an-ever increasing list of pet peeves...

- when the person beside me at the gym does not have headphones on. seriously: I don't want for you to hear me breathing heavy...why would YOU want to hear that anyways?

- strong fragrances in small spaces (particularly patchouli)

- people who drive (or really don't drive and just ride their breaks) whenever the weather is anything but sunny and beautiful. We live in Indiana people...it snows here and it even rains.

- rudeness. I don't feel like this needs much of an explanation.

- when my office, who are the kings of calling 2 hours delays and cancellations, does not call anything when the rest of the entire city has a shut down.

- old issues and things of the past that just never seem to go away and pop up just when you have written them off from your memory.

- a to do list that never gets done. To be more specific, a new to do list that always has the same carry over task from the previous 10 to do lists.

- being late to the movies. Well really being late anywhere.

- when my nails are looking great and one of them breaks...leaving me with the only option of cutting all of the rest off.

- people who are 'last minute kind of people' and expect my type A personality to be a last minute person and planner too.

- irresponsibility.

- people who don't respond to emails.



Luckily grace is an amazing thing...not only grace for myself, but the fact that God is helping me be equipped to share grace with other people...especially in the circumstances listed above.

patience is a virtue.

This week on the phone these things were said to me:

 

"You must really love to hear the sound of your own voice."

 

"Thank you for wasting both my time and yours with this conversation."

 

"Since you are such a great leader and so amazing at the work you doing over there you need to answer...." (in case you missed the sarcasm, it was laid on thick).

 

Needless to say this combined with other parts of life have required a little extra patience this week. I don't like for people to speak rude to me. I don't particularly enjoy having my work questioned, having the work my staff are doing questioned, or feeling like I need to defend myself to someone who doesn't deserve an explanation.

In these situations I want to scream at the top of my lungs, I want to bring my own sarcastic skills to the table (because ask Coy - I am painfully good at this), and I even occasionally want to punch someone in the face. When in actuality I respond to these situations with as must patience as I can muster. Sometimes this patience is only enough to keep me from screaming and other times I have a patience which seems could go on for days and days. But no matter how much excess patience or lack of patience I have going on...it is really hard work.

Patience is hard, it doesn't come easy, and it is definitely not my naturally tendency in emotionally and mentally trying situations.

However, just as in my professional life (where I must maintain patience or risk losing my credibility, my respect, or even my job) my personal life requires just as must patience. Patience is required in many situations in life. Whether it is patience with a rude man on the phone or maintaining patience while I fight rush hour traffic on my commute home, or patience as Coy and I want to have a baby...patience is necessary and it is hard and it something I pray for almost daily. I can never have enough patience and I am constantly in need of more. Luckily for me, God had been answering my prayers and seems to give me more and more patience as the days go by (something I have always struggled with having enough of)...yet, I still have so far to go. Every day is a struggle and I am so thankful that I can call on a God who answers my prayers, who supplies my needs, and who seems to give me the strength to get through another day and other situation when it seems I have nothing less to give.

 



Professor Schrougham.

This week I began a new journey...teaching a class at my alma mater Anderson University. I am teaching a Sociology/Family Science class as an adjunct for a professor who is on sabbatical.

I have been on campus many, many times since graduation and it has never felt the same as it did as a student. Stepping back on campus this week in a totally different light, not as a student and not as just a graduated student, but as an educator was a whole new feeling.

To say I loved my college experience would be an understatement. Returning to campus in this new role brought back so many good memories. Being at AU always makes a little nostalgic and now I will be getting this flood of emotions three days a week for the next four months!

 

 Although it was a little bizarre being on the other side of the classroom and standing at the podium and not in a desk, it was good first day. My class is made up of around thirty-three students from various degrees and ranging from freshman to seniors. Hopefully I was just the right amount of funny, smart, authoritative, and friendly.

I guess we will find out soon enough as the semester goes on...

For now though, this is Prof Schrough signing off...



a treasure in old letters.

My sister recently dug these notes out of an old box of treasures...and I am so glad that she did. It is so funny to reminisce about the little girl that I once was. I have no recollection of writing the letters below but what I do know is that no matter how old I have been...I have always loved my sisters and treasured them in my life, even at a young age.

The Best and Worst of the Golden Globes 2014

After returning home from an exhausting weekend yesterday evening I sat down to watch a little bit of the recorded Golden Globes before heading to bed. However, once I started, I just couldn't stop. I am obsessed with these events. I love the stars, love the dresses, and love the all around glam. I eventually caught up to the live broadcast and even though I could no longer fast forward through commercials I still couldn't quit. I even managed to hubs to stay up with me, despite his many groans.
Of course, one of my favorite parts is seeing the chosen attire for these glamorous events. Below is my assessment of the 'Best and Worst Dressed.'

