AmeriCorps 20th Anniversary

As you may have noticed through social media over the past week, AmeriCorps celebrated its 20th birthday on Friday, September 12th. To mark this exciting occasion, celebrations and swearing-in events were held all over the country; and, being lucky enough to live in D.C. at this time, I got invited to the 20th anniversary event at The White House. (!!!) Bill Clinton (who signed AmeriCorps into action) and Barack Obama both spoke on the importance of service and shared some of the incredible work that has been done over the past 20 years through the efforts of 900,000 members. And afterwards I got to shake both of their hands and say hi. Wow. Moving on, I would like to use this post to share a little more about the AmeriCorps programs.

First, as a typical AmeriCorps member, you commit to a year of service. You do receive a living stipend and (upon program completion) are eligible for an education award which can be used to help pay off loans or cover tuition at Title IV schools. That being said, this is a volunteer-inspired position, so it is not a huge stipend. The hands-on experience you get makes it totally worth it, though. I am interested in returning to school for a reading specialist degree, and this year I am working with a group of kids in one on one literacy interventions to help them boost their reading skills. It is phenomenal practice helping kids on a wide range of levels learn how to "become even better readers" with different kinds of approaches. Other benefits for me are seeing how a public school functions from the inside and getting a feel for what works and what doesn't in classroom management and general school operations.

Throughout the AmeriCorps service year, you need to keep track of your hours and make sure you are on track to reach the requisite number by your exit date. In my full-time position and I am expected to work 40 hours each week. This is not too difficult with my school's extended day schedule, but you do need to schedule in additional volunteer work to make up for holidays, sick days, weather days, etc. I will be traveling for Christmas, so that means I need to build up all that extra time outside of my regular schedule. For me, I can get extra hours by volunteering with an after-school program at my site or by going out into the community in search of volunteer opportunities. It is preferred that we get involved at our school for the bulk of extra hours to help strengthen community bonds and support students outside of reading. There are also school functions to attend such as back to school night or book fairs. Outside opportunities for volunteering in my program are open for more literacy engagement or whatever interests you want to pursue. This service requirement provides a neat way to connect with area organizations and find a cause you truly care about.

What I didn't realize at the beginning of this program year was just how many programs fall under the AmeriCorps umbrella. My trip to the White House was a fun opportunity to engage with other members across services. Here is a brief list of some of the groups I encountered: Reading Corps, STEM Corps, Food Corps, Health Corps, Teach for America, NCCC, Habitat for Humanity, City Year, Conservation Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and FEMA Corps. I encourage you to do a thorough search if you are interested in joining AmeriCorps to find a cause that really inspires you!

Back to School and Back to Blogging

Look forward to regular blog posts again! I am back to a scheduled existence in one location, so it should be much easier to fit in weekly posts now. I have been experimenting with new recipes and will be sharing some of my favorites here. 

I also had a crazy summer full of traveling! In the past few months, I visited Alabama, Disney World, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, DC, Alabama, Japan, Tokyo Disney, and Hawaii. Looking at mileage alone, I more than circumnavigated the world in fewer than 80 days. This was never on my bucket list, but I am adding it now just because it's pretty fantastic. Warning: you will be super jet-lagged after a journey like this. I have a resulting two to three thousand photos to sort through; hopefully I will have some great ones to share with all of you! Look out for some exciting travel posts in the coming weeks.

And I am beginning another exciting phase of my life: I will be an AmeriCorps member for the 2014-2015 school year. I'll be helping K-3 students build their reading confidence and skills through a variety of one-on-one literacy interventions! Literacy is a cause I am extremely passionate about supporting and promoting. The ability to read is crucial for educational success, and everyone should be able to unlock the joy and opportunities that come from reading. Grad school has been on my mind lately, and I'm glad I'll have this year to interact with teachers, work with a reading specialist, and spend all day every day working on literacy interventions before I make the decision to go back to school. Also, this program comes with an education award to put towards future schooling. Anyway, you might see some posts about my AmeriCorps experience on here as well. In the meantime, I am so excited to start the school year and meet my students!

More coming soon.

Sarah

My First 5K

I have never been much of a finisher. I have tons of big ideas which are great for starting projects, but somewhere along the way I lose focus and my dedication dwindles. This happened again with my running goals. Over the summer I began Couch to 5K and loved it. The program provided the perfect way for me to ease into running, and I really enjoyed the steady improvements I made each week. Then life happened, my schedule got derailed, and it became much harder to motivate myself to run.

