What I'm Loving Wednesday

So the last time I blogged I shared my February goals.  I'm happy to say that I've already completed 2 of them! I updated my computer to the Snow Leopard software so I was finally able to update iTunes and therefore able to sync my phone again :) I can't really notice any other differences with the software besides that.   I also redid my 101 in 1001 list. If you click on the 101 in 1001 tab at the top of my blog you will see my new list. I completed 54 out of the 101 things on my previous list so my goal is to complete way more (if not all!) on this new one.  I have until November 5, 2016 - which is the day after my brother will turn 30...*freak out*.   Today I thought I would share some of the things I am loving this week!   Contentment Ladies

There's an awesome group of girls doing the contentment challenge these three months and I have learned so much from them.  I love getting onto Facebook and seeing a new post, quote, idea or just some words of encouragement. Kat's theme for this month is satisfied. I've been looking at things I already have and using them or finding new purposes for them. For example, instead of going and buying more storage bins I have rearranged the ones I already have and situated them better so I was able to free one up.  I am also trying to experiment with new outfits using clothing I already have.  

Our Impending Snowstorm

So actually I don't love this at all.  It's ruining my Valentine's Day plans and I am not happy about it. However, I am loving that this "huge snowstorm" (no flakes yet) has given me the day off from work.  Schools closed 3 hours early and we did not open so everyone had to go home.  I am thankful for that and will spend my time doing homework & making Rice Krispie treats!

Teacher Blogs

A Day in First Grade

As a graduate student I am responsible for coming up with tons of lesson plans, units, book portfolios, classroom management plans, behavior management plans, and the list goes on.  My life would be SERIOUSLY difficult if it weren't for the awesome teachers out there who take the time to blog about their days, share freebies, create awesome resources and upload them to TPT and provide so many wonderful ideas.  I've been told that teaching is all about "begging, borrowing and stealing" and all I have to say is THANK YOU! to all of these wonderful ladies who I look up to! And to TPT for being my savior.  Here are some of my favorite teaching blogs: The First Grade Parade A Day in First Grade Fun in First Grade Step into 2nd Grade Apples and ABC's A Teeny Tiny Teacher Lucky to Be in First! Kinder-Craze A Burst of First Erica's Ed-Ventures That's So Second Grade! A Cupcake for the Teacher A Year of Many Firsts Mrs. Jump's Class First Grade Blue Skies First Grader...at Last! Miss Kindergarten Teaching With Love & Laughter What the Teacher Wants The Teacher Wife ...and so many more!

Happy snow day!

February Goals

I almost have to pinch myself. We finally have a NORMAL school day today since our second wave of the winter storm is all rain.  I can't tell you how thankful I was to go into work at 7 am and be able to leave at 8:30 when the littles went galloping down the hallway to their classrooms. It's time for some routine up in this joint.
We welcomed February this past (gloriously beautiful) weekend & with a new month comes new goals.  First, let's look back at January's goals:   1. Get ahead on my assignments. I would say I did pretty well with this because I don't feel "behind" quite yet.  I do feel overwhelmed by all there is to do, but at least I have started/prepared the tools I need for almost all my projects! 2. Finish The Rescue. This didn't happen.  School happened.  Oh well. 3. See a new movie. I saw Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Lone Survivor, and some movie that my mom was watching on TV. 4. Make 2 new clean recipes. Didn't happen.  Keeping this one on for February. 5. Take water to work every day. I did REALLY well with this.  I've been taking my little Nalgene type bottle that I got at the Austin Whole Foods with me and adding ice when I get to work.
Okay, so I didn't do too bad. January was a rough month with two weeks of wacky weather/no school.  I'm hoping February gets us all back on track!
February Goals: 1. Update my computer. It's ancient and needs some sort of snow leopard software? I think? Either way I can't update my phone anymore and it is super inconvenient. 2. Re-do my 101 in 1001 list. I don't know if this is cheating because I haven't reached the end date of my current list, but I am feeling really inspired to create a new list. 3. Run my 10-miler in under 1:45. Last year I was able to run it around 1:30, which is my "normal" ten miler time, but I have been out of the running zone since the marathon so I'm a little slower. 4. Do something with my calligraphy. I'm thinking create something to frame or gift or send to a friend. 5. Label/bookplate my children's books. I have a set of "this book belongs to..." stickers that I want to use, but I can also use my calligraphy or handwriting to label the others. I also want to make a "master list" of all the books I have!

Speaking of running, I have signed up for two 2014 races so far! Y'all can find me running the Blacksburg Classic 10-miler on the 15th and then at the end of March I'll be up in Richmond to run the Monument Ave 10K with a friend! I've adopted the "run for fun & to get a cool shirt" attitude.  I want to start doing races that I haven't done before, to say that I have.  I want to increase my race list (which you can see in my pages) this year with new ones! So far I believe I will have four new ones to add by NYE, including Monument Ave :) My local running club is doing a Grand Prix Race Series, which includes 7 local races and is sure to keep me up on my toes.  Blacksburg Classic is the first of the seven. I'll be sure to do race updates when I can! I've also picked up some workout classes - I tried Cardio Barre for the first time (and loved it) and have been going to Body Sculpting, which is tough but I feel great afterwards!

