What's Saving My Life Right Now

Even in winter, we still get glorious sunsets out our back door.
I just don't always step out in the cold to take a photo.
This one was from October. 

Tomorrow is the half-way point of winter. I'm joining with other bloggers to knock out those winter doldrums and share what is helping me get through these gloomy, cold days of winter. Maybe one of the things listed below will be just the thing to get you through the rest of these 6-7 weeks of winter. I'll be linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy and others. Be sure to check out the link up HERE, on Friday, February 2, 2018, to see what's is saving our lives this winter.




I saw "The Greatest Showman" over Christmas break and I am OBSESSED! Oh my gosh, I had goosebumps through the whole movie. I couldn't wait to find the soundtrack on Spotify and listen to it on repeat. I've also watched all kind of making-the-movie videos. It truly is an amazing film and I'll be buying it the second it goes on sale! My favorite songs....."This is Me" and "From Now On". Hugh Jackman wowed me in Les Miserables but I was speechless after this performance.

A few years ago my husband gifted me a flower delivery every month. He has continued it and that delivery of flowers brightens my day. They usually last 1-2 weeks depending on the arrangement and make me feel special no matter what time of year it is, but especially in the winter.




Our daughter asked for this Hair Brush Straightener for Christmas and I watched it on Amazon for several weeks and the price never budged, then Ulta ran a special right before Christmas with free gifts with purchase and I snagged it. The BEST GIFT EVER. Is it terrible that I use it maybe more than she does??? I love it. I can be done straightening my hair in like 1 minute....seriously. My hair is thin so I can pretty much make one trip around my head and I'm good. Our daughter's hair is thicker and longer so it takes her a bit longer, but way shorter than if she used a straightening iron and much less frizzy. It's a win! Incidentally, it is cheaper now on Amazon than what I paid for it before Christmas.



I'm really trying to reduce my soda consumption. When I was subbing for 13 weeks, I got into a bad habit of having a 20oz soda a day. The machine was right there and it has my favorite....Cherry Pepsi...always stocked up. So, now I try to just treat myself once a week or so. Instead, I'm back to drinking La Croix or Zevia. They are perfect for that bubbly fix when you are tired of plain water. No sugar...no aspartame.

I reviewed Adagio Teas a few months ago, HERE. I loved all their flavors, but they are looseleaf teas. It was new to me and I didn't have a good set up for steeping them without the leaves and herbs slipping through into my mug. Then I found it! I love this mug set. It's perfect for steeping looseleaf tea and I have had it way more often than I would have before I found this mug.



I bought this journal for myself for my 45th birthday. I realized if I kept it every day for 5 years I would have a collection of happy moments to take me to my 50th birthday. Especially with our two sons graduating this year and next and our daughter shortly after, I knew there would be moments I wanted to be intentional about remembering. I keep it on my nightstand and have written in it every night since October 2017. It's great because there is only enough space to write a couple sentences. That's it. Every day I'm forced to find something great or some bit of happiness to remember. So, far, I've been able to find a bit of joy in every day.

Sometimes to get through winter, you gotta have a little laugh. The WTF Weather app is just that. It's snarky, rude, and crude (uses swear words often), but I love it. It makes me laugh when I check the weather. I can't wait to see what it says about our crazy spring/summer stormy weather here in Iowa.

Finally, I chose my #OneWord for 2018 and I'm really trying to keep it in the forefront of my mind. See my post HERE if you missed it earlier this year. I spent several hours last night sitting next to our Senior going through college scholarship applications. College. Scholarship. Applications. It's real and it's happening and I am focusing on EMBRACING the journey. My mom just recently gave me a bag full of "my stuff" that they found in the back of a closet. It was full of my college applications, early college visit materials, and paperwork from my first year of college. Oh, my! It made me stop and think about how my parents must have felt sending me off....the costs...the distance...all the unknowns. I wasn't their first child, but I was a late-to-the-family baby and I was the only one to go to college. So, I stopped to think about how my mom felt and then...I called her. We had a really great chat about how she felt and how I'm feeling about all the overwhelming paperwork and emotions. It was the perfect time for her to find that sack of papers and the perfect time for me to go through them.

