hopeless domestic

An "Oldie", but a "Goodie"

2011-11-09T15:54:00.000-05:00

I was looking through my blog today and found an old post I made back in April of 2010. It's about what blisses me out...and it perfect for the kind of mood I'm in today. Check it out...What Blisses You Out?

Manic Mondays

2011-11-07T06:06:00.000-05:00

Not only is it a Monday, but it's raining. I would want nothing more than put on my old college gear (sweatshirt, leggings, frat t-shirt, and hunter boots), stroll over to this particular starbucks, and settle into a comfy chair and read ALL day!

Life's Tests

2011-11-06T16:16:00.000-05:00

As a second year teacher I find myself being tested daily. I work at a high school in a low socioeconmic area where I believe the kids need me most. I am a 9th grade Intensive Reading teacher -- teaching students the basics of reading. It's not just reading comprehension and finding the main idea, it's deeper than that. I have to teach the love of reading to students who struggle with it and as a result hate it.

Reading has been a part of my world since I can remember. My parents constantly read to me, and I know that I am the happiest version of myself when I have an open book in my hand. What hurts my heart the most is that these students have never heard of The Giving Tree, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, or Hop on Pop. I want them to feel what it's like to truly lose themselves in the pages of a book.

Here is where I am being tested...not only do I want to instill the love of reading in these students, but I want to do more than that. I want to make a significant difference. I want to be that teacher that gives them the "aha" moment about life. These kids do not see their potential. I get frustrated because they are amazing -- they are witty, full of energy and have the rest of their lives in front of them, but they just don't understand. They are so down on themselves for not being the best reader, or don't have the confidence to try harder or push themselves in school.

It's easy to be frustrated and feel defeated in the environment in which I teach, but if there is one thing I learned from my first year of teaching -- I can't change every student. All I can do is be that crazy bookworm teacher who tells them daily that I am there for them. I had a fellow teacher send me a note the other day that read " I think it is fabulous how all the students stop to visit you and come to your classroom. It's a wonderful thing. You are a light and a comfort in their troubled unstable lives." It's little bits of encouragement like these and "aha" moments from my students that make it all worth it and reassure me that I am making the difference that I want to.

Fall Color Crave

2011-09-08T12:00:00.002-04:00

It's official...I am completely craving all things fall -- pumpkin spice lattes, skinny jeans, sweaters, boots, and dark colored nails. I have been sporting my Cajun Shrimp nails all summer long, and just couldn't resist the darker side this week at the nail salon. I decided to go Russian Navy. With every look down at my hands I get a little sting for Fall...and when I saw that OPI just came out with their Fall Line -- Touring America, I just couldn't resist my excitement.

OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director explains that her recent cross country road trip inspired these destination shades. Colors feature clever names inspired by some of her favorite stops like A-taupe the Space Needle, a rich chocolately brown and French Quarter for your Thoughts, a soft grey hue. Others reference what it feels like to be on the road like Get in the Espresso Lane with its dark brown color, and Are We There Yet?, a cheerful melon.

I don't know about you, but I am ready to try each and every one of these colors...let the Tour Across America begin this fall!!

Tailgating in Style

2011-09-06T12:00:00.005-04:00

Today was the opening game for Auburn Football, and I couldn't have been more excited! I can't go to a game this year until October, but I am already planning my perfect tailgate outfit. My friend at Puttin' on the G.R.I.T.S had an amazing skirt that she wore to one of the games last year, and with her permission I am SO stealing her idea! Here it is ladies...the tailgaiting outfit of the year!!

jcrew

pennington&bailes

jackrogers

I love this outfit so much, I might even just wear it around my house when I watch the games!

WAR DAMN EAGLE!

2 Weeks Down...An Entire Year To Go

2011-09-03T18:19:00.000-04:00

It would be an understatement to say that these past couple of weeks have been busy. Since my last post, I have set up my classroom, started school, boot camp, Junior League, and 2 online classes. Although it has been crazy, I can tell already that it is going to be a good year. My students are adorable (as adorable as 9th graders can get...) and it is so fun to have my sweet students from last year come running to find me in the halls. I wanted to share pictures of my classroom so you could see exactly what I've been up to.

