As you start your year.....

As this year begins, I hope each one of you knows how amazing you are. The job we do can't be described in one word. The job that we do can't be shut down and tucked away as we head out the door. Our minds can't switch over and forget the students on our hearts. We don't just have the job of supporting our students but also our teachers. We have to be a big part of the heart of our schools...of the morale. Our attitudes affect our campus in a big way.

Every job is important. I think the job of a counselor is no different. We must be selfless, positive, encouraging, empathetic, understanding, a multi-tasker, organized and so many things all rolled into one.

Whether it's your first year or 20th year as a counselor, I want you to know how BIG you are in your students' lives. Whether it is a smile to a student when you open the door, a hug when they are full of tears and hurt, an encouraging talk when they have had a rough day, help when they are struggling in class....you make a difference.

So when you are behind a pile of paperwork or setting up 504 meetings, know that even in those moments you are making a difference. Whether it is helping a student get the accommodations they need or being an advocate to get them tested....you are making an impact. You are a stepping stone to their academic success for the years to come.

When you feel like people are complaining or just plain put out....know that we all have bad days. I have days where I want to go home and cry because I can't "fix" the hurt in my students. There are days where I may have eaten 6 fun size Snickers bars because I had so much paperwork to do. Yet, after all of that.....especially eating the 6 fun size snickers.....I know that I am blessed to have been called to this career. Because the good days, the inspiring days.....far outweigh the bad days.

When a student wants to see me or tells me that I helped them, it makes everything so worth it. I hope you realize that, too, with the start of the school year. It's our fresh start, as counselors, to make a positive impact on our students and our profession.

I wish you nothing but the best this year and hope to truly use this blog not just to share my love of fashion and making cutesy things but to be an advocate for counselors and to share ideas that will hopefully inspire you and help in some way with your programs! Have a wonderful year, know that I am rooting for you every step of the way!

Back to Work and 504....

I went back to work August 1st and since then it is has been busy...non-stop. I just got home around 9'ish for the 2nd night. I am definitely not complaining but I am so looking forward to this weekend and being lazy with my family.

Here is a review of my week in pictures....

We had a fun leadership lunch with our amazing administration!

My co counselor and I deciding if we should go out to lunch...haha!

First in-service

My precious principal may have thought it was funny when I ordered my Starbucks drink...it's kind of long

Me with a calendar because I was a day ahead in my mind and may have told everyone that today was Friday...haha!

I shared on Facebook that I was going to post about a resource that I love when it comes to handling 504. Shhhh....don't tell anyone but 504 is something I like. Not sure why???? There was a great response so I think I will break it up into how I organize 504. Today I am starting with a resource and each week I will share something that hopefully you can use in your program.

This is one of my top resources. It is an amazing website called the National Center for Learning Disbilities. It is a great tool for teachers. counselor, and parents. It contains information about accommodations and various disabilities. It has online assessments and checklists. It is simply amazing!!!

I honestly could go on and on about it but check it out. It will take some time to explore but it is something I definitely refer to often and have bookmarked on my computer!!!

I will be working on 504 processes/organization next week, so check back! I hope you are all having a fabulous start to your school year!!

Summer Wear to Work

Back to work can be exciting but not so much on your pocket. If you're like me, you worry about buying new clothes for your kiddos and yourself. Lately, I have been trying to purchase items that can be carried through the seasons. Andrea over at JyJCounselor and I teamed up to bring you some ideas on wearing your summer clothes back to school!!! If you haven't checked out her blog...it is a must!! She is a beautiful person inside and out and let me just say...I want to invade her closet!!! She is too cute!!! And I want to say how awesome the blogging world is because I found a new friend all the way from Texas to North Carolina...now that is awesome. So here ya' go!!!

