Wednesday Delights

Since making my summer bucket list

I've been pretty determined to follow through

and complete at least one thing each day of summer.

Well, getting sick was not planned,

which has put a wrench in getting a few of the easy things crossed off.

(If you know me, I never get sick.  And when I do, I'm a HUGE baby!)

I admit that I haven't run once so far on this summer vacation!

Nor have I spent any time by the pool!

What kind of start to summer is this?!

However, after spending two days forced to lounge inside,

I had to get out of the house, despite my lack of energy.

I was in the mood to thrift, so Chris and I headed to 

Roseville's Antique Trove today to get a start on #16.

Much to my delight, I stumbled upon this cute juice pitcher 

for only 12 dollars and decided it had to be mine!

I just love the patterns and can't wait to fill it with a batch of fresh lemonade.

Perhaps that calls for a recipe on Pinterest,

which will allow me to start on #13!

After some time strolling among the antiques,

we headed to the bookstore next.

I'm trying to stick to my "Book a Week" plan,

so next on the list will be this one:

Said to be a modern day Catcher in the Rye

I've got high hopes for this one,

which gives me a little push of motivation

to get done with the book I'm reading now.

For being sick,

I've had a little luck on this Wednesday.

Best Summer Ever - #12 and #17

Well I guess technically summer has not yet arrived,

(especially because the weather outside is breezy and overcast)

however, my mind has been on summer vacation for a little while now.

When my students and I set goals,

I always remind them

"If you can talk the talk,

can you walk the walk?"

We always talk about how the action

is always harder than the plan.

Well, people,

my "Best Summer Ever List" is already in action!

Exhibit A:

My amazing dessert this evening!!!

I have already consumed massive amounts of 

strawberries and cantaloupe galore!

(I think I have a cantaloupe addiction.)

Thanks to my mother who always provided tons of 

summer fruit as a child.  

I'm convinced that's when the love affair began.
I won't lie.  
The cantaloupe you see above?
Yeah thats the 3rd cantaloupe I've cut up
in the last two weeks.
Nom, nom, nom!! I just can't get enough of it!

So, I suppose I won't have any trouble  crossing off #12: 

Eating a crap-TON of my favorite summer fruits - cantaloupe, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, etc!

Exhibit B:

The first book on my Summer Reading list!

Well I guess I will jump on the latest book bandwagon.

I'm not even sure I'll like it.

However, this is the first book up on my list for summer reading.

So that begins the quest to complete #17:

Reading at least 1 book for every week of summer vacation - 7 total.

I got this idea from Donalyn Miller, 

who wrote The Book Whisperer.

(one of my favorite teacher books!)

She has this awesome little challenge called

Book-A-Day,

where you read 1 book for every day of your vacations.

This includes summer, Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks.

I have to admit, I'm not an avid reader,

but I aspire to be.

So I gave myself a challenge I think I can stick to.

Well, Summer Vacation, you're almost here!

And I still have hope that this will be

The Best Summer Ever.

And I look forward to "walking the walk" 
as I post more 

PROOF

that it really was!

Stay tuned! 

new books!

I remember when I was in the credential program

I had this professor who was obsessed with literacy.

She was always so amped to share

her latest idea to hook kids into loving reading.

I always thought she was nuts.

Don't get me wrong,

obviously as a future teacher, I thought literacy was

super important and should be promoted to students.

But I never really saw what she was so excited about.

But now, two years into my teaching career,

and I'm starting to see what she was so hyped about.

There is nothing I love more than 

having discussions about reading with my kids.

I love when they ask me what I'm reading

and I love when they ask me to help them pick out a book.

I love the look on their faces when I ask them

how their latest book choice is going.

Or when I ask them if they think I should read 

their book choice next.

And I especially love the surprised looks they give me

when I tell them it's okay that they need to abandon a book.

You're actually telling me it's okay to put this book down?

Yes, yes I am.

But I'm also asking you to go find one that you won't want to put down.

---

A few months back,

I got an email from Donors Choose,

a website that helps teachers fund projects for their classrooms,

saying that many companies have been fully funding

projects and encouraged members to post a new project.

Sadly, I had already posted two projects with no success.

But I thought, eh, why not?

So I created a project called "Reading Like Its Going Out of Style."

I chose over $300 worth of books

I thought would never actually make it to my classroom.

But then yesterday,

I awoke from a well-deserved nap,

and checked my email to find a message that said

Bank of the West had fully funded my project!

I have to admit I almost even forgot I posted the project in the first place.

But I was so excited!

Afterwards, I had the best time looking through

the list of books that I had chosen.

After rereading the synopsis of each one,

I made mental lists of which students in my class

might want to read each of the books first.

But hopefully among the stacks of books that will be arriving 

will be the one that a student just can't put down.

I guess I wouldn't say that I'm obsessed

with literacy like my professor was.

I think I'm just more obsessed with

my students actually loving to read.

So hooray for acts of kindness

and hooray for new books!

inspiration

They always say "Keep your eyes on the prize."

Here are a few things inspiring me these days...

Kara Goucher - A freakin' rockstar of a runner 

and one hell of a role model. 

I only hope that one day

I can be half the runner she is!

(not to mention her amazing abs!)

She's amazing!

I can't believe that I've become

utterly sucked in

to this series.  

It's totally not my thing:

wilderness, blood, guts, loneliness.

But it's got a tough girl power heroine

who I simply adore.

And that's why I can't put the book down.

The love of my life.

 Enough said.

Yeah,

I know they suck.

And I know it's not 2002.

But I love them anyway,

and I get verrrrry grumpy

when I miss watching a game or hearing it on the radio.

Go Kings!

The best job in the whole world.

They say, if you find a job you love,

you'll never work a day in your life.

Well, I guess I'm not really working then, am I?

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely days

I come home exhausted.

But I love my job!

I love my kids; I love my coworkers;

I love my boss; I love my 4/5 team.

I love my job!

And last, but not least,

my dear ol' Dad.

Better known to me as "Daddy-O."

The best guy in the whole wide world.

The biggest Steeler fan you'll ever meet!

I can hear him halfway across the soccer field cheering,

and outside the house on a football Sunday.

A pro at a crossword puzzle,

an encyclopedia of useless (but useful!) sports trivia,

a heart of gold and an positive outlook for every situation.

He's the greatest! 

Always remember:

"Keep your eyes on the prize."