House Tour: My Bedroom

When I started my blog, one of the first things I wanted to do was share a "house tour" of my home.  Better late than never, but I'm so excited to finally share my bedroom with you.  It's the first room in my house I've decorated, and the first to be almost done (well, tied with my living room).  But, it's definitely still a work in progress.  I'm currently in the design phase where you are in a holding pattern.  You know the one.  You are missing a few things - but you just don't know what they are until you see them in a store or online.  Yeah, I'm just waiting for those special pieces to strike me!  The bedroom, however, is about as done as it's going to be, so I figured this would be the perfect time to share it with you.  I am still looking for a jewelry holder of some sort, but I'm thinking that I'm going to end up making one of my own.

First up, is the before photo.  Eww.  Look at those carpets.  They definitely had to go!!

Without further adieu, I present to you my bedroom.  The "theme" of the room is gray and yellow with a touch of travel.  However, you'll notice that the only thing in the room that is yellow is my pillow.  I'm pretty picky when it comes to colors and I don't want thirty different shades of yellow in the room, so I've stuck to the one piece of yellow, and it's working great!

Gray is never a color I ever would have thought about using on my walls before.  But I'm totally in love with this color!  I actually don't remember the name of the paint, but I'll definitely share if I come across it again!

These super fun travel photos are actually postcards from Ikea.  I framed them with Ikea frames!  And the other paper framed with the photos are just scrapbook paper from Michael's!

So, where'd I get everything?

Bed - Ikea
Nightstands - Ikea
Dresser - Ikea
Eiffel Tower Lamp - I think Target (it's old)
TV Stand - Target
Travel Photos - Ikea
Bedside Lamps - Target
Comforter - Macy's (I believe)
Gray Blanket - Marshall's
Gray and Yellow Pillows - Marshall's

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Weekend Update!

I try not to participate in too many link-up parties, but I thought that this would be a fun one to participate in. I probably won't do it every week, but only when I've had a great weekend or really have something to share from my weekend!  So, here goes my first Weekend Update (where I'm linking up with Sami's Shenanigans and Join The Gossip)!

This weekend...  
It snowed, so we had an early release on Friday!

 Got a head start on notes for my students' for the next semester of school.

I went on a snowy walk in the woods behind my house with my neighbors.

My first Donor's Choose project was posted.  Read more about that here and please consider donating something to the cause!  If you donate within the next six days and use the code INSPIRE, Donor's Choose will DOUBLE your donation!  How awesome is that?!

After learning that we were going to have Monday off due to the weather, I stayed up late to FINALLY get all of my school papers sorted.  Yeah, that was brought home before Christmas..and I just got to it.  Don't judge!

I didn't want to - but I finally un-Christmas-ed my house :(  Sad day!

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My Students Need Your Help!

If you are a teacher, you have probably heard of DonorsChoose.org.  If you are not a teacher, you may or may not have heard of this website.  Basically, this website is an awesome resource for teachers to post projects they are working towards - materials for the classroom - that they aren't able to fund themselves.  So much of the things I have in my classroom come out of pocket, and it's tough to buy my students everything they need to make them successful in, not only the classroom, but in the future as well.  So, I've reached out to DonorsChoose.org to help me with my venture.

I'm looking to gain some new math materials for my classroom to help fuel my students learning, expand their motivation, and boost their self-confidence.  In order to make this dream a reality, I need fabulous people, like you to help!  If you are financially able to donate something, even just $5 will help make a huge difference in my classroom!

Here's the best part!  For the next seven days, DonorsChoose will match ANY donation that uses the code INSPIRE!!  Please consider donating what you are able, and use the code INSPIRE to have your donation doubled!  You have no idea how much your support will help these young children!

If you are a blogger and wish to make a donation, leave a comment below, or email me at iamsarahelizabeth@yahoo.com and I'll give you TWO MONTHS of free ad-space!  Double bonus!  This is an awesome deal!  You get two months of ad-space AND you can help a classroom of fifth graders grow their learning?  How awesome is that?

If you are not financially able to give, I ask that you do only one thing.  Please send my link and the information about the INSPIRE code to someone you know, that might be willing to donate.  That's all!

In a nutshell, here's the deal.
- Go to http://www.donorschoose.org/scarper
- Choose any amount you are able to give towards my project.
- Use the code INSPIRE to have your donation MATCHED!
- Feel good, knowing that you are making a direct impact on the lives of these students!
- If you are a blogger, email me for information on your free ad-space!

If you have any questions about this, please leave a comment below, or email me at the address above, and I'll be happy to talk!!

