A rare Universal Thread Win + Amazon Lately.

Last week, I talked about how I got these flat mary janes because I need some closed-toe, warm weather, kind of business casual shoes. I got them in the mail last Tuesday after I posted and then....didn't love them. I like them, but I didn't like the way they fit and I didn't like how they felt. Also, the look felt off to me. They could be worn, of course, but I envisioned the blisters that would likely result and that was enough to make me return sixty-some dollar shoes. I don't need to bleed all over them. That's for the under-20 dollar shoe range. 

So, I went to Target's app to see what they had. They had a very similar flat mary jane for $35. I was totally annoyed and disillusioned by Target's selection of shoes last fall/summer so it never occurred to me to look there; I ordered these on the app and I think there was a discount so I believe I got them for $30. I threw them into an order with all of the kids' school supplies. 

But anyway, they're a winner:

(This is where we'll take a deep breath and appreciate the groutwork the previous owner did on the tile. He owns a general contracting business. When I show the rest of his handiwork, at some point, you'll continue to be impressed.)

Meanwhile, Pinterest showed me this collage the other day and I almost cried:

It was 100 degrees yesterday.

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Most of our Amazon orders for the past few months have to do with the pool. I can put together a separate pool post if anyone is interested...having a pool is quite a journey and we feel like there's a whole new section of our brains that has grown and filled with knowledge...we literally knew nothing about pools before this summer! 

So here's the other Amazon stuff that's worth mentioning:

Vacuum storage bags. This brand is a winner. I needed them for sleeping bags/comforters. I'm more impressed by this no-name brand than I've been by the name brands. I didn't use the pump, but used the vacuum nozzle.

Celtic sea salt. I heard this was a good brand. We ran out of the last kind I bought over the winter so I gave this to Scott for Father's Day. I started making these honey salted lattes and it's excellent for that. 

I had to give in and buy new rain boots since my costco-made Hunter boots fell apart last year. I always shop with #fall in mind so the plaid was the obvious choice. 

I got this tshirt because it was in a Facebook ad or something and it's fine. It was $7. It's a little thicker than I wanted to get for summer. I'd say it runs true to size. I got a medium. It comes in every color imaginable so it's not a bad deal.

I got these erasable gel pens based on an Instagram recommendation and I love them. They are perfect for my teacher planner. They write smooth, are a fun design, multiple colors, erase well...definitely the best I've found. 

One more find among the actual sea of pool stuff and tools that Scott has been ordering...

Sutton has been dealing with "hangnails" which is anything she perceives as not a perfect fingernail. It's become a bit of a fixation, to be honest, and I'm hoping it's just a phase...she's starting to grow out of it a little, but we were at our wit's end. 

Scott ordered her cuticle oil and called it "hangnail medicine". 

She uses it 5-7 times a day, I'm pretty sure. 

But as long as she's not screeching for help over a hangnail and can solve the problem herself now, I'm okay with it. 

My nails are a disaster so I should start using it too. 

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Good, Bad, Ugly: Renting in Kansas

For the last year, we had a rental house in Kansas. We knew that we weren't going to get rid of our house in Missouri because we didn't know how long we would be stationed in Kansas. If he was given some random overseas assignment after few years here, the kids and I would've gone back to Missouri, for example. We're too far into this military life to keep selling everything and starting over. The rental in KS was always going to be temporary while we figured out what was next. This past winter, we essentially decided that we'd be staying here pretty much for the rest of his career so we decided to try to buy a house and settle in.

Our lease was June 16, 2025 to June 30, 2026, so we knew if we were going to buy, we needed to get it going in March/April so we could plan a move in time. Timing was weird also because Scott was out of town for multiple weeks in May and June. 

Here's my final thoughts on our rental, now that all is said and done:

right before we handed in the keys

The Good:

The company we used was really easy to deal with. I recommend them if you're coming to the Leavenworth area. Send me a message!

Great neighborhood. Good location. Easy access to pretty much whatever within 5-10 minutes. 

Lots of kids for Wells to play with. He gained a lot of independence and physical strength this past year. Age 7 was good for him. He learned how to problem-solve, climb a tree, and ride a bike too. He also, ahem, learned to defend himself using both words and actions. 

Fenced-in yard, 3 car garage, split level with a sub-basement, and basically as much storage as we could possibly want or hope for, so it was a real find for the price.

