My 13 in 2013 Linky Party & a SALE!!

2013!!! Yikes, where did you go? I guess it's true that time surely flies when you're having fun!

I'm linking up with Hadar, Kristin, and Tracy to bring you my 13 in '13!

Gosh, I can go on and on about clothing! I secretly always wished to be a fashion designer, but my overly conservative family couldn't handle my "trends" when I was younger…lol! My favorite piece of clothing that I simply can't live without are my Tory Burch eddie flats!! 

I received them from my sister last Christmas, 2012 so you can definitely say I lived in them for most of 2013!! They are super soft and comfy!

I am slightly obsessed!! 

I'm going to cheat here and add just one more piece of clothing I can't live without ,which are my cropped boyfriend jeans from Joe's Jeans. Super soft and comfy just like my flats.

Don't laugh, but I lovvveee them! I own 4 pairs and 2 dark denim pairs. My hubby won't be caught dead with me when I rock them! He constantly asks "why do your pants have holes?". Ugh, MEN! I guess when you live in pants & skirts M- F you want to loosen up a bit on the weekends. Yep, I married a conservative one as well. Boo. 

I can't remember the last time the hubs and I watched a "grown up" movie together so I have to choose,

hands down Despicable Me 2!!!! This movie had me practically choking on my popcorn!!! 

Okay since HGTV, Food Network and Oprah's Channel might not  count, I'm going to have to say GLEE! 

I was definitely saddened by the death of Cory Monteith. The pressures and the demons these celebrities battle is just a shame and a huge tragedy.

This one's kinda hard because my family and I love trying new food. From Indian to Chinese to Japanese, we're not afraid to try it. I blame my mom, who always said to me at the dinner table "you need to at least TRY it". Hubby is yelling Ihop (don't ask), but if I had to choose one, it would probably be the Olive Garden. I've always experienced great service there and their food has been delicious each time. 

When school started in August, I began to get really stressed out. We were short a Kindergarten teacher, and the group of kids we got this year literally came from all walks of life. Yes, each year has its challenges, but I don't think I've had a year like this. It has made me question my choice to teach, and it has made me question being at the school I've called home for the last 13 years. Not to mention the constant, sometimes overly- outrageous demands of my admin. Everything started to get the best of me, and I started to break out around my chin. I hated it. I've never really had breakouts growing up so I was a bit freaked out. Let me tell you friends, when your 10 year-old sees a Proactiv commercial and says "Mom, you should try that"…then you really need to take their advice. So far it is working and I love it. I just wish there was just one bottle and not 4. With the busy lives teachers lead, I sometimes forget to do the last two steps…sigh. 

My favorite gift was a handmade card from my 10- year old. Wish I had a picture of it but sadly I don't. She made it in her class and it's sitting proudly on my desk at school now :)

This art activity is one of my favorite pins!  

{original source here}

My favorite blog post this year was about the First Grade Educents bundle! I was so excited to have my product featured! 

Definitely organizing my teacher files and center games. Looking back, I think I have a serious addiction to TPT!! Yikes!

You can see the picture on Instgram here: http://instagram.com/p/g60VAQw8qe/

I can't seem to copy it directly from instagram :(

My favorite picture will tie in with my #3….the time when I made 100 cookies for the staff at my school. You can see it here on instagram:

 http://instagram.com/p/g-Vcmsw8me/

For the life of me, I don't know how to copy images from instagram…aaggg!!

My favorite memory this year was baking over 100 cookies for the staff at my school during Staff Appreciation Week. They truly are the unsung heroes that don't get as much credit as they should sometimes. 

My goal for 2014 is to make enough money on TPT to pay off my student loans!! HA!! I wish!! 

Breathe. Just Breathe. I've set it as my screensaver as a constant reminder. This coming year I need to learn how to just breathe and move on. I can't change the world, I can only change myself. I need to have faith that God is in control and he will continue to guide me through this journey called life. 

Thanks for sticking with me. This is probably my longest post yet. Cheers to peace, love, joy, and a ton of blessings and happy moments for your family and mine this New Year!! 

