Change

Lately, when I wake up in the morning, I'm noticing the sun is starting to rise a little earlier.  I'm also noticing the snow starting to melt, and the bare trees are left behind, just begging the sun to shine a bit more.  I'm hoping that we have finally said goodbye to the snow, and hello to the sun.  One can only hope.  As we anticipate the change from winter to spring, it brings so much to mind besides the seasons changing. 

This time of year brings the anticipation for change.  We're heading into the last leg of the school year, students and teachers (and parents!) think about the year coming to a close, and the anticipation of a new school year, with new requirements.  We're already starting to think about creating the new classes to be passed on.  To be quite honest, it's one of my least favorite parts of being a teacher.  At this time, we're really bonding as a class.  I know my students better than the back of my hand, and they know me just the same.  We're like a giant family, and we depend on one another.  I'm not quite ready to be thinking about passing my kiddos along.

I also can't help but think back to life over the past few years.  The dust in my life has finally settled, and I'm actually able to take in every moment for what it is, and absolutely savor it and enjoy it.  I don't think you realize how sucked into a stressful situation you can get, until it's all over, and the last "boxes" are taped shut.  Looking back, I can't help but to be so thankful for taking the "New You" exit for this life, rather than sticking with the "Old You" exit.  Change, has been by far, the best thing that could have happened to me.  I am able to enjoy each and every day, moment and feeling because I'm present in it.  I love spending time with people who are special to me, and who make life that much better.  I appreciate so much more.  Birds singing.  A simple hug.  A good meal.  An incredible workout.  A quick phone call.  The simple things in life are incredible.

I have to admit, I love myself much, much more now, than I ever have before.  Change was good for me. That makes me stop, and ask you...looking back, can you say that change was a positive thing in your life, even though when you were going through it, you thought it would never end?  Life always has curveballs that get thrown our way, but we have no choice but to embrace change and accept it...because who knows, what's right around the corner may be better than where you feet are currently planted!

The 4 Hour Body: Slow Carb

The latest addition to my fitness and health adventure is the 4 Hour Body Slow Carb Diet by Tim Feriss. This is not a carb-free diet, per se, it's is a healthier way of eating.  Basically, you eat a high-protein diet for 6 days out of the week.  On one day per week, you "binge," eating whatever you'd like.  I ended up going with this way of eating, because for the longest time, I'd be hungry all day long at work.  

I don't know about you, but as soon as I'd walk into my house after a long day at work, I'd be feeling two things:

1. Exhaustion: All I would want to do is lie down to take a nap.  This would suck up half my night, because a "twenty minute nap" would turn into at least an hour and a half.

2. Extreme Hunger: I'd be so hungry that I'd be munching on whatever I could find to hold me over while dinner heated up.  Then when it came time to eat, I wouldn't be hungry anymore.

Who wants to live like this?  Not me.  It wasn't healthy, and so I needed to make a change.  My boyfriend and I discussed different ways of eating that had worked for him in the past.  For me, my only huge weight-loss was in high school.  My only plan for that "diet" was to skip eating altogether.  This wasn't a healthy choice, and I know now, that at 30 years old, I'd never be able to drop weight like that again.

Today was my first day on this diet.  The best thing about this diet is that when it was meal time, I wasn't ever starving.  You can eat as much as you'd like, and the recipes I chose are delicious.  I used this website to plan my meals for the week: Slow Carb Recipes.  You can also find tons of recipes on Pinterest, too!  This way of eating is also designed to encourage weight loss.  

My Meal Plan for This Week

Breakfast: 2 eggs with spinach and salsa

Breakfast/Snack: 3 Egg Muffins

Lunch: Bacon, Avocado and Chicken Salad

Snack: Lara Bar

Dinner: Taco Rollups

(All recipes can be found in the link above)

Another perk for me is that you can choose to eat the same meals repeatedly throughout the week.  Cooking on Sunday for the week is the perfect solution.  I don't have time to think up new meals for every night of the week.  Instead, you cook a big batch in the beginning of the week, and then you're set until the weekend!

I'll let you know how I am doing with this.  This way of eating goes along with my promise for "No Carbs" for Lent.  I will tell you, that I haven't been following that entirely, but at least I'm getting back into something that is encouraging a healthier way of eating!

Print your Instagram photos using ORIGRAMI! Check it out NOW!

While searching for fun DIY crafts, I came across Origrami. Origrami is an Instagram photo printing company. They're a husband and wife team based in Sydney, Australia and the company was born to combine their two passions: Origami (craft) and Instagram = Origrami. I love it! :-)

FREE Shipping Worldwide! 

Multiple designs and themes! Including a photo map of where your photo was taken! (Awesome!!)

Thick premium matte cards - similar in thickness and quality to postcards! 

Cute photo folder/box for storage! 

How does this work?

-Choose from 4 print packages ranging from $19.95-$29.95 (24-36 prints included).

-Once you click the Buy Now button, you'll be instructed to login to your Instagram account.

-Once logged in, you will be able to select the photos that you want to print.

-Once you finish selecting the photos, you'll be taken to the "THEME" selection. Choose a theme:

PHOTOMAP. Front: Your Instagram photo. Back: Map of where the photo was taken (if geo-tagged). Or a selection of 12 colorful camera backgrounds. Plus your username (max 15 letters), date taken, number of likes, location tag and the first caption (max 140 letters and no emoticons).

SPECTRUM. Front: Your Instagram photo. Back: 36 colored backgrounds. Plus your username, date taken, number of likes, location tag and the first caption (max 140 letters and no emoticons).

POSTCARD. Front: Your Instagram photo. Back: Airmail-style border. Plus your username, date taken and location tag.

BLANK. Front: Your Instagram photo. Back: nothing.

SPECTRUM FOR SQUARE Front: Your Instagram photo. Back: 36 colored backgrounds. Plus the date taken, location tag and the first caption (max 120 letters and no emoticons).

-Add to cart and follow the quick checkout process!


Oh My Little Dears blog posted a great review about Origrami. Read about it here and check out her photos of the product below:

I fell in love with Origrami and can't wait to try it. The backs of the cards are my favorite! I love the maps, date taken, caption, number of likes... all information to help preserve your small moments. Have you tried Origrami? Let me know if you decide to try it! :-)

Autism: Resources for Educators

Over the weekend I was doing some research for school to help out some of my special needs students.  Unless you're working in a school, you probably don't know what things are like today in the general education classroom.  There really isn't anything called "inclusion" anymore.  The inclusion classroom was where the high functioning special education students were mixed with general education students.  Today, we're all mixed together, so every class is an inclusion class!

It is incredibly important to understand what it's like to be a child living with Autism so we can meet the needs of these students better.  I saw this video over the weekend, and it was quite eye opening. I suggest you take a moment to watch it.  For me, it was tough to get through.  I couldn't imagine living life like this, but I watched, because I know that the few kids I teach with this disorder can't hit the pause button.

As I was searching Pinterest, I came across the website, Snagglebox.  This website is extremely helpful, and offers a lot of answers to the questions that I had.  

The blogger, Bec, describes her website in the following: "Snagglebox is primarily a place that supports anyone looking to understand more about autism - autistic people, their parents and families, teachers, health professionals. I aim for honest, practical but encouraging help and useful information explained simply. I also write about other things here too, like being a parent and Minecraft and homeschooling and life."

One thing that was incredibly helpful are Bec's two posts, "99 Questions About Autism," and "99 More Questions About Autism."  In addition, Bec has also created an incredible resource, the Autism Preparation Resource for Teachers, which explains to teachers what they can expect and how they can plan for their Autistic student.  The resource is $5.00, but any teacher who has taught an autistic student will agree that it's well worth the investment.  

Bec also discusses topics like why Minecraft is so addicting.  To tell you the truth, my students discuss this game constantly, and I had no idea what it was until reading her articles on it.  This game sucks kids in, and they can become addicted to it!  It was definitely interesting to learn about.  

The last thing that teachers should check out on Snagglebox is the Fidget Toys Download.  Bec has compiled 45 different suggestions for fidget toys for students.  I went out today and bought a package of bungee cords from Wal-Mart.  Students will have them attached to their desks so they can fidget their feet.  Hopefully it will help some of my students who need the constant movement during the day!

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!

All Things Green: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Tomorrow!

My post tonight is completely inspired by The Glitter Guide, a fabulous fashion, beauty, and lifestyle blog. They have so many great posts and I love reading their blog. I'm most fascinated by their "Five Things to Try This Weekend" series. 

The "five things to try" for this weekend was centered around St. Patrick's Day. 

Being that St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, why not try some of these...

If you happen to try any of them, let Glitter Guide know! Share using the hashtag #GG5things and tag @glitterguide on Twitter and Instagram. And don't forget to share with us, too! 

[ONE]

This weekend is all about celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. That means dressing in head-to-toe green! Get as creative as your heart desires.

[TWO]

Update your couch with bright, bold pillows for spring!

[THREE]

Add a little green food coloring to all of your baking and cooking endeavors this weekend.

[FOUR]

Brighten a friend’s day by picking up a beautiful bouquet of flowers for her!

[FIVE]

Invite friends over to celebrate your Irish heritage (or celebrate pretending to be Irish!) with some cute koozies and cold ones.

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!

Find us on Bloglovin'!

Follow our blog with Bloglovin

Bloglovin' is a "blog following website" and it's awesome for these reasons:

1. It allows us to follow all of our favorite blogs in one place!

2. It rounds up all of our favorite blogs and logs their fresh posts in sequential order like a Facebook feed. It's much easier to keep up with all these favorites by visiting one website instead of bookmarking each one.

3. You can heart the posts you like. :-)

4. If you really like a blog, it gives you suggestions for following similar ones.

5. The design of the website is clean and simple.

6. They have an iPhone app, too! 

3 Books Every Classroom (and human) Must Own

The top three books every individual should know...every student should read... and every classroom and home must own. (According to me!) 

1. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.  

"Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. 
Join the conversation: #thewonderofwonder

2. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself.  

Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes. 

The One and Only Ivan was hailed as a best book of the year by Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Amazon, demonstrating it is a true classic in the making. In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create Ivan's unforgettable first-person narration in a story of friendship, art, and hope. An author's note depicts the differences between the fictional story and true events.

3. Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

“If there is one book teens and parents (and everyone else) should read this year, Out of My Mind should be it” (Denver Post). Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow. In this breakthrough story—reminiscent of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly—from multiple Coretta Scott King Award-winner Sharon Draper, readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability.

This is the second year  in a row that I started my school year off reading Wonder to my students. It's life changing. There are no words. Just read it. I read The One and Only Ivan because of the amazing reviews and immediately fell in love. Deeply in love. I will be starting this as my next read aloud this week! Out of My Mind is a book that I recommend over and over and over and over and over again to my students. Even my most struggling, resistant readers love it. They run up to me after they finish reading, and while holding it tightly in their arms, they stare at me and say: Oh. my. god.

If you're a teacher and you haven't read these books... read them now.

If you're a parent and you haven't read these books... read them now.

If you're a student and you haven't read these books... read them now.

If you're a human and you haven't read these books... read them now.

You're welcome!