Ahh, October, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Seriously, all the months are my favorite months, but October holds a special place in my heart, my birthday notwithstanding. Even though I miss the longer, bright days of spring and summer, I do so love the changing colors, the crisp mornings, and the promise of holidays to come. We’ve settled into a routine that has served us well so far in the pandemic, doing what a lot of people are doing: going outside and soaking up nature, even ... continue reading...

This post contains links to our Spirited Learning store on Teachers Pay Teachers. Friends, I do not even know where to begin. The last Side Notes & Shenanigans I wrote was almost a year ago. I fully intended to write a fall-into-winter-into-New-Years post, and then the pandemic happened and everything went haywire. Admittedly, there are days or perhaps daily moments when things still feel haywire. Navigating a pandemic is hard. Navigating a pandemic during an election year is even ... continue reading...

Oooh, it’s cider + sweaters + puffy jackets + blanket scarves + colorful socks season! I cannot tell a lie. October was a blur. So all that cider? I barely drank any. Sweaters? Do sweater cardigans count? Blanket scarves? Bought one. Haven’t worn it yet. Sometimes you’re just needed elsewhere, and the cute socks have to wait. Family members were ill throughout the month, and our foursome prioritized that over pretty much everything else. Ooh, and because nothing says “good decision” like ... continue reading...

I would love to tell you we had a super-sexy September. But, alas, our September was cool, calm, and totally, well, September. That isn’t to say, though, that we didn’t have memorable moments. Namely, Twinkle, our youngest, started kindergarten. And if that’s not a milestone, then I don’t know what is. If you’re in the mood for chitter chatter, then grab a beverage or snack, plop yourself on our virtual couch, and sit a spell.  WHAT WE DID: Our family made it through back-to-school ... continue reading...

Have you ever visited a place that while you’re still there and while you’re still enjoying ALL THE THINGS, you think to yourself, I am so coming back here and will be doing this all over again? Because that’s basically what happened to four out of four of us when we visited Northwest Arkansas. We were smack dab in the middle of our trip, leaving one hotel to get ready for the next leg of the journey, when both girls looked at me and said, “Mom, can we just do this whole trip over again next ... continue reading...