searching for inspiration...

source

I have been abnormally absent from the blog lately, and am not really sure why. School this quarter has been... exhausting and stressful. To say the least. With eight weeks left of the quarter and simultaneously the last eight weeks of my college career and it's starting to hit me how on my own I'll be on March 19th!

I have also been getting many more hours at work lately, and it's been totally kicking my butt. Needless to say, the blog has fallen a little to the wayside, but I promise I am trying my hardest to stay present! Sometimes a girl gets just a little overwhelmed. 

Guillermo has been using his leg SO much since the twist tie incident when the vet stretched his leg and taught us some useful exercises. We are thinking that he won't need physical therapy as we originally thought. So, yay! 

I'll be back a little later today with some Wednesday Wonders for you! 

What Guillermo Wore. (Or "The time Guillermo was a model.")

Photo dump of the cutest puppy in the world, wearing the most epic sweater, ever. You're welcome. :)
Initially I had an itch to do a "What I Wore" post, today. But alas, I tried to take some pictures and I just wasn't feelin' them. So, you get a "What Guillermo Wore" post, instead. Better? I think yes.

epic sweater: WalMart Pet Section, $5

cuteness: God given. ;)

Happy Wednesday, friends!

epiphany

source

Remember that time I was a student teacher? Remember that time that it was absolutely horrible in every conceivable way? You may have [or more likely, may not have] realized that I haven't posted about, or even so much as mentioned, student teaching in any way since I finished it. Want to know why? Read on.

Since I have completed student teaching, I whole-heartedly feel that student teachers need a de-briefing period. During this time, they should be required to leave the state/country/their normal habitat in order to regain the personality that they entered the semester-long enslavement that is a footstep to completing higher education.

I realized, after having one of the worst weeks that I have had in a long time this past week, that I don't remember really feeling as much emotion as I have in the past five days since I began at WHEHS in August 2010. By the end of that semester, I was quite possibly the most dull, complacent, numb person you'd have met. I felt completely unsatisfied by anything and everything. Nothing stimulated me; not reading, not writing, not even the Christmas season (at least as much as it usually does). I even started to feel like I wanted to be alone. All the time. As in completely alone. Guys? This is sad. 


Fortunately, yesterday this all hit me. I realized that I had a bad week because I was finally starting to feel like a normal person again. I used to get a little sad when I spent a day by myself. I used to count down the hours until Nick came home from work. I used to find things to do outside of the house just to be around people. I am finally starting to do these things, again. So, yay!! This is really great news, even though it took a really horrible week to realize it. It also got me thinking about how strange it was that I hadn't posted a single thing about student teaching since it ended, and how I had no idea what to even say about it.  So there's that. Now it's all out on... er... blogger. ;)

In other, un-realted, news....*

I haven't been able to wear this shirt (thrifted) since 2009. WIN.

Seriously one of my favorite shirts, ever. And even better? It was 50 cents!

Definitely going to keep on this road I've been on. 15 pounds down, 12 to go!

Nick took this picture of Guillermo and me one night after we fell asleep on the couch. :)

Sure, I look absolutely ridiculous, but I think puppy cuddles are one of the best parts of my day. 

Happy Monday :) Have a great week, friends!

It's FINALLY Saturday.

I just need to take a second to acknowledge the huge sigh of relief I had at the thought of this week finally being over. For some reason, it just seemed like everything that could possibly go wrong this week, did. I am so happy it's Saturday and that I get to spend the weekend with my boys!

Yesterday, my best friend, Lauren, brought her puppy, Penny, over to have a play date with Guillermo. Lately, Guillermo has been really lethargic and depressed, and when he's not, he's shredding tissues or chewing socks, or stealing the unopened box of toothpaste that was not-so-safely stowed on the bottom shelf in the bathroom... and I really think this all comes down to being lonely! He's really not alone too terribly much, most of the time between 6-8 hours a day, and that's even in pieces. He needs constant attention and does whatever he can (see above) to get our hands and eyes on him! So, I decided to start getting him out more + around Penny to get some of that energy out. Here are some pictures from yesterday :)

I think they spent a good three hours tumbling around the living room, chasing each other, and wrestling. And when Penny went home? Guillermo STILL wanted to play tug... At least he's cute :) 

In other news, I FINALLY began Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and I am most excited about this one because the first time I read it, I was borrowing the book from my mom, so I SPED through it, and hardly remember anything that happened. [spoiler alert] And let me just say that I shed tears when Hedwig died..... tears. 

