The Ameri Brit Mom

One Month of Bullet Journaling

One month ago I purchased a Moleskine notebook and started my 2017 bullet journal.

A bullet journal is a place to plan and organize not only your schedule, but also all of the countless lists that accumulate in your mind. I wanted to be sure that my bullet journal would become a keepsake for the year of the many things I enjoy and the memories I wish to record.

In the past I’ve used pretty planners, but after months of pinning bullet journal pages online I decided to go for it in the new year. I have an obsession with pretty stationary and organization so the concept of bujo (short for bullet journal) was appealing to me. Armed with a blank notebook for the year was intimidating at first so I started with outlining big moments in 2016.

After my 2016 review, I created my future log for all planning. I included calendars for every month in 2017 and places to jot down events in advance on that calendar. For each week within the month I have a calendar that is for daily tasks and appointments to be tracked.

Some of my favorite collections so far are:

To-Read List
“Oh the Places We’ll Go”- a list of travel destinations this year
“Take Me to the Movies”- a list of movies we saw in the cinema this year
30 Day Spending Freeze
Game Night Stats- a running tally of the games and winners from our weekly game nights at home. (This was part of my new year’s resolutions and it’s been so much fun!)
Blog Stats Tracker

One month in and I am already noticing an increase in my productivity. I spend a few minutes every morning planning the day and few minutes before bed reflecting on the day that has just passed. I am really enjoying this practice. It has been healthy for both my mind and my creative soul.

I’m planning to share some of my progress in bullet journaling throughout the year. Which page or collection is your favorite so far?

The Ameri Brit Mom

Keep It Simple This Valentine’s Day

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In three weeks couples all over the world will be celebrating Valentine’s Day.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the holiday. Call me cynical, but in my opinion, couples with a healthy relationship should be honoring their bond daily. February 14th is no magical day. It should be a day like any other where gratitude is expressed and moments are cherished.

I also realize that for some, Valentine’s Day can be painful. It’s a reminder that another year has gone by without finding a spouse. It’s a reminder that you thought you’d spend forever with someone and it didn’t work out. It’s a reminder that the person you love was taken too soon. It’s a day that so many try to forget despite social media and marketing tactics thrusting reminders in their faces.

If you are in a committed relationship–make it a good day. It doesn’t have to be over-the-top, but remind your partner that you love them (as you should every day.) Maybe do something different or exchange a small gift. Cherish every day together, not just February 14ths.

If you are one of those people who wish you could skip work and all human interactions on this day I hear you. Gather some of your other single friends and celebrate where you are on your journeys. Lift each other up with words of encouragement, laughter, and a glass of wine. Know that there is nothing wrong with being alone on Valentine’s Day. It’s a day like all the others and don’t let anything make you feel like you are “less than” because you are single.

If you are looking for something for a friend or spouse that is truly unique to them consider purchasing a gift card to Stitch Fix. It’s a simple gift that keeps on giving. With this gift card the recipient can be introduced to Stitch Fix for the very first time. If they are already part of the program then they can choose to use their gift card on pieces they select that fit their bodies and style well. Give the gift of a personal stylist this season for all of the people in your life whom you love. Stitch Fix now provides clothing for women (regular, maternity, petite) and men.

All throughout the year (every day to be exact) my husband and I give each other constant reminders of our love. We will go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day and maybe even spend a little bit on a gift, but it’s important to remember these things should be regular parts of our interactions. It isn’t about assorted chocolates, giant teddy bears, fancy dinners, or jewelry.

Love is about going into the trenches of this life ready to defend one another to the death. It’s about fighting side-by-side for what is good and lovely. It’s about choosing each other every day, not just on February 14th.

The Ameri Brit Mom

**This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation as a result of this post.

The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction (Week 3)

I’m really enjoying this book about the art of writing Christian Fiction. This is the second book by Jeff Gerke that I have read, and I think the man is a genius.

I am a writer for many reasons. I choose to spend my time articulating stories because I enjoy it. It’s a hobby that I continue to learn from. So many books out there are to help me become a “flawless” writer. Gerke takes me to a humble, teachable place to show me that there really is no “arrival” as an author.

