The last week before break...

Friday...the start of a glorious two weeks off!  I could not be more excited!  The last week of school is always SO crazy busy...and the kids are WILD!! And for some reason, I was up every night til past midnight...Thursday it was 2 a.m. Crazy I know!!  But it was a fun week!!  Here are a few of the highlights!!  It's the (mostly) Christmasy edition!

1.  Polar Express Day!  On Wednesday at my school was Polar Express Day! It's a day where the kids come dressed in their PJ's and watch The Polar Express and do some fun activities to go along with the book and movie!  Naturally, the teachers join in on the fun! Hey,  when I can wear PJ's to school I am all for it.  I wore my Christmas pj's from last year's first annual Christmas Day in PJs!   Being the library/tech teacher I do not have a homeroom class of my own, but one of the first grade teachers invited me into watch the movie with her class.  I went in on my prep and was able to stay a little while before my next class.  My favorite part was watching the kids yell at the screen... "GET ON THE TRAIN!!" I also enjoyed the hot chocolate.  One little girl, who's new to our school this year, exclaimed, "This is the best day at this school so far!"  It was really cute!

2.  My BFF bought an apartment!  My best friend recently bought an apartment and moves in on January 15th.  This week she asked me to write a character reference for her, for her co-op board.  While I was happy that she asked me, I was a little stressed too!  Don't get me wrong, I could totally do it, and I know her better than anyone, 32 years to be exact, so I wanted to get it perfect!  In all actuality, I probably stressed over it way more than I needed to.  In the end, I got it done and it made my heart happy to hear that she loved it!  WHEW!!

3.  Christmas Gifts  I am always so flattered when I get gifts from students!  I think it is so kind of parents to think of the "specials" teachers in addition to the classroom teachers!  I got great gifts this year!  And so many were Pinterest inspired!  Gotta love it!  One of my faves though, is my Peapod gift card!!  If you have been following my blog, you know my love for Peapod!!

4.  Ugly Sweater Day Not only did I get to wear my pajamas to work this week, I also got to dress down on Friday and wear my Ugly Christmas Sweater!  I got this video game inspired one!  The tech teacher in me thought it appropriate.  I received lots of compliments on it!

I really need to start taking pictures first thing in the morning!!

5.  Christmas on the Blog!  This week on the blog I linked up with my girls from the Style Me Challenges to reveal my gifts from the Secret Santa Exchange and give a little tour of my house all decked out for the holidays!  Come on in!!  More fun to come on the blog now that I'm on vacation!!  Woo Hoo!!

Happy Weekend!
Katie

Linking up today with:

Lauren Elizabeth for High Five on Friday
September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for Oh Hey, Friday!

April and the girls for Five on Friday

Jennie for Friday Favorites

My Home at Christmastime!

I am just having the best time linking up with my Style Me Blogger Friends this week!!
Today we are back with our final link up of the year. A tour of our homes at Christmas.  This makes me so happy!  I just love my little house and decorating it for my favorite holiday is so fun!! I'll be honest...this is the only holiday the house gets decked out! On other holidays I only have a few small things here and there! (The exception being Friendsgiving this year) But I love decorating for Christmas.  I always decorate on Thanksgiving weekend and leave everything up until Little Christmas on January 6th.

Welcome to my home at Christmas

Being a lower unit, I don't have any balcony or columns on which to put Christmas lights...so this wreath on my front door is the extent of my outside decorations (next year I'll have to get a Christmasy cushion for my rocking chair out front).  The wreath was made by my teacher friend, Jamie.  Every year she has a fundraiser called Crochet for a Cure in memory of her mom.  I purchased this at the sale in 2012, the year I moved into my apartment and actually had a front door to put it on!!  You can check out Jamie's blog here!

Come on in!

My tree is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door.  It's in the corner but still somewhat visible in the front window.  It's an artificial and pretty small (I have taller ceilings now). When I first put it up this year, it looked so terrible, I was THIS CLOSE to chucking it and going to get a new one.  But all it needed was a bit of TLC, a night to sretch and a bunch of ornaments!  The more I look at it, the more I love my little guy!!  I think I'll keep him!!

This tree skirt my mom made for me when I moved into my aprtment and had a tree of my own.  Last year, she gave me the matching stocking, after moving into the house.  I love them and keep the stocking under the tree with the skirt.  My mom worked really hard on it and I am so appreciatative.  I know I will have them forever!  Just like my mom has her tree skirt from the year she was married- 1971.

