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September 30, 2010

Drool.



I received an email from Cory today (who was at work while I was enjoying my Mental Health Day), who sent me a link for this article from the New York Times entitled, "Feel Good Scarves." Read it.

And look at that pretty scarf above again.

Ah-mazing.

And then let me do the work for you, and show you the latest items/looks I'm smitten by from Anthropologie.



So pretty. I'm so excited for skirts and tights.
So, so excited.


Mental Health Day

(A snapshot of me taken by my wonderful husband this past weekend)

As you can tell from my lack of posting, it has been a rough week. So rough, in fact, that I declared today an official Mental Health Day! I am home from work today trying to straighten and toughen up my outlook for the rest of this semester. It's a scary thought that it is ONLY September and I am so unsatisfied with my school year thus far. I can only hope for a dramatic turn around!

Anyway--school is being left at school today under the supervision of a substitute teacher.

Today I am focusing on me! Finally. I woke up with Cory this morning, being sure not to miss a beat on my free day. So far, I have:

-paid all my bills.
-crocheted 3 pairs of earrings.
-ordered a new Donna's Decembers banner for this Saturday.
-added a few touches to new designs/products I have been working on.
-blogged! yay!

I'm hoping that despite the 6 inches of rain we're supposed to get here in Frederick, Maryland, that today will be full of mental sunshine.

And I wish the same for you :).

September 27, 2010

Monday


I'm starting fresh today.

No matter what--I need more time to myself. I know I keep writing about this, but I have go to make it happen.
No "ifs" or "buts". 

I was able to cross off "host state-wide leadership conference" from my To Do List this weekend. It felt good. Now my sole focus is Homecoming, which begins next Monday. After Homecoming, I have a few weeks until Powder Puff football and North vs. South week. Oh yes, every week has a theme in my life right now! It's equally as cool as it is stressful. However, I officially know what I am supposed to wear each and every day during Spirit Week and North vs. South week. That will help alleviate some stress!

So here's to you, faithful blog reader. Keep on keepin' on! Have a lovely Monday! I hope wherever you are there is a chill in the air and you can enjoy
a delicious cup of coffee this morning :)

September 26, 2010

East Street Jewelry Show!


Come one, come all!

Donna's Decembers will be showing at the East Street Jewelry Show THIS Saturday from 10-6!
There will be 24 Artisans, lots of unique, handmade jewelry of great quality, and a promised great time! Come!

We will be selling and showing new pieces that have not been added to our online shop, as well as getting feedback from customers about designs for the upcoming holiday season.

We would LOVE to see you!

Need directions?
Search for:
East Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701


P.S. I can officially check off one more goal on my 24 before 25 list! Woo hoo! (More on that later, by the way...)


September 25, 2010

Auburn Trip...

So, we've been back from our Auburn trip for almost a week and I am STILL editing the pictures! Here's a little taste of our trip. I'll be back later this weekend with a more detailed, picture-filled, blog post.

It was such a fun post! Are any of you, blog readers, from Auburn or Alabama?


I'm off to school for a fun-filled Saturday. Our SGA is hosting a state-wide leadership conference today and we are expecting quite the crowd! I will just be hosting, introducing, and making sure that the students are having a really great day.
 Hopefully I'll be back later tonight for a little quality time!

Enjoy your day! 

September 24, 2010

When will it happen!?

In my little corner of Maryland, it is still a blistering 90 degrees.

That's right. It's the last weekend in September, and we're still in shorts and tanks.

I am ready for autumn, gosh darn it! I feel like I need to send autumn an invitation to finally show up to the mid-Atlantic! Goodness gracious!

And to be perfectly honest, I'm pretty jealous of these beautiful field pictures. They make me crave corn mazes, crisp breezes, and well, you know the rest...



(sources: weheartit.com /tag: field)

September 23, 2010

Open the Windows...


I think I need to vent.

Do you mind?

I have been feeling really run down the last few days. I've been feeling generally disappointed when I look back at the progress I've made on my work and home To Do Lists. Maybe I'm just overwhelmed? I'm not sure, but I'm not comfortable in this place.

Ultimately, work has been my biggest stressor. Because of 3 major snow storms that crushed the mid-Atlantic last winter, my school system had to extend the school year an extra two weeks. Normally this would not be a big deal, as we are used to snow each winter, but our school year started earlier than usual this year. Therefore, my summer was consumed entirely by wedding planning and at the last minute, prepping for school.

