Max Out Happy

Summer Vibes

One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight | Nine | Ten | Eleven | Twelve | Thirteen | Fourteen

It’s finally summer break! I know I haven’t written in forever, but that’s showbiz, baby. Life is busy, and to be honest, I’m just not always inspired to write when there are a million things going on. This spring, we had a busy baseball season, said goodbye to our sweet Bruno, survived the whole household getting Covid-19, experienced other personal stuff, and now we are on round 2 of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease for Davis (hoping Andrew and I don’t get it this time – fingers crossed). All while trying to finish out the first school year back in person since the pandemic began. Never a dull moment around here!

For today’s post, I rounded up some things I’ve either purchased for this summer or items I’m dreaming about. Y’all know I like a nice collage graphic. When I think of summer, I think of being outside, being in the water, and now that I’m a mom, doing activities with Davis! I also dream of sitting by my own pool in the backyard, but until that happens, I’ll tag along with my sister and my friends who have pools in their neighborhoods!

Summer Vibes Roundup

  1. Set of 2 low beach chairs with cup holders: This comes as a set of 2! I think this is a reasonable price for 2 good chairs. Good reviews, and comes in a nice blue color, too (orange is our school color!).
  2. Wide brim straw sun visor: I love that this rolls up to pack it and that I can still wear my hair up while protecting my eyes and face.
  3. 4 pair set of rattan earrings: These are just fun! Keep them all or gift some to friends.
  4. Long kimono style cover up: I bought and love this. Super comfy, flowy, and comes in a ton of options.
  5. Coral Reef Swim Vacationer bottoms: These are so flattering. They come up high, but don’t feel like a diaper. I got a few Coral Reef pieces this season and I am so happy with them.
  6. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen: Have been using this for about a year now and I really love it. Silky, no white cast, absorbs quickly, all good things. It is pricey but worth it to me for sure. It also lasts a long time!
  7. Core 10 tank tops: I have one in black that I absolutely love the fit of. I ordered a couple more colors to get a stock pile going. Great to work out, run errands, and they even look nice enough to wear under a cardigan or jean jacket as a regular outfit. Super soft!
  8. Coral Reef Swim Lounger top: This top is so cute! I love the buttons down the back. I got the green leopard print to wear with my black Vacationer bottoms (listed above).
  9. Lace trim sleeveless top: I have this in black and love it. Silky feeling, flattering, and I love the lace detail. Lots of color options!
  10. Coral Reef Swim Traveler top: Another Coral Reef option. I love the knot. It truly just feels like you’re wearing a comfy tank top!
  11. Ice cream and palm trees/pineapples swim trunks: I got these for Davis and they are SO CUTE. They are short – above the knee – and they are just adorable. Lots of good prints here too! I ordered a navy long-sleeved rash guard that matches both.
  12. Old Navy T-strap flip flops: These are on sale for $4.99 for a set of 2 right now. Insane! I love these because they look a little dressier than regular flip flops. Simple, no fuss, great for any summer outfit or just wearing to the beach/pool.
  13. Round rattan bag: I love this. So cute for any vacation you have planned!
  14. Target one shoulder one piece swimsuit: I didn’t have high hopes for this, but it was really flattering! I love the print and the two strap detail across the back.

I’m sure I’ll have other things to share as the summer goes on. Also, please note that I am still a big fan – pardon the pun – of the neck fan mentioned in this post from last summer. Some things bear repeating. It’s hot out there, folks.

We have a lot going on this summer, but I’m looking forward to a couple of trips and a slower pace without having to wake up at 5am! Let me know if you try any of the items on this list, or if you have any recommendations for me!

I receive a small commission for any Amazon items you purchase directly through the links in this post. All opinions are my own!

2022

by Whitney

How in the world is it 2022? I feel like we are still stuck in 2020, waiting for the pandemic “to blow over in 2 or 3 weeks.”

Here we are, 2 years later, still worrying about rising cases, wearing masks everywhere we go. My students are dropping left and right, either testing positive or having to isolate due to exposure. Our school is trying to find coverage for so many teachers, and we have exams this week. What a continued mess.

I’ve started so many blog posts the last few months, and I’ve just let them sit in my drafts. Almost every year since starting Max Out Happy, I’ve written a post for my birthday, a holiday gift guide, a post with inspiration for the new year…and this year I just haven’t felt up to it. I haven’t written in months, I haven’t been feeling creative, and life has just been moving fast. Life is busy and stressful at times. When you add an ongoing global pandemic amid teacher strain and shortages, a toddler, 3 dogs, and a husband who coaches 2 sports, there isn’t a lot of down time for self care or inspiration.

