I'm sitting here waiting on nail polish to dry so that I can go to bed, and I realize that I haven't blogged in way too long.
It's not so much writer's block as it is that there is really not a whole lot to talk about these days... I know, not the thrilling blog update you were hoping for, right?
The students at the middle school have pretty much gone bonkers since TCAPs three weeks ago... We have not had the same schedule two consecutive days since then. There are special activities happening every few days and a school-wide project that has been worked into the schedule daily.
I am currently trying to figure out how I'm planning on getting by this summer without an actual job job. I have committed to tutoring a few little girls two days a week and I really would like to find tutoring or babysitting jobs to fill up the other three days of the work-week. I applied to work at the YMCA for summer camps, but apparently they had already hired enough people. So, if you know of anyone in Putnam or the surrounding counties who needs a babysitter or tutor, please send them my way!!
-Miss Land
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mo' Money, Mo' Problems...
I've always heard of broke college students... but I had more money in college than I've ever had before, thanks to scholarships, grants, and a little student loan. So in school, I thought man, if this is what it's like to be a broke college student, things aren't too bad. The recession didn't touch me in college. I heard all about people having financial troubles, and was so thankful to be in my little TTU bubble (that's how I refer to my college life... it's its own little world).
No one ever tells you that you'll be broke AFTER college. I thought I would be rolling in dough by now... I mean, I really thought that someone would walk up to me as soon as I turned my tassel and hand me a job on a silver platter. Boy, was I wrong!
I am learning for the first time how to make a strict budget and it is NOT easy, people! This job of mine is such a wonderful experience and I love it, but let's just get real for a minute. It is a minimum wage job and it is technically only part time. I have rent, an electric bill, insurance, and a phone bill to pay with a tiny little paycheck biweekly. Please don't think that I am complaining, because this job has been a tremendous blessing! I just want to share with you one more thing I am learning along the way. I am learning to stretch my dollar like nobody's business.
For example. I love clothes. They are the only thing that I really spend much money on... However, since graduating, I have only purchased a $5 pair of pants from Old Navy and a $10 scarf. (and a pair of tennis shoes, but I broke into the graduation money for that one... so it does not count). Since clothing is no longer in the budget I've started making jewelry so I can at least feel like I'm stretching my wardrobe out.
I eat oatmeal for breakfast; TWO BUCKS for a huge tub that lasts over a month!
At El Tap, I get the $1.75 taco with beans on the side. $3 meal! Yes please!
Also, I made homemade laundry detergent! It cost about $4 and will probably last me a year! It was soooooo easy and I hate buying any type of cleaning product, so I am super excited about it!
As much as I wish I could buy a ton of new clothes and shoes (the summer stuff will be out soon :/ my favorite), I am proud to be learning a lesson in budgeting and how to make each dollar count now, so when I am making more money, I will be a wise steward of all that the Lord blesses me with.
-Miss Land
No one ever tells you that you'll be broke AFTER college. I thought I would be rolling in dough by now... I mean, I really thought that someone would walk up to me as soon as I turned my tassel and hand me a job on a silver platter. Boy, was I wrong!
I am learning for the first time how to make a strict budget and it is NOT easy, people! This job of mine is such a wonderful experience and I love it, but let's just get real for a minute. It is a minimum wage job and it is technically only part time. I have rent, an electric bill, insurance, and a phone bill to pay with a tiny little paycheck biweekly. Please don't think that I am complaining, because this job has been a tremendous blessing! I just want to share with you one more thing I am learning along the way. I am learning to stretch my dollar like nobody's business.
For example. I love clothes. They are the only thing that I really spend much money on... However, since graduating, I have only purchased a $5 pair of pants from Old Navy and a $10 scarf. (and a pair of tennis shoes, but I broke into the graduation money for that one... so it does not count). Since clothing is no longer in the budget I've started making jewelry so I can at least feel like I'm stretching my wardrobe out.
I eat oatmeal for breakfast; TWO BUCKS for a huge tub that lasts over a month!
At El Tap, I get the $1.75 taco with beans on the side. $3 meal! Yes please!