Fast forward- I now want to get back into running so I can be healthier, have an outlet for my job stress, focus on something other than missing my husband, and finally run a 5K. The biggest problem now is starting! I'm pretty sure everyone gets into that "I'll start tomorrow" mentality at some point. Right? Pushing past it is sometimes more difficult than the task on the other side, so I decided to take a new approach and start at the end instead of the beginning this time. 

I woke up yesterday morning and the opportunity I needed was there, so I made a quick phone call and ran a 5K less than 2 hours later. My very first one! A $5 St. Patrick's Day run on base had been postponed due to snow. They let me run with everybody for free (no t-shirt or fancy number) so I was able to get the racing introduction I was looking for. : ) 

Time: 33:23
I feel pretty good about my time considering how long it has been since I have done much more than short sprints or light jogging. Running totally sucked, and I am super sore, but I will be racing again at the end of April and my new goal is to get my time down to 30 minutes. How do you get/stay motivated?

Sarah

Grownup Realizations

First, I would like to start this post by saying I was not a clueless teenager. I knew I had it good despite all the high school drama, and I was in no hurry to grow up anytime soon. During the first year of college I was absolutely terrified of getting my diploma. What would happen after the crowd of congratulations carried me out of college comfort and into the real world? Luckily, the anxiety waned as I picked a major, worked a few jobs, and moved into an apartment with my best friend. By taking those small steps during school, I got a picture of how everything could come together.

That being said, I of course had much more to learn. One of the reasons behind starting this blog was to have an outlet where I could write all about all these transitions and life lessons. However, those topics can get a little deep and scary, where desserts or craft projects are non-threatening and make everyone smile. But it is time to embrace the growth. Here are 5 grownup lessons I have learned thus far.

1. There are always dirty dishes. It's crazy! I know I make more messes when I cook food, but I still don't understand how there are so many dirty bowls and utensils. I wish I had been a bigger dish-washing help when I lived at home. Now I make a solid effort to cook and clean the kitchen when I visit my mom because she deserves it. Thanks for feeding me!

2.You finally own more than a bedroom. Congratulations. The task of cleaning it all also falls to you.  This is another no-brainer that has taken me by surprise especially now that E and I are both working full-time. As the responsibilities are piling up, I feel an intense need to get the clutter under control. The best advice I have for tackling this comes courtesy of my grandmother: clean for 15 minutes when you get home- before you sit down.

3. The government takes out a lot of money in taxes. Until recently I have not made all that much money working part-time jobs, so taxes were more of a pesky annoyance. Filled with glee about receiving my first real paycheck, my hopes were quickly dashed when I saw the "minus xxx" amount from my income. Ouch. It is still a job where I am doing what I love and earning money to support myself while advancing my career goals, so I am very grateful for that. Although, it would be really nice to get a big refund check. Just saying.

4. Months fly by very quickly. I also use the expression "Oh, I can't believe how big you are!" when I see younger relatives. Yup, it's weird. In college I had the experience of time moving both slowly and quickly. It has shifted significantly towards faster post-graduation. I would be interested to hear when this phenomenon affected you. Slow it down! Put more exciting things in your schedule to punctuate the blur. Then relive those special memories through the medium that intrigues you most. Just take time to enjoy all the good things going on around you no matter how big or small. Also, keep in touch with family regularly to head off such overwhelming reunions.

5. No one really knows what they're doing. This one scares the heck out of me. Interview an adult or few. I dare you. Ask if they know what they're doing with their lives. I have received an overwhelming number of "no" responses and "I'm still not sure what I want to be when I grow up." I am not entirely sure how to combat this one, but for now I have two suggestions- take control of your financial future and create personal goals. Having a handle on your finances from a young age will help you build a good credit score, stash money for an emergency fund, save for retirement, and relieve a lot of stress. Setting goals will encourage you to keep what is important to you in focus. It is easy to get distracted by the cares of day-to-day life, but you want to make sure you are taking thoughtful steps that will help you accomplish personal and professional goals. Review the list more than once every ten years. I feel very little sympathy for movie characters who realize they are nearly xx years old and have not accomplished anything on their list. You should examine those big life lists frequently so you stay motivated, happy, and fulfilled. Realize that some goals might change as you develop as a person. That is not a failure to achieve that item; it just doesn't suit who you are anymore. 

