Right out the gate I need to tell you that this won't be a book everyone will enjoy, but the psychological suspense fan in me absolutely loved it, albeit dark and complex. After reading The Push back in the fall, I knew Baby Teeth would be a great follow-up and I couldn't have been more right. Baby Teeth is an uncomfortable, horrifying account of a little girl who loves her Daddy and would love nothing more than to see her mommy dead. YIKES. Again, not for everyone!!!!! This story is told from two different perspectives: Hanna (7-year-old child) and her mom, Suzette. Hanna is manipulative and diabolical and wants her daddy all to ... Read More
One Italian Summer, by Rebecca Serle
What can I say?! One Italian Summer, by Rebecca Serle sucked me in from the beginning and didn't spit me out until the very last page. This book wasn't at all what I was expecting, but a great read nonetheless. I'm a HUGE fan of stories full of magical realism and that's exactly what this book was to me. One Italian Summer finds our main character, Katy, lost and grieving. The love of her life & best friend (her mother) dies after her battle with cancer and Katy is left reeling in the wake of her passing. The two women planned a mother/daughter trip to the Amalfi Coast in Italy before her mom's untimely death and Katy decides to ... Read More
The Body in Question, by Jill Ciment
To kick off the month, I started with a quick read that can best be described as interesting. The Body in Question, by Jill Ciment, is cleverly written and easy to digest. If you enjoy a good legal drama, this one might be right up your alley. A teenage girl stands accused of killing her toddler brother and a jury is selected to deliberate her guilt or innocence. The actual trial takes a backseat in this fast paced story and the sequestered jury takes center stage. This story is more about what goes on behind courtroom doors moreso than the trial itself. The Body in Question explores the relationships amongst the members of the jury ... Read More
Cheesy Tortellini & Beef
An all-in-one pan kind of meal is a favorite...especially when it takes 20 minutes start to finish! ... Read More
Easy Red Beans & Rice
Here's a quick and easy recipe that's sure to please...especially if you're a fan of creole comfort food! This easy red beans and rice dish requires minimal ingredients and prep time and takes a total of 20 minutes start to finish. Tastes amazing, too! ... Read More
Gustavo The Shy Ghost
One of my favorite read alouds to share this time of the year is Gustavo The Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago. Gustavo The Shy Ghost is a story about a shy ghost who's just too shy to make any friends, but he really wants to try. It's such a well written and beautifully illustrated story and a perfect read aloud for any time of the year, but especially timely for Día de los Muertos. I love this book for all sorts of reasons and it's such a great choice for a class read aloud. There are so many different topics and skills that can be addressed before/during/after reading. While there are many different SEL lessons you can pull ... Read More
Halloween Costume Dinner Party
This year we decided to host our 1st annual costume dinner party. Halloween is our favorite holiday of the year and we wanted to do something special for, and with, our friends. We told our guests to arrive in costume and we'd take care of everything else. It couldn't have been more incredible!!! So let's talk details, shall we?! DECOR While I was in the planning process, I knew I wanted to host our dinner party in the backyard. We have a pretty perfect space to set up a long table + games and it's a lot less stuffy outside than it is indoors. I borrowed a few tables from one of our friends and used the chairs we had sitting ... Read More
Laundry Room Makeover
Our washing machine recently bit the dust after a good 10 year run. In all honesty, I was secretly THRILLED to finally get rid of our front loader. Truth be told, it just wasn't my favorite...especially toward the end. After a lengthy conversation with our repairman about the life span of different washers and dryers, we decided that a basic model would be best...y'know, a washer like grandma used ;) A top loader with an agitator and NO electronics. We ended up with the Maytag Commercial Grade High-Efficiency Top-Load Washer & Electric Dryer Set. Our previous washer and dryer set were big and bulky and made our small laundry room ... Read More
Clear the Lists
It should go without saying, but just in case you need the reminder, teachers are everyday heroes. Truly. And if their ability to effectively teach during a pandemic (either virtually, in-person, or asynchronously) didn't convince you, I'm not sure what will. And whether you believe it or not, facts are facts :) There's nothing I love more than working with teachers and I'm always chomping at the bit this time of the year to help in any way I can. I know the time and money teachers selflessly spend in their classrooms trying to make their learning environment a comfortable space that engages each learner. It's more than they have to ... Read More
Easy Cleaning Schedule
Cleaning has never been my favorite. The last thing I want to do after a long day at work is clean. But I do love having a clean house. Some seasons of life lend themselves to my house being a lot cleaner than others (I'm sure you can relate!) My oldest is innately a sort of self-proclaimed "neat freak". Without being asked, he's usually the first to take out the trash, pick up his room, tidy up shared spaces, and load the dishwasher because he genuinely doesn't enjoy a mess. It puts him in an angsty teenage mood when there's a lot of disarray and he tends to get out of sorts and befuddled in the midst of clutter. To the ... Read More
