{very loveleigh}

research.

2012-02-22T21:05:00.003-05:00

mr. m: "i was watching the documentary on models, you know. i noticed that they don't have any expression when they're having their photos taken. i thought maybe you should know that."

mrs. m (ahem, me): so, you think i should try it?

mr. m: "definitely."

snap.

"no, definitely not. you look MEAN!"

snap.

"now you look kind of bored and irritated. in a mean way."

and THAT, ladies & gents, is why i am not a model.

also--notice the 8 hour old waterfall braid.

". . . the kids love the braids!" [to the voice of the old lady in the movie elf]

i like big buns & i cannot lie.

2012-02-21T22:13:00.002-05:00

sweater:gap//flannel:j.crew (mens)//jeans:sillver//boots:ugh

i also like elbow patches.

& mixing flannel & cozy sweaters.

& drinking starbucks in bed with a good book.

& fridays off.

& starting the work week on tuesday.

hope yours was fantastic!

television icons

2012-02-20T19:45:00.001-05:00

i am not a huge couch potato. in fact, sometimes i have a hard time sitting still-- many times i will grade or knit/crochet while watching the telly.

however, i have fallen in love with a few shows over the past couple of years: new girl, the lying game, pretty little liars, and glee.

glee & pretty little liars have somewhat fizzled for me, but i find myself going back to them or watching them on hulu just to see what a handful of my favorite characters are wearing.

jess day from new girl

is so fun and feminine. i'm sure a lot of other girls can relate to her love of polka dots.

laurel mercer on the lying game

isn't afraid to try new trends. i realize that she portrays a high school student, but her willingness to take risks is an inspiration.

emma pillsbury on glee

always looks so pulled together. i love her teacher-esque, sweet spin on everything.

spencer hastings on pretty little liars

has preppy chic perfected to a t. she is definitely my favorite "little liar," even if she is a little crazy sometimes.

do you have any television style icons? do you watch any of these shows?

happy monday, all!

i had . . . the time of my life.

2012-02-19T19:25:00.000-05:00

& i've never felt this way before.

this i swear.

it's the truth.

i laugh, i cried, i toasted.

i spent a significant amount of time in the photo booth.

& the rest of the night on the dance floor.

[let's just say, i was definitely feeling it this morning.]

my best friend's wedding was so. much. fun.

hands down, best time we've had since our wedding.

love you kate! i meant everything i said in my speech--& more!

fancy.

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-05:00

sandals//dress//swimsuit

when {av} shared that we'd be creating an outfit for a vacation destination, my heart panted with desire for my dream vacation.

one of my very best friends in high school was greek, and i fell in love with everything related to greece.

the food is amazing, the language is fun, and the pictures of the coast--gorgeous.

i imagine spending the trip in flirty and comfortable maxi dresses and bright swimsuits.

throw in sunscreen, sunnies, and my husband & i would have everything that i need.

thanks so much, {av}, for letting my imagination run away with me.

happy friday, everyone!

bumblin'

2012-02-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

dress worn as shirt:j.crew//sweater:gap//coa & sunnies:h&m//tights&shoes:target

things have gotten crazy here in loveleigh land, friends.

lesson plans have taken on a mind of their own and so have the students.

i'm standing up in my best friend's wedding on saturday & i will not allow myself to have a speech anything short of spectacular.

i've also been anxiously awaiting 35 ipads to magically appear in my classroom any day now, literally.

deep breaths.

oh & i'm leaving for a conference for school in less than two weeks.

writing sub plans is definitely the worst form of torture.

bottom line: bare with me, beauties.

it's ok.

2012-02-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

skirt:gap//cardi:j.crew//shirt:old navy//necklaces:gifted//earrings:nordstrom

hey, it's ok.

that the greatest compliment i've had all week is a good friend who says, "you are jess on 'new girl'."

to have two of your top favorite shows be geared toward middle school girls.

to cut a donut in half in an attempt to control portions. only to eat the other half an hour later.

to wear polka dots 3 out of 5 days in a work week.

to sport pink & red nails on valentine's day.

to eat dinner one "course" at a time. mainly because they are all done at different times.

to wear an outfit so bright that everyone needs sunglasses. ;)

thanks so much to jillian & glamour magazine for inspiring this fun post.

valentine.

2012-02-14T17:20:00.001-05:00

via

wishing you a very loveleigh valentine's day!

i celebrated by listening to t.swift & the civil wars' song "safe & sound," a million times.

spreading all the love with my students.

giving a lot of mr. m & moses hugs.

& eating too many sweets.

my gift to you is below. you're so welcome. :)

Taylor Swift - Safe & Sound - Music - More Music Videos

stuff students say.

2012-02-12T23:15:00.001-05:00

blouse: tucker for target//skirt:gap//earrings:h&m//shoes:unknown

"are you going to a wedding?"

"are you going to a funeral?"

"why are you dressed so fancy?"

"are you going somewhere fancy?"

"is something special happening?"

"why are you so dressed up?"

every.single.time. i wear this skirt.

happy monday, all!

fancy.

2012-02-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

skirt//flats//ring//bag//shirt//scarf

this post was inspired by my latest steal--a similar pink maxi shirt that i snatched up at gap for $5.

i literally almost peed myself.

especially because i had my eye on it before christmas & it retailed for $80.

i think it looks so cheeky with this cutesy jason wu shirt.

& the red scarf.

oh, the red scarf.

i imagine it tied around an adorable ponytail or even knotted at the neck.

oui.

who knows what i'll actually wear it with, but it was so fun to get the creative juices flowing.

have a happy friday.

pssst. . .we're going on a date to see 'the vow' tonight. i'm excited in a shamelessly girlie kind of way.

valentine.

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-05:00

sweater: mossimo//pants: gap//button-up: h&m//sash: borrowed from a dress//shoes:pennyloveskenny

little moses is quite the heart breaker.

he flirts with all of my friends & love-bites their toes.

{sometimes it's awkward to explain to guests that we taught him to attack our feet--must remember not to do such things with our future children.}

anyway, this fur ball charmed his way into our hearts almost three years ago & i'm so excited to have him as my little valentine.

i'm sure he can put together a nice hairball for me, but what to get him . . .

+thanks for all the hair compliments on the last post! funny thing is that mr. m & my mom both loathed the 'do. hilarious.
+i'm pretty sure this is moses' first outfit post. he's a natural, isn't he?

my bag,

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

blazer & pants: j.crew//shirt: f21//shoes: mossimo//bag: longchamp

i have come to the realization that i would much rather have one nice, classic bag than a ton of inexpensive ones.

or at least that's what i told myself when i ventured to the mall to spend too much money on this bag over christmas break.

but, it holds all of the above--plus the occasional knitting or papers to grade.

i'll keep it forever.

