Day 120 Things that make me smile - Target Clearance

When I go to Target, I have a special path I take through the aisles, paying special attention end of the aisles where I find those red signs that say clearance.  Do I really need to say more?

Tonight I found some great deals and that makes me smile.

Day 119 Things that make me smile - Completed iMovie

On and off today I was working in an iMovie for a meeting tomorrow.  

After losing a portion of it this afternoon, the movie is complete and that makes me smile.

Day 118 Things that make me smile - Bird Baths

My dad taught me many things in my life, one of those things was assessing freshly paved parking lots for "bird baths" on rainy days.  

Today I happened to be in every single building in the district throughout the day in the pouring rain.  While they aren't freshly paved, I found myself looking for "bird baths"  in the parking lots and roads in front of the buildings. In some cases, I had very few puddle to avoid and in some it was like a river/lake in some places.  In one parking lot, there was a lone duck wandering. I think it was looking for a place to swim.

Memories of driving with my dad looking for "bird baths" made me smile today.

Day 117 Things that make me smile - A Rainy Day

Rainy days rank right up there with snowy days for me.

Reading, napping and snuggling on the couch with Ella makes for a perfect day - and that makes me smile.

Day 116 Things that make me smile - Jerome's computer

My nephew Jerome is building his own computer.  Tonight I went over to try to help him out.

It was fun watching him troubleshoot the assembly, YouTube videos close in hand. While we couldn't figured out why it wasn't booting up, I watched him problem solve, think critically, make connections and other "21st Century Skills" and that makes me smile tonight.

Day 115 Things that make me smile - Second Musical in Two Days

On a roll...

Tonight I went to The It Girl with Marsha at Anoka Ramsey -two musicals in two days with a good friend. That makes me smile.

Day 114 Things that make me smile - Spring Musical Season

I love musicals and Spring means high school and college musicals. Tonight I started this fun season with Cabaret at Spring Lake Park High School and that made me smile.

Day 113 Things that make me smile - My Equinox

I love my Equinox, but sometimes I guess I forget to take care of it.  

Driving home yesterday the message "low oil pressure turn off engine" came on my dash.  Long story short, tow to dealership and quick checkup - having to buy a new car was avoided - and that makes me smile.

Day 112 Things that make me smile - Gonna Have an Earth Day

Every year when Earth Day rolls around, I don't have big plans to celebrate.  However, what does come to mind are the songs from the Central Elementary 3rd grade musical "Gonna Have an Earth Day".  Throughout the day the the songs Gonna Have an Earth Day and Garbage Garbage Garbage Everywhere  kept popping up in my head. (Mind you I never taught 3rd grade and my students never performed the musical - they were ear worms)

Those songs bring back fond memories of my days at Central and that makes me smile.  

Day 111 Things that make me smile - Team Gramps is Up and Running

The Twin Cities Heart Walk is May 31st.  For the second year, we will walk in memory of my dad. As a heart survivor, it is an organization I fully support.

The event is free to walk - if you would like to join our team, the more the merrier - you can join here:  http://twincitiesheartwalk.kintera.org/teamgramps

Preparing for this special event makes me smile tonight!

Day 110 Things that make me smile - Easter

Today is Easter Sunday. 

Nice Easter brunch with Margrette, John, Ben, Jerome and the rest of the Newhouse family at the Minnetonka Country Club.

Easter bunny came for Ella and brought her a new collar

Round the day off with a walk and a nap - it was a good day and that makes me smile.

Day 109 Things that make me smile - Blessing of the Easter Food/ Easter Vigil

Today I went to church two times.

This morning I went to church for the Blessing of the Easter Food - better know to me as Zegen.  I filled my basket with the food I will eat Easter morning - including Walnut Poticia. (Yes I went to 3 stores to find it, but I found it - and brought it to church where Fr. Dufner said   prayers for each of the food types and blesses with Holy water.  It is a favorite tradition from growing up that I was excited to see at my church this year.

Tonight I went to Easter Vigil Mass, my favorite Mass of the year.  From starting in darkness to being lit by candles held by all, baptisms and confirmations to the return of Alleluia - I love the symbolism and rituals during this Mass.  He has Risen!  Tonight this all makes me smile!

My Zegen basket

Church of the Epiphany outside - I will take pics of inside next week at the wedding I am coordinating.

Day 108 Things that make me smile - One More Year

Today I celebrate one more year... 

It was a good day - got to have a fun lunch with Jerome, Kris, Anna, Emma, Katie, Brendan, Erin and Megan at the Friendly Buffalo.  Took a nap. And went shopping with Ella for her "My Ella" Day present which we will celebrate tomorrow.

Thank you to my lunch crew and to all my family and friends who called, texted or posted on Facebook today - you made me smile today!

Three of my lunch crew

Me and the girls

Day 107 Things that make me smile - Cleaning to 70's and 80's Music

PWhen I clean, I usually listen to podcasts.  But tonight I decided to switch it up and turned up the 70's and 80's playlist on my iPhone.

Old favorites made the task a little better and tonight that made me smile.

Day 106 Things that make me smile - An April Snow

I know, I know - everyone is tired of the snow.

But I like snow - this April snow made me smile tonight.

