Yesterday was a teacher work day/professional development day, so it was a good way to ease back into school this week.
I typically share my Amazon purchases for the month on the first Monday of the month, but yesterday I shared my Monthly Momentspost looking back on September.
So, here are my purchases…
First of all, where do all of our phone chargers go?! They must be with the forks we lose too!
Hayden took Hadley’s charger before heading out of town, so I told her to order a set with color options! Maybe he won’t want to use her pink charger?!
I’ve used this same phone case for almost three years, but it was time for a new one. I had a black phone case, but I loved this blue floral pattern. (there are lots of solid and pattern options) It was just the update I needed.
Hi, it’s me…the girl who loves to color! I ordered this Spooky Season book to add to my collection, and it’s been a fun way to kick off October.
I haven’t purchased socks in quite some time, and I thought these white ones with the ruffle detail were so cute. I’ve worn them quite a few times, and I love them. (There are some fun color options as well!)
Hadley uses these Medicube pads, and I wanted to try them out. I still use my Thayer’s toner in the morning, but I’ve started using these with my PM skincare. After I remove my makeup, these are perfect for getting rid of the final layer while clearing out my pores as well.
Before fall break, Hadley wanted to order a couple of things. She bought this set, and it’s so cute!
Seen here on her:
Before Homecoming, she ordered this pair of heels.
She also has them in gold/glitter and tan, but the gold were just what she was looking for with her dress.
My niece got a new vanity situation, and she always admires Hadley’s vanity mirror when she’s at our house. While Hadley’s isn’t in stock anymore, I did order this one. She’s already put it to good use.
As always, everything is linked on this post, but I also have my Amazon Storefront too.
I hope you have a great Tuesday!
{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Thanks for supporting my blog.}
Well, all good things must come to an end. We had a great and pretty relaxing fall break, and now it’s time to head back to school.
I didn’t get to it last week, but today I’m taking a look back to recap what we were up to in September.
In September, we were thankfully in a back to school routine. I think one of the reasons I dislike August so much is it’s just hard to switch from summer mode to school mode, but by September we’re in a groove.
Newsflash…it’s still hot in September, so we definitely soaked up some pool time.
The kids had fun at school events like football and soccer games.
Thankfully, September evenings are pretty perfect for sitting outside. A few nights, Trav and I sat out there to watch TV and relax…Homer too!
September means football, and while I’ve yet to make it to a UK game, the kids have. That being said, I watched two of my nephew’s games in September.
I kept it pretty minimal, but I did decorate for fall. The only new thing I bought was this garden flag (oh, and one for Halloween too!)
‘Tis the season for a splash of pumpkin in my coffee, and some seasonal mugs.
While Dolly passed away in August, people everywhere remembered all she did for the weeks after…including making September 25th “nine two (to) five” day which was such a lovely sentiment.
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Junior year school photos came in! Time is flying by…that’s for sure.
Hadley and friends had lots of fun at Homecoming.
We wrapped up September on fall break. We continued our fall break tradition in Florida while Hayden flew to Arizona to visit cousins.
I’ll recap both trips later, but we had fabulous weather in Florida, and Hayden had a great time hiking in Sedona and at the Grand Canyon. We’ve spent the weekend recovering from our travels, but we are grateful for those opportunities.
Looking back, we sure were busy! Now, I’m ready for my favorite month of the year…October!
It’s the last day of September, and I’m sharing the books I read this month.
I mentioned in my August post that I’ve had a really great few months of reading, and September was no exception.
This month I read four books and listened to one…
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{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Shampoo Effect:
Summary:
When Caroline Lash arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, she falls head-over-heels for Van Whittaker, a fleece-wearing, litter-collecting, kayak enthusiast with long, floppy hair and the personality of a Border collie. Born and raised in this picturesque coastal village, Van runs with the same crowd he did as a kid: His ex-girlfriend, Bailey, a beautiful girl who attracts men like moths to a flame; Augusta, old money, horsey, and snobbish; and Fran, surrounded by brothers and sons, too fed up with boys to ever consider marrying one.
Together, the group runs wild through the marshes, beaches, and bars of Greenhead, drinking on houseboats, spending long afternoons sunbathing with their children, and playing games the way they always have. But when Bailey discovers that she is pregnant with Van’s baby, the delicate balance of the group’s friendship is thrown off. Soon Caroline is cast out of the circle and what she does next—in a potent mix of fury and heartbreak—exposes long-held secrets and works the entire town of Greenhead into a lather. Dazzlingly funny, sexy, and as juicy as it is astute, The Shampoo Effect is a story of late-night parties, early mornings with small children, the dawn of midlife, and a group of old friends finally growing up despite all their best efforts to the contrary.
