Teacher Week 13' - Parte Uno

I am so thrilled to be linkin' up with Blog Hoppin' on this fine Monday evening for the first day of "Teacher Week 13'"!

Today's theme...

Yes, this means you are going to be subjected to 10 "fun" things about little ole' me. Don't all jump at once ;) (Although, I must admit, I have already had oh so much fun reading through many of your "10 fun things"...its great to see the teachers behind the blogs!)

So here goes...Krista Carlson...super teacher...in a nutshell!

1.) This will be my 6th (ehh...does that make me a veteran now?) year of teaching! I taught 2 years of 1st grade dual language, 3 years of 2nd grade dual language, and as many of you who follow know, I scored a pretty sweet new position this year as the Dual Language Instructional Coach for our building. It's going to be quite the learning curve...but I am ready for a new challenge!

2.) I am short. I mean seriously vertically challenged status. Last time I was measured, I came in at a whopping 5'0" (and this may be due to some generous rounding up on the part of my dr. ;)).

3.) I looveeee exercising and gettin my muscles movin' and groovin'. (I know...I know..it's something most of us just do...because we feel it's necessary), but seriously, it's my stress relief! It's like candy to me ;)!

Here's good ole' Mama Carlson and I after we ran the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon this summer in Chi-Town.

4.) I am dating my best friend. No really. Ryan and I were best friends for 6 years before we started officially dating this past winter. We were there for each other through everything life threw at us (including other relationships ups and downs) ...when things just finally fell into place, and we realized - wait a minute- we both love each other, know each other inside and out and we are one another's best friends. Why aren't we together? And the rest is history! 

I mean we are cute right?

He's the best.

5.) Now for the other love of my life...Miss Bella.

I mean I think the picture explains it all. 

That face just gets me every time. 

I can't believe she is already going to be 4 in Sept.!

6.) I love, love, love to travel. It is my goal to make it to 6 of the 7 continents before I die (I get cold easily...so I am thinkin Antarctica might not welcome me too well).

I learn so much from the people I meet and the places I see and I just feel like there is nothing better than the experiences and insight into the world I have gained through travel!

Did I introduce you to my second career...Miss Carlson R.N. 

Just kidding. All breathe a sigh of relief.

Here is a pic of me when I went to Honduras with my mother and other oncology nurses/doctors to serve as a translator. I must say my medical knowledge and medical Spanish flourished. 

7.) I am in love with organization, checklists, you name it. I mean to the point of adding things to a list that I have already done, just so that I have the gratification of checking it off. It's bad...but makes me feel oh' so accomplished!

8.) I <3 smoothies. I make them nearly every day either for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Orange juice with bananas, strawberries, a touch of vanilla protein powder and agave syrup. To die for.

9.) I recently had to go gluten and dairy free. It's been quite the lifestyle transition, but...I must say it has turned me from a cooking "dud" into a cooking "stud?"...or at least mediocre ;)! Going out to eat just isn't quite as fun as it used to be and definitely not as easy. So I have been doing a lot of cooking at home! 

Check out this spaghetti squash boat with turkey meatballs I managed to pull off last week. I'm workin it!

10.) I am a "quote-aholic". And by this I mean I love positive messages. I have everything from frames to notecards written out with scripture and positive quotes all over my house, office, you name it. I just love the constant reminders of how I want to live and look at life as well as how truly blessed I am.

Now head on over and learn about the lives behind the blogs of some of the other fabulous ladies you follow!