Public speaking is SO my thing...

Not really. I know, I know. I'm a teacher. I get up every morning and spend 8 hours speaking in front of 23 people. Here's the catch: those 23 people? They range in age from 6-8. They're sweet. Oh and they adore me. Cocky? Possibly, but it's true. Even when I goof up and stutter, they just smile and laugh in a not mean way. One of the many reasons I love working with firsties.

But tomorrow, I have to get up in front of the college class that comes to my school every week and talk. I have to be knowledgeable. I have to NOT speak a mile a minute (which is exactly how I talk. I'd do a video blog so you can witness it yourself, but no thanks.) I'm flattered that my standards coach thinks I'm good enough to present to them, but still I'm REALLY not looking forward to it.

Yep. That describes my feelings exactly. Anybody out there understand where I'm coming from?

Me, Myself and I

You know you want to know more about me! At least that's what I tell myself. :) Here goes:

1) When you're feeling down, what do you do to pick yourself up?

I read a book (usually Harry Potter). I bake. There's something so calming about baking. Plus indulging in sweets is another way I pick myself up! I want to make these next:

Source: marthastewart.com via Nilda on Pinterest

2)  If you had to live in a different time period which would you prefer?
Hmmm. Tough question. I would say the 40s and 50s. Something about the style and history of the era draws me to it. 

3)  What is the most creative Halloween costume you've ever worn?
I've never made my own costume, always store bought. My best costume has been my Belle costume from a few years ago:

4)  Five weird things about you we wouldn't know without being told?
I think out loud a lot! Gets me weird looks sometimes.
The High School Musical 3 soundtrack is one that I always play to pump me up.
I never wear my hair down if I am wearing a black shirt or sweater.
I like going to the beach but not going in the water.
I hated cats before getting my own fur baby Athena.

5)  What would you tell your 16-year-old self?
I was in a college prep program called International Baccalaureate. I felt very average all through out high school, even though compared to the rest of the population, I am not (sorry if that sounds cocky, I don't mean it that way!). I would tell my 16 year old self to not feel inferior to those in her class. I would tell her she is smart and that the rest of her life will be so much better than it is at that moment. Oh and I would tell her not to take Human Geography for her 6th subject!

Those were some tough questions! Link up so I can know more about you. :)

So here's more about me...

I hope you get a good idea of who I am by reading this lovely little blog of mine. I try my best to be as real as possible.

So when I saw the Sunday Social this week was all about me an my blog questions, I knew I had to go with it!

1. What is the name of your blog and how did you come up with it??

Laughter, Love, and Necklaces. I played around with names for a bit and this one stuck. It's completely cheestastic to say, but laughter and love are important things to me. I threw in necklaces, because it's something I'm known for. My little girls in my class always love to see what necklace I am wearing next. I realize now it makes it seem like I'm a fashion blog, but I like the name so I think I'll keep it awhile. 

2. What do you love the most about blogging??

I love the connections that you make with people. I have found so many people who share my interests and who I now consider friends. I worry about them when they post something sad and I celebrate when they post something great. My blog friends are definitely my favorite part of this!

3. What are your 2 favorite posts you've written?

Definitely my types of teachers at trainings (which could be applied to any class) and  this random one about my day. My random posts really show my personality I think!

4. What is something you'd want to tell someone just starting out in blog world?

Don't be afraid to reach out. Comment on the blogs you like, retweet the bloggers you read, and share about yourself. The blog world is a pretty welcoming place!

5. Biggest blogging learning experience you've had?

No reply commenter! I didn't realize I was a no reply commenter. I wondered why no one would reply to me and then one day I checked it and changed it.  

6. Give us three blogs we NEED to be following that you love.

Gosh, SUCH a tough question. There are so many blogs I love.

Caitlin over at A Day in the Life She's definitely a kindred spirit and so funny! Absolutely love her. 

Jessica over at Lovely Little Things She just writes from the heart and she has a great attitude towards life. 

Paige over at The Eloping Stethoscope She's so smart and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet! She also designs beautiful jewelry. 

Hope this let you know more about me! Now can't wait to chow down on some dip, wings and potato salad while I cheer on my JAGS!

Thunderstorms... eek!

Thanks Isaac. Even though I am miles away from your center, you are still terrorizing my world. Not only do your rains mean NO RECESS (ugh, first graders with no recess are torture!!) but you mean thunderstorms too!

Have I mentioned I HATE LIGHTNING?!?! In 5th grade, on my safety patrol trip to D.C., my tour group got stuck on our tour bus in the middle of the craziest lightning storm ever. 10 minutes after seeing a documentary on the dangers of lightning. Perfect timing right? Since then I've been freaked out by it.

