2 YEARS...

It is hard for me to believe that I have neglected my blog for 2 years. That is shameful. I decided on a whim today to type in the address of my blog to see if it was still...alive. Thank goodness it is still here and it is still as cute as ever. I gave it a facelift 2 years ago and then slowly got bogged down with all the other things that go on in life and the blog slowly became a "use to do." So, to catch up, we will do a  fast forward version of the past 2 years.  

After moving back home, we ended up living with my parents for 14 months while our beautiful dream home was being built. Yes, 14 months with the parents was not ideal, but it was worth the wait because we moved into our beautiful farmhouse in October of 2016. I taught 3rd grade the 2015-2016 school year and ended up very unhappy. It just wasn't the right fit for me.I was the departmentalized ELA teacher and had over 50 students who I was responsible for. Overwhelmed is an understatement. I enjoyed the school I was at, but unfortunately things did not work out for me in regards to being able to switch grade levels. I ended up interviewing and taking a kindergarten position at a different school. Everything works out for a reason because I absolutely love my new school. I taught kindergarten last year and it was one of my best years and classes that I have ever taught. It was as though my passion had been reignited and I, once again, enjoyed my job and teaching young children. The opportunity and change came at a crucial time in my teaching career, as I was very unhappy in my past situation. I am now gearing up for year 10 of teaching and I could not be more excited.  I have spent the summer thinking of new and improved ideas and can't wait to meet my new little ones. 

With the change of grade level (back from 3rd to kindergarten), I revamped my entire classroom theme. I decided to ditch the bird theme (as it is overdone these days anyways and I wanted a fresh start) and go with something that I absolutely love...something that I have adored since I was a little girl, which is a BUNNY theme. I can say I am the only person I know who has a bunny theme. I still have the adorable red and white polka dots as a complimentary theme, but bunnies are the main one. I have adorable vintage bunny posters, nameplates and bunting banners, not to mention bunny border and even a bunny behavior plan where they lose carrots out of their gardens!  Just being in my classroom makes me happy because it is filled with things I love--bunnies and little kindergarteners!

I am also on a new journey to health and wellness. I have changed my eating habits and drastically changed my exercise routine. I am trying to be the best me that I can be. Hopefully, I will keep up this blog and add to it throughout the coming weeks and get back into the groove of updating my life through this blog. 

*July Currently*

Listening

What have I done this summer BESIDES watch HGTV....hmmmmm....not a whole awful lot! I don't know if it's because we are currently building our new home, because I am completely lazy, or because I simply love home DIYs, but I love this channel! My favorite shows are Fixer Upper, Property Brothers, Househunters, Flip or Flop, Beachfront Bargain, Lake Life, I could go on and on and on and on! 99% of the time, my background/life soundtrack is HGTV!

Loving

In true bum style, my loving for this month is sleeping in until 10:00 every day! Yes...every. single. day. I justify this by thinking about my 5:30 A.M. wake up call that I have every other month of the school year! So do I feel guilty? NOT ONE BIT! Ahhhh! This is what I call "recharging" the batteries!

Thinking

Wow. As I type today's post it just gets better and better and lazier and lazier. Currently, I am listening to HGTV, loving sleeping 1/2 the day away and am currently thinking about what I'm going to eat for lunch. HA! Only other teachers can truly appreciate this. And I know y'all understand. So, I have no shame. A diet coke would be fabulous right about now......maybe some french fries, too? Hmmmm......my choices are so hard these days. 

Wanting

I am watching the time tick by for when my husband gets home from work! 5:00 can't come fast enough! We are packed up and ready to head to the beach for the 4th of July! He is in the best mood because it's his "vacation." It must be hard only getting a few days a year *sigh*. Either way, I am ready for some QT and to have a beachfront view! Hurry up 5:00!

Needing

So, I have in my brain that after this 4th of July week of vacation, I am really going to buckle down and start carving out a plan for what I'm doing next year. Anyone who follows me knows that I have some big changes in store for the coming year. I have taught kindergarten for the past 7 years and after my husband and I moved in May, I have a new job at a new school teaching 3rd grade. It is definitely going to be different! I am excited, however, I truly do not even know where to start. So, I really do need to buckle down and get a grip on this very new reality. Anyone who can share 3rd grade ideas, I will be forever grateful!

