What'cha Workin' on Wednesday? Overcoming the "Too Pretty to Use" Syndrome

You all remember that three weeks ago, 

we attended a benefit for our Domestic Abuse Center.

And you remember that my hubby enjoyed some

time at the mock Casino Table,

winning the beautiful Coach purse!

For her first week at home,

she just sat on my dining room table...

Sealed in her Coach plastic baggie.

Was she too pretty to use?

Her leather is as soft as a new baby's skin,

plus she smells like the interior of a new luxurious car.

This problem is genetic.

I inherited it from my mother...she had it bad.

When I helped her move from her townhouse to the assisted living facility,

I discovered a cedar chest full of tissue wrapped gifts that were

"too pretty to use".

So, here she is....

with beautiful purple lining.

Loaded with the bare necessities...

For two weeks now has been

enjoying the good life!

Remember, you are worthy...

You deserve the pretty things that come your way.

Take care,

~Natalie

Where Country Folks Create Blog Party and a Pumpkin Patch Give Away

Seems like yesterday...however, it has been 2 months since the

'Where Bloggers Create' party.

If you missed my post, you may click here

for a close up peek into my studio.

This is where I sew, if the project is small.

For denim quilts and such, I move my machine out to the dining room table.

My desk is where I often sit to organize.

The vanity bench was my mom's...

I brought this home in July, since there was no space for it in her room at the assisted living facility.

The dresser beside the guest bed stores shipping materials...

tape, labels, note cards, and tissue paper.

The closet?  Ummm...please, don't ask!

It is full of patterns, thread, yarn, fabric, paint, tins, books, bags...

I worked hard yesterday to contain everything within and to get the doors closed!

This is part of hubby's shop.

I actually know how to use the band saw and have cut some simple birdhouses.

Usually, he does all of our woodworking.

Now, I love using the belt sander...

...especially after a tough day at school!

And...you've recently seen Amy's room that now houses my mom's custom built sewing cabinets.

This is where I hope to organize supplies and my finished projects.

It's always fun to take a peek into another artist's studio.

Please click here to visit the other participants in this blog party.

Pumpkin Patch Give Away

Anyone who comments on this post during the blog party,

August 15 - 21,

will be eligible to win a little surprise from my pumpkin patch.

Take care,

~Natalie

Happy Weekend ~

Enjoy your family and friends.

Make time to relax.

Take care,

~Natalie

Finally Friday and this week's Follow-Ups

Yesterday...Parent/Teacher Conference Day...just a long day, as we teach our regular schedule and then return for conferences from 5-9. Since there are 130 students on my day's roster, I was anticipating a busy evening. Feeling rushed and stressed, I did go home for an hour after school and when I returned at 4:55 I found this awesome box of chocolates on my desk...no note...no clues...you can see it is bigger than my laptop. I wish I could share with all of you!

30 years of commitment During staff development time today, recognition was given to the teachers and support staff that have been with our school district for 25, 30 and 35 years. Cookies, coffee and stories were served. (Do you see me there on the 30 year list?) These co-workers have been my friends since the 70's. Together we've been through weddings, birth of our children, graduate degrees, family crisis, budget cuts, death of parents, building a new high school, graduation of our children, etc. etc. Now, young, new teachers are filling in the spaces left, as we all look to our retirement in the next few years.
Blog Give-Away

Another high-light was the package that came from Sharon at the Old Oak Swing. I was the lucky winner of her January give away. It is still winter in SD so the cozy throw and devotional book is just what I need for my weekentd 'retreat'. Visit her blog to see what she is giving away for February!
Blog Award

Last week, one of my blog friends, Debra at Needles, Fabric and Thread, has honored me with this award. Again, making my day! I do enjoy checking in with so many of you on a daily basis. Since in January, I had a difficult time narrowing a list to pass this on to, I am happy for another opportunity to share this award. Today, I want to share this with

Scrap & the City ~ Jasmine

Dakota City Quilter ~ Lori

Bittersweet Punkin ~ Robin

Oakleaf Hollow ~ Julie

Primgal ~ Jody

Deb's Primitive Kitchen ~ Debbie

Momma B's Front Porch ~ Vickie

Painted Kreations ~ Kris

Hopeful ~ Hope

Rabbit Hollow Prims ~ Susan

Privies & Prims ~ Doreen

Child Development Guests... Here's another pic of Steph and her little nephew in my Child Development Class. It looks as if he is getting ready to say something to us. Anyway, his mommy, Samantha, left such a sweet comment on my Tuesday's post...these are the very reasons why we teach for thirty years...

Tips for a Postitive Attitude

More than 100 years ago, author Robert Louis Stevenson offered the following tips for maintaining a positive attitude...and they still seem so appropriate for today.
1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
2. Make the best of your circumstances. Everyone has problems. The trick is to make laughter outweigh the tears.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.
5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.
7. Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary burdens are harder to bear than the actual ones.
8. Hate poisons the soul. Don't carry grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.
10. Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has less time to be unhappy.

Best Wishes to my family and to my friends

for love, happiness and success

in 2009.

Labor Day Labors

My Personal Development Class keeps a journal for the term. Their first assignment is to personalize their journal cover by creating a collage of pictures, words & phrases that represent their personality.





This takes one class period of browsing through a variety of magazines. Some of these collages are very impressive. If you look closely, you will see little pics and words that, although small, may represent a huge part of their life their character.

The students receive a grade for their personality profile. They need to find a variety of items, they need to cover their background and they need to consider neatnesss. These samples are some of the most impressive.
Every other weekend, I bring the journals home...This helps me get to know the students much faster than I would otherwise. I am not critical of how they write, but interested in what they have to say.One of their journal prompts this week had been to write about...if you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be...

...answers included "a soldier fighting in Iraq"... to ..."Kendra from the Playboy Mansion" ...and most were somewhere in-between.

Another journal prompt was to write about a time when you felt out of place... One student wrote about that his brother died within the last two weeks; another said that "at school, I feel like I'm not good enough for anyone to hang out with"; and another said "always-when do I never feel out of place?" These are 3 students that will get extra attention from me tomorrow and all week.... And the girl that says "I dislike when I get used by my loved ones"... What exactly does she mean by that?

Most of the journals were typical teenage thoughts, but one was particularly refreshing...

"I love life...

I would never sleep if I had a choice."