Bring the inspiration.

I'm pretty sure I'm the most uninspired blogger, at least in this century. But there weren't many bloggers in the previous century, so that doesn't help much.

I'm not gonna kid myself and write something like "Oh hey guys! Sorry I haven't blogged for so long!" Because...nobody's out there losing sleep over the fact that I don't have anything to post save for a few spontaneous thoughts!

You know, this might be a result of being a college graduate. In college, I was constantly using my paper-writing brain muscles. I could take anything given- an atypical development disorder, the history of marching band at my university, the biography of Maria Montessori- and wrap it up nicely, tying everything together, and doing some fierce editing. Nowadays I just jot down my lesson plans, and at most, dash off an email to a parent or coworker. Not exactly the same caliber.

So maybe, just maybe, one of these days I'll find a writing spark again. My friends in real life know I have more than plenty to say. I'm thinking that this upcoming (fingers crossed) hopefully-more-permanent-sunshiney weather will do the trick. That, and I'll have 2 months of mostly no obligations. :)

click click.

I just love Instagram. It’s so fun to play around with, to feel like a professional with those little snapshots. It challenges me to look at life a little closer and find the things that make it so full. Sometimes it seems like life flits away…I want to remember it, but sometimes writing words takes too much time. Pictures solve that problem! This little blog lets me look back and remember.

Maybe someday I’ll get one of those really expensive cameras that make everyday life look extra beautiful. For now, I’ll use good old, free Instragram!

Enjoying.

Right now, I'm really tired.

My second week of teaching summer school is in the books, and I am ready for bed. It's only 6:30.

I took a short little snooze while sitting upright on the couch about an hour ago. Pathetic, right? This lack of energy makes me so much more thankful for the 3-day-weekends we get this summer. The kids need a break and I think I do, too.

Life is just so full right now. It usually is. But there are so many things to do, to think about, to plan for, that mind seems stretched in every direction. There's the internet bill, which was a surprising $177- it took me about 2 weeks and at least a handful of phone calls to finally get it fixed. They corrected it: only $13.29. I'd say it was definitely worth the effort to get it changed! Or then there's my out-of-state teaching license, which will cost me roughly $230 by the time I'm finished with everything. You'd think that $110 test I took last February would count for something, right? Right, Colorado? But just like Chuck Testa says...NOPE. So tomorrow I've gotta take an almost-identical-but-differently-coded test for another $110. No big deal. I just graduated from college. I've got bags of money lying around!

But really, besides me and my bank account being exhausted, life is really good. I got to see my family last weekend. That makes for some good times, especially when we go out to eat. It's always an adventure, that's for sure. I can say before last Saturday never in my life had I given my phone number to a random waiter at Texas Roadhouse...

And although I deposited my first ever all-grown-up bills in the mail WITHOUT stamps, it really was a beautiful 2.5-mile walk to the post office. Who cares if the bills will come right back to me? At least I get mail, right?! I got to enjoy the lazy atmosphere of summer. Walking through sprinklers rather than avoiding them, hollyhocks growing taller than the chipping window panes they stand in front of, an old guy dozing on his front porch, bras hanging on the line, gardens showing their promise, trampolines, hammocks, and bicycles strewn across the lawn. Taking time to enjoy right where I'm at.

P.S.- These pictures are from the last couple of weeks. I’m gonna try to take a picture (or two) a day this week as a challenge. We’ll see what I come up with!

Thoughts on garage sales…

Today was a garage sale-ing day.

I think my weekends this summer will be filled with lesson planning, looking for Kindergarten ideas on blogs, and going to garage sales. Using a teacher’s classroom filled with stuff as I teach summer school has made me realize how much stuff I don’t have. I need more books, more storage/bins/baskets/bookshelves, and even small things like binder clips. I want my students to have the best possible year- I don’t want to cheat them because I’m a first year teacher and haven’t accumulated all that stuff yet! So I’m working on it. It’s a process. If you have any teacher things you would like to give me, or know of anyone who has things they don’t need anymore, hit me up. I would greatly appreciate it!

So I just want to say how much fun it is to take a morning and go to garage sales. I know they usually have ads in the paper so you can plan your route beforehand, but I like to leave it up to spontaneity. I just drive around and stop at pretty much every one I see. Sometimes you can judge from the road whether or not it’s a good one, but sometimes the most treasured possessions are hidden at the most unexpected places. My favorite things to buy are children’s books! I love when people price them reasonably. I feel ripped off when I have to pay a dollar for a book…I just want to say “You know, SOME places I could get 6 books with this dollar!” It’s true. You’ve gotta be on the lookout. Sometimes, though, I almost pull up to a house only to realize that, um, it’s not a garage sale. They’ve just got a lot of junk in their yard. And their garage is open. With more junk in it. Ooops…

Despite those instances, most places are easy to find. Just follow the maze of neon pink signs with writing so small you have to pull out eyeglasses to read the address. Thankfully most have at least a big black arrow pointing in the general direction. Once you find a location, then the scouting begins. Even though mullets are out of style, and most people generally don’t wear light-washed, high-rise jeans, it’ almost inevitable to see the 1990s dust itself off and come out of hiding at a garage sale. And really, sometimes I’m tempted to buy those $3 roller blades or that Mary-Kate & Ashley VHS or those Lion King McDonald’s toys. It takes me back! I resist, though. I’m saving my pennies for classroom stuff.

It’s been a lovely day of sifting through junk to find treasures (a lamp I’m going to redecorate, quite a few books, and some paper trays)! Add to that some crisp, home-grown cucumbers from the farmer’s market, and smelling the freshly cut grass while on a run through the neighborhood. That sounds like summer to me. :)