All Star

I love the theme that Farley chose for Currently this month! It's awesome and I can't wait to watch the USA kick butt in the final! I feel I am an All Star at seeing things in a positive light. I have always been a "glass 1/2 full" person and I tend to see the good in people and situations. I try at least! Optimism is always a good quality to have and I feel it really does make difficult decisions and situations a little bit easier to swallow or sort out!

If you're interested in linking up and sharing your Currently for July, head on over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade and share! The rules are below...super simple and fun! Just make sure you link up to your own Currently July post so others can see what you are up to! You can link up by clicking the hyperlink above or the icon below!

*Happy Bloggin!*

Five for Friday

Summer Binge

So, I have taken this whole "summer" thing to a whole new level. I have binge watched Orange is the New Black, HGTV, and  the DIY network. I have been so lazy that the couch has somehow become permanently attached to the rear of my yoga pants. Nutty bars have somehow been magically appearing in my little chubby hands and I have been sleeping in until after 9:00 every day! Oh, how I ADORE summer! Just a few shares of my favorite shows...if you haven't seen these and you're a lazy bum like I am, GET BUSY! OITNB and Breaking Bad are on Netflix, Botched is on E! and the rest are on HGTV! If you haven't watched OITNB or Breaking Bad and you enjoy something a little scandalous, they are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! But be warned...they are, indeed, scandalous!

                                                     

Crowning Glory

I actually did peel myself off of the couch a few days ago and went shopping! This can be dangerous because I haven't been shopping in a few weeks. I tore up Ulta and bought the most AMAZING shampoo. If you're like me, the little things excite you...like getting new shampoo.  You know how you try a new product and you're like, "I like...it works...I think it works...maybe it isn't working." Well, this is the ONLY line of products that I can say I have tried and I have absolutely LOVED. So, I must share it in an effort to fight the frizz war.  If you're like me and have curly hair, you struggle with the frizz. Gels leave my hair crunchy, lotions make it somewhat frizzy and feeling gross. My hair is very long and very thick and I can barely get a brush through it when I get out of the shower. This line eliminates frizz, DETANGLES, and sculpts natural curls. It is an absolute must have.  I bought the wash, rinse, and mousse. So far, so good!

Pinterest Practice

So, while watching all of those amazing shows, what is a girl to do? Blog, of course, or, if you're anything like me, pin on Pinterest like a wild woman! I love learning new hairdos and my big thing now is learning all the different kinds of braids--I had no idea there were so many! I have been practicing on my niece and here are three pictures of my efforts...one is a french braid tucked under on my niece, a dutch braid on my niece and the last is a waterfall braid on me (when my hair is straight)! Practice makes perfect! 

 

Cabinet Facelift 

My fourth share is a cute craft project that anyone can do to spruce up a door in their home. I did this craft with my mom at her condo in North Myrtle Beach. It was very dated and had lots of areas for improvement. In the kitchen there was a plain jane utility closet door. My mom purchased some chalkboard paint at Lowe's and some simple 1 inch trim that you would see around the baseboards or cabinets in a kitchen. She painted the trim white and my dad nailed it onto the door. After, we painted inside the trim with the chalkboard paint, creating a chalkboard on the actual wood of the door. She leaves it to me to decorate the board. I like to write little recipes on it or song lyrics! Below is the quote of the month, Zac Brown Band!

                                                      

Charleston Cheese Dip

I want my last share to be an amazing recipe that I love making for the 4th of July! It is so yummy and easy to make! I have been known to do a number on this dip! It is heated in the oven and it does contain mayo so I wouldn't recommend leaving it sitting out for hours...but honestly, it never lasts longer than 20 minutes in my house! Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my Five for Friday! To link up, head over to Doodlebugs Teaching and share some of the fun things you did this week! Happy sharing!

*Chirp Chirp*

Yumm-O

Polka-Dotted "Pie" One of the best parts of having summers off is honing my cooking skills (or lack thereof) and trying some new recipes! I want to share one of my absolute favorite recipes that is always a hit at my house. The hubby loves it and it is a great little casserole to take to any gathering. The best part...it is SUPER simple to do and involves very little brain power. If you can follow a recipe, you can do it! My kind of cooking! I was given this recipe at one of my bridal showers. My friends threw me a recipe shower and every person brought their favorite recipe! This one has become a staple at my house! Drumroll.....

