This Week in Pictures

Here's week three of the August Photo A Day Challenge ...student teaching in service, a visit from my cousin and her adorable twin boys, lots of sunshine, and a cozy rainy weekend!

1. spoon

2. simple

3. arrow

4. ready

5. food

6. faces

7. inside

Have a wonderful week :)

Ready to go!

Tomorrow I start my student teaching at Southside Christian School! I am so thrilled! I love the school, and my cooperating teacher, Missy Gentile is amazing :)

Last week we got everything ready and met the kiddos and parents. 

All the teachers created paper plate representations of themselves  for a "Welcome Back to School" bulletin board...

I'm so excited for this! We made gumball machines as an incentive for fact family memorization. Each student gets to add a colored yard sale circle--GUMBALL--as they memorize their facts!  I cannot wait to see them filled color!

I adore this idea! The Bushel of Blessings was filled with our class wish list. On open house night when the parents came, they each picked an apple with something to bless the class with :)

 

This class is ready for little learners...

...and I am ready to learn from them and Mrs. Gentile about teaching!

I can't wait for First Grade ;)

A Few of My Favorite Things: Home Sweet Home

It is great to be home! A few things I missed the most....

1. My Mom's incredible cooking. 

2. Working out at the gym. 

From

3. Grass. 

4. My Family.

I'm here in North Carolina to student teach this year. I am really looking forward to spending the  whole year with these guys!

I Did It: I Hiked Angel's Landing!

One of my favorite adventures in Utah was hiking the

 Angel's Landing Trail
in Zion National Park. What a crazy hike!

Distance: 5 miles...so not too long

Peak: 5785 Feet

 Elevation Gain: 1488 feet...this is what got me!

 

 

Phew! We did it!

The view from the top was absolutely gorgeous! I'm so glad we did it :) 

Utah is such a beautiful and fun place! I miss it already. This summer was an awesome experience of  learning and encouragement!!

This Week in Pictures

Week 2 of the August Photo Challenge and so far so good! I love searching out my subject everyday :)

5. logo

6. 8 o'clock

7. writing

8. glasses

9. messy

10. ring

11. purple

Have a great week!

How to: Toilet Paper Roll Flowers

 This is a super easy craft! When I first tried it, I wasn't so sure how good toilet paper rolls could look on the wall.  But...they turned out adorable!  

You will need:

*Toilet paper rolls...I use about 9 for one flower. (Paper towel rolls will work too)

*scissors

*stapler

*plenty for staples

*spray paint

Start off with your paper rolls...

Take one, and flatten it out. 

Cut the flattened roll into segments approximately the width of your index finger. You should have 5 or 6 segments per roll.

Repeat with all your rolls. 

Pinch 2 segments together as shown, and staple the adjoining sides together. 

Repeat this adding one segment each time until you have a simple five point flower. 

Continue the process by adding layers to your flower to make it as large as you desire.

This could get a little confusing, so I just counted to petals in each of my layers to stay on track and keep my flower even. The count should be:

Layer 1: 5 petals
Layer 2: 5 petals
Layer 3: 10 petals
Layer 4: 5 petals
Layer 5: 10 petals
Layer 6: 5 petals

Once you finish stapling, all that's left is to paint your flower!

Follow the instructions on your spray paint can. Spray from a few different angles to hit all the little crevices with color. Let your flower dry for about 10 minutes, then flip it over and spray the back side as well. 

Voilà! A toilet paper roll flower! You can have some fun with it and experiment with different designs too :)

There you have it!  

Enjoy!

This Week in Pictures

Here are my pictures from the first week of the August Photo Challenge!

1. Outside. 

2. One.

3. Coin.

4. Somewhere you sat.

I think I'm getting the hang of my new camera. I'm so happy with it!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Happy Sunday! Today was my last Sunday at our little church in Utah. It has been amazing to get to know everyone and be involved with the teens :) I will definitely miss Bryce Canyon Bible Church!

Here are a few of my favorite things this week...

1. The Book of Acts.

It has been so encouraging to read Acts and the Holy Spirit empowered the believers after Jesus ascended into heaven and how the Lord protected His church. So many were against the spread of Christ's name, yet the gospel spread throughout the world. The early believers served the Lord so boldly, and I am encouraged that I serve the same great God today! Nothing will thwart His plan :)

2. Tea in the morning.

Ahh I love it! Tea makes going to work at 6 am so much easier :) My favorite is Salada Green Tea!  SO GOOD!

3. The sun.

It is rainy season here, we have a storm almost every afternoon....which is good, we need it. But..I just love when the sun comes back out!

4. Bath and Body Works Dark Kiss Lotion.

I'm addicted. This stuff smells awesome! My skin has been super dry lately, and Bath and Body Works has done the trick for me!!

And my very favorite thing....

5. Friends from China and Taiwan.

These guys are a blast!

I have loved getting to know them...

And learn about their culture...

And how to write Chinese...

I learned how to write Wes and I's Chinese nicknames! My writing is the second row;)

That's all! Have a great week!

Loving My Jose Eber Curling Iron!

This summer I won the Jose Eber Tri-barrel Curling Iron Giveaway from Michaela Noelle Designs! 

 Let me tell you, this thing is amazing! 

This curling iron...

*has a clipless barrel design. I love the curls it creates!

*includes 3 interchangable barrels of different sizes

* reaches 200° F and FAST!

* and quite possible my favorite feature: comes with a protective glove!

 

Visit the Jose Eber product page  to find all sorts of awesome hair styling tools! 

P.S. Connect with me on Facebook! Here is the like to the Raindrops on Roses Page!

Upside-down Braid Bun

I never know what to do with my haiR after work...

When I'm tired of the same ponytail...

And I want to do something cute...

But I can't just leave it down because it has that AwKwArD crease...

So, the other day I tried this for a date to the rodeo!

An Upside-down Braid Bun
 I was inspired by Michaela Noelle Designs: {Tutorial} French Braid Bun! 
Thanks for the tutorial Michaela :)

*I just flipped my hair upside-down and french braided it.

* Then, when I had braided it to the top, I tied the rest of my hair off into a ponytail.

*Finally, I bobby pinned my pony tail into a bun!

It was so quick and simple!