Dec 30, 2003

Let the countdown begin.

Now is the time to get creative with your New Year's Resolutions. Will it be to get in shape? Drink more water? Make more time for yourself? Whatever it may be how can you be certain to accomplish your goals?

Well you're in luck I have searched the web and found few goal setting tips to help you get started!

Don't Try Everything at Once! There's a temptation, with the New Year, to run off a list of everything we've ever wanted to change. Don't fall for it! You'll have better luck fulfilling one or two goals than you will with a list of fifty. You can always add new resolutions to your list later. Take one thing at a time.

Word it Carefully. Let's say your resolution is to relax more in the coming year. Word this carefully. Try not to think of it as "This year I am going to relax." That's a stress-inducer waiting to happen. It forces you into thinking of the resolution as something you must do, not something you want to do. Try to make it sound a little gentler: "This year I'm going to explore different ways of relaxing." It also suggests more of a plan you'll fulfill the resolution by experimenting with relaxation techniques. The first resolution sounds as if you're going to force yourself to relax by sheer willpower.

Make a Plan. Once you know what your resolution is, try to break it down. Nobody accomplishes anything of significance by trying to do it all at once. This doesn't have to be a complicated plan; just brainstorm enough to give you a place to start.

Write it Down. Write down your resolution and your plan of action. Stick it up on the fridge, in your locker, wherever you know you'll see it. That way you'll have a constant reminder of the resolution. You may want to change the wording as time passes and your goal changes.

Good luck with your goals and remember to keep it simple, have a plan, write it down and view your goal daily.


Dec 29, 2003

My name is Tara and I am a very nice person. I am pretty and smart and funny and intellegent. I like to be mean to my friends by talking about alligators and crocodiles while they are still REALLY sleepy. Then I pretend that I'm an alligator and I bite them with my mouth and pinch their hinny's with my "crocodile" hand. That is all. Goodbye.

Travis took it upon himself to BLOG for me.

He speaks no truth- except the part about me being sweet, pretty and funny.

But just for kicks here are some facts about The American Alligator:

Size: Adults range in size from 6ft for females to 14ft for males. Alligators weigh about 600lbs. How big and fast an alligator grows depends on the temperature and the food availible to them.

Diet: Small alligators eat insects, fish, turtles, snakes, mammals and those who fear them.

Alligator Safety: Alligators have attacked humans, but most attacks happen when they have been fed by humans or when they are protecting their nests.

Bottom Line: Do not feed the animals. Do not swim in merky water- especially when you see two eyes and nostrils exposed above the water.

be safe.

Dec 22, 2003

I had the best weekend in Buffalo..... Texas.

Travis invited me out to meet the folks in Buffalo, Texas .

Here are some interesting facts about Buffalo, Texas:

*The City of Buffalo was named for the Bison that roamed the open range and rolling hills of Leon County in the mid-1800s.
*Buffalo and Leon County rate in the top 3 calf producing counties in Texas
*Buffalo is located within a one hour drive of five lakes that provide excellent fishing and water sports. Camping, hiking and bird watching provide many hours of leisure time. For hunters, the Buffalo area provides some of the best deer and wild hog hunting in the State.
*According to Mr. Miller there are approximately 800 people in Buffalo.

AND here are some interesting facts about Buffalo, New York:


*Buffalo consists of nearly 1.6 million people.
*Buffalo averages approximately 25 days of measurable snowfall each year. Average annual snowfall at Buffalo Niagara International Airport is 93 inches.
*In 1964 Buffalo wings were invented in Buffalo byTerressa Bellisimo.
*Buffalo is a mere 20-minute drive from the Niagara Falls.


I hope to be able to travel to NY oneday and when I do, I will feel more connected to my experience after knowing those facts. lol

I just realized there are only 3 days until Christmas.... I need to do my last minute shopping before it's too late!
Happy Holidays!