I feel like I never got a break.

However, I know that I had such a memorable summer and am grateful for the time I got to spend with my family and friends. But, I do believe that my lack of "me" time this summer is projecting onto my general attitude this school year.

School is weird this year. My students and I aren't gelling as much as I would hope (which might be unfair to say since I had such a lovely group of students last year...I was spoiled), but I think it's from an ambiguous pressure that teachers feel on them more than usual. My plate is full and each time I take something off, another project looms. Maybe I need to cut back my responsibility as Student Government advisor, or use a different strategy when it comes to balancing my role as an English teacher and my role as an advisor. It's a hard balance to keep. It normally results in me being at school until 5:30 or 6 most evenings.

What bothers me most, is that I really do like my job, but all I want to do is crochet, produce product, and promote Donna's Decembers. I am becoming resentful at how much "after-hours" work I must complete each and every day as a teacher. Hours of planning, grading, and advising that often bleed into my time at home. I leave my house at 7 a.m. to be at work by 7:30, which is an hour early. I rarely leave at my contractual time, 4 p.m. I am at school until 5:30 or 6, and rarely finish everything I need for the next day. really love the creative part of my life and I want to be able to embrace it more. I am just so tired when I get home that I want to curl up with Cory or one of the cats and sleep.

How can I stretch my day so I feel more fulfilment from what I love to do? How can I balance my creative life and mix it into my work life?

Thank you for listening. Sometimes I just need an ear.

Thoughts? Feelings?
Any other teachers out there feel me on this one?

September 22, 2010

Autumn Home Makeover part 2


A while back I posted the first post about my Autumn Home Makeover.

Here's how I used my rotary phone to add a little autumn flair to my dining room table!
Add a few instax camera to the avacado vintage glass candy dish and a few decorative pieces and wha-la!

September 21, 2010

Rotary style

So, since my grandmother passed away in January, my mother and her siblings have been diligently sorting through mounds of paperwork, antiques, and various family collectables in her home. I was given the opporunity to sort through a few items and I came across this in a stored-away trash bag:

My great-grandmother's rotary telephone!




After applying a little elbow grease, some soap, and water, just like new!



Check back later this week to see what I did with this awesome find once it was all dolled-up!

September 20, 2010

Save the Date!

(This is baby Sloane. She is Cory's neice (I guess mine, too) and makes hilarious faces when she's excited. This is how excited I want you to look about coming to my jewelry show! ha!)

Donna's Decembers will be participating in the Everedy Square Jewelry Show!

Mark your calendars for October 2nd.

Come out and enjoy local handmade jewelry, Frederick's finest, and a beautiful autumn day!

You may want to check out some of my Frederick Blog Tour posts from last week if you want to plan a weekend trip!

September 19, 2010

Okay, Okay...

So, I know I said last week that I'll have this super huge, awesome giveaway if we reached 100 blog readers in time for the holidays.

That was silly. So it's time for me to get real. How about 75 blog readers by Halloween? What do you think? Can ya do it? Spread the word!


75 followers by Halloween!
MAKE . IT . HAPPEN!

It would make me SO, so happy and it would make the future giveaway winner so special!
Imagine--a completely crafty holiday in your home!
What a dream!

September 18, 2010

What I'm Doing Today...

If you're looking for something to do...

turn on ESPN and look for me here:


Go Tigers!

 

I'll be back late, late Sunday evening!

I hope you enjoy a few scheduled posts while I'm gone!

September 17, 2010

In the Theater

Has anyone else seen this movie?


I just saw this week.
I want to talk about it!

September 16, 2010

Frederick Blog Tour: The Muse



Our next stop on the Frederick Blog Tour is near and dear to my heart, as Whitney, the owner has turned into a close friend of mine!

The Muse is Frederick's local handmade boutique. The Muse has sold Donna's Decembers merchandise since January 2010 and I am so, so very appreciative of the support. The Muse holds monthly classes taught by local artists. This is how I first got connected to the store! When I first moved to Frederick, I did not know very many people, but I knew that I loved crafting and creating. The Muse's Wednesday Wine & Cheese parties and Sunday Mimosa Make-n-Take classes were the answer to my social delimma! If you remember, my bachelorette party was held through The Muse!

