Cool Brew

It's that time of year when the thought of two cups of coffee in the morning is starting to seem more and more enticing.

I make my daily morning drink with something called CoolBrew, a classic from New Orleans.



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CoolBrew is actually coffee concentrate, made by a cool-drip process. It's thought to be "better tasting and less acidic". I definitely agree.

The nifty bottle has two openings that make for easy measuring. 1 oz is a standard amount of coffee concentrate to mix with 8oz of water or milk. I tend to life my coffee strong, so I go for closer to 1.5 or 2 oz per every 8 oz.

Another neat thing about the CoolBrew company is that they have so many flavors of the coffee concentrate. So far, I've tried Hazelnut, Mocha, and the Original, and I've loved all three.

There are many recipes on the website that I am itching to try. Frozen Granitas are so popular in New Orleans, so I'm eager to make my own at home.

xo,

Ms. L



Butterfly Life Cycle

In Science, we are studying life cycles. We started with the life cycle of a seed, and we now have our very own mealworms and caterpillars to observe. It's so important for the kids to have authentic experiences--this is such an easy way to do that.

Our science-planning team member found an adorable way to represent the butterfly life cycle. It serves as a quick assessment--to make sure the students know the four stages, and it's one of those creative projects where they can use a bit of artistic freedom!

1. Divide the plate into four sections

2. Illustrate

3. Use Acini de Pepe (peppercorn) for the eggs

4. The larva is Rotini

5. The pupa was a shell OR elbow macaroni

6. The adult butterfly is bowtie

7. Label

One of my most memorable college professors would encourage to always ask "Is it cute or does it count?" The temptation with elementary (especially the young ones) is to make a bunch of adorable projects, because they're so cute! This little project was a great way to reinforce the vocabulary, like larva, pupa, and adult. 

Ms. L

2014 Books

Even though I'm an advocate of the website Goodreads.com, I always have a running list on my phone of the books I've read throughout the year.

 

As I've mentioned before, I usually set a goal for a year's worth of reading. My goal for 2014 is to read 35 books, and at 19, I'm well on my way!

 

Here are some of my favorites so far:

 

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This book had me constantly laughing out loud and tearing up. I was always running to my sister to read her something entertaining from one of Phillip Done's stories. He captures the daily challenges and rewards of being an elementary teacher. His second novel, Close Encounters of the Third-Grade Kind, is equally as heartwarming and funny.

 

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"We don’t want to tell you too much about this book. It is a truly special story and we don’t want to spoil it. Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific. The story starts there, but the book doesn’t. And it’s what happens afterward that is most important. Once you have read it, you’ll want to tell everyone about it. When you do, please don’t tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds."

--Barnes & Noble

 

 

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Firefly Lane was an easy read that really pulled me in. The characters were so relatable, and I just learned there's a follow-up called Fly Away.

 

Other notables:

 

In the Woods by Tana French 

Mortal Friends by Jane Stanton Hitchcock

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Uganda Be Kidding Me by Chelsea Handler

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

 

 

--Ms. L

Your Deep Gladness

Yesterday, I went to my friend's birthday dinner and sat next to her roommate--a middle school teacher in my district. We hadn't met before this dinner, but we instantly started swapping stories of our little angels.

 

Her stories floored me. The issues that she deals with on a daily basis made my classroom issues seem so miniscule. I instantly starting thinking, "wow, I should have no complaints". She talked about her kids, their issues, and how much she adored them and loved helping them through each day.

 

When it was my turn to share, I talked about the tears, the shoe-tying, the band-aid giving, the handwriting, the short attention span of 7-year olds, and she immediately jumped to saying she'd have no patience for that.

 

She talked about how if each person is really doing the right job, he/she will know it and love it. She loves combatting middle school sass with her own quick remarks, and I love giving out stickers when a student sits in his chair for 5 minutes.

 

It brought me back to a quote another friend shared with me last week.

 

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This has quickly become one of my favorite quotes, and I'm sure you can guess why.



Spring Break in California

 

 

After spending too much money on trip attire and getting all set, I left on Tuesday for my trip to Santa Monica!

 

 

On my first night, we ate at this amazing restaurant named Pono Burger. If you're ever in Santa Monica, you have to check it out. Here's the Menu.

