Food

Day 10

If you could only live off one food and one beverage for the rest of your days, what would they be?

Wow...this is a tricky one.  I love lots of different foods...and now I have to think of just one?!?!

My first thought is, "what would be healthy?", but really...it's not like I'm REALLY going to have to eat just the one thing because most of the healthy things I like I just don't think I'd like to eat every day!  So...I'm going to have to go with burritos.  Now...my daily burrito would have more than one ingrediant but not many!  I could probably live off of a bean, cheese and cilantro burrito with good salsa.  Yup...that would work!  (oh...but not some Taco Bell burrito!!!)

{I was going to add a picture here...but all the burrito images I find are filled with stuff I don't like...or it's a TB burrito! }

Now...a drink

I can be pretty simple on this one.  I truly could just say water.  But that's boring!  So...I'll be crazy and say....Iced Tea. Yeah I know...still not exciting.  But it's refreshing, has some flavor, mildly sweet (I would need sweetened iced tea!!) and, if needed, some caffeine! 

Pet Peeves

Day 9

Pet Peeves

Okay...I'm really not trying to be lazy here...but today's post will be a bit redundent if I write it out.  Day 2 was Likes and Dislikes...well...those Dislikes...were most of my pet peeves.  

Numbers 7, 4, 2 of dislikes are some of my pet peeves.  You can re-read them here. 

Additional ones are: 

• whistling
• people that drive super slowly when there is no reason
• continuous noises (shocking that I work in special ed with this one!!) like tapping, etc!
• people that use their cell phones in the movie theater...if they are anywhere if front of me my eyes go directly to that bright screen instead of the movie. 
• poor service at a restaurant/store (again when there is no apparent reason...it's not busy, etc)
• lying...especially obvious lies

I'll end there because if I try to think of more I'll end up annoyed thinking about them and that just won't make for a pleasant night of sleep!  

You don't say...

Day 8

Three things you want to say to certain people.

Wow...I'm starting to think I'm going to have a hard time with this challenge.  Some of these are tough mainly b/c if I want to say something I normally will and if I want to vent and not have certain people know that I'm briefly frustrated...well a public forum blog isn't where I'm going to do it.  But...let's see. 

1.  This isn't to any certain person, but more people in general.  I wish I could explain to people that it's really okay that I'm not married yet.  Around here if you are 24 and not married people automatically think you are destined to be an 'old maid'.  Well let me tell you something folks, not true.  If you go to many other places...such as a city...well it's okay to be single.  I don't mind my single life.  I refuse to settle for someone that is mediocre just to 'be married' or 'in a relationship'.  I'm always open to relationships, and I don't mind the occasional 'set up', but please people the world is not ending because I'm single. 

2.  I want my family to know that I love them.  They have been so supportive with my decisions to move south and to move back.  They are accommodating my 'limbo-ness' and understand my frustrations.  Without their support I don't know if I could be doing this.  I would probably be down south still and not getting to know my nieces.  

3.  I would like to thank the 1st grade team at my school for being welcoming at our training on Friday.  Since starting this job my school has been a bit less than welcoming in general.  It's not me, I understand that.  It's that my class used to be a 'county' class which means they were outsiders by default.  They had their own rules, their own systems.  We are no longer 'county' run and are part of the school district.  This seems to be a hard adjustment for many people.  We (another new teacher and class and me and mine) are left out of the loop in general.  In many aspects we've been left to 'fend for ourselves'.  We are reinventing the wheel constantly because we haven't been given certain items.  Seeing as we are new and don't know that we are missing these items we can't and don't know to ask for them.  At a training on Friday I was sitting with the 1st grade team and while talking about assessments, I casually asked where they got them from.  They looked at me like I was crazy.  "They were given to you", I was told.  Uhm...no they weren't.  They were SHOCKED.  Thankfully they stepped up immediately and offered to make copies of everything they were given regarding these items.  They also said that from now on if they are in a meeting and I'm not there (common due to special ed stuff) they will just grab me an additional copy.  Thank You!  

Ready, Set, Read!!

Day 7

Do you read?  What are your favorite books?

Yes.

  I LOVE to read. 

I'm always reading.  I tend to have a book or my Kindle in my purse.  I take books with me on the Coaster to read to and from baseball games (or did when I lived down south!).  During summer it is not unusual for me to read a book a day.  I often read in bed, which means I don't fall asleep until 4 am because I'm SO into my book. 

As for a favorite...kinda the same as music.  I love books.  I read all types of books and I love LOTS of them.  I'm currently loving The Hunger Games series.  If you haven't read them...DO.  Great books.  And...the movies are coming out so you of course want to read them first!  

I love cheesy books.  Some of my favorite authors are: 

Debbie Macomber

Nora Roberts

Emily Griffin

James Patterson

and now my brain has decided to stop working and I can't think of all the others!  Of course.  But either way...I love books.  

