Time to Hibernate it's Snowpocalypse 2014!!!

If a foot of snow wasn't enough to make use want to hibernate then the cold temps that are settling in across the Hoosier State sure will!  Here in Indiana, we are experiencing some record snow fall along with temperatures that haven't been seen in nearly a hundred years if EVER!

Since the Hoosier State is setting weather records, some of my Hoosier Blogging Friends thought maybe we'd set our own record with a first ever Teachers Pay Teacher Snowpocalypse Dollar Sale too! 

In celebration of Snowpocalypse 2014 several of us are offering products in our stores for JUST $1.00 on Monday and Tuesday, January 6th and 7th only!

Because...

 

"There's SNOW better way to spend a day than with a $1 Sale!"

 

 

I am featuring three products that relate to the theme of HIBERNATION!  So, put on an extra layer of clothes, snuggle down in your warm blankets, and grab a cup of coffee and start shopping!

 January is welcome month to teach children about what animals do in winter.  Why not teach them about kindness too with this book that is patterned after Brown Bear, Brown Bear!!!

 



Help little ones get ready for bed with this handy routine book that is great for creating a safe and predictable bedtime routine!  This book can be put in a small photo album or you can bind it yourself.  The compact size and practical use is great for Grandma's house too!



This is another great tool for the bedtime routine!  This checklist is offered in several colors that you can put in a frame or laminate and hang on the wall as a visual reminder of the bedtime routine!

Becoming Your Best Self: One Word

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I am so excited about the New Year!  With the New Year comes prospects of so many good things.  We get to choose our outlook on the New Year and I'm choosing to focus on "Becoming My Best Self" in 2014!  I'm going to DARE to use my SUPER POWERS and rely closely on the PEOPLE around me so it will be the best year yet!

 

I've been reading the book One Word that Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon.  Jon says that four out of five people never keep their New Year's resolutions and that half of the people have given up by the end of January.  I've never been a big fan of making resolutions for that very reason!  Why set yourself up for failure?  I decided to give ONE WORD a try. 

Jon shares three simple steps for choosing your ONE WORD:

Look in:  Set aside some time that is free from distractions and ask yourself some questions about where you've been and where you want to go in the coming year in all aspects of your life:  physically, financially, socially, mentally, and spiritually.

Look up:  Spend some time in prayer and ask God to help you find the word that will help you become the person He wants you to be.

Look out:  Once you've discovered your word it is time to live it out.  As Jon says, "This is where the rubber meets the road."

Jon encourages you to share your word with your inner circle and put some structures in place to help guarantee your success.  Find some people in your life that can help hold you accountable and who can cheer you on throughout the year!  He also suggests that you take pictures or find a creative way to display your word in a painting, photo, or other visible way so you see it frequently and stay focused.

I was sharing what I had read about ONE WORD with my family last week during our family meeting.  They were very interested in joining me in the process.  I am so excited that they will be doing this with me and it was super cool getting to go through the process of choosing their word with them. 

I want to share a couple of ideas of what I did to help my children who are 10 and 12 years old choose their words even though they have not read the book and didn't fully understand the concept at first.  Here is the process we went through:

1.  Start where they are:  I reminded my children of the movie the Polar Express.  In the beginning of the movie each child is given a different word on their train ticket, but they only get half of the word.  Your curiosity is peaked as you wonder throughout the movie what their word will be.  Each child's word is finally revealed toward the end of the movie.  Now that you know the characters better you fully understand why they got the word they did. (Lead, learn, believe, etc.)  I told my children that the One Word process was similar.  Each person gets a word that is unique to them. 

2.  Help them reflect with guiding questions:  I found a helpful printable by Mique over at her blog called "Thirty Handmade Days".  I printed one out for each of my kids and we sat down and reflected on their answers. They answered questions about what they learned in 2013, what they want to learn in 2014, and what goals they have for the year ahead.

3.  Look at pictures online of words other people have chosen and how they have displayed them.  It was really helpful for the kids to see that there are schools, sports teams, businesses, and families all over the world doing this with us!  It really inspired them!

4.  Make a list with each child of possible words they could choose.  This was mostly a brain storming session that just helped get everyone thinking.

