stream of consciousness

Mckmama started this...series, if you will, about life in general. Designed to be an excuse to share random tidbits of the day in more than 140 characters (one of the downfalls of Twitter. I know, I was shocked when I realized it.),  I totally jumping on the bandwagon. Life isn't all pretty pictures and scheduled posts, like some blogs are, and by now I'm sure you've noticed that my blog isn't one of them. But I'm working on my blog being a positive and uplifting one, and I'm starting now...right after I publish this post. :)

Life. Let's talk about it, shall we? It's a tricky thing because it has us smiling and laughing one minute and crying the next. It could be those hormones that the teenage years are known for that make me do this, but whatever, we all have those days.
The things that make my life are, shall we say, normal...but not really. School, for instance, is pretty average. Math isn't my best subject, but I'm getting the hang of it. My cousin, who is a whiz in everything, offered to tutor me this summer in exchange for room and board, plus access to the pool. Sweet deal, huh? Having a pool definitely has its perks, just like it has its downfalls.
Back to school. I'm okay in everything else, as long as I work HARD and have no social life whatsoever so I can devote time to study. Biology, fine. It doesn't come easy, but I'm not planning on majoring in it or anything. College class = STRESS. Big time. Note the capital letters I put it in. It'll pay off in the long run, but right now I'm seriously doubting the state of mind I was in when I agreed to take this Communication Class. This big assignment I have this week isn't helping, but man, will it be like a weight lifted off my chest when I hit the submit button. I'm not even concerned about the grade, but I just want to get it over with and look ahead at Spring Break. :)
Life. It's a tricky thing, and the only thing I know to do is hang on for dear life.

the simple woman's daybook for march 24

No comment on the fact that I haven't posted in over a week. Moving on...

For Today...March 24th, 2010. Spring Break, here I come!!
Outside my window...The sun is setting, the pear trees are blooming (see photo below), and it's perfect. Warm weather is finally here, and I hope it stays longer than it has in the past.
I am thinking...about how quickly I need to write this post in order to spend time with the family, not to mention eat and pack up stuff for tomorrow.
I am thankful for...Today. I'm living in the moment, and loving every minute of it. Well, not really.
From the learning rooms...Need I answer this?? School, school and more school. Seriously, I'm starting to dream about what I have to do in school the next day. My new trick to fall asleep is to start writing something in my head, preferably school related. Or recite the Lord's Prayer in both English and Latin.
From the kitchen...We haven't even eaten dinner yet. And that's fine with me, because I've never been a fan of eating dinner early. I think pasta salad with cubed chicken is on the menu for supper tonight. Yummy!
I am wearing...I'm in my PJ's. Gray yoga pants with a white tank top and blue hoodie complete my favorite outift to wear to bed. Or anytime, really. I have definitely gotten my money's worth out of these $7 yoga pants.
I am creating...My inner artist is dead, I'm afraid. In my defense, I was a very artsy child.
I am going...To finish this blog post, no matter what!! You wouldn't believe how many times I've had to stop typing to do something or help someone.
I am reading...I'm this close to finishing my book about Joseph, so I'll cross that one off the list tomorrow. The question is: which book do I read next? I'm open to suggestions.
I am hoping...that my mood will improve by tomorrow, because, man am I being a party pooper. Nothing a family bowling night on the Wii can't fix...I hope!
I am hearing...Dad and the rest of the family talking about the healthcare reform thing. I refuse to let this blog be a place where I voice my political opinion, but I really don't have one, so it's not that hard. :)
Around the house...Not much. Evenings are low-key around here, as are most days now that I think about it.
One of my favorite things...Nice, productive days in school and sunshine to do my school reading in. I spent most of the day outside with pencil and paper in hand, or buried in a school book.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Pretty much the same as last time. Women's CBS in the morning, baby-sitting in the afternoon, and Teen CBS at night. Come home and grab a few winks of sleep, then it's up and attem, finishing up schoolwork for the week, then off to Biology Co-op on Friday afternoon. A possible shopping trip with the cousin (that she doesn't know about yet, because I haven't called her!) and other errands put us home around dinner time. Crash and burn Friday night, leading up to a restful weekend full of sun and yard work.
A picture for thought I'm sharing...

Beautiful, huh? More photos of the pear trees to come!

historical ball 2010

If you read my Daybook entry for March 10th, you know that we had our annual Historical Ball this weekend. While I didn't get any pictures of all the fun times and memories we made, Emily snapped a ton of pictures and posted a lot of them on her blog. Go HERE to look at the actual post and see if you can spot some people you've seen on this blog. Which, of course, are me and Clark.
Also, go HERE to see the pictures our local newspaper snapped that night. It was our first year that we had media coverage and the photographer they sent did a really great job, in my opinion. He even spelled my name right, but I did spell it out for him. I guess no one spells their name with a "h" on the end of Sarah and an "e" on the end of Anne anymore. But that's fine, I like to think of myself as an individual anyway, and this just is proving my point even further.
All in all, it was a great time had by all. I think I danced every dance, and played the part of the guy dancer often, might I add! The best part of the night was when Anna (the one in the green dress in the group photo.) said I made a very beautiful man. :D The look her partner for the dance gave her was priceless, and that was the one time I wished that I had my camera on me. She meant it as a compliment, but it was still hilarious.

Q&A post on the Challenge

As promised, the questions from the Challenge page over at Feelin' Feminine, with my two cents thrown in for extra drama. Make sure you have some time to read this whole post because I tend to be long winded. Consider your self warned...

How was the experience for you? I throughly enjoyed myself, but I feel like I will enjoy it even more when it takes place two months from now. The Challenge just so happened to fall on the week we got snow, only to find out the next week we were going to have highs in the 70's! If only it had been this week...

