So here we are at Monday again. I can't believe how quickly the week flies by!
I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now and have decided to scale back my already sparse posting to less. I will keep up with my So Canadian eh? series , but post when I have a moment or inspiration hits.
Why you ask?
You know I told you I got a teaching position that was supposed to be one day a week? It has now evolved to full time. Yes, my teaching partner has decided to call in "sick" since the first week of school, and those poor students have had several substitute teachers. It has been chaos. I am now taking over the class until this situation has been resolved. My heart breaks for the cute {and occasional orangutans} second graders... we have had tears of anxiety, parents concerned and staff in disbelief. I have never taught full time and in order to make it a success for those children and my sanity I need to focus on getting my units in order and the curriculum covered. So bear with me as I get that all in order and get adjusted to my new "normal"
And there is a class room that needs decorating!
So a few impending half-finished DIY projects are put on hold as well.
One project that has started but has slowed to a halt was I switched my son and daughter's rooms. In the process I created a mom cave, now my office, which will be my daughter's room when she comes home from university. It is a small room, but we figured after dorm living, it will be a castle!
Another quick switcheroo, for those following me on Instagram, is I switched my living room drapes with the ones that were in my daughter's room. I felt the stripes were too much for my now son's room and plain white ones would be best. With no time to hit Ikea, I just switched them up. I think they look great in the living room, perfect for winter. I call that shopping the house.
Sorry - grainy iPhone photos.
{Yes, they need to be re-hemmed}
The chandelier came down, and it hung up in my mom cave {aka D's room}. I have since re-painted the holes, brought in a bed and hung up art work. The silver leaf dresser needs to go, somehow crystal knobs and boys don't mix, go figure? My daughter doesn't want me painting over it, so I am on a hunt for a new bedside table. I want to paint it kelly green!
When I have a moment I'll photograph my "mom cave" so you can see how I incorporated my daughter's furniture in a different way!
And my bistro chairs are in the kitchen but I still want to do one more thing to them! One of these weekends when I am free, I'll get to it! In the meantime, here is a peek. Also sad, grainy iPhone, too lazy to whip out the camera and switch lenses, then stage, etc. I think you get the picture.
{Can we all just agree that those venetian blinds on the back wall are hideous?}
So, there you have it. My life right now in a nutshell......
XO Barbara
Oh Barbara - you are so busy!! Best of luck with the new position!! Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday!!
ReplyDeleteOh, how stressful! I hope you have a lot of fun teaching full-time, but I can totally imagine how tough it must be to have this thrown at you! I totally understand taking a break. We all need it sometimes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck settling in to your new normal Barbara! I find it really hard to find time for blogging {and blog reading} while working full time. The weeks just fly by and the weekends go even faster. Need to prioritize! I'm sure that you will get into a groove soon enough though. I will miss your posts, that's for sure.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Alissa
I'm sure the parents of those kids will thank you. Their education is far more important than blogging. We'll be here anxiously awaiting your tidbits!
ReplyDeleteYour house/life sounds like mine- so many rooms to switch and projects to do but so little time to do it all in. I'm sorry to hear about all the stress with the classroom- that same situation happened once at my school and I remember how awful it was. The kids are very lucky to have you coming in full time for them though- you'll do great!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my! Between that and Blend you've got a crazy busy week!! You'll need a glass of wine on Saturday! :)
ReplyDeleteWow, how exciting for you Barb!! Not at all what you had been expecting but maybe you have a new life in the making. Looking forward to hearing more about it this weekend!
ReplyDeleteGood Luck with your new position! I'm sure it will go great! Look forward to meeting you this Thursday at IDS! Excited!!
ReplyDeleteBarb - thank you for sharing (and for your email). I feel so much more endeared (word?) to a person when they share their troubles. i know you will do everything in your power to make those kids feel safe and happy. its evident just from reading your blog what a good mother and teacher (DIY tutorials) you are. Keep your chin up and know you are doing the right thing. Your home can wait. But seriously - those b/w striped curtains are AMAZING and they really punch up the room!
ReplyDeleteI understand the challenges of blogging and teaching full time! It definitely takes some time managing! Best of luck to you in the classroom.. I'm sure you're great!
ReplyDeleteBarbara! What a crazy life you lead. I'm so proud of you for taking up the cause of making an enjoyable and stable school year for those kids. It's a big responsibility, and I admire you for choosing it! The kids will have the prettiest classroom in the school with the greatest teacher! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWe will miss your posts but be here eagerly awaiting you!
xo
Love the curtains and those beautiful red chairs! Good luck with your class - not what you planned, but hopefully you will end up enjoying it full-time! Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteI admire you for stepping up and taking care of those kids! Hope the chaoos subsides soon. We will miss you but are always hear to listen. Keep in touch.
ReplyDeletewooo busy busy! Good luck with the kidlets! The curtains look amazing in your living room, love the shop-the-house changes you have made!
ReplyDeleteDamn kids, taking you away from us ;) I could not think of a better reason to post less. The bistro chairs are lovely and the room switches are going to be great...love the drapes. Be nice to everyone on the playground.
ReplyDeleteOh Barbara those children are so blessed to have you stepping up to take care of them ... and the parents better be VERY nice to you!! We will miss you every day ... but you are doing something so worthwhile ... please continue to keep in touch and know we are all supporting you!! xo
ReplyDeleteDitto what everyone said! You will be great - your house and your blog can wait. Take some time for you though in all of that!
ReplyDeleteYour house is looking great! All the best settling into your new teaching job. (And I thought I was busy!) Hang in there. You'll get it all done... somehow. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to be thrown in at the deep end! But I can't think of a better person for those kids at a time like this. They are so lucky to have you on board. And guess what - you can make that classroom yours until you're told otherwise :-) Decorating hodge:podge style. Did I mention how lucky those kids are to have you? See you soon! Hugs xo
ReplyDeleteLove the striped drapes in your living room and those red bentwood chairs. I think those you might be able to keep those Venetian blinds if you add trims/moulding around the windows.
ReplyDeleteWow crazy! Good luck with the now-full-time position, you'll do great! Post whenever you can - but no pressure!
ReplyDeleteJust a little busy... Life happens and so things change. I am also taking a bit of a blog break in order to refocus my website and blog. Good luck with the teaching position I'm sure you'll do wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteyou crazy smart creative talented lady...love everything! the chairs are great...the curtains...love them.
ReplyDeleteI am so proud of you stepping up to the plate for the gr 2ers! Blessings to you!
Holy Cow you are a mad woman! I love that you swapped the drapes, and you're right they do look awesome in there. I really can relate to the crazy. Hang in there with that barrel of monkeys. Sounds like you were meant for this. Oh and red chairs, Mom Cave! Love them and can't wait to see!
ReplyDeletewhew! I'm tired just reading about it all! Sometimes life just gets in the way and you gotta do what you gotta do! I'm sure the kids will be loving you :)
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