Small Group Work

Small Group Work - What it looks like in my class:

Over the past month I have been experimenting with small group work in my classes. Small groupings to assist with students who are low readers. Today I categorized my groups as follows:

Group 1: Character analysis of their literature circles:
Students will write:
Book:
Author:
Character:                                      Direct Characterization                 Indirect Characterization
(name of character)                  the writer makes direct statements                     author expresses                                                                                                                                          through action

Group 2: Study Vocabulary Words

Group 3: A Long Walk to Water: Writing Prompt
              (Students will write how the Excerpt 2 relates to Salva's story in, ALWTW)

Group 4: Small Group reading with Ms. Durrance
               We will read a small short story, and examine it. Answer comprehension questions based on                the story.

The students will rotate every 20 minutes.
If someone where to take this idea, it would probably last two days. Because I have a 120 minutes with each class it only takes up one day. I liked this experience today.

Imprints on a Teacher's Heart

Realizing I had not said the Pledge of Allegiance in five years.
When I taught my first lesson and the class applauded.
When the girl who I thought didn't like me,
brought me coffee in the morning.

When the student gives me a school picture.
When the students say I'm a great teacher.

When the friends in class, end up punching each other.
When I let the seniors dance in class, because they were about to graduate.

The first day as a teacher hearing, "she looks mean."

When the thirteen year old girl
in the second row, is 6 foot
and sized me up by yelling at me.
When a girl threw a book at me because I took her phone.

When the boy travels across the world
on winter break and brings pictures to share.

When the boy moves to Germany in the middle of the year,
and says that he will miss me as a teacher.

When the girl taught the class for one period
and everyone listened to her.

When the substitute wrote a note saying how bad my students were.

When the student who failed over and over again,
came to class with a positive, motivating attitude.

That first field trip.
That first winter market place.
The time someone threw a computer at me.
That first school with a dress code.
The kid who threw up in my class.

All the homemade cards.
The conversations during an election year.
The struggles of students home life.
The way I can see how young girls look up to me.

Always wondering if I'm really making an impact.
Getting a note letting me know,
I'm a light in her day.

Career Self-Assessment

Today for homeroom, I passed out a career self-assessment, that judges your personality to deciding what career you will enjoy most. I thought it was interesting, so I decided to fill one out myself. There are six sections, (RIASEC) that is based off a theory from psychologist Dr. John Holland. R- realistic, I- Investigative, A- Artistic, S- Social, E- enterprising, and C-conventional. It asks you to box the items under the category that you think you would enjoy most. For example, under "S" there was; work with children, care for a sick person, study psychology...ect.

After you box in your choices, you add up your results and see where your interest is most high.

Now for the results...

I tied for Social and Enterprising.

I looked up what careers are under those categories and here is what is looked like:

Social Career:

• Clergy
• genetic counselor
• social worker
• dental hygienist
• physician assistant
• dental assistant
• licensed practical nurse (*)
• high school teacher (*)
• instructional coordinator
• college teacher(*)

Enterprising Careers:

• hair stylist (*)
• flight attendant (*)
• arbitrator, mediator, conciliator (*)
• paralegal/legal assistant
• lawyer (*)

I'm glad that I at least fall under the career I have chosen right now (teacher). Its is good to know my personality and choices add up. I have always wondered what I would/could  do if I wasn't teaching. Looks like I have quiet the options! I put a (*) by the choices that most intrigue me!
HEY! I am still young, I can have dreams!! :)


http://personality-testing.info/tests/RIASEC/

http://uhcc.hawaii.edu/jobcenter/riasec_multiLang.php

Small students, Big Voices

Over the last couple weeks it has been an interesting experience in the classroom. It went from bullying and debates to praises and more bullying.

Who knew how much of an impact hate can have on an eleven year old brain. It's true that most kids at this age will believe whatever their parents believe, and it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the hate taught to them. When I was growing up, I was taught to accept people for their differences. Actually no, growing up in Saudi Arabia I realized that everyone was different from me, and I loved it. I was intrigued and loved learning culture and traditions that weren't my own. I remember wanting to be Indian so I could always wear the pretty head dresses and have henna on my hands. I remember enjoying hearing the prayer call at sunset. I just grew up in a community where we all loved one another. I realize as a child you have that accepting heart, and it's not until you go off into the real world that you face prejudices and criticizing.

