... That's usually what happens to me. Good thing I have a whole list of things to keep me busy!

Rushing, Seeing, Chillaxing, Ending, and Finishing

As has become my fairly new usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

After a crazy start to the week, I am gratful that this week is coming to a close. It's been the longest four day week I've had in a long while. So without further adieu...

One. I'm ashamed to say that this semester has kicked my Master's-degree-seeking tail. I started out so strong and then things just kept coming up and now I'm rushing to finish at the end. I could have gotten so much more out of this semester, in my T&L (teaching and learning) class specifcially, but I am just grateful for the things I have picked up and I'm holding on to everything for awhile in case I get the itch to go back and review OR I end up needing it for another class/degree/job/IDK.

Two. I realized this semester that I have seen a lot of my family and it's been a nice change of pace. Of course I always wish I could see more of them more often, but I've spent more weekends and more time with them than I have before and it's been oh so nice.

Three. I also realized on my drive to work yesterday that I do not miss the days when I was in a panic if I wasn't in my classroom before 7:30 in the morning because I absolutely needed that time to plan. I am far from having things "figured out" but I don't panic if I miss getting to my classroom 20 minutes before my contract starts.

Four. We are down to the last four weeks of school... I only have three weeks and three days, though, with my previously arranged personal days coming up. As much as I feel like this semester has dragged on in a lot of ways, it has also just flown by. I need to really pick it up these last three weeks and finish as strong as possible... I have felt myelf checking out since the beginning of the spring semester and that's just not a good thing.

Five. Because I've been so on top of things this semester (lies... NOT... see my first statement), I will be spending tonight and tomorrow reading the last book for one of my classes and then writing the final paper due Monday by midnight. I am right on the A/B bubble in this class so I need to finish as strong as possible (another common theme in my life... see my fourth statement) and not slack off. I've learned my lesson this semester... Six credits, teaching, and coaching are too much for me. I'm so grateful I will be done with classes after the summer semester because next school year, I will be writing my thesis!

Downer, DC, Debt-Free, To-Do, and Devotions (Plus a Bonus!)

As has become my usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. This is one week I am not sorry to see pass. So many things at school this week were very hard and they made the days just drag by. I couldn't shake the negativity when I left and ended up taking it all home with me which, in turn, kinda just ruined my whole week. I hate when I let things get to me like that, much less for so many days in a row.

Two. We are on Spring Break this weekend which could not be more perfect timing. (See #1?) Today I am leaving with for a week in Washington, D.C. and a couple of days in New York City (hello "30 Before 30" list!) with our school's Close Up group. But before I leave, I have been rushing to finish up third quarter grades. Grading is my Achilles' heel. I need to find a better system for maintaining my grade book.

Three. I paid my April bills on Wedneday since I will be gone for the rest of the month (see #2!) and I was able to payoff another loan! I'm still about $37k in debt which I sometimes find so discouraging, but it's so much better than my initial $52k. I'm still plugging away and I keep reminding myself that it's the tortoise who wins the race, not the hare!

Four. The to-do list in my agenda has been a mile long this past week and I am finally gaining some traction on it and finally knocking things completely off the list! I really don't know what I would do without my planner most days... Franklin is currently the main man in my life!

Five. I have really been stressed out this week and I feel super convicted by it. My mind has been resting on things of the world and not on things above. I started being intentional in spending time in prayer and Bible study before I get out of bed in the morning. I understand that life is not always going to be easy and some weeks are just going to be hard, but I'm doing my best to make this into a learning experience and prevent this situation from happening again... for the same reasons, at the very least. 

Bonus. I am looking forward to this next week being one of refreshment and remembering that school is not an entirely bad place. And, if nothing else, we'll be down to eight weeks (and only seven Mondays!) of school once I return and I know I can handle that!

Licenses, Tournaments, Life, Crunch, and the Drawing Board

As has become my usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. Now that I finally got my teaching license figured out (It wasn't my error... needed to send in some additional paperwork that should have been taken care of when I first was contracted two years ago but I was given a five year license at the end of it all so I am good and happy!), I need to get my driver's license renewed. It's not like I didn't know exactly when I was going to expire four years ago when I last renewed it and it's not like I didn't have the ten months previous to renew it and it's not like I didn't talk about renewing it at least twenty times and it's not like I didn't try once because I did. But, my driver's license is now expired and, at this point, I won't be getting that baby renewed until basketball season is over. Here's to concientious and increasingly defensive driving.

Two. We officially start our post-season tournaments tonight. We are going into the tournament as the fourth seed after finishing in a three-way tie for second during the regular season. Plain and simple, our goal is to win the tournament. We certainly have the skill set to win the championship... We need to come into the games with our heads on straight and the team's interest as our first priority.

