Wordy Wednesday!

220 Solves - How many can YOU find??

Be Good Today!

Hello from my kitchen table.  I'm busy being one of Santa's Elves today so I don't wind up like this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBwELzvnrQg

Anyhow, be good for Mrs. O today! 

MM1 & 2 - Your EQA is in Classroom.  I'll have paper copies for you tomorrow.

Yearbook - I put a bunch of photos in the Google Drive.  I did not upload fall/winter team photos. I'll have a list for you to work off of for EQA day, but I wanted you to get a start on what photos you may need.  Check the folder.  Do you have access?  You should.  

Production - Film your intro/anchor for the Christmas episode.  Have your projects in to Anthony by the end of the day today so he can get everything done in time.  

Business Management - Work on your study guides today!

See you tomorrow!

Holiday Monday!

Hello!  One. More. Week.  We can totally do this!  

How was your weekend?  Mine was fine.  Hockey Friday night.  Basketball twice on Saturday.  Hanging with friends on Saturday night.  Hockey again on Sunday.  Getting ready for Christmas.  I was ready to spend last night being productive.  And then this happened.

Do you recognize this?  The Sound of Music!  It's one of my top 3 favorite movies of ALL TIME.  I even set up camp for the night on the couch in my back room to watch, (so gross...my sons sit there and play video games, eat Cheetos, and fart).  If I am hanging out in my back room, you know it's important.  So, while I wasn't as productive as I wanted to be, I did get some things done.  

Also, my son and his buds played the part of Rudolph, Frosty, and the Penguin at Saturday's Miracle on Martin event in Homewood.  They were adorbs.

Shopping Done?

How are you with your shopping?  Are you done?  Who do you give presents to?

Wordy Wednesday!

117 Solves for this puzzle

Monday, Monday....

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend?  Did you go to the game/dance on Friday?  Did you have fun?  Tell me all about it!

Weekend was good.  I let my son bring half of his basketball team on Friday night.  They had fun...and they had SO many questions about homecoming, the basketball players, the king and queen, etc.!  It was so cute.  And I had the pleasure to listen to their music....OMG...have you heard the song Chapstick?  Stop. It.  It's so middle school and adorable..and especially adorable when you have 6 5th grade boys singing it together.

Rest of the weekend was busy...shopping, basketball, hockey, shopping, church, holiday concert at HF...etc.

How about you??

Wordy Wednesday!

250 Solves

Happy HOCO Week!

Happy Tuesday!  How was your long weekend?  I had a busy and fun one!

Friday I was busy with Homewood's Holiday Lights festivities.  I was in my church's athletic association's booth working.  We had a great time and made a whole bunch of money for our organization.

Saturday night my son had a hockey game at Johnny's Ice House (where the Blackhawks practice).  I always like going there.  Headed over to Greektown afterward for dinner.  Greektown is my FAVORITE!  I was a happy girl :)

HOCO week is here! It's going to be a fun week.  I love it!  I mean, how often do I get to dress up as a Jimmy Buffett backup singer AND a mermaid in the SAME week?!?!?!

How was your long weekend?  Anything exciting?

Wordy Wednesday!

147 Solves...How many can you find?

Trending Tuesday

Have you listened to 104.3 lately?  It's old school jams and I'm totally on board.  Who doesn't love a little Biggie Smalls jam to get their morning started?!  It's what all the middle-aged (crap...I guess I'm considered middle-aged...ugh) folks are talking about.  I'm all in. 

What current trend are you all in for?  A new app?  game?  style?  

Also, I'm a horrible mother...again.  Forgot to be the tooth fairy AND forgot to put that stupid Elf out.  

Good Break?

Welcome Back!  How was your break?

Mine was nice.  It was busy, but not crazy. We went to our BFF's house for Thanksgiving, spent WAY too much money, had game night with friends, went bowling, put up our Christmas decorations, and did all the normal stuff that goes with a weekend....cooking, laundry, sports, etc.  

It was a good weekend!  How about you?  Tell me about your break!

Here is our official family Christmas card photo taken on Thanksgiving Day....

Wordy Wednesday

155 Solves.  How many can you find?

Tuesday - What is your silly irrational fear?

I did this one last year when my friend made fun of me because I have an irrational fear of going inside banks.  I don't like it.  I prefer to do my business online or in the drive-thru. 

