A Respite

This academic year has been the respite that I've needed for quite some time. While I learned to say "no," I also learned to say "yes" with a backbone.

I can be at practice, but I can only stay until 6.
I can go to the meet, but I will drive myself and come back when I need to do so.

I can't say that I've perfected the quiet moments.  I'm still trying to find the balance between quiet work and quiet rest.  I've found that journaling has been more cathartic to me than blogging.  Although I enjoyed sharing colorful Sephora finds and beautiful Anthropologie pieces that I wanted to own, it was work.  Work that I was not ready to do.  The dream is still a working lifestyle blog.  Not even sponsored.  But my focus is on finishing my master's and teaching my kids right now.  And that's okay with me.

A Pause

In the past few months, I've taken on a lot, but I've also taken a few steps back, just as I promised myself that I would.   And with those steps back, I've been trying to enjoy every possible moment.

I told the cross country team that I was bowing out for graduate school.  And I'm oh so close to finishing! I had a major English course over the summer that had me in DEEP, and I have two English grad courses right now:  Ethnic Literature and Poetry Writing.  And I am STRUGGLING.  Poetry is far from my strong suit.  I've been out of ethnic literature for some time.  But either way, it has felt good to focus on school.  Both schools.

And we got a dog.  Her name is Daisy, and she's the sweetest pup.  And yes, she gets along with the cats, in the only way that two cats and a dog can get along.  Did we need a dog?  No.  Is it easy to have a dog?  No.  But we are happy?  A million times, yes.  So we have added little Daisy to our family, and we are quite snuggly in bed now.

I've spent less weekends attending meets and more weekends on my neighbor's boat.  And I think it has been the very best thing.  I've seen my husband for more than hours at a time, and I think that's the very best thing too.

This blog took a seat on the back burner in order to allow me some clarity and refocus.  And while I've been charging my batteries, to get into the full swing of things has taken more time and way more coffee.  But there's a larger focus and a better quality to my end game.  And I'm extremely grateful for those brief pauses and all that they allowed.

Circle 'Round

Bullet Journaling

Slowly, I'm beginning to learn about Bullet Journaling.  And while I love my planner, and I'm not half as artsy as these people (#bulletjournal), I'm quite tempted to give it a try.

A Poem

My seniors have this poem for their weekly poetry response.  I admit, I'm quite intrigued myself.  It definitely has made for some good discussion.

AirBNB

We booked our first AirBNB place in Gulf Shores for a week at the beach with some family.  I've always been curious about these sorts of places, and as the price was right, we decided to rent out a little apartment by the beach!

Circle 'Round

Saint Germain Clutch

A dream clutch.  At a dream price.  I'm more of a tote girl... Most of my purses can easily be converted to work bags.  I've been looking at clutches for the (few) times that I go out with friends or on a date night.  I bought a beautiful Madewell Clutch that I absolutely love pairing with numerous outfits.  But this Gigi clutch is just gorgeous.  I'm all about investing in a few good pieces, but I feel as if I did that with my Madewell clutch, and this price is just too much.

Moisturizers

I love this website for a lot of reasons, but their beauty sections are totally worth the read.  I've got some crazy skin, and I dread getting older with more pronounced wrinkles and puffy eyes.  I'm really trying to take care of my skin, and the biggest piece of advice I've been getting is to use moisturizer.  Moisturizer with spf, moisturizers for around the eyes, moisturizers for the face at night....it's pretty complicated.  This article was helpful and showcased a lot moisturizers I've tried in sample sizes.

The Tig

I love Rachel Zane in the show "Suits."  And I love that the actress who plays Rachel Zane, Meghan Markle, is brutally honest about the confusion that comes with race, ethnicity, and belonging.

Teacher's Letter

When it comes to education, I try not to complain aloud.  There's a lot going on in the public education realm, so much so, that I feel like complaining doesn't help.  However, this teacher's letter is going viral for a reason.  All the reasons.

