tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63901762896477440332024-03-14T04:58:14.862-04:00Figuring Out LifeThe story of a twenty-something girl learning how to balance being a wife, teacher, and friend while figuring out the craziness of life along the way.Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-14123912741467241192014-11-14T09:00:00.000-05:002014-11-14T09:00:04.355-05:00Monday Memories<div style="text-align: justify;">
Monday my school district had the day off to observe Veteran's Day. Luckily, Dan also had the day off, so we were able to spend some much needed time together running errands, visiting friends, and just simply spending time together. It was such a good day, that I honestly forgot to take pictures until dinner that night.</div>
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That is one happy boy there! He was seriously in heaven!</div>
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But let me start at the beginning. </div>
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The day started off rocky. I had been up most of the night with some sort of tummy bug. Luckily after a small breakfast in the morning I was feeling better, and we headed out to my alma mater, UCF, to buy a flag for our front yard. When we got to campus, Dan was excited to play this game <a href="https://www.ingress.com/">Ingress</a> (it's like a combination of <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/weekend-adventures-geocaching.html">geocaching</a> and capture the flag). The boy is obsessed. So we took our sweet time getting to the bookstore. Once there, were were a little disappointed by the flags they had in stock. We asked if the bookstore closer to the arena would have anything different, and they said it was a good possibility because it was the larger store. Rather than going back to the car, we decided to walk to the bookstore. Then it started raining, and I was already trying to figure out how we were going to get back to the car without getting drenched. Dan was willing to walk all the way back and come pick me up, but we both quickly realized he would never be able to find his way back to the car on his own. So, we sucked it up, and walked through the rain. It ended up not being a big deal. Fun actually.</div>
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We left campus and started heading towards Altamonte for my surprise. I've been having a lot of headaches lately, but I'm only allowed to take Tylenol while pregnant. Let's just say that Tylenol is never enough when you're use to much stronger drugs for migraines. The doctor recommended seeing a chiropractor or getting a massage. So, Dan took it upon himself to contact someone we met at friends wedding and make an appointment for me as an early anniversary gift. To put it simply, it was amazing! If frequent massages will keep the headaches at bay, sign me up!</div>
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For lunch we headed over to Chick-fil-a, and for the first time in a long time, I was able to finish my entire meal! Didn't quite finish my milkshake, but I'll take what I can get. Then we visited both of our mothers' offices and said hi to our former co-workers. I had my first experience with a stranger (well, stranger to me, she knew Dan) rubbing my belly. It was a full-on belly rub with kissing. I was told my face turned bright red. I don't know if I'm ever going to get use to people rubbing my belly....</div>
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Once my mother-in-law got off of work, we headed out to <a href="https://4rsmokehouse.com/">4Rivers Smokehouse</a>. It's a local barbecue place that has practically turned into a franchise in the last couple of years. Dan's never been, but had heard great things about it. He was totally jealous when I went without him a few months ago while at a work conference. So I promised him for his birthday we would go there for dinner. From the moment he smells hit his nose, he knew it was going to good. He tried a little bit of everything from everyone's plates at our table. I think it has officially become his new favorite restaurant. Too bad the nearest location is over an hour away from us.</div>
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Monday was seriously one of the best days we've had in a while. We didn't think about work. We didn't stress about how messy our house was. We simply enjoyed each others company and spending time with friends and family. </div>
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Those are the good kinda days :)</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-52817366061239215242014-11-13T08:00:00.000-05:002014-11-13T08:00:02.033-05:00Year Three<br />
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Daniel,<br />
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Today's the day to stop what we're doing, to ignore the demands, to put the world on hold.The day to remember how it all began. It's crazy to think that we've been husband and wife for three years already! It seems like just yesterday. And at the same time, I can't remember what life was like before "us." </div>
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Three years down, many more to go! I love you! Happy Anniversary!</div>
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Hannah</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-89744256907147889192014-11-12T19:55:00.001-05:002014-11-12T19:55:30.285-05:00Random Musings<span style="text-align: justify;">The urge to write struck me today, so I sat down and decided to write what popped into my head. Nothing specific. Nothing crazy interesting. Just my random thoughts.</span><br />
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Powderpuff is approaching quickly. Find a t-shirt design that pleases very picky and opinionated teenagers. Check. Make sure all students have insurance so they can practice. Getting there. Schedule a practice date that works for the team. Practically impossible. Remember to put camping chair in car so I have somewhere to sit while I <strike>babysit cellphones and drinks</strike> supervise practice. Check. This is the one duty of being junior class sponsor I could live without doing.</div>
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Progress reports are due this Friday. As in students are taking them home this Friday. Which means I'm being bombarded by questions from students about where they currently stand. And what they can do to improve their grade. In just a few short days. Seriously? How about doing all of the required work when it is first assigned? Now I just need to get my pile of papers graded.... arguments can be made that grading is the worse part of teaching.... </div>
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Why can't students simply read their textbooks like you ask them to? My sophomore AP students are driving me bonkers! Typically test grades improve as the year goes on because students start to realize that they can't simply rely on lectures and powerpoints to gain knowledge for their tests. However, this bunch of kids doesn't seem to understand that. They think that if they keep doing what they are doing they'll miraculously get different results.<br />
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We're hosting a casual housewarming party at our new place this weekend. The only problem? Our house still looks empty and like a bomb exploded all at the same time. The hubby and I have made a to-do list of everything that needs to be done. We've decided to focus on one room in the house each night, and we can't go to bed until it's finished. We'll see if our plan works. If not, people might be eating BBQ off of unpacked moving boxes Saturday....</div>
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Tomorrow is our third wedding anniversary. We don't have anything special planned. Dan already got his gift (a new grill) a few weeks ago. And he surprised me Monday with a massage. I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening at home cuddled up on the couch. After he hopefully gets off of work on time. And after we clean the designated room for the night. Then it's totally time for couch cuddles.<br />
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I feel like I'm in that weird in-between stage where I don't fit into most of my clothes, but I don't exactly have a baby bump. It's a little annoying. Went shopping last weekend to find some new clothes, and found plenty of shirts to work through the winter, but no pants. Do you know how hard it is to dress for cooler weather when all you have is two pairs of jeans and a bunch of skirts? Maybe I should just invest in some tights/leggings.<br />
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I swear my cats are like children. They whine when you don't pay attention to them. They will practically jump in front of your face to <i>make</i> you pay attention to them. They don't always seem to remember the proper way to go potty on their own. They make a mess when they eat. And heaven forbid you try to have a conversation on the phone without them all up in your business, nuzzling the phone in your hand, and meowing when you don't acknowledge them.<br />
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I'm starting to get hungry. I ate a snack after grocery shopping this afternoon and thought I'd wait for the hubby to get home from work before making something for dinner. I know we had planned on eating separately - thanks to his schedule we're never quite sure what time he'll be home. Well, he just called to say that he's on his way home (90 minutes after he's <i>suppose</i> to be off of work) and told me that their last call was at Pizza Hut, and they were given free pizza while there, so he's already eaten. Guess I need to start thinking about what I'm going to make for myself tonight....<br />
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-41479905802318382772014-11-08T14:26:00.000-05:002014-11-08T14:26:01.422-05:00First Home: What We Learned<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/finally.html">officially been homeowners</a> for two months now. Throughout the home buying process I would share little updates here and there, but never really went into much detail. I think I was afraid of jinxing it. So many things were going wrong as it was, I didn't want to add bad juju on top of that. So, since I'm not quite ready to share pictures of the house, I figured I'd share some of the things we learned about buying and moving into our first home.</div>
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<b>#1 Don't even think about changing jobs.</b></div>
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After we had already been pre-approved for our mortgage, Dan had the opportunity to interview for a new job. We mentioned it to our banker during one of our many meetings, and we seriously thought she was going to have a heart attack. We knew not to open or close any accounts during the home buying process, but no one had told us that you can't look for a new job. In the end, the new job never came through, so crisis averted.</div>
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<b>#2 Find a Realtor who has time for you, and one you trust.</b></div>
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When we knew we were ready to start looking for a home, we reached out to a local real estate company. They had signs all over the county and listings galore. Left a message with the receptionist and waited. After playing phone tag for nearly two weeks, we realized that either they weren't interested in helping us out, or they were simply too busy. I ended up calling a company down the road from our apartment and got connected with a Realtor who just so happened to use to work in for the same school board I did. It was nice to have someone who understood our schedules/needs and made every effort to accommodate those things.</div>
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<b>#3 Be prepared to compromise.</b></div>
