Snow Day

What did I do while all of Long Island had a snow day?

I bake cupcakes, of course!

Perhaps William and I can hang out and cross off "Build a Snowman" on our to do list!

Have a great snow day!

A Belated New Year's Post

 

 (Zoo, Ice Skating, Fireworks, Whaling Museum, Peach Picking, Strawberry Picking, Apple Picking, Pumpkin Picking, Haunted House, Nature Hike, Picnic, Crabbing, Clamming, Dinosaur Museum, Museum of Natural History, Cupcake Shoppe, Go to the Movies, Go out to Dinner, Make Dinner Together, Beach, Lighthouse, Build a Snowman, Garden, NYC Christmas Tree, Aquarium, Concert, Yankee Game, Black Friday Shopping, Mini-Golf, See a Play, Go to the city, Red Mango, Make Pillows, Watch Movies, Dancing, Sleepover, BBQ, Belmont Lake, Prepare for 2012.)

William and I have been making to do lists for ourselves since last year. Much of our 2010 list was accomplished, but unfortunately, some things were a little too out of reach for us. This year, we compiled a new list, of what I feel are more attainable goals. Much of the list are for future dates, but some have become traditions for us. It felt good to create a new list and start anew, all while waiting for the seasons to change to get other tasks done.

Saying goodbye to 2010 was an anticipation for me. To say the least, it just wasn't a very good year. I try to always be an optimist, and I definitely did achieve a lot last year, but overall, it was a tough period to get through.

I just couldn't wait to say goodbye to the bad times. Like dropping my keys (house and car key included) down the sewer, endless car repairs, transmission failure, issues at work, and just my all around bad luck/clumsiness.

I couldn't wait to turn my back on bad memories, either. Like my brother moving out and disowning my family, the pain and bitter feelings that he caused not just myself, but the entire family, my grandfather's cancer scare over the summer, my mom's bad experience with several jobs throughout the year and ultimately being unemployed for the majority of the year, my grandmother and mother crying over my brother's absence from family events/holidays, and trying to plan my parents' 50th birthday party alone, without my sibling.

Sure, 2010 had its good times. Despite the rocky start to the year, I managed to keep all my grades up, finishing my spring semester with a 4.0. My fall semester I finished with a 3.88. I felt more comfortable and ready in the classroom, while given the opportunity to observe high school English classes. This last semester I had amazing professors who taught me so much about the education world and the English world.

My parents, friends, family and boyfriend were always there when I needed to confide in them. Each time my car gave me trouble, William made me laugh. Both my grandparents and mom and dad insisted on footing the bill each time that silly car needed work done. My friends were always there when I just didn't to talk about what I was dealing with.

It may seem trivial and even cliche, but there's something about beginning a new year that makes me feel like I've truly been given a fresh start. I'm more optimistic about 2011. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I can't help but feel like this year will be more promising.

I know this is a little late, but Happy New Year.

The last of 2010

Before the semester ended, William and I decided to go into Manhattan to see the tree in Rockefeller Center. It was freezing in Queens before we left school, so it was frigid by the time the sun went down and we finally saw the tree. We got dinner at Chipotle and walked around for a bit. We were so tired from the long day at school and walking around the city by the time we got home.

As promised, before the year ended, I made William his own pillow. I plan on making many more to give to friends and loved ones as 2011 progresses.



As 2010 drew to an end and finals began approaching, I stopped taking as many pictures. That will change in 2011, and I'm setting a goal to take pictures every day, and blogging more often. Is that too ambitious?

Classroom Observations

For my Adolescent Development class, my professor asked us to complete 10-15 hours of classroom observations. I decided to go to my high school, seeing as I knew so many English department faculty members. I contacted the English Coordinator and immediately started feeling one step closer to my future goals.

I know it sounds so cliche, but I always knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I would play school with my family members, pretend to grade papers and write out report cards, and embrace every moment I spent in my elementary school. As each year passed and I moved up a grade, I always wanted to teach that grade and aspire to be just like the teachers I had.

In middle school, I began to really fall in love with English. I was always interested in writing and I loved to read as a child. My brother actually taught me how to read before I was even in preschool because I was so eager to learn. In seventh grade, my English teachers allowed us to expand our writing skills by getting more creative with assignments. For the first time, I felt like I was writing real, sincere poetry and prose. In eighth grade, I was a part of the APEX program, which was for advanced social studies and English students. My eighth grade English teacher encouraged me to continue writing and constantly praised me for my work. 

