Busy as a Bee!

 

The last two weekends have been pretty busy around here. Nothing too important... just lots of running around and traveling.

 

Last weekend was the tail end of my Fall Break. I ended up staying at my parents for a few nights and then we went to my grandmother's for the weekend. It was a lot of fun to see everybody... but, I didn't take too many pictures.

 

 

But, let me tell ya... we did a lot of chilling and relaxing.

 

 

We also did a lot of porch swingin' - our favorite thing!

 

I spent some time redecorating that weekend, too.

 

 

I completely switched around the den... and I LOVE it!

 

 

I pulled this rug out of the closet, too. I had put it up when I first got Finley because I was afraid she'd pee on it and ruin it! But, as it turned out, she didn't really pee in the house... thankthelord. I just forgot that I had it!

 

Welcome back, old friend.

 

 

 

I bought this driftwood bowl and the moss balls at Trees N Trends. I'm obsessed with it. I've moved it around about nine times... but it's staying here for a while :)

 

 

While I was doing all of this, I realized I hadn't heard Finley in a while. That's because she had just crawled into her crate to watch. Have I mentioned she's the best behaved puppy in the world?

 

Because, she really is.

 

 

I worked on my room, too! I got those red lamps I was craving and I think they're perfect! I also obviously added the shelf above my bed.

 

 

I consolidated all the dog junk to one corner. (And, that bag actually belongs downstairs. I'm just too lazy to take it down there.)

 

 

I moved the desk out of the corner and turned it into a nightstand. I think the scale is much better than the dinky one I had there.

 

 

Here's the other night stand.

 

(I'm sorry all my pictures are terrible. I pretty much only use my phone to take pictures and they are hit or miss!)

 

 

I moved the picture above my bed to this wall and left the sconces. I think it adds color ot this wall and so I like it. I'm totally getting a nicer tv for Christmas, by the way. Don't you worry!

 

 

And, here's the other side of that wall.

 

 

The last thing I tweaked was the living room.

 

 

I took the big white ottoman out of this room and put it in the den. So, I found this little bench at an antique mall and had to have it!

 

 

I love the gold striped fabric and I love that I can move it in about a million places in my house! It matches every room and the scale is perfect.

 

This weekend, I worked all night Friday at our school's Fall Festival. It was tons of fun but I was WIPED when I got home that night. And, I had to drive out to Franklin afterwards because my parents had been keeping Finley for a few days. I had a few late nights with school at the end of the week and I hated for her to spend so much time in her crate!

 

My mom says she's ready to start staying out of the crate during the day when I'm at work... but, it makes me nervous! I'm not worried about her having accidents... she NEVER does. But, what if she puts something in her mouth? Or starts getting nervous and claws at the walls? She's really calm... but, how do you know when they're ready? If you have a dog and have any advice on this, I'd love to hear it!!!

 

Also, she's getting fixed on Thursday... poor baby! So, I'm not going to do anything until she's all healed up from that.

 

Saturday, my mom and I spent ALL DAY shopping for work clothes. Fun times! She even convinced me to order a new pair of Steve Madden's because mine are three years old and they look AWFUL! But, I love them and I especially love the color!

 

They don't make the ones I have anymore, but I found some that I like even better!

 

 

Swoon!

 

I just love the color. It's perfect with black and brown. And, it matches my hair (which I realize is stupid) which kind of makes them seem like they match anything I wear them with. Ha! I can't wait for them to get here.

 

Today, we celebrated Matt's birthday with lunch in Cool Springs and then I took Finley to the groomer.

 

 

Here's her new look (and crazy tongue)!

 

It's really short... but, I wanted it short so I won't have to take her back for a while.

 

And, since I've long since passed over into " crazy dog owner" territory...

 

 

she's going to be a bumble bee for Halloween!

 

You're "awwing"... admit it :)

 

I think that's all I've got for now. I need to do a school update post. Everything is going good... I've just been super busy. I'll try to get some good material this week.

 

Have a good week!

 

 

 

 



Stumped.

I don't think I've posted about my house in months... literally. I haven't changed much since I moved in and got it settled. I'm a girl who makes quick decisions and I know what I like so I had it "done" pretty much within a few months of moving in.

 

But, just because it's presentable does NOT mean that I'm not always on the lookout for furniture and home stuff. I'm a decorator. I get it honest because my mom is too.

