Saturday, finally! & DIY Saturday: Apartment Edition

SO happy it's the weekend!! It has been a long week. I'm still getting into the swing of things at school, but it's going really, really well! I love my kids (most of them... ;) ) and I am happy teaching. I'm glad that I decided to find a job. I am so lucky to be at the school that I am. It's been a challenge getting used to this new schedule. Waking up in the morning has been really easy, but it's hard to find energy to be productive after school everyday. Baby steps, though!

Thought I'd stop by with a little DIY: Apartment Edition for you... it's been a while!!

1. I thought this was a really simple and pretty thing to do in a white room. I think I said before

that we are allowed to paint, but it seems like more work than it's worth? This would be a good

solution!

2. Sorry for the picture quality in this one. This is a really cute nursery design, but

since babies are no where near my realm of thought, what about my classroom? The idea was that

each person at the baby shower decorates a letter for the baby's room. I think this would be a good

project for a class to do! 

3. Again with the wine. I know, right? But these also seem really cute and simple

for the kitchen or patio! The hard part would be finding wines that are delicious &

have fun, quirky corks!

4. I also really like this idea for the living room. Even if it weren't a divider,

it would be an awesome piece. My idea was framing vintage ads from old magazines.

5. I showed another picture of painted spoons a few weeks ago,

and I think this would be a cool idea to couple with that.

6. This is probably my favorite idea this week. Such an easy thing to do, 

and SO pretty! I love the chromatic element, also. It would be fun to hunt

for the perfect fabrics to use at the thrift store or craft store.

Happy Saturday!

Recent Obsession: Prison Break

First of all, Netflix is amazing. Besides the fact that they are going to start charging double for their services, I love only having to spend $15-something a month for streaming and not really needing cable. It's pretty fantastic.

That being said, the boyfriend and I have been absolutely addicted to Prison Break. While it's not the most well done show I've ever watched, it keeps us on the edge of our seats, and there's enough gory anticipation to keep me wanting to see more but having to watch through my fingers.

Sometimes the script is bad, sometimes the actors aren't the greatest, and the plot holes litter every episode, but it's so entertaining that I can't stop watching.

We're just about finished with season one, and I still have no idea what's going to happen next. I really recommend it if you are looking for a good series to keep you interested on Netflix!!

Plus, Wentworth Miller? DREAMY.

I am alive and well. If well means tired.

I am still here!! It's been a rough past week, getting ready for school, but the kids came today and it was great :) It's going to be pretty quiet around here for the next week or so while I get into my routine, but I promise to be back with regular posts as soon as possible! For now, I'll leave you with a snapshot of my classroom this morning... my puppy themed desk!

In Which Life is Too Busy

SIGH.

It's been a while since I posted a "life update." I haven't had a spare minute! Between my family and Chicago and WORK! I barely have time to sleep!

Since last week, I have been spending about 10 hours a day 4 days a week at school getting ready for the kids to start on Tuesday. It's been so hectic, and I am no where near finished. I literally think of nothing else. Tomorrow, I'll be in meetings at school from 8 am to 4 pm, so I have little to NO time left to get things completed!

At least I am pampering myself a bit this weekend with a haircut and a manicure! Can't wait to look nice for the first day of school :)

This saturday is the last day that I am completely off before school starts and things start getting crazy. I plan on doing a whole lot of nothing... hanging around with the puppies and the boyf. And going to visit my grandma!

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Grandpa & Me!

Thank you for all of your kind words over the last week. It's honestly helped so much!! I really appreciate all of you and your encouragement. <3

Here are a couple of pictures of my grandpa and I that my parents recently found. I think they are especially adorable and deserve their own blog post :)

 

Happy Tuesday!! <3

DIY Sunday: Apartment Edition

You guys are reading this while I'm in lovely Chicago with the lovely Jackie from TravelGirl<3 I hope you're having as great a day as I am!!

1. I think this would be a really fun print to put in the kitchen!

2. I've been pretty in love with pictures of buttons, lately. This is

no exception. I'd probably choose a different design, but still: love.

