The Inevitable…Strep Throat Edition

Hello People,

How was your Tuesday?  Mine was ehhh…I have strep throat and it sucks!  I decided that since I'm cooped up inside (my Type-A self is been driven slowly insane considering I need to be moving or I go slowly insane) I would make a list of all the Inevitable Things that happen when you have strep throat.

1.) Inevitably, you will miss some of your favorite workout classes (Zumba, Pilates, Barre, weights, HIIT, tear tear tear)

2.) Inevitably, while sitting at the doctor's office you will inevitably run into a super cute guy.  P.S. your face will be swollen, you will be wearing sweats, and you will be pale and sweaty.  In case you were wondering, these are all Vuuurrry attractive to the male species.  How come guys can pull of sick better than women?  Not. Fair.

3.) Inevitably, all the good jams will play when you physically cannot open your mouth due to pain.

4.) Inevitably, your father will bring you home a Reese's Heart which you will not be able to eat because you, again, can't open your mouth.  Coincidentally, holiday themed Reese's can't be beat because they have the perfect chocolate to peanut butter ratio.  Peanut butter chocolate perfection!

5.) Your Netflix will inevitably not load

6.) You inevitably have the good bread from Wegman's and can't eat it because you can't open your mouth and/or chew

7.) You inevitably have a bag of M&Ms (the Valentine's Day kind aka the best kind) and you can't eat them either because the chewing hurts!

8.) You inevitably can't do lesson plans for next week because your absence leaves some holes in the week

9.) You will inevitably realize that you are too contagious to visit Wegman's for your midweek grocery run.  I lurve Wegman's…

10.) Since you couldn't visit Wegman's you can't make a green juice…How will I recover without my vitamin C??

11.) You will inevitably begin to think about races that you want to run…Hello Disney Wine and Dine…has anyone run this?  I love night running, wine, and Disney so this can only be fabulous!

12.)  Inevitably, you will go online shopping…

13.)  Inevitably, you will miss St. Blaise's Mass because you can't leave the house because you're contagious.  The irony?  St. Blaise Mass is a blessing of the throats mass…irony, eh?

14.)  You inevitably, will have a rockin' good hair day and no one will be able to see it….

15.) You will inevitably find new running shoes.  I heart these new running shoes!

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AmmIright?!  Hot Pink?  Check!  Gold?  Check!  Light Pink?  Check!  Aasics are my fave running shoes!!  I'm planning on running a few races this year and these lovelies will be my BFFs!


Are you good on sick days or are you a bad sick day kid like me?


Tomorrow I will be ready to rock and back at school!  I can't wait to see my little nuggets tomorrow!

xoxo,

Erin

Snow Day Accomplishments

Happy Hump Day!

How was everyone's Snow Day?  Mine was pretty bueno!  I accomplished a lot of things…both of substance and less than substance…


1.)  Lesson Plans for next week are fini!  I have a super exciting weekend planned with multiple Girls' Nites and a Ladies' Lunch!  Now I can relax and watch the most controversial Super Bowl Ever

2.)  I made banana chocolate chip bread.  I'm still proud of this lol

3.)  I watched 12 episodes of Parks and Rec since last night…

4.)  I wore these to work out today!  Thank you Reebok sale!

How cute!?  Pants with clouds!  I lurve clouds!

5.)  I went online shopping and bought these pants!  Thank you Gap…although I should probably put the debit card away…

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The.best.pants.ever.  They don't even need to be ironed!


6.)  Found out this was a real thing…glad I put the debit card away…

Oh Lawd!

7.)  Schweaty gym sesh complete with an Erin Triathlon-  Cross Trainer Elliptical (shamelessly reading Self it was an easy cardio day)+Pilates+Barre.  Achy legs will be here tomorrow!

How much fun did you have on your Snow Day?!  Let me know what you all did!


Enjoy your Wednesday!

xoxo,

E

Philadelphia Restaurant Week

Happy Snow Day!

We're off from worky work today.  I must say I am always a Snow Day Champion.  I want snow days more than anything.  I love waking up to a phone call that says you are off from work.  It's just so nice to roll back over and wake up at 9:30.

