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Hello, everyone!
July is in full swing, and I'm here to share my July Pinterest Mood Board with you all. 
July is sunflowers and sparklers, baking pies with fresh berries, campfires and sunsets. It's melting ice cream in a sugary waffle cone and dripping sticky sno-cone syrup in the church parking lot. It's sunscreen and kayaking and bare feet. July is wonderful!
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 Happy Independence Day, everyone!
I hope to be back with some more consistent content in the upcoming days and weeks (Sorry for the lull). Until then, today is for ice cream, kayaking, fireworks, and thankfulness. How are you celebrating?  You may have noticed that I’ve been taking a bit of a break from the blog lately - albeit unintentionally. I’ve been a bit scatter-brained with prepping for preschool, prepping for Kindergarten, and the weight of impending adulthood - you know, picking insurance plans and having a “big girl” job and hoping I remember everything that was meant to prepare me for this stage of my life.
It’s a lot, in my mind, although I’m aware that it’s just the beginning. I’m re-reading “Present Over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist as I try to mentally prepare myself to be reasonable about the amount of things I accomplish in the coming few months. I tend to overdo it. But too much downtime scares me into feeling like I’m being wasteful with my life, you feel? Balance. Life is balance. Today I’m enjoying Friday off after my first week at the preschool. I have some errands to run, some projects to start, but first I’m chilling with a cappuccino and a podcast. First I’m just breathing and enjoying. What are you doing on this lovely Friday?  Just dropping in to share an awesome truth from a book I'm currently re-reading called Strengthen Yourself in the Lord by Bill Johnson. As the quote above states, my potential requires my participation.
What? I re-read that sentence a good seven times before I caught the weight of that statement. "Potential" seems to be a buzz-word nowadays. We all want to self-actualize, to reach a point in our lives in which we feel like we are living up to what we were made to be. It can be easy to feel like life is just happening to us and that the only thing we can do is hope for the right circumstances to make our dreams come true. This simple statement shows otherwise. We will never reach our potentials by waiting for the right time. We will never reach our potentials by hoping for life to happen to us in just the right juxtaposition. Our potentials require our participation, they require our effort and our input. This is both a comfort and a challenge to me. It's comforting that there's something I can actually do to make the most of my life. I'm not just floating in the wind. At the same time, it can be challenging to realize that if I'm not seeing my potential, there's definitely a part I play in that. There are choices I can make everyday to grow closer to becoming the person I was meant to be. Sure, circumstances do happen that are completely out of our control, but I can choose to make the most of them. I can choose to respond to life's craziness with grace and gusto and joy. I can participate in my potential. What's currently inspiring you? I'd love to hear! P.S. If you're looking to set some goals for yourself, check out my recent post on How to Set Goals that You Can't Help but Keep! 
June is breezes, brunch, and bicycle baskets full of deliciously crusty bread. It’s picnics and long evening walks and mason jars full of wildflowers. June is trip planning and watermelon slices and sandy afternoons at the lake. June is the first “hello” from summer. I’m so excited for June!
Here's my Pinterest mood board for the month. Doesn't it just make you want to have a picnic? If you aren't familiar with my ongoing project of creating mood boards, it's basically a simple way to capture the mood/goals/aesthetic of the upcoming month. There are many reasons you could create a mood board, and you can read more about some of those reasons as well as a DIY physical version of a mood board here! June has so much potential - I can feel it. I'm very excited to be preparing for my first year of teaching (kindergarten!) in the fall, and I'll also be teaching at a preschool over the summer. Apart from teacher prep, though, I have some minor little side-dreams, if you will, that I hope to pursue as hobbies this summer - any guesses based on my mood board? 
I want to bake bread and take up cross-stitching! I've been wanting to try my hand at cross-stitching for a while now, and I've always been intrigued by the idea of baking my own bread. The smell of yeast rising takes me back to summer mornings in my grandma's kitchen.
I gave it a try the other night, and I'm pretty excited with how it turned out! I found some other delicious-looking recipes on Pinterest that I plan to try out this month as well. Riding around on a bike with a basket full of bread and cheese is seriously goals for me.
Do you have any goals, visions, or a mood for this month? Have you captured them with a mood board, either physically or on Pinterest? I would love to see your mood boards!
