Auburn Day Trip

Over Labor Day Weekend, we were planning to go visit my grandparents in Florida, but Hurricane Dorian derailed our plans.  We anticipated that Florida residents might get the evac notice and we didn't want to be battling thousands of other drivers trying to leave the state before disaster struck.  So we altered our plans.  And so did Dorian.  It ended up being a very nice weekend in Florida but we didn't know that was the case when we changed our plans.  We hope to get down to Florida on an upcoming weekend instead.

So as we were contemplating what to do, we decided to take a couple of day trips.  Aaron ended up having to work on Saturday morning (so it's good we weren't already in route to Florida when he got that news!) but when he came home around 10:30, we decided to load up everyone and take a one hour car ride to the Loveliest Village on the Plains, ie Auburn, AL.

My parents went to college at Auburn.  We lived very close to Auburn for a few years when I was a little girl and my younger brother received pre-school classes on Auburn's campus.  My older brother went to college there.  I went to college there and met my two best friends there.  Aaron and I began our relationship there.  Auburn holds a very special place in my heart.

I've been fortunate to go back to campus several times since I live just about an hour away.  I even purposely made a building on Auburn's campus my subject matter for an assignment in grad school so that I could go to Auburn to take photos of the building to include in my paper.  I even stopped through Auburn to and from dropping off and picking up Aaron at the Atlanta airport this summer.  However, I always feel like a part of my Auburn heart is missing when I return to the city alone.  I feel a deep sadness when I go into Auburn alone.  I only feel content and complete when I go to Auburn with family or my best friends.  So over Labor Day weekend, I was able to take my kids to Auburn for the first time ever.  Yes.  The first time.  It's always been in my plans to take them.  I just always have life's curve-balls thrown at me instead.  So this time it finally worked out for me to take my kiddos to Auburn and let them experience the smallest taste of what a joy the city brings.

We arrived in Auburn shortly after lunch and began our journey by taking a photo of the kids off to the side of Toomer's Corner.

I took the obligatory "guess where I am" photo to send to the besties.

We then wandered through campus and showed them various locations that I had classes in.  We stopped in the new student center for a bathroom break and some AC!

We then took them to see Jordan-Hare stadium since Michael was curious as to its size and presence.

Both boys took turns pushing Avery in the stroller (and what a great move that was to bring the stroller!).

Once we returned to the front of Samford Hall, I took some photos of the kids.  Once I sort through and edit those, I'll share them here.  I'm sure in the 100 shots that I have to have a good one somewhere in the mix.  :)

I took a quick photo of the kids in front of the Auburn University sign and as you can see, Michael was hot and over it. 

It started to sprinkle at that point, so we went across the street to J&M bookstore where Aaron and I picked out a shirt and the kids each picked a stuffed animal.  Michael got an eagle that he named Bravey.  Noah picked a black and brown puppy that he named Little Pup, and Avery picked a light brown puppy that she named Pup Pup.

From here, Aaron took the kids back to the van to get it cooling off and I stood in a long line at Toomer's Drugs to get a lemonade and limeade for the road.


This upcoming weekend, one of my two best friends whom I met at Auburn is coming into town from way out of state and she's bringing her husband.  We get to go to Auburn and introduce her husband to the glory that is the Loveliest Village on the Plains and I'm so excited!  Maybe during this upcoming day trip, I'll get a photo of Aaron and myself on campus!


Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba

09-11

Today, on the 18th anniversary of the 09-11 attacks, I get the honor and privilege of presenting a lesson on this topic to a group of my students.

I teach high school biology to a generation that was not alive in 2001.  On Mondays through Thursdays, a group of sophomores stops by my room for study hall and our school principal gave all of the faculty the task of teaching our study hall kids about 09-11 today.  I was so excited and honored to be given such a privilege of remembering my fellow Americans and sharing their stories of bravery with this next generation.

I was blessed with the opportunity to go to New York this past December and visit the 09-11 Museum.  I wrote about that trip here.  The museum is so well curated and thought-out and does such an amazing job of bringing reverence and honor to the victims of 09-11.  I would go back 100 times if possible.  I hope to take Aaron next summer.

The museum struck so many chords with me.  It's such an awe-inspiring place to visit and I was so so blessed to be guided by my real life blogger friend, Stephanie, who works there.  Having her point out intricate details and relate artifacts to the objects from which they came made the trip all the better.

