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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Neighborhood Posters


I stumbled across these amazing Ork posters on Love Made Visible today and instantly fell in love with them! Several cities are available, including New York (Manhattan and Brooklyn), San Francisco, Chicago, and Boston.


Photo courtesy of Love Made Visible.

The Million Dollar Question

If every job in the world paid the same, would you still do what you do? Unfortunately, I think that my answer would be a firm "No." Granted, I certainly don't teach for the money.

I have become increasingly disillusioned by my chosen profession as a high school Spanish teacher. While I certainly enjoy making a difference to a handful of kids, having the summers off, and teaching the language itself, I have realized that it is truly a thankless job. I am constantly hearing things like "I hate Spanish."; "My mom made me take it."; or ignorant comments about how something is "So gay!". The sad thing is that when I bring this to the student's attention they have absolutely no idea that they've done anything wrong. I've been right across the hallway from a stabbing and have taught in a school where a shooting took place. I've had a student say "F*** you!" to me in class and have been disrespected a thousand times.

However, the kids aren't necessarily the worst ones. Parents can be something else and don't even get me started on the other teachers. The politics and dirty games played within a school are insane. You think the movie, Mean Girls was bad? Step into the teacher's lounge. I have recently found myself at the center of one of these horrendous rumor mills and I really think it is the last straw for me. I refuse to allow people to continue disrespecting me. I work too hard and bring too much of my work home with me to allow that to happen. I think the worst part is that I am not getting what I thought I would out of teaching. I've taught in the city and in the suburbs, so it isn't necessarily an issue of challenges or being needed by the kids. It just isn't enough for me anymore, and I'm not sure it ever was. I feel as if at this point, the bad far outweighs the good, at least for me.

I truly admire those who devote themselves wholeheartedly to the profession, and more importantly, to the kids. I admire them for their tenacity, dedication, and ability to navigate the rough waters without falling prey to the shark attacks. It is a very noble profession, but it is not one that I will continue in for much longer. Obviously, I will finish out the school year, but I don't know what I will do after May. I really have no idea what lies ahead for me, but I'd like to do something creative and different. I'm not exactly sure what on earth I will be able to do with a degree in Spanish and Italian Studies, but I have faith that greener pastures await me in the future.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!


I have been thinking about what I am thankful for this morning.


1. I am thankful for my husband, Fabian. He is truly my best friend. I cannot imagine living my life without him. He is my rock, my constant support, and the love of my life. He has accomplished so many great things recently and I couldn't be prouder. I'm so glad that we are able to build such a beautiful life together.


2. I am thankful for my wonderful family and their unconditional love. I am also quite fortunate because my parents and in-laws love each other and get along so well. This is especially nice during the holidays because we don't experience any seperation or drama.


3. I am so incredibly grateful for my true friends. I have recently discovered that some people can be very deceptive and aren't truly your friends. I know who my true friends are now. I know because they are the ones who have always been here for me and who truly understand what type of person I am. Thank you so much for the gift of your friendship.


4. I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. We have had a few blips this year which has made me realize that you really can't enjoy life if you are not in good health.


5. Lastly, I am thankful for my new interests. I have really gotten into cooking this year! It is so therapeutic and has given me something new to work on. I have loved starting my blog this year and love that it has opened up my eyes to interior design, another one of my new interests.


I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you all get to eat a lot of great food!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Bedroom Inspiration Update


You may remember that I posted some ideas for our bedroom about a month ago. (The picture that originally inspired me is shown here on the left.) Well, my ideas are pretty much the same. I’m still planning to do all white linens, paint the room taupe to match our bathroom, and add some accents in a cool blue-green color. I’ve decided not to go with colored lamps because I’m afraid I will eventually get tired of them. I think it would be best to go with a more neutral option, but I need your help deciding! Please let me know which ones you like best.



A shot of our bathroom. We will paint the bedroom the same color.


I bought two of these pillows at Z Gallerie to go on the bed. They are different colors on



each side.



Crystal Balustrade Lamp




Crystal Block Lamp





Crystal Chubby Column Lamp



White Gourd Lamp - Do you think there would be too much white in the room?



Gourd Lamp in Antique Silver Leaf- The picture doesn't do it justice. We would definitely go with a more modern shade.


All lamps are from Circa Lighting.





Saturday, November 10, 2007

Sex and the City: Personal Decorating Style

As a consummate fan of Sex and the City, I have always been amused by the fact that the girls' apartments reflect so many aspects of their personalities. It makes me wonder what people would be able to tell about my personality through my home.

