A short but sweet post...

I've survived... and went shopping!

Hello everyone!

I survived my very first week of school (and have the cold to prove it) and adjusting to the 80 minute blocks and my 75 students very well. I spent last week on icebreakers, getting to know you writing, and group work so I'm looking forward to starting this week. Right now they are working on their first five paragraph essay of the year (yay MCAS prep) and tomorrow we are starting to use the text book (a cute short story that is school related). All my kids are wicked sweet and I love helping them with their lockers or finding the perfect silent reading book. The best part is the end of the day as I'm walking through the halls. They love to find me just to say goodbye! Isn't that sweet?!?!?!

My team is great... The other team members have been super helpful whether it is helping me fill out the attendance form or getting locks for my homeroom's lockers.... I feel so darn lucky!!!

This weekend I tried to get as much prep work done (which didn't work out after all) and I even took some time to go shopping with my mother-in-law. There is a new Nordstroms in Burlington and I can promise you I will be a repeat shopper there. First, the setup was fantastic! No more annoying racks blocking walkways or random racks of stained clothes (sorry Macys!). And I had a personal shopper! Me, a first year teacher getting advice from my very own personal shopper. She was amazing and she even helped me score some awesome sale items. I ended up with a pair of black dress pants, two cardigans, a beautiful white button down shirt with puffed short sleeves, and the most comfortable black cords ever (Jag is the name is anyone is interested). I can't wait to go back!

Then we headed to the Blue Stove, Nordstrom's dining area for a very unique meal. They serve something called shared plates so the dishes are smaller and meant to be shared among the group. We ordered the fingerling potatoes, the short ribs, organic garlic chicken with a wonderful arugula salad, and a vegetable salad that was amazing. It was such a great experience all around.

Anyways, I'm off to sleep off this cold and then plan for the rest of this week. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Tuesday!!!

Time flies....

Well ladies and gentlemen... the time we have all been waiting for is just about here.... The beginning of my first teaching school year!!!! Tomorrow I have new teacher orientation and then heading to my classroom to get more stuff done (I honestly feel like it will never be done!!!). I just got back from an L.L. Bean trip where I picked out my teacher bag (more of a messanger bag but I think it will do) and a lunch bag since I'll be packing every day. My bag is currently being monogrammed (yay) but I will have it by the first day of school. Oh well, off to get some beauty sleep... morning will come faster now that I'm working again ;-)

NYC

This past weekend I went to New York City with three of my girlfriends (more of a reunion since we did this trip 4 years ago and haven't seen them as a group since). We had a blast, except for sitting on the Mass Pike for three hours in traffic Friday night. Friday night we got to our hotel in Chelsea around 11:30pm and then the ladies went to the bar in the lobby while I headed to bed like a grandma (I'm a party pooper I guess). Saturday we headed uptown to a diner for brunch and then shopping around Herald Square where I bought my first Coach item (I'm usually a Kate Spade girl but I couldn't resist!!!)

After shopping, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for dinner (interesting with four girls and one bathroom). We had dinner reservations at Alfredo's practically next to NBC (we got to see the famous sign for the Rainbow Room). Here is a picture of the four of us after dinner (I'm in my green J.Crew dress)

After dinner we walked to Dangerfield's for our annual comedy show, which was pretty fun. We always stop in for a show and it is a nice tradition. Then we headed back to the hotel for a nightcap in the bar where we met up with some gentlemen from Maine (random, yet fun).

Sunday I woke up and headed to St. Patrick's for Mass (which was amazing and beautiful!!!) then woke the ladies up so we could check out and start the day. As they finished getting ready I walked down a few blocks to get my Starbucks hot chocolate and Times (when in Rome...). I felt like such a city girl this weekend and it makes me want to experience Boston more (since it is so close). I'm thinking of heading to the Boston Public Library tomorrow to check out their Shakespeare exhibit and just enjoy the last few days of freedom before I start my new job.