If you are into paperbacks (meaning not using a Kindle type reader) I highly recommend using Paperback Swap.  I used this site for a long time, still will occasionally but I've really gotten to like the Kindle.  Paperback swap lets you 'recycle' your read books and get books you want...all for the cost of 'media mail' shipping.  You pay to ship your book to someone that wants it and you get a credit...each credit is 1 book.  Simple.  And a great way to get books, especially ones that you may not have bought otherwise.  And...it helps clear out some of those crowded bookshelves! 

Music

Day 6

What band or musician is most important to you?

This is a tough one.  I love music and love all different types. 

But...I can't exactly say that I have any one band or musician that I couldn't live without.  

CURRENT FAVES

Mumford and Sons

Kings of Leon

LONGTIME FAVES

Britney Spears

Matchbox 20

Enya

Again, I love music and my favorites change monthly, weekly, and daily.  I hear a song I like and become obsessed with it.  

Travel Bug

Day 5

Five Places I'd Like to Visit

1.  My first place I'd like to visit is Australia.  As I mentioned on last posts, I love the sun.  I would die to go hang on the beaches in Australia.  One downfall is that I've read that the 10 most poisonous snakes and 10 most poisonous spiders live there...NOT cool.  Either way...I want to go though!  Must do!

2.  I've heard wonderful things about Prague.  I honestly don't know much else about Prague but have heard it's absolutely beautiful.  So...again...must go!

3.  Africa.  I would love to go on a safari in Africa.  I've know people that have gone and their pictures are ridiculous.  Dying to go!

4.  Italy.  Being Italian I would love to go to Italy.  It'd be awesome to look up some history and see areas that my family is from...specifically in Sicily 

5.  Simple one...I've never been to New York and never really wanted to until recently but all of a sudden I really really really want to go to NYC.  I'd love to see Central Park and just walk around. 

Fun in the Sun

Day 4

Today's post is supposed to be 'the meaning behind your tumblr name'. 

Uhm...I don't know what tumblr is and I sure don't have a tumblr name.  So, in lieu of discussing that I will tell you about my Blog title.  Seems reasonable right?   

So the title of this blog has been Fun in the Sun.  I've thought about changing it recently but I don't think I will.  

I was living in Carlsbad when I first created the blog.  It actually started as an online journal to document a cleanse I was doing.  After that was over and done with I put this current name on it.  I chose the name because it's exactly how I felt my life was.  I was living in Sunny San Diego...Carlsbad to be exact.  I was having tons of fun and loving life in general.  It seemed perfect.  

I've thought about changing it, but really, Salinas/Monterey doesn't have THAT bad of weather.  This week has been pretty darn sunny.  And during summer I can get a wicked tan at my aunts house!  Therefor I've decided to keep the name.  I'm still living life to the fullest and having a tons of fun.  

And if we go through a yucky weather spell...well....then I may change it! 

Details...

Day 3

Describe your day in great detail

Sorry this may be a bit boring.  My day was far from exciting although a very typical day in general. 

6:05 Alarm starts going off

6:05-6:45  Pressed snooze about a billion times 

6:47  Actually get out of bed :-)

6:47-7:20 Got dressed (black capris and a pink shirt), did my make up

7:25 Made breakfast of a whole grain sandwich thin with reduced fat peanut butter

7:30 Drove to work while eating breakfast 

7:40-8:05  Prepped my classroom for the day: put chairs on the floor, got out morning work, found out one of my IA's was going to be out, 

8:05-8:15 Checked my 'box' for mail/notices, talked to other staff and walked to the busses

8:15-8:25  Got students off the bus

8:25-8:35  Took students to eat breakfast--rushed them a ton because they needed to be out of the cafeteria for other classes to come in

8:40-8:50  I took attendance while students did their 'morning work'

8:50-9:05  Calendar time

9:10-9:50  Music with Mr. Rossi.  I love our music time.  The kids sing fun songs which of course then get stuck in my head all day

9:55-10:05  We finished up calendar time...Thursday's are always really rushed, it's crazy!

10:05-10:25 My kiddos went to recess and I got to start getting my personal computer, which I had at school to install a work program that isn't Mac friendly on, set up and ready to call the support line at lunch.  

10:25-11:30  Ate my snack of a Newton Fruit Crisp while my students ate their snacks. Then started our language arts groups.  The last 15 minutes were free choice which of course is the kiddo's favorite time of the day

11:30-11:45  Got the kids ready for lunch

11:45-12:30  My lunch break...which involved being on the phone with an assessment company to try to get the scoring assistant to load.  I did manage to eat, while talking, a WW frozen lunch and some crackers.

12:30-1:15  I had a meeting with my principal to plan for my year.  Set up goals for evaluation and got some information that will be useful throughout the year...like found out where the supply room is!  