Dec 18, 2003

I can't wait until T O M O R R O W.....not only is it early release day but it's the start of Winter Break! That means no kids for two weeks! I don't remember acting anything less than sweet while I was growing up....but these kids get worse by the minute. ;)
Today I finally had enough. I went to my computer and began composing an email to SANTA aka Susan Baitland. lol

I wrote:

Dear Santa,

My class can not keep their mouths quiet. They are not behaving or following directions. I understand that they are excited about Christmas but they still have one day of school left. Please advise me of what to do.

Please respond quickly.

Miss Johnson

THEN low and behold Santa wrote back with this:

Dear Miss Johnson,
I am very disappointed to hear that your children have been misbehaving. If they do not follow the school rule, I will have to give their presents to other boys and girls. I hope to hear from you soon.

Merry Christmas

SANTA


The look on their faces was priceless. They couldn't believe that SANTA wrote back.

They were all really concerned with whether I had included names of children in that email.....well, being the mean teacher that I am I told them that they'd find out if I did or not on Christmas morning. LOL

Dec 15, 2003

How well do you know your FRIENDS?

Which character are you most like?



Dec 14, 2003

Holy crap it's cold outside!

Today I'm going to go shopping for Christmas Presents.... I have 4 people left to shop for. Could you be one of them? hmmmmm.

Last night I did some online shopping. After watching five gay men, out to make over the world — one straight guy at a time, I decided to check out their site.

I found a great new site called westelm. Here you'll find the perfect gift for the perfect person for the perfect occasion. There are plenty of other links to check out from the QE site.

I also went to Crate & Barrel. I just happen to live right down the road from a two-story C&B- I have yet to visit there but maybe today I'll do that.

Well, I guess I'm going to get going qnd hopefully have luck with my shopping experience.


Dec 13, 2003

I have the FLU.
Not just the cough and cold flu but THE STOMACH FLU. It's the worst!

I think I caught it from one of my friends at work or maybe it came from one of the 20 germ spreading kids that I teach. I'm leaning towards the second.

I took off yesterday and just laid on the couch all day. I watched my favorite shows on Food Network- I could watch Tyler all day!

I also caught up on the new show called House Rules . It's actually filmed out in Katy, Texas. It's basically about 3 couples who get to completely renovate a house. They have no outside help, just each other. After each episode a team of designers come in and evaluates the couples work and gives them a score. The couple with the most points doesn't necessarily win in the end. Every show has a twist and in this case the American public gets to call in and cast their vote on which house they like the best.

The couple with the most votes in the end gets the house!

I know who I'm voting for Rebecca and Joey because their style most closely resembles mine. I love their kitchen!

Check it out the final episode on Friday, December 19.


Dec 6, 2003

Becky sent me the link to her page and I just had to create a BLOG of my own.

Today was pretty uneventful. I woke up watched my weekend dose of Trading Spaces and Food Network (Martha made gingerbread cookies.....Exciting stuff!)

I left my apartment around 1:15 to get to my 2:00 hair appointment. I have recently started going to a new stylist. I said goodbye to Juan Carlos with the rest of my friends. I think there were about 5 of us who had been going to him over the past 3 years. Julie and I decided to try out Michelle Williams at Electic Salons in Houston. She convinced me to get highlites- which I love. It's always fun to change things up a bit. So far Juie and I are really pleased with her work and her pricing is much more reasonable than Tony and Guy.

After my haircut I decided to go by my parents house and work on my holiday cards. They turned out fabulous. I only made 10- so be out on the look out for one! They are very pretty and I almost don't want to send them! BUT Becky would kill me if I did that becasue she is the one who picked them up for me in 17' degree weather!

What a trooper!

If you haven't visited paper-source.com there is no better time than now. They have a whole new holiday line. It's the best scrapbook-paper supply store I've come across. It's even better in person. If you ever visit Boston be sure to check out one of the three locations and be sure you tell me in case I want to go too!

Happy Birthday to Me!!