goodbyes and hellos

Goodbye beach days,

hello brisk, fall, evening strolls.

Goodbye flip flops and tank tops,

hello sweaters and boots.

Goodbye stress free days,

hello hectic school days.

Goodbye BBQs and ice cream,

hello family dinners and apple crisp.

Goodbye summer,

hello fall!

Happy Tuesday all, I hope you are having a wonderful week. This is my last official week of summer and I'm trying to soak up as much summer as I can get. Dare I say I am ready for all fall has to offer? Bring on the pumpkins, cider, scarves, and falling leaves! 

Day 5- Dinner with 5

Day 5- If you could have dinner with any 5 people, who would they be?!

How difficult...I could go the sentimental route and choose all family members that I, of course, would love to have a fantastic sit down meal with... Or, I could go the celebrity-ish kind of way which would be my absolute "dream" dinner party! Decided on a mixture of both- best of both worlds =]

1. Papa Stanley. He was my number 1 fan growing up and I loved him dearly. He past away when I was 6 and I wish more than anything he was still here with us. We all miss him, but especially my Grams who celebrated her 90th birthday last year. The two of them were, and still are the center of our family. With that being said the #1 dinner date I would want would be me, Papa, and Grams- back together again :).

2. Great Grandma Katherine. She past away before I was born but I've heard so many wonderful things about her. Plus, she is my name sake and I think it would be amazing to meet her and get to know who she was as a person.

3. Sesethu <3 my sweet little grade 3 student from AF Louw in South Africa. Meeting her changed my life; she is such an inspiration to me! When I met her I couldn't comprehend how she had so little yet she was so happy and so positive. The more I got to know her, I realized I was wrong all along- she may not have material things, but she has so much: love, family, positive attitude, education, drive, passion. What I would give to see her beautiful smile and to order her the best braii in Stellenbosh :).

4. Cori from Le Vie Petite. I LOVE her and her adorable blog. I would love to chat with her over coffee, play with her kiddos, and learn how she does it all! She has the perfect family, beautiful home, crafty ideas, gorgeous style...I could go on. I would love to meet her, I think we would become best friends pretty quickly.

5. Michael Stagliano and/or Sean Lowe- my two favorite Bachelorette Bachelors who I would love to chit chat with over a glass of wine and vase of red roses. I'm a reality TV fan so of course you all wouldn't expect anything less from me :).

Happy Monday!  

Day 4: Favorite Childhood Memory

[Day 4]: What's your favorite childhood memory?

When I think back to childhood I automatically think to things that happened to me ages 4-6...apparently my most fond memories are from that time frame. I guess that does make sense since most all of the memories that first come to mind take place when my Grams and Papa babysat me when I was in preschool. 

For example, Grams drove me to preschool and once her blinkers weren't working on her car so when she had to turn right, she had me stick my hand out the window (and when she had to turn left, she stuck her hand out her window). I remember being 4 years old and thinking it was the coolest thing ever to "help her drive". 

Also, on our way home we would sometimes stop at a doughnut shop. She would get a glazed doughnut for me and a chocolate one for Papa. EVERYDAY we would get home and my Papa would eat my glazed doughnut even though he KNEW it was mine. That was just how he was... he loved to pick on us grandchildren. 

But that's OK- I guess I deserved it for making him sing with me. I was obsessed with recording my own songs on my cassette tape deck (wow that makes me feel old...). I would have him and my Grams write lyrics and sing duets and then I would sing the chorus. I vividly remember them singing a song they wrote called "Melody of Love"- I can see it now, us in their living room and them listening to their bossy 4 year old granddaughter. My Papa thought it was ridiculous (I have no idea why ;]) and started singing "Lets go eat some spinach. Oh yeah now lets go eat some spinach!". Where did he come up with that? No. Idea. Oh my. It was ridiculous. Oh how I miss him...

There is one last memory that sticks out in my head as a defying moment in my childhood. This is the story about how I met my first best friend at my new house once we had moved. We had just moved into our new house (that my parents still live in today) and my Dad and Grandpa were going to put together a swing set for me in the backyard. I was beyond excited and decided to take my tiny red plastic chair to sit and watch them build. Shortly after, a little boy from next door came over and asked if he could sit with me. I was pretty shy but I saw his matching plastic chair in green at hand and decided to say yes. Now my Dad and Grandpa were never very handy so this was an all day event. Sandro and I sat there for the entire day watching them build, and ending up with extra pieces. We swung on the swings and slid down the slide until the sun had set and the stars were out over head. Ever since that day, Sandro and I were inseparable. Over time and through the cooties we grew apart but have still stayed in touch and maybe attended a homecoming together. Ironically enough we both traveled across the state for college and attend GVSU together. It's nice having my next door neighbor in Grand Rapids with me :).

