iPad... yay!!!

Just this week, a flat-screen TV was installed in my classroom. I also now have appleTV, which means that ANYTHING I can do on a computer, I can project onto my TV screen. Way cool! I'm almost overwhelmed with the possibilities of what I can do with it. So far, I've used it for a white board and showing videos. But I know there is a TON more that can be done, I'm just trying to figure it all out. If anyone has any way cool ideas, please comment! The possibilities are endless!

Yay for technology in the classroom!

My New Year Goal: Taking control of my money

My New Year Goal* this year: Take control of my money

*Notice I say goal, not resolution. NOBODY keeps a resolution. Calling it a resolution sets it up for failure. This is a goal. It's something I have wanted to do for a while and January seemed like a great time to start.

First of all, know that I grew up with parents who were HORRIBLE with money. I never had a shining example to teach me. I'm clueless and learning as I go. I am also horrible at math and so far from being an accountant it's laughable. If I can do this, ANYONE can.

One year ago, I read a Dave Ramsey book and was inspired to make sure that I have control of every penny I make. At the time, I did not have a job and wasn't in the right place in life to start this. My main goal was just to pay my bills and have enough money for rent.

Now that I have a steady income, this is the perfect time to start the good ol' envelope system! It is SO simple and so far, has really shown me where my money goes and what things can be eliminated.

I've never been a good budget maker/keeper but so far, this has been successful and kind of fun!

First I printed this envelope template: http://www.todaysnest.typepad.com/todays-nest/2010/09/todays-money-budgeting-with-cash-envelopes.html

I traced the template on pretty scrapbooking paper that I had laying around and came up with these beauties! (Please ignore the shotty photograpy... not getting along too well with Mr. Droid these days.)

The second thing that I did was make a list of every single bill that I have per month. That is the amount that I put into my checking account. So the only money left in my checking account is the total amount to pay my bills, plus a $50 cushion in case I miscalculate.

Next, I made a list of money I would spend before the next paycheck that was not a bill. This list included:

Hair appointment - $28

Groceries (For me, this includes food, toiletries, basically anything I can buy at Walmart) - $100

Gas - $40

Eating out/Entertainment - $50

Oil change - $38


I have now calculated every penny that I would spend until the next paycheck. So I took my total paycheck, subtracted bills and immediately put that amount in checking. Then I had the bank give me cash for the amount that I would spend on things other than bills. After that there was around $250 left. So that went straight into savings.

When I have tell people about my new system, they always say, "I would do that, but I don't like the idea of carrying cash with me. What if I lose my wallet or it's stolen?" Well DUH, don't carry it all with you! Keep it in a safe place at home until you need it. No one will break into your house and steal it, either, as long as you find a place that makes absolutely no sense to keep money. Don't put it in your freezer, under your mattress, or anywhere that obvious.

I am two weeks into this system now, and LOVING it! It's a fun challenge to only spend the amount in the envelope. And it's painful to take money out of the wedding envelope. This makes my saving a much more tangible thing, when I can actually see the money being taken out of that envelope.

Also, keep it mind, it's a godly thing to be good with your money. Google verses dealing with money. There are tons. My next paycheck I will work tithing into the budget as well. Shame on me for letting it slip this time!

I hope by showing you just how easy this system is, you will be motivated to take charge of your money! You work hard for it, don't blow it by not having a budget, because you WILL spend more than you think on dumb stuff if you don't have a plan! You can do it!





P.S.... If you read this blog, or even if this is your first visit, please click the follow button! It's encouraging to have followers and right now, I only have 17... I know that more people are reading and I want to know who you are!

P.S.S.... Don't be afraid to comment here and there either. Also, super encouraging.

Thanks! You all are fabulous!

-Miss Land

Just a little something I whipped up...

We have been working on commas and I have the hardest time finding resources that I like for teaching commas. So, like I do with everything, I made my own.

I typed up my own cute little list of comma rules that we have learned. To all of my teacher friends, feel free to print/copy/use it if you think it will be helpful :)

Here is the link to the google doc version (the original is a .doc, so it has changed a little):

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CSO6ix4X0-EcHHFchXXZ7M_OoO_h4lkrBYNFWa4gvMI/edit

Getting you all caught up... How I landed my future hubby!

Jordan and I began kinda dating in the spring of 2009. Not really a romantic story behind it... We had mutual friends, and ran into each other at good ol' Vinnie T's over $5 all you can drink beers, our senior year of college. We hung out a few times. Three weeks later he went home to Oregon to spend the summer with his family. I figured that would be the end of it.

I was so wrong. This 6'5", party animal, can't be tamed, frat daddy called me every single day for the next three months. We were complete opposites and our friends were floored that we were even talking to one another. Some nights we only talked for a few minutes, other nights we talked for hours. I looked forward to hearing from him each night.

Sometime toward the end of the summer/beginning of fall we decided to make it official. We were a couple and it was perfect.

