Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites{#160}

Hello and happy Friday!

How as your week? We had a good one even though it’s been a busy start to summer.

I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Last Friday was the last day of school, and we went to our neighbors/friends’ house to grill out and catch up. One set of neighbors moved a couple of years ago, so we don’t see them often. Also, all of these kids go to different schools, so it’s nice when we all get together.

The moms really wanted the kids to recreate this pic from 2020…

I’m not sure why we do this to ourselves. haha

They are all so grown!

The moms got a pic too.

We spent all of Saturday at the middle school state track meet in Louisville. It was an overcast day, but pretty good running weather.

Hadley ran in three relays and had a PR in the 400. Hayden ran in the 1600 and 800. He was frustrated with is performance, but of course, we were proud of his effort.

On Monday, we went to the pool for a bit. One of my friends brought Racko which is a fun game. It was nice to feel like we were in “summer mode.”

On Tuesday, we went out to dinner with my brother’s family for Layla’s birthday. This girl loves unicorns and rainbows like no other. We can’t believe she’s 6!

I’ve been able to spend a couple of mornings on the back patio which is one of my favorite ways to start a summer morning.

I love going to graduation. Listen, there are some days I walk the hall shaking my head at some of the things I hear or see…haha

That being said, it is always so amazing to me to see over 500 seniors come together all dressed up to cross the stage and receive their diploma. It reminds me that the future it bright.

Another amazing thing — graduation only lasts an hour…even with a few speeches, a couple of musical performances and that many graduates.

I loved my graduation “fit.” Avara is one of my favorite online shops to buy dresses. They had the “Marissa” dress in pink, blue, and navy, but it looks like navy is all that’s in stock. I picked up these wedges on sale at Old Navy. They seem pretty comfy.

No pics but this week, the kids have already been busy. Hayden and friends played a round of golf on Tuesday, and he also went my school’s basketball camp. Hadley has been to the pool and UK volleyball camp.

While both kids were busy yesterday, I spent a couple of hours at the pool. It was my first pool reading time of the season.

Favorite Mom Meme:

They see me fold laundry, put dishes in the dishwasher, and put away Cheezit boxes…haha

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

What are your weekend plans? Well, today is the first day of summer that I don’t have to set an alarm. Then, we actually don’t have too much going on. We really do need to do a few early summer things like clean out backpacks, go through clothes to make a donate pile and run some errands I’ve been putting off.

The weather looks to already be in the 90’s! ugh.

I hope you are able to stay cool this weekend.

Posted in Books and Shows

Summer Reading 2023

Hello and happy June 1st!

Well, my first official day of summer was spent taking Hadley to the dentist at 9am and then shuttling the kids to the pool (Hadley) and basketball camp (Hayden) followed by graduation.

The kids are busy today too, but I think tomorrow I won’t have to set an alarm.

Anyway, it’s my most favorite time of the year…summer reading! There’s nothing better than reading a book while lounging by the pool or sitting in the shade on the patio.

I started making summer reading lists two years ago. I don’t want to be tied to a list, so I will read other things, but it’s nice to be intentional about what I want to read when I have more downtime to do it.

This was my list in 2021…

That summer, I didn’t end up reading either of the books by Jennifer Weiner.

I had eight books on my list last summer…

I never read The Boardwalk Bookshop or Out of the Clear Blue Sky. I did just place a hold for the The Boardwalk Bookshop, so maybe I will get it read this summer.

Here’s my 2023 list:

While last summer I had eight books on my list, but only read six, I decided to go with eight again since you just never know when some books will be available and some books aren’t out until later in the summer.

