back to the grind tomorrow; week 2 of school

 Well, the first week of school is over, and the first weekend of relaxation with it. I'm not suffering from the usual Sunday Blues, but I'm not exactly ready for tomorrow to come yet either.  There is just so much to do and never enough time to get it all done. I really hope that it's not always like this....

my completed classroom!!!

This is my classroom. I love it. And since it is where I spend most of my time now, I'm glad I spent so much time on it before and during pre-planning week. All the little touches really helped it make it special. And pinterest of course helped too!!

So far this week has been tiring and has tested me, but it's been good. I have some great students and even though I have 3 classes, each one has been good (for the most part). And I love, love, LOVE m co-workers. They are some of the most helpful, caring, and amazing people I could ever ask to work with. And one of my favorite parts about this place??? Well, one is that on the first day I got to wear jeans and cowboy boots (because we were dressed as farmers, due to our school theme "sowing the seeds of love"). But the main one is that during our very first faculty meeting not only did we have amazing food to eat, but we also all prayed over it, even praying the Lord's Prayer. Granted, we are not a private school. But it is so awesome working with people that are so God loving and fearing.
Here's to hoping that this year continues to be great!
-kellie

an engagement party

Ever since my friend Erica told us she was getting married, Jen and I have been planning an engagement party for her. Then, when we met the other bridesmaid, Sarah, all 3 of us put our heads together and came up with the engagement party that ended up being thrown this past Sunday. Although we had a multitude of ideas for what we wanted to do, ultimately we decided upon a Sunday brunch. And since the groomsmen were all in town this past weekend, we put them to work helping us decorate.
 The get together was small, but it was intimate and fun. And the girls and I had so much fun putting it all together.
It almost made me wish that I was a party planner.....

-kel

50 shades of indecision

The phenomenon is seriously everywhere. It's hard to be in a room with more than a few women and not hear this book mentioned. In fact, I've noticed it's been a common icebreaker among we women. It usually goes something like this.....
"What do you like to do?"
"Oh, I love reading too...Have your read 50 Shades of Grey?"
"I love it too! Christan Grey is so...." (Fill in the blank). Because all of a sudden the conversation has been hijacked by Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele.

For a while I was stuck in these conversations twiddling my thumbs, unable to contribute anything to the conversation. I had some friends (and a multitude of coworkers) that loved this book, but I also had some that were completely against even the idea of the book. I even kept hearing the phrase "mommy porn". So with all of this in mind, I was extremely indecisive on whether or not I wanted to read the series.

Then one day while roaming Target, I saw that the entire series was on sale. The shopoholic in me was unable to fight it any longer. I finally bought the books.
Then, a few weeks later I finally found time to start reading them. And then I was hooked.
It became one of those series that I fell in love with and was sad to leave behind once it was over. And yes, like the rest of America, I too fell for Christian Grey.

One of the funniest things about the phenomenon aftermath of this series to me though, and the reason I found inspiration for this post, was how guys view it. After reading a men's magazine I finally realized something....men will never understand this book. They will never grasp why we love the story, the characters, the sex scenes. The magazine I was reading seemed appalled that the sex scenes occurred so late in the book (chapter 8 to be exact). I suppose some men would think that connecting "porn" with a book would mean that it happens right away. They don't seem to realize what women really want. (May I also note that this is why it was a woman who wrote a book that sold so many millions of copies??)
Men are simple, they typically want only one thing and don't like waiting or beating around the bush for it.
Women on the other hand want more. Speaking personally of course, I like reading books and watching movies where the main female lead finds her knight in shining armor. It's cheesy and totally unrealistic, but it's what we crave. Maybe it's a genetic thing or maybe it was instilled into us with help from Disney. Either way, we tend to go for the romance aspect more than the sex.
To be honest, the sexual content of the book was sometimes too much for me, but the romance part was my favorite. It may be completely silly, but hey- at least I can admit it, right?

Have you read it? Did you like it?
-Kel

baby photography session

So this past weekend I not only took photographs for my friend Erica, but I also took some for my friend Jen. Of course, this cutie-pie is probably well known around this blog, since I've posted tons of photos of him in the two short months that he's been with us.

But these were too cute not to share.....

 xoxo
kellie

family and couple photography session

This past weekend I took photos for my very good friend Erica, her finance and her family. They were sooo easy to work with and are such a great family. I enjoyed every minute. 

Here are a few of my favorites from the day:

 xoxoxo
kellie

a bittersweet goodbye

Today I said goodbye to my law firm job. It was extremely bittersweet. I said goodbye to a place that has been like a second home to me for six years. I've seen so many people come and go through those doors, and now I've been added onto that list.
What's funny is that I've said so many goodbyes to that place, that it has yet to really hit home that this time it was my last. A few times I was simply filling in for someone. I also had to say goodbye when I left to complete school and took on my full-time internship. And now, I'm leaving for my dream job. Bittersweet is definitely the perfect word.
But I will miss all my coworkers and bosses. Today the 3 of us that are left went out to lunch. My boss, the gentleman he is, paid. And they gave me the sweetest card. I had to stop myself from crying, because it was that touching. These people have seen me grow up from a teenager to an adult, with an adult job. We've spent so many years together and have gotten to know each other and each others families. I feel like I'm closing a chapter in my life.
But I am excited for this new chapter. I'm scared, but I cannot wait to get to meet my students and explore science with them. I'm not entirely sure what this year has in store for me, but I'm anxious to learn.

Until then.......

-kel

classroom progress

Some pictures from my classroom on my first day there. Before I even rearranged the desks or put my things away. It's a bit empty, but I can't wait for all the progress I'm going to make (and have already started).

 Today, my parents came with me to help me spruce up my room and get things done. They helped me put up my 3-D glow in the dark solar system, and other things. So far my room is coming along nicely and hopefully I'll have a good amount done before I go to teacher planning next week!

So exciting!!!
-kellie

PS- all photos on my instagram feed: kelzify!