Birthday Parties and Flower Girls

I've been invited to a birthday party. She's turning 8 and she's seriously fantastic!

Let me tell you something weird about me -my first five years of teaching I mentally chose a flower girl and ring bearer from my students. How weird is that?! I wasn't engaged. (I had a hunky guy in mind.... so I was planning.)

Little Miss Abby stole my heart early. We already went to the same church. She talked about Jesus in class. She witnessed to kids at recess. Held worship services under the tree at the playground. She would come to class and say, "I prayed for you last night." Yep. Heart stolen. Love that kid.

 

 

(These photos feature Abby and one of her besties. That other little cutie is pretty amazing too... Quite the mini-adult and blossoming fashionista. She even makes her own jewelry!)

Well, I called and asked that little sugar's momma if she could be in our wedding. I waited to ask her until the last day of school so it wouldn't be awkward for her in class

 

s you can see....I'm a fan of her. She even sent me a letter right before school started.. I'm so excited and completely honored that she invited me to her 8th birthday party. Now.... I just need to think of what I should get her. Part of me thinks Hello Kitty (because she is an official fan after being in my class) and part of me thinks some sort of books.... Bet I could call and ask her mom. But that'd be way too easy!

Have a delightful day!

Get your fashion on!

 

7 Questions

Linking up with the always fabulous, Gentri Lee

Yep, that's how we roll. Making ridiculous faces. Geez. That's love in it's finest hour....

1. Hamburger or Hotdog? (veggie versions count)
Cheeseburgers are best. Although I do occasionally get a hankering for a tiny, coney type hot dog. .

2. If you had to live on any other planet in our solar system, besides Earth, which would you choose?
After a brief inquiry - I've come to the conclusion I'd prefer to live on Mars as it's most similar to Earth, according to my super smart husband.  Then again, poor Pluto isn't a planet anymore, except in peoples'  hearts. Maybe I'd like to live on Pluto. Wait,....no. It's probably too cold. I just don't want Pluto to feel left out.

3. Share a photo of an outfit that represents your personal style, please. (doesn't have to be of you) Have you followed my Fashionista Bloggerista pinboard on Pinterest yet? If not...you should check it out! I have a quirky style...I just know I dress differently than anyone else I know. I find inspiration all over the place. Fashion is one of my favorite things. I don't know how to describe my style...it's just uniquely me.

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4. Would you rather get ready for the day or get ready for bed?

As much as I love sleeping, I'd much rather get ready for the day ahead. It's fun to pick out my outfit for the day. I like fixing my hair, choosing accessories, the right shoes, etc. 

5. You have to choose between never having eyelashes or never having eyebrows, which would you choose?

Have you seen this picture?! Answer is OBVIOUSLY no eyelashes...

Source: picsauce.com via Catherine on Pinterest

6. What do you want to be when you grow up?

I am a grown up and I am a teacher. But when I'm even MORE grown up, I want to be a mommy. :o) Today one of my students asked, "Do you have a daughter?" and I said, "No ma'am." She seemed pretty disappointed.


7. Do you set your clocks right on time, or a few minutes ahead or behind?

My clock in the bedroom is fast because it runs fast. I didn't set it that way. The clock in my car is behind because it runs slow. The clock in the kitchen is rarely set correctly. The clock in my classroom is a couple minutes fast. And my cell phone is the only thing that keeps me on time!

The day after Hump Day - Thursday

Linking up with Neely and Amber for It's Ok Thursdays....

It's ok...

- to still have questions about Common Core.

- to not know what to do with a Power Half Hour.

- to miss lazy summer. 

- to feel bad that the last thing your students saw was you getting on to them...

- to be sad to have a student move to another school after two days of getting to know them.

- to be exhausted by the 4th day of school.

- to be excited about Fall television.

- to use Google Translator to speak with you English Language Learners

- that I want to figure out how to make memories, teach curriculum, go deeper with understanding, and still love the crap out of all my students.... even if it seems next to impossible

- that my fashion blog turned into a diary of sorts. 

- to think "mini kisses from Santa's elves" is a stupid idea. SANTA DOESN'T BRING HIS ELVES WITH HIM! 

-to feel like this:

Source: someecards.com via Jana on Pinterest

This about sums up my week. 

 

Source: s1099.photobucket.com via Jana on Pinterest

Get your fashion on

 

Seven Querrrrstions!

I need a sense of blog "normalcy". Since this is my blog. I get to do the things I like here. Clothes. Teaching. Husband. Hello Kitty. Pink. Chicken - oh wait, I started just naming stuff I like. Anyway, back to the seven questions......

I'm supposed to start with a funny picture.

Hello. My name is Jana. I'm a drama queen. I'm also a teacher and this is what I look like when I've been grading papers too long.

1. Bold or Understated?
My outfits are pretty bold... and as far a personalities go - I'm probably bold. I think I'm memorable.