  • Endless Summer by Elin Hilderbrand (I can’t let a summer go by without reading one (or two) of her books.
  • Meet Me at the Lake. I loved Every Summer After by Fortune, so I’m hoping to love this one too.
  • All the Days of Summer. Nancy Thayer is another one of my summer reading authors.
  • Hotel Laguna. I’ve come to enjoy historical fiction, so I thought this one might be a good one. (Available June 20th)
  • Summer Stage. I’ve been wanting to read a book by Meg Mitchell Moore, so I thought I’d start with this one.
  • The Summer of Songbirds. I’ve read six books by KWH, so I can’t wait to read this one. (Available July 11th)
  • The Five-Star Weekend. Another Hilderbrand book. I hope to get to Nantucket one day. (Available June 13th)
  • The Block Party. Now I can’t remember whose blog I saw this one, but it caught my attention. I love a good mystery, so I’m going to give this one a try mid-summer. (Available July 18th)

Reading Challenge

I feel like I’ve made decent progress in my reading challenge. I’m not sure how much progress I will make this summer because some of the titles above I’ve already read books starting with the same letter.

That being said, since the end of June will be the halfway point, do you have any suggestions on books I should read…especially U and then V, X, Z anywhere in the title and color in the title. Thanks, in advance, for any suggestions.

What books are on your “to be read” list this summer?

Happy reading!

Posted in Books and Shows

What I’ve Been Reading: May 2023

Hello!

Since it’s the end of the month, I’m sharing the books I read in May.

I had a really great month of reading which has me excited to have a bit more time to read this summer.

This month I read:

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Finlay Donovan is Killing It:

Summary:

Finlay Donovan is killing it…except, she’s really not. A stressed-out single mom of two and struggling novelist, Finlay’s life is in chaos: The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written; her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her; and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head after an incident with scissors.

When Finlay is overheard discussing the plot of her new suspense novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet. She soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart, as she becomes tangled in a real-life murder investigation.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was on my “to read” list for a while. It was a quick and fun read that included humor, motherhood, and suspense. I hope to read the other books in the series too.

Rating:

Love and Other Words:

Summary:

Macy Sorensen is settling into an ambitious if emotionally tepid routine: work hard as a new pediatrics resident, plan her wedding to an older, financially secure man, keep her head down and heart tucked away.

But when she runs into Elliot Petropoulos—the first and only love of her life—the careful bubble she’s constructed begins to dissolve. Once upon a time, Elliot was Macy’s entire world—growing from her gangly bookish friend into the man who coaxed her heart open again after the loss of her mother…only to break it on the very night he declared his love for her.

Told in alternating timelines between Then and Now, teenage Elliot and Macy grow from friends to much more—spending weekends and lazy summers together in a house outside of San Francisco devouring books, sharing favorite words, and talking through their growing pains and triumphs. As adults, they have become strangers to one another until their chance reunion. Although their memories are obscured by the agony of what happened that night so many years ago, Elliot will come to understand the truth behind Macy’s decade-long silence, and will have to overcome the past and himself to revive her faith in the possibility of an all-consuming love.

Quick Thoughts:

I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of Every Summer After by Carley Fortune. I loved that the plot moved back and forth between the past the present. Elliot and Macy’s relationship was interesting to follow through the years. I did feel like the ending seemed a bit unrealistic. This book had some suggestive/R rated scenes…just FYI.

Rating:

The Paris Library:

Summary:

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

Quick Thoughts:

I LOVED this book. I enjoy books that share different point of views. This book is based on the true story of librarians at the American Library in Paris during WW2. There were literary quotes/references sprinkled in as well as Dewey decimal references too. (I know–I’m such an English teacher nerd!) I was so intrigued by Odile’s story. Odile and Lily both had so much heartache to overcome and I enjoyed reading as their relationship blossomed and how they ended up being there for each other.

This book had it all– history, love, family and friend relationships. You should definitely read the author’s note at the end. I’m sure this will be a top read for me in 2023.

Favorite quotes:

You know I love a book if I share a few favorite quotes.

  • “People are awkward, they don’t always know what to do or say. Don’t hold it against them. You never know what’s in their hearts.”
  • “We all have books that changed us forever…one that let us know that we’re not alone. What’s yours?”
  • “Libraries are lungs…books are fresh air breathed in to keep the heart beating, to keep the brain imagining, to keep hope alive.”