 

 

The next day, my friend's Mom and I strolled through the 3rd Street Promenade. With stores like J. Crew, Madewell, Athleta, Gap, and Barnes & Noble, I was in heaven. The weather was perfect, and we shopped for hours.

 

 

 

 

That evening, we headed down to the Santa Monica Pier. The Pier has been in so many movies and is so picturesque. We ate right over the water and saw the iconic Ferris Wheel.

 

I spent the next day shopping and getting excited for Friday's plan:

 

 

DISNEYLAND!

 

We spent a whopping 16 hours at Disneyland on Friday. We were there from open to close and made the best out of our time.

 

Here's our ride count:

 

Peter Pan's Flight: 1

Pinocchio's Daring Journey: 1

Jungle Cruise: 1

The Enchanted Tiki Room: 1

Star Tours: 1

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters: 2

Indiana Jones Adventure: 2

Splash Mountain: 2

Matterhorn Bobsleds: 2

Space Mountain: 3

 

 

Missing California,

 

Ms. L

 

 

Packing for California

 

6 days ago, I left for five days in California with one of my closest friends. Considering we'd just had an ICE day the week before and temperatures were all over the place, I had no idea what to pack.

 

The forecast for my trip was 75 and sunny. Every. Single. Day.

 

How do people go to work in a place like that? I would have to stay outside all day.

 

Here are some of the cute things I scored while shopping for my trip:

 

 

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These Factory Layering Tanks are amazing! They are so soft and come in many colors. I picked up white, this soft mint, and neon violet. These tanks will be a staple for when it gets to 100 degrees over the summer.

 

 

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5" Chino shorts from J. Crew have been a staple in my closet since 8th grade. They last forever, come in endless amounts of colors, and are comfy. These shorts also make any outfit look polished--whether it's with a t-shirt or cute blouse. I picked up a pair in navy.

 

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Because who doesn't love denim shorts?

 

 

 

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I would not consider myself a "shoe person", but these caught my eye from across the store. I'm already a fan of the classic Jack Rogers and own them in multiple colors, but THESE SHOES! I could not walk away without a pair.

 

 

 

Still shopping,

 

Ms. L

 

Recipe for the perfect...

Snow Day!

 

Despite the fact that I wore shorts and flip-flops on Saturday, we experienced thunder-sleet on Sunday afternoon. Within 24 hours, the temperature in the DFW area dropped 51 degrees! The sleet came down as loudly as hail and covered the streets within hours. By 9:45 pm, I got the awaited call that school would be cancelled on Monday.

 

Home with no papers to grade or work to do, I had a wonderful day.

 

Here's what it entailed:

 

 

 

 

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I promised myself that after I turned 20, I would never wear a pair of Ugg Boots again. Well, I broke that rule, when I just couldn't get my toes to warm up. Granted, I did not leave the house in them, my 12 hours with these boots made my toes very happy.

 

 

 

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After seeing The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt on top of many bestseller lists (NPR, NY Times, Amazon) I finally cracked and bought it on my Nook. From the first couple of pages, I was hooked. I have just over 100 pages until I finish, and I am very eager to find out what happens!

 

 

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I used to be an avid coffee drinker, but I've switched to tea during the week. After reading about the benefits of antioxidants and different things, I thought tea would be the better choice for every day. (I still do coffee on the weekends, but that way, it's a special treat!) Tazo Awake tea is my addiction.

 

 

As behind on curriculum and other things as we all feel at this point, I think we all felt the benefits from the snow day in more ways than one. The rest was just what I needed to power me through this tough week filled with TELPAS calibration, Open House, and Progress reports--yikes!

 

 

 

Relaxed and ready for the week,

 

Ms. L

 



Jazz Fest

I tried as hard as I possibly could to ignore the Facebook posts and texts from NOLA family members telling me to check the Jazz Fest line-up for this year.

 

Curiosity killed the cat.

 

 

Better Than Ezra, an LSU/New Orleans band, is my all-time favorite, and after hearing one of their songs this morning, I succumbed to the pressure. I checked the line-up.

 

MISTAKE.

