Parent's Evening

I had the second out of three parent's evenings tonight and after my successful first one, I wasn't too worried about this one. All I wanted to do was get it over and done with without any parent telling me they didn't think I was doing a good job! But I never expected what I did get!

I think I felt so much more relaxed and had some really good conversations with some parents and a bit of a laugh, which was really nice. It felt like they actually had faith in me and wanted to talk to me as a human being and not just someone that they thought might or might not be teaching their child well. By the time my last parent arrived at 6:20, I was ready to go to bed but I was so grateful for what the parent said to me that it made all these late nights and constant workdays worth it.

She actually thanked me for everything that I was doing and will do for her son. In her words, she thanked me for laying the foundation for her son and she called me an unsung hero. And at that moment in my tired, mentally and physically drained emoional state, I just felt like crying. Crying a sigh of relief and of happiness. You can impress your headteacher or mentor but to impress and have that said by one of the parents whose child is in your care, that is on a whole different level. 

It felt amazing. It really did!!

Wordless Wednesday

October Resolution

I haven't made a monthly resolution in a while and that's not surprising because I haven't really done much with this blog for a while but this is where everything changes. I am starting some resolutions for this month and I really hope that I can stick to them. Fingers crossed.

1. Blog more.

Now, how many times have I said this over my entire career of blogging? But I have been to a few NQT courses now and they stress trying t maintain a work/life balance (which right now I'm failing at) and maintaining those things that you love to do. And it just happens that I love to blog and write. I just never find the time to do it. And so, I have decided that this month will be the month that I get back to blogging. Even if that means that on Sunday night, I pre-write loads of blogs to make sure that I keep up regular blogging. Or if I spend the bus journey writing a quick blog to put out to you all. I aim to blog more.

And if I don't, please remind me. My comments go straight to my email and I check my emails daily so it'll be a nice reminder to keep up my blogging!!

2. Be positive.

I find by the end of the week, if I'm tired and feeling stressed, my positivity goes right the way downhill. It takes a nosedive and if it were an iceberg, it would be right at the bottom of the ocean. I know this is wrong because I work with little children and I feel myself getting irritated by them by the end of the week and I can't help but show it. I feel so bad and want to be the happy positive teacher all the time. I need to find ways to escape my downward spiral of being negative and feeling stressed and this might tie in with blogging more so I can vent my frustrations at you :)

3. Get out the house more.

I find myself saying no to invitations out and doing things because I feel tied down by my work. I literally think "If I spend that time going out, I won't have time to plan" and so I say no to my friends. That's really bad. I just find it hard to teach well and not get too overwhelmed if I've not planned everything to the last second. I'm still getting the hang of everything and I think that if I'm planned then nothing is going to go drastically wrong. I just need to find that work/life balance.

And what better way than to find it today with my friends? We are ging out for a pub dinner and I can't wait. Last week or the week before (I can't remember) we had planned to go out for dinner and it fell through, which I was really sad about so now I just hope we take it out and I can relax just a little bit :)

Do you have any October Resolutions?

Leave me a comment down below to say hi, to give me a bit of encouragement or just to share your resolutions with me. I'd love to hear from you. I miss you!!

xxx

Motivational Monday #54

You know what? Monday is probably not my worst day of the week. I think from now on, I'm going to need two motivational days. I like Mondays because although I've spent the weekend working, I feel like I've somewhat rested and become a little more tolerant of life. Mondays excite me because I get to see the cute little faces of my beautiful children and have them come up and want to tell me about what they've done- as if they've missed me. It's a lovely feeling. I think that for me, Wednesdays are probably the hardest time for me. Wednesdays are those days that although you know there are only two days left, there are still two days left and they also are my longest day- I stay at school til 8PM. *yawn!*

Anyway, my message of motivational for today is

Everyone knows that nothing is handed to you on a plate (unless you are a really rich child that gets everything they want, or you couldn't get less, sit about on your butt and get handed money...) and you have to work hard but I don't think everyone knows this until they grow up. You don't get praise or you don't get good at something unless you take those stairs that make your thighs burn after you've finished climbing them. You have to put that extra hard work in to climb those last couple of stairs to get that success. And when you're at the bottom, it feels impossible to get to the top and the first couple of stairs are easy but then when you get tired, they become harder and harder.