2. You have to survive alone in the wild and you only get to take one thing with you. Your choices are: A Pocket Knife, a Water Bottle, or a Book. Which do you choose and why?
Well. I'm screwed. If I have to survive in the wild, my best bet is probably gonna be a pocket knife, but I'm still in deep doo doo. Fo' sho. This girl does not "rough it".

3. Thirty Two Cows, Seven Eight Chickens, How Many Didn't?
Is there an answer for this?
30 - 2 cows
7 - ate chickens?
What? I don't understand. these kind of questions frustrate me. Gentriiiiiii! I shake my fist at you.

4. Would you rather die doing one legendary act of service or do small acts of kindness that may go unnoticed every day?
Small acts of kindness. Isn't that kind of what teaching is about? Small good things over a long period of time? Perhaps it's not as "epic" or "memorable" publicly, but it's super important to be nice. Whoa. Our in-service training this year was about starting a Chain Reaction of Kindness. Check it out...Rachel's Challenge

5. Happiness is ________. (one word; fill in the blank)
Contentedness

6. Can you laugh with out smiling?

7. Do you pop your knuckles?
yes... and I've been informed after a year of being married no less, that I pop my knuckles in my sleep. Yep. I'm weird. 

 Linky Blinky with Gentri Lee!

Soft Touches with The Kissing Hand

Today we talked about the third part of the Magic Triad: Soft Touches. If you're not a teacher or a parent - it could sound like we're using voodoo or some other creepiness. The Magic Triad is part of the Great Expectations program. It's a positive approach to discipline in schools and I really like it!

Okay - the Magic Triad is: smile, kind words, and soft touches. We read the book The Kissing Hand.

Love the sweetness of the story and the special relationship between the mommy and her son.... darling. 

 

I love how even though I showed them how to do it - each little Raccoon has it's own personality. Gotta love first grade sweeties! Seriously, 3 days later and I'm crazy about my kiddos. I want to be the best teacher I can be and make lots of memories and help my kids learn all they need to know. 

Finally... I got around to taking that picture. I LOVE my first grade teammate. She is AMAZING! The very best blessing sent from God. Seriously - she's my teaching soulmate. I don't know how I'd function without her and I hope I never have to find out. It's like we take turns taking care of each other. She remembers stuff that I forget and I think of projects we can do together. We're the perfect match. Plus, outside of teaching, she's a special friend and prayer buddy. Love that!

On a fashionable note - this is one of my FAVORITE shirts I own. I bought it at a thrift store for 50 cents! Can you believe it?! I seriously love to wear it. Black skirt - super dressy. Dark skinny jeans - classic and chic. Definitely a favorite! You bet your sweet bippy I sat in the floor in my black skirt today too! Don't tell me teachers can't dress up... although my makeup left a little to be desired by the time this photo was taken.


Get your fashion on and enjoy life!

My diary screaming out loud

I keep meaning to take a picture. Mental note to self - "Take a picture on the first day of school with teacher next door." Whoopsies! Didn't happen. For now...this old photo will have to do.

Old School Love



New School love is the man behind the camera ...

I keep noticing the fancy jewelry I'm wearing with my too small garage sale tshirt. Gotta love it.

 Tales of a first grade teacher - Day 2: caught a cricket in a cup and let it go outside because my kids were distracted and worried I would kill it. Bravery comes at the strangest times.... This from the same girl who trapped a cricket under a cup when she first moved out.

"Teacher - you're pretty."
"I like your earrings."

It's the second day of school. My nose is runny. I can't breathe out my nose. My throat itches. Yep - - - school's back in session. 


I love first graders. They all want to hold my hand. When I said I am 29 they said, "Whoa - you're older than my mom!!!" Awesome. I'm a dinosaur at 29. lol 


A kid we'll call Poobah - well, his lunchbox was accidentally picked up by a kindergartener. Needless to say, the afternoon was sprinkled with, "When are we gonna get my lunch box? Where is my lunchbox? Who has my lunchbox? Can we go outside now? I need to have my lunchbox!" After the 12th time, it became funny and I could no longer contain the laughter. Poobah also hit a pushed another student today. When asked why, "Because she did it first and my momma told me to hit them back." Lovely. People, help a sister (aka a teacher) out and don't teach your kids to "do it back". They end up being the ones in trouble.

My outfit was weird today because I went with the comfortable shoes. They matched nothing Who cares?! My feet are tired.

Get your fashion on. I'll get around to a picture later...

Teaching on Tuesdays

Little classroom management tools.... to hopefully make my life easier. Plus- gives you a glimpse into my classroom. Got to spend my first full day with my darlings

I've seen several versions of this on Pinterest but I did my own tweaking and came up with this. I think it's pretty cute. 

This is supposed to help those sweeties remember to put their names on their papers... we shall see. 

Get your fashion on...
I need a nap.

Not gone or forgotten....

Much like everyone else in the world - it's back to school time for me. And.... I'm the teacher!

