Five on Friday: Blog Recap Edition

Happy Friday friends!  This week had made it official, I am totally over winter weather.  Can't we just bring on spring and flip flops?  Too bad mother nature is threatening another taste of winter weather next week.

I am linking up with Liz, Christina, Natasha and Darci for Five on Friday!  Enjoy friends!

I decided this week I am going to post my Five favorite posts from my blog up to this point.  This will be a random assortment from the past few years.  Hopefully you will enjoy seeing a little bit more into the life of Brooke!


{O N E}
Shine
I wrote this blog a couple of months after my 30th birthday and it commemorated a big event for me...getting a tattoo!

http://friendbrooke.blogspot.com/2008/10/shine.html


{T W O}
Second Time Was a Blast
Third time I fell in love!  Well friends this was a post about my 30 year old experience at the NKOTB concert!  So much fun and led to 2 more times of seeing them as an adult!  Hope they put you in a trance with a funky song! :)

http://friendbrooke.blogspot.com/2008/11/second-time-was-blast.html


{T H R E E}
Least Favorite Words
If you have known me for any length of time you know there are certain words I am just not a fan of.  Here is an important post to clue you in on some of those!

http://friendbrooke.blogspot.com/2011/03/30-days-of-listsday-6.html


{F O U R}
Encouraging Words
I love words and love when other people's words really speak to my heart!  This post is all about that!

http://friendbrooke.blogspot.com/2011/03/30-days-of-listsday-6.html

{F I V E}

Tag You are It!

This post is a get to know you post from a long time ago,  but for you new readers you will get to know a little bit more about me!  Enjoy!

http://friendbrooke.blogspot.com/2008/12/tagim-it.html


Hope you enjoyed this really random Five on Friday post!  What is your favorite blog post you have shared?  And don't forget to leave a sweet comment, that is my favorite! :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend, I am off to an impromptu girls weekend in Asheville!  Happy Weekend friends!

Thank You Teacher

Today I sat in a music room at my school surrounded by some amazing educators, and as I listened to the information being shared my heart just felt more and more heavy.  I know that the internet has been inundated with posts full of complaints, rants, opinions about the state of education in North Carolina.  It is easy to focus on the low test scores, the amount of kids who can't read or the drop out rate.  But my heart hurts for the teachers, those individuals who  made the decision to devote their lives to teaching children (insert Whitney Houston's I Believe the Children are our Future).  While those who are far removed from the public school house continue to make ignorant statements about what goes on in our buildings, I see a much different view.

In my 12 years of teaching I have witnessed some pretty amazing things from the people I worked with. Everyday I see teachers who are at school longs before the school bell rings (that is not me, we all know how much I love mornings) getting supplies ready for the little ones who will enter their classrooms.  I see teachers who stay at school long after the 3:15 bell rings to coach Battle of the Books teams, robotics teams, to meet with parents, prepare engaging lessons, plan for the multiple groups of students they have in their classrooms.  I see teachers who spark kids to fall in love with reading, to invent and make new discoveries, to dream big dreams.

I see teachers who sacrifice time and money to make sure students have proper clothing for the winter months, to make sure they have food to eat on the weekend, to make sure they have the supplies they need to be successful for the school day.  I see hugs being given, high fives being shared, tears being wiped away, listening ears being provided.  I witness teachers empowering kids to think bigger than themselves by giving back to their community and for causes they believe in.

I hear teacher cheering on their students when they finally figure out how to add and subtract with regrouping.  I hear songs being sung and cheers being chanted.  I hear advice being given when a student shares how their big sister ran away or that their parents are fighting again.  I see teachers in the stands at their students ball games and in the seats at their concerts.  I see teachers who lug home bags of work to do off the clock so that their students.

I could go on and on with story after story about ways I see teachers make a difference in the lives of their students on a daily basis.  So teacher if you are reading this, know you are you are not forgotten.  You are admired and celebrated.  You are cared for and loved.  You are appreciated.  And while you may not ever know it, you have made a difference not only in the lives of your students but in the lives of those you work with as well, especially me.  You have taught me about sacrifice and perseverance.  You have taught me about creativity and respect.  You have taught me about forgiveness and love.  And for that I am so grateful.

{sorry for the kind of heavy post tonight, just a little of what is on my heart about this profession i have chosen.  i hope you hear the heart behind it.}

Five on Friday

Happy Friday friends!  Hope you have  had a great week!  This week has felt like a blur with an early dismissal at school, two snow days and then a three hour delay.  It really feels like a super long weekend!

I am linking up today with Liz, Christina, Natasha and Darci for Five on Friday!  Enjoy!

