Christmas is Almost Here!

3 more days!!

Actually, AB and I will be heading up to VA Thursday morning to visit with him mom and grandparents... Then, leaving from VA to head to good ol' Kentucky as the crack-o-dawn on Christmas day, so that we can visit my family. And get this -- its supposed to snow! Yay for a white Christmas, but not so good to have to travel in. Hopefully, it won't be too bad for my little black car!

I've been finished with my shopping for quite some time now... I've never really been one of those people who wait til the last minute -- I'm far too OCD to do that! My dad on the other hand -- well, he ALWAYS waits til literally the day before Christmas to buy my mom's gifts. And then, he'll come home, come upstairs, and ask me to wrap whatever he got for her. Oh, to be a man!! :)

Yesterday was this lovely lady's birthday!!

I hope that you all stopped by Polka Dots, Pearls, and Pink... OH MY! to wish her a happy 21st... (Hehehe, see what I did there Jess?!) ;)

Today is also my LAST DAY EVER at my office!!

I won't be able to work a 9-5 while doing my internship (which starts in January), so today is my last day so that I can really enjoy my Christmas/New Year's vacays. I can't even tell you how long its been since I've been able to take more that 3 days for a Christmas break!! And believe me, I am thankful that I've been able to do that... I know plenty of people don't get to take off at all...

Anyway, I have been unhappy at this job for a while, so I am extremely excited!!! There will be plenty of people that I will miss, sure, but there will plenty of things that I won't miss a bit!!!

And since I probably won't get the chance to blog again before Christmas, I hope that you all have a wonderful, fabulous, enjoyable, amazing

Merry Christmas!!

Until Next Time,

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Hello my lovely blog-ettes! I cannot believe that I have been on hiatus for a WHOLE month (thanks for baring with my crazy blogging schedule ladies)!! But, some big things have been happening during my month away from KBB...

1) I completed my 2-week teaching practicum in one of the local high schools. It was great for the learning experience -- I really got to dive right in and take over the classroom, as I was blessed to have a wonderful cooperating teacher. But, I also had a TON of meetings/conferences/assemblies during my 2 weeks there. Honestly, I felt like I attended more meetings during my practium than were ever even held in my high school!! It really was a wake-up call as to how much high school has changed, even in the just the *cough* 8-and-a-half years *cough* since I graduated!! Did I really just say that?!

2) Thanksgiving came and went, and it was delicious! AB and I stayed here because we were unable to go home -- me with finals and AB with work. So we decided to have a dinner with some of our friends here too! AB fixed the turkey and the gravy, and some strata, while I fixed the deviled eggs -- YUMMY!

3) FINALS, UGH! I had so many papers to write, I as I have said before, I am the world's worst when it comes to procrastination. So needless to say, I had a LOT to do in a short amount of time! But, I got it all done, was invited to a presentation for the chair of the department, and pulled off another 4.0 semester of grad school! GO ME!

ANNNNND...

4) AB had an intervivew for an amazing job... The company even flew him out for the day to talk to him and see what all he could do! And a few days after Thanksgiving, the company called him back to let him know he indeed got the job, and he'll start on January 3rd!! Only one small, teensy-weensy problem... The company and the job are in Dallas, TX!! So, we will be going to VA to see AB's mom and grandparents on the 22nd-24th, driving to good ol' KY on Christmas Day to be with my family until the 28th, drive back to SC on the 29th, and the we are renting a car to drive to Memphis, TN on the 30th, continuing onto Dallas on the 31st, and me flying back to SC on the 4th on January.

I am sad that AB and I will have to do the long-distance relationship thing for 4 months (until I graduate with my masters), but I am so excited for him and what an opportunity this is! I think that spending NYE together in Dallas will be a great way to start off living apart, creating lots of good memories in a new city together.

So, as you can see, I've been plenty busy!! Now, to my Dallas blog-ettes, I ask, "What are some things that we must do while we're there?" And to all you other lovelies, I ask for tips on doing the long-distance thing for a few months... Have you and your SO ever had to be long-distance? If so, what were some tips/tricks that made it more bearable?

And the Winner Is...

The winner of my very 1st giveaway is....

Katherine @ Just Lovely!!

Congrats Katherine!! Please email me at KatieBlueBelle@gmail.com so that I can get your info and give you the contact information for Miss Emily so that she can get started on designing your stationary!!!

Thanks to all who entered, and welcome to my new followers!!!

