What the Teacher Wore (Week 15)

A 2 day week is something magical. It would be a true statement that having the entire week off for Thanksgiving would have been even more magical, but in teacher world you take what you can get when it comes to breaks. Breaks from school are truly something to be thankful for. Furthermore, two days to wear jeans && keeping the madness in your closet to a minimum are two equally wonderful  things to add to the thankful list...there's only so much chaos that can be created when you're only picking outfits for two days and they both involve jeans. Here's what came to be on Week 15:

 Jeans, sweaters, boots, and scarves...how could you go wrong with that quadruple combination when it's f-reezing outside. Seriously, freezing...not just Charleston freezing....well maybe just freezing for Charleston, but whatever. I love jeans days!!!!

Scarf: Steve Madden

Sweater: GAP

Under Shirt: Wet Seal

Skinnies: GAP (they're stirrup pants...flash back to my childhood)

A striped sweater, dark wash skinnies and boots was my goal for the last day of the week. I nixed the necklace in the Pinterest version because like I've said before, big heavy necklaces aren't my thing. They just don't look right on me && they always get tangled up in my hair.  I loved the boot color in the pinspiration picture, but it wasn't already in my closet (it is now thanks to an early Thanksgiving sale at Belk) so I went with my trusty knit Uggs.

Sweater: American Eagle

Tank: American Eagle

Skinnies: The LOFT

Boots: Uggs

 

&& that my friends is how a 2 day week is done. It's the biggest football Saturday of the year in South Carolina and I have some major to do list items to cross off before kick off. Shower, dress in garnet and black, && cook some cheesy potato and chicken chowder for the boys(just to name a few). Soooooo until next time, live, love && cheer for the Gamecocks!

Get Your Holly Jolly On!

Hi, my name is Amy && I’m a Christmas maniac even though Thanksgiving isn’t even here yet. Maybe it’s the colder weather we’ve been having or the peppermint mocha coffee I've been having on the way to work in the mornings. Or perhaps it’s the tree stands that are popping up all over town and the fact that I've been having some major jam sessions to some Christmas songs during my morning drives to work. Whatever it is, I’m officially in the Christmas spirit. I’m ready to deck the halls with all of my Christmas finery and get down to business with some holiday infused learning fun! Don’t get it twisted, I’m beyond ready for some down time to recharge my teacher brain that is running on fumes (break if officially here y’all), but I’m stoked to come back to my favorite time of the year. A week or so ago I started planning out December. I’m crazy… I know, but there’s so much to pack in to 3 short weeks that you have to start ahead of time before everything sneaks up on you. Reindeer, Santa, elves, Christmas Around the World, gingerbread houses, eeeeeeks it's truly the most wonderful time of the year!

 

One of the things that I'm most stoked about bringing out of hiding is my classroom's  Elf on the Shelf. I broke down to the cuteness last year and snagged the last girl elf that Barnes and Noble had. Of course I had to get the snowflake skirt...because let's face it, I'm about as girly as it gets && the red long johns just weren't girly enough. My kids last year loved every ounce of her smiling little face and mischievous tricks that it's taken every ounce of self control not to bust her out early. Say what you will about the whole thing, but it adds that pinch of magic that prevents the kids from going 100 shades of Christmas crazy...it holds them to about 95 shades...completely do-able right??? Last year I just planned the elf debauchery as I went. This year, I have a plan...and I'm pumped about it! The first day is pretty simple...the elf arrives && the kids have to give her a name. Last year they finally decided on Violet...after what seemed like an eternity of explaining the difference between a boy and a girl name. No you can't name her Mike because she's a girl. No, honey we can't name her D.J. because that's your name annnnd she's a girl. No, boys we can't name HER Jack because...SHE'S A GIRL!!!! This year I'm hoping for a much simpler naming ceremony. The second day is when the fun starts and the good times keep on rolling until our last day of school. Here's my plan for Elf on the Shelf Classroom Invasion: 2013 Edition.

