Since the last "serious" post about the virus and how it's affecting our lives, etc. I have received more information about what the rest of the year might look like academics-wise. On Thursday, the governor of our state announced that school buildings will remain closed for the rest of the year. Students will acquire the rest of the school year's teaching through distance learning or online.
Next week, I will be informed of a day where I have to go to school to find out what exactly I'll be expected to do. I am already trying to come up with creative ways to get across the point of my remaining topics to my students since I won't be in a classroom setting with them. It's slightly disappointing since we were initially told that these three weeks (from March 16th through April 6th) would count as an "extended spring break" and now it seems like we'll have to make up these days at the end of May and into June.
Living in a rural part of the country, state, and even my current county, this absence from being in the actual school building is not as simple as uploading lessons to an electronic platform and expecting all students to be able to access that information equally. This is why it's so important to come up with various material that students could access online or have paper copies available for those without adequate access to the internet or to a device that can access the internet. Over the next week or so, we'll be given information about how we'd go about making paper copies of information and how we'd get that material to students while maintaining the appropriate social distancing regulations.
Although I've written about 95% of my lesson plans for the rest of the year, I will need to set aside some time for myself to tweak those plans to eliminate any activity where students had to use their textbooks. I'll also need to search for alternate activities to put in place where I currently have links to educational video clips with quiz questions, etc. I need to be able to guarantee that all students will be able to learn the same standard but perhaps in different ways (i.e., some online classes for those with internet, and some paper packets for those without). I will also try to have some Zoom calls for whole-group tutoring sessions where students could ask questions and I'd be able to answer them in real-time. I'm also going to revamp my plans and try to incorporate activities that my students can do outside, or assign entertaining reading passages to keep them in the habit of reading for comprehension.
It will all be a learning experience where we'll develop new skills. Skills that we'll probably never have to use again because good Lord willing, we'll never be in this same predicament again. One can only hope.
I'm determined to use this situation for good. I am known to my students as the positive teacher. My classroom is a positive-only zone. No negative talk is allowed without a discussion showing the positives in the situation. This goes for world viewpoints as well as how students view themselves. It it a desire of mine that all of my students learn to appreciate who they really are and try to only speak positively about others. Therefore, I plan to keep this role while we navigate online learning. I am hoping that with Aaron's help, I can add in a few self-made YouTube video clips where I speak a positive little message to them and help them to remember to seek the bright side of this situation.
At the end of this very odd and extended school year, I want to look back on it with a joy that says "I tried. Even when the doors were closed and I had to re-do work that I had already done, I did not lose sight of the mission and I did not give up-- on myself, this career, or my students." Usually, when I firmly set my mind on something, I succeed. This is no different. I am determined to succeed and not just by limping across the finish line. I am determined to be a major success at online teaching and have my students be glad that they get to take my class. Sometimes, half of this battle is beginning with the reminder that I truly care about my students and want them to succeed in school & afterwards. That viewpoint will not and just simply cannot change during this global discomfort.
I will find the balance between creating and altering lesson plans. I will find the balance between teaching my own children at home while teaching over 150 students in an online capacity. I will find the balance between schedules and unstructured playtime for my family. I am just determined to succeed.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Little Fix Ups Around the House
We are kind of stuck in a position where we know we want to buy land and build a home one day, but we also know we're not really close to being able to do that. On the other hand, we have real things we'd like to fix up around our home but we don't want to over-invest in it and have it be the most expensive home in the neighborhood. So we're struggling with what to actually fix up to make our home more our style, and what to leave alone since it wouldn't add value to the home if we changed it.
Light fixtures are pretty easy to change out and give the room a quick makeover without sinking too much into it. I search Amazon for light fixtures since they're usually cheaper than buying them from big chain stores. It's nice having a handyman husband! I certainly would feel inept if I had to install light fixtures on my own.
Here's some recent lights we changed: hallway, hall bathroom, master bathroom. Laundry room and foyer are on my list.
The hallway:
The hall bath:
Master bathroom:
All of these lights came from Amazon and all were under $80. The hallway light was $14! I'll keep you posted on new fixtures.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Light fixtures are pretty easy to change out and give the room a quick makeover without sinking too much into it. I search Amazon for light fixtures since they're usually cheaper than buying them from big chain stores. It's nice having a handyman husband! I certainly would feel inept if I had to install light fixtures on my own.
Here's some recent lights we changed: hallway, hall bathroom, master bathroom. Laundry room and foyer are on my list.
The hallway:
The hall bath:
Master bathroom:
All of these lights came from Amazon and all were under $80. The hallway light was $14! I'll keep you posted on new fixtures.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Another Day, Another online shopping cart tour
Here's another mindless online shopping cart tour featuring a few different stores than the ones shown on Monday's post.
Nordstrom:
Nordstrom is one of my favorite stores to buy things from online since shipping is always free and so are returns!
