Book Club?

I know, I know. It's been a little crazy around these parts. Aubrey and I have been trying to get this little book club off the ground. Unfortunately, we've both been a little quiet. So...that being said. April is almost over--but Aubrey is hosting this month's discussion!

You've still got time until the end of the month to read the book!

Go check it out and come back later to discuss with us.

They carried malaria tablets, love letters, 28-pound mine detectors, dope, illustrated bibles, each other. And if they made it home alive, they carried unrelenting images of a nightmarish war that history is only beginning to absorb. Since its first publication, The Things They Carried has become an unparalleled Vietnam testament, a classic work of American literature, and a profound study of men at war that illuminates the capacity, and the limits, of the human heart and soul.  --Goodreads

Five on Friday: in photos

{one}

Sonnets in class are on my list of fun things to teach...especially when students get it. 

{two}

Our niece was born last week! So we get to visit her this weekend. 

{three}

A little crafting for a sweet little girl. 

{four}

Pink cupcakes to celebrate!

{five}

My little cousin loved his chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting! Yum!

Linking up with A. Liz Adventures!

March Madness

Well--this post doesn't necessarily have to do with the NCAA March Madness going on right now...even though my bracket is now crap. *Sorry Kyle, I'm out $10
But it DOES have to do with how crazy this month has gone by. I mean, seriously. I was just sitting in my living room marveling at the fact that March was neigh upon us. And then, BAM!, here it's over. And that means a few things for our family.

[one]
No more double payments on living arrangements. We don't have to pay on our apartment and our mortgage anymore. One payment from here on out. AND, I do believe we are getting our deposit back too! Don't get me wrong, I loved our time in our first apartment together. And there were times that I loved our second apartment too. But being in our own home has made me very grateful for everything we've been blessed with.

[two]
Only 10--yes, you read that right--10 more weeks of school left FOR.THE.YEAR! Year #1 in a new school, in a new district, and it's FLOWN by! Only 4 more weeks (really 3 1/2) left in our "semester" and then our last 6 week block. I feel that I've grown as a teacher and as a person these last 9-ish months. I'll elaborate more on that at a later date.

[three]
We are in the throes of home improvement planning for the summer. Check out my insta for some photos that give a little tease of what we're thinking. And the hashtag #homeimproving on IG has our specific home projects. (click my IG button--do it. Then request to follow me. Do it.)

[four]
I'm so excited to try this out this spring. I love plants. I love gardening. And I love greenhouses.
How great is it that this had a rebate? It was only $10 afterward.

How perfect will this be in my our bare backyard??

[five]

Aubrey's time has come! She's hosting this month's book club discussion. And since she's the boss hostess, she's decided that her review won't be up until Monday. Capisce? Cap-osh.

Here are her discussion questions for this month's book--Wuthering Heights

1. Did you like the book? Was it what you were expecting or hoping for? Why or why not?

2. Love and revenge are the two main themes of the novel. Can love and revenge co-exist     or is one one influenced by the other?

3. "...He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are          the same..." Arguably the most famous quote of the novel (and just beautifully                written to boot, I'm swooning a little bit inside and I know I'm not the only one. What        do you think made Wuthering Heights a classic? Was it the plot, the characters, the          language? What was it? 

Now go have a good weekend and don't forget to finish reading the book! See you soon!

Just a little update

As much as I wanted to participate in A. Liz Adventure's Five on Friday, I didn't want my readers to get sick of reading because all I do is list five things going on with me.  So, instead I updated my 30 by 30 list.

I have quiet a ways to go to fulfill my whole list, but I'm on my way! Check it out:

