Author: Joanna

food//family//faith enjoying life's sweet + savory moments

7 quick takes, take 3

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Woke up late this morning and totally thought it was Saturday. Also, at various times this week I thought it was Tuesday (like on Monday…thought it was Tuesday, yesterday… thought it was Tuesday). Losing my brain much?


–1–

Happy teacher appreciation week to all my fellow teaching people out there! I received a lot of gifts from several students all week long and I’m not going to lie, it was awesome. I’m still in my new teacher state of mind where I feel really undeserving of all the gifts I receive from my kids and their parents. I really hope that that feeling never fades. 

–2–
Wedding news! Bridesmaids shoes and my wedding shoes have been found! Just in time too because apparently my dress is shipping either Friday or Monday. WEIRD RIGHT?! I had a lovely little shopping trip with my sister last night where we were lucky to find both shoes. I am super relieved to have that done and am hoping that everyone likes the choice we made. It honestly didn’t hit me until I came home that these are the shoes I’ll be wearing on my WEDDING DAY. 85 days, people. Eighty. Five. Days. Also, going to look at and hopefully pick out invitations this weekend!!!! Whoop!  

–3–

Saw this video about a week ago on another blog. STILL making me laugh. Mainly because I think about myself and how many times this has awkwardly happened to me. Especially in college. Even sometimes at work now with kids. I think a kid in the hallway will be talking to me and really they are talking to someone half my size hiding behind me. I have to admit, it’s more embarrassing when it involves kids. 😉 

–4–

This weekend, next week, and the week after are going to be full of moving! Two of my dearest friends are moving into our apartment complex this weekend and my sister is moving to one around the corner. Then I’m helping a handsome bearded guy move into OUR new apartment in a couple of weeks, where I will be joining him in August! Weeeeeeeeeeeee! Getting nervous, excited, and happy for some change and new things to look forward to! 

–5–


New blog find! Really digging this girl and her inspirational words and posts. I especially liked one of her posts this week and plan on writing a short reflection about it on here. Check her out! 

–6–


So…Pinterest. Can we talk about this for a minute? I love Pinterest and all that it is about. It gives me ideas I honestly could not think of on my own and overloads me with wonderful amount of information. That’s just it though…SO MUCH ADORABLE CUTENESS ALL THE TIME. It gets to be a lot. I want to do cute pinterest-y things but I look at it and I think to myself, holy cow. I want to PIN ALL OF THE THINGS and DO all of the things! Also, I love it when I get on a fitness pinning kick and pin all of this fitness-y motivational stuff…whilst eating cookies and popcorn on my couch…

–7–
Phone dumpage! Woot woot. 
(1. teacher appreciation gift card day…$56 starbucks dollars WILL be put to good use 2. teacher appreciation BOOK day, loving new books in my library 3. cute note from a student 4. classy cinco picture with the prehusband 5. cinco de bulldog! 6. wedding presents!!! 7. footerfly! 8. stock the teacher’s lounge day…my fave part was the honey packets.) 
If you can figure out the way I listed the descriptions of those picture I will give you one of those honey packets as a prize!


Happy weekend! Want some nice musics? Click here. 
Also, go check out the 7 Quick Takes guest host’s blog here! 

blog name

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I have wanted to blog for quite some time now and one of the things that has held me back has been thinking of a cute, funny, witty blog name. This is something that my brain would obsess over to the point that I would become discouraged and the desire to blog would disappear. 


I was told by one of my favorite bearded people to just start. Just start writing, title the blog “in progress” and when a name comes to me it will be perfect and wonderful and I can change it. Yesterday I was sucked back into the blog-naming-vortex-of-doom. All I could think about was finally slapping a title on this blog that would sum me and the purpose of this blog up in a few cleverly crafted adorable words. 

Guess what?

I still have no idea what I want to name this blog. 

I look at other blogs and wonder what moment of ultimate naming clarity struck them. What helped THEM think of an awesome name that summed up their entire blog-being in 5 words or less? 

What’s wrong with my brain?

I think the problem is that I’m still trying to figure out what I want from this space and what my intentions are for it. 

