Once Upon a Time

Hi all!

Some big stuff has been happening... as some of you know, Brian, the boyfriend, moved to Oklahoma for training for the FAA. It has been a huge transition. Before he left, my family and I decided to plan a surprise for him...that is where my story...kinda sorta...starts....

So I planned this beautiful sunset cruise we have in Arizona called Desert Belle. If you are visiting, I strongly encourage going. They have an informational cruise that tells you all about Arizona. I have done that twice and loved it both times. This time we planned on the live music cruise. Wine...music...sun...scenery...who wouldn't LOVE that?

I LOATHE surprises. I can't stand them. I spoil secret Santa every year and will give up a surprise in a heart beat. It is not a quality I am proud of...just not my thing. This time I was so careful not to spoil the surprise. I was so proud of myself. I even told Brian how proud I was about not spoiling it. I wanted his day to be perfect.

To start the evening, my friend and I blind folded Brian and stuck him in the car. I kept asking him if he had any idea where we are...he always said no...then he started complaining about being car sick. I was no about to have him being car sick ruin the surprise I finally kept so I made him suck it up.

We get to the dock and my aunt, uncle, and four cousins are waiting. I unmask Brian and he is so surprised and excited they are all there. I give myself a silent high-five for pulling it off and we get in line to board.

My aunt manage to get us all reserved sitting up front with the music on the top of the boat. It was so pretty. The music was ahhh-mazing too! I bopped along happily to Jeordie's music just trying to keep a happy tone for the boyfriend. I knew he was going to start getting sad eventually to be leaving us all.

I noticed about half way through he seemed super sad and kept telling him it is okay and tried cheering him up. {Typical girlfriend duties.}

We had plan in advance for the musician to acknowledge that we were all there for Brian's career adventure and good bye party. This is where I think I blacked out and not from too much vino.

She calls Brian up to say thank you to us all for putting this all together. (Awwwwww) And he starts talking about me and how we have been together for over 9 years. ---Insert loud comment from the peanut gallery about how he should just "marry me already"----and thats when it happened.

He proposed! It was adorable, so thoughtful, and more than I could dream of.

He went to go hand over the microphone after I suffocated him with a hug. It wasn't until this woman took of her scarf that we realized his mother had flown in from Chicago at last minute to see the action too. Holy surprises. I thought that was it...

Then all of a sudden this man started taking photos of us....turns our he even hired a photographer to capture the moment. AH!

I couldn't thank the Desert Belle or the musician enough for making out day so special. She even played some songs for us after to celebrate with us.

Pure happiness doesn't give justice to the new chapter in out lives.

Desert Belle:
WEBSITE: www.dessertbelle.com
PHONE: (480) 984-2425

JORDIE:
WEBSITE: www.Jeordie.com

ABC Countdown

Today marks the first day of my ABC countdown with the kids.

What this means....there are only 26 days left in the school year! Oh. My. Goodness.

Each day is a lettered day starting with A. I schedule an activity for the END of the day for the students to earn with good behavior and focus in all other studies. I have done this for 3 years now and the kids have a blast with it.

It puts a positive spin on the typical "countdown" to summer and the teachers love seeing what letter we are working on too! ;)

A: Airplane contest day
B: Bubble gum blowing contest
C: Crazy hair day {Shock your teacher with crazy hair.}
D: Dunk the teacher day!
E: Eat with the teacher day
F: Friends Forever {Chose where to sit for the day.}
G: Game day {Centers are fun games like 'SORRY' and 'Apples to Apples'}
H: Hat day
I: Ice Cream day
J: Joke Day
K: Kindness day
L: Lollipop day
M:Music day {We listen to the students favorite songs while we work.}
N: No homework day
O: Orange juice breakfast
P: Play dough day
Q: Questionnaire day. {Students interview a person of their choice.}
R: Read aloud day {Students get to bring in a book to share with the class.}
S: Show & Tell {Students bring in a special object.}
T: 'Thank you!' Day {write a letter so someone who you are thankful for.}
U: Unusual Hair {Shock your teacher unusual socks!}
V: Visitor day {Invite your parent to each lunch with you.}
W:Write in your favorite color all day {I give special pens to the students}
X: Xcitement is building! Show your school pride today!
Y: Yearbooks {Students gather signatures from all of their friends}
Z:Zoom out of school after a classroom party

Tweak it to what your schools allows and post a letter on your door each day. You can get my letters and a planning sheet for FREE HERE! 

How do you celebrate a wonderful year?

The Happiness Project (Book Club)

Hi all!

