A Perfect Day - Community Building

Today was indoor field day at our elementary school. To be honest, I'm ready for Spring Break... and was a little nervous some of my students would have a hard time handling the lack of structure.

How wrong I was. Today was perfect and reminded me exactly why I love being a teacher. Thanks to our amazing gym teacher, the stations were structured and organized to a tee.

That wasn't what made it a perfect day though. What made it a perfect day, was my students. Through all of the stations they cheered each other on, encouraged each other's successes and built each other back up when they failed. They highfived and side hugged and smiled from ear to ear.

These are the school experiences that kids remember.

As I led my class from the obstacle course to the mindfulness station, I was followed by cheerful chatter and whispers of "what do you think we're going to do next?" When we sat down to meditate it was a race to see who could sit the closest to me, and as the guided meditation started, I felt a little head lean in to my shoulder. In that moment I couldn't imagine a more rewarding job. Those 23 humans all wanted to be right next to me, and I felt like the luckiest teacher on the planet.

Some days I show up to work a little tired, distracted, stressed or burnt out. I'm not perfect in any way, but somehow my students look past that and see only the best in me. Every day, I vow to look for the best in each and every one of them... just like they do for me.

Today was a good day. I can't wait for tomorrow.

There Are No Words

Okay guys. What a week.

Several strange things have happened in 2nd Grade this week, but i'm going to keep this short.

It's like the Springpocalypse in Wisconsin. Everything is melting and apparently it's been too much for the roof of my school. When I arrived on Wednesday morning, it was to a giant puddle of a classroom. So... after a bit of drama and running around the school, my students and I have been gypsying around from classroom to classroom, pretending like we are on an adventure. Correction: my students actually feel like they are on an adventure. I am pretending.

So, naturally i'm like kind of stressed out. Thank goodness there was a staff lunch this week. I'm REALLY trying to eat healthy (because, wedding) so I enjoyed my deli chicken lettuce wrap and grabbed a few homemade cookies to bring home for Derick.  I put these cookies on a paper plate on my desk and waited for my students to come back from lunch, so we could go spend our afternoon in the library. About ten minutes after getting to the library, I realized I forgot my read aloud book, so I ran back to the classroom to get it. Harry Potter was sitting right there on my desk waiting for me... along with my HALF EATEN chocolate chip cookie.

This is not a drill. Someone had taken a giant bite out of my cookie and put it back on the plate.  These are the things you cannot make up.

So far... the cookie eating bandit remains at large.

Adulting Is Hard

I was brushing my teeth tonight... and I suddenly realized, I can't adult.

I mean I've said that jokingly a million times, but seriously I was thinking about it and I came to the conclusion that I can only do up to two adult things at any given time.

Being an adult is like folding a fitted sheet.

When I am not eating very healthy I seem to be really motivated to do my hair and makeup and focus on skincare. Like I have so many fantastic face masks and eyeshadow palettes that I bought when I was eating like garbage.

As soon as I start focusing on nutrition and working out regularly... I lose all motivation to do other things appearance wise. Like, makeup? Nah. Scrunchies are life. Throw me a hoodie.

Now that we moved into the new house and I've got a million adult things on my plate like painting, decorating, cleaning, organizing... I simply have no time for anything else. Today, halfway through work I realized I had paint in my hair from touching up the bathroom ceiling last night.

When i'm being an amazing friend and fiance, i'm definitely less of a rockstar at work... and when i'm killing it as a 2nd Grade teacher, sometimes i'm too tired to have a social life.

The only time I feel like I can do all of the things is in the Summer. Which i'm realizing is because I don't have to go to work. At all. If only money grew on trees.

I wonder how someone becomes well rounded. How do I manage to be moderately good at all of the aforementioned things AT ONE TIME?

Maybe I should ask my grandma. Noni always knows best.

How do you do it? Or are you just good at pretending you do?

Just Enjoy It... Wisdom From Noni

I'm just sitting here, watching the finale of "The Bachelor" in my new house, with a glass of wine.

There are a million and one projects I should be doing right now, but instead i'm just choosing to enjoy this moment.

Exactly two weeks ago, I called my maternal grandma "Noni" on my way HOME from signing the papers that made me a first time homeowner. She and my "Papa" were the first ones I wanted to call, because i'm telling you, there is NO ONE more fun to share news with.

