Subbing

December has been a wonderful month for subbing. I worked every single day except for the days that I had YMCA training/work. The paycheck, whenever it arrives, is going to be pretty glorious! I can't wait! It's still not very much money, but at least I'm feeling very busy. Tomorrow is 8th grade Language Arts, Tuesday is high school English and Wednesday is supplemental floater at SAMS! Woohoo! It's going to be a glorious week!

Monday, Matthew and I are exchanging gifts to each other. Tuesday, Hack Pgh is having a Christmas party. Wednesday, we're packing and cleaning. Thursday, at 5am (Eastern) we're leaving to go home to EC! I can't wait to be back home with two feet of snow, wood heat, decorating cookies with Mom and watching a Packer game with Dad. I'm glad Matthew and I are able to spend a significant amount of time at home. It would be horrible if we could only be home for three days. I'm thankful to have a school schedule, one that has winter and spring break!

EC ladies, I can't wait to see you on Thursday!!

Cafe Sam

Last Tuesday, Matthew and I took ourselves out for a nice dinner to a local restaurant called Cafe Sam. I have been driving by it since I moved here and we hadn't gone to it yet. The food was, by far, the best that I have had since I moved to Pittsburgh. The atmosphere was perfect (kerosene lamp lighting, subtle holiday music in the background) and the service was excellent. I also discovered a new delicious beer Abita Purple Haze. It's a smooth, wheat beer and not overly fruity. As I said before, the food was just out of this world! And very reasonably priced for the portions that we got. I had a gyro with lamb and cucumber sauce.

I recommend this place if you're looking for a cute date night place. I can't wait until the summer when we can sit out on the wonderful veranda, drink a beer and forget that we're in the city for a few moments. Five out of five stars from this restaurant critic:)

Three Cheers!

Today has been a wonderful day!! My PA teaching license came!!! It looks so pretty and official. Dad asked if I was just going to sit and stare at it tonight. The answer, yes:) Almost 1.5 years later, and I'm a fully licensed Pennsylvania teacher!! Woohoo! Hip Hip Hooray!!

I had my orientation at Pittsburgh Public Schools today and it was wonderful! I can't wait to start working in their schools! There were a lot of people who are about to graduate from school (aka they're finishing up their student teaching) so it was nice to be an experienced substitute. For once, my experience is paying off:)

Happy Anniversary to my parents! 31 years and going strong. Jake and I aren't throwing them a surprise party this year, but hopefully we can all get together and celebrate during winter break.

Only 15 days until we're driving back to good old EC! I can't wait!!

Christmas Shopping

Check! I'm pretty much done with my Christmas shopping, minus a few little things. All I have left to take care of are the projects I'm making by hand at home. I'm hoping to get that done tomorrow, along with putting up our Christmas tree and lights and other decorations.

I watched White Christmas today for the first time while I was wrapping gifts. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. West-central Wisconsin got snow last night/today and I must say that I'm jealous. Snow on the ground really puts me in the mood for the holidays!

Also, I'm proud of myself for actually keeping up with my blog again. Yay!

Christmas Music Season

Now, I really like Christmas music (not as much as some people I know *cough* Jessi *cough*) but I don't believe in listening to it until after Thanksgiving. I guess I just feel guilty or something; it's weird but I guess waiting to listen to Bing Crosby sing White Christmas and TSO's version of Carol of the Bells makes the music even more special.

It's past Thanksgiving so I've got my Christmas music playlist all set up, wrapping paper waiting to be unrolled and a list of gifts to get! I love picking out gifts for people; I love making gifts especially for my girls at home. They all say that they look forward to my annual mixed CD and hope this year is no different:)

We're heading home on December 23rd! 20 days and I'll be at home sweet home!! I can't wait to see my favorites and my family!!

Harry Potter

I saw the first installment of the final Harry Potter film on Saturday and it was AMAZING! The music, the cinematography, the special effects and the best part is that they kept pretty darn close to the actual plot in the book! I also thought the movie was going to end sooner than it did; the rumor I heard turned out to be incorrect so there was about 15 extra minutes that I wasn't expecting! Yay!

I'm rereading all the books right now and am about 150 pages into Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (#5 for those of you keeping track at home).

Up on the movie docket:
Love and Other Drugs
Burlesque
Tangled
Megamind

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely weekend in South Bend! I'm so fortunate that I was able to spend it with my parents and other members of the Sullivan clan. There were so many stories, so much laughter and many rounds of Yahtzee and Perquakey. Matthew survived meeting a whole bunch of my extended family, so my hat is off to him. It's time for me to repay the favor to him and go visit with all of his extended family:) It was sad that Jake wasn't there but at least he was with family for Thanksgiving--the other side of the family:) And we did talk to him on the phone!

One of the highlights of the weekend was visiting with my cousin Lauren, her husband Greg and their adorable new baby (she was born October 12th)! Norah fell asleep in my arms and made adorable sleeping sounds and kept stretching:) I wonder what she was thinking about as she slept. Isn't she adorable?!