Show and Tell / #TBT: My Favorite Blog Posts!

Linking up with Andrea @ Momfessionals for a fun Show and Tell Tuesday!  I thought it was the perfect fit for my # TBT post!!  Today's topic is My Favorite Blog Posts!  I'm reaching into the Archives for this one!! It's funny to me how some posts I love and others don't respond that well to them.  But then others I was not confident about were bigger "hits" then anticipated!  These posts are some of my favorites I've written!

My very first post ever is really high on the list of faves!  I'm not really sure why.  Maybe just because I actually did it...I actually started this blog, journaling and documenting my life!  It has been four years since the first post.  I am proud of what the blog has become and what I have done with it. Read my first post here!

My Solitary Life Posts are definitely faves and so much fun to write...

You Might Live a Solitary Life if...

You Might Live a Solitary Life if... {2nd installment}

Solitary Life 101

I teamed up with my fellow librarian Leslie to celebrate friendship day last summer.  I introduced you to a great book and my best friend, Mel!  It is a definite fave!

An Ode to Besties

I have a day job as a teacher-librarian, so occasionally you'll see my teacher life creep into the blog! These are some of my favorite teacher-themed posts!

I am a Teacher 

Love is...

You Might be a teacher if...

Para-para-para-dise

Sometimes you'll see my family on the blog as well.  A recap of Happy Heart Day, my mom's surprise birth bash, and the Cookies and Cocktails tradition that my sisters and I have are some favorite posts featuring my family.

A past Show and Tell Tuesday post is a top too!!  My Mixed Tape was so much fun to put together and took me back to the days of my youth!!

See a few more popular posts here!

This was another fun post to write!!  Have a great Thursday!!

Another Tuesday Pep Talk

It's another Tuesday pep talk...where I tell myself,  hey...it's all ok!!

It's week 3 of school...it's ok to be over it already!

Even though it's still 80 degrees and 100% humidity, it's ok to be in a scarf, sweater and riding boots! There's air conditioning in the library this year!  Woot! Woot!!

It's ok to already have an extensive shoe collection under my desk at work.

It's ok to have a fun Friday night where you fall off the cliff!

It's ok to laugh so hard, ya pee a little...TMI?  Laughter's good for the soul!!

It's ok to be super excited for fall TV premiere week!

nbc.com

It's ok to know, that now that you're Mom and Dad are back in Florida, you probably won't see your family til Thanksgiving!  HA!

It's ok to be a little clueless about what's happening!

It's ok to be super excited that YOUR PEAPOD GUY delivered your order!!

It's ok to accidentally eat some moldy pound cake, drink some sour half and half and still cook some funky smelling chicken....the next day you'll still wake up!! {they say things happen in threes!!}



What are you telling yourself it's ok today?  Let me know in the comments below!!  Have a great Tuesday!!


Linking up with Airing My Laundry for HEY! IT'S OKAY TUESDAY!  Link up here!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

It's Fall TV Premiere Week!!!

I'm so excited!  Final some new shows.  I thought I would share my picks for the top three new shows I can't wait to watch.  These are the three shows that have been granted a series pass on my DVR already!  HA!  These are all network shows...just an FYI!

The is Us

Tuesday Nights at 10 p.m. on NBC

This is Us @ NBC

Originally this show was the only one I really just had to watch this Fall!!  They keep comparing it to to Parenthood and that makes me super happy.  It's about 36 year olds and how people are all connected. I'm really excited about this cast too!!  So many familiar faces...and hot guys, so it's a win-win!!   I really think I'm going to enjoy it.  And the fact that this show is one of only three new shows NBC is rolling out this Fall says a lot about the number of big winners they have in their line-up already

.  I think this is another one!!

Speechless

Wednesday Nights at 8:30 p.m. on ABC

Speechless @ ABC.com

For some reason, I don't usually tend to make comedies appointment viewing, but this Fall 's the exception.  I am really looking forward to this comedy starring Minnie Driver as a mother and caregiver to her son with Cerebral PalsyP.  I think it's a really different kind of show and I really hope it does well.  Every preview I've seen was really funny.  And I miss Minnie Driver on TV...I loved About a Boy, the short-lived NBC show based on the movie of the same name.  

Kevin Can Wait

Monday Nights on CBS at 8:30 p.m.

