If you’ve made it this far in the series, congratulations, you’re officially past the scary part.

✅You understand rows.
✅You understand columns.
✅You’ve typed information into cells and nothing bad happened.

Now we get to the part where spreadsheets stop being “organized” and start being supportive.
Enter: checkboxes and color-coding.

Read more »

Jessica

This is called conditional formatting, which is just a fancy way of saying: “When this happens, change the color.”

That’s it. That’s the whole idea.

Let's start with the Sample Spreadsheet. Click HERE to make a copy to your Google Drive.

*Excel instructions follow

Read more »

Jessica

Teachers are in a tough spot right now.

AI showed up FAST. Policies are still fuzzy and expectations don’t always match reality.

Here’s the truth: AI isn’t the enemy. Confusion is.

When assignments are judged only by the final product, tools like AI detectors can feel tempting, but they don’t tell the full story. They can’t see thinking, effort, revision, or learning. They only see patterns.

That’s why focusing on process matters more than ever.

• Some helpful shifts: Ask for drafts, outlines, or brainstorming notes
• Include short reflections: “How did you approach this?”
• Be clear about what AI use is and is not allowed
• Treat detection tools as conversation starters, not verdicts

When students know the expectations and know you value how they got there, trust grows.

And learning does, too.

This isn’t about lowering standards.
It’s about teaching in the world we actually live in.

To help you as a teacher introduce AI to your classroom in a safe way, I've created a poster set for you to use. You can access the template on Canva HERE.

   

👉 Next up: what students can do to protect themselves (and their work).

Read more »

Jessica

I opened my Teachers Pay Teachers Yearbook this week and had one of those quiet, sit-with-it-for-a-minute moments.

I started my store back in 2013, and for a while there, it really took off. I was creating resources constantly. Posting. Sharing. Building. Dreaming big.

And then… life happened. Hard seasons. Overwhelming seasons. The kind where your energy goes toward surviving, not creating. What used to be weekly product uploads slowly turned into:

• one resource a month
• then every couple of months
• then once or twice a year

I stopped promoting and sharing. I put that part of my life on the back burner, not because I didn’t care, but because I simply didn’t have the capacity.

So when I looked at this year’s TPT stats, I didn’t expect much.

But here’s what surprised me:

Even in my quiet years, my resources still reached real teachers, in real classrooms, helping real students.

Read more »

Jessica

What the LSU Situation Taught Us

Recently, students at Louisiana State University were accused of using AI to write papers.

Not because someone watched them cheat. Not because plagiarism was proven. But because software flagged their writing as “possibly AI-generated.”

For some students, that meant: 

• zeros on assignments
• long appeal processes
• stress about grades, scholarships, and academic records

Here’s the part that matters most:

AI detection tools don’t actually know who wrote something.

They look for patterns. And because AI was trained on huge amounts of academic writing, much of it written by students and professors, human writing can sometimes look “AI-like.”

That doesn’t mean AI was used. It means the student wrote clearly and formally, the way most students are properly taught to write.

Even faculty acknowledged that these tools are not definitive proof. This situation matters because it shows us something important:
When we treat AI tools as fact instead of as one piece of information, real people can be harmed.

Technology can help us ask questions. But it shouldn’t replace human judgment, context, or conversation.

👉 Next up: what this means for teachers, students, and parents moving forward.

Read more »

Jessica

If you have been following along, here is what you have already done:

By now, you may notice something important: This series is not about specific foods.

It is about learning skills you can reuse every week, no matter what groceries you buy or how much variety you like.

Week 1 taught you how to prep food.

Week 2 taught you how to pair and package snacks.

This week, you are learning a new skill: How to assemble a simple lunch without overthinking it.

---

The Week 3 Goal

Create one simple lunch that is ready to grab during the week.

Not a full week of lunches. Not multiple recipes. Just one option that removes a daily decision.

---

Why Lunch Is the Hardest Meal

Lunch usually happens when:

• You are low on energy
• You have limited time
• You need something filling

When lunch feels unplanned, it often becomes skipped or unsatisfying.

