Are you stuck?

I feel STUCK. Felt this way for months.

STUCK as in life zipping by while I watch & whine like a cry baby b*tch. 

Daily, this nagging feeling gnaws at me. Telling me, I am meant for more than mediocrity. I dream of making huge life changes: moving to another state (preferably Cali), leaving my job, creating my own business, traveling abroad, etc. But alas, I ALWAYS fail to follow through. 

On several occasions, I made half-ass attempts to get UNSTUCK. I even created a Pinterest board titled STUCK. From past experiences I learned, you can pin until your heart's content, but pinning quotes on Pinterest rarely helps improve a situation. 

Last weekend after a "last straw single-girl dating moment" and a monumental meltdown, I asked myself, "How the hell did I end up here?" It was at that moment I decided, I need to tap into my inner badass and LIVE the life of badassness I am meant to live! Time to LEAVE this story and write a new one.

Easier said than done, right? One thing I do know, being stuck is easy. Getting UNSTUCK, therein lies the challenge. Stay tuned for my next post to find out how I plan start living the life of badassness I deserve.

Are you stuck?

meet the teacher monday: Teachers to be Thankful For

It's Sunday, but this girl is NOT suffering from the usual case of the Smondays. Smonday is that moment when Sunday stop feeling like Sunday, and the anxiety of Monday kicks in. And the reason why the Smondays escaped me THIS Sunday...Yours truly is OFFICIALLY on Thanksgiving Break.

I am in much need of some down time. As break approached I participated in 4 ARD's. Special Education teachers feel my pain right about now. For non-SPED teachers, preparing for an ARD consist of conferencing with the parents ahead of time, assessing the student to obtain their present levels of performance, desegregating data, creating new goal and objectives (if applicable). Working on paperwork for each ARD can vary from a few hours to a week or two...or maybe more. Many factors determine the amount of time invested in each ARD.

The last week before break also brought with it, students bursting with holiday excitement in anticipation of a week with NO school. If only they knew, I was probably more excited than they were. And how could I forget to mention  the walk-through that happened whilst these students burst and inappropriately vied for attention. Let's just say many conversation happened with parents last week. 

So, this week's prompt: 3 Teachers to be THANKFUL For!

If this is your first time participating, just follow these simple guidelines.

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Here's the skinny:

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

Well, let's get to it!

I am thankful for these three(in no particular order).

Kelli Alaina Wise

I discovered Kelli on the Facebook group, Teacherpreneur Tribe. Kelli recently hosted the Instagram Insiders challenge on Facebook. Thanks to Kelli, my IG account received a face-lift, I changed the way I connect with my audience, and in the process, I made some new connections. For me it's not about the number of followers, it's about growing an "authentic following."

Kristin Kalani
In my opinion, Kristin Kalani from @easyteachingtools (...you can also find her on Facebook under the same name) represents what I call the "big dawgs." Although Kristin is a big dawg or educelebrity, she remains humble and willing to lend her expertise when needed. Believe it or not, NOT everyone is willing to "mentor" a budding teacherpreneur. (Read about those type of people here. #shamelessblogpostplug) I digressed. Thanks to Kristin I am more  knowledgeable about creating products for my TPT store, and through her I connected (in real life) with two fantabulous (fantastic+fabulous = fantabulous), down-to-earth, real souls from Cali, Cheryl from @auntiessweetlife and Janice from @islandloverteacher. It's all about the connections...

Samantha Zuniga
Samantha and I work in the same school district, but unfortunately not on the same campus:-( If we worked together we would be dream team of creativity and innovation...a force to be reckoned with. Samantha keeps it real and never comes across as a self-important diva (Can't say the same about myself...I have my moments). Samantha worked as a paraprofessional for many years and recently became a Special Education teacher. If no one has told her, she needs to know she is rocking her new position and I am learning a thing or two from her.

If the mood strikes you, feel free to add more than three. Rounding out my list of "Teachers I am Thankful For," Cheryl, who I mentioned earlier. I love that Cheryl keeps it gangsta sometimes. Hahaha:-D MY favorite quote from her and my new life mantra, "Hugs to the hustlas who get sh*t done!" 

And my friend Janice (also mentioned earlier), this lady keeps me in stitches with her quick wit. Janice recently wrote a post on the Global Glitter Tribe's blog, and the following resonated with me: 

"However, I never suspected that I would meet people from online, all over the world, and pray each night that God keeps them forever safe and healthy, for fear that my heart couldn't endure such heartbreak."

Knowing that she prays for her teacher friends makes me all the more thankful for Janice...

Did you think I would leave out Shelia Jane?!  Thanks to Shelia, I changed my perception in regards to teaching and entrepreneurship. I am taking ownership of my future! 

So, who are you thankful for?

Don't forget to return to my blog and link up.

3 Things You Should Not Forget Now That You're A Celebriteacher

Before I move on to my second point...first let me preface my post by stating the following:

The need to write this 3 part series, 3 Things You Shouldn't Forget Now That You're a Celebriteacher, stems from a place of frustration, not jealousy. I KNOW, someone read the first installment of this series and thought... this hooker seems #peanutbutterandjealous. Umm...no. You know what "they" say about jealousy,

"People only RAIN on your PARADE when they're jealous of your SUN and tired of their SHADE" 

Trust. No SHADE here. I am the Grand Marshal of my OWN parade. My need to write this series emerged from frustration. Many of us possess scads of talent and creative ideas. But, unless you ARE or roll with the celebriteachers aka the "big dawgs," the valuable knowledge you wish to impart falls on deaf ears. Unfortunately for the novice teacherpreneurs (like myself), the "big dawgs" run the show and the masses tend to flock to these celebriteacher's show.

