A Wee Vacation...

I am pleased to say that as of today, I am a free woman! Yes, the spring semester at the college is over. I have submitted all of my grades + I don't have any classes to teach until autumn. Woohoo! I'm usually not a hot weather person, but this year, I am so excited for a summer vacation!I have to admit that I am one of those really fortunate individuals who loves their work; I love the classroom, I love the discipline of psychology + I love that the students are there trying to make their lives better through earning a college degree. And I guess that is why I regularly think about how I can be better at what I do. I want my students to love psychology as much as I do + not be discouraged by the new material or focus solely on how overwhelming the coursework can be. Sometimes having a bit of a les a fair make up policy {for exams + papers }can end up biting me in the a**. {Like when I end up grading a bunch of papers turned in on the last day of class} But even then, I feel like the extra work I put in is worth it if it helps the students stick it out through each semester; perhaps learning something new + enjoying themselves more than they thought? As I reflect on my first year back to work {albeit part time work}, as a mama of 3, I think it went pretty well. Sure it was tough {...more like "slightly inconvenient"} to balance work + home-life from time to time,{ ...epecially since most of the work I had to do needed to be done from home}but on the whole, the year was a success. And becasue I really enjoy what I do so much...and have been royally spoiled while working {having the opportunity to use my brain in another capacity away from little folk}, I know before long I will be wishing it was September. So what is a mama to do with all of this, ahem, free time? Well, you know how I LOVE making lists What do you have on your Summer To Do List?
xo.

Mama's Day on the Farm

The Blogger site kind of crashed today, erasing my last post on my Mama's Day...so I'm just gonna give the Cliff's Notes version in Photo form...plus the last paragraph I was able to recover!::: Flowers for Mama above...:::::: and my Blessing Basket...One of TWO wonderful gifts. {Thes 2nd deserves it's own post...will be up soon!} But how perfect is this for the Farmer's Markets! ::: ::: A Flower Pot...by the Fif at a Mama + Me craft class we attend...and below, a gift from My Mama...seedlings for my Front Yard Farm!! :::::: and a 3rd gift from my Mister...a day {...or so} of hard labor on said Front Yard Farm! :::::: ...we all lent a hand in the work, even ME! And below is a Mama's Day BOARD GAME made by The Monks! We all enjoyed playing it after our Mama's Day meal! :::::: And finally, the fruit {...or veggies?} of our labor. It took us a few days past Mama's Day to finish en total {which is why it took me SO long to post this post in the 1st place!}, but alas, here it is! :::{Front Yard Farm Completed 5/11/11}
Ah, I wish I could say that the day was perfect, except that my tiniest babe is teething in the biggest + baddest of ways. I think I ended up with exactly 1.5 hours of sleep Sunday night. Yes, on Mama's Day, I was swiftly reminded of exactly why it is that we celebrate Mama's + all that they do! My post from yesterday jested that {when it comes to Mum's} "Not all superheros wear capes". You know, years ago, I never imagined I'd be able to function on such little sleep, going to work and caring for 3 littles...all with a smile on my face + a song in my heart! Well, almost...but all the same, there is not a doubt in my mind that Motherhood irrevocably changes a woman....into a Superhero! Well, maybe...that or a lunatic? Because, even on the toughest of days, there is no where esle I would rather be than with this wonderful Mister and 3 littles. This Mama loves them more than words can ever say.

So sorry for the blogger lapse + repeat posting... It took Super power for me to not want to throw ye olde laptop out ye olde window when I discovered that my post had been deleted! Sigh, but I do hope that you all had a wonderful Mama's Day!