This morning made me think of another of my silly irrational "fears"..... cornish hens.  Yes...small, frozen chickens.  They give me the HEEBS....BIG TIME!  Maybe fear isn't the right word.  I just don't like them.  I can't say I've ever even tried them.  They freak me out.  I know, it's silly.

This morning I had to buy two of them for my Production kiddos.  I actually stood there in Walt's and hesitated a minute before picking them up.  Had to gather myself...lol.

What about you?  Do you have a silly, irrational fear?

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like.....

While I REFUSE to overlook Thanksgiving, I'm not going to fib.  I turned the dial to 93.9 this weekend and listened to some holiday music when I was in the car.  

I don't have a huge desire to put a tree up or anything.  But...I love Christmas music.  I'm in the holiday spirit.  I'm involved with a lot of things in my community that host various holiday events, so we've already started the planning of that.

Are you in the holiday spirit?  What do you look most forward to with the holidays?

Thursday...but it's our Friday!

Such a sad day yesterday.  I know many of you are still pretty upset.  Losing someone, whether it's expected or unexpected, is always hard.  I've had both in my life.  I can tell you this...time does make things a bit easier.  It gets easier every single day.  I promise.

Long weekend ahead.  What's on your agenda?  Anything good?

I usually am lucky enough to pawn my youngest off on someone else on half days, so since I'm off tomorrow, I suppose it's my turn to take a bunch of boys for the afternoon.  I'm thinking of heading into the city and going to a museum?  It's going to be cold, so nothing outdoors.  I have a friend who works at MSI, so maybe she can pull some strings and get us in.

Hockey tomorrow night.  Beyond that, not much.  Kind of exciting!  

How about you?

Wordy Wednesday

209 solves.....

Treat Yo'Self!

If you won the lottery, or came in to a TON of money.  What are the three indulgences you would treat yourself with?

1 - I'd have someone make a fresh fruit bowl for me every day. 

2 - I'd have someone come to my house and blow dry my hair every day.

3 - I'd have someone prepare all the lunches in my house.


What about you?

Monday...

but it's really our Tuesday!  No school Friday!  Yay!

How was your weekend?  Mine was fine.  My son's birthday party was Saturday night, so that was fun.  I fell and jacked up my knee, so yesterday was just kind of a veg day, which was fine.

I'm super excited this week because I have NOTHING going on until Thursday!  Yay!  I get to come home, make dinner, and...THAT'S IT!!!!!  My options are endless....Stranger Things, This Is Us (which I haven't watched a single episode this season).  

How about you? How was your weekend?

Feel Good Friday

I'm feeling good today....

It's my son's 11th birthday
Party tomorrow night
It's going to be nice this weekend
Mostly...tonight is the end of my two week every day/every night something going on.   I'm excited to hang on my couch!

Have a GREAT weekend!

And if this girl doesn't make you smile, there is something wrong with you!

http://rabblevid.com/video/girl-church-choir-steals-show/

Throwback Thursday - Cartoon Edition

What's your fave cartoon from when you were little?

We were singing "Get On The Bus" from the Doodlebops this morning, so that's how today's blog post came about.

Favorites in our house for my kids...

Backyardigans
Wonder Pets

Not really a cartoon, per se, but we were also HUGE fans of Club Penguin.  

Wordy Wednesday!

174 solves...how many can you find?

Boo!

What's your fave Halloween candy?  

Are you going trick or treating tonight?

What was your favorite costume you've ever worn?

Here's a throwback of me from maybe my sophomore year?  I was a tourist.  My next door neighbor, Jill was Princess Power.

 

It's Monday Already??

Wow. That was fast.  My weekend was good.

Friday - Hockey game and progressive Halloween party with friends

Saturday - Trunk or Treat with NHS and a baseball game - watched the first two episodes of Stranger Things..YAY!

Sunday - breakfast meeting, church, baseball tryouts, Mrs. Rink's baby shower, and then another hockey game last night in Romeoville. Cherry on top?  My son was ejected from the game and is now suspended for Friday's game.  Super.

That was my weekend.  I'm working on wrapping up my grading today.  

Today's Agenda

MM1/2 - Shark Tank

YB - Finish deadline, work on November calendar

Bus Mgmt - Business Plan/Chapter 5 notes

I'm hoping to carve pumpkins tonight!

