August is a shopping month for me. Every year I try not to go crazy but there is just something about August that makes me go a bit wild in the shopping department. It is just so easy to find great deals and use all of my birthday coupons that just makes me so happy.

I put together a little birthday board to share some of my finds and gifts I received. Chris got me a new pair of tennis shoes that are so comfortable. I'm also loving my purchases from Bare Escentuals - I've been wearing the 5 in 1 Eye Serum on the daily by itself and I just love how bright it makes my eyes look. I didn't think I would like the new liquid foundation after wearing powder for so many years but it is freakin' awesome. It doesn't even feel like liquid on my skin and it covers really well.

As  you might be able to tell - I'm in love with navy blue right now, I just can't get enough. And I'm super pumped to wear that cozy aztec sweater as soon as the weather decides to get a little cooler.

While it looks like I might have gone overboard - I was able to pay for a large part of my shopping spree with Swagbucks! It was my goal this summer to earn enough to be able to shop for myself without feeling guilty. I was able to earn a little over $150 in about 8 weeks by spending about 20 minutes a day clicking around the Swagbucks website and watching videos through the Swagbucks TV app. I cashed my Swagbucks in for the $25 Paypal gift cards which are like cash because they transfer to your bank account. So easy!

My next goal is to bolster my Christmas gift budget through Swagbucks - every little bit helps!

Are you using Swagbucks to help get what you want/need? Or did you shop your heart out in August too? I know material things aren't the most important things in life but a little treat once year always makes me feel good.

August will always be my "treat yo' self" month!

Today was one if those days that was going well until about 2pm after which it just went to hell in a handbasket at warp speed.

I had my arthritis medication infusion which is an IV. I've been getting stuck with a needle for every month for the past 13 years and I have rock stars veins. I'm always a first stick.....except today. In which she had to dig in my arm for a minute, then re-stick me. Eh, it wouldn't have been so bad if the nurse hadn't gotten blood on one of my fave cardigans. Luckily it came out.

THEN on the way home, I heard a really loud pop right before turning on to the highway, I remember it startled me but thought nothing else of it.

Cut to 30 minutes later.

It's been quite the busy day around these parts. I kicked off my day by getting to school super early to help a co-worker learn some fancy tricks with her SMART Board.

I don't mess around when it's below freezing.

It's cold at 6:15 in the AM.

Then it was on to a department meeting - everyone is in a tizzy because we are adding a new team. It's all "who's gonna teach what?" and "I heard such and such..." at school right now. I try not to get sucked into the drama but who am I kidding, I want to know what's up!

After our department meeting it was on to a PLC meeting designing our latest assessment for Southwest Asia and North Africa. Thank goodness for time to plan!

You may be thinking, does this woman teach any kids or just go to meetings all day? Well, yes, the kids finally arrived at 10:20am. We have a delayed start once a month to work with other grade level teachers in our content area.

After buzzing through six 25-30 minute classes in which we reviewed for our quiz tomorrow by playing an exciting game of tic-tac-toe (no, seriously, it was super exciting). The students have known about the quiz for over a week I still had to answer the question, "What is the quiz over?" Sometimes I am pretty sure I'm talking to the walls. SMH.

One more meeting, plan time, then supervising after school detention. It amazes me that students, when given a choice between reading or twiddling their thumbs, will often pick twiddling.For. An. Hour. I may have made about 5,000 other suggestions of how my detentioneer could have been using his time but nope, sitting and staring at his hands it was. Hrumph!

The most exciting part of my day...an emergency trip to the eye doctor! I haven't been in years...pretty sure I haven't been as an adult. But today was the day I made my triumphant return because I've been having the the weirdest flashing sensation in both eyes and I couldn't see! It lasted about an hour and a half today and was kind of scary.

By the time I got to the office, I was no longer experiencing any symptoms but felt a little off. Turns out I experienced an "ophthalmic migraine aura"  without getting the migraine.The same thing happened about a month ago and didn't result in a migraine that time either. So I guess I'm not going to get headaches any more just some temporary blindness...but, I'll take that over a migraine any day!

While examining my eyes, the doc was making chit chat and noticed I was decked out in school gear. He asked what I did and when I replied "geography teacher" he responded with, "What's your favorite lake?" At first I thought he was trying to test me, like does this chick who thinks she's about to go blind really know what she's talking about?

After about a second more of contemplation, the answer sprung to my head.

"Lake Titicaca of course!" (It's every 6th grader's favorite lake once they learn about it during our Latin America unit.)

We both cracked up laughing.

Good ol' Lake Titicaca.

This Friday is extra special.

It was a SNOW DAY!

