Sub Extras

I have mentioned in previous posts ( seen here and here ) some items that are a good idea to have with you during your days as a substitute teacher. Guess what, I have more ideas on what to bring!

1. A BIG water bottle

Who knows if you will be able to find a water source other than a bathroom sink to refill during the day. If you don't want to waste time at a school you have never been to before you probably will not be searching (or have the time) to find the teacher's lounge. You will be doing A LOT of talking so you'll want to have that water by your side. My water bottle has my name on it too.


**** Label your lunch bag with your name!!! I left mine at a school and had to go back the next day to retrieve it. The secretary was able to hold it and return it to me.

2. Something to write with

3. A notebook....that stands out

You may find some great ideas in a classroom that you don't want to forget or want to jot down something adorable a student says to you. I like having a notebook with me to write down whatever I need, including notes to the teacher. My advice is to get a notebook with a fun pattern that stands out so it is easy to locate if you place it somewhere in the room.

What's on my lanyard?

Most schools require you to have your ID badge on you at all times. I have mine on a lanyard that I wear around my neck. I have been thinking about switching to something I could easily clip onto any part of my outfit since a lanyard does clash with a cute necklace. For now though, the lanyard works and can actually be quite handy.

My lanyard is a breakaway lanyard which means if I get it caught in something it will break from its clasps and then you can reattach it. It's a wonderful safety feature. This has really saved me. I've got it caught on the corner of a desk. It breaks away off your body instead of pulling your neck down with it. It looks less embarrassing too.

I am a building sub this year so I am constantly in different rooms throughout the day. I have a pen clipped on the lanyard so I have it handy when I need to write something down, help a student, or help grade papers.

I sneak on some bobby pins too. You never know when a hair emergency will occur!

Behind my badge I keep a whistle. The last thing you want as a sub is to have recess duty and have to call an entire grade to line up WITHOUT a whistle.

It may seem like a lot to have on a lanyard but these are a few things that help make my day go smoother if I have them on me at all times.

Terrific Tuesday

For me, today will be Terrific Tuesday. It's the day that I finally sit down and share some terrific news with you. Most of you know, I started this blog as a daily sub. I subbed for many districts and struggled with the ups and downs of working in different schools and districts on a day to day basis.

About a week before school started, I got a call requesting that I come in for an interview for a building sub position. A lot of districts have building subs. You are placed in one or two schools in a district and you work there every day. You are placed where there is need. You may be filling in for one teacher all day, assisting teachers in their classroom, or hopping from room to room when teachers have meetings during the day. Many times becoming a building sub is a great stepping stone to having your own classroom. Districts are more likely to promote a building sub to a classroom teacher when openings are available. I can happily say I got the job as a building sub in the district I student taught in. I will be in two elementary schools helping out when and where I am needed. It is such a relief to know where I will be working every day and with many teachers and staff I already know.

I will still be bringing fresh tips and ideas from the classrooms I am in. I am excited to share my new journey with all of you!

Make It Monday

I have been in my apartment for a little over two months now. Everything is in it's place but my walls were looking very bare! I traveled to Target scope out some shelves. Shelves are pretty pricey. I knew I could cheat the system and find something more in my budget.

I went to my local thrift store and began the hunt.

I found three shadow box shelves for $3 each. And a one crown molding shelf for $3. That's a total of $12 for shelving!














I couldn't resist changing the color of them. I bought two bottles of grey acrylic paint and began coating them with a cheap sponge brush. You can find the paint and brushes at your local A.C Moore, Michael's and sometimes Walmart. The bottles of paint were less than a dollar each and the brushes are like 50 cents and you can find them in a variety of brush sizes.

Each shelf needed 2-3 coats until I was happy. The paint really doesn't take that long to dry. Don't sit and watch paint dry. Find something else to do in between coats.

I let the last coat dry overnight and began hanging them the next morning.

I first decided where I would place each shelf. I matched up the holes on the back of the shelves with washi tape and then I put the washi tape on the wall where I wanted the shelves. That helped me know where to put the nails on the wall.

It sounds so simple and painless because it was!

Things I'm loving.....

As a teacher (substitute or otherwise) I find that the summers help you reconnect. Even though I was a nanny for the summer I was still able to find time to explore new things and hobbies. Here are some things I am currently loving:


1. Fresh Flowers

Since getting my own apartment I have been OBSESSED with having fresh flowers at all times. It's such a simple way to liven up your place with..living things.

Flowers don't need to be expensive. I found this stand in front of someone's house selling sunflowers for $1.00 each! The grocery store always has beautiful arrangements. Produce stores also have great deals. 

2. Baking My Own Bread 

I suppose it's cheating if you use the bread machine but the result is still amazing. My mom gave me this bread maker she owned because she simply wasn't using it. Bread is expensive people, especially is you are getting the whole wheat-multi-grain-12 oat nonsense. I have started making my own pre-made mixes and when we are out of bread, in goes the mix, turn it on and in about three hours we have wonderfully fresh bread. It makes the apartment smell amazing and I know exactly what I'm eating. No unnecessary additives or preservatives. Breakmakers are expensive but I have seen quite a few at thrift shops and Goodwills.

3. Simple Sugars

 Ladies and gentlemen, I can't even deal with how much I love this product. Simple Sugars products are handmade and all natural body and facial scrubs. You can choose from a plethora of scrubs which are to die for! The first time I ordered I got the green tea facial scrub. Green tea is already ridiculously good for you, so its just as amazing right on your skin. It's gentle enough that I can use it every day, which I do because I'm obsessed with it. I even got my boyfriend hooked on the green tea facial scrub. He has crazy dry skin but the scrub has oils in it too which hydrate your skin and make it feel SO soft...but not oily. Does that even make sense?! 

The first body scrub I purchased was the coconut. When I first opened it I had to try very hard not to ingest the scrub because of how good it smelled and because of how much inhaling I was doing. It was so luxurious I couldn't and wouldn't contain myself. Once that was all gone I wanted to try something else from their line. The Simple Sugars Peach body scrub arrived a few days ago at my door and it is just as incredible. I don't know about you all but I HATE-HATE-HATE putting lotion on after I shower. I feel like I have to wait years for it to absorb into my skin before I can put clothes on. With these scrubs, you don't need the moisturizers. It's insane. You will get out of the shower with the oil on your skin and you will be as soft as a babies....you know. 

Simple Sugars has NO idea who I am. I just love when I can find a quality product that I can share! Check out their website here.