Sunday Social 1/13/13: A Reintroduction

Hello, hello!

Welcome back for this week's edition of Sunday Social.

I am linking up with Neely over at A Complete Waste of Makeup.

This Week's Questions:

(These are meant to reintroduce ourselves)

1.  What is the name of your blog?  How long have you been blogging?  

     My blog is called Let Them Eat Paste.  It's a play on "Let them eat cake."  Growing up, my dad always told the stories of how he would eat paste while at school.  This is back when it actually looked good!!  You know, the cap had a stick, it had a goopy, thick consistency, and Adam Sandler made it even more popular in Billy Madison.

    I started this blog 2 1/2 years ago when I first started teaching.  It was meant to document my adventures (and I've had a ton!) but with privacy laws and other things I couldn't tell the stories I wanted to.  Bummer, dude.  Seriously...these kids come up with the best stuff!  I stopped blogging for a loooonnnnngggg time (like 2 years) but was inspired after beginning to follow many blogs over the summer.  I realized that this is MY BLOG and I don't have to write for anyone but me.  I'm not saying I wouldn't love to hit the 100 follower mark eventually, but I haven't found my niche yet.

2.  Why do you blog?

     I blog because I love my life.  I adore being a teacher and hope that comes through in my posts.  Teaching is HARD WORK but amazingly rewarding each and every day.  I also love learning new things and sharing what I learn about them.  I know I am not the first person to ever crochet anything, get a great camera, teach awesome nuggets, love my Handsome Husband, or love cooking, but I'm also not the last.  Someone will read a post and be able to connect with me.  I also blog because I know that I have some great friends and family out there who support me in my blogging adventure because they know I enjoy it.

3.  What is the first blog you ever followed?

     The first blog I ever followed was my cousin Courtney's blog Life and Style: A to Z.  Hers was the only one for a lllllooooonnnngggggg time.  Once I actually started using my Blogger account and following blogs it was The Small Things Blog and From My Grey Desk.  (They are sisters and great bloggers.  I look forward to their posts each and every day.)

4.  What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?

    I would have to say that I love most of them, but my all-time favorite is Melt, Squish, Sprinkle, YUM! because it was the first post with my new camera and I loved the pictures I was able to take and I felt like a domestic goddess while I was working on it.  

5.  What are your blogging goals for 2013?

     I would like to get to 50 followers.  I know it's just little pictures of people hanging out on my computer screen, but I would like to know that what I love is being loved by others.

6.  What are your top 6 blogs to follow?

     In no particular order:

Polka-Dotty Place

Bumbler's Bumblings

Sunny Days in Second Grade

From My Grey Desk

The Small Things Blog

Young House Love

The question only asks for 6, but I love all the blogs I follow, which is why I follow them!

Next Week's Questions:  A Week of 3's

1.  What are your top 3 favorite kinds of food?

2.  What are the first 3 things you do in the morning?

3.  What are the last 3 things you do at night?

4.  What are 3 TV shows you NEVER miss.

5.  What are 3 places you want to visit?

6.  Who are 3 people you can always count on?

Thanks for reading and check back for next week's Sunday Social!

(Or, sign up and check back every day!!!  Just kidding. :)  But seriously...)

Laters!

Mrs. B

Happy Friday!

I swear...this year is going by so fast that it's going to be over before I realize it!

I have successfully completed my first week back after Christmas break.

A coworker had a great observation;

"You go into Christmas break with the mindset that December behavior is the norm.  When you get back in January you realize that it's not...thank goodness!"

(That's not a direct quote, but it's pretty close...if I went around writing down all the quotes I hear I would never get anything done!)

I now bring you the first edition of the second semester High Five for Friday posts!

(I know you are all holding your breath...and release. :) )

#1.  Handsome Husband and I went to dinner with our friends L&N at a delicious pizza joint in a nearby town.  (It wasn't quite as good as our regular joint, but it was still great.)  I love knowing that when we go out with them (she and I used to work together, but love to double date, so the boys get dragged along) Handsome Husband and N can have a great discussion about sports or something while L and I chat it up.  Before we knew it, 2 hours had gone by tonight.  Our monthly date (February 22 this time) can't come soon enough!!

