Just throwing this out there...

April is kind of a big month around these here parts.

For one, it's my birthday month. 

I know, I know...what other reasons do I even need to list after that one,

but there are a few other reasons April rocks my socks.

For one, it's finally spring

and for some reason Eastern NC decided to take a cue from it's northern neighbors

and hold onto winter a little longer than usual.

No bueno, Mother Nature.

3rd Quater report cards have been sent home, 

meaning we are officially on the downslope to summer,

it's only a short nine weeks away, folks.

Oh and April is Autism Awareness Month.

Autism is one of those "mystery" illnesses. 

We learn more and more about it every day,

but it's still such a hard thing to pin-point, 

as symptoms and treatments are never black and white.

I've always been intrigued by autism,

and mental illness in general. 

I have a huge passion for children with special needs

and an even bigger passion for helping children with special needs.

It's 2013 people. We carry computers in our pockets,

we can travel to the other side of the world in a matter of hours,

and we can cook pizza in the microwave.

Taking care of and supporting people with special needs

is not rocket science and it's not something we should be "afraid" of.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, irks me more than when a parent

refuses to explore the option of testing for a special need 

because they don't want their child to be labeled.

Now, I am not a parent,

and therefore I am aware that my opinions have absolutely no credibility.

BUT - I do spend 40 hours a week, 10 months a year 

breaking my back to give 23 very sweet, very different babies

everything that they need to succeed. 

Sometimes it's an extra hug in the morning,

sometimes it's a warm coat at Recess,

sometimes it's a high expectation that they can do anything they set their mind to,

but sometimes they need more.

Sometimes, some kids need more than what I, alone, can give them.

And as a teacher, I want them to have that, even if it means a "label". 

As a parent, you should want the same thing to.

Kids with special needs, autism or anything else, are still first and foremost kids

It doesn't change anything, except for the fact that it can make your life 

and their life so much easier. 

If your kid had asthma, you wouldn't ignore the fact that they can't breathe.

You would take them to a doctor, find a diagnosis, and get them an inhaler for help.

Children with mental illnesses should be no different.

~

Long story short,

April is a pretty awesome month.

There are all sorts of of ways to support the Autism Society,

this month and every month.

But for me, this month is more about just being aware

and if you take one thing with you from today's post,

take this:

All children have special needs - something special they need from us,

their parents/teachers/adult role models.

Our one job is to provide these children - our future - with the things they need

to eventually become functioning citizens on their own.

Don't take that away from them, even if what they need is different than what you hoped it would be.

Hugs,

Random Thoughts for Monday

- It's 2:33 and I am just now sitting down to blog. Whoops.

- I'm sitting down to blog outside on my newly remodeled porch (more pictures coming soon) finally enjoying some spring weather.

- But my MacBook Pro kind of sucks at being outside. All I can see is my reflection in my computer screen. Hay girl hay.

- I went into school today for 2 hours just to get my bearings straight for tomorrow. It was nice. And kind of made me feel like I have a real grown up job that doesn't confine me to the hours of 8:00-3:00.

- Today's the last day of Spring Break and I'm not as depressed about it as I thought I would be.

- I am, however, extremely depressed/terrified of having to wake up at 6:00 tomorrow. I am already dreading it and planning out my afternoon nap.

- It's Monday so I guess I should tell you about my weekend shenanigans. For this sole reason, Monday posts should be easiest. 

- I actually had quite a few shenanigans this weekend, however I suck at taking pictures. For this sole reason, Monday posts are always the hardest for me. 

Friday - Robbie surprised me with an overnight trip to Raleigh. We stayed in a fancy pants hotel, except it didn't have a mini-fridge, so we pretended we were boy scouts and improvised. 

We ate a fancy pants restaurant (Caroline Ale House) and spent romantical time together. It was fabulous. And I realized I hate Sauvignon Blanc.

Saturday - we went to the mall and mostly window shopped, you know because we're still not spending any money. Although I did splurge a little and get a super cute skirt. I wanted to sleep in it that night but Robbie didn't think that was the best plan.

We met up with the whole fam damily that night for the Carolina Hurricanes hockey game. We had ah-mazing seats. Unfortunately, we didn't win. And there weren't even that many fights. Buuuuuut there was quality time with my crazy family, free booze and fried food for everyone so that was great. 

There was also The. Cutest. little family sitting behind us. And by little I mean they had four kids, all their's, all under the age of 5. I was exhausted just watching them. Except not really...because they were cute and well behaved and the mom looked great. She didn't have one single bag under her eyes. My mind was blown. 

- My birthday's Wednesday. I'm pretty pumped about it I guess. Except for it's on a Wednesday, which is a school day. Whomp. On the bright side, I'll get to listen to 23 first grade babies sing Happy Birthday cha-cha-cha!

