sunday social: Wahoo-wa!

1. What are you most looking forward to about fall?

I'm excited about fall fashion colors, college football, cinnamon/caramel/pumpkin flavored everything, the Color Me Rad 5K, scarves, Trick-or-Treaters, vests, boots, concerts at our local venue, sweaters, tweed, tartan, and Thanksgiving, but I think if I'm going to be really honest, I am actually most looking forward to the return of my favorite television shows.  I am a shameless TV junkie and I need to know what happens next on The Mindy Project, Nashville, Parenthood, Sleepy Hollow and my other faves like Agents of SHIELD.  I'm excited for the new drama Red Band Society, comics-based Gotham and Constantine, and John Mulaney's new sitcom.

2. What is your favorite sports team?

I'm not really a huge fan of any team sports (I'm more of an Olympics and So You Think You Can Dance girl), but my favorite team sport to watch in person is football.  My alma mater, UVa, isn't really known for our football team, but I love going to home games and sitting on the hill or in the student section, wearing my orange and blue, cheering for Cav Man's adventures, singing the Good Old Song, and watching the marching band perform.

3. If you could go back to college is there one thing you would change?

I would not have said yes to the first boy who asked me to be his girlfriend in college.  He was my best friend, and I wanted to have a boyfriend, but I ended up breaking his heart and we aren't friends anymore.  I really regret that I did not take time to think about whether we'd really be a good couple.   I also wish I hadn't given up after my first bad dance audition in college - it was for a lyrical dance company and I got intimidated by the other dancers and overwhelmed by the choreography.  I wish I'd kept trying out or that I'd found a local studio to dance with.

4. What was your favorite class you took in high school or college?

I really loved the class on teaching writing I took during my final semester of college with Jane Hansen.  She is the director of the Central Virginia Writing Project and teaches writing by modeling what a writing workshop can look like- the class reminded me why I love creative writing so much.  She worked with Donald Graves and actually invented the concept of the "author's chair."  My thesis advisor, Jamie (coauthor of Getting Started, for any teachers following along), was taking the class as well, and it felt very cool and important to be in class alongside a doctoral student I really looked up to.  Several other girls from my elementary education program were taking the class as well who weren't necessarily my best friends, but by the end of the semester they definitely were - by writing about our lives and spending so much time envisioning our ideal classrooms we'd gotten to know each other really well.

5. Reach into your purse what is the first thing you grab?

My phone!  Always with me because I prefer texting to e-mail and phone calls, and I need easy access to Instagram and Snapchat so I can make my friends smile during the day.

team spirit: house united rag wreath [football season!]

I've seen several great ideas for "House Divided" wreaths on Pinterest: they're perfect for couples that attended rival colleges - like us!  Mr. Q is a Virginia Tech alumni and I graduated from the University of Virginia.  I'd been thinking about putting my own spin on a House Divided wreath, but when I really thought about it, I decided to go in a different direction.

I made a House United rag wreath.   Honestly, Mr. Q and I are not the rabid football fans that many Virginia natives are.  We love a good game, but neither of us gets throwing-things angry when our team loses.  When we were talking the night we met and learned that we attended rival schools, both of us kind of shrugged and kept asking questions.  Mr. Q has attended several UVa games with me, I've been to a few Tech games, and we root for both the big Virginia teams every weekend - except for that one weekend in November when the Commonwealth Cup is on the line. 

To make my House United wreath, I used the same method used to make my Fourth of July Rag Wreath - I just love the random, rustic look it creates!  My raw materials were a coat hanger, scissors, four spools of ribbon, and four fabric quarters (from the quilting section at JoAnn Fabrics).  I used navy, maroon, burnt orange, and bright orange fabric, and burgundy grosgrain, orange dot, orange stripe, and blue gingham ribbon.

Once I had my coat hanger circle made, I cut my ribbons, cut and ripped the fabric into strips, and went to work tying knots around the circle.  I tried to mix up the colors as much as possible.  This is what the side that was face-up while I was working looks like when it's finished:

I flipped the wreath over to hang it on the door - the side that was facing the table while I was working.  For whatever reason, that side always looks a little more rustic and fun!  Making the wreath took about an hour.  I'd love to try this again with a little burlap ribbon in there with the school colors!

 

See that crazy goodness?  I love ripped edges.

Here's what the wreath looks like on our front door.  Do you like my antique 

key print welcome mat?  It's a Target find.

And here's a shot of our townhouse in her between-seasons glory!

Linking Up:

The 36th Avenue

Catch as Catch Can at My Repurposed Life

The Inspiration Exchange at Clean and Scentsible

Hookin' Up with House of Hepworths

Inspire Me Please at Liz Marie Blog

Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife

Tutorials, Tips, and Tidbits at Stone Gable

Wildly Original at I Gotta Create

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Frugal Fridays at The Shabby Nest

Shine on Fridays at Young and Crafty

Best of the Weekend at A Little Claireification

Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now