Speaking of that, the more I think about starting my teaching job the more bummed out I get that it is not high school English. Don't get my wrong, I am so lucky to have a job and I'm excited to try middle school since I didn't have the chance to do so during student teaching. I'm just sad that instead of teaching Austen or Huxley I'll be teaching... I don't even know what I'll be teaching. There's nothing I can really do about it now but I'm hoping that someday I'll have the chance to work at a high school.....

Almost a year...

So I started this blog almost a year ago. It has had many ups and downs (like huge gaps in posts!!!) but I've really enjoyed being part of the blog world and sharing a little bit of my world to people. That brings me to today.... I want to know who has/is landing here and is enjoying/making fun of/laughing at/etc. this blog. So for the next week or so, please leave a comment and if you have a blog, leave that information as well. I know I lurk/read a lot of blogs and use this sort of opportunity to introduce myself so I'm hoping others will do that same. or this could go a different direction and I already know my readership.

Either way, say hi and help me celebrate my first year :-)

Attention Please

I need everyone to sit down for a moment...I'll wait. All set? I am officially a middle school English/Language Arts (ELA) teacher for the upcoming school year!!!! I received my contract this afternoon in the mail (I accepted the position last Monday) so I feel comfortable now announcing it to all my faithful reader (Dougie and Yellie, lol). I am so pumped and excited and nervous and overwhelmed all at the same time. I never thought I would really be a teacher, even though I aced the program and had a successful student teaching experience. But my dreams of being a teacher, my fantasy since I was in preschool, is finally true!!!

Some of you may be saying... Middle school?! Really? Yes really. It wasn't what I had pictured (since I always thought I would teach high school) but I am actually excited about this opportunity. Since I just did student teaching at the high school level, I think it would be a great comparison. So I'll have to let you know what I think.

I'm going to my school tomorrow to check out my room and start organizing myself. Classes start the 27th (eek!!!) so I wanted to be ready to go!!! So that's my news... I still can't believe it :-)

I went shopping...

So since I didn't hear back about the teaching position I interviewed for before the holiday, I decided yesterday to do a little retail therapy. It all started with Bonus time at Clinique at Lord and Taylor. And I must confess... I had never been to a L&T before. I feel in love instantly. I love their shoe department and I found the Clinique counter to be friendly and extremely helpful! I had to buy more mild facial cleanser and Take The Day Off makeup remover, which put me over the minimum for the Bonus. Here is my review:

Lipstick (Honeynut): A flattering neutral color; Could work as an emergency lipcolor or a banging around the house color

Repairwear: Not sure yet; I will try it out and get back to you

Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser: Looks good; Says to follow with Clinique Three Step line so why use this in the first place????

Fresh Bloom All Over Colour in Peony: Again, not sure; Need a brush for it so I'll let you know

I think there was more, but that's all I can remember right now. The bags are cute, but remind me of the Bonus bags from the Fall? The green and white one. Oh well, they are great for travel so I'll throw another one with my luggage.

After L&T, I went for a quick walk in the mall (since I've become a couch potatoe as of late and feel gross about it) and saw my mecca, J.Crew. They were having a huge sale so I wanted to stop in really quickly (telling myself that I didn't need anything and to make it quick). I walked out with a beautiful green halter dress, a green and pink polo, and a cute pair of green and pink flip flops for a grand total of 33.00!!!! Isn't that amazing!!! Everything was on sale, plus an extra 25% off that they were offering, plus the 10% student id discount. It was amazing.

My digital camera is dead so I won't be able to post pictures of the clothes but I promise to get them up.

That's pretty much it. I've been spending my days applying to teaching jobs and reading chick lit (I love Emily Giffin so I spent this week re-reading all her books, including the new one, "Love the One You're With") and now I'm starting a historical fiction novel called "The Lost Constitution" by William Martin. First, I love historical fiction (I'm a huge dork, I know) and it has to do with New England so that combination is a deadly one. I bought it for the husband since this is the first book in ages he has shown interest in but he is taking too long so I'm stealing it ;-)

Anyways, hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday. I promise to update soon, as long as something exciting happens!