Things I love...

This post will be jammed packed with goodies! 

Over Thanksgiving break I made a few stops at several stores and here's what I found.

Dollar Tree 
Y'all, I ♥ the Dollar Tree.  Everything is a dollar. One dollar! How awesome is that?! 

That store is filled with tons of goodies that can be used with kiddos.  I ♥ it! I only took a picture of one of each item. I always buy at least two. I bought lots of jumbo coins and bills. The horseshoes are magnets! The mini dollar bills are magnets, too. They had dry erase message boards cut like strips. I also scored some red foil die cut letters, perfect for my Wizard of Oz theme idea.

Forever 21.
 I got a blouse and some skinny jeans but I wore them before I took a picture so I can't really show you. I also got these SUPER cute earrings. I had seen similar ones at Kohl's that I wanted but these were cheaper and way cuter.

Apple Cinnamon 
And because it is almost December, (November flew by, didn't it?) I had to get my favorite scent to fill up my house.  

Teachers Pay Teachers

 I went a little clip art crazy. Here are a few that I bought during the cyber sale.

 From The Enlightened Elephant

All from Ashley Hughes
I've got some projects in the works! :)

Michael Bublé
I saw him in concert 2 years ago and it was absolutely wonderful. I love his voice and he's hilarious! You must check out his album, Christmas. 

Cold December Night is my favorite song off the album.

Giveaways

Wild About First Grade is giving away a $50 giftcard to Kohl's! Head to her blog to enter.

Journey of a Substitute Teacher is having 12 days of giveaways over at her blog!

Happy Thursday! 

Weight-loss Wednesday

As I said in an earlier post, I saw Chris Powell on The Dr. Oz Show and was really intrigued by his carb cycling plan. High carb one day, low carb the next. And you get a cheat day! That is something I can do.


But before I discovered this carb cycling plan, I was reading The Skinny Rules by Bob Harper. He explains 20 simple rules that will help you lose weight. So far I've been doing 5 of them. Ssh, don't tell Bob!

Rule 1: Drink a large glass of water before every meal - no excuses!

Rule 9: Stop guessing about portion size and get it right - for good

Rule 14: Eat a real breakfast.

Rule 15: Make your own food and eat at least 10 meals a week at home.

Rule 19: Sleep right.

Rule 20: Plan one splurge meal a week.

I'm currently reading Chris Powell's book and trying to write out a meal plan and an exercise schedule. I am really liking that I can eat carbs because I cannot wait to eat tamales this holiday season!

Thanks for reading! 

I got nominated!

Hey, y'all, I'm back! I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! After a not so great day yesterday, this and a sweet note I got in the mail have made today a whole lot better! Thank you to Brittany over at UNDERpaid and OVERblessed for nominating me! How cute is her blog name?! Please be sure to visit her blog and show her some love. :)

A Liebster Blog award is given by bloggers to new bloggers that have less than 200 followers. It is to show new bloggers that they are appreciated and to help spread the word about new blogs. Terrific, right?

So, here are the rules: 

- You must post 11 random things about yourself.

- Answer the questions the nominator has set for you.

- Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

- Choose 11 blogs you love (with 200 followers or less) and link them in your post.

- No Tag back (But please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you).

11 Random things about me:

1. I ♥ cheese. 

2. Ellen DeGeneres follows me on Twitter! :D

3. I am fluent in Spanish and parlo poco l'italiano.

4. I love Country music and want to move to Nashville. (I don't sing, I just want to live there).

5. I have a Bachelor's degree in Bilingual Education and a Master's degree in Reading.

6. I really enjoy playing SongPop. (Do you play? Username: BrenBren_13) ;) 

7. I am very good at charades. Like really good. 

8. I love to cook and bake. And eat . Hehe

9. I. Am. Addicted. To. Pinterest. 

10.  I know the lyrics to every Backstreet Boys song ever recorded. 

11. I love cloudy, rainy days.

Questions asked by Brittany:

1. How did you get started with blogging?

Pinterest was the wardrobe I entered to find this wonderful world of blogging. I blog stalked for a few months until I was sure I understood at least 75% of all this blog stuff. Then I dove right in! 

2. Where did you go to college?

I attended Sul Ross State University here in Texas. 

3. What is your go-to dish for pot-luck parties?

It's always a dessert. People really enjoy my chocolate cherry bundt cake.

4. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?

If I wasn't a teacher I'd be a Paleontologist. I ♥ dinosaurs! Did you know Jurassic Park is coming out in 3D next year? I am excited!!

5. What advice would you give a new teacher?

 I'm not teaching yet, but one thing I've learned from observing my teacher friends is don't let it consume your life. Teaching is our passion and we love what we do but we all know our work days don't end when the bell rings. I think it's important to have time for you and your family. Take a break and rest. I think it's what's best not only for you but for your students as well.

6. Cats or dogs?

Both. I love animals. 

7. Perfect Vacation destination?

I would love to visit Greece. 

