4 Hour Body: Week 1 Update!

As you all know, I am working really hard to get healthy and in shape.  Two weeks ago I began the 4 Hour Body Slow Carb diet.  The first week I tried it, I could only stay true to the diet for three days, since I had my wisdom teeth out that week, too.  All bets were off...I was eating ice cream because I could! :)

This week, I started on Monday, and the entire week I watched my intake.  I ate eggs when I woke up, drank green tea on the way to work, and hand egg muffins for snack.  At lunch, I'd eat a GIANT salad and a Lara Bar for snack before dinner.  For dinner I ate turkey taco roll-ups.  I'm convinced that everything tastes better with salsa and guacamole!  

On Thursday, I was convinced I didn't lose any weight, and I wasn't happy.  I texted Marc with a big sad face...and he knew I wasn't happy!  After a good pep talk (he's great at them!!!), he convinced me to weigh myself in the morning and see what my results were.  I hopped on the scale in the morning, and I lost TWO POUNDS!!!  Yahoo!! I was ecstatic! I also measured myself and I lost 2.5 inches in my waist and 2 inches in my chest.  I'm going to keep doing T25 as well.  Now that the weather is going to start to get nice, I'd love to workout outside, perhaps get into jogging or running.  Who knows what the future holds!

If you're interested, here's my menu for the week:

Breakfast: Eggs and spinach (microwaved) with salsa

Second Breakfast: Mini-Veggie Pancakes Find the recipe here!

Lunch: Amy's Organic Soups!  These soups are delicious and convenient.  Marc and I were going to make soup, but then we decided to go for the can.  It's easier than making soup from scratch.  Just be sure to watch your sodium!

Snack: Lara Bar

Dinner: Stuffed Sweet Bell Peppers Find the recipe here!

Have you started the Slow Carb diet?  If so, comment below!

High Five for Friday: Embarrassing Moment in the Classroom!

Amanda and I participate in the link party, High Five for Friday, from Lauren Elizabeth's blog. Head on over to Lauren Elizabeth for more "High Five for Friday." We're taking part in this fun reflection each week and hopefully you will too!

I'm so excited that the weekend is here! I'm exhausted and can't wait to sleep late tomorrow morning. 

Here are a few highlights from this week:

1. Visiting with my sister and brother-in-law on Saturday. This visit was long overdue! Our husbands planned their own little agenda of activities, which meant girl time for us! It was "warm" outside and the sun was shining. We went walking around my sister's neighborhood and watched the guys play hockey outside. It felt so good to spend an afternoon outside!

2. Husbands playing hockey. This totally deserves it's own spot on the High Five for Friday list for two reasons. (1) As I walked outside to prepare for a walk around the neighborhood with my sister, I witnessed my husband guarding a goalie net, on roller blades, wearing big, brown pads and a scary white goalie mask. It was a sight to see. Boys are crazy. (2) Everyone was outside on Saturday, including the little kids next door.  Our husbands (no longer in scary hockey gear) asked the six year old next door neighbor to play, but he quickly replied "no." Thirty minutes later, as Rosie and I were in deep conversation "watching" the guys play, we noticed the six year old boy approaching in full hockey gear: jersey, roller blades, helmet, stick. It felt like a scene out of the movies. He was ready to play! After playing 1:1 for quite some time, the boy left and hollered, "Don't forget to call me when you play again!" So adorable!

Similar photos to those stories:

3. Embarrassing moment in the classroom. Another memory to add to the list of "Moments I'll Never Forget in the Classroom." It's Monday afternoon and my kids are rolling in for the last hour of the day. I'm speaking in front of the class and asking for volunteers to  help hand out papers. Of course, one of my most sweetest girls volunteers to help and she approaches me with her hands cupped around her mouth, as if she wants to tell me a secret (which happens often). I bend down to listen as she stifles a giggle and whispers, "Mrs. Giordano, your fly is down." I giggle in embarrassment alongside her and say thank you, as she takes the papers to hand out to the rest of the class and walks away. Yup, it was that kind of Monday.