Where in the world did having a political stance become the right to show hate towards other people. Love always wins, but what happens when the world is so corrupt to hate it seems to triumph over showing love and care for people?

The things that I hear in class are terrible. More than you would ever know. It's discouraging to see a generation impacted by the action and words of adults they are surrounded by. The only thing teachers can do is try and share love and try and stop hate. To teach respect is so difficult, especially if they are not learning it at home.

None of my personal bias can go into my day to day; just care and support. However; how do I not show what I believe in if the students start harassing others for their skin color, religious beliefs, and what country their ancestors are from. It's bad enough having a congress and senate that is divided, but to have students having to come to school, a "safe" place where you are supposed to be allowed to speak and share opinions, and not feel "safe", is terrible. It's to the extent where one kid will be getting bullied and then the next week that person is starting to do the same exact bullying that was happening to him/her.

Has teaching always been this way? Or was it worse back when schools were segregated? I can only hope that maybe my acceptance of all students and the belief that everyone deserves a good educator, will impact these students lives. I mean, it's just 7th and 8th grade, but who knows what they will see in the future? I barely remember those years myself.

Thoughts

As a teacher you go into work being the best actress you can be. I really do put on a face. There is such a boundary between the students and yourself. The kids see you in this "teacher" role and expect that you are the "teacher" when you leave to go home too. Faculty even dresses you in a role of professional judgments. It's crazy that based off of what your job title is, people think they know your life. Or they think that you don't have life because teachers dedicate so much of their time to the classroom. It is almost dehumanizing.
It's amazing to me the type of people we run into on a day to day basis. One teacher friend told me once, "If something happened to you, or if you didn't show up, who would REALLY care? They would have someone in here in your place in a heartbeat." It's only now that I see what she was saying. People don't treat people with "care." They expect the person to show up. Kids expect teachers to accommodate to their every need. Family expects you to do a good job. I'll admit, all these expectations push me to be a better person in all aspects of my life. However, I am having a hard time thinking, Why

And so the Crazy Begins

              It has been a busy last two weeks! I have been on the go getting all the "teacher" stuff rockin' and rollin'! Teaching 7th and 8th grade should be super fun this year, and a chance for me to grow in my career! Early mornings and late nights are in my future, but I am blessed to have this opportunity. There are a lot of similarities, but WAY more differences this year, than last. One thing I'm able to tell everyone though is that this group of students are amazing! I can't wait to see what they can accomplish. I believe the novels I am going to teach are; The House on Mango Street, The Watson's go to Birmingham, and A Christmas Carol. For 8th grade I'm thinking...lol, I'm still thinking.

              Looking for a car is another task on my list of things to do. Being in a one car family has it's challenges, but I kind of enjoy the ride to work and ride home with Travis. In good timing we will find the right vehicle for me.

             Football season!! Yay, today is the day that we've all been waiting for. Hopefully we can attend a game in Charlotte this year, while the 49ers are there! :) Yes the hullabalu about Colin Kapernick, and I totally agree with his right to express himself. Military members fight and die for Americans to express themselves and to practice those freedoms. To say that he can't do that, would be defeating the purpose all together. It all makes sense to me. It's sometimes sickening to see how people respond to others. We see so much hate now days, if you are not doing what the majority of society is doing. Any way.. the way people are reacting to him, is exactly proving his message. Off this topic, I'm super excited for the football season. Hopefully it will be more about football, and less like a soap opera!

             I'm praying that this week is successful, and that everyday I can try to get better. This post seems like a little glimpse into my thought process tonight. :) Until next time!

New Beginnings

September 1, 2016 You can call me Ms. Durrance Good News!           I've been given an opportunity to teach at a Charter School this year! I am so excited for the chance to change young people's lives again. Timing is everything. I am so thankful and relieved, that I got to start at the beginning of the school year. It will give me a chance to lay down routines, procedures, create class rules, and get to know the students! I didn't get that chance last year, and over these last four days, I have seen just how important it is to have the teacher there the first day!           I have a new set up. Tile floors, pretty rug, no lockers, glass white boards, and a huge TV. It's homey, but I hope to add a few more "warm" touches over this next week (like lamps, more poster boards, and a huge calendar for the wall).            I'm grateful to have had the extra motivation from Travis. I was just about to substitute for the rest of the year, but I'm glad to have pushed forward in my application process. These students are so impressive, and their writing has blown me out of the water! The seventh and eighth graders have already read Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer's Night Dream!All some of my favorites, and I can not believe they read it at this grade level. The students are advanced in areas of reading and writing, which is beautiful for me, because now I have the opportunity to make more rigorous lessons for them. I am looking into novels that we could read over the year, because next week is when we will dive into heavier content.              Congratulations to all my other teacher friends and family for starting off another school year strong! Keep your head up and continue to love these students! Ms. D :)

THANKFUL Thursday  Given the opportunity to teach. 7th and 8th grade  The future of the world is in my classroom.

