Five for Friday!

This is my first time linking up for Five for Friday over at Doodle Bugs Teaching.  So, I'm picking 5 random things from this week... :)

It's finally here!  Summer vacation!  While I was so ready to be home with my girls, I will miss my students this year.  I had a really good group... they were just a sweet group, I hate to see them go on to third grade.  So, today I'm enjoying day 2 of summer vacation!

My brain doesn't know that summer vacation is here!  Anyone else having that problem?  Ideas for school next year, ideas for my TPT store, ideas for Bumblebee's first birthday, packing for the beach... and other things... My brain is supposed to be ASLEEP along with the rest of my household at 2 am...

Has anyone read this?  I think I saw it in my school's resource bookroom, but one reason why my brain won't shut off is because I want to redo my classroom layout.  I did my room so fast last year because I was 8 months pregnant and was going out on maternity leave... I want a redo!  The layout did not lend itself to any good function, so I'm working overtime at 2 am thinking about how function and form can go hand in hand :)

Now that I can have two stress-freer (ha!) months at home, I can really focus on losing the last 15 pounds of baby weight that need to go.  Yeah, I had most of it off and then winter/Valentine's Day/Easter/Mother's Day happened... yeah.  I don't like exercise.  So, my goal this summer is to get rid of that last 15... 

And best of all, I get to spend my summer with a real life version of Elsa and Anna... my Ladybug and Bumblebee!  The baby is even singing Let it Go!  

Link up and show your Five for Friday!

images were found via pinterest.com or google.com

Two for Tuesday!

I am so enjoying this week's link ups from The Teaching Tribune!  What a fun idea!  I have one and a half days left of work this week and then it's sweet summertime!  I can't wait to spend time with my sweet little family this summer!

How could you not with faces like those?  Ugh....squishy cheeks!  Well, those cuties are NOT my two for Tuesday, but I couldn't resist sharing :)

I'm linking up again with The Teaching Tribune to share two of my favorite (and newer!) TPT products.  For this link up, I picked two of my TPT items to put at 50% off!  Yes, this girl will be doing some shopping today!  

The first is my 2nd Grade Word Work Sight Word Boggle Boards.  I made these for my students this year who LOVED to play boggle.  I couldn't give them a board fast enough.  Then I had a bright idea... why not incorporate some sight words in the boggle boards?  That was all she wrote!  I am going to use these as one of my literacy stations next year.  There are 36 boards, enough for each week of the school year!  

My second product is my Buggy for Long Vowels packet.  I made this to help my students work on common long vowel patterns (VCe patterns and vowel teams).  These are hard for second graders (and others, too!) so I tell my kids there's not really any trick but good old fashioned memorization and recognition... but they liked using this packet.  I even saw on word study tests where they'd written the word using both patterns to see which looked correct!  

So check these out!  They'll be half off until Wednesday morning at midnight!  If you snag them, please leave some awesome feedback :)  And link up!

Summer Reading List

Summer....(Frozen fans... cue Olaf's song!!  Bees a-buzzin....)  

I cannot wait.  I have 7 days.  One month until my favorite place is mine for a whole 7 days... OBX fans, shout out!

My plan is to not only get back into blogging full time this summer, but to pick up a few good books while I'm beachside/poolside/couchside, etc.  I saw this link up on a few blogs and thought... I can do this!  So, here's my summer reading list...

#1- The HIGHLY ANTICIPATED 8th book in the Outlander series is due out my first day without kids....JUNE 10!  Can I say PREORDER??

If you've never read the Outlander series, you should.  It's freaking aweeeeesome.  Especially if you like kilts...  just saying... It's actually coming out as a TV series soon, too.  If you get Starz, check it out and swoon a little...

  

Say no more.

#2 on my list- 100 Minutes by Lisa Donohue... there's a book study going on somewhere... but I won't have time to start it until after I get my hands on my Outlander book first... school can wait a bit ;)

What are your reading plans for this summer?  Link up to The Hands-on Teacher in First's Linky and share what your plans are!

Wordless Wednesday

My desk.  Sad, I know.  My defense: 1- It's that time of the year.  2- Organization is not my strong point. 3- On my list of priorities, it's kind of at the bottom.  The defense rests...

Sad, again, yes.  How do you organize?  

