Updating

I am very very sorry for my lack of blogging as of late. I feel awful. I feel like I just read other people's blogs and twitter nowadays. I love twitter. To keep you updated on my life, because, let's face it....why else would you read this? I will tackle this update the best way I know how. With a list.

Without further ado, here are the top five new things going on in the Harms house.

1. We went to see the Sooners play the Shorthorns on Saturday. And no, we don't want to talk about it.

2. We want to get another dog, and we are trying to get this puppy that looks just like Sadie. I am not sure why. Because we want to mix them up? Because it will be fun to not know which German Shepherd mix made the mess or chewed the shoe?

3. I am having trouble with blogging, because I want to just tell everything and I can't....because I think it would get me into trouble if the wrong person read it. Does anyone else feel this way when they blog?

4. We had a Baby Blessing yesterday at church and we have 25 new babies! And after that, we had a Baby Blessing Brunch. (Say that 3 times fast. I dare you.) We had over 90 people there! Yes. 90! 9! 0! Craziness. If you know me at all, you know that I was just a little bit stressed about it.

5. I just read "Ten Thousand Splendid Suns" and would HIGHLY recommend it. It was recommended to me by my good friend, Allissa. She gets a gold star for this stellar recommendation. It is a fantastic book.

Much love,

Allison

What's new around here?

I am slacking on my blog. I realize this. You don't need to tell me. Not that any of my two faithful readers probably would. What should I post about? Here are five things that are going on in our lives. 

1. I am on a reading-kick. I have read 5-6 novels in two weeks. Three of them were while Ryan was out of town and there were no good TV shows on, but still. That's a lot for me. 

2. We finally got a new fence. It. is. glorious. Sadie has not had any visitors since we got it. Good thing. I was starting to worry about her. 

3. I am constantly recruiting volunteers for the Children's Ministry at Prestoncrest. If you go to church with me and want to teach something, anything, please let me know. And I can make it a light commitment. Once a month, for a month...or what I prefer....FOREVER. Just kidding. 

4. On Monday, in honor of school starting, I quietly said my "First Day of School Rap" to myself at my desk. Don't worry, everyone was at lunch. I always loved the first day of school...and my students loved the rap. 

5. Ryan and I love Scrabble now. I never played the game until four days ago, and I am hooked. We play it while we watch TV, after dinner, before dinner.....we forget to watch the movie we rented because we get so into Scrabble. Go ahead, judge us. We are nerds. We have accepted it. 

There you go. Interesting? Not really. But at least I posted. 

Much love, 

Allison

My Favorite Psalm

One of my all-time favorite Psalms.....

Psalm 139

 O LORD, you have searched me 
       and you know me.

 You know when I sit and when I rise; 
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 You discern my going out and my lying down; 
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 Before a word is on my tongue 
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 You hem me in—behind and before; 
       you have laid your hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 
       too lofty for me to attain.

 Where can I go from your Spirit? 
       Where can I flee from your presence?

 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 
       if I make my bed in the depths, ^{a]" style="line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} you are there.

 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me, 
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me 
       and the light become night around me,"

 even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
       the night will shine like the day, 
       for darkness is as light to you.

 For you created my inmost being; 
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
       your works are wonderful, 
       I know that full well.

 My frame was not hidden from you 
       when I was made in the secret place. 
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 your eyes saw my unformed body. 
       All the days ordained for me 
       were written in your book 
       before one of them came to be.

 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! 
       How vast is the sum of them!

 Were I to count them, 
       they would outnumber the grains of sand. 
       When I awake, 
       I am still with you.

If only you would slay the wicked, O God! 
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

They speak of you with evil intent; 
       your adversaries misuse your name.

 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, 
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

I have nothing but hatred for them; 
       I count them my enemies.

 Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Much love, 

Allison

Taylor Swift Sadness

Last Friday Ryan tried to get me tickets to the Dallas Taylor Swift concert on Sept 25. It would have been perfect, cause my birthday is Sept 29. If you read my blog, you know I love Taylor Swift. I wanted to see her so badly. But alas, the concert sold out pairs of tickets in a few minutes. Ryan and I were saying I should have just joined her fan club or whatever to do the pre-sale.  But anyway, Ryan is  a good man for trying. I didn't really want to go by myself with all the teenage and preteen girls. I wanted to go with Ryan, and he would have gone with me, which is sweet. He is a good man. He takes out the trash and he indulges my music taste. That's a good man, people. 

