Five for Friday

Does it count if I started this post when it was technically still Friday {11:59pm et}

I am currently sitting on the couch, much past when I should have gone to bed, watching the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles one; you know, the good one.

It has been a very busy week & that's perfect for a link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching weekly Five for Friday.

I got the whole week off from school, a much needed break, & needed to prepare for my parents coming into town from St. Louis for Thanksgiving. They weren't staying with us, but I wanted to use the weekend & three days to get all my Christmas decorations up.

Holy Christmas decor inventory.

 Plus this FABULOUS find from an antique shop. You know that look/move you do when you find a $1 on the ground…I did that when I spotted the moose mug.

You serious, Clark?

No wall goes untouched in our apartment. The catch 22 about living in Central Florida is that we can't really get out of the state easily, but with the exception of the panhandle, we can get almost anywhere easily IN Florida. Our goal while we live here is to make the most of it & visit as many places as we can.

I purchased this 1920 map of Florida from Etsy shop WorkBox, printed it as an 18x24 & glued it to a canvas. Every where that Brandon & I have visited together gets a little pin in it. Still many places to visit!

I found the painting from Hobby Lobby.

Like I said earlier, my parents weren't staying with us in Orlando. We rented a condo in New Symrna Beach. We had a nice, low key Thanksgiving dinner, hubs was able to be off work for the evening to join, & we enjoyed the sunset & ocean view. B & I made the journey to Wal-Mart {ugh} & snagged a voucher to order the 50" TV. Black Friday just isn't the same anymore. Running through Target at 4am 4 years ago when we literally snagged our current 40" was so much more fun.

The weather has been really chilly the last two weeks, I feel sorry for my parents who were hoping for some hot weather. But anything is better than current Missouri weather.

And I have enjoyed getting to wear my "Wellies" & leggings!

Has anyone else had anxiety to go back to work on Monday? I had a legit anxiety attack this morning just thinking about my email {that I refuse to check till Sunday evening--at the earliest}

I really am not ready yet. But the positive side of it is that Thanksgiving was later this year, which means Christmas will come faster!

Princess Half Marathon is coming up in a very short 3 months & I am no where near ready. So what better way to celebrate the day after stuffing yourself than signing up for a 5k? 

As of my last running attempt I was only able to go a mile before I had to walk. Pretty embarrassing for someone who plans on running a half soon.

Another reason I love living in Florida, perfect running outside weather. Now..where is that motivation?

Hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving break with your family & friends.

Positive Thinking, Thanks, + Threads

It's Thursday & I'm thankful, thoughtful & threading.

First linking up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughing: Positive Thinking Thursdays

The most positive thing I can think of is that tomorrow is the LAST day of school before a WHOLE WEEK off for Thanksgiving. 

Time to decorate my apartment full of Christmas decorations, catch up on work, get some much needed rest/rejuvenation, & prepare for my parents to come visit for Thanksgiving.

Now, I can get all sentimental on you & do the basic "thanks" for my husband, my family, my friends, my dog, my job…

Which I totally am but I'm trying to get a little more specific.

I am thankful to live in Florida as the winter season rolls around. I hate the cold & do not miss the hell that was outdoor recess duty from November-March. Orlando had a recent cold front blow through, and while it was a rude awakening to what I don't miss about Missouri, it was nice to pull out my boots, scarves, & layer up.

Canvas Jacket - Old Navy (here) Purple/Grey Shirt - TJ Maxx last year

Leggings -HUE (here) Boots- Target (3 years ago) Scarve- Gift

Didn't realize it wasn't very clear, but I was very happy with my ootd. It was in the lower 40s in the morning & I couldn't wait to bust out this jacket! I fell in love with it in Old Navy but after it was purchased, I realized it was harder to style & it's been way to warm to wear.

I got my new leggings from Nordstrom two days ago & I love them too! It was time to say adios to my Forever 21, college leggings, & make an adult purchase.

It's hard to tell in the picture but the shirt is a grey/purple color & the back is see through chiffon, so you have to wear a tank underneath. It's to the waist in the front & long (passed the bum) in the back & keeps me falling into the "leggings as pants" fashion fails.

