(Continuously) Under Construction

If you go back to some of our earlier posts, you will see that our dining area has come a long way from its poorly painted, linoleum-floored predecessor. Our first big step was putting hardwood floor in both that space and the kitchen. Add table, chairs, additional table for china, baker's rack and viola! we have a dining area :)

However, we are slowly working on restyling this dining space. The process started with purchasing a new cabinet from Ikea to replace using my grandmother's dining table as a makeshift server. Ikea has been a fantastic find for us since we are shopping for our first home on a budget. Big things are happening again, and I am SO excited.

If I ever scrounge up a new adapter for my camera, there will be photos.

Breaking News: Super Awesome Giveaway!!

Leen the Graphics Queen is having a super giveaway! Go to her blog to get all the details. SO glad I stumbled across her site on etsy!

Go there. Enter. Win.

(Unless I do!)

Good Luck!

An Early Holiday Edition

Like the new look? Let us know!

I'm getting a little festive early this year.

We had a wonderful time with our friends this weekend, and have already (gasp!) started the annual holiday shop, and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. All I know is that our house is going to be just lovely this year with the addition of some more furniture goodies from Ikea.

On my list this year: a vinyl decal for our room. I can't decide if I like this one or this one better. Or, perhaps both can find a cozy spot in our home :) Cast your vote in the comments!

Check out Leen the Graphics Queen's website for some amazing ways to decorate without a hammer, nails or ladders. She even offers custom designs, so be creative! Her store is on etsy, which is a remarkable place to find very unique items that can suit any taste or budget!

I'm not sure how this post became about gift-giving or receiving. Do you have a fantastic secret place you like to shop?

For your amusement

While Johnathan and I are out having a fabulous weekend in Greensboro with Matt and Erin, please enjoy this website as a diversion:

Cake Wrecks

It's exactly what it sounds like: cakes gone (very) awry. I found the whole thing hilarious! Please enjoy and leave me some comments about what you found funny :)

Fall 2009

Disclaimer: my dog ate (chewed) my photo adapter card, so no photos with this post. Seriously, things like this happen to teachers on principle.

September September brought us the rainy Apple Festival where it rained exactly long enough for all of us to get wet at the band performance and by the time we marched them back to the truck, the rain stopped. For the day. Until 3pm. Sick. We had one band competition where it also rained ALL. DAY. This one became an indoor affair, and we did fairly well (and dang do we sound HUGE playing in a gym!). In short, September was one wet month.

October has been a little (not much) less wet but just as eventful. Johnathan and I have a new niece, Savannah Patricia Reep. I was also a bridesmaid in Ashley's wedding and what a fun time we had! I will post photos later when I recover a new adapter for the memory card ;) We also celebrated Johnathan's 25th birthday this month.

Ikea invaded our home this month too as we FINALLY have a gorgeous china cabinet for all of the dishes we received as wedding gifts and I have created my own work space in the office with a beautiful glass top table, which I will also post photos of eventually (thanks, Macy!). The Ikea invasion will continue with a new table and chairs before the holidays. Hopefully, we'll be hosting and entertaining often very soon!

Things are moving right along; this weekend we are off to Greensboro to spend some time with Matt and Erin (and I will be haunting the Ed McKay for used books for my students as usual). We hope you and your families are safe, warm, and above all else dry (because it's raining as I write this)!!

Here we go again!

I have successfully completed my first two weeks of the new school year. I am amazed at the difference that returning to the same place makes :) My coworkers are just so fantastic, I couldn't be happier working anywhere else. I am also just a little emotional because some of my students in the past few years are finally SENIORS. I can't believe it. I'm so proud of them, and it's cool that they come back to visit and see what's happening in little 109, where they terrorized me in the last 2 years.

Football season has started, so that means BAND. We are having a great time with the kids this year (aside from the drama that is band parents). No major mishaps yet except for the wicked bruise on my leg from where I fell at band camp :(

Miss Macy the dog is as crazy as ever, but she is SO cute :)

I have also managed to spend some time with good friends Erin and Ashley. Ashley's wedding is next month (ah!) and I'm excited about a fun weekend in Raleigh in October. Johnathan and I will also be traveling to Greensboro on Halloween weekend to see lots of theatre at Erin's husband Matt hosts NCTC at his high school.

Hmmm...I think that says it all for now. August happened fast with school starting and everything else going on, but hopefully I'll carve out some time soon to post more exciting things. Hope your Labor Day weekend is filled with fun!

Broadcasting Live...

...from the English Language Arts Essential Standards Writing Committee meeting. (Whew, a mouthful)

In short, the state of North Carolina is overhauling the Standard Course of Study (SCOS) into what we are calling the Essential Standards. A committee was selected of folks across the state to come together and write these standards which eventually go the State Board of Eduation for roll-out in a year or so.

Professionally, this is a HUGE development for me! My professional interest is in Curriculum and Instruction, and what better way to learn about that than to get in on the ground floor of a new curriculum as it is being developed? What an opportunity!

So I'm here, we're experimenting with technology and now I feel like I've learned SO much in just a few hours really. Something exciting is on the horizon for me and I just KNOW this is why I was chosen to be here.

But more on that later. Things are going well; I actually am working with someone from my grad cohort at ECU and there are also folks from the UNCC writing project here too. It's nice to see familiar faces and meet new ones as well. :)