M. Ed. Master Educator...I am still pinching myself!

Molly, Justin, Me

The 3 Musketeers...we started together and finished together! Molly and Justin are phenomial teachers, I'm so glad that I was able to learn from them and be inspired to become better!

Molly and I became best friends in the midst of this program! Not only did I get a master's degree, I got a best friend out of it! Man what a blast! Sadly she moved to Wisconsin:(. PS, she doesn't love silly poses...I forced her into to this one:).

Molly and Me...the serious pose! Oh and if you look close you can see my shinny red nails...Molly took me to get my nails and toes done for my birthday, thanks Molly, you're awesome!

This is us on our last day working away...actually I'm pretending to work...hehehe! Fooled ya huh!

I keep pinching myself, I just can't believe it...the years just keep flying by. I've decided it's all about enduring and believing even when you think you can't do it anymore or that you're not good enough. Let me tell you, there were some dark nights staying up 'til 4 in the morning for a brief nap...I remember pleading with the Lord to just help me make it through it and to love myself no matter what grade I got:). I also remember thinking getting a Masters was a breeze (hard to believe, huh, even for myself). Those days were very few, they were the days when I had all my readings done, assignments in order and when I felt like I was becoming a master teacher and applying new things in the classroom.

My dad asked me when I was going to get my PhD and I said "NEVER!" I really don't think I will, really. Then I again, I also almost dropped out after my second year of college. My friend Kristy's mom called me and convinced me to stick with it and I'd be grateful, thanks Shirlene!

I believe in being a life-long learner (not necessarily college) but I want to keep taking professional development classes and being the best teacher I can, but also taking fun community classes like art and balloon making, maybe some Spanish classes.

Well there you have it!

"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!"

"Dreams DO come true, everyday!"

7-11 Guy...Friendly or Creepy?

If you've been following my blog you will know that I like 7-11 and I especially love Diet Dr. Pepper Fountain drinks! I've been trying to cut back so I haven't been going as regularly...however, I needed one TODAY! I went to the one where I'm a very welcomed customer. I feel slightly guilty that they recognize me and like to have small talk. The last time I went there, the old guy (mid fifties maybe...) who is always friendly said that my hair looked really nice with the colors I was wearing. It made me feel good and I appreciated the compliment, I thought nothing of it.
TODAY was a little different...as I was getting my drink he was stalking the cupboard near me. He looked at me as said "YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL." In a very sincere, heartfelt tone. I just smiled and said "you are too kind.." in a hesitant tone. No guy has ever, I mean ever said that to me, so I'm not gonna lie, it was sweet and I appreciated the compliment. But THEN, he gave me a hug and did the whole linger longer rub the back thing. I just sorta laughed it off, not knowing what to do. I couldn't decide if he was just being kind, trying to build my self-confidence, or trying to put the moves on me. I concluded that he was just being friendly, no need to over analyze the hug...but THEN... he said "if I was your student I'd go crazy," as he raised both hands in the air shaking them as to represent he wouldn't be able to concentrate in my class because of my "beauty." So that last part is what makes this all seem a little weird to me...he is always overly friendly, kind, excited to see me...but I just figured I was becoming a regular...hmmm what do you all think? Should I continue going to my favorite 7-11 or is it time to switch it up? Friendly or Creepy? I seriously want your opinion! What am I to do without my Diet Dr. Pepper?

Panic...duck and cover...

An immediate heart attack red covered my face when I realized...THAT MY SKIRT HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND! Yesterday after Relief Society, I stood up, looked down and panicked at the devastating thoughts rushing through my mind when I realized that my skirt had fallen off! Apparently the string that I tie to keep my skirt attached wasn't pulled tight enough and had made it slip down! Luckily I was wearing a black slip and only one or two people seemed to notice. A friend in the ward sitting next to me kind of covered one side of me as I panicked and got down in a squatting position to readjust myself. I tell you, you're never too old for embarrassing moments...I'm beginning to wonder if this is just the beginning of them...

I know you're going to ask & I'm gonna say yes...

GT Automotive is by far my favorite place to get my oil changed at!

Some of you have noticed while running around with me that my "maintenance required" light has been flashing...this has gone on for the past month. Being the daughter of a car man has taught me to wait...to wait until my dad has time to check out the problem. Well my roommate Niki's "check engine"'s light has been flashing and she had her brother take a peek and check all the fluids and then the flashing magically disappeared. Thus, her experience inspired me to finally get my oil changed.

