Something Other Than Who You Are

Let me see a show of hands. How many of you want to be something other than what you already are? Are you raising your hand? I'm raising mine high! But I haven't a clue what it is that I want to be. Well, actually that's a lie. I want to be a lot of things, and maybe that's my problem. I'm not focused, goaled, or motivated. Or, maybe I am all of those things and just too confused on what to actually do.

Last night I couldn't sleep. And when I say I couldn't sleep, I woke up at 1:30, found myself tossing for about 15 minutes, and decided to get up so I didn't wake up my husband. I poured myself a glass of apple juice and made my way down to the couch for a little DVR time. Last night was the 10th anniversary of the airing of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, so I settled in for a some fun and tons of laughs. This is my Housewives guilty pleasure and I'm not at all shy about sharing my love for the show. And I don't care who mocks me. We all have those shows that we watch and you know which one is yours.

But whenever I watch the show, I always wonder what it would be like to go from being nobody to somebody. Sure, their dad was Robert Kardashian, but they weren't really known as a family. Sure they had money, but not like the money they have today. They simply had a crazy family and someone told them they should take it live. And they did. And they built an empire from it. My dad always says they are famous for being famous, and that's not a lie, but they have done more with their lives than just the show. And to be honest, they are just so much fun to watch! Some episodes I find myself laughing out loud, alone, and it's all the therapy I need.

So, how do I wish I was something different than what I currently am? Well, I guess I wish I was doing something different with my life. Or, that I was in a different phase of my life. It's not that I don't want to be a wife and a mother. I want to be those things and so much more! Do I want to be famous, no? Would I like the bank account, yes! I've always said that I would like to be famous enough that I reap the financial benefits, but not famous enough that I'm recognized when I'm out in public. Best of both worlds, right? But I don't feel like I have the talents to really make it in any of the areas of life I want to pursue. 

For instance, I would love to be a part of the family of Hallmark Channel's Home and Family, but have you seen how talented those people are? I could never live up. Their DIY experts are just that, experts! And so creative. When you think you are super creative, watch them. You find out quickly that you aren't! Orly Shani is my spirit animal when it comes to all things fashion and she can turn anything into something else. I'm constantly trying to recreate some of the pieces she makes! Ken Wingard has some amazing things he's created. I love his ability to take a wooden palette from a grocery store and turn it into a Christmas tree for your front porch! Again, things I would never think to make. They put me to shame. 

I wish I was successful store front owner. I would love to own my own shop of any kind! Yes, my mom and I have our little booth down in Louisburg, but I would love to have a freestanding business. Ever since You've Got Mail, I've wanted a children's bookstore. I know what I would name it, what books (old and new) we would have in stock, what cute kid friendly activities we would offer, and other sweet ideas. It would be a dream. But on the flip side, I would love to have a boutique. But not just any boutique. I can't share all of my ideas on that one because someone would definitely steal it. I have big dreams for that one! I also think it would be so cool to have an antique/general store. A place where you find incredibly cool furniture and the household goods to go along with it. And to take that one step further, I want to be a home stager. My mom and I had a couple of jobs last year and they were a success. We worked with a realtor friend, who had complete faith in our venture, and he sold those properties quickly! We like to think it was our vision and maybe it was. But we ran out of storage for all of our homewares, so we had to "close up shop". Doesn't mean we won't open it again someday! My dreams are big......and super expensive.

Oh, and here's another one. I want to be an author! I want to write a children's book, a cocktail book, a teenmance book, and a book about everything I've learned about life up until now. I feel like I have some knowledge I need to pass on! What kinds of things, you ask? Well, how to not get caught by an RA when you're in the boys dorm past curfew. How to quickly use the restroom at crowded events when there are thousands of women standing in line for a stall. How to pour a foam-less head of beer and how to get rid of said foam when not poured correctly. Very knowledgeable things! However, I'm not really a writer. But do I have to be? My dad certainly didn't I think I was in high school and college, but I've archived all the lessons he's taught me over the years, and I've tried to apply them to the blog. Is it working? 

