Fall is here?

So believe it or not, we do get a fall up here in North Florida. But fall here means a few different things:

• When the breeze blows, it's actually cool! Not a hot breeze, like someone just opened an oven. 
• It's coolish in the morning. I.e., I don't walk out of my house and go UGH. 
• The high is in the low 80s. It feels amazing after a summer full of 90s!
• I can wear jeans and watch my class at recess without dying of sweat. 
• You can actually use the outside patios at restaurants and enjoy good conversation, like J and I did with my friend Jessica and my brother this past weekend. 
• Or you can participate in a heart walk and not pass out from heat exhaustion. 

Basically, you know when fall is here, not because it's actually cool enough to wear a jacket or a scarf (still too warm for that!) but because it's just not blistering hot day in and day out! Yay for Florida fall! (Even though, I'm ridiculously jealous of each and every one of you who are rocking the scarves and boots!)

What's fall like where you're at?

Favorite part?

High Five for Friday... finally!

H54F has ALWAYS been one of my favorite link ups, mostly because I think it's a really good idea to look back on your week and find those five things that made you actually like this week!

So here are my five things I'm loving about this week:

My new work shoes!

Payless

These shoes are the MOST comfortable pair I've ever owned. I leave work in the afternoons and my feet actually feel good. Best part? They are from Payless, so they won't break the bank! I'm thinking about buying the black and the silver ones too!

Buffalo Chicken Dip from Publix... heaven in a bowl! 

If you don't know what Publix is, I'm sorry. You're missing out!

J bought me flowers on Tuesday to put in my special vase. 

I REALLY like my class this year. The do normal first grade things like talk way TOO much and ask too many questions but overall so different from last year. 

It's payday! Woot, woot!

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! As always, linking up with Lauren!

Teaching

I've said it before and I'll say it again... teaching is my passion. 

I love when I see a kid finally get a concept. I love when a kid is excited about learning. I love when I get hugs or high fives or even just hellos from former students. I don't do this to get some kind of kudos. I do it because it's fun and it's important.

So to find out I'm a finalist for my school's Teacher of the Year? It's the icing on the cake. Especially when the other two nominees are fantastic teachers themselves. Teachers that I know share my feelings about teaching. Teachers that truly care about their students.

Would I be lying if I said I'd be a tiny bit disappointed if I didn't win? Yes. I think that's a natural and honest reaction. But I finally get why people say they feel honored to be nominated. It really IS an honor. Especially when you are in excellent company.

Wish me luck friends!

Lazy Sundays

Morning!

As I sit here, finishing up my math plans, I'm thinking ahead to what I want to do with the rest of my day. J and I are heading to my parents' house later this afternoon to watch the Jaguars ::hopefully:: win! (Ah, who am I kidding, I'm just hoping that it's not a blow out!)

Here are my thoughts:

The house is pretty clean because we made sure it was nice and ready for my trunk show that I had yesterday. So no need to spend the day doing that.

I know I need to meal plan. Last week was the first time we didn't and dinner time was kind of hectic! But the Publix near my house is always PACKED! It's like the gathering place for everyone and anyone. 

Hit up the mall? Eh, don't really need anything and I bought two cute and comfy shoes from Payless. Yep, cute AND comfy, can you believe it????

J and I commented yesterday that our lives are probably boring. But I've been loving just sitting next to him, doing nothing and laughing at our random jokes. Maybe that's what will happen the rest of today!

How do you spend a lazy Sunday? Are you and your significant other "boring'? Have a wonderful day everyone!

Wedding Wednesday: Ceremony

Last week (maybe the week before, my weeks are smushing together!) I posted my getting ready and portraits photos from my wedding. This week I am very excited to share my ceremony ones, because I think they reflect just how beautiful the day was and how I really got exactly what I had imagined for my wedding! A gorgeous ceremony in my childhood church surrounded by my favorite colors and our family and friends! So here we go!

Love this shot of the moms!

My girls:

I was told she did this her entire walk down the aisle!

Best part of the ceremony? The end where my little flower girl flower bombed the aisle because she forgot to throw the petals!

