Bloggin' Ladies: Bows & Sparrows!

It's that time, again, for this week's Bloggin' Ladies post!

Name+Age+Site:
Erin + 33 + Bows & Sparrows http://bowsandsparrows.blogspot.com/

What is something interesting about you?
I have a copy-editing certificate, and I still have a propensity to overuse/misuse ellipsis and dashes...I've come to terms with this. Also, when I make to-do lists, I often include things I've already done just so I can cross them off. It keeps me feeling good about my accomplishments.

Why did you begin blogging?
To keep myself out of trouble...and also to keep an online file of everything that inspires me: music, design, friends, fashion, books, movies, etc.

How long have you been blogging?
I started a music blog in January of 2008, but wanted to blog about more than just music so I started Bows & Sparrows in October of last year - October 28th, to be specific.

Who is your inspiration for writing?
Chevy Chase. Ok, maybe not really, but he did inspire at least one post. I mean, have you seen pictures of him circa 1980? Total babe.

Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas stem from everywhere: music, movies, other bloggers, friends, magazines, my constant desire to redecorate my apartment. On the flip side, my blog also inspires me to try new thing, tackle new projects and make life pretty in general - just so I can blog about them. I'm rarely without a camera or a notepad...just in case inspiration strikes. 

Do you have any advice that you want to share with fellow lady bloggers?
I'm not sure I should be dolling out advice, but I've always thought this Judy Garland quote was sound advice: “Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

What is one thing you are looking forward to most in your future (blog or otherwise)?
At the risk of sounding cliché, I really do look forward to each new day and the experiences life throws my way. I look forward to the books I'll read, the new music I'll discover, the letters I'll write and receive, the new friends I'll meet and the old friends that I'll continue to love. Ok, did I just make you throw up in your mouth a little? Sorry!

Thanks, Erin! Everyone: Go check out her blog NOW and leave her some love :)

P.S. Don't forget to check out the newest blog button! And the other one! Right over there! -->

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xoxo have a great Tuesday!

Monday (not-so-manic!)

For once! A not-so-manic Monday! So exciting.

I am really, really excited about today. I have so much to talk about, I am getting a little anxious thinking about it!

First thing's first....

•  Today's lesson: I talked a little bit about what I was planning for the kids yesterday, and I got to put it into action, today!! Since the regular prep kids (all bells except one) haven't done their latest paper yet, I started this imagery unit with the AA kids. They were SO interested. All I did was give them background notes on imagery, have them create some short images according to the five senses, share those aloud, and then talked about Dante Alighieri's life so briefly. We also introduced the 9 circles of hell in preparation to read some excerpts from the first part of Divine Comedy, "Inferno." It was so rewarding to actually teach a lesson again. They were asking questions, they were SO eager to share their examples from the imagery handout, and they really seemed to grasp what I was telling them.
  
  
• What a great segway to teaching: After the last couple of weeks of more or less "baby sitting" the kids while they read from books in class, worked on vocab (seat work), or sucked up hours and hours of class time writing papers, it was so completely refreshing to be instructing again. I was starting to get lazy: the thought of planning lessons and activities and doing what I like to call "refresher research" [the research I have to do to refresh my memory before teaching something] was completely revolting to me this time last week. After today? Totally excited to do it again tomorrow. And teaching it only one bell right now is a great, perfect, awesome first run before I teach it to the other four bells.
  
  
• Graduation: It turns out that since I had made up my mind at the beginning of this school year to stay in school until June in order to put off paying my loans a little bit more (so that I would [hopefully] have a job when they would require payment) that I have missed the deadline to graduate at the end of this quarter in December. At first, not gonna lie, I was definitely bummed. Not graduating in December means that I can't sub (because I won't have a degree [yet!], and without a degree I can't get a sub license) means less money to put towards Guillermo's surgery and rehabilitation. BUT! This does mean that I can fulfill a few requirements still needed for a minor in Literary and Cultural Studies. Yay for making myself more desirable!!
  
  
• Photos: I FINALLY got around to putting some personal touches on my desk at school. I know, halfway through student teaching is a little late, but better late than never, right? Anyways, looking around my room I realized that I had about five pictures (out of about 10!) of Lauren and I! So I chose the two I liked best, kept those, and used the pretty pretty frames to frame photos of Nick and I and one of Guillermo for my desk at school:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Guillermo: He is doing a lot better today! The medicine seems to have completely left his system, and we are trying our hardest to get him to use his leg (to build up muscle) as much as possible, so that recovery after the surgery isn't so hard. He has been responding well to the liquid anti-inflammatory that was prescribed, and is running up dan down stairs and jumping off and on the couch! Go Guillermo!