Having a lunch assembly skill means you can repeat it every week with different foods. This week is about giving future you something steady and predictable.

---

The Lunch Formula

Think of lunch as a formula, not a recipe. You already have the base.

From Week 1 and Week 2, you likely have:

• Washed vegetables
• Prepped fruit
• Simple proteins or snack items

Now, we are taking those skills and just assembling them. The Simple Lunch Formula consists of:

• Vegetables
• Protein
• Something filling
• Something you enjoy

That is it.

---

Option 1: The Mason Jar Lunch

This works well if you like something fresh and ready to go.
Layer in this order:

• Dressing or dip (OR use a separate container and skip this step)
• Crunchy vegetables
• Protein
• Greens or grains

Examples:

• Chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and vinaigrette
• Chicken, bell peppers, spinach, and ranch
• Quinoa, roasted vegetables, and hummus

Make two or three jars. Stop there.

My Fave Mediterranean Shrimp Salad

Make a mix of chopped cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes and toss with Greek seasoning and olive oil, dash of red wine vinegar.

Cook shrimp marinated in olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Greek seasoning. 

Layer mix, top with shrimp, add some romaine, seal jar. 

Need some fats? Add feta cheese and kalamata olives.

Want some carbs? Serve with a pita on the side, or add some quinoa or brown rice before the romaine. 

Read more »

Jessica

Let’s start with a confession I hear all the time:

“I’m just not a spreadsheet person.”

If that sentence has ever come out of your mouth, welcome. You’re in exactly the right place.

Here’s the good news:
You don’t need to be techy. You don’t need to like spreadsheets. You don’t even need to understand spreadsheets yet.

You just need to see them explained in a way that actually makes sense for teachers.

---

First: Let’s Remove the Fear

Most teachers’ spreadsheet trauma comes from one of two places:

• A college class where Excel was used exclusively for math
• Opening a blank spreadsheet and thinking, “Well… now what?”

That empty grid feels intimidating because no one ever explained what you’re actually looking at. So let’s do that, without jargon.

---

Think of a Spreadsheet as a Simple Table

That’s it. That’s the reframe.

A spreadsheet is just a table where:

• Rows go across
• Columns go down
• You type information into boxes

If you’ve ever gotten a bill, a bank statement, or used a chore chart then you’ve already seen one! Another everyday table used by teachers? A GRADEBOOK! Also a checklist, bathroom sign out log, behavior tracker, attendance tracker...

And if you’ve ever made a table in Google Docs or Word, congratulations, you already have the core skill.

---

Rows = Students (or Tasks, or Anything Really)

Rows are usually the things you’re tracking.

In a classroom, that might be:

• Students
• Assignments
• Tasks
• Meetings
• Behavior incidents

Each row is one complete “item.”

Example:

• Row 2 = Jordan
• Row 3 = Ava
• Row 4 = Marcus

Or:

• Row 2 = “Grade quizzes”
• Row 3 = “Email parents”
• Row 4 = “Prep centers”

One row = one thing. Simple.

---

Columns = Information About That Thing

Columns tell you what kind of information you’re tracking about each row.

For students, columns might be:

• Name
• Class period
• Notes
• Strengths
• Concerns

For tasks, columns might be:

• Task name
• Due date
• Category
• Done (checkbox 👀)

Every column answers one question.

That’s it. That’s the system.

---

Cells = Tiny Boxes of Possibility ✨

A cell is just where a row and column meet.

It’s one box. You click it. You type. That’s the whole interaction.

No formulas required. No tech wizardry. Just typing information you already have.

---

You Do NOT Need Formulas to Start

This part matters, so I’m going to say it louder:

You do not need formulas to use spreadsheets effectively.

Not at first. Not for most teacher use and not to be successful. Spreadsheets are helpful long before you ever touch math, automation, or fancy features.

A spreadsheet that:

• Holds your notes
• Organizes your thoughts
• Keeps information in one place

is already doing its job. Anything beyond that is a bonus, not a requirement.

---

The Secret to Getting Comfortable: Start With Labels

Blank spreadsheets are scary. Labeled spreadsheets are friendly.

That’s why the easiest way to begin is with a sheet that already has:

• Column headers
• Clear titles
• A purpose

Once the labels are there, your brain goes:

“Oh. I know what to put here.”

That’s when spreadsheets stop feeling intimidating and start feeling… helpful.

---

Start Here (Literally)

To make this even easier, I created a “Start Here” Google Sheet with: 

• Pre-labeled rows and columns
• No formulas
• No pressure
• Just structure

You don’t need to design anything. You don’t need to set it up “correctly.” You just open it and start typing.

👉 Download or open the “Start Here” Google Sheet below. 

Read through it and try it out for yourself!

Google Sheets - link will force a copy

Microsoft Excel Online - click on file and create a copy for yourself!

Download Excel or Numbers file here

That’s how spreadsheet confidence actually starts. Coming Next…

Read more »

Jessica

Where Something Comes From Matters More Than How Real It Looks

By now, we’ve all seen it.

A screenshot of a headline. A cropped paragraph from an article. A post that starts with, “I saw this online…”

And it looks real.

But here’s the thing: Screenshots are not sources.

When information is shared without context, with no link, no author, no date - it becomes almost impossible to verify. Screenshots remove the very details we need to check whether something is accurate, outdated, or taken out of context.

Before trusting or sharing something, ask: 

• Who originally posted this?
• Is there a real author or organization?
• Can I find the full article or original post?

If you can’t trace it back, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s fake, but it does mean it’s unverified. And unverified information deserves a pause, not a repost.

In a world full of polished images and confident claims, where something comes from matters more than how convincing it looks.

👉 Next up: why confident writing isn’t the same thing as correct information.

Read more »

Jessica

 

Zoom In. Seriously.

AI images are impressive, but they’re not perfect. And once you know what to look for, the cracks start to show.

Before you trust or share an image, take a few seconds to zoom in.

Check for:

• Hands – extra fingers, strange joints, or fingers that don’t quite connect
• Teeth – unusually perfect, evenly spaced, or slightly unnatural
• Jewelry or glasses – blending into skin or clothes instead of sitting on them
• Text in the image – misspelled words, warped letters, or total nonsense

Another big clue?
Everything looks a little too perfect.

Real life has wrinkles. Shadows. Odd angles. Imperfections.
AI prefers smooth skin, perfect lighting, and symmetry everywhere.

If something looks flawless in a way real life rarely is, that’s your cue to pause.

👉 Next up: why where something comes from matters more than how real it looks.

Read more »

Jessica

Snack Prep That Actually Gets Eaten

Last week, we washed food.

If that’s all you did, you did it right.

This week, we’re not starting over. We’re building on what you already did.

Remember those fruits and veggies you washed and stored? This week, we’re turning them into snack kits so they’re ready when hunger hits.

No new recipes. No extra cooking.

This week, we’re taking the same foods (or different ones, that's up to you) and making one small upgrade that has a surprisingly big payoff.

Welcome to Week 2: Snack Prep That Actually Gets Eaten.

*This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

---

The Problem With “Snacking Better”

Most of us don’t snack poorly because we don’t know better.

We snack poorly because:

• We’re tired
• We’re busy
• We’re hungry now
• The easiest option wins

This week is not about cutting snacks out. It’s about making the better snack just as easy as the “meh” one. No willpower required.

---

Week 2 Goal (Still Small on Purpose)

Turn your prepped foods into grab-and-go snacks.

That’s it. Not every snack. Not every day. Not forever.

Just one snack option that’s ready when you are.

---

Step 1: Pick ONE Snack Combo

You only need to choose one of the options below for this week to count. Yes, one.

🥕 Option 1: Crunch + Protein

• Carrots + hummus
• Cucumbers + ranch
• Bell peppers + guacamole

🫐 Option 2: Fruit + Protein

• Blueberries + cheese stick
• Apple slices + peanut butter
• Grapes + yogurt

🥚 Option 3: Protein-Forward

• Hard-boiled eggs + fruit
• Turkey roll-ups + crackers
• Cottage cheese + berries

Pick what sounds good. Pick what you already have. Pick what you’ll actually eat at 3:30 pm when your patience is gone.

---

Step 2: Prep Once, Grab All Week

Sometime this week (5–15 minutes max), do one of the following:

• Portion snacks into small containers or bags
• OR
• Group snack items together in the fridge

That’s it.

You don’t need matching containers. You don’t need aesthetic perfection. You need visibility and ease (although if matching, aesthetically pleasing containers make you feel happy, you do you boo!!!!)

Here are some of my faves:🫙 Clear storage containers like these - so I can see what’s ready all week

Put the snacks:

• At eye level
• At the front of the fridge
• Where your hand naturally reaches

Out of sight = forgotten.
Front and center = eaten.

---

Why This Works (Even When Motivation Is Low)

This isn’t about discipline. It’s about design.

When snacks are:

• Prepped
• Paired (fiber + protein)
• Easy to grab

You’re more likely to:

• Stay full longer
• Avoid energy crashes
• Make decisions faster

And maybe most importantly: you stop feeling like you’re “failing” every afternoon. This is support, not restriction.

---

A Gentle Reality Check

If this week feels almost too easy, that’s a good sign. Sustainable habits feel boring at first. They don’t come with a dramatic before-and-after. They quietly make life easier. If snack prep is the only thing you manage this week, you are still moving forward. That counts.

---

Week 2 Checklist: Snack Prep Without the Meltdown

Grab your very own copy of my checklist here. Free!!

Also included: a list of easy snack pairings for you! Pick and choose which ones sound good to you, and you'll be good to go!

---

What’s Coming Next (Week 3)

Next week, we’re building again, gently.

We’ll take:

• These snacks
• These same skills
• This same low-pressure approach

And turn them into:
👉 The easiest lunch ever (mason jar style)

Still simple.
Still doable.
Still no meltdown.

---

Final Permission Slip

You don’t need to overhaul your eating. You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to prep everything. You just need to make the next choice a little easier than the last one. Last week, you washed food.

This week, you made it easier to eat.

That’s progress.

See you in Week 3 💛

Read more »

Jessica

We’ve all seen it.

You’re scrolling social media when something catches your eye: a picture, a video, a well-written post. It sparks interest, pulls at your emotions, or confirms something you already believe.

You react quickly. You like it. You share it. You comment.

But in today’s digital world, that quick reaction deserves a second look.

Before engaging, we have to pause and ask:
Is this real?
Is this actually true?

Because not everything that looks convincing deserves our trust.

Read more »

Jessica

Let’s clear something up right away:

If the word spreadsheet makes your eye twitch, you’re not broken. You were just never shown how they actually help teachers.

Most teachers don’t hate spreadsheets.
They hate:

• Complicated formulas
• Blank grids with zero direction
• Being told, “It’s easy!” when it absolutely did not feel easy

But here’s the truth: you’re already doing spreadsheet work every day, just without the benefits.

The Real Problem: Teacher Mental Load

Teachers track everything:

• Grades
• Attendance
• Parent communication
• Behavior
• Lesson plans
• Meetings
• Accommodations
• To-dos that live rent-free in your brain

Most of this information is floating between sticky notes, planners, emails, and a vague sense of panic.

A spreadsheet doesn’t add more work.
It holds the work you’re already doing in one place.

---

One Spreadsheet = One Home for Your Brain

When teachers hear “spreadsheet,” they think “gradebook.”

But a spreadsheet can be:

• A running to-do list
• A parent contact log
• A behavior tracker
• A lesson planning hub
• A place to dump thoughts so your brain can rest

Think of it like a digital binder that:

• Never runs out of pages
• Can be reused year after year
• Can sort, highlight, and organize for you

And no, this does not require formulas.

---

Why Starting with ONE Matters

The mistake most teachers make is trying to organize everything at once.

That’s overwhelming. And unnecessary.

You don’t need:

• 17 tabs
• Fancy formulas
• A color-coded masterpiece

You need one spreadsheet that solves one problem.

Examples:

• “I forget who I emailed.” → Parent communication log
• “I lose track of tasks.” → Weekly to-do list
• “I need notes on students.” → Student info tracker

Start there. That’s it.

---

What Your First Spreadsheet Should Include

Your first spreadsheet should be:

• Simple
• Clearly labeled
• Immediately useful

Think:

• Rows = names or tasks
• Columns = information you already track
• Nothing fancy, nothing scary

If it saves you even 10 minutes a week, it’s doing its job.

---

The Goal Isn’t Fancy; It’s Calm

This isn’t about becoming “a spreadsheet person.”

It’s about:

• Reducing mental clutter
• Making your work visible
• Letting tools support you instead of draining you

Spreadsheets don’t need to be impressive.
They need to be useful.

---

👉 Want to Start Without the Blank Page?

I made a Teacher Life Starter Spreadsheet with:

• A simple to-do list
• A notes section
• A flexible layout you can customize

You don’t need to build from scratch.
You just need a place to start.

📥 Grab the free download below and let your spreadsheet do the holding for you.

Google Sheets

Microsoft Excel Online
You'll have to open this link, click on File, Create a Copy, Create a Copy Online. 

Download Excel File here

Read more »

Jessica

If the phrase meal prep makes you think of six burners going at once and a kitchen that looks like a crime scene, take a breath.

This series is not about becoming a new person.

It’s about making food slightly easier than it was yesterday.

So for Week 1, we are starting very small.
Almost suspiciously small.

---

Week 1 Goal: Prep Any Two Foods

That’s it. Two foods.
Not two meals. Not a full menu.

Just two foods you like.

If you stop here, you still win.

---

Step 1: Pick Your Two

Choose any two from the list below, or your own fave. You can ignore this list entirely. There are no bonus points for picking “healthier” ones, the best choice is the one you’ll actually eat.

🥕 Crunchy Veg Options

• Baby carrots

• Bell peppers

• Cucumbers

• Sugar snap peas

• Celery

• Cherry tomatoes

Prep: Wash, slice if needed, store.

---

🫐 Easy Fruit Options

• Blueberries

• Strawberries

• Grapes

• Apples (slice + lemon water if you’re fancy)

• Oranges or clementines

Prep: Wash, dry, store.

---

🧀 Protein-ish, No-Cook Options

• Cheese sticks

• Cubed cheese

• Deli turkey or ham

• Hard-boiled eggs (store-bought counts!)

• Hummus or guacamole cups

Prep: Portion or place where you can grab them.

---

🍿 Snacky Things That Need Zero Effort

• Nuts or trail mix

• Yogurt cups

• Crackers

• Rice cakes

• Protein bars

Prep: Move them to the front of the pantry so they don’t disappear into the void.

---

The 10-Minute Prep That Counts

Once you’re home (or whenever you feel like it this week), do the following:

• Wash the foods that need washing

• Slice the foods that need slicing

• Store them in containers or bags

• Put them where you can actually see them

That’s it.

You just meal prepped.

---

Why This Works (Even Though It Feels “Too Easy”)

Most of us don’t skip healthy food because we don’t want it.

We skip it because:

• It’s not washed

• It’s not ready

• It’s hidden

• We’re tired

This step removes the friction.

When food is ready, visible, and easy:

• You snack better without thinking about it

• Lunch comes together faster

• You stop defaulting to “whatever is closest”

This isn’t about discipline.
It’s about designing your environment.

---

Storage Tips (Keep It Low Effort)

• Clear containers = out of sight doesn’t happen

• Paper towel in fruit containers = longer life

• Front of fridge beats back of fridge every time

You don’t need matching containers.
You need food you’ll eat.

---

What’s Coming Next

Next week, we’ll take these same foods and turn them into:

• Grab-and-go snacks

• Simple pairings (fiber + protein)

• Still no cooking required

Same foods. Slightly smarter system.

