C&I Thursday

C&I Thursday by nataliehbrown featuring knit tops

week 2/3

week 2/3 by nataliehbrown featuring ankle boots

first day of school

I cannot believe Harper is in kindergarten. I feel like it was only moments ago that I was holding her in my arms for the very first time. I have been an emotional wreck over the whole thing. I teared up at meet the teacher. I cried like a maniac after tucking her into bed the night before the first day. I had all sorts of irrational fears about what she'd encounter at school and what she'd know and what she wouldn't. But as usual, Harper knew her stuff. 

She didn't cry or stress. She told me on the first day that her tummy was a little bit nervous, but she was excited. Damion and I were able to walk her to her room on the first day and she got right to work coloring her paper. She waved goodbye and that was that. She was a big girl and so excited about her lunch box and her new friends and was determined to wear a "pretty dress in all her favorite colors" on the first day. Luckily we were able to make that happen. 

She loves Miss Malone and I think that lady was sent from heaven. She has the perfect disposition for kindergarten and it's evident she loves her job. Her room is decorated so cute and Harper always comes home with a story to tell about the cool thing they did that day. I know she's going to have a wonderful year.

Here she is on the way home on the first day, wearing her "I love Kindergarten" hat. She was worn out, but was so excited to tell me about how Miss Malone read books about the first day jitters and gave them Jitter Juice. 

After her first day, we went out to dinner as a family and drove to Grapevine to get Damion some new chef coats. In the car, we finally convinced her it was time to give her wiggly front tooth a tug, and (on the first day of school) she also had her first missing tooth. 

It's all too much too fast, but man is she cute with that gap-tooth smile. 

Mom and I had our first day, too. It was my eighth year as a teacher and my first ever, teaching with my mom. But we both had a good first day and I'm excited for the school year. The schedule is a bit nuts and crazy-fast, but I'm glad that I have 3 (!) off periods in a row. It helps me have everything finished by the time I have to go get Harper at the end of the day.

Lana, Jen and I took our annual "first day" pic and I think we look pretty darn cute. Personally, I think the three of us are getting better with age. :) My dress was a steal at Ross for $16 (seriously) and I loved all the colors and pattern. We always try to look super professional on the first day.

I can't leave out our Annie girl. She is still her sassy self. She's going to Goddard this year and I love that she's right down the road. She and Harper play so well together and they are super sweet to each other. She's recently become obsessed with Dora (just like Harper did at this age) and she always wants me to sing the Dora song. She still cries when I drop her off in the morning, but not for long and when I pick her up in the evening she's laughing and playing. I know she's having fun there. I can't believe how many words she knows and how she can tell us exactly what she wants and why. It's pretty impressive out of a 21-month old.

She is still a binky baby and she has to have her "lovey" at night and nap as well. At night she asks to "rocky rocky" and we read a book (usually Dora) and she's out by 7:30 at the latest each night. In the past week or so, she's started getting out of bed in the morning and coming to our door, if she can get her own door open. It's kind of funny to hear her outside our door or on the monitor saying "mommy, opey door. Opey door." I love that crazy girl.

Well, that's about all the time out of my conference I can spend right now. Time to input some grades, plan for next week and design some yearbook templates.

what I wore

week 1 by nataliehbrown featuring decorating t shirts

I know that no one really cares what I wore, but I like to keep track and Polyvore is like playing paper dolls. It's fun and it's fast. So here were my outfits the first week of school. (Except that's not my dress. That's the closest I could get. See first day of school pics for real dress.) 

April 21 week

Well, spring has finally sprung and it was about time for me to start dressing like it. Every season I feel like I look in my closet and hate everything. And every season I buy a few new things and find ways to make my old things look refreshed. I think the trick is that I have A LOT of basics and I usually spend very little money on trendy items.

So I've purchased a few things recently for spring (necessary since I'm another size smaller since last spring!) and started remixing. I ended up wearing 1-2 new pieces each day this week so I thought I'd share.

The only thing new in the first outfit is the maxi skirt. It's a wonderful, sheer chiffon-type material and so comfortable. But unlike lots of sheer things, the dark gray color keeps it from looking trashy or too young.  I found it on clearance for $13 at Target. I wore it with my 3/4 boat-neck tee and added the turquoise bubble necklace for a pop of color.

The second is a t-shirt dress from Old Navy on sale for $10. I love a good t-shirt dress. They're just so comfortable and kind of my go-to in the summer when I want to make an effort instead of scrubbing in shorts and t-shirts. I couldnt find my exact sandals online, but these were close. I found black, ankle strap Steve Madden sandals at Ross in Austin for $16. They're really comfortable and have a kind of tribal black and white pattern on the toe strap. The chevron necklace was $6 at Sam Moon.

My Wednesday outfit was probably my favorite. I updated the black tank and white cocoon cardigan I've had for a couple of years by wearing them with these super comfortable tribal/harem pant from Ross. They were $13 and so, so, so comfortable. I know these kinds of pants are super trendy and I probably wont get a lot of wear out of them, but for $13, how could I resist? I found the earrings at Sam Moon as well for $4. They are direct Kendra Scott knock-offs and I lurve them. I bought them in red-orange too.

And today's outfit was a steal. Basic gray tee, a $7 scarf from Sam Moon that has great spring colors like turquois, purple, orangy-pink (couldnt find an exact match on Polyvore) and my new orchid skinny jeans from Old Navy. These things were on super clearance and with my rewards points, etc. I think I paid $4 for them. Seriously. They're a weird size that I never wear  and I think maybe that's why they were on clearance. But it's the Pantone color of the year so I had to have them.

I like that I'm such a super shopper. It's like a game to me. Proof that you can look cute and you dont have to spend a million bucks. I spent $73 on these items and got 2 pairs of pants, a dress, a skirt, a scarf, sandals, a pair of earrings and a necklace. I know blogging about it and  putting it on Polyvore is probably silly, but I'm a visual person and I like seeing all the things together and recording my purchases. Seeing it all together also shows me that I need another pair of summer sandals in neutral. At this rate my gold ones from Target are going to wear out fast. 

Easter 2014

day 3

I requested fruit instead of fries but they screwed up and gave me fries and I'm weak so that happened. No time for a full workout because I had step team practice and then took Harper to Disney on Ice. She had a blast. My mom and I have taken her for the last three years and she's so adorable. She just loves it and I love watching her face as her favorite princesses skate out. 

I would LOVE to go to the gym today but I have to go to cheer practice, then pick up the girls and D is working late. Hopefully he will get home in time for me to run to the gym. Or I need to get off my lazy butt and go to the gym in the morning like Jen. But I love to sleeeeeeeeeeep. 

Tuesday

Well day two was easier. I wasnt as hungry as day one and I am proud of myself for tracking everything. I missed my afternoon snack and was STARVING by dinner and that's where the dang Sun Chips came into play. I spent 45 minutes to an hour practicing a cheerleading dance for our Faculty run pep rally and that was more of a workout than I expected. I wanted to go home and do an arm workout but I let my laziness take over. Le sigh. 

driveway shenanigans

Day 2

Starting my day off right. Packing a delicious lunch (spinach salad with chicken, strawberries and almonds) and getting my supplements and snacks together (almonds, an apple, a clif bar). Failing to plan is planning to fail and I'm so not a planner, but I'm trying.