May Photo A Day

For the month of May I decided to participate in Fat Mum Slim's May photo a day challenge. I thought it would give me something fun to do for the month of May. I actually did pretty well. I only missed one day. I don't think I am going to participate in June but it was fun to do for May.

Here's the monthly wrap up! 

Days Off

Lately I've been trying to take advantage of my days off for several reasons. The first is because I work all the time now, and I don't want to waste a day doing nothing. I waste my days far too often. Plus, I lay around when I get off of work because I'm so tired. The second reason is because I'm leaving Cincinnati soon and I want to explore it as much as I can before I go. I also want to take advantage of spending time with friends. Thirdly, it really helps with my depression. I'm a homebody, but I am also someone who HATES making plans. I'd rather someone ask me to do something than have to plan it myself. This can have a downside though because that means I spend more time alone than I should if I have to wait around all the time for someone to want to hang out with me.

I had this past Friday off and it started off looking like I wasn't going to do anything. I decided to ask Kendra if she wanted to go to Findlay Market with me and just walk around to pass some time. I had only been there once so I thought it would be fun to check it out again. We walked around and bought several things including gelatos! It was nice to catch up too! Kendra also gave me some ideas of new restaurants to try that I can add to my 23 before 24 list!

Stolen from Kendra!

After I dropped her off I headed to Michaels where I hit so much traffic. Seriously, I hate driving. Then I went home. I wasn't really feeling like going back out but Haley convinced me to hang out with her. We went to Home Depot and then the dog park. We finally went back to her house where she fed me a ton of food and we made banana ice cream! Sorry for all the dog pictures! I'm a little obsessed with dogs!

My next day off is Wednesday. Wonder what I'll do? :)

Organizing My Life (Kind Of)

So, if you didn't know I love organization and cleanliness. I absolutely love a clean and organized home, which is weird because my parents' house is nothing of the sort. At least my room, for the most part, as a safe haven of organization.

Over the past few years I saved all my history papers and all my education material (from lesson plans to professional articles). Last summer I put everything into binders and it was kind of organized but it still wasn't what I wanted it to be. I gave up though because organizing gives me a head ache after a while. It involves way too much thinking.

Several days ago I decided to give the organizing another go. I downsized to two binders and really got rid of old readings I knew I would never read again (I could barely read them the first time). The first binder has all my history papers. The second binder as professional articles related to teaching and social studies.

Now comes my big project. I finally organized all my lesson plans and lesson materials into history topics. Below are two pictures of the mess to begin with. These pictures don't do it justice!

Sorting into piles

Topics

The next day I went to Target and picked up this really cute file box and extra hanging folders. Since the folders that came with the box were white and the extra ones were green I decided to use that to my organizing advantage. The white folders are for more lesson planning and administrative teaching materials. The green folders are for social studies specific topics that are covered in a high school history classroom.

I then wrote the topics onto the pieces of paper and started putting away my materials. I really wish I had prettier print. I should have just written it in cursive.

Then when I was done I tucked it away on my shelf! I am so much happier with an organized life!

Since I didn't have internet while I was doing this I watched Monk while I was working on the organization project. I love that show.

Now all I need is a job to put my organization to good use! :)

To My Mom

I wish I was a better daughter to you. You are one of the strongest women I know. I don't know how you do what you do. You don't let the MS (or the breast cancer) make you a sympathy case for anyone. I could never handle all the challenges you've been thrown.

I'm going to take you back to Britain one day. You can bet on that!

I love you, mom.

Blurb Graduation Gift

My friend Mackenzie made a book from Blurb.com for her wedding photos, and I thought it was the cutest thing ever. I didn't know what to get my sister for her college graduation until I remembered that I could make books from Blurb for a reasonable price. I took SOME of the  many pictures from my sister's mission trip to India this past summer and put them in a book for her so she could remember them. I was pleased with how it came out. I meant to post this a while ago but then I remembered I didn't want my sister seeing it before her graduation. So, here it is!

India Summer 2011 | Make Your Own Book

Simple Mac & Cheese

I found this recipe here. I would reference the comments on it if you want to spice up your meal with vegetables and extra creaminess!

What you need:

• 2 cups dried pasta
• 2 cups skim milk
• 1 cup loosely packed cheddar cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp dijon mustard

Add pasta and milk to a medium sauce pan. Heat to a simmer then turn heat to low stirring frequently for 20 minutes. Make sure to keep the milk from boiling.

Turn off heat and add cheese and salt. Stir. Add dijon mustard a little bit at a time stirring after each addition. Cover mac and cheese and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir again.

ENJOY!

Graduation

My sister graduated from the University of Toledo this weekend! That makes 2 down and 1 more to go. It's weird to think that my siblings and I are this old. It was a good weekend to be reunited with the family and my grandma. 

Also, come the middle of May I won't have internet for a few months. I'll try to update when I can!