I feel like my first couple of weeks were hard, those first steps were some of the hardest I've taken but these next steps are even harder. It's become easier in terms of I know what to expect but the expectations have just flown through the roof. And I know now that there is no easy way for me to finish this year and pass my NQT year.

There is going to be a lot of sweat and tears that goes into this career and I hope that at the end, it'll all be worth it!

This is where my strength lies. I may cry a lot during the week because of how much stress I'm under and not feeling good enough but I know no matter how much I cry or how defeated I am, I refuse to stay down. I refuse to fall and stay there. I get up the next day and try even harder.

The tears I have shred over this job (5 weeks in) are more than the entire amount of tears I have cried over any work before, including any uni work. It's insane but those tears show how much I care and that caring will get me through anything.

Monday, come at me because I'm ready for you! Have the fighting spirit and always strive to have more, to do more and to reach higher than you could ever possibly dream of.

Be the best you can be and get to those stars in the sky!

I love you all. You all have so much potential, try and reach it

xxx

Sunday Stress

I don't know how any one else's Sunday goes but for me, as a teacher, my Sunday is far from the day of rest. I woke up this morning at 7:30 and refused to get up. I went back to sleep for as long as I could - 9AM because I knew the second I got up that would be the time that I start work. And I dread starting work on my day off. Anyway, I got up, had some cookies for breakfast (real healthy, I know!) and then got cracking with figuring out what I needed to do for work. I started planning the outside area for the week and making the resources.

Now, that was fine  because I found it exciting but then I realised that I had loads ore planning and resourcing to do and it was only 1PM. Anyway, I waded my way through all what I needed to do and then before I knew it, it was 5PM and I hadn't really had anything proper to eat (I had eaten a doughnut and a packet of crisps- too healthy today!). I took a rest and had some toast. I realised how sad my day had been and so took a small rest. It's funny how people always moan about how teachers get loads of time off but I want you to name me another job that spends their weekend working without actually being at work. I know some people work weekends but not of their own accord. After that, I emailed my plans and had to change some (still getting the hang of it all).

Then, to take a break, I decided to go to the station to top up for oyster card ready for tomorrow. I am in the ultimate slum clothes and refused to get changed. The closest jumper that I had was a Christmas jumper and so I went to the train station in my Christmas jumper at the beginning of October- what a fashion diva! Anyway, I almost made it by not being seen but as soon as I got to the machine, a train had arrived and a billion people came out of the station... I wasn't embarrassed but I just thought, just my luck, eh?

This is THE jumper! Also, look how ridiculously short my hair was... 

Anyway, I can't wait for half term! 

Here's a really quick summary from last year if you wish to revisit!

♥ 29th September 2013: New Phone

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/new-phone.html

♥ 30th September 2013: Motivational Monday #23

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/motivational-monday-23.html

♥ 1st October 2013: Hello October

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/hello-october.html

♥ 2nd October 2013: Assignment Hell

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/assignment-hell.html

♥ 3rd October 2013: Heck Of A Mood

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/heck-of-mood.html

♥ 4th October 2013: PGCE Night Out

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pgce-night-out.html

♥ 5th October 2013: TV Additions Are Back

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/tv-addictions-are-back.html

TADAAAA.

Now sleep.

xxx

TMI Tag

So, I saw these tag things on Youtube all the time and thought that I would grace you with a blog edition of the TMI tag...

1. What are you wearing?

Don't judge me but I am currently wearing blue jeggings, a faded Topshop top and my very comfy, very warm long knitted cardigan. It's my day of not having to look professional and smart.

2. Ever been in love? 

I thought so and it is possible that I have been in love but in terms of something as abstract as being in love, who really knows?

3. Ever had a terrible breakup?

I think so, it's stayed with me for a long time so I guess it was.

4. How tall are you?

5 ft 7/8. Somewhere in the middle?

5. How much do you weigh?

I thought about not answering this but then what would have been the point in this blog? My weight varies from 8 stone 12 all the way to 9 stone 4 depending on how much I eat etc.

6. Any tattoos?

No

7. Any piercings?

Only two in each ear.

8. OTP?

Michael Buble.

9. Favourite Show?

It is a toss up between Grey's Anatomy and The Vampire Diaries I think. Those are my favourite shows that are currently still on air. Of all time? I have no clue- there are too many!

