amanda*rose blog

#PhotoADayMay compilation

This has been my fifth month playing along with FatMumSlim's photo challenges,
and this month has my favorite look by far.

I'm getting better at investigating my calendar and surroundings to get the
most creative in-the-moment shot I can for each day.

Sometimes the prompt even dictates an aspect of my day like
the circus stripes on Day 3, or the 'pink' on Day 22.

Sometimes my day is oddly 'made up' of that day's prompt.
(So many unusual things happened on Day 25...haahaa!) 

Here are my photos-a-day from May:

5.1 - at peace with my sunny, cloudless sky
5.2 - skyline, or line in the sky
5.3 - I wore circus stripes because I felt like I worked at a circus that week
5.4 - always fun eating & hanging with these two: Jamina & Lev 

5.5 - a bird from my mini SMASH book
5.6 - jogger/runner me
5.7 - my Grams, pic from July 2011
5.8 - rainy mornings & fresh coffee

5.9 - iPhone photos erryday erryday
5.10 - STAMPS, favorite word and favorite things
5.11 - kitchen at Studio Square, where the boyf's birthday celebrations were held
5.12 - weekends, seeing friends, teal bell-bottoms 

5.13 - mom ♥heart♥ donut
5.14 - Alejandro in the grass
5.15 - I love being a cat-momma
5.16 - been reading Yogi tea tips before bed 

5.17 - I snack like a 10-year-ols after school (love milk from a straw)
5.18 - I made fillable poetry books from my 3rd graders
5.19 - my jog/run/bike trail
5.20 - the sun, sun, Mr. Golden Sun...shining on me during Julie's Brown Bag Bike Brunch 

5.21 - standing with my baby boops on a Monday right after work
5.22 - dressed in pink and a jumper dress like one of my 3rd grade girls
5.23 - I adore my MacBookPro...like, it's destiny
5.24 - HIGHLIGHTER JEANS...see here 

There four above were from my Memorial Day weekend.

5.25 - the unusual (and hysterical) way I had to get in the house that day
5.26 - all prettied up waiting on the boy...aren't the GUYS supposed to wait for US?
5.27 - that sweet boy face is what I wake up to every morning
5.28 - the weather on memorial day was perfect for a sleeveless backyard dress and flipflops 

5.29 - a number, 31...you see it? this |mint chocolate chip| treat was divine
5.30 - my personality is bubbly & doodle-y (for the most part) 

5.31 - my new party dress...it's red/pink/purple with a bow under the bust, and makes me look
           like I have boobs!  Yay!  wearing it to a July 7th wedding :)

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The retro, borderless look of May captured its warmth and fullness perfectly.

If you've been following along with my
January, February, March, and April
photo-a-days,
then you know how I usually do.

I pick a stlye and font and stick to it through
the whole month.  The 1st of the next month
is exciting because I pick a new 'look' to play with.

I wonder what June's look will be.

Join June?

Follow me on Instagram to see my 'playing along' daily,
or come back June 30th
(oh let me type that again)
JUNE 30th
(Haahaa! YES!)
to have another compilation party here with me.

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That's all I have for now.

Love you for visiting. Hope to see you back.

Happy Thurs.
Happy last-day-of-May.

xOxO,

the unofficial kick-off to summer...

...officially floated my boat.

Hysterical sister laughter, walks around the neighborhood in flip flops and a maxi dress, nights out with friends and the boyf and Friday night mojitos; crabs and other mountains of shellfish, pretty dresses, and weddings, and flower clips...brusies and summer scrapes, waking up to kitty faces and being able to go back to sleep, the hot hot sun, shadows and falling petals, sleevelessness, bright manicures, the end to baloney teacher-planning, Stop&Shop runs with the boyf, BBQing, feet up, grilled goodness, and hotdogs...

...these are a few of my favorite things, and there are 21 days of school left until I'M THERE. 

I was a tad depressed when work was upon me this morning, but I made it this far.
What's another 21 days?

xOxO,
 

sweet |week 21| in my *Project Life* album

Well this spread just tickles me pink.  ...and yellow.  ...and mint.