Carrie's apartment is a complete reflection of her personality- eclectic, stylish, scattered, and very New York. It is a small, one bedroom apartment. While it is stylish, it is evident that it plays second-fiddle to her love of clothes and shoes. Unlike the apartments of the other three SATC girls, Carrie's doesn't feel "done". Carrie wears her heart on her sleeve and her apartment follows suit. Everything is out in the open. Nothing is hidden away. Her magazines are meticulously archived in her entry way, but the rest of the apartment feels very lived-in. The majority of her furnishings look like flea-market finds, but her showpiece is most definitely her closet, painted in a beautiful blue-grey hue. It is the part of the apartment that she has given the most thought to and has spent the most on. After all, the girl did say she likes her money where she can see it...hanging in her closet.



























Charlotte's Park Avenue apartment is classic, chic, and feminine just like her. It is filled with traditional furnishings and a subdued color palette composed mostly of beige, white, and pink. It is a huge space, especially by New York standards and that is evident in the apartment. Most of the rooms open into one another, so you are aware of the apartment's grand scale from any perspective in the space. Take the bed that Charlotte fought so hard for when she revamped the apartment from Bunny's former look of duck decoys and plaid. The bed is so huge, that special nightstands had to be built just to stand up to its size. Overall, the space has a very romantic feel, despite its history.












Miranda lived in a beautiful apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side before she and Steve moved their family to Brooklyn. It is obvious that she had help from a decorator, as she is always busy with work. Plus, we all remember the episode in season 2 in which her decorator gets engaged to the guy she wanted for herself. Who could forget those hideous frogs? Miranda's apartment isn't rough around the edges. As a matter of fact, it looks quite polished. However, it could be described as hard around the edges. Take the star burst mirror above the fireplace or her metal bed, for example. Like Miranda, they have cold, hard edges. Everyone knows that she tends to be blunt and is not one to mince her words. Yet those who know her, know that she has a big heart and a playful side. The multi-colored back splash in her kitchen seems to reflect that.















Samantha's apartment in the meatpacking district is totally her- sexy with an edge. The color palette is completely in tune with her personality. The bed is dressed in fire engine red, naturally. It's the color of passion, which Samantha has plenty of, yet her kitchen is a cool blue color. In my opinion, this is perfectly fitting because it reflects the fact that she has a very cool exterior and doesn't usually allow herself to get too involved with the men in her life. Of the four apartments, it is the space I like the least.




If I were to look at these spaces objectively and had no idea that they were from my favorite show, I would probably like Charlotte's or Miranda's the most, though I would make changes to both. Which space appeals to you the most? What part of your home reflects your personality the most?



All photos courtesy of HBO.

Happy Birthday, Leah!


Happy Birthday to my friend who puts the "fashionable" in "fashionably late!"! I'm teasing! Sort of. I hope you have a wonderful birthday alongside your hubby and two beautiful children.

This Week's Quote


“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”- Audrey Hepburn

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Project Runway Season 4


Season Four of Project Runway starts exactly one week from today! It is definitely one of my favorite shows. Bravo's reality shows are right up my alley, unlike all of the trashy reality shows on MTV like Date My Mom. I simply love Top Chef, Top Design, Work Out, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Flipping Out, and my absolute favorite, Project Runway (I think I may watch too much TV, but in my defense they all air at different times of the year). I find it so inspiring although I can't sew. I am awaiting the season premiere on pins and needles!

Monday, November 5, 2007

There's an Italian Bun in the Oven


I really love Giada De Laurentiis and am incredibly excited that she announced today that she is expecting a baby girl! I really enjoy both of her shows, Everyday Italian and Giada's Weekend Getaways. Her food is simple and delicious ( I got rave reviews on my herb and citrus Italian turkey last Thanksgiving). If you've ever watched Weekend Getaways, then you probably know that she LOVES chocolate! I always crack up at the noises she makes when she is really enjoying what she is eating. She just doesn't hold back.


When asked about her pregnancy, Giada said: "When I found out I was pregnant I was in complete shock," De Laurentiis, 37, admitted. "I truly didn't believe it. I honestly thought, 'there has got to be a mistake. " But as she watched the sonograms – first a "lima bean" then a "lemon" – the Everyday Italian chef said that when she could make out fingers and toes, it "brought tears to my eyes." -People.com


Giada and her husband, Todd, a designer for Anthropologie have been married for four years, but have been together since 1991. Their baby girl is due in April.

Link to the video of her announcement on The Today Show:
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&vid=3f80dde8-2676-4a6c-acf9-468d0eb773fd

Sunday, November 4, 2007

More than Half Way to Fifty


So, some of my students found out on Friday that today is my birthday. Most of them were really sweet and sang happy birthday to me. Then, boy #1 said, "How old are you going to be, Mrs. C? 26?". I said, "Yes! How did you know?". He explained that it was a lucky guess. Then, boy #2 decided to pipe in and say "Ha! You're more than half way to fifty now!". Jerk.

This Week's Quote