Good Stuff Occurs on Wednesdays:

1) Today's Groupon for Phoenix was Tequilla Tasting... WHOOOOOO HOOOOO. Yes, that's right, only $12 for 4 hours of tequilla tasting (9 different tequillas) = 4 hours of amazing-ness

2) I registered for the PF Chang's Rock 'n' Roll half marathon over Martin Luther King Day in AZ. Everyone should come/participate. Click here for the link: BOO-YAH

3) I just found the coolest website called Golf Now which basically you can search for an area and a set time and it gives you CHEAP tee times for that area. For instance, I searched Central Phoenix and tomorrow's date and it gave me tee times ranging from 5:45 am (yah right) to late and really nice golf courses to the not so nice ones for CHEAP. In case you're wondering, I took this information and signed up for a tee time for tomorrow at 9:05 at Encanto Golf Course for $8 for the whole round. Awesome. This realization brings me to #4:

4) I'm going golfing tomorrow at 9:05 am at Encanto Golf Course!

5) I'm driving to Coolidge, Arizona tomorrow to meet with an observe 3 of my teachers. Hopefully it'll be a nice drive!

ESPY Went Camping

Well a wonderful weekend of relaxation, sun, exploring Arizona, and did I say sun! I may or may not be a little burned.

Friday: Left work a little early and decided to head up to Flagstaff for a nice camping experience. Espy even decided to come on this camping excursion! We went to Ashurst Lake about 15 minutes from Flagstaff!
We didn't arrive at the campsite until about 7:30, but we still got the tent up and I got STEAK for dinner... yummm. And then, to top it off, S'mores (and a Sol beer too!).
Saturday: Woke up nice and early, let ESPY play around in the lake for a bit, went walking around the campsite and then packed it up to head to the Grand Canyon!

Here's ESPY at the Grand Canyon:

And then here is ESPY and I at the Grand Canyon.


What a fun weekend :-) Then, the next day I went and celebrated Sunday at my friend Laura's house to swim, eat and drink, and sit in the sun! I got a little burned but not too badly. Then today, Labor Day, I slept in a bit - took ESPY roller blading - came back read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (Chelsea Handler's most recent book) which is AMAZING. SO SO SO SO funny, if you're looking for a quick funny read, I would suggest it! Now, ESPY is asleep on his new bed that I just bought for him!

A Wonderful Long Weekend. I'm getting prepared for a busy 4 day week ahead, it's full of teacher observations, principal meetings and ensuring that teachers are doing a good job! Wish me luck!

Also, congrats Lauren and Sarah for finishing another half, I'm so proud of you guys and am signing up for the Arizona Rock and Roll Soon!!!

xox-K

Weekend

Well last night kicked off a hopefully relaxing weekend. I went out to dinner with my friends Nicole and Jackie and then spent some time hanging out in Scottsdale later in the evening.
Now, I'm off to Anthem, Az to go to the ONE Gap Outlet, donate some money into the economy while helping out Teach for America and the hopefully Pizzaria Bianco later tonight.

In the meantime I'm going to set up my Fantasy league that I'm doing with 9 of my Friends (that my friend Dave named my team online Pete Carroll Sucks - which I'm going to CHANGE right away). I do have an amazing team (I was the first pick again this year) so my team consists of Chris Johnson, Joe Flaco, Reggie Wayne, Reggie Bush, Steve Smith, and Eli Manning, among many others. I'm hoping for a better season than last year.

Also, if you guys haven't read the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - I suggest reading it. I just finished that book and now I'm reading the next book in the set of 3 called The Girl Who Played With Fire... very good.

Anyhow, happy Saturday everyone and I hope you all have wonderful weekends!

xox, K

SAVE $ and HELP TFA

www.gapinc.com/giveandget/teachforamerica

Save 30% at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy and support Teach For America

Thanks for the Wine Sis!

Three Day Weekend!

Whoo, after a long week of work - I have a three day weekend. This weekend, as of now, will consist of a little bit of sleep (well probably a lot of sleep), a little bit of soccer, a little bit of softball (we're just starting our new fall league) and a little bit of fantasy football draft. It should be a great weekend.

The week ended with a great happy hour (with my corps members) at Zipps Grill. Which, for those of you who I have not introduced Zipps to, it is a fine wings establishment. During happy hour my corps members are getting to know me so well one even said - hey Kristen, it looks like Seattle is beating New York right now in baseball... I didn't see - did we win?

So that was the end to my week - the rest of the week consisted of going to visit classrooms, playing another game of soccer, answering emails (lots of emails) and trying to stay caught up on my life. Along with that, I booked my flight to New York for training on Teach for America's selection model (I get to help choose the new corps members!). I'll be in New York from September 15th until the 19th - a wonderful long weekend. I'm hoping I'll get to see my TFA friends who have since moved to the Big Apple.

Also, today, I had a meeting with a guy who is leading Stand For Children, a non-profit company that is trying to pass legislations that help students. I checked out the website and it looks like they have things going on in Washington too! They wanted me to get involved and be a part of the development team (developing strategies for teacher accountability and ensuring that students get the necessary education they deserve). I'm still looking into it, but I think it was quite a privilege to be asked.

Anyhow, that's my week in a nutshell - and now it's off to the weekend for some true R and R!

