Five for Friday

It's Friday again, so it's time for some bloggy goodness and link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching!

Holy cow!  I can't believe that it's August already!  This summer went so fast!  But I'm definitely not counting it as over - I don't go back until the 21st, so I've still got some time!  I'll be at the beach next week, soaking up the last bit of sun for Summer 2014!  The one thing, however, that I hate about summer the most is the dishes.  I absolutely love to cook and I love that I actually have time to cook in the summer.  But, we all know that cooking typically requires lots of dishes.  And since I hate doing the dishes - and the fact that I don't have a dishwasher - means that I'm constantly debating whether or not to do dishes on any particular day...and since I've been in serious 7th Heaven marathon mode, it's pretty much been a no on the dishwashing!! ;)

I love to read.  At the beginning of the year, I set a goal on Goodreads to read 50 books this year.  Some summers, I read nonstop and can't get enough books.  This summer, I've read two books.  Seriously.  Goodreads says that I'm seven (yes, SEVEN) books behind schedule for my goal.  This must change!  Next week at the beach, I'm planning on doing some serious reading to catch up a little bit!  I'm currently reading The Other Woman by Hank Phillippi Ryan.  I'll hopefully be finishing this up today (I'm about 85% finished) and once I'm done, I'll post a review here on the blog!  Look for that next week!

I spent some time this week making some items for my classroom.  I had a huge list of things I wanted to make, do and purchase for my classroom...and I think I've only done like three of the things on the list.  Total summer fail!  I hope this doesn't mean that I won't be ready when it's time to go back to school.  Oh well!  One of the things that I made is this ABC chart.  I teach fourth grade and I've never put up an alphabet chart.  Oops!  I guess I kind of always figured that they knew the ABC's by this point.  However, I realized this past year that my students didn't know cursive, so I figured now was the best time to make sure the ABC's were up in the classroom, in cursive.  And because I'm broke (and cheap) I didn't want to pay for an alphabet chart, so I made my own! 

And I've posted it to TeachersPayTeachers!  Aren't they cute!  They are on iPods and will go great with my technology theme - and my blue, green, and purple color scheme! 

Click here for the cursive AND print BUNDLE!

Click here for just the cursive. (This is in the process of being uploaded!)

Click here for just the print. (This is in the process of being uploaded!)

I'm so thankful for good (teacher) friends!  I enjoyed a nice cookout-in (since it rained!) with six other teachers from across the county and it was so nice to just hang out and chat...even if we mostly chatted about school!  And yes, I did volunteer to bring watermelon to this cookout.  This is only so I can use my cute watermelon knife!  

Gahhhh!  I'm drawing a blank for number 5...so I'm just going to use this space to wish everyone a Happy Back to School!  

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Five for Friday

It's Friday again, so naturally, I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for her Five for Friday linky party!

The first thing that I'm going to mention is a huge success!  See this blog?  Isn't it pretty!  I made it all by myself!!  :)  I worked long and hard, talked to some people for tips and advice and read A LOT of information on HTML and CSS!  I'm so excited about the final product!  

This is also a success!  The past few months, I've been a terrible blogger!  Today is July 25...and it's my 20th post in July!  And since I don't (typically) blog on the weekends, this is HUGE!  I'm hoping this blogging streak is here to stay!

I've been working this week to gather up some other teacher bloggers and have put together a giveaway!  On August 11, I'll post about my giveaway - there are over 12 bloggers all donating a product of their own!  It's going to be amazing!  Spread the word now!!

I go back to school on August 21.  Later than some of you, but still too soon!!  I've been busy working on some things for my classroom this week - one of which is this sign for my classroom library!  I'm hoping to do a technology-themed classroom - but I have a lot more to make in order to make that happen!  So, we'll see how much of a "theme" I have!!

I've already been to the beach and Europe this summer, but in two weeks, I'll be back at the beach (a different beach) for the last getaway before school starts!  I'm so excited!

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Five For Friday....a winner...and a flash giveaway!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching today for her fun Five For Friday post!  Here's where you share all things fun from your week!  

I've been on vacation this week...at the beach!  The Outer Banks of North Carolina, to be exact!  It's funny - most people come to the beach to hang out and relax (on the beach).  I come to the beach to travel and get around.  The week isn't over yet and my little car has already driven 600 miles SINCE WE ARRIVED (not including travel!)!  Crazy, huh!?  I'm planning on doing a better photo dump post with some pictures but here are a few favorites.

 Do you enjoy going to the beach?  What beach do you prefer to vacation at?

In SIX DAYS, I'll be boarding a plane to EUROPE!!  Wanna have a fun little giveaway!?  Well, I posted last week about my new teacher planner and gave one away (and the winner is listed at the end of this post)!  I'm going to give one more copy away!  I'm visiting three cities in Europe.  Leave a comment on this blog post, with your three guesses as to the cities that I'm visiting.  The first person to correctly choose all three will win a copy of my new teacher planner!  I'll choose and announce the winner on Monday!

I'm currently working on completing my master's degree in Instructional Technology.  Being at school isn't as fun as I remembered...especially online, but I am learning a bunch of great things!  What's also not fun is taking summer classes...while at the beach!  But a girl's gotta do what a girl needs to do to graduate on time, right!?  This has been my view a few times this week while at the beach.  But at least the class will be all over with next week!  Yay!

Now that summer is in full swing, I've got a lot of classroom ideas to make, create, and implement.  And a lot of pinterest pins to complete.  What is your number one to-do item for your classroom this summer?

WINNER, WINNER!

I gave away a copy of my new teacher planner last week, and I'm happy to announce that Cindy C. was the winner!  Cindy, send me an email to beyondthegradebook12@gmail.com to claim your prize!!  Congratulations!  And, if you didn't win, don't forget to enter my flash giveaway that ends Sunday night!  Read number 2 above for the rules!

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A one day work week? Say what?!

This week, I'm linking up with two week end update linkups.  I'm doing Happies and Crappies with Stephanie, and Five for Friday with Doodlebugs Teaching!

Happies

This first happy is both a happy and a crappy.  Due to this cRaZy winter weather, we were out of school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  We went to school yesterday, however, due to icy conditions this morning, we are out again today.  Helllllooooo, one day work week!  I'm enjoying the time off getting stuff done around the house!

I posted the other day about this fabulous new jewelry organizer that I made with a broken mirror.  Check out that post here, if you haven't seen it!

And because I'm talking about updates around the house, I'll share this as well.  Since I was getting tired of the snow and wintery weather, I decided to take down my winter decor and put up some spring decorations!  You can see that here!  Isn't it cute and fun!  I love it!

Today's 'no school' plan?  Organizing my closet (again...I just did it a few weeks ago and it's back to crazyness!) and putting together a new shelving unit that I just bought for that closet!  Here's to being more organized!

Crappies

Same as the happies, all this missed snow!  I do enjoy the time off, but I don't miss the time out, especially with our SOL tests at the end of the year.  I feel like the kids will never be ready - especially if we are never in school!  This is snow day #12 for the students and #13 for the teachers (as we also missed a teacher work day).

I haven't been to the gym in FOREVER!  Last week, I didn't go at all and somehow managed to still lose a little bit of weight.  This week, I didn't go at all, but just don't think that I'll be so lucky!  Today is the day I have my 'weekly weigh in' but I don't want to get on the scale today.  I just can't imagine how it will be a good result!! :)

How was your week?

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