Another huge part of December that puts a smile on my face besides my favorite movie The Elf (I like smiling it's my favorite), is our Christmas Around the World unit. Each teacher takes a country and creates 2 days worth of lesson plans to make a "basket." The baskets are then rotated throughout the grade level staying 2 days in each class before they're passed on to the next teacher. When all is said and done the kids have learned about 8 different countries. Our end of the unit celebration is a "Travel Day" where our kids travel to each country. They spend about 20 minutes in each room doing whatever activity that teacher has planned for them and then they rotate. The day is done before you know it and they are so adorably pumped about everything they learned by the time they get back to their "home country." I've been working like a mad woman to give my Power Point Presentations a face lift so they can be uploaded to TPT and hopefully help someone else's Christmas Around the World unit become a little easier. Those should be posted by the start of next week...that is if I don't over do it with turkey, black Friday shopping and decorating my house from top to bottom.

 

I feel like I failed to mention how excited I am that December is on its way?!?! I'm even more excited that Thanksgiving Break is finally here...5 glorious days to drink my coffee in peace and do whatever it is that I want to do. A friend posted a pretty hilarious blog about a teacher's to do list for fall break. I laughed so hard I snorted while the hubs snored away on the couch && then I started thinking...what the heck am I going to do??  I jotted down a few things that I'm really wanting to do over break...keep in mind a few means more than one human can possibly conquer, but I don't want to just nap away my break. I like having a hefty list to keep my busy (so I'm not busy shoving my face full of delicious left overs). I like hand written lists so I can cross things off and show how much I accomplished...it holds me accountable because it's easy to get sucked into Pinterest land while you rock yoga pants all day.

Part of number 2 can be crossed off because I got up and made a breakfast casserole this morning. Amazing what you're motivated to do in the line of "house wife jobs" when you don't have a full time job dominating your life. Up next: decorating and cleaning...after I watch Awkward.

 

Until next time, live, love && get your holly jolly on!

What the Teacher Wore (Week 14)

How it's possible that November is already on the way out is beyond me. Something less shocking...the temperature. One day we're in the high 70's  and the next we're freezing.  Charleston weather is crazy && my sinuses are a hot mess because of Mother Nature's roller coaster ride. My closet is also a hot mess...almost everything I owned was on the floor last night when I finally decided something had to be done...there's only so much time allowed for chaos before it becomes worthy of a hoarders episode. Without further ado, here's Week 14...

 On Day 65 I wore black and tan. I had on a different top before tragedy struck and I dribbled tooth paste all over the front of my shirt like the half asleep/sneezing/coughing zombie that I've become. Brushing your teeth while you're having to mouth breathe is no easy task. This was the last minute switch up that thankfully worked. I used 2 pinspiration pictures to throw something together because 2 is better than 1...most of the time.

Cardigan: Target

Top: H&M

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Target

 I've had several flannel shirts in my closet for at least a year now, but they never got much of the spotlight. . .I blame this on growing up with flannel being the "grunge" look. Buuuut shockingly flannel can look polished and work appropriate. I had all intentions of pairing my black skinnies with flats && then I woke up to much colder temperatures than I remember seeing predicted on Sunday. The flats got kicked to the curb and boots joined my ensemble because the one thing a coughing/sneezing/sleep deprived zombie teacher doesn't need more of is mucus. No thank you.  

Cardigan: Target

Flannel: American Eagle

Shirt: American Eagle

Skinnies: Jessica Simpson

 Wednesday I went with the green and black stripes look. It was pretty effortless and effortless is exactly what the doctor ordered. I wore boots instead of open toed heels because 1. it was cold and 2. I don't wear heels to work.

