June's nursery yo.

I did it!  After six and a half months of baby, I finally finished June’s nursery!  I’m certainly never going to win a prize for speed, but perhaps tenacity?

Here is my giant disclaimer.  I am no good at decorating.  It might be one of the things I am worst at in this entire world.  But I really wanted a cute little nursery for June, and any babies that may follow.  So I slowly got some kind of nursery together.  I am proud of this little space in our home because it is so far beyond from what I consider myself capable of.  I know it’s not perfect, and I’m sure a professional would have tons of suggestions for me, but I made this space for June with so much love in my little heart and so it's very special to me.

The hardest part was painting that dumb wall.  Actually I take that back.  It wasn't painting the wall as much as penciling and measuring and taping the wall.  The actual painting took all of 20 minutes.  Anyway.  Here’s the pics.  

Where I got the stuff:
Dresser: KSL $250
Crib: Amazon $150
I Love You Sign:  Bijou Handmade Market $35
Blanket: My mama made it for me
Rocking chair: Target $100
Pink lamp: IKEA, $20
Gray lamp: Hobby Lobby
You are my Sunshine sign: Hobby Lobby
Book rack: IKEA, spice shelf $10
Dresser: IKEA, $40 (It was just wood, I painted it white.)
Pillows: IKEA

15 Cures for the Winter Blues

Today I was in the best mood.  This is significant because I have been in a serious and deep winter funk the past three weeks.  I began to wonder if I would ever crawl out of the abyss known as January.

But I did!  I crawled out.  It wasn't easy, but I like to think my winter blues are gone for good.  If you're not out of your winter blues yet, don't worry, I can help you.  Here's what helped me.

Invite someone to do something with you.  I think our natural instinct is to wait for someone else to plan the party.  Call a friend to go on a walk or out to dinner or to meet you for a movie.  People love to be invited as it makes us feel loved and accepted, but we don't always make the effort to invite someone else.  I always try to have a little upcoming outing to look forward to and I try not to wait around for someone to invite me.

Work on a project.  You know, that thing you keep meaning to do.  For me it was finally buying nightstands for both sides of our bed, putting them together IKEA style, and painting them to match the room.  I also am almost finished with June's nursery. Just waiting for an ottoman to come in the mail and then I'm finally finished!  I will also then show you adorable pictures.

Vacuum.  Lines on the carpet just make you feel like you own the world, you know?

Create something.  Write a blog post.  Paint a picture.  Choreograph a dance.  Refinish a desk.  Film a movie scene.  Creating something is awesome because there is a physical product when you're done.  Having evidence of where your time went always helps you to feel on top of the world.

Do a service for someone. Make cookies for a neighbor.  Take down your mom's Christmas lights.  Buy flowers for a friend.  The giving feels even better than the receiving which I know is just wild, but it's true!

Put fresh flowers in your home.  Last week Greg's students bought him flowers and they have been sitting on the side table in our living room ever since.  It's amazing how the fresh blooms make the house feel alive and energized.

Change the smell in your home.  Don't underestimate the power of smell to your mood!  Today I started burning some of my scentsy spring scents and it made everything feel clean and revitalized in my house.  (Oh, and everything scentsy is 10%  off this month to make way for new spring/summer items. Even warmers!  Now is the time to stock up.  Just make sure to click the "February party" when it asks you what party you are with.)

Go outside.  It's all about that vitamin D!  Try to spend at least 20 minutes outside every day.  I know some of you are dealing with a never ending snowstorm and 3 degree weather right now, so, you know... do what you can.

Exercise.  Exercising boosts your feel good hormones.  Like the point above, I aim for 20 minutes a day.  I usually try to knock out going outside and exercising in one fell swoop by taking the dog for a walk.  It is amazing how much better I feel after a walk with my pup.

