Love and Hate (2012)

Looking back, this year was full of mostly good things.  There was a lot to love about 2012.

But life gets thrown at you sometimes.  And sometimes you just hate it.  Not life, I guess.  But circumstances. 

I couldn't foreshadow the feelings I'd have upon losing my Grampy.  I miss him like crazy.  I think about him every single day.  I even catch myself thinking about emailing him some random thing.  That's what we did. 

I haven't figured out how to channel my sadness when it washes over me.  So I just cry.

That was the worst thing about 2012.

But with the bad comes the good.  And the year was filled with things to be thankful for.

Serious things like a having a good job and my health.

And some silly things too.  Like my new car......

Having had my previous car since 1998, buying this was pretty monumental.  

*   *   *   *

I finally finished the special room......

I mean, how long did this take me?

*   *   *   *

The booth continued to be a fun hobby.......

Can this please be my full time gig???

I could be an American Picker.

I could.

*   *   *   *

And the blog grew by leaps and bounds........

EEEEEEEKKK!  How did this happen!?!?!

I don't even know, but I'm ever so thankful for my supportive blog buddies and the new friendships that have formed this year.

I pray that 2013 yields as many blessings as 2012 did.

Happy New Year!


 

 Linking up with:

From Scarves to Mixers

In a cruel twist of fate, we did not get a single flake of snow on Christmas (as the forecast had promised).  The storm went south of us.

But this helped ease the pain.........

A Candy Apple Red KitchenAid mixer.

Yes, I cried.

With a week and a half left of Christmas break, I'll have plenty of time to break it in.

My Pinterest boards are filled with domestic escapades I want to attempt.

And speaking of domestic escapades, here are four pins I've actually made this last month........

1.  //  2.  //  3.  //  4.  

We loved every single recipe!  They will all be repeated in the future!  

The mister even got in on the cooking action.  He banished me from the kitchen to make the bacon wrapped smokies by himself.

So to calm my kitchen controlling nerves, I left the room to peruse Pinterest.

And it's possible that a certain scarf I'd pinned went from my "wish list" to "into my closet".

I really needed it.  It was the only way I could duplicate an outfit I'd pinned........

 scarf  //  outfit

I mean, I had every element of that outfit, except the scarf.  Not to mention Shanna and Sharon had been teasing me with their styled versions.

And when the mister is in the kitchen, you have to find ways to cope.

Online shopping seems to work.

But now that I know the mister is proficient in the kitchen, he might regret showing off his culinary skillz.

He just can't touch my KitchenAid.

Good, Bad, and Ugly

Things that are good:

*Two weeks of Christmas break.

*Kicking it off with all my favorite girls and a white elephant gift exchange......

*A Sunday night that isn't a school night.

*Our annual trip to Silver Dollar City to see the lights.

*Getting the mister to pose for a pic while we're there.........

Things that are bad:

*Losing my voice during the last week of school before break.

*Shopping.  And only finding things for me.

Things that are ugly:

*The prospect of a winter storm on Christmas.  Which is actually a good thing.  A very good thing.

Except school is already out.  So no "snow days" will be had.

Cruel, Mother Nature, cruel.

But I guess if I get a white Christmas, I'll forgive her.

As long as she delivers again in mid-January or February.

 Linking up with:

This Week (in Instagrams)

I spruced up the hallway......

 

 

Those are vintage rug beaters.  

 

Yes, that's a thing.

 

And I think they make a fun, unexpected gallery wall. 

 

Yes or no?

 

 *   *   *   *

 

I wrapped 23 books........

I love it when the kiddos walk into the classroom and find these under the tree.

*   *   *   *

 

Mother Nature was such a tease........

 

We got our first snow of the season.

 

And it melted about four hours later.

 

Not good enough, Mother Nature!  

*   *   *   *

 

Whit and I planned matching outfits for sweater day at work.......

 

 

The antlers didn't last very long.

 

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Porch Creeping 2012 Christmas Edition........

 

 

Porch creeping is exactly what it sounds like.  

You creep onto the porch of an unsuspecting friend.  Scramble to pose whilst the self timer on your camera ticks away.  And post the photos to Instagram.  

 

You try not to get caught.  

 

The point is for the friend to find these photos while innocently scrolling through Instagram and be like, "Hey!  That's my porch!"

It.Is.Great.Fun.

 

Until you fall over an adirondack chair and the homeowner springs from the sofa because he thinks you are really a pesky opossum and you're caught red-handed. 

 

Stupid adirondack.

 

 

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

Random Wednesday

Because I've been trying to get as much mileage as possible out of these.......

 

I haven't even thought about cute outfits. 

(Yes, I like Christmas shirts.)

I also like Christmas crafts or projects.

One favorite was found on Pinterest.  A teacher related pin.

So I put my students to work.  

They had to write a how-to paragraph.  Specifically, how to make the Grinch grin............

And boy did they work hard.  I had some very creative, cute, and funny paragraphs.  