{mr. m thinks it's hogwash. i always tell him that i'm purchasing vintage investment pieces for our children.}

what's inside? oh, just the essentials.

{l-r} cell phone, wallet, camera case, composition book (for inspirations & lists), dollar store agenda, crochet hook, circular needles, cosmetic bag (+rosebud salve, eos lip balm, lipstick, tissues, and bobby pins), and pencil pouch (+ grading pens, mechanical pencils, and my checkbook).

everything but the kitchen sink.

meditation.

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

top: j.crew//skirt:merona//necklace:31bits//tights: target//boots:unity

{john 15:13}

greater love has no man but this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

{einstein}

everybody is a genius, but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

education & sacrifice

two words that are on my heart this week.

what's on yours?!

love.

2012-02-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

cardigan:merona//shirt:h&m//jeans:ymi//flats:mossimo

stripes

leopard print

polka dots

cardigans

sunshine

laughter

warm blankets

coffee with coconut creamer

cinnamon spice tea

weekends

dresses

smiles

writing

reading

talking with friends

anything yellow

swimming

flying in airplanes

historical fiction

art

knitting

crocheting

crafting

good worship music

these are a few of my favorite things.

happy monday! xoxo

gifted.

2012-02-04T18:18:00.003-05:00

a brown package arrived on my doorstep this week--from my new friend, dusty.

it was full of all kind of wonderful things.

heart tissues.

a candle.

an adorable bow that moonlights as a bow tie for moses {picture to come}.

& heart-shape ring pop. that i immediately opening and devoured.

thanks so much, dusty, for such a sweet little gift

& casey/alycia for putting together this fun swap!

fancy.

2012-02-03T09:45:00.000-05:00

headband//shirt//skirt//shoes//bag//book

oh, what i would give to free my poor feet from tights, boots, slippers, & uggs.

. . .to let my legs see the light of day.

the outfit was inspired by all things making me happy this week.

stripes.

anything french.

longchamp.

hearts.

prep.

a desire to loose myself in a good book--preferably in the sunshine.

the funny this about this book is that my grandma recently told me that she read it over & over & over again when she was in middle school. then, it happened to pop up as in matchbook magazine's book list.

i knew my grandma was a classy lady.

happy friday, loves! i was worried for a second that i wouldn't make it.

part three.

2012-02-02T17:14:00.000-05:00

to catch up: part one & part two.

via

& so, friends we became.

it was easy for him to think of excuses to come with his brother to town.

[hopefully i've mentioned that we lived an hour apart from each other, right?]

one night was spent--the four of us + dearest kate--at the park. we played on the structure like children. i remember crab soccer & a lot of laughs. i also remember being sore the next morning from treating the monkey bars like i was five.

more emails followed.

later, i hitched a ride to his house to watch him coach soccer with his brother. they coached a team of five year olds. such foreshadowing for a man who would become an amazing teacher & male role model.

mr. m & twin brother played indoor soccer that evening too.

some girl "friend" i didn't know hung all over both of them.

awkward.

i found out that mr. m "runs like a girl," but i though/still think it pretty darn attractive.

[i swear he runs different, but not girly. . .he's agile.]

. . . i was starting to develop some real feelings for this 17-year-old dude. i loved to watch him coach, i love to email him & receive his emails, he was athletic, funny, and i enjoyed every minute spent with him.

& every minute thinking about him.

i suppose that i could tell that he liked me back, which put me at a crossroads.

meanwhile,

the emails keep coming.

we become somewhat addicted to emailing & talking to each other.

now, i am no cold-hearted girl. there was no way that i was going to continue to lead him on if i didn't intend on pursuing a relationship with him.

this is where things get pretty darn cool.

i knew that dating a guy who lived an hour away wasn't the greatest idea.

especially for a freshman in college.

. . .broke as a joke, trying to maintain a high gpa, & on the verge of some wonderful nannying moolah.

but . . .

so, i made one of the best decisions of my life.

i asked God what i should do about the situation.

. . .

lust list.

2012-02-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

generally, i am not the kind of person who likes to make wish lists.

"surprise me!" or "i don't need anything," are usually what family & friends hear when it comes to any gift giving holiday.

however, i find myself telling mr. m, "oh! i'd like that for valentine's day!" to some of the items above.

a diamond necklace: because i lost one of the diamond earrings that he bought be for our first dating anniversary, i'd really like the other one to be made into a necklace.

a monogram necklace: so chic & timeless. i'd love to have one with my new last name .

bensimon sneakers: i've been lusting after these for a while. tre chic.

steve madden leopard loafers: i think i would wear them with everything.

what about you, readers? do you have your eye on anything for valentine's day?

thrift.

2012-01-30T20:27:00.000-05:00

dress: thrifted, blazer: j.crew, tights: target, boots: chinese laundry, belt: f21

only in this assumed-vintage dress would we experience marilyn monroe-esqe winds.

it makes me love her even more.

because she is my first thrifted outfit find.

ever.

she's a little big, but nothing that a sewing machine or belt can't fix.

i already have a million remixes planned & i can't wait to flaunt the sleeves, but that won't be until at least june. :) :)

winner.

2012-01-29T22:16:00.005-05:00

drumroll, please.

congrats caitlin!

wishing you all a week as warm & toasty as flannel, sunshine & moses.

a fancy guest.

2012-01-27T05:46:00.000-05:00

i am so excited to introduce you to my new friend, emily. we planned outfits for each other this week for my new favorite friday tradition (besides payday, of course), friday fancies, hosted by the lovely {av}.

i love the outfit that she put together for me! it's so feminine & perfect for kate's rehearsal dinner!

so, without further ado . . .i give you emily.

Happy Friday everyone! I'm Emily from so anthro, and I am SO excited to be swapping blogs with Leigh today for a Friday's Fancies! {av} did quite a nice and generous job matching me up with this darling blogger :) Miss Leigh has a rehearsal dinner to attend in a few weeks for her best friend's wedding. Rehearsal dinners can be tough-- there's such a range of attire people could choose, and I hate feeling either too overdressed or underdressed at an event like this. So, I tried to put together a versatile outfit for Leigh to wear to the dinner, circled around a dress that could be dressed up or down with accessories.

A New Day Dress, ModClothAll Illuminated Heels, Anthropologie Crystal Corsage Studs, Kate Spade Crystal Venus Flytrap Necklace, J Crew Creme de la Creme Idiom Bangle, Kate Spade Leather Bow Clutch, RED Valentino

I did my best to capture Leigh's sweet and feminine style-- do you all think she would wear this?? I know she could pull off anything!

thanks so much emily! i hope you like what i put together for you!

tears.

2012-01-26T18:18:00.002-05:00

some of my closest friends/family members would tell you that i rarely cry.

