Currently | August

Location: South End, Charlotte, NC

Happy August sweet friends,

August means back to school soon I have about 2 more weeks until my first workday.   After that it will definitely be back to the grind and routines.  I have a lot of goals for this school year though that I am excited to make happen.  Plus, the kiddos always make my job worth it!  Today, I am linking up with Anne and Shea to share a little more about what I am currently up to.

snacking (on): Lately because I have been all over the place with swim lessons my snacks have been on the go, I love bringing along things like RXbars for a protein fueled delicious snack with all clean healthy ingredients. 

anticipating: The school year.  There is always so much going on the first month of school.  The hustle and bustle is something I thrive off of but I also want to find a good healthy balance this year with school and a personal life.  No better way to start than jumping right in! 

borrowing: Business wardrobe ideas from lots of fun bloggers I found on pinterest.  We just moved and I did a huge purge of everything.  In that purge I took a good look at my closet and realized I have a lot of holes needing to be filled. Step one get ideas for versatile business / work appropriate pieces before I head out shopping! 

admiring: My new neighborhood of Charlotte and our view [pictured above]  Although they are building another apartment right next door so eventually my city view will be blocked.  I am soaking it all in while I can.

purchasing: Crossing my fingers that soon we will be purchasing a couch for the living room.  I am saving up and making lists of all the home items that are still needed to truly make this apartment organized and homey.  I am doing a good job of really being smart about my spending, doing my research first, instead of impulse buying something I'll will inevitably get rid of once I spring clean.

What are you currently up to?

Currently | July

Location: Avon, North Carolina [Outer Banks] 

Outfit Details: 3/4 sleeve top [Ivy & Leo; use the code AMANDA10 for 10% off your online purchases] | Jean Shorts [Target: old] 

It's July! Can you believe it? Halfway through 2017 already.  How is your year going? Your summer so far? This summer has been wonderful as well as really busy.  We are moving this upcoming weekend, it's definitely wedding season /year for my friends, I am teaching practically my parents whole neighborhood how to swim, and trying to have some me time too.

I am linking up with Anne and Stephanie to share more of what I am currently up to. 

documenting: Life through my camera lens. I love having a creative outlet and find that once I have one idea so many more come.  I am saving up for a DSLR so my passion can really take off. 

accomplishing: Lots and lots of packings and organizing happening here.  Since I was on vacation I really only have about a week to pack up the whole apartment! Talk about a time crunch.  

enjoying: The long summer days full of sunlight.  I feel like I have so much time to do all the things I want to.  My days are spent at the pool, spending lots of quality time with my pup, and finding new adventures around Charlotte.  

reading: Real talk.  I love to read. I also have to force myself not to read so that I don't become so engrossed in the book world that I don't live in my own.  So sadly because of packing all the time I haven't had a chance to get to the library. Once I settle I am going to get some fun books to read by the pool, any recommendations? 

spending: My time packing and dreaming of decorating the new place.  I have so many fun ideas.  I have been itching to get out of the place that I am in for a while now and it seems so surreal that it's finally here!

What are you currently up to? 

Currently | June

Location: Vintage Charlotte Market at Camp North End

It's June, y'all.  I am in my last week of school.  It is the craziest week of the year, with field days celebrations, and talent show performances.  I have been running around school making the most of my days by spending quality time with students.  I am linking up with Anne and Erin for this months edition of Currently - which if you notice I am in summer mode full force.

planning: Summertime adventures.  I am lucky enough to not be working at the school over the summer.  So I am using my summer to do blog work, teach swim lessons, and take some fun trips to get some much needed R&R before next school year.

wishing: For sunny days.  It has been storming lately here which is definitely the norm for Charlotte in the summer.  But a girl can dream for sunny summer days, lighter hair, and a tan; right? 

learning: About myself and my career choice.  This year was my first full year as a school counselor and it has definitely been formidable for me.  I have so much to reflect upon from this past year so that I can start planning how to improve upon the counseling program for next year.  

browsing: Summer outfit ideas.  Living in the mountains for as long as I have; I didn't really have need for summer clothes so my wardrobe is pretty lacking.  I am loving all the cute styles for this summer and can't wait to share as I build summer clothes. 

going: To the Outer Banks in a week to visit my sister with my family.  I couldn't be more excited.  I have talked about it on here for a few months now.  I am in need of a beach vacation and family time. 

What are you currently up to?

Currently | May

Happy May sweet friends.  April was packed full of soaking up the sun, spending time with family and friends, getting some well deserved rest and setting new goals for myself.  There is so much to be grateful for and so much to celebrate.  I am joining in along side Anne and Nancy for the currently link up to share a little of what I am up to this month!

baking: Blueberry Chia seed muffins.  I meal prepped on Sunday to ensure that I had lots of fun and healthy options through the week and these muffins are one thing I made.  They are such a delicious snack at school mid morning when I need a little boost. 

listening (to): I love podcasts to listen to on my runs or walks.  As a self proclaimed and proud Laguna Beach / the Hills fan since high school I recently found LadyLovin from Lo Bosworth which is like being a part of a really fun girl talk the whole time.  

loving: The spring weather.  I have been trying to take advantage of being outdoors as much as possible.  I have become such a sun chaser lately and will do anything to soak up some rays. 

planting: Recently, I went to Lowes to pick up stuff to re-pot my current indoor plants and had to pick up a few more.  I have 2 snake plants and a few other leafy greens plus succulents galore. I only have one good window with light so my obsession needs to stop until we move.  I absolutely love how plants warm up a room. 

remembering: TimeHop last month has been littered with memories from beach trips to job hunting posts.  They have me craving a beach vacation but also feeling so grateful and blessed that I am where I am now with my job, my life, and my relationships. 

