Five for Friday 7.3.2015

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

Honestly, being home with this sweet boy all week has been the best. It took everything I had not to post 5 pictures of him for all 5 things and call it a week. I walked by him on the way to bed the other day and he was so peaceful! I mean for real...

 

I went to Michael's this week and got some super cute chalkboard signs. I FINALLY figured out how to write on a chalkboard using the handwriting from fonts. It only look about 10 youtube and blog tutorials. I bought 1 chalk board to test it out. It worked! Then I immediately decided I needed more. The cashier probably thought I was insane when the baby and I came back 20 minutes later. Master pieces below. I will do a full tutorial with pictures this week!

 My sister is in town from Orlando for the week so we took the kiddos to a water park for a little bit of fun in the sun. They both rode some pretty big water slides, floated around the lazy river, and consumed a ton of snacks. 

...And when Aunt Carrie has to ride in the backseat with the children you make some customized books for the kiddos to read. My niece and nephew will be coming to my school next year. My niece has her kindergarten screening appointment on Monday. She is practicing her words like crazy! The video would not work but here she is ready to read!

On Sunday my summer is over. You should know when I say over I am not just exaggerating. I literally go back to school on Monday. I will love this in October when I have over 2 weeks off. But on Monday I will be VERY sad. 

I hope everyone has a great 4th with family and friends!

July Currently

I am linking up with Farley for July Currently. 

Listening: I am listening to Wake Up with Taylor on Satellite Radio! I have been listening for over 7 years when I got my first new car. I listen on Demand now so I can listen whenever. Best invention ever! Does anyone else listen?!

Loving: I am loving my clean house! Trey fell asleep early and I spelt 3 hours uploading my wedding, newborn and random pictures to get them printed. In between uploads I have been cleaning.

Thinking: I am thinking about my Morning Work Bundle. My sister is a Kinder teacher in Orlando. She requested some morning work for her kids. I am working every sleeping baby second to have it finished before I get back to school. 

Wanting: Summer, more summer. I teach year round. We do not have two track just one with a school start in July, two weeks off in October, two weeks in March and a lot of long weekends. Its the best. EXEPT when I have to start school in July. Did I mention my husband doesn't have to go back until August?

Needing: I am needing to get my tires on my car. What kind of tire is so special order that it takes over a week to come in?!

I am an All Star at list making and planning. When my husband wakes up he will find out to do list for tomorrow! I like to plan to make sure it all gets done!

Dare to Dream

I am linking up with the #tptsellerchallenge to share my dreams. I thought I would start off this challenge by telling you how I got started on TPT. 

In the Winter of 2011 my then boyfriend (now husband) and I traveled to Vegas with my family for New Years. While we were there we talked about our New Years Resolutions and our goals for the upcoming year. 

I would be willing to bet that we made resolutions about working out and being awesome. But he also encouraged me to start a Teachers Pay Teachers store by the end of the year. I made an empty promise and thought he would let it go. That was my first mistake. He asked me everyday for almost exactly 2 months if I had started my store.Finally I caved and opened my store in the middle of March with one product. Then we promptly left on our Spring Break Vacation in Chicago. 

On the first day of our vacation while standing in our hotel room I got an email saying I had sold my first product. My store had been open for about a week. We were both beyond shocked. That was the best $3.00 I had ever made. For the next 6 months every single time I got a product sold email I sent a text to my husband. 

Teachers Pay Teachers has blessed us with so much. We purchased out dream home, went on an amazing Honeymoon and I completed my masters with no debt because of TPT.

My biggest dream for TPT is to continue to inspire others while being inspired by others. We also want to add a pool to our house this year and travel with our family of 3 once Trey is big enough!

If you are thinking about making a store... do it today. I would have never done it if my husband didn't ask everyday for 2 months. 

Five For Friday 6.26.14 & A FREEBIE

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! Here is a peek into my week!

This is how my week started off. A flat tire and a baby who needs to get to the sitter so I can get to professional development is no fun. You should know I managed to get the tire and the jack out of my trunk. Then I quickly realized I did not know how to do anything else. Luckily my neighbor and husband came to the rescue.

This week is my third official week of summer. So far I have spent the majority of my days in trainings. This week I spent 3 days at Thinking Maps. It was awesome. 

 

This week my dad had a minor surgery. I went with my mom to wait at the hospital until we heard from the doctor. If time passes slowly anywhere it is in the waiting room of the hospital. The waiting room was supplied with cards so my mom taught me how to play rummy (I think that was the name?) and I won! Luckily my dad is well and the surgery was a success!

Before I tell you about the best thing ever, you should know I am not trying to sell you anything. I just genuinely think you need to know about this amazing thing my sister found! You have heard of Stitch Fix, right? I don't get my own Fixes but I do stalk an online group that sells some of the clothes they don't keep... and I may have numerous things in my closet that came from other people's Fixes. 

But... do you know about Golden Tote?! The link is to my sister's referral code because I did not get a tote yet! I have no clue what she gets if she refers people. Use her code or don't the point is just get a tote!

This fabulous tote was sitting on my parent's door step when we got home from the hospital and my sister is on her way out of town for a week! So the insanely jealous loving sister that I am offered to open her tote. 

The beauty that was inside was shocking. Her tote was awesome. Which is good because its an all or nothing deal-- $150 for 6 items, 2 you pick, and 4 surprises.

 EVERY. SINGLE. THING. in that tote was fabulous.

 I even tried some of it on and sent her pictures. How nice am I?

Needless to say, I will be convincing my husband of all the reasons why I NEED a July tote.

