Storm before the storm?

It's been a crazy, rainy week at school. The tropical storm aftermath has been passing through Raleigh. We even had a two hour delay at school. I've been wearing my Hunter wellies since the ramp to my classroom trailer has been practically flooded. Wonderful.

The delay made for a stressful schedule planning and I still had to get there at the early time. The humidity had been causing copiers to jam like crazy and contributing to increased headaches. So...not calm. More like storm.

Then the major storm of stress begins after by friend's Sunday wedding back in Athens. We're driving back to Raleigh after since I have to be at school on Monday. Luckily I planned a review game (before a test) for two of my classes. Not sure about the harder, sleepier am classes. Then the moving begins! Along with more school planning, paper grading, journal writing, college moodling, etc etc excitement begins. STORM! I'm trying to keep my head above water with the demands for a first year teacher (which deserves an additional post of it's own). I'll make it. And honestly, even through the storms, I'm really looking forward to what the rest of the year brings :)

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Need. a. trip. asap.

After coming off of the tightest financial summer that I think I have ever had (no exaggeration...I have never completely not worked or gotten student loans), D and I are still saving hardcore with the whole buying house situation.  As tremendously excited as I am about buying a house, I am desperate to travel again.  And by travel, I mean TRAVEL.  I need to be on a plane again.  I need to be flying over an ocean again.  Even domestic trips have been delayed.  Oh...it makes my heart die just a little.  We were planning to go to Boston this winter.  Delayed.  I need to get to Birmingham to visit KD before her wedding next summer.  Delayed.  International summer vacay.  Delayed.  I feel like I live to travel and see new places.  This is what I want to do forever (and a large aspect of why I am extremely hesitant about having kids).  I hate going too long without seeing somewhere new.

Point being...my spring break for school is super late this year.  I believe it is the end of April.  We'll be far done from saving by then and we HAVE to make a trip.  It'll be domestic.  I hoping for west coast.  D and I have never been west coast before (although he is getting to go to San Fran I believe in March...without me...die major.).  I'm going to be rooting for San Fran probably.

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Is it legit...

...that I take no pleasure of claim being a "southern girl."  I came across a blog (which I will not name) that is written by a southern girl.  Now I hear it a lot.  People putting quotes on facebook about being being sweet tea loving, huntin', couuuuuuntreeeee kind of girls.  Omg.  I die.  Now, here is the urban dictionary definition (probably the same quote I've seen everywhere) of a southern girl:

'The best girls around. They are always pretty and show themselves well. Normally dressed in their easter colored polos, lacostes, or michael stars. Allways (well, usually) seen wearing there name brand jeans blue cult, 7's, citizens, angel, paper denim, etc...Accesories always consist of them pearl earings. Simple yet ellegant. All southern girls own atleast 1 surf shop or restaurant T-shirt from somewhere on the coast, most likely Wrightsville. Found cruising around in their silver or green Range Rovers or Land Rovers, and if not, volvos or station wagons. Hangouts consist of North Hills (if your familliar with Raleigh, NC), or any place that serves fresh ice tea and warm grits. The music they listen to is usually very mellow, like Dave Matthews, OAR, James Taylor, Alanis Morrissette, Hootie, Jack Johnson, Jimmy Buffet, Rascal Flatts, etc...Southern hospitality runs in the family. Southern households are the most generous of them all, which makes southern girls, the sweetest. Always remember though, the carolina girls are the best! "'Carolina girls, best in the world!'"

 Um...holy shit, who wrote this?  First...the spelling is atrocious! Aside from the spelling, I am most disturbed nauseous by the fact that apparently this was written not by some deep south, Georgia Southern college student, but someone who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina!*  A part of my dies inside a little.  My post was totally not supposed to be like or about this. 

Back on point...why is it that southern girls think they are so great?  I would never in my life stake claim to being the typical "southern girl."  I won't deny.  I went through the phase in college.  How could I not?!  I was surrounded by it in college.  Now...re-read the definition above.  I googled "southern girl" to find that definition.  When I clicked google images, here is an example of what I found:

[This is just sickening]

[Um.  ew.]

I literally can not go on.  There was not one picture of a Lacoste, pearl wearing lady.  I primarily found disturbing provocative images or disgusting confederate flag pictures.  Why would I ever want to associate myself with this title?  Maybe it means I was meant to get out of the south.  I can drink sweet tea anywhere.  I don't even own a real set of pearls.  I can find a lot more fashionable clothing than a Lacoste collared shirt.  I will always be polite because I was raised that way.  Actually, I find more ignorance and closed-mindedness in the south. 

*I am so disturbed because I felt that Raleigh/NC as a whole was more liberal and open-minded.  And I have yet to encounter any of these "southern girls" here.

**I am writing this on Saturday after I have been working for hours and hours on school stuff (told you I am swamped!).  I've had a couple of beers at this point (umm....yes I am alone) and may not be in the best mind to rant about southern girls.  I may just continue this rant on another day ;)

Dreaming of boots and sweaters.

