#13thingsiwant

I logged into Twitter this morning to find that #13thingsiwant as a trending topic. {For those of you who do not 'tweet,' this means many people are responding to #13thingsiwant in their tweets and including that # to tag them.} I usually don't comment on anything that's not trending {except for the Packers winning the Superbowl, because, well, they're awesome}, I guess I'm not trendy enough.

This one though sounded like a bit of fun, so here are 13 things I want {within reason and in no particular order}:

1. Cubs/Packers/Blackhawks/Badgers season tickets {cheating, I know}
2. Fabulous vacation somewhere in Europe, preferably Italy, Spain or Germany
3. A good high school teaching job
4. No more student loans
5. Jeep Wrangler {how great would that be during beautiful weather?}
6. New summer wardrobe {and fall, winter and spring for that matter}
7. An English Mastiff named Kane
8. A house {with a big yard for Kane}
9. Golf course in my backyard
10. A personal chef
11. Huge collection of books {think library in Beauty and the Beast}
12. A nice TV and a million movies {and time to actually watch them}
13. A cottage on Washington Island, WI

We Are Super Heroes

My friend Cara, an elementary school art teacher, had her second-graders create art projects of themselves portrayed as superheroes. Unknown to Cara, her friend, a college art professor, also had her students doing the same thing. When they discovered the coincidence, an amazing idea was formed...

They, along with ArtWorks of Kenosha, created “We Are Super Heroes” a 3-tiered art exhibition of elementary students, college students, and local adult artists who rendered themselves as a superhero or icon. I'm really excited to see the exhibition and the differences of what an elementary student sees as heroic characteristics compared to what an adult thinks.

little notes

dear mr.sun,

it's so nice to see you. please feel free to stick around.

dear dictionary,

it’s canceled or cancelled. it can’t be both. {can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine?}

dear cubs,

why must you lose every game I go to at miller park. looks like i'm better luck for the brewers.

dear brewers,

why must you lose every other game I go to at miller park. you can only win if you're playing my favorite team? not ok.

dear nichole,

you are one of my best friends, i love you. but no, i will not go to a mary kay party. i don't love anyone enough to do that.

simplesinger tunes

My friend's boyfriend just recorded a few of his tunes for official release. I think they're amazing {especially "Always"} and wanted to share them with everyone. Also, his brother and future sister-in-law are using his song "Always" for their first dance at their wedding. How sweet is that? Download the four songs on his site simplesinger and enjoy!

{image via simplesinger}

50 State Stereotypes in 2 Minutes

My friend sent me this video. It's absolutely ridiculous, but also completely hilarious and oddly true. Take a minute (or two) to watch it and laugh.

<br/><a href="http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/50-state-stereotypes-in-2-minutes/20wqjg8i?q=state+facts&rel=msn&from=en-us_msntod&form=MSNRLL&gt1=42010&src=v5:embed::&fg=sharenoembed" target="_new"title="50 State Stereotypes In 2 Minutes">Video: 50 State Stereotypes In 2 Minutes</a>

I Am Andy McDonald

My cousin started a blog recently to showcase his comedic talent. He's been writing jokes, skits and blog posts for years as well as doing stand up. You should really check out his blog; it's hilarious!

One of my favorite posts:

10 New Ben & Jerry Flavors

Lindsay Lohan's "Caught Lohanded"
Ginger, craisins, a discounted five fingers of whiskey, and a smattering of court dates.

Charlie Sheen's "Rehabananas"
Coke flavoring, two and a half scoops of random nuts, and bananas... tons of bananas.

Senator John Boehner's "Raging Boehner"
Pure rich white vanilla, rubbed down in caramel coloring, and man tears.

WI Governor Scott Walker's "Classless RE: Unions"
A lovely combination of Wisconsin's best native ingredients, broken up with a single wiener at the center. Taken rectally. Best served at zero degrees.

President Barack Obama's "Yes Pecan!"
Packed with promise, theoretically thought to be the most delicious ice cream available, though no one knows as it melts and evaporates under even minimal atmospheric pressure.

Glenn Beck's "White Chalk-olate-Tea Party"
White chocolate, pieces of real fox, and tea leaves for predicting the inevitable apocalyptic future. Rewrite history with the special blackboard container!

Fox News Host Megyn Kelly's "Y, God, Y?"
Looks real good, but leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Includes chocolyte chyps, gyn, raisyns, and a hynt of mynt.

Muammar Ghaddafi's "Coffee Ghaddafi"
A hyper-caffeinated coffee flavor that never seems to want to leave, is filled with nuts, and only hurts you because he loves you so much. Carton topped with a cute little hat.

Barry Bonds' "Berry Suspiciously Delicious"
Powerful, full-bodied chocolate number, accented with raspberries, shrunken prunes and a huge melon flavor.

Donald Trump's "Dits & Pieces"
A colorful wealth of show, but very little to sustain you. This tower of empty calories is combed through with a touch of lemon to make your face pucker. A favorite among female model types. Featuring Ben & Jerry's first ever holographic carton top. It looks like it's there, but it's not!

women's idea of color vs. men's

how true is that??

{image via}

Eric Carle artwork

I work with children so I read a lot of books, many, many times a day. But my favorite children books of all time are all by Eric Carle. His books are simple, yet creative. I especially love the amazing geometric art in his books. I think it would be so cool to frame pages from his books to hang in a child's bed or classroom. Or even my kitchen, where they will probably eventually make an appearance.

irrational

sometimes i'm afraid to share my favorite things with others, like if they don't like it or don't like it as much as i do, it will somehow diminish the meaning for me. or if they like it too much, then it's no longer mine and isn't as special. i know it's completely irrational, but it is what it is.

i once tried watching casablanca {my favorite movie of all time} with a good friend and she couldn't get past the black and white opening scene. i think that was what secured this irrational fear of mine. if i love something, dearly love something, it takes a special person for me to share it with, even if it is only a drive-in burger joint.

{image via}

Fancy Nancy tea party

I just came across a few pictures of my kids at school that I thought were so cute I had to share. A few weeks ago, we had a Fancy Nancy tea party at school. Everyone had to dress up in their "fanciest," funnest outfits. We sipped sparkling fruit punch, snacked on hors d'oeuvres and practiced our fanciest French phrases, like merci, ensemble and très chic. It was a ton of fun! And, as you can see, everyone was really excited about it (not just the teachers)!