And I think I’m ok with that, and it being unnamed for a wee bit longer. 

Maybe. 


(photo cred here)

happiness

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“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” -Gerald Way



I found this quote earlier today and I’m really trying to hold onto the words and how they apply to my life right now. I feel like this is something I have always struggled with, and probably always will. It’s so hard to look past making others happy. To look past an obsession of making the situation surrounding you a type of perfection that can’t exist on Earth. To accept that things are the way they are, and to be content with all that you have done and the person you are trying to become. To realize that at the end of the day it is ok to make mistakes as long as you can look yourself in the mirror and think, “I did all I could do today to be a good person, to love those around me to the fullest and that is all I could humanly do.” 


Happy Monday




(photo cred goes to my wonderful friend Adrienne who took this picture for part of an art project in college)

7 quick takes, take 2

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Here we go again, seven quick takes from this (seriously, unexpectedly long and a wee-bit-tiring) week!

–1–
As stated previously, this week was LONG and more tiring that expected. I was kind of hoping for a more relaxed week but life happens as does overbooking oneself (which I am especially good at). This girl needs a nap and some time not doing anything. Now if only I could tell myself that when faced with the decision to commit to yet ANOTHER activity. 

–2–

May is going to be awesome. As stated by the 23 reasons found here. (just warning to be P.C., some of it may be slightly inapprops. only slightly) 

–3–
Teacher appreciation week is next week! Totally wanting one of these little pretties from Vera Bradley. 

–4–


Today is May 4th, Star Wars day AND  the day that marks 3 months until married times! I think this is completely appropriate considering the bearded nerdiness that I am engaged to marry. 🙂 

–5–
You know when you have those moments where you suddenly realize just how fortunate and blessed you really are? I had one of those this morning while driving to work. Love those. It’s been a week of complaints unfortunately (both voiced and unvoiced). Complaining how long the week is, complaining how tired I am, complaining about money, complaining about everything. But for some reason I was able to reach some clarity today (maybe it’s a Friday thing;) and realize that I still have food in my belly, a warm bed, and way too many clothes. 

–6–
Here’s a link to a blog I am currently reading. I love this couple and how much they love to teach people about love. They have an interesting story and reading their beautiful words often puts me in a better mood. 

–7–

Picture dumping times! (1. 3 months! I know I’m annoying! 2. Did not realize that so many of the mini wines existed or that they were in such high demand! 3. Suuuper excited about bridaly things starting 4. MAY! 5. handsome 6. Go rangers!)

May

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Seriously? When did this happen? Only 22 days until the last day of school and my last day of being a first year teacher. That is CRAZY. 

5 Things I’m hoping for this month: 

-To use my down time wisely by spending it with people I haven’t seen in a while or relaxing. 
-Working out consistently and eating better.
-Organizing myself. 
-Journaling more consistently (5/7 days a week? maybe?) 
-Finding something to be positive about and thankful for everyday. (especially on days where I feel like there absolutely nothing to be happycheerywonderful about)


Happy MAY!

true life: my weekend

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What a beautiful weekend! Busy and beautiful, my favorite. This weekend we celebrated the marriage of two of our close friends. It was such a fun time and a BEAUTIFUL ceremony. Seriously still dreaming about it. It was gorgeous. We were actually a part of the wedding and sang a cover of “First Day of my Life” by Bright Eyes…maybe if I get the courage I’ll post it up here. 😉 



Friday: rehearsal times. Rehearsed all wedding-y things and then had yummy burgers and pitchers of beer at the Stonleigh P. Seriously fun rehearsal and super heart felt. I love these two so much. They are such a wonderful couple and really thought of every.little.thing when it came to making their friends and family feel special during THEIR big day/celebration time. Also, check those red lips! 


