Back again with another set of monthly favorites! I honestly cannot believe that June is almost over – summer needs to slow down!

Things to WATCH:

1. Food Network Kitchen App – If you know me, you know I could watch the Food Network for hours on end. When Sean discovered that we could download the Food Network Kitchen app on our TV with a free subscription with our Amazon Prime account, the game changed. Now, I can watch all of my favorite old Food Network Shows, whenever I want, with zero commercials. It is the best – my new Netflix for sure. They also have cooking classes with step by step recipes too. They do have a free 60-day trial available if you want to try it out!

Things to USE:

1. Facial Razors – Give me a second to explain. I have heard about and researched the benefits of dermaplaning for a while – it exfoliates the skin, removes dead skin cells and those fluffy baby hairs. I was a bit apprehensive about taking a razor to my face, but now I am obsessed. My skin is smoother, clearer, and more radiant than ever. Let me be clear, you have to use a specific type of razor, with a tiny blade, made specifically for the face, don’t shave your legs and then take your regular razor to your face – big no no ladies. I ordered a 3 pack from Amazon (link above) for $6 and they are amazing. I only do my face about once a month, but I touch up my eyebrows more frequently. I highly recommend. 

Places to GO: 

1. JCrew Factory Outlet – Sean and I scored some amazing deals both at the JCrew Factory outlet and on their website this month. I mean getting like 10 items for the price of one type of deal. If you have one near you – go. If not, go on their website and find yourself some goodies. We honestly felt like we were robbing the place because we just kept picking things up and then left with a receipt under $100. Dangerous but so fun. 

Things to READ: 

1. Love Does – I don’t know why it has taken me this long to read this, but I want to meet Bob Goff after reading his book. He is incredible and this book will change your life. He talks about his experiences with intentional, active love. He explains that love is a verb. If you love someone, you serve them, you show them through your actions. Incredible right? Go on Amazon (link above), spend $10, read it, love everyone. He also just came out with a new book called Dream Big that I am dying to get my hands on. 

Things to EAT:

1. Magnum Dairy Free Ice Cream Bars – I remember getting regular Magnum Ice Cream Bars every now and then growing up, they are a bit pricey for ice cream, so they are a real treat. So, when I saw that they now have a dairy free version of their sea salt caramel ice cream bars, I had to try them. Oh man, they are so delicious and even though they are dairy free, they taste just like normal ice cream to me. Give these a shot if you are looking for a delicious sweet treat.

See you next month with more favorites!

Sean and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary this weekend and we couldn’t be more excited. It has been a fun and eventful year that has really brought us close. Thinking back to this week, 1 year ago, brings so many happy memories. We were so excited to get married, obviously a bit anxious to begin this new adventure, but beyond ready.

I wanted to write a quick post (mainly for ourselves) with a few things we have learned in the past year so that we can look back and remember these little tidbits of wisdom. 

First, the importance of remembering that you are on the same team. Anytime there is a disagreement or argument of any kind, remember to work together to solve that problem and don’t let it cause unnecessary contention. Watch your tone, talk it out, it’s you two against the world, you’ll always figure it out. “It is always more important to be kind than to be right.” If you find yourself having petty arguments just to prove to your spouse that they’re wrong…stop. You’re a team, support each other, build each other up. Whatever you have to say, say it nicely and move on.

Another important thing that we (mainly I) have worked on this year is learning when to voice opinions and problems and when to just let things go. There is a very fine balance here and sometimes it does test your trust in your partner. Just because they don’t do things exactly like you (like loading the dishwasher or doing the laundry) doesn’t mean that they are wrong and need a lesson, they are simply doing it their way and with most things, that’s just fine. Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly important issues that need to be addressed in a marriage, but one thing I’ve learned this year is to take a step back, trust Sean, and not sweat the small stuff, it certainly makes for a less stressed Liz. 

