Day 3’s topic is remember the time you laughed so hard that you cried.
I’m really not sure the last time I laughed until I cried, but teaching freshmen keep me laughing daily. One of my classes always keeps me laughing…as do my kids.
Hadley is kind of the more quick witted kid where as Hayden is quietly funny.
One day last week, Hayden said he needed more deodorant, and I was frustrated and ask him why he didn’t put it on the grocery list. (I tell the kids, when I place a grocery order, I only know the things to buy that we routinely do…and if they have anything out of the ordinary, they need to write it on the list)
Anyway…the following weekend, I was making the grocery list and said I’d put deodorant on it. He said, “Dad already bought me some.”” I kiddingly said, “Dad spoils you!”
Without missing a beat, he said, “Uh…it’s a basic necessity!” And I just laughed because I wasn’t expecting that “comeback.”
I know it’s a surprise to hear from me on the weekend, but…I was scrolling Instagram yesterday and stumbled upon @mirabellecreationsand this graphic for a November Gratitude Challenge.
I always encourage the kids to be grateful and to even look at the little things for gratitude as well. Anyway, I’m going to try to blog every day in November and kind of use my blog as a journal, of sorts, for November.
I’ve already missed the first day, so today, I’m reflecting on days 1 and 2.
November 1st:
3 things you are grateful for today (Friday):
I was grateful for extra time with Hadley yesterday morning. The kids actually don’t ride to school with me most days. We car pool with another family, so that gives the kids 20-30 more minutes at home in the morning because I have to be at school earlier. Anyway, yesterday, Hayden was with Travis since he had an early morning PT appointment. Hadley needed a ride since the other family couldn’t take that morning, so I bribed her with Starbucks to get out of bed. We left right on time, and I was grateful for the car ride buddy that morning as well as the extra cup of coffee.
Once I got to school, I was grateful that my co-teacher was back. She’d been out on Wednesday and Thursday, so I was happy to have her back to co-teach for two classes.
On Friday, our admin grilled hot dogs and provided that for our lunch along with a bag of chips. The gesture was nice, and it was so nice not to pack my lunch on a Friday!
November 2nd:
Three Things you love about your favorite place:
Well, I could say that my favorite place is home…and that I love my favorite bed pillow, Homer, and reading on the couch.
Or…I could say my favorite place is KC, and I’d say three things I love are my family, the Plaza lights, and Topsy’s popcorn (and cherry limeade)…)and the Chiefs and Royals…)
Or I could say that I love Keeneland, and three things I love are the excitement of the races, a good bloody Mary, and dressing up for the Clubhouse.
That being said, I’d say my favorite place is the beach because that means it’s time to spend time with family and friends while getting in some relaxation. I have lots of favorite beach cities/towns…like Delmar, California; Charleston, SC; Siesta Key, Florida; and Seaside, Florida.
So, three things I love about the beach are:
Sunshine
My toes in the sand
Sunsets
This was a fun little bonus post. My hope is to be able to write my “gratitude” post every day. That means some days, I will have two posts. For example, on Monday, I will share my Amazon purchases this month, and then write a second post answering the gratitude prompt. I’m sure there will also be days, where, like today, I double up and share couple of days in one post.
Anyway, I hope your weekend is off to a great start!
Feel free to join me, and share what you are grateful for today!
Besides October, November is another favorite month of mine. The weather finally gets cooler, it’s the kids’ birthday month, and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays!
How was your week? Ours was pretty good. We didn’t have a ton going on in the evenings which was nice. I feel like it made the week feeling longer…in a good way.
As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Last Saturday, Hayden ran in the regional cross country race. This the last stop before the state meet.
It’s been a long but good season for him. He’s had some frustrating races and ones that he’s really proud of his progress. I do think it’s been a huge adjustment for him running varsity, and he’s close to logging 1,000 miles this year.
He’s been going to PT a few days a week for his hip, so I’m hoping that’s feeling better for him for the state meet.
We’re always proud of his effort and dedication. At the regional race, there are only seven runners per team, so it was nice that the course wasn’t so crowded. His team placed 3rd in the region, so that’s quite the accomplishment as well.
You know we lost the one tree in our yard, but the other one is still so pretty. I snapped this pic of the kids after church on Sunday, and I love it.
Guess what….as of yesterday, all of those leaves are on the ground.
On Sunday, I bought some new mums. My other ones didn’t last very long, and these two color ones from Kroger were a good price and so pretty.
I put my spider webs out and put my little skeletons in the mums. Festive and cute!
When my mom was in town, she helped the kids put together this “spooky” house that my Gma sent with her. I put two flameless tea lights under it, and it’s so cute lit up.
