I have a Pinterest button! I have a Pinterest button!

I am so incredibly excited as I have a Pinterest button...wait.  You already heard that a few times.

I literally was driving down Virginia Beach Blvd. yesterday thinking about how I would like a Pinterest button on my blog and thinking it must be super confusing to figure out.  Then I got distracted by the yummy smells coming out of P.F.Changs and the Cheesecake Factory and started thinking about food instead.  So, today, I open my blogfeed on bloglovin'...sometimes on Goggle Reader that mysteriously still exists...and this awesome post from Crofts' Classroom appeared.  She did all the leg work for me.  And it was super simple, which I like!  So, if you have pondered or coveted the ever elusive Pinterest button, pop on over to her blog.  It couldn't be easier!

Check it out!

Shameless picture of my stuffed animal cute pup Lilly.

 

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Monday Made It and a Confession

Happy Monday!  I am in serious tennis withdrawal with Wimbledon wrapping up yesterday.  But, I must admit that my favorite part of the legendary match yesterday was this:

Why couldn't I have sat between these two?  I don't take up much room....they are two of my favorites...in suits...watching my favorite sporting event and taking selfies...does it get better than this?

Oh, yea.  I'm just a teacher sitting in her jammies in Virginia Beach.  Back to reality.  I must admit that I have been way overwhelmed.  I am a think-outside-of-the-box kinda girl, so when your assistant principal tells you to throw out the basal (or use it minimally) and spelling can be whatever program I want as we discuss my new position in fourth, that tends to open Pandora's box.  Pinterest, TpT, and fabulous blogs only added fuel to my fire.  I finally decided to stop collecting ideas and actually get something planning-wise on paper yesterday, and that has made all the difference.

I also finally decided to use Words Their Way for spelling.  I had given the inventory to my future students the last week of school.  Once I took the 6+ hours to score and collect the data for all 75 kiddos, I realized the vast range of abilities.  This will help me differentiate and encourage understanding as opposed to memorization.

Does anyone else get overwhelmed by all the ideas? 

Another thing that made me focus in was this great idea from Pinterest that is my Monday Made It.I am also linking up with Optimum Organization.  Both linkies have such fabulous ideas!!!

 

 

It all started with this pin on Pinterest from That's So Second Grade:(please excuse my horrible pics :)

I wanted to organize my files according to the curriculum.  As I teach at a Catholic school, we use our Diocese Consensus Curriculum. I first created these super cute stickers on shipping labels using the template from Avery.  Had to add the cute borders...

 

 I took each standard and created a folder for each.

And then bought an awesome storage box complete with lid and handle.It's completely transportable.  And, a huge plus is that my Erin Condren planner fits right in the back.

Now when I get a great idea, I can print it off and pop it in the file...all ready to go for printing.  It has really helped me reel in the madness and also decide whether I really will use the idea or not.

Going on a Bloghunt!

Hi all!  Just saw this and wanted to join before it's too late...talk about pressure!  I am all joined an in with Bloglovin' and must admit that I am lovin' it.  I think it is so easy to read my favorite blog...especially when they send me an email each morning of my feed.  So easy over coffee. 

Join in over at Laura Candler at Corkboard Creations!

Monday Made Its! Cross them off my list!!!

I am so excited to link up with the fabulous Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics!

 

I saw this on Pinterest many moons ago and loved it, so I finally made it today.  I think it will be so cute above where my students make their lunch choices.  I went back to the original pin, but it stated that it was linked to a place that I didn't want to go. So if you were the creator of this, please let me know and I would love to give you credit.

I was so excited to head to The School Box today and purchase some black and white borders for my classroom, and I thought this one set off the red and white so well.  Please excuse my icky picture...can't hang it yet as I will paint my walls.  And, I don't like the clear plastic silverware, so they aren't glued down yet. Plus, they are crooked!! I also want to print the words on cardstock as you can see where I spliced them.  I am a little anal...the checkerboard pattern drove me crazy!  I put the lunch calendar in a sheet protector to allow easy monthly updates.  Cross it off my list!

My next made-it is one of which I am extremely proud.  I wanted to make numbers for the Five for Friday linky as I had admired them on others' blogs, and I love things all matchy-matchy and pretty.  So, with the help of the wonderfully talented Megan at I teach. What's your superpower?'s video tutorials about how to enhance your blog, I made them.  I had never used pixlr before, but it truly was as easy as she stated.  I watched her video on how to make a button. So, here is one of the five that I made. I thought they turned out super cute!

Do you ever see words written out and think they just don't look right?  I had that sensation when I spelled the number words on each button.  Could be because they were typed vertically.

Anyway, at least I can cross two things off my list of 425,698 things I need to do this summer.  I exaggerate.  It's only 350,000. ;)

Cheers! Time for a cocktail! :)

July Currently and a plea for a reader

Hi all! I hope you are enjoying this gorgeous Sunday!

First, I received an email from another Catholic educator while I was on vacation that I cannot seem to find.  I was on vacation when I received the email and was focused on family.  My intent was to respond when I returned...cannot find it.  If that was you, please resend your email...it included questions about blog design and hiding children's faces in pictures.