Of course, I had to do it up right with the insert about Julie's Brown Bag Bike Brunch.

That bike paper is Studio Calico and that bike tag is Amy Tangerine's Sketchbook collection.
A bunch more embellishments than last week's spread, too.  I had fun with these inserts. 

This pic of my ass hanging out our front window was taken by my sister.  I was laughing so hard, that I had trouble hoisting myself up.  I fell into the bush below twice, scraping the back of my knee, and bruising my arm in two places.
As painful as it was, it was a great start to the three-day weekend. :P 

More Amy Tangerine- Sketchbook.

This is the right-side of the spread, and I'm in love.

Got to use my custom made 'currentlies' stamp for the end of another month:

(It's my favorite use of the stamp so far.  See end of April and end of March.)

The colors and sentiments perfectly capture the last-week-of-May feel, ready-for-June feeling balloon.

Neon's a big theme. Here the HIGHLIGHTER JEANS I purchased and can't wait to wear:

Neons, and pastels, actually.  I'm into a blend of the two.

...and bikes.  Naturally, bikes.  ...and while I'm still in love with my 24-speed long distance riding bike, I'm in the market for the perfect pastel cruiser I can put a basket on.  Ummm...hello:

Pretty sure I came across it this week ^^ above ^^.  First spotted here.

Finally, the outfit I wore to the wedding I attended yesterday was one of those outfits that had been in my head for dozens of weeks, and finally got to be realized on my body for the event yesterday.

Hip hip hooray, and I felt so so pretty. :)

There you have my |week 21| folks.  

I'm happy with it, and am glad this Memorial Day weekend gave me the room to squeeze it in.

Yay!

See you here, there, or anywhere soon! 

xOxO,

my *Project Life* album |week 20|

This is the spread for the week starting with Mother's Day.

The left side page:

This side page included: fun Mother's Days snapshots, the mentioning of a great idea I came up with this week :), a mint watch I'm excitied I purchased, and this poem from my little Bianca.

The right side page:

Lots of boop-shots, some jottings, an I-Hop breakfast, hint of rain, and strawberry margarita rain boots and manicure. 

|week 20| came together quicker than I thought.  It was on hold because of intense amounts of teacher-work this week, and because everytime I sat down to work on it, I had a kitty butt in my face. See here.

I managed to sit an get 'er done yesterday night, with my iPod playing and paper everything all around me.  That's when I'm simultaneously most calm and most energized.
I really love documenting, and working with paper, tape, and stamps. I, like, really love it. You must understand, if you find the title and content of this post interesting enough to browse through and get all the way to here.

After I took the pictures of |week 20| and declared it 'done', I gave myself time to flip through each page of my album and go over the last 5 months.  5 months of the album is done already!  That was a surprise to realize.  I have been sitting down and crafting this album for 5 whole friggin months now. Wow.

It is such a favored hobby.

I'm so grateful I came across it.

I feel like so much {movement} in the right direction has gone on in these first five months.
I hope it continues with the next seven. Yay! 

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For more of my past Project Life spreads, go HERE.

For more on Project Life itself, go HERE.

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 xOxO,

ways to wear... |Highlighter Jeans|

neutral bag + pastel jacket + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS

white tee + cover-the-butt denim + neutral shoe + HIGHLIGHTER DENIM

top knot + neautral base print sweater + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS + neutral flats

3/4 sleeve striped tee + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS + neutral platforms

basic creams and browns + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS

light denim + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS + booties

cream + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS + black accents

white blazer + highlighter yellow jewelery + neutrals + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS

black & more black + HIGHLIGHTER JEANS

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Yes, I did. 

I bought myself bright HIGHLIGHTER pink & neon HIGHLIGHTER yellow jeans yesterday...

...and them shits bright!

Obviously, the consensus is pair them with neutrals & basics, but maybe I'll do mine with some friggin leopard print!  I feel like I've been losing my mind lately, so why not! 

Stay tuned for that outfit*post.