- I am still addicted to Lost. Yet I, myself, am getting more and more lost as we go.

- That whole crock about "once you starting eating healthy food, unhealthy food isn't even appealing anymore". Yea, well that's kind of true. Robbie and I both decided to splurge this weekend since we were in Raleigh and it's my birthday, go shawty, except we both felt like crap the whole time. And by Sunday morning we were both craving fruits and veggies. We don't even like fruits and veggies, really.

- I'm out of random thoughts for today. Hopefully tomorrow's post will be more on track. 

- That last statement is doubtful, considering I'll be waking up at 6 AM tomorrow morning to wrangle 23 firsties. 

P.S. Go link up with Sami for some real shenanigans.

Hugs,

These are my confessions...

{1.}

I started writing this post on Tuesday.

I've had a lot to confess this week.

It's a good thing I'm not Catholic.

{2.}

I woke up in the middle of the night 

(not because I was stressed)

and couldn't get back to sleep,

so I plotted out my entire plan on how to tell our parents

we're pregnant....when we're actually pregnant.

Which we are NOT!!

We're not even thinking about getting pregnant anytime soon.

But by golly, when it happens, our parents are going to find out in the coolest, most unique way.

{3.}

I kind of miss my firsties.

Especially when I see this commercial.

I also miss these fashionable ladies.

{4.}

I can now drink a whole bottle of wine By. My. Self.

For those of you that actually know me, 

this is pretty unbelievable. I used to be such a lightweight.

But alas, it is true. 

In fact, I'm writing this post several glasses in. ;)

{5.}

I have actually love, love, loved having Robbie home with me this week.

At first, I was a little skeptical of having him home all week.

 Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with that stud.

But I also like having me time 

and I always look forward to days off when he's at work

because I know I can get "me" stuff done.

However, I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to hang out with him all week

and have still found plenty of "me time" to get stuff done.

{6.}

I know I'm like 8 years behind on this bandwagon but...

I'm obsessed with LOST. 

Robbie and I started watching from the beginning on NetFlix

and at first, I wasn't too sure about the whole thing.

However, now that we're well into the second season,

I am hooked.

{7.}

Our dogs stayed with Robbie's parents in Kinston on Sunday night

and I missed them wayyyy too much to be considered a normal person.

It's official - I have completely converted to the "crazy dog-person" side of life.

{8.}
98 degrees performed on the Today show yesterday morning
and after I got over the initial shock that 98 degrees still existed
I realized I still knew every word to their songs...

{9.}
I wear this striped tank top pretty much every other day.
Its so comfy and it goes with everythingggg.
Thanks H&M...if only I had been able to see into the future
and could have bought 8 more in every color imaginable.

{10.}
I've been listening to BackThatAzzUp Pandora all week.
(and I still have to google how to work grooveshark.)







Have a great weekend dolls!

Hugs,

Never Have I Ever

I loved this game maybe a little too much in college and high school.

Because it's still adult spring break and my birthday month

and day drinking is completely acceptable and necessary on adult spring break

just ask Whitney

I knew I had to participate in one more round of 

Never Have I Ever...

1. Had a jager bomb. Or had any desire to have a jager bomb. Blegh.

2. Read the Hunger Games. Although I have been tempted after watching the movie.

3. Liked baby peas. They make me gag. Every. Single. Time.

4. Lived completely by myself.

5. Changed a flat tire. Though I do know how to check my oil.

6. Owned a cat.

7. Been able to remember anything involving numbers. My mom changed her house number a few years ago and I still have to look it up in my contacts to call her. 

8. Mowed a lawn or worked in retail.

9. Missed my PC. I'm a total Apple-aholic.

10. Won a March Madness Bracket Challenge. Although I did get really close one time in high school.

Speaking of March Madness Bracket Challenges, it's obviously too late to join one now,
however it's never too late to go read Sarah's blog
and learn all things sports-related.
Seriously, your manfriend/husband will love you for this
and you'll love her, because she's funny and makes sense.
Plus, there's glitter on her blog.
Go say hey!

~

And then head over to Nadine's blog and link up for Never Have I Ever!
Move it!

Hugs,

Go Girl, It's Your Birthday

Delightfully Dunn is officially one year old y'all.

Maybe it's because I just spent the last 30 minutes 

looking at "first birthday" ideas on Pinterest

(all of which involved super cute babies in tutus and bow ties smashing cake)

Or maybe it's because I secretly can't believe 

I stuck with this for a year.

Maybe it's because I've been thinking about how fast this year has gone by 

or all the things that I've been through this year.

Or maybe it's because in a few short days

I, too, will be turning one year older.

Either way, I find myself in a pretty sappy, sentimental mood today.

