SLANT box

While stalking reading blogs today I came across Lessons with Coffee's blog.

Have you ever heard of Birchbox? Well, this is better!

Jameson is hosting a fun monthly box exchange called SLANT: Sending Love Across the Nation to Teachers. How adorable is that?

Who can't use a lil more love in their life? I know I can...I love LOVE!

It'll be like having your birthday every month!

One of the rules is you have to make something to go in the box. I think this is right up my alley!

This month's theme is 'A few of my favorite things'. Hmmmm, I do have many.

Can't wait till the 5th when I find out who my recipient is and start planning their box.

So what are you guys waiting for? Click on the picture above and go sign yourself up for a box.

Who knows maybe one of you will be my box recipient???

Friday Follower Freebie Week 3 and TPT store

It's time again for a...

 

This week's freebie is a set of 2-D shape posters in

 

 either a bright chevron or bright dot background.

 

         

                     Bright Chevron                                   Bright Dots

 

 

Last week I had a request for number posters (1-20) so...

 

 I took on that challenge and created some!

 

 

Bright Chevron Background

 

Bright Dot Background

 

The first 5 that comment with their email will

 

get their choice of one of the above sets. 

 

 

Did you notice the TPT gadget on my sidebar?

 

 

I launched my TPT store with all the items that I

 

have been featuring on my blog.

 

 

All of the items that I feature for free on my blog

 

will be forever freebies in my store.

 

 

While creating this week, I updated the alphabet

 

 charts that were free a few weeks ago (and still are)!

 

They now come with all of the different colored

 

 backgrounds in both bright chevron and dots.

 

 

Just click on the pictures below to get the updated

 

 sets (8 in each set).

 

          

                      Bright Chevron                                  Bright Dots

 



As new items are created I will add them to my

 

shop and post about them.

 

 

Make sure you are following my blog and TPT

 

store so you don't miss out on any freebies!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 

 

Giveaway

Desiree at Kinders on the Block is celebrating her 2nd Blogiversary with a giveaway.

She is giving away 4 different prize packs.

In honor of her milestone, I have donated my bright dots clip chart as part of one of her packs.

Make sure you stop by her blog and enter to win some really great prizes! 

Congratulations Desiree!!!

Saturday Snapshots linky

I'm linking up with Miss Nelson to share some vacation photos with you.

 

 

Days 1-3 (Vegas)

 

Found the best southern restaurant off of the Vegas strip.

Drinks in mason jars...ummm, yes please!

 

Meet up with a group of friends that I went to school with in Germany 20 something years ago.

 

Can't believe they all look the same as they did in high school!

 

 

Drinks at the Stratosphere with my honey!

On top of the world!

 

 

Days 4-6 (Ca. to visit my grandma)

 

Trip to Big Bear

Me and my dear grandma! It was super windy

and beautiful up there but the roads were way too windy for me!

 

(Day 7- back to Vegas)

 

Last day of vacation was spent by the pool!

My kind of day...HEAVEN!!!

 

 

 

Friday Follower Freebie Week 2

As promised I’m back with another freebie.

This week's freebie...color posters.

 (bright dot background) 

Just click on the picture to grab your freebie.

The first 10 followers to comment and leave their email will receive the coordinating number posters.

These posters represent the numbers 1-10 in 5 different ways.

Let me know if you want the bright dot or chevron background. 

(bright chevron background)

(bright dot background)

Enjoy!

50 Fabulous Followers!!!

Wow, It's been exactly 2 weeks and I already have 50 followers! I feel so blessed! When I started this blog my goal was to have 100 followers by the end of Aug. I think I just might attain that goal!

This is definitely worth celebrating!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate than a trip to Vegas and Ca. for a little fun in the sun.

But here's the problem...I'm scared to fly!

So scared that just thinking about getting on a plane or watching a show where people are on a plane causes me to go into a state of panic.

I know this may sound silly strange just not normal.

Sweaty palms, fast beating heart, feeling anxious...normal? I think not!.

But I'm going to suck it up and get on that plane cause this girl has some celebrating to do...I have 50 followers!

I'll also be there for a high school reunion with classmates from when I went to school in Germany.

This is not a regular reunion though.

As some of you may know I grew up as a military Brat and attended school in Germany for 3 years (7th- 10th grade).

Every 5 years all classes from this particular High School reunite.

How fun is that?

I'll also be traveling to Ca to spend some time with my dear grandma.

You're probably thinking how are you going to get yourself on that plane?

HAPPY PILLS!

I'll be in my happy place with my happy friends. I LOVE those guys! They make everything all better.

I wish I could take you all with me to celebrate, but since I can't I have a little something for you.

