Counting My B's

Hi, New World! It's been awhile. Here's a quick glimpse of the past couple months of my existence. In no particular order...

1. First quarter just ended at school. WHOA. 

2. Heffe and I went to see The Lion King! 

3. I have been babysitting twice a week. I absolutely love losing myself in kid land after NEEDING to be an adult in kid land... Plus, these kids are super cute. :):):)

4. I ran a 5k in October, and came in 30th place out of like a thousand. :)

5. I have rediscovered my love of the TV show, "Scrubs" on Netflix. Not that we don't have the DVDs... But Netflix is so much more convenient. ;)

6. Fall is birthday season for my family. Any excuse to eat cake and lots of food is good enough for me!!!!!

7. We finally got all our bedroom furniture delivered! And it's glorious!

8. We found out Matt the Miller has happy hour on Sunday nights. SUNDAY. NIGHTS. PEOPLE. 

9. I got some new Homage tshirts!

10. We finally transferred all 1,500+ wedding photos to our computers and external hard drive! 

11. I've been working at least one day (usually physically AT school) on the weekend. Pfffffft. 

12. I made a new running playlist, including new tunes! 

13. I made a wreath for our front door!

14. Heffe and I finally were able to spend some QT with our newest nephew/godson, Camden!  What a love!!!!

15. My PSR class had an All Saints Day parade this week- all my students dressed up like saints! Too cute!

16. I've decided to take time for ME and JUST ME and have been getting my nails done just about every week since school started. Whatever, it makes me happy!

17. I completely changed banks. Think about it and how much you have tied to your primary checking account. 'Nuff said. 

18. My class at school went on a field trip last week! Delaware City was so good to us!

19. Amanda and I threw a baby shower for our sister-in-law Chris!! She is due in a few short weeks!!! aahhhh!!!!:)

20. I painted one of our bathrooms all by myself!

21.  Janissa was honored to host our sister Aileen for an entire weekend!! 

22. We bought Twix for trick or treaters. They obviously had no chance at survival, and we needed to buy a second... and then third bag of chocolatey candy. 

23. I'm going to sign up for the Flying Pig Marathon. Eeeeeeeeeeee!

24. Online shopping is still just too much fun!

25. I have been to the dentist, doctor (twice), lens crafters, and have another appointment scheduled next week... In the past 2 months. I feel geriatric!

26. I have taught all 25 of my students how to appropriately use school-associated social media. 

27. Most Thursdays evenings are reserved for happy hours and/or catch ups. Most have been a combination of both with great friends. I am blessed. 

28. I'm channeling my inner-suppressed-collegiate Sciato and putting off the tedious work for a professional development class on new progress monitoring/report card methods. 

29. Despite it all, we have been to mass more than not since we've been married. 

30. Cheesy ending- I turned 30. Wwwwwhhhhhhat????

New World, how do you measure your life? These are some of the little moments that mean a lot... Not even close to everything that's impacted my life... But it's where I am. 

Until more elaboration of some said events, I challenge you to measure and fill your time, and count your b's... As a wonderful God-sent song reminded me this morning (I paraphrase), at all times, especially times of crisis... "I hold tight to what I know"... And Count your Blessings more than your Burdens. :)

Cheers:)

Ten on a Tuesday

Hello, New World!

Just a few scattered thoughts for you on this rainy and chilly fall evening... Yes, I'm holding onto autumn even though Ohio is violently throwing it out the window like burnt cookies. 

aaaaaaaaaand that's number 1. aaaaah, Xavier. I miss you! I miss seeing my friends so often!!! Autumn always reminds me of how beautiful XU's campus looks in the fall. Even though we all did stupid things at one time or another (hence my burnt flaming cookies out the window)... we all had the best freaking time. xoxavier

2. Jason's Deli makes amazing chicken salad. It's very light, and it has pineapples and aaaalmonds in it. Refreshing and doesn't make me feel badly for eating fast food after a quick trip to the gym!

3. Today was a new shoe day. Thanks, DSW! Well, I should be thanking myself- my rewards for shopping there too much bought me my new kicks, that did NOT make my feet hurt! win-win!

