It’s Friday and they are going to mean more to me now as this is my second day of school with kids. I am linking up with Andrea and Erika to share some things that were my faves this week!
I bought myself an Owala and so far I love it! I was looking for something that wouldn’t leak and would fit in my new backpack’s side pocket. I may also keep my Stanley on my desk at school and use this for transporting water.
My school got an audio enhancement system. It’s a mike that you can wear around your neck and a microphone that is like a pop star’s mike.
Basically all of my dreams just came true. You can hardly tell the teacher is using a mike. The sound is really clear and it might save some voice?
I got a pedicure after work on Wednesday. It was such a nice thing to do the day before school started!
I did an eye mask a couple of nights this week as a treat, too!
When we were doing our rotations to get information on Monday, they had us in a nursing classroom and there were no seats left. We had to be in the back with the “patients”.
This teacher had been sick the week before so he felt that he belonged in the back!
I made some good enchiladas this week!
And, I went to lunch one day when we had a long long break – Mexican, of course!
I laughed when I saw Bridgerton creamer in the store this week!
And, don’t hate me, but look what I bought over the weekend:
On Sunday, Tom and I checked out our new Publix. It opened last year and is nowhere near our house. I’m not that impressed; don’t hate me! The order of the aisles was weird and the prices were so high on a few things that I compared with my Kroger.
I did a hot pink press on for the first day of school:
Here’s the pedicure color I went with – white/pink one more time:
It’s OPI Suzy speaks Portuguese or something like that?
And, here is what Loving Tan self-tanner looks like. Above is before and below is after. I’m impressed!
I put on rubber gloves to apply. I don’t have time to go to get a spray tan, so I’m doing this on just legs and arms.
My cute nieces started senior and freshmen year and I love their style!
It was hot this week! My car said 100 when I get in after work, but then it went down quickly:
But, we have some nice temps – very rare for August – coming our way it seems – unless they are wrong and it changes! Ha!
I had the realization that this is my first year only sending myself back to school after 17 years of sending my twins to school. You guys, it hit me! My kids are taking a year to work and decide on graduate school but for now it’s only me. Hold on while I grab a tissue.
Anyway, it’s Thursday and Kellyann and Jill host Fashion Files. Here we go…
Do this count as fashion?
I have been wanting my very own backpack for a long time. I ordered this one:
When I say my “very own backpack” I’m referring to the fact that 22 years ago, Tom and I bought a black North Face backpack to serve as our twin babies’ diaper bag. That thing has been to Germany, Scotland, and England as well as all over the US. It’s still in great condition, but I wanted something smaller. It’s so old that it has the tiniest little pocket on the strap for the old flip cell phone. Call me, North Face.
I have been having such a sneaker dilemma. I finally settled on these. Now wait while I overthink if I have the right size. I am in the process of trying to wear them with different thicknesses of socks.
They are gold Stan Smiths. Thank you to my reader Kim for the classic suggestion. She worked in the fashion industry and reminded me of this option!
I really want the black Rothy’s Mary Janes, but I saw these while browsing at DSW.
They are Skechers Cleos.
I wore this to go out to eat on Saturday:
I wore this to go to Trader Joe’s this weekend:
I wore this to go to dinner Friday night:
I got a new tennis skirt. While I was shopping for birthday gifts, there was a sale going on for $20 for these cute ruffly spf skorts.
I wore this to set up my room and run an errand:
I wore this to work Monday for our meetings:
I am so excited about this! I found this on Old Navy’s website. This is a vintage Olympics shirt and the reason I wanted it is that I was in Barcelona in 1989 (lived with a family an hour away) when they were setting up for the ’92 Olympics and got to see the construction happening. I wore this to school for meetings on Tuesday with my above new black skort.
Having a puppy in the house again! We are in love and our little Eddie Otis is getting more mature by the day.
Profile Pic:
He can be so serious. When we open his crate he just sits like a statue for a few minutes before coming out. He does this pose many times a day.