I wish I was smart enough to make these things happen. Smart in that I had the business sense to put the plans in motion. To create a plan of action and have someone say "Yes, this is a wonderful business idea. Yes, I think it would sell. Yes, we want to be a part of it." I wish I was organized enough to make it all happen. Again, I was putting a plan of action together in my restlessness last night and I think that I need to be way more detailed in my every day life. I need to write something down for every single day of the week in my calendar and follow it to the letter! And I need to focus on each one individually, and equally, in order to make it happen! Or, I need to narrow my focus and just pick one or two. Okay, we know that's never going to happen! So, I just need to focus on each one equally in order to make it happen. And, put it out in the universe.

So what can I do right now in order to make myself feel like I'm a success at one of these enormous life goals? Well, I chatted with my mom just this morning, and I'm going to put my home staging business to the test inside my very own. I'm getting creative with the space I have and I'm going to readjust my original home vision into the modern day vision I have created in my mind. I'm going to focus on my cocktail book by continuing to create my masterpiece drinks and then watch it all unfold as I create the space I want for a lovely coffee table book. And, I'm going to find a way to be as creative in my own crafts as the experts on Home and Family are with theirs. I can do this! I am creative. I mean, look at all the lists I've created....see what I did there....in order to become the person I think that I am. Or the person I can become.

What are you going to do?

XO,

Andrea

Autumn in a Glass

Happy Friday and the First Official Day of Fall! I can't believe it's already fall, but here in Kansas City, it feels like we're in the middle of July! It's hot, ya'll! 

Regardless of the heat, I'm embracing fall and all that comes with it. And when I think of fall, I think of apple picking, apple pies, making homemade apple butter, and making candy apples. You can see that apples are a fall favorite over here. And because it's Friday, why not celebrate with an apple inspired cocktail that I'm calling Autumn in a Glass! Want one? Then keep reading!

Here's what you'll need:

You're favorite Brandy, Vanilla Vodka, Simple Syrup with apple pie spice, Sweetened Condensed Milk, and Whipped Cream

In a glass filled with ice, add a shot of Brandy.

Then add a shot of Vanilla Vodka.

Into the that, add two large spoonfuls of the simple syrup with apple pie spice and a tablespoon of the sweetened condensed milk. Stir. 

Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of apple pie spice on top!

Isn't it so pretty? And it's so good! Nothing like a little autumn in a glass over ice to help combat the heat! 

Cheers!!

XO,

Andrea

KC Fun - It's All About Fall

Tomorrow is the first day of fall, but Mother Nature sure didn't get the memo! With temps soaring into the upper 80s, and humidity making it feel like the low 90s, nothing about Kansas City screams fall. Except for the fact that it's Fall Festival season and we as a family can't wait to participate! If you're looking for family fun, or adult outings that won't break the bank, I'm bringing my favorites to you!

Let's start with this weekend. If you don't have anything planned, and you're looking for a fun family outing, hit up the Overland Park Fall Festival in downtown OP. I love this festival. There is literally something for everyone. If you're up early, say around 7:00, hit the Farmer's Market for some amazing fresh fruits and vegetables. I love this little part of town. Not ready for a 7:00 event. No problem. We won't be either. The fall festival really kicks off with a parade at 10:00 and who doesn't love a parade. I'm a major fan of any drum line and I love tapping my foot along to the beat. McKinley has never seen a parade and I'm making sure this group is out the door and there in time to see it. 

Music will follow you throughout the festival. Live bands play all day and they are awesome! Lunch with local food trucks, which we plan to do, and sit around picnic tables that are set up by the main stage. But, if you're like me and find yourself on a budge, no worries. Bring along a picnic lunch and set up camp along the grass that borders the event. Or, come after lunch and snack along the way. There are small events that take place all day long. McKinley loved the Stone Lion Puppet Theater. He laughed and participated in all the interactive play. Adults got a kick out of it as well. Find a seat along one of the many hay bales and watch your kiddo have a blast!

And if you're like me, and can't resist fried food, indulge in a funnel cake the size of your face! 

But if you find yourself looking for something that's a little more adult friendly, the Plaza Art Fair is taking place this weekend as well. This is a chic, festive, hip fair that brings all the "It" people! Friday night is the night to come and party it up with all the locals. Again, you will find yourself among local food trucks, but not just any food trucks, but restaurants from the Plaza itself. The drinks are flowing and the art is impressive. But come in your favorite flats because this is not the time to sport those stilettos! On the flip side, the fair isn't just for adults. Bring the kiddos, and a stroller, as the fair during the day is a fun family outing as well. However, you may want to bring your lunch and snacks for this one as there aren't very many kid friendly places to dine. I would definitely say this can be a budget friendly outing! Unless you find a piece of art you can't live without. Then you might need to consult the bank account!

