Thursday, December 31, 2009

Cheers!

*Image by *Tuvy*

C heers to a New Year! Hopefully it is a healthy, happy year full of adventure, new friends, opportunities and travel. (At least that is what I am personally hoping for). I can't wait to see what turns out this year. It feels good.

Battery

*Image by zerjavca

B atteries are wonderful things. My laptop is finally portable as originally intended. The battery in my computer had seen better days and was stuck to an outlet. In the past week or so the battery wouldn't hold even the slightest bit of charge and once the power cord was disconnected the computer would promptly turn off. This was not productive in the least. Now I have a brand new battery and my laptop is unplugged and running smoothly, on my lap and cordless at last. What a joy.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Blanket

*Image via Anthropologie

T here has to be a reason I'm posting about comfort lately. Maybe it is because I have a bulldog asleep in my lap whenever it is available. Staying home makes me want to stay comfortable and bundled. I'm also hunting for a nice comfortable, inexpensive, cute t-shirt. I'm in a t-shirt mood, but most of my t-shirts are feeling a bit shorter these days. It could be the holidays, or the changing style. I'm sure there is something inexpensive out there, I just need to be motivated to find it. Currently, I'm motivated to snuggle up and this cardigan has me inspired.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Exercise

*Image by Jeff Golden

I have bouts of energy and bouts of laziness. This Christmas the Wii fit entered our house. Aside from laughing until it hurts while Trevor hula hoops, it is a pretty fun game. I think one of the only reasons I like the system is because it encourages activity. I'm glued to the screen of my laptop enough and don't really get into video games. This will be a fun addition to parties, I'm sure. Playing games is an entertaining way to spend time. Hopefully the fitness aspect affects us positively as well.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Slippers

*Image via J.Crew

S mart people invented driving moccasins. People who decided that it was nice to wear slippers outside of the house had a great idea. I have been looking around locally for a nice pair, but haven't seen anything yet. I look forward to the day when I walk into the classroom in a nice comfortable pair of slippers.

Hot



H ot cocoa is usually a staple of my winter holidays. Then again, so is snow and cold. I was planning a post about enjoying some nice spiked cocoa with my husband and was even further inspired by the beautiful lettering genius of Jessica Hische. Enhancing my blog posts with a daily drop cap is fantastic fun. I'll see what I can do to amuse myself this week. It should be fun.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Perfection

*Image by Carol-ikkker

This is my idea of a wonderful Sunday. I just finished a great book and will probably make the library a prime destination on my things to do tomorrow. I am always in the mood for a nap on Sunday afternoon after water polo. I found the perfect spot and Odin joined me and commenced relaxation.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Holiday

*Image by ♥iana♥

We had a nice relaxing holiday. Trevor enjoyed his gifts and got a good laugh out of seeing Dwight Schrute's face on the Clue box. (I also earned some respect for not adding extra noise makers to the box). We've had a good time enjoying each other's company, eating goodies, reading and plenty of tinkering for the husband. Hopefully all of you had a relaxing holiday with friends, family and loved ones.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Finally

*Image by Oriholic Jared

They finally judged our patios yesterday and I am so thankful. I cut a few more snowflakes and had just completed my final touches when the judges arrived. I grabbed Odin and set him up in the Santa hat and we were set. I don't think anyone else had a cute bulldog on their patio. I also think the judges were impressed that I made all of the decorations. Craftiness is key. I am most thankful that it all happened yesterday before the rain and the wind started. I tore down what remained of my soggy flakes and bloated salt dough ornaments today, but am still pleased by my efforts. Fingers crossed. Merry Christmas Eve!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Post

*Image via Snow & Graham

I can't believe that I snagged such awesome cards last year. Now all I have to do is finish addressing and sealing envelopes. Hopefully I'll get as lucky with next year's cards. Speaking of paper, my snowflakes are starting to melt and I'm disappointed because while judging of porches was scheduled for Monday, they said it would happen today. Uggg... looks like I may be cutting a few more snowflakes.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Winner?