Sweater: GAP

Skinnies: GAP

Layering Shirt: Wet Seal

Day 68 was a stretch. I started out with a different color combination and then I realized it just didn't look right. I turned to Plan B which was the combination of grey, denim and pink. My legs are too white to pull out any dresses so I chose to go with grey skinnies. I pulled the pink from the bag in with my shirt && the denim jacket was an easy replica to make happen. I of course went with flats (a neutral color) and wrapped up with a scarf (also neutral). Not exactly what I had in mind when I woke up on Thursday, but it got the job done and I wasn't late to leave the house.

 

 

 

That leaves Day 69, which was what I lovingly refer to as "Tired Teacher T-Shirt Friday." Teaching is exhausting on its own, but when you factor in a cold that tries its darnedest to strangle your voice away from you things get way more complicated. I've never been more relieved for a Friday to roll around in my life....clearly.

T-Shirt: BBE

Shirt (layered): Target

Jeans: The LOFT

Shoes: Toms Ballet Flats

 

Next week is a 2 day week and then we finally get a break from it all. I fully plan on shoving as much macaroni into my belly as I can (along with turkey, dressing, green beans, & rice with gravy...pretty much anything and everything). Thanksgiving is always a great time spent with family, but this year is going to be even better...my Poppa is getting to come home for Thanksgiving!!! I'm so excited I can barely stand it! It's officially the holiday season y'all &&& I can't wait to deck the halls at home and in the classroom. Until next time, live, love and be jolly!

 

T is for Thankful, Thirsty && Tired

As Thanksgiving break slowly approaches I'm counting down the days hours ok fine, minutes until sweet freedom reigns...&&& even sweeter macaroni and cheese is on my dinner plate. I feel like any time I comment on how crazy a day/week has been the universe takes that as a challenge to crank it up a few notches. This week has been craaaaaaaaaaazy and long and exhausting...and it's only Wednesday. Operation Tired Teacher T-Shirt Friday is in full effect y'all. With that being said, Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for all of the blessings that we have in this crazy world we live in. I haven't taken part in the "30 days of Thankful" craze hitting FB land. Honestly, I missed the bus (November snuck up on me like the stomach bug snuck up on my class) and furthermore, finding 30 non-materialistic items to be thankful for is a stretch. I know, I know a lot of people are thankful for coffee and sushi (and I am too), but as much as I adore both of those items, they aren't the meat and potatoes of my life. I could do without either of them..I wouldn't be a nice person to be around, but I could do without them. Being thankful for the "sprinkles" is nice, but being thankful for your meat and potatoes is far more important. Next week (and by that I mean 2 days) we'll be focusing on what we're thankful for. &&& seriously, what better way than making a fabulously cute turkey. I whipped this little guy up today and I'm in love...with a turkey. Patterns are coming soon to my TPT store (it'll be a freebie...and freebies are sprinkles to be thankful for).  

I'm in serious need of a few sips of cough syrup, a funny movie, and a good night's sleep. If tomorrow is anything like today I'm going to need all the energy I can get. Until next time, live, love && be thankful!

What the Teacher Wore (Week 13)

I  know I've said it a gazillion times, but holy smokes this week was the epitome of crazy town. Monday was a half day (and Veterans day), Wednesday was Career Day, Thursday was Career Dress Up Day and Friday was Dress Up as a Book Character Day. Top that off with cases of the flu, strep throat, and stomach bug running around the school && I'm surprised that I'm sitting here typing this actually dressed and showered. Although I'm alive, I didn't make it through completely unscathed. I managed to catch something floating around (thankfully not any of the nasty bugs mentioned previously) and I've been in hibernation since 4:30 Friday afternoon. Friday night's sushi date? Forget about it. Getting dressed and being productive? Forget about it. Deep cleaning the house?? Forget about it. Sleeping on the couch in yoga pants and watching junk T.V. all day (and sadly all night)...I did it. I'm beyond grateful that I wasn't sick while teacher duties were calling, but  seriously I need a weekend do over full of coffee, shopping, sushi, and sake...what a rip off. With the 2 dress up days thrown in the mix, my pin-spiration line up will be a little shorter this week. I'll still share all 5, but let's be honest...not too many people are dressing up as raccoons and bakers these days so the pin-spiration was scarce.

