Holiday Looks!

Wednesday!  Woo Hoo!!  This week has seemed like the longest, huh?  Or maybe that's just me!!  Ugh!

It's been forever and a day since I've posted anything fashion related to the blog, but today I'm giving it another shot!!
As I sit down to write this post, I'm realizing Holiday Looks probably means Christmas.  But Me being Me is going to save all those for the December Prompts!  So today I'm showing showing my love for Small Business and sharing my Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving looks that show off tops I purchased at a local boutique.

This Saturday I was on the couch sick with a sore throat and cold, so I unfortunately I didn't shop Small Business Saturday like I usually do.  Then my mom reminded me of something, I very rarely leave my town so...I Shop Small all the Time!!  I gathered she was right, so I felt a bit better!

I love this little shop in town called Say More Boutique, and when they recently had a Sip and Shop Sale event at the store, I attended.

If you read my post yesterday you may remember that I don't really shop without a purpose.  If I get something, I have a specific place or event I'm going to wear it too. I went shopping that night wanting to find something to wear for both my Friendsgiving celebration and Thanksgiving day with my family.   I succeeded!

I shopped and shopped...and shopped some more!  I may have shopped way more than I thought I was going to, but the store has such cute stuff and who doesn't like snacks and drinks while you shop!?!?  I've gotten pretty friendly with the owner too, so I like supporting her and women in business doing great things in my town!  You can shop her boutique online too, here!

This first look I wore for the Friendsgiving that I hosted here at my house!  Loved the colors of this easy, breezy top and thought it was really a different spin on the animal print top. While it's not really heavy or wintery at all, it worked because with the turkey baking for hours in my small house, I was still comfy.  And to be honest, I'm thinking this could really be an "every season" kinda top!

Animal Print Ruffle Sleeve Smocked Top

I really like that the animal print is subtle!

Stella and Dot Fringe Necklace

Here I paired the top with the Express Faux Leather Leggings!

Since I really wasn't the one cooking or hosting for Thanksgiving, I went bold with this top.  It's huge sleeves were super fun and I loved the high neck of it.  I have a lot of mock neck tops these days.  The Fall color was perfect too. I thought this whole look was very Thanksgiving worthy actually!!  (Even though our temps were in the low 20's and I could've been wearing a winter parka!!)  We just did not get enough of a Fall in my opinion, so I'll squeak out every last bit of it, even if it's in my outfits...lol

The ruffle sleeves are big! But I really liked that they're different...and pretty damn fabulous!!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  And looks forward to the upcoming craziness that December brings!!  There's hope for me yet, posting on Wednesdays thanks to my bestie and blog photog, Mel!

Link up with The Blended Blog every Wednesday in December too, with these fun and festive prompts!! 

Now head on over to TBB to check out Vanessa's  holiday looks! Link up your own post too! 

 No Blog? No Problem!  Share your OOTD and your Holiday Looks with us using #theblendedblogstyle!

Little Letters: Spring is Here!

A few weeks ago when I posted on The Blended Blog for TBB Loves, I mentioned that I had started reading Taz and Belly.  I love her little letters idea.  So today I'm joining in on the linky fun with a few little letters of my own!

This month my letters are taking on a theme: Spring!!

Dear Spring,
Thanks for finally getting here!!  I welcome your 60 degree temps and the opportunity to sit out on my postage stamp patio and in my rocking chair in the front, and get my tan on.
Also,here I feel like I should include a letter of thanks to my neighbors who know me doing this is just me being me!!

Dear April Showers,
For every sunny day, there's 5 rainy days! Thanks for helping me rock the rain boots every other day these past two weeks.  Last Little Letters post, I mentioned that I was over leggings and boots!  Well...I lied!!  When you HAVE TO get up and head to work in the pouring rain, there is no easier outfit to throw on than leggings and rain boots!  And also maybe did because of this...

Dear Skinny Pants and New Summer Bathing Suits,
Thanks for the reminder that this body is not yet "skinny pants" or bathing suit ready!!  That was a nice touch. I need to get me ass in gear!

Dear Spring Break, 
Finally!  This break will help to recharge me and get me into the home stretch of the school year as well as give me the opportunity to read...and work out!  (See above!!)

Dear Sarah Bareilles and the entire cast of Waitress: The Musical,
Thanks for helping me kick off my Spring Break with a bang!  Loved every second of the show and  have not stopping singing along since!  Definitely a new fave!  Any day spent on Broadway is a good day...

