Fashion Friday: For the home...

I've mentioned a few times lately that I'll be moving this summer...  I'm hoping to buy a house sometime in the next year (fingers crossed), but in the meantime I need somewhere to live!  My roommate is getting married in July and our lease is up in mid-June, so I spent a good chunk of my spring break apartment hunting.  I tried to find a combination of my preferred part of town, a decent apartment, and a place that was within my budget.  I'm pretty sure I've found a place that meets that criteria.  Unfortunately, I'll be downsizing from a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with a 2 car garage to a 1 bedroom apartment with no garage!  I hope that downsizing and cutting back on some expenses will pay off for me and I can speed up the process of getting me into a real home.  

I've always said that if I wasn't a teacher I'd be an interior decorator...  I used to play school and then go watch HGTV when I was a kid at home for summer vacation.  I'd love to be able to get into something decor related over the summers someday...  Like home staging or something?  I feel like that would be a cool summer job!

I don't think my home is one that you'd look at and think, "Wow, she's got some style and talent!"  But, I do feel like I've got a pretty good style and have done a decent job of working with what I've got.  It really drives me nuts that I've had to live within the limitations of being in a rental and can't really personalize certain things.  There's also the budget thing, too.  What I want and what I can realistically afford on a lone teacher's budget are two different things.   

In preparing to move, I've been thinking of giving myself a small decorating budget to get a few goodies for my new apartment.  Obviously I'm also going to be looking for items that I will want when I get in a more permanent establishment and that go with what I already have.

On a related note, one of my biggest spring break projects was organizing my decor pins on Pinterest...  I had over 800 for home decor alone.  I broke them down into more specific boards, so that I can find my pins a lot easier!  It was actually a lot work and took hours, but I'm so glad it's done!

I wanted to share some of my favorite pins of some new items I'd like to buy, make, or recreate for my own home!

Source: potterybarn.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: 36ohk6dgmcd1n-c.c.yom.mail.yahoo.net via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: theyellowcapecod.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via Conolley on Pinterest

1. My latest PB bedding obsession...  Vanessa Floral.  I'm not usually a blue person and I really didn't like it when I saw it in the catalog or online, but I fell in love when I saw it in person!  I've got a couple PB gift cards to possibly assist with this purchase.
2. I've recently become obsessed with yellow AND chevron.  Yellow chevron?  Yes, please!  I have some really cute pillows form Target, most of which are floral-y patterns, so I think one or two of these would be a great contrast! (BTW, my newest addiction is Esty.  I don't know why I just now realized how much awesome stuff there is on there!  I've found a ton of cute yellow chevron things on there!)
3. I picked this mirror up at Target last weekend.  I'm leaning towards using it in my bedroom, but I'm not totally set on that.  It may migrate toward my entryway table area.
4. I love vintage / antique accessories.  I really want to start going out and getting more awesome finds like these.  I actually plan on hitting up The Cottage Collective's grand opening tonight and hope to find some neat accessories!
5. This pic from Maple & Magnolia (one of my favorite decor blogs) was kind of what got my yellow kick started.  (Actually I've always loved yellow, but this got me inspired to extend it more into my living areas and kitchen!)
6. I've wanted one of these shelves for a long time, but just haven't made the purchase yet.  There are so many versions of it from a lot of different stores.  I love the styling with the white plates and the black frames.  I'm totally going to recreate this with my own spin if I get one of these shelves.
7. More yellow in the kitchen!  I love the pops of yellow with the other neutral colors and the greige walls.
8. I don't have a headboard and have been looking into doing a small gallery wall above my bed in the meantime.  I thought this arrangement was cute mixing photos with art.
9. Another beautiful bedroom...  I was drawn to this one because of the mix of furniture.  It makes the whole hodge-podge thing totally work!

Here are my boards in case you're interested...  If you like my style, please follow me because I'm always pinning new pics!  :)

Home Decor Ideas - This is my board for general decor ideas, living rooms, common areas, or wall ideas.

