My Thoughts this Thursday

I know, the title is cheesy...but I saw this today and it has been on my mind since I read it (it just happens to be Thursday). The quote stuck in my thoughts and is a perfect reminder for me right now and in the future.

Next School Year...

It's always nice to give everyone a GOOD update!! So here it is...

Next school year (2013-2014), I will be teaching 2nd grade at Lincoln Elementary in Cedar Falls! Yaaaaay!

Everything is FINALLY worked out with my license and there will be no more problems - ever!! (What a mess that was.) Don't get me wrong, I looooooved teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) at Orchard Elementary in CF this past year, but I am very very happy to be back in my own classroom with my own kiddos! I especially could not be happier about teaching at Lincoln Elementary. It is such a good school and it's also the "newest" built school in CF. It's an adorable little elementary school and has updated classrooms and technology. Woohoo! To top it off, our neighborhood is zoned for Lincoln (one of the reasons we chose our neighborhood), so our future kiddos will go to Lincoln as well! My new school is a 5 minute drive from our house - can't complain about that!

I'm excited and nervous about teaching 2nd grade all at the same time. My heart is with the little ones. I started out in Kindergarten. That has to be my favorite age. However,  really liked 1st grade when I moved up. They are just as cute, but they can do a lot more. I'm sure I will say/feel the same about 2nd grade as I did first grade. They still are little...but they will be able to do even more! I love teaching math - it's my favorite - so this will be fun!!

I have met my grade level (my friend Krista teaches 2nd as well!!), met the rest of the faculty, seen my classroom, and I will begin moving in and setting up soon! I'm so excited!!

Here's what my new school looks like. Isn't it so cute?!?

After I have set up and decorated my classroom, I will post pictures! Check back for updates! :)

I'm Famous...Kinda...for 5 Minutes

Normally, I don't post anything work/school related on our blog. This will be an exception!

Legally, I cannot disclose the names of my students, etc., but since we were in the NEWSPAPER I see nothing wrong with it! After we moved to Iowa, I had a few problems with my license transfer (darn states), so this year I have been using my Master's degree and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). I was very thankful to have the opportunity to use my Master's degree this year and work with a large variety of students in Early Elementary. Right now, I work with Kindergarten and 2nd grade students who are enrolled in the ESL program. The district I work in is changing their ESL program next year, so the WCF Courier came to interview us and take pictures of the ESL teachers (there are 2 of us) with our kiddos! Here they are :) Kind of fun and exciting I think? How often are you in the Newspaper...right?!?

The two students that I am working with are fraternal twins from Russia and they are in Kindergarten. They. Are. The. Cutest. Kids. EVER!! Seriously though, these two are precious. When they started at school, they spoke absolutely NO English. Now they are both speaking English fairly fluently (the sister more than the brother), and the other week they both read to me a Level E book (mid-first grade) fluently!! I was ecstatic!! They have come so far and are doing so well. This is one proud "momma" right here!

It's fun to be famous...for 15 minutes! :)

First Things First ~ Home Stuff

I've been wicked busy, so I haven't been able to participate in this link-up (or any link-up for that matter) in a while! I like it though, so I'm taking the time to write and link-up with Halie @Penguins, Pasta, & Polka Dots! This is such a cute link-up...who doesn't love recalling old memories?

This week is all about Home, Sweet, Home....

1. First apartment or house on your own (away from you parents!)
2. First room you decorated or would like to decorate
3. First thing you bought for it, or would like to buy

1. First apartment or house on your own (away from you parents!)
   ~My first apartment away from my parents was the summer after I graduated college in 2008. Sigh...what a fun summer. I graduated college, received a teaching offer in Kindergarten, and moved out of my parent's house! I went to school in the same town that we lived in, so I got to live at home instead of the dorms all through college. I lived in Grey Eagle apartments on Old Spartanburg Road in Greenville, South Carolina. Oh the memories that were in that place! I lived there from July 2008 to August 2011. It was great...I was less than 10 minutes from work and it was a straight shot right down E.North Street. I was also less than 10 minutes to my gym, the mall, Target, and other important places in Gvegas. I found some pictures of my apartment complex...here it is! I made sure to include my favorite place...the pool!

 2. First room you decorated or would like to decorate.
   ~I decorated my whole 2 bedroom apartment when I was living there, but that's when I was single. When Brad and I started "seriously" dating, we started decorating our house. The first thing we did was paint the living room wall an accent color. :) That was such a fun day because it was our first "our home" project. The first room I decorated though was the guest bathroom. I guess we I started with that one because it was smaller, in the front of the house, and people would see it more often. We had found some wall art that we both liked and were in agreement on the colors. I had my color scheme, so it was pretty easy from there! I'm a bargain shopper, and I found some great stuff for the guest bathroom at places like TJMaxx, Ross, and Marshalls. It turned out pretty well...at least I think so!

Here's a picture of us painting from the tab "Our Story", but I don't have any pictures of the front bathroom?!? Oh well, maybe I can upload some later!