I started this blog last year

because I was tired of simply stalking blogs without making any real contribution

and it was Spring Break so I finally had some time to breathe 

and do something for me completely unrelated to school and work 

and all the grownup things weighing me down at the time.

Since then, I have used this blog 

to meet new people, vent out frustrations, document memorable events, 

and still occasionally, escape the grownup things that still sometimes weigh me down.

Over the past few months,

I've really been grappling with the idea of growing my blog

and converting my blog into more of a "business" venture.

I've wanted to start sponsoring high traffic blogs, 

participating in group giveaways, building my numbers

and gaining sponsors of my own.

However, anytime I thought about all of these things,

I got this teeny tiny knot in my stomach.

Partly from excitement and anticipation as to what could be,

but also partly because I just wasn't sure I was ready for that responsibility.

I've realized, through this year of blogging, that the thing I love most about it

is the lack of pressure related to it. 

I blog when I want to because I simply want to.

And for now, that's what I plan to keep right on doing.
End of story.

My first favorite part of blogging is still reading other people's blogs.

Seriously, you guys are way better at this than me.

My second favorite part of blogging is actually getting to write 

whatever the heck I want to write.

My third favorite part is when you guys actually read 

whatever the heck I want to write.

Seriously, y'all's comments and retweets and emails and all that jazz

is the coolest part about blogging.

So, I don't have any fancy giveaway for my big blogiversary

I do however have a ginormous thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

For real, y'all are the best.

Now I'm off to find the fluffiest pink tutu I can

and face plant into a whole cake
cause apparently, that's how first birthdays work.

Feel free to do the same! 

Clearly, this chick knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Sources here and here

Hugs,

Things That Burn my Biscuit Part 2

I'm creating a Part 2 for this post

because sometimes you just have more complaining to do.

{1.}

When people put their feet on the bottom of your chair. 

I can feel your feet there, even if you're keeping them super still.

Which let's be real, if you're putting my feet on the bottom of my chair,

you most likely are not keeping them still.

{2.}

People who don't drive the speed limit.

I'm not asking you to speed. 

But 30 in a 35 is just ridiculous.

Pedal to the medal please.

{3.}

Grown ups who act like children.

I could give you 473920 examples of this

and I'm sure you can think of some you've experienced as well

so we'll just leave it at that.

{4.}

Nonsense on Facebook.

Again, I could give you 3487493 examples of this

and I'm sure you can think of some as well.

If it's not a status update, a picture upload, or writing on my wall,

I am not interested. 

Ain't nobody got time for that.

{5.}

Ignorance. 

I don't care what side of the fence you stand on

regarding any issue. 

If you stand on that side and judge the person standing on the other side

you are ignorant and I have no time for you.

The end.

See number 3 for more information.

{6.}

When Pinterest links lead to nowhere. 

Or when they lead to not where you wanted to be.

For example, a really great recipe pin from a blog

leads to a fashion post. Ugh.

{7.}
Rihanna.
This one shouldn't even need an explanation.
But no, I am not over the fact that she got abused by her boyfriend,
whined and cried about it, only to then go and release songs
about wanting it "in the worse way" and then getting back together
with said boyfriend.
At the risk of sounding like my grandma:
(who doesn't even know what Rihanna is btw)
"what is our world coming to?"

{8.}
Long posts with no pictures.

Lookie there, it came with some pretty sound advice too.

Whew.

I already feel better.

Hope nothing too big is burning your biscuits this Tuesday.

Hugs,

1,000 Jellybeans

I never eat candy. Ever.

Valentine's chocolates don't make me swoon.

Christmas candy - eh?

Even when I was little, my Halloween candy would last for months.

However, yesterday I ate enough candy to make up for all

the previous holidays in my life.

And today I still feel about 10,000 pounds bigger than usual.

Bleh.

~

In other news,

I can't believe Easter 2013 has come and gone

and that today is the first day of the best month ever (aka April).

Besides 1,000 jellybeans

(and 250 peanut M&Ms, 50 Twizzlers, 300 chewy SweetTarts, 15 Milky Ways, 8 chocolate chip cookies, etc.)

my weekend consisted of slumber parties with the inlaws,

Easter egg dyeing with my favorite 10 year olds,

Gerbil/Puppy near death encounters,

Good Friday breakfast in bed from my sweet love muffin,

back porch sitting with three of my favorite guys,

modeling dogs,

and a "not very Eastery outfit" according to my mother for Easter Sunday church.

~

As for today, I am soaking in every second of Spring Break

(I promise not to mention it everyday this week, maybe)

And waiting for this cutie pie to show up at my front door.

And because I know she'll hate me for putting that picture up,

here's a different (slightly more serious) one.

Oh, and linking up with Sami!

I hope you have a fabulous Monday and don't fall for too many April Fool's jokes!

Hugs,