How about you?  How was your weekend?  Are you dressing up tomorrow?

Wordy THURSDAY

Since I wasn't around yesterday, we're going to play our normal Wednesday game today.  There are 128 solves for this puzzle.  How many can you find?

Tasty Tuesday - Breakfast Edition

Breakfast...mmmmmm

What's your fave breakfast food?  

Mrs. Cal's Breakfast Facts....

I HATE eggs.  Gross.
I am a hash brown snob.  I like them shredded and crispy.  
I prefer Greek toast over any other.
I like the "mixed fruit" jelly packets.  But apparently, this is a restaurant luxury.  No Mixed Fruit jelly is sold in stores.  Just the little containers that you build things with at restaurants.
If it's a pancake or a Belgian waffle, it must have mini chocolate chips.
OJ - must be Tropicana.  No Minute Maid nonsense.  
Bacon.  Enough said.


How about you?  What's your breakfast game?

Mindset Monday

What a blah day.  At least you guys have a half day!  You can go home, grab a blanket, and binge watch something.

So..Mindset Monday...what does that mean?  

Set your mind to something this week.  What's your Mindset Monday?

What's something you're going to apply to this week's Mindset Monday?  What is ONE thing you MUST accomplish?

Me?  I have two biggies this week.  I'm in charge of the basketball program for my church's athletic association.  I MUST get all my rosters set and ready for submission within the South Suburban Basketball League.   

The other one is getting my son's 11th birthday invitations done.  Party is 11/4.

How about you?

Wordy Wednesday!

139 solves...how many can you find?

Random Tuesday Questions...

Pancakes or Waffles?
Hot Cider or Hot Chocolate?
Oreos or Chocolate Chip Cookies?

GO CUBS!  Do or die tonight......

Monday! I'm Out!

Be good for the sub! My son is a sickie today, so I'm home with him. 

How was your weekend? Did you go to the dance?  Was it fun?

My weekend was good.  Dance on Friday,  my son sang at the Wolves game on Saturday night, and yesterday my older son had a hockey game.  Pretty low key.

Cubs lost :(

How about you?  Tell me about your weekend!

BE GOOD FOR THE SUB!  NO PHONES!!!!!!!!!!!

Wordy Wednesday

297 Solves....how many can you find?

Tuesday - How was your long weekend?

Hey...welcome back!  How was your long weekend?

Mine was fun.  Hockey and baseball were nixed due to weather and injuries on other teams, so we didn't have to revolve weekend plans around sports.  Well...aside from the Cubs, Hawks, Bears, etc.

Speaking of.....GO CUBS!!!  One more win to take the series!

We headed to Michigan on Sunday.  Went to Redamak's in New Buffalo for lunch.  So yummy!  Have you ever been?

Here are some highlights of the weekend....

Waiting outside of Redamak's in New Buffalo, MI on Sunday

Double rainbow outside my house Saturday

Wordy Wednesday!

106 solves on this one. How many can you get?  

Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie is the big prize today!

Hot Topic Tuesday

Good report from Mrs. O yesterday.  Thanks!  I was super productive yesterday and made good use of the day! 

  

Hot topic...

Thoughts on some sort of regulations on guns?  I absolutely believe in the right to bear arms.  Maybe with some regulations? Thoughts?

  

Monday - Be Good for Mrs. O!

I'm working from home today.  Mrs. O will be there in my spot, so please be good! 

I have notes for you all in Google Classroom, so make sure to check it.

How was your weekend?  Mine was fun.  HF football game Friday night (they lost..so no longer undefeated).  Baseball games Saturday and Sunday.  Lighthouse for anniversary dinner Saturday night.  Hockey last night. 

I'm waking up to the news of the shootings in Las Vegas and thinking of my family there.  While they weren't at the concert, I feel like they will somehow know someone who was impacted.  

Have a great day!  Tell me about your weekend.  Be good for Mrs. O.  Check Google Classroom.  I'll see you guys tomorrow.

Grievance Thursday

I don't get to watch a whole lot of TV in my house.  There is almost ALWAYS some sort of sporting event on.  I'm a good sport about it and in most cases, I'm relatively interested in said sporting event.  When there isn't a sporting event on, Mr. Cal watches no less than 35 shows at one time.  In 40 second chunks.  It drives me absolutely INSANE!  I don't want to watch 35 shows.  Pick ONE.  Maybe two. 