Dear Locale,
My new home!  LOL  My favorite new place in town!  Great food and wine and a place I see spending much of my spring break at!!

Dear Easter,
Can't wait to spend the day with family.  So glad mom and dad are home to spend the holiday with us!  Hope everybody has a Blessed Easter!

Sentences

The first Thursday of the month, I like to get together with my blog friends and recap my month...one sentence at a time.  March was such a LONG month wasn't it. Here's what a can recall of it!!

1-Woo hoo!  March is here! (One of my favorite months, but also by the time we hit the end of it I couldn't wait to turn the page on April!)


2- My last Thursday of Freedom!!

3- Oops!

4- That wasn't embarrassing at all!!

5- Taco Chicken for Days!

6- Monday....Blah!!

7- Seriously Kid!

8- International Women's Day....CHEERS TO THAT!!

9- I didn't mean to make you cry.  (I said this to my friend after she shed some tears upon receiving her birthday gift from me!)

10- It's a Friday in Lent...we shoulda had pizza!

11- Yea- no thanks!  (that Saturday I had the chance to go out and chose not to...  It was below zero out...lol)

12- It's tradition now! ( Spending SCMA Sunday with my Amy Girl)

13- SNOW Day tomorrow!  What?!?!

14- What a dud!  (The Snow Day that saw very little snow!!)

15- Happy Leftover Pi Day!

16- I don't mess around with a dress down!

17- My high holy day has arrived!

18- Tale as old as time....

19-This is a socially acceptable place to be by myself...and I'm among friends here!

20- Spring my ass...

21- Of course it never works out for me!

22-I'd rather have students than be doing this!

23- I am beyond exhausted...

24- Pictures of the cake alone??????

25-It's ridiculous that I'm crying this much!  (I cried way more than a normal adult should have at Pete's Dragon!! LOL)

26- Well this was a super-productive day!

27- Lash Dash ends this week?!?

28- Come on in friends!  (Opt outs for state testing always hang with me in the library during testing)

29- Where are your parents?  Just kidding!  I love you all! (A filled-to-capacity day in After Care!)

30- I will not have wine tonight...I will not have wine tonight...I will not have wine tonight!

31- Game Night!  Whoop! Whoop!!



This is always so much fun!!  Have a great Thursday!  Is it just me or is it the longest week ever!!!????

March in Numbers

Kicking today of with a number...2!

It's the number of posts I'm busting out today!

The first Monday of the month is always a number post with Deena and the second is an April Showers post, with my girls at The Blended Blog!  I just couldn't pass up posting with them, so two posts is what you get today!

More numbers fun!

March is one of my favorite months of the year!  The High Holy Day that is St. Patrick's Day is in March but as I've gotten older I've realized something...that, well....I'm old. St. Patrick's Day to me is not what it used to be.  Which was indeed a big old party.  This year it was more of a low key event. And when I say low key, what I really mean is...a solitary event!  Ha!  I was home eating Ruben panninis, drinking Guinness, (2 to be exact!) and listening to Irish music...alone...group texting with the people I used to do St. Patty's day with in our younger years!  20-something texts exchanged.

I celebrated St. Patrick's Day twice...thanks to my town parade and celebration on the 19th.

This March was not only the longest month but also the coldest. 18 days of below average temperatures. Lots of rain and snow to deal with too!  We had one day of early release in school due to snow and one snow day...that ended up being more of a snow, slush, sleet, rain event.

Thankfully those days are now behind us.  Spring finally seems to be in the air!

Some other fun random numbers this month....

4 Dress Down Days at school (my fave)!  In one month that is HUGE!!  But there was Pi Day, St. Patty's Day, a Professional day and a field trip!  So I was happy, happy happy! And I got to rock my kelly green Adidas kicks!

3 New movies seen

-the New Beauty and the Beast in the theater...LOVED and have plans to go see it again next week.

-Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (my snow day viewing!)...meh!

-Pete's Dragon (the new live action version) I really liked this and probably cried way more then any adult should have watching this.  But the original, Puff the Magic Dragon, was one of my absolute favorites growing up so I really wanted to see this.

54 cups of coffee consumed

24 bottles of wine PURCHASED...not consumed!  Gotta love a good sale!!

