Barb's Boudoir

I escaped from school today and headed to my good friend Barb's house to dabble a bit more with her bedroom project. Shannon sent me the coverlet and shams in exchange for another duvet I sent her and I, the bedding broker, hooked Barb up with it. Then, in a stroke of kismet, we discovered that Barb's grandmother's (great-grandmother's?) china coordinated with it beautifully so we hung up a collage of the pieces above the bed, along with the fab window we found at Spring Creek last weekend with her monogram. We both just loved the result.

Then we hung these 3 mirrors we found a long time ago at Hobby Lobby (I love things in 3s) and hung the wreath we also found at Spring Creek.

Barb is so lucky to have a bevy of old photographs of a number of her relatives--what a pretty montage above her cool jewelry tree and a couple of those lovely teacups.

We found this cabinet at Second Time Around a few months ago, and it is really what spurred the whole bedroom transformation if I remember right. Barb painted it white and added the appliques and some cool crystal floral knobs we found at Hobby Lobby. It is topped with a collection of mercury glass candlesticks.

The overall look is glam and feminine and we love it! Barb totally deserves a pretty room like this...and now she needs a day off to lounge in bed, eat bonbons and bask in the beauty around her. What a bright spot in an otherwise taxing day to get to help her with this project. Fun!

Worn thin

Oh, I have missed my blogging...school and house selling stress have been wearing me thin. Teaching is one of those jobs that can really take over your life if you let it, and I've been trying not to let it, but it's zapping my creative spirit and even when I have time to blog, I'm just too wiped out to think of anything fun to post. And I'd really like to be excitedly planning to move to my new house after we close on 30 September (because I LOVE that house and can't wait to be there) but we haven't sold our own house yet so we've got that stress and can't move on to the next chapter. And poor Macauley...he feels the tension, too. He tests my patience and I don't have enough to test right now. I try to distract myself from the stress and strain of it all by reading pretty magazines (and dressing up my dog--Barb, I got that from you), but... My sister Lindsay is coming over to make dinner and hang out tonight, and I am going to post a couple of other things tonight that make me smile. Everyone keeps telling me it will be okay and that this too shall pass, and I know that is true, but I just need it to be okay ASAP. As in now.

And the party continued...

For even more birthday fun, we went to my favorite restaurant Nakato Sunday night. Lane came in from Little Rock and Lindsay brought 2 of her friends.

Yummy Japanese food...so good that night I practically licked my plate. The waiters even sang the Japanese birthday song and brought us a little ice cream cake.

So good to be with my sisters...And how sweet of them to get me fabulous gifts! Lindsay got me a set of black and white enamel canisters I had shown her at TJ Maxx and Lane brought me a Michael Stars sweater hoodie, the hot item at the boutique she runs in Little Rock. My parents came through Springfield later that night on their way back from a weekend trip in Oklahoma and we all got to spend the day together Monday. My parents gave me some money for my birthday so I went to the flea market and got the dining room table and chairs I have been wanting. I expected to pay $90, a good deal, I thought, but ended up getting it for $70! I am going to shabby chic it for the new house. I wanted to do some painting tonight but it has been rainy here. Good thing, I guess, because I needed to get caught up on my blog. I had a good 32nd birthday weekend. I can't believe I am 32, though. I don't feel it...

Thanks for the bday party, Kandace Lynn!

We went to St. Louis this weekend for my childhood friend Kandi's wedding on Saturday, which was also my 32nd birthday. The ceremony was held on the historic Main Street in St. Charles at The Conservatory, a really pretty garden greenhouse--very small and intimate. Very sweet. The reception was at our hotel in nearby St. Peters. It was great to see some of my oldest friends and hang out for a few hours.



The Cassville girls: Tonya Slinkard Varner (a bridesmaid), Casey Clayton Wilson, Kandi Hayworth Wetzel, Hayley Cowan Fraser, Andrea Henningson Beeson and Brandi Hayworth (twin sister of the bride and maid of honor).