4. I'm wearing my Christmas fleece with snowflakes on it. Yes, I'm still hanging on to fall, but I'm a realist- it's Ohio, and the 10 day forecast is completely unreliable.

5. My "new" laptop is great... but the keyboard BLOWS. I have had it for almost a year now, and still can't seem to hit the space bar hard enough or at the right angle. And then I have to go back every few seconds and try harder. Irritating! Next laptop- I'll definitely try some typing out to be sure it fits my keyboarding style. #thingsithoughtidneversay #thisunusablespacebarmakesforeasyhashtags

6. Tomorrow is health screenings for my students. I'm SO relieved it's not for me. Like I need one more thing to induce panic attacks about my health- at work, no less!

7. This happened.

8. My students and I finished our read aloud today. We have been reading Rump by Liesl Shurtliff. I really thought some of my students were going to cry when it was over. It has truly been a magical journey, and I cannot say enough times how much I have loved reading this book. If you have students in grades 3-5, or are a teacher... please do yourself a favor and look into it.

9. I actually got up this morning when I should have, and ya  know what? I was less tired throughout the day than when I snooze for an hour or so. Even if I did do an abominable parking job in the dark when I got to school. Turns out- all those articles I've read on sleep studies actually might be true!

10. We opened our Halloween candy. Yikes. Bad Janissa!!!!

Callin it a day, New World! What random happenings have plagued your thoughts today? :) 

Until next time...

Cheers :) 

A Spoon Full of Sugar... helps the reality go down!

Hello, New World. (notice the no exclamation point. #elainebenes)

On Sunday, I tried to post an update to my blog. I usually give Heffe a sneak peak and do a read aloud of my updates before I publish. This particular update was all over the place, to the point where Heffe said, "I don't understand what you're trying to say."
At first, I was crushed. How could HE of all people not get me?! So, I decided to just save the post, to maybe revisit later, and not actually publish the update.

Well, I just re-read it... and, guess what. Heffe was right. I didn't even understand what I was trying to say. 

So I deleted that one, and I'm starting from scratch. Well, almost scratch. I kept the title. I can be so witty sometimes. ;) 

So here's my reality. 

I HATE the month of September. End of summer. Beginning of 70+ hour work weeks where I still don't feel prepared. End of free calendars. Beginning of school for Heffe. End of sleep. Beginning of big black baggy wrinkles under my eyes.

I'm especially depressed this September because wedding and honeymoon stuff are REALLY over. My and Heffe's combined calendars and to-do lists are completely overwhelming, and "making time" for anything other than those things on our calendars or to-do lists is just not going to happen. Not just highly unlikely. It is just about impossible without dropping the ball from one of the other plates we're spinning. It absolutely SUCKS that we're back to the place where we are crossing really big events off our lists and anxiously watching the clock until we need to leave and get back to our calendars and to-do lists.

I have really been feeling emotional lately. Not to sound completely cliche, but I am really feeling like no one is understanding what I'm saying or how I'm feeling...which is probably why Heffe saying he didn't understand my unpublished update (even though he was RIGHT) made me upset. 

About a month ago, I posted the five things I am striving to do throughout the duration of this school year. It was really the five things I am striving to do in order to balance all aspects of my life. It seems that I've offended everyone in some way by trying to make sure I have my ducks in a row and I am taking care of myself. I hate feeling like I've let people down. I hate feeling like what I'm saying isn't being heard. It's like it my good intentions (mainly of taking care of myself first, so I can take care of others) have completely backfired right in my face, shouting, "Nice Try! You Failed!" and everything sucks. I'm a little tired of taking the high road continually, and I don't know what to do.

Enter #theoatmeal's The Blerch.



You suck, Blerch.

The Blerch is the personified running wall you hit around the second to last mile before the euphoric mile that pushes you into the Runner's High. However, since I can't manage to find the time or energy to create a workout routine substantial enough to find a running wall... The Blerch is standing in my freaking way all the freaking time.

So what am I going to do to get past The Blerch? 

I'm going to rip its wings off, steal its stylin headband, and kick it out of my face.

We all have our demons and our saving graces. 

My saving grace for now... watching this video, and remembering that sometimes, even Mary Poppins gets "cheeky." ;) 

Until next time, Blerchful or Blerchless New World,

Cheers. :) 

Musical Schizophrenia

Hello, New World!

