Friday, May 15, 2015

Friday Five

I don't usually do these "themed" posts, but May is just one of those months. My brain is completely overwhelmed with a million things; a random Friday post is just what I need!

1. Lately I've been kind of addicted to true-crime novels about serial killers. I just find them intriguing! Of course, the downside of this latest reading binge is that I've been a little wary about running alone at night. My head is filled with terrifying, true-life murders!
Killer Clown was surprisingly good despite the corny title. I'm really enjoying Harold Schechter's writing, too.
2. I needed a pick-me-up the other day and decided a new shade of lipstick would do the trick. I rarely wear anything brighter than a berry color, but lately I've been loving this red! I've gotten a few comments on it; the funniest thing is that I haven't changed the rest of my makeup routine at all, but suddenly people are like, "Oh, you're wearing makeup!" I guess a red lip is pretty noticeable.
I'm especially loving that this color stays on through a whole day of teaching!
3. Our gardenia plant is in full bloom right now. Matt has been picking the flowers and putting them around the house. They smell amazing and are just so pretty and delicate. I hope they last all summer!
Who needs to buy flowers when these grow in your backyard?!
4. One of my oldest childhood friends is getting married May 24 and I wanted to buy a new dress for the occasion. After ordering four dresses, I've finally found a winner. The only problem I'm facing now is deciding on my hair! It's time for a trim, and I can't decide how much shorter to go. I'm probably over-thinking this, but if I leave it how it is I could wear it up; if I cut it shorter I could wear it down, but it won't look very formal if I wear it down at its current length. I foresee a haircut in my future.
This is actually a super unflattering photo, but you get the idea. I don't usually wear light blue, but I think I like it! Also, I spy an Archie-bird.
5. The end of the year is looming! My students have been presenting their research this week and their final papers are due today. Their finals for ELA are early next week, we're on the fast-track to finish 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by next Thursday, and the following week we'll be in DC for the 8th grade trip! I need to have all the projects and finals graded before then. I love this time of year but it's understandably stressful and overwhelming. Emails like this from old students really help me remember why it's all worth it.
This student created a surprise for a teacher she loves this year, which is what she's writing about at first, but the bit about the research project is what really made my day!
We 8th grade teachers spend so much time trying to convince our students that high school is a whole different playing field and that we're trying to empower them to be successful in the future; every year current students don't believe us and previous students come back and tell us how right we were. I guess hindsight is 20/20 haha.

So that's it! I'm looking forward to a restful weekend. May is never a big running month for me, and I'm trying to stay active, but I'm also not stressing about missing runs. I'm not in training right now and I'm truly in survival mode; getting rest when I can is my top priority!

What five things are on your mind?

ABK

26 comments:

  1. Happy Friday! I love the dress that you picked and that lipstick looks wonderful!

    5 things that are on my mind today?

    1. I have a 5k this weekend and it ends on an uphill.
    2. I have an 8k next Saturday and it will be my first race where all finishers get a medal.
    3. My boyfriend and I are going camping for our 3rd anniversary on the 29th and I cannot wait.
    4. I'm only a couple of months away from having enough for a house down payment.
    5. I'm at 196/500 miles that was my new years resolution to run in 2015 :]

    Good luck with all of the grading!

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    1. How did your 5k go? I bet you conquered those hills!

      I love the 8k distance for a race! I hope you enjoy it!

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  2. Archie's photobomb is adorable!

    I'm planning on experimenting a bit with a red lip as well! I have three(?!) formal events next week, which is like, beyond crazy for my usual yoga-pants and flip-flop wearing self. I'm not in a position to buy new dresses at the moment, so I need to find ways to liven up ones I've already worn a few times, and I just got my Sephora birthday gift, which includes a red lip crayon thing. I was hoping that a red lip might brighten things up, but was a little unsure until I saw your photo. It looks great on you! Very wearable with just a bit more oomph.

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    1. I like that photobomby picture, too! He's such a sneak.

      I am weird about red lips. I think sometimes it's too orangey looking. But this shade (it's Revlon's matte balm in Adore) is really flattering!

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  3. I like the red lipstick! I think you should wear your hair up with the blue dress...I like that color on you!!
    I hear you on the craziness of May--we are on the home stretch--almost there!!

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    1. I ended up getting a trim and I'm looking at updos for short hair so I can experiment a bit and find a cute one!

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  4. Love that dress!! I need to go shopping for a wedding I have in a few weeks!

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    1. Shopping for weddings is one of my favorite excuses to shop!

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  5. Love the red lipstick! I don't wear makeup very often, but that's a look I'd love to experiment with one day. The great thing is you don't need to wear a lot of other makeup - it's a very feminine look that really fills out the face.

    I'm interested in true crime too, but I'm a little self-conscious about it. Months ago I read a book about the infamous Lululemon murder a few years ago and the whole time I was like "...is it weird that I'm choosing to read a book about this?"

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    1. I agree...I love that lipstick helps make the rest of your face look put together, even if you're not wearing anything else! Blush does the same I think.

      I do feel weird when I read true-crime sometimes, but I think it's human nature to be intrigued by these gory, creepy stories! Like...what makes people turn out that way?!

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  6. Love the dress! And now I want to read all of those books. I don't have a device to read them on but you made me want to get one so I could have them all at my fingertips!

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    1. The worst part about having an e-reader is that it's SO easy to buy like 100 books and realize you just spent tons of money on them haha. I'm trying to be a smart shopper but there are SO MANY books I want to read!

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  7. You look great!!! Those flowers are so beautiful! I love the smell of fresh flowers from the garden.

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    1. It's been nice to have a "green" smell in the house!

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  8. I just heard that light blue is the in color for spring! So you're right on trend!

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    1. Ooh, good to know! I figured light blue was very spring-like even if it's not usually my color.

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  9. I love your dress! You look so pretty in it. I especially love the cut of it. I wish I had something nice to dress up for coming up.

    Honestly, the only thing on my mind these past few weeks is the move. Now that I am settled in, I can finally start to think about something else, like running and work.

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    1. The cut-out is what sold me on it. It's also SO comfortable, surprisingly. It's a little out of my comfort zone but I'm trying to step out of the little black dress box.

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  10. That dress is absolutely beautiful on you! You are gorgeous!

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  11. I never used to wear lipstick at all (always just light glosses or balms), and now everyone is giving me the "oh you're wearing makeup" comment too. I guess lipstick makes a difference!

    You look amazing in the dress - flawless!

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    1. I wonder why it took me so long to start wearing lipstick now that I see how much better it apparently makes me look lol!

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  12. Cute lipstick color! The Gardenias look beautiful.

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  13. I LOVE your lipstick and that dress is perfection! You look gorgeous!

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  14. I loved reading Ann Rule's true crime books, especially the one about Ted Bundy because he killed outside of WA state (her books are abut WA killers). It's scary that sociopaths can exist right in our midst and appear totally normal.

    Very cute dress!

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  15. I love that dress! It's very unique and a pretty color too!

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