January Currently

I have been extremely absent lately. I haven't even linked up for my favorite linky party! Ok so in December I saved my currently and forgot to publish before the cutoff day. WHOOPS!

On to fun...

My kids are watching Home Alone and they are cracking up. Love to hear those giggles. 

It's the end of the month so I was paying my bills. I only get paid once a month at the end of the month. And it hits me...I have zero car payments to worry about. I love that I will be starting the year with less bills. Woot! Woot! 

I was grading and I should finish since I need to verify when I get back on the 6th. But my level of procrastination has exceeded it's usual limit. I have no excuse to be this behind. I simply just have had zero desire to do it. 

I didn't visit family this winter break and they got snow. A lot of my friends have either gotten snow in their hometowns or are on beach vacays. I am stuck in this sucky weather purgatory. I have no snow and no beach. Since the desert never will have a beach I will settle for snow. Even if it doesn't last very long and isn't very deep. Yes, it happens here sometimes...

So I have done lots around the house. I've cleaned out closets and taken down Christmas decor {sniffle}, but there is more I can do to get this house in tip top shape. I could finish and upload some stuff onto TPT. I could workout-because I haven't and I swore I would during break. I could go to church since I've been skipping that too. UGH! and there's those grades that need to be input. . . YIKES!

 This year has been calm and it's been nice. But it has also been BORING. I've had a hard time finding  my spunk and audacity. I wish for that back. I wish for adventure and FUN. So my wish for 2015 is to get out of my funk and just be nike. Just do it! Find joy in every day. Sign up for grad school. Create and upload to TPT and actually charge for what goes on there. Take risks and just go with it. . .

That's it! Thanks for stopping by. I can't wait to read your Currentlys. Don't forget the rule of three!

Link with the Fabu Farley here: 

November Currently

Hello sweet strangers! I totally missed the boat last month. I don't know what was going on, but I missed the October Currently! What the what?Anywho, I am back and I'm linking up with the fabulous Farley for this month's currently. 

I love Saturday nights. We stay at home a lot on the weekends and just enjoy each others company. Tonight we were singing and dancing to some 90s dance hits. It gets pretty hilarious.

I am loving the crisp, cool air. FINALLY, it feels like fall y'all!

I left Friday in a hurry and left many things undone. (Hello...I have three babies that wanted to get their trunk-o-treat and trick-o-treat on!) I have a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I feel like I didn't do my homework! WHY?! Because some bigwigs are coming down to watch our classrooms and do some 15minute walk-throughs on us. UGH! I better get to school super early on Monday to get my SEs up and get my centers organized.

I have all of that to do and teachery stuff to do, and shopping to do, and chores to do. BUT no, I'm dancing and singing the night away. . .Perfect sense, right?

I'm wanting to be more fun. I am lacking in the fun department at school and at home with my own kids. I don't know the rut I am in, but it feels awful. I want to do more fun thingswith my students because I want them to LOVE school as much as I do. Lately, there seems to be no time...and with my own kids. I feel like its been all work with them too. Any ideas or help? Please feel free to share!

So am right back to my old habits. One step forward and 5 steps back when it comes to my fitness and diet. Again any tips or help is MOST welcome.

I have had almost NO time for reading. I have a couple of books someone loaned me on my nightstand that are collecting dust. I reread the Hunger Games since Mockingjay Part 1 will be out soon and a couple others. I hope the early night fall will get me in the mood to read more. 

October was a whirlwind and the last week of it was Red Ribbon Week and Halloween for us. Saying it was busy is an understatement! I hope you all have a wonderful November. Link up and don't forget the rule of 3.

September Currently

It's here friends. Can't believe we are nine months into 2014. Time for my favorite linky party with Farley. I saw her post on IG about it almost being ready and hit refresh on her blog until it was. . .STALKERISH much? LOL

Let's do this! 

Listening:  We had plans to go camping and fishing on this long weekend, but yours truly got sick. Hubbs has been the bomb.com and has fed me, medicated me, and has let me watch all my favorite feel good 80s movies. I think he knows how exhausting the first week was for me.

Loving: Even though I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest and I can't breathe. . .I'm still loving this rest time because I'm being so well taken care of! My babies take part in caring for me too. They're the sweetest.

Thinking: Y'all I was feeling nervous to be working with my new team BUT and its a really big BUTT they have been awesome. I actually got to leave on Friday with everything ready for next week and first week's grades in the grade book. My kiddies are the same ones I had last year {I looped up to second with them} and they are already exceeding my expectations. We had two new faces and my kids have welcomed them and made them comfortable instantly. They are amazing and I am so grateful to be their teacher again. This year is going to ROCK!

