Back to School

Back to school. Yikes. Where did the summer go?? Starting the new school year is always tough - my stamina for work is very low, so after getting in from OBX at 4:30am Monday morning and going to school at 7am was not pleasant. At all. These first few days were filled with meetings, inservices, freshmen orientation, grad classes and organizing my room. I think I'm all set up so now the next 2 days I can work on lesson plans. Check it out!

Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Irene def did a number on the outer banks. We couldn't get a hold of anyone in Duck and nobody in the surrounding OBX area could get in. It was literally shut down because of the distruction from Irene. No in, no out. After hearing word from a neighbor in Kilmarlic that there was a tree on top of our house, my dad made the executive decision that he had to go down and check on the houses. It was Sunday at noon (first day back for us teachers was the next day), we (Dad, Kim & BIL) drove down to OBX knowing we'd have to come back the same day. We were shocked (but yet not at all) at the sights we found at the sound. But first, let me give you a before & then an after:

The gazebo where Kim and Brett got married is no more

And at those in Duck:

Sunset Grille Pier/Dock

Sunset outdoor bar.

Luckily, the house in Duck was fine - no damage & still have power. Still lots of clean up at Kilmarlic from where the water came/tree fell/debris & don't have power. Could be out for weeks...Depending on if we get power back this week, my dad asked me to go down this weekend to continue to help him clean up.

Mae's Bday

Everyone knows that I'm OBSESSED with my dog. & my precious pooch's bday was the 24th. Can you believe my little girl is 2?? I found an easy recipe online to make cup cakes, or as I like to call them - pup cakes! Every birthday girl needs to have a special treat on her B-day!

Peanut Butter Dog Birthday Cake 

1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour (or substitute rice flour)

1 Teaspoon Baking Soda 

¼ Cup Vegetable Oil 

¼ Cup Organic Peanut Butter 

1 Teaspoon Vanilla 

1 Egg

1/3 Cup Honey 

Combine Flour, and Baking soda then add your remaining ingredients. Mix well, pour into 8 inch round pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. 

  Pup-cakes as party favors to the other 4-legged guest. :)

Then, I iced it with peanut butter (you could also used vanilla yogurt) & decorated it!

Birthday princess with her pup-cake - ready to pounce & enjoy!

Getting inspired at home & in the classroom

So I've been introduced to pinterest and have been inspired by so many great DIY crafts for home & my classroom. 

Some crafts I want to work on for home-

make your own dry-erase board

old door, blackboard paint

magetic makeup holder

dresser with fabric modpodged to the front

magnetic monogrammed boards

Crafts I'll be working on for my HS Spanish classroom:

how smart!! to keep the comp cords all easily accessible

would love to frame this and put it on my desk

stamps I bought

bought some new posters

bought this pocket calendar, the months & weather are in Spanish on the back side

I'm going to label my popsicle stick cup "victimas" (victims) - I always ask for voluntarios, but 9 times out of 10 I have to call on victims. This is an easy way to remember who I've called on and who I haven't in a 90 min block

This is how my desk was set up last year - now I'll have my own classroom :) Time to rearrange!

chilipepper lights & "word birds" to demonstrate location - These were in English, but I pasted and lamonated the Spanish on top of it - genius!

I have a week left of summer to craft my little heart out! Time to get cracking!

Working? During Summer? Who me? HA!

 So my beloved father has an ice cream/water ice store in Corolla, North Carolina. He's had it for 5 years and my sister and I worked here for the first 3 before deciding we'd rather just toast our bods on the beach than "chill" with the ice/ice cream. We always had a good time playing "store" and snacking on the delicious treats. The summer help has returned to college so now I'm back behind the counter.

Michelle made this for us 5 years ago -- it's still the used tip jar ha ha ha

Mae gets paid in vanilla soft serve

Lifevests!

The girls love their life vests! 

Mae is an excellent swimmer now :)

...so I'm a little obsessed with my dog.