Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Today I have a random post for you!
Let’s talk about Prime Days, first…
First off, I am getting better at returning things that aren’t perfect. In the past I would “make do” or say “it’s only $___”.
I returned the Amazon set – not sure a set will work for me because I need a larger top size. I also returned the sunglasses that go over the glasses.
I did, however, keep the Nespresso and I am still learning how to enjoy it. So far, so good!
Productivity…
I am going to wrap up my 40 Bags/40 Days (it was never really 40 bags and I did it quicker than 40 days, but whatever) soon. I am following some decluttering people on IG and it’s so inspiring. I only want to have things I love and use. It’s making keeping things clean so much easier to have less stuff and that’s my goal.
I honestly don’t think I have ever shopped so little in the summer. I have always shopped for recreation and this summer the decluttering has kept me from it and even left a bad taste in my mouth about adding more instead of subtracting.
I still did a fair amount of shopping, though. Don’t feel too badly for me!
Just below this list I printed off blank calendars for May, June, July, and August. I still have my beloved planner that I carry around, but I also liked having these calendars. I think I will print them for the fall months, too.
Summer Reading…
I read this book this summer – or most of it. I think I gave up at about 75% in, but it made me laugh so hard because…
Someone had crossed out every single “GD” word in the book. They left all the F words and salacious sex scenes alone, but this word got crossed out angrily with a blue ballpoint pen.
Social Media…
For social media, I have Facebook and Instagram. I got Instagram a long time ago (before most people in my peer group) just to use with my students, but now I guess it’s a mixture of friends and students. Students were early adopters of IG and most people my age were only on Facebook at the time.
I tell them they can follow me but I don’t approach them. I do follow back. That is why if you follow me at amscott2 you will see a lot of Spanish stuff and I try to not show alcohol there. I couldn’t keep up with a separate Coffee and Cocktails account.
I love Instagram. I think it has helped me understand my students better and grow closer to them. I keep up with so many former students this way, too. Current students (I often teach kids two years in a row) can message me or say hi, too. Anyway, I am very careful, but it’s been fun.
In the last few years, I have lots of students who freely say “Te quiero” (I love you) in notes to me or in passing. I think it’s super sweet. I have one girl who put a question box and I just said this to her. Look at her sweet reply:
I am definitely not the “best teacher ever” and her class was really hard because it was first period and I seriously had kids arriving anywhere from one minute to thirty minutes late (in a fifty minute period) because of our bus fiasco, so it made it so hard to do class activities and I had to constantly repeat myself. Anyway, teenagers are really sweet and compassionate. But, also, their brains are not fully developed and they do dumb things. Both of my sisters had one of their daughters do a dumb thing this week in the midst of my mom’s situation and I reminded them that they are still good kids.
Eddie Otis has changed so much this summer. I don’t know what he weighs now but it’s probably about 50 pounds. He was wanting to be carried down the steps at the beginning of the summer and now he is an independent boy. He now gets down from the bed (maybe not a good thing!) and he goes down the basement stairs on his own when we don’t have the baby gate up. I hate having baby gates, but it’s a season.
He loves carrying his toys around to show us:
He went downstairs and has the tv remote in his mouth in this photo. I told Tom he was tired of watching the Tour de France with him.
When we walk, he wants to meet every dog we see and I always ask the owner but they always say he can meet them. Then, we approach and he sniffs the dog but then he wants the human attention. He basically gets as close to them as possible for belly rubs and pets. He acts like he doesn’t get any of that from us! He is super social!
He is a really good swimmer – he’s a lab! Tom takes him swimming at least once a week. It gives me a chance to have the house without a puppy to clean but I really need to go with them to enjoy watching him, too. I cannot sweep, mop, or vacuum with him inside. He attacks or thinks it’s a toy. I can’t unload the dishwasher or open the washer (front loader) or dryer (front loader) because he enjoys “helping”.
And, Tom has taught him to go down all the playground slides behind our house.
He is still bitey sometimes, but it’s definitely better. He is 5 months old today, in fact! He was born February 24th!
That was a whole bunch of randomness, but I hope you enjoyed it.
