Healthy Work Snacks

Hello Joyful Speechies!

I'm going to share my favorite snacks at work:

1. Popcorn



Popcorn Popper



How cute is this personal popcorn popper? It's glass and microwaveable! I purchased this from Williams-Sonoma after hearing that pre-packaged microwaveable popcorn is not the best for you. Plus it gets expensive buying box after box. For this, you just need to buy a big container of popping kernels.

Popping Kernels

Make sure to pop it and give it time to cool if you want to eat it out of the glass container. I'll pop it in the morning when I get to work, so it's ready to go when I want it later. If you don't have a microwave in your office, then make sure to grab it carefully to set somewhere to cool. I make 1/4 cup of yellow kernels for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, with no butter.

(Side note: I was never that into eating popcorn until I realized it tastes awesome when you dip it into Frank's Buffalo Sauce.)

2. Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack

Roasted Seaweed Snack

There are probably other brands out there, but I always stock up on the two kinds Trader Joe's offers: Salted and Wasabi flavored.

3. Wasabi Peas

Wasabi Peas

These little guys pack a powerful punch, so watch out! I personally love spicy, so these are perfect for me. But, if you can't take the heat there are also brands that sell them using a mustard mix, which make them much less potent. If you don't like spicy, I find that Trader Joe's version of Wasabi Peas to be milder and more mustard-flavored.

4. Atkins Mocha Latte Shake

Atkins Mocha Latte Shake

Unfortunately there's no Starbucks in my school. So, I've found that this Atkins drinks makes a nice treat on days I'm craving something chocolate. It doesn't have very much caffeine, so if you're looking for a pick-me-up, you might want to just go ahead and brew yourself a cup of coffee (or maybe try mixing the two!).

5. Coffee

 

Black and Decker "Brew-N-Go"

I have a Black and Decker "Brew-N-Go" in my office and I am very impressed with it.

6. Unsalted Almonds and Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

 

 

Unsweetened Coconut Flakes

 

Unsalted Whole Almonds

Whole Foods sells bags of Unsweetened Coconut Flakes that I put in bags with a few tablespoons of unsalted almonds. It's a super tasty treat, because without all of the added salt and sugar you can taste the natural sweetness of the coconut flakes. And I LOVE coconut!

7. Chickpea Snack

 

Chickpea Snacks

These are delicious! There are so many different flavors out there too! My personal favorite are the Biena Spicy Chickpea snacks, which I find at Target.

8. Vitalicious Energy Loaves

 

 

Vitalicious Energy Loaves

My mom introduced me to Vitalicous. It's a brand that packs vitamins, fiber, and protein into their products. These loaves are so nice as a morning snack with coffee. It's almost like eating a mini-cake! Vitalicious also makes muffin tops and other things, so check them out! I can find them at my local Target.

I hope I gave you some healthy snacking ideas! Let me know in the comments below if you have more things for me to try!

Joyfully,

How I am Avoiding my Yearly Sinus Infection While Still Working at School With Children

Hello Joyful Speechies,

It's not just coming... IT'S HERE.

"The Sickness" has already taken out a few of my SPED teachers and many students. Scream with me, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" The various colds and flus have gathered together since school opened a month ago and the germs have covered every inch of our school. Or so this is how I imagine it. A blanket of germs engulfing every surface.

I have been the un-wanted receiver of an earth-shaking sinus infection for the past 5 Octobers. FIVE. And let me tell you, "sinus infection" is such a misnomer. It should be called the "Exhausting-Nose-Plugging-Pressure-And-Headache-Head-Explosion-No-Sleep-Body-Aching-Face-Swollen" Infection.

No. Joke.

I feel you, Hermione Granger.

Turns out we need air to LIVE. A sinus infection takes away our beautiful power to breath and therefore causes all these other lovely side effects.

I don't want to use TWO sick days immediately into the school year. No more! I'm taking action. And I'm already kind of a germaphobe at school, so this is saying something!



And now, I'm no doctor, so whatever I say you can take with a grain of salt. But here is how I'm attempting to avoid Urgent Care this year...

1. Airborne Dual Action. I've been taking it every. single. day. since about September 28.

Airborne Dual Action

2. Blowing nose after hot showers. This was recommended to me by one of my professors in school. Get rid of those stagnant germs living in your nose!

3. NeilMed Sinuagtor. It's like a Netti-Pot, but powered up! And Netti-Pots never work for me, but this thing does! I cannot believe this thing doesn't have five stars on Amazon, but I guess to each his own!

