Weekend Fun

This weekend has been a lot of fun. Dayna and I shopped a lot, went to finalize which apartment we wanted at the complex we're moving to, and began looking at some furniture for our new place. We're not moving until the end of June, but we're just looking at the prices of some things to find the best deal. We really enjoy being roommates and because we're such close friends, we don't mind being honest with the other about what we like and don't like and it works well. We plan on being roommates until husbands come along or if I move out of state for graduate school. Anyway...here is a rundown of our weekend, in sequential order of course.

Friday at school was "Hats Off to Reading" Day! We celebrated by participating in reading activities-all day long! Teachers were encouraged to wear wild and crazy hats, but I don't put myself in the "wild and crazy" category, so I went with a more trendy/not-so-wild kind of hat, and I received a lot of compliments! Here is our class celebrating the day-I'm in the top left; I know I blend in! I'm told that all too often! Ha!


Here is our classroom door. I made book cut-outs and wrote different quotes on them pertaining to reading. During the day, I had students write what they enjoy about reading on their own book cut-out.


And then here is a picture of my classroom. I took this so that I can show my mom what my classroom looks like. She's a teacher too, and so she wants to see what her daughter's first classroom looks like! I have a huge classroom!


Friday night, Dayna and I had planned on going out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant, but to our disappointment this particular place that Dayna wanted to go to is only open from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. What kind of place, in this economy, can keep their business going when they're open for less than 3 hours a day? Seems rather pointless to me, but apparently not to them! We decided on Olive Garden instead and it was delicious! The waitress we had was a girl probably a few years younger than us and you could totally tell it was like her first night or pretty close to it. She was very nice and friendly, but there were so many awkward moments...where you could just tell she was thinking in her head, "Ok, what am I supposed to say now?" Haha-it was just really obvious. But we were totally patient with her and just went along with it. She'll be a great waitress in time. :)

Saturday was a beautiful day! It was warm, but not too warm, and the sun was shining! We went and laid out by the pool for about an hour and I have a pretty decent sunburn from just one hour. Shows that I haven't been in the sun since October. Ha!

We wanted to go in the sun again today after church, but when we were leaving for church we noticed it was overcast and it was still like that when we got out of church. So we canceled those plans and then I took a nap in the afternoon and slept through some of a storm but then it rained pretty hard for the next few hours! I love naps on Sunday afternoons. :)

Back to Saturday! After the pool, we had our Olive Garden leftovers for lunch and then got cleaned up and went over to Lakeland to get some of the Old Navy cardigans on sale for $15! Here are the two I got:



I'm typically not a huge fan of baby blue on me, but I thought the detail with the beading was pretty and it'll match well with some black dress pants I have. I'm all about building my professional wardrobe nowadays! Translated: Any excuse to shop! :)

We also went to Target. I have a few gift cards to Target and I want to add them together to buy some nice decorative things for my apartment so I just wanted to look around and see what there was. I got some ideas. I also got a shirt there on clearance for $7. Remember that professional wardrobe I'm building? Ha!


Now that summer season is basically here (well, Florida spring usually just means early summer)I decided that I needed a beach towel considering I don't have one of my own! I found this fun colored one at Target. I just love Target (and shopping)!


I also found some of my favorite Easter candy at Target that I've been unable to find until yesterday. So, I bought it too. :)

These are Hershey's Coconut Creme Kisses and they are delish!! They were the favors at my friend Tressie's wedding a few summers ago and I fell in love with them!

Cracker Barrel was our dinner and it's always so good! I always order the grilled chicken tenders with macaroni and cheese off of the kids menu with biscuits too, and my meal is always under $5! Yum!

Today, Sunday was started with a wonderful church service. I really felt the presence of God and just really enjoyed being there. Our pastor challenged us to think about one thing we have that God wants. I'll be thinking of that one thing this week and will surrender it to Him. This week is 'Holy Week' and what a powerful week it is! It is the week that changed us forever! I'll be going to my parent's house on Wednesday to enjoy some Spring Break in Sarasota and Easter with my family.

