Dear Santa...

I've fallen in love with something on Pinterest.  Go figure, huh?  I'm swooning over these...

Aren't the lovely?  I love the hammered finish with the oddly shaped stones and the hand-made look of all of them.  I hadn't even thought about looking up the pins to see where the came from - I instantly assumed they were too rich for my blood and decided to admire them from afar.  The I got bored and went on Etsy (how many expensive decisions have started with that sentence??).  HOLY GORGEOUS and HOLY AFFORDABLE!  I was floored when I saw how inexpensive they were (relatively, of course) and I was thinking of using my birthday money for one of these lovelies...

These all range from $47 to $57.  WHAT?!  All of these are on Etsy, and the middle two are my faves.  While I want to rush out and purchase one right this second, I usually don't buy anything between by birthday and Christmas, because they are so close, and I'm always afraid I'll buy something that someone's planning to gift me.  So I'll sit here and wish I was wearing one... (maybe Eric is reading?????).  Sigh... aren't they lovely?  So do you like the antique and handmade style or do you prefer the cast jewelry in the stores?  I Hope you're having a happy Monday!

Our Thanksgiving Table

This is what will be on it...

It's going to be a Mexican Food Fiesta over here on Thursday!  No one in my family really loves turkey (except Eric, poor guy!), so we decided to buck the usual Thanksgiving trends.  Carne Asada, pico de gallo, guacamole, margaritas and all the fixins!!  We are SO excited.  What are all of you doing for Thanksgiving?  Going traditional or bucking the turkey trend like us?  Do share, and have a happy Tuesday!

Another edition of What the Blogger Wore

This past Thursday (as in yesterday) Eric and I participated in a charity fundraiser for Orchard Africa, our friend's nonprofit organization based here in Phoenix.  I was the auction coordinator and my husband helped put the media together for the evening.

Honestly, this event is what has kept this blog a little silent lately.  I've seriously been pouring my heart and soul into this thing, hoping to help OA reach their goal of raising $150,000 to fully fund 15 South African villages (fully funded means training and equipping pastors, teachers and medical personel).

We were about 100 people short of our attendance goal, and I was a little worried, but everyone who attended was AMAZINGLY generous, and we raised $120,000!  Although we didn't get 15 villages funded, we did make it possible for 12 to have funding!!  I was so thrilled with how the evening went, and so excited to see it grow for next year...

There was, of course, the decision of what to wear to the "african chic" event....

*picture created at polyvore.com*

I'm sensing a green theme in my outfits lately, like this one from a few weeks ago.   It was pretty fun to get all dressed up - even if I was running around the whole time like a headless chicken =)

I hope you all had fab weeks. I should be back to posting regularly as soon as Thanksgiving is over.  We are having 25 people over to our little home to celebrate!  I'm sort of jealous of everyone in blogland and their lovely table-scapes... I can barely seat enough people around scattered banquet tables here, let alone worry about napkin rings and chargers, haha!  It sure is nice looking at all the eye candy, though. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Check out our new look!

So...  Do you like it???   I was so blessed and privileged to work with Melanie of Elegant Custom Blogs.

I so enjoyed the process and will be back later to share the wonderful ins and outs of my first time working with a legit designer.  I'm so excited about my new look, and I hope you have a fantastic Wednesday, friends!

That's My Letter shotout!

Jaime over at That's my Letter took my little Baby Project and turned it into this lovely hand painted sign!!

Doesn't it look fantastic?  She changed it up a bit by hand painting the sign (Way to go! You must be great at staying in the lines - can you share your skills with me??), and framing it out.

Looks awesome, Jaime!  Check back with the blog soon - we're getting a new look!!  Happy Tuesday, friends!

Wanna know why...

... I didn't blog once last week?

This is why...

And what exactly is behind that curtain?  My kitchen.  We used to have these yummy fluorescent lamps...

And with a little bit o' this...

And a little bit o' that...  (are you humming that KIA hamster song yet?)

We have something like this...

Please excuse the HORRIBLE night photo, the crooked track lighting, and the unfinished ceiling.  But doesn't it already look loads better than our 70's chic tube lights?  And isn't my assistant a hottie?! We're almost done with the cutting, patching, sanding, and painting....  And can I just say, what a difference!!  I'm excited to share the whole she-bang with you this week.  Get excited, and have a happy Monday, friends!

I'm 1/4 of a century today

Yep - I'm getting old!  Today is my 25th birthday - I'm so thankful for all this year has brought and can't wait to see what the next year holds!

Have a happy Sunday, friends!! =)

What the blogger wore

Alternate title to this post:  How a storm made sent me on a $200 shopping spree.

My Friday night was thrilling.  As the yearbook teacher at my school, it's my job to take pictures at EVERY school event (until such a time as I know the camera well enough to teach it to  student and delegate the responsibility), and last night was no exception.  It was the fall sports banquet and I was all prepared.  I had my camera, my coffee, and my casual attire.  Except that the dress code for the event is cocktail.  Yep.  I wasn't thinking about that one.

Let me be clear... Friday is spirit day at my school, which means my jeans and yearbook t-shirt.  I didn't even think to pack a spare change of clothing... DUMB.  I decided to head home in 1.5 hours I had between school and the banquet to grab a dress or slacks or anything that wasn't a burlap sack or a yearbook t-shirt and worn out sandals.

