Blogger 411 with lots-o-pics!

Becky over at From Mrs. to Mama is hosting this fun link-up! 

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I started blogging almost 2 years ago (weird)!  I started my blog the first year I got a teaching job so I could save memories from my first year and also share ideas with other teachers.  My blog has changed from a mainly educational/teaching blog to a mommy blog!  I still plan on including stuff about school but right now it's the summer anyway!

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I went to a small college in Columbus, Ohio called Ohio Dominican University.  I studied Early Childhood Education.  I have a Bachelor's of Science in Education and I also started graduate work there.  I am licensed to teach PreK-5 and also Reading K-12.

3. Where have you traveled?
Even though I love to travel, I'm not very well traveled because we end up visiting places we love over and over!  Here are some of our fav spots:

Caribbean (I think this was St. Lucia?)

our lake house in Michigan!

Fort Myers Beach, FL (we were engaged here!)

Hilton Head Island, SC...I'd live there in a heartbeat!

biking on the beach in Hilton Head!

Maui, HI on our honeymoon

Kauai, HI (honeymoon again)

Lake Michigan

Grand Canyon

Sedona, AZ

Hocking Hills in good, old Ohio!

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
It depends on how much we won.  I would either get new floors/counters at our house or buy a new house! 

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
one uppers, people who argue EVERYTHING and refuse to admit they're wrong, bad drivers
6. What is your favorite movie?
It's hard to pick just one.  I love sappy chick flicks like The Notebook but I also love comedies like Wedding Crashers!

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
If I'm drinking alcohol (which I haven't done in almost a year!) I like wine (red=cabernet sauvignon, white=moscato or riesling).  I also like hard cider (woodchuck and strongbow).  As far as what I'm drinking lately....ice water and lots of juice, I love juice!

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
Read, catch up on my DVR, spend a day outside soaking up the sun (haven't been able to do that much at all this summer, it's too hot for little Carson!)

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Target.  I freaking love that store, they have everything!  No joke, I'm there at least 3x a week.  Embarrassing?  Not at all!  I also love Amazon, so easy!

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
Hmm, this is hard!  I'll have to get back to you all on that...maybe I can do a special post when I think of some embarrassing moments!

11. What day would you love to relive again?
The day Carson was born and our wedding day!

May 24, 2008

May 18, 2012

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
Ask someone else, I'm awful with stuff like this!  I do, however, frequently hear songs on the radio and tell my husband "this will be in the movie about my life"!  As if they'll make one, ha!

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
I worked at my aunt's dairy diner, a donut shop (Tim Hortons), and a tanning salon.  During college I worked at Tim Hortons corporate offices and also taught at a daycare center!

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.

College...complete with major red eye and flat abs (miss those)!

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I'd probably go back to Hawaii or maybe Australia so I could snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef!

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
Probably with another baby, possibly in a new house...that's about all I know for now!! 

Fact.

Anyone else love The Office as much as I do?!  I saw this post over on Allie's blog, Table for MORE and wanted to join in!

 

Fact...

I am addicted to [what some may consider trashy] reality TV (Teen Mom, Real World, Real Housewives, etc.)  I am addicted to what some may call not-so-trashy reality TV (Top Chef, Project Runway, etc.)

Fact...

I have not updated the music on my ipod for approximately 2 years.  I'm too lazy to figure out what songs I want to download and sync up!

Fact...

I eat cereal dry.  I hate milk so cereal must be dry.  The only cereal I'll eat with milk is Rice Krispies and I only use chocolate milk for that!  (Go try it now, you'll be addicted.)

Fact...

I am addicted to lip gloss/balm.  I probably have 8 in my purse, quite a few in my work desk drawers, more in my car, some on my nightstand, some at my vanity, etc.  It's everywhere and I love it.  My current favs: old school Carmex, Nivea, and e.l.f. hypershine lip gloss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fact...

Going to Target and just walking around is like therapy to me.  It makes me happy, even if I don't buy anything.

Fact...

I avoid conflict at all costs.  I love watching drama if I'm not involved but HATE being involved in any sort of argument or disagreement! 

Fact...

