Back To School Linky!

Today I am linking up with The Primary Pack for their Back-To-School Linky Party. Even though I am not an elementary school teacher [anymore!], I do like to join in any linky party that I can! Join up so that I can check out your link! 

Week 1: What I Wore

The first week of school is always a fashion show for everyone in the building. Administrators and teachers want to dress up über-professionally in order to invoke authority and kiddos want to dress cool and en vogue in order to place themselves high up on the social ladder. I absolutely despise worrying about clothing. If I could get away with wearing sweatsuits everyday, I would gladly dress that way. I find worrying about clothing and makeup to be frivolous, but I understand the reasoning behind professional wear. As a society, we base impressions of a person's worthiness based on their appearance. Since I am teaching a college-level English class this year, I need to be up to snuff or the kids are going to eat me alive. I am still a work in progress [I relish sleeping in instead of doing my makeup, I need to be better at that!] and I am starting to enjoy clothing a bit more as I continue to lose weight. Check out my looks below!

Top and Pants: Old Navy
Glasses: Kate Spade
Sandals: Mossimo by Target

Sweater, Top and Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: H&M

Sweater and Leggings: Nordstrom Rack
Dress:Old Navy
Shoes: Sport by Anne Klein

Top and Jeans: Old Navy

Top: From a gift shop in Berlin
Jeans: Old Navy

September Currently!

Hello All!! As you can see, I still haven't been able to fix that damned title up at the top! If anyone can assist me, that would be greaaaaaaat. Anywho, I am already two weeks into my 5 year of teaching in the District of Columbia! This year has already been a little crazy. I was scheduled to teaching two AP Language classes and 2 US History classes. After the first day, my Assistant Principal called me and asked if I could drop one of my AP classes and teach a freshman English course. I would still have my 3 planning periods but I would have 3 preps. Understanding that I really didn't have a choice in the matter, I said fine. This on top of starting two very tough graduate courses, needless to say, I am overwhelmed. I felt almost paralyzed this past week and was unable to accomplish many tasks. I finally got some much needed rest and cuddle time with Sophie and my bf and I am finally feeling somewhat better. On top this, PBS finally uploaded my video! I was approached back in November to participate in the remastering of Ken Burns' Civil War documentary and how I utilize it in my classroom. The final product was uploaded this week to the education site and I have it here!

Check it out and let me know what you think??? Now, without further ado...September Currently! 

1. I don't have the TV on for once so I am just listening to Sophie poke around, little cute porker.

2. I love everything pumpkin scented so when Chris picked up this pumpkin roll candle from Safeway, I was about that life.

3. I accidentally left my backpack in the car and Chris drove to work this morning...so I won't be able to do any reading until he gets back at 4:30 

4. Summer blows, I hate the humidity and heat. I am ready for some refreshing, crisp air! 

5. I was diagnosed with a dairy allergy over the summer and placed on a lactose-free diet. You can tell something was up with me in the PBS video, I look like I am ready to pop. Since being on the diet since July, I have lost 17 pounds just through diet alone! 

6. I need to start working out to keep the weight loss going, 4x a week for 45 minutes is perfect. I always seem to fall behind in my grad readings and I cannot do that with these classes this year! Lastly, I need to enjoy what God has given me. I am not that religious anymore, but I know that He has a plan for me because I have seen the doors and opportunities that have been presented and it is only going to get better once I finish my degree.

That's all for now! Go link up with Farley! 

Life is Chaotic

I promised to be a better blogger. I failed miserably.

I feel as though this is the story of my life. I set out to do something non-work related and I always end up bullshitting around. I thought I could look at this blog as an outlet for my frustrations. For my hopes and dreams. For my grand ideas.

And I couldn't even do that.

I don't know if I am stuck in a rut or what is going on, personally, in my life. Work-wise, I am moving and shaking. This begs the question: am I a product of my environment? I live in Washington, DC. The "capital of the free world", if you will. All that everyone does here is work, drink, have sex, drink, and work some more. Yes, Washingtonians do enjoy the nightlife and such but our minds are always on work. We are constantly glued to our phones every time it vibrates. OMG is that an email from my Senator boss? OMG are we being sequestered AGAIN? Washingtonians are addicted to the adrenaline that comes with working in this city. We eat, breathe, sleep politics.

