Five for Friday!

Howdy! I haven’t been the best blogger recently. Sorry about that.

This past week or so has been a little stressful for me.

I’m joining up with Doodle Bugs for her weekly Five for Friday linky party to let you in on my week.

Away we go!

I saw a picture of this Kentucky Butter Cake on the internet and immediately knew I just had to make it for my dad on Father’s Day. So off to Kroger I went to buy buttermilk, the only ingredient I didn’t have. This cake was a HUGE hit, and it will definitely be going into my own personal cookbook.

I know, right? After baking the cake, you make this glaze and pour it over the top when it’s still hot. Then you leave it overnight and let it cool. Now if you have a dog like my Georgia, you might have to keep it in the microwave until it’s ready to be eaten. She knows food, and she knows how to get things of the counter. More about that later.

Here is the recipe if you want to make it yourself! http://cookiesandcups.com/kentucky-butter-cake/

Enjoy!

I have started a teacher training and educational consultant business associated with Time to Teach. I basically give teachers and administrators techniques and strategies to help manage their classroom, stop the repeated warnings, and gain back “time to teach”, which leads to higher academic scores, less stressed teachers, and less office referrals. I love it.

I actually presented at a break-out session for the very first time last week at CAMT, Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching, in Houston. So I drove down to Houston, stayed the night, and actually got to have dinner with my college roommate.

CAMT is the biggest math conference in Texas, and I was just a wee bit nervous. I got a lot nervous when I saw the long line waiting outside out my session room. People kept coming and coming. There were over 80 people in my session!

I think it went great. Several people stayed afterwards and asked questions, and I’m hoping and praying that this session will lead to some trainings in schools. That’s when the real fun happens!

Last week was pretty eventful for me. On Friday, I had surgery to repair an incisional hernia, which had developed from a complication from one of my previous surgeries.

This surgery kicked my butt. This was actually my 8th surgery. I’ve had 1 surgery where they cut me open and I was hospitalized for five days and 7 laporoscopic surgeries. This hernia surgery reminded me of my major surgery where I was cut open. This sucker hurt.

I had trouble sleeping, trouble moving, etc. It really knocked me for a loop. A big loop.

Gratefully I’ve had friends and family who have helped take care of me, dropping by for a visit and bringing me food.

So I could totally show you pictures of my scars, but I think you’d rather see pictures of my nurses instead. They are the cutest nurses ever.

Anytime I was on the couch, I had at least one dog laying with me. Annie, my sweet foster dog (the beagle), never left my side. I slept on the couch because it gave me better support, and she loved to curl up next to my legs. Sweet girl.

Georgia just decided to take up the whole chair by herself. Does she think she’s a human or what with the way she’s sitting?

I have been participating in the TpT Seller Challenge. This was week’s 2 challenge. I didn’t get to it on time due to recovering from my surgery. So here it is.

Dare to Dream on how TpT can improve your life…

Work from home – I have taught for 17 years, and I really feel like I’m ready for something new and different. After teaching in Korea, I feel the need to broaden my horizons and set out for new adventures. I still want to stay in education, just doing something different. So I have started my teacher training and educational consultant business, and I’m open to whatever God brings my way. It’s nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time.

Travel to more countries – I’ve traveled to more than 40 countries and going to add 2 more to that list in a few weeks. I’m completely and utterly hooked. I want to explore as much of the world as I can.

Live comfortably – I don’t want to have to live paycheck to paycheck. If I want to buy something, I want to be able to buy it. I’m not talking Manolo Blahniks or anything….but a new piece of furniture or a piece of artwork or something.

Volunteer abroad and bless others – I have volunteered in two countries and totally want to do more of that. It was simply wonderful to be a part of it. I would also like to be able to bless others that are near and dear to me as well as others who need a little extra help.

New adventures – I LOVE finding new adventures. I don’t like to be bored. I don’t like the status quo. I like to be challenged. I like meeting new people. I like finding new places to explore and new cultures to experience. I want more of these adventures in my life. My soul desperately yearns for them.

Life life on my terms – Living in Korea completely changed my outlook on life. I want more out of life now. I want to be able to adopt children from foreign countries and as you know that requires money. A lot of money. Adoption isn’t cheap. I also want to be able to see and experience the world with my family….which by the way hasn’t happened yet. Still waiting on the husband and family thing, but I have faith.

My last thing to share….

I am so excited that my TpT store now has 469 followers, my instagram account now has 209 followers, and my Pinterest page now has 116 followers. I know it may not seem that much to some of you, but it means that things are growing, and that makes me so happy!

I started several collaborative boards on Pinterest and am grateful that people are starting to join up. If you want to join any of my boards, just let me know. I’d be glad to add you!

https://www.pinterest.com/southernteachin/

Hope your summer has been going fabulously!