Write thank you notes.  Expressing appreciation is a sure fire way to boost your own mood.  Today I sat down and wrote about ten overdue thank you notes and it just felt so good to acknowledge the people who bring happiness into my life.  I do this anytime I am feeling overwhelmed, lonely or frustrated.  It doesn't take long to realize how kick butt your life is.

Get off Netflix.  Netflix is like a dementor.  It will suck your soul when you least expect it.

Plan a trip. Every January I email my college roomies and tell them I must see them asap.  We plan a trip for the spring to all get together.  This year we aren't getting together until June, but just the fact that I have that to look forward to- something exciting in my near future- keeps me pushing through January and into February.  (Interestingly enough I read one study that states that even if you don't take the trip, the planning of the trip itself will help to boost your mood.)

Call a friend.  Or facetime.  Facetiming my sister in Germany always boosts my mood times one hundred.

Limit time on social media.  Social media is a time sucker and an energy sucker.  Thirty minutes later and I'm still scrolling down on my phone with nothing to show for my time and no energy or motivation whatsoever.  I'm not saying to quit social media, just ease up on it.  Do you think you could check facebook, twitter, and instagram just once in a day?  CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Read a book.  I am trying so hard this year to spend my down minutes in the day reading instead of scrolling social media.  My favorite is to get in the bathtub with a diet coke and a book.  That is winter blues chasing magic right there.  (If you're looking for book suggestions, check out Bon's book club for 2015).

There you have it, all the winter blues cures I know.  Of course I would love to hear any secrets that you have to getting through this miserable time of year.

May we all live to see spring!

Bachelor Recap: Chess with Dead Husbands

Well, folks, I don't normally blog about the Bachelor but I could resist no longer.  I love blogging!  I love the Bachelor!  Let's put them together already!! Also Greg is gone and I am all by my lonesome, free to waste ridiculous amounts of time to write a post about inconsequential and unimportant things like Bachelor contestants.  Yippee!

And now, for this week's Bachelor Recap!

Carly gets the first date this week.  Blog, this is Carly.  Carly, blog.

I don't love Carly because 1) she did the cheesiest, most awkward sing-into-a-toy-mic ever to introduce herself to Chris and 2) her eyebrows.  Arch much?

But it doesn't matter what I think about Carly because Chris digs her.  Chris digs all the girls, you know.  They proceed to go on the most awkward date of all time... to an intimacy therapist! On a first date!  Because we all know that our first concern on a first date is our intimacy issues with someone whom we've spent an entire twenty minutes.   The therapist has got weird black bangs, side fang tooth, and enjoys watching the two touch each other.

She tells them to do lots of totally normal things to each other for a first date.

I could hardly watch for pure embarrassment and shame.  I was about at my breaking point when finally poor Carly said "I'm uncomfortable."  We all are, honey, we all are.  Please, ABC, put us out of our misery!  But wait, not yet!  First you must sit on his lap and almost make out for about ten minutes.  Uncomfortable enough yet?  Good.

Carly and Chris's night date is a lot of conversation about how Carly has never felt pretty.  I actually want to like her and sympathize with her but THE EYEBROWS.  She then says something that all women in relationships can assure her is absolutely not true.

They kiss, date ends.

Back at the house, Kelsey is telling "her story" about her husband who passed away a year and a half ago.  Blog, meet Kelsey.

I used to like Kelsey, but by now we are all thoroughly convinced that she is the spawn of Satan, right?  She is super casual about the death of her husband and plays it like some of kind of strategic chess move.  When everyone else expresses sympathy for her tragedy, she acts in a completely appropriate manner for a grieving widow.

Oh, and did I mention that she is a guidance counselor?  If only all guidance counselors spoke such wisdom.  I mean, my husband dropped dead while walking to work.  It's just life, you fools!  No biggie.

But we've got no time to dwell on that nonsense because it's time for a group date!  In all seriousness, this looks like the most fun group date I have ever seen in the history of Bachelor group dates.  White water fafting!  They even through some real (little) rapids.  Gasp!  The girls even got kind of wet!  AND the water was cold!  How wild and crazy are the Bachelor producers getting now?

