Lora's United States of Whatever

One of the greatest parts of summer for me is reading books and visiting the library! I know... NERD ALERT! LOL! But seriously! Here are my favorite reads from this summer: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis : You've heard me talk about this book in previous posts. It is a life-changer. Since reading this book, I feel like I can really focus on my purpose and making the most out of each day. I've written goals, and I am working hard to conquer them each day. I also started following Rachel on Instagram and listening to her podcast. She shares relevant advice, and I love her conversational tone. I feel like we could be BFFs in real life! (Did I just say that outloud? LOL) I am so, so excited for her new book, Girl, Stop Apologizing . It comes out in March 2019. It's going to to be another fantastic, motivational read! The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah : This is a book that I read recently for my book club. Wow. This is book is in my top ten. Kristin Hannah wr...

Last week was tough. Really tough. Izzy and I didn't have much on the calendar last week... just tutoring and speech therapy. While it was nice to have a low key week, it meant lots of one-on-one time for me and Izz. That's a blessing and a curse. We LOVE our long summer days together; however, we often get to that point, usually this time in mid-July, where we're driving each other crazy! And it didn't help that Greg had to work late every single day last week! Hanging out after Izz survived the hibachi dinner! To celebrate making it through this tough week, Greg thought we should try out the new hibachi restaurant down the road. Years ago, we took Izz to a place like this and she freaked out... lots of sounds and, of course, flaming cooktops! We were seated next to another family of three, and thankfully, the little boy was Izzy's age. She always rises to the occasion when she's around her peers! As we looked at the menu, Izzy's head whipped aro...

Yes, Lucy was in my senior pictures with me! Also, super cool overalls, right?  Eighteen years ago, I graduated from high school. EIGHTEEN! When I think about that fact, it's mind-blowing to me... maybe because I still act feel like I'm eighteen most of the time! It feels like I'm staying the same age, but months and years are flying by! Often, I'll play this little game with myself. I t goes like this: Five years ago...  I was 31.  We didn't have June, and Driller was just a puppy. Izzy was five.  We were living in our old house. We didn't know that Greg would soon be working in Louisiana full time, living in an RV. I had just finished my fourth year of teaching. I had never run in a half marathon. My niece Abby was almost two, and Henry was just a baby. I just name all of the things that were current in our lives at the time. It is craaaaaaazy for me to reflect like this. Then, I fast forward to today and think about all that has happe...

House of Blues - Houston A few weeks ago we were getting ready to watch a friend perform at the House of Blues. Greg turned to me and asked, "What do I wear to a Def Leppard/KISS cover band concert? I've got one look - Suburban Dad!" After I stopped laughing, I replied, "We are going to stick out like a sore thumb no matter what we wear, so don't worry about it!" Feeling out of place is always awkward, but that night, it was really no big deal. We had a blast at the concert, and our friend totally rocked it! Other times, though, that awkward feeling leads to other feelings, like stress and anxiety. Last weekend, we flew to El Paso and drove north for a short visit to Ruidoso, NM. Izzy loves to fly, but her senses are often in overload at the airport. Her voice gets louder and louder, and her patience is tested. We stick out like a sore thumb. While everyone else is reading and napping, enjoying the calm flight, Izzy is doing just the opposite. Keepin...

I am a self-proclaimed nerd. I love to read and write, and I'd rather do that than watch TV. Using new vocabulary words exhilarates me (Geez, the sky looks ominous today!), and silently correcting the grammar of others is a daily occurrence. (Your is possessive; if you mean YOU ARE, then write you're!) I have always wanted to be in a real book club, and about two years ago that dream came true! I get so excited for our monthly meetings, so we can discuss the characters, setting, plot, and themes of our latest read. I've even started typing up questions to bring to book club to deepen our conversations. #SoNerdy Being nerdy in one of my favorite Harry Potter t-shirts! A few years ago a couple of my 5th grade students introduced me to the world of Harry Potter. I had refused to read the series for years, thinking that there's no way an adult could enjoy the world of witches and wizards. Then, these boys convinced me that as their reading teacher, I had to read it! O...

Recently, we had to replace a ton of the grass in our backyard. After the new sod was down, our backyard looked like a patchwork quilt. You could distinctly see the difference between the new grass and the old. And it didn't help that the summer heat was beating down on the new, tender bermuda. Since I've been home for summer, my daily job has been to water the grass. First, I tried setting out a sprinkler. This worked for some parts of the yard, but I kept having to move it around so that all of the grass got watered. Next, I decided to try using the water hose. By using the hose, I was able to concentrate on areas that were having a hard time growing. Some areas of the yard get a TON of sun and need more water. I made it my goal to get this grass growing! For about a week, I went out in the afternoon, in addition to my morning watering session, to really give those struggling sections the TLC they needed. As you can tell, I rather enjoyed watering the lawn! (I even starte...

I love to run, but lately, I’ve struggled with motivation. Usually, changing something up, running a different path or listening to different music, helps. So, last week, I hopped on Amazon Music and started browsing. When I found the 2000s Hip Hop Cardio Blast station, I just knew this station would pump me up! As I was running, I time-traveled back to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to Northeastern State University. Granny’s Attic and The Cubby Hole, two late-night hot spots, were vivid in my mind. I could remember dancing “shaking it like a salt shaker” and “moving my body like a cyclone” with my ΔΖ sisters! Isn’t it amazing how music can transport us like this? Ladies of Delta Zeta at Sleepy Hollow - 2004 Music is a big part of who we are as a family. When I get ready in the mornings, I listen Greg & Izzy playing guitar - 2010 to music and so does Greg. I grew up taking piano lessons, and Greg plays the guitar. Izzy has a keyboard and a karaoke machine… and a drum set is on...