The Best Part of Back to School and Updates

Hi.

I was able to chit chat with my mom for a few minutes last night, and she mentioned that she had to go back to school next week.  I can't decide if the summer goes by faster when I have that time off or when I have to work straight through it.

Anyway, stroll into just about any store right now, and you will find all sorts of back to school sales.  (I'm happy to say I was able to take advantage of some of them.)  As Katie and I rummaged through the sale racks this weekend, we reminisced about our favorite part of going back to school: new stuff.

A few new outfits, tennis shoes, a backpack, writing and coloring utensils, and for junior high- a trapper keeper made the prospect of going back to a classroom seem like a little less of a bummer.

The backpack I use now is the same one I had for half of my high school career, which makes me feel quite terrible that I used to want a new one for each school year when they can clearly last for over a decade.  Sorry, Mom and Dad.  I see the folly now- if only junior highers could enjoy our hindsight.

Buuuut, wasn't it such a great feeling to start out fresh with those never-before-used crayons?  (Crayola obviously.  None of that RoseArt business, please.)

(Ah- the coveted 96 count box...)

The brand new container of mechanical pencil lead refills?  The perfectly organized trapper keeper?  Lisa Frank everything?  Or that new outfit that you wished you could wear every single day?

    

(Never forget.)

Ah, sweet memories.

I went through a phase in junior high where I woke up at 5:30 or earlier every morning.  Not to get an early start on the day by exercising or reading my Bible or even to finish homework.  No, just to get ready.  If I could share a photo of what I looked like in junior high, I think I would have given you a great mystery to solve.  It makes no sense.  Why on God's great earth did I need that much time to drench my hair in gel, put it in a messy bun, and twist my bangs into little strings?

(Or something like this.)

Here's hoping that we I have a better idea of what actually looks good now.  For instance: not slathering glittery gel all over my face and neck.  Yipes.

Oh, and this is great- I used to keep a notebook to write out my outfits for each day, so that I could monitor days in between wearing the same outfit.  As if it helped my style.  

Wait- we were talking about going back to school.  Is it weird that even though I have absolutely no need to buy a single thing in the office supplies aisle, that when I see those "Back to School" signs I desperately want to pick up a brand-spanking new pack of pens?  

No, I didn't think so either.  Who doesn't want an abundance of Sharpie pens?

In other news: 

I'm late to the shindig, but Parks and Rec. is amazingly hilarious.  I love Chris Pratt a little more each day.

Thanks to Jered, MasterChef is one of my favorite shows, and I was ridiculously disappointed when I accidentally fell asleep on the couch last night and missed the first ten minutes.

Yesterday as I was getting ready for work, Jered was still sleeping, and he had a small smile on his face and looked so peaceful that he might as well have been a puppy because I thought it was the cutest thing ever.

I play The Desolation of Smaug every time I want to work on my painting project because I don't want to have to stop painting to change the movie.  Also, I just really love it.  (I'm super pleased with how the project is turning out as well, and hopefully I can share it with you soonish.)

Wondering about that cleanse?  I suppose it doesn't qualify as a cleanse unless you follow it completely, but I'm still happy with what I would call... 80% following the fish, fruits, and veggies?  For bread-loving me, I'll call that success.

Katie and I rearranged our room, and now Jered and I have a nice little rocking chair/reading corner, and I kind of love the new look.  

I felt very adult when I purchased an antique, iron vent cover at a garage sale this weekend.  It actually made me think of my house, and I got a little sentimental.  (I also felt very grown up when I bargained for the rocking chair and an entry way table.)

I need to get my sewing machine out of hiding because while Katie helped me clean out my closet this weekend, I came up with about five altering projects.

Well, I think that's about everything.  Talk to you later.

Aim