(think cameron diaz in the holiday--haha.)

but when i do cry--its about the most random things.

for example, today, after knitting club, when i walked into the hallway and saw these hands taped to

every. single. locker. in. the. whole. school.

i teared up a little.

why? because this would have been so cool to find on a monday morning, when i was in middle school.

because i really do believe this will make someone's day.

. . . it kind of makes me want to go write kind messages on everyone's door in the neighborhood.
but that may be going too far. ;)

p.s. speaking of kind words--thanks so much for all the kind comments below! those of you who say i have a teacher's voice--what a compliment! :) i knew God gave it to me for some reason.

don't forget to enter the giveaway below if you like having a toasty warm neck!

social suicide/giveaway.

2012-01-25T17:39:00.002-05:00

what are you waiting for?! enter below.

i'll pick a winner on sunday night. because then, on monday, you will be happy.

well, if you win, of course. :)

p.s. vlogging is more awkward than i remember.

probably because i can't stop thinking about how my dad said my nose looked horrible in one of my photobooth photos.

thanks, dad.

happy wednesday!

somehow i conned mr. m to take me out to dinner tonight.

woo-who!

postpone.

2012-01-24T20:17:00.001-05:00

dress: h&m, leggings: target, boots: hunter, coat: lands end

i had something wonderful, marvelous, and stupendous to share today.

& then life happened.

on a positive note: my classroom now is comfy cozy chic & i made delicious cornbread muffins.

now i'm off to go lesson plan & watch the state of the union address like a good social studies teacher . . .

happy tuesday!

blue monday.

2012-01-23T18:34:00.002-05:00

Coat: Gap, Dress: F21, Tights: Target, Belt: H&M, Boots: Unity by Carlos Santana

great balls of fire, what a day.

then i read jenni's post--how today is scientifically the most depressing day of the year; blue monday.

& then it all made sense.

i think i'll wear yellow tomorrow & declare it "sunshine tuesday."

dying to know.

2012-01-22T17:57:00.003-05:00

via

if i could pull off ombre.

le sigh.

fancy.

2012-01-20T07:35:00.000-05:00

this is, by far, my favorite outfit so far.

orange makes a re-appearance & i am obsessed with la mer watches!

top//shorts//shoes//watch//bracelet//bracelet

bottom line is that i would gladly wear this outfit all summer long . . .

if it even warms up again, that is.

happy friday, everyone!

cold.

2012-01-19T19:12:00.000-05:00

Sweater & Skirt: J.Crew, Tights: Target, Boots: UGG

the yellow tights may or may not have taken it too far.

it also should be noted that my uggs are from 2006 & i refuse to buy a new pair.

why, if only to be ruined by salt-stains?

i call this outfit, "business on top, mess on the bottom."

you love me anyway, right?

blogger by night.

2012-01-18T21:03:00.001-05:00

via

i have to tell you.

sometimes it's hard--living a double life.

teacher by day, blogger by night. . .

but, sometimes it's really fun.

like when two bloggers combine forces.

my partner in crime is brittni.

we go on missions together.

like how to find the perfect photo location in the middle of january [ghetto school won].

how to use the camera on manual setting [well, that was just my lesson].

& how to snag a seat at starbucks.

i'm so excited for our next covert operation.

part two.

2012-01-17T21:04:00.000-05:00

part one here.

{summer 2006}

during the movie, the happy couple snuggled together on one end of the sectional while mr. m & i awkwardly kept our distance on the other end.
so close, but so far away.
we bantered throughout john q about what time is was--my curfew was 11.
every time he answered, "it's 10:30."
i was clearly going to get in trouble.
i remember a few things about that night:

he was a flirt!
i didn't care that i was going to be late
the movie was good
i liked spending time with him

the next day, i broke his heart when his twin bro & girlfriend asked me to come to lunch with the three of them.
i seriously had to work at my grandmas. he still doesn't believe me.

but the game changer was an innocent email, about a week later.
"i was hoping that we could become friends, or something. . ." is just a little of what it said.

"or something."

after that, we proceeded to email each other at least once a day.

mr. m was becoming a great friend & confidant. we shared what we did each day, our thoughts, our outlooks on life. . .

he was finishing his senior year of high school (!) while i was wrapping up my first year of college.

i would check my email frequently, waiting to here from him.

i loved his emails.

monday.

2012-01-16T19:27:00.002-05:00

dress: h&m, belt & necklace: f21, tights: target, boots: chinese laundry

i am a fan of mondays.

well, mondays like today.

because having a productive day at work, great conversation--& photoshoot--with a dear friend, coffee can make any day splendid.

i also feel that i should share my love/hate relationship with the outfit above. because it just felt like one of those simply elegant outfits.

. . . & then i don't feel like that i was represented in these pictures.

so, it's either the dead grass and the bare trees--or this outfit needs a little more jazz.

do you ever have one of those "i saw this going differently" moments?

extra! extra!

2012-01-15T11:53:00.005-05:00

there is a new loveleigh in town . . .

& she's cute as a button!

have a warm & blessed sunday!

fancy.

2012-01-13T05:32:00.000-05:00

this is my second week putting together an outfit for friday fancies & i'm loving it!

it's inspired by bright orange--a color that i've seen all over for the past season & finally had the nerve to try out myself this christmas.

dress//cardigan//booties//necklace//bracelet//bracelet

the best part?

the 995 dollar heels that i would never, ever, wear.

but are absolutely gorgeous.

thanks so much to my dearest {av} who inspires me to think outside of the ~~box~~ closet.

happy friday!

comfort.

2012-01-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

the golden sun setting through the trees.

my new french press.

beautiful buttons on crochet.

marshmallows & chocolate chips for mr.

these are a few of my favorite things.

green with envy.

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Dress: H&M, Blazer: F21, Cowl: veryloveleigh, Boots: Chinese Laundry, Leggings: J.Crew

envy is a sneaky thing.

in fact--i make an effort to be happy with what i have.

but with gorgeous blog friends & this ~~amazing~~ terrible thing called pinterest--sometimes it creeps right up on you.

i do my best to count my blessing & be grateful. this keeps me from getting green with envy.

how do you conquer envy?

p.s. speaking of sneaky--you MUST watch this. the part where the little one says "you sneeeeaky mom!" gets me every time.

come february.

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

my dear, dear, kate is getting married in february.

[applause]

i wore this to her shower on sunday. . .

. . . & to work on monday.

[booing]

Dress: c/o Shabby Apple {thanks Eden!}, Cardi & Tights: Target, Boots: Unity by Carlos Santana

please forgive the wrinkles--that's what the first day back to school will do to a girl.

also--if you want to snag your favorite shabby apple dress, enter code NEWYEAR at check-out to receive twenty perfect off.

{click the link on my sidebar if you're headed there--maybe they'll let me give away a dress just for you!}

happy tuesday, snooze-day.

light.

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

[via]

i had fifteen days away from school.

one, five.

i think i'm ready to go back.

i think it's monday.

may your day be full of light & happiness. here goes nothing . . .

fancy.