But seriously.  Someone please go white water rafting with me.

Let's see... on the group date the girls get catty because Jade fell in the water and now has hypothermia.  They use this as an opportunity to talk trash on her as she is now hogging their precious Chris time.  Can you believe Jade to fall in the water like that?  Homegirl has got some nerve!

That night the girls are all getting ready to hang with Chris when surprise! A guest!  It's Jordyn who was sent home two weeks ago.

Remember her?

Remember, guys?

No?  Oh, right.  No one remembers her time on Bachelor at all.  Including, turns out, herself.  She was so drunk she totally blew her time with Chris and now she wants a second chance.  Chris agrees, and the girls take it very well.  They point out that Jordyn consumed a lot of alcohol, remember, Chris? Whitney states that the point of the show is to not keep adding to the numbers, remember Chris?  The other crazy, drunk girl on the show is very vocal about her feelings as well.

 Ashley I. handles it perhaps the best when, in typical junior high fashion, threatens to "be mean" to Jordyn.  Whitney is way too sane for Ashley with a suggestion that "while we might disagree or be upset with the situation, it doesn't mean we should be blatantly rude."  To which Ashley decides she has always hated Whitney.  Naturally.

Here's Ashley and Whitney, respectively.

After blowing all of his one on one time with the girls talking about Jordyn, Chris decides to screw the nice guy act and sends Jordyn back home.  The girls literally cry with relief.

LITERALLY.

Group date crisis averted.  Chris gives the rose to Whitney, stating that she always makes him feel "special".  Ashley I. is fuming that her plan to be mean to Jordyn didn't win her the rose.  There is no one she hates more than Whitney for being so reasonable, and therefore Whitney is the last person who "deserves" a rose.  It is all very logical.

Back home Britt gets the date card.  Shocker! This is Britt, if you forgot.

Chris is gaga over Britt, and she is the self declared "front runner" of the competition.  But wait!  The caption on the date card reads  "The Sky is the Limit."  Britt is so scared of what the date might entail that she literally starts crying.

LITERALLY.

Chris comes at the bright hour of 4:30 am to take Britt on their date.  Carly, still with butterflies in her stomach from their intimacy therapy date, is excited to see him sneak into their room to wake them up.  When he immediately shushes her, however, to surprise Britt, Carly finds fault with the girl where she can.

Carly's got a good point.  Britt's hot pink lipstick is eerily impeccable at 4:30 am.  It looks better than mine looks immediately after applying it.  Naturally, the other girls join in on the Britt hating madness.  Britt said she enjoys being single!  What a horrible thing to say!  She doesn't even shower consistently!  And she gets the date?  Chris is the most confusing man in the world, why does he like a girl that can get ready and look smoking hot in less than five minutes?  We will never understand men!

Meanwhile, Britt and Chris make out in the limo and then go on a sunrise hot air balloon ride while making out.  Next is a visit to Chris's hotel room where they make out and then Chris shuts the doors.  And we are left with only our imaginations.  Ah, ABC, you wily devils, you!

When Britt returns home she tells all the girls of her escapades.  "We took a two hour nap and ordered room service!" she declares triumphantly.  We can't be too sure, but it seems the other girls may be on to her.

Kelsey, meanwhile, is hard at work doing her chess game of strategic dead husband moves.  Britt's date with Chris "presented itself as a threat" and therefore the best time to tell Chris that she is a widow is obviously now.  Two hours before the rose ceremony. Kelsey dolls herself up all fancy and traipses over to Chris's hotel room where he is getting ready for the cocktail party.  Kelsey shares her story, Chris kisses Kelsey, and Kelsey is glowing with certainty that Chris can't send her home now after the dead husband story.  CHECK.  MATE.