10. Favourite Bands?

I love The Fray. They're old school but I can't help but connect to their music.

11. Something you miss?

Innocence. The only thing that you needed to worry about was what you wanted to do to fill your endless time. The only real dilemma you had to solve was about what you wanted for Christmas.

12. Favourite song?

It has to be "How to save a life" The Fray. This is one of the main songs that I can remember but that's not necessarily my favourite song. IF I think of my favourite song that I love more, I'll let you know!

13. How old are you?

22

14. Zodiac sign?

Gemini

15. Quality you look for in a partner?

Honesty.

16. Favourite quote?

Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!

17. Favourite actor?

Patrick Dempsey- the total hottie!

18. Favourite colour?

This is a mix between green or purple. A sage green and not a bright green.

19. Loud music or soft?

Soft.

20. Where do you go when you're sad?

To my bed to either cry or just fall asleep.

21. How long does it take you to shower?

10 minutes- I'm really not one of those people that can spend ages in the shower.

22. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

An hour if I have sitting down and not rushing included or like 30 minutes if I'm rushing and just getting ready.

23. Ever been in a physical fight?

Don't be silly. I'm smarter than to get my butt kicked by someone else!

24. Turn on?

Funny guys, a bad boy that is really sweet deep down, guys that care and show they care and honest guys.

25. Turn off?

Liars and cheats, guys with too much confidence that it just makes them arrogant.

26. The reason you joined Blogger?

I wanted to have somewhere that I could share my views and it started as something just for myself but the more I enjoyed writing, the more I wanted to share it with people. 

27. Fears?

Not being good enough.

28. Last thing that made you cry?

Work. The stress of being a teacher. Not feeling good enough!

29. Last time you said you loved someone?

Today, to my two nephews and my sister's dog, Molly.

30. Meaning behind your Blogger name?

It's my name...

31. Last book you read?

The last good book I read was The Fault in Our Stars.

32. Last show you watched?

The xFactor. It's just finished.

33. Last person you talked to?

My Dad.

35. The relationship between you and the person you last texted?

One of my closest friends- Chloe.

36. Favourite food?

Chocolate.

37. Place you want to visit?

America- all over the country.

38. Last place you were?

In town, buying some stickers for the children in my class- always a teacher!

39. Do you have a crush?

On every single hot actor there is, yes! On a real life guy in my life, not sure I do at the moment.

40. Last time you kissed someone?

Far too long ago! Except my two nephews- I kiss them a lot.

41. Last time you were insulted?

On parents evening, last Wednesday.

42. Favourite flavour of sweet?

Cola.

43. What instruments do you play?

None, I never got the chance to learn any.

44. Favourite piece of jewellery?

A ring that I got that was really cheap but I really like how it looks on.

45. Last sport you played?

I don't really play sport at all so I would have to say football with one of my children from school.

46. Last song you sang?

Ghost from Ella Henderson. That song has been in my head for days now!

47. Favourite chat up line?

How much does a polar bear weigh? Enough to break the ice!

48. Have you ever used it?

No.

49. Last time you hung out with anyone?

The teachers from my school for a drink in the pub.

50. Who should answer these questions next?

Hollie on her blog :)

Okay, so those are my answers to the questions from the TMI tag. If you want to give some of them a go yourself, please link me your blog or post the answers in my comments section below!

Love you all,

Nicole

xxx

Hello October

It's better late than never, right? 

I have had such a busy week. October started off with quite a bang and definitely think that it is an omen for how busy and stressful this month is going to be. I know that it is the 3rd now but I will let you know what I had for the start of the month and my plans for the rest of the month.

Prepare yourself. It is going to be filled with a lot of school based activities!

♥ 1st October - I had my first parent's evening and I just about survived. I started my meetings at 4:30 and ended up talking back to back with meetings and no breaks up until 7:20.... Absolutely mental. I saw almost half my parents and so I have a couple more left. Now that I've done one, I know that the other two won't be bad. They'll just be so tiring!!

♥ 8th October - My children and I have been practicing a Harvest assembly for their parents and today is the big day. I love all my children so much and when I see how hard they have been working, I know that this is going to be on of the day. Exciting.

♥ 9th and 14th October - PARENTS EVENING!!

♥ 10th October - My little brother is turning 21. Crazy how he is no longer little.