5.  Give them some time to think.  I gave the kids some time and space to reflect on their list of words and see what jumps out at them.  I also suggested that they chat with other family members about their thoughts and get guidance and input from various sources.  Within 24 hours they were both confident about the words they'd chosen.

We are going to do a family project this weekend to help us display our words, but we haven't decided what we want to do yet.  We'll see what we come up with and post pictures of that later!

I thought you might like to see what words we chose so you can be a part of our journey this year.  We would love for you to share your words with us in the comments below so we can encourage one another and become our best selves together!

Back in June I left my full time job to have more time to focus on my family, building my business, and blogging.  I have struggled in the months since trying to get into a regular routine.  I was a teacher for 18 years.  There was always someone else giving me the structure I needed to be successful as a teacher.  They told me when to come, what to teach, and how.  With that in place, my creativity was at it's max!  Without those structures, my creativity and composure flew out the window! 

So, as I started considering my word, "routine" was at the top of the list.  There were a couple of other words that kept flying around in my head as well and I just couldn't pick one.  I kept thinking to myself, "I wish I had more clarity on my word."  Finally, I decided to ask for some help and someone suggested the word CLARITY.  HA!  That's it!!!  That's exactly the word for me! 

As I seek to be my best self, I need clarity!  That's the intent behind being Assertive.  An assertive person sets clear limits for themselves and the people around them.  In order to be assertive though, I need better vision for where I'm going and how I'm going to get there.  Without a clear vision it is as if you are walking around in a fog just being blown by each whim that comes your way.  In order to be my best self I need to clarify my goals and put some limits in place for myself and for my family that will help get where I want to go.

Here are the words for the rest of my family.  (My son was sleeping so we will add his tomorrow).  They each have their own story for why their word is important to them and how they hope it will change their lives in 2014.

We hope you will join us in this journey to become our best selves.  It's not about the destination, it's about the journey!  What is your ONE WORD?

Becoming Your Best Self as a Friend

I have been blessed with so many special friends over the years.  It amazes me how my friendships have changed with the season of life I am in.  An integral part of becoming your best self includes friends.  They walk with you side by side and don't give up on you when the going gets rough.  I bet you are picturing one of these friends right now! 

None of my friends make the quote above more true than the one that I'm married to.  Today my husband and I are celebrating our 18th anniversary.  He has been by my side through thick and thin for over 20 years!  We have this little joke between us that he is my biggest cheerleader.  Whether I'm taking on a new project, putting in long hours of work, or too grumpy to talk to--he is there--pom-poms in hand ready to cheer me on!  I wouldn't have it any other way!  I get to spend my life with my best friend! 

I have learned some really valuable lessons over the past few years about friendship.  Some were delightful and full of the joy of friendship.  Others were rather difficult and filled with heart ache and tears.  I'm going to share some of what I've learned with you so perhaps you can discover the joy of friendship as I have!

I believe strongly that what you offer to others you will strengthen in yourself.  So, if you want to have better friendships, you have to be a better friend.


Here are a few lessons I've learned about friendship:

1.  Some of the best friends you'll ever have are the ones you live with.  After all, they have the same gene pool you do and they "get it".  You know how hormones are!  My sister and I tease that each of us have at least two good weeks out of the month.  You can just about bet that one of us will be calling the other one crying on our off week and the "sane" sister better be ready to bring her "A game". 

Take care of your relationships with your family.  You don't get to choose them, you may not agree with everything they do, but they are family.  Keep your traditions alive and show your children the value of being part of a family of people who love one another unconditionally.


 

2. The friends that you share a unique experiences with will always be there even if they are hundreds of miles away.  I've heard a quote that says "Good friends are like stars.  You don't always see them, but you know they're there."  You know the ones...those friends that you don't talk to for a hundred years and then you see them or get a chance to chat on the phone and it feels like you just saw them yesterday!  The friends that I travelled with while I studied abroad in college and my friends from Camp Miniwanca are those friends.

So, get out of your comfort zone and try a new experience.  Take a risk!  Even if you don't know anyone there, you might make a new friend who will be come a great friend! You never know!

These are the girls I studied with while I was at Harlaxton College in England during my college years.  We don't see each other often, but these are truly my kindred spirits.