 

Some of the artists I'd be ecstatic to see:

 

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Santana, Robin Thicke, AARON NEVILLE, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and of course, Better Than Ezra

 

The Jazz & Heritage Festival is one of my favorite events that takes place in New Orleans. It has tons of stages where artists are performing all day long. There are endless booths with tastes of New Orleans cuisine, like Gumbo, Sno-balls, Po-Boys, Crawfish bread, and Beignets. It's a great place to spend your day walking around, eating, shopping, and listening to the plethora of diverse artists!

 

Each year, a special poster is released featuring something cultural from the city. They become collectibles instantly and can be highly prized!

 

Here are some of the ones hanging in our dining room:

 

 

[Harry Connick Jr]

 

[Al Hirt & the Blue Dog]

 

 

[Louis Armstrong]

 

Click here to learn about:

 

Crafts // Food // Music // Posters


To book my tickets or not to book?

Ms. L

 

 

"Let's Go Serve Some Children!"

 

 

 

     Yesterday morning at 7:40 am, we heard over the loud speaker that our Principal called an emergency faculty meeting. There's something eerie about changing routine--especially in a profession like teaching, where you do the same thing every single day. It was easy to see the tension and insecurity on the teachers' faces as we all walked over to the other building. We didn't know what to expect, but we knew it could not be good news.

 

 

     We learned some sombering news which I won't share on here. What I do want to tell, though, is how our Principal ended our meeting. Despite the fact that he just given us information that would easily ruin a day, teachers were in tears, and everyone was in shock; the bell still rang. Our day still had to start. He said "well...let's go serve some children."

 

 

    No matter what was going on outside the doors of the school, there are still 700 children in this school walking into classrooms. Those teachers who were crying had to take a deep breath and slap a smile on and say "good morning" 21 times.

 

 

We set the tone.

 

 

It's up to us.

 

 There's no hiding in a cubicle or staring blankly at a computer screen. No, we can't cancel a meeting or choose not to answer the phone for the day.

It doesn't matter what is going on in our hearts and minds. These kids deserve more! They deserve 100% all day every day, and that is a very difficult part of this job.



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Sincerely,

 

 

Ms. L

 

 



Links I Love

Sometimes after a long day, I like to sit with my iPad in front of the tv, with a cup of hot tea. Here are some of the links that have been entertaining me as I avoid thinking about all the grading I have to do.

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35 Books to Read Before They're 2014 Movies

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11 Annoying Things People Say About Teaching

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36 Things You Obviously Need in Your New Home

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Vinyasa Scarf

xoxo,

Ms. L 

Teaching Resources

Our newest Unit is all about working together on a team. As I asked my students what types of careers require a lot of teamwork, one of my students raised her hand and said "teachers!"

I think a big misconception is that just because we all work in our own individual classrooms, we do everything individually and on our own.

FALSE.

I would be nowhere without my team.

Not only do I work with the 4 loveliest ladies ever, but vertically--with teachers from other grade-levels, and through the cyber world! The internet is one of the greatest teaching resources.

Here are some websites that I tend to frequent for the best resources.

1. Pinterest, obviously...

Here are the links to some of my boards that feature teaching pins.

 

 Second Grade

For Future Students/Kiddos
 

 

I also utilize the search bar like crazy! If I'm teaching three-digit subtraction, for example, I'll just type it in and search for cute ideas and links.

2. Teacherspayteachers.com

OH MY WORD. What a lifesaver! I tend to browse their free section, because there are so many resources. However, I can never complain about spending the occasion $3-5 on mini-lesson packs or extra practice worksheets. I love this website for things like morning work, challenge packets, or additional work to go home in homework folders. I also shelled out a few bucks at the beginning of the year for binder covers & spine labels, to help keep myself organized! Here is the link to my favorite purchase.

 

(Editable Teacher Binder)

 

3. Superteacherworksheets.com

 

One of my teammates recently introduced me to this website. It has worksheets on nearly every subject imaginable. I know worksheets aren't best practice, BUT they're great for morning work or extra practice.

 

Unfortunately, you do have to have an account to use it, but I'd say it's worth it!

 

 

What type of teaching resources do you use?

 

Happy Monday,

 

Ms. L

 

Little Sister Sarah

Ever since I've gotten addicted to the blogging world, my younger sister Sarah has wanted to join in.

