Back to School Self Care Ideas & Tips to Remember as Fall Approaches

Hi, everyone! As the summer slowly comes to an end and the fall approaches us, it is crucial to be prepared for back to school season. I have compiled a list of my favorite self care activities along with tips to combat the daily stressors within the lives of students and teachers across the globe. Whether you are still in school, work at a school or are planning to go back to school, this is for you!

Be Sure to Leave Work on Time

Business woman leaving work on time - Stock Illustration [98567982] - PIXTA

Yes, you read that correctly! Even though we are constantly reminded to arrive to school or work on time, what about leaving on time? Through my professional experience working within the content creation and journalism industry, I have been reminded that clocking out on time each and everyday is a healthy way to avoid being over-worked or feeling burned-out. Remember, nothing about leaving school or the office on time affects how hard you work when you are there or the quality of your work. Leaving at a consistent time at the end of each day promotes a healthy work-life balance and provides a reason to follow an end-of-the-day routine!

Always Take Your Lunch Break

Students and teachers are often caught up in class or meetings, responding to emails, completing assignments or lesson planning. So, they may decide to skip lunch here and there or they may genuinely forget to set aside time to eat. Something as simple as committing to taking your lunch break everyday can have a huge impact on a person’s overall mental health and productivity levels. Think about it, when you step away from your desk or your laptop you allow time to take a break and focus on something else. Without realizing it, you are giving yourself space to declutter your mind and in turn, think a lot more clearly. Not only does skipping lunch increase stress levels and have a negative impact on a student or teacher’s mental health, it is also a huge mistake according to nutritionists. Jen Bruning, who is a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states, “breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, but lunch is equally important.” Something that stuck with me after reading Bruning’s professional advice is that eating 3 meals a day models a healthy relationship with food to anyone who has children. I also thought it was great to read that taking lunch “allows us social time with co-workers to strengthen professional relationships, which is an important piece of a healthy work environment.” At the end of the day, we all understand that life happens and sometimes there is a solid reason for skipping lunch, but if it becomes a habit, Bruning said, your body adjusts to a lower intake of fuel and that can be detrimental to your health.

Meal Prep on Sundays if You Can

Pepper Steak Stir Fry Meal Prep Recipe – Pepper Steak Meal Prep Recipe — Eatwell101

If you are unsure what meal prepping is, it is simply preparing a meal or recipe before the start of the school or work week and portioning it into containers for easy access later. Some of the benefits of meal prepping include reduced time spent making/thinking of what to pack for lunch at night, supports the habit of taking time to eat and it can also help you to shop smarter (diet or budget wise.) In my experience I have seen the most success with meal planning for people who prep only for themselves as meal prepping for an entire weeks worth of family dinners would be challenging. Here is a link to some easy, budget friendly meal prep recipes.

Utilize a Monthly Calendar and Stick with it

Staying organized in your work life can be equally as important as staying organized in your personal and social life. It is never a good feeling to unintentionally miss a deadline or a friend’s birthday. As cliche as it may sound, staying organized helps you to delegate tasks, prioritize the most important work and increase productivity. The more you rely on your mental ability to track your “to-do’s,” the less productive you will be. I like to make sure my calendar is not only practical, but visually appealing. Having a beautiful calendar only makes me want to stay in the habit of utilizing each section.

Prioritize Healthy Sleep Patterns

Sleep: How Much You Need and Its 4 Stages – Cleveland Clinic

No matter what hours you are working or how many hours of classes you are taking everyday, it is essential to have a consistent sleep pattern that gives you enough energy to feel upbeat, confident and focused in the classroom or office. We all vary in how much sleep we need to feel well rested, but according to the Sleep Health Foundation, most adults require anywhere from 7 to 9 hours of nightly sleep. Sticking to a sleep pattern can be tough, especially when you are just starting out because you have to have discipline. Sleep patterns are not just the time you fall asleep to the time you wake up, but also the time you get into bed and start winding down to the time you get out of bed in the morning.

Listen to Encouraging Podcasts on Drive to School/Work

Podcasts were first invented in 2004 and have steadily gained popularity in the last few years. I believe podcast channels have gained traction due to the fact that listeners can tune in from home or on the go since podcasts do not require visuals. Also, they are free to listen to and are available in a wide variety of topics, so they appeal to many different people with varying likes and interests. Starting off your morning by listening to something positive and encouraging will set the tone for the rest of the school or work day. For anyone who has not tried listening to a podcast, it could be a good idea to start incorporating it into your morning drive once a week to see if you enjoy the experience.

