In case you missed in your social media feed, it is National Teacher Appreciation Week. In usual times, the week is filled with flowers, coffee bars, chocolate, gifts, and lunches. (Always amazing, by the way!) In the midst of COVID-19, all that is impossible. What can you possibly do to make the teachers in your child’s life feel appreciated?
I will argue that you are still able to give the best gift of all. A heartfelt note of thanks. In this case, write the teacher an email. Thank her/him/them for the impact they have your child. Teachers love coffee, but they love hearing how their work impacts children. There is nothing better than to hear how your teaching has ignited passions or helped build self-worth! Your words are important to them, now more than ever.
I realize most of us are not getting out of sweats these days unless we have video conference. Which in that case, we change only our shirt and put a little lipstick on! So, chatting about a fashion subscription might seem a bit odd at first…but let me explain. In January, I decided to not purchase any NEW clothes in the year 2020. I could purchase used or vintage. (Let me add this does not include underwear, swimwear, and shoes.) I have done this before and it is a great way to figure out what you really love to wear and what you actually need. Scrolling through my Instagram feed one day a great outfit caught my eye and the caption included #nuuly. My interest was peeked and yes, social media marketing obviously works on me. Nuuly is a monthly fashion subscription from the stores/brands Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters. Here’s how it works:
Nuuly 101
*Choose Your 6
Four tops and the same dress in two sizes? Six pairs of jeans? One of everything? It’s your call.
*Wear Them On Repeat
They’re all yours for the next month. Don’t worry about laundry or repairs—it’s included in the plan.
*Buy, Return + Refill
If you fall in love with something, buy it. Send back the rest by your billing date and repeat.
Here’s what I love about it. It is exactly like shopping online. Unlike Stitchfix or other similar subscriptions, you are in total control of what you get every month. It does take time to browse and select items, but that is my jam. If you are going on vacation (hopefully….someday) you can get 6 items to take on your trip. Special event? Add in a formal piece that month. At the end of the month, if you love something you can buy it. And it works for my 2020 “no buy plan” because I buying something used. Items are 30-45% off retail price. This is what I ordered for this month and it just arrived yesterday:
The jump suit is something I really wanted in past months, but had not been available. (It’s awesome and I’ll probably purchase it.) The rest is for staying home. But that gorgeous, LoveShackFancy black top? That is for my virtual dinner with friends tomorrow night. I thought I’d get dressed up.
There is one con. If an item doesn’t fit or you don’t love how it looks, you cannot swap it for a different size or item. Last month I received the most darling jumpsuit, but the zipper wouldn’t budge. I contacted customer service and they credited my account $15. So it’s a bit of a gamble but in my opinion worth it! This month I received a total of $853 worth of clothes for my subscription cost of $88+ tax. Win-Win!
Let’s be honest, we have lots of hours to fill. While I am all for binge watching Love is Blind (I will absolutely not feel shame or guilt), I also crave things to listen and to watch that expand my understanding. Today I am offering a multi-media approach. A podcast, a TED Talk, and an feature film. You could absolutely have older kids listen and watch too. Or you can do this just by yourself!
Listen
Last December I listened to the episode “Can one person change the criminal justice system?” from the podcast Next Question with Katie Couric and was transfixed by her interview with Bryan Stevenson. I have heard her interview him before, but this episode seemed so timely and intensely important. I’m linking to the Stitcher page, but is can also be found on Apple Podcasts or wherever you can listen to Katie Couric’s podcast.
Watch
After listening to the interview, I came across this TED Talk that Stevenson gave in 2012. This man has been searching for justice for years. His passion and dedication are apparent. He wrote a book titled Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption in 2014. It details Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative and his work to help the wrongly condemned. (I guess you could actually listen, read, and watch! ) This memoir was recently developed into a feature film with the same name, Just Mercy. It stars Michael B Jordan and Jaime Fox. It’s digital release was moved up and is available to purchase now and will be available to rent digitally on March 24th. (We will still be home!) I find this man so incredibly inspiring. I can’t wait to watch the film.
How are you? Yesterday felt like it was played out in slow motion. I wasn’t really down, but it felt like I was spinning my wheels. Low grade anxiousness?? There are projects that I’ve wanted to complete for months. However, they are the type of projects that need momentum. Instead, Henry and I changed light bulbs. I established a 9am start time for the large teen in our house. He didn’t rise out of bed until 11:45am. Nothing is normal inside our home because nothing is normal outside our home. Around 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, I went for a REALLY long walk. Listened to podcasts and came home to cook dinner. We argued at the dinner table (thank you teen boys) and then we played a rousing game of Exploding Kittens. It just is! How are you? Is there any bright side to this? Can we find it?
ideas/ updates/ links / recipes
UPDATE: Today the developers of Down Dog apps announced they are offering FREE access to all students and teachers (K-12 + College) until July 1st. This is awesome! See their website for more information.
