Just Give Me the Marshmallow!

Happy Monday!

Today is the first day of school for many students, families, and teachers. We are actually heading into our 3rd week with students, but today begins our full (extended) days. This is the time of year when I leave my house in the dark, arrive home in the dark, and the next thing I know...it's Thanksgiving :)

It's also the time of year when all best intentions seem to take a backseat. Anyone else? All my good stress-free habits I built up during break just seemed to disappear last week! My beautiful Jamberry manicures? Yikes. My cleaned-out email inbox? Not so clean anymore. My greatly-reduced coffee habit? Hahahaha.

Today is not only the first day of l-o-n-g days for us, it's also my sister's birthday (happy birthday Leslie!) and an anniversary of a super-important commitment I made to myself (yay me!). 

August 25th marks a day when I pat myself on the back, read a few positive quotes, and set some new personal goals. 

(check out Babbling Abby's motivational freebies here!)

What are your goals for the new school year? I plan on continuing with Whole 30 (focusing on nutrition and sleeping!) and I'm looking to up the ante with new fitness goals (open to any suggestions!). I also want to continue participating in the Alison's challenges (fun post coming on Wednesday!) to stay accountable to NOT wearing ponytails and UGGs all year. Eating healthy, sleeping, and cute outfits pretty much sums it up!

We had our students participate in the classic marshmallow test last week when we discussed the "self-control" character trait. 

It was hilarious to watch - my students were in it to win it!

We watched a little youtube clip featuring children participating in the challenge. While our students were watching, their teacher placed one marshmallow at their tables. We told the students if they could demonstrate self-control and not touch, lick, or eat their marshmallow for 5 minutes, they would receive another one. We made it a BIG deal with cheering as the longest 5 minutes ever ticked by. Almost every student made it...except the cutie pictured above. He lasted 4.5 minutes! And then proceeded to have an ear-splitting tantrum that involved me taking him out of the classroom for a water-chill break. 

I had total sympathy for him. I ♥ marshmallows :)

Here's a terrific reminder article as we gear up for another year and try to hold onto the commitments we've made to ourselves.

Have a fantastic week!