JUNE RECAP

I can't believe today is the last day of June! It has been such an awesome month. School's out! The end of the year went pretty well, it came super fast and I was a little sad to say goodbye to my kids, but I don't miss them yet. haha. Summer is in full swing, and my wedding is only a month away!

I can't believe how fast everything is going. I have crazy to do lists and I'm working really hard to get in shape and lose weight for the wedding. I'm always better with a timeline so I can really crack down for a month and do great. I've run every day for a week and I'm already feeling great.

Things with my fiance have been great. There are a few stressors here and there but overall, I think we are both super excited for the wedding. It was his birthday last week so we celebrated with cake and presents. I tried to spoil him. :)

I've been reading a ton! I already finished two books this summer and am working on my third.

I also try to spend like an hour at the pool each day working on my tan. Slow and steady should make me the perfect shade of golden brown for my wedding. 

Life is so good! 

Wedding Wednesday: Bridal Shower!

Sunday was my Bridal Shower! It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. There was no detail that was missing, it was absolutely amazing. I am so excited to share. :) 

My wedding colors are aqua and silver. The lady who hosted the shower (family friend) had us eating off china and drinking out of crystal! It was so classy and elegant! I also loved my personalized, '48 days until she's Mrs. O..." napkins! 

 One of my bridesmaids made this sign, I'm making her create a "Mr. & Mrs." one for the sweetheart table. 

This is where all of the food went once it was ready. 

There were about 6 of these bouquets throughout where we were both inside and outside. I am obsessed with them! Peonies and lilies, gorgeous! 

It's not brunch without mimosas! 

Me && my bridesmaids showing off our rings! You couldn't say 'Bride' or 'Wedding' without losing your ring. I lost mine in about 2 minutes. 

There were almost 30 people there and it was seriously the best day. I felt so loved. I am so blessed to have such amazing friends and family. 

Linking up! 

Teacher Tuesday: Two Years Down!

It's hard to believe that tomorrow my second year of teaching is over. It feels so much better than the first, I was more confident and a much better teacher. Last year I remember being totally exhausted and worn out and this year I actually still have sone energy! I think some of it might be excitement about it being over, but hey, it's still energy! 

Things that went well...winning Nationals! I still can't believe that was this year, it was a life dream and I accomplished it already. I can't believe it. Next year I look forward to branching out more in FFA and continuing to pursue other competitions and activities. 

I felt like my classroom management improved this year. I did better at drawing the line, saying no, and sticking to it. I'm also not afraid to contact parents to try and get them on my side and get the behavior figured out. 

Things I want to improve on...organizing late work and missing work. I have a folder for students to get papers from but they don't realize that the papers are there most of the time. Even when I direct them there they are like, "where can I find that paper?" #frustrating

I also want to use my classroom website and technology more effectively. I think there are so many cool tools online that I'm not fully taking advantage of. In the same token, I do want to improve on cracking down on cell phones. I just need to say no, and have activities for students when they are finished with work that do not involved being on their phones. 

Teaching is exhausting and stressful, but also so incredibly rewarding. I wouldn't  trade it for anything. 

One more day! This summer is going to be great, probably the best of my life. I'm so ready. 

Weekending: Family and Friends

What a weekend! The main event was my bridal shower which will get it's own post on Wednesday, but here's how it went! 

Friday afternoon I had a second hair trial. The lady originally scheduled to do my hair called and said that she had a family emergency (in two months?!...) and can't do my hair. Another stylist was taking it all over, same price, same everything, but I need to come do a trial with her. So I do, and I hated my hair. It was the same-ish look, but so wrong. Now I have to go AGAIN and hope that she figures it out...less than two months before my wedding. It's a little stressful.

Friday evening C and I went running. We've been doing a good job going out to at least walk or run a few miles each night. It feels so good and I really feel my body changing. I'm going to force him to keep going, he always likes it when he does and he really motivates me because he can run farther and faster than me.

Saturday we went to the horse races with some of our bridal party. I wanted it to be more of a thing to get everyone together but we have people who work full time and their jobs are on weekends, people hours away, and my MOH getting everything ready for the shower, so having everyone didn't happen but we still had a great day with who we had. 

Sunday was my shower! I am saving all of the details for my post on Wednesday, but it was absolutely amazing. Seriously a dream. I am one happy, spoiled, loved, girl. :) 

It's my last week of school until summer vacation! Woot Woot! We finish on Wednesday and I CANNOT wait. I love my job, but I need a break! :)

Linking up!  

Wedding Wednesday: Cupcake Tasting

Yesterday we went and tasted our cupcakes! We are doing a small cake on top with cupcakes underneath. This is the vision for the cupcake stand that I want. 

When I walked in this is what we saw, I was blown away! They were so beautiful. Our baker decorated them all differently in order for us to see what we liked the best. Then we started trying them! 

The first flavor was a cookies and cream cupcake. It's chocolate cupcake with crushed oreos and chocolate chips in it. 

...and surprise! a full oreo on the bottom! 

The second was a Red Velvet which was beyond amazing. So soft and moist, yum! 

