Homework

*Image & pencil pocket by Present & Correct

I'm doing my homework right now, can't you tell? Yeah, totally a procrastinator down to the very last minute. Homework in the summer makes it all harder too - especially because I know if I really do slack and not do it everyone in my teacher class will know. I am so lacking motivation, but I'll get around to it... after this blog post. Are you a slacker at heart?

Woven

*Image & blanket by Mexchic via sfgirlbybay

This blanket looks luxurious. I'm sure that I would feel guilty if the cat tried to put a claw into it or if the bull drooled on it. I would also feel glamorous all curled up in something soft and beautiful versus the fleece blanket in my lap right now. Are these the types of things that reside in "museum" houses? (ie: no pets, no kids, no dirt). Or, are they the things that you pass down to your future children?

Proud

*Image & print by Laceybabe

Hearing the news about New York's new law allowing same-sex marriages made me happier this weekend. I wish I could have been celebrating pride with all of my friends up in Seattle. Today I'm starting a week-long training learning some fun & useful strategies for next year. If I get bored I'll sneak in some letter writing! What are you up to this week?

Tomato

*Image by Souvlaki For the Soul

We picked up some fresh tomatoes at the farmer's market yesterday and after dinner last night I have been inspired to make some caprese salad. I'm sure that I can't compare to what we ate on our fancy date, but I can take a few pointers. They paired the tomato & mozzarella with some basil pesto and arugula, which was quite nice. I have pesto from the farmer's market too, so we could very well be in luck. I'm adding mozzarella to my grocery list. What dishes have been inspired by your local fresh veggies?

Jewels

*Image & earrings via Stella & Dot

My jewelry came in the mail Wednesday! I was so excited to see a tiny little package, knowing it would contain two great new pairs of earrings. I'm glad that I've gotten more comfortable wearing louder jewelry. When I was in high school my earrings were always these incredibly tiny ear lobe hugging silver hoops. Totally understated. Now I've gotten more daring and love the statement a nice pair of earrings can add to an outfit, dressing up even a simple tank top and shorts. Where should I go all decked out in these?

Changes

While creating the circus-themed invitations for my friend's baby shower I decided to get a little creative. After playing around with some programs and decided to mess around with my blog banner. It's been long enough that I've settled for plain text in the format that blogger gives me. I like clean and plain, but this seems to be a nice change. I've been thinking of making some more subtle changes, just for fun so I want your feedback. Let me know what you think! Like it?

Commute

*Image & print by Tracey Capone Photo

My bike is broken, it has been for about two years and is just hanging upsidown in the garage waiting for me to dust it off and repair the damage. I would love to ride it but I have to confess, I'm scared. All I hear about cyclists locally is that they get hit by cars pretty often. I could totally bike to work, if it was safe. I used to see a guy on my morning route biking along and wished that I had the courage to do what he does. My friend is biking to work every day in Seattle, lucky gal has a trail. Would you bike to work if you could?

Tent

*Image by Life Stories Photography

I've been working on creating some fun invitations for the upcoming shower and I am pretty pleased with what I have so far. I need to smooth out a few kinks and add a few more details to get them finished and ready to print but I think they'll look great. I've never really been the graphically gifted artist in the family, and am wishing that my gocco printer still worked so I could really do this right. Would you rather get an invitation in the mail or would it be easier if it was all online?

Tied

*Image & twine via Whisker Graphics

If throwing a baby shower is an excuse to buy a pretty spool of baker's twine then I have the perfect reason to shop. I love the colors that are available and will have a great time wrapping up favors with pretty striped twine. I'm all about the little details, what about you?

Striped

*Image & straws by Hey Yo Yo

A friend an I are co-planning a big top-themed baby shower and I see plenty of stripes in my future. I already picked up a great striped table cloth and will have to plan how to balance all of the big stripes with bright colors. Thankfully the mama loves bright colors and I can accommodate that. I'm also set to make carmel corn and pop corn as sweet treats but am stuck for other circus themed foods. We're giving animal crackers as favors - any other ideas? I'm not sure if this crowd would be as excited if I rented a cotton candy machine...

Tube

*Image by Local Minimum

We are lucky to be entertaining a friend from Seattle today. Yesterday she invited us up to the town of Bastrop, TX to come swim with her and her family at their hotel pool. Which I thought would be relaxing and fun, I had no idea what would be awaiting us. Not only was there a pool, there was also a 'lazy river' for us to tube around, a water slide, a pool bar, and real sand for sand castles! I think that I will add Lost Pines to my future destinations! Today we're going to hit up the farmer's market after breakfast and tonight we're seeing a show in Austin. Having friends in town is so much fun. How is your weekend progressing?