OK, so that wasn't one story but my memory ran wild and how could I pick just one of the memories that came to mind? Impossible.

Pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio up...

Day 3: Write about a article of clothing that you you deeply attached to...

This is a tough one! I have a lot of pieces that I love to wear but not a single item that comes to mind when I think of  this challenge.

Do I write about my black blazer that can dress up any outfit up? 

Or my lace tee that is my personality made into a piece of clothing? 

Or what about my black flowy top that looks awesome paired with pearls? 

Now if we were talking about jewelry that would be a different story. I have pieces I could write  about for days. We can save that for another day...

I guess I will go with the item of clothing that is my go-to piece that I can wear with anything and everything- my favorite jeans. Shocked? Probably not because it's the safe choice to write about since you can't go wrong with a good ole pair of jeans! I bought them on a whim at Marshals (from The Limited) because they were on clearance and who doesn't need a new pair of jeans (especially if you try them on and they fit just right). They are skinny but not too tight, dark wash but not overly dark and just all around perfect. 

SO that is all. My go to pair of jeans. 

Happy Monday- I hope you all have a lovely week! 

P.S. Since this post is all things clothes, might I add that this weekend we went Bridesmaid dress shopping for Sami's big day (BTW what a wonderful group of girls she has by her side for her big day)...let me tell you we picked the most perfect dress. So sleek. Totally formal. Flattering on everyone. It's just perfect. 299 days until Sami and Josh's big day and I cannot even wait- she will be the most gorgeous bride ever. Seriously.

Day 2- Six Word Memoirs

 Day 2: Write a [few] six word memoir[s]

-Enjoy the little things in life.-

-Never forget who means the most.-

-Trust in God's plan for you.-

I don't think these need a lot of explaining- I am a believer in being positive, enjoying life, cherishing the ones you love, and having faith. 

I must say it was tough to put my own perspectives into 6 word phrases!

Happy Friday eve :]

15 Day Challenge!

My lovely friend, the soon-to-be Mrs. DuVal, over at The story of a girl... started a 15 day challenge today and I thought why not join in on the fun! 

So here goes nothing: Day 1...15 fun facts about me!

1. I would be no where without my friends and family. It is so tough living on west side of the state when all of my family and most of my friends live on the east side, however, moving to Grand Rapids really did show me who I want in my life. 

2. I don't sleep in. I am most productive first thing in the morning. Plus, ever since I started at Ops, I feel like if I sleep past 8:30am I am wasting my day away. 

3. The only meat I eat is chicken (and sometimes turkey). I think it started out because I was a picky eater, but I'm not sure. I've ate this way my entire life

4. I'm a total Daddy's girl. My favorite thing to do when I'm home is set my alarm for early so that I can get up and chit chat with my Dad over coffee before Mom and Zach get up. Plus, we have so many similarities it's frightening. He's my role model and has taught me so much about life.

5.  I studied abroad in South Africa this past spring and loved every minute of it. I learned so much about not only South Africa and its culture, but about teaching and life. 

6. Avid Red Wings fan...really hoping for a better season this year. I'm convinced they did bad this year because I was out of the country hah.

7. I have slight obsession with make up. I know, I know, you don't need make up to make you look beautiful...but it just makes me feel put together and ready for the day. End of story.

8. I am in shock that I've been dating Bryan for over 3 years now. I love him unconditionally and cannot imagine life without him there by my side.

9. My Grams is my favorite person. She is 90 years old and still going strong. So many of my favorite memories involve her =]

10. I adore giraffes- seriously the best animal ever. 

11. I have a journal that I record inspiring quotes in. Whenever I'm having a tough day I open up my journal, read a few pages and instantly feel hope.

12. I cannot wait to have my own classroom but at the same time the idea terrifies me. 

13. I've been on a health kick lately thanks to Sami and although I still hate running, I do feel better after I do it. It's crazy how much better a healthy diet and water can make you feel.

14. I'm starting to realize it's a problem that I feel like I'm friends with my favorites from reality TV...particularly the Bachelorette/Bachelor, Bachelor Pad, and Big Brother...

