The World According to Leslie

How can 2012 be over already?  Doesn't it feel like it just started?  I can't believe all the things that have happened this year.  Maybe... just maybe.... if I can get myself to bring my camera upstairs to my computer, I will post goodies from my entire 2012.  Maybe... just maybe.... if I can get myself to do it, I can post 2013 as it happens! :)  For now...  I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.  I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  (Be safe tonight as you bring in 2013!)

I can not believe today is Christmas Eve!  Where did 2012 go?  I guess in 2013 I'll have to catch up on some of the things I really wanted to do this year.... 1. Writing a book. 2. Losing more weight! 3. Spending more time with family. 4. Winning the lottery (haha! must buy a ticket to win!) 5. Blogging more. Well... those are a few things I want to do more of. For today, I guess I will will wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

I'm trying to find what my life is centered around. From the time I was 5 until the time I was 18, my life was centered around school.  (Obviously!)  I spent all day at school.  Once I started 7th grade, I spent afternoons (and sometimes much later) in the Band Room at my school and the high school.  Friday nights were Football games.  Saturdays, Band Competitions.  After graduation, I went straight to college.  Appalachian State, Music Education Major.  A year later I returned home to go to RCCC.  During this time I met my husband.  Still, all the while, my time was dedicated to school (and working).  January 2000---transfer to UNCC.  Hated it!  August 2000.  Transfer to UNCG.  LOVED IT!  Graduated in 2003.  By this time, I was married (for two years) and 6.5 months pregnant with our Princess!  I was working full time as an Interpreter.  August 2003--Life became centered around our Princess.  She was our everything--and still is! :)  August 2008--Princess started Kinderg

There are only two more days of school until Christmas break!  I'm reading Christmas books and watching the movies with my kids this week.  We are doing activities with them too.  It's nice to have a little down-time to get ready for break!  When we come back, it will be time to get ready for EXAMS!  Then we will change classes and I will get new kids! :(  I like my kids now!  I just want to keep them!  :)  Oh well.....  I will adjust to new ones too, I guess! :)

How do I even start this?  I'm sure this is how millions of teachers, bloggers, and parents feel today (yesterday, all weekend, every day since we heard the news)!  Yesterday at my school, we had a moment of silence at the time of the shooting on Friday.  I'm not even going to mention the shooter's name!  Yes, he's a person.  Yes, he's a soul.  But, he also killed 20 innocent children.  Some of them, they are saying, he shot multiple times!  Really?  Why did he need to shoot them more than once?  Why did he shoot them at all?  I know the news is saying that he has some mental issue.  Don't we all?  At some time or another, doesn't our brain get to the point that we just can't take it?  Don't we all just WANT to go off the deep end some times?  However....  no matter our own mental capacities, we all most of us manage to live our daily lives without going over the edge and doing any real harm to other people. As a parent, all I wanted to do on

I wish it would snow right now!  It is December after all! However, I have the coolest snowman ever to show you.  If you follow me on Pinterest, you can see it there.  If you don't, you can go there and find me.....OR....when the snowman is finished, I will have pics to put on here.  I'm so EXCITED about this!

Over at iambaker , she is showing some SWEET desserts for the holidays! (She has EVERY day covered too!)  :) Right now she has a SWEET give-a-way for a Motorola Droid Razr HD.  The phone is great!  I'd love to win it! Go over now and check her out!

...well, almost. I have had a 4-and-a-half year long relationship.  It is almost over.  I have been working for this day for so long that it feels unreal!  Today, I turned in my final paper for graduate school.  I emailed the professor to let her know (just like she asked) so it can be graded.  I have a grade for one class.  Just waiting for a grade from this one paper. I am ONE grade away from graduation! I am ONE grade away from a 4.0 GPA!  I am ONE grade away from being finished with something I started 4-and-a-half years ago! If this paper is accepted, there will be no more papers to write at 9pm on Thursday night.  There will be no more "OMG!  I forgot to email her!" moments!  There will be no more Sunday midnights where I am in tears because I am tired and can't get my work done.  If this paper is accepted, it will all be over.  What will I do now?  What will I devote my time to?  What can I occupy myself with? Well.... first.... I'm going to

For one of my UNCC Graduate classes, I had to come up with a project for my school. :)  So, I proposed and planned out a Multicultural Literature Class.  The only problem is that I have to get the books funded for it.  So.... I'm asking all my friends, family, and students' families to help out.  I have a project (and will have a couple more soon) on DonorsChoose.org.  If you don't know about this site, it's a place where teachers can list things they need in their classrooms, and other people/businesses/etc. can help fund the project.  Right now... until Dec. 8th, any donation will be DOUBLED if you use the code INSPIRE.  Just check out my project.  Click HERE to go to my project.  There is also a widget on the side bar that allows you to donate to my project.  Even if you decide that MY project is not your cup of tea, there are many projects on there.  Check out other projects and help teachers to get what they need for their students. Here is the email fr