[Classroom] Christmas Countdown is ON!

I absolutely love the second quarter of teaching. There are so many holidays, which means a lot of days off! But it also means a lot of fun teaching opportunities for our sweet little kiddos. We have been having so much fun in my classroom these days! We just started a new Holidays Around the World Unit which features holiday traditions in Hawaii, Japan,
Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and Madagascar. We have done the typical Christmas Around the World units with Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, etc, but I really wanted something new this year, so I have worked my okole {butt} off to create a whole new unit. Make sure you check back soon for the details and to purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers! Hope to have it posted up this weekend : )

Anyways.. at the end of every school year, I do the balloon pop countdown for the last twenty days. This year, I decided to do a Winter Break countdown, because we have three weeks off this year, and we are all SO excited about that!

So here is how it works.. I made a construction paper triangle christmas tree on a bulletin board. I cut out some small circles from wrapping paper for the ornaments for the tree. Next, I took small plastic to-go cups (see below) and cut up some red and green ribbon for confetti. 

I wrote little notes for each day of what special activity we will do. I placed one in each cup, matched to the countdown worksheet I created. Then I wrapped the little cups, stuck the correct number (I hope!) on the outside, and stuck them to the bulletin board with some blue painter's tape. 

Each day as we near Winter Break, we will take down one "present" and I will let the students take turns opening each little gift. That will set us up for what special holiday activity we will be doing, or tell the students what country/place we will be "flying" to, to learn about their holiday traditions.

I posted a few pictures below, and will add more as the students begin to explore opening up their daily countdown presents. Now if only I could convince my co-worker to post her AMAZING Christmas Countdown packet she made to correspond with our countdown to Winter Break! 

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka!
-Krista

{CLASSROOM} 31 Amazing Teacher Costumes - BuzzFeed

So I was at work the other day when a friend of mine tagged me in a post called  "31 Amazing Teacher Costumes" from Buzzfeed. Then she wrote that you might recognize someone who is number ONE! So I check it out and it was ME! haha This was pretty shocking! I mean, its not every day you get to go viral on BuzzFeed with your photo of you as a palm tree with the alphabet falling down it!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

It was my first year teaching, and for Halloween, we must dress up with a literacy theme, or something from a children's book. So I love the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, so I decided to be the palm tree! It was probably the easiest costume, ever! I bought those peel apart letters from the local Walgreens in the school supply section, and safety pinned them to my brown clothes. Then, I made a green band for my palm tree leave hat and attached large leaves and coconuts with a stapler. I had pinned this picture on my Pinterest page a while back, and it constantly has been pinned. Regardless, I was SO excited to be featured, even if it was just a simple little BuzzFeed list. 

So there it is, my big claim to fame.. so far. 

aloha :: Krista 

{POP} Pitaya Breakfast Bowl

Pitaya : Dragon Fruit

 What is Pitaya?  

I absolutely love starting my day with a homemade Pitaya breakfast bowl! The Pitaya+ packs I use are really great! It is a frozen raw organic fruit packed with TONS of antioxidants, fiber, magnesium, vitamin B and best of all, no added sugars! 

Pitaya Breakfast Bowl Recipe: 

Ingredients: 

• 1 Pitaya+ packet 3.5oz
• 1 frozen organic banana
• 1/2 cup frozen organic strawberries
• 6 oz. water

--> some days I add in other organic fruits / veggies I have in my freezer (spinach, mango, kale, avocado, etc.) 

to put on top:

• 2 Tbsp of Qi'a Cranberry Vanilla (Qi’a (pronounced Kee-ah) is a Superfood Cereal made with Chia, Hemp and Buckwheat. This power trio of seeds and grains is chocked full of plant-based protein, fiber and Omega-3’s.) 
• 1 Tbsp raw organic shelled pumpkin seeds
• 1 squirt of raw organic honey

Put the smoothie ingredients in your blender (add your liquid first, it will blend better!) 

