and other such nonsense

This vacation hasn't been lackluster, it's been downright stinky. I decided to stop trying to get anything done & just sit back with some One Tree Hill {Thank you, Netflix} and a manicure. As I was removing the amazing orange polish that I found {Jesse's Girl Beauty Guru from Rite Aid}, I saw that it had left my nails with a yucky yellowish-orange tinge. Blech. While I was thinking, this is super yucky I knocked over the bottle of nail polish remover that I was using. My jeans caught most of the liquid, but my living room carpet wasn't spared either. I just washed those jeans, too. On the bright side, it did give me an excuse to wear some "lived-in" jeans instead. 

Anyway, I did want to tell you that someone {okay, okay, it's me} got the Striking Gold dress for Christmas. That's right, I can't be seen glimmering down the street Twilight-style in this amazing ModCloth dress.

via my pinterest

There was also an awkward exchange between 3-year-old Kyleigh and me about who belonged to this exquisite piece of art.

via amazon & formerly of my Wishlist fame.

Did you get everything on your wishlists? What are you still aching for? I've decided the lovebug is going to be bringing me one of these fancy treats for Valentine's Day.

Happy List- Christmas Edition

I can't wait for Monday to bring you another Happy List. This one is the holiday version. 5 things about Christmas that make me deliriously happy!

1. Hood Golden Eggnog

This stuff is so delicious. I'm glad it's only available once a year because it's so addictive. I'll admit it- I drink it straight out of its cardboard carton.

2. An excuse to wear sequins... to work. ;

Oh my gosh! I usually reserve my shimmer for the weekends, but Christmas & New Year's are the perfect excuse to wear them.

3. Wrapping paper

Design Sponge via pinterest

It shouldn't be a secret that I'm on the hunt for pretty wrapping paper & tissue paper all year long. I especially love when Christmas wrapping goes down to 75% off.

4. Baby, It's Cold Outside.

Bing Crosby & Doris Day
I don't even know if you need more details than that. I just love it.

5. Gingerbread houses

Mine never turn out anything like this, but I would like to have a gingerbread house party.

***

I am so excited that Christmas is on Sunday. Having been born with an overwhelming desire to shower the ones I love with gifts & zero patience to wait for anything makes the week before Christmas extremely difficult for me. I've already given 3 presents early. I just can't help myself! The look of happiness on the faces of my favorites makes me giddy. Tomorrow, I will head to my sister & her husband's house {and Baby Kieran's home, too} for my family celebration. Whatever winter holiday you celebrate, I hope you all have a wonderful one and an amazing weekend!

your mouth makes your butt look fat

I've been having my students set a goal for themselves that they can work on throughout the school year and see results by June 2012. It can be anything from reading x number of books to raising hands more often in class. Never one to give the kiddos an assignment I wouldn't do myself, I've been giving a lot of thought to my own resolutions.  Should it be...
To make sure I make a delicious dinner with organic vegetables every night?
To spend at least 2 hours at the gym attempting to gain muscle in these spaghetti arms?
To never ever go to bed without washing my face no matter how tired I am?

They're all decent enough resolutions. But, let's face it, I'm only going to do any of those for about 6 months and then go back to my old ways. Big Macs are just so scrumptious, I don't like going out to the gym in the cold because it takes me forever to get warm, and sometimes I am too tired to walk up the stairs let alone wash my face. Well then what could I possibly do that would have enough of an impact on me that I would want- no, yearn to do all year?

Well, frienditos the answer is simple. I'm going to stop putting up with people's backhanded compliments. I don't know if you've ever had someone tell you something like,
"I hate that color and that shirt, but it works on you."
Or, "I'm surprised someone your age understands that."
Let's never forget,
"You do ____ pretty well for a girl."

Ob. Nox. Ious.

I don't know if it's because I've been getting more of these than usual or if I really put that much thought into my resolution, but they stink and I just don't like them. Generally I just blow them off, but you know what? I never retaliate. I could and perhaps I should, but I don't. Unless you pee glitter and poop out pineapple you aren't the bee's knees. Am I right or am I right?