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When you sit down and think about what you want in your dream home, the list can be pretty long. We knew that we needed to have a list of "must haves" and "would be nice" list. It made it easier to narrow down our options before making a trip out to see the house. What were our must haves? At least 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, space for a small office, within 30 minutes of my work and 45 minutes of Dan's work, a garage/workshop for Dan, and although it could be a little outdated, it needed to be move in ready. The would be nice list? A little bit of land, but in a neighborhood, no tile in the main living areas, a house with character, nearby grocery stores/shopping, fireplace (yes, even in Florida!), and a separate laundry room. Did we get everything on our list? No. But we did manage to find most of them in this house. The compromises? The "office" is currently in the master bedroom, the living room has tile that needs to be replaced, and trips to the grocery store now take a couple hours.</div>
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<b>#4 At times it will feel like nothing is happening. Then, it happens all of a sudden.</b></div>
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It took nearly 6 months of waiting from the time we put in our offer to the time we closed. We knew that the home inspection and appraisal could potentially cause some set backs, but those were easy to handle. What took forever was the bank! It seemed like every week the update from our banker was the same - no new news. And then, out of the blue, the bank said yes, and they wanted to close within 24 hours. One day! Yeah, that just wasn't possible for us or the sellers (who had already moved out of state and needed time to sign/fax/mail paperwork). So a week later, with the ink dried on the paper, the house was finally ours.</div>
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<b>#5 If the house is staged, it will look completely different empty.</b></div>
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I know this seems obvious, but our house seriously looked gigantic when the former family moved everything out. Add to the fact that all the furniture and art work they had hanging hid some of the imperfections on the walls and a lot of the dirt/grime, we learned new things about our house every time we visited. We also quickly realized that the furniture we had in our 1100 sq ft apartment was not going to fill our new 1900 sq ft home. But that's okay, it means I have an excuse to shop!</div>
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<b>#6 You don't have to have a credit score to buy a home</b>.</div>
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Does it make it easier? Sure. But it's not required. I didn't have a credit score before buying this home. The tricky part was that Dan did have a credit score. So we had to search for a special loan that would allow both of us to be on the mortgage. I had to contact my utility companies for letters of recommendation and submit those to the bank. Did not having a credit score add more to our list of things to do? Absolutely. Would I rather make a few extra phone calls and send out a few more emails to avoid the hassle of being in debt? Absolutely.</div>
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<b>#7 Give yourself a lot of wiggle room.</b></div>
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This applies to both money and time. We knew that there would be a possibility that we'd have to come up with some money for closing costs. So, once we knew we were going all-in with the home buying process, we stopped buying all the extras and started putting more money into our savings. Not only did we need to save for closing, we also had to keep in mind that we'd need to rent a moving truck, feed all of our helpers, and buy supplies to fix a few things that popped up on our home inspection. Besides having a cushion of money in our savings account, we did everything we could to make sure that we had time on our side. We started looking for a house at the start of the year knowing that our lease was up at the end of October. It worked out perfectly that we had a month after closing to clean the house while still living in the apartment, and then a month living in the house while cleaning things up at the apartment before our lease was up. I don't even want to think how high my stress levels would have been if we had to do everything within a week.</div>
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<b>#8 If you feed them, they will come.</b></div>
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Need people to help you paint? Need people to help you move furniture? Need people to help you clean up the messes of the previous homeowners? Make sure you have food! If you promise your helpers with food, they're more inclined to help. Pizza is the easy way to go, but since the nearest pizza place is 30 minutes away, we also did a lot of crockpot meals like bbq pulled chicken and meatball subs. Easy meals that feed a lot of people without breaking the bank.</div>
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<b>#9 Don't worry about nagging.</b></div>
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During that period of time where we were waiting to hear from the bank, I felt bad for emailing our banker for an update. I felt like I was nagging them. I mean, if they had an update, they would let me know, right? But I realized quick that you can't think of it as nagging. A simple email that says, "Hey, any updates this week?" isn't nagging. It's making sure your banker hasn't forgot about you. They are juggling quite a few loan requests, so a simple email is just a gentle, and sometimes much needed, reminder. If your banker won't reply to you, ask your real estate agent to make contact with them for an update. Also, quick tip: to keep everyone in the loop, make sure you email everyone on your team any time you have an update.</div>
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<b>#10 Become friends with your insurance agent.</b></div>
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Our insurance agent is amazing! We found her through <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/elp/">a referral service</a> and she has been a life saver! We called her and gave her a heads up that we were looking to buy a home soon, and she gave us all sorts of advice on what could be deal breakers in a home for insurance companies. Because we gave her enough of a heads up, she had plenty of time to shop around and find us the best deal. And, besides our real estate agent, she became another advocate making sure that everything was being done correctly.</div>
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I'm sure there were many other lessons that we learned along the way, but these are the lessons that stick out in my mind. We're hosting a little housewarming party next weekend, so I'll try to snap pictures of all the rooms for a little house tour post that is long overdue.</div>
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Any other tips for home buyers? What were some of the things you learned along the way?</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-85964569928608478572014-11-02T13:30:00.000-05:002014-11-02T13:30:21.020-05:00Little Addition<br />
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Things have been crazy busy lately, and I've definitely been neglecting this little blog of mine. I've been getting the itch to write lately, but something always seems to get in the way. Unpacking boxes. Laundry. The never ending piles of papers to grade. Growing a tiny human...</div>
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We're excited to announce that our family will have a little addition to it next Spring!</div>
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I'll share more details later, but for now, here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions we get from those we share the news with: </div>
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<b>Are you having a boy or a girl?</b></div>
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It's too early to know. I have a feeling it's a girl, but not 100% positive. Most of the old wives tales hint towards a little girl. But we won't find out for sure until sometime in early December. </div>
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<b>Do you want a boy or a girl?</b></div>
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Ultimately, we just want a healthy baby. I know people hate that cliche answer, but it's true. I'm the older sister, so I always thought it'd be cool to have that older brother to look after me. So a boy would be nice. But, Dan's family is nothing but boys, so it'd also be nice to inject a little bit of pink into a very non-pink family. Either way, we're excited to find out in December what this little one is.</div>
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<b>How are you feeling?</b></div>
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I can't complain too much. I've heard horror stories of other pregnancies, and mine has been pretty easy going. No real morning sickness. Some heartburn here and there, but I've figured out those trigger foods and avoid them. Actually, I'm avoiding a lot of food. I seem to eat a whole lot less than I did before (not that the amount of food I ate pre-pregnancy was exactly healthy....). I take a few bites of food, and then I'm satisfied. Or, my stomach tells me that if I eat any more I'll regret it later. So, small and frequent meals/snacks have become my new standard.</div>
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<b>Do you have any names picked out yet?</b></div>
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I'm starting to believe we won't have a name picked out until the baby arrives. Dan and I can't agree on anything! We know names we <i>don't</i> like, but can't seem to agree on names we <i>do</i> like. At this point, we agree that it'd be nice to include a family name somehow (probably middle name). Other than that, we're waiting to find out if it's a boy or a girl before we try to pick out a name again.</div>
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-82856231936744478082014-10-09T15:34:00.000-04:002014-10-09T15:34:00.227-04:00Just One: The Other Side of the Glass<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QEShMfTi8PrS4r_eVzYDM6iWjtOch21iGCZNXOdP08odkzgvtpfgELq3EpE4zS-eunsPCmK5grxnDyBGjZQfZIiP1vf45BwAB5beGq9Aa8Es1AEcecjkOAA9Wm6MoB3HHoMd0TLzpEU/s1600/IMG_20141001_112812%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QEShMfTi8PrS4r_eVzYDM6iWjtOch21iGCZNXOdP08odkzgvtpfgELq3EpE4zS-eunsPCmK5grxnDyBGjZQfZIiP1vf45BwAB5beGq9Aa8Es1AEcecjkOAA9Wm6MoB3HHoMd0TLzpEU/s1600/IMG_20141001_112812%5B1%5D.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Birds, Butterflies, & Bugs"</span></i></div>
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We were worried about the cats adjusting to our new home. So far it's been a pretty easy adjustment. Cruz has had the easiest time. His favorite thing about the new house? Being able to sit up on the window sills and watch all the wildlife outside. He seriously gets all worked up every time a bird flies by or a squirrel runs across the yard. Sitting on the other side of the glass, he's so eager to chase every creature that's out there. But, when we let him go outside, he turns into a little scaredy cat and jumps at all the new outdoor noises. </div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-63992696287930508392014-10-05T21:03:00.000-04:002014-10-05T21:03:16.037-04:00Feels Like Home<div style="text-align: justify;">
We finally moved into <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/finally.html">our new home</a> last weekend! Although the house has been in our name for nearly a month now, we took our time moving all of our stuff over from the apartment. But things have been a little chaotic this past week. Boxes still waiting to be unpacked. Living out of suitcases. Not sure where anything is. Figuring out all the quirks about this house. It hasn't exactly felt like "home" yet.</div>
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Until today!</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/402298179187318182/">pin</a>/<a href="http://blog.freepeople.com/2014/09/monday-quote-home/">original</a>}</span></div>
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A cold front came through this weekend. In Florida terminology, that means it felt a little like Fall. We were able to turn off the a/c, open up all the windows, and just enjoy the weather. My mom brought my grandmother and uncle out to the house, and we sat on the back porch just enjoying the view and conversation. </div>