Blend to the consistency you like, then add your toppings and  ENJOY! 

aloha :: Krista 

{POP} Truly Transformed.. #twentypounds!

It’s not starvation, a diet or a cayenne pepper + water cleanse, its a lifestyle change. 

seriously. this was always the story of my life. 

It's time to take care of myself and to make changes in my life for me. I started my first Purium Ten-Day Transformation Cleanse on July 26, 2014. I thought, oh - 10 days.. I have done a 21 day raw foods cleanse, and many other kinds of juice cleanses, this should be easy! The first two days I was feeling amazing, then day three came. HEADACHES. I am a huge espresso addict and the withdrawal was kicking in. I only drink a cup a day, but man I thought I was going to lose it. But thanks to the support from my great friend, Bryana, who suggested I increase my Ionic Elements throughout the day, I moved right on. Not to mention it was back to school week and that meant a teachers lounge full of sweets and snacks and yummy things people made for our teacher inservice days. But hey - I had my Purium Power Shake and some killer organic flex foods (strawberries & watermelon!) Anyways.. days four turned into seven and before I knew it, I was at ten days! I did it! I lost weight and inches all over my body. But more than weight loss, I felt a sense of clarity and happiness. I was super focused at work and was able to deal with the stress of my job with a smile and laughter. I was so motivated that I decided to continue with the Weight Loss Maintenance program: one day on, one day off for the next 20 days. This part of the process was really beneficial because I was eating smaller portions and much healthier on the days that I could eat. I also started eating chicken (organic and antibiotic free, of course) and have abandoned my pescetarian lifestyle that I have had for the past eight years. I now eat seafood and chicken only, but I am just feeling amazing! I posted the photos from my day one, ten and thirty on Facebook and instagram (@kriista) and the response was so incredible! Friends and family were reaching out to show their support and it was such an empowering feeling! I spent the next few days eating healthy and a couple days drinking beers and eating fun stuff with friends, because hey, what is life without some killer nachos at 1am after a concert? It’s all in moderation. 

Results from my first 30 days of Purium's Transformation Cleanse

If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn't change you. 

two words: flex foods!

So with all of the positive responses, I was feeling more motivated than ever to begin another 30 day cleanse: the 10 day transformation cleanse followed by 20 days of weight loss maintenance, on one day, off one day. Man.. its so funny how our bodies work because by day five, I was so hungry! Some things have changed during this cleanse though. I started a marathon training program, so because I have increased my physical activity, I am monitoring my flex food intake so that I am not too deficient in calories. I also blame pinterest… because man do all of those foods look so good. I think I was torturing myself because I continued to pin food that I want to make for my off days and for after my cleanse. Oh well, just something to look forward to. 

Some other cool things happened during my second ten-day cleanse. While at work on day four,  I had three separate people approach me asking how much weight I have lost and to tell me that I look so great and skinny! I am pretty sure no one has ever told me that before, so that was a huge feeling that really made me smile both inside and out. 

Here I am, finished with my second transformation cleanse. I finished a 30 day cleanse, took ten days off and have now completed the first 10 days of my second transformation cleanse. I have lost a total of 20 {TWENTY} pounds and multiple inches from my legs, arms, waist, chest.. everywhere! I am finally getting closer to the weight goal that I have envisioned for years, but felt like I would never get back to. Purium has given me that light and positive motivation again. 

Results from the first 10 days of my second Transformation Cleanse

I have lost so much weight and inches with Purium, but I have gained so much more. I have gained friendships, happiness, and confidence. I can not thank everyone enough for your support and encouragement throughout the past 50 days. Here to twenty more days of health and happiness. Stay tuned for more PURIUM updates. 

Please visit my links to e-mail me, facebook, instagram whatever your social media flavor is, if you are interested or want to find out more. I really encourage everyone to find out more information and join the Purium movement! Plus, I have a $50 gift card waiting for you! ;)

Aloha: Krista