They of course congratulated Derick and I, and told us how proud they were. Then,  Noni reminded me "You've got your whole life to fix that house up. Don't forget to take a minute to enjoy it." I laughed. Of course I would take the time to enjoy it. I mean i'm not THAT ambitious. Until now apparently, because I haven't sat down before 11PM for the past two weeks. "You're going to be up until midnight, trying to finish a project and I just want you to remember that I told you this. It's not a race, so don't forget to slow down and live there."

I have thought of that simple advice SO many times over the past few weeks. Whenever I get sucked into the blackhole of a project, I remind myself that I don't have to do it all today.

I just want the house to be perfect and "Instagram ready.".. but the truth is, the front room is painted what we have nicknamed "puke pink" and has maroon carpet, the guest bathroom pedestal sink isn't connected to the floor, one kitchen wall is painted black, our master bathroom's shower head is about the height of Derick's chin, the stove almost started the house on fire the first time I tried to make a frozen pizza, closet doors are falling off their tracks left and right... and today when I removed the painters tape from the bathrooms upstairs, I realized i'll never be a professional and that we should have sprung for brand name.

That's okay though. We have accomplished a heck of a lot in the past two weeks. We are having our new, functional kitchen appliances delivered on Friday. My mom's expertise and Painted Fox decor has managed to make even the most fundamentally ugly rooms stylish... and even though I did it badly, I have painted four rooms, a hallway and a stairwell all in the past four days. For now, I will follow Noni's advice and enjoy this season rather than wishing it away for something better.

Historically, Noni gives the best advice... so I always listen.

My other favorite piece of her wisdom is about relationships "Don't do anything you don't want to do for the rest of your life..." So, I haven't shoveled or taken the garbage out yet.

Making This House a Home

Well guys... i'm a homeowner.

Actually, i've been a homeowner for like two weeks. This is just the first time I've sat down since then. Haha. But seriously.

We finally moved into our perfectly imperfect, first and (hopefully) forever home. Let me tell you something. If you haven't moved in awhile, you have NO idea how much stuff you have. Like seriously. HOW did this all fit into our apartment?

Thanks to extremely helpful parents, we moved everything in one weekend and somehow managed to start at least three major home improvement projects and finish none.

I'm currently sitting in what used to be the formal dining room, now my reading room. It's my favorite room in the house. Ever since we looked at the house I couldn't say enough how much I HATED this room. It has maroon carpet from the nineties and a ceiling fan with blades that are so tired they just kind of droop down towards the ground... kind of like they are frowning. It's really not aesthetically pleasing at all and is certainly not going to win any home decor awards.

But NOW... it's full of all of my very favorite things. When you walk into the "red room" you will see my bookshelf bursting with various nicknacks, young adult novels, self help books, love stories and mysteries, my antique desk from my Noni, a rustic bench Derick made for our apartment entry, a vintage upholstered chair that was a gift from my parents in high school, my salt rock lamp and a gallery wall consisting of my favorite quotes and catch phrases. It's so cozy that I can't get enough.

Below are the before and after pictures... and I have to say, the change is dramatic. Eventually we would love to extend the hardwood floors into this room, and it definitely needs a fresh coat of paint and a new light fixture... but for now it's quirky and perfectly homey.

Any paint colors you would suggest to compliment or tone down the red?

Before

After

Pre-Wedding Bridal Outfits

I'm getting married in June and have been on the hunt for classy, unique and flattering dresses for my bachelorette weekend, bridal shower and rehearsal dinner.

I have done A LOT of looking, so I figured I could save some future brides the hassle... and just post what I have found so far right here.

For bridal showers, I like classy, ore modest vibe. I just think about all of the grandmas and great aunts... and think it's a perfect opportunity to wear a knee or tea length dress... or even a dress with really cute sleeves. These three are classic with a trendy twist. I love the crochet, lace and eyelet details too!

For the rehearsal and following dinner... I REALLY love a maxi. I think it gives the feel of a true "dress rehearsal" since you'll be wearing a long dress to walk down the aisle. And also... there aren't many other opportunities in life to rock a floor length white dress. So, do it while you can. These pics from Lulus and Vici are giving me all of the Summer Wedding feelings.

