Season 34 (2022)
BOOKSHELF + COMMUNITY
As we move into a new school year and seasonal celebrations, we’re often inundated with choices when it comes to choosing what to read. If you could use a few ideas, be sure to check out my 52 Seasons Bookshop page where you’ll find the perfect book for nurturing the reading life of your growing reader or your own readerly heart.
Here’s a sneak peek at one of the curated booklists you’ll find on my bookshop:
How can you help local schools promote literacy? Be a mentor! Check your local library or local organizations that support schools like Divine Canines and their Barking Book Buddies program here in Austin, Texas.
HOME + TRAVEL
If you have kids in school or are a teacher (or maybe both!) then I’m pretty sure you’ve had the same whirlwind week we have.
Between the paperwork, change in routines, school supply shopping, adapting to new schedules and ever-changing demands on parents, educators, and administrators, we’re all due for a weekend break.
I’ve been thinking quite a bit this week about the Lazy Genius rule What can I do now to make things easier for later?
While not everyone may be on board with me on this one, I thrive on a good routine. I do my best to set myself up for success by starting my day with the experiences that fill me up. Taking my dog outside first thing in the morning ensures that I start my day with a connection to the natural world and the hum and sometimes quiet of a neighborhood.
I also know that there are little moments in the day that will help the day flow more easily.
(Sometimes half the battle is remembering the practices I had in place during the last school year!)
Here are a few practices I have in place to make daily life easier:
When I know we’ll have a busy evening, starting the rice cooker or slow cooker while I have my lunch or before I leave for the day means less prep during dinner time. Here are 20 Easy Summer Crockpot Recipes That Are Worth the Wait.
Meal planning helps with budgeting, but it also means fewer decisions to make daily when I know what we’re having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and the ingredients are already in the fridge or pantry).
Setting out my iPad, AirPods, and workout gear in the area where I work out means I’m ready when my morning work out time arrives and those small steps keep me motivated to get started.
Placing all the non-perishable ingredients from a recipe on the counter ahead of time ensures when I return from picking up my son from school or sports, I’ve got one step covered for dinner.
Setting out lunch containers on the counter for the next day so they are ready to be filled means more time in the mornings to have breakfast together.
Labeling areas of the fridge (I know I’m probably weird here), helps the whole family know where to put items and keeps fridge clutter to a minimum with fewer lost storage containers in the back of the fridge!
Looking for ways to save a little cash on your grocery trip? You Need a Budget or (YNAB) has your back with this video on Budget Saving Groceries and Meal Planning (*video link has sound)
If the high prices of groceries have you feeling frustrated, watching this YNAB video might offer a good laugh at getting creative while you’re making the most of your remaining grocery budget.
After trying several different menu planning systems, I came across one on Etsy (below) and have loved it so far! The simple format makes planning meals easy and the genius comes in when you see that there is a perforated line between the grocery list and the menu plan. That means that you can fill out your plan and then have the ongoing list for that week or keep a running list for the following week!
If backpacks clutter your entryway during the school year, why not put these colorful hooks up instead?
After a relaxed summer, I usually get back to a more regular cleaning schedule during the school year. For now, I’m doing a full clean on Mondays (alternating upstairs and downstairs each week) and quick cleans on Fridays. We’ll see how the school year plays out, but that seems to be a workable plan for now.
I could totally relate to HamiMommy’s sentiment in the video below that she enjoys the “10 am magical hour when the dust settles and so does my brain”. I find myself being able to think clearly early in the morning and from 10-12 each day. I reserve that time for my tasks that require mental clarity such as writing and learning something new.
Watch HamiMommy’s video on her cleaning tasks after returning from a summer break. (*video link has sound)
“The goal of cleaning is cleaning.” I loved this video as a reminder that cleaning can also be a meditation. (*video link has sound)
We buy our cleaning products from Grove because they have a commitment to go 100% plastic free by 2025. If you’d like to find out more (and receive a free gift set) visit Grove.
GARDEN + NATURE
“Climate change is acting like a bored kid with a magnifying glass on a long, hot summer’s day, wreaking havoc where it ought not to be.”
-from The Glitter in the Green: In Search of Hummingbirds* by Jon Dunn
(a book I’m currently reading)
One of the best ways to teach children to care about the natural environment and protecting their planet is to get them excited about going outdoors and interacting with plants and animals. I’ve put together a booklist for inspiring young birders to help them learn about their feathered friends.
Bird migration began in Central Texas this week and extends through late November. You can find out more at Lights Out: Providing Safe Passage for Nocturnal Migrants, Lights Out Texas - Travis Audubon and Lights Out Texas - Audubon Texas. Reducing light pollution helps birds and nocturnal creatures navigate with fewer collisions with buildings and keeps birds on track as they move to warmer destinations.
When my son was younger and we shared our mornings watching Sesame Street together, there was a particular episode that always stood out to me. It featured Lin-Manuel Miranda and his genius alongside Big Bird. The episode featured his song “It’s a Habitat” and the catchy lyrics were a fun way to teach kids about bird migration. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
I learned about birder and author Dudley Emondson and his incredible photography after watching him on America Outdoors. I was moved by both his story and commitment to the natural world. His book The Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places is available on his website and you’ll find his wildflower field guide What’s That Flower?: A Beginner’s Guide to Wildflowers on Bookshop.org. ($)
This past week I added a new native plant to our garden: Texas Betony. Texas Betony is an excellent addition to your garden especially this time of year as it attracts hummingbirds. What are you planting (or planning if the weather is still too warm) in your garden right now? Share in the comments below this post.
WELLNESS + CREATIVITY
“There were definitely things I could only see if I had to stop.”
- a reminder to pause and recharge from HamiMommy’s latest video
I just started a new series on Netflix called Extraordinary Attorney Woo (thanks to the suggestion from the HamiMommy video!). I’ve loved its fresh approach to seeing life through the eyes of an adult with autism. Have you watched it yet?
I’d love to hear about your simple joys in life right now and any back-to-school routine ideas or even what you’d like to see if future blog posts. Please share in the comments below this post.
Enjoy your weekend!
I read once that if there is something that you want to do, but you're not sure how to get there, just begin.
Writing blog posts for 52 Seasons is a creative journey into the expressions that come from my heart: writing, photography, tending a garden, immersing myself in nature, reading stories from voices that need to be heard and sharing them with others, keeping a home, being an advocate for education and basic human rights, and sharing resources with others.
Get involved in your community. VOTE. Speak out. Volunteer. One small action can create momentum for change.
“Do your little bit of good where you are. It’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” -Desmond Tutu