What I learned my first year of being a real adult.

1. There is an exhilarating feeling of being independent and moving to a new place!

2. When one is "grown up" and begins to pay for insurance, rent, utilities, etc. there is a feeling of accomplishment accompanied by a feeling of depression. All that money described in your salary schedule suddenly doesn't stretch very far!

3. When it rains, it pours. (Referring to medical expenses now that I can pay for my own insurance).

4. I have no advice to give on avoiding a tear to your Anterior Cruciate Ligament...it can happen anytime, without warning- so watch out.

5. Be careful when buying things on Craigslist. You might not find yourself in a dangerous situation, but it could be very, very embarrassing. (There's a reason we refer to our coffee table as the "lesbian coffee table"...if you want the story, just ask! Not one of my finer moments.)

6. It's important to find a church right away, and get to know people as soon as possible.

7. Make sure you find out if an apartment complex requires written notice of a lease non-renewal, or you will pay for it.

8. Sometimes you can get a dining room table and chairs in exchange for a 12-pack of Shiner Bock!

9. Your coworkers probably won't take you seriously if they have kids your age or older.

10. Even though a 1991 Oldsmobile is not glamorous by any means, if you are living on a teacher's salary you will appreciate no car payments!

11. There's a chance you might become a bigger Husker fan when you move out-of-state. Suddenly there's something about you that makes you stand out, rather than being the norm!

12. Make sure you have cash when parking in a parking garage in the evening, especially if there are cars behind you and you can't turn around and leave...

13. Always, always, ALWAYS keep an extra set of car keys with you. If you take them out of your purse for even one day, you WILL lock your keys in your car. Hopefully it's not running if you do (that also happened to me this year).

14. There are some days where Kindergarten cuteness > neediness, obvious questions, snot problems, pouting, etc. And there are some days where that is not the case.

15. Although the cost of living here is higher than Nebraska, Colorado is fabulous. =]

Labor Day camping south of Canon City

Olympic Training Center with a Nebraska friend :)

   Crazy Sock Day!                                   Halloween shenanigans 

 Pretty Christmastime

 Fixing the injury!                                          Lotsa concerts 

Colorful Colorado                                             Fun ski trip!        

Beautiful sunset

New friends!

The place in which I dwell.

I love where I live, so much. I love that I can look out a window and see mountains. I love that I'm in a city just the right size, but not too far away from more urban bustle if I'm feelin it.

Also, I just love my townhouse.

I grew up in a house that used to be a gas station, built in the 1930s. Yep, it was small. No basement or upstairs. But it was okay- it was home and it's weird to think of living anywhere else growing up.

Then in college, I dwelt in the dormitories. For 3 1/2 years. My housing was paid for this way, and I was among fun friends, so it was great.

Fast forward to this fall; I finally upgraded to an apartment! ("Upgraded" being used very loosely). It was much better than the dorms- I actually had my own room. But I still shared a bathroom. And it kinda felt like a cave, despite the gorgeous mountain view I had from the kitchen window.

My roommate and I started looking for another place, and we love what we found: a townhouse! It's only a few years old, 500 sq. feet bigger, $50 cheaper a month, and has so many things that are just...better. LIke a real dining room space, full-size washer/dryer, and many, many windows. We don't share a bathroom anymore; there are 2 1/2 of them! There are lots of little features I was just so excited about.

Exhibit A: The doorbell

It's a minor detail, but growing up our house never had a doorbell. I was so pumped to find a doorbell I'm pretty sure I rang it about 5 times.



Exhibit B: Detailed light fixtures

I love all the light fixtures in our townhome. They all match and are so stylized!

Exhibit C: The pantry

We didn't have this at our old apartment, so we just shoved food in the cupboards and I had to climb on the counter every time to look for something. This is just so handy and spacious. Laaaaahve it.

Exhibit D: Fancy fridge

Another minor detail, but I've never had a fridge with water/ice!

Exhibit E: STAIRS

All my life I have wanted stairs in my house; for the first time I do! Although the timing was...impeccable. I get stairs and then I get knee surgery. At least by this point I can dominate them like a boss.

So if you are a friend of mine in real life, not just a random internet creeper, come visit! I'll even cook something for you wearing that apron you saw in the pantry. Oh man.

Bring the inspiration.

I'm pretty sure I'm the most uninspired blogger, at least in this century. But there weren't many bloggers in the previous century, so that doesn't help much.

I'm not gonna kid myself and write something like "Oh hey guys! Sorry I haven't blogged for so long!" Because...nobody's out there losing sleep over the fact that I don't have anything to post save for a few spontaneous thoughts!

You know, this might be a result of being a college graduate. In college, I was constantly using my paper-writing brain muscles. I could take anything given- an atypical development disorder, the history of marching band at my university, the biography of Maria Montessori- and wrap it up nicely, tying everything together, and doing some fierce editing. Nowadays I just jot down my lesson plans, and at most, dash off an email to a parent or coworker. Not exactly the same caliber.

So maybe, just maybe, one of these days I'll find a writing spark again. My friends in real life know I have more than plenty to say. I'm thinking that this upcoming (fingers crossed) hopefully-more-permanent-sunshiney weather will do the trick. That, and I'll have 2 months of mostly no obligations. :)

Quivering Quads

I think my new nickname is quivering quads.



It's kind of unreal how quickly muscles can atrophy. You don't really think about every day. I mean, people complain "I need to work out. I'm getting lazy." But really your muscles don't go away, because you still can walk and go up stairs and bend and kneel and the like. (My question: where DID my muscles go? Did they just like dissolve into my body? Do I weigh less now? So strange.)

*2 days post-op...there are still muscles!*

It's been 11 days since my ACL reconstruction. My right leg is skinny. No, really. I know that normally I'd classify as a "thin person", but it's ridiculous. Now I know why PT lasts for months after this kind of surgery. Not necessarily because your "new" ACL needs it, but to make up for what you lose after lying around for a week. One week of being completely inactive = 6 months of therapy.

In 11 days, I've watched 21 movies, read 3 books, took countless naps, made crafts, and slept some more. The first week was painful, and there was nothing else I could do but lay around. The second week has been much better! I'm not as lonely. It's spring break in our school district, so my roommate has been around. Her company has been so great. Also, I'm able to hobble from room to room without even my crutches and finally go up the stairs! [note: A second-floor shower means I didn't shower for 7 days...it was rough]. Things were looking up. I was anticipating my return to work, calling the doctor to fax a work release to our HR...

and then they call with news. I can't return to work for 1-3 weeks more. Week 3 will be different than week 1 in that I don't need to lay on my couch. I'm able to be mobile and do everyday tasks, although some are slower or altered. Week 3 will be different than week 2 in that it's not spring break. My roommate will be gone, my friends have regular jobs. Everyone else will be continuing with life, while I'll just be...stuck. Not able to just drive to Target, or to Starbucks, or to anywhere on a whim. I'm sick of movies, of books, of everything anaerobic. When I'm frustrated, usually I find a release in going for a run, skating (and emoting to the music), or even cartwheeling down the hallways at school. I can't do any of that, so it's like I'm in this endless cycle of frustration. I miss my kiddos, I miss having a schedule, a sense of purpose.


Trying to focus on the positive, to remain creative. Some people have real problems. Until then, if you live nearby, feel free to bring some spontaneity into my life!

I've been perusing through previous blog posts of mine tonight, and I feel inspired to post something. Not necessarily write something (I don't feel inspired at all, actually), but I really just want something posted.

Lately I've been noticing how everything I've recorded, whether it be on this blog, in a journal, or elsewhere, goes through changes over time. I'm almost embarrassed to read my journal entries from a few years ago. I feel waaaaay too enthusiastic and perky. I end almost every sentence like this! (with an exclamation point)
Nowadays it seems foolish to write the same way, almost fakey. In just this past year, I started being super real in my journal. A very different change from before. Not that I've written down a whole lot in this past year (it's rare when I actually write something out, even though I know I'm an external processor...crazy).

So while I hope what I write is something good to look back on and read (like I've spent time doing tonight), mostly I hope that it is spoken genuinely. I know that being real is pretty important. This post only includes one exclamation point, and only used as an example, but it's true stuff. Just a little of my thoughts.

Oscars Party 2013

In years past, the Oscars have been viewed in my living room (or dorm room), usually pajama-clad. This year standards have been raised. New friends, great food, and dressing up were all part of this past Sunday evening.

The wonderful hostess and I :)

Everything was cute and perfectly themed. And downright delicious-- have you tried the popcorn from Costco??

Everyone brought themed food from the movies nominated for Best Picture. I was intrigued by the "crabby snacks" that were mentioned throughout Silver Linings Playbook, so I decided to be adventurous and try out this recipe. Here we are posing with our "crabby snacks." They were actually so good!

"Crabby snacks" from Silver Linings Playbook

Homemade hummus and pita bread, inspired by Argo

Cajun Jambalaya, inspired by Beasts of the Southern Wild 

Two versions of "Life of Pi" punch, both very cute.

French bread, brie cheese, and red wine, inspired by Les Miserables

Oscar-themed wall decor

Of course, a red carpet!

And the art skills of a friend were on display with the little Oscar :)

I was not very accurate with my guesses for each category, but it was so fun to fill this out and have a little friendly competition during the awards!

These two ended up tying with the most correct guesses, so they shared the Oscar. We encouraged them to Hunger Games it out to decide who would keep it, but they were too nice.

So thankful for new friends :)

Snow Day

I'm presuming many, many people across the country are posting on their blogs today with the title "Snow Day" or something similar. I'm gonna go with the crowd and write, too, because it was a tremendous day.

One of the top 5 feelings in the world is knowing you can sleep in, that there is no alarm soon to be blaring in your face. That's how the day started. I did the right thing and stayed in my pajamas until, oh, 3 o'clock. Glorious. I love that snow days are pure extra time in your week. Saturdays and Sundays don't include work (for a lot of people), but it's a given that the weekend is your time. A snow day is time that you get suddenly, so no plans. And usually not even an opportunity to do much thanks to the outdoor conditions! So today was a sweet mix of allowed laziness and time for leisurely productivity.

I packed up my whole bedroom today. My roommate and I are moving in 2 days to our new townhome, finally! Moving would be a lot more stressful had I not had time to organize before I packed up. My roommate is not like me...she can just put things together at last minute. I always always tear apart my room, throw out junk, and pack in it an organized fashion. Just ask anyone who knew me in college; my room was always a rat's nest as I was packing up for summer!

Eventually, I did get out of the apartment later this afternoon. It was nice to see the snow beauty before it melts (probably like tomorrow). That's the fun of living in the banana belt. We were super lucky to get a snow day this year! It always snows on the mountains, skips us, and then hits the midwest. We didn't miss out this time.

I ended the day with homemade white chili and pretty pink nail polish. I painted them early; they're glitzed up for the Oscars party I'm going to on Sunday (complete with red carpet and movie-themed food). Hopefully there will be a sweet post about that. Until then, enjoy pink.

Real problems.

It was the 100th day of school today, which, for kindergarten, is a huge deal. I had lots of fun stuff planned! It was going well until lunch. I checked my voicemail, only to hear the words “…complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament…” over my teammate’s chatter.

I envisioned myself becoming this hardcore Colorado person when I first moved here. Skiing, hiking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, the like.

Next month my roommate and I are moving to a townhome. We’re gaining 1 1/2 bathrooms, 500 extra feet, and…stairs. Perfect timing.

It’s also tough to realize that 18 out of 19 facebook friends who commented on my status with a concern live far away, not in this state. It’s hard not having many friends here yet.

I’ve seen ACL replacement surgery recovery when my sister went though it, and it’s pretty extensive. Apparently you aren’t back to being fully active for 9-12 months. Just when I got back into advancing my skating, too. It’s also my right leg, so driving will be gone for a long time.

It’s hard to find the positives in this, but I’m super thankful for insight I’ve gotten from Sia. It’s simple- some people have real problems. Like no rice or no legs. The album art for her record even shows this: a girl getting rained on is unhappy with life, while a girl with no legs still keeps on smiling. The irony. We think we’ve got it bad, but some people have real problems.

There’s also a random video from Sia ages ago on youtube that shows this, too!

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I think that’s gonna be my mantra through all of this. There’ll be some greater good.

Snapshot.

current guilty pleasure: white cheddar cheese popcorn
current nail color: hotttt pink
current playlist: Sia Furler’s early stuff.
current read: Mud, Sweat, & Tears by Bear Grylls
current drink: ice water
current food: Baja chili salad
current favorite show: Ellen
current wish list: A new laptop, a bigger bed
current needs: to rearrange my classroom seating arrangement
current triumphs: not taking a nap after work!
current bane of my existence: My bum knee. No skating.
current celebrity crush: …probably Johnny Weir.
current indulgence: intermittent hibernating.
current blessing: a friend who understands my first year teacherness
current outfit: college tee, pajama pants, neon socks.
current excitement: finally moving into our townhome SOON
current mood: kinda blah. Would you agree that Jan-March are the blah-est months of the year?
current link: http://pinterest.com/kimber_wimber/

The year has begun.

So most bloggers write a really self-reflective post on January 1st or shortly after thinking through what the previous year has brought, and what they would like to see come out of the new year. Welp, we are already halfway through January (like 1/24 through the whole year actually!) and I still haven’t produced one of those posts. But I should probably try. Here’s a break-down of 2012…

January- Began student teaching in 3rd grade and moved back in with my parents.

February- Learned about the chaos that is Valentine’s Day in an elementary school setting.

March- Started my second student teaching placement in 9-12 ESL

April- Applied for a gazillion jobs! Played the waiting game.

May- Graduated! Got a job! Found out I was moving to another state!

June- Started teaching summer school (3rd grade & K-1st drama).

July- Went to every garage sale in town. Did the Color Run! Went to the farmer’s market every week.

August- Started teaching a new grade level (Kdg) in a new state (CO). Met all new people. Made new friends.

September- Went Colorado camping for the first time ever! Hiking, too.

October- Turned 23. Had my first parent-teacher conferences. Learned how to party it up Halloween-style in Kindergarten.

November- Deepened my new friendships. Tried new things.

December: Went Colorado skiing for the first time ever!

 

It’s funny the things that stick out to me as I sit here typing this. I feel like these were the “big” things in my life this past year, but really? A lot of times it’s the small things that are bigger. So while I may have summed it up with a couple of grander events, a lot of the in-between things helped make 2012. Things I like to record on this blog, whenever that is.

I still hold to my (un)resolution of a few years ago, here. I can’t say I’ve excelled, but the least I can do is renew my resolve. To seek God more and ask him the hard questions.

And soon enough I’ll be back to feeling the pressures of new year’s/determination/resolutions/reflections, to post again while looking back. I just hope I do that oftener than January 1st. Here’s to 2013!

How to make a chalkboard.

 

So on Pinterest there are lots of links to tutorials for homemade chalkboard paint. I really wish I lived in a place where I could paint the walls to my liking, but that’ll happen someday. I would love a whole wall with chalkboard paint so I could decorate it however I want and change it any time! But I found a cheap alternative that was super fun to do. Plus I did it on a whim at about 10:30 pm. That’s when the creativity is greatest, it seems. :)

I bought this cute wood frame thingy at Hobby Lobby. Used my 40% off coupon, so it was only a couple of dollars.

To make the chalkboard paint, you can use any type of paint, which is nice because I have a ton of acrylic paint. I just mixed up some colors until I found a shade I really liked. To make it official chalkboard-writeable paint, you have to add some non-sanded grout. Hobby Lobby+40% off coupon= super cheap again. Mix 1 Tblsp. grout with 1/2 cup of paint until it is really smooth. Paint the frame, wall, table, chair, or whatever is going to be your new chalkboard surface until you are satisfied with the thickness (maybe 1 coat, maybe more).

 

When it is dry, take a piece of fine-grit sandpaper and sand the surface. You’ll also want to “condition” it by rubbing a piece of chalk over the surface and then wiping it off with a slightly damp cloth. Not sure why, but that’s what Pinterest said. :)

When you are done you can decorate it any way you want! I like to put quotes or bible verses, things that are inspiring. My favorite part is that I can change it to whatever I want, anytime I want. So fun and cheap!