Oh hey.

photo via Guardian via Getty Images

The best feeling in the world for me is wanting to do work. It truly doesn't matter what the task at hand is, but when I'm inspired to roll up my sleeves and get to business, I think that is when I am at my happiest.

Since my last post, the world has been sort of crazy. Between the beginning of the school year at a new school (which is absolutely fabulous, btw), an earthquake, and a hurriance ravishing the eastern shore, my world has been full of distractions. I don't mind it, because distractions like these make life exteremly rich. They give us something to talk about, something to focus on, something to work on.

I cannot even tell you how the change in schools has rejuvinated my work ethic when it comes to teaching. My last two years teaching have been solely spent teaching a class alined with important state assessments. Because of the nature of the school I worked at, these tests really were the driving force day-in and day-out of my instruction and planning process. I didn't mind it at the time, but now that I am removed from that mentality, I am realizing how it thwarted my creativity.

Now that I am no longer teaching those classes, I am really enjoying creating lessons, finding resources, and truly wanting to educate my students so they are college ready. This semester I am teaching mostly seniors (with a handful of juniors, and a year-long class of freshmen). The senior class is called Studies in Composition and for all practical purposes, is a writing course. Essentially, it's the stepping stone between high school English and college. It's my job to get them writing and learning in a college style that is high school friendly. It's a challenge, but it is so fun having a new project to work on and think about all-the-time.

With that being said, I am feeling so happy to have found a new focus. It's rejuvinating and encouraging all at the same time.

A great man.

I lost a great uncle on Thursday morning. May he rest peacefully.

Please keep my Aunt Susie in your prayers.

xo, Liz

Goodbye, sweet summer.

Cory and I have a funny relationship. For example, I'll get irritated and he'll just try to be cute. I just ignore it, but when it comes down to it, it's usually pretty funny and I crack/budge/give in whatever you want to call it. Also, I should note, this is usually when it's revolving around something frivolous.

Our latest fiasco revolves around the fact that I cut out a coupon for bite sized Snickers. Why? I have no idea. I never keep junk food in the house, let alone candy, but I guess the timing just felt right. Ever since I carried the beloved bag of Snickers home (around 4 weeks ago), I have found trails of wrappers left by my dear husband.

He loves junk food. He would weigh about 500,000 pounds if I kept it in the house. As a means of keeping me and my husband healthy and fit, I don't buy it. This time, however, the Snickeres made Cory feel especially awesome. So he ate a lot of them. Fortunately, they're bite sized, so it's really not the end of the world.

The end of the world came when I finally had it up to here (hand up to forehead) with picking them up after Cory was finished. ugh. Please do not make me pick up after you! We have this conversation all the time. It's all in good fun, I know he means no harm. Honestly, my husband can be absent minded about leaving stuff around. I know he'll get to it eventually... but if it bugs me enough, I'll just do it myself. I know, I know... I'm probably creating a monster. Seriously though, Cory is great and very clean and tidy and takes good care of the house. And because of that, I ensued with the sarcasm about this ridiculous trail of wrappers.

Alas..

I finally picked up the last one I could bare this morning and told him enough was enough. We shall live in a home coated in chocolate wrappers if it means I wouldn't have to pick up ONE MORE WRAPPER.

And that is the note he left me when he finished the last delicious nugget-y treat.

I had a really good laugh when I found it in the kitchen. Oh my sweet husband. He knows how to get me. :)

So here's to a sweet way of ending the summer before we head back to school tomorrow. I plan on doing a full fledge "the summer that was..." post within the next week. For now, however, I want to end it on this note.

xo,

Liz

Mad Men as Yearbook Class? What?!

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I have a thing for Mad Men. I mean seriously, this is nothing new. I'm sort of dying over the fact that Season 5 isn't part of my back-to-school preparation this year. Definitely feels like something is missing.  

That's when I was thinking.. why wait for Mad Men when you could bring Mad Men to school? Well, as you know, Mad Men isn't the most teenage/family friendly television show. In fact, when I used a clip last school year, I was hard pressed to find one appropriate without a lot of innuendo, but I did. So what the heck am I talking about?

Yearbook Class meet Sterling Cooper.

I think you guys will compliment each other nicely.

We will have our Creative Department: To help brainstorm slogans, sections, layouts, the general feel of the yearbook.

Our Art Department: To funnel the ideas to print. Design the photography, the art, the graphics. Make sure everything fits the general theme.

Head of Accounts: To organize, manage, and invest time in making sure our Ads are filled, our payment has been collected, and our customers are happy!

And Me? Well, I'll be the Office Manager.

At first I thought it would just be funny to do it this way, but now I'm seriously contemplating it.

(As you can see, I try to make my classroom fun for the kids AND for me ;))

P.S. There is NO smoking or drinking allowed in the yearbook class!

What do you think?

Back to School... sort of

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Teacher's head back to school this Thursday, but I had my first unofficial day back today.

I invited my entire Yearbook class to a meeting this morning (it ran 9-1pm) to introduce myself, fester some new ideas, get the minds working, and you know... just have fun and get to know one another.