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Today I woke up and baked some completely unhealthy banana chocolate chip bread!  **I did squeeze some almond milk in there though so I can eat** #lactoseintolerantgirlprobz

Twas Delish

**Yes, RHOBH is on because I use Snow Days to clear the DVR**

Speaking of television, I'm addicted to Parks and Recreation!  I am on an Amy Poehler kick right now and have watched over 4 seasons in 3 weeks.  CHAMPION STATUS RIGHT HERE!

The famsquad and I are also watching Sons of Liberty on History Channel.  It's okay, (enter history major eye rolls here) I like that they are telling the stories of Revolutionists that are not as famous.  I would have done the backstories of each revolutionist then interwoven the stories through their friendships and relationships--but alas, they didn't call me :)

So this past weekend before the non snow ruined my weekend in Maryland with Amanda (snow party foul) Jess, my dad, and I went to Philadelphia Restaurant Week.  Last year we tried really hard to get there but with grad school and snow and student teaching, it wasn't in the cards for us.  Well, this year we made up for that.  Philly Restaurant Week (PRW) is a 2 week event where a huge number of restaurants put out a $35 dinner menu/$20 lunch menu chocked full of their well known dishes.  Reservations fill up quickly and sometimes you have to eat at 8:45 pm on a Friday night.  **cough cough us cough cough**

Jess decided on the restaurant and she made a baller choice.  We went to La Viola Bistro for din din.  She picked it because, "It has the most extensive menu."  AKA something picky Erin will eat.  She said she, "saw the salad with goat cheese and knew I'd like it".  Smart girl. 

It was crazy awesome!  The restaurant was super cute and fancy and cityish.  It is a narrow restaurant in Rittenhouse Square (fun fact the other La Viola is across the street) with many rooms that seem to go back forever.  They also have a downstairs party room.  I think there was a birthday party going on at the time.

Here are the deets of the eats.

2nd course was a pea soup.
Yummy yummy yummy!

Arugula, tomato, goat cheese, artichoke, and lemon/olive oil/balsamic vinaigrette dressing salad.
I've copied that salad this whole week for lunch.
Insane!!

Salmon with marinara sauce, mashed potatoes, and spinach.

Jess got a mushroom trio.  We didn't think it would seriously
be a pile of mushrooms.  It was a giant pile of mushrooms :)

Always smiling when it's a girls nite involving food :)

La Menu 

Padre and I got the Dark Side of the Moon cake.
Out of this world!

Dinner was great and the night was beautiful.  A light snow was falling and it was very chic.  How was your weekend?  How are you spending your snow day?

Love Love Love,

Er

Reading, wearing, watching, listening, eating

Happy Tuesday!

Today I'm copying one of my favorite bloggers Gina and being a lazy blogger.  These posts are kinda my favorites because I'm a nosy girl and I like finding new things to read, wear, watch, listen to, and eat.

Reading  

Yes, Please  by Amy Poehler.  Love her.  She was always one of my fave SNL ladies.  Molly Shannon Mary Catherine Gallagher will always have my heart.  Amy Poehler is like that silly best friend that you always need in your life.  Reading her book is the perfect mixture of true emotion (the divorce chapter made me sad and laugh all at once) and easy reading humor.  Her honesty and goofiness shine through.  When anyone else reads a book by a famous person, do you read it in their voice?  I do.  Apparently the book is also an ebook and Amy actually reads it.  Pretty shaweet!

HIIT IT!  Gina Harney.  I started reading her blog listed above a few years ago and I'm hooked.  I love her.  She's so funny, cool, and awesome.  Like a best friend in a blog.  She's a healthy lifestyle blogger, but not annoying, preachy, or restrictive.  Girlfriend loves Scandal, wine, and chocolate…gotta love that.  Her book is part cook book part exercise book.  It focuses on HIIT eating and exercising.  I've been using her recipes (veggie marinara, baked breakfast cookie, and turkey lentil muffins) this week and I'm hooked.  The food is delicious, can be frozen, and is all healthy and filling.  Her food doesn't taste "diety" because it's not…it's whole and healthy.  Everything fills you up and keeps you satiated for hours.  I can't sing her praises enough!