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After they left, Dan told me that for the first time, this house actually felt like home. And he was so right! I don't know if it was the weather. Or the fact that we were able to have guests over without bribing them to move furniture or clean walls. But despite the fact that the house looks like a total mess, it truly felt like home today.</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-31513310360158559882014-09-03T19:17:00.000-04:002014-09-03T19:17:44.348-04:00Finally!<div style="text-align: justify;">
After nearly 6 months of paperwork and speed bumps, we officially have the keys to our first home!</div>
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Even though the house is officially ours, the lease on the apartment isn't over until the end of October, so we're taking our time moving things over. The first thing on the agenda is to CLEAN! The family who was there before us had 3 little boys, and once all their furniture was moved out, you could see all the dirt and grime they left behind. So everything is getting a good wipe down and/or scrubbing before any furniture gets moved or paint goes on the walls.</div>
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To say we're excited is an understatement! A lot of things came together last minute so that we could close on the house last Friday. And even then, while sitting in the title office, we almost didn't close. But I'll save that story for another day...</div>
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I'll be back with posts later <strike>when I don't have so much homework to grade!</strike> on what we were looking for in our first home, how we found this house, and what we learned throughout the home buying process. Oh, and I can't forget about sharing pictures of what it looks like inside! So stay tuned!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-51597665735675249602014-08-14T08:00:00.000-04:002014-08-14T08:00:03.523-04:00Challenge Accepted?<span style="text-align: justify;">So.... Let me fill you in on the craziness that has been happening since school started.</span><br />
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First of all, our school district got a new electronic system for everything. Attendance. Scheduling. Gradebook. PTO. Payroll. All that jazz. The best part about it, though? No one knows how to use it. Seriously. I wish I was joking. They've held "trainings" for the new system, but the "trainers" know just as little about the program as the rest of us because sat through "trainings" where they were taught nothing of significance.</div>
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Besides that, students have been in and out of my class for the past week while add/drop happens. Yep. I teach at a high school, but we still have add/drop as though it were a college. I've never seen so many kids complain about their schedule before becoming a teacher. I mean, when I was a student, I never in a million years thought, "Hmm, I don't like this teacher, let me switch." Or, "Hey, I need to change my schedule so I can eat with my boyfriend, or else I will die." I never knew I had the <i>option</i> of changing my schedule when I was in high school. Maybe, once we've all learned this new system, we can get scheduling done way early in the summer, send schedules out to students 2 weeks before school starts, and tell them they have the remainder of summer to fix whatever they don't like about their schedules. If they don't make the effort over summer to change things, then it wasn't that important to them to begin with.</div>
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I know. Wishful thinking....</div>
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But, the kicker to all of this is that I've been assigned a new course/prep. Not at the end of last school year. Not in the middle of summer. Not the week before school starts. But a week <i>after</i> school starts. Yep. And to top it off, its an AP course. In a content area I've never taught before!</div>
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Of all the social studies class, World has always been my least favorite. Probably because I had crappy World History teachers growing up, and I just never learned to love it. I've been spoiled these past 5 years with having nothing but US History. I'm going from teaching about 500 years of history to over 5000!</div>
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So, if you can imagine, when I found out Tuesday that all of this was happening, I entered into panic mode. My department head started looking up online resources for me, and the other teacher who teaches WHAP on campus gave me all of his files/resources. So I've had help. I seriously don't even want to think about what it would be like without their help. But it's still overwhelming. I feel like I'm a first-year teacher all over again....</div>
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But, you know what? I can do this.</div>
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I meet my little sophomores this morning. I hope they're up for the challenge too!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-44692968044585115702014-08-12T08:30:00.000-04:002014-08-12T08:30:02.264-04:00Just One: Periwinkle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Lazy Days"</i></div>
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Summer has brought with it a lot of lazy days. And no one does lazy days better than Periwinkle. She has officially claimed the bed in our guest bedroom as her "spot" and will lay there for hours. Nothing we do can make her leave the warm, sunny spot on the comforter. Unless, of course, we grab our jar of treats.</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-80176221261093149922014-08-09T16:24:00.000-04:002014-08-09T16:24:54.793-04:00Nearly a Decade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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8/9/05. Second day of school. Senior year. This boy.</div>
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Student parking lot. Waiting for the line of cars to clear. Wraps me in a hug. Whispers in my ear. Girlfriend?</div>
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I cannot believe it's been <b><i>nine</i></b> years since we started dating! </div>
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A lot has changed since high school. But one thing has remained the same...</div>
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You're still the biggest pain in my butt! But I wouldn't have it any other way! :)<br />
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Love you hun!</div>
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<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-21275167651007087762014-08-07T08:30:00.000-04:002014-08-07T08:30:00.706-04:00First Day of School: Grey's Anatomy Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Didn't sleep much. Get up before alarm goes off. Eat breakfast. Take shower. Get ready to leave.</div>
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Arrive at school. Check email. Check mailbox. Get classroom ready. Give yourself a pep talk.</div>
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<a href="http://s2.favim.com/orig/28/broken-clueless-empty-episode-greys-Favim.com-231605.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s2.favim.com/orig/28/broken-clueless-empty-episode-greys-Favim.com-231605.gif" height="197" width="400" /></a></div>
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Stand at door. Watch freshmen walk around lost. Feel sorry for them and help them out. Remember what it was like to be a freshman.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjBuIUANcl75hWytdVjqjcCHJoTr8KCeCa6Ze4uSdWBVHzME-I65sRYExmQwE9QoYs1_4Ony9LsGxGEeEoDlhNtOcJALEHIEtSg6Gd_PmGSRmkcP5foDwo29nboq6wAKPwG5qErDH64U400qpfIBzrkebjvr9-rwB5eTaFgCQxi7MhjQp2qacZFBwFVqThow35IHvwnbyRgL_6BrYyXhA=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjBuIUANcl75hWytdVjqjcCHJoTr8KCeCa6Ze4uSdWBVHzME-I65sRYExmQwE9QoYs1_4Ony9LsGxGEeEoDlhNtOcJALEHIEtSg6Gd_PmGSRmkcP5foDwo29nboq6wAKPwG5qErDH64U400qpfIBzrkebjvr9-rwB5eTaFgCQxi7MhjQp2qacZFBwFVqThow35IHvwnbyRgL_6BrYyXhA=" width="400" /></a></div>
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Watch upperclassmen run when the hear the tardy bell ring.</div>
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<a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr04/15/0/anigif_enhanced-buzz-18007-1400127913-4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr04/15/0/anigif_enhanced-buzz-18007-1400127913-4.gif" height="217" width="400" /></a></div>
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Greet students. Take roll. Introduce myself. Ask what they've heard from other students about the course. Reassure them that all the rumors are true.</div>
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<a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2076df203287d7369d531f5fa71e6a4d/tumblr_mxtzg0FItz1ri6njxo1_r4_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2076df203287d7369d531f5fa71e6a4d/tumblr_mxtzg0FItz1ri6njxo1_r4_500.gif" height="143" width="400" /></a></div>
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Except the one about this class being easy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgeZhQKTGtJW2D3sHskPQ-XPcSKekfJYHPrh_a49odrhNnMRN-StGgdJhxY3F4WxygM16r-8u1dSK7MRQdevIg56b3q1X5ExVgduRoAFnbt-3-kXNy4wls5raBGDAR5WoHn66qvBIGsomsACSpIPJRagag2OTsPlvP7Pu5ycqs5khjZdYz-vE3tmViO2wTx3Cv10qXTpUHQnNg2ZvzzAA=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgeZhQKTGtJW2D3sHskPQ-XPcSKekfJYHPrh_a49odrhNnMRN-StGgdJhxY3F4WxygM16r-8u1dSK7MRQdevIg56b3q1X5ExVgduRoAFnbt-3-kXNy4wls5raBGDAR5WoHn66qvBIGsomsACSpIPJRagag2OTsPlvP7Pu5ycqs5khjZdYz-vE3tmViO2wTx3Cv10qXTpUHQnNg2ZvzzAA=" width="400" /></a></div>
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Discuss classroom rules and procedures. </div>
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Distribute three-page course syllabus. Wait for it...</div>
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/38c3fe176d789b4d27c8299a1f99878e/tumblr_my1nrrEjjC1qct8rvo6_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/38c3fe176d789b4d27c8299a1f99878e/tumblr_my1nrrEjjC1qct8rvo6_250.gif" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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Distribute homework list for the semester. Wait for it...</div>
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<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mecbx4p8ff1r4inpg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mecbx4p8ff1r4inpg.gif" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Then a kid raises their hand...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiUsZbonK0FUKUQUS3DED6VjlGMSxiaRB7eQ8pGAeiiodQVggoIkX1Tt4vwDNOHhPyAyNhnD-ZvGT6uhn4k_vUDo-CSi7aYZRoSiL8fHLTVSHfrLtB4e2QMKqpzVtqiGSWJAc3oXCM7qB4srUaaRvm-YIReLnFzYLbuwSgX4OEuAQ=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiUsZbonK0FUKUQUS3DED6VjlGMSxiaRB7eQ8pGAeiiodQVggoIkX1Tt4vwDNOHhPyAyNhnD-ZvGT6uhn4k_vUDo-CSi7aYZRoSiL8fHLTVSHfrLtB4e2QMKqpzVtqiGSWJAc3oXCM7qB4srUaaRvm-YIReLnFzYLbuwSgX4OEuAQ=" width="400" /></a></div>
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"You mean to tell me we have homework every night?"</div>
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<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/ec776c96397f3f90750ab27f46b95b10/tumblr_inline_mt973m2XJx1qfxa8c.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/ec776c96397f3f90750ab27f46b95b10/tumblr_inline_mt973m2XJx1qfxa8c.gif" height="289" width="400" /></a></div>
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"And we actually have to read our textbook?"</div>
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Yep. Welcome to junior year. And they all look at me like...</div>
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/78/64/1b/78641b023d1063c9edf3bdec2add50b6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/78/64/1b/78641b023d1063c9edf3bdec2add50b6.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
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Promise that it won't be as bad as they think it will be. That these are things they will be required to do when they get to college. And that no amount of whining will change it.</div>
