[life] Valentine's Day Recap

Yes, Valentine's Day was over a week ago... oops! But I did want to share with you what Nate got me, the treats I got for him (stolen from Pinterest, of course), and some fun goodness from my Kindergarten classroom!

[A disclaimer, however: we understand that Valentine's Day is not the only day you are to tell each other you love each other, treat one another with presents/flowers/gifts. We love doing stuff like that all the time! But Valentine's Day is a fun one to celebrate as well.] Onward!

Nate purchased me a gorgeous necklace from Kay with a "J" on it: if it has a "J" on it, I'm sold! Gotta love monograms. He perused my "Fashion and Style" pinboard on Pinterest (smart guy) and got the idea. I love it! If you were not already aware, we are both five years old when it comes to giving gifts, so we give them early... I mean, as soon as we have them. I opened this on February 7th :) But THEN he surprised me on Valentine's Day and had flowers sent to my school! What a romantic, he is!

On February 13th, after church that night, Nate helped me assemble 22 Kindergarten goodie bags, complete with Ring pops, homemade bows for the girls (felt red/zebra print), and stretchy heart guys for the boys. It was so fun to make sweet treats for my kiddos, but there were a few hot glue burns. Ouch! The kiddos were so excited the next day, and I received praises: "You're the BEST TEACHER EVERRRRRR!" and plenty of "Thank You's" and hugs. Sweet kids!

My kiddos, like every year, paint hand prints in the shape of a heart for their families, complete with a poem. I had lost the poem I used last year (until I found it this week, hmph) but I found another one on Pinterest. Adorable!

My kiddos were so generous to me this year too! Lots of candy, chocolates, Valentine cards, some flowers, and even a pearl bracelet. So sweet!

Now what I did for Nate... every day, starting February 2nd (I forgot the first day, so he got two treats on the 2nd), he received a treat with a cheesy note on it that correlated with said treat. He is a huge fan of cereal and candy, so this was perfect for him! I'm missing days 10, 12, and 13... but the rest are all here. Take a look!

Feb. 1st: Hot Cheetos "You are one HOT hubs!"
Feb. 2nd: Dr. Pepper "I'm SODAlighted to know you!"
Feb. 3rd: Orbit Gum "I CHEWS you!"
Feb. 4th: Kool Aid "You're the KOOLest!"

Feb. 5th: Pop Rocks "You ROCK my world!"
Feb. 6th: Honey Nut Cheerios "I'm NUTS about you!"
Feb. 7th: Hot Tamales "You are my HOT TAMALE! Aye-ya-ya!" (Not very creative, but it worked!)
Feb. 8th: Chap Stick "STIX with me!" (I couldn't find Chap-Stix brand, so I used Blistex. Eh well)

Feb. 9th: Sunflower Seeds "You are the SUN in my sky!"

Feb. 11th: Apple Jacks "You are the APPLE of my eye!"

Feb. 14th: Gobstoppers "Don't STOP loving me!"

But of course, I didn't feel like it was ::enough:: compared to the gifts he gave me. So while out shopping last weekend, we stopped into Fossil and I MADE him pick out a Pastor-y messenger bag. He's been wanting one for a while, and his old Swiss Army messenger bag wasn't cutting it, so today was the day! He looks so professional carrying it with his laptop and books, much better than the black mesh bag he was carrying around. Happy Valentine's, darling!

I'm sure you all have already shared your Valentine's day plans and happenings, but please do share how you and your loved ones celebrate! Happy weekend!

"And these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

[wiww] What I Wore Wednesday, er, Thursday

Now I wouldn't call myself a fashion blogger by ANY means, but I think it's fun to see what other people are wearing to get ideas on how to mix, match, and accessorize. And I like to share with Lindsey @ The Pleated Poppy and Faith @ Life. Love. Marriage (via Instagram, #yesimwearingthis). Enjoy!

 Black pants: No idea

Black flats: Famous Footwear (Rocketfish)

Black top: Gap

Earrings and Necklace: Forever 21

 

Lace top and Sequined flats: Charming Charlie's

Purple pants: Walmart (L.e.i)

Necklace and Earrings: Forever 21 (I think...)

 A Saturday errand outfit while Nate was out fishing... it was so comfortable!

Plaid shirt: Walmart (Yep: little boy's section... it was for Cowboy day!)

Cardigan: Gift from grandparents

Jeans: Forever 21

Leopard slippers (that I unashamedly wear as shoes too... Hey, they have a rubber sole!): Target

[Sounds like I made a lot of arguments for those choices, but I still love this outfit!]

The most comfortable shirt I own: Old Navy

Black capris: Gap

Black flats: Famous Footwear (Rocketfish)

"Diamond" studs: Premier Jewelry

Who likes to share fashion and get ideas? I'm currently trying to master the top knot and/or messy bun look, but it just looks messy... Eh well, it's works for me!

