Fall Back Into Blogging Day #5 ~ Last Year's Women's Retreat

It is the 5th and final day of the SITS Girls Fall Back into Blogging Challenge. I enjoyed every day of this event and connecting with other women bloggers. I feel like I should sing "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye to Yesterday" and/or "End of the Road" by Boys 2 Men. **SIGH**



Anywho, today we are suppose to link up to a post we wrote September 28th of last year. The bad new is that I didn't post anything on September 28, 2011. However, the good new I did post something last year September 25th. :)

Every year, ladies from my church would go to a women's retreat/get-away. We look forward to it each year. It's a great opportunity to get connected spiritually, meet new people, and recharge from our day-to-day schedule. In honor of such a great time I had, I did a mini slide show. Click on the link below. Enjoy. :)

Women's Retreat

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Fall Back Into Blogging Event Day #4 ~ I'm Hungry

It's day #4 of SITS Girls Fall Back into Blogging Event. It's been alot of fun. Today's challenge is about sharing fall crafts and/or recipes. Though I consider myself to be a crafty person, I really love trying new fall recipes. It's something about the food in the fall that makes me feel giddy on the inside. I know....silly...right? I just love the taste of cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and gingerbread.



About a week ago, I wrote a post on some delicious food I spotted on Pinterest. Let me tell you, this is the kind food you would eat on a cool fall evening, while in your PJs, next to a warm and cozy fire. If you don't believe me, just click on the post link below.


Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread Nice













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Fall Back Into Bloogging Event Day #3 ~ My Fall Poem

It's Day 3 of the SITS Girls' Fall Back into Blogging Challenge!! I guess time does fly when you're having fun. Today's challenge is about sharing your favorite fall memories or something you look forward to each fall. There's no particular format. So, with that being said I decide to share the things I look forward to each fall by writing a poem. Here it goes...Hope you like it!!








 
Why I Love Fall
(By: Toia Thompson)

Leaves....red, orange, brown, and gold
The excitement for fall never grows old

Apple Cider, Pumpkin Lattes, and Cinnamon Spice
These are just a few things that makes fall
oh-so very nice
 
Let's not forget our holidays
Halloween and Thanksgiving
Just the atmosphere of it all
makes life worth living


In the Fall, we have so much fun
and there's plenty of things to do
Like the corn maze, festivals, and Oh, yes!
The pumpkin patch, too
 
Just like me, people love fall for all kinds of reasons
All I can say is "Happy Fall Y'all" and
Blessings to you in this season





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Fall Blogging Event Day #2 ~ Fall Pics

It's Day 2 of SITS Girls' Fall Back into Blogging Challenge!! Woo whoo!! Day 2 is about pictures of what fall means to us and/or how fall looks like in our neck of the woods. Besides spring, fall is my favorite season to take pictures. It's so beautiful this time of the year. This is where you see colors...red, orange, golden yellow, brown come together in such a extarodinary way. Below I have a few of my favorite fall pictures. I hope you like them. :)

This a slideshow I did in 2008 of some of the fall trees in my neighborhood.

   
I found this gigantic leaf in yard a couple of years ago. I had to take a pic of it.
   

I came across this picture in photobucket.com. Love it!!

       

This is a scarecrow I made for my toddlers' class pumpkin patch. Isn't she cute??


 

As you can see, we've became the best of friends!! Say Cheese!! LOL!!

   


Here's my little princess. Every year, my church has Hallapolooza Event, where children can dress up in their  favorite book, cartoon type character. Here, my little lady went as Tinkerbell. I am not sure who she will be this year. Most likely, Barbie.  She is in the everything Barbie phase now.

Well, there you have it. Fall means to me a new beginning of something new. It also means hope. Hope that things do change for the better; And whatever difficult you may be experience at this moment, it's not to endure forever, but just for a season. Where there is a new season, there's a new day. Happy Fall....Y'all!!!





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Fall Blogging Event Day #1 ~ School Memories

This week I will be joining SITS Girls Blog Challenge: Fall Back Into Blogging. I am super-duper excited. It's a great way to get connected with other bloggers. Also, this is a great opportunity to express my love for fall, which is (by the way) one of my favorite seasons.


Day one of this spectacular blog challenge is about your fondest, funniest, or craziest school memory. But, you know what? I can't think of anything!! How sad is that!! I am drawing a blank. Even though elementary and high school were not exactly the best time of my life, I was sure I can think of something. Nada. Zilch.



