teaching life

  • Making Back to School Easier

    Back to School Systems

    Back to school season comes with the stress of new routines, new faces, and getting used to new schedules. Putting a few easy systems in place at the beginning of the year can alleviate some of the chaos and help you focus on the things that truly need all of your attention. These are the non-negotiable systems that I stick to in order to help things run smoothly. These are systems that I use to help the school year run smoothly, but I also continue most of them year-round. Reading a list like this can make it seem like I’ve got it all together – but things definitely still fall…

  • Fun Family Nights

    Summer Family Night Activities

    We lean into family nights HARD during the summer. Everything feels more relaxed and fun, so we take full advantage! If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some of our favorite family night activities. The great thing about many of these is that they can be a little spontaneous – which is really what makes summer fun!

  • Hobbies for Moms

    Crafty Hobbies to Explore

    I firmly believe that everyone needs a few great hobbies – these are the things that make us who we are! I’ve always been super crafty and creative, and I love to have materials available to make things with my hands at all times. Here are some of the hobbies that I’ve been really into lately. Cross stitch – I learned to cross stitch as a kid and have picked it up again as an adult. I’ve found that I really appreciate smaller projects because they travel easily and I can finish them in a short amount of time. The supplies for this particular art form are also super affordable,…

  • summer planning

    Summer Planning; What Works and What Doesn’t

    Over the last couple of years I’ve learned so much about planning and structuring our summer days at home (see the post that I shared on Monday for a round up of ideas and inspiration)! From planning our days down to the hour to throwing out the plans and winging it, I’ve tried it all. Here are some things that have worked really well for us (DO’s), followed by some things that haven’t been so helpful (DONT’s). DO DON’T The most important thing that I’ve found is to know your kids and plan for what they need. My summer planning has changed every year because my daughter has grown and…

  • summer plans

    Summer at home with kids

    I’m getting ready for my third summer at home with my daughter – it’s coming so fast! Over the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to keep her busy and how much planning can and should go into preparing myself for all of that. I wanted to share how I’ve set up these plans so that you can get a little inspiration if this is something that you’re looking for a little support with. I’ve got a couple more posts planned for this week about specifically what has worked and what hasn’t worked for us, and what my plans look like for this year.…

  • Chill Spring Break Ideas

    Low-key Spring Break Plans

    I’ve never been one to make major spring break plans – I don’t love to travel at peak times – so I tend to lean more towards staycations or really leaning into relaxation. Here are my favorite ways to spend a very low-key, chill spring break. I firmly believe these kinds of breaks should leave you feeling refreshed and ready to get back to work or school. When you’re traveling, you don’t always return home relaxed! Making a conscious decision to chill really changes both the vibes of your spring break, and helps you feel like you’ve actually made the most of that opportunity.

  • Spring Fashion 2025

    Spring Break Style

    The sun has finally started shining again, and that always signals my brain for warm weather clothes. I’m desperate to wear all things coastal. Here’s what’s currently in my cart for spring break 2025! Straw tote – I had a bag like this as a teen and I’m kicking myself for getting rid of it. I could not be happier that this look is coming back and I absolutely will have one of these again for the summer. Round Sunglasses – Is it possible to have too many sunglasses? I don’t think so. These are classic and trendy at the same time and I love the color. Pearl Huggie Hoops…

  • Planning a Staycation

    Spring Break Staycation Ideas

    I am all about the staycation! It’s perfect for spring break because it doesn’t always fall at the best time to travel, and really who wants to travel with everyone else in the world. The perks of a staycation are that you don’t have to pack, you get to sleep in your own bed, and there’s no jet lag. Plus, since you’re not spending money on flights or hotels you can stretch your budget a lot farther. So how do you make a staycation really feel like a vacation, and not just laying around on your couch watching Netflix? Here are my tips. Plan ahead. Having a specific plan in…