A Little Bit of Poetry

I don't tend to naturally turn to poetry when I want to read.  And lately, I've been immersing myself in novels galore.  So as I begin to prepare for my first year/first three weeks as a teacher, I find myself rereading poetry, especially Modernist poetry, as my first three weeks is a Modernism unit.

My heart leapt when I saw I was responsible for "The Great Gatsby," "Macbeth," and "Night" later in the semester, but a small amount of panic enveloped me when I saw that I was also responsible for Hemingway, Frost, Faulkner, and other greats starting next week.

And so I sat myself in Starbucks, reread T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland" and then cried because of the sheer beauty of it all.  This is going to be a great year.

The Magic of Disney

I have never been to Disney before.  A lot of my friends and their families had gone, whether for a band trip or family vacation, but it was always a little more than my family could manage.  Oh, we loved our family vacations immensely, but there's something a little bit sad about saying, "I've never been to Disney."  And for a child's heart like mine, a great lover of Disney movies (old school), the chance to go at age 24 meant no less to me.

I love everything about flying.  Packing, airports, airport coffee, and even waiting a little.  The clouds were especially fluffy on our way there, which added to the excitement a little more.

We stayed at the All-Star Sports Resort.  It's a little cheesy, perfect for a family with children, and a great part of the Disney experience if you want to stay in Disney.

Outside the Hollywood Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios, there are concrete blocks much like you would see on the Walk of Fame.  Karl obviously picked Chevy Chase because Karl's favorite movie is "Christmas Vacation".

A huge part of any small vacation is the food.  And we certainly enjoyed all of it.  I couldn't help but be enamored of this pastry I ate in Epcot.

And of course, we had to see the castle.  It actually was smaller than I had thought it would be, but it certainly was magical.  The light show they have there is amazing!

We had a wonderful time, and even though Karl had been already, he dutifully let me go, eat, and do whatever I wanted since I had never been.  Since we are semi-adults, we enjoyed Epcot and Hollywood Studios a bit more than The Magic Kingdom (or at least, more than he enjoyed that park).  We did not go to Animal Kingdom because there was so much other stuff to do in so little time! I definitely recommend going for more than five days.  We also went to Downtown Disney (not considered a park and absolutely free to go) as well as a water park for a day (because Disney is hot in July).

This little vacation was exactly what we needed before we enter the hustle and bustle of another school year and track season(s).  Disney certainly is magical, even for adults, and hopefully we will be able to go again someday.

June Favorites

This month was all about multi-tasking.  I wanted to do a lot of things without a lot of stuff.  That's about as vague as I can say my intentions for this month, but really, it was hustling and bustling, so I needed items that could do what I wanted and quickly.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Cream | I don't get a lot of breakouts, but when I do, I'm annoyed.  This humidity melts any makeup on my face, and even when I don't wear makeup, my face is still a sweaty mess.  Not to mention the sunscreen streaks. Which makes my face ripe for breakouts.  This little bottle evens skin tone and rids my face of any pimples as well as prevents new ones from popping up.  That's a win all around.

West Elm Candle Holder | My nightstand is a blessed mess.  Karl's nightstand is an innocent victim in my tendency to place magazines and books and earrings and bobby pins all over the room.  I'm attempting to make the nightstands look pretty so that I am not so tempted to trash the tops.  This lovely candle holder matches the slate-color of the bedspread and was on sale.  Also, my love for lit candles has allowed for extra little candle purchases.

Ruche Gold Chevron Necklace | I was not much of a gold wearer, but for some reason (maybe because of my obsession with the nautical/navy blue scene), I have found myself drawn to gold jewelry this summer.  This little necklace was cheap and goes with absolutely everything.  I also figured, when I'm brave enough to layer necklaces, this piece can start it off.

Laura Mercier Eyeshadow Sticks and Korres Lip Butter | When I do brave the weather and wear makeup, these lovely items make it easy to swipe and go.  The eyeshadow sticks are in a lovely rose gold color and cocoa color.  They are perfect neutrals for smoky eyes and what have yous.  The jasmine Korres pot contains a lovely light pink, sheer lip butter that enhances a nude lip, and again, it's a quick swipe and you're done.  No blotting, no overdone color.  I like that.

"You Smell" Lemon Wipes | Again, the weather down here makes for some quite potent odors.  I can't say that any has said that I'm smelly, but just in case, these individually packed aloe wipes smell quite lovely and quickly remove sweat and dirt from the outside.

