Friday- the end of another beautiful week~

Today I waved at the camel resting on the grass on my way to work. Seriously (see yesterday's post) I was glad he was off the road.

Casual Friday felt really casual today but this in between time when it's 89 degrees outside and 59 degrees inside is really odd.

So I was following a camel...

Lots of compliments on my goodwill wedges today...

So I was late to a meeting this morning because I was following a camel... really! A coworker said, "Seriously DaShannon if a student told you that what would you think?" Luckily later when the newspaper was delivered I read aloud to here about the circus coming to town and bringing CAMELS, llamas and elephants. Small town American- you just can't beat it. Reminds me of spotting that zebra on my way home from a funeral...

From Rizzoli and Isles... 

Isles... "You think this is all about fashion? (exasperated sound) Don't you appreciate an equation? I am in awe of what human beings can do. I am in awe of the channel stitching in this sweater, the artisan who molded this shoe..."

worth watching this spot. It's in part 4, why it wouldn't let me embed it I don't know. I love the general gist and agree with Isles..."this" is not something I do because I am base and have nothing better to do. I do it because I am in love with the creative aspect of mixing it together in a new way that makes me say "ah yes that's it."

Picture Day

I figure I have about 30 years practice at school photos given my own school years then teaching years and yet it never gets easier. I still plan days (weeks) in advance what to wear and then pray it turns out well. I'm crossing my fingers this year because last year's was the worst ever. I did the retakes they were so bad. 

Bubs and I went out on the boat for awhile this evening, not too many of those left I'm afraid so I rush to get house work done and try not to fret too much when I'm just floating along reading a book and he's fishing. Balance.

I reconnected with the egg lady today. She's gathering 2 dozen eggs for me tomorrow. When I'm not traveling down her road in the summer it's hard to set up a time but we're back in business!

Still pushing through The Time Traveler's Wife... it's good but ready for it to be done. I even rode the recumbent bike this morning so I could get more reading done. When I tried to read on the treadmill, well not a good idea for the uncoordinated. 

This speaks to my core...

"There's something about blogging... the thought of taking a photo and writing about it... capturing the moment... has opened my eyes to so many beautiful things I've never noticed before.  I probably blog only 1% of my life and experiences... but I live 100% of every moment as if I'm going to blog about it.  Even a long wait in a doctor's office or bumper to bumper traffic can be a happy moment.  If I were to blog it... what would I see.  And it's like the little Heinzelmännchen come and sprinkle happiness and funny things into every moment.   Live like you're gonna blog about it." Happy Zombie via Where Women Create 

Speaking of meals...

One thing I can count on each Fall- Bubs talking non stop from the time I see him in the afternoon until he falls asleep at night. It's a good thing just humorous; and I know it's not just me who notices bc hubs today turned and looked at me after bubs talked all the way home, continued talking and waited for hubs to exit the vehicle and then followed him to the door without breaking stride. They must gag him at school for him to have this much pent up conversation.

We stopped at the farm on Schefsky today because the farmer was harvesting fresh cantaloupe from the field. He was extremely friendly and we talked about crops for awhile before leaving with corn, cantaloupe, watermelon and sweet potatoes. The sweet potatoes look like a gangle of roots. Mr. Farmer said it's because he grows them in dirt not sand so they meet resistance. Bubs saw me taking pictures of the produce and didn't like when i put the two watermelons side by side. 

"mom not a good idea... brings to mind too many body parts." I guess he would have vetoed the following then since I even found it disturbing....

I'm headed to Nashville this weekend with a friend to see a Natalie Merchant concert so I've been listening to her all week.

I'm still plowing through The Time Traveler's Wife in the evenings...