It's cocktail party time and Kelsey flaunts in the room with all the confidence in the world.  For someone who had no time with Chris that week, the girls think it weird she be oozing with so much confidence.  When Chris comes into the room he addresses all the women in the room and states that his conversation with Kelsey got him thinking about the importance of life and he needs a little time.  The girls, naturally, are confused as to when Kelsey had said time with Chris.  Kelsey replies with a bunch of wisdom.  Or cliches and nonsense.

"I wanted to protect you guys from that situation!"
"My hands got cold, but my core is warm."
"Every day is a gift."
"Time is so precious."
"Never take life for granted."
"He respects me and my story so much that he's not going to waste our time."

And then, oops, Kelsey lets it slip that she's planning on someone else going home that night, "I'm going to have to say goodbye to one of you tonight."

Chris Harrison delivers a message from Chris Soules that there will be no cocktail party; our bachelor already knows who he is sending home.  Somehow in the confusion Kelsey starts panicking or fake panicking that she might be going home and ends up on the floor yelling.  How we got from point A to point B is very confusing for us all.

In the meantime, Ashley I. has figured out why she may not win the Bachelor after all.

Because no, being a virgin is not nearly as good a "story" as having your husband drop dead on the street.  Sorry, Ash, better luck next time.

ABC must be desperate for ratings because the show ends there- no rose ceremony, no feeling of closure.  We are left to wonder, will Kelsey recover from her panic attack?  Did she make up her "story"? Is it possible for Ashley I. to really be a virgin while simultaneously wearing a dress that shows her butt cheeks?  And will Carly ever find someone to help her with her eyebrows?

So many questions that must be answered!

WHITNEY FOR THE WIN!

More than one thing

Last Sunday night I was feeding June in her rocking chair in her nursery.  My phone pinged; someone had tweeted me.  It was a previous student, and she told me that she missed my class.  I responded that I missed her and her class period, too.  Some classes are just magic.  The chemistry is there between the students, the lessons always seem to go just right, and there is an overall feeling that we all just really like each other.  It's classroom magic, and if I'm lucky I get one period a year that has that magical, sparkly feeling.

She tweeted me again and we started recalling memories- the kid who rapped his prompts, the boy who yelled out the answers during the quizzes, the Italian foreign exchange student who told us that in school in Italy he read books about nuns having sex. (We're all still trying to figure that out.)  A couple of other students from the class joined in via twitter, and I was left that night with so many fond memories of the class and of teaching.

I thought about how much I enjoyed teaching and then I looked down at my little babe, now sleeping in my arms.

And I thought about how much I enjoyed mothering.

I was kind of overwhelmed in that moment with gratitude.  Gratitude for my baby, gratitude for my job.  I never thought I would get to do both.  I used to think that once I became a mom I would have to give up teaching.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I seriously considered continuing to work while I had children.  It is not a decision that is right for everyone, but for me it is absolutely the right decision.  I am grateful to my principal who worked with my schedule and let me work part time.  I'm grateful to my school for having a daycare where June can stay and where I can feed her during my break.  I am grateful that my school makes it easy for women like me to work.  I am grateful to my husband who supports my desires to work.  I am grateful to my June bug who willingly allows other people to hold her, kiss her, cuddle her so that I can teach seventeen year olds how to write killer thesis statements.

Balance is a tricky thing and I don't know that I'll ever have my life all balanced out.  But working every other day might be the closest I'll ever come.  The days I am home I feel so grateful to be there- I genuinely enjoy throwing the laundry in, running the errands, playing with my baby.  And then the next day I go to work and I feel so grateful to be there.  To get out of the house, to associate with adults, to contribute to society.  If I taught every day this year I think I would resent my job- resent it for keeping me from my baby.  If I stayed at home every day this year I think I would resent my baby- for changing my life so drastically, for taking me away from a job that I love.

