Moments of the Week: Goodbyes and the Self Fulfilling Prophecy

Ah, the week is over. I am actually pretty darn excited about it because I only have two classes next week before Thanksgiving! I cannot wait to stop trying to hide my Christmas music. Finally! Finally, I can be out in the open with it :)

Here's what my week was like. 

As I'm sure you know, my 20th birthday was last sunday. 

It was a great, low key day. It was perfect.

We began the day with cleaning out our garage to prepare for Christmas decorations! (I already have my tree up in my room :) ) Anyway, this is what my brothers did to get rid of the trash. Our car wasn't big enough, so they just sat it on the back. Luckily it was only about 500ft to the garbage, but still, I couldn't resist getting a picture of our Griswold-ness. 

Then later that evening, we went to The Melting Pot for fondue! 

 Fondue is my jam. For reals. 

Well, actually I just like the cheese and the chocolate. Who needs meat anyway?

This past week was full of sad goodbyes. I officially finished my observation hours at the elementary school and I was so sad.

I developed connections with all the kids and it was hard saying goodbye. They all gave me big hugs and told me that they don't want me to leave. (which made it so much worse!) Luckily, my teacher invited me to visit anytime, so I might just have to take her up on that offer!

This was also my last week of work for this year! 

My job only goes from August-November then January-May so by the time I get back, most of 'my' kids will have graduated to the next class. 

It was especially hard saying goodbye to this dude!

(face blocked for privacy reasons)

 I most certainly don't play favorites, but this guy had been in my class ever since I started. He always gives me the biggest hugs and calls me "miss amber" instead of the usual "teacher." I'm gonna miss him! Good thing he's just moving down the hall.

I'm also finishing up my last semester at school until I move on to university. 

I've been sorta struggling with my algebra course. I've been making an average of 60 on all of our previous tests, so in order to pass the course, I had to make a higher grade on the upcoming test.  

I was panicking and thinking worst case scenario about everything. I didn't feel prepared for the test and I pretty much decided that I would have to drop the course before I failed.

All this to say, I was talking with another professor later and I found myself saying to her  "I'm terrible at math." She immediately cut me off and told me the best advice I arguably ever received. 

She asked, (I paraphrase) "How long have you been saying that you're bad at math?"

 I replied, "I think as long as I remember." 

She then said "You know, you're subjecting yourself to this thing called Self Fulfilling Prophecy and you're basically setting yourself up for failure. You truly are what you think you are. You see, you keep telling yourself  "I'm terrible at math" but what if you truly aren't? What if you just had a bad day and ever since then you've told yourself that you can't succeed at math. In fact, most people who claim they're bad at math actually aren't, it just takes them longer than 'normal' to understand and grasp the material. 

So from now on,  I don't want you to tell yourself that you're bad at math anymore. From now on you ARE good at math. You ARE smart and you WILL succeed."

I made the highest grade I've ever made on that test, and now am passing the course (with an 80!!). 

Then, I read this question on my quiz yesterday and cried just a bit. 

This one will take me waaaaaaaay longer than 'usual'.

The answer is 17 by the way. 

Have a great weekend, y'all! 

Moments of the Week: Dutch Oven Cooking and Birthday Week!

Well friends, we've completed another week. Virtual High-five **

Here's a recap of my week:

1. 

Last Saturday, I hit the jackpot! (happens a lot around here)

I hit up a few yard sales with my younger brother. This one we went to, the lady was an ex-wholesaler and had tons and tons of sports paraphernalia. My cousins all love a different team (Rays, Gators and USF Bulls Go Bulls! Shh Don't tell). Have you guys ever been into a team/sports store? All of that stuff is so over priced I've found. So when I saw all of the teams they loved (minus the Bulls, but that's ok), I had to snag it for christmas/birthdays. 

All of this stuff was brand new with tags and cost me a total of $12 

(I also got a few hot/cold reusable bags which you can kinda see at the bottom of the pic and a few other misc stuff)

I'm kinda sad that the yard saleing season is almost over, but even when it is, we still go because they're always seems to be a few. 