Under my front window, right next to the tree I have my Advent Calendar.   I received it as a gift from my Aunt Jean.  For a number of years, I kept it in my classroom. Now that I don't have a homeroom class of my own, it's home with me.
In each draw is a tiny little ornament.  I decided to put the ornaments on this little tree me mom gave me.  I went on a Christmas Cruise with my mom's sister, my Aunt Laurie,  and her family, in 2008 and was away on Christmas for the first time ever.  My mom hid a few gifts in my suitcase before I left, one of which was this tree.  She wanted me to put it in my room on the ship.  Because according to mom, Christmas just isn't Christmas without a tree!  It's kind of a perfect match!  Also on there is the Christmas card I sent out this year!!

This was the tree on the cruise!

My home has an open floor plan...next up is the Living room!
The first side...ha!

Love this Canvas above my couch! I scored it with a gift card from Home Goods I got as a housewarming present after I first moved into my apartment!

This tall shelf in the corner of the living room gets Christmafied ever year with Cherished Teddies I collected as a kid and other fun nick-nacks!  The Christmas Box Sign I just got this year.

The Christmas stocking was a gift from my sister last year.  Funny Story Actually!  She is divorced and spent much of last year here with me.  I was storing some of her Christmas boxes here and we found her Christmas stocking in one so she promptly put it up...HA!  As a joke, she got me a simlar one so we'd have matching!

Decorations on top of the TV stand.  The TV is on the wall...YAY!!  I really like having this as a display place now .

Printable

My nativity is very special to me!  

It is an original Hummel set that was my Nana's. 

My original Christmas stocking, circa 1980.

The kitchen has a few touches as well!

Printable

I display any picture cards I receive on ribbon on the pantry door.

Lastly, this is the door to my guest room!  This is a little idea I got from my Nana.  I remember her having this sign outside her guestroom when we were kids...because all our gifts were in there. So now that I have a guest room, I am doing the same.

I think I should laminate this!!  This is year number two with it...and it looks it!  

Oh I'm not done yet!  I'm including my bathroom because yesterday I didn't have anything Christmas in the bathroom!  Now I do though, thanks to some sweet students!  Love when kids think of their Librarian/Tech teacher at Christmas!!  My tree also has a few new ornaments on it thanks to them!

WHEW!!  There you have it... Thanks for sticking with me!!    

Merry Christmas! Happy Hoidays!

This year's card is a little bit different than last year's (LOL)...but along the same lines.

Don't forget to check out the Style Me Girls homes all decked out for the holidays!  A few of us also participated in a Secret Santa too, check out what we received here!!

Shoes to Shiraz | Two Teens and their Mama | A Lovely Little Wardrobe | R Squared 

Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | Family Love Inspiration Education  

The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life | The Blondissima | Familiar Joy

Positively Learning | Quilty Joy Joy | Daily Style Finds | Sheila's Potpourri | Puppies and Pretties She thought she could | Looks like Lauren | Foxy's Domestic Side | 
Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After

And since Christmas is my favorite holiday (and my home is my favorite place!), I'm linking up today for Friday Favorites too, with Erika, Andrea and Narci!  

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

And Happy Holidays!

Katie

Style Me Bloggers Secret Santa Reveal!!

This Christmas season I participated in a Secret Santa exchange with some of my favorite people…my fellow bloggers from the Style Me Pretty Challenges!!!  Love that these ladies and I have become such great friends!!  Deena, (our leader and organizer of all things Style Me Bloggers Link-ups…God Bless her!!) of Shoes toShiraz organized the exchange for us using an online system called Elfster.  So cute and super fun!  I signed up for Elfster and was able to get notifications when someone posted in the group!  It also had a cool feature where you could create Wish lists.  I didn’t use this feature this time around though, because our exchange had a stipulation…

We had to get the person we picked a gift specific to our region!  At first I had a tough time with this!  I wanted to send my person wine from the Vineyards out East on Long Island.  Little did I know you can’t ship alcohol (which I for one, think is pretty silly!!! HAHAHA).

As for me, I was so excited to get my gift in the mail!! Lana from Two Teens and their Mama was my Secret Santa. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her blog!  Be sure to check it out!!  Living in Washington State, close to the Seattle area, she sent me some awesome treats!! Should have thought to take pics of the gifts before I opened them...I'll do better next year!!  :)

Starbucks Hot Cocoa because their headquarters is Seattle!

