Halloween Ideas

I fear I may need this for Halloween!  How cute! (via Fancy Flours)

Enjoy these Halloween ideas below a la Martha!

Word to the Wise

After my second epic fail with ordering shoes from a Nordstrom store to be sent to my house, my main advice for you is "Don't Do It!"  I would highly suggest ordering shoes from the website because they will be sent from their warehouse and not another store around the country like the stores order from.  The first time I ordered shoes from the Richmond store, I received my shoes (Tory Burch Revas) with scratches on them.  That was not satisfactory to me, so I returned them to the store.

This time, I went into Nordstrom to order some Born Lovely flats.  The 8 was way too big and so was the 7.5, so the sales person gave me some heel stickies to fill out the backs of the shoes.  They weren't in stock in the pewter color, so they had to be sent to me.  Well, they arrived last week and the 7.5 was way too tight.  So tight my feel would hardly fit!  So strange!  I called the store and they sent me a pair of size 8 shoes instead.  I got the 8's tonight and they fit great.  Except when I inspected them closely they had scratches all over them!  The manager told me over the phone that she would over-night me a pair, but still.  Nordstrom stores should not be sending out damaged shoes!  

Lesson learned:  Order from the website only and not the website!  I could have said just that and not vented on above, but what is the fun in that?

Hope everyone is having a great week!  I'm knee-deep in lesson planning and all things first grade but I'm loving every minute of it!

Stella & Dot New Introductions

Introducing the brand new arrivals to the Stella & Dot line!  These beauties were just released this week, just in time for the holiday season.  I've added lots of ideas for layering this pieces with others from the collection. Please visit my Stella & Dot shop for more information or to make a purchase, or email me for a catalog! (elassiter13@gmail.com)

Idol's New Judges

Have you seen American Idol's newest judges?

I don't know about you, but I probably not be watching this nonsense anymore!  

Jennifer Lopez?  Steven Tyler?  Is the final season around the corner?

PS - All is well in student teaching land.  I'm literally so tired I hardly have time for anything else, much less blogging.  I love my class but they wear me out!  Whew!  Welcome to first grade!

Easiest Dinner Ever

I made this for dinner last night and I was in shock and amazement on how easy peasy it was.  I'm so busy with teaching, I hardly have time to do anything, much less cook.  I literally threw all ingredients in the crock pot the night before and put it in the fridge.  In the a.m. I put it in the crock pot heater and started it up.  So simple!  You will love it!  From Gina's WW Recipes.

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 8 servings • Size: 9.85 oz • Prep Time: 5 minutes • Points: 3 ww points
Calories: 171.9 • Fat: 1.6g • Fiber: 3.8g 

• 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste)
• salt to taste

Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning. Serve over rice (extra pts).

Hair Do or Don't

I am not above adding extensions in my hair.  I've come to the conclusion that my hair is just never going to look good without some help.  I've tried every trick in the book to make it look thicker and fuller, but to no avail it still falls flat within an hour of primping it high to the sky.  I was just checking out hair extensions online and these Ken Paves Hair Do extensions seem so fun!  They supposedly just clip in and out really easily!  Has anyone ever tried them?  I'm dying to give them a go!  Thoughts?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I light 28 candles on my birthday cake!  I can't believe I'm 28 and how fast life has already flown by.  It actually kind of scares me, but I wouldn't trade where I am right now for anything!  Today is also my first day of real student teaching as the kiddos are back in school.  I know I will get lots of birthday love from my 24 first graders!  At the end of the day I'm sure I'll be exhausted, but I'm going to make the most out of today!

I'm so excited because I finally have a really nice handbag (thanks mom!).  It's the Kate Spade Wessbury Bess in Fern and it's so gorgeous!  Justin also got me the matching wallet and wristlet so I am all set for fall!  I feel like a very lucky girl!

Wonderful Day

Happy Labor Day!  This is truly going to be a great day!  Why?  One of my closest friends is in labor with little sweet Ava as we speak, I'm having a family birthday dinner tonight, the Hokies are playing tonight, my birthday is tomorrow and so is the first day of school!  It's going to be an awesome day!

Go Hokies!

Victoria's, Secret?

I think I may have found out Victoria's Secret... formaldehyde.  Oh, SO sexy.  A few weeks ago I bought one of the new Incredible bras from ole' Vickie's.  Incredible rash is more like it.  I have seriously had a rash on my side/back and it has not gone away since I started wearing the bra.  It's only where the back strap is on the side and it's seriously driving me crazy.

I decided to look into my bra woes only to find out that in 2008, there was a lawsuit against VS by a lady that had recurring breakouts only to find out it was from her bra.  The cause?  The chemical formaldehyde was found in their bras, you know, that stuff that embalms people.  You would think two years later they would have fixed the problem but now I am just not so sure.  My sides are just so itchy, and I am not one that has ever had skin on my body that was irritated by products, chemicals, etc.  So, this must be bad!  

Has anyone ever had these issues?  I'm not sure what to do.  Should I try washing it ten times in a row to get out the chemicals?  Should I return it to the store?  I loved the bra so much that I threw the receipt away and I am NOT proving my point to the sales person in the store.  I need some advice!

Wedding Wednesday

Today's post is short but sweet, as my life has gone from zero to 100 in two days!  You probably already know this, but I am now a Stella & Dot consultant!  If you haven't heard of Stella & Dot, it's a modern-day home-based jewelry sales business and the jewelry is fab-u-lous!  

Simplify your bridal party gifts with these earrings that would be perfect for the bride or bridal party!  They are sweet and fun with excellent price points!  Please view my S&D website for pricing and more information!  Also email me with any questions you may have!