xo

Knitting Hats...Sort Of

Today I awoke to a beautiful sunny spring morning. Of all of the things I could have thought of; rather randomly, kintting came to mind. You see, I had a truly wonderful night's sleep last evening. After a full day of activity yesterday, finished off with a family walk/run/bike ride at one of our favorite bits of woods where we live...well, I slept like bricks! I'm not usually a "sleepin' in" kinda girl usually...but I could have been today! As I lay in bed this a.m., looking foward to another full day {+ hopefully another stellar night's sleep}, I suppose I began thinking of one of my other favorite night time rituals that I have been enjoying winding down with lately: knitting. A while back, when I had been feeling not-so-well, I put my time on the couch to good use; finally mastering the ever befuddling circular knitting needles! Oh, I had tried to figure them out before, but had put them aside several times in total frustration. Once I got the hang of it, I wondered why I had not been able to use them all along! First I knitted this little sprout looking green hat for my tiniest babe. It is not seamless...but lucky for me it didn't need to be for the look I was going for. Next, a white hat for me! Again, I didn't make it seamless {I really need to buy a pattern book to figure out how to finish off hats!}, but I have a plan to finish it off with a sewn knittied + coiled chain. I think it will be just amazing when it is done! The last time I posted about any of my knitting adventures, I mentioned this Milo vest pattern. The bottom of it was not all that different from the rolled bottoms of these hats I had made. So I started from the bottom up on what is to be a vest for the Fif. I have yet to actually purchase the pattern + at the moment, I'm toying with the idea of leaving the body knitt and sewing fabric sleeves + embellishments on later? So many choices

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My semester teaching at the college is comming to an end for the year. While I still have stacks of papers read, finals to give + grades to submit; I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have never looked foward to a summer break so much + am feeling completely smitten with all things relaxing + go with the flow...knitting being one of them! So until all of these loose ends are tied up at the college for the year, I thought I would share some of what I had been up to making earlier this spring...and what I am looking so foward to spending more time on during my summer vacation. Wishing you all things relaxing...sweet dreams...and a lovely Tuesday.

xo.

One busy weekend on "the farm"...

After I had recovered from being "under the weather" last week...well, to say that I didn't waste any time getting to work on the projects we had going would be a huge understatement. As soon as I was able, my Mister + I were re-locating both plants + bricks for patios...as well as pouring concrete to secure the posts which would become out front yard farm....

There aren't a great many photos of the littles helping with the building process...actually, there aren't any photos at all of the work in progress! However, that is not to say that it wasn't a true family effort. The littles were really good sports about spending entire days out out-of-doors while we worked + we did out best to take advantage of nap times + the Monks being in school until 2:45.

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The patios are finished, the chicken coop has been built, spray paint has been sprayed + our little farm is just about ready for some raised beds. Ofcourse there is still work to be done...and I can only imagine how great everything will look once the trees have bloomed + the grass has grown! I should also admit that even for me {I can tend to be a bit of an energizer bunny when it comes to chores + projects}, this weekend was intense, as far as work goes. But I just can't tell you how tremendously rewarding it is to see the beautiful results of all of our hard work. Rewarding, yes...but also exhausting! Not so easy to get back into the swing of work and school this fine monday morning... So with that, I'll bid you all a happy monday evening as I head off for some much needed sleep! I'm hoping yor weekend was a wonderful one!

xo.

Hot for Teacher Vol.3: Going Green

Even though I'm on "Spring Break" from teaching at the college this week, I'm still trying to get bits of work done here + there. A bit of getting ahead of the game...and a bit of catch up! So while I was at it, I figured it would be good to catch up on some of these cooler weather outfits that will probably soon be out of roation until next fall... Outfit:

Green tshirt: Target

Sweater dress: Old Navy

Tights: Gap

Boots: Anthro

Belt: ? I've had this sweater dress hanging in the closet with tags for a year now...it was a little on the big, borderline frumpy side, but when I added the belt and bloused the top a bit, the frump was given a new lease on life! This outfit is also the perfect illustration of how pairing one really good quality/high end item {here, the Anthro Birthday Boots} with almost anything else can make the whole outfit look like a million bucks. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean!

xo.

Coned

I was going through some photos and I came across this fun little something sweet that I made for a playgroup last week. I know I have mentioned my "little ward" {the 11 yr old little neighbor girl of mine who I watch during the week when her mom is working?} Well, last week it was her "Gotcha Day"; she was adopted from Russia and the "Gotcha Day" is the adoptive date which many families will celebrate almost like a birthday. So I decided to try out these cupcakes- in- a- cone. There are lots of different ways to make them, but I just made the cake batter, poured it directly into the upright cones + baked for about 20 min. They turned out to be such a fun playgroup treat because of how self contained they were without all of the messy crumbs typical of regular cupcakes.