Kennebunk Bliss Plush Throw:
This is my favorite store-bought blanket of all time! I bought my first one during the Anniversary Sale in 2018. I bought four at that time (one for me to try out immediately, and three more to give as Christmas gifts to my kiddos). The plan worked tremendously. All three kids LOVED my blanket from August through December, then were thrilled to get their very own blankets on Christmas Day! Their blankets are on their beds with the understanding that they can get them at any time to cuddle with in the living room, etc., but my blanket stays in the living room and is the one that everyone grabs first in the early morning! This past August, I grabbed 5 more blankets when they were on sale so that I could have a different and very nice Christmas gift to give to my sons' teachers, teacher aide, and school nurses. Everyone loved them! I'm toying with getting another blanket since they come out with new colors now and then. The other day, they were 25% off and the sale price really is great! Today, they don't seem to be on sale, so I think I'll hold off for a bit. I really love the Teal Foam and Navy Blue shades that they have out right now.
Kopari Coconut Gardenia Deodorant:
A while ago, I switched from using regular deodorant to trying to find just natural deodorants that didn't have aluminum in them. It's of course easier if I can find these things in store, so I've gravitated towards Schmidt's Rose + Vanilla scent (I've also tried their Charcoal and Magnesium scent). However, I've wanted to try the Kopari brand since reading so many good reviews about it. Nordstrom has a wide selection including a trial set of three different scents.
Kendra Scott Elisa pendant necklace:
I bought a JDRF version of this necklace a couple years ago. (It's very similar to the September sapphire shown here). This necklace is dainty enough to complement outfits without overpowering them. It's fun that Kendra Scott has come out with the birthstone set, and also has another set with a variety of different stones and finishes.
Anthropologie:
I will admit that I have never bought anything from Anthropologie for full price. I always always always wait til things go on sale before I seriously consider getting anything. The sale items that I have gotten over the years have held up well and been worth their sale price for sure.
Spatula
This cute little spatula could add a pop of color to the kitchen which is always fun!
Monogram Hook
These would be so cute hung upon Avery's room!
Printed Journals:
These little journals would make such a cute addition to an end-of-the-year teacher gift! A notebook that someone could stick in her purse and have ready access to paper if needed is very practical and these are pretty without being overly trendy. They also come in a slightly different color pattern and shape, but in a three pack, here .
Juice Glasses:
These are sweet little glasses for juice. They remind me of patterned glassware that used to be at our family beach cottage.
Gallery Dish Towel
This is such a cute museum-esque hand towel!
Mint Serving Bowl
I'm loving the shade of mint these days. This serving bowl is simple & classic enough to carry through for years without losing its effect by being overly trendy.
Printed Oven Mitt
I think a colorful happy kitchen is the best kind! Sometimes this can be created from regular items that come in pretty colors and patterns like this oven mitt!
Homebody Mug:
I LOVE fun mugs! This one is so perfect right now.
There's so many more things on their sale pages (which is where all of these Anthropologie items can be found), but I think I'll stop here for now.
Amazon:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE shopping on Amazon and have tons of things in my "Save for Later" section of my cart. If something sells out, oh well, I just find something else to look at and ponder over. :)
Fun Doormat:
I don't really put doormats out since we don't have gutters and the rain water totally destroys these type of doormats, but I love looking at them online anyway. Here's a sweet springtime mat. I thought this one about the kids, wife, and husband was funny.
Retro Cassette Pencil Holder:
I'm always looking for fun desk items for my school desk. Students tend to remember I'm actually human when they see fun or pretty items on my desk. This cassette pencil holder is multi-functional but also funny since most of my students will have no idea what a cassette even is!
Kinectic Sand:
Noah got some kinetic sand for his birthday and although I was majorly dreading having my kids play with it inside, it's actually quite easy to keep contained and easy to clean up. I'm contemplating getting them each a bag of colored kinetic sand for Easter.
Flush Mount Light
I've taken on a personal mission of replacing light fixtures in my house to ones that I like more than the ones that either were originally here or ones that matched the previous owner's taste. My next project is either my foyer light or my laundry room light. This flush mount light has the vibe that I'm looking for to make my laundry room more my style.
Jelly Bangle Bracelets
There's a much more expensive version of these bracelets out there, but under $10 is my preferred price point. Since these are plastic, they can easily go in water (pool/ocean) and also means that they won't jingle jangle incessantly (which is a pet peeve of mine when I teach). They come in a variety of colors, but I prefer the look of the light rose gold the best.
Cross Body Purse
Although Avery is old enough to freely walk and run on her own in familiar places, she's certainly not well versed enough to understand parking lots even while holding hands, so I carry her to and from every store. That means that a trip to the store by myself with my kiddos (pre-social distancing of course) is quite difficult when I have to think about carrying a purse, a toddler (with a baby doll), and a bag of diabetes supplies. We use a sling backpack for our diabetes supplies, but I'm still weighed down with a purse and a nearly 30 pound child, so I've been on the lookout for a cross-body bag. This one is cute with the added tassels and comes in lots of color choices, although I prefer the beige option.
