A Day in the Life Of...

Ten days in and I'm finally having a chance to catch my breath and join the {Blogtember} conversation.

If you're new here, hi and welcome!

I'm in the midst of the beginning of the year chaos that always happens when I have three dozen ten year olds in my cozy classroom.  (Okay, there's only thirty five, but close enough!)

I'm also in the middle of wedding planning, so my blog is a combination of education and life experiences.

Today's challenge is a simple one:

Saturday, Sept. 10: A day in your life! Take us through it 

with you by sharing a photo each hour of the day.

 Thank goodness it's a weekend because I need a break!  (The beginning of the year is rough y'all!)

8:18 am:

B's off golfing and the house is quiet.  I have the gentle hum of a fan next to me, the puppy snoozing on the floor, and our two cats are curled up on the bathroom floor, enjoying the sunlight.  

I got to sleep in this morning.  My alarm(s) go off starting around five during the week, so sleeping in until eight was a treat this morning.  I enjoyed the last of the blueberry mini muffins for breakfast and tried to enter grades, but the server is having difficulties.  Darn, I guess that work will have to wait until Monday!

The rest of the day consists of relaxing, most likely a nap, going to finalize wedding flowers with our florist, the grocery store, and a nice dinner date.  My brother and his lovely girlfriend got me a gift card for my birthday to the Cheesecake Factory, so hooray for date night!

Tomorrow we're doing our first painting class (a "design and wine" one with mimosas) where B and I are painting Harry Potter inspired wine glasses:

(At least that's the goal of what they'll look like!)

We're also taking a friend dinner tomorrow because she had major surgery yesterday and feeding herself and her kids should be the last of her concerns during recovery.  The meal train was organized by Sunshine committee at work (where I'm co-chair) and it's just another reason I love where I work.  We look out for one another and it's such a welcoming, caring, and loving environment.

Our weekend will end with me yelling loudly at the refs during Sunday night football when my Cardinals take on the Patriots.  I'm hoping for an injury-free game and a Cardinals win!

How are you spending your day/weekend?

21: Words, Words, Words

Day 21: Favorite Quote

As a teacher, I often look for inspirational quotes when I'm having one of those days.  Those days, when the technology doesn't work, there are impromptu meetings, I've got several parent phone calls to return, and my munchkins are being more lively, non-compliant versions of themselves.  Those days do tend to coincide with full moons, long weekends, or worse, both.  

It's hard to pick a favorite quote.  I'm really, really blessed to be part of the DEN where one of our lovely members posts a daily inspirational tweet.  Most of the time, it's related to teaching, but it's always a nice reminder of why I'm working so hard.

These quotes are unofficially the quotes of the DEN, so I will share 'em proudly:

My tribe.  That's one of the things I'm falling more in love with.  I have the privilege to work along side some amazing educators at my school, whom I both respect and enjoy spending time with.  (These two categories are not mutually exclusive in some cases.)

However, at the end of the day, no one will stay there forever.  Families will move, new homes will be purchased.  I'm privileged to know I have such a great support system that extends beyond the walls of my school.  Heck, it's beyond the boundaries of my state.  Some days, I really, really need that DEN love.

Not related to teaching, but related to life in general:

In a post-breakup, angry, early twenties stage, I read a lot of self-help books.  I had quite a lot of anger that I needed to learn to deal with in a healthy way.  

Then I stumbled upon this quote.

This has really resonated with me.  A younger, sillier version me, had an unfortunate habit of dulling myself down when with a boyfriend.  Not all past boyfriends, but enough that it became a habit.  I was so uncomfortable "outshining" my partner that I'd always take a backseat to his successes.

That wasn't fair to either of us and was a definite red flag that those were not the relationships for me.

A few years ago, I decided to have "shine" tattooed on my wrist as a reminder of this quote and its message.  It's a subtle tattoo, done in a dark red color that blends well with my freckles and complexion.  It's in my own handwriting and is meant, 1000% for me.

(On a side note, my fiance B has never done anything but encourage me to pursue my dreams and shine.  #keeperstatus )

What words have made an impact on you?

Join the conversation and link up for the blogtember challenge!

Day 17: Obsessions

I took a few days off from the Blogtember Challenge, but now I'm back!

