A Very Glitz Easter

Indeed, my arts and crafts motto.  

Also, apparently my Easter motto:

Egg Dying Day #1 at Loverboy's 

Gold Eggs, anyone? 

Egg Dying Day #2 at my Momma's

By the way, my eggs were never hidden. Things this beautiful need to be visible at all times ;)

Loverboy got a Glitter-Egg in his basket too :) 

Now the question is, how long until the next holiday I can get a little glitter-happy??

Leap Year means Pollen-Free Candy

If you were curious as to why there are 29 days this month, you should probably go ask my students. (I cleared up their misconception that February 29^th is the day the world ends, so it’s probably safe to ask them.)

Mr. Knowitall marched into the classroom early this morning already giving a detailed explanation about the exact number of days (to the nearest billionth) it takes the Earth to orbit the sun. Because our calendar year is typically 365 days, he explained, we need to have 366 days in a year every four years in order to balance the gap that is created between our months and our seasons. Without February 29^th, our seasons would be all mixed up.  And that’s not good.

“For example, if Halloween was in spring, pollen would get all over our candy.” –Mr. Knowitall

And that, my friends, would be tragic.  Thank the Lord for Leap Year. 

Enjoy your February 29^th loves, for it only comes but once every four years.  :) 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love being a teacher on holidays. Especially holidays that can be incorporated into a grammar lesson. 

Like Valentine's Day.  I'd be lying to myself if I didn't say the best part about Valentine's Day is identifying "Valentine's" as a singular possessive noun. 

Coming in close second in all things great about Cupid's Holiday are all the ways we remind the people we love exactly that.

And if you tell me that face isn't the sign of total adoration, I have been celebrating Valentine's Day completely wrong for the past five years....

(ha. just kidding. I swear he loves me...)

Seriously, though.

My momma is always thinking of me. Thanks to her, I have sweet new "jewels" (as my preschoolers would say) to wear to school on V-Day. Plus, some pretty sweet heart socks (who doesn't love corny holiday themed socks?) and a delicious mini heart box of chocolates that, I can assure you, will be gone by the end of the day. 

Hollywood Elementary sent all the teachers heart shaped "suckers" :-)

My handsome, handsome Loverboy sent me the most beautiful note to accompany a brand new MK scent. Even more perfect? It's called "Very Hollywood." I foresee this box doubling as a container for Post-Its or paperclips sometime in the near future. 

I'm looking forward to sharing with you all the drama that will certainly follow a group of hormonal sixth graders after a day of celebrating Valentine's Day. And I look even more forward to Friday when Loverboy comes down to MD for a belated Valentine's Day celebration. Yay! 

Enjoy this day and make sure you tell anyone you love, that you do.

Also make sure you say ValentiNe's with an "n" and not an "m."

And don't forget that apostrophe - it's possessive, not plural! ;) 

XOXOXO 

PS - My best Valentine's gift ever? That's a toughie, because C is so, so good at gift giving. However, I've had this hanging in my room for four years because I am so impressed that a 17 year old boy could make something so crafty and cute. Loved it! It takes up about a 4 by 3 foot space on the wall above my bed. Still love it, and will be holding on to it for a very long time. 

Is he not the greatest Loverboy, possibly ever?

:) Love you C! xoxox

2011: Best and Worst

Thanks to my good friend Lauren, I have learned the beauty of the "Best and Worst" reflection, the "Rose and Thorn" of your day, if you will.  Aside from filling voids in dinner conversation, asking others to state their "best and worst" can also apply to an entire year in review.  C had to be expecting it when I rolled over this morning and spoke those three words for which he never yields a good answer. "I don't know Magg" was all I got, which I accepted with the knowledge that he still had fourteen hours to come up with a response.

Then I got to thinking about my own Best and Worst of 2011.  It was in that moment that I realized I am absolutely, one hundred percent, whole-heartedly ready for the start of a new year.  I am almost shamed to admit it, but reflecting upon my year, it was easier to come up with multiple competitors for "worsts" of the year than "bests." 

I would like to think of myself as a typically optimistic person, and I really am trying to view the year in a cup-half-full sort of way. Although my low points of the year are situations that ought not be swept under the rug, I can at least attempt to downplay them by counting my blessings and highlighting my bests.

I took my first road trip with four of my best girlfriends for a relaxing and memorable Spring Break. 

 In April, my Relay for Life team exceeded our fundraising goal for The American Cancer Society. It was the most money I raised for this (my favorite cause) to date. 

Hands down, the first two weeks of June were of the most fun in my twenty-one and a half years.  Celebrating my 21st birthday in Atlantic City with my best friends, and then in Cape May with my handsome boyfriend were moments I wouldn't give up for the world.  

At the end of June I had my first experience as a lead teacher at summer camp with the most adorable children, at the most amazing school I have had the pleasure of teaching at.   

I surprised Loverboy at a football game in Connecticut, which they won, and when the game had ended he jumped over the fence to give me sweaty kiss that made the drive so worth it. 

My student teaching experience began at one of the best elementary schools I could ask for -- preparations for my future career have truly begun! 

I am glad I forced myself to remember these blessings the past year have brought me, because I am now even more excited to see what 2012 has to bring.  Here's to hope that the worsts of our past are resolved, and that the future is brighter than we imagine.  As always, have a happy, healthy, and sparkly new year.

Holiday Spirit

I find it completely disheartening that just as I am getting into the Christmas spirit, it seems Christmas is coming to a mockingly holly jolly end. Especially this year. Did anyone else feel that Christmas snuck (I actually think "sneaked" is more grammatically correct here, but I don't like the way it sounds. oh well) up entirely too quickly this time around?

