Link Up #1: My Top 3 Favorite Books

I love this post, but it's so hard to choose just 3! Yesterday, I joined a fabulous blogger book swap and I couldn't be more thrilled!! A swap that fit me perfectly!!

My top 3 favorite books (in no particular order):

#1: The Hunger Games Trilogy (I count all 3 books as 1 book)
by: Suzanne Collins

Baily likes The Hunger Games as well!

I never thought I would enjoy these books, but geezz, Suzanne Collins had me at the sexual tension of Katniss and Peeta. I can't say enough about these books and I actually might read them again this summer.

#2: Something Borrowed (I liked Something Blue as well)
by: Emily Giffin 

I loved that these books were a fast read, yet still full of "girl" drama that I loved. If you want a quick girly read, go grab this book! I like Emily Giffin's books in general. I still have 3 books of hers that I haven't read yet.

#3: Are You There Vodka it's Me, Chelsea 
by: Chelsea Handler

I'm not sure if this counts as a book, but....I love her show. I love her books. I just love her!! She writes just as she talks and I was literally laughing out loud to myself reading this. This books is just a memoir of her life as she is just starting out in Hollywood.

I'm currently reading 'The Fault In Our Stars' by: John Greene, and it's brilliantly written in the perspective of a teenage girl with cancer. Depending on how it ends, it might be on my new top 3.

But, as you can see, I like many different books. My summer reading list has like 11 books on it. Is that normal??? Can't wait to see what other people's favorite books are. Hopefully, I can add to my summer reading list. If you haven't already, please follow me on BlogLovin' on my right side column! I look forward to meeting other great Bloggers who love to read as well!

5 for Five!!!!!

Happy Monday!! I think I'm getting my last unannounced observation this week, so I'm kinda nervous! Happy goal setting!! 

5 for Five once again with Jenn and Jessica.

I did better than last week. But, still no 5 for 5! 

The pups looking so cuteee!!! I just couldn't help it!

Last Week's Goals:

1. Start the book I chose.

2. Organize my closet.

3. Finish my new resume and cover letter (story to come soon!)

4. Send out some snail mail. I love sending mail! :)

5. Work out 4 days a week. (I needed to be more specific this week)

This Week's Goals:

1. START READING A NEW BOOK!!! (let's go Kristen. You have so many books on your book list!)

2. Organize my closet (last night I cleaned the rest of my room and bookcase, so now is my closet)

3. DO NOT GO TO THE STORE!! I have enough food to make 4 different full size recipes right now!!

4. Send out more resumes to Chicagoland districts

5. (This might seem silly) But DO NOT pick my nails. This is such a bad habit. I pick at them when I'm anxious, nervous or have a lot on my mind. 2 weeks ago, when I told my Principal I wasn't coming back next year, I had picked all my nails. I take vitamins daily, so I know they will grow back soon, but I need a constant reminder to stop touching them!

I hope everyone has a fantastic Monday! 

5 for Five!!!

Oh Monday, how you always come back around so fast. It's nice to see you again, but Friday and I are much better friends. 

5 for Five once again with Jenn and Jessica.

I already know I didn't do the best this week because I couldn't even remember my goals...how sad!

Last Week's Goals:

1. Find and start a new book. (But I did get some good recommendations. Gone Girl looks like the winner)

2. Organize my closet by work clothes, weekend clothes and sit around/workout clothes. It's driving me nuts! (No excuse---just did not happen) 

3. Keep working out. GO ME!

4. Read more blogs this week (I feel so behind), comment on my favs bloggers to let them know I'm still alive (lol) and write more posts! Did it and LOVED catching up with them!

5.  Relax and get through the week with no BIG stressors. It's DIBELS EOY testing, so I'm a bit scared. I know my kids will do just fine, it's me I'm worried about. (I tried to not let it stress me out, but it did. Oh well, it's a new week now)

This Week's Goals:

1. Start the book I chose.

2. Organize my closet.

3. Finish my new resume and cover letter (story to come soon!)

4. Send out some snail mail. I love sending mail! :)

5. Work out 4 days a week. (I needed to be more specific this week)

I have 2 posts lined up this week (now that I just realized I could schedule posts...hmmm DUH Kristen, where have you been these past 2 years!) and I'm pretty excited about them. I hope everyone has a great week!

Missing my boys back home a lot!! :(

Sunday Social!!!

Sunday Social here I come!!!

This week’s questions are very intriguing. I can’t wait to read everyone’s answers. Be patient with me, as some of these answers might change as I read everyone’s. lol!!

• What is your ideal way to relax?
•  Ideally, in a perfect world, I would be in a hot bath (that never gets cold) reading a good book with a Starbucks in my hand. Realistically, laying in bed while listening to calming music (ex: Fast Car by, Tracy Chapman) and drinking tea. {Now, that sounds awesome…I haven’t done that in YEARS!}

• Where is your favorite place to be?
• Of all time? This one is easy. Ocean Isle Beach, NC. My family and I have been going there for YEARS (since I was a baby) and some of my fondest memories are in those beach houses with family and friends! Oh, how I wish I can go back soon! 

