2013

So, when did tomorrow end up being December 31st? Man  I lose track of the days so badly during this time of the year! I blame it on not having to go back to work until next Monday.

So 2013 was a pretty FANTASTIC year for me. I'm normally not the most optimistic of people, but as I look back, I really have no reason to complain about anything that happened this year. So let's get to it!

Obviously, so much of my favorites this year are going to be wedding related. Like the fact that I had oe of the best nights ever at my bachelorette party! Thanks to these wonderful ladies!

I got married. And my wedding was everything I could ever imagine it being and more! Full of love, laughter and being surrounded by my family friends. It still blows my mind that I had a wedding like that!

My school nominated me for Teacher of the Year. I didn't win, but still awesome to be thought of. I'm at the point of my career where I feel I deserve to get recognition. It takes time and I'm glad I had to work for it! Oh and my class is by far the cutest one I've had in a really long time!

It's been fun getting to have my own place with J. I know my habits drive him crazy, but I do love our little home! Here's to hoping we find our permanent one in 2014!

J and I had a wonderful first Christmas together. I think we did a good job of balancing family and having some time to ourselves. Plus between the two of us and our families, we got spoiled this year!

Like I said, even though 2013 wasn't perfect, I cannot complain. It wouldn't be right or fair. So here's to hoping 2014 is just as good!

First Christmas

I hope that you had a Merry Christmas yesterday (or a fun, relaxing day if you don't celebrate!)

J and I spent the earlier part of the week until Christmas Eve night at his parents' house outside of Savannah. Always so relaxing when we go up there.  His parents are the best and let us open presents on Christmas Eve. His mother got me the prettiest shirts from Loft and so many other things! It was fun to see his mom's reaction to her gift, a smaller parent version of our wedding album! I'm pretty blessed to have the in-laws that I have!

Christmas Eve we made our way back to Jacksonville, to stop at my parents' house. My favorite Christmas tradition has to be our pjs. My mom gets us new ones every year and in recent years has been getting the girls matching ones too!

I would be lying if I said it wasn't a bit odd to wake up Christmas morning with J, but it was so much fun! (I wish I took pictures, but we were just too into gift giving to do that!) He loved my gifts to him (pretty sure the electric toothbrush was his favorite... he's all about the dental hygiene!) but I hit the money on the clothes and the yummy pistachios he later found in his stocking.

I think my favorite presents from J were the Michael Kors watch (finally!) and he surprised with a Pandora bracelet. My first two charms are a stack of books and cute little kitty. He's such a thoughtful guy.

Around 11 we headed to my parents' house in our PJS! I texted my mom if she minded, and she said no. SCORE! Made it that more fun to open presents in your pjs. Love this picture that my uncle took:

Not sure what's better, the matching pjs, my expression or my brother's! We got some really thoughtful gifts from my parents and my mother loved the parent album we gave her, too.

After my parents' house we stopped at our friends' house. J played XBOXone with her husband and I learned how to make this bracelet on a Rainbow Loom!

Can I just say... I kind wish I had my own rainbow loom??? Completely understand why kids are obsessed with it. Plus it's nice that one of the most popular toys out there right now is more crafty than techy.

J and I ended the night back at home where I made jalapeno poppers, bang bang shrimp and a bruschetta cheese ball.

YUM!

All in all, a pretty perfect first Christmas for J and I. :)

Five For Friday... Christmas Break edition!

My Friday was technically Wednesday, which was the last day of school before break. To say that the kiddos were excited... that would be an understatement! Even my sweet little darlings were acting like complete hot messes!

But break is here and I'm about to head out to breakfast with one of my best friends, so let's recap my top five this week, shall we?

Over the weekend, J and I FINALLY stopped into this yummy popcorn store. Each one of my popcorn pieces was like eating a yummy orange lollipop. I have to kill time today, so I may be returning to try another fun flavor!

As is tradition (and like a thousand other schools out there!) first grade had our Polar Express day on Wednesday. The kids wore their jammies and so did their adults! I adore my team. We are simply the best!!!

J surprised my students by coming and reading to them. It was really cute how enthralled they were by him. Plus he brought them coloring books, which made them love him even more!



Pretty true. Especially when it's 18 days long this year!!!

I know that's only four, but it was a pretty short week for me. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with Lauren!

5 Months...

So just sitting here on my lunch break, chowing down on the yummy Chick Fil A J brought me for lunch (thanks J) thinking about how blessed I am.

I know bloggers only write about the good stuff (well at least a lot of them do!) and I don't want to do that, but at the same time I realize how blessed I really am. I have a job that I'm good at, a class that is pretty fantastic, and a really great husband.

J and I have been married five months today and while in the grand scheme of things that's not long, it's been a fun rollercoaster ride. I thought I knew him pretty well before July 12 but now I know him even more. We've been learning and growing with each other and that's just awesome. Like how I left on the oven after baking my awesome blueberry loaf last night (oops.) I would have gotten ridiculously annoyed at him, but I'm grateful that he didn't act that way towards me. :)

I'm counting down the days to Christmas Break (4 school days in case anyone was wondering!) and I'm getting SUPER pumped for our first Christmas together. So here's to many, many, MANY more months of learning and growing and having fun!

IT'S FRIDAY!

SCORE! Thank goodness it's Friday. It was a short week, and I just had a mini-break, but I am starting the countdown to Winter Break (FYI, 8 days!) Overall, this was a busy and short week, so let's get to it!

