What did I do this weekend?

A little of everything!  I worked my first shift at Children's Place on Saturday and I cannot wait to get started!  I work my first shift on Wednesday and while I have never worked retail I know it is going to be crazy!  But I cannot wait!  I don't get a ton of social interaction with babysitting so I can't wait to be able to talk to lots of people!

In addition I did lots of crafting!  I have lots of necklaces to make and I love it!  Of course I get a little frustrated when the stamp won't hit right, and it is easy to mess up and for an OCD perfectionist like me that is not going to work!  So I think I tend to be a bit more picky than most people would be, but that is a good thing!

{not the best pictures I know!  I took them really quickly and in horrible light!}

I also made the cutest shirts for some of the kids from church.  How precious are they?  The kids put them on right away and they just looked super cute in them!  I love it!





Of course, then my mom had started taking out a lot of the Christmas stuff which I wanted to put up but I have been going non-stop that it was hard!  So I put some of it out!  I still have more orders to make, Christmas presents to wrap, and e-bay items to ship!  And of course that little thing called school!  haha.  Which, I am very excited because I am almost done for the semester and then God willing I will be off to Australia in January!! 

I know the next two months are going to go by so quickly I just hope I can get everything done!  But I apologize for my lack of commenting!  Three days this week I was overnight babysitting where I didn't have Internet access :)  Have a terrific week!

It really is the attitude that makes the outfit!

Sometimes orange crocs just tie it all together!

Holiday Crunch

Is anyone else feeling the holiday crunch?  Honestly I had no idea Thanksgiving was next week until yesterday!!  I felt almost out of the loop when I found out!  How on earth can next week be Thanksgiving {at least for us USA people :)}.  Thankfully- I really am almost done my Christmas shopping.  I got a pretty early start and while I still need to make a lot of things, most of my shopping is done!

How did I finally find out that Thanksgiving was next week?  I went pavement pounding at the mall!  And apparently, as the lady at customer service told me, most stores have already hired for holiday help.  Of course, I thought that was really early to be full but nope, obviously not!!  Now most people I have told this to ask me when on earth I am going to actually  have time to work but I have decided for the next two months until I leave for Australia {January 23rd in case you were wondering!} I am not going to sleep!  I mean I'll have lots of time to sleep on the plane flight!  ;)  {sadly, I really don't sleep on planes- I wish!}.

BUT after I went into Children's Place and they hired me on the spot!  Seriously, I did not expect it to be that easy!  I am super excited!  I wanted somewhere I would personally not be tempted to spend money and since 1. I don't have any children {biologically at least, I have a ton I consider to be "mine" :)} 2. I can't wear the clothes I think I will be good on not spending money there!  Now hopefully they can just give me some hours!  I will still be doing all of my other jobs- this will be my night one :)

Now, if only school could be over for the semester!  I have a very {very, very etc.} bad case of senioritis.  Plus I am sure going to do my internship in Australia doesn't help me very much!

p.s. go check out Pickle Pickle Design Studio from Melissa over at  The Duncan Dialogues.  She has opened her own blog & etsy designs and she is the one who did my fabulous blog makeover!

Animal "Bracelets" ?

Okay, so I am sure that middle Tennessee is not the only place in the country that is not the only place in the country that the kids are going crazy for these animal bracelets!  Which if you have not heard are really just rubber bands, office supply rubber bands, that they keep on their wrists.

I first heard about them back in May when the whole trend started at the girl's cheerleading place {the girls I babysit for} and since then the kids have been going crazy for them!!  The stores cannot even keep them in stock!  Now all of the elementary kids are wearing them and even preschoolers have them!

The good thing about them? You can buy a pack of four for between $4.99-$5.99 {of course the price has gone up!}.  The funniest thing about them is the kids call certain ones "rare," which is beyond me because they come in a pack of 24 and you get 4 of each type.  Although there is another brand that sells them from Japan for $8.99 and they are a little more rare because they are a different brand.

