South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) Guide

So Jesse and I are planning on going to SXSW next week. It will be our first time to go to this glorious festival. Problem is that we had no idea what all would be going on and where any of those things would be. I got to thinking, we can't be the only newbies going to this festival. That's when I decided I would make a list of websites I found with guides on how to survive at the festival, different things to do and where things will be. There is even a link for things to do with the whole family. It's nice to be able to have everything you need, all in one place. I read through each of these links and find them to be very informative. Some websites do cover some of the same things but each website has different helpful things on them. Here they are!


Survival guides:

fathomaway.com - sxsw survival guide

digitalmomblog.com - 10 tips for newbies

austinmonthly.com - How to survive sxsw; a locals guide

blog.modcloth.com - Nav through sxsw like a prop



Side parties:

music.blog.austin360.com - 10 sxsw side parties to attend

projects.statesman.com - 2015 sxsw side parties (this one is 18 pages of all types of side parties; GREAT READ)

businessinsider.com - map of sxsw side parties (this is pinterest link. the photo on the actual webiste doesn't load. you can view it on the pinterest webpage)



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Great Day at Work

Today I had an absolute great day at work! One of the girl's wasn't here today so I got to help on the infant side as well as my side with the toddlers. For anyone who doesn't know, I work at a daycare center in an elementary school. On my side (toddler side) I have 10 kids. One more boy will be back in a few weeks totalling 11. On the Infant side there is 5, with the little sister of the boy that will be back at the same time, totalling 6! There is me and 4 other people in the classroom.

So today like I said one girl was out and I had to help on the infant side. It was amazing!!! Most people would feel really sketchy watching over that many infants, but not for me! I had a blast! 

It was nap time and everyone was asleep but the youngest. He is 5 months old, and he is pure cuteness. He usually has a hard time during nap time. Let's set something clear right now. I have some experience with infants, but not a lot! I do not consider myself an expert. So I had to put little guy asleep. It took about 20 minutes of bouncing him up and down on my leg while I'm switching out my arms. That little guy is a big boy haha. I finally got him asleep and into the rocker. Usually when people try to put him in the rocker he wakes back up, but he didn't for me! I was so beyond happy and proud of myself! I had put my first infant to sleep! 

Well he stayed asleep for only about 20 minutes because all the other infants started to wake up one after another. So I'm watching 4 infants, 3 which can walk and one who can't just yet. They want to put everything in their mouths naturally. Also they try to climb on everything. Well when little guy woke up, that's when it got a little tricky. Watching 4 infants and trying to keep a 5 month on quiet while on my hip. I mastered it! It almost seemed easier by the minute! I feel so proud of myself. 

It really was a great day! I feel like I'm gaining so much experience day by day!

When my kiddos (toddlers) got up, one of my kids started playing with Play-doh. He likes when I help him make little balls. We practiced today on saying "please" and "thank you". He is getting so good at it! It's definitely a working progress. It's so awesome seeing them try so hard to get the words right. Each child is a little different and through time you learn how they learn to be able to teach them better. It's all a learning progress. 

These kiddos make me so happy and bring me such PURE joy! I get to teach them things every day and they teach me things too! I can make a difference in their young lives. This is the point in their age where they learn most things and to be able to be apart of that, fills me with such joy! I actually wake up and feel anxious to get to work! In all honestly, I don't feel like I am working! I get to do what I love every single day. That's all I could ever ask for in a job. 

I just had a great day and thought I would share to you a little bit about it! 

I'm on the lookout for blogs or blog posts regarding childcare, activities, teaching strategies, and things of that nature. If anyone knows any, please comment and let me know! I would absolutely appreciate that!!  

While you're reading this don't forget to check out my social media down below, and tell your friends about me! I would absolutely love that; and I love meeting new people!

XOXOXOXOXOXO 

~ Follow my Social Media ~

What's on my book list? #1

Okie guys, I'm going to start a new segment on my blog! I wanted to start this a week ago but I had zero time. Now that I have time, I'm so excited to start this segment. 