Another thing you must know to understand why what I'm about to say is so funny to me...each time I go to get my oil changed they tell me I need a new air filter and I always say "oh, no my dad will take care of that." (I'm always a little leery that they're trying to rip me off, although these guys know my dad pretty well because my dad is over their shop for part of his insurance job...so I doubt they would try to mess with me.)

Okay, so for the punch line...or just something I think is funny:). Today I go to GT and pull up to the garage and then I go talk to the guy in charge, he hands me a form to fill out and says to just put my name and then he pointed to where it said car color. I thought it was odd that the only question they would ask about my car was what color it was, I looked around and saw like 5 silver cars! Then the guy realized that he pointed to the wrong line, he really just wanted my number, but not in a "I want your number, hehehe" kind of a way. Then I look and him and say....


"I know you're going to ask, and I'm gonna say yes; I want a new air-filter."

The guy behind him starts laughing hysterically! I didn't realize how funny I was! I bet they get rejected all the time when they ask if you want a new air-filter or new wipers, I'm sure it's common topic of conversation. Anyway, maybe this is one of those things that you just had to be there...but I had a good laugh:). It kinda sounded like something you'd say when someones about to propose...hahaha. Hope your next trip to the automotive shop is just as entertaining:).

Gotta GO, Gotta GO, Gotta GO Right NOW!

Have you ever had to go to the bathroom so bad that you suddenly realized you were making whimpering noises? And then as soon as you got to your destination, you bolted out of the car, ran as fast as you could to your house and as you were running, lost your cell phone in the snow, but still had to go sooooo bad that you left it for the cold? Well, if you haven’t, DON’T! It’s quite the traumatic experience! That’s what happened me as I got home from my trip.

I went to Idaho this weekend to visit my BFF Kristy! Kristy and I have been friends for 21 years now! My sister came up with me and we jammed out to country music the whole way up! Some of the highlights from the trip:

DISCOUNT MOVIES! Everybody loves a good deal right? Right☺! We went and saw Enchanted. I had never seen the previews…I had heard from a girl in my singles ward that it was a good movie. So the movie begins and I quickly realize that it’s an animated movie…I began to worry…nothing against animated movies, I actually like a lot of animated movies, I just usually wait ‘til they come out on DVD, unless they’re a "must see." This movie seemed a bit too kiddy friendly and a little over the top especially the theme song entitled “A True Loves Kiss” ☺. But then animated characters turned into humans, it was still a bit corny, but I do fall for romance in any form, ha-ha. (I’m a hopeless romantic, what can I say☺)

OLIVE GARDEN! Kristy’s husband Mike is a manager at Olive Garden. I ordered “The Tour of Italy.” It was so expensive! I felt slightly guilty…we even ordered an appetizer! And sadly, NO DESSERT! This whole no sweets for 6 months is hard! I have to keep reminding myself that dessert will never desert me…I just can’t have it right now☺.

GAMES! We played a lot of games this weekend! We played, Egyptian Rat Screw (I’m horrible at this game!), Nibs, Dominos, Apples to Apples, and Imaginiff. I found out that I’m horrible at card games! At one point in our game playing my sister said to me “If I had your brain, I would be so frustrated!” I tend to over-think and overanalyze, I try to use the best strategies☺.

POT ROAST! We made a pot roast in the crock pot! Mom you would be so proud of me! I can now cook in a Dutch Oven and in a Crock Pot! Here are some pics of the process….(you must always brown the roast first, daddy taught me well! Oh, and always use the drippings from the raost in your gravy, yum, yum!)

Left: Sautéing the Onions---------- Right: Browning the Roast

Left: "Just Add Water!" ----------Right: " Ta-Da! Dinner for 4!"

GRADING! Leslee and Kristy helped me grade papers! Kristy had a riot! She kept saying, I could be a teacher, this is fun! She would criticize handwriting and complement their little doodle drawings on the back of their papers. I wish I had grading helpers all the time! Thanks Les and Kristy Sue!

REAL MOVIES! We went and saw Mad Money right before we left for our journey home. It was funny movie. Just them talking about beginning tight with money made my skin crawl!

DRIVE HOME! Our drive home was perfect, the weather was great! And of course there was my little bathroom adventure upon arriving home☺. I kept thinking "mom are we there yet? Mom, how many more miles? Mom, I can't wait any longer!" (My sister says that she feels sorry for the man I marry, she said that if I have a weak blatter now, who knows what I'll be like when I'm pregnant!) Well I hope that everyone else had a fun Martin Luther King Day weekend! Yay for 3 day weekends! Cheerio!