Catch ya on the flip side.

xOxO,

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pics found here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

|week 18 & 19| my *Project Life* album

These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of wanting to get to summer already.
Week 18 & 19 were done (sorta? I guess. I'm just moving on from them).
I just needed to photograph them and post them here.

Some snippets:

Week 18: April 29th - May 5th 

Loved the insert below.

It was a picture of the sky that Sunday at the beach.  I hadn't expected to go to the beach, but that sky.

The writing was done with the uni-ball Signo Broad white ink pen. 

Two weeks ago, and last week, and this week, it's been on-and-off rainy. More on than off.

With the coming of May, I started Weight Watchers again...to lose about 10 pounds before Summer.

In my first week rejoining the program, I got half way there.  It's been slow and steady since. 

Spring dressing, Yogi tea, another momism, and lots of Amy Tangerine Sketchbook. :)

Week 19: May 6th to May 12th

I liked that these Studio Calico stripes served as juiced-up looseleaf for my jottings of the week.

The last days of our classroom garden were in weeks 19's spread.

My boyfriend had a birthday, and above were snaps from the festivities (including my *ahem*ahem* ♥ teal bells ♥).

My run-trail was documented, a day-off was mentioned, and two favorite hot beverages were included and noted.  These three card inserts have been some happy soft moments of my May. :)

Style note: week 19 was very pic-heavy.  Most were quick iPhone snaps of the week...very little 'styling' and scrapping.  I have been without time to work on it, plain and simple.  I liked Amy Tangerine's recent post about her approach to Project Life.  Her sentiment: MAKE IT YOURS. I've mentioned that I make mine what it needs to be that day HERE, which is kind of the same idea.

Finally...

This page was made in my little orange book I'm keeping for dreams, secrets, inspirations, and journalling.  I've noticed that a lot of the women whose job I want have been designing their own stamps lately.  I've been dreaming of doing this for a long while now.  Something's pushing me to do it, so I most probably am.  Why not? :) My ideas were sketched on the above page.  With the conclusion of the school year, I plan to actualize the ideas I put on this page. 

Stay tuned for THAT, fun crafters!
Got my first start hint little taste HERE. ;)

Thanks for reading and peeping!
This blog loves and appreciates its visitors.

|week 20| of my *Project Life* album coming soon.

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For more of my past Project Life spreads, go HERE.

For more on Project Life itself, go HERE.

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xOxO,

a Brown Bag Bike Brunch

[me in tons of floral-on-black & with
a brown bag of empanadas in my hand]

If you look at Ms. Julie Hardee's post about a Brown Bag Bike Brunch happening on Sunday, May 20th HERE, you'll see that I was first to comment and 'save the date.'

I had met Julie from The Julie Blog once before at an AdelineAdeline event last Summer, and she is just the best!  The sweetest and the best.  The girls who attended were just the same.  

I felt like all the ladies who attended were there under the same premise: "All my friends don't ride bikes!...Gah!"  I think we all wanted to nerd out with each other a bit over bike talk, and I think that mission was accomplished. 

Chats about riding bruises and scars, how to 'save' fabulous yellow jeans from chain grease, cute hair styles for under the helmet, cycling apps, riding alone vs. with someone, and other fun topics were had under the sun on probably the most gorgeous day of the year.

All ladies were adorable and as enthusiastic about bikes as I am (prob the best part!).  I am glad to have experienced their company on such a clear and sunny Sunday afternoon.  I will have a souvenir sunburn on my cheeks for the rest of the week. :)

The finale events of the picnic were the cupcakes Julie whipped out (which none of us hesitated to scarf down) and a sky-writing jet in the sky above us spelling:

C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E   H-A-L-L   W-I-L-L   U   M-A-R-R-Y   M-E?

It was sweet.  We hope she said yes.

With that, I will conclude this post, close the book on this weekend, and hug it a little before putting it in the drawer of my nightstand.

Thanks again, Julie, for being the hostess with the mostess, and to all the girls who were SO GODDAMN SWEET!  I love nice people.

xOxO,

P.S. -- Julie's post on the Bike Brunch HERE.
Read about her celebrity spotting on
the way to the picnic. Whoo! 