Writing is a journey much like the one of faith that I’m walking. It’s a lifetime of learning and practicing. It’s a road filled with obstacles and trials. It’s a rewarding hobby. And it’s important to keep an open mind and heart throughout the whole journey.

Be Teachable

After years of crafting stories and (maybe after publication) it is easy for a writer to feel like they hold all the keys to the craft of writing. Their work is complete. Editing is not necessary. And if you bring up a mistake you might as well be talking to a wall. This is a description of a prideful writer. This is someone who believes that they have arrived at perfection and there is no room for critique or remarks at that destination. These people are hard to work with, and unless they are already successful they rarely attain the goal of publication.

Humility is the key.

Learn to accept advice. Roll with the punches. Don’t deny the fact you are human.

It can be uncomfortable to pour your heart and soul into a project only to be told it is not good enough, but you have a choice. You can choose to heed the advice of someone who has read your work or you can ignore their words and assert that there is nothing wrong with what you have written.

At the end of the road the humble author always wins. Not only do they find themselves achieving big goals, but they also better their craft in the process.

I was at this crossroads a few weeks ago. The book I’ve written was sent to a favorite author of mine. She did some critiquing of my work, and like the student who failed his English essay she sent it back with all of her markings coloring my manuscript red. For a millisecond I contemplated throwing the whole thing away and finding a new hobby. After reading the comments I realized that she was right about many of my mistakes, but none of them were detrimental to the story itself. I had made my fair share of grammatical errors, but I chose to work through them and learn from the process instead of taking a prideful stance against her wisdom.

As a result my story is so much stronger now. What once was a word and story dump is now a refined piece that I am proud of.

Stop Being Teachable

“You cannot please everyone and be a good writer.” (Gerke 30)

After much learning about fiction writing we eventually get to a place where we have to start producing. For some, it can be crippling when they look at the long list of dos and don’ts. Many rules are contradictory to one another and the fear of messing up can keep you from ever finishing a project.

At some point you need to examine the information you have gathered and decide for yourself what your writing voice will look like. You have to swallow the fear of imperfection and press forward, confident that your informed writing style will appease some group of writers. It’s impossible to adhere to everyone’s advice. Once you reach the point where you are ready to turn out the product you get to make the decision about which critiques you will take into consideration and which you will chose not to include in your edits.

When it comes to forming your own voice consider the books and types of writing you prefer to read. Examine that writer’s style in-depth, and then make some decisions for yourself. Ultimately, a heart of humility is what helps us to develop our style and craft as a writer, but a little confidence can go a long way in uncovering your unique voice.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Dressing and Educating: Days 91-95

Day 91: January 9, 2017

My traditional classroom became an online one today as students used Google Classroom to complete and submit assignments. One goal I had for myself this year was to utilize and establish my Google Classroom. Whenever possible I am trading in paper assignments for ones that can be turned in electronically. I also use other Google Apps for quizzes and surveys. I cannot wait for the day where my school has a 1:1 ratio of devices to students. Until then, I implement these practices as often as I can being aware of the fact that other teachers may need access to this technology.

In English, students are currently collaborating on a Google Doc to write an essay. As a group they are turning in one paper for which each student is given a responsibility. We are practicing skills in electronic collaboration, but also in our writing and editing as well.

In Honors World History my students are using a web quest format to research Africa before and after it was imperialized the Europeans.

It was a good Monday! I wore a dress from Stitch Fix #9, a cardigan, and jeggings.

Day 92: January 10, 2017

Today was another two hour delay. I woke up to a sheet of ice.

My classes were still productive as we moved forward on writing projects in English and a study of African imperialism in Honors World History. I spent much of the day proofreading student writing in Google and providing feedback for them.

I also met today with the principal and curriculum director to discuss results from a common quarterly assessment given in English 9. Everything was positive and the Ohio AIR tests will be here before we know it.

Today I wore olive jeggings and a new sweater from Stitch Fix #10.