This leads to my next thought – you are on the same team, but you are not the same person and you don’t have to be. Sean and I are very different, we are 4 years apart, we grew up on completely opposite coasts, we have different likes & dislikes, he has probably watched more Food Network than he ever thought he would and I have learned more about sports than I ever cared to know, and it’s OK, it’s fun! We agree on the things that matter and the rest we get to learn and talk about and it makes our relationship exciting! I love going to Orange Theory and to dinner with my girls, he loves to yell at the TV during Oregon football games. It is never boring in this McGetrick house and I love it. 

The next two things aren’t just tidbits of advice but actual actions that have made the world of difference for us. 

First, finding joy in serving each other. The day I realized how blessed I was to have the opportunity to make the bed that we share and wash Sean’s dirty socks, my life changed. Realizing how blessed I am to have Sean as my husband and to be able to show my love for him through service, makes those mundane tasks like washing the dishes and doing the laundry just a little more special. We are so blessed and doing small things for each other just brings even more joy to our marriage. I did not think that acts of service was one of my love languages because I’m pretty independent and I like doing most things for myself, but the day I came out and saw Sean folding the laundry, oh man did that make me feel loved. It’s the same feeling I get when he makes us dinner and tells me I’m not allowed to help, but to sit on the couch and relax instead. If you are like me, let your partner serve you every now and then and see how you feel. 

Finally, the one thing that we have done since the beginning of our marriage that I love, is pray together at night. It’s the perfect ending to each day, where we can express our gratitude and also pray for things that we are struggling with. Prayer helps our communication in so many ways. We talk about hard things, we talk about exciting things, and we pray about them. Our future, our family, our jobs, everything. It’s special. 

Marriage is definitely a humbling experience full of learning and growth. It’s probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but it is also the most important commitment I will ever make, so it makes sense that it takes a lot of work to make it great.

This past year has been the absolute best and happiest of my life. Sean is truly the best teammate and friend. He is so supportive of my hopes and dreams, he pushes me to be my absolute best self, and he constantly reminds me that there is nothing we can’t do if we work together. I love that we can have serious, deep, thought provoking conversations and also be totally silly and goofy too. He really does bring out the best in me. I love you forever Sean!

ONE year down and the best is yet to come!! 

June 21st 2019 was hands down, the best day of my life. 

Sean and I were married in the Provo City Center Temple in Provo, Utah at 10:00am on June 21st 2019. It was the most special experience of my life and it manifested to me the true sacredness of marriage and the importance of family and our relationships with our Heavenly Parents and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who love us. 

I wanted to create a post with all of the details of our wedding day, both for our own memories and for others who have asked me for recommendations.

The Ring: 

Sean created my ring with the team at Sierra West Jewelers and let me tell ya, he did a great job. Simple pear shape with a dainty diamond band – I love it. 

I also have a simple, tiny gold wedding band from Mejuri to match the gold on my engagement ring. 

Sean also opted for a copper silicone ring from Enso Rings. 

The Dress: 

I purchased my dress from Pritchett Bridal in Orem, Utah. It was a dreamy experience. They have gorgeous gowns and their ability to create that iconic “bridal experience” is unmatched. If you know me, you know I am extremely minimalistic so my dress needed to reflect that. We started with a very basic silhouette, in a stunning yet comfortable fabric, added a sparkly belt and that was all I needed. 

The Venue: 

Obviously, like I mentioned above, Sean and I were married in the Provo City Center Temple. But, our reception was held at Willow Springs in Springville, Utah. It is a gorgeous venue and fit our vibe perfectly. There is actually an amazing story behind choosing our venue, photographer, and videographer, that I have to share. 

In November of 2018, right after Sean and I had decided to get married, I stumbled upon a sponsored ad on Instagram for a wedding giveaway. This giveaway included a full day reservation at the Willow Springs venue, as well as both a wedding photographer and videographer for the day. It was incredible. I remember thinking – I never win things like this so why not just give it a shot? I didn’t tell anyone, not even Sean, because I knew I wasn’t going to win something like that and we weren’t even engaged yet. 

