BREAST CANCER MONTH: DAY 3

Nothing better than breast cancer accessories.  These are my two BC accessories for today:

I got the watch online at The Breast Cancer Site.  They have lots of watches there right now, here are two: slap bracelet watch or the stainless steel watch.  I got the pin at Cherry Lane Boutique in the Provo.

BREAST CANCER MONTH: DAY 2

Today is in the top three best/worst days of the October holiday season.  My sweet Grammy passed away two years ago today.  Whenever people lose their loved ones it is crazy amounts of hard but even with that day being hard it was still so amazing. I think about her every single day, I really think about her during October, and especially today she has been on my mind.  My BC item for the day is the ribbon I made to wear at my grandmother's funeral.  I wear a ribbon every day in October but this one is my favorite and by far the most special.

The ribbon

The day of her funeral

BREAST CANCER MONTH: DAY 1

Welcome to October, also known as the best month of the year.  Everyday this month I am going to showcase some piece of Breast Cancer paraphernalia that I have.  Some are weird.  Some are very special.  Some are classy.  Day 1 BC item: Rubber Ducky

I love my BC rubbery ducky.  There is a little button on the bottom that makes the whole thing light up in different colors - adorable.  I have about five of these Rubber Duckies.  It used to be six but my first year teaching I had one on my desk and the very first time I ever had a substitute teacher a student stole it off my desk. When I got back and saw that it was stolen I was heartbroken.  However, a group of students made pink signs saying "lost ducky" and put them all over the school. It was so kind and so darling.  I did not get my rubber ducky back but I did find out his fate - a student has stored it in their locker and then threw it away when they thought they might get into trouble for it.  Stupid kids.  Stupid cancer too.

RIP

Dear Sweet got me these sunglasses at H&M after I had been eying them for months.  I.  Love.  Heart.  Sunglasses. Like a lot. These were my favorite sunglasses of all time but unfortunately we had to part ways this summer.  They fell off whilst rafting down the mighty Colorado during a water fight at Raft For The Cure.  Lets take a stroll down memory lane.

Raft for the Cure: Moab - 2012  (place of passing for my sunglasses)

Civil Rights Tour with Mrs. Sabey and Miss Kingman: Montgomery, Alabama - 2012

Lagoon with Deb - 2012

RFTC: Moab - 2012

Corona del Mar - 2012

Visit from Dear Sweet: walking up Provo Canyon - 2012

Hiking Bridal Veil Falls - 2012

WHAT THE OLYMPICS TAUGHT ME

1. My husband will have an 8 pack and no chest hair
2. I might not love my kids if they don't earn Olympic medals
   *might need to adopt a black baby to ensure an Olympian in the family
3. Ponytails should not have a part - slick backed only
4. Learn to do archery or skeet shooting so I don't have to get fit
5. Must watch 5 hours of television everyday
6. Drape an American flag over my shoulders to feel like a champion
7. Never root for the underdog - only popular athletes 
8. Pick my sports based on costume - also known as uniform 
9. Pick my sports based on a lack of Chinese or Russian competitors 
10. ALWAYS watch the Olympics

FOR CRUTCHIE

I had a very simple knee surgery this week.  Simple as it was, it is extremely annoying to deal with post-surgery.  I hate crutches.  I hate compression stockings.  I hate pain medication.  I hate sleeping on my back with my leg on pillows.  I hate feeling dizzy and nauseous.  I hate being bothered with all this.  The only upside is I do love anesthesia.  What a great nap.  Plus I have a really stellar mom who waited on me hand and foot.

Two days after surgery I had to go back to work.  Blah.  Well today I started feeling sorry for myself as it took me about 10-15 minutes just to descend my staircase and get to the car.  I had to take a breather on the landing of the stairs and cry a little because I was frustrated.  That is when I knew exactly what I had to do.  Crutchie, from Newsies, got through mobs and jail.  I could freaking get down the stairs!  I promptly went to iTunes and downloaded the entire soundtrack and listened to some motivational Newsies on my way to work.  Yes, I know it is so ridiculous but it made so much sense at the time.

I WAY HEART THE OLYMPICS

Please don't tell but I totally feel the spirit more during the Olympics that most church related worshiping.  You can't beat the combination of American pride, world unity, achieving goals, underdogs rising, cheesy (yet I always cry at them) athlete profiles, etc.

We celebrated the Opening Ceremonies in style at Casa Provo. 

American meal (grilled chicken, potatoes, homemade bread, fruits, etc.)

American & Swedish pride

BEST PLACES IN UTAH

 I absolutely LOVE this state.  I especially LOVE the scenery of this state.  My career is teaching teenagers that this is the best place on earth.  These are my top 10 favorite places in Utah. Everyone should see these places before they die.  I tell my students they are not allowed to die until they go to Lake Powell.


1. Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - must spend a week on a houseboat!)

 

 

2. Dead Horse Point (Canyonlands National Park)

 3. Kennecott Copper Mine (Oquirrh Mountains)

4. Hole-In-The-Rock/Bluff (The pioneer road and the entire town they settled.  You must hike it from the lake to the top and back down.  Bluff is darling, historical, quiet, quaint, and in the middle of no where.)

 5. Muley Point (One of the most beautiful scenes from a dirt road in southern Utah that if you really want to see it you must search it out, I will never tell)

6. Delicate Arch (Hike, Arches National Park - yes I actually took this picture, I think it is quite pretty)
 

7. Angels Landing (Hike, Zion National Park)

8. Deer Valley - both seasons (Park City skiing without snowboarders! Rated #1 ski resort dozens of times)

9. Great Salt Lake (Antelope Island is the best access point with the causeway plus they have a herd of Buffalo)

10. Temple Square - both seasons

MOVIN' ON UP

I don't believe in tenure but I have it.  You are now looking at the new and improved Miss Belnap with tenure and Level II licensure!  It means they cannot fire me unless I look at naughty things at school or hurt kids.  It also means I make $1,015.00 more per year.  Not that much at all when you spread that out in 12 months of pay checks but oh well.  Considering that I had to pay over $300.00 to re-license, I think the pay increase is even less significant. Can you believe I am going to start my 5th year teaching this August?!  That just makes me feel so far removed from college.  Sad.  I loved BYU.  It sure was easier than real life, full-time work.