Let's just get the gross out of the way.
Worst-Dressed (in no particular order):

 

 Jay Manual...

I know you love to make a statement but these pants have got to go!

 Jacqueline Bisset...

This dress was almost as shameful as her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in a series, miniseries, or tv movie.

 Megan Mullally...

These sleeves are just way too much.

 Hayden Panettiere...

Hate the hair. Hate the dress even more.  

 Berenice Bejo...

This dress is too big on her. Not to mention all of the other negative things it brings to the table.

 Lizzy Caplan...

Ugh.

 Julie Bowen...

Hated that I hate her dress because I love her. But this is awful.

 Paula Patton...

Ugh. That thing on the side is such a distraction and so unnecessary.

 Drew Barrymore...

Take that floral and get out!

 Rebecca Ferguson...

I don't even know who you are but I hate your dress all the same.

Emma Stone...

To say I was disappointed in her dress choice would be an understatement. She is always one of my favorite dressed people. This year however her dress looks like she just got done milking the cows and her hair looks like she just got back from a day at the beach. I just expected so, so much more.

 

 Zoe Saldana...

In my opinion she is perhaps one of the worst dressed in Hollywood. She always seems to disappoint at these events.

Best-Dressed (in no particular order):

 Monica Potter...

She made Parenthood proud with this dress. Love the color combo love the hair...she's such a beauty

 Amber Heard...

I couldn't keep my eyes off this C lister's dress when she was presenting. Gorgeous.

 Amy Adams...

Although her acceptance speech was a little boring I loved this dress. I wasn't sure about it at first but the longer I looked at it the more I fell in love.

 Sophia Vergara...

She always seems to make my list. The dress by itself is gorgeous; however, that huge necklace made the ensemble. I love the black and teal combo, especially on her rockin' bod.

 Olivia Wilde...

This dress and that baby bump are perfection.

 The Tatum's...

Once again, best dressed and most attractive couple.

 Reese Witherspoon...

I was wow'd by this color! I LOVE it.

 Julianne Louis-Dreyfus...

Although I didn't all of the jokes throughout the evening between Julianne and hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler I did love the fact that I got to see this dress up close and personal on several different occasions because of it. This dress is perfect for her and the color is fantastic.

 Jennifer Lawrence...

This another one I was not sure about at first. However, as the night went on I decided that I loved it on her. What really got me in the end was the fact I have a major girl crush on her was her choice of green dangly earrings and other wrist/hand accessories.

 Usher...

Only he could pull this color off.

 Tina Fey and Amy Poehler...

This was my favorite of their dress changes. I love the color and design of Tina Fey's dress and loved the simplicity of Amy Poehler's dress. Perfection.

Sosie Bacon...

She is gorgeous and I loved this dress choice. Every time she directed someone on or off stage and delivered the Golden Globe she caught my attention more than whatever else was going on.

 

 

This is just the beginning and I can't wait for awards season to continue!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Blizzard of 2014.

This past week a huge snow storm hit Indiana. Inches upon inches of snow followed by extreme cold (-40 wind chill, yes that is 40 below zero...seriously!?).

Needless to say we got 'snowed in' and didn't leave the house for almost five days! On the fifth day we finally had to break free for a quick trip to Y and a Mexican lunch. Yes, we know that the Mexican cancelled out our workout but it was well worth it. The rest of the time we spent lazing around...watching movies, watching the full season one of Modern Family, sipping coffee and cocoa, laying beside the fire, and sleeping...lots and lots of sleep.

It was actually amazing. I loved every second of it and wasn't quite ready to go back to work on day six. Now it is back to the regular routine, although I guess our bodies got used to the sleep because we were exhausted and in bed by 9pm last night!

I will look back and cherish those days of solitude for years to come!

Here are some pictures from our snow in!  

 There was ALOT of dog cuddling that took place.

 One evening we turned off the tv, got rid of our phones, and just laid in front of the fire for a few hours. It was probably by favorite thing that happened.

 Macy loved the snow! Even though it was above her head in most places.

I even broke my cardinal rule to never do 'man's work'. I shoveled the drive way on two different occasions...and I will never let Coy forget it!

Post Christmas (mini) Update

Hubby and I are happily snowed in during this early 2014 blizzard so I decided I could take a break from our pajama, movie, coffee, and lazy induced Sunday to share a few Christmas pictures. Of course they are mostly of the pups...but who expect anything different? I am only sad to see it go so quickly.