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

inspired by a pair of shoes i'm pining over.

top//bottoms//scarf[similar]//shoes//watch//earrings

white.

2012-01-05T15:46:00.003-05:00

only in michigan do you get excited when a winter coat comes in the mail.

i love that it's white.

no, it's not practical.

neither are our white dining room chairs.

the oversized white chair in the family room.

our white bed frame.

. . . white towels.

or a lot of the other choices i've made.

but i LOVE them.

that what we have washing machines for, right?!

part one.

2012-01-04T16:39:00.001-05:00

because it's about time . . .

{back story:}

high school leigh loved to hang out with her friends, play softball, volunteer with nhs & other teenage things. well--back when teenage things meant get ice cream, see movies, and chat on aol.

there was never a boyfriend.

i attended dances with friends or didn't go. overall, i didn't stress too much about the non-boy issue, except for times like prom. i wrote it off that i was "too tall" or "not cute enough."

i dated a boy for a month or so when i was 18/just starting my freshman year of college. nothing to write home about, but i knew that i wasn't completely a leper. phew.

april fifteenth, two-thousand and five; enter prince charming. 17-year-old mop of dark, sloppy hair prince charming.

bottom line: he was about as awkward as you can get. [sorry mr. m].

{how it began:}

after my first ever sushi experience, kate & i travelled to our boutique of choice: hollister. i bought a purple sequined scarf on a whim that a cute boy i was crushing on would be at the fiftieth birthday party that i was about to attend later that night.

i know this sounds so exciting to you, dear readers. it's because i truly lead an exciting life.

except this would truly be a night to remember.

i first was introduced to the mister through a mutual friend who now happens to be my sister-in-law. she ~~was dating~~ is now married to his twin brother [another awkward mop of dark hair]. she introduced him, his sister [sporting a lizzie mcguire t-shirt] & the rest of his family.

now, i have this disease called being over friendly, so i struck up conversation.

meh. okay, he's a little shy. . .

& i'm pretty sure i was bored with him fast.

until i learned that this poor, poor awkward dude was going to go stag to his high school prom.

oh, prom.

i happened to mention that i wouldn't mind dusting off the old purple strapless vera wang gown with the french bustle [heh.heh.] i mean--it would definitely be an act of charity for this poor dude.

well, future sister-in-law thought that it would be best for us to get to know each other before i became his belle of the ball, so she invited everyone over for a movie that evening.

well, other than her & her beau . . . the mister & i were apparently the only ones who could make it.

{to be continued}

maize.

2012-01-03T16:34:00.002-05:00

Shirt & Sweater: J.Crew, Jeans: YMI/Nordstrom, Shoes: Minnetonka

i could write about a million things today.

...wah, wah, wah, my legs are long & it's hard to find pants. boo hoo.

...wah, wah, wah, it's cold outside.

...wah, wah, wah, i'll neverrrrr be a model. i can't strike a pose for the life of me. look at that ugly laugh face for goodness sake.

but, instead, i would like to talk about football.

yes, i happen to really like football--well, just michigan football.

daddy taught me right.

& it just so happens that i love the color yellow.

[you're thinking--"helloooooo, we know"]

but, unfortunately, one can not use the word "yellow" during days such as this. because if you use yellow instead of maize. it will be the last thing the you do. guaranteed.

go blue!

a pretty picture & song

2012-01-02T17:22:00.003-05:00

via

on the second day of the new year was spent cleaning my car [ew!] adding new knittens to the shop & listening to pandora endlessly.

it's been a real great day.

anyone else still enjoying their break?

nye.

2011-12-31T22:37:00.004-05:00

cheers to 2012!

hope.

2011-12-31T12:56:00.000-05:00

Skirt & Top: J.Crew, Leggings: Forever, Boots: Unity by Carlos Santana

as 2011 comes to a close, i look forward to 2012.

these past 365 days have been full of more than i could have imagined. the biggest of these is that we bought a house/have a new home. i also finished my first year of teaching.

as i look forward to the next 365 days--i have hope.

some of my hopes are public, some are up-and-coming, and some are private.

but, i know that i am secure in these hopes, and i am ready for another wonderful year.

"...those who hope in me will not be disappointed," -Isaiah 49:23

hostess.

2011-12-30T22:09:00.001-05:00

i'm learning [& loving] that being a new home-owner means that you are thrown into a crash course on being a hostess. mr. m & i opened our home to family & friends this christmas eve & again, last night, for my best friend, kate's, bachelorette party.
kate is one classy lady, so we decided that we wanted to do something fancy & low-key for her party.
enter mr. m's childhood friend who is an amazing chef at a nearby country club.
so, inspired by pinterest, mr. m, my darling friend september, & i created a classy atmosphere in our finished basement.

meanwhile chef chad cooked [a delicious four-course meal] in the kitchen.

& the food was, literally, to die for.

first: roasted cauliflower "steak" with marcona almonds, fresh raisins & brown butter

third: crab carbonaro with english peas, bacon, peppers & argula

fourth: warm chocolate cake with raspberry sauce & fresh raspberries

& we also had a delicious caesar salad that isn't pictured.

honestly, great food & wine & twinkly lights make me happy as a clam--& thank goodness kate feels the same way. we had an absolute blast & laughed until our stomachs ached [or maybe that was all the delicious food?].

it was such a fun night with a great group of people & i cannot wait for her big day!

p.s. mr. m & little bro m waited tables/bussed/and washed dishes. my heart is so full of love for them!

p. p. s. thanks to dearest kristen for supplying a camera when my had heart failure ;).

what we wore: christmas day

2011-12-28T17:39:00.002-05:00

my face in the first picture & his in the last is pretty self-explanatory.
we had a merry & wonderful christmas!

who knew?

2011-12-28T00:00:00.001-05:00

that it was SO stinking hard to find daggone ring pops.

that if you wear heavy socks & fleece liners in your wellies, your feet may fall asleep.

that if you wear yellow wellies, you will turn heads (jury is out on whether it's good or bad).

a couple of errands can turn into HOURS.

i would be awake at midnight, blogging.

hope you're all having a great week!

gone with the wind

2011-12-26T18:36:00.000-05:00

i am by no means a movie connoisseur. in fact, when people mention old movies, i'm actually quite ignorant to some of the classics.
issue eight of matchbook magazine, their list of "50 classic matchbook girl films" & the public library are about to change that.

i even created a little list of the movies i had already seen & the ones i would like to borrow. this week, it was almost-5-hours-long "gone with the wind."

who would have known that scarlett o'hara was so completely un-likeable?! it wasn't one of my favorite moves, but i feel a little less like i'm missing out on something huge, now that i've watched it.

some of my favorite quotes:

"you should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how," -rhett butler

"frankly, my dear, i don't give a damn," -rhett, again

"as God is my witness, i'll never be hungry again," -scarlett

am i the only one who hasn't seen this movie?! does anyone else completely love it? am i missing something?

merriest christmas

2011-12-23T23:57:00.001-05:00

wishing everyone the merriest christmas.

don't forget His amazing grace!

happy birthday, jesus!

awkward.

