HELLLLLO 2015

Y'all, I haven't written anything on this blog in awhile... it's been hectic 'round these parts.  I am excited to see this year end and am optimistic about what 2015 might bring for me and my small humans.  I'm linking up with Farley for her January Currently... here's what I'm currently up to:

Listening:  to House Hunters International...  man, I love HGTV.  I always try to figure out which house the people will pick, but I am usually wrong.  Guess what works for me isn't true about them :)  The International one is even more intriguing... I love looking at the different houses in amazing countries... I should travel more!

Loving:  my boys and our new family of 3.  I don't know what this is supposed to look like yet.  Not sure what divorce looks like for us...  we have moved into a new house and are navigating it together.  For now we have a safe place to live, internet (finally), DirecTV, groceries, and each other.  I have been surrounded by friends this last week and have felt so loved.

Thinking: about way too many things.  I keep rewriting my to-do list.  Just when I think I've got everything done... I think of 10 more things to write down.  I am only getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night so writing stuff down is WAY important.  I am normally a list maker anyways, but certainly more right now.

Wanting:  my pink eye to go away.  Seriously, what teacher gets PINK EYE over break?  I went to the doctor yesterday and got drops, but I still look kinda crazy!  I just want to keep my sunglasses on all day so people can't see me!  I know it will pass, but DANG...  PINK EYE?!?!

Needing:  a new coffeepot... any recommendations?  Y'all know I love coffee... plain or fancy.  What kind of coffee pot do I need?  I also need a new welcome mat.  I have looked on Amazon, but not sure where else to look for something fun and whimsical...  maybe even witty ;)  If you know of somewhere... leave me a comment!  I'm also needing some sleep... so if you find some extra ---> send it my way!

Yes, Maybe, Wish: Yes, to loving myself.  For me that looks like Crossfit, healthier choices, working on my gifted endorsement, and allowing myself some grace when I fail.  Maybe I will buy a house.  For now we will live in our happy rented home while I get my ducks in a row and figure out what our family of 3 needs.  But maybe it would be nice to start over!  Wish:  I would love to find a way to pay off my student loan.  It is the one thing that I angst over the most it seems... like this looming thing... always.  If I won the lottery... it would be the first thing I would do... pay that baby off!

I hope that you will have an amazing night and that you will wake up tomorrow ON FIRE with plans of awesomeness.  Can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for all of us!

Currently December

Linking up with Farley for what is probably the shortest post ever... lots on my mind and just feeling anxious,  y'all!  I hope that your December is off to a great start!  Here is a Christmas freebie for those of you who are here :)  You can download it HERE!   Talk to y'all soon!  <3

It's Currently November {Gobble, Gobble, Y'all}

I always say "Ain't no tired like a back to school teacher tired!" Well folks...  that has carried over into now November.  I'm just TIRED.  I didn't even have the energy to link up to Currently last month.  I know I am not alone.  The other teacher moms are nodding in agreement....  just tired!  BUT I am linking up with Farley this month... YES I am!  :)

Listening: to my boys talk about zombies.  They are obsessed.  To be completely fair... I am, too!  I love The Walking Dead and it comes on in a few hours (eeeek!)  Do you watch every Sunday, too?  This season really started off with a bang!

Loving: the cooler weather.  In south Georgia it is usually really warm on Halloween and even Thanksgiving.  This colder weather has been really nice.  Not cold enough for snow here, but def scarf and long sleeve weather!

Thinking: there are only 15 days of school before break.  If I get specific though... one of those days is a teacher workday (woot!) and I am taking a personal day with my friend to go Christmas shopping and just have a girls' day for a change!  I'm ready to get my Santa on, y'all!

Wanting:  a pair of Hunter wellies {swoon}...  these will be my Christmas present to myself I think.  I've been very good.....  Santa thinks I'm legit... now to decide what color.  Do I go with a practical color (brown/black) or do I get funky (turquoise/pink)?!?!?!

Needing:  new workout clothes.  So part of the reason I have been absent from here has been school...  and my boys take karate everyday.... BUT I have been doing Crossfit and trying to make healthier choices with my food.  I have now been caffeine free for a month.  No daily morning Starbucks run...  no Pepsi with lunch and dinner.  I am so excited to see results and I am feeling really motivated right now.  I like lifting heavy things and the sore feeling the next day... I am taking baby steps, but haven't felt this mentally strong in a long time!

Reading:  It Starts With Food...  it is a great book and I am learning a lot.  I am going to try the Whole30 soon and can't wait to see what my body can do.

