Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!! I hope you all have a great Easter spent with friends and family. We will be spending the afternoon/evening with some of my husband's family that lives an hour away. Even though they don't live that far away, we don't get to see them that much. The last time we saw them was about 3 months ago for Christmas. But I'm hoping we can change that and see them more this year!

Things have been going great with me and my family recently. I know I haven't been blogging as often as I keep saying I am going to. I've been busy substitute teaching and when I don't work, I'm busy either cleaning the house or spending time with my kiddos. Because I don't have a full-time job that would make my schedule more consistent than it is right now, there are days when I'm off work that I kind of feel like I didn't get too much accomplished. I'm so ready for the day where I can start working a full-time teaching job where I'll work every Monday-Friday (except on the occasional holiday) and will have some more consistency in my life. I guess I could try and set up some kind of schedule for myself now, but I feel like that's hard because I don't always have the same amount of days off each way. So I can't just say "3 days a week my schedule will look like this...". Last week I had 3 days off, but this coming week I only have off 1 day. And it's actually starting this week that I'm going to be pretty busy each week for the next 7 weeks. For the next 7 weeks I work at least 3 days a week which is going to be really nice!!

As of right now, my last day of subbing is May 21st and I don't expect to get too many more jobs after that date because it is so close to the end of the school year. But when I am done subbing for the school year, you can bet that I'm going to be creating a schedule for me and the kiddos to follow during the week!! One thing that is definitely going to be on the schedule each week is going to our local YMCA to go swimming!! I keep saying that we need to go more often, but like I just said, it's so hard to be consistent with anything during the week because I don't always have the same days off week to week. I also want to start doing more intentional learning activities with Big E because I don't think I'm going to get to put her into preschool in the fall. If I'm still substitute teaching, I don't know how I would be able to get her to and from preschool. And if I get a full-time position (fingers crossed), I definitely don't know how I could get her to and from preschool. I could possibly enroll her in the program that the YMCA has because working full-time I would be making more than I am now. But we will just have to cross that bridge when we come to it!

Today in the class that I was subbing for, we read a poem called "Dreams" by Langston Hughes.

Dreams

Langston Hughes, 1902 - 1967

Hold fast to dreams 
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

This poem is so great because it is so true. Just think about it. Everyone, I don't matter who you are, has some kind of dream, something you want to achieve in life. It might be a certain job that you want to attain, finding your soulmate, traveling the world. We all have a goal, or multiple goals, that drive us and motivate us. If we didn't have those dreams, then what would be the point of living? Wouldn't life be so boring if we just got up, went to work, came home, slept, and did it all over again? Having dreams keeps us going in life and gives us something to work towards.

For me, my current dream is to have my own classroom and be a full-time teacher. This is a dream I've been trying to reach for at least 10 years now. I can't remember the year I decided I wanted to be a teacher, but I knew in my senior year of high school which was exactly 10 years ago, that I wanted to go to school to get a teaching degree. And now it's crazy that 10 years later I still have the same dream of being a teacher. And I'm working towards that dream by substitute teaching. I'm hoping that this fall will be my year to start my teaching career.

Another dream I have is to make tons of memories with my husband and 2 kids. I hope that we can visit new places together and just enjoy the time we have as a family. There have definitely been a lot of reminders within the past year alone that have proven the point that life is too short and you never know how much time you have left.

So what are some dreams you have? I would love to hear them!! Have a great rest of your Monday!!

Zumba!!!!

I've mentioned Zumba a few times in previous posts but I just felt like I needed to do another one! It has now been almost a year and a half since I took my first Zumba class at our local YMCA. I used to go on just Monday's but then one time when my hubby was on a work trip, I decided to go an extra day and go on a Monday. Then we put Big E in gymnastics and it just happened to be the same night as that Monday Zumba class so I decided to go to that class every Monday. Then even after Big E was done with gymnastics on Monday's, I still kept going because I just loved the instructor! I love the instructor that teaches on Thursday night's, too!!!

I also wrote in the past about how I went to a Zumbathon and at that event I decided I wanted to become a Zumba instructor. Well, that hasn't happened quite yet but I have been thinking about that again. I just looked up info on the training for it and it's only $225. I know that seems like a lot, but if I could get a part-time job somewhere teaching Zumba, it would definitely be worth it. As you also may know, I have a teaching degree and am substituting right now but am hoping to have a full-time position this fall. So teaching Zumba would be perfect for me.

The only thing is...I don't really have a background with dance. I didn't do any sports in school and I don't really have an athletic bone in my body. But you know what...I feel so alive when I'm in a Zumba class. I have always enjoyed music (hence my American Idol obsession I had when I was younger) and Zumba is all about music! I don't quite know how to explain it but it's like I feel so pumped during a Zumba class. I almost feel like a different person. I feel part of this great community and feel so good about myself for that one hour of exercise that doesn't feel like exercise at all. Now I'm not saying I don't feel good about myself any other time, because I definitely do. But it's just, I don't know, so hard to put in words.

So I'm going to continue going to Zumba twice a week and maybe even watch some videos on YouTube to figure out how I can improve on my dance moves. Because there are just certain things I can't do. Like move my hips or shake my shoulders. But then there are a ton of other moves that I feel like I have down pat! There's a lot of songs that I've danced to a bunch of times and I get so excited when they start playing! It makes me feel even more confident knowing that I know the dance moves really well!! Who knows, maybe within the next year I'll actually go to the basic training, we'll see!

The end of February is near...

Can you believe that the 2nd month of the year is almost over already? 2 months down and 10 more to go! So how is my year going so far? I think it's going pretty good. I've been keeping busy with substitute teaching and staying home with my kiddos on the days I don't work. I've also been busy reading in my spare time. I made a goal to read 18 books this year and I'm going to reach that goal and maybe even surpass it!!

I'm enjoying substitute teaching but I am so ready for something full-time!! And what is kind of crazy to think about is the fact that I'm still even wanting to work in the education profession. When I started college back in 2008 to start working towards my teaching degree, I never thought that I would have to be afraid to go to work. Sure there were school shootings in the past but there have been a lot more recently than there were in previous years. But I honestly don't know what I would do as a career if I didn't teach. So yes, I still want to be a full-time teacher with my own classroom. I don't want to get into a big debate about what needs to be done about the whole gun-situation, but something definitely needs to be done because students and teachers should not be afraid while they are at school.

I have been stressing less about having a clean house. There were a good 2 weeks or so where I had the kids pick up their toys before naptime and bedtime every single day. And I actually felt pretty good. I felt accomplished. But that has stopped and now we don't always get the toys away before naptime and bedtime. Most of the time, the only time the toys are all put away is when we are expecting company, which isn't that often. But I have been doing better with keeping up with the dishes and the wash. I think my new philosophy about cleaning is that as long as the household is fed, bathed, and clothed, and we aren't living in a complete mess, then all is good! As the kiddos get older I think it should be a little easier to keep the house clean because I will have their help. Or at least I hope I will have their help. But I also know that if I expect a clean house now and the kids grow up seeing that I expect that, they are probably more likely to help to keep it clean.

I've been slacking (yet again) with my blogging but I really want to get into a consistent schedule of writing and publishing posts. I think what is messing me up is that I don't have a consistent and regular work schedule. If I did, I would get home at the same time each day and then be able to make myself a blogging schedule so I can keep up with it and not slack as much as I have been. But you know what, I'm not going to let that excuse keep me from doing that. I'm going to start writing posts at least 2 days a week and then schedule them to publish for the upcoming week. On each day that I have as a "writing" day, I will be sure to get at least 2 posts written so that I'm able to have posts for you to read!!! As I mentioned in a previous post, I'm not sure how many followers I have out there but I thank anyone that takes time out of their busy lives and reads this! I know that time is precious and it makes me feel so happy that you take some of your precious time to read my thoughts!! Let me know if there is anything you would like to see more of on my blog!!!!

Where are my friends?

In a recent post I said something about being at the point in my life where I need to focus a little more on family than friends. Well, I'm kind of taking that back. That's not to say that I'm focusing more on my friends than my family, but more like I'm  going to work on balancing the 2. Recently I've been feeling that ever since I went back to substitute teaching 3-4 days a week, I haven't seen many of my friends. We stopped having as many playdates as we used to and we haven't gone to any in a while. It's kind of like I went to being around 2 kids a day to being around 25-30 a day! Being at home with 2 kids and teaching a classroom full of 25-30 kids both have their challenges. And one main thing that the 2 have in common is that there (for the most part) are no other adults involved.

So what I'm trying to say is that I miss the adult interaction that I've come to get used to by seeing a mommy friend at least once a week before I started working again. I think it is so important for every mom out there to have mommy friends that they can lean on and talk to when needed. But recently I feel like I haven't had the support like I used to. Yes I have some friends that I chat with through text and messenger, but it's been a little bit since I've been able to be face-to-face with another adult that isn't my husband or my mom.

And yes I know, we are 26 days away from Christmas and everyone is super busy. But recently I've had 2 different things set up with a friend and both times the plans got cancelled. It just seems like that's the story of my life. All my life, especially in high school and right after, I would make plans to hangout with someone and then most of the time something would come up and it would get cancelled. But then there was a time in my life where I would make plans with people and we would actually get to follow through with those plans so I got so excited that my plans were actually happening. But recently it's been back at the point where plans get cancelled. Or plans don't even get made but me and the other person just keep saying we are going to make plans and then never do.

Again, I think every mom, especially stay-at-home moms and part-time working moms, need to be able to talk to another adult (outside of their family) in person at least once a week. I'm not asking for someone to spend the whole day with me. Just a few hours or so or even 30 minutes will do! I have a few friends that I talk to through facebook or text every few days and I'm very thankful I have them. But I also wish I could have that one "person" that I can go to for anything because right now I don't feel like I have someone like that.

Hello there again

This is my current view: getting ready to start writing a new blog post, diffusing Joy and Orange, listening to Kelly Clarkson's new album, and drinking a sweet tea from McDonald's (not pictured).

It's been a little bit since I wrote a blog post and I didn't quite know what to write about. I've just been so busy with life that my blog has been the last thing on my mind. I used to think about it more often and randomly think "Hey, I've got to write a post about that!" I'm hoping that I'll eventually get back to that point because I love writing and sharing my ideas with others.

I'm not sure how many people actually read my blog, but I hope that who ever is out there reading it, gains something from it. I try to write about things that I know other mothers out there will be able to relate to. So if you are reading this, I thank you so much for taking tie out of your busy schedule to read what I have to say.

So what have I been up to the past few months? Well, I started substitute teaching back in September and I've been keeping pretty busy with that! This week and next week I have a 4 day week of work! I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I took on all those days of subbing! When I first started subbing again I wanted to just do 2 or 3 a week. But the occasional 4 day week isn't so bad. We had an amazing babysitter for the first 6 weeks that I've been subbing but just recently had to switch sitters and we found another great one! I'm sad we can't keep taking the kiddos to the first one, but I've gained a great friend through that experience. Things happen for a reason and I'm so glad I was able to meet someone as awesome as she is!

About 2 weeks ago I applied for a long term substitute position at a school I've been subbing at a lot. I wasn't looking for something full-time, but I figured that the opportunity was there so I might as well go for it. I didn't end up getting it because they wanted someone more experienced for the position, but I'm totally ok with that. I realized that I'm not quite ready to go back to work full-time. I've had a little taste of what it will be like being full-time by working 4 day weeks and I'm not ready to leave my kiddos for 5 days a week. Yes I know that 4 days isn't a full week, but it's more than 2 or 3 which is what I was doing when I first started subbing this school year. I'm definitely going to have to have a system in place to keep up with all the housework once I do go back to work full-time because housework itself is a full-time job!!

I'm still sharing my love of oils and using them more and more each day! I actually just introduced them to our first babysitter we had (and my newest friend), and she loves them! Maybe that was the reason I needed to meet her, to introduce her to the oily lifestyle? Time will only tell. But seriously, I love these oils and what they do for me and my family. I've been using peppermint a lot while subbing to give me some natural energy. I just roll some on my temples and behind my ears and I'm' good to go! I use DiGize vitality to help with my digestive system, Thieves vitality to help with immune support, and the list goes on an on. It's really not that hard to get started with oils. When you keep it all about staying above the wellness line, it's so simple and makes it all worth it!

Well, I'm going to wrap up this post now. I hope everyone has had a great October and has a great November! This year is going way too fast!! 2018 will be here before we know it!!

Chores...

A few weeks ago when I was in a classroom for a substitute position, we were reading an article in a Scholastic News magazine about chores. It was a debate on whether or not kids should get paid to do chores. It had an argument for both sides and I'm kind of on the fence about it. This is something I had never thought about before but will have to start thinking about in a few years when Big E is a little older.

Here is why I believe kids should get paid for chores: By giving kids money for chores, it motivates them to want to do their chores and help out around the house. It also gives them a little taste of what it will be like when they are older and have to work to get paid. They also learn a little bit about money management. Say there is a toy or movie that they really want, they can do x amount of chores and save their money in order to get what they want.

And here are some reasons that they shouldn't get chores. It was mentioned in the article that moms and dads don't get paid to clean their room, do the dishes, or wash the clothes, so why should kids. I think that is a very valid point. Also, kids should just be expected to help keep the house clean and listen to their parents when they ask them to help out.

So...I'm still not too sure what I'm going to do about this once Big E is a little older. There are valid points for both why kids should and shouldn't get paid to do chores. This will be a conversation my hubby and I will have to have down the road, when the time is right. What do you think? I would love to hear what you have to say!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope you are having a great week so far! I substituted yesterday and Monday and now have today and tomorrow off, then I have another job on Friday. I'm really enjoying being back in the classroom. It is making me remember why I went into teaching in the first place. I just really enjoy seeing students learn and understand the concept you are teaching them. When they reach that "Ah-ha" moment and it finally "clicks", that's what is really great about the profession!