As I type this, we are currently watching U.S. Marshals, Cubs post-game coverage, Below Deck, the news, the Dodgers game, and I'm sure I'm missing a couple of others.  

Wait!!!  I just walked into the kitchen to salvage the last piece of birthday cake (because it was MY birthday and it's a free for all in my house when there is any type of treat).  I come back...and now Mr. Cal can't find the station U.S. Marshals was on...so now we are just flipping through all 4307523475 UVerse channels we are subscribed to.  

Now we are watching Caribbean Pirate Treasure.  

What's your grievance today?  

Wordy Wednesday!

Wordy Wednesday!  148 solves on this board.  How many can you find???

Hot Topic Tuesday

Can you guess what the "hot topic" today will be?  

Take a knee or no?  How do you feel about all of it?  

Here's where I stand (or kneel....however you choose to look at it)

I believe in EVERYONE'S right to freedom of speech. 

I believe in peaceful protest.

I believe there is HUGE racial injustice in our country.

I believe Trump's tweet(s) may have backfired on him and instead of dividing the NFL, brought it closer together.

This where I'm torn...

I don't think you should be able to protest at work. There would be consequences if I started some peaceful protest here in the Orchard Lab. 

This has nothing to do with whether or not I agree with the stance.  

On the other hand, these players have a platform in which to show their stance.  

Half Day Monday

How goes it?  Happy Monday!  It's a bit easier knowing we only have a half day.  How was your weekend?  Mine was good.  Saturday was my birthday and I got to go to the BEACH!!!  We came home in time for my son's baseball game and then went out for dinner.  It was nice.  I'll be honest, though....this weather is fine.  If I can be at the beach or a pool or something.  Otherwise, I'm sort of over it.

I made first born take a birthday beach selfie with me.....

Oh...and Mr. Duncan set a new WORLD RECORD on Saturday!  One of the disc golf courses he was playing was in Homewood.  I was able to get there just as they were leaving.

How was your weekend?

Feel Good Friday! AND....we get an early release!

Happy Friday!  What are you feeling good about today?

• Mrs. O is here!  I heart her.  
• We have an early release.  Now...try not to be all super J, but the teachers get out SEVENTEEN minutes early today.  We get to go home at 3!  Actually, I love you guys getting out early today.  If you've been by my desk lately, it's a hot mess.  I that hour and a half of people leaving me alone so I can get some work done.  
• Tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY!  I'm going to make everyone in my house do what I want to do this weekend.  I can't wait!   
• The first news broadcast is today!  

Have a great weekend!

Grievance Thursday!

Eh....I really don't have a grievance today.  I've got my positive pants on :)

I'll talk about something else, though.  Do you watch America's Got Talent? Did you see that little girl with the puppets?  She won and she's......amazing.  Yes, she warrants the word amazing. 

Have you seen her? 

  

Wordy Wednesday!

116 solves....how many can you find?

Tickle Me TUESDAY!

What makes you laugh??  

Talking animals.  Never gets old.  I could watch BBC Talking Animals all day.  It always makes me laugh!

Here is one of my favorites....

https://youtu.be/JksX4mN5H3w

How about you?  What makes you laugh?

Good Weekend?

Happy Monday....  I struggle with Mondays.  I like them, in a way it's another start that we get to count down to Friday....but then...it's MONDAY.  

How was your weekend? Mine was busy and fun!  I talked about it a bit last week, but it was HF's homecoming.  My son is a freshman, so it was first for him.  Games, parties, dances, etc....it was fun for my son (and parents as well...we get to enjoy a bit of it as well).  Here are a couple of pictures....

Feel Good Friday!

What are you feeling good about today?

The weather is supposed to be AWESOME!  I wish I had some free time because I would totally sneak off to the beach for a few hours and soak up some sun!
Pay Day!  The start of the school year is always a drain on the paycheck.  I'm excited to have my money replenished!  
Fall Fest - Homewood's Fall Fest is this weekend.  It's always a fun time.  Looking forward to it!

P.S.  Afternoon classes - BE GOOD FOR THE SUB!!!  If I get a poor report, there will be consequences!  

Thursday Grievances....