The Man on the Boat

Travis's Words of Wisdom
Folklore that has Been Passed Down to me Recently:

Did I ever tell you the story of the man on the sinking boat?

He was out in the ocean, and his boat started sinking. He prayed to God that He would help and save him.
God said he would help him.

There was some water in the boat now, and the man was feeling frightened. Just then, a boat with some men came up beside him. They said to the man, "Hey, get on my boat, I'll help you. You're sinking!"
The man said, "No, no, God is going to help me." So the men in the boat kept going.

Now the water was up to the man's waist and another boat came up beside him. "Hey, hey, you must get on our boat, before you sink," the captain said.
The man insisted, "No, no, God is going to come save me."
So the captain on the other boat kept going.

The water was now up to his neck, and a third boat came up beside the man.
The passenger said, "Here take my hand, I'll save you."
But the man said, "No, no, God is going to come help me and save me."
With those last words, the man sank under the water and drowned.

He went to heaven.
When he got there, he met God there, and the man asked Him, "God why didn't you come help me and save me from sinking?"

God replied, "I sent you three boats and people to help you out, but you weren't listening."


______________________________________________________________________________

--I know, a spin off the Biblical story.
A story of a person who is stubborn and won't take help from anyone. Someone who thinks they can handle life/situations on their own.
The other version teaches faith, trust, and the ability to believe in God. This story teaches me that I shouldn't try to handle things on my own, and that maybe God does send people to us in mysterious ways to get us through hard times.

It did make me think.

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Trust: noun: firm belief in the reliability something or someone.

Trust: verb: believe in the reliability, truth, or strength of.

Reliable: adj: consistently good in quality or performance: trustworthy.

Understanding: adj: archaic: insight or good judgment.


This idea of trusting the Lord is a lot harder than it reads. I've been trying to make a plan. I heard the other day that there are two types of dreamers; lazy dreamers and proactive dreamers. Those two types of dreamers scream out at me. When I was in college I felt like I was a proactive dreamer. Everything I was doing was focused towards a goal. If I went to college I could become a teacher, then maybe I could teach at a university- that was my mindset. Eventually I was able to reach part of my dream. I became a teacher, and it was one of the most exciting times in my life. After my first year, my contract ended, and I was left looking for another teaching job, during the summer. There is insecurity not having a teaching job lined up right away.
So in saying all this, I have come to this Bible verse. God has been a constant in my life. I have relied on Him to comfort me during tough times. My own understanding is all confused at the moment, and even though life is good, I am seeking Him for guidance. I must continue to trust that if I apply myself and become a proactive dreamer, that God will see it.

Please reply to this post with your favorite motivational quote or verse.

Westin, Grady, Priest, Manito, Nana

..My Trip Put into Words..

A picture is worth a thousand words. That's why I posted the video of all my pictures. It was long, like six minutes, but I just loved watching it. I have been resting up this week from the speedy trip. The time change wasn't too bad, but I think my body is adjusting finally.

Travis and I did about all we could to in San Diego! It was so much fun seeing Amy and Chris and meeting my nephew, Grady, for the first time. He is a bundle of joy; I could hold him all day! We stayed at The Westin, in downtown San Diego. It was a perfect location to the bay and the Gaslamp Quarter. We were in walking distance to everything. Breakfast was just around the corner, and sense we woke up so early we could work out and then walk to breakfast. By that time it was still around 10 AM. We still had so much of the day left to enjoy. That was one perk of the time change.

Petco Field, National Anthem

Grady and Me at Coronado Beach
-Grady was looking at Travis- :)

Amy and Chris were so awesome. They drove us back and forth to their house, the air port, and to the beach. They also treated us to a baseball game at Petco Park. It was actually really fun, and the most awesome weather. We got to sit in the shade, and we all got on the big camera. The sweetest thing happened, they played "The Lion King" song and all the fans held their kids up in the air. Chris did that to Grady and they made it on the big screen again! It was awesome.