Sunday night, Hadley went to her Young Life group, and they painted this cute pumpkin.
On Monday, Hadley and friends helped at their former elementary school’s trunk or treat. They said they saw some of their former teachers and other friends they knew. Hadley was a Dalmation (she was hot, so not all the way zipped up at this moment) to her friend’s fireman. Hayden went too, but he couldn’t go until later.
Wednesday night, my heart was so happy. We had mummy dogs and macaroni and cheese brains before…
…carving pumpkins.
Hadley’s Chick-fil-A idea turned out so cute, and Hayden carved a skeleton (with a little help from Travis and me!)
Fave Outfit:
I snagged the “Lucy” scalloped pullover from SSYS, and I got so many compliments when I wore it this week. Some colors and sizes are sold out, but there are still a few color/size combos left.
Fave Meme:
‘Tis the season for all the things!
Favorite Mom Meme:
Relatable!
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday
This time of the year, I always reminiscence about all the fun (and cute!) costumes the kids wore though the years…
What are your weekend plans? I’m grateful for a pretty slow weekend…and I’m one of the ones who loves to “fall back.” I know it’s crazy, but I like when it gets darker earlier and lighter out when we wake up.
It’s officially the last day of October (and the last Thursday of the month), so I’m linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings.
This month’s topic is…Halloween and Fall Fun.
Let’s get to it….
1. What do you usually do for Halloween?
Well, times have changed. For years, I hosted two of my friends’ families for trick-or-treating and chili for dinner. My brother and his fam would join as well. Then, once the middle school years hit, the kids went off on their own around the neighborhood. This year, Hadley is going to a friend’s house for a get together, and Hayden and Travis will help me pass out candy.
This Halloween post from a couple of years ago was a fun little stroll down memory lane.
Halloween is usually a time when I’m pretty reminiscent about the younger years, but thankfully we get lots of trick-or-treaters, so at least I get to see little ones in their costumes.
2. Favorite fall traditions?
I love when we go to the pumpkin patch. We get apple cider donuts and pick out our pumpkins to carve. This year, we never made it to the pumpkin patch, and I was pretty bummed.
Besides that, I love when we can go to Keeneland in the fall. Travis and I were able to go last week on a really pretty afternoon.
Also, it’s fun when we can go to a Kentucky football game, but the kids end up going to those more than we do now.
Another favorite tradition is carving pumpkins. I wasn’t sure if it was going to happen, but we did that last night.
Chick-fil-A and a skeleton!
3. Milky Way or Snickers? Starburst or Skittles?
I definitely prefer Snickers to a Milky Way. I like Starbursts and Skittles equally.
4. Trick or treat or host a party?
How about sit on my front porch and pass out candy? Like I said above, I miss the trick-or-treat days…and hosting friends for a casual evening.
5. Hand out candy or go out with trick or treaters?
These days, I’m on my front porch handing out candy.
6. Do you trick or treat on Halloween or is there another day?
We trick-or-treat on Halloween. A few years, they’ve moved the day because of rain. My kids would usually get a couple or wears out of costumes with trick-or-treating at church, class parties, and then on Halloween.
On Monday, my kids helped at the trunk or treat at their former elementary school which was sweet of them to do.
7. Do you decorate for Halloween?
When I decorate, it’s usually for fall since those decorations can stay up for a couple of months.
I do put out a couple of cute Halloween things like this black cat that I’ve had for years.
8. What do you do with leftover Halloween candy?
If we have any leftover candy, I take it to school to give to my students as a reward. When the kids were little, they’d get so much candy…and I’d sneak some to take to school.
9. What are your trick or treat hours?
I think our trick-or-treat hours are from 6-8.
10. What do you have for dinner on Halloween?
For years, I would make “bloody finger” hotdogs and “brains” (mac and cheese), and “eyeballs” (grapes) on the night we carved pumpkins a few days before Halloween.
Then, a couple of years ago, I started making “mummy dogs” along with the other items. Last night, we had that for dinner before the kids carved their pumpkins.
I love these seasonal posts. It’s fun to look back on our traditions and special activities we do during the season.
What are your Halloween plans this year? Of course, we’ve been in a drought and there’s a chance of rain tonight! I hope it holds off for the little (and big! ) trick-or-treaters.
Say a prayer for me today…there’s nothing “scarier” than trying to teach high schoolers on Halloween. haha
How was your Monday? I hope your week is off to a great start.
Well, like I usually say at the end of the month…how is it already time to share what I read…but here we are!
