Five for Friday-June 28

Time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching 

for Five for Friday!

I'm super excited about my new bag I ordered for school!

It's the Chloe bag by Better Life Bags. I ordered it in black and white polka dots with pink on the inside and brown leather. I love that you can customize it with the fabrics you want.

 I have The Brynnda bag that I'm using as my purse lately because I love that it can go across my body. 

This company is great. They hire women who could not otherwise get jobs. They rent them a sewing machine and tools and teach them skills so that they can be providers for their families. Many of the women are first generation immigrants. The bags are beautiful and fun and well-made. I ordered now so that I could get it in time for school to start, as my last one took around a month to arrive. And no, the company didn't pay me for this. I just love them that much. 

I saw Monsters University this week and really liked it. They nailed the college experience (minus any red Solo cups). It was longer than I thought it would be, but the new characters found a place in my heart and are still cracking me up when I think about them.

Totally addicted to Candy Crush. Even though I'm just starting out, the addiction comes on fast. 

I'm pretty sure this yoga ball was in my Five for Friday last week, but it's been my BFF this week too. I know my back is improving, but it's taking its sweet time. At this rate I should be back to walking normal in well...October! I know I'm doing better than I was at the beginning of June, but I'm ready for my life back. The one where I could do normal every day activities and not be in pain. Frustration has set in. 

Even though it was raining earlier this week, the heat is on!

I've held up my responsibility as an aunt and brought over an assortment of sprinklers for my niece and nephew to cool off with. Running in the sprinklers and creating our own slip n slide are some of my favorite summer memories. Hopefully it will be for them too. 

Link up your five and have a fantastic weekend! 

Glitter Text @ Glitterfy.com

Five for Friday- First Official Day of Summer

I love that every day in summer feels like Friday. 

I'm linking up with Doodle Bug's Five for Friday. It's very obvious by my five that it is summertime and the livin's easy. 

1. Getting Creative

I have quite a hefty craft closet and before this week I couldn't remember the last time I made something! The creative juices were flowing the last couple of days. I updated my Smash Book, spent some time drawing, and created some things for my classroom and mantel (more on that for Monday Made It). 

2. Yoga Ball

This bad boy is my new BFF. The week has been filled with doctor appointments, physical therapy, and lotttttts of stretching on the yoga ball. My back is in the beginning stages of feeling better and I am determined to do what it takes so that this doesn't happen again. 

 3. Summer Pasta

This recipe from Pinterest is delicious! Avocado, bacon, tomatoes, how can you go wrong? I've dubbed it, "Summer Pasta." It'd be great to take to a party.

4. Fun Manicure

I love the fun colors Essie is cranking out. My latest favorite is this green shade from their resort 2013 line. It's called, "First Timer." Paired with the Sally Hansen Hard as Wraps? Good stuff!

5. Instagram

It is so fun getting to know fellow bloggers through Instagram! Yesterday Meet Miss Parker shared a picture of glitter clothespins she snagged at Michael's, and I knew I had to get some for my classroom. I stopped by Michael's on the way home from puppy class last night and was giddy with excitement to find the glitter clothespins in a perfect shade of blue. 

Also, yesterday I blogged about Instagram adding a video feature. The fun factor has doubled!

Link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching with your five!

And don't forget to follow my blog on Bloglovin since Google Reader is leaving us. Click on the button on the right.

By the way, three great giveaways are happening. Click on the pictures to enter for some fantastic prizes!

First up is Table Talk with C and C's 100 Follower Giveaway. There's only 11 hours left to enter! 

Tori's Teacher Tips is having an 800 Follower Giveaway- holy patooties that's impressive! 

And Ms. Richard's Musings has also hit 100 followers and wants to celebrate. Check it out by clicking on the picture below.

Glitter Text @ Glitterfy.com

Five for Friday and Google Reader

It's Friday so you know what that means...Five for Friday time!

1. This week we made the fraction leprechauns from the blog Growing Firsties. The students had SO MUCH fun coloring, trading, creating names, and writing about tricks their leprechauns played on others. If you haven't picked up this freebie you must snatch it up for next year.

2. I whipped up a visual for the kiddos that they can refer to when creating illustrations for their narratives. Overboard? Maybe. Helpful? Indeed. I had so many students who would scribble something quickly just to turn it in. We talked about how to earn a "4" on their illustrations by including color, details, taking their time, etc. Their illustrations are looking MUCH better.

3. We started using Class Dojo. It felt...necessary this week. I had 24 out of 26 parents sign up for weekly behavior reports to be emailed to them. Wahoo! The students are eating it up.

4. I'm looking forward to some family time tomorrow as we celebrate birthdays for my niece and my dad. It's been a couple months since we've all been together and I really can't wait for the laughs, the yummy meal, fun games, and quite honestly some strong drinks. This graphic sums us up pretty well. Quite often my five year old nephew is covering his ears and telling the adults to quiet down. Kids!

