273. End of the day snack

Almond milk with Oreos.  I really regret the day that I learned Oreos were vegan.

And these are Double Stuf kind, too.  I wonder why Nabisco doesn't know how to spell stuff.  Did they let the elves do the spell checking?  Or does having one less 'f' make it more marketable?   It makes it less appealing to me -- but these were the ones on sale and in the end, saving a little money mattered more than a misspelled word.

272. Puppy dog eyes

I just can't turn that dog down when she looks at me that way.  Besides, I didn't really want that cookie.

271. Sweet

An assortment of jellybeans was our reward after running errands.  My favorite flavor is toasted marshmallow.  What is yours?

270. "I used to believe in forever but forever is too good to be true." ~ Winnie the Pooh

A beautiful day that could last forever.  I could sit outside all evening and recover from the chaotic day -- and I just may.

On a positive note, unplanned fire drills always add some excitement!

269. "A change in the weather is sufficient to recreate the world and ourselves." ~ Marcel Proust

We finally had some slightly cooler weather.  Julia and I came home and spent some time in the yard.  It was nice being outside in the nice weather.

268. Nightly ritual

She loves making her lunch but not as much as she loves decorating her lunch bag.

267. "The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play." ~ Dr. Seuss

Looking out the window, it feels colder than it is.  The rain has been a welcome respite from the unrelenting heat.

Last night, I went to the school board meeting.  It was my turn to go and I wasn't looking forward to it.  As I was sitting waiting for the meeting to begin, I looked over and saw a face that felt familiar.

Her name popped in my head and as we looked at each other and I said, "Ashley?"  She nodded yes.

Years ago, early in my move to administration, Ashley's family moved to my school district.  Ashley was a little thing with enough anger packed inside her to fill a grown man.  She clawed and growled her way through 1st grade until we were finally able to get her tested and placed in a special program for kids with severe emotional behavioral issues.  

I've thought of Ashley many times over the past eleven years.  But last night she looked so different than my memory of her.  She was happy and smiling.  I jumped up and gave her a hug.

As the board meeting started, the superintendent called out her name.  Ashley was being recognized for an award as a senior in high school.  When her current principal went to stand with her for the picture, she stopped the photographer and pointed to my former principal and me.  She wanted us in the picture with her.

My heart was so full.  She is a success story.

Best school board meeting ever.

266. Before ballet

Rushed home.
Finished homework.
Changed into dance clothes.
Took a few minutes to blow bubbles.

Ah, Monday.

265. Finding Fall

It may be the first day of fall but it was still muggy and warm.  Fall in south Georgia doesn't really seem to kick into gear until late October.  It'll be here soon though I'm ready for the break in the heat now.

A few leaves are beginning to change.  Just a few.

Happy Fall, y'all!

264. Tabula Rasa

A brown sign in a field.  I can think of a lot of things I'd like to paint on it.

263. Cereal for supper

After I ate chips at the engagement party tonight.

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262. “It’s human nature to start taking things for granted again when danger isn’t banging loudly on the door.” – David Hackworth

Sometimes I take the morning sun for granted.  Today, I didn't.

261. Hump day happiness

We went to a book fair after school.  She said it was awesome.
Jeff came home with a new truck.  She said it was awesome.  Then she named the truck Daisy.
We went to eat Indian food with friends.  She said it was awesome.
We came home to read and tuck her in bed.  She says the book is awesome.

She cheered like a cheerleader as she got into bed.  She is the awesome one.

260. Bored

Not really bored now but I was earlier today.  I got up at 3 something to get dressed and drive 3 hours in the dark to an educational conference in a freezing coliseum (why do conferences have to feel like the Arctic?).  My hopes were that I'd bring back great stuff for my teachers to use to help students.  There was a lot of data (math is hard) and not as much *stuff*.

Oh, well.

After the conference was over, I drove straight home just in time for the sun to set.   It wasn't a totally wasted day but it could have been a lot shorter.

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259. In my bag

A little notebook
Reading glasses
Two cell phones - one personal the other for work
Olioclip
Camera
Wallet
Checks
Lipstick
Lip gloss
Hearing Aid batteries

By the way, I love that Jill-e camera bag/purse.

258. It rained and then the sun came back out again

We had a quiet Sunday.
Hung out in pjs for a while.
Went on a run.
Julia and I went with my mother and sister to see Planes (loved it).
Leftover pizza for dinner.

This is what I love about weekends.

257. The calming powers of cooking

I love to cook -- especially when there is time to experiment and play around.  If I am cooking alone, I plug in my audiobook or turn on some music and just get lost in the moment.

Recently, I found a recipe for smashed potatoes -- red potatoes boiled until easily pierced with a fork and then smashed on a baking sheet with the potato smasher (that was the fun part). Be sure there is plenty of olive oil on the baking sheet so the potatoes won't stick.  I added rosemary, garlic, kosher salt, ground pepper, and olive oil to the tops and roasted them for about 20 minutes or so.  

As we ate supper, Julia said, "You know, I'm digging these potatoes."  She makes me smile.

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256. Waiting for someone to get out the people food

Julia and I were reading and hanging out in my office.  Mili moved from the office to the kitchen and then kept turning around for us to notice.  I think she was hungry and didn't want to eat her dog food.

She got her people food when the man came home.

255. In the drive through

She was singing loudly to a Taylor Swift song.  Mean.  She wants to sing that song to some people who used to be in her life.

I love this empowered girl!

A Day in the Life

For one day, I took at least one picture per hour.  This was the result.

5:04 a.m.

Trying to get my eyes opened.

5:22 a.m.

Blow drying with the diffuser.

5:35 a.m.

Breakfast and a cup of ambition.

6:00 a.m.

Waking up the girl.

7:03 a.m. 

We hit a little bump in the road (figuratively).

7:04 a.m.

Heading into work.

8:15 a.m.

Texting my boy.  He lives in Brooklyn, NY and works for a non-profit organization that provides services to firemen.  

8:50 a.m.

I love when students love to read.

9:05 a.m.

Heading down the hall for some teacher observations.

9:44 a.m.

Hand over hand.

10:36 a.m.

Paperwork time.

10:49 a.m.

Happiness!  She is so excited about learning to walk.

11:20 a.m.

An early lunch before some tense meetings.

11:48 a.m.

Dealt with a troublemaker.

12:05 p.m.

Walked the campus.

12:19 p.m.

One minute before the tense meeting.  I need chocolate.

1:40 p.m.

Coffee break.

2:43 p.m.

Sending them home.

2:59 p.m.

My desk drawer.  Organized chaos.

3:38 p.m.

I had a doctor appointment today.

4:25 p.m.

Before I leave the exam room.

5:03 p.m.

Julia!  She is happy.

5:10 p.m.

Geese.  We turned around to take their picture.

5:22 p.m.

Home!

5:26 p.m.

Homework time

6:08 p.m.

Beginning supper.

6:48 p.m.

Simmering supper and de-stressing me.

7:34 p.m.

Watering the garden.

8:29 p.m.

Night night

254. 3:38 p.m.

I had a doctor appointment today.

253. Morning fuel

A couple of months ago, I discovered how to make chia seed pudding -- and now I am addicted!  It is the one food that seems to keep me full until lunchtime.

Recipe:
1 to 1 1/2 tbsp chia seeds (I order them from Amazon)
1 small banana
1 cup almond milk
1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
1 tbsp PB2 (powdered peanut butter - also ordered from Amazon)

Blend it up (or you could just mash up the banana and stir) and let sit overnight.  You can change up the sweetener, add regular peanut butter, add cinnamon, or more to alter the taste.