LADDventure

Summer Bucket List 2014

For me, anything after Memorial Day is officially summer, and let's face it, it's already been over 100 degrees for weeks here in the desert so it's here to stay. We still have plenty of summer left, and it helps me get through the hot months to make a list of all the fun goals I have for this long season. Plus, this will most likely be our last summer before we have kids, so it feels particularly special. Here's what's planned so far...

• Get a library card
• Visit the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Lake Michigan
• Vacation in Key West!  (Blog post coming soon)
• Go on at least three Jeep day trips (1 down)
• Go on a boat ride
• Go to a baseball game
• Get a massage
• Try a lobster roll for the first time
• Throw a big pool party
• Never run out of this rhubarb simple syrup or crisp
• Have a few pool days
• Institute neighborhood night swims
• Keep my potted plants alive (no easy task for AZ summers)
• Go on an ice cream date
• Watch some fireworks
• Get away to the mountains for a cabin weekend
• Watch The Sandlot, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Fried Green Tomatoes (ultimate summer movies)
• Go camping
• Catch up with teacher friends (they're off!)
• Hold my finished book in my hands and celebrate! (August 4th)

Next in May

It's May already, and I can't believe 2014 is almost at the halfway point! My allergies think otherwise, but the desert is just beautiful this time of year, with everything blooming. While it may just now be starting to feel like spring in your neck of the woods, here in Arizona it's basically summer. The days are getting longer and warmer, and we're hanging on tight to every cool breeze or cloudy day.

My theme word for the year is Next, both a reminder to take one thing at a time, and an encouragement to be open to new opportunities and set some goals. Each month, I take time to look ahead at what's next, so here's a peek at May!

Next in travel... We'll be staying home this month, but some great friends are travelling here! We're honored to be hosting two of our favorite couples from Wisconsin for a couple's vacation/bachelor/bachellorette weekend mid-May. The plans are shaping up to include a Friday night out in Scottsdale, a pool party on Saturday and golf/whatever the girls decide to do on Sunday. Really looking forward to it!

Next in writing...The book is with the proofreaders!  Round One of edits and rewrites is complete, and we are in the very final stages of getting the book ready to go.  I truly can't believe it, and am so proud of this book. I'm nailing down an official release date and other details this month, and can't wait to share them with you. Head over to The Candid Teacher and join the email list to stay up to date on book news!

Next in adoption... This is document gathering month. As I talked about in this post, we are gathering up all our important papers and getting things in order to start our classes next month. We're getting more and more excited to meet our kids and be a family of four (well six if you count the dogs, which we totally do).

Next in food... Unfortunately our swimsuit season starts a little earlier here than other parts of the country, so food has consisted of lots of fruits and veggies to get these thighs ready for the light of day. Operation Hot Mom is in full swing. More on this soon, too.

Next in faith... Still thinking on a great many things I'd like to write about here. I've had lots of really interesting conversations lately which have my wheels turning about what I believe and why.  But in the meantime, we are just absolutely loving the friends we've met through our small group at church, and can't believe we've only known them a year and a half. All that matters is God and people. I couldn't agree more with this statement right now.

What big plans do you have for this new month?

The Photo Challenge Next Door - April

Camera settings: aperture-f32, shutter speed 1/40, ISO 100, focal length 44 mm

I took this month's photo on a quick off-road ride in the Jeep. We were on the Montana Mountain Trail in the southeast part of the valley, and it was gorgeous. I just love this time of year in the desert, with the ocotillo and cacti blooming.

My goal with this one was to capture the whole mountain scene in focus, so I opted for a higher f-stop to give me a deeper depth of field. (Look at me, knowing I needed to do that. Progress!) I didn't do any color adjusting, and just love how the colors turned out.

My next door neighbor, Kelsey, and I have a photo challenge going. We're determined to improve our photography skills, so we've set our cameras to manual to see what we can capture and learn along the way. You can view the rest of my challenge photos here, and Kelsey's here. Also check out The Girl Next Door Podcast, where Kelsey and I mix up a cocktail and chat about creativity, marriage, and life in general. A new episode is live today!

