24 day elf kit

NOVEMBER’S 30 WAYS FOR LOVING THE ORDINARY EACH & EVERY DAY

Each month, I put together a list of 30 simple ways to embrace the beauty of everyday life. This list is designed to help you thoughtfully curate your days, focusing on home, garden, and personal moments. Whether you’re savoring time alone or sharing it with someone special, these ideas are meant to inspire more joy in the ordinary. Use it as a guide to create new moments or refine the ones you already cherish.

A saying about November: “There are so many beautiful reasons to be grateful.” (source unknown)

November is the perfect time to slow down, reflect on what you’re thankful for, live fully in the moment, and embrace the beauty of ordinary days. It’s also the perfect time to check off a few more items from your Fall Fun Checklist. Don’t have one? November’s Loving the Ordinary list is filled with daily ideas to help you savor everything this cozy season has to offer.

With that in mind, take a moment to choose one or two things to love and enjoy this month. Here’s November’s Loving the Ordinary list to inspire you.

  • Gather your favorite holiday recipes and display them in your kitchen. Pick one or two to try, add the ingredients to your shopping list, and invite someone to join you in the fun of cooking together.
  • Perfect your apple or pecan pie recipe and share your “practice pies” with friends and neighbors as you refine your technique.
  • Add warmth to your home by filling tables, mantels, and bookshelves with candles and candlesticks.
  • Treat yourself to a homemade fall-inspired latte.
  • Start planning your Thanksgiving celebration. If you need guidance, I have a PDF to help map out your holiday.
  • Order firewood to prepare for cozy fall and winter nights by the fire.
  • Get organized for handmade gifts—don’t forget to replace worn-out sewing needles, scissors, or ink pads while running errands, so you’re ready to craft.
  • Choose a favorite photo to use for this year’s holiday cards.
  • Clean and prep your home for holiday gatherings and decorations—this is the season for home-keeping.
  • Create a popcorn station for movie and game nights.
  • Start organizing addresses for efficient holiday card writing. Need help? Head to our Facebook group where you’ll find a handy spreadsheet in the files section.
  • On Veterans Day, thank someone for their service, or bring treats to a local veterans facility.
  • Write notes or letters to those in your life you’re especially thankful for, letting them know how much they mean to you.
  • Try a new pumpkin recipe—whether it’s pie, cake, cookies, bread, or pancakes. For inspiration, visit my Pinterest Pumpkin board.
  • Stock up on hostess and service people gifts to hand out between Thanksgiving and the New Year.
  • As you unpack your winter gear, donate what you no longer need or that no longer fits your style.
  • Plan your reading list for the upcoming year and share it—there may be someone who’d love to discuss a book or two with you. Also, stay tuned for A Carefully Curated Life Book Club starting in December.
  • Organize your board games—donate unused ones, replace missing pieces, or treat yourself to a new game.
  • Schedule a few self-care appointments to keep yourself grounded during the busy holiday season.
  • Create a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape—if you need help, consider taking a floral arranging class.
  • Start a new Thanksgiving tradition by taking a group photo of everyone gathered together. Share photos from the past year, then update the framed ones around your home.
  • Discuss family traditions with loved ones around the table, passing them down through the generations.
  • Practice saying “No” to conserve energy and take care of yourself as the holiday season ramps up.
  • Start a gratitude journal or make a list of everything you’re thankful for.
  • Enjoy Thanksgiving with friends, family, and neighbors, or start a Friendsgiving tradition.
  • On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, support your local small businesses for Small Business Saturday.
  • Skip the busy malls and visit a local museum or take a fun class, such as canvas painting, ceramics, or candle making.
  • Prepare countdown treats or gifts for next month.
  • Now is the perfect time to shop sales at kitchen supply or home decor stores for table linens—stock up while you can.
  • Finally, start thinking about next year’s goals, adventures, and vacations. What do you want to achieve or experience in the coming year?

I hope this list has sparked some inspiration for embracing the beauty of October by loving the ordinary moments each and every day.

18 BEST CLASSROOM DOOR DECORATION IDEAS FOR A CREATIVE AND INSPIRING 2024

As students return to their classroom after a long vacation, a warm welcome note on the door can bring joy and excitement. Simple yet creative door decorations can set a positive tone for new experiences and help ease the transition from the summer break, making it easier for students to leave their friends and embrace the new session ahead.

FALL CLASSROOM DOOR IDEAS

This door decoration is perfect for celebrating the back-to-school season and can seamlessly transition into Thanksgiving. Utilize the printable fall leaves and acorns from our “Thankful for My Gnomies” Thanksgiving Bulletin Board Kit to create a festive Back-to-School Door. As Thanksgiving approaches, you can effortlessly update your decoration using the remaining gnome-themed elements from the bulletin board kit.

‘MATH MAGIC’ DOOR

Make math fun and engaging with creative door designs that foster a deeper appreciation for problem-solving skills. Consider using a galaxy of equations, a labyrinth of numbers, or a chalkboard-inspired theme. To transform your classroom into a Math Mysteries masterpiece, incorporate arithmetic challenges, algebraic expressions, and geometric problems.

BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE ELSE’S CLOUD CLASSROOM DOOR

Decorating your classroom door can be quite the task, especially if you’re looking to refresh it several times throughout the year. If you prefer a decoration that lasts the entire year, consider a rainbow-themed design. This vibrant and versatile theme fits any classroom environment and supports a variety of subjects. Including a quote from Dr. Maya Angelou about kindness can serve as a daily reminder for students to be compassionate, particularly when others are having a tough day.

