August 2014

Currently September

currently, linky Sunday, August 31, 2014

Yeah...2 posts in one day...more like in one hour. Sue me! I really thought I'd have 2 posts tomorrow...Currently and my classroom reveal, SURPRISE, Currently is up now! Woop!

Linking up with the Currently queen herself, Farley!

I LOVE me some Food Network. I've already watched this week's episode earlier tonight...so I should change the channel...

I was in my room ALL day today just organizing and cleaning. I'm slowly getting rid of the junk that was left in my room for me...if I didn't use it last year, I'm finding it a new home!

I will go in tomorrow to make my copies...but I need to finish my math lessons.

Okay, so we're sending in our venue contract Tuesday, and I'm SOOOOOOOOO ready to go dress shopping. Like way ready. EEEK! :)

My house is a mess! Ugh! And it's mostly my fault...I just take over the whole house with my school, crafty, wedding stuff... thank goodness the fiance doesn't gripe TOO much!

Hawaii!!! This is possibly where we're going on our honeymoon!!! OH I'D BE SO HAPPY!

California! I've been to the Gulf and Atlantic, but not the Pacific! Need to get there sometime.

Australia! Uhm, yes. First of all, I don't call Keith Urban the hottie from down under for nothing! Second of all, it just looks beautiful! I'd visit my bloggy friends there, too! Like Erin from Learning to be Awesome! :)

GO LINK UP!

How to Create Class Stationary

back to school, Class Stationary, classroom decor, DIY, featured friday, Tutorial

Whew! I've been back at school for 2 weeks now, and I'm tired! I have great bunch of 23 kiddos who have already stolen my heart! I love getting to know them and watch them grow from little 2nd graders to big kid 3rd graders. I also LOVE seeing my kiddos from last year. It just makes my day when they come say hi in the morning, bring me a picture (or loom bracelet!), say hi in the hallway, and most of all hug me when they see me. It just makes me so happy!

I shared on IG last week my stationary for this year.

And I promised I'd show you how I did it!

I did this last year, too, after I saw this on Pinterest, but it was just the image...so if anyone knows where this came from, let me know!

To start off, give your students small pieces of paper or post-its to draw their face and write their name. I would definitely use white, or a VERY light colored paper for this!

Next, glue or tape each picture on a sheet of plain paper and scan the paper.

Your file will look something like this.

Next, you'll want to take snapshots of each kiddo's drawing.

This will automatically copy the image.

Use your photo editor of choice... I was at school, so I used good ol' paint!

Do this for each image and make a border with your students. When you have them all in there, save the picture as either a JPEG or PNG file.

Next, go to Word and insert the picture and position it like this. You may need to adjust the size of your image to fit the paper better.

Add whatever text you'd like for a header and add a text box for the content.

Format the text box with no border.

It should look something like this when you're done! :)

I hope you found this tutorial helpful! You can hover over any image to pin it to save the idea! Tomorrow I'm hoping to FINALLY reveal my classroom, and on Friday, I will have another Featured Friday post! You'll definitely want to follow my new blogger, because if you do, you'll get some awesome clipart! :)

Have a great rest of the long weekend!

Back to School Wardrobe LINKY!

back to school, fashion, stitch fix Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Today is my 1st day back to school! We have PD today-Friday, Thursday night is open house, and kiddos return Monday! I'm excited about this year, because it is my 2nd year in 3rd grade, and I have so many ideas and have a better idea of what I want to do with my class. I will miss sleeping in though! I went to the store tonight and bought a BIG thing of coffee AND peppermint mocha creamer. AHHH! I've never seen it out of season, so I am PUMPED! Christmas in a cup! :)

So, I don't know about you, but I love shopping for back to school. I like to think I'm a pretty fashionable teacher. It's hard being 24 and trying to merge your wardrobe to professional without looking...well, old lady like...and it's hard to say goodbye to your college wardrobe. Who understand this dilemma?!

Well, today I'd like to showcase some of my new teacher outfits. Also, I'd love your opinion about what I should wear for open house and the 1st day of school! Just ignore my awful hair! Feel free to pin images (just hover, and you'll see my Pinterest button!)...especially if you Stitch Fix! :)

I'll be honest...I love skirts and dresses. They make me feel pretty...and I honestly think they're comfier than pants. This dress is courtesy of my friend Jameson at Lessons with Coffee...she's selling a bunch of clothes via Instagram @lwcscloset

Denim vest is from Kohl's.

Gray dress also from Jameson. I love how clean it looks.

Would be great without cardi for non school occasions with a chunky necklace.

Skirt also courtesy of Jameson! The blouse is from JCPenney.

I love love love this dress from Kohl's. It's Lauren Conrad. It was on sale, and this was the only one they had. Of course it is too big ( I have it pinned in back) so I will have to have it taken in, but it's just too cute!

Can also be paired with a cardigan!

This top is also from Kohl's. I looooove the chevron and the colors. The capri dress pants are from Dress Barn.

Top also from Kohl's. Same pants as above. I love the flowiness of this top.

This is a bit out of focus. Oops! The top is from Stitch Fix! It's great with dark denim. I hardly ever wear jeans to school, but on the rare occasion I do, I usually wear denim trousers.

The back of this top is beautiful!

