A little of this...

 
The Karen Kane cardigan is a mesh like material, a recent thrift store find and these are my new favorite heels that I wore all day and my feet never tired. Really. Unheard of.

The gray cardi is another recent thrift store find. The necklace and Banana blouse from my columbus weekend. I really wish I knew the story behind this necklace but having picked it up at a consignment store who knows? Tuesday I looked so tall with my skyscraper heels on and then today's picture makes me look so squat. I guess I should have worn these Christian Louboutin heels instead huh?

This morning my pups were tired so I grabbed my Merrells and tried to make them professional work day ok. Did it work? I know some of my coworkers sport flip flops but that doesn't make that ok. These Merrells are mary jane like so I think they blended into the work day. I did not know they made clothing!?!? until I just google Merrell to make sure I spelled it correctly. Take a look at this cute dress...

I am craving plaid lately. I really only have a few plaid items. 

Cath Kidston revealed their US web store so I may have to do some Christmas shopping...

another project for fall from Tattered Angels...

Saturday my book club is traveling to the Books by the Banks event downtown. I'm looking forward to talking to Curtis Sittenfeld about her book American Wife. 

This perfume from CB I Hate Perfume is going on my Christmas List... 

And maybe this from TopMan...

and maybe a visit from the young Leo... 

KIDDING!

I knit but now with this video from Land's End I think I might try my hand at crochet. The last time I tried to learn from a friend I ended up with a coaster my students get a kick out of. 

Cruising into Monday

Well hello there...

Yesterday we stopped by the car show at the clubhouse on the way home and I found my dream car... 

Saturday was the fall fishing tourney ending fishing season for the boys. They didn't place which pretty much sums up their season.

some of my goodies from the public library stop on Friday...

another car I had my eye on and then realized it belongs to one my coworkers! I know he said he collects surfboards but I didn't realize that he stores them on top of this beauty!

So yesterday I made a few desserts for our staff to enjoy while they came in to peruse our new books in the library... apple crisp, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and persimmon pudding. And since the apple crisp and cookies came from the Clean Eating cookbook I added s'mores, candy corn, m&m's and such. I can't believe after all the baking yesterday I didn't take one picture and then today after decorating like crazy also no pictures... guess I just got busy doing, opps! But all the desserts received good reviews especially the persimmon pudding that I was even a tad bit concerned with since I have never tried an actual persimmon.
So here is a picture of persimmon colored beauties.

a very cool book mobile via A Beautiful Mess 

and now a few words from our past President of the United States, on diet, honestly how about that! I knew this guy was smart and the way he verbalizes this diet in his life is amazingly clear. 

Welcome to Autumn

I celebrated the first day of autumn with autumnal colors...

then because our temps this 'autumn' are still in the 90's promptly returned to crop pants~

this is one of my favorite button ups since the alligator graces the top~

that's 'lucky' no matter how unfortunate my photos turned out for the day :)

This is probably a much more librarian look of Charles Anastase via Fifi Lapin...

she would maybe sit behind this desk via Dainty Squid

from recyclart

We found out yesterday our contract negotiations have come to an end and we will be voting soon but best case scenario we get no raise and health insurance goes up some. So we will actually have less money this year than last and that my friend is a first. A scary first. I know we live a little above our means but we just got to where we weren't charging more than we could pay off in a given month and still felt like we were living out our lives in comfort. Facing this we need to pare down and reconsider some things. That being said I had another Smores cappuccino yesterday that was just heavenly. 

Another cute project from Martha Steward but her page wouldn't load correctly, maybe because the pickle advert just would not stop loading, geesh- take it easy on all the adverts please.

The boys had the fall fishing tourney this morning so I took marina over to the dock to swim while I waited for the boys to float by so I could throw them their sandwiches for lunch. They came in 6th I think which was non paying... and bubs fell in with his phone in his pocket. Seriously 3rd phone of ours to take a swim THIS YEAR. Will they never learn to put the phone on the boat?

a pretty pose via Poppytalk...

Super Natural Botanicals states today that if you do a moderately strenuous workout for at least 30 minutes a day (and by moderately strenuous, that means sweating most of that 30 minutes), you can reduce your risk of developing breast, colon and endometrial cancers by 20% – 30%. Why oh why do I struggle to get up in the morning and do this? HUGE PAYOFF


love these via Francesca's Collection and the whole boots with a dress idea... just not sure I've got the legs for this... cute look book this time around, they've stepped up their game

Picked up at the public library: 


movies: Recount, Monk Season One, Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog, Dr. Strangelove, Duplicity


books to review: 
The Story of Stuff: How our obseesion with stuff is trashing the planet, our communities, and our health- and a vision for change, 
The New Good Life:Living Better than Ever in an age of less, 
Drink this not that- I have lots of the other paperbacks by this guy and the boys like reading it in the car


Magazines: Sunset: Living in the West with some great articles on National Parks and highlighting the blog mrhomestead.com


Ms. Women Take Back Food is the cover article so couldn't miss that.