Thought for my daily dose of GOOD this week, I'd tap out by taking a page out of Heffe's Blog and do a little musical count down for you!

Background story for my musical journey...

 This weekend, I traveled to Cincinnati for my sister-in-law's Baby Shower. Chris and Michael got TONS of amazing gifts, well wishes, and personal time and memories turned gifts. I am so blessed to be an aunt AGAIN!!!! Hurry up, Baby, we want to meet you!!!! Just not so hurried... finish baking first ;)

Heffe and I have coined the I-71 corridor between Cincinnati and Columbus as the "Come to Jesus (CTJ)  Highway." Whether its music, our own thoughts, or every Christian rock station in between, at least one of us ends up leaving the highway with a profound epiphany of some sort. 

Friday night's drive begun my musical inspiration. Here are the highlights...

1. "Hand In My Pocket" by Alanis Morissette. Have you ever even HEARD the lyrics to that song? It has CTJ written all over it. 

2. "That's the Way It Is" by Celine. Again, CTJ central. This song is also on my running play list. I hear, "Yes, those are hills, and you've got to push through, and that's the way it is!"

3. "Put On" by Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West. This song makes me feel pretty freaking righteous. Also on my running playlist. 

Then I put on the "Frozen" cd soundtrack and just lost my mind before I got to my parents' house.

Saturday, as Amanda and I were prepping for Chris's shower, I was playing my NSYNC Pandora station. If you don't have this station, and are a fan of ... perfection ... you need to create it immediately. IMMEDIATELY. Hightlights include...

1. "Tearin Up My Heart" by NSYNC. Duh. I stopped cooking and did the dance. Whatever.

2. "The Call" by the Backstreet Boys. This song was more on the tail end of BSB, and truth be told, I completely forgot about it until I heard it. Good one! Great beat. I've included the video so Amanda can remember what this song is ;) 

3. "Liquid Dreams" by OTown. Yes. I've seen OTown multiple times in concert, and have even done the bungee rip cord thingy at Kings Island in order to see their sound check. Sue me. 

4. "Oops I Did It Again" by Britney Spears. Who DIDN'T just remember her in her red leather jumpsuit?! Please and thank you, TRL.

5. "He Loves You Not" by Dream. I may or may not have this single. 

6. "Lady Marmalade" by Pink, Mya, Lil Kim, Missy Elliot, and Christina Aguilera, from the "Moulin Rouge" soundtrack. Still a top 10 album of ALL TIME for me. Brought back junior year of high school in 3 hot seconds!

7. "Drive Myself Crazy" by NSYNC. Just like the iconic Britney video... who did NOT picture a dreadlocked Chris Kirkpatrick in a straight jacket looking extra creepy!? 

8. "Bye Bye Bye" by NSYNC. Again... iconic video. PUPPETS PEOPLE.

Needless to say... this started Chris's Shower Day on a REALLY GOOD note. 

Sunday's drive home really brought it back. I had some repeats from Friday, but my iTunes still delivered...

1. "Christmas Can-Can" by Straight No Chaser. #imoneofthosepeoplewhodreamsofchristmasbeforehalloween

2. "Lose Control" by Missy Elliot. Stuck that cruise control on, and danced my buckled up ass off!

2. "Defying Gravity" Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith from "Wicked." Again, this song has CTJ written ALLLLLLL over it. Righteous Sciato is back. 

3. "Look At Me Now" by Chris Brown ft. Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, "If you got eyes look at me now, BITTTTTCH" Righ-teous.

4. "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. This song means about a million things to me. Heffe's sister Carolyn sang this for us on our wedding day... yes. She sang it. By herself. A DUET DONE SOLO. Nothing short of extraordinary. So I was thinking of our wedding day. 

This was a big baby weekend, so I was a little overwhelmed with the, "aren't you next?" questions and love for my current nephews and baby Chrichael on the way (Chris and Michael=Chrichael, much like Jeff and Anissa=Janissa). I couldn't help but pray this song for all the sweet little baaaaaaaaabies who are already in my life. 

Hello. Again. CTJ. 