Kevin Can Wait @ CBS.com

Maybe part of me only wants to watch this because it takes place and is filmed on Long Island, but I really like Kevin James.  I really liked him on King of Queens and am glad he's back.  I just hope that this is not too much like that.  He hit a home run back then with TV wife Leah Remini but I'm not really sure who is playing his new wife.  But still, I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes.  The reveiws so far are not really favorable, but I'll make my own judgement!!

Are you looking forward to any new shows this season?  What am I missing? Let me know in the comments below!!

The Friday post that wasn't...

Friday is here!  I made it through the first full week...
of back-to-school, of after care and of parent night!
These's a new routine and schedule to get used to (leaving everyday before 7...which I know won't last!), one day in the week with no prep (which I actually like...the day goes by really quick), and having to do After care on Fridays, which I never intended to do!  HA!

Every week I sit with my planner and plug in my blogs for the week and every Friday, I put in Friday Favorites.  Planning out the blogs is sometimes as far as I get.  It's a miracle, when I can actually plan them, write them, and schedule them, ahead of time!!  {Yesterday's #TBT post might have went live after 11 p.m.!}

But Friday' here...and this post is nothing of what I intended it to be...just the random ramblings of a tired teacher after the busiest first week!!  This may be in my future later on today!!

Teach Outside the Box

So rather than the usual five favorites today you are getting just one!!

My favorite of the week was The Blended Blog's Blogiversary Scavenger Hunt Giveaway!!  It's hard to believe it's the end!  There is one final post up today with more chances to win so head on over there!  And if you missed any of the posts this week, here's a round up!

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Well would you look at that...I guess I have five favorites after all!!


Have a fabulous weekend....I'm spending mine getting my house and life in order after neglecting it all week!!

It's a TBB #TBT!

This week The Blended Blog is celebrating our One Year Blogiversary all week long with special posts, a super fun scavenger hunt, and a $150 giveaway!!  So I thought to add to the celebration, for today's Throwback post!

 Today I'm throwing it back to the very first post I wrote as a The Blended Blog contributor! I've contributed a number of fun posts over the last year, but this one was my very first one and it hold s a special place in my heart.  And being that Fall is right around the corner, I thought this was perfect!!

____________________

Fun Fall Cocktails!

Happy Fall Y'all!!  So excited to be here today sharing some fun fall cocktails with you all.  I enjoy my wine and during the fall, pumpkin ale is my big go-to!  At parties though I like to mix it up and indulge in a few cocktails.

This Thanksgiving,  I'll once again be hosting what we call Friendsgiving. So I thought it'd be fun to have some signature drinks on the menu to offer my  friends!  Two that I am going to share with you today are a pumpkin martini and some fall sangria.  These were both so simple and easy to put together.

So, confession time.... I got a little drunk this weekend! :)  I did lots of taste-testing...

Years ago my family went out for my sister's birthday, and while we waited for our table my mom tried the restaurant's Pumpkin Spice Martini.  Over the course of the evening I think she had three or four.  And by the end of the night, the bartender had written down the recipe on the back of a receipt. He probably wasn't supposed to do that, but he did! My mom still has it to this day.
So yummy!

Pumpkin Martini- makes one glass

2 oz. vanilla vodka (I used stoli)
1.5 oz Godiva White
.5 oz of Creme de Cocoa- white
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer (Both International Delight and Nestle have one this time of year!) The recipe didn't have any measurement on this, so I'd say to taste. (I went with a shot and a half!) It's a pumpkin martini after all!

Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously!  Strain into martini glass and enjoy!  The recipe called for the glass to be rimmed with brown sugar. That was hard....I made a second one and rimmed with cinnamon sugar!

Last week, a coworker friend of mine told me about a fall sangria she had while camping.  As she was describing it, I knew it'd be perfect for Friendsgiving.  My friends are into Fireball these days.  I have to be honest here...this one was totally trial and error using what my friend told me! There are a number of fall sangrias on sites like Pinterest but when  I couldn't find one exactly as she mentioned, I tried it anyway!  And guess what?!?  I think I nailed it! The longer you leave it the better, too!

Most sangrias have a wine base.  This one is apple cider, no wine! Which for someone like me who's never been good at mixing wine and liquor, works!

Since I didn't have any measurements I went with this shot glass.(the equivalent of 1.5 shots) because unlike the martini, I made a pitcher rather than a glass!

Fall Sangria
FireBall Cinnamon Whiskey
Caramel Vodka
Apple Cider (not juice)
4 or 5 of your favorite apples sliced (depending on the size of your pitcher)

• Cut up the apples and place them in the bottom of the pitcher
• Put the shots of vodka and fireball on top of them, letting it all soak in
• Pour in apple cider
• Stir Well
• Place in the refrigerator overnight

Serve in a highball glass with cinnamon rim and garnished with an apple!  Enjoy!!