I am wondering if I won the patio decorating contest. My goal was not to spend any money so that my total winnings paid for all of my effort, but I did snag a nice pair of LED lights for $6. My cut snowflakes fluttered nicely in the wind and my ornaments are still glittery. Trevor offered a nice finishing touch and we set the Christmas tree up on the patio surrounded by a strand of lights. I think that it looked great, and completely forgot to take pictures of the patio. Maybe I'll get some shots tonight minus the tree... especially if we won! I love being crafty. This project has got me in the spirit of the holidays.

Santa


Odin as Santa, helping me decorate the porch. He's not a huge fan of hats or head-gear, but he tolerates it. Good thing I have a good spool of elastic in my craft bin for adapting hats for the dog. This $1 Santa hat was too good to pass up. I'm usually not an impulse buyer but it was fun dressing up the pup. I'll post some of Trevor's more fantastic photos later.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Snowflakes


My salt dough snowflakes are hanging outside shimmering in the afternoon sun. I'm currently giving my hands a rest from cutting snowflakes, but this is the idea I'm going for. Trevor suggested I create some type of garland for the rail. I used the salt dough ornaments along the railing combined with a strand of lights. I've got my fingers crossed that I finish in time, this image has me inspired.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Wrap


My first wrapped gift is waiting underneath the tree. Trevor is a fan of shaking and guessing the contents of his gifts so this one is a perfect first. He is convinced that I filled the box with change or rocks to make noise but he is completely wrong. Because the box makes noise he refuses to shake it anymore. I can't wait until he opens it and sees that I have been completely honest about not adding anything to the box. He'll just have to wait.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

One more

*Image by boopsie.daisy

Only one more day until vacation. I cannot wait. I don't know who is more excited, teachers or students?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Baking

*Image by dotsara

My house needs to be filled with the smells of baking. I'm missing having holiday treats around, although I'm sure that my waistline is not suffering. I need to do some more nesting this holiday. Trevor has already been taunting me with a few wrapped gifts and soon it will be my turn. Holidays are definitely a call to nest.

Red

*Image by jodyangel

Our little tree is up and all 20 of our ornaments have been hung. Now, I desperately need to make some salt dough or even applesauce and cinnamon ornaments. At first, Odin was scared of the tree. He scooted away from it pretty quickly and was sure to avoid it while I was stringing up the lights. Now he eyes it suspiciously but, I think it is because the red ornaments resemble his favorite ball.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Stocking

*Image via The Purl Bee

Seeing as this is going to be my first Christmas away from my family, I am ill prepared. Trevor has his childhood stocking and mine is at home with my family. I bravely volunteered to sew stockings for the new branch of my family, but I can't find anything that I truly love. Too bad I didn't see this lovely pattern a few months ago. I'm going to try to make something fabulous to start a new family tradition and to get in some practice before I need to make more stockings.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Contest


My apartment complex is having a balcony decorating contest in honor of the holidays. So far, I haven't seen too many decorated balconies so I have a plan. The contest winners will receive a $100 rent deduction for January which is reason enough to compete. Luckily for me, I have a crafty streak and a plan up my sleeve. In order to make the contest worthwhile, my goal is to spend as little money as possible. When I saw these salt dough ornaments I was immediately inspired. I could make some awesome ornaments, paint my windows, and string up a few lights and make it look like snow is falling on my balcony. So far, I'm still in the planning stages. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Fancy

*Image via Kate Spade

I have a teacher holiday party this Saturday. Next Saturday I get do dress up as a doctor's wife at another holiday party. I saw this sweater and it made me smile. I was thinking about what a teacher would wear to a holiday party - a dress cardigan? Then I remembered seeing this and realized that a dress cardigan didn't have to be as bad as my elementary school memories. (Especially not as bad as the appliqued jean jumper I got as a prank graduation gift).