Stripes:

Dress: Old Navy, Cardigan: Gap leopard, Necklace: Francesca's

Scarf: Charming Charlie's, Shirt: Old Navy, Capris: JC Penney, Shoes: Target

Jacket: Kut from the Kloth, Tank: Old Navy, Pants: Express

Jacket: Nordstrom, Tank: Old Navy, Crop Skinny Jeans: Michael Kors

Maxi Skirts & Dresses:

Jacket: Kut from the Kloth, Dress: Groovy's

Jacket: Kut from the Kloth, Dress: Groovy's

Shirt: Old Navy, Necklace & Skirt: JCrew Factory, Belt & Shoes: Gap

Summer Dresses:

Dress & Belt: Old Navy, Shoes: Nine West

Dress: Gap, Scarf: World Market (& yes that's NYC Times Square, summer vacay)

Printed Pants/Capris:

Cardigan, Shirt & Necklace: JCrew, Capris: JC Penney, Shoes: Cole Haan

Shirt: JC Penney, Pants: Anthropologie, Shoes: Gap

Shirt: Banana Republic, Capris: Old Navy, Shoes: Gap

Lightweight Scarves:

Shirt & Scarf: Old Navy, Capris: JC Penney, Shoes: Nine West

Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt: Kohl's, Scarf: Nordstrom

Shirt, Scarf & Belt: Old Navy, Skirt: Thrifted, Shoes: Nine West

Cardigan: JCrew Factory, Shirt & Skirt: Old Navy, Belt, Scarf & Shoes: Gap

Statement Jewelry:

Statement Necklace: Kate Spade, Dress: Target

Necklace: Groovy's, Dress: Charming Charlie

Necklace: Groovy's, Dress: Old Navy, Cardigan: JC Penney

And there you have it!! We had so much fun and I look forward to many more posts with Andrea! So, all you need is a cute jacket, scarf, or cardigan to carry over many of your simple summer outfits to fall!!!

Also, before I go...I have another exciting thing I added to my TPT store. I have been getting a lot of messages about custom printables...so it is now an option. Here is one that I did today!

Check it out HERE!
If you're going back to work...have a great start to your year and if you're still on break...I so don't want to know...haha...but really...enjoy the rest of your time off!!!

A Peek Into My Office

Hey y'all! I went back to work on Friday and can I just say that I forgot what it is like to wake up at 5:30 a.m.??? Praise the Lord for Starbuck's because my trusty baristas at my local one have started my drink from the moment I step through the door.

My kiddos aren't back at school and my hubby still has almost 2 weeks so they get to sleep in. I love seeing their sweet, sleeping faces as I head out but it has been nice having my Starbucks trips in the morning.

So, I wanted to share a peek into my office with you. I feel like I finally have my office somewhat put together after a year...haha!!! So here is a look inside

I am loving this! This is my 2014-15 calendar turned into a desk pad!!! I LOVE it! One of our coach's dad has a printing business and turned the calendar into this!! Maybe we will be collaborating with products soon!!???

I used this as a door banner. This is from my 2014-15 Office Pack!!!

I love this sign I got from Kirkland's for $4.99!!!

I am loving my office more this year! A sweet teacher at Joey's school was selling some of her stuff when she was moving and I was lucky enough to catch it! I am loving the purple (our school's colors), green, black, and turquoise.

I am excited to hang up my confidentiality and small group counseling rules in black frames. If you can't tell I am in a black and white mood with pops of color. I am trying to keep it simple, clean, and organized. If you are interested in picking up my NEW office pack, check it out HERE!!!

 I will be doing a post on organization and will also have some binder label FREEBIES on my next post. I am really excited about this year. I feel like the worst blogger ever with this past year. Honestly, I felt I was learning all over again with a new level. But now I am ready, excited, and full of ideas!

Also, coming up is a SUPER FUN post with JyJoyner Counselor, Andrea! We will be sharing some ways to wear your summer clothes back to work in a professional way!! So look for that tomorrow!!

Counselor Q&A: Part Two and a Freebie!!!

Hey, friends! Hope you are soaking up every bit of summer. I go back Friday...yes...this week. It's always bittersweet! I love being with my family but I also love being there for my students!

