High 5 for Friday!

Hello Lovers!

What a week! It has been some-what of a roller-coaster to say the least. I am ready to relax and enjoy my long weekend. :)

Here are my Top 5 Favs of the week.

1. Chili Flake Lipstick from JCrew. I wore it on my "Sparkly Dirty 30" birthday and it was the PERFECT red. I instagramed it because as everyone knows I am obsessed with Instagram and lipstick/glosses.

2. Speaking of my Birthday. My favorite photo from the night is... This one. I loved all the company, love, fun, and celebration of 30 trips around the sun. I cannot put into words how blessed and happy I am. I am in a good place.

3.My Dad's hyena laugh. Enough said. I had him on a roll doing my "Guys that want to marry his daughter" stand-up routine.. If you are wearing a chambray shirt, in a basement, drinking red wine.. Do NOT make that your online dating profile picture. Just sayin' and you're welcome.

4.Grading my students "First Day Jitters" worksheets and one student saying he wasn't afraid anymore because I am pretty and smell like Sunflowers. With that said.. I had my first "Defeated Feeling" moment as a new Teacher yesterday. I am over it and today was much better. Learning to let go of my Perfectionist attitude is tough and taking things one day at a time.

5. Being much more Spontaneous. I also like saying that word. Spontaneous..

Try and use it in a sentence today. Have a good weekend love muffins!

XOXO-Mere

High 5 For Friday!

I am plain exhausted from this wonderful week. Here are my Top 5 Favs of the week.

1. 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL! As a Teacher. Enough said!

2. Going to bed for the first time in as long as I can remember at 8:15 Tuesday night and sleeping the whole night.

3. My new make-up from my Parents for my Birthday. Especially new lip gloss set. I love my Bare Essentials.

4. Getting ready in the morning and actually feeling nice again about leaving the house all nice and put together. It has been years since I have done that every, single day! 

5. Embracing 30.. While I have my moments of sadness mourning my youth wasting away, I am ready to take on this decade.

30, Flirty, and Thriving...

Happy Birthday to me!!! :) I cannot believe I am 30 years old. I know it is getting old to hear me say this but my goodness!! Am I really THAT old??!! LOL

I felt sick today when I woke up. The idea that I am 30 years old just made me sick. I decided to take a shower and get ready for work (which is going amazing, BTW). In my shower, I started thinking about a few things... Reflecting on the decade of numbers I left behind and what possibly lies ahead of me. It hit me like a TON of bricks. My 20's weren't really all that great in all honesty. I did A LOT of growing, loving, hurting, sweating, running, work, etc. I was 60ish pounds heavier for most of my 20's, in a bad relationship/marriage, in jobs where I hated going to work every.single.day. (except teaching Preschool), and my life was completely derailed. I sat there with the hot water beating down on me and realized that I may not have a family of my own, or sweet babies of my own, and a house, but... I have a second chance.

I have done the work, gone through the hurt, and I am in SUCH a wonderful place. I almost hate to type or publish this in fear of jinxing myself. I have a healthier body, that although I may pick it apart every second of every day, it is a much better body than my 20 year old self, I started a photography business, and I am teaching. My whole world may be different but it is right where I need to be. Here's to at least 30 more years of good, good, stuff. I cannot wait to celebrate Saturday!!!!!

P.S. I could not find 1 photo from before 2 years ago that I haven't already posted. LOL

My Room!

So, I think I am finished and I am really excited with the end product. Here you go! :)

There you have it! Over 60 hours of work. I am so excited to start teaching tomorrow I can't even see straight. Life is good. :)

I decided to add something to the end of this. It is a letter to my students.

Dear Fantastic Fourth Graders,

It is the night before the 1st day of school and I am filed with such anxiousness and excitement to meet all of you and be your Teacher. I hope you all have a year full of growth, positive experiences, and you learn more than just the 5 subjects from me (and others). I want you all to grow into productive, powerful, intelligent, and fierce citizens who will go on to do so many wonderful things in this world. I want you all to know that my road to be your Teacher was full of struggles and hard work. From this, I want you to remember to never give up on your dreams, your work, your purpose, but most importantly... never give up on yourselves. Get ready to get to work tomorrow! We are hitting the ground running.

All the best,
Ms. Mooney
XOXO-Mere

No longer a "Yes Girl"...

Well hello there Loves. I am in a funky place these days so I figured what a better way to get it out than to blog about it?? Right. Anyway, I am in the home stretch of summer vacation which means... I am going back to work on Wednesday. "Back to work" is a relatively funny term for me because I feel like I have been working my tail off for a while. After losing my job in June 2011, I was looking for a sense of purpose. Yes, school was a main priority but I wasn't near finished and Teaching seemed SO FAR AWAY!!!! (cue dramatic *dun dun duuuuun* music) Photography was my gem. It was a rock that I pulled out of the ground, polished, cut, and shined into the diamond it has become today. So, it comes as no surprise I am struggling with the transition taking place this week. I hate telling people "No, sorry, can't do that.." It actually physically hurts me.



