My plan, late last December, was to close up shop for Christmas and through the New Year. And then I started student teaching, and everything got a bit crazy for awhile there! Now it's the end of January, and I'm just now getting things back opened up over at the shop - I'd love for you to take a look!

We're supposedly getting a HUGE storm here in the Midwest in the next couple of days, so if you're in need of something to keep you cozy and warm I've got a few items that might fit the bill!

And don't forget, every purchase helps buy solar lights for Al Amal! I'm able to purchase AT LEAST one solar light for every shop purchase, which means tons of refugees are gaining access to safety and education, the ability to maneuver the refugee camps at all hours (as many are showing up in the middle of the night), see where they're going as they walk to their next location, and so much more!

I'm also using shop profits to buy books and supplies for my middle school classroom. I'm teaching in a Title 1 school in one of the poorest neighborhoods here in Omaha, so my students can't afford to buy things like notebooks and pencils. My goal is to have a huge classroom library for them to use during our silent reading, and to always have pencils and notebooks and paper and such on-hand. I also need to make copies for their writer's notebooks, quizzes, and such, and our district doesn't have the money to fully fund that, so I use shop profits for this as well.

It's the most rewarding, and the most draining, work I've ever done. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Thanks in advance for checking out the shop!

The Shop Is Back Open!

Jan 30, 2016

It's taking longer than usual, but I'm slowly but surely getting both knitting and reading time in. I began my student teaching assignment last Tuesday, and even though I'm having such a great time and learning SO MUCH about teaching (middle school rules!), I find myself ready to drop into bed the minute Owen and Lou are asleep at night!

I can already feel this shifting just a bit, and I know that in a few short weeks getting up so early and doing so much every day will feel totally normal to me. My new normal. But this past week, and the weeks to come I am promising to be gentle on myself. And that means less knitting and reading than I was getting done over the holiday.

Slowly but surely I am plugging away at my goals. One more hat off the needles and another started, and a page here and there during silent reading at school (which the students do for 20 minutes every day!!) means I can see some progress amid the chaos, and that feels good.

slowly but surely

Jan 11, 2016

Happy new year!! It's been quite a few months since I've written here - I needed the break, whether I knew it or not! Now that the new year is upon us, I'm setting a few goals for myself, and am hoping to hop back here onto the blog on occasion and share my progress!


GOAL 1: DONATE 100 KNIT ITEMS

This is a big one, but it is also my only knitting goal for the year. I've got a closet full of yarn to contend with, and I'm hoping to turn most of it into Sandoval hats sized for babies that I can donate locally. We've got an amazing hospital down the road that is always in need of hats, and so I'm hoping the bulk of my acrylic yarn will be made into these tiny hats for some little ones being born this year.

ETA: I've adjusted this goal slightly. I'll still be knitting many Sandoval hats, but I have expanded my goal to just be donating 100 items. This will help me meet the needs that are most urgent, and hopefully use up s much of my stash, as quickly as possible.


GOAL 2: READ 100 BOOKS

Now that I've got my glasses back on my face on a regular basis, I've been reading at an almost frantic pace. I'm sure that will slow a bit starting next week when I head into the classroom as a 7th grade English student teacher (!!!!), but I'm hopeful that between summer break, the books the kids are reading, and my "spare time", I'll be able to knock out all the books on my shelves and my Kindle, as well as pick up some new finds.

My reading goal will be documented here on the blog, thanks to the fact that Goodreads will automatically post my reviews to the blog!! Hooray for not having to think too much and still share content! I'll share weekly (hopefully) updates on my Sandoval progress here on the blog as well.

But as always, the best (and fastest) way to see where I'm at with my goals is to head to my Instagram. I'm there every day, sharing photos and updates on life, knitting, reading, and all that good stuff!

new year, new goals

Jan 1, 2016

Instagram