My Symptoms...

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms of strep throat are:

• A sudden, severe sore throat.
• Pain when you swallow.
• Fever over 101F.
• Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes
• White or yellow spots on the back of a bright red throat.

You may also have a headache and belly pain. Less common symptoms are a red skin rash, vomiting, not feeling hungry, and body aches.

Thank you WebMD. I have a Doctor's appointment at 11:15. I'll update you on the prognosis.

Ten on Tuesday

1. Do you prefer markers, crayons, or colored pencils?
Crayons by far. I get so excited when I open a fresh new box and see all of the sharp points. Too bad my crayon boxes at school are all dull and I have to rip the paper to expose more of the crayon.

2. As a child, how did your parents celebrate your birthday? (Parties, cake, you pick the dinner, etc.)
We celebrated with big parties every five years. There isn't a reason why it just happened that way in the Galvan house hold. I had big parties when I was 1,5,10 and 15. After my quinceanera the large parties stopped but we still celebrated my wonderful birth.

Me at about one years old.

My quinceanera. Working the big cinderella dress and glasses.


3. How do you feel about leggings?
I like them. I own 1 pair. I hope to collect more next fall.

4. How do you prefer to follow directions? With a map? Words?
Definitely a map. Preferably a map on my phone so I can look at it at stop lights.

5. What do you eat for snack?
sharp cheddar cheese, hard salami and crackers.

6. Have you ever ordered anything from an infomercial or bought any As Seen on TV products?
YES!!!! Well I didn't order it but my wonderful husband bought it for me. He got me bumpits! I really like them but to be honest I feel like people will see my amazing poof, know it is totally fake, and rip the bumpit out of my hair. I try to only wear it around people I know won't do that to me.
7. What’s your favorite thing about summer?
Getting into my car and instantly sweating...
I would really have to say it would be Eric's b-day, my b-day, our anniversary, and relaxing by the pool!
8. Do you have a tattoo? What and where is it?
nope, none, nada. I am not against them but I just don't have any. My best friend has a lot and I think they are pretty hip.

9. Are you good at journaling?
YES!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE to journal. The only sad part is I have never filled up a whole journal. I am in the process of doing that now. My dream is to have a lot of journals for my kids to read when I am old and gray and can't remember the good ole days.

10. What’s your favorite way to eat a hamburger?
Everything on it. Sometimes with or without pickles. Depends on my mood.

Monster Cookies

A friend and I made these delicious cookies on Saturday. I won't be surprised if they are all gone by the end of this week. I hope you like this recipe as much as I do. Have a great Monday!

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup M&Ms
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raisins, (optional) I didn't use raisins since Eric is not a fan of them.
  
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.

These cookies were amazing!! A quick and easy recipe that everyone will enjoy!

"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Psalm 71:14

Seven Quick Takes

1. I think I maybe getting the hang of blogging everyday. So far I have done it four times in a row. I hope to continue this.

2. Go Spurs Go!

3. Lately Eric has been practicing his trumpet for our sister's wedding in June. He is awesome!
I love hearing the music being played throughout the house. I hope our kiddos have amazing musical skills like him.

4. The Brinkmans LOVE a great deal or a freebie. This week I enjoyed a free bagel and shmeer at Einstein's Bagels. It's a promotion they are having all week. Nothing beats a nice toasty cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese. It definitely made my morning today!

5. Tomorrow is May which means...26 more days of school left! Too bad I have to work all summer. :(

6. Eric called me today and told me some amazing news....I'll fill you in later!

7. After I finish this post I am going to dress up like a nerd and attend a work social. That's what teachers do on their Fridays dress up, eat, drink, and relax..

Have a fantastic weekend!

The Girl with the Big Pink Glasses

I never had the best vision growing up. I distinctly remember when I was a little girl sitting on the couch and moving so I could stand in front of the TV, shouting to my mom, "Now I can see!" I think this moment triggered my parents to go and get my eyes checked.
I was in pre-kinder and I needed glasses bad.

Picking out my first pair was a haze, but I do recall desperately wanting red frames. They didn't have red, so I settled for the next closest thing...pink. My parents ranted and raved about how wonderful I looked in my new glasses. The next day at school I boldly walked in the classroom hoping my classmates would also think my glasses were just as wonderful.
They thought they looked...funny.

