happy post-Christmas!

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WOW. It was an incredible Christmas. Of course, we had a thousand places to go and a million people to see, but it was a really awesome day, and I still have a few more people to celebrate with! I got to surprise a lot of people (namely my dad with his Kindle, which he LOVED; Lynzie with her assorted goodies) and I was certainly surprised. I got so many wonderful things, and I can't wait to make use of them all. I am so thankful for everything!! Nick's dad (I'm sure, with the help of someone privy to all things xbox, *ahem, Brandon*) got me Lego Harry Potter for xbox, and this was one of the things I was greedily hoping for most. I have played it for a few hours already and omg. It's awesome and I love it. [I also got the boxed set of HP DVDs from Brandon, which, omg I am SO excited about! I didn't own any of them before now!]

Nick's dad also surprised Lynzie and Brandon with the new wood flooring for their home, and I can tell they are really excited about it. I'm really happy for them! He surprised Nick with the air-conditioner to replace the broken one in his car, and I know Nick is happy about that. All-in-all, it was awesome to spend time with people we love while simultaneously making them smile with thoughtful gifts. Yay for Christmas!!

What did you all get for Christmas?

What was your favorite memory this year?

psst....***

source

Click here to find out more. Remember! Entries close December 31! 

(I originally had Jan 31 on the giveaway post on accident... woops!)

Merry Christmas! <3

Christmas came early...

This weekend was a really good one. Besides marking the final week of student teaching, I got to spend a lot of time with people I love! On Friday night, I hung out with my little sister for her birthday after driving to and from Oxford to get my latest tattoo, which I am going to do a separate post about later tonight or tomorrow!

On Saturday, we woke up early and had breakfast with my mom, dad, sister, and grandparents on my mom's side. It was really fun, and my mom made a really delicious quiche (spinach, onion, feta cheese, egg, and mushroom) for me, among so many other delicious things!

Afterwards, we braved the shopping masses to try and find a dress for me to wear on Christmas day. I found this one:

Which I was going to pair with grey sweater tights, black ballet flats, and a black cardigan.

But now I am thinking about taking it back. I think I just wanted to get out of the store and not look any harder than I had to for a dress, and I am not totally in love with it. It might just be jeans + a pretty sweater for me. I am feeling lazy this year, and have a feeling that I might be over dressed.

In other clothing news, tonight Nick and I went to PacSun to get me some new blue skinny jeans since mine have a huge hole in them. I ended up buying a replacement pair of the same ones (they are seriously the best fit + most comfortable jeans in the world) and also a pair of.... denim.... leggings. I am not sure if I am confused, but this does not mean jeggings, right?

Someone please reassure me that I am not going to be making a mistake by wearing these out of the house....

Also. Nick and I exchanged presents tonight and I am so excited. I got this pretty locket: 

As well as some new, awesome, HUGE memory for my computer which cries and whines whenever I have more than one program running. AND some brand new black Converse Chuck Taylors. I am so excited about this. They have black laces. This = perfection. 

Also, he opened his present (an xbox and lego batman, star wars, and indiana jones!) and loved it. We went out and bought Beautiful Katamari after having a Christmas date at Olive Garden (I am Italian and have not had pasta in WEEKS.) and that's what we have been playing for the past two hours! So fun :) 

I am excited to post pictures of my newest tattoo and a little surprise haircut that is happening on Tuesday morning! yay! 

Are any of your holiday celebrations starting early?

What did you spend your weekend doing?

Happy Sunday, friends! 

student teaching is over. forever.

**image from weheartit

and part of me is going to miss it! I stayed home from school today for the funeral that I mentioned on Sunday, and it just so happens that it's really icky out. Consequently, Nick is working from home for this reason, and being snowed in with him is positively one of the best parts of winter. <3

Since I stayed home today, this means that Friday is my last day of student teaching. While I am so happy to be finished with it, to have a relief for the long days and tired nights, small paychecks and headaches, I do believe that I will actually miss some of my kids on Monday morning when I don't have to drag myself out of bed at 7 am and get to school. Well. Maybe not Monday, as that is a little soon. Probably more like.... Tuesday or Thursday. We'll see. ;) 

When I was there last, on Wednesday, one of the kids in my 3rd bell (not that I have favorites, but they are my favorite...) let it slip that they are having a surprise party for me during class on Friday. Of course, it's not like I wouldn't have found out because 4th bell, one of our loudest and most obnoxious, couldn't seem to keep their mouths quiet while the sign up sheet was going around. I was bound to find out, but I am really touched that Holly thought of me! I definitely have to get her something for Christmas before I go. Any ideas?