It is that time again! I posted questions in this post. Respond to some or all of the questions in the comment box on this page.

This gives you all a chance to respond to one another also!

Questions:

1. The Happiness Project is filled with quotations. Was there one that resonated most with you?

2. Gretchen feels that finding happiness is is worth and not selfish. Do you agree?

3. Do you agree that clutter effects your happiness?

4. Did reading this book make you want to try one of her resolutions? Which one?

5. Gretchen says that everyone's Happiness Project with be different. How would yours be different?

6. What was the most valuable thing you learned from the Happiness Project?

Also, if you are a blogger, add the linky!

{Favorite Month} February...the month of love. :) I am a sucker for that month. 

{Favorite Moment} How simplistic her "ah-ha!" moment on the bus was in the very beginning. 

{Three Adjectives} Well explained....she did her research! Repetitive....sometimes I felt like I was rereading the same thing. and POSITIVE!...I love books that revolve around positivity. 

{I felt connected when}...she explained her need for gold stars...I did not realize I am the exact same way! 

March Currently

Hi all!

I am linking up with the amazing Farley over at Oh, Boy 4th Grade for this months currently! Click here to see what she is currently up to! I LOVE that she sets this up!

Currently I am....

{Listening to} Ed Sheeran Radio...ya, ya...I noticed I spelled his name wrong. I am obsessing over his CD. One of my fitness goals is that I get to download a new CD when I lose my first 5LBS. I am 1LB away from that! I decided I am getting his album when I hit the goal. :)

{Loving} WACKY DRESS DOWN DAY! Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

{Thinking} I have so much to teach this week! There is so much I want to squeeze in! Maybe it is the amount of coffee I had this morning, but I am ready to hit the ground running!

{Wanting} TPT inspiration...I have not made any products lately because I am lacking inspiration. :( I need something to spark an idea in order for me to feel like it is worth posting on TPT. What do you use for TPT inspiration?

{Needing} ...to get organized!! I bought my EC Life Planner...after obsessing over my teacher planner from there I bit the bullet and got my personal one. It is step one for "Project Organize". Next step...organize my grad school work...my kitchen...my my Jamberry workstation...oh the list will go on and on.

{Spring Break Plans} Daily dates with Netflix and the gym. :) What are you Netflixing this spring break?

26 things I learned by my 26th Birthday

I just recently celebrated my 26th birthday. It seems that every year I have this moment of panic for getting older. What have I done with my life? Now what? You mean I am close to 30 now?....typical quarter-century-crisis garbage. 

This made me want to make a list of things I have learned by my 26th birthday & how I am going to make this year worth it all. 

1. Wine makes me happy. Tequila makes me even happier. All in moderation...of course.
2. Take care of yourself. Working out matters. Sleeping matters.
3. Random acts of kindness are worth it. One morning at Target some little girl gave me a Target GC just as her R.A.K. It made my DAY! This sparked me wanting to do something for someone. What a huge impact something so small can have!
4. Ask for help. Asking for help at work, at home, or anywhere is OKAY! I am so stubborn. I know I am. I loathe asking for help. I had to learn to let some things go and just ask for it. Some times it is so silly like asking the Boyfriend to help me at home. Other times it is asking a coworker for help with a student.
5. Your work matters. Educator, waitress, cashier, doctor, computer analysis...what ever your do...your work matters.
6. Aromatherapy can change your day.
7. Start a memory book. I started a Project Life book. So many times I just upload my photos to FB and forget about them. I have stopped doing that as much and now I print them right away to add to my book. Project Life is super cute too! You should check them out. :)
8. Hug someone daily. I chose to hug my kitty and the Boyfriend every. single. day....intentionally.
9. Say good morning with a smile...even if you haven't gotten your coffee yet.
10. It is okay to not be married or have kids yet. (INSERT EYE ROLL)
11. Coffee makes me easier to deal with.
12. Forgive others.
13. Forgive yourself.
14. Travel. Live somewhere new.
15. Netflix binging is okay every once in a while. Key words: once in a while...
16. Social media can help you succeed. Social media can cause failure.
17. Save money. Why is this so hard?!
18. Naps and bubble baths are heaven...especially with bath bombs from Lush.
19. It is okay to get rid of friendships that are not healthy.
20. Call your parents daily, if not weekly.
21. Cards mean so much more. I try to send them out for birthdays and holidays. I also have a friend that sends me random cards that make her think of me. Happy mail makes me smile.
22. Getting lost in a book can be a fun Friday night.
23. Yoga really does work.
24. Ingredients in your food matter and spending money on GOOD food is justifiable. My grocery bill went from 30$ a week to $200 a trip, but I eat SO much better now and FEEL better too! It is amazing how happy it makes me.
25. Be grateful.
26. Don't take yourself so seriously.