I know that my situation is not the norm. But I wish it were. I wish all women could work part time if they so chose. I wish all women could have their baby downstairs in day care to feed during lunch.  I wish all bosses were more willing to work with female employees so that they could have children and continue working at a job they enjoy and are good at.  I have had countless women, most of them teachers (and fantastic ones at that), tell me that they would love to still work if they had a situation similar to mine.  Some have told me their bosses were unwilling to work with part time teachers.  Most have told me that they don't have daycare that is onsite.  Right now situations like mine are few and far between, but I hope that we get to the point that that isn't the case.  Is it too much to dream of onsite daycare for all jobs employing a large amount of women?  Of bosses who don't consider you of less value if you only choose to work 20 or 30 works a week?

This isn't to say that this is the system that will always work for me and my family. When more kids come along it may be much trickier.  But for this year it has been perfect.  I don't ever let myself feel guilty for working, and I don't ever let myself feel guilty for staying at home.  On both fronts I consider myself to be doing important work- and work that I truly enjoy. I don't have to choose between the two.

Bon's Book Club January: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

HOW IT WORKS

Every month we read a book.  On the selected day, we talk about it. (Generally the last Thursday of the month).  I will do my darndest to post questions ahead of time so that you can be thinking of possible discussion topics as you read.

Join in for whatever books you can.  I know you are all busy, and you might not be able to read all the books. (Or be interested in reading all the books!)  Read what you want and comment on what you want.  Some readers write their own review on their blog and then link up to it, others just write their thoughts in the comments- it's up to you!  If you write your own post and link up, please slap the image above on your post! Grazi!

JANUARY BOOK:

WONDER by R.J. PALACIO

Questions:
+ What did you think of Palacio's style of point of view- switching up who was telling the story so often?  What did you like and not like about it?
+ Did you read The Julian chapters?  Did you like them?
+ Who was your favorite minor character? (Not Auggie)

+ What did Palacio do in telling this story to make it "real" for you?

+ How did Wonder affect you emotionally?

This month my book club co-host is Casie.  Here our Casie's thoughts on the book:

Thank you, Bonnie, for sharing this book discussion with me! I'm very honored to be "hanging" with you. 

It took me two days to read Wonder. The chapters are short, the print isn't tiny, and it gets you sucked in from the beginning instead of taking a while to build up the characters like most books do. I loved the simpleness of it and how it tugged my emotions. I really felt like I was hanging out with some kids who were telling me their story. One of my favorite parts was when August's sister's boyfriend stood up for August's friend, Jack, when a couple of boys teased him for being friends with a "deformed freak". Wonder is a great book, for children and adults, about what it's like to be a child and a friend, how how hard it is to be teased and judged based on your appearance, and sticking up for others. This kid, Auggie, made me laugh and cry. He reminded me to look past the appearance and into the person, and to be hopeful that others will do the same for me.  

My children will read Wonder when they're a bit older. I bought it for the book exchange my family does among the kids for Christmas- Ty is in 6th grade. I've recommended it to other mothers and single women. A story that reminds us to be caring is one everyone should read. 

And... here are my thoughts:

I didn't know that the book was told from so many different point of views until I finished Auggie's first section and the POV switched.  At first I was a little bugged, but I feel like Palacio did a really good job of this.  It gave extra depth and understanding to the book that we could see it from so many different perspectives.  I especially loved when it switched to the point of view of Via, Auggie's sister.  I had been so absorbed with everything Auggie experienced and then suddenly I was made aware of the struggles from the other side, too.  It was this ah-ha moment of Auggie is not the only one in the world with problems.  Makes me want to open my eyes more to those around me instead of being absorbed in my own problems.

My one issue I had with the point of views is that I felt like they were all still the same voice.  Auggie sounded just like Jack.  Via sounded just like Miranda.  I understand the difficulty of switching the voice for all the characters so I'm not too hung up on it, but I did notice.

One thing I loved about the book is that the whole time I was reading it I was bracing myself for the big, awful thing that was going to happen any minute.  The story is about a boy with a facial deformity going to school for the first time.  So I just waited and waited for the kids to do their terrible, cruel prank or whatever was going to happen.  And then when the book ended with everyone standing up for him and being nice to him, I was strangely overwhelmed.  There was no big "mean thing" that the kids did to him.  The book wasn't about kids being mean, it was about kids being nice.  I loved it.