 

These are my friends from Camp Miniwanca.  We volunteered together at camp for several summers and they are such special people who challenge me to dig deep, follow my dreams, and be my best self.

 

3.  It is good for your health to have friends that you meet with on a regular basis!  It lowers your stress and helps you live longer!  I met a lady in the airport recently who was in her 90's, but didn't look a day over 70!  As we chatted, I discovered the secret to her youth!  She bowls several times a week and has for YEARS!  Staying connected with friends and being active has done the trick for her!

 

Find a group of friends you can get together with on a regular basis.  You could start a book club, have holiday parties, share recipes, travel, or just meet for coffee.  Be consistent and set aside the time in your calendar to be with friends.    

 

These are my Bunco Girls!  We get together once a month to play this crazy game of dice, eat, and laugh till our muscles hurt!  I only knew 2 or 3 of the girls when we started over 5 years ago, but this mixed group of ladies has become one of the most solid rocks in my life!  They are such talented ladies who are leaders in our community and have been an essential part of my success professionally and personally.  I know that no matter how I feel when I go to Bunco once a month that I will always leave feeling a renewed sense of joy!

 

4. Friendship means hard work and dedication and sometimes doing things that you really don't want to do!  You know what I'm talking about.  This is the friend who stays up late nights helping you pack boxes, gets up early for a ride to the airport, make time to talk on the phone when they really don't have a spare moment, cooks extra food for you so you won't have to cook while you have sick kids, or just sits with you while you are learning how to be a mom or experiencing the feelings of the empty nest. 

 

Think of friends that you know who could use a friend like this.  How can you help them?  It is also important to allow yourself to be the one receiving the help.  I heard a great radio interview on recently about giving and receiving help from others.  Many people are very good at giving because when they do, it puts them in control.  When we are on the receiving end of an act of service, we have given up control.  That is very difficult for many people.  Be open to receiving help from others as much as you are to giving it. 

 

These beautiful ladies came to my rescue a couple of years ago when I had to pack up my classroom.  They helped me purge my classroom, helped me laugh when I wanted to cry, and didn't give up until the job was done.

 

5. A good friend doesn't like all the same things you do, but a GREAT one does!  These are the friends that laugh at the same jokes, love the same movies, share the same quirks, listen to the same music, and even drink the same coffee!  They just seem to get you and love you just the way you are!

 

Make sure you take the time to thank your friends for their friendship.  It is easy to take it for granted and not notice how special it is until they move away. 

 

 

 

6.  True friends know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, and know when to walk away.  They will tell you their honest opinion about your new hair cut or outfit when you ask.  They won't make you explain what you believe and why, but they will listen while you do.  They are the ones who probably don't agree with everything you do, but love you regardless and stick by your side to the end!  They are your secret keepers.  You could tell them anything and the crazy thing is it just won't phase them and you can rest assured that your secret's safe with them!  What would we do without friends like these!

 

 

 

 

7. Surround yourself with friends that inspire you.  They are the people who set goals and achieve them and push you to do the same.  They are the ones who share the same passions and interests.  They challenge you intellectually, physically, spiritually, and in every facet of your life.  They will be there with you in the trenches when the sweat is dripping, the muscles are aching, and you feel  like giving up.  They know just what to say to give you the extra boost you needed to bounce back to your feet and keep on trucking!

 

I can't express enough how important it is to have friends like this in your journey toward being your best self.  They have the same aspirations as you do and are willing to put in the hard work to get there and won't stop short of helping you do the same! 



 

 

As the New Year approaches, consider your friendships and other relationships and how you can grow in them this year.  Your connections with other people are essential to your success!  Find some friends that you can share your journey with this year!  Tell them about your goals and share your struggles.  Through encouraging your friends, you will be encouraged.  How will you join with me in strengthening your friendships this year?

Becoming Your Best Self: Super Powers

Have you ever felt powerless?  I know I have! 

You know those times when you see that chocolate cake and it starts calling your name.  All of the sudden your self-control goes out the window and you give your power away to a piece of cake.

How about the times when your child misbehaves and you try all the tools in your parenting toolbox and you haven't a clue what else to do!  You lose it with them and end up giving your power away to a two year old.