The Bad:

The steps in a split level can be annoying. This was our first experience in a true bi-level house and I'm blown away by the amount of wasted space because of all the steps. We were actually lucky in that we had a 3 1/2-car garage so the house had a much larger footprint and the bedrooms were really big. 

The kitchen had very little counter space and the counters and cupboards could've done with updating. 

The sliding glass door track was bent so the door was a struggle to open and close, and the ugly vertical blinds were also half-broken. 

I wasn't crazy about the washer/dryer....it's always nice when there's a set in a rental but they weren't the best. They left them for us to use but said they wouldn't maintain them and it was all up to us if we wanted them. So we used them and they weren't working great by the end of the 12 months. 

There was a tankless hot water heater. This wasn't the worst because apparently there's benefits but it was a hassle. An unpredictable hassle. 

The Ugly:

The backyard turned into a flooded, muddy mess when it rained. Dog paws were impossible to keep up with. The kids couldn't use the backyard for anything because we didn't want them tearing up the grass that we when we were able to keep it growing. They honestly needed a structural engineer in there to fix the slopes and grades and reconfigure everything behind the house. 

A lot of the drywall work in the bathrooms was new; they had been updated just last summer before we moved in. Unfortunately, it wasn't done well because within a month or so, doors stopped closing because the headers were bad and shifted. Drywall cracked up above the door frames. Scott initially tried to fix the doors but the problem was the framing inside the walls and he said you can't fix that without busting into the walls and starting over. So we lived with three doors that literally didn't seal/close/lock and now I guess that's someone else's problem. It sounds bad but I don't know that they could've/would've fixed it anyway. I don't think it's a priority for most landlords (the owner had done the work himself before the management company let us move in and they're not local). It would've been a very involved and messy process.

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To be honest, the doors not closing in the bedrooms/bathrooms and the muddy backyard were my only real complaints. I didn't hate the place at all and absolutely would've stayed another year if this stint in Kansas was going to be temporary. As it is, we're settled in for now but never say never. 

If I were shopping the #NSale + shoe-buying

I haven't seen any Nordstrom Sale posts yet on the blogs, so I went over to the site to see if there was anything interesting. I never actually buy anything but it gives me ideas of what's out there...I'm positive this is first where I saw a Longchamp many, many years ago and then got one for my birthday that year.

Unfortunately, this year, there is not one single bag I would even consider buying. Usually they have a few nice ones but everything is "sponsored" by The Sak and my opinion is that The Sak makes the ugliest purses known to humankind and why is Nordstrom letting them take over the sale?

Take yourself to Nordstrom Rack instead and buy one of these cross-body bags ---I have it in camo bought brand-new with tags from Poshmark and I love it. I paid slightly more there because I really wanted the camo. I had a slightly bigger version in black that I bought in 2016 and I used it for years, but the strap is starting to fall apart after 10 years of regular use. 

Concerning shoes, I do have my eye on Ugg slippers this year. If they are still available when the peasants are able to shop, I might get these because it's a good deal. I saw them, or a style similar, at DSW for $95 last fall. This would be worth it. I haven't seen this color before and I like it. 

I do like these a lot: 

I'm sure I could find something more cost-effective when #fall comes around but I really am starting from the ground up with boots. I don't have any that aren't slightly falling apart. I haven't bought boots that aren't strictly snow or rain boots in probably 5 years. (I bought those great waterproof chelsea boots from Target last year and Maverick chewed up the back of one, so their use, now, is limited.)

I love this: 

I'm sure I could find a chambray shirt anywhere but I have truly worn out the one I bought at Aerie last summer, so I could use a new one. 

I haven't bought new shoes that weren't slide-on sneakers or sandals in awhile. Actually, it seems like I'm always buying new shoes but shoes aren't exciting to me. They serve a purpose. I don't care about them. 

I bought these in two colors from Walmart because they are easy for spring/summer/fall. They were $9 each when I got them...the prices fluctuate! I got camo and navy. 

I got these Reef sandals in Vintage Oasis, which I do absolutely love. 

I got these $12 slides from Target because I'm eeking another season out of my Bombas (I wear them around the house every day) and didn't want to pay $50 for another pair this year. I wanted to have some backups. These are better than the Arizona Birkenstocks (I literally threw mine away they were so awful...I tried to make them work for a few years; they were slippery and squeaky when wet--a texture-sensitive person's nightmare--and then the label wore off pretty quickly), but not nearly as nice as the Bombas. 