During my freshman year of high school, I was able to create a more personalized class schedule, and I chose to take creative writing and journalism. It was actually in journalism where I met my best friend, Jessica Frasca! For creative writing, I had a wonderful teacher who helped me discover so many new genres of literature and writing, and I still have all of my assignments in the marble notebook I used that year. I continued to take creative writing for three of my four years in high school, and I still love to flip through those notebooks and discover how much my writing has developed since then. In tenth grade, I had the best English teacher, who  eventually inspired me to pursue an education at St. John's University. Words cannot describe how influential and creative this teacher was, but once  the year was over, I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

So here I am. At St. John's University, an English Adolescent Education major. I am loving every minute of it, and feel as though every second I spend in an English or Education class is vital to my future. I decided to take this Adolescent Development class, and I am so thankful for having the professor I do. He's an English teacher himself, but is also an English Chairman at his high school. So when he told us we had to begin observing classes, I immediately became so excited.

Every Wednesday for three hours I observe a 10th grade Regents/Regents Remedial class, a 12th grade Honors class, an 11th grade AP class and a 9th grade Honors class. I'm so glad to have this mix of classes, because it really is fascinating to see how differently the students learn and how each teacher responds to their needs. It's strange being back in my high school, now observing how the teachers are teaching, rather than what they're teaching. It's also very interesting to observe the students and how and what information they're absorbing. I've also been realizing different teaching methods used in these very different classes, and have come to understand why the teachers are using these methods. After sitting in such a different spot in the classroom, I've discovered just how engaging and innovative teachers have become! Each teacher that I've observed used some type of creative lesson that truly grabbed the students and helped them actually learn. These four teachers have become an inspiration for me, and I'd love to return back to their school for future observations.

Entering that high school made me realize how much closer I've become to my goal of becoming an English teacher. It was amazing to finally see just how far I've come since the days of my childhood, when I would play school with my family members and pretend to grade papers.

Pumpkin Picking

I know this is rather late and Halloween is over, but I just couldn't find the time to post this earlier.

The weekend before Halloween William and I went pumpkin picking at Lewin's Farms. It was a beautiful  Saturday afternoon, the weather was perfect, and we had all day to spend together because my Saturday education class was cancelled.

I must say that the dirt road that poor Leonardo (that's my car's name) was terrifying. I am CONSTANTLY fearing for my car's life so I was worried about rocks ruining him or other cars hitting mine on the narrow rode. Oh, and I'll also add that it's quite unnerving driving in the middle of nowhere, just me and William, not knowing where the hell we're going.

 As always, it was beautiful out there.

I always name my pumpkins Duncan.

 He's a cutie.

 As always, someone gave me a problem about smiling for pictures.

 William's perfect pumpkin.

 The pumpkin patch was right next to the Christmas tree lot. My family will probably never cut down our own tree (it would be too hysterical/aggrivating; we're not outdoorsy people), but it was fun to see them getting ready!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween!

I am in love...

...with the new Kings of Leon album.

I strongly suggest you have a listen.

It's full of emotion.

I'm driving William crazy by playing it over and over in the car on the way to school.

I just want to listen to it over and over.

Especially when I'm driving.

And this song just seems so optimistic.

Grapes

I apologize for my lack of posting as of late. I've been super busy with school, work and everything else that has to get done on a day to day basis. Plus, my laptop was out of commission for a while so I didn't have my pictures.

I took these photos at my grandparents' house during Labor Day weekend. This grape arbor has been in my family since my great-grandfather built the house and my grandfather has maintained it every since. Every September my grandfather picks the grapes and sends them to a neighbor/family friend who uses them to make jellies, jams and wine. On Christmas Eve, she sends my grandparents boxes full of grape jelly and red wine, but she is also kind enough to give us strawberry, peach, mulberry, mul-grape and raspberry jam! She's a very talented woman, and she takes the time to make labels for each jar and adds little embellishments on top of each jar!

I'll post the end result come Christmas time, but for now I have these photos of the grape picking process:

 We collected about 20 lbs on this day.

Unfortunately, I had school the day he collected the rest. He said he got about a hundred pounds this year! The past couple of years have been awful  for the grape, and some years we didn't even pick any at all. Luckily, the weather was right this summer and the grape starting blooming early!