What's Next....

First off, I would like to say "Happy Summer!" Long live the days of long summer nights, laying by the pool, checking off to do lists, and tons of time with family and friends. If you are reading this right now...."You SO deserve it!" I started my summer off right (even though I will work 4 days a week for about 3 weeks more). I foresee many pool days with big hats and Starbucks with the hubby and the kiddos!

Second, I would like to thank you all for your support. I can't believe The Stylish School Counselor has grown in followers and FB likes even though I have been missing for the last couple of months. Y'all, I just can't even....
Your support has been absolutely amazing and your emails checking on me have been down right sweet! Two years ago I never would have imagined I would be TPT'ing it up and using a blog to network with some of the coolest educators around the world!! I have made some wonderful friends through blogging!

If you read my post about my little mid-year change (you can read it HERE) then I am sure you can imagine why I have been missing! So, what came of that temporary position? I got the job as an assistant principal intern. In our district, if you get hired you are an intern for two years and then after that you are an official assistant principal. It is an awesome set up. You have two years to see if you are what they want as a leader and on the flip side, you have two years to see if it is what you really want to do. I see it as a win-win situation! I will miss counseling but must say that it has actually been a huge part of my job still. I have to share this picture of how sweet our amazing counseling director and her assistant are. They surprised me at school with flowers and gave me hugs when it was announced. I can't even begin to say how much I will miss them. Absolutely amazing. But who is to say I won't venture back to counseling one day. I am 32 so who knows what the future holds.

So, you may be thinking..."What does that mean for The Stylish School Counselor?" This site will continue. I love blogging. I love networking with you all. I love sharing ideas. I will always share counseling ideas. You can never STOP being a counselor no matter what you do. I feel that being a counselor is engrained in my heart and is extremely vital in my days as an AP.

I love fashion, so wear to work series will continue (hopefully with Andrea at JyJoyner Counselor), my TPT store will continue strong (I will be adding counseling, lesson plans, and instructional resources), and sharing counseling ideas will continue. I would love to see the site evolve into a one stop place for educators that still has a heart for counseling. I would love your ideas on whether I should keep the name or change it. You can vote below!!!!

VOTE HERE

I am also collecting ideas as to what units or things in my TPT store you would like to see! You can add ideas HERE!

I hope you all have a wonderful summer! I will hopefully have a summer wear to work series in the next week for those of you who are still working and want ideas on a professional but laid back summer look!  And of course, since I have been MIA, I have a little Bully Free mini poster set for you all for FREE for a limited time (FREE until June 9th)!!!! These would be great to have printed large at Costco to grace your hallways or even framed in your office area. These would also be great for teacher classrooms!

You can get your set FREE HERE until June 9th! Happy Summer!!!!

Happy Testing Season!

Testing season is upon us. For some counselors this is a very stressful time of year. So, I have decided to share a freebie to "brighten" things up! HERE you will find a link for FREE testing signs in my TPT store.

Are any of you making goodies for teachers and kids? You can also find some, simple (easy to print) labels for treats HERE!!

You could attach a snack size bag of cookies or bake one and put it in a cute baggie with the tag. For blow the test away, you could tie a fun print ribbon with the tag to a blow pop. You could put Hershey kisses in a snack size baggie for the jitters phrase. The last one is an easy one for us educators, throw some goldfish in a bag!! I hope these are fun, simple way to brighten up your testing. I do not do testing on my campus but I sure am thankful for the people that do!!!

Happy testing and summer is not that far away!

INTERVIEW SEASON

It's that time of year again...interviewing season! Whether you are a new graduate looking for a counseling job or a seasoned counselor looking for a change, I hope these tips will be beneficial.

I had a sweet reader ask me to do a post on this topic now that I am an interim assistant principal. Well, let me say I have so much to learn and am definitely no expert as an administrator, I am merely learning the ropes. I will say I have thankfully had a lot of successful interviews and have sat on plenty of committees hiring counselors. I am not sharing specific questions or anything like that but tips I have felt have made a huge difference for me, personally.

This may seem like a no brainer but being late to an interview gives an automatic "no bueno" signal. Anytime I have an interview, I print directions the night before, put gas in the car (well my hubby does it), and make sure I fully understand how to get there. I set my clothes out the night before like it's the first day at school so that I am as ready as can be. You never want to rush and be in an irritated mind set at your interview. You want to be on your A game!

