T’was the night before Christmas…

and all through the house….I was making a mess with my gingerbread house.  After getting inspired by Heather’s gingerbread house contest (She won by the way!!), I decided to crack open the kit that Gricell gave me and make my own.  Let’s just say this time was not as easy as the gingerbread houses I made with the girls at Emma’s birthday celebration.  To start with one side of my house was missing.  I had to improvise and make a wall of cardboard.  Here are pictures of my endeavors.  I will let them tell the story.

But let’s take a step back.  Before I got started on the gingerbread house MESS, I made peppermint bark.  I have never made it before, but it is so easy and turned out to be heavenly!  Heather, when I say easy…I mean even you could make it with no problems!!  Here are the pictures from that.

This last one is G-ma not wanting to share. lol  If you are interested in making the peppermint bark, I used a package of the vanilla flavored almond bark and 9 candy canes.  (You are supposed to use 10, but David a.k.a. the human garbage disposal ate one of them.)  Smash up the candy canes – not into powder (I had my dad smash them up with a mallet.  Helpful hint…peppermint discs do not smash easily – go for the candy canes!).  Melt the almond bark in a microwave safe bowl for twenty second intervals – make sure you stir it each time with a dry spoon.  Mix in the peppermint.  Spread it out on a wax paper covered cookie sheet and refrigerate for 20 minutes.  When you take it out, just break it up into small pieces.  Voila!

Well dahlings!  I am off to wrap up a few last minute gifts.  =)  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas Eve and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!  I can’t wait to see what Santa brings me and everyone else!

Bewitched

Alas…my dream did not come true.  *sigh*

Usually I stay late on Mondays to get everything in order for the week, but I had to make a trip over to AASU today to take care of some graduation paperwork.

I came home and started cleaning up a storm.  I do not know what came over me.  Maybe it was prompted by my dream. lol I was such the 1950’s housewife this afternoon!  I started a roast last night and let it simmer in the crockpot all day today so it was nice and ready for supper tonight.  Mmm!  All the while I had the  Bewitched theme song was playing in my head.

Work was a bit of craziness again.  I had 2 students with birthdays – double the cupcakes!  Double the sugar!  Double the hyped up kids!!

Friend-a-versary Part 2

Heather and I started our day by having lunch at B. Matthews Eatery.  We had the most delicious salads!  Mixed greens topped with grilled chicken, gorgonzola, bacon, tomato, green onion, roasted red peppers, marinated artichokes and alfalfa sprouts served with balsamic vinaigrette.

 

After feeding our bellies, we need to feed our egos a bit.  We went to see Renata Duran, A.K.A. the Hair Princess, at the J.W. Salon. 

Heather went first.

This is her before shot.

Becoming fabulous and getting good karma points all at once!  Heather was able to donate her hair to Locks of Love.  =)

 

What have I done?!

Heather’s New Hair! – Very Cute!

After Heather was all set, it was my turn.  I had no idea what I wanted.  I told Renata to make it cute, sassy, and easy to style straight or curly.

This is my hair on the floor…she took off 6 inches!  Yay!

The first picture of my new hair cut! 

I can’t wait to start really playing with it…trying it curly, pulling it up in cutesy clips.  I am currently wearing a little piece on the right pulled back in a bobby pin and it looks super cute.  J says it looks very vintage and he likes it!  =)

Thanks for a fun day Heather!  I heart you! ❤

P.S. J says he thinks your hair looks cute too!  =)

List-en Up!

Heather – I am finally updating my blog – just for you. You should feel special.

I have been so incredibly busy since my last post! In the spirit of Heather – I shall make a list for you.

Thursday: (I actually posted a blog on Thursday, but left some things out.) Thursday was our last full day of school. We had our end of the year parties and clean-up stripped the classroom. Job search. Thursday night was the going away party for our principal.

Friday: Last day of school. Lunch at Ruby Tuesday’s with teacher friends. Job search. Teacher party. Dimensions Art Gallery. Lu Lu’s Chocolate Bar (I took my mom and Heather to all of them)

Saturday: Spent time with the hubby.

Sunday: Spent time with the hubby.

Monday: Post-planning (packing up all of my belongings). Lunch at La Nopalera’s with teachers – Thanks Paula! More packing. Job search. Nap. Start summer courses for masters.