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<a href="http://37.media.tumblr.com/480fcc5af9fcdfe7dadf43d8a488bde1/tumblr_n5bmdvmGzv1r1i627o2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://37.media.tumblr.com/480fcc5af9fcdfe7dadf43d8a488bde1/tumblr_n5bmdvmGzv1r1i627o2_500.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Decide it will be fun to play a "get to know you" game. Some kid makes a snippy remark. It's decided...</div>
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<a href="http://38.media.tumblr.com/ec744e97a2fb523ad919091ce8986e1b/tumblr_n5w25vqNpM1r1i627o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://38.media.tumblr.com/ec744e97a2fb523ad919091ce8986e1b/tumblr_n5w25vqNpM1r1i627o1_500.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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A kid from last year stops by to say hi. Wants to tell you all about their summer and how bummed they are that they didn't pass their AP exam.</div>
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/24a1c1abbf05319c1a042b1cd8af39d5/tumblr_my1nrrEjjC1qct8rvo4_250.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/24a1c1abbf05319c1a042b1cd8af39d5/tumblr_my1nrrEjjC1qct8rvo4_250.gif" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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Is it time for lunch yet? No? Okay. Quick snack?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasoHKlfQ-65sU8alEHAxUQl-4HE9rV6ck5vwFxEH9n5y_iO1cPwaF8rnnYKSGeLZA8rCuMOW0kMmAhDZ-2qOFculb_yIXMXcg6eb_GOWrr1tuTeSbFCPaG8Yq0br0VjRCC4RqB5YWaA0/s1600/greys.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasoHKlfQ-65sU8alEHAxUQl-4HE9rV6ck5vwFxEH9n5y_iO1cPwaF8rnnYKSGeLZA8rCuMOW0kMmAhDZ-2qOFculb_yIXMXcg6eb_GOWrr1tuTeSbFCPaG8Yq0br0VjRCC4RqB5YWaA0/s1600/greys.gif" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another bell. Another class. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Tell students I graduated from UCF. Some kid decides to challenge me and says that [insert any other Florida college] is better.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgPqYOJIaoO8CKhpcYmBA92qbIiEvEPbwjFZRu1F9MyxUpBSlF58Hx_h090A5tIaS-o4NqOvzL7i5ywDEj8_ZhyJ544rF1o78W1tamOFHZpVhIE_JJ3eszB0Y-0sZUfkCdh5wzaJwDJ2_R3JXDWA9gU8mH58CCskQ-TYvhm-w=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgPqYOJIaoO8CKhpcYmBA92qbIiEvEPbwjFZRu1F9MyxUpBSlF58Hx_h090A5tIaS-o4NqOvzL7i5ywDEj8_ZhyJ544rF1o78W1tamOFHZpVhIE_JJ3eszB0Y-0sZUfkCdh5wzaJwDJ2_R3JXDWA9gU8mH58CCskQ-TYvhm-w=" width="400" /></a></div>
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Forgot to drop off copies in front office. Ask if a student wants to run an errand.</div>
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<a href="https://31.media.tumblr.com/031ed912e4d2e738998568fb44e8c2fb/tumblr_inline_myfi0xzVZF1qzclns.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/031ed912e4d2e738998568fb44e8c2fb/tumblr_inline_myfi0xzVZF1qzclns.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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Another kid thinks they can hide their cell phone under their desk and text a buddy - after being asked to put it away twice before. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjR95s5Cmc1dEGuEQ6ZHdGQk8CdUyvYbzeWt-22dWBpt_G2JWfB7X-Nlv9MtBxYv99AbstuDDIte_kH-yI1eVNgVgzmAKwzqimrcq7HQ4wIcFfg8F0haIzSive9Zev1jPZMKepVRRE2UsXU6PQS6HmDWET_wz4CGALZ8lq42QdKig=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjR95s5Cmc1dEGuEQ6ZHdGQk8CdUyvYbzeWt-22dWBpt_G2JWfB7X-Nlv9MtBxYv99AbstuDDIte_kH-yI1eVNgVgzmAKwzqimrcq7HQ4wIcFfg8F0haIzSive9Zev1jPZMKepVRRE2UsXU6PQS6HmDWET_wz4CGALZ8lq42QdKig=" width="400" /></a></div>
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Congratulations. My phone now. Pick it up at the end of the day.</div>
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Lunch time! Quick! Scarf down food so there is time to check a few more things off my to-do list.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiZGxKaxMsox30250FEdQbCuxENfZEsLlSUpZzODs7toZi3_uqE6ucHgX0nSb1rgLGp8lm9vA3L14NjqjaSDMoPKwf6ezGQh5L48XzDdmTRcAKovnQmkllrcs0wQeIHcT-1qcq8JLOvt4dqbHNsphI5yZKWuOKJYx1em6KmCIboDdd7e74Kz10mcr5K6UHNvlw1MQm2EOHeFXXDXheZEg=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiZGxKaxMsox30250FEdQbCuxENfZEsLlSUpZzODs7toZi3_uqE6ucHgX0nSb1rgLGp8lm9vA3L14NjqjaSDMoPKwf6ezGQh5L48XzDdmTRcAKovnQmkllrcs0wQeIHcT-1qcq8JLOvt4dqbHNsphI5yZKWuOKJYx1em6KmCIboDdd7e74Kz10mcr5K6UHNvlw1MQm2EOHeFXXDXheZEg=" width="400" /></a></div>
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One more class period to go!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgQLcyDXggEyTTLOwGs6kM-nMufs3vFfaZzgAvY4NB0_OLTnmb3yUpl9c4TJkBoa7UDVdEScPDGn1Km_4UHA97_NWQEO-dm-msDnQmR-aiMoobFBwQfiEYXIa9vJAftiyvrkD1lbFSlS5KRiHHHsFekJ0z11P46qyAbUW5gXkRoMBPEOP9rrC39spuimuLGsmZQuNFYP7utF0rlGrC_1Q=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgQLcyDXggEyTTLOwGs6kM-nMufs3vFfaZzgAvY4NB0_OLTnmb3yUpl9c4TJkBoa7UDVdEScPDGn1Km_4UHA97_NWQEO-dm-msDnQmR-aiMoobFBwQfiEYXIa9vJAftiyvrkD1lbFSlS5KRiHHHsFekJ0z11P46qyAbUW5gXkRoMBPEOP9rrC39spuimuLGsmZQuNFYP7utF0rlGrC_1Q=" width="400" /></a></div>
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Finally, 3:30 rolls around. You watch as students head to the bus loop. Back inside. Clean up desk. Lay out stuff for tomorrow. Turn everything off. Head home.</div>
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<a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr03/15/0/anigif_enhanced-buzz-27330-1400126566-4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-05/enhanced/webdr03/15/0/anigif_enhanced-buzz-27330-1400126566-4.gif" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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Too bad I don't drink....<br />
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The past couple of years I've shared photos of my high school classroom (which you can see <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/classroom-tour.html">here</a> and <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/classroom-tour-round-two.html">here</a>), and I thought, why break the tradition now? </div>
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I didn't change a whole lot this time around. Everything was working pretty well at the end of last school year, so I set the room back up in the same configuration. Since the <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/classroom-tour-round-two.html">last classroom tour</a>, I lost two of my bookshelves and gained one large bookshelf in return.<br />
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That shelf got moved from the middle of the room to the front of the room (was tired of kids leaving drinks/food/phones on my shelves). I really like having everything condensed into one unit.<br />
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I also gained a small tabletop podium and inherited a round table. Although I tend to move around the room when I lecture, I like having a spot to lay out papers each day. And, it gives students a spot to stand when giving presentations.<br />
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The majority of the changes in my classroom revolve around my desk.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDlIOlo7zCvTJRt0pNXNcQzbdPZdGbDLXzeQiMUuXbAUi0rbFS3kxMIS1u7u8vV4H71rhyphenhyphenfGIRgTuk06S-JDCX2fEQyQUUV-Ho7hZJ2_deA6feg-3Hc1aEfFYtLHC6n7rY1ytKbXBxxY/s1600/IMAG2410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDlIOlo7zCvTJRt0pNXNcQzbdPZdGbDLXzeQiMUuXbAUi0rbFS3kxMIS1u7u8vV4H71rhyphenhyphenfGIRgTuk06S-JDCX2fEQyQUUV-Ho7hZJ2_deA6feg-3Hc1aEfFYtLHC6n7rY1ytKbXBxxY/s1600/IMAG2410.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the past, I've had my two desks connected and had to walk around them to access my computer. This time, I've separated them and added my filing cabinet to the mix. I'm not exactly thrilled that my desk blocks some of the white board, but I typically only use that side for announcements, so hopefully it won't become too much of an issue.<br />
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The large desk is where I like to spread everything out.<br />
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I like to keep a couple of binders on my desk that I use frequently: seating chart/grade book, junior class sponsor information, and FFEA sponsor information. The magazine holder has color coded folders that hold makeup tests and assignments when students are absent. The little basket in front of all of that holds my remotes and other techy stuff. The wood box has a bunch of dry erase markers that were picked up at a yard sale. Then, of course, are the two textbooks for each course that I teach. On top of them are the things I'm currently working on with each particular course. The black bins are where students turn in their work. And the striped folder is my "to be copied" folder that I use to take papers up to the office.<br />
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The remnants of my bookshelf are still holding in there...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D70fzXyM4snaAoyesEZiCiCAKsaGDoL29G5lviddmhfPZPhh3l2wfpAYT6HEMzEhvk6RuJqTf1rQach0QDl4vZmt9UFVfhcpjQ2DtpwZ4E7ShOylhnNXuE3FwBuZMzmTM7bzBf3iDtA/s1600/IMAG2412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D70fzXyM4snaAoyesEZiCiCAKsaGDoL29G5lviddmhfPZPhh3l2wfpAYT6HEMzEhvk6RuJqTf1rQach0QDl4vZmt9UFVfhcpjQ2DtpwZ4E7ShOylhnNXuE3FwBuZMzmTM7bzBf3iDtA/s1600/IMAG2412.jpg" height="640" width="380" /></a></div>
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I think this might be the last year for this guy. It's barely standing - having to lean on both walls to keep straight. But, it works for now. It holds all of my binders that I use to file back parent contact information, financial information, and curriculum resources.<br />
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I added some more picture frames to the mix last year. Updated some of the photos of our nieces and nephews (will they stop growing already?!) and added a pic of the Hubby from <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekend-adventures-savannah.html">our trip to Savannah</a> last summer. Decided to frame my teaching certificate and display it with my college diplomas. It drives me crazy that the frames on the wall aren't centered over the bookshelf, but my back is to it most of the time, so I don't think about it too much.<br />
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The biggest change for me is my computer table.<br />
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It's a little on the small side, but it gets the job done. We moved my filing cabinet beside the table for a little extra space to put my lamp, stapler, tape dispenser, and fan. Still not sure what I'm going to put inside the cabinet yet, but I might move some of my writing supplies out of the larger desk and into that top drawer for easy access.<br />
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Like I said, its a little on the small side, but I find that when I have a smaller space to work with I tend to keep it more organized. There's just enough space for my work calendar and a notebook to jot things down on. The two photos of me and the Hubby are there to keep me sane :) The computer monitor is on top of a filing system that I use to keep disciplinary slips, post-it notes, CDs/DVDs, etc. There's also a small blue cup that holds all of my paper clips attached to it. To the right of the monitor is my document camera. I don't use it as often as I use to, but it's nice to have for those few occasions when I do use it.</div>
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My printer and computer tower are still in the same spot. Some might think its weird or inconvenient to have a printer right at your feet, but honestly, it doesn't bug me. Sometimes I even use it as a foot rest (shh! don't tell our tech department!). The thing that makes me most happy? The fact that all the cords are corralled into a basket!<br />
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Even though they still aren't pretty to look at, at least it's not rat nest it was before. The Hubby came out to the school one day and organized all of cords. Even though I'm totally capable of hooking up my own computer, I still prefer for him to come out and do it for me. When I do it, I just let the cords lay where they fall. When he does it, he makes a point to wrap up the excess cords and zip tie them together. I picked up the basket for $1 at Target, and thought I could attach it directly under the desk. Didn't exactly think about <i>how</i> I was going to do that. So until I figure that piece of the puzzle out, the basket is resting nicely on top of the computer tower.</div>
