Friday, January 13, 2023

Happy Friday! I have had a week and you all don’t even know what I am getting ready to tell you! I am linking up with Andrea and Erika for the happiest post of the week – Friday Favorites.

Here are some favorites from my camera roll…

So. let’s start out with a food/meal recommendation..

This is restaurant quality soup, but it’s pricey. Remember that I am frougie. This ain’t your momma’s Campbell’s tomato soup, but I will pay for this.

Heat it up, add a few of these:

and a little bit of cheese and I clocked it in as only 4 WW points. I had a half baked potato and other vegetables for my Sunday night meal while Tom ate more.bean.soup and then texted me Monday from work that he was not feeling too good in the tummy after eating the bean soup coupled with way too much buttered movie popcorn.

Sunday late afternoon it was my turn to pick the movie (we hadn’t been in a long time) and I picked this:

I still make my own popcorn at home and use my Winona butter spray. I bring a dum dum for dessert. Hey, I like my movie routine!

Did you read this?

The movie was based on this book.

Honestly, I forgot how melancholy and dark it was (in addition to being sweet and precious) and Tom told me I never get to pick again. I cried multiple times during the movie and even cried during the previews. You know how they show you similar previews to the movie you are preparing to see?

So, I am not saying it wasn’t good, but it left me feeling melancholy. I also had a case of The Sunday Scaries facing my first 5 day week after so long.

At home, I found out I could watch this for free on Peacock, where Amazon wanted me to pay $20!

I’m not even finished with it – it was predictable and I guess I just wasn’t in the mood. I will give it another try…maybe?

The zucchini lasagna bowls were absolutely delish! I had it for one lunch and one dinner this week. Tom was kinda meh about it. Please make this! You don’t even miss the noodles! I made one of them with turkey meatballs and the other with just cooked ground beef.

My other lunch at school was Mexican lasagna. Two lasagnas, baby! I used La Banderita low carb tortillas.

Erica made creamy jalapeño chicken and it was to.die.for.

Chasing that sun after school:

It helps so much!

This is the best pen – fight me! Just kidding – tell me your favorite pen. I prefer a clickable so I don’t have to keep up with a lid.

Getting back on the Wed. or Thurs. grocery pick up routine. Things have been all topsy turvy with my grocery schedule.

Ok, I am cringing as I am getting ready to tell you this…

I have made up silly things through the years with little sayings, jingles, chants, and dances. My students have been telling me for a few years to become a TikTok teacher – what even is that? I decided to put myself out there and try it as a 2023 goal.

On TikTok, my name is just Señora Spanish and my user name is @sraspanish. I posted my first video on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning I had “gone viral”. I had kids coming up to me that I don’t know saying they saw me. As I am writing this post on Thursday afternoon, I have now had 3.3 million views. I thought maybe 50 people would watch it at most.

Eeek – what have I done? Ultimately, I felt there was a need for short lessons on Spanish grammar topics, or in the case of my first video, simple pronunciation rules. And, where are the kids? They are on TikTok. What has been most surprising and really nice is that my former students are reaching out and saying sweet things like “I miss this class”.

So, I guess I went viral at age 51. So, I don’t know how long I will do this but for now I think it’s engaging my students because they are telling me what videos to make.

Did anything crazy happen to you this week? Did you have any favorites?

Please don’t watch my TikTok,

Amy

54 thoughts on “Friday Favorites”

  1. Goodmorning! So happy when your post shows up in my e-mail! And with a Swedish movie/book; how fun! (well, the movie isn’t funny, but…) Of course there is melancholy in a country with winter for six months! 😀
    I want to see Ticket to Paradise! But I don’t want to pay for it so I’ll wait until it turns up on one of our streaming channels…
    And finally: TikTok queen! It’s hilarious! You are so cool! I can.not.believe the number of views!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and of course I won’t watch it :-D………………!!!!)

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    1. Happy Friday! I have a 3 day weekend with our Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday. That is true – you Swedes are melancholy! Just kidding! I have a senior student who just left to play soccer in Sweden and then Barcelona. I told her to say hi to you!
      Yes, that was same for me with Ticket.
      Girl…it’s up to 4.4 million this morning and my other two videos so far are also getting lots of action. I think some are using it to make fun of me but I can handle it. The purpose is to help my non-native speaker students who find language difficult!

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      1. 4.4 million!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I knew you before you were famous! 😀 I saw your videos and you are so freaking amazing! I laughed so much that I cried a bit!

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  3. I did read the book about Otto. I loved it. As you said it makes you a bit melancholy. Ok you on TikTok!!! You’re amazing!!! I love it. You already have over 15,000 followers. And your students love it and you!!! I learned some things myself.

