Tales of the Blonde Texan Teacher: December 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Change of Plans

So I am supposed to start my new tutoring position on Monday, January 3rd. However, we have a slight change of plans!

Elaine called me this afternoon, and, after a brief how-have-you-been chat, asked me if I would like to sub for her next week. I was super excited (because I adore her class), but the immediate reality of the job hit me. I asked Elaine for more information about subbing for her. She told me that it would be for three days next week so she could go back up and visit her parents. She told me that she already talked to Pam (the principal) and Lisa (the secretary), and they said it would be a great idea for me to sub. Actually, it was Pam's idea.

So, instead of starting my real job on Monday, I will be subbing in first grade on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday! The first three days back from winter break - this should be interesting! And so much fun...

Teacher Websites

Lately, I have been looking online for ideas, tips, resources, ANYTHING that could possibly help me during my first year of teaching. I would really like for the set up of my first classroom to be as quick and efficient as possible. I want the first day, week, and month (heck, the whole year) to run as smoothly as possible. I know that there is no way for that to happen if I am stumbling over myself and my supplies constantly. I know that if I were to leave this up to myself, I would forget, or not even think of, several (hundred) things!

While looking for some great ideas, I have stumbled across several teacher websites that seem to have amazing ideas, great systems, and fabulous resources. I hope that one day I will have a website for my classroom that other teachers will look to for inspiration and ideas!

Here are a few of my favorite websites:

Wow... That is a long list! I am sure that in the months and years to come I will be using these sites quite often!

Dream Homes 3.0

This house is so simple and classic. There are a few rooms that I am not crazy about (and I have not included those pictures), but there is something so elegant about the beautiful decor. I would love to come home to this house every evening!

I am sure these pictures don't quite do this house justice - five bedrooms plus an office, a separate guest house with two additional bedrooms, and an eight car garage!

All for only $2.69 million!

So traditional... Can't you just imagine two or three kids running in the front yard, or this place decked out in Christmas lights?

This would look great with a bench or some flower pots or topiaries.

The entry way... Look at those floors!

View into the dining room from the entry way... Oh, and those stairs!

Lovely entry way table... A view into the living room... And those stairs, again!

The living room... I love those built-ins... And the fireplace is simply breath-taking!

Such a beautiful kitchen... So simple and contemporary! I just love the large island, the window above the sink, and the amazing cabinets!

That stove is just amazing... It makes me want to take a cooking class - just so I could spend more time in that kitchen!

This is the master bathroom... I love the mirror surrounded by windows! And the cabinet and counter space... What more could a girl ask for?

Oh, and there is a gorgeous tub... I can imagine those relaxing bubble baths at the end of a long work week... Aaahh!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Dream Homes 2.0

Oh, I think I am IN LOVE!

This is Kim Kardashian's new home - only $3.8 million dollars!

Five bedroom, four and a half bathrooms, lots of fireplaces, and beautiful floors!

This living room is so simple and so elegant, but you could never allow children in this room!

I love the fireplace in the kitchen! And, oh, the hardwood floors in this house!

Master bedroom, complete with a fireplace and a huge seating area!

I love this outdoor living area!

Dream Homes 1.0

Sometimes I think about what kind of home I would like to live in when I get older. I know that on a teacher's salary, I will not be able to afford to live in my dream home, but I love to think about dream homes. So, on occassion, I will post pictures of dream homes that I would love to live in, both interior and exterior.

This is Dream Home 1.0!

Beautiful, timeless, classic!

Stylish backyard! (Although, I might have to do something about the slide...)

Oh, how I would love this kitchen!
Wouldn't you?

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Goals for a New (and Improved) Me!

