Making the Most of Summer Break: Halfway Check In

summer of intentionality 2013

Oh my goodness, friends, I just realized we have hit the halfway mark for summer break 2013. *gulp*

It’s both good and bad news. I’ll leave the bad news up to you, but the good news is there is still time to make some summer break plans to learn, to do and to read.

Have you made your list of things to learn, to do and to read yet?

Here’s my update:

Summer of Intentionality 2013:

Things I Want to Learn:

Skype – – I have used it and am LOVING IT! It feels nothing short of a miracle every time it works. My dad asked me a “technical” question about how Skype works the other day on a video chat and my answer was “It’s magic!” and that pretty much sums up how I feel about the whole thing. I totally wish I would have started using it earlier.

Hootsuite – I’ll just say there is still time in the summer for me to give it a go.

Movie Maker – I’ve been playing around with camera placement, lighting and getting ideas together. Look for some new videos from me in the next few months.

Student Motivation – I am so excited to be learning about the research behind motivation. More on that below.

Things I Want to Do:

My Activities:

Yoga class twice a week at It’s All Yoga – a work in progress! I’m going to class more than I have been in the last couple months, but not making that twice a week goal. Something to work on.

Daily restorative yoga – dude. I need to get on this one.

Manicure – Must schedule appointment.

Pedicure – Must schedule appointment. Is this a good time to talk about my fear of getting oglies from getting a pedicure? Because I really think that is what is holding me back.

Foot massage -Someone may need to hold my hand on this one.

90 Minute full body massage July AND August appointments are on the books.

Road trip to see Rhett Miller with friends. Show tickets are purchased. Now we need to rent a car and find good places to sleep. I may also try to convince my friend to go to a restorative yoga class in SF.

Ride my bike for errands. – Dude, where’s my bike?

Nap in a hammock.- The hammock has been put together and has clocked lots of reading hours. The cat and the kid fight over who gets to try to knock me off. Needless to say, I may have to switch this from napping to reading. Just for safety if nothing else.

Make pie. Good god, I love pie. – So many pies have been made and consumed this summer.

Family activities:

Visit Minnesota grandparents – DONE

Visit Bay Area grandparents – DONE several times!

Visit Mendo County grandparents – in the scheduling process.

Visit Portland friends – they are coming here instead of me going there. Two on the books.

Visit the swimming pool several times a week as a family – Best.Idea.Ever. We’ve been meeting another family there for dinner and swimming more nights and it is simply the best. I’m going to be sad when summer ends.

Ride bikes as a family. – I am not even sure where my bike is at this point.

Go to the farmer’s market together. – So far it’s been teams of two, not three, but we go several times a week.

Cook outside at the pool and eat dinner there. – We haven’t cooked there, but we’ve brought lots of picnic food with us. I love summer food! Especially when it is shared with good friends.

Fruit picking – DONE

Late add: Walk across the Golden Gate Bridge – on the schedule

Late add: Tuesday Night BBQ – on the schedule

Things I Want to Read:

Complete the summer reading program at the library.

 Just Kids by Patti Smith – It was so different than what I thought it was going to be I have to say I was just surprised. I liked it, not loved it. I learned a lot, but completely different stuff than I had anticipated.

Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness – I have it, but haven’t started it yet.

Steal Like An Artist – by Austin Kleon. I reviewed it here.

Uncertainty by Jonathan Fields – I have it, but haven’t started it yet.

Mindset by Carol Dweck – I’m almost finished with it and if I have seen you in person recently I’ve told you to read it. Can’t wait to tell you more about it.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – I’m on page 556 and I’m still in, so it must be good.

That’s my mid summer update!

 How are you making the most of what’s left of summer break?

In Case You Missed It Edition, Volume 17

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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My Best Of…

Hollee over at The New Perfect talks about how she hates blogging because she feels every post must be perfect (holla). She also admits she may have a tiny author crush on our favorite TED talk (researcher) storyteller,  Brene Brown who wrote a new book called  The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.

I’d love to start a book club with this book. Are you interested?

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Monday marks the 100th day of school for me which means 80 more until summer break! J and I are already talking about taking a trip this summer to….. wait for it…… San Francisco!