Today, I am finishing up my Q&A from sweet counselors that emailed or messaged questions. If you didn't see the first one, you can check it out HERE! So here we go, Round 2!!!


I will be a first year counselor, what do you think is the hardest thing about being a counselor?

In terms of being hard, that could fall into a number of areas. For me, understanding how much of a multi-tasker you need to be was tough to figure out. Counselors do a lot on campus (which can be an amazing thing so that we have accountability). I think just getting down your system as in how do you handle 504, crisis, staff support, admin support, parent meetings, planning activities, possibly testing or scheduling depending on the grade level. Once you know what to expect and can fit it into your system, it all kind of falls into place. I won't lie, I just finished my first year at a new campus/grade level and I am still learning.  Another hard thing about being a counselor is the emotional attachment. I am a mom and I meet with kids and want to save them all. Learning when it's beyond what you can do and that your hands are tied is the hardest thing EVER. Those were the hardest things for me but at the same time, I wouldn't give it up for anything.


I am currently an intern in an elementary school. What are some ideas of things to do with kids who may not want to talk or just sit there?

Haha...I wish there was a magic activity or one liner I could give ya' but honestly it is all about making the kiddo feel comfortable. I never want them to feel forced to talk to me. I want them to know I am here for them and that I won't "make" them tell me something unless of course they are being hurt, are hurting someone else, or wants to hurt theirself. Now I will say with some of my Kindergarteners and Firsties at my old school...puppets or stuffed animals always worked well. Some of them would just need to pick one up to hold to feel safe before they start chatting. I would always have a basket of them near where kids sat. Also, good ol' fashioned paper and crayons can sometimes tell you so much. They tend to open up more and feel like they have something distracting them. You can even sometimes get some intense things from what they draw. But I would say creating a warm, welcoming environment and being very visible to kids so you don't seem like a stranger are the best things to do.


I have seen you post about planners, which one do you recommend? 

Well, I must start by saying I kinda love planners and notebooks....just a lil' bit.

 
 It really depends on what you're looking for and are needing. Some people need a daily page for appointments or need super large boxes for their month at a glance. I researched planners a lot and also have used a variety!!! 

The ones I would recommend are below:

Erin Condren

I have gotten Erin Condren planners for the past 3 years and have loved them. The only setback for me was needing more room for the monthly at a glance. Other than that, I love them!!!! It also has stickers for appointments, parties, etc. I will so miss that now!!! 
Price Range: $65-75


 Kate Spade

I am trying this one out this year and I won't lie...I got it because it is so stinkin' cute and I heart Kate Spade. It seems clean and together. My only concern is that the monthly calendar boxes are too small for my bubbly handwriting. Now, I will say that a week after my co counselor and I purchased ours, Swoozie's got a new shipment of larger ones. Bummer!!! If I would have known about that, I would have waited for the bigger one. But so far this one seems really nice.
Price Range: $36-48

Emily Ley

My sister in law has one of these and loves it. This one seems like it has more room for you to write daily/hourly. It looks amazing and she swears by it. She needs the daily page and I focus more on the monthly. So for her, it works great and for me, I needed something with more room to write in for months.
Price Range: $65-75

Let me also say that $10 planners from Target can be equally amazing. It just depends on what you need and are wanting. 


Well, before I leave...let me leave you with a Freebie!!! 

 

How cute would this be on your door or enlarged for a bulletin board or in the hallway??

Gets yours for FREE, HERE! 

I hope you all have a great week! Please feel free to email or message me with any questions or ideas for posts. Hearing from y'all makes blogging 10x more fun!!! 

melroseacker@yahoo.com

Trendy Thursday: Counselor Style

Hey yall! With school starting back soon, I am sure we are all thinking about back to school activities and what to wear!!! Haha! I am sharing with you today a post from my personal blog. I thought it would be perfect to share here, as well. I will be posting my 2nd Question and Answer series this weekend along with a freebie. And if you missed my last post, you can now get your own 2014-15 Office Starter pack!! I just printed mine and started putting it in my office. Pics will follow! I go back to work next week so I hope to post more once I am in action.

