This is kind of rude

But I'm posting today to mention an AMAZING contest that's been posted on the blog Oh Happy Day! Um, it's a free trip to Paris.

No that wasn't a typo- airfare and hotel. Seriously.

So here's one of my entries- a blog post about the contest. Even though I don't want more people entering because that lessens the likely hood of me winning! :) Joking.

Mostly.

Good luck!

Oh, and it's rude because I've been slacking in the blogging department as of late. And of course I return to post and get an extra entrance into an amazing contest. Feel free to judge me. I'm judging me.

Who doesn't love a challenge?

I am taking on this challenge.

Welcoming suggestions for restaurants, not too local but not too far- it is a school night!

In more important news

than whether I accomplished the goals I set for myself to accomplish before my 29th birthday, I finally won the last issue of Domino magazine that I needed to have the complete set!

Countdown...

So I was thinking in the shower this morning (come to think of it I do this often- lesson plans, what I'm going to wear for the day...interesting) that there are some things I want to accomplish before I officially kiss my 20s goodbye. I remembered a series of posts by Nicole of titled "30 Before Thirty" where she created a list of 30 things she wanted to accomplish before turning 30 and it inspired me to create my own.

A list of thirty things to accomplish seems a bit ambitious, although I guess if pushed I could come up with some.

So I'm officially contemplating that list of thirty, more info to follow, but in the meantime, since year 29 is looming in about a month or so, I have a short list I'd like to accomplish before then:

1. Finish bedroom (includes decorating, a headboard, installing shelving, finding artwork.)
2. Lose 10 pounds.
3. Find something glittery to wear for my 29th bday.
4. Plan fantabulous 29th bday celebration.

And I'm off to see if Dick's has any good sales on sneakers for the gym since mine are a few years old, which is gross if you think about it, and to run a few errands.

Any suggestions for things to add to the 29 list? Or for the big 3-0? Happy Black Friday!

My new obsession

(besides getting the last two issues of Domino magazine I need to have the complete collection- grrrr) is purchasing an antique/vintage typewriter.

There are a ton on ebay that aren't expensive! The cheap ones also don't guarantee that they actually type (you buy cheap you get cheap) but even some that say they do type aren't too bad!

If it's not one thing with me it's another entirely!!

Humbled.

I got the nicest, most sincere and sweet letter in the mail yesterday.

I don't even have the words to express how I felt reading it.

Made my day. More than my day. Days plural.

I heart etsy.

Can I just say that Etsy is the coolest thing ever?

I've had my eye on a print for probably months. Originally it was printed on like paper from a book I think, so you could see the text from the page in the background, but that slipped from my fingers and once I got my taxes I finally ordered the print. Here it is in a frame I bought:

I loooove it. And along with the print came this note from the artist:

Oops, I probably should have put the card on mirror image. But it says, "Thank ya Jamie! Hugs from San Fransico, Charmaine"

I mean, I just think it's so cool that with each purchase pretty much, I receive a hand written note from the artist. I love it! Each purchase I've made from madebygirl has come with a note as well. 

I just love it. I will come back again and again as a result. 

April Vacation Goals

I am hoping to move my closet (a.k.a. second bedroom) into the actual closet that's in my bedroom, thus creating room for an actual second bedroom.

Right now I have an Ikea monstrosity in my second bedroom housing my clothing. I find that I don't put stuff away after I wear it/wash it and the room easily turns into a mess. Right now I have the Ikea set up, a three-drawer bureau and shoes in my second bedroom. In my actual bedroom I have a second three-drawer bureau and the skinny hard to utilize closet which holds dresses and some shoes.

A bit excessive, I know.

Here's the problem/challenge: my actual closet is narrow which makes it hard to maneuver in. Also, I can't put bars across it because it's the access point for my attic. So I have to be creative. In the back of the closet are two built in cubbies. I'm thinking of putting a shelf in each to act as storage. There are also three drawers below those cubbies.

So if I store workout clothes, sweatshirts, etc. in the built-in along with long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts and tank tops, I think that'd work. Oh and maybe skirts. Along the long wall where I can't put a bar I'm thinking of putting coat hooks and investing in some of these bad larry's  to hang my dresses on so that they're hanging, but out of the way. Maybe too, my button down shirts. I plan on utilizing under-bed storage for shoes and possibly some other sweatshirts. The three drawer bureau currently in my room will hold unmentionables, pjs and work pants (?).  I'm also thinking of getting a standing coat rack for in my bedroom to hang stuff that I have yet to put away.