It has been a LONG road, and I am happy to be finished with this part of the journey. I am eager to take classes again and not have practicum or field placements fogging up my studying time. I am taking four classes this quarter, enough to make me full time (to keep my student loan and my parents health insurance). I'll be taking British Lit, News Writing and Reporting, Human Sexuality (a psych course), and Intro to Communication. These are all classes (besides the journalism class) that I slacked on in Freshman or Sophomore year and am now taking the opportunity to repeat in order to get a better grade. 

I am really proud of myself, because after making the deans list and almost straight As for the last year and a half, I have finally gotten my GPA to a 3.0. If there's any advice I can give those just starting college? Don't skip class. If you're tired? Get a red bull. Don't skip class. It really was the worst thing I could have done, a giant waste of money, and I had to work extra hard later in order to get my GPA even close I know it should be. And I still know I could have done much better than a 3.0 if I had put the time and effort in from the very beginning. Either way, I am ready to celebrate when I have that diploma and teaching license in my hot little hand come March 19! 

In other news, my Christmas shopping is completely finished, and I can't wait to divvy them out! Nick and I are exchanging presents on the night before Christmas eve, because I have special plans that I will definitely share when that night comes to pass :) 

What is your favorite thing to do while snowed in?

What are you wishing to be under the Christmas tree?

Happy Thursday, friends! <3

Cold Hands, Warm Hearts

Happy Thursday, guys! I am really excited because I got my Cold Hands, Warm Hearts package yesterday from the lovely Tara!

About a month ago, Ilene from much love, illy and Sandy from Sandy a la mode organized a swap called "Cold Hands, Warm Hearts." As the participants, we were matched with another reader of their blogs, and were to send each other packages with only one requirement - they must include gloves! 

So, I spent a night thrifting and collecting for Tara. I sent her some really lovely things I found, and you can read all about it here! You should also take a minute to check out her blog, This Military Mama. She is an awesome blogger and mama. :)

I spent the whole week thinking about what she could have possibly thought up for me, and last night I finally got to open the package :) This is what I found...

First of all, the packages were so beautifully wrapped! It was like presents inside of presents :)

1. The Tales of Beadle the Bard, a Harry Potter book of wizard fairy tails! 

2. Delicious looking Island Mango & Peach Tea... YUM!

3. BEAUTIFUL handmade, mustard-yellow, fingerless gloves. The lace detail is SO pretty.

4. A much love, illy headband! I am so excited to wear this at Christmas time! 

I love, love, LOVE this headband. It's SO cute.

I could not have been happier with the things that Tara chose for me. I could tell that she really took the time to get to know me through my blog and via twitter. It was so fun to connect with someone in another part of the country and to make a new friend. I strongly urge you all to take part if Sandy and Ilene do this again next year!

HOLY THURSDAY!

It has probably been the longest week of my life, this week. With only 6 days of student teaching left, you can bet I have been hurrying them along. And you can also bet that since I have been hurrying them along, they have been
d   r   a   g   g   i   n   g.  I am having a real moral dilemma... should I do something nice for the kids on my last day? I want to... but do they deserve it? Ideas/suggestions are welcome. I was considering letting them watch a movie and just chill out since my last day is their last day before Christmas, also, and after three days of six two-hour exams... Since next week is exams, and Holly has me not teaching this week, I have basically just been sitting around the classroom a lot, grading *late* papers and reading Harry Potter, and working on that awesome giveaway I posted the other day!

Speaking of which... I wanted to go into a little more explanation for you guys about that! Since I am quickly approaching 100 followers, I really wanted to celebrate by helping 10 other bloggers/crafters get their shops and blogs known as well. I figured that since you all have supported me so much, I want to give back a little. [I never expected for Femmena Mala to come this far... Thank you guys so much!]

