Friday Faves a few hours late

I had a great week! Here's a few of my favorites, meant to be published on Friday to make the alliteration work, but coming live on Saturday morning :-)

1. Book Club Book
I finally have a great book club book after like five months of just ehhh books. We're reading The Nightengale and even thought it's just beginning, totally holding my interest. Holocaust story that flashes back and fourth between 1940 and present. Every chapter ending will have you staying for just one more!

2. Building Relationships at work
Few weeks ago in common plan, one teacher jokingly called me a buzzkill when I insisted we work to the #lastbell and finish up a rubric for book clubs. It's these little things - jokes with teachers who once were strangers and now are friends - that make my work as a coach so wonderful!

3. Yoga on friday night
Best Friday night ever? 6pm hot yoga, cool shower, and then reading myself to sleep as the rain comes down. In case you didn't know, I'm kinda introverted and after being with people all day, every day, I need quiet time to myself to unwind and recharge. Perfect way to do it!

4. Love Letters
Got a note from a friend at work and it reaffirmed why I do what I do to the Nth degree. In case you didn't know, besides being kind of introverted, I'm also a Words of Affirmation person, so a hand written letter or note is 100% the way to  my heart!

5. Friends who got my back
My best friends would lay down over hot coals and let me cross on their back if I asked. And then other times, they do things for me just because they care for me and know me so well. Thank you for being in my life when I need you, besties!

6. Laying down boundaries
Did you read my post the other day about boundaries? I wish I knew what I know now in my 20's, I would have been a totally different person. If you really want to care for yourself, let the people in your life know what is okay and what isn't. It's hard to do, but so worth it.

7. Writing Marathon
Took the bloggers to the park this week and we did a mini writing marathon, which involves writing for a short amount of time (10 minutes to begin) then a share, then increasing to 20 minutes, then a share, and then powering through a 30 minute writing session. The kids are awesome and have a few new stories to publish on their blogs this summer. Just love writing along side students - and my writing friends who are adults, too!

and I'll end with an awesome commencement address via spoken word poetry...

8. Harvard's Graduate School of Education Speech
I love this time of the year when great speeches get online and go viral because they are amazing writing. I hope one day, in my composition notebook or here on my blog, I'm able to weave such beautifully metaphoric writing into something so good it brings tears to the eyes of the people who read or listen to it. Enjoy this beautiful poetry! and thanks to my principal for Tweeting it to me!

Best part of your week? Please share!

Friday Favorites

Yeah, it's Saturday, but it just doesn't have the same ring to it, right?

It has been a good week - no work, not really much to do, and now spring is in the air and summer is right around the corner. Here are a few of my favorites from the last week!

Okay well lets just start with the weather. The sun is out! Seriously it finally came out after days and days of stupid rain! Spring is here friends...I was woken by birds chirping today!

I learned to crochet this week, thanks to Laurie! As she said the other day, "Baby blanket, I'm going to make you my B@$*%!" Me too, baby blanket, me too. (Sister: Hoping to finish one for your Baby Boy!) and then I want to make this:

Let's see....what else?

Mom and Rob - thank you for our Christmas Gift! I just got awesome seats this week for two weeks from Tuesday. Two more sessions of grad school to teach and then celebrations on the 28th!

Modern Family is still hilarious. I'm currently in the middle of a very long binge watch session. Phil Dunphy - funniest character ever and here's a whole blog post all about funny shit he says. 

Oh, and here's more. You're welcome!

And the best? I won vintage scratch and sniff stickers!!!!!!!

What were you up to this week?

Fall Favorites

I've been a busy girl with grad school but I wanted to catch you all up with what I've been doing during my *favorite* season of the year!

Chicago in White
I'm sure you probably saw these pics on my facebook page but just wanted to get them on the blog, too! Chicago in White was at the end of September. It's a pop-up dining experience. You buy tickets and get a white outfit but then meet a secret harmonization point. Once you get there, they give you directions on public transit to the secret location. It was super fun! I went with Liz, Anita, and Diana.

So the cool thing about it was that everyone was all in white and lots of people made these super extravagant centerpieces, but what was not cool about it was that it was in a parking lot surrounded by buildings. The whole idea is that you meet up in a secret awesome place - like down by the river on Michigan Avenue or something. So, I wasn't pleased with the location but it was a fun night with the girls. Note to self: Dress warmer next time!

College Football
I wrote about how I love college football now that I live in Chicago. Saturdays are so fun - all the alumni of all the universities are out in their school colors and having fun. I've made some great friends with the ASU alumni group, and I'm excited that we still have all of November and some games in December, too.

The UP
For those of you city folk who don't know, the UP or Yoop, is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. You need to take a drive - leave Chicago, head north, go all the way through Wisconsin, pass Green Bay, head just over the Wisconsin-Michigan state line, and then you'll be there.

Head down the street just a little longer and you'll arrive here:

So my dad hates the Cubs, if that's any indication of the mailbox sign. But you know you'll be in the right place if you find his mailbox!

Over the weekend, we got to do lots of fun stuff: see the fall colors, go to a Cranberry Festival, and eat lots of great dinners together. (Thanks for cooking, Dad and Annie!) You know you're a single person when your family makes you dinner and you think, "Wow, I haven't eaten this good in months!"