But one in particular absolutely stole my heart.

Yes, I had a favorite........

To make the Grinch grin, I would tell him the true 

meaning of Christmas. I would tell him that it is Jesus' 

birthday, and we give and get presents to remember 

the greatest gift of all. I would also play fun games with him. 

So he does not get mad, I would let him win each time. 

 That is how I would make the Grinch grin.

From the mouth of a nine year old.

I think all of that would make the Grinch grin.

Merry Christmas!

Linking up with Rolled up Pretty and

Thrifting Frenzy

The holiday season has not slowed down my thrifting.  I've been as lucky as ever.

My garage, however, needs a break.

After cleaning the special room and adding to my booth stash, I could stand to have an auction.

But never mind that. 

Let's talk about what goodies I added to the garage this week........

I found the lamp and lampshade at different stores.  They don't necessarily go together.

But they don't necessarily not go together.

They are both terribly cute.

*   *   *   *

Fun canisters.  Already in the booth.

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A vintage floral.  I could not resist the red, um, poppies?  And the string of beads strung along the base of the vase.

*   *   *   *

And lastly, the Mustang got its first reeeaaal good workout when I decided to bring these home.  I was super happy that the back seats fold down so easily!

Are you doubting my sanity now?

Come on.

Think statement wall.  A little spray paint.

Or have mirrors cut for them.

EEEEEEKKKK!

MIRRORS!

I think I just talked myself into keeping them.

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Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Sir Thrift-a-lot, A Living Space,

    The Cottage Market, Magpie Monday, Thrifty Thursday, annnnnddd

My brain can barely process the events of Friday, December 14th. 

Praying for wisdom on how to answer the questions my students will have this week.

Praying for the community of Newtown, CT.

I'll be joining many bloggers on Tuesday in remembrance of the victims.......

Weekly Recap (in Instagrams)

The Christmas shirts made their debut..........

This is my favorite one.  

It does not, however, sum up my feelings for the season.

I just think it's funny.  And I like the graphics.

*   *   *   *

 A vintage cardigan was purchased........

I snatched this up for a song at Relics.  

That's the danger of having a booth at a great antique mall.  You buy things when you're there checking to see if you sold anything.

 *   *   *   *

I won a great giveaway from a lovely blog buddy..........

You are looking at some handmade boot toppers.  I'm in love.  Thank you Sara!

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Whit and I brought identical lunches one day..........

Down to the BBQ chips.  

I mean, first it's outfits.  

Now it's food!?!?

 *   *   *   *

And more work shenanigans.........

I mean who wouldn't be caught off guard by that penetrating stare?  

While in the staff bathroom.

Could it get more random?

Or awesome?

I think not.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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

The Obsession Continues (what I wore)

My mustard obsession, that is.

The color.

Not the condiment.

I have mustard jeans.  A cardigan.  Tights too.

And now I have a scarf.

I looked high and low for a great mustard scarf.  Shoulda known Kiki La'Rue would have the perfect one!

Styling a big yellow scarf had me a little nervous.  So I decided to keep it simple.  A little black, a little brown, and animal print.........

Is animal print simple?  Is that how to rock a statement scarf?

I don't know.

What I do know is that there are eight more school days til Christmas break.

And while candy canes, presents, and Santa are running through the veins of my 23 kiddos, this teacher might even be more amped than they are.

Now all I need is some snow!

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Transatlantic Blonde,  

Two Thirty-Five Designs, Rolled up Pretty, and

The Special Room

Less than 24 hours ago I had a skeleton in my closet bedroom.......

Yes, that's a leopard Snuggie.  And piles of laundry.
 
That's what I had to do in order to host Thanksgiving.

You are judging me, I know it.

That's okay.  Deserved.

But don't be too hard on me.  Because yesterday, I snapped.  And went on a special room cleaning frenzy.  I even broke out the hammer and nails..........

So now it's official.

The special room chapter is coming to a close.

And the door to that room can remain open.

I could even have guests.

But that means I'd have to clean the bathroom or something.

This Week (Instagram Style)

The last few days have included:

Decorating the bathroom for Christmas..........

Yes.  I said bathroom.

What!?!

*   *   *   *

Work shenanigans........

Leaving Consuelo the dinosaur in the doorway of an unsuspecting coworker is great fun.

You should try it.

*   *   *   *

A much needed manicure........

I just don't have the patience to do my own.

It always ends badly.

 *   *   *   *

 Adding a little Christmas to the special room.........

What you don't see is the pile of clothes on the bed.

I'm working on it.  Gosh!!!

*   *   *   *

 And enduring enjoying music in my classroom...........

We have outgrown our building, so music comes to us every week.

I know all the words to Shenandoah.

In fact, on a Saturday morning not so long ago, I woke up with that song playing over and over in my head.

I can't wait for the recorder unit to begin.

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Follow me on Instagram @thisvintagegrove!!

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