Rating:

Daisy Jones & The Six:

Summary:

Daisy Jones & the Six follows “a rock band in the 1970s from their rise in the LA music scene to becoming one of the most famous bands in the world and explores the reason behind their split at the height of their success.

Quick Thoughts:

This book had also been on my “to read” list for a while. Even though I’ve loved the five books I’ve read by Taylor Reid Jenkins in the past, I think since I’m not really a music/band person, I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book. Well, once I saw that it was a series on Amazon Prime, I figured I should read it before watching.

I loved the interview style and how it was organized album by album. Of course, this book at musical references, love, and drama. I could really visualize what these characters looked like, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed.

Yesterday, I came home from school and decided to start the series. I’m one episode in, and I like it so far too.

Rating:

Tomorrow, I will share the books I hope to read this summer. I’m excited for days reading by the pool.

Posted in Kids, School

Last day of 7th grade

Hello! How was your long weekend?

We had a good one. We started off with hanging out with neighbor friends on Friday night, the kids had the state track meet all day Saturday, Sunday we were tuckered out and pretty lazy, and yesterday we enjoyed a day at the pool.

Friday was a our last day of school, and per tradition, I’m sharing those photos. We’re all ready for summer!

To finish out the school year, the kids had three Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) tests. They took the reading, math and science tests a couple of weeks ago. Then, they had a week of classes where they had a few tests and final exams.

The last week of school included two walking field trips, Clash of the Classes and a PBIS rewards day where they also signed yearbooks. By Wednesday of last week, they’d turned in their chrome books, and learning was officially complete.

Honestly, after all of the testing, I was glad they had a pretty easy week at school with their teachers and classmates.

Seventh grade was definitely harder than 6th grade, that’s for sure. As a high school teacher, it reminds me of the 10th/11th grade years where you aren’t the new kids at school, but you also aren’t the oldest either.

This year I wanted them to work on organization, time management, & self-advocacy…and they did. Also, they will continue to work on those learned skills.

I’m sure they don’t realize it, but I loved how excited they both were for “Cupcake Wars” in their Life Essentials class. Also, first semester, they were in the same gym class and I loved hearing those stories.

As I shared in last week’s Three Things post, they were involved in athletics and clubs too. They also had their first school dances since they didn’t have those opportunities in 6th grade.

They worked hard for the grades they earned. While they weren’t perfect, they did make the 3.5-3.99 honor roll every quarter. Also, they were both in Beta club in school. I was happy they were recognized for their effort and grades.

They probably handled their 7th grade year better than I did when I was their age. They are way more well-rounded than I ever was. I’d say it was definitely a year of lessons, and they learned a lot, both personally and academically, along the way.

While not school related, they both got their braces off. Hayden grew a few inches and is officially a head taller than Hadley. That’s probably his biggest accomplishment of the year. haha

They are finding their way and have grown both literally and figuratively.

The first day of school:

The last day of school:

Hayden:

What a difference nine months makes!

He said his favorite class was science and his favorite memory was field day.

Hadley:

I don’t see as much change in Hadley as I do Hayden, but she certainly has matured this year!

Her favorite class was also science (They had a FABULOUS teacher), and said her favorite memory was “Clash of the Classes” which is the field day Hayden was referring to.

Me:

As for me, I didn’t take an end of the school year photo, but this pretty much sums me up:

Overall, I had a great year 21 in education. It feels like time moves so quickly, but that’s doubled when you have two teens!

I have a faculty meeting this morning and graduation tomorrow. Then, it’s officially summer!

Posted in Share 4 Somethings

Share 4 Somethings

Happy Saturday!

We made it through the last day of school…yay! We’re ready for the weekend…and summer!

I’m linking up with Jennifer to share a quick Share 4 Somethings post.

This month I…

Loved:

Spring candles. If I’m home, a candle is lit. I love the freshness of citrus and floral scents.

This peony blossom candle (in a rose gold tin) was a favorite find at Trader Joe’s this month.

