letting in the sunshine

giving in to peer pressure

2011-07-21T16:10:00.001-05:00

Three things have helped make me realize just how much I miss blogging.

1. My obsession with Pinterest. On my iPad, on my iPhone (the app update is heavenly and much needed), and now I've found my way to my ancient desktop computer. The "Pin It" option for my internet browser's toolbar is genius. Want to see what makes my heart skip a beat? Follow me. :)

via luna and chloe.

2. Seeing fabulous friends absolutely ROCK the blog word. I'm serious. I highly recommend you check them out. The Messy Gal is trying her hand at crafts and cooking (and doing a darn good job at it!) and Ashley over at One Fine Day is showing the world her favorite things, which just so happens to coincide with many/most/all of mine. Click, bookmark, and enjoy.

The Messy Gal


One Fine Day

3. The last thing that really pushed me back into wanting to blog? My mom. "You know, you haven't updated your blog in awhile. I keep checking." Thanks, Mom. :)

Hello, lovely!

2010-11-14T07:55:00.001-06:00

Well, despite my absence, I haven't forgotten about my blog. Technology has been my hinderance and my hero. The ol' laptop has definitely seen better days. I've done everything to try and save her, but she's hanging on a thread. Being without a reliable computer hasn't been fun, BUT, it gave me a really great excuse to finally ditch my old school cell phone to upgrade to a fancy pantsy phone with internet capabilities! Yay! I gave into temptation and bought an iPhone 4 and I'm lovin it. And thank goodness for an app that allows me to edit my blog! So...I'm back :)
Quick update on life: things going well! Tough school year. A few (too many) difficult students and a heavy workload have made things stressful, but I still love my job and I'm thankful for it every day. Speaking of stressful, wedding planning is going well, slowly but surely. So far we've booked our ceremony/reception site (and catering), officiant, dj, and our photographer (which I am soooooooo excited about! Will dedicate a post to that later!). And I think I might have found my dress! So things are moving along and we're excited. Is it June yet? :)

April, May,... July?

2010-06-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm a bit of a planner. Not that I shun spontaneity, but I appreciate knowing what's going on. I sat down last week and started filling out my calendar for the summer. Weddings almost every weekend, Matt's golf tournaments, appointments, etc. As I finished filling in May, I flipped the page and found myself starring at July. Wait....July? I know they say that the summer goes by quicker than we'd all like, but May is now followed by July? My discounted calendar that I "scored" from Target is, surprisingly, missing the page for June. I'm all about scoring a sweet deal, but a heads up would have been nice. Thanks, Target. (p.s. Don't worry, I still love you.)
Now that summer break has officially started, I'm trying to make the most of my extra time. First of all, I don't even know how to handle "free time"! I've always been so busy that now that I have an ounce of free time, I'm not sure what to do with it! I'll be honest, the past several days have been laaaazy, but I'm ready to start tackling the to-do lists that I have been putting off all school year. Task number one?

Start planning our wedding.

It's been fun, browsing through magazines, pulling out pages that catch my eye and arranging them in my wedding planning binder. I don't want a huge, extravagant wedding. In fact, in an attempt to turn a huge wedding into something more intimate, Matt and I recently decided to look into having our wedding in Florida! Living in the middle of the U.S., I've always wanted a beach wedding, but never thought I could do it. Matt said 'Why not?" and I said "Yes, please!". I'm also hoping that a destination wedding will help me give up some, if not all, control. If I had to plan a Midwest wedding, I would be in charge of everything and I would, inevitably, stress myself out to the point of no return. My dream is to tell a wedding planner what I want and to show up with a smile on my face and be happy with whatever happens. A girl can dream, right?

It's beginning to feel a lot like...summer

2010-05-25T09:17:00.000-05:00

(via)

I know I disappeared for awhile, but any fellow teachers out there know that April/May are CRAZY. State testing (ugh.), field trips, assemblies, parties, and other daily interruptions in the normal routine/schedule (the result: kids are out of control). I feel like I've been running a marathon for the last couple of weeks and finally I'm at the finish line. Our last day of school with the kids was Thursday and it was bittersweet. I loved LOVED my class this year, and I am really going to miss them (especially when I'm told I was dealt a rough hand when it comes to my class next year), but by the end of the school year, everyone is d-o-n-e and ready for a break.

I am just so thankful that I have a job next year. As I said goodbye to a fellow teacher that lost her position, I couldn't help but feel like I dodged an erratic, unreasonable bullet. I think back to this time last year when I was packing up my classroom, not even sure if I'd be teaching ever again.

But this year, the picture is much clearer. I spent Friday and Monday cleaning my classroom, but not because I wouldn't be returning. I wanted to get things organized and neat for next year. (I would stress about it all summer if I didn't get some cleaning done in there!) It feels good to know that I'll be coming back in August to prepare for a new school year. I love my job and I am just so thankful...

a few of my favorite things

2010-04-05T17:45:00.001-05:00

1. Bringing the outside in. I know my daffodils won't last forever, so I snipped a few and brought them inside. Thank you, $1 vase from Wal-Mart (the ONLY thing I bought that was not on my shopping list. That must be a record for me...)

2. Wearing a bright, cheerful polish. Kind of outside my comfort zone, but I'm going to blame it on the sunny weather. I bought this color awhile ago and I never wore it because I thought it would be too bright for me. I was feeling spunky this morning so I grabbed it and gave it a go. Three coats and lots of patience later, I've got happy hands.

3. Filling out a new month on my calendar. My attempts to color-code started to rub off on Matt. He gave me the green pen and told me to fill in the pay days. haha

april showers bring...

2010-04-05T10:48:00.000-05:00

Talk about April showers! Tornadoes touched down in the area and rain/lighting/thunder/wind/hail resulted in me resorting back to childhood. I called my mom so she could comfort me. Unfortunately, the conversation led to her telling me to get to know some neighbors with basements in case a tornado does rip through my neighborhood. Anxiety level, plus 25. Thanks, Mom! haha (just giving you a hard time, Mom. Thanks for the chat. I needed it!)

Matt is out of town with his brother for a few days, so I'm home alone until Wednesday. It's feels super strange without him here. I'm also a bit of a scaredy cat. Tornadoes and hail the size of baseballs (true story) definitely didn't make me feel any better about being here by myself.

Completely unrelated side note, I've spent my morning playing around with my blog layout.I added some pages up at the top. I definitely have a lot of work left to do on it all, but I've been avoiding today's to-do list all morning. (typical!)

I hope everyone had a great Easter!

(via)

spring surprise!

2010-04-01T21:24:00.000-05:00

We bought our house in November, so we had no clue what kind of trees and flowers were planted in the yard. As the weather has been warming up, it seems like we find a new surprise every day. A tree next to our house is in full bloom! My mom said it's a tulip tree, which I've never heard of (as a certified brown thumb, I know very little, anyways!), but I'm so excited because it's gorgeous!

pretty purple wedding

2010-03-28T17:56:00.000-05:00

I've been really enjoying the beginnings of planning for our wedding. It won't be until next summer (late May/early June 2011), but it's been super fun getting ideas. Am I stressing out a little bit already? Of course I am, but I'm still enjoying myself.

