Why I’m Loving Flat Socks

I'm Loving Flat Socks

What are they?

For those who prefer to wear shoes without having any sock material visible, flat socks are a fantastic new choice. Most people like them because they are made to be cozy and remain in place. Furthermore moisture-wicking, flat socks aid in preventing sweaty feet. This is fantastic because they serve as a comfortable cushion and keep feet dry and odor-free. You can let your shoes speak for themselves by wearing flat socks. They never show, never move around, and let you sport your shoes without socks and without risking a stinky mess.

No Socks, No problem

The simplest answer, in my experience, for those who want to wear shoes without losing comfort or style, is to wear flat socks. Although there may be other no-show sock companies out there, Flat socks stand out for their superior quality and usefulness. They are available in a range of designs and hues, including options for children. The fact that black flat socks go with practically any outfit makes them a popular choice. Another alternative that still keeps your outfit understated but provides a splash of color is a pair of blue flat socks. Because they go with a range of outfits, flat socks are also more versatile than heels or other styles of shoes. High heels, which can contribute to foot problems including plantar fasciitis and flat feet, are less stable and supportive than flats. Flat shoes provide you with more comfort and stability than heels do. Hence, it can be said that wearing Flat socks has advantages such as comfort, style, utility, versatility, and support.

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To wear or not to wear

Individuals may dislike wearing socks because they are either uncomfortable or unsightly. No-show or flat socks, on the other hand, are a terrific alternative to traditional socks because they provide all of the benefits without taking away from your shoes or clothing. Flat socks are versatile and may be worn for a variety of activities, from the office to the gym to a casual day out. They are also excellent for keeping your feet dry and comfortable while concealing any sock material. As a result, it might be argued that people dislike wearing socks due to their constraints and disadvantages. Flat socks, on the other hand, provide a straightforward option for folks who want to wear shoes without losing elegance or comfort.
While some people prefer not to wear socks at all, this might result in foot issues such as blisters and infections. Not wearing socks has become a type of style code, a method to communicate that you understand something even if you're not sure what it is. Nevertheless, if you're looking for a sockless look but don't wear socks, your feet may have a nasty, sweaty, and blister-filled outing. As a result, it is critical to select the appropriate type of socks or wear flat socks.

Where to get'm

Flat socks can be purchased on their website, flatsocks.com. Target, Kohl's, Nordstrom's, and Dillard's also carry them. Consumers may get the perfect pair of no-show socks in a range of styles and colors. Flat socks are an excellent choice for those who want to wear shoes without revealing any sock material. All Flat sock are customizable for perfect fits! "How do you trim FLAT SOCKS for children's shoes?" There are two alternatives available to you: EASIEST OPTION: Remove the insole from your child's shoe and use it as a guide to cut your new FLAT SOCKS Kids. This guarantees a precise fit. NEXT SIMPLE OPTION: Do your child's sneakers lack a removable insole? You can now have a temper tantrum. Finally, give thanks and flip your FLAT SOCKS over to find our trim guide on the back. Use this to reduce the size of your child's shoes! For Toddlers trim guide sizes 8-13. Kids trim guide sizes 1-4

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How to Prevent Teacher Burnout

Teacher burnout is an epidemic! So, how are children to love learning if teachers don't love teaching? Believe me, I get it! Teaching 30 years, I have had my share of ups and downs. When I am feeling on the edge of burnout, I try to remember all of the silly stories and crazy things my students (and parents) have done to remind me what I love about teaching. The one thing that has gotten me through, and will hopefully sustain me until retirement, is laughter. What better way to help each other than to spread the laughter. I'll go first...

Earlier this year I was approached by one of my kindergarteners in tears. I asked her what was wrong. “____ just called me a baby!” I called the other little girl over and said,” Did you just call ____a baby?” “No, no, no!” shouted the little girl. “I said ‘Hey baby!’ You know like the mom said to the dad when she calls him and wants him to come over for the night.”

“Recently, one of the little girls in my class attended a wedding,” says Mandy, a Kindergarten Teacher in Kentucky. “Slightly confused about what marriage means, she asked me, “If I kiss a boy, does that mean I’m married?” I began explaining that marriage entails more than just a kiss, and that for two people to get married, they must be older, and ready to exchange lifelong vows. Puzzled, she looked up at me and asked, “Why would I have to be older for vows? I already know my vows: A, E, I, O and U!””

Intermittent Fasting

My son, Chris and I enjoying a hot summer day.

How Intermittent Fasting Works

Intermittent Fasting

No one likes to indulge in the consumption of food and drinks more than me! Furthermore, now that I am 53, it is a challenge to continue indulging and not see the number go up on the scale screaming "you've gained weight". And, without a doubt, if you say the word "diet" I instantly have the urge to eat a sleeve of Oreo cookies. Luckily, at 51 I stumbled upon a plan that seems to work for me.

Intermittent fasting, also known as IF, is a timed approach to eating, and it is NOT a diet. IF involves cycling between periods of eating and fasting. Undoubtedly, it has become a popular way to use your body’s natural fat-burning ability to lose fat within a short period. When you go for a lengthy period without eating, your body changes the way it produces enzymes and hormones, which is ideal for fat loss.

Hormones form the basis of metabolic functions which include the rate at which you reduce fat in the body. When you fast for a period, your body will start to increase its hormone production. Also, fasting works to reduce the amount of insulin present within the bloodstream, this ensures that your body burns fat instead of storing it.

Have your pizza and eat it, too!

How to Prepare For Intermittent Fasting?

If you are thinking of starting intermittent fasting, it’s ideal to switch to a mainly low-carbohydrate and healthy meal plan for a few weeks. This will allow the body to get used to fat rather than glucose as a source of energy. That means getting rid of all grains, sugars, legumes, and vegetable oils. This will reduce most side effects associated with fasting.

You can start with a shorter fast of 16 hours, such as from dinner (8 pm) until lunch (12 pm) the next day. This is the one I try to follow most days. It is referred to as the 16/8 plan. You can eat between 12pm and 8pm or 11am and 7pm. Obviously, You have to make the hours work for you in order to make it work. Once you are comfortable with this plan, you can extend the fast to 18-20 hours. For shorter fast, you can do it every day, continuously. For a lengthy fast, such as 24-36 hours, you can do it 1-3 times a week. Click here for 6 different ways to do Intermittent Fasting.

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Who Should Not Do Intermittent Fasting?

1-Those who are malnourished or underweight.

2-Women who want to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

3-Those who have gout.

4-Those who have eating disorders should first consult with their doctors.

5-Children under 18 years of age and elders.

6-A person with Type 1 diabetes

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

Fasting for longer periods shifts your metabolism to burning fat. By the end of a 24-hour fast day, your body has used up glycogen stores in the first few hours and has spent approximately 18 of those hours burning through fat stores in the body. The body activates a healing process doctors call autophagy, which means that the body digests or recycles old or damaged cells.

In 2010, researchers looked at a group of subjects who underwent 70 days of alternate daily fasting (ate one day and fasted the next). Their muscle mass started off at 52.0 kg and ended at 51.9 kg. In other words, there was no loss of muscles, but they did lose 11.4% of fat and saw major improvements in LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. For anyone who is active, but still struggles with fat loss, intermittent fasting can help to increase fat loss without having to ramp up a workout regime or alter a diet plan.

Another benefit of intermittent fasting is that it resets a person's body. Going a day without eating changes a person's desire, causing them to not feel hungry. If you struggle with constantly wanting food, intermittent fasting can help your body adjust to periods of not eating and help you not to feel hungry.

Intermittent fasting helps to reduce fast stored in the body, by switching the metabolism to break down fat instead of sugar or muscle. It has been used by many people and is very beneficial. For anyone who struggles with fat and is tired of dieting, intermittent fasting offers an easy and effective option for reducing weight and living a healthy lifestyle.

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My Infinitely Loft Review

Infinitely LOFT

When I found out that one of my favorite brands had started a rental service,I decided to give it a try! I am a big Loft shopper, especially when they are having sales. So this year when school began, I decided to forgo my "Back to School" shopping spree for a try with Infinitely LOFT. The rental service is a subscription based model with hundreds of LOFT looks, all for one flat monthly fee of $64.95 per month + free US shipping. The appeal for me, a teacher, was that I didn't have to spend a few hundred dollars for new clothes for the new school year, yet I was still going to have many clothes options in my closet to choose from.