So when I first moved here I found out they had a public library, and a pretty big one at that. So Jesse and I went and got a card. I was so thrilled to finally have a library card. Now I love reading, but I'm the laziest person at picking out books. I'm the type to pick a book based on what the spine looks like. I mean it is the only thing I see. I'm not about to take every book out of the shelf and read about it. That would take entirely too long and no one has time for that. When I got my card and was let loose in what seemed like one hundred aisles of books, I started going up and down the aisles. Yet I wasn't finding anything. I wanted to find interesting things, but I didn't want to pull out every book in the meantime. That's when I got an idea for this segment. I thought that I couldn't be the only person who has this problem. Really wants to read but doesn't know what to read. 

This segment will include books that I have checked out at the library. I will post them up here and give a paragraph about the book and a thumbs up or down on what I thought about it. This will be nice because it will give others ideas on what to check out; whether its the exact book, by the author or just the idea of another kind of book. I doubt I will completely read every single book that I check out but I will give my best on what I think about it. I may just post it for others to see who may find it interesting themselves. With all this said, let see this weeks books!! 

Since I had to wait so long to do this I forgot to take photos and I had to turn them in, I'm using internet photos. 

Southern Living Slow-cooker Quick Fixes

This book is two thumbs up. I mean who doesn't love just dumping stuff in a slow-cooker and watching the Wheel of Fortune? I do. I'm sure you do too, which is why you need this book in your life. I plan on purchasing this book; excited to expand my cookbook collection. This book all different kinds of quick fixes from meaty suppers, meatless mains, soups and stews to slow- cooker savvy meals. Something for everyone. 

Quesadillas

If you love quesadillas, go out and buy this book right now. Seriously. This book has the simplest, most delicious looking recipes for quesadillas. Recipes I didn't even know that could be in a quesadilla. Chicken Caesar Salad Quesadilla anyone? Carne Asada? Caramel Apple? Those sound absolutely amazing to me! 

Private Collection

If you are secretly still a teenage girl like I am and love drama, you will love these books. I have read the first two so far. I read it years ago and now just started it all over again. It's about a small town plain jane girl, Reed, who gets to go to the most pristine "boarding" school. Only the best of the best and the richest people go to the school. Reed got to go on a scholarship. Once there she realizes there is a lot of secrets, drama, and so much more than she bargained for in this elite school. This series has you hooked from the first page and I promise you will not be able to put it down. 

Your Man is Wonderful

Now I didn't get to read this book unfortunately. I really wanted to. I'm going to have to check it out again. So I couldn't tell you from personal experience if it is good or not, but I did read reviews. It got 3.5 stars and all reviews I did see were good. This book is (like the cover says) about how to appreciate your man, respecting the differences between you too and loving each other. I feel that sometimes Jesse and I take tough love to an extreme. I love it but I wish I could make it a tad softing (ha) so I picked up this book on what seemed like great insight on how to tweak those areas. When I get to read it again I will tell you more in depth on what I thought. 

Well, I hope you like this new segment! Tell me what you think! Should I keep doing it, is it lame? I want y'alls feedback! Give me some ideas for books to check out! Or simply, let's just talk! 

While you're reading this post don't forget to follow my social media down below and tell your friends about me! I love meeting new people!

XOXOXOXOXOXO 

~ Follow my Social Media ~

Sunday Some Things #3

This week has been exhausting. Starting my new job, taking care of the house, and my fiance is sick so I have been taking care of him too. This has been a long weekend. I wish I could have got this weeks things up a lot sooner but that didn't happen. Because it was such a hectic weekend this week is going to be a shorter list, but that's okay because the things on it are really awesome!! 

*sorry horrible quality*

First off is this book by Donna Kelly. This book is over 200 pages of different Quesadilla recipes. I, myself want to try at least half of them. They all are so amazing, and they favor to every different type of person. This is a must have in your cookbook collection.

These fun little decorative sugar skulls. They are cool, no?