Well, I think that's enough mindless online shopping cart touring for today. I'll post more this week with updates on each kid and how we've managed our time at home. :)
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Nordstrom:
Nordstrom is one of my favorite stores to buy things from online since shipping is always free and so are returns!
Kennebunk Bliss Plush Throw:
This is my favorite store-bought blanket of all time! I bought my first one during the Anniversary Sale in 2018. I bought four at that time (one for me to try out immediately, and three more to give as Christmas gifts to my kiddos). The plan worked tremendously. All three kids LOVED my blanket from August through December, then were thrilled to get their very own blankets on Christmas Day! Their blankets are on their beds with the understanding that they can get them at any time to cuddle with in the living room, etc., but my blanket stays in the living room and is the one that everyone grabs first in the early morning! This past August, I grabbed 5 more blankets when they were on sale so that I could have a different and very nice Christmas gift to give to my sons' teachers, teacher aide, and school nurses. Everyone loved them! I'm toying with getting another blanket since they come out with new colors now and then. The other day, they were 25% off and the sale price really is great! Today, they don't seem to be on sale, so I think I'll hold off for a bit. I really love the Teal Foam and Navy Blue shades that they have out right now.
Kopari Coconut Gardenia Deodorant:
A while ago, I switched from using regular deodorant to trying to find just natural deodorants that didn't have aluminum in them. It's of course easier if I can find these things in store, so I've gravitated towards Schmidt's Rose + Vanilla scent (I've also tried their Charcoal and Magnesium scent). However, I've wanted to try the Kopari brand since reading so many good reviews about it. Nordstrom has a wide selection including a trial set of three different scents.
Kendra Scott Elisa pendant necklace:
I bought a JDRF version of this necklace a couple years ago. (It's very similar to the September sapphire shown here). This necklace is dainty enough to complement outfits without overpowering them. It's fun that Kendra Scott has come out with the birthstone set, and also has another set with a variety of different stones and finishes.
Anthropologie:
I will admit that I have never bought anything from Anthropologie for full price. I always always always wait til things go on sale before I seriously consider getting anything. The sale items that I have gotten over the years have held up well and been worth their sale price for sure.
Spatula
This cute little spatula could add a pop of color to the kitchen which is always fun!
Monogram Hook
These would be so cute hung upon Avery's room!
Printed Journals:
These little journals would make such a cute addition to an end-of-the-year teacher gift! A notebook that someone could stick in her purse and have ready access to paper if needed is very practical and these are pretty without being overly trendy. They also come in a slightly different color pattern and shape, but in a three pack, here .
Juice Glasses:
These are sweet little glasses for juice. They remind me of patterned glassware that used to be at our family beach cottage.
Gallery Dish Towel
This is such a cute museum-esque hand towel!
Mint Serving Bowl
I'm loving the shade of mint these days. This serving bowl is simple & classic enough to carry through for years without losing its effect by being overly trendy.
Printed Oven Mitt
I think a colorful happy kitchen is the best kind! Sometimes this can be created from regular items that come in pretty colors and patterns like this oven mitt!
Homebody Mug:
I LOVE fun mugs! This one is so perfect right now.
There's so many more things on their sale pages (which is where all of these Anthropologie items can be found), but I think I'll stop here for now.
Amazon:
I LOVE LOVE LOVE shopping on Amazon and have tons of things in my "Save for Later" section of my cart. If something sells out, oh well, I just find something else to look at and ponder over. :)
Fun Doormat:
I don't really put doormats out since we don't have gutters and the rain water totally destroys these type of doormats, but I love looking at them online anyway. Here's a sweet springtime mat. I thought this one about the kids, wife, and husband was funny.
Retro Cassette Pencil Holder:
I'm always looking for fun desk items for my school desk. Students tend to remember I'm actually human when they see fun or pretty items on my desk. This cassette pencil holder is multi-functional but also funny since most of my students will have no idea what a cassette even is!
Kinectic Sand:
Noah got some kinetic sand for his birthday and although I was majorly dreading having my kids play with it inside, it's actually quite easy to keep contained and easy to clean up. I'm contemplating getting them each a bag of colored kinetic sand for Easter.
Flush Mount Light
I've taken on a personal mission of replacing light fixtures in my house to ones that I like more than the ones that either were originally here or ones that matched the previous owner's taste. My next project is either my foyer light or my laundry room light. This flush mount light has the vibe that I'm looking for to make my laundry room more my style.
Jelly Bangle Bracelets
There's a much more expensive version of these bracelets out there, but under $10 is my preferred price point. Since these are plastic, they can easily go in water (pool/ocean) and also means that they won't jingle jangle incessantly (which is a pet peeve of mine when I teach). They come in a variety of colors, but I prefer the look of the light rose gold the best.
Cross Body Purse
Although Avery is old enough to freely walk and run on her own in familiar places, she's certainly not well versed enough to understand parking lots even while holding hands, so I carry her to and from every store. That means that a trip to the store by myself with my kiddos (pre-social distancing of course) is quite difficult when I have to think about carrying a purse, a toddler (with a baby doll), and a bag of diabetes supplies. We use a sling backpack for our diabetes supplies, but I'm still weighed down with a purse and a nearly 30 pound child, so I've been on the lookout for a cross-body bag. This one is cute with the added tassels and comes in lots of color choices, although I prefer the beige option.