I don't like most breakfast foods.  I enjoy a nice belgian waffle and also like [dry] cereal, but otherwise, count me out!

Fact...

I'm addicted to smoothies.  I might need one right this moment.

Fact...

I do not wear khakis.  Maybe this is because while in HS, I had two jobs where I had to wear khakis every day.  For some reason, I hate them now.  I wear black pants, gray pants, jeans, or comfy pants at home!

Fact...

My favorite socks are knee socks.  I get cold very easily and love having tall socks.  Please note: these socks are never plain, they are usually crazy colors and patterns. :)

Another Award!

The lovely Michelle over at Brunette & Blessed gave me a blog award!  Apparently she digs my blog. :)  That's cool b/c I dig her blog, too!

Thank the person who gave you the award.
Thank you so much, Michelle!  You are so sweet to think of me and I love reading about your adventures in Cbus! :)

Share three random facts about yourself.
1. I am a huge book nerd.  I love reading books and cannot convince myself to get a Kindle.  I get most of my books at the library, but I have quite the collection at home, too.  Some of my favorite authors include James Patterson, Harlan Coben, Nicholas Sparks, and Jodi Picoult.  Don't even get me started on children's books.....obsessed! 

2. I am one of those people who is almost never satisfied with the temperature.  I'm not one to complain but my "comfort range" is probably a range of 5-10 degrees.  No joke.  I am usually cold or hot, rarely "just perfect".  That's just how it is!  The one place where I felt "just perfect" almost always was in Hawaii during our honeymoon.  I swear it never got too hot there and it never got cold (unless you were in A/C)!

3. I can't live without Target.  This one really doesn't need an explanation, but in case you don't understand.....dollar spot, Starbucks, clothing, groceries, home decor, beauty products, accessories.  I can get it all and it's affordable!  Walking into Target makes me feel happy.  I'm lucky enough to have 2 Targets within 5.5 miles of my house...one is less than 5 minutes.  SCORE!

Pass this award onto five others.
Ashley @ Everyday with AME
Lindsey @ Worth the Wait
Judy @ KinderTastic
Mandy @ Journey to I Do
Brittany @ From Two to Four

Bucket List update!

If you've explored my blog a bit, you might have seen my bucket list a.k.a. my 30 Before 30!  I have been meaning to update this list for quire some time, but never got around to it.........

1. Paint our master bedroom & bathroom.  This is "scheduled" to be done this weekend.  AKA that is when my momma said she would come over to paint our bedroom (it's my birthday gift)!  I plan on painting the bathroom while she does the bedroom.

2. Visit the Grand Canyon.  We went to Sedona, AZ in June 2011 and were able to take a day trip to see the amazing Grand Canyon.  Words cannot describe it.  It looks like a painting even in real life!

3.  Visit Key West and take a picture at the southernmost point.  We visited in March 2011 and had tons of fun.  We spent most of our time "on the mainland" and only 1 night, 2 days in Key West, but we still were able to see a lot!

6. Get rid of antique dining room furniture.  This furniture was handed down to us from my husband's grandparents.  Although it was a nice antique set, it didn't match our decor (AT ALL) and it was way too big for our space.  The dining set was picked up last week to be consigned at a local place and I sold the [non-matching] chairs separately to someone I work with.  Cross your fingers that our dining set sells for a decent price and within the allotted 90 days!

 9. Run a mile.  I finally completed this task in August 2011!  I didn't think I could do it, but I had a great cheerleader, hehe.  That cheerleader would be my hubby and he was very supportive during my slow run!  I'm planning on doing this more often, but so far, I've only gone on two 1-mile runs....

after my first mile run in 8 years!

 11. Try a new food.  This was completed during our trip to Sedona, AZ.  We visited Red Rock BBQ restaurant because it was right down the road from our hotel.  I wasn't planning on trying a new food there, but accidents happen, right?!  My pulled chicken sandwich was served with sweet potato fries (yum!) as well as some sort of deep fried corn.  Obviously the deep fried corn was my new food.  I thought they were hush puppies, but I still don't completely understand what they were...... This pic is courtesy of Google since I didn't have my camera that night.