2 Peapod orders It was a lot for one month, but with St. Patrick's Day and 1 Game Night hosted, I needed to be well stocked!  Game night was so much fun!  Can't wait to do it again.

In such a long month, only 4 nights eating out is really good for me!!  So I saved some money there!

I did shop though....11 days of packages at my door. Or as I like to call them....PRIZES!!

5 books started...2 Completed!  Read my reviews here!

That's about it...on to the blog!

Mishaps and Mayhem in March...

17 posts in the month of March!  The most posts so far this year!

Most viewed post: Little Letters (my first ever post to this link up, so that's exciting!)
Most viewed post on FB: Monday Musings
New likes on the Facebook page...YAY!  you can "like" the blog too, HERE!
Number of pics posted on Insta: 43  I missed some #katiedaily's!  Follow me @solitarylife101


Hope you had a fabulous March!  Link up with Deena for Number every first Monday of the month!!

Now that I've gotten through with 2 posts for the day, I am off to watch the Final Four...because I am currently #1 in my bracket with The Blended Blog, after being #2 the whole time!  WOO HOO!!  But goodness gracious does it start LATE!!

Little Letters

A few weeks ago when I posted on The Blended Blog for TBB Loves, I mentioned that I had started reading Taz and Belly.  I love her little letters idea.  So today I'm joining in on the linky fun with a few little letters of my own!

Dear Sweet Kindergarten Friend,
Thanks for making my day!  I heard you yell, "It's a blister outside" as I was walking by...I had a good laugh knowing you meant blizzard!

Dear Snow, 
Thank you for holding off so that we get the day in!  I'll take the snow day next week!  Even though we're going to be in school until July!

Dear Spring, 
Where are you?  I'm so over snow and scarves and boots.  I'm wishing for white jeans and open toe booties!

Dear Mailman, 
Yesterday you put three packages at my front door that didn't fit in my mailbox, then I went to the mailbox and found another.  Couldn't you just brought all of them to my door!?!?

Dear This is Us, 
Why do you break my heart a little each week?  And great job on making old Mandy Moore look like Sally Field!

Dear Amazon,
Thanks for the free returns!

Dear Co-worker Friend,
Thanks for getting that coaching job after school.  Those three weeks you did after care on Thursday til 6, I really enjoyed my one day off...getting home at 3, a few happy hours, etc. Now I'm back to doing it...so what I really mean to say is, thanks for nothing!  :)

Dear Friday,
YAY!  You're finally getting here!  This week was worse than the last (the first week back after a break)!

Nuggets for the New Year: Keeping the Keepsakes!

Excited today to be linking up for The Blended Blog's next installment of Nuggets for the New Year!  Last time I joined in on the Planning fun, and although I didn't post about Budgeting or Decluttering, I learned a whole heck of a lot... LOL

But today's link up focuses on Keeping the Keepsakes, and at first thought, I din't think I had much to share.  I don't consider myself a very sentimental person and love throwing things away.  But a second glance around my house, made me realize, I have lots of Keepsakes I've saved over the years and have many things that are precious to me that I intend on keeping forever and ever!


The first few you've seen in my Christmas posts.  This nativity was my Nana's and was part of the original Hummel collections way bay in the 1950's.  After my Nana passed away, my Aunt sent it to me I was the only granddaughter who was not married and had not had her own Hummel nativity started.  HA!  But I was so happy my Nana wanted to gift it to me.  Being sent from far away, then moved numerous times before I actually had a place of my own, I opened it to find, some animal pieces were damaged and broken beyond repair.  But the most most important, Holy Family, Wise Men, and Angels stayed intact.  I am 100% God had a hand in that.  It's a pretty large set and the pieces I were left with fit perfectly where I have them.  Every time I look at the Nativity, I think of my Nana!  Each of her grand daughters also have a number of my Nana's Hummels as well.

The Christmas stocking and tree skirt my mom made me are keepsakes for sure.  My mom put so much time and energy into stitching every last piece.

My mom has always been a sentimentalist. And she wants her daughters to be as well.  So she has stared gifting us handmade items she created. Usually, we get one as a Christmas gift, but this cork wreath she made was a new home gift!  I love it and will keep it forever.   And it's pretty freaking cool!

When I was about 11/12 I received a really fun gift from my best friend Mel.  It was a Cherished Teddies Figurine.  At the time it was a brand new figurine collection (like Precious Moments) of resin teddy bears.  I opened the box to find the Katie Bear with the tagline, " a friend always knows when you need a hug!" 

