Mint On the Brain

Spring is here! I have been in the process of switching my winter clothes out for lighter clothes. I always "forget" about the clothes I wore a year ago and have a hard time putting together outfits at the start of a season. Anyone else have that problem? Just my weirdness? Ok, great.

In honor of spring I decided to put together a little post of my favorite spring color. You guessed it...mint! I was perusing my pinboards on Pinterest and noticed a defining trend in this lovely spring color.

 These pretty glass jars. This is exactly what I am envisioning for our wedding for flowers/decor.

 This beautiful mint bathroom vanity of my dreams!

 Yes! I looove these mint pants. Not sure I have the frame for them but they look lovely on this lady.

I would totally make this bookshelf. When I have my own home, I'm definitely doing it!

 This would be the most perfect dress for teaching during those awkwardly warm months at the end of the year.

 Love these strappy mint sandals

I would feel 1,000 times cooler if I had these headphones. Unfortunately they are $60 and from Urban Outfitters. A girl can dream, right?! LOVE!

Maybe these aren't the best for spring, but I do love these mint moccasins!

Swoon! This mint mantle is perfect. It's a thrifted antique and even comes it a DIY!  

Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh! I neeeed this dress! It's a beaut, isn't it?! You seriously don't get any better than lace AND mint in one dress.

Ok ok, to be honest, I recently found my OWN perfectly perfect mint lace dress. I happened upon Forever 21 when this beauty about smacked me in the face. My jaw LITERALLY dropped because when I saw it I knew it was meant for me. I don't have any decent pictures of me IN the dress because Kevin gives me weird looks when I try to take a picture of myself. Instead I did it in secrecy while Kevin was driving in the car with my phone. Not the best shots, but you'll get the idea. 

 I love it because it's long enough to wear without tights (those dresses are IMPOSSIBLE to find these days) and the top is just perfect. I want to wear it everyday. Sigh.

There you have it! My current love affair with MINT. (Don't tell turquoise, whatever you do...)

P.S. COME BACK TOMORROW FOR SOME EXCITING $#@&!!!

Life Lately

I had myself a nice and relaxing spring break. It felt rather unproductive until this weekend, but I was able to relax and read and get some things done around the house. Here is a glimpse into my last few weeks. [Warning: photo overload coming your way.]

I've been spending a lot of time on the patio reading as of late! (I finished The Help! Read my review here.)

I have been WAITING and WAITING for grapes to come into the grocery stores around here. This week I finally found some good ones and I will admit I'm onto my 2nd bag :).

I also bought a whole pineapple for the first time and I will never go back! It was sooo much better than the canned stuff. I know, I don't know why I sound so surprised. Yum yum yum.

The spiders are starting to creep in on my territory! Bleh!

Seriously, how does every wedding magazine/advertisement guide/photographer/venue find me?! I get so much damn wedding mail!

Went on a road trip to Webster City with Brian and Kevin over St. Patty's Day!

It was sooo nice out! We played ladder golf and drank a few. This was Brian winning and Kevin losing.

Any excuse to wear green shoes!

Came home and enjoyed some nice weather "laying out" (sans swimsuit) on the patio reading my book.

And then it was my spring break! Unfortunately, it rained. A lot.

 And stormed. I enjoy a good thunderstorm.

 So I read inside.

 I made breakfast for supper a few times this week. I just love breakfast for supper!

I got my ring cleaned at the jeweler! I looove when I ring is sparkly!

Kevin and I had a weekend long date and it was glorious! Friday night we went to a local wine bar for some live music.

I went shopping! But didn't buy anything. Kevin won a gift card to the mall at work and he is giving it to me :) but it won't come till next week. I was just scoping out my assault on Forever 21! Here are some of the dresses I tried on but painfully didn't buy. I also thought I'd photograph them to see if I still want them when I go back next week!

This is what I wore shopping :)

 We grilled out all weekend and had a nice dinner out on the patio. It was so nice out!

It was actually hot enough and I had enough outdoor time that I had to go buy SUNSCREEN! So exciting. I got a little color this weekend :)

I made a delicious veggie stir fry! I pretty much don't really like vegetables (except peas and raw carrots, and potatoes, everyone loves potatoes) so I went outside of my comfort zone and I must say I loved this! I would have added chicken but I was of course too impatient and too hungry to be bothered with that.

There you have it! It's been a wonderful few weeks but it was good to head back to the classroom today. I didn't realize how much I missed the kiddos! It was great to interact with them again and hear about their breaks.

This week I'll be subbing by day and working out by night. Hoping to get 8 miles in this week on top of boot camp! The extra running seemed to pay off last week so I'm hoping to keep it up again this week! I'm feeling great!

Hope you all have a great week!

It's In The Details

Before I begin, I want to start by saying I think it's annoying when girls take a bajillion pictures of themselves in the mirror with their phone, making pouty faces and throwing up peace signs. Bear with me as I contradict myself...a little. I admire fashion bloggers with cameras on a tripod and a clicker that allows them to pose and snap. They can take pictures of themselves without bothering anyone to snap awkward pictures to showcase their own personal style. All I have is an iPhone. And I'm prepared to use it.

This is one of those outfits that came about by chance and I fell in love with. The only people that ever see my outfits are my two male roommates and 25 first graders. Neither care. However, maybe you care to see the pretty outfit I put together? You do?

 The beauty is in the details

Skirt: Target
Shirt, Cardigan, and Necklace: Forever 21
Boots: Kohls
Earrings: Handmade by me!

I have only one one other outfit post, and you can see it here (Ha! I have the same hesitation on the outfit posts in that post). I always feel a little awkward about this, but I think I may step out of my comfort zone and snap some more pictures of outfits I really love.

You can view the blogs of some of my favorite fashion bloggers here:
Little Chief Honeybee
Love Elycia
Snunkboy Creatures
Love Maegan

Winter Rears It's Ugly Head

I am a pretty "green" individual-- I request paper over plastic at Fareway, and I recycle all I can. I must say, however, I was not all that sad about the effects of global warming in Iowa. I'm talking 60 degree weather in December, going on outside runs in January. Well, mother nature finally caught up with us and it's finally winter in Iowa. 

Don't get me wrong, I love living in a climate that experiences all four seasons. I don't think I'd be happy in a place that was tropical all year round (Ok, I'd be happy for awhile. Until Christmas.) If I could pick the weather, I'd choose 6 months of fall, 3 months of summer, 2.5 months of spring, and I could maybe handle about two weeks of winter. Enough to go sledding, make a snowman, have a snowball fight, declare a snow day, and shoo the children away from the yellow snow.

I was a lucky girl this Christmas and stocked up on winter gear. My mom got me this lovely scarf that is huge and fluffy and so warm. My grandparents got me the hat and gloves, which might have been a few of my favorite Christmas gifts. I have had an irrational desire to have the kind of gloves where the top can flap over and button for a long time now. I finally got them! I have also wanted a hat with the flaps on the sides and a poofy ball on top (I know I'm  23 years old, get off my back!) I also got some new snow boots! I was in love with my old pair and they lasted through about 3 years of walking to and from class and work through college. Now I have some recess boots (I'm glad I kept them, mom!)

We're halfway through January and winter has found us. I guess it's time I gear up for lots of layers, an extra ten minutes in the morning to scrape my car, looking for snow delays in the morning, and stressful driving conditions. And maybe a snow day or two filled with hot chocolate by the fire and frolicking in the snow :)