Banana Life
 |
Hi! 
I’m Cait – a 26 year old fitness die-hard trying to balance life as a fresh, young lady in a crazy banana world. I am a recent 4 years out of college and am in my third year as an elementary school teacher. I taught second grade for two years – and will be moving on down to first grade when I begin my third year this coming August. I have a strong desire to create an equal education for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Sadly, the state of Connecticut is home to the LARGEST achievement gap in the nation. I work hard every day to try and close that gap and (when I am not overwhelmed and stressed to the max) love every little piece of my job!
While teaching my kiddos does take up a large portion of my time, it by no means consumes my life. After moving in with my then boyfriend in August of 2010, he proposed to me in THE sweetest way possible in August of 2011. We are getting married this August – and I cannot wait to commit to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. I have been working hard for the best 10 months to make our dream wedding a reality. But – in the grand scheme of things – there is nothing that could damper the day when I marry this wonderful man! If you’d like to see what I’ve been doing as I plan my wedding, please check out my Wedding Page.
While we make do with the little space we have in our kitchen, I try my best to be creative. I like trying new foods ( mostly inspired by all of YOU out there in the blog world) and can’t wait to show you all some of my great successes…. and massive failures… in the kitchen! If you couldn’t tell by the title of my blog, bananas are one of my favorite foods. Ever. I eat at least one every single day.
But do not worry, my recipes are BEYOND BANANAS.. and you can check them out here! I update them regularly!
I adore my family – and my friends. My mother and father are my biggest fans – my older brother Michael is the most kind and generous person that I have ever met. He would seriously do anything for me. The three of them - and many of my great friends – have stuck by my side through some difficult times in my life. I am forever grateful for the kindness, support, and understanding.
Learning about the bloggers I follow is one of the most fascinating parts of the blog world. It is all of you.. who inspired me to create my own blog. To document my life.. the success, struggles, triumphs.. even failures. You can visit my blogroll to see where I get my inspiration from.. every day!
If you would like to know more, shoot me an email or leave a comment! beyondbananas [at] ymail [dot] com
So … let’s recap. Banana Life is basically consumed by the following:
- Justin
- family
- teaching
- mini condo projects
- fitness
- having fun in the kitchen
|
{ 51 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so pretty!!
Aww.. You are too kind! Thank you!
Ahhhh you and your boy are *so* cute! I can’t wait to have my own place one of these days… it’s a dream of mine!! Can’t wait to read more of your bloggy-blog. So glad you found me!!
Thanks for returning the love! And for your compliment.. to sweet!
Cute blog
looking forward to more mini condo projects
Hi!
I found your blog via Natalia’s and am really looking forward to reading more!
Glad you found me! Hope you like what you read!
What a gorgeous photo of you and your bf…and Connecticut? I am quite jealous! I love the East Coast and can’t wait to move back one of these days!
Connecticut does have its perks.. especially the changes of the seasons.. foliage is truly beautiful here. I always complain – say I am tired of the long cold winters.. but I am still here! So I don’t think I will be going anywhere anytime soon!
I am not U.S Geography savvy…where is Connecticut in the east? Close to NY or more central? Sounds beautiful
Connecticut boarders New York – to the north and to the East. It is the third smallest state.. behind Rhode Island and Deleware! We boarder water.. but it is the Long Island Sound.. so no waves at our beaches!
I love how your pages are set up!!!
cait, this sounds like a blast. What a great recap of your life at the moment! Thanks for sharing and blogging!
I love experimenting in the kitchen! Keep up the good work
Just stumbled across your blog- Excited to read more
My name is cait too 
!!
Hi Cait! Clearly you have an AWESOME name
.. welcome. Hope you like what you read!
another stumbler onto your blog =) i’m considering pursuing education in Connecticut too and you are so right about the achievement issues!! good luck with your goals, i’m sure you’ll do great by the kids, if how you treat yourself is any indication!
Hey girl! Just found your blog via MegaNerdRuns, and saw that you commented about being a teacher on her most recent post. I’m a teacher too, and just wanted to say HEY and I love your blog! Hope your 1st year of teaching is going great, and enjoy the end of the school year…and get ready for a GREAT summer off!
-Amy
Hi Amy!!! I am so glad you came across my blog! Love meeting other teachers! My first year has been awesome. I had a fabulous group of kids and enjoyed it so much! How long have you been teaching/what grade do you teach??
Hi I love your blog and your mission, you seem like such a wonderful lady!! You are truly inspiring!
Hi Casey. Glad you found my blog! I have found so many inspirations in blog world and it makes my heart melt to hear you say I am inspiring!
I love finding fellow teachers… What grade do you teach? I was part time last year (in 1st) and will finally be teaching in my own classroom (4th)… eek! I might be asking you some questions this year
Hey girl! Congrats on landing the job! I just finished year 1 in second grade!
I was almost in 4th.. would have been happy with either! Send any questions my way… I will answer them the best I can 
Hey!! I just found your blog- Love it! I am from Connecticut too, and after being in the blog world for a (short) period of time, you are the first person I found who lives in CT! I went to college here too, at Trinity.
Mallory @ It’s Only Life, After All recently posted..The insane things I do when unemployed
Awesome! What part of CT?! I’ve found very few bloggers from CT and always get excited when I find one
Just found your blog, I am loving it! I seriously dream of going back to school to become a teacher. Can’t wait to follow along.