 It was pretty perfect for us.   Mel gave it to me with the intention that I'd start collecting them.  And did I ever!!  From that day on I collected Cherished Teddies for YEARS!!  I loved them so much I even joined the CLUB!  And Mel, my mom and everyone else, always had something to buy me.  When I lived at home I had shelves filled with Cherished Teddies.  I think I stopped collecting them because I just ran out of room!  

When I moved out and got a place of my own, they stayed packed away for a while!  But then I figured out how to incorporate them into my decor.  I swap out the seasonal/holiday Cherished Teddies and place them on my TV cabinet now that my TV is on the wall, like this...

They've made a few appearances on the blog and in my Insta feed from time to time!

 I also have a few others on shelves in my guest room.  Research for this post led me to find that Cherished Teddies are still around and that kinda has me wanting to pic up a new one for old time sake.  

Ya know after writing this, I am thinking more and more of the many keepsakes I have....I could write for days!  I have a box full of keepsakes from high school. My scrapbook from when I was 6, photo albums from college and lots of cards and things I've kept over the years from students....I guess I'm rather sentimental after all!  :)

Have a Happy Monday!!

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}!

Let's Talk: Fall Favorites

Am I ready for summer to end? NO, not at all!
Have I already had a fall favorite, Pumpkin Ale, YES!  Yes I have!!

While I am in not hurry for summer to come to an end, the impending school year is upon me and I know that the end is inevitable!!  So I'm taking a break from summer today and sharing some fall favorites with Erika and Andrea for their Let's Talk Series!!

There are so many things to look forward to in the Fall.  Here are a few of my faves!!

Riding Boots and Skinny Jeans!  By far my favorite part of fall!  I love wearing my riding boots are the time and love pairing them with great tops and accessories.
And wearing skinny jeans and riding boots means I don't have to shave my legs everyday!! Hallelujah!  (THAT'S definitely a favorite!!)

Crisp Air  As many of you know, summer is my absolute favorite season.  But I do love a good crisp, fall night.  The way it smells, the blardigan I can bundle up in!  Love, Love love!

Pumpkin Ale I can't say that I'm the biggest fan of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, but give me a Pumpkin Ale everyday in the Fall and I'll be your best friend.  pumpkin Ale is by far the best thing about Fall....but don't forget the cinnamon rim!!

New TV  I'm a self-proclaimed TV Head!  Fall brings brand new episodes of my favorite series and new shows to try out.  This Fall I am looking forward to This is Us on NBC, and the Kevin James show on CBS.

Autumn Wreath Candle  Come September 1st, I'm busting this candle out.  It's my favorite fall scent from Yankee Candle!  I also have to get a new Young Living scent for Fall for my diffuser!!

Football!  Over the years I have to love football.  Often on Sundays, I have it on in the background while I'm planning, doing laundry and getting ready for the new week.  Somedays I'll head over to my sister's to watch the games too!And it's a great excuse to drink beer and eat guac!!  Who wouldn't love that?!?

What are you most looking forward to this fall?  Let me know in the comments below!  Enjoy your Tuesday!!

And head on over to The Blended Blog today!  It's Wrap-up Day!  We're sharing our favorite posts from August on our personal blogs!!

Hey, It's OK...

It's another round of Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!  These are such super fun posts!

It's ok to be really excited that I introduced prosecco to a whole bunch of people yesterday!!  Check out my Spring Cocktails post on The Blended Blog {here}

It's ok to make yourself crab dip...and proceed to eat it like a meal.

It's ok to never read the newspaper...I really should cancel it!

It's ok to spend a Saturday afternoon creating a lapbook for your students...then realize you don't have any glue to complete it!

It's ok to think to yourself...I'll take this garbage out tomorrow...when I HAVE TO put pants on!

It's ok to forget to post a daily photo on Insta!  In all honesty, I posted a photo that day but it wasn't FROM THAT DAY so it didn't count!

It's ok for it to feel colder in the house then it does outside!!

It's ok to watch a movie on a Tuesday night.

It's ok to have given away some clothes you had second thoughts about donating...the vets need them more than I do!

It's ok to not give a f*ck...for a little bit!!

check out this post on Insta!

It's ok to eat pie at 7:30 in the morning!  It was Pi Day after all!