WE’RE READY FOR A COLORFUL YEAR

Set the tone for a vibrant school year with this fall classroom door decorating idea! Let your students know they’re in for a colorful year ahead. We used printable crayon cut-outs to add a playful touch to the theme, ideal for primary grades. Alternatively, you could use colorful rainbows or colored pencils to brighten up the door and create a cheerful atmosphere.

‘PERIODIC TABLE’ DOOR

Combine education and fun to create an engaging and interactive learning experience with a periodic table-themed door decoration. Use individual cutouts to illustrate simple molecular structures with element symbols, showcasing compounds and molecules. Decorate with elements that represent the periodic table, including element symbols, electron configurations, atomic numbers, and atomic masses. 

‘SPORTS FANATIC’ DOOR

Transform your door with a sports field or arena backdrop for a dynamic and engaging decoration. Add mini craft cutouts of sports equipment like balls, bats, basketball hoops, or soccer goals to bring the theme to life. Show your team spirit by incorporating a mini scoreboard, team names, mascots, or motivational phrases to keep the energy high and inspire your students.

KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM DOOR IDEA

This classroom door decoration is versatile enough to work in both spring and fall, making it perfect for welcoming students on the first day of school. We’ve put together a printable classroom door kit that includes letters and flowers, so all you need to do is print, add your students’ photos, and display it on your door. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!

‘DREAM BIG, WORK HARD’ DOOR

Decorate the door to illustrate a student’s journey from dream to achievement by creating a blueprint-themed design. Incorporate symbols of growth, such as sprouting plants or soaring birds, to represent progress and aspirations. Hang paper stars with strings or ladder-like cutouts on the door, each symbolizing a step toward achieving their dreams. 

‘UNDER THE SEA ADVENTURE’ DOOR

Create a captivating underwater adventure for your classroom door with a deep oceanic backdrop. Use paper coral and seaweed cutouts to set the scene and spark curiosity. Enhance the theme with mini paper sea creature cutouts like fish, dolphins, and turtles, each featuring interesting facts or trivia. This design will encourage imagination and foster a love for learning about the ocean and its inhabitants.

‘YOU ARE CAPABLE OF AMAZING THINGS’ DOOR 

Outline the door with word clouds that feature empowering words and phrases to create a motivational atmosphere. You can also add cutouts of hands holding symbols of accomplishment, such as stars or diplomas. This theme is designed to boost students’ confidence and create a positive, inspiring environment right from the start.

‘DIVE INTO LEARNING’ DOOR

Decorate the door to illustrate a student’s journey from dream to achievement by creating a blueprint-themed design. Incorporate symbols of growth, such as sprouting plants or soaring birds, to represent progress and aspirations. Hang paper stars with strings or ladder-like cutouts on the door, each symbolizing a step toward achieving their dreams. 

‘PUZZLE OF KNOWLEDGE’ DOOR

Create a door design that resembles a puzzle to symbolize the unity and interconnectedness of subjects. Use an intriguing backdrop with interlocking pieces to convey this concept. Attach mini paper puzzle pieces along with cutouts of an open book, a pencil, a magnifying glass, and a light bulb to represent the “lightbulb moment” of wisdom and discovery.

‘NEW YEAR REFLECTION’ DOOR

Design a captivating New Year Reflection door decoration that embodies renewal and transformation. Use a large clock face as a focal point to symbolize the countdown to the new year. Incorporate elements that represent self-reflection and personal growth, such as mirrors or reflective surfaces. Create a dedicated space where students can write or draw their resolutions for the year, allowing them to engage personally with the theme. 

EASTER DOOR

Welcome the spirit of spring into your classroom with an enchanting Easter decoration! Use a soft, soothing pastel color palette and make the Easter bunny the centerpiece. Enhance the look with an array of paper or fabric flowers in various sizes and colors, along with Easter eggs and butterflies. Incorporate paper cutouts of cheerful phrases like “Happy Easter” to complete the festive and joyful atmosphere.

‘HALLOWEEN SPOOKY STORYLAND’ DOOR

Let your students embrace the eerie magic of Halloween with a captivating door decoration that channels the spirit of this witchy holiday. Use a spooky backdrop featuring black, grey, and dark purple tones. Enhance the theme with paper cutouts of bats, witches, black cats, spiders, cobwebs, and skeletons.

‘WILDLIFE SAFARI’ DOOR

Transform your classroom door into a vibrant jungle adventure with a wildlife-themed backdrop. Use mini paper trees and foliage cutouts to create a lush, green setting. Add animal cutouts like lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras to various areas of the door to bring the scene to life. This design will create an engaging and immersive environment that will captivate your students’ imaginations.

‘EMOJI MANIA’ DOOR

Design a door adorned with playful emojis to brighten your classroom and bring smiles to your students’ faces. Feature emojis expressing a range of emotions and moods, such as happiness, excitement, curiosity, and even anger, to reflect the diverse feelings students might experience. Use construction paper, paint, and colorful wrapping paper to create and display these vibrant emojis.

‘ALPHABET’ DOOR

Immerse your students in a captivating world of letters and language with a door decoration that sparks curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. Cut out large, colorful alphabet letters from construction paper or cardstock and arrange them creatively on the door. Encourage students to discover hidden words, share their favorite words, or even create sentences using the letters.

CONCLUSION

As teachers and parents, it’s our role to create a warm and welcoming environment for students as they return to school, helping them feel comfortable and at ease. With a touch of creativity, we can encourage students to express themselves and feel accepted right from the start.

Paying attention to the details is key, and classroom door decorations are no exception. Once you’ve chosen a theme, think about how you can make decorating the door an interactive activity for students. This approach ensures that the decoration not only adds visual appeal but also enhances the learning experience and fosters a sense of belonging. Let’s make this school year truly unforgettable by creating a vibrant and engaging classroom environment from day one!