Welcome...Again...In 2016!

So....it's been almost 5 months....and I'm horribly sorry!  If you may recall I didn't start this school year the same way I had in the past.  Instead of gearing up for a new group of 2nd graders, I was informed that I would be moved into a new position.  Teaching art and assisting my principal (and for about 3 months I was in denial that I was now in Administration but I am).  I thought this would be a main focus on my art classes with some assisting on the side.  It turns out it's more main focus on assisting with art coming 2nd.  I don't like to call art on the side because I still plan, prep and grade.  It's taken some time to get adjusted and how my new life fits.  The first half of this school year, raced by and I was barely keeping up.  However, thanks to Blizzard 2016, I've been able to recharge, rest and it's time to get this back and running.  I still love making printables. I have lots to share with you!  And you'll hear lots of Disney because we are just about 6 months away from our vacation!  I was reading my old posts and when I got to my Disney planning ones I had to chuckle - our vacation is not the same as when it was originally booked.  We've downgraded our Dining plan from Deluxe to Regular and decided to stay longer.  We are still staying to Port Orleans but instead of French Quarter, we've decided to try Riverside.  They have rooms with a pull down little bunk and the Cupcake (our little)  isn't so good at sharing a bed.  We've heard fantastic things about both of them so we are excited.  And both are connected so we can always go on over and try the pool and, of course, the beignets.  Superman (my hubs) is actually going to Disney on a small trip of his own before we depart and is staying there too so he'll get to preview it and let us know his thoughts.  And my reservations are coming up!  Stay tuned! We're gonna get this up and running again!

Printable: Faith: In The Darkness

We all need to remember that in the darkness we can always find the light...

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Teaching: Thoughts Of A Coming Year

When I was younger I never had an answer to the question of what do you want to be when you grow up. My main thought was I'm 7 (or 10 or 13) I'm pretty sure I have time to decide but I can't think or plan that far ahead. In high school I wanted to be a pastry chef, FBI agent, marine biologist. I went off to college majoring in Criminal Justice. After a semester I went undecided and spent a year and a half taking a hodge podge of courses that were a lot of fun and while they were interesting, they weren't something I ever committed to. Then I finally got it, I wanted to teach - I enjoy the little people so let's go spark a mind. I sat in senior seminar and when asked by Dr. Summers where did I see myself in 5 years? 10 years? My first thought was the same as always - I can't plan that far ahead. My second thought was in the classroom. I never wanted out, never wanted to reach for administration. I got certified and began teaching. I taught for 6 years to little people (1st & 2nd grade), tiny people (Kindergarten & Pre-K), and even medium people (3-5 grade). I spent time out of the classroom to reboot and figure out if it's where I do belong. Turns out the only one who needed to figure that out was me - everyone else knew it's where I was supposed to be. I have since been settled pretty happily with little people (2nd grade to be specific). There was a rough year but I thought the summer was my chance to reboot, reflect and revise (the usual 3 R's of the summer for a teacher). Within the past week I have found out that I will not be going back to the little people. I now will be teaching art (something that never, ever was a thought of a possibility that I might do when it came to teaching) and working with the administration on more than a few things. Things that I never imagined or were in the bigger picture. However as I switched gears after spending 2 months getting ready for a new crew of little people, I found I now need to prepare for a subject I had never taught before for not only little people, but also tiny people, medium people, big people (middle school) and tall people (high school). I've been handed a piece of our schools scheduling, fundraisers, working on the school's accreditation, and whatever else is needed to assist our school's principal (who is awesome). I never dreamed of this scenario, it was not in the equation. There was a period of shock but I needed to very quickly come to terms that we won't get enough second graders to require 2 classes and that means come August 24 I needed to have a plan, so I started planning. And as I started planning and organizing I realized I was getting excited. It wasn't my plan, it had to be God's plan. There is a reason that this is my new role. I've always liked to think of myself as a positive person so I decided I'm going to keep positive. I also owe a great deal of that to the great support of my husband, my favorite friend and co-worker, and my principal. So I've come from a place when I was a little person of having no clue what I wanted to be to a place where I'm doing something I never dreamed I ever would or could be. I'm not a Van Gogh but I love fonts, color, and it's making my creativity flow. So here is to new beginnings and places that were never dreamed of. If we can now see the dark side of the moon then yes, I can be an art teacher. I hope all teachers are getting ready with hope and open minds & hearts.

Printable: Motivational: Let Go

Here's a motivational freebie for you today!  Sometimes we have to remember it's not in our control and just let go...

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Printable: Teaching: January Writing Prompt

Here's the next writing prompt.  January is for their resolutions for the coming year. 

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Printable: Disney: Ratatouille

Here's my next Disney inspired printable.  It's a quote from one of my favorite Pixar movies - Ratatouille. I love how Chef Gusteau inspires Remy to be who he is, even though he is only a mouse. 

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Disney: Restaurant Review: Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom)

There are many, many options for delicious, tasty eats at Disney World.  One of my VERY favorites is the Be Our Guest Restaurant. 

Park: Magic Kingdom

Area: New Fantasyland

This place is just amazing to eat in.  The food is superb.  The decor and ambiance is amazing - you are in the Beast's Castle.  You can eat there for all 3 meals.  Breakfast and lunch is considered quick service.  You order your food from a kiosk, you get a rose to put on your table.  You pick a seat, put the rose down and wait for them to deliver your food right to your table. It's awesome.  Dinner is a table service and a reservation you need to have at the 180 day mark.  This is our first night tradition.  Ever since it opened we've had dinner here on our first night.  The coolest part that we discovered last time is if you pick the right time, when you come out you can see the Wishes fireworks from the bridge.  It's the best place I've ever watched the fireworks on and you can only get on the bridge if you are having dinner at Be Our Guest. They even have the grey stuff and it's so delicious!  They have a great selection.  My little already knows she's getting the tomato soup and grilled cheese dippers again.  You can check out the menu here.  We've not had anything bad here at all.  We've had dinner and lunch here.  They started breakfast after our last trip but we plan to go 3 times next trip so we can have all 3 meals. For us, this is a Disney must do. 

The little dressed up in a Belle like dress the first time we went and she had a blast dancing with the waitress and the Beast.  Here are some pictures of our times there. 

 They even have the rose in the West Wing

 Delicious lunch

 A mountain of grey stuff on top of a chocolate cupcake