A New Year, A New Goal

So as 2015 starts, I have been reflecting on what I want to re-start in my life.  It is always a time for new beginnings.  It seems to be more so for me this year as I kind of got thrown into a new beginning at the beginning of the school year and into a whirlwind of planning, students, grading etc.  

I often pick my restarts in life with what I feel like I have been missing in my life. One of my missing things has been this blog.  One of the things that I really had been missing is writing on this blog.  This blog's history with resolutions has been 1 for 2.  In 2013, I did a 365 challenge in which I wrote a blog post everyday.  It was hard at times to come up with new content, but overall I really enjoyed the experience, learned a lot, and it really kick started my blog.  In 2014, I resolved to blog 3ish times a week--I was going to set aside certain days and then on the off days I was going to do all of the things I had learned over the year to help grow my blog.  I felt like I could give it the right attention if I commented, shared, interacted on the days I didn't write--and it wouldn't take over my life.  I was also going to do some fixing up of this blog--new design, update links etc.  But if you notice over the past year--I've done nothing in that department and I'm pretty sure I only wrote like 15 posts...okay I shouldn't beat myself up it was like 67--but a very noticeable decrease from like July on and half of those are April A to Z Challenge blog posts.  

Anyway....I'm rambling again.  Point is: I am resolving to write everyday again this year.  I am applying everything that I learned over 2013 and 2014 to hopefully make this a little bit less stressful, more organized, and do everything that I want it to do! I will be sharing them as I go along on a couple of different places.  To start with I will be sharing things: here, my Twitter feed, and my new Facebook page!  Yes, this blog has a Facebook page. :) Please go like it!  And check back for the next posts--hopefully I don't regret doing this again!

Right Now I Am....

So as promised...life update time.  As I was thinking about how I wanted to do this I thought of how one of my favorite bloggers Trish does it (Check her out at Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity).  I messed with the order a little so that the two things people really need/want to hear about are at the top, but the headings are all her.

Feeling: Better. This is the most often question that I'm getting from people right now which is why I put it first. I had surgery last week of July to hopefully deal with the pain I have been dealing with since April last year. We haven't had a diagnosis really until now--possibly endometriosis.  I have taken a while to heal but I am pushing through thanks to pain killers.  The nice thing about still healing is that the pills work better and I am in less pain longer.

Yep coming home with boxes was not in the plan
This is only half of them too

Loving: The time off...so in part of my life update I must update everyone that I no longer work at Cedar Ridge Academy. I will be starting at Vernal Middle School teaching 7th grade English in just a few days--first day of school is about a week away. I really needed the time off....though not as early as CRA wanted me to be. They decided to lay me off a month ahead of time. Prompted me to have to pack up my room late at night and not having closure with the students. Just liked to remind me why I was leaving--I was done not being treated like a professional or a person.

Listening To: Almost done with City of Bones--two discs left.  Will probably put it in when I get done with this. Also listening to The Confession by John Grisham and enjoying it.  It has been awhile since I've read a Grisham novel.

Reading: I have a lot of books juggling right now.  The Classics Club spin book was #17---so for me Fahrenheit 451. I also want to get in on Austen in August--so I'm going to read Lady Susan because it is also on my TBR Pile List....though I really need to start it!  Still reading Fablehaven #5--current really wanting to get through it so I can move on.  Just been busy with other things and not in too much of a reading mood.  And I need to start Gone Girl for book club.

Watching: Lots since I have been in bed or on the couch for about a week and a half. I got through two seasons of How I Met Your Mother.  I have loved seeing how well they really set us up for the series finale....and the connections to Friends.  Maybe one of these days I will devote a blog post to it....since I did when the series finale came up.

Eating: Anything that sounds good....I was cooking more in July because I was home and then I lost my appetite and I bet a couple of pounds after surgery.  Appetite back to normal so that's good.  Hopefully going to do some freezer meals in the next few days for the school year.

Making: I am knitting a great purple blanket....can't wait to show it to you. I finished a yellow one earlier this summer that will be featured in a new blog post to come.

My awesome planner :)

Planning: Mentally constantly writing to-do lists and then writing them down--I have my planner that I bought at the beginning of the year and I am using it more now than I did at my job--more time to write again.  I am re-evaluating what I want...plans for the blog, plans for writing more, planning ideas for school...I think my brain is more active now that I'm not at school but easier to shut it off when I go to sleep.

Hope that fills everyone in...as always I am a pretty much open book so ask away :)

Bout of Books Start-up!

It is that time again!!! Bout of Books starts Monday.  I am excited to get involved in this Bout of Books. It's not too late to sign up yourself.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 12th and runs through Sunday, May 18th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 10 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

On Monday I will be posting my goals--though I hope this weekend to finish The Book Thief so I can get some other books done during Bout of Books. 

A to Z Reflection

Been meaning to write this one all week...time to look back at April and see how I did.  Not as well as I had envisioned.  It was great to go and see people's blogs with my students--but I wish I had been able to comment as me. That was the biggest involvement with A to Z that I had--was with my students.  And honestly I probably shouldn't cut myself short with that. It was A LOT of work.  I ended up writing a few of the blog posts with student writings pushed together, and just full out writing one myself.  And then I had to hound students for FOREVER to get their posts.  Sometimes not getting them until the day the letter went up.

I had envisioned A to Z having everything scheduled and being able to go visit on this blog. But March got away from me and it took me FOREVER to come up with a theme. I really wanted to do a theme this year--and I did pretty well until the end of the alphabet.  I had pretty much caught up on everything by the time we got to like U. So the end of my alphabet wasn't great.

I have also gotten out of the habit of publicizing this thing. I have gotten so lazy with it after #365...I felt like everyone was done seeing me constantly post this on Facebook or Twitter.  But seriously--if you want the views you have to do it! That is one thing that I learned with this year's A to Z.

Goals for next time are to try again with scheduling and writing ahead of time.  At least having each letter planned so that I'm not doing the...ugh what do I write about today that starts with......

Those of you that have stuck around as Inspirefly spits and starts thank you---and hopefully see you soon with more posts :) And I hope to come around and see new people as I hop on the Road Trip!

Yay!!!

Z is for Zoom

April has been a busy busy month.  This whole blogging adventure has just zipped past but on the other hand it has gone really slow. I have successfully done three blogs on this challenge and I am EXHAUSTED from all the work....so today's is a quick lame post.  I will blog again next week for the reflection and a couple of book reviews that came up with no way to fit them into letters.  So on to the next thing :)

My First Post of 2014

So this post is probably going to end up being a rambling post...because I haven't blogged in four days.  Oh my goodness you have no idea how liberating and how difficult this has been.  On the liberating side, as my brain realizes the time and that I still haven't written a blog post it has been nice to say, "I don't have to!!!" On the difficult side, I have missed out on some things (Classics Club Read-a-thon) and I have really missed writing.  I have had a cold so it has been nice not to have to have coherent thoughts when I am too tired to really move.  The sad thing is though I have so many ideas of what I could have blogged about the last four days---I really could have kept going.  I haven't been able to get organized with my blogging yet because of the cold--and I am hoping to do that this week.

I guess I warned you this would be a rambling post....because I have had a lot of thoughts in the last couple of days.  One of the things that I really wanted to do on here was write down my resolutions for the year--but I haven't really formulated them completely yet.  I had wanted to do a kind of #365 project with my blog still this year--but not always writing...doing something with blogging everyday.  Like networking, scheduling, planning, layout messing etc.  I had even been thinking about how I want to do more of what I started this blog for: reading, knitting, and lesson sharing--so even making sure I do one of those everyday.  But I haven't really figured out how I will work that.  Though this weekend I sure did knitting and reading. Finished my first book of the year :)

Another thought I have been having is how much I love reading other people's blogs.  I have been especially touched this weekend by my awesome sister-in-law who decided that she wanted to do a #365 project like I did in 2013 in her 2014.  I wish her the best of luck!! It is quite the journey and I learned so much.  Go check out her blog, Decidedly Nikkie.

But the other reason that I really needed to blog today is that I really want to do Bout of Books 9.0.  This is the first time I actually feel like I might do well with the Bout of Books because I got in a good rhythm with my last two read-a-thons.  I am even trying to do more with the Twitter chats this time too. That's what happens I suppose when your week night responsibilities calm down...maybe one of these days I will explain that one. But anyway... I need to declare my participation and sign-up.  Tomorrow I will post my goals...and a more coherent post :)

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 6th and runs through Sunday, January 12th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 9.0 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

My 365th Post of 2013

So...it is New Years' Eve and I finally made it!  I honestly didn't think this day would come at the beginning of the year as I was running out of ideas about what to write about.  I started to kind of get into a bit of a groove at the end....I actually have quite a few ideas of what to write about the next few days.  But I will definitely be taking a bit of the break to do some planning with moving my blog forward.

For this last post I thought I would do a couple of things: what did I learn, top posts of the year, and where I hope this blog goes in 2014.

What Did I Learn

1. That I can do this
2. Networking really helps keep your blog ideas fresh
3. You never know what will spark people's interests

Top Posts of the Year...these were all at least 95 views of

1. October Today Has Been A Weird Day--The weird thing about this one is that the vague curve ball reference I make.....I don't remember what that bad news was any more....so trying to protect people while helpful to them....not good for my journal keeping/memory!
2 and 3. October: General Conference Part 1 and 2--I think this is thanks to #ldsconf hashtag :)
4. April P is for Pain--Not surprising  as this was the explanation of what happened to me and the cause of all my pain--which unfortunately has not gone away.  I have an appointment first week of January...I will let you know how it goes.
5. March Seed Stitch Baby Blanket--Best thing I ever did attaching that post to the pattern :) This is my most viewed post.

Where I Hope This Blog Goes in 2014

1. Continues to move forward--I really don't want it to just die out!
2. My goal: Three posts a week--so planning will be good to do
3. Gain more followers
4. Continue to network
5. Keep my three goals central in my planning and try not to get too caught up in one or the other...and maybe add a fourth of writing 

Kind of a lame photo but it works....

Book Reviews and #ReadingCram Update

So....today's challenge for the #ReadingCram was actually really simply....submit a review you've done this year.  So I submitted The Storyteller which was by far my "favoritest" book of the year.

As I looked for my reviews today--I was like wow....I have these page things that I probably haven't updated in FOREVER--sure enough just clicked on Bookland and I haven't updated that since February. Wow, I'm sad! This prompts a couple of comments. First of, I have been thinking about what I'm going to do in 2014 with my blog because I do NOT want to just let it die.  But I also get a bit sick of writing everyday--especially when I have nothing to say--or I'm tired like tonight.  Hence I think the stream of consciousness you're getting now. I have been thinking about coming up with a schedule with the blog so I have regular writing topics, goals etc.  And I have decided that January is going to need to be serious housekeeping time!  And maybe a new background....spice it up a bit--I dunno...I like the flying seeds with the Inspirefly and I don't want to go to like birds or something.

Second off, this also prompted a thought about book reviews.  I have been mentioning to some people in person that I do book reviews on my blog.  Talking about that and reading other people's reviews a lot more--it has been getting me thinking about how people get into this whole authors sending you books for reviews.  And I know everybody has these disclaimers and stuff....I haven't looked into this a lot--but if anyone wants to point me in a direction of where to even get started with this I would appreciate it!

Third of all--I wish there were more hours in the day! I am behind on books and I am behind on work and laundry and sleep and...ugh. Which brings me to the final thing....I have probably read for about an hour in the last two days, hence my lack of #readingcram updates.  So best of luck to the people that are still going...I will probably be like this until Friday when I have a weekend and then three days off so no work can be done :) So lots of reading will hopefully happen then!

Don't know if it is a picture that really fits..but it is where my ramble ended up :)

The Longest Break from Blogging EVER!

So....I have kind of fallen off the wagon. It is kind of sad that in November is when I miss four days in a row for blogging--when I set out in January to blog everyday.  Those of you that have been reading for a little while know, that there have been a couple of days where I have missed that day and I have now been okay with 365 blog posts in 2013....but these four days have been crazy!!

So, lets catch you up with what has been going on and why I missed....and then we will get to the catching up!

So the first day I fell of the wagon was Wednesday---and this was a seriously long day....and I didn't realize until the next day that I hadn't blogged....and that I hadn't even opened my computer all day long.  Those of you that know me well know that this is ODD...we are attached at the hip (well I suppose you should say lap).  Wednesday was a work day that did not end until 5:00....in which I hopped in the car and drove straight to Vernal for a 6:00 choir rehearsal (more on that later) and a five minute dinner.  The rehearsal ended at 9:00. Brian hadn't eaten so we stopped to get him food, and then drove home to arrive around 10:00.  Being in large amounts of pain, I pretty much got ready for bed the minute we got home and was asleep right away.

Thursday I had the great opportunity to go to the temple with the youth (my third trip in a row to Vernal this week alone). But once again this was a work to Vernal kind of deal--at least dinner was included :).  However, before I could go to bed I had to write progress reports to the parents of all of my students.  We currently have 40 students, and I have almost all of them and in multiple classes.  So I ended up writing about 8 pages of reports.  Except I couldn't get started until 9:00 that night! So...needless to say I was up until 12:30ish--blogging already had been missed for Thursday by then and it was easy to say I will catch up--since I skipped Wednesday. (Honestly though I didn't even have that though process until I woke up Friday)

Friday I came home all excited to work on blog posts for the missed days...but I took one look at my bed after four hours of sleep and pretty much went to bed.  Saturday involved driving out to Provo in the snow to get Brian's car and then driving back....again in the snow through some scary road patches.  So when I got home my brain was too fried to think about writing....and the amount I was behind on was a little bit overwhelming.

SO now we get to today....this I have been actually procrastinating most of the day--finding other things to do.  But yay! I am back on the wagon. So--what is on tap as I catch up all of my blog posts?

1. Three book reviews!! (Between all the driving Saturday I finished two books! And we finished 1984 as a class)
2. Exciting family history stuff (I have been reignited into indexing and researching family history)
3. Launching my mormon.org account (hopefully)
4. Interesting blogs I have read recently
5. 2 history anniversaries this week--JFK assassination 50th anniversary Friday and Gettysburg Address anniversary Tuesday
6. And hopefully an update on my knit-a-long scarf...that sadly I have not started...this week might be a bit smoother so we shall see :)

Yep this will be me this week.....though I hope my hair doesn't fly out like that :P
http://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/typing.html

An Interesting Week for Teachers

This was a perfect picture to express what I was feeling when I opened up this window tonight....

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/516225176007666234/

So I went looking....and I found an interesting article on Education Week called: We Need a National Teacher Monument.  This got me thinking about this week for teachers.  This author's opinion is that we have a lot of monuments in Washington D.C. and not even ones that you could think of right away...just a little statue or plaque.  But among all of these monuments there isn't one for teachers, and there should be--especially if the president and Secretary of Education we are going to say that it is the greatest job to have and we should do more than just give them gifts on Appreciation Week. 

Then I started thinking about the fact that two teachers died this week...because of their students. These news stories always hit close to home.  Thankfully, I work at a pretty safe school--either that or I'm just naive. But you always wonder--"Will that ever be someone I know?" This might be a place to start....honoring the teachers that have lost their lives in the line of duty....just a thought today as my brain struggles for ideas :)