What I'm Thankful for...

Day 1 - I'm thankful for my parents. Not gonna lie; they're pretty cool. And helpful. I kind of like them; they're keepers. Plus, they tolerate me. I can be annoying, but they still love me.

Day 2 - I'm thankful for my sisters (I guess both of them!). They're pretty great to talk to, and now I can even give them fashion advice, and they actually listen! They're keepers as well.

Day 3 - I'm thankful for my job. As much as my students drive me nuts day in and day out, I'm glad I have somewhere to go every day and do what I love. Plus, I like them sometimes. Yeah, sometimes.

Day 4 - I'm thankful for my coworkers. We vent to each other. We make each other laugh. We can take a stressful day and turn it into something not so bad. I love them!

Day 5 - I'm thankful for my boyfriend. He's pretty great (even though we can drive each other nuts sometimes!). I really like him, and he makes me happy. And he makes me smile.

Day 6 - I'm thankful for the weekend. I get 2 days away from work, and they are much needed. A 3-day weekend is even better, and they need to happen more often.

Day 7 - I'm thankful for photography. It's such a great release for me, and I love every part of it.

Day 8 - I'm thankful for hiking. I hate nature, but for some weird reason, I love hiking. Good conversations. Good exercise. Good times.

Day 9 - I'm thankful for my iPhone. It calls. It takes pictures. It texts. It plays games. It gives directions. It checks social media. It checks mail. I love it.

Day 10 - I'm thankful for my hair. I can wear it straight or wavy. Not everyone can say that. I love that I have options. I also like my color. I guess I'm pretty lucky.

Day 11 - I'm thankful for boots. I have brown, black, and gray, and I love wearing them. They dress up an outfit, and they're comfortable. Definitely a favorite.

Day 12 - I'm thankful for cold weather. I'd much rather be cold than hot, and I love this time of year! You can always add layers and blankets, and it definitely feels like the holiday season with this cold weather.

Day 13 - I'm thankful for shopping. Wow, who am I? I never thought I'd ever say that. I really do enjoy shopping though.

Day 14 - I'm thankful for hugs. I really do love a good hug. Especially after a rough day. Hugs not drugs. Remember that.

Day 15 - I'm thankful for Friday. I really do love this day. Plus, Grimm is on Fridays, and that helps too!

Day 16 - I'm thankful for Chinese food. I could eat it every week. No really, I could. Pork steamed dumplings. Sesame chicken. Crab wontons. Yes, please!

Day 17 - I'm thankful for sleeping in. I love not having to set an alarm. 

Day 18 - I'm thankful for tea. When you have a sore throat, it really helps!

Day 19 - I'm thankful for sweatpants. Seriously, they rock! After a long day, sweatpants are the way to go.

Day 20 - I'm thankful for hump day. Knowing you're halfway through the week will help you get through the last 2 days.

Day 21 - I'm thankful for heat. As much as I LOVE cold weather, I also like when I don't freeze to death.

Day 22 - I'm thankful that American Education week is over! I really hate this week because it's a lot of pressure as a teacher, and all eyes are on you. I'm glad my kids were pretty well behaved this week - I'm also thankful for that!

Day 23 - I'm thankful for Walmart. It really does have everything...well mostly everything.

Day 24 - I'm thankful for football. I love a Sunday where I can watch football all day and relax. It's even better when the Patriots are on TV, and they win!

Day 25 - I'm thankful for short weeks! We only have 2.5 days this week because of Thanksgiving on Thursday, and honestly, it's much needed, especially right after American Education week.

Day 26 - I'm thankful for half days. I love when the kids leave early.

Day 27 - I'm thankful for PBIS assemblies. I don't have to plan anything, and it's a great way for the students to have fun.

Day 28 - I'm thankful my Mom can cook a delicious Thanksgiving meal. If I had to cook Thanksgiving dinner, we'd all starve. No seriously. Actually, we'd be eating Chinese food. Thankfully she's a great cook!

Day 29 - I'm thankful for sales. I like a good sale price while shopping; it makes spending money a little easier.

Day 30 - I'm thankful it's the holiday season! I love this time of year, and Christmas is right around the corner. Christmas music, lights, presents, Christmas movies...I love everything about it!

Current favorite things.

• Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" - I'm a little embarrassed to be obsessed with a Miley song, but I can't deny it.
• My boyfriend. Hehe.
• Listening to Smarter Than Reagan on the radio. When I get 5/5, I feel pretty good about myself. 
• Cheese-its. They're good.

My first year.

I'm sitting at my computer and doing 4th quarter report cards on a Sunday afternoon. Normal people might be annoyed and upset having to waste their Sunday afternoon, but I'm sitting here smiling. I did it. I survived (almost!) my first year of teaching. I finally got a job doing what I love. So when most people would cringe about doing report cards on the weekend, I'm smiling and enjoying it.


Good things come to those who wait.


:)

May the fourth be with you...

Me: May the fourth be with you.
Sister: Yeah, I saw it all over Facebook.
(a good 2 minutes later)
Sister: Oh I get it! May the "force" be with you!


Wow.

Love you?

If I told my family I loved them, and they actually responded back with "I love you too", I'd think something was wrong.

Here are the responses I got from my family after I texted them, "Love you".

