What I'm Loving Wednesday..July 3rd

Most importantly I am LOVING summer. I've had time to myself...but not too much :)

I found this little gem at Walmart yesterday on the clearance aisle!  You can also order here from Ebay!

This band slides over your notebook or planner to hold your spot, but it also has a cute little pen holder built in!  It's put out by the Smashbook company but it fits my planner just fine :)

I never have a pen or pencil handy, and this solves that problem!

As you can see I have my favorite new erasable  gel pens hooked in there now.

I also picked this little cutie up on sale at Kohl's a few weeks ago!

So perfect to hold all my teacher supplies (planner, iPad etc). And it stands up on its own!  I hate bags that fall over as soon as you set them on the floor.   I noticed Sears also has it for sale online(it was cheaper at Kohls)!  Click here to check it out.

I'm also lovin a new blog I found...Mrs. Z and Company

She made this cute button to share :)  Follow her on bloglovin and it's yours to use!

What are you Lovin?  Link up over at Glitter and Glue

* Amanda

Currently July

Holla!  It's July

Nuff said about the bacholerrette..she's down to earth and fun! Its my guilty pleasure this summer.

Frixion erasable gel pens in fun colors are my new pen obsession!  I've seen them pop up all over the blog world this summer and I decided to bite the bullet.  They work great..you can try them out at office depot..the red is the only one that I noticed that didn't erase well.  Next I'm buying the erasable highlighters.

I applied for a literacy coach position in my district as we had several openings..but it just doesn't seem to be in the cards for me yet!  No worries I have an amazing grade level team to work with and this is where I am meant to be. 

SO SUPER EXCITED to head on over to Orlando on July 14th.  One of my goals this year was to become a Kagan School Trainer, and after an intensive application process I was selected to attend training for a week.  Anybody else going to a Kagan workshop this summer, or hanging out in Orlando?  Wanna meet up?

I LOOVE working out in the summer, and this year I have been swimming at the indoor aquatic center 2 blocks from my house.  Its so peaceful at 5:15 in the morning.  I'm also using My Fitness Pal to watch what I eat...so far so good :)  Anybody else use this app?

I seriously could not have survived blogging without the help of Megan over at Blog Baby Blog.  She has so many easy to follow tutorials. Any tip or trick you need is posted there.

She also has a teaching blog and designs blogs for others..head on over and check her out.

Your turn, head on over and link up with Farley.

Monday Made It 7/1/13

LOOOVE summer..and I'm even more in love with Tara's weekly "Monday Made Its"

Home

Confession Time:  I am obsessed with furniture..it doesnt matter what kind I collect all of it. :) 

I refinished a boring old white book shelf and added some black and white polka dot ribbon...now I just have to find a place for it

I also spruced up a much loved chair.  A coat of paint and some fabric made this beauty an even prettier treasure.

This little addition has to be my favorite made it so far...I really dont have a suitable entry space so after much stalking on Pinterest I repurposed this baby!  One bookshelf turned makeshift mudroom.  Now the kids and husband have a set space for their goodies.  Oh yeah, the polka dot box was also a made it...shoe box, glue gun and now its a snazy sunglass holder.

School

This has to be the most frustrating thing I've ever created!  Looked easy on Pinterest...but not so much when I tried to hang it from the ceiling...never thought I would use diameter and circumference as an adult!

 Looks much cooler in the dark.

Kitchen

I love summer time!  I have the time to cook more in depth meals.  I am a messy cook so an apron is a must!

This week I made Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado Cream Sauce! Of course I found the recipe on Pinterest.  They were delicious.

Now its your turn to head on over and link up with Tara!

*Amanda

A Day In The Life...

Jessica over at Second Grade Nest is hosting A Day in the Life linky party

Bright and early!  Got up at 6 am and had my coffee in my favorite new ceramic 

travel mug from Lily Pulitzer

Bummed around the house and played on my iPad

Yes its after 10 am and I'm still in my pj's...a very rare occurrence for me.

Spent most of the early afternoon blog stalking!

 Yes, I did do something productive and washed some dishes and clothes. :)

Then I took another break to watch Identity Theif!  So funny.

I also packed for our trip to the Omaha Zoo.  My brother in law works at the zoo and we are going to get to go behind the scenes!  When you have kids you have to bring plenty of road trip food!

 About 2:30 my day took an interesting twist..My daughter decided she should go on her first date.  I helped her pack a picnic and off she went.

Then I wrapped up the day with a date of my own..with my wonderful husband

That's a day in the life of a teacher on summer break!

*Amanda

Five For Friday Linky Part

Linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for her last Linky until August :(

New shoes always make you feel spiffy

Labeling all my computer cables before the custodial staff takes EVERYTHING out of my classroom.  It saves so much time when I have to put everything back together before school starts.  

Wow, the Beautiful Mess App has changed my life!  So much fun and the pictures look 10 time better!

AAAHH decisions about color combos and what position I will be holding next year.  I have taught 4th grade for the last 2 years but I recently submitted an application to be a Literacy Coach...I guess its wait and see time :(  I'm such a planner I hate the unknown.

 

During the summer I take time to clean up all my files and review fabulous activities that the kids loved during the year.

The Pile It On activity by Farley was a HUGE hit when my little rock stars needed practice with multiplication.  Let me tell you as cute as this activity it is RIGEROUS. Head on over and check it out.

Thanks for stopping by!

*Amanda

A Drool Worthy Planner

Like most of you I'm OCD about my teacher planner.  As summer wraps up I spend hours scouring the stores and internet for the perfect one.  Seriously who watches you tube videos about planners, I DO!
Eventually after much research I make a purchase and then halfway through the year chuck it for a new system:(  

However last year was different.  I purchased a greenroom planner from Target.

It was so fabulous I used it the ENTIRE year!

 It includes monthly and weekly planning pages and yet its not very bulky!

Behind every tabbed set of monthly pages is a section for notes!

There is enough room on the weekly pages for me to map out my entire day :)

Added bonus its made with 60-70% recycled material!

Head on over to Covered In Glitter and Glue and link up some of your favorite things.

*Amanda