Where have I been?

Here!

 That's my classroom for first quarter. I'll be back with more regularity once school gets underway!

Afters: A Crafty Space

Remember this space?

The more I thought about it, the more I thought that this enormous storage space was wasted on storage. About 8x8 or 8x9, I thought I could put it to better use. So I came up with a plan. And now, it's finally finished. I utilized every bit of space, and put up screens to hide the furnace and water heater. So, without further ado:

The left-hand wall is all peg board, I just don't have any pegs yet, or anything to hang on it, but it's ready! The storage on the left is from Michael's, bought with 40 and 50% off coupons. The rug was re-purposed from the pre-orange office, and the chair is surprisingly comfortable from IKEA.

The cork is from Amazon, and I like that pop that the darker colored cork gives off the all-white space. It's also the perfect spot to hang my quick-reference cards for my Slice die cutter.

Taking a relaxation break

I need a break. I spend a good 4-5 hours daily searching for jobs, double checking resumes, writing cover letters, sending emails, and obsessively checking employment websites.

I'm tired.

Back in February, when I was mired deep in the throes of surviving a very unique and sometimes difficult school year, Hubs and I decided we needed to take a break. A weekend trip, maybe up to the north shore, or just even to downtown Saint Paul, a place to relax and chill.

For some reason, it never came.

Now, with this job stress? I'm feeling like I need it more than ever.

Any suggestions, particularly from you MN girls?

Goals! Just for a week though.

Now that summer school is finally over, I have two weeks of summer vacation before school starts up for teachers. I report on the 30th for my first full day of workshop.

That means I only have two weeks to really crank some things out, and I have two weeks to get my blogging back on track.

So, without further ado, here's what I hope to get up on the ole' blog this week:

Pictures of the nearly completed sweatshop
pictures of a still in progress, but much better outdoors
pictures of my completed craft room
a new recipe attempt
and maybe, just maybe an update on 101 in 1001

stay tuned!

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.

I love fall. About this time of year, I'm usually itching for the end of summer, waiting to get moving into cooler weather, apple orchards and a nerdy love of school supplies.

As an unemployed teacher, I'm greedily wanting more summer. More summer equals more time to find a position, logically. Right?

But, sadly, we're down to two weeks before workshop starts, and I'm starting to have lost hope. sad.

I'm a good teacher. I want my own room.

thanks for indulging me in my little self-pity party.

We'll return to our regular, happy go lucky posting next week. We have a ton of house pictures to show off!

bonus: what's the title quote from? 

we'll be right back

Last week of summer school = busy me! I'm still here, and I'll be back soon, I swear!

head, shoulders, knees and toes.

I have a bruise on my back. (Well, not literally). I love my husband. I adore him. I wouldn't trade him for anything.

His elbows, on the other hand?

(not Hubs' elbows)

Hubs has taken to sleeping at night, scrunched down in the bed with his elbows out to either side. I've woken up with elbows in my back, face, side and once, in my eye socket, that was a close call. 

Since he's practically perfect in every other way, I'll learn to live, but man, this has me thinking we need a king-sized bed!