Lean on Others who are in Similar Positions

Building relationships inside the classroom or workplace helps to advance your career and make school or work more enjoyable. At the end of the day, your classmates or co-workers are the ones who are in similar positions to truly understand what you may be feeling. Building relationships with your classmates or co-workers can elevate your everyday life at school or work. One of the most effective ways to begin building a bond would be to ask that person to join you for lunch or to join you to study for an upcoming exam.

Elevate Your Environment

Last but not least, one of my favorites, elevating your environment! We all have a favorite place in our home where we like to get our work done, right? A space where we feel calm and content. Well, sometimes the stresses of life can take over and invade our environments. When we feel like we are having a creative or mental block, elevating the environment and raising the room’s vibration can be very beneficial. Some of my favorite ways to do so would be to first clean the space so it is nice and tidy, then light a candle, use strategic lighting while promoting natural light, add some house plants and lastly, add a few unique home accessories that bring you joy. These are all great ways to add a sense of extra tranquility and eliminate negative energy in your work space!

No matter if you are heading back to school or work, I hope some of these self care tips and ideas are beneficial to you when getting back into your daily routine.

My First Reel! Check This Out👇

This Day Trip was *reel* good.

A week ago today, I took a drive to visit Taylor who is spending the summer working in Avalon, NJ. I found myself stuck in a gaze upon arrival. The beachfront community packed with exquisite homes, beautiful beach cottages and countless cafes had me reminiscing about annual trips visiting Hampton Beach, NH with my family. Of course our adventures also landed us in Cape May and Wildwood, NJ last week.

⭐️As I have shared, I am on a journey to display my creative side. A big part of this journey and one of my biggest goals is to feel confident in pushing myself outside my comfort zone while learning new skills that can be applied to my career and personal life.

Aside from challenging myself to become comfortable on this CMS platform again, I also wanted to keep up with social media trends on @Cthe_good, my blog account, on Instagram. Right now, reels are taking users by storm. With the Instagram algorithm favoring reels over regular styled videos, engagement on these reels have skyrocketed. If you are unfamiliar, reels are short-form videos that music, effects and voiceovers can be added to, resulting in a quick, fun and easy-to- watch experience for the viewer. Reels give content creators on Instagram and Facebook a new and exciting way to interact with their audiences which is why I have been learning to create my own reels.

⭐️So, here’s to my first reel. And having fun while learning as I go!

My Top 5 Productivity Tools & Apps:

1️⃣. Adobe Express

2️⃣. LinkedIn

3️⃣. Notes App

4️⃣. Reminders App

5️⃣. WordPress.com

📈Productivity: (N) The effectiveness of productive effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of output per unit of input.📈

As we are aware, productivity allows us to efficiently and effectively manage our time to check boxes off our to-do lists while accomplishing goals. Through research I have learned two types of productivity are economic and personal productivity. Each type of productivity has their own unique differences that make distinguishing between the two easier! Though this blog focuses on my own personal productivity, let’s examine both before we begin👇

📈Economic Productivity:

👉It is common for companies or countries to evaluate productivity with a math equation, dividing output by input. For example, a country could potentially determine its economic productivity through dividing its financial value of produced goods and offered services by the total numbers of hours needed to make, gather and complete those services. I also came across an example stating a factory could calculate their economic productivity by dividing the total number of created products by the amount of hours employees spent working.

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📈Personal Productivity:

👉This relates back to productivity in general and the measurement of productive effort in terms of the rate of output per unit of input. Remember, personal productivity also evaluates the quality of completed work while using subjective factors as opposed to the economic productivity where a math equation is utilized. For this example, if you work in customer service, you may want to measure your personal productivity by increasing overall customer satisfaction over time, opposed to increasing the number of customers you reach.

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To directly relate personal productivity to my own life, I correlate my daily effort spent job searching, writing engaging cover letters and revising writing samples that are sent to employers as my subjective factors. Instead of taking an economic productivity approach and focusing on the amount of job postings I have applied to, I instead spend my time evaluating the quality of my submitted works to the positions I do apply for.