Don't be afraid to highlight your skills! An interview is your moment to shine and to let them know how awesome you are. When I had my first interview in education for my first teaching job, I felt super uncomfortable saying anything good that I had done and I felt silly talking about my experiences because I had none other than student teaching. My mom  and mother in law told me that I need to find experiences that related to the job, it may not be the exact same thing but could show I had some related experience and it could give a glimpse into my background (ex. volunteering at a nursing home may show relationship skills and compassion or working at a summer camp teaching art classes could show you have a creative side). I always created a colorful, mini highlight sheet to quickly show a glimpse into my experience. Below is an example. Don't get my wrong, I did NOT want to brag about myself and I believe in being humble so I had to find a balance with wanting to share highlights and not coming off as a know it all rascal.

This sounds quite cheesy but is probably the most important tip of all. Sometimes we really want to be at a certain school or in a certain position that we adjust who we are and what our goals are for that position but it usually doesn't work out. There is a difference between being flexible and adjusting to your surroundings and... not giving a genuine glimpse of yourself in an interview. You have to remember not only should you be the right fit for them but they should be the right fit for you.  Be YOU, look at your goals, look at how you can grow at that campus and how you can serve your students and staff!

It is so vital to know the school before you go to the interview. I always get online and research their demographics, history, programs, and even google the school's name to see what stories and issues they may have faced. I know you're probably thinking I am such a creepster but it helps understand the environment and things that the students and staff may be facing and also what kind of person they may be needing.

If you are still reading this, you probably think I am an OCD nerd.....well I am. Before every interview (after researching the school), I create a list of questions that I may have whether it's about the students or about programs and I bring them with me. Sometimes throughout the interview, some of those questions may get answered. At the end when they ask "What questions do you have for us?" I can ask any questions I still have or I may reflect on something they answered, like, "I did have a question about what your ELL population was and what support programs you have on campus, but I think you answered that plus so much more throughout our conversation." I want administrators to know I care and have invested my time into this interview. This is also a great time to clarify expectations for the position or ask about what the campus' goals and beliefs are. I will say, from interviews I have sat in on, that only asking when they will make a decision on who gets the job does not look so well. It's a great question to ask but not alone...add a question about the school.

When you walk into an interview, you want to give your best "you." Having a positive attitude is such a great quality. In education, there will be rough days and days where you want to cry and eat half a gallon of ice cream (not that I ever do that...hehe) but I would have to say the amazing days way out number the rough days. An interview is not a place to bash your past boss or talk about how much you don't like your current job...yikes....and I have unfortunately seen that happen. Coming into an interview with a positive outlook can really set you apart. In whatever field you may be in, being able to roll with the punches with a smile on your face is always a plus.


I wish you all the best of luck with interviews and hope this is even a teensy bit helpful. Remember to be yourself and that you are interviewing them, too, to see if they are a fit for you! Take care of yourself and breathe....it will all work out how it is supposed to.

Guest Post: Liz Hemphill and First Year Wisdom

If you have been following my blog, you have probably seen Liz. I have had the pleasure of being her co-counselor and she is absolutely amazing. We kind of hit it off from Day 1 when we found out we were sisters....sorority sisters (Chi O). She has such a caring heart balanced with a hilarious sense of humor and a well respected work ethic (she was in the news world before). I am so happy to have her do a guest post! If you haven't seen her, here are some pictures of our many shenanigans.

So here she is and I am sure you will see many future guest posts from her! Thanks, again, Liz!

How cute is Liz and her hubby?

Melanie has been so kind as to share her blog and allow me, a rookie counselor, to share a little bit about my first year!  It’s been a crazy year with ups and downs.  I never realized all the time and passion it takes to be an effective counselor.   I’ve learned a lot but the biggest personal lesson I’ve learned this year is to have a work life balance (As I write this as 9pm ;). The number one thing I’ve learned in this regard is to try and save enough of myself for my friends and family.  My first couple of months in the office I gave it all… too much, and had nothing left when I got home.  Since then, with the help of some more seasoned counselors, I’ve learned that it’s okay to leave it at the office.  Recently, I had to revisit this old battle when we lost one of our most precious 7^th graders to cancer.  It rocked our entire school and me.  I couldn’t sleep the night I found out.  My poor husband couldn’t even get me to carry on a conversation; I was so distracted.  How could one so young be chosen to go home?  With the help of my director of guidance, however; I saw that this is where a counselor should find herself.  Walking into school the next day I felt like there was a true need for every ounce of my training, experience and mere existence.  We set up a triage of sorts in the library for mourning students to visit.  My principals and I went into every classroom during first periods and spoke to our students about loss and grieving.  We really tried to use the experience as a learning opportunity for our students on how to handle adversity in life.  I have attached some of the art our students drew that day to better express their grief.  