Unfortunately, and although I am trying my hardest to savor the HP books while I am still in the mood to re-read them, I am itching to read the many books I got for Christmas. I have so many sitting on my bookshelf just waiting to be opened, and about 10+ more that I have planned for my Kindle. I honestly cannot WAIT to read some of them, and I plan on putting a post together sometime soon about my Kindle plans :) 

Also, remember this boy? 

Well, he's amazing. Last night was pretty much a culmination of a pretty crappy week for both of us, and when I got home from work at midnight, of course all we could think to do was have a stupid argument. Then, he woke up with me at 7:30 AM and drove me to work, and then went and got brand new tires for my car without even telling me. Seriously. What did I do to get so lucky? And his birthday is coming soon! I have big plans :) shhh...!*

Happy Saturday! 

So this is the new year..

Please press play before continuing ;)

You guys probably noticed that I didn't make a New Year resolution post. Well, you probably didn't notice until now, when I pointed it out. I think they are okay. And fun sometimes. But really, I try to work on things all the time, so I am not a huge fan of them. Mostly because I can never think of something I want to do that I am not already attempting...

Anyways, here is my obligatory 2011 post.

Some things I am looking forward to this year....

• Three amazing years with this boy. We say it all the time to each other, but really? It's been 2.5 years (tomorrow, in fact). Where did the time go? I can't wait to spend many more with him, and the fact that the time has gone so quickly means that we are happy, and enjoying ourselves and each other. 

• The anniversary of getting Guillermo. Exactly a year ago tomorrow (not a coincidence that this day matches the above) we brought baby Guillermo home when he was only 6 weeks old. He's been through a lot in his one little year of life, but we love him so, so much! 

• Graduation. After 5 incredibly long years in college, I will finally have something to show for it. Many things, actually. These things include: a diploma, a degree in English Edcuation, and a minor in English, a license to teach, and finally, hopefully a job doing what I love in a place that I love. Here's to crossing my fingers...

• Turning 23. Although I feel much older than my 22 years, I love birthdays. I will forever look forward to them. 

• Blossoming in the blog world and dramatically improving my writing skills. During this last quarter of college, I am actually taking a writing class. I can't wait to see how this impacts my blogging style, because I know it will. 

What are you looking forward to in 2011?

Happy New year! <3

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

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

[my week in words + photos]

1. Snuggling with Guillermo while Nick was at work. 2. The amazing package I got in the mail from Russty, a fellow blogger! 3. Harry Potter obsession, Chamber of Secrets. 4. Starting Goblet of Fire! Favorite part so far: portkeys! 5. Parent teacher conferences on Thursday. FOUR showed up, so HP obsession ensued. 6. Peppermint Mocha Latte (and the awesome parking spot I got, right in front of SBUX). 7. Lesson planning like MAD. 8. Preparing to send off the package to my CH,WH partner! 9.Guillermo wearing his new sweater, handmade by Russty :) 10. Downloading AWESOME HP desktops for Wednesday Wonders!

***

SHEW. Just so you know? This post is long. And wordy. You have been warned. 

It has been a looooong week. And by long? I mean LONG. I can't qualify this statement by saying anything other than.... I am eagerly awaiting Thanksgiving. Not mostly for the time spent with family. Not mostly for the yummy food I will get to consume (mostly carefree-ly). But for the glorious spectacular miserable five days away from West High. The kids really, really, really tried my patience this week.

Monday my supervisor from UC is coming to observe me, and after warning the bell he'll be sitting in on, they told me, in so many words, that they were going to make me look like a complete idiot. I kid you not. These stories I tell you are real. In order to combat this threat, and being that this bell (5th) is my worst as far as behavior, Holly and I devised a plan to get the students out of the room that are incredibly, unabashedly, shamelessly disrespectful and disruptive. Luckily, two of the worst ones will be out of town. SHEW [again].

My main time wasters occupiers this week when I wasn't concerning myself with planning a super awesome lesson that occupies + engages (while making me look awesome) these kids has been one of three things:

1. Guillermo
2. Harry Potter
3. Sleep

Basically? I have had an incredibly long week and have had no energy to do anything awesome [including the sweet HP themed Wednesday Wonders post I had planned]. Sad, I know.

HOWEVER. I am up to Year 4 in the HP series, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This is when the series really starts to get good for me, because in grade school + high school, I read the first three books 10-12 times, but once the fourth book came out, I was only reading them about 3-4 times. This means that I remember much less from the second half-ish of the series, making re-reading them far more awesome.