I finished this year's Newbery Award winner, When You Reach Me and it is fabulous. Lots of Wrinkle in Time references so that gives you a little hint of what's going on but truly touching and I'm glad the award went to a worthy book this year that all ages can enjoy.


Also finished What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know by Sonja Sones. Both books I've read by her have been in alternative formats and I'm ok with that but for some reason these books are so top skimming I barely remember that I've read them much less what they are about in the end. And this one is yet another boyfriend cheats on the girlfriend who holds back and then she forgives him. Sick of those. Really. I can't even recommend without saying please come talk about this with me when you are finished. 


Now reading Life at these Speeds by Jeremy Jackson because a male student turned it in saying he has never finished a book and loved this one. It's good from the first word. 

I like the library~

Black Neesh shirt consign clearance, Rocketdogs thrifted

Lace overlay blouse thrifted, gray skirt thrifted, birdcage necklace Michaels, my two favorite bracelets read "Spread Good Vibes" and "Do what you like, like what you do." 

And goodness my job has been wonderful lately. Yesterday my special friend who delivers my mail whispered "I like the library" as he was leaving. I've been working on him since the start of school he's so shy and nervous. I kept walking over to greet him, making eye contact and cracking jokes with him until finally... (I actually got a little emotional for a sec.) Another student actually said the words, "thank you so much for pointing this book out to me. I loved it." (Amelia Atwater Rhodes In the Forest of the Night) 

Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn and I am so excited I can barely stand myself. I'm geared up to decorate the library tomorrow then clean the downstairs at home and decorate this weekend. Yeah! So many cute ideas lately that I really need to put into action. 

I finished American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. Wow. Yep. Wow. Very thought provoking and, I'm sure, offensive to many but in the end she paints a wide picture of both sides while showing her bias.

MarcJacobs new site is adorable....

new scrapbook site discovery hambly screenprints...

Charms I'm Sure~

I haven't left the house all weekend. So glad I didn't have to take a day off to fight off this cold I figure if I lay low over the weekend I'll be ready for next week. So far it's working...

Last night's fortune cookie, "The usefulness of a cup is its emptiness." hmm.

Some cute charm projects from Darcie...

From Mental Floss a quiz of 'Who Said it Jane Austen or Steve Austin?' Harder than I thought. 

Who Said It: Jane Austen or Steve Austin? Score: 90% (9 out of 10)

a beautiful vintage pic via Elsie's 10 things i love about Sunday... found at flickr

Cincinnati Magazine has an article called, "Move Over, Cupcakes." about macarons describing the difference in a macaron and a macaroon. Interesting... I plan to visit Freida's Desserts in Maderia, never been there, go back to Bonbonerie in O'Bryonville to try theirs, and then seek out Taste of Belgium in Findlay and North Market in Columbus. These little tasties are good enough to seek out! 

I saw these Uggs this summer and really like them but they are still 140. too much for cloth boots seriously...

Finally made my way to Goop.com Gweneth's site and viewed a nice fall preview...

Looking back on my blog this weekend searching for something I was reminded why I wanted to start this blog journal. I wanted to live with intention. I think I've made great strides since February of paying attention and creating and being intentional about the every day.

I didn't make it to services today so I was reviewing an earlier sermon when the pastor referenced James Stockdale a former POW. I searched around trying to remember his story and found this on Wikipedia...

In a business book by James C. Collins called Good to Great, Collins writes about a conversation he had with Stockdale regarding his coping strategy during his period in the Vietnamese POW camp.^[10]

"I never lost faith in the end of the story, I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade."^[11]

When Collins asked who didn't make it out of Vietnam, Stockdale replied:

"Oh, that’s easy, the optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, 'We're going to be out by Christmas.' And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they'd say, 'We're going to be out by Easter.' And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart."^[11]

Stockdale then added:

"This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”^[11]

Also jotted down, "You are not going to find peace in your circumstances. It comes from elsewhere and from within."

Styling

Starting my day with Essencha Tea House's Caramel Creme tea...

A new take on What I Wore Today  Gabbi Kræpelien

This year I've gotten hooked on Project Runway and finally this morning I watched a few episodes of The City and the word 'styling' keeps coming up. So I must add styling to my list of hobbies and interests because that is exactly the part of the process I really enjoy!  Whitney was selling her line of Whitney Eve on the show today and they mentioned they don't have a model available because well we are in a recession... interesting to know it hit the fashion world also. Of course right after that she mentioned she is a size 2 with big boobs so that hint of oneness didn't last long. Tuesday one of my students told me she liked 'how I put it all together today' I think that means styling too right?