I have been busy creating new decor for my class.

My theme is bright colors but  I can't decide on bright dots or bright chevron, so I have been creating with both.

As a big thank you to my followers, each Friday until school starts I am going to be giving away a forever freebie item and another item that coordinates with the freebie to a few lucky followers.

These are the items that I will be using in my class this year and I want to share them with you.

Today's forever freebie is an alphabet chart with a bright dots or chevron background.

Choose one or both! Just click on the picture to get your freebie.

Bright Dots

Bright Chevron

If you like these you may also like the alphabet posters that coordinate with them.

Bright Chevron 

Bright Dots

I will send a set to the first 10 followers to comment with their email and theme choice (chevron or dots).

Thanks for being  fabulous followers!

If you're not a follower, you can follow me on Bloglovin or Friend Connect (upper right hand corner).

Liebster Award: Discovering New Blogs!

OH MY GOSH...I was so shocked to see that Tess at The Teacher and the Frog had nominated me for the Liebster Award! I haven't even been blogging for 2 weeks yet...and I've already been nominated! How exciting is this?!?

Here are my 'rules' for accepting this nomination: 

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself
5. Create 11 questions form your nominees
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

These are the blogs I nominated...
1. Emily at Confessions of a 3rd Grade Teacher
2. Desiree at Kinders on the Block
3. Growing a Teacher
4. Alison at Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
5. Brittney at Teacher Inspired

These are the questions Tess asked me...

1. What advice would you give a first year teacher?
Beg, borrow and steal from everyone. College definitely did not prepare me for what was to come and I relied heavily on more seasoned teachers. Don't be embarrassed to ask for whatever you need. If you see something that you like, ask for it. Most teachers are more than willing to share.

2. What is your favorite book to read aloud to your class?
I have sooo many! But I absolutely love to read the Junie B Jones series. I read them in order and the kids are so hooked that they will check them out from the library or talk their parents into buying them for them. It's so cute to look out during read aloud time and see them following along in their books.

3. Tell me about a memorable student that you taught.
Mia...she was super funny and got my sense of humor. Loved that girl!

4. Tell me about your pets.
I have 2 dogs, Sammie (I call her baby girl) and Murphy (he's affectionately called Murphy boy). They are both rescues and I'm not quite sure what they are. We'll just put them in the cute category!

5. What is the one thing in your classroom you can't live without?
My markers! Gotta make those anchor charts super colorful and cute!

6. What movie title would you pick as your life story?
Stella Got Her Groove Back...LOL!!! That's the first one that popped in my head. Not too sure that it's really my life story though. I don't watch a lot of movies...see random fact #4. 

7. What is the last thing you purchased?
Shorts, shorts and more shorts. Getting ready for my vacation to Vegas and Ca on Fri. Can't wait!

8. What is your favorite music?
RB from the 80's...need I say more?

9. If you had to eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Spicy chicken wings. Love, love, love!!!

10. Why did you decide to start a blog?
I have been a blog stalker for over a year. I loved seeing and hearing about all of the friendships that had been formed through blogging. So, I decided that it was time to take a front seat and join this elite group of teachers. I'm hoping to form some amazing friendships.

11. What are some of your favorite blogs you follow?
There are so many good ones out there but these are the ones that I first started to follow on a regular basis and they got me thinking that I could start my own blog. A Teeny Tiny Teacher, Erica Bohrer's First Grade, Fun in K/1, The Inspired Apple, The Teacher Wife, and The First Grade Parade


My 11 random facts...

1. I am a single mother to 3 boys (21,15,12)
2. I have a shoe fettish
3. I LOVE my pedi's
4. HGTV and TLC are my favorite channels
5. The smell of  freshly cut grass makes me happy
6. I have naturally curly hair...UGH!
7. I have an older brother who's a cop
8. I HAVE to have coffee everyday...not just the regular kind. You know, the kind you have to get in your car and drive to. And when the barista sees your car she has it ready for you when you get to the window. Sad, I know!
9. I have a love/hate relationship with working out
10. I am a military BRAT
11. I  attended 3 different high schools because of #10

Questions for my nominees...

1. How long have you been teaching?
2. What is your favorite grade to teach?
3. What is your favorite college memory?
4. What is your favorite grade school memory?
5. Have you lived in more than one state?
6. What is your dream vacation spot?
7. If you were stranded on a deserted island, what would you take?
8. Do you prefer hot or cold weather? Why?
9. If you won the lottery what would be the first thing you would buy?
10. What is your dream car?
11. What is something you never leave home without?

Thanks again for the nomination Tess!

Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party

Hello! I'm linking up with Latoya over at Flying into First for my first linky. I'm eager to get acquainted with everyone!