At the end of the day, I was done… mentally and physically.  I went home and slept the sleep of someone who had truly carried out their task.  Our students were served and continued to be served the entire week because I had learned my lesson early, take care of yourself and you can then take care of others.  Remember, our job is so important but if we aren’t our best, then how can we expect the kids we touch to strive for their best.  Take care of yourselves counselors. –Liz

Fashion Spotlight: Trend Boutique

Today, I am sitting down with Crissy Cates. She is the co-owner (along with her husband) of Trend Boutique which I am now a huge fan of. She is quite a fashionable mommy, wife, teacher, and now entrepreneur. I asked her a couple of questions about her and her shop....so let's get started!

1. Tell us about yourself.
I am a child of the King, wife, mother, sister, friend, and 3rd grade teacher who is blessed beyond measure. I seek to venture through life with poise, grace, and style. Like every other woman, many days I fall short! But my heart is full and my dreams are big. If I make it through a day and bless my family or others in some small way, I consider it a success!

 2. How would you describe your style?
My personal style tends to be primarily bohemian: laid back, easy, comfy, and trendy. At the moment my staples are anything with fringe, gorgeous kimonos, all things flowy, destroyed jeans, and basic tees all topped off with a long pendant stacked over a delicate gold necklace OR a statement necklace around the neck.

3. Tell us about Trend and your vision behind it?
The idea for Trend was born over a breakfast conversation at IHOP with my husband. We both have big dreams and a great desire to serve others while building a legacy for our family. We've had many discussions about turning our passions into a business. We knew my passion for fashion and Rob's tenacious spirit were a perfect combination to start our own boutique! This has been the most exciting adventure I've ever taken!

In my thirties, I have been awakened to such a new sense of confidence that I never knew before. I want to impart the ability to feel confident from the inside out to women of all ages, shapes, and sizes. No woman stands taller than when she's dressed on the outside in a way that reflects her inner beauty.

A verse that has inspired me for Trend is Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future." There is such beauty, strength, and inner peace in this verse.

4. What are your 3 favorite pieces in your boutique right now?
Hardest thing EVER to pick only 3, but here it goes:

1. This Sweater Tho: This open knit, slouchy sweater is such an awesome piece that you can take from winter to summer. I have both dressed it down with sweats or tights and dressed it up with pants and jeans. (HERE)

2. Go with the Flow: This flowy, figure flattering sun dress has such a fun, on-trend, totally wearable pattern and can be worn alone at the beach or paired with a denim vest for a day out shopping. (HERE)

3. Damsel in a Duster: Because I am just LOVING dusters right now. They are such an easy statement piece and can go over anything from shorts, jeans, tights, swimsuits...you name it!(HERE)

5. What would be your fashion advice to readers?
My fashion advice is first and foremost, to be comfortable in whatever you choose to wear. Take notice on what you're wearing on the days you feel best about yourself. Don't hesitate to use Pinterest or some of your favorite fashion blogs (like this one and yourfriendontrend.com) for inspiration. Work your favorite trends into your wardrobe only in ways you feel comfortable. What works on some, doesn't work on all! I love this quote by Judy Garland. "Be a first rate version of yourself not a second rate version of someone else."

I am definitely a customer and wanted to share some of my recent purchases from Trend and my wish list for the spring!

1. Chic Chambray (click HERE to purchase)

I 

This will be my spring staple. I paired it with some white skinny jeans and the cleopatra necklace from Trend. I can't wait to pair it with fun shorts, with a sundress, and pastel skirts. This fits so much better than other chambray shirts I have tried before. This is a softer, light material. Other ones I tried before made me feel boxy and uncomfortable. This is fitted, so I got a large and it's perfect!!! I will note I also have wide shoulders so a medium would have worked if it weren't for my shoulders.

2. Barely Bell Top (click HERE to purchase)

I love this shirt. It is so feminine and has pretty detailing to it. This would be cute with jeans, shorts, or white skinny jeans. It is perfect for warm spring and summer days. I love the cut outs on the arms. Great for a date night and it also comes in a gorgeous blue.

3. Demigoddess Denim Tunic Dress (click HERE to purchase)

This is a perfect dress if you're a Southern girl. I paired it with boots and a multi-layer turquoise necklace. I can't wait to wear this to little festivals and out shopping on spring afternoons. My favorite part is the lace detailing on the arms.

4. Cleopatra Necklace (click HERE to purchase)

All I am going to say is a statement necklace goes a long way. It adds a pop and a bit of glam to a simple outfit. I can't wait to pair this with a fitted white tee, jeans, and wedges or with a dress.