Well, I think that's enough mindless online shopping cart touring for today. I'll post more this week with updates on each kid and how we've managed our time at home. :)
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Photo Round Up: March
I'll try to write more soon on how we're beating boredom & sometimes welcoming it now that we're home for the unforeseen future.
For now, here are some photos from the month.
A two-year old selfie:
Shooting a pretend fire extinguisher with an onlooking princess.
All three at the sandbox. All things considered, they have played very nicely together most of the time.
A real-live firefighter!
Some kind of alien/super-hero something. :)
Michael has been very creative and comes up with recipe ideas. He wanted to create a special dessert of cookie crumbs and Cool Whip with sprinkles on top so I obliged. He happily ate his dessert as a snack over the next few nights. :)
On the night he made it, they all tested it out. Looks like a success!
We had to try on our soccer jerseys!
The first soccer game was very cold! Michael's game was first, so I watched my two littles go down the slide for an hour until it was time for Noah's game.
I think we might have been watching Moana on this day, so she had to be a mermaid.
One sunrise that week was amazing! I try to snap a picture of these when I can.
On the Friday that our state entered those affected by the virus, we ate our dinner in the car after I grocery shopped.
The following day we had our second soccer game. Hopefully we'll get to have more games after this whole thing settles down nationwide.
She wanted to be a unicorn, so I taped a rolled up toilet-paper roll on top of a princess crown.
I braided her hair into pigtails so that she could be Anna from Frozen.
Sandbox fun at one of their grandma's house this past week!
Michael squeezed himself into a little plastic car and as long as he's having fun, I'm okay with it.
Noah wrote his whole name in chalk and was so proud of himself! So am I!
We ordered the game "Spot It!" from Amazon and it's so cute and fun and can be played by all ages! It even comes with an additional card where you can mix up how the game is played to make it a bit tougher (ie, how I'll have to play with Aaron from here on out).
She was telling me that Akuna licked her ear. :)
Here she's being a strawberry princess.
Last week, we incorporated a little bit of school work each day. This week is their official spring break so I'm not making them do school unless they want to.
He wanted to see what his face looked like if he was the butterfly who was caught.
Slide fun!
She's just so pretty!
We have been thoroughly enjoying our time outside! Fortunately, we've had a string of really warm sunny days which is good for morale and sanity! Yesterday and today it was gloomy and cloudy, but we're hopeful that the sun will reappear soon!
Sometimes, all she wants is a bucket of soapy water so she can wash Easter eggs and her legs and hands. These days, why not?
I love that he still likes to take pictures with me!
This is the other game we ordered from Amazon. It's sooo much fun to play!
Just a girl and her daddy relaxing on the couch! I cannot get over her smile!
She asked me to paint her fingernails blue. I happened to have some blue on hand, so we fulfilled this request.
Our church service was online on Sunday, so Avery was wondering why Grampa Bill wasn't also behind the screen. :)
I recently bought "clown balloons" (with my own money) for a classroom experiment and I had tons left over so I grabbed them one day last week before our school was closed for deep cleaning. I whipped out the balloons on Sunday afternoon to try my hand at animal creations. Turns out, the boys were pretty okay with snakes. :)
Avery wanted a puppy, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!
I tried creating a flower which I think came out okay, but I'll certainly be trying it more during this week.
He asked if I could take his picture at dinner yesterday. Sure! We did a drive-through order at Cook Out restaurant-- the boys' new favorite!
After dinner, Aaron and Michael played a dirt bike game and they had two little onlookers!
I hope this was a fun peek into our lives! I'll update more as these days at home continue. :)
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
For now, here are some photos from the month.
A two-year old selfie:
Shooting a pretend fire extinguisher with an onlooking princess.
All three at the sandbox. All things considered, they have played very nicely together most of the time.
A real-live firefighter!
Some kind of alien/super-hero something. :)
Michael has been very creative and comes up with recipe ideas. He wanted to create a special dessert of cookie crumbs and Cool Whip with sprinkles on top so I obliged. He happily ate his dessert as a snack over the next few nights. :)
On the night he made it, they all tested it out. Looks like a success!
We had to try on our soccer jerseys!
The first soccer game was very cold! Michael's game was first, so I watched my two littles go down the slide for an hour until it was time for Noah's game.
I think we might have been watching Moana on this day, so she had to be a mermaid.
One sunrise that week was amazing! I try to snap a picture of these when I can.
On the Friday that our state entered those affected by the virus, we ate our dinner in the car after I grocery shopped.
The following day we had our second soccer game. Hopefully we'll get to have more games after this whole thing settles down nationwide.
She wanted to be a unicorn, so I taped a rolled up toilet-paper roll on top of a princess crown.
I braided her hair into pigtails so that she could be Anna from Frozen.
