Olive Maries Elevator Birth: Using the Abdominal Lift & Tuck to Engage Baby

Holiday & Special Days Calendar Cards

Aaaahhh Summer! The time when our teacher brain is supposed to shut off.......NOT!

This is my 3rd week of summer and I have to remind myself these days to relax a little. Although I had an extremely rough school year, and I've been looking forward to summer all year long, now that it's here, I'm actually really anxious to get back into my classroom! Weird huh?! I can't explain it at all!!

I spent the first two weeks of my break moving classrooms. I was extremely frustrated having to clean out not only my exisiting classroom, but the classroom I was moving into as well. The previous teacher resigned mid- year and left a bunch of stuff I had to trash. I must have made three trips to our dumpster! If you follow me on Instagram, I shared a trashbag of brand new hardcover books I found stuffed at the back of her closet.

At that moment I felt like crap. It wasn't so much about the books, it was about how I've been complaining all along while not understanding her struggles. I took it as God saying to me "Here you are whining about doing a little work and look at this nice gift this lady left you." There had to have been over 30 books in that bag. Brand spankin' new! I took a moment to say a prayer for her, and ask for forgiveness for my actions and my tongue. Lesson learned!! #imnotperfect

Anyhow, I finally made the time to sit and finish this calendar cards pack that I started a couple months ago. I wanted to make my own because I became tired of constantly searching for specific cards I needed and what was being sold at my local teacher store just did not fit my needs.

I was really bummed when I realized I left my laminator at school and we are locked out for the summer!! We're actually not allowed back in until two weeks prior to the start of the school year. But I've already printed these bad boys and now I'm just trying to find someone to help me cut them....hahaha!!

Click here if you'd like to check it out! It's only $2 in my TpT store :)

March Cut & Paste Printable Pack and a Freebie!

March cut & paste packet is finally done!!

There are 28 pages in all- 13 Math and 15 Language Arts sheets. All sheets require cutting and pasting. I use them for early finishers but you can also use them for morning work, homework, centers, etc. I've included a wide range of skills from basic skills to more challenging ones, so there is definitely something for everyone here. 

I've included a page from this packet as a freebie just for you!

Show Me The Money! (counting coins)

Spoonful of Sweetness Book Review & a Freebie!

I recently had a opportunity to preview this adorable new book, Spoonful of Sweetness and other delicious manners by Maria Dismondy. Maria is an Award Winning Children's Book Author. She is passionate about her family, photography, charity work, public speaking, and about living life to the fullest each day. She shares activities, crafts, giveaways, and a ton of great advice/ tips for families and educators alike on her blog- hop on over and check it out!

She has also written these other amazing books:

While this book is recommended for children ages 0-3, I just had to share it with my Kindergarten class. It teaches responsibility, respect, empathy, kindness, friendship, and courage. Afterwards, we discussed what those words mean to babies, and what they mean to big kids like them. They had the cutest answers! One student said "to babies, friendship means sharing your bottle, and to us it means sharing your snack." Love it!!

I hope this freebie is something you can use in your class. 

Giveaway Winner & a FREEBIE!

Congratulations Cecilia!!! She won my Winter No Prep Packet along with 11 other fabulous prizes.

There are 30 printable sheets included in this packet. 15 Math & 15 Language Arts activities. I am giving away one printable sheet from this packet as a small "thank- you" to all of you who took the time to enter. I appreciate each and every one of you! 

Click here to grab your freebie.

I hope you like it! Here's a closer look at what's included in the packet:

You can use them for morning work, centers, homework, etc. There are a TON of skills covered. I hope you'll check it out!

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!