A look back...2016

2017 is almost here!!  How crazy is that??

A blog is a great tool to help aid in reflection over the past year!  I thought today, as the year comes to a close, I'd share some of my favorite moments/posts from this year on the blog!

One of my most favorite posts this year has to be my birthday post, 36 is... where I shared 36 fun facts about me!

Quite possibly my most favorite posts ever  is My Mixed Tape!  The MOST FUN to put together for sure!!  It certainly took me back!!!

When I'm not blogging, I'm teaching!  My Teacher Tuesday posts have been a lot of fun!  This Teacher post was definitely one of my faves!!

2016 found me face to face with some of my bloggy friends, which was tons fun!  In July I had a super impromptu visit with Jenny and in October, Deena came to visit me all the way from Sask!!  I wrote about both their visits here and here!

After a year of so much bad, so much uncertainty in the world, I had a day that restored my faith in good people and kindness, so I blogged about it...and it's one of my faves!  Read it here!

A few more things of note from this year on the blog...

The blog got a new look this year!  It funny, that after it's makeover, I blogged less and less but I love the new look!!

  

I've linked up lots with my bloggy buddies from The Blended Blog this Year and loved every minute of it!  And I've posted some of my own, posts over there as well!  Check them out here!

New Year's Eve... always a day of reflection and looking back.  A day when you realize all the things you've done this year...and still all the things that have been left undone!

I know this year on the blog has had it's ebbs and flows, but I just want to thank you all...thanks for always reading, commenting and loving the blog!  Tomorrow starts a new year and a new chapter...

Happy New Year!  Here's to a great year for us all!

Friday Favorites: The Countdown to Christmas Break!

A pair of bookend posts was all I could muster this week!  The last week before break was officially the longest ever!!  And in a few short hours, I'll be on Christmas vacation!!  So that's definitely my number one fave of the week, for sure!!  

So, so true!!

Here's a few more to take me sliding into break!

/TWO/  Mom's DIY Christmas Surprise!!

This week my mom surprised me with an early Christmas gift.  She mad my sisters and I this super cute Christmas decoration, and wanted me to have it as soon as she finished it, so she brought it over.  it is so cute.  And I know she spent a lot of time thinking about it, planning, and working on it, so it makes it that much more special.  And I'll take a random Wednesday Happy Hour with mom any day! Mom's homemade gifts are now a tradition....check out what she made us last year here!

/THREE/ Festive Leggings!

I have been living in super cozy festive leggings this week!  They're not THE leggings, but they're a bit cheaper, buttery soft and all around freaking fabulous!!  A mom at my school sells them and I was introduced to them by her at the breakfast with Santa, a few weeks ago...and now have 4 pairs!  LOL!

/FOUR/ Christmas Photo booth!

On the first day of school, I created a frame for the kids to pose with (

check it out here).  And since those pics are still up in the front hall and so very badly needed to be replaced, I thought a fun thing to replace them with would be Christmas Photo Booth pics.  I got some fabric at Jo-Ann's, colored and printed some props, and the kids had a blast posing in the photo booth on pajama day! 

/FIVE/ Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas

If posting this as a fave makes me a little bit of a loser, I DON'T CARE!!  Because I know everybody secretly watches the Hallmark Channel all season long.  And I just love it!!  A few months ago I downgraded my cable and lost The Hallmark Channel because my bill was just getting out of control! Then on December st the cost for cable rose again, so I downgraded... again!  But then, when I went to go watch something and even that channel was now blocked, so I had had enough of the nonsense!!  How could I live without some of my most favorite channels?  So I totally went back to my original package and I know I'm going to be paying an arm and a leg, but I'll deal...I just won't by so many clothes in the new year!  HA!!  Because you know what?  Cheesy Hallmark movies make me happy!!  And I have been watching them nonstop since I upgraded Saturday!!  LOL

hallmarkchannel.com

As the Christmas and New Year Holidays draw near, I just wanted to thank you all for visiting, reading and commenting on the blog all year long!!  I know these last few months the blogs have been few and far between, but I think you for always sticking with me.