I also really really loved the Julian chapters at the end.  I appreciated that Palacio tried to get us inside the head of the "villian" instead of keeping him just a one dimensional bad guy. (Although the voice for Julian drove me crazy!)  Julian's grandma was beautiful and again, I just loved the overall message of kindness and goodness that the book taught.  After reading the Julian chapters I was very interested in Julian's mom's perspective- now that would have been interesting.  Come on, Palacio, release more chapters!

Oh- I also loved the English teacher and all of his precepts.  English teachers are the bomb, aren't they?  My favorite one was "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind."

AND of course I loved the principal's speech at the end.  Some parts I highlighted-

"Shall we make a new rule of life... always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?  Because it's not enough to be kind.  One should be kinder than needed.  Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness."

"Greatness lies not in being strong but in the right using of strength... He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts."

This book really stuck with me.  When I was nearing the end I started reading slower because I was trying to draw out the experience- that's how much I loved it.  It inspired me and continues to inspire me to choose kind.  In fact, the book was the basis for my New Year's resolution this year.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts!  Leave a comment or if you wrote your own review, link it up!  Both Casie and I will be responding to comments as well as reading your posts that you link up and responding to those.  Let's talk book!

February's book is My Story by Elizabeth Smart.  It is fascinating!  

I can't wait to talk about it with all of you.  

Email me at thelifeofbon@gmail.com if you are interested in co-hosting book club for February.

  

Introducing Manila Bean!

Hi folks!

Meet one of my best friends in the whole world, Akasha.

Everyone say "Hi Akasha!"

This is Akasha and me when we lived in Hawaii when we were twenty years old.  Life was tough at twenty, wasn't it?  

Akasha might be the sweetest, most genuine person I have ever met.  I love her a million times over.  

Turns out along with being one of the kindest people I know, Akasha is also extremely talented and motivated.  She and her sister, Kalista, have poured their hearts and souls into a new business venture the past few months.  Kalista lives in the Phillipines (Do I capitalize the?!?) and through their business they are providing work for countless Filipino people as well as giving back to the country and the people in it.  They are generous and smart and talented and one day I just know I'm going to see them on Shark Tank.  Here's Akasha to explain it all.

Hey everyone!

Bonnie is one of my life-long best friends, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to share a little about my business today! 

Manila Bean is a philanthropy centered company that sells hand-crafted products from native artisans in the Philippines. We believe in preserving the rich culture of Philippine hand-woven textiles, and enabling Filipino artisans to continue their craft. Our Django moccasins and shoes were designed by Antonio "Django" Valmores in 1992, and are made on the beautiful island of Boracay. 

They are 100% genuine leather, and the shoes are made with recycled airplane tires- making them Eco-friendly, stylish, and unique. Check out our site here and follow us on instagram (@manilabean) to learn more about life in the Philippines, new products, and how we give back! 

(And don't forget to use coupon code bon20 for 20% off our Django shoes valid through Feb 2nd!) 

And because Akasha is so sweet, she sent June a pair to try out.  We're kind of in love.  Here's June, doing here baby modeling business.  Get your own pair here and don't forget to use the discount!  (Also, I swear, June LOVES it when I dress her up and take pictures of her.  She's an odd duck.)

(Disclaimer:  The shoes on June are a bit big because I want her to be able to wear them mainly in spring and summer.  If you order your child's correct size, the shoes will be snugger than the ones in the pictures.)

Let's get ready to Wonder!

See what I did there?

The first 2015 meeting for Bon's Book Club is on Thursday, yo!  Today's Tuesday.  That means you've got two days to finish the book.  If you haven't started yet, don't sweat it!  It's a super fast read.  Give yourself a couple of hours one night and you're golden.  You won't regret reading it- it was my favorite book that I read in 2014. (P.S.  You should definitely read the section that came out later- the Julian chapters.  They really bring the whole book together.)