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 Just like that, May is over, and summer is finally here! I'm beyond excited for a little rest and relaxation. My husband and I are planning on lounging at the lake tomorrow morning with a picnic. Nothing says summer break like a bit of sand and sun. May was somehow both fast-and-furious and sludgy-slow. Funny how that works. In case you missed it, here are the highlights from the blog in May! Here's a list of all the posts from May:
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+ A Free Goal Planning Guide
Summer is time for rest. It’s time to relax by the water, sprawl out on a picnic blanket, and spend time with loved ones. It’s time to chill!
But as much as summer is great for getting a little rest and rejuvenation, it’s also a great time to get some things done.
How often have you said to yourself, “I’ll get to it this summer when I have more time”? Right? I know I’ve said it too many times to count. Summer can feel like this magical season of endless free time, until it’s August and that free time has somehow come and gone. While we all know the plight of disappearing summer days, we tend to push a lot of things off during the year in hopes we will actually get it accomplished over the summer.
Well, fret not. Getting things done over the summer CAN happen. The key is knowing how to set realistic goals for yourself that you can keep track of. The key is making your goals do the work for you by using SMART goals!
But as much as summer is great for getting a little rest and rejuvenation, it’s also a great time to get some things done.
How often have you said to yourself, “I’ll get to it this summer when I have more time”? Right? I know I’ve said it too many times to count. Summer can feel like this magical season of endless free time, until it’s August and that free time has somehow come and gone. While we all know the plight of disappearing summer days, we tend to push a lot of things off during the year in hopes we will actually get it accomplished over the summer.
Well, fret not. Getting things done over the summer CAN happen. The key is knowing how to set realistic goals for yourself that you can keep track of. The key is making your goals do the work for you by using SMART goals!
I’m not sure when I first heard about SMART goals, but it was probably in a college course. As an elementary teacher, I'll be constantly setting and tracking goals for my students, and this method of goal planning works across pretty much any field.
So whether you’re setting goals for yourself for the summer or the new year or you’re setting goals for others while you’re in a leadership role, SMART goals are the way to go.
Here’s what a SMART goal is.
So whether you’re setting goals for yourself for the summer or the new year or you’re setting goals for others while you’re in a leadership role, SMART goals are the way to go.
Here’s what a SMART goal is.
Smart Goal
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S - specific
M - measurable A - attainable (or achievable) R - relevant T - time-bound |
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Often times our goals can start out pretty vague. They may sound fairly big picture, like “lose weight” or “save money,” but goals that broad are incredibly hard to track and maintain. You could save $1 and meet the vague goal of “saving money,” but I suspect that’s not exactly what you were hoping for.
For example, here’s a list of my summer goals I jotted down before I went back and made them SMART.
While some of them may be narrowed down a little more than the previous examples, they’re still pretty broad. Here’s where SMART comes in. Take a look at one of my updated goals.
I changed a LOT about my initial goal. Let’s talk about the S and M first.
Specific/Measurable
These two points go hand-in-hand. Your goals need to have a clear standard. Rather than “save money,” consider how much money you actually want or need to save and specify the purpose. “Save $50 for art supplies” is moving in the right direction. There is something tangible and motivating about numbers, so be exact! You can measure how well your goal is going when you are able to quantify it in some way.
Saving money is a pretty easy goal to quantify, but what about something like “study more” or “improve my blog”? It may be difficult to quantify what improvement or “more” looks like. You may not be able to put an exact measurement, but you can set a specific schedule for studying each week and for working on your blog.
Narrow in to make your goals more focused. Rather than simply saying you want to improve your blog, take a look at what specific details of your blog you are unhappy with. Is it your traffic? Your email list? Consider what area specifically you want to fix and it will be easier to find a quantifiable standard for it (and therefore follow through).
Saving money is a pretty easy goal to quantify, but what about something like “study more” or “improve my blog”? It may be difficult to quantify what improvement or “more” looks like. You may not be able to put an exact measurement, but you can set a specific schedule for studying each week and for working on your blog.
Narrow in to make your goals more focused. Rather than simply saying you want to improve your blog, take a look at what specific details of your blog you are unhappy with. Is it your traffic? Your email list? Consider what area specifically you want to fix and it will be easier to find a quantifiable standard for it (and therefore follow through).
You can see here that I want to grow my traffic this summer by delivering substantial content with great SEO. Not only do I want to “grow my traffic,” but I specifically want to grow my traffic to 1,000 viewers a month by the end of the summer. That’s measurable!
Achievable
It can be tempting to let your imagination get the best of you when you make a goal specific by adding quantity. It would be wonderful to have 20,000 viewers a month, but I know that growing my traffic to 20,000 viewers by the end of the summer just isn’t likely. When I considered what specific number I wanted to add to my goal, I had to be honest with my current stance and what would plausibly be attainable.