Look for it, because it's there.

Readers and peepers, I formally introduce my run-trail.

It's actually a walk/jog/run/bike trail, but that wouldn't fit on the 'HELLO my name is' tag.

On April Fool's Day 2010, my boyfriend led me to this trail while we were on our bikes.  
The post of that day can be found here.

Since that day back in 2010, I have adopted this trail as 'mine'.  I have zoomed down its hills by bike, and I have breathed heavy and trudged up its hill by foot.

I know it pretty well, and often explain to others how to work it, what to expect, the best time to go, etc.

But now...

...let me get to the point of this post.                                

You see, lately I've been jogging
this trail as a different person
than the girl I was two years ago.

I think why my run-trail is one
of my favorite places to go is
because of the lesson it taught me. 

This trail is literally a [five-minute bike ride/ten-minute jog] from my house.

It has always been there.

However, I discovered it when I was 25. 

This is much like everything I'm currently passionate about.

I'm always saying to myself, "Dang, I wish this existed.  I want this to happen."
What I've come to realize is it probably DOES exist, and yes, I probably CAN make it happen.

This run-trail has been in my neighborhood for 25 years before I knew it existed!
Imagine all the other things that exist that I would L♥VE, but I haven't discovered yet!

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I enjoy my time on my run-trail more so now
than ever before.  This is because when I'm
on it, I'm reminded of all the possibilities.
I think of all those things I wish and dream,
and how I just need to do some leg work
and find them, because they're there.

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xOxO,
 

Super crafty | Mood is Good

This is an acrostic poem my student, Bianca, wrote about me this week:

Every line cracks me up harder than the last.

Her third-grade self is pretty hilarious.

The other day, she was taking a lap around the track, and midway through her lap, at the opposite end, I see her stop.  Just plain halt and lean against the fence.  It took her 5 minutes to pry herself away from the fence and make her way back to us.  I saw she was pink and crying.

"Bianca, what happened?" I asked.

I thought she was going to say she hurt her ankle, foot, knee, wrist, shoe, broke a fingernail, etc.

"I miss my friend," she responded.

"You miss your friend?!  You suddenly thought about your friend right in the middle of your lap around the track?"

"Uh-huh." 

:)

That's my Bianca for you...

..she writes killer poetry. ;)

xOxO,

 

our classroom garden - DOCUMENTED

This was a project that ran from the first day back from April YAYcation (April 16th we planted our seeds in the dirt) to just last Friday (May 11th - the Friday before Mother's Day).

I was impressed everyday with the speed of spurt.  I had bought marigold seeds hearing that they grew quickly, were great indoor flowers, and were top choice for re-planting.  Then, one of my kiddies brought in moonflower seeds knowing we were going to start our classroom garden.

We were growing marigolds and moonflowers. (I love saying them two together.) :)

Everyday the class logged the growth activity.

It was so dummy-proof which was GREAT!  The hardest part of the whole thing was lugging the bucket of dirt to school that first morning.  The rest really was as simple as water and set by sunlight.  It was pretty cool.

Friday I wrapped the ugly booger-green pots with their choice of tissue paper color and cellophane, secured with a rubberband, attached a small photo of the student, and finished with a poem that said:

"I've been caring for this pot of plants
since they were tiny seeds

I've fed them, loved them, and watched them grow,
just like you did me." 

I heard it was a pretty big hit.

I kinda miss the garden in our room.

Next project: our Poetry Cafe! 

Stay tuned. ;)

xOxO,

Mother's Day Brunch

Uhhh...it couldn't have been any more gorgeous Sunday in NY.  It was a breezy 80 degrees, with not a ckoud in the sky. :)

I joined many a mother at tables and tables of food, WeightWatchers went out the window for the day, and a good time was had by all (well, almost all, but that's another story).

The outfit was a little dark for my Mother's Day taste, but acted 'dressy' for the fancy brunch we went to.  And those shoes?  THEY. MAKE. ME. TALL.  I would have actually worn them out if I wasn't going to be around his 4 feet-something Filipino family that would've been eye-to-belly-button with me.