Day 17: Just for fun, your latest obsession.

Oh geez, this one was a little tricky for me.

First, I was going to tell you all about my {Jamberry wraps}.  See, I fell in love with these beauties over a year ago and haven't looked back.  

I love having my nails done, but couldn't deal with the smells of the salon or the cost of getting them done on a bi-monthly basis.  With a mortgage and planned house upgrades (water filtration system, new tile floors, new patio furniture, and new security door just to name a few), I couldn't justify the $60 at the salon.  

Enter Jamberry.  Armed with my mini-heater and about twenty minutes, I can easily create gorgeous nails at home (while in pajamas drinking wine).  As a teacher, I'm rough on my hands, so I appreciate that these are quite sturdy.

What really sold me was how easy they are to remove! Long gone are the days of soaking cotton balls in acetone or nail polish remover.  I soak my hands in warm water with a few drops of oil (usually coconut or lemon).  I use a dental flosser to break the seal under the wrap, then just shimmy it off.  If there is resistance from the adhesive, I simply soak my hands for a few more minutes.  The best part?  No nail damage.

Tada! Clean and healthy nails!

But then I realized there are other obsessions I should share...

I am obsessed with my pets. I am not ashamed of it.

Chloe and Crookshanks (yes, Harry Potter reference) are sisters and were adopted at the same time.  Waffles is also a rescue pet and is five months old.  We aren't sure how much bigger she'll get.  They bring me so much joy each day.  All three have very distinctive personalities and it's great coming home to such eager furry faces.

I'm also obsessed with diet Arnold Palmers.  

I'm really trying to drink less soda, so this is a good compromise.  I also have a box of these as K-cups and sneak into my admin's office to use the school's machine when she's not in a conference.  

I'm obsessed with {Younique} as well.  I've recently discovered this make up brand and think it does wonders for helping boost my confidence.

My am make up routine, after washing my face, takes between five and ten minutes depending on if I can find where I put all my brushes.  Not only is it great for my sensitive skin, but it stays on all day!  

Yup, no retouching for me!  

I could go on and on about other obsessions, specifically book ones, but I'm pretty sure the blog prompt of the day asked for one...which I ignored.

What are you obsessed with?

Link up and join the conversation!

Day 13

Woo hoo, I'm 2/2 since starting the Blogtember Challenge!

Granted...I started half-way through, but that's okay. 

Day 13's blog challenge: "Create a collage or inspiration/mood board for this season in your life."

Well, I'm a little overwhelmed by school work, so instead I'm going to focus on what's consuming a lot of my attention:

The wedding.

It's not that I'm becoming "that bride".  We're touring a venue today and I want to have a decision in terms of venue and colors established by the end of the week.  I've been thinking about it for a couple days and since I keep inadvertently pinning the same things on pinterest, I'm taking that to be a sign. 

We are looking at a November, 2016 wedding...so still a long time away.

We aren't hiring a wedding planner because quite frankly, I feel I've been training for this my whole life.  Between years of student council, being an RA in college and President of the Honors College Council, then being a teacher and planning field trips, I think I've got this event planning thing down pat.

Plus, I like to do it.  I like to craft.  I like to play around with patterns, textures, and see what goes well together.  If I felt it was a stable enough career, I'd consider party planning and crafting as a full time job.  

I've got a time-line for the wedding.  This month we are paying wedding deposits to confirm our date and venue.  Once the paperwork is signed, I'll feel comfortable publicly announcing that to friends and family.  The bridal party and immediate family already know what we're hoping for.  Next month will bring the creation of a wedding website (maybe) and taking engagement pictures in either the fall or early spring.   Dress shopping will be over winter break.  Save the dates will go out at the end of spring and formal invitations in about a year.

I've got friends that are more than willing to help craft things and share their thoughts, which is great.  I've also got some interesting input from colleagues who are definitely more acquaintances then friends...they want to weigh in too.  I'm hoping it's from a loving and maternal place, not them thinking I can't handle this and that they have to intervene.  

  

I showed B some ideas for table decor and bless his heart, he said I could do whatever as long as I wasn't overwhelmed.  I told him that I've got some great, crafty bridesmaids and some great, logistics oriented bridesmaids, so I think it will be okay.  Besides, I get antsy during the summer, so a dozen or so table toppers will be a nice task to keep me busy.

