favorite things >> august

August was my transition from a jet set filled summer back to work. I've been back in the states for three weeks and I've been busy cleaning and re-organizing my home and work life, moving my sister to D.C. as well as re-adjusting to the very different climate.

{1} essie sage {2} new tapestry from india {3} new hanging dragon charm {4} volcano blue candle newly packaged {5} vicks {6} kiehl's lip balm {7} new glasses from anthro {8} papermate fine tips {9} franklin fountain mint chip {10} the most adorable second grader you've ever met!

"Here's to being the right people, in the right place, at the right time."

year two here i come!

After seven flights and five countries, my summer has officially come to a close and I just completed my first week at school- getting ready for our kids who show up next week. Last November I didn't know if I'd make it through Christmas, in February I wasn't sure if I'd make it through the end of the year and in June I couldn't believe the summer had finally arrived. Now, I couldn't be more excited to start the school year.

This year I have moved from teaching a self- contained seventh and eighth grade special education class to Kindergarten, First and Second grade special education support. I feel like I've come full circle- when I started this journey I spent my summer learning to be a teacher by teaching a class full of crazy kinders, and nobody could or would have guessed that I'd ACTUALLY end up working with itty bitty kiddos in this region.

Two days until we have kids in the building!

 {@ all mastery day with some of my favs}

{my new classroom....

there may or may not be three giant sized industrial kitchen products}

Summer of Doing >> Swimming & Seafood

So, I have a beautiful pool- a really really beautiful pool that I never use since I'm only home once a year. This summer has been so travel packed that I've felt the need to pack my days seeing friends, frequenting my favorite sites and eating all the food I miss out on when I'm away; Thus, I have gone the entire summer without enjoying my own pool. I decided to dedicate a day to staying local so a few friends and I took yesterday to sunbathe, swim, and hold their own ridiculous olympic events. We then headed to Saikung to end our evening with a delicious seafood meal :)

Summer of Doing >> Monkey Mountain

When I was a kid, my school bus would drive past monkey mountain every morning and I'd rush to the window to see the monkeys run to the street looking for patrons to throw a spare piece of bread their way. I decided that we'd like to see the monkeys up close and not from behind a glass window and thus, our decision to hike up monkey mountain became final. These monkeys have been living here for as long as any Hong Kong dweller can remember, and they are literally everywhere. Hiking through narrow parts of the trail, there were times I had to squeeze through pathway occupied by monkeys, and since they were there first they felt no need to make space for my human feet. The hike took us a little more than three hours (17821 steps, 7.44 miles and 130 flights of stairs). What a workout.

Summer of Doing >> White Sangria

One thing (among others) that I love about the change in seasons is the seasonal switchover most restaurants and bars make to white sangria. One of my mentors this year had me over for dinner this past year and she made the most delicious sangria ever! I have taken her recipe and modified it a little, but I urge you all to give it a shot. Every time I've made it it's been a hit, even with my momsy!

 

Summer of Doing >> Macau

Just a turbo jet away, Macau is seriously a hopskipjump to a weekend getaway.  I've always wanted (but have never had the opportunity) to see a Cirque du Soleil show- my mother and I did one better. We went to Macau to see The House of Dancing Water, created by the same people that produce Cirque, but as the title infers, the show is on water. It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen! Acrobats, dancers, divers, motorcycle stunt men, rising stages, appearing pools and fountains, tumblers and contortionists- and the list goes on and on! We stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel and it was the perfect little overnighter for anyone looking to see a sensation.