Before school started this fall we sat down and discussed food. I enjoy the thought of cooking and baking but really it mostly stresses me when it come to the boys because our tastes are so different. So we decided to do mexican tacos/burritos/chips/salsa one day, spaghetti and chili one day, on Wednesdays we would go out, Thursdays we have 'feed the team' with hubs football team, and Fridays are game nights.
Last week we ate at a local restaurant on Wednesday and then come back to town for Skyline on day since it wasn't a normal week. This being our first full week we started off on the right foot yesterday with mexican night. Yum. Everyone was pleased. Today we came home and realized we forgot the spaghetti :) We left and went to Subway (I'm not a big fan.) Better luck tomorrow if we can remember that spaghetti! I'm a planner but for some reason when it comes to food it just never seems to workout so I'm working on that!

It is cool enough this evening to have the back door open for a little while. marina is enjoying keeping watch at the door while I type. I can hear the geese flying overhead and the boats speeding by  during the big fish tourny tonight. As it gets later the crickets are gaining strength. Actually when I opened the basement door today they sang to me and that's probably not a good thing.

Since hubs went back to coaching a family friend has adopted bubs as his partner on big fish tourney nights. He's become like a grandparent to him calling him anytime he goes out to prefish or across the lake to dinner. It's been really nice to have him step in and let bubs get more out of the season. 

and a few pieces of eye candy from my blog roll...

How about this adorable Kate Spade Book of the Month Clutch that I will never be able to afford...

An Orla Kiely inspirational pose...

Whew Monday's a Kicker

Early morning...

Late night...

Yep I'm in the 6th Grade~

Another score from the under $5. consignment sale shirt, although I'm not crazy about it with these black shorts. I don't know what to wear it with?

We ate at Fiesta Brava after church today; they moved to a new location and unfortunately their quality has decreased. My fish tacos were yummy but the salsa was more bland and hub's burrito was tiny compared to usual. 

I printed out these gorgeous labels from  and what the heck printed them out for my mom and sis too! (You gals can thank me later.)

I really love this little purse from A Beautiful Mess...

Finished Lead a Horse to Murder by Cynthia Baxter. It's just a fun murder mystery but I probably won't be searching out more of her books.

And then finally bub's 'yep i'm in the 6th grade!' picture...

Its Not Raining this Party Out~

The Betsey Johnson swim dress from the consignment sale makes its debut at a Tea/Pool party at my sister's house.

King George sits on his throne in her sitting room.

I assembled the cucumber and dill sandwiches, tomato, moz and lettuce sandwichs, turkey and cranberry sandwiches (my favorite!) and chicken salad on croissants. Mom assembled the fruit frog.

and then we all went outside to relax in the hot tub under the umbrella because it was pouring the rain and we were not going to let that put a damper on the party!

(I'm the second from the right and sis is beside me third from the right.) These ladies are so much fun! Really just comfortable company and easy conversation. The white pole we are huddled around is the umbrella~

King Henry wore his shirt to let everyone know his M.O.

And lover man George let me know I was taking too many pictures of the pipsqueak. 

After the first week back to work I am pooped. 

What not~

Last night bubs was showing me a new app on his ipod. You choose a car maker then car etc. It fires it up to get the engine sound. I choose the Chevy Nova 'since it was my first car' I said. 'Did ya drive it like ya stole it?' he asked. Who is this kid :)

The same kid that tries to talk like a gangsta constantly uses the term 'What not' in conversation. Such as 'mom can you grab my bag an what not on your way to the truck?' or 'Tyler gave me some candy and what not after school so I don't need a snack.' This is not how we speak so I have no idea where he picked this up but he says it at least once a day and uses it correctly. Cracks me up! Sounds like a British chap, he does. Hee Hee. 

(A bit of bragging right here... ignore if you just rolled your eyes. Bub's teacher pulled us aside at work day and said he scored a perfect score on his state math test. He did this in the 3rd grade also but he was so proud of himself when we told him. Of course so are we.)

These fall looks from APC via A Cup of Jo are cozy. I do have to say the cord shorts are so 1990's but I always thought they were practical!