Also, I made homemade laundry detergent! It cost about $4 and will probably last me a year! It was soooooo easy and I hate buying any type of cleaning product, so I am super excited about it!
As much as I wish I could buy a ton of new clothes and shoes (the summer stuff will be out soon :/ my favorite), I am proud to be learning a lesson in budgeting and how to make each dollar count now, so when I am making more money, I will be a wise steward of all that the Lord blesses me with.
-Miss Land
Monday, March 28, 2011
LIFE101
So I like to type this blog so that I can document my goofy transition into being an adult. And I mean goofy. There should be a class in college called LIFE101. You should be taught to balance your checkbook, budget, fix a broken toilet, change the dryer lint thingy regularly. In this class there would be a vocabulary list that must be mastered before passing. The list would include words like: mortgage, mutual fund, 401k, and all of the other words that I act like I know in conversation and then Google when I get home. Maybe all of these seem like common knowledge to you grown-ups out there but I'm clueless.
I wrote all that to tell you about my latest grown-up goof. It has been three months since I graduated, and I just now got some of my thank you notes addressed and stamped to send out. SHAME ON ME. My Nana would give me a swift kick in the butt for this one. Mind you, I wrote all of them THE NEXT WEEK after graduating. That was the hard part and for some reason I put off the easy part (addressing and stamping) until just now. If there is a grown-up of the year award out there somewhere, I will not be receiving it this year.
Oh well, add it to the list!
And here's the list:
*Signing up for a Target credit card and then forgetting to pay it off. A $100 debt turned into a $200 debt real quick. Lesson learned.
*Letting a $1000 check expire. (Don't worry, I got another one sent) Lesson learned.
*Arguing over a thermostat by jacking the heat way up. Expensive bill. Lesson learned.
*Sending a rent check without a signature (accidentally). Twice. Nearly evicted. Lesson Learned.
*Driving too fast as a teenager and rolled a vehicle. Lesson learned.
*Blew off my best friend for a boy. We didn't speak for a year, and it was miserable. Lesson learned.
*Being at odds with my Grandad in Oklahoma at the time he passed away. Didn't get to say goodbye. Lesson learned.
I don't know about you guys, but I am so far from perfect. Thank the Lord for having mercy on me and leading me through these lessons, the ones that are funny to look back on, and the ones that hurt to think about.
To tie this into my teaching theme, I look forward to watching generations of sweet children learn their lessons. Not so much math, science, social studies, and english. More so, the things that matter. How to be a responsible future-adult, how to make friends and keep them, how to show love to others, and how to love a Holy God. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm not allowed to talk about Him in school, but actions speak far louder than words and I want to be a guiding light.
-Miss Land
I wrote all that to tell you about my latest grown-up goof. It has been three months since I graduated, and I just now got some of my thank you notes addressed and stamped to send out. SHAME ON ME. My Nana would give me a swift kick in the butt for this one. Mind you, I wrote all of them THE NEXT WEEK after graduating. That was the hard part and for some reason I put off the easy part (addressing and stamping) until just now. If there is a grown-up of the year award out there somewhere, I will not be receiving it this year.
Oh well, add it to the list!
And here's the list:
*Signing up for a Target credit card and then forgetting to pay it off. A $100 debt turned into a $200 debt real quick. Lesson learned.
*Letting a $1000 check expire. (Don't worry, I got another one sent) Lesson learned.
*Arguing over a thermostat by jacking the heat way up. Expensive bill. Lesson learned.
*Sending a rent check without a signature (accidentally). Twice. Nearly evicted. Lesson Learned.
*Driving too fast as a teenager and rolled a vehicle. Lesson learned.
*Blew off my best friend for a boy. We didn't speak for a year, and it was miserable. Lesson learned.
*Being at odds with my Grandad in Oklahoma at the time he passed away. Didn't get to say goodbye. Lesson learned.
I don't know about you guys, but I am so far from perfect. Thank the Lord for having mercy on me and leading me through these lessons, the ones that are funny to look back on, and the ones that hurt to think about.