How gorgeous are these flowers! I'm thinking this is the color palette I'm going for...variations of purples, fresh green, and white.

(via)

springing forward

2010-03-28T17:51:00.000-05:00

What a nice weekend! Matt and I had some friends over on Saturday. Matt got to play with the grill, his newest toy. It's still pretty chilly out (dear Spring, I'm totally ready for you to get here and stay here!), but it was much nicer than last weekend. We got the grill out and had friends over last weekend, too. First day of spring. Perfect day to grill, right? Umm, notsomuch.

We have an uncovered patio, so Matt brought out the Mizzou tailgating tent. It was snowing/sleeting sideways, so he had to put up the side panels. Good ol' Missouri weather. Friday night it was about 70 degrees. The next morning we had a good 2 inches of snow.
But did we still break out the grill? Yes, sir!
This weekend brought us more appropriate grilling/bbq-ing weather. Matt tended to some ribs and chicken for hours, using hickory wood to smoke the meat. The results? Success! We cooked a ton of food and I'm surprised how little we have left. Maybe it's because Matt was eating on it ALL evening long. haha
We got to spend this afternoon with my mom and my vovo (Portugese for grandma...that's how we roll in my family). We enjoyed a nice lunch and a little shopping. After they left I found a little surprise on my bedside table. Mom secretly bought me a book while we were at the bookstore and she had Matt put it next to the bed. What a great surprise! Makes me want to get into bed already :)

Another thing to make the weekend lovely? Daffodils!We moved into our house in Nov/Dec, so everything's been dead and brown. It's been so fun watching things bloom that we didn't even know we had! In the front we have daffodils coming through the ground. A couple sets of them have already started blooming! Everything else is still brown, but it's so nice to have some pretty signs of life. :)

Here's to you, March!

2010-03-01T18:37:00.000-06:00

Dear March,
Hello! I celebrated your arrival today in my classroom as if it were a national holiday. To be honest, it's not that I'm such a big fan of you, March, but more like all the things that you bring! The beginnings of SPRING! Ice melting, touches of green finding their way out of hibernation, outdoor recesses (thank goooodness. The kids need it), the sun still being up when I leave work, rain that doesn't freeze, light jacket weather, birds outside my windows. Lovely. So here's to you, March.
With love,
Kristina

And how about these adorable Lion/Lamb cupcakes to celebrate March?

(via Martha Stewart, of course.)

I said yes!

2010-02-21T19:14:00.001-06:00

It's been a week, so it's about time I FINALLY post about it. I'm so happy/excited/giddy, I want to shout it off the rooftops!

WE'RE ENGAGED!

Last Sunday was filled with feelings of love and lots of cold medicine. I was really REALLY sick on Valentine's Day. Spent all day in bed with a fever and a nasty cold turned sinus infection. I didn't want to ruin our V-Day plans, so I finally got up the strength to get out of bed and get ready for our nice dinner at our favorite steak restaurant here in town. After stopping mid-primping process to regain my strength, I slipped on my heels and I was finally ready to go. As I was buttoning my coat (and putting a handful of Kleenex in my purse in case the cold medicine failed mid-dinner), Matt pulled me aside, said uber-sweet and romantic things, got on one knee, and asked me to marry him.

I said yes. :)

Of course, I cried like a little baby....like a little baby with a head full of snot. (eww) I couldn't breathe through my nose, so I'm sure my cries sounded/looked ridiculous. Matt laughed, rightfully so. I'll never forget his laugh. It was the best part!

Dinner was super nice. Matt had made some special arrangements to have GORGEOUS roses brought to our table by our waiter. He had to pull some major strings with his florist, which he later told me was a big factor in the fact that we were still going out to dinner even though I was sick and nasty. haha

After dinner, we came home and I promptly returned to my sweats, took another dose of medicine, and crawled back into bed. Not the most romantic end to the night, but I couldn't help it! Despite feeling horrible, the night turned out great. After I posted about it on Facebook (technology is lovely), Matt and I got so many responses from our friends and family and it truly felt great to hear from everyone.

We're so unbelievably happy and excited and we can't wait. We're thinking the wedding won't be until next April/May/June, which gives me plenty of planning time, money saving (and spending) time, and time to get my butt in shape! I've already been flipping through wedding magazines and browsing websites to get ideas. I'm such a girl. :)

(Don't mind my chipping nail polish and goofy fingers...)

p.s. I just noticed a fiber from my sweater snuck into the pic of my ring. Sneaky! I'll take a better picture tomorrow :)

dear matt

2010-02-14T07:41:00.000-06:00

i love you.

i love how you make me feel.
i love how you kiss me on the forehead.
i love how you make me laugh and smile (even when i don't want to).
i love how you cuddle with me (even when you don't want to).
i love how i still get excited to see you when you come home.
i love how you remind me that everything is going to be alright.
i love how you love me.
i love how i love you.
i love you.

xoxo,
Stina

where did all the sunshine go?

2010-02-08T19:31:00.000-06:00

I consider myself to be a pretty optimistic person. Don't get me wrong, I definitely have my Debbie Downer days, and anyone who's ever talked to me for more than 5 minutes knows I tend to worry way more than your average gal, but for the most part, you can bet you're going to catch me with a smile on my face.
This afternoon, after a particularly depressing and eye-opening budget meeting, I couldn't spot a glimmer of optimism within miles. Once again, for the second year in a row, I have to worry about my job position being cut. Last year, after I was told I would need to find a new district, I thought it was the end of the world, because for me, it was the end of MY world. Drama, stress, tears, and about 4 months later, I landed the job at my current school. From that moment on, my world has been completely different and I couldn't be happier.
...Until I found out that once again, I might have to leave something I love so dearly, so whole-heartedly that I can't imagine going anywhere else. It's not that my school, my district, my coworkers, my students, my ANYTHING is perfect, but I love it. I feel like I belong. I feel like I'm succeeding. I feel like I'm making a difference.

It's hard to look into your principal's eyes as she discusses cuts in personnel and overall expenses. Nothing is set in stone, but she wanted us to know that cuts will have to be made. As the newest hire, I consider myself "low girl on the totem pole" and I can't help but fear that my job is on the line. I left right after school (rare for me) because I felt too upset, almost bitter about the whole thing. I felt it all building up and I knew I had to leave. I'm proud of myself because I didn't cry until I got home and Matt said "What's wrong?" That's all it takes. Open the flood gates.
But several Kleenex and a cold beer later (this too is rare for me), I realized that I have to remember that all I can do is remain optimistic. I have to. I can't show up at school and bring that poor attitude to school. The kids read you. You set the tone in the room. I'm going to continue showing up too early and staying too late because that's what those kids deserve.
I know I haven't written in awhile, and I apologize that this latest post is not so fun, but I guess I'm just asking for some help. Who knows what's going to happen, but I need all the finger-crossing I can get.

Tackling "The List"

2010-01-18T08:53:00.001-06:00

Hello, blog! It's been a bit. Don't get me wrong, I'm still reading some lovely blogs on a daily basis, but I haven't gotten the itch to post in my own lately.
I'm off of school today for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so I'm going to try and tackle a to-do list 50 miles long, including way too much school stuff (isn't this my day OFF??) and a whole to-do list within my to-do list titled "Oh, Boy. Operation: Organization". What I REALLY want to do is post pics of our house now that we've gotten pretty settled. I'll add it to The List.

