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

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

I love this! I also love that my boyfriend mostly looks like an asian girl & even though it is cut off, he also was a Billy Bob Thorton look-alike!! hahahha

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family history - Pedigree

Apparently I look SUPER Asian

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

For all the teachers out there...

So, I am trying this out. I am working on an activity for my homeroom/homebase/morning meeting for when we get back to school. After watching Obama's Address to the Students, I decided that even though we didn't watch it in school, I wanted to share part of it with my kids. Most of my kids really look up to Obama and come from a very similar background as him. I am creating a bulletin board with this inspirational quote from his speech:

No one’s written your destiny for you,

because here in America,

you write your own destiny.

You make your own future.

-President Barack Obama

Students will each fill out this goal sheet that I created (after we discuss the quote, how they can apply it to their lives and ideas for goals)and they will be hung up on the bulletin board. I wasn't sure if anyone else would want to do this, but if you do, I figured out a way to share files online. It is a PDF, but if you want it as a .doc so you can change it let me know. Download the goal sheet here: Click to download

Tonight is the best night ever....

...because it's 2010!!! Happy New Year everyone!! Hope you all had a fun/safe/amazing night! I ended up going to Baltimore with Cait, Em, Hillary and Laura. We had an awesome night that involved a lot of supporting the troops, fist pumping and ridiculous headgear. A few pictures from last night:


Enjoy your day today!! Tonight=lots of school work. Tomorrow=spending the entire day in my classroom redoing bulletin boards and prepping for the new year. Love you, K

PS 32 posts in December. Seriously blog readers, how much do you love Jess Coop & me??!

PPS Year in Review coming soon. Probably tonight when I should be grading papers :)
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