Sweaty

*Image & card by richiedesign

Still sick, no fever but I'm sweaty and achy. The sad thing is - for a teacher it is easier to go to work feeling like crap than it is to compose lesson plans that can be taught by just any sub who walks into the door. I think I'm going to take a 1/2 day today once I get my plans in order. This sucks. How is your Monday treating you?

Ache

*Image & painting by Erin Ashley's Art

At first I was convinced I was sick, then someone told me about the horrible allergies associated with blooming cedar in South Texas. Now, I think it's a combination of both. I've never had allergies leave me soaked in a cold sweat, have you? So that is where I've been, wading in my misery of aches and congestion. Hopefully I'll find some over-the-counter miracle to get me through today and whatever the week has in store for me. For the record, if these are allergies I will officially hate cedar. Any miracle treatments you care to recommend?

Lounge

*Image & Polaroid by Alicia Bock

Now all I can think of is vacation... The weather is warming up here and the noises of birds and bugs are filling the air. My sweaters are slowly making it back into storage and now I'm shopping online for new sandals to go with the dresses of my imagination. My closet is starting to bore me and my budget is tight. I think it's time for me to host a clothing swap. Have you ever participated, what do you think?

Abstract

*Image & dress via Anthropologie

All of my tropical day dreaming has me thinking of flowing sundresses that travel from beach to evening strolls to restaurants and dancing. Luckily spring is coming to Texas and dresses are out on the racks. Do you have a favorite summer dress? Where did you find it?

Brainwashed

*Image by depuis

Yep, still at the beach. I have grades due this Friday so when I'm not immersed in a stack of papers I'm on a beach somewhere. How is your Tuesday?

Preoccupied

*Image by Davide Schiano

This is pretty much what I think about now. I have beaches on my mind. Not a bad thing to daydream about if you ask me.

Favorites

*Image by Karin M.

Tonight we're headed out with the dog to meet up with friends for some delicious pizza under the stars. Pizza, friends, dogs, wine and a birthday to celebrate sounds like a good time to me. Trevor baked our wedding cake this afternoon and I can't wait for all of my Texas friends to have a taste. I'm smelling it right now and am drooling a little. This Saturday night is going to be awesome. Do you have plans?

Honeymoon

*Image of The Crane

Breathtaking... This is where almost two years after the fact my husband and I will be spending our honeymoon. Now that we've booked our vacation I can't wait to actually get to an airport. We still have a few months to wait, but now that we have plane tickets and a place to stay it's actually a reality. For a while I fretted that moving to Texas would forever be the honeymoon that never happened. My husband just got on the internet and bought himself a new swim suit and is over the moon about his first tropical vacation. Any recommendations for traveling to the Caribbean?

Husband

*Image & card by afavorite

Happy birthday to my awesome husband! I am lucky to have him around. I can't wait to celebrate and to eat some delicious dessert, it's what he's known for.

Ease

*Image & card by luludee

Today is the first day in a few weeks that I am actually happy about going to work. Over the past few nights I had a great conversation with some people in my life who support me and are helping me get through this dark period. I feel like I have options and that all of this crap will end and somehow I will still succeed. I feel good today, and I thought it was going to be a long rough week. Just what I needed to get over the hump. How do you feel about today?

Pow

*Image & card by Every Nichi

I can't tell if this is a good thing. It feels like my job some days. I've been struggling lately and I'm really grateful that I have a blog where I can post about beautiful things and love and not dwell on how much school sucks lately. I cannot believe that I have been keeping up this blogging trend for two whole years now. The second thing that overwhelms me is that people (other than my mom and my friends) read this blog. Thank you, although you may not know it, your audience means something to me - gives me a reason to post my thoughts and to find images to best represent them. Why do you stop by this blog?

Lovely

*Image by Dana Lucas via Kate Spade

Tomorrow is my second anniversary of my initial attempt at blogging. I'll post photos of the Valentines I crafted for my loved ones. Until then, I hope that today you feel loved and appreciated by all of the people around you. How will you make someone feel loved today?

