The pollen is finally starting to wash away so we can enjoy the not-so-hot-I’m-sweating-all-day weather so I’m lovin’ April!

Read on to see all the little things I found enjoyable this month.

1. Classroom Inspiration

Last month I presented to a group of middle school parents. This quote was in the classroom where I presented:

As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might. – Marian Anderson

One of the things I love about visiting schools is seeing how the teachers decorate their classrooms and seeing the student work hung in the hallways. I always find inspiration when I’m in the schools – whether it’s an empowering quote hung in a classroom or a colorful display of bar charts from a math lesson hung in the hallway {future #DataDivas!}.

Kids can be little rockets of inspiration for us jaded adults in the most needed moments. 😉

2. Yard Flowers

Everything seems to be blooming – even in the yard of this very-brown-thumbed-gal!

If I’m being honest with you, I stole the flowers pictured here from my neighbor’s yard!

BUT: If you look closely, you can see MY flowers blooming out the window.  🙂

AND: If you look closely to the left, you can see little baby succulent sprouts. A coworker told me that when a leaf drops off a succulent to just plop it in soil and it’ll sprout little babies. I’m so surprised it actually worked {considering all my other succulents are currently dying on the front porch because I forgot to bring them in for the winter…}.

3. Eucalyptus Globulus essential oil

While on our spring break road trip, my allergies were in full swing {le sigh…does our body always have to rebel when we’re going on VACATION?!}. I went through cough drops like I’d bought stock in them and kept telling myself to get over it.

When we got home, I found my Eucalyptus Globulus oil was waiting for me. It was a freebie with my Young Living order last month so I wasn’t totally sure how I’d use it. I pulled the cap off and took a whiff and – wow!! – it smelled just like a menthol cough drop! I carried it around with me for a few days until my congestion subsided. I rubbed a drop on my neck and it worked so well to help me breathe easier. It reminds me a lot of those Vicks inhaler sticks {I used to love those!}.

4. Abby Glassenberg’s article Craft as Escape and Affirmation

Abby’s post is so perfect. I love the story of her time as a teacher and how crafting served not only as an escape from the stress of her job but also as an affirmation of who she was.

It is a must-read for all creative people / people who work in stressful careers / everyone! Click here to read the post.

5. Excuses to go on Vacation again

Last weekend the Hubs played in a hockey tournament in Charleston so we had a great excuse to go on another vacation – even if just a weekend getaway!

To all the hockey wives/girlfriends out there: I’ve discovered the secret to surviving the frigid chill of an indoor ice rink. It involves two blankets (one for your upper half and one to wrap around – not just over – your legs), hot coffee (warning: do not buy coffee from the teenagers working the concession stand. Ain’t nobody got time for room temperature coffee that tastes like garbage. Do yourself a favor and find the nearest Starbuck’s as soon as you drop your man at the rink), and a good book (for when you’re wasting time before the game because your main squeeze insists on arriving an hour early…).

{PS: We ate some of THE most delicious food while in Charleston. You’re probably thinking “duh, it’s Charleston” but for a vegetarian sometimes that can be tricky. I’m planning to post a recap soon of some of the amazing places we found.}

6. Ice Cream with Breakfast

While in Charleston for the weekend, we stopped by the Charleston Farmers Market before the tournament games began on Saturday. While there we had the most delicious breakfast, drank amazing coffee (found another swoon-worthy Chai Latte) AND ate ice cream sandwiches {wich cream is our new obsession – handcrafted ice cream?! Yes, please.} before 9am because #WhenOnVacation.

7. Grilled Cheese Food Trucks

Did you even know such a thing existed?! Me neither!

You can imagine my delight when my sister and I stumbled upon the Speak Cheesy Food Truck at the Indie South Fair in Columbia a few weeks ago.

You know how sometimes when you order a grilled cheese somewhere and it is so greasy that you’re pretty sure your insides have turned into a slippery mess? NOT SO with Speak Cheesy. The bread was perfectly fluffy with a lightly crisp, buttered coating. Rather than sliced cheese, the sandwich involved a mix with the consistency of pimento cheese (but not the runny garbage you find at the grocery store…this was the made-from-scratch kind – chunky and delightfully fresh).

My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Without further adieu, here’s photographic proof it was heaven:

Unfortunately for me (or fortunately for my health), Speak Cheesy is based in Rome, Georgia. They graced us with their presence for the Indie South Fair when it visited Columbia this month. Fingers crossed they’ll come back sometime!

8. Our Spring Break Road Trip

Are you tired of hearing about it yet?! I had such a blast writing the posts and reliving our trip. If you missed it, you can follow the trip with these posts:

• Stop 1: Alexandria, Virginia
• Stop 2: Washington, DC
• Stop 3: Marblehead, Massachusetts
• Stop 4: Boston, Massachusetts
• Stop 5: Salem, Massachusetts

I’m still working on the last stop (Virginia again) so stay tuned! 🙂

9. Empowering Quotes with Foul Language

Nothing makes me feel more fierce than a quote flavored with foul language. So, here’s a little flavorful empowerment for you too:

10.  One last giggle to share: check out this adorable video of dachshunds playing hockey!

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Sending you sprinkles of joy and warm hugs til next time,

Jordan

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{Catch up on all of my monthly What I’m Lovin’ posts here.}