Here she is with a post of her very own!

Hey y'all!! Over the past few months, you have gotten to know my sister, and believe me: this blog is a great represntation of her out-going, energetic, and most apparent, talkative personality! Lauren and I are quite opposites, but we do have one thing in common, and that is being dramatic. While Lauren has had many events in which she could be nominated for an academy award, I take my drama to the stage. Ever since 6th grade, I have been in theatre class and absolutely love it!! Each year the class began with a lip sync, which  was alway my favorite!! The first year I "sang" with a choreographed dance to Breaking Free from High School Musical. Then the following years were Hannah Montana songs, that were pretty amazing if I do say so myself. Well, as the years went on, I starting getting better, and enjoying it even more! I have three shows that I will never forget being apart of. 

School House Rock 

Freshman year, my performing arts class performed School House Rock, and I have never had more fun in a show!! The songs were stuck in my head for the rest of the year, but now I know the preamble!! The whole show is light hearted, fast paced, and a lot of singing! While I am not a singer, by any means, this show had me singing from begining to end and I did not mind a bit! We even got to perform the show one afternoon for the lower school kids and they loved it!! It was the most exciting and fun show I have ever done and will truly never forget this show! or my INTERJECTIONS!

Into The Woods 

Stephen Sondheim

Holy Moly! What a show! Totaling over 3 hours long, this show is a lot of brilliance! Sondheim just has a way of making beautifully difficult musicals! With only 2 months for rehearsal, that meant a lot of nights at school until about 10:30-11:00pm singing, singing, and more singing. The schedule was rough, but the show, when finally put together, was amazing. While I do not think anyone could beat Bernadette Peters, our witch was awesome! And we had a girl play Jack which was a lot of fun!! After the show I really gained an apprieciation for the broadway musical and has got me so excited for the movie coming out this year!!

Jane Eyre

Charlotte Bronte

This past year, my school competed in a One Act competition, in which we brought Jane Eyre and made it all the way to state!! With a small cast and serious tone, this play led to a lot laughs and bonding. Aside from the theatre side, this is one show I will always remeber, because of all of the friendships made. I portrayed Miss Temple, Jane Eyre's teacher and mother figure. my two best friends played Jane Eyre and Helen Burns. Despite long and rough rehearsals, we had so much fun, we even got a couple of silly run throughs that no one will forget!! Even though the whole experience was amazing, there was a lot of nerves, mess-ups, and celebrations. First, we performed on our own stage and advanced to districts, in Argyle, where we placed 2nd and moved on to state! For state, we got to spend the night in Temple!! getting there friday morning, and finishing before dinner, we got to see Catching Fire with my cast, which was unforgettable! Then we spent the rest of the night in the hotel conference room having a blast, playing games, eating dinner, and just having fun!! Despite the fact that we did not place, I won a medal for all-state actress!! (not to brag--hehe) 

Right now, I am working on solo acting piece, A Leap Year Leap, and the poem The Walrus and the Carpenter for TAPPS competition. In addition we are working on the production, Annie!! I am very excited for what the rest of the year holds!

Theatre has taught me a lot, but most importantly I have learned to just have fun and not worry what other people think! It is so freeing to be on stage with all lights and all eyes on me. I absolutely love it!! While Lauren speaks in a classroom of kids, I speak in front of an auditorium of strangers. They are nowhere being the same, but we find mutual ground, in that, we just really like to hear our own voice!! (hehe)

xoxo,

 

little sis

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Think about this:

 

 

 

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What are your priorities?

 

 

Finding a way,

 

Ms. L

 

 

Weekend Recap

This past weekend, I checked something off my hypothetical "Dallas To-do List". Living in Frisco, I'm close to a lot of attractions in the DFW area.

 

 

Saturday's adventure involved the Perot Museum of Nature and Science

 

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If you've driven through Dallas in the past few years, you've undoubtedly noticed this unique building.

 

 

This picture came from an article on Architecturaldigest.com about 10 Blockbuster Buildings Around the World.

 

On the first full weekend of the month, visitors who bank with Bank of America can visit for free! (They also generously offer military & teacher discounts--info here)

 

Let me preface this with letting you know that Science is NOT my thing, but I truly enjoyed this experience!