It even happens in the line at the grocery store.  You run in to the store to grab a couple things real quick and end up standing in line for 15 minutes.  You find yourself upset with the clerk and discover you've given your power away to a line of customers and put them in charge of your behavior! 

YIKES!

My friends over at Conscious Discipline have been sharing a webinar series that Dr. Becky Bailey created about the Seven Powers of Conscious Adults titled "Be the Best You Can Be!"  I love this series because it shares a glimpse into the brilliance of Dr. Bailey.  Her life's passion is to empower every adult with the inspiration, knowledge, and skills to implement Conscious Discipline, improving children's lives for generations. 

Back in 2007 I really thought I had everything under control as a teacher and mom.  I was teaching preschool for children with special needs and doing a pretty good job at it!  My co-worker wanted to attend a workshop titled "How to Handle all the Fussing, Fighting, Fits and Tantrums", but I really wasn't interested.  I really didn't think I needed it! 

HA!  Little did I know!

Long story short...I attended the workshop, and it was my first introduction to Conscious Discipline.  I was hooked!  I attended every workshop I could and soon discovered that this program that I thought I was only going to use in my classroom affected my whole life.  It became my passion to share it with others!  In 2011 I became a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor and began my business Ignite Learning LLC so I could share this important message with teachers and parents throughout the state in trainings and around the world via this blog.

Why do I tell you all this?  Because I would have never believed back then that Conscious Discipline would make such a difference in my life!  It has and I want to share that with you!

A dear friend of mine once said that the Seven Powers of Conscious Adults isn't something you strive to achieve, rather it is the uncovering of who God really created you to be!  These powers are in each one of us!  Life and the stories we've created for ourselves sometimes get in the way of our access to them, so we need a little help discovering them.

Yesterday I shared a dare with you to be your best self by creating a little more cushion in your life that can help you bounce when you fall instead of landing flat on your face.  I mentioned that being a mom takes SUPER POWERS!  We have to find strength somewhere to help us withstand the pressures we face.

Conscious Discipline does just that!  It helps you discover and strengthen the God-given powers you have through the Seven Powers of Conscious Adults. It gives you a new lens through which to view life.

If you don't already know about Conscious Discipline or you are new to this concept please RUN--don't walk--over to their website and learn more!  Hush that little voice in your head that says you already have discipline "under control" or know everything there is to know.  Give it a chance.  It will change your life!

As I told you yesterday, I am going to practice my ability to say "NO" and be heard not just to others, but mostly to myself.  In Conscious Discipline we call that Assertiveness. 

I realized in the past couple years that I don't like to be told "no".  As a matter of fact, as an adult I found myself throwing temper tantrums when the world didn't go my way.  The Seven Powers of Conscious Adults have helped me handle those strong emotions differently and discover new ways to express myself.

I believe very strongly that you cannot teach your child something that you do not possess.  You could try to do it, but you will find yourself coming up short every time.  It is so important that we practice and strengthen these Powers within ourselves so that we are able to model them for our children.  I'm sure you know by now that the old saying: "do as I say, not as I do" won't get you very far.  How about making it "do it this way, I'll show you."

I've included a free printable below with the Seven Powers on it to hang up near your desk or perhaps on your refrigerator as a reminder of how you can "Become Your Best Self" in 2014.  Click here or on the image to get your copy!

What Super Powers have you used today?  Are you willing to challenging yourself in the New Year to practice these powers and strengthen your ability to access them in the blink of an eye?  I DARE YOU!

Becoming Your Best Self: I Dare You

If you are anything like me as 2014 inches closer and closer I get this urge to see how I can plan and organize for the New Year and make it the best one yet! 

My friends over at Conscious Discipline inspired me to write this post because of the video series they are promoting right now titled, "Being the Best You can Be."  (We'll talk more about that tomorrow, but you can check it out now by clicking over to their Facebook page by following the link above.)

When I was in high school I was awarded a scholarship to attend the National Leadership Conference which is sponsored by the American Youth Foundation.  The scholarship was named the "I Dare You Award" and I was given this book that is written by William H. Danforth.