2. 

It's finally cooled off (a bit) here in Dallas. Right now, it's about 60*. I've officially broken out my scarves and boots. Yeah, I know some of you northerners are rolling your eyes at that but, I'd take 60* over 90+ any day. 

3. 

Obviously, this guy didn't like the change. I can't blame him though, that's exactly what I want to be doing right now!

4.

 

Yesterday, at work, I got put in the elementary room. Now, my normal room is 3-4 year olds. I kinda struggle with elementary because I feel like because I am so short and young, the kids don't listen to me. Plus, my personal philosophy on kids is that the younger the better. Hence the reason why I want to teach 1st grade. 

All this to say, I was kinda out of my element at work. In walks this boy, 2nd grade I believe, and I kinda notice that he's sitting in the corner not really talking to anybody. I walk over to him as he pulls out this book: Dutch Oven Cooking. I kinda look at it puzzled and flip through the pages. It was a cookbook. I asked him "Whatcha reading there?" To which he replies 

"Oh just Dutch Oven Cooking. It's all about cooking over a campfire. Isn't that cool? Hey will you read it to me?" I stifle my smirk and say of course! 

So I open the book and he pointed to the table of contents, and says "Start here. Table of Contents. Do you know that that means everything that is in my book? Cool huh!"

So I begin reading the cookbook to him

"1 cup flour

1/2 sugar

3 tablespoons vanilla."

It was pretty much the most adorable thing ever. 

After all of that, I began thinking. 

This is where my heart is.

My heart is with children. 

I know it. This is what I am meant to do for the rest of my life. 

I've never felt so sure of something in my entire existence. 

 5. Since I will be officially not be a teenager after next week, I thought It would be fun to share over the next seven days, the highlights of each year of my teens. I'll start with 13 and end with 19 (obviously).

I'll begin this saturday!

Happy Friday, Y'all!

Moments of the Week: Color Run and Rainy Days

Can you believe it's officially november? 

I know I can't. 

For my household, november is sort of the 'kick-off' to the holiday season.

Oh and 16 days till my birthday. But who's counting?

Here's a wrap-up of my week!

1. 

Last Saturday, my family went out to go do our first 5k! It was so much fun, but exhausting. I promise to do a full post on it soon.

2.

Subsequently, this is how I spent my saturday night. It was a cold rainy night and as I tried to lay down in bed, I had the worst inner thigh pain. Luckily my sister-in-law is a trainer so she told me how to make it better. Two aleeve, puppy kisses and lots of ice later, it felt much better. Plus, it was a great excuse to watch Hocus Pocus, ie the one movie I can distinctly remember watching every year of my childhood.

3. 

I caught up with a good friend this week! It was so nice to hear from her and she had me cracking up and crying all at the same time. Above is a short excerpt of our conversation. We somehow got on the topic of pregnancy. In case you didn't know, pregnant people kinda give me the heeby-jeebies. And the thought that I, myself, would have to stare at my pregnant belly for 40 weeks just made my toes curl. Sorry, but true. Oh, and just to be clear, I KNOW it will be longer than 4-5 years before I can even begin to think about children (if I want to have any at all!). Trust me. ;)

Also, I think I've finally hit that point in my life where things start making me feel old! Like when my old friends start having kids on purpose. 

4. 

It's been such a rainy week! I am most certainly not complaining, I love the rain. Something about it is so relaxing. Except when you have 23 preschoolers who can't go outside to play. Then its nuts. 

5. 

I'll spare you the picture of this, but yesterday in my biology class, we dissected fetal pigs. It was horrifying. Now, I don't claim to be a squeamish person at all, but I just couldn't.

I've said it plenty of times before, Pigs are my thang. And seeing a very cute, but dead, baby pig that has a tongue and hair and cute little eyes lying in a ziplock bag of formaldehyde was not pleasant. I kept apologizing to my lab partners because I was pretty much useless and gagging while holding my nose in the corner. (I wasn't the only one, by the way) Good thing I get to look forward to next week; Brain dissection! Woo hoo!

