Toast to May

Here we are again. Time to acknowledge the small things that happened during the most recent 31 days. Things that maybe didn't need a full blog, but deserve to be archived forever on the internets. 
Here's to being engaged for 1 whole week. I will eventually stop mentioning that..... or maybe I won't. 
Here's to getting to see my dad tonight for the first time as an engaged person. He's been out of town for a week, and I cannot wait to see him!
Here's to not knowing what to say in certain situations. "That must have really set him back!" "He spent some serious duck dollars on that"................... thanks??
Here's to the teacher that said, "I didn't even know you had a boyfriend!"...... my momma will be glad to know I did not respond with "that's because you never come out of your room."
Here's to best friend dinner dates. 

Here's to our weigh in being over. And here's to my future sister in law saying she was dropping out. I told her I'd sacrifice and not weigh with her as well.
Here's to now being on the LGN diet. sorry mom.
Here's to my first official wedding purchase. A stamp. Because I ain't about a lot of writing.

Here's to wedding planning. Because I think I'm going to be ok at it.
Here's to still being on cloud ninety.... because nine is just way too low of a number.
Hey J months.... nice to see you again. 

What Men Say: Duck Dude and Man BFF

This post got a little pushed back... because... well.. I got engaged! But it's here now and I am so excited! Because these two guys are so funny and so willing to let me ask them anything. So now, here is the Duck Dude and Man BFF edition. 
Man BFF is in the blue and Duck Dude is in the pink. And, of course, my comments are in the parentheses. Enjoy. 

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate yourself as familiar with girls… (the things we do, the things we wear, make up)? 

A 10, my sister was my roommate this year. I am a man forever changed.

Just when i think i start to understand women, I realize i do not at all.  Realistically, do men every fully understand women? My answer is no.  But i am confident I have a slight grasp on understand them.  I'll give myself a 6.  Ask me tomorrow and it might be down to a 4 though.

What is the make-up called that we put on our face that makes it more bronze? 

Bronzer. I was going to say something sarcastic but last time I did that I got the answer wrong so ill keep it simple.

I believe this is called bronzer.  It is that flakey powder women use a paint brush to apply to their whole face.  Or maybe it is called the foundation...  

(Way to go! Startin it off easy!)

Spray tan? Tanning booth? All natural? 

I really think you should just show everyone the selfie I sent and the answer will be very self explanatory.

I am all about girls who tan naturally.  The tanning booth and spray tan options usually end up as an excuse for girls to have the little white heart on their hip to show off.  Not my style.  I am however guilty of tanning in a booth but only to build my dark complexion before a week of vacation on the beach to be sure not to burn.  that was a lie, i actually tan to compete with the dark natural complexion mollie has.

(Man BFF is always white.. or red. :) I can't help it that I just tan!)

What is your opinion of crop tops? (the shirts that show mid-driff) 

They are hott especially if the girl has a belly button ring

I'm not a fan of the crop tops in public.  A woman showing her mid drift usually identifies her as very young and trying to get attention.  However, if a girl is comfortable showing her mid drift, then she is not afraid for someone to see her belly button.

(hmm.. who is single and who has the fiancé?? haha)

If you’re on a first date and a girl orders a burger and fries, you think…..

I hope her metabolism never slows down otherwise shes gonna get fat.

there is nothing more attractive than a girl that is completely fine with eating finger foods on a first date.  This shows she is simple, comfortable eating with her hands, and not high maintenance.  Or she might just like burgers, in that case I am way off.

(Man BFF is really not the shallow. I don't think I ate for the first 3 dates Duck Dude and I went out on.. I don't know why that weirds me out)

If your girlfriend was obsessed with one Disney princess, who would you want it to be and why? 

Elsa. Have you seen the ‘let it go’ music video?!?!  She’s hott, blonde and can sing just like the sister of a certain blog writer I know ;). Enough said.