How to Not Spend Money

The contentment challenge has been just that -- a challenge.  But as I sit and delete every amazingly tempting LOFT sale email I receive, I am learning a lot about myself.  I never thought I could go this long (almost one month) without going on a total splurge trip to Target or TJMaxx.  Can't even tell you the last time I was in Michael's. Although, I will say, it helps that I live in a town with limited shopping ;)
I have learned that I can be even more creative than I think I am when I stay in my house and look around.  I can entertain myself with things that I already have - some of which need entertaining, ahem my bookshelves. I've rearranged my room and closet set up several times and just recently rearranged my desk.  I have found some fun ways to spend my time (when I'm not doing homework/working) that don't include buying something.
enroll in grad school // okay, this one is kind of a joke. But really, being in grad school brings everything into perspective.  I have TWO MORE CLASSES to complete, and student teaching, after these four I am taking this semester.  Then it's time for the real world, which by the way means real world stuff like apartments and cars and computers and phones and all of that junk.  My mom and I were discussing the purchases I will be looking forward to once I land a teaching job.  Let's just say the purchases aren't cheap, but they are somewhat necessary, so starting a savings plan now is probably a stellar idea.
washi tape // I have found some neat things to use my washi tape collection for.  For example, I covered a clear desktop organizer that I have so you can't see what's inside! Not that I'm trying to hide anything, but it looks pretty.
netflix // I have rekindled my love of Netflix.  Did y'all know how many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress are on there? Plenty.  Also my other secret obsession show: Undercover Boss. Four seasons.  That's what I'm talking about.  Almost nothing beats curling up under a blanket to watch Netflix on my iPad.
getting fancy // I'm somewhat of an overachiever when it comes to my assignments.  The units/portfolios/lessons that I am asked to create are many and I just love finding and sometimes making cute covers for them!  There is so much freeeee and CUTE stuff on my favorite teaching blogs! And since I'm a perfectionist, this task can take days.
calligraphy // I shared that I have started calligraphy and it has definitely helped me pass the time.  Here is a recent one I posted on Instagram :)  follow me @sarah_ryan3 !

 
Now, all of this doesn't mean I'm never purchasing anything ever again, but until I get a little more grounded in my finances, I am playing it smart.   One last free note, head over to Elle & Company to download a beautiful verse for your iPhone background :)

Five on Friday

Hey, y'all!   It's Friday and I'm curled up in my warm house and decided it was time for a blog post.  With my semester ramping up, I don't have a ton of time these days to blog, but I don't want to put it off completely.   I'm here today to share 5 things with you that are on my mind this week! I hope you leave inspired :)   one :: i started calligraphy

I recently started learning calligraphy because, well, I think it's pretty! I took a class on Skillshare and learned the basics - how to hold your pen, how to ink up, how to write all of the letters uppercase and lowercase. It's been so much fun & has helped me stay sane indoors since it's too dang cold to go outside.

I still need some practice, but that is the fun part! I've just been looking up fun quotes on Pinterest to write in calligraphy.  Actually, my sketchbook is pretty fun & inspirational right now. I like it.     two :: organization/planner lovers unite

If there is one thing you do today, I hope it's to visit Elle & Company! The amazingly talented Lauren Hooker just launched her "design for a simple life" company this week & you will fall in love. Her featured product is the Daybook Planner. It's so perfect -- menu planner sheets, prayer sheets, lesson planner sheets, cleaning checklist & much more! Everything is so pretty, clean & simple! You will also want to follow her blog for fun stuff, like Friday morning coffee dates :) Go give her some love!     three :: it finally snowed

Here's the rundown...schools were already closed on Monday for MLK Jr. day, but we (my job) were open so I worked for 7 hours & then drove to class for 3. It was a long day.  THEN, due to the "anticipation of bad winter weather", school was closed on Tuesday. We are only closed if it's a Code 4. Well, it was code 3, so in we went. However, we ended up closing around 10 am because the snow was still coming down hard -- although roads were fine...? The county makes no sense. Then Wednesday rolls around and I'm sure we're finally going back to school.  Nope. Another day off & another code 3. Basically, we got about 2 inches of snow, apparently somewhere in the boonies of Montgomery County it was worse and I have had to work 20 hours already this week with children who were OFF THE WALL. I know 20 hours doesn't sound like a lot, but normally I work 9-12 for the entire week. Plus, on snow days, we're basically stuck inside.  This time we let them run relay races down the hallway -- you'd think we had given them $100! They were so pumped. Needless to say I am ready for the weekend :)     four :: cleaning up pinterest

follow me! I recently took the time to "clean up" my Pinterest, although really it's still a work in progress.  I figured out you can alphabetize your boards (makes my OCD heart happy) and I also started to break up my teaching boards into more specific categories, such as Teaching History and Classroom Decor. I used to just have one classroom board.  This will really help me in the present, with assignments, and in the future, when I'm actually teaching. I have also started some boards for some of my classes, like the Assessment Portfolio one. I thought about making it private because it isn't very "pretty", but oh well :)     five :: teaching is getting real and scary

My student teaching request form is due on March 1st. That means I'll hopefully be student teaching this upcoming fall.  I'm all sorts of nervous, scared and excited when I think about how close I am to becoming a "real" teacher.  Soon I'll be thinking about job fairs and interviews - which scare me to death - and about moving! This will be a crazy year.    

making things happen in 2014

I recently found inspiration from other bloggers to create a "making things happen in 2014" board on Pinterest.  This board can include quotes, pictures, videos - anything on Pinterest - that will motivate and inspire you to make things happen && do what matters in 2014.   Here's a sample of what's on my board:

I encourage you to visit Lara Casey's blog, if you haven't already, to get super inspired & get started on goal setting! And of course, Emily Ley is an awesome source of inspiration as well.   I encourage you, whether you have 2014 goals/resolutions or not, to create a board.  I've already found myself coming back to it just to read the quotes.  Mine is still a work in progress and I'm sure I'll be adding to it for the weeks and months to come!   Let me know if you follow me on Pinterest so I can follow your boards, too!