7 Quick Takes

Linking up with Jen via Cari!  Head over to Cari's for more 7 Quick Takes

1. Remember the poopy that hit the fan and rained down on my job?  Yea, it's still raining.  I didn't get home until 8 last night [Thursday] (but came home to my amazing hubby having cooked dinner and done 2 loads of laundry...yea, he's awesome) due to a meeting where we talked (read: vented) about what's been going on with our job.  I usually feel better after these meetings...but then again, it's usually short lived.  I've been saying a novena to St. Jude, patron saint of impossible causes.  'Cause that's how I feel, like this is impossible.  I've been getting the prayers sent to my email via praymorenovenas.com.  Very convenient.

2. Speaking of convenience and technology making our pray lives easier - I've really enjoyed this rosary app.  I listen to the rosary every day on my drive in to work and it makes me feel like I'm starting my day out the right way.  Plus if I'm listening to a "Hail Mary" I feel much less inclined to scream some curse words and throw up that one finger symbol to the guy who just cut me off and made me slam on my brakes while on the B/W Parkway - those who live in the MD/DC area...you know. (kidding...sorta).

3. It's cold...remember a few posts back when I said I couldn't wait for fall?  I feel like fall lasted all of 3 days and now it's 32 degrees and freezing...literally.  However, cooler temps do feel right for Halloween, which is right around the corner!  I don't know if Chris and I are going to any parties...but if we do, I totally want to do this for our costume:

Cute, right?!  Now I just need a costume party to go to...or more semblance of a life on weekends that doesn't revolve around mounds of paperwork...

4. I ordered business cards for my Etsy shop.  They came in yesterday and I am super excited and happy with how they turned out!  Now I'm hoping to make some for my degree and licensure.  It may make more sense to make those when I'm fully licensed and have my own practice or something...but I figure it might be good to have some now too. 

5. One of my friends sent me an email the other day telling me about Etsy competitors...one of them being Zibbet.  Apparently with some of Etsy's new policies - including redefining "handmade".  One of the things I understood is that now manufacturers can also sell in the 'handmade" section of Etsy...which is difficult for those artisan (no, I don't quite put myself in this class lol but I can understand where they're coming from) who make their handmade items themselves and have to compete with larger manufacturers (this is what I understood and I could be wrong, so feel free to do your own research on the matter).  So, Zibbet, a site that has never really been able to compete with Etsy, is suddenly seeing an influx of new sellers.  Myself included.  I'm still keeping my Etsy shop - but I'm going to have both.  I'm in the process of copying over my listings to Zibbet.  One positive of Zibbet I've already noticed is that you don't need to pay to list an item.  Score!  So, without further ado, heres my "new" shop (please be patient as I transfer listings, I need to change the file size of the photos I have)  http://www.zibbet.com/GloryDesignsbyTiffany

6. Sunday [which at this point was yesterday...but I don't feel like changing this to make it grammatically correct]  Chris and I are going over to Joe and Kathleen's for a horror movie marathon.  They're hardcore and use survey monkey and everything so that we can all vote on movies we want to watch.  The line up this year?  Hocus Pocus (yes!), Silence of the Lambs (never seen it), Ghostbusters (who ya gonna call!?), and Lost Boys (never seen it).  I'm pumped...and am bringing the baby blanket I am working on for a friend to distract me when I get too scurred.

[Update: all of the movies were fantastic.  Although I'd have to say Silence of the Lambs, while disturbing, was probably the best.  I love a good psychological thriller]

7. Any and all prayers for a good week are greatly appreciated...every Sunday I feel some sense of dread wondering what the week will bring...and yesterday was no exception.  Our pup is also getting worse again after it seemed like he was getting better...we were weaning him off some meds and that clearly did not work out so well...St. Jude, patron saint of hopeless causes...pray for us!

What I Wore Sunday

I haven't joined a What I Wore Sunday link up in ages.  We get home from mass and I immediately change into my RAVENS jersey and then "whoops, no WIWS pictures yet again"  So, today I made a point to take a picture (and include a shameful plug, yet again, for my Etsy shop)

Make sure to head over to Fine Linen and Purple for more outfit inspirations!