Then, since I'd bought two pairs of sneakers last fall and they have been worn day in and day out, I need a new pair. I'm that weirdo who won't pay more than $70 for sneakers though and they have to be actually comfortable. I discovered that the perfect walking shoe for my foot is the Nike Revolution. 

So I ordered these ones from Famous Footwear (I had a coupon) and then I ordered these Mary Janes to try and then I bought two pairs of wedges...while non-working/summer Kristin can survive with one pair of sneakers, I need a little variety for the school year. The total for all the shoes I've bought in the last two weeks is $170, which doesn't seem that bad? 

Again, Scott will say I have a lot of shoes (I don't) but they all have different purposes and shoes do not excite me in any way; they are a means to an end. Come October I will look for two pairs of boots I think...I finally threw away my much-loved booties from 2019 because they were way too worn down and stained and I'm pretty sure I got my $29.99 worth. ----just thinking about this stresses me out...I really do hate buying shoes so that's a conversation for another day. 

So many people, men and women, love buying shoes. I cannot be the only one who sees it as an actual task, right?

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Friday Favorites. Photo Catch-Up

1. Today is Wells' birthday! I'm not sure how he's 8 years old. 

2. It took a few days, but I painted the kitchen and the dining room area. It was pink before. Before that, as evidenced behind the refrigerator (which I still need to pull out to paint behind...), it was lime green. 

This is Sherwin Williams Eventide and I love it with the wood stain and I like the floor too. It's a distressed looking tile. We are going to replace the cabinets this fall-ish and I'm looking for a color; some sort of creamy gray? I don't know. Not white, not gray, not cream, but something in between. 

I was trying to decide between all of these for the wall color. 

3. The days were it rains are my favorite days because it's usually not 101 degrees in the shade. 

5. The most I'm willing to venture into outdoor play before 5pm is to get the mail. 

6. She still wants the race car cart. Wells isn't too heavy but he's officially too tall for it. 

7. Right now the kids are sharing a bedroom so we set up bunk beds (I mean, I didn't, Scott did) that were in our house in Missouri. Saves a lot of space. 

This *gestures around* is my organization project to tackle next week. Being a military family means repurposing everything all the time--this rug had been in our master bedroom in our Kansas rental. 

8. I haven't posted memes in forever. Here's what I found in my screenshots:

(That sums it up)

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Reliable Read Alouds --Chapter Books

 

Since I went back to work, I'm looking at what read alouds I can cover this coming school year. In the 4 months I was in my position this past year, I read them First Light and When You Reach Me. Both I HIGHLY recommend for the 4th grade crowd. Since our students "loop" and we do combined grade levels, I won't read the same books again. But I've read these to other classes in the past and they're always a hit. 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane- This is a masterpiece. It's so incredibly sad and and makes you ponder in an uncomfortable way. I"ve read it to multiple classes and don't know if I can do it again. I read it to 3rd grade two years ago.

Penny From Heaven- Also a masterpiece. I've read this to myself more than once and also to one 4th grade class in Alaska. There's a lot of history that goes along with it, so it takes some explanation. I think this might be great toward the end of the school year. 

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain- Wells read this with me two years ago and my 3rd graders read it as a little novel study this past year. Very historical in its context so it takes some explantation, but it's absolutely perfect for sequence, problem/solution, drawing conclusions, making predictions. Short and sweet. 

The Report Card- Andrew Clements is the master of the school story (and has a book called The School Story) but The Report Card is engaging and brings up all kinds of questions surrounding "does school really matter?". I read it to one 4th grade class in Colorado, I believe. 

Turtle in Paradise- By the same author of Penny From Heaven, but is shorter. It's more nuanced and needs more explaining (takes place in Key West in the 1930s) and has slightly more adult themes (poverty, not knowing who your father is, a derelict mother who sends you away so she can enjoy her honeymoon). But it's about kids on an adventure and the students always think it's funny. 

Real quick:

Can we talk about how book covers used to mean something? Now everything is identical with a gamified look. Gag. 

Bunnicula- I've read this EVERY year I taught 4th grade. It's such a favorite of mine and I'll read it this fall. 

Number the Stars- I prefer to do this as a novel study (I own a set of 30....), so maybe in the spring? I did read it aloud to one class in Alaska and they adored it. But I think I've done it most years I've taught 4th grade. 

