18 for 2018 Update

I am once again vacation but thought I would give a quick update on my 18 for 2018. I have been using my Cricut! I LOVE it! So far, I have made a shirt, a couple of onesies, and am working on a few other projects. I am excited about this and will show what I have been working on very soon!

How is your 18 for 2018 going?

Travel Hacks - Shower Caps

I am currently on a well deserved vacation! I thought I would drop in to share a quick Travel Hack using Shower Caps.

For my trip, I have been to a few different hotels. This has meant packing up everything, even wet items from the shower. This is where the shower caps are helpful. 

Put all the wet items into the shower cap and place this in the top of your luggage. When you get to your next location, pull out the wet items and lay them out in the shower/on the counter. Then let the shower cap dry out. I found this to be so much easier to manage than a plastic bag. 

What is your favorite Travel Hack?

Organization Hacks - Vacation/Business Trips Checklist

This month I am extremely busy! I have lots of travel in the weeks ahead. Over two separate weeks I will be on "business trips." That's odd for me to say since I am a teacher. For the most part, teachers do not go on business trips. Nonetheless, that is what I will be doing. I will also go on some actual vacations during this month. I need to have some fun! 

With being gone for so much of the month, I knew that I needed to get organized. I didn't want to forget anything. Therefore, I made a list of everything I could think of for my trips. This became a master checklist for myself.  I put everything into different categories to make packing an easier job! To get your own Vacation/Business Trip Packing Checklist, click HERE. This will have you make a copy for your own Google Drive. By doing this, you will be able to edit it however you would like. I hope this helps you too!

What else do you need in order to get organized?

Podcast Tips and Recommendations

I have mentioned my love of podcasts in the past. This summer, I am listening to even more than usual. I am able to do this for a couple of reasons. First of all, I have more free time. I like to have something going on the background. A podcast works well for this purpose. The second reason is my first podcast tip.

Podcast Tip 1

While I enjoy listening to many podcasts, I sometimes get frustrated by how slowly some people speak. I tend to move quickly and need my podcasts to reflect this. When listening to a podcast, you can adjust the speed. I thought that doing this may make the people sound like Alvin (from the Chipmunks), but that is so not the case! Now, some podcasts are listened to at regular speed 1.0. Some, though, I have had to increase all the way up to a speed of 1.6. I adjust each group of podcasts to their own sound speed. I love this because I have some podcasts that are an hour long. While I like them, they move too slowly. Now I can listen to that hour long podcast in 40 minutes.

Podcast Tip 2

Subscribe to your favorite podcast. This way everytime a new episode is released, it will download for you. I love seeing the new ones that download each day!

Recommendations

I recommended different podcasts in the past. Click HERE to see that post. Here are a few more:

Organize 365 - This one is all about getting organized! Each episode focuses on a different area in the house as well as giving productivity and time management tips. I always love to find better ways of organizing myself!

Affirmations Pod - This podast has some affirmations that can be used in mediation, said by themselves, as well as tips for mental well-being. 

What podcasts would you recommend?

Adulting Wins and a Fail

It's been a little while since I wrote about my Wins or Fails. I decided to combine the two today since I definitely have both!

1. I went to Navy Pier and saw Macbeth. It was incredible! I definitely realized Penn's influence (from Penn and Teller fame) when some of the actors did disappearing tricks! 

2. I also made a return trip to the zoo, my second this summer. This one was a field trip for my summer school class. It was nice but a super quick trip.

3. I finally used my Cricut! This was for a gift for my Grandma on her 95th birthday. I made flowers that were put in a flower pot and decorated with gift cards of her favorite places. It turned out really well. Too bad I forgot to take a pic.

I must admit to some a fail as well. (While there are more, I will only focus on one.) This one goes back to my 18 for 2018. My goal was to plan out my week each Sunday. I was doing really well with this for months! Then I got overwhelmed with work and stopped. Now that I am back to a much easier schedule, I haven't gotten back in the swing of things. I need to do this! At least tomorrow is Sunday...

What are your Wins and Fails?

