Friday Letters

Dear Student Loans, 
While I believe hate is a strong word I can honestly say I hate you. Actually, I despise you. Do I regret going to my expensive private college? Nope. I made amazing friends and had wonderful experiences. I just hate that 90% of one of my paychecks goes to you a month. I guess we won't be traveling much. Here's to hoping we win the lottery!


Dear Nature,
Tomorrow I will be kayaking for the first time. Heaven help me. I'm not a nature girl unless it involves tennis shoes and black top. Please help me stay inside the kayak and keep the fish away.


Dear Weather,
Why must you be 98* + humidity so it feels like it's around 101*? I hate being cooped up in the house all day but you're really not making it easy for me to enjoy the outdoors deck. It doesn't look as though you will be going away anytime soon. I guess that's what I get for complaining about the snow.


Dear Oliver,
I hate to break it to you but you're a dog. I know I carry you around on my hip and call you my little boy, but in reality you're a dog. You also sometimes think you're a cat, which is the opposite of what you are. Cats are small. They can fit in a cat house. They run after the red devil laser. You, my friend, do not do those things {even though you tried to get in the cat house today}. Dog, cat, or little boy, I still love you all the same.

So What?

Linking up today with one of my Columbus favs, Shannon, at Life After I Dew!

So what if...

J wants to give up cable and I just don't know if I could. That's bad. But love me some Bravo, Style, HGTV, and basically everything else. #NoWillPower

I am always looking at houses online that are for sale. Doesn't everyone?

I haven't touched my school (job) work. I only have a whole school-year of lesson plans to do for social studies and reading. No biggie.

My patience last 2.45 seconds {working on this}

If I ask J the same thing 3 times in a day...I forget or don't listen the first time!

I still haven't blogged about vacay because I really didn't take too many pictures. Oops.

I have closets to clean out but really don't want to

I'm obsessed with my new coffee cup. It is very pretty.

What are you saying So What to this Wednesday??

Locks of ??

When I was in college I tried to grow my hair out to donate. However I quickly gave up after not have the time or patience do keep up with it.

After my aunt passed away, I wanted to try again. She wore a wig for a short time and I knew how important it was for her to have access to it. I also know how important wigs are to other women and especially little girls going through chemo. So, last year I started growing my hair out again.

Now it is at a length where I could donate it. I've researched a lot about companies to donate it to, unfortunately because I have colored hair (I have a lot of grey) LocksofLove is the only place that will take it. I've not heard great things about this company. I've had several people tell me that they've donated their hair, filled out that appropriate paperwork, but never heard back from them. I've also heard that they sell their extra hair as extension to regular people!

Now I feel stuck. I don't want to donate my hair if they're just going to sell it. I want to help, but I don't want to promote something negative either.

Have you donated your colored hair before? If so, what company did you use? How was your process?

Any advice would be helpful!

Thank you! Happy Monday!!


Wouldn't you want to win this SNAZZY camera?! I know I would!! Check out the giveaway here!

Sunday Social

Linking up for week 2 of Social Sunday with Neely and Amber!

Miss week 1? You can find it here.

Favorite movie of all time?

This is tough...I'd have to say You've Got Mail. I could watch it on repeat and it would never get old. I also LOVE Sweet Home Alabama...so, I guess it's a tie :) I also love When Harry Met Sally (this was added late because I was watching YGM on tv)

Favorite movie quote?

From You've Got Mail...

Joe Fox: Tweaking? A project that needs "tweaking"?

Kathleen Kelly: Yes

Joe: T-W-E-A-K-I-N-G

Kathleen: i-n-g That's what he said

Joe: I think he's married. Married with three kids.

OR

From Sweet Home Alabama

Jake: "Why would you want to marry me?"

Melanie: "So I can kiss you anytime I want"

Best movie to watch for a girls night in?

Hmmm, this is a hard one...

13 Going on 30

Breakfast at Tiffanys

Legally Blonde

How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days

Mean Girls

27 Dresses

Sleepless in Seattle

Miss Congeniality 

Best breakup movie?

P.S. I Love You

The Holiday

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Definitely, Maybe

Favorite celeb eye candy?

Ryan Reynolds and Chris Pine!!

Which movie stars closet would you want to raid?

Reese Witherspoon

She is always so classy and always looks fabulous!!

Funny Friday

{Click on pictures for links}

And the next thing I knew, I woke up!

I love a good YouTube video, especially those who involve pets and kids. A FB friend posted this video today and I was in tears laughing so hard. This young man, Chad, who I'm guessing is about 16 or so, just had his wisdom teeth taken out. After I watched the long car video (28 minutes) I found that there are three others that go with that one. J asked if they were legit, but I'm about 99.9% positive they are considering the first video takes place in the doctors office.

