What I wore this week!

Ok, here it is....what I wore this week. I haven't really blogged in a LONG time, so this actually took me a long time. So yes, I know the photos aren't great. Yes, I know the links don't take you to the exact item I'm wearing. Yes, I know it isn't great. But it's where I'm at right now. Trying. Learning.  Doing.  It was frustrating to realize how 'out of blog shape' I am.  How much things have changed when I wasn't here to learn along the way.  It is frustrating not to have Photoshop Elements anymore to use to help me along the way.  It was frustrating to realize how much time this one post really took me. 
So again, I'm not doing this because I think "I'm so cute!".  I'm not doing this because I think I have the best clothes, or the best photography skills.  I don't.  I'm doing this because I think it is fun to see what others are wearing, how they are mixing what they have in their closets.  I check this and this every day to see if they have posted what they wore that day/week. 

 
pants: Gap Shoes: Nordstrom shirt: Old Navy  sweater: Old Navy 
                                            


pants: Gap  shoes: Payless shirt & sweater: Old Navy

                     
pants: Banana Republic shoes: Nordstrom sweater: Target
                    
 
pants: Gap shoes: Target sweater: Old Navy  scarf: Old Navy

  

 

Dress: Ann Taylor  boots: Nordstrom  leggings: Wal-Mart

It turns out I learned something this week.  Knowing that I was going to be documenting what I was wearing all week helped me step up my morning routine a bit. There was at least one day that photographing my outfit inspired me to wear something a bit more put together than I might otherwise have worn that day.  =) 

Christmas 2010

Our Christmas 2010.

Our house (Albany) Christmas 2010.

Ok, so it may seem a little superficial to be posting my outfit for the day. It might even seem like I am full of myself, that I think I wear the cutest things, that they look so great on me I just have to shout it from the roof top.
It's not like that. NOT at all. I have been reading blogs for probably almost 5 years now. And as I explore blogs more and more, my world is expanding. My blog world is expanding. I now look at decorating blogs, scrapbooking blogs, family/friends blogs, crafting blogs, photography blogs, school blogs, the list goes on and on. Some of my current favorite blogs highlight "What I'm Wearing". I love this! I love seeing what other, real women are wearing. I love knowing where they are shopping, how they are mixing and matching thier wardrobes. So, in an effort to keep my blog moving in a forward direction (that is...to post rather than let it sit idel for weeks at a time, and to explore my camera on a daily basis) I am going to attempt to follow "What I'm Wearing" for an entire work week. This is just the test. I wish I would have thought to start this project earlier this week, because I did have a couple of good outfits (I'm often a hit and miss kinda gal when it comes to my school outfits).

oxford shirt: Old Navy. sweater: Old Navy.
jeans: GAP.com. shoes: Payless. jewlrey: Lucky Ends

Yes, I know these are BLURRY. I know they are terrible shots. It's what I've got. Tonight when I got home from work I moved our mirror out from behind our door to a better spot (hopefully).
I hope you enjoy this, I know I would enjoy it if you did it. =)

One Little Word

Every year my husband asks what my resolution is going to be. And every year I remind him that I don't really do a resolution, instead I choose a word that I hope will help guide me through the upcoming year. 
This year, my word is Shine. 
I hope to Shine in my friendships.  Remember to call, write letters, send cards, remember important things about my friends. Important things that are going on in THEIR lives, not just in mine.  Call when I think about it, not wait because they might be busy, not wait because I'm tired, not wait. 
I hope to Shine in my job.  Smile at my kids. Have time to listen to them.  Be on time for meetings, and be prepared.  Smile and be open to my fellow South Shore peeps.  Be helpful and organized.
I hope to Shine in my marriage.  Be helpful, and loving, and open to my husband.  Tell him what I am feeling, and how much he means to me.  I hope to remember that I can help him Shine.  I can help and support him and let him take the credit. It's OK. 
I hope to Shine as I re-learn photography.  I hope to explore and grow and be comfortable behind the lens again. 
I hope to Shine as a homemaker.  I hope to have a clean, organized house that is a haven for Brandon and I to come home to each night.  A house that smells good, looks good, and feels good. 
I hope to Shine as a cook.  I hope to have a nice meal for my husband at least 3 nights a week.  (That might not sound like much for some of you wives out there...but for us that really is sufficient).  Good, healthy, simple meals. 

I want to shine as a person, to smile and be uplifting and positive.  To be smart and witty and regal. 
This is my word for the year.  Let's see if I can shine enough to remember it each day. 

Bucket List of Things That I Want To Do And Accomplish In 2011

*  Celebrate Valentines Day. For reals this time.
* take at least one picture each day.
* start turning the TV off, and turning on our lives. (spend at least one evening a week without the TV).
* take a trip with my husband, somewhere in America besides Heppner, Pendleton, Pilot Rock, Eugene, or Albany.  Lovely places they are, but I think there is more for us to explore.
* reinstate the Friday Night Dates
* think about what made me happy each day
* write down what I am grateful each day.
-today I am grateful for the energy to get up early and get in my classroom.  Dancing in the kitchen to an old CD, and funny kindergarten quotes.  "I didn't know my sharing was today...I thought my day was the day after yesterday!"   :)
* blog at least once a week.
 
I am frustrated that blogger won't let me add a photo to this post! oh well....  

Christmas 2010

Brandon and I at our "engagement tree". It was about 12 degrees out, and we snowmobiled there, and then hiked to the tree in a LOT of snow. Too bad all of my mascara ended up under my eyes! oh well....it was a romantic gesture even if I did look like crap.

My mom and I at Christmas time. Brandon and I had a good visit with my parents, and my sister and her husband.

My parents and I were trying to have our picture taken and my husband said something so funny that my mom couldn't stop laughing, and then my dad and I started laughing....

Christmas 2010

I'm back!!! After a rather long hiatus, I have decided to come back to blogger world. Here are a few pictures from our time in Eastern Oregon for Christmas break.

 
Here is Brandon's frozen eyelashes and eyebrows from a trip out in the cold.






The views in Eastern Oregon can be spectacular.