Moments of the Week: Baby Showers and Virtual Children 31 Days of LOVE

Well, we've made it again. It's friday!

Here's what I was up to this week:

1.

Last saturday I went to the most awesome baby shower ever. It was perfect! Every little detail was just gorgeous. Their theme was pink and blue chevron (if you can't already tell) because they aren't finding out the sex. It was fabulous!

The cake was delicious by the way. Oh and they had a s'mores bar. Pretty legit. 

Can't wait to meet you Baby Kabani!

2. 

I feel like these posts just become a photo dump of all my dog pictures. But hey, it's my life and I just wubb her. 

She's kinda cute. 

3. 

You guys. My virtual child has boobs! I swear one day she was a little bitty computer baby, then BOOM, boobs. 

Just thinking about it I can't help but wonder...where did time go? 

I feel so old. 

Good thing I love her, too. 

4. 

My aunt sent me this picture the other day. It couldn't be more relevant to my life right now. I think they need to add 'friends AND family' though, Don't ya think? 

Life's too short to waste time on people who don't give you any. 

That's my new motto. 

5. 

This picture just makes me laugh. 

That is all. 

Moments of the Week: Alligators and New Babies! 31 days of LOVE

Better late than never, right?

1.

Welp, that's embarassing. But, I had to share for the sake of having something to blog about.

Last weekend I babysat for a new family and it was actually so much fun!

They live in a huge house(mansion) and the little boy was a blast to play with.

We created our own zoo, filled with every stuffed animal he had, then the alligators (me) got loose and he had to rescue all the animals.

I have to say, I love my job! 

2.

Speaking of babysitting, we are dog sitting this cute little guy this weekend because his mom and dad (close family friends) are at the hospital.

They had a new sweet little baby yesterday!

I couldn't be more excited for them. They have two boys (who I babysit, I've posted about them several times, you can read one here)

and just welcomed a new little girl named Willow. Isn't that such a cute name?

I can't wait to love on her!

3.

BOOM!

This girl, yep me, got an 80 on my algebra test!

That's huge for me, because I normally am just happy if I pass. 

This one hung on the fridge. 

 4.

Here's where I admit that I need to get a life.

Last night, I put my poor dog in my shirt.

For fun.

Because I was bored.

Yeah.

Moments of the Week: Short and Sweet, 31 Days of LOVE

I don't have much for you guys today, it was a pretty stale week.

BUT, I am so excited for the weekend,

especially saturday! This is the first saturday with cooler weather so the garage sales will be awesome.

Anyways, here's a wrap up of my week:

1.

Last saturday I babysat for my boss at work and it was so much fun.

She has a boy (9) and a girl (5), plus two pomeranian and they were dog sitting another little guy.

Oh my word. She was so cute. 

Corgi + Australian Shepherd.

I died. 

Good thing I LOVE dogs :)

2.

Lots of dogs this week, I guess.

But how could I not? I mean, do you see that face?

She makes my life happier, I swear. 

3.

 Yesterday was October 3rd. If you get that reference, you are my best friend.

On Wednesdays we wear pink.

4.

It's Friday. 

Enough said.

PS. Happy Birthday to my wonderful aunt! Love you!

Weekly Wrap Up-New Car and Sunsets

I totally forgot last friday to post my weekly wrap up! oops. 

I figured I'd make it up by posting it on monday instead :)

1.

 Remember how I told you that my mom ran a rental car out a gas?

Well, we had a rental car because our beloved fiesta was having severe transmission issues. We were so sad, but it was time to replace it. I know it sounds weird but that car was a part of our family! It was the first time my mom was able to buy a car with cash, and it totally was 'her' car. She named it the island girl and I swear to you it became her signature. We drove it to Georgia and Florida, we somehow hauled a 500lbs fountain in the back, all our yard sale finds would be shoved in it's little trunk, and even though the keys got locked inside it all the time and it hardly fit what we really needed to, we loved it. It was our car, you know? 

