#MySundayPhoto - Tailgating

Blue skies

Cool breezes

Delightful smells of food in the air

Music blaring

People galore

Sounds of fun and laughter

Friends and family

Young and old

Alumni and Greeks...

Tailgating

Thank You Notes: Family, Friends, and Kindness

With the holiday season upon us, I start to think about all the little things that mean the world to me.  I thought it would be nice to take a moment and share with you a few things I'm thankful for this week. 

I'm thankful for Starbucks with all their delicious flavors of coffee and tea.  This week called for tea to help keep my allergies at bay.

I'm thankful for a dad who always takes good care of me and my car.  It needed some minor repairs and he switched cars with me for the week.

I'm thankful for The Voice for providing us with GOOD reality TV and showcasing some of the BEST talent in the world!

I'm thankful for old friendships and new friendships with people who just get me.  Spending time with each other celebrating the little things.

I'm thankful for the friendships I've made through blogging and how we remind each other to be thankful and kind.  Are you participating in Mrs. AOK's Kindness Challenge?  If you aren't you should be.

Hoping this #note of thanks will bring you some joy! A teacher's job is never easy. #wereinittogether #worldkindnessweek #happymail #thankyounotes #spreadingkindness #spreadinghappiness #bloglife #RandomAOK #RAOK #randomactsofkindness #kindnesschallenge #BloggersGetSocial

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on Nov 10, 2015 at 5:46pm PST

   I'm thankful for teachers who have classroom feast leftovers so I don't have to cook when I get home.  It was delicious! 

So what are you thankful for this week?  

Check out my linking up page to see where I'm sharing this post.

http://www.mrsaokaworkinprogress.com/ and http://embergrey.com/

World Kindness Day

A simple smile.

A simple gesture.

A simple word or two.

It doesn't take much to be kind!

Its World Kindness Day and I'm participating with Dean of Mrs. AOK in her kindness challenge better known as #RandomAOK, which you can learn more about here.  Isn't the name a perfect fit?  J

Kindness can start anywhere.  Start by sending someone some happy mail.  Who wouldn’t love receiving a little note or gift in the mail?  I know I'm totally excited to see something else in my mailbox other than bills. 

Just finished writing my first thank you note of the week! Are you participating in the challenge that Dean of @mrs_aok proposed to us today? If not, then hop on over to her page and find out what it's all about. It's also World kindness Week so what a great way to spread #kindness! #Happymail is on the way to someone #special to me! A little #Mondaymotivation #thankyounotes #spreadingkindness #bloglife #BloggersGetSocial #happymailisonitsway #worldkindnessweek #RandomAOK #RAOK #randomactsofkindness

A photo posted by sunshineandelephants (@sunshine.and.elephants) on Nov 9, 2015 at 4:32pm PST

Kindness sometimes is taken for granted. I know that may sound weird, but I work in a middle school and I see how students can take the kindness of others as a weakness.  I hate to bring the tone down a bit, but it needs to be noted.  I am a true supporter of the underdog and believe in bringing out their best by helping them  gain the self-confidence they may be lacking.  Nothing special, but I tend to pay a little bit more attention to the ones that have less to say or nothing at all.  Ellen says it best at the end of every show, "Be kind to one another." Good words to live by.

Kindness is something that comes naturally for me.  I don't necessarily think about it; I just Do IT! I don't look at my actions as acts of kindness, I just see them as opportunities to help others.  For instance, coupons I receive in the mail from some of my favorite stores.  If I can't use them, I'll offer them to a friend.  If I go in the store to find something, but don't see a need...I hand them off to someone waiting in the check-out line.  Try it sometimes.  No one has ever refused.  Waste not want not.

Source

What are some ways you can spread kindness?  Here are a few simple things anyone can do...

* Slip coins in parking meters.  Keep those meter maids at bay.

* Tape some coins on vending machines.

* Say hello to someone as you pass them.  This doesn't cost a thing.  J

* Send someone a handwritten note.

* Pay your neighbor a visit or invite them over for dinner.

* Pay It Forward! This has been done for me a few times and it meant a lot to go through a drive-thru to find that my order had been paid for.

* Buy some balloons and randomly hand them out. 

* Call someone you haven't talked with lately.

* Leave a note and a bottle of water in your mailbox for your mail person.