Read:

I read four books this month, and it was a good month of reading. I will share those books next week, but The Paris Library was definitely my favorite.

Ate:

The month of May is hard for me to meal plan because it feels extra busy. I really needed to meal plan, but I really didn’t want to. haha

Some meals we ate this month:

When the weather was cooler, I took advantage of that and made “cozier” meals like Chicken Noodle Casserole and Taco Pie (both recipes courtesy of Andrea)

We’ve been grilling out already which has been so nice….Recently, we’ve had steak, BBQ chicken, and pork chops. Last weekend, I made Shay’s Pepperoni and Bell Pepper pasta salad, and Travis and I really liked it. Hadley prefers the one from the Betty Crocker box…haha.

This week, we ate some easy staples to get me through the week. I made baked chicken that we had with Bob Evans mashed potatoes, and Sloppy Joe’s with waffle fries. Thankfully, fruit is also an easy side this time of the year.

Bought:

I took advantage of some summer sales and purchased more of my favorite pj’s (top // shorts) and a swimsuit from Target, some shorts I’ve had my eye on from Aerie, and a bra from Soma. (Soma always has a big sale before Christmas and this time of the year…and it’s always a good reminder for me to update my undergarments!)

Have you taken advantage of any great sales lately?

I hope your holiday weekend is off to a great start. See you back here Tuesday.

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#159}

Hello and happy Friday.

It’s the best kind of Friday…it’s the last Friday of the school year!

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are some favorites from the week:

One of Hadley’s friends had a party for her 13th birthday last Saturday. The girls had Chipolte for dinner in the backyard. They showed up dressed up, and then changed clothes after dinner to run around for a scavenger hunt. They had such a great time!

Seeing Hadley (and friends) all dressed up had me thinking about this meme:

When people tell me how much Hadley looks like me, my first thought is that I was never that pretty…especially at 13!!

Saturday night while Hadley was at the party, Travis and I watched Air with Hayden. It was so good! Travis and I especially loved the soundtrack!

Sunday was Youth Sunday at church. Hayden was an usher and passed out the bulletins while Hadley helped with the offering.

It’s such a great group of kids, and it was a wonderful service.

On Sunday, Travis and Hadley went and picked up some flowers for the front porch as well as two hanging ferns. The ferns are usually my Mother’s Day gift.

I had the honor of being in Hadley’s daily BeReal post this week.

Hayden brought home one of his art pieces from the year. It’s the track/stadium at University of Oregon . It’s hard to tell from the pics, but he was quite detailed with seats in the stadium and the track.

Travis asked him if it was an ashtray….I thought it was better than that!

Favorite Foods:

Last week, our friends/neighbors invited us over to make pizzas and use their pizza oven. I made a BBQ chicken one, and it was so good.

On Saturday, Travis talked me in to going out for a biscuit brunch. It did hit the spot on a dreary and rainy morning.

Favorite Kid Quote:

For Sunday dessert, I made strawberry shortcake trifles…

Hadley took one bite and said, “Okkk, Betty Kroger!” 😆 Kroger is our grocery store! Close enough. I will take the compliment.

Favorite Mom Meme:

I like to think that I have a 50/50 shot that someone will like me most days…

Flashback Friday:

Many cute memories popped up this week.

2013 — little Hayden lining up his cars. He used to do this for hours when he was little.

Also from 2013—Hadley’s cute little smile. I remember how cute that pink shirt was on her.

2010- the first time Hayden tried cereal…bahaha

Weekly Recap:

This week, I shared funny memes, talked about work/home balance, shared a Three Things post as well as a Monthly Musings post.

What are your weekend plans? Like I shared in yesterday’s post, we’ll hang with friends tonight, go to the state track meet tomorrow, and then hopefully just hang out and/or hit the pool the rest of the weekend.

I should have a bonus post (Share 4 Somethings) tomorrow.

Thanks for reading,

Posted in Holidays, Monthly Musings

Monthly Musings

Hello and happy Thursday!