We got to meet Andrea's new man, Dave, from Fayetteville and spend time with Tonya's husband Terrell and Casey's husband Mike, who I learned played high school basketball for my dad when we first moved to Cassville in 1984.

We danced the Cotton Eyed Joe and to a couple of other classics. Unfortunately during a stirring rendition of Billie Jean, one of Kandi's bridesmaids fell on the dance floor and landed on the back of Kandi's dress, pulling Kandi backwards and almost to the floor. The bridesmaid for whatever reason could not get up for a while and a big chunk of the tulle off the back of Kandi's dress came with her when she finally did. I'm not sure if she was hurt or not. We were laughing so hard...

It was really nice to get away with Ryan for the weekend and forget about all the stress of school, work and real estate woes. We did a little shopping and he was really sweet to me on my birthday weekend. I love that boy and sometimes we need a break from reality to show each other that we are still in love as much (or more so) as we were the day we walked down the aisle like Kandi and Chris did on Saturday.

First day of school

We made it through the first day (heck, I haven't blogged in so long we've already made it through the first week!) of school last Monday, 25 August. Macauley started kindergarten at Wanda Gray and he had no trouble saying good-bye to us that morning. I, on the other hand, had to slip away twice to the restroom (with little tiny potties that come up to my knee) to get a grip on my emotions so I wouldn't cry in front of everyone. It was a strange, sort of happy, sort of sad cry that I was holding back--so proud and happy that Macauley is confident and so adorable and ready to be there, so sad and scary that he is not my little baby anymore.

Ryan said he felt the same way each time he dropped him off at school last week...Macauley only wanted him to come in again on the second day, then after that he just hopped out of Ryan's truck, slipped on his little backpack and headed for the door. Ryan said Macauley turned around about halfway in each day and motioned for him to roll down the window then yelled, "Bye, Dad! I love you!" and skipped on in. Precious.

Last Monday was my first day of school, too, which is why I felt so compelled to keep it together and not bawl like a baby as soon as we got in the car. Had to face 30 some teenagers immediately following the drop off. My classes are huge, over 30 in each, but so far they seem like good kids to work with. One week down, 35 more to go...

What caught my eye...

These few things above came home with me today. My cat Alice Cooper aka Allie is checking them out. I found a great old framed family photo, a heavy black iron urn, a glass spooner, a silver plate creamer/sugar set, an old black brush and a black toy trumpet that I am going to attach to my friend Barb's birthday gift (some mercury glass candleholders for her bedroom makeover project). She likes musical instruments and bought a toy accordian on one of our last shopping trips. I love the things I got.

I have been looking at this dining set for a while now, and I think I have decided to cash my big flea market check and get it sometime this week. I think it would look great painted shabby white with new chair covers, and it would fit perfectly in my dining room at the new house. The whole set is only $90. I just don't know where I will put it in the meantime, especially while we are trying to sell the house. Garage, I guess.

I also think this weathered green chair would be great with a new seat...It is $49.99.

A cute shabby booth at STD East had several of these altered photos. I liked them all, but I think this one is my favorite. I didn't buy one, but I should have.

I also should have bought these way shabby baby pictures for $1.50 each, but hmmm....where would I put them? Macauley has been begging me for a little sister all weekend, and these would be so cute in a shabby nursery. When he woke me up Saturday morning, he said, "Mom, I really need a little sister. I am so bored." I said, "Well, what do you want me to do about it?" And he said, "Just don't take that medicine that makes you not have babies and have just one more and love her as much as you love me." Hard to resist, but I don't see it happening, especially since I work.

Thought this little jar was cute with my H monogram, but I let it be...

and I liked this old black wicker sewing basket for $45...

I love old tins, and this Crayola one is great...

and I like the Martha Stewart green and cream look of this Angelos Marshmallow tin.

Finally, I saw 2 absolutely fabulous old typewriters, each for $30, which makes me proud because I have 3 of my own and none of them has cost over $8! My craigslist friend Christie told me about the big L.C. Smith one and then I saw the Woodstock one at STD East. I think both of them should come live with me...