I quickly began hatting my pink glasses and would purposely try to break them before I went to school. It never failed that my mom would always have a solution on how to fix them, whether it was super glue, a tiny screwdriver, or just popping the lenses back in.
I had them for a few years then switched to Osh Kosh frames. (yes...they make glasses too...and no they were not cool.)

After finally getting rid of my "so embarrassing" glasses I vowed NEVER to show my friends pictures of me wearing them.

This picture of me wearing them sits in my craft room. I remember Eric coming in and looking at it and saying, "You are so pretty." I thought it was ridiculous for him to say that because I looked ridiculous in the picture. He told me why he thought I looked cute and how I am beautiful no matter what. I began to realize the most ridiculous thing was how I was still harboring feelings of shame and embarrassment from about 15+ years.
After my realization I remembered one of my favorite verses Songs of Solomon 7:4

"All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you."

It is sick to think that I always try to find my worth in what I wear and how I look.
No matter if I have nasty glasses, not so hip clothes, or imperfections on my skin, my Maker sees absolutely no blemish on me. He loves me for who I am and delights in me. God is Awesome!!


Hope you enjoyed a new feature on the Brinkman blog...
Blast from the Past Thursdays
Every Thursday I will post different memories of my life from the past 23 years.
Let me know what you think. :)

Your Hands

Every time I hear this song on the radio I try to remember the title and the singer so I can hear it again later. With my long commute home I quickly forget and have to wait and hope it plays again.
This afternoon it came on KLOVE at the last stop light before I got home. This time I shazamed it. shazam: an iPhone app that helps you figure out who the singer and what the title is while it is playing...it rocks!
Drum roll please... JJHeller: Your Hands.
I have since listened to it at least 10 times. I enjoy it a lot. Check it out.



That pretty much sums up my Wednesday.
night peeps!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Think back a decade, do you remember what your first cellphone was? Was it as cool as Zack Morris’s phone?

My cellphone rocked! It had the ablility for me to type in a very long code and create a ringer. (who cares if it took my about 20 minutes to type it all in) My ringer of choice, billie jean. I enjoyed this phone and kept it for about 3 years.

2. What is the first children’s book you remember being read to you?

The book that comes to mind is a Kevin Henkes book, Chrysanthemum. I loved this book and repeatedly checked it out from the library. My wonderful mom never got tired of reading it to me. Thanks Mom!

3. What was your first car? Did you love it or hate it?

1994 Chevrolet Corsica. Molly, was so gracious to sell it to my sister, who then handed it down to me.

It finally died/got sold last May. Eric and I were very excited to kick that clunker to the curb, but before doing that it decided to overheat on the way to the dealership.

4. Who was your hero growing up?

I can't pinpoint a specific person who was my hero growing up. I had a few wonderful people that I looked up to. My grandma, mom and sister. (she was older than me and I thought she was super cool)

5. Think back to your first kiss. Was it everything you dreamed of?

No way! We bumped our noses together and I was freaking out the whole time on how to breathe. Plus my best friend, 2 cousins and sister were all spying on me out the front window.

6. What was your first BAD hairstyle choice? (Extra points for embarrassing photos)

I got my haircut a little longer than ear length. It was horrible...I got made fun of for it...enough said.

7. What was your first realistic dream? (One where you had to think “Oh dang, was that a dream?”)

I had a dream that I lost all my teeth. Crazy thing is I really felt them fall out...creepy I know. I woke up counting all my teeth with my tongue. I still get that dream and I count every time.

8. What was the first phobia you remember developing?

As a little girl I was afraid of everything...

trains, popping balloons, car washes, my mom leaving the room, which I thought she was leaving me for good, and toilets....yes toilets. The one fear that really got me was ET. As a little girl I always thought at night he was looking through a window at me. I would run past any windows in hopes he wouldn't get a sneak peek of me.

9. Which character on Sesame Street do you most identify with?

As of right now, Count Von Count. No, I do not enjoy human blood and I am NOT referring to Twilight in anyway. You all might already know that I am a 4yr old teacher. I am constantly counting with them and helping them learn their numbers.

10. What was the hardest goal you ever accomplished?
I don't really set goals...maybe I should?!
I would have to say the hardest goal I have ever accomplished was finally enjoying working out.
I used to DISLIKE with a passion going to the gym. I did everything to try not to go. (Wii fit, 30 day shred and P90X: abb ripper and yoga only) I now look forward to my workout classes and l
enjoy leaving work and going to the gym for a good sweat. weird...I know!