Designing Your Summer

I have heard a lot about the importance of Designing Your Summer. This is the idea of planning your summer before it actually begins (or at least planning at the beginning of summer). The reasoning behind this is that summer flies by! It's easy to have great intentions of everything you want to get done, but you blink and summer has ended.

Here's How I Am Designing My Summer:

1. First, I am thinking about my overall categories for summer - work, travel, errands, day trip activities, and projects. These categories contain the main areas which I would like to focus my attention on this summer.

2. Next, in each category I listed a variety of items I wanted to accomplish (without going to crazy - I can't do EVERYTHING this summer). For example, day trip activities (for me) include a visit to Navy Pier to see Macbeth, at least 2 zoo visits, going to the Little Red Schoolhouse, go to at least 2 different farmer's markets, and going to see one or more movies.

3. Finally, I filled my planner with actual dates for each of these events. Actually scheduling them forces me not to put off an event too long. If by some chance something does come up, I can always make changes as needed.

Action Steps For You:

1. Think about the large areas you would like to focus on this summer.

2. Under each category think of specific items that you would like to accomplish.

3. Place these items onto your calendar. Making an actual plan on them makes you more likely to accomplish them.

How are you designing your summer?

Cleaning Tip - Oven Grates

Let me start off by saying that I HATE cleaning! I do almost anything to avoid it. When I do clean, I always look for shortcuts. I want it done fast, so I can move on to anything else. 

One of my all time favorite tips has to do with cleaning the grates on the oven. Since I enjoy cooking, they tend to fill with gunk and other residue. No matter how much I tried to clean it off, it never felt truly clean. Then I came I across the ammonia trick. 

How to Clean Oven Grates:

1. Place the grates into a Ziploc bag (find the size that will fit your grates). 

2. Add in 1-2 tablespoons of ammonia to the bag and seal. 

3. Let the bag sit overnight.

4. Rinse the grates.

That's it! The first time I did this, I called my mom and let her know how will this worked! It was like the built on gunk dissolved away! I wanted her to try it right away with her oven! This has become my go to trick when I went to clean with zero effort.

What is your favorite cleaning tip?

Exercise and Workout Tips - Getting Started

I have always been one unmotivated by exercise. Throughout the years, this would change, usually in January, when I would be ultra-motivated, at least for a couple of weeks. My problem was that I had grandiose plans that could not be maintained. I should say, they could not be maintained by someone so out of shape like me.

All this changed a few years ago. I got an elliptical like I always wanted. Anytime I joined a gym, this was my go to piece of equipment. The problem was I rarely went to the gym. I didn't want my elliptical to become the cliched piece of workout equipment that became a glorified closet. I also was out of the habit of using it. There was no way I could work out for a 30 minute period like I thought was the ideal amount of time. After a few minutes, I would need a break!

This lack of physical endurance made me rethink my workout routine. There were two things I knew for sure: 

1. If I didn't use the elliptical on a regular basis, I would always look for an excuse as to why I couldn't use it.

2. It would be awhile before I could manage 30 minutes without stopping!

This caused me to make a commitment to myself. I would use the elliptical everyday, no matter what happened! This way tough! There were some days I wouldn't get home until late at night and would have to get on the elliptical. I knew that if I used the excuse of being too tired, I would soon give up exercising altogether because I would always be too tired!

The other thing I did was starting small. I started with 5 minutes each day. Each week I increased the amount of time by 1 minute until I reached my 30 minute goal. Even when I was really sick I got on the elliptical - only this time, I gave myself permission to stay on for only 1 minute. I didn't want to get out of the daily routine of getting my exercise. After recovering from an illness, I would start back at the 5 minutes and work my way up to 30 minutes again.

Starting off at a lower level definitely let me start at a reasonable pace. I know it's important to vary your exercise routines. I also know my own body and the excuses I would use not to workout. I vary other forms of exercise but keep my time on the elliptical consistent. Now, I wake up early enough in the morning to get my 30 minutes in before starting my days. There are no excuses.