Saturday: WEDDING TIME. So fun. I was nervous for about the first half of the wedding. I always am. I have sung in a few weddings before both for friends and hired by strangers and I STILL get nervous. Way more nervous than singing at Mass on Sundays. I mean seriously, selfish as this  may be… I don’t want to be the lone ranger screwing up someone’s biggestdayeveroftheirlife. Got to wear a super sparkle-tastic fancy dress and hang out with a handsome bearded guy all night long… perfection. I enjoyed every aspect of the wedding, like I said they thought of EVERYTHING you could want and I honestly didn’t leave thinking anything but positive, happy, wonderful, lovey thoughts. Got me super psyched for our wedding (in 95 days). 


Sunday: Church things & rangers game with my dad and a couple of friends. It was a beautiful night for some Texas baseball. The game was slow going but it was a nice ending to the already wonderful weekend. I love baseball. 




While this weekend was filled to the brim with great things, here’s to hoping for a much slower week. This girl needs some rest, hardcore.


Happy Tuesday! 

7 quick takes, take 1

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Having done my fair share of reading around the blog world, I have come across a few blogs who like to do this weekly wrap up thing call “7 quick takes.” I like it. It sums up your week and I’m going to try and make it only POSITIVE takes from this week. So here we go… 

–1–
Lets just be completely honest and start this thing off right. I am so glad this week is OVER. We have successfully survived the STAAR test and we can now start the count down to summer (or for me, summer school). My kids (students, not babies) are all pretty worn out from the experience  as is their teacher (ME). 

–2–


Looking forward to my dear teaching partner’s WEDDING this weekend! We are close to her and her to-be-husband and I am so excited to be a part of their celebration and see her all dressed up in wedding-ness. Although, I am nervous because we are singing at her wedding and I always have this fear when I am asked to sing at a wedding that I am going to either A) forget the words or B) sing the wrong notes. Here’s to hoping it all goes well! She is getting married at the Stoneleigh. I’m pumped. (Photo cred here)

–3–



So today marks 99 days until I am getting married. WEIRD. Yesterday it was suggested that I make a paper chain for my handsomely bearded fiance, and then challenged that I needed to take pictures or it didn’t happen. Oh it happened. Big time. 

–4–

Spent our library time today looking at the Guinness Book of World Records with some of my students today. Most entertaining thing of.my.life.

–5–


Currently reading this book right now. I was introduced to this story when I stumbled upon this blog and saw that he was coming out with a book. It has been such a wonderful read so far and I am really looking forward to school slowing down and summer coming so I can finish it. Matt Logelin is such a wonderful, hilarious, real writer. Seriously, read his blog and book. So good. 

–6–

Can I just say how HAPPY I am that Saturday School is over? Thankful for bit of extra money but even more thankful for my Saturday mornings back. Yoga here I come.

–7–

Phone dump! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week. Here’s to hoping for an even lovelier weekend! 

true life: my weekend

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Weekends have been especially crazy the past month or so and I keep hoping for them to slow down but I secretly know that that’s not going to happen.


Friday: Celebrated 5 years of not being in high school by having dinner + drinks with my best bud and seeing our old drill team’s spring show. It was one of those nights that was filled with only the fond flashbacks of our high school days. Of course after thinking of said fond memories there was that little part of me that wanted to go back and relive it…then the show ended and I quickly came back to reality, realizing that my life now is WAY better than it was then.


Saturday: Finished up working Saturday School (HOORAYHOORAYHOORAY!!!) for the year and then preceded to do a whole bunch of boring normal people things before getting ready to head out for my dear teaching partner’s bachelorette party! I was really excited about this whole evening until my tummy decided to hate life and make me turn in the towel early. Disappointment all around. Making up for this night WILL be happening sometime in the near future. Do you see that delicious drink up there? It was not thoroughly enjoyed enough.


Sunday: Felt MUCH better than the day before. Whatever death-tummy-wrenching-I-hate-you-body sickness I had was pretty much gone and I was able to consume regular human foods and have a relatively wonderful Sunday. It pretty much consisted of working on wedding things with the (handsomest) beard, singing at Mass, and then hanging out with the teens of our youth group during Lifenight that night. 


Sorry for the lack of posting this week and the tardiness of THIS post! (This is me thinking people actually read this blog besides myself…) We just finished up STAAR testing this week and are now back to our regular scheduled life programming!