Wearing  

Pink jammies from Victoria's Secret.  These are my Christmas jammies and I'm so in love with them because they're pink and grey striped, cozy, and warm.  Also, I'm sporting some mismatched socks.  Looking hawt over here :)

Watching

The Bachelor.  I'm kinda loving Chris but I can't believe how much of a kissy boy he is.  It's week 2 and all the girls have been kissing him!  Crazy train!  I also don't know who I like best.  I kinda like Tracy and Trina, but I'm not sure yet.  

Agent Carter.  Is anyone else watching this?  I'm missing Scandal and Nashville and trying to fill the void with this.  I'm also a huge Superhero dork (I once attended a 12 hour Marvel Movie Day with my dad.)  You all also know that I'm kind of in love with Captain America.

Don't Judge!

I think the show is kinda ehhh, but I'm already invested so I'll stick with it.  

Parks and Rec.  I'm going to ride this Amy Poehler wave all the way out.  She's awesome.  Plus, when did Chris Pratt get super attractive?  

Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta, my dad and I watch every Friday night.  We're cool and we know it :)  My dad usually picks the best dress…with an insanely high accuracy rate I might add.  I'm such a proud daughter

Listening

Currently I'm obsessed (along with the rest of the world) Ed Sheeran's Thinking Out Loud.  Have y'all seen the video?  It's perfect!  The dancing, the lyrics, the melody--all perfect!  As a dancer I get super judgey of people dancing in music videos.  I don't consider twerking a dance skill, so when I see beautifully choreographed excellent dancers dancing, it makes my little heart pirouette with giddiness.  

Since I'm always a true country fan first, I've been jamming to Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe's Lonely Tonight and Brad Paisley's Shattered Glass.  Blake and Ashley's jam is the perfect song if you're trying to convince yourself that you should text your ex.  Brad's song is a girl power anthem.  

Also, I can't get enough of Meghan Trainor's Lips Are Moving. 

Eating  

GRAZE!  I recently cashed in one of those Graze vouchers that I read in Health Magazine and I really like it!  It's $7 a box (I order twice a month and that includes shipping) and you get to pick a box of 4 healthy and proportioned snacks.  I have munched honeycomb flap jacks and dark rocky road.  Honeycomb flap jacks are like little granola bars but lighter.  (AMAZING!!)  Dark rocky road is a nut combo with dark chocolate drops.  In.  LOVE!  I also have a Brooklyn Bites (not too sure I'll like it.  It's savory and I'm a sweets fein.)  I also have Eleanor's Apple Crumble tomorrow.  Yum, yum, yum!  Can't wait!  It was actually really sweet because I forgot I ordered it and then it came in the mail yesterday.  Not a bad Monday in my book.  You should definitely try out this company.  

What are you ladies and gents doing now?  Feel free to link up and let me know!  I'm always looking for a new book, eat, show, song, etc!

Love Always,

E

Weekend Recap

Happy Oxymoron Day!

It's doubly struggle-city over here because it's my first day back at work after 12 days off for Christmas vacay.

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I lurved vacay :)  I am ready to go back to my little nuggets.  They're kinda fabulous and I missed those little friends.  They brighten up my day with their sweetness, jokes, and stories.

Does anyone else feel like when you're on vacay you can get up at whatever time?  I woke up multiple times to go to Zumba or spinning before 5 am, but put me on a work day?  I'll see you at 6:15.  I can NEVER wake up before 6 on work days.  I think my little friends require more energy than an hour of booty shaking fun.  

Does everyone love the blog's new make over?  She got a new background for Christmas!  Pink+Grey=My room's color scheme.

Who is excited for tonight?!  It's Bachelor Monday!  After Christmas, Bachelor Monday is my favorite winter holiday :)

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Hubba Hubba Prince Farming!  I'll be watching tomorrow because I have to go to a meeting tonight.  I have high hopes for this season.

Anyway, this weekend was a total blasty blast!  I got to see some of my favorite people in the world.  

On Friday, my college roomie was able to come over and we did what all cool people do when traveling to Philly…

Take super cool pix in front of the Art Museum :)

Maybe we even sang the Rocky theme song whilst running up the stairs…I don't act like a tourist or anything.  I actually like running up the stairs whilst singing Rocky.  I do it every time.

Fun fact**When I was running my half marathon and ran past the art museum, they played the Rocky theme song.  It gave me an extra boost to kick it.  