I read two books this month, and they were both mystery/thriller books, which I really enjoyed for the month of October. #spookyseason
{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}
The Girls in the Garden:
Summary:
You live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses.
You’ve known your neighbours for years and you trust them. Implicitly.
You think your children are safe.
But are they really?
Midsummer night: a thirteen-year-old girl is found unconscious in a dark corner of the garden square. What really happened to her? And who is responsible?
Quick Thoughts:
I’ve read a few Lisa Jewell books, and I always enjoy them. London with a garden behind the house was the perfect setting for a bit of mystery. As I read this book, I could really visualize the setting. I like the characters and the sense of mystery in the plot. The ending was just as you would expect a mystery to end…with the plot was wrapped up but there was still a bit of creepiness.
Rating:
I rate this one 3.5 stars.
She’s Not Sorry:
Summary:
An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller.
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why?
Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
Quick Thoughts:
Like with Jewell, I’ve read quite a few books by Mary Kubica too. This book caught my attention from the first page. I’d almost forgotten how it started until part two of the book started and it was full circle. This book definitely kept my interest and kept me on my toes with a few twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.
Rating:
Both Jewell and Kubica are your “go to” girls for mysteries and thrillers.
Unfortunately, I’m thinking two books a month is my average, but who knows…hopefully I will have a bit more time to read now.
How was your weekend? Overall, ours was good. We had a busy Saturday and a “get ready for the week” kind of Sunday. The weather was so beautiful that it was really nice to be outside.
How is it already the last week of October? You know if I’m sharing memes, it’s got to be the end of the month.
Here are some of my favorite memes this month:
Well, of course I feel like this on a Monday:
…and I feel this way on a Monday too!
I feel like October just flew by!
I’m ready for the temps to officially cool off…so I can “slay reclusive girl fall!” haha
This is absolutely me. I need to have advanced notice and a plan.
Also relatable:
This one made me laugh out loud. I swear I get so much junk mail that I do almost throw important mail out.
Real talk. I’m not throwing in the towel, but I think I’m taking a bit of a break with fasting, counting macros and protein, etc. So this one really made me chuckle:
In the spirit of Halloween…
At least this year it’s on a Thursday. That’s almost the weekend.
I went into Kroger for a couple of things yesterday and saw the pumpkin shaped Reese’s. I don’t get Reese’s often, but when Kroger has buy 2 get 1 free for pumpkin, Christmas tree, an egg shaped Reese’s, I almost fall for it…and occasionally snag a few.
I’m sooo tired of receiving the texts, phone calls and junk mail. I’m ready for the election to be over.
I feel like I’m spending so much money on groceries every week…and just yesterday after I put all the groceries away, Hadley asked if I went to the store! ugh.
Wow! I feel like this week crept by. On Tuesday, I said, “How is it only Tuesday?”…and then I said the same thing on Wednesday!
Anyway, as always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for this week’s Friday Favorites.
Here are some favorites from the week:
Since last Friday, I recapped our fall break Florida trip, I have few pictures of favorites from last week as well as from this week too.
Hadley’s volleyball season wrapped up last week. They had such a great season and finished third in the city tournament. Then, they had one more home game and won it to cap off the season.
It’s hard to believe her first high school season is over, but it was a good one. She also had a lot of amazing older varsity players to look up to, and senior night was fun to watch.
Trav’s brother came and snapped a few pics, and I love the action shots.
She has a little break before club season starts.
The cross country season is still going on. Right now, just the runners who are running at the region and state meet these next two weekends have been practicing, but last Thursday, the whole team met up to run through a neighborhood and look at the Halloween decorations and lights.
I’d say that’s a fun way to do a workout!
Friday night, we went to our school’s soccer game. It was a beautiful night, and they won the region game.
Saturday night, the kids went to “Fright Night” and had a great time. Hayden was there too…but he does a great job dodging photos. haha
On Sunday, Hadley was all dressed up…
…to celebrate her friend’s birthday. This is such a sweet group of girls.
Our front yard tree’s leaves finally changed colors.
She’s a beaut but missing her friend…
I was very happy about some chocolate cake on Monday!
Travis and I were able to spend some time at Keeneland this week was nice! The fall meet ends tomorrow, so I was glad to go there for a bit before the season ends.
The second horse is by one of his farm’s stallions…and she tied for second in this race.
Favorite Mom Meme:
This couldn’t be more true…
Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:
Whenever I think of Keeneland, I think of this sweet memory…The kids were cheering for a horse, and I guess the horse lost…by a nose!
Weekly Recap:
Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:
I’m excited to share today’s post as I love reading and sharing day in the life posts, but this one is with a bit of a twist.