OH, aaannnddd, I'm having a New Year's Sale. I'm currently working on adding a TON of products to my store, so please check back soon! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to finish all these products that have been "in the works" for forever now! lol! 

Organization Help! Linky Party

Please forgive me for posting twice in a day, but because I posted late yesterday I'm trying to catch up with this linky that's already on Day 2...lol! I promise to make this post as short as I can.

I'm linking up with Hope from 2nd Grade Shenanigans to show you how I organize a few things in my classroom and share my organizing resolution.

First off, I'm totally OCD!! Trust me, my team members can vouch for it! I love to sort and organize and PURGE! I give everything away!! If I haven't used it in 6 months it more than likely will be on its way OUT my door!

I took this picture at the beginning of the school year. I've since labeled all the containers at the top.

My lovely butterfly box holds all my scrapbook paper :)

This is how I organize all those amazing craftivities I purchase on Teacher Pay Teachers:

(Jennifer's (first grade blue skies) Chinese New Year Packet)

 I print the front cover and the directions on card stock paper and I laminate it. Then I put it in a ziploc bag with the patterns/pieces. I also post the laminated sheet(s) on my board so my students can refer to it, along with a sample of the craft that we made together.

{Teri's (a cupcake for the teacher) Fire Safety Kids}

I have 6 of these containers...and I divide the activities into them by quarter. I also have one container each for my largest collections which are Christmas and Alphabet Craft Activities.   

I have a regular planner which I use to record important dates, but I use this in addition to that.

It is tabbed: type, to-do, print, and lesson plans. 

Under "type" I write down things I need to type up-  newsletters, labels for my students' homework planners, notes, etc.

 "To- do"- obviously self explanatory

 "Print"- Under this tab I list anything from things I purchased on Tpt that I need to print, or homework sheets for upcoming lessons, etc.

And under "lesson plans" for example I may see something neat I want to do with my kids on another blog or on pinterest- so I would write "Winter- melted snowman" and the blog name if it came from another blog so I could refer back to it.

I also use a simple composition notebook for documenting my communication with parents. I wish I had a picture- this image is from google.

 

On the first page I list my kids by alphabetical order from 1-19. Then I use 19 tabs on the side and write their "number" on each tab. I refer back to the first page since I do not write the kids' names on the tab, just their number- hope this make sense.

Each time I communicate with a parent regarding a concern with their child- whether in person, on the phone, or in a written note- I always make sure to cover myself and document everything. 

I write the time, date, and quick notes of what transpired. If I made a phone call and there was no answer or the phone was not working I would indicate that as well. 

For certain students that may need additional referrals and support from the school this is a great resource for me to be able to have and refer back to. Parent's can't argue and say they weren't informed of certain things when I have everything documented.

Now for my resolutions: 

To tackle this baby!

This is my wonderful collection of tpt purchases & blog freebies! I've gotten lazy with filing as you can see on the 2nd shelf. It took me all summer (2011) to organize these files but I have yet to find the motivation to make pretty labels and front covers for each binder. And as you can also see, I need to put the glitter back where it belongs...hahaha! 

Best & Brightest of 2012 Linky Party

I hope you all had a great holiday! I am still recovering from the flu so needless to say half my day was spent in bed. BOO. I did attend church early in the morning with my family and we also had a special candle lighting vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. My heart still aches for the precious babies, the brave adults, their families, and their community. A week later, I still have no words, just prayers. 

Today, I am linking up with Christina from Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for 2012's Blog Best & Brightest. I love linky parties! It gives me a great opportunity to get to know other bloggers a little better, and not to mention, linky's are just so much fun!