And So It Begins

I almost believed that it would never happen.  That a school would never hire me.  I know people who have put in more time at a school as a substitute than actually going to college to become a teacher.  And here it is.  An offer and an acceptance.

I would be wrong to insinuate that this offer came merely because of my teaching abilities.  I know that they are looking for a person with more to offer (*cough* coaching abilities *cough*).  Most of the teachers are also coaches.  Also, while I was digging, I discovered that ALL the members of the English department have their masters' degrees, if not their doctorates'.  So I guess I can put that on my "immediately to-do" list.  I might have had that backlogged.

And while there is crazy excitement, there is also incredible fear.  I start school in a literal month.  Yay for professional development days.  I do not even know what grades I teach, yet alone, what books.  It is hard to prepare for a classroom you know nothing about.  I was once told that the first three years (at least) feel like you're drowning and the best you can do is tread water.  Fantastic.  I've had some experience with that feeling.

But it's here.  The day when I have my own classroom.  The day I start rehearsing my first day of school speech.  The day that everyone says I need to go in and demand respect or else they'll try to step all over me because I look like a student myself.  Nevertheless, it's here.  And all I can really do is continue to wait.

A Few Firsts

...putting on sunscreen so that I do not get burned.
Using Aloe Vera after I burn anyway.

...two a day track practices this week.
Skipping the coffee and taking an afternoon siesta.

...watching "Silence of the Lambs" on Netflix.
Peeking through my fingers like a child during most of the film.

...planning a Disney trip.
Having no small child to experience the magic of Disney, so taking 20 high schoolers instead.

This week has been nothing short of exhausting. The humidity starts draining me of life at 8 am on the track. I come home to eat, nap, and redress then end up back at the track in the afternoon and evening. But this devotion is paying off in a big way. More to come.

May Favorites

Another month, but this time filled with the promise of warm weather and the bright colors of summer.  I spent lazy afternoons beside the pool, making new friends with other tenants of our apartment complex.  After such gray, rainy days, I still hungered for color and sun.

Citrus Zinger Water Bottle | The bottom of this bottle comes off separately.  It looks to fit half of a small orange and or lemon perfectly.  The bottle came with infusion ideas; for example, lemon/basil/cinnamon sticks/honey or lime/lavender/ginger/cane sugar, as well as organ/mint/chipotle powder/agave nectar.  The possibilities are apparently endless.  I prefer strawberry fizzy water with a half lemon and mint.

Topoxte Dropwaist Tunic | I am obsessed with this tunic from Anthropologie.  A gigantic portion of my envelope money went to this one shirt, but I regret nothing.  The comfort, the color.  I hope this lasts forever.

Kate Spade Tote | This was a gift from the husband, but it was also a bribe.  I do love negotiations.

Emily Ley Simplified Life Binder | I was looking for something a little bit more permanent to keep track of our finances.  I am obsessively stalking Emily Ley's blog already in anticipation of her Simplified Planner (which releases in September).  While I do love my Erin Condren Life Planner, I am thoroughly impressed by Emily Ley's blog and devotion to putting God at the center of her family and her business.  Her preppy style and well-made products are gorgeous, and I look forward to her 2014 collection of inserts for her new binders.

Sun Hat | This hat was a steal.  I have been trying on various hats, not quite sure if I am a "hat person."  There are some people who are destined to look good in hats all the time (Kate Middleton).  And I was seeking a wide-brimmed floppy hat for those grueling days by the pool.  This hat from The Loft works perfectly, is made of neutral colors to match almost everything, and was on sale (thanks to my mother).  Steal.

Week(end) Collection

For a week, Karl was away.  I cleaned, I watched Netflix, I read books, and I went to track practice.  It was odd living the "alone" life, for it was not quite the single life, but I certainly had no one to talk to or bounce ideas off of, or laugh at, or even eat with.  I spent afternoons by the pool, and quite luckily, made some new acquaintances.  But I was very ready to visit Pennsylvania to see friends and family.

While there, I visited with roommates and co-workers, as well as family.  We were forever running (driving).  Although it may not have seemed like we rested, in a way, even though it was for a very short time, it was comforting to be in the arms of family once again.  As I have mentioned before, it still is nice to come back to our own place where I am familiar with my "things" and our habits.  But still, it was calming to see the hills and the greens of Pennsylvania.

Although we had some minor car trouble on our way back (I insisted we fly next time), we made it back in relatively good time.  Thus the unpacking and the laundry has begun.  Our bed has turned into a small desk where I am plotting out dinner and finances, and it is good to wrap myself in my robe once again.