WILW and Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday friends!  It's time to link up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love and What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle @ The Vintage Apple and Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday! 

I am loving that the weather has cooled off, so it's not 108 degrees anymore!  It's crazy how 95-98 degrees feels cool when it get that hot!

I'm loving that Kelly's family had a family reunion last Sunday, and Kelly got to play with his little cousin.  Something about watching him with kids makes me smile. :-)

I am loving Pinterest!

Source: apprenticeextrovert.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Reading nook for on the patio.

Source: techedon.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I don't know where this is, but I want to go there!

Source: mykirklands.com via Elyse on Pinterest

How cute for a little girl's room....or my room?

Source: kalynskitchen.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I LOVE zucchini and squash.

Source: jaseyscrazydaisy.com via Elyse on Pinterest

These look like heaven!

Source: iowagirleats.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I love the nautical look!

Source: apricotlanepeoria.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Love this dress!  It's from this place called Apricot Lane in Illinois.  I went to their website, and they have the CUTEST dresses, seriously.  And the prices weren't that bad, $30-$50.  I think I'm going to have to investigate a little further. 

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I NEED this.  But the link is broken on Pinterest. :-(  This also calls for an investigation. 

Source: southern-lovin.tumblr.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Best onesie ever!

And as always I am loving my life with a cherry on top!

That's all for today!

OH! I almost forgot to mention my 50 Follower Giveaway!  It's my very first giveaway!

Win a sign designed by you and hand-painted by me!

Check out {THIS} post to get more information and to enter!

The giveaway ends Thursday July 19th!

Happy Wednesday!

My First GIVEAWAY!!!

HOORAY!  I made it to 50 wonderful followers!

I appreciate each and every one of you, and to show it, I'm going to have a little giveaway!  My very first little giveaway!

Here's what you will win:

A sign for your classroom/ any other place you might want to put it, such as your kitchen, designed by you and painted by me!

Here is an example of one I already made for our beach-themed room next year. 

Heres how to enter:

1.   Leave me a comment with your email (so I can contact you if you win).

2.   Become a follower (if you aren't already).

3.   Mention my giveaway on your blog!

Doing all three of these things improves your chances of winning!  However, please only do each of them once (doing them more than once does not improve your chances).  A winner will be randomly chosen on Thursday, July 19th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My blogging exoerience has been AWESOME so far.  Definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made...I almost didn't do it because I was afraid I would run out of things to talk about.  Turns out I have a lot to say! Ha.  I was also afriad that no one would read it, which also has proved to be false.

Thanks for following me you guys! 

I can't wait to see who wins! :-)

July Currently

It's July already!  

And I'm late to the party as usual!

But at least I came!  I love Farley's monthly link up!

Here is my currently for this month:

Listening: Rachel Ray on Food Network

I can't really say that I like Rachel Ray.  In fact I can say that I do not like Rachel Ray.  I think she is annoying.   BUT since my addiction to Food Network in say, oh I don't know... 2005, Sundays have been called "Food Network Sundays".  Food Network has all the best shows on Sundays!  I used to watch Food Network alllll day on Sundays (mostly in the winter when there wasn't anything else to do).  Now, not so much, since I barely have time to watch t.v., but I try to fit it in where I can.  Which is now.  Even when Rachel Ray is on.

Loving:  My new dresses from Target

Target has the cutest dresses right now.  What am I saying?  Target always has cute dresses.  I just wish  they were as cheap as the dresses at Forever 21 (which are always too short to my tall body, no one wants to see my under-things, especially in the front).  Here are the dresses I got yesterday:

This dress looks pink, but really it is more, you guessed it, coral!  Everyone knows my love for this color.

That is not a very representation of this dress.  It's short in the front and longer in the back.  I have to thank my friend Cristina for this dress because she wore this dress on our cabin trip and I liked.  So I copied.  Thanks Cristina!

This is more of a cover than a dress since it is very thin cotton and see-through.  Although I'm sure some will wear it as a dress...

By the way, when searching for these pictures on Target.com I noticed that Target has bridesmaids dresses.  Did you know that they had bridesmaids dresses?  I most certainly did not.

Thinking:  Where has my summer gone!?!?