My Most Popular Post:

{click to download}

My Favorite Post: 

New Year's Party Kids Glyph

This was my favorite post partly because it was the first post where I shared a craft activity. These glyphs were really large- almost as tall as my kiddos- so I've recently shrunk them down and will be posting more on it in a few days :)

My Favorite Social Media Outlet: 

Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Tumblr,  Flickr, Instagram- ACK! Pinterest is all I need ;)

My Best Selling Item on TPT so far has been my Black History Month Craft Pack:

I am in the process of adding more activities to this packet so if you've already purchased it please make sure to check back in a few days and re- download it :)

Overall, the BEST thing in 2012 was definitely being able to connect with all of you through this wonderful thing called blogging. I can honestly say that in the last year that I've been here I've met so many wonderful people and I've learned so much!

Teaching is not always "rainbows & unicorns" and with the constant demands and limited resources, we are always stretched too thin. When I log online, I know that there is a group of people who can totally relate to my frustrations, who understand exactly where I'm coming from, and who provide me with nothing but constant love & support. This outlet is so positive and inspiring, I couldn't be more proud to be a part of something so wonderful. Thank- you ;)

My 12 in 12: Linky Party

I am linking up with the ever- so- fabulous Hadar & Kristin to bring you my "12 in 2012". 

Here goes;  

2. Favorite movie you watched: 

 

 My hubby & I don't go on movie dates like we did when we were dating...lol! But we did take our little one to watch this when it came out & I absolutely loved the true meaning behind it. 

11. Favorite TV series:

I love anything & everything on Food Network! It's so hard to pick just one!

10. Favorite restaurant: 

This is definitely a tough one. I am a big "foodie"!! If I wasn't teaching I'd definitely have been a pastry chef. Growing up my family traveled a lot during the summer and winter breaks so I was spoiled with being able to eat food from all over the world. Believe it or not I've never been to Europe or NYC! Those two places are definitely on my bucket list.  

9. Favorite new thing you tried:

 I signed up for a kettlebell class two weeks ago. I wouldn't say it's my "favorite" new things I've tried- but it's a new thing...does that count?! LOL! I've always been one to just put in my hour on the treadmill but recently some of my friends have joined and have bullied pressured me into joining with them. I went for three days and quit will be going back tomorrow. Oh boy am I sore!

8. Favorite gift you got:

I received a tiffany double line ring and a marc jacobs bag for my birthday this year but those didn't make my list. The little letters & notes my son leaves me in the morning are what melts my heart. He is a very soft hearted boy and I am working hard to raise him to treat his woman right! LOL! One morning he wrote a little note on a post- it and it said "I Love You Mom", he placed it on the fridge and it melted my heart. He is forever drawing me cards and making me stuff at school. On my birthday he also made me a card that said "Don't worry mom, you're not old- you're still pretty". LOL!

7. Favorite thing you pinned:

 

 This just makes me smile!

6. Favorite blog post: 

Hands down my Christmas Wish List from last year. Santa aka my hubby, bought me 90% of what was on my list. Hope he doesn't disappoint this year! 

 http://colormekinder.blogspot.com/search/label/Christmas%20Wish%20List

5. Best accomplishment: 

Presenting on our annual Development Day on how to use "foldables" in the classroom. Lots of fun!

4. Favorite quote:

 

3. Favorite memory: 

Definitely the ones of my father. He passed when I was young and the memories I have come & go and sometimes I don't remember much which hurts my heart. 

2. Goal for 2013:

To definitely put more into my blog, & to re-do a few of my tpt items as well as add more things to my 'lil 'ol store! hahaha! 

1. One Little Word:

DETERMINED 

I'll be back tomorrow with our cinnamon applesauce ornaments we made today! :)

Fan-ta-bulous Freebie Linky Party

Hi friends! I am linking up with Shuna from Pocket Full of Kinders! She's hosting a "Fan-ta-bu-lous" Freebie Linky Party! Who doesn't love freebies? I know I sure do!!

I made this a while back in my quest to differentiate instruction for my higher babies:

 Here are some of the inside pages:

Drop me a line if this is something you can use in your class.

Happy Voting Day ;)

What Do You Love? Linky Party

Kimberly over at Funky First Grade Fun is having a "What Do You Love?" Linky Party. Since Valentine's in coming up I thought it would be fun to join in on the fun! Stop by her blog to check it out!!  

Have a Great Day!