Sunday, September 25, 2011

Joyeaux Anniversaire

 Shoes: J Crew via DownEast / Tank & Cardi: J Crew final sale / Capris: Gap ($12!) / Purse: Deux Luxe / Necklace: Ruche

So, my computer thought it was prime time to crash. With half my unfinished 30x30 and Europe photos and several others documenting our summer fun.  Lovely, lovely, lovely.

The good news is that I've been comforting myself with Strawberry Champagne Almond cupcakes. The recipe's at the bottom of this post, if you're interested in such delectable distractors.


Up top are shots from after the crash. It was my birthday. Yes, I get to have my birthday during my favorite month which heralds in my favorite season. And this year, I got to spend it in Utah with some of my favorite people. We went to pay our last respects to Scott's dear, sweet grandmother, and had such a wonderful time with his family. 

For my birthday there was sleeping in then picnicking with the family {I just love them!} at Sliding Rock, a bona fide water slide in the mountains. It's glacier water, people, so it was cold, but so worth it. Even the Hound enjoyed herself.  I think.


There was also shopping. The Husband surprised me with a gift card to DownEast, my favorite little shop that sells irregular, damaged, or overstocked items from some of my favorite brands. ONE pair of cornflower blue J Crew shoes, in my exact size, was waiting just for me. For $29.99. With a few scuffs on the sole, but otherwise spanking new. There was also a lovely teal coat with an extra button on the tag to replace the one that was missing. They knew it was my birthday, obviously. 

Then there were turkey & brie sandwiches on delightful cranberry walnut bread and a birthday cupcake named after Cinderella, my fav princess, from Flour Girls & Dough Boys. This, of course, led to a picnic up the Timpanogos canyon in my new shoes, because they're so practical for hiking. There I was graced with my first glimpses of beautiful fall color. 


And what blogger birthday would be complete without thrifting? So, of course, there was also a trip to the DI with my sister-in-law where much fun was had and I found 2 fall-colored midi-skirts for $5 each and a $5 silk blouse to go with them. I never find good silk blouses when I thrift. Never. Then I found a brand new pair of Ann-Taylor dark emerald cords. For $6. Icing on the cake, people. The DI obviously knew it was my birthday, too.

I got to end the night playing cards with family and being sang to by the cutest nieces and nephews ever. They kept reminding me that it was my birthday, all smiley and proud. What a perfect day!

We had to go home the next day, and as we passed through the salt flats, moving into the dessert, Ms. Hound expressed her displeasure at being trapped in the back by our new hound hammock / seat protector, I finally remembered to take a photo of the sign for Deeth Starr Valley, the Husband and Hound stretched their legs as we headed up Doherty mountain, and then we were back home. Another year gone, just like that.


P.S. Photoshop and Carbonite are on my to-do list. And I've already ordered a replacement computer. The blog will go on! Just give me time :)

P.P.S. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my dear husband and Utah family for such a marvelous birthday!

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Joyeaux Anniversaire = Happy Birthday
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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Color Me Crazy

Coral Capris: Gap ($8!) / Top: B Moss / Shoes: Asos / Belt, Necklace: J Crew final sale / Earrings, Bracelet: Gabes (Monet, Kissaka)

My brain is far too frazzed to create a proper post. {Remember? I'm teaching 4 different courses this year. All of which I've never before taught. Yes, that's 4 preps for 4 new courses. And because class sizes are so lovely and large, I have over 180 students. There are 44 freshmen in just my first period. I must be mental.}

Thus, you get a list:

1. Gap is having an amazing sale right now. Extra 40% off sale items = $8 colored capris.

2.  Refer to the introduction { yes, teaching is always on my brain these days...if my conclusion / final paragraphs summarizes this list, please disregard it...} for one reason I've still yet to finish my Europe and 30x30 posts, which I began in June.

3. A second reason is this:  I found I've already used over half my allotted free space for my blog because my photos are evidently gi-flipping-normous. Half, and I've only been blogging since March. April, really. When I tried to make them smaller with Picnik, they got all weird. Not sure why. I don't know anything about photos, actually.

4. I've ordered Photoshop with my fab-dab-abulous teacher discount! Now I just have to find time to learn to use it...any recommendations for a fab reference guide?

5 Till I do so, I'm a bit afraid to continue posting. Will I have to go back and re-do all the photos in prior posts in smaller sizes? Probably. Do I have time for that? No, certainly not right now. All this is despite the fact that I've got half a 30x30 to finish and an entire summer to blog... I guess for now I'll just learn to cut the photo size, tweak it a bit, and start posting again with that. Once my school schedule slows down, that is. Till then, we'll continue with this glacial snail of a posting pace and it's very possible I'll still be posting summer outfits when it begins to snow.  Thrilling.

6. Since my posts have few and far between, I figured I'd better go all out for this one. So I combined coral, color blocking, and colored pants into one outfit. Three trends with one outfit. Then I threw in an apple tree for good measure. I'm a teacher, yo. And apples are in right now.  Wham. BAM. 

Everybody, Everywear | Colored Pants

Fin.*

P.S. Do you remember The Odyssey? That wretched, confusing tale we all had to read back in the day? Check out here what brilliant things students are doing with it today. Ah, thank heavens for silver linings :)

P.P.S. I've been consigning at my fav little local shop. And it's super fun. Last week, I got an uber cute little plaid wool blazer from Ralph Lauren, two wool jumpers from Ann Taylor, and a darling Banana Republic dress, all for only $12 after my credit and the current sale were processed. Can't wait to show you!

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*Fin = End { The Frenchies don't add the "The."}
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