oh, school year.

here is an ode to school taking up my life:

i sure do love to teach

though there are days i'd rather be at the beach.

if only i still had time in my day

to bake and blog and lay.

school is taking up all my time.

therefore, less time for the important things in life: blogging.

however, a lot has gone on.

check out a fun weekend at artprize in grand rapids:

 apple orcharding.

 arting. (almost like farting, but not.)

 mp3 experiencing.

 carmel appleing.

life is beautiful.

in other news:

i haven't baked anything other than the weekly cookies that matt requires. (it's true, he requires baked goods on a weekly basis. i don't hate it. it means i get to mix things and chomp on cookie dough.)

instead...

my extra-time world is consumed with christmas ideas, creations, and bargaining. (don't say it's too early. the earlier, the better the deals. don't test me.)

unfortunately, i can't share such things on here. (because, duh, maybe you're one of the ones getting something from me!

but i can share some fun things i've found:

dip-dyed candles!

fabric clutch

homemade finger paints

candy cane marshmallows

and those aren't even the best ones... because i'm creating all of those!  so just wait... you'll see the goodness in a few months (and let me tell you, these are good enough that even matt is on board. which is saying something.)

so what else have i been up to?

making lists for christmas.

wanting to take our christmas picture (which will be AWESOME. i planned it out).

wanting to decorate. but not being allowed.

wanting to talk nonstop about christmas.

so, you can see where my mind has been...

joy to the world!