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All good things...

...unfortunately must come to an end.  This has been one of the best weeks thus far.  Spending a week at the beach with three amazing friends - what more could you ask for?  The week has seemed to go by so fast, but looking back, we've done so much and have had such a great time.  I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's departure - but I'm excited to plan for the next time we all get together for another fun week like this one!

Here are this week's highs and lows!

- This week!  It's been so much fun!
- Wednesday's weather.  It was so cool.  We sat on the beach and were actually a bit CHILLY!  
- Next week!  I'm heading to Maine with the family!  Road trip!
- The Olympics!  I enjoy watching the Olympics!  I'll be on the road, so it will be hard to watch - but I can eagerly check the medal count on Yahoo's home page!  That's all that really matters in the end, right?  


- I'm not ready for this week to end.  :(
- Today's heat.  Sticky feeling.

I'll leave you with a few images from the beach this week!




What's your favorite sport during the Olympics?  I like swimming and gymnastics the best!

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Oh, How Pinteresting

It's Wednesday - which means it's time for another Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!  I've been at the beach this week with friends - yay! - and the internet access has been spotty at the least, so I haven't kept up with posting this week.  But, I'll catch you all up with the images at a later date!  For today, here is Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday that I'm linking up with The Vintage Apple.

(And while you are here on the blog, check it out!  It's all tricked out thanks to Erin at Designer Blogs.  I've got a new signature, blog button, and a few other cool new things!!)





Source: polyvore.com via Sarah on Pinterest




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Welcome to OBX!

Talk about a (not so warm) welcome to the beach yesterday! It rained cats and dogs! Lightning was dancing around the sky, thunder filled the air, and the rain was terrible! We sat in the car in Walmart's parking lot for thirty minutes waiting for the storm to die down! Let's hope that this was not an omen for the rest of the week!

**Photos to come!**  They are not wanting to work for me today!  :)
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A Time to Reflect

I am going to try something. On Fridays, I'm going to blog about my highs and lows for the week. This is a time for me to reflect on the good (and not so good) things that happened this week! I was trying to think of a clever name to call this segment. Something with good alliteration that would be easy and fun to remember. But alas, my creativity is not good right now. So, here are Friday's Highs and Lows! 


Highs
- getting my hair all chopped off amidst this heat.
- vacation bible school was this week and it went so well!  It was my first time as the director, eek!
- leaving tomorrow to spend a week at the beach with my friends!  so excited!

Lows
- without saying too much - all the evil that happens in the world today.
- this heat.  gross.

And, here's a quick before/after picture of my new hair taken with the phone.


P.S.  I follow a blog called A Bowl Full of Lemons that I absolutely adore!  She has a giveaway going on now that you should totally enter for a product called Fridge Coasters!  Check it out here!  I'm totally getting some for my new fridge!

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Wal-mart loves teachers!

They must truly understand the amount of stuff that teachers need to buy for their classrooms and how expensive most of those things are!  It's so nice to be able to find some cheap deals places to help out!  I especially love the Dollar Tree's Teaching Tree items - teacher stuff for $1!  It's hard to beat.

Until you go to Wal-Mart!  That's right!  I went to Wal-mart the other day to get some stuff for Vacation Bible School, took a detour through the school supply sections and found these gems!  Teacher stuff --- for LESS than $1.  Everything (except for the division flashcards and the card game) you see below only cost me $0.88 A PIECE!  It does add up quickly, but when they are that cheap, it's okay to purchase them in large quantities, right?

Before you read on........don't forget to A) follow this blog by clicking the Join this Site button on the side of the blog and B) check out the new facebook page by clicking here.  It's bare for now - but good things are coming soon!



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Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday!

It's Wednesday!  It's time for another Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday!  It's also my one week anniversary of blogging here on Beyond the Gradebook!  Here are some of the things I'm pinning this week on Pinterest!  If I don't follow you on pinterest, post your link below!  I'm looking for some new boards to follow!! :)

Also, I've created a facebook page for my new blogging venture and I'd LOOOVE for you to visit and like the page!  It's bare right now - but will be full of great stuff coming up.  Like, maybe some giveaways and contests?!  Who doesn't like that!!  What are you waiting for?  Go, go, go!


Source: pinerly.com via Sarah on Pinterest
Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest


















And a big thanks to The Vintage Apple for the link up party!!

 
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Finally!

Yesterday, while putting together my new dresser, we saw a lot of this.  For way too long.


After a good night's sleep and the morning spent at Vacation Bible School, we finally got to this!


And now my bedroom is finally starting to look like the room I've been planning for a loooong time!  I'm so excited about how it's turning out and I can't wait to accessorize in the room!!




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Some Assembly Required

Some assembly required is given a new meaning when these are the screws included for furniture assembly. For a simple dresser. From Ikea.


Being optimistic about this project, I knew we could get it done.  We started with all these pieces scattered throughout the room.


We finally got to this piece after much sweat and hard work.


After two hours of working on the dresser, we decided to put it aside and go home.  We finished the day with the dresser looking like this.  Almost there...I hope!!


