Apparently it's Award Season

According to...well, everyone

Award season is among us. 

And yes it's a whole season,

just like winter, spring, summer, fall, and football. 

Except really, no one likes award season.

Especially the actual "awards" part.

It's fun for a little while,

but then you realize all the movies that are winning

are movies you've never even seen before,

if it's not an HBO show

it doesn't stand a chance,

and what the heck are all those "short films" and "mini-series" 

they talk about?

Unless it's one of those adorbs 

Pixar short films, I'm not interested.

Also, who exactly is choosing these winners?

Who the heck is "The Academy"?

However, thanks to E! we've all been given a reason 

to celebrate award season

and therefore, we're all tricked into thinking we enjoy it
(while also wishing we had Giuliana Rancic's job.)

What used to be a two-hour award show

has now been stretched into 

an hour live countdown,

a two-hour live from the red carpet event,

and an hour after party recap

in which we can find out who had a little bit too much champagne.

(However, none of that high dollar bubbly is coming at me through the TV

therefore, I'm not interested.)

Oh, and don't forget about the Fashion Police report that will come out

Special {insert awards show name here} Edition.

Now, don't get me wrong.

I do enjoy a good fashion recap. 

Particularly the heinous ones. 

And Joan Rivers is all kinds of hilarious.

I will also have my rear parked in front of each and every award show

over the next few months

because, let's face it, if E! says it's good

I believe them.

(Hence my Kardashian obsession.)

I'll also probably end up renting all the movies that win

since they aren't the movies I actually paid money to see in the first place

and I'll probably dislike them all 

(hello Hurt Locker)

but eh, 

it is what it is.

And folks, it's award season.

Hugs,

Dear Friday (plus some bloopers)

Dear YOU fashionistas, you - 

Thank you thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's Fashion Favorites Link-Up.

You girls did not disappoint, that's for sure.

(P.S. If you haven't already linked up, 

it's not too late!)

Dear Friday - 

I liked you a lot better last week 

when you came after a short three day week

instead of this five day work week biznazz. 

Ain't nobody got time for that.

Dear Master Bathroom Shower - 

Your water pressure sucks 

and you run out of hot water too fast.

I'm not sure why, but if you don't get your act together soon

I'm going to move into the guest bathroom permanently.

Dear Self - 

I know you don't like to toot your own horn but

toot freaking toot.

Way to stick to your gluten-free(ish) diet!

Here's to kissing that Humira shot good-bye.

Dear blog - 

Thanks for being such a fun hobby

and a great outlet.

I'm much happier hanging out with you

and watching Friends than I would be doing schoolwork.

And....because I love you so much.

I thought I would leave you with some pretty hilarious photo bloopers

from my first ever "fashion photo shoot".

Hugs,

Fashion Favorites

It's here, it's here!

And never I have ever been more excited for a Thursday.

For one, Grey's Anatomy is back.

I have to admit, 

I don't love it like I used to.

You know, like back in the good old days 

when Dr. Burke was still around.

And George and Izzy.

But it still has its moments. 

But more importantly, today means it's finally time for our Fashion Favorites link-up.

 

If you know me at all, 

you know I loooooove a good link up.

It's a great way to meet people

and steal their ideas.

I kid. I kid. Kind of.

When you don't know what to write about for the day,

link ups are a great way to get ya started.

Am I right?

I'm especially excited about this particular link up

because I'm co-hosting it with some pretty awesome (and fashion forward) ladies

but also because I can not wait to see what you lovely, fashion forward ladies 

have to come up with.

While I am a far cry from a fashion blogger,

I secretly love them. 

In my next life, I'm going to have endless money

and endless creativity 

to come up with super chic outfits daily. 

Just you wait.

Until then, I'll continue to live vicariously through y'all.

~

I originally wanted to link up my most favorite outfit.

But then I realized my most favorite outfit looked a lot like this.

The most comfortable pajama pants you'll ever find, t-shirt, hoodie.

with Willow as my most favorite fashion accessory. Duh.

And then I figured,

as your hostess with the mostest

I should at least try to step it up a notch.

So I picked my second most favorite outfit.

(Let the awkward photo shoot begin.)

Dress, leggings, Uggs, Pashmina.