My last bit of advice to combat grownup woes:

Take time to dance it out. Figure out what helps you manage stress and clear some room in your schedule. Try not to let these details bog you down; Acknowledge their existence, develop a strategy, and carry on.

Best of luck!

Sarah

How to Start a Book Club

So you want to start a book club... that's great! Do it. : ) Book clubs are a fabulous way to expand your reading list while trying new genres or authors. Also, there is a great opportunity to socialize and share your thoughts with other readers. This summer my mom and I both started different book clubs, so I thought I would write a post to encourage other bibliophiles who have been considering forming a group of their own.

1. Accept responsibility.

The first thing you need to do is realize that you are essential to making your group happen. Step up and take charge. Email your friends or spread the word among new acquaintances.

2. Decide on the style of your club.

My mother opted for the more traditional format where group members pick one book they will all read before the next meeting. This makes for easy and thorough discussion since members respond to one another's comments and delve deeper into plot or characters. With this setup you can also pick a theme to guide your selection (best sellers, award-winners, books by female authors, mystery, etc.), so consider your options and pitch them to the group. Be receptive to feedback and find out what will work well for your readers.

I chose to do something a little different with my club; we select a genre for each month and individuals pick their own book to read that falls within the chosen category. The goal with this kind of club is to encourage exploration of different types of books. If you read contemporary fiction exclusively and are unsure how to branch out, within this format you can sample a historical text, travel memoir, and
classic work of literature while building a reading list as you go. Meetings for this format are more like informal book reports with a question and answer session from the audience. If you want to research and discuss the genre you have selected, that is a great way to open one of these discussions and find a common link between the different titles.

3. Figure out logistics. When and where will you meet? How often? Will there be snacks? All of these details can be worked out at an interest meeting along with the first book selection (or few). Decide how you want to communicate about upcoming events and share information. Email lists or Facebook groups work well, but you should discuss with everyone to ensure important posts are seen in a timely
manner.

4. Start reading your new book! It is really that easy to get started. As you meet you will get a feel for the group and realize any additional details that need to be considered. Have fun!

Sarah

Fun Ideas for Valentine's Day (or any day)

 This is our first Valentine's Day together, married or otherwise. Between my past work schedule, his study schedule, living apart for a year, etc. we never seem to be in the same place at the right time to celebrate a holiday. We spent our first Christmas together in Germany for our honeymoon followed by New Year's Eve with the family in Alabama, so we are doing this one, too! This will be my year of holidays where I make up for lost time. Then I can go back to not caring quite so much. (Except for Christmas- it's my favorite!)

Here are some ideas for a fun night in:

1. Make a crossword puzzle or word search filled with clues from your relationship.

2. Class it up! Prepare fancy appetizers to munch on while you make dinner or dessert together. You can really dress up a Triscuit.

3. Journal. If there is a commemorative project that you have been putting off, spend time working on it together.

4. Quiz each other. Make your own questions for a DIY Newlyweds game. You can keep questions lighthearted or delve deeper to learn more about one another.

5. Make a mixed tape. Set the tone for your evening together. Is it a walk down memory lane or a night for dancing in the living room?

6. Enjoy craft time as a couple. Try to pick a project that you will both enjoy. I recommend the scrape off animal art for reluctant artists.

7. Watch a movie that is new to you. Here are some of my selections:  Robot & Frank, Amelie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Im Juli, Before Sunrise, Death at a Funeral (2007), Cherish, It Happened One Night

8. Read a book together. Revisit a childhood favorite and take turns reading out loud.

Feel free to share any of your date night ideas below! We ended up stretching Valentine's Day out over several days. It was nice taking time to do things together and squeeze in some quality time before rotation number two kicks off! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday. If your evening didn't go as planned, schedule another. When you celebrate doesn't matter nearly as who you celebrate with.

Sarah

About This Blog

I started this blog in August with no real plan other than to start writing. As a combination perfectionist-procrastinator, I love to organize and plan the perfect project to the point where I won't start if I'm not sure I can achieve my vision. This makes it difficult to get things done. I feel the worst for all my empty journals that are waiting for a consistent theme, groundbreaking ideas, or calligraphy lessons to have their pages filled. So I decided to finally take the leap and start a blog (years later) with no theme other than I've graduated! Now what...

You may notice that a large portion of my blog is recipes. That is not the intentional direction of this blog, but it seems unavoidable. I grew up around my mom cooking, and in college I caught the cooking bug myself. I was incredibly picky when I was little, and, now that I no longer turn my nose up at nearly everything, I have a lot of foods and flavors to catch up on! Crafts, travel, and outdoor adventures make up most of my other posts. Some time soon I would like to have weekly featured topics/posts, but for now that is still in the development phase.

