Weekend Adventures: Card Making

Over the last few years, my mom has gotten involved with her local VFW. She's made a lot of friends along the way. One of those friends invited us to attend a 'Cupcakes and Cards' party at her sister's house, who happens to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator. So, a couple weeks ago, I went to a card making party with a group of 50 and 60 year-old women. 

At this particular workshop/party, we got to make 13 unique cards. It's one of the larger parties that Dee, our hostess, has each year. She was crazy organized! We all got a large folder with 13 separate ziploc bags that had all the paper materials we would need to create each card. Then, there were corresponding tupperware containers that had the instructions and any of the stamps that were needed.

I didn't take too many pictures during the party itself - I had my hands full with ink and glitter - but, these are some of my favorite cards that we made:

I seriously love the fact that I've got a small stash of cards that I can go to when I need to send a thank you or a simple hello to a friend. It makes me want to get more involved in card making. But then I remember that we're still on a budget in this house, and card making supplies isn't a part of that budget. Maybe one day...

If you'd like more information on Stampin' Up, you can check out Dee's website here. 

Currently...

thinking - about everything we need to get done today

enjoying - summer vacation & sleeping in

feeling - refreshed, and yet tired at the same time

wearing - pajamas

needing - to put in my contacts

wanting - some breakfast

watching - Pioneer Woman

waiting - on the hubby to come home from a long 26-hour shift

listening - to the cats chase each other around the apartment

drinking - glass of milk

weather - sunny

I don't normally post on the weekends, but since I'm awake and waiting on the hubby to get home, I thought I would check in. What are you up to this weekend? Hope its a good one!

Summer Reading List

I don't get much time to read during the school year. Especially when the second semester rolls around and I've got my hands full with teaching AP courses. But I make a point to keep a mental list of the books I'd like to read so that I can check them out from the local library over the summer.

These are a few of the books on my list:

10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America by Steven Gillon | I've already started reading this one. I've heard that some AP teachers assign this book as summer reading. So I wanted to see if it was something I could incorporate into my own AP course. 

The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth | My kids have been talking about this series for a while now. And now that the first book has become a movie, I'm all the more motivated to finally see what this series is all about. The movie looks good. But I wanted to read the books before watching the movie, because if I watch the movie first, I know I won't read the book.

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry | This one should be a quick read. I bought the book years ago at a yard sale for a dime, but never read it. Our juniors are suppose to be reading this book as part of their English curriculum next year, so I thought I would read it and see how we might be able to incorporate it into both English and History.

A Land Remembered by Patrick Smith | This is where the if-there-is-time-I'd-like-to-read-this part of the list begins. And it begins with another school-related book. This one has two volumes, but I've heard its another quick read.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn | Some AP teachers use this as their course textbooks, while others use it as a supplemental text. I've heard a lot about Zinn's perspective on history, and I'm interested to read it myself.

Start by Jon Acuff | This book is actually on the hubby's list of books to read this summer. He just checked it out from the library yesterday. But I think I'm going to swipe it from him once he's done. 

Smart Money, Smart Kids by Dave Ramsey and Rachel Cruze | Although we aren't parents, I still can't wait to get my hands on this book. Towards the end of the school year when all the standardized testing has passed and we're finished with our curriculum, I try to give my students a few lessons on personal finance, so I'm always looking for new things to add to the mix.


What books are on your list to read this summer?

Cat's Meow: Fighting

We knew introducing a new cat into our home would be a serious transition for our first two furbabies. We just weren't sure how long the transition period would be. Well, nearly 6 months later, they still aren't getting along, as evidenced by recent scratch that appeared on Callie's nose.

We're not sure when it happened, or who caused it, but we assume it was Cruz. He's usually the instigator. And he's the one that Callie has had a tougher time warming up to. She and Periwinkle tolerate each other, but they still have their moments. 

We're still waiting for the day that all three of them will get along. Glimpses of that life happen on rare occasions, like when we treat them to wet food.

But we're keeping our fingers crossed that that day will come sooner rather than later...

Any suggestions for helping cats get along? We've tried nearly everything we can think of, so any ideas are welcome!

Weekend Adventures: Summer First

The first weekend of summer vacation was filled with lots of activity!

Friday, after our school's end-of-the-year luncheon, Dan and I headed into Orlando to surprise my mom for her birthday. My stepdad and a friend of my mom's had been scheming for weeks to throw her a surprise party at the VFW. She had no idea!

Saturday, Dan had to go to work, so I drove back to Orlando to spend the day shopping with mom. Just as I was pulling into her driveway, she sent me a text wanting to know if I wanted to go canoeing with my aunt and uncle. Wasn't exactly dressed to spend the afternoon on the water.... jeans aren't ideal for being out in the Florida sun! But, it was just another excuse to go shopping.

Sunday, my best friend came over with her two kids. Her husband had some stuff to do around their house to get it ready to put on the market (they're moving to Texas at the end of summer), so we used it as our excuse to take the kids to the pool.

Overall, it was a great way to kick off the summer!

Things My Students Say: Women

So you can imagine, as a teacher, I hear all sorts of random and crazy things coming out of the mouths of teenage students on a pretty regular basis. Usually, I just laugh and move on. But sometimes, the things they say are so funny that I have to stop and write it down so I can share it. And even though school is out for the summer, I've had a few of these in my draft folder waiting to be shared. I wish I was making this stuff up....

Me: What did you guys think of the chapter?

Student: You know what this chapter taught me?

Me: What's that?

Student: That women complain a lot!

It's That Time Again

It's that time again....

That time of year where students are scrambling to get their grades brought up.

That time of year where yearbooks are being signed by every friend and acquaintance. 

That time of year where seniors are wishing they could go back to their freshman year and start all over again, yet at the same time excitedly and anxiously looking forward to what lies ahead.

That time of year where teachers do a deep-cleaning of their classrooms and file back all those papers they had been neglecting.

That time of year where that student who you swore hated your guts, says they're going to miss your class next year - and you don't notice even a hint of sarcasm!

That time of year where summer vacation plans are being made.

That time of year where you reflect on the past 8 months and make note of the things that you want to change for the upcoming school year.

That time of year where I can hopefully get back to a more consistent blogging schedule!

Today was our last day with students. We still have two more days of teacher post-planning. But, essentially, the school year is over. This was my fourth year teaching, and I think this was my favorite year so far. It was the first year where I felt comfortable and confident in what I was teaching. My grades are finalized, so all that's left is packing up my pictures frames for the summer and filing back all my paperwork. I'm definitely looking forward to summer vacation this year. I've only signed up to work 6 days this summer, which I think is the fewest I've worked since I've started teaching! Just means more time spent with the hubby on his days off  :)