Or really any variation of the above.

P.S. I'm also wearing the adorbs sideways cross bracelet from Brie's shop Sophistifunk.

I just can not get enough of her.

This time of year my go-to outfit

is a pair of leggings,

boots, and a scarf of some sort.

(Nevermind the fact that my mom showed up at my house last night

wearing an outfit eerily similar. 

I haven't decided yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing?)

It doesn't get too freazing cold in little old New Bern, NC

so I'm able to still wear a lot of my summer stuff

just in layers.

(ie. the dress above is actually a dress I got from a surf shop

years and years ago.)

And there you have it.

My Fashion Favorites.

Now it's your turn to put me to shame show me what you got.

Here's what you need to do:

 Get your post ready to go (or even link up a post from the past)

Follow all of the Co-Hosts

Erin - Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink

Karen - Patching Hearts

Jessica - Living My Fairytale

Anne - Hell on Heels

Marianna - Delightfully Dunn

Spread the news to the rest of Blogland (because we'd love you for it obviously) Jump around to other blogs to see their fashion favorites

Grab the button and put it on your post

Happy Thursday loves!


Hugs,

Thoughtful Tuesday

ping pong ping

That's the sound going on in my head right now.

As one trillion different thoughts bounce around. 

Think pinball machine circa 1980.

That was almost the title of this post bee-tee-dub. 

ping pong ping.

But then I decided that was kind of stupid.

So I went with something (hopefully) a little more clever. 

We've started assessments at school.

And let me just tell you...I don't know who hates them more.

Me. Or me. 

My kids definitely don't hate them, not at this age at least.

Although if they did....I imagine they would be somewhat like this.

David After The Dentist style.

For one, they have no idea what they're all about.

After I read an entire book to one of my students

because she couldn't even recognize one Kindergarten sight word

(I teach First Grade in case you forgot. 

That Kindergarten shiz should be under control.)

She looked up at me,

smiled brightly and said,

"I'm so good at this, right?"

For two, while I'm reading with individual students

the other 22 are going batshit crazy learning in centers. 

But you know what, 

those little tornados are just so darn cute.

Even when they're making you so stinkin angry. 

Like today,

while I was assessing,

 my kids (and assistant) set up our very own Skittle Factory

as part of our goods, services, wants and needs unit.

We had sorters, runners, baggers, supervisors, and pure madness. 

When I peaked in the room to make sure the squeals were 

"this is so much fun squeals" rather than

"she punched me in the face squeals"

I noticed one of my little worker bees,

laid back,

munching on the skittles she was supposed to be bagging.

And that my friends, 

is where the American work ethic begins.

She was "fired" because you can't eat the merchandise.

But secretly I was rooting for her.

I mean, hey, they're skittles

and completely irresistible.

I get it.

You go, Glen Coco.

Speaking of Glen Coco...

I watched The Notebook last night

before succumbing to the train wreck that is known as The Bachelor.

(I know that has nothing to do with Glen Coco,

but it's a movie I love to watch,

like Mean Girls,

and that's just where it went for me.

ping pong ping)

And I tell ya what,

I never get tired of that love story.

Noah Calhoun, yes please.

Speaking of things I never get tired of....

Pretty Little Liars.

Which is back on tonight. 

And all you loony-tunes who watched The Bachelor last night 

should definitely tune in to see some good,

quality television.

No crazy wedding dress girls here.

Just high school stalker/murders

and love affairs with English teachers.

Like I said, quality TV.

Also I never get tired of my puppy running up and down our hallway.

I swear, when I have kids in 15 years,

they better be able to entertain themselves as independently as that dog can.

I don't even have to throw the ball for her.

It's perfect.

Being self-sufficient is something we should all strive for.

On that note,

I gotta go.

Time for gluten-free chicken alfredo.

That's right....the yeast-free/dairy-free/gluten-free

(everything I love-free) 

thing is still going. 

How's that for an anti-New Year's Resolution.

Hugs,

P.S. Don't forget to get your outfits together for Thursday's Fashion Favorites link-up.

All the cool kids are doing it.