Quick Thoughts:
A friend let me borrow this book, and I really enjoyed it.
In the past, I’d tried reading Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson and just couldn’t get into it. Since I had just listened to Jenna’s Open Book podcast where she interviewed Jackson, I decided to give the book a chance.
I think since the writing is more contemporary it took me a bit to get adjusted to that style.
Anyway, this book had just the right amount of drama, romance, and friendship complications. Caroline was definitely an outsider looking into a group, and that friend group was pretty complicated. It was interesting to see everything play out.
At some point, I’d like to give Pineapple Street another chance.
Rating:
Through Mom’s Eyes:
Summary:
When Sheinelle Jones launched “Through Mom’s Eyes,” a recurring TODAY show segment interviewing celebrities’ mothers about raising successful kids, she had an ulterior motive—she wanted to bring all their wisdom to bear on raising her own three children. So she asked Lin-Manuel Miranda’s mom about staying present with kids while working multiple demanding jobs, talked with Lady Gaga’s mom about how to recognize bullying, and got tips from Steph Curry’s mom on making sure even future NBA royalty does the dishes. She has since interviewed dozens of remarkable women, and then taken their advice home and tried it out on her own family. The an extraordinarily candid, warm, and insightful collection of wisdom that has taught Sheinelle valuable lessons about life, love, and parenthood.
Now in her first book, Through Mom’s Eyes, Sheinelle is ready to share even more of those life-changing secrets (along with her own experiences and stories) with the world. By combining behind-the-scenes insights from top celebrity mothers—such as the moms of Matthew McConaughey, Serena and Venus Williams, and Padma Lakshmi—with her own tales from the trenches of modern parenting, Sheinelle reveals how to make it through the hard parts of motherhood and still tap into the joys of it with empathy, generosity, and solidarity. Part parenting guide, part insight into the rich and famous, and all heart, Through Mom’s Eyes is a beautiful celebration of those who are the guiding light for their loved ones—mothers.
Quick Thoughts:
I knew when Sheinelle started promoting her book that I wanted to wait for the audio book. It was interesting to hear the perspective of moms of highly successful kids. One thing they all had in common was that raising kids isn’t easy, but they were all their child’s biggest and best cheerleaders. Sheinelle sprinkled in her own stories and wisdom which I loved hearing as well.
This could make a great gift for a new mom or a mom of kids before the teenage years!
Rating:
The Calamity Club:
Summary:
In 1933 Oxford, Mississippi, Prohibition is on the wane, and the Great Depression is tightening its grip. Poor and rich folks alike have fallen on hard times, even as the old social order remains. For women on the margins, the options are few and the price of dignity and self-determination is unbearably high.
Eleven-year-old Meg, one of the unadoptable “big girls” at the Lafayette County Orphan Asylum, fights each day to keep her spirit unbowed. Birdie, unmarried and outspoken, has come to Oxford on a mission to ask her social-climbing sister to help the struggling family she’s left behind. And Charlie is a woman with a past, running low on luck but driven by fire, fury, and grit. When their fates converge, they come up with an audacious plan to take back control of their lives. Together, they form an unlikely sisterhood—but in a place and time where hypocrisy is rife, women’s freedom is fragile, and making an enemy can have dire consequences, will the price they pay for their outrageous risk-taking be too high?
Quick Thoughts:
Well, this six hundred page book took up most of my time in September. This book was recommended to me by so many people, and I wanted to wait and read it once I wrapped up my summer reading.
I’d also listened to Jenna’s interview with Kathryn (Kitty!) Stockett, and her southern drawl sealed the deal for me in regards to reading it.
Knowing it was such a long book was kind of a mind game for me at first because on my Kindle, I like to keep the “percentage read” screen on, and that percentage really wasn’t moving.
Insert Labor Day, and my two hour solo pool float, and I really got into the book.
Once I started reading it, so many people told me how fabulous the audiobook was. I ended up getting an Audible account, and I loved that I could read some chapters, but then I could sync with the audio and listen when I wanted to as well.
The narrators for Birdie and Meg were fabulous, but I especially loved listening to the Meg chapters, but I could hear both voices in my head when reading on my Kindle.