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You may have noticed in the picture above that my college wall has expanded since the start of last school year! Here's a before:<br />
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And this is what it's looking like now:</div>
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I've added quite a few more pennants and magnets <strike>in a poor attempt to cover my a/c system</strike> to my college wall! Whenever I visit a new college or town, I try to make it a point to stop by the bookstore and pick one up. It's sorta becoming my "thing." Some people collect fridge magnets. Others shot glasses. Me? Christmas ornaments and college pennants.<br />
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The USF Bulls pennant was picked up while in Tampa for an AP Summer Institute. Funny story: the college kid working at the bookstore asked if they could help me find something. I told them I was looking for a pennant, and they had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. The three smaller ones - Ole Miss, Texas, and Florida State - I picked up at a local flea market for a few bucks. Which reminds me that I need to go back and see if they have more!</div>
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I've started to realize that pennants are expensive! So, when I can't find one that I like for the right price, I try to buy a small magnet from that college to help fill in the gaps on the wall. My parents picked up the Indiana and Kentucky magnets; I bought the Georgia College magnet while <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/papa.html">visiting for my Papa's funeral</a>; and the Florida Gator magnet was a gift from another teacher.</div>
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Still, my favorite part about my classroom is the <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/better-late-than-never.html">painted map</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK12wrj44dyofp1n_v2Ol43FpEHvTKlw7PHOy9N9rfs3RWGe0HYd_JhnwmSM9S2dMNawbOrhRD-YMg7cIDWjg6JnACu4N6kpsi1RImEyjURn1kKNFM2wQ61trpRC5Bt-78DvjwZu5KmQ/s1600/IMAG2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK12wrj44dyofp1n_v2Ol43FpEHvTKlw7PHOy9N9rfs3RWGe0HYd_JhnwmSM9S2dMNawbOrhRD-YMg7cIDWjg6JnACu4N6kpsi1RImEyjURn1kKNFM2wQ61trpRC5Bt-78DvjwZu5KmQ/s1600/IMAG2287.jpg" height="640" width="382" /></a></div>
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That's pretty much it for this year's classroom tour. I'm still trying to figure out how I want the student desks configured. Rows? Paired? Groups? Circled? Half and half? I better figure it out soon though. Students come back tomorrow! It's crazy how quickly summer flies by!</div>
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Any other teachers out there working on putting their rooms together? Or are you still soaking up the summer sun and refusing to think about work? That was me up until last week!</div>
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Here's to another school year!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-52658653263528384612014-08-04T07:22:00.004-04:002014-08-04T07:22:43.873-04:00Just One: Twenty Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/10593526_1480124205567823_642740214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/10593526_1480124205567823_642740214_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>"Happy Birthday to Me"</i></div>
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Yesterday we spent time with both sides of the family celebrating my birthday a day early. I was spoiled with gifts, gift cards, and balloons. Not to mention red velvet cake. Yum! We nearly burned down the back porch with all those candles! I should add, though, that my niece and nephew were in charge of decorating, and they decided I was going to be twenty-eight instead of twenty-six. They just wanted to use all the candles in the package. I swear, if they had only used twenty six, it wouldn't have been such an inferno. :)</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-77433498718399325492014-08-01T08:30:00.000-04:002014-08-01T08:30:01.493-04:00One More Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
We thought that after <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/another-speed-bump.html">the water heater was fixed</a> it was going to be smooth sailing to closing on our first house. Yeah. That was wishful thinking... Should have known better.</div>
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I got a call from the Hubby while I was out of town confirming what we hoped we wouldn't have to do. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcQAX0iBwfjsTR1L0zDeK0JmBOOIZg5mZ-qLXTC9gvSJg-U3J5ZuXS1jlQMyOGg422-k0I1pRdx92kpg_-bL7EdqHkEX4ci1fGBOoeNHYkRAL-ET91vpziE4YCoO20ADiaY5gHv9_5ZU/s1600/IMG_20140725_111747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcQAX0iBwfjsTR1L0zDeK0JmBOOIZg5mZ-qLXTC9gvSJg-U3J5ZuXS1jlQMyOGg422-k0I1pRdx92kpg_-bL7EdqHkEX4ci1fGBOoeNHYkRAL-ET91vpziE4YCoO20ADiaY5gHv9_5ZU/s1600/IMG_20140725_111747.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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You see that lovely truck? Want to guess what's inside that tank? Gross, right?<br />
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Our lender insisted that we have a septic inspection done before moving forward with the loan process. But, you can't really have a septic inspection without first having the tank pumped. So, another early morning and $200 later, our first home now has an empty septic tank and a little piece of paper stating that it's safe. Or functioning. Or not ancient. Or whatever it is that the lender specifically wanted to know about the thing that holds every bit of waste that comes out of our house.</div>
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Even though it kind of sucked having to shell out more cash, and it delayed closing more, there were some positives that came out of this.</div>
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First of all, I think we officially have a plumbing company that we can rely on and trust. We called them for both the water heater fix and the septic inspection, and were really happy with their customer service. Both of the guys who came out really knew their stuff and even told us what things to look out for in the future that would indicate something going wrong.</div>
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We also know that we need to keep an eye out on how efficiently our plumbing works during the rainy season. When the tech opened the tank, there was a lot of water. Obviously there should be some water. But, considering there was absolutely no smell coming from the tank because there was so much water between the surface and the smelly stuff, that's a lot of water. The current owners had a new drainage field put in less than 2 years ago, so even though it should be fine, it's something the tech advised us to keep an eye on. We're super grateful to have a heads-up on potential problems rather than being surprised by them later. (Truthfully, we think it was caused by the amount of laundry a family with 3 young kids does on a weekly basis.)</div>
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Also, the neighborhood we're moving too has trash service! Growing up in the suburbs, I never really realized how many people have to take their trash to the dump rather than simply dragging a trash can to the end of a driveway. Guess I took it for granted. Living in a more rural area means garbage trucks can become a luxury. So seeing everyone with their trashcans on the side of the road that morning made me happy. #itsthelittlethings</div>
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Oh, and now we know that our three surrounding neighbors are all elderly and retired. Nothing like having <strike>strangers</strike> your future neighbors watching from a distance, wondering who this young couple was standing around watching the septic tank get pumped in the back yard.</div>
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The septic inspection was the last thing our underwriter requested, so once we get final approval from them, all of our paperwork will be sent off to its final destination. One step closer, and yet still so far away. We're told that USDA (who we're getting our loan through) is backed up on requests, so it could be a few <i>weeks</i>(!!) before we hear anything back from them.</div>
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So that's where we are currently with the whole house situation. And since I can't leave you with just a picture of a truck with a tank full of crap, I thought I'd leave you with this gem:</div>
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<a href="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1334045920130_894664.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/1334045920130_894664.png" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
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Happy Friday y'all!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-18791381858171246092014-07-31T08:30:00.000-04:002014-07-31T08:30:01.569-04:00Last Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Today is the last day of summer vacation. Well, the last day for teachers in my county, anyways. The students still have a few more days to sleep in. And our neighboring counties all have a couple weeks left (we go back pretty early).</div>
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How am I spending my last day of summer? Why, in my classroom of course! I've already been by the school every day this week: twice to work in my room and once just to drop off some paperwork. Even though we get a few days of pre-planning before the kiddos show up, I don't always feel like its enough time to get everything ready for that first day of school.</div>
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<a href="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/MjAxMy1iM2I1M2NjZTNkZjY0OTYz.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/MjAxMy1iM2I1M2NjZTNkZjY0OTYz.png" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
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This year will be my 5th year teaching. It's crazy to think that I'm not a "newbie" anymore. But I don't quite feel like a "veteran" yet. I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing some days. But I'm looking forward to the upcoming school year.</div>
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The curriculum for my AP course has gotten a total face lift, so that should keep me on my toes in the Spring. I went to a summer institute in Tampa last week so I could learn all about the new changes. I'm hopeful that it will mean diving into history more and less about simply memorizing facts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6H8V7e7SWE1MVziKrxCsfRlqFWW5S24AUn__U1kKwmjeQQluuHZGoq6ik1hsDX2SxliMrAF8w5lLWaztCUQcUBW9s7fJI8Z_-IK9BMJ5kkZFqGjceiaeNbZjTwt7u6LVtGVlA9308FU/s1600/IMG_20140721_100318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6H8V7e7SWE1MVziKrxCsfRlqFWW5S24AUn__U1kKwmjeQQluuHZGoq6ik1hsDX2SxliMrAF8w5lLWaztCUQcUBW9s7fJI8Z_-IK9BMJ5kkZFqGjceiaeNbZjTwt7u6LVtGVlA9308FU/s1600/IMG_20140721_100318.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Between three sections of APUSH and being junior class sponsor again this year, I'm sure my plate will be full. As if I wasn't sporadic enough with my blogging throughout the summer, I'm sure it will be worse once the tardy bell rings. History has confirmed this. This is me <strike>warning you</strike> apologizing now.</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-32983780358378602052014-07-14T08:30:00.000-04:002014-07-14T08:30:01.695-04:00Another Speed Bump<div style="text-align: justify;">
Frustrated. Annoyed. Irritated. </div>
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These are the emotions we've been dealing with this past weekend. </div>
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We put an offer in on a house, that we're hoping will be our first home, back in March. March! And it seems like every little thing that can go wrong, has. No, we haven't lost the house, but there has been yet another set back.</div>