• Who do you consider your biggest role model?
• Hmmm…It would be my parents and my Grandpa Dick. (is it ok to have 3 role models? lol) All for pretty much the same reasons; dedicated, honorable, trustworthy and family oriented.

• What does your life look like in 3 years?
• Ideally, teaching somewhere in Illinois, owning a house, keeping up with this blog beauty (it’ll have a face-lift by then), engaged with another fur baby!!! Realistically, still living at home (yes, with my parents-to save more $$), hopefully maybe engaged, teaching somewhere in IL and still keeping up with this blog. I can’t wait to look back in 3 years and see where I’ll REALLY be!
• 
  
• If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
• This is a hard one. It would probably be to not continue a toxic relationship for so long. I know that’s not really a decision, but I’m pretty confident in all my choices so far in my life. If I had to go back and change on decision, who knows where I’d be today. And (besides being away from my family and The Boy) I am pretty damn content with my life right now!
• 
  
• What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?
•  Another hard question but a thought provoking one. I would say graduating college and landing a full-time teaching job right out of college. This would then lead me to my next big accomplishment, moving to a brand new town I’ve never heard of, on my own.

Loved those questions. Can’t wait to read everyone else’s. I hope everyone had a great weekend. I need some blog design and camera help. I'm looking for advice!!!

I’ll also be linking up tomorrow with Jessica and Jen for 5 for Five because I’m pretty proud of myself this week…hey, it’s lil’ steps people!!

Sunday Social- In 3's!!

I'm joining the Sunday Social today with Neely and the gang!

This Week’s Questions: All about 3′s

Top 3 Favorite Kinds of Food: Mac & Cheese, ice cream and banana with peanut butter (yes, I'm weird)!!

First 3 Things you do in the morning: Brush my teeth, turn the TV on, get dressed

Last 3 Things you do at night: Check my phone, turn on FRIENDS (and then put TV on sleep for 30 mins) and take my socks off.

3 TV shows you NEVER miss: Teen Mom, American Idol, Biggest Loser

3 Places you want to visit: Italy, Fiji, and England

3 People you can always count on: My Parents & Sister (they count as one-lol), The Boy and my best friend, Al. 

 **I can't wait for next week's Sunday Social!! I hope everyone has a great Sunday and my teacher friends who have off tomorrow, ENJOY IT! I know I will! :)

"Hey it's ok" Thursdays

I haven't done one of these in awhile and I think this is the perfect time to do it!

It's OK...

 ...that I'm blogging at school because I have no internet at home.

...that I still watch (depending on the day) Boy Meets World or Full House in the mornings when I'm getting ready and eating breakfast.

...that I sometimes have no clue what I'm teaching until about 5 minutes before.

...to wake up every house throughout the night, because you think you've over slept.

...to have some sort of dessert after lunch and dinner. (That's what hersey kisses are for!)

...that I am not even close to being all packed up for my move at the end of the month. It'll happen...eventually.

...to be in bed by 7:30 most nights!

...that I thoroughly enjoyed watching the whole season 4 of FRIENDS on Sunday, while eating cereal.

...to miss home.

...that I think about my future way too much.

That's it until next week! I'm loving that we had a day off yesterday for 'bad weather'! Ohhhh The South, you make me giggle!

Sunday Social: Blog Edition

Here's to my first Sunday Social of 2013!!

Now, before I get to it, I want to say that I'm currently sitting at Panera eating my pumpkin muffie and hot tea (bought with a gift card!) reading blog posts from weeks ago from some of my favorite/usual blogs. If you're asking why I'm not sitting at the comfort of my own home...well I don't have internet and won't have it again until February 1st. 

But, for someone like me, who wants to blog on a daily basis AND wants to READ my favorite blogs... it's not the greatest situation.

So here we go:

1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging? 

The name of my blog is The Very Unofficial Adult and I've been blogging (hold on let me check my stats) October 21st, 2010! HOLY COW! This is my first post.

2. Why do you blog? 

I blog as an outlet. It's like my journal. I've never been one to talk very articulate or discuss how I'm feeling (which I'm working on), but you give me a pen and paper (or in this case, a blank screen and keyboard) I can write anything and everything. I also blog to educate myself on things I'm not to familiar with (crafting, religion, relationships, etc.). I love the relationships I've formed and reading stories or situations that are similar to mine.

3. What is the first blog you ever followed? 

My good friend, Erin over at Life As It Is. Some of my firsts were Hanna at Bouffee e bambini and Jessica at Fantastically Average. I've been following both of these ladies for so long that if we were to meet face-to-face I think we'd have a lot to chat about!

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012? 

Ohhh, this is a hard one. (Let me go back and check real fast)---This post about running my first 1/2 marathon. My I Betcha didn't know post. And my first ever blog award!! 

5. What are your blogging goals for 2013? 

My top goals for my blog this year is to get a 'button', a 'signature' and to possibly go to a blogging convention!! Have any of you gone to one? If so, what did you learn? Would you recommend it? 