---

Free Week 1 Checklist: “The Bare Minimum Meal Prep”

Find your freebie here! 

This checklist is designed to help you gently begin to meal prep by just choosing two things. I've given you some simple ideas on where to start. 

---

Final Permission Slip

You are not behind.
You are not failing.
You are not “bad at meal prep.”

You’re just learning, and learning starts small.

This week, two foods is enough.

See you next week. 💛

Read more »

Jessica

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what’s next for me and not in a dramatic, flip-the-table, reinvent-myself kind of way.

More like a quiet, honest check-in.

Since coming back from my cruise in October, my nutrition has… wandered off. Not because I don’t know better. I do. But routines slipped, travel brain lingered, and suddenly I was making choices that didn’t really love my body back.

You know the spiral:

“I’ll just enjoy this.”

“I’ll get back on track Monday.”

Monday ghosts you.

And now here we are.

The thing is, I know my body. I know gluten and I are not besties. I know too much dairy and alcohol send my digestion straight into chaos (hi, IBS). And I know that when I ignore those signals, my body gets louder and louder until I finally listen.

Also… I’m 44 now. That alone changes the conversation.

This isn’t about weight loss or punishment or starting over because I “messed up.” This is about hormone health, energy, digestion, sleep, mood, all the things that make daily life feel manageable instead of exhausting.

So I’m starting Belle Vitale again.

If you’re unfamiliar, Belle Vitale isn’t a crash diet or an extreme fitness plan. It’s a wellness-focused program designed specifically for women especially those of us in our 40s who are realizing that what used to work… doesn’t anymore.

It focuses on:

• Supporting hormone health
• Eating in a way that reduces inflammation and bloat
• Strength training that actually makes you feel strong (not destroyed)
• And building sustainable habits instead of white-knuckling your way through a plan
• Drinking my water (because shockingly, it helps everything)
• Getting my steps in (sometimes intentionally, sometimes just by moving more)
• Doing simple stretches at my desk when my body starts feeling stiff and crunchy
• Making a realistic schedule that supports my energy… and actually sticking to it (most days)

I did Belle Vitale last year, and I felt really good. Not just physically, but mentally. It helped me slow down and pay attention to what my body needed instead of pushing through everything on caffeine and vibes.

And here’s something I’ve learned about myself:

When I feel good, I do better.

I eat better. I move more consistently. I’m more patient. I think more clearly. I show up better: for work, for life, for myself.

This time around, I’m also focusing hard on the small, everyday things like the boring stuff that doesn’t get a highlight reel but makes the biggest difference.

I’ll be sharing little things I’m doing each day, like:

• Drinking my water (because shockingly, it helps everything)
• Getting my steps in—sometimes intentionally, sometimes just by moving more
• Doing simple stretches at my desk when my body starts feeling stiff and crunchy
• Nothing extreme or perfect. Just small choices, done consistently.

I’ll be following the Belle Vitale eating plan and workouts, using their supplements to support hormones and overall wellness, and continuing with my MAKE products because they help me stay energized, hydrated, and focused without feeling fried.

Here's the Belle Vitale Workbook I made to help me stay on track. 

Here's the Phase 1, Week 1 meal plan. 

This isn’t punishment for past choices. This isn’t a “get it together” lecture. This is self-respect.

It’s choosing to listen instead of ignore, to support instead of restrict, and to build routines that help future me feel better.

So what’s next for me?

A reset that’s grounded in experience. A focus on how I feel, not just how I look. And a reminder that wellness doesn’t have to be loud, extreme, or all-or-nothing to work.

If you’re feeling a little off lately, like low energy, bloated, overwhelmed, disconnected from your body, just know you’re not behind. You’re probably just ready for your next chapter too.

Join me in my journey. I'll be sharing my meal plans (Plan A for Belle Vitale) as well as any of my recipes. All for free. I'm starting January 19th. Let's reset together.

Read more »

Jessica