E and I on our first Disney getaway. 

Since August: I settled into life in DC/Maryland and married my best friend (He shall now be referred to as E. It was driving me crazy using a pronoun without an antecedent!). Life as a military and medical school spouse has been an exciting change that's brought many wonderful friends my way. My English degree is being put to good use helping kids with reading and writing, and my part-time gig has just turned into a full-time job! These next few months should be interesting as I juggle grownup duties and make time for fun. And if all goes well, I might be traveling outside the country this summer. Stay tuned. : )

Bloglovin'

I am trying to expand my social media efforts so I can connect with more people and share my blog. Eventually I would love to interact with people in the area so I can get feedback on travel/tourist locations I share, but I would also love to hear how recipes work out for others and read how they altered dishes to suit individual tastes and preferences. We'll see how this adventure goes!

Sarah

P.S. To all my current readers, thank you for your support!

http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11673735/

Happy New Year!

Now that I am home from vacation it is time to get back to blogging! My husband and I went on our honeymoon to Germany over Christmas break and then drove down to Alabama to spend a week with family. I have no idea how we crammed so much into two weeks, but it was a great way to wrap up 2013 and kick off the new year!

My 3 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Make more time for reading (and less for watching tv).
2. Play more games with family. 
3. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into mealtimes.

I have other goals for 2014 as well, but this year I opted for less daunting "resolutions."

Sarah


P.S. I will be posting vacation pictures and travel tips sometime soon. When looking for things to do in Germany over the holidays, I noticed that an overwhelming number of posts said don't go because everything is closed. While it is certainly not the best time to go for museum lovers, we still found plenty of fun stuff to do, and I would like to offer some hope and activities for those who are trying to travel during school breaks. : )

Thanksgiving Take Two

Work kept my husband and I up North for Thanksgiving this year, and we spent our very first holiday away from home. At first we were pretty bummed, but a friend from school invited us over to his family dinner. So on Turkey Day we went to his place for a delicious meal and some excellent travel-themed conversation. The grandparents are taking a cruise to Antarctica! We both had a great time, but a disappointing realization set in the next day... There were no leftovers. One of the most exciting things about Thanksgiving is wandering into the kitchen for the next few days and having an abundance of starchy leftovers to choose from. We decided this gross oversight on our part had to be corrected.

The solution is a mid-week Thanksgiving dinner in December. We will be having barbeque pulled pork (because turkey is overrated and I miss bbq), macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, salad with oil and vinegar, rolls, and pumpkin fluff to top off the evening. Now since this is the middle of the week and I have a small kitchen, I will not be trying any complicated recipes. I will be keeping it simple so my husband and I can enjoy our comfort foods with minimal stress.

Sarah

The recipe for Green Bean Casserole on the back of the French's onion container is easy to make and tastes great. It is my husband's favorite. I'm not sure why we only make it once a year!

Juggling Jobs

So during the times when I am not making food or going on a weekend excursion, I am usually at work. As I have gotten adjusted to the new area, my work schedule has evolved, and I am pretty happy with how it has turned out.

My main title is Reading and Writing Teacher at an after-school learning center. I love what I do here. Children come in excited to read new books, and I function as an editor and writing instructor for kids of all ages. These students may be behind, on par, or ahead of their grade level, but they all want to learn and improve so it makes for a great atmosphere. Recently my center decided to add some weekend workshops on topics we usually don't have time to cover, and I have been placed in charge of creating and leading a series of creative writing workshops. It is a joy and a challenge!

SAT tutor is another one of my titles. When I first moved I taught a class 2 nights a week, way far away, and at late hours. It was good experience working in front of a classroom, but the schedule was not the greatest. A problem with teaching courses like these is that low enrollment can cause a course cancellation a few days before you are set to start teaching. For that reason I have stepped back from that a little and remain available to proctor the occasional weekend practice test or substitute for another tutor.

The lack of SAT time left an opening for something else in my life, so I decided to look in to volunteering. I looked online and found Volunteer Match, a website that lead me to Reading Partners. This organization works with children who are reading below grade level and through a structured curriculum helps students gain reading confidence and competency. I am pleased to have found this program where I can learn firsthand how children acquire reading skills while making a huge difference in individual lives. Sometimes a system can seem hopeless, but helping just a few and seeing change on an individual level brings me hope for a better future. I know I sound sappy, but I have found my passion in promoting literacy.