My Heart Belongs to Pottery Barn - This one is dedicated to my favorite home decor store ever.  

I Could Make That! - This is my DIY board.  I've actually followed through and made a few of these things.

'Tis the Season - My Christmas decor board...  I love bright, non-traditional Christmas colors!

Autumn Awesomeness - My board dedicated to decorating for my favorite season.

Bright Ideas - This is kind of like my DIY board, but this one is more helpful tips, tricks, and hints.

...Because My Closet Will Never Be Big Enough - This board is all about storage and organization for clothes, shoes, and accessories.

Wash & Dry - This is my board for laundry room ideas and cleaning organization.  I never wanted a pretty laundry room until I got on Pinterest.  

Places to Get Pretty ~ Bathroom Ideas - Here are ideas for pretty bathrooms and storage ideas.

Curb Appeal - This is is for exterior ideas...  Not all that practical for me right now, but some great ideas for when I do have a real house.

Dreamy Bedrooms - I have a complete addiction to bedding (particularly from PB) and it's kind of apparent from this board.

Beautiful Places to Cook & Dine - This one is for kitchen and dining room ideas.  I'm on a huge yellow kick right now!

Springtime! - This is another seasonal decor board.  I've never really decorated for spring, but I love this inspiration!

I hope you've enjoyed and get a sense of my home decor style!  If you have any cool decor boards on Pinterest, I'd love to follow you, so please add your links into the comments section!

Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful spring weekend!

Survey Says... Linky Party!

One thing that I think is really fun about blogging is participating in Linky Parties.  It's a great way to get to know other blog friends and discover new blogs!  I somehow stumbled upon this Linky Party hosted by 5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules.  It's just a fun way to get to know other bloggers.  If you want to participate as well, just follow the link  on the picture.  Answer the questions and add one of your own.  Then, just link up over at 5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules and check out the other links for this party!  

Okay, here we go:

1.  Are you married, do you have a bf, or are you flying free as a single lady/man?
Single...  Not the worst thing in the world, but I would like a change of status one of these days.  

2.  Where did you grow up?I've only lived in Kansas.  I stayed in state for college, but that's as far as I've gone.

3.  Do you have any pets?  If so, what kind and what is his/her name?

No pets right now.  I grew up with dogs and would love to get one when I'm more settled in a house with a yard.  Here's a couple pet facts...  My mom's dog and I hate each other.  She seriously has a death wish on me and it's been that way since they got her when I was in high school.  She seems to think I'm some sort of awful threat or something.  My other pet fact is that I used to keep Beta fish as pets in college.  I was also obsessed with Will Ferrell back then so their names were Will Ferrell, Anchorman, and Ron Burgundy.  

4. What is a favorite tv show you are embarrassed to admit to watching?
I feel like 50% of the shows I watch are worthy of being embarrassed about...  I'm 27 and I love shows for teens.  Degrassi (Canandian teen drama) is one of my addictions and I still watch almost as much MTV as I did back when I was 16.  (I refuse to watch Jersey Shore, though!)  I'm also a fan of the Real Housewives of Orange County.  Can't beat those original housewives!

5.  Are you a saver or a spender?
A little of both...  When I know I have to save or I'm really motivated to get something I'm really good about saving.  I love shopping, though, but I do enjoy getting a bargain.  Paying full price on things is rarely my style!

6.  What is your favorite children's book?I love anything by Beverly Cleary because her books were pretty much the first chapter books I ever read or was exposed to.  My class is actually reading Ramona Quimby, Age 8 right now!

7.  Were you the class clown, teacher's pet, or neither?
Teacher's pet...  ALL THE WAY!  

8.  Who is your favorite athletic team?
K-State Wildcats!!!  I bleed purple!!!

9.  Where did you go on your last REALLY fun vacation?
I went on a road trip to Denver with 3 friends to visit another friend last winter and I had an awesome time.  It was just a great group of friends to hang out and travel with.  I also went to NY last spring break with a friend that used to live there.  I loved seeing all of the sites and it was also great to be there with someone that new the city and knew how to navigate everywhere!