On the left: Les & Me -----------On the right: Kristy & Me

Left: The "falls" of Idaho Falls----------- Right: Idaho Falls Temple

Left: Leslee---------- Right: Kristy

Left: Mike, Kristy, Leslee, Me ----------Right: Kristy & Mike

Last Moments of 2007!

I think I ate every possible sweet treat in my last moments of 2007…you see my friend Katey and I made a bet. A bet, that for 6 months we could go without sweets. Now I’ve done this a couple times before, and its quite a good thing for me. It helps me to gain will-power and to abstain from not so healthy food choices…. Sweets are a good friend of mine and because I’m leaving this friend, I’ve written a letter to say goodbye…

Dear Sugary Goodness,

Today I must say goodbye to you. I know that we’ve been together for quite sometime. I’ve grown (no pun intended) to love you over the years…you’ve been there through everything. You were there for me when I got my first broken arm, you were there for me when my dad cut my bangs an 1/8 of an inch long, you were there for me when I failed that test in AP Calc, you were there for me during all the good times too, like birthdays, holidays, parties, dates, and you were even there for every church event. I want to thank you for all the time you’ve spent with me…and for being there for me when I most needed you…but I must say goodbye and do this thing called life on my own. I know I’ve said goodbye to you at least a million times, maybe more…I know last year our break up only lasted 9 months…I just couldn’t live without you during that trip to Europe. This time I need at least 6 months…this break will be good for us, I just know it! So please don’t come visit…I need my space…if you want to hang out with my friends that’s fine…some of them need you more than I do…you are just so irresistible!

Love always,

Tiffany

the best gift...

Yesterday my entire family gathered around the kitchen table to talk to my brother Joey who is on a mission in Brazil. We used a conference call phone that enabled everyone to hear his voice and all his updates…we were only allowed 45 minutes! All three girls in the fam were so choked up we couldn’t talk at first…that’s when you know he’s missed…Joey told us lots of great missionary experiences. He seems to be fighting some fungus on his leg, dealing with a sore of some sort on his lip, and is sweating profusely due to the extreme heat! He told us that one week his power went out and they had to wash their laundry on a washboard…I guess I shouldn’t complain about doing my laundry…all in all he’s loving it!

I loved talking to him! He’s still the same old Joey, he’s a bit more spiritual, a bit more cleanly, and he’s become quite the cook, but his humor, his laughter, and his zest for doing crazy random things has not changed! Matter of fact, he and his companion made their own Christmas tree! It’s 6 Feet tall and made out of paper, colored green with crayons.

EITHER WASH YOUR HANDS OR PUT SOME GLOVES ON…NEED I SAY MORE?!?!

Due to the hustle and bustle of Christmas, traveling, and working, I haven’t had a whole lot of time to make a grocery list, therefore, I haven’t gone grocery shopping and I have nothing to eat! Don’t you worry, I’m not lacking in the food department because I go out to eat everyday! This has got to stop ASAP, my budget can’t take it anymore! My body can’t take it either!!! After I go to Chicago I promise I will make a grocery list, go shopping and STOP eating out all the time!

As a result of my increased eating out habit, I’ve become conscious of sanitation! Today when I went with my co-worker to Gandolfo’s we noticed a strong cigarette smoke scent. Not something you want to smell when you walk into a restaurant….none-the-less, we ordered our food and dismissed the astounding stench. Mind you, the guy who was taking our order was the only guy in the place and it looked as if he had just walked in from a smoke break. He didn’t even wash his hands, but I just said to myself “at least he hasn’t made my sandwich yet, I’m sure he’ll get to it before he begins to touch food.” As I went to get my drink, I noticed a second guy walk in through the back door of Gandolfo’s. He went straight to the sandwich counter and started making our order! I was appalled! The first guy went to help him, but he put on some gloves first. I watched for a minute and was disgusted, so with all the courage and might I could muster….I went to them and said “I am germophobic person and I noticed that it smells like smoke in here and that guy just came from a brake and hasn’t washed his hands.” The first guy proceeded to tell me that they always wear gloves, so it shouldn’t be a problem. I replied “Well, then why isn’t he wearing gloves?” He seemed a little surprised by my comment and then went to talk to his friend/co-worker. Wow! I can’t believe I did that! But the thought of his gross hands touching my food made me want to vomit! So there you have it…EITHER WASH YOUR HANDS OR PUT SOME GLOVES ON and don’t you dare touch my food until then! I’m really not a germophob…I just prefer clean hands on my food over dirty ones!