Have the Merriest of Chrsitmases...Cheers to everything the New Year brings!


Linking up with Erika and the girls today for Friday Favorites!

Mondays should be Optional....

Well this Monday hasn't been the greatest!  You know those days where nothing seems to go right and all you want to do is crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head!?!  Today was that kinda day for me!  So I thought I'd share...sometimes blogging's good to get things off your chest!

I woke up late!  And on a Monday that's just THE WORST!    I don't know why but it always seems the case that if I go to sleep early, I inevitably wake up late!  Grrrr.....

Then, I forgot something at home and I guess that's what I was thinking about when I walked into school because, as I was walking into school, I slipped on some snow and bit it...in front of everybody.  Usually when I come in at 7 no one is in the parking lot.  Today we arrived at 7:40 and EVERYONE was arriving, so they saw me!  I laughed....and dropped my coffee!  I was more upset about that!  HA!  I joked that I'm not awake til 10 a.m.!  It's funny because I was walking up to the step and thinking I hope I don't slip on that snow mound, and then I did!  LOL
OH WELL!

The day turned around a little when a sweet co-worker surprised me with my favorite bagel-a salted with vegetable cream cheese!!

This morning, I was kicked out of my library for picture retakes , and I couldn't go into the computer lab because there was testing, so I seemingly had no home for a bit!  So the faculty room it was...but my teacher friends who know me, know I NEVER go in there, EXCEPT to make copies!  Because, quite frankly...it's gross!  LOL  But I survived.  And spent some time in there enjoying my bagel and covertly perusing Facebook and Insta on data because social media is blocked at school.

Finally, when I was allowed back in my library, my usual Monday morning resumed and I saw my 6th and 7th grade students which wasn't too bad because we are reading novels aloud.  This keeps them super interested and QUIET, which I relished in because this being the last week before Christmas break, it's really crazy town!

My day had a bit of an up kick again when a parent arrived to cover the lunch duty that I was scheduled for!  Woo Hoo.  By the time my day ended at 4:15 though I sorta felt like I had been hit by a mack truck.  So I just came home, turned on my diffuser and decided that my couch and I had a date for a few hours!

Now It's close to 10 ( I never post this late...but I will be honest here...this post might just be for me!)
I've showered and am headed to bed wishing this day to be over, and thanking God that every new day is a fresh start!

I hope your Monday was better than mine!

4 more days 'til Christmas vacation...it can't come soon enough!

Friday Favorites: The Christmas Edition!

Happy Friday and Happy Almost Christmas!.  Since it's been such a long time since I posted my favorites on a Friday, I thought today I'd just share a round-up of some of my faves this holiday season!!  Because the cold weather is here, the tree is up and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

/ONE/  My New Tree!
After having a hand-me-down tree for the last few years, I decided that this year I'd get a new one.  I got a good deal on this larger tree over the Black Friday weekend, and decided I just couldn't pass it up.  It fits the space really well and I just love it.  And a big thanks to my mom, the queen of Christmas tree fluffing and bow making!  We had so much fun one night decorating the tree together!

/TWO/ Best Advent Ever\
Last year during the Lenten season, I strengthened my faith by participating in the Best Lent Ever Program with Matthew Kelly and Dynamic Catholic.  I really enjoy the program, so when I saw they also had a program for Advent I signed up. I am really enjoying the daily emails, videos and reflections that are preparing me to celebrate a more faith-filled  Christmas.

/THREE/ Christmas Festivities
Breakfast with Santa, Polar Express Day, Christmas parties and cocktails, oh my!  It's been a fun few weeks and is setting up to be an even more fun weekend!  Tonight I am hosting a small gathering of After Care Staff at my house! Being the admin of the program, I thought we should do something and figured it was a good tradition to start!  I am a little nervous, as I am so not a hostess, but think all will turn out well!  And it's Crazy Christmas sweater optional, so that's sure to add to the fun!!