15. My perfect day consists of Lake Michigan, the people I love, a glass of wine, country music, and a good book.

That is all for today. Happy Wednesday!

I live for Michigan summers.

Days spent on Lake Michigan

Weeks up at the cottage

Evening bike rides

 Tiger games 

Chicken kabobs on the grill

Sangria with friends

 Windows down, country music playing

Sunsets over the lake

Evening walks (and runs too)

Hikes through the woods

Boat rides

Ice cream cones

More time to craft

Attempting to fish

Running down the sand dunes

Reading a good book on the lake

And most importantly...

 Time with friends and family

 

 

Favorites

Our last assignment for our South Africa study abroad program was to pick our favorite 6 pictures from the trip and explain why they are our favorites. I had a hard time choosing 6 so ended up with 8 (oops!). I thought I would share them with you :). So here they are in no particular order...

 

 

 

#1. This is a picture of me, Bryan, and Zukanye. Zukanye started out hating me (and telling me how he felt about me to my face). I knew from the first day that it was going to be my goal to build a relationship with him and to have him trust me as an adult in his life. Zukanye was known as the "trouble child". My CT was not afraid to tell me that he was a "lost cause" and that he had already been held back in grade 3. By my last week, Zukanye wrote me and Bryan each a note, gave me a hug, and I even got a smile out of him! The last thing he said to me was, "Miss Katie, you're pretty cool." I will never forget him, what he said, and his final hug! He was a challenge each and everyday but I know with time and attention he could be a wonderful student.

 

 

#2 This is one of the many pictures I took while on safari. Addo was one of my favorite parts of holiday simply because we saw some of my favorite animals in their natural setting. I was amazed by the zebras and elephants (and lions of course!). This picture reminds me of the many drives we took and all of the fun we had.

 

 

#3 The township tour- my favorite part of the trip. This was such an eye-opening experience and I was amazed to see how many of our students lived. It was life changing to see how happy the people of the township were with what little they had. I had so much fun seeing all of the kids and passing out all of our goodies.

 

 

#4 Surfing! This was one of my bucket list items that I got to check off in South Africa! It took me a lot time but I got up for my last 4 waves. It was amazing! I learned so much about how to spot the current and what parts of the ocean are safe to swim in vs. not. Our instructor even saved a child from drowning in the middle of our lesson! We had a great time.

 

 

#5 How could I not include a South African sunset? I will honestly never forgot how beautiful they were. I have countless pictures of the sunsets and I don't get sick of looking through them. What more is there to say besides, "I love the sunsets down in Africa! (sung by Jody)" :).

 

 

#6 I think this is the only entire group picture we have (including Sandy, Sean, Pierre, and Antoinette). I love this picture because 1. it's the ENTIRE group and 2. it was one of my favorite places (Cape of Good Hope). The trip would not have been the same without our group of 17 students, 2 instructors, and 2 tour guides. Each and everyone of you made a difference on this trip and had an impact on me and my life!

 

 

#7 The Taylor gang plus our parents, Helen, and the dogs :). My trip would have been totally different if I hadn't lived with these wonderful people. The Taylors were so welcoming, the dogs reminded me of home (one of their dogs usually doesn't like new people around but he warmed right up to Bry and I!), and my roommates were so fun to be around. I didn't know Beth, Jeremy, or Rob very well before the trip but I grew very close to them and loved getting to know them along the way.

 

 

#8 Lastly, my wonderful grade 3's. These little ones changed me for the better. They were so welcoming, kind, and loving. I learned so much from watching Ronel teach and seeing how they learned each day. I think I learned the most on break when I got to talk to the students and have them tell me about their families and everyday lives. They are each showing their personality in this picture. Sesethu, the girl 3 to the right of me, was one of the students I bonded with the most. I learned so much about her and she made saying goodbye so hard. She recorded a message for me, a message for my mom, AND  message for my dad on my last day of school. Her message to my dad said "Dear Miss Katie's father, I love you very much. Please let Miss Katie stay in South Africa. When I come to visit you in America I will bring presents for you." I get tears in my eyes every time I watch her messages!

 

 

There you have it. South Africa in a nutshell. <3

5.

5 things I could use more of:

Weekend getaways

 Girls nights, complete with wine and crafting 

Hours in a day

Date nights

Episodes of the Bachelorette

5 things I could do without:

2 hour drives in order to see my family and pup

Math homework

Short-tempered people

Expired groceries

Grown up decisions

brought to you by The story of a girl

What a wonderful week

I'm not a perfect blogger- I don't blog everyday, I don't blog about everything that's going on in my life, and half of the time my posts feel like they jump all over the place. I also do not keep up with photo challenges. Today I am writing my day 4 post when it's actually been 2+ weeks since I started- oh well.

