It's FINALLY Happening!!

One word. *NSYNC. The last time they came out with a single, it was 2002. It is now 2013. Yes, that is 11 years. Although, I feel like it was maybe a year ago. Tonight millions of grown women will get to go back in time to their awkward years of middle school to totally and completely Fangirl. I have spent my first four years of teaching exposing my students to *NSYNC and hearing them compare them to One Direction. No, kids...just no. Tonight all of these little girls today will be able to see exactly what they have been missing out on. In order to get in the right mindset for this epic reunion, allow me to leave you with a little treat. #ByeByeBye

It's time.

     I heard this song in high school, and I loved it from the beginning. However, when I loved a song in high school, it usually meant that it was easy to sing along with because it was in my range. I never really focused on the lyrics. So, while cleaning this Labor Day weekend, this song came on my playlist. It kind of struck me as an "ah-ha" moment. I think because the topic has been on my mind for a while now. The first line says, "maybe your just jaded from some nobody's unforgotten words...love is looking for you". I think this hit me, because it is exactly my biggest insecurity. I have let some words from the past get to me and allowed myself to believe them...or probably more honestly...I have let myself believe what I think to be other's thoughts. It's time to let that go. This weekend, thanks to my supportive mother, some very supportive and encouraging friends, and most importantly God, I have taken steps to become a better me. It is the only option for me if I am ever going to be confident enough to allow myself to have a relationship. It's the right time, and it will be day by day for it is a scary feat. Here is the song.

Love Is Looking for You by Miranda Lambert

Made it Monday!

    We had a little party at school today during lunch for one of our sweet coworkers. We are so blessed to have her at our school this year! Her precious little girl is due any day now, so we wanted to have a little treat for her before she leaves us for a few weeks. I always love baking and crafting...it's basically therapy. So, of course I volunteered to bake a cake! Since she is having a little girl, of course I wanted to do something pink! I used this Strawberry Cake recipe. However, I wanted to get a little fancy since the cake was going to be for a special mommy-to-be and her Madison. So, I wanted to try an ombre cake. After baking the cake and letting it cool, I made the frosting in the recipe. Then I separated it in to three bowls. I added some pink food coloring to two of the bowls, and I basically just played around until I had a dark, medium, and light pink color.

    Next, I iced the cake starting with the darker one on the bottom. As I added the lighter colors, the colors did mix. However, it gave it a nice blended effect.

     Lastly, I made a fun little topper that had sweet Madison's name on it and some fun pink and grey birds and elephants. The topper turned out a little big, but it was still cute!

     I'm a total fan of ombre cakes now! They are so fun to make!! I want to do a purple or blue one now. All I need is an occasion... 

Powerful.

Be Still.

This is a much needed reminder this week.

Be Still by The Fray

Life's a Beach in 3rd Grade!

     Hello! School has begun, and it already feels like summer was forever ago! So, I thought if I decorated my classroom to look like the beach then maybe I wouldn't be so sad that summer is over. I moved from 4th Grade to 3rd Grade this year, and I couldn't be more excited! Below are some pictures from my classroom. 

 This is my information board. In the middle is a cookie sheet that I put a copy of the weekly newsletter on. I also have a bucket that we use for bucket fillers for the "Star Fish of the Week". 

       This is my helper chart. I am loving all things chevron right now!

This is our computer area. I love to make things look homey, so I add lamps and picture frames here and there. I also love my headphone bucket from Hobby Lobby. The grass skirt around it is so much fun! :)

Here are my rules. They were Pinterest inspired. I found the rules on Pinterest, but made them my own using frames and paint pens on the glass. Such and easy and fun project!

I feel every classroom needs a dull/sharp spot for pencils! That pencil sharpener can be awfully annoying without them!

This is my AR board. It is magnetic which helps to move the kids around when they get more points.

Storage! I love tubs and bins. It keeps all of the clutter hidden and organized. It is also nicer to look at!

Here is my "Reader's Resort, or, as I like to call it - The BEACH! The kids love to hang out and read at the beach when they are done with their work.

Another Pinterest-inspired project. Here are my dollar store frames that I painted and put scrapbook paper in. They make for a nice objective spot!

I hate chalk, so I try to cover it up as much as possible! HA!

Here is my desk area. Keep in mind that these were taken the first week of school. Normally my desk is way more organized. I'm pretty OCD about it! My favorite part is my chevron lamp and my teacher toolbox!

Here is a close-up shot of my toolbox. It is so nice to have a spot for all of this stuff!

This is my burlap covered bulletin board. Another summer craft! I'm pretty proud of it because it was actually a lot harder to make than you'd think.

I love my birthdays because it looks like a police line-up. HA!

Here is my small group area. Again, usually it is a lot more organized!

And, our Sweet Points - or compliments board. When it fills up, they get a sweet treat!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed your time at the "beach"!

Beach Read

          It has been a month since I went to the beach, but I can't stop thinking about this book I read. It is called Winning Balance by Shawn Johnson. I literally read it in two days while sitting in my beach chair soaking up the rays. I could not put it down. I'm not usually a biography reader, but this one was fantastic. I loved all of her stories, and she was so easy to relate to. I also loved how honest she was about her faith through good times and bad. I highly recommend this book if you need a quick read that will really lift your spirits! Thanks, Shawn for being such an inspiring public figure. I'm such a fan now!