Taylor Swift...

Lately i have been really obsessed with Taylor Swift.... If you didn't already know that about my personality i am a bit obsessive and get stuck on kicks quite easily. I have been really into her music.. it just makes me smile... But more importantly i have been really into her Hair accessories... So yesterday i bought myself a very early Christmas Present... Merry Christmas to me and to T Swift.

The first pick is of T Swift wearing the headband... The second is of the headband up close.... Don't worry i am not going to wrap it around my head like that

What have you bought yourself for Christmas?

So continues my love of QVC...

I know i admitted my love of QVC early this year when i purchased my faux fur Rachel Zoe Vest. Well it continues. I have been wanting something in a tartan or christmas plaid to wear for the holidays. I loved the J crew Wrap dress a couple of years ago in Tartan plaid tafetta and well to be quite honest have be searching for it substitute ever since. I was watching the New Issac Mizrahi collection for QVC on Sunday night ( don't judge)... When it appeared. A tafettta Plaid Party skirt... Perfect for Christmas Eve. What do you think... with Black tights, and a black silk top and cute jewelry... Don't you think i will be a hit.

Thankful.....

I have so many things to be thankful for this thanksgiving.......

1. My amazing completely dysfunctional family

New Orleans Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Birmingham Cousins and Siblings

2. Wonderful Friends






3. The cutest dog in the whole world.... James Brown






4. A whole week off from school.... Jealous




5. Going to New Orleans to see these stinkers....



6. Going to New Orleans to see my best Friend ( seen below at her Med School Graduation)

Oh yeah she's my sister too!

7. My two little monster's that will arrive in the new year!!! I can't wait to be an Aunt and I am definitely thankful for the opportunity! Thanks Kitty and Tucker

Confession

I need to confess something..... and i would like to not be judged for it......

I am completely obsessed with these..........................

Not to mention him

and i also have a small Girl crush on her.....

So that all to say.... I am pretty pumped for Friday..... I bought my tickets weeks ago!!!!

Bring it on .... New Moon!

Auburn Football......

The Wall Street Journal recently did an article on how Fraternities are fighting to keep their seats at Auburn Football games. If you are an Auburn Alum you know that the Fratters always had the best seats and the pledges to save them for them. I find this story very entertaining. I know it has caused an uproar that fraternities get preferential seating at football games. But to be quite honest it always always nice to know you had somewhere to sit.... even if you happened to get covered in Bourbon after an exciting play.

and also .... its not just fraternities that get block seating at games.... Any University organization is illegible for block seats.... They are handed out based on the amount of spirit points each organization accrues over the year.

Here is the article.......


BTW... The boy they are talking about most of the article is my sorority advisers son



War Eagle............ Beat those Dawgs

Who Dat ?

Let's Hear it for the Saints.....









I am not really into professsional sports, but you've got to cheer for the saints!!!
Check out my cousin Julie's Blog! It sounds like the city was really alive yesterday!!!

Double the Fun

So it has gone facebook and blogworld as of yesterday.... so i know i won't be spoiling the surprise but my sister in law is pregnant with twins!!! We are beside ourselves with excitment. These two wonderful babies will be the first grandchildren on our side and I know my parents are both incredibly excited to become a grandparent. I have no doubt that i will easily be these two's favorite aunt, because well i am SOOOO much fun and my sister does not live in town. So I will get more time to brainwash them. Prayers are much appreciated as things with twins can always be tricky. It is crazy how much i love these two little tadpoles and don't even know them. Heres to Double the fun come March or April!!!

MCB

Bribery...... the trick to my sanity.

For all those non- teachers out there. I want to let you in on all elementary teachers personal hell... October thru December. We celebrate and talk about holidays from no till we get out for Christmas. The kids are on one big sugar high until Januray. The holiday season has officially kicked off and while we are not able to actually celebrate Halloween, I do have some tricks up my sleeve to ensure that i make it out of this week alive.

First off Let me introduce you to my classroom rules.

Pretty easy right?...... Wrong!

Here is my behavior managment system......( take notice of where the clothespins all are) If they break a rule they move their clip. Easy right? Wrong!

In order to earn this.........