I finished reading Jake, Reinvented by Gordon Korman, a YA novel that resembles The Great Gatsby. Our new English teacher is considering it for a class read. It was a good book to compare to GG but not really that deep or memorable. Not as moving as GG but good. 

Oh what to do with those gloves who have lost their mates? Why make a squirrel of course! via Dainty Squid.

Tomato fairy

I'm really striving to post my daily outfits this school year. Since last winter when I started this blog it has challenged me to pay more attention to detail and become more creative- which I like! First day with students calls for the black suit, a big pop of color, and killer heals that say, "I'm an adult. Yes as me a question?" I wore my hair down and curly too just to kick the year off right! This is another Michael Stars shirt snagged this summer for under $5. and the necklace is from the girls who traveled to Italy this summer without me :) Murano Glass beads... (i realized too late the lighting in the shade was awful. no tripod currently so precariously balancing camera on deck)

Today I wore my new Anthropologie bow bobby pin... so cute and dresses up that librarian bun. Sunny Leigh blouse goodwill score!

When a coworker commented on my colorful local salad of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers today I sighed that it was my last tomato. Our garden flopped this year for some reason. When I pulled into the driveway this afternoon there was a grocery bag of tomatoes waiting for me on the fireplace... serendipity? I should think so. We live in a gated community and only know like 3 people here. All of which are men who are really hubs friends. Hmm. Anywho we ate them with bacon, mayo and farmer's market potatoes. Ahh. Not too many more days of garden fresh tomatoes...

Just for you BonBon Rose Girls my pic of the Beluga whales at Atlanta's Aquarium :)

Days With My Father is a photographic journey by photographer Phillip Toledano that is so worth taking. If I didn't work with kids for a living I would so work with the elderly. 

I am so loving my new Smashbox black gel eyeliner from Sephora. It was a bit pricier than my little pencil from the drugstore but wow is it ever worth it. It stays in place all day and is dark! Thanks for the recommendation Ahan or Carly I can't remember which one!?

Let the Cool Out

teacher work day today so denim is allowed... these are my new Frye sandals from TJMaxx, and a Arden B. shirt from the consignment sale last week so an under $5. purchase.

a psychologist came in to speak to us about bullying. now that's one of those words i hear and think 'here we go' we've heard all this before and i have all the paperwork to prove it. however... this guy was awesome! i took a binder with all kinds of covert reading material i can wade through but i didn't need to because he was really making sense. i forgot to bring my notes home but a few things i remember. 

@all social circles operate on the same principals from 3rd grade on up. there are basically 3 types of people and here's where they are coming from. i won't go into the details but really we applied the types to our students and again to ourselves (without pointing fingers!) and it is so true. 

@you've got to teach those kids on the outside how to 'let the cool out' or they will always be friendless. they can not- repeat CAN NOT stand outside the circle and ask 'can i play' or they will be laughed at.

@women have relationships and activities form around those relationships. men have activities and relationships form around those activities. 

@don't be a flat liner in your conversation. (this one made me think of blogging) people don't really want you to tell them what happened. they do want to hear what you think about and feel about what happened. hmmm. looking back at posts yep that's what i'm striving for in my posts/scrapbooking. i want a commentary with depth not a datebook.  

anyways he was really good and i've been doing these inservices for  like 17 years now and i have very rarely said that. really. the guys got insights. it was odd to have someone put into words and talk through what you see happen everyday even in your marriage and to not feel threatened or judged by it but to say 'oh.. yep he's right.' 

from design sponge i like the way they spiffyed up this rest room. probably our most boring room in the house but it has potential...

the selby is an awesomely inspiring book/site. i think i'll snap a few photos of some of my areas and see what i can come up with for this...

 

anthropologie has a new documentary out called "man shops the globe" sounds interesting.. i never know how to get access to a documentary though. i get most of my videos from the public library and our little one doesn't carry much in the way of documentaries. the last one i saw "The September Issue" I rented from Red Box so I'll have to keep my eyes open there.

this skirt is a cutie from Poppy by the etsy shop Songs of the Sea but unfortunately they don't have any items listed presently...