Cue the dust storm of the century.  I live about 20 miles from where I work, and after 45 minutes of trying to get on the freeway I knew I was out of luck.  I was SO tired, and SO out of ideas, when it came to me like a beacon of light: SHOPPING!

I knew I didn't want to spend a ton, and even had the idea that I would leave the tags on if I could and take things back the next day (Yes, I AM being that girl right now, but the situation was dire and I was desperate.  Judge if you will).  Old Navy seemed like the safest bet.

Originally I was looking for a dress (of which they had several cute ones!), but when I realized in the fitting room that my legs weren't... "prepared"  for a dress, I had to switch up the plans.  Slacks and a dress shirt it is!  I ended up coming away with about $75 in clothing, most of which were the $50 cotton pants (jigga-WHAT?! Those are SO going back!!), and had to go to Kohls to grab shoes (since Old Navy's selection left much to be desired).  So, without further ado, here's what the blogger wore...

Well, how did I do for having 1/2 and hour and little selection?

Granted, the bag is mine (I bought this Banana Republic bag in lieu of the Fossil Weekender I had been considering - the size was much more suited to my needs), and I own an extremely similar gold ring that I happened to be wearing already.  But everything else was cobbled together from Old Navy.

It ended up working out perfectly, and I even fell head over heels for the shirt, shawl, necklace and earrings (oops!), so they're not going back.  Shhhh!  Don't tell Eric!  ;)  The shoes here aren't the exact ones I purchased (still a newbie at Polyvore), but here's a picture of mine... swoon!

And I got them on SALE!  I'm trying to convince Eric to let me keep them.  Aren't they adorable??  Even if I have to take everything back (hopefully not! *crosses fingers!*), I still enjoyed buying whatever I wanted without one last care for price.  A fun little adventure on my Friday.  I hope your weekend is going fantastically so far - happy Saturday, friends!

Napping

{LOVE Jim Gaffigan!}

Maybe because I've been so tired lately, I can't get a nap in a hammock off my mind...

Near the sea...

Or a lake?

A nap in the woods would be lovely...

Porch naps are great too...

And in the case of inclement weather, I could nap indoors...

That's it, I need a hammock.  If only my backyard felt like a suitable place.  *Sigh*  One day!  Happy Friday, friends!

An open letter to myself

**I normally don't post a lot of personal stuff on here b/c I feel like it can be a "downer," and I like to keep it upbeat.  But in the spirit of keeping it real, and hoping that writing will feel cathartic, I'm going to try it this once.  Feel free to skip this one and come back tomorrow =) **

Dear April,

RELAX.  You are running around like a crazy woman trying to accomplish things, and you're stressing yourself completely unnecessarily.  Everything is going to work out - God promises it will!  You have a fantastic husband who would support you through anything and wants to talk to you about your struggles.  Open up and LET HIM IN.  He will love you no matter what and wants to help you through your struggles.  Get over yourself, and talk to him, lady!

You have a fantastic job with an amazing boss and people who love and value you.  You are your own worst critic, and you always have been; lay off.  You can't be perfect at everything.  And the more you try the more frustrated you will feel.  Take some time to remember what you have and be thankful.  If every student doesn't get as much time as they should with you one day, don't stress.  Just try again tomorrow - it's a new day.  Never be afraid to ask for help - people WANT to help you.  Forget about your terrible past experiences, and forgive the people who've made you feel less than you are.

Stress is a choice, April.  And sadly, it's a choice you are ADDICTED to making.  When you feel that tightness in your stomach, just stop.  No matter what you're doing, stop and pray.  Your phone call, your meeting, your students can afford to wait 10 seconds for you to re-center, and everyone will be better for it, especially you.  Once you're done, smile at someone... remember something beautiful... and then continue with what you're doing.  Take a little time for you.

You are EXACTLY where God wants you to be in your life.  All you can do is follow after Him and He will guide you.  Enjoy this day, this moment, this second, and thank God for it.  Enjoy and love every student like they were you own, knowing they are someone's precious baby. Confide in your amazing husband; he is a gift from God.  And breathe.  Breath in, breathe out - enjoy this life for all it offers.

You can do it; you already are

~Yourself

Squeals of Happiness!

Eeeeee!  I won!  I won, I won, I won!  You know how every other day someone is hosting a blog giveaway?  It always feels like that to me (perhaps this is a giant sign from God that I read toooooo many blogs!!).  When I first started blogging, I used to enter giveaways any time I saw one.  Picture me excited like a giddy kid on a sugar rush screaming, "FREE THINGSSSS!!"  I probably looked like this kid...

Then, the glow began to fade...  I didn't win anything, and they just became a time-suck to enter.  Jaded, I know.  Then I won something!  And my prize, a great kitchen lamp, is just NOW being hung in my home (more on this later this week).  But I entered another blog giveaway last week at...

... aaaannndd - I won!  =)  The giveaway is AWESOME.  Right now I'm working with Melanie at

who is designing a whole new look for my little bloggy blog! It's like a sparkly new dress for my humble slice of internet.  And a CUSTOM dress at that!  OOOOoooo  I'm excited! Can't wait to share it (and some BIG projects!) with you later this week.  Happy Wednesday, friends!