{"id":282105,"date":"2025-06-08T19:56:54","date_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/baking-category-a-b\/a-new-chapter-but-first-summer\/"},"modified":"2025-06-08T19:56:54","modified_gmt":"2025-06-08T19:56:54","slug":"a-new-chapter-but-first-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=282105","title":{"rendered":"A New Chapter (But First, Summer)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"\"\"\"Happy June! I hope you\u2019re enjoying the warmer weather, the bittersweet joys of graduations and the end of the school year, and settling into the more relaxed pace of summer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Friends, I\u2019ve been keeping a secret from y\u2019all: after 20 years in the classroom, I am leaving my job as an English teacher to become a middle school vice principal! The process has been a long one \u2014 I interviewed in March, officially accepted the position a few weeks ago, and finally, it was announced publicly. I am incredibly excited! I have had my administrative credential for seven years now, but I intentionally waited to make the move until I felt ready. There was no \u201caha\u201d moment of knowing for sure, but once I applied, I felt sure that this was the time. I am sure that I will be sad when I say goodbye to my students, but I primarily feel optimistic about this change. I was telling a friend that the most overwhelming feeling I have right now is that my time in the classroom is <\/span>complete<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As someone who is fairly change-averse, it\u2019s a relief to feel this sort of peace over my choice. I\u2019m excited to step into my new role, utilizing the skills I\u2019ve acquired as a teacher in a different capacity, and to engage in ongoing learning and growth on the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I go back to work a little earlier than usual now, so I\u2019m determined to make the most of my abbreviated summer. I\u2019ve already been logging plenty of pool time, have a stack of books to read, and, of course, some summer projects I want to complete. But I\u2019m also looking forward to relaxing, and more importantly, CELEBRATING! Here\u2019s to an ending, and a very exciting beginning!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sending you love this week (and always)!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0 I bought myself a present to celebrate my new job: <\/span>this THATCH Malene Amazonite Bail charm<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s so vibrant and adds just the right amount of sparkle to an outfit. I\u2019m eyeing <\/span>the teardrop version in Lapis<\/a><\/strong> if anyone wants to send my spouse a hint. (THATCH Jewelry)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> I LOVED this piece from Emily In Your Phone\u2019s Substack called <\/span>\u201cJam Girl Summer Is The New Self-Care.<\/strong>\u201c<\/span><\/a> A slow and beautiful life? Sign me up. In terms of jam, don\u2019t sleep on <\/span>Trader Joe\u2019s Tart Cherry Fruit Spread<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s perfection on sourdough. I\u2019ll be going back to hoard some to last me for awhile. (Substack, Trader Joe\u2019s)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 We have been enjoying our pool, and I\u2019ve barbecued an unreal number of hot dogs recently, but I\u2019m looking to expand my meals into other summer foods. <\/span>This Green Goddess sandwich<\/a><\/strong> and <\/span>Watermelon Peach Caprese salad<\/a><\/strong> are going in the rotation. Ever since <\/span>Joy shared her grilled strawberry shortcake recipe last week<\/a><\/strong>, I\u2019ve thought of little else, but I\u2019m also planning to whip up <\/span>the kind with really, really good biscuits as a base<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 In theory, I\u2019d love to be someone who travels without a phone. If that speaks to you, <\/span>this article has you covered<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. If not, <\/span>here are the best apps for travel<\/a><\/strong>!<\/strong> (NYT Gift Link, Marie Claire)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Summer opens up time for me to have fun in the kitchen; however, it\u2019s simply too hot to turn on the oven to do so. Thankfully, JTB has us covered with a <\/span>Tres Leches Icebox Cake<\/a><\/strong> (YES!), a <\/span>Cherry Lemon Icebox Cake<\/a><\/strong> (elite flavor combination), and <\/span>Saltine Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches<\/a><\/strong> (here for a sweet-salty moment). (Joy The Baker)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 If you\u2019re looking to make new connections but are struggling to move past the traditional small talk, this article about <\/span>asking magical questions is so helpful