Back to Business

I've gotten away from blogging......or blogging has gotten away from me. I'm not entirely sure which is the accurate statement, but it's been a WHILE since I've blogged. Not too much has happened. Work, football, family visits, you know, the usual. OH! I did get in to grad school! That's exciting. :) I'll be starting in January (pending I hear about financial aid) to work towards my Master's of Education in Educational Leadership. This basically means that I will be able to work in a district office of leadership and evaluation (my dream job is to one day run such an office). I'm pretty excited.

Yesterday, I was working on my Christmas list. It was very strange trying to come up with things that I want because, as I told my parents last weekend, I don't really want anything. Sure, there are things that would be nice to have, like a pair of boots in my size or an affordable Tory Burch pair of shoes in my size, but there's nothing that I am absolutely DYING to have. I used several of my Pinterest boards and other blogs to help me form my list. In this process, I discovered a few things.

1. I LOVE monogrammed things. 
I have always loved monogrammed items, but it was not until I was making my list that I realized just how many monogrammed things are out there that I don't have. Sure, I've got plenty of bags that are monogrammed, several cups that are monogrammed, and even a couple of toiletry cases that are monogrammed. But my wardrobe is lacking some monogrammed items. To quote one of my most favorite actresses, Reese Witherspoon, "If it's not moving, monogram it." SO FREAKING TRUE. Here are a couple of the items that I added to my Christmas list that I would be happy to add to my somewhat monogrammed life.

2. I'm starting to love some plaid. 
Now, I have always prided myself on being a classic type of girl who loves crisp blouses and clean lines, pearls, polos, pumps, etc. But I must admit, my style is starting to become as eclectic as I am as an individual. I have been LOVING some plaid, as of late. My true rugged side is coming out! I think part of this stems from the fact that I have an obsession with vests, and so in a weak moment I bought this JCREW vest in 2 different colors.

And no, it was not pink that I bought! I bought a bright purple color (perfect for a game or trip up to my Alma Mater) and a beautiful olive color. Now, both of these vests join my wardrobe with my Columbia fleece vest and a couple of other puffer vests from NY and Company from a few years back. One of my biggest dilemmas was, what to pair with the beautiful new vest? And then it hit me, a plaid or flannel shirt. 

I don't know why, but I just absolutely love the idea of a plaid shirt underneath one of my new vests. I did add several to my Christmas list from LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, and my newest obsession, Ralph Lauren Rugby. I'm not quite sure how I made it through life without knowing about this line. I am not only obsessed, but I'm in love. And wouldn't you be, too with this adorable dress?

3. Oversized shirts and leggings may become my newest wardrobe staple. 

Now, I have always been one to stray from leggings. One of the biggest reasons is because I'm not entirely comfortable with my not so super skinny legs. Well, I think I have new found motivation to head to the gym, because I'm pretty sure I have become slightly obsessed with this look:

I don't know what it is, but I just absolutely LOVE the idea of a big old shirt with some leggings and either TOMS or boots. (Which, btw, I have riding boots at the TOP of my list). I decided that not only is plaid my new obsession, but oversized T-shirts are, too. 

4. Once you're a sorority girl, you're always a sorority girl.

If you were me, what would appear on your Christmas list?

A. Name brand t-shirts

B. Lilly Pulitzer

C. koozies and monogrammed things

D. all of the above

If you answered D, you'd be correct! I absolutely adore all of the items I just listed above. And you know what? I'm okay with the fact that I will be a sorority girl forever an always. I mean, who wouldn't love all of this?

BFFL

My best friend is in town!!!!! I cannot contain my excitement that LAPS is in my town. She could not believe that where I live is actually a town, not a suburb as she previously thought, but after attending my high school's football game with me last night, I'm pretty sure she understands why I love being where I am so much.

My BFFL and I met on bid day our freshman year and it's been many years since then (yes, we did sit and reminisce for quite some time yesterday). It's so fun how we don't have to talk all the time, but it's always like we just spoke yesterday. Laura is part of my fam and I am SO glad she is in town this weekend for one of our sorority sister's weddings!!!