The Gaslamp Quarter was neat, and Travis and I got a drink on the roof of a place. It was a great vibe, and there was so many people. We also walked to the the U.S.S Midway and got pictures around the "kissing sailor." The time we had was unforgettable. I almost enjoy doing things much more now that I'm older, because I can remember more.

We made our way to Spokane, WA. Where I grew up, but there was just one little difference. My mom and dad moved on base, so I no longer went to the house I grew up in. So weird. It was nice on base though, and my mom made the new house really homey and cozy. I love how she decorated it. She even bought flowers and decorated our rooms. Dinner was so good!!! Home cooked meals are the best! I want more! She made peach cobbler, chicken, mac n' cheese, and salad. Then the next morning she made a huge breakfast! I loved every minute of it. My mom treated me to a spa day:) OMG, best experience I've had with my mom in a long time! We just got to relax, talk, and enjoy each other's company. Dad, Travis, and I played tennis in the morning. It was fun to get out there and play a little. The "romantic sport" as the Durrance family would say.

Dinner at the Floating Restaurant 

I finally got to see Nana and Papa, when we went to Coeur d' Alene for dinner with them.
 The dessert was so good- Huckleberry Cheesecake and MudPie! I miss seeing them, and there were some good laughs at dinner.

I got to go to my favorite place, Priest Lake. That is in Idaho, for those of you that don't know. It's a beautiful lake that I went to while I grew up. I never thought I would be able to take Travis there, and I'm so glad I did. It was a dream come true, and I believe he really enjoyed it too. We got in the cold water. It's still to this day the clearest, cleanest lake I've ever been in. (The people on the plane from WA to Denver, were at Priest Lake too while they were there--The world is smaller than you think). We got to go out on the boat, and ate at Hills Resort, for dinner. Aunt Mary and Uncle Ed treated us!

Uncle Ed, Dad, Mom, and Aunt Mary
Boating on Priest Lake

Okay, okay, I know this is a long post, but it's so much life filled into one week, I had to share with the world. :)

Visiting Nana

Our last day was filled with seeing Nana, Franks diner, Pina Coladas, visiting The Grand Hotel, Manito Park, and finishing watching "Sleepy Hollow," <--- The movie I picked out...which I still can't tell if my family or Travis liked it or were just saying so ... haha.

Manito Park, Spokane WA

At the new Davenport, The Grand Hotel
-Pina Colada- 

**Sigh--such a great trip, ya'll have no idea**

San Diego to Washington Video

Saving Money For The Big Trip

Saving Money for a Big Trip
How can we afford our dream vacations?

Almost every day I am thinking about where I can go next. Whether a different city, state, or around the world, I have these big huge dreams of traveling. I really don't want the regret when I'm older that I never did anything because of money. 

Now, money has a lot to do with how far we can go, but it shouldn't hold us back from experiencing the most in life. I believe fully that travel can teach us so much in life. Learning new cultures, how people live, and that going can buy us more than we'll ever know. Growing up, I thought that after high school I would be traveling Europe. It didn't happen but in the next five years I plan on making a lot of trips. 

Places I would love to visit are: New Orleans, Los Angeles, Alaska, Canada, London, Venice, Greece, Rome, Italy, South Africa, (The Oasis Restaurant in Texas), Paris, and Australia. I'm sure that as I grow I will acquire some more interests, but for now I will focus on the saving part of the trips. 

So how can I save money?

1. Destination: 

Once you have a set destination you are more focused on how you are going to save. You now can research the currency, ways of travel, and things that you might want to do. Having this destination as a goal will help with the rest. 

2. Cost:
Research the types of activities or opportunities you will have in the place you are going. For instance, we knew that there was one big activity we were going to do at Myrtle Beach, when we went last weekend, and we set aside money for that. You are going to have to sacrifice something. Try and divvy out your money for the experience you could never had at "home base." Know the difference in currency. Something that costs 20 dollars here, might now cost in riyals somewhere in the middle east. 

3. Save the "fun" money:
While you are building up to that vacation you shouldn't be going out to eat every weekend before. Make time to make grocery lists the week before so that you buy only what you will need, before you leave the house empty. Try not to blow your money on things not necessary.. You may want it, but do you NEED it?