A view from my desk

My student work board -- I teach Intensive Reading, so I track the # of pages my students read throughout the year .

Word Wall

Reading Corner...my favorite part!

My corner

A view from the door!

Trust me...I will have plenty to share about my students...they are hysterically funny and say the darndest things! Thank goodness for this long weekend...It's the first time I have taken a breath since school started!

Happy September

2011-09-01T19:12:00.000-04:00

Back To School

2011-08-08T16:27:00.000-04:00

I was walking through Target today, and found myself walking to the Back To School section...I used to get all excited when it was time to buy school supplies, however it is a completely different experience now that I am a teacher. It almost puts me in a bit of a frenzy. I was standing there in the middle of Target, a little flustered, calling all of my teacher friends to see how far along they are on getting prepared for school. To my amazement...I'm not that behind. I initially went to Target for cleaning supplies for my apartment and walked out with 90 composition notebooks (don't worry, they were only 40 cents a piece). It was then as I was carting my notebooks to my car that I realized that I have accomplished only a tiny amount of items from my summer things-to-do list, however, it was an amazing, relaxing summer.
I have read The Hunger Games Trilogy, Water for Elephants, and The Help.

I went home to Louisville, KY to visit my mom,dad, and fuzzy friend named Weagle!

I have spent time on the beach with my boy...

I have spent a lot of my summer on a boat with friends...

I even got to spend an amazing weekend with my best friends in the Jersey Shore...

All in all, it was a wonderful summer and I couldnt be more excited for my second year of teaching...let the craziness begin...

It's A Mad Dash...

2011-08-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

I am a pretty organized person. I write 3 to-do lists a day, just for the joy of crossing things off...I color code my closet, and have a fit when a pillow is out of place on my couch. You would think that with all of my OCD tendencies, I would be pretty darn productive...this is not the case! I found this the other day and think that it sums it up for me...

I just received an email today saying that I have to be back in my classroom on the 10th. I originally didn't need to be there until the 15th. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I have more time to accomplish my long list of things to do, however, at the moment I just want to sit and finish reading The Help. When you plan to have a week left of vacation and then it suddenly becomes 2 days, you can understand why I feel like it is a mad dash to get things done. Where did my summer go and why didn't I plan for this?

Guilty Pleasure & A New Find

2011-07-22T14:00:00.002-04:00

Who doesn't love Chick-fil-a? I honestly don't think I have met a person who doesn't. It is probably one of my all time favorite places to eat (I know...so bad for me...but who cares, it's amazing). When road-tripping, I will purposely wait hours until I find a Chick-fil-a!! When I was picking up a tea for myself today (don't worry...it was unsweet), they handed me a flyer for their new breakfast item -- Oatmeal.

I immediately came home and did a little google-ing and found that "the 8-ounce bowls start at $2.49. A meal with a small coffee and medium fruit cup goes for $5.65. Customers can choose one of three toppings, including cinnamon brown sugar, roasted mixed nuts or a blend of dried cranberries, blueberries, golden raisins and cherries.Without toppings, one serving contains 120 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. With toppings, it has up to 290 calories and 11 grams of fat." (source) I think that this is a great move by Chick-fil-a!! I mean don't get me wrong, their chicken minis are too die for, but this is such a great healthy "wholesome" breakfast! Exceedingly happy with my new find, I kept on with my Chick-fil-a seach and found this....

Where was I on May 13th??? And why was I not aware of this? I bet these fries are amazing, and I can only hope that Chick-fil-a releases these again!

Pomegranate Perfection

2011-07-21T14:23:00.002-04:00

My obsession started in college when a roommate of mine came home from the grocery store with a bag of pomegranates. She popped one open and filled a bowl with their perfect juicy seeds and we snacked on them while watching tv (hgtv i'm sure). It was love at first taste. Since this magical moment, whenever I see anything "pomegranate," I jump to try it. I have even concocted the perfect Pomegranate Banana Smoothie (can find recipe here).

