Tuesday Trend?

Last Tuesday I had plantation shutters installed. Today after an AMAZING day at work I came home to find this little happy in my mailbox! I had forgotten that I should even be expecting it.

I've had two terrific Tuesdays in a row. Is this a trend?
I guess Tuesday is just my day :)

I hope your Tuesday was as fabulous as mine!
Yours Truly ,

Sylvia Grace, Ed. S ---- I had to do it once, to see what it feels like ;)

Fireworks Over Toccoa

This is one of the best love stories I've read in a while. I did not want this book to end. It's a short read, compared to some books I've reviewed, but well worth it!

Rating: 4/5 stars

"An unexpected discovery takes eighty-four-year-old Lily Davis Woodward to 1945, and the five days that forever changed her life. Married for only a week before her husband was sent to fight in WWII, Lily is anxious for his return, and the chance to begin their life together. In honor of the soldiers' homecoming, the small Georgia town of Toccoa plans a big celebration. And Jake Russo, a handsome Italian immigrant, also back from war, is responsible for the elaborate fireworks display the town commissioned. But after a chance encounter in a star-lit field, he steals Lily's heart and soul--and fulfills her in ways her socially-minded, upper-class family cannot. Now, torn by duty to society and her husband--and the poor, passionate man who might be her only true love--Lily must choose between a commitment she's already made and a love she's never known before."

Review from the Publisher

Friday Favorites

1. Waffle Cones
I think this is just the kid in me coming out.


2. V8 Soups
I love them all- but the Sweet Red Pepper is my top pick.

3. Anchuca B&B in Vicksburg, MS
I'm a huge history buff so this is the place for me. I honestly think I could live there! Last October (on Halloween to be exact) the hubby and I stayed at Anchuca B&B. It was a great time of year to go- there were trick or treaters everywhere, pumpkins and hay bales adorned every corner, and it was nice and cool. We are planning another trip for the last weekend in October. Oh, for all you cooks out there, they have a fabulous cookbook, A Taste of Anchuca.




4. Friday Nights at the Racetrack
I love loading up the race car and heading out to the races with my husband!




5. Scarves, Hats, Sweaters, Boots
Okay, so that's really four favorite things. I love Fall and Winter clothes and I'm so looking forward to cooler weather so I can pull out my Fall/Winter wardrobe.




6. Sunflower Seeds
I cannot enjoy a movie with these. This has been my favorite snack since childhood.





7. Honey
I love honey on my toast and in hot teas. I even put a dab in my milk each night before I go to bed. My Dad is a beekeeper and he just brought me a fresh jar from this year's harvest.




8. Under the Tuscan Sun
One of my all time favorites! I've watched it hundreds of times- it's usually my Friday night movie choice. Plus, I think Diane Lane is fabulous!



9. il dolce far niente (The Sweetness of Doing Nothing)
I'm loving being at home in the evenings and I'm learning the art of becoming a lady of leisure! ( I'll take this any day over sitting in grad school.)



10. New Friends
I'm meeting so many new people at work. It's always exciting getting to know people! Just the other day I was invited for an outing this evening to the football game/possibly dinner. I'm very much looking forward to it.

Thursday's Thoughtfuls

The Road Not Taken

by: Robert Frost (1874-1963)

WO roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;




Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,




And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.




I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

From time to time I wonder where I would be had I taken a different road in life. I wonder what I would be doing.... if I would be happy..... I'm glad I chose the path I'm on- because I AM happy, I LOVE what I do for a living, I'm CONTENT with where I am, and I'm BLESSED beyond what I deserve! Yes, I could have easily taken the smoother road- but I did not. It was a long run, but now that I'm at the finish line, I'm so glad I took the road less traveled.

Happy Ending To A Long Tuesday

Master bedroom window before........

Ta Da!
The pictures are kinda dark- sorry! I'll try and get some better shots in a different light.

Guest Bedroom.
The pictures just do not do the shutters justice!

Notice how all of the shutters have a smaller break towards the top. Our windows (as seen in the before picture) had a sliver of window across the top that we wanted to be able to leave open to let in light. We were able to have our shutters made so we can leave the top section open for light, while still having privacy at the bottom.

I arrived home to from work to greet the installers for our shutters. It took them less than thirty minutes to install shutters in the master bedroom and guest bedroom.


We are thrilled with how they turned out and cannot wait for them to install shutters in our big dining room window.

Happy Tuesday :)

Friday Favorites

1. All Things White
I love to accent rooms with white. Lately I've been in love with white bedding. I've had my eye on this ruched voile duvet cover from PB for quite some time.

2. Stained Glass
I think having just a touch of stained glass in your home really warms it up and gives it character. Now, the picture above is not my style, but I like the touch of the stained glass in the windows. They offer a stained glass class at the local CC (where I've signed up for cake decorating). Hmmmm..... maybe I'll try that class in the Spring. Could be fun!

3. Sweet Thoughtfuls From My Students
I came home yesterday to the sweetest card from one of my former students. It brought tears to my eyes, but oh how it made my soul smile! I love getting cards in the mail- it's a nice reprieve from the usual overflow of bills and 'junk mail'.

4. Macintosh Apple scented candle


5. Subway Tile
We are completely re-tiling (sp?) our master bathroom. Subway tile is definitely on the possibility list when it comes to design ideas. I was surprised to find that my husband really likes it too (in fact, it was just about the only tile we could both agree on).

