I may have a problem...

So this is not my first post based around Erin Condren but I have to share my weakness to more accessories and supplies.
This is my 3rd delivery of the summer...

Since I ordered my new Teacher Planner a while ago, I was bummed to miss out on some of the changes, so I ordered a divider and some personalized stickers to guide my planning. I am not quite ready to go back to work but definitely eager to get my planner organized.
Gotta love that even with the smallest orders, they throw in a couple of freebies.
Quote postcard and a sticker.

If you are interested in the Erin Condren Teacher Planner or any other products, follow this link to save $10 on your first order. (Be aware that orders to take a few weeks to process, ship, and deliver)

AmyLaneySave10

Team Building Fun

As summer begins to wind down, my coworkers and I thought it would be fun to do an event together. We wanted our entire staff of 30+ employees but that couldn't work with so many varying schedules during summer break, but I am excited that we got 11 including one of our newest staff members to join in the fun!

Washi Addiction

I was shopping for storage containers at Office Max, and ran into a fabulous clearance bin! They are setting up a new display so they clearanced all of their odd leftovers, which means I SCORED!!!

Update...

I went back to Office Max to take advantage of this deal on washi tape. Each roll was $1.41 or less! As I have stated before, I have an addiction problem with colorful office supplies. After my haul yesterday, I decided I needed a storage bin. Office Max carries a line of storage boxes called, "Really Useful Boxes" that come in a large variety of sizes. I bought the 1.7 liter and almost all of the washi tape fit.

This is my new collection, I started with 5 or 6 until I discovered this sale.

Semi-Homemade Blueberry Stuffed French Toast

While at the store the other day, I stumbled upon this...

I was inspired to make something more exciting than just toast with this bread.

French toast seemed to be the most obvious but I felt I needed to go even more exciting and then I thought...STUFF IT!

This is not a real recipe but more of a "how-to" in order to kick up a recipe!

I made French Toast (any recipe you already use)

Then I blended Whipped Cream Cheese and about 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries to put between two slices of prepared French Toast.

Final result...

Kind of indulgent but a nice treat!!

Latest Delivery, Just Accessories to Add to my Obsession

It's been a few years since I realized that I have a problem with office and school supplies. I understand that this is a common issue among teachers. My issues seem to well over the average compared to some as well as meek compared to others.
My first realization that I definitely fell on the higher end of office supply collector/obsess-or was when we moved and I packed up my office.
(Just a note that this is just my overflow from my classroom)

About a year ago, I was interviewing for a new job. The teaching market in my area is extremely competitive and I knew that my qualifications showed that I was a good candidate but so were the other 150-250 people that submitted resumes, which meant that I needed to stand out just a little if I was chosen for an interview. I came up with a personality type question to ask at the end of the interview. (Don't worry, I asked very sincere questions that pertained to that school or district...) It just seemed perfect to incorporate my school/office supply obsession into my favor during my job hunt.

I came up with an idea to ask, "If you could pick just one school supply, what would it be and why?" The question was very purposeful because the answer tells you just a little bit about the person whether they are practical, technical, a bright personality. 

You may think that is a silly question but I had 3 interviews within about a week, where I asked that question. During the first interview, I seemed to have caught the team off guard but it seemed to have sparked a conversation. The principal was new that year and said that he was learning a lot from his new team from that question. That principal called back to let me know that they chose to fill the position within the district, but the principal told me that my last question left the interview team talking about me. 

The second school interview team, seemed to enjoy answering that question and it sparked a conversation which led to a strong connection with the team I could be possibly working with...more on that in a minute/

The third school, the question was asked an answered but I did not feel a connection with anyone in the room. I knew when I left that school that it was not the right fit for my personality. 

So back to the second school, they called and offered me a job, which a graciously accepted. A few days afterwards, I went "Back to School Shopping" and found the supplies that team had said was their favorite to give to them at our first meeting. They were shocked that I remembered what they said they like most.

All of this leads to my most recent obsession pertaining to school/office supplies. After I accepted the teaching job, I realized I needed to get ready for the new school year, new supplies, and a new school. I searched all over Pinterest to find the best way to be organized in my lesson planning and came across Erin Condren Teacher Planners. After watching a handful of Youtube Videos, thank you ladies who post those types of reviews, I took the plunge and ordered one for the upcoming year. If you have read my posts before, you already know that I love that planner. 

This summer I have ordered a few other things from Erin Condren. I have jumped onto the Life Planner bandwagon, but maybe next year. I have ordered a deluxe notebook with a calendar that I use for personal planning, budget, and just for notebook type of stuff. 

Today I received my lasted delivery, just accessories to add to my obsession of school/office supplies. I ordered new markers that were launched this summer with the new Life Planner, sticker book, coil clips, and for my Teacher Planner, colorful date dots and a divider to just customize for the upcoming year to make it seem fresh. I ordered my planner early so I could just be ready to go in August but now I know that she updates them in the summer  making changes. (wish i would have waited but oh well...) 

