Vinyl ALL the Things!!!

I did it!  I bought a Silhouette Portrait!  2 months ago.  It sat in the box for awhile... a standoff of sorts.  I finally had this machine that I had coveted for years.  I may have entered every.  damn.  giveaway in the hopes of winning one.  {ahem}...  They have an amazing teacher discount by the way... you just send them a copy of your teaching license and VOILA!  Ok... back to the story.  So... the machine sat in the box for awhile... I was very overwhelmed with all the magical things that it could do... that I didn't know where to even start!  I finally opened that baby up in July and practiced cutting out letters on some scrapbook paper.  I think that I squealed with delight the first time it started cutting!  Once I got into back-to-school mode... I decided to upgrade my status to VINYL!!!  ...and let me just say that acceptance of your problem is the first step...  I am loving me some vinyl.  I am secretly thinking of all the different surfaces in my classroom that could use some sprucing up!  Well, maybe that's not a secret anymore.  Check out what I've done so far:

I vinyled (?) the corner of my desk with my Melonhead... and I'm kinda in love with it!!!

I made vinyl letters for the white board... that way all I have to do is write the date everyday...  it looks so crisp on the white!!!

More black vinyl on my white board... this is the area where I hang my I Can statements.  The best part about the Silhouette machines is that you can cut out letters using ANY font that you have on your computer!!!  (and I have a lot of favorite fonts)

I bought polka dot contact paper at Wal-Mart to cover the back of my bookshelves... and I had some left over.  Hmmmm, wonder if I could use the contact paper like vinyl with the same results.  I tried it and it totally WORKS... and it's a LOT cheaper!  I have a galvanized tub for my pillows (thank you Goodwill for pillows) and a galvanized tub for my clipboards.

I was so excited to get our class pet.  I did a grant through Petco and went to pick up Lulu the guinea pig last week.  I decorated her cage using white vinyl and a uber-cute guinea pig pic by Melonheadz!!!  Within about 5 minutes of having Lulu at our house, I had a severe allergic reaction... so no class guinea pig for us!  Lulu is now back with her family at Petco!  I will blog more about that later! {I know you can't wait!!}.

I have taken a TON of pictures while I've been working in my classroom.... but it will have to wait for another blog post.  Tomorrow is our 3rd day of school... and I need to hit the hay soon!  I hope that you guys have had a great weekend... talk to y'all soon!

It's Currently August and I Am Late ;)

Oh.... it's August you say?  How the heck did that happen?  I am linking up with Farley super late.  August 1st was our first day of school with kidlets... and sheer exhaustion would be a good description for how I've been feeling!  I promise I haven't forgotten about my blog... just been crazy busy trying to enjoy those last few precious weeks of summer... and then countless hours in my classroom before pre-planning ever started.  The beginning of each school year always takes a toll... and it always takes me awhile to find my groove.  Have you started back yet?

 My Currently is pretty self explanatory...  I am super happy that it's Saturday for sure!  I do have a stressful week coming up...  the doctors have discovered another blood clotting disorder that I have.  I have to go in for even more blood work and sit down with the doctor.  My anxiety level is high... not even gonna lie.

I have 23 firsties on my roll... and man... they are needy!  I need an assistant {I'm needy, too!}.  Loving and teaching little people is hard business... ya feel me?  I'd also be down with having a personal assistant!  Maybe she could do my errands, clean my house, cook dinner?  That'd be FAB!!!

Finally... back to school must haves:  Excedrin {no explanation needed, right?}, a fab planner... I'm partial to my Erin Condren planner... but I've seen lots of cute ones floating around recently.  Lastly, a good alarm clock.  I set my normal alarm clock... and set 2 alarms on my phone... just to be safe!  There is NOTHING worse than doing the walk of shame into the school late!  I did it once last year... and BOY I felt horrible!

I hope y'all are having a great weekend.... I'll be back later this week with some classroom posts... gonna go find my groove...  talk to y'all soon!!

Favorite Pins Friday

It's Friday... and it's still summer break {for 13 more days}...  I haven't blogged all week.  Not sure if I've lost my bloggy mojo or if I am just enjoying the complete lack of structure!  Seriously was still awake at 2am last night... all I can say is... back to school is going to bite.  HARD.

Ok... so I've pinned a bunch a bit this week {ahem}.... I'm gonna link up with Cara over at the First Grade Parade... and these are my favorites:

School Related: 

Ummm, how cool is this example of teaching multiplication with colors from J&M March?!?!  I teach first so I won't need this for the upcoming year, but you bet your butt I will be saving this for later!!!

So excited to do this with my firsties during our Oz unit!!!  It is from We Heart Art and OH MY... she has some really cool ideas for all grades!!!  I think that it would make one heck of a bulletin board with student writing...

