Thoughts from a thoughtful place

Quite obviously I've neglected my blog lately. I do apologize. Seriously. How the heck do some of these teachers out there in the blogosphere do it?! I have no idea! Quite frankly, when school is over for the day - the papers are graded and I'm comfortably watching Friends on the couch, I feel like this lady:

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Once upon a time ago, I set a goal for this blog to reach 100 followers by the end of 2012. Well, friends, my happy little butt has been busy. Doing what you might ask? Beats the heck out of me! Okay, that's not true. Something in my world happens in the beginning of October. I've mentioned that I work the spookhouse at school. Somehow that takes over my life from the beginning of October until part way through November. It's a true story. I become engulfed, nay, overwhelmed with spookhouse duties. 

In other news: I'm old.
Dear readers, I (and probably you too - sorry folks) have lived long enough to see fashion cycle around full circle. It's convenient for me. At the same time, it kinda irritates me. I went to my beloved haven, Forever 21, and realized, "I've seen this all before." All this stuff in here is what was cool in the 90s. Say, what?! Then, I thought of Ecclesiastes 1:9 - "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." Dang. Get me to a thrift store please. This reasonably priced $12.50 shirt would cost $4.99 max at Goodwill. 

Hey, remember how I said I'm old two seconds ago? Well the good news there is I'm gonna have a birthday party for myself next summer. Perfect theme: Alice in Wonderland. I've always thought she should be an honorary Disney princess anyway. I'm thinking a modest version - like this:

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But I really prefer the original Alice -

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And maybe, maybe..... maaaaaayyyyybe I could talk the husband into being the Mad Hatter, eh??? Yeah. That'd be awesome. Everybody would love it. Including, and most importantly, the old birthday lady.

But for now, be satiated with the cuteness that was my Halloween costume - my take on Tinkerbell

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Close, right?! Pretty dang close considering I thought of it the night before Halloween and didn't make any purchases other than tights to go towards my costume.

Get your fashion on

Stuff that's okay...

Linking up with Neelykins for It's Okay Thursday.

These things are all more than okay with me: 

• That I've felt completely blog-ily uninspired lately.
• I came home and ate a Kit-Kat and I want another fiftyhundred to go down my gullet.
• I've already had two Dr. Peppers today.
• I didn't think of my Halloween costume until the night before Halloween. 

 Tinkerbell =/= Angel 

 Translation: Tinkerbell does NOT equal an Angel

• It's okay that I wore this to school on Halloween

•  It's okay to be uncertain about how "writing" is a spiritual gift, but hope I can find a way to use it anyway.
• It's okay to have second thoughts/ jitters about Blissdom. 
• It's okay to be exhausted after a day of teaching 20 beautiful children.
• It's okay to be annoyed that someone wants you to decorate with spider webs AFTER Halloween is over. Give me a BREAK!

•   That I wore this completely thrifted outfit to school today:

 Hoopah!

Chambray Shirt - $3.99

Plaid Skirt - $3.99

Thrifted Vintage Shoes - $3.98

Belt- $.99

Garage Saled Bracelet - $1.00 

Posing like I have to go to the bathroom: Priceless

 

Realizing there is a trashy plastic bag in your photo shoot - even priceless-er-er 

 

•  It's okay to be crazy-in-love with my husband even when some people are bitter. 
• It's okay to think my iPhone 4 is the greatest thing ever!
• It's okay to laugh at Hurricane Sandy's tweets. (She was hilarious...you really missed out if you didn't read her stuff.) And on a serious note: my sympathies go out to all my blog friends and people affected by the storm.
• And lastly, it's okay that I used to be pretty crazy about politics but this years' election makes me want to crawl under a ROCK til it's over.  Eep. So not like me.
  
  

 

Get your fashion on...

Halloweenie 7 Questions!

Happy 7 Questions! Halloween Edition! 

One of my teacher besties and I a couple Halloweens ago.... She was a ladybug (obviously) and I was Hello Kitty. (The obsession runs deep...)

1. Do you believe in ghosts?
I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is a whole different topic.....

• Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. - John 3:5 
•  "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. - Matthew 3:11
•  "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:13

And I believe there are things that are ghostly but I don't wanna mess with those. Creeeeeeepy!

2. Do you prefer the cute or the scary Halloween?
*laughter* I'm a bit of an oxymoron when it comes to Halloween. My natural inclination is towards the cute Halloween stuff. I grew up doing only cutesy tootsy Halloween. I wasn't allowed to dress as anything scary.  As an adult, I took on the responsibility of decorating/creating/working in the Spook House at school. So - I now do both cute and scary. When we have a kid, I'm making sure that kid does CUTE Halloween. I would not, not, NOT let my kid come in the haunted house. No-sir-ee-bob!

Scary

Cute

3. How old were you when you stopped trick or treating?
I don't remember. Maybe 6th grade? I can tell you about my troubles with  Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny.... I remember that... but stop Trick or Treating??? I don't know. 