Maybe I need new tunes. Maybe one of my schizo sides understands that I need a little variety and spice to my life. Maybe it is divine intervention that I have some of these songs in my repertoire. Anyway you slice it, it's all good tunes for me. And that is my happy place today. 

Until next time, 

Jam on, New World!

Cheers :) 

Happy HMAC Thursday!

Hello, New World!

I feel it is only necessary to begin tonight's blog with that quote. It's summer. It's fall. It's humid. It's windy. I don't look pretty. 

Newsflash, New World. 

HMAC is back!

For those that don't know, HMAC is the name I get when my not-so-alter-ego-as-of-late takes over and I become "impotent and out of control" like Cher from Clueless. Hot Mess Anissa Casciato can only come out in true bursts of emotion, genius and/or crazy. I feel sorry for the people I came into contact with today. Scratch that. I'm LAUGHING WITH the people I came into contact with today... as we all laugh AT me. HMAC. 

My goodness for today comes from my ability to sit back and honestly laugh at myself. It's been awhile since I've been able to do that without immediately bursting into uncontrollable sobs. Give me some props, New World!

1. During school, we had a team meeting that was being taped for the staff. I could SERIOUSLY not get a word out without stuttering and losing my cool, and when I couldn't find the words to speak, my larger than life 14 year old girl acne was there to stand up for me... large and in charge of my face. 

2. I literally FORGOT I had a sub coming in my room today so I could do reading testing. I felt like a FREAK when I tried to explain my lesson plans to her. Granted, I bet she's seen worse than me subbing for districts all over... but I still felt pretty scattered after thinking of our interactions today.

3. I totally pissed my pants and forgot who I was today at work... clearly... on top of 1 and 2, I was forgetting passwords, could BARELY carry on conversations with my colleagues... Only explanation- HMAC.

4. For the second night in a row, had to change my numbering as I'm typing this blog because I apparently can't count past 3. 

5. I was running a million errands today after work, including "running into" Target. One cannot simply "run into Target". I went in for 1 THING. Came out with a dress (that actually made me look like a hot mess when I got home and tried it on), a tshirt, and make up remover. While in my frenzied "run" throughout Target, I excused myself from a Target employee to reach and grab the tshirt. When I came back through the shirt section on my way out of the dress section, the said Target employee asked me if I had lost my phone. I immediately panicked. Leaving my phone in undisclosed locations is a top fear for me. I looked in my purse, and sure enough, in my Target/Mad Hatter's Tea Party for one, I had left my phone somewhere, and this woman was kind enough to pick it up, recognize me, and pick up the pieces of my Hot Mess.  Nothing short of a miracle here, people!!!

6. One of my other errands tonight was to FedEx to do some printing. I brought my flash drive, waited for about 20 minutes while someone printed what looked like band flyers, while other customers were making awkward small talk with each other, while I perused Instagram (since I had not yet lost the stupid phone that holds the keys to my life)... finally, I had all my copies, and left. I then continued to run errands, and at the end, since FedEx is open the latest, went back to use their industrial paper cutter. I cut what I needed to, and then went home. Finally!!!! Not. I looked at my computer on the kitchen table where I had left it, and immediately realized I had left my flash drive at FedEx about 3 hours ago... and then 10  minutes ago since I was back again. Frick. Double Frick. I dropped ALL my bags, and got back into my car. Thankfully, FedEx is pretty close to home. When I got there, for the THIRD TIME TODAY, my flashdrive was in tact, but now I'm currently panicking and will be checking all of its contents promptly after I publish this post. 

Sheesh. I'm a DISASTER sometimes!!!!! LOL Can't make this stuff up, New World. Can't make it up. :) 

When Heffe finally got home tonight, he had brought with him this: 

Yes. Flowers, champagne, and Taco Bell. Tomorrow is our 2 month anniversary ;) #enoughwiththeromance :) :) :) :) #cantstopwontstop 

"I love this crazy, tragic, almost magic, awful, beautiful life.." 

Until next time:)

With my glass raised to Murphy's Law

 Cheers. :) 

Wino Wednesday- what's NOT good about that!?

Hello, New World!

I got a Sciato sized glass of wine on this lovely fall-like Wednesday evening as I reflect on the Goodness of the day. 