I never quite know how to pose for pictures...

Crochet Poncho: Glory Designs by Tiffany

Jeans: Ann Taylor Loft Thrifted from 2nd Ave

Boot: Kohls

I am mildly obsessed with my poncho(s).  They're super comfy and perfect for this fall weather when it's not warm, but not super cold either.  Also, I am super excited because I got my first order through Etsy for one of my items (the newborn owl hat).  A girl I went to college with ordered it; she said she wanted to support a fellow Mountie!  Love it!  Especially since we didn't interact much in college.  One of my coworkers ordered two of the owl hats from me as well.  It's such an awesome feeling having people ask for items from me!  If I could do this for a living...I would.

Have you ever been at mass, and hearing one of the readings felt like God was reaching down from Heaven and giving you a strong shake?  I felt that way with the Gospel today, it spoke a lot to how I've been feeling as of late.  Persistence in prayer.  It's like what I wrote about in this post, earlier this week.  I"m trying. I promise.

I hope everyone has an awesome Sunday.  I'm off to finish (read: start) the mounds of paperwork I have and watch the RAVENS hopefully beatdown on the steelers.  

A Lesson in Trust and Patience

I have not hidden my feelings about my job from this blog.  I'm sure if you've read a few of my posts you know how I feel...less than happy where I am.  This week, the poopy has hit the fan...and then continued to rain down on us all week (too graphic?)  I try not to get into details because I don't want to badmouth my company...I'm just venting usually.

You can often hear me say something along the lines of "I'll be able to handle any counseling job after this!"  or "At least I'm learning something about how counseling agencies can run."  All of my comments are focused on things I can learn from this experience from a career standpoint.  Not once have I thought about how this can be a learning experience from a spiritual standpoint as well.  I've certainly felt and seen the results of how this has affected me spiritually (no lie, definitely just googled "affect" vs. "effect"...always get those wrong, and still may have!), but still I did not think to view this job as a way to grow spiritually.  Instead I have chosen to complain, cry, question whether God even listens to my prayers, and shut down.  It was not until this morning when I was reading about how someone's prayers for a new job were answered after they prayed a novena for the intention (the same novena I had prayed with the same intention).  My initial reaction to this was something along the lines of Stephanie Tanner's "Well pin a rose on your nose. Glad God listens to YOU."

And then I stopped, told myself to stop being so bitter, and finally realized that I am missing out on some prime spiritual lessons.  Lessons to trust in God's timing, not mine.  Lessons in patience, knowing that He knows best.  Lessons in prayer, and continuing to pray, even when it feels like God isn't listening (spoiler alert: He is!)  Lessons in jealousy and how it can rear it's ugly head.  I was to rejoice with other's in their blessings and remember how abundantly (and undeservingly) I have been blessed.

Now, this is not to say that starting from this moment I'll be a little ray of sunshine all the time when it comes to my job (and I'm definitely still praying for something new)...but here's to hoping that I start reminding myself that I am learning lessons for my future career and learning lessons on how to better my spiritual life, and better myself as a Child of God.


Orrrr maybe I'll just resort to this...*wink*

Hello Again

I can't believe it has been so long since I wrote a post.  The past couple weeks have been all over the place.

Starting with me getting some sort of plague.  Fine, in reality it was probably just a really bad cold, maybe the flu.  I came down sick on a Thursday, aches, pains, fever and all.  I take my temperature every morning for NFP and I have "ice queen" temperatures.  Ok, they're not that low, buy my norm is in the low-mid 97s.  Post ovulation my norm is the low-mid 98s.  I also knew that lovely time of the month was coming (TMI?) so my temperature should be falling back down.  So when I woke up Thursday morning with a reading of 99.0 I knew I had a slight fever and the sniffles/sore throat weren't from yelling at my students.  Stupid me went to work, and stayed late for Back to School night anyway.  Come home to a 99.8 fever.  Good job, Tiffany. That weekend was my friend's bachelorette party in CT.  I had Bridal Jeopardy, bridal mad-libs, bridal pictionary and other games ready and waiting to go.  I woke up Saturday morning and new there was no way in h e double hockey sticks I was making a drive to CT...not to mention I would hate getting the bride sick before her wedding.  I had to miss out on the festivities.