We grew up across the Bay from the City and now even though we live within 2 hours, we’ve never spent a proper holiday there. When we travel to SF, we do our thing and return either to the East Bay for a slumber party with friends or overnight with his mom or drive all the way back to Sacramento to sleep in our own bed.

Not this time! We’ve decided it is time to take the plunge and stay a few days in The City and play tourist.

Please leave a comment about your favorite thing to do, place to stay, and food not to miss in San Francisco.

The Simple Dollar also serves up 10 Things To Look For When Planning a Summer Vacation if you are also looking for inexpensive ways to fund your summer vacation.

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Curvy Girls Unite!

I love, love, love Frocks and Frou Frou and this post Breaking the Rules knocks it out of the park. Lilly, the model and author behind this inspiring fashion blog, takes on the fashion do’s and don’ts.

Yoga Journal is holding a cover model talent search. Anna, the brilliant mind behind Curvy Yoga, is advocating that all the curvy yoga peeps submit their pictures for consideration. She’s taking it a step further and is asking for photos for an upcoming post featuring all the curvy folks in their favorite poses.

Wouldn’t you love to see more realistic body shapes on the cover of Yoga Journal?

I am totally in.

We’re thinking about setting up a little photo shoot – want to join in the fun?

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Wolves – I laughed until I cried. It’s wrong, but it’s funny.

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Cleanse update:  It’s OVER!

Please don’t think I am going to return to my earlier ways. At least not all of them – I feel too good to go back now. I learned a lot this month:

I am, indeed, gluten intolerant.  Rice substitutes are quite delicious and fairly easily available so I’ll keep those.

Dairy has been on my mind for a month and I am hoping to have a smooth reintroduction. Visions of gulping a gallon of milk while holding a fist full of cheese have been dancing around in my head for a while, but I think I’ll take it slow. I would hate to over do it.

Cleanse-worthy dishes are quite delicious. All it takes it some planning, shopping, chopping and applying heat before you eat. Keeping in mind this is an act of self-care/love will help keep that in perspective.

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives -click it to see them all.

Summer Reading Program – Who is with me?

I love libraries.

I’ve got a special place in my heart for Sacramento Public Library.

All the free books you can possibly read.

The music CDs, DVDs and ebooks.

and now this –

Summer Reading BINGO!

Yes, a summer reading program for ADULTS!

Just like when you were a kid, only better!

Anyone want to join me???

All you have to do is complete a row of activities on a bingo card to claim a prize {book bag!!!} and be entered into the drawing for one of the grand prizes.

Not to worry if you don’t, I’ll totally win all those awesome prizes myself!

  • Sony Reader with a $25 Reader Store gift card
  • iPod Touch with a $25 iTunes gift card {could have used this yesterday}
  • Nintendo DSi with a $25 Target gift card
  • Target gift card
  • Click here to sign up!

    Saturday Senses

    Saturday Senses is a way to capture the spirit of each week.  

       

    Sad Panda: Ian

     

    tasting ::  bourbon and ginger ale {summer break is a beautiful thing} 

    hearing :: old favorite records road trip sing-a-long style {what are your favorite sing-a-long albums?} 

    smelling :: burt’s bees naturally nourishing milk and honey body lotion 

    seeing :: dear friends from junior high and high school. {el sob #1} 

    feeling :: a bit melancholy. I miss Matt and Ian has been really needy this week. Poor kitty.  

      

    What are your senses this Saturday?  Looking back, how was your week?  

    Leave me a comment to tell me made your week memorable.  

    This weekly tradition was inspired by Pink of Perfection’s Five Sense Friday.

    Saturday Senses

    I’ve been inspired by Pink of Perfection’s Five Sense Friday to start a new tradition at Teacher Goes Back to School: Saturday Senses!

    tasting :: earl grey tea. It’s like perfume in a cup in the best possible way.

    hearing :: Vetiver: Things of the Past

    smelling :: freshly cut grass {a-choo!}

    seeing :: possibility for new exciting projects

    feeling :: grateful for the every other Friday massages from the always lovely Tess Bradley.

    What are your senses this Saturday?

    {click on image for source}