Well, on December 3rd, 2018, I happened to notice that the giveaway group was going live on Instagram to announce the winner. I was eating dinner with friends and sneakily listening to the live stream when they announced my name as the winner. My mouth dropped wide open. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked as you can imagine, and Sean, who had no idea that I had even entered, was both surprised and thrilled when I told him. It was a huge blessing for us. 

The Photographer: 

Our photographer for both our first look/bridal shots at the Salt Flats and our wedding day photos was the extremely talented Alex Trujillo. Here are the links to his Instagram and website. I am absolutely in love with his photography and he did an incredible job capturing our special day. If you are in the Utah area and need a photographer, Alex and his wife Elise are the perfect team. They also do video and floral design as well. 

The Videographer: 

Likewise, we had an amazing videographer, Justin Taylor. For me, aside from our actual sealing, our wedding video was the most important detail. Justin perfectly captured the genuine joy and excitement of the day. I still watch our wedding video often and cry because all of those emotions come flooding back. It is so special. My #1 tip for brides…invest in your wedding video, it is worth it. Here are the links to Justin’s Instagram and website.

And here is the link to our wedding video!!

The Caterer: 

If you know Sean and I, you know we love good food and Marvellous Catering, based out of Provo, Utah did not disappoint. Our menu included pulled pork & cornbread bites, beef brisket sliders, sweet potato fries, and spinach salad. We also had mini creme brulee, chocolate cream cheese cake, and banana pudding shooters for dessert, in addition to our wedding cake from Provo Bakery (simple vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream). It was all delicious. The Marvellous team is also extremely professional and took care of every detail, from setting up our buffett to taking out the garbage at the end of the night, they were 100% worth every penny. They even made little plates of food for Sean and I to take with us to Park City for our honeymoon…we felt so blessed to have them. 

Our reception was everything we wanted it to be. The food and simple sage & white color palette created a classic southern garden party feel, while the basketball court and cornhole boards created the casual, fun vibe that we wanted. Sean and I opted out of a traditional receiving line and instead, we walked around and were able to chat and thank everyone, it couldn’t have been more our style. 

We danced the night away and then left with a sparkler send off to an adorable condo in Park City for a fun few days enjoying the lovely summer weather, playing at the Olympic Park, and eating lots of yummy food. 

Even a year later, Sean and I still feel so incredibly thankful for our family and friends who made it the most special day for us. We were surrounded by so many people who traveled far distances to be with us and celebrate our marriage. There are no words to express our love and gratitude for everyone that made our day perfect. 

1 year down, eternity to go!!

If you are from the south, then you probably understand my love for Chicken Salad Chick. I thoroughly enjoy a “Classic Carol” on a croissant. However, here in Utah, I cannot find good chicken salad anywhere. So when I caught the craving a few weeks ago, I decided it was my time to experiment. Here is my take on a classic chicken salad…

 Ingredients:

3 cups of cooked & shredded chicken – you can cook your own using 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or a rotisserie chicken also works great – just make sure your chicken is well seasoned. Tip: shred your chicken in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or with a hand mixer – quick & easy.
1 cup of mayonnaise 
2 tablespoons of good ranch dressing or 1 tablespoon of ranch dressing mix
1/3 cup of roughly chopped green grapes – traditionally red grapes are used, but I like green grapes more. Use whichever you prefer and feel free to add more or less.
1 cup of roasted chickpeas – roast your own at home by first, preheating your oven to 400 degrees. Then, drain and rinse 1 can of chickpeas and dry them completely. Once dry, season with olive oil and salt, then spread them out on a baking tray. Roast for about 20 minutes until they are golden and crispy. Once out of the oven, season with more salt and other flavorings of choice – I used a garlic & herb blend. These also make for a yummy snack all on their own. 

*I would also add a squeeze of lemon, if you have one on hand. 