My Top Five:

1️⃣. Adobe Express

I am proud to share Adobe Express is my go to application for any graphic design needs I may have. This cloud-based media creation app allows all users, regardless of their graphic design knowledge, to create impressive social media graphics, promotional videos and single-page websites. The basic Adobe Express application is free, no payment required, but many users choose to upgrade their account to Premium as it increases their freedom for design and the variety of templates to choose from for their projects. One of the reasons why I have chosen to use Adobe Express for my blog graphics over any other application is because it can be accessed from any device with online access. When I am drafting my graphics it is uncommon for me to complete a graphic in one sitting. Usually I am using Adobe Express on my Mac as the screen display is superior, but I love having the option to quickly pull my graphics up, no matter which stage they are in, on my phone.

Launching the app immediately brings its users to a home page where they can create a custom graphic or remix a template. One of the reasons why this app is so user friendly is because of its ability to allow its users to remix a pre-created template with their own desired information and visual aspects. The home page consists of 20+ categories of templates ranging from flyers, logos, thumbnails, collages and invitations to Facebook posts, business cards and greeting cards. I have utilized the Instagram story/post templates, wallpaper templates, collages and flyer templates. In addition to this blog, I also run an Instagram page (@Cthe_good) as another place where my blog posts are easily accessible with never before seen graphics. There is also some additional fun in my stories throughout the week, so please be sure to follow @Cthe_good on Instagram and come say hi!

2️⃣. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media platform that I was encouraged to start using during my years of high school, but never did (sigh). The biggest factor that drew me away from hitting create account on LinkedIn was the intimidation of starting a profile without a network. If you are unfamiliar with the specifics, like I was, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network on the Internet that is used to find the right job or internship, connect and strengthen relationships and learn the skills you need to succeed in your career. A profile on LinkedIn helps users showcase their unique professional story through their experiences, skills and education. Instead of just gaining followers like traditional social media apps, LinkedIn helps you gain connections. Yes, you can still follow accounts on LinkedIn, but there is a further step that can be taken to create a connection. For example, if I followed a past employer and they also followed me back, we each have gained a connection that boosts the size of our network.

Building your network is a crucial part in unlocking the true potential that LinkedIn offers. Gaining connections helps you to understand what is currently going on within your industry and professional circle while the app recommends relevant sources to follow. Participating in conversations under posts on LinkedIn is a great way to showcase yourself and what you value in your career. Posting content is also a way to begin building your network because it will provide your future connections with a reason to stay on your profile and not immediately scroll by.

3️⃣. Notes App

I have always loved the Notes app on my iPhone. Throughout the years I have used it to keep track of random ideas, grocery lists, to-do lists, drafts of emails, show recommendations, etc. Most recently, I have been loving its feature specifically designed for users who create lists within the Notes app. This checklist feature allows you to create an effortless list by tapping the checklist button on the top of the keyboard. After tapping, you may hit return to add a new bullet to the list. If you did not know, tapping an empty bullet will mark it as completed. I love that I can mark a task as completed, but not have to delete it. Throughout the day it reminds me of the goals I have accomplished as opposed to deleting them once completed.

4️⃣. Reminders App

Did you know iPhone or iPad users with iOS 13 or later have the ability to utilize the Reminders app? This tool is a great way to lower the chances of forgetting a deadline or appointment. First, open the Reminders app and tap New Reminder, then type your reminder. Then, tap the date and time button to set a due date for the reminder. You are able to choose from today, tomorrow, this weekend or set your own day and time. Reminders pop up on the iPhone similarly to the way timers do. These reminders alert you of whatever you had set the reminder for. For example, I have a daily reminder that tells me to take my vitamin after dinner because I have a habit of forgetting. Reminders are very handy as they can be set as reoccurring or as an individual reminder.

There is also an option to set a reminder in the spur of a moment using Siri. For example, you may say, “remind me to feed the dog everyday at 7:30am” or “remind me tomorrow at 3:00pm to call Maya.” A feature I just learned about within the Notes app is the ability to share a list with other iPhone users. If you click a list then tap the share button, you can choose how you want to share the list, by text or email, and who will access it. Once someone accepts your invitation to view your list, they will have the ability to write, edit, add, delete and mark items as completed. This collaboration within Notes is an innovative way to allow all members of your family, team or friend group to stay up to date on important information. I love that Reminders are also compatible for the Apple Watch because I receive brief alerts throughout the day if I do not have my phone with me.