NeilMed Sinuagtor

4. Washing my hands and using hand sanitizer all day, every day. Bye, bye, germs!

5.  Clorox wiping the heck out of my room. Computer? Yep. Door handles? Yep. Table tops, chairs, desks, door? Yep, yep, yep, yep! I heard they make Hydrogen Peroxide wipes/cleaner were actually the best to get rid of germs, but I've never tried them.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes - the green kind is my favorite!

Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes

6. Oil Diffuser - A second grade teacher recommended this to me. Apparently there are essential oils that actually kill off germs. She has one in her classroom and highly recommended it to me. So naturally, I immediately got this cute panda one and a larger color-changing one. This Four Thieves stuff is actually supposed to KILL the germs.

Panda Diffuser

HAMSWAN Essential Oil Diffuser

Four Thieves Bandits Anti-Germ Powerful Germ Killer Essential Oil Blend

7. Nasal Steamer - This is something I got to steam my face before doing at-home facials, and it came with this bonus nasal steamer. Sweet! I just put my nose near the stream of hot steam and then blow my nose. It's very similar to stepping out of a hot shower. Plus, you can also give yourself a little facial afterwards with a nose strip or a face mask. Bonus "you-time!"

Beauty Chic Facial Sauna (and Nasal Steamer!)

8. Focusing on the MOST important basics - Get sleep, water, and try to not be stressed. I usually get sick right after I run myself into the ground by working too much and not sleeping. The mission is to sleep and let my body heal and keep the immune system up and running!

And should the worse thing happen ever- I receive a Sinus Infection, I will be taking Mucinex-D (for you know-the mucus), Ibuprofen (for the swelling), drinking TONS of water (to help with drainage), likely contacting Urgent Care for some good old antibiotics, and praying I won't have to use the usual TWO precious sick days.

Joyfully,

Rockin' a Teacher Apron

Hello Joyful Speechies!

YES! You read that title right! This year I'm wearing a teacher and/or therapy apron.

This way when running around the school I can have access to things like rewards and pens without ever forgetting to grab them before leaving my office. Sometimes my storage clipboard just doesn't have enough space!

I purchased mine off Etsy (Seller: LizzysBiz), but you can find them on eBay or Amazon too. Some have zippered pockets or key fobs, which would also come in handy.


Apron from Etsy shop (this is the one I have): LizzysBiz

Super cute option from Amazon seller CraftyMom75

I even had mine monogrammed, because-- why not? It feels so adorable and makes me feel like it's out of the Reese Whitherspoon's Draper James line!

Joyfully,

Classy and Professional Earrings

Happy October Joyful Speechies!

We've made it to the beautiful season of Autumn!

I wanted to do a post on something I've been obsessing over lately, which is emerald cut earrings.

Emerald is such a classy cut and it's always been one of my favorites. I mean, our girl Beyonce has an emerald cut engagement ring, so it's got to be the way to go.

Beyoncé rocking her beautiful emerald cut engagement ring

 

And on the hand or ears- this cut shimmers in the light! Timeless. Classy. Perfect for someone to add sparkle to their professional wardrobe.

Below are some from Amazon that I found. Gorgeous:

Emerald Cut Earrings from Amazon

I'm also digging the cushion cut earrings too. Let me know in the comments below if you love the emerald cut too or prefer another earring choice!

Joyfully,

Email Etiquette

Hello Joyful Speechies!

The beginning of the school year means students transferring and having to send/receive record requests from other schools. This year particularly I've felt the emails have been...dare I say...rude?

I know I'm not the only one receiving these half-(hearted) emails.

What do I expect when I open an email?

Well for starters, you need a greeting. For example, "Good morning." You need the body of the paragraph to state your business, in which throwing in a few "please and thank you" never hurt anybody. And then you should definitely say "Thank you" and then sign your name.

Because you know what? As miserable as it is to have to sit down and write a polite email- someone is taking time out of their day to read it. So you better make them feel at least a little tiny ounce of respect in it.

P.S. Please God, don't be a Gary and write your emails in comic sans. Yes, I've heard from teachers that it's the "only font that has characters the way we teach writing." But if you're writing an email, the other person likely can already read. Use an "adult" font, like Times New Roman, Georgia, or even Tahoma. And also don't make it 24 point font. It makes everything look like it's written for a Kindergartener. Some say personal preference on this one, buuuuuut... I firmly believe this should be a rule of thumb.



BARF and INCORRECT. Gary from "Parks and Recreation" on NBC

And look, I know we're busy. I know that everything isn't always sunshine and roses. But a little decency in the form of a simple, "Hello" would be much appreciated. And I'm sure you can agree.

Joyfully,