Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Can I just say how tired we are in this household? This entire week that I have had no 3rd graders to teach has truly been a blessing. I've restored my entire body, gotten much deserved rest, and spent quality time with my little man, Avery. 

I have read so many great blogs this week:

1.) Creative Organizing with Aby

2.) Texas Cottage with Sallie

3.) Imperfect Homemaking with Kelly

4.) The Pioneer Woman with Ree

Her show on the Food Network is FANTASTIC! 

Those were to just name a few because besides blogs, Pinterest has claimed my life for hours at a time as well lately. Between trying to find new classroom ideas to finding cheap, homemade Christmas gifts, my computer has not left my side. I did manage to find my mom these dish scrubbies that she purchased on a trip to Minnesota and fell in love with. 

This woman calls them "facial scrubbies" and they are probably intended for multiple uses around the home. This was my moms first step at becoming a little more eco-friendly. The amount of waste that comes out of my parents house, and even my house is substantial. If you're interested in these (I'm telling you they last months and can be placed in the dishwasher to sanitize!), you can find them here at Mapleton Lane. 

In the spirit of the American tradition, I've been consumed with Thanksgiving food, Black Friday shopping, and Sarah Palin's book America by Heart: My Reflections on Faith, Family, and Flag. I truly am inspired by this woman because she knows the American way of life that we need to get back to as well as the value of hard work that Americans lack now and how we need to stop letting our government (that was supposed to keep us free) tell us who we can have for doctors and this so called Obamacare. Anyways, I may not have got the original intent out of this book, but I will say that I have the utmost respect for Sarah Palin (and I even loved her show that came on). Her morals, outlooks on our soldiers/troops, and her ethic of hard work really needs to come back to all Americans. 

But, let's get back to more serious business... the deals I got on Black Friday. Myself, personally, didn't really get so many, but I helped my mom do online shopping. She needs a laptop, iPad, and a new flatscreen TV for the guestroom. Amongst shopping for all this, I found Neiman Marcus Last Call. Combined with an extra 40% discount on items that were already discounted plus FREE shipping, mom and I spent $145 and saved nearly $300! After some adorable flats purchased for me, the rest was spent on candles... and lots of them. I am my mother by heart in the fact that I love for someone to walk into my home and it just smell lucious. Since I cannot always afford soy candles, I will say that some of these were not soy. Sorry guys! ;( We did score mom a flatscreen 19" TV from Wal-Mart for only $98 and a new laptop for under $300 (because what does she really need a nice Mac for when she is just using the laptop to sync iTunes and a few other things?). We are slowly holding out for Cyber Monday in hopes that the iPad will be on sale for more than $49 off! 

Wait, wait, wait! Did I mention our new Thanksgiving tradition? Well silly me! Baton Rouge has come up with this game/contest to partake in every day on Thanksgiving. They post the entire alphabet in the newspaper using signs of local businesses, but only the 1st letter and it's up to you to figure out whose sign this is! It's hours filled of wholesome fun! I'm sure you've seen posters like this or such, but this is way, way better! Mom and I figured out about 3/4 of it last night and plan to get back at it after she sets up my grandparents Christmas tree! 

What great deals have you found? Do you think you are being an overconsuming American by doing this?

Last Day of School Before Thanksgiving Break

Oh my 3rd graders are a true blessing! We had an awesome day before our Thanksgiving break. In the morning we took tests (it's funny how they bombed the test on elapsed time, but aced the test on arrays and multiplication). If only the world didn't need a clock to make it's axis spin. After this, we watched a Thanksgiving cartoon about different cultures coming to America and then many, many Magic School Bus episodes! Even I was glued to the Promethean Board as they played. The one they should have paid the most attention to was the one on rocks and erosion, however, little notes and pictures kept appearing on my desk, so it's safe to say that they half-way watched it. It was adorable how they were all laid out on the floor like it was a slumber party-- who could really be mean on this day?

Then, many, many new Christmas decorations lined the hall at school! I was the sly teacher who snuck photos for future years! 

Here's to hoping everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you've any suggestions for classroom decorations or just comments, I'd love to hear them!

It's Been Quite a While!

Amongst the fury and chaos of life, I have ignored this entire blog that I started in order to share my life and get to know some great, inspirational people. Just would like everyone to know I am still here, and until I am finished student teaching December 2nd, I am furiously busy writing lesson plans, IEPs, 504 plans, decorating classrooms, and grading papers. I am also studying to take an additional Praxis so that I will be certified not only in teaching but in grades 7-12 marketing and grades 7-12 business classes. To complete this whole program in just a little over a year with 3 certifications will be fabulous.  

The new beau (who is currently upset with me) and I went to Houston to take a tour of NASA... quite educational and fun, but was a little disappointed at the lack of things we didn't see and get to talk about. 

Amist the Chaos...

The posts are few and far between because my life is super crazy right now. Between my grandfather passing away, student teaching starting, and me being sick... I have never felt so run down before. 

My grandfather passed away on August 9, 2011 from various reasons. Approximately 8 years ago, he had a triple heart-bypass surgery and was down hill from there. He suffered from diabetes and a couple of years ago developed Parkinson's. His funeral was a special ceremony and afterwards, the immediate family met at Mike Anderson's Seafood restaurant to have lunch and celebrate new beginnings. I have to say that this man was amazing. I lived right next door to him and my grandmother for 11 or so years of my life. I spent hours and days there, playing in the garden, riding the tractor, and helping around the house. His garden is now obsolete, but I suspect some cousins will take on that task when the time is right. I look forward to my figs, corn, and tomatoes. 

The woman in the middle is my beautiful grandmother and I wish her the best, 

as well as my 2 cousins included. 

Then, student teaching began on August 22nd, and I have been run ragged and am completely worn out; which has caused this sinus infection. I spend my days reminding students of things because my supervising teacher is one heck of an unorganized teacher. While she has her Masters in elementary education, classroom management and organization really lacks. THIS DRIVES ME COMPLETELY CRAZY! I am placed at an arts & science academy that is a public school. The public schools in the South aren't that great, but this one is a 'school of choice' and has been proven to excel students. I have come to learn that the school board in Louisiana and in the US is a very intricate system that lets a lot of children fall through the cracks. 

THEN, on top of all of this, we had a small tornado this morning... compliments of Tropical Storm Lee. We didn't receive all of the rain promised (20 inches), but the wind has tremendously picked up! The temperature has decreased significantly, and I am not taking this entire week of temps in the 70s for granted. Surely it will increase by Friday into the 90s. 

I am happy to report that A and I went crabbing again and caught 45 crabs, purchased a new net, and have more than a dozen crab cakes made and frozen. We followed Paula Deen's crabcake recipe and I highly recommend it to any and every one! 

Clark Creek Natural Area

So, after posting my throwback pictures to when I went to Clark Creek, I decided to call up a friend as ask if she wanted to go. While it is only about a 2-2.5 hour drive from Lafayette, we had to leave at 5am! This means, this non-morning person, was up at 4am! If Louisiana wasn't experiencing such a heatwave with high humidity, we could have been normal people and left at 8am. 

Anyways, the hike was cut short (only 3 hours) due to an extremely close snake encounter and the ever abode sweltering heat. On our drive home, we decided since we were nasty, we wanted to pick up a few things to go crabbing. Boy, what a day! I've added a map to show our drive-- REMINDER: this was done in 1 day! 

The green marks our 1st adventure and the pink marks our 2nd! 

Clark Creek Natural Area, Pond, MS. 

Rockefeller Refuge, Grand Chenier, LA

So, in order to crab in Louisiana, you must purchase a crabbing licence. After paying our mere $2 fee, we set off to Grand Chenier to crab at Rockefeller Refuge. After spending 3 hours out there, we only caught 13 crab-- slightly disappointing, but totally fun. After battling the alligators stealing our bait, we did a decent job. They stalked us like prey and got obnoxiously close-- some close to 9 ft long! 

A was pulling in a line and kept saying it was heavier than usual. Being completely oblivious, I told her it was probably caught on a rock. A lady proceeds to come running over, screaming, saying that a gator is attached to it! I've never seen A drop something so quick in my life. After backing away, it was clear to see that we did indeed have a gator-- the largest one out there! The line was caught in it's mouth and he must have fought to free himself for the rest of the night, because when we left, he was still hooked!

What a day!