IDEA: Mo Willems the author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Elephant and Piggie books, is hosting Lunch Doodles every day at 1:00pm ET. The videos will also be available to stream after each session. I love Pigeon! This is a great thing.
LINK: This article about a photographer taking photos of her parents waving goodbye made me smile. We should all take less selfies and more pictures that will matter to us!
RECIPE:Confetti Cookies. We all deserve a freakin’ cookie right now and these are so happy!
Well, it arrived. The first Monday of a 6-week school closure. Last Thursday, as we absorbed the idea of having kids home for weeks on end, parents went into full panic mode. I say that with love and compassion. I know this comes from a place of love and a need to have some semblance of control. I totally get it! Friends on social media started posting their homeschooling weekly lesson plans. Again, I get it… but I had to smile. You need to consider recreating school at home is impossible. Your kitchen table is not the classroom and YOU are not their teacher. (Even if that is your profession!) My advice: Be creative and give your kids choice. This is the perfect time to show kids that we never stop learning and you don’t need a classroom to expand your mind.
Be Creative
Think of this as a time for your kids to do all those amazing things they LOVE (or could love) to do or have interest in, but don’t have any time to do it because of the rigorous academics they navigate everyday.
Do they sing or play an instrument? Learn a new song or piece. Write a song and record it. Create a video and send it to a loved one that you can’t see right now or post to YouTube
Do they love visual arts? Draw, paint, collage, etc, etc,? Not an artist? Use YouTube to challenge them. Try these tutorials for easy how-to videos channels: Happy Drawings and Draw So Cute.
Create a journal or Vlog that documents COVID-19 and their weeks at home. They are literally living in history right now! This is something that future generations will learn about. Record history. Report on the news, events and what they are doing!
Write a short story, graphic novel, poems. Students rarely get a chance to write for enjoyment. This is the perfect time! Need a story starter? This site will help you generate a first line.
Read a book/Watch a movie. This list is an awesome resource. If you can, buy from a local bookstore, many are delivering right to your door.
Let’s be honest. Many of our teens are lacking in the life skill department. Sooner then later (we hope) they will be launching from our nest and they need to be a bit savvy in the ways of the world. Big W is going to study for his written driver’s test and Little Man is going to take the online course for his boater’s license.
Learn to cook a meal or bake a treat. Have them pick a favorite meal or look through the many cookbooks you have and never use! Treats are always a great motivator. Who doesn’t love a cookie or a tart?
Create a list of home projects that need to get done. If you don’t know how to do it, harness the power of YouTube. Believe me, there is a how – to video on anything you need done around your house.
Learn to wash, fold, and put away your own clothes!
Go for a drive. For my “almost” licensed driver, this is a great activity. Put a destination into Google Maps and away we go!
Give Them Choice
Teen life has been turned upside down and they are not happy about it! They may be disgruntled and nasty. Giving them reasonable choices throughout the day will make this time be a little less horrible for them. Although it’s hard to believe right now, life will return to normal. Until then, involve your teen in brainstorming activities that they will “buy” into and make the best of this strange time together.
Let’s crowdsource our ideas. Add any additional activities/ideas/sources of inspiration and I will update the post regularly! Be well. Spread kindness.
As we enter this “never been seen” world of social distancing, decision making becomes almost paralyzing. What is the right thing to do? After much discussion with my husband, we are fully accepting that life is literally put on hold and we will distance ourselves from others as much as we can. Our almost 16 year old is having a hard time wrapping his head around this, which is 100% understandable. I am certainly the bad guy this morning after saying no to a small gathering of friends. Together we will navigate uncertain times and make the very best of it!
I am hopeful that exercising everyday will help with the anxiety that is sure to come with a minimum of six weeks at home. This has more to do with my mental well being, than getting that elusive 6-pack at this point, but nonetheless it involves fitness and moving my body. I usually work out on my own in the gym, but I also take Pilates and Barre classes from amazing instructors. I am making the personal decision to only work out at home or outside. (I will continue to support my amazing friends/instructors anyway I can!) Lucky for me, I already use several apps that will make this transition a bit easier. I will include some ideas here in the post. However, I would love for each of my forthcoming posts to serve as a way to crowdsource ideas. Post all of your amazing resources below in the comments.