What You Get: A set of three LOFT-brand clothing items to rent for as long as you’d like. You can buy rental items at a discount, or swap what you have for a new set of three items. You can swap your set as often or as infrequently as you want. So far, I have purchased a few of the items and returned a few.

It is easy to sign-up, but I was surprised that I had to set up a different account rather than just use my existing Loft account. I needed to create a new account just for Infinitely LOFT. I was also surprised when a friend commented on my dress at work and said she had gotten the same one for $20 at the store. My price to buy the same dress was $38. When I emailed customer service, they said that they do not necessarily have the same price as the store. However, They will also price match anything from their website (third party websites not included) if you find it cheaper on www.loft.com . Note that the price will only be matched if it’s the same style, color, and size and is in stock. They were happy to give me the dress for $20. I've been happy with the cost of my purchases so far, but I do check online to see what the item is going for in the store before I click buy. My favorite part of this is having clothes to rotate in my closet without having to worry about what to do with the clothes once I’m tired of them. You don't even have to worry about washing the clothes after you wear them. You place the clothes in the bag they sent you, and leave it for your postal official.

We use no dyes or perfumes in the cleaning process and have a state-of-the-art on-site dry cleaning plant. Additionally, three different inspectors review all items after the laundry process to ensure they arrive in pristine condition.

The only thing I would change is being able to pick the items I want in each box. Infinitely Loft picks for you.

Here is what you see...Infinitely LOFT Website

The website is very easy to navigate around. After you sign up and pay for the subscription, you add at least 10 different pieces of clothing to your closet to get your first box. Infinitely Loft will request that you have 20 items in your closet at all times.

When Infinitely Loft sends a new email, you can start by looking at all of the “New Arrivals". When you click on an item, you find images, a size chart, product details, and available sizes. I've never had a problem finding my size, and there are tabs for regular, petite, tall, and plus sizes. Infinitely LOFT offers most of their clothing in a variety of sizes.

This shirt was one of the items in my first box.

When you go to your Infinitely LOFT account, there’s a little hanger icon at the top right corner of your screen that links to your Virtual Closet. This is where you can see what clothes you have On The Rack, clothes you've put On Hold, and what you have At Home.

Here is what you see...On the Rack

On the Rack is where you add the clothes that you like and are interested in receiving. You must have at least 8 items in your On the Rack section before you can receive your first shipment. I had no problem putting 10 items On the Rack as soon as I signed up. As I mentioned above, Infinitely LOFT wants you to keep 20 items On the Rack for a fast delivery of your next box. Notice below that there are buttons for you to prioritize the items you like best, and want to receive sooner rather than later.

Here is what you see...On Hold

The On Hold section is where you can save clothes that you’d like to try in a different season, or things you’re interested in but may not want to try just yet. You can easily move them to your rack when you’re ready to check them out.

Here is what you see...At Home

The At Home section shows what items are on their way or what you have at home. You can track your package, buy an item, or make returns from this screen. This is also the only place Infinitely LOFT shows the price to keep an item and the discount they are giving you.

Here is what you see...On History

The History page is where you can see all of your past rentals, the sizes, when they shipped, and when they were returned. The hearts represent how you rated each piece.

After placing your clothes in the included bag, you should go on the website and click "Return Item". This will notify Infinitely LOFT so that they can get your next box ready to ship. If you don't, they won't start getting your next box ready until they have received your items. Make sure you send back all 3 items if you decide you are not purchasing any of them. Any clothes that do not make it into the bag, you will get charged for. If you send only one of the three pieces back, because you want to wear the other items longer, Infinitely LOFT will assume you want to purchase those and charge you for them.

Last but not least, you will be asked to rate each piece that you wore. You can share how often you wore it and what you liked or didn't like. See below for my latest box that at first glance, I love! Even though, me, an average teacher, mom of 4 over 50, does not look like the girls below LOL...

Will They Stay OR Will They Go?

Affordable Fashion for Teachers

Amazon Dress $23/Kohl's Boots $36/Gap Scarf $12

5 Super Style Tips For Fashionable Teachers

TJ Maxx Shirt $12 /Loft Skirt $28

Start with a few Basics

Teachers everywhere are on the look out for affordable clothes to wear to school. Sprucing up your work wardrobe can put pep in your step, and give you just what you need to get through an always busy day. Start with pants and skirts in neutral colors like black, brown, or grey. This enables you to have a totally different look each day just by changing your shirt, blouse, or jacket. If you're like me, and gravitate towards black, try to make a conscious effort to buy a few items in bright colors or patterns. Even if you cannot match them with everything, it is good to have a combination for mixing and matching.

