Good Chicken Resources

I am a mom of three kids.  Along with kids comes a lot of stuff including a lot of clothing. I have found that regularly decluttering my kid's closets and dressers is vital to keeping my sanity.  Nothing is more annoying than pulling clothing out of the closet just for it not to fit your children on a busy school morning.  This is the system I have naturally fallen into to ensure that closets don't get too out of control.  1.   Twice a Year I do this process twice a year once in July and the other during Spring Break.  Doing this process in July allows me to know what my kids need when back-to-school shopping.  Spring Break is when I like to really focus on deciding what fall/winter clothing my kids didn't wear or will probably outgrow by next fall.  It is also when I need to check short lengths in preparation for warmer weather.  Disclaimer: My youngest child is four years old so twice a year tends to be plenty; however, if you have an infan...

I just finished taking the Google Certified Educator Level 1 test and wanted to write a quick post about how the test has changed. The last time I took one of these tests was in 2020.  You have to retake the certification exam every three years to keep your certification. The test is radically different from what it was in 2020.  The test no longer has the scenarios that it once included. Instead, the three-hour exam consists of 35 multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and true or false questions.  It is also "open-book" meaning your browser isn't locked down and you may research answers to the questions.  The last time I took the test, I was unable to access anything outside of the exam due to a much stricter proctor policy.   Scheduling the test has also changed. When I took the test the first time, they had just moved to a system where you schedule a specific time.  They have reverted back to signing up for the test, the test becomes available in 24 to 48...

There is one thing that all of the organizing experts I follow have in common.  Step one to organizing your home is to declutter. No amount of organizing systems or products can create more space in your home, and you have to work with the space you have. So where are good places to start your decluttering journey?  Kitchen  The kitchen might be the easiest place to start because what to get rid of is often a no-brainer.  Start with your pantry and fridge. Pull everything out, and throw out anything that has expired. Also, if you know you aren't going to eat either donate it to a food bank if unopen or throw it out. If you are feeling motivated, go through the cabinet and get rid of the mugs, utensils, and gadgets you never use.  Bathroom/Medicine Cabinet Another easy place to start is the bathroom and medicine cabinets.  Throw out expired medicine, body care, and makeup.  This is also a great time to get rid of any half-used bottles of lotions and per...

Last month, I highlighted some of the products I used to make my kitchen more functional.  This month I want to highlight the other area of my home that I tackled when I first started my organizational journey...the linen closet.  I call it a linen closet, but it has to do so much more than just hold my linens. It is a very large closet, but it is the only storage I have in my home besides a tiny coat closet by my front door.  Here is the before. (No judging please!) As you can see, it holds a lot of stuff including board games, books, exercise equipment, first aid, and so much more.  So, how did I tackle this mess? With the following three steps.  1. Purge Before you can organize anything, first you have to purge. No matter how hard you try, you cannot organize an area if there is too much in it.   Books & Board Games - I started by going through the children's books and board games in the closet. I put these in boxes to take to my local used book...

When I started my journey to organizing my home in order to make it more manageable, I started with my kitchen.  It is no exaggeration when I say, not one cabinet, drawer, or shelf in my kitchen was functional. Here are my five favorite products I used to make my kitchen usable.  1. Better Homes and Gardens Canisters from Walmart I love these pantry canisters, and these are the only ones I use.  They come in many sizes, easily stack on each other, and are airtight. You can buy individuals or they have a few 3 or 4-pack options.  My favorite time to pick them up is around Black Friday when Walmart will have a larger set for a ridiculously good price. These are great to store products in and get rid of the original packaging.  Food stays fresher, they fit better into my tiny pantry because I can stack them, and it is easier to see if I am low on something.  2. Room Essentials Plastic Storage Bins from Target I actually use these all over my house in different...

A Note From the Author:  It has been over a year since I have blogged, and I miss it.  Writing is something I have always enjoyed, but having three kiddos and being a full-time teacher makes it hard for me to find the time. I am going to try to write more this year. 🤞  I have also decided to change the focus of this blog. When I first started writing, I attended it to be more education based, and I am sure I will still write about teaching at times.  But, over the last year, I have focused on trying to not allow work to be the center of my life and focusing more on my family, home, and myself. I would like my blog to reflect that because ultimately I am writing for myself. If anyone else enjoys it or finds it helpful that is just a bonus.  Fall 2021 was difficult for me.  I found myself struggling more as a teacher than I had since my first-semester teaching. I felt like I was drowning all the time. It caused me to be anxious and depressed and began to see...