Ra and I decided to go to the museum.  I love this museum, and after 5 field trips and a handful of personal trips, I have come to be infatuated by the talent of those artists' who have work displayed in the museum.  Five years of French and one performing arts class in college are the extent of my art knowledge.  Ra decided we should visit museums with Kate Middleton because her major was Art History.  I agree.  It would help if she returned our calls…

Anyway, while we were perusing the paintings we ran into an actual art fan.  Like he gets art.  I'm partial to Degas because I love ballet and having 20 years of ballet experience, I get his ballet art.  BUT this guy?!  He was looking at Picasso's Three Musicians and was talking about the angles, the age old debate mustache/smiles, and the tone.  He says he comes here to check in with the painting.  How cool is that?  The fact that he knows where the painting is located is impressive enough!  Ra and I left feeling more cultured and cooler than when we walked in.  I also felt a little dumber and uncultured because I couldn't hold a solid conversation about Picasso.  You want Degas?  I'm your girl!  Every French project I wrote about him.  The only thing I know about Picasso is that his daughter designs Tiffany & Co. jewelry ;)

Anyway, after the museum we headed off to dinner.  We went to City Tap House in Logan Square.   If you are in the Philly area (or are planning a super cool vacation to my beloved city) you NEED to run to this place.  If you like craft beers this place is right up your alley.  We're not beer drinkers at all, but the place did not disappoint.  The restaurant was big but had that small intimate feel that I like.  The ambiance was amazing--I love me some exposed brick and leveled seating areas.  The food was face rocking.  I'm a picky eater and the selection was extensive…even to me.

I rolled with the kale and sweet potato salad.  The best part?!  They had GOAT CHEESE!  This little lactose intolerant lady was jumping out of her seat with excitement!  The salad also had Asian pears and walnuts.  The dressing was a maple bourbon vinaigrette.  I loved and savored every bite. It is second place (only to my beloved Seasons 52 BBQ Chicken Salad.) for my favorite salad of all time.  

After dinner, Ra and I both said, "We miss our salads."  Le sigh.

You didn't think we'd pass up dessert did you?
Hello S'mores dish!

The prices were pretty standard city dining.  My salad was $12.  The only thing that was kinda pricy was the dessert.  That little plate was $9.  Mehhh, I could have gone to the Cheesecake Factory for a $9 slice of heaven.  

**Side note** I'm not a beer girl, but they had Jack's Cider and it tasted like apple juice.  I highly recommend this for my non-beer girls.

For my birthday, Ra gifted me all kinds of healthy juicy things.
Powedered PB and Chocolate PB--face rocking.
Cacao Nibs-if you like dark chocolate (I don't discriminate against any chocolate--except White because it's not chocolate) you'll love these!
Macaboost-Great for smoothie helpers or just stirred into some almond milk for a flavor punch.

One of my favorite people in my favorite city!

Saturday was a nice an easy day.  I went to Panera for a green tea and to read a book on teaching non-fiction writing.  I was poked by a small child, stared at by a small toddler, and sat behind the world's most awkward first date ever!  The guy asked the woman, "So what's your financial situation?"  #notappropriate.  I got to go to Whole Paycheck as a treat!  I got some road trip necessities.  

Sunday was a long day.  My mom and I went to upstate PA for my cousin's (I'm his sponsor) Confirmation practice.  

I road trip like a champ!  Dorkiest but coziest outfit ever!!

You don't wear yoga pants under your wrap dress?
You don't wear dorky socks with your super cute sparkly glitter slippers?
NEWS FLASH!  You're doing life wrong :)

I made the pb that Ra gave me for a little road trip snackage.  Twas delish!  I also ate cacao super cookies.  They are like raw Samoas.  Insane in the membrane good!

I also watched 30 episodes of Boy Meets World!  I only have 112 left on the DVR!  I watched the episode where Shawn joins the hugging cult!  Ra and I exchanged BMW texts with exact quotes.  We're soul sistas!

How was your weekend?  Do anything fun?  Are your kids going nuts from this long break?

Wish me luck while I try to get my kids to focus on school after the long holiday!

xoxo,

E

Things I Know For Sure...About Teaching...After 4 Months

Happy New Year's Eve!

Are you all running around in your sparkly dresses and heels looking for someone to kiss?  Suckas! NYE is for yoga pants, telecasted ball drops and dips. Lots and lots of dips. Oh and champagne!