So I find it ironic that I live in Florida, which during the summer and hurricane season, seems to be the lightning capital of the world. I barely made it home from work without completely freaking. Lightning everywhere!

So to take my mind off things, I made some macaroni and cheese. I threw in some chicken sausage and broccoli. Childhood memories anyone? Yum. Yum.

So if you are facing the wrath of Isaac, stay dry and stay safe. Know that a girl in Jacksonville is fully commiserating with you.

PS. Bloggy friends, do me a favor and check out my friend Lauren's blog, Dandelion Days. She's starting this whole blog adventure so show her some love. Plus, she has awesome ideas AND she posted one of our favorite recipes from when we lived together, Salsa Verde Enchiladas. Or as she put it, Party in Your Mouth Enchiladas! :)

Smell the roses...

I normally don't post twice or let alone do two link up posts, but I really love Jessica's Smell the Roses task for this week. Thought about waiting until tomorrow to publish it, but I loved the challenge too much! Her challenge was to create a list of ten things you are thankful for. In the last week, I've really tried to focus on those good things. Here goes!

1.

My family. This is one of my favorite pictures of my entire extended family. Even though my mom, my dad, my brother and I have lived away from them almost my entire life, I'm still really thankful for them. All of them are always there when you need them.

2.

My pretty girl. She makes me laugh. Athena drives me crazy, but I know my life is much better having her as my pet.

3.

This guy. He has his moments and I have mine, but I adore him. He's always surprising me, like on our Atlanta trip.

4. I'm thankful that I have a job doing what I love. If I wasn't teaching, I'm not sure what else I would be doing. I'm very excited for this new school year at a school that seems fantastic.

5.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm thankful for the city that I live in. I'm close to the beach, we have an NFL team, it's huge but still feels like a small town, and it's close to a lot of other fun places. I'm glad that I grew up here. (16 year old me is rolling her eyes!)

6.  I'm thankful for my friends. Two of my closest friends live far away, but if I need them, I know they'll answer my call. I'm lucky enough that my best friend is someone who has known me for ages but still wants to hang out! Oh and I'm thankful for my CRES friends, the ones who didn't want me to leave, but supported my decision to do so.

7. The internet. It can be a curse at times, but it is something to be thankful. It makes staying in contact with said friends and family a lot easier. It's helped me better my teaching. Plus, without it I wouldn't have met all you amazing people who read my blog!

8. My parents (guess they're techinically under number one, but this is my list right?) now that I deal with kids on a daily basis, I can tell how hard it was for them to raise us right. My brother and I would not be the people we are without their sacrifices, love and support. I'm glad I got punished when I acted up. They taught me well. Oh and my brother. He's my best friend. For reals.

This picture is SUPER OLD and SUPER CHEESY but still one of my faves!

9.

This one is no where as deep as the others, but I'm so thankful that the Olympics are taking place the last two weeks of my summer vacation! This way, I can stay up late watching all the action and not have to wake up early the next day!

10. I'm thankful for books. I'm glad I have something that can take me completely out of this world when I need it. :) (I need to pick the new Emily Giffin book ASAP)

What are you thankful for? Go link up with Jessica!

Me, Myself and I

Today I'm doing this fabulous link up.

It's a way for people in this awesome bloggy world to get to know you. I've only been blogging for a weeks, but I have met some really phenomenal people. Some are just like me and others are not, but I love reading their blogs and getting to know them.

The ladies came up with some interesting questions, so here goes!

1. What is your biggest phobia? 

Source: 126.com.au via Laura on Pinterest

 So that picture might seem amazing to some, but to me it's terrifying. I have this phobia of lightening. It use to be A LOT worse, but I've got it mostly under control. (Seeing as how I live in a state that has daily thunderstorms from May to September!)   2. If you could relive any day of your life, what would it be and why? 

 My college graduation; if and only if my biological father doesn't choose that moment to surprise me and show up after not seeing me for ten years. He ruined that day for me and I would do anything to do it over and enjoy it. Instead of wanting to ball up and cry. (Whoaaaa, didn't think I'd get that personal that quickly!) 

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 

Now. I know who I am, my brother is not an annoying little snot, my parents respect me and who I've become and I'm enjoying life. :)

4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? 

Unfortunately, no one. It'd be kind of cool if I did though!

5. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?

(all of these videos were found on YouTube and do not belong to me)

  All At Once by The Fray

"Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same"

Extraordinary by Mandy Moore

"And now I'm ready to be extraordinary!"