We are narrowed down to two gorgeous venues.  In true teacher form, I made an anchor chart.

Yes, I hauled home a meter stick, sharpies, and anchor chart paper.  I went line by line to discuss the categories with B (and my mom on the phone) to see which venue had more strengths.  I'll be going over this chart with my future MIL and our officiant later today.  I know it's ultimately mine and B's decision, but I guess I just want validation from our closest loved ones that we're making the right decision.  It's a big decision, I'm only getting married once, so we want to do this right. 

And yes, true to form, I had a helper.  Chloe was very crucial in the prevention of straight lines on the chart.  

I'm overwhelmed by choices, so after looking at the venue today and making a decision, I'm taking a few days to think about colors.  In B's perfect world, he'd have a Denver Broncos themed wedding.  However, it's also my day!

I think the struggle I'm having is I don't want it to resemble anyone else's wedding.  Now that seems silly considering I'm pulling ideas from pinterest and bridal magazines, but we've had a lot of close friends get married in the past few years and I don't want to feel like we're stealing their colors.

Our friends, Laura and Ryan, did a red, black, and white classic color combo.  Two other weddings had grays with tones of purple.   Another was silver and burgundy.  One about a year ago was navy and deep green.  Yet another will be neutrals with shades of pale pink (outdoor spring wedding).  All these weddings were gorgeous, but I don't want to make our wedding like theirs.  (Yes, I'm probably overthinking things...that's what I do.)

I love fall shades, but I don't want deep red.  My undergraduate university, Arizona State, is maroon and gold.  As deep as my Sun Devil pride is...I don't want it to look like I'm having an ASU themed wedding.  Plus I think a deep shade of red will be too harsh on many of my bridesmaids.  

I plan to tell my bridesmaids what color to pick from David's Bridal and let them choose.  My only stipulation is that the gowns are floor length.  I know from experience I do not enjoy halter dresses, so I'd rather not put my best friends through a similar frustration of wearing something they don't feel comfortable in. 

While it may not seem like it, I am doing my best to keep my bridezilla moments and wedding mayhem to a minimum.  I think once the colors, venue, and date are decided, things will cool off and I can focus on the rest of my life.  I'm okay with having days where wedding planning is all I do, but I'm not okay with this wonderful wedding weekend taking over my whole life.  

It's one day.  One day with a year's worth of prep work, but it's still just one day.  

What collage would depict your life? Join the conversation, see the upcoming topics, and link up {here}.  If you're popping over from Brave Love or one of the linked blogs, hello and welcome!

Blogtember Challenge, Day 12

So it's two weeks into September, several weeks into the school year, and I'm finally finding a bit of time to catch up on blogging.

That means this is my first official blog post for the 2015 blogtember challenge!

Last year I did a much better job at participating...but last year I didn't have an engagement party and wedding venue shopping to do right at the start of the school year.

So without further ado, here's my first post for the blogtember challenge!

Reading... the last remaining pile of my students' beginning of the year essays.  See, the first week of school, we give them a diagnostic essay that isn't for a grade.   We use it to see their strengths and weaknesses.  They write a letter to their future selves with minimal instruction, then will get the letters back the last week of school.

I record my notes in my writing conference folder.  Each student has his or her own tab so I can track their progress over the year.  I didn't really pull writing conferences last year, so my goal is to improve as a writing teacher.

Playing... how many blog posts can I write in one day. This Blogtember prep is no joke! ;)

Watching... College football.  B is flipping between games and I'm halfway paying attention.  My Sundevils aren't on, so there's not complete focus. 

Trying... to be motivated to make the ppt for social studies for next week.  I'm not finding motivation...

Cooking... popcorn for dinner? 

Eating... nothing. My tummy is upset, thanks to back to school germs from the students. 

Drinking... water. Lots and lots of water. 

Calling... my MOH soon to talk about wedding venues.