You're Secretly Funny: 

 It's funny, right?!?!  Are you quietly singing the song, too?  I saw it, pinned it, then did a little humming number, "they tried to make me go to rehab....."

Seriously... every time I look at it... it's still funny!  I wish I were that creative.  Admit it... now you're singing that song, too!  ;)  {I won't tell}

 Sad, but true...  There is not a single plant in our entire house.  Does that make me a bad person?  I did grow a VERY large mushroom in my yard this week....  Ok, I didn't actually grow it... but it GREW in MY yard and that's kinda the same thing!

Who is with me?  He was so stinkin' cute in Pitch Perfect...  I saw this pin... and knew it had to be mine!  Also.... I can't wait for the new Hunger Games to be released on the big screen!!!  The end.

I'm Gonna Need Some of That: 

How cool is this bag?  It's from Better Life Bags... and the company is all about empowering women.  I read their story and was inspired.  This is going to be heading to my house very soon!  I love when my money can buy things that help people!!!  Win-win!  

I can't explain exactly why... I just want one.  Badly.  I have tried dropping hints to the hubby... but either I'm too subtle... or he's just selectively listening.... could be either I suppose!

This one could'be been in the funny section.  I would PUFFY heart to have a living room like this.  But... let's be REAL!  I have 2 boys... and the idea of releasing them into a primarily white and beige living room would be like a scene out of Jurrasic Park.  Oh... and 2 boxers... and 1 husband.  Just so you know... I picked out brown furniture.  I think I may have asked for dirt colored furniture at Rooms To Go... it's all about camouflaging the dirt right?

Worth a Thought: 

Both gave me much to think about this week.  Both really made a lot of sense.  I love quotes... and I love having time to reflect... 13 more days...  then all the reflection will stop... bwahaha!

Hope you will have a great weekend!!!  If you aren't following me on Pinterest yet... you are missing out!  You can find me by clicking HERE!  Talk to y'all soon...  oh, and one more.. this one was my absolute FAV pin of the entire week...

Favorite Pins Friday

Hey, y'all!!!  Kacey is taking a break from her Friday Five linky... and Cara over at the First Grade Parade is filling in for awhile with Favorite Pins Friday.

Since I have been out of school... I have kinda used Pinterest as professional development.  It counts, right?  I also believe that I have Pinterest ADD.  My pins are so scattered sometimes.  I usually find tons of inspiration from what my friends have already pinned {they're cool like that}... but sometimes I like to be edgy and click on "everything" and see what comes up!

Anywho... here's some of my favorite pins this week:

Teaching related: 

This idea from Makoodle is just what I need!  I always take the kiddos pictures on the first day holding the frame that says "First Day of First Grade" but with the yucky cinder block wall behind them.  This is going to make a HUGE difference this year.  {and cheap}

How cool is this idea from Ashley over at Just Reed?!?!  I think this is really eye catching and that parents would really dig it.  Added it to my list of things to do when I go back for pre-planning! 

 Last teaching one... this is from Sheryl at Notable Music Studio.  What a neat idea to make kidlets think about slowing down while they do their work.  

Chuckle: 

Bwahahaha.... right?  I hate getting up in the morning.  Saw this on Pinterest and almost snorted my coffee out!  So true...and so stinkin' funny!  

Funny, right?  :)

This one doesn't go back to an original pin... just an image!  BUT... whoever made this one deserves a prize.  'Cause it is FULLY AWESOME!  

Nom Nom Nom: 

This looks like heaven on a plate.... from Not Quite Nigella!  

Grilled Steak Tacos with Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce from Feasting at Home!!!

I've got lots of other good ones... but going to keep my post short and sweet.  Do you follow me on Pinterest?  If you don't...  you can click HERE to find me!  Hope y'all are having a FAB Friday... and that your weekend will be amazing!!!  Talk to you soon!  

We're Off to See the Wizard

When school starts back in August... we will be following the frameworks set by the state.  Our main read aloud novel will be the Wizard of Oz for the first 9 weeks.  I am getting pretty pumped and I've already started preparing!!!  Here's what I have started already...

I ordered my red glitter Toms... and I think the kidlets are going to FLIP!  That being said... did you know that in the novel... the shoes are actually SILVER!?!?!  They chose red for the movie because it showed up better on the big screen!  Yeah, I'm gonna need another set of Toms now! I need to be ready, right?

I bought the Oz  pack from Melonheadz (clip art crush!).  I projected it & traced onto posterboard!  I have 6 done now... all colored & ready!   SO stinkin' cute!!!  I also printed some on transfer paper & going to make shirts with  different characters!

