Dear Ashley,

Here is the prototype for the ruffle skirt you wanted me to make you. What do you think? (My pictures are not as high quality as the one I was copying, but I definitely got a compliment at church today.)

just a couple more

I made some yarn balls to fill the empty white bowl on our coffee table. (It used to be filled with Christmas decorations, and while I fully admit to listening to Christmas music year-round, the decorations just have to go after New Year's.)

I made a board on which to hang all of the pictures of my favorite nieces and nephews. (Don't worry guys, everyone's included.)

A pillow made out of two clearance napkins and some scrap felt. Total cost: about $.50.

And one more pillow, also made from a napkin and scrap materials. (It's a flower. Just in case you couldn't tell.)

Up next:

A slightly toned-down version of this pillow (with colors to match the color scheme in my room, of course)

This skirt: (Is it obvious yet that I love ruffles?)

And a set of individual whiteboards for my freshmen. I've been promising them for weeks to make them some, so that they can solve problems at their desks using whiteboard markers. (Because that is some how way more fun than solving problems using a pencil.) I even told them they could borrow the school's label maker to label their own boards. I'm pretty sure that makes me teacher of the year. (Or a pushover. Definitely a pushover.)

Proof I watched the Superbowl

The Steelers did not win. Joe picked me up for school the next day, anyway. (He's nice.) And he did a really good job of not being grumpy.

oh, and a couple more things

I have been decorating my room.

Like it?

I printed out a bunch of black and white pictures of DC and hung them up over my bed. And I made those curtains. (They're purple. Still trying to figure out my fancy new camera.)
Notice the bedding? I hit up the Macy's sale and bought $500 worth of bedding (coverlet, sheetset, and bedskirt) for $81. Mom, I take it back. I'm glad I inherited your inability to pass up a good sale.

And did anyone notice my nice, fancy roadbike secluded to the corner of the room behind my bed? When I bought him, the poor little guy thought that he would actually be able to explore the HUNDREDS of miles of hilly, green bike paths that Northern Virginia has to offer. He thought he'd be able to ride along the river under a canopy of trees. No such luck. He's just spinning his wheels in the corner of my room. And let me tell you, riding your bike in your room is not quite as much fun as riding along the Potomac on a sunny afternoon.

Then I made a wreath out of a book. (I proofread to make sure I wasn't destroying any hidden literary genius. Believe me, I was not.) Then I painted that book case a dark brown to match the rest of the furniture in my apartment.

what i've been up to

Making this shirt: It began as a long-sleeved blue and white striped tshirt. Now it is a blue and white striped tanktop with a nice pretty flower on the front.

Making this caridgan: It used to be a (very old - so old that Ashley wore it on her mission. yikes) and added a nice blue ruffle from scrap material. So much cuter.

Making this shirt: It used to be a long-sleeved blue shirt that I bought to wear on blue and gold spirit days. Now it is along-sleeved blue shirt with a nice ruffle on the front. (the ruffle is navy blue, not black as it may appear in the picture)

Making a purse: This one was made entirely from scratch. So cute. And small enough that I can't fill my purse with worthless crap that is completely unnecessary yet still fun to carry around. (15 varieties of lipgloss, anyone? or maybe 4 different books, just in case the first three get a litttle dull.)

Making this skirt: It used to have a very large toucan on it. (Yes, as in the giant tropical bird.) It was on clearance, and since I am my mother's daughter I could not pass up buying a $70 for $10. (Thanks a lot, mom.) I wore it once. I received lots of comments on it. I have since learned that having lots of people comment on your clothing is not always a good thing.

Making lots of fruit smoothies. Plain yogurt + frozen fruit = delicious and nutritious.

Wait, did you just say you wanted to see what these shirts look like when I wear them so you can see how much cuter they are when you put them on? Don't fear, my friends. That post will be coming soon.

it's midnight. what are you doing?

I am sitting in bed, reading a book, eating soy nuts and strawberry fruit roll-ups and drinking crystal lite fitness. And thinking about what i want to wear to school tomorrow.

I am an awesome multi-tasker.

my apologies

I certainly don't want to be that girl who brags about how much better her life is than anyone else's. But today, I have a really good reason.

We had two more snow days.

End of story.

Don't even try to tell me my life isn't awesome.

crafty

In addition to my sewing projects, I have also made one of these:

My first pattern was more simple than this one (I needed to practice) but I have four more empty journals just waiting to be folded into something awesome. (I made my first one while watching the Steelers/Jets game last night. Go Steelers. (I have to say that because my ride to school is a die-hard Steelers fan and it's a long walk to work.)

And then I am making this:

To hang in my room on the one empty wall I have left.

And then, to get back into sewing, I am going to attempt this sweater:

I have a sweater with the same general shape. I just need to alter it and add some buttons. I think I can do it. I'll try, anyway.

don't be jealous

But my 3-day weekend just turned into a 4-day weekend.

Snow days rock.

Dear Drivers of DC,

Thanks for being so bad at driving in the snow. I don't think less of you. Schoolchildren all over the DC metro area are singing your praises right now.