I bought a frame today at Walmart to frame my diploma. Here's what it looks like.


This weekend was so much fun! Tomorrow Dayna and I are planning on going to some outlet malls near Orlando and also go to Downtown Disney. I'M SO GLAD SPRING BREAK IS HERE!!!

Spring Break Eve

It is the night before Spring Break begins!!! I am so ready for this much needed break and I know all teachers are feeling this way! We've had a good week. My class is improving, slowly but surely. I hope the break doesn't go by too fast, which in all reality, I know that it will. I do think that this break will refresh me to finish out the rest of the school year strong for my students-and hopefully it does the same for them (wishful thinking, perhaps?) I do not have any major plans for this Spring Break-but next year, you can bet I will be traveling! I'll be going to Sarasota to visit and spend Easter with my family. Dayna will also come to Sarasota one night to see my sister Keleigh's circus show. It's become tradition. Hopefully, if the weather is nice, I'll be able to spend some time at this beautiful beach soaking up some sun...but with the weather this winter, who knows if I'll be visiting this place in a bathing suit. :)


Siesta Key, FL.

Today after work I went and placed a deposit at the new apartments Dayna and I are moving to when our lease is up at our current apartment. We looked at it a few weeks ago and really liked the atmosphere of the complex and the floorplans suited what we were looking for. You can visit the apartment complex's website here. We're looking forward to the move. The place we are at now has been fine to get us through college, but we feel that as hard-working women, we deserve to live in luxury! Haha, just kidding.

Well, I have plenty of papers to grade since there was a substitute in my class today because 5th grade teachers were in all day planning. So, I'll write some more substantial blog posts during my break. But before I go, I want to leave you with some pictures of me and my class at field day this past Tuesday. It was so much fun!!! The only thing I didn't like is that wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a hat to work on a Tuesday made me feel like it was Friday----for the whole week! Anyway-here we are! (Oh and P.S., I know my height and stature lends me to blend in with my students, but I'm the one in the white hat, sweatshirt and jeans!)


"The girls"


Ms. Kaliher with "The boys"


Ms. Kaliher participating in the limbo line


Our class (2 students absent)

Field Day was absolutely freezing. Fourth week in March. Supposedly Spring. And it was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g. I would have layered had I known it was going to be so cold. Of course the kids could have cared less what the temperature was-they had a ball!

That's all for now. Spring Break-I'll see you tomorrow!!!

Not Me Monday!

A popular blog I follow, MckMama, posts a "Not Me Monday" every Monday about things she would certainly never dream of doing, or be found guilty doing. All sarcastically, of course. Enjoy my version of "Not Me Monday!"

As I was working with a small group of students at the back table in my classroom, while noticing some other students at their desks who were off task, I certainly did not raise my voice and demand that students follow directions the first time. I definitely did not shout, "First grade behavior, fifth grade classroom!!" Not me!

At lunch, I of course did not only eat a cheesestick, Trefoil girl scout cookies, cheezitz and pretzels all because I didn't have anything better to bring due to not grocery shopping this weekend. Nope, not me. I eat healthier than that. (Ha ha!)
To top that off, I definitely did not run thru the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru after I got off of work late. Not me...remember? I'm healthier than that!

In the checkout line at Publix on the way home from work, I definitely, most certainly, did not roll my eyes at the woman who was texting on her phone the whole time, and then decided finally she didn't want the cupcakes the cashier had just rung up. Me, roll my eyes? Never! Not me!

Finally, I wouldn't dream of coming home after an unhealthy day of eating and then make Rice Krispie treats. Not me. Too unhealthy. Oh and snacking on popcorn...definitely not my kind of diet! Nope, not me!