I have been working a bit on TPT and I realized I haven't uploaded a FREEBIE for a while. I figured what better way then to thank you for still reading this blog then to put up a limited time freebie!

This FREEBIE is the cutest decor for your Back to School Open House Donation Door!

Writing Portfolios

I won't say I am back because I have said that before. But I am trying a new thing... blogging on the iPad. I am hoping that by iPad blogging I won't have to be so connected to the computer and I can blog on the "go."

Because that's life these day... on the go. This sweet boy although not literally moving around makes life busier-- in the best way possible.

Planning for the upcoming year is always one of my favorite things. As I look ahead to things I like, things I want to continue, and things that need to be changed, one thing I ALWAYS do with each class is a Writing Portfolio. In kinder world-- a progress journal.

Nothing makes my heart happier then flipping through a writing portfolio and seeing the progress a kinder kid makes from the first day to the last.

 

These writing portfolios are so much fun and such a huge talking point for conferences. Grab my writing portfolio pages for $2.50 cents or just grab some writing paper and create your own! I also attached my monthly journal covers if your students do journals each month!

We Heart Teachers: Teacher Essentials

Happy Monday! 

We are on our first official day of our We {HEART} Teachers event! 

I know as teachers, we don't usually look forward to Mondays... but this Monday is special! It's the first day of Teacher Appreciation week! That means you'll be showered with notes of thanks, tokens of affection and LOTS OF HUGS! <3! 

It also means it's time to giveaway some AMAZING prizes!

Today, we have this amazing #TeacherEssentials prize pack for you!

This is a small collection of items to help you get through your weeks! 

Here's a peek at what YOU can win..

1. Blair Turner Paper Notepads- How cute are these? Perfect for all those last minute lists! And the Fun colors are SURE to brighten up any paper piled desk! ;) 

2. Spring Bling Coffee Cozy from Miss Squirrels Shop- Now that the end of the year is starting, coffee is a must! keep it warm with this adorable bejeweled cozy! <3

3. 12 Pack of Flair Pens- So you can write beautiful "to do" lists on those notepads! ;)

4. Custom Designed Pencil Door Hanger from Tallahassee Sunday- They made the CUTEST apple door hanger for me! Now you'll get one too! 

5. Custom Water Color Print from The Teacher Print Shop- Rachel from The Tattooed Teacher has an eye for desgin and she'll make you a CUSTOM Water color type print and MAIL it you! YES PLEASE!   

6. Pampered Teacher Box- Every teacher deserves a little pampering! Pampered Teacher is a monthly subscription service that sends you special hand picked teacher items based on your likes and wants! They've graciously donated one box for you! 

7. $10 Starbucks Gift Card- So you can have a cup to wrap that ADORABLE coffee cozy around! Oh and help fuel you for a few more days! 

8. Planbook Subscription for a year- I switched from a word document style lesson plan book to using this online service and I LOVE it! User friendly, easy, and soooo convenient. I can even send my lesson plans to my teammates! 

That's an AMAZING prize pack! What to enter? Enter below using the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND don't forget today's the last day for you to enter the chance to win one of three $40 GC for 

TeachersPayTeachers, just in time for their Teacher Appreciation Sale!

Click here to go enter that giveaway! We'll be announcing the winners tomorrow AND We'll have another AMAZING prize pack up for grabs... let's just say teachers love their apple... products... ;) 

We Heart Teachers

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week Eve! I am so blessed to be part of this awesome giveaway with The Appleicious Teacher. If you don't follow her blog and facebook GO NOW! You do not want to miss out!

Teachers are some of the hardest working, caring, and passionate people I know. You never hear a teacher say, "I'm in this for the money, fame, and fortune".  Teachers teach because they have a passion for learning, sharing, and changing lives one lesson at a time.

So this week, my fellow teachers, is about you! Let's celebrate those little victories that never find their way onto a standardized test, like that one student who actually grabbed a copy of your favorite read aloud book for some quiet reading at their desk!

This week, in honor of you, I've joined forces with some of your favorite bloggers and teacher companies to bring you the 2nd Annual We {HEART} Teachers Event!

You thought last year was good... wait 'til you see what we've got for you this year!

This event will run from Monday, May 4th through Friday, May 8th and I promise you won't want to miss it any second of it!

Over 40 of your favorite teacher bloggers and teacher companies have joined up to bring you some amazing prizes, freebies, and deals!

 All my FAVES!

Here's a peek at what's up for grabs this week!

So much cute stuff!

 Get your shop on!

 Yeah... that's an IPad Mini... WHAT?!

No for real.. .like $10,000 in prizes more...

So, be sure to check back each day to enter for your chance to win HUGE prize packs, grab up some FREEBIES, and see some amazing deals.

If you don't already, I suggest you like my Buzz Into Kinder page on FB!

 Then click "Get notifications" under liked so that you'll be the first to see each day's prize packs, products, and FREEBIES!

ANNNNDDDD... because I am just soooo excited about this event, I've got THREE  TpT GCs up for grabs today and tomorrow!

This will be the PERFECT thing to help you clear out that wish list during the TpT Sale this week!

YEAH... That's right, TpT is hosting a two day sale to say THANK YOU for all your hard work too! (I convinced them for ya! ;)) I'll have my ENTIRE store on sale for 20% May 5th and 6th, and you can save and additional 10% off by using the code THANKYOU at check out. That's a total savings of 28% off! #WIN

Want to win?! Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I'll be back tomorrow with MORE prizes, goodies, and fun! XOXO!