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Cover and let chill in the fridge for about half an hour.
3. Serve on a croissant with a little romaine lettuce.

Enjoy with a glass of lemonade for a perfect summer lunch!

 

 

*Photos used are my own

5 months. 

From the time Sean and I met to our engagement – 5 months.

I’m sure that seems crazy and maybe even stupid to some, and looking back I sometimes wonder what we were thinking, but honestly, that is all it took for us to know that we wanted to spend our lives together.

So let’s start from the beginning…

I had just finished a tough winter semester that had kind of broken me down a bit and I spent the following summer building myself back up and fine tuning who I was and what my plans were for the future. By the middle of August (2018) I was feeling confident and focused and ready to finish my final year of college strong, without any distractions.

I had been living at the same apartment complex for almost 3 years. I had an amazing friend group, a job that I loved, and a community that truly felt like home. I was happy and content. I had also kind of sworn off guys and dating and was excited to just have fun with my friends. 

That was until, either the Sunday before Labor Day or the Sunday after (the exact date is under review), I remember I was talking with a friend after church when out of the corner of my eye I saw a tall, handsome guy that I had never seen before walking towards us. It was Sean. He introduced himself and was very charming. However, I remember standing there, barely saying a word, while he mainly talked to my friend, and then I went home and didn’t think anything of it. 

Then I saw him again. He and his friends had moved into my apartment complex and one Sunday night, after our young adult congregation had met to pray together and chat before the upcoming week, my friends and I decided to play a little volleyball in the courtyard. Sean and his friends joined in. 

Fast forward…

I had been asked to speak in church on Sunday, September 16th, so I was sitting up on the stand, waiting for the meeting to start, when in walked Sean and his friends. Guess where they sat – in one of the first rows, right in front of me. I remember Sean and I making eye contact a couple of times, it seemed like he couldn’t stop smiling, and that’s when the butterflies started. 

The next Sunday, September 23rd, we were having a “Munch & Mingle” after church, basically a time where we would all stand around and chat and eat random snacks like cereal or bagels. I was talking with my friends, probably trying to eat a Costco muffin without making a mess when who happened to walk up and casually join the conversation? You got it…Sean. He slowly started directing all of his attention at me until my friends caught the hint and faded away. We talked for quite a while until my roommate and BFF Cassidy walked up and asked if I was ready to go. She was my ride so I politely turned back to Sean and said goodbye. Suddenly, he got this nervous/panicked look on his face. This is where the story gets good, we still laugh about it to this day. 

As I was walking away, he basically lunged at me and asked if we could talk. I turned around, a bit alarmed, but now intrigued. I stood there, amused and entertained, because I knew what was coming next. I watched him go from Mr. Smooth to the most adorable nervous wreck, and out poured the jumbled words, “Would you like to go out with me?” or some variation of the sort. I instantly felt a smile spread across my face as I replied, “Of course, when?”

About a week later, on Saturday, September 29th, we went on that date…

And that was all it took. We became basically inseparable and spent ridiculous amounts of time together. We knew we wanted to get married pretty soon after that. I know that sounds nuts, but honestly, I knew Sean was special before we even went on our first date. He was different. He didn’t play games, he was straightforward, and I have never questioned how he feels about me. It was refreshing. 

Around November, we decided that I would go home with him to Oregon for Thanksgiving and he would come and visit my family in Florida after Christmas, and then we would get engaged after that.

Then the wedding planning really began and almost five months later we were married on June 21st, 2019. The most perfect day! I am writing another post with all of our wedding/reception details for our 1-year anniversary. But in the mean time, enjoy a few of our personal photos and some of our engagement photos taken by our friend Dakota Corbin!

My Budgeting Basics post is one of my most popular. I have received amazing messages from friends who are implementing a budget and seeing the magic. I even had a sweet friend (and fellow “newlywed”) from back home message me to see if I had any tips for furnishing a home/apartment on a budget. I do – so I thought I would share! 

