Kids = Christmas saver

This year for Christmas I've been having an especially hard time. I've had multiple meltdowns regarding loneliness this year. It's my first year without the boyfriend I've spent the past five holidays around, and first of maybe multiple years without my family. But today I feel not so terrible! I've got a shit-ton of presents from students...one of the cute pros of being a teacher. Now I have an entire load of bath products to use for the next year. I never have to buy cute scented soaps, and have two pretty loofahs and like 15 lotions.

On a similar note, the office is filled with goodies today! I started off my morning with chocolate chip ginger cookies. Amazing and dreamy.

Another holiday saver is some of my first grade students. There's specifically one girl I'm thinking of who was originally a really soft spoken girl, and sort of shy. However, she's really opened up and has quite a powerful in tune singing voice for a first grader. Since she's discovered how great she is, she's been really happy, and literally writes me these cute first grade love letters every day. My wall of Children's Paper Gifts has been overtaken with papers with phrases such as (with accurate spelling) - "You so plit to pepul" (You're so polite to people) and "You are the beast musik teter! And you are pridy so pridy." (You are the best music teacher, and you are pretty, so pretty!) Cute ne?

My concert going schedule has been stunted because I'm tired a lot but I did have that great Joe's Pub concert -- for Vienna Teng and Alex Wong. A few nights ago I saw Alex Berger (who I have a massive musician crush on) at Rockwood late on a school night. The full band part of his show provided a lot of definition and depth, a great preview to what his new album is going to sound like. "E60th and 1st" is on my list of songs I'm very much looking forward to! Awesomeness all around. Hopefully with winter break coming up, I'll have more to see and more to do.

Oh and knitting! How could I forget knitting! I'm in possession of the greatest hat ever. No lie. Have you ever heard of Knitty? I'm a little obsessed with them and their gorgeous patterns, and it's provided a pretty awesome challenge. Just yesterday I finished my first lace patterned piece -- a hat/neckwarmer! Mine's in a beautiful alpaca/tencel mix from Berrocco and made to match this badass awesome coat that I own. This past year has been pretty special in leveling up in yarn. I recall this time last year I was just started to make really ghetto mittens and hand warmers and basic hats. This year, handwarmers are a breeze, I just did a pretty leaf lace pattern, I know how to cable, I've made three sweaters...sort of.

By the way, if anyone wants to get me Skacel Divine in Turquoise for the holidays, I could FINALLY finish this sweater and I'll be SUPER happy.