Day 93: January 11, 2017

Today was the very first Snow Day of the school year. It’s peculiar because it didn’t end up actually snowing. And the temperature reached 50 degrees by mid-day. Overnight a light drizzle fell and low morning temperatures caused a temporary freeze on the roads. It was an icy morning, but by the middle of the day it was beautiful. This isn’t quite how I pictured our first weather cancellation, but it was nice.

I stayed in all day and worked on writing, reading, and catching up on my Netflix binge.

I’m wearing my 41Hawthorne Queensland Dolman Jersey Top from my Stitch Fix #2. It’s so comfortable and stretchy. It’s one of my top picks from the service.

Day 94: January 12, 2017

My day started off decently, but just kept getting better.

In the morning my classes were putting their final touches on the essays we have been crafting for over a week. With the deadline this evening groups scrambled to make up for lost time yesterday. I conferenced with different groups. In most cases I met with groups face-to-face, but at times I combed through their Google Docs and held a virtual conference across the room using the chat feature within the program. This is a highly effective tool that helps me to be an even more efficient teacher.

In Honors World History my students were quizzed over fifteen African countries. It was a geography quiz that required students to know geography, locations, and capitals. As one of my hardest map tests all year I was really pleased with student scores.

I had a really stellar meeting with my principal and history department today. I feel so blessed to be part of such a kick-butt team of teachers. Together we work really well and we bring fresh ideas to the world of Social Studies. Go team!

Today I wore my Katniss Crochet Yoke Top from my Stitch Fix #7. I paired the top with dark slacks and a sweater.

Day 95: January 13, 2016

I showed up today with all my energy! I was ready to get Friday finished so that I could move into the three-day weekend. I was feeling super positive after my fantastic Thursday and I stayed that way through the whole day.

In English my students were reading. We did some discussion together as a class, but a majority of the class period was spent making progress in Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis.

In Honors World History I taught a little bit on imperialism of Muslim nations in the Ottoman Empire. I’m really excited because the introduction to World War I is on the horizon. In one more week I should be there and from that point forward my course is spent studying wars.

Today I wore my Gusta Two Pocket Top from my Stitch Fix #8. I paired that with a black tee from Primark in England.

This week I wore something from Stitch Fix each day. I reminisced all week about some of my favorite pieces and brought new accessories to previous looks. As a member of the Stitch Fix Influencer team I do receive compensation from affiliate links and sales (which are found on this page.)

As one of my resolutions this year I have set goals of raising awareness about the Stitch Fix company. I know there are skeptics out there who wonder if this five-item box is really worth it. I would love to chat with you if you are unsure of the products and services that they offer. You can also expect to see more Stitch Fix information in the future on this blog.

Which Stitch Fix style was your favorite this week?

The Ameri Brit Mom

Today at the Amusement Park

*My husband bought me the book Write the Story. It’s a writing practice book which provides a topic and ten words to use in a creative story. I have been trying to complete a story each day as part of my goal of writing 300 words per day. This is definitely unfinished, but I wanted to share an example with you. Also, please forgive me for any wildly out-there words. I did my best with the toolbox I was given. It’s part of the practice–adding specific words to the tale.

Prompt- Today at the Amusement Park

Words- Ferris wheel, Dinosaur, disk, exceedingly, narrow, Snickerdoodle, joined, don

We have been in line for the Ferris wheel for over an hour. If my little brother hadn’t insisted that we ride around the revolving disk I would never had waited this long. We only visit Dinosaur Land once every summer. It seems like such a waste to spend the day in line for the Ferris wheel of all rides.

But then again this trip isn’t about me. It’s about Wyatt.

When I was younger I never understood why Mom and Dad dropped us off every summer at the amusement park. Don’t worry we weren’t alone. Tons of counselors met us at the doors wearing identical tshirts and insisting that we don them as well. Now I understand that this trip is part of their respite package. It gives Mom and Dad a chance to get away for one day. So even if I am fifteen I’ll wait in line with my little brother. I can handle one day for Mom and Dad.

