Embrace the camera.

This week has been one long haul. For example, I went to bed last night after grading a test for first period. Then, this morning, no snooze for me... I was straight out of bed at 5 to finish up 3rd period. I was pretty proud when I pulled that off... Morning is always my best time, probably because of a good cup of coffee. You do what you've got to do! I'm all out of talent by eleven or so now... So if it's going to happen, it's got to be before anyone else is awake!
So, as we came in this afternoon, Hannah just wanted a cup of milk and to veg in front of of a good episode of Peep and the Big Wide World (her new favorite show). And I kicked up my feet, cracked open a nice cold root beer, and I think I'll read for 15 minutes before I pick up some more grading. Some day it will be done. And then it will be summer again :)

 There's nothing like a girl who can surf. And this daddy knows that...

They make my heart melt. 

It's Thursday. Go Embrace the Camera with Emily at the Anderson Crew!

What I Wore Wednesday!

Teal Dress (needs to be altered badly!): from Target
Banded Triangular Belt: Noonday Collection. Handwoven in Peru :) A splurge, for sure, but oh so worth it when it has so many colors to make the outfits come together just so. It's got little pops of red, so you know I'll wearing it with well, everything!
Shoes: Old Navy... years ago. Hannah actually picked these shoes out for me today. Nice touch, honey!

 I am not a hoops girl. But you can barely see in this picture, I'm wearing a pretty delicate pair... the Upcycled Hoops from Noonday Collection. I think I LOVE them. They are so light, the only time I feel them is when I turn to look over my shoulder and they brush my neck. They are faintly colorblocked, which makes them interesting, and easy to match with any other jewelry... gold, silver, bronze! Here, they're paired with my favorite Beza Charm Necklace.

 I can't get enough of these colors. Delicious mustard yellow, cool aqua, and bright electric blue, and tiny bronze beads to tie it all together. These are the colors for me this fall.
Mukisa Necklace, paper and bronze beads, from Uganda.
Escalera Bangle,tagua seeds from Ecuador.
Gypsy Stack Bracelet, from India. Reminds me of my friendship bracelet days!

 I wore this with all black... letting those colors really pop!
Black top from Target (has an adorable keyhole in back, too).
Black maxi skirt: Nordstrom
Yellow Sandals: Steve Madden (found at Ross)

 Here's the look I was going for: I was actually wearing the Stacked Arrows Necklace at work, but as you can see I snuck this shot in at the end of the day, and I had actually taken it off. In a quiet classroom, while students are working on a quiz, the two necklaces kind of bang together and make more noise than one would expect... it's okay. We made a few cowbell jokes about it and I just took it off! But seriously, these necklaces were made to go together!

And I'm by myself tonight, but here's a new favorite.
I never met a stripe I didn't like, so this is one of my favorite shirts to wear. (from Old Navy)
These are by far my favorite accessories this week, too!
The Exploration Necklace, from Uganda.
and my green striped earrings from Lovestory Lane. These are made by my friend Danielle, and all proceeds go to support her adoption, so they are EXTRA SPECIAL!

Ok, well that's What I Wore! Go check out the others at the Pleated Poppy today!

Make it happen Monday

Mondays are tough. (That's why I drink coffee).

I felt that today showing up for my first class... oh my, there was a lack of energy everywhere I went. It was as if the whole world needed another 3-day weekend. (Sí, ¡por favor!!!) 

Sometimes there's a little something that helps us "make it happen" around here, and finish the day.

Today, it's Pandora radio. 

I cook with my Ipad, using the Cozi website for recipes and lists, and Pandora plays while I work. Tonight's channel? Hymns, to keep our hearts in the right place at one of the most stressful times of the day. Somehow the music keeps me moving and the rest of the family calm, and it's enough background noise that no one is asking to turn on the TV.

We ended up sitting down to Basil Orange Chicken, with couscous and salad (carrots for Hannah, she doesn't do salad yet) and some orange slices for fun. Micah calls them "the taste of AYSO", and Hannah and I love to make orange smileys while we suck the juice out of the slice. It's the little stuff like this that makes the day feel special. And I know that Hannah notices little blessings like this as she blessed dinner tonight:

"Dear God, thank for my orange. And for Grandma's arm getting better. And Meemaw and Pa, and my school and oranges and my Spanish songs. Amen." 

That's right little honey. 

Count those blessings.

Thank you Lord, we made it through the day! 

On to the next one! 

ps- this is in no way a paid advertisement. Just sharing what helps us pull it together when life gets busy and make it happen!

Embrace the camera

It's Thursday. Time to Embrace the Camera. This one was from a couple of weeks ago... so good, I had to save it for later!

How cute are these two?

Hannah is content to sit and watch mountain bike races on the computer for an hour with her dad.

He needs this.