I know I said we wouldn't blog on Thursdays, but I'm re-thinking it.  I'm going to make it Grievance Thursday.  What's annoying you today?  Air your grievances....

So today my grievance is this.  Stop saying AMAZING.  I swear, it's the most over-used word in society today.  My amazing day, my amazing boyfriend, my amazing journey...don't even get me started on the phrase "amazing journey".  Just stop.  Find a better word.  The word amazing should be reserved for things that are legit amazing.  If you use it too much, it's meaning gets watered down.  

Here are some alternative words to use instead of amazing....

Wordy Wednesday!

How many words can you find??  171 solves this week.  Little Debbie bag o' brownies is the big prize!

Tasty Tuesday! Pizza Pizza

What do you like on your pizza???  Thin crust, thick crust, deep dish?  What's your fave?  Toppings?  Extra cheese?

We make homemade pizza often in our house.  I like to put pepperoni and black olives...topped with extra parmesan and a bit well done.  I also like sausage with green olives...but not pepperoni with green olives or sausage with black olives.  Funny how we can get so particular about things.

How about you???  

Monday....and I've got the blues

Eh, I'm just not feeling it today.  Had a busy, fun weekend, but I just didn't get a jump on things the way I like to on Sundays.

Lots on my mind today.  Thinking of 9/11, thinking of the impact of Irma, thinking of my friend in Houston who is cleaning out her house after it flooding almost to the 2nd floor.  

I'm happy to hear that St. Pete Beach, FL, which was projected to take a direct hit, was spared in some sense.  It's my happy place.  

Weekend was fun....Friday we set up our big movie screen in the back yard and had movie night.  Saturday we went back to Cantigny park to check out a Revolutionary War re-enactment and then my son had a baseball game.  Sunday...football day!  Mr. Cal had a bunch of his buddies over and they watched the game.

What about you?  What's on your mind today?

Feel Good Friday!

Happy Friday!  What are you feeling good about today??

Football!  I'm excited for football Sundays.  I say this now because it's early in the season.  Ask me in a couple of months and I'll probably be sick of it. Between all of the boys in my house, they are in 5 fantasy leagues.  This gets old after a while, but I'm all in for Football right now!  

Baseball!  Fall Ball starts tomorrow.  I love being at the ballpark.  We've been away for a month, so that's penty.  I'm ready to watch some ball!

Friday! I love Fridays.  They are a bit more laid back as far as my schedule is concerned and I make it a point not to cook on Fridays. 

How about you??

Wordy Wednesday!

You woke up this morning and could barely stand your own excitement over Wordy Wednesday......AM I RIGHT???

A package of donuts is up for grabs for today's lucky winner.  Can anyone beat Miss Fasano's 71 from last week?   There are 161 solves for this puzzle.  How many can you find?

Long Weekend...How was it?

It's already Tuesday.  Nice.  

My weekend was pretty chill.  Didn't do a whole lot.  My family is usually on the go constantly, so these past couple of weekends that weren't jammed with places to be was nice, but at the same time it was odd.  We didn't know what to do with ourselves.  I'll be happy when things pick up this weekend.

My son caddied all weekend, so we couldn't really do anything as a family until yesterday.  We went to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL.  It's a place I've always wanted to go, but never got around to it. They have a pretty cool military museum and a bunch of gardens, etc.  The museum was super interesting.  They are hosting a Revolutionary War re-enactment next weekend.  I'm a geek about that kind of stuff, so we may go back next weekend.  

They also have these cute couches/chairs all over the grounds.  It would be a cool place for a photo shoot, if you're into photography.

How about you?  What did you do?

Feel Good Friday! Long Weekend Edition....

Happy Friday, Y'all!  

• Today I'm feeling good about a long weekend.
• I think I'm heading to the beach at some point this weekend
• I'm going to hang out with family this weekend. Maybe a fire tonight?  S'mores! (the good kind with Ritz crackers and Reese's PB cups!)
• Last non-sporting event weekend of the year....everything starts up again next weekend.

How about you???

What are you feeling good about today?

Wordy Wednesday!

I know some of you have a love/hate relationship with Wordy Wednesday, but I think the bulk of you like it (and the fact that there are prizes).

Here is this weeks board.  There are 239 words in this puzzle.  How many can you find??  Up for grabs this week is a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie!