Closed Toe Shoes and New Adventures

It's so good to be back on here! I haven't posted in about a month! There have been very little wedding decisions being made with the busy-ness of a testing grade teacher and LIFE happening.

While there has been, little to no wedding planning, there has been some life planning going on.
At the end of March, I learned of a new elementary school opening in Lake Travis ISD from my friend Becca (Teacher Fellows-Cohort 19). I talked to my friend Monica (Teacher Fellows Cohort 19) who already works in LTISD and she told me she and a lot of other teachers were transferring there from her current school. Two of the other transfers were also Teacher Fellows! She told me about how the new principal really believed in cooperative learning and how we could teach others how to do Kagan CL (Kagan Cooperative Learning is an amazing research-based publication that focuses on engagement in the classroom) AND we could be on the same team! So, I thought about it for a bit because well, it's a big decision. Russell and I discussed how this could potentially put him closer to San Marcos and New Braunfels and his band, which would be amazing. He has been a TROOPER over the last year, but the driving was starting to get to him! I love my coworkers at my current school, yet the opportunity of opening a NEW school and being able to work with people who are passionate about cooperative learning seemed like a dream come true. So, Becca and I both applied!

Over the next few weeks, things started happening quickly. I had a screening interview, then a team interview, both of which went really well. Naturally, I was a nervous wreck for a few days. My current teammates, Jenni and Meredith, could not have been more supportive. We kept saying we were sad, but excited which was a perfect way to put it! :) They are a true blessing to me and I know that they want what's best for ME. True friends, for sure.

A few days after my team interview and references were checked...I received a call. It was the principal. I. GOT. THE. JOB! I was/am still very excited! I wanted to wait until STAAR testing was over to tell the world! Also, there were a few people that I wanted to tell before they could hear it from someone else...which in a career full of women, can be difficult.

Yesterday, after my disaster of a day (separate blogpost to follow), I was able to go tour my new school! Here are some pictures!

 3/4 of our third grade team: Monica, Stacy and Me

Here we go!

 This is our amazing new library! :) I love the library! 

 Music Room:)

So beautiful! 

 How fun is Kinder/1st grades' color :)

 Cafeteria :)

Work Room 

 We had to wear closed toe shoes, so I thought this was fun! :) Stacy and I both wore TOMS. :)

Here we are with Principal Julie Richards! :)

 Dream. Come. True. From Hernandez Heroes to Teacher Fellows to TEAMMATES!

 This is one of the MOST exciting parts! These ladies: Carolyn Monica, and Becca were in Teachers Fellows (Cohort 19) with me! This is almost 1/3 of our cohort! I am so excited to be able collaborate and work with these beautiful ladies every day! There is another former fellow on Becca's team! Look out Central Texas, we're taking over!

That will be last time I see WCHES before we're allowed to move in! :) I am so excited for this new adventure. Expect lots of tears sad and happy ones from me over the next five weeks as I prepare to say goodbye to my team, friends, coworkers and home of the last two years.

After touring the school, we had a little get-together at Shannon's house! Such a sweet group of ladies!

Shannon was the sweetest hostess ever. 

Disclaimer: I will tell my current students on the last day of school. I don't want them to feel in any way that I am leaving them. They are my world right now (just ask Russell) and I am theirs' for the next five weeks. I would appreciate it if they do not find out until I (ONLY I) am able to tell them. Thank you so much!

I am so blessed for the relationships that I will always hold dear at Forest North Elementary. I know that life changes happen, and true friends will be there when they do. Thank you to my sweet friends at FNE for supporting me and my decisions. I love you all dearly. Expect tears. Lots. of. Tears. :)

-Amanda

You Can Find Me in Room 304

As all of you know I take WAYYY more pictures than the average person! So, I decided to separate the tour into two posts. This post is strictly third grade! I cannot believe that one of these rooms will be my classroom. :) I am beyond blessed and grateful!

Monica was measuring the windows! :)

 I am so excited to start this new adventure with these ladies! I am so blessed. This is 3/4 of our team. Our fourth teammate is Emily. She's moving to Texas very soon! I can't wait to meet her in person! :) 

Thanks for stopping by! 

-Amanda

I'm at it again!

This week, I have managed to set up six wedding dress appointments! My advice: always take a friend (at least one)! You ask: How in the world do you fit this in? Well, honestly I've had A LOT less sleep. Being that most bridal places close around 6 or 7 depending on the day of the week, I'm wedding dress shopping during my regular working after school hours, so I have to that when I make it home, which results in a later than my already late bedtime!

The three latest boutiques I have visited were Belle Saison, Melange and Blue Bridal. Yesterday, my sweet friend/BM Lindsay joined me at Belle Saison and at Melange! I may have found the one, but I obviously need to check every boutique/bridal store in TEXAS to make sure I'm not missing out on something more beautiful...Hence, the other three appointments that I still have coming up this week!

Here are some adventures from Monday!

Belle Saison

 ]

Melange

After dress shopping, we enjoyed Z Tejas! It was a great end to a Monday!

Now, on to Tuesday's adventures! My sweet friend/co-worker Sarah accompanied me to Blue Bridal on South Congress! She recently had an absolutely beautiful wedding in October and is very honest, so I was excited when she said she would go with me! :)

After dress shopping, we went Snack Bar and shared the most precious little order of fries! 

I am so blessed to have such sweet friends who will join me on my wedding dress adventures after teaching alllll day! Love you both dearly! :)

Stay tuned for the rest of this week's wedding dress adventures!

-Amanda

Oh My Wedding Dresses!

Most of you that read this blog know me. For those of you who don't or don't know me very well, I am terrible at making decisions. Don't get me wrong, I make good decisions, it just takes me FOREVER to make one...So needless to say this wedding planning process is kind of hard for me. I tell Russell the only decision I've ever committed to 100% is him. :) Russell and I have been together for over EIGHT years, so of course I want our day to be perfect. I'm not like a lot of brides who have it all figured out, I just like nice, pretty things-which in the wedding world is most things. See my dilemma?

I decided that I would share my process with you when I started this blog. I want to share the good, the bad and the funny! As far as wedding dress shopping goes-you need to give your dress 4-6 months to come in/have alterations done...so as you see my clock is ticking!

I went dress shopping for the first time with my mom and my sister! We went to David's Bridal in Beaumont. It was a great first experience! A few of the dresses made me look pregnant, so I wouldn't even come out of the dressing room. Here are some pictures from that day!

 We had a nice little family dinner at Frankie's after we picked up our fellas!

There was another dress at DB, but it could end up being the one, so obviously I can't share it! :)

Dress Shopping #2- Julie and I scheduled joint appointments at Blush Bridal in Austin. It was a great experience. 

 Oh hi wedding dress prices. 

 Julie and I had a nice little brunch after shopping at Blush! It was perfect!

I am still on the hunt! I'll let you all know when I find it. I am so so blessed to have so many amazing ladies in my life that can help me make decisions! Thank you to my Hopi, my momma and my JulieBear for dealing with me and indecisiveness during my first two shopping trips!
It may come down to my bridesmaids and MOH saying: "Amanda, you are OUT OF TIME, we are picking it for you!" ...and you know that doesn't sound too bad to me.!

-Amanda