First, take it slow. I know that having a home of my own to decorate was one of the things I was looking forward to most when Sean and I got married. It is easy to feel rushed to furnish and decorate your entire home/apartment right when you move in. We were blessed with a couple of amazing wedding gifts, like a couch and a bed when we first got married. However, we have been married for almost a year and are still working on adding pieces that we love to our apartment. My advice is to focus on the few essentials first and then worry about finding good accent pieces and decorate over time. Furnishing slowly also helps to ensure that you truly love the pieces you are purchasing. Rushing to furnish a home can sometimes lead to wasted money and regrets…we don’t want that. Find what you love, save, then buy when you are ready. 

Next, create a furniture or decor category in your budget. This helps you to know what you can afford to spend each month. Even if it is $20 that you set aside for small decor pieces or $50-$100 that you are saving each month to purchase a larger item, calculating how much you can afford is crucial. We don’t want to be using credit cards or going in to debt because we couldn’t wait 3 months to buy some barstools. Sean and I literally used 2 camping chairs and a storage bin as an ottoman/dining table when we first got married – there is no shame in living within your means and accomplishing your #pinteresthomegoals in the right time frame for you. Planning ahead, budgeting, and learning to save are also incredible habits to foster. 

Third, shop at discount stores and look for sales. Do your research. This is probably my biggest tip because it can save you loads of $$$. For example, our couch is literally from Costco – a large sectional that was on killer sale, and is amazing. We also purchased our TV on Amazon with gift cards from our wedding. Our other small pieces like barstools and bedside tables are from IKEA. We also purchased our bed frame and mattress during one of the summer holidays when there were sales everywhere. If you can avoid paying full price by doing your research and looking for deals… put in a little extra effort and do it. Places like HomeGoods and Nordstrom Rack are also my favorite because you can get new, high quality decor pieces like candles, pillows, throw blankets, even rugs & artwork for a great sale price. 

Two other pieces of advice that I have can apply to more than just furnishing a home. Don’t compare and set goals. 

First, comparison. This is something that I have struggled with in more ways than one, but recently it has been related to home and lifestyle. It is easy to look at couples that are older or that have been married longer or that are more established and wish that you were in their place. At least once a week I fantasize about how nice it would be to purchase a home and start a family or travel more frequently and live more luxuriously. This is not to say that Sean and I don’t treat ourselves and live a great life, because we do, we are very blessed. But the virus of comparison can creep in and make you feel like what you have isn’t enough – don’t let it. Don’t feel like you have to furnish your entire home instantly just because that seems like the norm. Don’t feel like your first home or apartment has to look like a Pottery Barn magazine. Be realistic about where you are and then make goals for how you are going to get to the place that you want to be down the road. 

This leads directly into my next piece of advice. Set goals. This is important. Goals provide drive and motivation and discipline. If you are saving for a home or a vacation or a washing machine, know that sticking to your budget is what is going to get you there. For us, overspending on our monthly food budget takes away from how much we can save – when you recognize how your choices directly impact your future, you make more calculated decisions. Let the pressure of big dreams and a bright, successful future be the discipline you need to make smarter choices now. 

You can do it!!

Back again, with more things I have been loving in the month of May!

Things to EAT:

1. UNREAL Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups – These really are unreal, they are SO delicious. We bought a bag at our local grocery store (Harmons) and I think I ate almost all of them in a matter of days and only left two for Sean…whoops. You can buy them in bulk on Amazon (link above), which we might have to do. Also, does anyone else put things like this in the fridge? There is just something about it being cold that makes it oh so crunchy & good.
2. Yakult Probiotic Drink – This little, orange, Japanese drink has saved my life. Yakult are tiny, cute, probiotic smoothies that taste like an orange creamsicle…yum. Since being in quarantine, we have been eating a lot of junk, (like almond butter cups) and dairy products – they are not kind to me. I think it all honestly threw my digestive tract, off track, but after only a week of taking this little shot of goodness everyday and avoiding dairy, I feel as good as new. Drink your probiotics kids! You can find these at just about any grocery store or Walmart.
3. NadaMoo Coconut Milk Ice Cream – Like I just mentioned, I am sadly attempting the dairy free life. Thankfully, this coconut milk ice cream exists. This company is based out of Austin, Texas but their ice cream is sold at our local grocery stores. I’ve tried the birthday cake and mint chocolate chip flavors and I love them! They are extremely creamy and flavorful, they basically taste like regular ice cream, just without the part that kills me. They also have tons of other flavors that I am dying to try, like peppermint bark and banana caramel crunch…come on!

Things to WEAR:

1. ASOS Design Chunky Flare Cat Eye Sunglasses – As diva as it sounds, I am picky about sunglasses. I could never find the right fit or shape for my face without the $$$ price tag, until, I found these on ASOS. They are perfect. They fit securely on my head, they don’t slide down my nose, and while they are large frames, they aren’t outrageous. They are just standard black and the lenses are surprisingly good – they don’t have that weird tint that distorts everything like I find in most sunglasses. They are also adorable and go with any outfit and did I mention that they are only $19? I’m obsessed.

Things to WATCH:

1. Marvel Movies – Sean and I watched all of the Marvel movies from start to finish in the month of May and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A movie marathon is my kind of marathon…anyone else? I had already seen most of the Marvel movies at some point and liked them, but I definitely understand the entire story line and all of the subtle connections better now. I wish I could pick a favorite, but they are all just too good. Almost all of them are on Disney+ too, so it was a fun & (virtually) free activity for us!
2. Nadiya’s Time to Eat – This is another Netflix series that I discovered one night and then proceeded to watch in its entirety in 1 day (the episodes & series are short, ok). If you know me, you know I adore the Food Network and could watch cooking shows all day long. I also love anything British, especially, The Great British Bake Off. This series takes a cooking show and a GBBO winner and mashes them together. It is beautiful. Easy, yummy recipes that I actually want to try and accents…what could be better? I highly recommend.

Places to GO:

1. Caputo’s Market & Deli – I found this place on the Utah Grubs Instagram page, which is my go to for finding new places to try. This market is nestled in downtown Salt Lake and is quite possibly my new favorite place. With flower boxes outside and a plethora of quality, specialty items inside, like homemade breads, pasta, sauces, and fresh meats and cheeses, it is beautiful. They also have walls full of chocolate bars from all around the world – heaven. They also have a delicious deli with incredible sandwiches and black truffle potato chips…are you drooling yet?
2. Costco – Backstory: When I was younger, I remember watching my dad get so much enjoyment out of going to Sam’s Club; you would have thought that he owned the place. He always came home happy and with the best snacks, but I never understood his love for this bulk food warehouse. I now understand the obsession. I can also confirm that I have turned in to my father. I love Costco. Sean and I now have a membership and it is seriously like Disney World to us. It has been our fun date night the past couple of weeks. We have to wear our masks, which is still a strange sensation, but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of walking around and seeing all of the new things. I’m not sure how this is going to affect our bank account, but honestly, oh well. You can find just about anything, and a lot of it. Current Favorite Item: Chocolate Banana Almond Milk Plant Protein Shakes – that’s a mouthful, but they are so tasty.

Let me know if you love any of these things as much as I do and share some of your favorite things with me, I would love to try them!

I whipped these up for Cinco De Mayo yesterday with things that we had in our pantry and they were better than expected so I figured I would share!