Seattle Chocolates in a gift box shaped like the ferry….which immediately made me think of Grey’s Anatomy and those aerial shots of the ferry McDreamy takes to work!  (I know…I know…I watch too much TV! #solitarylifeprobs

And Sockeye Salmon, specific to the Pacific Northwest, in a beautiful gift box.  Salmon is one of my favorite foods.  I knew I’d save it for a special occasion!  I have decided to serve this as one of the entrees when I have Christmas Eve at my house. I’m excited to tell my family about the Gift Exchange over dinner!!

Chocolate, Starbucks and Salmon...pretty much my favorite things all in one fabulous gift.  THANK YOU SO MUCH LANA!!  Love it all!!

Lana also included a sweet message on a gift tag that now hangs in my tree!!  

I had such a fun time participating in the gift exchange.    I was Sarah's secret sender.  Check out what I sent along to her here!  Who knew that 2014 would be the year of the Style Me Challenges, and because of them, I’ve had the opportunity to meet these amazing woman!  It really is all thanks to Alison and her idea to create these challenges!  It is with gratitude and hugs that I say a big thanks!    

 If you've been following my blog and thinking about joining one too, please read my letter to Alison {here}!  It's been a fabulous, fashionable adventure!


Merry Christmas to you all!!
Katie

An InLinkz Link-up

The Winter Challenge seems to be flying right by...

much like the remainder of this year!!  I have been really slacking when it comes to blogging lately, but I have lots on tap for the rest of the week, so please come on back and check out what's happening with me!! And after Friday, I'm on VACATION for TWO WEEKS!!  I am committing to spending that time blogging and reading (something other than schoolwork).

Back again with another set of Winter Challenge outfits, thanks to Alison at Get Your Pretty On!  I'm having a fun time with these outfits, even though I haven't been faithful to every outfit!  And I am actually liking the different way the outfits are being delivered this time around!  With so much going on this time of year, we are getting a week's worth of outfits all at once. (I didn't fully realize this the first week!)

In last week's post,  I showcased the first two outfits in the challenge.  These next few are the rest of the first week and the start of week two.  And I will be honest...I've already been "off" challenge a bit.

Wednesday, Day 3, called for a poncho, long sleeved tee and plaid scarf with skinny jeans and booties.  I didn't have the poncho but since my blanket scarf is huge, I didn't really need it!  For work I opted for more of a Fall Challenge outfit.  I wore my mustard boyfriend cardi, with this blanket scarf and black pants.  I went out to dinner that night and followed the winter challenge outfit more closely with this...

Love my TOMS booties...so glad I finally bit the bullet and bought them!!

Thursday's outfit, Day 4, I ended up wearing on Sunday! The weekend outfits I opted out of, but will definitely be saving them for more dressy occasions!  This was pretty much spot on!  Plaid button down, black skinny jeans or leggings, and white puffer vest, with booties and accessories.  I opted for the black skinnies because I thought my booties looked a little weird with the leggings...I have to figure that one out!!!  But I like wearing my booties with cuffed jeans!  LOL

Friday's outfit, the more I wore it, the more I liked it!  Long printed cardigan, neutral top, skinny jeans, fur scarf and riding boots.  This was my interpretation.

This cardigan was the only thing I ended up buying specifically for the challenge, because I had nothing like it! I got it from Piper Street.  It's no longer available but there are lots of new similar styles {here}. I was unsure of this with the fur scarf, and honestly that didn't last long!!  Any thoughts? Leave them in the comments below!

Like I mentioned before, I opted out of the weekend outfits but my Saturday outfit was pretty challenge inspired, so I thought I'd share!

I'm not gonna lie...I may wear this scarf every other day!!

Monday, challengers rallied in support of a fellow challenger by wearing #tealforterri.  Terri is currently battling GCT, a rare form of ovarian cancer,  Teal is the official color of ovarian cancer.  My teal sweater worked with the other challenge pieces from the day. The puffer vest and dark skinnies with uggs.  This was obviously my after school look.  I wore the sweater with black trouser pants to work!  Learn more about Terri {here}.

