Upcycled Education

Applying to Universities Overseas

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:49:00 +0000

Years ago, I wrote a post about going to college overseas. Today's post is Part 2 to that. But first, let's melt over the beauty of the University of Glasgow. Can this building (and student) be more gorgeous? I think not.

My daughter applied to universities overseas several years ago and is completing her degree in the UK now. Here's what helped her narrow down which universities she wanted to apply to for her bachelors degree. By the way, I will use the shorthand "uni" to mean university in this blog post.
1. Look for "unis" that offer the major (also called "program of study" or "course" or "degree program") in the language you want to learn in. For example, my daughter likes biology, so she narrowed down the unis that interested in her based on which biology programs were taught in English. If you are fluent in other languages, you will - of course - have more options. Also, if your program of study is business, finance, and/or economics, you likely will have more choices, too, since those courses are more widely available around the world. For biology, there are very few unis that teach biology in English, so my daughter had less to choose from when it came time to apply.

2. Once you have identified which unis have your degree program in the language you prefer to learn in, as early as possible, learn about the uni's admission process and requirements, tuition for international students, student visa process, and housing options. Most university websites have thorough explanations of these. It's best to start exploring your overseas options during your 10th or 11th grade years in high school in case there are special requirements you need to complete (for example, a specific number of AP classes, or certain IB scores). Starting early also helps you understand the uni and it's pros and cons. For example, originally, my daughter was interested in applying to unis in the Netherlands, however, during her application cycle, many unis in the Netherlands were extremely short on housing for uni students, which made those unis less inviting to apply to. If you can visit the uni in person, that intel is also helpful to narrow down your choices. After my daughter visited several unis in Ireland and the UK, I made this video to explain her favorite options and what we learned during that uni tour.

3. If you are a parent reading this, join Facebook groups related to favorite unis to learn, from a parent's perspective, what that university is like. There is so much useful intel in those parent FB groups! Just do a search for "Parents and XYZ University" to find the right groups. There are also general FB groups that also offer good intel like Flown Abroad

4. If you are applying to unis in the US via the Common App, some overseas unis accept the Common App, too, which makes applying fairly straight-forward.

5. For schools in the UK, use the UCAS application to apply to up to five schools. The cost to apply via UCAS back when my daughter applied was approximately $35 US dollars to apply to five schools all at once. What a bargain!

6. You can get free help with your UCAS application and personal statement if you apply to one of Across the Pond's universities. This is another great bargain - it's free! When you apply to Across the Pond, they assign you an advisor who walks you through the UCAS process. My daughter's advisor also gave her feedback on her personal statement. Lauren, her advisor, was a HUGE help in the UK uni process.

7. Deadlines to apply to unis overseas can be different than the United States, so pay close attention to deadlines. This is also true for decisions, too. Whereas in the United States, students often know by mid-May where they have been accepted, overseas, it's not always as early. For example, my daughter applied to University College Dublin in September and heard back about her acceptance within weeks! For the UK schools, she heard back via UCAS about all her final acceptances in July after her senior year! Of course, this waiting takes extreme steadfastness and patience on the student's and family's part.

8. Because some overseas unis do not share final acceptances until the summer after a high school student's senior year, it makes sense to apply to some US universities, too, get accepted, and hold a spot at that university by making a deposit (if you can) so you have a safety net or school to attend in case an overseas option does not work out.

9. Why would an overseas option not work out? Probably the most common reason why an overseas uni option may not work out: The student may not earn the final grades or test scores that they need to get a final offer from that uni. For example, most overseas unis are very specific about what AP and IB scores are needed in order to get fully, unconditionally accepted. Another reason may be housing (like I mentioned above in #2).

10. Like anything important in life, good things require effort. Due your due diligence, ask for help with this process from parents, college counselors and Facebook groups.

My daughter did explore financial aid options, scholarships, etc. for international students, so do that, too, if that resonates with you. Some unis offer some type of financial aid for international students, others do not.

If you have questions, drop them in the comments. I'll do my best to reply!

Cheers, Jen

Hey there

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Fri, 16 May 2025 13:23:00 +0000

Hi. It's been a while.

And it is almost summertime. I thought a new wallpaper for your phone might be a great "we are back together" gift. Although, I have no idea if this will be my one and only blog post for spring-summer 2025 or if I'll keep going. Either way, how lovely and cheerful are these free wallpapers from the Natural Life?

Go help yourself if they speak to you or share with a friend.

Sending a big ole hug from my slice of the internet to you,

Jen

Let's Me Introduce You to The Coaching Professor

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Hello, dear friend and colleague!

I wanted to introduce you to my new friend and social media project, The Coaching Professor.

You know I love coaching and truly believe having coaching skills changes how I....we....all show up in the world for the better. The issue with traditional coach training is it is expensive. Most ICF-accredited coach training programs cost $12K or higher, except my college's coach training program (which is affordable and experiential, high-quality and life-changing). If we are going to change the world via coaching, there must be more places to learn these skills.

That's where my new social media project comes in. Join me on Instagram and TikTok to learn micro-coaching lessons, the same lessons I teach my college coaching students. Learn anytime. Watch as many videos as you like as many times as you like. Start showing up more coachlike in your work and life.

