December Currently

Listening: to Law & Order: SVU - I am looooving these marathons on USA lately!
Loving: that we finally have our Christmas decorations up!
Thinking: I'm so proud of myself for making such good grades this semester! Dean's List and Straight A's
Wanting: I really wanna go the Christmas lights around town!
Needing: Family Time - it's my favorite thing of the year!
Favorite Tradition: Christmas Open House - we've had it ever year for as long as I can remember and I absolutely love it!

My ring

Now I'm not a professional photographer and I will never claim to be, but here are a few pictures of my ring! I fall more in love with it every time I look at it!

and here's me and my handsome fiance :)

It's Official!

We're getting married!

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls!

So, I loooove Chipotle! Like, love it. It's an addiction that an old high school teacher of mine, the wonderful Molly Stillman, got my hooked on during my senior year of high school. Now normally I order the same thing when I go there: Chicken Soft Tacos, and I love them, but I may have to start branching out to the burrito bowl after trying this recipe at home! This was probably one of the most amazing things I've ever had and I couldn't get enough. We had it set up as a make-your-own-bowl type thing and everyone but my mom put everything together and devoured it! It was just that good! The original recipe can be found here. It called for a can of diced tomatoes, but we found that fresh tomatoes worked just fine (especially since we grow our own tomatoes and have them coming out of our ears). It also called for things like guacamole and seasonings, but we didn't use any of that.

Copycat Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts, shredded
• 1 (14 oz.) can black beans
• 1 c. sour cream
• fresh tomatoes, chopped
• 1 (14 1/2 oz.) can corn
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning
• 1 (8 oz.) Taco rice
• shredded lettuce
• 1-2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
• sour cream
• 2 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

1. Shred the chicken, add taco seasoning, set aside.
2. Cook the rice according to the directions on the box.
3. Heat on medium-high heat a large frying pan; add 2 tbsp. olive oil.
4. Add chicken and cook together.
5. Open the cans of black beans and corn and put in small bowls (I recommend heating them up).
6. Once chicken and rice are done, you can start plating.
7. In a bowl or on a plate (a bowl works better), place lettuce, rice, chicken, and then add toppings of your choice.

Preschool 2's Handprint Flag

So I saw this idea on Pinterest a few weeks ago and I couldn't help myself, I knew I had to make it with my kids! Since our theme for the month is America the Beautiful and it's the beginning of the school year, I figured this would be the perfect craft for the class to do together. My kids had a blast doing it and they kept wanting to come back and do more! I used a standard size piece of poster board (though I think it would be cute if you made it a little bit bigger and foam board would probably hold up better). Everyone really liked the idea and we've gotten lots of compliments on it so far!

September Currently

Here's my September Currently! Thanks to Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the linky!

Listening: "Goodbye Town" by Lady Antebellum. This song is my new addiction and I can't stop listening to it. I love everything about Lady A.
Loving: My new job! It's awesome! Stressful, but awesome! I'm really enjoying my kids and my class and the people I work with! It's a very nice change!
Thinking: How blessed I am to have wonderful parents. Especially wonderful parents that take me to the Emergency Room at 4:45am when I'm in excruciating pain (like this morning). My dad really is awesome!
Wanting: FALL! I'm so over summer! I hate it! I can't stand being hot and sweating. I'm so ready for chilly nights and sweaters and boots and Thanksgiving. I love everything about fall.
Needing: Even though I'm now on Hydrocodone and it's helping, I'm still in pain and I'm unable to do anything, so I'd like to get better soon!
Love Yourself Spot: 1) File Folder Games: one of the things I'm helping Bree with for the class is working on File Folder Games and Learning Centers. I have tons of ideas but I really need to get rolling and get them done. 2) Exercise More: I've been slacking so much since I started working again and I hate it! I really need to get my ass moving again! 3) Read a Book: I want to read a book, from beginning to end, and I want it to be for more than just school.

Lesson Plans: Sports and Trophies

I had my second working interview this morning (at the same place as the last one), but this was with an older preschool group. I had to do another lesson and activity and my theme for this week was sports! So we started off by reading Clifford: Sports Day! It was a cute book and the kids loved it. Then after that we played a pattern game where the kids had to tell me which sport related item came next in the group. The kids were really into this and they did such a good job, they're super smart! After that, we decorated our own trophies! I found the idea for this craft on Pinterest and I just couldn't resist! I figured it was unique and probably not something the kids had ever gotten to do (or would get to do). They were a hit! Tony, mom, and I put the trophies together over the weekend (to save time) and then I brought them into school with me and had the kids decorate them. They got to use foam stickers (hearts, stars, and sports shapes) and glitter pens. While they were working on them I went around and asked each kid their name and what letter it begin with (they all did really well at this part). I then gave them the appropriate foam letter and let them attach it to their trophy. They turned out super cute and the kids loved them! I wish I had taken a picture. Below is a picture of my pattern board/game and a picture of the trophy that I made. I've also attached a copy of my lesson plan for the activity! Hope you enjoy!