Tuesday's outfit of the day, called for a dressy sweater, dark skinnies and riding boots.  Super easy!  Wore the sweater with gray ankle pants for work but changed into the challenge outfit for PT later on in the evening.  Got lots of compliments on this!!  It's hard to see but this sweater, rather than being bejeweled (since I ended up wearing that sweater on Monday) has gold thread embellishing the front.  I got it a few seasons ago!

Today, I will be off challenge!  It is Polar Express Day at school and I get to wear my pajamas!!  I'm pretty excited about it!!!

What have you been wearing this week? Link up with us below...we can't wait to see!  And don't forget to check out how these beauties styled their challenge looks!!

Shoes to Shiraz | Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | A Lovely Little Wardrobe | R Squared  

Two Teens and Their Mama | Foxy's Domestic Side |  | Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life 

Sheila's Potpourri | Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After |  Sprinkled Just Right 
Quilty Joy Joy | From Plaid to Pearls | Daily Style Finds | Fast Life Slow Life
 The Blondissima | Looks Like Lauren


It's hard to believe this is my fourth challenge.  Much of 2014 has been spent participating in Style Me Challenges.   If you've been following my blog and thinking about joining one too, please read my letter to Alison {here}!  It's been a fabulous, fashionable adventure!

Katie

Linking up today with:

Alison at Get Your Pretty On

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

 Because Shanna Said So

Sarah at Tucker up

Madeline at Cappuccino and Fashion

An InLinkz Link-up

Dear Alison

This being the holiday seaon, my fellow challenge friends and I thought it would be a great idea to reflect on these challenges and express to our fearless leader Alsion, how she has helped us!

Dear Alison,

As I sit down and try to reflect on what the 4 challenges I have participated in this year mean to me, I am finding it somewhat difficult. When I first saw your tweet about the inaugural Spring Challenge as a way for busy moms to get out of their yoga pants rut, I was definitely interested but wasn't sure it was for me. I was not a mom, or a wife for that matter...just a single girl into fashion. I tweeted you and was so happy you got right back to me saying the challenge was really for anyone who likes causal, easy pieces. I went ahead and jumped right in, joining. I had a similar style to yours and figured this challenge “thing” just might work for me. 

Little did I know that one challenge would turn into 4! The challenges are much more than styling clothes. It's women of all ages, different backgrounds and experiences, from all over the world coming together and sharing a love of fashion and style, but also boosting one another's confidence and encouraging one another. Women so often try to compete and end up tearing each other down. This group IS SO NOT THAT!! This group is a safe place where I feel comfortable expressing myself and sharing because these women have become my “friends”!  So many challenge outfits are my go-to outfits and I find myself reaching for challenge pieces more than all the others!  Most of all it's just a realy fun time!  And who knew that I would connect with so many other bloggers and we'd begin a series of blog posts around shared experiences, within the challenges, but extending way beyond.   You did that...you brought us all together!
As the year comes to a close, I just wanted to say THANK YOU...when I look back on 2014, it will be challenges that help define and shape it! Thanks for making me feel pretty both inside and out...My heart is full!  So is my closet!!  :)

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy Christmas and all the best in 2015! 

Katie

The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life

**For anyone who has been reading the blogs and following along with us during the challenges, get in on the fun for yourself!  You won't regret it!  Find out more about Style Me Pretty Challenges HERE!

The Winter Challenge Fun Begins!

Teaming up once again with fellow fashionistas from the Winter/Holiday Challenge, that we've began participating in this week with Alison at Get Your Pretty On!  This is my fourth (and most likely, final) challenge.  Can't even believe how fast time has gone.  When I started these challenges in the Spring, I could never imagined what it would turn into.  It's been so fun, a confidence builder, and a way to make new friends and style sisters.  When I thought about signing up for this challenge, I was a little unsure, given the time of year and everything going on!  But I knew I didn't want to miss out on the fun...in the challenge, in the group and blogging with the girls.  Shout out to Deena for another beautiful graphic!!

Shoes to Shiraz | Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | A Lovely Little Wardrobe | R Squared  

Two Teens and Their Mama | Foxy's Domestic Side | Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life 

Sheila's Potpourri | Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After |  Sprinkled Just Right 
Quilty Joy Joy | From Plaid to Pearls | Daily Style Finds | Fast Life Slow Life

I just figured out that we are getting the outfits a little differently this time, but I'm still gonna blog about them as I have in the past.  So today is the short and sweet version...the first two outfits!