Some months I feel like they seem to fly by, but May sure felt like it lasted forever! That being said, I can’t believe this time next week it will be June! Since it’s the last Thursday of the month, Holly and Patty are hosting their Monthly Musings link up.

This month’s topic is: Celebrating Memorial Day Weekend

Ahh…one of my favorite weekends of the year. Of course Memorial Day has significant meaning as we honor those who lost their lives serving our country.

Memorial Day Celebration with American Flag on background. Text “Memorial Day – Remember and Honor”

It’s also the start of summer. The pool opens, alarm clocks can be turned off, grills are turned on, and everyone can enjoy the warm summer sunshine.

1. How are you spending Memorial Day weekend?

Well, tomorrow is the last day of school…and usually I’d be in my pjs by 7:00, but our friends invited us over to grill out/hang on their patio. Saturday, we’ll spend the day at the state middle school track meet. Sunday and Monday we don’t have any official plans, and by that time, I’m sure I’ll be ready to relax. Our pool opened yesterday. We’ve had beautiful weather this week, but it’s only supposed to be mid-70’s the next few days. I’m sure the kids (especially Hadley) will head to the pool Sunday/Monday. I will probably go for a bit as well at some point.

2. Favorite ice cream?

My favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip!

3. Memorial Day travel or hanging out at home?

We never travel for Memorial Day…it’s always too close to the end of the school year. So, we will be at home when not at the track meet.

4. Burger? Hot dog? or both?

I love a good hot dog. We actually went out to dinner last Friday to a local spot, and I ordered a hot dog with cheese and pickle. It was so good.

There’s another local place called Boonedogs that we’ve been to a time or two, and it’s good as well.

5. Favorite cookout sides?

I love a good pasta salad. I made Shay’s Pepperoni & Bell Pepper Pasta Salad recipe this past weekend, and it’s really good.

This one I found on Pinterest years ago is one I make often as well.

6. White before or after Memorial Day?

For me, I typically wait until after Memorial Day…but that’s not because I’m trying to follow any fashion rule. I prefer to be tan before wearing white. I did wear my white jeans to school yesterday with a bright pink top…but I also made a visit to the Sun Tan City spray tan booth this past weekend.

7. Memorial Day traditions?

We don’t really have any Memorial Day traditions…not like we we seem to have for the 4th of July.

As a kid, I remember my extended family getting together for Memorial Day, the 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.

I joke that there are two kinds of Memorial Day weekend people…those who do yardwork, and those who go to the pool. Guess which one I’m married to! Plus, since I know I will have pool time in the summer, I’m not rushing to go over Memorial Day weekend when it’s so crowded.

It does seem like most years we grill out with neighbors at some point and go to the pool for a bit.

8. Share a summer recipe.

This Asparagus Fries recipe I found on Pinterest years ago, is a winner. My whole family loves them. This weekend, Travis picked up chicken to grill and came home with asparagus too. He requested this as a side. It’s one of Hadley’s favorites as well.

9. Parades, fireworks or cookouts?

Cook out and pool!

10. Show us your red, white, and blue…

For the patriotic holidays, I always put out a few flags…

…and I miss the days of the kids *willingly* wearing red, white, and blue…but how festive is Homer?

What are your Memorial Day weekend plans? Our weather looks amazing. I’m definitely ready for the weekend!

Posted in Three things

Three Things: End of the School Year

Hello!

Well, it’s been quite a while since I’ve written a Three Things post. With the end of the school year wrapping up, now seems like a good time to recap the year before we move into summer.

1. School-Overall, I’d say Hayden had a good year. The transition from 6th grade to 7th grade is a big one, and Hayden (and Hadley) had to make some adjustments. He chose Spanish for foreign language, made Honor Roll and earned all his AR reading points every quarter.

2. Sports– Hayden was busy all year with cross country, basketball and track. He survived (and I think enjoyed) having his dad as his cross country coach. He had fun with his basketball teammates. During track, he broke 5 minutes in the mile, setting the school record. For state, he’s qualified in the 800m, 1600,3200m, and 4×800 relay.