The premise, the unique characters, the Mississippi setting, the time period, the friendships, relationships and individual circumstances of each of the ladies kept me wanting to read more.
I feel like I’m not doing the book justice with my thoughts; here’s a snippet from Goodreads.
“The Calamity Club will make you laugh, cry, and cheer—an epic testament to resilience, friendship, and the fierce, funny women who know that calamity can be the spark of new beginnings.”
That being said, this book had a lot of hype surrounding it, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I think I enjoyed The Help more, but I really did love this one too.
Rating:
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3 & 4
Summary:
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
Quick Thoughts:
I enjoyed these books just as much as the first two. I read Vol. 3 and listened to Vol. 4. Each book covers a two month time period. The neighborhood of St. Crispian has quite the cast of characters.
I hope to read all of these books in the series, and I’m guessing my reviews won’t be too different. The Goodreads summaries appear to be the same for each book. Emma is funny, and all of the characters are unique and endearing in their own ways.
The ninth book comes out in 2027, and I read there will be 25 books in total?!
Mondays tend to “hit” differently when I don’t have to set an alarm to get up early!
Well, I know I say this at the end of every month, but it’s hard to believe September is almost over.
Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite memes that have had me “stopping my scroll” recently.
Why does Homer always look the cutest in the morning?!
Travis is always sound asleep while I’m over-thinking and making “to do” lists in my head. haha
This actually makes me crazy. I will go down to change out the laundry only to see that there are three minutes left…and I guess three minutes on the washer are like the last three minutes of an NFL game.
Keeping up with passwords is a full time job!
This past weekend and Monday was so hot. Tuesday-today have been perfection as far as the weather is concerned. I’m ready for sweatshirt and sweater weather.
My face usually says it all…
Remember when Shazam was all the rage?!
I swear, as soon as I’m introduced to someone, the name goes in one ear and out the other.
Some days this is true. LOL
I sent this to one of my friends because it’s so her!! haha
Lastly, can you tell I’m ready for a week off of school?! (Really, I’m having a great year and my classes have been so good…I’m just tired!)
I hope these memes provided a laugh or two! Have a great Monday.
I hope you have a great weekend. Even though I have fall break next week, and I definitely need some time to recharge my batteries, I’ll pop in here with a post or two.
It’s hard to believe that a week from today will be October…my fave month of the year! That being said, Mother Nature got the memo, and we’ve had some really chilly weather this week.
Since it’s the last Thursday of the month, I’m linking up with Patty for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is…autumn food and decorating.
1. Apple or pumpkin pie?
While I like both, I have pumpkin pie more often in the fall. I don’t think I’ve ever made an apple pie, but I will make at least one pumpkin pie a season. I prefer to eat my pie chilled with some Cool Whip.
I think it was last fall that I discovered these little apple pie blossoms at Trader Joe’s. They were delish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
2. Favorite fall recipes – please share.
I always wait until October, but one of my favorite fall meals is Pumpkin Sausage Penne Pasta. I’ve had this recipe for years; I found it on the side of a box of pasta.
3. Do you decorate for fall? Inside, outside or both?
I decorate both inside and outside.
Last weekend, I put out some fall decor. I don’t typically go overboard, but I did decide to simplify this year. Here are a few faves:
Decorating the front porch is one of my favorite things to do. I usually wait until the first of October to decorate the front porch with pumpkins and mums.
I did get a new garden flag which has been a fun festive touch.
4. Pumpkin spice latte or apple cider?
I haven’t had a Starbucks PSL in years. I usually just sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice in my coffee along with my creamer. That being said, I’ve tried Dunkin iced coffee with a couple of pumps of almond and a couple of pumps of pumpkin swirl which has made for a great seasonal drink. The marshmallow cold foam is a treat on top!
That being said, I often buy apple cider at the store because the kids love it; I usually have one warm apple a cider a year…when we visit the pumpkin patch.
5. Favorite thing to bake in the fall?
The easiest thing to bake and what I make the most often is pumpkin muffins using the Trader Joe’s mix. These are easy to make and a good breakfast or dessert.
6. Do you like fall scented home products such as candles and cleaning products?
Uh…my middle name should be Autumn because I love all things seasonal like cleaning products and candles. I usually update my Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies seasonally if there are options.
I always have seasonal candles…typically apple in September and then pumpkin/vanilla in October/November.
7. Name a fall food that people love but you don’t.
I’m sure there’s something obvious I’m missing, but I can’t think of anything off the top of my head!