2011-12-22T19:24:00.002-05:00

a. knitting this custom made piece for someone who no longer wants it . . .

b. typing up a blog post that felt so good to type but is probably not appropriate to post . . .

hmm.

anyway! thanks to my new favorite social studies teaching friend, eden, i can show and tell you that the winner of start something that matters is . . . .

dun, dun, dun . . .

kc! congrats & email me your address, please.
i will ship it asap!

par-tay.

2011-12-21T17:04:00.001-05:00

Shirt & belt: Forever 21, Shorts: Gap, Tights & socks: Target, Boot: Chinese Laundry, Necklace: In Honor of Design

i spent saturday morning preparing for a christmas party with one of my favorite people in the entire world. we curled our hair together, ran errands, swapped bras (what else are bffs for?) & caught up with each other.
then, 20 minutes en route to the christmas party she says, "ohhhhh! your stripes have GOOOLD in them."
translation: "i was wondering why on earth you were wearing a gold belt..."

honestly, what other time of the year can you cover yourself in silver, gold, and sparkles?!
p.s. i think i could have used a little more ;).

a midnight clear.

2011-12-20T20:42:00.000-05:00

ohmydeer handmades

this gorgeous card came in the mail this evening. boy, oh boy, do i love it!
i'm going to put it in a crisp white frame & love it all year long.
chelsea is just so darn talented--have you read her blog?

fugly.

2011-12-19T20:46:00.001-05:00

i don't know if fugly is an appropriate word or if i'm being a potty mouth, but it makes me giggle.

& this sweatshirt sure is fugly, right?

i attempted to create a tacky sweater diy post, but since i am never home in the daylight [darn you earth & your axis!], it was a little difficult.

so, here's my little recipe for a tacky sweater. all you really need to do is throw all these ingredients together for something truly "fugleigh" ;).

one red men's crew neck
three different kinds of christmas fabric
glitter puff paint
sequins
glitter
pom-pom trim
rhinestones
sewing machine
lots of giggles & patience

literally throw together at random.

enjoy!

p.s. enter below to win blake mycoskie's new book: start something that matters! (do you like how i wore my toms with my ugly sweater too?!)

a one for one giveaway

2011-12-18T17:31:00.001-05:00

Top: J.Crew, Bottoms: Target, Shoes: TOMS

if you've been my friend for any length of time, you know that i love wearing my toms shoes with a variety of outfits & that i would live in them in the summer--if that was acceptable.

i became acquainted with toms years ago when i worked at nordstrom. i still cannot part with my first red pair--even though they are very well loved.

i loved [and still love] the idea of "one for one"; that i was giving a child somewhere in the world a pair of shoes. this is why the product is so great and has become so popular since i bought my first pair. when i was presented with the opportunity to read, review, and giveaway blake mycoskie's new book, i obviously jumped on it.

start something that matters was a quick, easy, informational, and helpful read. i finished it in a couple days; i simply ate it up. my copy is dog-eared with stories that i want to remember, websites that i want to utilize and more.

given that i run my own little knitting business, but have dreams of so much more, it was an inspirational read. having a sneak peak into his business has also given me ideas on how to run my classroom, interact with others, etc.

i highly recommend getting yourself a copy.

that is, if you don't win this one.

i will pick one winner randomly this thursday evening. to enter, you may do any or all of the following [separate comments, please]:

Comment below sharing one way you would like to make an impact on the world.
Tweet about this giveaway @smeyleigh @TOMS
Follow veryloveleigh through Bloglovin and/or GFC.

Have fun & good luck!

decisions.

2011-12-16T22:00:00.000-05:00

to eat or not to eat . . . that is the question.

you see, i purposely requested to have this same student two years in a row . . . clearly anticipating this moment.
& if i eat it, i will basically have absolutely nothing to look forward to for the rest of my life.
. . . she is going to high school next year, unfortunately.

hi dad.

2011-12-15T22:29:00.001-05:00

three cheers for my favorite very loveleigh model & blog stalker extraordinaire!

gotcha!

plain jane.

2011-12-14T22:26:00.001-05:00

Coat: H&M, Flats & sweater: Target, Jeans: Silver

so, i spent most of my sunday babysitting for "michigan royalty." aka richandfamous.

no, really.

kitchen-bigger-than-my-house-royalty. i'm-afraid-that-they're-spying-on-me-as-we-speak-royalty.

definitely camera-in-the-teddy-bear kind.

long story short, i drove an escalade.

. . . & i was pimpin', if i do say so myself.

you know what i learned though? a big lesson about life.

you could not pay me enough to be a millionaire. [no pun intended].

it's no fun! there is so much that they miss out on.

i am so grateful for my little home. it's cozy, modest, and i share it with people i love. i don't care that my car is rusting and has dings. because i have had it since i was 16 & its memories can never be replaced. i am so grateful that i have clothing to wear, even if it is mostly from target.

i like working hard for things & the feeling i get when i complete a project, whether it's raking the front yard or knitting a cowl.

i love that not everything has gone my way in life. i'm grateful that people have said no to me. blessed that i've had to overcome obstacles.

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:12-13

so, while some may get their panties in a bunch about someone's last name or social status, i know where my standing is with the one who matters most.

jump, jump.

2011-12-13T19:30:00.005-05:00

Jumper, leggings, & knee socks: Target, Long sleeve: Forever 21, Cowl: very loveleigh, Boots: Chinese Laundry

"hello, my name is leigh & i still wear jumpers."
hello, leigh.

oh, the comments that come with this dress. today, my favorite little "gansta" told me, "you look NICE, mrs. m!" another student said, "only you can pull this off."
this is much better than the hecklers; those who point out that only small children wear jumpers.
(or hot brits like jude law. . .)

but--i must say--i rocked the jumper and turtleneck combo back in the 90s.
& i'm proud to still represent.

warmth.

2011-12-12T17:17:00.000-05:00

Top: DIY, Jeggings: J.Crew, Boots: Naughty Monkey, Belt & black shirt: Forever 21

so, i may or may not have been able to pull off the whole wearing a blanket thing, but i'm going to go with it.
primarily, because i worked hard on that sucker.
but mostly because it is warm & i can pull my arms inside it like a turtle.
a very warm turtle.

merriment.