Loving these posts!  Hope you have a more than OK Tuesday!!
Katie

Linking up with Airing My Dirty Laundry today for Hey, it's okay Tuesday!

A February full of reading!!

Hard to believe this month is already coming to an end!!  That's just crazy!!  But it was a whirlwind!  Filled with lots to do and still, due to the bone-chilling temps and cold weather, lots of downtime, too! Which I used to read!  Linking up with my bloggy buddy, Alison for Reading Lately, to share my February reads! {Find my January book review here!}


If I have to sum up my February reading, I guess it would be a lot of single girl, solitary life reads!  I suppose these are all under the category of self-help!  So I'm sure you can just imagine what my Amazon recommendations look like now!  HA!

I started the month reading Maybe He's Just an Asshole!  Ha!  It was a kinda like a parody of He's Just Not that into You.  It was really funny and filled with lots of good tips.  I actually highlighted a lot...LOL.  Super simple read.  I was able to read it over two days, but it was probably just hours worth!  I took it with a grain of salt, nothing set in stone, obviously, and just laughed a lot. Unfortunately in one or two of the scenarios I did she myself...(wah!!)  But I do know there are a bunch of assholes out there, so you win some, you lose some!

I wanted to finish the book because I wanted to start meynext one, so I brought it to school to read on my preps and during lunch.  But that required some creativeness!!

I follow The Single Woman Mandy Hale on Social Media and read her first book The Single Woman last year! I really enjoyed it!  It is filled with lots of great stories and faith!  My favorite quote from The Single Woman is this one....

I knew her third book was coming out this month and wanted to read her second, I've Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has before it did!  I liked Vegas a lot.  It was filled with more stories of her life and dating and basically focused on a relationship that she had for many years, that she found it hard to let go off.  At times, I rooted for her, but at other times I found myself wanting to yell at Like...please don't go back to him again!!  But I really liked this!! And it made me excited for her next book!!

Beautiful Uncertainty (also by Mandy Hale) pretty much picked up where Vegas left off!  This one was really faith-filled and focused on helping the reader be a better you.  Wanting to embrace the uncertainty of life and give it all up to God!  I am really trying to do that.  Sometimes I lose my way in my faith, and in the past have found it difficult to give it all to God.  Mandy is so strong in her faith and the signs she gets from God are unbelievable to me.  I want to be as strong in my own faith and relationship with God.

To help me with this, I have been participating in the  Best Lent Ever.{I've talked about it here and here on the blog!}  It is an email  program created by author Matthew Kelly and is based on his book, Rediscovering Jesus.  Each day participants receive daily emails and videos filled with insights from Matthew based on a chapter of the book.  40 chapters, one for each of the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter.  I am loving it and getting so much out of it.  I am really reflecting on the questions and spending time each day in the classroom of silence.  The book is not a requirement, but I am reading it too!  I'm learning that there's nothing that I can do that Jesus won't be willing to forgive me for...even reading a book with asshole in the title this month!! :)


I am in the middle of another book right now that I really hope to finish this weekend! It's the first pick in my brand new book club and the book club is getting together next Friday!!  I will post a review and let you know how our first meeting went, next month!!

Have a great weekend and Happy Reading!!!

It's OK!

Haven't pposted my fashion posts lately.  My winter wardrobe consists mostly of sweater dresses, leggings and riding boot!  But I'm excited today because I found this post by Airing My Laundry, One Post at a Time and thought it  was fun so I thought I'd give it a shot and link up!  I've never read the column in Glamour that this post is based off of but I will have to pick it up.  I like things like this!

It's OK...

-to write down the return of Scandal and the premiere of Fuller House in your planner

- to, at 35, still be super excited about the premiere of Fuller House



-to lock yourself in the library and read during lunch...the faculty room is smelly and evil!

-to hate the world for a day

-to forget your cell phone at home...the world will not end, and no one will text or call you anyway!

-to overthink things sometimes

-to place 6 planner sticker orders in one week

-to forget the whole lesson and just laugh with your students for a little while!

-to eat a whole sleeve of saltines in one sitting

-to come home on Friday after school and not leave the house again until Monday morning!

-to have full-on conversations with yourself in the shower.

-to rock rain boots on days when it just sprinkles!

Such a fun link up and post!  Check out more It's OK posts here!

Have a Happy Wednesday!!
We're halfway through the week...woo hoo!!  Wine a little tonight!  :)