5️⃣. WordPress.com

Last but not least, WordPress is one of my top five productivity tools and apps. WordPress is a web content management system that was originally created as a tool to publish blogs, but since evolved to support traditional websites, mailing lists, media galleries, etc. Though I have my own domain, Cthegood, WordPress is the content management system I used to create my site during college. During my junior year, my visual communications professor had us explore WordPress and create our own blog to document our success throughout the course of the semester. Since then, my appreciation of WordPress has continued and I am happy to have revamped my personal blog using this content management system as my blog grows.

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*In the comments below, let me know what your top productivity tools and apps are!

Is Busy Always Better?

Why are we SO busy today? And why don’t we talk about it more? If you have ever felt pressed for time, like there is not enough time in a day or felt like you are running out of time to accomplish something, you are not alone! When I think of this hectic busyness, the phrases double-booked and time warp come to mind. But, I am wondering why when we still receive the same amount of time, 24 hours each day?

We have modern conveniences such as dishwashers and washers/dryers to reduce the hours we spent on household tasks. We even have robot vacuum cleaners and robot lawn mowers while the hours we spent at work have not increased in decades. So, why do we feel like we are running out of time? Are we actually busier than ever before?

To answer those questions, we must become familiar with the hypotheses of why we are so busy today. I will be examining Kowalski’s 7 hypotheses to gain a deeper understanding of modern day busyness👇

  1. Busyness as a Badge of Honor and Trendy Status Symbol — or the glorification of busy – to show our importance, value, or self-worth in our fast-paced society
  2.  Busyness as Job Security – an outward sign of productivity and company loyalty
  3. Busyness as FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) – spending is shifting from buying things (“have it all”) to experiences (“do it all”), packing our calendars (and social media feeds with the “highlight reel of life”)
  4. Busyness as a Byproduct of the Digital Age – Our 24/7 connected culture is blurring the line between life and work; promoting multitasking and never turning “off”
  5. Busyness as a Time Filler – in the age of abundance of choice, we have infinite ways to fill time (online and off) instead of leaving idle moments as restorative white space
  6. Busyness as Necessity – working multiple jobs to make ends meet while also caring for children at home
  7. Busyness as Escapism – from idleness and slowing down to face the tough questions in life (e.g. maybe past emotional pain or deep questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” or “What is my purpose?”)

While it depends on the type of person you identify as or the field you work in, some hypotheses stand out more than others. For me, my perfect (anxiety-ridden) combination of busyness would be a mixture of number 2, 3 and 4. Now let’s break down the hypotheses even more👇

  1. Busyness as a Badge of Honor and Trendy Status Symbol is prominent within today’s society. As employees compete to be productive to bring the most value to their company, an unintentional emphasis is placed upon busyness and its correlation to productivity. Kowalski believes that the shift from “leisure-as-status” to “busyness-as-status” across the decades has caused Americans to feel burnt out. For example, individuals who have characteristics such as competence or ambition are expected to be in high demand within the job market, so by telling others they are busy and always working, they are suggesting that they are sought out individuals which boosts their perceived status – Harvard Business Review.

💭”In America, we are defined by what we do. Our careers. What we produce. It’s the first question asked at parties, and often the first tidbit of information we share with strangers. The implication is that if I am not busy doing something, I am somehow less than. Not worthy. Or at least worth less than those who are producing something…So I fill my Facebook feed and my calendar with self-important busyness to avoid just being.” — Huffington Post

2. Busyness as Job Security is a hypothesis I have heard before. According to a recent poll in 2022, 15% of United States workers feel at risk of losing their jobs and job insecurity can push workers to want to improve their performance. Unfortunately, many employees wind up agreeing to additional work or staying late.

💭”Just because you’re doing a lot more doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot more done. Don’t confuse movement with progress.” — Denzel Washington

3. Busyness as FOMO is something I have struggled with before. This hypothesis made me feel seen because I can relate to trying to do everything! In a world where we know exactly what we are missing out on, it only makes us feel guilty and anxious about the limits of our time or the capacity to use it effectively. Yes we joke about FOMO and while it can be funny, it is also worth noting that it is important to stop paying attention to what everyone around you is doing. Our wellbeing can be majorly effected by social comparison and status. As a reminder, happiness will be determined by where attention is placed. What you choose to focus on drives your behaviors and determines your levels of happiness.