How do you get and keep yourself motivated to exercise?

Lazy Saturday

After a long week, I am exhausted and find that I have trouble functioning on the weekends. I have trouble sleeping during the week and find that I can only truly relax and sleep when I do not have to work the next day. 

This is why I love Saturdays. This day of the week is my salvation, offering me the rest I so greatly need. I know that studies show how bad it is for your body to catch up on sleep over the weekend. Yet, it feels incredible to me.

During the week, I have tried meditation, stretching at night, journaling, and creating a bedtime routine for naught. My mind will not shut off until the weekend. 

Today was definitely a lazy Saturday. I got nothing accomplished apart from napping and reading. Although, I did manage to wash the dishes and get in 13,000 steps (including 30 minutes on the elliptical). Maybe a lazy Saturday is all just in my head. It's a chance to go at a slower pace. This is my time to refresh myself from a long work week so I can be human again.

Forgive my ramblings tonight. I guess my brain is having a lazy Saturday as well.

How do you refresh after a long week?

Walking for a Cause

I am so excited that the weather has warmed up enough for me to take lots of long walks. I find them refreshing. During my walks, I listen to podcasts, take pictures of sights that appeal to me (I love the trees when they are covered with flowers - see below), and spend time thinking. 

 

One of the benefits of my walk is done through an app I use called Charity Miles. This is a free app for users. When you walk, run, or ride your bike, you let it run in the background. It tracks your mileage and the sponsor of your walk (usually a big name like Johnson and Johnson) donates to the charity of your choice. They have a bunch to choose from. My current favorite in Pencils of Promise. I feel even better when I walk because even though it is a small way, I am helping others. 

I used to spend a lot of time and effort with various charities until life happened. Now I don't get to volunteer like I would like, but this feels like I am still making a difference.

What are some small ways you can help your favorite cause?

Motivate Yourself

Motivation - This simple word can cause such frustration and drama. Can someone truly motivate them-self? How come what motivates you doesn't work for me? These questions are definitely complex ones, but I think they can be answered.

I think that anyone can be motivated. The problem is that most people do not have the proper motivation that will work for them. You may be motivated by a tangible item like a new outfit or an ice cream treat while another person may be motivated by money or just recognition. If you are working for the wrong motivation incentive, you may give up part way through a task. 

How can you find out what motivates you? Look back at your successes and failures. Do you notice a pattern or theme in them? This is the key to figuring your motivation. For example, sometimes I just need to see a record of my successes in order to continue to be motivated. This is demonstrated in the use of my Fitbit. I made a goal for myself to walk at least 10,000 everyday for a year. Seeing the progress tracked for me helped motivate me to meet that goal. Three years later, I still am motivated to meet this goal (only now it's 13,000 steps). This also worked for my dad. He was very lethargic for years. Then I gave him a Fitbit too. He sets weekly step goals that for surpass mine. All he needed was a little motivation. This, however, has not worked for my mom. The only time she was motivated to meet her step goal was during Lent (spiritual motivation) when she made the commitment. The moment Lent ended, she lost her motivation.

The things that drives each person differs so greatly. This is why our motivation also differs. The important thing is to try new forms of motivation to find what works for you. Somethings that you can try include checklists, accountability partners, mini rewards, etc. When you have the proper motivation, you can achieve anything!

What motivates you?

Book Picks - The Royal Treatment

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle is fast approaching. I am a little excited about it. Although I must subconsciously be super excited because I found myself buying  a bunch of Kindle books with a royal theme. My absolute favorite of all of them is The Royal Treatment by Melanie Summers.

Disclaimer: I have links to Amazon in here that will cost nothing for you to click on but will earn me a few cents.

The book focuses on Tessa Sharpe. She starts a blog that's anti-monarchy. Prince Arthur needs some positive publicity. He gives Tessa the keys to the palace. While living in the palace, her views on the monarchy begin to change. It doesn't help that the prince is incredible!