Wanting:  I didn't really get much as far as new clothes for this school year. I know. . .How does that happen? I just would really love to drop some pounds before I hit up my favorite stores. My plan was to be a size smaller before school started, but I got off track of my diet and fitness goals in August. . .{sad face}

Needing:  I need to get myself back on track food and work out-wise. I'm confident I will since this team is so much more organized and I feel like I'll make better use of my time. Tomorrow I will be prepping my meals for the week and starting back on my workout routine. I CAN DO THIS!

3 Trips: I have been so very blessed to have travelled to many places of my dreams, but I still have a handful of places on my bucket list. I'd love to go to Greece, Fiji, and the Redwood Forest. I find these places to be so visually appealing. I think I'd just die of sensory overload, but I'd die happy!

That's it for me! Link up and don't forget the rule of 3!

Meet the Teacher Blogger Linky Party

I'm linking up with Stephanie at Falling into First to let you know a little bit about me. 

Hey y'all I'm Sandy and I'm a {gulp} 31 year old, mom to 3 kids, a wife, and this year I'll be teaching second grade again. This will be my fifth year at the same school in Texas. 

I married my hubbs almost 13 years ago. He's my best friend. 

I am so lucky to share my life with him and our 3 amazing kids. 

We also have 3 turtles and a Beta. HA!

I feel so blessed to spend most of summer home with my babies. 

The VERY best thing I got to do was play like a kid with them.  

We went camping, fishing, swimming, the list goes on and on. . . 

We are outdoorsy people so summer is our FAVORITE! 

I got to read several books off my kindle list, tackle some DIY classroom and home projects, workout, and try out some new recipes. 

Now onto the scoop. . .

These are a few of my favorite things. . .
Singing. Dancing. Laughing. 

If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?
An author (children's literature). Still working on doing that. One day. 

Three words that describe you.
Bright. Positive. Fun.

Finish the sentence: "________________," said no teacher ever.
"I wish summer was shorter," said no teacher ever!

It's your birthday and you can invite anyone (dead or alive) to the party. Who are you inviting?
 Jimmy Fallon because he cracks me up. Adele because her voice is amazing. Rachel Ray to cook up something yummy. 

If someone wrote a book about your life what would the title be?
She Did it Her Way

You get to pick one superpower. What is it?

What is your favorite quote or saying?
There's a lot of good savings and quotes out there. This one came to mind today . . .

If you had to sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?
I would want to sing something soulful like All of Me by John Legend or Say Something by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera.  I love to sing! 

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Both. Forget me, right? Ha. I love staying up late. I sometimes have these crazy ideas I just need to do or just weeks of insomnia. I hate wasting my day so I get up bright and early. I am super cheerful and sing EVERY. MORNING. Even after staying up late with sick, crying babies. I told ya. . . Forget me, huh?!

What's your favorite resource that you've created in your TPT shop?
I only have one item right now. {WOMP. WOMP.} I deleted 2 other items that I wanted to update. And I'm still pretty iffy about uploading. . . 

Share something we may not know about you.
I don't know if you took the time to do the math, but I married my sweetheart when I was 18! Sooo young! No, I'm not letting my kids marry that early! 

Link up! We'd love to read about you!

Monday Made It

If you follow me on IG you've seen my entry to Michaels Create2Educate sweepstakes. This photo prop came out EXACTLY the way I had imagined it! How often does that happen? 

I decided to link up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to share how I made this photo prop. I'm so excited to be sharing because I have not shared anything I've made all summer! OOPS!

First, I went to Michaels and got some supplies. I decided to go with Caribbean blue and got matching glitter to add some pizzazz.

I removed the back because I don't need it. I  used the backings to hold up the frame while I painted.

I find painting with acrylic to be more even and calming for me so I use it. 

You can also paint with spray paint. 

I add my extra fine glitter while the paint is still wet. Do you notice how I put a zig zag pattern? I find that I use less this way.  

 I rubbed the glitter in a circular motion to get it on the frame nice and even. I didn't want any nakey spots on my frame. 

 I am not blessed with a steady hands so I didn't bother trying to write on my frame. Instead I purchased wood letters. I didn't bother to draw our school mascot either. I bought a cute little dolphin too.

 They were the wrong colors so I painted them with a few coats of acrylic paint in varying shades of blue.

Once everything was dry I used tacky glue to glue the dolphin and letters on. Hot glue will work as well. 

I can't wait to take my students pictures with this prop. They really enjoy the honor of being "Dolphin of the Week" and I hope they feel extra special taking their photo with it. 

August Currently

How did July end so quickly? I haven't blogged since the last currently! Time flies when you're having fun!

I'm linking up with the hilarious Farley.

On to the currently . . .