Now...

Time's Up!!

First Giveaway is Officially Over!!

Good luck to all who entered, and I will be posting the winner tomorrow... Stay tuned!!!

Another big thanks to Emily at A Savannah Redtop for the gorgeous prints and gracious offer...

Don't Forget - Giveaway Ends TODAY!!!

THE GIVEAWAY WILL END TODAY @ 3:00 PM/EST!!!

Be sure to enter today if you have not done so already!!!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

The winner of the giveaway will get a set of 25 custom designed folded notecards, and they will get to choose their color scheme, monogram style, etc.!! Here are some of the designs that you will be able to choose from:

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Until Next Time,

Happy Halloweenie!

Since people say that Maddie looks like a horse anyway, she decided that she wanted to be a unicorn for Halloween this year...

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!

Until Next Time,

GIVEAWAY!!

THE DEAL JUST GOT A LOT SWEETER!!

Miss Emily, the designer behind the beautiful layouts of Twist Paper, has uped-the-ante!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

The winner of the giveaway will now get a set of 25 custom designed folded notecards, and they will get to choose their color scheme, monogram style, etc.!! Here are some of the designs that you will be able to choose from:

For this reason, I have decided to extend the deadline until MONDAY, NOV 1 @ 3:00 EST.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Until Next Time,

1st GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay Ladies, it's finally here -- my FIRST GIVEAWAY!!

I will be giving away a set of 10 blank notecards from our fellow bloggette, Emily McCarthy, over at A Savannah Redtop. Miss Emily is the creative mind behind the gorgeous and lovely designs of Twist Paper + Party. I've you've never looked it over, do yourself a favor, and look now!! She has such cute invitations, notecards, and stickers -- anything you could ever need, really!

Up for grabs is a (UPDATED!!!) ***set of 25 customized notecards***... Seriously, how cute are these?! I would just LOVE to get a little hand-written note on one of these puppies!

(See, it's meant to be -- they already have my name on them!)

NOW THE IMPORTANT PART -- HOW TO ENTER:

• Receive one entry by making a comment on this post


• Receive one entry by becoming a NEW follower of this blog (if you already a follower and make a comment, you will receive 2 entries per comment so that you are not at a disadvantage for already showing me love!!)


• Receive one entry for blogging about my giveaway on your own blog.
  

Therefore, you've got an opportunity to receive 3 entries in this awesome giveaway!! Just let me know in the comment you leave if you are a new follower or an existing follwer, and if you are reposting this giveaway on your own blog, so that I can give you the right amount of entries. You've got 'til (UPDATED!!) ***MONDAY, NOV 1 @ 3:00 EST***, so don't waste any time -- get started now!!

Until Next Time,

50 Followers!!

YAY FOR REACHING 50 FOLLOWERS!!

I will be presenting at the South Carolina State Social Studies Conference on Saturday morning/afternoon, but after I am finished with that, I will work on putting together my first GIVEAWAY!!!

Thank you soooo much ladies, its time for me to give a little love back!! :)

Until Next Time,

What A Weekend!!

AB and I went up to Kentucky this weekend for Court Days and Keeneland, and what a great weekend it was!!


We had so much fun seeing the BFF Jess and Mike, and to top it off -- KENTUCKY BEAT SOUTH CAROLINA!!!



I was loving every minute of it, being the Kentucky gal I am, but AB was a little disappointed. You see, even AB had flaws -- he is a USC fan.


A full post to follow soon!!




***ALSO, I am now at 49 followers, so as soon as I reach 50, I will host a giveaway!! Get excited gals!! It's so close!! More details to follow soon!!***

Back in the Classroom...

Today was the first day of my 1-week practicum, and I just loved it! The kids were all very sweet, as were my cooperating teachers, and I am so thankful!

It is also Spirit Week at the school I am observing, so it has been quite an experience! I can't wait to get back to it tomorrow and see what else this week has in store!!

BTW, I'm kinda over the blog challenge, but it was fun while it lasted!!

Until Next Time,

Blog Challenge Day 6

5 People Who Mean A Lot to Me

5 - My Family. Without them, I would not be the person I am today (quite literally, I suppose). But in all seriousness, through the ups and downs that all families experience, I am so glad to call these people mine. Enjoy the picture. It was taken about 4 years ago when my little brother was still in his rebellious stage (as if the skull hoodie in the family Christmas pic didn't give it away).