So... there you have it.  I am still here and trucking along... just trying to spend less time on my computer and even less time working on TpT things and more time working on ME!  Maybe one day I will be brave enough to post pictures of my progress!  I hope that November has found you all healthy and inching closer to Thanksgiving break!  Talk to y'all soon!

It's Currently September... Like For Reals

Hey y'all... Stacy here.... linking up with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for this month's Currently.  Can you even believe that it's already September?  Like the big man in the red suit will be here in less than 4 months!  For reals, y'all!  :)  Without further ado...

Listening:  To my children ooooh and ahhhh over our new bearded dragon!  He is still without a name.  I am so excited to take him to school this week so the kids can see.  We bought him Saturday night… family trip.  I was able to afford this cutie and his habitat through the Pets in the Classroom grant.  He sure is a hungry guy… lots of crickets, worms, and collard greens!  We have all been fascinated this weekend! 

Loving: That today is Labor Day and having an extra day to decompress!  We started school with students on August 1st so we have been in school for a month as of today.  Technically we have finished 21 days.  How crazy is that?  My crew really is sweet, but the beginning of the school year is hard, y’all!  Right?  Who’s with me… ‘cause I’m kinda exhausted!  

Thinking: About all the things on my to-do list that I really need to get done.  ‘Cause it’s long, y’all… and I just keep adding to it.  Otherwise I can’t remember anything it feels like.  There's school stuff, home stuff, and magnet stuff...  have you seen the latest magnet goodness on Instagram?  Check out these beauties: 

Wanting: The weather to cool off… just a teensy bit.  We can’t go outside when the heat index is over 100 and August in south Georgia is hot.  Like blistering hot.  So… I’m ready for some 70ish degree weather.  Maybe some jeans & long sleeve t-shirt weather.    

Needing:  To be more motivated with my walking and eating better.  I keep saying it, but I haven’t been following through & it shows!  

3 Trips:  Australia, Fiji, and Puerto Rico... all tropical... are you sensing a pattern here?  :)  Stress relief people... it's all about the stress relief!  

I hope that you all are enjoying your long weekend and getting lots of rest... getting to spend this time with your favorite people!  Talk to y'all soon!  

Meet the Teacher {Linky}

Hey, y'all!  I'm Stacy and this is my bloggy home... that's me up there in the picture!  I am linking up with Stephanie over at Falling Into First for a super fun Meet the Teacher Linky!  I love reading about bloggers and finding comparisons between our lives.  I teach 1st grade, but have also taught 2nd, 4th, and a few months of 5th (long story).  This is my 13th year of teaching.. .nearing closer to 1/2 way to retirement!  Woot!  I have 2 small humans who call me mom and have been married (to the same man) for 12 years.  

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

coffee.  quiet.  pedicures.  planners.  the beach.  flip flops.  washi tape.  creative release.  Stitch Fix.  bread.  cheese.  pepsi.  sleep.  Excedrin.  Anthropologie.  blue jeans.  Ulta.  The Walking Dead.  oh, and coffee.

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

a stay at home mom.  advertising.  event planner.  personal shopper.  secretary.
purchaser.  OPI nail polish name giver.  barista.

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

introverted.  creative.  sarcastic

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"A surprise faculty meeting... SWEET!"

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

Oprah.  JFK.  Mark Wahlberg {don't judge}.  Eminem.  Ellen Degeneres.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Not a Statistic

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 I would love to be invisible.  I think this is part of being an introvert.  Not sure if I would use it for good or evil... but the idea of disappearing sometimes would be awesome.  

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

 I believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who were are, but we are responsible for we become.- Unknown

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Ice, Ice Baby... does that count?  Or maybe Baby Got Back?  Oh, or Shoop!  Do you see a pattern here?  

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

I don't know that I'm either of those... but I can rock 11am-9pm like nobody's business!  

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 
I am an Army brat and spent 8 years of my childhood in Germany.  I loved it and would love to live overseas with my kiddos so they could share some of those experiences!  

I hope you learned something new about me...  If you want to be even more connected, you can find me on FB at Funky Fresh Firsties or on Instagram for daily doses of goofiness!  Be sure to head back to Falling Into First to learn more about other bloggers ... or for the chance to link up yourself!   OH, and be sure to enter my Stitch Fix giveaway... $50 giveaway ending soon!  Talk to y'all soon! 

My 10th Stitch Fix... WHAT! WHAT!