{O N E}
Snow days have meant a lot of time for me and my good friend Netflix to bond.  I found myself getting hooked, yet again, to an old favorite...Grey's Anatomy!  I seriously love that show.  I did start a new series, The Following.  Anyone watch that?  That is definitely going to be a show I have to watch during the daylight hours!  But all that Netflix watching has made me miss SCANDAL!  Isn't it time for that show to come back?  I miss Fitz and Olivia.  It has been a long few weeks with no Scandal in my life!  :)

{T W O}
It is not secret that public school teachers are some of the hardest working people around. I have had the honor of working along side some of the most dedicated teachers. And it is not secret that teachers don't always get the good press they deserve.  This post has been all over Facebook recently and is a beautiful story about a teacher who is looking beyond her test scores, low salary and poor conditions and is looking at the heart of why we do what we do...the students!  I have come in contact with teachers just like her who really are in the business of loving kids!  It really is a great read!

{T H R E E}

A few weeks ago, I decided that my bedroom needed a little makeover.  One of the easiest and cheapest ways to make a change is to switch up the bedding. So I hit up my local Home Goods (love this store) and found a great set!  I really do love it.  Love that it came with accent pillows and is reversible.  I even found time to make the bed during these snow days, this is not something that normally happens!  I would like to add some more pillows and possibly a new throw for the end of the bed.  

{F O U R}
I guess I can't not post some pictures of what has made this week so enjoyable...the snow!  I love my little house and love the way it looks in the snow!

{F I V E}

I am truly blessed with some great friends and those great friends have some super cute kids.  I am so thankful for the ways that these friends let me come alongside them and be involved with their families.  Last night I got a text from my sweet friend Katie inviting me over for dessert and some girl/Liam time!  I jumped at the chance to hang with these guys!  It was a perfect way to end a snow day Thursday!  Here is Liam, is he not the cutest!  

Have a great weekend full of friends, food and football!  What are you up to this weekend?

Snow Day

My local weatherman hinted at the possibility of snow in my town today and honestly I didn't believe him.  Hickory rarely gets snow and from the looks of all the maps, it was going to miss us and hit all our surrounding neighbors.  I just knew it wasn't going to snow.  Well, I was wrong! 

We got the news of an early dismissal around 10 this morning and we released students at 1:00.  The drive home was a little shaky for this southern gal, but I made it safe and sound.  It has been snowing since 1:00 and it is really pretty! And I just got the call that school is canceled for tomorrow!  Yep, snow days are so much better as a teacher.  I am looking forward to turning off my alarm for tomorrow morning, spending some quality time with Netflix, drinking coffee and soaking up this day off!

My road starting to get covered!

My cute cottage is so pretty in the snow!

Snow is starting to stick!

Someone didn't make a good shoe choice for a snow day!

Find a cozy blanket and stay warm friends!  What are you doing on this snow day?

Currently...

Hope everyone has had a great Monday!  I have my fingers crossed for a little bit of snow tomorrow or Wednesday.  But it truly looks like it is going to bypass my neck of the woods and hit my friends on the coast!

This weekend was very low key, so not much to report.  My mom came go visit and we she cleaned my house for me!  How lucky am I?  I really don't love cleaning, but I love a clean house.  My goal now is to keep it this way.  So far so good, she has only been gone a day, but one day at a time friends!

Saw this on another blog and thought it would be a fun post for this Monday!  So here is what is going on CURRENTLY in my little world!

I am currently READING Mockingjay.  I am almost finished rereading this book.  I decided after seeing Catching Fire that I wanted to reread the series.  And next on my list is Divergent, which I am very excited about.  Have you read it?  I have heard some great reviews of it and I definitely want to read it before the movie comes out.


I am currently LOVING Oikos Greek Yogurt Cucumber Dill dip.  I can't eat veggies without something to dip them in.  And this tasty treat is perfect!  Also really loving getting my fun Birchbox in the mail every month.  If you haven't heard of Birchbox, it is basically a box of health and beauty items that gets delivered to your door every month.  You subscribe for 3 months, 6 months or a year and each month you get a box of samples of different products.  I love it because I am not likely to buy high dollar health and beauty products and this a great way to try them out.  This last month I got some great headbands, a perfume sample and some Cynthia Rowley eyeliner.  Check it out friends!


I am currently COOKING, well nothing at the moment.  But yesterday I made a crock pot lasagna that was amazing and so easy!  I will have leftovers for days, but that is ok.  It really is good and easy did I mention that!


I am currently AVOIDING cleaning out my email inbox.  It is out of control y'all.  I would tell you how many unread messages there are but you would no longer be my friend.  It is a bit embarrassing.  I am not sure how it gets out of control so quickly, one day I will have them all cleared out.  Today though, I will just keep checking out Facebook and pinning things on Pinterest!