I'll see you over there to connect and deepen coaching skills together!

With immense enthusiasm,

Jen

Freshening Up Things Around Here

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sat, 11 May 2024 16:36:00 +0000

Hello there! It's been a bit since we've connected here, yes?

I'm spring cleaning and tidying up right now.

I've got plant clippings propagating. My new calendar arrived, and yes, I use a paper calendar because sometimes I need a break from screens and technology. I'm surrounded by color and artwork. Thanks, Coach Susan for the Laugh sign by artist, Britto. It brings me joy.

My website is up-to-date including....

Updated social media links at the bottom of each page
Updated services because I want to bring more coaching to your organization. Yes, your organization!
I've posted links to my podcast, The Jen Den, and other podcasts I've guested on.
Are we connected on LinkedIn? If not, let's get connected there, too!

Spring is a time of blossoming and growth. There is so much blossoming in me right now that my most recent coaching growthwork for myself was to make time to celebrate all that has already bloomed. Here I am with family and friends celebrating the end of the semester.

What are you celebrating? What's blossoming in you?

It's lovely to see you...

Jen

Send Me Your Teens: Leadership + Coaching Program

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +0000

Y'all - send me your teens.

I'm serious. Say YES.

For two years (yep, you heard me - two full years), I've been wanting to create and launch a teen-centered program to develop teens' leadership skills and combine it with coaching. You know my love for coaching. To me, coaching is the foundation of all good, transformative things in the world including leadership. And, I can't wait any longer.

The world is too crazy.

The times are too urgent.

There is too much at stake.

The time is now. For me. For you. For our teens.

The Leadership + Coaching Program (LCP) I created is not focused on the doing of leadership. Our teens "do" enough. The LCP is focused on how to be a leader. What leadership feels like from within.

Read more about The Leadership + Coaching Program here. And, send your teens. I've built this age-appropriate, all in experience just for them.

With certitude,

Jen

High Altitude Sickness Prevention and Remedies - In case this can help anyone else

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 10:00:00 +0000

As some of you already know from my Instagram stories, I have felt less-than-awesome acclimating to the high altitude (9600 feet) in Breckenridge, CO. We come to Breck a lot because we have a little place here; I love this little town and community. In the past, it generally has taken me 2-3 days to acclimate. This time, however, I felt headachy, lethargic and icky for 6+ days.

So icky in fact that I had Mr. UpCyclist bring me to Urgent Care just to make sure I wasn't overlooking something (eg: brain swelling, lung issue, blurred vision....all symptoms which can be extreme effects of high altitude sickness). For me to ask to go to Urgent Care means something is not right. Though I like doctors and nurses, I rarely ask to see them.

The good news is yes, I just have "normal" high altitude sickness. the doctor confirmed. Not extreme, whew. And, here's what has helped and what remedies I will consider for the future prevention:

Pure oxygen: My oxygen level was a tiny bit off at 93 (normal is 95 or higher), so the Urgent Care staff did give me oxygen through my nose which brought my oxygen level to 100. I did not need to bring a small oxygen tank home with me.
High Altitude Medication - Acetazolamide 125 mg (two tablets a day for six days): Evidently, this medication works even better when you take it 2-3 days before traveling to high altitude. I think I will try this next time; take it a few days before I leave Maryland if my physician agrees.
Chlorophyll Drops: I've taken these before (they are bright, bright green) drops; you can buy them at Whole Foods or Amazon. I totally forgot about these drops this trip. I think this drops could be a great alternative to a prescription drug and I'm wishing I would have remembered them this trip.
Gatorade or Pedialyte - The nurse reminded me that when acclimating, a 1-to-1 water to Gatorade or Pedialyte is the way to go because the body needs the extra electrolytes and salt. She suggested one glass of water, one glass of Gatorade/Pedialyte (and keep doing that all day). By the way, I am a sucker for grape flavored Gatorade. It's my favorite and reminds me of grape Koolaid - a personal fav of mine in college!
Clif Shot Bloks with Extra Sodium - A dear friend outside of Denver said these are her go-to to combat high altitude sickness. I want to try this (maybe) now and definitely want to bring a few packs with me in the future. Plus, Margarita flavored?! Um...yes!
Liquid IV - Just the name of this product intrigues me. The same friend who rec'd the Clif Shot Bloks spoke highly of this hydration powder. I'd give it a try for sure - maybe instead of Gatorade (or maybe in addition to...) next trip.
Coca Tea - When I lived in Ecuador decades ago and climbed Cotapaxi (19,000 ft), I felt like holy heck hours before we took off to climb. Since Cotapaxi is a glaciered volcano, climbers leave to climb the volcano around midnight. Around 7pm I felt like total junk, so the lovely refugio employee (a refugio is like a hostel) saw me struggling and made me coca tea. Although the coca plant is the same plant used to extract alkaloids for cocaine, the raw leaves of the plant have very low alkaloids levels and the tea helped me acclimate and feel better within an hour. If you travel to the Andes in South America, keep an eye out for coca tea.

What about you? Do you have any favorite high altitude sickness remedies or prevention suggestions? Find me on Instagram or Facebook if you do.