Spaghetti Pie

8oz. box of spaghetti

1 lb. ground beef

1/4 tbs. salt 

1/4 tbs. pepper

Two 8oz. cans tomato sauce

1 1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup chopped green onion

1/4 cup cream cheese

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I like to use the block kind and shred it myself)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the spaghetti on the stove as usual. Drain and place in a 2 quart casserole dish coated with cooking spray.  Cook the hamburger meat in a skillet until it is no longer pink.  Drain. Stir in the salt and pepper. Stir in the tomato sauce into the ground beef.  Bring to a boil, reduce and simmer for 20 minutes to let the flavors blend. Combine sour cream, green onions, and cream cheese in a bowl--mix together. Spread this mixture over the cooked spaghetti that is in the casserole dish. Spread with a spatula. Top with the meat mixture from the stove. Spread with a spatula. Sprinkle with the shredded cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  Take the foil off and bake for an additional 5 minutes to make the cheese extra bubbly! It is seriously delish! 

*Five for Friday Linky Party!*

The most exciting start to my week was visiting my new school! I got to see my new classroom and I gathered up all of my materials so that I can learn the curriculum that my district uses for third grade. I still can not believe that I am going to be a third grade teacher! EEEK! I am partly excited/nervous/scared/anxious/curious. I definitely know that it will be completely different from kindergarten...which will be an adjustment for sure. I also know that I have never been one to turn down an adventure, so I am ready for it. I spent most of my day today revamping my classroom management system. After talking to a fellow teacher at the school and listening to her great ideas, I changed my system a little....it's still cute and still polka dots...and still birds...but it's a little bit more "grown up" (*tear) than my old one. It's very similar to several that I have found on Pinterest. I, of course, had to create my own.

Basically, the kiddos start on blue and can move up to the birdhouse or they can move down. Let's hope we do a lot more moving up! 

My husband and I are thrilled about signing the contract on our new build! We picked out a house plan, ordered the blueprints and have met with he contractor and signed a contract! We couldn't be more excited! In the meantime, we are living with my parents (oh, boy) and counting down the days...which will be a little more than we planned for. Our builder said it will take around eight months! Let's hope we can stand it for that long! Here is a picture of what our finished home will look like:

Having recently moved back home from one of my favorite cities, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hurt that I've felt this week watching the coverage from Charleston. My heart aches for the families and friends of the victims and I will never understand the hatred that one person can have towards others. I'm glad I can't understand it, because to me, it is unfathomable and completely senseless. I found this beautiful picture and although it doesn't heal the hurt, it does remind me of the beautiful city I just left and of the strong community that remains there. 

With summer finally here, I have been lucky enough to have gone to the beach (North Myrtle) and have been able to soak up some rays. I did happen to get sunburnt, but who can complain about that when this was my view? The clouds look like cotton don't they?

My last Five for Friday share is a picture of my fur baby, Oliver. He is adjusting somewhat well to the move, but he has gotten himself into trouble lately. Just two days ago I was horrified to see that he peed (yes, peed) on the blueprints to our new house (the one you saw in #2). He is a spiteful little turd sometimes. Any time I leave him home and go somewhere with my mom or husband he gets so jealous. Keep in mind that he is completely potty-trained. He does it out of spite. I could create an entire list of things he has peed on out of jealousy...in fact, I think I will:

1.) My husband's couch when he moved into our first house after we got married.

2.) My husband's boxer shorts after he moved in.

3.) My favorite Anthropologie dish towel that he pulled off the oven handle and peed on when I left him to get my hair done one day after school. 

4.) My parent's golden retriever's food bowls.

5.) My parent's kitchen table one night when Ryan and I went on a date.

6.) My husband's side of the bed after he returned from a business trip and was no longer allowed to sleep with mommy.

7.) Our $800.00 house plans---that coincidentally were sitting in the middle of my parent's kitchen table. He did this after my parents and I left to go for ice cream one night after dinner. He is so bad. 

Can you believe this dog is so rotten?

If he weren't so damn cute and love me so much, we might have a problem. He is the most spoiled Yorkie that has walked the earth.