And it was snow day NUMBER 2!

I really was stunned when we got the call last night for the 2nd day off but after going out today I could see why, so many people were still getting stuck in snow banks and what not.

Here's what a snow day looks like in St. Louis...


No joke. This is what I woke up to Thursday morning. No school and no snow. So why a snow day? Well the good people of St. Louis are not the best drivers in inclement weather, whether it be rain, sleet, or snow, we suck at driving in all of it. So with the predicted snow/sleet combo that was supposed to arrive mid-day, most schools in the area were proactive so no one would be out in the worst of it. Unlike last year when I spent 4 freaking hours trying to get to school after an overnight and unexpected ice storm. I still have nightmares.

By about noon it was starting to look a little bit more like a snow day...


Besides going to the gym yesterday, I have parked my happy little butt on the couch for most of the day.

Hulu has been responsible for most of laziness - I caught up on New Girl and for some reason started watching episodes of The Office - mostly ones that features Pam and Jim's relationship...they're adorable. I've also gotten Chris hooked on Grey's Anatomy and Scandal which were both on last night. I don't know what I would do without the television. Or really the internet since I can watch almost all TV online now.

What else rocked about this week besides only working two days? I finally enrolled in 3 hours of graduate credit to start towards my Masters + 15. I plan on taking 12 more hours this summer (blegh) so I can get a pay raise at the start of next school year.



Chris surprised me with some Cardinals Opening Day tickets - it's practically a holiday here in St. Louis and we've never been so it should be fun.

This weekend I am getting crafty for my cousin's bridal shower and celebrating a friend's 30th b-day - thank goodness I've had two days off to prepare.

What are you up to this weekend? Catching up on any missed tv? What shows are you hooked on right now? Something you should do is go check out the link up over at From My Grey Desk. Have a great weekend!

The last two weeks have been a bit rough on me, hence no new updates in quite some time.

What was the roughness you ask?

The freakin' FLU!

Totally had to wear a mask at the Walgreen's clinic. #maskshaming

Blah. It has been awful. I was on the couch for a full three days, no work, no play. No nothing. Except sip broth and blow my nose.

The nose blowing continues a week and half later. Kleenex is my new best friend.

But I am on the mend, finally. This past weekend I was able to go out and celebrate my mom's 50th birthday with dinner and drinks with the fam. I think my mom was really not excited to turn 50 or even celebrate the big 5-0 but she definitely had some fun...maybe a little too much fun. When I left her house at 3pm today, she was still in bed. Oops.



This week I'm looking forward to a four day week with the students AND a long weekend. Oh fabulous!

Can't wait to share my little kitchen update I hinted at back on the 24th that FINALLY got done last week after going back and forth with the guy I hired.

Have a great week!

Oh why oh why can't winter break last just a few more days?

That's right. Students are back in my classroom starting tomorrow. What kind of cruel joke is to have two days of school after winter break?

I would much rather start fresh on a Monday. Oh well. While most of you are snuggled warm in your beds tomorrow morning, I will be braving the single digit temperatures to review the physical features of the western hemisphere. Don't be jealous...

The boyfriend and I have been joking around with the idea of being "stay at home people". Since we don't have children, we can't say "stay at home mom/dad" so we would just be people who stay at home, taking care of ourselves and our home. It really is a fabulous idea if you have a significant other who can support you. I'd be able to go to the gym whenever, all of my meals perfectly planned and prepared, and an immaculate home.


The problem is both Chris and I want to be "stay at home people". That whole lack of income thing would be an issue.

I'm still in a winter break state of mind so I spent most of the afternoon cat napping and blog reading.

A list has been forming in my brain of all things I want to purchase because I have serious gift card money burning a hole in my pocket. I'm one of those people that thinks about purchasing things, then goes to visit them at the store a few times, possibly even puts the items in my cart, takes them for a stroll around the store but then ultimately puts them back to be purchased another time or sometimes not even at all. Do you ever do that or can you just throw things in your cart with out thinking about it?

My current wish list:
Linking up with Shanna!

I like to reflect each week on what totally rocked and link up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk.

This week, my world is better because:

1. 12 in '12 baby! My STL Cardinals are currently playing in the NLCS AGAIN. It feels unreal to be back in the same position we were last year. AND I get to go to Game #5 tonight to hopefully see them clinch the pennant.

2. Fall just showed up. One day this week as I turned onto my street I was bombarded by fall colors. We are still dealing with up and down temps but the colors are finally getting on track.