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 As for New Year's kisses?

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I'm thinking this handsome boy will be my kiss!

Oh and these...

If you are going out have fun and be safe!  

Back to the main point of the blog post-what i know for sure. I'm sure Oprah's title and book is full of more valuable life hacks and tidbits of fantastic wisdom than you'll find on this bloggy, but I like her title so here goes!

As of tomorrow I will have been a teacher for 4 months. I teach 2nd and 3rd grade resource room. Saying I love my job is a gross understatement. I am beside myself with love for my job and my students. I can't imagine working anywhere else or doing anything else. In my 4 months I've learned a lot. I'm so lucky to have great mentors and people to help my out along the way.

Also on a semi-related note-THIS is a gem for teachers!  It's teachers' New Year's Resolutions!

Here are my few pearls of wisdom that I have gleaned along the very short pathway.  In honor of 2015, I have left you with 15!!  

1.) You will love your students more than anything. I never thought I would love anyone or anything as much as I love my students. I hope they succeed, I want them to be happy, I want them to always be appreciated, and never get hurt. I want them to be confident and proud of themselves. I want them one day to have a job that they love as much as I do. 

2.) Lakeshore will rip you off. I love Lakeshore as much as the next first year teacher. What with their primary colored walls, and nifty border patterns, and classroom accessories you couldn't have dreamt up in your wildest dreams, but after they wanted $300 for an easel I decided I could probably build one for under $25. So I did. I bought a clothes rack at this little French boutique called Target for $20. Then I bought Lakeshore anchor chart rings for $5. And for about a tenth of the Lakeshore price I have an easel!  P.S. Thanks to 10 years of working at a dance studio, I was able to build it myself.

My students did NOT believe I built this...

*Also, note the reindeer sweater.  This is as close to a dorky teacher Christmas sweater that I will ever wear.  It is also from LOFT and therefore negates the dorky teacher Christmas sweater stigma.  It is still festive, though.

3.)  You will feel incredibly guilty. About everything. About every modicum of your day. I usually arrive at work between 715 and 730. I usually leave around 5- a little earlier if I'm tutoring. Most days I come home feeling like I should still be at work. I should be grading something, prepping something else, reading a new article, scouring Pinterest for some fancy innovative method to teach multiplication with, or just scanning for new anchor texts to teach a concept. I feel immense guilt when I drive away from school and see teachers still avidly working away. I need to tell myself that it's ok. It's ok to drive away after spending 9-10 hours at work. It's ok to push away from your computer to eat lunch. It's ok if all of your lessons are not "Pinterest Worthy". It's ok if you count getting enough sleep as part of your job. Feeling guilt about not being able to attend friend functions in the middle of the week because you need sleep or a run or a Zumba is normal. It's all ok. As long as you are teaching your students and they are having fun, you're doing your job. We, as new teachers, need to give ourselves a break. We're new, we're not perfect and no one expects us to be. 

4.) Set up a retirement fund separate from your pension.  I want to be a crotchety old woman with a lot of money!  Someone has to pay for those Early Bird Diner Dinners!

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5.) Set up disability insurance. 

6.) Your attitude towards learning will become your students' attitude towards learning. Believe it or not, but skip counting and writing compare and contrast essays aren't exactly jazzy bursting with excitement activities, but guess what?  I sell them to my students like I am selling Manolo Blahniks toCarrie  Bradshaw.  I'm a big believer in fake it til you make it and if you fake loving these things, your students will do them so much better.  Think Buddy and the Mail Room.  If you don't get that reference, we can't be friends.  

7.) They do pay you to like kids. If you don't like kids you better get out now. 

8.) Some people will be easy to work with. Some will make your job difficult. Remember that smiling and tone of voice makes all the difference. You can't control or imagine what goes on in someone else's life or what comes out of their mouth, but you can control yours.  Choose wisely. 

9.) Always eat the baked goods on the teachers' lounge. 

10.) Start everyday with the same sentence, "Good morning!  I'm so glad you're here today!  I'm happy to see you!"  This might be the only time they hear this all day. This creates positive classroom culture and the kids will work harder for you if you genuinely love them and they know it. 

11.) Compliment them for everything. Build them up, praise them for the good, and genuinely mean it. Don't just say good job. Be creative!  