Just a quick recap of how this is going to go down.  Read the book. Come to this blog on Thursday to read my and Casie's thoughts on this. (Casie=this month's co-host.)  Add your own thoughts.  Answer the questions below if you feel so inclined.  Write your own post and link it up if you feel so inclined.

 Here's the questions!  These are for you to think about and answer on Thursday.  Not today!

+ What did you think of Palacio's style of point of view- switching up who was telling the story so often?  What did you like and not like about it?
+ Did you read The Julian chapters?  Did you like them?
+ Favorite minor character? (Not Auggie)

+ What did Palacio do in telling this story to make it "real" for you?

+ How did Wonder affect you emotionally?

Annnnnnnd some other non book related stuff for your Tuesday pleasure:

+ I am getting ready for February's advertising options.  Let me know if you are interested in a boost or a Saturday takeover.  Details can be found here.

+ If you are a "my house always smells good" kind of gal, there's tons of stuff on sell in the scentsy world.  Click here for warmers, waxes, body washes that are all being closed out and ON SELL.  (And if you do buy, please order through the February party because you are awesome.)

My French daughter had a birthday!

It has been two months since Agathe has joined our family and lived in our home.  Thursday she celebrated her birthday.  Seventeen!  What an accomplishment!  I still remember when I turned seventeen.  I waited until it was exactly midnight and then I made my then twelve year old sister run out into the backyard with me and yell “I’m seventeen!”  Even though she was only twelve. (I was a very bossy older sister, let the record show.)  Then I started singing “Seveteen” by Tim McGraw.  My dad yelled out his bedroom window.  I thought he has going to yell at me to shut up, but instead he yelled “Happy Birthday Bopper!”  Seventeen felt pretty good.

And now I have my very own seventeen year old living in my house with me! In the flesh! What is it like? What is it like? People ask me all the livelong day.

The short answer is it’s kind of weird.  Because yesterday I was seventeen and now I am responsible for someone who is seventeen and, wow, life flips on you fast, doesn’t it?

It is weird in the same way that it’s weird when a six foot four inch tall, 300 pound football player asks me if he can go to the bathroom.  Yes, of course you can go to the bathroom and why in the world would you come and ask me, some short blonde, if you can go pee?

Oh, right.  Because I’m you’re teacher.  But still.  Stop asking me to go to the bathroom, you’re a grown man, for crying out loud.

That’s the kind of weird it is.  Like when Agathe asks me if it’s alright if she goes for a run now.  Or she’s thinking about going out with friends on Friday, is that okay with me?  And Tuesday she has a foreign exchange meeting at the library at seven, just so I know.  And I’m like what the heck?  Why are you telling me this?  Why are you asking me if you can hang with friends?  Do what you want!  Be free, bird, be free!  And then I remember that she’s seventeen.

It’s weird for me to be a “mom” in this way- a totally different way that I am a “mom” to June.  Being a mom to June is easy.  I feed her, I make sure she sleeps, I dress her warm.  I’m responsible for big things, like her not rolling down the stairs.  Being a mom to Agathe is so much more complicated, though.  Should I let her stay out this late?  Is she making good choices? Is she happy?  Is she making friends? Is she going to have a date to prom?  Does she feel comfortable in our home?  Does she feel loved?  

Hard as it may be to "raise" a teenager, though, Agathe is certainly the easiest teen in the bunch.  She's responsible, mature, and remembers things that I definitely forgot at her age.  She helps with chores every day, always offers to lend a hand when making dinner or doing dishes.  She laughs easily, especially when Greg and I tease her about language gaps. ("I had a big think" she declares and then we laugh and she laughs, and we say we understand because I lived in Argentina and Greg lived in Russia and learning a new language is seriously the hardest.)  She runs five miles almost every day and likes to watch shows like "Selfie" and "Switched at Birth."  I try to give her crap but she reminds me of my "Teen Mom" addiction and I shut up.  She says she doesn't miss home, but then when she gets a package from France she brushes back tears.  She's down for anything and always offers to accompany me on my ever exciting trips to the grocery store or post office.  She adores June.  We are so blessed to have her in our home.

