Archives for August 2013

back-to-school // a teaching list.

August 26, 2013

Things to remember:

Get to work early, don’t stay too late.

Teach kindness first, subjects second.

Stay on top of the papers before the stack gets too high.

Drink lots of water {you always forget}.

Read all the chapter books {and picture books, too}.

Work hard, have fun.

Show love.

Be you.

Today I started my new teaching job. This year, I’ll be working in a brand new district, in a brand new grade {2nd!} and I am THE MOST excited {and anxious, too}. I had my new teacher orientation today and I kind of feel like I won the lottery. The value and respect for education in this community is extraordinary and I feel incredibly lucky to get to be a part of it. I’m proud of myself for getting here and honored and humbled to be able to be doing what I {with all my heart} LOVE TO DO.

Turning the page to a new and exciting chapter… the kids come next Tuesday and I can’t wait.

{a favorite post about teaching here.}

{printable poster found here.}

15 Comments · Filed Under: teaching ·

{more} summer snapshots.

August 8, 2013

snapshots 1

Just popping in to say hello! It’s been quite the eventful August so far and there is nothing to do about it but be thankful. The end of the summer has always been the busiest for me, and this one proves no different. I’m in the midst of this adoration of summer, but the teacher in me is starting to get the itch. It’s one part pre-nostalgic and one part nervously excited.

I LOVE summer {the most}, but gosh darnit, I love a new school year, too.

Oh, life!

I read this quote from Bonnie Tsang on instagram this morning that made me smile… “First blessing, woke up to a 5am alarm clock. Second blessing, got off the bed for a life worth attending. Third blessing, THIS {in which she posted a glorious picture of the sunrise}.” I loved it and felt like I could connect instantly, especially now in this time of adventure and freedom. I feel especially blessed this summer with all I have done {and still have yet to do}! I want to tuck these moments away into my blankets for a reminder when days are short and the winds start to get cold. Luckily, I have this blog to look back on, and next summer to look forward to, and hopefully lots of happenings in the in-between… may life’s adventures always be aplenty. I wish this for me, but I also most sincerely wish this for all of you! ♥

I finished up my summer gig in Charlestown last Friday and Zanner and I headed straight to the thruway for the long drive to Syracuse. We spent the weekend dancing at my cousin’s wedding {the last of the bunch!}, spending time with family, and thoroughly enjoying the Skaneateles water. There really is nothing better than home. Zan had to drive back for work Monday, but I’ve been enjoying Syracuse/Skan-town to the nines {my sister’s here, too!} and we even took a mid-week trip up to Lake Placid, New York, which, if you know me, is a major favorite— and absolutely a place worth visiting if you’ve never been!

I’ll be back next week with some Nikon photos to share {I’ve been doing a little practicing with my new lens, which is, in a word, DELICIOUS}.

Have a happy weekend! And LONG LIVE SUMMER!

{Elizabeth! I’m so glad you love
Joy Prouty’s instagram
as much as I do!
Such a treat, right?}

Some more of my favorite
instagrammers to follow:

Mary | Lauren | Sean | Jenn

10 Comments · Filed Under: celebrations, instagram, life, summer ·

dougie and ee get married.

August 5, 2013

You know those people who are just your favorite?

The ones that are beautiful on the inside and out? The ones who are kind and funny and who you can just be your absolute self around? The ones who you can sing with and dance with and always hold hands?

EE is one of those friends for me. One day were just neighbors on our hall in college and the next day we were friends. Honest to goodness forever friends. A college lover at it’s finest, we laughed together, we danced together, we drank together, we sang together. She is pure GOLD and hands down one of my absolute FAVORITES.

A few years ago Edith {EE!} met Dave {Dougie} and I remember her telling me a short time after they’d started dating that she’d found her soul mate, which basically made the happiest because that’s what I’ve always believed that she would find. Someone to love and who loved her {like crazy} for all the days of their lives. And then last fall they got engaged and this summer was her wedding and I am not exaggerating when I say I had the. best. time. There is nothing better than being at a wedding with your college bests. BLISS. 100% bliss. The ceremony was so perfectly EE with poems and songs and live music and happiness. My mouth was so wide in a smile and I couldn’t stop if I tried.

Here’s to making memories with forever friends and celebrating people in love…