3. Also – I swear he’s grown a few inches since the start of the school year. This spring, he’s started mowing our yard and helped out by mowing a few neighbors’ yards when needed. At youth Sunday at church this past weekend, he was an usher and passed out the bulletins.

Overall, I’d say he had a pretty good 7th grade year, and I know he’ll continue to work on his weaknesses and utilize his strengths!

1. School – Let me tell you what Hadley loves most about school: clubs, sports, and socializing! This year, she was on Student Council and involved in Wyldlife. That being said, she did make the Honor Roll every quarter, chose French as her foreign language, and was a big help to her teachers.

2. Sports –Hadley LOVED playing volleyball for her school. Her team was so fun to watch and so many of her friends played as well. In the off season, she trained a bit for track, and has a really great outdoor season for her school. For state, she’s qualified for the 400m as well as three relays: 4×800, 4×200, and 4×400. She’s also continued with competition dance for her studio, and I’m always amazed by those performances as well.

3. Also – Hadley has a very nurturing spirit and a kind soul. She had so much fun during volleyball with her friends, like her, some of whom hadn’t played much volleyball. During track season, she’s taken some sweet 6th grade girls under her wing. She calls them her “soccer girls” because besides track, they play soccer. It’s been fun watching her help them and cheer them on. Also, she’s been babysitting more and more this year. It’s been good for her to have that responsibility. On Sunday, during the youth service, Hadley helped with the offering. We are really proud of the person she’s becoming!

1. Travis – As always, Travis is busy at work. With a couple of weeks between the last regular season track meet and state, he’s been helping the kids prepare for the state meet. He will have one more year as the cross country coach at the kids’ school. Since that’s in place, he’s excited to spread the word about cross country to the elementary feeder schools and train kids this summer.

2. I am wrapping up my 21st school year. How is that possible? I’m looking forward to summer, but I am running two weeks of summer school. Since I have quite a bit of help, my role isn’t too time consuming, and I’m appreciative of that! Next year, I will continue in my interventionist role, and I’m excited about that too.

3. Homer is now four years old. His “gotcha” day is June 8th, so I see a scoop of vanilla ice cream in his future. My mom visited recently and mentioned how during the day, Homer mostly slept. He really is a good dog and doesn’t cause too much trouble these days!

Three more days of school left! I think I can, I think I can…

Posted in School, Tuesday Talk

Tuesday Talk – Balance

Hello! I hope your week is off to a great start.

WordPress posts writing prompt ideas, and I saw this one the other day:

How do you balance work and home life?

So, today I’m sharing my thoughts on that topic…

When thinking about this topic, the first few ideas that popped in my mind were: stay organized, say no when needed, and maximize your time.

When I moved to my current school, that definitely helped with work/home balance. I had a shorter drive which meant I got back at least 45 minutes-an hour of my day. Also, my current school starts earlier, so now I have more time after school. I’m also on the same schedule/calendar as my kids which is nice.

Also, I’d always wished I could pick my kids up from school when they were in elementary school. With the middle/high school schedule in my district, I’m able to pick them up when they don’t have after school activities. That’s one example of me feeling more balanced in regards to school and home.

Organization:

You know my “Type A” self loves to be organized. As a family, we use the Cozi app. I’m really good about entering appointments, etc. in it –the kids need to be reminded to look at it. haha

I have a note on my phone for the week. This is just for me. I keep up with it adding in what we have every evening, errands, and other reminders.

I try to do things at home bit by bit to stay on top of everything. Also, our house is typically pretty tidy. I always feel better picking up before bed to start the day with a clean house. The kids’ rooms aren’t always tidy. Usually, on Sundays I ask them to “regroup” for the week and pick up their rooms. Sometimes, I feel like all I do is nag…but, at least with this, I’m only nagging on Sundays if needed.

Also, everyone in the house has to help out. I still sometimes feel like Travis and I do more than we need to, but the kids really do what they are supposed to do…eventually.