Love,

Poodle

ps

After looking into things, it was actually Kate Spade who wanted me to buy that first tank. And she wanted me to pay way more than $50. Silly girl.

adventures in sewing

Look what I made yesterday!!

Awesome, huh? Anthro wanted me to pay at least $50 for it. They clearly have never met me. Otherwise they would know how ridiculous that is.

Instead, I took a blue and white striped tshirt (purchased for $5 at the Gap 3 years ag0) that I hadn't worn in about 1.5 years. I cut the sleeves off, sewed them on the front of the shirt, and viola!! So cute.

Next, I think I'm going to make this one:

Except I'm going to use a royal blue long sleeved tshirt with some navy blue ribbon that I have from a skirt I bought 5 years ago that really looks much better without the ribbon. (You're going to have to trust me on this one.)

Before you know it, I'm going to have a whole new wardrobe without buying a thing!! (Besides a sewing machine, that is.... Thanks, mom!)

3-day weekend

Oh, how I love thee.

I am sleeping in tomorrow. (Probably really, really late. Seems that nothing can keep me awake these days. Not even The Bachelor! It's disgraceful.)

Then I am celebrating Jonathan's birthday.

Then I am making a skirt, a dress, a pillow, and a shirt. (Maybe a bit ambitious for one day? No problem! Because it's a 3-day weekend! So I have Monday, too!)

Or I may get a massage and a facial. Who knows?! The possibilities are endless.

Oh, the glory of federal holidays.

fyi

five people voted on my super awesome texting poll.

every person responded differently.

you guys are no help at all.

want to see the coolest thing ever?

Yeah, I thought so.

You can take a poll with your cell phone! (In my class, they're actually quizzes, not polls, but whatever.) So every kid can text in their answer, and since their answers are linked to their cell phones, I can see who responded correctly and who did not.

Now, suddenly, quizzes are fun! (Who knew teenagers were so easily tricked? Oh, wait. I did.) And, delight of all delights, they are allowed to use their cell phone during class. Remarkable.

You can either click on your preferred answer, OR send a text to 36707 with your preferred response in the body of the text. (Don't worry. It's free)

If you choose the scarf, text the code 10543

If you choose jeans, text the code 20833

If you choose a skirt, text 20838

If you choose a purse, text 25600

Jewelry 25728.

SO. TOTALLY. AWESOME. (If you're a teacher anyway.)

anyone want to hear a great story?

Okay, so maybe it's only a great story if you're not me. But whatever.

So remember how I got such an awesome deal on my flight home that I got to spend eight whole days playing with these little kids? Well, if you forgot, let me brag just one more time that I got quite possibly the best price on a holiday flight in the history of holiday flights. Hehe.

Unfortunately, all good vacations must come to an end. I arrived at Reagan National Airport at 1 am. My keys did not arrive at Reagan National Airport. They stayed behind on the Peterson's counter. (That's the awesome part of the story)

Luckily, I am friends with a lot of superheroes, so I had a slumber party with Stefi (yay for Stefi!)

Then I fell into a deep dark pit called the Flu. (Don't worry guys. Everything turned out okay. I am still alive.)

how was your new year?

Mine was pretty stinkin awesome.

I had the flu (or something that was 50% headache, 50% fatigue, and 50% congestion.) So instead of going out, I stayed in and watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. (Parts I and II, for those of you who were wondering. Which is probably all of you.)

And I made a wreath out of a book! It looks much like this:

I think it is beautiful. And it only cost me $1!!! (Oh, how I love a great deal.)

I also made a yarn wreath (mostly because I was envious of the yarn wreaths all over Bethany's house.) It is also beautiful.

So remember when I pretended to hate crafts? I lied.

Happy New Year!

christmas cheer is alive

in Pentagon City.

See, I was just standing in line purchasing stocking stuffers for those family members who are not so great at purchasing stocking stuffers. (I won't say who. That would just be rude. But I'm pretty sure we all know who I'm talking about.)

So. Back to my story. I am standing in line, and the man in front of me bought my items for me!!!

Okay, so really he had spent so much money the store was allowing him to buy extra stuff for free, so technically he didn't buy my stocking stuffers. But I also didn't have to buy them.

So yay for the Christmas Spirit.

school's out!

Well, not quite. We still have one day left. But at 10:30 today, an announcement was made over the intercom system that, due to snow, school would close at noon.

Yay!

Except now my students think that they don't have to stay for the rest of class. Or act even remotely attentive.

Dear Delta Airlines,

In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer, I just wanted you to know that I love you with all my heart. Thank you for having a mega-sale on holiday flights. You rock.

Love,

Poodle

30

I am officially 30, guys. (Don't tell Santa. He might stop coming to my house, and that would be catastrophic.)

All in all, though, turning 30 was pretty fun. My coworkers bought me a cotton candy machine (which I have used more times than I care to admit). My mom bought me a sewing machine (thanks mom!), Katelyn bought me a gingerbread house mold (guess what I'm doing when I go home for Christmas!) and I finished off the evening with Thai food.

PS - Remember how last year I made a list of 30 things I wanted to accomplish before I turned 30? Yeah. Me too. That's all.