2011-12-11T20:37:00.001-05:00

i received the prettiest wrapped gift in the mail this past week. unfortunately there is no picture of the complete set because i was too impatient to open it.
inside was a gorgeous scarf & an adorable little owl, sent by my new friend, mary, as part of danielle's scarfament swap.
thanks so much mary & danielle! the blog community is so much sweeter because of the two of you!

has anyone else ever blog swapped? it's a lot of fun! i think i'd like to do more.

what i wore: cutting down the christmas tree

2011-12-07T20:06:00.001-05:00

Sweater: Gap, Turtleneck: C&C California, Pants: J.Crew, Socks: Target, Boots: Hunter

for starters, i lied.

we actually did not cut down a tree, much to my dismay.

because it was raining . . . & laying in the mud & rain sawing at a spruce tree does not sound like {joy to the world.}

no, it does not.

so we went to the tree farm--inside the greenhouse--& picked out Sir Tree III.

he is perfect and green & drinks like a sailor.

. . . on that note, i'm off to water him before he burns the house down.

real or fake trees, everyone? i have to know! i just can't do a fake tree. it's like i actually love finding pine needles everywhere.

sunday.

2011-12-05T20:59:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, we decked some more halls.
Moses clearly approves & Jesus provided a free car wash today, don't worry.

weekend.

2011-12-04T21:47:00.001-05:00

Mr. M & I had a lovely weekend full of twinkling lights, good movies, football & a LOT of knitting. I cannot believe that I only have two more weekends to prepare for Christmas & [still] 14 more days of school.

Holy moly.

Congrats are in order to Rachel--the winner of a lovely 31 Bits necklace. Still dying trying to find out how to show the random number generator. Thanks so much to everyone who entered. Look for another fun giveaway this week!

happiness.

2011-12-03T21:10:00.001-05:00

If you haven't been living under a rock, I'm sure you've been captivated by Naomi. I absolutely love her happiness lists.

ten things that make me terribly happy:

a husband who is incredibly talented at hanging christmas lights--& braves his fear of heights to make me smile.
evening walks to starbucks in the dark & cold december air.
sweet-smelling candles.
watching old movies.
emails alerting me of etsy sales.
middle schoolers who believe that glitter grows on trees.
catching up with best friends.
my furry gray kitten.
teacher discounts!
knitting club.

give this christmas away

2011-12-01T22:39:00.001-05:00

[via]

What if I told you?
You have the power
To give someone hope
Far beyond their wildest dreams

What if I told you it’s right there in your hands?
In your hands

It's hard to imagine
How something so small
Can make all the difference
Tear down the tallest wall

What if December looked different this year?
What if we all just

Give this Christmas away
If there’s love in your heart
Don’t let it stay there
Give this Christmas away
And your life will be changed
By the gift you receive
When you give this Christmas away

It’s feeding the hungry
It’s serving the poor
It’s telling the orphan
You’re not forgotten anymore

It’s doing what love does
Even when no one’s watching you

For God so loved the world, He gave His only son
So we could be His hands, His feet, His love
His love

-Matthew West

a little {bit} of love.

2011-11-29T16:49:00.001-05:00

31 Bits is a cause and a company that is very close to my heart. I was so happy to have the chance to welcome their products into my home [and my school] this holiday season so that people could see, touch, and hear about all that they are doing for the women of Uganda. I would definitely consider having a house party if this is something that you would enjoy.

I've been planning a couple Christmas giveaways for this month, and I'm happy to start by giving away this beautiful necklace. It is made of hand-rolled paper beads & would be a great way to wear & share the message of hope and love that is 31 Bits.
To enter [separate comments for each, please]:

Go to 31 Bits & share your favorite item.
Follow very loveleigh through bloglovin'.
Like very loveleigh on Facebook.
Like 31 Bits on Facebook.
Blog or tweet about this giveaway: @smeyleigh and @31bits

A winner will be chosen on Sunday night. Happy entering!

Out takes.

2011-11-28T20:37:00.001-05:00

Because every Monday needs a few laughs, here are a couple of the hilarious out takes from our Christmas card sesh this weekend.
The gorgeous gal is my love, September. Yes, I named one of my favorite cowls after her. The young gent is my bro-in-law & her beau.
As for the Christmas card, you may just have to wait. Well... family & friends may have to wait too until I can find a good--ahem, cheap--way to turn it into a card.
Suggestions always welcome. :)

long weekend.

2011-11-27T21:16:00.001-05:00

From the beginning of September to Thanksgiving is probably the longest, most tedious stretch of time for teachers. The husband & I have seen this to be true--and even more so since we have a brand newsy house to keep up with.
Enter a five day weekend that I could not be more grateful for.

Finished projects: furniture, upholstery, crafts, Christmas lights, gutters cleaned, yard raked (ouchie), Christmas card photo shoot.
Time with family: delicious apple pie, football, good food, simply being.
Time with friends: house party, errand running, Trader Joe perusing.
Reading, napping, old movie watching, knitting, shopping...

The best of the best kind of weekend.

a thousand words.

2011-11-27T00:32:00.001-05:00

you know what they say! ;)

sorry for my little vacay--be back soon!

giving double, part 1

2011-11-23T08:40:00.001-05:00

I have a confession to make. Christmas shopping--at the crowded stores--makes me want to hyperventilate.
I love to give handmade, either by myself or someone else (no hyperventilation here), but I also like to give something that gives back!

Here are a couple of the companies that I have used in the past or plan on using this year to give gifts to my loved one:

1. Got Your Back Movement

Got Your Back donates a school uniform for every t-shirt sold. As a teacher, this cause is so close to my heart and I share with my students how badly kids all around the world want to go to school & how grateful they are to have a uniform to do so.

My favorite GYB tee:

2. The FEED Foundation

I recently became aware of this company & have my eye on a couple of their products. Both of the following products provide 10 school meals to children who are hungry.

Have you heard of either of these companies or purchased from either? I have a super list of other businesses I will be adding, but I wanted to stay away from giving overload today.

Mr. M & I will be spending the day working on home projects (woowho!). . . wishing everyone a wonderful holiday weekend!

so...

2011-11-22T18:16:00.001-05:00

I was going to have a serious post today. A wonderful post, if you will.
& then--on a whim--I had my eye make up done.
& then proceeded to spend my entire life savings on said make up.

Which is awkward.

Do you know what else is awkward?
Wearing eye shadow on two occasions previous to this:
--as a member of the "Twirlettes." (Oh, you didn't know about my baton talents?!)
--during my one time gig as a "hair model." (I was quick to add that to my resume.)

Whaadya think? Should I return my impulse & stick with Targ or Ulta?
Should I contiue to share the same make-up routine as 6th graders?
Suggestions are always welcome. <3

kinleigh.

2011-11-21T17:25:00.001-05:00

I love my new cape.
I love my polka dot dress.
I love baby Kinleigh that was born today (minutes ago, actually).
....& so I am off to go meet her.

Have a beautiful Monday!

Yellow.