 

My friend and I took the escalator ride all the way up to the top, starting with the exhibit called

"Expanding Universe Hall". It featured authentic sounds captured in space, as well as pictures taken by rovers and information about our planets and moons.

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One of my favorites was the T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall. Who knew that Dallas was once an ocean with giant forms of life? We learned exactly how fossils are made and even learned about something called the Dallasaurus. How appropriate!

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I would go on about my other favorites, but I truly loved them all. This is a great place to spend a long time, spend a short time, bring tourists, bring children. I think we covered the museum in a little less than 2 hours, but I could easily go back for the same time and still learn a LOT more.

 

Who knew that gems, crystals, weather, anatomy, fossils, birds, engineering, energy, animals (get the point?) could be so fun?

 

Happy Tuesday,

 

Ms. L

 



Follow Friday

There are a few blogs that I have saved on my bookmarks bar that I would frequent whenever I have the spare time, but I just recently learned that I can actually follow them using blogger! I know, embarrassing. I guess I'm still new to the blogging world.

Here are some of the ones that I frequent on a regular basis:

 Sweet Southern Prep

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I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon this lifestyle blog, but I check it nearly every day! She has a matching Instagram account, where she posts pictures of her stylish outfits and precious kiddos. This blogger shares her workout secrets, busy life tips, deals & steals from my favorites--like Tory Burch and J. Crew, and even yummy cocktail recipes! A few of my favorite posts of hers include the following:

(Photo source)

--This write-up on the TB Friends & Family Sale, which prompted me to buy two pairs that weekend. Oops! [Fashion Friday]

--This post led me to download the app, Endomondo, which I use to see how far I've walked, and estimate the calories I burn [How I Do It: Healthy Eating & Fitness]

--Here, SSP shares sale information! If you're a bargain hunter with great taste, this is your place! [Tuesday Trends]

Step Into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons

[2]

--I loved this idea for sorting sentences using punctuation. [Place Value, Sentences, and Mudge!] I like where she talks about how her kids just *get it*. That is one of the best feelings ever.

--Here, she inspired me to go label crazy! You may remember the crazy intense storage wall I have in my classroom. With the plethora of supplies 2nd grade requires, this makes everything easier. I can now send my students back there to grab the markers or scissors. [Getting Ready for Next Year]

--I thought I'd share the link to her TeachersPayTeachers store. These stations are so cute and once I explain them, I can leave the students working independently to pull-out small groups. [Amy Lemons]

 

The Eternal Search

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I found this blog, because it belongs to one of my favorite people! Brittany was a freshman at TCU when I was a junior. We became close through a shared love of Gossip Girl, cake batter, and Pinterest. Even though she was two years younger, she was a sweet support for me when I needed it. She is the kind of friend who will give you the right thing to do, even when you don't want to hear it.

Here is the link to a particularly honest post that resonates well with me. We all need grace, and she reminds us why (That Time I Needed Grace) 

More to come next time,

Ms. L



Currently

As I was browsing some recents pins in an attempt to find some fun activities for multiplication, I stumbled upon this post that I pinned a while back.

 

 Ladybug's Teacher Files is a blog that I constantly turn to for organization tips. I aspire to one day be that organized. (Thankfully, there is a TeachersPayTeachers:"LadyBug's Teacher Files" website to help.) 

 

Anyway, it inspired to me reflect on my own current state and share it with you!

I am currently:

Listening: to the clock ticking in my classroom. I savor silence.

Loving: the warmth that is coming from the Black Tea sitting on my desk.

Thinking: about the pile of Science & Math papers that are waiting to be graded on the couch in my classroom.

Wanting: the weather to warm up, so I can let my toes wiggle around in some new sandals. These Jack Rogers are called "Lauren", so that means I deserve them, right?

 

(source)

Needing: more time in the day! Why does the day FLY by so quickly? I feel like I blink and it's 4 pm.

Love yourself: I'll be treating myself to a blissful 60 minutes of yoga this afternoon, wearing this cute top I scored on sale at Lululemon this weekend.

 

 

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Namaste,

 

 

Ms. L 

My FAVORITE Tops

 

 

Button-downs are my thing. Whether it's the J. Crew Haberdashery Shirt, a classic Ralph Lauren oxford, or any cute chambray top (1, 2, 3) , they are the easiest top to throw on and still look put-together! They look great buttoned up all the way with necklaces, with a v-neck OR round neck sweater on top, or open over something cute. Today, I'm rocking an all-black outfit with an open chambray over the dress--I like it, because it's different than a sweater, but still provides light warmth and finishes the outfit.

 

Look at all the possibilities coming to you from LOFT!

 

 

(source)

 

I originally saw these posts on Instagram and found them to be so helpful. Somehow, tops always look cuter on the mannequin. Now, I can make my shirts perfect!

 

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How do you like to wear your button-downs?

 

xoxo,

 

 

Ms. L

A Day in the Life

I've seen a couple articles recently that are meant to highlight the unknown amount of hours that a teacher works on a daily basis. I thought I'd share what a typical school day looks like for me.

 

 

 

5:00/5:15--I aim to be out of bed somewhere in this 15 minute range. I also usually find 1 or 2 pressing e-mails in my inbox.

6:00--I make tea and grab breakfast, catch some of the morning news, check weather, double-check bags, leave the house by 6:30 at the latest

7:00-7:50--I make copies, prep examples of today's work, plan future weeks, fill out paperwork, grade, enter grades, answer tons of e-mails

8:00--School starts. The kiddos do morning work for 15 minutes, while I take attendance, answer questions, etc.

8:15--Morning Meeting: I take lunch count, go over the students' jobs for the day, talk about what's coming up today, and there is always some mini-lesson--germs, conflict resolution, quick behavior reminder.

8:30/10:15--This long block of time is devoted to English/Language Arts; Writer's Workshop, Reading, and Phonics. We have a whole group lesson, then the students turn to independent work during the 60 minute center block, while I pull out small groups for reading. Writer's workshop is a block of time where the students work independently, and I conference one-on-one with my writers!

10:20/12:30--Students have recess, lunch, and PE, Music, or Art (depending on the day), with short breaks of 15 minutes in the classroom  between them. This is a great time for independent silent reading or continuing Writer's Workshop, while I do interventions.

12:30-2:00--Math

2:00-3:00-- Science, pack-up

3:00-3:45--Tutoring or Staff Meeting

3:45/5:00--Grading, making copies or laminating, answering e-mails, calling home to parents  of students, fixing up the room, preparing morning work for the next day, making sure all my books are turned to the correct page for lessons tomorrow; sometimes we have professional development from 4-6 off-campus.

5:00-5:45--Rush Hour Traffic. Beyonce CDs and Audiobooks are my best friend.

6:00--yoga: my "me-time": I probably only make it 3-4 times a week...

7:00--Dinner

8:00--Shower, read a book, watch Grey's Anatomy, grade papers if I feel up to it

10:00--Bedtime

 

 

 

 

I'm by NO means a martyr, and I'm not writing this post to be self-righteous. Many people work way more for way less reward than I recieve. I feel very thankful to be doing what I love, and I could NEVER trade it in for a higher-paying/fewer hour job. Just...think twice before you tell a teacher he/she just works 8-3 and gets summers off.

 

 

Happy Friday,

 

 

Ms. L



My Version of a Flipagram

I was recently visiting a blog that belongs to a dear friend of mine from school (here), and noticed that she did a sort of "year-in-review". She pointed out the few most important things that happened each month in 2013. Now, I know that 2014 started 2 weeks ago, but with school being my life, I operate more along a semester basis than year--I get two chances for fresh starts!

2013:

January:

My birthday month! My birthday always falls during syllabus week, meaning I brought in 22 with a bang! My friends and I celebrated with a yummy dinner at Sushi Axiom in Fort Worth followed by lots of nights out catching up before the real work started.

February:

This month brought the beginning of my student teaching. I began six weeks in a fourth grade classroom, with a teacher who is near and dear to my heart. I had observed her classroom for a semester-long Practicum before, and I fell in love with her teaching style. Her students loved her, and they were excellent writers! I learned so much in those first 6 weeks of student teaching and gained confidence in my ability to be in charge of 25 10-year olds! February also brought the birth of my cousin's first baby, Olivia!