We have decided to skip traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties and instead are spending a weekend with our wedding party in a cabin in Door County, Wisconsin. If you haven't gone... you should. Because of this, i'm looking for a more casual, summery dress that I can wear for a wine tour. For a more traditional bachelorette party, these could still be really cute and effortless. It totally depends on the vibe you are going for! 

City Tins: Discover New Eats On A Budget

If you're from Wisconsin or the Twin Cities, you're gonna want to read this. City Tins is the most fun, underrated gift idea of all time. Gift it to yourself... you won't be disappointed. City Tins puts a new twist on a "coupon book". 


Its an adorable round tin,  filled with 20 coaster gift cards for $10 off a meal at trendy, fun local restaurants. The tin will run you $30... and it's a steal. You will break even after visiting only 3 of the 20 eateries featured in your tin. You really can't go wrong. 
Even more fun... if you can't decide where to go for dinner, it includes a super cute and VERY useful "Dinner Spinner" that will choose your restaurant for you! All of the venues who partner with City Tins are locally owned, so you can feel good about your choice. 

Derick and I have tried so many new places to eat... thanks to this cute little tin. Instead of staying stuck in a rut, we actively try to use all of our coasters during the year. Some of our current favorite places to eat, were discovered thanks to our City Tin adventures. We have used two coasters out of this year's Fox Valley City Tin... and we have loved both experiences. 

There are City Tins For:

Milwaukee

Fox Cities

Madison

Lake Country

Cedarburg

Twin Cities

How I Went a Whole Week Without Washing My Hair

I have always been a wash my hair everyday kind of girl and honestly used to feel really impressed with myself if I managed rock second day hair once a week. However, with my wedding coming up in June, i’m REALLY trying to grow my hair longer. All of the bridal styles I love require super long hair. I’ve been trying to grow it out for a few years and was convinced it had reached “terminal length” … a kind of morbid term meaning it had grown to it’s longest possible length. I  was taking biotin and prenatal vitamins, avoiding the blow dryer at all costs, deep conditioning and using heat protectant spray when I curled or straightened… which i tried to do only once or twice a week.. I felt like I had tried it all. Except… cutting down on the frequency of shampooing. I really didn’t even think that was an option, because my hair gets too oily too fast. I started looking for alternate wedding styles that didn’t require such long hair. I didn’t love them… but I could make it work.

Then, as facebook does... it read my mind (and my search history). All of the sudden, every promoted post on my feed was about hair care. I stumbled onto a bunch of blog posts and BuzzFeed articles about healthy hair and the benefits of washing less often… or not at all.

I was very skeptical… but figured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. And honestly, I’m obsessed with what my hair looks like on the 5th day of this experiment.

Day 1: I let my hair air dry and left it down for the day at school, mostly because I was lazy and didn’t want to style it... I pulled it into a scrunchy to sleep that night.

Day 2: This was a snow day… so I decided to try out a new way to curl my hair. In short, I separate my hair into a few scrunchies, curl the hair in the scrunchies with my THEORIE Saga flat iron and release the curls.  Refer back to my “5 Minute Curl” post if you want to know the details.

Day 3: I woke up with one of those really bad parts in the back of my head. For some reason, in my brain, I call this a “butt part” but really it’s more like a “bedhead part”. I got that little spot wet and used my blow dryer to fix my part. Then, I lightly sprayed my roots with my favorite OGX dry shampoo. I didn’t brush it, just ran my fingers through it. The style lasted all day. That night, I applied dry shampoo before bed, hoping it would have time to “soak in” and lose any weird texture overnight.

Day 4: My trick worked! When I woke up my hair had enough texture to easily style, but didn’t feel stiff or gritty like it can with fresh dry shampoo. It was getting a little tangled so I brushed just the ends. It pulled some of the tight curls a little looser. After a very busy day of working and cleaning the house… my hair still looked great for Valentines Night. I added just a touch more dry shampoo before bed again, but I don’t even know that I would have had to.

Day 5: Best hair day of the week. All I did was roll out of bed and run my brush gently from root to end. To set my style I sprayed my hair with usmooth flex finishing spray. Seriously, I got so many compliments on my hair today. To the right is a picture of my “day 5 hair". I am going to wash my hair tonight, mostly because I want to use my evanyc hair therapy session hair mask. Honestly, though I might have been able to rock this hair through the weekend.