Shoot Christians Say

A previous professor had this posted on Facebook.  I'm not sure yet whether I should be offended.  I think I've used some of these phrases.  But it's true....Christians have their own jargon.

Circle 'Round

Here's a few links of articles, videos, websites, stories, purchases, etc. that I've enjoyed this week.

Undeveloped World War II Film Discovered
Because I have a deep love of the mystery in old film and WWII history...

Boston Travel
Because Karl and I will be traveling to Boston for the Fourth of July!!  All travel recommendations are welcome.

Amuse Bouche Lipstick Obsession
Because of all the lipsticks in the world, these are my obsession.  And they're all-natural.

Milk Frother
Because we have no Sheetz.  And we want mint steamers.

Barolo Braised Short Ribs
For when I have tons of time and am feeling inspired...

January Favorites

I never think the schedule can get any busier.  Then I get the professor from...well...let's just say, I've been busier than usual.  Grad school hasn't been terrible because of so many people cheering me on and giving me the help I need.  There's nothing that makes me miss the small, intimate English class like an online grad class.  Winter has just gotten colder, but January, for the most part, switched back and forth between the scary warm and bitter cold.  My skin went a little haywire, but of course, there were a couple things pushing me through winter.

One Line A Day Journal | This five year journal might be fun to look back on.  I journal quite regularly, but this allows me to note the day quickly.

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer | The weather is killing me.  Normally, I shed skin (disgusting) in the winter.  My legs are itchy, typically.  But I can slather this on IN THE SHOWER. It's been a lifesaver.

Kate Spade Cedar Street Jensen | The color is "mulled wine."  Need I say more?

L'Occintane Hand Cream | Honestly, I've never been a fan of the "rose" smell.  This is different  And the cream feels so luxurious.  I put it on right before bed, and I've really come to love it in my nightly routine.

Kendra Scott Necklace | I've had this for quite some time.  But in the winter, when I'm wearing a lot of blue and gold (shout out to my J. Crew vest), this necklace is the perfect accessory.

A List of Temptations

...an Anthropologie shop stop along the way to dinner tonight.

....a new package of colorful expo markers for the board.

...a stop at Sephora for items on my wish list.

...books sitting in my Amazon cart.

...locking the door, pulling down the blinds, and sleeping at my desk.

...grabbing a cup of coffee before track practice.

...not trying very hard on my final project for grad class.

...bringing a laptop to our meet this weekend to keep watching "Parenthood" on Netflix.

...asking Husband to pick me up early from the meet on Saturday even though he only just returns from Arkansas tomorrow.

Dinner on the Table

Karl's grandparents are here for the week.  People ask, "Isn't that stressful- teaching, coaching, and being in school yourself, PLUS having company?"

No.  Grandma has had dinner on the table every evening when I get home.  We've had BBQ pork chops, spaghetti/meatballs, meatloaf, roast... Grandpa has helped Karl fix the old car, set up his man cave, and mount a television.  Having them as "company" isn't stressful at all. Having them as family is the best of all.

December Favorites

December finally started to get a little colder.  A mug of hot tea before bed did the trick, but even in the midst of Christmas decorations, I still felt a little less Christmas-y this year.  I didn't want nearly the absurd amount of Christmas movies that I normally do; however, there were still a few items that made December wonderful.

Patagonia Vest | Karl took the lovely Patagonia jacket idea to give me a wonderfully warm Patagonia vest for Christmas.

Alabama Starbucks Mug | Who doesn't want to drink a hot cup of coffee from the Starbucks mug of your state?

Bite Beauty Lipsticks | They're creamy and all-natural.  "Pepper" and "Shiraz" are my favorite colors.

Tory Burch Wedges | Karl for the Christmas win again. Beautiful Tory Burch wedges.  He doesn't know who or what Tory Burch is, but luckily, my sister-in-law clued him in on the fact that they're beautiful and durable.  He was immediately clued in to their high-end price.