Having the kids living at home this year! The house is full! It’s a little messy! We can’t keep food in the house!
Looking Forward To:
Something this fall that I will tell you about soon!
Scheduling:
Something in the fall that I will tell you about soon!
Buying:
Amy got some back to school stuff!
Does my new backpack make me look young?
Solid gold, baby! Why didn’t I think of gold Stan Smiths? You all know of my deep love for a golden shoe.
Skechers Cleo Mary Janes. Sometimes a gal needs a flat. I saw these at DSW and couldn’t believe it was a Skecher.
Gearing up for:
A loss of freedom! A loss of unstructured time! A loss of down time!
But, hopefully gearing up to meet a great new group of kids. Most of my students this year will be new to me. Some years I have many I have already taught. This year I only have 10 maybe?
I got to meet a transfer student named Wren – isn’t that a pretty name? She and her mom were walking her schedule while I was working in my room. The mom was very nervous about her daughter starting at a large public school as she was coming from a small school. I told her that our school seems much smaller than it is. She was worried about the metal detectors and safety and I was trying to reassure her. Just as I finished talking about this, my colleague popped her head in and said, “have you been able to find that active shooter video training yet?” I was like, oh man, your timing is not great! Ha!
1. What’s a task you do on a regular (or semi-regular basis) that feels like it should be an Olympic event?
Unloading the dishwasher? I have timed myself before because I’m a nerd. This used to be a dreaded task but now I realize how quickly I can do it. Also, I got rid of a lot of the stuff in the cabinet that made it so hard to put things away. I had a really good system when twins were in high school. We would eat, they would unload together and then re-load together. That habit went away and now I’m an unload first thing in the morning while coffee brews kind of person.
2. What’s in the trunk of your car right now?
I like an uncluttered car. I currently have a quilt and a birthday gift for a friend. Remember how Tom had his truck contents stolen? That man keeps so much stuff in his vehicle and it drives me crazy and always has. Emergency camping trip? He’s got his gear! It’s a Suburban and there’s hardly a place for a human.
3. Summer foods vs. fall foods…which do you prefer?
I think my answer would be different in March, but fall foods? I have become a real soup person. I love roasted vegetables. My kids get very animated with me and say that foods don’t have seasons.
Would you rather-watermelon or caramel apple? iced coffee or pumpkin spiced latte? potato salad or sweet potato casserole? barbecued ribs or roast turkey? ice cream sandwich or apple pie? corn on the cob or candy corn?
caramel apple (caramel is one of the best things on the planet)
pumpkin spiced latte
sweet potato casserole (no nuts!)
roast turkey (what am I – a cave woman? I do not enjoy holding a messy bone in my hands and eating like a savage)
apple pie – with ice cream on top
corn on the cob but I do like candy corn. It’s quite controversial!
4. August 7th is National Lighthouse Day. Have you visited any lighthouses? Do you have a favorite? Is a lighthouse something you seek out if you’re visiting an area known for theirs?
I know I have but none really stand out. I really don’t, but maybe I should.
5. Light at the end of the tunnel, out like a light, give the green light, a lightbulb moment, in a new light, in the limelight…of the ‘light’ idioms listed which applies in some way to your life lately? Explain.
Wow – tough question! I’m stumped. I am transitioning from stay at home puppy mom to full time high school teacher so a lightbulb moment that I had years ago was to make choices on how to balance my home/work life. The pandemic really blurred lines. I don’t check work email after school anymore. I keep up with email throughout the day but then I do one final check and leave it until the next morning. It seems so little, but this has helped immensely. My department knows this, so they text me if something comes up. I plan to do something for myself every day and that might just be reading for 10 minutes, reading blogs in the morning, having a favorite snack, having a cup of tea after school.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Women have such a productivity mindset! I hear friends and my sisters say they “didn’t do much but rest” but then they list all these things they did. Maybe resting was the most productive thing for you that day, by the way. Why are we like this? Me included! We also think we have to put everything on our shoulders. I also see women choose productivity over fun – me included. Or, they cut out the one thing they look forward to each week. Stepping off of soapbox now.
