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!

Five on Friday

Hello, friends. Happy Friday!
This week was a little less stressed than the past couple of weeks, and for that I am thankful. However, it's also been FREEZING and for that I am not so thankful. Except for the fact that I can pile on fun sweaters and vests.
For today's Five on Friday, I have chosen to post 5 teaching related quotes or "funnies" because lately, I think the weather is making the children go cray-zay, and I've been needing a laugh/reminder of why we're there.   If you aren't a teacher or a soon-to-be teacher like me, I hope you can still think of the little ones in your life & appreciate these. *All from Pinterest*
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Off to substitute this afternoon & then have some Fall Festival fun :) HAPPY FRIDAY!

Hello October

Heyyyy y'allllll!
My poor little blog is being neglected. I have been failing with teacher talks and commenting and posting in general. Grad school & marathon training are both NO JOKE! Plus work & internship.   Anyway, it is now October and I am going to try and post more often! I don't want to lose this little memory keeper.
Here's what I'm looking forward to this October:  

1. Double weekends with my boy! Steven is coming HOME to visit me next weekend!! He surprised me last week on the phone letting me know he is coming.  My heart is happy. The following weekend I am going to see him in PA. I am also running a half-marathon there - Runner's World Half & Festival. There is something about that area of PA in the fall...it's dreamy!
2. Pumpkin patch goodies! I seriously love going to our pumpkin patch. Pumpkins, farm animals, kettle corn, ice cream, HOLY SMOKES I can't handle it. I want to live there.
3. Running 20 miles My big 2-0 is scheduled for the last weekend in October.  I ran 16 last weekend and don't think I could stomach running another 4.  However, I will have three more long runs in before it so I'm confident that I will be able to do it! Just 6 weeks until the marathon!!
4. 4th grade field trip! We have our first field trip this month! OH my word, I am loving my class of 4th graders. Let it be known it's 15 boys and 3 girls......definitely never a dull moment.  We're going to some barns at Virginia Tech.
5. Substituting in Kindergarten I have one scheduled sub day in my kindergarten class from last year coming up.  Although it's different kids, I have a sweet spot in my heart for kinders. So excited to spend my day with them!

Hope y'all have had a wonderful start to October! I say bring on the crisp air and crunchy leaves - seriously though...it was in the 80s here today!

Five on Friday!

Happy Friday!

{one} On Monday morning I set the alarm, had my computer charging overnight, and woke up to tackle the Lilly Pulitzer Endless Summer Sale. You might be asking, "Why did you even bother to wake up early?!" and that is exactly what I'm asking myself too since I could barely see anything on the site until 1:00 pm! I, like other Lilly lovers, wish the Pink Palace would find some other way to put on the ESS that wouldn't crash the website each year but in the end, I am just thankful to have the opportunity to buy new Lilly at such awesome prices! This is what I ended up getting:

Murfee Scarf in You Gotta Regatta

Boardwalk Bikini Top in Bright Navy Swim Party Polkadot The picture is of a different top but the same print! The boardwalk top has a cute ruffle that I love! I didn't get bottoms to match because the site was being so crazy so I'm just going to mix-n-match with a solid bottom.   {two} About a week ago we had our family dinner at work to celebrate the end of summer! I pulled off a Pinterest-inspired cupcake that the kids LOVED. There was almost a fight for the last one. (#1 teacher right here...)

  {three}  Yesterday was my last full day of summer with Steven before he heads back up to school! Bittersweet for sure as he only has one more semester and is excited to be graduating and moving on to grad school. I'm just ready to have him back in Virginia! I'll take a 3 hour drive over a 6 hour drive any day :)

We went out to Beliveau Estate, which is a local winery/bed & breakfast, for a wine tasting and lunch! We were the only ones there, which isn't so weird on a Thursday afternoon, but it was nice to have the space to ourselves! We did a tasting of six wines and then chose Discovery to have with lunch.

  {four} I hope that my fellow teacher/future teacher bloggers are going to be participating in Teacher Talk with Nicole and Jamie!
Although I'm not in my own classroom quite yet, I'm excited to read and connect with other teachers - or future teachers like me. I'm going to tweak the posts a little bit to fit me, so if you're a future teacher don't be afraid to join in! :) Monday's post is "about you - where, what and why you teach"!   {five}  I finally caved and bought a chalkboard yesterday at TJMaxx! I had a gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket and have been wanting a chalkboard for some time.  I was tempted to make my own, but I found one for a good price and couldn't pass it up! I think I'm going to put it in my room. Now I'm looking for inspiration for what to write on it!

This is cute!     Have a great weekend!

Tuesday Trends :: Sliced

Loving this design seeds palette:

There is so much back to school talk in the air, but I'm not quite ready to rid my life of rich, summer tones. Coral and yellow have me dreaming of a sunny boardwalk somewhere! These bright colors would warm up any room and have me feeling fresh and ready to tackle the day. Not to mention I would be one happy girl nomming on a grapefruit every morning.

Where are you finding color inspiration?

Five on Friday :: Sweet & Girly Spaces

From time to time, or maybe every day, I get on Pinterest and swooooon over the pretty living spaces I see. I wouldn't call myself an interior decorator by any means, but I still love to look at, plan out & envision sweet & girly accents for my room.

Here are five of my favorites!

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Happy Friday!

Monday Mantra

Last week was long, stressful & rainy. My weekend flew by and I am NOT ready for another Monday! However, I have to press on & tackle the week. Hopefully this week won't hold any flooding or crazyyy children - both of which were stressing me out last week!   This week I am going to focus on celebrating life's sweet moments, no matter how small, and learning from the bitter ones.  Patience is key.  Patience & a smile :)
What is your mantra for the week? Hope y'all had a great weekend!

I'm Currently Loving...

I sort of missed out on WILW, so today I'm going to share some things that I'm "currently loving"!
{Paper Straws}

I am just obsessed with these cute things! Especially if they're in a mason jar. Perfection. I'm thinking of getting some for my graduation party...any idea where I can find them in stores? :)
{Beach Themed Bathrooms}

I got to paint/decorate the half bath at home & I went with a beach theme.  I painted the walls a bright coral color, however I love this soft blue as well! I really like the idea of putting shells in some apothecary jars. I have so many shells from various beaches!   {Countdowns}

 And by last day of classes, I mean last day of everything undergrad! I don't have any finals scheduled for exam week so once the clock strikes 12:15 on May 7, I'm done. *time to partyyyyyyy!* Then we have 10 days to go after that until graduation!   {Sangria}

Citrusy Champagne Sangria

I tried sangria for the first time at the wedding! It was so delicious. Very fruity and I could hardly taste the wine...which was good and bad. I downed it! I want to try more sangria recipes now. I love sweet, fruity drinks so I'm excited to find new recipes. Do you know of any good ones?? 

What are y'all loving these days?
  Have a wonderful week! Almost FRIDAY!