10.  Who is your favorite actor?  Actress?
I'm kind of in love with Jason Bateman, but I love pretty much everything Tom Hanks has been in.  I don't really think I have a favorite actress...

11.  Tell about the last time you cried because you were happy.
Okay, this may sound weird, but I don't think I've ever had something that made me so happy I cried!  

12.  What is your favorite season?
I enjoy spring, but I think fall definitely beats it.  I love football season, wearing sweaters and hoodies, fall candles, decorating for fall, pumpkin spice lattes...  Ahhhh...  I can't wait for fall to be here again!

13.  What is your biggest regret?

I can't think of anything that I really regret, but a few years ago I decided to postpone home-buying and got my Master's instead.  In the short term I'm still not sure it was my best financial decision, but I know it's better off in the long run.  It's frustrating, though, that it's 3 or 4 years later now and I still don't own my own home.  Oh well, I make more money now so hopefully when I do buy I can get more of what I want.

14.  What food do you just NOT like at all?
Cheesecake!  I think it's one of the most repulsive foods on earth.  I'm that girl that goes to the Cheesecake Factory and gets the layered chocolate cake and not cheesecake!

15. Who was your most memorable teacher, and why?I had pretty amazing teachers the whole way through school.  I'm really fond of my 2nd grade teacher, though.  She was young, fun, sweet, and very creative.  We've actually kept in touch over the years because my mom has worked with her and we're Facebook friends.  

And one more question of my own...

16.  If you could change anything about your job, what would you change and why?

I pretty much love my job right now.  3rd grade is definitely my perfect grade level.  My only complaint is the fact that there is so much emphasis on assessments and I don't have as much time to teach the fun stuff that isn't just reading and math.  I'd love to have more time and flexibility to teach more social studies (my favorite) and science.  

Goodbye Spring Break...

Well, another spring break has come and gone...  It was actually a pretty nice week.  It was super rainy here for the majority of the week, but the last couple days have been beyond beautiful.  I was able to knock out a fair amount of things on my to-do list, so that's always a plus.  I cleaned out my basement closet, sold some clothes at the resale shop, *hopefully* found a place to move to in June, turned in an application for a part-time job for the summer, and even got a couple school related tasks out of the way as well!

The good news is according to my calculations, we only have 10 more Mondays left.  I'm actually not 100% sure of this, but if I have the correct last day of school down, that should be correct.  It really doesn't sound all that awful, but getting down to single digits will be even better.  

My student teacher is getting ready to take over for a few weeks, so I'm sure I'll be finding myself hanging out in the office working on things down there.  I'm trying to get as much as I can prepped for next year and out of the way now.  I'm looking at getting another job for the summer, so it would be nice if I didn't have to spend quite so much time working at school come August.  

Anyway, it's nearing 11 p.m. and I know that 6:30 a.m. is going to roll around wayyyyyy too fast.  Is it bad that I'm already looking forward to next Friday when we have a "non-contract day"  (conveniently on Good Friday)?  Yeah, I'm already anxious for my next day off!  

I hope you all have a wonderful week of working or spring breaking!  :)

Getting Warm Weather Pretty: Beauty and Fitness

Last month when my mom and I went on out little shopping road trip I tried on a super cute little dress at the J.Crew Factory store...  I love little knit dresses like that for spring and summer, but this one was less than spectacular on me.  It was most definitely a sign that my body was not ready for the warm weather months!

I'm by no means perfect in the areas of fitness or beauty, but I do think I have enough to share some of my own tips, tricks, hints, and products that help me get ready for showing off a bit more in the warm weather months.  I think it's sometimes hard to start New Year's resolutions for heath and fitness during the coldest months of the year...  I seem to get a lot more motivated when things start to warm up!

Below I've shared some of my own fitness and beauty routines and tips...  I've linked to a lot of the products  that I use in case you're interested.