Left Loft/Right Nordstrom Rack

Accessories to Personalize

Accessories are sometimes underrated, especially for teachers that are on a budget. Jewelry is a great way to get different looks from a single outfit. Beads or a chunky bracelet can look great with casual wear and will give the look of a well dressed teacher without having to spend a lot of money. A single outfit can be dressed up or down by the addition of jewelry. It is fun to experiment and have fun mixing and matching jewelry to clothes. A favorite of mine is scarves! (You never know what the temp in the classroom will be). Whether you prefer a big blanket scarf, or a thinner one for added style, scarves are a pretty easy accessory to throw on.

Earth Healing Stones

Love their jewelry made from healing stones. Love their story. Love that they're brother and sister. Check them out!

Give Me Those Ruby Slippers

As a fashionista teacher, you spend a good portion of the day on your feet instructing and engaging with your students, as well as performing other daily duties. Try to be kind to your feet by investing in a quality pair of shoes with proper support. Aerosols offers teachers 15% off and their shoes are both fashionable and very comfortable. Although it does not offer a rewards program, I do like Zappos for online shoe shopping. There is free shipping on all inventory and VIP members can qualify for free expedited shipping. You can return items up to a year after purchase, and it has a wide selection of categories and hard-to-find sizes.

Watch What You Wear

Dressing for life as a teacher does not have to be difficult. With that being said, there are some things to consider. At the elementary level, it’s important to walk the line between looking professional and not caring whether you get glue, paint or something I'd rather not mention, on you. If your students are older, the challenge becomes to look stylish without attracting unwanted attention or comments from teenage fashionistas.

Membership Has It's Benefits

Did you know several major clothing retailers offer discounts to teachers? Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, and J. Crew, are just a few that offer a 15% discount to teachers. While I am sometimes tempted to buy the cheapest clothing I can find, I always invest in staple pieces that will last me for years. It is worth the money! I most frequent Loft, Amazon, TJ Max, and Target mainly because of their proximity and convenience, but several major clothing retailers offer discounts to teachers. Look HERE to find more!

Blouse Marshalls

Click HERE to see more of my favorite teachers' favorite looks!

And a few of my own...

Back to School Night Infinitely Loft Dress $28

Amazon skirt $18

My teenage daughter's Forever 21 sweater $12/Loft skirt 30

Loft Skirt

Loft Sweater and Pants/Swarovski Necklace

Loft Skirt/Macy's Booties

This women's winter jacket is popular among teachers. It's ideal for those cold days out on bus duty!

This Orolay Coat on Amazon is a favorite of our teachers. It keeps us warm during our outside duties!

Weekend Attire Matters Too...One Peloton Pants

Delicious Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are full of nutrients and flavor. This is a quick and easy one to make, and really tastes delicious! I love to use it as a meal replacement, especially when packed with so many good ingredients. When I add protein, along with many nutrients it helps subdue food cravings and keeps me away from eating junk food (most days).

Ingredients

1 cup peeled pitted and diced ripe mango or frozen chunks
3/4 cup of Kale
1 ripe banana
1 apple
1 tsp. each Maca, PB2, Cacao, Hemp Hearts, Chia Seeds, and Flax Seeds
1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk and a few ice cubes
1 tbs. Plant Fusion Protein Powder
You can easily substitute fruits and vegetables according to your likes and nutritional needs!

Studies suggest that maca root may help increase libido, boost energy and endurance, improve mood, reduce blood pressure, and fight free radicals. Cacao is rich in polyphenols, which have significant health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved cholesterol levels. Hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats and essential fatty acids. They are also a great protein source and contain high amounts of vitamin E, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron and zinc. Despite their tiny size, chia seeds are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet. They’re loaded with fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and various micro-nutrients. Flax seeds are a good source of plant-based protein and can be an alternative protein source for people who do not eat meat. Hope this helps!

Infographic chart guide for a perfect smoothie formula. A set of elements with icons that can be combined to get a perfect smoothie recipie.

Elizabeth Capone