August Currently and Two Days of Fun

I can't believe it's August already! I'm a day late, but you can read why in a moment.  I'm linking up with
Oh' Boy 4th Grade for August Currently.

Listening: Sometimes it's nice to have nothing on in the background.  Fewer distractions means more work gets done. Right?!?  Not with Pinterest at my fingertips!  

Loving: My husband took me to one of my favorite restaurants in Albuquerque last night for our anniversary.  I'm actually going to do a blog post on it in a few days, so look for Hometown Hidden Gems.

Here's a little preview...

  

Thinking: I have no idea where July went and I have so much I need to do before school starts!  I'll have to remember this...

Wanting: I have a huge list of books that I still want to read!  On the list is the Secret Series.  They look fantastic! One of my friend's daughters let me borrow The Name of This Book is Secret.  Such a sweetheart!  Now if I could only learn how to add time to the day...

Oh and by the way, I'm hosting Ramona Recommends on the 6th, so make sure to visit to see which books I've chosen for August Book Club! They're wonderful!!! 

Needing: I'm clueless when it comes to decorating!  I need a classroom fairy to come shopping with me to help with my choices in fabrics, ribbons, contact paper, etc.  I do have some friends making curtains and vinyls for me though.  Love you, girls!

First Day: We were able to get our classroom keys on Thursday, so I've been doing a little at a time.  We start staff meetings on Wednesday and have Meet the Teacher on Thursday!  Here are some of the things I've been up to...

Thursday consisted of moving furniture and unpacking some.  I'm thinking I have too much stuff and need to have a yard sale soon!  This will be my ninth year teaching, and I've taught 1st-4th grades, been in 3 schools, and at least 5 different classrooms. That's a lot of moving!!!  You'd think I'd be better at all of this by now!

 

 

I bought my ribbon, fabric, and spray paint for yesterday's project and headed to school.  I got to work on decorating bulletin boards and spray painting some of my old storage containers.  I completed my four little containers and started on my larger one, when...MY PAINT RAN OUT!  I grabbed the second paint can {glad I bought two!}and started painting, when...NOTHING came out!  So I had to run to Hobby Lobby to exchange it.  I can never just run in and out of that place! So after looking at more fabric, browsing the sale aisle, and looking for curtain rods, I was on my way back to finish what I'd started.  Two hours later, I was able to complete my project! {shouting from the rooftop}

 

As you can see, I'm doing black, white, turquoise, and gray.
What color do you think I should use for my curtains? 
And should I add another color to the mix?

Next up: curtains, desk, re-upholstery, and more!

Currently July and Future Linky

Sara Frampton from Frampton's FUNdamentals is having a giveaway for her 33rd birthday.  She has organized a giveaway with over $50 worth of products!  Click here to visit her blog to see all of the prizes, and at the bottom of the post, you can enter to win it all! 

The contest will run from now until midnight EST on July 8, 2014.

33rd Birthday Giveaway!!!

I'm also linking up today with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for July Currently.  I can't believe it's already July!

  

Listening to

So our Missionaries told Dylan, my stepson, that he needs to watch Studio C (a production on BYU television) and Dylan is loving it.  He's laughing like crazy.  If you haven't seen it, take a look at more on YouTube.  Here's a link to "The Worst Kindergarten Teacher Ever." 

Loving

I had about 15 friends come to

my house yesterday to do a 4th of July craft.  It was nice to catch up, enjoy each others company, and talk about Girls Camp, which is coming up in August.  We are planning crafts, skits, songs, sport activities, meals, and everything else campy.  It's super fun and the girls are having a blast helping us with ideas.

Thinking/4th plans

We are vacationing the next couple weeks.  We'll be in Virginia for the 4th with my brothers in law and their families.  We are then headed to the Florida Keys and then off to the Dominican Republic.  I can't wait to share with you what we've done.  I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my family. 

Wanting

I've been wanting to convert a room upstairs to a craft room.  I've been buying furniture and decor here and there and hope to get it done before school starts.  Wish me luck.  Summer is going by way to quickly and my to do list is just as long as it was in May.  It's been nice Pinning, Blogging, hitting the gym, and spending time with friends, but I know when I get back, it's back to business.  Getting that done and then prepping for back to school. So I guess, what I'm really wanting is more time. 

Needing

Since we are leaving tomorrow, I'm needing to pack, do laundry, clean the house, and make sure we are ready to go, so enough blogging for today.  I'll be back in a few weeks with a tan, a smile, and some beautiful pics from our adventures.  Hope you'll come back to visit to see what we've done.  

By the way, when I get back, I'm going to have a Linky Party for two weeks.  Please make sure to visit my previous blog post to learn more and join us for some TPT sales and giveaways.  Can't wait!

