Of All These Things, Love is the Greatest

Hello Everyone!

Today I wanted to talk about the term with which we call LOVE. Love is what inspires me to get up in the morning and become a better person. The world is created on love. Without it human beings would cease to exist. Love is what makes the world go round on a day to day basis. When I wake up, I am filled with good feelings that I feel loved and have love for my family and friends. Love is what inspires me to become a better teacher and help students do their very best in their work.  Do I sound like a long- haired hippie in the grass yet? Ok, I have just been so intrigued by living my purpose in life and finding my true passions. Now, that I am recently engaged, I feel the need to give the very best of myself
 and what I have to offer the world. I am so lucky to be apart of a new family unit! I can't wait to start my life with him and begin this incredible new time in my life!

I feel like I have definitely  slowly grown into my own person and who I am aspiring to be! When you truly find that person  who inspires you to become a better person independently, I feel that is when you can love and accept another person. 

So today, my words of advice for you are, when you ultimately find what you are meant to set out to do in this world, you have great love for yourself and give out love. This in turn allows you to make another person happy and you help out one another on your individual paths. Well, this is what's working for me to say the least:)

  If you've feel like you've lost that loving feeling, try to bring it back by saying something nice to someone, open a door for a complete stranger, (I'm talking to you my fellow New Yorkers;) or buy a special someone flowers. I promise, when you give love even in simplest of ways, it comes back ten fold!  Ok, I'm going to dance around a camp fire now! Peace, love and harmony my habitual readers!

October Children's Book: Eloise

Hi Everyone!

Today I wanted to introduce you to a spoiled little adventurous girl named Eloise who lives in New York City. Sorry for sounding so blunt, but she does have the world on a string!  I do like her many adventures she resorts to in the city. Eloise lives in The Plaza Hotel and looks like she never brushes her hair. She's the kind of child whom her parents don't have time for, so she creates her own fun! Eloise lives in the penthouse suite in the Plaza! She rooms with her Nanny, a pug named Weenie, and her turtle, Skipperdee. I really love the illustrations throughout the book. This book brings me back when our family stayed at The Plaza Hotel during the holidays! I can't wait to spend Christmas time in Manhattan with my fiancé! I'm getting excited!   Such a great book! 

Fashion Accessory: The Statement Necklace

Hello Everybody!

I am here today to talk about some great accessories I have seen this season in the stores. I don't really wear too many accessories, but one thing that I really like seeing is the jeweled statement necklace. I've seen a couple that look stunning on people. This necklace is so nice for fall! It looks really great with a cozy sweater or a button down. White cotton Tee shirts  can even look pulled together and polished with one of these pieces. I've seen these necklaces in every jewel tone possible. I would prefer just wearing one piece at a time. You don't want to over accessorize with a bracelet or earrings. I go with the one or two rule. Never wear three pieces at a time! I am usually comfortable in studs and a larger necklace, or a necklace and a bracelet. That can even become too much. I always think less is more! When you wear a statement necklace, you want it to be the main focus of attention. Like a fine piece of art. Voila! J.Crew, Bauble bar and Piper lime have these wonderful necklaces. Since I am using my money for wedding plans, and other wedding weekends, this blog is a way of curbing my appetite to buy anything and give all of you my dream wish list. Maybe someday I'll be able to afford these little luxuries:) I'll keep working hard! For now, just writing about it makes me happy. What kind of accessory do you love this season?

Children's Book in October Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody

Happy October!

Today I wanted to review a book that I recently read to my students. This book is called Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody by Ludworst Bemonster This book takes a clever outtake from the classic book Madeline! It's a great book for K-2 graders. The creative story rhymes and the pictures are the best! The illustrations take a similar effect from the Madeline series as well. Kids will get a kick out of the funny things that these monsters and ghosts do! Perfect book for the month of October!  Here is a YouTube clip on the book:

http://youtu.be/QLIVaFuQ82o

Photographers, and Flowers and Bands, Oh My!

Good Day Everyone!

Today I had to start writing down the lists that have been dancing inside my head like sugarplum fairies.  If you've ever seen that movie, I Don't Know How She Does It, I feel like I'm Sarah Jessica Parker going through a Wizard of Oz Munchkin Scroll inspired checklist at night before I fall fast asleep. I'm super excited that I found my wedding dress! I actually cried when I put it on! Thank you b. Hughes Bridal in Nashville, TN! Five stars for finding me the perfect dress! Check! 

Now remember, I'm a pretty relaxed and laid back individual, I mean, of course I am:) I'm just making noise right now while I'm trying to iron out the fine details. 
Every time I try to look up live wedding bands, I cringe out of utter fear and nervousness. 

Why must they sound so corny? I'm sure they are better in person, 
right? I think I'd be more comfortable with the band from the movie The Hangover or Old School.   I think they're called The Dan Band.

-Cleveland, I thought you were nicknamed The City of Rock and Roll?

Now, I know there's got to be a good band hiding there somewhere. As The Beatles would say, "Don't Let Me Down!" 


And, what about photographers? Do I always have to find that perfect cheesy pose on my wedding day, or can I just act like myself? Will I get a big pimple on my face before the big day like that lady from My Big Fat Greek Wedding? 

If so, One word. Windex.


What about flowers? Can you really screw up the beauty of a 
natural fresh cut flower? I've heard catastrophic flower stories, seriously? Now that sounds insanely funny to me.

These are the long lists of questions that I ponder on occasion during my lengthy Fall Break. I really don't care, as long as by the end of the day, I'm getting married to the love of my life.

So list, you can chill out for the time being, I'm sure the band I pick can't be any worse than The Dan Band (which makes them entertaining). I hope you remember this funny performance. Here's a clip from The Dan Band. If anyone has any suggestions about any of these three subjects in the Cleveland area, please advise me! 

Remember, Cleveland Rocks!


http://youtu.be/b3Tz5M_gM9I


http://youtu.be/FfUU1wJKXDc

The Courage to Face your Fear

Hello Everyone!

Today I just wanted to talk about the word courage. At one point in time, each person goes through things in their life that are difficult or discouraging. I am hear to tell you that this is what life is all about! Life is a series of obstacles and challenges. We are the creators of our own journeys. Life is like climbing a mountain, yes, sometimes it gets really steep, and we feel like we just want to head back down, but we can't! We don't live our lives in reverse, we live them forward! During that climb, we may become out of breath and have to rest for awhile. We may hit plateaus and stay in that spot for a considerable amount of time before we have to move again. But we should be celebrating each and every step and goal that we accomplish! Don't become fearful of the future. Our minds  should be set for what we can handle today. You will get through it! And you should be grateful and happy to live in the moment. Fears hold a person back from their desired dreams and goals. Take it one step at a time. Visualize your future in your mind and take baby steps to achieve what you want in your life.  What kind of life do you want for yourself? What is making you fearful? Create the life you want to live for yourself each day with steps towards your desired goal. This is the story of my life. Have a great day!

October Children's Book: Olivia!

Hello Everyone!

Today I just wanted to talk about the children's book series called Olivia, by Ian Falconer. Yes, this book series has been around for awhile, but I just can't get enough of that gray little pig! Students will find similar characteristics in themselves if  they too have a younger brother or sister. She's so cultured and, wait....she's as refined as a little girl pig in the city can be:) I mean, she goes to museums and is inspired by Edgar Degas's ballet performers. She also is intrigued by Jackson Pollack paintings. Now, come on, have you ever seen a pig at The Metropolitan Museum of Art ever? Anyway, she does get into a lot of shenanigans in all of her books. I can't help it fall in love with her drive and ambition to try anything. You go, girl! One last thing, that pig can dress! Her color combination of black white and red are tres chic! If I could be any character from a book series, I would probably pick Olivia. Add this book to your bedtime reading library for your children. Oink! Oink!

Give Your Children the Head Start Education They Need

Hello Everyone!

Today I just wanted to talk on the subject of early Head Start or Preschool education for our children. As I am going through my Masters program, I am certainly seeing a positive shift in the direction and benefits that these programs gives our students. As I was a part time teacher at Vanderbilt University's Susan Gray Head Start school, I saw the wonderful effects of children as early as the age of one. Children are absorbing information so quickly at this age. Their brains are so intricate and the neurotransmitters in their brain are beaming at lightning speeds so very early from 0-3 years of age. This is is an essential time for children to learn. I remembered when I worked at the Head Start school, over the course of a year, I would consistently work with the younger children  (1-2) with routinely having them sit in my lap for story time. They really enjoyed this time, because they were listening to my voice tone, reading the words and watching me point to pictures on the pages. They enjoyed this because they were trying to learn the use of language and the beginning stages of communication. Bilingual children may have a developmental delay in the beginning , just because they are trying to organize and master the two languages spoken to them on a daily basis. Their speech should improve in due time. Modeling the use of a book is so beneficial for a young child. This is a building block into the early stages of using a book. A child quickly picks up on how to hold a book, how words are used from left to right by pointing, and the front and back of the book. This then sets the stage for explaining in depth title, author, characters, and early reading stages for Kindergarten. Do you see how this is all linked? AKA, the hopeful smooth transition of building blocks, common core K-12? Babies are incredibly smart. They can pick up on non verbal cues and are quick to react to something that they are not use to. Social interaction and diversity is also a great way for toddlers to learn and grow in the PreK/ Head Start classroom.

