Octoberfeast is almost over, sadly . . .

 Seriously, my favorite month hands down. Not just because my birthday is smack dab in the middle followed by my grandmother, but it's the beginning of fall. We have a guaranteed school holiday (now just for the kids, but we just need a break from each other at this point), tights, sweaters and men with beards are becoming a daily sight AND I have had soup/chili for the last three days straight.

 It has been a great month with good things, reuniting with old friends, spending more time with friends, eating outside in the crisp air and wearing high socks with my chucks.

Here's to hoping everyone had a wonderful October, visited a few pumpkin patches and head a good bowl of chili.



Cause honestly to some baseball season is the only season.



Peek Into My World

So I just read somewhere that Pinterest and Tumblr work great for high-stress people because it gives them outlets to that stress and also helps them visualize goals in an organized manner. The source was Cosmo Magazine, but I'm not complaining just happy someone understands my addiction.

Anyways, I spend so much more time there than here I figured I'd give you a peek into my other life . . . please don't judge or do, I probably would. Heads up I do not have a Wedding Obsession, yet.

One of my favorite boards has over 288 pins and I named it " Do It Like a Lady". The board has only pictures of women who have made me think at least once in my life and I definitely admire, along with women whose whole personality seems to come through in the photos even though I have no clue who they are. There are only a few photos that feature color, the majority are in black and white and for some reason I think that just makes the board even better. 

Below are a few of my favorites, so hard to choose. Click here if you'd like to take a tour of the entire board.

Every little girls big sister who we will always look up too.



Babs doing her thing.

Cher. Enough said.



The original quirky Lady.



She was on her way to play a baseball game with some boys she bribed with ice cream. She beat them into the dust. Such a Lady.



 "People always ask me, You have so much confidence. Where did that come from? It comes from me. One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl; It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see. Your body is your temple, it's your home, and you must decorate it." Miss Gabourey



Wasn't she just something



This is an obsession and love greater than.



The visual representation of my spirit



Sophisticated Lady



Why I love RocknRoll

The lady whose show raised me to be the independent gal I am today.

Let Me Check My Calendar

So interesting fact about me, I am now a year older than I was the last time I blogged. Just older, not wiser. I had an amazing weekend with my family, I mean I just hate to say goodbye, but I love to hug them hello. It was a great weekend, I was able to do all that I planned except two things (stop by an old friends classroom and catch up with the roommie from the mission trip), but those are on my to do list for the next visit.



Wicked Witch now teaches 8th graders as a day job. Some would say still working with monkeys, but I'd disagree.



I will say I do see some changes from last year to this year as a person, but what do can you expect. I'm no longer fresh out of college where going to class only happened if it was convenient and I definitely logged more hours in Barnes and Nobles than I did on my transcript. Let's not even talk about the social life. While I still spend plenty of time in B&N and spend quality time with those I care about I also spend plenty of time working my tale ( English Pun) end off at a job I hold dear. I've also started thinking where will this love lead me and for some reason I'm surprised, but why baffles me because it makes so much sense. Tonight and tomorrow night I'm meeting with folks to figure out plans. I have no intentions on rushing anything and definitely believe in a little outline plan- not a detailed plan because those never workout, but a some goals.

I'm excited, I'm excited for so many things I could burst, but instead my body just gets overworked in a little amount of time and I end up passing out- like I did yesterday on the bus to our game ( First B team win and they earned it!) and like I'm about to do right now.

 Good night, I pray you have some excitement, love or just joy in you life to look forward to, it may not be that evident right here in this moment, but just take a look around some corners and I'm sure you'll find it waiting for you.

Moving Things, Doing Thangs

I just performed a huge teacher first, I mean the whole entire time I kept thinking, " Someone is about to figure out I'm pretty green and shut this down real quick." No one did though, and not only did I receive compliments for this great milestone, but I'm pretty sure there will be more. More what you ask. An end of the six weeks Write-In!!!

 Seriously, our Reading Literacy teacher handed me a print out from another explaining how every Friday all their 8th graders join them in the library for a write-in the entire period. I took that idea and turned it into a timed writing that has the students physically walk through the writing process. It was great because the kids finally saw what is needed to complete a detailed essay that answers the prompt with grammatically correct sentences and great diction. While at the same time I was able to see where they struggle in the writing process, what they don't understand about outlining and the fact that plot has not been mastered yet by the majority of my angels in disguise.

Next step, walk them through , step by step the process using the same prompt, but our class essay as a guide. Then they'll compare/contrast theirs to ours. They'll also have a partner grade the essay using the STAAR Rubric and we'll Sentence Trash on the big board. What is Sentence Trashing you say, welp, you just wait and see.