This post is kind of bittersweet because last week was my "little ward's" last week of being with us. Her mother had been let go from her job and no longer needed her to be with us. It is a scary economy to be unemployed in, but the mother was quite unhappy where she was, so in a way I am happy {?} for her + hopeful that she finds something better.

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I have to admit though, that there were some times since September when I thought I might have bitten off more than I could chew, having another older {often kind of needy} child in my home every day {in addition to my 3 littles}. However, since her mom worked such long hours in the city, she was with us each morning before school + each afternoon until past dinner; she had become part of the family! In the end, I did feel bad about how everything ended {emotionally...and when it came to finances, as I was paid for my "little ward's" care}. But mostly because the change was so abrupt! Life has carried on in usual whirlwind style for us since Tuesday when this all went down {...although in many ways, life has also been much calmer too!} But every now + then I can't help but think that this all must have been quite hard on this little girl, who went from being a part of a big family with a mom+dad, pseudo siblings...even a dog to, well, not. I know it seems perhaps a bit more dramatic when I say it like that, afterall, this little girl + her mom only live right across the street form us. However it is the drastic + sudden change in routine her routine, that has me hoping that this transition goes smoothly for her.
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Change can throw you off balance a bit, especially when it is sudden...especially for someone like me who is SO routine oriented. But I do believe {and have experienced time and again} that everything happens for a reason {even if we don't realize it right away} AND that when one window closes, there is usually another that opens. And that is most certainly the case now! However that is another post for another time...

xo.

Hot for Teacher...{LMAO!}

Ok, so now I am dating myself...but I couldn't resist! Well, actually I am dating my husband since he was the one who spoke the Van Halen line Hot for Teacher last week when I was getting ready to go over to the college to teach a class. While I seriously doubt any of my students are thinking the same {God, let's hope not! They're more likely to be thinking, "why can't these psych exams be easier?!"}...I'm mighty glad to have a Mister who thinks so + is MORE than happy to tell me! Ironically, the burst of {albeit shortlived} warmth we enjoyed the weekend before last got me to thinking that I'll be due for some wardrobe changes soon. Sadly though, I realized had not taken as many photos of some of my favorite outfits from this past season as I would have liked. You see, between dropping a good amount of baby weight over the last months + actually having a reason {rationalization} to buy more dressed up clothing for work...well, I've found myself with a better {+ slightly more adventurous} wordrobe than I've indulged in owning in some time!
Mauve Tshirt: Ed Hardy {before that other guy took over and put his name on everything}

Jacket: Marshall's

Sweater Skirt: Target {circa 2008}
Tights + Boots: Anthropologie

It is quite a paradox, but between having grown up attending catholic school {uniforms} + the amount of tattoo work I have now as an adult, I tend to be a rather conservative {i.e.: boring} dresser. I love clothing with neat, tailored lines, especially in solid colors of browns, greens, navy and ofcourse, black. This past winter season, I've tried to change things up a bit by adding more color, some funky pieces, and even some prints {like these fun tights...thanks for the inspiration Nickey!} to my wardrobe. As the seasons change and the clothing I wear doesn't cover as much of my tattoo work, I'll probably back off on the prints {I don't want my outfits to clash with...well, myself!} However, I'm pretty excited to have taken a chance on expanding my wardrobe....and I really loved this outfit!

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What daring pieces have you added to your wardrobe over the last season? More outfits to come!

xo.

how things are

I can't get over how much things have changed in the last week! {And because typing lacks inflection, let me clarify: that exclamation is not a glazed smile + high pitched, happy voice exclamation, but rather a holy sh*t, I'm almost scared things are so different exclamation!} I have yet to look presentable enough to be photographed this week, spending most of my time at the computer preparing lectures...so these fun vintage betties {some old, some new} will have to do for now while I catch up on life...

** {I didn't have to do this for my first class...no frogs} **
Last week was jumpstarted with me making up a shlew of powerpoints for my lectures {because my access to the college's system was glitched}...in addition to preparing the talking points for the lectures themselves. I did all this is a mad rush last week, through allergy, bloodshot eyes. So when I began my first class on Wednesday, even though I still looked like a member of the Volturi {from Twilight} my powerpoints were done + my 2.5 hour lectures to 35 people {in each class} rocked! I had gotten the Monks off to school on time, picked him up before heading to the college, then buzzed home from my class after teaching to pick up the kids for soccer practice, only to finish off the day with an appearance at my "grandfather-in -law's" 88th birthday get together.
***** Huzzah! *****
As I sat sipping a glass of wine, watching my littles playing with their cousins, silently congratulating myself on a successful, albeit completely insane day, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. Sh*t, I have to do this again tomorrow!