and inspiring<\/strong><\/span><\/a>! (NPR)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 So, what <\/span>is<\/span><\/i> creatine? Great question, <\/span>this article would love to tell you<\/a><\/strong>. I\u2019ve been taking <\/span>SWOLY creatine gummies<\/a><\/strong> for awhile now, and I am far less sore, even after heavy lifts. Not sure I look like a Greek god in photos, despite the website\u2019s promise, but I will take the ability to walk after crushing heavy squats a few times a week! (SELF, Swoly)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 I am a <\/span>Chelsea Fagan<\/a><\/strong> (of <\/span>the Financial Diet<\/a><\/strong>) superfan, and find everything she does to be elegant but also focused on doing good in the world and using her privilege to effect change. Goals. <\/span>Her incredible Manhattan apartment was on Apartment Therapy<\/a><\/strong> this week, and I loved getting a glimpse at this perfectly appointed space. She has written two romance novels, <\/span>A Perfect Vintage<\/i><\/a><\/strong>, which I loved, and this week, she released <\/span>The High Dive<\/i><\/a><\/strong>, <\/span><\/i>which I\u2019m saving for my first pool read of the season! And you know I\u2019ve already pre-ordered her book on hosting, <\/span>Having People Over<\/i><\/a><\/strong>,<\/strong> because her social media is FULL of tips for being a fantastic host. (Instagram, The Financial Diet, Apartment Therapy, Bookshop)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 One of my favorite things to do when I\u2019m traveling is to try as many different coffee shops as possible. If you\u2019ve ever wanted to know the best way to order coffee when you\u2019re traveling, <\/span>this post has you covered<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. It gave me wanderlust immediately. (Food and Wine)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong> \u00a0The Cut shared the items that are always in their beauty closet<\/a><\/strong>. I found a few new things to try, but was honestly pretty meh on most of them. You can see <\/span>my latest beauty favorites here<\/a><\/strong>! (The Cut, Substack)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> I\u2019m not typically a big red, white, and blue gal, but I am OBSESSED with these new prints in my all-time favorite LAKE Pajamas. <\/span>The tank and shorts set in Morning Glory<\/a><\/strong> have been sitting in my cart for days, and I\u2019m also dithering about <\/span>the cobalt stripe nightgown<\/a><\/strong>! They\u2019re the only pajamas that keep me cool overnight, and can you ever have too many jammies? My pajama drawer says yes, but my (sweaty, perimenopausal body) says no! (LAKE Pajamas)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 I grew up with many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I\u2019ve been watching the Hulu series \u201cSecret Lives of Mormon Wives.\u201d I found <\/span>this piece on their garments<\/a><\/strong>, as well as the evolving conversation about the modernization of the church, to be really fascinating. (NYT Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 If you\u2019ve got a competitive streak, <\/span>you\u2019ll love this piece by writer Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya about how tennis helped her overcome her sense of competition in her writing practice<\/a><\/strong>. I related to it hard, but even if you\u2019re not a writer, it applies to just about everything. Related: I am taking some very casual tennis lessons this summer in my continued journey as a Fitness Person. Let me add that if you have a ponytail and you like to be outdoors, <\/span>this Lululemon Ponytail Hat is your new BFF<\/a><\/strong>.<\/strong> (LitHub, Lululemon)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> As a lucky Northern California resident, I\u2019ve had the joy of going to the brilliant Alice Waters\u2019 Chez Panisse, and I\u2019m eager to recreate <\/span>their Blueberry Cobbler<\/a><\/strong>! (NYT Gift Link)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 I\u2019ve never, ever worn white pants or shorts, but this summer, I\u2019m diving in. I can\u2019t say enough about how PERFECT these <\/span>AGOLDE Parker Long shorts are in Pannacotta<\/strong><\/span><\/a> are, and <\/span>I also love these Madewell Perfect Vintage wide leg jeans in white<\/a><\/strong>. Join me on my white pants journey! (Anthropologie, Madewell)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 If you\u2019re not listening to Amy Poehler\u2019s Good Hang podcast yet, I highly recommend it. I loved the Kathryn Hahn episode, and <\/span>this article about the episode and the power of female friendships is so good<\/a><\/strong>. Imagine not going through life with girlfriends? It would be so sad. (Everygirl)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n