This one I know.  Being my girlfriend writes this blog, I better get this right.  Mollie would be Belle off of Beauty in the Beast.  She would be her because Belle is a brunette, beautiful and  loved the Beast even though he was a wild looking animal.  This parallels our relationship especially during duck season when I look like duck dynasty.

(niiiice Man BFF. And I definitely would be Belle. Always and forever..... and when Duck Dude wrote this... I was still his girlfriend! HA!)

What if a girl wanted you to eat gluten free? 

The beer manufacturers would make sure she ‘disappeared’. They wouldn’t be able to handle that big of a loss in revenue.

I would ask her if I had to drink gluten free as well.  I'm not going to change the ways I eat simply because someone asks that I eat differently.  I have tried the gluten free thing and failed miserably simply because I was not aware of all the great tasting things that are made with the protein found in wheat and oats.  

(This was funny to me. And don't let Duck Dude fool you, he only knew that because of Jimmy Kimmel.)

How do you feel about lipstick? 

I like it because this one time when I was heading from New York to Haiti some girl…..’got lipstick stains on my passport, make it hard to leave. Been around the world, don’t speak the language.’

Lipstick is for women with bad looking lips.  It gets everywhere with drinking on a glass, to kissing, etc.  I am completely fine with a nice gloss or flavored chapstick.  I will gladly let a my girlfriend wear lipstick if she will let me stay away from gluten free.

(This basically defines why Man BFF and I are BFFs.)

What’s your opinion on the current season Bachelorette Andi?

I thought the entire bachelor/bachelorette franchise imploded after they let that Juan Pablo tool on there?

Andi is an extremely attractive woman and seems to be intelligent with her past job as an attorney.  I have noticed that every swimsuit she wears covers her belly button.  Which is contradictory to my answer about crop tops.  Andi wearing one peice bathing suits does make me curious to what is wrong with her belly button.  Does it look funny?  Does she have an outie?  does she even have a belly button?  I do think it will be a good season.  And yes, I do watch the bachelor/bachelorette religiously as it is great entertainment. 

(We figured out Andi has a normal belly button this week on the Bachelorette!! Did anyone else notice??)

Why do women take so long to get ready?

Cause they’re poopin

Technology has advanced so much in the last 5 years.  Women take so long to get ready now days because they have their favorite reality tv show series playing on their ipad while they put on makeup, dry their hair, get dressed and simply get sucked into the show and lose track of time.

(uh-oh... Duck Dude has seen me get ready before.....)

What are you most looking forward to for the NYC trip of 2014?

The Jersey Shore beeches. All the judging looks you’re going to give the snookie look-a-likes, all the overly sarcastic comments I’ll be making and duck dude shirtless sounds like paradise to me. 

This will be my first time to NYC and I am quite nervous about the way I talk, walk, interact as a Texan.  I will definitely stand out.  I am looking forward to going to all of the small hot spots that are not touristy.  Our tour guide, Man BFF, has clear instructions to take me to the placed the locals like to hang out.  This I am pumped about.  It is going to be a great trip and glad we got it in before my best friend and Mollies best friend move back to Texas.

Eeeeek. June 27th get here!!!!!!

Where's the Buffet At?

I put this picture on my board yesterday to tell my students about Duck Dude. Here's a glimpse into my everyday life of adolescents. 

“You are loved.”

Yes I am.

“What’s your new last name going to be?”

"Sheridan”

“…. It kinda goes!” 

In an approving way, for sure.... but I said, "Good! I don't have much say in that!"

“Is he a professional golfer?”

Duck dude later said please tell me you told them yes. 

“Let me see the ring…. (looks at it)… oh I was gonna say dump him if it’s not good… but it’s pretty good.”

This was actually the first student who asked to look at my ring. I was very surprised it was this boy. 

Student A: “You get a coke and I don’t?”

Student B: “She’s engaged. She can do whatever she wants.”

Right on student B. I will be using this for the remaining 8 days. 

Student C: “Can I be the worst man at your wedding?”

Student D: “Ohh! I’ll be the preacher!! You like her. You like him. Alright. Where’s the buffet at?”

I'm down for that. 

“I really have no idea how it’s not Mr. Smith!!!!!”

“The blonde sister looks like Paris Hilton.”

I didn't even know my kids knew who Paris Hilton was! 

“Omg coach. It’s HUUUGE!”

I just keep saying, "It's pretty pretty."

“Wait, but let’s set this straight. Did you ever date Mr. Leonard or Mr. Smith?”

“No.”

“Whaaaat? I can’t even right now. You are blowing my mind.”

Welcome to the world of you really have zero idea what your teacher does on the weekends, or weeknights, and nor will you ever.

“Ms. Lindstrom! You never even told me you were dating someone!!”

See my previous thought.

“Ms… Congratulations.” (gives me a high five)

This one was precious.

"It looks even better in person!!"

One of my favorites and one of the few that has my number. Her mom woke her up at 8 am on Saturday after I texted her mom because she just had to!! 

My students are the best. 

Duck Dude Fiancé

Friday night was going to be a fantastic night. First summer fireworks of the summer out on the boat. Catch phrase, picnics, and friends... that part is all normal. I brought my real camera with me, and snapped some pictures for a fantastic blog post today. 

We were having a great time.. then Travis' cousin and best friend went up to the front of the boat. My thoughts? I guess they want some alone time! I'll use this time to snap some pictures of the sunset. 

Duck Dude: "Hey babe, come sit by me!"

Me: "I've got to instagram this sunset before my phone dies!!"

I instagram and then go sit by him. I hear the song playing in the background, and remember thinking it was pretty. And before I know it, Duck Dude asks me to stand up with him. I ask why? But he was already pulling me up. I look towards the front of the boat and see his cousin filming with the Go Pro... why does she have the Go Pro out? Still oblivious... 

Then Duck Dude said some really nice things... I have to say that, because I actually have no idea what he said. My mind was racing. All I know is that it ended with, "Will you marry me?"

I said yes. 

His best friends started playing "Happy" and I could just stand there. In shock. In awe. And so dang happy. 

 

Duck Dude: "Let's celebrate right now and we will call everyone in a little bit."

Me: "My phone's basically dead anyway. I'm fine with that!"

3 minutes later we pull up to the restaurant on the lake and I see the crying faces of both of our families!! It was so phenomenal. I can definitely say perfect Fridays look like this. 

Then we all went back out on the boat and watched fireworks together. 

Me, my family, his family, and my duck dude fiancé. 

Cabbage Slaw with Ramen

I took this recipe to the crawfish boil the other weekend. Duck Dude and I were the youngest people there by 15ish years? So when I whipped out my ramen noodles in a ziploc bag, I got, "What are you putting that in?" I got a little self-conscious and then just said the slaw outside! 
Duck Dude and I let everyone go in front, because we were busy talking away. By the time we got our own plate.... there was maybe one spoonful for each of us. The slaw was gone, and I felt vindicated for bringing ramen noodles to a party! 
This recipe is easy, and delicious. Every time I make it I double the recipe, so I just wrote the recipe below for the doubled amount! I wrote serves 10, but I could probably eat it all in 2 days tops. I brought it to our luncheon yesterday and cannot wait to eat the 2 spoonfuls left for lunch! 

If you are taking this recipe to a party, I suggest putting the ramen noodles in a ziploc bag. You can break them apart before or when you get there, but I would not put them on until right before you serve it!

The final picture is sitting on my camera, and I forgot my cord. So I'll update the post later with the final picture.... you get the idea. 

Happy almost Friday.