The Photo Challenge Next Door - March

Camera settings:  shutter speed 1/40, aperture f/14, ISO 400

I know it's April, but we're still technically in the first week, so it's still acceptable to share March's photo challenge, yes? Truth be told, I haven't really used my camera since last month's challenge, mostly because I had misplaced my charger and extra battery, and the juice was running low until I found it finally.

I'm also just finding myself in a frustrated place with photography.  I'm still not capturing what I want to capture, and when I am, I don't know how I did it or why it worked.  I know if I keep doing it, it will get better, and I'll get better at it, but I don't want to.  I don't want to lug my big camera around and take crappy pictures because I'm forcing myself to learn it, when I could be taking pretty decent pictures with my iPhone 5S camera.  I also struggle between being in the moment with guests or special events and capturing that moment, so I end up only taking pictures of things that have nothing to do with a moment, and are just scenery or still life. 

Maybe that's ok.  Maybe as I get better at taking photos, I can simultaneously capture and be in the moment, because I won't be busy cursing while figuring out the settings on my camera.  When things become more automatic, I won't have to think so hard about it, and can just enjoy the experience and the memory making. 

In the meantime, this picture captures how I feel about two hobbies I am trying desperately to improve in; photography and gardening.  I am finally starting to figure out gardening in the desert, but it is very different than the fertile soil and plant variety of the Midwest.  It looks a lot more like containers and irrigation and heat tolerance.  I'm learning, slowly but surely, and it parallels my photography skills at the moment. 

I realized looking at this picture though, that sometimes things are no less beautiful because of their imperfection, and in fact they hold a special charm of their own sometimes as a result.  I was about to pluck this tattered petunia bloom off of the plant, when I noticed the perfect little bead of water poised on its delicate petal and decided to not only leave it, but to embrace it in a photo. 

You can view all my challenge photos here, and be sure to head over to check out Kelsey's progress next door at Rising*Shining.

Thankful Thursday - Solitude Edition

I'm by my lonesome for a couple weeks, since Mr. Ladd is travelling for work.  I live like a filthy bachelor when he's gone, and lose all sense of proper meals or personal grooming. Even though I'm missing my better half, I do enjoy the solitude sometimes.  We both work from home and spend more time together than most couples probably do during an average week, so sometimes it's nice to miss each other.  On this solo Thursday, here a few things I'm thankful for...

January in Arizona - you know, that time of year when the leaves turn colors and fall off the trees, and it really just feels like a warm autumn day all the time with slightly chilly nights.  Before you throw ice-packed snowballs at me, Midwesterners, I want you to know I never take the sunshine for granted, and my guest room is always available.

Loyal beasts who curl up behind my knees, and bark a little more protectively when Mr. Ladd's away.

Lots of quiet and solitude to finish formatting my manuscript and get it officially sent off hopefully this week!

The house to myself and no one to judge me as I hit play on that third (or fifth) episode of Dance Moms. I'm not proud of it, but I can't stop.

A FaceTime chat last night with the kind of friend who's known you at 13, 23, and 33.

What's one thing you're thankful for on this Thursday?

 

Fall Bucket List

Happy October! I know in cooler climates, there is talk of fall starting in September with its apples, and its sweatshirts, and its chill.  But, in the desert, October is what we wait for.  It's what we say to each other sympathetically to remind ourselves to be strong.  It's what we hold out hope for in August and September.  We survive the ridiculous summer to get to...October.  October means we can open windows at the bookends of the day. The temperatures are down and our spirits up, because we can go for morning and evening walks, and are not panting and dehydrated just from unloading groceries. 

The other night, Mr. Ladd lit tealights in mason jars and a big candle that smells like leaves to entice me outside, promising it was nice out.  We sat on the patio, finally breathing in some crisp air, and breathing out big sighs of relief.  We chatted and sampled multiple pumpkin beers, trying to decide what our favorite was.  I grabbed a light blanket, and Buddy burrowed underneath it, but I stubbornly kept my bare feet out, because they were cold, and I liked it.