Here are a couple of items I hope to purchase soon...I hope Joey is reading this!

The Cleopatra Necklace in WHITE! Perfect for Summer. (HERE)

This Sweater Tho in white. I love how Trend paired it with these stinkin' cute shorts! (HERE)

Again, thank you to Crissy at Trend for taking the time to chat with me about her amazing store! I know I am a fan and am sure you will be too. I love the fact that she is a mom, wife, fashionista, teacher, and follower of God. It is quite motivating to see a working mom (along with her hubby) doing it all while counting her blessings.

If you would like to check out Trend, you can start shopping HERE!

National School Counselor's Week 2015

It's that time of year to celebrate all that you do. This is also a great time of year to advocate your school counseling program. Below are a list of ideas that you can use this week:

-School Announcements
Last year, I used ASCA's announcements. This year's resources are listed here.

-Certificates for Staff
As a teacher, I loved getting certificates to add to my portfolio. This is a great way to thank them for all that they do to support your campus program. Below you can find my freebie in my TPT store. I tried to keep it as generic as possible so that you can use it at any campus. There are two signature spots. If you're the only counselor on campus, you may sign it along with your administrator. If you have 2 counselors, there is room for both of you and if you have multiple counselors, you could possibly divide up staff and pair up and sign! You can get your freebie HERE!

-Cupcakes and Counselors
Have cupcakes set up somewhere on campus along with counseling information for the staff to come pick up on breaks.I have done this before at the elementary level and called it Donuts and Data. I had donuts set up along with brochures I had made with data on our school counseling program (ex. number of guidance lessons to date, number of students seen individually broken up by reason, number of small group sessions done, etc). What better way for your staff to see how amazing your program is????

-Proclamation
Want to make it official? Have a proclamation done in honor of School Counseling Week!

Check out other great resources from ASCA HERE!

I hope you all have an amazing School Counseling Week and that your school celebrates how amazing and hard working you are....from the bottom of my heart.....

Liebster Award!

I have been running on caffeine....not a lot of sleep...and may have put my shirt on backwards this morning. Things have been a bit crazy lately so when I opened my email and saw I had been nominated for a Liebster Award...I was super excited.

Thank you so much to my new friend all the way in Maine... Angela over at The Mommy Stories. Her blog, y'all...precious. Her family...too cute. You have to check it out for yourself HERE.

Sweet Angela asked me the questions below....so let's get started!!!

What are 3 words to describe how it felt when you learned you were going to be a mother? 

Amazed. Nervous. Thankful.

When did you start your blog? Why did you start writing?
I actually had started in 2007 as a way to document Grayson's stats and to update our family on what we were up to since we have family all around the world.   

What is the coolest thing about your life right now?
Honestly....it's that I am learning. I have been heartbroken about certain things lately but they are things that I am thankful I am heartbroken over. Things like spending more time with my kids, being a better wife, and being a Godly woman. God is doing some amazing things in my life and works in my heart. It is hard but so eye opening. I would say I have learned more in the past year about what kind of mom and wife I want to be than I have in the past 9 years of marriage and 7 years as a mommy. It's changing the way I view things and see things which has been a battle but I am just trying to have an open mind and heart.  

If you could not do the job you do now (and tell us what it is), then what job would you want to have and why?
Currently I am an interim assistant principal/school counselor. It is a blessing. If I wasn't doing what I was doing now I would hands down be a stay at home mom or Kindergarten teacher. Every job I have had has been a huge blessing and great experience and each kiddo has such a special place in my heart. Middle school is where I am and I love the kids' sense of humor and personalities but elementary has always been "my place." Luckily, I currently am at an amazing school and have always had the privilege of being at great schools with great people.Aside from home, there is no place I would rather work than in schools!

Interim assistant principal/counselor

Me and Lauren (doing her observations hours) in my Kindergarten class

What is one of your child's names and where did you get name from?
Funny story....our first one is Grayson. We were watching t.v. one night and saw a Severe Thunderstorm Warning on the news for Grayson county. I also liked Dallas. Haha so his name was picked based on counties and bad weather. We knew we wanted a New Testament middle name, so...it was Luke.

I loved the name Elle from Legally Blonde but my sister said she claimed that name for her next one (she has since had two boys...just sayin') so I went with Ella. Joey loved the name Grace and we wanted something somewhat spiritual (there's nothing better than His grace) so we went with that. Both were pretty laid back experiences. 