What Was Saving My Life Last Year

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The 10 Most Popular Posts from 2017

2017 was a busy year on the blog as far as visits were concerned. I think it was the year of most visits to the blog and for a variety of posts. I was surprised to see which posts were the most popular and surprisingly, not all of them were book related.

2017 was also the year the I wrote the least amount of posts, 119. The last time I had fewer posts than that was my first full year of blogging in 2008. But, I would like to think that even though I had fewer posts, my content was much improved. I can tell that my writing style has changed over the years and my posts are definitely prettier.

I'm so thrilled that I have a space to write and people that read it. Thank you to each one of you readers that take time out of your busy lives to read anything that interests you here in my tiny little corner of the internet.

So, without further ado...

Top Ten Most Popular Posts from 2017.

1- Product Review: Brazilian Hammock Chair

Every once in awhile, I have the chance to review products and this was my most popular post of 2017. I am guessing it got quite a bit of promotion from the company, but either way, it was a much-viewed post. The hammock is a great asset for readers to get cozy and read outside during the summer. Our daughter loved sitting and swinging in it. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a chance to sit in it last summer.

2 - Product Review: Stainless Steel Water Bottle

I still use this water bottle today. I like it a lot and apparently, it got a lot of promotion from the company as well. I would still recommend this water bottle to anyone looking for a water bottle that keeps your water closed and has a no-spill lid.

3 - Children's Book Review: Two Presidential Books from Time for Kids and National Geographic Kids

I am so fortunate to be able to promote children's books and especially the quality books I frequently receive from Time Inc and National Geographic. They never disappoint.

4 - Children's Book Review: Freddy the Frogcaster and the Flash Flood

This children's book got a lot of traffic on Twitter mostly because the author is Janice Dean of Fox News. But, it was also timely due to the crazy weather that was happening all over our country. It is a well-written book that gives children important information without scaring them.

5 - Celebrating iRead Book Tours 3 Year Anniversary

I often join in on book tours to help promote a new book or author. I haven't joined in for awhile because of my schedule, but if I do join, this company is one I frequently join. The book tours with iRead are always well-organized and great books I maybe wouldn't have necessarily heard about. I was happy to help promote their 3 year anniversary. Since this was cross-promoted and had a giveaway attached, I am sure that helped my numbers.

6 - My Favorite Books of 2016

This includes a great round-up of my favorite books including fiction, thrillers, non-fiction, historical fiction, and children's books.

7 - Children's Book Review: History Series from Carole P. Roman

Roman writes a fabulous children's non-fiction series that I regularly feature on the blog. This particular post got a lot of visits and I'm not sure why this one over others except that it included three new additions to her series.

8 - Children's Book Review: Animal Bites Books

This was a giveaway post (now closed) and also part of my promotion for Children's Book Week so that may be why it received a lot of visits. But, also, this is an excellent series of non-fiction children's books from Animal Planet. It's a favorite when I take it into the classroom.

9 - New Books from March 2017

Every month I share all the books that arrived over the course of that month on the blog. I'm not sure why this particular monthly round-up of books was so popular, but I'm guessing it has to do with some sort of social media promotion. A lot of times if an author sees you posting about their book, they are likely to promote it as well. It is a great round-up of books though!

10 - Book Review: Navigating Indieworld by Julie Gerber and Carole P. Roman

This book is a must-read for writers who need help navigating the publishing process. Roman and her daughter have given all the tips for those authors who may want to look into the self-publishing route.  I'm even mentioned in the book as a go-to blogger!

Two bonus posts that were too close in numbers not to mention:

What is Saving My Life Right Now

Half-Way through the winter, it's fun to share what is helping us get through the long cold, dreary days of winter.

Currently 4.18.17

It's fun to shake it up once in awhile and write a different type of post. This one gave you a peek into what was going on in my life personally. It's fun for me to look back through the post and be reminded of what was happening 9 months ago.



Many other posts were very close in numbers to these and I'm just in awe that my posts are even read, let alone by hundreds and thousands of readers. I'm so thankful that I have a place to share about books, about things I love, my family, and any other tidbits of life I think you might enjoy. This blog brings me joy and I hope it brings a bit of joy to you as well. Thanks for reading!