💭”For everything you have missed, you have gained something else.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

4. Busyness as a Byproduct of the Digital Age sparked my interest and immediately had my thoughts flowing. Right off the bat, I thought of how technologies, specifically Email, carry anxiety with them. E-mails often require a response within 24 hours, with the general understanding that the sooner the better. This constant demand often involves multitasking and the job almost never feels done as emails are a mounting demand. It is important to note how our smartphones have easily been converted into a device equipped for work. If your work is your life then how do you disconnect?

💭”We laugh at animal pictures on our work computers, and we answer emails on our couches in front of the TV. On one hand, flexibility is nice. On the other, blending work and leisure creates an always-on expectation that makes sit hard for workers to escape the shadow of work responsibilities.” – The Atlantic

5. Busyness as a Time Filler boils down to one word: Choice. For some people it can be hard to choose down time when there are constant reminders of work you have not completed yet. Social Media can also be one of the daily contributions to comparing your success or daily routines to others. This relates back to Kowalski’s Busyness as FOMO. I remember in college a Professor asked, if you were to write your schedule out in a calendar, would it be clear what your priorities are? I remembered this because the Professor proposed if someone could not get an understanding what you value in life or who you are as a person, it could be beneficial to adjust your schedule to reflect your goals. Finding your purpose is a huge part of life. If you value friends, make sure you check in with them more often. If you value connecting with nature, spend more time outside. For the activities and opportunities that do not align with you, begin saying no. Living your daily life in a way that aligns with your goals is a great way to start feeling as if you are accomplishing tasks, erasing some doubts of the choices you make, as you work towards a higher version of yourself.

💭”We think we don’t have free time when we actually do. We’re simply frittering it away with the mindless versions of passive leisure that don’t register as restorative.” – John Hopkins

6. Busyness as Necessity is one of the hypotheses in which individuals have no other choice than to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and provide for their families. I do believe that the individuals most pressed for time are the ones who have no other choice than to juggle the stress of multiple jobs and caring for a family. From Kowalski, I learned that there has surprisingly been an increase in the amount of leisure time Americans have on average, but I have to question how many Americans are feeling the impact of the increase of leisure time?

💭”And while we may legitimately feel busy, Americans’ working hours have steadily decreased over the last seven decades. In 1948, when the government started keeping track, Americans worked an average of 42.8 hours a week. Today we average 38.7, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey.” -NBC

7. Busyness as Escapism is hard to unpack, but perhaps one of the major reasons why individuals may feel pressure to find their purpose. While most people are not intentionally running away from anything, acknowledging your busyness can eventually lead to finding your purpose. As I mentioned earlier, by keeping your goals at the forefront and living your daily life in a way that aligns with them, you can feel secure in your choices.

💭”We stay so busy that the truth of our lives can’t catch up.” – Brené Brown

The Major Takeaways Relating to Why We Feel so Busy:

🧠The current glorification of busyness

🧠Job performance worries

🧠The limits of our time or the capacity to use it effectively

🧠Constant demands

🧠Unable to find a purpose or set goals

🧠Supporting a family

🧠The struggle of identifying who we are as individuals

Hopefully some of the hypotheses above will help you to pin point why you may currently be feeling so busy in your daily life. My goal is that you can relate your individual situation to one of the scenarios above while implementing similar solutions to combat busyness within your life.

Now I ask, Is Busy Always Better?

Teacher Appreciation Day Deals: What Every Teacher Needs to Know

✏️Calling all teachers! Time for a brief history lesson! Did you know the United States began discussing a national day to recognize educators in 1944? The origin of National Teacher Appreciation Day is unconfirmed, but it is believed that an educator in Arkansas along with an educator from Wisconsin wrote Eleanor Roosevelt, convincing her to achieve their feat. By 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt had persuaded the 81st Congress to declare a National Teacher Appreciation Day as teachers dedicate their time to enriching many different aspects of their students’ lives.

However, it would take another 27 years for Teacher Appreciation to become an official national day. It was not until March 1980 when the state of Indiana and the state of Kansas’ Board of Education began lobbying Congress to have the national day recognized. Four years later, March 1984, the first National Teacher Day was celebrated.

I know what you are thinking, “isn’t National Teacher Day in May?” Sure enough, you would be correct. Soon after its first celebration in 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) decided maybe one day was not enough. The NPTA went on to crown the first Tuesday in May as the official National Teacher’s Day while extending the celebration of recognition to the entire first week of May!