Hope you try these at your next fall gathering!  Please let me know how you like them and if you have any fall cocktails you think I need to try, please let me know in the comments below!

Enjoy!

____________________

It's kinda funny, but somehow, I got to be the cocktail girl of the group!  I'm not sure when this happened or how, but I can tell you my mom is so proud!  #not  LOL

Check out all my featured posts on The Blended Blog {here}.


This post originally appeared on The Blended Blog on October 20, 2015

Now head on over for day four of The Blended Blog's blogiversary scavenger hunt and giveaway!!! It's so much FUN!!!!!

Gray Monroe Style

When blogger Jenny Collier started her Gray Monroe shop, I browsed, followed her on FB and Instagram and always envied all the clothing she had available for purchase.  This summer, I had the time to actually shop the site, so I did!!  I scored an awesome cold shoulder top for the fall...that had sold out so quickly, I had to wait for the reorder!  Then I was emailed about the End of Summer Sale and got a few fun tops at a great deal!!  It was like the sale on sale!!

I had been eyeing this super fun tank for summer for awhile!  When it went on sale and they still had my size as took that as a sign that I HAD to have it!  Check it out here...still on final sale!!

Love this tank too!  I wore it this summer with so many colors of my go-to shorts!   

I plan on taking this tank into fall with me, wearing it with my military jacket, denim jacket, and cardigan sweaters. I also plan on wearing it now with my olive jeans!

This cold shoulder top I scored on sale too!  It's the perfect top to wear with leggings or skinny jeans and sandals nowt and riding boots later on!! {Super similar here!}

I knew this top had to be mine as soon as I saw it! it's my most recent purchase and I can't wait to wear it all fall long I am still so into the layered look, and I love that it looks layered yet I don't have to be bundled up! I just know it's going to be on repeat this Fall!

Try Gray Monroe for yourself!  They are always rolling out new arrivals and have great deals and sales!!  I like supporting small businesses, especially when they sell clothes, accessories, and shoes!!  HA!!  

Have a Happy Wednesday and don't forget to link up your fashion posts below!!!  And get on over to The Blended Blog for Day Three of our Bloviversary celebration!!!  There's $150 up for grabs!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up today with The Blended Blog, The Pleated Poppy, Sydney Fashion Hunter

I've signed up to be a Gray Monroe affiliate because I love the brand!  All opinions are my own! 

It's a Blogiversary!!

The Blended Blog is ONE!  On September 9th, 2015 The Blended Blog officially launched!! So we want to celebrate ONE YEAR with ONE WEEK of FUN!!

I am so grateful to be part of The Blended Blog! Our collective is a true gift.  I love reading and sharing everyone's views and perspectives. The series we've done over the last year have really been an opportunity to share parts of ourselves with one another and all of you!  And our Friday Features have also been a chance to get to know other bloggers as well.  Thanks for reading and being part of The Blended Blog.  TBB has grown and changed in the last year, but we've always remained true to the purpose of the blog, as a space for sharing our creative voices.

It's so funny how in this blogging world, I have woman that I've never even met that I can call friends! I'm glad we've spent the last year on this journey together.  And special thanks to our fearless leader, Deena for keeping it all together for us all each week!!  And a big thanks to Whitney for putting all this week's blogiversary fun together!!

We are celebrating  one year of The Blended Blog all week with a super fun scavenger hunt and giveaway!!!  You don't want to miss a thing so...go...get on over there and check out what's in store!!

15 Years

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. 15 years has gone by in both a flash and in slow motion. 15 years ago today I was a senior in college, sitting in a classroom a mere 25 miles away from those towers.  The towers where, just 3 weeks before, I climbed and stood atop for a photo with my sister. 

On that Tuesday, everything changed...

I don't post on Sundays but I wanted to share this today.  Heroes and angels showed their faces that day, when it was so needed.

Today, we remember...

• all the lives lost
• all the families devastated
• and all the people changed

FOREVER   

This song was written shortly after 9-11, by one of my favorite Irish bands, Shilelagh Law.  It is a Christmasy tune, but it's so much more than that.  This picture was posted to their Facebook page this week and I shared it. 

These are powerful lyrics that take me back to that day and the weeks that followed.