The pandemic is definitely putting a strain on everyone. My family has been fortunate and blessed in many ways, but it’s frustrating to be a teacher right now. I’ve always loved my job – so that has been really hard. I just feel zapped. So here I am, writing about it 😉 In all seriousness, though, I know many of us are feeling this general slump. It’s understandable! I wish we had an end date for all of this mess, but that’s not how the world works.

How are you doing? This is your friendly check in. For 2022, I am shunning the societal pressure of setting intentions or resolutions. The things that are important to me now are the things that I’m always working on: Being a good person, showing kindness to others, showing kindness to myself, keeping my body strong, being honest and setting boundaries…the list goes on. Since these are my “forever goals,” there’s nothing new that I really want to focus on. I think we’re all doing the best we can. This year, I’m happy to just keep going and enjoy the moments I am given. Piling on a bunch of new resolutions and promises seems overwhelming to me this year. I know some people thrive with that motivation, which is great! But if that’s not you right now, that’s great too. What are you doing for 2022?

Davis will be 2 years old this Saturday. It’s insane to me because I feel like we just brought him home from the hospital. We have all come a long way since that 4 night stay at the hospital, the sleepless nights with a newborn, and trying to navigate our new life with a baby at home. So much happened in 2020 and 2021, but I had my two best guys by my side through it all, along with support from family and friends. We all need that; I hope you have a support system, too, and one that will carry you through whatever 2022 has in store.

One of my favorite bands in college was Death Cab for Cutie, and I’ve recently been listening to their station on Pandora with my students. They have a song called “The New Year” – here’s the music video if you’re interested. It’s how I’m feeling right now: I don’t feel any different, I don’t have any resolutions. And that’s okay! If you’re feeling the pressure to do all the things, be super productive, reach all of your goals, and continue setting new ones, please let that go. Do what you can, do what feels good, and do what you can be proud of. Everything else can wait.

Here’s to 2022. I hope that this year brings peace, joy, and love to us all, and that we all take the time and the care we need to experience our emotions and name our needs. I’ll be here with you, fighting the same fight and keeping my hands sanitized between each round 🙂

A Day in the Life

Welcome to my chaos! I love when other people do “a day in the life” posts or videos, so here is mine! My day starts between 4:00-5:30 in the morning, and usually this tired head hits the pillow at about 9:30pm. In between, I am wrangling a child with my husband, taking care of three dogs who all have very particular personalities and needs, teaching life skills courses to high school students, and trying to blog, exercise, and take care of all the adult responsibilities in between. At least I make tons of money as a teacher, right?!

Jokes aside, I’m so thankful for this life and I truly believe that the “best time of my life” is always happening right now. Come along with me while I navigate a “typical” weekday! I mentioned in this post that we are back to school, so my day is starting a lot earlier than it did over the summer! Here’s a look at a day in the life of a high school teacher, wife, and mom.

4:00am

My alarm goes off. I hurry to hit stop so it doesn’t bother Andrew too much or wake Davis up. While navigating our three dogs in the dark, I put on workout clothes as quietly as I can and brush my teeth. Then, I go downstairs to fill up my water bottle and work out in the garage. Treadmill, yoga, weights, HIIT – those are my go-tos! I like to listen to Pop Fitness Radio station on Pandora; I’ve honed it over the years. I’m usually exercising by 4:15am and finished by 4:45.

4:45am

I sit down to eat my overnight oats for breakfast, look at my planner for the day, and make a to-do list. Usually I scroll social media for a few minutes, too. I try to think of what I can wear to school that day, because that can be inconvenient an epic meltdown if I don’t plan it ahead. I hit the start button on the coffee maker and pour a cup of coffee when it’s done.

a day in the life
a day in the life

5:10am

If I’m washing my hair, I go upstairs and start showering and getting ready. Otherwise, I have about 10-15 minutes to do a small task, like put dinner in the crockpot for later, fold a load of laundry, or unload the dishwasher. Usually I just sit for a few more minutes to relax, breathe, and mentally prepare for the day. If I’m not washing my hair, I go upstairs about 5:30 to shower off and get ready for school. These days I’m just doing eye makeup because we have to wear masks, so that saves a few minutes!

a day in the life
a day in the life
a day in the life
a day in the life

6:00am

Either Andrew or I go to wake up Davis and change his diaper. Those morning snuggles are the best ones, so we both like to do it! This is true crunch time for us; it’s always super hectic from here on. Andrew is trying to get ready, the dogs have to be fed, Bruno gets his insulin, Davis has to eat breakfast, and all the bags and lunches have to be packed and ready to go. I get the car loaded so when it’s time to leave, all I need is Davis.