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Ok, well, the line up is not exactly the same, but each day still has it's own element of busy. Still, I have a whole new respect for working parents. I remember feeling "so busy" before I was working, even before I had littles in school. Now I feel like I didn't even know what "so busy" was! Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking anything away from the work full time mama's do, it is just that you have no idea what conforming to a school routine for your kiddos, or what trying to fit in a job does to your already busy day until you are actually doing it. Atleast that is what I am finding now.

*** {Ain't this the truth!} ***

This week I also began taking care of my neighbor's daughter(11) before and after school. My neighbor is a single mom + just recenly got a new job in NYC again after being laid off last year. It is a little crazy, suddenly having 4 children Monday through Friday, but I knew it would be. You see, my mum was a single, working mom + I was an only child, except for when I saw my half brothers {I never say "half"} at my dad's "every other weekend". I think having been on my own as a kid made me want to have a big family...and made me not think twice about offering to care for my neighbor's daughter. I know that my little ward really loves having my kiddos to play with and her mom loves that she will have the structure of a bigger family.

*** {Some days, I really do feel like this!} ***

And with that we are onto another day, another week + so on. I can take a bit of comfort in knowing that once the college work is done, I won't have to do the same kind of preparation for teaching next semester. And while I suddenly find myself with 4 kiddos, I am also finding myself with some extra cash flow each week which is SO NICE! So for now, this is just how things are. I'll do my best to fit in some down days were we won't do much of anything at all...and maybe, eventually, I will even be able to do a painting or two. We'll see? When things seem nuts, I just try to remind myself of what a lucky girl I am, that I have the luxury of having these kinds of busy,"white collar woes". I'm a very lucky girl indeed.
XO.

professor's meetings, clothing + tattoos

*** {my college ring} ***

So tonight I have my first meeting over at the college where I will be teaching psychology classes. A meeting?! If you had asked me a year ago if this is what I thought I'd be doing now, I would have laughed and replied, "yeah, in my dreams!" I never dreamed I would be able to find a job where I could follow my passion {as far as my degrees are concerned}, yet still do what a love most, be a stay at home mama to my littles. While I will not be working from home, the amount of time that I am away at the college is small compared to what other jobs would require. It is the perfect situation + at times I still have to pinch myself to make sure it is really happening!

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One might think I would be nervous about teaching infront of 30+ adults, but really, I'm just thinking about what to wear? This teaching postion doesn't require I wear a business suit, but I can't wear everyday clothes either. {Sadly, my selection of everyday clothes was leaving something to be desired, but that is proabably common after + during those baby making years...I just could never stand the idea of buying alot of clothes that wouldn't fit me 3 months later, after putting on or taking off more baby weight!} However, little by little I have been exercising, watching what I eat {a little} + attempting to build a wardrobe. I guess I'm at a place where I feel like it is a good investment since we are done having babies + I'm not planning on developing annorexia or adopting marathon running.

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Another wardrobe quandry is that I like to cover up the majority of my tattoos when I am working; kind of let people ....e a s e into it. I am a realist. I like my tattoos, but I realize that not everyone does. While covering up is not always easily done in the summer months; over the years I have become a connoisseur of finding or making clothing in which I can be completely covered, and not look like a total a** because it is 90 degrees out. I don't think of myself as selling out. On the contrary, I think that my willingness to adapt is what helps me to ultimatley be who I want to be. I am able to float through different social cirlces where people realize sooner than later that my body art is just one little part of who I really am. I've always been one who likes challenging stereotypes + nothing gives me more pleasure than being able to tell someone {especially one who might be prejudice against tattoos} that I am a college professor. The reactions are priceless!