SANTA!!!  I know him!!!

/FOUR/ Christmas Shopping...
I'm really excited that I am already all done with my Christmas Shopping!  I know it's the 16th, but for me this is a big deal!!  I did a lot of shopping over the Black Friday weekend and was able to get a good bulk of it done, and had been buying throughout the year...some stuff which I forgot about...HA!!  Now on to the wrapping!  Which I have yet to buy.  I will wrap  my family's gifts on Christmas morning while watching Love Actually and drinking mimosas.  It's my little Solitary Life Christmas Morning tradition!

/FIVE/ Christmas Home Tour!
On Monday I shared my home at Christmas on the blog!  Check it out here if you missed it.  It is always one of my most favorite posts of the year!

Thanks for stopping by today...Have a great weekend everybody!  Stay warm and cozy!


Linking up for Friday Favorites with Erika and the Girls!

Teacher Tuesday: The {Things I Say} Edition....

I've been back at school for a while now.  You could probably tell due to my lacking and sporadic blogging lately.  But it's going well.  And, lets be honest...the summer is a distant memory, and I'm counting down the days until Christmas break! A few times during the school year last year, I posted teacher topics on Tuesdays and called it Teacher Tuesday!  Today I'm bringing it back!

Today's Topic:

Christmas Home Tour with The Blended Blog!

Happy Monday!

How is it that we are less than two weeks away from Christmas!  That is just crazy!  My presence on the blog has been less and less as the year comes to a close but I am happy to be back today sharing a glimpse of my home at Christmas time with some of my favorite Blended Blog buddies! If you're stopping by from Sheila's blog and you've made it this far in the Hop, I thank you!  :)  I've really enjoyed getting to peek into everyone's homes today!

If you're a regular reader of the blog, you've seen my little home.  I love my home, but no more so than at Christmas!  I can't wait to show you the few new touches I put on this year!  Come on in....

My mom made this snowman last year at Christmas for each of my sister's and I!

This year I got a new tree and I'm so happy with it!  It's a foot and a half taller and really fits in the space well.  My tree is the first thing you see when you walk in the door.

I'm loving the new bow pillow I got at Pier 1, too...there are tons of cute ones!

My tree skirt and matching stocking were made by my mom.  She gave me the tree skirt the first year I had my own tree in my first apartment and then she gave me the matching stocking my first Christmas in my condo.  I know how much time they took her, but I love them and know I'll have them forever!  Just like my mom still has her handmade tree skirt form the year she was married in 1971.

Living in a condo, my place is basically one big great room!  This is the living area...

My mom made me my handmade stocking but this is my original stocking from my first Christmas in 1980.  This Christmas pillow I got on super sale last year from Primitives by Kathy.  Actually a number of my Christmas decorations are from her site, either given to me as gifts or bought on sale at the end of the season!

My nativity is really special to me, too.  It was passed down to me from my grandmother.  It is a Hummel nativity from the 1950's.  I know it might be a little unorthodox, but I believe it fits really well on my wine table!

Now that my TV is on the wall, I use my TV stand as a display place.  I switch this up a little bit every year!  This is this year's Christmas version!

The WANTED sign stays up there year round!  

Here's a close-up!

The kitchen is pretty Christmassy as well.

My corner nook!

My mom claims she worries about my wine consumption, but then she buys me awesome wine tags like that one!  HA!!  I also enjoy running my diffuser this time of year with Christmas Spirit! 

Last but not least is my Christmas card holder, which is just a ribbon hanging from my pantry!  I really like this simple, easy idea.  And it's really a great way to showcase the cards I receive.

I hope you've enjoyed my home at Christmas and loved seeing all of our TBB Homes!!  Wishing you the happiest of holidays...

  Thanks for stopping by today!

If you missed my previous years' tours, you can check out 2015{here} and 2014 {here}!