Monday was Veteran's Day and with my Poppa being a Pearl Harbor survivor a pack of rabid hyenas holding my closet hostage wouldn't keep me from wearing red, white and blue for the occasion. I loved the chambray, stripes and red combo so nothing was really changed in my version. The striped shirt that I have isn't exactly my favorite and I was really trying to work with pieces that I already had so I incorporated the stripes with a light striped scarf.

Cardigan & Top: Belk (Jr. Department finds)

Scarf: ALDO Outlet

Skinnies: GAP

Shoes: Toms Ballet Flats

 Coral, denim and black...saw it, loved it, pinned it, && wore it. Tuesday wasn't a cold day in Charleston so the boots were replaced with some flats.

Jacket: GAP

Shirt: Belk (another Jr. Department score)

Skinnies: Jessica Simpson (Belk)

Shoes: Target

 Wednesday was f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g...well freezing for this southern born and raised girl. To be honest, I had a really hard time picking something to wear on Wednesday morning. My closet looked like a herd of monkeys came swinging through by the time I was done. The black, electric blue, and brown boots came out to play 5 minutes before I walked out the door...no lie. For once it's not my scrambled brain that's to blame,  I'm just not a fan of my winter wardrobe...everything looks the same. I've got some serious work to do picking out new pieces this year. The Pinterest version was a little edgy, so my boots got taller and I nixed the leather/fur jacket (not my style).

Shirt: Old Navy

Scarf: Limited/Express/Somewhere??

Skinnies: GAP

Boots: Belk (no clue of the brand, but they were a splurge purchase)

&&& now for the dress up madness....

If I wasn't a teacher I would definitely try my hand at opening up my own bakery. It's been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember- -Sugar Plum Bakery- -one day it'll happen. I wouldn't be telling the truth if I said this was my original plan. My original plan was to go as a yoga instructor (yoga pants to work...duh). But then I found this apron and the yoga mat was ditched. My kids had some really cute dress up ideas too, but those can't be posted on blog land.

 

&& then came Book Character Day. I'm Chester from the Kissing Hand...not Cat Woman. One of my team mates couldn't be at school that day so she was my momma raccoon! I promise I'm normally not a creep that draws on pictures of my friends and puts them in a frame, but first grade isn't a group that misses out on dress up fun!

 

Does it look like a busy week?? I'm saying some extra prayers tonight for a nice and calm Week 14. Too much fun in one week makes for some crazy hyped up 6 and 7 year olds. With 7 days left until Thanksgiving Break, I don't think that's too much to ask for... right?? 

 

Since coming out of hibernation, reality is hitting that my to do list didn't go away while I was sleeping, so for now I've got to power down the blogging app and power up the house wife/teacher app. On my list:

1. Get these chicken & dumplings cooking in my crock pot.

2. Plan some lesson plans with my pup snoozing it up next to me and a cup of hot chocolate in my hand (I'm trying to cut back on my caffeine intake...on the weekends).

3. Get some laundry done.

4. Plan out my 2013 Elf on the Shelf Classroom Invasion!! Eeeks I'm so excited!

 

So until next time.. live, love && get ready to get your gobble on y'all!

What the Teacher Wore: Week 12

I'm really going to need Mother Nature to make up her mind already about what season it is. I switched my closet out last weekend when the weather was oh so fall like and then BAM it's spring time all up in my business. One day it's freezing cold and the next it's spring time. The mosquitoes can't make up their mind if it's biting or hibernating season && I really prefer them to hibernate. One thing mother nature-ish that I AM loving is the time change...well most of it. I love driving to work in the day time...not so fond of feeling like it's way later than it really is in the evening, but I'll take the sun shining on my way to work over pitch black darkness any day of the week. The sun setting super early did make it less pathetic that I was in bed by 8:00 every night this week with a cold/sinus infection and for that I'm thankful.  With Charleston's flip flopping weather explained, hopefully Week 12's closet selections make a little more sense. It's a hodge podge of seasons wrapped up into 5 days...madness...complete madness.