With love from Breckenridge,

Jen

How to Customize the Zoom Waiting Room

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 04 May 2021 08:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite features in Zoom is the Zoom Waiting Room. It's like a virtual tailgate party before your actual Zoom session. I like it because you can customize the waiting room to make it fun, engaging, + informative. Of course, using the waiting room is also helpful for security; you can see who is in the waiting room and admit them accordingly. I'm going to show you how to customize the waiting room K?

Steps to customize the Zoom Waiting Room:

1. Log onto your free or paid Zoom account at zoom.us

2. Click on Settings in the toolbar (my toolbar appears on the left hand side of my screen if that is helpful).

3. Scroll down in the settings just a touch to Waiting Room. When you are there, make sure to toggle the switch on to activate the Waiting Room.

4. Then, go to the next setting which is Waiting Room Options and choose Edit. This allows you to edit who actually goes to the waiting room before your Zoom begins. I personally send everyone to the waiting room, because to me, the waiting room is the pre-party/tailgate to the Zoom. Ha!

5. Next, click on Customize Waiting Room. This is where all the fun lives! You can add a very small graphic, change the title, meeting focus and blurb. Make sure when you edit each block of text, you click on the little checkmark to save your edits. I like to make my main blurb playful, like this:

"Hey there! Are you ready to Zoom together? Right now, I'm getting our Zoom space clean and sanitized for you. I'm also adding bouquets of flowers because it's spring! In just a few moments, our virtual Zoom doors will open. In meantime, enjoy the (faux) waiting room music! See you virtually very soon - Jen"

6. Exit out of settings.

7. Next time you host a Zoom, your guests will arrive to the waiting room. To admit them, click on Participants and either admit guests one-by-one or click on admit all (which is generally what I do for large groups). If a participant arrives late to your Zoom, you will see a waiting room announcement come up and remind you to let them into the Zoom.

The waiting room is pure joy. So fun, functional and helpful.

You can update the customized settings as much or as little as you like. I try to update my Zoom Waiting Room settings to keep it fresh about 5-6 times a year and/or for special Zoom events.

Happy Waiting Room-ing,

Jen

Gifts for Coaches

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 13:23:00 +0000

I was sharing with a group of coaches last night how ever since I started teaching coaching classes, I have received all sorts of thank you gifts, cards, and tokens of appreciation because very simply - coaching rules. It does. Plain and simple. Before the pandemic, I probably received something in my mailbox (at work) at least once a week; now the thank yous come by email. I've been collecting those emails in my "You Suck Jen" email folder. That's the folder that I go to when I think I am not making a difference in the world and I should quit my job + move overseas. Those emails remind me I am making a positive difference and that more coaching in the world makes for a better world.

Because I've received so many lovely gifts over the last five years since I began teaching more coaching classes, I wanted to share some of my favorites - that I didn't eat. Some of the gifts were chocolate, cupcakes and candy!

I rarely journal and yet, I completely filled out this one Coach Heather L. gifted to me. I dig the prompts and high quality "feel."

I'm not quite advocating drinking and if you do, this lager's name makes me smile.

I am advocating for this mug. It was given to me by Coach Kellie and I love it. Drinking from it brings me joy.

This charm from Coach Yolanda is so sparkly and here's a pandemic tip: It shows up well on Zoom!

I was given one teal colored Le Pen from Coach Allison and you would think I won the lottery. I heart that pen!

Joy is one of my core values. I love that the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu agree in this book gifted to me by Coach Dan.

Coach Dan, does it again! Every soap from Whiskey River is hilarious. This Life Coach soap one is the best.

And, if you are like me and need the reminder....You are doing a freaking great job! Thanks, Coach, Heather W, for the reminder and this book.

With coachy love,

Jen

Text Blaze for Tech Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Remember when I used to blog every Tuesday and share a favorite tech tool? Well, I'm back! Or at least, I am back today with a tech tool I am l-o-v-i-n-g! Plus, here's a sneak peak of my new home office. We call my office space the Jen Den. It's a mix of color (to inspire me) and natural tones (to calm me down).

Today's tech sensation is a Chrome extension which means you have to use the Chrome browser to enjoy it. If you are new to extensions, Chrome extensions are like mini-apps built into Chrome. I appreciate all the extensions I've downloaded so far via Chrome (eg: Text Blaze, Pinterest, and Rakuten - to name a few).

Today's tool, Text Blaze, is a Chrome extension tool that you can use to quickly insert a snippet of text when you are using any web-based program (like email, Facebook, grading within an online course, etc.). It's for those times where you find yourself repeating your typing over and over again and you want a snippet of pre-written text to insert instead.

Teachers, you will love this tool for giving feedback to students. Everyone else, you will appreciate this tool, too. Here's how I use it....

I have a lot of people contact me at work about my college's coach training program. I now have a snippet I use to answer them back. I simply type /cto (which for me stands for "Coach Training Offerings" and with just those four keystrokes the following snippet/message appears in the email I am composing:

Thank you for reaching out. Right now, our spring 2021 coaching courses are full; they filled up in under a week. We do plan to begin our coaching course series again this summer 2021 and fall 2021. If you mark your calendar and email me (say in mid-March), I can share the upcoming dates/times with you.