What are you currently up to?

Currently | April

April showers are in full swing here in NC.  Seems like we have had rain then gorgeous weather then stormy downpours.  The weather can never make up it's mind this time of year.  I am linking up with Anne and Jess for this months edition of currently.

accomplishing: All of my work done before spring break so that I can have a week full of rest, family, and be ready for the remainder of the school year. 

feeling: Grateful for a family who even though we are now spread apart [working girls and all] we set time to "hangout" all together - thanks google! 

needing: Spring break to get here.  We have one more day with students and a workday standing in the way of my plans to get a big stack of books from the library and read them by the pool. 

practicing: Yoga 2x a week now.  It has been my favorite way of practicing self care lately - I feel so strong and healthy after a yoga session. 

pinning: All the plants and decor items.  Green plants have been my favorite way to give the house a fresh feel.  They are so fun and pretty. 

What are you currently up to? 

Currently | March

Happy March friends.  This month I have a ton of fun things in store for life and this blog.  The weather has been gorgeous recently and I am hoping that it continues through the whole month.  Today I am linking up with Anne and Carrie to share what I am currently up to!

Watching: The Bachelor.  It's my guilty pleasure.  I have been sucked into Bachelor nation for 10+ years now.  Since they keep using people from previous seasons I just have to know what happens next.  Pure entertainment. 

Eating: Since I have started to follow Tone It Up. [you can read all about it here] I have been eating meals off of their nutrition plan but I have one treat that I crave pretty much always because of the salty sweet combo; popcorn and m&m's.  Try it. You will fall in love and constantly make excuses to have movie nights just to eat it! 

Saying: I need some chick therapy.  My school has a science lab.  The students are studying life cycles and all sorts of cool things, so we had an incubator with eggs and the chicks hatched earlier this week! I have had a crazy week otherwise so I will randomly end up in the lab to go play with the adorable chicks.  So cute, so fuzzy, so precious.  5 minutes with chicks is a great therapy session. 

Wearing: These shoes. I have been wanting some cute but comfortable shoes for work. I am on my feet all day long but still need to look professional. I am so hooked on this brand now and they are so worth it! 

Posting: Sticking to my posting schedule and content here on the blog! I am loving my creative outlet in writing frequently, practicing photography, and blogging. 

What are you currently up to?

Currently | February

Can you believe it is February already?  Seems like yesterday I was reflecting on 2016 and making my goals and dreams for the new year.  Now it's the best month of the year; my birthday month!! I also have some really fun things planned for this blog.  I have been taking a few e-courses, through these I am learning so much.  This whole blog thing gets me so excited!

Today I am linking up with Anne and Erin to share a little of what I am currently up to:

packing: If you count packing my lunch every single day packing then this is my response.  I have been loving my tone it up meals and bringing delicious healthy food to work gives me the energy I need to keep chasing after kiddos and solving all the crisis that pop up during a school day!

jonesing: While we are talking healthy food, my favorite treats that I am forever addicted to dark chocolate and cups of coffee; they cure everything.

texting: A friend sent me this video today.  This teacher works in my school district and it made me smile.  I'm all about building relationships people; it's everything to these kiddos.

reading: The latest Erynn Mangum book: Happily Forever Ashten. I found this author a few years ago and her books are my soul.  If you are looking for a fun, christian novel centered around cups of coffee check her books out.

hearting: all the wonderful people in my life [this definitely includes my pup]

What are you currently up to?

Currently | January

Charlotte is currently in a frenzy over the possibility of snow tonight.  I decided to use some throw back photos of a big snow we had while I was living in Boone.  I love love snow and taking pictures in the silence that snow seems to bring so I am hoping that tommorrow morning will bring a fun snow photography adventure.  We will see! 

Today, I am linking up [a little late!] with Anne and Jessica to share more of what I am currently up to. 

Gathering: Supplies for snow.  Mike went to the store earlier and said the grocery store was packed and cleared out! Charlotte always shuts down during snow because there is little to no equipment to take care of the roads, so we are shut in until the roads melt, and at the mercy of stores deciding to open or not. 

Making: Hot chocolate to get me in the mood for snow.  There is nothing better than watching it snow and sipping a festive drink!

Sipping: Since the new year brought back work as well I am sipping coffee and lots and lots of it to keep me alive and focused and fueled through many counseling sessions, running around the school, and loads of paperwork I need to get back in the habit of doing! 

Following: Tone It Up's #lookforLOVE 2017 challenge. I have done their workouts and used some recipes from the plan for a while now.  This is the first time, though, that I am really following along with the community. It is almost a week in and I feel fantastic!! 

Resolving: To make more time for creativity in 2017. 

What are you currently up to?