3. First thing you bought for it, or would like to buy.
   ~The first big thing that we bought as a couple was our bedroom set. I. Love. It. So. Much!! We looked around for a while at bedroom sets in February 2011. We had gotten engaged in December and it was time to get rid of Brad's old bachelor pad bedroom set and mine. We finally found the perfect bedroom set at Ashley Furniture in Greenville. I adore this set and am so glad that we got it!
(This picture came from the Ashley Furniture website :) )

Welp, that's it!

1 Class Down...

*Sigh*...Oh Iowa. You have made my life just a little harder than normal. But...it's ok. I'm a very positive person, with a go-getter attitude, and tons of determination.

That being said...1 class down. Boom. Done. Nailed it!

The Gym, Sushi, and Cricket ~ First Things First

Happy Tuesday! Personally, Tuesday has not traditionally been an easy day for me. I am, somehow, always exhausted after Mondays! Uuummm, maybe it's because I work 8-5 pm and then run right over to my class, from 5-10:30 pm! Yikes...that makes for a long day! The again, Tuesday nights are our Swing Dance Class, which I love!!

So, I found this link-up this morning and thought it was a cute idea. Just another "get to know me" post. Somehow, I think this one could have a few laughs thrown in there...

Today's Topics:

• First things I do at the gym
• First date with my husband
• My first email address

Here we go!

First Thing I do at the Gym:
~Oh the gym. If you know me, you know I'm addicted to the gym. I don't think that's a bad thing at all! The first thing I do at the gym, normally, is warm up. When Brad and I are lifting weights, we try to warm up our bodies on the treadmill or elliptical for at least 10 minutes. This gets your blood flowing and your body moving around. Then we usually warm up the muscle group we are working on by stretching it out. This habit is something that's really important if you don't want to injure yourself!!

First Date with my Husband:
~My husband and I had *the best first date* of all of both of our dating histories. My husband and I met at the gym on a Monday night in early December 2010. We talked after working out every single night that week. On Friday, he finally asked me out on a dinner date. He picked me up at my house Saturday night and we drove to gorgeous downtown Greenville, South Carolina (where we previously lived). We started out at Tsunami, a sushi restaurant. We started with edemame, had a glass of wine, and lots of yummy sushi. After that, we were having such a good time, Brad took me to a snazzy wine bar down the street called, Stellar. He ordered us a bottle of wine and we sat there until 12:00 am talking. It was amazing how well the conversation went that night. Everything we talked about, we had something in common. We thought the same way, had the same morals/ideals, had the same religious beliefs, and had the same type of upbringing. Love at first date! Brad was such a gentleman. He dropped my off with a hug (knowing I would not want to be kissed on a first date, very intuitive of him...I'm pretty strict/prudish when it comes to dating) and said he would call me the next day. Which he did. The rest is history. We've been together ever since!

My First E-mail Address:
~Now this is slightly funny/embarrassing. I got my first e-mail address when I was in Middle school. My family had gotten a computer when I was in elementary, but I didn't get an e-mail address until later. Somewhere between 7th and 8th grade, my friends nicknamed me "cricket." I seriously have no idea where that even came from, but it stuck all the way through high school! So, my first e-mail address was,
cricket0831@aol.com. Ha! The things we do in Middle school...

Happy Tuesday!

"And I Miss My *Carolina* Home..."

*Sigh*

This is one of those "personal" posts. Be prepared.

So, I've been pretty homesick lately. Brad and I moved up to Iowa in August and I have only been home 1 time (in October, for a short weekend). Don't get me wrong, we are doing great here. We LOVE our new house, our doggies are doing well, I am enjoying my ESL job, and our town is so cute and just what we need. But....

I love the south. And I miss it. A lot. Especially, my family. Every time I hear Brad Paisley's song, "Southern Comfort Zone," I seriously start missing that "southern comfort zone." I guess you have to be from the south to truly understand that. There really is no place in America that is quite like the south. It is it's own unique place, culture, and way of living.

Things I Miss/Love about the South ~ In the South...

1. In the south...most everyone has a southern accent. I have one and it's pretty obvious up here. I don't mind standing out, and I'm pretty proud of where I came from, but I sure do miss hearing that sweet southern twang.
2. In the south...everyone "goes to church." I'm from the Bible belt people. Everyone talks about church, God, religion, praying, faith, etc. We live in a nice, Christian town, but it's nothing compared to the south.
3. In the south...country music is EVERYWHERE. Now, I'm not saying that country music isn't played up here, but in the south country music is literally everywhere: stores, blaring from cars, 50 radio stations, etc. It's everywhere.
4. In the south...we have our own style. We wear pearls, curls, chevron, Aztec, high heels, cowboy boots, Sperry, plaid, our flag, and our monograms are on everything. People laugh when I say, "If it's not moving, then it gets a monogram." I'm dead serious when I say that. Dead serious.
5. In the south...we call everyone "darling", "sweetheart", and "Hun." When I "accidentally" call people "darlin" up here...I get *the look.* Seriously? That's part of our language!
6. In the south...we have rednecks. I miss them and their jacked up trucks.
7. In the south...ladies don't swear. We say, "Oh my goodness", "Oh my stars", and "Goodness gracious." Ladies don't swear.
8. In the south...we're nice to everybody. It's called southern hospitality for a reason. We do hospitality right. We say "please", "thank you", and "bless" like it's going out of style. 
9. In the south...we "bless their heart." If you're from the south, you know what I mean. If not...it's hard to explain, but every one's heart always gets blessed.
10. In the south...ladies are well rounded. Ladies know how to cook, sew, DIY, shoot a gun, take care of their home, talk politics, tan at the beach, and again...wear cowboy boots or heels - depending on the situation.