Sandbox fun at one of their grandma's house this past week!
Michael squeezed himself into a little plastic car and as long as he's having fun, I'm okay with it.
Noah wrote his whole name in chalk and was so proud of himself! So am I!
We ordered the game "Spot It!" from Amazon and it's so cute and fun and can be played by all ages! It even comes with an additional card where you can mix up how the game is played to make it a bit tougher (ie, how I'll have to play with Aaron from here on out).
She was telling me that Akuna licked her ear. :)
Here she's being a strawberry princess.
Last week, we incorporated a little bit of school work each day. This week is their official spring break so I'm not making them do school unless they want to.
He wanted to see what his face looked like if he was the butterfly who was caught.
Slide fun!
She's just so pretty!
We have been thoroughly enjoying our time outside! Fortunately, we've had a string of really warm sunny days which is good for morale and sanity! Yesterday and today it was gloomy and cloudy, but we're hopeful that the sun will reappear soon!
Sometimes, all she wants is a bucket of soapy water so she can wash Easter eggs and her legs and hands. These days, why not?
I love that he still likes to take pictures with me!
This is the other game we ordered from Amazon. It's sooo much fun to play!
Just a girl and her daddy relaxing on the couch! I cannot get over her smile!
She asked me to paint her fingernails blue. I happened to have some blue on hand, so we fulfilled this request.
Our church service was online on Sunday, so Avery was wondering why Grampa Bill wasn't also behind the screen. :)
I recently bought "clown balloons" (with my own money) for a classroom experiment and I had tons left over so I grabbed them one day last week before our school was closed for deep cleaning. I whipped out the balloons on Sunday afternoon to try my hand at animal creations. Turns out, the boys were pretty okay with snakes. :)
Avery wanted a puppy, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!
I tried creating a flower which I think came out okay, but I'll certainly be trying it more during this week.
He asked if I could take his picture at dinner yesterday. Sure! We did a drive-through order at Cook Out restaurant-- the boys' new favorite!
After dinner, Aaron and Michael played a dirt bike game and they had two little onlookers!
I hope this was a fun peek into our lives! I'll update more as these days at home continue. :)
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Monday, March 23, 2020
Mindless Shopping Post
In the midst of all the weird times around us, I find some solace in mindless shopping. I don't buy these things, I just make constant shopping cart additions and wish lists, then wait til the items sell out and start all over. :) It's not the buying that makes me happy (it actually makes it worse, which is why I don't buy), it's the actual shopping and imagining part that brings me a bit of happiness, so that's what I'm choosing to focus on.
Zulily:
Year-long subscription to HGTV and Food Network magazines.
This is a really fantastic deal because you get both magazines for a whole year for $20. Usually, each magazine is about $5 each if you get it at the newsstand or in the grocery store check-out line. I did buy this subscription last year from Zulily and it was so much fun to get these magazines throughout the year! I'm not sure I'll get the subscription again since I saved all of the magazines from last year and therefore have enough decoration projects and recipes to keep me busy for quite some time. :)
Year-long subscription to Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens magazines.
Obviously, I have a thing for putting magazine subscriptions into my online shopping carts. This set is a really good deal too, though, because you get a year's subscription to both of these magazines for just $9. I've had this subscription a few years ago and it was fun to see different fashion options and fitness routines and various home cleaning methods-- you know, things women are interested in learning about.
Sign-Language Necklace
This necklace is delicate and sweet and showcases the American Sign Language symbol for "I love you." This particular phrase is super important to me since we used it in my family a lot while growing up because my little brother is hearing-impaired. My kiddos know the phrase and hand signal now which is extra sweet.
Elsa Nightgown (toddler)
For a little girl who just discovered Frozen (as of a few months ago) and Frozen 2 (as of last week), this little nightgown would provide some good dress-up time as well as hopefully an easier bedtime routine ("Time to put on the Elsa dress!").
Window Markers
I thought this looked equally interesting and terrifying. Maybe it's something fun to keep kiddos occupied while we have to stay inside for much of the day. On the other hand, are we potentially teaching our kiddos that drawing on windows is okay? I, for one, know of a little girl who wouldn't fully understand that only certain markers could be used for this activity....
Old Navy:
Right now, Old Navy is having a 50% off sale, so I browsed around and found some things that might be helpful this summer.
Faux-Leather Pool-Side Sandals
Both of my boys have asked for sandals that they can easily slide on their feet so we can go outside quickly without having to pause to put on actual shoes. I saw these and thought that they would be perfect for quickly getting on, and they'd also do well around the pool this summer!
Perforated Pop-color sneakers for girls
I've admired the more expensive "Native" brand of these type of shoes but can never justify spending so much on a pair of shoes for feet that will rapidly grow. When Old Navy came out with their own version (in my absolute FAVORITE shade of pink!) I quickly added these to my cart for Avery.
Pop-Color Flip Flops for women
At $2.51, these might be making their way to me as a simple beach/pool flip flop. Again, I chose the blush color but am also smitten with the turquoise and the coral.
