#lifestyle – Being AB

014 Delete it All

If you know you know. Sometimes the reset you need is to be alone with yourself.

I recently deleted all my socials, cleared out my messages, and call log. Everything being gone was refreshing on its own. I don’t know if my phone has been this cleared since 2012 when I got my first iPhone.

Then the real sets in. Your fingers are program to click that app, write that person. And when you’re left with yourself. Alone sets in.

You may not need this extreme of a reset but maybe you need a little more time to focus on yourself this week.

I challenge you to have at least one hour with no phone calls, text or social media to be with yourself. Complete the task that you keep putting off. Have an hour of self care. Try for one hour to “delete it all.”

Let me know how your time for your feels.

Xx Ande Mari

009 – The Small Moments

Long drives,

Cookie Brownies, (from Trader Joe’s, thank me later)

Mexican food and margaritas,

Snuggling up with your favorite person watching your favorite show

It’s the small moments of joy that are on my mind this week. The moments that give your warm feels and make you feel like floating. Keeping those with you through the week will get you through the hard times that are sure to come. But like one of my favorite song lines from a movie says “Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day! -Princess Dairies” Keep the small moments with you this week and remember them during the hard times.

XX Ande Mari

006 – It is okay to BE the first!

These days I find inspiration and insight anywhere. On my weekly Nike video binge I came across this 11 min video on the Nike App FM Broadcast- Episode 3. There were so many quotable moments throughout this broadcast. In the conversation the host, Janaya Future Khan is interviewing a variety of young people and they are speaking on how they are owning their identities and their advice to the future first. One statement gave me chills.

Ramla Ali stated “ It’s okay to be the first!” This is something I heard before but just hit different today.

Where are you after pushing yourself to have a positive mindset last week? This week I’m back at school and my work life chaos is from 0-100000000! I am a planner, a perfectionist, and someone who runs when inspiration strikes and this broadcast was just what I needed to jump start my 6th year as a teacher!

Black educators have such a unique perspective to bring to the table but also an unseen burden of showing up as our “true” self. I just want to BE me sometimes and the education workforce isn’t always receptive. And in the past I’ve cared wayyy more than I should have. But this year I am going to be the first. I am going to do the creative over the top lesson, join in conversations I’ve stayed silent in, and build the foundation to tackle my next career goal. I am going to be the first! Where can you show up first this week? This is the invitation to be yourself this week!

XX Ande Mari

005 – Mountain Top View

Does your mind have a mountain top view?

Sometimes in life it’s hard to maintain a positive attitude and outlook when we have no view of our future. While driving to visit my best friend in Nashville I saw this ginormous brick house on the top of a mountain. I immediately began to wonder what it was like to live there and have that incredible view every day. The owners have a view of everything below and for miles around their home.

The idea of this view made me really think of what it’s like for us in the valley. Seeing that house brought me a sense of inspiration and light. Yet, sometimes in life we’re in a valley and everything around us is hard and we can’t quite see the beauty of the future, or even the now. Work, family, friends, health, and even love is just not going the way we planned. What do you do? As I continued to drive through the lush trees in this valley I pondered, what if during that time that we are low we had a mountain top view mentality? A mentality that sees the positives and chooses to stay on the optimistic side of any situation.

After what the year 2020 gave us, I know this is harder said then done. But, join me from your mountain top view for this week. Remind yourself of all you have, your dreams, and the possibilities of the future. If you get afraid of the view or find yourself slipping into a valley. Read one of these quotes!

🥂To a mountain top view this week (and for life)!

Let me know how your mindset shift changes this week, and a quote that helped you through!

XX Ande Mari

004 – Sunday Blues (teacher edition)

When the reality of adulting hit me in college it was the Sunday night before my first week as a student teacher. I had meal prepped, picked out five outfits for the week, packed my bags, and gotten my hair done. I was technically ready for the week and a great start to my internship. Yet, at 8 pm when I tried to fall asleep I couldn’t. I had a knot in my stomach, a headache, and felt so on edge.

Fast forward 6 years and here I am again. There is officially two weeks until I’m back in the classroom with 3 feet covid distancing (for now) and all the other normal craziness that comes with teaching and the knot in my stomach, headache, and feeling of being on the edge are back.

Sunday blues, summer ending blues, whatever you label it as, this feeling is REAL. You would think by year 6 I would have figured this whole adult with a job thing out but it’s more than work. The mental toll of this cycle is real. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?

I find that the hardest part of work life is being mentally prepared to go through the ringer again and again.

What do YOU do to be mentally ready to work each week? Leave your go to’s in the comments!

With my two weeks left I’ve already gotten into my classroom and began the long process of cleaning, setting up, and prepping for the year. My biggest prep is my mental space.

The few things that work for me so far include:

1. Schedule – I can plan and prep and control so much more when I know what’s coming. So having a home schedule and work schedule written out is a huge help.

2. New Things – a new planner, journal, pens, book bag, and clothes of course! Bring little pockets of joy to the start of a new school year.

3. Positive Affirmations/Devotionals – After doing a master program virtually while teaching during 2020 I have truly found the need of a positive center. At the beginning of the year I find at least 5 positive things I can read and repeat throughout the day to ground me when things inevitably hit the fan! I also start my morning with a short devotional to bring peace to my start and give me something to focus on through the day!

4. YOU (me) Time – I am more then intentional about finding time for me. I love to journal and binge a good show. So once I know my schedule is about to go insane. I make sure sometime through out the week I can schedule these moments where I feel myself at peace. What do you do for YOU time?

Back to School blues are real!!! I am trying to remember all the growth that has come from reflecting especially in 2020. My goal is to sticks to pockets of joy and structure to help me glide into year 6 and beyond!

XX AndeMari

003 – B.A.M. Favorites

Hello ALL to my first ever B.A.M. faves! I will be sharing a list of all of the things I am currently loving from food to fashion! Stop in to find your new favorites, something to try or just enjoy the reviews!

XX Ande Mari

#1. Johnny Pop – Strawberry w/ Chocolate – Looking for your next favorite treat? Look no further, these strawberry popsicles dipped in dark chocolate are it!!! Sold solely at Target this small brand is doing it right! Be sure to add them to your next Target order. S/O to my cousin Lex for putting me on to this sweet treat!

#2 The Heights – I LOVE a good musical and this was the summer inspiration I needed! If you loved Hamilton you are sure to enjoy this story of sueñitos (dreams) set in New York! Check it out on HBOmax or in theaters.

#3 Drama Queens Podcast – One Tree Hill is one of my all time favorite tv shows!! I can’t say how many times I’ve rewatched my favorite seasons. And now I’m doing it again with Peyton (Hilarie Burton) Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Halley (Bethany Joy Lenz). These main characters have teamed up in a podcast rewatching the series with loads of special guest and back story! Trust me it’s an amazing walk down memory lane and a fun way to relive an iconic series. Listen to Drama Queens wherever you get your podcast !!

#4 Peloton HIIT Cardio Exercises – You don’t even need the bike to enjoy all things Peloton. Peloton has an app that allows you to take workouts wherever you go. The HIIT cardio has been a summer time favorite to keep moving! You can use a free trial to check it our yourself and see what you think. There is cardio, yoga, meditation, barre, and of course cycling! You can even find me and add me as a friend! Let’s stay fit together! Add me @amurda

#5 Cloud Slides – I have been seeing these very thick slides float around from luxury brands to Amazon finds. I had to find out what the hype was about. I first saw them on an Insta add, and of course followed the dark whole of searching until I bought a pair on Amazon! I have a yellow pair and they are my new favorite house slides. They are soooo comfy and easy to clean and keep clean. I even wore them during a 6 hour drive and they were heaven. I would highly recommend if you are looking to try the style.