I currently don't know where I'll put my mirror yet, so it's hanging out in my closet (hence the amount of clothes behind it).

Im thankful for Florida sunrises & sunsets! Every day is some beautiful painting!

I am thankful for creativity. I love crafting, DIYing, & drawing on my chalkboard.

And I'm thankful for the discovery of Once Upon a Time. Silly, I know, but I haven't had a new show in awhile & tend to get stuck watching reruns of reality junk I've watched 100 times. 

Disney + drama = duh!

Hope everyone has a wonderful evening & if tomorrow is your last day before break: Congratulations! You made it!

Weekend Recap + Frozen Breakfast Burritos

Another weekend come & gone & the Sunday night blues have set in.

Friday night I got to hang out with my friend's new puppy, a King Charles Cavalier, named Pearl! Pearl is just 10 weeks old & just the cutest. But no "puppy fever" over here. That was fun to do just once.

Saturday I made a trip to the Gift For Teaching warehouse that is offered to Title I teachers in Central Florida. We are allowed to go once a month to stock up on classroom supplies for free. I got a ton of black folders donated by a lawyer's office to make privacy folders for my students.

I saved over $300 this trip! Such a blessing to have this for support.

Saturday was cleaning day & Sunday was crafting day!

I had planned on doing a little decorating for Thanksgiving, I had actually started a craft project using burlap & white pumpkins (I started it a few weeks ago) & haven't had time to finish. I decided just to pack it all up. Project will be waiting for me next year!

After Halloween I usually take down anything holiday specific and leave up the pumpkins and leaves. I am not one of those people to decorate for Christmas early, sorry I'm not sorry, those pilgrims and indians deserve their holiday fair & square. I will though pull out the Christmas decorations next week since I am spending Thanksgiving with my parents in New Symrna Beach & have Monday & Tuesday off from school. 

There may be bags & bags of new decorations in my car waiting to come inside!

Sunday the hubs had to work & I surprisingly woke up semi-early & had the desire to go for a run. Those are few & far between & with my second half marathon just 3 short months away I needed to take advantage of it. It was a absolutely beautiful morning & another reminder of how much I love our neighborhood & living in Central Florida…I believe it was snowing back in Missouri today?

I was able to do 2.6 miles. I ran the first mile at a 10:20 pace, which isn't too bad, & kept a 13 minute mile for the second at a walk/run pace.

I played my Half Marathon playlist while I was running & it was a happy reminder/painful awakening that I was struggling to do 2.6 miles compared to the 13.1 I was doing just 6 months ago.

I worked on two projects on Sunday. I think my run inspired me to finally frame my Nike Women's Half Marathon memorabilia from last spring. It is such a great reminder of all the support I received from everyone while I was raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The second project is also running involved, but not completed yet. Stay tuned!

And finally the breakfast burritos! 

My coworker & I are determined to get healthy & more gym visits so I made us breakfast burritos that we can keep in the freezer & thaw in the morning at work. I am awful at eating breakfast in the morning, I think it has more to do with how early I have to get up & leave. My stomach just doesn't want to eat food at 6:45am & my body doesn't want to get up early enough to make anything. I ate much better when I was working an office job & didn't have to be there until 9am, & was able to make breakfast & eat at my desk.

Hopefully this will help! Took about 30 minutes of prep, 30 minutes to cook & 30 minutes to package. Makes about 15

I watched Addams Family Values while I cooked. 

(I believe it qualifies as a Thanksgiving film)

I had to make two separate batches because my coworker can't have peppers. Her's had mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. Mine had everything.

Ingredients:

2 small containers of Egg Beaters (16 oz)

1 red pepper

1 green pepper

Baby Bell Mushrooms

1 tomato

spinach

Chicken Sausage (I wanted turkey but couldn't find what I wanted)

Skim Milk

Low Fat Cheese

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Dice peppers, mushrooms, and chicken sausage. Cook on a skillet until sausage is cooked and veggies are soft. Mix both containers of Egg Beaters with 1/2 cup of milk. Add egg mix to the skillet, let cook for 20-30 seconds (I let it go too long & got a little burnt. Keep mixing until it looks like scrambled eggs. Put into a bowl & take to the counter. Dish one big spoonful onto a tortilla & wrap. If you are like me & don't know how to wrap the perfect burrito, just google it, very helpful. Wrap in plastic wrap, put them in a gallon bag & place in the freezer! Excited to try them out in the morning.