I have already started to decorate my front stoop with all my fall favorites, but what it's lacking are mums and real pumpkins. I hit up my local Michael's recently and tried to recreate a gorgeous porch I found on Pinterest. I think it turned out really cute. However, with all the faux things that are out there now, I'm dying to go pick my fresh pumpkins. And my favorite place to the take the family is Johnson Farms! Haven't been, well I'm here to gush all over this family friendly farm. We've been going yearly since McKinley was six months old! It's truly our favorite place for fall. There is an admission to get inside the farm, but once there, the kid activities are abundant. A huge school bus filled with sand creates an awesome sandbox. There is a hay maze, a huge playground, wooden structures to climb, an inflated bouncy pillow, and so much more. Walk around the barn to see all of the barnyard animals. In the past there have been piglets and baby chicks. And whatever you do, don't miss the pig race!! Check out their website for race times. And you have to make sure to measure your kiddo every year! It's tradition. (As you can see, we missed a year as sometimes they just don't want to do it!)

Johnson Farms isn't the most budget friendly place to visit, but if you decide not to pick pumpkins, there is a little bit of savings. But, it's truly the best pumpkin picking patch around! Just look at that face above. 

Lastly, when looking for fall fun, we always go to Deanna Rose Farmstead. Pumpkin Hollow is the best. And the most budget friendly of all the activities. The admission to the farm is $2 a person. However, there is admission to Pumpkin Hollow and that's $8 for General Admission and $7 with a Friends of the Farmstead members. While visiting the hollow, your ticket allows kids to hop aboard the Pumpkin Hollow Express - a barrel train, pulled by a John Deere tractor, get lost in the corn maze, climb a hay pyramid, slide down the giant hay slide, and choose a pumpkin to take home. Seriously, this is so much fun and a place that McKinley visits more than once! 

 And during the weekend of October 20-21, you can visit the farm at night! Their Night of the Living Farm is super cool and not scary! We went for the first time last year and had a ball! Definitely something to add to the calendar. 

You can literally pack your calendar for the next several weekends, or through the entire month of October, with all the fun things to do around the metro. Some places I didn't touch on are Worlds of Fun, the Kansas City Zoo, Louisburg Cider Mill, Weston's Red Barn Farm, and the KC Pumpkin Patch.

Again, if you're working on a budget during the fall festival season, don't fret. You can head to some of these places in the morning in order to make it home for a family lunch. Or come with a picnic lunch and make it a family blanket dining experience. The zoo, cider mill, and Red Barn farm are perfect for picnics! If you have a family membership to places like World of Fun, the zoo, or Deanna Rose, you know that your admission is already taken care of. You're just paying for the few extras you plan to do that day. Or just pick one of your favorite places and make an entire day of it. No matter what you're doing, making memories is the most important thing! Make sure to pack that camera so you can document it all!

Happy Fall!

XO,

Andrea

New, and Old, Age Shopping

I heard on the Today Show yesterday morning that Toys R Us is declaring bankruptcy. I was shocked. We single handedly keep them in business. Or at least it feels like it! But I'm not terribly surprised. It appears that the new way of shopping these days is online and apparently, Toys R Us is feeling the effects. 

I know that the new trend is shopping is online, particularly via Amazon, but I am a girl that loves to shop in person. Clothes shopping in particular. Maybe it's because I worked retails for years. Maybe it's because I'm truly old fashion. Whatever the reason, there is nothing like shopping in store. I like being addressed by a live person as I walk through the door. I love touching and feeling the fabrics as I browse the newest inventory. And, most importantly, I like trying things on. With the way fit models are constantly changing, I am no longer a true size eight. I can sometimes be a size six, shockingly, but I can also be a ten, unfortunately. (And I'm not knocking dress sizes. It's a personal issue I have with my own body type. That's a whole nother blog post!) I'm not about to order multiple sizes, because who's bank account can afford that! And to be honest, returning via shipping is a pain at times. Also, what may look super cute online may not be as pretty in person. The fabric can be cheap, bulky, see-thru, or not as pictured.  Seriously, shopping in person is always my first choice. Oh, and as a personal plea, would Zara PLEASE bring a store to Kansas City? You would be perfect for the Country Club Plaza. Just sayin'...

