New spaces and friendly faces

January was s tough month personally. From this I was reminded that, I have the best support system a person could ask or dream for. I sit here on February 3rd and look at what I have. I am so blessed.

I came home on Friday and announced to Kyle that I would be spending the day on a big project, my messy crafting room. It was unbearable to work in. I didn't even take a before picture so I never have to remember it.
Saturday morning, I did my usual and cleaned the whole kitchen. I usually do this because the weekday kitchen tidying involves only barely getting the dishes done so that we can stumble out of bed the next morning and make coffee successfully.  Then I went and got Grandma her breakfast and planned how I would tackle the monster mess.
After several visits to Pinterest and other organizing sites, I had a plan and set out to the magical world of Target. I had planned to only spend $50 on supplies for the craft room. Amazingly I did that yesterday. There are a few little things I would like to add, eventually putting us over.
Before I leave the Target parking lot I text Kyle, "I will need your help unloading the car."
I bought a rolling cart with drawers that matches one I already had and a cube shelf with 8 spaces.
I arrive at home and we unload the car. (This is where I first am reminded of how lucky I am.) Kyle looks at the box full of DIY shelves and says to me, "Would you like me to put this together for you?" I didn't ask or whine. He just asked because he knew I would love it. No need for Valentine's flowers, I got shelves built. Kyle also knows that while I am competent with a hammer and parts and can build it myself, he does a meticulous job of it.

I spent 6 hours working in the smallest room of our house (aside from the bathroom).

It is now beautiful and organized. I am pulled in to create because of the way things look.

Friendly face number 2 comes in the way of  my Best Friend for All time, Susan, she knew of the crud I struggled with last month and in the mail yesterday comes a package with 3 wonderful things. A pair of socks with hedgehogs on them (I love crazy socks), a box of Gail Ambrosius Chocolates (go to Madison Wisconsin for them seriously), and a note pad that says pep talk and has my first pep talk written on it.

I know there are way more friendly faces that I missed. Thank you support system for knowing how to make me feel human again.

Field trip

I went on my first field trip with my little friends this past week. I have been on field trips before but it was always taking the 8th graders to Great America. Nothing that I really cared about. My art teacher colleague and I ran a creative writing group based on artwork for some of our low but not low enough kids. WE had such amazing results that we got approval to take a special field trip to the Art Institute of Chicago to show them the paintings we wrote stories about.

Taking kids to their first museum is a big deal
Heard on the bus:
"We are going on the 94?"

They were so excited that we were going on the interstate to see something.

Once we got to the museum, it was nothing but pure wonder and joy with these third graders. They could see the real size of the paintings, the texture that does not come through in reproductions and posters. They heard about how old the works were and what they are made out of.

I hope every educator gets to experience what I did this week. Pure amazement at our cultural works.

When it rains

Life is really happening right now. So many small and large stressors happening at the same time. It is one of those life moments where you really start to feel upset about your lot and blame the world.
DH lost his job and also ended up with a nasty head injury as the result of a fall just 2 weeks later. (he is ok) Dear family members fighting with their health. Other family members also losing jobs and getting in car accidents.

I have always tried to be the eternal optimist. Tried is the big part.
Yesterday I broke down and cried at every turn. Optimism left me for 24 hours. I didn't like it.
I am trying right now to look at these hurdles as something to jump over. Maybe we trip on the hurdle but finish the race. There will be no falling and giving up.
2013 is a year of new paths to take.

How do you pull strength from the deepest pockets of yourself?
Where do you look when all you can think of is blaming the world?

Piano shirts

As it is Friday, I can wear jeans to work today. This is what I chose to wear instead of a school spirit t-shirt. My students and colleagues have grown accustomed to my Friday Music need shirts.

Hi 5

Today's crazy music teacher outfit is brought to you by the threadless company and their awesome hi 5 shirt. Also by trendy pants from old navy and a crazy sweater my mom purchased for me. It is pretty much a perfect outfit for the first week after break.

Side note: we use high five at my school as an everybody listen strategy so it is doubly awesome for me.

Simply Seuss

Today's crazy music teacher outfit is accented by the amazing earrings purchased for me by my partner teacher.

Clinging to a Piece of Summer

 These are the basil plants on my kitchen window.
They were propagated from cuttings from my summertime basil plants. I just cut pieces from the big plants and rooted them in water. I brought my small planters inside and they are waiting at my front door to get these small plants.
They make me so happy because I love summer and miss the warmth, green, and seasonal tastes.
Just a cut of a basil plant added into my lunch and I am back to summer.