1:15-1:30  Danced with my kiddos!  We did the listen and move dance and the freeze dance.

1:30-1:40 Loaded kiddos up to go home!  

1:40-2:20  It's parent teacher conference time!  I had 2 conferences today.  Both went great and the families seem super happy with the program, class, and progress.  Whew!

2:20-3:00  Called a couple other parents to discuss behaviors etc.  

3:00-6:00 I worked on my classroom and organized!!  I have a pretty small classroom and I had about 13 hours total to unpack all my boxes, get organized and be ready for the first day of school...so needless to say things are far from perfect and not really how I like to have things organized or arranged.  I felt like I finally had some time today to just get stuff done.  So nice!  I still totally need to do TONS more but like I tell parents...in my class we celebrate all progress no matter how big or small!  Progress is progress.

6:00-6:20  Went to CVS to buy eyeliner.  Mine broke and I almost didn't have any today...thankfully I remembered to buy more!!

6:30-8:00  Wrote up my reports for my next 2 conferences on Monday.  And attempted to load another program on my work computer which somewhat loaded but isn't working correctly.  

8:00-9:00 Ate dinner consisting of orzo salad and popcorn and talked to my mom

9:00-10:00  Created an excel chart for my sister...while watching Teen Mom and Jersey Shore

10:00-11:00 Wrote this boring blog!  :-)   

11:00-12:00 Read in bed

Now that you are completely bored to death you can easily fall asleep too!  I wish I had a more exciting day!  Sorry!

Likes and Dislikes

Day 2

10 Likes & Dislikes

Hmmm...I wonder if that means 10 of each or 10 total...I'm going to assume 10 of each. 

LIKES

1.  Baby smiles and baby giggles.  I love seeing my new nieces start to smile and giggle with purpose!  

2.  Being close to my family.  Although it's been an adjustment it's nice to have people to call if I just want to go to Target.  Definitely more fun and probably keeps me from buying as much stuff!!

3.  Sunshine.  I love the sun.  I love to feel the sun and warmth 'to my bones'.  I haven't seen much sun this year so when I do I literally stand there with my eyes shut and just lift my face right to the sun.  Ahhhh....

4.  Good days at work.  This year is quite different than the past 6 years.  I'm enjoying it but there have been some rough days.  I love the days that things just all go right.  

5.  Doggie snuggles.  I love the mornings that I can wake up and then just snuggle on the couch with the dogs. 

6.  Reading.  I love to read.  I love books, my kindle, and my audiobooks.  I often have a different book going on all three at any given time.  

7.  The beach.  I love the beach any time of the year.  Summer of course is nice but tends to be more crowded and at times annoying.  I love the beach on winter mornings, bundled up with Uggs, a sweatshirt, and blankets.  Just listening to the water.   With no one else around.  Pure bliss! 

8.  When the scale goes down!  Why is it so hard to make that number decrease?!?!  But man oh man...I love to see it go down...even if it's just a 10th of a lb!  

9.  Friends.  I ADORE my friends even if I don't see them as often as I want or should.  I missed a lot of my friends in Salinas/Northern California while I was down south and now I miss my Carlsbad/San Diego friends while up north.  I know I can't be near all of them but I love them all and love making plans to see them!

10.  Facials/Massages.  I've liked massages for years and years now but just had my first facial about 2 years ago.  I'm hooked.  Seriously, something massaging your face, head, neck and normally hands for an hour...WOW!

DISLIKES

10.  Chicken.  Poultry.  Yuck!  I really wish I bring myself to eat chicken and/or turkey more.  It just really grosses me out.  I have 1 chicken meal I make that I can handle eating and 1 type of turkey for sandwiches which I can occasionally manage.  I often think chicken meals smell delicious but when it comes to taking a bite I just can't past the first taste.  

9.  Not having my condo sold.  My condo has been for sale in Carlsbad since mid-June and still is sitting there.  It's driving me crazy.  I want it to sell.  I want to start the real house hunt up here.  This limbo thing is driving me crazy!

8.  Spiders.  Don't be fooled by a post a few months ago of me holding a tarantula.  I was terrified.  Sweaty palms, forgetting to breath etc.  I held her twice and the second time was better but that doesn't make me any braver when I see a little black spider scurry across a room!  

7.  When my car is dirty.  Since I bought my new car about 18 months ago (wow...I can't believe it's been that long!) it was always parked in my garage.  Until I started to pack my house up.  Now it sits outside.  Under a tree.  With fog.  Do you know what that does to it!?  It always looks all grimey and gross.  UGH!  I finally gave in the other day and took it through a gas station car wash for the first time...I won't be doing that again.  Ew.  It didn't even really help and I'm terrified of what it may have done to the paint.  

6.  Mucky overcast days.  I love the sun.  I don't even really mind a good rain.   But I can't stand the days that it's 'almost rainy' but never actually rains.  So annoying.  Come on weather...either let the sun shine or the clouds cry...but don't just be pouty!  I don't like pouters!!

5.  Misbehaved children.  I work hard at having my class of students with special needs behave.  I insist that they line up properly and walk silently through the hallways (per the school rules).  It is so frustrating that some general ed teachers don't hold their classes (of typical kids!) to the same expectations.  My students have Autism, Learning Disabilities, Language Impairments, and are Hard of Hearing.  If they can walk in a line, quietly...then the other kids can to.

4.  Entitlement.  Wow...this is a big one.  I can't stand when people feel entitled to particular things.  I see this all the time.  No people, you do not DESERVE this or that just because someone else has it, or because you want it.  If you WANT something then simply ask for it or get it, but don't go the entitled route.  We all deserve good things so get over thinking you are better than others!

3.  The sad stories I hear about kids.  Sad stories are everywhere, down south and up here.  It's heartbreaking what some of these kids are going through on a daily basis.  I remind myself of this daily especially if certain kids are having a 'rough' day at school.  I have no idea what else has gone on.  One overheard conversation from a 6 year old boy, "mommy said we had to sleep in the car last night because we didn't have anyplace to stay", "we got dressed at the storage".  Really.  

2.  When people use the term/acronym FML.  Kind of follows along with #3.  I'm sorry folks...most of the time I see this used I want to drop kick you.  Really.  You're really saying FML because you lost your phone, you stubbed your toe, you overslept.  Really?  When you have a real F-ing problem then by all means FML away but it better be something serious.  I know too many kids, families etc that have every reason to actually use the term but NO they are grateful for the things that they have and are able to do.  Have some perspective and respect for those with REAL problems. 

1.  Headaches and sunburns.  I'm the first to admit I'm a big ole baby when it comes to having a headache.  I feel for all of you that get migraines!  I don't know how you do it.  If I get the tiniest little throb I get grumpy and immediately want medicine and my bed or couch!  Same goes for sunburns...I'm a sun-o-holic but will typically only burn the first 1-2 times I'm in the sun...if that.  But if and when I do get a sunburn I hate it!  I hate sleeping, taking a shower, wearing clothes.  It hurts!  But of course the next day the sun is out and I'm dying to go out again! 

Basics...

Today is Day 1 of my 'blog challenge'...today's topic: Me!  

"Write some basic things about yourself"

Okay....BASIC!!

I'll start as basic as I can think of...

I have brown hair and eyes although I think the hair is getting more and more 'non-brown' hairs daily!  Getting older sucks but at least my hairdressers always know how to cover and camouflage the silly 'non-brown' hairs!

I grew up in Salinas and am back here again now.  I never planned on coming back here...ever...but after college in Chico I ended up back here for 5 years and then moved to Carlsbad for 5 years...and...lo and behold here I am again.  

I the middle child.  My older sister lives in Half Moon Bay and my younger sister lives here in town.  Both sisters have 2 kiddos now.  I have 2 dogs.  :-)

Again...I have 2 dogs...they are my babies.  Katy is a 4.5 lb yorkie.  She getting older now which is hard to believe...but yup...she's now 8 years old.  WOW!  Hurley is a 16 lb biewer yorkie.  He's about 2.5 years old.  He is hilarious...minus the the fact that he's OCD about wanting to lick your hands (I'm working on it!!!) but he really just wants to be a good dog.  The two get along great for the most part!

I've been teaching Special Education for 10 years...this is my 11th!  I can't believe it's been that long!  I get told all the time how great it is and how I must have SO much patience etc etc...but can I please tell you that I think general education teachers have it WAY worse?!?!  There is NO way I could EVER teach general ed!  None!  Zilch!  I just couldn't do it!!

It's fun being back and teaching in Salinas...where I went to school...I don't get to teach at the school I went to but it's fun in general. I'm now going back to school, kind of, again to learn spanish.  I was hired here at a 'bilingual teacher in training'...uhm...bilingual?!?!  I guess they hire everyone with that term but it means I'm supposed to learn some spanish.  The class I'm taking is actually pretty fun...I don't know how much I'm getting out of it but at least it's not torture!

I guess that's it for now...if you happen to read this and want to ask any 'basic' questions I'll do my best to answer for you!  :-)  

Pinning

I've recently learned about Pinterest...and all I can say is AMAZING!!  I didn't 'get' it at first but after a small tutorial I've become a pinning fool!  One thing I found was a 30 day blog challenge.  Obviously I gave up on my photo a day challenge and will be re-visiting that at a later time.  But I thought the 30 day challenge sounded like a do-able one!

Here is the schedule!  I'll start tomorrow!  :-)  Anyone want to join me?!?!?!