2011-11-20T21:31:00.001-05:00

For those of you who follow me on twitter, you'll know that I was debating between yellow & red Hunter wellies. Well, fate decided for me when I stumbled upon the perfect pair right before going to the Michigan v. Nebraska game. (AMAZING game, bytheway.)

Not only will I be sporting my favorite color, but they are a nice addition to my Michigan spirit wear. Now, if I could just find navy fleece liners...

Hope you all had a winning weekend! :)

i survived.

2011-11-16T21:15:00.001-05:00

... riding in the backseat of my car alongside my new dry sink. It was an uncomfortable, albeit successful, trip.

Oh, & the first night of parent-teacher conferences too. Only 28 and a half more years to go. Yippee!

lovely things.

2011-11-15T19:14:00.001-05:00

the color red
anything polka dots: including my polka dot pinterest board
getting fun things in the mail
having friday off of work
knitting
new girl
new hunters (thanks gilt groupe)
matchbook magazine

Sweater & skirt: Target
Blouse: H&M
Leggings & Earrings: Nordstrom
Boots: Naughty Monkey

btw.

2011-11-14T20:21:00.001-05:00

via

Have you met my BBFF (blog best friend forever), B?

The coolest thing is that we became good friends in real life!

& now we teach together.

& eat crepes, drink coffee, and chat.

& now she's my unofficial cowl model.

...you have to admit, she's rockin' it.

november ten

2011-11-10T18:31:00.001-05:00

Top & Belt: H&M, Pants: Target, Bag: F&H Snood: veryloveleigh

plus: F&H,
soy cinnamon spice tea latte on the way to work
sunrise accompanist (see above)
wearing yarn
"pointe" leggings.
fabric & handle tote

wish:
oops. i need a coat
drat. i should have trimmed that loose end
daylight, where are you?

november, november, you're truly "something else."

thief.

2011-11-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

You would think that because I am a "blogger" that I would seize photo opportunities when they present themselves.
. . . fail.
So I "stole" some pictures from a be-autiful baby shower that I attended on Sunday.

Sep, Kate & I

Mama & Daddy

September (gorgeous girl in pink cardigan who is Where's Waldo-ing in two pictures) planned the party to Pinterest-perfection.
My favorite part? An ABC pattern book that we created for baby Kinleigh (do you LOVE the spelling?).

I didn't take a picture of my pages, but I created "M is for Moses" with a rhyme & a picture of a furry gray kitten & "Y is for yarn, yummy & you" which featured our close group of friends, yarn, lollipops & other goodies.
I took this assignment VERY seriously & I cannot wait for the book to be laminated & bound.

Is this not the most clever idea ever? What's your favorite shower/party activity?

advice.

2011-11-07T21:35:00.001-05:00

Do not--I repeat--do not. . .
settle for anything less than God's best for you.

I am so grateful for a hard-working husband who works his tail off all week & then doesn't hesitate to rake our seemingly-enormous yard.
Who mails my packages, drops off my library items, and cooks dinner because I have a meeting.

. . . & creates the most complex cardboard cat mansion that our furry gray son could ever dream of. (Bonus points for this one!)

bits & pieces

2011-11-06T20:42:00.002-05:00

Thanks to a successful trip to IKEA, our house is looking a little bit warmer.

Three cheers for a new chair, pillows & dining room chairs.

Oh, and Moses is pretty cute too.

late leigh

2011-11-04T17:48:00.004-04:00

1. magical backyard

2. do i want to buy this? yes.

3. five guys.

4. pumpkins!

5. slippers from my mil

6. curtains?

7. funny girl

8. bag-o-goodies

wednesday night lights

2011-11-02T21:29:00.000-04:00

From a young age, I was always a huge high school football fan. As a little girl, my dad would drag me to the games with promises of popcorn & blow pops and I would sit and watch the cheerleaders with adoration.
In high school, I enjoyed attending with my friends. Bundling up, painting our faces, being a part of the student section; I always enjoyed those crisp fall nights.
Tonight, I was able to experience a (middle school) football game from the perspective of a teacher. I watched my students punt, tackle, pass, kick . . . cheer, tumble, yell . . . text, flirt, socialize . . . play their instruments, hang with their friends, talk to their parents . . ..
Best of all, I held [cold] hands with my husband, showed him off to my students, laughed with my friends and received lots of hugs & waves from the stands and the sidelines.
I'm so grateful for football games, and wouldn't trade any of these memories for the world.

just treats

2011-10-31T16:23:00.003-04:00

It was such a treat to wear my lovely Moon River dress to our friends' wedding this weekend. I honestly cannot say enough about this dres; it's the perfect combination of classic, unexpected, and flattering.
If you haven't already, go check out Shabby Apple. It's such a lovely company with the perfect dresses for any occasion. I own two dresses and receive many compliments each time I wear them.
Plus, when you wear something lovely, you just feel a little lovlier.
Am I wrong?

...& now I can't stop singing "Moon River."
Happy Pumpkin Day, loves.

"riveting" news.

2011-10-28T18:48:00.002-04:00

I was able to pull off my "lady from the poster" costume today. Who knew that 34 cents of fabric and a little imagination could go such a long way? Oh, and a little impromptu sticker creation (see my "name tag").
Halloween is always a little crazy when you spend the day with middle schooler students, but Rosie toughed it out.
One of my student said, "you look just like her. You should play her in the movie."
Oh . . . kiddos . . .
Which movie?

Good thing we still have a lot to learn this year.

Also, congratulations are in order to Miss Jessica for winning herself a lovely bowband! (So frustrated that I cannot figure out how to post the widget, but it randomized #1.)
Thanks so much to everyone who entered. You can all enjoy free shipping this weekend only with the code FREEFALL.

Wishing you a super start to your weekend!

fyi.

2011-10-27T22:01:00.001-04:00

I was counting the ticks of the clock today.

Why?

Because I wanted to come home and watch episodes of The Lying Game while knitting.

Teenager?

Grandma?

Naw, just typical.

Pssst. 24 hours, ya'll. Last chance!

momma said

2011-10-26T18:37:00.000-04:00

...there'd be days like this. There'd be days like this, Momma said.

Speaking of Momma, she also said that this dress was a LITTLE too busy. What I wish she'd said was to top it with a colorful scarf or a bib necklace.

Oh well, I love Momma anyway.

Psst: two more days to enter the giveaway!

free to be kind.

2011-10-25T20:08:00.001-04:00

{source}

If you have an extra three minutes & three seconds, I would suggest going here. You know those times when you think, "I wish I had thought of that"? Well, watching these girls inspire kindness all around the country makes me wish that I could be right up there with them.

My favorite part of the video is when the women says, "We may not all be beautiful, we may not all be smart, we may not all be talented, but we can all be kind."

Do you have any "Mean Girl" memories from school? Maybe you have Mean Girls in your life right now.