Just a couple month's ago I was traveling and dying of thirst. I stopped at the bookstore in the airport and found the most magical drink -- Arizona "Chinese Apple" Pomegranate Green Tea!!! HOLY HECK...I was blown away -- it could be the most wonderful tasting liquid ever! My excitement was put on hold when I checked the nutritional content and found that it was about 175 calories for the entire bottle -- bummer. I finished the bottle with little guilt and decided that I would make this wonderful tea an "every once in a while" kind of drink.

A couple of weeks later I was walking through Walmart (I hardly ever shop there -- however I know that I can always find some great deals) and I found the most amazing thing ever --Arizona Pomegranate Green Tea Stix!! I can't even explain to you how excited I was. They are calorie and sugar free and sweetened with splenda! I hate crystal light and think that all of the flavors are too strong, but this is just perfect! If you like pomegranates at all, you will love these! I haven't been able to find them again at Walmart, or at my Publix, so I have resorted to ordering them online -- yes, I know I am crazy, but they are just TOOOO good!

check out my tumblr

2011-07-18T15:30:00.000-04:00

I have been posting inspirational pictures on my tumblr for a while now and just thought my hopeless domestic readers would want to check it out!!

A Little Wall Love

2011-07-18T14:45:00.000-04:00

I have the entire summer to do nothing but lay in the sun, read, workout...and basically do whatever I want (One of the many perks of being a teacher). I will sadly admit that after I do my daily workout, I have been wasting most of my day away by watching real housewives or lifetime movies - not good!! I decided that it was time I make myself a summer to-do list. I wrote down all the ridiculous things I have been wanting to do but always claim to be too busy (clean out my closet, reorganize my bookshelf, finish reading the oodles of books I have stacked on said bookshelf...and the list goes on). As I was making my list, I happened to look at the wall in my living room (I say living room as if I have many rooms -- I live in a 1 bedroom apt with about 900 sq.ft...so I don't have that much wall space).

I just recently purchased a canvas with an amazing quote on it with the thought that I would one day revisit this wall and do something spectacular with it...well lovely hopeless domestic readers -- today is the day that I had my vision as to what I am going to do with this wall. And I am sooooo excited to share the news!

In my closet (the one I mentioned I need to clean out), I have a stack of shopping bags that I have collected -- Tiffany, Burberry, Bendels, Yurman, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, etc., and I have decided I am going to frame them!! I think of it as a homage to all the spectacular places I have been and shopped!! Oh I can't wait. Here is where I found my inspiration:

I will share pictures as soon as the project begins! I am just too excited to get started! By the way, what do you think?

Hunger vs. Healthy

2011-07-13T16:20:00.001-04:00

By no means do I want to make my blog a weight-loss journal...so please forgive me for this post, however I just needed to get this out...I am so stinkin proud of myself...I have been kicking my butt at the gym for the past 3 weeks and have been eating pretty well. However, I have yet to see major results on the scale...my trainer tells me not to fret because I have been working my muscles so much that I shouldn't see weight loss until a month or so in. I do feel a lot more fit, but I just wish I could go from thick to thin overnight.

With little results so far, I feel like I need to eat even healthier than I have been. It's just so hard because I love food, and after one episode of Cupcake Wars I ~~have one foot out the door in search of cupcakes~~ am craving anything carbs. I knew I was in bad shape when I searched the internet for ways to make cake in a mug...(don't worry, I didn't follow through with it). It's not like I'm starving myself...I eat about 5-6 mini meals a day...all filled with protein, lean meat, fruit, veggies and a boat-load of water...but by 8:00pm, I'm still hungry. I just want the healthy food to fill me up!

Can we count these as healthy? I mean they look JUST like apples!