I thank you in advance for any way you are able to help!

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Happy Penguin Awareness Day!

I bet you didn't even know there was a Penguin Awareness Day!  But there is!  I knew about this, but unfortunately somehow had forgotten about it until my cousin posted an image on Facebook about it.  Today at church, I even wore all black and white, without even realizing that I was dressed like a penguin!  January 20 is always Penguin Awareness Day and April 25 is always World Penguin Day!  Mark your calendars, folks!  Let's celebrate the best little animals out there!! :)  This website will give you a little more information, if you are interested!

Just in case you couldn't tell, penguins are by FAR my favorite animals out there.  What's your favorite animal?

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Snow!

- SNOW!!!

- Because of the snow, we now have a FOUR-day weekend!  Who wouldn't love that!

- This week, I lost 0.4 pounds.  A loss is a loss, and I'll take it!  Next week, however, I vow to visit the gym more, make better Weight Watchers choices, AND start Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred.  Wish me luck!

- The snow is already melting!  BOOO!

- Making a "grown up, smart" decision to stay home to get work done, instead of visiting my friends or taking a trip on this long weekend.  Hopefully I'll get enough done this weekend that will make up for this decision of mine...

Do you love a good snow day?  Did you receive snow last night?

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Highs and Lows, WW Update, and TV Quote of the Week

Today's Highs and Lows post is definitely getting posted late, but it's better late than never, right?!  :)  I love Friday evenings - especially those (like today) when you can just sit around in your pajamas and not have to worry about waking up SUPER early to get to school the next day!  And today is even funner (my made up word of the day) because I'm finally getting to catch up on all of my DVR'd episodes from this week!  While watching The Middle, I heard what I think is the best TV quote of the week.  It definitely made me laugh.  Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.  But, it was definitely entertaining!

"It's true, Sue.  Teachers are lazy.  They know it only takes a day to do a project.  But if they gave us assignments everyday, they'd have to grade them everyday.  They don't want it, we don't want it.  It's an unspoken agreement.  Who are you to mess with the American educational system?  We're not number one in the world for nothing.  Suck it, China!  That's why they got to make all our stuff for us."

     - Axel Heck to his sister, Sue.

- It's Friday.  Enough said. 

- Going dress shopping with my little sister tomorrow :)

- I lost 3.8 pounds this week!  I reached my first WW milestone (5 pounds lost) and I'm so close to my first 10!!

- Catching up on DVR'd episodes.

- Knowing that Monday will be here before you know it.

- Having a rainy Friday.  Those are NEVER fun!

- Realizing that being an adult and living in the "real world" is expensive is NOT fun!

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Boring Blogs Wanted!

Hey blog friends!  I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.  Okay, it's really not a secret, but I bet I got your attention! :)  I love all kinds of design.  When I first became a photographer, I purchased photoshop to learn how to edit photos better.  Soon, I learned all the cool things that you could use photoshop for.  SOOO much more than just editing photos!  When it was time for a new logo for my business, I set out to try and design my own logo.

Fast forward to this past November...

I was ready for a blog design change.  I had previously purchased a template that I liked, but didn't LOVE.  The template just wasn't "me."  I wanted a blog design that truly fit me!  I tried some different designs for the blog, used a few ideas I had, and set off on a design adventure.

What did I find from both of these experiences (the logo and the blog)?  We are all our own worst critics!  I couldn't find a logo that I loved for me.  I also couldn't design a blog that was me.  I had some great logos and some awesome blog details, they just weren't the right fit for me.

I just recently decided that I wasn't going to drive myself crazy with the blog design and decided to outsource to <Span> Tag Designs to help me design my blog.  Without ever having met her, she knew just want I wanted and created the lovely blog you see here.

So, now that I have a blog design I love (and I'm not currently acting as a photographer due to my new job), I don't have a blog or logo to design...and the design itch has started!  I want to design something so bad!

DISCLAIMER: I don't claim to be a genius.  I'm NOT a professional.  This is something I do has a hobby and want to see if it's any good :) haha

What I'm looking for is a few willing bloggers who want some help with their blog designs!  I want to design a blog for YOU!  That's right!  I'm looking for some bloggers who are willing to chat virtually for a little bit so that I can create a new blog design for them.

I'm giving away (at least one) free blog design!  If you are interested, please fill out the form below and I'll be in touch, if your blog is selected.

Here's the fine print.
- I'm going to choose at least one blog.  Possibly more.
- If you don't like the way I'm going or are not pleased, you don't have to use it.
- I'm not a professional.  I haven't designed for someone else.  This is new and I'm looking for some guinea pigs.