Tuesday: More post-planning. Lunch with Anne. Job search. More packing. Nap.

Wednesday: Get moles removed. (I was at Georgia Skin and Cancer Clinic for around 2 and a half hours – most of that waiting.) Nap. Loco’s for the Making News: Savannah Style premier. Try to diffuse Jason  vs. Heather political debate.

Thursday: Doctor’s appointment. Red Clover. Parker’s for the most amazing lemonade ever. Got overheated. Nap. Finished reading “Wise Woman.” Long Horn’s for dinner. Trip to Kroger’s for bandaging supplies. Check out Heather’s New Etsy Shop! Become inspired to start my own Etsy shop. Blog.

Plans for the weekend include getting my car fixed and hanging out with Heather and Nick. Play video games with Nick while Jason and Heather continue their debate.

Long time, no blog!

Happy early birthday to me!

New Shoes!  I got the black pair – the picture doesn’t do really do them justice, but you get the feel for them with the colored ones.  The store didn’t have them in all the colors – only the black smooth/black patent and the natural/cognac.  I initially wanted the natural ones, but they didn’t have them in my size.  I tried on the black ones and fell in love.  =)  They look great with my cajun shrimp toes!

Last night was fun, we went to another roller derby bout.  This one had a military theme.  Wendy took a picture of our group during the tailgating party.  I am hoping to get a copy to upload soon.  Kem came dressed up in military garb.  It was awesome!  Also, Kem made these amazing stuffed jalepeno peppers that I must get the recipe for!  They were stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon – heavenly!

Also, I am reading “The Historian” and it is awesome!

Inspiration!

I spent quite a bit of time today, just surfing from one blog to the next gathering ideas and inspiration. I came across a wordpress concept called “Thing -A -Day.” Well…while this is an old concept to many, it is new to me. Since the official deadline for “Thing -A-Day” is closed, I have decided to do my own version starting today. Today I worked on my newest logo – this is subject to change, but I was really quite tired of seeing the girl in the dress. I really want something that is totally me! The newest logo is basically just my screenname & etsy name. Jason is about ready to beat me over this banner, because I he had to help me make some changes in PhotoShop that I couldn’t do without him. Heather help!!

While I was blog surfing this morning, I discovered this beautiful quilted tree and I am determined to make one for either my studio or classroom. I just fell in love with it! The little birds in trees are precious too! I will definitely be adding this talented blogger to my list of faves!

Another fun find was Anna Maria Horner and her “Make This With Me” section! I can’t wait to try some of those things and the fabric is just beautiful! I wish we had good fabric stores here!

Speaking of fabric stores! Grandma Libby sent me a catalog from Hancock’s of Paducah! I am so excited to play! I LOVE LOVE LOVE fabric!! Since Easter weekend I have made a dress and 5 skirts – I am still working on hemming one of them. I have another all cut out, pinned, and ready to sew! I don’t know what has come over me! I have become a skirt-making maniac! I have been getting the most compliments on them at work and Beth is insisting that I make one for her.

This week has just been so full of inspiration! On Wednesday night Heather and I went over to Gricell’s for an evening of fun with Libby. It was such an honor to spend time with such talented and amazing women. Chef Diego came and taught us to make some wonderful dishes. The Eggplant Parmigiana was AMAZING!! I could live off of the stuff! Check out H’s blog to see pictures!

I also stumbled across this tasty dish while blog surfing this morning. I can’t wait to try it out! The recipe for this Swiss Muesli came from RecipeZaar.

Hopefully I will have lots of pictures to share within the week.  I am doing an adoption project with my students and I need to get J to take some pics of me in my new skirts.  I am still waiting on that one from Heather.

I also found out that my littlest brother’s animated creation has been chosen to go to the state media festival.  When I called to congratulate him on it, he told me that he was busy creating his own private server and he would email me a copy of his project later. (I am still waiting.)  What does a 14 year need with his own private server?  What will he do with this?  When I think private server, I think lady-in-waiting…Dave thinks computers.  I really am a Fancy Nancy.  Haha! It’s hard being the only fancy person in a family!

Well…I am off to bed – dreaming sweet dreams of the shoes I will be buying later in the week when the shipment comes in and dreaming up Thing 2!  Sweet dreams!