No Posts - I'm on Vacation

Statue of Liberty
photo credit: bmward_2000 Liberty via photopin (license)

The kids and I left early yesterday morning for our band/choir trip to DC/NYC. We are super excited to arrive in Washington DC today and spend the next 8 days exploring two of our greatest cities in America. We have lots of amazing sites to see and the students get to perform at Lincoln Memorial, at a church in China Town and various other spontaneous performances.

Korean War Memorial
photo credit: U.S. Army Korea (Historical Image Archive) Korean War Memorial, Washington D.C., USA, February 2009 via photopin (license)

I am most excited about touring the war memorials in DC, especially the Korean War Memorial. I've been to DC, but I was a young child and didn't appreciate all the amazing memorials then as I do now.

We will be seeing "Wicked" and "The Lion King" on Broadway and I am pumped about both of these shows even though I've seen "Wicked" already. I am also really excited about Ellis Island. I've been to NYC as a child and as an adult, but haven't made it out to the island.

The best part will be experiencing it all with our kids and some of my favorite mom friends!

There will be no more posts this week, but I'll be back later next week with some awesome reviews to share! I'll have tons of bus-riding time to read!!

Summer Brings Joy and Sadness

Today begins the glorious days of summer for our family. This year we have a bountiful 88 days of summer. Now, of course, a good number of those days include drumline practice, cross country runs, and other various camps. But, for the most part, we have a pretty low-key summer ahead of us. I can't wait. I miss reading for hours and lounging on the back porch. I miss listening to the birds chirping and smelling the flowers. I miss cool summer evenings with friends and nights around the bonfire.  I can't wait to experience all the joys of summer with my family.

Unfortunately, the joy is surrounded with sadness. This week, I was shattered by the news that my dear friend, Patrice had died suddenly. She was one of the first people I met when we moved to this small town 13+ years ago and we became fast friends. She was also our town librarian, so, of course, we had lots to talk about. Last night at her wake, my husband and I waited in line for two hours to greet the family and pay our respects. There were just as many people waiting when we left as when we arrived. The love for this beautiful friend of mine was wide and true. She will be deeply missed.

I used to give storytime at our library with Patrice and this photo is from one of our Halloween storytimes. It reminds me that she was always up for anything and had a deep love for children. My heart literally aches knowing I won't see her smiling face down the street or sitting at the library desk when I walk in. As a member of the library board, we are slowly trying to acclimate ourselves to the running of the library. This has changed my summer a bit as I am helping with the day to day operations of the library until a new director can be hired. It has been difficult to be in the library, but I know she would want us to keep the ship running smoothly. That's what we'll do!

Yesterday was the last day of school. Next year, for the first time, all three of our kids will be in the same building. I'll have a 7th, 11th, and 12th grader. Oh, my! With graduation looming ahead, I hope to knock out some projects related to graduation this summer. The kids and I leave June 5 for DC/NYC with the high school band and choir. Long days and many miles will be exhilarating and exhausting. I haven't been to DC since I was a child and to NYC for several years. I'm excited to experience it with my fellow band/choir moms and our kids.

Of course, I am also super excited about my summer reading list. Stop by next week to see what's ahead for my summer reading!

May your summer be full of flowers, books, birds, and laughter. Don't forget that life is short and friendships fill your heart. Take a moment today to text or call your friends and let them know you love them!

Life Here in Our Corner of the World

Patrick in Lane 1

Thanks to those of you who wished us luck and offered good wishes for Patrick's trip to the Iowa State Track Meet. It was quite the experience and one I'm sure he will never forget. Even though he didn't run his best race ever, he ran on that famous blue oval and had a blast.

He finished 21st in 3A in 10:10.45 which is a great time. I have no doubt his Cross Country and Track season next year will be full of success.

