Our Crazy Orange Dresser

For awhile now I have been wanting to makeover a thrift-store dresser.  Since we got married we've been using those cheap-o plastic drawers to store our clothes that couldn't be hung.  It worked for a little bit.  But soon those old, falling apart, drawers became more frustration than they were worth.  We headed to Palouse Treasures--a thrifty fave of ours--and plucked ourselves an upgrade.  It cost us $30 which I honestly think was a little over priced.  Still, we would have probably spent that just to replace our plastic drawers.  It was pretty ugly and cheaply made.  We saw bigger, sturdier dressers, but they meant coughing up more cash.  We decided that this one was just the quality we were going for:  it's better than what we had before, but light enough to accommodate for our frequent apartment-hopping.  We don't expect it to last forever, just to make life a little easier until we can replace it when we have our college-graduate salary jobs.  

I didn't get a true "before" picture.  Hubs was just too eager to tear those drawers out and get to work. As you can see it's got a fake grainy pattern which is almost like very thick sticker that you could peel off.  Under this is what looks like particle board.  

Enter Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Ok, so *warning* this stuff is a bit pricey.  In my opinion, though, it is completely worth it!  We ended up taking some of the cost from my personal fund (a section of our budget that I get to blow) since part of the appeal is just a way for me to have fun doing a project. Chalk Paint is amazing!  I have NEVER painted anything before, and it was so easy.  You don't have to use primer, a little goes a long way, and it leaves a lovely smooth finish.  

Here is the finished product.  Is bright orange too crazy for you?  We love it!  I think it makes the plain-ish dresser look modern and fun.  I left the original drawer pulls on because I think it adds just a little vintage touch.  As soon as it was finished Philip said, "It doesn't look like a cheap thrift-store dresser anymore.  Now it looks like we bought it for a lot of money  at an antique store."  And I was like, "That's the point!"  

Here it is in our bedroom.

I topped it with a lamp and mirror we got as wedding gifts.  That "vase" is a bottle I embellished with some twine.  The print is a score I found on Etsy.  It is one of the four vintage encyclopedia pages:  various trees, birds, and flowers.

Here is the pattern on our bedding just to give you an idea of how it fits in with the rest of our decor.  Our comforter is a light color with some subtle splashes of orange.  I think that's what makes such a  bold color work.  

What do you think?  Would you ever incorporate such crazy colors into your home?  Have you done any projects lately?

Confessions of a Skinny Girl

In our culture, if you said to someone, "You're so fat," you would be chastised -as you well should be. But if you said to another lady, "You're so skinny," no one would give it a second thought.  This is just one of the many words that has reverberated through my mind trying to adhere to my identity: "Skinny.  Twig.  Stick.  Bony."  Growing up, none of my peers--or even their parents--felt any remorse calling me these things.

I have what you might call a "fast metabolism."  I've often had to pull that phrase out in order to defend myself.  No matter what I eat, no matter what my exercise habits, at 5'8" I tend to hover between 110 and 120 pounds.  I have never caused myself to throw up, nor have I ever denied myself food (I have enough trouble denying myself cheetos and oreos).  I just don't gain weight.  In fact, I at times I struggle to maintain a healthy weight.

In America, being thin is idolized.  Our society is weight-obsessed.  Fad diets are a dime a dozen.  The media portrays healthy, beautiful women as too big.  How does a girl that is naturally thin navigate this world?  Truth be told, I've struggled with insecurity about my body much of my life.

You might think that in a culture that is hyper-sensitive about weight,  a body like mine might be celebrated.  That hasn't really been my experience, especially growing up.  Instead I got nicknames like "Twiggy," "Cheesestick," and "Whalie," (for the sake of irony).  I've had boys say they wouldn't date me because I was "Too bony."  And somehow "What if Chelsea gained 100 pounds?" made the "What If" section of the student-printed newspaper every year.

Through the God that says "You are fearfully and wonderfully made," and a husband that revels my pale skin, subtle curves, and freckles, that has changed.  I have come to see myself as beautiful.  I no longer wish to go up a couple dress sizes (or bra sizes).  I know that my true beauty radiates from my heart that was intentionally crafted by my Creator.  But that what's on the outside is also good.

If you are a skinny-mini like me, learn to accept yourself for who you are.  To be fair, there are some advantages.  Like we can eat that second piece of pie on Thanksgiving and know for certain it's not going straight to our hips--though it might be clogging our arteries.  We can pull off most fashion trends.  Dressing modestly is easy as we never have to worry about being too cleavage-y or that dress making our butts look big.  You and I are lovely just the way we are.

If you know/meet someone like me remember that it's not all it's cracked up to be.  I have to fight to keep weight on.  Let's face it, eating lean proteins and green veggies makes me look my best just like they make you look yours.  I still have body image issues.  I've struggled to believe that being shaped like a pencil can truly be beautiful.  I've been teased about my looks, too.  Don't wish to be me.

Most of all please don't call me "skinny."  "Thin" is a positive word.  "Fit" is a positive word.  "Skinny" is no better than "fat."

How to give your girlish frock some street cred...

When shopping for clothes, I automatically find myself reaching for lace, pearls, glitter and all things girlie.  But there's a part of me that just wants to be a BA (you probably lose BA points if you have to use an abbreviation rather than the actual cuss word).  I love feminine dresses, skirts, and accessories, but like the edgy, hardcore, urban look as well.  I think it's just different parts of my personality coming through.  I've been told that I'm sweet and gentle, but when it comes down to it I am tough.  To embody that I pulled out one of the girliest things I own--a pastel-colored lacy dress--and attempted to give it some street cred.