This skirt is also from Stitch Fix and may be my favorite! I looooove skirts with pockets! The denim shirt is also from Kohl's. Apparently I like Kohl's! :)

Your turn! Link up with your back to school wardrobe....weather it's pictures of you wearing them, just the outfits, or even just some inspiration from Pinterest! Remember to pin any of the above images (just hover, and you'll see my Pinterest button!), especially if you Stitch Fix! I can't wait to see your outfits!

An InLinkz Link-up

Meet the Teacher Linky Party!

back to school, blog design, cheerleading, linky Tuesday, August 12, 2014

I'm sitting here waiting for the mailman, and then go to school...

Today is my final day of summer. We have PD Wednesday-Friday, Open House Thursday night, and kiddos return Monday! Where did summer go?!

I'm joining in on the fun with Stephanie @ Falling into First and many other bloggers for this awesome Meet the Teacher linky!

I'm a 24 year old 3rd grade teacher in a relatively small city in Southeast Iowa. I grew up as an Army brat and moved 5 times, and went to 3 different schools before I turned 8, but I consider Iowa home.

I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in December 2012. In January 2013, I was hired as a middle school reading intervention teacher. My heart is in elementary, so I transferred to 3rd grade in the building I did half of my student teaching and attended 2nd-5th grade as a kid.

In addition to teaching, I also coach winter cheerleading. I have 5 squads with girls and boys who are simply amazing and some of the hardest working teenagers I have met.

I blend in...and get mistaken for a 17 year old nearly every day I go to the high school.

I'm recently engaged {July 23} to the most amazing man I have ever met. We have been dating for 3 years, and I couldn't imagine my life without him. We have a furbaby, Maxwell McRuffington III (or just Maxwell or Max...sometimes Maxi-sometimes Maxi Pad, haha, I'm so cruel), who we adopted from the Humane society.

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
Diet Coke. Sweet Tea. Sprinkled Donuts. Target. Cheerleading. Turqouise, Pink, and Lime Green. Hanson. Yes, Hanson.

That is NO zoom people. I have touched and talked to all 3 Hanson brothers. I just need a selfie with Taylor and Zac and my life will be complete.

IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?When I was 7 I wanted to be a dental hygienist. Then my dad explained I would have to clean icky teeth. The dream was gone. In my freshman and sophomore years of high school I wanted to do graphic design. I then switched to teaching when my brother said that is what he saw me as.

Some of you may know that I've recently taken on blog designing, so now I really have the best of both worlds.

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.
Enthusiastic. Dedicated. Fun-loving.

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________, SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"
"Oh, I love when parents of failing students don't show up to conferences in the fall, then wonder why their child is doing so poorly 3rd quarter...said no teacher EVER!!"

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

Oh gosh, this is so hard. Can I invite Hanson?!?!?! Hey, hey, dance partay!

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?
Teacher Life: the Untold Tales

Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?
Another hard one. Probably invisibility. Haven't you ever said, I'd love to be a fly on the room when... Ya, me too, all the time.

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger." Explained in little known fact.

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
My Baby Loves Me- Martina McBride...it was the first song I could sing...when I was 4.

Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?
Night owl. This back to school thing is going to be rough!

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

My Back to School Class Information FlipBook. When I created it in June, there wasn't an easy editable version out there. I looked, trust me. Now there are a few...

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!
When I was 17 years old, I got really sick with double mycoplasma pneumonia and to be hospitalized. First at my local hospital for 2 days, then airlifted to University of Iowa Children's Hospital for 14 additional days. It was a very scary time and many doctors have told me that I shouldn't have survived.

So, about 2 years after that, when I was 19, I got my 1st and only tattoo on my left side (that lung was completely covered in fluid) with my favorite quote.

Okay, sorry for the info and picture overload! But that was super fun! Go link up yourself! :)

Monday Made It {August 11, 2014}

back to school, cheerleading, clipart, linky, MMI, teachers pay teachers Monday, August 11, 2014

AHHH! I go back to school Wednesday for PD, and kiddos come Monday, August 18th. I am not ready. My room is not ready. I guess I'm going to have to kick it in gear!

I'm linking up with Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!

One of my first MMI's this summer was a wreath for my front door that I could change out any time I wanted..

I changed it in July for the 4th and the world cup!

Earlier this week I changed it again for Back to School!

I found these mini canvases at Hobby Lobby on clearance. Perfect for my little "chalkboard"!

I saw this idea on a blog (I think) awhile ago...I believe on a Bright Ideas hop, but now I can't find it! Please let me know if you know who posted this! I love this idea of having first aid out for your kiddos. I will keep this close to my desk, but in kids' reach. I hate when kids need a cough drop or a band aid and I have to dig into my desk or send them to the clinic. I don't have the time folks!

After I printed them, I realized the font may be a bit difficult to read, so I changed it to KG Second Chances Solid with a black outline. When I went to print...of course my colored ink is low and it came in a sunset hue. Cute...but not what I wanted!

Anyways, I'll have to print the new ones at school tomorrow.

You can grab editable labels for yourself for free here!

A couple days ago I posted a picture in search of a 3rd grade teacher that wanted to do pen pals this year and there were a ton of teachers interested! So I decided to help them all out...and you, too, if you're interested!

Google Sign Up Form!

I'm going to close it on August 31st, and give myself a week to match classrooms up. So I will send out {possible} matches by September 7th! I'm just doing the match...YOU must do the rest folks!