Sorry 'bout It

You know times in life where things happen and all you can say is, "really?". (no facial expression necessary).
My blog has started to grow cobwebs around it as I haven't been writing much lately.  My computer battery decided to take its one last breath of life and completely die on me, (while I was writing my resume for my LAST semester of college might I add), and I was not about to type out blog posts on my iPad! Hello, no thank you.
A couple hundred dollars later my computer is up and running again! Let's hope it stays this way.

So, what's happening in life lately?

• School, school and more school.  I love, love, love teaching my precious kindergarten babies.  Their bluntness just gets me! I am now teaching every subject and have taken over the entire day.  I love having some freedom to do my own thing in the classroom.  It gives me a glimpse as to what my future classroom will be like.  These last two months are going to fly by.  Between applying for jobs and grad school and working on my capstone project, I have a lot to focus on.  Any tips on applying for teaching jobs??

• My boyfriend is the sweetest guy around.  Not like I didn't already know this, but I've been reminded of this fact lately.  He can see my stresses of finishing school and how much work teachers actually have to do.  He always seems to turn my day right around if finishing up school is getting to be too overwhelming.  

• I've been crossing a few things off my fall bucket list, which as I'm typing now, I realize I haven't even shared that with y'all yet. Oops.  Sharing with you all soon!

• I recently got the iPhone 6 and am loving it so far! I had been sporting the iPhone 4 since that came out, so I thought it was time for an upgrade.

Life is happening fast, but I'm so loving it! Stay sweet, lovelies.

{Katie}

Summer Bucket List: (Almost) Complete

I consider summer to be over when I start school again in August, because really, summer as we know it is over.  School is now in session and I can tell this year will be a great one!

Anyways, do any of you remember the bucket list I created for those (short) summer months? Yeah, me either, really.  Oops.  It's not like I didn't try to complete most of the list but summer just got away from me.

So let's review, shall we? (teacher mode: on)

This summer I wanted to:
1. (Have a bonfire with s'mores) Did not happen. Not once. Why this didn't happen I couldn't tell you. I love bonfires.  And s'mores.
2. (Go boating on a lake) Did this multiple times! Loved my few trips to the Ozarks.

3. (Go to an outdoor concert) Did this! There was recently an outdoor concert festival complete with a ferris wheel that of course I went on!
4. (Watch the sunset) Did this.  I'm biased but Nebraska has the best.
5. (Go to an outdoor movie) Sadly, I never went to an outdoor movie.  The outdoor theaters were even playing disney movies- which I love!
6. (Go to the state park water park) Did this! The wave pool is my fav but seriously, why do people decide to go the same place I'm going to?? It was majorly over-crowded but a good time.
7. (Go fishing) No...unfortunately no.
8. (Do a DIY furniture project) I bought the supplies for a project, does that count?
9. (Take pictures of a family/couple) I didn't take any pictures of anyone but pictures were taken of me this summer- cue emoji of girl flipping her hair.

10. (Create a budget and stick to it) I started and was really sticking to a budget, then fun and shopping got in the way.

I did so many fun things this summer that weren't on my bucket list but I'm glad I made one and completed a fair number of them! Anyone do anything that I should be adding to next years bucket list?? Also, look out for a fall bucket list completed by me and the boyfriend.  Can't wait for my favorite time of year!

{Katie}

Fall Looks I'm Loving

Hi everyone!
The middle of the week is here...closer and closer to the weekend.
And- It's finally getting to the point where I have to wear long sleeves all day - it's so great! I've been waiting for this cooler weather for awhile now.  During my (rare) free time, I've been on Pinterest (as usual), and I've been finding some outfits and outfit pieces that I'm in love with.  If I was made of money (poor college student here) I would buy them all!

Here are some looks I pinned to my boards that I'm loving this fall season.

Found here

I want to wear this everyday. Looks so perfect for fall time!

Found here

This sweater is so adorable! I just want to put on my leggings and boots and wear it right now (with a pumpkin spice latte in my hand, too).

Found here

Anything with a jean jacket screams fall to me.  Add the cozy scarf and I'm set!

Found here

I've been loving stripes with patterned scarves lately.  Normally I'm not one to go all "crazy"with mixing patterns but these combos I would definitely try. 

Found here

THIS sweater. The boots. The everything.

Found here

I would love this outfit to wear while teaching- looks comfy but still cute!  

What are some of your favorites to wear during the cooler, fall weather?

{Katie}

October Has Arrived!

I'm telling you what- this week has been crazy! It's homecoming week at the University of Nebraska, so helping to make the float has kinda trumped doing homework (oops!) Just kidding, but really professors, must you give so much homework the week of homecoming?? Also, a side note, I started watching Once Upon A Time on Netflix over the weekend and I am ADDICTED. Such a bad idea considering I don't have time to watch it during week, yet I watch it anyway.

Aside from all the crazies-- OCTOBER HAS ARRIVED!

via Pinterest

It's finally my favorite month!  (Is that weird that people have favorite month?) The leaves have been changing colors, candy corn is in full stock at the grocery store, and in the morning hours I can wear a sweatshirt and not drip of sweat.  The first day of October has been glorious.  I found this little bucket list via Pinterest and I really want to see if I can stick to it this fall and accomplish the things on this list- we'll see how this goes!

source

I hope everyone else's first day of October was great as well! Halfway to the weekend! Feel free to follow my Fall Pinterest board here where I pin way too much on the season I'm most obsessed about!