Sunday morning rain is falling....oh wait, it's Monday.

It's the day before I go back to work. Just teachers, no students until next week...a week from today actually. And of course, I am up early. I actually set my alarm with the hopes of going to the gym this morning, but then I decided that I wanted to sleep some more and will go tomorrow since I want to start the year off on a positive note.

I have been preparing my classroom for the past couple of weeks and I am STILL not finished. Maybe it's because I have become more OCD over the past couple of years, I'm not sure. But I feel like it has taken me a lot longer than years past. Or...maybe it's because I want it to be cute and colorful in addition to being a learning environment. I'll post pictures when I finally finish.

I went shopping this weekend for both items for my classroom and for clothes. Yes, I know, I said I wasn't going to shop for clothes, but shopping is so therapeutic that I decided to just go for it. I bought a couple of cute tops and a necklace. I'm trying to build my wardrobe so that I have multiple options. What I am really in need of now is some bottoms. I have work pants, but I feel like most of them fit sort of funny. I'm on a mission for some new pants, especially a good fitting pair of khakis.

Also on my wishlist for the beginning of the year are the following things:

1. Kate Spade Colored Stone Stud Earrings

I already have these earrings in pink and I love them. Since one of the colors of my school is yellow, I bought a necklace this past weekend with yellow beads. I like it a lot, but then I realized that I have no matching earrings! I'm a big fan of Kate Spade anyways and these earrings are not super expensive. All of the jewelry she has out right now is bright and colorful and I'm slightly obsessed.

2. Sam Edelman Felicia Flat

I need brown closed-toed shoes. Like, seriously need. I have black ballet flats, colorful toms, black and white toms, and neutral toms, but no brown shoes to wear all the time. I think these are real cute, and if they are anything like the sandals that I have in this same brand, I know these will be comfortable. Plus, they're a fall color and super cute!

3. Lilly Pulitzer Treena Dress
I purchased this dress when it was on sale in the Garden by the Sea pattern shown below. This dress is so comfortable and I LOVE a maxi dress.

This dress will be okay for the first month or so of school and definitely next summer. But, I have my eye on another one of the patterns that this dress comes in.

You Gotta Regatta is the name of this pattern. I liked it at the beginning of the summer and I like it even more now. They have taken it off of the website, which means it's now probably on sale. I'm going to go to the store downtown sometime in the next week to see if they've got it on sale. If it's a somewhat reasonable price, I'm going to go on my last splurge before school starts.

That's all for now.

Quarter Life Crisis

So, it's been a while. And a lot has been happening over the past few months that has made me really think about things and reevaluate myself. I have officially started my quarter life crisis.

Now, I know you're not supposed to have one of these until you are 25. Mine has come a year early. And it's sort of hit me like a ton of bricks. So many things are happening and changing that I haven't quite been sure how to handle everything. So what am I doing? I'm writing a book.

Writing is really therapeutic for me. Though this blog has not been kept up to date, it really has served as an outlet for my thoughts over the past couple of years. My book is coming along slowly but surely, and my plan is to have it finished before I actually turn 25 (cross your fingers!). I don't know how much I'll be blogging over the upcoming months, but here are some things that I have decided I'm going to do/change in my life.


 I have always been a people-pleaser. I learned this from my mother, whom I love dearly, though my complete avoidance of confrontation has not exactly been the best thing for me. I'm determined to tell people more of what I think about things. I do like to please people, but not at my own expense. 

Being healthy is something that I have definitely gotten better at over the past 4 years. I slip up every now and then, but I'm determined to make my lifestyle a healthy one. This does not just mean eating right. I have a month left before I return to work. I'm determined to be at least 10 pounds slimmer before that happens. Hello gym. Hello fruit. Hello veggies. Hello happier Me.