As far as life I've kind of been a roller coaster. First there's extreme joy of celebrating my birthday this upcoming weekend, hello family and friends I have missed dearly and cannot wait to hug! Then there's the rock in my stomach over reconnecting with a guy friend who I've spent the last almost six years trying to get over- I'll blame the time period on lack of decent prospects and not the fact that he's just THAT great of a guy.  Not to mention my parents have caught a second wind in this, " When will our girl settle down" speech. News flash guys, the only meal your girl has cooked in the last two years is soup . . .the thought of cooking eggs makes me no longer hungry, so doubt I'm about turn into "Holly Homemaker" anytime soon. NOW , back to birthday excitement and family hang time, seriously cannot wait!

Talk about taking the plunge

What the Kids Say: Starting the Year Off with a Laugh

Me: Okay so I know who to grab your folders from tell me who you had last year?
Male Student: I had -, and she was a horrible teacher.
Me: You know we're friends right?
Male Student: Well, I guess we'll just call today opposite day.

Female Student: Miss if I don't have anymore room left on my paper should I get another piece of paper?

Me: Someone go ahead and answer that for her.

Male Student: Welp common sense would tell you yes, since you can't write anythnig else on that piece. Duh!

Me: Next time let's tell her in a nicer way, hmmm.

Male Student: Common sense is not nice, Miss.

Male Student: Miss, I just feel like your Attention Grabber is not my style. I want more of my style, my personality, but I don't know if you can handle it.

Me: Being as I handle your personality every single day during 5th period, I think I can handle it in a paper.

Male Student: Miss you know you like my personality, you know it, but don't worry I won't tell anyone. I know it would ruin your reputation.

Me: Please give me an example of "could", "would" and "should".

 Male Student ( referring to his best friend in class): He should have caught the football, so that we could have won the game! Just one catch and we would have won!

Hope these laughs get you through the last few days of the week. No worries, I have some pretty funny ladies too, you'll be hearing from them next time.

I WORKED OUT!

Yes all caps because, it's been just that long. Seriously, I worked out and hardcore at that. I did not go easy on myself and will definitely be sore tomorrow morning, but I'm already excited to workout again tomorrow.

Everyday I literally ( true definition) walk by a very nicely equipped gym in the athletic hallway I coach in and I finally used it for some good. I stayed to watch the 8th graders who I coached last year play since my 7th graders did not have a game and at some point I just decided, "Okay it's time to go workout" and I did.

The whole time players and a few student fans were walking by and I absolutely hate the idea of people watching me workout, I'm no Misti Treanor ( because I probably have her name wrong, I'm referencing the Olympic Beach Volleyball winner). I just kept telling myself, "It's okay I'm setting a good example of how to loose weight and be healthy about my body". I'm pretty sure I repeated that phrase about 20 times. But who cares because I worked out!

Ha, Gotcha Ya!

So if you thought that I was actually going to write down my daily schedule for everyday of the week - in detail, you have more faith in myself than I do and I thank you for that. Maybe one day I'll be on that level.

My days are busy, I know that and I know that school plays a huge role in my life because it can, I have no family in my town, no boyfriend, no pets, not even a plant. So school being the center of my world right now is not a horrible thing, it's when people who know nothing about what I do belittle and snipe at my career choice and profession that everyone starts simplifing my schedule and turning it into something it is not.

 With that said I did say I would tell you about it, so I'll throw out some highlights.

Wimpy Wednesday
I gave up, went home and watched seven episodes of the television show New Girl, I'm not a fan of Zoey D. , but those boys are hilarious. I did not clean like I should have for my friend coming into town the next day, I do not regret the decision.

Too Cool Thursday
I jetted from school right after duty, kicked the kids out and keep on moving because I had Educators Night in the Cultural District to attend. It started at four ( when all middle school teachers in my town are still in school, great time choice guys) so I was unable to catch all of the museums I wanted to, but all the swag I was able to grab at the ones I did attend was great.
I could not help, but think " This is what it's like for those "Young Professionals" who do happy hour and speciel events after work in places with great lighting and waitstaff involved. This was way better though, I can speak from experience because the one time I attended one I kept thinking, " These people are boring, you can tell they sit behind a desk and interact on a computer, not with over 100 brewing minds". I kid, I jest. Some of them we're interesting, but not as interesting as the wonderful art I saw, the interesting stories I learned and the funny ones some fellow teachers shared.

Freaky Friday
I did not teach, just give directions today. My friend was a guest speaker and the students had to write a response essay over her occupation topic. It was lovely, I acheived so many "To Do" items AND started planning a wonderful field trip for my English I students. Unfortunately 5th period was not welcoming to her when I was not in the classroom during passing period, but she did not inform me of this until later that evening. I made a phone call Saturday morning and after Monday I'm sure there will be a few more voodoo dolls in the world who look a little like me.

The Weekend
I purposefully did not plan on doing anything school related this weekend. My "B" team does not have a game Monday so I have before school and after school time to work in the room, I'm giddy like a three year old set free at the park.

I hope all enjoy their week, I will check back in and finally, we can talk about something else way more interesting than my schedule. I'm thinking decorating, I've been doing plenty of this lately at home and in the classroom and I could definitely use some help.