Day 4- Favorite Color. RED! It has always been my favorite color. Even when I was a little girl and everyone loved pink and purple, I loved red. I love the Red Wings, red shoes, red gerber daisies, red nail polish, red cars, cherry anything, my red bedroom... really just anything red. I was looking through all of my pictures on Facebook today and realized 9 times out of 10 I'm wearing red. Holidays, birthdays, weddings, summer time, Christmas time...it's usually red. I don't have one set picture, or even one of my own that would make sense to use but here it is,

My favorite flower. My parents got me these for my last dance recital in high school, they sent me these for my 21st birthday, and Bryan gets them for me whenever he gets me flowers. When I think of my favorite color I think of my favorite flower and all the times I've gotten them- it takes me back to that moment when I was so happy and so excited for whatever was going on in my life at the time.

Which brings me to...

One of my very best friends asked me to stand up in her wedding :). She did it with a cute little poem and a gift of wine asking each of us to be 'sipping next to her' on her wedding day. Too precious. I am so honored that she chose me as one of her bridesmaids and I cannot wait to help her with all of her planning, DIY projects, get togethers, and really anything else she needs me for. And guess what? Her wedding will be black and white with red accents! How BEAUTIFUL will her wedding be?! Oh my goodness it will be magical!

It's only Tuesday, but so far this has been a great week. Bring it on!

What I Wore

Today marked the end of week one of teacher assisting- it has been quite the experience! I have so much to learn and look forward to taking over part of the morning routine starting next week.

What I wore today...

Shirt and gray pants from Express, sweater from H&M, paired with my black flats and jewelry.

Plus, I was nice and warm for the first big snowfall of the season in the awesome coat Bryan got me for Christmas- best. gift. ever.

Clouds

Whoever says that being a teacher is easy, is wrong. This whole teacher this is hard work!

Today was day two of student assisting and man, it was tiring! My day started with lots of "Good morning Ms. Hopman!'s" which instantly reminded me how excited I am about this chapter of my life. I also had two students who brought me apples! Yes! That still happens :).

Today we went on a field trip and I was in charge of 13 third graders who had just met me yesterday. We had a meltdown, missing gloves, and chatty children but in the end it was awesome. I have so much to learn about teaching and my students but I'm looking forward to this adventure.

For today's photo challenge picture I will skip to 'clouds'. I know it's supposed to be 'what I wore', but life is a little busy and there is no time for outfit pictures today! I left my apartment at 7am, was on a field trip until 2, working until 5, and then a night class until 9. So instead of skipping yet another day, I will just skip ahead to clouds and come back to 'what I wore' later. Deal?

This is one of my all time favorite memories: watching the sun rise at Haleakala in Hawaii with my parents and brother. We had to get up at 2:30am to drive to the top of this huge mountain just to watch the sun rise. My Dad braved the twisty roads in the middle of the night so we could see this gorgeous sun rise.

We were ABOVE the clouds so the sun lit up the entire sky below us before breaking through the clouds and rising into the sky. Breath. Taking.

That's all for today. Happy Tuesday!

Here goes nothing... 30 Day Photo Challenge!

OK Sami (samigaglio.blogspot.com) you got me. I am going to participate in the 30 day photo challenge! One of my new year resolutions was to blog more often in hopes that when it's time for me to leave for South Africa (yes I am going to South Africa, but that is a whole different story) I will be blogging frequently and be able to blog about my journey while traveling across the world! 

OK quick summary about my South Africa journey- I will be leaving March 17th (the day after my 22nd birthday, ah!) to travel to South Africa with 18 other Grand Valley students to teach and travel for 6 weeks. It's a program where we are able to student teach for a few weeks and travel/explore for a few weeks during the last portion of our student assisting semester.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I would be going on this trip I would have told you no way...but as the application date got closer and closer I realized that I need to do something big, something great and take a leap of a faith and enjoy the ride. I am SO excited for this journey; I cannot wait to learn about the culture, people, teaching, and even more about myself. 

Ok, so for the 30 day challenge. Today is a self portrait... 

Today is a self portrait... while looking for a picture of me all by myself (which is hard to find by the way...) I came across my senior picture...

Okay, I found a more current one too.