Week of Change

More like "month of change"...but roll with it...

Last weekend my lovely car (2005 Ford Escape Limited) decided to die on me. I've had this car since college, and I love it. However when I found out that I would have to pay $1,500 to get it fixed, I decided that I would be better off getting a new car. I had 120,000 miles on it, and who knows how long it would have lasted. I was in a pickle of sorts, because my awesome boyfriend works for Ford, but other dealers were offering better incentives.

This is a picture of my lovely Escape (RIP)

So after some talking with the boy, he was ok with me looking at other brands. Really, I didn't want to be in the dog house for buying a non-Ford car. ANYWAYS, I was looking at the Dodge Journey (since I am a brat and have to have an SUV)...but it felt too big and everyone said it looked like a minivan. See for yourself:

(It kind of does)

After driving the car and getting prices, I asked Smitty (only the best car salesman I've ever met! Oh yeah he's the ONLY one I've met...) if I could just see the Jeep Patriot that I was looking at online. It sounded amazing (heated seats, remote start, touch screen media center, good gas mileage...) and I just wanted to see what it was like. As soon as he drove up with it, I was in loooove! It was very similar to my Escape, but it was cheaper than a new Escape. With that being said, I definitely picked the jeep! 

 My new car!!!!!!!

Also, my phone plan was up for renewal recently and it was time for a new phone! I don't really have much use for a smart phone, so I always go with the free phones. All I need to make me happy is a keyboard so I can text easily :). So I also got a new phone this week.

Now...I have a hard time dealing with change. But I can say that these two changes were good ones! I felt good about both of them. Aside from all of that, not too much is new! I just finished up my competitive cheer season with my middle schoolers, and now I have more time on my hands! Here is what I plan on doing with it:

1. Reading more books
2. Start drawing and painting again
3. Spend time with the boy
4. Job hunt!!!
5. Visit the bestest on the other side of the state

I am trying really hard to get a full-time contracted teaching job. I love my job that I have now, but it is not guaranteed from year to year, and we don't get benefits. It will be really sad to leave Southgate if I find something, but I really need to have a contracted job. When I get one, I will be the happiest I have ever been! Things have been going great and I can't wait to add that piece to the puzzle. My sister just got a contracted job, so there is hope!

How are y'all!!!
<3 Lo

Summer time and all that jazz

Hey all -
It's been a busy year, I can't believe I haven't updated in soooo long! Here is my year in a nutshell:
- Finished up my first year of teaching Title 1 in June
- Worked all summer at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan at the NFL/YET Campus in Detroit! I worked in the learning center every day for 10 weeks...started a successful newspaper club, had tetris tournaments, reorganized the club library, and spent many hours building lego ships and buildings with the kids! It was a crazy summer, but I loved it, and I have lots of pictures to share!
- Met my new boyfriend, who is amazing :)
- Started another school year teaching Title 1, and instead of just 4th grade this year, I also have first graders!
- Dyed my hair dark brown (what a huge change)!

That's about it in a nutshell...I'm actually at work at the Boys & Girls Club right now, filling in for a few days while someone is on vacation! Hope you enjoy some pictures from the summer!

How are y'all??

My Boys & Girls Club kids on the news!!

Check out this awesome clip of some of my favorite B&G club kids shopping for toys with the Detroit Lions!! They are so adorable!

Consistency

Ahhh hello!
I ended up having a crazy busy summer so I wasn't a very good blog owner....I apologize! I am posting today because I am going to take a big leap of faith tomorrow and go from blonde to dark brown. I used one of those websites where you can try different hair colors and styles on yourself, and I think thats what I've decided looks best. What do you think??

Blonde hair....

....or brown hair????

HELP!!!!!!

<3 Lauren

Frustration

I hate it when you know someone is mad at you, but you have absolutely no idea why, or what you did to make them mad. I'm bummed out today for this very reason. I can't solve the problem because they won't talk to me. Sad!

I'm going out of town this weekend which will be nice! Work has been crazy so I need a break.

Summer!!!!!

Summer 2010 brings many changes so far:
NEW JOB - I got a job at the boys and girls club of Detroit for the summer. It doesn't pay much but I didn't want to be bored this summer and I thought it would be a good experience for me. So far so good! It's challenging working with inner city kids, but I like it so far! I'm learning every day and that's important to me.
NEW TEAM: Things have changed at school as well and I have one big team of freshman through seniors. It's new for everyone and it's going to be difficult, but I think we can do it!

This summer is all about getting rid of the old and in with the new! I'm very excited for what's to come...especially on Thursday! I will be filling you in then! Xoxo friends!

ALIVE!!!

Now that it's summer, I HOPE that I will have more time for this thing! The last week has been crazy hectic and there have been a MILLION changes, but so far things have been good...and for the first time I am actually embracing change.

I will update soon - but until then (since I stopped using facebook) you can check out my brand new twitter! The only thing that I really miss about facebook is actually posting funny things that happen, so that will be what this and my twitter is for! Check it out:
https://twitter.com/laurenjayii

Thanks for being so patient! Miss and love every one of you!