What A Beautiful Morning!

This morning, as I grade papers, drink a nice hot cup of tea, get ready for church, and glance out the window, I can't help but think what a beautiful morning it is!

Happy Sunday, everyone!

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Did you fall for it?

Here's to a great Tuesday, all! I found this on Pinterest last night.

Did you fall for it? I surely did!

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Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday {Bedroom}

It's another Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday!  Today, I thought I'd share some of the dreamy/gorgeous/fun/beautiful/calm bedroom images I have seen.  I love my bedroom (with it's yellow and gray-ness), but I wish I had a million other bedrooms that I could decorate!  Just look at these rooms!

Source: bhg.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: shelterness.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Heather on Pinterest

What does your dream bedroom look like?

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The Beauty After the Storm

If you live in Virginia (or as it appears, anywhere on the East Coast), you probably got some sort of rain/wind/storm today.  It wasn't pretty - but I'm happy it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  This is what it looked like when I got home from work...It was definitely worse than this at times, but those pictures are on my camera.  This was on my phone, which was convenient at the moment!

Anywho...on the way home from choir practice, I noticed the beauty in the sky!  I stopped to grab a quick shot on my phone (totally wishing I had my camera with me!!) and grabbed this!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

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Saturday Morning Shenanigans: iTunes Update

It's Saturday morning and I should be working on my lesson plans for the upcoming week.  But I'm not.  Dad's on his way to visit for the day, so I should be finishing lesson plans before he gets here.  But I haven't yet started.  Church is tomorrow and I should finish up my bible study reading soon.  But I've only done half of the week's readings so far.

So what have I chosen to do for the morning?  Update my iTunes music, of course!  Between two computers, iPod, iPhone, various hard drive failures which resulted in lost music, and the numerous cds I've misplaced over time, I'm finally attempting to get all my devices on one page!

Here's the process I'm currently working on:

- Burn all music from desktop computer of which I've lost the cd for
- Upload cds that I do have, but don't have in iTunes yet
- Sync iPhone (which has my most recent music on it) to desktop computer
- Sync iPhone to MacBook to align the iTunes libraries
- Finally, sync iPod to match current iTunes library

The five step process sounds easy, but it's taken all morning and I'm only half way done (if that!)

What are you up to on this beautiful Saturday?

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Music Monday: Glass Edition

I'm one of those people that loves to sing along to music...only when I'm alone...and especially when I'm in the car!  I love music!  I listen to 46% Country; 44% Contemporary Christian; and 10% Pop music.  These are my current favorite songs.  These are the songs I listen to every morning on the way to work...and they are definitely on repeat! 

Thompson Square: Glass



Chris August: Center of It



Little Big Town: Pontoon



Matthew West: Forgiveness



Train (featuring Ashley Monroe): Bruises



So tell me...what are your favorite songs of the moment?

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Sunday Social: About the Blog

Back in July, I linked up with Ashley and Neely for their Sunday Social blog.  If you never got a chance to view that blog post, you must do that now!  Click here to view that Sunday Social on Travel!  They do this every Sunday and it's so fun to see everyone's responses to the questions.  The same questions for everyone, but very different answers from everyone!  Every Sunday, they have a different set of questions for the blogger (me) to answer.  This week, they are going back to their original Sunday Social: All About Your Blog!  I think this is a good time to connect back with Sunday Social, since I'm just now getting back into the swing of things!

1. What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it?

My blog is titled "Beyond the Gradebook."  I started blogging with my photography blog, but honestly, I was having a hard time introducing personal posts, like the posts here, on that blog.  Mixing the business and personal was just something I wasn't doing a good job at.  Enter "Beyond the Gradebook."  I created this blog as my personal blog.  A place to share my thoughts.  A place to interact with others around the world.  It's been so much fun!

2. What do you love the most about blogging?

Meeting new people from all over who have the same interests as me.  A big reason I created this blog was to share educational resources, tips and tricks.  I haven't had a chance to really do this yet, but it's coming!  I follow so many amazing teacher blogs and have learned so much from the bloggers I've met, that I wanted to give back like they gave to me!  