4. Use your Savings Account:

I used my savings account a lot when I was younger. As I got older I tended to freely transfer money to checking so that I could have spending money whenever I wanted. Well, when you are saving for a trip you need to put the money in the savings account and not touch it until you are on your trip. Factor in an amount from each paycheck, maybe 15% or more depending on how much income you are making. Even if it was $100 a day, that is good emergency money or at the most a days worth of eating out at restaurants.

5. Look for Deals:

When looking for hotels or activities check out Groupon app, Also if you are in an American city, you could always download the Uber App instead of renting a car. (That has helped me and Travis out a lot). Groupon gives discounts on hotels and things to do. 

6. Invest in Airline memberships:

It may seem crazy but frequent flyer miles can give you free tickets after so many miles. It's a great investment. 

7. Itinerary:

Write down the financial plan you want to stick by. Once you map out how much money hotel, air fare, maybe gas mileage, food per day you can plan the fun stuff. Multiply the food and maybe taxi fair by the amount of days you will be there. It will give you an estimated cost of what you really do need to save. Now save towards the goal. 

Yoga .. Flex

"Let me see you do that Yoga"

Yoga in the park last night, was one of the most relaxing things I've ever done. At Midtown Park at North Hills, Fitness Connection creates Wellness Wednesdays. Different exercise classes in the grass from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. 

The weather was absolutely perfect. I was nervous going by myself, but once I started exercising, it was empowering. It must have been the mix of being nature while doing such an individual exercise, that made me love it so much. When I laid back on my mat and looked up all I saw was blue skies. It was beautiful. I never thought I would do something like this, and it's something I want to do again. Something I enjoy about fitness, is the challenges with oneself. Everyday I'm trying to get better. Whether it's at how fast or far I  run. Or how much I can lift; meanwhile keeping in mind that my health is important, and that the more I take care of myself I could be adding years onto my life. 

At the end of the yoga session, we did relaxation poses. I really got into deep thought. Currently I'm looking for another teaching job, and am praying for the right position. The days are trickling down to the first day of school, and I am being as patient as I can be. One thing I was proud of myself last night, was that I finally let go of my worry. While on vacation at Myrtle Beach I realized living in the NOW is so much more enjoyable, than worrying about the future. Last night while doing yoga, I really took the time to be good to myself. It's not everyday we do something for ourselves. I left, telling myself that I will continue to be determined in my job hunt. I will be positive about what is happening in life right now, because to be honest, life's been pretty good to me! 

--Happy side note: I am getting my first washer and dryer delivered to our apartment on Friday:) This is a huge deal, and like a luxury living in an apartment! No more taking 4 loads of laundry up and down three flights of stairs...carrying all the way to the laundry room. I am so grateful!! 

Upper left, upper right, lower right photos taken by Ashley Durrance
Lower left photo taken by: Midtown Park at North Hills Facebook

 https://www.facebook.com/NHMidtownPark/photos

Myrtle Beach 2016

Myrtle Beach, SC

First stop on the map this summer is, Myrtle Beach, SC. Family vacation..meets couple get away. It was so much fun, and I was looking forward to it after a hard year teaching! We spent Wednesday through Saturday at the Palace hotel, ocean front, and steps away from the beach. 

We got in late, so we stayed in. We were lucky to be facing the pier where we saw fireworks go off. It was beautiful. Our room, on the 19th floor, was super nice. I don't know what it is about vacation but I always wake up super early. I woke up around 6 AM and took a picture out the window of the gorgeous sunrise. We had complementary breakfast and went running 1.5 miles down the road to the hotel Travis's family was staying at. I ran it in 15 minutes! I was excited, and it was a plus that at the end of the run there was a Starbucks! My reward, haha:) We got ready and went to Broadway. Broadway is a place where there is shopping and restaurants. We went walking, which it was pretty hot. Hot enough that the ground we were walking on was burning through my sandals and burnt my feet. We stopped at Wet Willies and got slushy drinks. I got a Pina Colada, OMG it was so good!! Along with a garden chicken salad, it was perfect. Travis got a drink called, Call a cab! I can't wait to find another Wet Willies one day, just to try something else! We spent the rest of the day with family. Did I mention there was Pokemon in the hotel? Haha, I caught like six in the room! 