a day in the life
a day in the life
a day in the life

6:30am

GET OUT THE DOOR. I usually take Davis to day care, which is right by the school. He’ll be starting at a child care center 2 days a week soon, so we’ll have to figure that out when it gets here. I drop him off and head to school. We are supposed to be in our rooms ready to go at 6:55, and I usually get there right at that time. I take off my mask, turn on my desk fan, and get everything I need pulled up on my laptop. Before my students come, I like to update my Google Classroom for the day, check my emails, and make sure I feel prepared for my lessons.

a day in the life

7:15am

The bell rings for students to go to first period class, so they start trickling in. My first class is Teaching as a Profession, for students who are interested in teaching or know that’s what they plan to do. I only have 7 students in this class for this semester, which makes things a lot more close-knit. This is a college-level class that is new to North Carolina within the last couple of years. I have loved teaching it, and I’ve had fun thinking of creative opportunities for my students to gain more knowledge about the field of education. It’s hard out there for a teacher right now, so it’s nice to have that class as a reminder of why I chose this profession.

8:53am

The bell rings to end first period, and my second period students start arriving to class! I usually go fill up my water bottle or use the bathroom between classes. I have these students for 2nd and 3rd period for Early Childhood Education class. They learn about child development from birth to age 12, how to teach and observe young children, and the best part – they intern 3 days a week at local child care centers and elementary schools! Right now we are just holding regular class while I get them all placed and take care of all the paperwork. Once they start interning, they’ll be out on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and I will go pop in to check on them at their sites! I love the opportunity that this class gives students, and I love to see my students practicing what we’ve learned in class. They have a blast, and it can give them college credit if they take both levels of the course.

12:04pm

The bell rings for lunch, and then I have 4th period planning! I love having planning at the end of the day because it’s a nice, quiet time to look forward to, and it helps me unwind and plan for the next day. During this time, I run any school errands, make copies, write lessons, create assignments, grade papers, go to meetings, etc. I also run 2 clubs, so there’s always something to do! A day in the life of a high school teacher is never slow, easy, or boring.

2:18pm

School is out! We are expected to stay 30 minutes past the bell, but I usually stay until about 3:30. If I have a club meeting, staff meeting, or PLT meeting with other teachers in my department, it’s during this time. Other than that, I get my work done and go out to my car to pick Davis up! It’s always so great to see him after a long day at school. We head home to let the dogs out.

4:00pm

Unpack all the bags and lunch boxes. Change into soft clothes. Check the mail. Play with Davis. Respond to texts. Check social media because I haven’t had a chance to at school all day. Davis and I listen to music, go outside in the yard, take a walk, watch Cocomelon sometimes, and Davis *helps* me make dinner. We just ordered a meal delivery service from EveryPlate, and I’m really excited to see how it goes! I needed something to help me with meal planning and recipe surfing – I was in a rut. So I’m hoping this will be fun, easy, and convenient! I’m also hoping that we will have leftovers for lunch, because that makes it so much easier to pack in the mornings!

a day in the life

6:30pm

This is usually around the time Andrew gets home from football practice. He helps me finish dinner, plays with Davis, and we try to eat together at the table most nights. After that, it’s a crazy train until Davis goes to bed. Feed the dogs, give Bruno his insulin, bath time, brush teeth, put on pajamas, read a book, etc.

a day in the life

7:30pm

Get Davis down for bed! We usually take turns doing this. Davis has just recently gotten really interested in books, and that has been fun! So we always read one a few times before bed (he loves to flip the pages and start over again once it’s finished). Once Davis is down for the night, we usually watch one or two shows downstairs before letting the dogs out and going up to bed.

9:00-9:30pm

Brush my teeth, wash my face, put on moisturizer, and get in bed! Since I’m waking up extra early this school year, I have to make it a priority to get enough sleep. I really should already be asleep by 9pm, but I’m doing what I can. I always like to put on lip balm and hand lotion before bed. Then, it’s lights out, goodnight to the doggies, and sweet dreams!

There you have it! That’s the typical rundown for my “day in the life!” Game days are different through football and baseball season, and of course weekends follow a totally different routine – but this is what works for us right now! I try to vacuum at least once a week, and I clean the kitchen counters often throughout the week to keep everything clean and in order. I do laundry a couple of times a week for us and Davis. It’s busy, but whose life isn’t? Like I said, the best time of my life is always happening right in front of me, and I know that as Davis gets older and if we add another child, it will just get more hectic. I’m so grateful to be able to make these memories and enjoy life with the ones I love.

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