Three. Not that I am a non-procrastinator anyhow (see #1) but I feel like life has such a sense of uncertainty right now. I can attribute this uncertainty to a couple of big things as well as a number of smaller things. I'm looking forward to things panning out in the next couple of months... Whatever that will look like.

Four. Oh boy... I am really starting to feel the crunch of race day. February has completely kicked my tail and I haven't gotten a decent run in for awhile. I've still been attending my boot camp class and I've practiced as much with the high school team as possible, but I still feel so far behind. I will clearly be hitting the dreadmill hard once basketball season is over.

Five. I'm sorry if I'm a broken record at this point, but grad school is kicking my tail. I thought I would get a short reprieve from grad school after this week of madness, but after a talk with my professor tonight, it's back to the drawing board on Sunday to fix my research project. It's almost midterm... Almost midterm... Almost midterm...

Clothes, Food, Taxes, and Mail... aka Adult Life

As has become my usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. I love fun mail... Especially when it makes Christmas last a little longer.  I also received a textbook order today, but I'm conveniently ignoring that.

Two. I made a cinnamon roll tree from scratch this week. I contributed baked goods to this week's holiday feasts and that was it. This was a new roll recipe and while it was pretty tasty overall, I know now what I will change for the next time go-around. Which probably won't happen until next year. In 2014. (How is 2014 only next week away??)

Three. I am in the midst of packing for a quick weekend trip to hit up Michele's engagement party tomorrow evening and to spend Sunday with Amy. After a couple of days of not feeling the greatest, I'm looking forward to a quick couple of days catching up with a couple of my favorite ladies.

Four. The first thing I accomplished today was finishing my tax binder. I moved some files around and made a space for this year's documents. Rarely do I stay on top of anything in life, but my tax binder is one less stress now!

Five. I love my new infinity scarf from Kelly! It just might be so fluffy that I could die! But it's also soft and ginormous and warm and I'm planning on wearing it tomorrow! Kelly's fun mail Christmas gift was a great way to end the week!

Vacation, Whales, Goals, Christmas, and Word (To Your Mother... Or not so much)

As has become my usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. Today is our last day of school before Christmas break and my brain is in vacation mode like noboday's business. In fact, I'm pretty sure Thanksgiving was about two months ago and not the mere three weeks ago like the calendar shows.

Two. I feel like a big ol' bloated whale. I had gotten myself in a decent exercise routine in October and for the start of November, but then volleyball tournaments happened and it was all over from there. I am looking forward to getting my butt back in the gym tomorrow and hopefully giving myself a little bit of a head start before the start of the new year.

Three. Speaking of said gym goal, I have set a pretty big personal goal for the next year and I have already started mapping out what my year is going to look like and will need to look like to make that goal happen.

Four. I have one Christmas present left to take care of and I will do that on Tuesday before we open gifts. It's a fairly time sensitive gift, so I have to account for that. Otherwise, all of my gifts are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. This may be a new record for myself.

Five. Watch your words, people! I found this article fairly enteraining. I feel as if people have regressed in the art of communication in multiple ways and apparently I am not the only one in America who feels this way. Personally, the phrase "Oh! By the way..." or simply "By the way..." rubs me completely the wrong way. Shudder. (I also found this article completely entertaining. Seriously people?! Maybe if we knew how to speak better, we wouldn't have this problem.)

Grad School, Pinterest, Food, Greece, and Franklin

As I am hoping becomes my new usual, I am linking up with the ladies of The Good Life, A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, and Hello Happiness for "5 on Friday." Please join us!

One. I finally finished my grad school class this week and submitted my initial thesis write-up. I wasn't sure this semester was ever going to end. This was the first class of my grad work that I really just didn't enjoy. I've taken other classes from this professor so I know it's not anything to do with her, but I really just didn't enjoy the course content this time around. I'm looking forward to my spring semester classes, but I am welcoming the three week break... To finish one other class and knock out my CITI certification.

Two. My Pinterest boards are out of control... Good grief. I need to separate my books from my school board and fish out my healthy recipes from my desserts. Good thing I have the Christmas break coming up to take care of such pressing issues in my life.

Three. Speaking of Pinterest, I'm excited to try this soup! I love anything buffalo flavored and I love chili, so I'm failing to understand how buffalo chicken chili coule be anything less than the-bomb-dot-com.

Here.

Four. I currently have Greece on my mind. I started researching cruises last night when I should have been writing my thesis proposal. I'm hoping to make it happen in the next couple of years? But we'll see. Something may come up... Like needing to reorganize my Pinterest boards or something.

Five. Yesterday I ordered new planner pages. I tried to switch to a more minimal planner this fall, but I just can't do it. So I'm counting this fall semester a loss and am starting fresh in January. And I'm hoping and praying my package ships early so I can get myself organized over break. Because I have nothing else to do. (Ahem, see #1 and #2.)