So Thankful that I’m Stuffed {an excuse to show off my wedding pics!}

Happy Sunday!

I’m spending mine surrounded by pumpkin spice candles {literally, I have 5 lit right now}, and hammering away on a TpT unit or three.

I’m joining the thankful party over at “A Year of Many Firsts” with lots of other fabulous ladies {and a gentleman or two} who have lots to be thankful for.


Just like me.

Oh, and PS, I'm using this as a way to show off some of wedding pics that have finally arrived!

1} I am so, so, so thankful for my husband. 



Can you believe he actually listens when I tell him about Linky Parties and my TpT sales?  He is loving, loyal, dedicated, funny {so funny!}, hard-working, generous, a good dancer, and just so much fun to be around.  Oh, and he’s handsome too.



2} I am thankful for my mom.



I am thankful for my whole family, don’t get me wrong.  But my mom has become one of my very best friends.  She is the most supportive person in my whole life, she always knows the right thing to say, she is kind, she is artistic and creative, sensitive, beautiful, and the absolute best mom ever.  She is such a role model for the kind of mom I hope to be someday.

3} I am thankful for Georgie



You’re either an animal person, or you’re not, and I so definitely am.  I love all the pets furry family members I’ve had in my life, but Georgie is on another level.  She is the sweetest thing I have ever met.  Every.single.person that comes across her path falls in love with her.  She brings so much joy to our little home.

4} I am thankful for my friends



I know, I know. “How big is your wedding party?!?!,” is what you’re thinking right now.  But truth be told, I couldn’t be happier to “have” to include so many awesome ladies in my big day.  I was born and raised in Ohio, and I have friends as far back and 3rd grade {longer when you include my cousin Louise} that I still consider dear, dear friends of mine.  And lucky me, when I moved to NJ, I formed such special bonds with my friends here.  My friends are at so many different points in their lives {some are mommies, some are career ladies, some are living the single life and LOVING it!}, and they are spread out throughout the whole country .  They all bring a different “specialness” to life.  And they are all a RIOT!  Seriously. Love you all!

Bonus Picture: I had to show off these adorable robes!  That’s my younger {much taller} sister on the right!

4} I am thankful for my grade partners

Boo. Hiss. I’m not in this picture, but they both look so cute here, I had to share it.  Our relationship goes beyond a working one, they truly are two of my best friends.  Let’s face it: teaching can be TOUGH these days.  They keep me sane.  And they both make me laugh. A LOT!

5} I am thankful that I am fortunate.

Dave & I in Lake Tahoe…so, so, so beautiful!

I am thankful that I am fortunate to be healthy, to have enough money to do many of the things I want to in life, to be surrounded by good people who love me so much, to have a job that fits me to a T, and so many other things.  I recently started a gratitude journal.  I write down three things I am thankful for each night before I go to bed.  It is so easy to get caught up in the stress of everyday life, and to think about all the things we want, but can’t have.  In reality, I am a lucky, lucky, girl.  And I want to remember that.

6} I am thankful for cheeseburgers.

This cheeseburger was one of my top 5…Yountville, CA 2012 :)

I’m fully aware that cheeseburgers aren’t on the same level as everything I’ve listed above, but seriously they’re so darn good. {Need cheeseburger recommendations in Philadelphia, South Jersey, SC, CA, NV, or OH?  Email me!}  I am also thankful for coffee, leggings and big sweaters {please stay in style forever!!!}, my computer, Teachers Pay Teachers, Parenthood {the TV show}, my students, My Mac {who’s cuddling me despite the fact he didn’t get s singular shout out like Georgie did}, good wine, and beautiful scenery.

And about a million other things.

I leave  you with my fireplace mantle, and a deep thought ;)

Now go be thankful, friends!

~Halle

Baltimore Here We Come, and a {FREE} Book Log!!!

Hello there!


I'm getting ready to head to Baltimore for my Bachelorette Party, and I am so excited because it means seeing my "Ohio Bridesmaids". (Quick Back Story: I'm from Ohio originally, and many of my nearest and dearest still live there).  We're gonna lay low Friday night, then go all out on Saturday, including a Pirate Grog Cruise (read: Pirate Booze Cruise)...I mean how cool is that!!!????


As a thank you for making the trip (even my Jersey girls are looking at a 2+ hour drive, and that won't be much fun come Sunday morning...), I put together a little "Morning After Kit" to help them with their hangovers. 


(Yes, I realize none of this is educational, but it's summer!)

Not so good picture

Here's what I included:
-face wipes
-mouthwash
-Emergen-C
-Pill Box with Motrin
-a mini-bottle of vodka (You know, bite the dog that bit ya!)


And how cute are those containers?!??


So tomorrow it's Baltimore or Bust!


And since you read through all of that I am rewarding you!  My mom tutors, and asked me to make a book log for her student.  I thought since I already made it, I might as well share it.  You can get it from our TpT shop for fa-ree!   There's a boy, girl, and neutral version :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!


-Halle

Where, Oh Where, Have We Been?

Hello?


Remember us?


We might not be surprised if you didn't.  It's not a new blog that showed up in your blog roll, it's just us, after a much needed vacation!


So, where have we been?  We've said it before, but this year has been very overwhelming for both of us.  Along with new administration came lots of change {not all of it bad, at all...but still.. change!!!! lots of it}.  The change took the wind out of our sails, and the little energy we had went to our students, our classrooms, and all of that end of the year goodness.


Jenna was maid-of-honor to her best friend the very weekend we got out of school, before that she was planning and executing a shower and a bachelorette party {both a distance from her home}, as well as working a 2nd job.  She's been a busy, busy, bee, and her summer shows no signs of slowing down.


Me? Well, I'm just planning a wedding...no big deal.  The first week in June, I was incredibly spoiled by my fabulous coworkers, with an adorable after-school shower, spoiled by my little munchkins {and Dave} for my birthday, and then the frosting on the cake: my bridal shower was thrown for me by my wonderfully creative mom and generous and lovely bridesmaids.


Whew.  That paragraph used a lot of adjectives.


But it was all so wonderful.  I loved every single second of all that good stuff, just for me!  It only happens once, right?  I vowed a long time ago to take it all in, and appreciate it, and I really, really, really did {and still do!}


Here are a few pictures of my {perfect} shower.

See what I mean?  Shabby-chic, girly, pink, vintage-y, garden-y, romantic, perfection.

I realize that this is not teacher-related in the least.  But, this is what I've been doing, and wedding planning has definitely been the focus of my attention lately. We are at just over a month.

I will be back soon with school stuff as well.  Our new administration is allowing us in over the summer to work on our classrooms {see, not all change is bad}.  And since I'm in a new room, {again!}, I am thankful for that, and yes, anxious to get started!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!

-Halle