3. I got my school picture this week and it reminded me that I am becoming my mom. Slowly but surely...it's happening.

I hate that I haven't posted in over a week but my summer came to screeching halt even though I thought I was so well prepared for the new school year. The boyfriend has been out of town, my inbox is constantly full, and still trying to make it to the gym. It's only the second day of school and I'm already screaming "SERENITY NOW!" by Friday it'll be "HOOCHIE MAMA!" (Seinfeld, anyone?)

I have posts with pictures even... of my classroom, my August Birchbox, my birthday presents, my hilarious family having a luau with a gigantic fishbowl drink.

It's coming. Soon.

For now I'm going to bed. Early. Again.

Night Night.

My first real week of vacation has awakened my summer time habit of reading my little heart out. The only time I feel I can really read something other than textbooks is during the summer so I started this week with the 50 Shades trilogy by E.L. James.

Credit: Classy Southern Wife

My review in a nutshell: Oh. My. God.

I honestly had no intention of reading these despite all the buzz surrounding them but I was at my parent's house on Saturday and my sister had her copy laying on the kitchen counter so I started reading...45 minutes and 100 pages later I couldn't put it down. I will say that they love story throughout the three books is what kept me reading not the graphic sex scenes.

Overall I really liked the stories but did it need to be three books? Heavens no! The author could have easily made this one book had she not been so repetitive both in language and with the overly indulgent sex scenes.

Would I read them again? Maybe. I liked 50 Shades of Grey and 50 Shades Darker but I loved 50 Shades Freed because it was more fast paced and had more action (besides the raunchy kind.)

I was curious to see what others thought about the book so before purchasing the second I started reading some reviews on Amazon, they may have been more entertaining than some parts of the trilogy, especially this one and this one. I like my "literary crack" thankyouverymuch!

Did I mention I read all three books in four days? Yeah, when I read, I binge. But now I have a thirst for more. Here's what I'm thinking of reading:

• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

• Joan Rivers - I Hate Everyone - Starting With Me

• Most Talkative - by Andy Cohen (STL native!)

• Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin

• Me Talk Pretty One Day - David Sedaris (bought this after reading "When You're Engulfed in Flames" and then never read it...oops)

 So what have you been reading? Did you pick up 50 Shades, what did you think? Leave me a comment with some suggestions for reading!

My favorite day of the week is back again and it's time for a link up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk.


Here is my top 5 from this week:

1. Continuing my love affair with Instagram.

2. I have totally forgotten how much fun painting my own nails is! After three years and much consideration I removed my acrylic nails this week. I picked out a new color from Essie called "A Crewed Interest" and slicked on a few coats. Not sure how long I'll keep the new natural look (maybe through the summer) but it's fun for now :)


3. The boyfriend and I signed up for Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University which starts in two weeks. I'm real excited to take the class together and have some insight into managing shared finances. Not gonna lie - two individuals sharing a house/bank accounts/etc. is sometimes difficult to manage. Hopefully this will be worth our while - I definitely think we are ready to get a set plan in action!

4. My mom and I went to the Cardinals game on Tuesday night to see a 10-7 victory over the Pirates.  Love spending time with my momma!


5. Thirteen days. 13 days left of school! It's going to fly by. And while I may share my excitement every week about the end of school, I am really going to miss my kids as they move to 7th grade. We had an exceptional batch of students this year...so far my most favorite.

Hope your week has been stupendous, have a fantastic weekend!

Oh yes, you know what day it is...FRIDAY! This week went by a little faster than usual which always makes me happy. I'm linking up with Lauren over at From My Grey Desk for her High Five for Friday party....you should too, it feels so good to celebrate the end of the week and everything that was great about it!

Here is what I'm loving this week in no particular order:

1. I just discovered Instagram. Yeah, I'm a little tardy to the party but it just became available to Android users (don't judge me iPhones!) But how freakin' cool is this little app? Love it.


2. Spotted this display at Micheal's  - summer...is that you?



3. Our first Cardinal's game on Sunday was an awesome 11-1 victory over the Cubs and our seats are pretty choice. No big deal!


4. Impulse purchased a new Vera Bradley purse. Justification was that I don't own any small purses (truly I don't) and I don't want to lug a suitcase to the ballpark. I believe it's called the Lizzie and the print is just so bright and happy. I might not have switched back to the big purse yet...a small purse revolution could be on the horizon.



5. Thanks to a co-worker I now know the next step in continuing my education after my Master's and I can't wait to get started. I've decided to pursue earning 30 graduate credit hours through a program called Learner's Edge which partners with a few universities my district recognizes. The best part - only $125 a credit hour! It almost seems too good to be true but it is completely legit. Hells yes for not going in to debt for my Master's or +30! And it feels so good to have a plan.

Hope your week has been sunshine and rainbows, have a great weekend!