8. Guilty pleasure TV show? 

The Vampire Diaries. Two words: Damon Salvatore. ♥ 

9. Biggest student pet peeve?

It really bugs me when students get up in the middle of a lesson or a read aloud to throw trash away. That is something that will NOT be done in my classroom.

10. Favorite holiday?

My favorite holiday is Christmas.

11. Favorite sports team? 

I don't really watch sports. :O I'll watch here and there so I can't say I have a favorite.

Questions for my nominees:

1. What lead you to decide you wanted to be an educator? 

2. What is your all time favorite book? (Children's books don't count! lol)

3. What is your current ringtone?

4. How did you come up with your blog name?

5. If you could time travel to any place or time, where would you go?

6. You have the chance to appear on your favorite show, currently on air or past, what show would I see you on?

7. What is your favorite childhood memory?

8. Who is your celebrity crush?

9. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which would it be?

10. Where do you live?

11. I'm hoping to get a full-time teaching job soon, got any advice?

Can I answer my own questions?

And the nominees are...

1. First Grade in Foxwell Forest

2. Curious Firsties 

3. Keeping Up with Kindergarten

4. This Little Piggy Reads

5. Pencils, and Crayons, and Books! Oh, My!

6. In That Room...Adventures in Second Grade

7. Mrs. Christy's Leaping Loopers

8. Joy in the Journey

9. Teacher Kirra: Maestra Kirra

10. First Grade Crusade

11. Ms. Hutten's Buttons

This was so much fun! Thanks again, Brittany! I am so happy I get to be a part of this amazing community of educators. Thanks for being so welcoming!

I'm off to fill my TpT cart! 

Weight-loss Wednesday!

Hello, loves!

Let's dive right into this weight loss stuff! You probably think I'm a little bit crazy for wanting to start losing weight right before Thanksgiving but I am not going to drastically change my eating habits. At least not yet. I am going to approach this weight-loss journey differently than my previous attempts. For now, no food is off limits. I'm focusing on moderation. I do plan on giving my eating habits a makeover. 

 A few years ago, I did the Atkins diet. NO CARBS. Like at all. I stuck with it for almost 3 months and lost 26 pounds in that time. The only thing I changed was taking out the carbs. I didn't exercise. While that was totally awesome, Thanksgiving was coming up and I wanted to eat all those delicious carbs! Long story short, the 26 pounds came back and brought along some friends. Was I really never going to eat another carb again in my life?! Ugh, and the constipation sucked! Sorry, TMI! 

So that was a complete fail.

Clicking the pic will take you to my Fitness and Health Pinterest board. There are more pins, now! :)

This time I've done my research. Turns out our bodies need carbs! Too many and too little carbs make you fat!

I recently saw Chris Powell, known best for the transformations on Extreme Makeover: Weight-loss edition, on The Dr. Oz Show (I ♥ Dr. Oz!) and he blew my mind! (Chris is a cutie, ain't he?) Focus, Bren!
Chris Powell has a book on carb cycling titled "Choose to Lose", which I am currently reading. I had never heard of this. Remember me and Dr. Atkins? >:/
I've read several books and articles, I mean there is SO MUCH info out there and all agree that eating 5-6 meals a day speeds up your metabolism. So, I can eat a lot, they can be carbs AND I can lose weight? Sign me up! 
For my makeover, I am using the Mediterranean food pyramid as my guide.

As I said, I have read several books and I'm grabbing a few things here and a few things there. I'm not doing anyone's complete plan. I believe God has led me to these different resources and now I have to do my part and put them to work.  I've pinned the books to my board in case you want to check them out. I apologize if I just threw all this random information at you. I promise to organize it better next time.

For now, I am drinking 8oz of water before every meal. I got that from Bob Harper in The Skinny Rules. I am also using these cute little plates I found at Dollar General. If a meal has pasta, it goes in the fruit compartment. I'm heading to San Antonio on Friday and won't be back until the 26th. You better believe I am taking at least one plate with me! I know I will make good (and delicious) food choices. No, I am not going to bust out my plate at restaurants, or will I?

Friends, losing weight is hard. My failed attempts are proof that it's hard. But this time I've got Jesus and the Holy Spirit as my running partners! If you want to make changes, please know that I will be praying for you. If there is something specific you want me to pray for, (doesn't have to be weight-loss related) shoot me an email. Let's do this together! :)

Time to lace up those Nikes!

I'm Stuffed with Thankful Thoughts!

I am stuffed with thankful thoughts. So much so that I joined another linky party. The lovely Lyndsey over at A Year of Many Firsts is hosting a "Stuffed with Thankful Thoughts" linky party.

Click the pic!

 

I know I already listed my top 10 things but you can never be too thankful, right? I'll try to keep this one short and sweet.

1. I am thankful for what God is doing in my life, especially regarding my job. Although I may not see much happening right now, I know He's working. 

2. I am thankful for my family. We all live in different cities right now but they have all been beyond supportive. I don't have a recent pic of us all...must get one during Thanksgiving break!