That's all I have to say for now.

My weekend was wonderful. I miss it and can't wait for this upcoming one.
I'm getting weighed at WeightWatchers today and oofa!  After four (four! who eats four?!) donuts on Mother's Day...I don't know. :/

Catch you later, Tuesdayers!

xOxO,
 

teal. high-waisted. bell-bottoms. L♥VE.

While the boyf made his rounds, drinking, laughing, and mingling with his friends, I sat on that dark beer garden bench in these high-waisted bells in Friday night happy-weekend zone, gobbling french fries and making small talk.

I love those jeans.  I love that OPI pink. Not much more to say.  Loved this outfit.

Happy Monday.

xOxO,
 

what makes a mom

Is this not the cutest donut?  DD hooked me for sure -- lover of all heart-shaped things.

I got to thinking this morning about what makes a mom.

I think when a woman has grown to the maturity and awareness that there is a world of things out there that need love and care, she becomes a mom.

I think that when a woman is propelled forward by the need to nurture and and the acknowledgement of interconnectedness between living things, she become a mom. 

I also came to the conclusion that a definitive act that officially declares a woman a mom is when she lovingly cleans the crap of one other than herself.  She is then that one's mom.

(I was cleaning the cat box while having these revelations.)

To all the human-mommas, dog-mommas, cat-mommas, guinea pig- and turtle-mommas, and all the other kinds of mommas out there, Happy Mother's Day to you.

I think you should rule the world.

xOxO,
 

i went for a run

i went for a run
to clear my head some
it didn't help a ton
I wish Summer had already begun
my days are no fun
my nights are spent spun
in a mess of uncertainty
where is it I should be?

I try to give my body movement
to help me sort through the bullshit
when i'm pounding the pavement
my body's making a statement
        to my mind
it's saying bide your time,
breathe deep,
get sleep,
stay alive,
keep your eye on the prize
don't take shit from your guy
or let others plot your life
from point A to point Z
you know where you should be
Let your friends talk their fluff
it's only 'cause they have it rough
and they want you to too

get through
these last few weeks of teachin' school
you know it's not meant for you
so find what is and fight the 'scared'
be prepared,
get up off your chair,
tie back your hair,
go out and get it done
wield your gun

i went for a run 

burnt toast

That is me.

I am done.  Charred like burnt toast.

Those 5 weeks I had to pursue my version of happyness mentioned in last week's post?
They're now down to 4.  

Four weeks until May 31st!  Four weeks to make the most of May and use it to propel my life forward in the right direction.

What did I get done in support of this notion these past seven days?  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.

Why? ...because I'm burnt toast.

This teacher workload of mine is like Mount Everest.  I drive to work every morning with a list of about 5 key things I want to do to change my situation for the better, and then I arrive at the school.  For 8 hours, I'm pulled, plucked, battered, and beaten to a pulp, and then go home to tackle the paper work and other extraneous baloney jobs we are expected to accomplish.  I print gazillions of worksheets, create SMARTBoard lessons, become a textbook and workbook maker, write up student reports, fudge conference notes...

...none of those 5 key things thought up on my morning commute get done.

The boyf's birthday is next week...I haven't got him a card, present, or anything. :(

I've been a horrible girlfriend.

Mother's Day is next weekend...I haven't gotten her a card, present, or anything. :(

I've been a horrible daughter.

I am a robot psuedo-teacher shell.  I go through the motions.  I am not myself.

Gosh Darnit!  I'm not going to wallow (haa haa!), so I'm going to set a schedule for myself to accomplish those 5 key things.  But, honeys, BURNT.

It's the kind of burnt at the end of a shitty semester (...and I had TONS of those). BUT, teaching was supposed to be my life.  Teaching was supposed to be the answer to what I was meant to do...and I'm sorry, but 'what you're meant to do' should not feel like a shitty college semester filled with bullshit and baloney work that doesn't fulfill.  IT JUST SHOULDN'T!!

