check out my new camera and my awesome photography skillz.

(can you even see what I'm wearing? skinnies & flats: Target, shirt: Old Navy, sweater: thrifted, sunglasses: c/o Firmoo)

Yay for new-to-me cameras that I don't know how to use. I said yesterday was the worst, but I was wrong. Really wrong.

I mean, these pictures are rockin' though so I probably don't even need to ask for help on figuring this thing out.

I like how invisible thin this setting makes me look so I'll probably keep it around.

Welcome home, sweet camera.

And you can thank Kaitlyn for the headache these pictures caused.

copycat 21.0

(jeans: Old Navy, shirt: thrifted, flats: Target, bag: TJ Maxx, sunglasses: c/o Firmoo)

This is the outfit you wear for a lazy Sunday that includes an early lunch so you can drop your husband off at a friend's house for a camping/whitewater rafting trip.

And you don't have the desire to bathe, but you have to look like you care for the people of Qdoba might not give you the naked burrito you love so much if you left the house in what you slept in.

And I couldn't live without that burrito.

This is the twenty first copycat linkup. And I'm pretty sure I'm just now finding a rhythm to this madness as we're winding down.

But that's the way the cookie crumbs, friends.

Or burrito crumbles. In my mouth.

|| original pin || original website ||

The Rules

-Follow Texas Lovebirds and Trusty Chucks.

-Everyone likes comments! Please visit at least one other blog and leave a comment. Find new blogs! Make new friends!

-Do not link to giveaways or your homepage, link to a specific post about your copycat style and how you made the look your own. Linkups that don't follow this rule will be deleted.

-Please link back to the post and let your readers know what's going on. You could grab a button if you'd like (hint, hint).

HP + Intel + Project Runway: Pin Your Style contest

I don't mean to brag, but I use a pretty awesome HP/Intel computer for work. It makes tracking grades, answering parent emails, and lesson planning pretty much a synch.

Also, it's pretty lightweight and easily transported home, so I use it for blogging too. But what I use it for the most? Pinterest.

No lie.

My HP computer makes it way too easy to sit in bed and pin all the things. Not that I do that, but I've heard that some people do.

Okay, "some people" is me.

So when I heard about the HP + Intel + Project Runway: Pin Your Style contest, I used my exceptional pinning skills and got to creating.

red blazer | black pants | chambray shirt | herringbone dress | computer bag | nail polish | necklace

Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook™ The HP + Intel + Project Runway Pin Your Style Contest

Want to participate? Pin a photo of the HP Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook™ via the Pin It button on the Pin Your Style contest page. Then, build a board that represents that week's theme. Check out the weekly Pinsetter images on the site for inspiration.

Submit your board's URL into the site to enter. Then, share your board with friends to earn the most votes!

Win prizes like an HP Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook™ and a gift card to bring your style to life by getting the top votes for your board.

I love the sleek look of the Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook. It's stylish and lightweight as well as great for work and home!

And as a strong believer in spending money on things that can multi-task, this Ultrabook speaks to me. You know what else speaks to me? These outfits that make transitioning from day to night a breeze (just like the Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook, wink).

(look #1: dress: Kohls, chambray shirt: thrifted, boots: Target, belt: Old Navy, necklace: Claires; look #2: booties: Old Navy, belt: Kohls, necklace: Belk)

(look #1: red blazer: thrifted, pants: Kohls, tan wedges: Target, necklace: Forever 21; look #2: t-shirt: Old Navy, gray wedges: Kohls, necklace: Forever 21)

What's your favorite transitional piece of clothing? Make sure you include it on HP + Intel + Project Runway: Pin Your Style contest board as you create a look inspired by the new Spectre XT Touchsmart Ultrabook™.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

copycat {17}

(pants: Old Navy, tank: thrifted, sweater: H & M, boots: Payless, necklace: Lisa Leonard Designs)

I've been feeling very uninspired in my dress lately. I don't know if it's that spring break is justsoclose and I've lost focus. Or maybe in my heart I know it should be spring-like weather but it's not AT ALL.

Either way, I'm struggling to feel excited about clothes right now.

Anyone else know what I mean?

|| original pin || original source ||

I'm slowly working these boots into my wardrobe. It only took a year. I still wish they were taller, but whatever.

Did you ever buy anything you loved but didn't know what to do with? I do that more often than I'd like to admit. I'll spend money for any reason, really.

Link up time! Show us your copycat style!

The rules are simple:

-Follow Texas Lovebirds and Trusty Chucks.
-Everyone likes comments! Please visit at least one other blog and leave a comment. Find new blogs! Make new friends!
-Do not link to giveaways or your homepage, link to a specific post about your copycat style and how you made the look your own. Linkups that don't follow this rule will be deleted.
-Please link back to the post and let your readers know what's going on. You could grab a button if you'd like (hint, hint).

like a lady.