Where in your home do you write your blog posts most often? Why there?
In our bedroom in bed. I wait until the kids are asleep to do any blogging or work. It's cozy and I feel like I am not disrupting Joey or the kids. I usually only blog if Joey and I already watched a show or spent time together or if he is asleep or watching something on his phone.  

What would you do with an extra $100 that you can only spend on YOU?
Buy Starbucks and hit up Groovy's. (Which I just did...ha) I was going to somehow say pay it forward but it said only ME so I am going with that. But who are we kidding that is what I usually do?

 Favorite meal you make? Bonus points for the recipe.
We love breakfast food. The thing that everyone loves in this house is breakfast food. Each week I make egg white muffins and sausage balls.

Egg White Muffins

-egg whites (I buy the carton)

-1 lb ground turkey

-Nature's seasoning

-shredded mozzarella cheese

-add in's (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, sauteed spinach)

Brown ground turkey and season. Put one heaping tablespoon of ground turkey in each muffin tin (greased). Put one tablespoon of mozzarella cheese over the ground turkey. Add any vegetables or extras. Pour egg whites in each tin and fill it about 3/4 of the way. Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. 

3 things you typically do on Sundays? 
1. Go to church or do a lesson at home if we miss. (I will post about great resources to use all week with your family on my personal blog soon).
2. Hang out with family (we usually go to my parents' or Joey's and hang out). This is one of our favorite parts of the week and we are blessed that our parents and siblings are all local. We also love squeezing in time to play with our nieces and nephews.
3. Prep for the week. I try to make sure things are signed, organized, Joey and I have our schedules laid out for the week, the kids' stuff is all clean and ready, and as much food is prepped as possible, and laundry has to be away!!!

What is something you do often to make yourself a healthier person?
I try to de-stress and for the most part eat healthy. I drink lots of green tea and eat all of my veggies...lol. I do need to work out but I haven't fully adjusted to my new position. Basically, I try to make sure I have quiet time whether it's listening to music in the bath when the kids are asleep or reading my bible...I make sure I do something to try to keep my mind from going and going which in turn makes me a healthier person.

What is something you want to be sure your kids learn from you?
To not live by the expectations of the world but by the expectations of God. To live with joy and compassion and to have servant's hearts. I have always tried to live up to expectations my whole life whether it's my parents, friends, teachers, peers, bosses, spouse, kids, and even complete strangers' expectations. I want Grayson and Ella to know the Lord and have a heart for Him. I want them to learn to put God first and follow priorities that He lays out and everything else will come together.  Expectations aren't bad but they shouldn't be our driving force....God should be. And of course....I want them to love others and always think about where another person is coming from. There is always so much to a person far more than what we can see. Sometimes it just takes a little time and care.




So.....now I would like to nominate the following bloggers for the Liebster Award and to join in on the fun! Simply link back to this post, answer the below questions, and nominate some of your fav bloggers!! 


Melissa over at The Lone Star Ginger Boutique
She is adorable and so are her products. She also features Wonder Woman Wednesdays on her blog which are also so fun to read. Don't forget to check out her Etsy shop.

Amy over at When Life Gives You...The Lemons & Step Into Second Grade With Mrs. Lemons
I love reading her blogs on her adorable family and their adoption journey but also all of the amazing things she does in her classroom!

Lauren over at Williams Party of Four
I love her blog about the life of a mommy, teacher, wife, and shopper!!! Plus she is my sister in law who I just love!

Crissy over at Your Friend on Trend
I love her blog about fashion and upcoming trends!!! She has a good eye for being trendy and it being mom friendly.

Andrea over at JyJoyner Counselor Blog
I absolutely love Andrea's style and counseling blog. She shares great ideas on work outfits and activities for those in the counseling world!

Shay over at Mix and Match Family
I love this blog. Her family is absolutely adorable and I love reading about their adoption journey. She also shares great traveling and fashion tips and has some amazing recipes.

Andrea over at Momfessionals
She is a super cute teacher, mommy, and creator! She shares amazing mommy tips, fashion tips, and home decorating ideas that are super creative.


Below are your 10 questions to answer.


1. What are your top 3 favorite life moments to date?

2. What are some stores that are your go to places to shop for you (and your kids if you have them)?

3. How would you describe your style? (Bonus: share some pictures)

4. What is your occupation? If you didn't do that, what would you do?

5.  What is your favorite room in your home and why?

6. What are 3 things on your wish list right now?

7. What has been your favorite vacation to date?

8. If you could share one of your best organization tips (whether at home or at school) what would it be?

Can't wait to read the link ups and posts!!!