I hate cold weather...but I love cold weather clothes.  Maybe it's because I am still insecure about my weight (however not doing much to help myself on that front right now).  You can bundle up and layer away in the winter.  It's going to be my first year as a teacher in the winter.  I'm looking forward to all the comfy flat boots, tights and dresses, and sweaters!  I can't bring myself to do a closet craving right now.  We're saving every penny we have to close on our house (um...still can't contain my excitement over it!).  I can't even tempt myself looking at gorgeous boots and such.  I'm going to be a thrifting maniac on the weekends if I want any new fall wear.  I just can't wait for cool weather though. 

We're starting to pack up things around the house and get ready for the move.  October is going to be a ridiculous month.  Come early next year...I'm going to go on a mad spending spree ;)

Sorry for the blah post...obviously I am super busy right now!  We're packing, getting house stuff ready, etc.  This weekend I am making a crazy trip back to Athens for my friend CAP's wedding.  We'll be trekking it back late, late, late on Sunday night.  I have 4 days of teaching and probably moving stuff into our house.  Then I'm off on Friday for a work related "retreat."  Then back again for more moving.  Then D will be out of town for practically the rest of October.  STRESS!  I'll make it.  Bear with me on the posting :)

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[I LOVE Wall-E!  So cute.  weheartit]

:)  weheartit.

Sitting outside with a good book in the rain.

This is what I want to be doing on my screened porch.  It has always been a dream of mine to have a screened porch.  There is something I love about it.  You can be outside but escape from the mosquitoes (which typically eat me alive).  D is going to most likely be embarking on a variety of home projects.  One of the projects I am going to set him on is building on a screened porch.

[Not a huge deck...but totally legit for building on to...]

D is thinking we'll add it on to this side so that we can keep the stairs.  We'll see.  Hopefully that'll be a project for next spring or summer.  

Here are some porch pics that have me swooning...

[If only we lived on the beach...pretty sure this is a Pottery Barn ad but image via weheartit]

 [Oh man...I die for this porch.  The Adirondack chairs, the trees, and the puppy.  Image via design*sponge]

[So gorgeous with all the greenery.  We definitely need to stain and weatherproof our deck.  Image via weheartit]

 [I know our house isn't this big, but I could totally picture something like this.  I like the addition of the latice on the bottom.  Image via designers-choice]

[Again, we wouldn't have anything near this big, but how adorable!  I picture a comfy little couch or chair in ours with a table.  And lots of plants!  Image via weheartit]

[I know this is a poor picture, but this is my vision.  Currently, we have sliding glass doors leading out to the deck.  I could definitely see us putting in french doors that lead to a screened porch.  Then build on a deck from that.  Absolutely perfect.  One day...  Image via thisoldhouse]

Time to get cooking.

Counter space in the kitchen was a necessity when we were looking at houses.  We love our kitchen in our rental (mainly for the gas stove) but there is no counterspace.  We looked at this little house and fell in love with the hardwoods and yard...

...but the kitchen was quite lacking...

[What you see is what you get...]

Literally.  This picture is it for the counter space.  There's a corner for the refrigerator, but that's it.  No dishwasher (or room to even install one without compromising your cabinet space).  I just couldn't invest in a house with such a sparse kitchen.

I am thrilled with our new kitchen in the new house!

 

Lots of counter space...wonderful cabinets...a dishwasher :)  Eventually we'll upgrade appliances (need a gas stove!), but this is a perfect start.  Even though I don't cook too much (D is the master cook in this family), I'm still obsessed with beautiful kitchens.

[Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.  I love the variety of colors and the barstools.  We are going to have to find barstools for our kitchen.  Ahh...  Image via design*sponge]

[I'm obsessed with islands.  We don't have room for one.  This one is a fabulous use of storage for the pots and pans.  Love.  I also love islands that have the sink in them :)  Image via design*sponge]

[Here we go!  Sink in the island.  I love the modern and clean look of this kitchen.  I may consider a more modernized backspalsh when we really start decorating.  Image via design*sponge]

[I am obsessed with chalkboard paint.  I am definitely going to find somewhere in my house to incorporate some.  I like this little kitchen.  The drawer pulls give it a modern feel without the stainless steel appliances (which seem to symbolize modernism these days).  Image via design*sponge]

[Can't you just picture your guests sitting at the table sipping their wine (or Terrapin beer in our household) while you're whipping up a delicious meal for them?  Yep.  Image via weheartit]

[I just can't take my eyes off this picture.  I think it's the green that's got me hooked.  Image via weheartit]

Any kitchen decor ideas?

Books and books galore.

I have a fascination with books and bookshelves.  I love buying books.  I am obsessed with the built in bookshelves at our new house.  Here's some books and bookshelf inspired pictures...

[Even more than the bookshelf, I adore the print over the bed.  Swoon.  Image at design*sponge]

[Too modern for me, but I love the clean white and wood burning stove!  Image via bookshelf blog]

[How awesome is this?!  I'm always amazed by others' creativity!  Image via weheartit.  I'm obsessed with weheartit!]

[I love the pictures hung on the front of the bookcase.  What an adorable room.  Image via Patricia Gray Inc.]

[I'm obsessed with color categorization.  I sort of want to frame this picture.  I almost can't take my eyes off of it.  And that couch...with the pug.  Whoa.  Image via weheartit.]

[Die.  What a great way to make this a functional, beautiful space.  Image via bookshelf porn.]

Can't wait for decorate our new bookshelves :)