The sun is starting to appear...

After a really emotional and hectic week, I decided to take this weekend to just get a grip. Have you ever been there? I know it seems sorta cliche--but when I don't have a grip on things I have to make an effort to be better.

So right now I'm plugged in at Frederick Coffee Company, my favorite local coffee shop, and am grading WEEKS of papers. I am doing this to secure a MINOR amount of grading over Spring Break (which starts Wednesday at 3:30)! I'm almost finished, but wanted to post before I forgot!

Now that we're ending March (just in a few short days) I am getting hopelessly excited for consistent warm weather and summer break. April holds a lot of hope for fun for me... I have a long weekend trip to NYC planned, a possible weekend away at Dewey Beach with Cory, plus spring break weekend and time with family. It's hard to believe how fast March has flown by, but I am happy to see it go.

Do you have any fun April plans?

Enjoy your Sunday evening :)

p.s. Cyndi--I got your package! Thank you! :) The panda pen is adorable!

Spring Fever

Do you have spring fever? I feel like it's coming toward me head on and I don't have any choice. This week has been very stressful at work. We're preparing for midterm exams and attempting to wrap up units just in the knick of time before spring break starts next Thursday. The students have been enjoying the warm air and longer days, but seem more distracted and poorly behaved as a result. I feel as if I have been pushed to the limit as far as emotional and physical responsibilities and am really looking forward to a short break.

Today, just as I thought I had reached my ultimate breaking point, I walked up to my mailbox and there was a Happy Mail package! Have you ever heard of Happy Mail? Well, let me tell you a few things before I show you my AWESOME package from Kali!

Happy Mail is a program that Jamie Habermass created and started about a year ago (I think). Anyway, the simple version is that she wanted a way where women of all ages could send each other uplifting mail and packages. Because of the overwhelming response, Jamie has had to put a (very very) small charge (just $2 a month) in order to participate. You fill out a super quick survey and she will partner you up with someone who lives anywhere in the world (with your input, of course). Each month your partner changes. You must send both a card/letter/post-card and a small package worth of at least $10 a month. To me, the benefits are totally worth the $2. It's fun getting to know someone else in the world and attempting to make their day!

So...my Happy Mail partner for March, Kali, lives in Indiana. I received a really nice card from her last week, and today I received my monthly package! Check out these goodies:

Included within this package is:

-swedish fish (which I may or may not be eating right now)

-adorable felt hearts

-scrapbook paper (perfect for spring)

-stickers

-a knitted bowtie

-and this awesome children's book Kali found a thrift store

!!!!

After my miserable day, this was the PERFECT sollution!

I'm going to spend some quality time reading my biography of Flannery O'Connor and take my mind off work for a few hours.

Have a wonderful evening!

This crazy beautiful weather has been distracted in so many ways.

It makes me realize that July 10th is way closer than I think; therefore, I must tackle my wedding to-do-list every chance I get. It also forces me to think every waking second of my day should be spent outside (no complaints there, but I'm not accomplishing much "work").

Wednesday evening I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning to finish the commissioned baby blanket! I have pictures and will post them later. Needless to say, the next day I was exhausted, but fortunately my students kept me awake and happy. I was also fortunate to have my semester observation completed on Thursday as well. As mentioned, my students are incredible people and I am so lucky to work with them, so when it came time for my observation, I wasn't nervous at all---I was just happy to have an administrator see how awesome these typical "bad kids" can be. The observation went well and now I have the rest of the semester to myself (other than the occasional drop-in or visit from another teacher).

Tonight Cory and I are driving to northern Virginia to eat dinner with our caterer. Suzi is a family friend and is kindly catering our wedding AND baking our wedding cake. She is so awesome and I am so excited to see how she puts her own spin on my peach chicken. So far we're looking at a salmon dish and the peach chicken I mentioned before. I will try to grab a few pictures tonight so you can see what I'm talking about!

Anyway, I better run. I have a few errands to complete before we head down the road.

Daylight Savings Begins!

(source)

If you know me at all, you know that I am very sunshine sensitive. No, I don't burn easily...but I need a LOT of sunshine to be consistently happy. It's no surprise that Daylight Savings is my favorite day of the year. I don't usually mind "springing forward" because I know it's leading me into warmer weather, less layers of clothing, and longer days.

Until this year. I am having the toughest time adjusting to the new time! Last night, Cory and I watched "Who is Clark Rockefeller?" on Lifetime. Granted, we're not big Lifetime watchers, but the previews really appealed to my curiosity (so if you know any of their marketing agents, give them kudos). Unfortunately, it so thoroughly freaked me out that I couldn't relax until nearly 12:30 this morning! My alarm clock rang oh so early...and it was dark outside. Ouch.

