Speaking of Easy

This week’s update comes to you from a hotel room—where I’ve been juggling my online classes and, truthfully, not much else. That means no new personal photos to share, but I’m still linking up with Momfessionals and A Little Bit of Everything to highlight a few of my favorites from the week!

🎙️Cabot Coverage Podcast

This one might be a bit niche, but if there are any Murder, She Wrote fans out there, you have to check out the Cabot Coverage podcast! I’ve shared before why I love rewatching Murder, She Wrote, but my love doesn’t stop with the show itself. This podcast—hosted by a trio of sisters and a family friend—dives into one episode at a time, and their conversations are always fun, lighthearted, and full of personality.

I started listening a couple of years ago and recently I have been happily working my way through the backlog of episodes. Their chats feel like the kind I could easily jump into myself. I’m constantly learning new tidbits about guest stars and behind-the-scenes details, and they often introduce me to other shows or movies I end up loving. It’s a cozy listen that makes me feel seen—and if you’re a fellow MSW fan, I think you’ll feel the same way.

🍪Doubletree Inn Cookies

One of the sweetest parts of my week? Staying at a Doubletree Inn and getting those warm, gooey cookies from the front desk each night! It’s such a small gesture, but it never fails to make my day. There’s just something about ending the evening with a fresh-from-the-oven cookie that feels like a little bit of home while on the road. Definitely one of my favorite perks of staying at a Doubletree!

🏫Getting to know new students

The first week of summer classes is in full swing, and it’s been a busy one—especially with all the discussion boards! I know these kinds of assignments can feel a bit overwhelming (and sometimes dreaded) from the student side, but I try to make them valuable. They give me a window into who my students are and help create a sense of community, even in an online format.

This week, students participated in a variety of activities:

• Text-based Introductions: They shared where they’re from, their favorite food, and a hobby they love—along with a photo if they had one. It’s such a fun way to break the ice and find unexpected common ground.
• Video-based Strategy Sharing: After reading an article on how to succeed in online courses, they posted videos discussing their top two strategies and added one of their own. I loved hearing their perspectives and seeing them already take ownership of their learning.
• Video-based Communication Takeaways: Students reviewed “Crafting Content for Virtual Communication” and “How to Make Virtual Meetings Feel More Real.” Then, they posted videos incorporating strategies from the readings and shared key takeaways.
• Small Group Discussion: They also joined a small group discussion focused on a chapter about the communication process. It gave them a chance to collaborate and dive deeper into course concepts early on.
• Zoom Orientation Sessions: I hosted short Zoom sessions with groups of 6–9 students to introduce Zoom tools they’ll use for speeches. We talked about replicating the classroom experience with different views in Zoom and how to share their screen effectively. We even had a quick “Show and Tell,” where I got to meet some adorable cats and learn a bit more about each student!

It’s a lot—they’re essentially doing a week’s worth of learning every day—but they’re handling it with enthusiasm so far. These discussions not only help students feel more connected, they help me get to know them better, too. I’m already looking forward to their self-introduction speeches next week!

📸Photos and Videos from our Pet Sitter

I love that I get to see my dogs and cats in photos and videos every couple of days. I miss them, but I also appreciate the time away from their constant chaos. 😼 Our pet sitter is great about sharing updates, photos and videos every day or two and I love seeing them. I do look forward to being home in a little over a week and spending some quality time with them.

Well, that’s it for my photoless week! Check in next Friday for what is sure to be a FULL Friday Faves since we have a lot of touristy plans next week! If anyone has some suggestions for great places to eat or visit in the greater Los Angeles area, please let me know. With the protests, we will likely be avoiding the downtown area near the Federal Building, but I have found the rest of LA to be pretty unaffected in my one trip towards the downtown area and on social media.