A cute wreath tutorial from Living with Lindsay via Where the Lovely Things Are (i think)

Oprah announced Freedom by John Frazen as her new book club read; I've heard so much about it so far it is now on my immediate read list so I can benefit from her discussion. Her 25th season opening this week has been fabulous. Very emotional with lots of revisiting old guests like the aids forum back in 1987, the warrior mom who was attacked by a flesh eating bacteria and a young Oprah wannabe. The reason I constantly revisit Oprah is because she gives of what she has and seems to get that that is what the universe asks of us. Let's Take the Long Way Home is another one I'm hearing a lot about lately. I think maybe by Gail Caldwell. She read from it on my NPR book podcast today.

Rue Magazine shows promise and I like that they put it all out there online to peruse in addition to picking it up in the store. Part shelter, part fashion, some foodie articles, I'm liking it.

I might need to update my cord collection with these skinny cords from the Gap if I can come up with a good coupon.

My college suitemate texted me Sunday that she was in my neighborhood so I wrapped up a lunch with a few of our football players and headed over to Sam's to enjoy a frozen coke while she restocked up on Hussman's Potato Chips

I finished When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It won the Newbery last year and is much deserving. It could go down to probably about 6th grade but is enjoyable through adulthood. In the vein of Stargirl, Lightning by Koontz, Simple as Snow and others that keep you wondering what is going on up until the end. 

I'm about half way through the American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and I like it much better than Prep her earlier novel. We are reading this with book club since she will be one of the authors at Books by the Banks where our club is meeting in October. 

"It is nice to be important but more important to be nice." I often scribble notes in the car but this one I found in hubs handwriting. 

I actually made my goal of growing nails this summer and then this week one chipped and then another and then well back to the beginning. And I didn't even get a picture to prove it!

Yesterday a student was helping me out behind the counter it was so busy. He walked to the computer and grabbed my drink cup in his right hand. We all paused to look at him... "What? You always have a drink in your right hand when you go to check out a book!" funny guy. true. funny guy. tell me they aren't paying attention.

Stopped by the public library again yesterday. I'm trying to get in there once a week to lend my support. They have so much to offer and I don't want to see that fade away because we all got too busy.  Picked up the new Nicholas Sparks- for a friend though really. I've had enough Sparks this year. But they had the new one so I couldn't pass that by. I wonder if they take things as personally as I do when my new babies aren't being loved?

Had a delicious pumpkin spice cappuccino yesterday from hubs. Man that guy loves me and my lumps :) I always tease him while I'm trying to cut weight and ask "what you like fat girls?" and he always replies, "I like happy girls and my girl is happy when she eats good food." Who can argue with that?

I was hoping Nikita was going to be another spy/action go to DVR but alas no it was a X.

We stopped by CVS to pick up 2 expensive bags of Dove chocolates for bub to make Vote for Me labels for and pass out to gain votes for student council. I smiled at how he does this every year and luckily yesterday after he gave his speech before the school this is another year it has paid off. Whew. I think I am more nervous with these things than he is. 

You've Got Mail... AGAIN so yesterday my September issue of Vogue finally showed up and today the October issue... really?

I have an English degree and I had to think today when I came across the work hyperbole what it meant. I'm pretty sure that means I've been out of the classroom too long. or just long enough considering :) you'd think I use this word on a daily basis

The geese are on the move outside today. It has been so moderate here I've had the studio door open all day while cleaning and creating at my desk while battling a cold. 

Hubs just came back from dropping bubs off at the grands to fish and brought me a strawberry lemonade that is fabulous from UDF. 

Stumbled upon this verse this week from Isaiah 61: They will be called oaks of righteousness a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. 

You've Got Mail!

Orange long sleeve- summer yard sale, skirt- thrifting, sandals- TJMaxx, white t- Michael Stars/Anthro, Wildcat jewelry- Sauerkraut Festival.

I was afraid the orange outfit wouldn't be appreciated at work but alas it was. Whew! Today was spirit day for our homecoming game so I donned the wildcat jewelry...

I can feel summer coming to an end. Open toed shoes are almost gone. When's the first day of Autumn? September 22?

Finally Vogue's September issue makes it to my mailbox... I've already checked it out from the library but now I can go back over it and rip out those pages! Ahhh...

Listening to You've Got Mail for what must be about the twentieth time this year and I just heard F-O-X say 'hello it's mr. nasty' reminding me of this blog post. I didn't realize I was quoting YGM but hey I've always said it is so about everyday life!

a few images I ran across today on my drive...

and that felt soap I was referring to from Anthropologie...