Blood of Olympus

With the exception of the final Harry Potter novel, I don't think I've ever been more nervous to finish a book.  

Earlier this week I finished The Blood of Olympus, which was the tenth adventure involving Percy Jackson and friends.  I was really pleased with how everything was wrapped up emotionally at the end. I was also very proud of how Rick Riordan handled one of his main characters dealing with his homosexual feelings as well as feelings of isolation and depression due to feeling like an outsider.  (I mean, his dad is Hades after all.  It's not like he's the most well-liked god of Olympus.)  This book did an amazing job of tackling some tough topics in such a gentle way.

My 59 page teacher guide is now available {here}.  I have vocabulary suggestions for each chapter, comprehension questions (with suggested student answers) and homework/responses to literature.  I've also imbedded extension activities and project ideas for students.

My chronological order sort should be available tomorrow!  I had plans of finishing it while at the DMV this morning, but it was far too loud.

I'm sad to see my literary friends go, but know it's only a few short months until the next series is unveiled!

 

July goals revisited

Apparently July is ending soon, so I thought I'd revisit my July goals post.  The original post is in italics while my updated thoughts are in bold.

So let's set some goals for July:
1) I will keep my wedding prep talk to a minimum.  B's brother and fiance are getting married next month and we're both in the wedding party.  I don't want to steal their thunder.  

Yeah....I got a little carried away with the planning.  Sorry readers...I'll refrain from posting more for a bit.  I've tried to keep it to the blog and with my mom.  I did get my dress for their wedding and am helping with some craft project on Thursday morning. 

2) Finish The Blood of Olympus. I'm on chapter 14 and don't plan on doing much more the rest of the day.  Plus this will be my plane reading.

So my plane reading became napping.  I'm on chapter 32 (of 50?).  I plan to knock out a few more chapters tomorrow.  I'd be farther along if I didn't have my helper...

We've been doing lots of belly rubs!  Waffles has been amazingly helpful at blogging, reading, and crafting.  Her fur sisters have been equally helpful at aggressively smelling things and knocking sharpies to the ground for Waffles to play with.

My goal is to finish it before I go back to school...and before his next novel comes out!  The main character shares a last name with Annabeth and this is based on Norse gods.  My heart is happy.

 

3) Learn, a lot.  I'm off to DENSI 2015 tomorrow evening and super excited to reconnect with others.  I'm the only representative from my whole state...so no pressure there!

I learned so much! Now I just need to stop being a slacker and share what I learned.

4) Help a friend earn some great rewards with her online Jamberry party.  We are having lots of fun with our nail wraps and I love that I can have gorgeous nails without a trip to the salon for way cheaper! It's a win-win all around!  I previously posted, I'm currently rocking a Shark Week themed jamicure.
Favorite Jamicures:

Oh yeah, I did that glittery pink and silver ombre look at home in 20 minutes flat while watching television.  Bam!
 

Her party is finishing up on Wednesday.  We've had fun and I've learned a few things. I don't think the next online party will go as long because there isn't the sense of urgency when it's open for three weeks.  Now I know better. 
 
5) Finish watching season 2 of Arrow.  We've got just a few episodes left, but it's Shark Week and that obviously takes priority!

DONE!  We've got a new season of Ink Master to enjoy next.

6) Catch up with family and old friends.  We're seeing one of my oldest friends and his girlfriend tomorrow for dinner.  I get to spend next weekend in DC with my bestie.  I'll get to talk to my mom soon (she's gallivanting in Europe and having the time of her life!)

DONE!  I've had some recent painful moments where I've realized that the friendships I treasured just aren't the same because people change.  That's been a rough lesson to learn this month.  I feel like this is a lesson I keep learning over and over again because I have a hard time giving up on people.  But I've also had some great times with the wonderful people in my life, many of them my new friends  from my new school.  Thanks tribe for being awesome.

7) Finish up some minor craft projects that I've started.  I donated a bunch of old items to a friend for her church's garage sale, so it's nice to purge items that I no longer need.  I'm in the process of organizing the garage and cleaning out our guest room (since it will quickly be taken over by wedding prep craft projects).

Done...ish.  One paint project is currently drying.  Others are being finalized this evening (I am binge watching Netflix without shame) or tomorrow after my eye doctor check up.  Our guest room has three distinct piles: work, Jamberry, and wedding.  The school pile is the largest. 


August will be consumed with their wedding, math training, and returning to work to conquer year seven in the classroom.

I've got five or six small wedding projects (mostly for the engagement party) to work on next month.  I'm excited about my math training.  

I'm also excited for this free learning opportunity: 

It's an online PD on August 4th and I'll get teaching materials in the mail after completing the course.  I didn't have the opportunity to attend this at DENSI, so I'm pleased it's offered again.  To clarify, I'm not excited about the content.  I think the content is beyond important and I am excited to learn strategies for discussing this dark period in history with my students.  I plan to use Number the Stars as one of our grade level read alouds and want to do a better job front loading the novel with the historical context.