As we approach the national day tomorrow, I wanted to spend time reflecting on the most influential teachers from my childhood, up until my college graduation. A few years ago, I came across a quote along the lines of, “behind every child who believes in themselves is a teacher who believed in them first” and my memory was immediately drawn to my past teachers who taught with kindness and empathy to advance my education. It must never be forgotten that the educators in this country are working tirelessly to see our children progress academically while shaping the kind of citizen they will grow up to be. If Dr. Mele ever comes across this post, I want her to know that her dedication and immense support of my writing abilities throughout my time at Roger Williams University is one of the reasons I felt confident enough to revamp this blog. Oh, if you are reading this and your name is Miss Taylor, I can not thank you enough for taking the time to help me draft, edit and film for Cthegood. “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning” and Dr. Mele and Miss Taylor certainly achieved this during some of the most vulnerable parts of my education leading to my career.

✏️  I Found the Best Teacher Deals, So You Don’t Have To

This year, as a special thank you to all teachers, I will be sharing a list of locations teachers can visit for National Teacher Appreciation Day/Week to receive a free gift or accommodation for their year round efforts:

  • Academy Sports – Teachers and school staff can enjoy 10% off both in stores and online through May 14, 2023.
  • Apple – Teachers can get discounts of up to $200 on computers and accessories through the Apple Education Store. Runs throughout the year. 
  • Applebees – Teachers receive 10% off with a valid school ID or a free main course on Teacher Appreciation Day at select participating locations. Ask about your location HERE.
  • Books-A-Million – Sign up for a free Educator Card that provides a 20% discount on all items purchased in store and free shipping on all eligible purchases from booksamillion.com. They also have an annual Educator Week with more discounts.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings – Buffalo Wild Wings is thanking teachers and school staff by offering 20% off orders at participating sports bars during national Teacher Appreciation Week. The deal is available for dine-in or takeout with a valid school. ID, limited to one offer redemption per order, per visit. Ask about your location HERE.
  • Champion – All members of the education community can receive 10% off at Champion online.
  • Crayola – Crayola.com offers all visitors to the site 20% off on all products from their Teacher Gift Ideas category page with code EDUCATORS.
  • Creative Fabrica – For just $2.99 a year the teacher club card allows you to download up to five teacher resources like worksheets and other materials each week. Runs throughout the year.
  • Headspace – Teachers receive a FREE year of access to the Headspace mindfulness and meditation app. Runs throughout the year.
  • Hobby Lobby – Members of the Hobby Lobby teacher discount program save 10% on their purchases year round. 
  • JoAnn Fabrics – The teacher discount allows you to save 15% on every purchase, every day.
  • Kendra Scott – The jewelry brand is offering 15% off all items for teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, in-store only.
  • McAlister’s Deli – Teachers who stop by McAlister’s Deli May 3-May 10, 2023 and show their valid ID will receive a free 32 oz. tea (Limit one per person and excluding in app or online orders).
  • Michaels – Get 15% off your entire purchase, including sale items, when you use your Michaels Rewards account to check out. Offer is available in-store and online and must show a valid educator ID or complete the educator verification process through the rewards program. Runs throughout the year.
  • Potbelly – Educators who show their work ID at their local Potbelly restaurant between May 8 – May 12, 2023 will get a free regular-sized soft drink or cookie with an entree purchase. In-restaurants orders only.
  • Samsung – Through Samsung’s Education Offers Program, teachers and educators can save up to 30% off on laptops, tablets, smartphones and more when shopping on Samsung.com. Runs throughout the year.
  • TGI Fridays – On 5/2/23, teachers can receive a free meal from 5pm until close at participating TGI Fridays restaurants. Simply present a valid school ID to receive your choice between four meals: either a cheeseburger with seasoned fries; crispy chicken fingers with seasoned fries and coleslaw; a 6 oz. center-cut sirloin with mashed potatoes and garlic-butter broccoli or a Caesar salad with grilled chicken. Check your location HERE.
  • Vineyard Vines – Teachers enjoy 15% off their online purchases all year long with a valid school ID.


*Be sure to check back next year for an updated 2024 Teacher Appreciation Deals List.

Springtime Day Trip in PA

Recently, the sun began to rise at later hours in the morning and set at later hours in the evening. When the warmth in the air started to provide a comforting breeze, I knew it was time to celebrate Spring!