♥ 12th October - All my family are going out for a nice meal to celebrate my brother's birthday and I think that this is going to top my weekend off so that I can relax before another busy week starts. It's all go in the teaching business so taking the time out will be fab!

♥ 17th October - My children have their Halloween party and they get to dress up (and so do I). I can not wait to see their little party fancy dress outfits and to spend some time with them without having to constantly be their teacher. I love being able to have fun with them during the times that are a little bit more relaxed and away from formal lessons. I love finding out their little personalities.

♥ 24th October - It is the last day of the first half term and I hope that I survive until then!!

♥ 27th -30th October - HALF TERM!!!

I can not wait for some of the exciting things that are coming up, especially half term.

Mission for October is going to be a small and hopefully manageable one- I want to have blogged 10 times within this month. Start small after I didn't blog for like 2 months at all.

Do you think I will make it?

xxx

Summary Sunday

Anddddd, we're back in business. I'm not going to explain the rules, I'm just going to get right down into the real nitty gritty parts of my past.

LET'S GO!

22nd September 2013: The Future Question Tag

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-future-question-tag.html

23rd September 2013: Motivational Monday #22

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/motivational-monday-22.html

24th September 2013: Train Etiquette

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/train-etiquette.html

25th September 2013: 3 Months Til Christmas

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/3-months-until-christmas.html

26th September 2013: Going Through Hell

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/going-through-hell.html

How  little did I know back then about how much I would still be going through hell and having those days on a weekly/daily basis. Life is a wonderful thing...

27th September 2013: Ways To De-Stress

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ways-to-de-stress.html

Apparently also something that past Nicole knew what future Nicole would need... It was very exciting reading this again to discover the things I said that I should be doing now. And would you look at that? I'm writing like I said. I'm such a good advice giver ;)

28th September 2013: Forever Friends

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/forever-friends.html

Be honest and truthful, did you stay to read the end of this? Did you click on any links? Let me know in the comments section and if not, give me a tweet if you did. I'm intrigued to know if I bore anyone enough to click the x before they finish reading.

Have a beautiful Sunday.

Love you! xxx

Saturday Slum

Yesterday, I didn't blog. Oh my goodness!! I am sat here trying to plan for next week after just finishing a massive marking session and I just can't be bothered. It's getting dark and getting late... It's a Saturday night and I'm sat working.. There's something wrong with that.

I'm getting paid on Tuesday and was hoping that I would have got paid on Friday. And even though I didn't get paid yesterday, I still went out shopping today for some things. I thought I'd share with you what I bought before I have to start working again:

1. Bag

I had previously bought a satchel from Accesorize and it was a brilliant bag that I used every single day but recently I have been realising that it just isn't big enough for what I need. It looks like a big bag but it doesn't open very wide which is what I needed. So I thought, I'd go back into Accesorize (one of my favourite shops ever!) and I found this lovely black work bag that for me looked perfect. It has a middle section and then two zips on the side. When I transferred my current bag contents and put it in the new bag, it didn't even fill half the bag. PERFECT! For £37, I thought it was pretty darn good!

2. Nail varnish

I have a big thing about my nails and recently with the pressure of starting my new job, I haven't been able to take care of them. I've bitten them from nerves, I've broken them from rushing around doing all the odd jobs and I've completely annihilated them from being so stressed and having them become weak. As I have done a review of Sally Hansen before and loved it, I knew that this would be a good thing for my nails. I like them long and strong and so I hope that this will help to give me back some lovely nails.

Picture from Google

I also bought a colour from Sally Hansen because although I have thousands of nail varnishes, it's always nice and exciting to buy a new one. I shall let you know what I think of it once I have painted my nails. I try to do it just before the Monday so it shouldn't chip or get damaged over the weekend. Also, I want to give the Sally Hansen miracle grow a chance to seep into my nails and start working. I'll get back to you on a review!

I know everyone will be eagerly awaiting it... NOT! ;)

3. CK In2u Her

I love perfume but I find that it's always quite expensive. I wanted to Miss Dior one but that is like £50 and without being paid, I really can't justify buying that at the moment. I went into Debenhams to look for clothes but I saw that the perfume section was having a sale. So, I managed to snag a £30 bottle of the perfume for only £15... I was very happy with that! I like the smell but I definitely will have a look into different perfumes when I get paid on Tuesday.

