Show and Tell Monday ~ My Christmas List

Aaaaaand it's Monday...and I am exhausted!! I did not get any sleep this weekend, again, somehow! However, the hubs took a nice 2 hour nap yesterday while I wrote my lesson plans. Yay! That was fun... ahem. Attention: that was some serious sarcasm dripping from the page!

On a positive note, it's Monday, which means it's "Show and Tell Monday!" For some reason, oh you know moving and all with the holidays, I've been a little busy and have missed the last 2 Mondays...?!? So, I'm back and typing away furiously since I still have a ton to unpack in the house!

Today's Show and Tell Monday is ~ My Christmas List.

1.  Taste of Home cookbooks. Love them!
2. Clemson...anything.
3. Life Application Study Bible...this is a great Bible to study from!
4. Monogram ring
5. Iowa State clothes...for the hubs benefit!
6. Michael Kors rose gold watch....expensive...definitely the wish list!
7. Monogram necklace! Extra large :)
8. Workout shirts...I mean...these are definitely me!

Most of all...I just want...

My family. I miss them bunches! We are spending the weekend before Christmas with the Bishop family and then driving down to Greenville to see my family!! Can't wait!!!

Show and Tell Monday ~ Cold Weather

 

Aaaaand it's Monday again. Today, I'm feeling like the only good thing about this Monday is this blog posting. #ughMonday. The hubs and I got to bed early, but for some reason I am tired beyond comprehension, it is really cold outside, it's cloudy and dark, etc. That's my bad. Sorry about all the complaining. I think I need a nap! and about 4 more pots of coffee....

This Weeks Questions: Cold Weather Activities:

1. Tell us what you like to do when it's cold outside.
~When it's cold outside...I like to be inside, fireplace on, movie in, hot coffee, under a blanket, and cuddled up with boo. Perfect.

2. Tell us some of your favorite "winter" recipes.
~One of my favorite winter recipes is always Christmas cookies. My mom's side of the family always bakes an ungodly amount of Christmas cookies...and then we all get together...and there are 842 bazillion Christmas cookies...and it is wonderful! I love that tradition! Here's one of my favorites.
Candy Cane Blossoms

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Hershey;s Kisses brand Candy Cane Kisses
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Red and Green colored sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Remove wrappers from candies (approx. 35)
2. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternatively with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended.
3. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in red and/or green colored sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 - 1o minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookies is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Yields approximately 35 cookies.

3. Show a picture of something that makes you think of the cold.

4. Tell us/Show us some of your favorite accessories/outfits for the winter.
Let's see...where do I start?!?  Now, truth be told, I don't like cold. However, I do love accessorizing and dressing for the cold! Boots, scarfs, hats, gloves, sweaters, and all other things warm and fuzzy!

 {brown boots, boot socks, hat, monogrammed jacket, flannel}

{sweater and leggings, sparkly scarf, leopard scarf, big sweater, dress/tights/boots}

5. Tell us, if you had the option of "snow" or "no snow," what would you pick?
~Hmmm...as much as I don't like cold...I still have to say, "SNOW!" It's just too pretty to pass up. Plus, running around, throwing it, and watching it fall are just too good to pass up.

Happy Monday!

Show and Tell Monday: Career ~ 11.5.2012

 
It's that time again :) I am excited about sharing some more personal posts, so that people in my new family and other friends can get to know me better!

This Weeks Questions: Career/Your "Job"

1. Tell us what you studied in college. Is your job now related to what you studied?
~In college, my degree was Early Childhood Education, with a Psychology minor. I was originally a Phys. Ed major, but decided 3 weeks before school that I wanted to be in a classroom with little ones, so I changed it! My Master's degree is (almost - one class away!! summer 2013) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). I chose this degree because the school I was working in had an almost 40% English Language Learners (ELLs).

After graduating college, I was hired at the school I had completed my students teaching at. So far, my favorite...East North Street Academy (i.e. "da skreet"). ENSA is a Title I school and in a very bad part of town. Some of us nicknamed it "da skreet" because it was literally in the ghetto. I loved my school, however, and every day there was something new. I taught Kindergarten my 1st year, Reading and Math Intervention my 2nd year, and 1st grade my 3rd-4th years and I loved every minute of it. I can't even imagine what I would do if I wasn't a teacher.

Now that we have moved to Iowa, I have run into a few problems with transferring my certificate...ugh! I was supposed to be teaching Kindergarten this year, but because of "black and white politics," that did not work out. The good news is I am able to use my Master's degree to keep on teaching! I am working at a school here in Cedar Falls as an ELL teacher! It's been so nice in a school doing what I love!

2. Tell us what your everyday job looks like?
I get to school around 8:15 (which is new for me! I used to be at school at 7:00am every morning!) and have about 45 minutes to plan and prepare before I pick up my first group. I am working with Kindergarten and 2nd grade ELLs. My kiddos are so cute! I pick each group up for about 30 minutes and we work on the English language, vocabulary, and reading. 

3. Do you have a picture of you at work? Show us.

4. In ten years, what do you see yourself doing? Same thing? More? Tell us.
~In ten years, I see myself teaching in a first grade or Kindergarten classroom. I hope to have 2 Masters by then and working on a Doctorate! I love teaching and I love learning. I want to keep doing both!