Apps to use at home (or in the gym):
Cycle Cast: I use this amazing app to do spin classes in the gym on my own. No Peloton needed! However, since I won’t be going to the gym I am going to try out the 30 minute interval runs that can be done outside. Cost: FREE 7-day trial. $9.99/ month.
Down Dog Yoga/HIIT/BARRE: I have used this app for years for yoga-at home and when I travel. It is truly amazing! Down Dog recently expanded to include HIIT workouts and Barre. Cost: Completely FREE through April 1st. They are offering this due to COVID-19. (Usually $7.99/month)
YouTube: There are so many workouts on YouTube it’s ridiculous. My favorite 60 minute Barre workout is by my dear friend Casey Brown. All you need is a chair and light hand weights. You will love this workout! Cost: FREE
Amazon Prime: There 100’s of exercise videos included with your Prime Video membership. Membership has it’s privileges. If you find one you like, please let me know! Maybe try a dance workout to make you happy! Cost: Prime Membership
How can you help your local businesses?
If you work out at a small boutique studio or gym, consider purchasing classes now that you will use in the future. One day, life will return to a “new” normal. (I’m not sure any of us will ever be the same.)
Living in Seattle, the epicenter of COVID-19, is like nothing any of us have ever experienced. After Governor Inslee announced that all gatherings over 250 people will be banned in the Seattle area, the dominoes began to fall. First Seattle Public Schools announced they would close, which shocked the entire area. One school district after another began to announce their closures. Our district, the one in which I teach and my children attend, decided to close starting tomorrow. The closure has no end date and we were told to prepare for 5-6 weeks. It is truly unprecedented and should not be taken likely.
With all this time on my hands and a feeling of helplessness, I believe it is time for Where is June? to make a triumphant return. Writing and creating every day will keep me sane. Whether we like it or not, our screens will be our human connection for awhile. Let’s use our screens for good! I hope you will stop by often. I have ideas percolating, but I would love to hear your ideas. What kind of posts would you like to read? What would be helpful during this time? Leave a comment on this post, email me, or message me via Instagram. Let’s create an informative, entertaining, creative online community. Be well. Spread kindness. xo-d
**Updated at 2:20 3/12/2020 : Governor Inslee will announce that all schools in King, Pierce, and Snohomish county will be closed through April 24, 2020. That is a closure of 6 full weeks.
It’s been awhile, right? There is much to tell and I will post an update very soon on my current state of being. However, for now, I am THRILLED it is Friday, even though there has not been a sunny day in Seattle since November 30th. Let that sink in for a minute…since NOVEMBER.
How about adding a little fun to your Friday? I present Tracee Ellis Ross. I dare you to not fall in love with this woman. She is confident, funny, adventurous, independent, and 100% authentic. Plus, her style is next level. Truly.
She recently posted a video guide to her beauty secrets for Vogue. I appreciate her openness about aging, natural hair, and the beauty that comes from knowing who you are! I think I may be a Tracee Ellis Ross groupie.
Since we rarely get a warm spring, I have summer on my mind. And if it has to be made…I’ll make the case for an early summer. Everything is better June-August isn’t it? Plus, it’s never too early to plan.
True story. As you may know, I purge my closet quite regularly. I shift items in and out as the seasons change and when I do many items end up being permanently removed. About a month ago, I put away all of my summer staples (sniff, sniff) and to my horror the only thing left in my closet were black tops! Why is it that any time I buy a new top……I choose BLACK?! Boring and predictable.
So it got me to thinking. Happy people have color in their lives. I am a happy person. I have made myself two promises: 1. Buy responsibly and 2. No more black. While deciding on a color palette for my own closet, I explored a few options. Yellow is interesting and inspiring in both clothing and in the home. This mustard yellow is the bee’s knees. Paired with dusty pink and black -it’s striking! I thought I’d share a few images that gave me that creative spark.
Whimsy art work with a pop of yellow. Wouldn’t this look great in an office?
Yellow pants, yellow boots, and that clutch (as an accent to pink)….I’m loving all of it!
Pairing yellow with moody dark walls or light and white. Either way it’s a great statement in the home.
I ultimately decided this color yellow does not look great with my complexion….but I still love it so. Maybe it will work for one of you?? What color(s) do you seem to buy again and again? I’m super curious.