Now, when it comes to shopping for toys for McKinley, I'm on the fence. He will more than devastated if our physical Toys R Us closes, which is a possibility based on an article I read on CNN. Praying this isn't the case. I'm fine with shopping online for toys. I know what he likes, I can tell from the description if it will be a good fit, and I know the manufacturers he loves, so all is good. And I'm okay with shopping for his clothes online as well. Have you ever noticed there are no such things as fitting rooms for kids? If we need to see if something might fit, we have him stand with his back to us and place shirts and pants across his back. If the pants appear to fit in the crotch, and reach below the ankle, then that should work. If the shirt falls below the waist band, and the sleeves go past the wrist, it's a fit. Or, if a current size isn't cutting the mustard at home, it's clearly time to size up. The only true thing we need to shop for in person for him is shoes! 

So if people are no longer shopping in stores, where are they shopping? It appears that Amazon has the corner market on all things shopping. And when I say corner market, I didn't realize it was outside of electronics, toys, and books. Apparently, you can buy all of your household goods as well! Clueless party of one over here. I'm still writing up a grocery list, clipping my coupons from coupon.com, and heading to the grocery store every couple of weeks. I guess this puts my in the category of old lady! Seriously, when did this all happen and how did I miss it? You can create a shopping list and have it shipped monthly or move out it out to the next month if you aren't quite ready for toilet paper. And they have coupons in addition to percentages off you order. I could find myself falling down a rabbit hole today as I get lost in the abyss of Amazon!! 

I'm going to do a little research project of my own. I'm going to talk it up with the hubs, pull out my latest Target receipt, and then price compare with a virtual shopping trip from Amazon. If we like what we see, receive, and save, this mama may be all in on the Prime bandwagon. 

Now, what is that thing called Netflix?

XO,
Andrea

At Six Years Old

Has anyone experienced a six year old recently? If you haven't, I'm hear to talk about it. We are currently dealing with age six and its the hardest age to date! It's seriously no joke. I want to start off with the positives. He is hilarious! The things he says keeps us in stitches, when we aren't crying from frustration. Listening to him try and tell Knock Knock jokes is painful at times, but when he does get a good one, they're pretty funny. His latest, "Interrupting Car", is a good one! His so sweet. He still snuggles and hugs and kisses us goodbye and goodnight. When I hear is sweet little voice on the phone, it melts my heart. And his two missing front teeth smile is the cutest thing I've seen in ages. He truly is my heart.

And then he flips to the dark side. He should go as either Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or Darth Vadar for Halloween. The mood swings are ridiculous! He can wake up crabby, and then by time I drop him off at school, he seems fine. Case in point. He woke up today, a rough one after bad dreams disturbed his sleep, and spent a groggy morning on the couch waiting on his breakfast. I allow him time to play in the mornings, while eating his breakfast, to help ease him into the school day. His biggest complaint these days is that he doesn't get enough time to play, so I'm flexible. And negotiable. As long as he eats, he can play. No harm, no foul. Today, he just wanted to sit on the couch and watch Little Einsteins. Again, no problem. He eats breakfast, gets a little classical music education, and all is right in the world. 

As we headed to school this morning, I broached the topic of writing a book together. I provided the subject matter, one he's passionate about, talked up the fact that he could write the story (me being his co-writer when the words got too hard to spell), and then he could also illustrate it. It would be a project for the two of us, and once it was complete, he could share it with Mrs. Warren, he current first grade teacher. He asked if we could make two copies and I said of course. He seemed excited. Or as excited as a six year old can be. Then I realized I missed our turn. I've been playing with new routes to school to allow for a more mainstreamed drop off and pick up situation, and when I announced it, he began to cry. He demanded that I turn around because he wanted to go the new way and was so distraught that I didn't. It's unnerving and I honestly don't know how to handle it.

The topic of school is another thing! He hates school and reminds us of that everyday. As I mentioned above, he complains all the time that there's no play time anymore. All they do is spend time learning. Recess, lunch, PE, and music seem to be the only things he looks forward to, and PE and music are only available every other day! I feel sorry for art and library. Hell, I feel sorry for me! I know that he's going through a lot of changes physically and emotionally. He's growing, he's adjusting to new routines and concepts, he's becoming aware of the fact that he can make his own decisions from time to time, and lashes out when our suggestions don't jive with his. He's argumentative, dramatic, emotional, and very stubborn. And based on this information I discovered today from Center for Parenting Education, he's apparently a very normal six year old.

