{ the snake }

So today was the annual visit to the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo for our sweet pre-k babies.  Since this year I dont have a class of my own, I really didnt think I would get an opportunity to visit those lovely, wild, exotic, stinky animals that reside at this super cool place.  But at 6:27 this morning, I received a text telling me to be prepared to go bc a teacher was sick and may not be going....

For me, that translated to "JEAN DAY!"  It's always a lovely thing to wear jeans to school.  Not quite sure why I find so much delight in the simple act of putting on jeans instead of khakis (or the equivalent thereof), but it sure brings a smile to my face.  

Back to the field trip....I went with a class that really Im not too connected with.  There are other classes at school that just get me (and I get them).  And some classes I spend more time with than others.  The one I went with today, I havent spent too much time with them this year.  But I will tell ya....there's nothing quite like the love a child has for you.  They asked if I was going to be their teacher today, and I told them just for half of it.  They just got so excited and started passing the news to classmates.  SO CUTE!  And it made me feel so good.  The other two teachers in there are good friends.  So I knew it was going to be an enjoyable trip.  

We got to the park and they were so excited.  It was freezing!  And we were gonna travel the grassland in an open air trolley!  It sprinkled a bit, and those babies were so cold.  We talked abt all the animals and which ones were our favorite.  There was even a time when we thought the zebras were gonna charge the trolley....quite the rush of adrenaline!  We fed the buffalo, spoke of how adorable the deer were as they followed the bus ahead of us (they werent deer, but Watusi cows), marveled at the camel and the Oreo cow, quacked at the ducks, awwwww-ed at the miniature horses, and tried to catch our breaths once we spotted the giraffes.  Really, today couldnt have been any more romanticized if we tried to make it that way.  These children were beautiful in their innocence.  It was amazing to watch them experience something brand new.

I digress....

This is actually going to be an ETC post....

As we were walking along checking out the other animals - peacock, albino peacock (who put on quite the show), kangaroo, chicken, capuchin, lion, bear, fox, cougar, iguana, billygoat, sheep, ostrich, pig, etc. - several of the men that worked at the park would walk around with this gigantor snake around their necks.  This thing weighed 80 pounds.  HUGE!  Our class had stopped to take a class picture and the guy with the snake was nearby.  After a brief convo with him, this snake ended up in the pic around one of the teachers' neck.  I snapped the class pic for them.  And as we walked away, I thought....I need to get a pic of it around MY neck.   

WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING? 

Obviously, I wasnt!  Regardless, I seized this opportunity.  We will just say I marked one off of my "31 for 31" list.....

TA-DA....

{ the wedding gift }

Sex and the City poem + Pitter Patter inspiration = Artistic Goodness

{ embrace the camera: october 13th }

This one was taken on a dock in Destin....in the middle of Tropical Storm Lee.  My sweet cousin, Julia, snapped it of the two of us.  It's just a lovely shot. Makes me happy.

Can you believe that I will be 30 in less than two months?!?!  I look so young....ha!

{ embrace the camera: october 6th }

 

I havent done an {embrace the camera} in almost two months.  I cant believe I let all that time go by without it.

But Im back.

Ok, the story of this weeks ETC picture:

There once was a girl named Lucy.  She got a different job at the school she worked.  She loved the job bc it was all abt numbers and data.  Lucy is a numbers and data nerd.  And the perfectionist in her makes her perfect for the job.  She and the secretary work very close together....each relying on the other in many ways.  Their jobs are somewhat intertwined.  Then one day, Lucy learns the secretary wont be back.  Lucy doesnt like this bc this means she will be responsible for both job duties.  But a week later, someone comes in and reveals that there is a temporary fill-in....and it's someone that knows the ins and outs(mostly).  Lucy is overjoyed bc now she can focus on her job.  Michelle, the fill-in, does a marvelous job.  She knows what to do and who to ask and where to find stuff.  She's truly amazing.  Lucy can rest easy knowing Michelle is in the office taking care of everything.  But then theres a small bit of bad news....someone has been hired to fill the secretarial position.  It's great news, but it's sad too bc that means Michelle is leaving.  Going back to do her real job.  Lucy loves Michelle.  Lucy has been very comfortable knowing Michelle was in the office doing things right.  One day week before last, another employee, Laura, came in to take a picture of Lucy and Michelle.  The first thing that goes through Lucy's mind is....OLAN MILLS POSE!  The end.

If only there had been a solid colored background....

{ 31 days of art: day 6 }

 So simple; Im almost ashamed to say this one counts.  At the Hob the other night, I found these little gift cards.  There are very few colors of cardstock I love more than I love kraft paper.  And polka dots!  Love!  The flower....just a design at the edge of a piece of scrapbook paper.  I just cut it out and glued it on.  The end.  Nothin' to it!

{ 31 days of art: day 5 }

So, yesterday's art is just a tad bit different.  I had a craft night with some friends of mine.  We made some reverse stenciled canvases with magazine and newspaper clippings.  Now, I did not actually get to work on one since I was the only one that knew how to do this technique.  Instead, I helped my friends, gave ideas, designed the stencil.  These pictures are of their canvases (not completely finished).  They picked out the colors and magazine and newspaper pieces and told me what kind of bird they wanted.  And they did all the mod-podging and painting.  I simply drew the birds and branches for them.  So that is my art for October 5th.

P.S. They all turned out sooooooo good!

I didnt draw this one.  This is Aynsleys.  She did all the work on this one, but it looked amazing.  I had to let you see it!

{ 31 days of art: day 4 }

I used to sell products for a company called Stampin' Up!  Check them out....pretty cool stuff.  In the 2+ years I sold their stuff, I accumulated a TON of craftiness fun.  Well, Ive tired of that kind of crafting (the cardmaking and scrapbooking kind of crafts).  And I have decided to sell my stuff.  I have a room FULL of stuff.  Seriously.  

Moving on, before I get rid of most of my things, I thought I would put some of it to use....one last time.  So here it is....today's art....

Now, to whom shall I give this?