What would you tell me today?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
We returned a few things too; the mattress pad we bought for Alec’s dorm bed was so thin so I returned that and picked up the twin XL size of the one I have on my bed. We also returned a set of stacking cubes that we thought would be much bigger and taller (why have I not learned to reach for the tape measure yet?!). We figure we’ll go in person to Target or somewhere similar and pick some out in person. He just picked out his dorm room on Monday and has a private bath so we need to pick up bathroom things too. He’s going to be right in the middle of the city (his first choice was dorm was full) which is making me so nervous about move in day but gosh he is so excited.
I use those printable calendars to plan our monthly menus on– though I have been slacking off all summer and only planning a few days at a time instead of the full month.
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I am the same about dimensions. I think going to the store after you get the initial stuff moved in is really the smartest. He will need soap, a handtowel and maybe a bath mat? How nice, though!
Less is more. I know as parents we want them to have everything because we love them, but they can even get bandaids and stuff at the campus clinic. There were so many unopened things my kids brought home after first year and then we did less and less each year after.
Great idea for the meal plan!
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Aww great list of randomness but the EO parts are my fave 🙂 So cute!! Love the remote story- ha!
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Thank you! He is so cute but quite the handful.
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I love seeing the EO updates, it really is like having a child! He sounds like such a fun guy and I know he is bringing you all so much joy.
I can relate to the getting rid of the clutter. It’s funny that when I walk through TJMaxx now I often leave empty handed. I am not interested in buying anything I don’t need. I used to see things I liked and grab them but I honestly get so turned off now. Guess it’s the stage of life I’m in? I like it!!
Your students are so sweet and really appreciate all you do for them, that is one of the most rewarding parts of education!!
xo,
Kellyann
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He is just like a child! He wears me out!
Right? I am in the same stage. I want to buy less and more quality but the siren song of the cheap still calls out to me.
I really am starting to miss my students but I am scared to get back on that roller coaster if you know what I mean!
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I return everything I don’t love now. I look at things I bought maybe 2-5 years ago and am annoyed I didn’t return them!
I decided to do 30 bags in 30 days. I started the 17th and I’ve gone through like 10 bags already. Even more than usual accumulates once you have kids!
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I’m learning to return and I hate returns so it’s helping me buy less! Or – I have a waiting period while I decide!
Great job on decluttering and you are so right. It’s nice to have a family to hand kid things down to – I had my sister.
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Love, Love, Love the EO update. Decluttering and becoming minimalist is so liberating. I’ve been enjoying it for a while now. I don’t think I’ll ever go back.
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Eddie Otis is just the cutest!!! My dog seems to love the people at the dog park more than the dogs. My husband says he interviewing for a new owner 😂
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Haha that’s so funny!
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Great post! I wish Malone was social, he’s still like a wild man whenever he sees another dog. I love the photo with the remote, I can just hear him saying, “Enough with the tv, Dad!”.
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My closet stresses me out so much! I’ve started to do a portion of it at a time but I still have a hard time letting go of clothes more than anything. I think it’s because we didn’t have much growing up and I really need to get over it! I have gotten better about returning stuff that I’m on the fence about and I get the return done right away.
Eddie O is doing so well for a puppy, you can tell he’s going to be a good boy!
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I print off a paper calendar for June, July & Aug. to write down all the things – camps, practices, vacation, etc to keep everyone on the same page.
Homer used to do that with the remote. Haha
Love the student’s response. So sweet!
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I am pretty good at returning things…except for Old Navy. I think like you did…it really wasn’t that much. But, I’m telling myself to return them even if it only was $4.00 or so. I’m trying hard to buy only the things I really, really love and will wear more than one season. Eddie Otis is really getting big…love the remote in the basement (which makes me miss my basement). Notes from students are the best. I have one from my very first teaching job back in 1992, and the kid wasn’t even my student. But, I had worked hard to foster a relationship with this kid no one else wanted around. Those are the best.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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I am getting rid of stuff, but yet I received all my Amazon Prime today, so today isn’t my best day of decluttering! I got 2 “fluff” things, but I feel like I needed the other stuff and it was pretty pratical. Loved reading the randomness!
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Ha – it’s a balance. Thank you!
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