So if you notice a drastic difference in the frequency of my posting for a while.... please don't leave!!! I'm coming back to my bloggy family. It's just that I need to figure out how to balance teaching and blogging. Plus, there are MAJOR changes in my teaching world this year. Okay,.... really, everyone's teaching world. New teacher evaluation formats (TLE - Teacher and Leader Effectiveness) and new national standards.  

A sweet letter from one of my former students, who is now in third grade. 

 

Get your fashion on

Try to take over the world!!!

I'm linking up with Bonnie over at Life of Bon. She says we can pretend we're the Boss of Everything and write about what it'd be like if we really were.

If I were the boss of everything-

aka - If I ran the world

 

Parents would read to their kids from the time they were in the womb until the kids want them stop.

 

Source: beeperbebe.tumblr.com via Jana on Pinterest

People could eat without feeling guilty. Like - eat what you want - candy, carrots, broccoli, smarties, chocolate cake. Whatever. 

Reading would be easy to learn and kids and grownups wouldn't have dyslexia.

No one would ever have acne again.

And while we're at it - you can have whatever color of hair you want. (You can't see it well but I have pink hair here... *Le sigh* the good ole days)

No one would be homeless.

Nothing would ever stink. I hate coming home to an unidentifiable stinkle.

People would love and like each other.

 

Source: Uploaded by user via Jana on Pinterest

Source: allposters.com.au via Jana on Pinterest

No one would judge anyone on their tattoos or piercings or lack thereof. Which would mean I could get my nose pierced and it wouldn't be unprofessional. 

Source: seafox.tumblr.com via Jana on Pinterest

Laundry would fold and hang itself - a la Mary Poppins

 Everyone would have to be honest. And if they weren't - it'd be like, "Liar Liar, your pants are on fire!"

People would fall in love and make it work until death do them part. Because people would treat each other they way they want to be treated. And we'd all be happy. It wouldn't be a theoretical Golden Rule. It'd be reality.

Lastly, since I kinda loathe mornings - the world would start after 10 a.m. It'd be a happy medium for the early birds and the night owls.

Source: someecards.com via Jana on Pinterest

Get your fashion on 

I wanna be a supermodel!

I was a teen in the 90s and early 2000s so Clueless pretty much is one of my favorite movies. 

I got to pretend I was a supermodel during a photoshoot. Lucky ducky me! I was blessed to be a photo specimen for my awesomely talented friend Christina. She's got a great talent and I'm so happy she shared it with me.

Please be sure and visit her site: Skip a Beat Photography!  You can also find her precious self over on Facebook. I had the best time taking pictures with her!!! She made me feel so comfortable and at ease. I'm not sure about you, but there have been times in my life when I've taken pictures with an awkward photographer. You know - you just don't feel like yourself. Well, none of that happens with Mrs. Christina. She has an infectious smile and a happy laugh that will put you right at ease. Plus - when I got my pictures back - I felt like a freakin' supermodel!


The proof is in the pudding. Or the pictures. Gonna sound like a fathead for a minute but girlfriend takes some amazing phenomenal pictures and I look super hot in these pictures. When I saw the first photo from the session I told my husband, "Dude, you are lucky. You scored a freakin' hottie! Look at your wife! She is hot!" Sweet man smiled and said, "I know."

Let's admire the awesomeness....























I love Christina's distinct style and I always recognize her photos. She has an amazing ability to capture the subject's innocence in picture form. It's very unique and always classy.  If you're in the Oklahoma area - she's AMAZING and she comes HIGHLY recommended. I truly cannot say enough nice things about this lady. Not only is she a talented photographer, but she's a sweet mommy and a lovely wife. You're gonna love her! Seriously - at the very least - go like her page on facebook so you can enjoy the awesomeness she shares. She's an absolute doll!

Get your fashion on!

Quality Time at Quality Thrift

Even though I've technically been out of school the last 6 years, my sweet momma takes me "back to school" shopping. Fortunately, she knows how much I enjoy thrifting and when she offered to take me shopping she didn't even blink when 90% of the stuff that went in the basket was vintage. My mom has always been awesome about accepting me the way I am and encouraging me to pursue things I enjoy. 

Here's the rule I grew up with regarding clothes:
"Jana Faith, so long as it's modest, you can wear what you want."

Love that. Love my momma. Love my daddy. Blessed and thankful beyond measure. Not only is my momma a wonderful parent but she's a special friend.

Here are just a few of the beauties we scored Saturday.  The place we went is called Quality Thrift

Left to right:
$6.98

$2.98

$2.98

I love the middle pair. They remind me a lot of shoes I might have had when I was younger. Funny part is - I did have some similar shoes when I was younger even thought these shoes are from the 70's. I've ALWAYS been a vintage lover. Cuh-raze-ay how much I heart vintage. Always have. Always will. Probably.

See, you can score unique bargains at a thrift store!!! I also realize a lot of people are leery of buying used shoes but it's never bothered me. Plus, these shoes all looked like they were in good shape and fairly clean. 

Have a great day! And....

Get your fashion on!