8. Candy corn…yes or no?
I only really like candy corn if it’s in a mix.
9. When do you decorate for Halloween if you do?
I don’t usually put out much for Halloween, if anything. It just depends on the year.
That being said, I decorate outside right before Halloween…my kids always want to porch to be spooky and give me a hard time for making it cute…but I just add cobwebs and spiders to the bushes…and put some skeletons in my mums.
10. If you decorate for fall outside, do you use mums, pumpkins, or other fun things?
Mums and pumpkins are definitely my “go to” for decor. That being said, I also like to buy corn stalks, change out the garden flag, door hanger, doormat, and pillows. All of those things are easy to do and oh so festive.
After the longest August ever, I feel like September has flown by! I’m ready for the rest of the -ber months to be here.
We’re only two days into the week, and it’s felt like a doozy. Nothing bad, but school has been extra busy with meetings, assemblies, and field trips. Then, I’ve had something after school the past two nights with an appointment today after school.
It’s been a while, but today I’m linking up with Joyce for this week’s edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge.
Here are my answers to her prompts this week:
1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live? What’s something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel like it’s officially fall?
Mother Nature got the memo right on time! Yesterday, it felt like fall, and the temps continue this week!
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I was able to crack my windows at school yesterday, and it felt lovely. There aren’t many times in the year when the weather cooperates to have the windows open, so I will take what I can get!
2. What’s a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?
Laundry does seem to pile up more than any other chore. That being said, the kids are the ones with the most laundry, and I usually get it started for them, and they put their clothes away. Right now, both of them have piles of clothes in their room that need to be put away.
3. What’s something you’re falling for lately?
The past couple of months I’ve been loving chunky beaded necklaces. I’ve purchased one from Amazon and two from Target! They are just the right amount of “making a statement,” but they also layer nicely over my simple everyday necklaces.
I have the Target one in mauve and white, but there are other color options too.
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4. Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year. Are you a fan? What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?
I am a fan of pumpkin flavor, but I don’t do pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks anymore.
I’ve had Dunkin Donut iced coffee with two pumps vanilla and two pumps pumpkin swirl a couple of times, and it hits the spot. The marshmallow cold foam is the chef’s kiss!
I also love pumpkin muffins and pumpkin pie. I make the Trader Joe’s mix often for muffins, and then I usually make one pumpkin pie a year. I prefer my pumpkin pie served cold with some Cool Whip on top.
5. What’s something you wish would never change ? Explain.
Oh that list is probably long, but sometimes I wish technology would stay the same…I’m to the point where I can’t keep up sometimes.
Of course, I know it’s not realistic, but if I could go back in time and hang out with two toddlers for a bit, I’d love that. Sometimes, a Facebook memory will pop up, and I’ll hear their voices, and I just miss those simpler times.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Y’all, I’ve got to get my Gmail under control. For months, I’ve been getting the emails saying my storage is almost full. Ugh. The issue is that my photos back up to Google, and I guess I need to figure out how to make that stop. That being said, I like that my videos back up to Google. I use Shutterfly for my photos, but I don’t have anything besides Google to back up my videos. Does anyone know if there’s an option to just have my videos back up and not my photos. See my response to #5 how I’m not very tech savvy!
Have a great Wednesday. I hope it feels like fall wherever you are!
Why oh why do the weekends go by so quickly?! This weekend, I feel like I need one more day to recover from the weekend.
Today I’m sharing this month’s edition of my Monthly Report.
Reading–
I just finished reading and listening to The Calamity Club, and I thought it was so good. When I started reading it, I was a bit overwhelmed by the length, but I got it read in two weeks. I had quite a few people tell me how great the audio book was, so I tried out Audible for the first time. I love that I could sync between the audio and my Kindle, so I was able to listen when I was in my car or on a walk, and then I could read on my Kindle otherwise. The two narrators for Meg and Birdie were great. I tried to listen to the chapters with Meg because her voice was just perfect. Even if I was reading, I could “hear” both voices thanks to the chapters I listened via audio.
Up next…I started readingWriters &Lovers. I had it saved as a TBR on my Goodreads, but I’m not sure who recommended it. I’m about 25% into it, and I’m not sure what I think just yet.
Enjoying –
Even though it was still so hot this weekend, I decided to decorate for fall. Hadley helped me haul the bin up from the basement, and I pulled out some of my favorite pieces. I don’t go overboard for fall, but I really did simplify this year. I’m enjoyingthe decor, and I think the temps might cooperate this week!
