A Friday Five for the First Week of February!

The year's flying right on by...isn't it??  LOL  Happy February Ya'll!!  I love February.  And it being my birthday month has nothing to do with it!  It just love that it's a month of love and vibrant colors...all the reds, pinks and purples.

After taking a week off, I'm back with a Friday 5!

{1}

Winner!!

Well wasn't that just THE WORST Superbowl? Ugh!!  Truthfully it was so boring, I didn't watch much of the game.  But I went to a party and had a great time.  We were treated to our own half time entertainment from our friends (I even sang on the mike...something on Monday morning I regretted very much! HA) and while I didn't win big in the pool, because that honor went to an 11 year old (WTF!) , I did win the final score in a free pool that my local boutique ran!!  A $20 gift card to the store.  I've blogged about local store, Say More Boutique here!  So I was pretty excited about that!!

{2}

An early bed time!

I know this is a weird favorite but honestly, I haven't had a good sleep in forever and when I got into bed before 8 on Monday night, I questioned if even that was appropriate.  But I was fast asleep by 8:05 (I know the exact time because I missed about 25 text messages) and slept straight through til 5a.m, I was pretty damn happy!! 

{3}

Warm Weather

What is happening??  This week it hit 60!!  That's just crazy!  And I know probably short lived, but the weather has been great!  The kids can go out at recess, run around, and have a grand old time. Even though I didn't get to enjoy very much of it, just having the sun shining and the weather even a little bit warm this time of year is cause for celebration!!

{4}

Rumchata Martinis

Last week, with my toe, I was pretty much out of commission.  This week, even though I am still in a little bit of pain, I was back at Taco Tuesday and Bingo.  After Taco Tuesday we've been getting drinks at the bar and the last couple of times we've treated ourselves to these delish Marshmallow Rumchata Martinis!!  They are like beyond the beyond!  And the perfect dessert!!

{5}
TBB Asks: Relationships
Bookend posts were all I could muster up this week.  BUT I love me some TBB Asks every month and this months, relationships topic was a lot of fun!!  Did you link up with us!?!  If not, you can!  The first Monday of each month!  Head here to read all the links!!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!!  Wishing you all a fabulous, fun February weekend filled with LOVE!!




Linking up with Erika and Becky today!!

TBB Asks: Relationships!

It's time for another round of TBB Asks!  Given that it's almost Valentine's Day, this month we're focusing on relationships! This is gonna be fun!!  Lots of love for my Blended Blog Tribe!!

1- Who is your oldest friend and how did you meet?
Well this is Mel....

You've seen her many, many times on the blog and I even wrote a whole post about her here!  Our friendship is now over 35 years old.  We met as babies when Mel's mom was walking her in her stroller around the block!  Our moms struck up a conversation and here we are today!!  Mel is like my parents fifth daughter!  And for years growing up, all my sisters baby-sat her at one point or another. They are all married with kids, but we joke ours is the longest running relationship...which is actually not a joke!  HA!!

2- Who are your people?
Honestly, I'm very lucky...I have a lot of people who are a great source of support to me.  My family and best friend Mel are my biggest supporters.  I have my school friends, many of whom after so many years have grown to be like family to me. I have my TBB Girls who may have started out as virtual friends but, I'm so glad we get to be friends in real life now. And I have my "townie" friends who I've probably known the shortest amount of time,but see most often these days! I've always joked that I have sets of friends, and very rarely do those friends inter-mingle...but as I've gotten old, the intermingling has started to happen!!  LOL  I am so grateful to all the people around me!

3- How did you meet your partner?  #ForeverSingle!!

4- How is Valentine's Day celebrated in your home?
Usually I'm home on my couch with a bottle of WINE!  This Valentine's Day I'll be at the Podiatrist!!  But he's not bad looking...so there's that!! It's the little things people!!

5- What's your love language?
I guess I don't really have one...I just do my best to surround myself with people who are kind and genuine!

6- Do you prefer receiving flowers or chocolates?
I really enjoy flowers.  I'm a big chocolate girl so, I can have that anytime.  If I receive flowers it's definitely a special treat!!

7- What the most special gift you've ever given or received?
This is really hard because there are so many gifts that I've received that are special to me.  And I save everything, so I have them.  I think because it's most fresh in my memory, I'd have to say that the throw blanket my mom had made with all my concert tees is super special to me.  Because we've been talking about making it for YEARS!!!!  And this Christmas it finally became a reality!!

Get ready for more fun in February on The Blended Blog!!

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!!   Head over to TBB and link up your answers to these Q's with us!!  No blog? No problem! Tag us on social media.... #TBBAsks!

Have a great week!!

Never Will I Ever: Fashion Edition!

