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!

Stole this!

My ex... is my ex for a reason.

Maybe I should... do the dishes :-)

I love... new school supplies and books each Fall.

People would say... I need more confidence.

I don't understand...a lot. I'm always asking questions or clarifying.

When I wake up in the morning... I'm very grumpy and need a few seconds to get going.

I lost... my favorite pairs of earrings and its very sad. St. Anthony, please help!

Life is full of... surprises.

My past is something... I wish I could re-live so I could change a lot of things.

I get annoyed when... people don't follow the rules.

Parties are... stressful. All those people I don't know!!!

I wish... I had my first teaching job already!

Dogs... are the best. I love my bulldog.

Cats... are mean!

Tomorrow... I'm going to my mom's and we have dinner and a movie at the Seeds.

I have a low tolerance for... stupid drivers.

If I had a million dollars... I'd buy a house and travel abroad :-)

I'm totally terrified of... my interview Tuesday!

Feel free to STEAL for your posting pleasure!

Stupid rain

Since its so crappy out and there isn't much to do, I figured I would write an update. This week has been really slow on the teaching applications so I've been entertaining myself in other ways. I've been reading chick lit all week and took some time to go shopping yesterday. I bought this cute dress from Banana for my upcoming wedding this weekend (it looks better on me than in this picture):

I also picked up a pair of cute shorts (seersucker) for Lake George next weekend:

Also, I went golfing last weekend with Dougie and my MIL to Green Meadow. It was only my second time using the new clubs and my first time at this course, but it went really well. My chips were solid and my putting has improved a bit. Now I need to get used to my irons off the tee and in the fairway. I find I'm pushing to the right so I need to work on that before our trip to Queensbury CC at when we are on vaca.

Anyway, just wanted everyone to know I'm still alive and if any interesting happens, I'll let you know!