The unfortunate side effect is that this mentality rolls over into every aspect of life in Washington, DC. We all play politics to a certain extent in every school but I feel it is much more heightened here in DC. I attribute this to the fact that we have no control over our budget [even though Congress likes to spew that we do, we have to ask Daddy(ies) to sign off on our checks] and we have to fight to have basic things in our classrooms. We live in fear that when Congress threatens to sequester that we will still be able to provide for our students because, yes, our District funds get tied up in that mess.

I need to do better. I need to use this as the outlet it was intended to be. But how do I commit myself to this? Alexis from Strange and Charmed suggested be consistent, even if it means you only update every two weeks. She believes that as long as you are consistent with your updates, your audience will stick around.

Is this true? Is this the reason why so many of you left? I simply fell off the face of the planet and abandoned my post.

I apologize. I truly do. I will work to do better.

Yours,

Spring Semester in the Books

I received my 2nd semester grades from Spring Semester finally on Friday morning. I finished with straight A's! Considering that I am a full-time teacher in addition to being a full-time grad student, I am going to go ahead and congratulate myself on this achievement. Now that I am done for the next 6 weeks, this household is gearing up to move! Yes, we are moving out of the District and moving in a much larger space in Alexandria, Virginia. I am not exactly stoked about moving out to Alexandria, I am going to miss the District but since my brother has moved in we have been lacking some serious space. I have also only been to Alexandria once since moving to DC 5 years ago. Anyone have some tips/great places to check out in Alexandria?

Erin Condren Life Planner 2015

Hi Flatters! [is that an ok nickname? kinda sounds weird...]

First things first, I am having a hell of a time with my banner. As you can see, I just kinda gave up after a few hours of dealing with it. Anyone out there that can give me some pointers to get that header centered and bigger??

Secondly, I finally got my Erin Condren Life Planner!! So excited. I have incorporated some pictures into this blog for you all. Check it out below!

The box! Sophie checking it out before Mommy opens it up. 

Have I mentioned that Purple is my favorite color?

Stickers and postcard

squee!!

Garnet and Gold for Florida State!

Inside cover

Calendar

April 2015 spread

Notes section

More notes

Stickers!

More stickers, I love stickersssssssss

Ok that was quick! I hope you enjoy seeing the unwrapping of my ECLP. I am thinking about doing a weekly/biweekly ECLP planner blogs so that you can see my week(s). Let me know if you think that is a good idea below. I love your comments!

Schedule Linky

Hi All! I am linking up with Schroeder Shenanigans to post my daily schedule! I love this idea. As a Secondary Teacher [ELA and History], I have different schedules on different days as well as a different schedule for Graduate School! I have created two daily schedules and check them out below!!

Teaching Life

7:15-7:45am: Waking up, showering, breakfast, getting ready

8:05-8:30am: Arrive at work and prepare for the day

8:45-9:30am: 1st Period [English III Inclusion class]

9:30-11:15am: 2nd or 3rd Period [either English III or US History Inclusion]

11:15-12:05pm: STEP [Student-Teacher Enrichment Period aka Lunch :-p]

12:10-1:39pm: 4th or 5th Period [either English III or Planning]

1:45-3:15pm: 6th or 7th Period [either US History or Planning]

3:15-4:30pm: Making copies for the next day(s), hosting English III meetings, meetings with students

Graduate Life

I have class from 8-11pm on Monday and Tuesday nights. I typically try to nap between work and class or go to school early to complete homework. However, Saturdays or Sundays are my "Graduate" days. So a typical weekend day would look like the following:

11-12pm: Wake up [I need my sleep!!]

12-12:30pm: make lunch and a snack

12:30-1:00pm: Schedule out my readings and notes for comps

1:00-3:30pm: Complete my readings

3:30-4:00pm: Break [eyes are usually blurry and in need of a break!]

4:00-6:00pm: Type up notes for Comps

So that's it! Go link up so I can see your schedules :)