This week closes out the 2016/2017 school year for us. After this week, our focus will shift towards preparing for graduation and college for Patrick. We have numerous college visits to fit in this summer. We need to start looking at scholarship applications. I have a HUGE project list of items to work on in preparation for Patrick's graduation party. I am sure many of you are thinking...um...that is a year away. But, if I am anywhere as close as busy next school year as I was this year, I have to do as much as I can this summer. Thankfully, I have a pretty light summer. I will be joining the band/choir students on their trip to DC/NYC in early June and then after that, I'm free to run my own schedule pretty much. After last summer of the major house remodel taking over our lives, I am frankly, quite thrilled to have a peaceful, relaxing summer.

Yesterday, we watched many special students graduate. So many of these students feel like part of our family and I will miss seeing them in the halls and having them in our home. Kelsey is very special to our family and we look forward to seeing all that her future holds! Congrats Kelsey!

Next week I'll be sharing the books that arrived in May and what I am excited to read this summer. I'll also give an update on the two reading challenges I'm in and what I have left to read to complete them. I can't wait to get back to reading and reviewing books. I've missed it, but when life is full, something has to drop to fit in what is important at the time. I also have a couple product reviews to share with you and they are both items you might want to have this summer!

As always, thanks for waiting for me to bring you more books and letting me share a bit about our life here.

Currently....4.18.17

It's been a bit quiet on the blog lately. As the co-chair of our post-prom things got pretty hectic for me. Then, once prom was over, I needed some recovery time. I did a lot of resting and finishing up some loose ends. All I have left to do is send out final thank yous and get the prom binder ready for the next group to take over. Post Prom was a huge success and I had such a great team working with me to make sure everything went off without an issue. It was a fun night. Here is our family with our handsome boys.

Now that prom is over, I feel like I can get back to reading and writing and I actually finished two books yesterday and am close to finishing a third. I am excited about the upcoming books on my to-read list and can't wait to get started.

I thought it would be fun to give you an update on what is happening around here. Thanks for sticking around even when I go quiet for awhile.

Currently, I am

Watching..........."Friends" on Netflix. It is my go-to show when I need to have something on in the background or while I'm doing dishes or folding laundry. I don't have to totally be tuned in because I practically know every episode by heart and they always make me laugh. For regular TV shows, all I am watching right now are "Dancing with the Stars" and "Survivor". They are the only two I make sure I watch on the DVR every week. I also try to catch up on "Fixer Upper" on the DVR when I can.

Reading................I have so many great books waiting to be read, but I've read a lot of heavy books lately, so I'm looking for something a little lighter and easier to read. I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK is one I just started and I'm loving it already. THE GARDEN OF SMALL BEGINNINGS has been getting a lot of buzz, Plus, I just love the cover! ONE MINUTE MENTORING is a short book and one I'm hoping will offer some new ideas for me in working at the school and with the various boards and committees I am on.

Listening to...........Laura Sullivan on piano. When I am working I really love to have piano music on in the background. It is calming and also helps me focus rather than listening to music with words. My favorites on her CD are Mountain Magic and Pachelbel for the Potomac.

Making...........banana bread. Our kids love this recipe.  I have a couple bunches of ripe bananas right now so I'll make up banana bread and put the rest of the bananas in individual baggies in the freezer for smoothies. I also have three cookbooks waiting to review so I'm looking forward to trying some recipes from each of them. Stay tuned.

Feeling.........emotional. Our son Patrick is 17 today. I feel like I blinked and he went from a one-year-old to a 17-year-old. Right now we are busy with track and he is having a great season so far. I can't even handle that we are talking college and future plans for him as well as senior pictures this summer. Slow. Down. Time. Please.

Planning.......... for two, weekend trips that I am taking in the next couple weeks. One is flying and one is driving. I'll be spending time with some of my favorite people that I don't get to see as often as I want so it'll be a great time. I'm also planning out what I need to read in the next several months. I am taking a trip with the school in June and then the rest of the summer is mine. I have really no obligations or commitments so I am planning lots of days reading on my porch. I can't wait!

What have you been up to lately?

 What are you reading and loving? 

This post does contain affiliate links. If you choose to purchase from those links I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com. 

What is Saving My Life Right Now

Today is the halfway point of winter. If you live where it is sunny and warm....then you likely aren't struggling through the days like the rest of us hoping for a peek at the sun and maybe a day with temperatures above 30 degrees.

