Well, I had the best of intentions to get in the groove of posting on the blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. But let’s be honest—over the Summer it was hard to even keep track of what day it was, and the plan slipped by more than once. Now that School has started, the days are a little more structured… but wow. School is a lot. Especially early on. Honestly, it’s a lot all year.
That said, I had an excellent first week back teaching and administrating. There’s something energizing about reconnecting with students, diving into big plans, and seeing ideas come alive in the classroom. By Friday, though, I was just DONE—completely out of gas. Still, I didn’t want to let another week slip by without checking in here.
So, thank you for hanging with me as I get my feet under me and figure out a schedule that works. My hope is to carve out a set time each week to write and share, because this space matters to me. It’s where I get to reflect, process, and hopefully connect with you in the middle of the beautiful chaos that is teaching and life.
Here’s to finding rhythm in the mess and showing up, even imperfectly. So, I’m joining Friday Favorites over at Momfessionals and A Little Bit of Everything again. Thanks to them for leaving the linky open for a few days after Friday! Here goes!
Another Busy Girl Scout Week!
This week was another full one in the world of Girl Scouts! My last Favorite Friday was all about Girl Scout adventures, and here we are again with a calendar packed to the brim.
On Monday, my troop gathered for a meeting where we kicked off planning for our October Hal”low”een Party. Every year, we host younger girls for a fun event where they learn about Juliette Gordon Low—the founder of Girl Scouts, whose birthday happens to fall on Halloween—and get a taste of the Girl Scout way. It’s one of my favorite traditions, and I love seeing the older girls take the lead in creating something special for the younger ones.
On Tuesday, we celebrated last year’s Teens Take Over crew with a “fancy dinner” out—something they had chosen for the event wrap up. We chose a local Italian restaurant, and it did not disappoint! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lively, and the girls looked absolutely amazing all dressed up. It was such a sweet way to recognize all the hard work they poured into planning last year’s overnight event.
Wednesday brought our Service Unit team meeting, where we focused on organizing our first big event of the year for troop leaders. That one is coming up on September 10, and I’m excited to see it come together. My job – putting together a Bingo Card that leaders will use to find information, resources and people to talk to during the evening for a prize!
Then on Thursday, we launched this year’s Teens Take Over with our brand-new group of girls—and wow! We’ve almost doubled in size from last year. The energy in the room was incredible, and I can already tell it’s going to be a fantastic year of planning and creating opportunities for younger girls in our area.
Lots of fun. Lots of planning. Lots of joy. 💚
Pumpkin Season is Here!
And even though our temps have been stubbornly stuck in the 90s all week, I decided it was officially time to lean into Fall vibes. On Tuesday, I treated myself to my very first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season (half-sweet, because balance!) from Starbucks for their kick-off. To really make it a celebration, I also baked a batch of Pumpkin Spice muffins that morning. Let me tell you—yum is right! The smell alone felt like a promise that cooler weather will eventually find us.
A Summer Storm!
We also had a surprise weather twist this week! I know folks in other parts of the country are used to summer storms, but here in Northern California they’re pretty rare. This one came with lots of lightning, booming thunder, and a long downpour that actually flooded our back patio! Honestly, it was kind of fun to have a break from the heat, and I even drifted off to sleep to the sound of the rain—such a treat.
Our electricity did go out that night, but since it was late and came back on fairly quickly, it wasn’t too big of a deal. Unfortunately, campus wasn’t quite as lucky; one of the buildings flooded badly enough that it won’t reopen until Tuesday. Still, I couldn’t help but enjoy the little adventure.
You can check out a little video of the lightening and thunder here.
Back in the classroom
This week also marked my official return to teaching. The classroom photo I shared is from the room where I’ll be teaching Argumentation and Advocacy. Sitting there for a moment before class started, I realized—I used to be the student in those very seats from 1995 to 1998 as an undergrad. Now, 30 years later, I’m standing at the front, teaching new students. That hit me right in the heart. I’ll admit, I got a little misty-eyed with nostalgia.I’m thrilled about this class and the material, but even more, I’m grateful to be back in a place I’ve loved for so long—teaching a subject I’m passionate about.
The second photo I shared is from my Public Speaking class, where we kicked things off with a discussion about what makes a “good” speaker from the audience’s perspective. It sparked such a thoughtful, lively conversation, and it made me even more excited for the semester ahead.
All in all, I’m really happy with my schedule this term. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I’m in my First-Year Experience role, administrating and supporting faculty and student employees. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I get to focus on teaching—Public Speaking in the morning and Argumentation and Advocacy in the afternoon. It feels like a full, balanced week, and I can’t wait to see how the semester unfolds.
Wrapping Up…
So that was my week—full of Girl Scout adventures, pumpkin spice celebrations, a surprise storm, and the joy of stepping back into the classroom. It’s a lot, but it’s the kind of “good busy” that leaves me grateful (and sometimes exhausted!) at the end of the day.
I’m still working on finding my groove with blogging alongside everything else, but I love having this space to pause, reflect, and share pieces of the journey. Thanks for coming along with me—I hope your week had its own mix of adventure, comfort, and maybe even a pumpkin spice treat or two. Here’s to soaking up the busy seasons and finding joy in the middle of it all.
This little cartoon makes me want to act with hope, positivity and optimism each and every day.
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