To-do List, Item #702: Take pictures of house

(only AFTER cleaning up a bit. Nobody needs to see my dirty laundry..literally.)

I'd rather tackle a to-do list like this one:

(via iloveblog)

hooray for shelter blogs!

2009-12-22T21:54:00.000-06:00

Be prepared to spend way too much time online browsing through design blogs. Nominate your favorites and enjoy finding new favorites. Goodbye, productivity! :)

holiday cheer...

2009-12-13T20:41:00.000-06:00

I needed a little reminder to help me get through this next week. Let the countdown begin! :)

Only 6.5 school days until break!

Only 10 days until we're on a plane to Gulf Shores, Alabama to spend Christmas on the beach!

Only 12 days until Christmas!

smile, darlin.

2009-12-12T15:15:00.002-06:00

via iloveblog

Loving life. Seriously loving life.

Still insanely busy. Still surrounded by projects and boxes to unpack/sort/throw away. Still behind with grading papers and planning and assessments (always!).Still broke. But you know, things have never been better.

My family finally got to come up and see the new house today. They didn't get to stay long, but it was so nice having them in town. It meant a lot to me to have them here. I can't wait to have them back over for a post-Christmas Christmas!

p.s. OBSESSED with watching Real Housewives of Orange County and Say Yes to the Dress. Hello, ridiculous reality TV. :)

mission: paint bedroom

2009-11-24T21:03:00.000-06:00

So in the spirit of preparing for the big move, I have been planning (aka dreaming about aka obsessing about) where we're going to put things, how we'll decorate, blah blah blah.We're extremely lucky in the fact that the house is move-in ready. No renovations or repairs. Floors and walls are great as is...EXCEPT the master bedroom.

The burnt orange/rust faux finish is definitely not my style. Looked fine with his furniture and decor, but not my cup of tea. I decided that we'll go ahead and paint the bedroom before we get everything moved in, so I'll be in there putting on primer before we even get the furniture in the room.

I've been throwing out ideas about wall colors. I've been in the house once, so I'm going to wait until we get in there on Friday to make any color decisions. BUT you better believe that I've been looking through my decor files and magazines looking for inspiration. Here are a few of my favorites. (And I apologize- I didn't save my sources. I've been collecting these pictures on my computer for years now and I wasn't smart enough to take note of the sources. Oops!)

If it were just up to me, I'd decorate with accents of deep purple/fuchsia, but I'd also have a larger bedroom surrounded by a million windows and a view of the ocean. But I guess we make compromises. (And we'll also live realistically...money is an issue, so I have a feeling my decorating dreams will be put on the back burner until further notice...)
I like the mix of neutral colors (beige, chocolate, grey tones) with white and splashes of color (green, blue, or maybe even some purple). Apparently Matt's mom bought us all new bedding as an early Christmas gift (Thank you thank you!!) to go on the brand new king bed we just bought, so I guess decorating will depend on the bedding, too. But I want to at least be able to pick a wall color that will go with whatever bedding/accessories I'll have now and in the future.

Umm, ramble much? I just can't help it :)

Counting down the days...

2009-11-22T20:01:00.001-06:00

This time next week, Matt and I will be sitting on the couch, where I'll probably be grading papers despite my desire to watch the football games with Matt. What makes that so different from what happens every Sunday? Well, friends, we'll finally be in our new house!
I can't believe it's already time. It feels like it has taken foooorrreeever, but at the same time, it feels like it was just yesterday that Matt and I were driving around looking at houses. Am I ready? Yes and no. I am so tired of moving. I still have things in boxes from my move in July. I have SO MUCH to do before the move. I have entirely too much stuff, and most of which I probably don't even need. The goal was to get rid of a bunch of stuff before the move, but I have been so busy, it looks like I'll have to do that as I unpack. THAT'S another thing I could live without. Unpacking. Ugh.

And then good ol' *Olly Optimism* shines through. I can't wait to get in there and get things set up. I can't wait to put up the Christmas tree and the decorations. I can't wait to finally get to park in a garage! (Trust me..leaving for work in the morning when it's still dark and finding your car under a foot of ice and snow starts the day on a pretty sour note.) I can't wait to cook dinner with Matt in our new kitchen. I can't wait to have friends and family over. I can't wait to spend a Sunday in our pajamas, sitting by the fire as Matt watches football and I grade papers (who are we kidding, I'll probably just watch football while the papers sit on my lap).

(img via google)

But honestly, I'm on cloud nine right now. Beyond happy. So much to be thankful for!

lucky. :)

2009-11-01T18:40:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. It's been a good minute or so since I last posted. I even got an email from my great uncle begging for a post to read! :) Well, it's been a crazy month. Crazy in that "I'm loving life and I don't want to slow down!" sort of way.
I'm finally feeling more "in the groove" at school. I feel more capable...more confident. Like a real teacher, heaven forbid! I'm still going in too early and staying too late, but that's all part of teaching at a new school. It'll be better next year because I'll know what to expect, so as long as I can keep up this year, next year should be a breeze. Parent-Teacher Conference last week put me through the wringer, but it's a stressful time for everyone, whether you're new to the district or not.
And did I mention that I love my school and my kiddoes? Because I do, and I feel pretty damn lucky. :)

Are you ready for some big news? Big, excited, life-shifting news?

We bought a house!

I'm completely on cloud nine. We started looking at houses a month ago. From the moment I saw pictures of this house, I was in love. It was hands-down a million times nicer than every other house we saw in the same price range. They always say that you'll know when it's the one..and I did. I could picture us living there. Grilling in the back yard. Sitting in front of the fireplace watching movies. Cooking dinner together in the kitchen. In OUR house.

We close a couple days before Thanksgiving. The owner can't move out until that weekend, so we'll be able to get in there on Sunday or so. We're counting down the days. Every day we find something new to stress about. Are we even going to have enough furniture to put in that house? How will our mix-and-match, hand-me-down furniture look in such a nice house? blah blah blah. I'm still in the process of trying to sublease my apartment, so that's added some additional stress. But at the end of the day, I realize how lucky I am.

Here are some pictures of the house from the real estate listing. Not our furniture (but I wish it was!), but it gives you a bit of an idea.

Did I mention how EXCITED I am??!?? :)

not-so grey day

2009-09-28T19:56:00.001-05:00

via

Loving the grey tones in rooms lately. I think I love it even more imagining that I could showcase some splashed of purple/fuschia in there. I've also been obsessed with different ways to organize framed artwork and photos.

p.s. I can't wait to own a house. SO MANY IDEAS.

They keep me laughing

2009-09-27T19:50:00.003-05:00

“Dear Ms. G.-

At lunch Jane said that Ashley and me poop our pants. Which is not true.

Your student, Sarah”

That is the note I received in my purple classroom mailbox the other day. This mailbox is a place where my students can write me notes about things that are on their minds, compliments for classmates, etc. Obviously Sarah felt like I needed to handle the poopy pants comment. And she also wanted to make sure that I knew that it’s not true. Ok, Sarah, I believe you.