Happy Friday everyone

xox - K

Sarah Lauren and I on Bryan's Birthday

Family at Bryan's Birthday!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Long Long Overdue...

Yes, I realize after many many moons of not-blogging, it's time to get back on the bandwagon! So many things to update you on: Going to a Beer-Fest/Wine Tasting in Cali (I have awesome friends), Institute (which basically consumed my life for a month and a half - booooo), going home for Lauren's birthday and the 4th of July (great time), Starting my new Job (yay), celebrating my 24th B-Day (whoot), going to Chicago for a Training (such a cool city), and trying to stay afloat in my job (yikes - it's quite a LOT of work).

So the school year ended and we took off... to California. P.S. My new Fave song is California Gurls by Katy Perry (don't judge the song by the music video - cause the video is WEIRD). We went to a Beer Festival in San Luis Obispo, super FUN.

This is the Crew: Dave, Jackie, Me, Chris, Drew, Mackenzie, and Nicole

After the beer festival on Saturday we went wine tasting on Sunday, also way fun. Surprisingly, there are quite a few wineries around Paso Robles (where we went tasting).

After that fun weekend, I basically had to start working institute a few days later. So, institute was basically 6 weeks of pure work. I did nothing but work for 6 weeks straight. It was really good training for my job beyond the summer. Here is a pic of the people that I worked with this summer -

It was a good group of people, but I was pretty happy to be done with it at the end.

In between institute, I got to go home to visit for Lauren's birthday and the wonderful family celebration of the 4th! I had an amazing time on Lauren's Birthday with the fam - and got to see even more family on the 4th! It was so good to see everyone, it had been WAY too long.

Great Family Pic

Sarah and Bryan!

That was a great celebration of Lauren's birthday!

And some wonderful 4th of July pics :)

Me with Grace!

Before Blowing out the Candles

Another Wonderful Family Pic!

Then, I started my new job... and unfortunately had to work on my birthday. I had to work kicking off the new year with the Teach for America All Corps Kick Off - it was from 8am to 6pm - ish... Yikes, it was a long day, but we had a fun night after. My friends came over to my new house, had some great food, played Jenga (a wonderful gift from my friends), Barrel of Monkeys (another wonderful gift from my friends) and had a wonderful relaxing night. Super, super fun Birthday!

As you can see, I had a great Cake (and you can see the Jenga there as well!)

Post birthday, I kept working and then got sent to Chicago for some the new Program Director conference! Chicago was an awesome city. We had training from about 9-5:30 every day, but then at that time we were free for the rest of the day. I went to see Wrigley Field, which was pretty awesome (but it was $40 to go to the game so we passed), experienced Navy Pier on Lake Michigan which was surprisingly nice... go Chicago. Then, on the last night, we went to the John Hancock building and went all the way up to the 96th floor... whaaaa??? Yes, it's true - pretty insane... amazing view of the whole city!

Anyhow, a pretty awesome city and a pretty crazy summer. Turns out, I get to go on lots of trips with the new job, New York, D.C.... so cool - lots of perks!

Now I'm watching the Ball Boy edition of Seinfeld, ESPY is sleeping deep in his kennel (after going on a RUN with me a little earlier :) )! It's time for bed and to go read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on the new Kindle (LOVE IT!!!), I have to be up observing a class at 8:00... yikes. Hopefully I'll update the blog a little more frequent so I don't have to spend hours doing one post.

I hope everyone is doing well - Blitzen, thanks for the blog update!

xox - K

WHY I Teach for America

I just got this email from my student from last year:

Dear Ms. Berndt,

I just want to let you know how thankful i am that i had you as a teacher. Even though we didn't really know eachother, or really talk to one another i still feel like i was loved. Your one of the best teachers
i have ever had in my life, and will remeber you always and forever. Ms. Berndt it's teachers like you that make us want something in life. You pushed me foward and helped me realize i can get somwhere with my life. And i can say i know i can, and when i get older and become that someone. im going to come and thankyou. because beleive it or not your one of those teachers that hleped me get there, when i get there. and one thing i will always remember about you ms. berndt is you always know how to make someone smile. (: and you always started my morning off great. I never meant a teacher like you. Your not only a teacher but your someone to talk to. i will never forget you. just thankyou so much for everything you have ever done for me. thankyou for being my teacher, and the best teacher anyone can ever have!

Sarah



Below is the response she wrote me when I thanked her for her kind words and asked her to stay in touch with me.

Ms. Berndt,
Of course i will keep in touch with you (: . You and my old teacher Mr. Rhymes are my favorite techers by far!!! You guys have made me realize that there is something in life to work for. and i thank you for that .. I am telling you right now seeing my family not do good, and so many people in my life not do good.. and then you and mr. rhymes always telling me there is something i can achive in life.. well just hearing that makes me want to pushs myslef . and seeing that makes me tell my self that im going to do something .. thank you agian ms, berndt.
--Sarah


I can't wait to share this with my Corps Members during Institute... HOW AWESOME and awe inspiring!

Apologies

Sorry for the lack of blogging. Between moving into a new home, pre-work for working at the TFA summer institute and pre-work for my new job as Program Director for TFA, my head is spinning. I'm living in the ASU dorm right now... booo, and start first thing tomorrow morning. When I have time to breathe, I'll put up pictures of the new house and everything in between.