Fall in Arizona is definitely not what it is back in Wisconsin, but we can drive to the mountains for a more traditional definition of autumn, or create it ourselves in the valley.  So fallification is in full swing around these parts.  I am making homemade pumpkin spice flavoring for hot coffee, huffing pumpkin and apple scented everything, and donning everything that sits still long enough with a leaf or a gourd.  So in the apple cinnamon-scented spirit of celebrating the return of double digit temps, here are my goals for this season:

Fall Bucket List

Decorate the house for fall/Halloween

Switch all candles and soaps to fall scents

Drink a hot pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks 

Make my own less fake version of PSL syrup

Discover my favorite pumpkin beer (So far it's Shipyard Pumpkinhead)

Go through my teaching supplies (now that the garage is cooler)

Make pumpkin bread

Plant some potted plants for the fall/winter growing season (yup, we have one of those)

Host our annual Halloween party

 Carve pumpkins

Watch a scary movie (only one, I'm a chicken)

Go camping

Go on a Leaf Hunt

Make this soup, and this chili

Celebrate Falliday

Make some sort of fall craft.  I'm thinking about these cute little guys

Finish a blog facelift, and introduce some new fun projects

Submit an article to an online magazine

Start and finish Christmas shopping before December

Finish my manuscript for that book I'm writing (holy crap)

Now if you'll excuse me, I am going to go devour a piece of apple pie I made last night from locally grown apples.  Fall can be found in Arizona!

See Ya, Summer!

September is in full swing.  Pumpkin Spice Lattes abound, and Bath and Body Works' delectable fall candles are back in stores.  I am a sucker for seasonal marketing, clearly.  Monday will be the official start of autumn, and even though we are still in triple digit temps for a bit longer, the days are getting shorter. Nights and mornings are cooler, and apple cinnamon is in the air.  So hellish weather aside, summer is coming to an end.  Before I am completely lost in tubs of Halloween decorations from the garage and am drinking my weight in pumpkin ale of all sorts, I thought I would bid one final farewell to Summer with a peek at my bucket list and a wrapping up of memories just to make sure there was nothing else I needed to squeeze in before September 23rd.

Summer Bucket List  

Make rhubarb dessert of some sort

Host a pool party

Head to the mountains and go camping

Eat S'mores

Have a girl's pool day

Go for early morning/late night walk

Sit under the porch during a monsoon

Join a gym - There was a lot of sweating, does that count?

Take a road trip - We cancelled our Jeep trip to Colorado.  Saving the funds.

Organize my teaching supplies - I'm waiting for cooler temps in the garage.

Read a magazine cover to cover

Go to the beach - Didn't happen, and I'm sad about it.

Spend a day on a boat

Swim at night

Watch fireworks

Draw with sidewalk chalk 

Watch National Lampoon's Summer Vacation

Dig in the dirt - I'll do this for some fall planting

Drink an Italian Greyhound cocktail

Catch fire flies

Drive up to Flagstaff for the day- this would be good for leaf hunting anyway

Buy new sunglasses- Christmas present?

Pack a picnic

Spend an entire day with a good book

Drink a beer at a baseball game

17/25 bucket list items crossed off - About 70% of my summer goals accomplished.  Not bad, but I can do better in autumn.  Nothing inspires me like the start of a new season, and fall is one of my favorites, so I'll carry some of these things over to the next bucket list with lots of new pumpkin-y items as well. 

Bye, Summer.  You've overstayed your welcome. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Thankful Thursday - Labor Day Edition

I am packing up the marshmallows and laundering sleeping bags as I write.  Mr. Ladd has been in California this week for work, and I missed him over his actual birthday, so we're celebrating by headed into the mountains tomorrow for some camping in 75 degree highs and 55 degree lows.  Ahhhh.  There's like a 30-40% chance of scattered rain this weekend, and you know what?  I don't even care.  I will make the best of it and welcome the change if it does rain.  Worst case scenario, we pack up and head back down the mountain, right? 

