Habits and new skills typically do not emerge out of nowhere. They are the result of daily practice and/or deliberate attention. A large, daunting task can be tackled simply by making small, daily changes. If we want to create more balance in our lives we must approach it in small, manageable chunks or we will talk ourselves into failing any HUGE task. We also have to be content despite the predictable ups and downs of learning a new skill or establishing a new habit. If you haven't yet watched this video on how to make small change over 30 days...take a bird walk and do so.
I'm not sure how your decision-making process for your 30-day challenge went, but for me it was a cinch. I've recently gotten into making wood signs and humbly admire those unicorn-esque creative types that actually HAND LETTER these wood signs. Me? I cheat and use a Cricut, otherwise known as a cutting machine. It would be a dream of mine to one day hand letter a wood sign. Problem? There is nothing good or right with my personal handwriting. On a good day it is messy and frightfully ill uniform. Well, I did some digging and found out that one's own handwriting and the ability to hand letter are two very distinctly different things. Turns out that my bad handwriting may have nothing to do with my ability to hand letter. Who knew? However, where does one start learning how to hand letter? Do you need special supplies? Maybe someone to guide me would be nice? After a bit of research, I think I have found the best place to start--hands down! A hand lettering blogger and YouTuber by the name of Dawn Nicole Designs already had a 30-day hand lettering challenge which includes a daily video and practice worksheet. Here are all the details on how I am prepped and ready to start my hand lettering 30-day challenge. Hopefully, I haven't left anything out! Please lurk around Dawn Nicole's blog as it is filled with so much information and I'm pretty sure SHE hasn't left anything out.
1. I snagged the Tombow Fudenosuke (try pronouncing that one out aloud--hee hee) brush tip marker. Supposedly it's the holy grail of hand lettering tools.
2. I also ordered the Tombow colored brush set in primary just in case they let me use color in this gig.
3. As for paper, I ordered the Rhodia dot pad because this girl CANNOT write in a straight line to save her life....dots to the rescue...I hope.
4. Each video goes with a practice sheet. Using up all my ink to print the worksheets? Check!
They say I will be FLOORED at how much progress I make in 30 days and at the end I will have learned a new skill. Yay me! (I may be a bit prematurely excited for my potential success)
Follow along with my 30-day challenge on my Instagram! @embellishedangel
Friday, December 30, 2016
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Google Drive +BLOG TRAIN!!!
We are jumping in here this first week of fall to give some Google Drive organizational tips and to share a really cool learning opportunity via a great blog community. BE SURE TO READ ALL THE WAY TO THE END TO LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR BLOG TRAIN.
If you are like us, Google Drive has become a great and easy way to create and share documents. If you are also like us, your Google Drive can get a little out of hand and disorganized which makes documents hard to locate. After a bit of research and trial and error, we have gathered our top 5 Google drive organization tips to keep you productive and efficient!
1. See how you are using up your drive space and purge!
Scroll through your drive and take a few minutes to get rid of any files or documents that you no longer need. This is an important first step so your organization flows better.
2. Create folders and color code them
Check out this AMAZING blog post on how to uber organize your folders with colors and symbols!
3. Star the folders you access often.
If you place a star next to the folders you access on a regular basis, they will be easily accessible via the left navigation menu. Simply click STARRED and those folders will appear!
4. Make sure to "add to your drive" any needed files
Files that are shared with you are not automatically added to your drive. To maintain your drive organization when a file is shared with you, add it to your drive and organize it into a folder immediately. Click the drive+ icon and then choose organize.
5. One final helpful tip...
We often need to share a document with others in which they need to make a copy and add their own thoughts. I'm sure we are not the only ones who get frustrated by the original getting messed up because someone forgot to make a copy before adding their edits. There is a tiny trick to prevent this-
1. adjust your sharing settings FIRST so anyone with the link can edit. Do not use the link provided in the sharing box
2. Return to the document and look at the web address of the documents. The last four letters (a word actually) should be EDIT. Delete just this word and replace it with the word copy.
3. All those given access will be prompted to MAKE a COPY first before they can edit.
VOILA!
If you are like us, Google Drive has become a great and easy way to create and share documents. If you are also like us, your Google Drive can get a little out of hand and disorganized which makes documents hard to locate. After a bit of research and trial and error, we have gathered our top 5 Google drive organization tips to keep you productive and efficient!
