Autumn

Well, the school year started and once again, I fell away from this blog. The beginning of the school year brings with it hope, excitement, and a ridiculous amount of work! Honestly, I don't remember doing much except coming home and going to sleep.

We're now approaching the beginning of October, one of my favorite months of the year, and I could not be more excited. After four long years living in Florida, I finally live in an area that has a distinct fall season. I cannot wait to do all of the typical autumn happenings - viewing the fall foliage, pumpkin picking, apple cider drinking, bonfire snuggling, and warm, comfort cooking. My favorite season has arrived and I'm embracing it to the fullest!

Happy Autumn to everyone else who enjoys it as much as I do!

Third time's a charm...

…Right? I have given this whole blog thing a try twice already. Each time, I have managed to keep up with the blog for a couple of months, then I fade away into the darkness not to be heard from for months. Four months, to be specific, is the length of my latest hiatus.  I have thought about writing many times since then, but for various reasons, I have not. So here I am again, trying to maintain this blog for the third time. Wish me luck!

Since it is obvious that I have not been writing during these past four months, I thought I’d fill you in on what I have been doing.  April was a busy month at work so a great deal of my time was devoted to that. During my down time, one of my good friends visited, the hubs and I visited with friends, and spent my birthday weekend in Philly and New York. He took me to see Wicked on Broadway! The show was just as amazing and spectacular as everyone has described it.

May was rather uneventful as my husband started his new job and it was my last full month of school, so we were both pretty consumed with work. We did find time to attend a wine festival and hike up Old Rag Mountain. I loved getting back to nature and the hike was just the right amount of strenuous. Unfortunately it was an extremely foggy day so we did not get the gorgeous views one would normally find on top. Guess that means we’ll just have to hike it again later!

June marked the ending of the school year – finally! While I enjoy my job most days, by the end of the school year, I am ready for the much-needed summer break. I ushered in the summer with a trip to Rehoboth Beach with a few of my ladies. It was a fantastic weekend – as college friends and sorority sisters, we reminisced about the old days while making new memories. At the end of the month, another one of my college friends [and sorority sister] came to visit for the weekend. We went out like we did in college, visited a vineyard for some wine tasting, and went to a country concert [Chris Young, Lee Brice, and Brad Paisley – Lee Brice is my fave!].  In between those two wonderful weekends, I came down with an awful summer cold that had me down for the count for a whole week. [Go figure, I work with kids all year and don’t get sick, but the second I’m away from them, I get rocked with the worst cold I have had in years.]

July was a jam packed month. We had a 4^th of July barbecue, visit from my husband’s family, attended the wedding of one of our closest friends, and made a trip to western PA to visit my family. Scattered between those two were local get-togethers with friends in the area. 

From Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Cherry Blossoms in DC, Rehoboth Beach, Virginia Wine Festival, Cherry Blossom petals blanketing the ground, Sunset at a country concert, Wicked on Broadway, Foggy hike up Old Rag Mountain, DC United game, Super moon, Vineyard in Loudoun County, VA, Junior's cheesecakes in Brooklyn, and Western PA

While the summer has been extremely busy, I still feel like I have let much of it go to waste. I think this is because most of the fun happens between Friday and Monday. During the rest of the week, I have checked a few to-do’s off of my home list, learned to cook a few new dishes, hung out with my pups, and spent plenty of time relaxing.

Now, my summer is coming to an end and I only have one more week before work obligations take over. I am determined to make it count!

It's April!

Happy April, everyone! I don't know about where you are, but here in the DC area, it is a beautiful spring day. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and I'm feeling good.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend! We spent Saturday at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey celebrating our niece's 12th birthday. It was a day filled with family, laughter, and rollercoasters! I must admit that I'm afraid I'm getting too old for a full day of thriller rides (by the end of the day my lower back was paying for all of the rollercoaster rides). Regardless, it was a fantastic day!

Sunday was spent relaxing with the husband and pups. Even though we live closer to family now, we're still too far to get together for every holiday, so there was no big Easter feast this year. Maybe, next year!

Now, I'm off to enjoy my last two days of spring break and try to finish some things on my list that I swore I would complete over spring break. (Procrastinate, much?)

Quarter Life Crisis - Part 1

Welcome to my quarter life crisis. This "crisis" is something I've been experiencing for the better part of a year now, but has really started hitting hard these last few months. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the term "quarter life crisis", many definitions are strewn across the interwebs; but for me, the term defines this turbulent time where I'm feeling completely lost, going back and forth about what I want to do, who I am, and what I want from this life, and trying terribly not to be jealous of those who seem to have it all together.

While investigating this quarter life crisis, I found this wonderful post, 25 Signs You're Having a Quarter Life Crisis. As I was reading through the list, I just kept saying "yep, that's me" in my head. It turns out that 18 out of the 25 signs apply to how I have been feeling lately. Two of my favorites are numbers 16 and 19, as follows.