The third is a fudge cupcake with a reeses peanut butter cup inside, fudge frosting, and crushed peanut butter cups on the top. We will also put some of the blue peals with them. YUM. 

 She is also making us cookies for our cookie bar. There will be 5 kinds, chocolate chip, peanut butter/chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, those peanut butter cups, and a no bake cookie. They are going to be so good! 

I left feeling so happy and relieved. I know dessert will be amazing! I can't wait until the day of and taste all of the goodies! 

Linking up!

Will you...

I got the cutest card in the mail today, asking me to be a bridesmaid! 

This is from one of my sweet friends from church. We met at an event to connect and form community groups and we were friends from the state. We joined the same group and have been doing bible study together for over two years now. Her fiance actually was in our bible study as well! 

They are having a destination wedding in Sedona, AZ in January. I am so excited to be a part of their special day. I have only been a bridesmaid once before and I love everything about it, the planning, celebrations, and spoiling the bride. 

I'm looking forward to being able to continue to have wedding fun even after my wedding is over. 

Weekending: It feels like summer!

This weekend was amazing! The sun was out, it was 80 degrees every day, and we got to hang out with a bunch of our friends. I didn't think about school at all. With only 8 days left, I'm on auto-pilot and so ready to be done. 

Friday night we went to a baseball game with some friends from church. It was a beautiful night and there were fireworks after! 

Saturday morning we cleaned the apartment and went to buy some birthday presents for friends. That afternoon we went to a pool party for a friend who is joining the Air Force and moving to Texas this week. We spent about 5 hours in the pool, it was glorious. 

This morning we went to church and listened to an amazing message about ambition and our selfish desires. It made me re-evaluate how I am living my life, who I am trying to impress, and where I should be placing my focus. 

It's the last full week of school, summer is SO close! :)

Linking up with Meghan! 

Wedding Wednesday: Day of Coordinator

All of the time that I have been planning my wedding I have been counting on some family and friends to help with set up/take down. Our venue includes the basic set up (tables, chairs, linens, place settings, and even the hurricanes and candles in the centerpieces) but there are some other touches that I want to add. I figured everyone would be able to handle it if I left clear instructions, plus my MOH would also have time when I am doing my first look to double check that everything is right since she is planning with me.

Fast forward to now and I have two meetings scheduled to meet with day of coordinators.

There is a sales manager at the venue but she says that she doesn't help with anything on the day of. I also kinda can't stand her. They fired and hired a new lady after we signed the contract and we weren't even notified which left a sour taste in my mouth. I don't want to have to count on her for anything.

Does anyone else have experience with day of coordinators, were they worth it? Thankfully both of our parents have been beyond generous and money is so much better than I ever thought, so we can afford it, it's just a matter of me being okay spending the money.

I'd love some wise words or tips for interviews too, is there anything I need to look for in someone besides just our personalities meshing and them being well organized?

Linking up, happy Wedding Wednesday!

June Goals

I love setting goals & I wanted to have something different that just my monthly wedding lists. Here are my goals for this month.

1. Get back on track with reading my bible daily.

I have a One Year Bible and I fell way behind last month and have about 20 days to catch up on. I know it's not realistic to catch up in a matter of days but if I am dedicated I can easily get back on track by the end of this month. 

2. Make my health a priority.

I know that I need to start working out and dieting, but I still struggle. I want to start making the changes before it's too late. I don't have a ton of weight to lose and I know that I can do it, I just need to be dedicated. I don't want it to be July and me be upset with myself for not trying harder and me not feeling good about how I look. 

3. Make intentional time with C

We have so much going on in our lives with work and the wedding but I don't want our time together to fade. I want to make sure we still have at least one 'date night' and that we spend time with just each other, not always surrounded by family and friends. 

4. Finish the school year strong

I want to try and keep a positive attitude with my kids and keep them engaged up until the end of the year. 

5. Achieve my wedding goals: book a day of coordinator, florist, make up artist, and start DIY! 

Did you set goals for this month? Leave a link in your comment! :) 

Weekending: Sunshine & Soccer

I had a fabulous weekend! We didn't have too many plans which always makes it that much better since I actually have time to relax. Here's what we did!

Friday night was our FFA end of the year banquet. The kids did an awesome job recognizing everyone for their accomplishments this year. They also announced the officer team for next year and it is a great group, I am excited to see what this next year brings for our chapter.

Saturday morning C and I went to help my mom with yard work. Her and her boyfriend have been spending the last few weekends completely transforming the backyard at her (my childhood) house for our rehearsal dinner. It looks AMAZING. We went and helped them move bark which was the final step. I am praying for a sunny day so that they get to show off their hard work. I will be so devastated if it is rainy but I can't even start thinking/stressing about that.

I spent the rest of Saturday finishing and stuffing my invitations. They are going in the mail today! 

Sunday C and I went up to Seattle for Sounders Game. This was my first professional soccer game and it was a lot of fun. My cousin lives in a building near the stadium and we went up there to BBQ and hang out before the game. It was a great day, perfect weather, and they won!

Back to school tomorrow. Only two more full weeks! I'm so ready for summer.

Linking up with Meghan!