I also highly recommend The Daily Plate on livestrong.com.  It's a super easy to use website to track workout and foods.  The website has a really good free version and there's also an app on iTunes that's a couple bucks.  (I haven't checked for Droid since I already bought it for my iPod.)  I don't use it all the time, but it's great to get me back on track and use for a few weeks at a time.

Fitness:

• I try to workout at the gym 4 or 5 days a week.  I honestly enjoy working out for enjoyment and not just for fitness.  My usual routine consists of 30+ minutes on the elliptical and then another 30 walking on an incline on the treadmill or on the bike.  I also add on some time on the weight machines to tone up this time of year.  I'll do arms and abs one day, legs the next day, or something like that.
• I did 30 Day Shred last summer off and on and actually saw pretty decent results.  I wasn't super super consistent (for various reasons), but I could tell after just a few workouts my clothes were fitting differently.  I like this one because it's only about 25 minutes, but it's a really good total body workout.  I'm planning on adding this back into my routine soon and doing it at least 2 or 3 days a week on top of my workouts at the gym.
• When it's nice outside, I love walking outside.  There are several websites where you can put in your path and track the distance that you walk / or run.  I have a nature center near my house and I also enjoy going walking there.  (I don't like going there alone, but it's always fun to drag a friend or my little brother along!)

Skincare:

• My skin is combination and tends to go from really dry to really oily as soon as the seasons change.  My current skin care products are Clinique's Acne Solutions 3-Step system, Clinque's Exfoliating Scrub, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, and most recently, Benefit's POREfessional which I bought in this awesome set at Sephora (only $2 more for the set!).  I know I could spent a lot more money on face products, but I've found that Clinique's stuff is a pretty good value for the money.  I used to use Neutrogena and Aveeno a lot, but I found that even thought Clinique costs a bit more (not much acutally) it lasts a lot longer.  I recently stocked up during the bonus event at Dillards and get the rest of my purchases at Sephora where I can earn points. 
• It's no secret that I'm obsessed with Bath & Body Works.  I keep that store in business.  Two body items I always keep on hand are their body lotions / creams and shower gels.  I use their shower gels to shave because they foam up really nicely, one bottle lasts a ton longer than shave gel, and it provides a little moisture to my legs (which tend to get pretty dry year round).  I follow that up with their scented lotion or body cream (I like both) to stay hydrated. I'm a big fan of the True Blue Spa collection there as well as their Signature collection.
• I'm not one to go spend money to get a mani or pedi, so I like to buy items for home to pamper myself.  Once again, B&BW's True Blue Spa collection is my favorite and they really do last a very long time.  I usually pick up these items during the semi-annual sales and January and June.  My top items for my at home mani / pedi are the 60-Second Manicure Hand Scrub, Super Rich Foot Cream,  and the Cracked Heel Treatment.
• Like I just said, I don't pay to get my nails done (the only times I've gone if I'm in a wedding or I have a gift certificate from someone)...  I have a HUGE nail polish collection (I really do need to weed it out)!  I've found myself buying a lot of "nicer" brands (nicer for me) in the past year or so.  My current favorite brands are Essie, OPI, Sephora by OPI, Nicole by OPI, and Sinful Colors.  All of those brands, except the Sephora one, are available at Target.  I've been letting Pinterest get the best of me (check out my Stuff That Makes You Pretty board), but now that I'm doing Birchbox I'm going to see how much nail polish I get from that.  
• Okay, I'm that crazy girl who's mixed (black and white) and I still like having a tan.  Honestly, I'm not all that naturally tan, but I do feel like I look better with a little color.  I try to get my tan in healthy ways (I'm not perfect, though) and especially this time of year I like to use a gradual tanner to help give me a kick start.  Right now I'm trying out Jergens Natural Glow Foaming Moisturizer (in fair to medium) and have liked it quite a bit so far.  I've used their lotion version for several years and although it's gotten better it still has that self-tan smell to it.  The foaming version still has a little scent, but it fades super fast and I was able to cover it up with body spray before I went out.  I have a feeling I may end up sticking with the foam because of the scent and the fact that it dries really fast.

