On My Bookshelf

While I enjoy this "leisure" time of not being in school and not yet having a full-time job, I have found that I am really enjoying two things: having time for Netflix and reading.
My current obsession on Netflix is Hart of Dixie.  I love how cute and sometimes corny this show is.  Not to mention I want to move to Alabama and live in Lemon's closet.  Her and AB have the cutest, vintage style.  Soon I will need a new show because I'm blazing through this one.  Any suggestions?
Anyway, as much as I love having more time for reading, I find myself getting distracted or, most of the time, sleepy when I read at home.  If I'm in the car or on the beach I could read for hours on end.  It's something about sitting at home and reading that makes me stop and think about all of the other things I could/should be doing, like laundry, running, cleaning my room, etc.  I don't think it's that my books lack engaging content, but rather that I am easily distracted.  The only solution to this problem that I have come up with is to move to the beach :)
Where is your favorite place to read?  Do you have any reading tips that will keep me focused and engaged in my book while reading at home?
I'm about to finish up The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks.  I really wanted to read this before the movie comes out in April.

Here are some other books that I would like to read and/or finish, pulled from my Goodreads account:

What book did you finish recently that you would recommend me adding to my bookshelf?

Busy March + Book Fair Picks

Wow, I feel like March has come and moved along so quickly! We are already halfway through, which seems crazy to me.
So far March has been filled with weekends at home - love the relaxation - and lots of working/subbing.  My current schedule allows me to work everyday (at my beloved after-school care job) and substitute when/where I am needed.  Last week I substituted three days in a kindergarten room and just had so much fun!  I could definitely see myself teaching kindergarten one day.
When I'm not substituting I am usually catching up on my new Netflix obsession, Hart of Dixie, lounging with my furry friends or helping out my mama in the library.  This week is the book fair - aka the most anticipated week of the school year, besides spring break & the last week of school - so I am going in to help with check out and convincing children to not buy the fuzzy pencils and to buy a real book instead! ;)
There are some really cute books this year that I am going to snag up for my future classroom. Here are a few samples:

This is an adorable book about a shark and a minnow who are best friends!  This would be a great read aloud.

My mom actually already bought this one but I am definitely suggesting it to all teachers/mamas of little ones.  It is a sweet tale about planting a seed of kindness.  If you know Kadir Nelson, then you know you want your hands on this book.  If you don't know Kadir Nelson, I strongly suggest you look into his books.  Beautifully done work.

Another sweet story of a little girl, Maggi, and her dog, Milo, and their adventures together!  It reminds me of the bond I have with our dog and that dog's really are a woman's best friend ;) Cute book!

I will also be picking up some nonfiction pieces, such as:

I seriously LOVE the book fair and one of the most exciting parts about teaching is getting to set up my classroom library! I could not be more excited :)

Have a great week!

Summer Reads!

Althoughhhhhhh I'm in grad school this summer & have plenty to do for that (boo!), I'm still dreaming/hoping of getting in some FUN reading. I am getting to do a little bit of that at the beach this week...hey, that's what vacation is for, right!?

Here's what's on my list currently...

Read any of them? I love getting on goodreads and seeing what everyone is reading! Although, I'm bad at updating mine. I need to do that. However I love looking at what people rate books...that's how I find a lot of my reads! I heard from several 6th graders that suggested The Fault in Our Stars so hopefully they don't let me down ;)
Let me know what you're reading so I can add to my list!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Hey y'all!   Here's what I'm loving on this last Wednesday of March :)   I'm loving...more substituting experience! Today I'm subbing in 3rd grade at my school for the afternoon. I've never been in 3rd grade so this will be exciting! I definitely think I'm partial to K-2 (love first grade) but I would love more classroom experience in 3-5. As of today, I have about 7 other sub days already planned! So far I am loving the experience - it can get a little nerve wracking, especially if I get confused about something or am in a new classroom, but overall I think this will really pay off when I am looking for a job! Note to teachers: simple, clear, concise sub plans that out in plain view ready to go = SO NICE :) I always return the favor with a friendly note about how the day went.
I'm loving...this self-tanning how-to from The Kinch Life!

A bronze body is a happy body - for me at least. This late March snow has me DYINGGGG for a summer glow. I've never been to a tanning bed and probably won't ever but I may try this Fake Bake that worked so well for Aubrey! I'll at least try it before graduation so I have a little color.
I'm loving...The Croods (previews)! I cannot see this movie soon enough! I am hoping to go to PA this weekend to see Steven and if I do, hopefully we can go see this. I absolutely love animated movies & this one looks SO cute! Anyone seen it yet?
I'm loving...books about allergies.

 This book, The Princess and the Peanut Allergy, looks too precious. These days it isn't rare at all to have children with food allergies (especially nut) in your classroom & I think this book would make them feel special! Do y'all know of any other cute food allergy books?
I'm loving...that I'm on my second Spring Break! Yes, that's right. The public schools' spring break has FINALLY rolled around which means I'm off from kindergarten & work duties until Tuesday! Yippee! This makes it possible for me to (hopefully) go to PA this weekend for Easter :)
I'm loving...these dresses I got from francesca's!