It was rough, missing one of my closest friends bachelorettes, plus feeling sick and miserable, plus it was that lovely time of the month which meant no baby.  Not a big deal, I know, we've only just begun "throwing caution to the wind" but still a bummer none the less.

I worked a two day week  the following week and then it was my friends wedding in northern NJ!  It was a beautiful wedding...but I forgot that in non-Catholic services the bridal party stands the whole time...and it was so HOT.  When I should have been paying attention to the service all I could think about is the sweat dripping down my back (a less than ladylike look), and a groomsman almost fainted too - poor guy is never gonna live that one down!  The wedding was a blast, and I am so happy for the newlyweds!  Congrats Andrew and Danielle! [Pictures to Come - need to upload them from my camera]

I finally made my first sale on one of my crocheted items!  A co-worker ordered two of my newborn owl hats...it's amazing how that has become the highlight of my last week.

Friday I got am email from the Pastoral Counseling agency I so desperately wanted to get an interview with.  They had an influx of resumes and decided to pursue other people.  I was crushed...like, bawling my eyes out, totally messy cry crushed.  This agency felt like my last hope so getting that email made me feel helpless, like I was going to be stuck in this hell of a job forever.  (I swear I'm not an overly dramatic person)

yarn and pumpkin ale always helps my mood

This weekend was great.  Chris knew how upset I was and was extra sweet to me.  Saturday we went over to our friends house and got together with some people to carve pumpkins!  Our friends host this carving party every year, and it's always a ton of fun...plus this year there was the added bonus of getting to see our super cute goddaughter.  She's two months old already and holy smokes is she cute...and already so strong!

Our pumpkins - Chris' and mine in the middle

Speaking of our friends and their cute daughter...Kathleen has starter her own blog!  Kathleen is the wife of my husband's best friend - so thank God we get along or I'm pretty sure my husband wouldn't have proposed lol  She is the most amazing cook (so if she posts a recipe, trust me, try it), the hostess with the mostess (I aspire to get to her level), a fantastic wife, wonderful friend, knitter/crafter extraordinaire, and awesome new mom.  Now, go check her out at whenitsyourown.com ... You won't regret it!

And with this post, let's hope I get back into the blogging groove, I've missed you all! ;-)

It's Friiiiday

Oh Friday how I've longed for you.

1. This week at work was rough...and included a student stomping (accidentally) on my foot.  I lost it on my group of 7th graders...it was because of their pushing, shoving, posturing to fight that they knocked into another student who then stepped on my foot.  Felt like an elephant rather than a 90 lb pre teen.  I am in no way, shape or form an angry person...I am very much a people please...but like I said, I lost it.  I also rarely raise my voice above it's normal level.  I yelled.  And sadly, it worked.  They finally listened to me and heard my mini lecture about how they love to play and mess around and "it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt."  I still can't believe those words actually came out of my mouth...this job seriously brings out a side in me that I'm really not sure I like.

2. I have applied...yet again, to another job.  So prayers (again) would be so greatly appreciated.  This would be a job where I would actually be a Pastoral Counselor.  People would actually understand when I say something about "God's will" or if I recite a Bible verse to them.  Versus the confused looks I currently receive.  I mean, the first question I had to answer on the questionnaire they sent me was "Share with us your faith story."  Don't mind if I do!