Musical movement and routines are very important in the early stages of a child's life. I would also use sign language for these small toddlers.  I would try to be very consistent in my daily activities with them. They were less prone to outbursts and tantrums when they knew their routine. I even noticed this evident in my Kindergarten kids. Without a constant routine, they were prone to helplessness and sudden misbehavior in the classroom. Children who are in a preschool setting were exposed to more social interaction with peers, numbers, letters,and the overall classroom setting. I believe that being in this environment set them up for success in the general education Kindergarten classroom. I remember the days in Kindergarten when the students would sit on the carpet, and understand the days of the week, months, and numbers because they recalled doing it in their PreK classes.The ones who weren't exposed lagged a bit further behind. I wondered if this hindered a child's learning from the very beginning. Would it continue throughout further grades, or if they could catch up in time.  In today's classroom, Kindergartner's are being prepped for what seems like first grade curriculum. As we were learning our letters, phonemic awareness and transition to phonics, we are also learning about nouns, verbs and punctuation. Children need to be prepped for reading so they can be successful when they start school. I hope this information is relevant to parents and teachers about the classroom today! I would love to hear some things that are successful or concerns teachers or parents have about early childhood education.

A Nation United or Divided? The Word of the Week : Cooperation

Hello All!

Today I wanted to talk on the subject of the term Cooperation. I'm teaching this term to my Kindergartners this week. The term cooperation is defined as :

1. an act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit; joint action.

Or:

2.more or less active assistance from a person, or organization etc.: We sought the cooperation of various civic leaders.

Or:

3. willingness to cooperate: indicate cooperation.

4. Economics . the combination of persons for purposes of production, purchase, or distribution for their joint benefit: producers' cooperation;consumers' cooperation.

Or:

5.Sociology . activity shared for mutual benefit.

Or:

6. Ecology . mutually beneficial interaction among organisms living in a limited area.

I constantly have to teach my students the act of cooperation in the classroom. For instance, the use of good manners to share and learn how to play fairly. The good act of kindness and empathy when one of their friends is hurt on the playground, or having them use their kind words to communicate effectively when they need a peer to cooperate with them. I couldn't help to bring up this subject when we are in the midst of a face off in our government. Not to take sides, but just observing as a unbiased individual, we  need to stop tattle telling on which side is right, and grow up! I can't believe this is happening in 2013. Especially since we have gone through this before. I really feel like our government is acting like two children playing on the floor and one child cannot share the classroom block (for instance). I have to constantly come in between them and take the block away because we are not understanding the term "cooperate" or are being too greedy in their play. Our nation is wasting millions or billions of dollars if we don't come to an agreement. This is the money we could have used to solve the problems we are fighting about in the first place. Sounds absurd. If we as citizens of The United States of America can't figure it out together, then we aren't going to get anywhere. Hence, our state of being in Washington today. Should we be teaching our children about taking sides, or using the term cooperation correctly? Let's be mature adults and show our children how "WE" adults can use the term "cooperation"for an improved and successful future society. On that note,  I wanted to end with saying let's work together,  not divided to solve our nations dilemma:) 

Problem solved!

Words for a Better Life: Ignore What Other Naysayers May Think

Hello My Friends!

Today I wanted to speak on behalf of being confident on your journey pathway we like to call life. There are too many naysayers who like to criticize, judge, and berate other people's plans. I would like to call them the social media middle school bully. They sit quietly behind their computers snickering at other people's  accomplishments and dreams. Those are the kinds of people who are of no use to themselves and may even suffer from lack of self esteem. I use to fear people like them while I would write to enhance my writing skills. Now, it doesn't seem to bother me. As Jay-Z would say, you gotta get that dirt off your shoulder! While my blogs maybe useless to some people, they are an outlet for my creativity. If they inspire no one, the only person that is being benefited is myself. Which is great! Sure, I go off on a rant at times, but this so called online journal is an expression of me becoming a better writer. It makes me become more professional with the students I teach, and my overall feeling of fulfillment. Also, if you don't like what I have to write about, why on Earth are you reading this now? So, if I have inspired you to do something you have been fearful to do in the process of reading this, well, I guess this writing thing benefits the both of us.  Learn to let go of hang ups and the middle school bully. They're still out there, but learning to make yourself happy is the best thing you can do for YOU. In fact, this bully should fuel your energy level to prove them wrong and succeed. So, thank you! Live the life you desire for YOU. This advice goes not only for blogging, but for other issues that you may be facing in life. I love my family, friends, and readers! The best thing I can give them is my love and support in their life! Now, stay strong and enjoy the rest of the week!