Blog #2

I (Jessica) and my new fiance Nile have created our own blog called Our Side of Paradise. Please visit!!

This was created for a number of reasons:

1. Nile was jealous that he didn't have a blog to contribute to ;)

2. I wanted to have all of our memories together in one place

3. I wouldn't litter our 'Jess and Kate' blog with romantic mush all the time

4. I love blogging, so it gives me more to do :)

This does not mean, in any way, that I will not be contributing to our 'Jess and Kate' blog anymore. This just means I'll be blogging LESS about Nile on here and MORE about myself (I know everyone is SO happy about that!)

Things making me happy today:

PJs Day!

The sun was shining

Talking with my hands so that anyone who looks at my face also looks at the beautiful ring on my finger :)

GUESS WHAT?!

More details to come (and possibly a new jess/nile blog) :)

I'm the happiest/most blessed girl in the world.

Interesting day

Today I miss MGDUBS a lot. And I mean everyone. Not just everyone present in this classy pic.

So today was quite an interesting day. This afternoon, we were informed that our school was under lockdown. We were told it was some sort of shooting... apparently there was a standoff between the police and some homicide suspect. We ended up having to stay with the kids until 5pm. Not really all that fun...not to mention kind of threw off my planning and prep after school. Check out the riveting story here.

3 years ago, when I went to Eastern University, I signed up to be a bone marrow donor. They said they needed people who were Asian. I filled out my paper work and swabbed my cheeks and kind of forgot about it. Today when I checked my voicemail at lunch, I had a message from Be The Match. They found that I am a 6/6 match (I honestly have no idea what that means) for an 11 year old girl with a chromosomal abnormality that is somehow similar to leukemia. I have to eat lunch with my kids every other day so I planned on calling back after school. Before the day was over, I had 2 more voicemail messages asking me to call back. I got another teacher to watch my kids for a little during the lockdown and called to get more info. I am getting a prescreening blood test on Wednesday & have a bunch of paperwork to fill out this week. I am praying that I am a match for this little girl...even though I have to get a huge needle stuck in my pelvis if I am. At first, I was legit really scared, but now I will be so disappointed if I am not a match for her. Please, please pray that this all works out!!

Now, I am finishing up lessons & watching my main man O-Baby deliver a little State of the Union...

"The best antipoverty program around is a world class education"

Oh O-baby, I do love you.

Ever since I can remember I've been poppin my collar

So this morning I was super optimistic. I wore a big bow headband. Yesterday was the best day I've had in a long, long time...
Then I took weird photo booth pics cause I had extra time this morning (weirdddd). I was one of the first people at school this morning. I made some delicious coffee.

Then I proceeded to have the worst day of my life. UGHHH seriously??! I don't know what's going on...

Anyway.

We've been talking a lot about Haiti. We recently finished an earthquake unit and a lot of my kids are from the Dominican Republic, so it's obviously been a hot discussion topic in science class.
Caitlin and I run a club where the kids make crafts for different organizations. For the past 2 weeks we have been making braided bracelets with red and blue beads on it (Haiti's colors) and selling them for a dollar.
We sell out of them everyday!! As of now, we have raised over $150 for the American Red Cross. So proud of my kids :)

PS Are you in love with my PEACE canvas on my wall from Pottery Barn?

hello love.

For the 3rd time this school year, they are reconfiguring the 6th grade classes...which means I will have 3 out of my 6 classes (my homeroom included) all mixed up...which is the reason I am NOT looking forward to tomorrow. I am spending today cleaning and reorganizing my apartment and cooking dinner for Caitlin, Nick and me. I am also spending a good part of the day lusting over....

THIS freakin beautiful skirt. Go to the link and look at the detailed waistband. Front and back. I seriously thought about how much I love Banana Republic at least 4 times this week. I need this skirt in black and gray...so perfect for work!!

OMG I know these boots are hideous...but I love them for some reason. Odds of me actually purchasing them? Very low...but still they are cute...in an ugly/weird sort of way!! Weird picture...but I got this awesome red strapless dress at Target for $9.98. It was from the holiday line, but it was 75% off. I also got the same dress in a black brocade fabric. I am so in love!!
Ok, love you, byeeee!

P.S. Project for the day (besides grading PSSA constructed responses)? Turning my WHITE Christmas tree into a Valentines/Chinese New Year tree!! Mare said I had to do it...for the blog!!

Remember this?

