100 + days to go & my life lately

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January is almost over which means there's just a little over 100 days until I get hitched! Wowza! Time sure flies! Wedding planning is becoming more stressful as it gets closer. Although its not terrible. There are so many "what to do" for wedding planning blog posts but I can pretty much sum it up in one sentence word.

Mom.

Yep, she's the best. She's totally killing this whole wedding planning thing. Props to Moms!

In other news I gave up sugar. (well mostly) Since January 5th I have been not eating sugar. By that I mean I'm not intentionally eating sugar. If its in a granola bar... whatever. What I'm not doing is grabbing for the candy bar, cookies, or cupcakes. It's been pretty good so far. The first few days were the worst. I felt like I was dying. But I didn't.

On the work front... Teaching is going well. 55 of my kiddos improved their test scores from the last test we took and we scored a 73% passing average as a team. THIS IS HUGE NEWS. Seriously, we went from like a high 40's average to 73. Huge improvement! I am so proud of my hard working 5th graders. Just pray for me to keep my patience the second half of the year! (and my sanity)

I hope everybody has a fantastic week! The weekend is right around the corner ;)

Parker Family

I was blessed with the opportunity to capture these awesome boys! The Parker boys will always have a special place in my heart. These guys were my first real babysitting job. Kevin (the redhead) was 4 when I first met him! They're all grown up! What an awesome family :)

www.abbyannphoto.com

https://www.facebook.com/AbbyAnnPhotography

See ya 2014, Hello 2015!

As I enter 2015 I look back on 2014 and praise God for all the blessings and answered prayers. 2014 was (according to my hopes) the year of love, travel, coffee, and (almost) knitting. I fell in love with a wonderful man of God who became my fiancé! I traveled to Albania and Italy where I was able to spread the Word of God to some wonderful people I now call friends. Of course I drank a ton ton ton of coffee. However, I didn't quite get the knitting in too much. (Crochet all the way!) I am beyond blessed with all the change that came from the year 2014.

As I kicked off the new year with a 5 mile run I was thinking about my list of goals for 2015. We make goals each year and we dream and try to accomplish many of them but sometimes as the year comes in to full swing we get bogged down with the daily routine of life. So instead of just simply making a list of goals for 2015 I will be making an action plan to bring these goals to life. I will have weekly goals that will help me reach my bigger goals. I'm excited to enter this year of 2015 and to see how my life will change throughout this year. So much changed in the year of 2014 and I can't even imagine what will come of 2015 but I know God has a wonderful plan for my life so I will live it day to day taking in each and every moment.

2015 Goals: 

Spend more time in the Word

Become a more innovative teacher

Run half marathon

Run 5 smaller races

Travel

Become a wife- a really good one

Serve more in my local community 

Learn calligraphy

Complete 3 harder DIY projects

Blog more

Double the amount of photo sessions from last year

Stay fit

Baby Ardyn 2014

Catching up on posting some photo sessions from this Fall. Here was my very first newborn session! <3

www.abbyannphoto.com

https://www.facebook.com/AbbyAnnPhotography

God Made Us Friends...

Dear Best Friend, 

Please stay in my life forever because you're one of the best things that has happened to me. 

Love,

Me

God Made Us Friends Because Nobody Could Handle Us As Sisters

Warby Parker: Fall Line

*Disclaimer: "The opinions expressed on this post are completely my own."

Warby Parker, Y'all

Warby Parker has just released their Fall 2014 line! This company was built on the idea of creating affordable eyewear for you, the consumer, and to help others around the country with limited access to vision! What does that mean? Limited access to vision? I mean that many people have lack of good vision simply because they can't afford ridiculously high priced corrective wear! Warby Parker's nonprofits train people around the word how to give eye exams and sell glasses at affordable prices. Why not just donate glasses? This is where I think Warby Parker is incredibly brilliant. 

"It’s a sticky fact of life that kind-hearted gestures can have unintended consequences. Donating is often a temporary solution, not a lasting one. It can contribute to a culture of dependency. It is rarely sustainable. Instead of donating, our partners train men and women to sell glasses for ultra-affordable prices, which allows them to earn a living. More important, it forces our partners to offer glasses that people actually want to buy: glasses that fit with local styles, look good, work well, and make the wearer feel incredible.

Because everyone wants to feel incredible."     -via

Warby Parker's vision is to create a situation where other's around the world can become sustained through learning how to be part of the Warby Parker team.

I was only asked to do a style post however, when I read up and heard testimonies on this company I couldn't help but be inclined to tell the vision behind the company. I would encourage you to check them out and get your next pair of spectacles from their amazing company!

This is my favorite frame and goes perfectly with this Fall outfit!

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Here are some more of my favorite styles!

Firsts in Fifth

School has begun again. Fresh new planner, nice sharp crayons, and no crinkles on the folder corners yet.... Would you guess I'm a student or a teacher? I'm a total geek about fresh school supplies. I lived for the new planner every.single.year. Seriously? What 5th grader looked forward to a nice new planner? Yup. Me. Well now I get to pass out planners to my 5th graders! Where did time go I feel like I was just in 5th grade :)

The first week of school got off to a great start. I am beyond excited to be teaching 5th instead of 6th this year. I am working with a talented bunch of kiddos who make each day bright so far. My group of students this year are impressing me like crazy so far. They are great at pretty much everything I ask them to be great at. Granted, its only the second week of school... hopefully I won't regret these words! Just kidding, I won't. I know it is going to be a great year in room 511.

There is a noticeable difference between the 5th and 6th graders from day 1. This year, so far, I haven't been asked if I'm dating or married or accused of being 35. So far, so good.  Plus, setting up my classroom was not a nightmare like last year. I literally cried last year. I was so frustrated because the hopes in dreams I had in my mind of how cute it would look totally failed. This year my Mom helped me get my life together and decorate my classroom the right way. Yay for moms... and dads! My dad was the muscle behind the projects involving saws and other scary tools. Thanks Dad :)

Okay now don't scroll down thinking you're going to see one of those super matchy fancy pinterest classrooms you see a lot. Because lets face it... my children are great but super messy when they learn so I don't like to go overboard with the $$ on decorations. But its my own little corner of 5th grade heaven.  

Along with being back at teaching I started up grad school again last week. I was once so excited about being in grad school. I felt like I was once again working toward a goal. Now I've lost that feeling and it has been replaced with an overwhelming feeling of get.me.outta.here! I feel like its a lot to take on grad school and full time teaching among other things. But I will prevail because God will be my strength! Thanks for stopping by to catch an update. Stay tuned for more Firsts in Fifth!