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I never doubted what my life would be; that I would go to school, have a family, friends + great job; with or without tattoos. Would certain aspects of life be easier without tattoos? Sure! However, it seems that it was not my lot in life to blend into the woodwork. I'm not sure exactly what my purpose is or how that might involve my tattoos, but I like to think that I will continue to challenge stereotypes + will contribute to people embracing one another's uniqueness. Body art is more commonplace today; with many people having them + even more people rockin's Ed Hardy clothing. I find that people aren't quite as quick to judge; that they are wondering if perhaps you are a celebrity of some kind that they would want to know? While we, personally, are only on the fringe of coolness {and have friends who are "celebrities" of a sort who ,know Ed Hardy (lol)}, it is my hope that people will meet me and say to other's, "I met the nicest girl today...", or "I know this woman who is just beautiful + pulled together, and she has all of these tattoos!" One can hope... but for now, I have a meeting to get dressed for!

xo.

ye olde street fair

My sleepy little town was all a buzz this past saturday with a street fair in the afternoon + the Atlantic Film Festival in the evening. My mama and I were planning to walk the little folk into town to take part in the goings on, but well, it was over 100 degrees of the worst sort, so we decided to pass.

However, I did get to thinking of the craft show {my first...and only thus far} I participated in last August on the very same street as where the street fair was being held. A dear sweet friend of mine and I shared a table and a lovely afternoon of chatting {her book, craft kits + smocks are on the right, my loot is on the left}. I focus on the chatting here because neither of us sold as much as we had hoped for. All the same, the impression left by the experience was not that I would never do a show or fair again, but that next time, I would do it differently.
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So much can change in a year. I have found that having 3 kiddos certainly has not added hours to my day, but that I have also never felt as inspired + playful. And while painting and creating {and making the time to do so} is a work or sorts, it is also a meditiation; a little break from the usual routine. I've been so happy with how the paintings in the series, Children of Lir have been comming along. I am still waiting on prints and working out the specifics of where the best places are to have notecards and the like printed; shop business I suppose. I can barely contain myself...I will be posting my first painting from the series Children of Lir tomorrow...and you know, I think there just might be a street fair in my future as well.

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professor

I know I have hinted at this already, but I am just to thrilled to not talk more about it...

I have joined the ranks of the employed!

{I promise, I will try not put an exclaimation point after every sentence in this post.}

A couple of weeks ago I was officially hired as an adjunct professor teaching psychology classes at the community college in our county! After the phone call had come in and I was attempting to tell my wonderful, supportive mister the news, I could hardly look at him for the tic that I felt in my eye! I could not tell whether I was on the verge of laughter or tears; I was so hysterically happy!

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After years of school and even more years of graduate school, I have been offered my dream job...and it is a real, grown-up, career type job too! Up until this point, the whole idea of ever finding a job had become a bit of a mountain. I know many a mama has experienced the feeling that if she is going to return to work {and leave her little babes}, she wants to be passionate about what she is doing, or at the least be paid well! Sadly, the job market has not exactly been booming and it has seemed impossible that I would find anything where I would not spend all of my earnings on the child care I would need to attend said job. Daunting, to say the least. ******************************

As excited as I am to teach, I am just as excited that I can keep most of my life {as far as being a stay at home mama, blogger, artsy type} almost just as it is. I have so enjoyed blogging because it has given me the opportunity to met other wonderful people, but has also helped me to keep my brain a workin'! I'll admit to being a bit of the nerdy type...my idea of a really good time usually involves buying a new book I was turned on to. I love reading and research and I am so excited for my brain to work in this capacity again and to bring the excitement I have for this subject to my students, {as we all know what an impact a wonderful professor can have!} I have already started to go over my text, and while I won't begin teaching until September, I am already working. I can see how working in this kind of "focused- work- time" way {preparing lectures and grading papers} at home will be challenging +will take some discipline, but isn't that true for most things worthwhile in life?

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Along the contiuum, ranging from Stellar to Outstanding to Very Very Good, 2010 is shaping up to be a most wonderful year. Thanks! to everyone who who stops by here to read my little typings and who has signed on to be a "Follower". I hope more people will join on and post comments as I continue on this journey! The ecouragement and positive reception I have been given in this little space has surely been appreciated and I keep it with me when I embark on these new ventures...or as I daydream about possible future adventures I might hope to go on. Again, my thanks.

I did ok with the exclamations, right?
a.