Sister: "Why are you saying that? haha"
(does there have to be a reason!? ha)

Dad: "Are you watching the news?"
(he completely ignored what I said)

Mom: "Ditto."
(because apparently "Love you too" would take too long to type back? I just don't know...)

And there it is...ha!

Funfetti Cake Batter Cookies

I'm not normally a baker (trust me when I say that), but I love making these cake batter cookies! They are easy and delicious! You can't go wrong with this recipe; I know you'll enjoy them as much as I do!

1 Funfetti Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Oil
1 cup of M&Ms (or chocolate chips, sprinkles...whatever you want to add!)

1. Turn your oven on to 350 degrees.
2. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
3. Place cookies on baking sheet.
4. Bake cookies for about 11-13 minutes.

The recipe makes about 2-3 dozen cookies. The Funfetti cake mix adds fun colors to the cookies, but I've also used a yellow cake mix with chocolate chips. It's fun to experiment different recipes; all are good!

ENJOY!

Kids are hilarious.

So one of my students today was talking about new teachers, and goes, "A new teacher is when she looks like a noodle." I looked at him like he was crazy. I then asked, "Am I a noodle?", and he immediately replies with, "Yes". I had no idea what he was talking about so I asked, "Well, what makes me a noodle?" 

And he goes (all serious), "Well, you're skinny, and noodles are skinny." 

I started cracking up!! First, it makes no sense. Second, I don't consider myself skinny BY ANY MEANS. It was the best thing I'd heard all day.

This kid will be getting all A's on his report card! Haha JK, but seriously, he called me skinny. He should get something haha ;)

Current favorite things.

• The Following
• Ordering phone cases
• Candles
• Grimm

ALL MOVED IN!

I moved into my apartment yesterday!! I love it! Packing and unpacking has been exhausting, but I'm finally all moved in! :)

New favorite song.

"A Thousand Years" by Glee Cast 

(original by Christina Perri)

Marley:
The day we met,
Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart...
...beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

Marley and Jake:
One step closer

Marley:
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Jake:
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is

Marley and Jake:
I will be brave
I will not let anything take 

Jake:
away
What's standing in front 

Marley and Jake:
of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Oooo, Oooo, 
I'll love you for a thousand more
Oooo, Oooo, Oooo
One step closer

Marley:
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you 

Jake and Marley:
for a thousand more
And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
I will love you 
thousand years
Mmmm, Mmmm

Kids say the funniest things!

My friend and I created a Quotes by Kids Twitter account a couple years ago, but I might be deleting it so I wanted to post what we had on here. We worked at a Before and Aftercare program with grades K-5.

They're pretty funny, not gonna lie.

1. "I am thankful for my Mom because she borned me." - 1st grader
2. "I want rocks for Christmas so I can throw them at teenagers." - 1st grader
3. "I am thankful for my family and friends and ants." - 1st grader
4. "One day my Mom got a speeding ticket. I don't know what for. I was still in her tummy." - Kindergartener
5. "My first true love was my Mommy." - 1st grader
6. "My Mom tried to make a cookie, but it turned into a brownie!" - 1st grader
7. "Once I heard Santa land on my roof. But I was asleep." - 1st grader
8. "His haircut only looks good on him when he wears jeans." - 3rd grader
9. "Ow, my nuts." - 1st grader
10. "If I was stranded on a desert island, I would take a shell, a very pretty shell, and a very beautiful shell." - 1st grader
11. "I don't know how to play free play." - 1st grader
12. "That was a long day ago. Like when I was 4 or 3." - Kindergartener
13. "Mommy's turning 32, but she's going back to 29." - Kindergartener
14. "Randall's here. He's my Mom's friend. He's homeless." - 2nd grader
15. "In preschool, she knew about me being her boyfriend so I don't have to tell her." - Kindergartener
16. "Love is icky, red, slimy stuff." - 3rd grader
17. "She's a big trouble maker. Actually, we're taking her to the Doctor and a therapist." - 3rd grader
18. "When you smile, that means you're lying." - 1st grader
19. "I have the same bladder as my Mom." - 2nd grader
20. "My Mom had to put make-up on that's why I'm late." - Kindergartener
21. "Today's tomorrow right?" - Kindergartener

A new...mattress??

I'm moving out (did I mention that?) so I need a new bed/mattress. I had no idea how expensive mattresses can be! For all that money I'm spending, you'd think I would be sleeping on gold.

Oh well, I made the purchase! New bed and mattress...here I come!

An actual conversation.

I am a huge Patriots fan. My sister, on the other hand, doesn't really watch football or follow a specific team...

I swear we're not related.

I'm still mad about the Patriots losing to the Ravens.

:(

A guy noticed my earrings?

Guys compliment women on many different things, but today was a first for me. My family and I went to lunch at Ram's Head Tavern in Savage, MD. The host had a Patriots tie on so I decided to compliment him on my way out of the restaurant. He then responded, "I like your [Wes Welker] shirt and your [Patriots] earrings." Um, he noticed my earrings?? I don't think that's ever happened before? My hair is long, and 80% of the time it covers my earrings. It pretty much made my day. 

I'm happy to see that nice/cute Patriots fans exist in Maryland ;)


Oh, and LET'S GO PATRIOTS! BEAT THOSE RAVENS!

Stephanie Plum series.

I'm really liking the Stephanie Plum series by Jane Evanovich. I saw "One For the Money" with my Mom so I decided to read the series; I'm almost done with the first book.


Good stuff.