2012, I'm ready for you. Let's do this thing.

Happy List Monday

via Pinterest

It's Monday and none of us are prepared. The alarms went off this morning and I probably heard 10 in my neighborhood being sworn at and swiftly shut down for doing their stinking jobs. But fear not and be grumpy no more! Get yourself happy with your very own happy list. That's right! It's back and better than ever.

+16     Once Upon a Time- I just can't get enough of this show. I want to be a fairy tale character!
+16.5  The fabulous people who read my blog. You are awesome.
+17     Handwritten letters in the mail- even if they are in the form of a Christmas card, not a letter.
+18     teensy weensy, itty-bitty, kissable, nibble-able baby fingers.
+19     The winter holiday season particularly because of the excuse to wear sequins to work.
+20     Turbo-speed internet.

You can see mine here, here, and perhaps even here.

little guy

Hello friends! Can you believe that Christmas is only a week away? My school doesn't let out for vacation until Friday, so I'm sure it's going to be a wacky week. Since I said last post that I love Christmas, I have to say, even though work-wise December was an extremely hectic month,  I'm so happy to be working as a teacher. Those little kids & their Santa-loving ways just crack me up. My shopping is all done, everything has been delivered, everything has been wrapped. Am I the only one who's checked the weekly cable listings to find out when the best christmas movies are on? A Chipmunk Christmas is on at 8:30 tomorrow night. Sadly, Prancer is a no show on cable networks. Bummer. Let's resume cheerfulness-

I would like you to meet Little Guy:

He is my tiny surprise tree {so unexpected & appreciated} & I love him dearly. So do my kitties Igby & Rugen... particularly his water. I'm filling this tree stand up like it's my full-time job! Little Guy was decorated by 3/5 of my little ones. The 3 that are able to walk, of course. I had to make do with some sparkly ribbon for a topper because it was way too cold to stand outside in my storage unit to find all my decorations. This little owl ornament was made by my sister. She made me a Stitch ornament one year, but I fell down the stairs & broke it. He had clay ears & everything!

Kyleigh was singing the whole time because that's what she does, "Christmas! Christmas! Gotta add one more christmas! Don't break my heart, Christmas." Luckily, no lights were harmed.

Adriana was reattaching all of the ornament hooks that fell off, mediating fights between Kyleigh & Liam when they wanted their ornaments in the same place, and making sure each and every one of the glittery ornaments were used. Much eggnog was had.

Liam was hanging each ornament very carefully on the garland at the bottom of the tree, which caused it to fall off the tree and for him to realize that when they all fell together it created room for more ornaments. See how proud he is?

Now it's time for a tree skirt & all the presents.

In other news, I realized today that I missed the most recent ebew event. Sequins and sparkles?!?! Can it really be true? I think I should make up for this by wearing only sequins & sparkles for the rest of the week.

Christmas Police

I have always loved the idea of Christmas. The music, the tree, the parties, the decorations, the food- it's all just so wonderful. I anticipate buying treasures for the people who matter the most to me & can never wait for them to open them on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. 

That said, it's also important to note that I am completely obsessed with the tree. I stick to all pastel ornaments, or all red/white/silver, or my plan for this year: peacock themed. The thought of rich purple, teal, greens, & golds make me want to swoon. I even went so far as to buy lights especially for this last year, but my plan has been thwarted. This year, I will be spending my first Christmas with little ones. My niece & nephew (Kyleigh & Liam) will be here and so I will have a child-friendly tree. This, of course, means multicolored lights, homemade ornaments, and 2 tiny bellies filling themselves with eggnog while we decorate. 

One thing's for sure, I can't wait to see their little faces when they wake up in the morning and see that Santa Claus has visited them {and also a valid excuse to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and giggle wildly}.

In other news, while I've been absent from the blogosphere my sister Heather gave birth to a baby boy.  In case you're counting that's 5 tiny children to love. 

Welcome to the world, Kieran!