That's all  I have for tonight. Guillermo, Nick, and I love you all. <3 S

Sunday Letters [on Monday] + a cute Chihuahua

I am here, on Monday, to do a Sunday Letter! This week it goes to... an internet friend!

Dear Internet Friends: (Ilene, Kate, Crystal, Danielle M., Danielle H., Mandy and Mandy again, Jamie, and anyone else I may have forgotten, there are so many!)

I couldn't pick just one, because so many of you have helped me so much since starting this blogging journey, and I have met so many awesome, interesting, and smart ladies. I am so thankful that you all have taken time out of your busy schedules and lives to say kind words and to lead me in the right direction! I also want to thank you all for giving me so much inspiration when blogging. I get so many ideas from all of the blogs I read, and it's all thanks to you lovely ladies!

Love,

Stephanie

I have so much to do today...*

I really have little time to be writing this blog, but I wanted to let all of you know that Guillermo got his stitches out on Saturday, and the little guy is doing really great! Right now, he is curled up under a blanket on my lap while I type. He has been so snuggly and cute, and I can tell he is so happy to not have to wear his cone anymore! 

Happy Monday, friends! 

**image via weheartit

Maybe I am a little weird...

but typing is a whole more fun when your finger nails are freshly painted.

I didn't get to share on Thursday, but I had a DELICIOUS veg lunch from the culinary department of Dater, the adjoining school to the one I am teaching. It was a salad bar and vegetarian minestrone for only $6. 

Don't mind that the salad is half eaten - I was already diggin' in before I thought to snap a picture. The chef and students in the culinary arts class are seriously so talented. Everything I have eaten from there is so delicious, and they ALWAYS offer a vegetarian option. A couple weeks ago they had a portabella soup and omg. It was delicious. 

Today, Nick and I took Guillermo to the vet to get his little stitches removed. Other than being so so scared, he did really well! Everyone said he looked pretty chubby (from laying around so much!) but other than that, he is healing up nicely and they vet said it will take a whole month before he starts getting comfortable using his leg completely. Poor little guy.

Before the vet, Nick and I traveled to St. Bernard to have a consultation about getting dreads in his hair. Then we went to Kroger for some Starbucks - I had a Peppermint Mocha Latte and Nick had a Gingerbread Latte. They were both so delicious, in part because of the pretty red holiday cups! 

After Starbucks, we walked over to WaldenBooks and picked up the second Harry Potter in paperback so that I could keep reading! I have all of the books in hardcover, but after reading some of them them 8-10 times (during gradeschool/high school), there are a few that are completely falling apart and utterly non usable. SO! Perfect excuse to gift myself the paperback collection, too! 

P.S. Those glasses I am wearing? New! I can't find a great picture, or really take one of myself because of the light in this apartment, but I love them! They are two shades of purple, and so so pretty.

Happy Saturday, friends! 

As promised...* + Sunday Letters!

As promised, here is my little guy wearing his cone. He only wears it when we aren't with him, and I had to go to Kroger earlier to buy some ingredients to make pumpkin cranberry scones! 

He is so cute. This is what his ears looked like when he was a baby baby. <3

Here's the scones I made earlier! For my first try, they turned out really well and I am super happy with them! I also made some cinnamon butter to spread on them and before I baked them, I sprinkled sugar and cinnamon on the stop. Yum! 

Sunday Letters...*

Dear ex-boyfriends,

Thank you for showing me what a boyfriend shouldn't be. Thank you for teaching me how to remember who I am in a relationship. Thank you for teaching me confidence and resilience. Most of all, thank you for teaching me what love isn't so that when I found it, I knew the difference.

Love,

Stephanie

Puppy Love + other types of love, too

Hello! Happy Sunday!

I tried to get a decent picture of the Chihuahua son, especially in his poor little cone, but it was impossible. He's gonna have to wear it again, anyways, so I'll be sure to update later with some proper pictures!

On the same topic, he is doing SO MUCH better. He hasn't started using his leg to walk, yet, but he is using it to scratch his ears, again (which was really hard for him at first!) and he has started laying on his bad side, too! He cries every now when he is really uncomfortable, but he's getting lots of rest and and sleep. Right now, he has his head buried in a cardigan of mine on the couch, snoozing away!

