currently || November 2019
Hello there! Here we are again, smack dab almost in the middle of November. Is it me or is this year just going by way too fast? I am so ready but not ready for the holidays this year. Don’t get me wrong. I love Christmas lights, Hallmark movies, and everything about the season, but Fall seems to be getting shorter and shorter every year. As I sit here writing this, it’s snowing for the second time already. And this is the Midwest people! We had snow on Halloween! Nonetheless, my non-love for the cold and snow is going to have to change here shortly.
Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean! Here’s what I’ve been up too this last month.
(And If you want to join in or see what others are up too, visit the blog in residence, where the currently link up started!)
Right now I’m currently:
picking || veggies of my choice for our winter CSA. I loved our experience with the summer CSA, and so I was totally on board for the winter one. I mean, fresh organic vegetables through winter in the Midwest? That’s unheard of. Sign me up immediately. So I did. However, instead of going the traditional route (where the farmer picks the veggies every week) I opted for the Choice CSA which means the cost for the season is our credit for the “store” and every week I get to choose what veggies I want. I’m really excited to enjoy good veggies for the next several months.
preparing || future lesson plans. Early next semester I’ll be taking about seven days off of work (see below!) which means I’ve got to get my act together in the classroom for a sub. Since I’m a planner (enneagram 4 who goes to a 1 [perfectionist] in growth,) I already know what I’m teaching through May, so really I just have to write up some daily lessons plans for my sub. I won’t lie. I hate preparing for a substitute because it’s so much more work than actually just being there, but I’m really excited for the time off.
trying || to workout more regularly. I know how good it is for my brain when I move, and as we’re already moving into the dark days of winter around here, I’m trying get ahead of the season by building a good habit. It helps that I’ve found a trainer that I really love. Working out and I have a history. I’m a former athlete turned triathlete turned injured athlete who lost her way when she couldn’t work out. Then I found yoga which changed my whole mindset on obsessively training. Needless to say, I haven’t been to a gym in years but still find it hard to workout at home. Until Kira Stokes came into my life. She’s a celebrity trainer who I actually found via Instagram, but her training style is so encouraging. I use her app and love it because she has sessions ranging from a few minutes (they’re killer) to an hour long. Her style fits my life in this season, and I’m grateful for her encouragement. I feel like she’s my literal trainer, even though she doesn’t even know my name!
feeling || all the feels as I celebrate my acceptance into Hamline University’s MFA program! It’s a Master’s in Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and I’ve been dreaming about studying under this program for years. It’s mostly a correspondence program meaning I’ll be writing at home and working one-on-one with a faculty member monthly, but twice a year I’ll be traveling to St. Paul, MN for a writing residency which is pretty much a combination of intensive classes and a writing conference. The residency isn’t super ideal for my job (hence the sub planning) as I don’t really get extra time off as a teacher, but now just felt like the exact right time. I’m ready to dive into my fiction in a way I haven’t the last few years, and see where this new opportunity takes me even if it is into the heart of winter. Here’s to new adventures.
following || Twitter. Friends, I have a love-hate with Twitter. I’ve been on the platform for several years, but rarely use it. I’ve had trouble getting into its fast paced, political feels but lately, I’ve been trying to connect more with other writers and engage in meaningful conversation. Or as much as I can in 280 characters. It’s actually going swell. I feel like I’m learning the ropes, and even though I don’t spend every waking moment there (and don’t plan too) I love the writer community.
Feeling thankful this season for your reading and keeping up on what’s happening in my life currently. If you want to connect even more, come find me on Instagram and Twitter where we can chat!