4 - AB. You mean the world to me, and I would be so much more crazy without than I am with you. Thank you for balancing me out, being my voice of reason, and making me laugh!

3 - Jess. I can't even begin to top the lovely write-up you did for me... But know that you are the best friend a girl could ask for! Through our ups and downs, rights and wrongs, year after year... You have been there for me, and I can't ever thank you enough for doing that... Even the times I just needed you to listen. I can't WAIT to come home for Keeneland and Court Day and see you in 2 weeks!!!

2 - My fellow Social Studies MAT-ers. I know we all talked about this on Thursday while studying for Helms' midterm, but I couldn't ask for a better group of people. I am so glad that we are all so eager to learn, discuss, and share our viewpoints in a respectful way. I was so afraid that grad school was going to be uber-competitive and full of back-stabbers... You've pleasantly surprised me! (In case y'all are wondering, this is our mascot, Chauncey... We're the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers!)

1 - My previous teachers. I never really truely knew how much you've influenced my life until I started working on my masters. I'm sure at times, even I made you feel like you didn't do enough or weren't making a difference. But it couldn't be any clearer now. WIthout you all, I would never have gotten this far, and even it was only me that you impacted, you made a difference.

Until Next Time,

Blog Challenge Day 5

Let me begin by saying, I am so sorry for the two-day delay... Its the last week of classes before we go into the schools for our 1-week practicum, so it has been a little hectic!

And also, this will be the six things I wish I could change, because, as I have said before, I don't do regrets. All the things that have happened in my life, good and bad, have made me the person that I am today. Even from the bad things, I've tried to make sure I've learned something. So, if I would have never have done one of those bad things, then who knows? I might be living a completly different life than the one I am living now!! I am completly greatful for ALL life has thrown me thus far!

With that said,

Six Things I Wish I Could Change or Wish I Would Have Never Done

6 -- I wish I would have gone to graduate school sooner. It would be nice to think where I would be now if I were already in a school and teaching -- for a few years at that.

5 -- I wish I would have given A.B. a chance sooner than I did. I don;t know how may times he's ask me why I didn't when we first met. But he was in a relationship and I was in a relationship, and that's no way to start a new relationship with someone. (You can reead more about that here).

4 -- I wish I could change the education system in America for the better. Kids are NOT getting the eduation they deserve, but I will try my hardest, as an educator, to make sure my kids get the best education I can give them. (BTW, if you haven't heard/see anything about it, you should watch this trailer and try to see this movie, "Waiting for 'Superman'")

3 -- I wish I could change my job right now -- but the economy isn't really making it easy to shop around for another job that I could work part time and make what I make now for the rest of the semester. *sigh*

2 -- I wish I could change the fact that I have a midterm in my most difficult class in the morning... I have a feeling it's going to kick my booty. If I can just make it to 2:00 pm, I'll be doing ok!

1 -- And lastly, I wish I could change the # of hours in the day... But alas, I would just find more things to do, and I would still be behind!! Hahaha, can you tell I'm a little stressed today?!

Until Next Time,

Blog Challenge Day 4

7 Things That Cross My Mind A Lot

7 -- "How on Earth am I going to get all of this stuff finished in time?!"

-- Thanks to being a working grad student.

6 -- "I really, really hope that all of this is going to be worth it."

-- In reference to going back to school and having to take out student loans this time around... Borrowing money like that has me absolutely scared to death. It will all be okay in the end, right?

5 -- "I will be SO glad when I don't have to go to my current job anymore!"

-- The majority of the ladies that I work with everyday are amazing people... The the one can make you dread walking into the office everyday. The work isn't bad, but the crappy pay on top of that certain person make me hate it.

4 -- "Why are they having us complete this assignment again?!"

-- In reference to the busy work that a select few of my teachers like to give us.

3 -- Worrying about finances in general.

-- Guess this one ties into #6, but this one is more all-encompassing. When is that bill due again? Have I already alloted for my cell phone bill this month? Sometimes I feel like I am the oldest 26 year old alive, and I know all the stress I cause myself is only making me that much older.

2 -- I am really very lucky to have so many amazing people in my life between all of my family and friends.

-- Think this one is pretty self-explanitory. Thank you all for always being there for me, even when I'm super stressed out!

ANNNND...

1 -- "Didn't I just pick that up/put that away?!"

-- Ahhhh, the joy of living with AB... But I wouldn't trade it for a thing. :)

Until Next Time,