Its a New Year... a New Start

Okay so the packets will be done by tomorrow FOR SURE! The boyfriend has been sick with the flu, so I've been acting as maid and as his uncle called me yesterday his "mother." On top of having my hands full with him, yesterday was his--our family Christmas party. I love his family so much. And I love how much they accept me and like me for me and not just because I'm "Iggy's girlfriend." (Iggy is his nickname btw.) Case in point, yesterday I was doing my own thing at his uncle's house. I go to actually find him because it is present time and he is asleep at his NAN'S house. Not at the house we were at. But he had walked across the street and decided to fall asleep on the couch. No one could find him for about 10 minutes.

Anyways... as I was talking to his Nan the other day asking her what I should bring she told me a "veggie tray." Wanting to make it holiday-ish, I decided to head to our favorite site- pinterest of course! So here it is, my pinterest inspired Holiday/Christmas Veggie Tray! (It's a "snow-covered" Christmas tree!)

(sorry the picture is a tad blurry! I thought I took two pictures, but couldn't find the non-blurry one!)

Okay... so tonights the night! Out with the old and in with the new? Right? Bye-Bye 2012, Hello 2013? I'd love to say that 2012 was the BEST year of my life... but it wasn't. The good news, it wasn't a terrible year either.

Probably the best thing was the boyfriend finding a job. Not only did he find one to help pay the bills, but it's a very flexible job that allows him to work from home when he needs to!

Speaking of home, thats another GREAT thing that happened in 2012. No, we weren't lucky enough to buy a house but we did find a great house to rent. I love my home. And if one day I was lucky enough, I would definitely buy this house as a starter home.

So in with the new? What is going to make 2013 a great year? What am I going to do to ensure that it is everything I want it to be? Well here's my game plan!

As far as my personal life goes... I would really like to build up my credit. Before and during college my credit was awesome. But after college I was doing all that I could to just make ends meet, so those pesky loans got pushed to the waste side. Unfortunately that decision wasn't a good one and has now caused me once AMAZING credit to suffer significantly.

On with the blog... I would REALLY REALLY like to start blogging again readily. I've been a terrible blogger lately (I'm so sorry). I won't even begin to make promises on how often I'm going to post. I know it won't be everyday like it used to be. There is just not enough for me to say. And at one point I was wanting it to be every other day, but that also fell through. But I am going to try and get...be better. The key word: try!

So those are my two resolutions. However, for those that truly want to know... I will give you a list of not resolutions, but things that I would LIKE to happen in 2013- my hopes and dreams for 2013 I suppose.

1. I would like to get engaged/married.
2. I would like to become pregnant. I really want to start my own little family.
3. I would like to lose about 70 lbs (before either 1 or 2 happens).
4. I would still like to move closer to my family... so I would like to find a job in Wilson Co.
5. I would like to furnish the rest of my house! (so just finished the dining room and hallway - despite a few little decorations we would like to add. See pictures below!)

(new dining room table)

(Less than a week ago, this hallway was FULL of boxes. Now it is pretty, simple, and ALMOST complete! I have to either paint the mirror or change it out for a darker one!)


That's it. They aren't resolutions, because well 1 and 2 are almost completely out of my hands. #3 I have said time and time again and I still haven't actually done it. #4 I have tried to do two times now and it still hasn't worked out. and #5.... this is probably the most likely, but it takes money... which we are short on most of the time.

So what are your resolutions for 2013? Head on over to The Teacher's Cauldron to link up in this New Years Resolution Linky Party!

I'm dreaming of...

Hey! It's me again! You know that blogger that keeps saying she is going to get better at doing this... and then doesn't? Well yea, I'm back. But this time I'm not making any promises about posting again tomorrow... because let's just be honest I've been very sparatic this year with my posts. It doesn't mean I love you any less. It just means that I've been a very bad blogger. Oh well! Here's to hoping it gets better in the New Year? --I'm pretty sure that could be a New Year's Resolution! :)

Anyways, as I'm sitting in my PJS this morning/afternoon... whatever, I began thinking about my dreams from the last few nights. Now I don't remember the entirety of the dream, nor do I really remember the moral. So what then do I remember? I remember seeing my student's faces. I remember waking up and missing them. I feel like one of my dreams had me and another one of my co-workers and I suppose we hadn't been at work in forever (2 weeks feels like forever sometimes, eh?) and we ended up going into each other classrooms and being really confused. When we finally figured out that those faces (the students) that we were seeing did not look familiar and we ended up in our own classrooms we felt much better.