#2.  I found these great prospects in the book exchange box at school today!  I'm sure that I can keep up with my reading-one-book-a-month-goal this year!  I have to be careful, though...if I don't watch it I will sit down and read all three of these in one weekend and neglect all things normal (i.e. showering, eating, working out, church, school, etc...).

#3.  I didn't realize how much I would miss the little things that happen at the end of each week.  I have this sick and twisted joy that comes with organizing paperwork and filing things.  Seriously.  I have started the packet for keeping track of grades for this quarter (color-coded, of course) and am actually itching to finish getting everything entered in.  I'm actually going to tackle it when I'm done typing this! (Plus, if I get it done tonight, I don't have to do anything tomorrow and can relax before going in to school to finish report cards on Sunday.)

(I had to watch how I phrased that because I love to have things organized, but I seem to waste all of my energy on my classroom...the living areas of the house aren't super bad, but the bedroom seems to be overcome with clothing each week.  Hence, the goal of putting my clothes away right away!  Sorry, Handsome Husband...)

#4.  I have been doing a remediation reading group each morning from 8:05 - 8:30 Monday - Friday (Monday is the pretest and Tuesday - Friday have lessons with a post-test on Friday) and got word today that, so far, 2 of the 6 nuggets in my group improved their reading scores by at least 4 levels on our benchmarking system!!  I am ECSTATIC!  This group of nuggets was SUPER LOW at the beginning of the year and I have been working SO HARD to help them learn to read.  It feels so good to know that I had a hand in helping them improve.  

I can't wait to see how the rest of my group and the group that Mrs. M has been working with does on their benchmarking tests.  Yay for learning!

#5.  I am heading to the local farmer's market tomorrow with the Madre and our friend April.  I adore going with them because we get to spend some time together while supporting local businesses.  Our favorite business is the jewelry booth run by Ali Oesch.  (If you happen to click the link and go to her page don't stop there!!!!  Like her on Facebook and you will get updates on her new items with the opportunity to buy and have her ship them to you!!!!  She's amazing...seriously...she made the wedding jewelry for all of my girls and me last year.)  The farmers market also has a great restaurant so we usually get a scrumptious breakfast while we are shopping.

Go find her...seriously...

Facebook

Website

How has your week turned out???

Mrs. B

What I Love Wednesday

You know, for my first three days back things have been pretty good!

(I just totally cursed myself by saying that.)

Amazingly, my nuggets were able to jump right back into the swing of things.

I truly love those little goobers.

I'm linking up with This Kind of Love to bring you what I love on this Wednesday.

I'm loving...that our shows are back on!!  

Handsome Husband and I are watching New Girl as I type.

I'm loving...that my new nugget that started today seems to have a lot going on.

She can count money, tell the difference between a statement, question, and command, and seems super sweet.  Score!

I'm loving...that our first day of Game Day went really well.

The kids enjoyed spending time playing games during recess instead of going outside.

It was also nice for me because I got some time with kids that tend to blend in.

I'll write more about this later.

I'm loving...that I got a haircut!  

I needed one...

of course everyone around me gives me bewildered looks since it's short already.

Oh well, folks!

Plus, all of my grays are back in hiding for a while.

I'm loving...that on Friday Handsome Husband and I are having dinner with this girl and her dude.

What are you loving this Wednesday?

Mrs. B

Crafty Business

So, one of my goals was to learn how to crochet some different things.

Thanks to videos on YouTube and pinsperation I have accomplished this goal.

Thanks to Emi on YouTube I learned how to crochet a beanie for baby Jayde

and the flower to go with it.

I felt pretty happy with myself when I even added a brim on a whim.

(I'm a poet and didn't know it.)

I also rrrreeeeeaaaaallllllyyyyyy wanted to learn how to crochet this camera strap cover by Maybe Matilda.

So on Saturday, I sat down on my tushie and whipped this bad boy out;

Pretty cool, if I may say so myself.

Now, I'm working on one for my SIL Allison.

So excited to finish it and send it to her.

This one looks even better since I made all the mistakes on my own!

I didn't make my flowers the same way she did, though.

I found this idea on Pinterest and LOVE the way they turned out.

They are super easy, too.

Have you been crafty lately?

Mrs. B

Cheer, Cheer...

for old Notre Dame!

Handsome Husband and I are heading out to watch the Irish kick the snot out of Alabama.

Go Irish!