To tie this into my teaching theme, I look forward to watching generations of sweet children learn their lessons. Not so much math, science, social studies, and english. More so, the things that matter. How to be a responsible future-adult, how to make friends and keep them, how to show love to others, and how to love a Holy God. Yeah, yeah, I know I'm not allowed to talk about Him in school, but actions speak far louder than words and I want to be a guiding light.
-Miss Land
Friday, March 25, 2011
Teach Me Tuesdays! Teacher/Student Facebook Friending
I do not confirm students or their parents as Facebook friends (unless I am legitimately friends and we hang out and really know one another) for many reasons. I came across this blog that explains why it is a horrible idea to befriend your students. Check it out and I'm sure you will agree.
-Miss Land
-Miss Land
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Is it Friday yet?
Wow, I started out really good at this blogging thing and I've already turned into a slacker...
This week has been a pretty average week at work. Monday went better than I had expected, but then Tuesday reality sank in that it is the last nine weeks of the school year and the kids have gone BONKERS. One kid of mine stole something from the P.E. teacher... not the first thing he's stolen. Kids are going to the office left and right. Students are no longer allowed to go to their lockers between classes because that's when they cause the most trouble. I mean, one thing after another.
Today, however, was a piece of cake. I have P.E. the first two hours of the day with two different sets of students. Then 3rd period was D.A.R.E. so there wasn't much for me to do. 4th period was super easy because the teacher spent the entire period reading from the social studies book. 5th period was a breeze because students were giving 4H presentations (boring when we were in school, still boring today...) and before I knew it, it was time to go home! Wahoo!
And guess what! Tomorrow is FRIDAY! Yeeeeeeeah.
This week has been a pretty average week at work. Monday went better than I had expected, but then Tuesday reality sank in that it is the last nine weeks of the school year and the kids have gone BONKERS. One kid of mine stole something from the P.E. teacher... not the first thing he's stolen. Kids are going to the office left and right. Students are no longer allowed to go to their lockers between classes because that's when they cause the most trouble. I mean, one thing after another.
Today, however, was a piece of cake. I have P.E. the first two hours of the day with two different sets of students. Then 3rd period was D.A.R.E. so there wasn't much for me to do. 4th period was super easy because the teacher spent the entire period reading from the social studies book. 5th period was a breeze because students were giving 4H presentations (boring when we were in school, still boring today...) and before I knew it, it was time to go home! Wahoo!
And guess what! Tomorrow is FRIDAY! Yeeeeeeeah.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
So Long, Spring Break.
Here it is, the last day of my Spring Break. It has been wonderful. The weather has been between 65 and 80 the whole week and I am already in Summer mode.
What I did all week:
SLEPT IN
babysat
bought a new cell phone
started running again
went out with friends in the MIDDLE of the week (huge deal these days)
Spent a super-fun day at Six Flags with that boy I date
The only thing that I did not get to do was go home and visit my Nana and Papaw. I have not been home since Christmas break. I wanted to go during the week, but had to babysit to make up for not actually working this past week. So my biggest priority next weekend: GOING HOME.
Tomorrow, my first day back at work after the entire week off, should be interesting... My kiddos have been at home for a week and will be coming back to a structured environment. This is a hard task for anyone without a learning disorder, so just imagine what an adjustment it will be for these guys! I'll be sure to blog tomorrow!
-Miss Land
What I did all week:
SLEPT IN
babysat
bought a new cell phone
started running again
went out with friends in the MIDDLE of the week (huge deal these days)
Spent a super-fun day at Six Flags with that boy I date
The only thing that I did not get to do was go home and visit my Nana and Papaw. I have not been home since Christmas break. I wanted to go during the week, but had to babysit to make up for not actually working this past week. So my biggest priority next weekend: GOING HOME.
Tomorrow, my first day back at work after the entire week off, should be interesting... My kiddos have been at home for a week and will be coming back to a structured environment. This is a hard task for anyone without a learning disorder, so just imagine what an adjustment it will be for these guys! I'll be sure to blog tomorrow!
-Miss Land
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Spring Break!
It may not be a wild week in Panama City, but I am thoroughly enjoying sleeping in and not having to be in teacher clothes everyday. I didn't even notice that yesterday was a Monday. I slept until 10:30, went for a run (go me!), and did absolutely nothing productive.
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