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Reading


I'm up to my elbows in teen literature lately. When I saw this book cover in particular, I was jealous. How many of my students would have fought over a well designed piece of art like this? I know the old adage not to judge a book by its cover, but when you're 13 all you do is judge. Now that they're past the cover pages are flying, but it did take some heavy persuasion on my part.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Santa

*Image by boopsie.daisy

At work they have organized a Secret Santa gift giving schedule. I hope that I get someone good, or at least someone I know a little bit. It's always more fun to give gifts to people you know and then to measure their reactions. I'm trying to decide if I give good gifts for Secret Santa or gag gifts. I'll have to wait and see who I pull out of the hat. I also have to get started sending other gifts around the country because, with my track record they might all end up being late.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Tree

*Image by matt-pearson

I'm getting a late but welcome glimpse at fall. Temperatures finally got cold enough to cause the trees around here to change colors. Speaking of trees, Trevor and I are talking about getting a Christmas tree. It really doesn't seem like December and definitely not like Christmas. I wish I could go chop a tree down in my back yard like the good ol' days. I'm considering a small potted tree because we'll be able to put it on the patio when Christmas is over. We're making plans to see what Texas has to offer in terms of evergreen trees.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Potatoes


These are purple potatoes. When they came home from the store they were a little dirty, and when I washed them I was surprised. They looked like they could adorn a fancy, yet eclectic necklace. The color wasn't only on the skin, like a red potato it radiated inward like tye-dye. I've eaten purple carrots, but this was a first in my potato ventures. I was completely spoiled after this. My job was easy - to bake these purple beauties. I halved them, tossed in a little onion, sprinkled them with sea salt and some olive oil and my work was done. My husband however decided to make stuffed pork chops and concocted his own stuffing from scratch. Then, as you read in the earlier post he offered me a foot rub. There was not a complaint to be heard.

Internet

This morning I was planning on writing about the fantastic dinner I had last night. I didn't get to it last night, because who is going to resist an offer of a foot rub? Yep, my husband cooked me a simple feast and then offered to rub my feet. What a Sunday. This morning, my internet connection was not working...so we're at an impass. More on dinner and Sunday discoveries later.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Ice


There has been a big to-do on the local news. They were predicting a winter storm. When my students asked me if I thought it would snow, I almost laughed. It doesn't feel like snow to me. Not in Texas, surely they jest. I thought that the newscasters in Seattle made snow into a big deal. Here storms are cause for alarm. We have flash flood warnings and now I'll sit on my hands with a snow warning. (However, I would be so smug and secretly pleased to see some snowflakes. It would make my December. Especially because I completely missed out on a real fall).

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Mom

*Image by a.drian

My family is gone now and it seems strange to wake up or come home and have them gone. It was so nice having visitors (even if I did get lost on the road a bit). It was good to have family in town. Nothing like your mom to make a holiday in a strange town more like home. I came home to find a lovely letter adorning my computer screen. I already miss them.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Crunched

*Image by Paul Nicholson

Well, looks like I'm not alone. I found several pictures of crunched phones online. Somehow, while I was sleeping, Odin got my phone from my nightstand and destroyed it. I have no idea how the phone made it all the way to the floor under the bed for Odin to crunch it up, but it is done for. I woke up around midnight to chewing noises and expected the dog to have another one of my shoes. This time it was my phone and I'm still baffled at how he even got it. Thank goodness I lost the donation envelope I had been planning to use to send my old phone to charity. I'd be phoneless otherwise, now I can save up my money again or wait for a good holiday sale. It is a bummer though, because I was just learning how to use it.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Stuffy

*Image by tinaylin

It wasn't the kids, but I feel like blaming them anyway. I have a stuffy, drippy nose now. This is not the way I wanted to start my week. I did however put up twinkle lights in my room and some new student work to cheer up the walls. I'm happy about that part. Now, I just wish my nose would breathe normally.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Hurk

*Image by mjmatt

I'd rather play tennis than go to the dentist.
I'd rather play soccer than go to the doctor.
I'd rather play Hurk than go to work.
Hurk? Hurk? What's Hurk?
I don't know, but it MUST be better than work.