This is where I'm at, ya'll, and it's feeling like it's NOT going to be okay.

Today's plan:
survive the school day;
try not to cry;
plot out which days are for which key thing I wanted to get done;
buy the boyf a birthday card...sheesh!

Off to the toaster again today.
Blaring in my eardrums is this song.
Yeah.
SUMS IT UP.

xOxO,

|week 17| my *Project Life* Album

This my be my favorite spread so far.

My whole The Pursuit of Happyness experience is explained here.

belief.

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right side:

'my currentlies' stamp made its second appearance in the album.  see the first here.

^^ Kitty paws.
They never fail to be found on the things I'm working on and taking pictures of.
"Notice me, mommmy. I'm fun too!"

Style talk:
This spread might be my favorite because of a lot of the things that went into it + the overall look is appealing to me. 
(1) It's softer than my previous weeks, and that's because Studio Calico materials have a softer, more neutral pallete, and the base for this is that floral Studio Calico paper.
(2) Also, the Hero Arts Shadow inks in pink, teal, yellow, grey, brown that I've been using like water are much less BOLD than my usual blank ink for stamps.
(3) I like the Sunday-through-Saturday layout across the spread with big pictures on top and on bottom.
(4) I like what I did with the pictures this week: didn't leave them whole.  I cut around the main image, leaving no background (the mojito shots), and it kind of worked as (a) a spacer saver, and like (b) snippets of a dream.
(5) My custom stamp made its appearance again. :)
(6) I misted for the first time with the Mister Huey's Calico Shine mist... and... ummm...Mister Huey, will you marry me.  So fun!
(7) Getting this week done didn't stress me out.  This was a very organic spread that took up just the right amount of free time. :)

That's about all, monkey makers!
Enjoy your Tuesday, and oh!

Happy May!

xOxO,

#PhotoADayApril compilation

It's yet another compilation party here on amanda*rose blog, and
yippee skippee to this one, folks, because that means tomorrow's May.
Hey hey!

Unlike my January, February, and March PhotoADay compilations that I thought of as much-needed daily creative distractions from work and winter yuckiness, #PhotoADayApril was the first month it was solely a happy accompaniment to my day.

4.1 - reflection of me in my Sunday chore-bustin' uniform
4.2 - dandelions have great yellow color...sure they're not flowers?
4.3 - I wrote my grams a letter, covered it in washi tape, and walked it to the mailbox
4.4 - my bike-ridin' boyf makes me happy

4.5 - tiny kitty-feet underneath a bush...seen lots of that since Spring started
4.6 - lunch on the first day of April YAYcation tastes that more delicious
4.7 - on a visit to Brooklyn with my dad, I watched as shadows danced on my lap in the car
4.8 - my Seimnole Casino card for when I visit Grams b/c all the cool old ladies have one

4.9 - me in my Grams old Queens,NY pool with sister & cousins...coldest pool everrr
4.10 - my cold glass of milk with a side of mom's funnel cake for chick flick night in
4.11 - breakfast next to my hp pc, before a fun-filled day at CitiField
4.12 - our backyard stairs that my kitties love descending everyday

4.13 - I found Alejandro under our backyard bush (...and a polka dot dress that day)
4.14 - after a great NYC bike ride with the boyf, we got Jamba, and I felt healthy & fruity
4.15 - sunset on my Sunday, and on April YAYcation
4.16 - first day back to work - planted our marigold and moonflower seeds in the classroom

4.17 - I don't like testing special ed kids with the same test as regualr ed kids ;/
4.18 - my hair is weird
4.19 - orange dumdum
4.20 - white hearts on photos for Project Life

4.21 - a whole bottle for just me and the boyf
4.22 - the last thing I bought (online) were these Mister Huey's...I've since fallen in love
4.23 - a veggie-filled lunch
4.24 - I'm greatful for the kitty love I receive when I get home from work

4.25 - looking down the school staircase, ready to run out
4.26 - black&white wellies for a rainy Thursday
4.27 - went to a mojito-filled happy hour with friends after work
4.28 - a typical Spring Saturday @ 1pm...me, outside, watching the boops

4.29 - hole-punched circles for a Sunday *Project Life* morning
4.30 - it makes me sad when I have to leave this kitty cuddle ball & her brother, but that
         was the extent of my sadness, so not so bad 

;)

Thanks, FatMumSlim for the prompts.