I’m pretty impressed with how much I liked how my hair looked and felt throughout a week of not washing it. How many days do you go between washes? Got any tips or tricks for me?

What I've Learned About Life From My 2nd Graders

Second graders make the best teachers.

This year in second grade, I have learned at least three "shortcuts' to tie your shoes, how to draw a cartoon llama, the best ways to rock a scrunchie, how to floss and over and over again they have taught me how to love life in spite of the hard stuff.

Seeing their smiling faces every day as they walk in the building can turn ANY morning around. Just last week, I totally woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I was late, I forgot my lunch on the counter, got stuck in traffic and then spilled my coffee on my way into school. Safe to say... it was not my morning. But, the bell rang at 8:20 sharp and the kids were coming up the stairs, ready or not. It was time to smile and say goodmorning, even if it was forced.

Then, one of my students came bounding up the stairs. She threw her arms around me. "I missed you SO much!" she sighed, "and I love your chapstick, it's so sparkly." I was wearing lipgloss, which hadn't yet worn off thanks to my lack of coffee to drink.  She skipped off to hang up her backpack and take off her snow gear, unaware that she had competely changed the course of my day. What started as a "terrible" day turned ino an opportunity to change my perspective. To take a breath and look around my classroom at all of the beautiful little faces that make up our second grade family.

I am truly blessed to spend my days with these tiny humans.

So many times during the day I think, wow... I should write that down. From now on, i'm going to.

So, if you want to hear more second grade stories they'll be under the Tales of a Second Grade Teacher tab. There are as many silly stories as there are sappy stories... and some scary stories may even sneak their way in.

Check back for more! Comment your funny or inspirational kid stories below! I'd love to hear them.

#GalentinesDayVoxBox

#GalentinesDayVoxBox

I got the happiest of happy mail today. 

I got the #GalentinesDayVoxBox from Influenster ... and it's filled with THE BEST collection of pampering and beauty products. 

Since i'll be spending Valentine's Day alone this year... Derick has to work. One of the not so great parts about being At least I know i'll be able to pamper myself! Valentine's Spa Night, here I come! 

I tried this shower gel tonight... and LET ME TELL YOU. My whole bedroom smells like Apricot. I'm not complaining AT ALL. I also have been having the worst time with dry skin after a shower. After using this tonight... I LOVE the way my skin is feeling.  I'm definitely going to need to try the rest of the "flavors". 

I also gave this hair mask a whirl. I usually hate, hate, hate hair masks. I can't stand when my hair has buildup. Thats usually what I get from a hair mask. This one is light and leaves no residue. My hair feels silky smooth. I'll have to see how it feels tomorrow, but so far i'm impressed. 

Okay, I obviously can't review this yet. I'm super excited to add it to my daily supplement regiment and look forward to what this might do for my skin over the next month. I've never seen a supplement solely focused on a clear complexion, so i'm pretty pumped. 

Not gonna lie... I have no idea how i'm going to use spray glitter as a 25 year old. Considering bringing it to school tomorrow for students to decorate their valentines? Haha! I tested some on my hand and it's really pretty and not too messy, but I really just can't see myself using this.... like ever. 

Where has this mascara been all my life? It reminds me of Better Than Sex by Too Faced, but it doesn't get dry and flakey like BTS can. It goes on smooth and gives my lashes length and volume. Plus, it's cruelty free. What's not to love about that?

Five Minute Curls

I have A LOT of hair. I also love having my hair curly... but it takes me forever. Or at least it used to. I would clip it up and curl it one thin layer at a time. It turned out nice, but took like 45 minutes to do my whole head.

I needed a faster way to curl my hair.

This is my new, 5 minute style:

1. Divide hair into 5 scrunchies. Place scrunchies near the part and tight to the scalp.

• You might only need to or three... I just have an ungodly amount of hair. I like to use scrunchies because they don't leave a kink like a regular hair tie would. 

2. Split each of the scrunchies of hair into two equal sections and curl each of those sections, moving from the back of the head to the front.

• I make one of the curls in each of the scrunchies a little tighter and one a little looser to give the curls a more natural look. For more volume you can alternate the direction of the curl as well. You can do this with a wand or a straightener. 