Monday Made It

This is my first attempt at doing a Monday Made It project.  I actually started it (and finished it!) last Wednesday night, the same day I went out and bought most of my materials.  Tara at 4th Grade Frolics made a set of these letters and I thought I'd give it a try!  


I made magnetic letters to hang on my rolling leveled library...not the greatest pic but it's all I had available to me now...it's ugly.  I should have brought it home and done an extreme makeover cart edition on it, but alas, it's still in my classroom...maybe I can sneak in and bring it home?  Need to figure out how to paint a metal cart...spray paint?

I digress...as usual :)

The wooden letters spell the word READ.  I'm going to have them on the side of my "bookcart" and have a cutsie clipboard hanging there so they can check out their books.  I'm really awful at keeping up with my books...to the point where I just say please only have 2 of mine at a time...riiiiiiiiight.  I think the record last year's class:  27 books in a desk.  We should have made a graph each time we cleaned out desks.

What you'll need:  

wooden or chipboard letters

paint

scrapbook paper (try to find paper, cardstock is a little too heavy)

foam brushes

Modge Podge

a good pair of scissors or Exacto knife

varnish or a gloss

strong magnets

I bought my letters and paper at AC Moore (hooray for a 15% teacher discount!! Michael's does that too!)  They actually had the pack of paper for $5 but it was on sale (cha-ching!) for $3 something then 15%...double cha-ching!  I was a little disappointed with the selection of paper in the packet...not at all what was on the front.  I guess they meant "assorted" from 6 designs...oh well, it was cheap!  See all those pretty pinks and turquoise colors?? (pout)

Pick your paper and turn it on the back.  Lay your letters down upside down (the right side laying against the paper) and trace each letter.  Cut them out and lay aside.  An exacto knife works really good on those inside pieces.

Begin to paint your letters.  I did put a layer of paint on the fronts of each letter just incase the paper didn't cover the wood.  It will all be covered later :)  Once dry, paint all sides.

Once you've painted and allowed time to dry (riiiiight, if you're as impatient as I!) put a thin layer of Modge Podge on the front of the letter and place the paper cutout on top, carefully, smooth out any wrinkles!

Almost done!  Here's each letter...

This is optional, depending on your likes...but I took my paint and with a foam brush, dabbed a little around each edge to make an antiqued look.  This would cover any areas that the paper may have missed, and I think it helps make it look a little nicer.

Apply a coat or two of varnish or gloss, and you're done!  I still have to get some magnets, but I'm not in a hurry yet :)

I think this will be really cute!  I can't wait to see how it looks!  I am a little disappointed with the colors...I was hoping for some brighter, but it's not so "girly" and maybe my boys will appreciate that :)  Let me know if you make these!!

Be sure to check out other Monday Made It ideas at Tara's linky!

Also, check out Kaitlyn's giveaway at Smiles and Sunshine!

My Obsessions Linky

Now that I have time (wow!) to blog, I'm going back and hitting some linky parties that I've put on the back burner.  I'm linking to the My Obsessions Linky that Bonnie at Living a Wonderful Life is hosting.  If you've not checked out her blog, it's awesome!  

Obsession Number One:  Clipart.  I giant puffy heart love clipart.  How can you not?  I haven't downloaded any in a few days and I feel sad.  I think I'm going to need to find some new ones...hmmm... perhaps some owls for back to school?  Some of my favorites to shop are:

                                  

Obsession Number Two:  Shopping...for my daughter and myself.  Who wouldn't love to shop for this kiddo?

This is my daughter and myself on my other obsession...my blue netbook.  We are watching the ABC song (one of millions) on youtube.  Nat loves it!

Obsession Number Three:  Coach purses... this is a definite splurge when I do this, and it's not very often that I buy one.  I have an opportunity to shop the outlet ONLINE and that's where I buy my pretties.  Until I hit it big on TPT, that's all this diva wannabe can do!

Obsession Number Four:  Mexican food.  I love it.  I made this last night and it was delish (and spicy!! the best combo!)

I found this on Pinterest, but followed the link back to dashingdish.com which is AWESOME!  I won't even get on Pinterest because it's much more than an obsession.....sigh.

Hope you'll link up also!!  I could list so many more but I won't...don't wanna look too pathetic hehe!

My Favorite Fonts Linky Party

I admit, I have a slight addiction to downloading fonts.


Maybe slight ain't quite the word I should use.  Step one to recognizing addictive behaviors is admitting you have a problem.  


