still figuring it out…

One of my best friends so sweetly let me know that she visited my blog for inspiration. It touched me to think I could give this to anyone, really but especially someone I care so deeply for. I’ve been on a crazy roller coaster in the last few months in all aspects of life but then I think to myself, aren’t we all? At least all 20-somethings? We should have it “figured out,” we’re glorified “kids,” because most of us still depend on finding the answers through others’ requests (particularly parents), still struggling (with a degree or two) what our calling truly is–how can we integrate our passions into what “job” we want to do for the rest of our lives? And then there’s the old saying that we should love what we do…and it simply won’t be a “job” but what complicated mess it is. I can’t say I’m near to figuring it out but I can admit that I’m learning to live closer to gracefully and in the present as ever. I struggle constantly and think this is going to be a long journey but here goes nothing…(again)

web designers?

hi! any folks out there (students or not) who would be interested in working on a new look and layout for missananda.com? I would so so appreciate it!! please contact me at anandagovani@gmail.com.

figuring it all out

it’s almost been 4 months. and let me tell you life has gotten to the best of me. as you grow and learn about all parts of yourself, the things you need and don’t need, the things you know will fulfill you, just everything you…you realize and re-scope constantly. especially as a 20-something. there is no doubt that the last 4 months have been tremendously life changing for me. nonetheless just as expected, i’ve realized just like many of us..we want to refocus. i’m consciously deciding to focus on how to be the best “miss ananda” or ms. singh that i can be. but, that doesn’t solely mean what works in the classroom or techniques with students, but also how do i help myself in order to do those things as best as i can and how i want them to be done..here’s to growing up and being a 20-something in this friggen world.

some of the things i want to do again (many that i worked really hard to implement but then lost, but hey, isn’t that the reality? let’s give it a try again):
– read every day
– write my thoughts and appreciations
– taking photos of things i love
– calls to friends and family
– watching crappy television shows
– tea
– baking/cooking
– art journaling
– naps
– lighting candles
….just a few.

currently listening to: “Rather Be” –Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne

currently loving//Ingrid Michaelson’s ‘Girls Chase Boys’

these last few weeks any time this song would come onto iTunes radio the volume would automatically increase in the car/computer/etc. and the jam sesh would start. (whether eileen were together or not) i think that’s all that really needs to be said 😉

 

girls chase boys.

13.1 for the lady!

my best friend ran rochester’s flower city half-marathon in april and i finally got around to sharing some pictures on my facebook and obviously wanted to blog about it. it was such a great thing to be a part of in some capacity–a spectator.

the energy was amazing and i recall an interesting sense of pride dropping her off at the start (and finish) line. the energy was amazing everywhere Erinn (another best friend of hers and now, great friend of mine) stopped to watch the runners–their appreciation was amazing and excitement over reading the hilarious and sweet signs that Erinn created.

the families, friends, any other spectators, and especially you amazing runners–you’re all such great inspirations to me. Leenie, you always impress and amaze me and i’m so grateful to have shared the experience of your first half-marathon with you. congratulations, again and again mi lady!

learning about ladybugs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this week in my preschool placement we’ve continued talking about spring and specifically insects and bugs! i focused most of my instruction on ladybugs and did a lesson as well as some choose-and-do and learning center activities for the kiddos to engage in.

this activity, provided students the artistic interests in decorating ladybugs–adding spots with bingo dobbers, buttons, sequins, and other little odds and ends as well as use googly eyes for eyes for the ladybugs, etc. they also got to choose the color of ladybug. i set out yellow, orange, and red templates, as well as a white template in case they wanted to go a little more “funky” with it.

needless to say this group of kids is SO creative and love art pieces and interactions. it was fun to see what they came up with and i look forward to some more art pieces and ideas when we study caterpillars and butterflies next week!

featured friend: Kristin

Kristin is one of my best friends in this whole wide world. We’re friends from “home” and she came for a special visit earlier in the year when it was in the middle of winter. we had so much fun in the snow, special dinners, pistachio ice cream, the Olympics. below is a little of a “ketchup post” that she actually wrote a few months ago on her blog, gracefully living. hope you enjoy! love and miss you so much, doll!

entitled sweet, sweet friendship posted on Gracefully Living 

Sweet sweet friendship. I spent this past weekend in Syracuse, NY with a couple of my best friends from home. We all went away to different colleges and now live hours away from one another. We only get a few chances a year to all be together at the same place at the same time so this was a very special weekend. Distance can definitely be hard sometimes but we have a friendship that always picks up right where we left off. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend away with great friends, snow fun, pictures, pistachio ice cream, spring colored nail polish, Olympics, and lots of laughter. I am incredibly blessed by their friendship and I love them so.

May Flowers

after this winter, and a week of rain showers which i really haven’t minded these beautiful tulips really reminded me that spring is really on it’s way. some great friends brought these over the other day and it made my day in a million ways. always remind yourself of the great people in your life.

special presents for the most special people

this semester i got to student teach in a Kindergarten classroom and needless to say, it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. my amazing cooperating teacher and the kids who were actually my teachers were above and beyond. as my little “see you later” & “thank you!” presents i really tried to keep it at an extremely minimal budget. i wish that i had pictures of the final product but maybe part of the beauty is creating it as your own.

i got a pack of colored paper bags and used ink pads and stamps to put each of their names onto the bags. inside of the bags, they had 2 hershey kisses, a Beatrix Potter book (so symbolic in my beginnings of reading that i wanted to pass it onto them) and a pencil with a little sticker (pictured above) that said “xo, Ms. Singh” stuck onto it.

all of these items were of importance for their entire classroom and learning experience and really wanted that to be carried out well. also by just making things “my own” everything “simple” was much cheaper and many of the things (stickers, pencils, stamps, etc.) were things that I already had. i tied the top of the bags with green twine (dollar section of Target…my fave!)

and my most favorite part was a little poem that i created for each one of them..they all mean so very much to me and since i’ve ended my time with them a few weeks ago, i miss them so! but a visit has been made and many more have been planned.

thank you, guys. i love you!

 

“Ms. Singh”