I'm working on myself. Now, I know that being healthy is working on myself, but I mean I'm focusing on making myself a happier, better person. I have had the luxury of being spoiled rotten by the two most amazing parents anyone could ever ask for. I love my parents (and I guess my brother) more than anything, but I am slowly starting to realize that I am a grown up and need to act more like one. What exactly do I mean by this?

While my mom and I went to Florida recently, I was talking with my uncle. I was explaining how frustrating it was that my dad, who I know is only concerned about my well-being, continuously gives me a hard time about my job. I want to make something perfectly clear: I absolutely love teaching. I cannot imagine myself in any other profession other than education. With that being said, I knew that I would not be Ms. Moneybags because, let's face it, teachers do not make very much money. I did not go into education thinking about my salary. I went into education thinking about what I really wanted to do with my life and that was to make a difference in kid's lives. I am doing that, and I am so happy.

What I am not happy about is how much work my colleagues and I actually do and the amount of money that we make. Again, I am not going to up and change my career because I am unhappy with my salary. But there are obvious frustrations for a single girl with a mad shopping habit trying to make it work. So, when I say focusing on me and acting more adult, I mean I am going to be more budget conscious. I currently have the luxury of having parents who will spoil me and pay for some of my bills that my other friends roll their eyes at because "I'm 24 and my parents should just cut me off completely." Um, I'm sorry. My parents love me and want to support me while they can. Like I said, my parents are seriously the best, but I can't be dependent forever.

So, what am I doing to work on me?
1. Applying to grad school - hopefully will be starting in January
2. Setting up a meeting with a financial adviser to set up my 403B (the education equivalent to a 401K)
3. STOP shopping. I know. I can't believe I've said this. But really, I have shoes. I have clothes. I have bags. I have most things that I need in life. I am going to stop buying clothing as of August 1 (I mean, it's about to be back to school. I have to buy SOMETHING new for the first day of school!). I am not going to spend money on my credit cards (which are all mostly to stores) in order to get those paid off as soon as possible.
4. I'm only going to eat out one night a week. I know I've said this before, but I'm really going to stick to it this time. I can't afford to continue to eat out so much.

I really feel like by doing these things, I will be a happier, better person. And why am I working on myself? Because I'm getting to the point that I'm ready to find my Mr. Right. But Mr. Right will only come around when I am completely at peace and happy with myself. So, I'm resigned to do better, be better, and feel better, so that Mr. Right will be around sooner rather than later. :)

Nora Roberts' Land

I have decided that if I could live in any sort of fantasy-ideal world, it would be Nora Roberts' Land. Every time I read a Nora Roberts book, I literally feel like I am wrapped in a fairy tale land. Sure, there's a little bit of drama, but there's always a happy ending. I can sit and read one of her books in a day. And, that's what I have done on countless occasions.

This was one of my favorite series of books that I have ever read. The Bride Quartet series followed 4 friends who owned their own bridal business. Each book was about one of the girls finding love. And I absolutely loved how Nora Roberts titled each book after the occupation of each girl within the business (Vision in White for the photographer, Bed of Roses for the florist, Savor the Moment for the baker, and Happily Ever After for the overall planner). I anxiously awaited in anticipation for each of these books to come out after reading the first one. And on the day each one came out, I ventured to Wal-Mart and purchased and then read all in a single day.

Her most recent series, The Inn Boonsboro series, came out a few months ago. There are only 3 books in this series and the second one came out today! (I have yet to go to Wal-mart to buy it because I'm trying to decide if my sun burn can handle actually going outside of my house, but we'll see). The first one was absolutely fantastic. Again, each one of her books is like traveling into a fairy tale land that gives you the slightest inkling and hope that things can actually work out like that in real life.

Like most small girls, my mother always read me fairy tales about a princess being swept off her feet by her prince charming. I realize that the real world is not a fairy tale and that shit does actually happen, but there is someone out there who can sweep me off my feet, right? Someone that I will fall completely head over heels in love with and who will feel exactly the same about me? I'm going to stay in my Nora Roberts' Land and believe that. :)

Draft: NFL AND Beer!

