Catch up

How is it that I can make time to follow-up on my favorite blogs, but not write my own. Hmmm,

This morning I was supposed to teach swim lessons. I might not have mentioned that, but I've been swimming since sixth grade, teaching lessons since eighth and I coached in and after high school. Swimming I know pretty well. Anyways, for the last three summers I've been using the Man's bosses home pool to teach lessons. The Man works at a Pool and Spa place, small family business that does work all around our area. His boss and wife are really nice and they've been kind enough to let me use their pool. Last summer I was sure it was going to be my last, but with my altered schedule I had seven days open. I got my two favorite families all lined up. Sure enough last night the boss' wife calls, their teenage daughter decided to have a sleep over and they're going to camp out- THANKS!

The Man and I keep talking that when we buy our house we'll look at building a pool. Our city is perfect for private lessons so we'd pay it off in a summer or two. We just have to buy a house, which means I just have to get a job. The Man who's very calm about the whole situation knows that it will all work out, deep down I know that it will too. I'm just ready to get started.

Wedding wise:
This week I'm starting to work on our programs, again a DIY project. I think that's part of my favorite aspect of our wedding. We're doing so much ourselves, there's meaning behind it all. At times it's consuming, but I love all of it.

I'm also going to practice making the cookies for our favors. We have a couple of different sugar cookie recipes that should be good. Only 400 some to make!

Another giveaway!

How cute are these?

Just lovely at http://justlovelykatherine.blogspot.com/

is celebrating her 100th post by giving one of these monogram wall art pieces away. I'm pretty sure if I don't win I might be looking to buy one for our future house. I love monograms, very southern. Which I need more of in our northern world. They are available on etsy which is one of my new favorite shopping sites! They have everything for great prices.

More to come tomorrow! I swear.

Fun give away!

Real quick Megan over at Pretty in Pink Megan is giving away a custom designed header by Front Porch designs. I checked out her site at there are LOTS of cute things, I love, love the stationary.

Be sure to check out Megan's blog: http://prettyinpinkmegan.com

The Power of Target

What is it about Target? You go in for one or two things, you walk away with five or ten. Today, while running errands with my mom and son we popped into our favorite store. I went in for this:

My favorite face lotion. Recommended by my dermatologist in high school. I had rough skin in high school, I was an extremely active swimmer and acne runs in the family so I needed some help in the face department. Anyways, so I went in for some of the BEST LOTION EVER! Not greasy, and it actually moisturizes. I use it in the morning and at night. Dry skin is a thing of the past.

We ended up taking home:

This blue one was only $10!! I'm going to wear it Saturday for our Couples wedding shower.

This pink on was $24. Perfect for the rehearsal dinner. It'll be nice and cool, perfect colors too.

This afternoon I'm heading out to the Man's parents house where the wedding's going to be. We planted the pots for reception. I can't wait to check up on them and she how they're growing.

Alright, I'm supposed to be adding to an online discussion which I've procrastinated since yesterday afternoon- whoops :)

Yeah class!

So today was my first class for my second (and last) summer of Master's courses. Turns out that instead of spending the next three whole weeks inside from 9 to 12. We only have to report to class Monday's and the rest in online!! SWEET! (I know, no one says that anymore) I have to work on my thesis A LOT. I just have to finish up the results to my study, it shouldn't take long, I just have to put aside wedding things and type it.

Our rehearsal invites are all finished. I love the DIY projects. I can personalize everything to exactly what we want and match our wedding. Now we just have to get working on the programs. Only six more weeks until the big day. Can't wait!

Oh the week its been.

I'm out of my classroom. Wednesday I packed the rest of the teaching materials, my stuff, and turned in my keys. A lot of the staff stopped by and wished me luck, asked where I would be next year. It's just hard when so many people tell you you're a great teacher, that you did a wonderful job and yet you can't find a placement. A district in the cities just let go of 178 teachers, not a typo 178!!! That's so many people to be up against. A few more schools in the area have openings so I'm going to working on that today, along with my Master's thesis.

The hardest part was saying good-bye to my students. They were such an amazing class, I know I couldn't have had a better year. I learned so much about teaching and myself. Summer will be a blast. I just have to get through this week, store all my teaching things for the summer and hope for the best.

On a lighter note, we picked up all the materials for our Rehearsal Dinner invites. I'm really into the DIY cards. That and I couldn't find affordable ones that I really liked. Next weekend is our last shower, the Man's be-day and father's day. Present capital for the man is what it sounds like. I'm hoping since it's the Man's side they'll get him some of the man gifts he picked. Not that I mind the "girlier" gifts as he likes to call them.

Okay, enough procrastinating. Time to land a job.

Hiatus- over!

So I survived the field trip. It was amazing. The students were all so great and well- behaved, we had the typical fifth grade issues but nothing too serious. The parents that helped us out where so wonderful. We did have one mom who was kinda weird (there's always one). A couple of parents even took the time to say how much they enjoyed their students being in my class and the work that I've put in. I know I'm still a new teacher, but being in the position of not knowing if I'll have a job next year or where I'll be working. These are things I need to hear every now and then to remind me I'm in the right profession.

So we left Monday early morning and returned Wednesday afternoon. After all the kids were picked up, stuff was put away, I went and got myself one of these babies.

A Venti- black ice tea sweetened- YUM! I also picked up a chocolate cookie. I know, I know, wedding in about 50 days but sometimes a break is needed.

Thursday afternoon was fifth grade recognition. Which was kind of a graduation for the kids even though they aren't done until Tuesday. Then Friday we had another trip to a fish hatchery. We took the kids to where our state breeds fish to stock our 10,000 lakes. They had lunch then we took them fishing. We didn't really catch anything but it was a great time. I did however realize again how horrible a person one of the other teachers is. A student who is considered special ed, who's shown little improvement in math all year had a lot of homework that he hadn't completed. For one, he didn't know how to do it. Two, because of the way this teacher had treated him he didn't care. So this teacher made him sit under a tree and complete his work instead of fish. This is a student that has never been fishing and will probably never get to go again. URGH!! I can not stand this woman, seriously she makes the teaching profession look so bad.

Onto better things the Man and I went out to wedding this evening. I think we clean up nice.

The wedding was supposed to be outdoors but it rained all day and all evening. Luckily it was a small wedding and they had the ceremony in the house. A great preview and reminder to us that we need a back up plan especially since ours is outdoors. I did however where the bra I plan to wear under my wedding dress and it felt good. One less thing to worry about.

I can't believe our day is 49 days out. We did something really exciting this morning- WE MAILED THE INVITES. So exciting, I was peeved we had to add an ugly Ram stamp because of the additional weight. We were .1 oz over. I had the pre-weighed but the address label apparently was really heavy, who would have thought? At least the inside is beautiful. Here's our pics I made the Man snap, he thinks I'm crazy. Oh well.