4. Student teacher! My partner teacher and I are sharing a student teacher for the next six weeks. It's nice having a breath of fresh air in our classrooms. She started this week, she's really awesome and the kids love her. She's from Pace University, my Alma mater, and it's fun being on the "other side" of the equation. :-)

5. Pink sunrise this morning. There's nothing like waking up on Friday and being greeted with a gorgeous, pink sunrise. I stopped dead in my tracks as I walked into the kitchen to make my lunch. The view was breathtaking, the sky and clouds were insane... what a way to start the weekend. Friday, you never disappoint.

High Five for Friday!

Dawn and I participate in the link party, High Five for Friday, from Lauren Elizabeth's blog. Head on over to Lauren Elizabeth for more "High Five for Friday." We're taking part in this fun reflection each week and hopefully you will too!
This week was pretty uneventful...but it was a good one and I'm glad it's finally the weekend!

1. A Full Week of Work
Although this week was uneventful, we're preparing for a crazy week coming up.  State assessments begin on Tuesday, and the anticipation is mounting.  I'm glad we haven't had snow lately, because my students thrive on a routine!

2. Watching Tori play basketball on TV on Sunday
One of the kids I grew up with, Tori Jarosz, is on the Marist College Women's Basketball Team.  They made it to the first round of March Madness.  They ended up losing the game, but it was incredible to watch her play on television!  She's an incredible basketball player, and has been since she was a little kid.

3. Extended Day
No one likes staying at work until after 6:00 PM, but after getting past the whole idea, it wasn't so bad. It was nice to see colleagues that I haven't seen in forever, and to share ideas.  I work with some amazing teachers with good ideas.  I wish we had time to get together more!

4. Chatting with my parents
After the extended day, I stopped at my parents for a quick visit that turned into a longer visit.  My parents were away for an entire month, and now they're just settling back into their routine.  I really enjoyed having a chat with them.  My parents are my rock, and I'm not sure what I'd do without them.

5. Lesson with Kristin
Today, my literacy coach Kristin, came into my classroom to do a lesson using the Carousel Protocol using test questions.  My students enjoyed the lesson, and I enjoyed co-teaching it with her!  I'm so lucky to have such an awesome resource in my school like Kristin!  You can find out more about the Carousel Protocol here:

Carousel Brainstorm Protocol

Purpose

The purpose of using the carousel brainstorm process is to allow participants to share their ideas and build a common vision or vocabulary; the facilitator can use this process to assess group knowledge or readiness around a variety of issues.

Procedure

1.     Before your group gathers, identify several questions or issues related to your topic, perhaps drawn from a reading that you will share later.

2.     Post your questions or issues on poster paper.

3.     Divide your group into smaller teams to match the number of questions you have created.

4.     Give a different color of marker to each team, and have each team start at a particular question.

5.     At each question, participants should brainstorm responses or points they want to make about the posted question.

6.     After a couple of minutes with each question, signal the teams to move to the next question, until all teams have responded to all questions.

7.     You can conclude the activity having each team highlight and report key points at their initial question or by having participants star the most important points and discussing those.

8.     If it is appropriate for your topic, distribute a related reading and discuss, using the common vocabulary you have built through this process.

Taken from: www.engageny.org/sites/default/files/.../carousel_brainstorm_protocol.doc 

Exhausted!!

Tonight's post is going to be on the shorter side...I'm exhausted! Today after school we had meetings until 6pm due to an extended day. We had to make up a professional development day, so we had to stay late two days to make up for it.

It is always nice to collaborate with other teachers who teach in other schools. Sharing ideas is one of the best ways to become a better teacher.  

Something I'm always open to are new ideas and suggestions. My question for you is: how have you aligned to the common core? What's your favorite resource? Have you found any materials that make your lessons fun and engaging? Please share!!!

Happy Birthday Joey: My Brother & One of the Very Best Men I Know!

Today is my brother's birthday! My brother Joey is one of the very best men I know and I'm SO very grateful for every day I have with him. This is one of my most favorite photos from my wedding. I love the hand holding, the finger pointing, and our heads pushed together.

Joey was the wild child in our family... and still is! No family party is the same without him! Childhood would not have been the same without him! Even through all of his antics, as the "middle children", we always found a way to stick together. Thank you for always riding bikes with me, being my student when I wanted to play teacher, and for always coming to the rescue in times of need.

My brother is my greatest supporter - he is a rock for me and is always there through thick and thin.

He teaches me to always put a smile on my face, he laughs at the little things, and shows love and concern for everyone.

We share so much - a love and passion for business, a desire to do things differently, venture outside of the box, and we share a commitment to "never give up" as we make a difference in the world.

He's an exceptionally hard worker, a hilarious guy with a contagious laugh, and one of the most patient, trustworthy and reliable gentlemen you will ever meet.

As I look at you today, I see a powerful, vibrant, accomplished man, celebrating incredible achievements at such a young age. I look so forward to seeing what you achieve in the following years. You continue to inspire me and I'm so thankful that you're my brother and my friend!

Thank you for being exactly who you are! I'm so lucky to call you my brother. With the deepest and sincerest love, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEY! I love you so much and I can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend!!

Amanda and I are taking part in another link party tonight... THE Pin It Party Pinterest Linkup. We found this link party through the Creative Geekery blog and are excited to take part in this each Thursday.

5 of My Favorite Things: 5 Favorite Books!

It's been a while since I've posted my 5 Favorite Things!  I thought I'd bring this series back with 5 of my most favorite book titles.  If you haven't read any of these, I suggest you run to the bookstore or library, or log onto your Kindle or Nook account and download these books now! They are good books to add to your spring break reading list...or maybe a good beach read!  Let's hope that warm weather gets here sooner or later!!

1, The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Please don't tell me you haven't read this.  What an amazing book, and soooooo much better than the movie.  I began to read this book, and could not put it down.  It's a classic that will be read for many years to come!

Book Description from Amazon.com:

"Aibileen is a black maid in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, who's always taken orders quietly, but lately she's unable to hold her bitterness back. Her friend Minny has never held her tongue but now must somehow keep secrets about her employer that leave her speechless. White socialite Skeeter just graduated college. She's full of ambition, but without a husband, she's considered a failure. Together, these seemingly different women join together to write a tell-all book about work as a black maid in the South, that could forever alter their destinies and the life of a small town..."

2. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin

This is one of those books that I can actually remember where I was when I read it.  It was the summer of 2005, and I was spending the summer in North Carolina with my sister and her new husband.  I was taking summer courses at the University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill, and I'd wait for the campus bus to pick me up and bring me home to the apartment.  As I'd wait, I'd be reading this book, not able to put it down.  I actually remember laughing out loud to myself, loving every moment of this book.  Please, please...if you haven't read this...you MUST!

Book description from Amazon.com

"Something Borrowed tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl---until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancé. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. Something Borrowed is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend."

3. The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

If you know anything about me, I'm one for romantic books, and Nicholas Sparks never disappoints!  This book has a happy ending, and you'll love it!

Book Description from Amazon.com

"In his 14th book, bestselling author Nicholas Sparks tells the unforgettable story of a man whose brushes with death lead him to the love of his life. 

Is there really such thing as a lucky charm? The hero of Nicholas Sparks's new novel believes he's found one in the form of a photograph of a smiling woman he's never met, but who he comes to believe holds the key to his destiny. The chain of events that leads to him possessing the photograph and finding the woman pictured in it is the stuff of love stories only a master such as Sparks can write."

4. Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

I read all of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, and I even own both movies.  I think every girl in their teenage years/early twenties can identify with the girls in the series.  Ann Brashares does a great job of pulling us into every book, and makes the characters so real.  Well...when she wrote the final sisterhood book, I cried before I could even get through chapter one! (I know...lame!) I had such a connection to the characters, that I was sad to see the series end!  Then I heard the most exciting announcement!  There would be another book written about the girls on the brink of turning 30...amazing!!  This book is an incredible ending to the four best friends.  It's the bow on the present. You must, must, must read this.