I have really been wanting to starting doing yoga. I saw this book and it seems to be a great way to get started on yoga and all the little how-to's about it. 

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New Job!!!

Just a quick post updating you on my life. 

I started my job yesterday!!! 

After moving to San Marcos a month and a half ago with Jesse and not having a job has really been a setback for us. After applying for at least 100 jobs and only getting 3 interviews, one finally called me back and offered me a position. Which just so happens to be the one I wanted the most. Today I started a position at an elementary school working at a childcare provider for the preschool classroom. I will be working with 2-5 year old. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to nurture and teach these young children. I thank my fiance so much for being my rock through all this and not letting me feel down about not being able to pull my weight for the time being. 

So I had orientation at 7:45 in the morning. That part was so boring and truth be told, when she started talking about insurance, I had no earthly idea what she was talking about. Which is a bad thing, I should know this type of stuff. Since I didn't I just nodded the entire time. Oops.

So afterwards I went to the actual school where I will work. When I got there the kids were already laying down for a nap. They take a 3 hour nap and in the meantime all the teachers (5 of us) just sat around and played on our phones and talked. It was pretty fun!

Today was one of the girls birthday, so when everyone woke up, we all had cupcakes! That was fun!
Then they just played until time to go! I sat down with some of them at a time and played with them.

I seriously love this job already!! It's so fun getting to play around with little ones all day and teaching them. I can honestly say I won't get tired of this job! I know it doesn't make much money but I don't care. It brings me so much joy and I feel I can make a huge difference in their lives!!

Well I have to get dressed for work! Hope you guys have a great day!

OH! If anyone knows any websites/blogs with information about being a childcare provider or activities to do, or just anything, let me know!! :)

While you're reading this post don't forget to follow my social media down below and tell your friends bout me! I love meeting new people!

XOXOXOXOXOXO 

~ Follow my Social Media ~

My Current Go To Makeup Routine

Okay so this post isn't going to be super detailed in the photos. I wanted it to be more detailed but I have yet to figure out my dang camera. I get too anxious to make posts that I'm just like forget it, I'll update it later. It's more of a talk about makeup. 

I used to be super into makeup. Since I have my cosmetology license you know I know how to do makeup. Not like brilliantly, but good enough. Well about the middle of last year is when my fiance (then boyfriend) and I had finally decided to move to San Marcos. Because of that we had to cut back on things like crazy to save as much money as we could. (which was hard because we love food). So I decided to cut back on my makeup spending. It was so hard at first. I'd watch all the youtube videos about the newest products. Which granted yes, most were set in the west where apparently they get the newest stuff first. I would literally make a list of everything I wanted to get and get dissapointed when I know I shouldn't be buying it. Well around September I believe, I saw this blog where a girl was going a whole month without makeup. I was like hey! I've never kept up with anything for a whole month straight. I thought to myself that this would be a great plan. No makeup would be my skin getting a break and trying hard to get it clear and smooth, and also saving money on makeup. 

Let me be the first to say, that month was a changing point in my life. I went a whole month without makeup. Except like two days because I had wedding and a quinceanera to attend. In that month that I went without makeup, my face felt like it could actually breathe for once. I felt more ~fresh~ , my skin was clearing, and hey!.. extra time to sleep in. Who doesn't love extra sleep. It felt so great that when I DID put on makeup, my face instantly felt heavy unable to breath. Does that make sense? It just didn't seem right. Which was great because I learned to love the natural me. I actually prefered it.  

Fast forward to now. What has changed?

Well I still to this day (since middle of last year), I have spent a grand total of about $50 on makeup. Fifty freaking dollars. Are you kidding me? That's makeup suicide! Not kidding. I mean I know people who spend just that amount on a bottle of foundation. Giorgio Armani anyone? Yeah that bottle is $62 people! Don't get me wrong, I would killlll for a bottle of the Luminous Silk Foundation. Annnnywho, so yeah, $50 and that is on a much of items. (NYX always has BOGO sales at ulta) 

The best part? I am completely, totally, 100% okay with that! 

