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

August...in Numbers!

Linking up with the forever fabulous Deena for her Monthly Numbers Post!  After never sharing my July, I'm back at it with an August recap!  In numbers...


Countless cups of coffee consumed! Because it's summer...and I have time for two a day!! Sometimes more if I had a cup after dinner and such! Most of which I put Rum Chatta in because I didn't have half and half (and was to lazy to go out and get!) Don't worry, Ma...I eventually did!!

0 trips to the grocery store and 0 peapod orders!  Which means...I ate out almost every single day in August, except one, because I came back from the Dominican Republic with a lil bug!!! I spent way too much money on food this month.

Looking back over my planner I can say there were a lot of toast, meetballs, cheese and rice pudding consumed this month.  I love my town!

3 visits to Toast- and none alone-woo hoo!!
4 visits to The Cheese Patch for Wine and Cheese
6 Visits to Meetball for meatballs, pretzels, and Beer!
2 visits to Sweet and Savory...where I sampled at least a dozen Rice Puddings.  Rice Pudding is my new favorite...especially when it's BO-GO!!

I feel like I always talk about food and drink in these posts, but really I felt like all I did this month was eat and drink....lots of prosseco and beer were consumed this month too.  But that just means I had a really great month hanging out, eating, drinking and enjoying time with good friends!!  I guess I can't ask for more than that!

Speaking of friends, made three new friends in August!  LOL

And I did something I said I would never do!!  I drank Pumpkin Ale in August!  Hahahahahaha...
Why do they stop making summer beers and start loading up the bars with pumpkin in August?!?  September People, September!!  But I gotta say....It was so damn good!!!

Lots of time was spent with family this month too!  Every weekend was spent at my one of my sisters' houses, so I was able to enjoy the beautiful weather we had and take advantage of their pools...and yummy cooking!  The weather this August was pretty AMAZING!!  So I spent hours in the sun!!

1 trip to the beach with friends and their little ones!  Because when the beach is involved Aunt Katie crashes play dates!!

Mom and Dad celebrated 45 years of marriage this month and my brother-in-law Anthony celebrated 40 years on earth!  Both fun celebrations.  On my parents anniversary, we re-watched the anniversary video my sister put together 10 years ago for their 35th (we threw them a big party, then). It was fun to reminisce and realize some of the kids weren't even born yet!!

6 days this month  were spent preparing for the new school year!  Meetings and visits to the classroom, and a Back-to-School BBQ on the 31st made it all real, helping to put summer vacation in the rear view! Tomorrow it's officially back to work!


1 Kenny Chesney concert attended, with 3 acts pre-show!  For me....this was not his best!  But I can say that after going nine times!  Still,  I will never not go!!  Kenny is Summer for me!!

Only 1 book finish in August!  But it was one I really enjoyed!! I reviewed it {here}.

August is always a tight month for me money wise and most of my money was spent on food (clearly!) but I did replace a few of the items that were stolen from me in the DR!  A got a new pair of white jeans, a new pair of blue jeans and some more workout clothes from Fabletics....all on super sale, so that made it a little bit better!!

Oh and August is my home-iversay!!  I celebrated three years in my cozy condo on August 29th!  I blogged about it too!

August on the blog....was a slow month!

12 posts
1 feature on TBB
Most Popular Post: What I Wore...on vacation!
Most viewed post on Facebook: What I Wore...on vacation!
And the fact that this photo was the most viewed out of everything on The Mishaps and Mayhem of a Solitary Life Facebook page this month makes me laugh so hard...and thanks!!


Hope your August was filled with great summer memories!  Here's to a sensational September!!

Happy Labor Day!!  Enjoy these last days of summer...

My August Book Shelf...and planned September Reads!

Happy Friday and Happy Holiday Weekend!

This morning I posted my Friday Faves to the blog, forgetting that I was also linking up with some of my best bloggy buddies from The Blended Blog, to share my August reads!  But it's Friday, it's a holiday weekend and it's the unofficial last weekend of summer, so a two-fer is in store!  Who doesn't love two-fers?!?  

Unfortunately, my August reads list, is a short one....a very short one...like just ONE!!

Earlier in August, I blogged about what I hoped my life would be like 10 years from now on The Blended Blog!  The prompt, was an idea based on the book What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.  I had hoped to finish the book before the post went live, but that didn't happen, because ya know...SUMMER!!  But I finally finished it!  And I gotta say!  I loved it!  I was really annoyed when I thought it was not going to end the way I had hoped, but in the end, all was right with the world.  I highly recommend it.  (Or am I the only one who had never read this one before!?!

Since I only read one book in August, I thought I'd share the books I have on tap for this month!  I am really committed to reading 30 minutes each night before bed so I hope that helps me up my "books a nonth quotient." 