Does this make me strange? Am I the only one that has dreams about my students?

I remember the first year I taught, at the very end of the year after I had passed all of my students, I had a dream that I failed them all. It wasn't because they were bad or not ready to pass to the next grade, it was because I wanted to keep them with me. The next year, whenever I saw them I missed them like crazy! They were still my babies.

 In fact, during our Christmas party this year one of my very first kindergarteners came in to give me a hug. He's a big second grader now, but oh me! oh my! Does he (and in this particular case- his family) still have a place in my heart!

So I have one more week left on this wonderful Christmas break! I have already accomplished so much! We bought a brand new kitchen table (the one I've been wanting since October). You couldn't get the smile off of my face for hours and instead of working on the couch, I've been working at the table! I love it!

Speaking of working, I have two packets just about ready for you! I have already posted the first one, and I'm hoping to get the second one posted today! I'll TRY my best to be back tomorrow or Monday to share them with you. But one thing is for sure, whenever I actually do get back they will be on sale for the first 24 hours after the post!

Okay, well I'm out! It was good seeing you again! Hopefully it won't be so long until the next time! 

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

My thoughts.

Yesterday I saw a father come home and give his child a million kisses. When asked if he had missed him that day, he replied "I couldn't imagine had it been him." I am in shock of the things that happen in this nation everyday, but this was simply frightening. I couldn't imagine being a teacher in that school and watching the panic on my student's faces as we hid in horror of what might happen. I couldn't imagine being a parent that sent my child to that school that a grown man violated and killed 26 innocent children and adults. I couldn't imagine being the parent of any one of those 26 innocent victims and coming home to an empty room where they used to sleep and play. My heart is broken for those that are having to deal personally with this tragedy. What in the world could have been so bad for that grown man to kill so many people in a place where innocent children go everyday. I hope that those children who survived can find peace so that their learning is not stunted from this terrible act of violence. I hope that the teachers who survived can find perseverance in their hearts so that they will stay and teach and continue to make a difference in the lives of those children who were able to come home safely yesterday. May God be with you all and give you peace and hope for a better, safer tomorrow.

 

12 in 12 (a day late)

Okay, so I missed it! The day that won't happen again in my lifetime! I found this linky party yesterday celebrating 12.12.12 and I MEANT to join. But I fell asleep. I was so tired yesterday that I ended up sleeping from 8 yesterday evening until 6 this morning... and when I woke up I felt like I could continue sleeping without a problem! So without further ado, here it is 12 in 12! Thanks Kristen and Hadar for hosting this linky!

Here are my 12 favorite things...

12. Favorite movie you watched: 

The boyfriend is a movie buff, so we are watching movies ALL of the time. However, if I had to choose just ONE move as my favorite 2012 movie it would be 50/50. It was a funny, yet sad comedy and I loved it! 

11. Favorite TV series:

This summer I began watching The Big Bang Theory. I LOVE that show. Its super funny and here recently they have added some love stories... which I just adore! 

My other favorite TV series is The Walking Dead! It's got plenty of gore and suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat, yet a storyline that is captivating and leaves me crying half the time! 

10. Favorite restaurant:

Easy! Outback! I love it! The boyfriend and I went there this past Wednesday for the first time in quite a long time and after we ate I was probably the happiest I had been in a long long time! If you have never been to Outback then I HIGHLY recommend going and eating!

9. Favorite new thing you tried:

crocheting! I love creating something beautiful out of yarn! I need to learn more patterns so that I can make more than just blankets! 

8. Favorite gift you got:

My bamboo purse and leather wallet I got this year for my birthday! Its super cute. But more importantly it hold a bunch of stuff and is a pretty good size! And my leather wallet, the color is BEAUTIFUL! 

7. Favorite thing you pinned:

Okay, I don't have kids yet, but I have to say that a lot of my favorite pins are ideas that I have seen for when I do have kids. I mean just look at this beautiful seating! 

It serves multiple purposes by being seating and storage!

6. Favorite blog post:

Oh! I don't know. I'm gonna go with this one.