One thing about Taylor Swift though, she is not very good live. Now you know I am a fan, but I can't really handle off-pitch singing for very long. My music degree has trained that to hurt my ears. Or, okay, really, I have trained that to hurt my ears. When she was on SNL this year, I thought she was pretty bad, but I still love her music. 

So today when she was on the Today show singing, and she was pretty bad, I felt better about missing out on the concert. That makes the blow of now going OH so much easier. 

But you can judge for yourself...

But I do love Taylor. My ring tone is still "Our song is a slammin' screen door..." I will still 

listen to her in the car and at the gym. She is one of my favorites! And even after slamming her singing-live abiliites.....anyone have tickets to the concert??!?!?!?

Much Love, 

Allison

How Deep the Father's Love....

This song touches my heart. 

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that helf Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I knoww that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast inJesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom. 

But this I know with all my heart...His wounds have paid my ransom. 

Much love,

Allison :)

Solution: Work Out Dilemna

I now know how to solve my need for good workout music. 

Solution: 

Just get incredibly frustrated when some rude lady kicks you off of your machine, when you have already STARTED,  after you have waited patiently for 10 minutes, and says she "signed up" (She didn't and can't sign up in advance) and then uses the machine where the arm handles move, and DOESN'T USE THEM, and you have to settle for the machine where the arm handles don't move.  After that, you won't care what is on your iPod, cause you are pretty angry.

So maybe I just need someone to come make me mad before I work out? Cause after this frustrating lady, I had a fantastic work out. 

In other news, I have made it my goal to make a great play list for working out. Still taking suggestions. Stay tuned...

Or, maybe I will just have someone come tick me off before I work out. 

Much love, 

Allison

I need a new CD to workout to...

I really need a new work out CD or playlist. As previously posted, I currently listen to Taylor Swift's most recent CD, but I think (GASP!) I might be growing tired of it. 

I have dabbled in a few new CD's....I have The Fray's new CD, but it is not so pump-you-up-for-cardio-like. I also have a Mayday Parade CD I can't get into. I don't mind old-school Dashboard Confessional or John Mayer (can be a little too mellow at times), but I need something new. 

Any suggestions? Or, I could just take Kelly Ripa's advice and listen to the Rocky theme. But that would get old. 

I would welcome your input. 

Much love, 

Allison

Am I posting about Melissa Rycroft again??!?!?

Yes, I am. So sue me. 

If you read my blog, you probably know that I watch Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor. After Jason pulled the ultimate jerk move and switched Bachelorettes, I took an intrest in Melissa because for some odd reason, I guess I feel like we are friends. As if I ran into her at the grocery store, she would thank me for watching her, blogging about her and following her "career". Cough. I doubt this would happen, but if it did, I would LOVE it. 

Note: To this day, if I call Jason Mesnick a jerk or something, Ryan says something to the tune of "Leave him alone...." Really? REALLY, RYAN?!?!

I have watched Melissa do VERY well on Dancing with the Stars. I have also watched her get bad press because of her dance background, and also because people don't think she is a "star". 

Here are my feelings....

Really? Dance experience? She was a cheerleader and a ballet dancer. This does, I think, work a little bit to her advantage because she does know how to move...but really. Let's think about this. How many stars on this show have had a dance related background? Lots. Mario Lopez, had a dance background. I saw him ballet dance on Saved by the Bell when I was seven. And he owned DWTS when he was on it. No one gave him bad press. 

Several stars have done well with a background in dance or performing. Mel B, the Spice girl did well....Cheetah girl (name escapes me) was very good.....Kristi Yamaguchi did VERY well. She even won! 

So back off Melissa. I like her. 

That is all. 

Much love, 

Allison

I love GREEN, and today is GREEN day!

I adore St. Patrick's Day! 