I do put on makeup now, but I keep it to a minimum most days. Kind of like the "no makeup makeup" look but with a few tweaks. I can still "see" my skin under the foundation and my eyes aren't completely dolled up. I love it, I really do. I feel fresh and pretty haha! 

Without further ado here is what I wearing at the moment!

Chuys Creamy Jalapeno Dip

*Some of these photo's are blurry. The camera was having focusing problems while we were making the dip. Because I wanted to get this post out I was too impatient to try another time* 

Calling all Chuy's lovers!!

If you are like me, and you love Chuy's Creamy Jalapeno dip, Jesse and I have made a dip that tastes nearly the same. It's cheaper, and it makes a lot more than you can buy at the store. Plus you make it whenever you want. Where I live the nearest location is about 45 minutes away so it's nice knowing I can make a pretty decent copy cat of it right at home! 

Sunday Some things #1

So I was inspired by Bree (Website here) by her Friday Favorite's so I decided to do something like it. I'm calling it Sundays Some things. A collection of ~ some things ~ that I found that I either just find awesome and things I am putting on a wish list. Just like Bree, I too need some consistency in my blogging so I hope this will help it. 

Let's get started. 

 This is the first thing on my list of definite wants. Jesse and I are saving up to get a Canon 5D Mark II. They already have the Mark III out but the Mark II is still pretty new and still an amazing camera to have. It take photos and video. Jesse's family uses one just like this for their business and their photo's always turn out impeccable.

Around the House ~ 2/03

So we finally are moved in and just about settled in. Jesse has started school so he is busy doing homework, and I on the other hand, well I haven't started my job yet. I've just been sleeping the day away and been with my lovely Bevo. As you may know money can be tight when you first move into a new place, which is why I haven't used my time wiser. The other fact that it's just too dang cold to do anything adds to that. 

A Little Slice of Home

If you have even been to Austin, and you are a pizza lover.. which I am sure 90% of the world is... this is one place you just have to check out. 

Honestly, I am not the biggest pizza lover, unlike my fiance, but I could eat at this place every single day. Rated 4.5 starts out of 5 on Google. I'd like to know why it isn't 5 stars actually! 

Home Slice Pizza is the name. I give it 10 out of 10 any day. 

Happy New Years from me to you!!

WOW! HAPPY NEW YEARS!! (15 days late)

I cannot believe it is 2015 already! The holidays went by so incredibly fast! I haven't posted on here in nearly two months. I don't like that at all!

It's getting cold outside

Hello my lovelies,

So I'm hoping my now most of you can tell that it's starting to get cold outside. If you live in Texas like I do then when it gets cold, you really don't know how to handle it. And you definitely do not know how to dress. I myself struggle with that from time to time. I have put together some outfits on Polyvore for y'all to give you some ideas!

ASMR

Okay, so I may be the last person on earth to know about this but whatever I'm going to share it anyways. I was on Youtube last night and I came across this and thought it was the most amazing thing. So of course I wanted to share it with y'all!! 

Halloweenie fun and more

Hallooo,

So I told you I would post more ideas for Halloween and I'm sorry that I couldn't get it done. Some things came up and what not but ANYWAYS, whats done is done and now I'll show you my costume. :)

Moving away

So this is going to be a long post, so fair warning. :) 


So as a few may know, I am moving to San Marcos, TX in January 2015 with my boyfriend. 

I am pretty excited to move. Excited to get out of east Texas. To be with my boyfriend "starting our own lives". To be independent and learn how to live as an adult. 

My boyfriend, his younger brother, and I visited San Marcos this past weekend because my boyfriend had Bobcat Day at Texas State. The school was amazing. It was so huge I feel you could totally get lost in it. We got to visit a couple sessions about different degrees we all were interested in. First we went into the art and design session. I learned a lot about journalism and mass communication which seems like an amazing, challenging career. And of course my boyfriend went there because of communication design. It made him so pumped up about going to this school because TXST has one of the best communication design programs in the nation. Most people who graduate from there get first hand amazing jobs at top notch art director positions. He is sooo excited about that. Since I've been with him graphic design is all he breathes, eats, and sleeps. He dreams about being a well known art director. So it was very very heartwarming knowing he'll get the best education he can and have an exceptionally bright future. 