You must keep your clip on Green all week.

This doesn't seem that hard, but considering the defiant personalities i have ... it has proved to be quite difficult for a few. I have had melt downs over these mini pumpkins by a few, but overall my children are behaving like sweet angels this week, at the chance to decorate and take home there very own baby pumpkin. Here's hoping they still care tomorrow! Happy Halloween!

**** You would not believe how many of my students had never touched a real pumpkin... SAD

garage sales

So one of my absolute favorite things to do on Saturday mornings is to go to Garage sales. My mother has an excellent eye and is known to find the best deals. If you come in my house I can probably point out at least 100 things i have bought at a garage sale. This saturday was not a dissappointment. I found a corner cabinet for $70. I love the cabinet, and seems to fit perfectly in the corner of my dining room? What do you think?

Carving pumpkins

On a scale of 1 to 10 how hard do you think it would be to carve pumpkins like these????

I really love them , but do not know if I have the time/ patience to figure this out!






Today is the first day it has felt like fall. I am happily sporting a sweater , jeans, and cowboy boots and do not look at all ridiculous. Happy Weekend!

Did i tell you my bff's hubs is a Celebrity?

Meet Mac Russell..... The new Executive Chef at Standard Bistro. I feel so cool knowing him. So if you are in the area and looking for a great meal. This is your place!!!! Take a look at the menu here it looks fabulous and like he said in a recent article... he is trying to " spank your taste buds".

Jambalaya, crawfish pie, filet gumbo

So it is a miserably soggy night here in Birmingham.... So i thought i would make some Jambalaya. Nothing is so comforting as a big pot of rice, seasoning, chicken, and sausage. My Aunt Cathie recently shared recipe with me that is so good and so easy! It is literally a dump everything in the pot and bake recipe( my favorite kind). So if you are looking for something easy and yummy to cook as the weather turns chilly, this is sure to satisfy!

JAMBALAYA for 25

4 cups Uncle Ben's white rice

2 cans consomme or bouillon

2 cans French onion soup16 oz. can tomato sauce

1/2 stick of butter

2 lbs. sausage

4-5 boneless chicken breasts, uncooked, cubed

Tony Chachere or Louisiana spice seasoning
Mix all the ingredients together.

Cover and bake for 2 hrs. in 350 degree oven.

What is on my bedside table......

This is a list of books on my bedside table. I hope that by writing these down i might be more inclined to actually read them .

HA! we will see! Have a great Thursday!

Big Plans...

Well not really, but Aunt and Uncle are stopping through on their way to North Carolina tonight. So we are having an impromptu family gathering! I love when they come to visit, because it usually means that I will get a good meal out of it. Tonight will not disappoint. We are heading to Chez Fon Fon one of my all time favorite Birmingham hot spots. Not to mention they have my favorite drink ever.

Behold the Orange Thing

It is amazing! And i suggest that you all go have one immediately! Happy Wednesday!

Things for Fall Part 2

Here are a few more things that I have recently purchased for fall!!!!

Neckalace--Anthropologie ( of course) Bangle( Anthropolgie Again)

Perfect fall dress!!!!

Happy Monday!

I know it's not halloween, but.....

My kids have been off the chain crazy this week. They have been running around like crazy people for the last few days. So yesterday i informed them i would not be at school tomorrow.... Viola Swamp would be coming in my place. Viola Swamp is a literary character that is known to children as the meanest substiute in all the world. You would have thought I had cussed at them, because they looked at me with mouths wide open. This morning i showed up in a full witch outfit and have been acting very STRICT with them. They have not spoken a word in 2 hours. HA HA HA

Happy Halloween

****For those of you who do not know who viola swamp is. She is a character from the book :Miss Nelson is Missing

I also have a child in tears any time i look at her. It is so funny.... I am definitley going to have to call her mom today and let her know what is going on! I don't want her to get the wrong idea.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S

So my favorite bravo celebrity( minus NENE from the RHOA) has started a small fashion line devoted to her favorite thing! Don't Worry it isn't real fur! Rachel Zoe welcome to the runway.... Can't wait for my fur vest to arrive! You know i pre-ordered it! Don't Judge.