Makeup

• I won't go into a ton about my makeup routine, which you can read in-depth in this post from last November.  (I mean, why retype what I've already said before?!?)
• I tend to go a little lighter on my makeup during the spring and summer months and sometimes rock a more natural look.  Part of this is because I don't want tons of makeup melting off me on hot summer days and the other part is I just simply like a fresher, simpler look during the warm weather months.  Right now I find myself reaching for light, neutral, glowing eye-shadows and lots of lip colors in the pink family.
• An easy way to add some color and glow is with a good bronzer.  I've pretty much only used Physician's Formula and haven't felt the need to try another brand.  If you aren't sure about bronzer, go with a lighter toned one so you don't go overboard.  I use a big, fluffy brush to dust it on after my blush.  I feel like it adds a little glow without being too over the top.  (I don't want to look like Snooki or the girls from Jerseylicious!)

Do you have any tips to share on getting ready for warm weather?  

How do you balance your fitness and beauty routine with your job?

Fashion Friday: The Teacher's Spring Wardrobe

The Teacher's Spring Wardrobe by conolley featuring knit tops

I love dressing for spring...  It's kind of the best of both worlds.  I can wear clothing in layers, but can still rock fun, bright colors.  I don't know about any of your classrooms, but I run into the issue of temperature control (or lack thereof...).  My classroom is either full-blast A/C or super humid.  Add in the fact that my windows and ceiling have had some leakage issues and let's just say I've been opting to go with the A/C and the cold.

My spring work wardrobe is all about layering.  I like to use a lot of my summer tanks and dresses and layer them with cardigans and jackets to make them appropriate for work.  I tend to wear my denim jacket A LOT this time of year because it goes with so many dresses and tanks and it's super comfy!

I created this Polyvore set inspired by items I currently own or items that I'd like to own.  I know some schools (and other workplaces) have dress codes that vary.  I'd say that for my school we fall somewhere in the middle as far as our attire.  In the spring, I prefer easy to throw on and comfortable clothes that still have a slightly dressy and professional look.

I hope everyone has a happy Friday!  Today's my last day of spring break before the weekend...  It's been rainy all week, but as a fellow teacher posted on Facebook the other day, I'd rather have a rainy spring break than a week of indoor recess!  

Organizationally Inspired

I find it funny sometimes that people comment on how organized my classroom looks. Let me just say, looks can be very deceiving. (I searched for classroom organization pics on Pinterest and my own room came up in the results! LOL) I mean, I'm not the world's most unorganized teacher, but I do have plenty of room for improvement.

 Here's a little story...

 Last year my younger brother was in third grade and he was in what was probably the most cluttered and disorganized classroom I've ever seen. I usually attend conferences with my mom and stepdad and I was honestly appalled by this classroom! This room was a complete disaster... It honestly looked like a tornado had hit! (I mean, really? At least tidy up for conferences!) My brother is very much NOT the poster child for organization and tidiness, but last summer he mentioned on multiple occasions that he hoped for a teacher that was organized! Yes, that request came from a 9 year old with ADHD! Obviously he felt the chaos around him in his 3rd grade classroom. At the open house this year at the beginning of 4th grade he was very relieved to see that his current teacher is very neat, organized, and structured. (And thankfully, it's also been his best year in school yet!)

 Anyway, I think having an organized classroom just makes the whole world of teaching run a lot more smoothly. One of my tasks while my student teacher is doing the majority of the work is to get organized and clear out junk. I feel like when every teacher starts they want to hoard as much teacher stuff as they can get their hands on... Then a few years later they realize half of the stuff they hoarded has never been touched. Or is that just me? Thankfully, I didn't inherit a lot when I started, but I do have a lot of old curriculum stuff that needs to go! I wanted to share some of my favorite classroom organization (p)inspirations and some ideas on how I plan to use them in my own classroom.