Anyway, I'm trying to get into the groove and say "You know what--sleep is awesome--but not this week." I have so much to tackle this week--and I know it will pay off in sweet rewards.

Right now I'm really hunting for an interesting non-fiction book to read. I haven't actually sat down and read a book in MONTHS (which for me is absolutely crazy). I'm thinking that I might be able to get into non-fiction though. If you have ANY recommendations of memoirs, biographies, whatever whatever, please please please let me know! Tomorrow this beauty is finally being released in paperback:

I have been waiting to get my paws on this biography of Flannery O'Connor. It's really hard for me to get into hardback books (they remind me of textbooks), so I'm THRILLED this is finally out in paperback! In fact, I just realized if I stick around long enough--I might be able to slide over to Barnes & Noble and they *fingers crossed* will have it on the shelf before they close. I hope, I hope!

Anyway, I need to tackle some plans for school tomorrow and then spend some quality time with my baby blanket.

Have a wonderful Monday evening!

So much to tell!

So just realized I haven't uploaded my Nikon memory card in OVER a month! Yikes! There is so much to recap...

1) I reorganized my studio space to make it more work friendly. Unfortunately, right now, it's the home of a lot of wedding stuff, but I trust that it will look this pretty again soon...

2) Cory and I went away for Valentine's Day and stayed in downtown Baltimore. He took me to see a wonderful caberet show and I gave him a night in the Hilton. Our room had incredible view and these are some of the shots Cory was able to get:

3) Karla sent me this adorable pattern. After mastering it in white as the pattern suggests, I was able to give it a friendly spring twist. I wore my white necklace to work last Tuesday to add some pep to my bland brown skirt w/aqua tee and some of my female students went crazy over it. After I finish a few other pieces, I'm goign to make them their own!

4) I tackled a few "springy" jewelry ideas I had floating around in my head for the shop update/Muse debut... what do you think?

And my personal favorite:

There are a few more items over in my shop...check 'em out!

As you know, yesterday was my artist highlight at The Muse. I thought it was very successful and I had a blast hanging out with Whitney. I am so fortunate that I had many good friends and work buddies come visit and even purchase a few items! I was able to pass out some of my new business cards and meet a few local artists as well! I left many new items at the shop, so if you're looking for a fun day trip and unique handmade products, you should definitely stop by.

Saturday Reveal

Although I have been failing at all attempts to beat whatever sickness has overcome me, I will ABSOLUTELY be presenting a new mini-collection of Donna's Decembers jewelry at The Muse this Saturday.

Sneak peak? Hmmm...

Here's a new necklace...

The pendant is really only 4x4 so it's not as large as it may seem. It's made with 100% cotton yarn with a sterling chain. Really adorable when thrown on with jeans and a basic tee.

Okay, I need to go take a little more medicine, find some grub, and keep on crocheting!

Happy Wednesday to you :)

I'm alive, I swear!

I am so sorry that I have been so MIA recently.

Our internet still has not been re-connected and I have been working on many commissioned orders. So, I've been dilligently working on school and Donna's Decembers.  Anyway--with an impending March 19th deadline for the baby blanket, and a spring collection reveal this Saturday, I am busy crocheting away during my free time. There's a good chance I will have to take off work on Friday to get everything accomplished in time! Ah--crochet madness!

What else have I been up to? Well...this week is Frederick's Restaruant Week which leaves me wishing for a bigger "spending budget", but alas, I am sure we will choose wisely. Also, this past weekend Cory and I accomplished MANY items on our Wedding To-Do List! It leaves me feeling excited and balanced, all at the same time!

A few things I'm excited for:

1) RVA's Spring Collection which you can get a taste of here.

2) This amazing bag from Anthropologie, for a few different reasons. a)it's adorable and b) peanut butter is in the name! ahh!

Well--I hope you had a great Monday. Can you believe it's the 2nd Monday in March? It hit 61 degrees today! Yay for sandals and pretty toes :)

(image)

Happy sMarch!

Hey, hey!

I am so thrilled that today marks the first day of March. Can anyone else feel the beginning of spring? It's still bitter cold in Maryland, but I'm hoping that we can suffer through the next few weeks and ease into sandal weather!

Today I received 6 custom orders. SIX! I have 4 orders for my little letter carriers, 2 pair of earrings, and a big, big order = a baby blanket!

So, by the end of this, I'm going to live in this:

At least I can hope!

Image found at weheartit.com

Happy March to you and yours :)