 
4. Do you have any fun Halloween traditions?
Hmmm....not officially yet. I mean, the last 5 years I've worked the Spook House at school and that feels sort of like a tradition. My husband and I carved pumpkins last year, but we haven't this year. I hope to make some traditions as we go along.

5. Share a scary local urban legend.
Shoot.... Cry Baby Bridge. Apparently they're all over the country but it spooked us when we were kids. We used to stand in the bathroom at school and say, "Bloody Mary" three times, but nothing happened. And then at recess when I was 8 we used to play, "Light as a feather, stiff as a board." Across the street from our school there was the original, one-room school house. We made up plenty of ghosts stories, I just don't remember the details.

6. Would you rather be haunted or haunting?
How about NEITHA! I 'haunt' the spook house at school and that's good enough for me. I always feel bad though because at least once a year I make a kid cry in the spook house. Sorry, little children. I don't mean to make you cry.

7. What's your favorite Halloween character/ creature? (dracula, witch, ghost, etc)

Can't we all just be happy little things, like Hello Kitty and Diction-Fairies?  I enjoy watching Vincent Price movies at Halloween. So, like .... Edgar Allen Poe type stuff is creepy enough for just once a year. How about Edward Scissorhands? He's fun, too.

The Break is Ovah!

I wish I had an epic post for you, especially after this 3 week hiatus. Sadly, I don't. Truth of the matter is, my real job, which I love, is being a first grade teacher. This time of year gets super hectic! I've still been fashionable (it gives me credibility as a fashion blogger).
  I apologize for my lack of involvement with my blogging friends. I still love you guys!

OH, and speaking of "credibility", I'm so legit I even have a twitter account now!

Follow the excitement- jana_faith

Still can't get enough awesome?

Need some photos to brighten your day? Check out my Instagram.

eccentric_teacher

 The items above are just a snapshot of the awesome photos you're missing out on....so..... go follow my Instagram

Still shopping, being fashionable, and preparing for the Annual Spook House. If you're a little worried after viewing the creeptastic items above - no worries. I work the spook house at school. If you've been reading long, you know Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I teach first grade by day - and haunt the spook house by night in October. Hence my absence around the blogosphere....

And for those of you who read to find out current fashion trends- here's a juicy tidbit:

"It's Leather Weather! Get ready, because our forecast is telling us that leather is the biggest trend this fall! This slick trend is versatile, comes in a mix of colors (need more burgundy in your closet? Check!), and adds an edge to any outfit." - Chictopia

Source: pixiemarket.com via Jana on Pinterest

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I am by no means telling you to splurge on leather pants. I recently read in an article women regret impractical purchases, like leather pants. There are affordable dupes from places like Target and Forever 21. And of course, your local thrift store or consignment shop will have some affordable options too.

Get your fashion on - - - 
 

Foodie Friday with Two Shades of Lovely

Remember how I told you there wouldn't be recipe posts here because, "Jana don't cook"??? Well... fortunately for you guys, I have friends who DO! Jeni is such a sweetheart. You'll really like her and her Almond Rocha- - - get to to know her cutie self.

Introducing *drum roll please* from Two Shades of Lovely - - - Jeni!

In the world of blogging buddies - Jana is a great friend! She is always kind, full of great advice, and supportive to all of my crazy ideas and moments of blogging breakdowns (like my many writing slumps!)

I couldn't be happier to be here and share this guest post with you.

This one is a little special - the holidays are sneaking up on us, and this recipe is one that your holiday season can absolutely not survive without! Almond Roca in 6 minutes?!?! This recipe makes a great gift, and is also a fun recipe to make for get-togethers, or family baking days!

Microwave Almond Roca

I

 

Ingredients 

 1 Cup Sugar

2 Cup Chopped Almonds 

(I use whole almonds, and chop with this hand held chopper - it's been a life saver!)

1 Cup Butter (not margarine)

2 Cup Milk Chocolate Chip

Carmalize sugar and butter in glass microwave bowl.

This will take approximately 6-8 minutes, stir after the 1st minute then microwave another 4 minutes, stir. Then stir and cook in 1 minute intervals.

Once the mixture starts to darken, it caramelizes quickly.

Place 1/2 cups of almonds on your silicone baking mat (This one works great, and lasts a lifetime)

As soon as the caramel is done, drizzle it over the top of the almonds.

Top with chocolate chips, spread with wooden spoon until melted over caramel. 

Top with remaining almonds.

Refrigerate or freeze until set.

Remove from mat and cut on a cutting board into bite size chunks.

 *ENJOY*

;Stay tuned - I will be posting a recipe for Almond Roca Cookies (you just use the little tid bits and crumbs from this recipe!) over on my blog.

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Um... I don't know about you, but now I'm so excited about all the yummy foods that are coming my way this season. Plus I'm a step ahead of the game this year because I've got a great recipe from Jeni!