What do you love to do this time of year?

{Katie}

My Weekend in Review + Pumpkin Bread {Recipe}

Goodness! What a crazy weekend.  You'd think that weekends are meant to be spent relaxing from the busy week, but really weekends are just catch up on all the things I couldn't get done during the week! But, it was a great weekend nonetheless.  My younger brother swims at the University of South Dakota so my family and I went to visit him and watch his first race of the season (proud sister moment!)

Now, I'm going to go on record saying I cried when I had to leave him to go home.  This does not happen. Like ever. Why do I get more emotional the older I get?!  It gets harder and harder to be away from my little brother (never thought I'd ever say that!) So, there will be more trips up to South Dakota very soon.

Sunday was spent meeting up with a friend for lunch, and doing way too much homework.  Seriously- TOO much. And, because I can't focus on anything for longer than 20 seconds it seems, I decided it would be the perfect time to make some homemade pumpkin bread.  

This is my favorite bread to make.  It's very dense and the top has the perfect amount of a sugary crunch.  It smells delicious, is super easy, and tastes wonderful (plus it makes the house smell SOO good!) So, get your fall baking fix on and make this pumpkin bread! I'm telling you- this will be your fall baking go-to recipe.

Pumpkin Bread

• 3 c. flour
• 2 t. baking soda
• 1 1/2 t. cinnamon
• 1 t. nutmeg
• dash of cloves
• 3 c sugar
• 1 1/2 t. salt
• 1 c oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 4 eggs
• 2 c or 1 can pumpkin

1. Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Place into 2 large or 4-5 small greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes (1 hour if large loaves) or until done.

And, if you all are like me and want to get a little crazy and you are not counting calories, I would suggest spreading some butter over the top to make it extra rich. 

What is your go-to fall baking recipe?

{Katie}

A Link Up {Five on Friday}

Wow, it's been a crazy couple of weeks! School has been keeping me so busy- homework, papers, group projects. I finally am back into the blogging world- and it feels great! Linking up again for Five on Friday with some of my favorites from this week!

-ONE-
I want both of these boots- SO BAD.  I love them because they are shorter than riding boots and would be so perfect with a pair of skinnies.  I can't decided on which one to get...Help!!

-TWO-

   I'm loving this Essie polish In Stitches.  It's the perfect red for fall. Love it love it love it!!

-THREE-

   My favorite pumpkin patch of all time opens TODAY. I've been visiting since I was very young and go multiple times every year.  Just one more reason why I love fall. Not to mention- their kettle corn is uhhh-mazing! (I buy it every time..and I do not share.)

-FOUR-

   This weekend my brother is coming down for the Nebraska football game and I'm so excited! I haven't seen him since he went back to school in August...so it's about dang time! 

-FIVE-

   With as stressful and busy as school has been I'm loving it! Everyday I'm closer and closer to that classroom of my own.  I'm tutoring a first grader in reading and writing, which, this semester, is basically my only interaction with kids.  Sometimes it can be stressful getting the lessons together with all the outside homework and commitments, but I love it.  This week after we were done with the tutoring session, her parents told me how much she loves coming to tutoring because she has a great time with me.  It was such a rewarding feeling and just one more reason I know I am supposed to be a teacher. 

I hope all of you have the greatest weekend! 

Much love,

{Katie}

5 on Friday {Linked Up} All About Fall

I don't know about you all, but I CAN'T WAIT for fall to come.  There's been a massive heat wave in Nebraska with temperatures in the triple digits.  After this week I am ready for colder weather, sweatshirts, and bonfires.  The fall season makes me so giddy because of how beautiful everything looks! The leaves are colorful and crunchy and the air is crisp. Ahh perfection.  So, with the 5 on Friday link up today, it's all about fall, y'all!

-ONE-  With fall comes the greatest sports season- football! Game day is just around the corner- and you can bet I'll be there! I'm a student so I had to buy student tickets, but reminiscing to the before college days, I can remember having the game on the radio while my family did usual Saturday things.  Hearing the announcers, the static of the AM radio, and the crowd cheering through the speakers when my Huskers scored a touch down will forever be remembered.

-TWO- This is so beautiful! The leaves and table make me want to just sit and drink hot apple cider. (Is it bad that I'm literally picturing myself curled up in that chair?) 

Picture found via Pinterest

-THREE-  The newest Southern Living subscription came in the mail the other day.  I haven't had time to read it yet because of school (boo!) but it will be read and recipes will be made!

-FOUR-  YUM, okay this looks so good!  I will definitely be making this Pumpkin Spice White Chocolate Caramel Popcorn.  Anything with pumpkin spice, chocolate, or caramel I'm all about. 

Source

-FIVE-  What is it about fall and bonfires? They are seriously my favorite thing to have during the fall season.  Growing up, I've always had a bonfire pit to roast some hotdogs and marshmallows and enjoy good company of friends and family.  Someone in my friend group would bring their guitar and all of us would sing around the fire.  There is nothing better.    

Picture found via Pinterest

As you can tell, I may be slightly obsessed with fall and all that goes with it.  Come on cool weather!!

{Katie}