Color Of The Month

2011-07-08T13:06:00.000-04:00

If you know one thing about me, you know that Kate Spade is my true obsession -- I would live in their New York store if it were at all possible. With this small obsession, it's no wonder that I stalk their website, twitter, tumblr, etc., on a daily basis. One thing I love about Kate Spade, is their Color of the Month collection -- they pick a color and pull all of their products and put them on one webpage. July just so happens to be one of my favorite combos. There is just something so fresh and wonderful about it in any room. Some may only be able to take it in small doses, but I say pull out all the stops when it comes to...

{photos: katespade, cats,cupcakes,and couture, and lebellevie}

Timeless Turned Trendy

2011-07-07T11:43:00.000-04:00

So I had a completely different idea of what I was going to post about today...but then I saw something on twitter that caught my eye. Kate Spade has had a line of Book of the Month Clutches that have had me swooning since last June. I believe that they have officially out-done themselves this time...Kate has mixed two of my favorite things...Kate Spade (obvi) and Pride and Prejudice. I can hardly stand it -- its just that perfect...I need to come up with $325 immediately!!!

front:

back of the clutch:

You seriously must check out the kate spade website to see more pictures...it is just to die for! It truly is a timeless read turned very trendy!

Wishlist Wednesday: Bag Obsession {week 8}

2011-07-06T15:00:00.001-04:00

very far out of my reach...but such a necessity

Monogrammed Bliss

2011-07-06T11:36:00.000-04:00

I got my new monnogrammed iphone case in the mail today!!!!! It is so stinkin cute..seriously I can't stand it.

I got it from this great company called clairebella that literally monograms everything -- clipboards, cutting boards, weekly desk organizers, etc! I will officially be talking and texting in style.

Fabulous 4th!

2011-07-05T16:22:00.000-04:00

I can't even begin to tell you how fabulous my weekend was. The whole thing was action packed, however the 4th was truly memorable. My friends and I had a blast just floating around on the river and laying in the sun for most of the day! As soon as the sun went down, we took the boat out and stopped for dinner at Whitey's Fish Camp -- this amazing whole-in-the-wall place where you literally dock your boat and eat on the river. I have been on a pretty strict diet this past week and decided to allow myself a little leeway on this special holdiay and ordered my favorite thing in the world...frickles (a.k.a. fried pickles )!

They were fantastic and a perfect little treat after my hard work last week.

They certainly left a smile on our faces...(me and the boyfriend)

My friends and I gathered for a patriotic phooto op after a wonderful meal...ready to take on the fireworks!

The perfect ending to the perfect day...we all layed on the back of the boat listening to "Proud To Be An American" on repeat. I couldn't have asked for a better holiday weekend filled with friends, fun, frickles, and fireworks!

4th of July Weekend!!

2011-07-01T15:21:00.000-04:00

Please tell me you have something special planned this weekend for fourth of July! I am just super excited that the weather is supposed to be nice here in Jacksonville. It has done nothing but rain everyday since I have been back from my Louisville trip...such a bummer.

After a week of ~~grueling~~ rewarding daily workouts...it's time to let loose and have some fun. So what's in store for me this weekend...

dinner and game night with friends....I am so competitive and just love game night! My friends and I get together and play every board game under the sun..and my boyfriend always wins -- let's just say it makes me crazy!
a holiday weekend wouldn't be complete without a little splashing around on the beach
Sunday my friends and I are planning on taking the boat out on the Intercoastal...a huge tradition here in Jacksonville..they always have a huge firework show out on the river for all the boaters...can't wait!!

I hope your weekend is as friend-filled as mine...and Happy Fourth of July!!

A Healthy Morning Meal

2011-06-30T10:43:00.001-04:00

After I ~~gorged myself with food~~ ate a lot while I was home in Louisville, I decided it was time for some serious work on my diet and exercise. My parents got me a personal trainer for my birthday (no, she did not come wrapped up with a bow on her head, but that would have been something else), and I decided it was time to cash it in. So here I am a week later after hitting the gym daily and eating exceptionally well, 4lbs down and feeling great! My mornings have consisted of a new breakfast that I love and have been dying to share. I should wait for a Tasty Tuesday...but I just couldn't wait!

