I like gnomes better.

(dress: Forever 21, sweater: thrifted, belt: Old Navy, tights: Vera Wang for Kohls, boots: Kohls)

I wish I'd wake up tomorrow with a tan so I could transition from tights to bare legs a little less painfully.  This white skin isn't ready for the world.  The world isn't ready for this white skin.

I wish I could survive on five hours of sleep a night and not want to kill everyone I meet the next day.  I could get so much stuff done.

I wish I had a little pet troll that graded papers in my classroom while I was gone every night.

I wish my babies would stop growing so fast.  Harper will be walking soon and then she'll officially be a toddler toddling around the house.  No more babies.  So sad.

I wish we were taking a vacation over spring break.  Darn financial responsibility.  Instead I get to thoroughly scrub my house from top to bottom.  The exact opposite of a vacation.

I wish I could wear my pajamas to school.

I wish that I understood what he meant when a student described my hair as "like a butterfly."  I think it was supposed to be a compliment, but I don't know for sure.

I wish my husband would stop ignoring me when I ask him to rub my back and feet every night.  Or maybe that troll could come and do it after he's done grading my papers. 

On second thought, I'd prefer if all trolls kept their hands to themselves. 

I don't trust 'em.

</>

February sponsors

As February winds down (which I kinda can't believe. . .), I'd like to thank all my sponsors for the month.  This is the first time I've had sponsors and, although I have no idea what I'm doing, they agreed to be a part of this mess with me and I quite enjoyed it.  I hope they did too.

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Laura @ Our Reflection

Laura is a photographer, blogger, mommy, wife, and lover of Jesus.  Her family's love of all things bikes makes me itch for warmer days and long rides with my family.  Summer, please get here soon.

blog | facebook | twitter | pinterest

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Lacey @ Little Miss Nerd Girl

Lacey is a student, mommy, blogger, and computer wizard.  She knows how to do things with web design that I can only dream of doing.  And she's hosting a crazy giveaway right now so head over to her blog and get in on that madness.  Target gift cards are involved so you know I'm there!

blog | facebook | twitter | pinterest

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Mocha Tree Organics

This organics-based company specializes in body creams and polishes that are also environmentally conscious and just plain good for you.  Kimberly at Mocha Tree Organics is offering Trusty Chucks readers 25% off their purchases through the end of the month. (discount code: TAKE25)

shop | facebook | twitter

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All That Glitters Accessories

This cute shop has handmade crafts for your house, your kids, and yourself.  Ashley at All That Glitters Accessories is currently giving away a fabric purse--make sure you enter before the giveaway ends on Friday.

shop | facebook

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Becky @ One Strong Chickadee



This girl is on a mission.  Becky started the new year with a goal to get in shape and it's so motivating and encouraging to read her journey, see her amazing results, and her courage.  Once you read her blog, you'll be sucked into her journey and her success just as I was.

blog | facebook

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Thirty One Gifts

shop

the last few days

(skirt: Old Navy, striped shirt: thrifted, blazer: Kohls, shoes: Target, bracelets: Target)

We got our February date night in on Friday night.  Just in the nick of time too.  Mexican food and a movie with friends.  The movie (The Descendants) was good.  Or at least what I remember of it.  I fell asleep at least three different times.  That's how exciting date night is for us.  Try not to be too envious of our lives.

We finally ordered a new kitchen door!  I was a little letdown, because I thought we could just waltz into the home improvement store, pick up a door, strap that bad boy to the minivan, and head home.  Alas, we had to place an order and it won't be here until the 17th of March.  That was very anti-climactic for me.  I thought Chris would get to spend Saturday night helping me paint it.  Instead he got to watch TV on the couch.  I know he was disappointed, I could see it all over his poor little face.

Guess who paid off her last credit card this weekend?  This gal (and her family).  We are officially credit card debt free.  And now to tackle those student loans. . .ugh.

On another exciting note, only four more weeks until spring break.  20 schools days.  Please, please, please go fast.

So that was our weekend, I hope yours was well.  Weekends around the Graham house seem to be pretty low key recently.  During the week, we're always running around, getting somewhere late, or cramming one more errand into the evening and then we crash on Friday night.  Which might have been why I fell asleep in the movie theater.  Or because I was up too late last week watching Downton Abbey.  Again, totally worth it.

All That Glitters Accessories giveaway

(accessories: c/o All That Glitters Accessories)

Guess who has another awesome giveaway for you??

Ashley at All That Glitters Accessories is giving away this cute handmade fabric purse (a $25 value!).  She specializes in custom crafts from rings and hair clips to bags and home decor.  Kids or adults, she's got something for everyone and I am so excited to have her as a February sponsor.

The giveaway ends at 5:00 on Friday, March 2nd.  

To enter the contest, comment below (include your email address).  Each additional entry must be in a separate comment.  

You must be a follower of this blog to enter (follow through GFC or Bloglovin').

(US residents only.)

Additional entries:

{like} Trusty Chucks on Facebook

{follow} me on Twitter

{like} All That Glitters Accessories on Facebook

{visit} All That Glitters Accessories Etsy page and leave your favorite product in the comment

{share} this giveaway on Facebook or {blog} about it

{share} on Twitter using @themarygraham in the message

Contest closes Friday at 5:00 and winner will be announced Sunday.

the second child

Harper felt left out because she didn't get to recommend any books like Elliott did.

So for all the little peeps out there, Harper Kimery recommends Goodnight Moon.  A timeless classic.

Also a classic? The illustrator's picture in the back of the book where he's smoking a cigarette.  Maybe it's time to update that part.

weekend read: Looking for Alaska

Remember how I discovered John Green through a friend and professed my undying love?

Well, I happened to have another one of his books on my shelf and wasted no time in devouring that one also.  It was just as good, I loved the characters just as much, and, at times, it was just as painfully beautiful as the last one.

I'm not sure if this is a John Green theme or it just happens to be in the only two books I've read of his, but dang, when teenagers die, that messes me up.  And even when you see it coming--which I kind of did--you're still messed up by it.

The main character, Pudge (real name: Miles), goes off to boarding school to find his Great Perhaps and finally makes friends.  Two of his new friends, the Colonel and Alaska, introduce him to all the things his parents told him to avoid: cigarettes, drinking, girls, and pranks. 

Pudge falls hard for Alaska and while immersing himself in boarding school life, comes to realize what his life was lacking back home when he avoided relationships.  But as with most teenagers, Pudge and his friends often forget that they aren't indestructible and some things can't be undone.

Looking for Alaska, just like The Fault in Our Stars is a quick, smart read.  The banter between the characters might be lost on the majority of my students and there are a couple awkward makeout scenes, so I would definitely say this book is more appropriate for the high school crowd than the middle schoolers I teach.  I'm not going to book talk this one because that peeks too much interest and I wouldn't want some kids to read this.  Instead it's going quietly to my shelf where it will wait patiently for the right student.

(Random side note: on the Nerd Book Clubs post last week, they referenced this book's characters and I felt a little moment of happiness when they did.  Just a little dorky bibliophile moment, I guess.)

mockingjay

(dress: Kohls, sweater: thrifted, belt: thrifted, tights: Target, boots: Candies)

I stayed up last night until 1:00 AM watching Downton Abbey.  I'm exhausted today, but it was well worth it.  I'm so in love with it that while getting ready this morning, I was thinking about what the characters should do for their current problems.  Like I could solve everything.  Apparently I need to get a life.

On another Mary-get-a-life note: The Hunger Games presale tickets went on sale yesterday and so I'll be buying those soon.  Like today, probably.

As soon as we heard the movie was being made, Chris and I vowed to go to the midnight showing.  That would have been a first for me, but I think Chris might have seen a couple Lord of the Rings movies at midnight (dork).

But now that we actually know the date, it's not going to work.  But on the plus side, it opens the last day of school before my two week spring intercession so I could technically go see it everyday for 14 days if I felt the need.  I don't think I'll be doing that, but I'll leave my schedule open just in case.

Lord Crawley

(corduroys: Kohls, shirt: thrifted, sweater: H & M, shoes: Kohls)

I caved to the peer pressure.

I think the final straw was reading all about it in US Weekly  while at the gym last week.

And if it's in US Weekly, that means I need to get on the bandwagon immediately or get left behind.

So I got on the bandwagon.

I started watching Downton Abbey on PBS.

And I'm already hooked.  I was at school yesterday trying to figure out how I could avoid all responsibilities when I got home (like making dinner, playing with my children, talking to my husband, etc.) so that I could lock myself in our bedroom and watch another five or six episodes.  I realize this is not healthy or helpful, but it is true.

The bad news is that season two's finale was on Sunday night so I really need to pace myself so I don't have to wait months without an episode.

But the truth is, I'll probably get caught up with both seasons by this weekend. 

Sleep be damned.

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happy birthday little sister

Eighteen months. 

That's all that separates us.  When I was younger, I didn't understand that number. 

But now, as an adult and as a mom, I comprehend the magnatitude of two children only eighteen months apart.  I understand the chaos and sleeplessness and exhaustion.

And what started out as (probably) not the best laid plans, has turned, in adulthood, into the greatest blessing. 

A built-in best friend. 

When we were younger, I remember people telling us that we would grow up to be best friends.  I thought that was the oddest thing.  Especially since we were so different.