Onto....the July Currently!  Pop on over to Oh Boy, Fourth Grade and join the fun!

Listening:As I said before, this last year was a rough one for me.  I was so happy to see it come to an end as I knew that my new position next year would be a better fit for me.  I got out of school and threw myself into planning for next year.  Then I realized that I wasn't present or in the moment of all that was exciting for my oldest, who was graduating from high school.  So, I stepped back, enjoyed that special time and our week-long vacation in Duck, NC that followed and truly focused on family and didn't give school a moment's thought.  So, now I am really kinda freaking out at all that I have to do.  So, the printer has been humming today.  It probably would like to take a break or at least have more paper put in its belly.

Loving: I have the sweetest puppy in the world.  Thankfully, she likes to watch Wimbledon, Downton Abbey, and Mad Men as we have been laying low this weekend getting over vertigo.  Aren't dogs the best company?

Thinking: I made a list at the beginning of the summer of things that I need to make for my classroom.  I just need to strategically attack that list.  I get a great amount of satisfaction out of crossing things off a list.

Wanting: My digits are in serious need of some attention.  But seriously, senior year, graduation, and vacation about broke the bank.  I have been doing it myself, but it is time to bring in the professionals!!!

Needing:  Oh my word.  Weeds are going to be the end of me!  I have a huge yard, and the abundance of rain has created a lush lawn...and gardens ripe with weeds!  Help!!!!

Tips, Tricks, or Hints:When I say "Just do you", I mean that at times I would find myself comparing myself with others at work as I worked with an extremely competitive colleague my first 6 years of teaching.  When I finally realized that I had my own strengths and my own voice, I shut my door and did my thing.  Funny how much happier I was...and a much better teacher!

Happy Sunday!

A Big Ebb and Five for Friday (on Saturday!)

Hello wonderfully talented bloggers who continue to impress and amaze me!  I guess with anything, we experience ebbs and flows.  Well, after a giant blogging flow came a big ebb for me.  We have been busy little beavers in our house since school ended.  I thought joining doodle bugs teaching for her linky may get me back in the blogging saddle.

 

Okay, so it is Saturday....but, I was diagnosed with vertigo that pretty much feels like this:

 

So I'm thinking y'all will understand and give me a pass this one time!

 

One of my most proud moments occurred on the 14th.  I know that was longer than last week, but I am not being my usual rule-following self today.  My oldest son, Alex, graduated, with honors, from high school!  I really hadn't given myself the time to think about the moment as there was so much chaos at the end of the school year.  But, it truly is an incredible moment of reflection and pride.  Couldn't be more excited about the person he has become!

So, then we headed off to a much-needed vacation in Duck, NC in the Outer Banks.  To say I love this quaint little beach town surrounded on both sides by the Atlantic Ocean and the Currituck Sound is an understatement.  Everything from the beaches to the restaurants to the shops is just me.  Many wonder why those of us who are blessed to live within minutes of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic still vacation at the beach.  Well, a vacation house allows you to relax without the stress that your own house provides, such as laundry, yard work, etc.  Plus, this house had a pool, hot tub, and was steps from the ocean.  Can't beat that!

The time with my boys, parents, and many carefully selected friends of my boys was priceless.  I truly could spend hours sitting on the beach and never be bored.  The weather was perfect!

The day after returning from vacation, Alex and I attended Old Dominion University's orientation.

My, how college has changed.  I will be curious if he ever even sees a piece of paper.  Everything is done digitally, which makes sense in our world.  He is all registered and ready to go.  My head was spinning as there is so much to keep up with, but he is a smart guy and will figure it out.  

Now I must attack the enormous list of things that I would like to accomplish this summer...both professionally and personally.  I do still plan to paint my classroom.  I just need to finalize the shade of pale blue, oh, and getting over vertigo may help with ladder climbing.. I don't do sick well, especially since I don't feel sick. I am working like a fiend trying to get organized.  My Erin Condren planner is just about set up.  

With all this time on my hands as I am afraid to drive due to the crazy meds I am on, I have been a TV junkie.  It hasn't been a bad week in which to be TV-obsessed as one of my favorite events all year is currently going on for a fortnight (such a tennis word....seriously.  When do you ever hear someone describe the passage of time as a fortnight?).

When Federer went out, I really struggled with whom to root for.  But, I just love the sport and believe it is at its best here and at the US Open.  There are some promising young American women for whom to root also.

And, I had saved this for a time I really needed it, which is now, but I finally dove in on Netflix.

Oh my word.  I get it.

Happy Friday/Saturday!

First Monday Made It!

I'm soo, soo excited to link up with Fourth Grade Frolics for my first Monday Made It ever at !  I got so inspired by Tara's blog.  It was the first one I ever read last December, and I truly just wanted to be like her!

I saw these letters, and I had to make them...

 

How cute is my little baby Smart Board?  Anyway, can't wait to add them to my new room!  They will find a perfect spot in my library.