At school, I use my planner to stay organized and make lists. There’s always a sticky note (or two) on my desk that I use to guide my week and day.

Also, I never leave school on a Friday before I am ready for the following week. I still might have copies to make on Monday, but I have a sticky note with a to do list ready to go.

I can’t do it all…Sometimes, even with everything planned out, the kids will need a ride somewhere. It’s ok to ask for help. I’m very thankful for my “mom gang.” My brother and sister-in-law also help if I need Hadley taken to dance, for example, while we’re at Hayden’s game.

Just Say No:

If I have a busy day at school or know that I need to leave ASAP, I often times just keep to myself during the day. I just stay as focused as possible. I hate cutting a conversation short, but I know that some days I need every minute to get my work done.

Also, by now, I know my limits…sometimes a Friday night calls for pajamas by 7:00 rather than a night out. Do I still get FOMO? Yes…haha, but I do know that sometimes it’s better to have a quiet night at home and get caught up on sleep.

Maximize Your Time:

I learned a long time ago to leave school at school. Once I had the kids, I just maximized my time at school, so I could leave ASAP. Similar to “just say no” above, sometimes that means no socializing because I need to get school work done in order to leave whenever I need to.

Even when I had my regular English classes with 150 students, I never brought work home to grade. I’d grade as much as I could during the day. Then, every other week or so, I’d make sure Travis could pick up the kids and handle home stuff, so I could get caught up at school. Meaning I might stay at school for a couple of hours to get caught up if needed.

Y’all, I know it’s a busy season of life, but sometimes I feel like all I do is manage my time…even when I have a window of time, I still set a timer. For example, I might have thirty minutes to read, but I usually have to set a timer to prompt myself to make dinner, pick up the kids, or get my workout in.

Unfortunately, my kids aren’t the best at time management…yet? (hence, why sometimes I feel like a nag). I know it’s a learned skill (and a weakness for some), but I’m ready for them to master that skill. haha

Also….

I rarely check email after hours. I do still have it on my phone, and I know some don’t…but I do like having access to it. I do want my kids to have my attention when I’m at home, so I try to be “present” when they are around. I never want them to look over from the side lines to see me replying to a school email.

I also know that I will have times where I “have” to be “caught up” like the end of a grading period or right before a break. When we have a break, I know I can give 100% at home/relax a bit more then.

I even make some of my “me” time a scheduled part of my day. I get up at least 45 minutes before the rest of the house. I also schedule in my workouts in the evenings so that I’m more likely to get them done.

I still often feel imbalanced, but I also feel better for at least having a plan.

Do you have any secrets for home/work life balance? Let me know!

Posted in Memes

Monday Memes

Hello and happy Monday. I’m happy to say that this is the last Monday that I will have to hear an early alarm clock for about 10 weeks!

How was your weekend? We had a pretty slow one compared to most weekends this spring. That being said, most of the time was spent getting caught up on home things like laundry, groceries, yard work and more.

Since next Monday is Memorial Day, today I’m sharing the memes that made me laugh this month.

*Warning* most of the memes focus on being a tired teacher or tired parent this time of the year…haha

1.

Righhhhttt?! And all the parents said, “Amen!”

2.

Bahahaha….ha!

3.

I feel this deeply:

4.

Also, we don’t really get the summers “off”…

5.

I know I bought two yearbooks…at least I think I did. I guess we’ll find out this week.

6.

My mom sent me this one…and it’s very relatable!

7.

I meant to share this one when I shared my Oaks post, but I forgot..

It was very appropriate for the first Saturday in May.

8.

This probably applies more to the kids than me, but it’s happened a time or two…

9.

I love when a meeting wraps up early! Even better…when an email is sent rather than having to attend the meeting…

10.

Is there anything better than a bowl of cereal? Sometimes that’s my dessert…and honestly, it’s about to be dinner this week because I haven’t been the best about meal planning and prep😆

Which meme was your favorite?

As the school year wraps up, it always feels extra hectic. I hope to post regularly this week, but if not, you’ll know why!