Meeting Jason Reynolds

I was lucky enough to snag a ticket to listen to Jason Reynolds and Raul the Third at An Unlikely Story, hosted by Jeff Kinney. 

While Jason was there to promote his newest book, I was there because his book Long Way Down fundamentally changed my class. My resistant readers, 9th graders with elementary grade reading skills, loved Long Way Down. They were reading and reading ahead. They were analyzing poetry and figurative language. They were making predictions and writing what they thought the ending should be. They asked to read more books by him. 

I missed Act 1 of Ty’s play (I saw the whole thing last night), but just being in his presence was something else. For a guy who says “I don’t write to teach lessons, I just write to entertain”, he’s helped a whole bunch of people learn to enjoy reading. 

Forever humbled to have been able to meet him.

Happy New Year - a 40 by 40 update

Happy New Year!

It's crazy to think another year has gone by. It was a big year - I traveled so much and bought my own home! Things I didn't think I'd be able to to do, I did! Next month I turn 38 and I'll have two more years to work on this list. 

I'm finding my list is changing as I thought about what I want to accomplish this coming year, but for now, I'll keep this going and see what it looks like in two more years!

6. Go on a cruise. - We have one scheduled for next month! Nick, the kids, and I are going to the Bahamas on a Royal Caribbean cruise and I am both terrified and excited. 

4. Do the AFSP Overnight walk NOT in Massachusetts or New York - I completed the walk in DC in 2023 and it was absolutely amazing. Post Covid, my cardio health is way down and I was really proud of myself for making it through the 20 miles. It was especially wonderful to see Nick in the Medical tent at the halfway point - he really pumped me up to finish!

8. Cross stitch something - I bought a kit and I am so excited to give it a try!

I've got a good dent on things, I just need to keep working through (and focus on some fitness stuff - oops!) and see what else I can accomplish!

40 by 40

TRAVEL

1. Disney World or Disney Land with the kids (again) - August 2021

2. Lego Land in New York - check! So much fun!

3. Travel internationally - Europe ideally Iceland in February 2022!

4. Harry Potter World - Another we checked off on our trip!

5. Go to a Tropical Island

6. Go on a cruise. 

7. Go on a road trip that's at least a week long a different place every night or two. - this was unreal! Check out the post all about it!

8. Fly 1st class.  - this was a surprise! On our way to Nashville, we got a free upgrade!

9. Go Glamping/ Stay in a Tree house

10. Camp at least 10 days in the five years

       - We did 3 nights to celebrate my sister's graduation - June 2021

11. Go to Ohana at Disney or real Luau in Hawaii.

12. See 5 National Parks

            1. El Yunque, Puerto Rico 2/23

13. Go to an all-inclusive resort

14. Make a bucket list of travel locations  - done and done - check out my list here.

15. Get a new passport 

16. Visit 5 new states

    - California to see my brother and North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee this summer!

FITNESS

1. Try Barre or a new type of fitness class

2. Bench a full plate on each side

3. Run an in person 5k or 10k.

4. Run a half marathon.

5. Do a pull up

6. Try a pole fit class

FOOD

1. Try a juice cleanse

2. Eat vegetarian or vegan for a week

3. Go to a fancy dinner and splurge without looking at menu prices - Nick and I went to a deliciously amazing steak house.  We ordered amazing steaks and sides and drinks and didn't pay attention to the bill.  It helped that it was even less than we expected, but it was such a fun experience since it's so out of the ordinary for us!

4. One month take out/fast food free

5. Try barbeque in the south - so many times on our road trip. It. Was. Amazing.

6. Tip 100% on a bill /$20 on a small bill

FOR WORK

1. Take a spanish or ASL class - I signed up for DuoLingo Spanish! I'm a couple weeks in and I'm relearning so much.

2. Masters + 30 or a CAGS

FOR ME

1. Be comfortable in my body

2. Get another tattoo

3. Buy a piece of art -- real art, not a print from Marshalls/Home Goods  I was beyond excited to support my former co-worker at SAPedrosa.com. I bought the most gorgeous print, but hope to buy this one day when I own my own house again and can decorate.

4. Do the AFSP Overnight walk NOT in Massachusetts or New York - I completed the walk in DC in 2023 and it was absolutely amazing. Post Covid, my cardio health is way down and I was really proud of myself for making it through the 20 miles. It was especially wonderful to see Nick in the Medical tent at the halfway point - he really pumped me up to finish!

5. Unplug completely for 24 hours

6. A spa day  I originally meant this as a massage and facial and all that, but we ended up at Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik and it was the most amazing, relaxing spa experience.

7. Try diamond painting or another new craft with Em

8. Cross stitch something

9. Take a baking class -- cookies or cake decorating.

10. Pay off the car