Texting... my work wife.  She hurt herself coaching gymnastics this morning and I want to make sure she's icing properly.  (Her for real husband knows we are work wives and understands)

Pinning... fall wedding ideas :)

Tweeting... nothing :(

Going... back to a wedding venue tomorrow with my future MIL and officiant while B stays home and does his hw.  We're 95% sure this is where we are getting married next fall, so I want to make sure his mom sees it before we make a decision.  My mommy already saw it and loved it.

Loving... my friends.  It's been a rough month and I'm overwhelmingly comforted by the love of so many good people.  It drowns out the mean people. 

On a side note, I'm also loving my fall {Jams}!  I did these at home, in pajamas, then immediately went to bed.

A week in and no lifting or chips, which I know wouldn't be the case with regular polish!

Hating... the back to school year sickness that always happens.  I diffuse in my classroom and I've been doubling up on water and onguard, but it's not enough when I have three dozen fifth graders and the two closest classrooms are full of kinders.

Discovering... that my to do list just won't quit!

Thinking... about everything I need to do for the first DEN meeting in October!  Eeek! More on that adventure later.

Feeling... overwhelmed.

Hoping (for)... negotiations to go well tomorrow at the wedding venue! It's our first choice, but there's another venue too.  We're hoping the first one will match some of the freebies from the other venue. 

Listening (to)... more football.  It's fall.  It's football time.

Celebrating... the completion of another week.  This one, despite being four days, was exhausting.  Between my first few citations, open house, and the technology not working on Tuesday, it was a stressful week.

Smelling... Breathe.  It's one of my favorite DoTerra essential oils. It does wonders for allergies and clearing out my sinuses.

Ordering... some new make up!  I recently discovered {Younique} and am in love! I'd been using Bare Minerals for years, but always felt a little too washed out.  (The struggles of being a redhead is real, y'all.)  This make up lets my freckles show while still providing full coverage.  I appear to have flawless skin and look wide awake, which is never, ever the case.  

Seriously, one coat of my magic mascara:

Flawless make up...even when I hear screaming and f-bombs from a five year old outside in the hall...

Thanking... my mommy and B's family for helping us with the wedding.  Thanking one of his mom's best friends for her generous wedding gift of offering her timeshare for our honeymoon.  Thankful for amazing people.

Considering... taking a nap. It's just one of those days.  (Disclaimer...I've already taken two naps today...)

Starting... to realize I need to do lesson plans for social studies....

Finishing... placing our first book order with Scholastic.  So not only are students able to purchase books for significantly less than at retail stores, but I earn rewards points and spending credit, which means I turn around and buy more books!  I think I spent $10 of my own money in this order and have seven new books coming, including the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.  (I've never read them, I just know my students are obsessed and I support their love of reading!)

September Goals

I don't know how it happened, but September is here!  Here are my top ten goals for the month.

First and foremost, much of September should be spent catching up on blogging! I have so much to share about the first weeks of school, classroom culture, staff development day, wedding updates, exciting updates with Discovery Education, and the engagement shower! I haven't done any of the {Blogtember Challenges} which is disappointing.  

Second, I hope to nail down a wedding date and venue this month.  We've seen two and have a third appointment in a few hours.  It will come down to logistics and finances, but I'm really, really, really leaning toward venue number two!

Third, I hope to finish the book I'm reading.

I'm a few chapters in, but with the start of the school year, most things got put on the back burner.  I've got an ever growing pile of books to read, so it's time to make time for me!  Seriously folks, it's {a problem}.

Fourth, I need to put the house back together.  I did a major clean, with B's help of course, before the engagement shower.  Part of this cleaning meant shoving things into the guest bedroom that we didn't want to deal with, so now I've got to resort the new mess I made.  We've still got the tables set up and banners on the wall.  I need to transition the house of engagement shower mode and back into how we normally live (because strangely, it's not with a ten foot dining room table.)  

Fifth, I get to decorate for fall!

(Disclaimer: This is not my home.  

This is way too many pumpkins, but you get the idea!)

I love decorating.  I didn't want a pumpkin explosion before the shower because I wanted it very clearly decorated for the party, but now it's time for fall.  I've got pumpkins and football decor to set up!  This will probably be a next weekend task.

Sixth, Waffles gets to go to obedience school.  We have to pick a date that works for both of us and make those appointments.

