The Last Chapter

it's December in fifteen minutes. 

unreal. 

found this on Instagram

via inadesignerhome

i liked this idea of The Book of 2014. 

An encapsulated year that .when it's done.

there's a new brand new book, 

sometimes a sequel. 

always new characters and problems

all story elements are there.

Cross that word

perfect

though

the bane of human existence - this constant, sometimes unconscious search for perfection.

nothing ever is. 

and as the years pass -and these Books are written

 that lesson is learned over and over. 

so why does the word even exist? 

... . ...

You have one month to finish the Book of 2014. 

Make the last chapter worth reading. 

11:29 pm

a sleeping .puppy girl
a snoring cat

and this newly discovered band.
quite lovely.

four years later

i wasn't even looking
but you were there.
.peering out at me
two wheels hanging over the edge of the matchcar stand in the middle of the CVS check.out line.

the pink cadillac.
Could you have been more obvious today?
you talked about that car so much.

your face isn't clear in my mind four years later.
that makes me sad.
my heart. hurts.

but it wasn't your face that made me feel so loved.
it was all the other parts.

the ones unseen.

when i try real hard and even in moments when i don't, you sneak up on me
.your presence right beside me.

even four years later.

the Line leader

Today, an epiphany occurred in this brain of mine.

I was dealing with adult stupidity, for which i've lost all patience. 

My patience is almost endless when it comes to the kids.. . almost.

So when it comes time to deal with adults, i expect somewhat mature 
- wait, not mature [that'd be boring] - cross that .. .

responsible behavior. 

but someone who decides they are going to give me a hard time about the safety in my home. 

nope. 

wrath delivered. 

.back to this grand epiphany. 

my second graders and i we were on our way to gym. 

i sent them to the corner in the hallway, where they wait for us all to line up. 

The stragglers finally joined the line. stumbling out of the classroom with the aide at their side.  

and i started off down the hall, my mind racing.

here's what i'm going to do. 

here's what i'm going to say. 

the kids followed along dutifully, several falling out of place as if blown by the wind. 
  

But the first young lady in line.. . I could feel her presence beside me. 

I could see she had her shoulders back, her head held high. 
She was proud to be first.
In that moment, she was untouchable. 

Now remember - I'm still enraged about the above situation. 

The ridiculous adult with whom i've been overly patient.
Who i've asked to help keep my home safe and he has waved me aside like a bystander in my own life. 

What would I want this young girl to do?
What message would I want to be sending her? 

What would my advice be -  if she was in my place?

What role model will i choose to be in this situation? 

So when i dropped them off, I immediately came back to my room and sent off several texts relating my expectations. 

Shoulders rolled back, head held high. 

Don't mess with me. .. 

My second graders got my back. 

today's repeat. 

.my camera roll lately.

i'm embracing the holidays like i've been told by this lovely amazing woman.

pomegranate in piles. back at the grocery story. 

i've missed you. 

at target - found this cheesy, fake tree on sale. 

only $20. how can you resist? 

once it's covered in ornaments. 

i'm golden. 

my next project. found on instagram. 

who's going to help? 

https://twitter.com/2GsClass

white lights in the .young oceans

i'm in bed next to a snoring dog.

i'll admit i kinda don't mind it. 

i kind of like it.

.her breath is warming my arm

she keeps me cozy 

this girl o' mine. 

but.. . i am stuck awake. 

stupid headache. 

stupid 11:30. 

stupid excedrin. 

______________________

so here's what's happening 

______________________

with each passing day 

it's nearing Christmas. 

I'm not such a fan. 

all the stores seem to forget that Thanksgiving is next
.. . not the December holiday. 

so this [pictured to the left] 

is how i'm adjusting 

.tossing up some white lights in my bedroom. 

total ghetto style.

when December does finally roll around, I won't be so shell shocked. 

we'll see how well this works. 

colored lights in a week or so, if needed. 
but i'm thinking that's just crazy talk. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Two reasons this hit my heart. 

1.  Love the way he describes the class. 

     .the discussion. 

     .the thoughtful back and forth. 

     .the questioning 

     .it is a snapshot into my daily life. 

2. the first This ______________ .. .watch it. 

______________________________________________________________________________

Young Oceans
give them a .Listen

The .Power of Red

i've fallen in love with this lipstick. 
it's the real deal, no normal everyday nude. 

wore it to work this morning.. . reapplied it when my kids were in computers.. 

When I picked them up a student asked, "Do you have lipstick on, Miss Anastasio?"

. . followed by an echo of little girls complimenting me.

who would have thought kids would recognize the power of a little red lipstick? 

towels in the background = super classy

i was scrolling though my playlists and discovered this song.

if you see some crazy thirty-something wearing bright red lipstick, going mad crazy 
singing on the top of her lungs
 .. that .Would. Be .Me. 

these lyrics. the chorus.

but you're not gonna break my soul.
this is the part of me, that your never gonna ever take away from me. 

that was then and this is .Now. 

yes. yes and Yes.

RECENT .PINS

via: GPS

i'm thinking this should just say - A Person's Behavior is an Iceberg. 

Does it really only apply to kids? 

via: Socially Speaking