Source: Uploaded by user via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Conolley on Pinterest

This is probably my top organization priority... I love the idea of making a tool organizer cute and using it for all the random crap that finds its way to my desk. It's a cheap and very effective solution for sure!

Source: mrsfreshwatersclass.blogspot.com via Conolley on Pinterest

My math manipulatives are one thing I would like to reorganize for next year. Right now I have them divided into drawers for groups. The kids need easy access to be able to get things on their own. Sounds fine, right? Well, when I change the number of kids in a group it messes things up. This has been one of those years where my class numbers have been constantly changing, so I think I'd just as well prefer to have all the clocks in one drawer, rulers in another, money in another, etc.

Source: mandygregory.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Every year I tell myself I will finish organizing my classroom library... That has yet to happen. I get about halfway through that daunting task and then run out of time. And then, by this time of year it is a complete disaster because I haven't held the kids to very high standards. I will be victorious... Someday.


 What are your organization goals for your classroom? Do you have any (p)inspirations that you're hoping to recreate in your classroom someday? 


 Follow my "Classroom Stuff" board on Pinterest!

Spring Break Sunday (blah) & A Shopping Story

I must say, it was a wonderful feeling to turn off my weekday alarms and know that I have nothing I have to get up for at all this week.  I've been pretty lazy the past few days...  The only thing I've done is lay around, watch basketball, be on my laptop, and go shopping.

I went to Banana Republic three times within about 24 hours...  Good thing I live just a mile and a half away.

Here's the story.

I was over by there yesterday when I went to return a shirt to Ann Taylor (impulse buy with immediate buyer's remorse) and decided to pop into good 'ol BR to see what's new.  I hadn't been into BR in quite some time, so pretty much everything there was new to me.  I really love their stuff, but it can be quite pricey.  The good thing about BR is they can run some really good promos and have some amazing clearance sales.  

I've been wanting some new casual dresses for spring and summer and I spotted some nice knit t-shirt dresses (here's the striped version), so I gave them a try.  I ended up liking the solid black one (not online right now) and although I do have quite a large number of LBDs I decided this one was different enough to add to my collection. I also found some cute striped tops.  The problem was they were all full price, and they werent't running any promos.  Shopping fail.  I couldn't remember if I had any coupons at home and I knew I'd be back by when I went to church in the evening, so I had my favorite employee hold a couple items.  I found a (measly) 15% off coupon at home so I decided to just go on and get the dress and one of the shirts that evening.  As soon as I sat down to Facebook when I got home I saw a Facebook fan discount at BR for 50% off up to 5 items for today!  I called my BR store and asked if I could return my items and rebuy them with the 50% off and they agreed!  So, I went back today and added another striped top and a headband and still got $12 back from my original purchase.  Once again, making friends with the sales associates paid off!  They're great over there!

(I've really been trying to not just go shopping when I'm bored, but I let's face it...  I'm an emotional shopper.  Good mood, bad mood, whatever--  I like to shop as my escape. Without sounding like a sad sack I'll just say I'm kinda stressed about some stuff with other people that's out of my control.  I'm just trying to put it in God's hands and pray about everything.)

***And now, KU just won their game.  Ugh!  I strongly dislike them with a passion.  Now I'm in a really bad mood.***

Anyway, other than my shopping fail that turned into a success, I've had a fairly dull break so far.  I need to call up some of my in town friends and try to make some plans to get out and be social in some form.  I feel like getting out and doing something (something that isn't shopping by myself) is what I need right now.  As much as I enjoy some downtime and some time by myself, I'm a naturally social person and breaks like this really make me crave that time around other people.  Is anyone else like that?  

Well, I feel like this post is during into me whining, so I think I'll just stop.  I'm trying to come up with some new topics for the blog, so please post your suggestions for anything you'd like me to talk about!  I'm hoping to get some posts on putting together your classroom on a budget, planning for the next school year, and field trips sometime soon.  Hopefully I'll get around to one (or all) of those this week!