Firsts...

first day back. sort of. an 11 hour day of meetings, lunches, meetings, dinners, open houses and such. then driving in a complete circle for an hour to round up the kid and dog since they are still on summertime. but payoff is only 3 hours tomorrow and i hear the weather is going to be exceptional so maybe soak up some rays before the kiddies come wednesday. 

i have some favorite images on my desktop that i've been wanting to share here but for some reason i don't have the sources so i'll add those later...

i love these heart paper arts and hope to make them for displays this year...

love this image of course...

i've seen vintage suitcases turned into dog beds lately but how about this chair for humans?

i've been stamping my rubber stamp images on mailing tags lately to display them but i really like this idea of stamping them on rocks and maybe putting them in a bowl....

off to bed and we'll try again tomorrow~

Last day of summer... sort of

"Getting dressed is not a mindless act but rather a conscious, joyous one." Debra Raoport via Bust Magazine

i know our church practices relaxed dress code when hubs greets my outfit with 'why u so dress up?' well #1 new dress from USwap! and #2 very depressing last day of vacation and i need to be cheerful. kate spade yellow sunglasses scored a compliment from a stranger today and don't u think they look great with this dress? new (to me shoes) a gift from girlfriend m. while i helped her purge her closet last week. i love that she sent out an email "You are all invited to come shop (it's all free!) in my closet for purses, flipflops, camis, sweatshirts, pants, and other clothing/accessory items. I despair that I will ever fit in anything that has only a single digit in the size!"  

and the necklace is vintage from a few summers ago vacation discovery shop... you can see it better here from bubs pic of me stealing one of his fried egg gummies... they are delish and i don't know why, really, not real food right?

love this creative video via Rachel... i emailed it out to our single struggling male friend...



hub gifted me with a butterfinger donut from Long's Country Store to start the day off right this morning. he knows i take this whole back to work thing much harder than he does. we ran around today trying to get all those last minute items... i bought yet another pair of black heels (via TJMaxx) but wow they were so comfy! and a pair of orange Frye sandals bc i apparently do not own many comfy summer shoes. a summer realization. if they aren't crocs my feet ache by then end of a summer day of running. when school starts i can wear heels (after about a week) and other shoes not meant for walkin' bc i don't walk all that much from my desk to the stacks or the occasional classroom to trouble shoot some tech. i like working the hip librarian look and not so much the polyester bun librarian lady look.

finished Bust magazine today. i picked it up to read about Rachel and enjoyed it. mostly. i would have a hard time describing it. part feminist. part culture (heavy on the music, some lit, movies), part fashion, and emphasizing the handmade, crafty niche. i liked it until about 1/3 of the way through it when it was leaning more to the edgy side and including humor i just ain't into. but hey i do enjoy picking up new magazines and enjoying them for who they are :) lots of websites to look up that look interesting. i think i'll try to make a friendship bracelet with bubs. from all the movie and tv reviews Stanley Tucci seems to be a very busy little bee.
 love him. especially in Julie and Julia. actually another favorite blogger Alicia Paulson makes an appearance in the book review section. she has a new embroidering book coming out.


here is my trading card for the convention yesterday actually now that i look at it the picture includes two cards stacked one on top of the other. sorry bout that. anywho i made like 50 i think and ran out in line. below is a pick of some that i received.

hubs and bubs just returned from fishing and bubs brought the mail in for me. he plopped in my lap at the desk and said 'let's look together.' ahhwwah. then when he saw the cover of his new Game Informer mag. he said 'wow look at that. know who that is?' me- yes batman and cat girl. 'yeah and looks like cat woman got a new costume... look. at. that.' crushed that awh he's so adorable feeling quickly.  

still unpacking convention purchases. maybe tomorrow. oh who am i kidding not tomorrow.