I dunno about you, but this Little Golden Book holds a place near & dear to my heart ~ I couldn't resist!!! :) This along with an instant Polaroid camera for $3 ~ too bad the film is being sold on amazon/ebay for over $30 per pack of 10.

Happy Monday/MLK Day/Kate get back to York safely please!!

blogging one handed

on the train on the way to penn station. not super excited to get back to York, but with the short week I think i will survive. goodbye NY, it's been real

In no particular order

Happy MLK day, babies!!

Incase you don't stalk me on FB or spend my time in my life, I would like to share with you the most amazing thing EVER said to me in my class.

During homebase/morning meeting with my SIXTH graders, we were talking about why we have Monday off...

Me: "Does anyone know what Martin Luther King, Jr. did?"

Student: "He died for our sins!!"

Me: "Are you sure that was Martin Luther King, Jr.??!"

Student: "YEPPPPP!"

Haha seriously, how great?!

Anyway just a few links:

These amazing & free computer/iphone backgrounds!
These super healthy and super easy breakfast cookies. I just made one...with maybe a few chocolate chips and some PB. SO delicious
I'm taking the train back to York this afternoon. Today will be spent shopping with Mare and packing to go!! Ok, LOVE YOU BYE!!!

Jess' Current Loves...

Talking to momma Cooper on the phone for over an hour today. Much needed.

Twitter. Seriously. How has Twitter NOT been a bigger part of my life before now?

My brother Jake. He is in Ecuador spreading joy and awesomeness to so many :)

My boyfriend Nile. Best friend, best laughs, best love I've ever had.

Last, but definitely not least: 3 DAYS WEEKENDS!!!! Another day off tomorrow & I couldn't be more thrilled!!!!!

A little blog post from home...

SO happy to be home with my family for this long weekend....I love that the background of this photobooth picture is my NY bedroom!!
Spending the evening writing report card comments at Borders with Hil and Mare. Out tonight with some friends. A real post sometime in the future.
LOVE YOU, BYE!!!

hmmm

Let's pretend today was a better day than it really was.

Just some random photobooth pictures from yesterday and today...I always want to post in the morning but having to get out of the house at 6:30am (at the LATEST), kind of makes that difficult....

Mmm purple flannel and a big bow headband...

I LOVE COFFEE (cold of course)
PS Check out the yellow manicure. I'm in love
Holy Spirit necklace. Duh.

In Love

4 Things I'm in LOVE with today:

1. Talking to this pretty face & a few other dear friends that I miss terribly this morning.

2. This gorgeous wedding dress (sigh) :) (JCrew)

3. Lotus flowers ~ and jewlery that resembles lotus flowers.

4. This should go without saying ~ more in love today than yesterday :) It keeps getting better...

Have a great week everyone! xo, Jess

Revisit 23 for 23

If you recall, on my 23rd birthday, I made this list of 23 things I want to do this year...with about 5 months until my 24th, I thought I should actually revisit this list and see what I have to do with my life!

23 for my 23rd year:

1. 1. Write a children’s book- nope...haven't even started...BUT I have talked to a teacher at my school who wrote a children's book and he wants to help me whenever I get around to it.

2. 2. Visit 3 new cities BAHAHA ummmm...does York count? I have been to Houston (even though pretty much all I saw was a job fair) and Baltimore (I have been there before...but when I was really young...so I am counting it as a new city!)

3. 3. Get a REAL teaching job- CHECK!

4. 4. Move to a new city- CHECK!! bahaha ooo York, PA!

5. 5. Wear every headband I own at least one time- pretty close...I haven't really been keeping track but I do wear a headband at least once a week!

6. 6. Make some new friends- DONE!!

7. 7. Simplify my closet- haha working on that one...

8. 8. Run in a 5k- wait I don't even run anymore....gotta get back on that one

9. 9. Get involved with a charity- umm my life is one huge service project

10. 10. Buy some art, even if it’s cheap- done. I love you, etsy!!

11. 11. Look hot at Kevin’s wedding- CHECK. obviously.

12. 12. Keep in touch with all of my friends- I'm trying thanks to facey, bloggy and twitter

13. 13. Read ten books I purchased, but haven’t even opened...bahaha I've read like 5 books this year. sad.

14.14. Find a new church wherever I move- working on it!! It needs to stop snowing every weekend,

15. 15. Catch up from my year of not scrapbooking- this is not going to happen. sorry.

16. 16. Learn to give myself a French manicure- Ok, I am over french manicures but I have gotten really good about painting my nails so I am going to give myself a CHECK!