Who knows what I will learn this year...but I know it will be a good one. :)

December Book Club: The One and Only

Hi all!

It is that time to discuss our book.

Discussion Questions:

Respond to questions in the comment section.

1. What is your first reaction to Shea and Coach's relationship? Lucy and Coach's relationship?

2. Could you relate to any aspect of Shea or Lucy's life?

3. Was Shea a good friend/significant other?

4. Was the title fitting?

5. What are your thoughts on the ending? and the rape?

Overall,  how did you feel about the book? Would you recommend it?

REMEMBER LADIES: Leave your vote/suggestion for the next vote below too! I will pick the new book January 4th to take us to January 31st.

(For those of you who have a blog...here is your linky)

Operation: Get Organized

Hi all! 

I hope everyone is enjoying their break! I decided today was going to be my movie marathon day. I slept in really late, so might as well continue my day with a whole-lotta-nothin'. 

One of my goals in 2015 is to become more organized. This inspired me to create a New Years freebie for anyone with the same goal. 

I knew some of my headings wouldn't fit everyone, so I made a blank one as well. Just open in PP or KeyNote, and edit! I have been loving anything gold lately, so the new 3AM teachers packet was perfect! 

I hope you all can find it helpful. Make sure to leave feedback. I LOVE reading feedback. :) 

Preview 

(CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD)

Happy 2015! :) 

A Few of my Favorite Things

Hi all!

I am linking up with Erica's Ed-Ventures for a few of my favorite things! I am excited to do this one because I love seeing how much a like some of us are!

Here it goes:

Target {Duh}

Target and TJ Maxx are literally right across the street from me. This leads to weekend walks to the wonderland and over spending... I love every minute of it.

Dunkin Donuts Coffee

Well really any coffee...but if I had to choose it would be Dunkin. I stop there on a weekly basis. And now they offer almond milk! :) 

Beauty Items: 

I LOVE Lush and exploring Sephora. If you have not tried Lush yet, you must! I recommend the bath bombs for a newbie. This store has changed what I use on a daily basis. They are vegan, vegetarian, home made, and nothing touches an animal. It is amazing how everything smells and is well worth a visit. 

Pinterest...No picture of explanation needed. :) 

Tone It Up: 

These girls changed my eating habits and love for working out. I love this community! 

I am keeping it short and sweet today! If you want to link up with Erica too for some fun, you can click here! 

Happy Festivus everyone! ;) 

I have a problem...

I'm I love pinning...I mean, what girl/teacher doesn't??!

I find myself pinning all of these awesome treats, school ideas, and crafts...yet I ONLY try the school related pins! Is anyone else like this?

So I decided...what else goes great with watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. reruns and drinking vino?...Crafting...DUH! Now I have a new obsession....Here are some of my new projects!

Snowman Canvas:

"A Penny A Day":

A Christmas wreath: 

Ornament painting:

Now I'm out of ideas of things to make! 

Needless to say, I'll be on Pinterest all Sunday again. 

Merry, merry everyone!

Dec Currently

Good morning everyone!


I am linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for this month's currently again! I love this link up. :)

Most of mine are pretty self explanatory....

{Listening}..to Pandora...I am kinda obsessed over T.Swifts new CD, so I turned that on while the kiddos were in music class. I forget how relaxing it can be to have music on while I work!

{Loving}..all of the decor! I am one of those people who wants to start decorating as soon as November hits. The boyfriend asked me not to until Thanksgiving was over, so on Friday I exploded with ornaments and tinsel in our apartment. (Thanks to Target...of course) I will share some of my crafts I made for the holiday season soon!

{Thinking...and KNOWING}..I need a new computer. My Mac is from 2007. Enough said.

{Wanting}...an intuos graphic pen...is this what you all use for creating clip art?...I am a newb, can you tell?!

{Needing}...to take back all of the amazing food I ate this weekend. I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I know I did! I had two of them...and man, my body is hating me this week for eating pie like it was my job. Everything was just sooooo yummy though!

{Giving}...I am trying to find a community bank for the kiddos and I to get involved with this season. My students are so sweet and always thinking of others. I think it would be a great way for us all to give back to the community. How do you give back in your classroom?

Until next time..
Merry, Merry everyone! xox