 I wanted to share this song today to remember a time when cops and firefighters were our heroes.  15 years ago, cops were heroes...today unfortunately, so much has changed.  Let's make them heroes again.

Have a blessed Sunday....remember, reflect, be kind, love, and hug your loved ones a little tighter!

That's a Wrap!!...

That's a wrap!  On the first week of School and Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2016!!  I had so much fun participating this week and sharing my photos on Insta!!    Here's the roundup of it all in case you missed anything!


Meet Me MONDAY!

Find out a little bit more about me {here}!

Teaching TUESDAY!

Tuesday was all about sharing my favorite lesson.  Even though the new school year just started I had to share my most favorite lesson based on the story The Wall by Eve Bunting.  

Read more about it {here}!

Where I Work WEDNESDAY!

My school is my home away from home!  I spend more time there then at my own house!!  Read more about this place I call home {here}!

Threads THURSDAY!

In Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week intro  post last Sunday, there was a line that said, "Don't allow Thursday to scare you away!" HA!  I was most looking forward to this one!  lots of times on the blog I'm sharing my teacher style!!  Read more about my teacher style {here}!

Friends FRIDAY!

Some of my teacher friends are my closest friends.  It's so important to have and make friends we're you work.  They help make the days go by faster and are the people you can laugh about the stress with!! She more {here}.

Last year I participated in Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2015 and was so happy to do it again this year.  I loved posting to Insta everyday and looked forward to seeing everybody's posts as well.  It's a great way to kick off a new school year, while getting inspiration from others!  If you want to see more of where this came from, find me on Instagram... I'm @solitarylife101! I'd love to have you!!

Have a great weekend teacher friends!  Hope you can find the time to relax after the crazy, busy week that was!!

Currently...

Happy Friday Ya'll!!  Was this not the longest week known to man or what? What am I going to do next week when it's 5 full days and After Care starts!!?? YIKES!!  So glad to be able to finally say TGIF! A few more Hours to Happy!

Today I am joining my bloggy buddy and fellow TBB contributor Sheila for her inaugural link up of Read, Watch, Listen, Follow!!  So exciting!  I can't wait to see what's in store!  I'm always looking for recommendations of books, shows, blogs, etc.

Here's what I'm loving right now!!

Read: The Last One.
On another TBB buddy Alison's reco, I got this book out of the library!  I haven't finished it yet, but am liking it a lot.  Keeping my attention and has me wanting to read more!

Watch: America's Got Talent!
I'll admit...I'm a little ashamed I am spending os much time watching this!  But I am totally loving it.  Love Simon as a new judge and am totally floored by all the magic this season.  And how great is little Grace Vanderwaal??  Next week the season ends with the finals.  Can't wait to see who makes it!!

AGT @ NBC

Listen: Love Triangle
If you've been following my blog for any amount of time, you know I'm a total country girl at heart! My favorite song right now is Love Triangle by RaeLynn.  She was on The Voice awhile back on Team Blake and got a record deal.  Well deserved, but this song of hers is my absolute favorite.  My sister told me about it and it's been on repeat ever since.  It's a sad song but a great song!!

Follow: The Blended Blog!! 

Next week is The Blended Blog's Blog-iversary Celebration!  One year ago we launched our collective and it's been a great year! And all next week we have tons of fun in store.  You want to be following so you don't miss a thing!  Follow our blog here, on Insta and like us on Facebook!

Have a great weekend!! Let me know in the comments below what your reading, watching, listening to, and following so I can check it out too!!  And link up your posts {here}!

Throwback Thursday: Teacher Week 2015 Posts

This week I've been participating in Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2016 on Instagram!  It's been so much fun sharing  little pieces of Me, the teacher, each day!  Last year, I also participated in Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week, with  blog posts during the week.  I thought it'd be fun to share them all with you for this week's Throwback Thursday!  Teacher Week is always during the crazy, busy first week of school, so I was only able to post three of the five days!  This year, with posting to Instagram, it's quicker and I've posted every day!  I'm wrapping Teacher Week 2016 on the blog tomorrow, so come on back and check it out!!

But for now, let's rewind back to Teacher Week 2015! (Links to each post are below the graphic)

5 Fun Facts about Me!

Sanity Savers for Teachers

My Favorite Subject to Teach

Hope you found something you enjoyed in today's post.  It's so hard to believe that a year has already gone by.  Is it terrible, that after only a few days, I'm thinking to myself, "what summer vacation!?!"  LOL

Have a great Thursday!  Thanks for stopping by the blog today!!

