Fashion Friday: The Teacher's Spring Wardrobe

The Teacher's Spring Wardrobe by conolley featuring knit tops

I love dressing for spring...  It's kind of the best of both worlds.  I can wear clothing in layers, but can still rock fun, bright colors.  I don't know about any of your classrooms, but I run into the issue of temperature control (or lack thereof...).  My classroom is either full-blast A/C or super humid.  Add in the fact that my windows and ceiling have had some leakage issues and let's just say I've been opting to go with the A/C and the cold.

My spring work wardrobe is all about layering.  I like to use a lot of my summer tanks and dresses and layer them with cardigans and jackets to make them appropriate for work.  I tend to wear my denim jacket A LOT this time of year because it goes with so many dresses and tanks and it's super comfy!

I created this Polyvore set inspired by items I currently own or items that I'd like to own.  I know some schools (and other workplaces) have dress codes that vary.  I'd say that for my school we fall somewhere in the middle as far as our attire.  In the spring, I prefer easy to throw on and comfortable clothes that still have a slightly dressy and professional look.

I hope everyone has a happy Friday!  Today's my last day of spring break before the weekend...  It's been rainy all week, but as a fellow teacher posted on Facebook the other day, I'd rather have a rainy spring break than a week of indoor recess!  

Organizationally Inspired

I find it funny sometimes that people comment on how organized my classroom looks. Let me just say, looks can be very deceiving. (I searched for classroom organization pics on Pinterest and my own room came up in the results! LOL) I mean, I'm not the world's most unorganized teacher, but I do have plenty of room for improvement.

 Here's a little story...

 Last year my younger brother was in third grade and he was in what was probably the most cluttered and disorganized classroom I've ever seen. I usually attend conferences with my mom and stepdad and I was honestly appalled by this classroom! This room was a complete disaster... It honestly looked like a tornado had hit! (I mean, really? At least tidy up for conferences!) My brother is very much NOT the poster child for organization and tidiness, but last summer he mentioned on multiple occasions that he hoped for a teacher that was organized! Yes, that request came from a 9 year old with ADHD! Obviously he felt the chaos around him in his 3rd grade classroom. At the open house this year at the beginning of 4th grade he was very relieved to see that his current teacher is very neat, organized, and structured. (And thankfully, it's also been his best year in school yet!)

 Anyway, I think having an organized classroom just makes the whole world of teaching run a lot more smoothly. One of my tasks while my student teacher is doing the majority of the work is to get organized and clear out junk. I feel like when every teacher starts they want to hoard as much teacher stuff as they can get their hands on... Then a few years later they realize half of the stuff they hoarded has never been touched. Or is that just me? Thankfully, I didn't inherit a lot when I started, but I do have a lot of old curriculum stuff that needs to go! I wanted to share some of my favorite classroom organization (p)inspirations and some ideas on how I plan to use them in my own classroom.

Source: Uploaded by user via Conolley on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Conolley on Pinterest

This is probably my top organization priority... I love the idea of making a tool organizer cute and using it for all the random crap that finds its way to my desk. It's a cheap and very effective solution for sure!

Source: mrsfreshwatersclass.blogspot.com via Conolley on Pinterest

My math manipulatives are one thing I would like to reorganize for next year. Right now I have them divided into drawers for groups. The kids need easy access to be able to get things on their own. Sounds fine, right? Well, when I change the number of kids in a group it messes things up. This has been one of those years where my class numbers have been constantly changing, so I think I'd just as well prefer to have all the clocks in one drawer, rulers in another, money in another, etc.

Source: mandygregory.com via Conolley on Pinterest

Every year I tell myself I will finish organizing my classroom library... That has yet to happen. I get about halfway through that daunting task and then run out of time. And then, by this time of year it is a complete disaster because I haven't held the kids to very high standards. I will be victorious... Someday.


 What are your organization goals for your classroom? Do you have any (p)inspirations that you're hoping to recreate in your classroom someday? 


 Follow my "Classroom Stuff" board on Pinterest!

Spring Break Sunday (blah) & A Shopping Story

I must say, it was a wonderful feeling to turn off my weekday alarms and know that I have nothing I have to get up for at all this week.  I've been pretty lazy the past few days...  The only thing I've done is lay around, watch basketball, be on my laptop, and go shopping.

I went to Banana Republic three times within about 24 hours...  Good thing I live just a mile and a half away.

Here's the story.

I was over by there yesterday when I went to return a shirt to Ann Taylor (impulse buy with immediate buyer's remorse) and decided to pop into good 'ol BR to see what's new.  I hadn't been into BR in quite some time, so pretty much everything there was new to me.  I really love their stuff, but it can be quite pricey.  The good thing about BR is they can run some really good promos and have some amazing clearance sales.  

I've been wanting some new casual dresses for spring and summer and I spotted some nice knit t-shirt dresses (here's the striped version), so I gave them a try.  I ended up liking the solid black one (not online right now) and although I do have quite a large number of LBDs I decided this one was different enough to add to my collection. I also found some cute striped tops.  The problem was they were all full price, and they werent't running any promos.  Shopping fail.  I couldn't remember if I had any coupons at home and I knew I'd be back by when I went to church in the evening, so I had my favorite employee hold a couple items.  I found a (measly) 15% off coupon at home so I decided to just go on and get the dress and one of the shirts that evening.  As soon as I sat down to Facebook when I got home I saw a Facebook fan discount at BR for 50% off up to 5 items for today!  I called my BR store and asked if I could return my items and rebuy them with the 50% off and they agreed!  So, I went back today and added another striped top and a headband and still got $12 back from my original purchase.  Once again, making friends with the sales associates paid off!  They're great over there!