Last year we read Esperanza Rising and building in the historical context about the Dust Bowl made a world of difference with my students.  

What are your goals?  Did you achieve them? If not, (no judgment) what's your revised plan for success?

July Goals

It saddens me to realize that a good portion of my summer break is gone, but at the same time, it's been amazingly productive.  B and I went to visit family, got engaged, got a puppy, got addicted to a new show on Netflix (Arrow), and I had eye surgery.  It's been a jam-packed summer!

So let's set some goals for July:

1) I will keep my wedding prep talk to a minimum.  B's brother and fiance are getting married next month and we're both in the wedding party.  I don't want to steal their thunder.  

2) Finish The Blood of Olympus. I'm on chapter 14 and don't plan on doing much more the rest of the day.  Plus this will be my plane reading.

3) Learn, a lot.  I'm off to DENSI 2015 tomorrow evening and super excited to reconnect with others.  I'm the only representative from my whole state...so no pressure there!

4) Help a friend earn some great rewards with her online Jamberry party.  We are having lots of fun with our nail wraps and I love that I can have gorgeous nails without a trip to the salon for way cheaper! It's a win-win all around!  I previously posted, I'm currently rocking a Shark Week themed jamicure.

Favorite Jamicures:

Oh yeah, I did that glittery pink and silver ombre look at home in 20 minutes flat while watching television.  Bam!

5) Finish watching season 2 of Arrow.  We've got just a few episodes left, but it's Shark Week and that obviously takes priority!

6) Catch up with family and old friends.  We're seeing one of my oldest friends and his girlfriend tomorrow for dinner.  I get to spend next weekend in DC with my bestie.  I'll get to talk to my mom soon (she's gallivanting in Europe and having the time of her life!)

7) Finish up some minor craft projects that I've started.  I donated a bunch of old items to a friend for her church's garage sale, so it's nice to purge items that I no longer need.  I'm in the process of organizing the garage and cleaning out our guest room (since it will quickly be taken over by wedding prep craft projects).


August will be consumed with their wedding, math training, and returning to work to conquer year seven in the classroom.

What are your goals? 

Currently in July

Last month I borrowed the idea for this blog post from Bailey at Brave Love, which is a super fun blog that you should also follow :)

Reading... The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan. It's the last in the Percy Jackson series, so I'm hesitant to finish it.

Playing... catch up on various tasks before the weekend.

Watching... Netflix! I'm dying to watch the next episode of Arrow (we're on season 2 at this point), but it's a show I'm watching with B and I can't go ahead of him on Netflix episodes.  That's relationship treason.

Trying... to be productive in hour spurts.  LASIK recovery means frequent eye drops and a new puppy means frequent trips outside for potty training.

Cooking... nothing! We've got lots of salads for our healthy kick, supplemented with grilling.

Eating... healthier, or at least trying to! 

Drinking... water, water, water. I have a pretty glass water bottle and am trying the whole put fruit in the water to make it taste better plan.  I've also discovered V8 Strawberry Lemonade and it's delicious!

Calling... no one. I'm enjoying quiet time.

Texting... with no one. Again, enjoying my quiet day of reading!

Pinning... Jamberry Disney ideas for a friend's party. I'm really excited to get to be creative! You can shop the party here.

Tweeting... about DENSI 2015. I can't wait to spend a week in DC.

Going... to the eye doctor again later this week.  I'm glad the post-op care is so thorough.

Loving... naps. Plus they're encouraged during the summer!

Hating... negative responses to the Supreme Court rulings. Love is love. 

Discovering... balance.  Balance between my social life, down time, relationship time, and work time. I'm taking more time for me and doing more healthy things, which hopefully will pay off.

Thinking... about what historical costume I should rock for DENSI 2015 this week!

Feeling... like it's time to go spend time in the hammock! Thank you Amazon for two day shipping!

Hoping (for)... clarity, reflection, honesty, and bravery.  Ready for fresh revelations and adventures!

Listening (to)... the pitter patter of small puppy paws on the floor as she chases her Kong.  By puppy paws, I mean the mega paws that indicate my 23 pound pup will get much, much larger!

Celebrating... being almost done with prescription eye drops and wearing goggles at night.  Plus next week I can wash my face again!

Smelling... nothing. Thank you allergies.

Thanking... friends for checking in on me post surgery and to M for driving me to appointments.

Considering... a 4th of July TpT sale!  Go check out my {store}!

Starting... to pack for DENSI.  It's summer, so I live in pajamas and yoga pants unless I have to go somewhere.  I might as well pack up some of my teacher outfits for DC.

Finishing... my SHARK WEEK themed Jamicure!

What are YOU up to currently?