Home Sweet Home

We got the house! (insert squeals of glee here) So excited about moving in and getting settled into our beautiful new home! Can’t wait! We sign the lease August 30 and can move in after that! Yay! I’ve already done a little shopping for my room in the new house and have been anxious to get started on the packing! And dog shopping!

Other than the new house excitement, we just got back from Eastern Washington where we did a little camping/hoteling with Beth and her family and fiancé. It was really fun to spend time with her that didn’t involve wedding stuff. It’s not that I don’t enjoy wedding planning and prepping with her but it was nice to have another little mini-vacation. We spent all day at the lake, enjoyed campfires, played board games, read books, and just enjoyed doing nothing.

On Sunday, we (Mom and I) are hosting a bridal shower for Beth so tomorrow and the next few days will be devoted to getting ready for that, I’m excited! It’s going to be fun!! I still need to come up with a few shower games and then get some decoration stuff made. But most everything is planned and ready.

Busy, busy weekend ahead! :0)

Summer Wish List

I am currently fighting a terrible bout with allergies – stuffy nose, uncontrollable sneezing, and a headache – yuck. Hopefully things will calm down with the rain that’s falling outside, not exactly summer weather but if it’ll calm my allergies I’m all for it!

So, with all this spare time that I now find myself with, I’ve put together a wish list of things I’d like to do or hope to do this summer. The list is pretty long, so I’ll share a few of the highlights…

• Find a Job – Obviously I need to find myself some kind of employment for the next year.  Especially with the move that is 90% certain to be happening.  I’m going to start getting applications, cover letters, etc. out tomorrow.  I’m thinking it’s really unlikely that I’ll find a job teaching so my plan as of now is to go for subbing and Starbucks.

• Cooking – I’m creating a little list of recipes or dishes that I want to learn to cook (or attempt) this summer. First on the list is shrimp fajitas, followed at some point by Cauliflower Crust Pizza, Omlettes (hopefully after a lesson from my Dad), Caprese Salad, etc. Should be fun!

• No TV Once a Week – It may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, but I’m kind of  a TV junkie.  I don’t lie around all day watching TV, but I like to have it on as background noise. Whether it’s a movie, or TV streamed from Netflix or Hulu. I’m going to try to have one day each week where the TV, Computer, etc. is off all day long. We’ll see how it goes!

• Baking – Ever since I got my beautiful orange Kitchenaid mixer for my birthday in December I have been baking a lot more than normal.  I’m a pretty good cupcake maker, even making homemade funfetti frosting! (So much better than the canned stuff!) So in addition to coming up with more cupcake recipes I’m adding some other things I’d like to attempt to make.  On the list is macaroons, peanut butter pie, eclairs, coconut cake, etc.

• Go on a Date – So this is probably the one that will be the most challenging to accomplish, as I currently have no one to go on a date with. :0) It’s more like a hope I guess than a “To Do” I would love to go on a date, it’s been a very long time since I’ve had the chance to dress up a little and go hang out with a guy. So, we’ll see about this one.

• Become an Expert With my Camera – I recently got this lovely camera and while I know how to do all the basics, I’d really like to learn how to use all its fancy features! :0) So I’m going to try to go on a few little what I’m calling “Photo Walks.” If all else fails at least I’ll be an expert at the basics!

• Quiet Time Everyday – I’m not turning this into an item to be checked off a list, but I have been a real slacker lately about making time for God, and that’s something I really want to change. I have all this time and instead of doing meaningless things I need to be setting aside part of my day to spend time with God. To pray and immerse myself in the word.

There’s a lot more including walking with Tucker at least twice a week, going camping, Disney movie marathon, homemade ice cream, jello shots, roast marshmallows, dress up at least once a week, bicycle, sort through my closet and the storage unit, among other things, but that’s all for now! Happy Summer!

Summer, Day 3

It’s only the third day of summer break and I’m already feeling like I’ve run out of things to do. Which I know is not true, but I’m feeling tired and bored and trying to avoid going shopping. Not that I don’t have money to spend but I’m trying to save it for the move that will hopefully be happening later this summer.

Let’s see, I’ve cleaned my room, done laundry, painted my nails, sorted through clothes for give-aways, watched many episodes of “Glee,” looked into some school districts about job openings and the application process…and now I’m feeling like I have nothing else to do besides job applications. Which I should be doing but I want a few days of break without work. I am a little worried about finding a job especially before we move, but I am going to trust that God has a plan. I mean I’d be open to working at Starbucks or nannying again, God could have something totally different in store only time will tell.

But as for now i’m still bored. Maybe I need a to-do list of things to do this summer not just things that have to get done but fun things too. Hmmm…any suggestions? :0)

Summer, Day 1

It’s the first day of summer break! Well now the first evening I’m currently watching “Love and Other Drugs” Jake Gyllenhaal is gorgeous!

The end of the school year went well. It was weird, last year I was really emotional about the end of the year and this year I was sad, but ready to be done. I loved my students, but I was starting to feel burned out and just ready for a break.

Yesterday after the kids left and I had my room all packed up I stood in the doorway looking in at what was my classroom thinking about all that had happened in those four walls this year. It was happy and sad but I left with a smile proud about what my kids and I accomplished and not with tears like I did last year.

It got me to thinking if I’ll ever have a school that’s mine where I can set my roots and get attached to students and staff without feeling like my heart is being torn in two like last year, or just try to stay on the surface level like I felt I did this year. We’ll see what God’s plan is.

Anyway, it’s been a wonderful break so far aside from being super sun burned after field day. Mom and I got pedicures this morning and then did a little shopping. I got a few things including a purse but I’m still deciding if I’m going to keep it.

I have no major plans for the summer except for going to visit Kim and Tim for a few days in the beginning of July, so excited!!

So for now, my summer plans consist of sleeping in, job hunting, possibly moving, drinking lots of coffee, and hopefully blogging regularly. :0)

P.S. A totally unrelated and random note, I had a dream last night that I was dating a good friend’s brother. Interesting…