I love books that are considered romantic comedies. This one definitely had me laughing out loud numerous times. I appreciate authors that can mix the two genres together so seamlessly. A nice bonus for me was how each chapter was told in the point of view of either Tessa or Prince Arthur. It's nice to get into the heads of multiple characters.

This book reminds me of the Shop-a-holic series. The protagonist in both is a down on her luck girl with a string of bad luck. Everything always turns out well in the end, and you get your happy ever after. Now if only real life went the same way...

Like this book or hate it. What's your verdict?

What books would you recommend?

Managing Finances - Buying a Car

This past week has been a bit stressful for me. My car started making a strange sound. Even before I had it looked at, I finally started coming to terms with needing a new vehicle. This was hard for me to accept, because I wanted to focus on buying a house and my car is my baby. It is the only one I have ever bought and it's my dream car - a Saturn. This may seem silly, but Saturn was the only brand of car I ever actually wanted. Since they no longer exist I can't ever get a new one. I thought that I could begin looking for a new car and purchase in June.

Once I had my car looked at, however, I found out there was a broken spring on the driver's side. I had this fixed on the passenger side last year and know it's a $400 repair. Since my car is worth less than this, I figure I should get a new car now.

I began my search last night. After spending 2 hours in test drives, meeting with a salesman and finance person, here is my new car.






No picture? Oh wait! That's because I didn't get one. I got so mad at the finance guy during this ordeal. He was condescending and made a rude comment about me being just a girl. I should just automatically have valued his opinion since he has 20 years of experience according to him. No thank you. I may be a girl but I am also a stubborn mule!

Now I have a decision to make...Do I still buy a car from them and get a pretty good deal (it keeps getting better and better)? Do I walk away and look at other cars? This is the decision I need to make. I will let you know once I do. Until then,

What would you do...Buy the Car or Walk Away?

Time Management - Sunday Planning

I have a lot of different time consuming areas in my life. I teach, am on various committees at school, blog, write lessons that I sell, and actually try to have a personal life. For awhile I was feeling overwhelmed with everything. I was exhausted and my to do list seemed never ending. I was honestly having trouble getting it all done.  Then I started planning out my weeks on Sundays. 

Why This Helps:

I heard the statistic that 15 minutes of planning can save hours of work. I thought this was ridiculous. How could this be possible? I already had everything mentally thought about while this just involved writing everything down. 

One Sunday I began thinking about all the things I needed to get done in the week. I placed these items in the different days along with places I needed to be that day (usually no more than 5 activities in a day, all depending on the time needed for each one). These became my must complete activities for the day, anything I else I get down is now a bonus. 

A while earlier, I had established a Morning Routine and now had a set time I could check off some daily to do list items. Checking off the items on my to do list in my calendar has become a ritual that makes me so happy. I am able to get so much more done because I now plan time to complete longer items when I actually have more time to do them. I don't have to cram everything in on the weekend anymore!

Here's How to Create Your Own:

1. I recommend finding a planner that works for you. This was my most difficult job and I ended up going through 5 different calendars before finding my favorite one. (The one listed below is an Amazon Affiliate link. The cover on my calendar is pink but I couldn't find that one. The inside looks exactly the same.)

This one was my favorite one because I was able to leave it open to the page I needed. It was also roomy enough to write all my to do list items. 

2. Set aside time once a month to fill out all the important events for the month and write them in your calendar. This is a lot easier to do this once a month rather than try to remember them all on Sundays.

3. Pick a time on Sundays, and start filling in your planner strategically. This means think about the time each item will take you. For example, I had a huge event on Wednesday this week. Therefore, I only had one to do list item that I was able to get done in the morning. Being realistic about things will definitely make sure you are able to stick to this routine.

4. Make adjustments as needed. I keep this calendar for my personal to do list. I have a separate calendar/to do list for work which I leave at work. This keeps my to do list from feeling overwhelming.

That's it. It seems like a lot of steps for something that is simple to maintain. The important thing is to reference this calendar each day so you know what you need to get done.

How do you manage your time?

Adulting Wins

Last week I wrote about some recent Adulting Fails. Not everything can be a win. This week, however, I decided I needed to balance my fails from last week with some wins.