I thought this would be a fun and different way to share a “day in the life” post…sharing hour by hour.
Here was my Monday this week…hour by hour:
I set my alarm for 5:50, but I hit snooze on Monday. I was settled in the living room and drinking my coffee at 6:05, so I’m sharing by the hour on the fives.
At 7:05, I was making my lunch and filling up my tumbler.
Monday lunches are usually a lot of pre-packaged things like salad from Kroger.
By 8:05, I was in my classroom, and I had my agenda ready to go for the day.
1st hour was happening at 9:05 and I was talking to my students about the explanatory essay that we were going to start writing on Tuesday.
At 10:05, I was prepping the gallery walk activity for my 5th hour class.
At 11:05, I had a zoom meeting for an ARC to review a student’s IEP. Ever since Covid, we’ve mostly had these meetings via Zoom.
At 12:05, I was passing out textbooks before my students arrived.
Then, it was lunch time, and I enjoyed a piece of cake at 1:05.
At 2:05, my Advanced English 1 students were finishing up the gallery walk.
For their paper, they are analyzing how Odysseus is an epic hero. So, for the gallery walk, they rotated through six different stations to think of examples and find text evidence for the six criteria. Then, I displayed the final outcome at the front of the room, and they can use those examples in their paper as they write this week.
At 3:05, it was close to the end of the school day. My 6th hour class, was working on a comic strip for part 2 of The Odyssey, so we were starting to pick up the supplies.
I usually try to leave school by 3:45, but on Monday, Hayden stayed after school, so at 4:05, I was sitting in my classroom grading.
Since I knew it was going to be a late night, I went ahead and took a shower at 5:05. It was nice to be clean so early in the evening. haha
At 6:05, Hadley was finishing up homework before we left for the district volleyball game. While she was doing that, I made a quick dinner. It’s Shay’s “Mexi beef over rice” recipe.
Around 7:05, we were driving to the varsity district game about thirty minutes from our house.
At 8:05, we were watching the varsity game.
At 9:05, I was driving home. Once I got home, I did a few things around the house, and by 10:05, I was doing my nighttime skin care before bed.
That was fun way to capture the day. Maybe I will do a weekend day next.
I’m really loving these hodgepodge posts when I get the chance to write them. To me, they are link a mini diary of sorts.
I’m linking up with Joyce for another edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge.
Here are this week’s prompts:
1. Monday was National Apple Day…did you eat an apple or enjoy something made with apples? Do you like apples? Do you prefer your apples raw, baked or in cider? Do you have a favorite variety of apple?
I don’t think I had any apples on Monday, but an apple and peanut butter is one of my favorite snacks. I definitely prefer raw apples, and I will buy apple cider when it’s in season.
One of my favorite childhood memories is picking apples at the orchard across the street from our house.
My favorite variety of apples is Honeycrisp. Every time I go to Trader Joe’s, I buy a bag of their Honeycrisp apples. I love their bags of them because the apples are on the smaller side, so they are perfect for a snack.
At Kroger, I buy the individual packs of peanut butter, and that’s the perfect combo of a snack with the TJ apples.
2. Do you think there’s any truth to the saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ What healthy habits are the easiest to incorporate into your life and which are the most difficult to adopt?
I’m not sure about “an apple a day,” but of course, it pays to take care of yourself as best you can.
Some easy habits for me are trying to get enough sleep, drinking water, not smoking, exercising, limiting alcohol, and including fruits and vegetables in my diet.
I get at least seven hours of sleep a night, and sometimes I get more. This past weekend, I went to bed around 11:00 on Friday night, and I woke up at 9:45 on Saturday morning. I never sleep in like that on the weekend, but obviously I needed the rest.
I still fill up my favorite tumbler with water at least twice a day.
Truthfully, I’ve been in a workout funk. Of course, we are busy most weekdays, but even this week, I’ve come home and taken a little nap after school instead of working out. Now that Hadley’s volleyball is over, maybe I will get back in a routine.
A couple of harder habits include eating breakfast and managing stress. I never eat breakfast, and I’m ok with that. Occasionally, if I’m hungry in the morning, then I will have toast with my coffee.
Also, I’m not super stressed…it’s just more about being busy…and that’s just the season of life we’re in right now.
3. Who taught you to drive? Do you enjoy driving? Would you rather be the driver or the passenger? Do you have a favorite scenic drive near you?
I was just thinking about this because it’s hard to believe that my kids will be driving soon. My parents taught me to drive, but I also took driver’s ed for a few weeks the summer when I was 15 1/2. When I was growing up, we could get our permit at 15 1/2 and then our license at sixteen.