Wouldn't it be nice to encourage kindness for our future generations?

Oh--and also--would you like to win a loveleigh?

looking up.

2011-10-24T20:57:00.003-04:00

Just like any other girl/human, I find myself getting down on myself. I find that one of the best things that I can do when I'm in one of these moods is to "look up."

So here are some things that help me do that.

Free coffee/hot cocoa
Friendly people
When husband puts his arm around me right before I fall asleep
This green blazer
Creating things that people love/enjoy
Visits from friends
Making things with my hands
Hope for the future
God's word
An open window + breeze

What are some things that help you look up? Maybe winning a bowband, perhaps?! :)

bowbands.

2011-10-22T18:25:00.004-04:00

I am so excited to announce a new product to my etsy--bowbands!
A little experimentation turned out a product that I have grown to L-O-V-E, love. Each headband is not only cute & stylish, but super warm.
I have been wearing mine around the house lately. Brr.
To celebrate my new addition, I'm giving away the headband above.
& lucky you; you have a whole bunch of opportunities to enter:

Visit the shop and leave your favorite item below in the comment section.
Like Very Loveleigh on Facebook.
Follow this blog.
Tweet @smeyleigh or blog about this giveaway.
Pin a bowband picture on Pinterest.

Please remember to leave seperate comments for each entry. Giveaway closes Friday night, October 28.

Good luck & stay warm!

passing notes.

2011-10-18T19:01:00.001-04:00

That's all for today. :)

Wishing you all lots of 7th grade love notes.

hold me closer headless dancer

2011-10-17T19:11:00.002-04:00

Hi, it's me.
Doing the headless jig.
. . . with a blurry background.
Mr. M says that I blame him for "not having a better blog, to which I quickly responded, "noooooo, but I should have married a better photographer."
Or I should have been more photogenic.
Or I should just shake what my momma gave me.
Wrong suggestion? Awkward.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. We spent ours watching the Wolverines loose . . . then the Tigers . . . then the Lions. But I knitted up a storm & created a loveleigh Facebook page, so not all was lost.

word.

2011-10-13T19:32:00.000-04:00

I realize that my blog has become a place where I post a whole ton of embarassing pictures of myself. It's kind of awkward . . . but also kind of normal.
In all of my adult responsibility, I made a splurge purchase today. On this nail polish; Cocktail Bling by Essie. It makes me smile.
. . . & also causes me to myspace-lip-pucker. My students tell me that, now, it's cool to do the peace sign the other way. They are SO talented, they are.
They also have taught me that it is not okay to dye my hair in the middle of the school year. They stare. Their mouths gape. They cannot concentrate because . . . their teacher's hair is different.
True story.

a happy story.

2011-10-11T19:40:00.002-04:00

Jay* is a tall, big 8th grade boy. Students may call him a bully, teachers may call him lazy or a trouble-maker, but I call him a hero, today.

At about 8:45 this morning, I noticed a bigger student, wearing a football jersey, sprinting away from the school. I didn't really think too much about it--especially since I was about to administer a standardized state test to 34 anxious 7th graders. It wasn't until later that I found out that while I was sharpening pencils and reading directions, Jay was saving another student from danger.

This morning, one of our school's cognitively impaired students "ran away" from school. She had traveled quite a distance--in search of mangoes, in fact--and was about to cross a very busy street.
When Jay saw that she had wandered off and was in danger, he sprinted the length of approximately two football fields to help steer her from danger. He left school (many actually thought it was him that was running away) and risked getting himself in trouble to help someone else.

The sweetest part? How he coaxed the young, confused girl back to school. He was heard speaking to her very sweetly and telling her that so many people at our school would be sad and miss her if she went away.

I am so inspired by his courage; his compassion. I believe that not many teenagers would do the same thing if they were in his position.

. . . and when I sang to him this afternoon (off-tune and goofy as ever), "Did I ever tell you you're my heroooo?" I was being completely honest.

*Name changed

lions & tigers & leigh, oh my!

2011-10-10T18:06:00.004-04:00

Your knowledge nugget of the day is that Ndamukong Suh's first name means "house of spears." Husband wanted to share that tidbit.

These next pictures are meant to be your laugh for the day. I'm quite proud of my lion face, I am.

Close up of the logo. Because the new one is so much cooler then the old.

Rawr.
Watching the Tigers as we speak. Lions are on tonight. It's a good time to be a Michigan sports fan.

wonderful weekend

2011-10-09T22:10:00.002-04:00

i took a gorgeous fall walk.

i enjoyed my birthday goodies from brittni.

we took a peaceful drive by the lake.

i relaxed with the windows & door open.

we enjoyed a little vanilla happiness.

we visited my favorite city.

& it was a splendid weekend.

not pictured: essie "wicked" nails & dark hair. maybe i will divulge tomorrow?

just wanna

2011-10-07T17:15:00.000-04:00

I just want to:

Take a nap in the sunshine & fresh air.

Knit to my heart's content.

Snuggle with the cutie in plaid.

And the one in gray fur.

Here's to a lovely weekend.

good things

2011-10-06T23:12:00.001-04:00

via

The last couple of days I have been thoroughly blessed.

Trip to my idol aka chiropractor

Coffee with Katie

Conversation with Katie

Dinner for twinsies' birthday

Dinner with my favorite teacher

(Ahem, crepes & coffee)

Softball game in this indian summer

The only bad thing . . . not one single picture of any of the above.

Do tell.

2011-10-04T22:09:00.002-04:00

Smells:
Coffee
Fresh cut grass outside my classroom window
Tyler "high maintenance" candle

Words:
Benevolence
Fortitude
Protagonist spectator

Sounds:
Jon Foreman, "Your Love is Strong"
Moses purring
Husband's breathing

Foods:
Canned tomato & noodles
Pancakes
Apple & caramel

Do tell.
Borrowed from Whitney.
(Photos from husband's team's soccer game today. Gorgeous day to be a spectator.)

dad, meet blog

2011-10-03T22:13:00.002-04:00

Blog, meet Dad

. . . doing "The Heisman" at "The Big House."

Hope you all smiled as big as I did. Or shook your head in disbelief.

a cowl-wearing kind of weekend

2011-10-01T13:56:00.003-04:00

A cowl-wearing, yoga pants-sporting kind of weekend is among us, here in Michigan.
Thanks so much to everyone for their prayers and well wishes to get well soon. I'm still struggling with this bronchitis--and my plans to watch movies all weekend have been thwarted by my A.D.D. personality.
I'm taking some time today though to pick out a couple things to purchase with birthday money. I'd really like a new pair of moccasins & straight leg yoga pants. Anyone have any recommendations?
Also--the highlight of my weekend has been the birth of one of my very closest friends' baby boy. Maybe ya'll get a picture of his cute-ness later this weekend.
Hope everyone's enjoying their weekend & staying warm!