We were different in so many ways (For example, I never would have caught my face on fire freshman year taking a flaming shot.... and that was Jordan's claim to fame!), but we are so alike in the things that matter.

Christmas break 2009 Jordan graduated went back to Oregon for a visit. After being carless for two years, Jordan's dad bought him a car, because he was going to need one for the job hunt. After Christmas I flew out to the west coast and rode back in that car with him all the way to Tennessee. We made a few stops along the way to visit friends and family. Looking back, I can't believe my Nana and Papaw let me do that! All the way across the country with a boy I hardly knew!

Fast-forward to September 2011.

I am still living in Cookeville, and Jordan has been living an hour away in Mt. Juliet for just over a year now. The long distance thing has worked fine, with us seeing each other on weekends, but it's starting to get to me. Jordan has been insisting for weeks that I come to visit him. I have been insisting that he come visit me. I thought that I was standing my ground, by making sure it was fair and I wasn't the one doing all of the traveling. Turns out ... Jordan had reserved an entire restaurant for us to have to ourselves so that he could propose. The only problem was that he kept having to cancel with the restaurant because I continued to refuse to come there. Finally, after dinner with some family and friends one night, we go to the car to leave the restaurant and meet up with everyone else at the bar. Jordan pretends that the car won't start. And I can tell he is pretending. So I'm pissed. I don't know why he is faking a car problem. I assume he just doesn't want to go out with everyone. So I snatch the keys up and start the car myself. He gets out and opens the hood anyways. At this point I think he is a huge idiot and I'm ready to let him have it. I get out and march around the front of the vehicle to find him.....

fumbling with a box in his pocket and getting down on one knee!!!! He proposed... I don't even remember what all he said but I immediately slugged him in the arm (I'm embarrassed at my behavior here) and demand to know if he has gotten my Papaw's permission. He informs me that he drove THREE HOURS to Athens to ask permission a month ago! So then I make sure he has asked my aunt Kim for permission. Of course he had. So I fffiiiinnnnaaaallllyyyy say YES and give him the biggest hug ever! Right about that time, everyone we were going out with drives by honking and congratulating. It was very sweet and very us.

It was also a lesson in being nicer to this sweet boy who puts up with my stubborn-ness.

So as of November 2012 I will be signing my posts as Mrs. Calhoun. Yayyyy!

-Miss Land

Getting you all caught up... How I landed my job.

Man, when I started this blog I couldn't wait to FINALLY get my own classroom, my own kiddos, and my own big-girl paycheck. I couldn't wait to sit down with a cup of coffee/tea/whatever and blog about the whole experience. And then, somehow, I let it all slip me by.

So, minus the super excited emotions that would have come with this story originally, here is how I finally came across a real teaching position.

First, I applied everywhere within an hour radius.

Then I stalked every county's website for months. And waited to get a call for an interview.

And waited patiently.........

kept waiting..........

waiting impatiently......

Nothing.

Two weeks before school was supposed to start I finally heard from a school less than a mile away from my apartment! How perfect, right?! Must be a God thing, right?? Wrong... The interview was a complete and utter disaster. I thought I was interviewing for one position and the principal was actually looking to fill a completely different position. It took half-way through the interview for us to realize we were on wayyyyy different pages. I looked dumb. Just plain dumb. He asked me questions that I had to clue how to even begin to answer. I left super embarrassed and discouraged.

At basically the exact same time, I received a call from the place where I tutored part-time all summer. They wanted to know if I would consider a full time position. In my head I thought NOOOOOOOO wayyyyyy am I going to tutor full-time. That sounds like a nightmare! But I told them I would come in to discuss the position. Afterall, what other choice did I have? It had been a solid 7 months since I graduated and nothing else was panning out.

So I go in, and this man explains to me that they are looking for someone to teach a classroom in the private school next-door. What?? I didn't even know there was a school there! He says that they have observed my tutoring and want to offer me the position based on what they have seen during my time there. I told them I would let them know by the end of the week...

I didn't know what to do. I hadn't even considered teaching at a private school. So I thought, prayed, and asked my family what they thought I should do.

Fast-forward 6 months.

Yesterday I began the second half of the school-year at the school that offered me the position. I teach grades 4-6 in one small class of nine students. I have learned more in the past six months than I ever did in college. I have days where I feel like the best teacher in the world. Then I have days where I wonder if anyone has even learned anything in my classroom. I have days that I want to pull my hair out and run out of the building screaming. I also have days that I am overflowing with passion for what I do. Then some days, I wonder if there is some other profession that I would enjoy more. Other days, I can't imagine doing anything else. Overall, I love what I do and I bust by butt making sure that these kids have the best educational experience that I can possibly provide.

Whew, so there it is ya'll. I'm a real teacher now!

-Miss Land (soon to be Mrs. Calhoun!!!!!!... you'll get to hear that story soon, too.)