When the OZ movie was being released a few months ago, I picked up a stuffed Toto at Books a Million.  I am also planning on ordering a witches hat from Amazon/Ebay.

I made my Oz pack especially for my firsties... and I can't wait to use all the components when school starts back.... it is full of yummy goodness!

I also made a graphtivity where the kids vote on their favorite character... graph the class results, answer questions about the data, and can make themselves into the characters from the novel!  This is going to make an adorable bulletin board... just sayin'.

My last step is to sit down, read chapter by chapter... come up with comprehension questions to make a book companion.  I am on chapter 7... at least it's a start!  This product will be geared towards the older kidlets... but I am really glad I am taking the time to read it now... it's neat to see the ways that the novel is different from the movie so far!

Have you ever done Wizard of Oz with you class?  What types of activities or fun things did you try?  I would LOVE to hear your ideas... or if you'd leave a blog post if you've written about it!  Hope y'all had a great weekend!

It's Currently Almost July... Shut Up!!!

It can't be July already, right?  I have to go back to work in less than 4 weeks... not even sure how that's possible!  Farley decided to post her Currently up a few days early since she was headed out for some vacay action.  So... I'm linking up early as well...

Listening to my kidlets watch TV and laugh is one of my favorite sounds.  They finally get the jokes... and it's just neat to watch.  They seem so at ease without the stress of school and being so scheduled all the time.

Loving... being able to sleep in.  I use that term very loosely.... my boys still get up pretty early (7ish).  BUT that is still WAY better than waking up around 5 and trying to race the clock to get to work by 715 for sure!  Even though I am still struggling with falling asleep and staying asleep... it's nice to know that my days allow for downtime if needed!

Thinking of making another IKEA trip.  My list of things that I want for my classroom far outnumber the amount of dollars in my fun money account!  I went earlier this month when we did our family field trip, but I think that I need to go again... a girls trip... just sayin'

Wanting a clone of me to do the cleaning.  I am not quite sure how the house gets so messy.  I am the only girl so I'm guessing that's part of it... but HOLY MOLY...  I have been trying to get it organized and uncluttered.  I rented a carpet cleaner and EWWWW!  I was shocked to see the dirty water... anyone else had that happen... please say yes!

Needing for my washing machine to be fixed.  I noticed a few days ago that it wasn't spinning and the clothes were still soaking wet @ the end of the cycle.  I tried washing a smaller load, tried running it empty...  finally called Lowe's and since it's still under warranty... they had a service guy come yesterday.  The belt is broken and he's hoping to get back out here around Tuesday or Wednesday {I'm not a happy camper}    I've done laundry at a friend's house and made new friends at the laundromat!  I also tried to go all MacGyver and investigate the issue one night after my sleepy time medicine...  I lost.  Here's what I look like now... and this is just one side!  PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: let the trained professionals go all MacGyver on your appliances.

Tips/Tricks/Hints:  I say be authentic, be you, and be patient!  I think that blogs should be AUTHENTIC reflections of you.  My life can sometimes be messy and I know that is true for everyone.  I don't always post about the lessons that are awesome, my awesome family, my awesome..... {blah, blah, blah}.  I think people sometimes want to read about the lessons that flopped, the time you went all crazy mom on your kidlets, or when you almost murdered your spouse for leaving the towels on the floor AGAIN (ahem).  You have to be YOU... you can't write your blog to sound like someone else's... or make your products to be like someone else's. You are creative and talented... and if you're PATIENT... people will see just how awesome you are!

I hope that you are all having a great weekend!  I'll talk to y'all soon!

Freckle Juice... Don't Mind If I Do

Judy Blume's Freckle Juice is one of our read alouds for 1st grade here  in Georgia... and I am super stoked.  I loved this book when I was little... and it's just as awesome as an adult.  I just finished up my Freckle Juice unit and it was super fun to make.  It has comprehension questions (and an answer key), a graphing activity (Do you have freckles?), a story map, a recipe template for the kidlets to make up their own secret juice, and a craftivity where they make Andrew and decorate him with blue freckles!  Eeeek!

My firsties are going to flip over this book and this pack.  I can't wait to use their recipes and craftivities to make a kick butt bulletin board.  Especially since I just started using my Silhouette Portrait to cut out letters, etc.  I picked up some glitter cardstock type paper @ Hobby Lobby last week.  I need a header for my white board that says "Learning Targets"... so I am trying to decide if I want it to be with glitter letters or with vinyl.  I am going to try out both and see what looks best.

I have been on summer break for a month now... and will be back at work in less than a month.  My brain is busy, busy, busy making lists of all that I want to get done before July 25th.  A teacher's brain never stops, huh?  I hope that you've had a great week so far... and that your weekend will be amazing.  Talk to y'all soon!