Don’t get carried away hoping you’ll accomplish more than you will have time, resources, or energy for. Likewise, don’t sell yourself short. Like many things in life, you have to find a happy medium. If you eventually hope to write a novel, don’t settle for only getting one chapter written over a whole summer if you know you can take on more. Sure, it’s progress, but goals are meant to be things we strive for. On the other hand, don’t think you’ll write the entire novel over the summer if you have other responsibilities or goals to devote your time to.
Don’t get carried away hoping you’ll accomplish more than you will have time, resources, or energy for. Likewise, don’t sell yourself short. Like many things in life, you have to find a happy medium. If you eventually hope to write a novel, don’t settle for only getting one chapter written over a whole summer if you know you can take on more. Sure, it’s progress, but goals are meant to be things we strive for. On the other hand, don’t think you’ll write the entire novel over the summer if you have other responsibilities or goals to devote your time to.
Relevant
Your goals should matter to you! Why set a goal you have no desire to accomplish? Even in the classroom it’s important to let our students know WHY they are being asked to do certain tasks - and “because it’s on the test” is rarely (read: never) a great answer. Goals should be relevant to our lives in some way or we won’t be motivated to follow through.
Note: Some goals may not feel relevant now but they are relevant for the future, and that’s okay, too! A great way to stay motivated and envision your goals (both present and future) is by making a mood board. Check out a DIY version here!
Time-Bound
Obviously, goals need to have a time frame or we will never get around to them. I think that’s why so many of us push things off until the summer to begin with! Even if you have decided you’re going to do something over the summer, set a literal date to accomplish it by and schedule checkpoints along the way, as applicable. This way you KNOW you only have so many days to do it and you can stretch out the work as needed. Pace yourself!
One of my goals this summer is to study for the ESL certification exam. I’m going to look up exam dates so that I can pick a day, mark it on the calendar, and see exactly how much time I have to study. Then I’m going to mark the calendar with specific study nights, non-negotiable times that I will devote to preparing for the exam.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, a goal without a plan is just a wish. Get out your calendar and make it concrete.
One of my goals this summer is to study for the ESL certification exam. I’m going to look up exam dates so that I can pick a day, mark it on the calendar, and see exactly how much time I have to study. Then I’m going to mark the calendar with specific study nights, non-negotiable times that I will devote to preparing for the exam.
As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, a goal without a plan is just a wish. Get out your calendar and make it concrete.
Fwew! That’s a lot of information to take in, but you only need to take it one step at a time. Here’s exactly how you can make some SMART goals you will be motivated to accomplish.
Step 1: Jot down a big picture list of goals. I started with a vague idea of what I wanted to get done this summer. Simply take out a sheet of paper or a journal and get it all out (or use this free template!) What broad ideas do you hope to get done?
Step 2: Narrow the focus. Go through each broad idea and flesh it out to more specific details - this is the first step to make it SMART. I like to use the traditional web brainstorming strategy to allow my ideas to branch out into more focused thoughts. What are some specifics about this goal? What is my quantity for measurement? How long do I think it will take me to get this done? Weed out the ideas that are simply too broad and focus on the goals that you can make SMART.
Step 3: Make it SMART. Connect all your bubbles of thought into coherent pieces following the SMART acronym. Write out the details for each category that you just brainstormed about. Here’s an example.
Step 1: Jot down a big picture list of goals. I started with a vague idea of what I wanted to get done this summer. Simply take out a sheet of paper or a journal and get it all out (or use this free template!) What broad ideas do you hope to get done?
Step 2: Narrow the focus. Go through each broad idea and flesh it out to more specific details - this is the first step to make it SMART. I like to use the traditional web brainstorming strategy to allow my ideas to branch out into more focused thoughts. What are some specifics about this goal? What is my quantity for measurement? How long do I think it will take me to get this done? Weed out the ideas that are simply too broad and focus on the goals that you can make SMART.
Step 3: Make it SMART. Connect all your bubbles of thought into coherent pieces following the SMART acronym. Write out the details for each category that you just brainstormed about. Here’s an example.
Step 4: Narrow again! Look at all your SMART goals and decide which goals are relevant, attainable, and important enough to add to your to-do list now. Some goals can wait! Some goals would be better accomplished with a larger time-frame or during a different time of the year. Separate your goals into four categories: 1) Now, 2) Soon, 3) Later 4) Someday/Never.
