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!

London. 2012.

    I mean, really. Could my summer have ended on a more perfect note?! Not only were the Summer Olympics on, but they were in LONDON!! Only my absolute favorite place in the entire world!! Since, I couldn't actually attend, I lost myself in the coverage on NBC. I can't imagine what the athletes go through, because I was in tears with every event and team! I am so proud of Team USA!! Here are some of my favorite moments from the 2012 Olympics:

     I absolutely loved watching beach volleyball! Not only because I think Walsh and Jennings are an amazing duo and so fun to watch, but I loved the venue! Check out that view. You are in front of the Horse Guards house, to the right you have Big Ben, and to the left you have the London Eye. What  perfect scenery and a great landscape of old and new London! Oh to have been there in person!!

      I think this photo is so neat! The moon is perfectly attached to the rest of the Olympic Rings. I bet this photographer was in awe. I know I would have been. I also just love Tower Bridge - it's my favorite bridge on the Thames.

       Did anyone else fall in love with these girls?!? Obsessed! This was a moment when I was balling like a baby! HA! I loved how these girls rallied around each other and showed true sportsmanship! They are all so talented and such wonderful inspirations to young girls. Way to go Fab Five! They so deserved that gold medal! Also, is it too late to become a gymnast? I mean, I'm only 24...

     How funny were Aly Raisman's parents! Bless them. I'm sure they have been through just as much helping Aly get ready for the her dream!

      I will admit, I'm more of a Ryan Lochte fan if made to choose; however, Michael freaking Phelps... I mean, the kid seriously has gills. I really liked his attitude during the games. He was such a team player and so supportive of all of the younger, new swimmers like Allison Schmidt and Missy Franklin. I also LOVE watching his mother while he races. She starts crying, and then, yep...I'm a goner! Congratulations to him on winning 22 medals and becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time! What an accomplishment, and so well deserved!

       Did you really think I would have a post about London and NOT mention my favorite family? You must not know me very well! My favorite thing to do during the Olympics (besides actually watch them) was to get on the NBC Olympics website and check out their photo album titled "Where are the Royals Today?". I needed to know what they were up to. I'm glad that they let down their guard and showed some serious emotion during the games. Good to know their human! I may have a shot with Prince Harry after all. HA! ;)

        My life is complete. The Spice Girls performed at the closing ceremony, and, quite frankly, they could have performed the entire time and it would have been the best closing ceremony ever. It definitely took me back a good 12 years!! It also made me want to watch Spice World! Who was your favorite Spice Girl? Mine was Posh (Victoria Beckham), and I'm still obsessed with her....and her husband.

     This is my absolute FAVORITE picture from the Olympics. They are precious! That is all.

   And...Here's why: ;)

Bless the Lord, O my soul...

I always love it when a song from church gets stuck in my head all week. I always assume God is trying to tell me something. This week it is the song "10,000 Reasons" by Matt Redman. Enjoy! :)