Here's the link to that info...

There's a Linky Party in my Future

Week 1

 

Week 2

 

May Currently, Slant Box, and Ramona Recommends

I'm linking up with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade for May Currently.  

Listening: Listening to Avicii.  I love some techno/electric dance once in a while. 

Loving: I just got my Slant Box in the mail yesterday from

I LOVE everything!  She went above and beyond.  Here are some of the items in my box.

April's theme was Spring into a Good Book.  Mrs. D picked one of my favorites, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  She included a sweet note and adorable bookmarks for the kiddos in my class.  They are going to love reading and coloring their bookmarks next week! 

  

She also included these adorable earrings that she made. Here's a link to her ETSY store, The Little Coral Box.  I just adore the Autism Awareness earrings.  I'm definitely going to have to buy them! 

And Mrs. D just made this awesome Teacher Lesson Planner for the 2014-2015 school year.  Click the photo to grab yours now for only $12!

And she didn't stop there.  She also got me some hand lotion, bright pens, and glitter clothespins!  Thank you so much Mrs. DeLussy.  I'm so glad I was able to get to know you better through Slant Box.  I really hope I can return the favor.  Maybe I'll be partnered with you at some point!  

 Hope you're enjoying Texas!

  If you're interested in doing this in May, visit Lessons With Coffee. May 3rd is the last day to sign up for the month, so hurry on over!

 

Thinking:  I need to finish reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for Ramona Recommends' Book Club.  I'm giving away a copy of this book.  Keep scrolling down to enter.  It was on yesterday's blog post.  I started reading it and am loving it, but am really distracted by Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', etc.  I'll be spending some time this weekend away from the screen.  If you're interested in joining, please visit Courtney's blog, Ramona Recommends.  

 

BTW she just got a new Melonheadz Mini Me...  So cute! 

 

Wanting:  I just started working out more than usual.  I have to get toned for bikini season!  So 4:45 am gym time, no bread, no sugar, and only one piece of dark chocolate a week.  I'm pretty sure I even told my husband yesterday that I'm going to do a fitness competition...haha {NEVER going to happen}!  I'm pretty much living on veggies and fish and I'd rather be eating cupcakes, ice cream, brownies, cookies, and candy bars. 

Needing: I haven't had a mani since before Spring break and my nails are in need of some attention.  I'm all about white tips, but am thinking of doing something a little different soon.  Any suggestions?  I also need to do my Jamberry nails from Christi Fultz.  

Surprise:  I'm going to share a surprise for my summer, but I promise to come back this weekend to do a RAK surprise!  My husband is planning our summer trip to the Dominican Republic as I blog right now!  I'm so excited for this...

   

 Love ya, and thanks so much for visiting.  

Hope you have a good night! 

Currently December

Listening

I love Country Music.  Some of my favorite artists are…Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lady Antebellum.  Right now I’m listening to Jamie O’Neil’s, “Somebody’s Hero,” one of my favorites. This song is about amazing mommies.  I can’t wait to be one someday...

Loving

The past few days I have been decorating my home for Christmas.  I have made a few several trips to  Hobby Lobby for wreaths, garland, Mason Jars, reindeer, and other decor items.  I love to craft...just wish I had more time to do it! I'll post pics tomorrow. 

Thinking

I know several people who could use a little help this season.  Thinking about how I can help them.    It only takes a moment to make a difference.  Writing a letter, baking cookies for a neighbor, visiting a nursing home with handmade cards, donating toys, clothes, or food to a local organization, or volunteering at a local animal shelter. 

This is the season of giving. 

 Tell someone you love them.

   Make a difference. 

Give your time.

Hug. 

Call. 

Pray.

Wanting

My husband just left for a trip.

  He'll be home for Christmas though, and for that 

I'm grateful.

Needing

I feel like I need more time for everything.  More time for friends, family, laundry, blogging, praying, learning, prepping, walking dogs, cleaning house, reading, thinking, exercising, crafting, cooking, grading, shopping, Christmas cards, the list goes

 on and on...

Favorite Holiday Tradition

My grandma had a Nativity set on the top shelf of her closet.  Every year, my mom and I would go to her house before Christmas to decorate her tree and set up her Nativity set.  My mom and I go over every year to decorate with my grandpa.  He just turned 95 on Veteran's Day!  We are having the family come to my house today per his request, but will still decorate his house. I bought my first Nativity set this weekend.  It's not the same, but it's a new tradition I can start in my home and pass down to my children.  Although my grandma is no longer with us, she will be with us in spirit. And that tradition is a promise to 

remember the beautiful life she had.

Currently October and a Freebie

I just linked up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for Currently October.  

Here's a cute freebie I'm sharing for the month of October. 

Here are the links for each grade level...

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade