Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.

Tonight on Facebook, Patricia Polacco, one of my most treasured children's book authors shared the video below.  It brought tears to my eyes, and made me stop and think about the small things.  I know Dawn posted yesterday about stopping to enjoy every moment of our life.  I thought this video complimented that post well...as sort of a continuation.  

We're so terribly busy that we forget to stop and look around us.  Stop and enjoy the small things...helping someone or something in need.  Not because we'll get something in return for it, but for the fact that we can help someone who needs it.  Watch this video:

If there's one thing we can learn from this man is that by doing a few good things everyday out of the goodness of our hearts, we can bring great joy and hope to others around us.  Imagine a world like this...if people did this all the time?  We'd have a much more peaceful, unified world.  One can only hope that one day things go that way.  

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!

We're also taking part in a new link party through 3 Little Greenwoods .  Click the button above to see more awesome links!

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This is my life.

Last night we had dinner with my brother and his girlfriend. Our conversations went in so many different directions, but one of the topics that we touched on was how fast the days, weeks, and years are flying by. I admitted that there are many times when I wish for the day to be over, or for the week to be over, and yes, I've even said, "I can't wait for this school year to be over." I'm rushing my life away and it makes me so sad to fully admit that. 

There are many days where I struggle to live in the moment and be fully present. I race around from place to place, task to task, and finally crash at the end of the day. It's so hard to "engage" in every day...

I wish I could:

-remember how much I love my ordinary day

-appreciate the seasons and time of life

-be more grateful

-quit score keeping (no calculations!)

-remember that now IS now (remember now!)

As I checked my twitter feed this morning, a "teacher blogger" posted this two minute video reminder: "The Days are Long, but the Years are Short." Don't fritter away your days.

What I love most about the clip is her realization that this is my life and to enjoy every small moment.

 

The video clip comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. Click on the image below to read more about the book. I've seen this book everywhere, but haven't read it yet. Have you read it? 

Our motivation for this blog was to enjoy the little things and to share the small moments of our lives that we want to record and look back on. Blogging is definitely helping me live in the moment.

Do you struggle with feeling this way too? 

Can't teachers just do what they do best...teach?

I've been teaching for seven years.  You'll never catch me saying that I'm an expert in my profession, by any means.  I'm doing the very best I can to learn all the time and bring the best instruction to my students.  I attended college and graduate school, in addition to countless hours spent in professional development courses and seminars.  

This past week, my students took the ELA State Assessment, and I felt defeated.  As any good teacher would, I prepared my students to the very best of my ability from September to April.  We read authentic fiction, nonfiction and poetry.  My students learned how to close read a challenging text, and understood how to provide evidence for their answers.  I did everything I could to make my students engaged in their learning, from having them play games learning how to answer multiple choice questions, to having them pretend their fingers were like ET to follow along as we read a passage aloud...to even speaking in accents and funny voices to keep them involved in my lessons.  If I could have stood on my head to have them pay closer attention, I would have.

We spent time in class, discussing their worries and fears about "THE TEST" weeks prior to the test, and I calmed their nerves.  I told them that all I wanted them to do was their very best.  I told them not to worry about me losing my job, because I do my job each day. My job should not be weight on the shoulders of 8 and 9 year olds. That's just unfair.  I also told them that they would be promoted to fourth grade.  If they haven't heard of being retained yet, they won't be.  I wanted the students to be as relaxed as possible.  

High Five for Friday: FINALLY!

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 reflection each week and hopefully you will too! 

Finally!!!  Friday is here!!  This week was a complete marathon.  I am so happy to have the weekend. 

1. Successful Origami Owl Party  

My mom hosted an Origami Owl Party at her house on Saturday afternoon.  It was a whole lot of fun, and my mom earned a good amount of free jewelry!  It was so nice to see friends from our neighborhood and catch up with everyone!  I love the spring time, because it's when people begin to come out of hibernation and socialize again!

2. Dinner out with Marc's Sister and Some Friends

Marc's sister and husband came down to visit for the weekend, and we went a fantastic German restaurant on Saturday night.  It was great to see them and socialize.  The dinner was three hours long, and we were able to relax and have fun!  The picture above shows the three different sizes of beers that were represented at the table that night.  It reminds me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. :)

3. Lost Another Pound

I know I keep talking about this Slow Carb diet, but I lost another pound this week!  I didn't have the chance to exercise because I had injured my back on Monday.  I stuck with the diet and still lost weight.  I am so happy I made a decision to get healthy!

4.  ELA's are Finished

The absolute worst part of my week was enduring the three long days of ELA testing.  I am so thankful the first round of state assessments are done until the last week of April.  It was a grueling three days, and I am so happy it's over!

5. Hair Appointment

I finished off my week with a visit to my hair stylist.  I go see her every five weeks (gotta hide those grays!).  It was so nice to just relax and unwind after a super long week.  I added some highlights to my dark brown hair.  It's still a little new and different for me, but I think I like it! 