I was super excited to have the day off Monday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so I was able to follow the Day One Challenge outfit pretty closely! When I went to celebrate my sister's birthday, I got lots of compliments on this!

 Cable knit sweater (JCrew Factory)

Dark Skinnies (actually my Hue denim leggings)

Faux Fur Scarf (similar)

Riding Boots

I really loved this!  So super easy to pull together and throw on!  The scarf is pretty large and only goes over the neck, doesn't loop around like the typical infinity.  I liked the way it laid though, and that it covered the little embellishments that go down the front of the sweater.

Day two, I was already a little off!  The weather here was THE PITS!!!  Freezing cold, pouring rain, 60 mile per hour wind gusts and flooding. So yea...the day was a good as you can imagine! I truly believe that on days like that no one should have to leave their bed.  After all, it looks like night all day!!
BUT, if there is one silver lining, when it comes to rain days, it's getting to wear my WELLIES!!! So I swapped out the riding boots for them!  It was a faculty dress down too, so I was grateful for that and with the weather, opted for more of a sweatshirt tunic, rather than a tunic sweater. On the challenge list for the day was a puffer vest, I swapped that out too...for my rain coat!!

So I guess, this outfit is not very challege-y after all!!  The only thing on point were the leggings!  I look forward to wearing the true challenge outfit someday soon. Because I just love my puffer vest !!

Next week I'll have lots more looks from the challenge to share!  Please come back for a look!!

Have a great Wednesday...Have Fun and Look Fabulous!!

Katie

Linking up today with:

Alison at Get Your Pretty On

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

Sarah at Tucker up

Madeline at Cappuccino and Fashion

Hard to believe....

that Christmas is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!  Where does the year go!  My house is all decorated and I am ready, but I just can't believe it's come around so quick!  Today I'm linking up with my fellow fashionistas from the Style Me Challenges to share my favorite holiday meal!  These days, any holiday meal I share surrounded by my family is my favorite because... I get a good meal!!  HAHAHAHA!!

This solitary life is the pits when it comes to eating.  Some don't believe I eat....but I do!!  It might not be the healthiest meals on the planet, but it's food.  So what if I tend to live on quesadillas, rice, and cereal MOST days!  On Sundays, because I have the time, I'll try to make an actual meal...usually salmon or chicken.  I mentioned in a previous post /here/ that I don't really like cooking for myself because by the time I spend all the time preparing the meal, I hardly want to eat it!!  Ugh...but anyway...back to our regularly scheduled program!!

My favorite holiday meal is probably Christmas day dinner, because, ALL of my family eats it together. With my sisters married, some time is spent with their in-laws during each of the holidays.  But for the past, I don't know how many years now, we've all spent Christmas day together at my sister's house.  The gathering includes my Mom and Dad, my oldest sister her husband and three boys, my sister and her two twin girls, my sister and her husband (the hosts!) and their two girls.  It also includes my Aunt and Uncle (my dad's brother) and their young son.  This tight-knit group is what I consider my immediate family.  And this is the only time throughout the year that we are ALL  together sharing a holiday meal.

Usually it's lots of different apps, we don't have at our typical get-togethers, most times, Prime Rib for dinner....and of course drinks!!  It's just a really crazy, fun time spent together talking, laughing and often reminiscing!  And since last year, it's become our most comfortable meal.  The "good" china and gobblets may be out but we're all cozy in our PJ's!!  Actually this might also be a big reason why it's my fave!!  :)

And I don't have a pic of all of us eating out Christmas dinner but I do have a pic of all of us in our PJs!  My family just might kill me!!  :)

Wishing you all the happiest of holidays!!  Filled with a meal shared with the ones you love, lots of fun and good cheer!


Have a great weekend,
Katie

Go check out my Style Me Blogger Friends and Link up with us to share your favorite meal!!  And a big congratulations to our last link-ups Giveaway Winner...

 Rena McDaniel

Enjoy your prize!!  More giveaways coming up soon!!!

Shoes to Shiraz | Two Teens and their Mama | A Lovely Little Wardrobe | R Squared 

Confessions of a Frumpy Mommy | Family Love Inspiration Education  

The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life | The Blondissima | Familiar Joy

Positively Learning | Quilty Joy Joy | Daily Style Finds | Sheila's Potpourri | Puppies and Pretties She thought she could | Looks like Lauren | Foxy's Domestic Side | 
Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After | Wardrobe Therapy