LOFT:
LOFT is one of my favorite stores to find sale items for work-appropriate wear. I usually buy things when they're on sale and when LOFT is offering an extra percentage off on sale items. This also means that I'm buying things out of season. So I'll buy winter items in the summer and summer items in the winter, etc. Sometimes this is a bummer because I don't get to wear the items immediately when they arrive, but it's worth it when the appropriate season rolls around and I've got new clothes that I paid less than $10 for. :)
Knit Jogger Skirt:
This skirt, based on the pictures and reviews, seems like it would be the perfect easy-to-wear spring and summer skirt!
Petite Flecked Peplum Vintage Top
Peplum is an interesting trend. It can either look flattering or it can make someone look pregnant who's not. I'm careful with the types of peplum I wear, which means I don't wear it a lot. This shirt from LOFT looks like it might have possibilities. And the shirt fabric looks like funfetti cake batter so that's extra fun!
Heart Necklace
This necklace is so sweet and dainty and could work with outfits all year long!
Hopefully this offers a little fun distraction to what's happening around us. I'll try to do another post from other stores this week like Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Amazon.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Zulily:
Year-long subscription to HGTV and Food Network magazines.
This is a really fantastic deal because you get both magazines for a whole year for $20. Usually, each magazine is about $5 each if you get it at the newsstand or in the grocery store check-out line. I did buy this subscription last year from Zulily and it was so much fun to get these magazines throughout the year! I'm not sure I'll get the subscription again since I saved all of the magazines from last year and therefore have enough decoration projects and recipes to keep me busy for quite some time. :)
Year-long subscription to Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens magazines.
Obviously, I have a thing for putting magazine subscriptions into my online shopping carts. This set is a really good deal too, though, because you get a year's subscription to both of these magazines for just $9. I've had this subscription a few years ago and it was fun to see different fashion options and fitness routines and various home cleaning methods-- you know, things women are interested in learning about.
Sign-Language Necklace
This necklace is delicate and sweet and showcases the American Sign Language symbol for "I love you." This particular phrase is super important to me since we used it in my family a lot while growing up because my little brother is hearing-impaired. My kiddos know the phrase and hand signal now which is extra sweet.
Elsa Nightgown (toddler)
For a little girl who just discovered Frozen (as of a few months ago) and Frozen 2 (as of last week), this little nightgown would provide some good dress-up time as well as hopefully an easier bedtime routine ("Time to put on the Elsa dress!").
Window Markers
I thought this looked equally interesting and terrifying. Maybe it's something fun to keep kiddos occupied while we have to stay inside for much of the day. On the other hand, are we potentially teaching our kiddos that drawing on windows is okay? I, for one, know of a little girl who wouldn't fully understand that only certain markers could be used for this activity....
Old Navy:
Right now, Old Navy is having a 50% off sale, so I browsed around and found some things that might be helpful this summer.
Faux-Leather Pool-Side Sandals
Both of my boys have asked for sandals that they can easily slide on their feet so we can go outside quickly without having to pause to put on actual shoes. I saw these and thought that they would be perfect for quickly getting on, and they'd also do well around the pool this summer!
Perforated Pop-color sneakers for girls
I've admired the more expensive "Native" brand of these type of shoes but can never justify spending so much on a pair of shoes for feet that will rapidly grow. When Old Navy came out with their own version (in my absolute FAVORITE shade of pink!) I quickly added these to my cart for Avery.
Pop-Color Flip Flops for women
At $2.51, these might be making their way to me as a simple beach/pool flip flop. Again, I chose the blush color but am also smitten with the turquoise and the coral.
LOFT:
LOFT is one of my favorite stores to find sale items for work-appropriate wear. I usually buy things when they're on sale and when LOFT is offering an extra percentage off on sale items. This also means that I'm buying things out of season. So I'll buy winter items in the summer and summer items in the winter, etc. Sometimes this is a bummer because I don't get to wear the items immediately when they arrive, but it's worth it when the appropriate season rolls around and I've got new clothes that I paid less than $10 for. :)
Knit Jogger Skirt:
This skirt, based on the pictures and reviews, seems like it would be the perfect easy-to-wear spring and summer skirt!
Petite Flecked Peplum Vintage Top
Peplum is an interesting trend. It can either look flattering or it can make someone look pregnant who's not. I'm careful with the types of peplum I wear, which means I don't wear it a lot. This shirt from LOFT looks like it might have possibilities. And the shirt fabric looks like funfetti cake batter so that's extra fun!
Heart Necklace
This necklace is so sweet and dainty and could work with outfits all year long!
Hopefully this offers a little fun distraction to what's happening around us. I'll try to do another post from other stores this week like Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Amazon.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Lyrical Sundays: Look Up, Child
This song has been going through my head a lot these days, although that is true about many songs and I'm finding the lyrics of several songs to be applicable to our strange social distancing phenomenon right now. However, these words are what's in my head today.
Look Up Child, by Lauren Daigle
Look Up Child, by Lauren Daigle
Where are You now
When darkness seems to win?