* Leave positive notes on the lockers of others.  (School Counselor here)

* Remember the elderly.  A simple call may do.

* Offer your umbrella to someone in need.  Yes, I've lost a couple  this way.  But it was worth it.

* Be patient with everything you do.  This can make the difference in your day and the day of others.

* Last but not least...SMILE!  You may be surprised with what you receive in return!  :)

Source

#SpreadKindness  #SpreadHappiness  #BeKindToOneAnother  #KindnessMatters

What are some ways you spread kindness?

See where I am Linking Up to share with others.

Ember Grey and Coffee Chat 

Currently November Vol. 2

Today was one of those days.  Long, busy, and tiring.  Sorry to seem so hum drum, but I'm just really tired.  I apologize for the lack of pictures.  Like I said, it was one of those days.

Currently...

Feeling:  STRESSED!!!  Yes, I said it...I am stressed!  I can feel the tension in my neck.  My body is tired and don't feel like doing anything.  As an educator, we have to deal with so much and some things just don't make a lot of sense.  One of the hardest parts of my job, at times, are the parents.  Enough said.

Eating:  A baked, sweet potato.  Sounds pretty boring, huh?  Well I'm too tired to cook tonight.

Sitting:  On my couch writing this post and looking at listening to the evening news.  This may seem boring to some, but I enjoy the news.  Plus, its good to keep up with what is going on in the world.

Teaching:  Today, I visited classes to discuss with them the dangers of Cyberbullying and Internet Safety.  It's one of my favorite lessons to teach.  For the most part, my presentations went as planned, but there is always that one class.  I had to constantly redirect them and some of them were not fully focused or they weren't taking the lesson seriously.  I hope that what I was teaching them sunk in.

Anticipating:  A better day tomorrow!  We have our annual Veterans Day program first thing in the morning.  Thank you for all you do.

Well that's about it for me today.  I will say that writing this post has helped me to de-stress.  Slowly getting back to normal.  Things are not always sunny, but we always have tomorrow to look forward to.  Hope your day was a good one!   What are you currently up to?

October Via Instagram

An eventful month of celebrations. Check out my Instagram page for details on each picture.

My Sunday Photo - Blessing of the Vines

     It was a beautiful day for a blessing!  82 degree weather in November, pretty much expected around here. The skies were clear and a stunning shade of blue.  Perfect for a day of leisure with food, fun, and wine.   The 13th annual Blessing of the Vines at Irvin-House Vineyard on Wadmalaw Island, a rural suburb of Charleston.  Blessings to a bountiful harvest.  Blessings to those who nourished the soiled in the past and those who will do so in the future.  Blessings to Jim and Ann the founders and former owners of the vineyard and to the new owners who are taking on this new adventure. 

Wino Wednesday November

This month I'm joining Amanda and Lindsay for their Wino Wednesday series, featured the first Wednesday of each month.  I'm a wine lover and love to share it with others so why not share it with you guys, right?

Johann Falkenburg Riesling 2014

Take a look at the jewel I found the other week at Sam's Club!  

It was time to stock up and this bottle quickly caught my eye.  Isn't it a beauty?  I didn't even realize how BIG it was until I got it home.  When I went to place it with the rest of its family, I had to laugh at myself.  It doesn't even fit in my wine rack.  Its too tall for the shelves in my pantry and I wouldn't dare put wine on the floor.  I have placed it on the counter, but every time I go to open a cabinet I have to move it out of the way.

I guess I was so mesmerized by the beauty of the bottle, I didn't even notice it's size!

When I am picking out a Riesling, I always go for the German brand.  Their light bodied blends have just the right amount of sweetness and they  pair well with just about everything.  This particular bottle has hints of peach and melon.  Not too dry and just the right amount of sweetness with a pleasant aftertaste.

Winemaker's Notes:

Pairs well with starters, mild seafood, fruits, desserts,

 or as an interesting contrast to spicy Asian cuisine.

Flavor scale = 3 for Medium Sweet

With the holidays right around the corner, I've been thinking about gifts to get for others.  Its masculine, blue body and subtle curves will make a great gift for a man or a woman.  Looking

 for a hostess gift for the holidays? This would be a great choice.  

What are your favorite wines?  I'm always looking for something new to try so please share.  :)

Check out my Linking Up page to see where I'm sharing this post.