i bought a new book!

yesterday i decided to treat myself and buy a new book. i love love love buying random books that i've never heard of..they always end up being the very best! i chose the book, Little Bee by Chris Cleave. i read the first few pages..and so far it's pretty good.

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obsession: the big bang theory

i am super addicted to the big bang theory. it's seriously the best show ever. i can't get enough.

first two photos were found on google images
photo 3 found here.

a start to a better me

I'm finally putting my foot down and starting a journey towards a better me. 

For months now, i've been complaining and constantly thinking negative thoughts about myself. Today is the day where i stop! i'm going to take out the negatives in my life and replace them with positives. i'm going to set goals and accomplish them. no more complaining and a little more doing. i can't wait!

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As for the goals part of my journey, i stumbled upon a blog about healthy living that shared a way to set goals. i think i could possibly do this. it's a really great way to accomplish goals. Read all about it here.

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my best friend eden from The Minnesota Girl is doing an awesome giveaway (a shabby apple dress..so cute)!!! Make sure you mosey on over to her blog and enter!! you have until Dec. 2nd so hurry!!!

yesterday i spent the day planning my upcoming week and watching movies.  later, dannielle and i decided to go to the mall and target to see if there were any deals left over from the black friday sales.  i was able to snatch glee the complete first season and elf!!! i saved $36!! today we watched glee all day then decided to go cowboy boots shopping.  i found this antique store that sells used boots on google called texas junk company.  it's downtown houston, not hard to find...but it was kind of in a sketchy neighborhood downtown..we were a little nervous, but it turned out to be really cool.  they had TONS of boots (all used, but still..awesome!) and they were all pretty cheap! unfortunately i was unable to find ones i liked that were my size. i'll probably go there before i leave. they're only open on fridays and saturdays..so i only have four days i can go there...crazy!! i can't believe my time is almost up here.  it's bittersweet.  i'm so so so excited to see my friends and family, but i'm just getting comfortable here and finally meeting people! hopefully i'll be able to get a job out here, i love it. we'll see where life takes me i guess. well, i better get back to watching glee!

Thanksgiving

even though i was far away from home (and feeling a little home sick) i had a really nice thanksgiving.  A family who lives down the street from a ashley, who is also in texas doing student teaching, invited danielle, ashley and i over for thanksgiving dinner.  it was SO much fun.  it was so nice being with people and being served a fantastic thanksgiving meal.  i ate soooo much food....and drank too much wine (haha).  after dinner, we played apples to apples, which was hilarious! i haven't laughed that hard in such a long time.  i'm so thankful that i met these kind people.  it's nice to know more than three people in this giant state.

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yesterday i got a package from my mom AND two birthday cards from my little brother and my grandma in the mail.  i felt like it was my birthday all over again!

i am just so thankful for every single person who is in my life.  i'm so blessed. i hope everyone had a great thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Break; Day 2

Holocaust Museum

Rothko Chapel

Walking

Star Pizza..so yummy!



Thanksgiving Break; Day 1

Yesterday was the start of my Thanksgiving break!! No school for a week!! I'm SO excited! My roommate, Danielle, my friend Ashley, and I decided to try and find cheap cowboy boots.  We heard of a store called Sam Moon so we went to check it out. HOLY COW. It was AMAZING! It's so big and filled with jewlery, hats, belts, clothes, purses, and hair accessories...and everything is super cheap!! I didn't find my cowboy boots but I did find a cowboy hat!! AND it was cheap! After a long day of shopping, we were invited to one of Ashley's neighbor's house for dinner and Dancing with the Stars.  It was SO nice to be in a house and in a family setting.  We had the yummiest sandwiches.  We also played Farkle (I won!!) and did a country line dance workout video..which I definitely will be buying!  They even invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday since we don't have any plans! I'm so grateful, because we were planning on doing nothing for Thanksgiving so it will be nice to be with a family. 
Today Danielle, Ashley and I are going to explore downtown Houston.  It's a little gloomy out today so we're going to check out the Holocaust Museum..because it's FREE! I'm so excited! And we have a friend who lives downtown so we'll be visiting him too! Happy Thanksgiving Break!!

There's a First Time for Everything I Guess..

Today around 9:00 am the principal came on the intercom and announced that we were in lock down.  Yep, I experienced my very first real lock down today.  It was really scary.  Luckily the kids were in computer class so we didn't have to try and keep all our little 2nd graders calm and quiet.  My teacher and I sat on the floor and whispered to eachother for about 25 minutes.  Apparently this is the second time they had a real lock down; last time a 4th grader brought a beebee gun to school.  At the end of the day I found out that there was a house robbery in a neighborhood nearby and the guy was running around with a gun so we went on lock down.  Talk about scary! I kept imagining a guy coming up to the window (our blinds are all broken so some weren't down all the way) and shooting us! But everyone is safe so no worries!! Very interesting day to say the least. 

Trip to Galveston

I saw this on a friend's Facebook status:

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"
To stress his point he said to another guest;
"You're a teacher. Be honest. What do you make?"
The teacher, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
..... "You want to know what I make?
Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't
make them sit for 5 min. without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them how to write and then I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.
They use their... brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they
were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
What do you make Mr. CEO?"
His jaw dropped; he went silent

Today

Today we're going to Galveston! I'm super excited! AND the weather is supposed to be nice! I'll def be taking lots of pics so stay tuned!

PS: Look at the temperature difference between MN and TX. LOVE it!!!!



Weekend Update

 Friday:

On Friday my roommates and I went to the Track Shack and met up with my friend Ashley! The bar is an actual shack in the middle of no where, but it was a lot of fun. I guess one of my roommates didn't think the same, hahaha. I met some other student teachers, which was really nice. I definitely plan on going there this Friday!

Saturday:

Yesterday we decided to do some exploring. Our first stop was Katy Budget Books. Every year they have a giant used books sale. We were lucky enough to take advantage of that. I bought 19 books for only $10!! I'm still really excited about it!! I got some childrens books as well as books for myself! After the bookstore we went to The Galleria. It reminded me a lot of MOA but with less stores and more high end stores, but they did have my affordable stores too. After a little window shopping we stopped to eat at Chilis (yum!), then came home and watched Confessions of a Shopaholic and went to bed early.

Today:

Today I get to work on lesson plans, my resume, and my philosophy of education paper. Woo. SO much fun. I'm excited for this week though, I finally get to start teaching!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Tour!

I took some pictures yesterday of my apartment...so here's a tour!  Sorry for the mess!

This is my room (and Allie's) and my lovely air mattress over in the corner by the window.

Walk in closet!! Best thing ever. Love it.

My bathrooom (there's two).

My bathroom again.

Living room.

Living room.

Kitchen..and the washer and dryer are in the room straight ahead.

Sink over looking the living room.

Our only pieces of furniture.

Cassi and Danielle's room.

Our balcony!