If you'd like to join in on the fun-hop on over to MckMama and follow her rules for playing!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Little holidays like today make it fun for teachers. Because today was our last day of testing-the schedule has been a bit off, so I read my students some fun facts about St. Patrick's Day, they did a word scramble, and then they wrote a St. Patrick's Day story-gotta grade those tonight. Anyway....testing is over, huge relief for teachers, and I suppose for the students, too! :)

I don't have much to blog about today, so I'm just going to answer some questions as part of a "blog parade." Enjoy!

1. What's your favorite time of the day, and why?
I love the night. I love to stay up late and love even more to sleep in!

2. If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?
Chocolate, Ice cream, Boiled Peanuts, and Chick-Fil-A

3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?
To end child abuse. I'm so serious.

4. What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?
Well, Dayna is constantly teasing me if/when I trip. She thinks it's hilarious and she claims it happens often. Ha!

5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?
To spend my life in? That's intense! Um....I really have absolutely no idea on this one. I've never been big into movies and TV-so it's hard to choose someone I would "be," I'm pretty content being myself!

6. If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?
To play the piano or guitar.

7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?

I would like to visit a lot of places such as: Italy, Egypt, Australia, Hawaii and Alaska. Oh, and Fiji looks relaxing, too!

8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?

I think I sing best when I sing worship songs because they have true meaning in my life!

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?

Oh my gosh. $10,000? Hmmm. Well, being new to the apartment life, and having a place of my own (well, I share it with my best friend&roommate) but I think I would want to spend that amount of money at like a home-goods store where I could buy nice things to decorate my home with! That's just what I'm into right now. So maybe Bed, Bath & Beyond...or even Target because they have just about everything. Too bad this is a "what-if!" Haha!

10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?
I always thought it would be fun to live during the times of the movie Grease-everything seemed so carefree back then!

11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?
Brown. Definitely brown. It's my signature color. ;)

12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?
I'd say Happy!


13. What's the last album you listened to?
Selah, I think.


14. What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?
In college, the grade I wanted to teach the least was 5th. But, I love, love, love teaching 5th grade now!


Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!

Realization

I've come to the realization that I needed a more Spring-ish looking background for my blog...so here it is! I love these three colors together, so welcome to the "new look" at Tales of a 20-something!

Ok, so that's not really the reason this post is entitled "Realization." Lately, I've come to the realization that I'm living in the "real world" now. Finally. Is it really here? I know there will be days, as there may have already been if I can be honest, that I will wish to go back to the college life, or perhaps days even before that. What it would be like to be in the place of my students, sitting in 5th grade again...still living so young and carefree? What would it be like to be in high-school again, just having fun at the Friday night football games, and living in the drama that consumes most teenagers' lives? What would it be like to be a college freshman again, living in a dorm for the first time and doing the most random things ever just because you're a college student and can get away with it? Oh...the memories! However, I find myself completely content at this stage in life. Happy to finally be in the real world. Earning a salary. Having a "day job." Having a classroom and students to call my "own." I've worked hard to earn this new reality that I call my life. And I love it.

I may not be married, or have children, yet-but I'm content. I'm as single as they come (right now), and I'm okay with that. God provided me with a job before I officially had my degree-I have total faith He will bring a guy into my life that will one day become my husband...in His perfect time. I don't need to worry. I need to be content, and I am. I used to think I'd be the young 20-something that was a newlywed...but at this rate, chances are, I'll be over 25 before I walk down the aisle, and again, I'm okay with that. (Because 25 is still young, can I get an Amen?) God plans different paths for each of our lives, and I'm thankful He has a custom-made plan for me, too. I believe that someday when I am married, I'll see how this time of "singleness" was part of God's perfect plan for my life.

I'm so thankful to have a feeling of contentment in my life, and my prayer is that I will always (or most always-I'm human!) carry this feeling of contentment deep inside my heart.

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10

Spring Forward!

It's that time of year again to turn our clocks ahead one hour to welcome the season of Spring!


I must admit(although I love winter)that I'm ready for spring to be here. Normally, Florida winters are extremely mild, but this winter has been different than the norm! It's been a cold few months here lately, and believe it or not, I'm ready for Spring. I like when it stays lighter longer...and it means summer is close! I just like this time of year. But, I never like losing an hour of sleep. Who does?