Why, well it was a FUN day and it inspired one of my favorite TPT packets!

5. Best accomplishment:
 Graduating college and getting a job as a teacher immediately after graduating! I still have several friends from college that have not been able to get a job, so not only is it my best accomplishment, but I have to admit I feel VERY lucky!

4. Favorite picture:

I love this picture because it was the first time I met my nephew, who is the love of my life! He has grown so much over the past year! I love him to pieces!

3. Favorite memory:
This summer meet up with Erin, Greg, Laura and her friend!

2. Goal for 2013:
To be happy and healthy. To get financially stable. And to finally get that ring on my finger!
 

1. One Little Word:
Faith.

(Faith in yourself. Faith in others. Faith in love.)

Hope your year has been as grand as mine has been!

 

300 Follower Giveawy

Okay... so this is a LONG time coming! But I've got it together and I am super excited about it!!!

My 300 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY! I have not been the best blogger lately. I've been slacking on blogging regularly and for that I am sorry! But somehow I still have 301 AMAZING followers! I hope that something I have said has made a difference or something I have given as a freebie as helped you teach an important concept.

To show you how thankful I am I have gathered a few bloggers together and asked them to help me out in showing you how grateful I am!




Joni over at KinderKids Fun is offering her Gingerbread Unit to one lucky follower.

Mrs. C from Little Miss Kindergarten is donating the following two packets to one lucky winner.

Donna from Peace, Love, and Learning is donating one packet (winner's choice) from her TPT store to one lucky winner.




And I am donating two packets (winner's choice) to one lucky winner.

To enter all you will have to do is head over to each blog, click follow. Then head on over to their TPT store and follow their store! Plus get an extra entry for sharing the giveaway on your blog and leaving a comment!! How easy could that be?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December Currently

Hey ya'll! I hope everyone is getting into the Christmas mood! We decorated our classroom today. I usually do it all on my own, but I told the students that if they were good that I would let them help me! They loved being able to hang the Christmas ornaments on the tree! And I loved letting them!
I'll try and take and upload some pictures of our Christmas tree, fireplace, and Christmas-inspired student work that is decorating our classroom right now! I'm awful at taking pictures (if you haven't already noticed!)

I have to say though, I am thoroughly surprised at how FAST this year is going! It blows my mind that it is already December! However, it is! So you know what that means! It is time for Farley's Currently! Woohoo! I love these things! Thanks Farley for putting them together for us!

So wanna know what irks me? The fact that when I fall asleep at 7 at night, the boyfriend messes with me. But if I was to mess with him right now for being asleep at 7, he'd be upset! LOL. Does anyone else have this problem??

OKay... I don't know about you. But we have 11 days before Christmas Break begins! This is super exciting!! Of course we still have lots to cover this semester, and lots of testing to do, and lots of events coming up! So it's going to be BUSY, BUSY, BUSY! But that's kinda the way I like it! Friday we are having our Gingerbread House Construction Party! Each student will be constructing their own Gingerbread House out of a milk carton and candy! I am hoping that lots of parent volunteers show up that day. I am sure I will need all the help I can get with these things!

OMG! I am SOOOOOO behind! I usually have our Christmas tree up AND decorated THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING! So someone please tell me WHY it is December 5th and I still do not have my tree decorated! We went all out and got a real tree this year (we finally got it on Saturday) but that still has left me with time to decorate it! Right? When do you put up your Christmas tree? Am I the only one behind? OH! and shopping for Christmas presents??? I've barely made a dent. And after talking to the boyfriend, it is sounding like nothing else can be bought until the 14th! I don't know what I am going to do!!

Finally my RAK (RANDOM act of kindness)... I hope this counts. One of my classroom parents is pregnant. However, she is the only parent that comes in RELIGIOUSLY on Thursdays and does whatever I need her to do! She makes my copies, sharpens my pencils, passes out papers, laminates and cuts center pieces, takes down hallway displays, tutors a student.... basically ANYTHING I need her to do, she does for me! I am beyond grateful for everything she has done for me! Therefore, back a few weeks ago I decided to begin crocheting her a baby blanket.

So thats my currently for December! What's yours? Head on over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade to link up now!

(Oh and come back tomorrow. I will be posting my 300 Follower Giveaway!)