Blech

*Image & cards by Mew Paper Arts

The past few days have had me anything but loving my job. I've had a bunch of extra asinine work on my plate that left me feeling like any of the cards pictured above. Hating work will not, however make me hate love, it just left me neglecting my blog and my creativity for a few days. Tomorrow is the big VD and I can't wait. I've got my fancy schmancy ban.do headband ready and my cards made. I'm bringing treats to work (for my co-workers who are also down in the dumps) and I'm dressing up. I will still love Love. Happier Sundays to all of you. How will you celebrate Love tomorrow?

Hungry

*Image & card by Spoon & Sailor

When I first spotted this card, I didn't quite get it. Then I read the caption and recalled a game from my childhood and it totally made sense. I've never, until now, equated hippos with love. Is there an animal you believe best represents love?

Poetry

*Image & card by Lily Jane Stationary

Today we start poetry in class, so obviously I had it on my mind. I'm not a huge fan (don't tell my students) and I certainly am not much of a poet. One of my favorites is e.e. cummings and this is a perfect snippet in time for a Valentine. Do you have a favorite poet?

Venn

*Image & card by Miles & Marcel

This image is something I've been seeing in my classroom. I feel proud that my students have learned how to create a visual to compare and contrast and to see them using it on their own. Seeing these hearts made me smile. I've seen other representations of Venn diagrams and love or family, but nothing quite like the hearts. Have you seen your work represented in art?

Sprinkles

*Image & card by Paper Lovely Letterpress and Design

Monday usually leaves me craving something sweet at the end of the day, this could do in theory. The first day of the week is not always my best, luckily all I have to do is administer an exam to students today. They would have taken this test on Friday, so we're just a day behind. Now that I think about the group of kids I'll have until lunch I might need to pack some sweets... How is your Monday shaping up?

Accordion

*Image & card by Elevated Press

This card reminds me of my grandfather. He is an accordion player extraordinaire and although he hasn't played in a while I automatically think of him when I see things like this. You don't meet true accordion players every day. Who in your family has an interesting talent?

Kitty

*Image & card by the big harumph

When our cat is hungry or thirsty nothing else matters to her. Every morning when my alarm goes off, there she is waiting for me sitting on my nightstand. Charlie has us trained to turn on the bathroom sink faucets for her first thing in the morning. Every time she sees us walking in the direction of a bathroom sink she meows at us and goes running. She also has a devious side that pounces all over the bed and does little digs in the covers at 5:30 am on weekend mornings. Today I even heard her playing in the bathtub. When it woke me up and got the dog agitated I kicked Charlie out of the bedroom. She took revenge by trying to climb up the door. My cat is a scumbag when she is hungry. Do you have a crazy pet?

Smooch

*Image & card by duncan creative

A big kiss to start off Friday morning. All over television there have been rumors of snow. It is colder in San Antonio than it has been in decades and people are not quite sure what to think. Yesterday I taught my students how to do a snow dance and woke up to see rooftops kissed with fine white. At first I thought it was hard frost, but it was the tiniest bit of snow. Our school day has been canceled (although not until I was awake and finished with my shower). Now I have a day to finish some work and arts and crafts plus my husband's hot wings to look forward to on Sunday. How do you feel at the end of the week?

Gifted

*Image via ban.do

When I got my first-ever box in the mail from ban.do it was so hard to give it all away. Two of my most fabulous girlfriends got some adornments for Christmas. I finally gave myself a little gift that should be here right in time for Valentine's Day. My mom has pictures of herself in giant floppy bows when she was little, I wonder if she'll appreciate the fashion of an adult in such a get-up. I wonder how my kids would react if I wore something like this to school. What do you think?

Hearts

*Image & card by Krank Press

I hate those little candy hearts, I find them gross-tasting and chalky. I do love the sentiment of conversation hearts. I'll take the paper versions any day. Pretty, fun, and you don't have to eat them. My favorite Valentine's Day candies, other than chocolate, are cinnamon bears or gummy hearts. What is your favorite Valentine's candy?