Bob- I read this to one 3rd grade class in Missouri and they really enjoyed it. So did I. It's pretty new. It's got a magical twist and kids like that. I think I will do this in January? 

Because of Winn-Dixie- I have read this more times than I can count and I don't actually like it (funny, right?). It's such an important story for the 8-9 age group and we will probably read it this year. I might start the year with it. I just absolutely can't stand it LOL. 

The Mayflower Treasure Hunt- I read this during November while I teach them about the first Thanksgiving and I pair it with What Was The First Thanksgiving?

If you have any middle grade read aloud suggestions, I'm all ears! I'm always looking for something to add to my library. 

What to Buy/What to Skip

BUY: I bought Sutton these shoes from Target--The See Kai Run Basics line from Target is superior to the regular SKR website. Half the price, better quality in my opinion. 

SKIP: I wanted to get her these Adidas but $45+ seems like a lot for 4 year old shoes? She doesn't need Adidas. She just needs quality shoes. 

(These were $60 on Amazon but I really love them.)

SKIP: I splurged on this two years ago, used it less than 5 times, and hated it. It makes your hair greasy. Do not recommend. 

(bad pic but I already threw it away)

BUY: I've been using this since 2007 to control flyaways in the front. Cannot recommend enough. 1/3 the price of the B&B invisible oil too. 

SKIP: Aldi creamer is terrible. It's why I still have to shop at Walmart even though Aldi is cheaper, overall. 

BUY: V8 Energy Drinks are really tasty, if you're into that kind of thing. I don't do energy drinks very often. 

SKIP: Bloom tastes like a chemical cocktail by comparison. (We bought these for a trip.)

SKIP: Bubbl'r is the worst of all. I'll never understand how anyone can drink them. They taste terrible. (This was free at Target one day.)

My villain origin story on hating Bubbl'r: They sold them in the school cafeteria during elementary lunch (2 years ago). I tried to explain that they have caffeine --it says equivalent to a cup of coffee on the can-- and no one would listen to me because the upcharge on these made the school money. My 8-9 year old students would be sipping Bubbl'r on their way out ot recess and then they were unmanageable and falling asleep by 2pm. Again, no one cared. 

BUY: I have this issue where I buy bulbs of garlic and forget I have it or don't use it all in time and it goes bad and then there's garlic paper all over the cupboard. I saw this for less than $2 in the store last week and thought it was a fantastic compromise. Totally worth it. I just keep it in the fridge. 

SKIP: Don't buy these chicken nuggets. The texture is the most unsettling experience. If you want this brand, buy the regular nuggets and if you want dino nuggets, buy any other brand. Gag. 

Currently. In July.

Sparkling- The pool is sparkling. Honestly, this is the summer of swimming and every bit of energy is going into this swimming pool. 

That, which you can see in this picture, is a hole in the liner. We are now sure the owner knew about it. The tell-all on this house is coming soon and let's just say it'll have more tea than Collin Gosselin's upcoming book. 

Grilling/Cooking- These are my two go-to dinners for summer. Both just require grilled chicken: Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad and Grilled Chicken Orzo Salad. 

Heating Up- In lieu of complaining about the heat, I will...complain about the humidity? The sunshine? The UV ratings? 

I truly believe summer seasonal depression should be classified in the DSM-V. 

One month down.

Using- Or, trying to use my summer break effectively because I have a lot I want to do before August, but mostly I'm just dealing with this kind of stuff every day: repeating myself, preparing snacks, and arguing with small children. It's hilarious because I used to think summer would be easier when my kids were a little older. Nope. The last easy summer I had was the one where Sutton was a baby. 

My iPad screen shattered this week so the 4 year old has had no screen time :) I absolutely refuse to buy her a tablet. 

Celebrating- The state of Kansas added the certifications I completed in Missouri to my Kansas certificate. They weren't super nice and friendly about it but they couldn't argue so I'm counting this as a victory. The Seal of Literacy was two full years of work. Even though they don't put this on MO certificates (yet) or call it THE SEAL OF LITERACY, it's the same coursework. They are requiring it in KS now, so I'm glad I was able to transfer it. 

I have a lot of posts coming up next week: books, product reviews (what not to buy), and a recap of our Wyoming trip. I've been very out of sorts the last couple of weeks with traveling and feeling deluded about the fact that it's 95 degrees every single day. 

Happy 4th!

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