3. What are your 2 favorite posts you've written?

Yesterday's post, The Maine Attraction, is definitely my favorite.  I love to travel and I love Maine!  My second favorite post is Gray Walls.  There isn't much on that post, but it means so much to me!  I'm so excited to have my own house and to be able to finally employ all the design ideas that have been in my head for the past (many) years!  Gray Walls is a start to my new life.  

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world?

Write.  Every day.  And everything.  Blog something every single day.  Even if it's just a picture of something you did that day, or a quote you have recently heard.  Keep in the swing of the blogging process and don't back down.  If you take a break one day, it will be hard to get back into the blog.  Another tip of advice would be to find a Linky Party, just like this Sunday Social, to join.  There are so many great Linky Parties out there, and they are a fun and easy way to blog!

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had?

Blog for you.  I used to think that no one wanted to read what I wrote and it was a waste of time.  If nothing else, it's my online journal.  Now, I don't care if people read my posts or not.  Yes, I do appreciate those who do.  But, I don't stress over the statistics.  I write for me, whether people are reading the posts or not.

6. Give us 3 blogs we NEED to be following that you love.

First, and foremost, you need to follow 8Six11.  Unlike most of the blogs that I follow, this is one blogger that I personally know.  I photographed Holly's wedding.  She is one of the sweetest girls I know!  I just love following her site because we share so many common interests.  Baking, design, photography, travel.  And she has the cutest dogs!  

Classroom Freebies is another blog you must follow.  That is, if you are a teacher!  There are so many great contributors to this blog.  And it's exactly what it says it is.  A blog full of Classroom Freebies!

The third blog I think you should follow is Two Twenty One.  Chelsea has got some fabulous style and some great ideas!  Her blog is wonderful.  But don't just take my word for it, make sure you check it out as well! 

I couldn't find a blog button on her blog, so all you need to do is click this link: here!

What are you waiting for?  Go to google, start a blog, and share with the world!  Can't wait to read what you have to say!

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The Maine Attraction

Whew.  It's been over a month since I last blogged.  Not exactly how I wanted to keep up this blog, but hey...things happen!  Between moving, starting school and not having internet, it's been a little tricky!  Now that I'm all moved in, school is in full swing, and I finally have internet, it's time to start blogging again!

For vacation this year, my family went to Maine.  Why?  Lobster.  Seriously, we went to Maine to get some yummo lobster!  :)  I just love visiting that part of the country.  It's so beautiful there!!  Without further ado, here are some images from our vacation!

Gloucester, MA

Does this look familiar?  It's the Fisherman's Memorial in Gloucester, MA (but looks very similar to the Gorton's fisherman!)

The view from the Summit at our resort property!  We stayed at the most amazing resort!  No hotel - all cabins!  We stayed at the Point Lookout Resort in Lincolnville, Maine.  I highly recommend this property!

Our home away from home for the week!

Our (semi) private driveway!

Some more views from The Summit on the resort's property.  This is a popular wedding location in the area.  I can't imagine why!!

Hello there!

Amazing!

This next series of photos is Acadia National Park.  One of the most beautiful places I have ever visited in the United States!

Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park - When the waves roll into this hole/cavern/inlet (to the right of the walkway), it sounds like thunder!  So weird, and so awesome!

Our next adventure was a sailboat ride out of Camden, Maine.  Unfortunately, it got a little foggy (as seen in my next images) so our two hour ride turned into a twenty minute around the harbor cruise.  But, nevertheless, it was an awesome experience while it lasted!

Our captain!

See what I meant by the fog!  By the way, I totally LOVE this photo!  Just something about it!

Camden, Maine.  I just LOVE small towns!  And this one was SUPER busy!

Oh yes - we went to the Lobster Festival in Rockport!  Why not?

This guy is so talented!

Gross!  Why?

What's a Lobster Festival without a...King Neptune...?

They were doing tours of the USS San Antonio, but the lines were long and we decided to nix that idea.

Red's.  Home of the famous Lobster Rolls.  Check out the line.  It's standard here.

Love visiting Maine and stopping at L.L. Bean!

Wilmington apparently floods.  A lot.

Terrible photo, yes.  Terrible storm.  YES!

Nevertheless, an amazing ending to an amazing vacation!

Now, doesn't this make you want to visit? :)

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