This weekend has been low-key so far. FCAT testing is an exhausting week, and I'm not sure why considering teachers aren't taking the test and really, the students should be the ones exhausted (which I'm sure they are!) but all of the teachers are just as exhausted! I think it must be walking on our feet during the whole testing time and doing nothing but circulating the classroom until time is called. Up one row of desks, down the next...over and over and over again! Thankfully, there are only two more days of testing this week and then it's over for this school year! Our school sure is anxious to see our improvements!

Last night Dayna and I went to good 'ole Frostbite in Frostproof. Great little restaurant for a quick dinner! Today, I slept in for a good while, got up, ate some waffles, and then went back to sleep for another hour and a half. Lazy? Some would say. But...what did I really need to be awake for today? Grading papers could surely wait! I had planned on creating a unit for my students to learn about the Census since 2010 is a census year and there are a lot of fun things we could do with that in 5th grade...but that will take motivation to do. Maybe tomorrow!

Today Dayna and I went to the Lake Wales lake and "explored." Today was a beautiful day here in Florida! We saw a gator...I think they're so intriguing! Then we went to Big Lots to look around...we truly are living the life in Lake Wales, FL! Ha! Then we went to KFC for dinner. I ate more biscuits than I should have. ;)

I really do need to get some school stuff done this weekend, so hopefully that will be done tomorrow. I need a productive day, but I also needed a day like today...a day to chill!

Pauline...

...is the name of the 7 year-old Kenyan girl I'm now sponsoring through Compassion. Compassion is a Christian based organization that exists to help children living in poverty in various countries throughout the world. Through the monthly $38 Compassion sponsors pay, these children are given educational opportunities, health care, social skills training, and opportunities to hear about the good news of Jesus...that they would not have had otherwise. I'm a follower of MckMama and she and her husband are currently on a missions trip in Kenya, blogging about their trip with Compassion. Jennifer is posting many powerful pictures that speak for themselves. In just this week alone while she and her husband have been in Kenya, they have led 398 people to become sponsors of children who live daily in conditions we would consider unsafe, unhealthy and just plain awful. I think that number, 398, is amazing. A week ago, 398 children were without sponsors, but thanks to MckMama's firsthand witness and the tug on many hearts, almost 400 children have just been given some amazing opportunities.

It was hard choosing one child to sponsor, as there were so many of them waiting for sponsors. I chose a 7 year-old girl named Pauline who is one of six children. She attends church activities and sings in the choir-two things that I was very much a part of in my childhood. I only know basic information about her now, but in a few weeks, I'll receive a packet in the mail with her picture and some more detailed information about her. I can't wait to "meet" her! I'll be able to tell her who I am too, after receiving that packet. I am so excited to have made this decision; I'm glad to know I'm helping a child in another continent have exposure to education, healthcare and the knowledge of Jesus and his saving grace!

I encourage you to stop by MckMama's blog and see for yourself just what her trip has been like in Kenya. People she's met, things she's seen, and most of all, how it's changed her perspective dramatically. She currently has 4 children and is pregnant with another. Her and her husband sponsor a young girl in Kenya, but during this trip they have made the decision to sponsor four more children- one Compassion child to sponsor for each of their biological children. Wow. Such an inspiration, right?

I'm not rich by any means...in fact, I'm a recent college graduate and have many bills to pay. But $38 dollars a month is something I know I can give up for a good cause, such as Compassion. I want to do it. I believe in the purpose of this organization, and I know my money is being spent directly to help Pauline. God calls us to be servants, and although I'm not directly, face-to-face serving Pauline, I believe she will be helped with my monthly donation.

If you feel led to sponsor a child in a poverty-stricken country, please visit here. You can browse by country, gender, and age of the child.

Thank you, God, for the opportunity to serve one of your children. My prayer is that Pauline will come to know you and in return, serve as many she can with the gifts you have given her.