I shall be with you for PhtotoADayMay, as well.

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Happy Monday, and finish to your April, all!

Keep photo-sharing alive!

xOxO, 

snippets of |week 15|April YAYcation| & |week 16|back-to-school| my *Project Life* album

|week 15| encompassed Easter, Easter break, loads of new crafty-things, beautiful skies, meeting-and-greeting my MacBook Pro, a Mets baseball game for Tomas's sister Anna's birthday, and much deserved relaxing.

.............................................................

|week 16| meant a bridal shower Sunday, then back-to-work:

Did the left side as the bridal shower attire, and as the first week back's {classroom garden} progress.  That quaint, water-by-number garden impressed the heck out of me with its growth in four short days.  Woo hoo!

Right side: a cute *NOWADAYS* card, some funny happenings, few little notes in the middle...nothing too crazy.

I'm working on |week 17| today, taking more time with it than 15 or 16, but they are in the album and they tell a bit of my story.  :)

I'm feeling a little under the weather today.  Brain's in heavy haze.  I feel like I'm missing something.  Any questions on anything, comment or email, friends.  Tootle loo!

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For more of my past Project Life spreads, go HERE.

For more on Project Life itself, go HERE.

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xOxO,

My Pursuit of Happyness

The strangest thing happened the other morning.
My dreaded Monday morning to be exact.

I opened my eyes around 3AM and blurrily watched one of the first scenes of The Pursuit of Happyness, with Will Smith.  I saw it a few years ago, and remembered I liked it, but watching it Monday morning was different. 

In between sips of coffee and lesson-planning for the day, and avocado-toast biting and worksheet-hunting, with a new set of eyes -- a set that has been searching frantically for their own version of happyness -- I watched the whole movie.

After watching this man face obstacle after obstacle after obstacle in the pursuit of 'getting happy' and making the life he desired for himself and his son, I realized it was a sign for me to persevere...to persist and maintain my purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement.
The movie came to me -- that Monday morning -- at just the right time.

Chris Gardner (who Will Smith portrays) had to cram his pursuing in about 6 months time.

I'm going to be doing specific pursuing with a deadline of 5 weeks.In 5 weeks from today, it'll be May 31st.  By the end of May, I want to have sent out what I need to send out, and feel like the month of May has set me up for BIG and GREAT things come June, July, and August...my happy months.

I've already re-joined WeightWatchers -- ready to get my health back on track.

I'm preparing for the rest of this school year to be as painless and smooth as possible.

I'm going to be spending all my free time these next five weeks pursuing...

...trying to create positive and productive {movement}.

xOxO,

Two Years Old!

My two baby kitty boops were born two years ago, today.  I made this layout this week with that in mind.  The two pictures used for the layout were taken on 6-11-10 (the day we found Alejandro) and 6-12-10 (the day I scooped up Carmen).

MATERIALS
.  .  .  .  .

A whole bunch of the Studio Calico CITY OF LIGHTS kit was used for this layout: the paper, butterfly stickers, wooden frame...The white foam letters are Amy Tangerine.  The accent papers are from a Dear Lizzy 6x6 pack. The "meant" was made from Penny Black alphas in 'ROBUST'. I also used alpha stamp from HEROARTS and HEROARTS shadow ink. 

I'm so grateful for my babies each and every day.  I'm such a doting cat-momma.  They are the two best boops, so funny, so human, so cuddly and loving.  I wake up, and they're the first faces I see, and they're the first faces I smooch when I come home from work in the afternoon.

Happy 2nd Birthday to my little meatball baby boops!
We were meant to be mommy and babies forever and ever.
♥ ♥ ♥

Have a happy Monday, everyone!

xOxO,