 
 20. Organize my recipes.  I'm in the process of doing this, but it's close to being done.  I made a cute binder and I'm now in the [long] process of typing up all of my recipes.  I try to remember to do this while I'm just sitting around, but lately I haven't been sitting around very often!  You can see my binder in this post.

22.  Find a new church.  This is on my list because I haven't been going to church lately.  The reason I haven't been going is because I haven't been feeling like I'm going for me...I've felt like I was going as a duty or obligation.  I want to go to church because I am getting something out of it, not because I am supposed to go.  (Do you like that reverse italicizing?  Pretty smart, eh?)  Either way, I went to a church in my area this past Sunday and really enjoyed it.  I'm still going to try a few others, but I'm on the right path!

28. Get highlights in my hair again. This was crossed off my list in June 2011.  I got a coupon in the mail for 50% off any color services at a nice salon near me (where I also had a massage gift certificate) so I made it a spa day and got a massage and highlights!  I wanted my highlights to be a bit more noticeable, but at least you can't see them growing out now!

Before highlights with my sister-friend Kelli!

After highlights with Kel again! :)

Meet the Teacher Monday!

I'm linking up today for the kick off of Teacher Week 2011.  Click the button above to join in on the fun!
 

Tell us a little something about you...

Last year's school picture :)

I'm Emily.  I'm 26.  I'm a wife, mother why did I write that?!  I'm only a mother to my furbabies, oops! Anyway, I'm a wife, sister, daughter, friend, teacher, etc.  Hubby and I have been married for a little over 3 years, but together almost 9.  Please don't call us newlyweds just because we don't have a baby yet!  I grew up in the 'burbs and still live in work in the 'burbs.  I love it and wouldn't have it any other way!  (Unless there was a beach nearby.......)  I teach because I wanted a get rich quick plan.  Joking (obviously).  I teach because it is my passion and I love having one of the most rewarding careers out there!  On my blog you'll find teaching ideas and pictures, day to day activities, crafts and DIY projects, food posts, and other randomness!

How long have you been teaching?

This is more complicated than it should be.  This is my third year teaching in a public school system, but the first year I was just a substitute.  Last year I worked as a Reading Specialist and this year I am doing that again as well as teaching Kindergarten Intervention.  I'm very excited to actually have a class of my own this year instead of having students for a few months and having to let them go!  I also taught Pre-Kindergarten for about 3 years while I was in college!

You might not know...

I used to work in the corporate world!  I paid my way through college and worked full time (two jobs at one point).  I started college working at a tanning salon, but wasn't making enough money (even as a manager and living at my momma's)!  I got hired at a corporate office for a quick service restaurant chain in '04 and worked there until '09 when I graduated.  I was very lucky to be able to start with an 8-5 schedule and then get promoted and work very flexible hours as long as I got my work done and hours completed.  I don't miss the work I did there, but I definitely miss my co-workers and the freedom of working in an office (get up to potty, grab a drink/snack ANYTIME I wanted)!  
 

What are you looking most forward to this school year?

I'm most looking forward to having a class of my own!  I'm also traveling this year between two new (to me) buildings so I'm looking forward to developing a lot of new relationships with the staff of both buildings!

What do you need to improve?

I would like to work on my stress!  I am a bit type-A (ok, totally) and I get way too stressed about silly things.  I need to do yoga or something but I don't have the patience!

I also would like to improve my time management skills.  Since I'll be traveling between two schools this year, I really need to pay attention to the clock to make sure I'm getting to my second school on time every day.  I also don't want to be going to school super early or staying super late. 

What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?

My Mr. Sketch markers are for sure necessary for my chart paper!  Love the scented and unscented.  I also love RSVP pens (I know, so 1997)!  I prefer the fine point but this year I couldn't find multicolor ink in the fine point so I had to get medium point....growl!

I also love containers.  I like to put EVERYTHING in containers.  I think it makes everything look so much more neat and organized...which makes me happy! :) 

 I also love whiteboards.  I have chalkboards but I bring in as many whiteboards as possible (lap boards, hanging white board, easel, etc.) because they're so much easier (and fun) to write on!  Plus I love being able to use different colors!

I wish I was allowed to do this!