As I was perusing items to share with my class today, I started at the 09-11 museum website.  The site has an interactive timeline feature which covers lots of the artifacts (video clips, audio bytes, photos) that are shown in the museum (and unable to be photographed or recorded inside the museum).  I plan to use this website today as I give my lesson.

As I was reliving the events and listening to some sound bytes and reading transcripts, I tried telling Aaron about a particular sound byte and I couldn't even finish my sentence.  I was overcome with tears and was led to wracking sobs.  The severity and rawness of the events is still ever present in anyone who lived through that day's events.

I consider it a huge honor to recognize and remember those who lost their lives that day and in the days and years to come.  I hope to impart to my students a taste of what privilege we have as Americans to make sure the story of the victims lives on.

Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba

Avery's boots

Avery is quite the little shopper and is also pretty opinionated when it comes to things she likes. :)  I never want to quash her sense of style and I'm actually pretty excited for the upcoming days when she'll want to wear a tutu and a t-shirt and cowgirls boots and a hat or any other odd combination of clothing items!


Avery went shopping with my mother-in-law a couple of weeks ago (on her actual birthday, I believe) and she picked out a few things that she fancied.  One was a denim dress which will be just darling this fall when the temperature cools off just a bit.  Another item was a light blue and white abstract floral print t-shirt dress which she LOVES to wear!  She also HAD TO HAVE a Minnie Mouse nightgown (super soft and silky!).  The most fun thing to me, though, is that she picked out a little pair of light brown suede booties with fringe.  They are ADORABLE and I cannot wait for her to wear them once it's not 100 degrees outside.



Here she is modeling her fashion find. :)

Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba

Super Fun Bracelets!

I love the trend of stacking bracelets but didn't really feel like I had the means to know which bracelets matched up well together, and didn't really want to spend a whole lot of money on acquiring various bracelets in order to create a stack.

Also, I don't like to hear bracelets clinking together especially when my arms move around a lot during the day (I teach my students using a lot of emphasis with my arms and hands).

Enter Victoria Emerson bracelets!  I first saw these on Sheaffer's blog and loved how she coordinated the bracelet stacks to her outfits, etc. The cool thing about the Boho cuffs at Victoria Emerson is that the guesswork is removed from the equation.  The cuffs come predesigned with six or so different but coordinating bracelets stacked together.  Each one has a fun name, usually based after the city responsible for being the muse for each design.

Although I liked the versions Sheaffer showcased, none of them truly stuck out to me until this past month when Victoria Emerson was having a Buy One Get One sale and two styles really caught my attention.  Once I started researching them more, I realized that the six coordinating bracelet strands are held together with a magnetic clasp, making it all the more easy to put on and not worry about tangling, clinking, etc.!

Sheaffer showed a gold toned bracelet grouping called the Coronado and it was love at first sight.  I LOVE anything to do with gold tones, especially when mixed in with blush tones.  The Coronado is six strands to include a rose gold leather strip, some really pretty blush colored beads, a light tan braided leather strap, three pearls on a golden-toned string, some light wooden beads, and a row of white sparkly beads. I couldn't get a hold of it fast enough!  It was beautiful online and it arrived beautiful in person!  It's by far my favorite piece of jewelry to wear at the moment (besides my wedding bands).  I like to pair it with khaki colored linen pants and a patterned light brown shirt but it goes so well with so many things because of the neutral color pairings.

Since the sale that I was taking part in was a BOGO sale, I had to find another piece to round out my purchase.  I had noticed and liked a bracelet Sheaffer modeled called the El Paso, but wasn't sure if I wanted to take the plunge because it includes a cow-hide-patterned calf-hair strip and I thought it was too bold.  However, I'm really trying to take steps that allow myself to go after the bold item just because I like it and to not get bogged down with what people may say about it.  So I went for it and I LOVE it and am so glad I chose to get it!  It is comprised of a row of brown sparkly beads, clear sparkly beads, the cow-hide-pattern calf-hair strip, some small wooden beads, egg-shaped beads, and dark blue sparkly beads.  I love wearing this bracelet paired with a green t-shirt dress but it will complement so many things!

Just wanted to showcase these two fun jewelry items that makes getting dressed a little more fun in the mornings!



Until Next Time,
Much love, Reba