The next day we went to Broadway Grand Prix. We went go-kart riding, on bumper cars, and finished up with put-put golf. Super fun, super hot, but well worth it. We went to the beach later in the day, got in the ocean, and took pictures. I had to show off my "beachbody" haha. The water was warm but because we went later in the day the sun wasn't too hot on our bodies. I think my leg got hit by a jelly fish! 

I wish we could have stayed longer! Vacation is such a great escape! I sometimes wish life could be a everlasting vacation, with fun new things, new places to see, yummy food, and relaxation. I may have to find a way to achieve this. I was thinking if I were to teach every year and have summers, I can have a total blast my whole life on summer vacations! 

I'm looking forward to next weekend--> California -->Washington!!

Celebrating 24 Years of Age

Ashley 24 Years 

I was born July 25, 1992. Last Monday, Travis and I celebrated together, here in Raleigh. We went to a restaurant called, CowFish. I was treated to dinner, a Strawberry Gravitron Cocktail, and a brownie moose piece of cake :) 

There is a lot that has happened in 24 years of my life. So many ups and downs that have made me who I am. I tried a lot to keep focus on the future and not look back to the past. I thinks it's a good way to keep positive. Never though, have I neglected the lessons I learned from things that have happened in the past. 

I have put some life changes into motion, since my last birthday; one being living a healthier lifestyle. I started working out everyday and changing my eating habits. If I can control one thing in life, it's what I put into it. I found that the healthy changes fueled my positive behaviors. I was blessed to lose 15 pounds in a year. Slow and steady weight loss, but it's been really amazing to look back at pictures and see the physical changes. 

Another accomplishment this year was getting my first teaching job. Teaching 7th grade taught me SO much. Everyday I found myself trying to improve something, whether it was my lesson plans, how I taught, how I managed classroom behavior, communication with parents, it was a learning experience every day. I was met with challenges moving to NC with a teaching licence in WA. I recently got my certificate here, and am on the lookout for a new teaching job here in Raleigh. 

New goals for my 24th year on Earth are :

Keep the healthy life style--another 15 pounds to lose

Get a teaching job -- high school

Travel -- christmas vacay??

Stay Positive -- glass half full

Do something I've never done before -- ??

For love of all things, Breakfast

https://www.etsy.com/listing/165594178/bacon-and-eggs-mug-1-mug?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Breakfast for Champions

Granola, blueberry quinoa, yogurt, coconut covered bananas
Yum!

Yes, it is true I love food, but I love breakfast food the most. The aroma of coffee, cinnamon, and bacon in the air makes my stomach happy. There are a couple of places in Raleigh that I highly recommend; Another Broken Egg, The First Watch, and Duck Donuts.

 Another Broken Egg, recommendations;
-Cinnamon Roll
-Bacon
-Granola-quinoa bowl (pictured above)
-French Toast

-What I really want to try is their benniets, and their nutella latte.

Duck Donuts, recommendation:
-Glaze
-Maple bacon
-Chocolate glaze
-Bare

The First Watch, recommendations:
-Belgian Waffles
-EGGS -they are the best here

Asheboro Zoo

Asheboro Zoo

Over the weekend Travis, his nieces, and I went to the North Carolina Zoo, in Asheboro. We have been wanting to go, and it was great to take his nieces on the adventure. We entered at the Africa entrance, and decided to see as much as we possibly could. Inside they had a ropes course (which would be cool to do on a cooler day), and at different times of the day the people at the zoo would exhibit the animals. 

We trekked for hours! The animals are so very pretty. I loved seeing the polar bear, elephants, zebras, giraffes, and other animals like; owls, ocelots, seals, bears, elk, bison, and chimpanzees. The polar bear was the biggest hit between me and the girls. It got up off the rocks and dove into the water. We stood right at the edge of the water and could look over. The bear would swim up out of the water with its face, facing us, and then he would push off the rocks and go back under. It was cute. 

I have only been to one other zoo, in Portland, OR...and my family went on a rainy day. I remember having to wear my Northface jacket, it was so cold. Well it wasn't cold this weekend!! It was 88 degrees but my phone said that it really felt like 95. After about ten minutes of walking, the girls were asking for water. We tried to stay hydrated. We made a pit stop at a burger shop, and ate hamburgers and hot dogs, french fries, and dip and dots ice cream. :) At the end of the day we had seen just about everything at the zoo! It was a great experience! The heat zapped us, and the girls fell asleep on the way home. 

