I am a self proclaimed procrastinator, and I've mentioned this before. And anyone who knows me irl just rolled their eyes and said, " well, duh."

But I have too much on my plate these days, and too many things I want to do, so I am declaring a summer of NO VERY LITTLE procrastination!

Beginning with this lovely little blog of mine. She's seen a lot of theme changes over the years, and a few name changes too (maybe I should do a contest and see if anyone can remember the original name??), but I just have not been crazy about the look it's been sporting lately.

Starting with my logo, I'm working one a bit of a re-branding of my whole, well, brand. There are a few things about it I like, but there are some things that I'm like, "uhhhh, what was I thinking?"

So this space will be getting a face lift, and I've already started preliminary sketches for my new logo. I LOVE pretty things (which should be obvious, because it's in my tag line for Pete's sake!) and my logo just isn't making the cut.



So, without putting it off, I will be getting to work on sprucing things up, and also adding some of the pile of new designs I have to the shop!

All the while re-modeling my house, finishing my glamper, and having an all-round, awesome, rad summer! Haha!

But also, disclaimer: re-designing a blog is super hard, especially when you know so little about html and css and all of that techy mumbo jumbo. So, while I won't be procrastinating, it still may take a while for me to finish, and if you stop by and see that things are under construction or all out of wack, please bear with me!

Happy Thursday everyone, thanks for stopping by!

Ta-da! Welcome to phase one of my new adventure!

Source: epherielldesigns.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: seekingthesouth.tumblr.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net via Amy on Pinterest

Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: magpiepaperworks.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: zsazsabellagio.blogspot.de via Amy on Pinterest

Source: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net via Amy on Pinterest

I know that I mentioned a little about my new job in a previous post, but I feel like I could just rave to anyone who will listen about how great it is! So, I'm going to do just that :)

I've never been the kind of person who "loved" kids and all of the work they require. As the oldest of seven, I felt like I got a good dose of kid time, and I avoided any extra! It always boggled my mind when friends (or anyone) talked about wanting to be a teacher. It always sounded like such exhausting, difficult work!Then I grew up, and moved away from all of those kids I was used to being around. And it got pretty lonely. I got to thinking, "Hey, maybe being around kids isn't such a bad thing." And I was right.

I started off by volunteering at our local community library in the children's room. I really thought I would love it because I am such a total book worm! It wasn't all that great though (but not because of the kids) and when I felt I had gotten all I could from the position I moved on. We have an awesome gym here in my town that offers a daycare for a variety of situations, and it is run by volunteers. The deal is that if you donate four hours a week of your time, you get a free family gym membership. So for the last two and a half years, I have been working down there, and it has been a lot of fun. For some reason though, every time someone told me I should try working for a school, I just shrugged it off and never really considered it.

It was in November that I'd had enough with food service and being a hostess, so I finally decided that working in a school was something I should pursue. I felt like I was qualified enough to be an aide, so I decided to get on the substitute educational assistant list for our local city elementarys (after not being selected for the part time position I interviewed for with the county). Since then I have worked about three weeks total, and the last two weeks straight. Let me just say, I have enjoyed every single day I've been there!

I work primarily in the resource, or special education, room helping out kids who are a little bit behind where they should be. I've had reading and math groups of several different grades, helped out with a kindergarten class, and been one on one support for a little girl who needs some extra help. All of the groups I do are part of what they call "scripted learning." Meaning that I have a book that I read almost word for word from to teach and direct the students. I've also got to experience every "duty" there is! Such as cafeteria, recess, and bus duty.

It has been so much fun getting to know all of the students, and getting to help them learn! It is such a great feeling when you watch them finally get something, to see that little click when, all of a sudden, it makes sense to them. Not to say that there hasn't been challenges, because there has. Kids who have trouble following directions, who get frustrated to the point of having bad attitudes, and some who are so far behind that you wonder if they'll ever catch up. But they are all such good kids, and it is just so rewarding when they do well. There is nothing better than seeing their faces light up when they are learning and enjoying it!

These past few weeks have seriously made me think that I should have spent the last four years going to school to be a teacher! It just seems like the hardest, most rewarding job a person could have. I'm not going to rule out the possibility that I will do just that in the future, but for now I'm happy where I am. I think my next step with be to try to get on as an actual ed. assist and not just a sub, but for now I'm just glad I finally transitioned to this area of work. It really is one of the better decisions I've made in my life!

Well, I've probably shared enough for now, but I hope the have a lot more great things to say about my job in the future! Oh, and if I can ask just one little favor, it's that you go thank a teacher! They really care so much for all of their kids, and they really love what they do. At least most of the ones I know anyway. Next to parents, they have the most important role in shaping how our young people grow up into smart, responsible adults, and they deserve a lot of thanks for that!