Annie's cousins Christine and Doug were there too, so I was happy to hang out with them, and we got to go see all the beautiful fall colors. Check them out:

See how all the leaves are covering the path in this pic above? Thank you, government shutdown:

Anyways, the Yoop in the fall is gorgeous...here's a few more:

Dad: Why do girls always put their hand on their hip?
I explained the logic, ladies! : )

Here are some pictures from the Cranberry Festival:

Annie and I got matching hats! Love them!

We also stopped by the place Annie works at: Winks Woods. How do I describe Winks? It's like knick-knacks (is that how you spell that?) on crack. Take a look:

Here's the outside...

And the inside...

The goal I think is to cover every inch of every wall. Now, some of it is like, okay....no. But then I did find this gem I wanted to buy for my classroom:

hhahahaaa. It's just Winks - I love to go every time I'm there, even though I don't really buy anything!

Here's a few more pics from dinner. Christine and Doug - I hope we can do this again!

And Dad, thanks for being a great chef!

Great weekend. Love you guys!

Pumpkin Patch
The best fall thing to do is go to a pumpkin patch, but not just any pumpkin patch - this one...Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm. It was awesome...like the best ever!

So there was lots to do - See baby animals, watch some pig races, take a hay ride, pick a pumpkin, take lots of pics...I went with Kristy, Laurie, and Liz:

Here's some of my best pics...

Super fun day! We had some chili in a bread bowl and hot apple cider. I opted for the non-carving pumpkins and now they decorate my apartment and will last a few months! I think this trip to the suburbs will be an annual one!

And just a couple of other random great things from the last few months. A text from a former student...

Made my first rainbow cake for my mentee:

Happy Birthday Kerry!

And went to country night at Houndstooth with my BFF...super fun night!

So that's about all for now. I'm excited for Halloween with elementary school kids and my cousins this year and my birthday on Friday...should be an awesome week!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sunday Night Friday Favorites

It's been so long since I wrote Friday Favorites, but I have so many favorites from the past few weeks... So I end my weekend by skipping homework and enjoying writing :-)

First, I love this song: Hit play and enjoy while you read!

Okay, now to the favorites!

Luca turned one!
Jen and Romo did such a great job with the decorations at his party:
I think Jamie made the chalkboard. So cute!!

More decorations and the favors - Snacks in Mason Jars with little ties on them.

Birthday boy with his smash cake...he was not into it! :-)

Some of my favorite cousins with their funny faces.

And Cath...Love you!

Luca, Mom, and Dad. Always so fun to hang out with you guys!

Love coming to your parties, cousins! Happy first birthday, Luca!

Bucktown Arts Fest

This fest is like two little blocks from my house. It was so nice to walk over, be in the neighborhood, find some great art, and have some drinks with friends while we listen to a band. 

I bought a piece of art from the guy who did this one...I liked this one, but only enough to take a pic of it.

Liz and I - so happy to have a neighborhood friend to hang out with!

And my new shirt! And yes, I would say that Midwest is best....all the way through the holidays. Then, in January and February, when I'm sick of snow and slush and cold and ice....that's probably the only time I would disagree. But, it's my favorite season right now...fall! Can't wait until the leaves start changing!

Visiting Jackie

Got to hang out with Rachel, Jackie, and Jackie's sister - Amos, text me one of our pics to add to the blog! 

Jackie and Mikey just bought a new house somewhere out really far away, so Rachel and I were happy to schlep ourselves all the way out there to visit and see the new place!

And her larger-than-life dog! His name is slipping my mind at the moment - Schlophy, what is it again?

And you know we've gotta have a baller-status pic :-)

Thanks for having us, Jackie! So good to catch up and see your new place!

ASU Game

Went to watch our season opener on Thursday and got to see my ASU girls. As Laurie put it in her epic status - up by 42 at the half, our bartender sportin our colors, $20 drink wristbands, and hanging out with the girls. Love them, love the Sun Devils!

Sweet text from a great friend...

Michelle, who was on my team at Heritage, overheard some of the elementary girls talking on their way home one day last week:

Makes me so happy that the kiddos are loving reading and writing! It's been awesome to coteach in the third grade classroom that is right next door to me....I love those kiddos! And I get to see them on the playground, so that's where the cheer moves was coming from. It's safe to say that I'm loving my new job!

Happy Hour with Kerry

Got to catch up with my mentee on Friday for happy hour and it was exactly. what. I needed. By the looks of those smiles, you can guess that I left feeling way better after we had a few drinks and appetizers!

Saturday night out with Liz

Liz and I went out to Division last night. It's in the neighborhood next door - or it's in Bucktown, I'm not sure where the boundaries are. Anyways, we sat on the patio outside Smoke Daddy and had some great drinks and dinner. Then we met some more of her friends at a Nebraska bar down the street. I can't remember the name of that bar, but the music was great and we were in great company. And, I was home in good shape and in time to not sleep away my day today. Good stuff!

I had such a good weekend - had fun, but also got my philosophy paper drafted, my presentation ready for Wednesday night, some reading done .... and laundry and grocery shopping. Boom. Kickin ass, takin names :-)

One more thing: found this graphic online somewhere and loved it...

Going to try and keep this in mind as I navigate my way through my new job. Got myself a new notebook to pay better attention to the appointments I make for coteaching and planning, so that's definitely going to keep me in better shape this week.

And that is all....

Have a great week everyone!