If you know Erin Condren, you this Box!

My order...

Freebies...Erin Condren is generous with samples of their products.

I skipped the Life Planner this year since I just bought a Deluxe Notebook with Calendar, but I could resist the curiousity of some new items that were released. I bought the Launch Bundle for $25 which included the clear clutch, new markers, and new sticker book. Personally, I with I would have just gotten the markers, the sticker book is not really my style.

Items to add a little more personalization to my teacher planner for the upcoming year. (Since I couldn't wait for the release of the newestTeacher Planner) 

I couldn't wait, so I started working on my new planner!

Lastly, I wanted to compare the new markers to the older ones.

Obvious differences-

The packaging, personally I like both but the plastic box is easier to keep things neat while using them 

The price went up, I think $2

Minor differences-

The colors are a little different-the first 3 are very similar but I love the turquoise and charcoal colors.

If you are new to the Erin Condren shopping experience, follow the link below to save $10 on your first order. 
(The Teacher Planner is suppose to launch in early July)

https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/amylaney0504-0907

Easy Triple Berry Lemon Trifle

I was trying to think of an easy dessert that was light but full of flavor. June is perfect for berries and I love lemon flavored treats, so I came up with this recipe. Feel free to tweak it for your flavor preferences.

1 package of pound cake (or angle food cake works too)

2 (8 oz) containers of Noosa Lemon Yogurt

1 (16 oz) containers of frozen whip cream

2-3 pints of favorite berries

For presentation, a trifle bowl works best.

Dice the cake into about 1 inch cubes.

Dice strawberries into similar size.

Mix the Noosa yogurt with about 2/3 of the whip cream, set the rest aside.

Start with layer of cake, then a layer of berries, and then a layer of yogurt mixture

Repeat with a second layer and then start the third layer, but top the final layer with the remaining whipped cream that is not flavored. I like the top layer to be a little lighter, that is why I don't mix it all with the yogurt.

Love a good sale!

If you know me, you know I love to shop but the budget does not always allow everything I want. I have not been successful with the traditional budget shopping at consignment shops, discount shoots/websites, clearance racks, or even shopping at Target. Through the last few years, my profession and lifestyle have directed me to mainly one store for the majority of my wardrobe. Loft! I am a sucker for sales and Loft has something on sale all the time. This past week, I benefited A LOT! I am so proud of my budget success that I have to share!

To start of with, if you are a loyal Loft shopper, you know they do a promotion for Loft Cash Cards where if you spend $50, you will receive a card for $25 of your next $50 purchase during a determined time period. 

Recently, I was planning a trip to Vegas and wanted some summery, new fashions. The entire store was 40% off, so I stocked up on some staple, summer pieces and a couple of fun dresses for my trip. I earned 6 of the Loft Cash Cards! Well the time came to redeem the cards and I needed a dress for an upcoming wedding, as well as some nice summery prices that I could wear into the beginning of the school year. Over two trips this week, I am set for the summer and into the beginning of the school year!

First trip-

Dresses and skirts were $25 off and scarves were 50% off, note that these were promotions and not clearance. So I bought 2 dresses, 1 skirt, and 1 scarf. I was able to use the teacher discount, #Loftlovesteachers, and two of the Loft Cash Cards.

This was the receipt for my purchases, notice what I saved compared to spent!

@74% overall discount!

I still have 4 more Loft Cash Cards, and even though I didn't need anything, I could not let such great deals pass by...

Second trip-

Several promotions! Maxi dresses were $25 off, shorts, tanks, and tees were 40% off, scarves were 50% off and they had various accessories for $8 (originally $15.50 to $24.50)

I bought 3 maxi dresses, 1 pair of shorts, 2 tanks, 2 scarves, and 4 hair accessories, again these were all promotions and not clearance items. The last time I was at the store, they had asked if I was a Loft Insider. Well, no I wasn't so they told me to sign up at home and I got an email for 25% off my next full price purchase! A lot of discounts won't combine, but every Loft store I have shopped at, they will try combining discounts and the computer will accept some combos...so on this trip it worked to save 25% on top of the promotions, then I used my last 4 Loft Cash Cards!

My receipt, again notice the amount saved versus spent!

@ 73% overall discount!

Last thoughts-

Although Loft is affordable, I have never been this successful in my shopping, hence creating this blog post! I am a fan of good deals and these are the types of deals you should keep your eye out for! Please note, Loft Loves Teachers, so bring your badge for 15% off and sign up for Loft Insider for a one time 25% off code! One last thing, "full price" refers to anything in the store that is not on clearance. The clearance section runs its own sales that cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Please share any fabulous deals that you have found that you are proud of as well!!!

*the background of my second receipt is my latest obsession, Erin Condren. I have previous post about their products.