 

 Pretty much every time I go to my parents' house there is something new. And, my mom always took me shopping with her when I was growing up so I kind of learned all about it and enjoy it.

 

Needless to say, I get very bored with my house after several months and I get the urge to start moving stuff around. It's just what I do. And since I'm on Fall Break, I had all day to play around and make some changes.

 

The first thing I did was fancy up the front a little :) I hung my Vandy football burlap thingy and set out some pumpkins and mums. I LOVE fall so this was very exciting!

 

Not much new in here except for some fall accessories.

 

Oh, and I hung my yarn wreath on the pantry door.

 

Here's a close-up. I made it last fall and while I liked it on the front door, it was a little small for me. So, it's perfect in the kitchen!

 

I rearranged this little table in the kitchen/hallway. That's a fake pumpkin with a wreath around it. And, I hung that little platter over my chalkboard. I'm on the lookout for something else to go there but it works for now.

 

I put some pumpkins on the sofa table in the den.

 

I also switched out the coffee filter wreath on the windowpane above the couch for a fall wreath. I tried out my new painting above the table beside the couch... but, I didn't like it. It was way too busy with the gallery wall right next to it.

 

I even added a little fall pillow my mom made me to the chair.

 

 

I moved the coffee filter wreath over to this table in the living room. I also moved that lamp over there from across the room.

 

And, I hung the new painting over the tall bureau. I like it there because I really think it goes great with the curtains in this room. I still need to frame it.

 

Here's the close-up. Those hydrangeas came from my aunt's garden last Labor Day!

 

I re-arranged the top of this cabinet, too. And I added a little fall swag on top.

 

The next room I'm going to show you is the reason this post is called stumped. Because, guys? I can't figure this room out.

 

Okay, this is my bedroom. Please pay no attention to all Finley's junk. Or my suitcase sitting on the floor. Focus your eyes above the tv because that's what I added today. My theme for this room is teal and red... kind of. So, I was looking in a cabinet and I saw that red wreath and thought "Why not?" I don't know if it will stay but it definitely adds some color to this side of the room. Also, I added those two sconces that have been sitting in my closet for over a year because I didn't know where to put them.

 

Here's a shot so you can see how it ties in with the rest of the room.

 

I bought that chevron picture frame at Hobby Lobby this weekend and I am in LOVE. I love the burst of color. And, I also love those mustard yellow candle sticks.

 

This is my bed. It's so blah. I love the curtains in this room but I am not inspired. The rest of it is so boring. I'm going to TJ Maxx tomorrow and I think I'm going to look for a big chunky shelf to put over the bed and I'm going to take that picture down. It's just so predictable. I'm stumped, though, because it's a HUGE wall. Will a shelf look too bare?

 

What do you think?

 

Seriously, I need help.

 

I also want to find some lamps. I want something more colorful - like red! The lamp in this picture is a mercury glass lamp from Potterybarn so I would still use it somewhere. I just want something brighter in this space...

 

I'll do an update if I find anything good tomorrow.

 

As always, thanks for checking in!

Window Shopping

This morning, my mom and I got up realllllly early and headed out to Westhaven because they were having a neighborhood yard sale.

 

And, well, we were sorely dissapointed.

 

I guess they had had a neighborhood sneak peek the night before so all the good stuff had already been snatched up. Very sad.

 

One thing led to another and we found ourselves at Gas Lamp Antique Mall. If you live in Nashville, that's the antique mall that is located above the Staples at Hundred Oaks. I know, I know. Weird location. But, this place is AMAZING!

 

(It's not as good as the flea market, though. The Nashville Flea Market is possibly the greatest shopping experience you can have. The furniture out there is incredible and much more reasonably priced. I will take some pictures the next time I go and do a blog post... don't you worry!)

 

 

 

This place is huge, to say the least. It takes up two seperate locations! And, I will say, it's generally more expensive than I would like. But, there were good deals scattered about and I'm all about the inspiration, ya know?

 

I'm getting the decorating bug again... I can feel it.

 

This booth had amazing painted furniture and I ADORED that twig wreath. I'm thinking I could make one of those...

 

These two bird prints were TO. DIE. FOR.

 

How cool is this mirror and those sconces?

 

I could stand around and look at shelves of antiques all day.

 

I wanted to buy this entire basket of owl pillows.

 

 

I'm not sure this stuff was very "antique" but I loved it all the same.

 

Everything in this booth was incredible. The garden stool, the red striped lamps, the chevron curtains. Loves it.