Step 5: Conquer those "now" goals with actionable steps! I like to break my goals down even further into smaller tasks that I can check-off as I go - this makes my goals even easier to measure!
This printable guide I created to use along the way makes planning SMART goals a breeze. You can download it free here! I hope you'll find it hard NOT to keep your goals now.
What are your current goals? Any goal setting tips?
Step 5: Conquer those "now" goals with actionable steps! I like to break my goals down even further into smaller tasks that I can check-off as I go - this makes my goals even easier to measure!
This printable guide I created to use along the way makes planning SMART goals a breeze. You can download it free here! I hope you'll find it hard NOT to keep your goals now.
What are your current goals? Any goal setting tips?
Right now I can hardly contain my excitement - I'm going to be a teacher in the fall! I'm so thankful that the time is finally here, and I'm looking forward to having the summer to rest, recharge, and prepare for a great first year as a teacher.
Of course, there is so much unknown about what I'll experience as a first-time teacher, which is why I'm glad there is an abundance of resources and testimonies from seasoned teachers who have been-there-done-that. Some things can only come by experience, but other things I can go ahead and prepare for now by reading up and by saving great resources.
You may be in the same boat (we can do this, new teachers!) or you may have already been teaching for a while now. Either way, some fresh perspective could be helpful! So I hope you get some ideas and inspiration from these teaching blogs, which are mostly geared towards elementary teachers (but not exclusively!).
You may be in the same boat (we can do this, new teachers!) or you may have already been teaching for a while now. Either way, some fresh perspective could be helpful! So I hope you get some ideas and inspiration from these teaching blogs, which are mostly geared towards elementary teachers (but not exclusively!).
The Designer Teacher
You can see by the menu what Sarah from "The Designer Teacher" stands for and cares about! It's refreshing to read about affirmations for teachers as well as to get behind advocating for social justice in education. Plus, she has a really great (and cute!) line of products like teacher care boxes and teacher tees.
Playdough to Plato
This blog has tons of resources and activities geared towards the preschool-first grade age range. The author Malia is incredibly accomplished (National Board certified), and her resources show it. She runs a second blog called The STEM Laboratory that I only just discovered as I was writing this (gasp!). I'll have to check it out right now!
Mrs. Jones's Class
This is another blog full of resources. Karen, AKA Mrs. Jones, provides guided reading tool kits, books, DIYs, decorations, and more!
A MOdern Teacher
As per the name, this blog has a big focus on staying up to date on what's going on in teaching today. There seem to be a lot of great technology and planning resources for teachers, but April also writes about home DIYs and organization, too! She's got tons of teacher planners up on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Pre-K Pages
This incredibly professional blog features all sorts of preschool-Kindergarten resources, like dramatic play activities, lesson plans, and teaching tips. Teacher blogger Vanessa Levin is also a public speaker, author, and consultant - so basically, I've got a lot to learn from her! I could probably spend all day on her site.
The Cornerstone for Teachers
This blog is not exclusively for elementary teachers and features topics beyond the classroom, such as general organization tips and technology hacks. While I haven't browsed through Angela's blog enough as I would like to, I listen to her podcast Truth for Teachers regularly, usually while I drive to work. She has lots of great advice and hosts some incredible people on her show!
Kinder Craze
I love how organized this blog is! Author Maria Gavin provides an abundance of freebies, activities, decor ideas, reviews of teacher products, and more! She has a lot of great insight about life as a teacher and offers some solid resources.
Well there you have it - hours and hours of browsing to do and an abundance of resources and tips for elementary teachers! There are so many great blogs out there, but I'm thankful to have stumbled across these few so far to get a head start on preparation for the fall.
Do you have any favorite teaching blogs, or write one yourself? Share below in the comments!
You may have recently read my Summer Kitchen Wish List, full of sunny kitchen essentials I would love to add to my apartment this summer. I'm counting down the days until summer is officially here - only one week to go!
As well as browsing kitchen things, I've also been dreamily scrolling through summer wardrobe pieces. It's time for sundresses, shorts, and bathing suits, plus rompers, sunhats, and sandals.
Here's my Summer Wardrobe Wish List!
As well as browsing kitchen things, I've also been dreamily scrolling through summer wardrobe pieces. It's time for sundresses, shorts, and bathing suits, plus rompers, sunhats, and sandals.
Here's my Summer Wardrobe Wish List!
No matter what season, I'm a sucker for pastels, stripes, and soft vintage tees. I'm definitely looking forward to some dresses and shorts as the weather warms up, too!