<a href="http://www.shadesofgrayandapinchofpink.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwZi2DHCx5t1DlkuLWOmrLV0oIla4VYlQ5MLtF90oXnbDGinmym_6F3Dz7raV7mm0FdzST9hXsY2Za1F8rp5_JBhQqwdf_gt_z5U6ZXCif-_Oyvs5cKeKKaCK4OZ-DHM42fIt51QAER0/s320/blogger-image--1009088132.jpg"/></a>

Fashion Favorites

So, in keeping with last week's post
and trying to stick to my New Years Schmesolutions
I'm co-hosting my very first fashion link-up with some wonderful ladies.
(Follow through with new blog ideas...check. Make an attempt to dress cuter....check.)

Here's the delightful deets:

It's a link-up for the fashion bloggers who never miss an OOTD and carry their tripods to the nearest open field to snap pictures of themselves.

But it is also for the bloggers who make fun of these fashion bloggers for staring at who knows what on the ground and constantly placing their hands on their faces.

No matter which category you fall into you're still wearing clothing right? And most of us tend to sport things that we actually enjoy wearing, so either way this will be right up your alley.

What it's all about:

Your favorite fashions no matter what shape or form they may be.

Whether this is:

 Your newest outfit you received you'd like to model off but haven't had a reason to yet A montage of the style staples you couldn't live without

Your favorite Outfit Of The Day from the past

 What you're currently wearing on the day of the link up

Even a picture of you as a child in the dorkiest of hot pink windbreakers and matching visors

This link up is entirely open-ended to fit whatever you feel the best in!

A flashy statement necklace paired with your newest J.Crew chunky-knit sweater? - Fabulous

Your pink polka-dotted tutu from your 6th grade birthday party? - Even better

Your husband's comfy black sweat pants with your kid's snot stains all over them? - Perfect.

Anything goes!

When it takes place:

This THURSDAY - January 10th, 2013

Who is running this thing:

Erin - Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink

Karen - Patching Hearts

Jessica - Living My Fairytale

Anne - Hell on Heels

Marianna - Delightfully Dunn

What you'll need to do:

 Get your post ready to go (or even link up a post from the past)

Follow all of the Co-Hosts

Spread the news to the rest of Blogland (because we'd love you for it obviously) Jump around to other blogs to see their fashion favorites

Grab the button and put it on your post

<a href="http://www.shadesofgrayandapinchofpink.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwZi2DHCx5t1DlkuLWOmrLV0oIla4VYlQ5MLtF90oXnbDGinmym_6F3Dz7raV7mm0FdzST9hXsY2Za1F8rp5_JBhQqwdf_gt_z5U6ZXCif-_Oyvs5cKeKKaCK4OZ-DHM42fIt51QAER0/s320/blogger-image--1009088132.jpg"/></a> 

We hope to see you all this THURSDAY showing off your stuff!

Now, I'm off to go plan my outfit because let's be real,
it's going to take from now until Thursday for me to think of something blog worthy to wear.
Can't wait to see what you fashionistas come up with!



Hugs,

I Hate New Years Resolutions...

They suck for several reasons.

1. They're always the same. 

Go to the gym more.

Eat healthier.

Be more organized.

2. They've completely bombarded my Pinterest newsfeed.

What used to be cute Christmas mantel inspirations 

have been replaced with cheesy inspirational quotes

and pictures of buns and thighs of steel. 

*Just for the record, cookies taste delicious, always, and running makes my knees hurt. This is not a good argument Pinterest.*

3. They never last.

Everyone is going to jump on the exercise, 

lose weight, eat better bandwagon

but before we know it,

February will be here and we'll be stuffing our faces 

with chocolate and wine.

The laundry still won't be done in a timely manner;

we still won't do that "clean one room of the house each day" bull,

and my thighs are still going to be a far cry away from "steel". 

2013 will look a whole lot like 2012 

in that regard.

So, did I make a list of New Year's Resolutions, you ask?

You bet your bottom dollar I did.

I mean, everyone's doing it, right?

{Sidenote: I do think it's ridiculous how everyone decides 

they need to start making better choices

about eating/loving/living/etc in January.

This is something we should be doing year round, folks.

Also, the extreme resolutions are never going to work.

We've got to be realistic.

End sidenote.}

So, for your reading pleasure...

my realistic New Year's Resolutions.

In 2013 I plan to...