But all in all, I really was glad that I participated. Maybe next time I can just be a participant and not the host. School left no time for blogging during the day and our family time is after dinner, the only time I have to blog. That was one of the main turn-offs for the Challenge.

Any particular stories? Not really. Although I'm not surprised at myself because I'm never the life of the party of anything.

Did wearing skirts rather than pants affect the way you felt? Again, not really. I'm not the most graceful person so I had to catch myself attempting some things that weren't graceful or ladylike in my skirt, especially when Clark had one of his little friends over.

The only other time I felt uncomfy was at Teen CBS. I've never been one to feel weird because I'm the only one wearing a dress/skirt, but I was wearing my favorite dress on Day 3, which was pretty fancy compared to the other girls jeans and sweatpants, and I felt overdressed, which I was. But I got over it and moved on, and you can bet that I'll be wearing jeans next time!

The way you felt about yourself? Well, I kind of answered that question above. 

The way you acted? Nope, I was still my ol' self, just wearing a skirt! 

The way you carried yourself? Definitely! It's hard to explain, but I did feel more feminine and pretty as a walked around with my skirt swishing around my legs. I loved it! 

Were you able to go about everyday activity as freely as pants? I'm not a big athletic person, so I  wasn't involved in anything that involved running or the great outdoor, but I didn't notice anything different. One thing I had to keep catching myself on was sitting Indian style, or criss-cross applesauce, depending on how old you are! If you saw me on a regular basis, you'd think I was part Indian or something because I'm either sitting cross-legged or actually sitting on my feet. I still sat that way when no one was in the room with me, but I had to make a conscious effort to stop myself from sitting that way often.

How did people respond? I didn't notice any difference, but I did get a boatload of compliments on Day 3's outfit. Not trying to brag, just answering the question. 

Were you more respected? If I was more respected, I was ovblivious to it. I did get an "I admire you for doing that." once. That really encouraged me to keep doing it for the rest of the week.

Did you feel more like a lady? Yes, yes! And I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the spring Challenge when I can wear dresses and skirts without tights so I can feel the material against my legs when I walk. It's one of my favorite things!

After the challenge do you desire to keep wearing skirts more regularly, or were you desperate to wear pants again? Yes to both! I was desperate to wear jeans, but I wear skirts on a regular basis in the spring and summer. I need to work on getting some more, though, because I basically wore every dress and skirt I had, for the winter, at least. A trip to Goodwill should remedy that little problem.

Feel free to copy and paste the question into your own blog post, and let me know, so I can see what you thought about my hosting skills, and of course if you were FEELIN' FEMININE!! :)

simple woman's daybook for march 10th

I opted out of posting this Simple Woman's Daybook entry on Monday for many reasons. Since I already had a Challenge post up, and I'm trying to get the hang of posting each day, I just decided to post it later on in the week, and the only other time I was going to be home during the day was today! Yeah, we have a full week, and it's not over yet...

For today...March 10th, 2010. We're already halfway through March??
Outside my window...The sun is gone!! All the glorious sun we had earlier in the week is gone, and rain is here to replace it.
I am thinking...I have a million thoughts running through my head right now, most of which are things I still have to do and I keep putting off until later. Nothing real important, but they do have to get done before the day has ended.
I am thankful for...Sunny days like we had the first half of the week. Since the sun is gone, I've noticed a change in everybody's mood, and it's not good. Thankfully, we can get out of the house and visit with friends for the rest of the week.
From the learning rooms...School, obviously. I was actually pretty productive today, and since we're not going to be home later on, I really needed to focus and get things done. I did, and now I'm actually getting to blog before supper!
From the kitchen...Black bean burgers are in the fridge waiting to be thrown in the skillet when Dad gets home and oven fries are roasting away in, where else, the oven! A quick and easy go-to meal when we've been doing school all day and haven't had the time to cook anything fancy.
I am wearing...Believe it or not, I'm already in my PJ's. A favorite pair from Aeropostale that I got for Christmas a couple years back were on top of my other clothes in the dresser, so I just grabbed them and threw them on.
I am creating...My inner artist is still smothered and I don't have any plans to let her out anytime soon, simply because I don't have time to be artistic, just practical. Sad, I know.
I am going...I'll answer that one in the "A few plans for the rest of the week..." question, because we have a tome of stuff planned, just the way I like. Because a girl can only last so long at home with a crazy person she calls her brother.
I am reading...I'm still studying Genesis and John, plus all the reading I have for school, so it's amazing that I find time to read. But I found a book that ties into my Genesis study, so, of course, I picked it up and started reading it, and it does not disappoint. It's shaping up to be one of the best books I've read.
I am hoping...to finish up this post quickly! How's that for a answer??
I am hearing...Mom talking on the phone and Clark in the shower. At least he's not singing. Oh yeah, and the cat ripping the blinds apart trying to look out the window at birds. Keep in mind that it's pitch black outside.
Around the house...Lots of things are going on, but I'm looking forward to the family time we'll have tonight before bed.
One of my favorite things...The sun. It's that simple.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Brace yourself, because this isn't going to be short and sweet. Here goes...
Thursday we have Women's CBS, then baby-sitting until 3 and meeting up with my aunt from Hendersonville, which is in the mountains, afterwards. My cousin from Washington is coming up to come with me to Teen CBS and spend the night to help us set up for the Historical Ball on Saturday. Friday morning is going to be full of prep for the Ball and finishing up fixing the food and stuff. Saturday is the big day!! Dance practice for the Ball in the morning and the actual Ball later that night. Sunday we have nursery duty, so pray that we sleep well on Saturday night, because we need all the sleep we can get.
A picture for thought I am sharing...

Oh, how I wish it would be sunny again...