3. Carefully remove scrunchies.

4. Spray dry shampoo at the roots of your hair for volume and to extend the style.

5. Shake out curls and separate with fingers.

6. Smooth your flyaways with a finishing spray.

• The one I use by usmooth is amazing for keeping down those little hairs that stick up around your part. 

Here's a (slightly embarrassing) before and after pic. I really hope this lasts me though the week. If not, at least it's super quick and easy! This style only took me five minutes total... the makeup is a different story. 💁

My Favorite Products:

Straightening Iron: THEORIE Saga

Dry Shampoo: OGX Extra Strength Refresh and Revive

Finishing Spray: usmooth flex finishing spray

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These Chocolate CHUNK Cookies are sure to make your HUNK smile on Valentines Day.

See what I did there? 🙊

There's nothing like a chocolate chip cookie, but i'm SUPER picky about mine. First of all, I almost never eat processed sugar or carbs... so if i'm going to cheat with a cookie, it better be amazing. Lets be real... if i'm baking cookies, there is no way i'm not tasting one.

I've tried, tweaked, and combined tons of recipes to create that perfectly chewy cookie with just enough crunch. I think I finally got it!

Today was a baking day. It has snowed 12 inches in the past 24 hours where I live in Wisconsin, so i'm off of work with a "snow day". Definitely a huge perk of being a teacher... not gonna lie. I'll never grow out of cheering when a snow day is announced.

Anyways, I made a huge batch of these cookies to send to the Sheriffs Office with Derick today, since those guys are the real heroes working extra long hours on the days I don't even have show up for work. He tried them right out of the oven... and he refused to share them. So, I think it's safe to say they were a hit. Don't worry i'll make more for the boys in blue!

WHAT YOU NEED

1 cup sugar
1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons salted butter
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2½ cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup chocolate chunks

WHAT TO DO

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer, mix the sugars, salt, coconut oil and butter until well combined with no lumps.
3. Add the vanilla and eggs and mix until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda.
5. Add flour/baking soda mixture to the liquid ingredients in small increments (I did this using a ¼ cup measuring cup) Fold the mixture as you slowly add the dry ingredients with a spatula or mix with your hands. *Be careful not to over mix at this stage as it will take away the chewy texture of the cookies. 
6. Gently add the chocolate chunks. *I ALWAYS mix the chunks in with my hands, so I don't break them into too tiny of pieces. I have included a link to my favorite pre-made chocolate chunks, but today I actually made my own out of a block of melting chocolate. It was fun having varying sizes of chocolate pieces and added to the "homemade" feel. 
7. Roll cookies measuring about 2 tablespoons of dough each. Place on parchment paper covered cookie sheet with 3 inches of space between cookies.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges start to brown.

Cool, or eat fresh out of the oven... 

they're delicious either way

My Must-Have Makeup

So, on those mornings that I actually wake up in time to do a full face of makeup... it's one of my favorite parts of the day.

I LOVE doing my makeup because I can't be doing the laundry, or my grad school homework, or the dishes, or lesson planning or sending emails or checking my phone or even thinking about those things.

Because honestly, i'm not that good at makeup...  and I NEED to FOCUS on what i'm doing.

I'm gonna start with my favorite part of my makeup routine... EYES! I always do my eye makeup first because I usually make a mess of the rest of my face. If I do my foundation AFTER my eyes... problem solved.

Mascara: Urban Decay Troublemaker and Mary Kay Lash Intensity
Do I do this first? Well... no. But it's the one product I wear every. single. day. EVEN when i'm rocking  a "natural look". Think of a mascara... i've tried it. My lashes always get clumpy or are practically invisible. Troublemaker by Urban Decay and Lash Intensity by Mary Kay are my ride or die picks. Ulta has Troublemaker on sale for $15 right now and i'm legit panicking... I feel like I should buy them all in case it gets discontinued! Grab one while you still can.


Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape (Light)
Before I even think about eyeshadow, I create a base with my favorite concealer. I  cover my lid as well as my undereye with a thin layer. This stuff is AMAZING for covering dark circles and doubles as an eyeshadow primer. Win-Win!

Eyeshadow: Too Faced Chocolate BonBons 
and Tarte Tartelette In Bloom
I have collected quite a few beautiful eyeshadow palettes, but there are a few that I reach for time and time again. They are of course... neutrals. Chocolate BonBons has some really fun pink shades that I like to add to bring some color into a look. When I want to add a little sparkle, i'm obsessed with the coin shade in my Armed and Gorgeous Jaqueline Hill palette from Morphe.