If anyone knows of any good perfumes that they would recommended, let me know and I'll give it a try!

4. Present for Jacob

I found a baby giraffe onesie for my nephew and I thought it was too super cute and adorable that I couldn't leave it. I am giving it to him tomorrow so I hopefully will get a picture of him in it and share it with you. ADORBS!!

That was my very varied shopping spree. I'll probably go on another one next week when I have money to spend and no care in the world.

Until then, TA'RA!

xxx

Throwback Thursday

We haven't had one of these in a while but in memory of the fact that September is almost over, I wanted to fly back to a year ago and a bit to midway through September when I started my PGCE. I was so scared to do the course and I didn't think that I would get through it. But I meet some amazing people that I want to have in my life for the rest of my time and these girls made me feel like anything was possible. They made me feel confident, happy and when those days were hard, they made me feel worthy.

This was one of our first pictures together and I really truly love them with all my heart!

I wanted to take this Throwback Thursday and give you some of my favourite pictures with these girls!

Anakin and I after a rather sweaty PE lesson!

A beautiful time at my friend's wedding!

Just before we started our first placement, we decided that we need to go and get some teacher clothes and so we took a trip to Westfields and spent the whole day spending our money on new clothes. We got these really cheesy friendship bracelets and I love it! I carry it around with me every day in my bag. It reminds me that I have some amazing friends!

On our very last day, we took a group picture and I will treasure this picture for a while because I love these girls!!

That is my little dedication to my beautiful PGCE uni friends that I could call my best friends any day of the week. I love them to pieces. They give me strength and although my PGCE year was hard, it was made miles easier with these girls. I don't know what I would have done without them.

I am so thankful that on my first day I sat down next to a lovely girl called Anneke and that's where the story started...

Okay, enough lovey dovey'ness.

Have a terrific Thursday.

CIAO!

xxx

Almost There!

How cute are these puppies? I want one!!

Ahh, as if I have found the time to write 5 consecutive blogs. I think that this is my new personal record since my last one considering everything that I have to do.

It is officially half way through the working week and generally hump Wednesday (but let's be honest, most days with me are hump days at the moment). The good thing about today is that I also have a course so I don't have to be teacher. I am going back to school after to do planning etc til 8 but that's neither here nor there. 

Is anyone else counting down the days to the weekend or is it literally just me?

Not only is it almost the end of the week, but today is the last Wednesday of September and that means that October is just round the corner- meaning 3 things:

1. I get paid for the first time for my first month of teaching.

2. I survived my first month of teaching.

AND!

3. It is the month that I have half term.

I shall try and get round to doing a Hello October blog to let you know what I've got coming up - it's quite busy and full of some firsts and some regular things in my life. 

I just wanted to send you this message that we're almost there and WE CAN MAKE IT!

Today is my last day of looking after my sister's puppy (she's 2 years old...) Molly and I have to admit, I really will miss her. I love that dog like she were my own! I hope I get to see her regularly and if not, I'll just have to try and have dog sleepovers with her... Yes, I'm that type of person. Deal with it!

I love you all, before we know it, it will be Friday and that only means one thing.... ZZZZZZZ

xxx

TV Shows Are Back!

I have waited all summer for some TV shows to come back and this week, and next, they will be back on my screen. I can't wait. I will make time to watch my shows even if I do not have much time at all. I will make time. My four main TV shows that are coming back (not in order of preference)... Judge me as you will as well, I don't care. I love these American shows! They are my guilty pleasures:

♥Grey's Anatomy - 25th September. Tomorrow. Oh my. What will life be like without Cristina? Who knows? But I'm sure to find out on the weekend when I give it a cheeky watch. Love it!

♥Once Upon a Time - 28th September. This was my new summer guilty pleasure. I love fairy tales bad I love American shows so put the two together and I have a love child that I will treasure with all my heart! Who knew that I would have such a soft spot for Captain Hook?

♥The Vampire Diaries - 2nd October. Do not start with what is going to happen in this show. I literally have no idea. No spoilers but big drama with Damon and Bonnie. What will happen? I can't wait to find out!!

♥The Originals - 6th October, Now this is probably my least favourite show but that's because it is simply the show that I'm not sure has developed into its full potential yet. It is only on its second season and so I hope that this season is going to get better and better.