I just thought I would share a little with everyone about the other activities going on in my life. At some point I may post a few writing exercises for kids that I have developed at my primary job, and now you'll know where they are coming from! I hope all is well in your life, and I encourage you to find a cause you are passionate about.

Sarah

NaNoWriMo 2013

Is anyone else gearing up for National Novel Writing Month? For the past few years I have been telling myself, "Oh, I will definitely sign up for that next November." Mhmm. I am pleased to say that I have finally made an account and plan on trying the 50,000 word challenge starting this Friday! I am toying with a few potential story ideas and am interested to see which one I will run with. Wish me luck. : ) Hopefully, having to write a consistent amount each day will help me break down my deeply entrenched habit of procrastination.

Sarah

Back from Vacation and Wedding Celebrations

What a wonderful time we had in Alabama! My husband and I were married in D.C. at the end of August and went home for fall break to celebrate with our families and friends. The two receptions were much more enjoyable for us than a large, blowout wedding would have been. Since our families live in the same state but several hours away, we used our extended vacation to have a party and some quality family time at each end of the state. This eliminated a long drive time for most of our guests and gave both sides of the family a chance to enjoy a party without worrying about hosting. I am busy filling out a stack of thank you cards now; my kitchen is full of wonderful new gadgets!

My suggestions for other brides:

• At your wedding reception have someone prepare a box of food for you and stash it for later. You probably won't have time to eat until everyone goes home. 
• If you don't want to spend a ton of money on your wedding dress, get creative. Look at stores that aren't specifically wedding stores. I found my dress at Macy's for under $200.
• Order invitations online to cut costs, and look/wait for sales before you purchase. I saw a link on Facebook at the last minute and saved 70% on the cost of my invitations. They turned out beautifully.
• Stay away from Pinterest. Unless you have an endless wedding budget, all those gorgeous pictures are filling your head with unnecessary ideas. Your wedding day will be special no matter what your cake toppers and decorations look like. The important things cannot be bought or made or bedazzled. 

I might add on to this list later, but the best thing we did was elope. That made the day truly our own and we didn't have to worry about anything else.

Many New Starts

Since this blog is about my many different adventures (and not just the ones in the kitchen), I have a bunch of exciting news. This weekend I got married! On Saturday my wonderful man and I got married at a park in D.C. Everything went wrong, and it was the perfect day. I am so glad we eloped and made it through all of the day-of-wedding hiccups together. I can't imagine the stress of planning a huge ceremony; this scenario presented plenty of hair-pulling moments. Now we are both looking forward to our reception back home with family and friends.

Yesterday I started a new job as an SAT tutor. And today I got hired to be a reading and writing teacher for K-8th graders at a local learning center! My afternoons and evenings are fully booked now. During the day I can work on blogging, creative writing, running, crafting, and cooking. We'll see how long it takes for napping to join that list. If I am feeling really motivated, I can practice my German during commutes! Life is getting busy, but I seem to make the best use of my time when I have too much to do.

Sarah

First Post

Greetings!

This seems like a good time to introduce myself. I graduated with an English degree in May. Yes, I carefully considered this major, and after trying numerous introductory classes in any other field, I said screw it. There is no point in fighting what you are meant to do; so I proudly pursued a major in English and loved every minute of it (except those agonizing weeks surrounding research papers). I've considered blogging for several years, but the lack of a unifying theme was my good reason not to start a blog of my own- until now. As a recent graduate, I am trying to figure out my place in the world and what being a grownup truly means. From that perspective, I can share my thoughts and adventures, both big and small, with readers like you.

Here's a little more about me and what you can expect to see in some of these posts. I grew up in Alabama and moved to D.C. in July. I am super excited to explore my new home. Some of my greatest passions are traveling, cooking, and reading. On that subject, I got engaged last month and plan to marry my wonderful fiance in the very near future. : ) I love arts and crafts and frequently bounce around from one project to another. One hobby I gained this summer in addition to crocheting is running. I am looking forward to participating in a 5k this fall. Since my work schedule might be a combination of part-time jobs and/or internships for a while, I would like to include volunteer work in my weekly schedule. Right now I am interested in organizations that promote literacy. Personally and perhaps professionally, I would like to help people read and enjoy books. That's all for now, and thanks for reading!

Sarah