PLUS? Giveaways are fun. Especially when they are in the masses :) I am so astounded at how quickly the spots have filled up, and there's only one more left! (if you want to take part in featuring your shop, read more here!) [the giveaway is full! thanks, guys! <3] The giveaway is going to go up around Christmastime, because, DUH. Anyhow, I am SO excited about it. This is my first giveaway since the teeny tiny one I did back in... September? About 6 people entered, and I gave away a mixed CD with a handmade sleeve. It was very fun, but I am excited to do the same thing on a much larger scale this time!

Back to the topic at hand... I know I haven't posted about my new job recently, or really posted anything significant about my life at all in the last few weeks, but I have been SO busy and extremely tired ALL. THE. TIME. But, the job is going awesomely. I have been getting the perfect amount of hours, and having money for once is such an awesome feeling. Plus? I get to play with puppies all day long and who wouldn't want to be paid to do that? I am learning a lot about animals, and have already found out some better ways that Nick and I can improve our care for Guillermo. [Who, by the way, is still not using his bad leg, and we are seriously thinking that we'll need to get him those water physical therapy sessions after Christmas, when the cash is somewhat flowing again... such a bad dog!]

ALSO. I am getting so, so, so excited about Christmas, and I am seriously counting down the days until I can give all these awesome presents that are mounting in my bedroom to their respective giftees! I bought the prettiest wrapping paper from Target for really cheap last week, and I can't wait to get some pretty red ribbon to set it off... pictures to come!

Also, ALSO! I won a really awesome giveaway at Roxy's blog, grrfeisty, the other day from Mary Rebecca's etsy shop! I am not going to give anything away here, but I am so, so, so excited to blog about it when it comes in the mail!! Let's just say I was clapping my hands and bouncing in my seat when I found out... eee! <3

Shew. If you guys got to the bottom of this, my love for you is renewed, and you are teh awesome.

<3 S

[christmas came early]

Guys? When I say that I have met some of the most amazing ladies and friends via the blogging community? I mean it. Guillermo and I came home to SEVERAL gifts this week. I can't begin to explain how absolutely blown away by the kindness of these lovely ladies I am surrounded with!

FIRST of all, Marie Bee from The Blue Balloon sent me one of her beautifully crafted handmade lovelies, which I cannot go into detail about here because it is a Christmas present! She claimed it was damaged and not fit for sale, and was up to the first person who claimed it. I happened to be that person, and WOW. Hardly damaged (as in, you can't tell at all) and absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to show it later :)

THEN... Remember Kate? From Suburban Sweetheart? She saw that Christmas Wishlist I posted last week, and granted a wish, right off the bat. See those amazing red TOMS at the very bottom of my wish list? I have been coveting them for months, but since they are so expensive and because of Guillermo's surgery, I put off buying them. Kate just so happened to have a red pair of TOMS in size 9 (how convenient) lying around (brand-freakin'-new) that she was ready to give to a new and loving home. HELLO? (Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Kate!!) I love, love, love them. For being my first pair of TOMS, I am totally not complaining. [p.s. they fit perfectly]

Also, do you know Danielle? From Fancy Biscuit? (If you don't, you will on Tuesday! Check back for her Bloggin' Ladies feature on 12/7!)She is doing a little lovely giveaway of awesome Polaroids to the first people who asked. I immediately signed up because, who doesn't love getting snail mail? This is what I got: 

Those little cards came in the envelope, as well. Side one says: "what is round on the end and high in the middle?" Side two says: "ohio." The script under the picture says: "stephanie - marvelous things await." This lady is seriously talented. Thank you, Danielle, for making my night that much more awesome!! 

And FINALLY: My amazing sister-in-law animated me as a sneak peak to my future (probably spring) blog makeover. Isn't Guillermo the CUTEST??? (Thanks, Lynz!!)

I am so thankful for all of you awesome ladies. I truly, truly appreciate you!! Happy early Christmas!! <3

It's hump day!