Amazon.com's Book Description:

"On the cusp of turning thirty, Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget are now living separate lives, out on their own. Yet despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness. Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected."

 5.  Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

A book about friends who thought at 9 they'd be best friends forever.  Like most childhood friendships we grow up and grow apart, and this story is incredible!

Amazon.com's Book Description:

"Addie Downs and Valerie Adler will be best friends forever. That’s what Addie believes after Valerie moves across the street when they’re both nine years old. But in the wake of betrayal during their teenage years, Val is swept into the popular crowd, while mousy, sullen Addie becomes her school’s scapegoat. 

Flash-forward fifteen years. Valerie Adler has found a measure of fame and fortune working as the weathergirl at the local TV station. Addie Downs lives alone in her parents’ house in their small hometown of Pleasant Ridge, Illinois, caring for a troubled brother and trying to meet Prince Charming on the Internet. She’s just returned from Bad Date #6 when she opens her door to find her long-gone best friend standing there, a terrified look on her face and blood on the sleeve of her coat. "Something horrible has happened," Val tells Addie, "and you’re the only one who can help." 


Best Friends Forever is a grand, hilarious, edge-of-your-seat adventure; a story about betrayal and loyalty, family history and small-town secrets. It’s about living through tragedy, finding love where you least expect it, and the ties that keep best friends together."

Wedding Wednesday: Bridesmaid Gifts!

Bridesmaid Gifts: It might be one of the last things to check off your list, but your girls will help you in more ways than you can imagine. This is your final token of gratitude. Make it special!  I still can't thank my girls enough for all that they did....every little detail meant so much.

I wanted my gifts to be fun, practical, and completely customized for each lovely lady. I put a lot of thought into each item and created an assortment of gifts that had meaning behind each one.

Etsy was my best friend throughout the planning process, so of course, almost all of my gifts came from Etsy shops. Here are three favorites from my assortment of gifts:

1. Chevron Makeup Bag

This was one of my practical gifts - I definitely knew that I wanted to gift my girls with a makeup bag. Of course you can find makeup bags anywhere, but I was on the hunt for something fun and personalized. Chevron has been a popular pattern and I just love it! So naturally, I fell in love with these chevron bags! They're the perfect size, 5x8, and within this Esty shop, It's Embroidered Baby, you're able to choose the chevron color, the inside lining color, the zipper color, and the font/font color for the initial. So fun!! I filled these with little pampering gifts to use on the day of the wedding and attached a poem to the wrapping, explaining what was inside. After the wedding was over, I knew the girls would use them for something: makeup, school supplies, wallet, clutch, smaller pouch in a larger bag, or for baby/child stuff. I loved this gift and bought one for myself, too!


2. Bridal Entourage Tank Top

This was one of my fun gifts - something to wear on the morning of the wedding! Of course a lot of photos are taken the morning of the wedding and this just adds to the fun and excitement! My sister bought me a personalized "Soon to be Mrs. Giordano" tank top, along with a gorgeous personalized hanger, and gave them both to me at my bridal shower. I thought it would be adorable to have the girls in personalized tanks too! I liked "Bridal Entourage" so that everyone, including other family members, could be included too! I bought these from The Little Bridal Shop on Etsy. They offer SO many options on colors, wording, and sizes. They are also SUPER FAST with shipping! 

3.  Tote Bag

This was a fun and practical gift - something to use on the wedding day and beyond! I was looking for the perfect tote bag for the girls to use on the day of the wedding (to travel from the hotel to the venue). I knew they'd have their own bag to carry around with them, but who doesn't love an extra bag? I fell in love with these seersucker bags. I loved the rope handle, I loved the colors, and I really loved the personalized initials. The best part? It's lined with nylon which makes it easy to care for since it wipes clean. It's honestly the best beach/pool bag! I also ordered one for myself and brought it on my honeymoon! These bags were purchased from the Kute Kiddo shop on Etsy. And once again, I was able to customize the color, font, thread color, and obviously the initials.


