Author: Joanna

Hello!

So after an insane, crazy, happy, fun, whirlwind of a past two weeks we finally tied the knot, honeymooned, moved into our apartment and are MARRIED PEOPLE! It was an amazing time. The wedding weekend could not have been more perfect, the ceremony was wonderful, and our reception was AMAZING! However, I am really happy to be back and starting our new normal life together. I can’t wait to share stories, pictures, and experiences of the whole wedding/honeymoon with you all and get to blogging on a semi-regular basis.

The school year is also swiftly approaching and with that will come various posts about my classroom and happenings of my second year as a third grade teacher, so be on the lookout for that as well. I am interested in seeing where this year will take me, us, and this little bit of blog space!

For now, here are a few sneak peek pictures from out photographer, Jessica Renee Photography (she is wonderful and if you are looking for a wedding/life style photographer in the New Orleans area you should definitely check her out!!)

It’s been a while since I posted seven quick takes! Joining these lovely ladies over here in the posting frenzy. I have a lot going on so I figured I could find seven things that might interest someone out there besides the constant voice in my head.

1. It’s hot people. Like really hot, I have made a promise to myself to not complain a lot on my little space of the internet but really. I’m so sweaty all the time and this is not ok. I walk to another room, sweaty. I walk between the new apartment and my apartment, sweaty. I breathe, SWEATY. I’m ready for fall, so. ready. In thinking about fall I find myself still wanting the same beautiful, delicious, wonderful, amazing boots from The Frye Company that I want every year. Go ahead, fall in love:

 

Holy cow. Did I really take another mini hiatus? Accidental. Promises. This time it was not of my own doing (like applying to teach summer school…) but I had the privilege of serving jury duty for the fine county I live in. This was my first experience with this public service I can honestly say it was both completely boring and interesting. The fact that I was chosen for the jury was the interesting part. Everything else, preeeeeeeeeeeeetty boring. Thus is my life!

So now that I have my life back and am no longer committed to driving down town and listening to grown people argue every day, lets say I get back on the update-your-blog-bandwagon! Wahoo!

One of my favorite blogs is doing a love song link-up today and my summer slow self has decided to join in the fun. ya dig?

1) The Civil Wars – “I’ve got this friend”

I am pretty much in love with them and their harmonies. This is on the list of songs for me and the beardyman to learn. I want to be them.

2) Bright Eyes – “First day of my life”

We recently sang this at my teaching partner’s wedding in April. So it’s on the brain as a good love song.

3) Andrew Peterson – “Dancing in the minefields”

This one gets me excited for married times. 🙂

4) Ben Harper – “Forever”

This is the song I was sung the night I got engaged. 😉

5) Dashboard Confessional – “Stolen”

So it seems my music selections are not the most traditional songs. But they are songs I love about love and maybe someone will like them as well. We still have yet to decide on our song that we are going to dance to at our wedding (in 32 days. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) so listening to everyone’s favorite lurve songs has been nice inspiration!

Today was what I would consider my first official day of my summer vacation. It wasn’t the weekend, all of my friends are once again preoccupied with their jobs and so I was left to determine my own routine for the day. I am always scared when vacations come around. I love the break. I love that being a teacher I will always have predetermined vacation times to look forward to, but I am always scared of not appreciating my time.

I love being busy.

I love moving constantly, having my days to filled so the brim that I can barely fit in a full nights sleep. I love being a little bit tired because it’s telling me that I am living full, hard days. I love being around people constantly, hence my career path. But unlike other first days of vacation…today was different. I had a lot of time alone and I was ok with that. I am feeling recharged and more motivated to get things done. I’m trying to be thankful for every moment of this month no matter how slow. I realize that I will still be somewhat busy with the last of our wedding to-do list to accomplish but overall I know the slow times will come and I know at least a little part of me might be frustrated with those times. So maybe this post will serve as a reminder to savor each and every slow moment that July gives me.

The above picture was something I found while wandering through Target today. Apparently it’s my personality according to my birthday. There are a couple of things that are true but overall I found it really amusing. Especially the, “…punctual in your appointments and fastidious in your dress…” Considering the older I have gotten, the later I have shown up to things. Try as I might to be on time. Also, I plan on living in gym clothes during the month of July. 😉

Happy Monday!

JULY!

Oh July… how I have been waiting for you. How I have been thinking about you. How I have been hoping, praying, willing the days to go by faster so I could just make it to July. Finally, I get a break. Summer school wrapped up on Friday. Cleaned up my borrowed classroom, packed up all of my things, and headed out the door to say hello to my summer vacation!