3. I may love this because it's red, or because the flower is made of pages of a book.

OR because it's a hook, and I have a thing for hooks and hanging stuff on them.

4. I wish I was this artsy. I love the style, and I love the lack of color. So pretty.

5. This would be a fun lamp idea for someday when I have a patio with no lamp. 

Love the fake candles inside.

Happy Sunday! <3

Memories...

1. The summer days when I'd sit in grandpa's chair while he was volunteering at the museum and watch Under the Umbrella Tree and The Muppets with my grandma. It was the only chance I got to sit in that chair, because as soon as he got home, I knew I'd have to give it up.

2. Sitting on the floor in the living room at my grandparent's house, stacking and unstacking the nesting doll that he kept on the TV stand. It's a conductor, and each doll inside plays a different instrument.

3. The first time I read a Harry Potter book. My birthday was coming, and grandpa had the first two books for me, but he couldn't wait and gave them to me a week early. I read them in two days, and you know the rest..

4. The times after I became obsessed that I'd come to their house and be welcomed with Harry Potter newspaper clippings.

5. Every holiday that we've ever celebrated with his cooking. Lasagna, italian sausage, ravioli, meatballs, olives. It was the same for every occasion, but amazingly delicious every single time. He was an amazing cook.

6. My brother asking grandpa every time we saw him, to go outside and watch him ride the little red tricycle that I'm sure existed through Tony's, mine, and I'm sure some of our uncles lifetimes.

7. Grandpa's love for Jeopardy. Countless times, we suggested that he audition for the show, and each time he refused, but he was the smartest man that I have ever known. I know where my dad gets it.

8. My grandpa's identification with The Grinch. The read sweater he got me one year for Christmas with a giant, embroidered Grinch face on the front. I loved it.

9. His love for Rocky and Bullwinkle, Natasha and Boris. I thought these shows were hilarious, simply because he did. We'd watch them together all the time.

10. A Christmas Story. Every year, on repeat, and grandma and grandpa's house.

11. His generous nature. He was quick to help anyone out, and never held back.

12. His hilarious, and sometimes off-color, jokes. And then his chuckle.

13. His repeatedly asking me if he could cut my hair with a bowl over my head. I never took him up on that, but I always had hilarious visuals of it. :)

These are just a small number of the memories I have been reliving today, I never want to forget

them, so I'm going to document them here.

Thank you all for your support and kind words, here and on Twitter. They mean so, so much! <3

The Finished Product (Clasroom Pictures!!!)

So, here it is. In all it's pixelated, cell-phone-camera glory. Chelsey helped me out a lot, today, and I couldn't thank her enough because I am so happy with the finished product.

It's important to note that this board now says: "Braggin' Board". It's where I'll hang good student work :)

I like to call this my "British Corner." You can't see it very well,

but there's a poster of Big Ben hanging to the left of the Harry Potter

tapestry.

Happy Thursday<3

Music...er.. Wednesday? Death Cab for Cutie Edition

Firstly, thank you everyone, for the kind words about my grandpa, and also the birthday wishes over

the weekend. You all are amazing <3

I don't think I've ever really expressed how much I <3 Death Cab on the blog before. But I have always had a special place for them in my heart, since high school. Their most recent album, Codes and Keys, did NOT disappoint!!

I got an email this morning telling me that they're coming to Cincinnati in September, and I can't WAIT to see them. I've only seen them live one other time (over three years ago) and it was the best show I've ever seen.


Here are some of my favorite songs. Enjoy.

Grandpa, I love you.

I have never lost someone close to me before, so this is an especially trying time for me, and for

everyone in my family. My grandpa was an amazingly smart, funny, and generous man.

I love him and there will always be a special place in my heart for him.

We could use all of your thoughts and prayers right now.

<3 Stephanie

Wanna be pen pals?

I dunno about you guys, but I love, love, love handwriting letters, and I don't have any pen pals right now.

If you're interested in being my pen pal (I'd love more than one!), just shoot me an email at:

smazzella.uc@gmail.com

and we can get things moving!

Can't wait to get to know some of you!! 

<3 Stephanie