Washington Redskins Training Camp

On Friday, Tony and I got to see the Redskins at their new training camp here in Richmond. My dad's company got a bunch of free passes and then one of the supervisors was given VIP passes from a guy at ESPN Radio. It was pretty sweet to be able to get up close to the field and get some good shots in! I was super excited to finally use my zoom lens for more than just experimenting! After the practice was over, Tony and I got to watch the guys go back to the locker-room and we were able to get autographs and meet some of the players! It was super cool! 

Here are some pictures from the day. I know they're not all great (I'm still getting used to my zoom lens) but I think some of them turned out pretty good. I don't have any fancy editing equipment so these were just touched up in Windows Live Photo Gallery. I hope you guys enjoy!

Preview: Washington Redskins Training Camp

Today, Tony and I went to the Washington Redskins Training Camp. It was beyond awesome and I had so much fun. We were able to get VIP passes through my dad's work so we got to get super close and we got autographs! I took lots of good pictures but I haven't edited them yet (it probably won't get done until Sunday sometime). Here's a preview of the day though!

 

the boys at practice

 

our VIP passes! yeah ESPN! thanks for the awesome experience!

 

my hat with autographs

and the best part of the day!

I got to meet Kirk Cousins!

 

and Ryan Kerrigan!

so awesome! keep an eye out for the actual pictures!

August Currently

here's my August currently! I got it from Oh' Boy 4th Grade's Facebook!

Listening: "When I See You Smile" by Uncle Sam. one of my favorite songs of all time! It was actually playing in an old home video that I've been watching. It was on a Touched By An Angel soundtrack that I got for Christmas when I was 8.
Loving: It's been nice the past few days, but today it's only 74 outside and it feels wonderful! Not to mention it's raining and gloomy and there's thunder rumbling in the background.
Thinking: I want to go to the beach so darn bad! Tony and I have a trip planned for next weekend (August 10th & 11th) for our anniversary and I'm praying that we'll still get to go!
Wanting: A job more than anything! I'm so bored and I want to get back to teaching. Not to mention I need the money. Trying to save up for a wedding and a house is hard when only one person is working.
Needing: A job, again. It's really taking a toll on my self-esteem not working. I'm going crazy just sitting here and I feel really pathetic.
B2s must haves: A new purse (which I got last week from my mom's store for only $9.99, it's wonderful and it fits me perfectly. I love it). A new planner (I actually bought this last Christmas but I never used it for some reason. so a few weeks ago I took a day to set it up. It's really nice and wonderfully laid out and I can't wait to start using it, so hopefully something will come up and I'll be able to put it to use). Starbucks gift-cards (with winter coming, this is always a necessity, not to mention that once I start going back to school (and hopefully working again) full time I'll need all the caffeine I can get!)

Hope you guys enjoyed!

Georgia on My Mind

"Well, I'm headed north to what I swore I wanted; and trying not to buy into my doubts. But I just can't seem to keep myself from wondering, why I'm jealous of all them headlights headed south."

I've been hearing this song on the radio a lot lately and haven't really listened to it much, but I heard it on the radio this morning and this part brought tears to my eyes. I've been missing my Poarch's a lot lately, but even more so since I got to spend two wonderful days with them at the beginning of the month. I often question whether I made the right decision by not moving to Salem/Roanoke a few years ago for school. I would never have met Tony or had some of the experiences that I've had, but there's just something about this place (and more so these people) that will forever hold a special place in my heart. If I am ever given the chance to move down there, I'm taking it.

Hearing this song today just made me feel an overwhelming amount of emotions that I didn't know I was holding in. I miss my family and the feeling of love and support that I get when I'm there. There's just something about that place that I can't find anyone else, no matter how hard I've tried, it's just not replaceable. I'm jealous of all those cars making their way there tonight, and anytime; it's just not fair.

When the Going Gets Tough

When things get stressful, I freak out. I have horrible anxiety and I get all confused and depressed. But lately I've been remembering one of my favorite sayings "I can conquer the world with one hand as long as you're holding the other." As I think about this saying it really helps me to get through the tough times knowing that as long as I have Tony by my side there isn't anything I can't get through. Whether works out the way I want them too or not, I know that he's always there for me and that he will always love me. I have never known a love like that, and to experience something so sincere and intense is hard for me; it's so new (even after 2.5 years) to feel this kind of bond with someone. I am so thankful to have him in my life and I am so excited for us to be starting this new chapter together! Finally! I know that no matter what happens over the next few months that I can make it through all this and be okay as long as he is next to me. I'm ready to take on the world! Watch out!

I love you baby, to infinity and beyond, forever and ever.

Tools Lesson Plan

So for my working interview on Wednesday I had to come up with my own 15-20 minute lesson, write up a lesson plan, and prepare any other parts and pieces of the lesson. I was super nervous about this because I've never written my own lesson plan, at least not without some kind of assistance. But after browsing the web and talking with my mom I came up with something!

We're going to read a book, which believe it or not, was harder to find than you would think! I'm not really thrilled with my book choice, but I couldn't find anything better (my local library was out of everything). After that we're gonna talk about other tools that you can find around the house, where those tools go, and what those tools do! Then we're gonna put the icons on the chart that I created under their location. Lastly we're gonna make our own personal tool belts at art!

 my tool belt!

 my chart!

Here is a copy of my lesson plan, the icons I used to make my chart, and the tool belt tool outline! Hope you enjoy!