Aaaand it’s Monday again, folks! More importantly…it’s the first SEPTEMBER Monday!!!! Woohoo! One of my favorite months in the world — birthday month, our anniversary, fall is right around the corner, it’s almost October, football season begins…SO MANY GOOD THINGS!! :)

It’s also the first Monday back in the grind of school, and thank goodness it’s a long weekend at that! I am feeling extra tired this morning, but my to-do list is staring me in the face despite my droopy eyes, so let’s practice some thankfulness before getting down to business! Woot woot!

This Monday, I am loving:

• Birthday weekends with my boo! Chris turned 25 on Saturday, and I had so much fun celebrating him & spending time with friends!! We went to The Butcher & The Brewer on Friday night — an AWESOME new restaurant on 4th Street downtown, and it was soooo delicious :) 
• Speaking of birthdays, I am super loving Mitchell’s ice cream cake. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Chocolate Chunk, chocolate cake, fudge drizzle, frozen whipped cream….BAHHHHHHH. So. good. Go buy some NOW!!
• I’m also loving past students that drop by M23 just to “say hey” & talk about their summers and classes this year. Little do they know they are brightening up my morning & reminding me why I do what I do each and every time :) I can’t wait to have that connection with my new kiddos this year — it’s always tough at the beginning when they are all just a bunch of new faces, but I always need to remember that every one of them has a story & every one has talents to contribute. I can’t wait to learn what they are!
• My other new favorite morning tradition: “The Song of the Day”!!! My teacher friend Kelly gave me this idea over the summer, and I am so glad she did!! Not sure any of my students have paid attention to the best little corner of the board yet, but it never ceases to make me smile :) 
• And finally, I am loving that Starbucks has reintroduced the #PSL :) While I tend to stay away from the latte version as coffee makes me super crazy, I LOVE adding pumpkin to my chai tea ritual. I am getting SO excited for fall and all of the beautiful leaves & fun that come with my favorite season of the year!!!

Enjoy today, embrace the Mondayness of it, and love the little things!!!

Happy Monday!!!

Sami :)