A little inspiration for your Monday!

Always see yourself the way your preschool students see you! 😉😂#sofabulous #preschoolteacherlife #dontforgettowearyourcrown👑

Gratitude journal progress.... And my very favorite piece of art!

I just wanted to give you a quick update on how my gratitude journaling has been going! I fell off for a bit when school started back up this week but I jumped right back on track today... Just in time for this!!! 

Isn't this pretty!! 

My #gratitudejournal entry today is what piece of art are you most thankful for? 

Without a doubt the single most precious thing hanging on my walls is THIS! 

My favorite person, my grandma, who went to heaven to become my most important guardian angel in March, painted this.  She had never painted before in her life!  She had just fractured her shoulder and we had to move her to a nursing home.  The dementia was beginning to get her more and more.  She had just celebrated 92.  Oftentimes she didn't know her own family.  It was such a blessing to me that she almost always knew who I was.  I walked into her room to visit with her one day and this was hanging on the wall.  I said "that is beautiful!" And she said "I painted you the beach today." She was so proud, and it had been a long while since I had seen her smile like that!

My grandma saved my life over and over, both with her presence and all those countless prayers.  We had, and still have, the strongest bond I have ever had with another person.  Despite the dementia she knew that I was struggling at that time, it's not something she thought...she could feel it.  Dementia can't take that away.  She also knew my quickest cure to any dark days was the beach.  

I will hold the memory of the day she painted me the beach close to my heart and know that she is always still with me to carry me through the dark days and also celebrate the happy ones! Someday we will meet again, probably on a beach somewhere in heaven! 👼💞

#guardianangel #grandmasgirl

See this post if you want to hop on my gratitude journal train with me for the rest of this month.  

This is been so life changing for me that I feel the pull to share it...A guided gratitude journal Facebook group workshop will be coming soon!  In the meantime hop on over to my Instagram, rocksolidvibes, and follow me there for updates!

New fave gluten free and vegan "that time of the month" snack!

Oh gutsy girls... Unfortunately, I'm sure you can relate to this!  

I don't know about you, but my tummy cramps enough that more cramping is definitely not welcome! That's enough to make you nuts! But then add the mood swings and bloating and cravings for things you can't or shouldn't eat.... Yikes!

I never know if I want to eat an entire bag of chips, a whole pint of cashew milk ice cream, or every vegan chocolate bar in my home! Or none of it at all because I already feel like a fat ass!  Such a dilemma! 😡😱

Well this helps! Seriously tastes just like a candy bar! 

The perfect chocolatey combo of sweet and salty and most importantly gluten free and vegan. And bonus 10 grams of protein!

I'm not claiming these are super healthy, because they do have a lot of sugar, but I am claiming they are MUCH better than the alternatives, will help satisfy those cravings, will keep you fuller and energized longer, and won't make you feel quite as guilty!! 

I always picked these up at whole foods, but now my local hyvee is carrying them! Yay! They are like $1.28 a piece... You can hardly buy a shitty candy bar for that!! Definitely have these ready for your next "time of the month!" 😉😘

Back to school classroom diffuser blend...

Tomorrow is the first day of school!! A little bit yikes and a lotta bit yay!!

I ❤️ using oils in my classroom!

However, there are TONS of things to consider here...

First and foremost, kid safe oils!  I have kids as young as two coming into my classroom.  Certain oils are not for use around kiddos this itsy bitsy.  This helps stress how imperative it is that oil safety guidelines are considered and followed when using oils in any classroom (or home for that matter).

Also, a room full of three year olds doesn't need any stimulation!! We definitely don't need anything adding more energy to the classroom.  But we also don't need anything making them fall asleep!

This blend of citrus bliss and lavender is the PERFECT balance and kid safe too!

Vegan sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning!

Finally!!!

I had been missing sour cream and onion! Like REALLY missing it! I tried a few different recipes for seasoning blends but none of them were quite right.

My parents could tell I was getting discouraged...This was my Easter present! What girl doesn't love snacks and shoes?! ;)

When I first tasted one of earth balance's sour cream and onion potato chips I knew I either a. had to find a different job and bigger clothes to afford all the chips I would consume or b. had to recreate that seasoning! Option b. was clearly the better option because I could make it healthier... Sour cream and onion hummus, popcorn, broccoli, so many options! My fave is the popcorn!  (More on how I do popcorn in a post soon... So easy, healthy, and hello, coconut oil!)

Armed with the ingredient list on my now empty bag of chips (yes I ate the whole bag all at once... Shhhh!) I discovered the key ingredient....

Vinegar powder! I didn't think it would make that big of a difference, but goodness gracious I was so wrong.

Vegan sour cream and onion popcorn seasoning:

6 T soy milk powder (I try to avoid soy, but it really is the best option here, I've tried to sub and it didn't turn out as well)

6 T nutritional yeast

6 T minced onion

2 T garlic powder

2 T dried chives

1 T sea salt

1 T dill

1-2 t apple cider vinegar powder (depending on how much "sour" you want... This stuff is strong)

Mix it all up in a coffee grinder! This makes A LOT but you will need a lot... It's that good! 

Tip: I have one coffee grinder for coffee and another for spices... You don't want sour cream and onion hazelnut coffee! Ewwww!