3. So I realize other bloggers have written about Breaking Bad (here and here) and clearly since this is just a quick take I won't be going into it as much as these lovely (and much more eloquent) ladies did.  I am a Breaking Bad fan...however, I probably fall somewhere between these two sentiments of "No Thanks" and "Closer to God."  I agree that I appreciate the reality of sin that the show portrays...pretty sure you wouldn't be able to watch the show and think, "oh awesome, cooking and dealing meth is so the path I want for my life!  Look at all of the fantastic things that will happen to me!"  So while I appreciate that, it is really hard to watch sometimes (ok, a lot of the time).  The show very often physically makes me uncomfortable, and since I have a very low threshold for blood and guts, I very often have to close my eyes.  And yet, I am invested in the show and finding out how it ends.  Chris and I have watched all of the episodes on Netflix...but we just realized that we don't get FXX and can't watch the new episodes On Demand...and it's driving me nuts because I just want to know how Walt gets whats coming to him!! (I hope)

4. Last week (geez I need to start blogging more than once a week - or at least trying to!) I talked about babysitting our goddaughter.  Both our parents called the day after to see how we did! Ha!  We survived (seriously, it was only for a couple hours).  She was a lil fussy but honestly, really good.  She took the bottle just fine, and at one point I was even able to bounce her to sleep in my arms.  Once we was asleep, she stayed asleep til after we were gone!  I think Chris was a little shell-shocked by the crying...but I gotta say, I loved seeing him holding a baby.  I mean, is there anything better than seeing the man you love taking care of a baby?

5. This week was full of fall temperatures, and I loved it!  After my turkey pumpkin chili (so, so good) I am ready to start making tons of pumpkin items.  I just stumbled upon this recipe and I'm thinking this is going to have to happen this weekend.  Along with a nice big mug of coffee and pumpkin spice creamer.  Ahh bliss.

6. My roommate from college (well, 1 of 4 anyway) just started her own blog.  She is an incredibly talented writer and I am already enjoying following along on her journey of motherhood, working, and crafting.  Go check Caitlin out @ onlyamotionaway.blogspot.com

7. This is trending on my Facebook feed this morning...and is so true.  Props to The Mount!
22 Signs You Went To A Small Liberal Arts College In The Middle Of Nowhere 


Happy Friday!  Head over to Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!

7 Quick Takes #Iforgetalready

Guess who's back, back again...Friday's back, tell a friend
(my coffee buzz kicked in early today...)

Happy Friday and happy Quick Takes with Jen day!

1. This week was a roller coaster of ups and downs with my counseling groups.  My sixth graders are still adorable and want to please and just love group.  We talked about social media one day and I asked them as part of their journal question to "hashtag" the group experience.  I got responses like #fun, #thisgroupisthebest, #ilovemycounselors.  Whereas my 7th graders gave me responses like #boring, #7thgradersarecrazy.  *sigh*

2.  If you're on Pinterest I'm sure you've seen at least one...or twenty pins about diy nail art.  My at home manicures usually come out looking like I let my one year old niece do it for me.  But, after reading that you can make polka dots with bobby pins...I decided to give it a go.  And here is the result.  I used OPI Nicole nail polish in "Burr Burr Burgundy" and "It's Possible." It's been hovering in the mid 90s this week and I REALLY want fall to be here, hence the color choices (feel free to remind me of this statement when I start complaining...er, talking...about how cold it is)

Sorry for the poor phone picture quality/bad lighting

3. I almost made this into a full blog post but didn't because I realized I didn't really have that much to say...it was more of a "hmm I wonder if this ever happens to anyone else."  A girl I went to college with had a baby boy the other day and posted pictures of her new son Jacob.  I don't really keep in touch with this girl and we only saw each other after college at a mutual friend's wedding.  So tell me why my first thought when I read that she named her son "Jacob" was, "Well, guess I can't name any future son of mine Jacob."  It's not like I'd be "stealing" the name.  But I do this.  And I know my sister does too, when we were discussing names for her first child we would throw out names but often times her response would be "No, I can't name our baby that because so and so did"  Does anyone else do this, or is this a weird sister thing that we're doing.  Chris and I have a few favorite names (premature, I know, but we can dream) and I just keep thinking, "what if someone we know has a baby first and name's them one of the names we love," would we just not name our child that name for that reason??

