Thursday, July 8, 2010

4 1/2 weeks to go

Next week...
Monday-Test
Tuesday-Art lesson presentation
Wednesday-Social Studies lesson presentation
Thursday- STUDENT TEACHING PLACEMENT MEETING!!!

I am getting more excited about student teaching then I have been recently. I know that I have to do it so I might as well learn to look forward to it and enjoy it rather than dread it and be nervous about it the entire time. I have met and talked to two women who are teachers in different stores in the past month or so (no wonder there are so few jobs...it seems like EVERYONE is a teacher) and they have been so nice and have helped me to not be so nervous. I really believe that God plans "divine appointments" and those women were definitely a blessing when I needed one the most.

I feel like good things are headed my way. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel a sense of peace even in the midst of all of the uncertainties that are my life right now. It's a good feeling.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Cousins

I love my family and we love taking pictures so I have been looking for fun websites to make use of all of them. I came across www.smilebox.com and made a really cute album. I am seriously considering paying for a year membership.

Click to play this Smilebox scrapbook: family
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Scrapbook design generated with Smilebox


I also made one for my cousins to show at their graduation party

Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: graduation
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This free digital slideshow made with Smilebox



OK, bear with me...I am posting these so I can show them at the party Friday and have them viewed on a full screen


Click to play this Smilebox slideshow: Throughout the Years
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This digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Cake Balls

A few months ago I saw cake balls on http://kellyskornerblog.com and have been wanting to make them so I decided to make them for my cousins' graduation party this weekend. They are cute...not exactly what I had envisioned, but nothing I make ever is ha! I have some graduation mini cupcake papers to put them in so that should be cute too.

The red ones are for Amanda and the blue ones for Megan and Ashley





They are really easy to make once you get the hang of dipping them in the melted chocolate.

Cake Truffles

1 box red velvet cake mix
3/4 container cream cheese frosting
1 package white almond bark



All you have to do is bake the cake...and then crumble it up in a large bowl. I used my hands but you can also do it in the mixer...which would probably be easier when you have to add in the frosting. I have to admit it was a little hard to just crumble up a cake that looked so pretty when it was baked. (; It was so worth it though.

Anyways, then you add in the frosting and mix it together. Next, you roll the mix into small balls and place them on cookie sheets covered with wax paper. Then you put them in the freezer for a few hours. Once they are firm, you melt the almond bark according to the directions and dip the cake balls in it. I melted Wilton Candy Melts with a tiny bit of shortening to do the drizzles on top.


******I also just found a picture of some sugar cookies I made for Easter. I used a mini muffin tin to bake them in so they look like little cupcakes. I have to say I was very proud when they were finished!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Catch Up

We finally made it to see Straight No Chaser and they were AMAZING. They are so talented...and so good looking! Ha! It was kind of a weird mix of people...mostly older. We were literally the only younger girls who were not there with our parents or husbands so when they had their meet and greet after the show not too many people stayed and we were able to get autographs and pictures with them.



--Ahhhh....I was in heaven for a few short moments hahaha



I almost forgot that we went to the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks too. It was ummm...neat? Kinf of too pricey, but would be fun for little ones. In my year of "young and free and 23" it was one of the many things on my list of "adventures".

Yes, Christa paid $5 for a picture in the booth and yes, we took a picture of the picture. WoW




I have lots of cookies to decorate this week for my sister's graduation party Sunday and I am also going to try making cake truffles for another family graduation party Friday for my siter and two of our cousins. Three graduations in two days. I feel SO old! Sadly, our worst fear for years came true and we won't be able to make it to Ashley's(cousin) because it is too close to Megan's(sister). I can't wait to watch Megan graduate though because she has been so involved and has come so far and I am so proud of her. She is going to college where I am getting ready to graduate from. We will be at the same school for a semester. WEIRD. ha!

Just because I know that Ashley likes to read my blog(and never comment because she has no idea how to make one) =)...this is for YOU
***
I am sooo sooo sooo proud of you! Looking back at the "fighting years" (or maybe it was only months, but it felt like a long time) I get so upset because I know that we foolishly wasted time that we could have spent getting to know each other like we have over the past year, but I know that everything happens for a reason and I am so very thankful that we are all so close now. I love you and I HATE HATE HATE that we are going to miss your graduation, but know that I will be thinking of you!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

HMMM

So my mom and dad had their 25th Anniversary Party this week. It actually went really well...much better than what I expected it to be. It was so great to get to see so many people that I had not seen in YEARS.

Anyways, I made cookies for the party. I forgot to take pictures of the super cute wedding cake shaped ones, but here are the hearts.


I also got to spend time with some of my favorite girls


--I wish that I could fast forward to December and be finished with school so that I could finally make a decision about what to do next in my life. The uncertainty of what is next is driving me crazy. I feel like I can't live in the moment and enjoy my life now because I get so stuck on the future. It is VERY hard. If you are reading this, will you please pray for me?

*I did get my grades back though, and after a very very very stressful semester I made 3 As, 1 B, and then a Pass for a pass or fail class. My GPA for this semester was a 3.82 which means another semester on the honor roll...that makes 3 in a row! YAY!



**Straight No Chaser this weekend!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Smart Cookie-Ha

So, after reading numerous blogs and seeing pictures of sugar cookies decorated with royal icing I decided I would try it out. My main goal is to practice until I am good enough to start an "on the side for fun business." ha!


--Not bad for a first try!

I have been doing A LOT of thinking about the future lately and after talking with friends, researching an amazing program that I am seriously considering, and watching a video in class yesterday about poverty, I think that I have found my passion for teaching again. This is good since I will be student teaching SOON and I have been scared to death that it would be an awful experience because my heart would not be in it, but now I am excited and looking forward to it! All I can say when I look at the next year of my life is.."CH CH CH CHANGES." Big changes. Nobody is holding me back and I will prove to everyone who thinks I can't make it on my own and that I don't know what I am doing that I will make it. I know I can do this.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Now I am REALLY Twenty-Three =)

My birthday was Thursday so I can officially start my year of being young, free, and 23. Wednesday my aunt made me a birthday dinner...she makes amazing burgers! Thursday, Christa and I went to Tulsa to see Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw and we had a great time! Friday Lacey came up and we went shopping and bowling...I won of course ;).

Having a birthday usually makes people stop and evaluate their lives and I took some time to do the same. I am determined to make this a year that counts. Looking back I have wasted so many days getting nothing accomplished and not making the most of my time so I am changing that. I will make the most of and enjoy everyday.

Sunday my dad's side of the family got together to celebrate Easter and the February, March and April birthdays. We all had a great time! I have learned to cherish those moments with family because I realize that not everyone has what we have.



--Singing "happy birthday" to this many people is not easy! This is a terrible picture of me but since I spend most of my time laughing when I am with them it's real.


--The now traditional Easter cousins picture. =) Love these girls...looking forward to our next girl's night out! Last year we got a hotel room in Bricktown and had soooooo much fun. Hoping to make that a tradition as well. :)


*I have pictures from the concert Thursday night but it takes me five hours to upload pictures onto this thing, so if you want to see them just go to my Facebook. ha!