You can get your own HERE! Hope you enjoy! 


So this past Tuesday, Lauren and I headed out to Uptown for my sweet mother in law's (her mom) birthday!! We had so much fun! Of course we ate at Breadwinner's, rode the trolley on McKinney Avenue, got energized at Starbucks and then made a visit to West Village to the Kendra Scott store.

Let me just say....the sales gals probably thought we were crazy ladies!! We were so stinkin' excited and overwhelmed! I had never been to an actual Kendra Scott store. I had only looked at her stuff at Nordstrom's.  Can I just say that I am officially in love and I think that birthday/holiday shopping just got easier for Joey because there were so many pieces that I loved!!! So today I am going to share my purchase and my wish list!

Here we are basking in the cuteness of Kendra Scott

I was really impressed with all that they had in store. They had so many colors, shapes, and varieties of everything. I was SO in love with their earrings but I can't wear very heavy earrings at all. I have said this before but my heart is broken over the fact that I can't wear all her cute earrings BUT I did find one pair that wasn't too heavy!

These were the only ones that didn't hurt my ears....I loved them but want to get a bright color

I am thinking these!!! These are the Jane drop earrings in Magenta, I had them on in white.

I also found a lot of necklaces that I absolutely loved!!!

Loved this pink one and it's only $65

I loved the clear Rayne tassel necklace. It could go with so much!

This was hard to see but it was like the pink one above but in white

I love the way this person layered these two. Lauren got one of these in a different color and I am loving it, too!

So what did I come home with??? Well, I would have came home with more BUT I wanted to see if I could get any of it at Nordstrom so that I could use my Nordstrom card to get points. Luckily, Nordstrom has the necklace I want there so I can buy that and rack up those points. I did however get something that you can only get at free standing Kendra Scott stores. I got a ring from the Color Bar. It was so fun creating it and they put it together right then and there for you to take home. No waiting...which is great because I stink at waiting for things I am excited about!!!

 

I wanted to make something that could go with a lot of things so I went with pearls and clear stones. I was so tempted to make a fun, bright one but...again...I wanted something that I could wear with a lot of stuff. You can also choose if you want your setting to be gold or silver. I got silver because the girl helping me said it is not as noticeable and could go with everything!! The necklace and earrings I get will be bright so this was a pretty, simple piece.

What is neat about the Color Bar at Kendra Scott is you can make just about anything: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings. I loved it but remember it is only available at the actual Kendra Scott stores and you can make your own unique piece.

Before I go,  I wanted to share about this little vest. I LOVE it and had a lot of people ask me about it when I posted about it on instagram/facebook last week! 

Excuse my freakish looking arm. I paired it with blue skinny jeans, leopard wedges, and a striped tank. Simple but fun!

I can't for the life of me find it anywhere but I did find some similar ones! I actually would like a 2nd one for fall and winter! You can add it to a dress or over a long sleeve fun print shirt! Believe me....I never thought I would say I love vests. But I am starting to love jackets and vests more. I think it's because it can make outfits look more put together and layer nicely! So here's what I found:

This one is super cute and edgy. Not sure I could pull it off. You can find it HERE. It is part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and is only $84.90 but will go up to $128 after the sale.

This one would be great for the weekend and work! I am loving this one! It is also part of the Anniversary sale. It's on sale for $57.09 but will go up to $88.

And this is the one I am ordering NOW! It is on sale for $23.40 and here is the best thing...it comes in a coral color, bright blue, and white!! You can find it HERE!

 And I want to share one more that I think I will also be ordering today. This is a cropped, drape front blazer that would be cute with jeans and heels, a dress, or a cute skirt. Perfect for a fall date night or to work. I am thinking the pink or blue for me! It's on sale for $23.40!!!! Find it HERE

 

Don't forget to check out Lauren's blog HERE! She purchased some super cute Kendra Scott stuff and it was so funny to see what we were drawn to!!!