And then the fun part of creating an actual second bedroom! Depending on if I get an actual roommate in the near future or not, I may buy a day bed, or a cheap twin bed, depending on price of each. That's coming secondary to whether or not I can pull this closet redo off or not. One more week to plan and then it's execution time!!

On a positive note

I made some purchases of things for my house this weekend.

On Friday I ordered this print which I've had my eye on for literally months on etsy:

From this shop.

I'm thinking of redecorating my bedroom artwork/decorations based on this print.

I also ordered these two prints from made by girl:

For my front hallway/stairs area. Available here. 

And this print:

I'm not sure where this is going, but I love blogs, coffee and hopefully one day someone. Available here. 

Even though

I don't like marshmellows besides in smores I want to make these for Easter.

Bring on the weekend!!!

I am in such a pleasant mood! Here is a fun bulleted list as to why:

1. It's beautiful outside (64 degrees to be exact, hello top down on the convertible after school!)

2. I am done for the day- no 4th block (prep period) no detention (it's Friday)

3. I am excited to run outside tomorrow and Sunday.

4. I have a mostly commitment-free weekend ahead of me aside from:

     a. Saturday school tomorrow morning. 

     b. Babysitting for my cutie cousins tomorrow night.

     c. And what would be the third bullet in this-sub list deserves it's own number:

5. I HAVE A DATE SUNDAY NIGHT. With a- from what I can tell- really cute guy! Details to follow.

I'm so excited to sleep in my own bed tonight, take Lala for a long walk after school, maybe get takeout from Joe's for dinner even though I'm on the poor side this week, and just relax. 

Weekends are the best. 

Not good.

I can feel myself getting sick. My throat is a bit achey. I've been taking vitamin C like it's my job and I think I'm going to throw some airborn into the equation even though I'm not convinced it works.

Is it bad though, that I'd be ok with the possibility of a sick day in the next few weeks?

I hate sounding like one of those teachers but March is a long month.

I know, I know, welcome to the real world, working full weeks without days off for more than four weeks in a row. I hear you, I'm just tired.

Wah, wah, wah.

On a totally unrelated note.

This is what I'm thinking of doing to my closet/second bedroom (via here):

Gray/white striped walls with a magnetic/chalkboard wall or portion of wall. Instead of the yellow accent as shown in the home above, I'm thinking of purple accents! Love, love, loving this idea! I was inspired by this wedding to incorporate purple, which I heard yesterday, can't remember where, is going to be the color for interior decorating this year. Heart.

Liberty of London Purchases

So apparently today was the day that the Liberty of London for Target line launched and there was still a good selection at my local Target when I got there this afternoon, while online it was pretty much sold out.

I tried on two shirts and a dress, and only liked one of the shirts:

Loved loved loved it.

And this storage container (which I'm using in my living room to hold the remotes and some coasters):

And I can't find a picture of the candle or set of mini journals I bought, but I love it all. 

Next on my list is the Garden Collection at H&M which is in stores Thursday. I've seen this dress which looks really cute:

I also want to check out this dress and tank top:

Umm what else. 

Well, I may have a date next weekend. With a really cute guy.

A former student of mine is setting me up with her brother, he's supposed to call me today, so we'll see if we set anything up. I'm going to need a cute outfit!! 

My plan is to get my eyebrows threaded on Thursday and then stop at the Galleria to try on some of the H&M stuff and find a date outfit! 

Latest home update!

So I saw this amazing bureau here and other places that I can't remember at the moment:

So I decided that would work perfectly with my white bureau's- the one in my bedroom in particular.

My process was printing the words "secret", "sleep" and "lazy" in a jane austen font that I got off-line, coloring the back with pencil and then tracing those letters onto the drawers. I then painted those words onto the drawers with gray paint I got from Lowe's still from the giftcard I had from my house warming! Here are some pictures:

Margarita, music (lap top), cell phone.

Tool box (to maybe take hardware off drawers), gray paint.

Half painted already-half pencil stencil of "secret" on my drawer that contains the secrets.

The printed word "sleep" which I will color on the back with a pencil and trace onto the drawer for my pj's.

Primitive carbon-copy.