3. My thankful list would not be complete if I did not mention all you wonderful bloggers out there. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR YOU! My cousin sent me an invite to Pinterest last December and I remember thinking, "Pinterest? Qué es eso? (What's that?)" It was through Pinterest that I discovered the wonderful world of blogging. The first blog I found was The First Grade Parade. I stalked visited a few blogs before I decided to make an account and formally follow. After a month of should I or shouldn't I, I created a blog. I have gathered SO MANY resources and ideas, I think my brain and Pinterest boards may explode! 

Seriously, though, I am thankful for each and every one of you. :)

Annnnnd it's week 2 of Creekside Teacher Tales' fabulous giveaways! 

Click the pic to head to Tracy's blog! 

I'll be back tomorrow with Weight-loss Wednesday!

 

Giveaway reminders

Just a quick post to remind y'all of some fabulous giveaways going on right now. 

 Aimee from Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks is giving away a few of her favorite things. :)

Click the pic!

 Get hoppin' to Blog Hoppin' and enter their Gobble Gobble giveaway!

Click the pic!

Lisa over at Growing Firsties is having a Rockin' Pete the Cat giveaway! 

Click the pic! 

Wanna win $100 in giftcards? 

Click the pic! 
 

Enjoy your weekend! :) 

Weight-loss Wednesday and a favorite things giveaway!

I have what you would call a bit of a weight problem. I am overweight and therefore unhappy with my weight. I hate all the clothes in my closet and it's not so much that they are ugly but that I hate the way I look in them. In life, we will be faced with things we can change and with things we cannot. This is something I can change. Diabetes runs in both sides of my family therefore putting me at risk. I am hoping to get a full time teaching job soon and I need to build up my immune system and just be healthy in general. I do not want to get a cold the first week of school. I know this is a teaching blog but I named it "The Teacher Diaries" with the intention of sharing not only about my classroom life but my life in general. 

I decided that Wednesdays will be my weigh-in/check-in day. Knowing I have to post will keep me accountable. I created a new board on Pinterest where I will pin books, exercises, recipes and supplements I use. 

You can browse my board here.   

There is only one pin because I JUST created it. lol 

 I have a Health and Fitness board but it is just 300+ random pins. The new board will help me organize them.

  I really hope y'all don't mind I use Wednesdays for this. If there is anything you are doing or using to get healthier, please feel free to share. You can leave a comment or email me. :)

Here's a pic to ignite my motivation:

Anything for Ryan. ;)

I am going to imagine that I am running towards him!

Moving on, I was watching Ellen as I was writing this and bawling my eyes out. She just gave a car to a family in need. I ♥ her. She is a wonderful human being.

Onto the giveaway, click the pic to go to Aimee's blog and enter her 300 followers giveaway! She's giving away a few of her favorite things that just happen to be some of my favorite things.

 

And finally, my Boys are back with a new Christmas song! Enjoy! :D

Top 10 Things I am Thankful for and a giveaway

I found another linky party! Storie from Stories by Storie is hosting a 'Top 10 things I am thankful for' link up. 

Here's mine: 

Stop by her blog to link up.

I also want to share that Angie from Rulin' the Roost is having a 500 follower feast...you know what to do!  :)

 And it has begun...I played my first Christmas song of the year. It's Blake's fault. 

 

He's looking all kinds of handsome on the cover, I just had to get it. What better time to recommend some Christmas music than now. If you're looking for some new Christmas tunes, start here. I'll be back later with more. :)

 

 It's almost time for The Voice! 

A series of fantabulous giveaways!

Tracy over at Creekside Teacher Tales is hosting a "Season of Giving" giveaway series. One giveaway a week for the next 8 weeks!! Teacher packs and children's books!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Tracy! :) 

Here is this week's!  :D 

 Click the pic to go to her blog!

 I ♥ giveaways.

My First Currently!

I am so excited to be linking up with Farley for her November currently! I saw the October one make its rounds but I was trying to figure out all this blog stuff and missed out. 

But this month, here I am!

Listening - I am re-watching The Vampire Diaries so I can be up to speed with the current season. Thank you, Netflix!

Loving - these little ones are on crack! Running, climbing, and scratching all over the place but I ♥ them!

This one is never still unless she's asleep.

Thinking - It's 82 degrees and sunny outside right now. Gross.

Wanting -

I wish! LOL!

Needing - My nails have been bare for the past two weeks. Time to go through my nails pinterest board for inspiration.

Music - I am loving Taylor Swift's new album! I don't have a classroom right now, but this is what I listen to while working on goodies for my future classroom. :)

Love her new video!  

Join in on the fun! Link up with Farley over at  Oh' Boy 4th Grade  for her November Currently linky party!

Giving Thanks Giveaway!

A fabulous 500 followers giveaway!  Nope, not mine. I'm not quite there yet. Hehe. 

This fabulous giveaway is happening over at Falling into First! 

 Congratulations, Stephanie! 

There are some AWE-SOME products up for grabs and I want 'em!! :) 

Head to her blog to enter!

Clicking the picture should take you there but just in case it doesn't, click here!

I'm off to watch The Vampire Diaries on Netflix! ;)

Happy Friday, friends!

PS.  Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour. Double woop for the extra hour of sleep!