Don't forget to write a sweet note to each of your bridesmaids using the Etsy shop, Marrygrams! I've blogged about them before here. Leave me a comment below with any questions, I'd be happy to help!

30 Before Thirty Challenge!

Ok, I'm doing it. I've been considering this post for a while and I'm finally committing... a list of 30 things to do before turning 30! I have 8 months to complete the list before I turn 30 in November. 

I’ve thought about this list a lot and I wanted to make sure it encompassed things that would be fun and also challenging. The list will include tasks that involve learning, adventure, travel, being active, and "just for fun stuff."

I'm starting with three things tonight... 

1. Chop my hair off. It's been very long for the past few years!
2. Plant my own garden. Grow something!
3. Send a few handwritten letters to loved ones each month. 

...More to come this weekend! 

UNICEF Tap Project: Can you give up your cell phone for just 10 minutes?

Did you know that 1,400 children die each day due to diseases directly linked to unsafe water or lack of filtration facilities?  Talk about pulling at your heartstrings.  What an awful thing to think of.  Something that we take for granted living in the United States is clean drinking water.  It blows my mind that there are children who struggle to find a clean glass of water.  

The UNICEF Tap Project is working to bring clean drinking water to 768 million people without it. They're asking for OUR help.  The question is...can you give up your cell phone for just TEN MINUTES PER DAY?   I don't know about you, but taking a break from our cell phones can be a positive thing for us, too.  It seems like a no brainer!  If you take a break from your phone each day for ten minutes, UNICEF can bring clean drinking water for one full day for a child in need.

This is what you need to do:

Visit uniceftapproject.org on your cell phone.  Then take a break from using your phone.  The app will calculate how much time you spent away from using your phone.  They'll tell you how many glasses of water you were able to provide to children in need.  The sponsors of the project will then donate money to provide this assistance.

I couldn't believe how easy and incredible this is.  We can help the needy people in our world by taking a break from our cell phones...something we all need.  So disconnect for a little while, enjoy the company of the people around you, and get that clean water to those kids who need your help!  

All It Takes is ONE Song to Bring Back 1,000 Memories

A few weeks ago, I blogged about my love for music and how it sets the tone for my day. Lately, I've been hearing songs that evoke such vivid memories. I'm sure that happens to you, too. I've caught myself tearing up over a few songs as I think about specific people in my life or the memories that I've shared with them. It amazes me how music seems to be such a powerful memory cue for so many people. All it takes is one song to bring back 1,000 memories. 

Music is such a huge part of my life. I found these quotes and images a few weeks ago and I thought they'd be perfect to share tonight. I’m in love with the captions that were shared underneath each one:

Music empowers us; makes me believe anything is possible, and I love that feeling. 

Music inspires me to think of the impossible, to hide my worries away and just jam out. 

Music to me is universal, not math; music can be sung in any language, even if you don't understand it. And to me that is the beauty of music.

Music has a way of sending us to another wavelength. 

All the meds in the world don't work like music can. Music gets me up in the morning when my head & body are telling me no!

Music gives us that feeling of emotion that we cannot put into words...it allows us to express ourselves in such a pure way, that we don't even know how to describe it.

Music is where I find my faith. Music strengthens my faith. Music is God's way of reminding us there is always hope; it reminds us that there are ways in which we can be moved spiritually and emotionally that we sometimes lose sight of with day to day life. 

Music puts it all together and allows your soul to let it all go.

Gearing Up for the State Assessments

We're officially one week away from the start of our state assessments.  My students will take three days worth of testing for ELA during the first week of April.  We then have a month until the state math assessments, which take place during the first week of May.