If you have more questions, please let me know.

Best,

Jen

See how easy that is! Four keystrokes and I get that entire snippet of text above. Since I write this standard email reply many times a week, Text Blaze is saving me time and brain power.

Here's another example. With coaching clients, I often follow-up by email after a coaching session. Here's the snippet I use for that. I simply type /csfu (which for me stands for Coaching Session Follow-up) and the following snippet appears:

Hello - As promised, I wanted to follow-up with you after our coaching session. Based on our session....

What updates can you share?

What are you noticing?

What are you learning?

Curious,

Jen

See how easy that is! Four keystrokes and my message is composed!

Go check out Text Blaze and see what you think. A lovely colleague shared this tool with me. The free version gives you up to 20 snippets that you can change as you need them.

Happy Tech Tuesday!

With love from the Jen Den,

Jen

Going to College Overseas

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 21:51:00 +0000

What is your opinion of earning an entire college degree overseas?

Since one of my core values is growth, I am already enjoying learning about all the college/university options in the world since Miss O will be going to college in a few short years.

When I was in high school, going to school for a degree overseas seemed like a bad idea - mostly because US degrees felt more credible. Because the world is more globally-focused now, I'm learning that degrees from overseas are valued and the cost?! Y'all, college/university overseas is so much more affordable from I am learning than attending a college/uni in the US including masters degrees! Some degrees cost nothing for US students and others cost $4K-$12K for the year. My mind is blown. One year of studying in many US-based universities cost $25-50K. Imagine getting your entire college degree for the price of one year of US study?!

First, I think you all know my family and I enjoy traveling overseas. We haven't been to too many places, but we loved our weeks in Portugal, England and the Netherlands (photos in this post) over the past few years. When the pandemic is over, we hope to explore more countries specifically Spain and Germany.

In the meantime, here are a few international college resources I am learning the most from about....

Beyond the States - This blog, consulting service and podcast are all very helpful. Jenn (who started Beyond the States)'s son is studying in Rotterdam, Netherlands right now and she has literally made herself an expert on studying overseas. Jenn is also living in Lisbon, Portugal, so her real-life experience is interesting, too. Check out Jenn's blog here, website here and podcast here. I also follow Beyond the States on Instagram, too.

Private Facebook Groups - A fellow mom recommended I join a private FB group (or two) related to attending college overseas. Y'all, I am learning so much from the posts I am reading. Right now, I feel a bit like a voyeur because I have nothing to offer. Learning-wise, it's so interesting to read about all the places US-teens are going to college overseas even during the pandemic.

Ulysses Facebook Page - This is another consulting service (like Beyond the States offers). A fellow FB parent recommended it to me. I have not explored them deeply yet, but I just started following their Facebook page to see what I can learn.

International University Admission Guide - This free guide is packed full of information. I highly advise it as a read.

I'm curious....what are your thoughts about completing a college degree entirely overseas? What other resources should I explore?

Excited to learn more,

Jen

Favorite Home Finds During the Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

As most of you already know, we moved during the pandemic. Here are some of my favorite pandemic home finds that are bringing immense efficiency and joy to my life....

Ready for them?

Tip trays for the bathroom and kitchen. You install these yourself following the package instructions. We have tip trays now in our kitchen and main bathroom to hold things like kitchen sponges, our toothpaste and floss, etc. It also makes your countertops less cluttered feeling.

So, I don't have to use so many cleaning liquids around our house, I just wet these and use them. They are reusable, so you can wash/dry them with ease.

I am such a fan of "S" hooks in every closet. I use them for hanging belts, my purse, backpacks, masks, hats, you name it! This pack includes six hooks.

Be honest....how often do you bring your cell phone into the restroom? If you do, you will appreciate the clever design of this TP holder. We have it in the bathroom right by my home office. Ha!

We do not have cable at our house because we have Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and Apply TV. So, that we can still clearly receive the local HD broadcast signals for ABC, NBC and CBS (plus other local signals), this very thin antennae does an amazing job! Gone are the days of bulky antennas. This one is almost paper thin and super easy to install.

The real MVP of our household, our Eufy robotvac! I cannot believe how much Eufy picks up. I think she is the hardest cleaner in our household. You can also communicate with her by the Eufy app. Look for her to go on sale!

After Eufy does her job, this steam mop is easy to use and super-cleans the floors! I am always disgusted by how dirty the steam mop head gets after cleaning. The good news: You wash the mop heads in your washing machine. Hurrah! I love reusable cleaning stuff.

We've become kind of lazy (or efficient) over here. Mr. UpCyclist has installed motion sensor lights in our walk-in pantry, storage room and main bedroom walk-in closets. At first, I was like, "We don't need those." But, now, I am a true motion sensor light believer for small spaces.

Speaking of lights, our new place has a ton of light switches (that we do not want to be motion sensor-abled). We use this old-school labeling tool (remember this gadget from the 70s and 80s?) to label which light switch works which light. This gadget is fun to use, looks totally retro and comes with two tape rolls in red and black. What a bargain!