March:

March brought Spring Break. My dear friend Katie, affectionally known as "Brawn", and I spent a lovely 9 hours in the car together on our way to my hometown of New Orleans, LA. We met up with some friends to enjoy dinner and night out.

The next morning, we met my grandparents for beignets and walked around the French Quarter. It was so much fun to show this California girl the place I call home. We drove the rest of our way to Destin, Florida. While it wasn't your typical SPRING BREAK experience, we had a lot of laughs and memories with 17 other girls from our sorority.

April:

 In April, I finished my second 6-week term of student teaching. This time, I was in Kindergarten. I had the opportunity to learn under the mom of one of my closest friends. She taught me so much about patience and encouragement. Not only did I learn from her as a teacher, but as a friend and role model. April is also the month when I landed my first REAL JOB.

May:

May 11, 2013 was the day I graduated from TCU. I don't even remember walking across the stage, but I just remember feeling elated that all my hard work had finally paid off! The most memorable and exciting chapter of my life so far was closed, and I was moving on to a new one! Too bad it was accompanied by one too many good-byes as my closest friends jetted off across the country.

June/July:

I spent my summer moving from Fort Worth to a small apartment with my Dad in Dallas. My parents were in transition from Alabama BACK to Dallas (We've moved quite a few times in the past 10 years). My days consisted of working my part-time retail job and checking lots of novels off my to-read list. I also prepped my classroom, but you can read that post here.When my sister and mom finally got here, the four of us moved to a house in Frisco. Packing and moving is miserable.

August:

On August 13th, I became a grown-up. By that, I mean I began my job. We had two weeks of training, where we learned the in and outs of rules, schedules, and reviewed best practices. Luckily, I had my team to keep me sane. We talked about food a lot. On August 22, I met 20 little sweethearts that became mine. I stood in the doorway shaking hands and giving hugs. That hour was a blur, but ignited my excitement for the next Monday. When my 20 students arrived on Monday morning, I was as ready as I could have been! The first day was probably one of the smoothest days I've had all year--I think they were trying to impress me ; )

September:

September brought a lot of frustrating days as I was figuring out management, how to plan, how to organize, etc. This month consisted of school, school, school & more school. 

October:

In October, I was fortunate enough to spend a short-lived weekend with my college friends at my first TCU homecoming as an alum. It was bittersweet.

(Also, check out this precious picture of my cousin Olivia that I recieved!)

November:

The month of thanks! I spent Thanksgiving with my family & friend Katie. My younger sister turned 17. She is a driving machine in her cute little car, and I can't believe she is already looking at colleges. 

December:

The last month of 2013 flew by before I could even notice it was here. With two ice days off school and a long Winter break, this month was a breeze. I spent time in New Orleans with family, mostly holding my sweet baby cousins, Ian, Isabella, and Olivia. We watched movies, shopped, and ate Tamales. It was perfect. I watched 2013 turn into 2014 with a new friend Lauren from school, and with that, another new year began!

 

Birthday Wishes

My birthday is just ONE week away!

Next to a good book, a huge bag of newly shopped goodies is my favorite thing to carry around. Considering I've "invested" in a few key pieces over the past few months (working 2 jobs has its perks), I really should not be going crazy. 

Here are a few things on my wish list: 

I became addicted to Fresh products a few months ago, when I bought their lip treatment in Petal (seen here). It's like slapping on Chapstick, but is a beautiful color! I could easily spend my paycheck at the Fresh store, but right now, I'll settle for the lip gloss and Seaberry body cream--it smells heavenly!

I bought these Frye 'Melissa Button' boots back in October in black, and I wear them at least twice a week! I am on my feet all day, and these stood up to the test. Clearly, I need them in this beautiful cognac color.

I am not a runner, by any means, unless I'm chasing children--does that count? However, our Principal has instituted "Work-Out Wednesday", so our staff gets to wear cute & polished workout wear to get through hump day! These tops from Lululemon have sleeves to make them work-appropriate, but I can wear them on those few days of the year when I think running sounds like a good idea. I'll take one in each color.

Spoken from the Heart, by Laura Bush, has been on my to-read list for a while now, but I just haven't gotten around to it. I recently visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum, which re-sparked my interest in this one! 

Mom & Dad, I hope you're reading this! 

Ms. L