I thought I'd skip this week's TBB prompt: Never Will I Ever, but then I realized there was something I could totally write about!!

I've pretty much tried everything.  If I'm comfortable in it, I'd probably wear it.

I've done the boho jeans/flared leg style.

I wear ripped jeans like it's my job! {They're my fave!!}

I've worn shorts and riding boots.

I've done the coated jeans and faux leather leggings.

And unlike Shaunacy, I'd totally embrace the fanny pack comeback! LOL

I done the shoulder baring shirts, the no back tops, the one shoulder tops and everything in between!

And much to my sister's dismay, I even wear pretty teeny bikinis from time to time!!  But I do like the high-waisted ones too!!

Even as a teacher, I've done something I never thought I'd do...I dress for the holidays in fun scarves and crazy socks, and totally sport ALL the ugly Christmas sweaters!  HA

BUT THERE IS ONE THING I'D NEVER DO!!

Wear stilettos!!

Even if I could, which I can't due to my CP and balance issues, I wouldn't want to.  Are they pretty? Sure!  But I'm sure they are not comfortable at all!  And I need comfort!  I mean your foot is totally bent!!  Just crazy!!

I can do a heel...but a modest one!  

And as far as dressy, strappy shoes go, I like a block heel.  I am just more comfortable and sturdy if you will.  I also need a bit of height in the toe bed. 

These shoes are my highest, and I'll admit to hardly wearing them because I feel unsteady.  I wear them to a gathering in which I'm the host and don't have far to go!  HA!!

Can you do stilettos?  What am I missing?  Are they even comfortable? 

Is there something you'd never wear?  Let me know in the comments below!

And it's hard to believe, February is just a few days away!!  I'm wearing fun, festive, pinks, reds, and hearts all month long!!  I'll be documenting my looks on insta!!  I'd love it if you'd join me!  Follow me...I'm @solitarylife101

Self-Care for Teachers!

I'm bringing back my Teacher Tuesdays posts for today!

This week we are celebrating  Catholic Schools Week.  While it's a lot of work and extra days on two weekends in a row for teachers, it's also a lot of fun for us and our students!  I especially enjoy the two dress down days!  HA!

This weekend I joined the Teachers Connect Community online.  It's a site that urging teachers to connect and share.  As I was scoping out  the site, I came across a post where a fellow teacher asked others to share their favorite "Self-Care "activities!  I thought it was a fun idea and thought of a few to make my own list!

I'm sharing my list today on the blog!

Enjoying a cup of coffee in bed before getting ready for the day.

Start the day with a inspirational quote, scripture passage, or devotional.

Work clothes off ... pj's on!

Going to bed early to enjoy a book before lights-out.

OR

Forgetting it's a school night and staying out late...it's totally worth it.

A good long soak in the tub to wash away the stress of the day!

Laughs with a friend after school.

Treat yourself to a new work outfit.

Leave the grading for school!

Enjoy An outing with teacher-friends outside of school.

Forget the laundry...binge-watch your favorite show instead!

Dance parties in your living room!

Spike your coffee on the weekend!

Turning the alarm OFF!!

WINE!

That was really  fun!  And it can pretty much apply to ANYONE!!  What do you do for  YOU!!  Let me know in the  comments below!!

Linking up  for Wine'd Down Wednesday!

Love Me Some Friday!!

Happy Friday Ya'll!!  It's been a good, quick week!!  Thank you to the Good Lord above for that one!!

Here are the hits this week!

{ONE} 

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my mama's birthday today!! My number one blog reader...and critic!!  HA

  Even though we are not spending the day together because my mom's living it up in Florida, I'm sending her my love and hugs from here! 

Listen Linda...Listen!!  I love you!!

{TWO}

Becoming...FINALLY!!

I was so excited when my hold of Michele Obama's book Becoming finally landed in my Libby this week.  I got the audiobook because I wanted to hear her reading it obviously.  I've heard nothing but great things about it and the audiobook, especially!  Hoping it lives up to the hype.  I'll find out this weekend!

{THREE}

Bingo Night!

Was excited to get to bingo last night with my friends.  We always have a blast.  We hadn't been since my friend won the big grand prize, a snowboard!  Always fun and super competitive!!  LOL  We were't the big winners time (shocking because we had 23 boards between us!) but we had fun and jammed out on great tunes!  

{FOUR}

OSCAR Nominations are out!

The OSCAR nominations were announced earlier this week.  I'm really excited that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga were both nominated for A Star is Born. The fact that the nominations are out also means that all the Best Picture nominations are headed to our local one room theatre in town!!  Can't wait to go see the ones I missed!!  I'ts been forever since I've been there, but now that I'm not working every night until 6, I can catch the early movie after school, either with friends or by myself!!  Something to look forward to during these cold months.

{FIVE}
Catholic Schools Week
Well Catholic Schools Week has arrived!  It kicks off Sunday with my school's Open House.  The week means working extra but it also means a lot of fun next week!  And my favorite...two dress down days, so I'm calling it a WIN!!  Check out my Insta next week as I document it all!  Follow me @solitarylife101.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!  
Thanks for stopping by today!

Linking up with Erika and Tif today, too!!

19 in 2019

After reading about this idea by Anne In Residence, I thought I'd build my own 19 in 2019 List.  The list is basically composed of goals and things I'd like to do.  I've been making my list in my head and been jotting down a few things in my journal, but today I thought I share it with you!



19 things for 2019.

1- I've chosen my word for the year Positivity, so I've really been trying to pull the positive out of each day!  So far...so good...

2- Paint the house! (this is more like a necessity at this point!)

3- Host more Game Nights!

4- Save some money!

5- Get a stamp in my passport!

6- More water...less coffee!

7- Visit a museum

8- Read/Listen to 50 books

9- Get rid of cable

10- Make all the appointments I need to make!

11- Eat at home more

12- Try Meditation (I said all last year that I was going to go to meditation classes at this place up the street and I never made it.  And it's literally up the street!!  I have to go!!)

13- Go on at least one road trip

14- Set aside one hour out of every weekend to sort...

15- No sleep til Brooklyn!

16-  Host my own wine tasting.  Recently went to an in home wine tasting and it was so much fun, so I'd like to do it too!!

17- Get Back to PT...at least three times!  I'm in desperate need of a tune up!!

18- Less DRAMA...more FUN!!!

19- Be unafraid in blogging!  This is a big one for me.  So many times I thought of giving up this blog because a lot of time I don't think I have much to say and I have so many drafts that have gone unpublished because of that!  I'm going to hit publish more this year and blog for me!


What are you goals, dreams and to-do's for 2019?  I'd love to hear!!

Have a fabulous week!!





Linking up with my girls at The Blended Blog today, you should too!

Cheers to a Three Day Weekend!!

Friday!  Was this a long week for anyone else!!  Eeekkkk...happy to have Friday here!!  On to my faves of this week!

{ONE}
An absolute favorite this week was having my sister Tara out!  She came over and made me dinner and it was delicious!! It was a farro vegetable bowl!  I had never had farro before...but it is totally something I would have again. I'm totally wishing now that I got a photo of my meal and with my sister!  But I'm including it anyway because I loved the meal so much and any time I get to spend with my sister is always a treat.

{TWO}
I got my FitFabFun Starter Box!  My sister sent me a code to try it out and I'm so glad I did.  I think I'm already hooked.  Can't wait to get my first FULL box next season!

{THREE}
I've been working on this bulletin board at school pretty much since we've been back!  And Monday it finally came together.   On the snowflakes are book reviews that our fifth grade students wrote to help their friends find something fun to read during these awful, dreary long days of winter!  The sweet saying was made up by one of the girls in the class.  And I just love the bulletin board letters I got from KG Fonts on Teachers Pay Teachers!  When I look at this board it makes me happy...it's so bright and cheery!  We've received tons of compliments on it. And even better...we're all ready for Catholic Schools Week!!

{FOUR}
This book just spoke to me! It's about an elementary school librarian!  I think it'll be a fun quick read!  I'm looking forward to reading it over my long weekend!  Review to come on the blog after...I'm tracking all by books on the blog and insta this year! Follow me @solitarylife101

{FIVE}
SO looking forward to this three day weekend.  Tomorrow I am headed to see Spring Awakening with my sister, Meg and and my bestie, Mel.  Were going to a fairly new theatre close to home.  When we see shows in these local theatres, it is honestly like were seeing them on Broadway! Without the tremendous price tag!  Ha!  All three of us were fans of the TV Rise, which actually didn't last long, but the premise of the show was set in a high school and the main character, a drama teacher was fighting for his students to put on this super controversial show.  The TV show didn't make it, but tomorrow we'll get to see the show for real....ha.  I remember wanting to see it when it was on Broadway and after it won the TONY!  So I'm really excited for our girls' night!!




A bonus favorite...in celebration and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This week of teaching is always my favorite.  Our read aloud in the library is Martin's Big Words.  This is a wonderful book for our youngest students through to our oldest students.  It's filled with Dr. King's words that applied to our history and still apply today.  Our older students who have heard the story before, I asked to read it with a new set of eyes.  And they did.  SO many great discussions about America during Martin's time and the state of our nation today!

Ain't that the truth Friends?!?

If you're lucky enough to get the day off on Monday, enjoy it...and thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Linking up with Erika and Tif today, too!!