Let me put it this way. The celebriteachers are the main act and we are the opening act. No, we are the opening act for the opening act. LOL. We are the Meek Mill to their Drake. The Michelle to their Beyonce. HaHa. (Calm down...I am joking). But, you know I am preaching the truth. #realtalk Let me clear one thing up before I move on. I will never be any one's Michelle to their Beyonce. I AM THE Beyonce.#BOOM And to succeed, you need to have a winner's mentality! Be the Beyonce. Be yourself! Be whoever you want to be. 

So, on to my second point.

2. "You Got By With A Little Help From Your Friends" 
You may be successful, BUT...

 I am more than sure someone helped you along the way. Now, you have the opportunity to pay it forward and assist others up the ladder of success by mentoring them and teaching them what you learned on your teacherpreneurial journey.  

On occasion, I put myself out there and ask celebriteachers questions ranging from TPT product advice to classroom tips. Many respond and provide assistance, but a few shunned a question or two.  I understand life gets in the way and time may not permit a social media Q&A session. Instead of ignoring teacher's inquiries, choose a social media platform and take the time to motivate, empower, and/or inspire. If you find many teachers asking the same question, reach the masses on Periscope or with a blog post. Your response may be the catalyst needed to ignite a budding teacherpreneur's journey.

You may be asking, "Who are you to tell a celebriteacher what to do?" Oh, just a teacher who has received a cold-shoulder or two.  Case in point, on Instagram a few months ago, a teacher posted an amazing opportunity experienced by her campus. I along with at least 20 other teachers asked the celebriteacher how she earned the opportunity for this once in a lifetime event she posted.  She never answered. I checked back days later, no answer. Since 20+ teachers asked, I didn't take the comment neglect personally. Instead of being irked and waiting for a response, I investigated the matter myself and obtained the information I needed. 

I said it before and I will say it again, you may be successful, BUT... Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. I sound bitter, but again let me reiterate. This post comes from a place of frustration (sometimes failure), not resentment. I recognize the struggle and realize you have worked hard for your rightfully earned success; however, it bothers me when celebriteachers look down on others and ignore opportunities to mentor or pay it forward, which brings me to my last point...

3. Stay Humble
Read about my next point in the last installment of my three-part series, Three Things You Shouldn't Forget Now that You're a Celebriteacher. 

As always make the ordinary... EXTRAORDINARY!

3 Things You Shouldn't Forget Now That You're A Celebriteacher

Time to keep it real. I wrote the following update on my Facebook page today:

"I'm impatient with my teacherpreneurial journey. I am watching many teachers on Blab and Periscope with the same goals as myself and some have reached Celebriteacher status.

Everyone's teacherpreneurial journey is different and today I gained some insight that can be applied to my struggle. 

1.  I don't have to HOPE everyone likes me. You either do or you don't. And truth be told, Blab and Periscope feel like high school... (Be honest.)
2. I don't have to HOPE that someone gives me a break. I am not going to brown-nose or d-ride to catch a break.

I'm going to get my HOPES up instead of HOPING on others.

After I posted, I received a few comments about teachers who felt the same way. I wish more teachers kept it "real" and spoke their minds. But most probably do not for fear of alienation or retaliation. Me, on the other hand, I proudly wear my "Scarlet T." 

Three Things You Shouldn't Forget 

Now That You're A Celebriteacher

1. "Started from the bottom now were here"

To quote the immortal words of Drake, "Started from the bottom now we're here..." You should never forget you once started from the bottom. And from the bottom...a struggle ensued as you clawed your way to the top of the mountain to...SUCCESS. 

Despite your hoards of followers gained, awards garnered, or the many nations inspired by your teachepreneurial genius, don't forget...you once struggled too.

And the struggle for some of us...is real. For me, the long, arduous road to "success" has been/is paved with few victories & many obstacles. Success eludes me, but I refuse to give up. My failures only serve as motivation to keep hustling. Like my friend, Aunties Sweet Life says, "Hugs to the hustlers who get sh*t done." And everyday, I wake up and ask myself, "What sh*t needs to get done today...to get me closer to completing my goals?" 

Celebriteachers, unless you started from the top, YOU stood in our shoes and experienced the struggle of the "climb" and you know what it takes to get sh*t done. And with that being said,

 "Don't forget where you come from." 

Be honest, how many of us have achieved success in other areas of our life, and "forgot where we came from?" Perfect example. When I lost my 57 lbs., I also lost my mind and forgot that I once struggled to complete tasks as simple as walking up a flight of stairs and buckling my shoe.  After a few reality checks, I reminded myself of my battle to lose the bulge. After reminding myself, I in turn began helping others in need of weight loss inspiration. 

Saying all that to say...

"Don't forget where you come from." 

My weight loss example, me turning my success into an opportunity to help others, is the perfect segway (segue, for the grammar police) to my next point.

2. "You Got By With A Little Help From Your Friends" 
Read more about my next point in part two of my three-part series, Three Things You Shouldn't Forget Now That You're a Celebriteacher.

As always, make the ordinary...EXTRAORDINARY!