At six years old for parents, it sucks! I want to cry more than I laugh. And sometimes I simply laugh through the tears. I constantly feel like I'm failing as a mother. I want to hug and kiss him death and then I want to send him to his room and not have him within my sight. I want to motivate him to want to learn, but then we sit down to work on after school activities, and I think "does he really need to learn how to read?" I'm trying to create a home of warmth, love, joy, and positivity, but some days I feel like my house is a haven of doom and gloom as my son walks around and growls like a bear or hisses like a cat when I ask him to do the simplest of tasks. "Please put your shoes where you found them." Growl. "Let's sit down and read this book together." Hiss. "Would you like to have a snack?" "Finnnnnnnnne, but I wasn't really expecting one." You can see where I find joy at being home. And that I just want to seek refuge in a vat of chocolate or in a glass of champagne after he's gone to bed. It's taking its toll and my heart is heavy.

If you read through the traits of a typical six year old, you will see that at 6 1/2 there are some changes to look forward to. Some of them being more warm and loving, more appreciative, loves mama again. That's a big one right now. Not loving his mama and it's breaking me. He appears to hate me. He told Joel just about a week ago that their outing together just got more fun because Mama wasn't going. Well, they ended up not going anywhere that day and several things were taken away for the weekend, simply based on his attitude. Did I tell you that six years old sucks? 

How many of you mama's out there are dealing with this? Have dealt with it in the past? What are you doing to get through it? On that Saturday where he said he would have more fun without me, I made sure to not be available that day. Whether I was inside the house or out. I spent most of the day alone and I took the time get my nails done. I never do that, but I felt like I needed a little Mama time, and a little pampering, and it was the best 20 minutes I have had in a while. When things get bad, I leave the room and gather my composer. I try not to fly off the handle, which still happens, but I try to breathe through it all and not let him get to me. And let me tell you, it's so much easier said than done! And I constantly have to remind myself that I can't possibly be alone. Please remind me that I'm not alone!

XO,
Andrea

Mama Cooking: Lasagna Toss

I'm the kind of cook that needs a recipe for every meal. I love finding new ones to try, especially when watching hours of Food Network and scouring through their magazine. But I've been saying for years that I would love to just cook with freedom. Adding a little here, a little there, and mixing spices like I had attended Le Cordon Bleu. But the fact of the matter is, I don't know which spice pairs with another and which will overshadow a different one.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've become a little more brave when it comes to cooking and modifying recipes I've either seen or read about, and making them my own. It started with this lasagna toss. I call it that because you just toss all the ingredients together and it comes straight out of the pot and onto a plate. No layering or baking needed. Want to know more? Then keep reading.

I have all the ingredients I need here:

With the Italian sausage, I've kind of cheated in the seasoning department because all of the seasoning I need is in there! Love when I can take the guess work out of it! I also have pasta noodles, olive oil for the pan, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, two different cheeses, and some garlic.

I added a little olive oil to a pan to heat up and then minced the garlic. I added the garlic to the oil and let them start to soften. From there, I added the sausage. Remove it from its casing! And while you're doing all of that, bring a large pot of water to a boil. 

If you don't have this amazing tool, you need it! It's the Mix and Chop and it does all the work for you when chopping your meat while browning it! Simply twist and chop the meat to your desired groundness and let it continue to cook. I love it and use it constantly. You can get it here, and if you need a Pampered Chef consultant, I recommend Laurie Milbrodt. She's great! (And she doesn't know I gave her the shout out....)

After the sausage was cooked, I drained off any excess fat. From there I added a 15 oz can of tomato sauce and 15 oz can of diced tomatoes.

I've also added my pasta to the salted boiling water. I used Rigattoni noodles, but you can use anything have on hand.

Okay, back to the meat sauce. I added half of a 15 oz container of Ricotta cheese and about half a bag of shredded mozzarella. You can take the time to shred your own, but who honestly has the time? Stir until combined and melted. 

By now your pasta should be ready. I don't take the time to drain my pasta. If Giada doesn't, then I don't need to either! I use my trusty pasta strainer and add ladles of pasta at a time to the meat sauce. Toss until completely coated.

And then it's time to put it on a plate! I added shredded Parmesan cheese to the top. You can also add fresh basil, but I didn't have any. Mine had all dried up in the planter.... I guess you do need to tend to it from time to time. I also served it with hunks of French bread on the side. 