1. See how you are using up your drive space and purge!
Scroll through your drive and take a few minutes to get rid of any files or documents that you no longer need. This is an important first step so your organization flows better.
2. Create folders and color code them
Check out this AMAZING blog post on how to uber organize your folders with colors and symbols!
3. Star the folders you access often.
If you place a star next to the folders you access on a regular basis, they will be easily accessible via the left navigation menu. Simply click STARRED and those folders will appear!
4. Make sure to "add to your drive" any needed files
Files that are shared with you are not automatically added to your drive. To maintain your drive organization when a file is shared with you, add it to your drive and organize it into a folder immediately. Click the drive+ icon and then choose organize.
5. One final helpful tip...
We often need to share a document with others in which they need to make a copy and add their own thoughts. I'm sure we are not the only ones who get frustrated by the original getting messed up because someone forgot to make a copy before adding their edits. There is a tiny trick to prevent this-
1. adjust your sharing settings FIRST so anyone with the link can edit. Do not use the link provided in the sharing box
2. Return to the document and look at the web address of the documents. The last four letters (a word actually) should be EDIT. Delete just this word and replace it with the word copy.
3. All those given access will be prompted to MAKE a COPY first before they can edit.
VOILA!
Apple Valley Blended 1 Blog Train!
We are the start of the blog train. Come back here if you ever get lost. Be prepared to learn and laugh as you ride this educational blog train. Each blog will have a post specific to the blog train sharing a favorite resource, tip, or topic. Please feel free to download any goodies along the way as well. We would really appreciate if you would leave a bit of blog lovin' in the for of a comment on each blog. Be sure to bookmark or subscribe to blog you particularly enjoyed. The next stop on the blog train will be linked at the bottom of each post.
Stop #1 on the blog train: The Misadventures of Mr. Hanson
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Monday, August 1, 2016
#mindsetmonday
Giving you permission to set boundaries in today's mindset Monday. Part of achieving more balance yet still enjoying life is to set boundaries and stick to them. Allow yourself to say no in order to preserve more of yourself for things you have already said yes to. Lay down what is good and find what is best.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Smart Planner
Teacher friends! Check out these amazing planners at StartPlanner.com
Goal setting, meal planning, daily organization all in one place!!!
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Time Saving Tip~ Outfit Planning
I don't know about you but I am all about making my life easier. Balancing kids, jobs, hubbs, hobbies, and a social life is plain exhausting. I am constantly in search of ways to become more efficient in the everyday things I do. One thing that has been a HUGE help in my life is meal planning. I am willing to cook just about anything as long as I don't have to come up with WHAT to cook. I despise coming up with a menu especially while I am standing in the doorway of my pantry. Ugh. I hate it. However, when I began meal planning and actually writing down AHEAD OF TIME what we were going to eat each night for the week, the whole chore become less of, well, a chore.
Where is all this going? Oh yeah...meal planning got me thinking. How many times do I stand in the doorway of my closet feeling that same meal-planning-sense-of-dread when trying to come up with an outfit on the spot? Most likely I got up late, am in a rush, and my brain is either unable or unwilling to put something cute together. What do I do? Throw on the first thing that matches and call it good. Then end up with a bad case of outfit remorse the rest of the day. Hmmm, if I can plan my meals ahead of time maybe, just maybe I can plan my outfits ahead of time. Genius! I made myself a handy dandy chart (very similar to my meal planning one actually) and began planning a week's worth of outfits.
-I do my laundry (or try to) on the weekend so I am all set up with clean clothes when I sit down to plan my outfit menu.
-I usually plan my menu on Sunday
-I browse some fashion sites to get the creative juices flowin
-I take a gander at the weather forecast to plan for layering and shoes
-I challenge myself to come up with one really unique or different outfit--usually trying out a new color combo or trend I have been secretly fearing!
Here is a sample of one of my menus. It was back to school during this week for me and my building does not have any air conditioning. The temp the first day was 97 degrees! I definitely kept this in mind when planning my outfits!
1. I have waaay more clothes then my hurried brain gives me credit for. When I actually took the time to plan my outfits it felt like my closet tripled. I had time to hunt for certain things and found "new" items in the process. I utilize my closet much better because of the menu.
2. I love looking online at my fave fashion blogs for inspiration and making my outfit menu allowed me the excuse to make time to do this.