"16. You see so clearly the two roads in front of you. A life of comfort and a life of risk. And you're not sure you have the right car or directions to go down either one.

19. Making a budget is completely debilitating. Even thinking about doing your taxes. Debilitating. Buying groceries. Debilitating. Doing dishes. Cooking dinner. Looking for a job. Calling your mom back. Calling your best friend back. Picking up the phone at all. DEBILI-FRICKING-TATING. So you watch four seasons in a row of ____________, while Facebook stalking exes and enemies." [source]

These two almost perfectly describe my current life experience (minus the Facebook stalking in #19, I've outgrown that phase!). Oh, and numbers 22-25 are pretty awesome as well. I won't post them here but you can read them on the original post.

So, part of my journey for this spring break is trying to navigate my ongoing quarter life crisis. Let's see how this goes...

Simple Pleasures: Spring Snow

I know many people are complaining about today's weather, but you won't hear any negative comments from me. I think the combination of snow and spring creates an exquisitely beautiful scene. Fluffy white snow covering budding branches - simply magical! Here are some photos I snapped this morning.

It's the most wonderful time....

...of the year. While it's not quite my favorite holiday season, it is a wonderful time for teachers all over the country - spring break!

Now I always enjoyed spring break as a college student but it was mostly a time to hang out with friends without that pesky schoolwork getting in the way. This year, as a teacher, I am ecstatic about the arrival of spring break. Not only do I get a break from the everyday stress of teaching (planning, grading, etc.), but I also have some wonderful plans for this much needed time off.

So what are those plans? I've developed a short list to remind me to enjoy my time, while still being productive.

Spring Break 2013 Fun List

1. Reading FOR PLEASURE

I'm sure many teachers can relate to this, but during the school year it's hard to find time to read just for the sake of reading. Usually I'm busy reading about my content, new practices for the classroom, required texts from the district, etc. So I purchased three books from Amazon last week for my reading pleasure this week. And they have nothing to do with education at all!

2. Exercising my creative muscle

Write, paint, craft, REPEAT. I have not been allowing myself to be creative like I should be, i.e. I haven't been making time for it. This week, I am scheduling time to get the juices flowing and create things.

3. Organizing my life

I know, organizing on a break? But for me, with my slight OCD, organizing all of my stuff brings calmness and order to my life, something I desperately need.

4. Relaxing

I'm talking about the most basic forms of relaxation - vegging out on the couch, watching movies/daytime television, sleeping in, and hanging out with my husband and pups. Bliss!

Hopefully, this week will be just the break I need. I will come out rejuvenated with a new fervor for life.

Anyone else on spring break this week? What are your plans for your time off?

And I'm back

Okay, I am writing again. For the past month or so, I have completely neglected my blog and any other form of writing, along with any other creative endeavor. You see, I started a job on February 1^st – my first teaching gig – and I have been a bit disheveled since then.

During the week, my days are filled with early mornings, long commutes, stressful work environments, (what seems like) endless planning and grading, and bed times of someone 3 times my age. Add to that constantly questioning my life decisions – Is this the right career for me? Can I do this for the next 40+ years? Am I being fulfilled? Am I making a difference? (All questions for discussion in a later post). By the time the weekend rolls around, I’m exhausted and unable to get my brain juices flowing to produce anything.

Last weekend, I escaped that feeling for a little while. Kings and I visited Great Falls Park in northern Virginia. Experiencing nature always calms me and helps me remember just who I am and what I want in this life. Nature brings me back to me.  However, my serene feeling was short-lived as various stressors crept in and another work week began.

Potomac River at Great Falls Park, VA

But this weekend, this weekend was good splendid. Friday evening was spent vegging out – wine/beer, pizza, and comedies. The hubs and I are both trying to have healthier lifestyles so we gave ourselves Friday night as a last hoorah (at least for a while) for greasy, carb-loaded food. Saturday we went on a shopping trip to add some much needed updates to our wardrobes (and found some great deals, I might add). Then, there is today. This morning, after breakfast, I went for a run. Even though I struggled to finish the two miles, the sun was shining, the fresh air was revitalizing, and the endorphins were flowing. Besides bathing the dogs and a few other household chores, I have done nothing else but relax, sip some wine, and collect my thoughts. It was exactly the day I needed.

So, here’s to a rejuvenation of my creativity (and blog) and figuring out my place in this majestic world.

Simple Pleasure: Snow

I love am obsessed with snow! I'm talking little kid, jumping up and down, grinning from ear to ear, every time I see snow. It's snowing tonight in Virginia and I am enjoying every minute of it.

Curled up on my couch with my pups and a glass of wine, listening to sweet tunes, and watching the snow fall. My kind of evening!