Not everyone is an Alexa product fan; we are. We have several of these smart plugs throughout our house. During Christmas time, we put all of our indoor and outdoor holiday lights on smart plugs and would just tell our Echo to "turn on the outdoor lights" or "turn on the Christmas lights." Specifically for outdoor use, you need this smart plug as it is weather friendly.

What's your most appreciated home find? Message me in Facebook or Instagram to let me know. Because of the crazy spam this blog has been receiving, I've turned off the commenting feature indefinitely.

With efficiency and joy,

Jen

Graduation Subway Art 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Every year since 2017, I think, I've uploaded a graduation subway art image for others to use for free.

And, every year since 2017, some lovely blog reader has emailed me asking when I'm going to upload the current year's subway art.

Not this year.

I'm one step ahead. Graduation subway art for 2021 is here! You can either right click and save the image above. Or click here to download the PDF version of it.

Either way, the subway art looks great framed, as a notecard, a big poster or be like my sister; blow up the subway art for the side of your barn!

Enjoy and congratulations to your graduate(s)!

Jen

Pep Talks Free Download

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Pro-tip....If you don't read Elise Joy's blog or follow her on Instagram, I highly recommend her. She is a small business owner, author, DIY-er, podcaster, blogger, and very thoughtful parent. I appreciate how much she gets done and how much she lets go off without guilt.

I also subscribe to her newsletter, too. Design-wise, it's always so pretty and she includes free gems in it, like this pep talk. Why not take a highlighter and highlight the pep you need for 2021?

Here are Elise's links:

Go check 'er out,

Jen

Emotional Intelligence Tool - The Feelings Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 17:58:00 +0000

Hey there, 2021. I know this year - like all years - will have it's ups and downs. I'm thinking, this Emotion or Feelings Wheel will help me and others stay in a somewhat rational mindset. You know what we say in coaching, "Name it to tame it." Name the emotion to tame it, so it does not over-run you.

There are a few, free versions of the Feelings Wheel online. The one above is from Calm (and includes credit to the originator, Dr. Gloria Wilcox). You can download the one above for free in color or black + white (which could be fun to color in yourself). A lovely coach and colleague, Amy from Ovation Coaching, originally introduced the Feelings Wheel to me. Thanks, Amy!

AND, for all of you picking your word for 2021, maybe one of the words off the wheel could be your pick.

With curiosity and joy (I picked those two from the wheel!),

Jen

My Word for 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 20:56:00 +0000

If you've read Upcycled Education through the years, you know I often choose a word or phrase to support me during the year ahead.

Probably my favorite word that served me deeply was BRAVE (in 2014). I wrote a blog post here about my biggest takeaways from showing up more bravely that year. I'm laughing at the photo in that post; I still wear those cheetah print slippers every today. In fact, I recently included those slippers (pair #5 of my lifetime) in my Jen's Favorite Gift Guide post here.

The biggest dud of a word for me was in 2016, Savor. I literally can't remember doing anything with that word that year, but choosing it and then forgetting I had.

I recently heard someone say they were going to "audition" words for 2021. I love that - auditions! Here's what I am currently auditioning:

True: Being true to my soul's purpose + in doing so, finding peace and happiness

Faith: Having confidence and trusting (no matter how coo-coo life gets and seems)

Wonder: Being open to beauty, signs, and synchronicities

The other day I asked on Instagram what words you all were considering. Push, community, open to change, move, evolve....were shared. Reading those words makes me so curious. AND, since it's December 31st and I am in the audition phase, I'll have to circle back and let you know which word or phrase I choose.

Or better yet, which word chooses me.

Happy last bits of 2020, dear friends. Here's to 2021 ahead!

With love,

Jen

Happy Holidays 2020 + My Badges

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 14:36:00 +0000

Dearest blog readers - How is your holiday season going? Would you believe I came down with something on December 24th? Not the 'rona (or at least my rapid and PCR tests both came back negative), but something - wicked headache, sore throat, nausea. Ugh. Totally un-fun.

Now days later, I am feeling much, much better. So much better in fact, that since it's a mild winter day in Maryland today (high 50 degrees F), I might even go for a light run. And by "light run," I mean peppy walk!

Speaking of peppy walk, my family and I watched Soul on Disney Plus two nights ago. If you have watched Soul, you know the "young souls" earn badges before they go to earth to inhabit a body. My family thinks I earned more than one badge for "excitability" from the Excitable Pavilion (also, part of the movie). I took their comment as a compliment though I know they often times wish I would turn down my life excitability and enthusiasm. Ha!

I hope the last bits o' 2020 go smoothly! And, here's to a bright, less-dramatic and still excitable 2021 ahead!

Happy Holidays!

xo,

Jen

Why we are closing our business - Hello Strategies

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 19:00:00 +0000

As some of you know, Jackie and I are closing our business, Hello Strategies, at the end of 2020. Why, you ask? Let me explain....

Five years ago, when we started our business, I (we) had a desire to make products we didn't think existed at the level that we wanted them to and share the products with others. Jackie and I are both educators (and train teachers for a living), so we wanted to serve the people we care deeply about - current and future teachers. We also are both trained coaches, so our products reflect our deep love of coaching, too.