Tic-Tac-Toe...3 in a Row!

My Tic-Tac-Toe starts in the upper left hand corner and goes to the right diagonally.

College: 

I went to Eastern Washington University, twice! No, I didn't quit or flunk out, I have 2 different degrees.  EWU is located in a small town in Wa state. My favorite college memory would have to be joining a local sorority and all of the life-long friends I made. 

School Memory:

As a first grader I remember the highlight of the beginning of the week was to check the job chart to see what your job for the week was going to be. Well, on this particular Monday I was a little over excited and went running to the job chart. Do you remember the metal trash cans? Well, I tripped and my chin landed right on the edge of the can. OUCH!!! I didn't realize that I was hurt until I removed my hand from my chin and saw blood...that's when the tears began to flow. 5 stitches later, I returned to school to show everyone my battle wound.

 My lil firsties are always asking what the scar under my chin is from. I guess I tower over them and it is very noticeable???

Hobbies:

I love to create anything DIYish. I am also a baker. I bake cakes, cupcakes and create sugar cookie bouquets for weddings, showers, birthdays or special events.

Now you know a little about me! Thanks Latoya for the fun Linky!

Oh Boy, it's hot outside!

When the weatherman said it was going to be 99 degrees on Tues I could hardly contain myself! 

You see, I LOVE the heat! The hotter the better! 

It's not very often that it gets that hot here. 

So, what does one do when it's 99 degrees outside? You head to the beach!

That's exactly what myself, my son, his friend, my 2 teaching besties and one of their families did. 

We loaded up the cars and headed for the boat!

Tubing fun!

After spending four five six hours (what teachers do you know that keep track of time during the summer months) we decided to pack up and head home since we were all starting to turn various shades of red and my chest had developed some mysterious bumps all over it.

Did you know red came in so many different shades?

The bumps must of been from the numerous layers of sunscreen and sun tanning oil that I had applied throughout the day because I CANNOT be allergic to the sun!

After docking we had to walk back to the cars. My teaching partner (whom shall remain nameless) at this point had had her fill of the heat. 

Please don't judge the no make up squinty eyed double chin picture...

I offered to go get the car while she waited but she insisted on going because standing still would just make her hotter.

She proceeded to try and cool herself off using any means necessary. (So wish I had gotten a picture of what's to come!)

Once we got to the car and turned the AC on she put her feet up on the dashboard so that the cool air from the air conditioner could blow on her legs. 

When we got back to where everyone was waiting to load the car she took ice out of the cooler and rubbed it on her face, neck and head.  

With a cold bottle of water in hand she got back in the car and began to rub the bottle of water on her arms...neck...face...legs...

At this point I was laughing hysterically! Not sure if I was laughing harder at the noises she was making or by what she was doing.

To me it wasn't that hot but to her she must of felt as though she was on fire!

Oh Boy, It must be hot outside!

What do you do to cool off after a day in the sun?

A BIG thank you and a question?

Creating this blog was a huge undertaking but I am so glad that I decided to take the plunge. Thanks to those that have put in numerous hours compiling information in easy to access sites and creating easy to follow tutorials. There were several resources I relied heavely on and as promised I will share them with those of you wanting to start a blog but have no clue where to begin (like me).

Blog Designs

There are several choices when it comes to templates. I decided to go with a free template but will be upgrading to a custom design in the near future. Here are just a few...

• Leelou Blogs (free templates and easy to follow tutorials)
• Blog Designs by Dani (free templates and easy to follow tutorials),
• Dreamlike Magic  (pre-made and custom templates),
• Custom Blog Designs  (Pre-made and costum templates)

Tutorials

One of the reasons I was able to launch my blog so quickly is credited to the countless blog tutorials out there. Here are a few of the ones I used to get launched.

• Ms Jessica at A Turn to Learn has several  tutorials on just about everything blog related under the technology Tuesday tab. I have a list of about 10 that I want to look at this summer.
• Jessica at Mrs Stanford's Class has youtube video tutorials found under the Techy Things tab.

Grab My Button

Since I used a free template I had to create my own grab button. There is a great video tutorial at Step Into Second Grade that walks you through creating a document using power point. This is how I created my grab button. Then I had to add the code so that others can link it to their blog. I found an easy to follow tutorial at Code It Pretty.

Now for my question... 

Something else I needed to create since I used a free template is a signature. You're probably wondering why mine is at the top of the page? Well, I am wondering the same thing! I followed a tutorial on how to add a signature to your post and I was sooo excited that it was actually transparent. Yeah!!! But look where it keeps showing up. Anyone know how I get it to show up at the end of my post?

Hope this was of some help to someone.