Seventh, I need to finalize long term social studies plans.  On paper, they are mapped out through winter break and work out just fine.  I have most of the powerpoints made, I just need to do some revisions.  Once they're done and shared with my grade level, they'll also be available on TpT, so check back soon!

Eighth, I need to finish thank you cards.  

We weren't expecting anything at our engagement shower, but some lovely friends ignored this request and spoiled us. 

Ninth, I need to get Waffles on her walking schedule.  She did great on her walk last night, but ideally she'll be getting two walks a day.  I know with the weather changing, she'll get more time outside.  Since we're in the desert and she's already got a black coat, I'm overly cautious with having her get too overheated on walks.  

Tenth, B and I need to adjust our budget.  We'd wanted to purchase a second security door, but that's now on the back burner.  Since our doors aren't standard sized, we need custom ones and they are close to two grand a piece.  We are almost done paying off the first one (and the new dishwasher), but can't buy the second one like we'd planned.  Instead, we're prioritizing with purchasing a water filtration system for the house instead since the water here isn't the best.  Plus we've got to save for the wedding.  I didn't realize that the full balance had to be paid before the big day, so it's a good thing it's still more than a year away!  Both our families are helping (which is wonderful), but we are planning on a gorgeous day with 120 guests, so there is a bit of a price tag.  Nothing drastic with the budget, just less eating out and more game nights at home.  Hopefully our friends will understand!

What are your goals for the month? 

Blogtember Challenge!

It's that time of year again!  Bailey from bravelove has her blog challenge.  Since she's in grad school and a tad busy, she's posted all her blog topics ahead of time.  I can't necessarily do each post (since teaching takes a lot of time), but it's nice to start brainstorming.

Will you be joining the Blogtember Challenge?  

Here are her challenges:

Tuesday, Sept. 1: Introduce yourself however you like! Pics, vlog, collage, your choice :)
Wednesday, Sept. 2: Describe your ideal day. Where would you go and what would you do?
Thursday, Sept. 3: Create a collage or inspiration/mood board that describes your blog.
Friday, Sept. 4: What are you passionate about?
Saturday, Sept. 5: Put your iTunes/music player on shuffle and share the first 10 songs that play.
Sunday, Sept. 6: Share your style. What fashion trends do you love, frequent, or avoid?
Monday, Sept. 7: Tell us about your blog name. Where did it come from?
Tuesday, Sept. 8: Tell us about your favorite season. Why is it your favorite and what does it say about you?
Wednesday, Sept. 9: Write a letter to sixteen-year-old you. Any advice or funny stories?
Thursday, Sept. 10: 10 items off your bucket list. If you haven't made one, now's a good time to start!
Friday, Sept. 11: It's a Friday night and you decide to stay in. What do you do?
Saturday, Sept. 12: What are you up to currently? I have examples here and here.
Sunday, Sept. 13: Create a collage or inspiration/mood board for this season in your life.
Monday, Sept. 14: The 5 books that have impacted your life the most.
Tuesday, Sept. 15: What's in your bag? Pick up your purse and peruse its contents, then share with us!
Wednesday, Sept. 16: The real you vs. the online you. Are they the same or different?
Thursday, Sept. 17: Just for fun, your latest obsession. What can you not get enough of these days?
Friday, Sept. 18: Record a VLOG! It can be about anything you'd like!
Saturday, Sept. 19: Tell us about one of the best days of your life.
Sunday, Sept. 20: It's guilty pleasure time! Shows, books, songs, foods, whatever it may be.
Monday, Sept. 21: A favorite quote/expression and how it has impacted you.
Tuesday, Sept. 22: Get creative! Sketch, paint, dance, play music, whatever then give us a glimpse.
Wednesday, Sept. 23: Grab a guest post. Recruit a friend or fellow blogger to share on your space for the day.
Thursday, Sept. 24: Shout out five of your favorite bloggers. Who are your regular reads?
Friday, Sept. 25: Three songs you are connecting with right now.
Saturday, Sept. 26: What's on your to-reading list, and what have you recently read? 
Sunday, Sept. 27: What's on your wish list? Be sure to include links so we can shop too ;)
Monday, Sept. 28: A day in the life. Take us through it with you.
Tuesday, Sept. 29: Write your own list of 10 blog topics to inspire us next month.
Wednesday, Sept. 30: A farewell coffee date. Take some time to breath, sip a warm drink, and share with your new blogging buddies. If you'd like a prompt: how did the Blog-tember Challenge go for you? Any surprises? What was your favorite prompt, or what would you like to see included next time?