Elliptical

I work out  30 minutes everyday on my elliptical. This is one of my favorite pieces of exercise equipment. I was lucky enough to get mine free from a family member that was downsizing. When I first got it, I was huffing and puffing after a couple of minutes. I eventually made myself a goal of exercising 5 minutes. Then I increased the amount of time I spent on it by 1 minute each week until I got to 30 minutes. 

I know it's crazy that I do this everyday! I know myself though. If I give myself permission to miss a day here or there, then I would add to that and start missing weeks and months until the elliptical just collected dust. I feel better after I get this done each day. I am now going on 1 and 1/2 years of doing the elliptical everyday!

Fitbit

I LOVE my Fitbit. In 2016, I set a goal for myself to do 10,000 steps everyday for the entire year. I did achieve this goal, but it was TOUGH! In 2017, I increased this to 11,000 then 11,500 steps a day in July of that year. This was actually pretty easy. Once I got 10,000 steps, adding a little each day really made no difference in effort for me. 

Now, in 2018, I am at 13,000 steps a day. I feel more energetic and healthy. I actually like to walk around. I can't wait for the weather to get better (on a regular basis) so I can walk outside each day. I was able to go for a couple of walks this week and I loved it. On days that I can't walk outside, at least I have a treadmill to make up any steps I didn't get running around during the day. Side note: I love my treadmill, because my dad custom built a desk to use with it. Now I can multitask with walking and working on my computer. (I hated all the treadmill desks I found since those treadmills were really junky. I was able to invest in a better quality treadmill with a desk that's removable as needed. Sometimes an adult still needs their dad! 😀)

Jump Rope

As a child, I used to jump rope all the time and was really good at it. Now, I rarely ever jump rope. This past week, at recess, my students were really into jumping rope. They wanted me to try it too. Even after not doing this in a LONG time, I was able to jump rope like I never gave it up. I shocked myself at how I wasn't even winded after trying it. I guess all of exercise between the elliptical and walking steps have really paid off!

Unintentionally, all of my Wins are centered around exercising. At least, I have that going for me!

What were your WINS this week?

Adulting Fails

Sometimes in life, I fail. We all do. It's important to learn from mistakes and move on with life. With this in mind, I have some fails that I have to admit...

These fails all have to do with gadgets. (There are tons more fails I could include but that blog post could go on forever. 😀) In the past year, I have either bought or have been given some bigger ticket items. All of these are either in the box or out of the box but never used. (Please note: that all the pictures are affiliate links to Amazon.)

Instant Pot

This was a Christmas gift. I finally opened the box this week and took it out. That's a start, right? I can't get over how heavy this sucker is. I have also been pinning a lot of recipes on Pinterest. That's practically the same thing as making it. Now that's it's just sitting on the kitchen counter, there is a good possibility that it may be used soon.

Camera

I have been wanting a nice digital camera with all the accessories, so when I saw a great deal in January, I bought it. The problem with this is that I know NOTHING about digital cameras or the accessories. I opened this box and was overwhelmed with all the extras. I pulled out the camera and lens. I tried putting them together but had to put them back in the box when I was too incompetent to put them together. Now this large box of items sits on my treadmill. I have to move it every time I actually want to use the treadmill. Side note: I actually use the treadmill a lot (at least I have a win) so it's a huge pain!

Cricut

This is my biggest fail, because I have had it the longest and never used it. I got this last summer. Since I never do a partial job with anything, I had to buy the whole kit with lots of supplies. The only positive thing I can say is that I took it out of the box, found a place to set it up on my desk, and displayed all the extras nicely in a basket. It looks nice. I'm sure it would work great...if I ever tried it.

If there is any consolation, I have been working on trying to use any/all of these (at least mentally). I am hoping that I soon I can share some Adulting Wins with you! 

What are your Adulting Fails?

Amazing Recipes - Cake Cookies

Happy Easter (a day early)! To me this is the real start of Spring. When I think of Easter, I think of pastel colors. With this in mind, one of my favorite recipes to make for Easter is Cake Cookies. These cookies are simple to make and taste incredible!