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8740370896_e046db4945_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7287/8740370896_e046db4945_z.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/viewer?blog=2504529&post=1037900361">source</a>}</span></div>
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When we first put in our offer, we naively thought that we'd be able to move at the beginning of summer. Being a teacher, that would have been ideal. I could have had weeks to work on little projects around the house without having to worry about work. But, the more we learned about the home buying process, the more we realized that was a pipe dream.</div>
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Once the sellers were all done with their bank, and the ball was finally in our court, we were told by our banker that there wasn't any reason why we couldn't be moved in before school started. We had already been pre-qualified once before (which is different than just being pre-approved), so it was just a matter of resubmitting our financial information. We were making more money, had more money in savings, and were asking for considerably less than we had previously been told we qualified for. What could go wrong?</div>
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Well, that was over a month ago, and since then we've hit more speed bumps than we'd like. The home inspection went fine, but there was a minor fix that needed to be done to apply for home owners insurance. A minor fix that would have cost us less than $10 to do. But, since the report had been submitted, now required a "professional" to do it. Which means it turned into a $87 fix...</div>
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<a href="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/10413093_1507431136136305_1199271392_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/10413093_1507431136136305_1199271392_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the appraisal came back. We thought it was fine. However, the appraiser decided to include comments about their opinion of the house without checking the facts first, so it has added a whole bunch of stuff to our checklist. Most of these things have had to wait on the sellers' agent to provide answers/documentation, so it's all stuff that is currently out of our control.</div>
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We finally got a hold of our banker Friday and asked for an update. She said she still couldn't provide us with a closing date and that we'd be lucky if we could move in the next month. So much for moving in before school.... Now it's looking like we'll be lucky if we can move in before Labor Day.</div>
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We know everything will happen when it's suppose to happen. That we've got to trust there's a greater reason why we haven't been able to move yet. But it's still frustrating. </div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-19993416499994285872014-07-11T08:30:00.000-04:002014-07-11T08:30:02.028-04:00That One Movie I Can Watch a Million Times<div style="text-align: justify;">
Everyone has that movie that they can watch over and over and never get tired of. That movie that they can recite nearly every line to. The one that they can immediately recognize by a simple measure of music or a character's voice.</div>
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For me, that movie is Forrest Gump.</div>
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<a href="http://cannonballread5.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/tjmz4rblhvk670gyjpxin8sbfnb.jpg?w=300&h=168" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cannonballread5.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/tjmz4rblhvk670gyjpxin8sbfnb.jpg?w=300&h=168" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://cannonballread5.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/travis_j_smiths-cbr5-review-131-forrest-gump-by-winston-groom/">source</a>}</span></div>
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<i>My momma always said,</i><br />
<i><i>"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."</i></i></div>
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I remember watching Forrest Gump on t.v. growing up over the summer when there was nothing else on. At first, being just a kid, I didn't understand everything that was happening in the movie. But I didn't care. I liked the characters and I liked all the different places Forrest got to travel to. </div>
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The first time I truly appreciated all of the history within the movie was when my 11th grade US History teacher, Mr. Russell, played the film at the end of the school year. Having just learned all about our country's history, I now understood who each of the presidents were. And, I understood why my teacher joked about the fact that Watergate all started thanks to Forrest.</div>
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<a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3wsavIGBH1qbe0v3o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3wsavIGBH1qbe0v3o1_500.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now, I watch Forrest Gump at least 7 times a year - once for each of the classes I teach. It's one of those things that I incorporate in my classroom because I remember how much I enjoyed it as a student. It's become one of my annual traditions. And, would you believe, every year I have a handful of students who have no idea who Forrest Gump is?! It seems like each year the number gets larger and larger. Seriously, what are these parents teaching their kids? Don't they appreciate a classic?</div>
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I have so many favorite lines/moments from the movie that it would be pointless to share them all here - you'd basically be watching the movie all over again. But, I do have one line from the end of the movie that always makes me stop and think:</div>
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<i>"...I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time."</i></div>
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For a character which is portrayed in the movie as less than smart, it's a pretty profound line. I really think the best part about Forrest Gump is the fact that he doesn't realize how smart he truly is.</div>
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So, that's my favorite movie. What's yours? What's that one movie you could watch a million times, and still never tire of?</div>
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<i>P.S. Considering my love of Forrest Gump, I was really hoping to visit <a href="http://www.savannahtheatre.com/forrest-gump-bus-stop-bench/">the infamous bench</a> in Savannah during<a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/weekend-adventures-tybee-revisited.html"> our recent trip</a>. Boy was I disappointed when I found out that the bench was simply a Hollywood prop and was never actually a part of the local square. #bubbleofficiallyburst</i></div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-22959051594121150852014-07-10T08:30:00.000-04:002014-07-10T08:30:01.414-04:00What I Will Miss About Renting<div style="text-align: justify;">
A couple of weeks ago I shared the <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/what-i-wont-miss-about-renting.html">things I won't miss about renting</a> when we finally move into our own home. I realize that I only shared the negatives about renting. So I thought, why not share the things I actually enjoyed about renting and what I'll miss when we move.</div>
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Probably the thing I'll miss the most about renting an apartment is <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">free maintenance</span></b>. If something breaks in the middle of the night (like our a/c), we don't have to worry about the cost of having a repair guy come out and fix it. It's all included! One of the things that scares me about owning a home is the fact that we're financially responsible for everything that happens to the house - that adds up to a lot of money! So the lack of stress with keeping up with all of the maintenance is something I will definitely miss.</div>
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Something I know Dan will miss probably more than I will is <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the pool</span></b>. He was a swimmer in high school, as well as a life guard at summer camp, so he has always had a love for water. I loved the pool because it was an excuse <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/weekend-adventures-summer-first.html">for friends to come over</a> and hang out. Dan's going to miss it because it was his favorite way to cool down in the Florida heat.</div>
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<a href="http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfp1/t51.2885-15/10375890_1482307658670241_1858682249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scontent-a.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfp1/t51.2885-15/10375890_1482307658670241_1858682249_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpf1/t51.2885-15/10413959_412035802271800_2002799105_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://scontent-b.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xpf1/t51.2885-15/10413959_412035802271800_2002799105_n.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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Next to the pool, is the <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gym</span></b>. Again, Dan will probably miss this one more than I will. He went down to the gym a lot more frequently. He's definitely more dedicated to staying fit than I am. I'm pretty self-conscious about working out in front of people, so a home gym is more up my alley. But, those can be expensive. I'll definitely miss having the much cheaper alternative within footsteps of our door.</div>
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Another thing I'm not looking forward to in this new house is the <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">amount of</span></b> <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yard work</span></b> that will be associated with it. We're <span style="font-size: x-small;">*fingers crossed*</span> buying a house that sits on an acre lot. Do you know how much grass that is? Considering we've only ever lived in apartments, we have absolutely nothing we need to maintain a yard. Not to mention, I don't exactly have a green thumb. So the idea of working on the lawn and making it look nice is a little daunting.</div>
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The last thing I'm going to miss about renting is <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">living on the second floor</span></b>. Sure, it sucks having to lug groceries upstairs every weekend. And moving in/out takes a lot more work. But I liked the security of living on the second floor. Call me paranoid, but I've always had this fear that someone would break into my apartment through the windows. Living on the second floor always gave me that peace of mind that no one could break in. Well, at least not through the windows anyways.</div>
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I wish I could come up with more positives about renting, but I struggled just coming up with this list of five. Can you tell I'm ready to move? Maybe you can add to the list. What are some of your favorite things about renting that you missed or will miss when you move?</div>
<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-64490663880081249162014-07-09T08:30:00.000-04:002014-07-09T08:30:01.421-04:00Recipe Review: Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, let me just start this post off by saying that this are the most gooey delicious cookies I've ever made. Probably even better than <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/reeses-peanut-butter-cookies.html">these</a>. And, what makes them so great? Besides being amazing, of course... They are the so simple to make! Two ingredients. Yes, you read that right, two ingredients!</div>