When the kids arrived, we filled out name tags and got comfortable in our environment. As soon as everyone was together, we completed this icebreaker activity where the students decide which color best matches their personality. It's pretty huge for me as a teacher to see what kind of personalities I'm working with for a number of reasons. A)It will show me my leaders. B)It will show me my creative people. C)It will show me my slackers. So I'm really glad we did that!

After the icebreaker, I passed around sample yearbooks I collected at Yearbook Camp a few weeks ago from other schools in the Mid-Atlantic area. They looked through them, found strengths and weaknesses, and then we compiled a giant list for our records.

We talked a smidgeon about the theme for our yearbook, but gosh, they were just getting so excited, I didn't want to stop them from jotting down their lists of ideas. I could see the creative juices flowing! It was fun to see the creative process happen, unlike me trying to be creative. I gave them a little treat, a brand new journalism book and a mini Snickers bar. They have a small assignment due for me on the first day of school, which I don't think they were too pleased about, but it will help them in the long run.

All in all, we had a great day. It was good getting to know some of the students I'll be working with (all but 2 were able to make the meeting!) and be able to hit the ground running feeling pretty confident.

Also, I found out that I will be teaching most of the seniors I have in yearbook. That is a blessing in disguise, as well. If they're getting bogged down in my Senior Composition class, or in Yearbook, I can try to negoiate with them. It will also help me make some incredible bonds... or I hope! ;)

That's all from this end. After a full workshop day and a few extra hours working on school stuff at my desk, I am really tired! Early to bed for me; Cory and I have a Starbucks & Work day planned for tomorrow. <3

xo,

Liz

Day Trip: American Visionary Arts Museum

If you're in the mid-Atlantic/New England area, it's probably raining where you are. It's been raining so much this weekend you're probably wondering if you can reschedule or do something fun next weekend to live up the last few moments of summer, right?

That's pretty much where my mind was this past week. Cory and I traveled so much in July we have been taking a lot of time off to relax our bodies and our wallets. So we're staying at home, going to our community pool, and cooking in as much as possible. I love this because it means more time for books, more time for crochet, and more time to soak in peace and quiet before school starts back up this coming Thursday. However, earlier this week a little birdie (my friend Whitney) told me about a day trip she had taken to the American Visionary Art Museum. It had been a while since Cory and I had been to a gallery of sorts (...ok since early July...), so I knew it was a perfect Saturday thing to do!

If you're unfamiliar with Baltimore, trust me when I say that it is NOT 100% like The Wire. That is one of the most common things I hear and it is so frustrating. Baltimore actually has a lot to offer families, teens, couples, you name it! Sure, there are a few neighborhoods that are sketchy and really unsafe, but the bottom line is that if you're going there to do something cool, you're not going to end up in those areas anyway! Baltimore has a really amazing art and up and coming music scene. I have seen some incredible bands in the area when they were just starting out, that went big in NO time after the show (ie: Black Keys). Anyway, please know that Baltimore is an amazing city. It has a lot to offer! Sorry for the rant, I just felt the need to defent Charm City.

So, the AVAM is in the heart of Federal Hill, a really charming neighborhood in Baltimore near the harbor. The building itself will blow you away as it is covered in mosaic and screams GLITTER!

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The Museum is comprised of three buildings. The glitter building is the main entrance where you see a lot of the galleries that are open year-round. Trust me when I say this isn't your average art gallery. It is so fun, quirky, and cool. They have a collection of every Pez dispenser ever made. EVER. It was right up my alley and provided me with so much inspiration. SO much. Right now, the exhibit on display until September 4th is "What Makes Us Smile?" which is all-around fun and so sweet.

When you walk into the building, you're instantly greeted by SMILE, a mosaic created by toothbrush parts! So creative!

Unfortuantely, photography isn't allowed inside a few of the buildings, but I tried my hardest to sneak a few for you ;). We encountered a massive downpour mid-way through our visit, so I apologize for the change in lighting and... well... the rain. Most of them are taken with my droid, but a few are taken with my Nikon D40 as well.

(Now you might be asking yourself...

WHAT is that pink fluffy thing in the bottom left corner!?)

In the main building there is a really great shop that has lots of wacky stuff. I picked up a new bag to use for my lunch bag at work. I also picked up a few of Twinkie Chan's Yummy You pins!

But I will admit... I did leave this beauty behind:

I hope you enjoyed a little peek into the AVAM!

xo,

Liz

Recipe: Maple Glazed Salmon w/Pineapple

I subscribe to Real Simple magazine and love how much they offer me each month. I always have the hardest time tossing out my issues because they're like mini encyclopedias to help me with the day to day issues in life.

A while ago I was in desperate need of a quick recipe to use with a large piece of salmon I picked up for the store, so I instantly sought out Real Simple for a little help. I was not led astray, the answer was right there infront of me: Maple Glazed Salmon w/Pineapple.

What I loved about this meal:

1) I had all the ingredients already at home (yay for not having to run out to the store!)

2) The actual cooking time was only 7 minutes for the salmon. I <3 a quick meal!

3) The glaze was so refreshing and not very sticky. It perfectly complimented the salmon and pineapple!

4) We had a ton of leftovers for lunch the next day! (yay!)

 It's so easy and so yummy!

(disclaimer: 1) these were taken with my Droid. 2) It looks burnt, but it's not. It was just the syrup on the outside, not the actual fish.)