To me, the Spring season is a time of:
🌱Growth
🌱New Beginnings
🌱Renewal

So, what better than heading to a Succulent Farm where the aloe, agave, string-of-pearls and cactuses end their dormancy and begin growing again?! The end of dormancy for the succulents is a significant part of its life as renewal and new beginnings are for humans. Each year, I relate this process to how, as individuals, we are reminded to let go of old habits and incorporate newer, healthier practices. When my boyfriends sister, Taylor, suggested we take a day trip to Farmhouse Garden Succulent Plants in New Holland, Pennsylvania, I was ecstatic.

I had never been to a succulent farm before, nonetheless one located four hours away from home in Pennsylvania. I did not know what to expect regarding the property  or the greenhouse, but I was elated to be able to experience the beauty and simplicity of the succulent farm for the first time! I had already known I wanted to pick out several types of succulents as a representation of embracing the unknown around the Spring season. However, I was not prepared for the vast amount to choose from.

When Taylor and I arrived, we drove up a peculiar drive way and were immediately swarmed by live stock guardian dogs. They were good boys – protecting their property too! Then, we were greeted by the owner, a friendly woman who showed us to the greenhouse. The deep grays to the off white colors on the outside of the greenhouse mixed with the neutral tones from the walkway created a sense of serenity.

 Once inside the greenhouse, we were engulfed in a luscious display of rows upon rows of succulents. Before we could step two feet into the door, we were welcomed  by a litter of 6 week old puppies, born and raised at the Farmhouse Garden. We were unsure of the breed, but the tiny puppies did not disappoint and were the sweetest.

Soon after, Taylor and I found ourselves lost in the dense greenery surrounding us. The ambiance of the greenhouse radiated positive energy – the light fixtures, elegant pottery and vibrant side tables created the perfect combination for a boho style greenhouse.

I chose 4 different types of succulents and paid $2 a piece! Although I was nervous that I would kill the plants, I was reminded of what Spring represents. This was a situation where I could write a new beginning for myself this season by expanding my connection with nature. Plus, working to take care of plants can be therapeutic. This brings us back to the point I made earlier about starting fresh and letting go of old practices while inviting new ones in. Afterall, in the classic words of Oscar Wilde, “a flower blossoms for its own joy.”

After successfully caring for my succulents the last 2 months, without any fatalities, I will annually embrace the Spring Season by bringing a succulent home to remind myself of the opportunities that Spring offers. Stay tuned for a potting post soon!

Thank you to Farmhouse Garden Succulent Plants for a lovely day! Check them out at:
📍152 Snyder Dr, New Holland, PA 17557-9756

Tips + Tricks

🪴Only water once the soil is bone dry
🪴Rotate succulents frequently to ensure all sides receive adequate sunlight
🪴Tall succulents may be a sign of receiving scarce sunlight
🪴Target has succulent pots EARLY in the Spring <$5

RWU Commons “Restaurant Review” Comm 240

I declared my major to Communications with a minor in Professional Public Writing during the beginning of 2020 and ever since then, I have felt proud of myself. In fact, when I was an incoming freshman and sophomore, I had no idea this minor was an option. Writing, creatively or academically, is something I have always enjoyed doing as a person who enjoys expressing my thoughts through words and paper. This semester I am a junior and am very pleased with having 5 communications courses. For this post, I will be breaking down a “Restaurant Review” of the Dining Hall, here at Roger Williams University. This was a recent paper I submitted in my Comm 240: Food Communications Course.

When you First Walk In: “People. People, there’s people everywhere,” I thought to myself as I walked into the Roger Williams University Dining Hall, also known as, “Upper Commons.” Given the brief sign of what supposedly is for dinner tonight, right when you walk in, I walked to each station to make sure. Ah, for those of you who are not familiar with the dining hall, there are five different “stations” consisting of different foods. For example, when I walked into the Dining Hall, all decked out in Halloween gear, I took a moment to appreciate the atmosphere of each station: Classics, Burgers, Pasta, Stir fry and Quesadillas, along with its creative decorations.

Ordering the Food: The Roger Williams Dining Hall is designated only for the use of its students, unless a student grants one of their three guest swipes to an “outsider.” The environment of the building, chaotic. From yelling sports teams to cooks running around trying to dodge students with hungry mouths, I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. As with anything, time helps you figure out what you enjoy, same goes for food. As a third year student, the Mexican station can be too greasy, the burger buns too hard and the sandwich line takes forever. This left me with the Classic or Pasta station, but I was not disappointed.