However - I know, at the end of the day, this dresser is going to be so worth the hard work!  Have you ever worked super hard to put together a piece of furniture like this?  



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Sunday Social: Travel

I'm linking up with Ashley and Neely for the first time!  I couldn't be more excited about this linky party, because travel is the topic for today!  As that is one of my absolute favorite things to do, I have a lot to tell and I am excited to see what everyone else has to say!!

Sunday Social

1. What is the best trip you've ever been on?
Oh how can I pick only one!?!  There are way too many to choose just one, so here are a few of my favorite trips I've been on:
- Paris, France with a group from high school.
- London, Paris, and Rome a few years ago.
- A month studying abroad in Greece with a group from Longwood University.
- Cruise to Alaska with the family last year.
...and the list goes on and on!

Below are just some of my favorites from a few of the places above!









2. What is your best idea for a girl's weekend trip?
Probably a trip to the beach - but I guess I'm partial since I'm spend a Girl's Week at the beach next week!  A trip to New York City would also be fun!  Watching Broadway plays, seeing the lights, taking it all in!  That sounds like a great time had by all!

3. What is your best idea for a couple's trip?
If it's a big trip, like a Honeymoon, I'd say a trip to Jamaica, the Bahamas, or somewhere tropical.  If it's a small, weekend getaway, I'd have to say a B&B somewhere in the countryside!

4. What is the best vacation on the cheap?
This would be someone close to you, maybe somewhere that you haven't visited in a long time.  I'm blessed to live in the great state of Virginia, so I'm close enough to go on day trips to Washington, D.C, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, the Beach, Baltimore, and the list goes on!  

5. What is the place you most want to visit?
I don't have to hesitate for this one...
AUSTRALIA!
It's on my short list for travel.  In fact, I've decided I'm going in 2015.  So that's, what, three years away!  Gotta start saving those pennies! 

6. What are your vacation necessities?
Depends on the location, but in general, a good book (or four).  Some good magazines - like Real Simple, HGTV Magazine, Rachael Ray Magazine - just to name a few.  Comfortable clothes for travel, whether you are driving or flying.  Music and spending money :) 

That's it for me!  Now it's your turn!  Visit Ashley and Neely's blogs (the links are at the top) and start your Sunday Social and tell us all about your travel!  If you participate in this today, please post your link below so I can come read it!!  Thanks! 
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Operation Ikea

Today was a fun, but long, day!  We traveled to Ikea to get some furniture for my house!  Aside from Disney World, Ikea is one of the happiest places on Earth!!  Or, at least, I think it is!  :)  We contemplated renting a small U-haul truck to get my furniture home but just figured we'd risk it!  Who would have thought that we could fit everything into Mom's car??

We were able to fit a queen sized bed, two nightstands, a dresser, a coffee table, two end tables and various accessories and decorative pieces into the car!  Thank goodness for Ikea's smart "flat box" packaging!

Words cannot describe how excited I am to get all of this unpacked and ready to decorate!!


So tell me, what did you do for fun on your Saturday today?
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Gray Walls

Today was the day to start moving into my new house!  I'm so excited about this!  We got the key this morning, moved a few carloads of stuff in throughout the day and painted my bedroom!  As much as I wanted to paint more than one room, it's too much work, it's only a rental house, and I just want to start decorating!  I'm too anxious!  So, what was once a white box - is now my soon to be fabulous gray bedroom.  I know what you are thinking.  Gray walls.  Really?  But you just wait!  This room will be oh so wonderful when it is done.  If it's ever done.  I'm sure it will ALWAYS be a work in progress!  Enjoy these photos from today!

P.S.  Sorry for the terrible quality photos.  I took them on my phone and they were pretty small so I had to enlarge them.  But you get the idea! ;)






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iPad Giveaway

Heeellloooo!  Teacher Created Resources has always been amazing in my book!  They have awesome resources for the classroom!  If you are a teacher and you have not checked out their website - I suggest you go now.  An even better reason to go to their site?  Oh yeah, they are giving away an iPad!  Who doesn't want to win an iPad for their classroom??

I suggest you click this link and head on over to enter the iPad.  And I guess I won't get mad at you if you win it over me!  Good luck to you all!!


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Oh, How Pinteresting {New House Ideas}

Because I have just accepted a new teaching position.  Because I will be relocating.  Because I will have a house to decorate (yay!), this is about the biggest thing taking over my mind right now!  How will I decorate this room?  What will I put in that room?  How can I take my millions of ideas and put them into this house?  Oh, so many ideas, so little space!  I'll be so excited to get in the house and paint, decorate, and make it my own!  Once that's done, I'll be sharing on here! Until that time, let's live through Pinterest!

Here are just a few of the (many) ideas I've seen recently that I definitely want to try out in the new house!  Oh, and you totally have no idea how much that last room makes me happy!  It's totally my inspiration for my living room, but of course, I'll be putting my own twist to the room!



 
This is my first time participating in a Linky Party!  I think I'll make this a regular Wednesday thing!  Want to start your own, or see other people's Pinterest favorites?  Check out The Vintage Apple below! Have a great Wednesday everyone!

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