Ingredients:

2 large, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 soft tortillas of your choice (my personal preference is flour)
1 can of refried beans (I used half of a 16 oz. can of Rosarita Organic Traditional Refried Beans) – black beans would also be delicious
1 can of drained sweet corn (I used 2/3 of a 15 oz. can)
1 can of enchilada sauce (we had a 10 oz. can of A La Orden Traditional Enchilada Sauce)
Shredded cheese of choice (we had a Mexican blend so that’s what I used)

*Optional toppings – lettuce, guacamole, cilantro lime crema, etc.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook your chicken – put it in the crockpot with chicken broth, grill it, or just cook it in a skillet like I did. I seasoned each chicken breast with a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili seasoning, and paprika. A precooked rotisserie chicken would also work great!
3. Chop/shred your chicken.
4. Fill tortillas – I laid out a tortilla, slathered on the refried beans, topped with chicken, added a heaping spoonful of sweet corn, and sprinkled on some cheese.
5. Roll them up & place in your baking dish (I used a small glass Pyrex dish).
6. Pour enchilada sauce over the top and cover with cheese.
7. Cover with tinfoil and bake for about 20-30 minutes (until the interior is hot and the cheese is melted).

Load them up with toppings & serve – makes 4 loaded enchiladas!

*Photos used are my own

As some of you know, I graduated last spring from BYU with a B.S. degree in Communication Disorders. Since then I have been working as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) or Speech Therapist for short, at a K-6th grade elementary school here in Utah. It has been such a challenging new adventure that I have grown to love. However, never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have to take that adventure online for the last 2.5 months of my first year as “the speech teacher” – here is a realistic day in my life during this crazy time:

8:15am: Alarm goes off – dreadful…I am not a morning person.

I roll out of bed, literally giving myself no time to get ready for the day. 

Typical morning routine: brush my teeth & hair, throw on a sweatshirt, and take my thyroid meds…that’s about it.

I promptly take my spot on the couch, surrounded by a notebook & a pen, a binder of materials, my laptop, and a blanket.

9:00am: I start my first session of the day – all of my sessions take place over a video chat platform of some kind so that I can actually see my students – so fun and often times, hilarious.

9:00am-2:00pm: Sessions with my adorable kids (about 9-10 half hour sessions, back to back – I have about 40 sessions a week).

Any time in between sessions is either spent documenting the previous session or preparing for the next one – gathering materials, emailing or texting parents reminders or homework assignments & scrolling Pinterest or Epic Books looking for a fun activity, a new game to play, or an easy book to read.

2:00pm: My sessions are complete & I finally throw something together for lunch – a sandwich, cereal, or leftovers.

I relax a little bit during this time. I’m pretty burnt out after teaching and chatting with my students for 5 straight hours (sending prayers for the other SLTs and SLPs, like my aunt, who are doing even more). I listen to a podcast or watch YouTube videos while I send emails and document or gather more materials.

4:00-5:00pm: As lazy as it sounds, I make sure our apartment is clean and then I crawl back in bed to read a book, listen to a podcast, or keep watching YouTube videos, or on a rare occasion, take a nap. 

5:00pm: Sean is done with work! We cook dinner together or order something on DoorDash…

6:00pm: We sit down to decompress for the night – we play Golf Battle on our phones while watching Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on Food Network. Sometimes we will watch a new movie or binge watch a series on Netflix. We cuddle on the couch and just chill – occasionally we’ll go for a walk or take a drive. Every 2 weeks we’ll go to the grocery store or pick up cookies. Some nights we FaceTime our families or play games together.

*We honestly do this until we are ready for bed…

10:00pm: We crawl from the couch to our bed, read our scriptures, pray together, scroll through Instagram, and chat for a little bit before we struggle to fall asleep.

*Has this weird time messed with anyone else’s sleep schedule? We have the hardest time falling asleep these days…terrible.

But that’s it…then we start over the next day with pretty much the same routine!

It’s a fun challenge to think of new things to do to keep ourselves entertained. We have recently discovered an amazing trail and park behind our apartment – very exciting!

Despite how strange this experience has been and how much our schedules and typical routines have been turned upside down, I am so unbelievably grateful for this time. Overall, I feel more relaxed and centered. I think in the past year, due to all of the changes that have taken place, I slowly turned into a more high strung, stressed out person than I would like to admit and I’m sure my husband would agree. 