Image borrowed from Eat Dallas.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. B

Sunday Social 1/6/13

Well, tonight marks my last night of break.

I can't believe that Holiday Season 2012 is over!

I'm linking up with Neely at A Complete Waste of Makeup to avoid thinking about school or doing anything school related bring you the weekly Sunday Social post.

This Week's Questions:

1)  Do you plan to change any of your eating habits in the new year?

Oh yeah, buddy!!

I am planning on watching my portion sizes since I have to remember that just because I'm as hungry as a horse, it doesn't mean I need to eat the equivalent of one.

I also need to work on not having a reward mentality when it comes to food.

It's hard to lose weight when any workout I do I reward with food or wine!

2)  Any workout tips to get us back in shape after the holidays?

Bwahahahahaha!

Yeah...don't follow my advice!

Just kidding.  (Sort of)

Here is what I am doing for myself:

I have a goal to work out 3-4 times a week.  Notice I didn't say go to the gym.

The gym's not always possible, but I need to try to be active no matter what.

I have started a "Workout Jar" to motivate myself more.

Each time I work out I will put one dollar into the jar.

Once it's full, I get to use the money to buy myself a new article of clothing.

It's not a new idea...I've seen it out there.

(I actually made it through Target AND Marshalls without buying any clothes.  It was HARD!)

I also got an Old Navy gift card for Christmas, but I have decided that I need to lose 5 pounds (and keep it off) before I can use it.  Also, I can only buy one thing for each 5 pounds.

I love to shop so that's a HUGE motivator.

Plus, this will help Handsome Husband and I save more money. :)

I have also downloaded the MyFitnessPal app for my phone.
It helps track my calories and exercise.
It's a way to keep me accountable.

3)  What was your favorite thing you did over the holidays?

Hanging out with family and friends always makes the #1 slot.

I also loved learning how to crochet something new (I learned 4 new things over break!);

Hanging out with Handsome Husband;

Being able to STOP THINKING;

Eating WWWWAAAAAYYYYY too much good food;
especially my FIL's antipasta...seriously...to die for!  Gah!

4)  What is something you hope to accomplish in 2013 that you did not in 2012?

I need to get serious about getting in shape.

It's not going to happen overnight, be easy or happen because of anyone but me.

5)  Name 3 things happening this year you are excited about and why.

1.  My friend Lindsay is marrying her best friend in June and I get to stand by her side.

2.  Handsome Husband and I are going to LA for Spring Break.

3.  I turn 29 in March and am looking forward to celebrating the last year of my twenties.

Next Week's Questions:

They are taking it back to the beginning and doing a get-to-know-you round.

1)  What is the name of your blog?  How long have you been blogging?

2)  Why do you blog?

3)  What is the first blog you ever followed?

4)  What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?

5)  What are your blogging goals for 2013?

6)  What are your top 3 favorite blogs to follow?  

It's back to school for me tomorrow!

Laters,

Mrs. B

I Can't Believe It's Friday Again!

Holy guacamole, y'all!

I can't believe that I only have one measly little weekend to go until I am back full-force.

Gag me with a spoon!

Just kidding.  :)

Welp, here's my first High Five for Friday of 2013!

1) I've been slowly moving away from flavored coffee in the recent past.

I've found that French Roast is my favorite so far. 

This Starbucks French Roast is only so-so.

The Archer Farms brand at Target is by far my favorite.  

It's smooth and flavorful.

2) I picked out new glasses today.

I seriously confused the tech because I was trying to get reading glasses with a bifocal for reading on the bottom and no prescription on the top so I could still wear my contacts.

I'm super psyched to get them and start wearing them.

They aren't a huge step out of my box, but they're a step.

3) I organized the pantry today!! 

Woot woot!

It's been a long time coming and was a spur of the moment decision.

It feels so good to know that when I open that door everything is going to be organized!!

(Well, at least until Handsome Husband gets hungry!!)

4) I learned how to crochet hats!!

I'm so totally excited it's a bit hard to measure.

Seriously...I've made two in the last 24 hours.

I'm a crocheting machine.

It's that or else I'm avoiding thinking about school starting back up on Monday.

5) I'm wrapping up my week by relaxing with Handsome Husband and watching a few movies.

(Looper and Why Stop Now) 

Ok...that's enough for now.

I have to crochet some more!

Happy Friday, ladies and gents!

Mrs. B