Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

I have to give credit to bloggers out there... editing a blog is hard stuff! With no back ground at all and after many youtube videos I finally updated the look of my blog. 

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite blogs that I follow regularly for inspiration on fashion, cooking, traveling and teaching! 

1. Cupcakes and Cashmere  - Best overall (okay I am little obsessed with Emily).
2. Atlantic-Pacific - Fashion tips from both sides of the coast 
3. Iowa Girl Eats - Great recipes, Ryan and I eat what her and her husband eat weekly! 
4. Joy the Baker - Beautiful baked goods that I wish I could make. 
5. First Grade Parade - I hope to have a classroom like this one day. 

Happy Saturday! 

13 Travel Tips

Tips to make you feel like a Smart Traveler 

Some of my favorites: 

 Use a button to keep your earrings together. 

 Contact solution containers for liquids, DUH! 

 Always make left turns in the 

security line to get through more quickly. 

Science Proves it. 

Transport wine (or beer) in your shoes.

Sunday as a 'Belgian'

No car day - Sunday 

Today in Brugge no vehicles were allowed in the city center and the sun came out, which meant lots of people out and about enjoying the day! Sunday's in general are a day where families spend time together because nothing is really open, no super markets, only a few restaurants, and no shops. It's basically a day where you are forced to be with each other... which I think is a great thing and should be more of a tradition in the US. 

 Street performers and a naughty little Belgian! 

 The only vehicle to be seen

 Grabbed a goat cheese and prosciutto sandwich

 to watch some locals dance in the street. 

 We stopped in to see Michelangelo's

Madonna and Child

 More locals dancing to MJ 

 Our sweet neighbors stopped by to share

some homemade desserts; chocolate mouse and white 

chocolate mouse with speculoos  

 Our first eggplant! 

 We had no idea where the actual broccoli would come from 

.... the top! 

 Eggplant/Yellow Pepper/Basil

 The jungle, I mean our butternut squash

(dying tomatoes and onions in the back) 

 Everyone was outside enjoying Sunday 

brunches in the streets

Enjoy your Sunday! 

First Week of First Grade!

It's been a little bit, but I have survived my first week of teaching! Just barely though, because I have a sinus infection and damaged a tube in my ears?! Anyways... here is a sneak peak at my room :) 

I thought I would have 28 6 year olds, but good news - only 26! They haven't stampeded me yet... so far so good. 

 Morning Meeting area, calendar, and weather chart

 Trying to fit all 26 desks! 

 Our library that many of you donated books to-- THANKS! 

 Our windows face the playground. 

 I plan on turning that window into a Word Wall Window! 

I took a picture of each student with this cute sign, we are going to make 

a frame their parents... coming soon!

I plan on updating my blog more but this past week I was focused on a lot of assessments to see where all my kiddos are! Half of them know the ABC's and half don't, some can count, some can't!! We really need a solid understanding of numbers and letters before we get into the juicy stuff. 

My kiddos are from ALL over the world. I have a set of twins from Poland, the cute girl above is from Iceland, one from Estonia, an Irish lad, one Japanese, two Brits, many Indians, one Italian, one North Carolinian, two Africans,  some Spanish, and French! They are such a great group and they were all together last year in Pre-Primary which is great because they all know each other. This week we are working on being Pals and reading the story Chrysanthemum, a classic.

Have a great Hump Day :)