I’m in my twenty-fourth year of being an elementary teacher and my passion has always been fostering a caring community. There is so much that can be gained from teaching young children social emotional learning. They need help learning how to navigate relationships, social awareness, and self-management which are all essential SEL tools to carry …
Lemon Curd
We have the sweetest little lemon tree that my parents gave us several years ago. It makes me so happy to see more lemons coming back each year. The anticipation is even sweeter. We watch and wait for the lemons to ripen. The very beginning of November was lemon harvest time for us in Texas. …
Wishing you a rosy school year
We’re back in school and if you try REALLY hard you can find the sweetness…my own kids are so happy to be back. My first grade students come to school with BIG smiles excited to learn in-person. Teachers are happy to teach at school and not virtually. It’s true that the soul is healed by …
Losing my Dad: Saint-Exupéry says it best
To lose a someone who has the most wholehearted acceptance into your soul is one of life’s most devastating heartbreaks. We lost my Dad a few months ago to melanoma. This quote from Saint-Exupery was read by my Dad’s law partner at his funeral and I think it speaks so true to how you feel …
Mockingbird Station: Mari Pohlman’s Summer Strong Visual Cue
The other day, my daughter and I were having lunch in Dallas and we walked by this summer mural in Mockingbird Station. I’m reading a book Visual Design Solutions for this class I’m taking and had been reading that good visual design can be an, “experience that creates a positive emotional state…” and “produces an …
Mockingbird Station: Mari Pohlman’s Summer Strong Visual CueRead More
Mom’s Hot Mustard
My mom is famous for her hot mustard. She usually makes it during the holidays. I feel like I’ve turned into my mom ever since the pandemic hit! I’m craving her cooking and since we haven’t been able to cook together like we usually do, I’m making her recipes for her. My dad has been …
Tabasco Jelly & Bloody Mary Mix
You know what goes really well with Tabasco Jelly? A Bloody Mary and Bing Crosby. I missed making Christmas jelly with my mom this year. I’ve missed spending time with my mom so much that I’ve turned into my mother…making jelly all the time! It helps me feel connected to her. It’s our tradition that …
Crepes: the perfect weekend breakfast
The last time I was in Paris, my husband and I were walking around Sacre Coeur mid morning and stopped to buy a crepe. I devoured it like an American and had Nutella all around my mouth. I stopped and asked an artist in Montmatre a question and noticed he gave me a quizzical look… …
Put some Arnica on it
Do you have a “mom phrase” that you’re known for? Mine is definitely “put some arnica on it.” There are two little things that I know help my children besides hugs… peppermints and arnica! They’re magical…I always have them in my Mary Poppins bag. Decades ago, one of my dance teachers told me to use …
Fresh Fall Scent
I am not monogamous to any one perfume. I have my favorites but I like to change them out periodically. I’ve been on a Chanel No 5 kick for about a year. A few weeks ago, my husband was hugging me and said, “I think it’s time to change your perfume.” I was shocked and …
Wishing you a peach of a school year
The last several months I’ve made dozens batches of jelly. Our pantry is always stocked with Certo and I’ve been experimenting with the fruits of the season. In August, it’s peaches! School started last week and for my first grade team, I gave them each a jar of peach jelly…wishing them a peach of a …
Lime time
The other week, I was ordering groceries to be delivered and I thought I bought four limes for a simple sirup that I like to make with my Prosecco. I ended up buying four bags of limes!! FOUR BAGS OF LIMES!! What in the world was I going to do with four bags of limes?? …