After the past couple of months of quarantine, I feel a bit better. Sean and I have grown closer (we honestly don’t have a choice, we live in a tiny apartment and are together 24/7). Of course we have arguments (like any couple) but we talk it out and get over it. We are also just sillier with each other, I think we might both be going a bit crazy, but it’s fun!

I have also learned so much more about how to do my job – I never expected to have to adapt in this way during my first year. I faced a steep learning curve at the beginning of the year and then once we went online, I had to jump a few more hurdles to make teletherapy functional and efficient for myself and my students. I would be lying if I said it wasn’t a very exhausting challenge. But, is it terrible to say that I am actually enjoying myself?

Of course I miss my friends & going out to eat or strolling through HomeGoods. But I also remember months ago, crying as I walked out the door to go to work because all I wanted was for Sean and I to just stay home together all day, and guess what, that dream, oddly enough, came true. Obviously not in the way I had ever wanted or expected, but despite it all, I am grateful. 

I miss my students and getting to see them and hug them everyday, but more than anything (and I am sure any educator can relate) I pray for their happiness and well being during this time that they don’t quite understand. Some of my kids and their families are having a tremendously difficult time, online schooling is overwhelming, and my heart breaks for them. On the other hand, some of my kids are thriving, they enjoy being home, and showing me their pets instead of practicing their /R/ words…I love it.

We only have a couple of weeks left until Summer – I think we all desperately need a break, but I hope that next school year, when we are (hopefully) back together again in my cute speech room, that we can look back on this time with grateful hearts and that it will remind us to slow down and cherish the time we get to spend together. A few of my kids might even finally learn how to say Mrs. McGetrick – but for now, being “the speech teacher” on a Zoom call is just fine.

I finally jumped on the ‘Banana Bread Bandwagon’ today. We had a few overripe bananas laying around so I figured why not…seems like everyone else has made a loaf during this quarantine so I had to join in. This is a recipe that I originally found on Pinterest but tweaked just a little bit. I know everyone probably has a banana bread recipe that they love, but just in case you are looking for one, here is a recipe with minimal ingredients and just a few easy steps.

Ingredients:

2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of sea salt
3 large overripe bananas
1/2 cup (1 stick) of melted butter
3/4 cup of brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of good vanilla (I use a Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste that is delicious)
Optional: 1/2 a bag of semisweet chocolate chips (I just dump…it’s probably around a cup)

*A great trick: toss your chocolate chips in a spoonful of flour before adding them to your mix so that they don’t sink to the bottom of your loaf or muffins.

Directions:

Just a note: I use my KitchenAid stand mixer, which has honestly saved my baking life.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a stand mixer combine the butter and brown sugar with the paddle attachment.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla right in and give it a mix until all combined.
4. Add in the bananas – I don’t even mash them up prior – I simply break them up in to chunks by hand before tossing them in. I then gradually increase my mixer speed until the mixture is all combined – should be a semi-smooth consistency (there may be a few small chunks, but not many). So easy – the mixer does all of the work for you!
5. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, then mix – normally recipes say to mix these three ingredients in a separate bowl first – I don’t. I dump it all in the mixing bowl and call it a day – one less bowl to clean.

By this point you should have a beautiful, light, and fluffy batter. The key is to not over mix – otherwise the batter becomes tough and nobody wants a punk banana bread. I mix my ingredients until they are just barely incorporated and then I stop.

Optional step: Add chocolate chips or nuts of your choice. I personally identify with semisweet so that’s what I use, but feel free to add dark or milk chocolate chips/chunks or even some walnuts. Yum!

6. Pour mixture into a greased or nonstick loaf pan or spoon it into a lined muffin tin.

7. Pour mixture into a greased or nonstick loaf pan or spoon it into a lined muffin tin.
If doing a loaf, bake for about an hour until it’s golden brown – I always poke it with a knife just to double check.

And that’s it – cut a slice – maybe top it with a little butter – eat it warm – delicious!

*Photos used are my own