The videos are in order. If you only want to watch one, since they're long, I suggest you watch the third video. The fourth one is funny, but not as funny as the first three.

Yes, I watched all four. I call it my break from cleaning :)

Finishing up at the doctors

In the car on the way home

At home {my favorite}

At home 2

{sound muffled at first, but gets better}

My favorite line...

(while talking to his dad on the phone)

"I don't know how I'm doing...I'm just crying and watching soccer...and mom won't give me Panda...so I have to eat ice cream, which is really good..."

Seriously, at least watch the third video. You won't be disappointed!

Teacher Tuesday: Summer Goals

Two posts in one day?? Yes, I know...but I wanted to link up with some fabulous ladies! I figured it just makes up for the days when I don't blog :)

MJ at Teaching is Heels is a fabulous teacher with amazing ideas! No lie!! She is the bomb.com. Not only does she have great teaching ideas on Pinterest, but she is also on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Today is Teacher Tuesday on her blog and the topic is summer goals. I knew I had to participate in this because I have so many summer goals, especially since I'm switching grade levels. So, without further adieu...

1. My number one goal would be to start planning for next year. I taught 4th grade for four years and am moving up to 5th next year. With that comes all new lesson plans! I'm excited to be teaching new curriculum but I'm not going to lie and tell you it's easy. It's a lot of work. Thankfully at my school the 4th and 5th grade departmentalize (meaning we all teach different subjects). I will again be teaching all of the social studies and then reading/writing for my homeroom. I big puffy heart L-O-V-E this! I really don't think I could survive in a classroom all day with the same kids. Bless the hearts of all the elementary teachers who do!!

2. I am starting quite the collection of books to read this summer. 

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3. Finish moving in! I'm almost moved in (down the hall) to my new classroom. It's been a big process. I was packed and ready to go pretty early on but after the move realized how horrible unpacking is...just like when you move into a new home or unpack from vacation. It's terrible. But I'm super thankful that I have this position, so I can't complain too much!!

4. As always, find new ideas on Pinterest!!

If you're a teacher you should definitely link up! I'm always excited to see what others are doing while on summer "break"! 

Blog Star: Hi! I'm {Not So} Newlyweds

Since this blog is rather new, I decided to participate in Blog Star hosted by Mrs. Monologues. I have just recently started to read Mrs. Monologues blog and she is a riot! Blog Star is all about "meeting" new people and showing who you are. If you want to participate, don't forget to link up here!

Hi, I'm Brittany and that (above) is my husband J. 

We are quite the pair.

Our blog was created to share our life events with family and friends, but over time has evolved into so much more!
Living in Columbus, Ohio,  J and I pay homage to the stereotype and are fanatics for anything Ohio State Buckeyes. When not decked out in scarlet and grey (and sometimes when we are!), you can find me in my fourth year of teaching fourth grade (going to 5th next year) and J working on a for a certain huge university in Columbus. We currently do not have any real children but are madly in love with our two furbabies, Oliver (mini goldendoodle) and Wembley (orange cat, who thinks he is a dog).

{our little lovies}

Some quick info bytes about us: I can't cook unless it's in a Crock-Pot. In my previous life, I was a party planner and interior designer. I always strive to become a better teacher. I love to learn. I am addicted to Pinterest and the blogosphere.

J is amazed by the amount of great-tasting dishes a crock-pot can produce even though he is an amazing cook! He hates large parties and would be happy with bare walls as long as there was a computer and an internet connection (and his lovely wife). J is addicted to technology, from calculators to supercomputers, and I'm thankful to have figured out how to blog.

 

Follow us in our adventures as {Not So} Newlyweds!

Social Sunday

This Sunday I'm linking up with Neely over at A Complete Waste of Makeup and Ashley at Ashley's Carnival Ride for Social Sunday!

"What is The Sunday Social you ask?

The Sunday social will be 6 questions every Sunday that all have a similar theme to them. Its a great way to meet new people, gain some followers and find new blogs you can't wait to read! People will slowly get to know you. You can add pictures to the posts, videos, whatever you want."

 

How did you come up with your blog name?

Our blog name is pretty straight forward. We have been married 3.5 years. We are still somewhat newly married, but not really "newlyweds". So that's why this blog is called {Not So} Newlyweds! 

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Definitely "meeting" new people (both in the blog world and IRL) and learning so much! I've gotten so many great ideas from others that have helped in my home, with gifts, and in my classroom! I also love that we can journal about our lives and share it with our family and friends.

What is one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now cant live without?
Facebook or Twitter? and why?

Definitely love my Twitter! I always thought that it was dumb, but it's a great way to talk to a lot of people. Also another outlet for wonderful ideas!! Oh and Pinterest. What did we do before Pinterest?!

If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be?

I don't think I could really pick out a certain celebrity. I think that I'd go crazy if just some of the well-known bloggers read my blog regularly, like Kelly, Erin, Whitney, or Ashley. Love them!!

What is something you want people to know about your blog?

It's real. I'm not the most interesting person in the blog world. I'm a teacher. We don't have children and I'm not a fabulous cook. I finally have somewhat of a life after finishing grad school and I'm learning what it's like to relax--for real. I (or J) write to remind ourselves 20 years from now what was going on in our life. It's also a great way for family to keep in touch. The bonus is the great friends we make on the way!

Graduation Party Pictures!

A few weeks ago I shared some ideas with you about my sister's graduation party. I am pleased to say that it is finally over and was a big success! Everything came together beautifully and there were only a few stressful situations. I was so excited to take pictures with my new camera and realized when I got to my parents that the battery was dead. Lovely. So I had to use my good ol' HTC to snap some shots.

Enjoy!

Top: Candy bar! It turned out so cute! It wasn't anything huge but had the perfect amount. We used kisses, skittles, blue gummy bears, chocolate mints, sourballs, and candy necklaces (per my sister)

Middle: My mom ordered these amazing cookies from the Goodie Shop. They looked so amazing and tasted even better!

Bottom: Overall look of the candy bar and cupcake/cake table. I didn't get a picture of the cake because we had major issues with it...it wasn't worth it!

Top left: Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and red velvet cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese icing

Bottom right: More red velvet and coconut cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese icing and toasted coconut. I also had a few chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache

Top right/Bottom Left: Picture of room overall

Cupcakes: Made by me

Toppers: Made by me and Emily

My sister is playing tennis in college, so my mom wanted to incorporate tennisballs {I know it's two words, but using one for search purposes} as much as possible. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Bucket from Hobby Lobby

My mom did all of the food on the table. She set it all up and made a lot of it. We had hot food at the top such as BBQ from City BBQ (delish!!), Wings from BWW, and homemade meatballs

It was a beautiful day outside. The weather was perfect despite some wind. The lanters hanging from the tent were blowing everywhere, but they looked cute! My mom found these amazing table clothes at Target on sale a while back. They fit perfectly and looked like they had tennisballs on them! My sister's high school colors are royal blue and white (if you haven't noticed already)

{Izzy, their golden, is obsessed with tennisballs. She was waiting by the tables all day hoping they would just fall off!}

The famous graduation toilet paper!

My mom monogrammed TP when I graduated from HS and had the same done for my sister. It always gets quite the laugh! Who else can say they have monogrammed TP at their party?!

Another great idea from my mom that was first done 10 years ago at my party.

Two pieces of thick foam board purchased at HomeDepot and duck-taped together. It's covered with blue table cloth. Finally the board is used to display pictures or work. In this case, my mom posted my sisters photography projects and awards along with tennis awards.

Instead of having a guest book, we decided last minute to have a wishing tree! {Thank you Pinterest}

My mom and I quickly put it together the night before. It definitely was more of wishing branches, but still worked. This picture was taken before the party started. By the end of the day, it was full of tags! There were also scrapbooks laying out on the table.

Wishing tree words

I found them on a website but can't find it! I just changed a few words

I also made her graduation announcement with the help of Photoshop and Vista Print {my fav}

I really wish I would have taken more pictures of the decor, especially the details. It was a busy day and because I didn't have my camera charged, I didn't think about it. We were thrilled with how everything came out and even though J was working around the clock to fix the slideshow (last minute mishaps), it turned out great! Next step...moving her in to the dorms in August!

Goodbyes and new beginnings

Today is my last day of school but it's not any ordinary last day. Today is my last day of teaching 4th grade.

In August 2008, I started my adventure as a first year teacher. I was welcomed into a wonderful school and an even more amazing team of teachers. I had never set foot into a 4th grade classroom, not even in my student teaching, so this was all crazy new for me! I was excited and ready to learn. My mentor, and now great friend, taught me so much during my first year along with the rest of my team. We truly became a family that first year and our passion for the kids and teaching aligned so well. We were/are unstoppable. Not to brag, but I'm certain that we have the best team dynamics in the school. ;o)

Four years later, I wouldn't take back any moment that has occurred while teaching in my school. My team and the staff I work with have supported me as we have all support each other. The kids I've had in my class all have special places in my heart and I'm so thankful to have been their teacher. I feel so incredibly blessed to be at such an amazing school.

Today is my last day of teaching 4th grade. As I think about it, I wonder if it will be the last day I ever teach 4th grade. In reality it could be! But while it's sad to leave my first classroom and teammates behind (well down the hall), I'm excited to start a new adventure in 5th grade!