My last stop was TJ Maxx, where I found Barb's mercury glass. I needed a white button down shirt for a possible 1st day of school outfit; I found 2 and a cute pink one as well, all on clearance for $5 each. All in all, a good way to spend the last day before school starts...

Working the booth

I went to straighten my booth and put a few things in this morning. The cabinet I distressed and the cottage chair are still there.

I clipped a bunch of notions and scrapbooking stuff on the folding gate.

And I always have a shelf of mostly silver. This time with white and glass. I got my check today for the last two weeks and it was over $200! I even had a 40% off sale for part of that time! So I shopped a while today...

The kindergarten 'do

We let Macauley's hair grow out all summer, and everyone we know has said they like his hair long, but it had to be cleaned up a little for the start of school. So we went to Mojo Pie Spalon and my stylist Nikki, who has done my hair for about 4 or 5 years now, I think. It's still a little longer. My dad said he calls Macauley's blonde locks "Robert Redford hair," and I can kind of see why. I, of course, think he has many movie star qualities. He is so excited for the start of kindergarten. He keeps asking me when Monday is. I filled out some more paperwork the teacher sent home with us Friday and packed his backpack with those, his lunch money check ($41.00 for a month of lunches) and his daily milk money (40 cents per day) packed in one of those day-by-day plastic pill boxes as the teacher suggested. One of the questions on his kindergarten questionnaire was: "Each child is unique. What are 3 things that make your child special?" I had lots of answers but settled on: #1 Macauley has an excellent memory. #2 He loves his stuffed animals and SpongeBob #3 He is tender-hearted and friendly and kind. I wanted to add HE CAN READ! and HE IS THE MOST HANDSOME BOY ON EARTH! and HE IS HILARIOUS! and HE HAS A SUPERIOR VOCABULARY! and HE HAS AN ADORABLE WARDROBE! but I think I already told his teacher some of that on Friday and I don't want to be a psycho mom.

Ready or not...here they come

I finally got my classroom set up and ready to go for school on Monday. I have the same room as last year, the one I painted a shade the kids ended up calling "honey." It's a nice room, pretty large compared to many others in the department. I probably could have stayed another hour Friday and gotten things a little more set up for Monday, as far as what we're actually DOING in this honey-colored room that day, but I went home utterly exhausted. It takes me a while to reaclimate from the lazy days of summer to the days of getting up with the sun and being on stage all day.

The desk is set with a new Vanilla Caramel Yankee Candle and complimentary mints...oh and enough paper clips to last a lifetime.

I am also lucky to have a SMART Board, a projector and great speakers so I can use all sorts of multi-media elements to supplement my lessons. I'll be teaching 2 classes of senior English and 1 section of Creative Writing. Should have great kids, many of whom I already know. That helps.

And I posted some words to live by, both in my classroom and beyond, accompanied by a darling bee I painted myself, which some of my kids last year named McLovin. I can't believe this classroom will be full in just over a day from now...Ready or not, here they come...

Ready to roll

We get to meet Macauley's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Bryant, in the morning at Wanda Gray, and we are to bring his school supplies with us, so we are packed (in an environmentally-friendly, reusable shopping tote!) and ready. We bought all the supplies on the list at Target a few weeks ago, during Missouri's tax-free holiday weekend (no state sales tax on school supplies and clothes for 3 days). Our total was just over $39. The list was quite extensive (I think they compile communal supplies rather than each kid having his/her own stash?):

Kindergarten:
Please place your child’s name on coats/outerwear, backpacks and folders.
Large backpack – NO ROLLING BACKPACKS

Large pencil pouch with zipper

3 pkgs of No. 2 lead pencils (sharpened)

4 boxes of Crayola brand crayons – 24 size only

Fiskar brand blunt point scissors

15 glue sticks

1 bottle white school glue

2 sturdy pocket folders

1 box colored pencils

1 box washable markers

1 pkg white board markers – low odor Expo brand

2 boxes of tissue

1 bottle waterless hand sanitizer

1 pkg Clorox wipes

1 box of white envelopes to keep at home - Please use every time you send money to school. Always write your child’s name, amount, and purpose on the envelope.

