Archives for August 2011

Summer bucket list (concluded)…

Remember that summer bucket list I made a few months back? Just checking in to see how I did….

Summer Bucket List (concluded):

1. Read, read, read!

2. Cook some new recipes with fresh local foods.

3. Visit Kprime in NYC.

4. Find a way to organize my mail. There are envelopes everywhere!

5. Neaten up my closet and get rid of clothes I don’t wear. Take some to the consignment shop and some to the thrift store.

6. Use my $50 gift card I won from The Boston Day Book! Thanks again, Natalie and Melissa!

7. Get into a yoga routine to get back in shape.

8. Take long walks a few times a week.

9. Find a fun DIY project to try my hand at.

10. Find an apartment for September. Hardwood floors, ample light, big windows, gas stove. Hopefully beggars can be choosers too. I’ve been spoiled by my last two apartments!

11. Look for pretty throw pillows for my new couch!

12. Ditch my car and take the train as much as I can.

13. Head up to the beach to feel the sand in my toes.

14. Dance the night away at two fabulous weddings.

15. Visit the farmer’s market once a week.

16. Plan a weekend getaway with my high school girlfriends.

17. Spend a weekend (or two!) up in Maine with Hannah!

 

18. Put some new and updated photos into my frames.

19. Visit yard-sales on the weekends for cheep deals.

20. Use my groupon to take a photography course.

21. Use my camera as much as I can to capture the beauty in the little (and big) things around me.

22. Watch Grey’s Anatomy, Season 7. Hulu, baby.

23. Hike Mt. Washington in NH. And take pictures at the summit!

24. Spend a weekend at the Farmhouse. Ahh, the simple life.

25. Head up to the beach early with Zan to enjoy a quiet morning while he dives for lobsters!

26. Enjoy a delicious night at Toro. With yummy drinks too.

27. Explore Cambridge more. See all that Harvard Square and Davis Square have to offer.

28. Meet up with old friends in Boston.

29. Meet up with new friends in Boston.

30. Canoe on the Charles. Why not a picnic while I’m there?

 

31. Enjoy a few afternoons in Beacon Hill. And the South End. And the North End too!

32. Go on a camping trip one weekend. Maine? North Shore?

33. See Taylor Swift in concert. This Saturday!!

34. Buy fresh flowers once a week. They make the apartment look so lovely.

35. Drink good wine and enjoy sleeping in.

36. Have dinner at The Fireplace in Washington Square.

37. Make our own Sushi (we used to do this often a few years ago!)

38. Eat more fruits and veggies. Use them in recipes and enjoy them by themselves too.

39. See the last Harry Potter. I can’t believe it’s almost here!

40. Eat lots of lobster with butter. YUMMMM.

41. Discover new music. Listen lots and enjoy the lyrics.

42. Take a break from the computer more. Spend less time double-tasking.

43. Find new table top lamps and shades that I like. I’m thinking turquoise to compliment the couches.

44. Soak up my week long vacation in Chatham, Cape Cod!

45. Use lots of sunscreen and wear my adorable straw beach hats.

46. Wear white pants as often as I can. I love them!

47. Visit Syracuse and spend most of my time at my family’s camp on Skaneatelas Lake. And eat pulled pork and corn bread at the Dinosaur BBQ. And frequent Wegmans too, of course! (Happening September 10th!)

48. Be thankful for my job: That I have one that I love, that’s super fun, and especially one where I get summers off.

49. Take a nap in a hammock.

50. Drink champagne with strawberries while watching the sun set.

Well, there you have it. 31 out of 50 is pretty darn good in my book. I’ll just have the move those things that I didn’t get to to next year’s list! Happy Friday!

moving stinks! (but oh is it time).

Well, dear readers, it’s just about time for me to pack up and move my little behind out of Brookline. I’m certainly excited for a fresh start, but moving is the pits! I’ve been attempting to “pack” for the last month or so, but it feels as if I’ve been peddling and peddling and peddling without moving an inch.

I’ve given to the thrift store about a BAZILLION times trying to de-clutter my life and start a-new. You can collect a lot of stuff in 4 years if you don’t watch yourself. Trust me on this one. I know about these things. It’s a little bit of shopping, plus a little bit of gift receiving, and then of course, the frequent inheritance from one’s family members who have too much stuff in the first place and are passing their clutter-lovin’ genes to ME.

But I’m not takin’ em anymore.

Those genes can take A HIKE!

I vow to live clutter free and simple all the days of my life. I vow to live clutter free and simple all the days of my life. I vow to live clutter free and simple all the days of my life.

Anywho, in other news, still on the subject of moving– I have to be honest and let you all know I feel no sadness about moving out of my apartment. YES, I will miss Brookline dearly (oh, how I have loved it so), but this apartment has seen better days, my friends. Read on for reasons why it is CLEARLY time for us to move:

Reason #1 why it is time to move out:

At the beginning of the summer I awoke one morning to find a mouse (yes, yes, I said a MOUSE) hanging out in my bathroom. It scared the livin’ daylights out of me as I pulled back the shower curtain to start the water for my shower. Ever since then (read: 2 and a half months) I have been clapping my hands and banging on the walls as I enter the loo in the morning. It’s awe-some.

Similarly, my sister, who is without a doubt the world’s biggest mouse-o-phobe, saw 2 mice (yes 2!) one night a few weeks ago. She has barely been able to breathe in our apartment since. The first mouse she saw scurry across the living room floor, and the second mouse she actually saw in her bedroom. Her bedroom! To say it has taken over her life is an understatement. The girl jumps 10 feet at the call of her name. She will forever live in fear because of what happened to her.

Reason #2 why it is time to move out:

Our kitchen is infested with tiny little ants. They came out of nowhere and they are EVERYWHERE. I have not cooked a meal, let alone eaten a piece of toast since they arrived about week ago.

Ew, gross. You’re probably thinking we’re unsanitary or something right about now. I mean, I would if I were you. But we’re not! I swear!!

Reason #3 why it is time to move out:

(This one’s the real kicker.)

Last night, when my sister and her boyfriend were cleaning out our back storage room, they stumbled upon a BAT.

A BLACK, HAIRY BAT.

I am not lying. Not one tiny bit.

CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE THIS STUFF?! It’s literally unreal. Like, out of a horror movie or something! Right?!?!

(Me and Meg, circa 1987)

And so, if you’re wondering if I’m sad to move out of this lovely apartment that I used to call home, the answer is NO. No, no, and no again.

Goodbye and good riddance.

And especially good luck, to the next people who have to live here!

a wedding in the adirondacks.

What a perfect day! Congratulations to the wonderful couple. Thanks for having us celebrate with you! ♥♥

imagination

I stumbled upon my old copy of Anne of Green Gables while packing the other day. Oh, Anne (with an E), thanks for reminding me to use my imagination once in awhile. As I start my new year off, it’s always important to take a step back and view life through the eyes of a child. It makes teaching more fun, and makes connecting with children that much more special. Anne’s a little old for first graders, but it’s fun thinking about the different books I want to read aloud this year.

Here’s some ideas I have in mind.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle

The Chocolate Touch

The Hundred Dresses

Those are some new titles I want to try out this year. Then of course, I have my very favorites that I couldn’t live without. And no child should go through school not hearing them either (in my humble opinion).:

Matilda

Pippi Longstockings

Charlotte’s Web

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane  (my favorite)

Do you have any favorite stories for kids?? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one!