And there you have it! Lasagna Toss! It was so easy and it was all my own. And I loved playing around with ingredients and just making a dish with them. And it got thumbs up from my husband so I would say it was a success!

XO,
Andrea

A Reading Nook

I have made no bones about the fact that reading has been a real struggle in this house. And I am beside myself with worry, frustration, and impatience. All things that are not conducive to creating a peaceful environment for learning. But all of that changed last week when I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a peaceful space for McKinley.

I browsed Pinterest one afternoon for inspirational reading nook photos and found tons! If you have a lot of time, and money, and space on your hands, you can create some magnificent spots for your children. But as luck would have it, I had a limited budget and space to work with, but in the end I think it turned out just right.

McKinley's room always seems to be a work in progress. Remember when I was trying to decide where to create a good work space for him? Did I go with the tradition kitchen table or go for a space that was just for him? Well, I turned a small corner in his room into that work space and guess what? He uses the kitchen table for all activities for school. And that table in his room became the catch-all for literally everything! Just like it did in the basement. So I cleaned off the table, carried it back downstairs (where I'm sure it will catch all the toys), and began my work in his room once again.

He hasn't used his changing table in quiet sometime. Or at least for its true intentions. I made it a mini library awhile back and it worked out really well. We read books to him every night and all of his favorites, and then some, were always on hand. And aside from the library shelving, we also have his underwear, socks, and pajamas in the drawers and storage baskets. We still use the table for several purposes. However, it's a huge piece of furniture and takes up a lot of room. My mom had the brilliant idea of putting the table inside the closet. Brilliant I tell you. Until I had to clean out the closet. 

You see, I have a lot of clothes and I utilize two closets in our house. However, because I'm not really working outside the home these days, I don't really need the corporate America wardrobe that is housed inside both. So, I did a major purge. Some things were donated while others were stored in a flat wardrobe box and it's currently stored under one of our beds. I still have several things that need to be stored elsewhere and I may bribe my mom to let me use one of her closets.....again! Oh, and I had to clear out all the shoes that were in that closet as well. And clear out I did. I donated a huge box of shoes and I'm prepared to sell the others. I still have more shoes than I actually need, but what woman doesn't. But I did it! And the transformation is perfect! (And yes, there is still a small portion of my stuff in his closet. I truly can't purge it all....)

From there, it was time to create the peaceful reading nook. I knew I wanted to use the corner of his room for a portion of the space, but I wasn't really sure how to execute it. I thought a bean bag would be super cool based on the photo above. But did you know that right under my nose was McKinley's Pottery Barn Kids chair? This poor chair has been moved around and around our house, but I think it finally has a good home. I found a build it yourself bookcase at Target and it will work for now. I would like to find something a little bigger and one that runs horizontally versus vertically. I would like it to house his art supplies in addition to all of his books he will eventually be reading. For now, the books are arranged according to paperback versus hardback. All Little Golden Books are on the same shelf. His larger books are on the bottom. And all the paperbacks are on top. He's got his art caddy, Jingle Pup who is super integral when reading Jingle Pup, and his albums and record player for when a little light music is needed. Isn't it sweet?

The top of the bookcase needed a little something so I went scouring around the house. I found his seashell collection and sand from the Outer Banks. I added his favorite antique car which was my dad's when he was little. We have our marbles for the marble reading jar. And what six year old doesn't need a Lava Lamp? That was mine and it was time to pass it down. All things have meaning which makes the space complete!

When I first showed McKinley his new space after school last week, he immediately asked if he could have his afternoon snack there. Of course! And he asked if he could have a basket of books next to the chair so he could lean over and grab one. Absolutely! I wanted him to know that this was all for him. He used the extra floor space this weekend to color and I loved seeing that. And, he did read there last night, with a little coaxing by me, and then he "read" a Richard Scarry book called Cars and Trucks and Things that Go. At least he used it!

We need a little artwork on the large open wall space and I think I'll fill it with his school artwork as it comes home. What a perfect way to showcase those pieces that aren't on display in my office. I'm hoping this space becomes one of a haven of opportunity for him. The opportunity to become a successful reader. A space for listening to soothing music to help fuel the soul. And a place that's all his own to feed his body, mind, and spirit. 

XO,

Andrea