I have a problem when it comes to downloading fonts.  :)


Natalie at Teachery Tidbits is having a linky party to share your most favoritest fonts.  

Between my computers at home and school, there's no telling how many fonts I've downloaded just this year.  I love Windows 7 because instead of installing the font the old way, you unzip it and click the install button at the top of the unzipped folder.  Thank you, Bill Gates!


So, here's some of my favorite fonts!

I also have a lot of the Janda fonts (dafont.com) on my computer at school.  They are too stinkin' cute!  I have 2 of them on my home computer but they aren't showing up at the moment...need to investigate!  

Anyways, link up with Natalie's linky.  Discover a new font or fifty :)

Currently February...

Yeah, I've not posted in almost two weeks... sorry y'all.  It has been more than CAH-RAAA-ZEEE lately.  Anyone still testing?  This girl is.  Nevermind my kids just got through doing their midyear testing, but let's throw the Stanford 10 tests on them for a whole week.  Poor kiddos.  I'm tested out, too.  Yes, I'm Debbie Downer today, but a girl's gotta vent :)


Anywho, I'm linking up Farley for this month's currently.  Go on over and link up!  Here's mine!

Okay, link up!!  And...I finished my Pinterest inspired Boggle board!  So excited and so are the kids!  They keep asking...Is this a word?  Is this?  What about this word?  Too cute :)  I'll get some pictures and post soon.  Sooner than two weeks, lol.

Mom Monday

Sorry to again post twice in one day (where is it written you can't do that??) but I just went through some of the posts on Google reader when I saw Beth at Thinking of Teaching's post about her linky party, Mom Mondays.  I think it's an awesome idea because all teaching mommies need some inspiration after a long day, and to me, nothing brings about good inspiration like a good, easy, yummy dinner.  So, if you are a Mommy and have some good recipes that your kiddos like, link up!


This recipe was given to me by a friend of mine and I've modified it a little, and so can you.


Pillsbury Pizza Dough Stromboli


1 can of Pillsbury pizza dough (found with the crescent rolls and cinnamon rolls)
1 jar of marinara sauce (I like Emeril's.....BAM!)
any spices, cheeses, pepperoni, or meat, or veggies that you or your kiddos like


I follow the directions on the pizza dough package for cooking, but add 3-5 minutes more to the cooking time to make sure the insides of the stromboli are hot.


Divide your dough into as many servings as you need.  I make two large adult ones and one 2 year old sized portion, but I never finish mine :)


Spread out your dough evenly.  Spoon marinara sauce and spread toppings evenly.  Fold dough over and press open edges together.  A fork works nicely to keep edges together.  Sprinkle spices or butter on top to make a nice, crisp top.


Bake as directed on the package.


This is quick and easy to make with no fuss from those who eat it!


I hope you'll enjoy it!


Serve with salad.

Love to Joplin

Can you imagine a tornado coming through your town, tearing apart your home, neighborhood, and classroom?  Everything you've saved for years (home and school) gone?  Mrs. Will's Kindergarten is having the coolest linky party ever:  donating TPT/TN packs to Joplin teachers.  You have to visit her page and read the email from the Joplin teacher she posted.  Let's link up and show our fellow teachers some love and support.

Here's how to participate:

1.  Send your TpT product or Teacher's Notebook to Erica

edoennig@joplin.k12.mo.us

2. Then link up here.

Clutter Free Classroom Project - Week 1 Challenge

Sorry to post twice in one day, but I'm catching up from last week and then being out of town this weekend.  


I am in serious need of some organization in my classroom (and home...but that's a whole different story!)  I am hoping to participate in the Clutter-Free Classroom Project.  This week's challenge was to take before pictures of my mess.  No judging, please.  They are awful...and I'm very embarrassed...but the first step to getting help is admitting you have a problem.  Here's my problems.

This, unfortunately, is my desk.  On a good day.  I am the pile queen and have been as long as I can remember.  There are piles similar to this all over my classroom.

This is my desk from the other side, looking back onto my AC unit (which I completely clear before the fire marshall comes...) and the top of my filing cabinets.  

My guided reading kidney table and front left corner of my classroom.

Right front corner..cubbies and bookcases.

Behind my guided reading table...stuff gets stuffed and stacked back there.  Behind the curtain on the bookcase is AWFUL.

To the left of my guided reading table...the bookcase with a broken shelf that has been stuffed with piles...piles...and papers.

I so need help!!