Awhile ago Jane over at It’s like I’m…mmmagic! posted about some her experiences teaching and her post literally had me laughing out loud. Matt asked me what was so damn funny, so I read him some parts of her post. I especially loved the part about the farty kid in class and his response when getting called out on it. “They have no proof. Smell my butt, there’s no farts there.” SERIOUSLY. How hilarious is that! It is now an inside joke in our house. With our tendency to turn to potty humor, the phrase is said several times a week.

Despite my apparent absence from the blog world, I am still reading blogs each night as I unwind from teaching all day. I haven’t written much lately, but that’s a sign that things are going well. I’m finally feeling more comfortable in my new school, feeling less like the new girl and more like I’ve been there for years. I’ve got a really good class, too. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a few super tough kids, and there are definitely days when I want to pull my hair out, but overall, I really do love my kids and I love love LOVE my job. I feel pretty lucky that I can say that.

I’ve been reminded lately of my belief that things happen for a reason. Not knowing the reasons has been frustrating, and the road has been rough along the way, but as things have started to fall into place, I feel like I am at this point in my life for many reasons. I’m not going to question why, I’m just going to try and remind myself to enjoy the ride along the way.

via K. Barteski

wishes

2009-09-07T11:26:00.007-05:00

via.

"To accomplish great things,
we must not only act,
but also dream;
not only plan,
but also believe."
-Anatole France

I love:

2009-09-05T09:08:00.006-05:00

3-Day Weekends

Finding the latest issue of Real Simple magazine in my mailbox

Making tailgating food for friends and family

and COLLEGE FOOTBALL!

hello, 3 day weekend

2009-09-04T22:00:00.003-05:00

"this whole day has been one whole laugh riot"

2009-08-30T19:28:00.008-05:00

via.

A weekend spent with family and friends. Love it. Love them!

My dad came into town on Friday and took Matt and I to see Inglourious Basterds and out to dinner. LOVED the movie, even though I went in expecting to hate it. Like most Tarantino movies, it was completely different than what I expected. Brad Pitt was the best part of the movie, in my opinion. Not only is he more attractive than any man ever should be, but he's a great actor. End of story.
The best part of the evening? Getting to spend time with my dad and Matt. And Dad, I know you're going to read this, so I just want to assure you that I'm not just saying that to flatter you (even though you did give me a hard time about not mentioning you on my blog more often). I really did enjoy the evening and I hope there are many many more evenings like that to come. :)

Instead of going into school to get some work done today, I opted to get some work done at home so I could go watch Matt's nephew play flag football this afternoon. Watching 1st graders play flag football is quite possibly one of the most entertaining sporting events ever. A-dor-a-ble. And Brian ran for 60 yards to score a touchdown! I felt like a proud soccer mom screaming and cheering on the sidelines. That's my boy :) After the game, he ran up and gave us the biggest hugs.

And speaking of family, I encourage you to visit my great uncle's blog. (And by great uncle, I mean my grandma's brother, AND he's great!) Just reading his blog makes me feel like I'm back in Hawaii. :)

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Looking forward to a good week!

teaching gives me...wrinkles? No, more like Laugh Lines :)

2009-08-26T18:53:00.003-05:00

The other day, my fabulous fellow teacher friend Allison was bragging the other day about her students underestimating her age. And she's gorgeous, so it makes sense. :) Well, I was thinking about that this afternoon and I decided I'd ask my kids how old they think I am. I'm always joking with them that I'm old, so my memory is bad (I forget and lose everything. sorry.), or my "old eyes" make it hard to read their sloppy writing. They get a kick out of it. Anyway, I asked them how old I was. You know the answer that was shouted the most?My jaw dropped. My old, wrinkled jaw. After they continued shouting out similar guesses, one student said 21. I went up and gave her a high five. ONE student out of 20 guessed below my actual age. Ouch.
Now don't get me wrong. 30 is not old, but when you're 23, being told you look 30 is...not so much fun. Maybe they meant to say that I look like a wise, knowledgeable, and experienced teacher. Was is a compliment?

The best part of the story? After announcing that I'm 23 (a young, hip, fresh 23...right?), I got buzzed by the office to remind me to stop by this afternoon to sign my papers about my retirement fund.

Ouch. Again.

I guess this is a sign that I should quit making fun of Matt for turning Dirty 30 in November. Ok, baby. No more "old man" jokes!

puppies and cupcakes? Yes, please.

2009-08-22T23:00:00.004-05:00

Things that made me smile today:

--Perfect weather. Even if I spent most of the day inside, perfect weather = good day.

--Doing very little. Lazy lazy Saturday. (Hey, back to school week wore me out! After entertaining 21 smiling 4th graders this past week, I needed some down time...)

--Reading my students' writing journals.

--Spending a Saturday night at home with Matt

--Going to our favorite Mex place for dinner and getting a burrito the size of my face. Yay for a yummy dinner and yummy leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

--Coming home to see the MOST ADORABLE puppy I've ever seen! He was roaming around the yard when we pulled up to the house. I cuddled him and played with him in the yard for forever, trying to convince Matt to let me keep him. He had a collar, so I know he belongs to somebody, but he didn't have an ID tag or anything. I'll be honest, I started to cry when I realized I couldn't keep him. He looks a little like this, but black/brown (with a little tuft of white on his booty!) and his face was a little flatter...
via.

I put some water out for him in the garage and went inside for a bit. Some boys knocked on the front door and asked if it was our dog. I said no and he told me he was going to go around the neighborhood to try and find the owner. Part of me was happy that this nice boy was trying to find the owner, but part of me was devastated. I wanted to shout out "NO! He's MINE!" but I didn't. But if that cutie-pa-tootie puppy comes strolling up near the house again, I can't promise I'll let him go again. (sorry!)

--Hearing Matt admit that he liked the dog too and he wouldn't mind having one like that some day

--Cupcakes! Yellow cake with some chocolate/white chocolate swirled chocolate chips in the middle. Finished with chocolate fudge frosting. The best part: the Valentine cupcake papers from last February. Wish I had my camera handy, but they looked a little like these:
via.

blue, but the happy kind

2009-08-16T18:08:00.004-05:00

thanks to pomegranate and patchouli for originally posting this lovely photo. Just what I needed today!

through the eyes of a child

2009-08-10T20:53:00.003-05:00

brand new pencils, brand new books

2009-08-10T19:51:00.005-05:00

I can't believe summer is almost over. I've been (frantically) working in my new classroom for the last week and I still feel like I have so much to do. I haven't been sleeping well because I continue to obsess over school. Everything from room arrangement to dealing with difficult students, my mind just refuses to settle down. Hard to fall asleep, and then once I do, I dream about teaching! Being at a new school makes me feel like I've never taught before. It's just going to take awhile before I really feel comfortable. Everyone has been SO unbelievably nice, so it's comforting to know that I'll be working with great people, but I'm still incredibly nervous. As an anxious person by nature, I'm used to this feeling, but it's exhausting. I'm ready for school to start so I can realize that everything will be fine. :)
I do honestly enjoy getting to set up my classroom. It can be overwhelming at times, but it's one of my favorite parts. I've spent the last couple of days organizing my classroom library. I realized I am completely OBSESSED with children's books. Guilty pleasure!