Now, fast forward five years. We've sold hundreds of decks of our question/coaching/leadership cards. We've spread joy and surprise by selling almost 2,000 You are Awesome wooden nickels. Our ebook has been downloaded close to 1,000 times (maybe more...). What we set out to do - create products, share with others and live our core values deeply - done, done, and done.

What you focus on grows (J. Kelm quote). Neither Jackie nor I want to prioritize Hello Strategies in this new age + stage of our lives. It's time to thank her for her service and let 'er go.

In efforts to let her go, everything in our Etsy storefront is 50% with free shipping. We have enjoyed serving you and others and now, help us find forever homes for the last of our You are Awesome nickels, decks of cards and our teaching strategies ebook.

December 31st at midnight, doors close....for good.

It's been a fun, creative ride. Thank you for letting us serve you!

Jen

Shinguard Rash - The Cure

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 22:17:00 +0000

I am going to say this without exaggeration. I've been wanting to write a blog post about shinguard rash for over a year. I know, I know....it's a strange topic for me to blog about. This topic, however, is near and dear to my heart because of these legs below.

Y'all know I am mom to Miss Olive who we used to call Lil O on this blog. Then, she grew up. Miss O is now in high school and is three inches taller than me! Next week, she gets her learners permit to drive.

For at least four years, Miss O dealt from extreme shinguard rash from wearing field hockey shinguards. We tried every type of shinguard, liner, cream, powder, you name it under the sun and nothing - I repeat, nothing! - helped her shins not be all red and rashy.

....By the way...I asked Miss O if I could post a photo of the actual rash and she declined. I told her it was a public-service-message-blog post. She still declined.

Then, we found a solution.

If I was religious I would thank some deity. But, in this case, I am thankful to a sales person we met in Delft, Netherlands at a lovely field hockey shop there (photos below). You see, the Dutch have mastered the game of field hockey. Most of the best field hockey players in the world are Dutch. AND, because of the popularity of field hockey, there are so many different field hockey brands and products there.

At this shop above, we checked out the liner and shinguard section, but nothing seemed too, too different from what Miss O had already tried in the States. When we asked the sales woman if she had any recommendations for shinguard rash, she replied, "I get shinguard rash, too. I only wear Stanno liners."

Stanno liners? What are those?

Since the shop didn't sell Stannos, she directed us to purchase the Stanno liners online (as they are not sold in the States either). We had the liners shipping to our hotel in Delft.

...Cue ethereal music...and I'm serious.

These Stanno liners (with antibacterial technology) changed Miss O's life/legs. To date, 18 months later, Miss O has not had shinguard rash once since wearing Stannos under her shinguards. NONE. How crazy is that! The Stanno liners fixed her shinguard rash in under a week and have kept her from getting shinguard rash again.

Since Stanno does not mail directly to the States, we ended up buying more Stanno liners from a company out of the UK (link here) who was kind enough to ship more Stannos to the USA. We wanted enough Stanno liners for Miss O to last an entire week of field hockey (without doing laundry).

AND, here's some fun news! I have two extra pairs that I would love to share with you. Yes, love! I want to give them away to two different people who also have tried every cure under the sun for shinguard rash and nothing has worked. I want you to find out if Stannos will fix your shinguard rash. Field hockey players, soccer players, cricket players or any athletes in the USA with shinguard rash, reach out to me. I will send you a pair of Stannos to keep and try. I just have two pairs (and only want to send by mail domestically), so I'll send them to the first two athletes that contact me. Normally, I would direct you to leave me a comment below, but lately, my comments have been all spam, so I've turned off comments for a while. You will have to be creative and find me.

Oh, and if you haven't seen Miss O in a while, here she is....not so Lil O anymore (photo cred: Mark22photos)

Grateful,

Jen

Dream Queue - An interview with myself

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 14:23:00 +0000

If you are new to this blog, here's something you need to know about me. I generally have a Dream Queue.

Depending on what's in the queue or what's going on in my life, that Dream Queue is either moving along at a lovely clip or pace or man, that queue is stuck. Recently, my Dream Queue was totally stuck. So, let's interview myself, shall we?

.....By the way, if you have ever wondered what (life) coaching is like, this interview is what coaching is like. A lot of thought-provoking, honest questions and not the coach giving advice. Let's go to my inner self interview...

Hey Jen, what's a Dream Queue?

A Dream Queue is the place inside me where all of my dreams and big ideas go to wait for their turn.

Why do you capitalize Dream Queue?

Because it feels like it's a proper noun and deserves the attention and recognition.

What makes the queue stuck? (Hmmm...notice the lowercase....)

Great question! What makes my Dream Queue stuck is time (or feeling like I have lack of time). Or that work projects or classes I am teaching need my full attention and that I don't have space for dreams-into-action. Also, malaise and fear of the unknown.

What gets the queue unstuck?

Writing about it like I'm doing now. Coaching. I recently got coached on my Dream Queue and finally have some answers.

What are the answers?

The answers are that some dreams need to wait their turn. Some dreams are more time sensitive. Some dreams require me to collaborate with others (which leads to some stuckness....who do I want to collaborate with right now? Not everyone floats my boat). Some dreams ignite fear within me like "Will the time spent on this dream pay off? Will my return on effort pay off?"

When you say "pay off" do you mean money?