Hope everyone had a great Monday, too!! Don't forget to scoop up the new blog button :)

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Sunday Letters and Sunday update

Tomorrow I am finally going to teach another REAL LIVE LESSON! I am so excited. We are going to start a mini unit on imagery using Dante Alighieri + Dante's Inferno and Washington Irving + The Devil and Tom Walker. I am SO EXCITED because I have so many ideas for the next couple of weeks, and this has fallen on perfect timing because of Halloween. I can't wait to have the kids write some spooky journals and poems!! Yay!!

Tonight Nick and I went to my parents' house for my brother Tony's birthday dinner. We got him this Marley T Shirt...

We also got him some miscellaneous silly stickers, and a lollipop with a scorpion inside ;) 

Consequently... This week's Sunday Letter goes to Tony! 

~~~

Sunday Letters...*

Dear Tony,

Brother! Happy almost-seventeenth-birthday! I am SOGLAD you had a great birthday dinner tonight, and that Nick and I could be there to celebrate it with you. I hope that you loved your Bob Marley TShirt and other ridiculous items… I am so excited that you get to go back to LaSalle! I was really hoping they would let you go (and secretly had a feeling that they would). I am glad that we are finally getting closer after a lot of years of bickering and not getting along. You’re the best brother. <3

Love,

Stephanie

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Before I go! I want to direct your attention to my very first blog button!! 

(It's also on the side bar to the right...)

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AND! My new and improved Blog Love section to the bottom right!

That's all for tonight, folks. See you tomorrow!
xoxo steph

**images via hottopic.com and wehearit

Bloggin' Ladies: Fill my heart up.

Name: Jamie

Age: Twenty-two

Blog: fillmyheartup.blogspot.com "Fill my heart up."

What is something interesting about you?: I love to read memoirs, and I can't wait to write my own one day. I'm honestly going to write one and have it published, so keep an eye out for it within the next 10 years or so. I'm currently a broke college student living in a little one bedroom apartment with my amazing boyfriend, Evan, and my adorable West Highland Terrier, Luca. I have never had the chicken pox, I refuse to write with black ink pens, I have been to 46 of the United States, I'm extremely empathetic, and collecting TV shows on DVD is one of my obsessions. <3

Why did you begin blogging?: I began my current blog on Blogger because I forgot how much I love to write, and blogging is such an easy outlet for it! Plus, it's so fun to make new friends online and read other people's blogs too! 

How long have you been blogging?: I started a blog on Xanga when I was fifteen. I switched to Myspace blogging when I was seventeen and I blogged religiously there for about 3 years. I used blogging back then as an outlet to help me get through some extremely hard struggles in my life. I'm a blog newbie to Blogger, though. I just started in September, but I plan to keep up with it for a long, long time. It's so addictive! =]

What is your inspiration for writing?: Day to day life inspires me. I just want to write about what is going on with me. I love the thought of being able to go back to any random day and remembering what my life was like "back then". I love having a place to go to get my thoughts out of my head. I also love the fact that I have an "audience". Any person can stumble upon my blog and decide whether or not they want to read it. Maybe something that I write will inspire them or make them smile. And because this is life, and things aren't always happy and perfect, maybe during a hard time my writing can help them with a personal struggle of their own.

Do you have any advice that you want to share with fellow lady bloggers?: Be honest and be yourself. Write whatever you want, without worrying what anyone else will think, because ultimately...your blog is for you.

What is something you look forward to most in the future (blog or otherwise?): Because I just recently started my new blog, I look forward to having more posts!  I also would love to have more followers. It makes me happy knowing that someone else is enjoying my blog, other than me. As far as otherwise goes, my boyfriend and I are moving into a new house in a couple months, and I'm sooo looking forward to that!! 

Thanks for reading! <3<3Jamie.

Thanks for stopping by to check Jamie out everyone :) I will be back later with an update about tonight and also Sunday Letters!! xoxo

Current Obsession: Vera

So... I am a little obsessed with this tote by Vera Bradley. I first laid eyes on it while at the mall a couple of weeks ago, browsing in the brand new Vera store. Today, I dragged Nick to the Hallmark store nearest us to oggle at it some more. The pattern is called "Baroque" and the style is called "The Vera."

The only problem is it's $78.00. Considering Guillermo's surgery, I shouldn't be spending this much on myself but.... when was the last time I bought something for me? It's been a while.

Hmph. I probably won't buy it for a while, if at all, but man am I drooling just thinking about it. 

Today is sweetest day, and this year I am taking Nick to Sakura, a local hibachi grill, for our date. We love this place, but usually only go for special occasions because it's pretty expensive. He's really excited and I can't wait, either :) 

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend so far!! Thank you again for all of your kind words about Guillermo. He seems to be feeling okay, still. I am pretty nervous about the procedure, though. I will keep you posted!! 

xoxo

S

**images via verabradley.com and weheartit