This is the time of year I get a bit cranky and stir crazy and need to get the heck out of this desert.  It's actually been cooler lately, but I'm just over it and ready for crisp air at this point in the neverending summer.  So, I'm turning my grouchiness into gratefulness with a little list of things I'm thankful for right this minute...

A morning helping out my teacher friend in 2nd grade.  It's fun being back in the classroom, especially when you don't have to be!  (She's new to the blogging world too, and just started The Second Grade Life.  Go check it out, and show her some love :-)

So much love and support after this post about our current family situation - Seriously, wishing I would have shared sooner, because all the encouragement has meant so much to me and been so helpful.  Thank you!

An impromptu coffee date on Monday night with two ladies I just adore

A visit coming up from my brothers (Citizen Way's in town next weekend!), Mr. Ladd's family will be here the next weekend to go the Badger/ASU game, and today one of our favorite WI couples booked a visit for October!  Yeah for a house full of people we miss!

Fall candles, and pumpkin beer, and Halloween decorations  on the store shelves.  I used to hate this, because it felt like we didn't need to rush the chilly air and cold nights that would be plentiful back in the Midwest.  But now I love it, because even though I'm holding off on purchasing any autumn goodies for a while, it provides a light at the end of the hot tunnel.

4 Years Since...

August is always very nostalgic for me the last few years.  This month marks 4 years since we officially moved from Wisconsin to Arizona, which has been hands down the most life-changing, exciting thing we've done as a couple to date. This time of year, I always find myself reflecting about how crazy but thrilling that time was, and all that has happened since then.  I am convinced there are things that have happened in our lives that are a direct result of us being brave enough to take the leap and try something new.  

4 years since...

I was hired for a teaching job over the phone on Thursday and needed to leave for Arizona on the following Tuesday.

Mr. Ladd flew out to Phoenix for a job interview that didn't go so well the day before I would leave for Phoenix.  He literally slept in the guest bed the night before I did at our friend's house, unsure of what his job situation would be.

I left my magazines on the coffee table, my tomatoes in the garden, and Mr. Ladd to pack up our dogs and our life and make the drive out to Arizona 3 weeks later to meet me.

My friend Vicki dropped me off at the airport in Milwaukee with tears and two suitcases full of everything I'd need for the near future.

I sat in the airport staring at the gate, unable to read or listen to music, just numb in a nervous stupor.

I stepped off the plane in Phoenix to 113 dry degrees and waited at the curb for Jess and Erik to pick me up.  We went back to their house (our home for the next four months) and drank blueberry mojitos, and I found the beautiful note Mr. Ladd had left me on the guest bed, telling me how he couldn't wait to join me and was so excited for our new adventure.

Since then...

We got the chance to live with some of our very best friends for 4 months, reliving college years and cementing a very important friendship to us. 

We bought a gorgeous house, and have appreciated every second of a great backyard, sometimes unable to believe it's ours, and that we moved in next door to such amazing neighbors!

Mr. Ladd has had the opportunity to work from home and travel to India and Malaysia.

I've taught special education, 3rd grade, and 2nd grade, before taking a break from teaching to pursue writing full time, and am now writing a freaking book!  (Sorry that one I really still can't believe)

We have fallen in love with our Jeep, off-roading, the mountains, and even camping. Believe me, that last one took me by surprise.

I am certain the smell of rain and citrus blossoms are two of the best smells, live in flip flops and in the pool all summer long, have to hunt for leaves in fall, and get real excited when I get to wear a sweater and scarves in the winter.

We have met amazing new friends, and even older family and friend relationships have grown stronger in some cases with distance, meaning visits are intentional, and conversations are longer, when we don't have the luxury of proximity to take for granted.

Most importantly, Mr. Ladd and I have truly become a family- making our marriage the priority, learning so much about ourselves and each other, going through hard things together and coming out on the other side stronger, braver, and more willing to try other hard things.  So, Happy Arizona Anniversary to us!  And, if ever you get the chance to move across the country on a whim, or anything else that seems crazy at first, you might just want to do it.

Wordless Wednesday - Wildfire