LADDventure

It's Not Fair

There's always a whole lot of "not fair" in the world.  Some weeks, not fair seems to take up residence in your little corner of it, and you are struck with how supremely unjust something seems.  How can this be?  Why me, why us?  The irony of a situation smacks you in the face and coincidence taunts you.

But then things like Monday happen in Oklahoma, and you are reminded that there is no such thing as fair.  Or you're faced with something awful, and suddenly fair doesn't matter.  It can't.  If it did, you would sit in the dark and run circles in your head about the injustice of it all.  Instead it forces you to live, and suddenly beauty becomes more beautiful as you step outside yourself.  You are no longer waiting for something to happen to you or reeling in the dark when it does.  I'm reminded sometimes that things are terrible and beautiful and difficult and magical all at the same time, and it's just actually called life.  I want to live mine with this kind of perspective...

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/9NjKgV65fpo&source=uds

Wordless Wednesday - The Great Outdoors

Time To Whoop a Can

Last Sunday, our pastor gave a talk about the need for breathing room in life.  He started with a story of wrestling with his four year old son.  He said one day they were rough housing on the trampoline in the backyard, when his son kneeled on his chest and said, "Dad, now I'm gonna whoop a can on you!"  The little guy had obviously missed some important words in that famous phrase, but his dad got the gist.

He said, there are seasons in life when you just have to "whoop a can." But, he then went on to talk about the need for breathing room.  He defined breathing room as the space between your current pace and your limits.  So often we push ourself to the limits day after day, and his point was that if your "whoop a can" season is more than just a season, it might be time to reevaluate things and give yourself some breathing room.  If you are going and striving and slaving all the time, you are not enjoying your life as you should be, and there is no margin.  You've left no room for relationship and rest, and we can't sustain that.

I could so relate.  A year ago, my life had been all "whoop a can" and no breathing room.  Teaching was taking over my life and leaving me no room for creativity, relationships, or rest.  So, I made a big change.  I walked away from the job I had always loved, but that now wanted more than I was willing to sacrifice, and decided to take a breath and pursue writing full time.

So I've been breathing, and resting, and dreaming and creating.  I breathed myself right into a book project about teaching ironically, and now I actually have to write said book.  I have already learned so much this first month. There are words growing on the page. They're not great yet, but they're words. The process of writing a book is requiring me to find that can that I shoved way deep in a closet, open it, and start the whooping, and it's a challenge. The difference from a year ago though, is that now I have the breathing room and energy to do it. Sometimes you have to let go of some things and breathe for a bit to get to the next big thing.

Thankful Thursday - More

I have some major stuff on my heart and mind today.  This morning, I was just mindlessly watering flowers and starting laundry, when a conversation surprised me with messy, complicated feelings of wanting more in certain areas.  As usual, I find the cure for the sometimes painful yearning for something more or something different, is noticing what you have right now.  So today, as I often do on Thursdays, I'm noticing these things and just being thankful for them...

• Mr. Ladd, who I adore, and who is always striving with me to grow closer & stronger
• Red Rover Ale and Rampant I.P.A. on the patio with twinkling tea lights in mason jars
• Mico and Buddy, my quirky little fur babies, who keep me smiling and scolding daily
• Flowers, herbs, and vines overflowing in a pile of color in my backyard
• Watermelon Feta Salad with garden mint and sharp red onion
• New friends, fresh conversations, and next steps
• Summer waiting around the corner with blueberry mojitos and friends poolside
• Trips planned to catch up with Wisconsin in July and Jeep through Colorado in September

Favorite Finds

I have kind of a running list of things that I adore.  It's getting pretty full, so I think it's time to share.  I'm not getting paid to promote any of this, I just am really excited about all of these things.  Here's what I'm loving as of late...

At Target

We have a Super Target close to us.  I do most of our grocery shopping there, which is a great excuse to be at Target at least once a week!  Here's a look in my cart.

Wishbone Light Buffalo Ranch
This dressing is great on salads, but my favorite is just to use it as a dip for celery sticks.  It's like wings without the guilt.

Method Tomato Vine All Purpose Cleaner
This stuff is like a garden in a bottle.  It smells incredible and is great for cleaning the kitchen counters.  Plus it's all natural with no harsh chemicals and the bottle is pretty enough to just leave out on the counter.  It's a seasonal limited addition kind of thing, so hurry!  I've been stocking up like mad.  Today it was on sale for $2.66 and I had a $1 coupon today so get in my cart you glorious summer in a spray bottle!

Threshold Organic Blankets
I bought the one in Clownfish Orange, for the guest bedroom, but I really want to get one of each color.  They are the perfect lightweight cotton alternative to a big comforter here in Arizona, and I love the herringbone texture.

