The Friday post that wasn't...

Friday is here!  I made it through the first full week...
of back-to-school, of after care and of parent night!
These's a new routine and schedule to get used to (leaving everyday before 7...which I know won't last!), one day in the week with no prep (which I actually like...the day goes by really quick), and having to do After care on Fridays, which I never intended to do!  HA!

Every week I sit with my planner and plug in my blogs for the week and every Friday, I put in Friday Favorites.  Planning out the blogs is sometimes as far as I get.  It's a miracle, when I can actually plan them, write them, and schedule them, ahead of time!!  {Yesterday's #TBT post might have went live after 11 p.m.!}

But Friday' here...and this post is nothing of what I intended it to be...just the random ramblings of a tired teacher after the busiest first week!!  This may be in my future later on today!!

Teach Outside the Box

So rather than the usual five favorites today you are getting just one!!

My favorite of the week was The Blended Blog's Blogiversary Scavenger Hunt Giveaway!!  It's hard to believe it's the end!  There is one final post up today with more chances to win so head on over there!  And if you missed any of the posts this week, here's a round up!

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Well would you look at that...I guess I have five favorites after all!!


Have a fabulous weekend....I'm spending mine getting my house and life in order after neglecting it all week!!

It's a TBB #TBT!

This week The Blended Blog is celebrating our One Year Blogiversary all week long with special posts, a super fun scavenger hunt, and a $150 giveaway!!  So I thought to add to the celebration, for today's Throwback post!

 Today I'm throwing it back to the very first post I wrote as a The Blended Blog contributor! I've contributed a number of fun posts over the last year, but this one was my very first one and it hold s a special place in my heart.  And being that Fall is right around the corner, I thought this was perfect!!

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Fun Fall Cocktails!

Happy Fall Y'all!!  So excited to be here today sharing some fun fall cocktails with you all.  I enjoy my wine and during the fall, pumpkin ale is my big go-to!  At parties though I like to mix it up and indulge in a few cocktails.

This Thanksgiving,  I'll once again be hosting what we call Friendsgiving. So I thought it'd be fun to have some signature drinks on the menu to offer my  friends!  Two that I am going to share with you today are a pumpkin martini and some fall sangria.  These were both so simple and easy to put together.

So, confession time.... I got a little drunk this weekend! :)  I did lots of taste-testing...

Years ago my family went out for my sister's birthday, and while we waited for our table my mom tried the restaurant's Pumpkin Spice Martini.  Over the course of the evening I think she had three or four.  And by the end of the night, the bartender had written down the recipe on the back of a receipt. He probably wasn't supposed to do that, but he did! My mom still has it to this day.
So yummy!

Pumpkin Martini- makes one glass

2 oz. vanilla vodka (I used stoli)
1.5 oz Godiva White
.5 oz of Creme de Cocoa- white
Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer (Both International Delight and Nestle have one this time of year!) The recipe didn't have any measurement on this, so I'd say to taste. (I went with a shot and a half!) It's a pumpkin martini after all!

Put all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake vigorously!  Strain into martini glass and enjoy!  The recipe called for the glass to be rimmed with brown sugar. That was hard....I made a second one and rimmed with cinnamon sugar!

Last week, a coworker friend of mine told me about a fall sangria she had while camping.  As she was describing it, I knew it'd be perfect for Friendsgiving.  My friends are into Fireball these days.  I have to be honest here...this one was totally trial and error using what my friend told me! There are a number of fall sangrias on sites like Pinterest but when  I couldn't find one exactly as she mentioned, I tried it anyway!  And guess what?!?  I think I nailed it! The longer you leave it the better, too!

Most sangrias have a wine base.  This one is apple cider, no wine! Which for someone like me who's never been good at mixing wine and liquor, works!

Since I didn't have any measurements I went with this shot glass.(the equivalent of 1.5 shots) because unlike the martini, I made a pitcher rather than a glass!

Fall Sangria
FireBall Cinnamon Whiskey
Caramel Vodka
Apple Cider (not juice)
4 or 5 of your favorite apples sliced (depending on the size of your pitcher)

• Cut up the apples and place them in the bottom of the pitcher
• Put the shots of vodka and fireball on top of them, letting it all soak in
• Pour in apple cider
• Stir Well
• Place in the refrigerator overnight

Serve in a highball glass with cinnamon rim and garnished with an apple!  Enjoy!!

Hope you try these at your next fall gathering!  Please let me know how you like them and if you have any fall cocktails you think I need to try, please let me know in the comments below!

Enjoy!

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It's kinda funny, but somehow, I got to be the cocktail girl of the group!  I'm not sure when this happened or how, but I can tell you my mom is so proud!  #not  LOL

Check out all my featured posts on The Blended Blog {here}.


This post originally appeared on The Blended Blog on October 20, 2015

Now head on over for day four of The Blended Blog's blogiversary scavenger hunt and giveaway!!! It's so much FUN!!!!!

