Tuesday, March 08, 2011

A month of gratitude...

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.” 
-Charles Dickens
awesome and inspiring graphic found at we <3 it.

Back in January, I chose "gratitude" as my word for 2011. I picked the month of March to be my month of gratitude. Little did I know how hard it would be to feel grateful this month. Just days before the month began, Rob and I both got setbacks on the career front. We learned that jobs we were counting on, jobs we even assumed we had are just not to be. Despite this feeling of failure, we must remain grateful for the opportunities that we do have. 

March 1: The team of teachers I’m working with this year. Dianne, Jennifer, Sean, and Lynn have been such an important support system for me this year. I’m blessed and honored to call them my colleagues, teammates, and friends. Yesterday they surprised me with a $50 giftcard, knowing that I needed something to make my day. No matter where I end up next year, I will miss them.

March 2: Listening to books on cd in the car. Driving to and from work is my favorite part of the day. I love to lose myself in the story. And, I don't even have to strain my eyes, and it's read to me. I wonder if there is a career path that I can take that incorporates this.

March 3:  Wonderful childhood memories. When I saw these panda cookies on the $1 aisle at Target, I had to get them. I probably would have paid more than $1 for them, too. Callie and I used to eat similar cookies when we were little. My grandmother would buy them and save them for us. Also, reminds me of my love of Twinkies... because Grandpa Claude would always bring a box for me when he came to visit.

March 4: Spring has sprung! And that means spring break is almost here (4 weeks!) and summer is right around the corner. And, it's just nice to see splotches of color, like this tree near school, as I drive through town. 

March 5: My grandmother. I finally got around to hanging this newly framed painting by my grandmother. She is my inspiration, and I miss her. If I could be just like her when I grow up, I would be good.

March 6: Starting the week with a clean house. Rob's grandpa came to town this weekend, so we speed-cleaned. It's so nice to look around and see clear countertops and clear floors. It makes me hope that this week much less stressful.

March 7: Taking a break from my classroom. I had to opportunity to visit another class at another school on Monday morning. And, an elementary class at that. It was refreshing and rejuvenating.... never mind that I returned to complaining and extra needy students for the afternoon.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Perfect Pair...

"Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!" 
-Thomas Hood


Inspired by Twig and Thistle's "Naturally Sweet DIY Valentines," I decided to design Rob's Valentine's gift around the theme of "We Make a Great Pair!" I know that V-day is kind of a girly holiday, but I don't want to leave Rob out. [Previous years: here, here, and last year I did something like this.]

Here's what I came up with this year:
  • WE MAKE THE PERFECT SET: the Set card game. Rob's never played, but given his interest in MindTrap, Bananagrams, etc., I think he will like it. We've been playing in my Accelerated Math class lately, and the kids love it!!
  • WE MAKE THE PERFECT PEAR: a bag of oatmeal pear cookies that I fully described over at Iron Chef Sisters. He's already tasted them, so they won't be much of a surprise.
  • WE MAKE THE PERFECT PAIR: a "coupon" good for one new pair of sunglasses. Rob's had his eye on a pair of nice (I mean, expensive) sunglasses at REI, and if he's still interested, I'd like to treat him to them. I almost bought them myself, but who knows if he's found a pair he likes better.
  • WE MAKE THE PERFECT PAIR: a new pair of cycling socks. I actually don't know if he even has a pair of dedicated socks for cycling... well, now he does.
It will be at his breakfast table in the morning. 
Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I am...

"To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution."
-Joe Cordare


Inspired by the Advisement lesson on Friday at my school, I wrote my own poem.

I am…

I am older daughter, older sister, and [only] wife.
I am Northwest Louisiana, too far north to be Cajun, but not afraid to celebrate Mardi Gras.
I am suburban Georgia, less traffic and less smog.
I am fabric sewn together, scrapbooks pieced together, and stories woven together.
I am a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, but I’m not an engineer.
I am courage in the face of family crisis.
I am a career change to pursue my desire to teach.
I am family reunion vacations at national parks and outdoor destinations.
I am fast food and dinners out on the weekends.
I am steak and mashed potatoes, or just a peanut butter sandwich.
I am Scrabble, Boggle, or any other word game for that matter.
I am straight A’s on report cards, the evidence of hard work.
I am dorm-life and dining hall meal plans all the way through college.
I am Friday night Netflix and curling up on the couch.
I am journals of family stories, albums of family photos.
I am quotes that speak wisdom, humor, and love.
I am the back of the store clearance racks, but only if it’s less than half off.
I am books on cd in the car, the only time I have to read these days.
I am little girls’ smocked dresses, handmade Sunday clothes and always hemmed pants.
I am Pollyanna, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Black Beauty, read aloud before bed.
I am Google Reader and the ingenious NEXT button.
I am a MacBook, with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Firefox all open at the same time.
I am cold oatmeal in the mornings.
I am handbells ringing a tune and feet tapping a rhythm.
I am Coca-Cola… can’t beat the real thing.
I am dreams of my future family.
I am me.

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

Font nerd...

"Each letter should have a flirtation with the one next to it."
-Mac Baumwell

Found via Design Crush.

Serif Tote Bag from Little Factory.
I think I love that bag.

A simple pledge by Lure Design.
I made that promise a long time ago.

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

There's a baby in my cake...

"It [Mardi Gras] is a thing that could hardly exist in the practical North....For the soul of it is the romantic, not the funny and the grotesque. Take away the romantic mysteries, the kings and knights and big-sounding titles, and Mardi Gras would die, down there in the South. "
-Mark Twain


Thank you, mama! We're Mardi-Gras-ing it up over here in Georgia!!

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