The Inside Scoop on Me and My Journey

Hi y'all!

I'm a little late to joining the blog world. Yet, that's no surprise because I typically am running late to everything I do. 

In 2014, I was a first year teacher, and I was spending countless hours 14+ hours in my classroom each day. I had key to go into the school whenever I wanted, and I lived only two blocks away. It was a recipe for disaster. That year, I also got married, and I realized I was spending all my time at work and not doing the things I enjoyed with the people that mattered most.

I started creating products for my own use to save time and minimize prep work, so I could stop working from home and start enjoying life outside of work. I began sharing these ideas and products with my friends and co-workers to help them save their precious time, too.

This eventually led to me starting my Teachers Pay Teachers journey. My focus has since been creating products for myself and others that are engaging, but also time savers, so myself and other teachers can stop bringing work home and enjoy their time outside of work.

In 2016, a teacher friend told me I should start Instagramming to share my ideas and help out other teachers. I have been active on and off in the Instagram world since then. If I am being 100% honest, I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love the ideas and interacting with other teachers, but I get serious mom and wife guilt for spending too much time on it. 

However, after all these years, I couldn't make the commitment to start a blog. Between getting married. moving across the country, changing schools and grade levels a few times, and raising two kids; I just didn't have the time.

Okay okay, I probably had the time, but I was too lazy and a little anxious to jump on the blog train. To be honest, I am still a little anxious (Writing has always been my least favorite subject.. Just ask my elementary teachers who constantly told me I had to write something other than acrostic poems in my writing journal EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.), but I am finally tackling my fears and jumping on board. I'm excited to have you here to see it happening!

20 Random Things About Me, Mallory

1. I have been an educator in 3 states, 4 districts, 5 schools, and 6 grades/positions.

2. Oh, and this is my 7th year in education!

3. I gravitate towards water bottles and wrapping paper any time I am in a store. I can never have enough, and it drives my husband crazy.

4. I absolutely love Auburn football! My husband actually proposed to me in Auburn University's football locker room. WAR EAGLE!

5. I very, very rarely watch tv. If I do, it's either Shark Tank or a show on HGTV.

6. Chick-Fil-A peach milkshakes are the greatest thing ever.. It'd be cool if they would stop making them a seasonal item.

7. I've had terrible anxiety for pretty much my entire life. It took me 26 years to get the courage to go see a therapist, and it was the best thing I ever did for myself.

8. Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom is my favorite ride at Disney and People Mover is a close second.

9. Oh, and I absolutely despise Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom. 

10. Technology has always been my jam, so being a technology coach is my dream job come true.

11. I lived on the computer as a kid. Playing Neopets, designing Cartoon Dollz, playing Sims, coding on Myspace, and making CDs were some of my hobbies growing up. 

12. I was also an avid chess player, gymnast, and cheerleader in school.

13. I wanted to be a CIA agent or an attorney up until my second semester of college.

14. My daughter's middle name is Espyn. Yes, like ESPN. She gets to thank her father for that one.

15. Honestly, I never cared about Disney until we moved to Orlando, and now we go multiple times a week.

16. I had a stalker in college, which made me realize you never know who is following you on social media. Because of that, I am cautious about posting pictures of my kids' faces.

17. I have never drank coffee, tea, or alcohol.

18. Oh, I've also never cussed.

19. Pickle juice is delicious. Especially when it's frozen into pickle popsicles. 

20. I'm a serious introvert. Once I break out of my shell, I am good to go. However, it takes a while for me to not be super awkward.

Hopefully you know me a little bit better. If you already knew me, maybe you learned something new. I'm interested to know if we have anything in common! Comment below or message me on Instagram, and let me know if we could be best friends.