Ok... nothing new here... Y'all already know that I love Stitch Fix.  I just received my 10th fix a week ago.  Our students started here on August 1st though...so my brain has been MUSH... complete, utter MUSH since then.  I'm just now starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and we're 7 days in!  :)

If you're just now hearing about Stitch Fix, it is a subscription type service where a personal stylist looks over your profile, also checks out your Pinterest style board(s) if you have those... and then hand picks 5 items to send your way.  You get to try them all on in the comfort of your bedroom, mixing them with items you already own to see if they "work" for you.  Anything you want you can easily checkout online and pay.  Any items you don't want get sent back in the pre-paid bag.  As a 1st grade teacher, the mom of 2 young dudes who have karate every day after school, a decent wife to my husband, blogger, TpT'er, and magnet maker...  it doesn't leave a lot of time to shop for clothes.  Maybe that's why I love Stitch Fix so much.  Click the picture below to fill out your style profile and see if Stitch Fix might be for you!

Ok... so what came in my box this month?  I can't wait to show you!  Spoiler alert: I kept every single item this time.  My stylist NAILED it!

Xander Short Sleeve Woven Back Sweatshirt...  they had me at the mention of sweatshirt.  Ok, so in south Georgia I won't have to break out my sweatshirt until probably January, but I'm ready!  :)

Nolen Printed Detail Henley Tank...  I actually wore this to work today with a pair of khakis and flip flops.  It is so comfy.  I love the jersey material for the stretch, softness, and the NAVY!  The detail is so pretty up close!

Shannon Lace Back Short Sleeve Blouse.... this one is so fancy.  The back is all lace so I'll have to wear a cami, but it is gorgeous.  Check out those sleeves... SWOON!

Mandie Cut-Out Detail V-Neck Tank...  this was the first shirt I wore from my box.  I wore it the very next day.  I had to wear a cami under b/c otherwise the girls would be visible.  Guessing my admin would've frowned on that!  Ha!  This one is perfect for the hot Georgia weather and looked so cute with my cardigan over.

Mendoza Striped Henley Tank...  I love a good LONG tank top.  This one is great and I loved the colors.  It was super soft.  Can you tell I ran out of selfie faces?  At 34 I probably shouldn't be taking selfies anymore.

Note:  I specifically asked for all shirts in my box.  I'm funny weird about pants and asked for them not to send any pants, dresses, or skirts.  For my next box though I did ask for a messenger bag b/c I just saw that they are sending more accessories.  Fingers crossed that they can nail that one, too!  :)

OK... so to celebrate my 10th box, I would like to share the joy of Stitch Fix with one of you!  I am giving one lucky follower a $50 Stitch Fix card... SQUEAL!  Check out the rafflecopter below for your chance to win.  Fingers crossed!  <3  OHHHHH... and did you enter to win the Michael Kors bag from me and my peeps at the Primary Chalkboard yet?  You can find out more from my post HERE!   Good luck and talk to y'all soon!  Check back soon for all of my classroom tour pics {editing/organizing my thoughts now}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back To School YouTube Par-tay + a Huge Giveaway

Friends!I am SERIOUSLY excited (and a little bit nervous) about this post. You see, my blogging friends and I at the Primary Chalkboard wanted to do something BIG for back to school for you.BIG I'm talking, BIG.  We decided to throw a par-tay.

Here is a hint.  YES.   It is a YouTube Partaaaaay!

We are here sharing lots of tips -- organizational, DIY, helpful ideas-- lots of things you can do RIGHT NOW to make your back to school a little easier!  AND .....We are having a huge giveaway!

Would anyone like a....$100 Amazon Gift Card

or

a $100 TeachersPayTeachers Gift Card

or

a fabulous Michael Kors bag (you know, the one you want but can't justify spending the money for)?  

I thought so.  So what do you need to do?

Did you see that?  You can EVEN gain EXTRA entries in the giveaway by watching our videos and entering our SECRET WORDS into the Rafflecopter (but I know you were going to do that anyway, so... 2 birds, 1 stone).  We will be linking up 5-6 new videos every day this week... so you can come back, watch, and enter every day!


My tip is a quick one about organizing your desktop...  my desktop was a HOT mess last year and I finally figured out a way to make my OCD happy!  Be sure to listen out for my code word :)

And don't forget to head over to the Primary Chalkboard to watch more tip clips and gain more entries to the giveaway!