 There's something about flannel that screams cooler weather. It takes me back to the days of running barefoot through the woods (even in cooler weather) and making s'mores by a campfire at night. Ahhh yes I was one of those hard core tom boy kids. My tom boy days are long gone... it would be a cold day in you know where for me to run around in the woods digging up worms barefoot, but the flannel shirt, yes that can stay....&& the s'mores, they can stay too.

Jacket: GAP

Flannel Shirt: Target

Tank: Target

Skinnies: Jessica Simpson

Boots: Belk (Can't remember the name...spent a pretty penny of them though)

 On Tuesday the weather perked back up. It was colder than a polar bear's toenails in the morning, but by the afternoon it warmed up to a typical Charleston temperature again. Picking out my outfit that morning I knew I wanted to do yellow and grey, but I also fell in love with a teal and yellow combo I pinned the night before. So I threw both ideas together and came up with this..I've said it before, but sometimes it takes 2 things to make a thing go right!

Boyfriend Cardigan: Target

Shirt: Wet Seal (simple white v-neck t-shirt)

Scarf: Dillards (end of the season sale)

Skinnies: Jessica Simpson (Belk)

Shoes: Toms Ballet Flats

 I'm obsessed with grey lately. Truly I've been obsessed for a while, but it wasn't until this year that I became a grey pinning fool. I found an old pin scrolling through Pinterest Land on Tuesday night and Wednesday's outfit was born.

Cardigan: GAP

Shirt: New York & Co. (they give teacher discounts yo!)

Skinnies: GAP

Shoes: Toms Ballet Flats

 By Thursday I was dreaming of a tired teacher t-shirt Friday. Being sickly just isn't what the movies make it out to be when you have to go to work. True, I have a bank of sick days that I'm sitting on, but sub plans don't write themselves and frankly nobody is going to handle my rambunctious group the way I manage to. I seriously feel like they try to eat me alive every day && just like the spaghetti noodles on that heart burn commercial I fight them every step of the way until they quit trying...until the next day.  I went for simple and comfort and nailed it all...except for the comfort element...I made the mistake of wearing my not so broken in Toms.

Jacket: GAP

Shirt: TJ Maxxx (fashionista find)

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Toms Ballet Flats

&& just when I thought my stuffy head couldn't take anymore muffled 6 year old arguments the clouds parted, my sinuses cleared && it was Friday. I saved the t-shirt for another Friday and put some pep into my step. True my shirt isn't striped, but enough stripes had been had for Week 12.

Cardigan: Target

Shirt: Target

Skinnies: GAP

Boots: Rampage (Belk)

Scarf: My Granny :)

 

 

And that my blog reading friends was my Week 12. I have so many things to get caught up on (including organizing my mess pot of a closet) so I'm forcing the Keurig to brew up a cup of peppermint mocha coffee && I'm getting to work. Until next time...live, love & enjoy the change in seasons. 

What the Teacher Wore (Week 11)

There isn't enough caffeine in the world to keep the pep in my step after weathering the perfect storm of a half day, Halloween, and the day after Halloween (with no planning).  Ahhh yes, the season of sneaking candy into school has only just begun && Wal-Mart has Christmas stuff packing the aisles already. I'm convinced Wal-Mart has ninjas on their team because Santa and his reindeer were definitely M.I.A. yesterday && that's much too quick of an explosion into Fa-La-La-La-La Land for the workers I normally see making the rounds. ..just sayin'.  Before Christmas carols take over my easily distracted brain, here's Week 11's edition of What the Teacher Wore.

 Inspiration comes in all sizes, shapes, and forms...even doll outfits. Why doll outfits pop up on a search in women's fashion is beyond my brain's capabilities, but the doll has some good fashion combos.

Shirt: Target

Scarf: GAP

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Target

 I heart ruffles. I heart pink. I heart turquoise. I heart this outfit. I started out going in a completely different direction with yellow skinnies, but discovered a red crayon had been washed and streaked itself across the butt of my skinnies. Not exactly the look I was going for.

Cardigan: Old Navy

Shirt: Belk...don't know the designer off the top of my head

Skinnies: GAP

Dog Photo Bomb: Oscar

 Day 52 was day 3 of the bun head look. My go to hair style these days has rubbed off on my kids. All the little girls want buns. I've styled so many hair dos at recess that I've lost count. I also find myself drawn to striped shirts...they're slowly taking over my closet.

Jacket: GAP

Shirt: Target

Pants: The Limited

 Day 53 was Halloween. Our school doesn't encourage dressing up in costumes...it hasn't officially been banned like jeans, but I'm not positive what would happen if one decided to wear a costume. Being called in to the Principal's office doesn't make my heart beat in a good way so I settled for the orange and black combo. Mother Nature apparently didn't get the "It's the last day of October so the temperature should be cool" memo so it was way too hot for boots.

Shirt: Target

Necklace: Belk

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Dog Photo Bomb: Oscar

Grey and yellow has become one of my favorite color combinations. Black and mustard is another go to combo lately. Ruffled tops...well I adore them. &&& that is how outfit #54 was born.

Cardigan: The LOFT

Top: TJ Maxx find

Cropped Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

 

So there you have it...Week 11. It left my closet and guest bedroom in shambles, but outfits were pulled together and I was only on the verge of being late one time this week. While I would love nothing more than to nap it up for a lazy Saturday, my goal is to have Week 12 inspired and pulled together by Sunday night. That means a lot of laundry and a lot of closet organizing.Of course I have papers to grade, lessons to plan, and a football game to watch too...all while the husband enjoys his Halloween candy sugar overload induced slumber (notice the grey and yellow...I think the obsession is contagious). Until next time, live, love and pin some closet candy! 

Say it 'Aint So. . .Back to Work I Go??

Fall Break. . .oh how I love fall break! Mine is officially over in a few short hours, but man oh man I was definitely in need of it! I love my kidlets to the moon and back, but it can't be denied that we all needed a little time apart. Over the break I made sure to eat, shop, and then eat some more. I spent time with the people that I'm most thankful for and of course cuddled with my fur babies. They look stoked out of their minds to be in yet another picture don't they! :)

With Christmas only a few short weeks away I'm more than excited to get back to work and get into all of the cute holiday stuff that I've planned. As always, the excitement meter is through the roof during this time of year and my usual behavior motivators (table race, fun friday, stickers, skittles, treasure box) just can't overpower the Santa fever that is running rampant in my room. . .yes, even the skittles have lost their luster. I'm not big on being the grinch or scrooge that takes away from the magic of the season so I decided to try something new. Enter. ..Elf on the Shelf. I had plans to start this last year, but it never happened (I blame it on the final stages of planning a wedding). Even with my persistent headache I made sure to pick up my kit today and oh.my.word. it's so stinking cute I can barely stand it. I had to have a girl elf because of the cutesy skirt option &&&& after much digging. .. I got the.last.one. We'll be naming her tomorrow, but this is her! (I'm such a dork. . .I know. . .but I'm ok with it).

Last, but not least in case you haven't heard. . .TpT is having a HUGE cyber Monday/Tuesday sale. There are a lot of sellers offering discounts. . .including me!Everything in my store will be 20% off all day tomorrow. On Tuesday it drops to just 10% off. Nothing says 'Tis the Season better than a sale to help you stock up on cute stuff for your class! Be sure to enter the promo code CMT12 at check out to get the full discount! Happy shopping!