Defying Gravity

"I'm through accepting limits, cause someone says there so, some things I cannot change, but till I try I'll never know" 

Those are my answers.

Hope they gave you some insight into little fascinating old me! 

Link up so I can get to know you! 

An Award!

Yesterday, Caitlin from A Day in The Life nominated me for the Liebster Award! The award is given to upcoming bloggers with less than 200 followers. Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome! Thanks Caitlin!!

Here's How It Works:

Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
Answer the questions that the tagger set for you and create 11 questions for bloggers you've tagged.
Choose up to 11 bloggers and link them in your post.
Go to their page and tell them.
No tag backs

Caitlin's questions are so fun. Here goes:



1. What do you do to relax?

I go to the library or a Barnes and Noble. Simply browsing through all the books definitely takes my stress away.


2. What are some of your hobbies?

My hobbies are reading and cooking. See the answer above. I love taking cooking classes and finding new recipes to make. Oh! I suppose blogging's a hobby too!


3. If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take 3 things with you, what would you take?
I'd take Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a journal and a pen. :) (And pray that there is a river with fresh water on the island!)


4. What is your greatest accomplishment thus far?

Teaching for five years. Research has shown that most new teachers "drop out" before their fifth year. Last year was ROUGH, but I survived it and cannot wait to see what my sixth year has in store.


5. What was your favorite subject in school and why?

History. I particularly loved learning about World War II.


6. How would you describe your style?

Classic with a bit of whimsy. I took a quiz once and that's what it came up. I wear classic pieces but in bright colors. I also love fun jewelery.


7. If you could have any special talent (that you don't already have), what would it be?

I would love to be able to sing well. Something about having a good singing voice is special to me.


8. If you won the lottery, what would you spend the money on?

I'd pay off all my credit card debt (not that it's major but it would help!), my student loans and car. I'd then buy a house for myself and pay off my parents' house.


9. Name three people who have influenced you the most and why.

My mother: She's one of the strongest people I know. She raised me on her own the first four years of my life. After she got married, she moved to Florida, which was far away from all of her family. She's just an absolutely amazing person.

My dad: The man I call "Dad" is technically my stepdad. But he's just Dad to me. He married my mom and has taken care of us both since that moment. He's gruff and loud and doesn't always show how he cares. But he's loyal and protective and would do anything for my family.

JP: My younger brother has taught me a lot. He's taught me that there are plenty of times in your life where you just need to go with the flow. I've always felt a need to set a good example for him. He's also taught me a lot about loyalty.


10. What got you started in blogging?

I kept a Livejournal all through out college. Now it's neat to go back and read those entries. So I figured, why not do that now? Record things that are important in my life at this moment.


11. What is your favorite holiday & why?

That's easy: CHRISTMAS! I love the feeling I get when I hear a Christmas song for the first time during the season. I love seeing the decorations go up and spending time with family. It's just the best!

Here are my nominees:

Britt @ Yellow Umbrella

Holly @ Sunshine State of Mind

Rikki @ A Woman, Her Cat(s) and Some Books

Teresa @ Blonde Curlss

Ari @ Apples and Glue

Each blog is completely different from the others. I love to read them all! Here are my questions:

1.What is the best dessert you've ever had?

2. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where it would be and why?

3. Who was your favorite teacher? Why was she/he your favorite?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. What is the one thing you couldn't live without?

6. What's the longest road trip you've ever been on?

7. How would you describe your style?

8. Who are you closest to in your family?

9.  Do you have any weird talents?

10. Do you prefer, flip-flops, flats, or heels?

11. Do you prefer cats or dogs? Why?

Can't wait to read your answers!

High 5 for Friday!

I love looking for the positives in my life. Which is why I like Laura's at From My Grey Desk Blog High 5 For Friday link up. Always nice to look back at the week.

1. I had a fabulous Fourth of July!

Theme parks, J and ice cream. No better way to spend the day.

2. My cat's doing better. She just has a little ear infection.

I was freaking out that she might be sick, so this is wonderful news!

3. I didn't spend any money on frivolous things this week. I'm really trying to budget my summer paychecks as well as I can.

4. I hit 20 followers! I didn't start this blog to have followers, but I really am loving meeting new people.

5. My contact page in the global address book for Duval County Public Schools officially says that I'm at Windy Hill Elementary. It's bittersweet, because I will miss my old school, but it's exciting because my transfer is official!

What made your week awesome? Don't forget to link up!

Man oh man it's early...