Nike Air Max 2016 | I got a new pair of shoes for a little more support.  These have gotten a ton of compliments from the track biddies.

Christmas Break Success

I spent about 70% of my Christmas break in pajamas. A variety of pajamas. A red/white/blue romper, blue flannel pajamas with snowflakes, polka dotted silk pajamas, blue and white training pants...

I drank hot tea, coffee, apple cider, and chai lattes whenever I pleased.  I read books (for fun). I took naps.  I cuddled with kitties.  I slept in late, and on a few occasions, I stayed in bed until early afternoon.

Overall, Christmas Break 2015 was a giant success.  Happy New Year, friends.

The End of a Semester

I remember college finals.  I remember shutting myself in the library with a cup of hot coffee in the morning and then coming out of the library in darkness.  I remember the stress, but I also remember the peace.

There is no peace during the end of semester in high school.  As I end this semester, I'm already trying to plan next semester.  The semester where I have SENIORS.  You know, the kids ready to check out in February/March instead of the May...I'm already terrified.  And then I'm teaching Mythology!  Again, excitement and fear.

So here I am, thinking about next semester before this one has even finished.  A time where students try to turn in work from months ago.  Where they ask every day, "So what are we doing today?"  Where administration visits our classrooms before the end of the semester, and they check our finals to make sure they're challenging enough.  I tell you, it's been craziness.  I'm not even sure I've had time to collect November Favorites because really, the only favorite I have has been sleep.  Bedtime is literally my favorite.

I'm ready for some more peace and quiet.  I'm ready for the peace of Christmas Eve and joy of Christmas morning.  I'm ready for the end of the semester!

September and October Favorites

So I skipped a month because, well, life happens.  But it really has been quite autumnal here in Alabama, at least for a few days at a time.  Here is a nice little round-up of items that are making my fall wonderful.

Patagonia Jacket |  Typical "white-girl-fall" necessity.  And I love it.

Winsome Blue Blanket Cape | Love the colors and the trend.  I think it will be perfect with jeans and boots!

Apple cider and Fireball | This drink is great warm or cold. It's the perfect autumn blend.

Visa School Card | Every fall, the district gives the teachers a credit card (with a max) to purchase school supplies.  Nothing gets my inner nerd as much as walking into Staples with free money to spend.

Bath and Body Works Candles | I have pretty much bought all the fall and winter candles available.  K might think I'm mad, but a good home has candles. It's that simple.

A Sister's Wedding

My sister was married this past weekend.  The week before, K and I spent a full week at the beach in preparation.  It was so lovely.  Lovely to sit around and hold hands and reminisce about our own wedding preparations and hair-pulling adventures.  I thought I was ready to go.  Recharged and refueled.

And then this weekend, I attended the wedding of my little sister.  It was a flurry of excitement and preparation.  And there was still hair-pulling.  And it didn't hit me until quite after that my sister is a married woman.  I started to remember when we were little, and she hated school.  And we had "auctions" with my brother, where we found discarded notebooks and old pencils to sell to one another for pennies.  I thought about sharing a room and talking late into the night...and then getting in trouble.  I thought about K being around when my sister was only a freshman in high school and talking about love and dating.  And in a way, I don't think that an older sister is ever ready for her little sister's wedding.

More Love Letters

I love writing letters.  I love receiving letters.  And sometimes, I'm not all too great about getting them out there.  Sometimes I let the little things keep me from sitting at my desk with my words, with my colored pens, with all my stationery, and with all my washi tape.  I'm trying to be better.  I don't want it to be one more thing I put on my "to do" list.  Like many of the wonderful things I've found whilst lost on the internet (HONY, for example), I found this:

More Love Letters

I challenge you to explore the blog and its purpose.  I challenge you to send a letter to a stranger.  Because the world could definitely use more love letters.

August Favorites

The autumn months are creeping in.  And it's still all hot and humid and sweaty here.  But August was still pretty good to me, overall.  Back to the madness of the school year, I suppose.  Round two!