6. Top 3 favorite blogs to follow?

I have more than 3. But I'll try...

Jessica @ Fantastically Average

Hanna @ bouffee e bambini

Michelle @ The Vintage Apple

Sarah @ Scissors and a Whisk

I can't wait to hop around all these blogs!! I hope everyone has a fabulous Sunday!!

5 for Five- Week 9

I'm linking up, once again, with Jessica and Jenn for 5 for Five this week! Join in on the fun! Wow- It has already been 9 weeks of this fun blog hop!

Link up with us at the start of the work week to set five goals that you want to accomplish in the next five days!! 

Green= Things I accomplished

Red= The ones I didn't do- opps!

ORANGE= are the things I half did...yes, I made this color up because it was needed with some of my goals! 

Last week's goal:

1. START my food journal. Darn stomach issues. I WILL accomplish this one this week! I have even got a pretty little notebook to get me motivated to start this (how sad is that).

2. Meal plan for the next 2 weeks. This includes finding recipes and going grocery shopping! Pay Day is this week! Hells yes!! (I meal planed the next 2 weeks. Never ended up needing to go to the store---except for milk and bread)

3. Absolutely NO texting/tweeting/on the phone while driving. (I did A LOT better, but not 100% no on-the-phone)

4. Send out some gifts. I am so happy it's Christmas season. I LOVE giving gifts, more than receiving them...call me weird, but it's true! And even sent out 7 different Christmas cards! I love Christmas!! 

5. Bake some new cookies for the faculty and staff at my school. Anyone have some good favorites? I would love some recommendations! I baked some new cookies, but I put them in the freezer until closer to Christmas.

New goals for this week: 

1. Maintain my food journal

2. If I have a tough day at school, make sure when I get home I leave it all behind me.

3. (This one was from last week and I still want to accomplish this one) ABSOLUTELY NO texting/tweeting while driving!!

4. Not purchase ONE thing this week. I bought my Starbucks instant VIA packs awhile back- so I'm set to go! :)

5. Send out 3 more cards with pictures of my class!

5 1/2. Comment on more blogs (especially one's that I love and never comment!) :)

13 more nights until I'm home for Christmas. Cannot wait! I hope everyone has a great Monday! 

I look forward to reading everyone's goals as we get closer to the Holidays.

Congrats Meghan! The winner of my first ever giveaway! Your box should be arriving soon!!!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

Oh, how I miss blogging! Since I'm on break, what a perfect time to get all my blog hop fixes in :)

So, I'm linking up with Jamie and This Kind of Love for WILW.

I'm loving that in 15 days The Boy will be visiting me in in Tennessee! 

I'm loving that I found the recipe for Starbuck's Passion Iced Tea lemonade. It seriously tastes like the exact same! (Here it is if your interested)

Source: itsthelife.typepad.com via Kristen on Pinterest

I'm loving all the fall/halloween decorations I just bought at TJ Maxx. I will be that house mom who decorates for every holiday! I love all holidays!

I'm loving all the food that my mom made for me while she was here this past weekend. I don't have to cook for weeks it seems! :)

I'm loving that everyone is getting engaged or pregnant these days. It's so wonderful to see friends/people so happy in their life.

I'm loving the fact I finally have the time to work out.

I'm loving the true and honest friend I still have back home, even though I'm hundreds of miles away. It's tough making good friends, but once I find them, I hold on with all I can. :)

Keep your eyes out because I will be posting 2 more posts today as well. I can't help myself!

Teacher Week

Sorry I've been lacking on the posts, but being a new teacher is A LOT of work. But, I just had to join in on this linky party. Being a first year teacher, I'll be interested in seeing if my 'must-haves' are the same as some of y'alls.

Ms. K's Must-haves for teaching:

1. Sharpies. 

I didn't think I'd use them, but I write everything in sharpie because geezz, these days printer ink is expensive AND I only get 1,500 copies/month. :/

2. Binders

(NOT MY PICTURE---but I env her for her organization. I hope one day to be this organized)

I love everything in binders. Easy to find, easy to look through. (Although, I'm not even near close to having my binders organized...one day I will-lol)

3. Smart Board

(One of my old 4th graders using the SB while I asked questions)

I don't have one in my room, but I did when I student taught and I fell in love with it. It's a GREAT tool and I'm struggling to only have a document camera to teach with. (Not even a whiteboard or chalk board-umph)

4. Coffee/Caffeine

Now, I'm not a big coffee drinker, but I could drink a Starbucks Salted Carmel Mocha or a Pumpkin Spiced Latte everyday. Except right now, my budget doesn't allow for that. Once a week I allow myself to drink diet coke, because if I drink it more than that, it's a bad habit :/ 

5. My personal laminator

My mama just bought me my own scotch laminator and I couldn't be more excited! The best part, it was a million dollars...only about $40! SCORE! I laminate everything because since I don't have a lot of paper, the kids can write on laminated paper using expo markers! :)

6. A drink once in awhile... of course, after a long week!

Self explanatory!