My First Birchbox

I received my first Birchbox today!  I told you all about it a week or two ago.  Well, I got home late last night and forgot to check my mail until this morning.  I'm super happy to have it now that I am going to sink into a depression since my Wildcats just lost against Syracuse.  I obviously need a little pick-me-up!

I've really been into beauty-related items lately, so I'll probably be putting up some posts and reviews of some of those items this week.  Teachers need to pamper themselves and look good too!

(Isn't the box cute?  Perfect for reusing too!)

Anyway, this month's box consisted of these items:

• Tea Forte Skin-Smart Antioxidant Amplifier Teas
• Ahava Time to Hydrate Essential Day Moisturizer
• Orofluido Beauty Elixir
• Color Club nail polish in Peace Out Purple
• Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint
• Annik Goutal Eau d'Hadrien perfume

I'm pretty excited to try all of these items.  They're definitely brands and products I might not normally try, but there's no harm in sampling things, now is there?!?  :)  That's pretty much the reason I signed up anyway.  Besides, I already made a deal with my mom that she gets any items I'm not into!

I'm still not totally sure this is going to be a long-term commitment for me...  I figured I'd give it three months or so and see what I get.  I'm interested in some of the summer-y items that might be making their way to  my mailbox in the coming months!  

I'm not really much of a tea person, but I'm excited for my teas!  There are three in there-- Cherry marzipan, cucumber mint, and honey yuzu.  Ahhhh...  To to able to sit around this week and sip tea at my leisure.  This is the life...

I'm also pretty excited about the Color Club nail polish.  I'm really into neon stuff right now and the Peace Out Purple is a really fun (and actually quite pretty) neon purple.  I'm still figuring out my new camera, so I don't feel like the picture does the color justice.  It's definitely going to be my next nail color!  

So, there you have it-- 

MY FIRST BIRCHBOX!

Fashion Friday: Spring Break Style

It's finally here...  SPRING BREAK!!!
(Okay, come 3:35 p.m. it is...)

I love the fact that even though I work long hours and bring plenty of work home with me, I still get all the perks of being a student!

This is actually the first spring break in several years that I'm not traveling.  Last year I went to New York and a few times I've made trips to Colorado for break.  I'm actually pretty excited to not be going anywhere this year.  I kinda wish I had something exciting to do, but I'm also really happy to just have some time at home for rest and relaxation.  I'm hoping to go on a big trip or two over the summer, so I decided to hold off and save my money for that.  (Besides, I'm going to try to figure out where the heck I'm going to live after June so that's my big task next week...)

Anyway, I love Polyvore and was a little bored, so I decided that it would be fun to put together a few sets of spring break outfits.

Packing Light & Bright  featuring a denim skirt

This first set is for packing light.  I'm pretty much the worst over-packer.  Ever.  Back in high school I'd go on youth group trips and would pretty much outfit all of the girls with my wardrobe.  Several of the more recent trips have forced me to travel a bit lighter and so I'm working on this skill.  It's all about pieces that mix and match and that are easy care.  Downy wrinkle releaser is one of my favorite travel companions.

Warm Weather Getaway featuring a stripe dress

I have to admit, I've never been anywhere that would be considered a warm weather getaway...  I've been to Orlando for a teaching conference, but didn't see anything that didn't cover the bus ride from the airport to the hotel to the conference center and back.  It was a pretty lame trip to a neat city.  Boo.  I've never been to the beach or the ocean.  (Shocking to some of you, I'm sure.  Kansas is about as non-ocean as it gets.) Anyway, I've been addicted to looking at items from J.Crew lately and picked these as my hot spot items.

March Madness featuring purple jewelry

This last pic is what will most likely resemble my attire for the next week or so...  I love my Wildcats and have an absolutely ridiculous number of K-State tees.  (Today I have on my St. Patrick's Day K-State tee!) It's cute, comfy, and perfect for watching basketball at home or at Old Chicago (yum yum)!

What's your spring break style?  
Are you heading off on vacation or keeping a low profile at home?