Seriously though, lately I've been having the most fun scouring the shelves of Marshalls and TJ Maxx for steals on high end makeup. I have tried tons of well known brands, and have narrowed down my routine to a list of must haves that I can't do without.

Primer: Mary Kay Foundation Primer 
To start, I'm in love with Mary Kay's primer. It is a pore filling primer, which sounds bad. It's not, I swear. Its light and easy to apply and evens out the texture of your skin, so your foundation goes on smoothly, but doesn't clog your pores.

Foundation: BECCA 24 Hour Ultimate Coverage Foundation (Vanilla)
I'm OBSESSED!!! Sometimes, when I want to add a bit of a dewy look, I add a tiny bit of the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector, in Rose Gold.

Setting Powder: Airspun
I'm in love with this setting powder. I've tried all of the high end ones... and I always come back to this. It stays on ALL day and is less than $6. Can't beat that price.


Setting Spray: Pearlessence Rosewater
Honestly my VERY favorite setting spray is  Rosewater. It works great and its affordable and good for your skin. There are tons of brands out there and I always find it in the skincare area at Marshalls. Mario Badescu has a variation of this that I also love!

Highlight and Contour: Morphe 8L Lo-Fi Sculpt and Shimmer 
Take the word contour with a grain of salt... I can't figure that out no matter how hard I try. But highlights? Give me ALL of the highlights.

Lippies: Jeffree Star Liquid Lip Gemini and Hi, How Are Ya?
I'm a Gemini... and this shade is my absolute FAVE. It was also a gift from my favorite human. Hi, How Are Ya? is for those going out, feeling bold nights and it never fails to make me feel like a million dollars. I love liquid lipsticks and Jeffree Star's are definitely the best ones I've tried. For Only $18... they're a steal.

6 Books That Shaped Me

I'm a self proclaimed book worm. Reading is my favorite past time. When I was a little girl, I remember going to the library and filling up a basket with beginning chapter books, staying up late with a flashlight and reading as much as I could before they were due to be returned. In high school, the only time I got in trouble was for reading during geometry lessons (I know... i'm totally lame). As  a teacher, I collect books September - May to read over the Summer months. During the school year, I have less time to pick up physical books... so I listen to audible every time i'm in the car. I have a long commute and a book is my favorite way to start the day.

Some people love to run, sing, play sports, dance, craft, cook... I just love to read. I have read countless books but a few have touched my heart and genuinely shaped who I am as a person. Obviously these are books I would recommend over and over again, but more than that, these are books that have helped make me who I am as a reader... and as a human being.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone
By: JK Rowling

Find It On Amazon

I am not a person who reads books more than once, except for this one. Every time I read this story I see even more clearly the lessons it teaches us as human beings. It teaches us that friendship can heal a broken heart, that family means something different to everyone, that bravery doesn't have to be showy or boastful,  and that our choices mean far more than our abilities. I read this book as a child and it ignited my love for reading. I can look back and say that this book is the reason I fell in love with fantasy writing. I can tell you it's the reason I got hooked on series because they give you an opportunity to get to know characters so well. For awhile, I refused to read any stand alone books, because I was always so disappointed I wouldn't get to know what was next for my favorite characters. As an adult, I read this book to each of my classes of 2nd graders. There is nothing I love more than watching and listening as they experience this story for the first time. This past week I had two sixth grade boys come back to my classroom to visit, and to tell me that they had just finished the last book in the Harry Potter series. There is nothing quite like knowing you helped inspire someone in the next generation to read thousands of pages of quality literature... when those someones are sixth grade boys. This entire series transcends age and culture and can be enjoyed by anyone. If you haven't experienced the story, the books are all free on kindle unlimited and also available on audible... read by my favorite narrator of all time, Jim Dale. 