Prioritizing–
I’m definitely prioritizingmy time at school in order to stay caught up. My students still have chromebooks, and I use Canvas to post daily agendas and some assignments, but I’ve moved back to mostly assignments on paper. So, whenever I have the chance, I’m grading. I still love my rolling podium, and if I need to be out in the hall, I can roll it out there and grade during hall duty. Also, with assignments on paper, that means I have to make more copies which is one of my least favorite things to do. Anyway, since I spend some of my planning making copies, I usually bring some papers to grade while while doing that task. I just find if I can utilize pockets of time, I can stay pretty caught up. Today, I have to post our six week progress grades which is hard to believe!
Obsessing –
Well, Saturday night was Homecoming, and I’m obsessing over the photos. I took a few of Hadley with her date as well as some with her friends, but one of the dads has a good camera, and I appreciated all the snapshots he got and shared.
I’m so thankful that Hadley has such a wonderful core group of friends.
This dress was stuck in Michigan for a while, and then was deemed lost…but thankfully another one was sent with a few days to spare. Hadley’s shoes are from Amazon, and Hadley gives them two thumbs up.
Too cool for me!
What a great group. They braved the heat for photos, had dinner out, went to the dance, and then hung out for a while afterwards.
One thing about dances these days is you have to factor in Tik Tok transitions into the schedule! Hadley went to a friend’s house at 3:00 to get ready, and then the guys came over around 5:00 followed by photos at 6:00 and dinner at 7:00. Hadley was excited because a Tik Tok the girls made is going viral on TT. Oh, to be a teen!
Recommending-
I’m recommending these little ruffle socks. I haven’t purchased socks in the longest time, but I ordered these, and they are great! I love the ruffle detail.
Teaching and Treating:
As I shared last week, I’m reading The Odyssey with my English 1 classes; we got to the Cyclops part at the end of the week which is always a favorite part.
I’m wrapping up the poetry unit this week with my Advanced classes, and we will start the short story unit after fall break.
I’m treatingmyself to an apple cider donut from Trader Joe’s. I don’t eat much for breakfast, but I treated myself to one for dessert last night. ‘Tis the season for apple cider and pumpkin things!
I hope you have a great Monday. Just five days stand between me and fall break! It’s going to be a busy week of school, but maybe that will make it fly by!
TGIF! I feel like the weeks are starting to pick up some steam! That being said, I’m ready for the temps to cool off. It’s been too hot around here for too long.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
The kids’ junior year school photos came in. It’s hard to believe that next year, they’ll have their tux and drape school photos.
Even though it’s still so hot outside, I have a couple new pumpkin items out, and have started burning fall scented candles. When Trav and I went to Target a couple of weeks ago, the dollar spot stopped me in my tracks. I picked up two light up pumpkins.
I found a new small business, Doodles by Rebekah out of Bardstown, Kentucky and saw so many cute garden flags on the website. Garden flags are my weakness! I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality of the material. It’s thick and silky, and just perfect.
I also ordered this one for Thanksgiving!
Hadley and friends had fun tailgating last weekend at the UK game. Hayden was running around too, but he doesn’t stop for photos. Hadley sent me this one of her and her bestie. (Hadley has worn the top she bought right before school started so many times; it comes in so many colors!)
I went to Trader Joe’s for a few things, and I usually pick up the seasonal pumpkin body butter. Well, there was also a caramel creme one, and how could I resist buying it too?
I’d never seen these flavored butters, but I thought both looked good. We opened the garlic and herb one on Monday night with some ciabatta bread from Trader Joe’s. The brown sugar butter has been delish on the TJ pumpkin bagels…Hadley’s fave!
Favorite Mom Meme:
Why is this so true?! LOL!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
The kids went to a sitter’s house until they were four years old. In 2014, the year before kindergarten, we enrolled them in a preschool pre-k program two days a week, and they went to the sitter’s house the other three days.
After the first week, the school emailed us “first day of pre-k” photos, and here’s proof that Hayden has never loved first day of school pics:
Hadley was a bit hesitant too, but she smiled.
Also, this was the first time being “away” from each other. Hayden was very dependent on Hadley through the years…even into elementary school. She was tying his shoes for far too long. haha!
Anyway, they were both hesitant, but excited to have their own teachers, and we never looked back. They didn’t have the same classes again until that randomly happened a couple of times in middle school and then for their freshmen English class.
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