 

 

Lots of good stuff here...

 

My next purchase will be a hutch. I either want one with glass doors or open shelves. I really liked this one... but, it was $450 and I know I can find one cheaper at the flea market. Still... it was hard to walk away.

 

I really like this one, too. Totally different look.

 

I love this, too. And, that's why I haven't bought anything. I have to decide what I want.

 

Maybe I just need both styles?

 

Kidding. Kind of.

 

Here's what I bought. Excuse the picture, I obviously took it in the car. But, it's an AWESOME oil painting. I saw it and instantly wanted it. The colors are amazing and it was only $30! I do need to buy a frame for it but that's no problem.

 

And here's the latest picture of Finley, since a blog post isn't complete without one.

 

Have a great weekend!



Writing, Monsters and Justin Bieber

Have I mentioned lately that I am LOVING third grade?

Because, I am.

I mean it.

I think kids in third grade are kind of at the best age ever. They are sooooo fun and sweet and independent and into learning.

And, they get my jokes.

That's huge... because, I joke a lot.

Like, for instance, my kiddos are CON-VINCED that I'm obsessed with Justin Bieber.

 A few years ago when these kids were in first grade, a certain teacher who shall remain nameless  told her class that she and I had watched Never Say Never (the Justin Bieber concert dvd, for those of you who actually have lives).

Which may or may not be true.

(Okay, it's true.)

And wouldn't you know it that I would have the one kid this year who not only remembered this information, but is bound and determined to work it into every conversation he partakes in.

Today, we were making bucket lists in writing. I was making my list and putting all my life ambitions and this kid goes "Well, dontcha' want to meet Justin Bieber??"

So, of course I played along ( I ALWAYS do because, as I said, I like to joke around) and added it to the list while the kids just screamed with laughter. Because, it's totally hilarious when your 27 year old teacher is crazy about a dorky kid musician.

I would laugh, too.

 And, maybe I did.

Maybe.

We are officially on Fall Break as of right now. It's very, very exciting. We have to go to school tomorrow but the kids won't be there so it doesn't count. And, we're off all week next week... woo hoo!

Since it was the day before break and the kids were all excited and we had finished all our assessments yesterday, I decided we need some F-U-N. So, we made monsters.

Multiplication monsters.

Basically, the kids roll dice to make multiplication sentences about how many eyes, arms, legs, teeth and horns their monster will have. It's all very exciting.

Then, I just dumped all our paper out onto a table and let the kiddos go to town. We VERY RARELY get to do stuff like this in third grade so the kids were pretty much giddy with excitement.

Their monsters turned out soooo cute!

Well, let me rephrase that. MOST of them looked cute.

And, luckily, I only had enough room to hang up 12 anyway :)

My kiddos also worked hard this week on publishing their first writing pieces. They aren't perfect but they are a great starting point for the year. It was mostly just good for us to get through the writing process and just see what it's all about.

We also discovered dictionaries. Let me tell ya: those suckers have changed my life. I taught the kids how to look up words and spell them correctly and that is another reason why I LOVE third grade! They can totally do it!

And, they want to do it. That's what is exciting. They are currently obsessed with looking up words. And, there are a LOT worse things you can be obsessed with.

Plus, I don't like spelling words for kids so it saves me a lot of headache.

There, I said it.

Anyways... I wanted to find a way to make their personal narratives a little more cohesive since they were all writing about different things. So, I quickly cut out some "frames" using scrapbook paper. And, I let the kids draw a picture in the middle. You'd think I'd told them we'd all be taking a field trip to Disney World if you'd heard the shrieking and excited gasping coming from their little mouths.

It doesn't take much, folks. 

Here are their narratives.

(And, I just noticed that on the bottom row there are basically four frames that are exactly the same and now I won't be able to sleep tonight and I will have to fix that ASAP tomorrow on account of the OCD...)

I love this guys illustration of the fair. We had a LOT of stories about the fair and stories about getting a puppy.

I enjoy the title on this one :)

So, yeah.

That's our week.

 Monsters and writing.

Oh! And, running records until my ears bled.

And, main idea graphic organizers. Lots of those.

And, assessments. Lots of those, too.

But, it's all good.

Cause' whenever I'm overwhelmed, I just come home and snuggle up this little creature and how can you be stressed then?

And if that doesn't work, I just crank up the Justin Bieber tunes...