Finished product.

Close-up.

I love it.

I love

sleepovers.

LOVE!!

There are a lot of blogs on my google reader. One of the blogs I read is Makeup Bag and there was a contest giving away free false eyelashes, all you had to do was leave a comment.

I've entered tons of blog contests like this before, never winning.

Except I WON! How exciting!!!

I received and email informing me they needed my mailing address to send me my false eyelashes! I'm so excited! Now I just need something fun to wear them to!

I love getting stuff in the mail! I have some exciting stuff coming soon actually
-Eyelashes
-Laura Mercier Oil Free tinted moisterizer
-Season 3 of Dawson's Creek from ebay
-Season 2 of Mad Men from ebay

PS Mad Men is an AMAZING show! It makes me want to wear frilly pretty dresses/nightgowns  to bed!  Random.

Finished!

Ok, here's a picture of the completed "headboard" along with the creative process:

That would be the finished product. I'm thinking of getting some dark gray pillows to prop up behind the white ones, and then have the pink ones be under the comforter so you can't see them at all. When I have money.
Ok, so first I tested two light  yellows from Home Depot on the wall:

Then taped up computer paper to figure out how many fit width wise and height wise to make the stencil:

Then drew out the design trying to come as close as possible to this headboard I saw in Domino magazine:

*I used a pencil I received from a girlfriend as the "save-the-date" for her wedding this summer. Ridiculously cute/unique. 

Then I drew it on a regular sized paper I had folded in the same amount of squares that fit on my wall. 

Then drew each square from my drawing onto an individual piece of computer paper. 

Then taped them up to the wall to make sure they lined up and actually worked.

Then cut them out and taped them back up again.

Then traced the outline with a pencil.

And painted that biatch in!

And what you have now, is the final product with two coats of paint and the bed moved back up against the wall:

Total cost of the project: Nada!

I could have ordered a stencil from The Stencil Library which is what they used for the domino headboard, but that cost something ridiculous like $40 so I figured I could do it myself somehow. It may not have been the most logical process of how I recreated the stencil, but it worked for me. Plus for the paint I used a Lowe's gift card for, so that didn't cost me anything. Although at Home Depot I did pay $5 for the two paint samples, so I lied, it cost me $5. But I heart it!! 

Vacation projects

This week was February vacation and it was AMAZING to have the week off. I am currently in denial that it's almost over.

Things I accomplished:
1. Rearranged my whole living room (including couch, TV, desk, everything) by myself.
2. Painted a headboard on my bedroom wall that my bed is up against. Why? This is how I explained it to my Dad, who isn't really on the same decorating page as me:
Dad: What are you up to today?
Me: Not much, painting a headboard on the wall in my bedroom....waiting for reaction
Dad: You're what?
Me: It's going to look good, I'm painting the shape of a headboard on the wall in my bedroom.
Dad: Why don't you just buy an actual headboard?
Me: Because I have no money and a gift card to Lowe's so the paint will cost me nothing. Unless you want to buy a headboard for me.
Dad: Negative.

So there you have it, I just finished the second coat of paint and pictures will follow once it dries and I can put the bed back in place instead of in the middle of the room. Here's an inprocess picture to tide you over:

LaLa refused to get out of the way, and was in the middle of yawning. But that's the stencil/template I made on the wall, that I traced and then painted in. Also in the middle you can see the two colors I tried out before deciding on the one on the right of LaLa's nose.

Did not accomplish:
1. Grading anything.
2. Planning anything.
3. Working out as much as I had wanted.

Oh well. I still have today and tomorrow to do some grading and planning.

Or not.

"Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War" and "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..."

Two things to sum up my weekend:
Russians and lesbians.

Interesting to say the least. The first quote is courtesy of R. A. Thibault an esteemed former colleague. I explained to Mr. Thibault that I had a date from my stint on eHarmony with a guy who is from Russia. His response was: "Please be careful, I'm still not over the Cold War." I think I laughed for a good five minutes.

So the date. Eh, maybe the worst date I've gone on but it wasn't horrible by any means don't get me wrong. Knock on wood, I haven't been on any terrible dates, where I've been like, "get me out of here" so that's good, but I have had really good dates, and this one wasn't one of those. So it was my worst, but not the worst. He and I won't be taking this any further. And a follow up from Mr. Thibault after I texted him to say it wasn't the greatest: "Well that's good! I can cancel the U2 overhead flights that Mark [my Dad] and I had dialed up and we can put away the 'nuclear football' the cold war is over once again!!" I died laughing. Glad the free world is safe again.