17. 17. Hang out and keep in touch with Grampy and Nana as much as possible- Still working on it! Trying to send them cards and call as often as possible.

18. 18. Use reusable shopping bags all the time (and recycle more)! CHECK!

19. 19. Stop tanning—and wear SPF everyday- Working on the SPF...it's in my make-up so that counts right? And I don't tan anymore!! Ughhh pasty.

20. 20. Buy new running shoes—GOOD ones Mmm I don't even run anymore. Must start this again....

21. 21. Organize and store my jewelry correctly: Still on my list.

22. 22. Go to a Giants game: Ooops. That didn't happen.

23. 23. Cook some real dinners (actually use my cookbooks)—make things I have never made before…and also learn how to cook chicken…as in overcome my fear of touching raw chicken cutlets. Ummm not yet. I'm working on it

Al

Snow Shmo

SNOW SNOW GO AWAY COME AGAIN ANOTHER DAY!!!!

We are buried in snow here in Indy!! And it's not suppose to stop until tomorrow morning! And the fact that we didn't have a delay today calls for a major pout face ~ ah well, everyone made it to BGMS safely and we got to leave right at 3:30!

Things that make me feel better at the moment: my mom's sweet text messages, the fact that I have an AWD vehicle, I'm HOME & not leaving my cozy apt. at all tonight, and THURSDAY NIGHT TELEVISION (Community, Parks & Rec, The Office, and 30 Rock). PJs here I come!

Stay warm!!! xo, J

de-stress

There is something amazingly relaxing about changing my nail polish...up until a few months ago, I never wore nail polish...now I can't imagine NOT having my nails painted. Just a few colors I have been obsessing about lately:

OPI Shim-merry Chic

OPI Sapphire in the SnowEssie Mink Muffs-- just put this on...in love!!
Essie Pink Parka
Essie Bright Tights
I promise there will be a real post at some point :) Love, K

Back to School!

I haven't seen 5:30am in what seems like FOREVER (or maybe 2 weeks)!! Bring on the coffee!! :) Have a GREAT week!

"There is only one way to happiness, and that is to cease worrying things which are beyond the power of our will." -Epictetus

Also...

I need this tee desperately!!! I saw it at Charlotte Russe a few months ago and made the huge mistake of not buying it ~~ let me know if you find it anywhere!! Thanks! xo, J

Jess' Winter Break Re-Cap

So today is Sunday, meaning we go back to school tomorrow. The kids don't come back until Tuesday. I have officially done NO work for school over break and that means a HECK of a day ahead of me tomorrow. My New Year's Resolution this year is to remember why I'm a teacher. I have realized over break that this semester I have lost sight of WHY I wanted to be a teacher in the first place. Sad, I know. I have been SO focused on doing everything RIGHT and implementing all the BEST strategies and making sure my class runs like a well-oiled machine. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

Strategies and lesson plans and grades are all important, but I have completely lost sight of the fact that I am there to play a role in my kids' lives that is bigger than genetics & plate tectonics. I realized I have been stressed out WAY more than I have been happy this semester. That being said, my New Years Resolution is to not take EVERYTHING so serious, to let go of the idea that I have to do everything perfectly and have the greatest lesson plans on earth and to HAVE FUN with these 7th graders that need someone to understand them. God has a purpose for me there, and I have a feeling that it is not to have perfect lesson plans every day :)

Anyway, there's my inspiration for the moment. What a great winter break!! Some wonderful memories that were made:

Beautiful & meaningful gifts from all of my loved ones :)

LOTS of sweatpants/slippers worn.

Awesome new additions to my kitchen.

DIY 'Elsie-style' chalkboards with hooks ~ Nile made them for me!!! He's the best :)

Aren't they the cutest??

Zoo lights with the fam.

Spending time with the greatest brother ever. Jakey is leaving for Ecuador on a mission trip tomorrow ~ keep him in your prayers!! He is going to do some great things for the kids there!

Groomers! Enough said.

This year was one of the first years that EVERYONE was home for Christmas :) It was wonderful!

Nile & I acted like we had all the money in the world, made reservations at this awesome Italian restaurant, got dressed up, and wined & dined for New Years Eve.

Then sprayed champagne off the balcony at midnight :)

Last but not least, The Buckeyes winning the Rose Bowl :)

Today's plans: cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, blowing my nose every 5 seconds (bad cold), and remembering all of my blessings :) xoxo, J