I can’t remember where I first hear the concept of doing things for “your future self” but it really stuck with me and it’s been a huge motivator.
Future does not have to be that distant. It can be your 5:00 p.m. future self. It can be your tomorrow morning future self.
Give your future self the gift of making something easier or taking something off of your plate.
Often in the summer I prep for dinner in the morning. Know yourself. To thine own self be true. I lose energy as the day goes on, so making some of the dinner components in the morning while I’m piddling around makes sense.
I knocked out all 12 hours of professional development last week. Was it painful to give up two valuable summer days? Yes. But, I knew that it would also be really stressful for my future self to have to stay after school for an hour PD and potentially have to do that 12 times! I won’t even mention the brain space deciding which ones I can attend would have taken up. Gotta save this brain for better things, you know?
Was it a bit boring and painful? Yes.
Anything that can be done in 5 minutes or less I go ahead and do. Nagging phone call? Stamp on a letter? Look up information? I am struggling to teach my recent college grads this productivity tip. They put things off like you wouldn’t believe.
I stand over the trashcan/recycling when going through the mail – again that is a 5 minute or less task.
I don’t want to spend my weekends doing chores so I pick a weekday to do my laundry and the towels that are piling up in the mudroom/laundry room.
I run any errands/order anything during the week to help out my weekend self.
I make a batch of Amy McMuffins (English muffin, egg, cheese, Canadian bacon) and freeze along with a batch of breakfast burritos to freeze.
One thing that is really hard for me for some reason is buying in bulk for things other than toilet paper, paper towels, and stuff like that. I realize it is worth it to go ahead and spend out so that I have things on hand.
Monday, August 5, 2024 – The day I am a full time employee again!
Not to start out on a morose note, but this weekend it hit me that this is my first year not sending anyone “back to school” except for myself. I had realized this before, of course, but it really hit me. I was joking and saying that I was getting myself a new backpack (have wanted to for about 10 years and never did it) and new sneakers because I am the only one “needing supplies”.
Last week I worked 3 full days so I guess I eased myself back in?
Mason helped me set up my room and then his reward was any food he wanted. He picked First Watch and I took mine back to my room to keep working on the smaller things while he went home.
Friday I tried to live it up for my last summer weekday off and that included a very rare Starbucks skinny vanilla latte that I took to…
my hair appointment!
After that I shopped and ran a few errands – just enjoying the freedom!
That night my besties and hubs and Tom and I pulled a dinner together last minute at Mojito.
Of course I had a mojito!
Saturday morning was my favorite kind of Saturday morning. It was lightly raining and I loved it!
Little boy is so chill for me when I want him to be.
I finished this book this weekend and really liked it. Warning that the intimacy is quite explicit and also that these books are probably for someone much younger than me.
I started this. I just saw it on a library shelf and it looked good so we shall see!
We didn’t really have firm plans for Saturday but it was hot. Something freakish happened and my street lost power. I headed outside to read under the covered patio and realized it felt quite nice. So, I spent the powerless time reading!
Around 4:00 Tom and I had the most stereotypical American suburban date. We went to Costo and then to a steakhouse! Our reservation was for 5:00! We left at 5:40. Ha! He had a gift card left from Christmas to Stoney River.
I ordered the cutest little steak and biscuit things but really only ate the steak. It was so good and I am not a big steak person.
The next morning/yesterday look what I did:
Do you take leftovers home? We do and we try not to waste. Lately Mason has been eating all of our leftovers – usually late at night. He eats small portions but then gets hungry later. Both kids have always been kind of grazers.
I also went ahead and did some Greek bowl stuff for this week.
I enjoyed my Nespresso coffee on the patio and read some more.