Cake Cookies

Ingredients:
1 box cake mix (I use white or yellow cake mix for Easter cookies, but you can also make them with chocolate cake mix.)
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
powdered sugar
* Optional: This recipe makes a great base. You can add ingredients like chocolate chips, butterscotch, sprinkles, etc. for taste.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine the cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil until completely blended together.
3. If you want to add optional ingredients, mix them in.
4. Your batter will be extremely sticky. I like to spray my hands with a cooking spray. Then make small balls of the dough which are rolled in the powdered sugar.
5. Spread these balls an inch or two apart on a cookie sheet. (They do not spread out much.)
6. Bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes. The bottom of the cookies should begin to brown. 
7. Let cookies cool and then enjoy!

Time Management - Creating a Morning Routine

I have a busy schedule. Some days feel like they never end. Once I shifted my morning routine, however, I felt such a shift in my mood that my days have been much smoother ever since. With this in mind, I highly recommend creating a morning routine.

Here's Mine...
5:20 - Wake up, drink water (in my water bottle next to my bed), and stretch.

5:20-5:30 - Listen to a relaxing podcast while cleaning some clutter. This may mean throwing away papers, putting items back where they belong, etc. (I get overwhelmed with large cleaning projects but can handle a few minutes a day. I add to a donate pile during this time and each time I finish filling a bag, I bring it to a donation center.)

5:30-6:00 - Workout on the elliptical. As long as I don't EVER miss a day, I am good. I find that missing even one day then gives me permission to miss working out all the time. During my workout I like to watch a movie on Netflix or read a book with my Kindle. (FYI - I didn't always workout for 30 minutes straight. I started with 5 minutes and gradually increased my time by 1 minute each week until I got to 30 minutes.)

6:00-6:30 - Breakfast while working on my teacher business. I create reading units that I sell online. I honestly hate making them but they are popular products. I find that I can create 5-10 pages each morning without the dread of working on them after work. This has greatly increased my productivity and gives me a HUGE sense of accomplishment. (This is much better than using my time for Facebook or Instagram like I used to do.)

6:30-7:05 - Shower and get ready for the day. I will also platy music or listen to other podcasts during this time. (I really love podcasts! Click HERE to see my blog post on my favorite podcasts!)

Yes, I do have to wake up early, but I gradually added new things to my routine. I find that I am happier and healthier with this area of my life. To me, creating a morning routine has been vital to my well-being!

What kind of Morning Routine do you have?

Irish Soda Cake Bread

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today everyone is Irish! With this in mind, I thought I would share my favorite Irish Soda Bread recipe. Please note that this is definitely not a traditional Irish Soda Bread. It is more of cake like bread. It is a favorite of my family.

Irish Soda Cake Bread

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups buttermilk (No buttermilk? Substitute with 2 cups of milk with 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Stir together and let sit for five minutes before using in recipe.)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup melted butter
* Optional: Add 1/2 cup of raisins to make it a bit more like a traditional Irish Soda Bread.

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and grease a 9 inch x 5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and baking soda. 
3. Blend egg and buttermilk together and add at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened.
4. Stir in the melted butter.
5. Pour mixture into the prepared pan.
6. Bake for 65-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean.
7. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours or overnight for best flavor.

Definitely a different kind of Irish Soda Bread, but super yummy?

Organization Hacks - Google Keep

I am always looking for new ways to get myself organized. One of my favorite tools to help with this is Google Keep.

Let me start off by saying I am definitely a Google girl! I am always discovering new products by them (or at least new to me) that I end up using all the time. In fact, I stumbled upon Google Keep one day when I was bored and was looking at new apps I could download onto my phone. Thank goodness for that day of boredom oh so long ago!

What is Google Keep?
Google Keep is like a bulletin board for your phone where you can post pictures, to-do lists, and more. You can color code these lists, scribble messages to yourself, and even set a timer reminder.