Now the lesbian topic. Quite the weekend for me. I had seen a coworker at the mall Saturday and she told me that some of our colleagues were going out for drinks tonight and that I should join. I had plans for a friends bday but wanted to meet up with them afterwards. Super. So later on that night I texted her to see what the plan was and this was our text convo:
Me: So where are you guys?
Her: Heading to Providence
Me: Oh boo!! Where in Providence?
Her: Gallery [gay bar in Providence I've been to before, super fun- dance party USA type place]
Me: Woah woah woah, I've had some fun times there!
Her: You've been to Gallery?
Me: Duh!
Then no response.

So I carried on with my evening. Then today I get a text from her that says: "Duh cause it's infamous or duh cause..." aka, are you a lesbian? Hm. How to respond. Without offending, or assuming. So I responded with this: "Yeah in restrospect duh wasn't the best response, I had been drinking. I have been there before with a friend I used to work with, we saw former students, it was awk. Lol is this an awkward conversation? I'm not gay but I love a good dance party as much as the next guy!"And then crickets, no response. I'm thinking crap did I offend her? But then she responded later on with, "I laughed so hard at your entire response" and all is well in the universe.

So all in all an interesting weekend! Other fun details:
*AMAZING dinner with my lovers Friday night. Lots of laughs and drinks, the perfect combo with great friends.
*Fun sleepover Friday night with the friendboy. That's what we'll call him because he's not a boyfriend, but it's a step beyond simple friendship. Maybe more than a step. Whatev.
*Saturday school then the gym where I RAN THREE MILES. Holy crap. Love that.
*Then coffee with the Russian. Again, eh.
*Home to watch more Dawson's Creek and then take a nap (got to bed prob around 3 am Friday and woke up at 7:15)
*Dinner at the Airport Grille Saturday night for a friends bday, then bowling at Wonderbowl- super fun!
*Slept in a little this morning, then got together with the bridal party for a planning sesh for one of my lover's bridal shower.
*Gym where I only ran one mile, eh wasn't feeling the gym.
*Home, more Dawson's, shower and napping. Then my parents for dinner.

I'm tired! Watching the Grammy's, figuring out what I'm doing in World tomorrow and then bedtime!

I'm a Craft Machine

Friday night I finished my cross-stitch (picture in previous post), Saturday I took the doors of the really pretty tan/seashell cabinet thing that was in my bathroom (picture in previous post) and began the process of painting it white which I completed Sunday afternoon!

It only took FOUR COATS OF PAINT for those horrid seashells to disappear. I painted a coat Saturday afternoon and then Saturday night because I did nothing Saturday night except watch He's Just Not that into You (how fitting) and went to bed early. Sunday I woke up, made myself bacon and eggs because why not, and put a third coat of paint on the shelves (I really don't know what this thing is technically, it's not a hutch, it's not shelves, I don't know...) and hung around the house not quite sure what to do with myself. I went to Target (fun run-in with the Ex and the girl, he waved as we drove by each other....Happy Sunday!) for some random stuff and back home to finish my crafting projects.

My Dad was equally as bored as I was so we ran to Lowe's and Home Depot to check out potential shelving for the closet in my bathroom (next project) that afternoon and he ended up buying me three new lights for outside my house- Thanks Dad! Love when that happens!!

So here's the finished product for my bathroom, one step closer to organization!
*I had the white paint leftover from moving into my house
*Bought the baskets at pier1 with a giftcard I had from my housewarming party
*The mirrored tray was mine that I fell in love with at Target last year and waited for to go on sale before I bought it but hadn't found the right place for it in my house- until now!
*The "J" mug is from Anthropologie
*My perfumes- well, I clearly have a problem
*Bare necessities for makeup that I use everyday, my other stuff is in a train case stowed away
*Little dish for jewelry before I put it away also from Anthropologie a while ago when I went to visit Lizzie in Charlotte

I just love it now!!!

This is my next project- putting some shelves in here for towels and sheets, and also some storage for winter/summer clothes and my hamper. One thing at a time, don't judge me, it's a mess:

Happy Monday everyone, hope it's a great week!