I'll leave with you with some Monday morning inspiration.

Good night dolls!

No Excuses & My First "Teacher Threads"

I have been absent for a very long time, and I have no excuses why.

I have been fighting to survive the first quarter of school and keep above float for the second. Everything I do in my classroom comes from a pre-determined lesson plan and there is very little time available to do much beyond that, so I haven't felt as though I had too much to share.

Every fun thing I get for the kids or do with them is a beg, borrow, or steal!

Thanks TpT and Pinterest!

 

I promise to get better! But I have said that before...

 

I have thought of doing an outfit segment for awhile but have yet to follow through on it. Mainly because I don't have a full length mirror.

I totally walked out of my last apartment on move out day thinking we had it all packed up....

 

guess what was left behind? snuggling behind our bedroom door.

 

So, when I was back in St. Louis, Mo this past weekend, I took full advantage of my high school full length mirror :-)

 

I want to use "Teacher Threads" (we'll see if that name sticks around) so show how to find/wear comfortable, affordable (!), and stylish clothes, while also being functional, to school. No matter where you live!

I spent my first 3 years teaching in Missouri, where it'll rain, sun, and snow all in one week, to now Florida. Where I can make flip flops last all year if I wanted!

 

But my first two outfits aren't even what I wore teaching, but it doesn't mean I won't adjust them to wear to school soon!

I flew out of Orlando very early and I knew I needed something with layers for the plane, and when I landed in St. Louis. I also was going to get breakfast with my dad, so I needed something that could be seen out in public.

 

Jacket- Old Navy (similiar here) Grey t-shirt-Old Navy (here) Scarf-Old Navy last year (similiar here ) Leggings-Forever21 (OLD) Ballet Flats-Jessica Simpson (here)

 

I still managed to get cold on the plane, but pulling my jacket hood over my face while I tried to get any sleep I could helped.

 

The only items I paid full price for was the ON jacket and the JS ballet flats. The leggings are SO OLD--college old--and I finally ordered a good pair of leggings today from the Nordstrom sale.

The grey shirt I found in the clearance section at ON for $8.

 

I am obsessed with the jean jacket with sweatshirt sleeves and hood.

When I "browse" in Old Navy I usually end up with 10 things in my arm and I talk myself out of most of them by the time I make it the check out.

I was getting ready to leave with a few choices when I saw this jacket on display and HAD TO HAVE IT! I put everything else back and got it.

 

The next outfit I wore that weekend was to a country concert in downtown St. Louis.

Again, I was coming from sunny and seventy Florida to breezy and chilly Missouri, so I made sure to layer.

Jeans-J. Crew Factory (similiar here) Shoes-Target (here) Shirt-Target (here) Vest-HWet Seal last year (similiar here) Scarf-Old Navy (here)

 

With the exception of the jeans and vest, most of that outfit was purhcased that day.

An outfit on Pinterest had caught my eye the day before and after seeing it; I didn't want to wear anything else.

Pinterest Link

 

I'd say I hit the nail on the head pretty well.

 

I had wanted to purchase beige booties for awhile and I finally had my motivation/reason/excuse--you pick.

I found the vest almost a year ago. I searched high and low for a fur vest. I couldn't even tell you how many stores I went into to find it. I also gave up before I passed by a Wet Seal..a store I haven't been into since high school..and up on the wall I saw it! I was over the moon! I also purchased it in black.

 

The outfit was really comfortable and I ended up taking off the scarf after awhile because it got so hot with the crowd. But I felt very comfy and country in it!

 

Hopefully this can become a regular thing for me, as I've always had a love for fashion, and especially the "Look for Less" and recreating inspirations.

 

I will tell you, the photograph quality will never be anything except my phone (which currently is a very old iPhone 4--thanks apple) or my camera that is nothing special.

Don't except high fashion blogging over here...just a twenty-something, regular gal, who spent one semester as a Fashion Merchandising major before becoming a teacher.

:-)