I’m so happy that Apple is doing a wrap-up now!

The bright spot for today was having the confidence to lead our grade level meeting, which included a tough conversation. I’m not the grade chair, so it was a big step. I’m proud of myself for taking it.

Today’s bright spot is small, but I’m always happy to hit a new streak milestone on Duolingo.

Today’s bright spot is therapy. After a year and a half with my counselor, I’m in a better place than ever. We’re moving to 1 session every 4 weeks. I’m ready for the change and so grateful for my therapist and all her help.

Today’s bright spot is my friend Tara. We taught together last year, and being on her team was literally life-changing. She gave me so much confidence and showed me I still deserved friendship. I’ll always be grateful for her.

Today’s bright spot is A Bit Much by Lyndsay Rush. I loved this collection so much that I re-downloaded Instagram so I could follow her for new poems. That’s high praise since I really don’t like that app.

Today’s bright spot is the book I finished this morning. I love that Ashley Bennett’s monster romances (at least the ones I’ve read so far) are sweet and cozy with relatively low stakes. The Dalwick Demon was really good, and I hope Bennett does more like it soon.

I finally watched the “Popular” clip. I’m hoping in the context of the movie as a whole, it’ll capture the humor of the song and character. I’m glad I saw it now though so that I don’t go into the movie with the expectation that the song will be performed the way Chenoweth did it.

Today’s bright spot is a little harder to find, but that means it’s extra important for me to search for it. I’m sick and feel miserable, but I have people in my life that care about me. I think without all those lonely years, I wouldn’t appreciate those friendships like I do now.

I think I might use this as a permission slip. 🫣

Today’s bright spot was our 1st grade awards ceremony. I got to recognize all my students’ hard work in front of their families and peers. Exhausting as it is at times, I really love my job.

Today is world kindness day. I’m so excited to celebrate with my first grade class! My son and I are wearing matching Mo Willems shirts too, which just makes everything even better.

Things are scary in the world right now, but I’m trying my best to hold on to the bright spots. 💛💛💛

Today’s sunshine: this cute little bracelet a student made me. She even added my name and a little rainbow charm. I love teaching first graders.

This was a little shot of sunshine this morning. It looks like my baby pumpkin is hiding under the leaves.

Every time I read Bunmi Laditan, I come away with words that either soothe me or make me laugh. The way she talks about motherhood feels so in line with how I experience it.

Anyone else have writers who really seem to *get* what motherhood means to you?

It’s so strange being on a new platform, but I’m hoping to find connections here. I write romance novels, and I read a lot of them too. I read more widely than I write though. My own novels tend to be paranormal or fantasy romance, but I read other sub-genres.