Find It On Amazon

Hello
By: Liza Wiemer
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet Liza, the author of this book at a small shop on Washington Island. I was visiting family and wandered into the bookshop to see that a local author was visiting. I absolutely love meeting authors and hearing about the inspiration for their writing firsthand. Liza made an impression on me with her kindness and passion for writing and touching the lives of her readers. I tore through her book, Hello, before we left the island a few days later. When I finished the book I felt like I needed to share it with everyone I knew, especially those who have been affected in any way by anxiety or depression. This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart and Liza approached it in the most humanizing, realistic, beautiful way. This story is about loss, but more than that it is about genuine connections and how true love can change your life. It is about healing and how even the smallest interaction can have an immeasurable impact on someone who is struggling in ways you may not understand. I frequently recommend this book to friends and colleagues and keep it front and center on my bookshelf.

Find It On Amazon

Searching for David's Heart
By: Cherie Bennett
This is the first book that ever made me cry. I selected this title out of a Scholastic Book Order right before Christmas Break my 6th Grade year, and started reading it right away. I couldn't put it down and when I finally turned the last page, I couldn't stop crying. It is still one of the most emotionally impactful books I have ever read. This is the story of a boy who dies in an accident and his sister's search for the recipient of his heart. This book is about guilt, forgiveness, the indescribable connection between siblings and the process of healing after a heartbreaking tragedy.  I would recommend this book for any reader from preteen to adult. It is a great book to read as a family or just when you need a good cry. This was the first book that made me realize how much a person can connect their own life and feelings to a fictional text. Because of this story, my bookshelf is full of books about love and loss and everything that fills the space between.

Find It On Amazon

Into The Wild
By: Jon Krakauer
Whenever I recommend this book to people, I get odd looks. I don't blame them. This book isn't one I would match up with myself. A book about a privileged, well educated young man disappearing into the Alaskan wilderness wouldn't normally appeal to me. This story was recommended to me by Steve, a hipster librarian at the tiny, public library in the small town where I grew up. I spent a lot of time in the library. He recommended books, movies, magazines and even saved me CDs that the library didn't have a place for. They were all indie artists and if i'm being honest... completely shaped my taste in music. I wonder if he has any idea that my Spotify is filled with songs from that box of rejected library CDs. One of Steve's best book suggestions was Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer which he had waiting behind the desk for me after school one day. He said to give it chance. It was about more than just a trip to the Alaskan wilderness. He was right. This book taught me such an important lesson. It doesn't matter what you have, if you have everything and anything you could ever want... but you don't have intrinsic joy, these things will never bring you happiness. This true story is heartbreaking, but it's also beautiful and will change the way you see the world if you give it the chance to.


Chasing Redbird and Heartbeat
By: Sharon Creech

Find It On Amazon

Find It On Amazon

Sharon Creech's books are unexplainably special. My elementary school Library Aid, who I have actually reached out to reconnected with as I wrote this post, introduced me to Creech's books. Together we wrote Sharon a letter... I could hardly believe it when she wrote back. This changed the way I looked at authors, as I started to see them as real people instead of far away celebrities. I have read every single one of Sharon Creech's books. Chasing Redbird follows a 13 year old girl who has lost a close family member. Soon after, she discovers a lost trail on her family's property, and makes it her new summer project to uncover it in it's entirety. This trail becomes almost like a secret garden for her, a place all to herself. As she explores the trail she finds answers to her questions about life. This book teaches that no one is perfect, that healing takes time and that happiness is waiting around every corner.  Heartbeat is a truly joyful story. The main character in this book is given an assignment to draw an apple one hundred times. While she works her way through the one hundred drawings, her life is changing along with her sketches. This book is built around the idea that life has a rhythm... like a heartbeat or your feet on the pavement during a run. I actually read this book aloud and recorded it on cassette tapes in eighth grade as a gift for the Library Aide who introduced me to Sharon's writing as a child. Reading this story aloud only made it's beauty more evident. I have a special shelf filled with all of Creech's books on my shelf and love to pull them out from time to and remember why I love reading so much.

Looking back at this post... i'm realizing that most if not all of the books that have shaped me have some sort of loss woven into their pages. I think this is because the real emotions in these books can be connected to by anyone. They fostered empathy and my ambition to make the world a little bit happier, wherever I could find the opportunity.

My (Lack Of A) Morning Routine

I'm thinking of trying this new thing where I have a morning routine.

A calm, unrushed, productive morning routine.

This feels like the adult thing to do. I know i'll love waking up in my new house and sitting at the breakfast table, looking out the patio door at my backyard while I drink my coffee. 