Seriously people!  I cannot believe its already July!  I'm leaving for Disney world in 19 days, and when I get back I have ONE week before school starts!  Sheeeesh!

Needing:  To dedicated one whole day to blogging

This is how I pictured my summer:  Drink coffee, blog, lay out, blog, go on a lunch date, blog, go to the lake, blog, go to Florida, blog, grill, blog, blog, blog, blog.  

You get the picture.

I thought I would have a lot my time to dedicate to my baby!  She has been getting neglected! 

I think I need to start calling my Sundays "Food Network AND Blogging Sundays".  I want to start writing all my posts for the whole week on Sundays.  Doesn't that sound like a great idea?!?  We'll see.

Reads:  The Polar Express and What Color Is Your Parachute?

 I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading The Polar Express to my kiddos!  To me, it is just the most magical story, and I have loved it for so long.  There is SO much you can do with it too!  And its a Christmas book so it gives me those warm, fuzzy, feelings!

Just looking at it makes me happy!

I just finished reading What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles.  Its not really so much about education, but it is more of a "self-help" book, for lack of a better word. 

I can thank Nicole Rene @ Nicole Rene Design for this suggestion.  It gave me a ton of interview tips and helped me to figure out what I'm good at and how to put it into words! 

There you have it! My Currently for July. 

Now I'm off to abide by Farley's new rule.  Read the two linker-uppers before you and after you AND comment on them!

Many Thanks! Plus 4th Fun

I have been meaning to post this for a while, but I just couldn't seem to get it done!

I had a job interview yesterday.  That is all I'm going to say about that.

So that is the reason for my absence and my lack of blog reading.

I have been preparing myself.


We had a good 4th of July.  Kind of boring since there were no fireworks, but my mom and I got to lay out for a little while until the heat became relentless and we couldn't take it anymore.  Then we had a delicious dinner of grilled brats, corn on the cob, and hashbrown casserole!
(Notice my Lime-A-Rita off to the side there.  Love those things!)

And fruit pizza for dessert!  Doesn't that look patriotic?!

Also, I am so honored because Simone over @ Busy as a Honey Bee AND Jessica @ Fantastically Average have both awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award!  Yippee!  I love getting awards...but who doesn't really.  Simone and I just recently started following each other, and we have a lot in common.  So if you like my blog you'll like hers too.  Stop by and pay her a visit!  I'll  be guest posting for her while she's on vacation!  Jessica and I have been following each other since I first started blogging.  (I actually was going to give this her award when Simone first gave it to me, but she beat me to it!) I love seeing all the fun adventures she goes on and all of her recipe recaps!  She also helped me get through my job interview FAIL with her encouraging words.  Thanks girl!

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

2. Include a link to their site.

3. Include the award image in your post.

4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

6. When nominating, include a link to their site.

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

7 Random Facts About Me:

1.  I am going through a CMFAO stage in my life. (Crafting my f****** a** off)  I have anywhere from 5-10 projects that I am trying to finish right now.  I keep coming up with more and more that I want to do, and I can't wait to share!

2.  Another job posting just popped up for my school (I knew this was coming, but now I'm freaking out). 

See how long ago I wrote this?  I just had the interview for this job! Haha

3.  I am just finished reading What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles as well as completing the workbook that goes with the book.  It is one of the best job-hunting books out there, and I think it is going to be a good thing for me to read!  I always have a hard time coming up with good things to say about myself (not that there isn't any, I guess I am just humble...or lack the brain cells to think of character traits), and I this book is already helping me do just that! (A big thanks to Nicole Rene @ Nicole Rene Design for making the suggestion!)

4.  My favorite movie of all time is The Sound of Music.  When I was little I would watch it just about everyday...and let me tell you it is a LONG movie to watch everyday!

I mean who hasn't sung "The Hills Are Alive" while twirling around and pretending that they are in the snow-capped mountains?

5.  I love playing Apples to Apples.  And Catch Phrase.  I don't get to play these games enough!  We played last weekend on our cabin trip, and I think I got a little scary.   No one wanted to play again. 