1. Obtain a Master's Degree in Education 
 I think this is going to change to a Master's Degree in anything, English, Technology, Education...something. Not necessarily just Education.
2. Be debt free (with the help of one Dave Ramsey and his baby steps)
    --exception--our mortgage
3. Become more active (by using the C25K program) and be at my goal weight
   --yes, I do realize Aubrey and I have similar goals...it freaks Kyle out how similar she and I are
4. Read 100 new books.
  --This year my goal is 24 books total...I'm not quite there yet
  1. Twisted (Laurie Halse Anderson), 2. The Glass Menagerie (Tennessee Williams)
5. Improve my photography skills--I have a nice camera, but I'm not good with it
6. Create a blog schedule and stick to it
7. Send snail mail 300 times, just because
8. Take 3 road trips (2 with Kyle and 1 EPIC trip with Aubrey)
9. Send out Christmas cards every year (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
10. Read through the Bible with Kyle
11. Bake "just because" cupcakes for people 8 times (twice per year)
12. Make salsa with the tomatoes from our garden
13. Run a 5K, twice
14. Create a cookbook for both sides of my family (mom's & dad's sides)
15. Compile 100 new recipes that our family LOVES & put them into a database
16. Visit & review all of the local restaurants and businesses in town with our friends
17. Make homemade gifts for each baby born (in our families)
18. Surprise four someones with a little "I'm thinking about you" gift.
      1. On its way 3/19
19. Do something special for my husband every season.
20. Visit Seattle with Kyle
21. Visit San Francisco
22. Landscape my front yard
23. Plant my garden each year from seedlings I've started (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
24. Paint all of the rooms in our house colors that we want
     -I've picked out some of the paint, but it's not on the walls yet
25. Move the tree OUT of our back yard...the poor thing--there's no room for it!
26. Build something for our house--by myself! (a shelf, a cupboard, a table, etc)
27. Create a memory book from our wedding to have on display at home
28. Become (consistently) involved in a small group through church
29. Purge my wardrobe twice a year (spring/fall)
30. Take a long vacation/staycation with Kyle & just do all of the things we've dreamed of

So things are coming together, but hopefully I'll become more ambitious as spring arrives.

The Glass Menagerie and other stuff.

Because I'm the worst. That's why.

Oh, you didn't ask why it's taken me so long to get this post up? My bad.

And so here's the thing. I'm not entirely sure what I was anticipating (fair warning, these questions will probably not be in order). I guess I was anticipating something that I'd love. I've heard so many great reviews--raves, if you will--about this play. I guess, like Aubrey, I was anticipating something along the lines of A Streetcar Named Desire. There's just something that stuck with me after reading and watching Streetcar. With The Glass Menagerie, I didn't feel a whole lot. And because I love reading plays and watching plays...I was left wanting.

Boo.

But, I'm always in search of a connection with a character. I really did want to connect with someone so when I didn't really connect with anyone in Menagerie, I was left a little empty. As I'm writing this, I wonder if that's the point? Was I supposed to feel empty while reading the play just like Laura? She seems like such an empty and fragile character--just like her menagerie. A stretch? Maybe.

Okay, now this is the thing. I still am struggling to write this post because I wasn't very invested in this play at all. I had other things I would've rather been doing while reading. Poor Tennessee Williams. I loved Streetcar, but your Menagerie was not my cup of tea. Sorry to those of you who loved it. I cannot join you. Maybe I'll read it again one day and I'll change my mind. I'll let you know if that happens. But until then, I'm going to give A Glass Menagerie 1.5 stars out of 5. (mostly because I feel bad for not liking it)

But...on a happier note! We've got another book coming up this month! I'm behind, but Aubrey is the one hosting for March. So stay tuned for her questions, our discussions, and now get reading

Wuthering Heights!

If you're joining us, go grab the button here

Happy St. Patty's Day!

I don't really know if I'm Irish at all--that's probably not the confession to make on March 17. But, I made it and now we're moving on.

But since I don't know if I'm at all Irish, I wear some green just to be safe.

And to celebrate St. Patrick's Day--here's a movie trailer from a ridiculous fabulous movie from my childhood.

Disney Channel all the way!

Five on Friday: What I need to buy next

 

We have a dog. And she gets so excited to see us. How great is that? She's so happy to see us after school, after meetings, etc. BUT! This week she got too excited. She was so excited that she.peed.in.my.shoe!

So, that happened. Which leads me to my first item of business for this week's Five on Friday.

one

I need to go find a new pair of flats. I loved my purple flats from Target...but they're sooo two seasons ago. So, now off I go. What about these, these, these, or these? I know they're no bright purple faux-suede...but maybe I'll like em? Either way--I'm not happy with that dog. Even IF she's excited to see me.

Okay...maybe I do like her...just a little.

two

I'm going to a baby shower tomorrow. So I'm thinking about making a gift. Maybe some of this along with some of this on top? Or maybe this for the top? Thoughts?

three

So we're thinking about buying hockey tickets for this weekend. And I'm excited that these guys are playing this weekend in the first round of the NCHC playoffs! #1 ranked UND plays #8 ranked Colorado College this weekend in a best of three series. The winner of this weekend's series goes on to play at the Frozen Faceoff next weekend in Minneapolis, MN.

four

I wish I could buy some flowers to grow. But...I'm nervous that spring isn't truly here. Sad. 

five

Finally--I know I've already posted about it--but I can't wait to get "Go Set a Watchmen" by Harper Lee!

Happy Friday!