I have to be honest, my kids are running out of steam...and fast!  At this time last year, my students were tired, but they gave it their very best to get through the final "cramming" the week prior.  I don't know what it is this year, but my students don't have the stamina for the review work this year.

Tonight I started to search for different ways to get my kids pumped up for the test.  I've been thinking of games, videos and other incentives to get my kids excited and ready. I thought I'd share what I found with you!

 ROCK THIS TEST Video

Using Yoga in the Classroom

Yoga in the Classroom -- CNN

Candy Grams!!  

There's a whole slew of ideas on Pinterest!!

Tips to Relax Gifted Kids

Gifted Challenges Article

Kid President's Pep Talk (My kids need this TOMORROW!!)

Testing Tips

Breathing Exercises to Calm Your Students (and yourself!)

Good luck to all my fellow teachers out there.  We'll get through it!!!  Leave any of your suggestions below on how to get through this tough time of the school year! I'm sure we'd ALL appreciate it!!

Not a Bad Thing: Follow Up

About a week ago, I blogged about the song, Not a Bad Thing.  Have you seen Justin Timberlake's new video for "Not a Bad Thing?"  Well, if you haven't, he's created a documentary video to go along with the song instead of a traditional music video, because he's searching for a couple!  The couple got engaged on a Long Island Railroad train bound for New York City to his song.  He's looking for this couple, and he's doing it through the video.  Take a look!   You have to watch this...and who knows...#haveyouseenthiscouple? :)  I love this video, and I think you will, too!

Dawn and I are taking part in the "Be.YOU.tiful Lifestyle Link Party" this week. Click over to Fry Sauce and Grits to read more!

Mark Manson: 10 Life Lessons to Excel in Your 30's

You have to read this article if you're in your late twenties or thirties.  I read it over the weekend, and I loved what the author, Mark Manson had to say.  He interviewed more than 600 people and said that in each interview, the same similar ideas kept coming up!

Here's his 10 lessons.  Click the link above for more insight into each lesson he writes about!

1. Start saving for retirement now, not later.

2. Start taking care of your health now, not later.

3. Don't spend time with people who don't treat you well.  (*Love this one!)

4.  Be good to the people you care about.

5.  You can't have everything; focus on doing a few things really well.

6. Don't be afraid of taking risks, you can still change.

7.  You must continue to grow and develop yourself.

8. Nobody (still) knows what they're doing.  Get used to it.

9. Invest in your family; it's worth it.

10. Be kind to yourself. Respect yourself.


These ten points can help to push you to be a better person in your 30's.  I think I may print this list out and put it on my fridge to remind me of what's important each day.

DIY: Easter Egg Wreath

Better Homes and Gardens posted about Easter and Spring door decorations…easy ideas for pretty floral wreaths and beautiful hanging arrangements.

I've been trying to find ideas to make a fun pastel color wreath for Easter, and with my egg coloring project tonight, I became inspired to incorporate the two.

These are the directions from Better Homes and Gardens for making their Easter wreath. It involves gluing patterned paper to the eggs and then stringing them on wire. I decided on a variation of this, skipping the patterned paper, using my painted eggs, and stringing them on ribbon.

This easy-to-make Easter wreath adds a pop of pretty pastel color to your front door. Using an awl, poke a small hole in each end of 12 plastic eggs. Cut 1/2x3-inch strips of patterned paper, cutting small slits along the edges to reduce wrinkling.

Brush decoupage medium onto the back of one paper strip and apply to an egg, pressing out the excess glue and air bubbles; repeat until egg is covered. After all of the eggs are covered, brush two thin coats of decoupage medium over the eggs, letting them dry in between coats; let dry. String the eggs onto a 16-gauge wire, allowing an extra inch at each end. Wrap one end around the other to form a wreath shape; cover wire ends with a pretty pastel ribbon and hang.

I'm on a hunt for the right kind of ribbon, so I'll post a photo of my wreath later in the week!

Amanda and I are taking part in the "Be.YOU.tiful Lifestyle Link Party" this week. Click over to Fry Sauce and Grits to read more!