16 Before 2016

It's that time of year when we all start to wind down and take stock of our 2015 goals - what we achieved, what we neglected, and the things we think we can still accomplish before the year is done. When I stumbled on Kara's 16 Before 2016 post over at BohoBerry, I couldn't resist it any longer. Here are my 16 goals I'd like to accomplish before the year is done! I'll be checking in periodically to update you all!

To help me get started, I asked myself some questions:

• What "house cleaning" do I need to do so my soul can be ready for a new year?
• Are there any projects still needing to be completed?
• What can I do now to kick off 2016 on the right note?
• Are there things I need to remove or place into my life to make it better?

And then this list quickly formed:

So, there are my 16 goals I need to at least START before the year is done. Wish me luck!

Top 10 Things I'm Thankful For

It really is no surprise to me that I have so much to be thankful for - it was truly difficult trying to come up with my "top 10" because this year has made me realize that I should really be more appreciative of everything in my life, good and bad. Thanks to Stephanie at Tales of Teaching in Heels for this great opportunity to reflect on the top 10 things I'm thankful for this year!

1. MY FAMILY is number one. This year, when my life started to go sideways, I relied so much on them to help me get a solid foundation back and I couldn't be more thankful for the love they give me every day. #familyfirstforever
2. CRAZY COWORKERS get me through each day! My co-teacher in Kindergarten is basically my twin and it is never a dull moment when we're teaching a lesson. No matter what kind of day we're having, as soon as I pop in to teach, the day improves significantly.
3. MUSIC has helped me through the worst days of the year, and I'm so thankful that I have fully functioning ears.
4. NEW BEGINNINGS has basically been the theme of the year. I thought in January that 2015 would begin and end with relatively the same people in my life, and I couldn't have been more incorrect. However, I'm thankful for the people that left my life because they made room for even more extraordinary people and beginnings.
5. LONG DISTANCE BEST FRIENDS are the best and worst things - this summer, I took a much needed soulcation to see my LDBFFs in LA for a week, and it just reminded us how much we love each other. Note to self: make another trip to see them soon!
6. SCB has been my rock throughout the rough patches this year. Although we had a rocky start way back when, I'm so glad that God and the Universe brought us back together. I'm so excited to see her tonight!!!
7. GOD and I have had a strained relationship for years, but this year, in light of all that happened, I made an effort to get back in touch with Him. I'm working on it, but I know that I wouldn't be here today if I hadn't turned to Him.
8. ADVENTURES were so abundant this year! I tallied it up and I essentially took a trip every other month in 2015. I'll write a post about that later, but I have been bitten HARDCORE by the wanderlust bug.
9. MY D7 DINOSAURS make my life so much crazier than I ever expected, but I love them to pieces. I'm thankful for them, but I'm also thankful for this much-needed break that we'll have from each other. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, kiddos.
10. Last but not least, QUALITY TIME WITH LOVED ONES made me realize how amazing my family and best friends really are. I spent a lot of time hanging out with my grandma this year and I can't imagine a world without her. I'm so beyond thankful for the many people I have in my life that I love and who love me just as much in return.

Hope this week is full of thanksgiving for everyone!

Favorite Fridays // Magic E Freebie

Countdown to #SCBinHI clocks in at a total of 3 DAYS! This weekend, I'm going to be stress cleaning and getting a whole bunch of grad school work done so I can just relax when Sienna is here! Here are my favorite things from this week (and a little freebie for you all at the end)!

1) If you hadn't heard, I'm an obsessive data collector. You should see my planner, journal, and classroom! Fitness trackers have been on my mind for a while now, and I'm finally taking steps to getting one. Head over to my last post to see how I got to test drive 5 fitness trackers of my choosing, and stay tuned for updates in the next few weeks! I'll also be posting periodic updates on my instagram (@perfectlypeeps). Check it out!

2) Since we're working on the Magic E this unit for Wonders, I made a Magic-E Wall for one of my reading intervention centers. So far, the kids absolutely love it, especially because they get to stand up at the whiteboard and play teacher. Too cute!

3) My personal mantra for the month - it has been EXHAUSTING lately in Peeps Land since our SPED Inclusion team is about 4 people, 2 of whom are newbies this year. This means that the other "veteran" SPED inclusion teacher and I have to not only run our own meetings, but also serve as administrator designees for the other two inclusion teachers and help them get situated and accustomed to all of the paperwork and legal matters. Good things come to those who hustle, and boy oh boy have I been hustling hard.

4) Picked up a few favorites this week - including a new candle from Bath & Body Works in their seasonal scent that I love oh so much. Balsam was a close contender, but Spiced Apply Toddy never disappoints. I'm also speed-reading through this book! It's so good, and although I don't have as much free time to read as I would like to, I always make time for a chapter or two before I go to bed.

5) FREEBIE! To help my babies out with their Magic-E words, I made another worksheet/whiteboard type of situation that they've been loving for their word work center. This week was Magic-E with i, so here's the link if you want to get a copy for yourself!

Happy Friday!

Peeps Test Drives Fitness Trackers

I am so convinced that we are slowly being taken over by robots. Everywhere I look, someone is talking into a bluetooth headset, checking their Apple Watch, or walking around with one of these guys on their arm - yes, I'm talking about the increasingly popular wearable fitness tracker. 

When the first wave of these trackers first came out, I was not impressed at all; they were bulky, NOT fashionable, and way too industrial for my taste. Thankfully, the manufacturers became a little wiser and started to make more wearer-friendly trackers for those of us who do not work at 24 Hour Fitness for a living.

I've been looking at getting a tracker for a while now, but really didn't know where to start. This is where the wonderful website Lumoid comes in handy. Lumoid will let you test drive 5 fitness trackers of your choosing for only $30. If you decide to buy one of the trackers, $25 of your "rental fee" goes towards your purchase! If not, you're charged the full $30, but at such a small fee to try out 5 trackers for 2 weeks, how could I say no?!

Above are the trackers I've selected to try (from left to right): Fitbit Charge HR, Jawbone UP3, Moto 360 1st Gen, Striiv Fusion, and Garmin Vivosmart. I can't wait to get this rental box in the mail and share my thoughts with you all!

Friday: The Final Countdown!

Yes, I'm actually singing the song aloud, right now, as my adorable first graders look on with extreme confusion. Do I care? Not really becaaaaause....

IT'S THE FIIIIIIIINAAAAAAAL COOOOUUUUNTDOOOOOWWWWNNNN

until #SCBinHI. 10 days, to be exact, until Sienna arrives, at midnight, nonetheless, which means I'm starting to devolve into a crazy person. Extreme apologies to everyone in my near vicinity. 

1) Since we moved into "Magic E" words this week, I started to practice the a__e sound and related words with my reading intervention kiddos. Feel free to download a copy of these worksheets here! 

2) I got to babysit my favorite brother duo this weekend while their human parents were on a trip. Kona is the smiley pup and Brew is a little more rascal, always trying to annoy his brother. They're the sweetest rottweiler/shepherd/collie mixes and I just love them to pieces!

3) DID YOU SEE THAT MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 IS COMING OUT?!?!?! I have no other words. I'm so excited #bundtcake.

4) I recently posted about my favorite things to do and eat on Oahu - a quick list of some of the things I'm going to do with Sienna! For anyone who is planning to travel to Hawaii in the near or far future, check this list out! 

5) This has truly been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. Honestly, my nickname should be Murphy because everything that could've gone wrong, did go wrong. I won't get too into it, but I'm very excited to spend my weekend curled up and hibernating away from the craziness outside. Excuse me while I indulge in some self-care...

Thankful for Friday...

Hawaii Travel: Oahu To-Do's

In 14 days *cue happy dance*, my girlfriend Sienna will be coming to Hawaii for the first time EVER to meet my family and spend Thanksgiving "playing tourist" with me. I wrote down a few things I'm going to take her around to do, so I thought I'd make a post for those of you who are planning or dreaming of visiting this magical place I call home!
This is a text-heavy post, but I promise it's worth it! Here are my FAVORITE places to eat and things to see or do on Oahu, my home island...

• LOCO MOCO PLATE FROM RAINBOW DRIVE INN: Although not the prettiest plate, this local favorite features two hamburger patties underneath overeasy eggs on top of rice, all smothered in amazingly 'ono (Hawaiian for "delicious") brown gravy. Bonus points if you mix the yolk and gravy in with your mac salad! 
• SHAVE ICE FROM ISLAND SNOW: Many visitors to Oahu make the mistake of traveling all the way to the North Shore for Matsumoto's shave ice. Even though their shave ice is very popular, my personal local favorite is from a little shop in Kailua. Local tip: try the lychee, lilikoi (passion fruit), and guava combination with ice cream and condensed milk! You won't be disappointed. 

• HAWAIIAN FOOD FROM HIGHWAY INN: Located downtown close to Ward, or in Waipahu, this local Hawaiian food joint is definitely the spot to go if you want authentic Hawaiian food made by locals for locals. Try the poke (raw fish cubes seasoned with salt and seaweed) bowl or the kalua pig combo plate!
• GARLIC SHRIMP FROM GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP TRUCK: Tie up your day soaking up the sun on the North Shore by heading back through Haleiwa town to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck (located in the little parking area across the street from the Haleiwa McDonald's) to get their AMAZING garlic shrimp plate. Local tip: ask for an extra plate to throw your shrimp tails, and get choke extra napkins (choke is local slang for "a lot" or "excessive")!

• GUAVA CHIFFON PANCAKES FROM CINNAMON'S RESTAURANT: If you're in Waikiki or Kailua, make sure to check out Cinnamon's Restaurant for breakfast! Get their "island's best" guava chiffon pancakes with a side of fresh, local grown papaya to start your day off maika'i (Hawaiian for "good"). 

• PALI LOOKOUT: A beautiful view of Kaneohe and Kailua awaits you at the top of this lookout! You can drive up the winding road off of the Pali Tunnel to reach the parking lot for the lookout. Park and walk down a paved area to see this gem!
• SUNRISE LANIKAI PILLBOX HIKE: I do this hike at least once every few months just to remind myself of the beautiful place I'm so fortunate to call home. It's a short 20 minute stroll up a mountain, but make sure to bring a flashlight if you're doing this to greet the sun! 

• TOUR OF 'IOLANI PALACE: Want to visit the last restored castle in the United States? This historically rich National Landmark was the home of Hawaii's last reigning monarchs, Queen Lili'uokalani and King David Kalakaua. Take a break from the Hawaiian heat and learn a little about the amazing culture and history of old Hawaii!

• SNORKEL AT HANAUMA BAY: Perfect for families, this snorkel spot will give you up-close encounters with some of the most amazing marine life in Hawaii! Make sure to grab a water-proof camera to snap some photos!

• SPEND THE DAY AT SUNSET BEACH: Make a day out of this adventure! Drive to the North Shore to check out Sunset beach and be sure to stay for the main event - the spectacular sunset! Best done during the week when locals are at work, because this spot fills up quickly on the weekends. You won't want to miss it!

Hope that provides a little sneak peek into the magic of my home. Best of luck to those of you who plan to travel to Oahu in the future, near or far, and stay tuned for the #SCBinHI journals around Thanksgiving to check out what shenanigans Sienna and I get into! 2 weeks to go!

Friday, You Fickle Friend

Before I start, can I just say HOW IS IT NOVEMBER. ALREADY. WHERE DID 2015 GO?! Anyway, now that I got that out of my system, here's what's been up...

1) I took an amazing trip to Japan and South Korea over Fall Break with 3 of my closest teaching friends. It was absolutely incredible and going back to Japan after 5 years was such a welcomed homecoming for me. Keep an eye out for a blog post on planning a trip, 10 days international, and sights to see in both countries!

2) My darling students made lil ghosts as a nice Halloween craft break! There's definitely not enough opportunities for them to let their creative sides loose, so I was happy to give them a quick reprieve. Here's the ghost freebie template from TeachersPayTeachers! 

3) Sushi, anyone? The SPED Inclusion Team went as different nigiri sushi for Halloween, and we were voted "best costume" out of the entire faculty. It was so much fun getting together with our little teacher family and making our costumes!

Sushi spilled on the field! The kids thought it was hysterical!

Before school started in the morning, we pretended to be spilled sushi on the field. Our principal came by and took a picture for the monthly newsletter of his crazy SPED staff.

4) Since we're rounding the corner to the end of the year, I'm already starting to think about Christmas gifts and what I'm going to work on in 2016. Fitness will still continue to play a huge part of my self-improvement plan, and the Jawbone UP3 is by far one of the cuter fitness trackers I've seen! A potential Christmas Wish List candidate for sure!

Picture from bohoberry.com

5) Guys, I'm addicted to list making, and "addicted" is putting it mildly. I stumbled across this method of journaling called Bullet Journaling and I think I'm going to try it out! I'll write a more in-depth post later, but I'm excited to try it out to organize my thoughts, recap the day/week/month, and more!

Happy Friday!

New Relationship, Same Question

I was with my ex for 4 years. That's a good chunk of my 23 years of existence. So when we broke up toward the end of May, I was absolutely crushed. Devastated is putting it mildly - I was in an overwhelming state of despair, and everyone around me could see it. I'll spare the details, but I will say it was a less than amicable breakup.

About a month later, I reconnected with someone that I never thought I would see again in a million lifetimes. Sometimes, the universe works in crazy ways, and when one door closes another one opens up to a world of intense love and countless possibilities. We've now been together for almost 4 months, and yes, the L-word is frequent in our daily conversations. Do I mean it? Hell yeah. 

Here's the part where you ask me, "...but how do you know?"

How do I know that I've met the love of my life? How do I know that I'm head over heels in love with the most amazing human I've ever met? How do I know without a doubt that this love is mutual and not a one-way street? Let me count the ways...

I know I love you because...

1. You gave me the confidence to come out to my family, something I never thought I'd be able to do

2. When I hugged you again for the first time in over a year, you felt like home

3. At the end of the crazy days we have at school, all I want to do is see your face and hear your voice, even if it's through a computer screen.

4. 20 hours on Skype is still not long enough

5. You talked me down from the first panic attack I've ever had in front of a significant other, and it didn't phase you at all

6. Waking up at 2 am (when I actually do manage to wake up for more than 2 seconds) to tell you I love you and I hope your day goes well is the best part of my day

7. I talk about you to my parents...MY PARENTS!!! Who, up until 4 months ago, did not formally know that their daughter was gay let alone in a relationship...

8. I secretly look forward to those surprise attacks from my mom when we're Skyping, just so she can ask you how cold it is now, and you can compliment her on the new haircut that she hates

9. When my kids take part in their daily crazy shenanigans in class, all I can think about is how much you would laugh if you could see them too

10. I can't stop thinking about the incredible future ahead of us

I know you love me because...

1. You sent me my favorite flowers and a new book for my classroom library on my birthday, from 5000 miles away

2. You bought "Goodnight, Darth Vader" to read to me over Skype as I was lying on the couch, sick from little kid germs

3. Waking me up at 1:30 am to freshly made grilled cheese sandwiches because you knew I would be hangry in the morning if I didn't eat was second nature to you

4. Of the way you call me beautiful when we wake up in the morning and I have no makeup on, my hair looks like Medusa's snakes, and I can barely open my eyes

5. You bought an outrageously expensive plane ticket to meet my family over Thanksgiving...my immediate family, my crazy cousins, and a few of my protective best friends...good luck, babe

6. You use plural pronouns regularly

7. Farmers market flowers, French patisserie serenades, and hours in a magical bookstore is just a typical Saturday for us

8. You indulge my crazy love of puppies and always play along, even if that means possibly having more animals than humans in our house

9. Staying up talking until the sun rises has been the norm since we met

10. The future is never "if", but "when"

Although this list is in no way exhaustive, and although I know this list will grow with time, it's a start. A start to what I know is going to be the most mature, selfless, and healthy relationship of my life.

Lessons to be learned? God and the universe always have a plan that is far greater than anything we can imagine, tragic endings are beautiful beginnings in disguise, and once-in-a-lifetime loves are not to be ignored.

Until next time.

ABCs of Thanksgiving

November always makes me pause a little more and really take stock of my life - what things do I have, what can I do for others, how can I show the people in my life that I love and appreciate them, and many other internal ponderings. Last year, I started my ABCs of Thanksgiving activity that ran on my blog for a bit. Every day, I'd throw one of the ABCs up on the board for my students to work on before the morning bell rang, and by Thanksgiving, we had a whole book of things that we were thankful for!

This year, I think I might do the same thing on the blog, but with a little less elementary teacher kitsch. Stay tuned! Ya girl has some MAD blog post catching up to do...

If you wanted the link to the ABCs of Thanksgiving zip file, here you go!

A Little Change of Scenery...

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If you've been with me from day 1, you've always known this blog as Glitter and Gradebooks. Well, this summer I went on quite a hiatus from blogging after a particularly nasty breakup, and took each day as an opportunity to figure out exactly who I am. After much hemming and hawing, I decided to put this blog under the scrutiny that I put myself under this summer.

Hence, Perfectly Peeps. I'm not a perfect person by any means, but I am perfectly me. I can only be true to others if I'm 100% true to the deepest parts of myself.

Hang in there with me, folks. It's about to get a little crazy up in here.