(blouse: thrifted, skinnies: Kohls, boots: Target)

The problem is, I'm not very lady-like.

I think burping is acceptable most of the time and farts still make me laugh.

I think it's one of the many ridiculous reasons I'm a successful middle school teacher. Basically, I've got the same maturity level as my students.

But as my daughters get older, I'm trying to teach them what is acceptable and what is not. And since teaching by example is most effective, I'm trying to change my ways.

It's not going well.

Now Elliott reminds everyone in the house the minute they fart that they must say excuse me. Like before you're even done farting.

It's super annoying.

One time someone farted and forgot to say excuse me. Elliott was greatly offended and so this person apologized for forgetting and said it. Then Elliott said, "Don't apologize to me, apologize to God. You hurt his heart."

Right.

Except I don't think God is offended by a fart. Actually, I hope he laughs at a good one every now and then also.

I told you it's not going well.

loud music in my minivan

(skinnies: Old Navy, t-shirt: Walmart, sweater & scarf: thrifted, boots: Target, bracelets: Kohls)

I don't know why that second picture got all orangey. I'm sure it has something to do with my superior photo-editing skills, but I could be mistaken.

Do people listen to the Kings of Leon anymore?

Asking for a friend.

If you would have told my 21-year-old self that I would, at 31 listen to very little hip and cool music, I would have laughed in your face. Also, I probably would have been drunk, but that's beside the point.

It's amazing what I listen to now: NPR, random Pandora stations when I remember to turn it on, and kids music. Occasionally, I'll listen to current hip hop (is that what kids call it these days?) and crank it up loud in my minivan.

But later, I forget that I've turned it up loud when I get back into said minivan and the shock of the loud music when I turn the key normally scares the pee out of me.

Then I remember I'm not young, I have less bladder control than I used to, and I would much rather prefer silence to music these days.

This post has been full of little gems, hasn't it?

I think I am done here.

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You know who does the whole motherhood thing pretty good? Julie at Back to the Basics blog. We can all learn a little something from her.

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Did you win the Valentine's book giveaway? Congrats to Amber, Jennifer, and Bethany! Check your emails for details on getting your awesome book.

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Make sure you enter to win a $100 Target gift card from Texas Lovebirds and all her amazing sponsors (that might be me...). This is too good to pass up!

to tell our stories.

[that is my oops-here-comes-a-coworker-as-we-try-to-quickly-take-these-outfit-pics-because-it's-too-cold-to-go-outside face]

(skirt, shirt, tights, heels, and necklace: all Kohls. I really need to vary my shopping places...)

[photos by the short, but nice Jess Bell]

I was summoned for jury duty recently.

The third time in seventeen months.  I didn't realize until I showed up that after serving, you are exempt from serving again for 24 months and I could have contested the summons. But really, I was looking forward to sitting in a large room waiting patiently for my number to be called and reading a book.

There is no part of my life that involves sitting in one place for a long period of time reading a book. So, actually, I got really excited for jury duty.

Please don't tell anyone I said that.

I don't actually want to serve on a trial though, because that takes too much time.

So I was released around noon and got to spend the afternoon walking around downtown, did a little shopping, went to renew my expired-since-October driver's license, and did a little thrifting.

My favorite thrift shop is top secret and in a bad neighborhood. It's full of gems and I walk away every.single.time with something I love. I will never share this place with anyone, it's that good. Don't ask, I won't tell you.

While I was there, I was working on adding to my obsessive book collection and I came across a fabric bound notebook that looked like a recipe book. When I started thumbing through it, I realized it was someone's journal. Specifically, a seventy eight year old woman's journal.

It immediately made me feel guilty for reading it. The very first page was filled with her thoughts on why she needed to get her story down on paper and why she had to do it now, before she started to forget all the best parts.

This made my heart hurt.

Who was this woman? What were her stories? And how did this book end up at a thrift store?

I would like to tell you I bought her journal. I have been known to buy a stranger's wedding album if I think it might be thrown away.

I did not buy her journal. But I've thought about it every day since passing it up and I wish I had.

This beautiful old woman wanted someone to know her. She needed someone to remember her stories.

I know that feeling. It is sometimes overwhelming.

And I wish I would have bought that journal.