My best friend is down in Texas getting her classroom together and I'm sure she's beyond stressed. It's her first year teaching 5th grade. I haven't talked to her in a couple of weeks, but we send vibes back and forth on a regular basis. Sounds creepy? Slightly, but it's true. All I know is the fact that I'm sending down some good thoughts for her every day. I do believe a phone call is in order tomorrow. We can reminisce about summer trips and good times. Is it sad that I feel the need for a vacation and school hasn't even started yet?! hehe

you are stellar

2009-07-24T21:44:00.006-05:00

I slept ALL day yesterday. Today, after getting my car safety inspected and spending over an hour at the DMV getting new plates (the dmv is always horrible, but when the state computers are down, it makes the process worse...) I came home, took my medicine, and slept. ALL day. I don't know if it's the medicine or the fact that I hadn't really slept in days due to the coughing, but these last two days I have been eeexhausted. I take it as a sign that my body needed the rest. I just feel like I'm wasting my days...

Image via Wikipedia

Last night MT and I went to the Incubus concert. I have loved Incubus for years and years, and every time I see them, I turn into a giddy little girl. MT got me the tickets for my bday back in May, so it was nice to have another birthday evening :) The concert was amaaazing. They played several old songs, which I loved. I started feeling pretty sick near the end, but it was worth it.

Being cooped up in my apartment has given me some time to play with my paints and such. I'm still experimenting, but I finished this piece the other day and I really like it.

cooties in my lungs

2009-07-22T21:38:00.003-05:00

Doctor's Diagnosis: Bronchitis.

yuck.

Apparently I was fighting a fever today. He prescribed me some antibiotic to clear up the infection, but I was hoping he would also give me some super-de-dooper strength cough medicine to stop the hacking and barking so I can get some sleep. No such luck on that, but I went to Wal-Mart and picked up some NyQuil, some herbal tea, and a trashy gossip magazine. With Matt (kindly) avoiding contact with me (smart choice, but damn I'm lonely), I'll be staying at my apartment tonight. Now I'm going to cozy up on my couch with my NyQuil and a good movie.

p.s. I have really nice friends. I just had to say that. Not bragging, but relishing in my luck. :)

cough cough

2009-07-22T08:54:00.007-05:00

I've been trying to push through it, but I've had about enough.

i'm sick.

I started feeling sick when I was in Vegas and I've been fighting it since. No more fever and body aches, but the coughing...oh man, the coughing. And I'm not talking about a little cough cough. This cough is painful. Deep in my chest. A sort of barking sound that could scare women, children, and small dogs.
After nearly 2 weeks, my throat is trying to wave the white flag. I avoid going to a doctor like I avoid the plague, but I can't put it off any longer. After many sleepless nights downstairs on the couch (Matt's supportive, but he deserves his sleep...), I'm going to try and make an appointment asap. I've got a to-do list the size of California (yeah, about that long) and with school starting up soon, I can't afford to keep feeling like doggy doo.

Something tells me a need a little more than just some good ol' vitamin C...

via.

lovely postcards and lake adventures

2009-07-21T19:21:00.004-05:00

My favorites from this week's Postsecret

Would normally post a Postsecret entry on Sundays, but this weekend I was too busy visiting my best friend in the whole wide world (aka sista from anotha mista) Rae. And I do have to mention that I camped out in a tent. Yes, it's true! I'm quite proud of myself. I'm not super high maintainance, but I'm definitely not used to "roughing it". Apparently the first night I was kind of giddy about it and Matt made fun of me. haha Although I do have to admit that if I would have seen that killer spider on the first day rather than the last day, sleeping in a tent might not have occured. haha
I did think it was funny to wake up Saturday morning in a tent in the middle of nowhere and think of a week prior, when I woke up in a king-sized bed on the 27th floor of the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas. Oh what a life i lead. :)

visual candy

2009-07-16T08:48:00.007-05:00

Currently love love Loving:

Stina Perrson. I fell in love with one of her prints years ago, but I didn't know who it was by. I finally stumbled upon her website and I love eeeverything she's done.

Also loving:
A new blogger friend, Dionne.
I've been browsing her blog and Etsy shop...faaabulousness :)

bring me my blank canvas

2009-07-15T20:03:00.005-05:00

Amidst my restless journey to find cheap yet tasteful ways to decorate my new space, I realize what I really want to do is bring out my inner Ms. Crafty. I love art and attempting to create it, but time and money have put a halt on projects for awhile.
I got a call from my principal that I can start setting up my new classroom. I have about a month until school actually starts, so I'm excited to get some time to work on organizing and decorating my classroom (it takes more time than you think!). I do have to admit, though, that I'm sad that summer is over. Because of summer school, I've has 2 weeks or so of "summer" and it's NOT ENOUGH! I realized that I really need to get into gear if I want to complete any of my plans for summer's projects (artsy crafty fun, organizing papers and books and boxes and clothes, decorating, etc.)
I want to get back into doing collages. I've only done paper/print collages, but I want to try a more mixed media approach using paints and fabrics and such. Tomorrow I'm going to go buy some supplies with my graduation money (thanks, Mom and Dad! After working my you-know-what off, letting me tap into my hobby was the best gift ever. Fo sho.)
Prancing around on the internet led me to iHanna's blog and Etsy shop. Nice inspiration. :)

slot machines and sandy dreams...

2009-07-14T11:29:00.006-05:00

So I survived my Masters presentation and I survived Vegas, but not without developing a nasty little cold. I guess that's what happens when you stress yourself out and don't sleep/eat well for a week (and then hop on a plane to Vegas, which we all know is the epitome of good health and wellness).

But I am beyond grateful that I got to see our friends Bobby and Tina. They got married on a sand island (no kidding) off the coast of Australia in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef (and had 23 days of a honeymoon...fabulousness!), so they held a reception at Tina's parents house right outside of Las Vegas. Beautiful couple, beautiful wedding, beautiful reception...all an understatement, but you catch my drift.
At the wedding they showed a video of highlights from the wedding since nobody but them attended. (I cried during their vows and Matt made fun of me.) Here's the video via YouTube:

I didn't get to take any pictures of the reception other than a blurry one of Matt giving his speech as the best man, but I did manage to take a couple of pics from the rest of the weekend. I'm so horrible about using my camera! I love love photography, but I can never get in the habit of taking pictures. One of my goals is to take more pictures. Seriously. Anyway, here are some gems from the weekend.

Matt in front of our hotel

Our view from the pool. We tried laying out in the sun, but the sun plus Vegas heat (110 degrees that day) resulted in us searching for some chairs in the shade.

Matt in front of the fountains at the Bellagio
Not all that glamorous of a view, but from our room on the 27th floor you could see all the construction for the new CityCenter project. It's going to be amazing once it's done.

Adios, Grad School. Hello, VEGAS!