Sorry for the hiatus. I literally have been going nonstop since returning back from Spring break! And although I realize this was over 2 weeks ago, it has been crazy since then!

My school's Relay for Life was last night. This is the last big event that my club is responsible for, and while I know it is important, oh my goodness is it a lot of work! It was a crazy and stressful couple of weeks, but I thought overall it was fun. The sponsor of another club stayed out with the students later than I did, which was nice, considering that I still woke up at 7 this morning to go and make sure everything was cleaned up and put away. Yes, I know, all-star teacher of the year. :)

The DRAFT has begun. Today's the last day, and with the exception of the second pick of the first round, I'm pretty proud of the Browns. I'd say they're stacking up to have a positive season. I CANNOT wait for football season. And I'm pretty pumped the roommate decided to invest in Direct TV so that I will be happier during all of football season. And, can we quickly talk about the fact that my mother is on a mission to get me to Berea, OH for training camp to hook me up with the new lineman they drafted? Reason why she wants to do this? His last name is Schwartz. Oy vey.

Last weekend was our high school prom. Yes, it was weird being on the chaperone side of things, but it was fun to go out and have a few beers after! This weekend is also my dear friend KB's birthday! We're going out to celebrate tonight. Should be lots of fun.

This school year is wrapping up quickly, and I can't say that I'm entirely sad about this. I am so mentally exhausted from this entire year, I'm ready for my summer break! I'm still not entirely sure what I'm doing yet, other than going to the gym more frequently, but I do now that I plan on relaxing, hanging out, and enjoying the time off from being a grown up for a while!

April Showers, Allergies, and Abita

Happy April Fool's Day! While I was planning this great trick on my roommate, I thought the better of it and decided against it (I mean, he's the one who gave me the idea of putting gummi bears in the top of the shower head) simply for the reason that I fear retaliation. I'll do something, I just can't decide what yet.

My allergies have been TERRIBLE this year. I didn't really realize that I had allergies until last year when I moved down to the low country. Well, I do, and they suck. My eyes get so itchy, and then my contacts start irritating me, and then I start rubbing my eyes, and then I have red eyes like crazy and my students ask me if I have been crying or what I have been doing before school. (Precious little gems, right?) Anyways, allergies are definitely NOT one of the things I love most about spring.

One of the things I DO love most about spring is that my favorite beer in the entire world is out! I first had Abita Strawberry when I was in Clemson. My best friend who came for a visit brought some and I have been hooked ever since. After getting on the Abita website and realizing they do not sell this brew ANYWHERE within 50 miles of where I live, I got slightly disheartened. However, because I have the best parents in the world, they went and bought me a case at Total Wine. When I went home for a couple of days, I bought another case and traveled back to my humble abode with about 7 six-packs in tow. :) It's a great beer and I am going to continue to enjoy it while I can!

In other exciting news, I passed my teaching evaluation! It's been a crazy hectic year with all the additional paperwork and stress of being observed for an entire period, I am so relieved and thankful that  I am done with formal evaluation. Now, it's time to celebrate and start working on the Master's degree! And just to drive home the fact that I seriously have the BEST parents in the world, they sent me the most beautiful flowers to school. (And thanks for showing me what my flowers for my wedding will be, because these are GORGEOUS.)

I have been catching up with some of my non-teacher friends recently which has been so sweet and nice to feel like a real person again. One of my sorority sisters and I had dinner recently and we decided we are going to attempt to have a beach weekend sometime over the summer. It will be like a big reunion for everyone! Today, I'm going to lunch/brunch with one of my dearest friends who I graduated from CU with. Josie and I had 3 classes together the spring of our sophomore year and we have been great friends ever since (she is also really the reason that I ended up living where I live right now). I am introducing her to the FABULOUS Charleston Cafe this morning.

My good friend Maria introduced me to this place and I haven't turned back. The food is absolutely delicious and I am so excited to go and catch up with Josie! Happy April everyone!!