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed my Five for Friday. I didn't have many creative things to share, just a few things near and dear to me at the moment. If you want, share a few comments and don't forget to follow me! Thanks for reading and don't forget to LINK UP to the party. You can get there by clicking here or clicking the banner at the top: Five for Friday Linky Party!

*Chirp, Chirp!*

*Big Changes*

To say my blog has taken a "backseat" is a bit of an understatement.   Unknowingly, 2015 has brought about some big changes for me and my husband, Ryan. In October he accepted a position 3 hours from Charleston in our hometown of Cheraw, South Carolina. Deciding to leave the Holy City was a hard choice to make, but being close to family and friends has been wonderful. 

With the big move came some even bigger changes for me. I have taught kindergarten for the past 7 years. At my school I made lifelong friendships with my fellow teachers and had the pleasure of being with the sweetest children I have ever met. Leaving all of those people behind was, by far, the most difficult part. Saying goodbye is never easy and even thinking about searching for another job made me shudder. Luckily for me, I accepted a position at a great little school and I am excited for a new adventure---in 3rd grade (eek!). We shall see how it goes... :) At least now I have my mom close by to help me decorate my classroom! Unbeknownst to her....

Ryan and I are in the process of building another house in a sweet little neighborhood in Cheraw. We chose a floor plan and recently signed a contract with a local builder to get it started. I am excited for this new phase in our lives!

November Currently

And Currently in Polka Dot Land...

Listening

So...currently, I am listening to the television as background noise. I have a sincere affinity for Netflix, in fact, I don't know why we even pay for cable. I recently finished up Breaking Bad, which led to an HGTV binge of Flea Market Flip. After just one week of incessant watching and dreaming ("Hey, I can make that...mmmm, nah, probably not"), I am now hooked on Restaurant Impossible with Robert Irvine. Why you ask? Am I a great cook? Nope. Not at all. Do I want to own a restaurant? Nope. Do I like to eat? Ding! Ding!  All jokes aside, this show really is surprisingly great!

Loving

How do I pick one thing? I do, indeed, have so many things to love! I am, after all, a very lucky girl. But right now, in the steamy mist of Charleston humidity, we in the lowcountry have been blessed by some sort of anomale-esque southern blizzard! How does the weather go from pushing 90 degrees to 30? I'll never know, but I will say, I am loving the cool snap. It was 37 degrees on the way to school this morning! I wore a scarf...A SCARF! And leggings, to boot! It was wonderful...all elastic wonderfulness.

Thinking

So, I have been thinking since this morning..."I get to sleep in tomorrow!" Happiness for teachers is so simple and borderline pathetic. Does anyone else wake up and the first thing you think of is a glimmer of excitement envisioning yourself settling in for that night's sleep? I guess this is warranted considering I get up at an entirely inhumane hour.Phew...glad I'm not the only one. Tomorrow is election day, which means no school! Which means sleeping in past 5:30. Which means awesome-sauce. 

Wanting

With this cool snap that has been a welcome visitor here in Summerville, I was pretty psyched to turn the heat on for a change. Well, as luck would have it...no such luck for me. Our unit won't turn on! Which means (lucky me) I get to wait for the AC guy to come and check it tomorrow. Why can't a girl just have a normal day off? We are hoping it won't cost an arm and a leg and that it is fixable. We have had so many issues with our HVAC system since we built this house that it has reached a comical level. 

Needing

Does anyone else hate going to the grocery store? I know I do. But, I am in desperate need of a trip to Publix. The fridge is puny. The pantry has nothing of substance. Perhaps on my day off tomorrow I could go.....or perhaps I could have an all day Restaurant Impossible marathon Hmmmmm....decisions, decisions. I'm pretty sure the decision has already been made...

Reading

I am so into my new book...well, new to me book, Gone Girl. I saw the movie when it first came out and loved it. I decided the book was worth a try and got it on my nook. I'm hooked. *(teacher moment: book, nook, hook...THEY RHYME!) Dare I say the book is better than the movie? It's a close call for sure. Pretty sure Ben Affleck wins out, but the book is certainly a very close second.

Want to share your currently edition for November? Head on over to Farley's and LINK UP ALREADY! Click below :)

Linky parties are the best, aren't they?

Keep chirping, friends!