Here in Iowa, the last few weeks have been foggy, dreary, rainy, and snowy. Pretty much miserable. We did have a nearly 50-degree day once, but it was so foggy that you couldn't really enjoy it. Plus we hardly have any snow where we live, so everything is muddy and dismal...not the pretty winter scene that you imagine. I've also been sick twice in the last week, once with the stomach flu and now a cold with the addition of a middle-of-the-night migraine. So, to say I'm ready for winter to be over is an understatement.

Modern Mrs. Darcy asked bloggers to brighten your day today, by sharing "What is Saving My Life Right Now". A list of things that are getting us through these short (but feel long), cold winter days.

What's Saving My Life Right Now

Books - This is an obvious one. But, what is especially helpful is that I have multiple books going at once. That way I have a book to fit every mood. Do I just want to read a couple chapters? Do I want to immerse myself in a story? Do I want to learn something? I've got a book for every mood as well as every reading location including physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks. 

My InkWell Press Planner - cLife right now is hectic. I'm gone several nights a week for basketball games, On the weekends we are attending show choir competitions. I've been subbing a lot. And I have numerous to-do lists going through my head every single day. Prom is just a little over two months away and I have so much to get ready. My planner is keeping it all together for me and making sure I don't forget anything.

This Blanket - is amazing. I could sit in the chair under this blanket all. day. long. One side is a soft velour and the other is a warm fleece. It's the best of both worlds in one blanket.

My Devotional - My friend gave this to me for Christmas and it is crazy how each day seems to apply to my life or someone close to me. The insight is calming and just what I need to hear.

Bark Thins -  A friend of mine told me about these dark chocolate goodies. I had seen them before but wasn't sure I would like them. I tried this Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconut with Almonds and was hooked. It's like eating an Almond Joy. I keep them in the van when I need a snack.

Photos by L.J. Schneekloth Photography

Watching Our Kids Perform - We are heavy into the show choir season in our house. Every weekend is booked traveling to a school to perform and then waiting to see if we made finals. If you don't have show choir where you live, then you probably don't get how awesome it is to watch these kids perform. It's one of our favorite things to watch the kids do and I just love this year's show. Even though it makes for crazy schedules and late nights, it is all worth it.

My Husband - I am so thankful that I am in a marriage that is 50/50. If I am subbing or volunteering or finishing a deadline, I know that I can count on him to make dinner, get the kids from school, do laundry, or stop at the store without question or complaint. He has always been hands on and doesn't look at roles defined by gender roles. So, when I am a little swamped, I know he has my back and things will still get done around here. Especially with me being sick lately, he has gone above and beyond to help out.


This is what is saving my life right now. Things can get pretty hectic around here, but as long as we have each other's backs and have fun, we will make it through.

What is saving your life right now? Feel free to share it in the comments!

Top Posts from 2016

2016 was a year where I wrote less than I had in past years. I found it hard to find time to write after finding the time to read. I think this year I'll focus a bit more on my writing and a bit less on promoting my writing. All the social media posts take time too and I would rather focus my attention here sharing the books I love.

 All of my most popular posts of 2016 were book related. Not a surprise since books are the focus of the majority of my posts. But, which bookish posts were the most popular did surprise me. There is a mix of new year posts, children's books, fiction, nonfiction, and cookbooks. In case you missed any of these hugely popular posts, here they are in Top Ten order.

FIRST BOOK OF 2016

Sheila at Book Journey offers a link up every year for us to share our First Book of the Year and why we chose it. I was so excited to read this book last year and unfortunately, it was one I did not finish. It didn't grab me like I hoped and I only got half-way through it before I decided I just wasn't pulled in enough to keep reading. A huge disappointment, but one I hope to avoid with this year's First Book. Click HERE to see my First Book ok 2017.

THE TEN BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2015

I still recommend some of these books when people ask me what to read. Both Alexandra Burt and Amanda Eyre Ward have new books coming out soon and I'm anxious to read them!

COOKBOOK REVIEW: LULU'S KITCHEN BY LUCY BUFFETT

These recipes are the perfect way to make you feel like it is summer when it is cold and blustery outside. Lucy Buffett's restaurants are a hit and obviously, her cookbook is too!