Only 12 more days until Christmas break, and until I can call it quits with student teaching. My patience is wearing thin, and I am SO ready to be off school for two weeks, and to celebrate Christmas. Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love love love shopping for OTHER people, I love wrapping, and I love taunting the people I have special, exciting gifts for (especially Nick, who gets so annoyed by it) ;) Nick is NOT a huge fan of Christmas for some bizarre reason, so I am mostly on my own in that department. I got him something REALLY good this year, and I can't wait to give it to him!!

Also, the other night, Nick and I watched both Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I love love love PoA, and I love the movie, also. On the other hand, I was not a huge fan of GoF on film. Many silly things were changed, and it just felt way too fast.

Along the same lines, do any of you read Elsie's blog, A Beautiful Mess? Do any of you read her blog AND love HP? Because the other day she posted this photo and it made me think immediately of Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon. Complete with matching Gryffindor hat. :)

Happy Wednesday!

<3 S

Wishlist!

Now that Thanksgiving is over, all you naysayers can officially agree that it's the Christmas season. I'm here to share my wishlist with you :) So, HA.

1. Taylor Swift CDs. I am a new fan of hers, and, duh, I want to listen more.

2. Amazon gift card so I can has bookz.

3. All things Vera Bradley in Baroqe (minus and purses/handbags because, ew.)

4. Forget Me Knot ring. I have wanted one of these for years. SO pretty.

5. 21 in. iMac, please. Thanks.

6. A brother for Guillermo.

7. A Guillermo who uses all four of his legs! This is what I want MOST.

8. All the Harry Potter movies for my own personal collection.

9. That pretty green case for my Kindle.

10. Vegetarian Times and The Vegetarian Journal

11. SO many books I want to read.

12. TOMS in red. I have been coveting these for MONTHS.

P.s. It's Guillermo's birthday, today. Happy first birthday, Guillermo! Love, mom. <3

Sunday Letters [on Tuesday] and other things.

REPOST!!** Duh, guys. I totally forgot to add the Sunday Letter part.... Scroll to the bottom to see that ;)

So. I am sorry that I haven't been much of a presence, here, lately. But I have been so busy!

Before I continue, I want to make sure everyone checks out the interview/feature for Bloggin' Ladies that I posted earlier today here. The post is on Ilene from much love, illy. She is the best, and I think you will all find it very inspirational!

Anyhoo. I am feeling really sleepy today because last night I worked until midnight, and couldn't sleep until about three a.m. You can believe that I am exhausted, and after I take my puppy for a walk and get in a little HP time, I am going to take a loooooong nap. Followed by a trip home to see the fam, and then meeting Nick back at his place to do some grocery shopping. His work is having a potluck tomorrow so I am going to help him make some of that guacamole I told you all about to share with his work buddies!

Later, we're going to cuddle up and watch this week's Dexter. If you've already watched it, don't leave any spoilers in the comments, please! I love this season. I can't wait to see how it plays out. 

Yesterday, my supervisor from UC came to observe me, and it went really, really well! The kids were very well behaved. Granted, they knew he was coming, and I maaaaay have bribed them with candy. Bob seemed to really like my lesson, and kept going on and on about how engaged they were. He said it was really nice to see me smiling so much (which is probably because I am always so nervous for his visits, that I can't manage to smile!)

Also, side note? I am LOVING GoF. I know I have read it before, but I am remembering so many awesome things about these books, and have become slightly obsessed. 

I really want to blog about my plans for Nick's Christmas present, because I am so, SO excited about it, but at the risk of him reading this post, I better leave it out. But, just so you know, he is going to be one HAPPY boyfriend on Christmas morning. Eee!! 

Also? I made it to 30 days with no soda. Yesterday was the official day, and I am really excited! It was the perfect way to stop altogether considering if I started drinking it again, now, the last thirty days would have been pretty silly. So, go me! :) 

Sunday Letters....*

This week's letter goes to "someone I wish I could meet.."

Dear Grandma, via 1953,

Grandma, you are 18 years old, and probably about to start nursing school. You're about to meet Grandpa, and a lot of things in your life are going to change. Are you excited to become a nurse? It would be incredible to be friends with the 18 year old version of you; I know we would have so much in common. Thank you for all of the things you do for me, 30 years from now. You are amazing, and an incredible role model. I love you.

Stephanie