My kids will be able to get their permit at sixteen, so they have about a year left.
I truly am mind blown that they will be behind the wheel of a car in the near future.
I do remember taking driver’s ed with friends, and sometimes our instructor would let us stop and get snacks at the gas station.
The car I learned to drive on was my mom’s “mom mobile,” and it was a stick shift. When I got my permit, I was so excited to try to drive that we drove to my aunt and uncle’s house. They lived in our neighborhood but a couple of miles away. It took forever to drive there because I kept “killing” the car at the stop signs! I remember laughing so hard and being embarrassed.
I guess driving a stick isn’t really something that we need now, but it’s nice to say I could do it!
I don’t mind to drive, but I also don’t mind to be the passenger. If I’m in the passenger seat, then I am probably reading which is nice.
There are lots of pretty scenic drives, but I’m usually driving in the city or in neighborhoods. On my way to school, there are many pretty tree lined streets. Travis always has quite the view driving to the horse farm; there are many pretty views on his drive.
4. What small habit has had a big impact on your life?
Truly, since having kids, getting up early before everyone else has had a big impact on my life.
There have been a couple of times when I’ve overslept, and I just hate feeling rushed and out of sorts to start my day.
Also, as much as I possibly can, I try and prepare for the day the night before. I like to at least know what I’m going to take for lunch and what I plan on wearing for the day, so I don’t have to make those decisions in the morning.
5. Tell us about something nice that happened to you recently?
There’s nothing worse as a teacher to be gone and not have a sub for the day. A couple of weeks ago, I had Covid, and I had a sub the first day and not the second day that I had to be out. I always appreciate when teachers step in and cover classes. Plus, it was nice knowing that my students had a teacher who would make sure they completed their work.
Before Covid, we were expected to cover classes if needed, but now we do get paid for our hour of coverage if we complete the stipend form. It is nice to be reimbursed for our time if we don’t get a planning period.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Just when I think Homer is maturing, he escaped from the house again yesterday! The only way we can get him back is to pull up next to him in our car, call his name, and he will hop in. Well, when my neighbor alerted me that Homer was out, I called Hadley who got his leash and went to find him. Unfortunately, I was near school to pick up Hayden from practice, so she had to follow him for about twenty minutes until I could get back with the car.
Doesn’t he know we are providing him with a good home? Why does he try to escape when given the chance? When I left to get Hayden, he was on Hadley’s bed with her. It goes to show how smart he is because he heard I didn’t close the door all the way behind me and apparently hopped off the bed and left…without Hadley realizing.
My dad mentioned a documentary on Netflix Inside the Mind of a Dog…maybe I can watch that and gain some insight into his mind!
I’m always interested in all the Enneagram stuff, and follow @mirabellecreations who always posts fun graphics on Instagram.
‘Tis the Halloween season and all things scary. I stumbled upon “What Scares” for different Enneagram types, and I’m taking a deep dive into my 5w6 self for…
What Scares Type 5s:
Being helpless or incapable:This for sure applies to meas I prefer not to ask for help and like to be prepared.
Someone who asks too many questions:I hate nothing more than being peppered with questions. A conversation is one thing, but when I feel like I’m constantly answering questions, and I feel like the person has an ‘angle,” I definitely disengage.
Being overwhelmed by their own needs and needs of others:In this busy season of life, I do feel overwhelmed by my own needs more than my family’s needs. Sometimes I just have “decision fatigue” and will feel overwhelmed.
A huge party:I much prefer a small gathering with people I know.Small talk at a huge gathering is definitely not my favorite thing.
Being pressured or obligated:I definitely don’t want to feel pressured or obligated to do anything.Well, who does?
Not having the right answer in every situation:It must be the teacher in me, but I like being prepared.
Their private info being shared publicly:Well, this is ironic considering I have a blog, but of course I choose what I share and when.
What Scares Type 6s:
Everything going wrong:I like to have a plan, and I like for that plan to go accordingly. haha
Danger ahead signs:What’s around the corner? What’s the danger? Of course I want to know and be prepared.
People who are not dependable: Oh…that’s a big pet peeve of mine.
An unpredictable or unsafe environment:I definitely like to know what’s going on…and don’t like surprises.
Being accused of just being a “scaredy-cat”: I think I do a good job of keeping my worries on the inside. haha
Being called negative or pessimistic:I’m a realist!
Not having an escape route:I definitely like to know where the exits are!
Movie Quotes:
I thought these movie quotes were fun for each type:
…and this one:
Anyway, just a fun look at what scares certain types of people!
showmeandsweettea.com 