4. Jen wrote a post the other day about Facebook and asked the question of if we could go back in time and NOT sign up for Facebook...would we?  I was torn.  And it was funny that I read that post the same day my co-worker and I had been discussing Facebook/how we use it/how we started using it.  I started with Facebook back in the day when you had to have a college email to get it.  Oh how I miss those days.  Now-a-days everyone and their mother in on the Book of Face and sometimes it's just a little too much.  I've often considered deleting my account, especially with privacy concerns etc. but I just can't bring myself to do it.  I do actually keep in touch with some people on there...but others, I honestly don't know why I haven't just deleted them.  As I said in my comment on her post, if Social Media Addiction isn't in the DSM V, it should be! 

5.  Two of our closest friends are celebrating their one year wedding anniversary this weekend!  These are the same friends who just had a daughter the beginning of August.  Chris and I offered to babysit (ok, that is the second time I typed babys*it, instead of sit...not cool) for them so they can celebrate.  So tomorrow we get to spend the evening with a one month old!  We'll see how we do ;-)

6. We started allergy shots on Buster this week...here's hoping this helps and we'll have our pup back!

7. I'll leave you with a lil song action...this one always gets Chris and I up and dancing

Happy Friday all, hope you have a fantastic weekend

7 Quick Takes

Ahh another Friday linking up with Jen.

1. I get daily emails from Ignitum, and today's article really touched me.  It is from the perspective of the post-abortive father.  A side of the story I feel is rarely heard from, but equally as important.

2. On a completely unrelated note...I am making this recipe tonight.  As I may (or may not) have mentioned, I love everything pumpkin.  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin muffins (super easy recipe for those...1 can of pumpkin puree + one box of white cake mix...no seriously, that's it).  Chris is a little skeptical about pumpkin being in a chili but I personally think it sounds like God's gift to pumpkin lovers.  I'll let you know if it's a keeper recipe.

3. I'm working from home today...and every Friday really.  My job graciously is giving us Friday's as a "paperwork day" since we have A LOT more paperwork to do this school year.  Which is great...except it is 10 a.m. and I have yet to start said paperwork.  I'm thinking I'm going to need to revert to my grad school days and head to a Barnes and Noble where I can actually focus.  Otherwise, as I told Chris, he'll come home to a sparkling clean house but my paperwork will not have been touched.

4. Our dog had his allergy test done - can't remember if I even mentioned it on here.  We caved, coughed up the equivalent of a nice vacation, and learned that our dog is allergic to...grass, dust, dust mites, a mite that apparently gets into any and all dry dog food (seriously, how gross is that?!), and willow trees (which in MD are few and far between).  Our dog is allergic to grass...do you know how much time dogs spend in grass??  Poor pup.  I'm thinking of buying (or crocheting) him booties to wear when we take him on his walks...may be ridiculous but hey, if it helps.  I found a baking soda + lavender essential oil "recipe" for carpet powder.  Did you know lavender is apparently antibacterial, antifungal, and an insect repellant?  Neither did I, but I'm loving it.  Next week we go back to the vet who will show us how to administer Buster's allergy shots.  I'm not looking forward to this.

5. This past weekend we celebrated Chris' 28th birthday!  Saturday we had a crab feast with my family (you can't live in MD and no love crabs!).  Sunday his parents and brother came to visit along with our friends Joe and Kathleen and their now 1 month old daughter Emma (she is seriously so stinkin' cute).  We did our fantasy football draft and then enjoyed a few "cold ones" and grilled out.  We ended this night with his parents teaching us how to play pinochle...which I loved!

6. This made me laugh...I started as a knitter but I definitely find crocheting to be more my "thing" although I'd love to try my hand at knitting again.

7.  It just wouldn't feel right to go a whole 7 Quick Takes without mentioned Pope Francis' call to the faithful (whatever their faith may be) to fast and pray for Syria.  I am not one who is up on the latest happenings in the World (I know, it's bad, I should watch the news more) but when the Pope calls for prayer and fasting, I'm there!

I'll leave you with this, in honor of Blessed Mother Teresa.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing