Holy moly. This week was insane...more like just today. I guess in order to have a three day weekend there has to be some kind of sacrifice...and today it was my sanity.

But High Five for Friday is all about celebrating the good during the week so here goes....

1. Dinner with my college roommate and best friend on Thursday. We hadn't seen each other in a month and we were way overdue to hang. It was great to unwind after work.


2. I stayed up past 10pm on two school nights this week. But both occasions required naps in order to make it that far, sigh.

3. Season finales of True Blood and Newsroom rocked. Although, I was reading on Buzzfeed that both shows are "Love to Hate" type shows and I was all like, "Whhhaaaaaat?!" It's tv people, it doesn't have to be like real-life because it's freakin' make-believe! Let's escape for a little while and try not to over analyze the impending war between the vampires, werewolves, humans, and fairies. Geez.

4. The new Terry Crews Old Spice commercial.


5. Three. Day. Weekend. I hope to relax and recharge after these first three weeks of school. This year is going to be a doozy.

Have a great weekend!

A luau wouldn't exactly be my choice of birthday party but my cousin found a recipe for a giant fishbowl drink on Pinterest and we needed an occasion to make it so my birthday it was!

My sister and I.

Break out the crazy straws!

This is my cousin's daughter, Callie and she is the most adorable thing. Her momma loves a good theme party so Callie was dressed to match.

We tried to take pictures of us all (11!) getting a sip at the same time. It was a big drink but unfortunately it wasn't that big of a drink.

It was also my aunt's birthday too, so we worked together to blow out them candles!

I was so excited to get this necklace after longing for it for about 6 months, just had to try it on right then and there.

I also got a new bed set. It's real pretty!
How I would love to post a picture of what it looks like on our bed, but when I got it out of its packaging there was a stain on the pillow sham so I am in the process of exchanging it. It was a big bummer!

We finished out the evening with a game of wiffle ball in the yard and finishing off that gigantic drink. It was a great way to start off my 27th year on Earth!

Holla! It's Friday!

Fridays mean so much more when you have to actually work through the week. And this week was tough...first full week, 7am faculty meeting, and being at school for 14 hours for open house last night, I am SO ready for the weekend.

The best things about this week:

1. Feeling comfortable in my classroom - while I don't think teaching will ever be something I call easy, this is the first year where I feel confident in my abilities - talking with parents and students about our goals for the year and how I want my classroom to run. I often have many doubts that lead to indecision but I feel like I know what I'm doing...this week at least :)

2. Mid-week Cardinals game with the boyfriend. I may have indulged in a funnel cake, it was delish!

3. The new Zumba class I'm going to on Tuesday nights - I literally have sweat pouring down my face. I definitely need to work on my booty shake but really, who doesn't?

4. Successfully budgeted two weeks and had cash left over! I made the cutest envelopes for my different cash categories too. I may be drinking too much of Dave Ramsey's kool-aid.

5. Celebrated my birthday on Saturday with good friends and good times. 27 is going to be a great year!

Have a great weekend!

"Taste the rainbow" might as well be the theme for my classroom this year because I was all about incorporating multicolor rainbow designs everywhere.

I blame it on Pinterest.

But even with all the color I think it works and I really like it. I just feel so happy when I walk in. And it is hard to feel happy in a classroom that has a wall covered in carpet. Yes, carpet. I know you're jealous.




My bi-weekly trivia contest - I post 3 clues to a mystery location and students have to research the answer on their own.

Much love to technology rocks. seriously. for the free printable quotes. Shannon doesn't know it but she pretty much decorated our school this year.









So there it is. And so far everything is functioning well, especially my desk area. I used to have only one desk for everything but moving all the tech stuff to its own table has really made things so much more accessible. Having a well organized and colorful room really makes it easy to come to work each day.

Oh and I have to share this amazing bulletin board our Library - Media Specialist created.

Library bulletin board. All the captions above the book covers are call numbers.

So cute right?!

For all my teacher friends out there, how did decorating your classroom go? Got any pictures to share? Leave me a link in your comments and I'll check it out!

Trying to fit blogging into my everyday life is a challenge so I thought I would dip my toes into the water with a quick and easy post about my August Birchbox.

August is always back to school month and Birchbox incorporated that fact into this month's box. It was a super cute, bright orange color (instead of the usual pink) that showed up in my mailbox.


This month I received:

• Cosmodynes Self Tanning Towelette and Facial Moisturizer
• Beauty Fixation Makeup Remover
• Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy La Fleur Perfume
• DDF Brightening Cleanser
• Schick Hydro Silk Razor (Bonus!)

I was surprised by the perfume - not usually a floral kind of gal but I really liked it, even got the boyfriend nod of approval. And the other products - haven't tried them yet. I'm always real nervous when it comes to self-tanner anything so the towelette/moisturizer will have to wait for the weekend when I have some time to concentrate on application.

Only three more Birchboxes until my subscription expires and I haven't quite decided if I'm going to renew. This was a Christmas gift and I just don't know if I am willing to spend $110 on myself if isn't gifted to me. Hmm, decisions.

How was your Birchbox this month? Anything awesome or was it just so-so? Don't forget to review your products on Birchbox.com and earn points towards a $10 off coupon!

I hate that I haven't posted in over a week but my summer came to screeching halt even though I thought I was so well prepared for the new school year. The boyfriend has been out of town, my inbox is constantly full, and still trying to make it to the gym. It's only the second day of school and I'm already screaming "SERENITY NOW!" by Friday it'll be "HOOCHIE MAMA!" (Seinfeld, anyone?)

I have posts with pictures even... of my classroom, my August Birchbox, my birthday presents, my hilarious family having a luau with a gigantic fishbowl drink.

It's coming. Soon.

For now I'm going to bed. Early. Again.

Night Night.

Oh man. That title says it all. Summer is essentially over. But as I do every year, I'm excited about returning to school, meeting my new students, and all the fun that comes with teaching 6th grade.

I'm linking up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk to celebrate this last Friday of freedom. Here's what rocks about this week:

1. I've got Olympic fever baby! Even though I've clicked on every spoiler alert, I've watched every night, yelling at the tv, and singing the national anthem. 'Merica!

2. It's my birthday month....oh the shopping I'm going to do once I start getting paid again. My inbox is full of free stuff and coupons...this is quite possibly the most wonderful time of the year.

3. Weekend fun...we have a Cardinal's game Friday night and a wedding on Saturday that I'm sure will be totally out of control. Ready to let loose and have some fun before heading back to school.

4. This website about St. Louis has cracked me up all week - What High School Should We Call Me
St. Louis has an insane amount of both public and private high schools so a popular question when you meet a new person is, "What high school did you go to?" This website pokes a little fun at that fact and other silly things about the Lou. It's good for a laugh.

5. Re-read 50 Shades of Gray out of boredom...went a lot faster since I skipped over about every other page this time, ha!

Have a great weekend! Laters, baby!