But they were right.  Now I would call her one of my best friends.  Someone who knows me too well and likes me (most of the time) anyway.  Who understands where we came from and how it still effects us.  Who is learning, again, how to be herself.

Melissa, I know your life didn't turn out the way you planned, but I believe it's turning into something better.  And what seemed like such tragedy is turning into such beauty. 

Continue learning to be strong, rely only on God, and know that no one can take care of you the way He can. 

You deserve such joy.

Happy birthday and here's to your best year yet. 

please be spring

(leggings: Vera Wang for Kohls, dress: Target, sweater: thrifted, shoes: Target, infinity scarf: thrifted, lip stain: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie.)

More sickness.  That's how our weekend went.  I was sure things were looking up, I was starting to feel better.  We even made it to the gym on Friday after work.

Where, I think, the girls picked up something. 

Something that made them puke all weekend.  It appeared late Saturday afternoon and didn't leave until Sunday night.  Perfect timing stomach bug.  Thanks.

On the plus side, Harper passed out on me Saturday night and we got to cuddle on the couch.  I never tire of that.  And the whole family got to spend Sunday morning laying around watching Toy Story 3 and giggling. 

I lost count of the number of times I had to clean up throw up.  Or the number of baths Chris gave the girls this weekend.  And the minute Ellie starts feeling better, she slips on the wood floor and busts her lip. 

It sounds like such a crap weekend.

But it wasn't.  Not really. 

And I'm kinda sad it's Monday. 

a wintery mix

Apparently I can't wait until the weekend because I bought this last night on my way home from work.  Completely by accident, I promise.  (I'm wearing it with this dress.)

This morning during a rousing game of Apples to Apples with some students, a male student was mad because his card of "Steve Martin" was not picked as a good describer of infatuation.  Listening to him try to persuade his classmates was entertaining because it was obvious he didn't know what the word meant.  After the round was over and his card was not picked, he muttered under his breath, "Well, if I ever meet Steve Martin, I'll be infatuated."  My response to that was to laugh out loud.  Which in hindsight, as a teacher, my first response should have been to help him learn the correct definition, but being the awesome teacher that I am, I just laughed at him.  I love middle school.

Look at that face! She cracks me up--that hair, those big teeth, the curled lip.  That expression pretty much sums up her attitude.  She is so feisty and full of spunk.  The personality bottled up in that little 18 pound body makes me so happy.  I'm glad it's Friday so I get to be with her for the next few days.  I'm sure we'll spend lots of time playing chase--it's a big hit with the ten month old crowd these days.

I've been sick all week and am finally starting to feel better today--which is perfect timing since I get to spend the weekend grading 97 essays about a talking cat.  I hope you can read the excitement through the computer.  I'll type it again just in case you missed it: 97 talking cat essays.  Let me know if you want to get in on that action. 

    

weekend read {for kids}: Llama Llama

Weekend read for the kids!

When I discovered I was pregnant with Elliott, my first baby purchase was a children's book.  That might explain a lot about the number of children's books we have in our home.  And while I'm not going to start lecturing on the importance of reading to your kids (IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT), let's just say I practice what I preach in the reading department.  As a teacher of middle schoolers, I can pretty much tell if my students were read to as children or not.  And I carry that reminder home with me everyday which means my daughters read books frequently. 

For Ellie's birthday last week, half her presents were books.  And not presents from us, but our friends and family.  We just love us some books.  And so I thought I'd share what Ellie is loving right now and what I'm reading a lot of since she's loving it but can't actually read yet (slacker).



The Llama Llama series by Anna Dewdney is a big hit with my three year old.  Llama Llama does all kinds of big kid things that my daughter can relate to right now: starting school, getting sick, not wanting to go to bed, and being mad at his mom.  All great little stories that (mostly) rhyme.  The best part about all these books is it ends with snuggling or loving or hugging Llama Mama. 

These books are fun, quick, and especially good for bedtime reads (Ellie enjoys picking really long books to read at bedtime to prolong the process and I have started refusing to read more than 5-7 minutes for the bedtime read.  Mean Mommy, I know.).  Plus, Ellie likes to ask questions while we read and these books set parents up for good questions (about being sick, about being mad, being scared at school, etc.). 

We only have the four pictured above, but there are many more Llama Llama books published.  And Dewdney has other, non-Llama Llama books too. 

Ellie also received the Llama Llama plush for her birthday so now all readings include Ellie holding her own Llama Llama. 



Llama Llama Red Pajama is the most well-known in the series and would be a great gift for a preschooler or a good book to pick up the next time you're with your kids at the library.  It's guaranteed to be a hit (with or without the stuffed animal).