Back to School Look!

Summer's over and it's officially back to school time!  It's also the start of The Blended Blog's Fall What I Wore Link-up!  Be sure to keep linking up what you're wearing with us each week!!

Speaking of The Blended Blog,  last week when I posted my Back to School Survival Guide for Teachers on TBB, one of the things I said was essential during this hectic time was treating yourself!  And by this I meantt, to something new for the first day of school.  Read my post here!

For me I always treat myself to a new "first day" outfit!  Since yesterday was the first day, I thought today I'd share what I wore....

I put this dress on  for the first time, yesterday morning, after having it just hanging in my closet for the last few weeks.  I purchased it during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  When I slipped it on, I immediately regretted not getting it in EVERY SINGLE COLOR!  I love this!  So easy to wear...seriously...effortless and IT HAS POCKETS!  I received so many compliments on this and couldn't wait to tell every one I scored it for less than 25 bucks!  I'm going to be wearing this dress all fall!!  With riding boots, with my military jacket, with my denim jacket...oh the possibilities!

And guess what!  It's still on sale!  Get yours here!!

Wish I could tell you about the shoes, but I found them buried in my closet, and have no recollection where I got them.  But they are wedges, and I can walk in them!  Woohoo!!  LOL


What have you been wearing lately!  Link up with us and let us see!  Happy Hump Day!!

An InLinkz Link-up

What's in My.... Kitchen and Pantry!

Linking up today to share what's in my kitchen today with some of my Blended Blog buddies!  Oh and while we're at it, head on over there to get a glimpse of our new look!!

Today we are sharing what's in our kitchens and pantries!  After taking photos for this post, I realized this was very brave and maybe very stupid! (And come to think of it, I think this prompt was my idea!) My pantry is very empty at the moment and I don't have the biggest kitchen to be showing off!!

But it's always fun to show off little pieces of myself, so here goes!  Actually, if you've been following the blog for any amount of time, you've probably seen my little kitchen.  Living in a condo, my kitchen is fairly small but it has lots of cabinets and counter space, which is great!  It's inevitable that when anyone visits, the kitchen's where we gather.  Since I last blogged the kitchen, I've added some things and upgraded some things.

Here's a peek into my kitchen!

Small but cozy!!

I'd have to say the kitchen is very me!  It's filled with wine, beer, and coffee touches.  My wine rugs are new.  I used to have one rug...I like it with the two.  Now that I'm cooking more, I wanted a rug in front of the stove.  And in all honesty, it's just easier to vacuum the rugs!

My favorite accent in the kitchen is my cork cages above the cabinets.  So often, that is such wasted space.  I like that they're something I can collect and there are so many different ones.  I also like filling them up!!  

Some more favorites in my kitchen!

Love my Keurig (can't live without it) and coffee print!!

My cork cage is growing, but so I my growler collection!!  

And if you don't have an electric wine opener...I would highly recommend it!  

This newest addition to my kitchen, I'm not sure I'm going to keep here...but I love it!  I gave this sign to my sister as a new home gift a few years ago.  My Brother-in-law had seen this saying somewhere and shared it with the whole family, and it's sort've become a mantra for us all.  I gave it to Erin, Meghan got herself one and it's just something we refer to over and over, so Tara and I thought we needed one too!  So now we all have it!!

Life is short...live well!!

It fits in here for now, but I'm thinking I want to hang it somewhere!

On to the pantry...

This door is directly across form my sink!  And in all honesty, the pantry's the only place I keep food.  It's big enough for one person's food and the small amount of storage I keep in there.  

I apologize for it being so bare.  I eat out a lot!  And when I don't you probably guessed, I live on pasta and cereal!  NAd that's not my garbage pail in there!  It's my glass recycles, that clearly, I need to take out!!  I would have to say the the pantry is an organized mess!!

Oh and I guess I should explain about that ribbon...it's what my Christmas cards go on!  Instead of taking it down this year, I just flipped it to the inside!

Oh and I do have a kitchen table!  It's just not in the kitchen...it's next to it!!

Now that you've gotten a look into my kitchen, hop on over to Leslie and Sheila's blogs to get a look at theirs!  I know one things for sure...their kitchen's are probably bigger!  HA!  

Hope you enjoyed this look into my kitchen...now it's your turn!  Link up with us and show us what's inside your kitchen!!!  Have a great day!

Take a peek at the What's in My...Series posts here!

An InLinkz Link-up