Where are You now
When the world is crumbling?
When darkness seems to win?
Where are You now
When the world is crumbling?
Oh I, I-I-I, I hear You say
I hear You say
I hear You say
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Where are You now (where are You?)
When all I feel is doubt?
Oh, where are You now
When I can't figure it out?
When all I feel is doubt?
Oh, where are You now
When I can't figure it out?
Oh I, I-I-I, I hear You say
I hear You say
I hear You say
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up
You're not threatened by the war
You're not shaken by the storm
I know You're in control
Even in our suffering
Even when it can't be seen
I know You're in control
You're not shaken by the storm
I know You're in control
Even in our suffering
Even when it can't be seen
I know You're in control
Oh I, I-I-I, I hear You say
I hear You say
I hear You say
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, oh-oh-oooh
I hear You say, You say, You say
Look up child, ayy
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up, look up, look up)
Look up child, oh-ooh, ooh, oh-oooh
I hear You say, You say, You say
Look up child, ayy
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up, look up, look up)
Look up child
(I hear You say, You say, You say)
I hear You, I hear You calling my name, oh (Look up child, ayy)
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up)
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, oh-oh-oooh
I hear You say, You say, You say
Look up child, ayy
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up, look up, look up)
Look up child, oh-ooh, ooh, oh-oooh
I hear You say, You say, You say
Look up child, ayy
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up, look up, look up)
Look up child
(I hear You say, You say, You say)
I hear You, I hear You calling my name, oh (Look up child, ayy)
I hear You say, You say, You say (look up, look up)
Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy
Look up
***
Hope these words help you out as we navigate these next few weeks out of our comfort zones.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Well, that escalated quickly
Odd times we're living in, huh?
I've been wishing for extra time with my kiddos and eagerly looking forward to Spring Break and this week I was granted three weeks of Spring Break and am trying my very very hardest to soak up these days and create special memories during this extra time with my children. Of course, if I got to choose the perfect circumstances to spend this time, I wouldn't have chosen a pandemic obviously, but I am trying to remind myself that time is time and I need to spend it wisely.
Next week was supposed to be our Spring Break but we were given this week and the week after next as additional time to socially distance ourselves. By March 30th, we will be told whether we return to school in April or if we are facing more time off or other school options (like doing school through Google Classroom, etc.).
Last week was such a blur. I tried to keep a calm environment in my classroom though my students (mostly 9th graders) were becoming increasingly nervous as the week progressed. Thanks to technology and smart watches that my students have, they were notified immediately when the first case was diagnosed in our state. About an hour later, I received an automated phone message from our superintendent saying that school would release at noon the following Thursday (which would've meant today), so that teachers could undergo training for how to utilize Google Classroom. I already know how to utilize it since this is the medium we use when our students are sent to the county's alternative school. I found it odd that students were going to have to come back to school the following day (the 20th) and then would be released for spring break at the end of school on that day.
Over the next several hours, the plan kept shifting. At one point, we were told that school would be cancelled for Thursday and Friday but that teachers and students needed to come on Monday through Wednesday. Later, we were told that we'd be out from Wednesday through April 6th. The following day we were told that if students stayed home on Monday through Wednesday that their absence would not count against them at school. At that point, I was solidified in my decision to keep my sons out of school on those days. By the following day (Sunday evening), we were told that school was officially closed from Monday March 16th through April 6th and we did not have to do any online schooling during that time.
Having been home-schooled during several different years while growing up, I knew of the basic structure I'd need to set up with my kids at home. In addition, being a teacher now and having to create content or utilize resources to find content for my own lesson plans, I knew that I could come up with adequate material for my sons. I'm still so so happy to see all of the free resources being shared online for parents who find themselves home with their kiddos attempting to home school. Although our school district is not requiring online schooling right now, the elementary school teachers are being very proactive about listing topics by grade level and outlines of lesson plans to follow along with. Both of my sons use computer programs at school and we are able to access those at home too. I will give them their official spring break next week, but have already incorporated school work into this first week at home and will continue this during the last week of March as well. This week, we've eased into it with just a worksheet or two everyday sprinkled in with some computer programs and lots of reading. I'd like to add in some National Geographic shows (available on Disney+) and hopefully be able to see some of the virtual field trips and virtual national park tours during our time off together.
For my own classes, I've made it a personal mission to finish my lesson planning for the rest of the year while I'm off. This would be SUCH a weight off my shoulders, so I'm really pulling for myself to get it done! I've done a little bit here and there this week, and it helps that I've been able to use some of these weeks that I've already planned out and bump those plans into April. Aaron is off tomorrow so I really do plan to use a chunk of time to nail some things down and create my PowerPoints (I have lots of outlines right now). I'd ambitiously like to finish everything tomorrow. I feel as though that would give me the mental permission I need in order to relax and further enjoy my time off.