Dare you to do what?  Up until this point, the only dares I knew of were the ones that came from my sister or friends when playing Truth or Dare and it usually wasn't very pretty. 

At Camp Miniwanca that summer I was dared to push myself beyond my limits, seek balance in my physical, mental, social, and religious life, and discover my personal best.  I met friends from around the world and broadened my perspective on life.  I found confidence and strength and learned what I am truly capable of achieving.

The years have past and so much has changed.  At times, my life is so off balance it's a wonder I don't just fall over!  You know how it is as a mommy and wife and what a challenge it can be to "do life" and maintain or find any balance at all.  It's not just about me anymore.  The dare hasn't changed, but the impact has.

As a mom, you are the balance.  It's like you're that tight rope walker with your hands outstretched.  Here you are, walking a fine line and trying to keep your balance.  On one hand you have meals to plan, diapers to change, boo-boos to kiss, clothes to fold, budgets to balance, homework to check, baths to give, and the many other jobs that just seem to fall into your life.  In the other hand you have your own self-care, exercise, friends, church, volunteering, reading and learning, and for many moms there is also a 40 hour work week outside the home.  I have to say, being a mom takes super power!

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow we are going to talk about some of the super powers I rely on to help me find balance.  You know as well as I do when things get too off balance you WILL fall!  Whether it's illness, weight gain, lack of energy, or an all out meltdown, it will happen if you don't take care of yourself!

 

When you go to the circus you see that the tight rope walker usually has some sort of safety net hanging below.  What's your safety net?  It could be the difference between bouncing back when you fall and landing flat on your face like a pancake!  Who wants that to happen?

So, that is my dare this year.  Will you join me?  I am reflecting on the steps I can take to put more margin in my life.  Whether it is with my time, money, energy, or relationships, when there is no margin, I get stressed out and it just isn't pretty!  What steps are you willing to take to put some margin back in your life.

Over the next few days I will be sharing some of my reflections as I look back on 2013 and prepare for the New Year.  Will I ever get to my destination of "best self"?  I see life as a journey, not so much focused on exactly where I will land, but more on what I learn along the way.  My plan is to enjoy the journey!

To help you prepare for the New Year that lies ahead, here is an excerpt from I Dare You by William H. Danforth with his dare for you:

IT IS DIFFICULT to put a challenge on paper. I would rather look you straight in the eye and say, "I dare you!" In my mind that's exactly what I am doing. I am on one side of a table. You are on the other. I am looking across and saying "I dare you!"
I Dare You, young man, you who come from a home of poverty—I dare you to have the qualities of a Lincoln.
I Dare You, heir of wealth and proud ancestry, with your generations of worthy stock, your traditions of leadership—I dare you to achieve something that will make the future point to you with even more pride than the present is pointing to those who have gone before you.
I Dare You, young mother, to make your life a masterpiece upon which that little family of yours can build. Strong women bring forth strong men.
I Dare You. boys and girls, to make life obey you, not you it. It is only a shallow dare to do the foolish things. I dare you to do the uplifting, courageous things.
I Dare You, young executive, to shoulder more responsibility joyously, to launch out into the deep, to build magnificently.
I Dare You, young author, to win the Nobel prize.
I Dare You, young researcher, to become a Microbe Hunter.
I Dare You, boy on the farm, to become a Master Farmer—A Hunger Fighter.
I Dare You, man of affairs, to have a "Magnificent Obsession."
I Dare You, Grandfather, with your roots deep in the soil and your head above the crowd, catching the rays of the sun, to plan a daring program to crown the years of your life.
I Dare You, who think life is humdrum, to become involved. I dare you who are weak to be strong; you who are dull to be sparkling; you who are slaves to be kings.
I Dare You, whoever you are, to share with others the fruits of your daring. Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you!


What is your dare for 2014?  How can you challenge yourself and find more balance as you become your best self?  In the words of Mr. Danforth, "...share with others the fruits of your daring.  Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you!"  I DARE YOU!

Click the image above for a free printable that you can hang up in your home or office to inspire you throughout the coming year!  This is the motto of the American Youth Foundation and it has inspired me for over 23 years to be my best self and unlock my highest potential as I make positive impact on the world around me.