AE Joggers | I wear these with my "But first, coffee" shirt, and I really can't think of any other outfit that I would rather be in.

Sam Edelman Fringe Boots | Because fall is coming.  Eventually.

Nike Orive | While the kids get all sweaty and gross in their socks and shoes all day, my feet are breathing.

Urban Decay Sheer Lipsticks | I bought the color "Ladyflower" on our anniversary because we went to Sephora after dinner, and my husband said he liked the color.  That's good enough.

Maeby and Winston | Maeby and Winston finally get to be together after so much sickness.  And of course, they got along fantastically.  Winston cries when he can't find Maeby. And yes, he definitely loves her more than she loves him.

Some Days

There are those days when I just don't feel well.  When the stress and anxiety of a due assignment for grad school, mixed in with the responsibilities of my job, mixed in with the obligations of coaching, just don't sit right.  Then, with strep throat and the stomach flu making their way around the school, I wake up feeling like my head is swimming.  I'm hoping and praying that I'm not sick, because who has the time?  Some days, I snap at kids for little things, feeling overwhelmed by events out of my control and theirs.  Some days, four minutes into class, a student says, "I hope your day gets better."  And that's always just the worst.  Because really, it's only been four minutes.

July Favorites

Signaling the end of summer, July came and went.  I began to stock up on school supplies, I became bolder in my lip color, and Husband and I adopted another kitten.

Scotch Laminator | Because now I laminate EVERYTHING so that I don't need to keep buying/printing decorations and schedules for the classroom.

Sephora Matte Lipstain | The pink/purples are drawing me in this season.  And they stay for a very long time.

Jaclyn Hill Champagne Pop | I wouldn't be a good make-up junkie without purchasing this gorgeous highlighter.

Igloo Duo Tote | One half is insulated for food.  The other half is material to carry.  This is the best multipurpose bag that I could own, AND it is adorable.

Winston | The newest addition to our family.  He's absolutely the sweetest, and he loves to cuddle.  And yes, there will be a bowtie, for what is a Winston without a bow tie?

Back to School

It's planners, markers, pens, paper, sticky notes, highlighters, washi tape, coffee, novels, poetry, and paper clips.  It's the pit in the stomach that comes with not knowing who signed up for your class.  It's the thought of another year up to your eyeballs in grading and lesson planning.  It's the nervousness of a first day back from summer vacation.  It's taking aside many days during summer vacation to get work done.  It's back to school time.

May/June Favorites

A whirlwind of a summer.  Weddings and moving and kittens and neighbors and track and cross country and prepping for school.  My days are blurring together, and only recently have I realized just how far along my summer has gone and just how quickly it will come to a close.

May and June were all-around lovely, but even so, there were a few things that stuck out most.

Our home | We love it.  Really.

Gulf Shores, AL | We have gone so much this year, it's unbelievable.  I'm trying to convince the Husband that we should invest in a beach house...

The Dream Team | We were reunited, and I finally met our newest little member.

Bookshelves |  They're from Target, but I love them.  They're big and look fancy.

Hydrangeas | I'm a plant killer, so I'm pleasantly surprised to see these blooming so beautifully.

Maeby | She's honestly the cutest little companion ever.  Her name is from a character from Arrested Development because she literally does the opposite of everything we say.

Maeby | But really...so cute.

Pittsburgh, PA | I went to celebrate one of my best friend's wedding to the love of her life, and it everything about it was gorgeous.  Including the bachelorette party in Pittsburgh.

Tape, Boxes, and Sharpies

It's funny how much of your life can fit into boxes.  Packing paper from our first move to Alabama is strewn about the floor.  Sharpie markers in various colors litter the counters.  The sound of tape stretching across a cardboard box signals the end of something.  And it signifies the beginning of something.

I never thought we'd stay here or that I could fall in love.  But moving day is almost here, and I really just couldn't be more thrilled to begin another journey in our new home.