Poem by Shel Silverstein

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Alamo


Today the Alamo. Tomorrow back to school. I sure could use another week off. Now I'll just start counting down the days until Christmas break. I can even call it Christmas break here, not winter vacation. Hopefully the family enjoys this historic Texas landmark. Hopefully it doesn't start pouring on us until we're done.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Shopping


My brother likes to call black Friday, buy nothing day. I did exactly that yesterday. I haven't really been in the mood for shopping. I'm going to be purchasing many of my gifts online this year because I have to ship most of my gifts across the country (mostly to the inland Northwest). This is helping me be decisive and frugal. I'm just enjoying spending time with my family.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Up


Yesterday we watched the movie Up. I highly recommend this movie. I am planning on buying it for Christmas. It was a great story that was especially well told. I appreciated that my whole family enjoyed it, I cried a little, my husband had some belly laughs. It was great.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Thanks

*Image & card by hijirik

I have a wonderful husband (who is cooking an amazing feast), an entertaining dog, friends who are genuine, generous and thoughtful, and am surrounded by family today. I'm thankful.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Vegetables


Nothing like starting a full day of cooking and baking with some vegetables. Right? I'm all about spicy vegetables with an ease of liquid consumption. Don't get me wrong, I'm very excited for green bean casserole tomorrow.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Canary

*Image via Kate Spade

I would volunteer to pack my postage around in a lovely purse like this. Think of all of the holiday cards I could tote to the post office... yeah. I'm totally not working today, can you tell?

Pie

*Image by weaveDesign

I was thinking about make a pie today, but will probably stick with pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. If I bake a pie there is no way it will last until Thursday (or be any good by then, if there was actually any pie left). Cookies it is. Pies will have to wait. I do love pie.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Chauffeur

*Image by Batram

My mom is here drinking tea with me and my brother and dad will be here later tonight. I am the official chauffeur for the week and I don't have the fancy GPS. Hopefully I know my way around town well enough to make it happen. I'm so glad I have a whole week to spend with my family and not with students.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Life

*Image by Talon672

For me, signs of life make a real home. Having plants around somehow change how I feel about a place. When I first got to Texas our apartment was set up nicely and Trevor added a few nice touches to make it feel like home to me. His decorating was great, but once we added plants to the mix it started to feel like home. Leaving all of my plants behind was pretty hard for me. I gifted many to friends and family and now am acquiring a few more bits of green to make my apartment more like my home.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Visit

*Image via saï

Cleaning. Like a mad woman. So much to do. Family is in town tomorrow. Ugg. I want to impress them. It's all about elbow grease, and a little motivational music.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Printing



I've dreamed of investing in my own cool little letterpress printer. Of course, I'd take some classes first to find out if I love printing paper as much as I love buying it and writing on it. Now Paper Source has made this little dream more affordable, and possibly more attainable. I'd love to see how this works in person.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Robot

*Image from shakty via Warm 'n Fuzzy

What could make a Wednesday better? Robots? Free Robots? Yeah, I thought so too. Well, I thought robots would be good, but the assembly of a sweet paper robot might just make this Wednesday less dull.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tired

*Image by zerlinaa

I was up past my bed time making a book trailer for my students. I love knowing technology, I do not love learning it at night when I am tired. Hopefully they like my little video. Today might be a coffee day.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Red

*Image: Shoshanna dress via Gilt Group

It is still in the 70s outside. Theoretically, I could wear a smart dress like this to school. Unfortunately, this week is college week. That means a week full of jeans & t-shirts. First on my list is to teach my kids the difference between collage and college. It's a doozy.
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