We had planned to take a trip down to our family beach town. We rented an airbnb way back in early January and we were SO looking forward to this trip. However, with the hit of the pandemic in our part of the country, and not wishing to be stranded in a remote town during this ordeal, we chose to reevaluate our plans. Airbnb offered full refunds to people who booked within a certain date range for a certain trip time frame. We fell into their categories and were able to get our money back. The host of the house we had booked was so accommodating and kind. I told her that we plan to book the exact same place in early summer (depending on how quickly the virus dissipates).
Although I'm certainly an expert at burdening myself and checking the news stories too much during the day, I'm going to make a conscious effort from here on out to limit my time online and to take photos of my kids (with my phone and with my nice camera) and join in their games and really work on those memory creations. I bake when I need to relax but I'm worried I'll run out of supplies, so I might try to make a morning store-run tomorrow while Aaron is home so I can get some baking supplies to sustain us.
Wherever you are, I wish you peace and the hope that things will get better and that we'll all come out of this more appreciative of our daily routines and comforts.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
I've been wishing for extra time with my kiddos and eagerly looking forward to Spring Break and this week I was granted three weeks of Spring Break and am trying my very very hardest to soak up these days and create special memories during this extra time with my children. Of course, if I got to choose the perfect circumstances to spend this time, I wouldn't have chosen a pandemic obviously, but I am trying to remind myself that time is time and I need to spend it wisely.
Next week was supposed to be our Spring Break but we were given this week and the week after next as additional time to socially distance ourselves. By March 30th, we will be told whether we return to school in April or if we are facing more time off or other school options (like doing school through Google Classroom, etc.).
Last week was such a blur. I tried to keep a calm environment in my classroom though my students (mostly 9th graders) were becoming increasingly nervous as the week progressed. Thanks to technology and smart watches that my students have, they were notified immediately when the first case was diagnosed in our state. About an hour later, I received an automated phone message from our superintendent saying that school would release at noon the following Thursday (which would've meant today), so that teachers could undergo training for how to utilize Google Classroom. I already know how to utilize it since this is the medium we use when our students are sent to the county's alternative school. I found it odd that students were going to have to come back to school the following day (the 20th) and then would be released for spring break at the end of school on that day.
Over the next several hours, the plan kept shifting. At one point, we were told that school would be cancelled for Thursday and Friday but that teachers and students needed to come on Monday through Wednesday. Later, we were told that we'd be out from Wednesday through April 6th. The following day we were told that if students stayed home on Monday through Wednesday that their absence would not count against them at school. At that point, I was solidified in my decision to keep my sons out of school on those days. By the following day (Sunday evening), we were told that school was officially closed from Monday March 16th through April 6th and we did not have to do any online schooling during that time.
Having been home-schooled during several different years while growing up, I knew of the basic structure I'd need to set up with my kids at home. In addition, being a teacher now and having to create content or utilize resources to find content for my own lesson plans, I knew that I could come up with adequate material for my sons. I'm still so so happy to see all of the free resources being shared online for parents who find themselves home with their kiddos attempting to home school. Although our school district is not requiring online schooling right now, the elementary school teachers are being very proactive about listing topics by grade level and outlines of lesson plans to follow along with. Both of my sons use computer programs at school and we are able to access those at home too. I will give them their official spring break next week, but have already incorporated school work into this first week at home and will continue this during the last week of March as well. This week, we've eased into it with just a worksheet or two everyday sprinkled in with some computer programs and lots of reading. I'd like to add in some National Geographic shows (available on Disney+) and hopefully be able to see some of the virtual field trips and virtual national park tours during our time off together.
For my own classes, I've made it a personal mission to finish my lesson planning for the rest of the year while I'm off. This would be SUCH a weight off my shoulders, so I'm really pulling for myself to get it done! I've done a little bit here and there this week, and it helps that I've been able to use some of these weeks that I've already planned out and bump those plans into April. Aaron is off tomorrow so I really do plan to use a chunk of time to nail some things down and create my PowerPoints (I have lots of outlines right now). I'd ambitiously like to finish everything tomorrow. I feel as though that would give me the mental permission I need in order to relax and further enjoy my time off.
We had planned to take a trip down to our family beach town. We rented an airbnb way back in early January and we were SO looking forward to this trip. However, with the hit of the pandemic in our part of the country, and not wishing to be stranded in a remote town during this ordeal, we chose to reevaluate our plans. Airbnb offered full refunds to people who booked within a certain date range for a certain trip time frame. We fell into their categories and were able to get our money back. The host of the house we had booked was so accommodating and kind. I told her that we plan to book the exact same place in early summer (depending on how quickly the virus dissipates).
Although I'm certainly an expert at burdening myself and checking the news stories too much during the day, I'm going to make a conscious effort from here on out to limit my time online and to take photos of my kids (with my phone and with my nice camera) and join in their games and really work on those memory creations. I bake when I need to relax but I'm worried I'll run out of supplies, so I might try to make a morning store-run tomorrow while Aaron is home so I can get some baking supplies to sustain us.
Wherever you are, I wish you peace and the hope that things will get better and that we'll all come out of this more appreciative of our daily routines and comforts.
Until Next Time,
Much Love, Reba
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