Once I finally drove home, made my last mad dash to the mall, and finished making a gazillion cookies, I was spirited and ready to celebrate Christmas with everlasting vigor.  The spirit began on Christmas Eve eve, the day my cousin and his fiance invited all of the cousins over to celebrate "Festivus."  All nine of us celebrated Festivus in Billy's one room apartment, playing Just Dance on the wii, competing in (somewhat) friendly rounds of trivia, baking and decorating inappropriate holiday cookies, and of course, laughing with, and at the expense of, each other.

On Christmas Eve we reunited once again, this time at Aunt Georgia's to eat more than a healthy amount of food and exchange gifts.  As always, church followed with a music and candle light service that never ceases to truly prepare me for the beautiful celebration of Christmas.

My sister made us beautiful Christmas themed pretzels! How amazing does that wreath look?!

He loves me, I swear he really does.

More like it :) 

Christmas morning was lovely, of course. My immediate family exchanged gifts before our neighbors came over to exchange more gifts, before Loverboy came over to take me to his family's home for yet more gifts and an incredible dinner.

The face of a very happy, proud owner of a brand new iPhone.
You go Mama!  

:)

I had an incredibly relaxing Christmas day, elated with the love and happiness exuded from those closest to me.  Now, it is New Year's Eve and I have more reflecting to do than leaves me time to write about.  I apologize for the lack of posts lately, my relaxation has taken precedence above all else, but know that I will be back after the new year with updates and pictures and hopefully, as I have resolved to accomplish for 2012, with much more creative writing. 

I hope you all had a merry, merry Christmas, and are anticipating a New Year abound with fun, gratification, and lots and lots of sparkle.

A Wednesday of Pinteresting Proportions.

Pinterest is an addiction like no other I have experienced. It has girls and women of all ages trapping themselves in a time warp of crafts, sparkles and baked goods. When pinning, seconds equate to minutes, minutes instantly turn into hours. I don't know what sort of magical spell the creators of this virtual board have put on the world, but whatever it is, I don't hate it.

I've been a member of Pinterest for quite awhile, but just since the beginning of the semester have I actually taken my pinning seriously thanks to my pin-happy friends, Ashley, Lauren and Kristen.

What better way to spend my Wednesday morning than participate in my first Pinteresting link up?

With the holidays coming up, I thought I'd share some of my Pinterest-inspired holiday wish list. (I don't know how to properly cite these images, but let me just say that they all come from my own board entitled "Someone tell my Boyfriend." hint hint, Christopher ;) )

I would die. 

I LOVE wrap bracelets, and watches. Perfection. 

I die. 

Another iPhone case. BUT this one is ALSO a wristlet. And in my favorite gold signature Michael Kors color. Could life get any better? Well I guess it could, if I had an iPhone first. Pretty please, Santa? 

Yes, I think I need this. 

Anyone else have everything sparkly under the sun on their wish list? 

Weekend Festivities

With the stress of finals week and final project due dates looming over our crammed college heads, I think College Park was in need of a well-deserved festive weekend.  And a festive weekend we had. 

It seemed like everyone and their mothers were out this weekend, dressed fabulously and acting recklessly, all in the name of the last weekend before finals. Glorious. Simply glorious. 

On Friday, Group Fitness had a gathering to celebrate a) Us, because we rock and b) Jason, because it was his birthday. Seriously, nothing is better than when a group of Aerobics Instructors and Personal Trainers get together for a dance party. Love, love, love them. 

Some of us being way too excited to be together

My TripleC Co-Instructor and me -- Just for you, Megan, thanks for reading ;)
OH and Hi Devin in the background!

On Saturday I attempted to do homework all day -- but instead I ended up dancing around in my apartment to Christmas Music, having a longer than expected work-out with Jillie, and playing dress-up in preparation for the evening's merrymaking.  Ohhhhh well. 

Saturday evening was another one of my friend's birthdays, and his roommates planned a Ugly Holiday Sweater Surprise Birthday Party. I love surprises. And I love Holiday Parties. It wouldn't be a traditional end-of-fall-semester weekend without one. And needless to say, we had a blast. Spiked Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Egg Nog were plentiful and spirits were high. We even Christmas Caroled all the way to the bars post-surprise.  Holiday cheer at its finest.  

Jillie spreading Holiday Cheer via fake snow. Priceless. (photo cred: lauren) 

Some of us and the Bday Boy! 

Awkward Family Photo? 

Me and my beautiful bestie Em


By now you may or may not have noticed that I am not wearing an "ugly sweater." Because who wants to wear something ugly for Christmas? Maybe it's just me, but when I think holidays, I think glitter and sparkles. To each his own ;) 

PS - I really just didn't have an "ugly sweater" in my possession this year. I have participated in the past. I am not that much of a diva.  I am broke, though. So I had to make due with what I had!

 I think I made it work...

I hope everyone else had a wonderfully jolly weekend.  

For those of you preparing for finals, I wish you luck and the strength to power through these last few days!

For those of you like me, who are handing in your final projects today, congratulations! Keep celebrating ;)

Sunday Delirium

My favorite day of the week has come upon us again. 

I had a well-deserved weekend of fun with friends, celebrating two birthdays and spreading lots of holiday cheer a la themed party.  ;o) 

Oh yeah and I also worked on my last two assignments of the semester! Ahh! I can't wait until tonight when I can finally say I completed all my work until January. 

For now, I shall take a homework break and sip on some green tea whilst trying to avoid the end-of-semester induced, yet holiday-influenced, delirium that hit me hard yesterday. Proof: 

I guess I was overdue for a break. 

...And now it's back to work.   

Happy Sunday, love bugs!