For Agathe's birthday I told her I would make her any dinner in the world.  She thought about it for a day and then told me she would like "salmon and pasta."  Salmon and pasta?  Who's ever heard of such a combination? I asked if it were a certain recipe and she said no, she would just like some salmon and also some pasta please.  So, I did some research a la the internet and came up with a salmon leek white wine creme fraiche diddy.  And it was good.

Now, pictures.

Joyeux Anniversaire Agathe!

The best chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER

 I have searched high and low in my life for a chocolate chip cookie recipe that would satisfy all my needs for a chocolate chip cookie.  Sweet, soft, fluffy, and extra chocolatey.  And for awhile I thought I was doomed at making cookies and to just abandon all hope because they never turned out.  They were burnt or the chocolate was no bueno or they were flat.  Nine times out of time they were flat.  I googled all sorts of ways to unflatten your cookies but nothing worked. And google told me unflatten isn't a word.

So I gave up.  I'd never learn to make a perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Then I went to visit my friend, Kristen.  Kristen's an old college roomie of mine and she makes parenting look like a day at the spa.  Also, whenever I go to visit Kristen she offers me a diet coke when I arrive and when I leave and, by golly, that's my kind of friend!

Last time when I was over she really outdid herself and offered me cookies to boot.  I ate three while sitting on her couch and then she sent me home with a whole plate full of them.  

I ate them all that night.  Twas the best chocolate chip cookie I had ever had!

Naturally, I demanded the recipe.  She texted it to me.  I was happy.  But still doubtful.  I have tried lots of yummy cookies, but when I try to make them they never turn out.  But this one turned out!  More than turned out, I hit a home run!  That's right, chicas, even I couldn't mess up this chocolate chip cookie recipe. 

I have now made these cookies once or twice a week for the past six weeks.  It's getting kind of gross.  But also kind of awesome.  And now, without further ado, the sweetest, softest cookie you ever did eat, via my college roommate, Kristen.  She is a domestic goddess. 

2 sticks butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
Mix.
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Mix
2 cups flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 bag Guittard milk chocolate chips.
Mix

Bake for ten minutes (and only ten minutes!) at 350 degrees.

(IMPORTANT THINGS:  Details matter!  Use BUTTER not margarine.  Use OLD FASHIONED OATS not quick oats.  Use GUITTARD milk chocolate chips because that is what really really puts these cookies in a league of their own.)

You're welcome.

After you have eaten these cookies and declared them the best cookies you ever did eat please send me an email and let me know.  I will forward it on to Kristen so we can truly know that good we are doing in this world.

 AROUND THE WEB:

+ Loved this blogger's way of doing resolutions this year- it's all about "growth".

+ My heart broke when I read a four time teacher of the year  from Virginia explaining why he is leaving the classroom.  Some of his biggest reasons are too many hoops, obsession with flawed assessments, and unfair compensation for educators.  On "hoops":  "Every year, our district invents new goals, measuring sticks, time-consuming documentation, modified schedules, and evaluations.  As a district, we pretend these are strategic adjustments. They are not. The growth calculator was essentially brought forward out of thin air, SMART goals are a weak attempt to prove we’re actually doing something in the classroom, etc. Bad teachers can game any system; good teachers can lose their focus trying to take new requirements seriously."

+ My favorite article I read this week was shared by a college professor of mine on facebook; 10 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Incredibly Happy.  (Hint:  Plan a trip!  Even if you don't go on it.)

+ And THIS chart proves it's never too late to publish your first novel.  Tay Tay, this one's for you.