Updates + My Classroom Tour

Wow! I'm not even sure where to begin. Today we started our second week of school and to say that it's been crazy would be an understatement. Last week was chaotic and A LOT of teaching procedures but today I felt a sense of normalcy and calmness in our room, like we knew what was expected of us. Can I say that going from summer into the first week of school is BRUTAL. Even though it's brutal, we survived, we're standing on our feet and we will have a good year.

I thought it would be fun to give a tour of my classroom. I snapped these pictures on open house a little over a week ago. I was very pleased with how my room turned out this year.

I love for my class to be a welcoming, homey and safe place for my kids. On rough days, a happy, bright class makes all the difference in the world for my sanity (and the kids' sanity too, I'm sure). :)

Have a HAPPY week.. Only 4 more days until the weekend.

Favorite Recipe for the Grill

Happy Friday! Ty and I have a fun weekend ahead of us. My Nana and Pa will be arriving this morning and we will have them with us for the next few days. I'm excited to spend some time with them.. We always have a great time together. Nana and I are going to look at hardware for our cabinets and I hope we find something that we like!

Today I'm linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner for SUYL- Favorite Grilling Recipe! This was really easy for me.. We discovered these Green Chile Cheeseburgers a few months ago and have already made them several times! They are SO DELICIOUS.. you must make them! MUST!

Find where I first mentioned them here. We always have our green chile burgers with this!

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Now for a cabinet update- I have two coats of paint on the peninsula and I think they will only need two coats which is the best news ever. Up next, taking doors off and pulling drawers out... Here's where I start to lose my religion per the painter man at Lowe's. 

I'm planning on doing a post Monday or Tuesday with all of the products I am using... Stay tuned!

On another note, I go back to my classroom Monday to begin prepping for the school year. I am looking forward to seeing my sweet co-workers and meeting my new babies (okay, so not babies, but 2nd graders). I've been thinking about my class this year and I can't wait to see those precious faces.

I've gotten too used to summer and I hope the transition back into reality is a smooth one...

I hope you all have a great weekend and spend it with those who mean the most!

love, Darian

I started...

...painting the cabinets. Yesterday I decided that any day was as good as the other for starting the project. I jumped in the car and made a stop by Sherwin William's before beginning. I decided to paint the peninsula as a trial run. This way if we are unhappy with how it looks we haven't taken drawers/cabinet doors apart and we can call in a professional. Good idea, right?

Yesterday I sanded/deglossed and primed. I sanded part of it and then I deglossed part of it.. I'm going to compare which I like better.. but I don't think I will even be able to notice a difference. Deglossing is much easier!

Here's a picture of the primed peninsula ...

Ty and I also decided yesterday that wooden countertops are what we'd like to have eventually...

How pretty are those countertops? Do any of you have wooden countertops and what is your experience with them? I'd love to know!

Wish me luck as I'm off to paint the first coat...

love, Darian

P.S. Stay tuned for a post on which materials I chose to use!