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!

Thursday's Thoughtful

"Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You have to be certain it's what you really want before you commit."
From the book Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Note: My long time blog followers will remember my 'quote of the week' post- well, this is the same thing, just a new day/new name! Check back tomorrow for my first edition of 'Friday's Favorites' where each week I will list my favorite things. You may have seen others do this on their blogs- I thought I'd join the bandwagon (a tad bit late).

What's Next?

After over two months of hiatus, I'm back to blogging. I could do a recap of the happenings in my life that took place during my 'vacation' from you, but I'll spare you this time. There are only three major events that you need to know about- and one of them happened tonight:

1. I left my previous elementary school and took a job at a school in Alabama. As you know, this has been on my heart for months. I think I've finally found what I've been searching for.
2. We moved into our new home. You would not believe how much stuff we've done to this place (more of this to come soon).
3. I am no longer a college student.

Tonight was my last night of class at MSU. No, I'm not just finishing up one semester and waiting on another to begin. I'm really, truly finished. I now have an Ed.S degree and must take a one year hiatus before beginning my dissertation.

I cried the whole way home. College is my thing. I'm a college student and have been for over six years. Being a college student has been a major part of my identity for so long. It's almost like graduating high school- except I've been in college for six years instead of four.

I honestly do not know what to do next. What will I do with all of that time? I know, most sane people would respond vibrantly "You can do whatever you want!" Although I recognize the sheer beauty in that thought, I'm not ready to have time on my hands.

What did I do when this thought of too much time crept into my restless mind? Well, aside from cello lessons I've signed up for a cake decorating class at the local community college. Yes, remember all those times I said "I'll never leave school. I'll be the grandma at the local college taking pottery classes"- I wasn't kidding.

Okay, in all seriousness- I've reached the point in my life where it's time to move on. My only question is- move on to what? That's what I'm searching for. Am I ready for the whole 'settle down and have a baby' thing- truthfully, I wholeheartedly believed I was (I had a bad case of 'the fever' for 18 months). But now I'm not so sure.

I don't know what I want to do next. All I know is I want to DO something. You might find me quite changed since I last wrote. I feel I'm on this crusade to figure out who I am, what I want, and what my purpose is. So, until I find what it is I'm looking for and who it is that I am, this blog will serve as my diary of sorts. This is where I will discuss the thoughts, ponderings, up, downs, laughs, tears, and adventures that take place when a 20-something year old girl sets out to explore all the dimensions of life.