So, I thought....why not post about one of my favorite school memory as a preschool teacher. For about ten years, I taught preschool ages 2 - 3. Children at this age are so darn cute, sassy, and full of personality. (Believe it or not.) :)

Anywho, one of most favorite memories in preschool is our first annual pumpkin patch. In preschool, only ages 3 to 5 are allow to go on field trips per DSS regulations. So, every year teachers will organize a field trip to the local pumpkin patch for their class. Since my class was a two year old class, we were not allow to take a field trip to the pumpkin patch. What a bummer.....right?



Then I thought since we cannot take my little two year olds to the pumpkin patch, why not bring the pumpkin patch to them. And that's what I did!! My preschoolers' parents were excited. Each child in my class brought a pumpkin for the pumpkin patch. Parents signed up to bring special, sweet treats for the class. The preschool where I worked donated hay for the pumpkin patch and hayride.



I was so excited!!  Parents were invited to experience the pumpkin patch with their little one. So, we took a hayride around the preschool property to the pumpkin patch behind the preschool. Each child picked out their pumpkins. Parents helped their child plant pumpkin seeds in a cup. Then we all sat down on the hay and I read the Pumpkin Gospel. After that, we hopped back on our hayride. When we got back in our class, there were delicious fall treats waiting for us. Parents loved every minute of it.









Even though, I am no longer a teacher at that preschool, the other two-year old teachers still carry on this tradition every year for their two year old students. There you have it.....one of my favorite preschool memories. Happy Fall!!








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Happy Fall Y'all!!

Fall is finally here!! Good-bye, Summer!! Hello, Fall!! Woo whoo!! Although the first day of fall felt like summer in Charleston, SC, I know that the cool, breezy weather is just around the corner. So, it is all good!!

I wish you blessings upon blessings in this new season. God makes all things new. A new season. A new day. A new you. So, enjoy.....one day at a time!! Happy Fall Y'all!!

Your Lipstick and Your Personality

It's amazing how the smallest things that we do can give others an inkling on the type of person we are. For example, the tip of your lipstick. Did you know your lipstick's tip preference can shed some light on your personality type.

Picture by: Olive Coco Magazine via Toia on Pinterest


I never really give much thought about the tip of my lipstick preference and the indication it may give as to what kind of person I am. One thing I know for sure I am not the flat-tip kind of girl. I am, however, a rounded and smooth tip kind. And from reading the lipstick personality chart, I concur with its diagnosis (if you will) on my personality.  One of the things that it says about me is that I am easygoing and likable.  And, I agree. :)

Do you want to know what your lipstick says about you? If you are just as curious as I am, click on the picture below.

Picture by: Look Linger Love via Toia on Pinterest

T.V. Shows From Back in the Day.....Watch Now!

Cosby Show. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Different World. Boy Meets World. These are just a few of the television shows that I used to watch; And still watch because of a beautiful thing called syndication. I can watch them over and over again....and they still crack me up as if I am seeing them for the first time.

Do you have a favorite show(s) from back in the day that you still love to watch?

Look What I Found On Pinterest!! (Fall)

I love Pinterest! It's a great place for everyone all over the world to come together and share great ideas. Not only that it caters to all kinds of people such as crafters, fashionistas, teachers, scrapbookers, and so much more. Pinterest is our own personal heaven, sort of speak. :)


So, in the spirit of sharing, I thought I would share what I found on Pinterest. Below are some awesome ideas for fall season.

Picture by: My Little Corner via Toia on Pinterest

Picture by: My Blessed Life via Toia on Pinterest

Picture by: Birch & Lily via Toia on Pinterest

Picture by: Skinny Chef via Toia on Pinterest

Picture by: Custom Comforts via Toia on Pinterest






I hope some of these ideas inspire and encourage you to create and share what you love to do the most. If you came across some great fall ideas, please share. And feel free to follow me on Pinterest -   Toia on Pinterest

Oh No She Didn't!!!.....Oh, Yes She Did!!!

Okay, about two weeks ago, a professor at American University in Washington, DC breastfed her baby while lecturing her class. Yep....you read it right. However, many people are divided on the issue as far as was that appropriate or not.


Me....personally? I think it was inappropriate. I breastfed 2 out of 3 of my children. Even when I was among my family and/or friends, I did not breastfeed my children in front of them. Breastfeeding is a part of life. I get that. Once again, just like I stated in my post about the mom potty training her children in a public restaurant, you have to take other people into consideration. There's a time and a place for everything.

So, please tell me what do you think. Do you think it was appropriate? Or not? My inquiring mind wants to know.