How it has changed my life:
I used to have multiple apps with all sorts of lists. With so many apps, I would honestly forget things. I was also using a lot of memory on my phone. Now, I use one app for everything and it syncs with my Google account so I can access this from any computer or device. Since using Google Keep, I no longer worry about my phone going missing because everything I need to save is available in other places.

Here's how I use it:
I started off small. First I created a list for groceries. This was a simple list with boxes I could check off after shopping. I then added lists for birthday gift ideas for people and Christmas gifts I bought throughout the year, so I wouldn't duplicate a gift or overbuy for a person. 

Now I have lists for EVERYTHING I can think of! I have to-do list for larger projects for summer, websites to visit, my class list for teaching, etc. I also will write myself little reminders of things I would like to do and set up an alarm to actually remind myself to do it! One of my favorite features is the color coding so I can have the different areas of my life coded to find my lists easier. Google Keep has definitely made my life easier!

What organization hack do you have?

5 Original Series to Watch on Netflix

I am hooked on Netflix, so much so that I don't even watch regular television anymore. At least it's a lot cheaper than cable! While Netflix has a lot of movies and television shows they share, they are also making a lot of original shows as well. Here are five original series I think you should see (in no particular order).

1 - Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life 

I loved the Gilmore Girls and was super excited when Netflix brought it back! While this is only four episodes, it does a pretty good job (with a few weird exceptions) of sticking to the story line/original characters. I really hope they bring back more episodes, because the ending has a bit of a cliffhanger.

2 - Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 

The premise of the show is that some women are released from a bunker after years inside due to a cult leader. It's pretty funny. The first season made me laugh so hard I had tears. After that, it hasn't been as good, but I still find it entertaining. 

3 - 13 Reasons Why

I honestly didn't even know this was based on a book. This series is definitely dark, depressing, and emotional, but very well done! I was hooked on it from the beginning. I am counting down the days until the new season. I must admit, while I was a fan from the beginning, I am extra excited about the second season since it will have a former student of mine that I taught preschool to years ago!

4 - Santa Clarita Diet

It took me a while to get into this show even with the big name stars. I am definitely not into zombie shows and that is the premise of this show. It is, however, very entertaining the more the season goes on. I am looking forward to the next season.

5 - The Crown

I am super curious about the Queen and the entire royal family. Watching this series, makes me want to know even more. This series really takes an in depth look at the royals. Sometimes it moves slow, but it keeps me fascinated.

You've probably noticed that I missed some large series like Orange is the New Black and Stranger Things. I figured that those series already had everyone watching. I was hoping to share a couple that may not be as popular.

What's your favorite Netflix series?

Vision Boards - Should I or Shouldn't I Create Them?

I have to admit, I read The Secret and watched the movie. I haven't decided if I should be embarrassed by this. Afterwards, I worked on creating a Vision Board...or I should say I created FIVE Vision Boards. I may have gotten a bit carried away. Let me start at the beginning.

I have mentioned my love of the podcast By the Book. One of the books they did was The Secret. I also got my best friend, Megan, hooked on the podcast. Together, we decided to read the book and create our own Vision Boards.

A Vision Board is a place to gather pictures and words together to manifest your thoughts. It's basically just a way to put the Law of Attraction into action.

So, how did I end up with five boards?

It all started out innocently with one board, the one above. I went through magazines since I had a ton of old ones stacked up (which I finally was able to read and recycle). Even though I had so many magazines, I didn't have the pictures I wanted to add. I started doing a Google search for things that would pop into my mind. I printed out so many pictures that I began grouping them by similar themes. The board above is my personal board. It's my way of showing myself as calm and relaxed while being tough (Hello, Wonder Woman).  There just wasn't enough room for everything I wanted to include. 

This led me to creating different boards about various areas of my life. I want to focus on creating more money and resources as a Teacherpreneur (teacher entrepreneur), improving my love life (nonexistent right now), traveling (already have my first vacation booked this summer), and creating a home (which I will hopefully buy later this year).

