it's not just emmitt smith's birthday

Other than it being our 15th anniversary, here are some more good things about today:

1. Stu delivered a bunch of white Gerber daisies + Dove bar to me at school this morning (a round of AWWWWWWs, please; thank you)
2. Leftover pepperoni & pineapple pizza for breakfast
3. SUNSHINE!
4. The cooling unit in my classroom is working like a dream
5. No student complaints today. I'm totally serious. (Maybe I blocked them out?)
6. The beloved husband of 15 years unloaded & loaded the dishwasher
7. Payday [also known as Grocery Shopping Day...woohoo]
8. Did I mention SUNSHINE?
9. I saw one of these dudes on the way home from school:

And it's almost Friday. Can somebody say "Amen"?

resolutions, resolutions, reso LU HU tionnnnns (think "hallelujah chorus")

[Drumroll, please]

1. Wake & go to bed at regular, reasonable times (i.e. more than an hour before school starts and well ahead of midnight, respectively)
2. Post something pithy and/or meaningful daily
3. Read a new blog each day
4. Eat a decent breakfast every morning (falling under the "Lead by example" heading)
5. Delight in my candles more often (hopefully while in a dreamy clawfoot tub...)
6. Get a clawfoot tub
7. Establish joyful a.m./p.m. tea rituals
8. Figure out some form of exercise that I can do before my heart initiates a mutiny
9. Schedule & maintain regular rendezvous with my man, this hottie here at the Ace Hotel:

10. Print my photos and make cards for every occasion, for everyone I know, in a timely manner

11. Breathe deeply & be mindful of the moments. Except the ones that make me say F*ck, I'll let them fade. After I blog about them.

happy new year

Why September is the real time for resolutions & new outlooks

• it comes right after my birthday, which is already rife with introspection
• people expect you to have a whole new look & personality when school starts
• the NFL season officially begins (woohoo! Hope springs eternal for my Cowboys...)
• it's impossible to resist buying school supplies (part of why I became a teacher and had kids, really)
• a sharp new pencil & fresh cute notebook spell 'potential'
• no one thinks it's weird to label everything right now
• Congress is back in session (i am not a geek)
• fall is the reason for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale & that is the perfect incentive to fit into new clothes
• autumn colors look best on me
• nothing is as life-changing as a classroom full of fresh new faces relying on your wisdom (ha)
• everyone starts out with an A and perfect attendance
• it's too cold to really party in January