photo a day: september

Hey there. :)

Tomorrow begins another photo a day challenge throughout September! I had so much fun with the first challenge that I did back in May and I'm pumped to finally get back to it.

I picked September to bring it back because 1) summer went by insanely too fast and I was fumbling around every which way so these photos would have just been lame, 2) school is back in! so now I need a consistent thing to bring to the blog, and 3) 'cause I  missed it, that's why.

My momma has always been a big scrapbooker (kudos to her, because now my life from  birth to graduating high school is perfectly and adorably documented to keep for a lifetime;). I tried that once. Somewhere in my house is an unfinished scrapbook of Washington, D.C. from the fifth grade. hah.

I'd like to think this photo challenge is the modern, actually doable, version of scrapbooking. What with all the cool apps, filters, and overlays, I can make a whole deal out of one snapped picture. Date it, post it, share it. Photo journaled. 

If you wanna see more about where this challenge came from, the rules, and helpful tips from the creator, head on over here.

I'll be adding the photos from my Instagram to this post at the end of each week. Don't forget to check back (and do this on your Instagram too!)! 

Wanna follow along? 

Instagram: @empottsy

Twitter:  @empottsy

currently.

my current... 


drink: international delight iced coffee in the mocha flavor. I fill my cup with half of that and cut it with the other half of milk. It basically tastes like chocolate milk and coffee had a baby. yum!

tv show: ugly betty. hello 2007. I randomly decided to watch it on Netflix and it's really entertaining haha. i find it ironic, actually. she's the "ugly" one working in the fashion industry, but in reality she has the most beautiful heart and compassion that the "pretty" people she works with don't seem to understand.  but come the end of September, I will be all over the season premiere of once upon a time. if you don't watch it already, what are you doing with your life??

reads: harry potter and the deathly hallows and the book of hosea. i'm trying this new thing where I read a book (instead of look at social media/screen time) the last hour before i got to sleep. i feel like i'm sleeping better! i have also been loving the study on hosea over on SheReadsTruth. it's great and i am learning a lot about the character of God. 

anticipation: getting back into the schools next month!! I haven't gotten my placement yet, but i can't wait to be in a classroom each week. at bellarmine in my first year i completed over 50 hours of observing in classrooms, but the way ius does it is a little different and some of my classmates haven't even been in classrooms yet. i am thrilled to be back at it.

eats: i've been craving cottage cheese and rice cakes recently. (i know.) i'm the only one in my house who likes cottage cheese. and the rice cakes thing is kind of funny. I used to eat them more often at a friend's house, but haven't had them in yeeearrrrs. i eat them with peanut butter on top, of course.

new jam: the new Maroon 5 album, V. it has some fun ones on there (but also some that I would not recommend, so proceed with caution). my favorites are "leaving california" and "unkiss me."

planning: trips to Huber's and Brown County, Idiana. as Fall is upon us, i need my fall festival and pumpkin patch fix! hopefully those can happen in October before Halloween. it's almost time for pumpkin carving. :)

work: all that comes with taking 17 credit hours at school. and painting for my Etsy shop. you can help me spread the word about it by sharing it on your facebook pages! i would even love to do some custom things right now as i am working on expanding my shop items. there will for sure be a new personalized item coming soon (probably this week) for a little girl nursery! you're gunna love it.

september campout: ky horse park

Weeeellll, it's been a minute since I've talked with you guys! How's your life? Do you like that is finally starting to feel like fall? 

School is in full swing for me. It's been great being in the School of Education finally! During October and November I'll be back in a classroom observing alongside a teacher. I have been thinking a lot about what grade I'd like to observe in this semester. I have done some observing in 3rd and 4th grade classes, and this time I think I'd like to be in Kindergarten or 1st. I have a sneaking suspicion that those will be what my heart beats for. Older kids are great, hey, they can tie their own shoes, actually know how to blow their noses, and probably don't cry as much. But I don't think that's what I want. Anyways, I'll keep you updated. :)


CAMPING AT KENTUCKY HORSE PARK
This weekend my family went camping (for the first time all summer, I might add!).

Kentucky Horse Park is great. Lexington is great. You just feel away from it all there. We went to a cute little orchard that was a little bit aways from the campground on Saturday morning. Hay rides, caramel apples, a pumpkin patch - it all put me in such a fall mood!

AND THE WEATHER. Oh my pumpkin spiced latte, was the weather perfect. Warm in the sunshine, and still pleasant in the shade. Couldn't get enough of it.

Spiced apple cider from Evan's Orchard ohmyword.

Are double yolks supposedly good luck?

Homemade fried apples, y'all. We may be in a camping club but we still know how to do potluck.

Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

Fresh peppers, yum! @ Evan's Orchard

Evan's Orchard

I resurrected my chucks for the first time since high school. It felt good.

I know that I'm a summer baby (birthday is in August), but Fall might really be my favorite season. <3

pinterest review: cinnamon roll waffles!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day! :)

Holidays with the family at home start off on the right foot with a yummy breakfast.

This is one I had seen on Pinterest before but wasn't sure how great it would be. Ya know, sometimes Pinterest ideas are big just flops.

These cinnamon roll waffles  had looked so so so good and mom really wanted to try them on our holiday morning when the family was all home. They were literally SO easy! We have the Black & Decker Belgian Waffle Maker. This method is better than making waffle mix and having to clean off a gooey mess on the waffle maker later.

I am not a huge syrup person, so this was a better alternative to regular waffles for me. Any excuse to put frosting on my breakfast gets a thumbs up.

They kind of fall short as a cinnamon roll. They were a little dry (just like waffles usually are), and I did kind of miss the best part of having a cinnamon roll: the gooey center.

So depending on what you're looking for, these could be a flop or a pass! I vote them as a pass. ;)
Let me know if you try these and how yours turn out!