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I found this recipe on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hannahco11/">Pinterest</a> one night, and knew I just had to try it. This recipe is from Averie at <a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/">Averie Cooks</a> has instantly become a favorite around here.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/14566398770105689/">pin</a>/<a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/08/two-ingredient-peanut-butter-cup-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-bars.html">original</a>}</span></div>
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I'm not going to go into details about how to make these delicious cookies, but you can check out Averie's step-by-step <a href="http://www.averiecooks.com/2013/08/two-ingredient-peanut-butter-cup-chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-bars.html">here</a>. Just trust me when I say that you'll never need to know another cookie recipe again! People will seriously beg you to make these for your next get-together. And, you can keep the fact that they are so easy to make as your little secret. I promise I won't tell!</div>
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Oh, and by the way, we used regular cookie dough instead of gluten free, and they came out fine. Here's what ours looked like:</div>
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Not as good as Averie's picture, but don't let that fool you! They were still the best cookies to have come out of my kitchen oven - hands down!</div>
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I've made these cookie bars twice now, and both times they've turned out great. The hardest part? Waiting for the cookies to cool so that you can cut into them. But, if I'm being honest, we only wait maybe 5 minutes. We don't mind if the cookie is still ooey gooey and falling apart. Just means we grab a bowl, add a couple scoops of ice cream, and eat it all with a spoon. Yum!</div>
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I bet you're craving cookies now, huh? What's your favorite type of cookie? Normally I'm a sugar cookie kinda girl, but I think these may have officially converted me to the world of chocolate chips and peanut butter.</div>
<br />Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-81466740842943400522014-07-06T10:20:00.000-04:002014-07-06T10:20:34.046-04:00Graduation Gift: Mini Diploma<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week, I shared photos from <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/weekend-adventures-tybee-revisited.html">our recent trip to Tybee Island and Savannah</a>. Although it was nice to get away for an extended weekend and spend some time with my husband's family, that wasn't the sole purpose of the trip. My father-in-law, after many years of hard work, graduated from college! It was a huge accomplishment, and I'm so glad we were all able to be there to cheer him on as he crossed the stage.</div>
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Since graduating from college is something that should be celebrated, we all wanted to get my father-in-law a gift to remember the occasion. A quick search online for graduation gifts brings up many ideas - but most of them are geared towards high school or younger college students, not for someone who has gone back to college later in life.</div>
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There was only one thing that we knew he wanted: a nice frame to display his diploma in. </div>
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<a href="http://www.framestoredirect.com/assets/Image/Product/detailsbig/0001f-The%20Showpiece%20-%201240-Con-Med-4s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.framestoredirect.com/assets/Image/Product/detailsbig/0001f-The%20Showpiece%20-%201240-Con-Med-4s.jpg" height="355" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">{<a href="http://www.framestoredirect.com/product/CO20P4-PAR/The-Showpiece-College-Diploma-Framing.html">source</a>}</span></div>
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But there were a couple of problems with that. (1) We didn't know which style frame he wanted. (2) We weren't quite sure the dimensions of his diploma. From what we remembered, it was larger than the average diploma. And (3), there was no way that if we ordered it that it would arrive in time. So, we decided that we'd all chip in a little money, give it to him on graduation day, and let him pick out his own diploma frame.</div>
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But I find that to be boring. A card and money? Sure, its what every college graduate wants. But I wanted to do something a little more than that. Something special.</div>
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So, I came up with the idea of presenting him with a mini diploma in a mini frame so that he knew why we were giving him money.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDDtB7JVHVkIehaIXxdMKPVDSymT7h5Ojs_F3EnDD-M0HHO_64XN0f6nFsPApizEiaooBH4HsOlB4B0pZZP8g-SWPA7zUqvDS_ImJTC8_uoRt9hKc6IzONAaiMf1leR0FaSyi1yTxmPo/s1600/IMAG4222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSDDtB7JVHVkIehaIXxdMKPVDSymT7h5Ojs_F3EnDD-M0HHO_64XN0f6nFsPApizEiaooBH4HsOlB4B0pZZP8g-SWPA7zUqvDS_ImJTC8_uoRt9hKc6IzONAaiMf1leR0FaSyi1yTxmPo/s1600/IMAG4222.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
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Isn't it cute?</div>
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The frame was $4 from Michaels and it came with its own matting. I just typed up the diploma in Word and printed it on regular printer paper. The hubby suggested that I should have printed it on fancier paper (we did have a stack of resume paper lying in a desk drawer somewhere), but I didn't feel like reprinting it. The box was in my gift wrap stash, and the frame fit perfectly inside. When we got to Savannah, we collected money from everyone and bunched it up to act as the tissue paper underneath the frame.</div>
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It was a simple gift to put together. But I'm glad with the way it turned out. So much nicer than just a greeting card. And Dan's dad loved it! Mission accomplished!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-23911078397763953202014-07-03T13:49:00.000-04:002014-07-03T13:49:48.548-04:00Weekend Adventures: Tybee Revisited<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last summer, the hubby and I took a mini vacation to <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekend-adventures-savannah.html">Savannah, Georgia</a>. During that trip, we had made plans to spend one of our days at nearby <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekend-adventures-tybee-island.html">Tybee Island</a>. Well, last weekend, we went back to Savannah to watch my father-in-law walk across the stage and receive his Bachelor's degree. Only, this time, instead of staying in Savannah, we <a href="http://tybeeinn.com/">booked a room</a> on Tybee so we could be within walking distance of the beach. Best idea ever!<br />
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Our room was pretty small (which is probably an understatement), but it did the job. It had a mini kitchen, so we brought food to make our own breakfasts and lunches, which allowed us to save some money and let us splurge more on dinner. Our only complaint is that the room was so small, that it didn't really have enough space for us to sit down and eat, unless we ate in the bed. The only other option was to eat in the patio area downstairs, which would have been fine, except it rained a lot while we were there.</div>
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We arrived in town a day before the rest of the family, so Dan and I went over to <a href="http://www.lighthousepizza.net/">our favorite local pizza</a> place for dinner, then walked around the beach as the sun was setting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nj11uk0MlGZFX4CMLkhJ52_g-huz4YH4qesAgU3c6gDTKcus1OLvhqCd7tFM5oaglh_STFGylBsKmbG2FrWKsGYTAM7ldigtSQ77O5UPi-eGjgnQWuAclGeFRvjCZhdz1vwGeH-kj-w/s1600/IMAG4315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nj11uk0MlGZFX4CMLkhJ52_g-huz4YH4qesAgU3c6gDTKcus1OLvhqCd7tFM5oaglh_STFGylBsKmbG2FrWKsGYTAM7ldigtSQ77O5UPi-eGjgnQWuAclGeFRvjCZhdz1vwGeH-kj-w/s1600/IMAG4315.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the benefits of staying where we did was the fact that we were less than a block from the beach (which you can see in the street photo above), which meant we could walk there and back whenever we felt like it.</div>
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The next morning, Dan and I had planned on waking up to catch the sunrise, but we both hit the snooze on our alarms and slept in. Dan's parents arrived late morning, so we headed over to the <a href="http://www.tybeelighthouse.org/">Tybee Lighthouse</a>. My mother-in-law <i>loves</i> lighthouses, but, to our surprise, had never actually walked to the top of one before until Tybee.</div>
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It was 178 stairs to the top, but the view was totally worth it! Our running joke for the rest of the trip was, "Hey look! More stairs!" Our legs definitely got a workout that day.</div>
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After the lighthouse, we headed over to the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fopu/index.htm">Fort Pulaski National Monument</a>. The fort was used by the Confederate forces during the Civil War, but they were force to surrender to the Union army during the first half of the war when the Union artillery proved to be more advanced than the fort's walls.</div>
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There wasn't much to do at the fort. There were tours offered twice a day, but we didn't arrived at the right time. For the most part, you just walk around and take everything in. Some of the rooms and items are label, but not all. I think the best part was the short 20 minute film they show in the gift shop, but then again, I'm a history teacher, so those kinds of things interest me.</div>
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When we got to the top of the fort, we were able to see the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/fopu/historyculture/cockspur-light.htm">Cockspur Lighthouse</a> in the distance. We also saw that there was a walking path that would take you closer to the lighthouse. On our way to the path, we walked around the fort so that we could see where it was attacked by the Union forces. There are still artillery shells stuck in parts of the wall.</div>
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You can't actually reach the Cockspur Lighthouse by foot. Although, the footpath did take us a lot closer than I thought it would. Probably within about 200 feet or so. The only way to really get to the lighthouse is to kayak over there during low tide. When high tide comes in, the beach area disappears and the water level reaches the bottom steps of the lighthouse.</div>
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Seeing the kayakers walking around the beach and standing at the top of the lighthouse makes me really want to go back to Tybee just to tour the lighthouse. Maybe next summer?</div>
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About the time we were turning around to head back to the fort, my father-in-law pointed out that my shoulders were getting red. Yep. Someone forgot to put sunscreen on.....</div>
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After the fort we headed back to the room to eat lunch and take a short nap. Dan's brother and wife were coming into town around dinner time, so we headed into Savannah (where everyone else was staying) to spend the evening with everyone.<br />
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The next morning, which was Saturday, we managed to wake up before the sunrise and head down to the beach for some amazing pictures! I wish I could share them all, but that would be a lot of pictures for one post. So, I'll share some of my favorites.<br />
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Saturday afternoon, Dan's dad graduated from college! We drove over to the convention center in Savannah and got to watch him walk across the stage.<br />
