Guest Post

A huge thank you for all the love, prayers, and sweet comments regarding my precious Grampy.  While this is still a very tough time, you guys have made me feel very supported and loved. 

I'd arranged to do my first ever guest post last week before it happened.  So I wanted to follow up with a shout out to Great Expections.  She is featuring my blog, along with one of my favorite recipes I've posted about previously.  You'll have to go check it out.........

Thank you again for all the virtual hugs.  The blog will be quiet for the rest of the week.  I'll return next week with a giveaway.

I always keep things happy here in blogland.  But sometimes life just isn't.

One of my most favorite people ever left us late last night.

I got to be there.  Got to say good-bye.

We emailed each other every single day.

My heart is pretty heavy.

I loved my Grampy.

The blog will be quiet this week.

This Week....

I think I survived the first full week of school.  I guess I still have to make it through today, but since I woke up, we'll go ahead and count it.

Now that I'm living for the weekend, I try to make them extra awesome.  So last weekend that required some lake time.......

And a little horseback riding......

I even won a giveaway over the weekend!  A big thanks to Red Rose Vintage for supplying me with Pumpkin Spice Latte funds.........

 
Then during the week my August Birchbox arrived.  How did they know I needed a new razor.......

Finally, my week was topped off with a gift from a kiddo in my class........

This might win the award for grossest gift ever.

No, I have not sampled one.

Yet.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday

How would you wear it?

I have been dying to duplicate these two pins..........

(left & right)

So I found the perfect skirt, tank, and top.........tried them all on.........and set the self timer on my camera.........

But then I didn't wear either of them.

I chickened out.

I couldn't decide if they really worked or not.  And I think pattern mixing still hasn't hit good ole Southwest Missouri.  Would folks stare at me funny?

Then I remembered that my days are spent with nine year old kiddos.  And didn't I say that the halls were my runway last week? 

So tell me.  How would you wear it........yellow chevrons or navy stripes?

Majority rules. 

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Harper's Happenings,
Transatlantic Blonde, Two Thirty-Five Designs and Rolled up Pretty!!!

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

Recipe time!  I found another keeper on a blog I follow!

Easy to make?  Check!

Tasty?  Very!!!

Good leftover?  We ate every last bite.......

Sour Cream Noodle Bake

(source: The Recipe Critic)

1 1/4 lb. ground beef

15 oz. can of tomato sauce

1/2 teas. salt

1/4 teas. pepper

onion powder (to taste)

8 oz. egg noodles

3/4 cup sour cream

1 1/4 cup small curd cottage cheese

2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown the beef and drain fat.  Season the beef with salt, pepper, and onion powder.  Add the tomato sauce and let simmer for about ten minutes.  Cook egg noodles as directed on the package.  In a medium bowl, mix the cottage cheese and sour cream together.  After draining the noodles, stir them into the sour cream mixture.  Grease a 9 x 13" dish.  Layer half the noodles on the bottom of the dish.  Cover the noodles with half the beef.  Then add a layer of cheddar cheese.  Repeat each layer using the rest of the ingredients.  Bake for about 20 minutes.

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I love recipes that buy me a few days.  The make-on-Sunday-eat-for-a-few-days-afterward kind of recipe.

We seriously did eat the entire 9 x 13.  But not in one day.  I swear.

Now tie on that apron and go get domestic!!!

 Linking up with:  Mrs. Happy Homemaker, Lemon Sugar,
33 Shades of Green, The Winthrop Chronicles, Rae Gun Ramblings, Foodie Friday,
Whimsy Wednesdays, Tutus and Tea Parties, Six Sisters' Stuff annnnd

Weekly Recap

I survived the first day of school.  And I love that the second day of school is a Friday.  Because this is usually a tiring, crazy week full of late nights, early mornings, lots of meetings, and even more stress!

But in the midst of that, some fun news........A huge shout out to Ashley who had her baby on the first day of school!  Good thing she's not a teacher anymore! 

Another huge shout out to my mommy!  She is such a sweetie pie.  She made dinner last night.  The mister and I love her homemade pizza..........

Whit and I escaped before Open House for a little snack......

It got downright chilly this week.  It was excellent.  A short lived taste of fall.........

I purchased a bubble necklace on ebay.  It arrived and I LOVE IT.......

And the biggest news.........I am excited to announce a giveaway Because Shanna Said So is hosting!  I'm excited because I joined forces as one of her sponsors this month!  Part of becoming her sponsor included participation in a group giveaway, and the time has arrived!  Head to her blog and get yourself entered!!!!!!!!

Good luck to you annnd happy weekend!

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday

Styling a Blank Canvas

Last week, I lived in shorts and t-shirts while preparing my classroom for kiddos.  This week, it's back to reality.  No more shorts and t-shirts.  Not even jeans.

Teachers, nowadays, dress up!  Skirts, dresses, or even dress pants.

It's true.  Gone are the days of apple button covers, appliqued vests, and denim jumpers.  

Anyway. 

With my lameness last week, I wanted to try to redeem myself this week.  And I promised an outfit post centered around a blank canvas sort of dress.  Something I could style a million different ways.

I only came up with four though.

Here you go........

One dress + random belts, cardigans, scarves, and tights = four different looks!

I'm considering the blue belted version for the first day of school.  Which happens to be tomorrow.