Alison reads ALL THE BOOKS!!!!  A few weeks ago, one of her faves was The Last One.  I was immediately intrigued by it, so I requested it from my library.  I just picked it up!  I can't wait to start reading it this weekend!!  Read Alison's review here!

My Mom recommended the book When Friendship Followed Me Home as one I might like for my library and students!  She saw a review for the book in the newspaper, thought it sounded great so she bought it and read it.  After she read it, she said it was nothing like she thought I'd be and handed it over to me!  HA!!  I am resisting reading anything about it beforehand but there's a dog on the cover!  I'm thinking if it's about a boy and his dog, I may cry!!  It's a Middle School book, so I'm hoping I can get through it quickly like my mom did!

My sister, Tara lent me The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand last week.  Tara reads all her books and really loved The Rumor. I had hoped to read it all this week and be able to return it to her by Sunday, but I don't forsee that happening!  And now that The Last One is a library book, I'm starting that first.  I like library books, they give me and end date!  Hahahahaha

Tara lent me a book, so I lent her these...

Some of my favorite reads!!

Wish Me Luck!!  See you back her at the end of the month to find out how I did with these reads and to hear my reviews!

What did you read in August?  Let me know with a comment below!  I'm always looking for great reads!!

Have a wonderful relaxing Labor Day Weekend!

Friday...Lots of faves to choose from this week!!

This week, I had plans cancelled left and right.  So I spent lots of time reading, lots of time blogging and online.  But I still have a bunch of faves to chose from this week.  Here are my top five!

{ONE} Shutterfly's 50% off sale! 

This might just be my most fave this week!  If you know me, follow me on insta, or have been reading the blog awhile, you might know that, for the past two summers, I've put together a recap of my summer, called Summer in an Insta in a collage frame from Shutterfly!  The 2014 frame I ordered in I think May of 2015!  HA!  So I am so excited this year that I can order it right after Labor Day!!  And at 50% off, that is HUGE!!  I've already started putting the collage together and will be finishing it up this weekend.  It looks like Hurricane Hermine will be foiling our Labor Day Weekend plans, so I guess now my summer photos are pretty set!  Head to Shutterfly to get the deal too!

It's a little hard to see but this is last year's Summer in an Insta Frame!

{TWO}  My Final Pair of Go-to Shorts!

Earlier this summer, I posted about my favorite go-to shorts!  I mentioned in the post that the only color go-to's I was missing was the purple.  Well, this past week, they were on summer sale with free shipping on any order AND they had my size! So I took that as a sign that I should go for it and get them! And since a pink pair was stolen from my suitcase in the DR, I thought why not?  I'm so excited I did!!  It was my final summer purchase!!  There's a 50% off sale at JCrew Factory this weekend, if your interested!!

{THREE} On Tuesdays we eat Rice Pudding!

Many of my plans were cancelled this week, but my mom and I spent a nice day together on Tuesday, we did a little shopping and we went to our new favorite place.  The Crepe and rice pudding cafe in town!  My mom is a huge rice pudding fan.  When we went to lunch there earlier this summer, we found out that on Tuesdays, the rice pudding is buy one, get one free!! So crazy!  And you won't even believe what a huge savings it is.  On Wednesday, we came home with a ridiculous amount of rice pudding, but we shared! :)

This wasn't even the half of it!  This was just the haul I took home.  Oh and that top one was pumpkin!!  YUM!!!

{FOUR} You go Grandma!

Did you see the story of the Grandma who wanted hot firefighters at her 105th birthday?? Well she got her wish!!  So cute!  Check out her story here!

{FIVE}  Back to School on The Blended Blog

This week I headed back to School-unofficially!  Wednesday we had a Back to School BBQ where the students came and dropped off all their supplies, met new friends and reconnected with old.  And yesterday was a PD day for teachers.  Thursday I posted a Back to School Survival Guide for Teachers on The Blended Blog.  I would love it, if you checked it out!  Hopefully it gives you a giggle during this hectic Back to School time!

And now before the students return on Tuesday, and it's back to reality for me, I'm off to enjoy a four- day Holiday Weekend!  With the hurricane coming, we are expected to see it remnants, so  I see lots of reading, blogging, and interneting in my future...again!  I am thinking about binge-watching Stranger Things too.  It seems to have been all over this week and I've heard good things!  Have you seen it??

Hope you all enjoy the long weekend as well!!

 Linking up today with:

Erika and the girls for Friday Favorites
Tif and the girls for H54F

I'm over at The Blended Blog today....

I'm over at The Blended Blog today sharing a Teacher's Back to School Survival Guide.  It was a really fun post to put together!   Check it out here!!  Let me know what you think!

And today's August Sentence-of-the Day Recaps, but since I really couldn't get my act together this month, go check out the girls' posts and link up your own!

Sarah / Alison / Sheila / Leslie

Have a great Thursday!!