Wyatt was diagnosed with autism when he was five. Throughout the year Mom and Dad spend an exceedingly large amount of time joined in an effort to appease Wyatt’s narrow particulars.

He loves cars, dogs, and Ferris wheels.

Only red cars. Only our dog, Snickerdoodle. Only this Ferris wheel at Dinosaur Land.

And that is why we are waiting in this long line. And once we finally get to ride it we will go to the end of the line and wait again. We will experience exactly one ride on this trip just like every other year.

But this trip isn’t about me. It’s about Wyatt.

The Ameri Brit Mom

It is unlawful to plagiarize any of the original work from The Ameri Brit Mom. No permission is given to reuse this text or ideas without written consent. Always give credit where credit is due.

**If you are looking for some writing practice give it a try. Spend a few minutes crafting a story or character using the prompt and words above. Feel free to post it in the comments or on your own blog. It’s silly, but I can tell I’m getting more and more creative with each prompt.

One Happy Player

I remember the tears and wailing of last winter. Upward basketball season had begun, but my daughter was a few months too young to participate. We took her to several games to watch her four year old cousin compete. It was torture to a toddler who had been dribbling since she could stand. For an entire year she has looked forward to playing in the Upward league and this past weekend ended her wait.

To fully understand the sanctity of my daughter’s basketball experiences you should know that my husband is a professional basketball trickster. In 2015 I wrote a post entitled My Husband, the TV Star in which I explained a little bit about what he does. Check this out if you don’t know him or haven’t heard of the Sizzla.

Before her first birthday my daughter joined my husband on the stage of an Upward Ceremony show. He spun the basketball on his finger and passed it to her small, delicate one (with my assistance of course). She giggled and the crowd let out an “Awwww” in unison.

By the age of two she was dribbling one ball fairly consistently.

By three she was making shots on lowered rims.

And now, at four years of age she is able to dribble two basketballs at the same time, make a shot on a 9 foot rim, and execute a talented spin move.

My husband has been awaiting her opportunity to compete longer than she has. Five years ago (this weekend) we found out that we were expecting. Amidst the shock and nerves I can clearly remember the spark in my husband’s eye as he dreamed of teaching our future child the fundamentals of basketball.

All of those moments made her first Upward basketball practice that much more special. My husband enjoyed coaching her and radiated his pride in her abilities as they began the drills of the sport. I’m so excited to watch her play this season and in the many more seasons that I’m sure are to follow.

The Ameri Brit Mom

The Art and Craft of Christian Fiction (Week 2)

I’m pressing forward in my work to modify my Christian Fiction manuscript. It’s a secular story with Christian themes of forgiveness, redemption, and love. My hope is that in studying this book by Jeff Gerke that I will be able to add some touches to that story that take it beyond a “feel good” tale to one that is steeped in the glory of God.

I’m not out to write a religious story. My hope is to lead my reader to God without having to hold their hand the whole way. I want to leave room for the reader to draw connections and to see for themselves how God has restored the brokeness that my characters face.

So I’m picking up this book my husband bought me for Christmas and learning lessons each week from it that will help me in these edits to my book.

The Invisible Novelist

“You want her to love the story, not the storyteller.” (Gerke 17)

This chapter takes me back to a moment of humility. I had written (what I thought to be) the most illustrious story. My word game was strong and even I was a little impressed with myself. I submitted the piece to my online critique group expecting an immediate response of, “This is going to be a bestseller.” You can imagine my disappointment when I received my feedback in the form of red slashes all over the place.

I felt wronged. “They just don’t understand good writing.” I thought to myself. Pride knocked on my door and I invited it in.

But when I read through their comments and suggestions I felt like they had kicked me in the gut. The critiques were right. I was wrong.

In fiction writing there are two types of story telling. There is the painted paragraph form and the invisible novelist. Painted paragraphs are literary pieces full of carefully crafted prose. In painted paragraphs the author works hard to impress you with language. The problem with painted paragraphs–many readers dislike this form. Readers (generally) pick up a book to hear a story. They want to lose themselves in characters and conflict not in difficult vocabulary and vivid descriptions.

The focus on the invisible novelist approach is to get the reader to forget that they are reading a book. As an invisible novelist you let the plot and characters capture the attention of the reader. You leave your four syllable words out as the author and you draw the reader in so that they forget this story was penned by a novelist at all.

Which method is right for you? It comes down to your purpose in writing.

For me, I write to tell a story. My hope is that my readers walk away with a deeper insight about life. As a reader, I appreciate an invisible novelist and so this should be my goal as a writer as well.

Three keys for writing in this style given in this chapter are:

Keep your vocabulary “normal”
Avoid the bizarre turn of phrase
Stick to said

Understand Your Calling as a Novelist

It is important to understand the market for Christian writing.

Christian fiction is a title generally afforded to books with explicitly Christian content. Those books are ones oftentimes written for the already-Christian. They are aimed at teaching or redirecting the Christian reader. They point to a deeper relationship with Jesus. Their intended audience is generally those already under the influence of Christ.

There is a second category of Christian fiction. This group of books doesn’t get its own shelf at the book store because the books are not advertised as Christian fiction. They don’t fit into the traditional CF box. They may not explicitly discuss scripture. Rather these books take the words and themes of Jesus and mask them behind a secular plot line, non-religious characters, and maybe even a little profanity (you can do that?)

All Christians are called to ministry inside and outside of the church. Most feel a gravitational pull toward one end of that spectrum. And that’s okay.

I can remember sitting in Bible college and learning about being a teacher. So many of the other students described their perfect job as working in a Christian school. Not me. I knew I wanted to land a job in the public school sector. I’ve always felt more drawn to minister to the non-Christian. Not that I don’t see value in the ministry for the already-Christian, but I’ve always felt gifted with the personality and skill sets that mesh well with ministry outside the walls of the church.

That calling has shown up in my writing. And I’ve come to learn that Christian fiction doesn’t have to mean quoting Jesus and including stories from the Bible. Christian fiction can be allegories. It can be creative. It can be secular stories with a hidden layer of Christian themes. It can be a happy ending. It can be an apocalypse. Christian fiction means so much more than a girl meets Jesus for the first time. You may never find my book shelved with the Christian fiction that comes to mind when you hear the genre, but I am a Christian and my kind of fiction is heavily influenced by the God who has gifted me with the ability to write.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Five Minute Friday: Middle

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Middle. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

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In the middle of each phase we don’t appreciate it.

We don’t pause and recognize that this is a place we will never be again. When our babies leave us exhausted and sleepless we slip into survival mode and just try to get by. Anything that keeps one foot in front of the other will do. We let life pass us by without committing each moment to memory.

One day we take a look at our lives and things have calmed down. Sure, there are still storms, but while we are nursing broken hearts and injured limbs we remember those days of living feeding to feeding. Those times seem so simple now. Whatever happened to those days?

We long to go back to the time when our babies were so little- before they didn’t wander far from our reach. We dream of moments when they were content to rest in our laps and we try hard to picture their tiny hands wrapped around our fingers.

In the middle of those phases it seems like they will be tiny creatures forever.

We cry. We break down. We trade our designer clothes for bath robes and messy buns.

Then one day when we reunite with our sanity, sit down (finally able to re-introduce white to our wardrobes) and we start to miss those spit up stains and the days without showers.

The Ameri Brit Mom

A Man Called Ove: A Book Review

Title: A Man Called Ove

Author: Fredrik Backman

Publisher: Washington Square Press

The first snow day of 2017 was the perfect day to wrap up my first book for the year as well. For the past several weeks I have come to know the cast of A Man Called Ove, and I took the icy road conditions as an excuse to put my professional life on hold in order to say my farewells to this lovely community of Swedes. I’ve learned so much and been reminded of even more. This was a fantastic call to love the unlovable and to show compassion to the callous.

Everyone in his neighborhood of row houses thinks they have Ove all figured out. He’s the typical curmudgeon whose life follows a routine set in stone, whose patience for anything foreign made and trendy is non-existent, and whose affinity with holding the rest of the homeowners on his street to the association rules makes no exceptions. His life is black and white. And don’t even think about selling this Swede any car other than a Saab.

He’s the bitter old man down the road. The one that everyone murmurs about.

But when his new Iranian neighbor and her husband move next door Ove finds himself struggling to maintain his solidarity. For one, her idiot husband can’t drive a U-Haul to save his life. For two, what adult woman is incapable of securing a driver’s license? For three, a shut door does nothing to limit the Iranian from barging into his house like they were something of friends.

Ove had given up. But with the help of the new neighbors, an unsettled feud, and a stray cat Ove realizes that not everyone has given up on him.

This was one of those stories that restores your hope in humanity. It reminds us that we can’t judge a book by its cover and that everyone has a story to tell. I really enjoyed this book. Much like he did in My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Backman heightens your sensitivity to the most villainous characters in our world.

Overseas, Backman is taking the literary world by storm. In America his books are a little slower catching on, but they are worth the read. There is also a foreign movie based on this novel that is capturing the attention of critics.

I’m on the hunt to find it!

The Ameri Brit Mom

Dressing and Educating: Days 87-90

Day 87: January 3, 2017

I blinked and Christmas break was over.

It was back to the grind today. I’m happy that my district has a teacher work day prior to the beginning of second semester. Starting the second half of the year organized creates motivation for me.

I spent my teacher work day updating grades, cleaning out my file cabinets, organizing my classroom, and planning some upcoming units. It was a productive day. I need more days like this!

I wore dark jeans, a school-spirited hoodie, and a navy puffer vest from J.Crew. It rained and stormed all day as I worked. It’s unusual for January, but I’ll take it over snow.

Day 88: January 4, 2017

I was anticipating today being one where the students were quiet and mourning the end of their Holiday break. Instead, the students were lively and talkative from first period until the end of the day. This is the first day that I can remember where the students have returned after break excited and buzzing about the new year. Several students even expressed their resolutions to do better in school.

In English we picked up right where we left off in the reading of Not a Drop to Drink. We left off at a cliffhanger so it was good to get to a major plot twist in the story.

In Honors World History I introduced a new unit with a map, political cartoon, vocabulary.

In both classes I decided to give the sense of a fresh start and changed up the seating arrangement. It’s great to be back into a routine and I’m excited about all the things I hope to accomplish in my classroom this year.

Today I wore a new tunic from Old Navy, a kimono from H&M, and Lula Roe leggings.

Day 89: January 5, 2017

I woke up this morning to a dusting of snow on the ground. The weather blew in from the west carrying two waves of snow today. One hit just before school and the other just as school was letting out. Most of the days students complained that we didn’t have an early release, but I’m glad to hang on to our precious snow days until it is really necessary. After a long break I am ready to settle back into routines and snow days (although I appreciate them) deter regular routines.

In English today my students brainstormed for an informative piece. They have to name five items that the main character of our book needs to survive in her post-apocalyptic world. I used an article about a zombie apocalypse from the Huffington post as a model for what their informational piece should look like. This assignment balances creativity, writing, and reading comprehension skills.

In Honors World History, I lectured about the Age of Imperialism. I introduced the idea and gave some brief examples that we will explore later in the unit.

Today I wore black pants, a new tunic from Old Navy, and a cardigan from Primark in England. My Sperry boots kept my feet warm on this wet and frigid day.

Day 90: January 6, 2017

We had a delayed start to the school day this morning. It was nice to stay in bed a little longer and my energy level was higher. Most classes were shortened to half an hour and so things seemed to go quickly.

In English students were reading and working on a new essay assignment. In Honors World History we analyzed a political cartoon.

Today I wore a Lula Roe top, a vest from Old Navy which I received for Christmas, jeans from The Limited, and my brand new Nike Free Runs.

It was a short week, but it has been good to re-establish routines. I’m excited about the second half of the year in my classes and my goals that I am working on creating.

Which look was your favorite this week?

The Ameri Brit Mom