The Atmosphere: Next, I felt overwhelmed. Every table looked the same, every chair was the same, but every person sure was not the same. From groups of women sitting with other women, to sports teams sitting together to a cluster of men sitting together, I decided to place my food down, by myself, near the classic soda fountain and grab myself a fizzing Pepsi with light ice.

The Drink: The soda hit my mouth with a cold, caffeinated scream. The bubbles popped on my tongue as I drank the crisp hitting Pepsi. A Commons employee walked to my table and wiped down my area before I was able to sit down. I appreciated the act and granted her a big smile with a thank you. The staff seemed to be extremely engaged in their jobs while expressing emotions of pleasure while doing so. This was able to make me, as a student, feel more comfortable in the hall.

Pepsi - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Food: Before anything, I went in for a taste of the potatoes. I am a big fan of olive oil, along with butter, and loved to see the potatoes cooked in such. I took my first bite into the golden brown nugget and it was a very pleasant, soft texture mixed with a neutral taste until the olive oil and butter mixed together for a creamy aftertaste. I would definitely recommend the potatoes, plus, you get a big serving. Secondly, I moved onto the chicken parm with red sauce and mozzarella cheese draped over the top. The boneless chicken breast was tender enough where I only used slight force to cut through it. The mozarella stayed intact as I cut, which made for equally tasty bites throughout the meal. The sauce was a bit too salty, but I do not have a high tolerance for salt and pepper, or, spices in general.

Next, I moved onto tasting one of my sides, broccoli. Unfortunately, it was way over cooked. It felt similar to mashed potatoes in my mouth. The leafy greens had a hard time staying on my fork, usually they would slide right off. A crunch in a bite of broccoli is very important for me and I did not get that. On the other hand, the orzo was cooked perfectly. It made for a nice palette cleanser between the leafy greens and protein. A bit tasteless, almost like pasta without sauce, but I would order again for the satisfying cleanse.

Lastly, Leaving: I finished my plate, aside from some excess sauce and broccoli. At this time it was 6:50pm and starting to settle down in the hall, as well as the kitchen. However, the dish room was working overtime. Coming down from the dinner rush, I politely reached for a tray and put my plate along with my glass of Pepsi down onto the conveyor belt. Sincerely, I thanked the dish room for doing my dirty work and walked out of the dining hall after receiving a brief wave of goodbye from the Upper Commons employee in the doorway.

Comic Book Advertisement

I loved smoothies when I was growing up and my favorite fruits were pineapples, strawberries and kiwi. I decided to incorporate all three of those fruits into my product, PSK Smoothies! The smoothie is always guaranteed to be fresh and comes from locally grown farms. At the price of only $2.99, it could be a great replacement instead of a morning coffee. I wanted to show a comic that got straight to the point. I chose the man standing outside of the smoothie shop being asked what he was drinking because the smoothie looked so good. The other person had no idea what it was, but knew that it looked delicious.

Then, he tells her what it is and explains how great the smoothie is. In my drafts, I had a fourth scene where both the people were smiling while drinking their smoothies, but I did not think it was necessary in order to get the point across. I did not think that fourth scene was adding anything to the comic that was needed. My three comic transitions would all be moment to moment because the encounter realistically only lasted for 10 seconds, maybe less. The three panels allow for such a short amount of time to be divided up into different moments. I enjoyed figuring out which layout I liked the best. Although this may have been the most challenging and time consuming blog post, I liked the amount of creativity we were given. The text-image combination worked on my poster because the comic contained few words and short descriptions of the product were placed around the picture of the smoothie.

I think the poster is very visually appealing and serves as a good advertisement. It details the product, provides the name and gives an address of where you can buy one. My comic goes to show once someone sees someone else drinking something, they will want one for themselves and ask where the other person bought it. It is almost like a chain reaction when it comes to products that are in such high demand. In the future I would like to do more posts like this one because it was a lot more challenging to think of a product than to do the comic. I had to think and research multiple topics until I found one that inspired me to lean towards doing a fruit smoothie. The points that I wanted to get across through the use of the advertisement poster were showing off how great the smoothie looked, flaunting the low price and creating an easy to understand comic. After finishing the poster, I found the poster to be persuasive, how it should be.