I may wear the one on the left - seersucker - for Easter -- if it's warm enough! :/ The one on the right is for a wedding I'm going to on April 13th!
I'm loving...the Carrie Underwood concert!

AH! It was AMAZING! I've only been to a handful of concerts but it was by far the best one I've been to. She sounds perfect live, puts on a great show (floating stage! confetti! giant beach balls!), has great outfit changes, sang ALL of her great songs - fit so much into just 2 hours. The last picture is her singing with Hunter Hayes who was the opening act and ALSO AMAZING. Swoon. I love him. If you ever get the chance to see her in concert - you definitely should!

I'm lovin' lots today. I think I could keep on going and going :) Instead - tell me something YOU are loving today!

Sunday Social: 5's!

Switching things up this Sunday to share a bit more about myself with Sunday Social! Thanks to Ashley & Neely for hosting this linkup every week.    
1. 5 songs you'll listen to the rest of your life 1. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls 2. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show 3. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot 4. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 5. Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

2. 5 things on your bucket list 1. Travel to another country 2. Run a full marathon 3. Visit something/somewhere significant in every U.S. state 4. Have my picture taken with a celebrity 5. Take a ballpark tour

3. 5 celebs you'd like to hang out with for the day 1. Miranda Lambert 2. Reese Witherspoon 3. Jimmy Fallon 4. Paula Deen 5. Sandra Bullock

4. 5 things you always carry in your purse 1. Wallet 2. Planner 3. Pens 4. Hand Sanitizer 5. Snack bar

5. 5 books on your reading list 1. The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks 2. Divergent - Veronica Roth 3. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah 4. First Year Teacher: Wit and Wisdom from Teachers Who've Been There - Randy Howe 5. The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Steadman

6. Last 5 photos on your phone

Lazy!

Birthday cookie with pb icing!

Yummmmmmmm!

How cute are there vanilla bean cupcakes!?

Received my Erin Condren notepads in the mail!

Happy Sunday!

Summer Reading & Giveaway Alerts!

Here is my confession: I tend to be a slow reader. I can't bring myself to read an entire book in one day. Mainly because I get so sleepy but I also get a little ADD...
However, the truth is: I love to read!My list of books I want to read is endless, but I thought I'd share a few that are on my mind.Hopefully y'all can give me good reviews on a couple (or all)!
Right now I'm finishing...

My mom is a huge James Patterson fan -- mostly his mystery films. I might try and get into those since the Cross series is going to be made into a movie. There's another fact: I love when books are made into movies! Especially when the movie lives up to the book. I love seeing what actors are chosen/how the setting is done in comparison to what was in my mind while I was reading.
Here's what's coming up on my Summer Reading list, in no particular order:

Have you read any of these? Any I should make a priority? Any I should take off?I would love recommendations :) *Lastly, go right now to Crystal's blog, Coffee at Nordstrom, and check out her Jack Rogers giveaway!

*Also go to Chicago Prepster to enter TWO giveaways! One from Bridier Baubles (the Cece Stack) and one from Southernly Stated!

 

  Happy Tuesday!

Safe Haven

Y'all i am PUMPED for this film.Gotta wait until 2013, of course!I have loved each of his books & movies.My summer will be filled with finishing The Best of Me and a few earlier ones I skipped.

Happy Thursday!
--sign up for the koozie swap here :)

Summer Nights are Upon Us

It's official. I'm done with the semester!I still have work, but I love my job, so that's beside the point :)

Here are some goals for the next couple of weeks:
Get into a workout routineI've ran the past two days (about 3 miles each day) and I really want to keep that up. I know if I stop for a couple of days it'll be too easy to not start up again. I've picked out two half-marathons that I want to train for (one in the fall, one in the spring) so I think I better start moving! I also am going to add on some arm work - going to try something I found on Pinterest! Start a new book - or twoI love that I can read whatever I want during the summer and not have to worry about school readings! Right now I have lined up: The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks, Sunday at Tiffany's by James Patterson and The Shack by William P. Young. I love Sparks (emphasis on the love) and the second two were recommendations. I am open to others :) Let me know what you're reading! 
Get some colorI'm going to try and lay out/be outside as much as possible! One thing about me is: I do not do tanning beds. I prefer to lather on some sunscreen and tanning oil and go outside. I absolutely love laying out and getting in a few chapters of my book before work!
Spend lots of time with StevenSteven is coming home this week! Yayyy! He has to leave again (womp) on the 26th so you bet your bottom I'm going to be spending as much time with him as I can. It will be so nice to have more than just a weekend's time with him!  Good luck to everyone who is still taking finals and/or has graduation just up ahead!
Don't forget you have until Thursday to enter my giveaway!
Happy Monday!