"I Die"

Things I have purchased for fall part 1

Ok So i have a bit of a shopping addiction. This comes as NO surprise to anyone who has even only briefly met me. So i have compiled a list of things i have purchased for fall. This is Part I, I am doing this to primarily to hold myself accountable. So all of you know what i have bought and you also know i don't need anything else. OK ... Understand.... Got it.
First up we have this lovely sweater from Antrhopologie. It was on sale! Perfect fall color!

This sweater is also another Anthro find... not on sale... but by the time it goes on sale they won't have it anymore. That's how i justify it! Isn't great!
I have been wanting some gladiator heels, but not wanting to spend a fortune. I found these at kohl's they are simply vera wang brand and they are surprisingly comfortable.

Another Anthro purchase. It looks great layered and is an awesome color for year round wear.

And finally my minnie pants. Mine are not J Crew they are Michael Kors. They are seriously the most comfortable pants i have ever worn. I own them in brown, black ,and gray!

So this is part1, i hope you think i made good purchases. I will be back with part 2 later this week! Happy shopping! oh and officially Happy Fall ! Let's go buy some Pumpkins!

If he goes missing.....

You Know where he is Julie?

I mean how can you not smile looking at this child.

(this pic is stolen from my cousing julie's blog and this is her precious 8 month old)

So here's what we came up with?

Ok, so this pic was taken from a phone because i forgot my camera. I had high hopes of documenting all steps to making this arrrangement, but then i decided to take a nap and had to throw this together in a matter of minutes. The arrangment is done in a copper pot. I used sunflowers, zinnias, lemon basil ( all bought at pepper place) and caladiums and rosemary cut out of my yard. The look i was going was for a casual table with hints of summer. This is my farewell to summer arrangement!!! I hope you like it! I think its a little different from my usual style!!! Hope you had a great weekend! WAR EAGLE
MCB

My Passion

So I am not in Charleston this weekend do to the death of my bestie's sweet Mimi! So instead i will be in attendance of a lovely dinner party tomorrow night at the home of my sweet friends Ellie and Charles. I love to entertain..... It is such a high to come up with a design plan and execute it. I love to have people in my house, but here is a secret. I rarely cook? I will spend hours arranging flowers and picking out the perfect table linens, but when it comes to cooking the meal well i just don't have what it takes. That's why Ellie and I are the perfect team. She is an amazing chef. She whips up the most fabulous, gourmet meals and she makes it look so easy.
So as i was asking Ellie what i could bring tomorrow night, I immediately thought, I will bring something I can do to the party. So tomorrow night I am bringing the centerpiece. Now I am in no way skilled or trained in flower arranging, it really is just a hobby that i pull out at showers, holidays, and birthdays. I started going though my pictures to decide what i should do for my arrangement tomorrow night and i started to realize something. I definitely have a certain style. Almost all of my arrangements look the same. So i am going to try something new tomorrow night and I will be back on Sunday with the details! Wish me luck! I am also going to try to use only flowers i have growing in my yard or that i can buy at the farmer's market. So that should be interesting.

Working for the Weekend!

Substitute Hired (check)

Lesson Plans Typed (check)

Copies Made( check)

Guess what i am looking forward to.......

A long weekend with great friends in an equally great city.

Oh Yeah and we are celebrating one of my oldest friends and childhood next door neighbor's 25th Birthday!

Happy Birthday Ash!

Charleston here we come!!!!

If anyone has great suggestions for places to eat or go I would love to know! We are always up for something new !

MCB

Falling

To kick off Fall here are some of my favorite things for fall... some are not all that new or trendy! But i think they are MUST Haves!


Red shoes! I mean everyone should have a pair!


A statement necklace! Go to Forever 21 to find a great one for under $10

The pixie pant! It looks great with flats and heels and in Alabama it can be worn well into winter!

Linconln Park aftter Dark! My favorite fall nail polish!

Alright, I need to admit something to you. One of my tragic flaws is that i " rush the season". I have a huge problem waiting to wear a great new sweater or wonderful sundress( depending on the season) . So if you see me wandering around Birmingham in a wool sweater you will know why. Goodbye summer! HELLO Fall!