I'm feeling kind of bad, because earlier as he was watching the race, I was sitting next to him at my desk all excited about a Noonday sale, and drooling over fall samples! It was parallel play for parents! Watching these two now, I wish I had seized the opportunity for quality time instead!

P.s.- I did actually sit and watch the race with them before writing this. I did learn something!

Like sweet pictures like this one? Go check out some more at Embrace the Camera with Emily at the Anderson Crew this week. Linking up with them has helped me notice moments like this so much more! 

What I Wore: September 5

It's still funny to me when I blog about what I wear... I have never really thought of myself as a super-stylish person... I like to pull things together well, but I never really put tons of effort into it where I felt that I would have something worthwhile to share with others about getting dressed. Following What I Wore Wednesdays has helped me branch out from my basic staples and be more creative about the colors I wear and combos I come up with (i.e... don't always wear the same shirt with the same pants. Make different outfits.)
But now, I am SUPER EXCITED to share a little bit about what I wear each day... as a new ambassador for Noonday Collection, I've found a new purpose for pulling the outfit together... empowering others across the globe with our purchases! Hey, as a working woman, I am always trying to make my wardrobe stretch as far as it can, but it's got to have a certain level of polish and professionalism. Great accesssories like a colorful necklace, statement bracelet, or a great pair of earrings really help give some variety to familiar old outfits, and at the same time, bump up the stylie points, too! (I love to wear basics, which makes one of my outfits sans accessories pretty boring. But easy to match.)

 First up:

Gray tank: Lands End Canvas. New favorite place for teacher clothes :) 

Black bubble skirt: Kohls. Years ago, I know. 

Sandals: Ssekos from Noonday Collection.

Necklace: The Twisted Necklace from Noonday Collection. Here's the story: 

Seriously here. It's not just fun to put on a beautiful necklace... you are empowering a man to earn a living wage, save for his education and much needed medical procedures, and most importantly, giving him HOPE. That's something I'm excited to share!

 Next up: 

White sweater: Forever 21

Pink tshirt: H and M

Blue linen pants: Target

White driving mocs: Target

 Necklace: Beza Charm Necklace. 

This is the kind of necklace that makes people ask you about it. My favorite is the color of the leather straps... it's not gold, and it's not silver, and it pretty much goes with everything. The handmade beads are pretty much the same color, and the cool thing about them is that they are made from melted down artillery. 

Read the story of hope from one of the artisans, Adissalem:

So beautiful.

 Here I am doing my best June Cleaver pose in the kitchen after Back to School Night. 

I love this dress so much, we call it "the Back to School Night Dress" at work. Which parent is going to notice that I wear the same dress each year? Probably no one. 

Special this year: I am wearing flats, and therefore, still smiling after Back to School Night. Somehow, the parents came in almost 20 minutes early, and I was still in my cheater shoes. Stayed in them all night. (So glad I didn't bring the usual Rainbow flipflops!) 

Dress: Calvin Klein, Macy's 

Shoes: Zac and Zoe, Payless.

I wanted to highlight some of the more delicate silver jewelry from Noonday... many times the accessories have more of a global flair to them, but these are simple and classic

Sterling Circles Necklace: Handmade in Bali by a group that utilizes fair trade standards in the workplace. A portion of profits also provides a micro credit loan towards a business woman. Awesome. I could wear this one every day. 

Circles Forever Bangle: Noonday Collection

Stamped Circle Earrings: a glamorous addition to any outfit, from Noonday Collection, made in India:

These are the people I think about, and pray for as I get dressed in the morning, and why I am so excited to share what I wore with you! 

Go check out some more at the Pleated Poppy today!

See you next week!

3 year old favorites

Tomorrow is Hannah's first day of school. As I was talking with her about this earlier today, she was a little confused about that...as she's been in school for the summer too. This has just been a long weekend for her! Either way, she's excited about tomorrow, and I know once she gets there, it will be all kinds of fun for her! One of their special activities is the "All About Me" poster... which I am up late putting together at the last minute! (Classic. I even procrastinate on my daughters homework).
Thought I'd snap a photo of this... a little slice of her favorites here at age 3. I remember doing this last year as if it were last week. Time flies! And she's learning and changing so much... though I am pretty sure that Elmo, purple, and dancing were on there last year, too!

If I were to answer the same questions:
Name: Bonnie Nourse
I am: not ashamed to admit I'm 30 years old now.
I live in: Laguna Hills. Forever. I'm probably never leaving.
My favorite food is: hard to pick.
My favorite color is: obviously red.
When I grow up, I want to be: retired. (The end of Labor Day weekend makes everyone feel like that, right? Summer, don't go!)
I like to: sleep, eat, cook, run, dance, spend time with family and friends, speak Spanish, read the Bible and other things, teach high school, sew, shop, and swim.

What's your favorite?