Kitchen Plans

We finally decided to move ahead with our kitchen renovation! It is a bigger project than it looks on paper...we are taking out a wall between our current kitchen and dining room to open it up to a larger area. Basically, the back half of our house (minus the half bath) will be the kitchen and the entertaining space. We are so excited! These are the decisions we have made so far, but there is more to be done! We are keeping our floors, but everything else is going.

The Master Plan:

 

This cabinet:

In this color:

Countertop:

2022 in Books

 2022 in Books

Big Summer, Jennifer Weiner

The Holiday Swap, Maggie Knox

Big Summer, Jennifer Weiner

Take Me With You When You go, David Leviathan and Jennifer Niven

Borders, Thomas King

Seven Days in June, Tia Williams

The Secrets We Kept, Lara Prescott

Blindsided, Kate Watterson

Black Cake, Charmaine Wilkerson

Kristy’s Great Idea, Ann M. Martin
Sister Stardust, Jane Green

The Guest List, Lucy Foley

The Hunting Party, Lucy Foley

Hell of a Book, Jason Mott

Remote Control, Nnedi Okorafor

Prettiest, Brigit Young

Lost Girls, Robert Kolker

Last Call at the Nightengale, Katharine Schellman 

The Rumor, Elin Hilderbrand

The Greenglass House, Kate Milford

Raising a Girl with ADHD, Allison K. Tyler

The Stonewall Riots, Gayle E. Pitman

He Said, She Said, Kwame Alexander

The Diamond Eye, Kate Quinn

Red at the Bone, Jacqueline Woodson

Reflection Time

 It is hard to believe that summer is finally here, and it has been for a bit. The end of the school year is always so crazy that I never have time to write and reflect on the year. I know I never really talk about my career on here, but I am going to today.

I have wanted to be a reading teacher since 2003. Is it weird that I remember that? I graduated with my undergraduate degree in English with a dual major in Communications Studies. What do I do with that!? Obviously becoming an English teacher made sense so that is what I did. Long story short, it was feasible to become an English teacher with one year of schooling so forward I marched. Lots of good came out of that decision--I met my amazing husband in graduate school, and I have enjoyed a wonderfully interesting career as an English teacher. In addition, I have worked with some truly wonderful people, some of whom I know will be life-long friends. I have also taught some truly special kiddos over the years. In other words, no regrets. 

And yet.

There has always been a whisper in my ear about being a reading teacher. It is what I have always wanted to do. I ignored this whisper for the better part of 15 years, but I finally decided to look into it. Even though I was pretty happy teaching English, I knew I could be happier. I have always loved small groups, skill work, and the fundamentals of our language. I wanted to make a difference in a concrete and observable (to me) way. 

They say when you are doing what you are meant to do, doors open, right? Well, that is what happened. I found a graduate program that has been a terrific fit. I brag to people in real life about how much I love my school. As it turns out, because I am already certified, adding a reading certification isn't too tough! 

I am more than halfway through a master's in literacy for Birth-Grade 6! I could write another post on what it is like to be a mom, wife, teacher, and graduate student, but I won't. It has been hard, but I know it will be worth it.

The best part of all of this is that I will be a reading teacher this fall. I accepted a position in Kindergarten and first grade. I am staying in my district, and I am so excited about the possibilities. As scary as it is to try something new, I am ready. 

Front Porch Obsession

 I have to brag for just a second about my front porch. It is fairly large, and I get so much joy from decorating it. I spend more time browsing ideas on Pinterest than I care to admit, but I just love a well-done porch! One of my favorite parts of our house is our RED door! 

I also LOVE the rocking chairs...and the flowers!

I am struggling with how to decorate the porch for spring. We always travel for Easter so I skip right over that in terms of decorating, but it is too soon for summer porch decor. I have to confess, I am not a lover of spring. It is actually my least favorite season. It is nice to have the weather warm up, but I'd be AOK with going from snow to 70 degrees. 

The porch has a ways to go--updated lighting fixtures, maybe a railing, maybe something hanging in the open space between the door and window. It is fun to plan and dream!

21-Day Movement Challenge

It is no secret to anyone who knows me that I love to eat, and I do not love to exercise. That being said, turning 40 has come along with some extra pounds that I wouldn't mind shedding. I jump-started my "return to semi-fitness" with a 21-Day Movement Challenge. I found it was good to have some time set aside each day for it, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. When my kids watched their TV shows in the evening, I went upstairs and did my workout. 

Exercise Log:

Week 1:

Day 1: 20 minute HIIT video

Day 2: 30 jumping jacks, 20 alternating lunges, 25 crunches, 5 push-ups, 20-second plank

Day 3: 10 burpees, 10 sit-ups, 15 tricep dips, 20 butt kicks, 20 toe touch crunches

Day 4: 25 mountain climbers, 5 push-ups, 25 crunches, 20 walking lunges, 20-second wall sit

Day 5: Rest Day

Day 6: 20 butt kicks, 15 tricep dips, 10 burpees, 15 squats, 20 toe touches

Day 7: 30 jumping jacks, 15 step-ups, 10 sit-ups, 20 ab bikes, 20 alternating lunges

Week 2:

Day 8: 30 mountain climbers, 20 squats, 8 push-ups, 20 butt kicks, 25 toe touch crunches

Day 9: 40 jumping jacks, 30 alternative lunges, 30 crunches, 8 push-ups, 25-second plank 

Day 10: 12 burpees, 10 sit-ups, 15 tricep dips, 25 butt kicks, 25 toe touch crunches

Day 11: 30 mountain climbers, 8 push-ups, 30 crunches, 20 walking lunges, 30-second wall sit

Day 12: Rest Day

Day 13:  25 butt kicks, 15 tricep dips, 12 burpees, 20 squats, 30 toe touch crunches

Day 14: 30 jumping jacks, 20 step-ups, 15 sit-ups, 20 ab bikes, 25 alternating lunges

Week 3:

Perform two sets of each exercise, resting for 30 seconds between each movement.

Day 15: 40 mountain climbers, 20 squats, 10 push-ups, 30 butt kicks, 25 toe touch crunches

Day 16: 40 jumping jacks, 30 alternative lunges, 30 crunches, 8 push-ups, 25-second plank

Day 17: 12 burpees, 10 sit-ups, 15 tricep dips, 25 butt kicks, 25 toe touch crunches

Day 18: 30 mountain climbers, 8 push-ups, 30 crunches, 20 walking lunges, 30-second wall sit (I also did a 20-minute cycling ride at the gym!)

Day 19: 25 butt kicks, 15 tricep dips, 12 burpees, 20 squats, 30 toe touch crunches

Day 20: 30 jumping jacks, 20 step-ups, 15 sit-ups, 20 ab bikes, 25 alternating lunges

Day 21: 40 mountain climbers, 20 squats, 10 push-ups, 30 butt kicks, 25 toe touch crunches