Good luck, peeps... talk to y'all soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stitch Fix #9

Oh goodness...  I just realized I forgot to actually blog about my last Stitch Fix.  I had surgery 2 weeks ago and then once I was on the mend... I headed off to the TpT conference in Vegas.  My Stitch Fix box came the day before I hopped on the plane.  I took a few quick pictures, made a few key decisions, and threw my "keepers" in the suitcase as extras!

You know the drill, right?  They send you 5 items that are personalized to your tastes.  How do they know?  You fill out the style profile once you set up your account.  You can also give them links to your style board(s) on Pinterest if you have those!  I usually ask for shirts since I'm picky about pants and I don't wear a lot of dresses or skirts.  I did ask for a scarf once and loved what they sent!  I think just giving really good feedback is key after each box.  Here's what came this past month:

This was one of my favorites.  It is so comfy and forgiving.  I love the blue mesh-type covering near the arms.  This was a definite keeper...  looks so cute with jeans and flats. I will be wearing this a bunch once school starts back for sure...  especially since I love to throw a cardigan over everything!

This turquoise top was also really comfy and went with me to Vegas.  It has some really cute detail on the front.  It did get pretty wrinkly after washing and I don't iron often ... so I have to problem solve that one!  This one was a keeper...  I just think I may need to sneak it into the Mr's dry cleaning bag each time I wear it!  :)

This pink shirt was very comfy... like super comfy and I actually really liked the color, but it went down so far in the back that my bra strap showed.  I teach first grade, y'all... and I don't think my admin would be down with that!  This one went back.  I just really like to be covered up.

This top is my absolute favorite... in fact it might be my most favorite top that Stitch Fix has ever sent me.  The detail work is so amazing.  I love it.  I think I would've made a great hippie!  :)  This one was a definite keeper. Heck, I wouldn't mind having another one... just as a backup.  It's beautiful!

Last one... and I really, really loved it.  It was just too tight.  The style is perfect... it is SO me.  I loved the tab sleeves, the details...  loved all of it, but I couldn't pull it down over the girls {ahem} and the arms were snug.  I would wear shirts like this every single day...  LOVED it.  Alas, this one went back b/c it was just too
little!  {sniff}



Are you ready to take the leap?  I obviously am in love with the idea of clothes in the mail since this was my 9th box.  #10 will be here August 4th and I am so excited to see what they will send next.  If you want to check the site out and fill out your style profile, you can do that HERE!  Let me know what you think.  Hope y'all are having a great Monday... talk to you soon!

Wait... It's July... Like Currently?

Wowza... it's July?  Oh.  Heck.  No!  I have to go back to work in July....  hmmmm...
The good news is I have a few more weeks... better enjoy those, huh?  So, it's currently July and I'm going to link up with Farley to join in on the fun.  Here goes...

Listening: to a quiet house... everyone is asleep.  Farley posted this... and I got busy!  Yay for quiet time!   

Loving: that summer is still going strong.  That being said… my summer comes to an end on July 25th which is my first day back to work.  Students start here on August 1st.  The boys and I have been enjoying the water park a lot and lots of time with friends.

Thinking:  about going to Las Vegas in a week….  EEEEEK, I am so stinkin’ excited.  I get to hang with some of my bloggy besties.  We are even going to the New Kids on the Block concert.  This girl is READY! 

Wanting:  my surgery on Wednesday to go smoothly and quickly.  I have female organs that have an attitude!  Jokes aside, I have pretty severe endometriosis and ovarian cysts.  It hurts to sit down most days (TMI maybe?) … so it’s time for yet another scope.  I covet your prayers if you’re the praying type. 

Needing: to go work in my classroom.  I have decided on a theme which is different than what I have done in the past and I’m really excited.  I have been shopping, but I really want to get in there and get BUSY! 

So this picture from Schoolgirl Style is my inspiration.  I already used blue and lime this year...and I love anchors... VOILA!  I am so excited about trying to pull it altogether.  Fingers crossed... and I will certainly be posting pictures at the end of July once I'm done.  {stay tuned}  

 Here's what I've got going so far:  I've stopped at Home Goods (BOOM!!), Hobby Lobby, and TJ Maxx.  I ordered the navy polka dot and lime border from Schoolgirl Style's shop.  

Gotta get some navy and lime magnets from Tea and Coffee... I have the teal and lime, but I think I need a darker blue for this year.  I know that I have more shopping to do.... but I'm stoked at what I have going so far!  

4th Plans:  Hoping to feel well enough to go watch my boys do a karate demo at the county fireworks show.  Fingers crossed.  Hope y'all have an amazing 4th with your families!  Talk to y'all soon!