Day 105 Things that make me smile - Studio at Rush Creek

This entry is bittersweet-

I have taken several classes at Studio at Rush Creek.  Here I have made jewelry, scarves, ornaments, etc.   Yesterday I learned they are closing.

Tonight I ran over to pick up a refund for a class I was supposed to take.  Looking over the studio while I was sad I can't take any more classes here,  I had to smile at the new skills I learned in this space.  

Day 104 Things that make me smile - Taxes are filed

I don't know why, but I am a procrastinator when it comes to doing my taxes.  Tonight they are done, with a day to spare.  Getting money back and that makes me smile.

Day 103 Things that make me smile - Masters Win

I'll admit it, I like watching golf on TV.  One of my favorite players is Bubba Watson.   So you can probably guess, I was glad he won.  His emotion at the end when he won made me like him even more. But what made me smile today was his son Caleb walking out to meet him - priceless. ( okay I was tearing up too)

Day 102 Things that make me smile - Anna's First Communion

Tonight during a beautiful service at Celebration Lutheran Church in Sartell, my niece and Goddaughter made her First Communion.   So proud of her and tonight she made me smile.  Love you lots Anna!

Anna

Anna with her sister Emma, mom and dad

Anna with her grandparents

Anna's memories of her Baptism

Day 101 Things that make me smile - Learning Forward Minnesota Board meeting

This past summer, I joined the Learning Forward Minnesota Board - promoting and supporting professional learning.  

The one thing that is unique with the LFMN board meetings from other similar meetings I have attended is that professional learning for the group is as important as the other agenda items.  Almost half if the meeting is professional learning.   The dialogue and learning that happens is rich.  Today was our last formal meeting for the year, I enjoyed our meeting today and my colleagues around the table - today that makes me smile.

Day 100 Things that make me smile - My Siblings

Today is National Sibling Day - I am fortunate to have 3 wonderful siblings who are always there for me - Margrette, Jerome and Tom.  Love you guys! Today you make me smile.

Had fun looking through pics to use, chose this one.  Seems like yesterday that we took this - I remember being sick...

Day 99 Things that make me smile - CSB/SJU Red Talks

Have you heard of Ted Talks?  Ted Talk type speeches + students, faculty and alumna from CSB/SJU = Red Talks

Tonight I went to the Red Talks with my sister Margrette.  It was fun to hear the different speeches on a variety of topics.  From monsters, to football, to perinatal hospice - the 10 topics were varied. My favorites Humans of CBS/SJU and the one on time lapse photography of plants all done by current students - they made me smile tonight.

Day 98 Things that make me smile - Meeting Princess Elsa

Today at a gathering at work, I was fortunate to have met "Princess Elsa".  Now this "Princess Elsa" was only 3 years old, but she sang the best version of "Let it Go" that I have heard - and today that made me smile.

Day 97 Things that make me smile - Chicken

I am trying to eat healthy - I have not had any pop in two weeks...  

A staple of my eating has been chicken.  This weekend I went to Bob's Produce and noticed that chicken breast was on sale.  I asked for one, thinking it would be  a normal size portion.  It turned out one was over two pounds.  Tonight I baked the chicken breast and potatoes - with broccoli and cauliflower - it was really good!  I will be eating that chicken breast forever - but it was good and that makes me smile.

Day 96 Things that make me smile - 7:30 am mass

Those who know me, know I am not a morning person.  But for some reason, I was determined to make it to 7:30 am mass this morning.  (The mass with no music). The alarm went off and yes, I almost rolled over.  The quiet simplicity of mass without music made me smile today.

Photo from Epiphany's website

Day 95 Things that make me smile - Carwash

Thursday night I was covered by a snowplow while driving home from the airport.  (Yep was not a good thing and a little scary). When the snow melted,

it left a nice sandy glaze on my vehicle.

Today went got it washed a beautiful spring day. And although Ella shook the whole time, a clean car made me smile today.

Day 94 Things that make me smile - Barnes and Noble

I love books!  But I don't buy actual physical books anymore, but rather ebooks.  I used to go to Barnes and Noble at least once a week leaving with a bag of books.  Now when I go to Barnes and Noble I don't leave with a bag of books, but instead my camera roll is full of books I will purchase later for Kimdle or Nook.  Tonight I found a few new books I want to read and that makes me smile tonight.

Day 93 Things that make me smile - Minnesota Weather

Okay I know this post will not be popular with most people...

This morning I was in North Carolina where the sun was shining and 80 degrees, tonight I came home to a snowy wonderland.  While some would prefer the 80 degrees, I am a snow girl.  Coming home tonight to Minnesota weather made me smile tonight.

Day92 Things that make me smile - Tech Problems

Today I toured a school to see a math program including a online portion.  During the principal'spresentation he had tech problems and when we went to the lab, they had internet problems (it's an online program). Tech problems always seem to happen during demonstrations and tours.  It was nice to know it happens to others too and that made me smile tonight.

Day 91 Things that make me smile - The Goldbergs

If you haven't watched the Goldbergs and you grew up in the 80s, you should.  The references, props, topics bring me back in time.  Tonight's episode was about the Presidential Physical Fitness test and tonight it made me smile.