What was the highlight of your weekend? Sometimes I wish I did something more exciting, but there’s a lot to be said for down time when you know you are heading into a busy season.
Happy Friday! This week was easing into full time mode for me. I had to work 3/5 days and I was trashed at the end of each day! Ha!
I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to make this simple and cheap change. I ordered this kitchen trash can with lid from Walmart + for like $12. We fill our recycling quicker than our trash it seems and we had been using a small trashcan without a lid. Well, Mr. Eddie Otis believes in recycling, too. Each item gets turned into a dog toy before hitting the big recycling can outside. We were having to put the small recycling vessel on top of the trashcan and keep it out of his reach.
What little change can you make today to make an annoyance go away?
I’m really loving this book – warning the intimate scenes are racy – but I like reading about college ice hockey and it’s been really keeping my attention. I noticed her books at Target so I requested one from my library to check it out – no pun intended.
I’m very excited about acorn spice! I don’t like apple cider. No thank you to mum. I like fall leaves, too, I think!
Monday and Tuesday were my 12 hours of PD. I can’t believe how wrecked I was after working two full days. Uh oh.
Eddie Otis is so good for me in the car. It works best to put him in the back of my SUV but I do have a middle seat down if he needs mama. He went to pick up bagels with me, he went to meet someone for a Facebook Marketplace sale with me, and he went to get weighed at the vet. He is a good boy. Oh, also he always rides home with me from the boat. Tom takes him and he lets him swim and get his energy out in the boat ramp and then he rides home with me.
Forgive this next photo cause it’s messy, but I was at the mall and hadn’t tried Chicken Salad Chick yet. And, let’s be honest. I don’t get that excited about chicken salad. It’s like me making a special trip to Buc-cee’s. Nope. It’s a gas station. Sorry.
I loved it! I got Olivia’s Old South and broccoli salad. I loved both. I took it to go and my box got jostled around! I always plate my to go food anyway on a real plate.
This notice I saw on Facebook was kinda depressing:
Even though it was a busy week, I was able to go out once with Mason after he had something he suggested it. We went to Red Hog, not to be confused by Red Lobster, which is one of my faves. It’s a butcher shop and restaurant with really high quality food and cocktails.
The patio with communal table is so pretty!
Mason got a cider and I got a Radler which is a mix of beer and grapefruit juice and is so refreshing. I first tried this in Germany.
Their fries with curry mayo are so good.
We also got a charcuterie board.
We had a nice time.
Big boy took the chair that Ernie always sat in for the first time. He is constantly making us laugh.
That is my clarinet from 5th grade in the background – can you see it? I don’t understand this man (Tom). Tom thinks he can play it and it drives me and EO crazy. My parents gave it back to me years ago and Tom was so excited to have another instrument in the house. My niece Mia borrowed it and then recently gave it back. I get cold chills thinking about how much I hated playing it and Tom is really bad. Mia plays the sax and is really good, though! I played it from 5th-9th grade and I was really bad.
So, those were some favorites and I guess a couple not-so-favorites!
What is a favorite from your week?
If you missed any posts this week, I did have a few!
OMG! It’s August! How is this even possible? I am linking up with Kellyann and Jill to talk some fashion or lack thereof this week!
What’s important to you when getting dressed? Have you ever asked that question?
I want to easily find outfits in my closet.
I want to be comfortable.
I want to feel like myself.
I want to look somewhat stylish.
I don’t want too much to choose from.
This has been on my mind as I prepare to get dressed for school again.
Here is what I wore to the mall recently:
I was so uncomfortable in my shoes (as cute as they are) that I decided to sell them on Facebook Marketplace. They have slipped in the heel, may have been the wrong size, and just not been comfortable and I have not worn them as much as I had thought I would.
I am wearing my Old Navy linen shorts and my Target extended shoulder tee.
