"You just gotta ignite the light/ And let it shine"

I gave up Facebook a few weeks ago cause I didn't do much on it. And it was kind of getting to the point where it could be renamed "DisappointmentBook" because of the never ending changes, privacy concerns, and just seeing stuff I could go without seeing (ignorance is bliss, after all). So when Facebook was forcing this new profile design onto me, I thought, hey, all I really do is check the newsfeed on my phone a few times a day and that's all. Why not deactivate my account and see if there is THAT much of a difference in my life. A month later, I'm still going strong. Twitter is now my social media of choice. I don't understand why more people don't use it. And it is so true how the people who denounce it are the ones who make the most status updates on FB. Don't hate.

Anyway, since I've cut FB out of my life, I have more time to read more of both the novel and blog variety. I have a few go-to-blogs but am always in search of more so if you have any you'd like to pass along, please do in the comments.

The top three I have frequented in the past few weeks are:

1. Enjoying the Small Things. If you're a first time visitor, click the tab that says "Start Here if You're New" and have some tissues nearby as you read Nella's birth Story. Don't skip ahead and look at the pictures, it will ruin the overall effect of the story. And Kelle's pictures are amazing and while sometimes her language is a little too flourished for me, I still like to read what she has to say about her family.

2. Tyler Stanton of TrippandTyler fame. I gotta admit, I always thought Tyler was the Bob to Tripp's Larry; the more serious (/less funny) of the two. And oh how I was wrong. After reading both their blogs, I am now borderline obsessed with Tyler's. He is hilarious. I follow him on Twitter (and he requested to follow me yesterday! Sure, he has a "you follow me, I follow you" policy but I'll take it) and I just ordered his book on Amazon.

3. Bryan Allain. I stumbled across him because of Tyler's name dropping and I'm glad I did. Some of his rants from his early blogging days are so funny because they are SO true. Check him out.

Okay, I've shared some of my favorites, now please share some of yours so I'm not bored at work (when the kids are taking their nap if anyone from work reads this :) ).

"And you told us to decide what we want today/ But I don't know"

Happy New Year! Okay, so I am a little late on that but hey, at least it is still January. I was going to write a post about how I suck at New Year's Resolutions. I think since I was eight years old it has been to stop biting my nails. This year, I lasted about a day. But then I watched a particularly intense episode of Dexter and all hope was lost. Then it was to write a blog post every day for a year. Then before I knew it, it was January 2nd. Fail. Maybe I can try again in February. And my other usual one is the cliched eat better/work out more. Then Snowpocalypse 2011 hit the DAY I was going to start so that meant I couldn't go outside and we only had nonperishables in the house so what can you do?

I worked on the book some today. Still editing. I know. It's a long, tedious process. As I've said, I work at a Preschool. And apparently I like trendy names because the two main characters I have in my book are the names of kids in my class. But that's okay, they are cute kids, I don't feel like I have to change them. But the name of the girl everyone hates in the book is unfortunately the name of one of my girls too. Oh no. At first I thought I would just power through it but now I really feel bad. So the hunt is on for a new name. It's hard picking a name you like but for a "bad" character. I've already said how I have strong connotations to names. Angelina-- Jolie (Did you know that was the 86th most popular name in 2010? Seriously?) Amelia--- Earhart. Mariah-- Carey. And those are just celebrity ones. Throw in the names of kids at work, friends of my nieces, cousins, and it gets tricky. And I can't pick a name I hate because I am still going to be using it. I care way too much about trivial stuff. But it's not trivial in the scheme of things. Or at least that is what I am going to tell myself. So the search continues. I'll let you know what I decide.... maybe.

"Up on the rooftop/ Reindeer pause/ Out jumps good old Santa Claus"

I may have done something awful to my kids today. But I may also be absolutely brilliant.

Between the freezing weather and their specials (spanish, science, music) being cancelled, the kids and I are spending A LOT of time in our room. I understand that Christmas is coming and they are getting a little stir crazy and being in a 16x16 foot room is finally taking its toll. That being said they have been OUT OF CONTROL these past few days. I hit a desperate moment earlier today. And the following ensued:

One of the other teachers walked by the door carrying some jingle bells for a craft. All of my kids backs were turned so they didn't SEE who was the cause of the jingling. And I may have gasped and said "I just saw Santa peek into our room!" All of the kids may have gotten whiplash as they turned to see if he was still there. But unfortunately he wasn't. But then I took it a step further and said I saw him write down on a list the kids who were being nice and listening and sitting criss-cross applesauce and being good. He also wrote down the kids who were being naughty and flopping around on the floor and talking while the teacher was talking and not being on their best behavior. They could hear still the jingling down the hall. I definitely saw some doubt on the kids' faces but there was a glimmer of "What if she is telling the truth and he saw me being naughty?" Let's just say they were all sitting criss-cross applesauce from that point forward.

Brilliant or cruel? I'll let you decide. Then if you vote cruel, I will gladly let you come into my room and take the reins for a few hours and we'll see what tricks you have up your sleeve.

My only regret is not coming up with this in November. Have my assistant jingle some bells outside the door a couple times a week when things were getting rough. I'm a genius.

"I did it/ do you think I've gone too far/ I did it/ Guilty as charged"

I did it! I did it! Thirty days of blogging! DONE! I may have quit ballet, gymnastics, the violin, that one art class I took, majoring in advertising, and trying to run long (really any) distances but I did this!!! Didn't think I could but I did. This gives me new hope and confidence that I can post more often on here even when I'm exhausted from being surrounded by kids all day. So I'll try to post more regularly. Maybe twice a week. A tiny little thought in the back of my mind says try to do it every day for a year but I don't think I have enough to say. I know, hard to believe. But I promise to try to write more often. Thanks for being along for the ride. It was fun slash stress inducing when I realized my bedtime was drawing near and I hadn't written anything that day. Still. Fun times.

P I'm an idiot. It was a month on the 8th. Oh well. Two bonus posts on top for good luck. Or one step closer to the year long goal?! Nahhhh, just don't think I can. But we'll see.

"Baby you gotta know that I'm just out here/ ... I'm taking these chances"

I hate to say it, but the quality of The Office has declined in recent seasons. I don't know if they are just running out of ideas or steam or what but it just has not been the same. I've read people blame the union of Jim and Pam but I don't agree. I LOVED when they finally got together. But it's like the writers no longer knew what to do with them so they just made them unlikeable. Pam... I mean whatever. She was an idiot with the whole not choosing Jim for years thing. I could take her or leave her. But Jim! Jim! I love him. And sometimes I just cringe for what they are making John Krasinski do on the show. Who knows? His movie career is increasing so maybe he wants off. But most certainly Steve Carell does. Especially in tonight's episode (Classy Christmas) I noticed how much older he looks; so drained like he is over this whole deal and can't wait to get out the door.

I'm not saying I am giving up the show. I saw glimpses of the old goodness in tonight's episode. I just want Jim and Pam to likable again. And Andy to be hilarious (talk about an evolution! I hated that guy and now he might be my ultimate favorite). And why are they trying to make everyone hate Oscar all of the sudden? Just find your old stride, Office writers, please. Don't have a good thing go to waste.

PS If you didn't hear the Lil Wayne/Office theme song mash-up that was circulating a few months ago on the internet, you are missing out. Gold-den.