 It was a beautiful, overcast, and rainy day so snuggling up with the hubbs on the couch just seemed like the best way to start the month off. 

I love this weather. We really need it to cool off after so many 100+ degree days. 

I hate that I am running out of time. This summer has been amazing. I have spent so much time with my kids and my hubbs.

I have been seeing so many teachers post their classroom setup and I can't help, but be jealous because I'm not allowed to go back until after August 11th. Hmph! 

I need to get my mind back in back to school mode and get organized. I have so much that I have put off. I have an extra long list to take care of and not much time. If you have any extra motivation to knock out this list please send it my way. I'm working on stuff for my classroom and I hope to be loading some things to TPT. . .

We have a week for PD. Bleh! 

I am excited to see my kiddies. I looped up to second and I can't wait to pick up where we left off. 

Hope you all have fun setting up your rooms and I hope you have an amazing school year. 

I should be getting back into blogging regularly soon. . . I post almost daily to IG so check out what I am up to there. 

Link up and don't forget the rule of 3!

July Currently

Linking up with Farley with my favorite linky party for the July Currently!

I'm listening to my soon to be second grader and third grader read to their soon to be pre-k little brother. They read really well and they're going through the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series pretty fast. I'm loving all the giggling. They make my heart happy. 

I'm loving all the family time we are spending together. June was a really good month for summer activities and I can't wait to do more with my family this month.

I'm thinking there is still more to do before summer is over. I know there is almost no time during the school year so I really need to organize my plan and get to it. Lots of DIY things to get done.

I'm really overweight. . . Anywho, I finally talked the hubbs into helping me develop a meal plan and workout plan and it has been AWESOME. I am losing weight like crazy and I feel more active and happy than I have in a LOOONG time. I am just needing to stick to the routine so I can continue to feel this great and eventually get to a weight that I'm happy with. 

My soon to be second grader is turning 7 on July 3rd so after we do some birthday stuff with him we will be celebrating the 4th with family, some yummy Texas BBQ, and fireworks. My hometown does a really small fireworks display and have a few local bands play. 

Can't wait to check out your July Currently. Link up and don't forget the rule of 3.  

Monday Meet Me with TTT

I'm linking up with The Teaching Tribune to share 3 things I am thankful for. . .

I am so thankful that I have all of this free time. I am taking advantage of my summer bucket list. I am working out, eating right, losing weight, camping, fishing, swimming, and spending time with family. It has been a really great summer so far. I do want to do some more DIY projects and crafts and I'm so glad I still have to time to get some of that in.

I am LOVING Instagram and all the Insta-friends I am making. I follow teacher bloggers, fitness freaks, jewelry boutiques, make-up gurus, and so much more! I have over 800 followers and I share {mostly} teachery and some personal stuff on IG. I am so thankful people want to get to know me.

I am loving the kindle app on my iPad. I love that I hear about great books and I can download instantly and get my read on. Nothing like reading on my patio when the sun goes down!

I can't wait to read about what your thankful for. Link up!

Summer Bloggin' : Monday Meet Me

I decided to link up with the the Teaching Tribune to let you know 3 things about me.

I'm a little quirky for sure! These are just things the hubbs noticed that I do. I was clueless until he pointed them out, but I won't do it any other way! I've gotta be me! 

Link up and tell us about you!

Let's Talk About Books and a few Freebies!

I love books. I love all KINDS of books so that's why I am so excited about Deanna Jump's weekly linky party because every week I get to share different books with you.

This week I wanted to share my favorite books for the beginning of the year. I like to do an author study on Kevin Henkes. Every year my students fall in love with the characters and stories from this amazing author. 

His books have a lot of characteristics that children adore. They have a clear author's message, cute characters, and repetition. I feel like these books are ideal for grades K-2. 

I always start out with his older books and the very first book I read is Wemberly Worried. I read this text over and over all week, but we focus on a different skill every day. 

Students learn there's nothing to worry about at school and they will meet and make new friends. 

There are tons of activities to do with these books (they're all over TPT and the internet), but I like that for the beginning of the year a successful task for students is for them to share how they feel on the first day (or week) of school. They can practice writing text to self connections. This also gives me a chance to see their early writing skills. I like to combine this activity with a craft. I take photos of my students with worried faces and they write about why they were worried. Then I snap photos of them with relieved faces and they write about what how they became relieved. It makes a really cute display for the first weeks of school and open house. 

I don't have very many things in my TPT store just yet. . .but I do have a Story Maps and and Text Connection freebies that y'all are more than welcome to download. More is coming soon so leave kind feedback and follow me! Hopefully, this gives you ideas on how to build your mini-lessons and how to find good mentor texts. If you haven't read any of Kevin Henkes books you are missing out!