If you know me, you know I love green. My office is completely green, as is our master bedroom and kitchen....and I wear green almost everyday. Seriously. Ask my coworkers. 

Today is such a great day because everyone wears green! I saw on TV today that the fountain at the White House is green today in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Wonderful! How do I get a green fountain at my house?

As I was going to my closet to pick out an outfit, this was my thought process. 

"I will wear this shirt (a green shirt). Oh wait, it is St. Patrick's Day, so I need to wear...oh good." 

I was already going to wear green anyway! So convenient.  :) 

And, I wore green yesterday. And on Thursday. 

And, I have some Irish in my genes! Happy St. Patricks day! Wear green. 

Much love, 

Allison

Bushes outside out house that are green. :)

P.S. I still need help on the Europe trip! See the below post.

My thoughts on The Bachelor and Jason "Jerk" Mesnick...

I have been typing this post since last night, and have been trying to process how I was so dumb to get sucked into this silly, silly show. What a waste of my life. 

My thoughts on this show: 

1. I liked Melissa from the beginning. She was sweet, seemed genuine, and I just liked her. Okay? Jason, aka public enemy number 1, chose Melissa. He chose her! Yay! I am never right on these shows! But then....

2. He changes his mind. He "can't control his feelings". Note: We control our feelings everyday. This is why we don't run in to the back of the car in front of us, even though they have cut us off in bad traffic. This is why we don't hit our co-worker, boss, or friend when they make us really mad. It is called controlling your feelings. 

3. Then he publicly humiliates Melissa.  According to several sites, Melissa knew that this might be coming. You can watch the video at the bottom of this post to see Jason's interview with Jimmy Kimmel. (He discusses this.)

4. Then, Jason tries to get Molly back. She seems shocked, but them she kisses him. She just melts and takes him back. Why would she trust him? He dumped you once,

and then publicly humiliated Melissa.

5. Jason says that this is the way he feels, and if people don't like it, then they don't like it.

6. Jason walks over to Chris Harrison and accepts a trophy for being the "All-time-Jerk-of-the-Bachelor". (This didn't really happen. :)

I don't think this was staged, as some bloggers and news stories are saying. I just think it

is DUMB.

Please tell me how you feel....cause I feel MAD and HURT.

Much love,

Allison

I might be becoming Anti-LOST.

No, I am not going to try to not get lost in my life. Well, I guess everyone should do that. But I am talking about the TV show Lost. Ryan and I are watching Lost currently, and I cannot get into it. 

Now, I know a lot of people like Lost. I am not "hating" as the kids say. (Did I just say the kids? Maybe I am getting old.) I understand that people enjoy the show. And I still am watching it, so I must like something in it. Right? Something is making me tune in. Or maybe it is just loyalty. 

When Ryan and I first got married, we were both unemployed and so we rented the first two seasons of Lost and watched them all in a matter of weeks. It was awesome! I loved it. I was invested. 

As the seasons have gone on, I have come to find the show incredibly frustrating. I just don't get it sometimes, and I have watched it from the beginning. I mean, come on. SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you are not caught up. 

Really, black smoke that changes people? A bright light that changes the date and makes you mad? Random nose bleeds? Ben is "good" now? 

I just don't get it. But I will probably keep watching. There is room on the DVR. 

Much love, 

Allison

Thoughts

How can I rebound from a post like the one below? I think that is a pretty ridiculous story, and I think it is pretty funny. Feel free to read it and comment. Or maybe it is not that funny, I am not sure. But I think it is. 

I am watching the Grammy Awards right now, and I have a few thoughts. I may have more when it is over, but I am not sure I am commited enough to stay up that late. 

1. Coldplay just keeps winning. And when they accept awards, they might as well just say "YOU ARE WELCOME. We rule. You are very welcome for us gracing you with our horrible outfits and music." (Just FYI, I don't think their music is terrible. Just their outfits and attitudes.)

2. Carrie Underwood used to be such a great singer. Someone let me know what happened!

3. Jennifer Hudson is quite inspiring. 

4. Taylor Swift is probably one of my favorite artists right now. I will admit that I listen to her daily, and I love her. So Taylor, my friend, please don't sing with Miley Cirus! Are you kidding? You are above that. 