AHHHH!

I also indulged in the Sims 4 the other day and so I shall try and see if I have time to write a quick review about the game. At the moment it seems good although they have taken some of my favourite things out of the game. If I can, I shall write a review this week or this weekend.

Watch this space!

xxx

Late Motivational Monday

I don't know what it is but nowadays Mondays always feel so busy and so crazy. I think that I have everything planned for the week on the weekend having two days off but the second I get in in the morning at 7:30, there is just too much to get done.

The good thing about this week is that although it is busy and I have a lot to get done in terms of target setting and getting any levels sorted out, it is a good because I am not teaching for half the week. WHAT? I hear you say. I am on a course but Tuesday and Wednesday and I need to check but Friday I usual have almost all day with NQT time but I don't know if I'd get that because I've been on courses.

Anyway, it means that I have a little bit less of a stressful week because the supply should mark the work, which I won't have to! Result. However, whenever I am not there, my children do not produce as good work as I would have liked but never mind!

So, tonight I am sitting here and probably should be a little more worried about the week than I am but I'm feeling a little less stressed than I was this morning. It's a lot and I'm only just trying to figure out how to fit everything in and make sure that I don't just have a life full of school.

This is less of a Motivational Monday and more of a diary entry but here's my message for today:

Without lying, every day I finish work and question what I'm even doing being a teacher. I don't feel like I'm good enough yet but I know that everyday I wake up and I strive to be better than the last. I am busy trying to figure teaching out, I'm busy beating myself down about how much better I need to be and I'm busy trying to be that better person.

Every day from now until the end of the year will probably be a learning curve and a constant knockdown of my confidence but if there's one thing that I know is that I'm not a quitter. I will not give up!

I was chosen for this job for a reason and I WILL prove my worth by the end of it even if it's the last thing I do.

Just a quick blog and a little pick me up because I am feeling like I'm drowning.

I love you all.

I like having this to vent to again. Maybe I'll keep you around ;)

xxx

Sunday Summary

Instead of the old usual Sunday Summary of what was happening last year. I thought I might share with you what has been happening to me in some pictures over the last 2 months that I didn't blog. 

So, here goes:

I got back from holiday and a couple days later, my new nephew was born. His name is Jacob-Kerr and he was completely gorgeous the second he came out. This was our very first picture together:

The very next day after Jacob was born, it was Max's Christening. Enter a picture of Max and I on his Christening day:

A couple weeks after, I went on holiday with my Mum, Dad and brother. We took a cheeky little selfie in the middle of a volcano crater but I don't have it on this laptop. If I find it, I shall show you it. Pretty cool though. Here is another selfie that was taken with my brother:

The day after I came back from holiday, I started my new job as a qualified teacher and the new teacher of a beautiful year one class:

This is one of my uncompleted displays but I love it!

My sister took Molly to the vets and they thought she might have cancer, which she doesn't, thankfully! I am currently dog sitting Molly and we have lots of snuggles together:

And that's it. Except for my planning, resourcing and general sleep whenever I can. 

So, you could say that although I didn't blog very much, you didn't miss an awful lot. 

Have a lovely relaxing Sunday and I shall speak to you all soon.

Love you

xxx

Call It A Sabbatical...

You know that moment when you see someone you haven't spoken to for years and you have no idea what to say or what to talk about? That's how I feel writing this blog to you all today.

 It's so weird to think that I haven't blogged for almost 2 months after so long of blogging everyday. In the beginning, it did feel like I had lost an arm but at the same time, rather regrettably, it did feel so relieving to not to have to worry about what I was going to blog about that day.

It got to September way before I even realised and then I was chucked into the world of teaching where every second is took up with endless lists that never get completed. I literally have been eating, sleeping and teaching. And that's it! There's nothing else that has been happening in my life other than trying to stay afloat in my new job.

Today, I don't know what compelled me to start blogging again but I just decided that today would be the day that I pulled back some time for me and gave myself a day to just do nothing. And what better than to reconnect with all my old readers by blogging. If any of you are left.

I don't even think that I announced the arrival of my new baby nephew. Meet Jacob-Kerr. I love him!