Right now... that would NOT be possible. Let's take a look at my current "morning routine".  Really, my morning routine is SO minimal... I have to include my night before routine to give it any merit. 

Current "NightBeforeRoutine"

Shower and brush wet hair to give it minimal hope of looking decent in the morning OR Put hair up in a scrunchie to preserve hair for 2nd (or 3rd) day. Set alarms for 5:00, 5:15, 6:00 and finally 6:50. Stay up WAY too late waiting for Derick to get home from his shift at work.

Current Morning Routine:

Hit snooze on first, second and third alarm. Lay in bed after 6:50 alarm for ten minutes, mentally planning outfit. Accidentally fall back asleep. Wake up at 7:05 in a complete panic thinking i've missed work. Sprint to the kitchen to start the coffee pot. Frantically throw on my outfit. Spend five horrifying minutes trying to make my hair presentable. Throw any leftovers I can find into my lunch bag. Realize I forgot makeup. Sit down at my super organized makeup vanity and apply only CC Cream and Mascara as fast as humanly possible. Grab purse and run out the door. Drive thirty minutes to work trying to cut off two minutes in any way possible. Arrive at school precisely one minute before i'm required to be there. Remember I left my coffee in the coffee pot. 

So, I think it's safe to say my current morning routine is the farthest from calm or unrushed. The most amazing part is... I do almost EXACTLY this same sequence of things every single morning. Why? I guess it's been working for me. However, I recently learned  (thanks to Rachel Hollis, and the three hours I spend cleaning and listening to Girl Wash Your Face on Audible today) that every successful blogger and personal development expert has a positive and productive morning routine. I'm gonna try my best to make a plan and stick to it. 

I'm still going to wash my hair and  pick out my clothes the night before... because really at this point I am NOT a morning person and don't see myself being super inspired to pick out my outfit before work. I am however going to try and make my morning a more positive and centering part of my day.  

NEW Ideal Morning Routine:

• 5:00 hit snooze once... it brings me joy to wake up slowly, kay?
• 5:10 get out of bed, drink a glass of water and start coffee maker
• 5:15 do some sort of no pressure 20 minute workout... could be cardio or literally just stretching
• 5:40 shower, put on a cozy robe, turn on happy music
• 6:00 enjoy doing my hair and makeup... when I look good, I'm so much nicer
• 6:45 drink a cup of coffee and eat something healthy
• 7:00 pack a lunch i'll be excited to eat... and pour travel mug of coffee cuz i'm not perfect
• 7:15 leave for work and listen to an audiobook on the way

I wonder if I can stick to it? I mean obviously I CAN. No one is stopping me. I wonder if I will.

With this schedule, I still won't be early for work but at least I won't be almost late. 

I'm going to start tomorrow. I promise to update you with my success, failure or adjustments to this "ideal" morning routine. 

Smile,

Sammie Lynn

I'm A Blogger?

I'm a blogger... I guess?

I don't think I deserve that title yet. I admire and respect so many successful bloggers that it's hard to imagine myself as "one of them". All I know is I am full of thoughts and ideas that I want to share with others.

I am at a very eventful, exciting, stressful, amazing, overwhelming time in my life. I'm currently pursuing my masters degree in professional education and constantly doing my required reading over my lunch break in my 2nd Grade classroom. I'm working part time for an amazing home decor company called Painted Fox Home, owned by my amazing, inspiring Mother who is a huge reason i'm finally starting this blog. I'm planning a wedding to the love of my life, a sheriff's deputy who works hours completely opposite mine. I am trying out a low carb diet and trying to find a workout I don't hate... because WEDDING.  I am packing to move into our first home, which needs A LOT of work (think red carpeting, blue linoleum, maroon bathroom... including tub, sink, even a MAROON TOILET... and that's only the beginning). I'm not complaining. It's all good stress and I LOVE to stay busy.

So, naturally I feel like it's an appropriate time to start another project. This blog.

This blog will be filled with my life.

That will probably include wedding planning ideas and rants,  diy remodel successes and disasters, home decor how-tos and don't-dos, fashion on a budget, quick and effective makeup tips, low carb recipes for people with absolutely no time and maybe even some book recommendations... whenever I can find time to read a book from cover to cover.

It's not going to be perfect, but i'm going to do it anyways.

Happy Blogging,
Sammie Lynn