I raced home today to catch this sunset.
I left work right around 4:15 feeling pretty crappy that the sun was on it’s way out. But the more I drove the more beautiful the light became, and it left me feeling humbled and happy that there is so much beauty on this earth. Even when the time changes against my will.
So in the end, I suppose I’m glad the sun was setting at 4:15.
Because I got to see it tonight.
And it was absolutely incredible.
Well, friends, TGIF.
Here’s some of my favorites from this week… yeah, FRIDAY!
Are you kidding me? This is got to be the most phenomenal office I’ve ever seen. I love the bold print on the wall and the pop of color from the green desk. The inspiration board is pretty sweet too. I would be rockin’ out if I had a space like this. Rockin’ O-U-T. Crazy cool. Image from Veranda via Mimi+Meg.
Love this outfit. The the color, love the skirt, love the jacket, love the pop of hot pink. A-dore. Seen and LOVED here.
I saw this instagram on Pinterest last week and I just about jumped out of my seat sqealing like a child on Christmas. Last spring/summer I had a love affair with TOMS and they quickly became my favorite shoe of all time. I love the look and the comfort is unparalleled. Rumor has it that these TOMS ballet flats are coming out in 2012. Glee!
This print is great! You can buy it from Judy Kaufmann on Etsy. She’s got lots of fun original artwork to choose from and they’re all very unique. Check ’em out!
This display is so gorgeous. I love the blue/green tinted glass, the bright light, and beautiful wooden tables. Lovely, lovely. Spotted on Southern Living via Room Polish.
Oh, I love these. They are very similar to a pillow I purchased in Beacon Hill last weekend and I am just loving the chevron look. These pillows are really nice with the brown piping– different! Find these and more fancy things at the Etsy shop CCDeuxvie.
This is one of my favorite verses of all time. My parents have a slightly different version of this verse up in their bedroom and I can still remember exactly what it looks like. Theirs has the words stitched with needlepoint and I remember lying in my parents’ bed as a child reading the words over and over again to myself. It has a warm place in my heart and I think this print of it is simple and beautiful.
Hope you enjoyed this edition… HAPPY WEEKEND all!! xo
This past weekend Ali and Hannah came to Boston! Hannah came down from Maine, which is really just a quick bus ride away, but Ali was here alllllllll the way from New Zealand! That’s far. Like a whole day away far. 16 hours on a plane far. Seriously, it’s far. Since she’s originally from the States, and she adores New England, this is where she’ll get married in the spring. The wedding will be in Manchester by the Sea, which is quintessential New England and I cannot wait. It’s sure to be a lovely time. Plus, her fiance is a Kiwi, and a really awesome one at that.
We spent Saturday afternoon on Newbury Street shopping for bridesmaid dresses for Ali’s upcoming nuptials.
It was chilly this weekend, and a snowstorm was in our future, but we braved the cold fairly well (with hot Starbucks in our grips) and hopped around to a few dress shops looking for something for us maids to wear on the big day. We saw a lot of dresses. Some got yes, and lots got NO. Now the choice is for Ali to make and to let us know which one is the winner, the one she loves the most for her day.
We stopped by the Public Garden in between appointments to snag a Boston picture to remember the weekend and afterwards we stopped at Stephanie’s on Newbury for lunch. A classic spot that has never failed me in all my years. Their french fries are thin and crunchy and their warm goat cheese salad is like a dream inside my mouth. SO delicious.
Ali, Hannah, and I met in college. We spent our senior year living in a brick house off campus with four other fabulous ladies, dancing, eating, and drinking beer. We played beruit, went to the bars, and did even more dancing in between. It was awesome. Yeah, college!
This is Ali, the bride-to-be:
Ali and Hannah went abroad senior year to New Zealand. To make a very long story short, Ali fell in love with her host brother, Shannon. True life, stuff like that really happens to people. She came back to the US for senior year of college, and then decided to pack her bags and move over to the land of the Kiwis. Yep, she moved across the world for love. It’s pretty romantic, don’t you think?
I do.
And so now, six years later, we’re getting ready for the wedding of the year. Thanks for hanging out this weekend, ladies! As always, it was wonderful. ♥
It’s back to school today. That day off yesterday was heavenly. Love surprises like that. It’s what keeps life interesting. I ended up doing just about half of the to-dos on my list, which was exactly my prediction. It was nice to be able to get some things done on Monday that I planned on doing next Saturday. I feel like I’m really ahead of the game now, and I love that feeling.
Today we’re “fancy-ing up” our writing. In my classroom we do writing workshop, which basically means the kids are learning writing through listening to books with superior writing, watching me model good writing, and most importantly doing writing. They write for 35-45 minutes a day. They’re first graders. And they’re serious.
I love this part of our day. Every afternoon the kids looks forward to writing, and get bummed out when something gets in the way.
Here’s an excerpt from a parent email I got recently:
I also wanted to let you know that Gabe really enjoyed the nature scavenger hunt you did, and that he’s missing writing workshop–he was lamenting the lack of time for it over breakfast this morning. I loved hearing that!
See? They’re serious.
Anyways, most days we just use pencil during workshop. They sketch their pictures and work on the words of their stories. But the colored pencils, crayons, and markers are coming out today because on Wednesday, we will have our publishing party. We will share our “finished pieces”, read aloud, give compliments, and take pride in the work we have done. And then… then, we will dance.
DANCE PARTY. We dance to Black Eyed Peas and Taio Cruiz. We jam, clap our hands, and throw our arms up in the air. Like I said, it’s serious.
And fun, and rewarding, and deserving, and awesome.
It’s why I’m a teacher, and I love it.