3. I kept hold of past outfit menus and I could see when the last time I had worn a shirt, pants, or entire outfit.
4. This outfit plan makes my mornings so so so much better because I am not wasting time searching for something to wear.
5. I didn't always stick to exactly what I had planned but because it WAS planned, it was easier to be spontaneous and make a quick switch.
6. I need to do a closet inventory. I wish I had a list of all my stuff. I've done a little research and found some apps that could make this happen. Will keep you posted.
Are you up for the challenge? Click on the link below and download a copy of my weekly outfit menu. Please let me know how it works for you.
Where is all this going? Oh yeah...meal planning got me thinking. How many times do I stand in the doorway of my closet feeling that same meal-planning-sense-of-dread when trying to come up with an outfit on the spot? Most likely I got up late, am in a rush, and my brain is either unable or unwilling to put something cute together. What do I do? Throw on the first thing that matches and call it good. Then end up with a bad case of outfit remorse the rest of the day. Hmmm, if I can plan my meals ahead of time maybe, just maybe I can plan my outfits ahead of time. Genius! I made myself a handy dandy chart (very similar to my meal planning one actually) and began planning a week's worth of outfits.
My Process:
-I do my laundry (or try to) on the weekend so I am all set up with clean clothes when I sit down to plan my outfit menu.
-I usually plan my menu on Sunday
-I browse some fashion sites to get the creative juices flowin
-I take a gander at the weather forecast to plan for layering and shoes
-I challenge myself to come up with one really unique or different outfit--usually trying out a new color combo or trend I have been secretly fearing!
Here is a sample of one of my menus. It was back to school during this week for me and my building does not have any air conditioning. The temp the first day was 97 degrees! I definitely kept this in mind when planning my outfits!
Things I figured out in the process (I've been doing this for over a year):
1. I have waaay more clothes then my hurried brain gives me credit for. When I actually took the time to plan my outfits it felt like my closet tripled. I had time to hunt for certain things and found "new" items in the process. I utilize my closet much better because of the menu.
2. I love looking online at my fave fashion blogs for inspiration and making my outfit menu allowed me the excuse to make time to do this.
3. I kept hold of past outfit menus and I could see when the last time I had worn a shirt, pants, or entire outfit.
4. This outfit plan makes my mornings so so so much better because I am not wasting time searching for something to wear.
5. I didn't always stick to exactly what I had planned but because it WAS planned, it was easier to be spontaneous and make a quick switch.
6. I need to do a closet inventory. I wish I had a list of all my stuff. I've done a little research and found some apps that could make this happen. Will keep you posted.
Are you up for the challenge? Click on the link below and download a copy of my weekly outfit menu. Please let me know how it works for you.
Friday, July 22, 2016
Weekly Meal Planning Templates from the Tip Junkie
Check out the Tip Junkie website! She has a ton of cute weekly meal planning options to help make sure we know what's for dinner. (Thanks Stacy Z. for sharing this site!)
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Follow the WHOL4Ed Blog!
Be sure to follow our WHOL4Ed blog! Just type in your email on the right and you will be the first to get blog post updates and great teacher tips and tricks!
Monday, July 18, 2016
#mindsetmonday
Join us on Mondays for a little inspirational quote to set your mind for the week to come!
This really speaks to our philosophy of "eating the frog" even when it is not the favored item on your to-do list. Complete this unwanted task and you will free up your mind and your time for what is next.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
WHOL4Ed Apple Valley 2016
What a great couple of days! We had so much fun talking work/life balance with our first WHOL4Ed class of the summer. Prioritizing, organizing, streamlining, creating . . . Eating our FROGS!
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Favorite links from teacher survey!
We were completely caught by surprise with how many educators responded to our busy teacher's survey. How in the world could we share all of these great tips, tricks, and links? We decided to use an online bookmarking system called Only2Clicks. Check out our page and the categories from the Busy Teacher's survey!
Follow WHOL4Ed on Pinterest!
One of the greatest link resources known to most of us now is Pinterest. This is a great place to share and store favorite links and ideas from the internet. At WHOL4Ed we try and pin on a regular basis as a means of sharing tips and tricks for work/home life balance. Check back often to see our new pins!
Welcome to WHOL4Ed!
Come join Katie and Emily as they explore the relationship and balancing act between the roles we play at home and the vibrant demands of being an educator. In this space you will find our own tiny slice of internet tip space where we hope you can achieve more peace and enjoy both sides of this crazy life of education and home balance.
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