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Everyone loves a good storyteller, right? We're drawn to them at parties, we want to spend time with them, and love hearing their words. One storyteller that I love to read is Beach Mama and I'm sure you'll love her too.

vintage books: decorating for valentine's day

I am a sucker for old books: cookbooks, children's books, classics, dictionaries, manuals. I buy them all with abandon. I love the look of decorating with old books, I love framing old pictures from books to hang on my walls, but even then, I have more than I'll ever need. And I keep buying more. So in the interest of avoiding becoming a starring-member of Hoarders Anon, I came up with some Valentine's day decorations using vintage children's books. You know, so I can buy more next time I'm thrifting.

 

These strands, or some variation, are everywhere right now. I got the inspiration for these streamers from this blog. Instead of magazines, I used vintage children's books. I found the red and white string at Target's Dollar Spot and was able to do both crafts with one spool. The inspiration post punched holes and tied knots to string the hearts, but my smaller hole punch broke so I took the lazy way out and taped them on. I also purposefully made the hearts different sizes and slightly different shaped. I really like the haphazard look it created. Some colorful washi tape would have been cute, but I didn't want to run to the store so I just used things I had on hand. If you don't have a door or window to hang these in, just grab a stick from your yard, spray paint it white and attach the streamers. Then it can go practically anywhere.

I don't even know where to give credit for this banner. Banners, like streamers, are all the rage. And I've see a variety of tutorials about printing on pages from books. So nothing I'm doing is new or revolutionary, but it's the first time I've done it so back off. I used an old textbook (the teacher's edition, ironically) to make this LOVE banner. First, I printed the L on regular printer paper and then matched up my textbook page over it, taped it down, and took turns printing all the letters taped down like that to make sure I got them somewhat centered. Then I found some random clip art hearts to blow up and print on the outside pages. I had the girls color one and I colored the other when they grew bored with Mommy making craft requests. I used the same Target Dollar Spot string as above and, while that washi tape would have come in handy again, I just used regular scotch tape because it's what I had. Next time I'm at the craft store, I might pick up some in red because I think it needs that pop of color with all the black and white.

And that, friends, is vintage book-inspired Valentine's decorations. Cheap and easy, just like me the way I like it.

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Did you win the devotional book giveaway? Congrats to Lynne, Ashley, and Barb for each winning one of the books! I sent your emails this weekend--can't wait for you guys to get your copies, you'll love them!

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Need more DIY-inspiration? Check out Kendra at Kreative Creationz for more great ideas!

five for friday

(follow along on Instagram: @themarygraham)

I didn't have school Monday because of the holiday, but it's still nice to have this week over. It's been frigid-cold for the past few days and I just want to be able to stay in bed and watch cartoons with my kids. That sounds like heaven.

1. Is there anything cuter than a grown man sitting in a kids' chair reading to a little girl? I think not.

2. Baked spinach chips via Pinterest. They were really good! Try it, you'll like it! (in your best Yo Gabba Gabba voice, please.)

3. Red high heeled shoes, you were beautiful, but I'm glad that day is over. And so are my feet.

4. Messy playroom closet and the perfect place for a little nap.

5. More thrifting: vintage blankets make me happy. And no, Chris Graham, there is no such thing as too many blankets.

Back soon with a book recommendation (that I've done before, but I'm throwing it out again for those of you that missed it the first time.)

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Still time to enter my devotions for everyone! giveaway. Go!

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Have you checked out Brunch with Amber's It's OK Thursdays? It makes me feel normal to read what other people rationalize. And isn't that the point of blogging--to find other crazies like us?? Okay, maybe that's just me...

kids + late night photos

(pants: Old Navy [first worn here], flannel: thrifted, sweater: Old Navy, flats: Target)

These pictures aren't good.

That's not really the point of this post.

But it does sum up my life right now: leaving for work before the sun comes up, getting home after it sets (hence, the indoor pictures), children that just want to cling to me when I finally get home, and a cute puppy that is waiting for me to bend down so he can French kiss me.  He's very affectionate...and gross.

I'm pretty back and forth about wanting to work full time or stay at home with my kids.  It really depends on the day, moment, and, sometimes, the second.

But right now, while things are so busy--too busy, really--I wish I was just at home.  Wearing PJs, wondering what I'll make the girls for lunch, annoyed with the dog, avoiding laundry, just being home and with my kids. 

I miss them a lot right now.

I've always over-committed myself, but as my kids grow, I'm realizing more and more what that does to them.  And I'm not happy about it.

So I'm working on doing less.  That's part of my desire for a career change--I want to focus more on my kids and less on other people's.  It's also a goal for 2013--to slow down, to say no to others more often.

There's lots of things I'm not sure about, but the importance of my kids isn't one of them.

I'm just worried that right now, they don't know that. 

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Speaking of kids, how/when do you discipline yours? Mama Marchand and friends have an interesting series going on right now and it's definitely starting some conversations. Go over and add your two cents!



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Come back later today for an awesome giveaway! Books, books for everyone!!