Throwback to March 6, 2011-- Clark Creek Natural Area

I have a natural love for Clark Creek Natural Area. It brings the north to the south-- essentially. It is the only place I can go in Louisiana (well really in Mississippi) that has waterfalls. The trail is only 2.5 miles long, but by the time you diverge off of it, you've hiked to China. I could spend all day out there, but the way back to the car is the most strenuous-- it's entirely uphill and in Louisiana summer heat (118 degrees) it is quite miserable and even life threatening. I went on this trip with my ex-best friend. How ironic does it sound to say that!? Through trials and tribulations we stuck together ALWAYS, until I didn't show up for court and she threw me out of her life. 

Anyways, this particular trip, we decided to go early March and not much was blooming, the air was still crisp and enjoyable. The coolest part was the fact that, while we were hiking, I saw this familiar face. I must have stared for what felt like forever, only to realize it was an old boyfriend and friend from middle school! Because this was quite a while back, I don't have much to say, except that I will be going back before Autumn comes so that I can see all the greenery. 

Throwback to May 17-18, 2011-- Chicot State Park

I am an avid outdoors person, and when I say this, I am talking... hiking trails, canoeing, kayaking, biking, etc. I find nature simple and beautiful; however, once I see a snake, worm, or caterpillar-- I'm out! Creepy critters scare the bejesus out of me and I want nothing to do with them. Don't understand why I am always wanting a garden, yard, etc. 

However, a good friend of mine-- we will call her A-- invited me to come for a night to Chicot State Park  in Ville Platte, LA. The cabins were a thing of beauty!

We spent the entire 2 days collecting firewood for dinner, canoeing, hiking, and reading! I could live there year round! As soon as I got there, we hopped in a flat bottom boat and I set out to take literally 500 pictures! (IN 2 DAYS!!) Such simplicity-- phones had little signal, no computers were brought (only Nooks), and time was spent reconnecting with each other and Mother Earth. 

Throwback to 2005-- Mission Honduras

How many of us actually count our blessings each day? I'll be honest, I don't. In an effort to take the time to focus on my impending student teaching starting in T-3 weeks, I am trying to center my life and remind myself of how lucky I really am. 

Raised Catholic my whole life, I've now diverged from religion, I spent my schooling years in private, Catholic schools. I was fortunate enough to attend high school at St. Joseph's Academy, an all girls school, that provided many life lessons. Among these lessons would be 1 that stuck out the most. We were required to complete 50 hours of community service work yearly. This sounds just horrifying to teenage girls-- you want me to get dirty? help people who might not want to be helped? and then bribe me with hours to move on to the next grade?

In an effort for my parents to be good ones, my mom told me I was going to Honduras to understand my blessings. (While she would NEVER, EVER do this herself, it has now created a passion for me to travel and live a simple, eco life-- she's created a monster! ;)) 

In the summer of 2003, we left on a mission trip to Comayagua, Honduras to spend 10 long days there. I came back from this trip dying to go back 2 additional years. I will say this, in the way of providing service to people and to help make the country better... we failed; in the way of meeting new and interesting people, entertaining cultures, and sight-seeing... we succeeded! The trip taught me patience, what the internet and other technologies mean, and to be respectful of what I have and the world I live in. 

I am sad to say that we prayed the majority of the time and I was really disappointed in the little we accomplished. I guess that's why the group I went with no longer goes to this particular sight. However, I highly recommend trips like this--- it puts life into perspective and teaches you what's worth living for. I'd also like to include that I made a digital scrapbook of this trip, you can see it here: The edges are slightly cut off. :(

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Figured it's time to start this thing...

So, after many, many days/years that I have had this, it's time to start posting. I am one proud momma (of a great little Yorkie named Avery) and I am beginning my student teaching in a few weeks. 

While my original bachelor's degree (hospitality management) didn't quite pan out to provide fruitless amounts of money, I am now going back to get my teaching certification in elementary education on top of that! 
As a child I was always told that I should choose a path that is always needed in life (doctor, lawyer, school teacher, etc.). I chose not to do that on my first go round and enter the cut throat world of business. However, I have listened to my parents and have come back for that "always needed" job to find out that no one in Louisiana is hiring teachers right now. So, back to square one. 
I've had some many great trips in my life and will be, ever so often, giving a throwback to those times... Honduras, Bahamas, etc.