Dreyer's Outshine Fruit Bars in Lemon
These are only 2 points on Weight Watchers, and taste like those lemon chills at fairs/carnivals (or if you're from southeastern Wisconsin, Six Flags Great America or Summerfest).

Revlon ColorStay Foundation
As I get older more mature, I'm realizing I need to use foundation regularly to even out my skin tone and provide a good base.  Before it's always just been maybe a little tinted moisturizer and face powder and good to go.   But, lately I've been using Revlon ColorStay Foundation for combination/oily skin (in Warm Golden now that I have a tan), which has a great matte finish for fully made up days or nights out.  I am still experimenting with BB creams and primers for a less made up look (more on that another time)  because it is definitely a full coverage makeup.  But, it  hides shine, spots and wrinkles all day without feeling too cakey or heavy.  It also photographs really well, as I am the queen of the shiny forehead photo otherwise.  They do make another formula for normal/dry skin which has a bit of a satin finish to it for less greasy folk, but I definitely need the matte.

Revlon ColorStay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain
Ok friends, I tried this on Hollywood Housewife's recommendation the other day.  I am now obsessed - as in I picked up two at Target to try, and had to go to Walgreens later that same day to get 2 more colors obsessed.  I'm usually a lip gloss kind of girl, but sometimes that's just too sticky for me, and often not enough color when you want something kind of bold.  Lipstick seems like too much color sometimes, and I really don't like the texture or way it wears.  This stain is the consistency of a nice moisturizing balm, but with tons of color.  It's also a great way to try bolder colors without looking like a clown. 

On Pinterest

 

Can I just tell you that Pinterest makes me a better person?  No exaggeration.  Now, a lot of my time is wasted on Pinterest, and it can make you feel inadequate if you let it.  But, overall I am far more creative, and life is easier because of Pinterest.
 
Baked Artichoke Chicken
This seems way fancier than it is, but you just throw everything in one pan and stick it in the oven; easy and tasty.

Southwest Quinoa Salad
Absolutely delicious and it is really a filling, hearty, fresh meal.  We had it warm, but it was even better cold the next day.  Perfect for summer!

Confetti Chicken Pasta with Spicy Cream Sauce
I had Mr. Ladd just grill up a few chicken breasts that were marinated in italian dressing and then used half of them for this and half of them for chicken salad the next day.

Breakfast Ham Cups
Everything good about breakfast in convenient, easy to personalize, great to cook for a group little cups.

A Box of Sunshine 
I have now sent out 3 of these boxes of yelow as gifts.  It is so fun to collect all the sunshiny goodies, and it's the perfect gift coming from Arizona to chillier parts of the country.  Such a sweet way to let someone know you are thinking of them.

How about you?  Have you tried any of these?  What are you obsessed with currently? Do share!

Dear Teacher

This time last year I was unwrapping sweet little gifts from my second graders and collecting sweaty fistfuls of flowers in a water bottle vase.  It was Teacher Appreciation Day, and the most meaningful gifts I received were just the ones that let me know that the work I was doing mattered to somebody.  I believe feeling appreciated is really all about feeling seen.  This year, I am removed from the classroom and working on a book about teaching, but I have something to say to teachers everywhere today.

Dear Teacher,

I see you.  I see that you are exhausted, because every single person you come in contact with throughout the day needs something from you. I see you limping toward the finish line of the school year on caffeine and a prayer.  I see you buying those crayons, glue sticks, books, and even paper with your own money.  I see that every August you swear you're not going to spend so much, but each year you can't resist redecorating your classroom to make it home for your students. I see that when the bell rings at 2:35, or 3:05 or 3:50, your day is not even close to done.  I see you keeping 25, 30, even 40 kids alive and well and learning something every day.  I see that those kids are nothing compared to the adults you deal with every day.  I see you documenting, modifying, and analyzing, while motivating, comforting, and counseling.

I see all of these things, and this is what I want you to know:  Know that you have made a difference, even when you feel like all you've made it through is another day.  Know that for some of your students, you are all they have.  Know that sometimes kids don't get what's best for them for reasons out of your control, and that your best within the situation is good enough.  Know that you will never convince everyone of how hard you work, and you don't need to.  Know that a sense of humor and a nap are invaluable.  Know that your health, sanity, and family matter most.  Protect them.  Know that for every upset parent, manipulative politician, or hindering administrator who makes you the problem, there is a grateful community member like me who sees you and appreciates you.

Thank You,
Me

Wordless Wednesday - Dog Friend vs. Cat Friend

http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/4fsSAPyHxJI&source=uds