2009-07-10T02:16:00.000-05:00

Dear Kristina,
Why have you been so absent from the blogger world?
Love, the internets

Dear internets,

First of all, your services (aka connection to the internet) has been limited. In my new apartments I am relying heavily on the poor sap (aka one of my neighbors) who hasn't figured out how to secure his wireless connection. Thank you, poor sap, for letting me occasionally check my email. I promise to one day invest in my own internet, but that's going to have to wait until school starts and the incomes flows again.

Secondly, this afternoon, after I gave my final presentation, I officially EARNED MY MASTERS! It's been one hell of a ride, but it's over and I couldn't be more excited!
On that note, I'm OFF TO VEGAS for the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!
Stories and pictures to follow.

Love, Kristina

Goodbye, June: "Weight Off My Chest"

2009-06-29T22:04:00.006-05:00

I can't believe June is gone already. The theme this month has definitely been "WEIGHT OFF MY CHEST"
--Got a teaching job for next year!!!
--Signed a contract for 4th grade...just what I wanted! (I would love to teach 2nd grade, but I'm used to 4th now, all my resources and books are for 4th, I know the curriculum, blah blah. In the future I'll venture out, but for next year, familiarity is comforting)
--Taught summer school (= a little extra money$)
--Packed up my classroom and transported half of my things to my new school
--Moved out of my old house and into my VERY OWN apartment!
--Turned in my Masters paper. It was very bittersweet to hold in my hands the pages that represented all my hard work this year (read: year from hell)

Tomorrow is one of the first days that I will have control over my time. No schedule. Do I still have a looming to-do list? Yes, but tomorrow I can pick and choose what I want to do and when. How refreshing! Complete change of pace.
My favorite thing about moving has been "playing house" in my new apartment. Don't get me wrong, I hate hate HATE the process of moving, but I love reorganizing and redecorating. I wish my place looked like this:

via Apartment Therapy

Unfortunately, my apartment is not even close to being this stunning, plus it's filled with boxes and bags. It's starting to come together, though. I've been organizing in bits and pieces when I get an hour or so. I can't wait to spend tomorrow getting settled...

I still get to be a teacher next year :)

2009-06-17T21:27:00.001-05:00

Life works in mysterious ways.

I got the job.

memories via randomness

2009-06-15T19:32:00.005-05:00

I was tagged by Allison to do the following (and I couldn't resist!):
1) Open you first photo folder
2) Now scroll down to the 10th photo

3) Post that photo and story on your blog

4) Tag five other blogger friends to do the same!

I don't have that many picture on the computer, but I do have to say that I lucked out because my 10th photo is one of my very favorites! When I graduated from college last year, MT threw a grad party for me. My family and his family came up for a BBQ. It was actually the first time our families hung out together, and it went so well! This is a picture of me (left) and my little (not so little anymore) sister. She's taller than me, so I'm happy she's sitting on the back of the couch. haha (And can I just say how happy I am we got rid of that ugly couch!) I love love love her to death. She's aaaa-mazing and I wish I could see her more often.

Now it's your turn! (and I suggest everyone check out these ladies' blogs!)

1. Arianna Belle

2. Audrey

3. Elizabeth Marie

4. Laura

5. Katelin

tick, tock

2009-06-15T18:49:00.005-05:00

The waiting game is incredibly uncomfortable. So many "what if's" and unknowns. I want to know. NOW. Employment for next year now relies on my phone ringing, and it's driving me crazy!

Summer school is halfway over. My kiddos and I had to have a serious talk this afternoon about unacceptable behavior. Listen guys, I understand. It's summer. You want to have a good time. I DO TOO! But we can't have a good time unless you put forth better effort and make better choices. Simple as that. We had to have the "I'm disappointed in you" talk, which resulted in lying their heads down to think about what they can do to improve their behavior for the rest of summer school. After they wrote their changes on their post-it notes, we stuck them on a board as a reminder. I'm hoping tomorrow is better...hopefully it'll be much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Starting to pack up my classroom. It's a disheartening act in itself, tearing down all the things I did to make my classroom a "home" for my students. Putting away all the charts and reminders we made in class, the projects and the student-made decorations, the memories. Now I have to strip the room bare, putting my teacher-self into boxes, hoping that I'll soon know if I will have a classroom next year to call my own. It already doesn't feel like my room anymore. Mrs. D. is excited to move back into her classroom after a year as an out-of-classroom mentor. She's been a huge help this year, but it's absolutely gut-wrenching feeling to have to "give back" the classroom.

Moving is a very emotional task for me. I consider my things to be so valuable, strickly for the memories and feelings they may invoke. Am I a hoarder? Slightly. Definitely not a minimalist, that's for sure. I just get too sentimental with things, and it's hard to let go. Moving is a great time for me to get rid of things that I don't need, a way for me to start fresh in a new place. I move into my new apartment at the same time I am moving out of my classroom. Next week I'll be an emotional wreck. I'm excited and nervous and anxious and stressed and...everything. I just don't want to wait anymore.

you be zack, i'll be kelly

2009-06-10T19:41:00.005-05:00

The lovely m.writes posted about "Zack Morris" on Jimmy Fallon.

Watch it. Love it. Don't be ashamed to laugh out loud and reminisce.

(I suggest not only watching the segment, but you should check out m.writes' blog. She's fabulous.)

morning retail lust

2009-06-10T05:44:00.006-05:00

I check my email every morning before I get ready for work (hello, 5AM), and I always let myself get distracted by Daily Candy emails. Love love them, but I probably shouldn't be retail lusting in the wee hours of the morning.

Darn you, Daily Candy for making me late this morning! But I can't help it. I want these from Nelle Handbags

(And how cute is their display! Love the bird.)

Purple or teal?? Love.

the waiting game

2009-06-09T20:01:00.002-05:00

Had my interview this afternoon. I will say that I feel it went well. Very well. I refuse to get my hopes up (because that's happened, and it doesn't feel good. Devastating, to be quite honest), but I can't help but try to view things in an optimistic light. After talking to the teachers and getting to know more about the school, I can't help but want the job even more.

I'll get a call early next week with their decision. My heart can't handle waiting a week!

going to garage sales are much more fun than having one...

2009-06-07T20:55:00.006-05:00

My garage sale this weekend =

--days and hours of preparation (including finding the dead mouse in the back of my closet)

--stressing and minor breakdowns due to my hoarding habit and my emotional connections to my things

--bruises on various parts of my body after attempting to move furniture and a TV weighing 8 times more than I do (minor exaggeration)

--questionable characters wondering in and out of my garage (p.s. I could be mistaken, but I thought you couldn't leave the house if you have an monitoring device strapped on your ankle. Just wondering.)

--falling asleep on the couch I'm trying to sell

--Matt trying to teach me a thing or two about being a salesman (sales-lady?)

--sitting in the garage from 7-3

--making a grand total of (drum roll....) $265. $215 was from the TV. That means Matt and I only made $50 off our crap. wow.

I consider myself to be a pretty optimistic person, but I was a total Debbie Downer after the sale. I was just so excited to make some money AND get rid of some of my stuff before I move. I guess I can look at the bright side: We did make $265, which will help put a dent in the money we need for our Vegas weekend in July. AND we'll be donating a lot of the unsold items to charity. We're still planning on pawning some electronics, and my mom is going to have a garage sale at my parents house, so hopefully she can sell some of my stuff.