1. Finish my 23 in 23 list.

2. Give my puppies lots of sweet kisses.

3. Make more of an effort to dress cute for school.

Seriously, the khakis and boat shoes have got to go.

I am not a 13 year old boy. 

3. Spend more time snuggling with my husband

instead of my iPhone/computer.

4. Continue to stay ahead of the game with lesson plans. 

So far, so good. Let's see if I can keep it up during the long stretch

that is February, March, April.

5. Eat more gluten-free meals.

(Okay, so this one may or may not be realistic.

I'm two days in eating no wheat and veryyyyy limited dairy 

(just one low-fat yogurt at lunch)

and it's no joke. I have lots of reasons for wanting to eat wheat/dairy free
and it's not to lose weight btw

but I also have lots of reasons for not wanting to eat wheat/dairy free.

French fries, sour cream, corn bread muffins, just to name a few. 

Nonetheless, I'm trying.

We'll see....)

6. Stop saying the f-word so much.

This one's for you mom.

7. Stop stressing out about the little things.

8. Rinse dishes and put them in the dishwasher

AS SOON AS I use them,

instead of letting them pile in the sink for days.

9. Wash my face every night before I go to bed.

10. Hug my kids more.

11. Call my Mema more.

12. Send out handwritten cards, just because.

13. Eat more some leafy green vegetables. 

14. Stop using so many paper towels every time 

I get the smallest drop of water on my hands.

15. Limit my complaining about petty things.

I can't cut it out completely.

Sometimes a good bitch-fest is juuuuust what the doctor ordered.

16. Finally follow through with the changes 

I've been dreaming of for this little bloggy-blog.

Stay tuned.

Happy 2013 y'all!

Let the crash diets begin.

Hugs,

Reality

And just like that,

we've all been thrown back into reality.

The reality of waking up before the sun.

The reality of blow drying our hair

and ironing our clothes.

Even you lucky college kiddies

are stepping back into your form of reality,

which I miss 99.5% of the time.

The .5% when I'm not missing the reality 

that is being a college student

is when I think about having to buy text books 

at the start of a new semester.

$100+ for a used book? 

And that's a bargain. 

Talk about a draaaaag.

That is...until I hear about great companies like CampusBookRentals.

Who allow college students to rent their textbooks 

for a fraction of the cost.

Apart from maybe three education books,

I never wanted to keep a textbook.

What was I going to do, read up on Geology in my spare time?

Psh. Renting textbooks is such an easier option. 

And CampusBookRentals is the best

for several different reasons.

For one, their books cost 40%-90% less than bookstore prices.

(Math was definitely not my strong suit,

but even I know, saving 90% is a lot.)

Plus, their website is super user-friendly. 

All you do is type in the book you need 

and voila, there it is. 

When you click on the book you want to rent,

you'll see a due date listed.

But, if that date doesn't coincide with when you need the book

you can select your own date to return it.

And, it's free shipping both ways.

That means you don't have to pay for shipping

when you order it, or when you turn it back in.

Oh and for all you highlighter, color-coding, OCD nerds

(like myself)

even though you're renting the text book,

you can still highlight all those important facts. 

And while allllll of these things are great,

it's not even the best part.

CampusBookRentals partners with Operation Smile,

an international charity that provides free cleft palate and cleft lip surgery

for children all over the world. 

This organization provides skilled, dedicated doctors 

to give children a chance at a better, healthier life,

one with many more smiles

(pun intended). 

When you rent your textbooks through CampusBookRentals,

part of the proceeds are going to Operation Smile.

Part of your money, 

that you were going to spend anyway on a ridiculously boring textbook,

is giving this child a better life.

Pretty cool, right?

If you're still not totally convinced, 

check out this video

that probably explains it better than I ever could.

Let's review.

if you're in college the rest of the "grown-up" world 

is ridiculously jealous of you

and you need to rent this semester's textbooks through

CampusBookRentals.

Cheap books. Check.

Easy checkout process. Check.

Good grades because you actually have the required book for the class. Check.

The chance to help a child in need. Check.

This folks, is what we call a win-win-win-win situation. 

Take it from me, the older 

and muuuuuuch wiser adult here.

You need to do this! 

Happy renting! 

Hugs,