Not necessarily. Some dreams and ideas could generate extra income, but many dreams just generate joy - which to me is as important as real dollars. Actually, now that I am typing this...I think both are true. I like real money and joy.

So, what's holding you back, Jen?

Great question. What's holding me back is feeling like I have to get XYZ done before I begin moving my dreams through the queue.

What's true?

What's true is that yes, I do have some things that need to get done in life (like work, prepping for next semester, making sure my holiday shopping is complete, etc.) AND, in reality, those are excuses for letting my dreams sit in the queue for too long. What you focus on grows is one of my favorite quotes. I've been focusing on distractions and small wins. AND afraid to put forth effort into bigger, dreamier projects that may - in the short term - not feel like they are paying off.

What's next knowing this?

I am just realizing something....I need more small, micro wins. I crave more micro wins. Some of my Dream Queue ideas are so big that it feels like 6-12 months before I could see them paying off. The fear inside me doesn't want to wait so long to see "if" a dream is going to take off, workout, or generate joy or extra income. What I am also realizing is I need to take my big dreams and break them up into smaller chunks. Then, tackle one chunk at a time.

Jen, why are you shaking your head?

I'm shaking my head because I missed this! I missed that one, big dream is really just an accumulation of small, small steps.

What do you want to commit to, Jen?

I want to commit to taking one of my dreams out of the queue and making a list of all the small steps - small wins - I need to accomplish to make that dream come completely alive. Then, I will start taking a step one after another.

Jen, how will we know you've done that?

I'll report back here.

💜

With new insight and apparently a dream about to become queue-less,

Jen

Gift Guide - Jen's Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Y'all, this pandemic, I've been one consistent user and wearer of certain items. Here are my favorites in case you need last minute gifts for others or yourself.

Favorite joggers. The fabric is so darn soft and they run true to size. I love the camo print. Bonus: Miss O loves their leggings. Both look like Lulu knock-offs for ¼ of the price.

Be Hippy beanie. I'm obsessed with this hat. It's so cheerful and warm.

Leopard printed slippers. I am on my third pair of these for the pandemic. My feet love them.

Faux bun. Because sometimes on Zoom you need a quick, last minute up-do! And for $8, why not?

Winter jacket. This REI quilted jacket is my absolute go-to. It packs up super small, so post-pandemic we can all bring it on trips with us.

Running shoes. Are you like me and walking (and jogging) a ton? Brooks are my fav. This model is my favorite, too.

Charcoal bags. Being at home all the time, I find myself wanting our place to smell fresh and clean. These bags help. I hang 'em in all of our closets. You are supposed to be able to recharge the bags in the sun every 1-2 months.

Coaching cards. I use these powerful question cards to coach others and self-coach. Right now, everything on Hello Strategies is half-off with free shipping!

Happy shopping, friends!

Jen

Year in Review 2020 Activity + Download

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 15:23:00 +0000

Hello, dear friends during a pandemic! I'll write more soon and in the meantime, if you'd like a lovely tool to bring 2020 to a close and think ahead for 2021, here you go.

This is the same tool I use with coaching clients; you get to use it for free! Enjoy the download here and feel free to direct others to Upcycled Education so they can download it, too.

I have a few more blog posts in the hopper. More soon!

xo,

Jen

Life Updated + Obii App: Join me

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Mon, 25 May 2020 15:06:00 +0000

Hello lovely blog reader. Hello, Day 74 of staying-at-home. I'm curious. What is your pandemic life like these days? What are you noticing and learning?

Me? I'm noticing and learning....

More people in our area are out using the hiking/walking trails than I've seen in my 20 years living in Maryland. Might that mean Maryland is becoming a more healthy state with all this outdoor activity?

Speaking of the outdoors, you can ski again in Colorado. A-Basin Ski Resort is reopening this week - not that I am remotely close to being in Colorado right now.

Our family has not eaten out nor picked up to-go foods during this pandemic. That means, we've cooked everyday for 74 days. That is crazy to me. One recipe our family has enjoyed is this one. I use gluten-free flour (whatever we have on hand) to make it. It has also given me a deeper appreciation for pickles.

This pandemic, I've spent more time with my mom and sister (and of course, Miss O, Jedi and Mr. UpCyclist). There are silver-linings in this pandemic - for me, family.

More silver-linings: Not setting an alarm for the mornings, barely driving, double walks/hikes with Jedi each day, recognizing good leadership, leveraging every feature Zoom can offer, and feeling like a global "pause" button has been hit.

I'm also noticing I am more creative lately with work projects and ideas. It's like all of the ideas I have had for my college's coaching program finally get to have their moment. I'm proud of AACC and what we have created.

To complete my work flow this summer, I am offering the app-based Life Tune-up one last time (until the fall) starting June 8th. Won't you join me? So far, 80 participants have completed it and I heard from one participant, "Every person should take this. It makes you a better person." I agree! Plus, what else are you going to do this pandemic? Seriously, join me. You can read more about why I created the Life Tune-up here.

Starts June 8^th

Registration: https://app.obii.io/store?p=245

Price: $45 ($29 with code)

Coupon code: earlybirdsummer

AND, It's Memorial Day in the US today. Thank you, Mr. UpCyclist and the other military service people! I am grateful for your service.