Will you be joining us? If so, link up! 

A Year

While it's a few days late, I was inspired to be reflective with the blogtember task of how I've changed in the past year.

Change is good. Change is sad. Change means leaving things behind. (paraphrased quote from Lowry's Gossamer. ) 



A year ago...

I was living in an apartment. It was a cute set up and by far my favorite of the several I've lived in post college.  It was close to the freeway and major shopping areas. I had fairly nice neighbors and maintenance was always friendly.  

I was teaching fifth grade and loving my grade level.  But the issues were starting, which would only get worse in the coming eight months.  I was starting to think about moving schools in September.

I was eager to see Wicked with my best friend when she came to visit.

I was stressed beyond belief with work. 

I was just starting my store on TpT.

I was surrounded by friends getting engaged, married, or pregnant.


Now...

I have my first home which I'm loving.  It's very close to work, which saves easily a hundred dollars a month on gas.  Hooray for that!

I am still teaching fifth grade and adore my new grade level.  There are some learning curves but nothing is making me want to leave.  In fact, I don't ever want to move my classroom library again! 

I'm eager to see Wicked with B. This will be his second musical (the first being The Book of Mormon).

Now I'm managing my stress. I'm working hard at work, but also taking time to enjoy my weekends.  I'm savoring my time off and treating myself to rewards. I'm making time for me as a person, not just me as a teacher. 

I'm continuing to build my TpT store. But I'm also pleased to announce I am a Jamberry consultant! As part of my treat myself, I'm going to have pretty nails. All the time!

I applied these a week ago.  168 hours of teaching, cleaning, cooking, and well, life later...they look the same! I love them.  I'll be hosting my first party in November but you're welcome to shop now.  Our special is buy 3, get 1 free!  So for the cost of a mani/pedi at a salon, you get 4 sheets of your choice.  Jams last 2 weeks on your fingers and up to 4 weeks on your toes!

I can't wait for my new ones to get here:

(You can shop here!)


And...I'm still surrounded by friends getting engaged, married, or pregnant.


Sometimes things change.  Sometimes they don't.  It's crazy what a difference a year can make. I do know that I'm much happier now and that's what matters.

Highs and Lows

With September's Blogtember challenge nearing its end, I'm a little bummed. I liked having these daily reflective tasks.  I did about half of them, which is admirable considering my work schedule, the shared laptop, and that this was my first time participating.

For those who are visiting from Brave Love, hello! Hopefully you'll pop back over once in a while after this challenge ends.

Today's prompt: What are your highs and lows for the month?

Highs:

1) My new school is amazing.  I feel supported. I feel like I have the freedom to make instructional decisions that benefit my students. I don't feel like every choice I make is questioned.  Everyone is super supportive. 

2) My students are excited to be in school and eager to learn.  They want to read.  They ask questions.  There are a few hallway chats each day about being on task and being nice, but it's nothing major.  It's such a refreshing change.

3) My new grade level is so welcoming.  I'm able to be honest with them about the things I'm unsure of (procedures, RTI expectations) and not feel judged.  They're willing to help and allow me to contribute (without expecting me to do more than my fair share).  Plus they're really awesome ladies and since no one plans on leaving, I think I've found a new group of friends.

4) My morning routine is so much more relaxed. I have time to eat breakfast at home, not at the copier.  I have time to blog, check emails, and relax in the morning. I have time to do stretches and a few household chores before leaving for work. I bought fruit and yogurt, so I'm going to start making smoothies in the morning.  Last year, I'd get up at 5, be out the door by 5:30, be at work at 6, and have until 7:10 to get work done before meetings started.  Now I wake up around five, leisurely take my time getting around, leave at 6:50 and am at my computer by 7:10.  The shorter drive gives me an hour of my life back each day. 

5) Our class weebly is getting a lot of positive attention and responses.  This year, my new school purchased weebly accounts for everyone. It's a classroom blog where I share information about our classroom with students and parents. I've given them homework to do online and put up polls and pictures.  I've gotten parent responses on it as well.  It's just nice to have a positive, open line of communication with my students and their families.