6.  I am six feet tall.  With flats.

    

 
   

Source: tall-girl-problems.tumblr.com via Stacy on Pinterest

Source: bit.ly via Gayle on Pinterest

Source: tall-girl-problems.tumblr.com via Jana on Pinterest

7.  I am loving the show Love in the Wild.  It is the definition of trash t.v.  Think of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette.  Ok now think of something with twice as much cocky guys and caddy girls.  And also pairings with two guys and one girl and one girl and two guys...stuck out in the jungle.  That is the recipe for drama.  LOVE IT!

Here are the 15 bloggers I choose for this award:

1.  Jessica @ Fantastically Average

2. Julie @ the girl in the red shoes

3.  Christina @ Yours Truly

4.  Jen @ Crafty Home Improvement (Mis)Adventures

5.  Erin @ Just a Few of My Favorite Things

6.  Jen @ Going the Distance

7.  Amy @ The Crazy Adventures of a University Grad

8.  Alisha @ The Bubbly Blonde

9.  Melissa @ for the love

10.  Nicole Rene @ Nicole Rene Design

11.  Niki @ Gumdrops & Gloss

12.  The lovely ladies @ Endless Pinabilities!

13.  Bonnie @ Living a Wonderful Life

14.  Megan @ Growing Up Is Actually Kind OF Fun

15.  Jessica @ Mrs. Stanford's Class

These ladies all have GREAT blogs that I love reading every week!  So pay them a visit! 

I can't wait to read all of the fun facts!

Happy 4th of July and WILW!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

I have been a bad blogger the past two weeks.

I have not even had a chance to post the pictures from two weekends ago!

Actually that's not entirely my fault since the pictures are not in my posession (my camera battery was dead so we had to use my dear friend Megan's).

Not to mention I have been a bad follower!

I haven't got to read any blogs since Friday! 

I have a LOT of catching up to do.  So if you all wouldn't mind to stop posting until I get all caught up on your lives.  Thanks.

But it's (would someone be so kind as to please remind me of the rule of its and it's because I am at constant war with myself on which one to use where) Wednesday so let's link up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love and What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle @ The Vintage Apple and Oh So Pinteresting Wednesday! 

Here is what I'm loving on this Independence Day!

I am loving that Kelly and I are going to breakfast today before he goes into work to catch up on stuff.

I am loving that I get to spend the day at the pool with my mom!

I am loving that we are having a little cookout tonight at my parents house, and then watching fireworks from New York on t.v. (not really loving that part, but all of the fireworks shows around here have been cancelled due to the draught).

I am loving that we had such a great time on our 4th of July weekend cabin/boating trip this past weekend! 

 Just to make this clear, Kelly is NOT a dad, but that is his most favorite and coveted shirt from Goodwill.

The view from our cabin/house.

Patoka Lake

On the boat.

Going for a swim in the lake!

 The beginnings of a beautiful sunset as we were heading back to the marina.

Waiting on dinner to cook.

Waiting for our boat to come pick us up on the shore outside our cabin.

There it is!

Now for Pinterest!

The part that people REALLY care about!

Source: apricotlanepeoria.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I am loving these skirts!  I actually have a skirt very similar to this but it's ivory and not as fun.

Source: saifou.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I am loving the top knot!  I actually did try to do this to my hair today but I couldn't understand what was happening in step 4.  Or 6. Or 7.  So actually this wasn't that helpful, and I ended up putting my hair in a high bun.  It kind of looked the same though. Ha

Source: lauriecoledesigns.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I am loving this teacher stool!  I painted a stool when I was in high school, but this one is way better...It has feathers!  Add that to my summer bucket list. 

Source: rebekahdawn.wordpress.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Snickerdoodle Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting....I can't wait to try these!

Source: lovintheoven.com via Ashley on Pinterest

S'mores Bars

I made these last Friday for our trip after trying them earlier in the week (my sister made some).  I'm not kidding...I will probably never have the urge to eat a regular s'more again (besides the fact that it's way easier than making these).  They were so good!  And everyone gobbled them up!

Source: forever90s.tumblr.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I think about Boy Meets World sometimes.  I really and truly...to this day...still miss it.  Hands down best show of the 90's.

And as always I am loving my life with a cherry on top!

Happy 4th!