Then we went to the business session for my boyfriends brother. He is looking into going to a CIS (Computer Information System) degree. I also learned about a degree in Accounting. Then finally we went to the Teacher Preparation session. I learned all their is to know about becoming a teacher. 

Basically if I decided to teach high school the first two years I would be perusing whichever subject I would like to teach and then the last two years I would be doing the teacher prep classes. If I wanted to do Elementary or Middle school grade (which is what I am leaning more towards) then I would take 4 years of Disciplinary and teacher prep. 



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A little bit about me.

So I feel like I should introduce myself first before anything. Mainly for the purpose of people who don't know me. I'm hoping this blog will lead into something bigger one day. So let's get started!

Well I guess I could start with me first. I'm 22, I live in east Texas. A born and raised Texan. And even though I love traveling, I don't think I could call my home anywhere else. At least right now. There is still so much I haven't seen. 

I have my cosmetology license. For almost two years now. Although I am not doing anything with my license right now, my first love will always be hair/makeup/skin. I do love it more for as a leisure. 

I'm still really young and I guess I haven't found the thing I could see myself doing for a really long time. I'm the type of person that I like to do a little bit of everything honestly. Everything fascinates me. But I do have it narrowed down to about three things: Teacher (elementary or high school), surgical technician, or anything to do with math. 

It is very hard deciding which path to go with. The dreadful taking classes and then halfway through (or even worse after I graduated) thinking nevermind I don't really like this. Maybe that's why I am hesitant about making such a life changing decision. But it does help knowing I'm totally not alone in this process. 

But enough about that. Here are some quick facts about me. 

• I am weird. Plain and simple. and I LOVE that about me. 
• I can be an angel one minute and a devil the next. (not proud, total working progress)
• I love meeting new people, new places, and new things. As straight forward as that is. There is nothing I won't turn down that's new to me. 
• I can be pretty OCD, and I have social anxiety at times (alot)
• I'm pretty much horrible at describing myself

So here is my dog. 

I got him in May from a lady who was moving and couldn't keep him. She was a client of mine one day. I felt like the heavens were all aligned properly that day. I have always wanted a Yorkshire Terrier, and with the right price he was miiiine. Ever since then he has been absolutely perfect (despite some bathroom messes). Although he can be a very stubborn dog, he is so sweet and so energetic. OH, and I almost forgot, his name is BEVO! I mean how cool is that!! Named after the Texas Longhorns. The most perfect name for a dog. 

Next is my Partner in crime,  

*From 2012*

Jesse Rocha. He is my better half..sometimes. Sometimes I'm better ahaha. In September was our 3rd year anniversary. Our relationship has been the biggest roller coaster of my entire life, but it's been the most fun. I've learned how to be patient, to be angry for good reasons. I've learned I do have motherly instincts. I've learned to love unconditionally. Most importantly I have learned that there is no such thing as perfection, but love at first site is completely real. 

In just two and a half short months we will be moving to San Marcos, TX. He will be attending Texas State University to get his Bachelor's in Visual Communication (Graphic Design). I couldn't be more proud of him. 

I'm pretty excited that I finally get to place house. To have a place all to ourselves. To run around in our underwear and not worry about anything (totally not kidding). I get to cook and clean and take care of my man. Has a nice ring to it. 

But it's not going to be all fun and games. Neither of us have lived alone before and we have 0% idea of how to do it. It'll be like jumping into a pool without knowing how to swim. Hopefully our instincts will kick in. But none the less, it will be life changing, and I couldn't be more happier. 

Well that's just the top layer about me. There is so much more to learn, but we will save that for another rainy day. Toodle-ooo! 

Don't forget to follow my social media down below, share my page to your friends, and let's get talking!

XOXOXOXOXOXO 

~ Follow my Social Media ~