**It was a light way to end the week, as it was a sad week in America, and I found myself getting angry watching the news, and reading people's posts on social media. This is all to much a bigger issue than people know. So in the midst of my deep thought about what America is coming to and what the future generations will attest to, I was happy to be around loved ones. It filled my heart with joy to see the look on Travis's nieces faces, as we saw some of the animals.** 

Fourth of July Weekend

**Hello July**

Month of Fun

Independence Day, Myrtle Beach, SC, Birthday 

Saturday we woke and I made breakfast:: toast, grits, omelets, bacon. We went running at Shelly Lake. This is a trail that is a 2.2 miles long that we like to run or walk on. This was the first time I wanted to try and run the 2 miles all the way through. I successfully ran the whole thing without stopping, and it took me 21 minutes. It was a small success. I have been trying to work my running stamina up, because we want to run 1.5 miles while we are at Myrtle Beach. I think I can handle it now. After our run, we went strait home to clean our tennis shoes. While on the trail there was some flooding that caused a lot of mud. I was so mad while running, because I had worn my new Nike shoes. The toes of my shoes were covered in mud, but thankfully a little 409 helped the mud come off. 

Shelly Lake - Tree Tops

Travis treated me to some shopping at Target just across the street from our apartments. Then he took me to Cameron Village. I LOVE this part of Raleigh. It has restaurants and shopping, and is really close to downtown. We ate at my favorite restaurant, Cameron Bar and Grill. I always get the Black Bean burger and sweet potato waffle fries, it is so good. It's a place I would definitely take my parents, if they ever come visit. We sat outside, for the first time... and of course we had to switch tables because there was a storm coming in. Thankfully we finished before the rain started.

Travis took this picture of me while at Cameron Bar and Grill

 

Sunday, a very relaxing day. Starting with my amazing eggs, toast, and grits breakfast:) We did a heavy duty leg workout and then hit up Buffalo Wild Wings. Yes, yes, we eat out on the weekends. I cook everyday during the week and by Friday and Saturday I love to eat out. As long as I'm choosing the healthier options I don't see the harm...(portions are everything). Travis and I have been wanting to go the movies for a while now, but nothing too interesting was out; however we decided to go see, Independence Day Resurgence, and I really enjoyed it. I hadn't seen the first one, and that didn't matter, the story line was pretty good. "It didn't play up the alien portion of it," as Travis said, and I agree. The plot was great, and I really enjoy the movies now because the recliner seats!

The Fourth

I spent the 4th of July with Travis and his family. (Can't forget the pit-stop at Waffle House) It was so fun. With great conversation, food, and fireworks! Hot dogs, burgers, baked beans, pasta salad, deviled eggs! Fireworks in the front yard, and they were beautiful! I can't wait for family vacation at Myrtle Beach! We are all going to have a blast. 

North Hills

North Hills

Dancing. Restaurants. Music. 

A spontaneous trip to North Hills was just what I needed last night.

North Hills is an innovative part of town where the working district meets urban living, shopping, and dining. Across the street from large banking buildings sits North Hills. There is an underground Target and a parking deck for a Harris Teeter. Apartments sit above chic shopping stores and high class restaurants. Travis and I have gone there to eat at Yard House and Cow Fish (which I highly recommend), but we had heard there was live music on Thursdays, and thought we should see what it is all about. 

Surrounding the cinemas and Starbucks, was a gated off portion- courtyard- for the community to sit or stand. A live band and lots of people dancing. It was fun to get out and see life; young and old. 

"Fox and Hound," a pretty great sports bar, is where we stopped in at. The atmosphere was everything and more. 

I can't wait to go back, I hardly wanted to leave.  

If you're interested in knowing more about this area check out North Hills blog. 
http://visitnorthhills.com/live/

Nice to Meet you

Hello!

My name is Ashley. This is my second year living in Raleigh, NC. I am an English major, and I love to write **why I am starting this blog. I also really love to travel, experience new places, people, food, and culture. This blog will hold pictures, stories, and reviews of places I go in Raleigh, but also my vacations.
I am a girl friend, a teacher, a sister, and a dream chaser. I titled this blog, "Small Girl- Big World," because that's how life can make me feel sometimes. We are so small compared to Earth, and I just want to experience the most out of it all.

"Oh, the places you will go." - Dr. Seuss

Me