5 things I am hoping for this month:
-to not lose my mind (I actually wrote this in my planner and saw it the other day. Not sure when I wrote it but obviously I had already thought about how crazy this month is going to be.)
-appreciate the slow, not-busy moments
-go through, clean, pack-up my apartment and move it all into the new one (this isn’t really a hope as much as it is a this-must-happen-or-I-won’t-have-anything-in-our-new-apartment.)
-spend time with friends and savor conversations
-to have our apartment somewhat put together before we head down to NOLA for our wedding and St. Martin for the honeymoon!

Hello, blog!

Sorry for my little leave. Between the end of the school year, the start of summer school, and a little less that two months until our upcoming nuptials– things have been busy to say the least! I am 5 1/2 days shy of finishing up summer school and after that I am planning to pick up the blogging pace! Happy Thursday, people (I’m hopeful that people besides myself actually are contributing to the page views here). Thursday! One step closer to sweet Friday! Also, happiest of birthday to my sweet bearded pre-husband!

Can we get real for a second? Nine days until the school year is OVER. NINE DAYS! I honestly thought the day wouldn’t come. There were so many moments during this year that made me think survival was hopeless but look at that! I can do it! Only 9 more days!!!

I woke up feeling exhausted because for some reason sleeping lately has been a hassle. I haven’t been able to fall asleep and once I do I wake up 2 or 3 times. Stress? Maybe? However, feelings of negativity and exhaustion were soon demolished by positive happenings. Such as a coworker texting me and offering me starbucks deliciousness and then walking into a surprise bridal shower from my sweet third grade girls! Talk about a happy day! Also, wearing funny solar system shirts from by beardyman make my day. 

Not to outdo the surprised-ness I had with my third grade bridal shower today but I am SUPER pumped out my bridal shower tomorrow! One of my dearest friends from high school and her mom are throwing it and I could not be more excited to spend time with some special ladies in my life. 

Hopefully more adventures in swimming this weekend! I even ordered a swim cap to make things a bit easier on my locks. Full post about my first swim lesson since I was a kid SOON! 

Thinking about starting this running program. Found on this blog’s 7QT’s (yup that just happened). I tried Couch to 5K last summer, tried insanity last summer as well, and P90X the summer before that. Looking for a new workout thing to be hooked on this summer! Hopefully this and running will be sufficient for a new cardio routine.

Day dreaming about all of the awesome clothes I want to buy for wedding events and our honeymoon…and then realistically thinking about how the heck I will be able to buy all of it. Sigh.
(pic found here, amazing cover ups by Jules Moore) 

Super exciting awesomeness happening in my classroom next year! I get to be a part of a pilot program in our district the implements iPads in the classroom. I am SUPER excited and already have a few ideas of how my new friend can be used on a daily basis. For our anniversary this year I got an iPad and have LOVED it. I’ve used it a few times in the classroom but having one solely for work will be really nice. Awesome education app recommendations completely and totally welcome. 

Not really a whole lot to dump in the form of picturas this week! I was busier than expected (I’m always busier than expected) and didn’t really think to take out my phone and snap pictures as much. Sometimes I’m ok with this. As much as I like chronicling life and being able to look back at pictures, remembering important things I also think that making memories and being fully present in the moment is a much needed reminder sometimes. I want to start getting into the balance of finding time to take pictures, blog, journal AND live life being present when I need to be. Just thoughts people, just thoughts. 

Happy weekend friends! Thanks to those of you who look at this thing. Like I said before, just trying this out and seeing how it goes. It amazes me that their are actually page views on this blog. At first I thought it was me going back and looking at previous posts but nope, some living, breathing, peopleotherthanmyself actually read these words. WEIRD. and cool. 🙂


MUSIC!

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day (in case you were unaware…and if that’s the case you may be in trouble with your mama). For some reason, the past few years I have found a special place in my heart for Mother’s Day. Since I became involved in my church (more on that later) and began singing at our contemporary Mass, the Mother’s Day celebration has always been one that sticks out in my mind, one that I always look forward to each year. It’s funny, because as I was sitting during Mass this past Sunday I realized that it’s not like there is anything special going on… there is no particular homily or anything that changes. But there is always a blessing at the end of Mass, to bless the mothers in all that they do for those around them. It’s during this part that I have always felt this warmth in my heart. I feel connected to these awesome women somehow. Whether I know them personally or not, I am proud to be in the presence of such strong women who do so much for the world.

It amazes me how fast the weekend flies by sometimes. This weekend was full of moving people around and settling into new places! Exciting times!