The theme for this year’s summer school is “Fairy Tales,” which I think follows last year’s Disney theme nicely. Our reading list is a little shorter than normal, but we’re going to be doing lots of cooking and crafts, too (right now, I’m planning on a fairy garden, a gingerbread house, “straw to gold” ornaments, and an enchanted rose centerpiece)! Here’s a look a the books I’ve assembled:
An Illustrated Treasury of Grimm’s Fairy Tales
The Blue Fairy Book
Who Were the Brothers Grimm?
The Irresistible Fairy Tale
The Fairy Tellers
The Brothers Grimm Cookbook
Fairytale Baking
I don’t know if I can come up with any field trips that fit the theme, but even if I don’t, it should be fun!
“California, Here I Come Right back where I started from Where bowers of flowers Bloom in the spring Each morning at dawning Birdies sing at everything A sunkissed miss said, ‘Don’t be late!’ That’s why I can hardly wait Open up that golden gate California, Here I Come” Al Jolson
This week’s Mani Monday is inspired by the Combo Breaker fighting game tournament event we attended over the weekend (and is modeled with the medal I received in 2022). It features Sally Hansen Insta-Dri in “Black to Black” and Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in “Luck & Glory.”
One of my favorite things about dirndl-wearing is how much you can change the look of the dress by adding a different apron (changing the color of the ribbon lacing also makes a difference)! While I love the pairings of my four dirndls with the aprons they were designed with, I also love experimenting with different looks…I have a total of 10 aprons now, so I have lots of options!
To begin, a look at my very first dirndl, the solid colored “Purple and Floral” dirndl. Not only do I wear it with the flower print apron it came with, but I’ve also styled it with both of my Christmas aprons, a lovely plaid, and my lemon print charity apron from last summer…which look is your favorite?
If I don’t want it to be obvious that I’m wearing a dirndl (who am I kidding…I always want it to be obvious!), I wear my “Everyday Dirndl” with its matching, solid apron, but I’ve also mixed it up with two different lace aprons and the lemon-print…what do you think?
My “Die Heimat” is my most versatile dirndl, as you can see from the fact that I’ve worn it with a total of six different aprons (and counting!). The stag print is the one that came with the dirndl, but I’ve also paired the dress with both of my Christmas aprons, my extra fancy crystal apron, the lemon print (again!), and most recently, my magenta lace apron, which is my new favorite look…what’s yours?
And finally, my “Herbology” dirndl, which came with a plaid apron and also a bonus lace apron, giving me two options right off the bat. I also love the way it looks with my crystal apron, the stag print from “Die Heimat” (very Sound of Music!) and my newest Christmas apron…which do you like best?
“The city is so unbelievably beautiful. It’s one of the greatest cities on the planet. My heart beats differently when I’m in Chicago. It slows down and I feel more at ease.” Jeremy Piven