Gray Monroe Style

When blogger Jenny Collier started her Gray Monroe shop, I browsed, followed her on FB and Instagram and always envied all the clothing she had available for purchase.  This summer, I had the time to actually shop the site, so I did!!  I scored an awesome cold shoulder top for the fall...that had sold out so quickly, I had to wait for the reorder!  Then I was emailed about the End of Summer Sale and got a few fun tops at a great deal!!  It was like the sale on sale!!

I had been eyeing this super fun tank for summer for awhile!  When it went on sale and they still had my size as took that as a sign that I HAD to have it!  Check it out here...still on final sale!!

Love this tank too!  I wore it this summer with so many colors of my go-to shorts!   

I plan on taking this tank into fall with me, wearing it with my military jacket, denim jacket, and cardigan sweaters. I also plan on wearing it now with my olive jeans!

This cold shoulder top I scored on sale too!  It's the perfect top to wear with leggings or skinny jeans and sandals nowt and riding boots later on!! {Super similar here!}

I knew this top had to be mine as soon as I saw it! it's my most recent purchase and I can't wait to wear it all fall long I am still so into the layered look, and I love that it looks layered yet I don't have to be bundled up! I just know it's going to be on repeat this Fall!

Try Gray Monroe for yourself!  They are always rolling out new arrivals and have great deals and sales!!  I like supporting small businesses, especially when they sell clothes, accessories, and shoes!!  HA!!  

Have a Happy Wednesday and don't forget to link up your fashion posts below!!!  And get on over to The Blended Blog for Day Three of our Bloviversary celebration!!!  There's $150 up for grabs!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking up today with The Blended Blog, The Pleated Poppy, Sydney Fashion Hunter

I've signed up to be a Gray Monroe affiliate because I love the brand!  All opinions are my own! 

It's a Blogiversary!!

The Blended Blog is ONE!  On September 9th, 2015 The Blended Blog officially launched!! So we want to celebrate ONE YEAR with ONE WEEK of FUN!!

I am so grateful to be part of The Blended Blog! Our collective is a true gift.  I love reading and sharing everyone's views and perspectives. The series we've done over the last year have really been an opportunity to share parts of ourselves with one another and all of you!  And our Friday Features have also been a chance to get to know other bloggers as well.  Thanks for reading and being part of The Blended Blog.  TBB has grown and changed in the last year, but we've always remained true to the purpose of the blog, as a space for sharing our creative voices.

It's so funny how in this blogging world, I have woman that I've never even met that I can call friends! I'm glad we've spent the last year on this journey together.  And special thanks to our fearless leader, Deena for keeping it all together for us all each week!!  And a big thanks to Whitney for putting all this week's blogiversary fun together!!

We are celebrating  one year of The Blended Blog all week with a super fun scavenger hunt and giveaway!!!  You don't want to miss a thing so...go...get on over there and check out what's in store!!

15 Years

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. 15 years has gone by in both a flash and in slow motion. 15 years ago today I was a senior in college, sitting in a classroom a mere 25 miles away from those towers.  The towers where, just 3 weeks before, I climbed and stood atop for a photo with my sister. 

On that Tuesday, everything changed...

I don't post on Sundays but I wanted to share this today.  Heroes and angels showed their faces that day, when it was so needed.

Today, we remember...

• all the lives lost
• all the families devastated
• and all the people changed

FOREVER   

This song was written shortly after 9-11, by one of my favorite Irish bands, Shilelagh Law.  It is a Christmasy tune, but it's so much more than that.  This picture was posted to their Facebook page this week and I shared it. 

These are powerful lyrics that take me back to that day and the weeks that followed.

 I wanted to share this song today to remember a time when cops and firefighters were our heroes.  15 years ago, cops were heroes...today unfortunately, so much has changed.  Let's make them heroes again.

Have a blessed Sunday....remember, reflect, be kind, love, and hug your loved ones a little tighter!

That's a Wrap!!...

That's a wrap!  On the first week of School and Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2016!!  I had so much fun participating this week and sharing my photos on Insta!!    Here's the roundup of it all in case you missed anything!


Meet Me MONDAY!

Find out a little bit more about me {here}!

Teaching TUESDAY!

Tuesday was all about sharing my favorite lesson.  Even though the new school year just started I had to share my most favorite lesson based on the story The Wall by Eve Bunting.  

Read more about it {here}!

Where I Work WEDNESDAY!

My school is my home away from home!  I spend more time there then at my own house!!  Read more about this place I call home {here}!

Threads THURSDAY!

In Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week intro  post last Sunday, there was a line that said, "Don't allow Thursday to scare you away!" HA!  I was most looking forward to this one!  lots of times on the blog I'm sharing my teacher style!!  Read more about my teacher style {here}!

Friends FRIDAY!

Some of my teacher friends are my closest friends.  It's so important to have and make friends we're you work.  They help make the days go by faster and are the people you can laugh about the stress with!! She more {here}.

Last year I participated in Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week 2015 and was so happy to do it again this year.  I loved posting to Insta everyday and looked forward to seeing everybody's posts as well.  It's a great way to kick off a new school year, while getting inspiration from others!  If you want to see more of where this came from, find me on Instagram... I'm @solitarylife101! I'd love to have you!!

Have a great weekend teacher friends!  Hope you can find the time to relax after the crazy, busy week that was!!

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}!