My dad and I have a special relationship. We butt heads A LOT because we are the exact same person! So I was excited to have him wait until our walk to see e for the first time. 

Jimmy sees us for the first time. 

Wasn't sure if he would tear up since he saw me earlier but he did! Aww!

Helping me up because my dress was so frilly I was scared I'd trip!

So blessed that my grandma was able to do a reading for the ceremony. She's a devout Catholic so I knew it meant a lot to her!

So the coordinator told us the priest would tell the girls and guys when to come up to the altar. Well.... he DIDN'T so this would be me telling them to come up!

Our Vows

HUSBAND AND WIFE!

 One big happy family!

 My brother would be my favorite part of this picture. 

Focus on the flower girl's face in these next three! Cracks me up every time!

<3

Sorry for the flow of photos, but it's just too hard to decide which ones to share! I know I'm like every other bride out there but I can't help but keep staring at all of these photos with a smile so big it almost hurts. 

Linking up with Shanna and Kristyn!

PS. I will always remember today and look back and think about exactly where I was on that Tuesday morning. It gives me goosebumps every year when I look at my class and realize they weren't even born yet! Grateful that I live in country where I can celebrate my marriage and continue living my life without living in fear. 

School's been back for a bit...

School's been back for  a bit now. Like I think this is day 16? so that means this would be the beginning of week four?

My school, through no one's fault, struggled last year and is considered to be one of the lowest 100 in the state. Which means we stay later for one hour. So now I have to change my game my plan. . Like I cannot be spending a crazy amount of off time at work or doing things that deal with work! So here are my goals for this week:

• Write my morning message the night before. Every morning I open my day with my class with a letter. I need to start doing this the night before, because it just kills time in the morning. 
• Do not stay past five unless it's a meeting or a day that I am lesson planning. I live MUCH closer to school now and because of this I've been making excuses for why I can stay late.
• Have at least two nights this week, where I do not talk about work at home. I can hog the conversation SO much when it comes to school, so I need to keep that in check. 

Teaching is my passion but I want to balance work with life. A teacher's to do list is NEVER ending and I don't want to start to hate my job and not be able to relax at home. I slept horribly last night and I want to sleep well tonight. Here's to hoping I make my goals for the week!

How do you do it? How do you keep work and life balanced?

Jaguars here we go again!

So a couple of positives today:

• J and I went out yesterday and bought some fun fall decor for our house. Granted it's still a bajillion degrees outside but at least it looks like FALL! (No pictures, because I left my camera at work and my phone is overheating like no one's business!)
• J's parents came down for the Jaguar game. His mom loved our place and it was nice to get to spend time with them.
• FOOTBALL SEASON IS OFFICIALLY UNDER WAY! But this leads to the big negative of the day:

THE JAGUARS GOT BLOWN OUT 28-2 BY THE CHIEFS! ARGH!

Yea that would be how all of us felt... except ten times worse!

So yea there's that. Avery, I'm sure the Lawyer was pumped that his Chiefs won, but I am not. I had low expectations going into the game, but not so low that I didn't think they'd never make it past the 50 yard line! 

Yea, I know right? Oh well! It was still a blast to be at the game and my brother and I sit around much better people this season so there is that!

No where to go but up right????

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!!!

Focus on me...

I am sure we've all heard about The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. In it she lays out how she came up with her commandments to happiness. I read awhile ago, but I receive her emails and today's was all about reminding yourself that YOU are the only person you have the ability to change.

I need to remember this and I need to PRACTICE this. Too many times this week, especially at work, I've caught myself rehashing the same topic over over. Why does so and so ALWAYS do that? Why doesn't she listen? Why can't SHE change? And I need to stop.

The only person who's attitude I have control over is ME. So I'm going to act the way that I want to feel. I want to feel positive towards those who may not act the same as me. Those who may not put as much effort as me.

It's going to be hard. But darn it! I am going to try! Choosing happiness is ALWAYS harder than choosing negativity. Weird how it works, but it is SO true.

Any suggestions? Have you ever felt this way?