That top picture is my favorite. It speaks summer to me in this perfect way that doesn’t need any words. The mason jar and the straw add to the love language of bloggers and pinterest fanatics everywhere, and also, the light is just divine.
Le sigh. Iced coffee and summer mornings forever, please.
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So, life lately. What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Dare I even say that summer seems to be going slow? Do I jinx it? Because if we’re being honest, it’s the truth. I’m stretching things out over here as wide as I can stretch them. And I don’t know exactly what I’m doing to make it move slower, but whatever it is, it’s working.
Here’s a little more about what I’m up to currently…
D O I N G: A lot of pinning lately. It’s been a daily ritual for me this summer {sometimes more than once a day!} and it just puts me in a happy place. It doesn’t overwhelm me or make me feel inadequate as I’ve heard some people say about it. For me Pinterest is a place to curate, to find the pretty, to collect the good stuff. I don’t often plan on making the recipes I pin, and a lot of the time I wouldn’t be brave enough to wear some of the outfits either, but I love Pinterest for the visuals. I’m a sucker for aesthetics.
{I have a separate Pinterest account just for my teaching ideas, too, if you’re interested! I’ve got a ton of first grade ideas and will be adding second grade ideas, soon. This way I can stay logged on to this account on my school computer and it keeps things separate + more organized.}
L O V I N G: Goodreads. I’m keeping track of all my books read over there and it’s super encouraging to see how well I’m moving along on my 2013 reading goal {I am currently at 20 books — out of 25!}. I’ve been doing a mix of fiction and non-fiction, young adult books, a few children’s lit, and also audiobooks. I don’t think I’ve read this much since I used to ride public transportation and so I’m pretty pumped about my progress this year. YAY, BOOKS. Speaking of…
R E A D I N G: Most recently I finished If I Stay {YA, liked} and The Rules of Inheritance {Memoir, LOVED}. Right now I am in the middle of The Art of Fielding and so far, so good. I’ll let you know the final verdict once I’m all finished!
L I S T E N I N G T O: CUPS from Pitch Perfect. My summer jam. I play this on repeat practically every morning and my neighbor is probably like, “What the heck is the matter with that girl?”, BUT WHATEVER.
W A T C H I N G: Season 3 FNL. Zan and I were going wild with this for awhile, with upward of 5 episodes one night {!}… then we freaked out that it was going to end too fast so we’ve cut back on our numbers to make the glory last longer. BUT. WE. ARE. LOVING. IT. Loving! I feel like I could devote an entire blog post to Dillon, TX. Every character has such goodness, but Tami T {want to be you!} and Tim Riggins {best lines. best hair. be still. MY HEART.} are my absolute favorites. JUST AMAZING.
T H I N K I N G A B O U T: My new school. Setting up my classroom. 2nd GRADE!
L O O K I N G F O R W A R D T O: There is still so much planned for summer. My friend EE’s wedding in Maryland this weekend, my cousin’s wedding in Syracuse next weekend, a week spent at home, Skaneateles! CAPE COD! Excited about it all.
M A K I N G M E H A P P Y: Getting mail from my old students. At the end of every school year, I give out an envelope with my address on it and a few pieces of blank paper. Then throughout the summer I get to smile when the mail trickles in. I’ve gotten a bunch of letters and postcards from this year’s 1st graders (and even two from last year’s!}. Such a fun way to keep in touch and encourage and practice authentic writing, too.
Oh! Also I just ordered a new lens for my camera. 50 mm f/1.8, COME TO MEEEEE. Totally stoked !
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What about you? What’s something you’ve been up to lately? I hope your summer is going well and that you’re finding ways to make it move slowly, if that’s the way you like it. If not then keep your fall-wishing to yourself, please and thank you. We’re not even close to being ready for that sort of thing yet over here.
Happy weekend, everyone! XO
Sending your students off with envelopes & paper is such a fun idea, I would have LOVED that as a kid. I loved my first, second + third grade teachers the best of all my years.. :)
SO since my summer isn’t a totally free summer and I already took the majority of my slated time off I am RELISHING in my weekends & nights.. I have a few really good weekends coming up: lake, vineyard, the cape + NH!! woo!
Have an awesome wedding weekend!
xo L
so sweet you’ve been getting mail from your students – great way to end the school year with them. I gave Brian the art of fielding, interesting book. and long! and about tim riggins – um yes. he is just everything a man needs to be. a fantasy man.
I actually think summer is going fast :( I haven’t even made it to a beach yet. but planning a wedding does that. August is super quiet for me though, which balances how fast June was: Brian’s test, my move, his parents visit – all kept us really busy. looking forward to soaking up more of summer. while the past two days of colder weather have been a relief, it made me realize how I’m not ready at all for colder weather and I’m a summer person at heart. and I thought – Anna would know what I mean :) enjoy your weekend!
Thanks for the Rules of Inheritance recommendation – I’ll be in need of a good book soon! Also, I’m kind of jealous that you’re in the middle of watching FNL – it is the best!
Your Instagram feed is seriously my favorite. I just love everything! And the 50mm lens totally changed my life. You’ll LOVE it.
I looove a long slow summer. I would never wish it away!! It always seems not quite long enough. I have to admit I am quite jealous of your summer activities with all the free time you have! Then I remind myself that teachers work their BUTTS off during the school year. So it all evens out I guess. I’m so glad you are enjoying your summer and making the most of it!
And three cheers for a wedding in Maryland this weekend! I just went to MD for a wedding last weekend and we had the most amazing crab cakes EVER. I hope you have something crab at that wedding because MD crab is GOOOOD.
Your IG feed is a storybook I want to live in.
I really like the way you composed this post.
Gorgeous, as always!! I loooove the idea of giving your kids the stuff to mail you letters. That is certainly a recipe for the happy’s, if I ever heard one!
And I’m totally with you on Pinterest. I do make recipes and crafts that I pin, but I don’t really feel any pressure about it. In fact, that’s why it’s there…I don’t have to worry about getting to everything…it’s just sitting there for me.
I need your secret to making the summer slow down because mine is buzzing by way too fast! We’ve been having slightly cooler days here in NYC lately (70-80s as opposed to 90-100s) and its already got me in a panic. No, Fall! You wait your turn! I want to prolong the glorious sunshine as long as possible!
Love all your pictures, as usual. :) And your pins. And that song! And your book recs. Basically, just straight up Anna-loving happening over here.
You KNOW I’m one of those fall-obsessed people, so I’ll save you from all that and just say that I’m so glad summer is living up to your expectations. Your life is such a joy to be part of and I’m so glad we’re blog friends. xo!