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    1. I loved the book, but I had forgotten all the details. The movie was really well done. Just seeing it on a late Sunday afternoon on a dreary day facing a 5 day week – ha! Oh gosh, what have I done? I am sure it will be a short lived thing on Tik Tok!

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  4. We saw Otto last Saturday and I loved it, yes, it was sad and I teared up too but so well done. Tom Hanks, gosh, is there anything he can’t do? Funny, my husband picked it and I never read the book because I thought it would be sad!
    I just love what you are doing on TT, it is really inspiring to teachers to reach out and grab the kids’ attention. They will remember those little songs forever!!!
    xo,
    Kellyann

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    1. I will be the most made fun of. I decided not to read the comments. I would love a student like her! I love kids that are fun and funny and that are passionate about my subject and everything they do!
      I don’t think I can change even though I would like to!

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  6. I was hoping to go see the Otto movie this weekend because I love Tom hanks. I thought it was based on that book…which I couldn’t finish. I tried. I assumed I would like the movie. If we go, I will bring tissues. OMG I love that you are are TT teacher. I’m not on TT, but now I may have to sign up 🙂 you are so fun!

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    1. I am not saying not to go, but just be warned that it is an emotional movie.
      I tried TT once and didn’t like it – or didn’t have the patience to learn how to use it. Gosh, I am really putting myself out there. I may regret this…

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      2. Mortified!
        I guess we didn’t know the world of TT needed a middle aged Spanish teacher? They are laughing at me and not with me I’m afraid!

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  7. I WATCHED YOUR TIKTOK! Oh my word, what the heck?! Amy! You have over 16K followers and now that same video has 4.1 M views! That is amazing and I am SO PROUD OF YOU. Way to go, my friend! This is the year to get uncomfortable in life…whether in doing TikTok videos or in trying new and hard things. Those videos are awesome! I think it’s smart to reach your students where they are, and you’re right: they’re all on TikTok. I just followed you there…I don’t post a lot, but I made one yesterday as well, for my blog post next week. I can’t wait to see what else happens with you there! I hope you have the best day, my friend.

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    1. I guess the world needed a middle aged Spanish teacher? I don’t know. It’s the weirdest thing. You are exactly right and why I did it. I think putting yourself out there at my age can be a good thing. I am closer to the end of my career than the beginning and if not now, when? Maybe I will go out on top? Maybe not. I don’t know. Only God knows.
      I can’t wait to watch yours. I am not following anyone right now but I will look for yours or wait for your post! Good for you! You are really doing new things and I am so proud of you and so happy for you!

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  8. Welp! I don’t have TikTok, and don’t want to have it, but I downloaded just to watch. Awesome! That poor guy with the H. I laughed hard! Anyway, keep it up. Now that I have watched, TikTok will now be deleted, but if you keep going viral, I might have to keep it for awhile. 😀

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    1. Same! I tried it once and didn’t get it. I re-downloaded it just for this experiment. I am not following anyone. He volunteered to be the H! It was fun to make. I would love to involve the students but I am wary of showing their faces now. I used their voices only in my last video.

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  10. Thank you for cracking me up! Maddie actually texted me several days ago saying you popped up on her tik tok. Hilarious!

    Trader Joe’s makes a delicious roasted pepper and tomato bisque (in a carton) too! Have a great Friday and long weekend!

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    1. Oh gosh…I can’t believe who has told me they saw it. I really thought 50 people would watch.
      I don’t like the TJ’s as much because I’m not a huge fan of roasted red peppers – you know I’m weird about a few foods. I do love the carton. Heading there soon to stock up on all the stuff you can only find there!

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  11. Way to go on TikTok! Teaching is hard and if the kids engage with you like your students clearly do, that is amazing! Keep up the great work.

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  12. That’s so fun and amazing with that Tik Tok! I haven’t watched it yet, as I am not even sure how to find it, ha! I do sometimes get sucked into watching reels on Instagram, so maybe that’s the same thing? I’m sounding too old, but I do enjoy the laughter this all brings! I’m glad to know your review of that Tom Hanks movie. I will steer clear of that one. I just printed the zucchini recipe and will let you know if I try it. I tried the salad you mentioned last week and loved it. I added grilled chicken to it and we had it for dinner this week. Enjoy the long weekend!

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    1. I guess you have to download TT, which you might not want. My sister finds recipes on there a lot, though. I am not sure! I am so not-techy!
      I thought the movie was well done, but it is very emotional. I hope I didn’t steer anyone wrong. I am going to add grilled chicken and I’m excited!