Let me know if you have any questions!

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After Christmas Shopping

One of my favorite times to go shopping is the week after Christmas.  I love to search through the leftover Christmas items and score some great deals!  I don't like to buy too many Christmas items full price, so I tend to wait until after Christmas.  If the item that I had my eye on is still available during that time, I figure it was meant to be!  I stocked up on Christmas items this year and I'm so excited for Christmas 2013 to roll around so I can use my new decorations!

Here are two of my favorite purchases from this year!  Pretty Christmas plates and silver chargers from Kohl's!  So excited to set the table with these next year!!

What great Christmas deals did you score this year?

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Happy New Year

Where did the time go?  It seems like just last month that we welcomed 2012.  And don't even get me started about Christmas break!  I had a whole list of things I was going to do.  This list consisted of things for school, things for the house, personal goals/projects....and very few (if any) were accomplished.  I am officially the world's best procrastinator.  Sigh.

Now, as I sit here and watch the time tick on, Christmas break is almost over, I didn't accomplish my goals for break, I don't have a plan for school tomorrow...I look back and wonder what I did on my break!?!

Here's what I did.  I relaxed.  I have worked so hard at school this year.  It's usually late (and dark) when I get home from school.  That doesn't leave me with much time to relax and have time to myself.  So, I relaxed on break.  I did things that I wanted to do.  Not things that I needed to do.  I went home and stayed with my family, I went shopping, I lounged around the house and some great friends came over to visit to ring in the New Year.

Yes, this means that there will be some late nights at school/writing lesson plans in the next few days, but hey...I had two weeks of relaxation!  As much as I love teaching - I'm now looking forward to Spring Break (Disney World) and summer vacation (Alaskan cruise).  I have some big things I want to do this year.  Some personal goals and ambitions I have my eyes set on.  If I can complete these goals (or at least get started on them), I'm willing to put money on the fact that 2013 is going to be the BEST year yet!

Here are my New Year resolutions:

Eat healthier - I'm going to do my best to cut back on sweets, fast food, etc.  Notice I said cut back.  I'm still going to treat myself every once in a while with these, but it's all about watching what I eat.  

Lose some weight - Actually, I want to lose more than some but any weight loss is a success in my book.  Thank you Weight Watchers for helping me with this resolution.

Blog more consistently - I'm loving this little blog - a little journal where I can document what goes on in my life!  I want to blog more consistently about things that happen this year.  At the end of the year, I want to easily look back through the blog and see just how much I will have accomplished!

Create a budget and stick to it - I'm okay with money, but I'm not good with money.  I need to be better at saving up my money.  I need to create a budget and hold myself to it!  No more unnecessary purchases at the grocery store or on amazon (yikes!).  Here's to a richer new year! :) 

Clip coupons - This really doesn't need an explanation and goes along with creating a budget.  Clipping coupons will definitely be a good way to save money and stay within my budget!  What's your favorite coupon source?

Be a better teacher - I feel like I've been a good teacher so far this year, but I want to become a GREAT teacher.  I want to find and implement new ways to engage my students.  I want to use new strategies that make my students think critically and help them push towards a successful school year.

Finally use my sewing machine - A Christmas present from last year that is still, sadly, in the box.  I see some fun, crafty, Sewing Saturdays coming up in the near future!

Use the crock pot more - Because why wouldn't you want to come home from school/work and dinner is ready?  Why haven't I used this more?  Hello to 2013...the year of the crock pot!

Read the bible in a year - This is something I have been wanting to do for a while and is one of the goals on my 101 in 1001 list.  This year, I will read the entire bible.

Become closer to God - Reading the bible in a year will help with this goal.  And I'm going to pray more.  I'm going to have conversations with Him on a regular basis. 

Stop procrastinating - Oh my, this is going to be hard.  But it ties in with quite a few of these goals.  I need to am going to stop being such a procrastinator.  Why not get stuff done early and have time to relax afterwards?  

Travel more - This is more than a resolution.  This is a promise to myself.  I've got a big trip coming up to Disney World for Spring Break and a great Alaskan cruise booked for Summer vacation.  There may also be a super fun family vacation in the works.  And, I forsee quite a few fun Saturday road trips in my future.  I. will. travel.

Be a better person - I'm not going to elaborate on this too much.  In all aspects of my life, I want to live life to the fullest and be the best person I can be.  

2013 is going to be an AWESOME year!

So, what are your New Year resolutions?

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