Quick Escape

As a teacher, you know your year is busy when you feel like it's May and it's only November. My ever-growing "to do" list greets me every morning and puts me to bed at night. I check things off only to replace them with something else. Some days I just want to set fire to the thing.
But before I reach for the matches, I remind myself that I live in the Middle East. Flying to Europe or Dubai, or in this case, Doha, Qatar, is just a quick flight away. While I didn't do much during my two-day trip but relax, sometimes a quick escape is just what I need to keep my sanity (Lord knows teaching sixth through tenth graders certainly doesn't help!).

Today's lesson: Sometimes you can't do it ALL. Unplug for a couple of days, recharge, and come back stronger than ever.

View from breakfast. (This won't mean much to most, but living in a country with very little greenery, you come to appreciate this!)

The morning light is AMAZING! And my hair is doing whatever it wants, as usual. 

Morning cappuccino.

Enjoying the Villaggio Mall. Yes that's a man-made river, complete with gondola rides.

The ceiling of the Villaggio Mall makes you feel like you're walking outside. 

The Torch Hotel.

Lounging poolside. Doing absolutely nothing. SO necessary. 

At the airport in Doha, Qatar. Of course I had to stop and talk to this guy. 

Into the Gray...

I've lived in my current apartment in Kuwait for a little over two years. Thankfully, my employer pays for my rent and the apartment came fully furnished, down to the kitchen utensils (and some pretty hideous paintings of cats on the wall). I've made small purchases here and there to make it feel more like "home" and less like a pit stop, since I'm unsure just how long I'll be here. The biggest change, and best decision by far, has been to change the wall color in my living room space. While at first I loved the white walls, they were too difficult to keep clean and I needed some color in my life. I went with a charcoal gray called "Matrix." I'm finishing one room at a time (and yes, the painters will be back to touch up their mess-ups). Who knows, maybe I'll be here long enough to show you every single one.

Today's lesson: Make your house your HOME, no matter the length of your stay. 

Living room, before. 

Prepping to paint!

Basket: On clearance from Pottery Barn, Laterns: Ikea, Blanket: West Elm.

Wooden Accessories and rug, West Elm (from several seasons ago).

Tabletop. Clean and neat. This tray helps me keep everything organized.

My new wall color! Basket weave lamp, Ikea.

Living room, after. 

Knickknacks on my bookshelf.

Lamp, West Elm (similar here).

Storage, Ikea (I clearly didn't measure the space and should've purchased a larger piece!)

Mirror, Ikea. Sculpture, West Elm.

Morning light.

I love the way the light creeps in every morning. Perfection.