Here I am wearing my new TJ Maxx chambray knit top with cut offs and my most worn shoe of the summer – the silver rubber Target Birks.
Here I am wearing the Walmart dress with old MIA clog lookalikes from Amazon. This was the book signing party where Tom’s car got broken into (but he didn’t lock it so his car just got opened and ravaged?)
I wore my cut offs again with my blue and white striped button up and my Paris slides for the opening ceremonies.
I guess I was on a cut off kick! I wore my cut offs with my other new TJ Maxx blouse.
I got new Chico’s white pants at my consignment store and tried them on with the blouse, too.
I also picked up a pair of Matilda Jane jeans there. I don’t have a photo yet, but I did have to cut and fray them because they were too long.
And, for school professional development day one I wore my Chico’s white skirt, Old Navy graphic tee, J.Crew sweater and my Target slides.
And, the second day I wore my newest Old Navy linen shorts in green and white stripe and the gauzy button up. I have on my Madewell leather sneaks that are pre-pandemic purchased in 2019, I think.
I had to be comfy because we ended the day with Top Golf!
We had a buffet, too. There was no alcohol because it was part of the PD.
Today is actually a two post day! I wanted to hurry up and post my Back to School Tips as so many are heading back soon and now I am participating in Joyce’s Wednesday Hodgepodge for fun – because why not?
1. What is a childhood habit or preference you will never outgrow?
This is a really bad habit, but I love to read while I eat. I think it started with the back of the cereal box as a child. I also had my nose in a book during our many car trips. I had to share the back seat with two sisters and I had to tune them out.
2. Did you know July is beans month? What’s your favorite bean? Your favorite recipe that calls for beans? When it comes to chili are you team beans or team no beans?
I did not know that! I love green beans and all beans except for lima beans. My Dad loved beans and corn bread. He also made a white bean soup. Beans are great. They are very filling and good for you. I like beans in my chili for sure! Tom makes a 17 bean soup in the winter. He soaks the beans and the whole deal. I think my favorite beans are Great Northern beans.
3. Some historical figures have a tag line after their name, something like ‘the brave’ or ‘the wise’ or ‘the mad’…what would your tag line be? Explain why?
I don’t know – maybe something about loving to laugh or being silly? My sister’s kids say I bring the fun, which is really sweet and I would love to be remembered like that. Both of my sisters are really funny and my Dad loved to laugh. He told some Dad jokes, of course, but he is where we get our sense of humor, I’m sure.
4. The way to my heart is through small acts of service, kind words, or a little gift that shows someone really listened to me or really knows me. I love feeling seen.
5. The calendar rolls into August this week, but before we go give us four adjectives that describe your July.
July was fun, lazy, emotional (with my mom being in the hospital), stressful (same reason), short, and maybe not as hot as usual. I think I was able to sit outside more comfortably and walk more comfortably and not have to go as early in the morning.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I feel grateful for a summer to re-charge my batteries. I truly feel blessed that I got to be a teacher and have summers off! With that said, I’m always a little nervous about what the school year holds. I put pressure on myself to be the best I can be at both school and home and I still deeply need my alone time and my down time.
I’m pushing this post so that you have it before school starts!
Your attitude matters. Try really hard to not speak negatively of the school or any teachers.
Even the most surly teen probably wants to make a new beginning special. Ask if they want to buy a few supplies and get ice cream. I bet they do!
Back to school is extremely expensive, but I think a few new things really helps. Maybe ask questions like, “what do you think you’ll want to wear this year?”, “was there anything you wore last year that you still want to wear or anything you definitely didn’t like or feel comfortable in?” and maybe don’t go too crazy because they may want to see how others are dressing. Also, sometimes grandparents just need a push or a suggestion. You could ask if they want to take them for their new shoes or something. They might be happy to contribute to back to school!