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Once graduation was over and we took the obligatory family pictures outside (which are all on my in-laws cameras by the way), we grabbed a quick snack and changed clothes before heading out for a <a href="http://www.savannahriverboat.com/">dinner cruise along the Savannah River</a>.</div>
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If I'm being honest, the food on the cruise wasn't all that great. All of the food is cooked off-site and brought on board. Everyone at the table complained that all of the meat (besides the chicken) was dry and overcooked. When it came to dessert, everyone liked the chocolate cake, but the cheesecake was inedible (if you couldn't tell by witty comment above). I think had it just simply been a sight-seeing cruise, we would have enjoyed it a whole lot more.</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We joke that Dan's dad looks like a one-legged pirate in the photo above :)</span></i></div>
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Sunday was our last morning at Tybee. We managed to talk Dan's brother into waking up early and catching in the sunrise with us again. I'm really glad they were able to join us - it gave us some time to catch up and just enjoy the quietness of the beach in the morning.<br />
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After we washed up from the beach, we headed over to a local spot for breakfast, appropriately titled <a href="http://thebreakfastclubtybee.com/">The Breakfast Club</a>.<br />
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The food was really good! Dan ordered the chicken fried chick with a side of bacon, and I ordered the cinnamon raisin french toast. The only downside was that the food was also really expensive. I think for just the two of us the cost was close to $30 after tip, which is closer to what we tend to pay for a dinner out.<br />
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After breakfast, Dan's parents joined us to check out some of the shops along Tybrisa Street before all of us loaded up the cars and headed our separate ways.<br />
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Overall, it was a really good trip. I'm glad we were able to spend some time together as a family, something that doesn't happen too often anymore. We're even talking about doing this again next year or the year after. We're hoping to find a spot that we can all road trip to, so it can't be too far.<br />
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Any suggestions for where we should go next? We were thinking Charleston or Myrtle Beach, but would love to hear about any other spots you've traveled to and would recommend.</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-53618520181797765502014-07-02T15:40:00.000-04:002014-07-02T15:40:05.143-04:00Road Trip Essentials<div style="text-align: justify;">
As I <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/just-one-tybee-island.html">mentioned the other day</a>, we took a trip to Georgia's coast this past weekend. Luckily, we live within a few hours drive of Tybee, so we were able to save some money by taking a little road trip in our car rather than flying or renting another car.</div>
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We're not strangers to road tripping. The hubby and I have traveled back and forth to Georgia on various occasions (which you can read more about <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekend-adventures-tybee-island.html">here</a>, <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/weekend-adventures-savannah.html">here</a>, <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/birthday-road-trip.html">here</a>, <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/georgia-wedding-1.html">here</a>, and even <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/georgia-wedding-2.html">here</a>). We even took a recent road trip all the way to <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/weekend-adventures-connecticut-road-trip.html">Connecticut</a>. Not to mention the in-state road trips that we've taken to <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/weekend-adventures-navarre.html">Navarre</a> and <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/st-augustine-trip.html">St. Augustine</a>.</div>
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With all of our time on the road, we've figured out what are our "must haves" for traveling. Obviously this is a short list. We pack a lot more than this. But these are the things that we make sure are in the cab of the car and not tucked away in our luggage in the trunk.</div>
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First of all, what road trip wouldn't be complete without a bag full of <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">snacks</span></b>? Seriously. </div>
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Whenever we make a trip to the grocery store before a road trip, we make sure to pick up some of our favorite travel snacks. Our top choices? Sour gummy worms, regular gummy worms, breath mints, caramel apple lollipops, and swedish fish. Sometimes, if we know it will be a longer road trip, we pack some chips or crackers.</div>
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Also, before we hit the road, the hubby makes sure to program our trip into the <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GPS</span></b>. I like to think my map-reading skills are amazing, but I know they're pretty rusty. Plus, if you're going out of state, it's hard to know what the quickest route will be. Hence, the GPS. For longer trips, we use our Garmin. But, once we get there, we rely on our cell phones to direct us to the local attractions.</div>
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Speaking of <b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cell phones</span></b>, those are another one of our "must haves." Besides the fact that they keep the passenger occupied with solitare, Instagram, and Facebook, it's also how we keep our families informed about where we are on the road. Even though we're both in our mid-twenties and have been living on our own for a few years now, our parents still like to be kept in the loop when we travel. So, whoever is sitting in the passenger seat (which is usually me) has the job of being the designated texter.</div>
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Another item in the back seat of the car is a <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>cooler with drinks</b></span>. We try not to take many pit stops on road trips, and when we do, it's usually only to rest areas or the gas station. So, rather than paying a lot of money on drinks/food from vending machines, we bring our own. On our recent trip to Tybee, we knew our hotel room would have a mini kitchen, so we packed lunch meat to make sandwiches all weekend. Made grabbing lunch easy and a whole lot cheaper!</div>
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The last item on our list of "must haves" is <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>music</b></span>. Usually we take Dan's iPod with us. Sometimes we just use the iHeart Radio app on our phones. If there is one thing we hate to listen to it's static on the radio. So, as we drive further away from home, and our favorite stations start to fade, we switch to the iPod. It's a whole lot easier than having to find a new radio station every half hour. Plus, we can guarantee that every song that comes on is a song that we like.</div>
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Dan relies on music a lot when he's driving to keep him awake - especially when I fall asleep and I'm not there to <strike>talk his ear off</strike> talk to.</div>
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Our list is pretty basic, but without any one of these things, our road trips just simply wouldn't be as fun. Tomorrow I'll be back with photos from our trip. But, until then, tell me what your road trip essentials are? Maybe its a pillow from home or a certain pair of shoes? Would love to hear about it!</div>
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Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-17965698963097293652014-06-30T08:30:00.000-04:002014-06-30T17:25:35.490-04:00Just One: Tybee Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Brothers"</i></div>
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We just got back last night from a 4-day weekend trip to Tybee Island and Savannah. As much as I would love to have a post ready to go this morning with all the details from our trip, I don't. I promise to share everything this week though.</div>
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To hold you over until then, I thought I would share just one of my favorite pictures from the trip. I took this yesterday, the last morning of our trip, while we were walking the beach and admiring the sunrise through the clouds.</div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6390176289647744033.post-6699386519200095642014-06-27T08:30:00.000-04:002014-06-27T08:30:01.463-04:00Simple DIY Wedding Centerpieces<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the most popular posts on this blog is the one where I share pictures from our <a href="http://figuringoutlifeblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/wedding-recap-reception.html">wedding reception</a>. Thanks to <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/14566398764761270/">Pinterest</a> our centerpieces have become a huge hit on the blog!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYWWDhyrd-uSAouXOugEgU2UFnuZ82ZuJiHLAq2tKHjRdM9z7TT5QxK2hNlwpHkIHmYhvoMDLF2D-Wyr5nsOBAqk_Awx9kE9I9anA-7QpAJKokoL_bMqTdw_evN_Zz9jdKGvpaoKyAUQ/s1600/0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYWWDhyrd-uSAouXOugEgU2UFnuZ82ZuJiHLAq2tKHjRdM9z7TT5QxK2hNlwpHkIHmYhvoMDLF2D-Wyr5nsOBAqk_Awx9kE9I9anA-7QpAJKokoL_bMqTdw_evN_Zz9jdKGvpaoKyAUQ/s1600/0665.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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The best part? They are super simple to make. And really cheap too!</div>
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Here's where we bought everything:</div>
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<li>Vases (short & medium) - Dollar store</li>
<li>Vases (tall) - my mom had in storage</li>
<li>Mirror tiles - my mom had in storage too</li>
<li>Black rocks/pebbles - Michaels</li>
<li>Silk hydrangeas - Michaels</li>
<li>Floating candles - Dollar store</li>
<li>Kissing bells - yard sale (ribbon from Michaels)</li>
<li>Water - free from the sink</li>
<li>Food coloring - Sacks (a local dented can store)</li>
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We had a couple of boxes of neon food coloring in our pantry and played around with the colors. The color chart on the back of the box had suggestions for turquoise, so we used that as our jumping off point.</div>
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Before the wedding, we made large batches of the colored water and stored them in old milk jugs. Doing it before hand gave us time to make sure that all of the jugs were a consistent color, and it saved time the day of the wedding putting it all together.</div>
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We mixed up our centerpieces so that half the tables had what you see above, and the other half had a lower centerpiece with black sand and votive candles in a bowl. But these were our favorites!</div>
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I can't believe how popular this simple centerpiece has become, but I'm happy to see that others appreciate a simple, yet elegant centerpiece. </div>
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<b style="font-style: italic;">One last tip:</b> <i>One of the things that we did prior to the wedding was collect a bunch of boxes - one for each table at the reception. In each box we placed everything that table would need. Rather than having a box of candles and running around to each table, each box had the exact number of candles the table needed. We also attached a photo of what the table should look like for easy reference. As someone who has helped quite a few friends set up their wedding reception, spending the time before the wedding to organize everything saves a lot of time the day of the wedding. </i></div>
Hannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17044933546178405369noreply@blogger.com2