One store that carries them here has actually put a limit {4} on how many you can buy.  I think I need to buy a few packs for "bribes" :) or just if they are being good!  It is funny because sometimes the kids will give me one and I keep them on my wrists and then they want to trade with me!  Adorable.  I just think the whole trend is hilarious and wonder where else in the country the kids are going crazy for the animal bracelets!

If you don't know what they are check out Silly Bandz which has the original ones or Amazon for the Japan and other ones.  The is what the kids have told me they want me to get them for Christmas!  I wonder how long the trend will last :)  Does anyone remember Pogs?

Gift Ideas?

As everyone knows the holiday season is quickly approaching!  I always have a really hard time of deciding what to give people.  I want to make everything meaningful and not just something I grabbed off the shelf.  I think I tend to overthink gift giving [like I do a lot of things!] and so I have definitely started early this year to not get too stressed about it!  I actually purchased some gifts back in August at Lauren Nicole Gifts & just purchased a few at Molly Lou Gifts.  I love what both of them have to offer, definitely more unique then just going to the mall!

My favorite thing going on right now?  Over at Sew, Mama, Sew they have the third Handmade Holidays going on for the entire month of November.  Each day has tutorials and ideas of gifts that you can make!  The best thing is most of these gifts are things people would spend good money to buy at the store and it can give you some great ideas for people on your list!  Each day has a "theme," today is go but they have had sleep, go green, read, play etc.  So many ideas for everyone!


In addition to trying to figure out what I am going to give everyone I am starting to listen to Christmas music!  I absolutely LOVE Christmas music.  Sugarland came out with a holiday CD this year  called "Gold and Green."  I have downloaded some of the tracks on iTunes and I love them.  I think my favorite is "Little Wood Guitar."  Also,  Chris Tomin has an amazing new Christmas CD called Glory in The Highest.  It is probably one of the best Christmas CDs I have ever heard.  I definitely suggest you check them out. 

Anyone have any other good holiday music or gift ideas?  I hope you have a fabulous weekend!  I will be taking my Praxis [ahh!] & writing a paper [no fun!].

Psst... want to know a secret?

I really am scared about this whole Praxis II thing!  I was studying tonight and I swear I feel like I don't know any of it and will get everything wrong.  Why do standardized tests make people so nervous?  And honestly, when will I ever need to know this by heart?  Isn't that what books are for??

No really, I am nervous.  I know I can take it again though and I know I will do my best.  I don't like test anxiety!  Just wanted to share this before I went to bed :)  Random post, I know.

Off to the land down under..... eventually!

So I have decided that it would be ridiculous to pass up this opportunity to teach in Australia!  It has always been my dream to teach abroad and to go to Australia and I know if I were to give that up I would definitely regret it!  I need to just give it all up to God, He will make everything work out!  I just have a hard time giving up control and I know God wants all of it!

Of course, now I have to figure out how to pay for it!  Has anyone studied abroad?  If so, how did you pay for everything?  I have loans but the school decides how much it should cost you for a year and they obviously don't count living abroad in that amount :)

 I went through closets and pulled lots of stuff out to put on ebay and I am going to finally put my jewelry up on etsy.  Does anyone have any other ideas?  haha.  [If you are looking for a Kate Spade or Coach purse I am putting those up on ebay along with some Tumi briefcases and some random other things- not until Sunday though :)]. 

I just know this is the chance of a lifetime and I have to take it!  I have been super stressed this month with school, the Praxis etc. but it will be okay.  Honestly, I look at the "challenges" and "struggles" in my life [in quotes because really it could be much worse] and if my biggest problem is really how I am going to pay for Australia I am pretty lucky, wouldn't you say?  And once this week is over I think I will be a little less stressed about everything.  Although, with the excitement of Australia it isn't helping me do my school work!

Hope you are having a fabulous week!  AND just to add I am definitely going to blog while I am in Australia!!