Best Deal of the Year

So, teaching has many perks. For example, being asked the same silly question over and over again, busting students for wearing nose rings, hearing silly stories about who my girls have "crushes" on in the locker room, and my favorite the perks that save me money. I was recently given the calling to put together my ward's monthly newsletter. Which means I need a word processor I am comfortable using, Microsoft Office. I am no longer a PC user but, I so appreciate the software. To make a long story short I was able to get 2008 Microsoft Office for Mac for about $48. I know, WOW, that is the exact word I thought. It so good to have connections. Happy New Year to all!

Gone Dark!

So, as some of you may know at the beginning of October I colored my hair to like a shade darker than my natural color. Well, I decided I wanted to be darker. I love it! One of my drivers ed. students said I could be a vampire with my dark hair and pale complexion. We had a good laugh about that! Happy Thanksgiving!

New Project

This year for Christmas I thought I would use last Christmas' gift. No, I am not re-gifting! That is sooooooo not my style. I am going to sew my Christmas gifts. They are going be to amazingly fabulous and relaxing. I am so excited! The only snag in my plan is when am I going to have the time to sew.
I guess I thought the more I fell into a "groove", thanks Emperor Kuzco for letting me borrow, the more free time I would have. But, once again drivers ed. has returned to my life much sooner than I had expected. Then there's vacations, holidays, friends, and oh yeah my career enriching the minds of the future leaders of our fine nation. Gee, where does all my time go

Domestic Goddess'

Mel and I started making these aprons in June and we finally finished. I highly recommend Amy Butler's Domestic Goddess apron patterns. It was a great project to learn to sew on. Sewing is so much fun! I think we look fab!

Reading Soundtrack

So, over Fall Break I finally had a chance to start a new book, "My Life in France" by Julie Child. I felt prompted to read this book after seeing the movie Julie and Julia. Which if you have seen it you absolutely must! I won't go into the details of the movie because I am not writing about the movie. I have also felt an affinity to the French culture and this book reaffirmed my desire to visit the world. Anyway in this short memoir Julie shares the adventures of Paul, her husband, and herself in the wonderful land of France. If you decide to read this book may I make some listening suggestions while reading this book.
1. Amelie, the soundtrack to the original motion picture
2.Chocolate, also the soundtrack to the movie
3.Django Reinhart (I think that's how you spell his name)
4. Anything by Ella Fitzgerald
5.Solitude Album by Billie Holiday (one of my favorites)
P.S. If you go to a bookstore to purchase this book it is found in the food commentary section close to the cookbooks! Enjoy!

Dress and Do Your Best!

Well, as my roommate's boyfriend said as I stated I was teaching again, "welcome back to the work force!" In many ways I feel like I never had a vacation. I blinked and now I'm back at school. I really think this year will be pretty awesome. I will have my first experience being a mentor teacher. Yes, that's right I have finally entered the realm of my teaching career where I mentor the educators of the future. I think it is quite thrilling myself. We'll see how it goes, I have no idea what to expect or what to do besides teach her how to teach. I have decided to live by the same philosophy I have for my PE classes, "Dress and Do Your Best!" Most importantly, I'm "never fully dressed without a smile." Hehe. I am convinced from my observations that I teach at one of the best schools in the United States. My administrators are caring, supportive, and give the necessary freedom I need to create a student centered learning environment. Not to mention our faculty are pretty amazing and our students are awesome. I am happy to dress and do my best for myself and my school community! I challenge everyone to try "Dress and Do Your Best", try it for two weeks at least. If you find yourself, humming, smiling, and being more friendly to those around you I guarantee it is working. Let me know what happens!

Good Ol' Washington with a little Canada!

So, for the past two weeks I made my bi-annual trek to my home state of Washington. It was great to be with my family. As many of you know I am aspiring to make sewing a hobby, what be a trip home to the big city without fabric. The Seattle area is a fabric and sewing accessories gold mine. I wish I had the daily access to fabric stores as Seattleites do. I am sew, haha, excited to get sewing. Also, while in Seattle my family rode the Duck. Next, I head to Puyallup. I was able to visit and meet the new babies of the family Troy and Sebastian, they are so cute. I was also able to spend some time with my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. One of the highlights of my trip was visiting my brother, Tyler, and his fiance, Kim, in Olympia.





We went kayaking in Capital Lake and went to Red Robin for dinner; which end-up being free because our food ticket got lost. On Thursday Claudia, my stepmom, and I left on the Victoria Clipper for Victoria, Cananda. I got use my passport! We stayed at the Historic Fairmont Empress. At the hotel restaurant, we ate the best steak I have ever had. Friday, we visited the Historic Butchart Gardens. I have never seen a garden more diversely landscaped it was beautiful. Saturday we went to the Royal BC Museum. They had a touring exhibit entitled Treasures. The exhibit had the Lewis Chessmen that inspired the Wizards Chess pieces in Harry Potter and the Sorcer's Stone. It was a very eventful trip and it is always fun to be with my family.