6) I tried Jamberry nails and I'm hooked! A week later (and a week of teaching and cleaning no less!, there are no chips.) I ordered my first set, am going to host a Jamberry/31 bags party in November (with an online component where you can order) and going to be a consultant. I've decided that having my nails look nice makes me happy and Jamberry is an inexpensive way to do that.  It may seem shallow, but having pretty nails makes me feel put together and on top of things, which is a message I want to convey to others.

7) I also tried doterra oils and love those as well.  I have occasional migraines and frequent joint pain from years of sports and I like how the oils helped with those. I'm excited to try a natural remedy to common ailments. 

8) I felt appreciated by those closest to me.  My birthday was at the end of August and for several reasons, I didn't really do anything special.  However, a few close friends made the effort to make me feel special on my birthday.
 
Lows:

1) I didn't see my friends as much as I'd like. We all have busy schedules and our own lives, it's just a rough adjustment going from seeing them daily to seeing them monthly. I need to get better at calling and texting them. It's also becoming apparent who will remain a friend now that we are in separate schools and which friendships are fading.  That's life. It's just a sad situation when friendships dissolve because everyone is too busy.

2) I lost my planner. I've meticulously cleaned my car and home, so I know it's not hiding anywhere. I'm pretty sure I left it at a math training at a high school in the early parts of the month, so I don't have high hopes of it returning home. I bought a replacement, but since it was September, my options were severely limited. I'm just irritated that I have to go back through and enter commitments again. I've also felt very disorganized without my planner, which is frustrating.

3) I still don't feel like I have everything in my classroom under control.  I know as a teacher, I will never accomplish everything on my to do list.  I just finally built another filing cabinet insert (the metal part to put the folders on) to organize student data. I have five weeks' worth of filing awaiting me Monday...yikes!  

4) My students didn't do as well on their first math test as I would have liked and that's disappointing to me.  I haven't taught a traditional math block in a few years since we were departmentalized and I know the concept is difficult.  There were just a lot of careless mistakes (skipping problems) that I'll need to address as a class.  I know that they need more review and that I'll be giving the test again.  I just hope parents don't freak out. I know they don't have it yet.  We have until June to master the concept. Learning takes time.

5) The gradebook.  The entire district is trying a new gradebook and needless to say, it's a learning curve.  Last year, I only entered summative assessments (end of unit tests) and nothing else.  This year, I have three categories: summative for 90%, formative for 10% (quizzes, exit tickets, assignments during the unit of study) and a not for grade category (obviously worth nothing).  I'm used to entering grades as emerging, approaching, meeting, or exceeding and having each assignment broken down by standard.  With this new grade book, my standards are clumped together which I don't exactly like.  For example, in reading, RL 1, 2, and 3 are grouped together, then averaged.  This means grades for quoting accurately and making inferences (1), determining the theme of a story, drama or poem (2), and comparing and contrasting story elements (3) are put together.  I don't like this, but I don't have any say in the matter.  I just think it gives a misleading picture to parents.  Students may be struggling with one particular standard, but if several are linked together, the numbers are skewed.  Hopefully this problem is addressed soon by those higher ups.  We also aren't allowed to enter any grade lower than 55%, with the mindset that it's still an F, but students won't have as far to recover from a failed test.  We are to make notes of the actual score for parents to see.  I agree with this idea, I just wish I'd known before I started to enter grades because I had a good dozen assignments to go back and revise.

6) I haven't been to the gym...and feel really guilty about it!  I want to start going more, it's just hard at the end of the day. I need to start taking my gym clothes to work with me and giving myself permission to leave on time. I get there early, so it's okay to leave when my contract time is up.

7) My new crockpot recipes failed :(  Not failed persay, but definitely not a pinterest win.  The first one went awry because I used the larger crockpot and the sauce spread out, thus burning and not flavoring the chicken.  The second failed because it's a recipe that needs to be stirred a few times while it's cooking.  Perhaps we'll try that again on a weekend day when I can attend to the crockpot.

Overall, not a bad month.  It's strange to think it's almost October!