Absolutely loving how fun and cheery my house is when I walk in. I have a few more things I want to add (like some cute printables I found!) but it's pretty perfect to me!

I received this good news this week! My project on Donor's Choose was funded! If you haven't heard about Donor's Choose, it's this amazing website where you can write requests for classroom needs and people can donate to your cause. If you've never checked it out, please do!

My students and I had a wonderful time on our field trip yesterday! We went and saw a condensed version of the Nutcracker. There were a few head scratching moments (like, pretty sure there weren't any drunken guests at the party and how could you leave out Trepak?) but overall my classed LOVED it and they looked adorable all dressed up!

Last night I attended what was definitely one of the MOST exciting Jaguar games EVER! The boys pulled out a big win and I barely have a voice this morning. The Jaguars currently own the longest win streak in the AFC! LOVE IT!

Tonight is my holiday party for work and right after J and I are heading up to Savannah for the weekend. Should be a good time!

Happy Friday! As always, linking up with Lauren for H54F!

Thankful for a lot...

So obviously, yesterday was Thanksgiving. And just like everyone else, I had a lot to be thankful for. It was a wonderful, relaxing day spent with the people I care the most about. So my 5 for Friday is going to revolve around yesterday, even though there were a few other bright spots in my week like first grade pulling off very fun and successful Thanksgiving centers, finishing my Christmas shopping while out and about with my best friend on Wednesday, and oh just the fact that I have 6 glorious days off from school??

1. Our first Thanksgiving photo that I made my mom take. I felt really pretty yesterday and I love how the picture came out! I'm uber thankful for J and feel pretty blessed to call him my husband.

2+3. I contributed not one but TWO very yummy things to my family's Thanksgiving dinner: Boston Creme Pie Poke Cake (um divine!) and Broccoli Blue Cheese Casserole (which everyone agreed was delicious!) It's fun showing my family I do know how to cook.

4. Speaking of yummy food, my mom and dad really outdid themselves this year. Lunch was AMAZING and I'm thankful that my parents are such amazing cooks!

5. J and I decided NOT to head out for shopping. So we came home, changed into our comfy and WARM clothes. We refuse to turn on the heat just yet!

So two thumbs up for an awesome Thanksgiving, and I can't wait until tonight where we will decorate our Christmas tree!

What was the yummiest thing you ate yesterday?
Did you go shopping and find any good deals?
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

As always, linking up with Lauren!

Little bit of sunshine...

Let's face it... the school year comes and my blogging goes out the window. I don't like it, but that's how it happens. Which stinks, because I really do have some fun things to blog about.... like the time J and I couldn't decide what to do for dinner so we decided to each get our own take-out meal! (Everyone wins, right??!) Or how awesomely hilarious (yes I know that's not right but I do not care) my class is this year.

So when I saw I got nominated for the Sunshine Award by Lourdes over at Love is Life, I knew I had to do it. So even though I am a bit late, and even though I'm not going to nominate other people (at least not at the moment) here are my answers to her questions!

1. Growing up, which parent were you the closest to? Did this change at any time?
My mom. And no that hasn't changed. My dad and I are the EXACT same person so we tended to butt heads a lot growing up. Took me a while to learn how to accept and interact with him. But my mom and I have always been close. Which is why I don't always get it when people are not close to their moms. 

2. Do you believe in "Love at first sight?" Do you think it happens?
No. I believe in attraction at first sight. I used to believe in love at first sight but J changed all that. Love and affection is something that definitely has to grow and be tended to. And it's amazing what happens when that moment finally hits and love starts to bloom. That reasoning is one of the reasons that J and I chose "I See the Light" for our first dance. 

Seriously, tears everytime!

3. What period of history is your favorite? Why?
WWII. It just encompasses so many different aspects of history and it was SUCH a pivotal moment in history. Doesn't really matter which part of it, I love reading about all of it. So many of my papers in high school revolved around World War 2. I just loved learning about it. 

4. If you could change one thing about your appearance what would it be? 
I'm kinda over my acne and acne scars. I just finished reading a book that has an intriguing plan so I'm gonna give that a shot. It's just annoying to still be dealing with it!

5. What is your favorite fast food place?
Chick Fil A. I barely eat it anymore but it's still my favorite! Mmmm chicken nuggets, waffle fries and a fruit punch! YUM!

6. If you could live in any country, where would you live? If it isn't the country you currently live in, why did you choose another country?
England. Or anywhere in Europe really. Just to have a different experience. 

7. How many kids do you want to have? Boys? Girls? 
No more than 2. A boy and a girl preferably. 

8. Can you do a push up?***
 Yes I can. I worked out with a trainer off and on for about a year and he really helped my upper body strength. I used to be able to do a few in a row...now I'd probably die. 

9. Who is the most influential person in your life? How have they influenced you?
My mom. She's just the most amazing person, and I've never met anyone who didn't like her. She always has a positive caring spirit no matter who she is around or what she has gone through. I try as much as possible to be like her. 

10. I nominated you because I love your blog. Why did you start blogging? Has your motivation for blogging changed as time goes on?
Last summer I was bored and decided I used to have a Livejournal so why not try another blog. Never knew I'd find this world! My motivation has died since then, but I still like to maintain it. I need to stop reading blogs on my iPhone so that way I can actually comment!

What would your answers to these questions be? Anything like mine???