If your last name begins with:A - L – 1 box of quart size Ziplock bags with zipper topM - Z – 1 box of gallon size Ziplock bags with zipper top

For additional items requested, Please look for your teacher’s wish list at our Meet the Teacher event in August.

Macauley was pretty revved up when we shopped for the supplies, and we were careful to get the exact items the list specified. The 2-pack glue sticks triggered a mini-meltdown for Macauley, since we only needed 15...we couldn't possibly get 16. So we had to put one of the 2-packs back and get just one single stick, the only one we could find being the JUMBO stick. Hope the teacher can find a use for that one.

His pencil pouch came with a bonus sharpener, so he tried it out for a while before bed tonight. I can't believe we are doing this...I went by Wanda Gray at 4 today when they posted the class lists on the front doors to make sure Macauley's name was there and that he had a spot. Lots of parents and kids were excitedly looking around. I found his name, spoke with a couple of parents briefly and then promptly burst into tears as I walked back to my car. I am so pleased that he will go to such a great school ( http://sps.k12.mo.us/gray/index.htm ) and he is willing and ready. I just can't get used to my baby being so grown up.

Here and there

We are without our little boy again. He got back from his camping trip with Ryan's parents late last night, and then we were off to meet my mom today in Monett for her to keep him this week while I attend school meetings and get my classroom ready. We met at VB Hall Antique Mall in Monett and I got a few little goodies: a white plastic butter dish that I will use to hold something in my office, a little miniature goat for my shadowbox (I have wanted a couple of real goats for a while now, the little bitty ones that are so cute), a dog with her babies in a basket and a black and white hankie. We had lunch at Acambaro, a Mexican place where I always order the #11, no lettuce, then I headed back to Springfield and straight to Kickapoo. My classroom was a huge mess, and after about 5 hours of work, now it's a medium-sized mess. We have meetings all day tomorrow, so that leaves me Thursday and Friday to not only put everything in its place, but also to figure out what the heck I am doing at least the first few days next week. I am not in a teacher state of mind just yet, but I will be...We are going to watch the movie Smart People tonight. We watched the award winners No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood last week. I'm not one to enjoy violent movies, but Ryan and I both really liked the dialogue and characters in No Country for Old Men. There Will Be Blood was rather tedious for me. I can see why critics loved it but I sure don't want to sit through that one again any time soon. My sister Lindsay is over tonight and made the Cowan Family Taco Salad for dinner. Delish. And she brought Andy's Frozen Custard for dessert! She can stay with us anytime!

Last day of summer...

Macauley and I celebrated our last day of summer vacation together Thursday by taking our friend Ellie Swan to White Water for the day. We got off to a later start than planned because I was signing papers on the new house (we got it! that's another post...) but once we were there the kids were excited to do everything, including this big 4-lane racing slide. I wasn't sure Macauley was big enough for it, but he wasn't skeered, so off they went. My camera battery lasted only long enough for me to get a picture of this guy coming off the slides...bummer. The kids got me on it later and is pretty fast and really fun. The extra tall one to the left of it, though, is way too scary. Ryan's done it before but I won't. I just know my swimsuit would fall off. Unfortunately, about midday there was lightning sighted in the area and the lifeguards cleared all the pools for over an hour. The kids wanted to wait it out, so we spent a lot of time lounging in the semi-sun, eating junk food to pass the time.

Once everything finally opened up again, we only had time for a couple of other rides and then the park closed at 6.

I'm really glad we went though, and I am so glad Ellie came along. Macauley had a lot more fun with someone to do everything with. It's been a nice, lazy summer and this was a good way for Macauley and I to bring it to a close and get ready for school. He's gone for the weekend camping with Ryan's parents now...that kid has quite a life.