12.). Have a classroom mantra. Have hiur kids repeat it. We have 2:  Everyone gets what they need to succeed and It is tough, but I'm tougher.  Post these around your room. Mine are over the door. 

13.) Learn to be corrected by an 8 year old with grace. Trust me, this will happen a lot. If you show them it's natural to make mistakes, they will be more apt to take risks and not be upset when they are wrong. 

14.) Ask questions and don't be afraid to ask for help. You're new, I'm new, teaching is not a science, it's an art. There are a million ways to do it and do it well. Ask around and you'll become a better teacher. 

15.) Know your skill set and don't keep it to yourself. I am good with technology and SMARTBoards. I help the seasoned teachers learn about and incorporate their SMARTBoards into their lessons and in turn they give me advice and tips. It's give and take.

I hope you all have a Happy New Year!  I hope it is full of love, laughter, and sweets!

xoxo,

E

New Year and New Year's Resolutions/Hopes/Wishes

Happy Oxymoron Day!


I haven't blogged in forever because I've been crazy busy at work, but now it's a Christmas vacay kinda day.  I'm finally back and it feels fabulous!  I'll recap Christmas later, but right now is all about the New Year!


I don't know about you, but my New Year's Eves have never been super awesome.  Usually it's super low key (that's code for sweats, dips, and bubbly…plus chocolate of course :)) and we watch the ball drop.  I always try to make New Year's Resolutions.  I keep them--for the most part, so I always feel good about making them.

2014 was a pretty great year.  I graduated with my Master's from my beloved TCNJ, rode the emotional roller coaster that is looking for a teaching job, got hired at my dream job, went on two vacations, ran a half marathon and a 5k, and finally began to feel like this is what and where I'm supposed to be.  2015 is going to have to work really hard to beat it.

Here are my 2015 Goals:

-Go on 4 trips!  One is already booked (Cait I'll be in Chapel Hill in 7 weeks!), one is in the discussion stages (SPEDS NYE trip next year to some place warm and tropical!), one family trip to Bermuda, and one New Orleans trip!

-Run another half marathon.  Ok, I hated running miles 8-13, but I think it's like child birth, you forget the pain and want only the reward--in my case no child, just a brand new shiny medal!

-Run a 10k in D.C.  I love D.C. and want to run around all of the monuments and buildings

-Drink more green things-more green juices, more green tea, and more green smoothies!  I've been using the juicer on my break and I'm loving all of the extra energy I have.

-Go zip lining, banana boating, and parasailing!  On Family Vacation 2015, I'm going to do all of these things!  I went parasailing on our last cruise and I can't wait to go back!  It's so much fun and exciting to see the fish and dolphins!

-Considering getting my S.C.U.B.A. cert.  I kinda wanna go S.C.U.B.A. diving on my family trip and with my friends next winter.

-I want to keep all of my old friends and make some new ones.

-I want to become a better teacher, friend, daughter, and person.

-I want to be happier with myself and not be so hard on myself (This is a hard one, but I'm going to try)

-Yoga 4 times a week.  Even if my practice is only 20 minutes a day, I want to improve and feel more zen.  I'm in my head way too much and hopefully yoga will help :)

-Read a book a month.  In the summer this is super easy, but during the school year, it's really tough.  I'm going to try to read more.  I like to read before bed to help calm me down.

-Sleep 7 hours a night.  I tend to sleep about 6 hours now, but I want to increase the z's.

Now for my New Year's Predictions!  I usually hate predictions because if they don't come true I feel bad about myself.  But we're gonna give it a whirl!

-I predict I will fail whale one of these resolutions

-I predict I will have many a Girls' Nite!

-I predict I will fall in love with UNC when I visit in 7 weeks :)

-I predict I will PR on my half marathon

-I predict I will spend way too much money on shoes!

-I predict I will try my very very hardest to forget my Mr. Big (even if he's super hot and calls me randomly a la his name sake)

-I predict I will follow my pattern of starting to date someone in March of an odd year (fingers crossed it's Chris Evans)

-I predict I will jam out to a whole bunch of country concerts this summer!  I already have Tay Tay tix!




What are your New Year's Resolutions?  I hope you have a great rest of 2014 and an even better 2015!

xoxo,

E