Stellar

*Image via Stella & Dot

Tonight I get to dress up for a jewelry party at a friend's house. I'm excited to try on fun jewelry, especially because I have begun experimenting with adorning myself more and more. I can't argue with a party that is all about dress-up either. I've been more daring with my wardrobe lately (still sporting the clambaked nails) and am hoping to come home with something fun. Do you have a favorite adornment or accessory?

Crisp

*Image & recipe by Smitten Kitchen

This morning I got a little creative with breakfast. All I knew was that I wanted to use some apples I had and with a little searching I found this tasty recipe for a granola apple crisp. The flavors aren't too sweet so it's perfect for a nice morning meal. We ate it warm and fresh from the oven. What did you have for breakfast?

Clambake

*Image by Cupcakes and Cashmere

Summer is a fun time to take risks with fashion, no kids, no bosses and spare time. I usually shy away from painting my fingernails all together. I find it distracting to have color on my fingertips, I can't stop looking at my hands & they feel foreign. I kept spotting photos of short fingernails with pops of color and I kind of liked it. Today I got bold and went for it, painting a bright shade of clambake on my nails. I only did one coat, it's kind of light and punchy. I think I like it. How do you feel about bright fingernails?

Bronte

*Book cover design by Celia Birtwell

A friend and fellow English teacher is reading Wuthering Heights this summer and I volunteered to read along with her for an informal long-distance book club. I have to go buy my copy today and will feel lucky if I can get a book as beautiful as the cloth covered version by Whites Books. What are you reading this summer?

Sarong

*Image & sarong via Piper Lime

I have a sarong, it works but I'm not a huge fan of the colors. When I walked into Old Navy today I was surprised that they had sarongs and that they actually looked pretty nice. The designs I had to chose from were nice and the big bonus was that the sarongs were on sale for around $10! Of course I picked up something new to wear to the pool this summer. I have some pool days ahead in the near future. Will you be spending time near the water this summer?

Industrial

*Flask by Stanley via Canoe by way of Design Crush

This spring my friend was the bridesmaid at the wedding with the flask. Apparently, in Texas they frown on that kind of thing and later in the evening when it was spotted the flask was confiscated. Oh for shame! I told her I'd get her a cooler one to make up for the flask taken. This flask seems totally up her alley. Fancy or seemingly indestructible?

Shorts

*Image & shorts via Anthropologie

Yay! I now have 4 pairs of shorts to chose from. I found these on sale at Anthropologie and they actually fit me, which is not the usual case when it comes to buying pants and shorts. I have two really old pairs from my college days - one is missing two buttons in the button-fly and has seen better days. I know you're thinking, just sew on a button - but don't laugh when I tell you I wear them regardless of missing buttons! These will be a nice replacement and will hopefully last me just as long. Do you get to wear shorts all summer long?

Scarf

*Image & scarf by Thief & Bandit

I've been getting into wearing scarves lately. I like the light weight accessory and have a whole two in my rotation currently. (I have a whole two big chunky necklaces too so you can see how big I am on neck adornment). Look at how much this piece makes the plain black tank stand out. I'm going to try to take more fashion risks, scarves might be a way for me to start. Do you wear scarves?

Summer

*Image by Gege Gatt

I'm going to count today as my first official day of summer. Playing polo kept my mind occupied, and the weather in Oakland was definitely not summer weather. I wore a rain coat and long pants pretty much the entire time I was there. The 50+ squad took the bronze this year with some fierce competition, they rocked. Our 20+ team had our two highest scores in games at nationals this year and were extremely proud and pleased about that. I'm glad to be home and am going to enjoy my first day of summer on a Tuesday. What about you?

Nationals

*Image by Nick McGilvray

I should be at work right now, but alas... I'm off to Oakland to play some water polo. We've got two teams scheduled to play in the Masters National Championship tournament this weekend and I'm excited. Poor me right? I'll let you know the results on Monday. Right now, I'm going to let summer sink in and play some polo. What are your weekend plans?

One

*Image by DoriOnTheTXCoast

Last day of school! I have been so ready for this year to end, now it is over and I am glad. A summer to recover and prepare for yet another year in the 8th grade. What are you looking forward to?

Two

*Image & print by The Colours of Life

So close to being done that I can taste it. I'll be packing up my car today with books and bunches of school stuff. I am so ready to be out of the classroom that it is hard to contain the kids! Can you remember those last few days of school?