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  13. I love that you’re on Tik Tok!! Way to go! I’ve been watching to watch Ticket to Paradise, so I’ll look it up on Peacock. Not giving Amazon $20 dollars since I’m on a no spend month lol. Thanks for the recipe rec on the zucchini lasagna; I’m going to have to make that one! Have a great weekend!

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  14. Amy, that’s awesome!!! Just think of it as a much bigger classroom. LOL I’m going to have to check out that soup. It looks yummy.

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    1. That’s a great way to think of it and that was my only intent – to help anyone that needs help with Spanish! I had some requests in the comments. The soup is pricey but worth it and great for the WW points.

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  15. I read A man called Ove and loved it. I’m not really interested in the Tom Hanks movie version as much as I love him. You know how it is when you read a book and picture the characters? I find that movies usually don’t measure up to the book.
    I just love that you have started tictok videos! Your students sound so fun and encouraging, I hope it helps other students too.

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    1. I am just like that! I think this might be ok for you? Tom Hanks is amazing to watch and his son is also in it.
      I have to give them all the credit for pushing me to do this. It’s something fun in boring old January, I guess!

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  16. Happy Friday! I won’t watch you on TikTok. But yay for going viral…I guess? LOL I am not on TikTok nor will I ever be. But yay you! Have a great weekend. I want to see A man Called Otto. I love Tom Hanks. Will let you know what I think. We leave Tuesday for Punta Mita, Mexico on our couples golf trip. Gotta get busy today laying out my clothes! Happy weekend!

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  17. OMG!!! You are freaking adorable in those videos!! I can tell from the comments that your students adore you💗 No turning back now, shine like the tiktok star that you are🌟🌟

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    1. Well, you are too sweet. I can’t believe you watched! I guess it gives a glimpse into my teacher life. I will ride this wave I guess! I will run out of content pretty quickly I imagine.

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  18. Wow, a viral TikTok! I don’t have that app; somehow it got deleted, and I don’t miss it! It was too loud for quiet old me, lol. It’s great that you are engaging with your students this way! I had a kid (emotionally handicapped) film me in class, and I thought it might show up on TikTok or Instagram, but I don’t think it did. I liked A Man Called Ove, and I can see how the movie might be a little depressing. I recommend All the Lonely People; it’s an excellent book. I’m going to try your Sharpie pen. I have a thing where if the end of the pen rubs in the paper because the ink part isn’t out—— it’s worse than nails on a chalk board or sneakers squealing on the floor! I caught the kid who was doing the sneaker squealing during period 3 class, and I was surprised and disappointed. He told me he doesn’t know how his feet did that. Repeated squealing. Sigh. I hope you have a great weekend!!

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    1. I agree! It’s so aggressive!
      Oh no- I get very upset about kids filming teachers without permission. It happens a lot more than we know, I bet. I had a couple of kids start to film me during one of my TT and I said – no, I don’t know what you are going to do with that.
      The movie is well done.
      Ha – I think you will like these pens.
      I had a kid repeatedly squeeze his plastic water bottle yesterday and it drove me crazy. Most kids use reusable now. They can’t go 50 minutes without water now, you know. They are so parched!

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  19. I love TikTok so I had to check it out and I LOVE your videos! You are such a great teacher, and the comments from students are the sweetest!

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    1. I am mortified, but thank you. I seriously thought only 50 students (my own) would watch. But, if it’s helping someone I guess it’s good. I decided to stay out of the comments for the most part.

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      1. The “H” video is so cute! And good idea about the comments. Sometimes people are unnecessarily rude!

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  20. Oh wow! Look at YOU going VIRAL! 😁 That is so cool! I’m going to have to check this out. I don’t use TikTok, but I’m sure my son can help me find you!

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  22. I know very little Spanish but found your videos educational. I mostly know colors. Verde Rojo Blanco and Azul. Maybe a few words from
    Dora the Explorer.
    I ordered a Sherpa from Kohls and had Kohls cash to use. Well my price was $12 and I returned it today and got my son a new shirt instead. My head was repeating “you don’t need this”. I’m thankful to do this challenge and the accountability we have for each other,
    I also got 2nd in the 5K walk I did yesterday.

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    1. Aww, thank you. That’s great! I have been tempted by a sherpa, too. I have plenty of casual lounge clothes, though. You did well with that bargain and deciding your son needed it more. Yay on your 5K. I did place an Old Navy order and I’m still debating sizing. I will let you know!

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  23. Love that you are a Tik Tok star…just got my daughter who is in college in California to follow you…she took AP Spanish in high school last year and loved your 3 videos!

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