Way-Too-Tasty-To-Be-Healthy Waffles

Van's Multigrain Waffles are just too good! They have a touch of honey in them for just the right amount of sweetness.
OIKOS greek yogurt is by far my favorite. It comes in so many tasty flavors, but the vanilla is just perfect for this recipe. Just plop it on top of the waffle!
Your favorite fruit -- Top the yogurt with any combination...I've tried raspberries, bananas, blueberries, strawberries -- they are all good!
Honey - drizzle it on top like a syrup. You could aslo use agave syrupif you wanted...

I have also tried to get fancy and used a little bit of Almond Butter on top of my waffle and then put the yogurt on top of that...it works great with the bananas!

Hope this is a nice healthy treat for your mornings like it is for mine!

A Week's Vacation

2011-06-29T10:02:00.000-04:00

Last week I had a fabulous trip home to Kentucky to visit my parents...it was such a blast and I have so much to write about that I don't even know where to begin. Going home is always such a treat. My parents do such a wonderful job of filling our agenda with fun things I haven't seen or done in Louisville.

My mom took me to my favorite stationary store called etcetera. It literally is an entire store filled with all things kate spade, vera bradley, lilly pulitzer, and monnogramed perfection. I bought some great Kate Spade notes as well as a Vera Bradley rug for my kitchen, as well as my favorite purchase of the whole trip...a monnogramed iphone 4 cover. It hasnt come in from the shop yet, but you HAVE to check out the website! There are a thousand types of patterns and colors to choose from. Anyone that has a monnogram obsession as I do...this is just a must!

After a fabulous day of shopping...my parents and I went to this tapas restaurant called Mojito! I think the pictures will speak for themselves.

After a sangria margarita swirl, guacamole with plaintain chips and a filet with gorgenzola and sweet potato crisps...we decided we loved it so much that we went back a second time.

My dad unfortunately had to leave for a business trip, which left my mom and I only one thing to do...go to the spa. This was no ordinary spa... French Lick Resort is set in a remote area in Indiana, and is fabulously beautiful.

Its history is amazing (built in the 1800's) and is so expansive that it even has its own casino (Vegas style). After lots of food, massages for each of us, and a lot of laughs, my mom and I decided that this overnight trip was a complete success!!

My dad came home extra early on Friday so we could have a celebration dinner together. They took me to this amazing restaurant in downtown Louisville called Mozz. It is this wonderful Mozzarella Bar & Enoteca (which I learned means ”wine repository”). It was altogether wonderful with great entertainment, however the dessert was by far the best!!

I can't explain how wonderful it was to be home and spend time with my family...I miss them terribly...especially my parents cat Weagle!

Daddy's Girl

2011-06-19T15:21:00.002-04:00

I know that every little girl thinks that their dad is the best...but to me, there couldn't be a better father than mine! I am a TRUE daddy's girl. My dad is the man in the neighborhood that everyone calls when they need "Mr.Fix-It." He is the dad all my guy friends call to play golf or basketball with, and the dad all of my girlfriends pull out on the dance floor at a wedding or party. He teaches me patience, kindness, and how a husband/ father should love his family. My dad is the most kind-hearted, fun-loving man I've ever met and I am the luckiest girl in the world to call myself his daughter.

I love you daddy, Happy Father's Day!

A Day Of Travel

2011-06-18T13:33:00.001-04:00

On my way home to Louisville for the week...let the people watching and magazine reading begin! Oh, how I love to travel.

Summer Reading 2011

2011-06-17T07:35:00.000-04:00

After a year of teaching crazy 9th graders I have one goal during the summer -- relax. I've made a pretty extensive reading list for the summer with one thing in mind -- lay on the beach or by the pool and read. I honestly can't think of a better summer.

Skinny, Diana Spechler

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson

The Overnight Socialite, Bridie Clark

Commencement, J.Courtney Sullivan

Poor Little Bitch Girl, Jackie Collins

The Girl Who Chased The Moon, Sarah A. Allen

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Me and Mr. Darcy, Alexandra Potter