I feel like I am letting people down as crazy as that sounds. Maybe I feel that way because it's an extension of a greater let down in my life. (Not going there) I am struggling with all this and I know it will be fine. There are lots of other very talented Photographers out there who will take great photos of the people I have grown very attached to and their children. I am actually getting teary eyed typing this. I also know I am not "quitting" by any means. Just... scaling back. I am a person who gives everything I have to anyone and anything. I am realizing I am done being a "Yes" girl. I have to start doing what is best for me and this is the first step.

It is strange for me to even write this.. I mean, I am over the moon to be teaching so why in the h*ll am I even down about anything? I just need to get in my classroom, get set-up, meet my students, and live my dream. I think things are shifting and I am feeling it.. Hopefully, for the good. :)

Have a good one. XOXO-Mere

High 5 for Friday!

I am sooooooo tired but not TOO tired to post my Top 5 favorites for the week.

1. This week has been filled with sleepless nights, to-do lists a mile long, painting, crying, excitement, and editing. TONS of editing. So, at dinner tonight with The Familia we ventured over to Liquor Barn (we keep it classy) and my Mom thought I deserved this bottle of wine. I am not sure why she picked this one? ;)

2. My Party Dress came in the mail. It's short, off the shoulder, and sparkly. 'Nuff said. Speaking of party.. Shout out to my sister from another mister Mrs. Jamie Yeager. Against the Grain and Proof???!!! Amazeballs.

3. School supplies. Classroom prep just got taken to a whole new level with my post-it desk calendar.

4. Seeing my work printed. Specifically, these adorable Birth Announcements. I.DID.THAT. It's a cool feeling!

5. My owl candle holders. I mean, they are green and owls. That within itself makes it completely Meredith. I found them at Homegoods and had to have them. So.. I did.

On a serious note.. I had New Teacher Orientation today and I know I keep repeating myself but I am just in shock. I am really going to be a Teacher? I really did it. I am ready as I will ever be and I am also very overwhelmed at the same time. My head has been a bit fuzzy and my heart a little heavy. Work is definitely getting me through. And.. wine. Yes, wine. :) Have a great week and stay tuned for my classroom before and after post next week. Before will be posted Wednesday and after will be posted.. TBD. lol

XOXO-Mere

What I am obsessed with..

I love all things girly and fashionable. Hence, my Pinterest obsession. I decided to list the things I am crazy about these days in that area of my life.

1. Braids. French, fishtail, basic, half up, all up, sideways, bangs, you name it! My next challenge is the upside down into a bun on top your head. Good luck, there!

2. Colored Jeans. I know I have already referenced this in my 5 for Friday post but my coral ones are so awesome that I have lost weight and bought the same pair in a smaller size. OBSESSED.

3. Chambray shirts. They are all the rage. I saw one at JCrew for $100. Um.. pass. So, I found one at American Eagle for less than half the price. Also, I recently saw them at Target for 17.99. :)

4. Arm Candy. I have always loved accessories. Ever since I was a little girl I would stack on bracelets and look like a gypsy. Etsy has some shops with some super cute bracelets at any budget.

5. Monogram. I cannot wait to get my new monogram necklace in the mail! When I got my maiden name back, I was so excited because I love my monogram. I need to re-marry someone with an M last name. lol

6. Lace. I have a lace dress that I am wearing for some "30 and Flirty" photos I am getting done this week. I cannot wait to show you this dress. Here is a sneaky peek at it. I wore it out with friends not too long ago.

7. Chunky necklaces. Especially turquoise. This was an eBay purchase. The original was from JCrew and is almost $200. Again, pass.

8. Urban Decay Naked Eye Palet. Omygee! I use every single color in this palet and it stays on and finished so nicely. Love it!

9. Dove Hair Care Products. I have thick, wavy, curly, frizzy, long, color treated, hair. This stuff has saved me and I love how my hair feels when I use the smoothing serum. 

10. Duckbill Clips. They are lifesavers when styling your hair. I suggest going to Target to get some because they are awesome!

 So, there you have it. My obsessions. Oh wait.. I forgot one!

 ;) Have a good day loves!

XOXO-Mrs. Lochte

High 5 for Friday!

This week is brought to you by one word... BUSY! I feel like I cannot come up for air these days. I cannot complain because as of 12 minutes ago, I was hit with my breakdown of Student Loan paybacks. Awe-some. NOT!

Here are my "Top 5 Favorite Things" for the week.

1. Ryan Lochte. 'Nuff said.

(Don't we make a super cute couple?)

2. Lucas Harp. I asked him last night if I needed a boyfriend? His response, "Umm.. How about me?" 4 year olds can sure warm a girls heart.. 

3. Speaking of which.. Random 9 year old at Qdoba telling me I am pretty?? Yes, please. Just add about 20 more years on next time. LOL ;)

4. Senior Photography! I am loving it! So much fun and a nice change of pace. How gorgeous is is this Mercy Girl? Lord-a-Mercy!

5. My newest accessory. Be.Jealous...