Happy Thursday!

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

[teach] 100th Day of School!

[this shot was taken five days after my wisdom teeth surgery... I couldn't smile yet... ha!]

Two weeks ago, my class celebrated the 100th day of Kindergarten, wahoo! It is a pretty big deal in Kindergarten and we go all out, taking a break from the scheduled curriculum to review concepts using the number 100! A few things on our agenda were...

Whole group writing of 100 things we would like to have
Whole group writing of 100 things we would NOT like to have
Independent writing of the 100 things they wanted
Counting, singing, clapping, stomping, dancing to 100
Brainstorming/illustrating what they will look like when they are 100 years old
Building a structure with 100 cups
Making patterns with 100 pattern blocks
Completing an I-Spy with 100 objects
Illustrating the number 100
Wearing a shirt with 100 objects on it {an at-home project]

And the best part of the day? A 100 cake!!! Here's how I made it!

Use a bundt pan and cut that cake in half! Two zeros, yes please.

Cut a skinny rectangle (for the number 1) out of the bottom portion of your large, rectangular pan... You and your husband can eat the leftover cake that didn't go to school :)

Funfetti frosting and cake, of COURSE, because it is Kindergarten! 

Isn't it fun?! I have more pictures of my class completing their activities and work, but my kiddos' faces are in the pictures: confidentiality restricts me from posting their pics. And I'm too lazy to blur the faces out :) Does anyone else celebrate the 100th day of... well, anything? I am on a countdown to a CRUISE in April (59 days) and to summer (107 days). Let's do this!

Happy Tuesday!

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." 1 John 4:16

[make] Framed Fabric Art

I've had this navy fabric print for a while now... wondering if I should make throw pillows? A runner? A skirt? But then a fortunate trip to our second chance store last weekend allowed me to purchase this huge frame for $2. TWO DOLLARS FOR A 16x20 SOLID WOOD FRAME. Yes please. My plan unfolded from there. Check it out!

Nate and I had just purchased this hammered bronze spray paint to update our builder-grade brass doorknobs (another post for another day), so I decided to give it a whirl on my $2 frame. I wanted a dark brown color and I like the hammered texture. AND the label said "wood", so it worked for me. Done and done! I don't have a before picture of the frame, but it was a typical, dingy wood frame... this spray paint gave it a new life!

 

Once it dried, I laid it on top of my fabric so I could cut it to the size of my frame, leaving some extra inches on the sides so I could pull it tightly once I began stapling. 

  

 

Pull tightly and staple around that frame! 

 

This frame came ready to hang with a wire. Score. Just cut a slit in your fabric to accommodate the wire and continue to staple around the frame! Afterwards, trim off your excess. I also used hot glue to secure some floppy fabric edges that you could see once I hung it up, but that step isn't necessary unless you are OCD like me.

I hung it up in our entryway and the framed fabric gives a fun pattern and hit of color without being too overbearing for the space. It's above our entry table where we lay crap mail as we come in the house. Convenient and now stylish as well! The size of the frame is my favorite.

What do you think? Doing any decorating in your house for $2 and some fabric you have laying around? Do tell. Happy Monday!

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:13

See where I link up: Monday Made it @ 4th Grade Frolics, Blog Hop @ Naptime Review, Tips & Tricks @ Stringtown Home, What I Whipped Up Wednesday @ Sugar and Dots, Craft-O-Manic Monday @ Craft-O-Manic, Link Party @ Uncommon, Whatever Goes Wednesday @ Someday Crafts, Show Me What Ya Got Linky Party @ Not JUST A Housewife, {Wow Me Wednesday} @ Ginger Snap Crafts, Link Party @ Destination: Craft, The Creative Spark @ Clean & Scentsible, Before & After Party @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Weekend Wrap-Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello, What I Wore Wednesday @ The Pleated Poppy 

[life] Blog Inspiration

Hello!

I hope you all are having a fabulous weekend. I haven't posted in a while, but please know that I am still reading your blog posts. I usually read them from my phone, but I haven't figured out how to comment from my phone yet... I'll figure it out someday!

As we get into the second semester of school, my posting may be less frequent, like it has been these past couple of weeks. Hopefully by the time summer comes around, I won't be as busy or exhausted during my days/evenings, and I can get back to home and craft posting, as well as life posting too! And I want to share more teaching posts, but I just forget to take pictures during the school day of our projects. Nate is gone fishing today, so I may jump ahead on some posting and schedule some posts for this week. We will see!

I will leave you with a picture of what may give me some inspiration for more home and craft posts... Nate ordered me the Young House Love book from a book store in John and Sherry's home state of Virginia (where they had pre-autographed a bunch of books): I am SO excited to get ideas: I've perused it a bit and it is wonderful!

 "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31