With gratitude,

Jen

It's That Time Again + Coaching Prom

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 08:00:00 +0000

I have two things to share today. Ready?

It's that time again. Join me! The app-based 21 Day Life Tune-up Challenge I launched back in February is beginning again on May 4th. If you missed the challenge back then, you can read about what it entails here and why it might be useful to you while we are all hunkering down for COVID-19. AND, why not recruit some friends, family or co-workers to join you? Seriously. It's a great way to family/team bond and grow together.

Thing #2 I wanted to share: Since all of the coaching courses I teach at my college are now remote, my class decided we would make our last Zoom class together a Coaching Prom! Ha! Y'all, I'm in a fancy dress in the photo below with an up do and my fuzzy slippers.

I thought the disco light was a creative and appropriate touch. Do you agree?

I miss seeing my students in person and I'm kind of digging what you can create by Zoom to create connection and deepen learning even remotely.

~~Let's play together in May with the Life Tune-Up Challenge, ok? Register here and use the code below to make your admission $29 (instead of $45)~~.

UPDATE: The Life Tune-up will begin June 8th. Use the info below to register....

Code: earlybirdsummer
Link to registerhttps://app.obii.io/store?p=245

Sending you lots of coachy love and virtual hugs,
Jen

Last call and Life Updated

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 20:12:00 +0000

It's been a while since I did a Life Updated post. Here it goes....

I am celebrating that my entire course load at AACC this year has been coaching courses. Pinch me.
If you are local, we are going to offer our coaching course series this summer (specifically to educators) and this fall (open to the public), so email me if you want to know more. Our courses do require 20 hours of face-to-face instruction, so you have to be in person for those hours.
Though Mr. UpCyclist isn't in any of the photos above, do know he is working hard on his Ph.D. dissertation and (fingers crossed) will graduate before the end of 2020! Woot, woot! I am so proud of his hard work.
Miss O has her first job (besides babysitting). She is umpiring field hockey games. I think I am the only person at tournaments who is cheering for the umpire and not a team. Ha! I love that kid...I mean, teen.
Jedi, the dog, says "Hi!" Why is he so cute? I swear that dog was put into my life to keep me exercising and to have more joy. Thank you, Jedi! It's working.
This summer: Miss O and I usually go to sleep-away camp in NC for three weeks. This year, we want to try something differently. Have any suggestions for us? Please plant any seeds or ideas you have! Travel, a cool class, interesting experience....anything.
My mom is out of the hospital recovering from surgery and will go back in about a month to determine the next steps for her cancer treatment. Please keep sending her all the good vibes and prayers you have.
And.....

Last call: The Life Tune-up kicks off tomorrow, Feb. 17th, 2020! You can still join us. Register here. Read about the tune-up here. And use this code for a discounted price: earlybird (case sensitive)

Because, why not join me? It will be fun to virtually hang-out together and tune-up our lives.

Cheers, dear friends,

Jen

New App - A Passion Project

noreply@blogger.com (Jen Lara) — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Without further ado, I'd like to welcome you to my newest passion project, Life Tune-up!

Here's my problem.  I always want to care for myself, but I don't always make the time to do so. That means, everything gets done for everyone else and everything else and then, I'm too exhausted to focus on me. I'm like a car needing a tune-up, but I keep putting it off and the mileage just keeps accumulating.

Solution:  I need a Life Tune-Up.  So, I created one. And since I already don't have enough time, I made sure this tune-up is super time friendly.

Why is this important?  Because, "You can't pour from an empty cup." You. Me. All of us. It's time to thoughtfully fill-up our cups and then, go conquer the world (get stuff done, be fantastic parents, family members, colleagues...). Follow our dreams. Self-care. And not feel depleted.

Details:  I've created a 21-day experience (called a "challenge") through the Obii app where you and I (plus, whomever wants to join us) will take 21-days to tune up our lives in a meaningful, coachy, and time-effective way. Each day during the three week challenge, your phone/tablet will deliver new content right to you via the Obii app. Your job each day is to watch the 1-5 minute video I made for you (and yes, it's me in the video - the gift of gab). Take whatever you learn from that day's video and reflect on it in a downloadable journal I created. There's a chance each day to share your biggest takeaways in our community - all via the Obii app. The app is pretty to look at, easy to use and fun.

Dates:  The dates for the upcoming challenge are ~~May 4th-25th.~~

UPDATE: The Life Tune-up will begin June 8th. Use the info below to register....

Code: earlybirdsummer
Link to registerhttps://app.obii.io/store?p=245

Want to join me?  Check in with yourself and see if you need (or maybe just want) a Life Tune-up. I would love to virtually hang out with you while we self-care together. Here is the link to registerhttps://app.obii.io/store?p=245. Use this code for a discounted rate: earlybirdsummer

And in case there is some little voice inside of you telling you differently, you are worth this - the time, the money, the self-care, the abundance, the everything!

Yep, you are -

Jen

PS - Life Tune-Up will take 5-10 minutes a day for three weeks in a row. That's it!  And, it might be shorter some days and on one day longer as I have an interesting activity planned for us that is about 15 minutes that one day.