Overall, I really enjoyed the process. I like to look at my boards and envision how things are going and will be in the future. I think if you are crafty or are open to the possibility of Vision Boards, then these are for you. If not, maybe pass. They are time consuming to make. so, what do you think?

Do you have a Vision Board?

Do you think others should have one?

Book Picks - The Six

I love to read! I could spend the day, everyday, reading! Because of my healthy obsession, I have decided that, every once in a while, I would share a Book Pick - a recommendation that I think others should read. Here's my first one - The Six by Anni Taylor. 

Disclaimer: I have links to Amazon in here that will cost nothing for you to click on but will earn me a few cents.

This was a recommendation by a coworker of mine. She hadn't even finished the book before sharing it with others. By the way, it was recommended to her too.

Backing in up, let me explain this book. It's a psychological thriller. A young mother with a gambling addiction and huge debt is offered a chance to earn all the money she needs if she takes part in a one week recovery program with different challenges. She agrees and that's where the story gets interesting!

I spent all of last Sunday laying in bed reading this book. I was so frustrated when I had to take a break and charge my Kindle since I wanted to continue the story. It definitely had me guessing along the way!

Normally I do not read psychological thrillers because they get in my head a little too much. I think I enjoyed this book so much because while it did get into my head, it wasn't so disturbing that I lost sleep.

Like this book or hate it. What's your verdict?

What books would you recommend?

Podcasts - Personal Development, The Easy Way

I am obsessed with podcasts! These are my go to when I get tired of listening to the radio, and I do not want complete silence. Here are some of my favorite podcasts!

By the Book - While the ladies in this podcast follow a self-help book for two weeks and report on it, this is not a self-help podcast. This is more of a hilarious book review. I laugh out loud in each episode. I know that I look like a crazy person when I go for a walk and listen to this one since I am always laughing. I accept that. It's worth it.

Side Hustle School - This is a daily podcast that teaches listeners lessons in starting their own side hustle (work outside your normal job). I find this podcast to be motivating to me to try my own business. Right now, my main side hustle is creating teacher resources for the classroom. This podcast is always helping me think of new things I can try.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin - I enjoyed reading The Happier Project and stumbled across her podcast. Anything that can make my days a little happier is worth trying. I have picked up quite a few tips from this podcast including the inspiration behind my first blog post, 18 for 2018. (Related podcast - Happier in Hollywood)

Stuff You Should Know - I like knowing random bits of trivia. This podcast focuses on different topics and takes a deep dive into them. 

These are just a few of my favorites. I listen to so many more! It's a great way to build your personal development, the easy way.

What are your favorite podcasts?

Is Oil Pulling For Me?

Have you ever heard of oil pulling? It sounds bizarre. You take a chunk of coconut oil and swish it around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes and then spit it out. I told you it was strange! So...Why would any sane person do this?

Disclaimer: This post may contain links to Amazon products. Clicking on them will help me earn money at no cost to you.

Benefits to Oil Pulling (according to real experts - aka - an internet search):
* Better overall health
* Fewer illnesses
* Dental health benefits
* Blah, blah, blah...I got bored reading about the benefits.

My Results:
It's best to do the oil pulling in the morning (according to my research). My problem is that I have a huge gag reflex in the morning. I can't do oil pulling for 15-20 minutes. Instead, I swished the oil around for about 5 minutes. I know it's nowhere near the "right" amount of time, but I figure some time is better than nothing.

I'm not sure about the overall health piece, since I do not get sick very often. In the past month, I didn't get sick at all. However, the dental health benefits were noticeable! I already floss twice a day, use mouthwash, and brush a minimum of twice a day. While I already have great dental health habits, I noticed a small amount of tarter build up on my lower front teeth. Oil pulling the short amount of time everyday has made that tarter virtually disappear. The results have amazed me!

Recommendation:
Oil pulling is definitely worth the effort. It's hard to get used to in the beginning, but you will adjust soon enough. I found 5 minutes is all I need to see effort. For others, more time may be needed. I would definitely recommend oil pulling to you.

Below is the coconut oil I used if you are interested.

What do you think of oil pulling?