Now grab a movie, some popcorn, and be generous with this stuff!! Enjoy!! 😘❤️

Think like the scientist and animal that you are... Find where you thrive!

I have a (bad?) habit of thinking way too much, and doing it with my heart instead of my brain. While I'll be the first to tell you how important it is to be heart centered, sometimes it's more important to just step back and use your resources to think logically.  Know what I mean??

As I was reading through some root chakra lit one sentence really spoke to me....

Another "duh" moment! I have been educated in biological sciences... Think like it! 

Animals are smart enough to not overthink it. They simply just go where they survive and thrive.  Polar bears live in the artic, and camels love the desert.  Of course you can always adapt to an environment, but why? There's nothing wrong with you, and you have the power to move!

or just change environments...

The problem with our species sometimes becomes that we DO have that power. We are also notorious over-thinkers, over-doers, and people pleasers.  We think about our jobs and our families and responsibilities, but those things can't thrive unless we thrive!

We know we can go anywhere, which is a beautiful thought.  But look at it more simply, just because you CAN live in a certain place doesn't mean it's where you thrive. And also just because you were born in a certain place doesn't mean to you have to stay.  Go explore, explore lots of places, and find out, but don't stick around if your soul doesn't feel at home. 

My heart is happy at the beach.  My crazy digestive system is calm there too, I'd say that's a strong indication that that's where I thrive!  But I'm in the Midwest.  My family is here, my school is here, my yoga is here.   I LOVE the changing seasons and living in the middle of the crops, but I can only handle so much winter, it makes me a bit dark and twisty.  Eventually I will probably move permanently to the beach, but for now I'll just be a monarch and fly myself to Mexico when the cold comes in! And there's nothing wrong with that, the butterflies do it all the time!! :)

Sipping Caipirinhas and watching the Olympics!

I LOVE the Olympics! I also LOVE Caipirinhas! How else would I watch the opening ceremonies! 

First things first.... The only cachaca worth using is Leblon.  Don't bother with anything else! Period.

At least that's just my humble opinion, and the only one that I can tell you is gluten free!  So I repeat, Leblon is where it's at!

Guys, Caipirinhas are so easy to make! You only need four ingredients!

Limes

Raw Sugar (I have subbed agave and it works perfectly)

Ice

And of course... Leblon

Muddle four lime wedges and about two teaspoons of sugar (or agave)  in a shaker.  Add about a cup of crushed ice.  Pour two shots of Leblon in and shake it all up!  Pour into a glass with the limes and garnish with another lime wedge.

I've been know to make a mean blackberry caipirinha! Raspberry and strawberry too! The possibilities really are endless! Just throw some berries in with those lime wedges and get muddlin!

Fill Your Tank First

I've been focusing hard on self love.

One of the biggest things is "filling your cup."  I get the logic, but the image it put in my head just wasn't working for me.  I would never serve myself a cocktail before mixing one for my family or friends.  Rude!  It gave me icky, selfish feelings.

I realized that that phrase just wasn't in my language.  I'm a car girl so thinking car speak usually works for me!

I need to fill my tank first! Of course!

Think about it... I want to go around helping everybody.  But how the f do I even get anywhere if I'm out of gas? How can I go buy the things I need to mix those cocktails for the people I love if I'm out of fuel?!

I already make sure to take time to take care of my body, because if I don't this jalopy of a digestive system will need to spend A LOT of time in the shop!  But I was neglecting myself otherwise.  I felt selfish taking so much time and energy to take care of my body that I didn't want to take anymore time for me.  But it's all one vehicle.  You need to maintain ALL the parts! Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.... all of it!

This just means to take time for you!  I know it's hard!!  But it's a must.  If we can't be our best selves then we can't be the best wives, teachers, mamas, etc..

Start small. 

Take a walk outside with your doggy, take a bath with some relaxing oils, go to yoga, make yourself a cup of tea, put your damn phone down, turn the damn thing off, buy yourself a new pair of shoes, start a gratitude journal, drink enough water, eat enough food, enjoy a glass of wine, stretch, breathe.  These are just some simple ideas.  I'll be adding more stuff like this to the blog as I work on it myself.

Go find whatever fuels you and fill your tank with it!! :)

Gratitude Journaling...Let's Gush Gratitude This Month!

Happy August Friends!

August means back to school!  Although I am so excited to meet my new kiddos and get back at helping them learn and grow I don't want to lose ground on all the self-love progress I have made this summer!

I throw myself whole-heartedly into teaching.  Which is AWESOME, but sometimes I take a backseat.  Which in retrospect, isn't helping anyone.  How can I be the best teacher if I'm not the best me?

I wanted something simple that could help me stay on course, enter Gratitude Journaling. This popped up on my pinterest feed right when I needed it! <3

Sometimes, especially for gutsy girls, it's easy to focus only on the struggles of day to day life, which God knows we have a lot of them!  But what good does that do?  This reminds you that there is always, always, always something to be thankful for!

The hope is that this will remind me of my intentions and help me not to lose focus amidst all the chaos (and fun) that is the beginning of a new school year.  This starts today, as I head into my first meeting of the school year. :)

Join me for a month of gratitude journaling this August!!

http://textmyjournal.com/gratitude-journal-prompts/