Here are a few pretty photos that I shot at the store over the weekend! Enjoy :)



(Donna's Decembers display!^^)




The Frederick Blog Tour is a self-designed tour of my favorite hot spots in downtown Frederick, Maryland. I have lived here for almost four years and have loved every second of getting to know this mid-sized Maryland town. The pictures provided are my own personal unless otherwised sourced. Please note that I am not compenstated for any of the information provided and all opinions are my own!


September 15, 2010

My Weekend Bag

 
I did a little thrifting today for various projects I have coming up, and found the perfect weekend travel bag! It's light, perfectly colored for autumn, and just the right size to throw in a few skeins of yarn and hit the road for the weekend. Here's the infamous bag and what I'm putting in it (minus the yarn... I figure you've seen enough yarn around here!) plus the latest Special Issue of Crochet Today, my new journal/notebook that I picked up from Michael's, and a bag of peanut M&Ms for the road!


Also, while I was thrifting, I stumbled across this vintage Fossil bag
(Can Fossil be vintage?  It has only been in business since 1984?)


The leather is so creamy and soft, I just wanted to hug it! After a little love and repair, it's like new! I plan on using this side hobo bag all the way through winter. It's so perfect!

What do you HAVE to have in your weekend bag for the car?
How do you combat boredom?

Frederick Blog Tour: Volt

If you watch Bravo TV or follow Top Chef religiously, you may want to sit down.


Are you sitting yet?

Does this beautiful man look familar?

That's right, the second-place winner of Top Chef season Season 6. Bryan Voltaggio has graced us with his expertise in the kitchen in the award-winning-lots-of-hype-over restaurant, Volt. Many of you will check out the website and see that a similarly looking fellow won the Top Chef title, and that, my friends, is Bryan's little brother Michael. Both Bryan and Michael are Frederick, Maryland natives. Bryan and his family live on the outskirts of town while Michael has taken residence on the west coast.

Although I only live one block away from this gorgeous building, getting reservations at Volt is a challenge. When Top Chef season 6 was still showing, there was a wait numerous months long! However, I was fortunate enough to enjoy a delicious lunch at Volt over the summer. Cory and I took my parents for a Saturday lunch in a way to say thank you for helping us so much with the wedding. My stepfather is quite the foodie, so he had a blast. Plus, Mr. Voltaggio himself graced us with his presence! So cool!

Last fall, when season 6 was airing on Bravo TV, Volt held special "garden parties" out in the court yard to the right of the restaurant. They would have a giant flat screen attached to the brick wall, an open bar, and host an all-around good time! I really miss hearing the hoops and hollers on Wednesday night.

Here is a little visual stimulation of this beautiful, beautiful restaurant.


September 14, 2010

Road Trip!

Cory and I are heading to Alabama this weekend!

That's right, we're hitting the road Thursday night, meeting up with Rich and Beth (Rich was the best man in our wedding) in Reston, Virginia and continuing on. We're staying the night in Greenville, SC and then heading into Alabama (by way of Georgia) on Friday. Our destination?

Auburn University!

I am so excited for this mini-vacation. I am packing up a storm today/tonight and will be back with lots of "how to prep for a road trip" info!


Happy Tuesday!
(Gosh, it's so nice to be off work today. Wow!)

Check back tomorrow, I promise, to check out what I'm packing in my bag.

A few cell photos

So, I realized I haven't cleared my cell phone photo gallery in almost 3 months! Here's what I have been up to (and apparently forgot to tell you about)...

I chopped off my hair and love it! I needed a sassy change, and this hairstyle was just the way to go after months of long locks for the wedding!

We got a new kitten and named him Flip (Flipper for short, a joke). This photo accurately depicts how energetic he truly is:


But really, he is such a loving kitten. We love him and Ralphie does too!




I had the prettiest flight to and from San Diego. The clouds looked like an orchard in the sky! Look at how organized they are!


While we were there, we swung by the WWII monument:

This is the gigantic thrift store that I drooled over here and then decorated with here:

I found this orange yarn while we were there... perfect for finger knitting!


Cory and I went out for sushi....twice.


My new favorite treat Smoothie King (so delicious):


And saw this adorable owl!


I guess I have been busier than I thought! Huh..

Check back later for the next stop on the Frederick Blog Tour and a little sneak peak to what I'm packing for our weekend roadtrip!

P.S. If you share any cell phone pics showing what you've been up to, paste a link in the comment section! I'd l-o-v-e to check 'em out!