In other news, I have been having ridiculous dreams lately. I think they might have something to do with the fact that I haven't had soda in 15 days (WOOP!). I had a dream a week or two ago about bubble tea, which I have never had, but looks SO delicious. So, I have taken to asking my twitter peeps 83843 questions about it and one of them was gracious enough to help me find a place in Cincinnati that sells it! I plan on going to the Tea n' Bowl on Tuesday before class at UC to get one to try for myself!

See? Don't these look delicious??? I need to try one, asap.

I have also been having dreams about coffee!! I love the warming qualities and taste of coffee, but I hate that it makes me have the jitters, so unless I have the option to get decaf, then I usually don't drink it. Which is REALLY unfortunate considering Nick got this Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks a couple weeks ago and it was omgsogood. I had a dream about the very thing, and have been fighting the urge to buy a coffee on the way to school in the mornings, because I always end up regretting it when the cup is empty and my hands are shaking! 

But seriously? I am having a hard time saying no.

Also...*

I am really excited about tonight because Nick only works until 5 and I don't have to leave for work immediately after he gets here like I did last night. I spent the entire day cooped up in this apartment while Nick was working so Guillermo wasn't alone. It was SO boring! I think I have exhausted every interesting movie choice on Netflix. 

ANYWAYS, tonight Nick and I are having another Chipotle date and we are going to watch The Book of Eli (which is our first movie from Netflix, yay!). Possibly we will then watch the new episode of Dexter, which I have been completely obsessed with this season. Basically, I am just excited to have company! Hope you all have a lovely Sunday and a great Monday! 

xoxo S

P.s. I bought a Cosmopolitan this weekend to satiate my boredom and in it I read that The Bell Jar is being turned into a movie! I cannot wait to learn more, and will definitely share once I get some more deets!

Guillermo [heart.]

Just wanted to pop in an do a little update on Guillermo, tonight. Nick picked him up from the pet hospital at about 9:30 this morning. He was wearing a cone, and was really scared and sleepy in the little cage. Since we got him home, he has been sleeping and cuddling and eating all day long. He is very uncomfortable and I can tell in a lot of pain. He has to take antibiotics and pain medicine, and he has to wear a cone when we don't have our eyes on him 100%. If he doesn't he will try to clean the incision and it could get infected. Speaking of the incision, it's HUGE and there are four giant stitches on his little hind leg.

I apologize for the quality of this picture [I have a crappy camera AND the light in here is awful.] The worst part about this whole thing? They shaved his entire leg, hips, and part of his back. He looks so pitiful hairless :(

All in all, he is doing really well, and will start to recover in the next few days. It is going to be slow going with lots of homemade PT exercises, but we will get through. Thank you all, again, for all of your kind words! <3

Wednesday Wonders v.6

This week's Wednesday Wonders has a special theme: Sylvia Plath! I have been more than a little obsessed by her in the last few weeks (more than normal, at least). Also, since I have decided that my next tattoo is going to be the Sylvia quote found in The Bell Jar: "Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences." I thought that this would be fitting!! 

In addition, there are 12 photos this week, instead of 10, all of which came from Sylvia Plath - Poetry's Lioness

1. One of the only visual depictions I have been able to find

of this beautiful quote.

2. Sylvia BUTTONS?? I wish I knew where these were

sold so I could have some of my own!

3. This is one of her most popular quotes. I think it's incredibly

thought provoking and this mural is awesome.

4. Right before I found this photo, I was thinking about how

awesome it would be to have a library full of SP books. And how

I would love to photograph them.

5. It was a tortured marriage, but oh so pretty.

6. One of my favorite reads. I talked about it here. I strongly

urge EVERYONE to pick this up and read it from cover to cover.

7. Another one of her popular quotes, also from The Bell Jar. 

I think this tattoo is clever and simple and feminine.

8. This quote makes me wonder where it's written and how many

people have happened upon it. 

9. Pretty SP.

10. When it came down to it, my decision for new ink was between

the above quote and this one. SO pretty.

11. This painting was coupled with a SP quote on

the Tumblr that I linked above.

12. A caricature of SP using quotes from her own writing.

Also...***

We took Guillermo the vet this morning, and he is probably waking up from surgery right about now. We are really nervous and hope he's doing okay. I will definitely do a little update in the next few days to let you all know how he is doing. We get him back tomorrow morning and hope all has gone well with the surgery. I want to thank you again for all of your kind words and so much support over the last few weeks. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 

Now... I am off to the library to pick up the DVD version of The Crucible for my AA kids. They are struggling to understand the play in the book, so I thought watching it scene by scene might help them + a character  map! Have a wonderful Wednesday!