June 17, 2015

Last Week of School

 Celebrate the last week of school!

Some weeks have a theme.  For example: 1. First-week-of-spring2. Snow-and-hot-chocolate-and-books3. Eat-Salad-and-don’t-be-fat4. Completing-important-life-errands5. Cherry-blossom-trees The theme of this week in this teacher’s life is:  “Last-week-of-school”   There is something special about the last week of school.  Students are thoroughly and introspectively contemplating all you have taught them through the year while they happily study for their finals. They are so thankful and all bring you presents.  Colleagues are absorbed with the academically-rewarding work of planning units for next year.  There is an air of relaxation as the year peacefully winds to a close….   JUST KIDDING   If you believe a word of that, it’s been too long since you set…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

June 15, 2015

How To Change your Perspective

 Cactus flowers-a study in perspective

This Monday is in desperate need of a lesson on ‘How to Change Your Perspective’. First, the rain does NOT help my ‘be-positive-at-work’ mission. Second, talking should be outlawed before 10 AM. Third, my alarm went off in the middle of my REM sleep.  So, without further ado, here is my Master Class on How to Change Your Perspective at 9:23 AM on a Monday morning.  I like to look at relaxing pictures. I know-it’s not some complicated, multi-faceted solution. But it’s beautiful in its simplicity. Also, you can stay more present during the weekend by taking pictures you know you will want to  look at Monday morning.  Here are…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in work fabulous

May 11, 2015

Iced Coffee is Amazing

 iced coffee

It’s been a long Monday.  Excerpts below, in no particular order: 1.  I had a meeting with my boss about the “direction of my position”.  Before lunch.2. When a friend asked me how I was doing, I burst into tears.3.  I had 70 grade reports due. At 9 AM.4.  When a friend asked me how I was doing, I burst into tears. (Yes I know. It happened twice)5.  I rode a bike home wearing ballet flats.  Try it once and you will understand why it’s on the list, I promise. So, what did I learn today? I asked myself the same question as I frantically rooted through my apartment looking…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in monday-friday fabulous

May 11, 2015

Happy Monday Morning!

 puppies on wall

Hi readers,Last week, memes.  This week, beautiful roses. And memes. Because nothing cheers up a Monday like flowers and puppies. And while I have you here, let’s talk a little more about your Monday morning happiness plan. (Yes, you need a Monday morning happiness plan.) Before we get to flowers and puppies, let’s consider a short checklist. Monday Happiness Checklist Do you do something nice for yourself when you wake up Monday? A special break from your routine that brings you happiness? Maybe it’s scrolling a website for a few minutes, or eating a special breakfast? You need to create something to look forward to, before work. How is your…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in monday-friday fabulous

May 4, 2015

Happy Monday Morning!

 how to have a happy Monday morning

In deep thought about how to have a happy Monday morning, I decided nothing says “You’re special! You’re funny! Have a great day!”…like looking at the funniest memes on the internet. Feeling guilty about taking the time for a laugh? DON’T! Studies show the importance of taking breaks in boosting happiness suppressing decision fatigue  at work. And what employer wants a depressed, decision-fatigued worker?! No employer, that’s who! Employers want to focus on how to have a happy Monday morning just as much as the rest of us do. Don’t defend your choice to take short breaks when you need them. Instead, kick butt with your can-do attitude. If your…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in monday-friday fabulous

May 1, 2015

May Flowers

 white and pink May flowers blue sky

Nothing says ‘Happy May’ like abundant pictures of May flowers! When I was in Amsterdam, I spent a perfect morning at the famous Keukenhof flower garden. I recommend the trip! Make the most of your visit with a few quick pieces of advice. Advice for Perfect May Flowers Viewing Check your dates before you go. The tulip season is relatively short. The season runs from March to May, and flowers usually peak halfway through April. But with 7 million bulbs planted at the garden each year, you will see something beautiful on any visit. Arrive early! The transportation from the center is easy. However, crowds gather for the bus. If…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in travel fabulous

April 28, 2015

Present Tense

 How to Use Present Tense

In my constant quest for my most fabulous life, I realized I need to think about how to use present tense. Because I often talk in past tense.  And it’s decidedly un-fabulous. For example: “Last night’s episode of Keeping up the Kardashians PBS Nature was amazing!” “My girlfriends and I took a trip to Woodbury Commons Vegas Napa Valley last year  ““I read in the news about Bruce Jenner Dancing the Stars the upcoming presidential election” Instead of all this talk in the past, I want to discover how to use present tense.  I’ve been puzzling all year over how to “live closer to the moment” and feel more involved in my everyday life….

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

October 30, 2014

Pick and Choose

 meringues

I spend a lot of time every day asking myself pick and choose questions. Do I really want that croissant?  Will I still be able to button my pants if I eat that croissant?  What is going to happen with Ebola?  If I am going to die of Ebola anyway, why not just eat the stupid croissant? Etc. This type of internal dialogue is what gets me through the day. I have perfected my, “Oh, of course I’m paying attention to what your saying. You are so INTERESTING. Please go on.” face so that I can happily talk to myself inside my head while people are blathering on about….well, frankly…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

October 30, 2014

Always Be Nice

 ballons

It’s important to always be nice. Even when you don’t like the person you are talking to.  Even when you’re bored and hungry and late for something.  Even when the November doldrums set in and instead of being nice you are just desperately trying to get from one cup of vodka wine coffee tea…yeah…tea to the next without losing your mind. Why, you ask?  Well, funny enough I have been asking myself the same thing lately (the above scenarios are not simply a matter of blog-land fiction).  Here’s why I think it’s important to be nice: 1. It’s good for your blood pressure. When I am having a pleasant conversation…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous

October 17, 2014

The Busy Trap: Passion vs. Busy-ness

 boat water sunset

Tim Kreider recently wrote an opinion piece for the NY Times titled “The Busy Trap”.  If you are too cheap for a NYT subscription, you can read my summary below:     What is the busy trap? People create ‘The Busy Trap’, full of busy-ness for themselves.  Busyness is an annoying, distracted state that allows people to focus on being annoyed and distracted instead of processing any real information or real life experiences.  Mr. Kreider makes a particularly striking and beautiful point about feeling like he has to shout over the self-imposed hysteria of “busy-ness” in order to make simple plans with friends. The idea of busy-ness taking the place…

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written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in deep fabulous