Snow brings with it a sense of magic and wonder - just what I needed!

Just keep swimming...

Yesterday, I started my new job – my first job as a classroom teacher. I’m teaching middle school science. While I was excited to finally get started,  the night before I was a complete mess, tossing and turning with “what if” scenarios running through my mind. I could not understand why I was so nervous. C’mon, I am teaching 11-14 year-olds, they cannot be that scary!

I know that the majority of my nerves stemmed from being unfamiliar with the school district, school, and curriculum. Imagine walking into a presentation without any idea of what you’re supposed to be presenting. Terrifying, I know. But, I also recognize that this will get better with time, so I decided to do my best and let it be.

Overall, my first day went well. I was able to meet all of my students and some more colleagues. I enjoyed getting to know my students a little bit and beginning to learn the general flow and environment of my new school. And so, I’m off and running, trying to be the best I can be and make a difference in my students’ lives.

Here’s to taking it one day at a time, never giving up, and striving for excellence!

Simple Pleasures: New Planner

I know that we're almost 3 weeks into the new year, but I finally got around to getting my new 2013 planner.

Call me old-fashioned, but I love using a paper planner. I like being able to have a large visual representation of each month throughout the year so that I can see everything that is coming my way.

Getting a new planner is an exciting experience for me - picking out the perfect book to accompany me throughout the year. This particular planner is the perfect format - weekly and monthly - and I loved the colors used - indigo, orange, cerulean, and camel, all wrapped together in a shiny silver binding.

Then, there is the inspiration that comes from a brand new planner. A glance at the year to come while every page is blank, just waiting to be filled by all of my adventures. I wonder what the year will bring. The new, blank planner makes me hopeful, driven, inspired, and determined to make 2013 an exceptional year.

My Goal for 2013

BE MAGICAL

My one resolution/goal for the year 2013.

I first wrote this phrase on a sheet of paper last fall when I was contemplating starting my own blog. It was the beginning of my favorite time of year - autumn and the transition to winter. This time always seems to bring about whimsy and enchantment - a sense that anything can happen and that everything has just a bit more sparkle.

Well, I have come to realize that this can be true year round. With the right attitude and priorities, life on this planet is magical everyday. Being the planner that I am, I have developed a few objectives to help me achieve this goal.

Create more. Writing, painting, crafting, cooking - all ways to express myself while producing something (I love the feeling of a finished project!)

Go outside. Over the four years I spent living in Florida, I became all too familiar with indoor air. Long periods of extreme heat and humidity left me with no desire to experience the great outdoors. Despite this feeling, I cherish nature and draw pure joy from spending time immersed in it. Marvelous moments are waiting to be discovered everywhere if we will just get out and explore. The great outdoors is good for my soul.

Love me. I have certain things that are secret obsessions of mine. These obsessions are known to very few because I've always been slightly embarrassed  by them. I have finally decided to embrace my quirky/silly/odd interests because they are me. By continually hiding these fascinations, I have hid part of me. I am ready to embrace all of me and start loving me, regardless of others' opinions.

Give more. This isn't just monetarily - actually the monetary givings will likely remain about the same. I want to give more of my time to others - through volunteering, conversing with loved ones, taking my pups for long walks, cuddling on the couch with the mister, etc. Too often I waste time doing insignificant tasks when my time would be better spent giving to others.

I believe the combination of these four objectives, coupled with a sunnier outlook on life, will help me realize how truly magical my world is.

What are your resolutions this year?

xoxo,
Alli J

National Bird Day

Did you know that today, January 5th, is National Bird Day? I did not know this until I saw a post from one of my favorite wildlife refuges. However, I absolutely love birds. They are these amazing creatures exuding grace, beauty, and intellect. My fondness of birds combined with my admiration of love stories made the theme of my wedding, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird." (quote from a favorite flick - The Notebook)

In honor of National Bird Day, here are some pictures of birds that I have taken recently.

Bluebird - taken in my backyard in Florida

Baby geese - taken in Nashville

Blue jay - taken in Nashville

Chickadee - taken at my grandparents' in northern PA

Great Blue Heron - taken in Destin, FL

Hope you enjoy the pictures! Do you share my affection for birds or does another animal pull your heart strings?

It's 2013!

Happy New Year! I hope you had a fabulous new year's eve with people you hold dear to your heart - I know I did. I was back in Philadelphia - the city that continuously calls me home - with some of my best friends and my husband; what more could a girl want? 

View of the Philly skyline from the Vine St. Expressway

While our night out on the town was a blast, I have come to the conclusion that I am over the club/bar scene for NYE and would much rather spend the evening at an intimate house party with close friends/family. I think that's how I'll be spending my new year's eves from here on out.

Cheers!
Alli J