So, as I said, I am currently teaching Year One and loving it completely. My children are adorable and although it is so stressful and I don't feel on top of anything right now, it is one  of the most rewarding things ever albeit also one of the hardest things.

I spend all my days teaching, planning and then I come home to mark. I wake up at 6, leave my house at 7 and sometimes don't return home until 8:30 and that's not counting the time that I spend marking whilst I home. A lot of people view teaching as a 9-3 job but that is so far from the truth that sometimes it just makes me want to cry!

I've been up and down, all around and back again in terms of emotions since I started this journey and the further I delve into the school year and the job, I realise that there is no training that can prepare you for your first teaching post.

This blog may change a little in terms of what I post out and how many times I post but I hope that even if I only post 1 or 2 times a month that you keep coming back to me! It's a new chapter in my life journey and I just hope that I keep time for myself and not just me as a teacher!

Class dismissed!

xxx

Honey, I'm Home

Wow, I've never felt this tired after a holiday than I do today but I think that it has something to do with the weird times that we flew. So yesterday, we spent the last day soaking up the Turkish sun before enjoying the time we had together before we were picked up. We were being picked up at 11PM and so it meant that none of us really had a chance to sleep. We then got to the airport at about 12:30, for our flight that was meant to be at 3:15 but ended up being delayed; like our flight on the way there (delayed 40 minutes). We didn't end up taking off until 4AM Turkish time and landing in London Gatwick at 6AM (Turkey was two hours ahead).

By that time, most of us had only slept around half an hour or an hour on the plane and that was uncomfortable. Then Mum picked us up from the airport, we went home but instead of going to sleep, I stayed up. Quite the mistake. But I couldn't not spend the day with my beautiful nephew whom I missed so much! Anyway, cutting a long story short, I had a quick nap from 5-6 and it was lovely. I fear that I will not wake up tomorrow morning from falling capture to my deliciously comfortable bed.

I had such a good time in Turkey and it lived up to my expectations and probably exceeded them. Whenever I spoke to people about Turkey, they always had mixed reviews and so I didn't have particularly high hopes for it. But it was lovely, the people were friendly and not too pushy in shops. It was brill.

Here are some of just a selection of some of the holiday snaps that we took:

On the plane going

Despite what this looks like, I do have a bikini on!

Unbeknown to this picture, I had *quite* the medical drama on this boat trip...
That's another story for another time!

On the last night!

It's good to be home but I will miss the lovely sunshine of Turkey. Such a good time!

Love you all

xxx

Last Day

This blog is pretty sad for two reasons:

1. Given that I am writing this before I've even gone on holiday, it's a little bit sad that I've already blogged about it and I haven't even gotten over the excitement of going yet... Oh the life of a daily blogger and the dedication to my blog!

2. It's home time tomorrow :( I never look forward to this moment of the holiday because although sometimes it feels like it is time to come home, the actual coming home is definitely not fun. I don't like leaving such a sunny and beautiful country for England so I won't think about it.

I shall make the most of my day and say I shall see you all soon with a real time blog update. How exciting for you guys to look forward to it?

BYEEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm not coming back yet ;)

xxx

Summary Sunday

Even though I'm not technically here writing a blog, I still wanna look back on what I was doing a whole year ago- I bet it's not as exciting as what I'm doing this year because let's face it, not much can rival a good old summer holiday, can it?!

Let's explore it anyway because I like to be all nostalgic of my past! Were you here reading my blogs a whole year ago? If not, here's your chance to take a cheeky look back at what I wrote about then!

21st July 2013: Sick As A Dog

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sick-as-dog.html

22nd July 2013: Motivational Monday #14

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/motivational-monday-14.html

23rd July 2013: Top Tips On How To Stay Cool

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/top-tips-on-how-to-stay-cool.html

24th July 2013: Monster's University Review

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/monsters-university-review.html

25th July 2013: Throwback Thursday #9

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/throwback-thursday-9.html

26th July 2013: Always Remember

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/always-remember.html

27th July 2013: Confessions Of A Blogger Tag

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/confession-of-blogger-tag.html

AHHHHHH, life is going too quickly. This only seems like yesterday that I wrote these blogs and yet some of them I hardly remember. Why does getting older make you realise how quickly time flies? I want to be back to a children thinking that days lasted forever!

How in hindsight you never really appreciate how much you have until you realise it's gone!

xxx