BOOK REVIEW: GUARDED BY ANGELA CORRELL

This was a great book and maybe having a giveaway attached with the review might have given it more coverage.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: DINING WITH DINOSAURS BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS

This was one of the many books I reviewed for National Geographic. This book is hilarious and yet teaches kids about dinosaurs. I highly recommend it!

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: WELCOME TO THE SYMPHONY BY CAROLYN SLOAN

This book is a wonderful way to introduce your young children to instruments and music.

COOKBOOK REVIEW: DINNER SOLVED! BY KATIE WORKMAN

A practical cookbook for a busy family. Katie Workman uses real basic ingredients to create delicious, simple meals and offers a "Fork in the Road" for each recipe that gives you a different option for changing up the flavor of the recipe. I also share her recipe for Honey Glazed Carrots which I loved!

BOOK REVIEW: YOU'RE ALREADY AMAZING - LIFE GROWTH GUIDE BY HOLLEY GERTH

This would make a perfect study guide for the new year. It's great for women in a season of change, a way to look at your personal strengths, and finding your purpose.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: ANIMAL ATLAS BY ANIMAL PLANET

This book covers each of the seven continents and the animals that inhabit the land there. Of course, there are gorgeous photos and lots of learning about animals that you've likely never heard of before.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

These posts were so close to making the Top Ten, I have to give them a mention:

BOOK REVIEW: ANTI AGEING FOOD AND FITNESS PLAN BY RICK HAY

Looking for a health plan for the new year? Definitely, check out Hay's plan for eating better and working out in smaller bursts.

BOOK REVIEW: GRACIE'S SONG BY MICHELLE SCHLICHER

A wonderful story of family and forgiveness from an Iowa author.

MY ONE WORD FOR 2016

I love choosing one word to focus on for the year and my word last year really worked for me. I'll be sharing about it and my new word for 2017 in a few days!

A DAY IN MY LIFE

Back in March, I joined other bloggers in chronicling a day in my life. It was fun to share my life with you and read what other's lives are like. It seems like none of my days are typical because of our schedules and my life as a substitute teacher. But, it was fun to share this day with you.


All of these posts wouldn't matter much if I didn't have readers like you stopping by. Thanks for being loyal readers and offering encouragement when I need it. I can't wait to see what posts will be popular in 2017!

Currently...

I feel like I'm been a bit out of the blogging loop lately. Summer just disappeared before my eyes and our kids have been in school for a week already. Life just keeps moving and I feel like I'm hanging on for dear life to the caboose at the end of the train. So, to bring you up to date a little bit, I wanted to share what is currently going on in my corner of the world.

I'm currently.....

Reading: THE NEW TRAIL OF TEARS



I'm finding myself constantly shaking my head over the ridiculous government bureaucracy while reading this book. What is happening to the many generations of Native Americans in our country is a mess. Reading this book won't solve the big issues facing them, but it may get people talking about what is happening. Review coming later this week.

Drinking: WATER and lots more of it from my YETI

I love having ice cold water all the time. Keeping ice water in my Yeti makes me drink more water. I take it with me everywhere. Even on these hot days, I will still have cold water in my Yeti for hours whether I'm outside, in my car, or in the house.








Waiting: For our home construction to be complete

Construction started on our home the last week of May and we are getting very close to wrapping it all up. I'm just waiting for trim, carpet, countertops and kitchen sink. Then I can start putting everything back where it belongs and start the multiple-day cleaning process.

Cheering: on both of our sons in Cross County

Patrick has been in Cross Country since 7th grade and is now a Junior. But, Bennett decided to join the team this year as a Sophomore. It's been fun having both of them out there running. It's one of my favorite parts of the school year. Cross Country is unique in that everyone cheers for all the runners no matter what team they are on. It is such a supporting and fun atmosphere. I love our Cross Country family!

Nurturing: my new succulents

I found these adorable plant holders at an antique shop and knew they would be perfect for succulents. I haven't had the best of luck, so I'm hoping these survive for me!








Dreaming: of the beaches of Pensacola Beach

I'm always trying to find a way back to this area of our country. It is my happy place and I'm hoping to go back again before the year is out.