So anyway, last saturday we traded it in and got a bigger SUV (you can see it behind the top right of the red car next to the tent) that can certainly hold any garage sale find we need it to hold, and before we said goodbye, I had to grab my mom's picture in front of it. We will miss you, little hot tamale island girl!

(yes, my mom is wearing a duck dynasty shirt)

2. 

 I finally caved and bought my first 'fall' item of the season. I love Bath and Body Works candles. They rock and these scents are my favorite!

3. 

 We took our new car out for a drive one night and we got to watch the most breathtaking sunset over Lake Grapevine. Texas seriously has the most beautiful sunsets. This picture doesn't do it justice. 

We also got sno-cones at my favorite place (strawberry colada is the bomb)

4.

Last weekend a couple of my friends from high school met up before they go off to college. It was fun! We went to our favorite place to eat, drove around our town like dorks and then went swimming. It kinda made me miss that time in my life, but at the same time, it made me realize that I'm so much different than I was back then. A part of me wants to go back to that time, but this stupid thing called time is constantly pulling us to move forward regardless of what we want. That sounds kinda silly and cliche as I type it, but it's true.  

5. 

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month! Childhood cancer is something I hold very near and dear to my heart. (if you've been reading my story posts, you kinda know why). Anyways, a while ago, I signed a petition to light the White House gold for childhood cancer month since they do the same for breast cancer. I was so angry when I got an email saying they wouldn't do it. I was heartbroken...especially when I read this post, I was enraged. Seriously... thanks for nothing white house!

Did you know that childhood cancer is the LEAST funded out of all the cancer foundations?

That's so heartbreaking to me. We should be fighting for these kids who are basically getting murdered! 

Okay, I'm done. But I just want to say, please please please help anyway you can. Even just good thoughts and prayers for all of those poor kids can help. 

Weekly Wrap Up: Waffle House and Psychopaths

I'm starting a new thing here on the ol' blog where I recap the highs and lows of the week every friday.

I love being able to look back at particular moments in my life because life happens so fast. I also wanted to post about more than just my weekend, (like I've done before) so I decided I will recap the entire week!

I know it sounds like it's more for me than you

but I mean.... It is my blog after all! ;)

(in case you're wondering, I got the idea to do this here, )

(my eldest brother and I)

1. This past monday was my sweet sister-in-laws birthday! We celebrated by eating one of her favorite meals, fresh caught salmon and halibut. It was divine. We finished the evening off with Sprinkles cupcakes (yum) and a major discussion about the VMAs. It was nice. 

Happy 22nd Birthday Holly!

2.

Ummmm... Yeah.

You know that time in everyone's life where you run out of gas on the highway and pull over asap and end up at Waffle House?

Oh you don't? 

Well that happened. 

Yeah. My wonderful, beautiful mother had a rental car (long story) didn't realize that not every car reminds you with a loud noise when you're running low on fuel.

*palm hits forehead*

3. 

Like I've said, I started school this week. 

I'm taking 16 hours (5 classes) plus a lab for my biology course and observation hours for student teaching.

I have to admit, I'm a little overwhelmed. 

but I know I am a good student and I will make it through successfully! 

So far I'm loving my creative writing class and my growth and development class. 

In writing, we get to actually send our final 'papers' in to a publisher! How cool is that?!?!

Right now I'm thinking I will finish up my story and submit that.

I'll keep you posted. 

and as far as the G&D class, I get to have my own virtual child. Yep. I get to raise my very own child from conception to 20+ yrs and get graded on it.

and if I screw up royally and totally ruin this poor computer child's virtual life, I fail.

I'm pretty scared about that. 

(I should mention I kill every plant I try to keep)

4.

Oh. My. Goodness. 

This book. You guys, for real.

It is so good! Just when you think you have it figured out, you're wrong. waayyyyy wrong. and just when you think you start tp figure it out again, you're wrong once again!

It is brilliant and I couldn't put it down. 

I'd recommend it to someone who doesn't mind cursing, blood & guts and looking into the brain of a psychopath. 

Have a good weekend guys !

(minus the psychopaths)