So all in all, I can't complain too much. Things will work out. Everything will.

"do we really have to do math today??"

2009-06-03T18:02:00.004-05:00

Oh, summer school. Only 3 days in and I'm already running out of ideas. The kids don't think they have to do any work, with is super frustrating. The room erupts in moans and groans when you ask them to read. Fortunately, I think I've done pretty well coming up with curriculum-based lessons cleverly disguised as a fun game or activity. (Isn't that the name of the game anyway?) Unfortunately, if they start to hate it, most of them don't have to be there. If they stop showing up, we lose funding because of attendance rates. If we lose funding, my position is cut for the rest of the summer. UGH.

Speaking of employment, SUPER nervous about my interview next week. (Thanks for your well wishes, Allison!) Fortunately, I've been so busy this week, I haven't had as much time to stress out about it.

MT and I are having a garage sale this weekend (last minute decision), so I've been sorting through my c-r-a-p and deciding which things I can (and should) live without. I'm definitely a hoarder, saving anything and everything if I even have a glimmer of hope that I may ever need it. My new place is literally HALF the size of my current place, so I'm really trying to cut back. Plus, I still have bags and boxes of things from my move last year. Obviously, if I've gone an entire year without even peeking into the bags and boxes, I don't need it. Adios, c-r-a-p.

too thankful for words

2009-06-01T20:29:00.002-05:00

I have truly amazing people in my life.

captured in a photo

2009-05-29T08:52:00.002-05:00

My desire to get back into photography has resulted in my lust for a better camera.

I want this one.

Puu-leease?

olly optimism

2009-05-29T08:28:00.004-05:00

(via PostSecret, originally posted in 2007)

dig my toes into the sand

2009-05-28T09:37:00.004-05:00

Got a call from Smalltown Elementary about setting up an interview. SO nervous. I want this job so bad...

Completely random, but I've been craving another trip to Hawaii. I haven't been in a couple of years. I know that if I go, it won't quite be the same. After my great-grandmother passed away, they sold her house. So much of my Hawaii memories include my great-grandmother and that house, and I'm devastated to know how different things will be. I miss her. :(

I've been looking through some of the photos I took from one of my trips.

My great grandma's garage was FILLED with these bottles that she had collected off the beaches for years and years. They are all displayed in this garage with opaque walls. It is probably the most stunning thing ive ever seen. I was seriously obsessed with these.

sending it off... (soon)

2009-05-27T09:48:00.006-05:00

I have been bitten by the Procrastination Bug.

UGH.

Trying to finish up the final pieces of my paper so I can mail it off to my editor with a kiss and a dozen stamps.

In the process of avoiding my work this morning, I used my Starbucks gift card to treat myself to a light mocha frap. Yummm.

I was also (easily) distracted by some luring emails in my inbox. Sephora knows I have a weakness, and they always seem to send me a tempting email when I am truly crazing a make-up shopping spree.

Apartment Therapy also knows of my lust for decorating and beautiful spaces, so I couldn't resist checking out their latest Small Cool 2008 contest winners. Such great ideas! I LOVE this space. They used every inch of this apartment so well, yet it doesn't seem like everything has been crammed into the space.

perfect shade of fuschia

2009-05-23T20:33:00.006-05:00

This Florence Broadhurst rug makes me wish several things.

1. I wish it was mine.

2. I wish I lived in my new apartment already so I could completely redecorate

3. I wish I could afford the run and the total cost of redecorating

4. More importantly, I wish it was mine.

Thank you, Apartment Therapy, for continuing to inspire me to lust over a lifestyle I cannot afford to live right now.

literary adventures

2009-05-23T19:31:00.006-05:00

I should have been working on my Comps paper (read: 50 page paper to prove that I've done the work and suffered enough this year to earn my Masters), but instead I chose to take a trip this afternoon to the public library. (read: procrastination) I needed to return some books I had checked out far too long ago. I'm notorious for keeping library books longer than I should. Fortunately, my public library doesn't charge for such tardiness. They just send you emails reminding you that they are too nice to charge a late fee, but they would really appreciate their books back. I've been itching to check out some new books, so I compiled my little list of authors I've been curious about and headed out for the library.

I. Love. My. Public. Library.

It is amazing inside. It is so inviting and welcoming, nothing like the smelly, dusty library on the campus of State University. I tried to convince my boyfriend that he would actually enjoy stepping into our library. MT is definitely not a reader. I say that lightly, but he really does not enjoy reading. I'm talking "Hey babe, read these directions to me" as he hands me the Hamburger Helper box. But I honestly think his aversion to reading comes from

1. Forced reading in high school/college, and

2. Smelly, dusty, old libraries.

In my elementary classroom, I really try to push on my students the idea of reading for enjoyment. Yes, there are things you will be required to read, but I feel it is SO important to mix in reading for pleasure...or else you completely lose sight of such a concept.

Hence my trip to the library today. Screw my research. I needed a break.

Here are the books I scored:

Lucky by Alice Sebold

I loved Lovely Bones and I've been wanting to read more from Sebold. Tough subject (her experience as a victim of rape), but I really enjoyed her writing style and the psychological insight she presented with her characters in Lovely Bones.

Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs

I went in looking for Running with Scissors, but all copies were checked out. There were several Burroughs books available, but I chose this one after reading the first couple of sentence on the inside flap. "...true stories that give voice to the thoughts we all have but dare not to mention." Umm, Sold.

Not Tonight, Honey (Wait 'Til I'm a Size 6) by Susan Reinhardt

Chosen merely for the title and the author's sense of humor. I can totally relate (about the body issues, but not necessarily the lack of desire to have sex. Fortunately, that has yet to diminish, thankyouverymuch).

Naked by David Sedaris

Picked this one up because I've heard of his humor. When I went to check out my books, the uber-nice librarian guy started talking to me about my book choices and suggested some others I might like. He then asked if I had read Me Talk Pretty Someday by Sedaris.

I told him I had looked for it, but all copies were checked out. "Actually, I think I have a copy in the back that someone just checked back in today," he said as he snuck off to the back. He returned with the book and I thanked him probably more times than necessary. I really appreciated him finding that book for me, but more importantly, I just really enjoyed his friendliness. I LOVE running into people like that. To the awesome librarian who helped me today: Thank you for doing your job like it's not a job. :)

LOVED this!

2009-05-22T18:43:00.001-05:00

Ellen DeGeneres Commencement Speech at Tulane University (2009-05-16)

pretty pretty

2009-05-22T07:57:00.010-05:00

Tis "Wedding Season"

I'm embracing it this year (rather than being slightly bitter. haha)

I've been looking around for some dresses to wear to the upcoming weddings.

Loved these from Anthropologie:

I love this dress in both colors...

And this dress is gorgeous. Front and back view.

I definitely have to get my butt in gear and start running more if I want to be able to rock those dresses. Maybe next summer? It's a nice goal. :)

stop and smell the roses

2009-05-21T21:39:00.004-05:00

(photo via Brown Paper Design)

"I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck"

-Emma Goldman

The flowers DS got me are still looking stunning on the kitchen table. She really did go above and beyond.

