The Excitement

Up to my ears in packing paper and tape and cardboard boxes.  Up to my eyeballs in wedding details.  Butterflies everywhere.  Our day is almost here.

Stowed Away

I have two boxes of purses.  Totes of clothes.  And a million boxes of teacups.  Can my stuffed animals breathe when taped inside a box?  I'm assuming not.

Karl patiently tries to tell me that I am getting all my stuff back.  I am not packing these things to give them away; they will be going with us.  But I can't help but have this small, nagging feeling that I am packing away this life.  Twenty three years of me.  It is one part thrilling.  Another part terrifying.

Hard to believe that this little adventure will begin soon.

The Best Parts of Summer

Dippin' Dots, swimming, salad, cold fruit, laughing children, skirts, and flip flops.  These are some of the things I love about summer.  And while my tan lines are a mess, I do not miss layering and heavy boots.  I am happy to slip on flip flops and what feels like the bare minimum of clothing needed to head out into the muggy night.

Jitters

In 24 days, I am getting married.  Crazily enough, I don't have wedding jitters yet.  I have moving ones.

Will I ever get everything packed? When are we moving? How will we get there? What am I putting everything in? What doesn't belong to me and needs to stay here?

I am waiting for the nerves to start.  I am waiting to be thinking about my wedding day in great detail and with great stress. Instead, I stare at my closet and the bookshelves, waiting for my valuables to pack themselves.

Snapshots

A few snapshots of my week:

1.  This new clutch...

...because it is handy and stylish.

This coffee filter art project...

...because it was my attempt at being an elementary teacher.

 This monster...

...because kids are more creative than I am.

 This flooded street...

...because I had to walk through it and was almost swept away.

I've also been obsessed with reading this fashion blog.  Her recent wedding and wedding pictures are full of Southern charm, and I absolutely love her classy style.
And this blog of WWII-era letters.  How wonderful to have all these momentos.

Wishes

I wish that I could tan outside, pop in my headphones, read a book, and have a glass of something sweet and cold.

Lately my schedule has been busy, full of running around, to-do lists, and little gatherings. I wouldn't mind a day to relax, but between work and celebrations, the relaxation is to be surrounded by family.

And although I wish to be sitting in the sand beside a husband, 47 days doesn't seem so far away.

Last Day of School!

I have never cried on the last day of any school year.  Girls around me would wail and sniffle, but I would just sniff at the new, clean smell, give a few awkward hugs, and wander out the door.

This year is no different.  All schools apparently have the same smell on the last day.  A few girls are still sniffling (even though they will be back next year).  And later today, I will wander out the door with no regrets and a few goodbyes.

I gave all the teachers I worked with a mug and a card.  Although I was fairly anti-junior high, I feel that I have worked with some of the best in the system, and for that, I am truly grateful.

A "Hey, Boo" mug for the "To Kill a Mockingbird" teacher.
A "My Precious" mug for "The Hobbit" teacher.
A "May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor" mug for "The Hunger Games" teacher.
Two Anthropologie mugs for the ones who might not have wanted a mug of their book ("Lord of the Flies, anyone?).