If your kid is walking, biking, driving for the first time to their school, practice the route before school starts – preferably at the time they would go. If it’s a new driver, sit in the passenger seat and the reward can be donuts. They will make fun of you, but it’s important. Just say that this is better than you riding with them on day one when everyone will see you in the car! Have them literally practice parking in the spot they will use.
I see many parents trying to be their kids’ friends. They need you to parent. Don’t be afraid to say “no”. Seriously. I don’t get it. In our family, we said, “we don’t agree with that” or “we don’t do that” when the kids talked about what a friend could do.
If the school offers an open house or a day to pick up schedules and “walk the schedule” make every effort to go. This really helps with new year jitters. Do not be offended if your kid is older and wants to meet friends to do this. Maybe you can compromise and drive separately and you pay the fees then let them do the rest with friends.
Ask open ended questions like, “what is the class you are most excited to take?” and really try to listen more than you talk. Try not to compare an older sibling’s experience or your own experience. It’s ok to tell funny stories but try not to preach. Get them talking if you can. Be really slow to respond and just let them talk. Teens shut down very easily. All of this is normal. Try not to say things like “that’s stupid!” because to them it isn’t stupid.
For the love of all things, please read the emails or the communications the school sends. If you feel disconnected, it might be on you. I know this is overwhelming. And, if you have multiple kids in multiple schools – whew! Put husband on one or more of the schools or kids. You don’t need to do it all.
It’s ok to write down or snap a picture of your kid’s schedule. Sometimes it’s important to know when they have which class when it comes to making appointments. Yes, some appointments have to be done during school time, but avoid when possible. Also, print out the school year calendar. There are so many days when school is out. I sometimes have a student say they aren’t passing a class and then they laugh and say they HAVE MISSED that class multiple times. Ummm… there is a correlation.
If your kid is middle school or older or maybe even late elementary have them start emailing the teacher instead of you. Maybe there is a health condition you want to make sure the teacher knows about so that might need to come from you. It’s so important to start putting this stuff on the kid so that they are capable by the time they need to be. I have had kids email me before school starts to tell me they prefer a different name than what is on my roster. I never get upset by these emails; I respect and appreciate them being on the ball. Also, don’t assume that just because you told the counselor that the information got to all 7 teachers. Yes, they should be sharing it, but they also have a lot of kids on their plate.
Attendance is so important and that starts with you. Do not act like attendance is a choice. Do not plan vacations during school days. It really hurts your kid. Can you imagine trying to make up even a day’s worth of assignments. That could be 7 things from missing one day on top of a new 7 things assigned. This goes back to printing off that school calendar.
Don’t “rescue” your kid. If they forget lunch, that’s not an emergency. If they forget a paper, they can bring it the next day. The person at the school desk is not running a concierge service. We have even had kids forget their headphones and a parent brings them. Nope. If I were principal, I would have a strict policy about this, but we can’t offend anyone anymore and we walk on eggshells.
Do try to get them to keep a granola bar or something that can be quickly eaten in their backpack. You never know when that might come in handy.
Please talk to kids about cellphones. Many schools are afraid to have strict policies these days – again eggshells. If you can avoid texting during the school day, please do. If they text you, don’t respond unless it’s an emergency. Tough love. They should not be on their phones during class. I know someone whose daughter was constantly texting “come get me” and guess what – mom came and got and the kid learned they can pull this and do. I actually think it’s great when parents are not available. Does everyone work from home these days? I see parents picking up kids in droves these days. Seriously? Whatever happened to coming at the start of the day and staying until the end of the day. I make a big deal about good attendance in my classes.
I know I’ve forgotten some things! Whew!
Lest you think I’m a hypocrite…my children (twins) only missed 3 days of school from kindergarten until senior year. Two were funerals and one was a sick day each at different times. This was a combination of luck, good health, and Tom and I not really giving them an option to not go to school. Also, as a teacher, I couldn’t really plan vacations during the school year, either. They always really loved school, too. The more you go consistently the easier it is. The more you miss, the more you want to miss.
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 