High Five for Friday: Thursday Afternoon Made My Week!

I would die to have my toes in the sand right now... 

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 reflection each week and hopefully you will too! 

1. Celebrating my brother's birthday. We celebrated Joey's birthday in New York City on Saturday night with friends and family. It was raining in NYC, which made for quite a comical night as we walked from place to place! The food was awesome, the drinks were delicious, we shared a lot of laughs, and had so much fun!

2. Nice weather for a few days in a row. The sunlight poured into my classroom this week and it was gorgeous outside! There were a few days that I walked into school without a jacket on and it felt so good! Today was cold and rainy, but we are so looking forward to a beautiful, sunny, warm weekend!

3. Walking outside. Workout outside?! Yes, please! I was finally able to walk outside a lot this week. I'd so much rather "get my fitness on" outside than inside. I'm so happy that I can get back into this routine again!

4. Getting through the New York State testing in my classroom. There are no words. Amanda and I texted each other on Thursday to share our frustrations. It was a r.e.a.l.l.y, r.e.a.l.l.y long week because of this. :-(

5. Our blog was recognized and highlighted on Thursday! WOO HOO!!!! This made my week! We were tracked down by Primitives by Kathy on Facebook. I blogged about their awesome home decor box signs in February, and they found us! They left a comment on our Facebook page. :-) Also, as you know, Amanda and I take part in link parties each week and we were featured on the Creative-Geekery blog yesterday! My post about Easter Egg Decorating with Sharpies & Felt Tip Pens was chosen as Ellie's favorite post of the week! YAYY!!! What an honor...again! Thank you, Creative-Geekery!

The True Value of Throwback Thursday

Ahh...the trending of the #tbt.  It's all over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter....whatever social media you choose, you can expect to see old photos uploaded on Thursdays.  I love it!  It's a blast into the past.  It forces us to look back on old memories and smile.  It helps us to remember those who may not be with us anymore, and reminds us of the small things in life, a simpler time.

But...I have one question for you:

Today is the present, but tomorrow it will be the past.  

What are you doing to preserve the memories of today for the future?

I don't know about you, but most of my photos are loaded onto my laptop, my phone, or on Shutterfly.  I probably have 25% of my current photo collection printed, the rest is digital.  I have had computers in the past that crashed or died, deleting precious memories with loved ones that were gone forever.  Devastation.

What are your children going to look back on when they are your age?  Will they have the ability to look through your phone, your old laptops and your website accounts.  Probably not. 

I challenge you to start to print your photos.  Make a point of it every month to print up photos from your most favorite moments of your life.  Create a photo book or just get prints made up.  It's so important to have photos to look back on!

Here's some convenient, easy suggestions for getting pictures printed up quickly and easily:

www.groovebook.com is a photobook subscription service through your smartphone.  I belong to this service and it is a super easy way to get your photos printed off your phone once a month!

Shutterfly.com has a variety of options for photo printing.  From photo books to print plans, they have a ton of options!  Check it out!

Kanvess is an app that allows you to print your Instagram photos!  With so many pictures being uploaded to Instagram each day, why wouldn't you want to print them?!

Dawn 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.

Birthday on the Hour Gift Idea!

I love birthdays and I love celebrating them! I've already blogged about my mom's birthday, my sister's birthday, and my brother's birthday. Shopping for gifts can be really fun, but also really tricky. I'm always on the hunt for something different, unique, and/or creative.  I saw this post on 30 Handmade Days blog and I couldn't resist sharing it...Birthday on the Hour Gift Idea!

Gather presents to celebrate your special someone's birthday every hour! How does it work? The special someone's age depends on when they open them each hour. For example, my brother turned 27, so he would open his gifts at 8:27, 9:27, 10:27, 11:27, etc. Wrap a bunch of gifts and write the times on each. They don't have to be huge gifts; the little gifts with sentimental meaning behind each mean the most anyway. Think of something little to open every hour! Throw them in a basket and voila! The best part about this gift idea is that it'd be perfect for people that live near and far. Or, if that special someone is at work, box your gifts up, send them into work with your special someone, and have them open them there! Unfortunately, this only works for ages up to 59 years because there are only 60 minutes, but I'm sure there are ways around that challenge, be creative!

30 Handmade Days blog also offers FREE PRINTABLES for this awesome gift idea! Click here for the adorable printable!

I also love her idea of Anniversary on the Hour! Super cute for celebrating special anniversaries...monthly or yearly! Follow the same idea with the number system... 8 month anniversary = opening gifts on the eighth minute of every hour. Such a cute gift idea for newlyweds! ;-)

Have you ever tried something like this? How did it work out? Fill me in! I will definitely be giving this a try! :-)

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.