(I've really been trying to not just go shopping when I'm bored, but I let's face it...  I'm an emotional shopper.  Good mood, bad mood, whatever--  I like to shop as my escape. Without sounding like a sad sack I'll just say I'm kinda stressed about some stuff with other people that's out of my control.  I'm just trying to put it in God's hands and pray about everything.)

***And now, KU just won their game.  Ugh!  I strongly dislike them with a passion.  Now I'm in a really bad mood.***

Anyway, other than my shopping fail that turned into a success, I've had a fairly dull break so far.  I need to call up some of my in town friends and try to make some plans to get out and be social in some form.  I feel like getting out and doing something (something that isn't shopping by myself) is what I need right now.  As much as I enjoy some downtime and some time by myself, I'm a naturally social person and breaks like this really make me crave that time around other people.  Is anyone else like that?  

Well, I feel like this post is during into me whining, so I think I'll just stop.  I'm trying to come up with some new topics for the blog, so please post your suggestions for anything you'd like me to talk about!  I'm hoping to get some posts on putting together your classroom on a budget, planning for the next school year, and field trips sometime soon.  Hopefully I'll get around to one (or all) of those this week!

My First Birchbox

I received my first Birchbox today!  I told you all about it a week or two ago.  Well, I got home late last night and forgot to check my mail until this morning.  I'm super happy to have it now that I am going to sink into a depression since my Wildcats just lost against Syracuse.  I obviously need a little pick-me-up!

I've really been into beauty-related items lately, so I'll probably be putting up some posts and reviews of some of those items this week.  Teachers need to pamper themselves and look good too!

(Isn't the box cute?  Perfect for reusing too!)

Anyway, this month's box consisted of these items:

• Tea Forte Skin-Smart Antioxidant Amplifier Teas
• Ahava Time to Hydrate Essential Day Moisturizer
• Orofluido Beauty Elixir
• Color Club nail polish in Peace Out Purple
• Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint
• Annik Goutal Eau d'Hadrien perfume

I'm pretty excited to try all of these items.  They're definitely brands and products I might not normally try, but there's no harm in sampling things, now is there?!?  :)  That's pretty much the reason I signed up anyway.  Besides, I already made a deal with my mom that she gets any items I'm not into!

I'm still not totally sure this is going to be a long-term commitment for me...  I figured I'd give it three months or so and see what I get.  I'm interested in some of the summer-y items that might be making their way to  my mailbox in the coming months!  

I'm not really much of a tea person, but I'm excited for my teas!  There are three in there-- Cherry marzipan, cucumber mint, and honey yuzu.  Ahhhh...  To to able to sit around this week and sip tea at my leisure.  This is the life...

I'm also pretty excited about the Color Club nail polish.  I'm really into neon stuff right now and the Peace Out Purple is a really fun (and actually quite pretty) neon purple.  I'm still figuring out my new camera, so I don't feel like the picture does the color justice.  It's definitely going to be my next nail color!  

So, there you have it-- 

MY FIRST BIRCHBOX!

Fashion Friday: Spring Break Style

It's finally here...  SPRING BREAK!!!
(Okay, come 3:35 p.m. it is...)

I love the fact that even though I work long hours and bring plenty of work home with me, I still get all the perks of being a student!

This is actually the first spring break in several years that I'm not traveling.  Last year I went to New York and a few times I've made trips to Colorado for break.  I'm actually pretty excited to not be going anywhere this year.  I kinda wish I had something exciting to do, but I'm also really happy to just have some time at home for rest and relaxation.  I'm hoping to go on a big trip or two over the summer, so I decided to hold off and save my money for that.  (Besides, I'm going to try to figure out where the heck I'm going to live after June so that's my big task next week...)

Anyway, I love Polyvore and was a little bored, so I decided that it would be fun to put together a few sets of spring break outfits.

Packing Light & Bright  featuring a denim skirt

This first set is for packing light.  I'm pretty much the worst over-packer.  Ever.  Back in high school I'd go on youth group trips and would pretty much outfit all of the girls with my wardrobe.  Several of the more recent trips have forced me to travel a bit lighter and so I'm working on this skill.  It's all about pieces that mix and match and that are easy care.  Downy wrinkle releaser is one of my favorite travel companions.

Warm Weather Getaway featuring a stripe dress

I have to admit, I've never been anywhere that would be considered a warm weather getaway...  I've been to Orlando for a teaching conference, but didn't see anything that didn't cover the bus ride from the airport to the hotel to the conference center and back.  It was a pretty lame trip to a neat city.  Boo.  I've never been to the beach or the ocean.  (Shocking to some of you, I'm sure.  Kansas is about as non-ocean as it gets.) Anyway, I've been addicted to looking at items from J.Crew lately and picked these as my hot spot items.

March Madness featuring purple jewelry

This last pic is what will most likely resemble my attire for the next week or so...  I love my Wildcats and have an absolutely ridiculous number of K-State tees.  (Today I have on my St. Patrick's Day K-State tee!) It's cute, comfy, and perfect for watching basketball at home or at Old Chicago (yum yum)!

What's your spring break style?  
Are you heading off on vacation or keeping a low profile at home?