5. Tell us what you have learned, and what {if any} recommendations you may have for those looking to go into the field you are in.

• Love what you do. If you are not 100% dedicated to teaching, don't do it. If you can't see yourself still teaching in 25 years, pick something else. I love what I do and I wouldn't change it for the world!!
• Love your kiddos with everything in your heart. They love you and they need you. They need hugs, and praise, and they need to know you believe in them.
• Laugh with your kids. Play jokes on them. When they think something is funny, laugh right along with them. 
• Work hard, but take time for yourself. Put down the lesson plans and laminating. Drink a glass of wine and relax. Oh, and get enough sleep so you can say "good morning" with a real smile!

Show and Tell Monday ~ 10.29.2012

 

I have started exploring the world of "blogging" a little more lately. I must say, I'm pretty impressed with people's ideas and creativity. I found this *gem* on Becky's blog, from Mrs. to Momma. So, here it is ~ "Show and Tell Monday." (I am mostly doing this because I love the idea of writing to my future babies!)

How I Met Your Father:

1. Tell us about how and when you met your love and what attracted you most to him.
    I know this answer is on the blog somewhere, but since this is a personal post I can make my answer less "facts" and more "lovin." Besides, who doesn't love telling their love story?

   I met Brad at our gym. The best part about that is that we were both, clearly dedicated to a healthy lifestyle. I loved that about him instantly. During the summer, I would go to the gym at a different time because I was in Grad school and not teaching. When August rolled around, I started going to the gym at my more normal time after school. My best friend, Beth and I, work out religiously, every day (except for a rest day every now and then). So, I started seeing Brad at the gym in August 2010. Yes, I stared at him every day and yes, I definitely caught him staring at me every day as well. :0)

   Brad and I both had a very strict, "do not talk to girls/guys at the gym" policy. So, we just...stared...for 4 MONTHS! Seriously, that is not a joke...we had some hard core staring going on over here. When I look back now, this cracks me up. There were about 2 times I almost talked to him and a few other times I was sure he was going to talk to me. At this point, it was obvious to both of us that we may have occasionally re-arranged our schedules so that we would be at the gym at the same time as the other. By October, Beth and I had named him my "gym boyfriend." Wow...now I sound like a stalker. By November, Beth was daring me to just "get it over with and go talk to him." Sad...right? Hey, before you judge, he was staring too!

   Finally, in December 2010 after I got done with cardio, Brad had "just happened" to get done with his cardio at the same time, and we both "happened" to be stretching at the same time, I finally said, "Hey. I see you in here all the time. I'm Kristen." (Brad likes to say I was ducking under my camo hat during those short sentences...which I probably was!) We talked for a few minutes and then left the gym.

   That was a Monday. On Tuesday, we "happened" to get done with cardio at the same time and "happened' to be stretching at the same time, so we talked and then walked out to the parking lot where we talked (in the freezing cold) for 2 hours!. The same thing happened Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Friday, Brad asked me out on a date for Saturday night!

   Brad picked me up Saturday night and took me out on our date. I'm a pretty shy person, so I was a little nervous. That night was the best first date that both of us had ever had! Brad took me to what is now "Our Spot" - Tsunami (sushi) and then later he took me to a wine bar called, Stellar. It was a perfect night...and we've been together since!

2. Show us the very first {or one of the first} pictures you guys ever took together. {Feel free to show us more than one}
Our very first picture...

New Year's Eve...2010! (not our first kiss...but a very memorable one and a perfect way to start the new year!)

3. Tell us some of your favorite memories that you two had together. 
Um...how do I even start this? Our favorite memories are US. I think one of our most memorable events was our first road trip from SC to Iowa to visit Brad's family and to go to a friend's wedding. It was not the first time I had met Brad's family, but it was a significant trip! We had a 13 hour drive to Iowa and back, but we had some of the best conversations about our future and us during that looooong ride.


4. Tell us your favorite qualities about this man, what makes him "the one."
   I love Brad because he loves our Jesus. He is a devoted follower of Christ and I have been able to see and be a part of a huge growth in his relationship with God over the past 2 years. Brad is not the man he was 2 years ago. He is devoted, faithful, and trusting of our God. That is my number one reason for loving him.

   I also love Brad because...he is thoughtful and generous; he is smart; he loves books and learning; he is continually growing as a person, a man, and a leader; he is the hardest working man I know; he is the 2nd man I was able to respect (my daddy was 1st); he is good with budgeting and his money; he loves working out; he has a healthy lifestyle; he loves ice cream as much as I do; I love his laugh; I feel safe in his bug strong arms; he always holds my hand; he wraps his arms around me every night when he falls asleep; he loves dogs; he loves me unconditionally.

5. Tell us what your "date nights" typically look like.
   We have a couple different "levels" of date nights, but a good night for us is getting all "dolled up" (that's mostly me), going out for dinner and a glass of wine, getting ice cream for with our cheat meal on the weekends, and heading home to cuddle up and watch a movie. Simple, but perfect.

I love my husband.