During the school year, I get up at 5:45 a.m. Even if I went to bed at 11 the night before, I still get up at 5:45 a.m. But now? I don't go to sleep until super late (I'm a night owl) and normally don't wake up until at least 10 (the perks of being single and a teacher). But I'm on a mission today: to find out what the heck is going on at my gym!

You see L.A. Fitness bought out my gym. The first official word we got about it was yesterday,  through a simple email. That annoys me. Obviously, the LA people knew about this for a bit, but waited until the last minute to say anything. Oh and my other annoyance? They've changed the class schedule and dropped all my favorites. The most confusing part, is  that my gym is still handing the old schedule! Boo.

But before I go, I thought I'd steal this idea I found at Paige's blog Eloping Stethoscope. It's 10 things you should be embarrassed about but are not.

1.  I will still watch the Disney Channel. Yes, I'm 27. But I don't care. Besides, all my little babies in my classroom think it's cool when I know who Bridget Mendler is. Though World War 3 almost went down in my classroom a few years ago when my girls found out I liked Selena better than Miley!

2. I snort when I laugh really hard. Like a gut busting laugh. I think it's cute.

3. I'm not a drinker. I used to care about this and mindlessly throw some back, but now I stand my ground. I like pineapple juice with Malibu rum, Newcastle beer, or a glass of white wine. Anything else is just not my jam.

4. I'll wake up super early to drive to St. Cloud just to see this little girl:

She's the daughter of my roommate from college. People think I'm nutty to waste the gas, but seeing her and her mommy are not a waste to me. 

5. I live with my parents. I didn't for the previous three years. Last year, I was paying rent to them and living on my own in the house I grew up in. But my mom got an opportunity to move back and it was what my dad needed. I was going to try to find somewhere reasonable to live, but in Jacksonville all the places I can afford by myself are kind of sketchy (unless I wanted to live paycheck to paycheck and eat ramen). I pay some of the house bills and it gives me a chance to pay off my debt. I very rarely even see my parents, because I'm always at work or the boyfriend's. Don't judge!

6. I will sometimes buy children's clothing, especially shoes. I can fit into a child's size four and children's shoes are always cheaper. My Sperry's look like a grown ups, but were half the price. :)

7. I still cry like a baby if I have to get a shot. I heard this will change when I get pregnant, but for right now, I'm still crazy scared of needles!

8. I could eat sushi everyday. 

9. I'm deathly afraid of lightning. I will freak out during any major thunderstorm. Obviously, this is an issue when said thunderstorm occurs while you are taking your kids to the bus loading zone. 

10. I still haven't read Fifty Shades of Grey. I have it, but I've heard so many conflicting reviews (it's great, it's awful, it's great, it's awful!) that I don't know if I want to read it. We shall see.

What's something that you should be embarrassed about but you're not?

Media Monday

I found this while browsing some blogs the other day. I'm linking up with Rachel from Lists from the Heart and Brittany from Yellow Umbrella Design. It's Media Monday!

Being summer, I have plenty of time to find some new favorites in music, movies, tv and books. Currently:

TV

I found this while browsing Netflix one day. It's a teen drama from Australia. It has the usual teenage relationship drama but what makes it slightly different is the amazing dancing and the characters. Besides, the awesome Australian accents don't hurt!

Music

I promise, I'm a late 20 something girl not some teenybopper, but The Wanted's single "Glad You Came" plays all the time at my gym. Whenever I hear it on the radio, I immediately start singing along and get reminded that I haven't gone to the gym yet. They are from England and have adorable accents as well!

Movie

This one isn't a new movie, but I rented it the other day because it's one of my favorites. It features Justin Long (who I think is absolutely funny) and Drew Barrymore as the main characters. They have to deal with their long distance relationship issues. It's a great watch, especially for dreary rainy days (like today!)

I haven't read anything new lately, but I might try and venture out in the downpour to pick up some of the books I have on hold at the library. 

What are your current favorites?

The first one...

I had a Livejournal in college. I wrote in it every day. It was a neat way to get caught up on the comings and goings of my friends' lives. Now it's a fun time capsule of that time period. I read an entry and it takes me right back to that moment.
That's one of the reasons that I started this blog. As a way to capture the comings and goings of my life right now. I hope I'll get readers, but even if I don't it will be my little record of my life. I'm going to post the interesting ideas I find and actually complete from Pinterest. The special little moments of life, like my cruise to the Bahamas this past spring. I know people say to find your niche for your blog. But I'm the type of person who isn't an expert in anything, but knows a lot about A LOT of different things. That's the direction I'll go, until I find inspiration that diverts me in another direction.