5. Katy Perry is such a one-hit-wonder! She is not good live. 

6. I love Jason Mraz. 

7. Is Kid Rock still singing? 

That is all. 

Much love, 

Allison

Trying to make my blog cooler...

Hmm...How can I make my blog cooler? Adding some features over to the side? Check. Posting links to my blog in random places? Check. 

Any other suggestions? 

Just be cooler? Ok, working on that. :)

What I love about Halloween. . .

Here are a few things I love about Halloween and Fall. . . 

1. Candy Corn. I adore Candy Corn. And this year I was introduced to Caramel Apple Candy Corn, which I love! The only thing annoying about Candy Corn is that every time I eat some, someone tells me to eat it with peanuts, cause "It tastes like a Payday!" This got really old this Halloween season. If I want a Payday, I will get one. Sheesh. 

2. Little children in their costumes. So cute! I mean how cute are two sisters dressed as Dorothy and Toto? At the Fall Festival at church this year, I saw some of the cutest costumes I have ever seen. Ok, maybe not ever, because Kelsey, Denise and myself as a Lion, Tiger and Bear (Oh my!) when we were little was REALLY cute. Really cute. 

This is my sister, Kelsey. I am sure she will love that I posted this!

3. Colder weather. At 6:30 in the morning, when I walk the dog (long story), I don't love this. Not so much. But when I get to wear my green peacoat out and my fleece around the apartment, I love the cold. It is nice to wear boots, sweaters and old college sweatshirts. Which, let's face it, I shouldn't have bought so many of. 

4. My dog in her Halloween costume. Love it. 

Happy Fall, y'all!

Much love, 

Allison

The decline of the Gap.

When I was in High School, I worked at the Gap. High school and some of college. I met one of my first boyfriends there. I spent the majority of my paycheck on sweaters, jeans, etc with my amazing discount. I loved it. And you know what, I like to think Gap loved me too. They gave me a little pin and a certificate that said I had worked their over a year. They had to love me, right?

But now the reason for this post. The Gap has lost its magic. At least for me. I used to not be able to enter a Gap without at least one purchase. On a side note, I loved to go in and see my old friends at the Quail Springs Mall, shop and they would tell me who was still there and what all the sales were. It was great fun. But now that I have moved, there are no friends there, and there is no cute items to buy! They are all too expensive and just not cute. I don't even like going there. It is loud, and just not my favorite place anymore. It is very sad, but I must say it: RIP Gap. I shall go to Old Navy now. And probably Target. I love Target.

Blisters or Comfort?

I am trapped. I have reached the point in my teaching career where I am considering buying not-as-cute-but-very-comfortable shoes. I swore to myself I would never reach this point. I will not be the teacher wearing crocs (product placement) as dress shoes. I will not be the teacher that looks really dressed up until you see her tennis shoes sticking out from under her dress. (Oh trust me, it happens.)

But I still have this problem. Some of my heels are just so cute. But just so painful. I have tried to trade off. I wear heels one day, then flats the next. But as we enter the summer time...I have noticed all of my dressy sandals are heels. This proposes a dilema. Do I buy the ugly brown sandals and walk on air? Or do I ice my feet, suck it up and pretend I am on "Sex in the City"?

I just don't know.

Complaining.

I love Music. I really do. Obviously, if I majored in it, but that is beside the point. But sometimes I wonder if I love it enough to study my ever-loving brains out, for a B. A "B". It's not even an A. I know some of you are thinking, well, it's better than a C. True. But you know what, I realized....C is better than a D. And a D is better than an F. And let me tell you something, friends, they don't give us 15 hours of D credit for nothing!

Ok, really. But sometimes I glance at my Study guide that is literally 15 pages long and I wonder. I know I wouldn't be happy doing anything else, but that doesn't mean I don't think about what it would be like if I had majored in something else. I am not ashamed to feel this way, and I think the reason I do is because I don't feel like studying. I know everyone has to study, it's college. But is it necessary to study for 24 hours, over 4 days, to hope for a B? I am a studier, really! I like to study. I like making good grades. But, still.

Just my thoughts. Carry on.