BACK TO SCHOOL Office Tour

If you have been watching the news lately you will know that Texas has been hit hard with the devastation of hurricane Harvey. I cannot explain how it feels to be scared of a raindrop, many nights of sleeping in a closet because of tornado warnings, and hoping to God that water does not enter your home taking away your safe haven. I was one of the lucky ones, but for many they did not have the same fate as myself. As an educator I am worried about the many students who have now lost their safe haven...their home and for many students they have even lost their school.

Tomorrow I will help welcome students back to school. I worry about the faces I won't see because they evacuated out of the area. I worry about the students who have no home to go to. I worry about the students who lost countless hours of sleep.

I worry for the many students who have lost their sense of being safe.

I am determined to ensure that when students come to school on Tuesday they are greeted with love. That when they walk in the doors they start to feel a little normalcy. I am determined to assist students and their families to getting back to their safe haven, and in the meantime helping families know that for while their child is at school they are safe, loved, and nourished.

Now, more than ever, schools need to be a safe haven for students.

As educators, your space should scream that this is an environment where you can be yourself and we will embrace who you are. That in this space is love.

This past weekend I spent time in my office getting it cleaned up so that it can be even more welcoming than it was. Many came in my office the first week of school two weeks ago and were blown away how much it felt like home and praised the energy I spent into making it feel that way. At first I was taken back to why the comments, but after Harvey I am so glad that I did. I am glad that when people walk into my office they feel at home.

Two things I would not compromise on when decorating my office...I had to have cheetah print somewhere and lots of pictures. I love seeing the ones I love in the spaces that I am in so on hard days I can look at them and remember why I do what I do. The rug is from Amazon.

Found this table on Amazon, chairs on Wal-Mart, and dry erase board at Target.

If you are sitting down in front of my desk I love that your focus is on that bookshelf.

Had this made at a local furniture store that I absolutely adore called, Legacy Home Staging. I love supporting small businesses and this one is one of my absolute favorites and you can shop the store online.

The table is from Target.

Aromatherapy is a must. At home I always have essential oils in a diffuser so I do the same at work. I use lavender essential oil mostly.

Inside those drawers are coffee and tea pods. I also have disposable coffee cups and stirrers so anyone can always stop by and make themselves a drink.

I keep treats out because they always make anyone feel happy. You can tell the chocolate container is a hit because it needs to be re-filled. The glass containers are from Target, but I could not find them online so I linked similar.

Hungry? I always like to keep snacks and quick warm-up meals because you never know if someone may need a quick pick me up.

This organizer holds items that I can quickly grab for celebrations. For example, I have some birthday bags and personalized tags that calls for an extra pack of gum and mints that I keep at all times so I can always have something to give on someone's birthday. I also keep quick thank you gifts in another bin.