School Days!

Ok, only 48 hours until my summer break ends. I have eight full days of inservice then my little monsters will arrive with fresh crayons, stacks of wide-ruled filler paper, and hearts ready to learn! Or maybe not, either way we will be there together for a fun-filled nine months of counting down for the end of May again.
But let me make myself clear, this post isn't about my great plans for the school year, but my "Didn't do" list from the summer of 2011! Let's just lay it all out on the table:
1. I did not finish painting all 14 cabinets, and 3 drawers in my kids' bathroom.
2. I did not finish my daughter's bedroom make over
3. I didn't finish sewing vintage buttons on one of the curtain panels already hanging in my bedroom. (Husband hung them before I finished)
4. I didn't lose 10 lbs.
5. I did not begin my kitchen renovation.

So it looks like I will have a lot to do this fall. But on the upswing let me tell you what I did accomplish.

1. I witnessed two very special weddings (both just happened to feature my daughter as a flower girl)
2. I spent a week on Sanibel Island with five of the most fun ladies I have ever met.
3. I got to watch my son's first home run!
4. Spent three weeks with my dear neices and sister!
5. Reorganized my closet!
6. Discovered that all 3 of my kids are actually able to SWIM!

So overall, I really shouldn't complain. Afterall, I am one of those "part-time workers who only contributes to society half the year and gets all those extra holidays during the year..." Here's to SUMMER 2012!!!

Shopaholic Alert...Resale...Resale!

I love West Texas, but in the fashion department, I don't fit in to the boots and bling niche that so many women in this region fill. So I was thrilled to bits this afternoon when I discovered a new consignment shop on Slide Rd in Lubbock! The Exchange Boutique had tons of cute stuff. I will tell you some of the prices were a bit unwarranted, but the sale items were spot on for what I think one should pay for used clothing. The selection was perfect for my hybrid Boho/Vintage/Gap-esque wardrobe. And don't you worry you West TX Chic gals, there was a lot of that too. Five of the six items I bought today were under $15! The pictures only feature a part of my new loot: new jeggins and vintage inspired top and the cream dress that will look fabulous under my signature denim jackets this fall!
Step two...clean out my closet and make room for more! Happy shopping y'all!

Really VINTAGE Classroom

It is summer and like most teachers, I don't find myself basking on a beach in Fiji, or backpacking through Europe, but instead working on making my classroom a mecca of education.
This year I am changing school districts and have moved from 7th and 8th grade history to 4th grade ELA (English Language Arts). I have been what I consider lucky because I have only taught in schools that were 40 years or older. These schools not only provide larger classrooms and the charming smell of old books, but a tendency to be the homes of hordes belonging to teachers of the past. Each time I have moved (this will be my third school) I have had to excavate the strata of teaching supplies from the past five decades. The layers are sometimes amusing, the Soviet Era globes and TEAMS, to TAAS, to TAKS (Texas state testing exams)materials. But mostly it is just crazy how much STUFF professional educators keep! I suppose when the time comes that my classroom looks like I should be featured on an episode of "Hoarders: Buried Alive", I will know I have arrived as a quality educator.
This year's classroom features veneer paneling all around the room, windows that used to be six feet tall, but were half covered when the ceiling was dropped to accommodate an HVAC system, and finally...SMURF BLUE PAINT!
So here is the before and after of the paint job, the color I selected has no real purpose other than to cover the blue, it was a reject bucket from a home project.


I plan over the next few weeks to get everything put together and share a few more images for those of you who are interested in all the hours put in by someone who only "works part-time" and has all "those extra vacation days." Don't get me wrong I can't imagine myself doing anything else that this work I love...but wait a beach in Fiji, hmmmm.

Open Season

Like men in Texas wait for September first each year, I live for estate sale season. This kick off was a little disappointing, as I was hoping for a fun shabby chic-ish bench, but managed to find more goodies to stuff into my kitchen cabinets. My favorites were the Lincon Beautyware canisters that I bought with the intention of giving to my big sister for her newly "backdated" kitchen. But after she told me she had just bought a set, I might be keeping these for myself. I also loved the cake plate and cover, but I am not sure that they are a matching pair, the cover is so utilitarian and the base is more ornate. However, what drew me to it and the new Fire King piece was how scratched they were from being used for years as serving pieces. I also discovered Prizer Ware. It is a cast iron bakeware that is covered in enamel, and the aqua piece I couldn't resist. It also helped that when I googled it at the sale similar pieces go from $25-45 and I paid $6!

You might also notice the pillow cases on which all my loot rest, I am hoping that some drycleaning might make them perfect for Gigi's room that I plan to re-do this summer. And, for my scrappy friends, I got some great earrings! I will use these as embellishments on pages and in shadow boxes.
Hope you enjoy browsing all my junk! Not bad for an opening weekend hunt!