It's not the size of the arrangement, the types of flowers, or how it smells like heaven. The best part of it all is the fact that it came from DS because she cares. It couldn't have come at a better time.

I've got some amazing people in my life...

lost on a gravel road

2009-05-21T17:14:00.002-05:00

Technically, today's the first day of summer break, but today was not even close to being break-worthy.

Drove to Small Town to drop off my application (aka beg for a job) at Small Town Primary School. After getting incredibly lost in the area surrounding Small Town (thanks a lot, MapQuest. You suck.), I finally found the school. After some waiting, I finally got to talk to the principal.

Position was just filled.

"But Small Town Intermediate School is needing a 4th grade teacher." PERFECT!

After a slightly awkward meeting with the Intermediate School principal, I drove home hoping for the best. Should hear something (or nothing at all) by the end of the month. I really really REALLY want this spot. I'm crossing my fingers so hard they're in pain.

Heading out to one of my fav Mexican restaurants (yay! no spell-check needed for restaurant.) with some of my fav teacher friends. Patio, perhaps? Perfect. :)

I can't wait for this...

2009-05-20T05:34:00.003-05:00

Next week, this WILL happen at least once. I plan on catching up on a ton of reading during my break. I had made a list of the books I want to read, but I can't seem to find that list a-n-y-w-h-e-r-e. Very typical of me, by the way.

I guess this means I get to work on a new list, which is nearly as much fun as the reading itself. Suggestions are welcome. I'll be combing the internet in the next couple of days to build up a good list. :)

Work day today, which means no students, but a day full of end-of-the-year paperwork and cleaning. I'm teaching summer school starting June 1 in the same classroom, so I don't have to clear all my things out right away. This is a very good thing, considering the amount of junk I have in there and the little time I've had lately to pack it all up. Leaving is...bittersweet, to say the least.

Got a heads up on a 1st grade opening in a nearby town. I plan on dropping off my application and resume on Thursday. I'm also meeting with the principal. SCARY! I'm optimistic (because that's just how I roll), but I've learned to not get my hopes up.

Thanks, baby :)

2009-05-19T05:30:00.001-05:00

It's been a rough year, and I honestly owe my sanity to this man.

blowing in the wind

2009-05-18T19:10:00.001-05:00

Beautiful afternoon. Definitely necessary.

Emotional day for me. Tomorrow is the last day of school. Broke the news to my students that I won't be returning next year. I wanted to tell them the whole story that led up to me being unemployed next school year. I wanted to cry and hug them and tell them I'll always be there for them, no matter where I'm teaching.

But I didn't. Short and sweet. Believe it or not, they have an incredible knack for understanding when I don't want to answer any more questions because something's upsetting me.

Got home and just sat in the driveway. Rolled up my jeans and soaked up the sun. MT was mowing the lawn, and I just couldn't imagine being inside. In a completely not creepy way, I noticed our neighbors playing outside with their little boy. How much fun it is, watching a baby learn how to toddle around on their wobbly little legs. I remember that I had a couple of bottles of bubbles in the house that MT's mom gave me. Knowing I could spare a bottle, I decided to take one over to the neighbors. The man graciously accepted as we introduced ourselves.

It felt nice...getting to know the neighbors, spreading the wealth (via bubbles, that is). I didn't get to hear the little boy giggle over the bubbles, but I can imagine it. And that's enough to redeem my

day.

preparing for the end

2009-05-18T05:10:00.000-05:00

The next couple of days are going to be hard. I've been teaching at SmallTown Elementary for 2 years now, one year as a student teacher and one year as a regular classroom teacher. I've gotten very close to everyone...the community, my coworkers, my set of 16 students, and all of the other students for that matter (seriously, what am I going to do without the "drive-by" hugs?). This place has been such a HUGE part of my life for the past 2 years. It's hard to imagine what it will be like to NOT walk into that building every day.

I'm going to cry.

I have yet to tell my current students that I'll not be there next year. I've hinted at it a couple of times to some of my students, but i haven't made the announcement yet. Why? I'm scared. Scared that I'll cry. Scared that they'll cry. Scared because I wanted to be able to tell them where I'll be teaching yet. Unfortunately, I have no clue. I wanted to be able to tell them that I'm only a letter/email away...that they can always find me at my new school...blah blah blah. As of right now, I don't even know if I can find another job. How do you explain that to kids?

I'm going to cry.

almost done!

2009-05-17T18:50:00.001-05:00

ONE and a HALF more days of school, plus a teacher work day and I officially completed (and survived) my first year of teaching. No undergraduate classes or student teaching experience can fully prepare someone like your first year of teaching. I don't know who's looking forward to summer more...my students or myself.

Then a week and a half until I get to see my smiling 4th graders again for summer school. Do I wish there was more of a break before summer school starts up? You bet, but honestly, if the break was much longer, I don't know if I'd want to go back. It's been a long year. It's been...too much. Much too much. I won't even be done with my Masters program until my presentation in July. Also coming up? Moving into a new place, trying to find

a job, attempting to bring back everything I gave up during this hectic year.

Things I look forward to doing this summer once school (teaching and Masters) is DONE:

--working out and feeling better about my body

--reading books for leisure

--organizing!

--getting back into photography

--dinners with friends

--allowing myself to have a drink with dinner because I don't have to worry about staying up and grading papers and/or writing papers

--grilling

--decorating my new apartment

--watching mindless tv, including Oprah and marathons on Bravo (even if I've already seen every episode twice already)

--spending more time with MT (my boyfriend)

secrets via snailmail

2009-05-17T17:11:00.000-05:00

Every Sunday, I start my morning off by stopping by one of my favorite websites. PostSecret is an amazing project started by one man and a handful of blank postcards. He left the postcards in various places with one simple request: Send me your secrets.

via Wikipedia: "The simple concept of the project was that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard and portray a secret that they had never previously revealed. No restrictions are made on the content of the secret; only that it must be completely truthful and must never have been spoken before. Entries range from admissions of sexual misconduct and criminal activity to confessions of secret desires, embarrassing habits, hopes and dreams."

I've followed PostSecret since the beginning, and I can honestly say that each Sunday, the experience evokes new emotions in me. The honesty and heart that are put into those 4x6 postcards has brought me to tears and made me laugh out loud, all on the same page. I don't mean to sound like an advertisement, but the project is so...real. Everyone has secrets, big or small. Funny or depressing. But they are all a piece of someone's heart, a piece of their mind. A slice of someone's life.
Every week, I can find one that I can relate to. It's comforting to be able to read a secret and feel like you're not alone. The best thing, in my opinion, is that these secrets are coming from complete strangers (or people you see every day) and it makes you feel connected. I guess that's why I started blogging. I wanted to feel connected. I wanted to share with others the things I love, the things I fear, the things on my mind. The feeling of association and being able to relate to others...it's a powerful thing.

write it down!

2009-05-17T13:49:00.000-05:00

I have a million little scribblings written on post-it notes.
Things to do.
Things not to do.
Deadlines and due dates.
Directions and instructions.
But my favorite notes are the ones written because I needed to get it out of my head and off of my chest. The quotes, notes, and ideas I just couldn't imagine leaving behind.