Lordy, I miss the south. 

iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge ~ Day 5

Today is Day 5 of the #iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge. Today's Photo...someone I love. This one was easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Thank you WoodCamera app :)

 I love my hubby! With all my heart and soul. He makes me, me. He's my best friend.

iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge: Day 4

Today is Day 4 of the #iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge. Today's photo: my shadow.

I was taking my pup outside, and saw the perfect shadow...

The only thing missing...the rest of my little family: Belle and the hubs!

iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge: Day 3

Today is Day 3 of the #iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge. Today's Photo: What You're Reading.

So...here's what I'm reading...

I absolutely LOVE historical fiction. This isn't technically fiction. It's the story of Abigail Adams, but it tells about how influential she really was...in so many more ways than we knew!

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!!!

iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge: Day 1

Day 1 of the #iHeartFaces December Photo Challenge is "ME: introduce yourself."

This is me...photo taken with my iPhone and uploaded to Instagram ~ @kristenlbishop.

About Me: I am a 27 year old, newlywed wife to Brad, follower of Jesus, teacher, lover of all things country and Southern, Momma to 2 adorable doggies, homemaker, DIY'er, and cook/baker.

For those of you who don't know me...
Right now, I teach ESL students, but majored in Early Childhood Ed. My Master's degree (one class left to make it final! Woohoo July 2013!!) is TESOL (Teaching English to Speaker's of Other Languages), which is how I got the job I have now!

Brad and I met and were married in Greenville, but we recently moved to Iowa. Brad is originally from Iowa, but I am a Southern girl trying to make it up here!

Two of my biggest passions in life are teaching and fitness/nutrition. Brad and I work out 6 days a week and very dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle. Yes, we have cheat meals and yes, we eat ice cream on the weekends! It's out weakness. Live healthy, exercise every day, and indulge every now and then. Happy.

I also love coffee (black coffee), DIY and crafty projects, decorating our home, playing with our dogs (Belle and Abe), running, and cooking/baking. If I could live in my kitchen, I probably would!

I'm pretty OCD and definitely an A type personality. I'm very OK with that. I believe in discipline and self control as well as living neatly and sweetly.

I am also a follower of Jesus. This is the most important part of my life. We are Christians and believe that God saved us from a life of sin and hell. We also believe that Jesus saved us, so that we could be examples and a light to others on this earth. Jesus is Love and we try to show it each and every day!

Well, that's me in a nut-shell. Looking forward to Day 2!

InstaLately

November 19-25, 2012

A lot happened this week! Aaaand I am a few days behind on InstaLately...There is too much going on!!

Top: quinoa bites/mustard yellow sweater/cheddar ranch chicken

Middle: Target lovin/Belle/black and brown

Bottom: ABE!/sweet baby/big boy!

Top: Iowa State game/Iowa State/cold!

Middle: Sister B/Lowe's/Clemson love

Bottom: new table/cheat meal/Clemson vs. USC

I Am Thankful for...My Husband

Since this month is November and Thanksgiving is constantly on our minds (mostly because of the food we will be preparing), I though it would be a good time to think about what I'm thankful for.

All month, my husband and I have been preparing for a new event in our married life - moving into our new house. This year has been...a. year. In fact, it has been one major roller coaster hill after another. Our crazy year started in March and is just continuing on throughout the year with the good, the bad, and the ugly. These circumstances have caused us to keep looking back at our "Fence Posts." The fence posts of events that God has said, "Hey! Listen up. I have a plan for you, and it's not what you thought it would be. Just trust me, ok?"

I saw this photo on Facebook, from "Proverbs 31 Ministries" and I had to "borrow" it. (Proverbs 31 Ministries is a site and email devotional that I read every day. It is based off of the the Proverbs 31 woman and has been a daily encouragement in my life!)

I saw this and thought about my husband immediately. Ladies, this is too true and more important than anything else in your relationship with your husband. My husband and I have lived this truth. This is what kept our relationship together "way back when". My husband loves Jesus and he opens his Bible daily.

I respect and love my husband for so many things, but this one thing is what I respect and love about him the most. He seeks God and prays over every decision in our lives. He bought my engagement ring in September 2011, but I didn't get it until December 2011. Every day, for 4 months, my husband opened the ring box and prayed over my ring. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. Now that's a real man.

A man that gets down on his knees and prays to his Lord, is the kind of man that will take care of you and love you for the rest of your life. That kind of man will lead a family to and with the Lord.

I am unbelievably thankful for my husband. 

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!