May the halls of school be my runway.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Harper's Happenings,
Transatlantic Blonde, Two Thirty-Five Designs and Rolled up Pretty!!!

Thrifting Frenzy

Time to share a few of my favorite things from some recent thrifting excursions!!!

Vintage mint green statement necklace.........LOVE.......

Paint by number set that a lovely blog buddy identified as Roses In Bloom.....

J. Crew gingham top.  Original tag attached.  Marked down to $4.98.....

A mirror ($2.50) that I can't wait to spray paint and put in my newly revamped guestroom.....

The cutest little footstool that you ever did see..........

Annnnnd I couldn't resist this Christmas find......

Even though he is a little creepy.  Sort of gnome-like maybe?

I feel like he's watching me.

Linking up with Blue Eyed Owl, Apron Thrift Girl, 
Southern Hospitality, Magpie Monday, Colorblind annnnnddd

Weekly Recap

This was my last week of freedom.  Our first contracted day at school is Monday, with kiddos arriving on Thursday.

I needed to live it up.

So how does one do that?

They attend the local fair and find the red velvet funnel cakes they heard about on the news..........

And ride rides.......

They finish major summer to-do list things.  Like paint bedrooms......

And stage newly painted bedrooms......

They write and teach flag routines........

They might even get in one last thrifting excursion........

What could be better than leg warmers and a pair of paint by number florals?

It was a good last week of freedom.

Now to ring in the school year!

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday

What I Wore (to teach a flag routine)

School starts next week.  And to say that I'm busy would be an understatement.  The things I am busy with, however, do not require cute outfits.  So I've been getting the most out of my Soffe shorts and t-shirts.  

One event on my calendar really did require such an outfit.  

Every summer, I write a flag routine for a school not too far down the road.  So to write that routine, I camped out in my classroom with a recording of the song and a broom.........

How do I not have a real flag?  Good thing teachers are resourceful.  

Anyway.

I wore that very same number to the high school when I went to teach the routine.

Trust me.  It would be weird to show up any other way.

So.

To make up for being lame, I thought I'd look ahead to next week.  

See, I got a steal of a deal at Banana Republic.  A $12.99 dress......

This dress is basically a blank canvas waiting to be styled.  

Think of the possibilities.  Scarves, belts, tights, necklaces!

So next week, I want to do a post where I style it a few different ways.  If you have ideas, I'd love to hear them!  

And I swear, if you visit next week, you will not be subjected to another broom photo.

I might even iron the dress.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Harper's Happenings, Rae Gun Ramblings,
Transatlantic Blonde, Two Thirty-Five Designs and Rolled up Pretty!!!

Blueberry Coffee Cake

A sale on blueberries had me looking for an old standby........

I can't remember where this recipe came from.  Only that I hand wrote the card well over ten years ago.  That was the print of an elementary teacher in the making.

Anyway.

This recipe is one of my favorites.  Mainly because it's like a dessert that can be eaten for breakfast.  I feel like I'm breaking the rules.  But also because it is soooo easy to make.  And of course it's tasty.......

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Cake Batter

4 cups flour

1 cup sugar

6 teas. baking powder

1 teas. salt

2 cups blueberries

2 eggs

2/3 cup oil

2 cups milk

Streussel

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup butter

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Grease a 9 x 13" dish.  Preheat the oven to 350.  Mix all the dry ingredients for the cake batter in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, oil, and milk together.  Pour the egg mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined, then stir in the blueberries.

Next, make the streussel using a pastry blender.  Using an unsoftened stick of butter will yield a better texture.  Blend until the mixture is crumbly.

Pour half the cake batter in the greased dish.  Sprinkle half the streussel over the batter.  Pour in the rest of the batter and top with remaining steussel.  Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes.  I check the center with a toothpick at about 35 minutes in.

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Another reason I like this recipe?  It can easily be halved!  You can make a big one to share or half to gorge on yourself!  

Or you can make a whole one to gorge on yourself.  

It's your cake.  

Do what you want!

Just be sure to add a dab of butter and stick it in the microwave for a few seconds.

 Linking up with:  Mrs. Happy Homemaker, 33 Shades of Green,
The Winthrop Chronicles, Rae Gun Ramblings, Foodie Friday annnnd

This Week (in Instagrams)

With summer vacation in my rearview mirror, I decided it was time to walk the plank go check out my classroom.......

While I was there I figured I should probably do something.  Dust bunnies (and spiders) were goin' down......

Since I worked so hard I gave myself a break on Wednesday.  I got to meet up with Jan and Andrea for lunch at Relic's brand new tea room.  Tasty quiche and even better company.......

I guess the mister thought I was working hard too because he surprised me with a date night.  We saw the new Batman movie (loveditsomuch) and hit up Steak 'n Shake.....

Then after waking up from a dream in which I was Catwoman, mine eyes did behold a beautiful sight while browsing good ole Facebook yesterday morn........

I immediately contacted my Scentsy Rep and ordered one.  

What is it, you ask?  A Scentsy Owl Warmer.  It's for making your space smell lovely.  And you should BUY ONE while they are 10% off! 

I cannot wait to get mine.  Only I'll have trouble deciding if I want to take it to school or leave it at home.  

I mean who wouldn't want a glowing owl that emits divine scents???

Maybe I need two.....

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

Linking up with......High Five for Friday and Insta-Friday