5. This weekly post wouldn't be complete without an update on the pupster. He lost two puppy teeth this week! Wahoo! And even though he's teething and wanting to chew everything right now, I'm loving the not-so-razor-sharp teeth when he chooses to mouth my hands. Dakota is all about the frozen peanut butter inside his Kong toy. 

Before I head out...is anyone else a little panicked that Google Reader will no longer be, as of July? It seems crazy to me and I am at a loss as to what to use to read blogs come summer time. I'm pretty picky with things like that. Let me know if you have ideas!

Link up your five!

TGIF

TGIF! It's been quite a week and I am sooooooooo glad it is the weekend! I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

1. Overwhelmed is the first word that comes to mind. I had to give warnings to loved ones this week that I was about thisclose to losing it. The wheels were about to come off. Too much to do. Not enough time. Can't keep up. This graphic really sums it up.

2.  Today we had a field trip and I think it was the smoothest field trip experience I've had. We had 10 parent chaperones. That has to be some kind of record for me. It was a walking field trip so bus space wasn't an issue. Apparently that's all you need to make things run smoothly at school- a ratio of 1 adult to 3 students!

3. We worked on a Strega Nona unit this week and had a lot of fun with the series. I picked up Christina Bainbridge's unit on TPT and the students decided what kind of magic food pot they'd want if they could have one. The art turned out so cute, but of course I forgot to take pictures. That kind of week. We created a Can-Have-Are graphic organizer to help us out with the books. 

4. This Wednesday marked the day that Dakota could FINALLY go out of the house after having all of his puppy shots. We are no longer housebound! He's been on a walk each day since then and this is usually the aftermath:

5. And finally, my favorite pin from this week- glitter mason jars. WHY have I not done this yet?!?!

Make sure you link up your five pieces of random! 

Five for Friday in February

It's been a fantastic Friday. We had today off of school and I was able to get so much done! My mom came over and we worked on some projects for a bridal shower we are throwing in a couple weeks. We planted some new flowers and shrubs outside, played with the pup, and had dinner. And I'm just sitting down to my computer and am ready to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday linky.

1. I never remember year to year how much Valentine's Day at school wears me out. It hit me about 2:00 pm yesterday. My feet started hurting and it all came rushing back to me. Ohhhhh yes. Now I remember-Valentine's Day at school is exhausting!

2.  I borrowed Rikki from The Hive's brilliant idea of putting the valentines my students gave me on a heart cutout. I would have never thought of this but I really think my students are going to be so jazzed to see their valentines on display! Valentine's Day may be over, but the cards can live on! Thanks Rikki for sharing your genius idea!

3. I went to Michael's craft store today and their Valentine's Day stuff was 70% off. I picked up heart erasers, notepads, and bubbles for 75 cents for packs of 36! I put them in my bin for my students next year. I also added some cute decorations to my repertoire, including hanging glitter hearts. Swoon!

4. I mentioned earlier that my mom and I worked on some projects for a bridal shower we are throwing. Today we finished up the favors- peach and strawberry jams in brown paper bags with doilies on top. Who knew paper bags could be so cute?

5. You know I have to end with the pup. Hopefully no one is tired of seeing his face! I found a cute bone bow tie that slips over his collar. Here's Dakota all decked out for V-day! 

Make sure you link up your five random things! 

Five for Friday- Valentine's Day Edition

TGIF! I'm linking up today with Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday to share five random things from this week.

For some wacky reason, I've been thinking a lot this week about Valentine's Day. Yes, you heard that right. I'm crazy, what can I say? It's my first week back from Winter Break and I've already got my eyes set on Valentine's Day. I found some cute ideas on Pinterest and thought I'd share. 

1. For your coworkers: This link is for a cute pail of gummy worms with a free printable label that says, "Hooked On You!" Affordable, adorable, and creative. 

2. For your students: I love these ideas for classroom Valentine's because they don't incorporate candy but are still fun! I always enjoy putting together my Valentine's for my students. This year I may be leaning towards the Play-Doh or bouncy balls. 

3. For your kids: This idea makes my heart swoon! Starting on February 1st, you attach a "love note" on your child's door each day until Valentine's Day. The note includes something you love about them. 

4. For your home: I puffy heart easy decorating ideas. This Etsy seller uses heart playing cards to make a cute, simple garland.

5. For your sweet tooth: Sugar, strawberries, cream cheese, and pie dough. Yum!

Thanks for letting me get that out of my system. I don't know why Valentine's Day is on my mind so early. I blame Pinterest. Head over and link up your five random things from this week!

Don't forget, only one more day to enter my 100 Follow Giveaway!