Aaaaaaah. :) 

1. I got to go shopping today! I am co-hosting (with the one, the only, the multi-tasking GENIUS, my sister-in-law Amanda) a baby shower for our sister-in-law, Chris, this weekend, and I am putting the finishing touches on the party :) Having lived in Columbus for the better part of my life, I REMEMBER when our iconic mall scene was constructed. (At this point, I feel it necessary to pay proper respect to the mall we all knew too well, and where I still find myself roaming around in my dreams about occasionally, Northland Mall. RIP, good friend. I will never forget shopping at Structure with my big brother, stalking American Eagle, and going to Lazarus with my mama! Oh, the memories...) Digression over. Columbus shopping. My brother, Tony, worked for the construction company that built Tuttle Mall, I worked at Aeropostale and opened the store at Easton, and I remember hanging out with my friends everywhere at Polaris in high school- long before it was an epicenter. Since moving away and then moving back and to the burbs at that... I have REALLY lost touch with every mall except Polaris. Tonight I went to Easton. Every time I go there, I fall further and further in love with it. Yes, I said it. I. LOVE. EASTON. I went there for one store , and ended up roaming around like a creep (only got lost once, though!), and it was amazing. Lots of happy alone time for Sciato!!!

2. Even though I had Wendy's for the second time for dinner this week (which was ALSO a good thing- yes, this one is a two-fer!!!), I made pasta for lunch tomorrow and Friday. I am BEYOND sick of sad-sack salads, and just can't reconcile with buying school lunches when they are made of things that give me the runs. #evenrectanglepizzaisntworthit 

Needless to say, I'm WAY excited for my gluten-free pasta and homemade sauce tomorrow ;) 

3. I watched the photo-slideshow-video our amazing wedding photographer made for us. #JeanneArkfeldPhotography   

Our wedding day flew by so freaking fast, and Jeanne and her daughter, Carly, captured EVERY moment I seemed to have whizzed through... and it makes my heart happy to "re-remember" those lost memories. :) 

4. Well, duh. It's Wino Wednesday at Casa di Janissa. Tonight we've selected a delightful Pinot Noir. I need a refill. :P

Until tomorrow, New World, 

Life is still pretty good. :) 

Cheers. :) 

Terrific Tuesday!

Hello, New World!

Since it's been a long one, and since I've been working since I got home, and since it's already after 11, I'll cut to the chase. :) Here's today's glimpse of goodness for ya...

1. I had a Secret Admirer in my class. I had notes left all last week, and this week so far I've received 4 coasters/pot holders and a necklace that were all HAND MADE. I found out who the student was yesterday, and I can't even tell you how sweet and memorable and blessed I feel. It's sometimes easy to cast away the pictures, notes, and general indoor recess gifts of "I made this macaroni necklace for you, except it's not a macaroni necklace because I only had boogers to smear around on the back of my homework that I didn't do and it's just for you and I worked so hard" trinkets. Having this Secret Admirer immediately brought me back to 3rd grade, and made me remember how important all the little things like this are, and hopefully, this sweet Secret Admirer of mine will remember the expression on my face when I figured out their true identity, and how thankful I am for each and every one of the gifts I have been given- most of all, for having that student in my class.

2. I got to hang out with 2 amazing kids all afternoon today. Yes, it's a babysitting job. Yes, I was beat after a long day at school. Yes, seeing Heffe at 9pm was the first time since about lunch when I had complete adult-only interaction. The family I babysit for is truly one-of-a-kind, and I am so blessed to have become a part of their lives.

3. Heffe had dinner waiting for me when I got home tonight. BLTs, salad, and even Dove ice cream bars for dessert, and a little vino night cap. This is his only week night free... he worked out, ran his errands, organized his life, packed OUR lunches, set up coffee for tomorrow morning, cooked dinner for us, AND had a smile on his face when I came in the door looking like a crusty mess. Didn't criticize me for not wanting to work out. Didn't ask questions when I said I had to stay up and do work. LET me have the last glass of good wine (until we opened the cheaper bottle). New World, my husband is better than yours. ;) 

Until tomorrow, 

Life is still pretty good. :) 

Cheers :)