Something New

Yes, It's been awhile but I have been busy with little projects to share and wanted to try to set up some "weekly" things. The first one being "Insta-Friday". I always share things about home or school but not too much about myself. So, each Friday, I will share 5 photos from my week from Instagram...a sneak-peek into my little world!

Now, for the first peek...

New pillow for my bed

My early mornings

Blooming in February

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss--my Kindergarten class' snack

Severe storms in middle TN!!

Like I said...just a little sneak peek.

Hope your enjoy your weekend...

My Work Bag

OK...so the most popular post of 2011 was my Organized Work Bag that I use between home and my classroom. As I brought it to school this morning, I noticed how "full" it was and how much stuff actually fits inside! When I first showed you my bag, I did not show you what the inside looks like. So, here you go...

This is what the bag looked like this morning with all of my weekly Centers material.

Besides all of that paper, I have my Lesson Plan book, sight words, assessment material, and a binder to file the Centers material into (eventually!!) all in the small hanging file tub.

Here is a shot of the file tub. I also have a 3-hole punch and a copy of Step By Step: A Guide to Microsoft Office Professional 2010. I know...what a geek but we have the new version on our school laptops and I want to know how to use/ utilize every part of it!!

Just look at how packed that file tub its...

So, I took the Centers material and binder out so we can use them this week. This left me with a lot more room in the file tub.

And then wiped out the bag 'cause it was dirty!!

I also cleaned out the pockets. These hold my sticky notes, wipe out tape, scissors, tape, rubber cement and my collection of sharpies. (Can you even be a teacher without Sharpies...Love Them!!)

Here's a look at the back. It has 2 more pockets that I try to keep empty...just in case!

Now, it's all cleaned out and ready for a new week.

Until it's time to go home...I tried!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! My... how time flies. It seems like just yesterday that we were ringing in 2011! I have a lot of little projects in the works that I will share soon but wanted to kick off the New Year with farewell to my simply, little Christmas decorations.

We recently found ourselves with a second cat....a kitten that my Mom found and couldn't find anyone else to take it (I know...sounds horrible but I was not looking to mother 2 cats and a 12 year old!!).

We, of course, are in love with the little thing (still too young to figure out if it's a boy or girl!) and can't imagine life without it! To make a long story not as long...we couldn't put up our big Christmas tree...that little thing is in to everything!! So, we decided to decorate small this year and go all out again next year when "Sam" is not as young.

So, we put up my daughter's small, white tree on top of the tall chest in the living room so Sam couldn't get to it. We put a few funky ornaments on it and kept the rest of the ornaments stored away.

And since we finally (after 7.5 years) have a mantle...we hung our stockings by the fireplace with care...in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there!!!

I should have taken some more close-up pictures, but if you look closely, I also put some ornaments in the lanterns on the mantle. (And yes...I still have spring-looking flowers in the vases. It's on my To-Do List!!)

So, that's our Christmas in a nutshell...all thanks to our new little friend!

(Sam and Katie)

New Year...New Start!

Yeah, I know! It's been a while! Teaching, mothering, and living got in the way! But we are about to start a new year AND I am amazed at how many people are reading/ following this little ol' blog even though I have posted in ages! So I am motivated to keep those readers and to continue sharing my thoughts, moods, activities and projects.

Here's to a new year and a NEW START!!!

Vacation

I know it's been a while since I have posted but we have enjoyed the end of summer and I have been getting ready for school for the past 2 weeks. I get my new kiddos tomorrow morning...wish me luck! I'll be back soon!

My Lovely Little Mirror

As you know, I got a bunch of fun, free stuff from my Aunt when we visited earlier this summer. Notice the mirror on the right side of the table.

I love the shape but not the color.

So, I taped over the mirror and spray painted it a bright, shiny yellow!

(Morning humidity = weird lighting)

I let it sit for a little while but then realized that it would take a year to dry in this humidity so I took it in to dry. This picture below was taking later in the evening and it was still a little tacky.

After all the waiting time letting it dry, I realized that it was missing the hanger on the back so I need to pick up a little hardware but otherwise....I think I want that beautiful punch of color on this gallery wall in my bedroom. It definitely needs to be expanded a bit.

The photographs on that wall are all a bit artsy... A picture of fireworks over Nashville, a closeup of a flower (both torn from a book bought at a discount book store), a map of Manhattan, and a photograph that I took of New York off the top of the Empire State Building. (Need to get a close up of those pictures to share!)

Next a yellow mirror and a few more things...

Happy 4th!!

What a wonderful weekend! I LOVE the 4th of July (I get it from my dad!!) It marks the middle of summer and who doesn't love fireworks! This year's celebration didn't disappoint!

Our church does a full musical concert and awesome display of fireworks every year on the 3rd. And when I say fireworks...I don't mean 10 explosions spread out over a few minutes. I mean...this rivals any small community firework display! I wouldn't miss it for anything. Simply amazing!!

Living in Nashville, you get the big city feel in a very managable-size! On the 4th, we always head downtown for the fireworks.

Twenty minutes of solid explosions...we just stood there with our mouths open!

We took lawn chairs and ended up standing. There are no words...you just have to visit and experience it for yourself!

Here is a shot from the pedestrian bridge where a ton of folks stood to watch the fireworks over the water.

Speaking of Nashville, today my daughter, Madeline, and I meet my dad downtown for lunch. There is a city bus that is free during the day, so we hopped the bus at my dad's office and headed to Panara Bread next to the Ryman Auditorium.

(Ryman on the left and Bridgestone Arena on right)

After we dropped my dad back off at the office, we walked back to the Farmer's Market where we parked our car...just another fabulous spot in Nashville!

I love this town!

Like I said...what a wonderful holiday weekend! If you are ever up for a road trip over the 4th...our door is always open. Come on down!!!