So getting to be back in the classroom, even if it is a different classroom each time I go into a school, it is great because I still feel like I'm helping students learn. I also feel like I'm learning because it is getting me back into the education field, which has changed so much since I've graduated. And it's only going to continue to change with all the new technology that we have and will come out in the future.

Now I am off to do some of the housework that I haven't been able to do the past 2 days! Good thing I have my cleaning schedule to help me stay on track!! Have a great day everyone!!!

Why teach?

I was just reading through a magazine that I get from my alma mater and it had an article about being an education school. The most popular major at Millersville University is education and it's what I went there for. The dean of College of Education said that he still thinks that their reputation as a teacher's college still stands. But he did note that there has been a decrease in enrollment of the education programs and certifications are also down. He contributes that to the fact that "teaching is not viewed as positively as it once was. A lot of kids today seem to be turned off by the idea of being teachers. Had they been born 20 or 25 years ago, they might be [more willing]."

He has a really great point because teachers are paid poorly for the amount of work they are required to do. A lot of people think teaching is great because they have their summers off but what they don't realize is that teaching is more than an 8 hour a day job. You can't just go to school at 7:30 am and leave at 3:30 pm and think you are done for the day. There's a lot of paperwork to grade and you more often than not are bringing your work home with you.

So do I regret getting a teaching degree? Nope. If I could go back in time and reselect my major it would still be education. I love working with children and don't know what else I would do with my life. Yes it is true that I haven't had a full-time teaching position yet, I have just been substitute teaching. I substitute taught for about a year and then took 3 years off when I had my first born and my second. As I posted recently, I just started subbing again and I'm so glad I did. It's giving me a chance to get back into the education world because I'm hoping to eventually get a full-time teaching job once my kiddos are older.

If you are reading this and have ever considered pursuing education as a career, I highly encourage you to go through with it. We're at a time in education right now where there is a shortage of teachers and even substitute teachers. As the dean of the College of Education and Human Services at MU said "Teachers prepare the next generation of students to participate in our democracy, in our society, and in life." Teaching is so important and if we have no one pursuing teaching degrees, who is going to teach our next generation? Because of all the events going on in this world today, I think there is no better time that we need qualified teachers so that our next generation can be taught properly.

My 100th Post!!!

Happy Thursday everyone!! This is my 100th post on this blog! Thank you to anyone out there who has been reading my posts. I hope you are enjoying them and get something from them. I know I haven't been as consistent with posting as I keep saying I'm going to be. But we all know that life gets busy!

I'm still getting adjusted to being a part-time working mom. I've only had 2 subbing jobs so far (one of them being a half day so it was super easy), but I've got more scheduled. And I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep my house organized and clean on the days that I'm not working and then I also need to start doing educational activities with my 3 year old. She's been watching a Leap Frog movie on Netflix a lot about the alphabet and she can now identify most of the letters! There are only like 4 or 5 letters that she doesn't recognize, so I think that's amazing!!!

What I'm currently working on is getting my house in tip top shape! I want it to be cleaner than it's ever been!! My hubby is away for work (yet again) and I want him to come home to the cleanest house ever!! He does so much for our family and I just feel like it's my way of saying thank you. Without all his hard work at his job we wouldn't have half of what we have now. So I am super thankful for him each and every day, even though I may not tell him enough. If you're reading this hubby, I love you and miss you, can't wait to see you!!!

What are some of your best tips on juggling working part-time and being a full-time mom? Have a great day everyone!!!

The search is still on...

So we still haven't found a babysitter for Big E and Little E while I substitute teach, but we are meeting someone tonight and I have a great feeling about this one!! We met with 4 so far so hopefully this will be lucky number 5?

Finding the perfect babysitter is hard! You have to be able to trust whoever it is that you are leaving your children with. Then you also have to find someone in the right price range. You also have to make sure you can find someone who is willing to be flexible with your work schedule. I was going to only substitute on Tuesday and Wednesday, because that's what worked best for the first person we met, but now I'm realizing that I'm going to need to be more flexible than that. So, before even meeting this person tonight, I found out from them that they would be flexible with which 2 days a week she watches them, so I am happy to say I picked up my very first substituting position! I actually got 2, one in October and one in December!

So, fingers crossed that this one is a match! This past year or so has been the year of "things happen for a reason" for me and I believe that things didn't work out with the other 4 people we met with because this 5th one is the one! Have a great rest of your Wednesday, halfway to the weekend!