Clancypants

I have this friend name Clancy, and she is very special to me. So special, I gave her one of my most favorite nicknames ever, Clancypants. She is a part of that Baylor family I've talked about before. More specifically, she's the military brat but sweetest person ever.. person. 
Both her parents were in the Air Force and she followed right behind them. I always thought it was cool, because I love planes, and now Clancypants gets to fly all these planes that I just get to read about. She is full of creativity and full of life. She is a problem solver, but without ever being too bossy. When she was walking in the Homecoming parade with Baylor's ROTC, she just smiled whenever I yelled like a crazy person at her! She didn't even mess up her cadence! She is the most non-judgemental person and I always knew I could tell her anything.
She was one of my first blog readers and is always so supportive. When I look at my "audience", I love knowing those South Korea views are Clancypants. Nowadays, she's in Germany, so now I know my views from Germany are Clancypants. And I smile every single time. 
Why am I telling you all this? Because yesterday, my Clancypants became a Captain in the United States Air Force. 
She's the coolest dang Captain I know.

 

 

 
I am so, so proud of her. I am grateful that she is serving our country. I am honored to call her my friend and my Clancypants.  

I am a Texas Sterotype

Last night, I got to have dinner with the president of Duck Dude’s duck organization… along with a couple other people! Their organization is based out of Bismark, North Dakota. I, personally, have never been to any of the Dakotas, but I got invited after last night!

I might have asked if they had Nordstroms in North Dakota, and I also found out they drive trucks on to lakes during the winter. Woah. Then, one lady started saying how she imagined Texas to be a lot more like west Texas (dry, sand storms, tumble weeds, etc.) and Dallas was a lot prettier than she imagined.

Today, I give you, reasons why I am a walking, breathing Texas stereotype.

#1. I say y’all a lot.

If you’ve been around these parts for even the tiniest of times, I have probably slipped in at least one y’all. This also encompasses phrases like “bless your heart”, “fixin’ to”, “over yonder”, and “hold your horses.”

(I would legitimately decorate with this) 

#2. I have horses.

And I love them, and I talk about them a lot, and I think they are the prettiest horses in the whole wide world.

 

 

 #3. Monogram everything.

It a’int worth wearin’ if it a’int monogrammed. Towels, beach towels, shorts, shirts, jackets, totes, luggage, computer cases, clipboards, headbands, and even the disposable Styrofoam cups I drink out of every day at school.

#4. I can handle the heat.

Laying out for 6 hours in 100 degrees? No problem. That super hot feeling when you get in your car after it’s been sitting in the sun? I love it. Having to play tennis at night so you do not have a heat stroke? Perfect! Make me go outside for 30 minutes when it’s 55 degrees? No thanks. You will find me in a jacket sub 60 degrees. It’s cold.

#5. Higher the hair, closer to God.

The teasing life is real life. My students constantly ask me if I have a bump it in. I take it as a compliment. And chances are if you’re going out with me, I will attempt to tease your hair to! And when you like it, I will be very excited (ahem, Duck Dude’s sister).

 

(It's a process y'all, we didn't actually go out like that! And big hair runs in the fam, especially on wedding days)

#6. I listen to country music, AND love it!

Not that main stream country, real country. My kids love when I make them listen to Sunny Sweeney, but we were kinda friends because she messaged me on Myspace once. Then there’s that Gaither Gospel music. When you grow up in a musical family, there’s no way to get around this one. Tell me Carrie doesn’t give you goosebumps.

#7. I see cows while I’m driving on a daily basis.

And one of my favorite games to play is still “hey cow!” How do you play hey cow? You yell out the window, “HEY COWWW!” and however many cows turn and look, that’s how many points you get. Duck Dude and I are fierce rivals when it comes to this game.

I am Texan through and through. 

Be Someone's Umbrella

It's Monday. I had a fantastic, relaxing weekend. I am very content right now. Not a bad content, just a happy content. 
I'm in a quote-y mood. So today, you're getting quotes. Not as a cop out, as a they can say it better. I thought about picking one and solely talking about that one, but I couldn't even do that. I want my heart to be kind, I want to be noble, I want to be present in the present, and I want to remain confident in the Lord. 

 

 

 

Happy Monday. Be someone's umbrella today.