Listening: to Podcasts
I have some new favorite Podcasts that are keeping me entertained while driving or working around the house.
Ann Bogel of Modern Mrs. Darcy is on her 37th episode of WHAT SHOULD I READ NEXT where she offers book recommendations based on the guest's previous favorites and current reads. I've added way too many books to my to-read list because of this podcast.
I loved Mike Rowe in "Dirty Jobs" and now he has a podcast titled THE WAY I HEARD IT where he shares a quick story of a famous person with a back-story you would never expect. His episodes are short, usually 7-8 minutes and are always fascinating.

Anticipating: Fall TV

We haven't had a TV in our upstairs living area all summer due to construction. So all the TV I'm really watching lately is a bit of GMA in the morning, a few snippets of the Olympics, and the nightly local news. Lame! So, I'm anxious for these upcoming Fall TV Shows.
Survivor - I'm a total Survivor Geek and can't wait for the season to begin. I've seen them all and can't wait. This season begins on September 21, 2016, on CBS. Unfortunately, I have meetings nearly every Wednesday night, so I'll always have to watch it later.
Project Runway - I've watch sporadically over the years and want to tune in this season...maybe with our daughter who loves fashion. It begins on September 15, 2016, on Lifetime.
Speechless - I am extremely intrigued by this new show on ABC that debuts on September 21, 2016. My DVR will be busy as this it likely on during Survivor. Minnie Driver is the mom in this family sitcom who fights for her family including their son JJ, who has cerebral palsy.
This is Us - I really don't know what this new show on NBC is about, but the commercial trailers have definitely gotten my attention. It debuts on September 20, 2016.

Dealing with: Post Prom

I've taken on the coordination (with another mom friend) the task of planning for Post Prom at our school. It has been a huge time-sucker for me with some complications and lots of paperwork. I wasn't expecting all the details and time it would involve. This is one of the biggest reasons I have been so quiet around here. My one statement regarding this is:

If you are asked to volunteer at your child's school, sporting event, prom, etc...please do. 

The moms that coordinate these events are just as busy as you

 and are trying to raise money/provide a fun event/support programs 

that benefit YOUR kids and can't do it without your support. 

Catching up with: I'm still reading along with the Bible in 90 Days. I'm about 20 days behind and I'm working hard at finding pockets of time to read, even just one chapter to stay with it. I'd love prayers as I work through this challenge.

I hope this gives you a look into my world and what may be keeping me from writing in the space as often as I want to. I'm hoping to get back into a groove soon with school starting and construction wrapping up soon. Thanks for understanding and always reading!

A post from today, 6 years ago - God is So Good
A post from today, 4 years ago - It's Football Season
A post from today, 3 years ago - Three Weeks

A Day in My Life

Today I'm linking up with Trish at Love, Laughter, and a Touch of Insanity for her A Day in the Life 2nd Annual Blogger Event. Numerous bloggers will all be sharing a Day in Our Lives on March 23, 2016. I think it will be a lot of fun to see how everyone spends their day.

I chose to keep track of my day on Tuesday, March 15, 2016.  It was a good example of how my days usually go because I had some time at home and some time away. So, enjoy this look into my little corner of the world in small town Iowa.

 

6:00 AM ~ My alarm goes off. I just started using the app, Sleep Cycle, to track my sleeping. It also wakes me up a little more gently than a crazy alarm does.  I am finding the information about my sleep really interesting and hope that I can find some ways to sleep better or maybe what is keeping me from sleeping. Once I'm awake, I check my phone to make sure I don't have any texts or missed calls. I'm a substitute teacher and sometimes wake up to texts or messages asking me to sub. No texts or phone calls this morning so I can go on with my original plan for the day.

6:15 - 7:30 ~ Begin waking up Patrick. He has to be at school at 7:00 for Jazz Band. Reagan gets woken up at 6:30 and Bennett at 7:00. Fortunately, my husband and I are both home in the morning to do this process together which helps a lot. Reagan has to leave by 7:30, and Bennett usually leaves at 7:45. So, our mornings are usually a little hectic getting everyone out the door. This morning it's nice because I don't have to worry about getting myself ready at the same time. I don't have to be anywhere until 2:30, so I can hold off on getting ready until later. At 7:30 my husband heads to his office after he drops Reagan at her bus.