Add an Army-inspired jacket.  Leather, or denim would probably suffice.  A geometric print necklace, and tights in the color black couldn't hurt either.

Lace up your combat boots, and you're ready to go.

Of course, making an intense pouty face will only add to the intimidating vibe you are putting off. 

Here's what my hubby was doing in between snapping shots of me trying to look tough: drinking more sugary liquid than humans were ever meant to consume.  He has got a serious drinking problem (no, not THAT kind).

How do you pair sweet and sassy items from your wardrobe?

Bridal Shower Quiche

I got to celebrate my dear friend Katie this weekend by throwing her a bridal shower.  Katie is so precious to me, so I loved giving her a little lime-lite.  It was also great for me to have a creative outlet after weeks of doing homework, making lesson plans, and grading nonstop.  We did a classy brunch.  I served vanilla bean scones, fresh fruit, hash browns, quiche and a make-your-own Italian soda bar.  The quiche was hands down the crowd favorite.  I got so many compliments on it!  I usually don't share recipes, since I'm such a cooking newb and most of what I make comes from Pinterest anyway, but I thought I'd share this.

1 pie crust (I just bought a pre-made one, but any kind would work, just follow the directions on the box, or you could make yours from scratch if you have more Martha Stewart in you than I do).
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. shredded cheese (I used cheddar, but if you wanted to spiff it up a little you could use something fancier--I bet Swiss, or Gouda would be yummy).
1 c. milk
1/2 c. Bisquick mix
5 pieces of bacon chopped and cooked
1 c. fresh spinach (Popeye would approve)
salt and pepper, to taste (I sprinkled some freshly ground pepper on top in the name of making it look pretty).

1.  Prepare crust via instructions on the box in a 9 inch pie plate.
2.  Pre-heat oven to 375°F.
3.  In large bowl combine eggs, milk, cheese, Bisquick mix, (cooked) bacon, spinach, salt and pepper. Stir until ingredients look evenly distributed.   Pour into pie crust.  Top with pepper if you want your quiche to look even more fantsy pants.
4.  Bake at 375°F for 45-50 minutes.

{The Pinterest recipe that I adapted this one from)

Wasn't that easy peasy?  I don't have any pictures of the actual quiche I made because I forgot to bring my camera!  Ugh.  But I here's a pic. a friend took of all the food after it had been demolished--proof that it was tasty?

Every Hour I Need You

Some of my students performing "Annie Jr."

I usually listen to some Jesus music on my way to school in the mornings.  It's my feeble attempt to start my day off with a clear head and a focus on my ultimate purpose as a teacher and just as a human being.  This song came on and the chorus really struck a chord with me.  It said, "I need you, oh, I need you.  Every hour, I need you."  At the middle school where I'm student teaching they call what I called "Periods" back in the day "Hours."  You know, like first class of the day is first hour, second class is second hour, so on and so forth.  I was thinking about how I need Jesus in every single one of these hours.

I desperately want to make a difference as a teacher.  At my classroom management class--yep I still have big-kid school as a student even though I have middle school as a teacher every day--a guest speaker talked about the effect trauma has on human lives.  Trauma could be anything from parents getting divorced to emotional/physical abuse.  Students who have been through such adverse child experiences (ACE) are more likely to have academic failure, severe attendance problems, severe school behavior concerns, and health issues.  But there is hope.  If these children can find resilience, then they can grow to be strong, healthy individuals.  Perhaps even better for having gone through such sorrow and come out on the other end successful.  "The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places."

According to her research,  a stable adult creating a safe environment for ACE students and building powerful relationships with them can make all the difference.  Many children who have been through trauma will never make it to a counselor.  If they don't get on a new trajectory they will end up with social, emotional, and health issues.  Every child has one thing in common:  they will go through school.  As a teacher, I am compelled to be one such adult.

But it is so difficult.  I love my kids.  I am surprised at how fast I have become deeply attached to them.  Still, every day is so full, so busy.  Every day there are kids who forget to bring materials to class, who throw off the activity I have planned, who challenge my authority, who are mean to other kids, who don't care about school, who make inappropriate jokes, who try to talk over me.  Phew.  The list goes on and on.  It can be easy to let these things frustrate me.  It can be easy to let these behaviors that I see from my kids, define my kids.  "He's just a bad kid.  She's lazy.  He couldn't care less about anything but himself."  These are the words I here from other teachers--jaded teachers who have had to be patient for much longer than me.  And these are the words that occasionally slip across my mind, and I pray they never pass my lips.

Thus, I believe that the only way for me to truly love my students is through Jesus.  Now, let me say this, I have seen plenty of teachers that care an awful lot for their students and do a great job teaching them and building relationship with them.  I'll also say that I'm sure not all of these are Christ-followers.  I just know that I, personally, cannot do this on my own.  I need Jesus to give me strength.  To help me to see the internal value that each of my students possess.  To help me not to take it personally that Jimmy forgot a pencil again.  I'll even venture that while it's possible to love apart from Christ, and I've met people who do this so well, I think that to love the way that Jesus loves is a pretty colossal task.  To love as unconditionally, and relentlessly as he loves, that is what I find impossible apart from his Spirit working in me.  

The conclusion I've come to is simple.  The stakes are high.  The small, pubescent humans I'm around every day are in great need.  I want to be a light and encouragement to them.  Which for this weak, impatient, saved-by-grace-girl, is impossible without Jesus living through me.  So, Lord, I need you, oh, I need you.  Every hour I need you.