See anything you like? What are your summer wardrobe staples?
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Spring cleaning has come and gone. Our apartment is finally feeling homey and clean, although I think I'll always have things to rearrange. I'm also still working on downsizing little by little after that minimalism challenge I did in April.
That being said, after I do a good clean-out I often find myself admiring lovely little things that fit the fresher feel of the place. That's admittedly not the most minimalist tendency, but I don't actually buy things nearly as often as I browse.
The main space I've been browsing for items for lately is the kitchen. I'm loving the citrus-y soap from Bath and Body Works that I have on the sink at the moment. With the light, floral, sunny feel of May and impending summer, I've been compiling a cute batch of summery kitchen items that I like - the "must-haves," if you will. Here's my wish list of Summer Kitchen Essentials!
That being said, after I do a good clean-out I often find myself admiring lovely little things that fit the fresher feel of the place. That's admittedly not the most minimalist tendency, but I don't actually buy things nearly as often as I browse.
The main space I've been browsing for items for lately is the kitchen. I'm loving the citrus-y soap from Bath and Body Works that I have on the sink at the moment. With the light, floral, sunny feel of May and impending summer, I've been compiling a cute batch of summery kitchen items that I like - the "must-haves," if you will. Here's my wish list of Summer Kitchen Essentials!
1. Citrus Juicer
Manual Citrus Juicer
It would be so nice to sit on the front porch with a glass of super fresh lemonade this summer. Swooning!
It would be so nice to sit on the front porch with a glass of super fresh lemonade this summer. Swooning!
2. Kitchen Lemon Hand Soap
Bath and Body Works Kitchen Lemon Gift Set
Speaking of lemon, I'd love to add more citrus-y soap to the edge of my sink like I mentioned earlier!
Speaking of lemon, I'd love to add more citrus-y soap to the edge of my sink like I mentioned earlier!
3. Dinner Napkins
As a way to go greener, we switched from using paper towels to kitchen napkins this year. These would be a lovely addition to our collection!
4. Honey Sticks
Sweet fresh lemonade during the day and delicious warm tea with honey in the evenings. Yes please.
5. Utility Cart
3 Tier Wood Metal All Purpose Utility Cart
My kitchen is honestly a bit small for this, but I would love to have a cart like this for coffee and tea fixings! It would look lovely topped with fresh flowers, too.
My kitchen is honestly a bit small for this, but I would love to have a cart like this for coffee and tea fixings! It would look lovely topped with fresh flowers, too.
6. Spatula Set
Spring Shef Spatula, Pastry Brush, and Whisk
I love the color of this set! And I'm a sucker for wooden kitchen items? Plus I'm enamored with the idea of baking pastries this summer.
I love the color of this set! And I'm a sucker for wooden kitchen items? Plus I'm enamored with the idea of baking pastries this summer.
7. Honeycomb Canister
Creative Co-op Ceramic Canister
I'm honestly a bit obsessed with honeycomb print, especially on ceramics. And that yellow just feels so summery!
I'm honestly a bit obsessed with honeycomb print, especially on ceramics. And that yellow just feels so summery!
8. Breakfast Table
Greenco Bamboo Foldable Breakfast Table
I think I'll use this nifty breakfast table to eat all those pastries I mentioned while I lay in bed. Plus, I could use a laptop desk to do some work from bed!
I think I'll use this nifty breakfast table to eat all those pastries I mentioned while I lay in bed. Plus, I could use a laptop desk to do some work from bed!
9. Drip Coffee Maker
Diguo Glass Coffee Maker
Of course, breakfast is never complete without a good cup of coffee. I'm interested in these glass drip coffee makers, especially with the pretty wood and leather details.
Of course, breakfast is never complete without a good cup of coffee. I'm interested in these glass drip coffee makers, especially with the pretty wood and leather details.
Now I'm even more excited for keeping the kitchen tidy and making it feel like summer!
What are your essential kitchen items? Have any summery suggestions?
Lydia Harris
Recent graduate + Wife
+ Kindergarten teacher
+ Coffee lover + Artist
+ Christian
I'm a twenty-something trying to figure out this adult thing and using my spare time to run an art shop on Etsy and write a blog about life, art, education, and travel.
Recent graduate + Wife
+ Kindergarten teacher
+ Coffee lover + Artist
+ Christian
I'm a twenty-something trying to figure out this adult thing and using my spare time to run an art shop on Etsy and write a blog about life, art, education, and travel.
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