What are you currently READING, LOVING, COOKING, and AVOIDING?  I would love to hear what is currently going on in your neck of the woods!

Five on Friday

I am linking up today with these fun gals to share my Five on Friday! Excited to check out some new blogs and see what everyone else is sharing today!

O N E

While taking my weekly daily trip to Target today I was shocked to see this little end cap in the Valentine Section.  

I absolutely love these little pieces of heaven.  Reese eggs are where it all started before the hearts and trees and pumpkins and I love these things!  It took a bunch of will power to not grab up a six pack and put it in my cart.  I will have to indulge sometime soon!  :)

T W O

A few weeks ago I saw these really cool bracelets on Instagram and knew I must have some!  They came in the mail and I LOVE them.  You need to check out Antebellum Baubles on Esty!  Beautiful pieces!  

T H R E E

Monday we celebrated the life of an amazing man in our nations history.  I was reading some articles about Martin Luther King Jr and came across this quote and I think it speaks volumes.  I hope I can live my life spreading more love!

F O U R

I am loving season 4 of this show.  The episode 2 weeks ago was a difficult one to watch but I am just loving how some of the character's stories are being developed.  I kinda think I want to live in Downton.  Have you taken the Buzzfeed quiz to find out what character you are?  I took it and was Mr. Carson.  Who are you?

F I V E

I am really trying hard to eat less junk and eat more healthy choices.  One of the hardest things for me though are snacks.  I love to snack. What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?  I would love some yummy suggestions!  

Have a great weekend friends!

Treadmill thoughts...

For the past week I have been spending about an hour of my day at this place...

Not only is fun to stay there, well according to the Village People, it is also fun to work out there.  OK,  fun isn't the word I would use all the time, but it is a good thing.  And having a great friend meet you there everyday does make it more fun for sure!

Truth is I am not a workout girl.  The thought of going to the gym made me break out in hives.  I talked myself out of it more times than I can count.  If you remember my post about my word for the year, you will recall that the word I chose was LESS.  And one of my goals was less unhealthy habits, more healthy habits.  So one of those was to move more.  It took all the courage in me to even walk into the Y and join.  But it has been a great choice.

Today while I was walking on the treadmill, I had some majorly random thoughts that I just knew you few loyal readers really needed to hear.  So here you go...

1.  There is no way in the world I could ever be one of those people who multi-tasks on a moving belt.  Today a girl was reading on the treadmill and another was doing all kinds of stuff on her phone.  Friends, I have to hold on and hold on tight.  If you know me, you know that I have a bit of clumsy side.  It is hard enough for me to walk on non moving ground without falling.  I did try letting go a couple of times and was convinced I was moving right down the belt like those conveyor belts on the cartoons.  So I will just be ok with the fact that I can't accomplish more than one task while on the treadmill.  I will stick to the walking!

2.  Do  you remember when you had to take a test in elementary school and the teacher would pass out those boards that you would put around you so no one could cheat off your paper?  I am pretty sure treadmills need those as well!  The screen on the treadmill displays how long you have been moving, how many calories you have burned, how fast you are going etc.  Honestly, that information is for my eyes and I don't even like looking at it sometimes because I am pretty sure I burned 1000 calories when it says I have only burned 150.  But today the lady on the treadmill next to me was that kid in class who always looked at your paper.  No doubt she looked at my display at least 15 times.  I am not sure if she was the treadmill police or what, but seriously, stop looking at my stats.  Pay attention to your own machine!

3.  The treadmills at the Y face a big wall of windows.  I like that.  I would much rather have that view than the view the people on the elliptical machines have.  You see they face the treadmills.  So what view do they have, my rear end.  Today I got to thinking, I feel sorry for those guys.  I am not sure they are ready for all that.  In all honesty, I doubt the people on the ellipticals are even paying attention to who is on the treadmills, but in my crazy head I feel like they are judging away!  Maybe they should switch the machines once in a while.

4.  I have always had sensitive ears.  One of my students once told me they could hear the wings of a ladybug flutter and I am pretty sure I am right there with them.  I am also very self conscious about how much noise I make.  For instance, if I am eating a crunchy snack I will often apologize to the people I am with for the loud crunching.  The noise I hear in my head is so loud I am just praying they are  not freaked out by it.  Well the same goes for walking I guess. Today I found myself feeling so self conscious about how loud my footsteps were on the treadmill.  I feel like I sound like a herd of elephants coming through.  I tried really hard to step lightly but I just couldn't do it.  I guess I need to work on that!


Who knew an hour on the treadmill could bring such deep thoughts?  Does anyone else share my crazy thoughts?  It is ok if you don't want to admit it, just hope I am not alone!  :)

Hope everyone is having a great week!