7:45 - 8:00 ~ The house is quiet and I'm going to enjoy sipping my coffee and watching a little "Good Morning America" before I start my day. I also have several games of Words with Friends and Scrabble that I am behind on, so I play my words while watching. The above photo is our cat, Stormy. Every morning, when she hears me pour my coffee she comes running. I top my coffee with Reddi-Whip and she needs a squirt of it too. Here she is patiently waiting for her share.

8:00 - 8:45 ~ Checking email and looking for those I have to address immediately such as those from school, committees that I am on the board of, family/personal emails or book review requests. I read the school's announcements and check out some of my favorite blogs for any new posts.

8:45 - 9:15 ~ Today is like my Monday this week because I was gone all weekend with our show choir attending a competition in Chicago. I didn't get home until 10:00 on Sunday night and pretty much went straight to bed. Then Monday I was gone all day for a funeral. So, today is really the start of my week and I spent some time reworking my To-Do list and planning ahead for the week. It will be a crazy week with Spring Break and having the kids home. My schedule will revolve around them more than what I need to get done this week.

9:15 - 10:45 ~ One more quick check of email and then I'm diving into a book review I need to write. I think most people are shocked at the amount of time it takes to write a book review. I actually have started keeping track of the amount of time it takes to read and review each book. This current book I reviewed, THE GRATITUDE DIARIES, took me a total of just about five hours to read and review. Plus it took another hour of computer work to promote the review on the day it went live. So, yes, book bloggers spend a lot of time reading and reviewing books. But, we love it, so that's why we keep doing it.

11:00 - 11:30 ~ I hopped on the treadmill to finish an episode of Downton Abbey. I'm behind and need to finish the final season so I can talk about it with a couple friends! I also finished the previous week's American Idol. It makes the treadmill so much more enjoyable when I am watching something I enjoy!

11:30 - 1:30 ~ Lunch, unloading and reloading the dishwasher, and chatting with my husband since he came home for lunch, and then showering and getting ready before the kids get home.

1:30 - 2:30 ~ School is out early today to kick off our Spring Break for the rest of the week. Two of the kids are at practice and but Bennett and his girlfriend were here after school to hang out. I worked on picking up the house.

2:30 - 5:00 ~ I joined a ladies bowling league last fall. I wasn't sure I would like it, but I have had a blast with it and improved my game! I'm the youngest gal in the league, but I have met some ladies I would never have met otherwise and have lots of laughs.  Today is my last game for the season because I am subbing at school the rest of the scheduled bowling days. I bowled a 109, 107, and a 99. So, you don't have to be a good bowler to join a league, clearly those are not good scores! This wasn't my best game and I was disappointed in my bowling today since I wanted to finish strong. But, that's how the pins fall sometimes.

5:00 - 7:30 ~ My niece Laura and her two children came over for supper. I don't get to see them very often. Even though the visit was short, it was fun to play with my adorable Great-Niece and the boys had fun with their cousin.

7:30 - 8:00 ~ Picked up the house, threw in a load of laundry and did one last email check for the day.

8:00 - 10:00 ~ Laying on the couch reading, watching the election results, dozing off, and playing my words.

10:00 ~ In bed. I'll try to read a bit more, but I am exhausted and doubt I will get through more than a couple pages before I drift off. I've been reading A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN since January 1. It was my 1st Book of 2016. But, it hasn't been as great as I expected and it is going a little slow for me. Since it is written in short story format, I can read a couple and then come back to it a week later. Tonight, I doubt even the best book would keep me awake.


Even though the general flow of the day was typical some of the pieces of it were not. Actually, if I stop to think about it, none of my days are "typical" because I can get called at any time to run in and sub at the school. So what plans I have for the day, can be totally changed when a sub call comes in. But what was typical about this day is that I didn't have a single moment of reading until the end of the day. Some days it is really hard to find the time to read. So, this in a lot of ways, was a good example of how my life is hectic, but it's a wonderful life! Thanks for sharing in it!


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