I have decided to create a list of goals, rather than resolutions, that, I believe, will improve my life.
The first thing I have decided to do is start a blog. I hope that I will blog (at least) once a day, to keep track of things that are going on in my life, and to document my feelings about things in my life. As I start my new job, I invision using this blog to keep track of the funny and interesting things that happen at work, great lesson ideas or lesson plans, and great teacher resources.
The next goal I have set for myself is to get in shape. I have had really bad lower back pain for as long as I can remember, and I think that exercising, building muscle, and losing weight will help relieve the pain. Also, I would like to firm and tone my body before the summer. And, in the process, if I make someone regret a decision he made - well, I guess that won't be such a bad thing!
Another thing I want to do this year is start saving money. I have my first real job, and with that job comes a pay check. The last time I had a job with decent pay, I blew all of my money almost immediately. I am going to start paying some of my own bills (because mom doesn't think that I would be able to transition to paying all of my bills all at once). I will start paying my car insurance and cell phone bills, and will probably take on more responsibility as time goes on. I also have a few things that I like to do for myself that I would like to continue (tanning, massages, nails, hair). I know that I will have to pay expenses like gas and food and things like that, but I hope to be able to save a few hundred dollars each month. My goal is to move out in July, but we will see. That all depends on my next goal...
Another goal I have for the upcoming year is to get a teaching job. You may be thinking, "You just said you got a job?". Well, I do have a job. I will be working at Burks Elementary in McKinney. I will be tutoring Monday through Thursday. I will be working with first grade and fourth grade. I am so excited. I think it will be great! So, my goal is to keep my foot in the door at Burks and get a job there starting in August. Rumor has it that there is a second grade teacher that will be retiring at the end of this school year. If I got her opening, I would have the opportunity to work with the kids that I just did my student teaching with. I love those kids (but I will leave that for another post)!
Another goal I have is to get ultra-organized, and stay that way. Right now, I live in the biggest mess ever, and I hate it! I have a plan for the next week. My mom is going out of town, and I plan on taking everything out of my closet and then organizing everything as I put it back in the closet. Then I plan on doing the same thing with the bathroom (which will probably be an easier task). And finally, I plan on doing the same thing with my bedroom. Obviously I will not be moving big furniture. I would never be able to move the dresseer and chest of drawers in my closet, or my bed and desks in my bedroom. Howeve, before I move anything back in to any of the three rooms I will be thoroughly cleaning every cubic inch. I will probably create a blog (or two, or three) as a check list (and pictures) for cleaning my room! It is such a daunting task, but I feel that it will make me more productive on a daily basis!
Another goal I have for myself is to relax on trying to find Mr. Right. I just need to face the fact that I will not be finding anyone any time soon. I need to relax and focus on making myself a better person. After all, how can anyone love me if I don't first love myself? I really think that God will make someone available to me when He feels that I am ready!
Another goal I have to better myself is to regularly attend church again. I have gotten into the habit of sleeping in on the weekends, but I really need to change all of that. I also think that I need to work on my relationship with God. I know that God exists, but I have a hard time trusting Him. I know that I need to turn my whole life over to Him, but I am such a control freak!
I hope that as work on these goals I will track them on this blog. The first one that I think I will be writing about is getting organized. But I think the workout plan starts tomorrow! Here we go... (big sigh!)

Good Bye 2010... Hello 2011

At one point (about this time last year), I thought that 2010 would be the best year yet. It turned out to be one of the very worst years of my life! My boyfriend (of almost seven years) broke my heart at the end of March. My sorority sisters (and my best friends) stabbed me in the back and called me some pretty terrible things. I lost a bunch of friends and felt pretty crumby for the better part of the year. Everytime I thought things could not get worse, I reached a new low point in my life.
I am determined that this year will be better. I have come to realize that I cannot plan my future out, but I can have reaasonable goals set in place to help guide my life toward a more desirable path.
So, as the new year approaches, I will be working on my list. I won't be making New Year's Resolutions, but rather Goals for a New (and Improved) Me!

No Better Time Than The Present...

I have decided to start blogging... again! I hope this time I will keep it up!
This blog will have several purposes. I will mostly write the day-to-day happenings of my life - the new job, funny students, personal goals, etc. I know that my life is not super interesting, but I think that it will be neat one day to look back on this as a journal.
I read several other blogs (yes, I admit, I am a blogstalker!) and I am constantly amazed at the topics discussed and how eloquently they speak of each topic. I strive to write a blog as beautiful as they consistently write. Now, these women have husbands and children, and I don't - BUT I am starting a new job, finishing my last college course ever, and entering into adulthood.
Such an exciting time!
So, let's begin... There is no better time than the present!

Tales of the Blonde Texan Teacher