Jamie@cupcakedynamite recently posted..bff: flashback friday
excited to start following your blog!!!!
Hi Cait! I just found your blog and was so surprised to see your first post mention Connecticut! I just moved to the state a few months ago. It’s nice to “meet” another blogger in the area!
Bethany @ More Fruit Please recently posted..Must Love Dogs, Kids, and Food
Hey there! Just came across your blog and wanted to stop in to say hello. I can’t wait to start reading through your site!
Jenn recently posted..Friday Night Adventures
Glad you found me! Hope you enjoy your reads! Have a GREAT Saturday
Ahh so happy to find a fellow teacher on the web
love your ambition and drive to close the achievement gap and it’s people like you with heart and soul that truly make a difference. I am a special educator to be but spend a lot of time working with high incidence cases. I see things everyday that make my heart cringe and cause my stress level to rocket! Hopefully we can now have the blog world and each other so show others what its really like to be a teacher, not just in practice but in heart and soul.
Absolutely! I commend you for being a special education teacher – it is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.. but it can be so rewarding when you make the littlest progress!
I just came across your blog and I love it! I’m actually an education major myself, Prek-6 to be exact! I’m currently working on my masters and I’m super excited to be in the classroom someday to help make a difference in students’ lives.
I look forward to reading your blog and trying out some of your delicious looking recipes.
Alicia F. recently posted..Let me spell it out for ya…
Hi Alicia!! Congratulations on choosing THE best career in the entire world!
(I kid, I kid.. okay.. I am serious!). Best of luck with your master’s program! Do you have a grade preference that you hope to teach when you are do get to the classroom?
Alicia F. recently posted..Fun filled Tuesday!
Yay!! I think kindergarten is great!! My old grade partner just moved to K this year and she is really loving it! It was a change… because you really start from scratch in many cases… especially if the child did not attend Pre-K!!!
I tell myself over and over again.. that if I ever lose the passion I have for teaching.. I need to get the eff out of my job. I refuse to turn into a tenured teacher who feels entitled but could care less about her students.. or their over-all development!
I feel the exact same way! I’m really excited to be in the classroom and I know that it’s not going to be easy but I’m ready and willing to do all that is necessary to help my students be the best that they can be!
Alicia F. recently posted..Fun filled Tuesday!
I just found your blog! Looking forward to reading it more.
Kim @ Eat, Live, and Blog recently posted..What I Wore: Wednesday
I love the opening of this–my husband and I went to Wesleyan, and I tutored at Woodrow-Wilson (not sure where you are, but that’s a middle school in Middletown). I was really effected by that experience, and learned so much from the kids–many of whom were dealing with things no one that young should even understand. ANYWAYS, what I’m trying to say is I really admire that you’re a CT teacher, trying to make a difference! It’s funny, in college I heard terms like socio-economic all the time, but now that I’m out in the “real world” it feels like it’s never addressed.
Kiah recently posted..how it came to be, part two
Just saw you at the @Gympact Party! I love your blog. I am also into healthy living and in school to get my masters in elementary education. I just started on my journey into the blogging world. Thanks for being an inspiration to doing it all!
Seems like we have a lot in common! Glad you clicked on through!
Good luck finishing up your masters! What grade would you prefer?
The blogging world is awesome.. you are going to be addicted!
Thanks! And I am ‘trying’ to keep an open mind about grades. I’d prefer k-2 but I see the pros and cons to all of them!
I am so so so happy I found your site while blog hopping this morning… I absolutely love EVERYTHING about it. Your story is incredibly inspiring and I can definitely relate to much of what you opened up about. Your food looks delicious and I can’t wait to try some of your recipes. I have a feeling this blog will become a regular
bookmarking.
Keep cooking and posting, you have a new follower!
xo,
Katie
Hi Katie! Don’t you always love it when blog hopping brings you to something you like? I am glad you landed here and hope you enjoy what you find! Have a great day!!
Glad I found your blog! I just started my teaching career in Oklahoma a whole ten days ago! I am wanting to be a healthy example to my students and live a balanced lifestyle!
I love love love the teaching portion of this section. I really admire your passion and your commitment to dissolving education inequality.
I’m in my last year at the University of Michigan and I’m taking an Education, Equity, and Politics course. I must say, it is the most valuable course I’ve ever taken. I’m considering continuing my education or doing the Teach for America program so I can make an impact on the lives of many!
I looked into Teach for America when I graduated in 2008! I ended up getting my masters in ed instead.. but there are quite a few teachers that are (or have been) at my school that went through Teach for America! Good luck in your decision! Please let me know how everything ends up!
Just found your blog, I absolutely love it! Can’t wait to keep reading
xo
Lily recently posted..One Month…
I just found your blog and love it! I noticed you mentioned CT..where in CT are you from? I live in Stamford (from New Canaan)..small world
I live right near you in Norwalk! I checked out your blog and actually go to the gym you teach Zumba at! You are right.. very small world!
Cait @ Beyond Bananas recently posted..Eat “Cho” Yogurt!! [Giveaway]
So glad to come across your lovely blog! I’ve been looking for some different reads, and happy to find this. Bookmarked! Looking forward to following
Kelly @ Femme Fitale recently posted..Fuss Free
{ 2 trackbacks }