6. Our Suburban Cottage
This is one of my favorite blogs! You should definitely check it out!

7. Fall Wreaths
I want to try this DIY from Our Suburban Cottage.

Check it out HERE

8. Teen Mom
I'm addicted to this show on MTV. Sad, but true.

9. Rainy Days
I love rainy days partly because I get to wear rainboots. I also love the sound, the smell, the feeling I get.....I could go on and on.

10. Trees
I love tree lined drive ways, big oak trees with tire swings, the color of the leaves in the fall.... I cannot wait to start planting trees in my yard (apple, pear, oak- I want them all!). I really love weeping willows- and since we live on the water, I think they'd be perfect in our yard.

Happy Friday :)

Eat. Pray. Love

True, I picked up this book because I'd heard such rave reviews- but I also picked it up because, like Liz, I'm on a quest for something (not sure what it is, and I definitely do not have the luxury of living abroad while I figure it all out). I'll admit the book is really hard to get into. Then I made the mistake of going to see the movie before I finished reading the book. I was sorely disappointed in the movie and, as a result, have lost my desire to finish the book. Normally the idea of not finishing a book would drive me crazy- but several people close to me have read it and say I'm not missing out on much. Maybe I should have listened to them rather than the critics.

I hate that this post is coming off like I'm bashing the book. I'm sure it is a great book (I can't really say one way or the other because I myself have not finished it). It just was not the page turner that I thought it would be.

Who knows, maybe I'll finish it, maybe I won't. But as of now here's where this book stands with me.

Thursday's Thoughtfuls

It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?
Henry David Thoreau

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of the nonessentials.
Lin Yutang

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.
Unknown



Happy Thursday!

Friday Favorites

1. Living By Water

This was a picture I took on morning one my way to work :)

There is always a sense of calm and peace near water, and I love that my house is in such a location. Every evening my husband and I feed the fish in the lake- and I cannot tell you how many hours we've spent on the back porch just looking out at the water.



2. Being Brunette

I went from this.....

..... to this.

This is old news, but it's the first time I've posted pics of my new do' on this blog.




3. School Supplies


I love walking through stores this time of year and seeing all the shiny new school supplies. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I love the smell of new crayons. To give a quote from one of my favorite movies (You've Got Mail), "This time of year makes you want to go out and by a bouqet of pencils."




4. Friday Night Football
I'm excited to work in a K-12 school because I'm so looking forward to Friday night football games. There's just something about sitting in the bleachers, munching on food from the concession stand, and cheering for your team!



5. Roman Shades

I plan to outfit several of our windows with these beauties!


6. Friday the 13th

I'm the type of girl that will snuggle on the couch with my favorite snack and watch all the Friday the 13th reruns on TV. October is my favorite month, and Halloween is my favorite holiday- so today I get a taste of what's to come in just a few weeks!

Thursday's Thoughfuls

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. – Shirley Chisholm

I've tried to keep this in mind all week as I embark on this new journey in my career.

Set higher standards for you own performance than anyone around you, and it won’t matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one. It won’t matter whether the competition is pushing you hard, because you’ll be competing with yourself. – Rick Pitino

First Day

I had the most amazing first day of school. All of my students are precious and eager to learn- I cannot wait to see how much they accomplish this year! I could go on and on about how good today was- but I'll spare you by saying simply: It was better than I could have ever dreamed!

I thought I would share with you a 'happy' I received from one of my students! This sweet and thoughtful gift definitely made my already great day even brighter!

A cute desk organizer filled with the cutest/girliest office supplies. She even decorated the top! :)

It is my sincerest hopes that teachers all over America- and this world- had as good of a day as I did!

First Grade Fabulocity

Mizz Hoppa- this post is for you :)

Warning:
This post contains a lot of pictures!

I'm finally finished setting up my new classroom. Whew! Moving classrooms is just as much work as moving into a new home!

My niece spent one day helping me paint the back shelves and my storage cabinet. It was her idea to add the polka dots- I think it turned out fabulous!

Before.....

My niece was so sweet- she gave up a day of her summer break to help me paint :)

And voila! After......

It's hard to tell in this picture- but the back cubbyholes have blue polka dots.

Friday Favorites

1. California Sushi Roll
Just thinking about this makes my mouth water! Yummo!




2. Plantation Shutters
Who doesn't love plantation shutters? I have always wanted these in my home, and am excited to say this dream is coming true! We had a company measure our windows and we were able to design our own shutters. We're just waiting on them to be installed. I'm so excited- I feel like a kid at Christmas!



3. Topiaries

I just hope I can keep these beauties alive. I had another topiary on the back porch, but my lively kitten loves to climb up it- needless to say it died. I hope he doesn't discover these beauties because we might have a problem!



4. Four Poster Beds (especially those with changeable posts).

We just ordered a four poster canopy bedroom set today. I love that I can change the bed up: have all posts up, have them down, or place the canopy rails up. This is perfect for someone like me who is constantly changing her mind. I'm excited about decorating our master bedroom!



5. Louie

He may be last, but he certainly is not least! This sweet boy is always there to greet me first thing in the morning and when I come home from work. He's the best outside cat- he keeps the critters away (living on a lake there are always frogs etc on our carport/back porch). Look at that sweet face!

Happy Friday!