Let's Get Shopping!

Shh!  If you must talk, 

be as quiet as a mouse.

Dear 'ole hubby is sound asleep while I burn the midnight oil preparing for a 

site-wide sale at TPT!

The doors open at midnight 

so I've got to be ready!

Graphic by Amy Lemons

Here's a little sample of products that will be available 

from my own store...

This product is a fun display for tracking those AR points!

I expect even the most reluctant readers 

will want to be BEASTS!

Or...

maybe you're in need of writing prompts?

My own little friends love these to pieces!

Perhaps...

you want to get a head start on a science unit perfectly suited 

for the month of October?

This product is available, too!

It's a number sense game my own friends will enjoy as early as...

NEXT WEEK!  

I'll also have a new behavioral management product in my store.

It's called

and its theme is one in which most children can identify.

In fact... my own sweet teenager understands this management system very well, in fact.  She saw the 

"make bad choices - get in trouble" 

theory unfold before her very eyes.  

That's because she happened to be with me when Mr. New Recruit Trooper felt the need to reward me with a second ticket 

in less than one month!

I mean, REALLY?!

It saddens me to say 

we're on a first name basis now.

He didn't try to understand, 

nor was he concerned,

that it was a Friday afternoon and I was able to leave school before 6:00 that night! 

He clearly didn't care either that I had just consumed two candy bars and one soda!  

I tried to explain that the windows were down, the wind was in my hair, and my baby girl and I were singing 

White Wedding Day 

at the tops of our lungs!

I'm thinking all that caffeine must have gone straight to my foot, 

but it no longer matters.

Mr. New Recruit Trooper wasn't receptive to anything I said and eventually...

I just stopped talking altogether.

I'm thinking that's probably 

what I should do now.

Anyway... lots of my products are on sale tomorrow and Monday!

Use the code BTS13 to receive an additional savings!

Click HERE to go to my store!

 

It's All About Me!

Today I'm linkin' up with 

Blog Hoppin' 

for Teacher Week 2013.

 

Today is Monday and this day is all about Me!

 

 

 I'm rather embarrassed to list 10 random facts about myself, but after reading about other people I'm finding that I'm pretty much like everyone else.

That's comforting in a weird sort of way.

Anyway, here goes...

1. I'm married to this man and we just celebrated our 21st anniversary.  He finds it so funny that I stalked him in church (and I actually did!).   This was only because he had a lovely bald head and I seem to be attracted to that feature.  

2.  We have two children.  Our son is 19 and attending a local junior college.

3.  Our daughter will begin her senior year in one week.  

My how time flies.

 4.   We also share our home with these two lovely ladies...

 Callie

and Priscilla.  

Our pups absolutely enrich our lives and 

I'm so pleased our God thought to create them!

5.  I love to redeem coupons and

6.  watch scary movies!  Do any of you remember this one?

I've probably seen it in excess of 50 times.  

Really!

7.  I grew up with this lady and now own all the CD's in the Bewitched series.

I always thought she was so lovely.

8. I collect antiques and I especially love rooster stuff.

9.  This silly game is my new favorite.  My daughter and I are seriously addicted. 

and finally... 

10.  I LOVE to laugh!  

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

A Liebster Award? Really?

Oh, my goodness! 
You cannot BEGIN to imagine my surprise when I was notified by 
Jessica at

Wild About Firsties 
 and
Sharon at 
Animal Crackers and Apple Juice

that I was nominated for the Liebster Award! 
Thank you Jessica and Sharon for thinking of me!

Apparently, this recognition is given to newbie bloggers.  

(I'm currently in the "Less Than 200 100 25 Followers" club.) 

In other words, it's a fancy way to get your blog noticed by others and BOY has it given me the kick in the pants I was needing. 
Who knew?!

Here are the housekeeping procedures that were outlined for me.

*  I must post 11 random things about myself.

*     I must answer the questions she sent.

*  I've gotta select another blog or two, each with less than 200 followers and send them questions as well.

*  I cannot "tag" her back, however I can link back to her post so she can learn more about me and the others she nominated as well.  

First, I'll respond with several random things you didn't want to know about me...

1.  When I was a child/teenager, my dad was the warden of a major penal institution.  I've shared many meals, board games and church services with inmates.  
2.  I once "crashed" a Sunday School chili supper to meet the man of my dreams.
3.  I'm a closet meteorologist.
4.  I've had the same best friend for 40 years.
5.  I love exploring caves.
6.  When I retire I'm going to drive an 18 wheeler across the country.
7.  I'm the youngest of 3 girls.
8.  My "clubhouse" as a child was an abandoned guard tower.
9.  I once owned 2 goats.
10.  I so adored my second grade teacher that I corresponded with her until after I graduated from college.
11.  And finally... I don't like to be LATE!

Now to respond to the questions that were sent to me...
1.  How long have you been teaching?  I'll begin my 24th year next week.  Twenty two have been in first grade.
2.  Who is your favorite author?  Cynthia Rylant 
3.  What is your favorite subject to teach?  I enjoy reading and writing equally as much.
4.  Do you have a special talent?  I'm a scrapbooking BEAST.
5.  What do you do when you're not teaching?  I can answer that question with one word... laundry.
6.  What is your favorite movie?  Actually, I have two.  Doctor Zhivago and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.
7.  How long have you been blogging?  Since August of last year.
8.  What websites do you visit most often?  Other than a multitude of school related blogs, I visit Awkward Family Photos and Dear Abby daily.
9.  Do you have children of your own?  Yes.  I have a 19 year old son and a 17 year old daughter.  They are both hysterically funny and I thoroughly enjoy spending time with them.
10. If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?  Without a moment's hesitation, I would go to Alaska!

Now I'd like to recognize Kelly over at The Plaid Apple
and Mrs. Kamerer at Busy Bees in First.

Ladies, your Liebster Award is waiting!

Be sure to tell us 11 random facts about yourself and answer the same questions asked of me.

Then, link back to this post so I can learn more about you!

 

Note:  Blogger is a bit wonky today.  It's for that reason that random words are underlined and highlighted in this post. 

Strange, I know.

Back to School Linky Party... For Real!

I've survived an exhausting week of professional development stuff. 

You're nodding your head about now because 

you've suffered through 

some of those days, too.

Meetings in the morning. 

Meetings in the afternoon.

Conference calls at bedtime.

Nah... not really! 

It wasn't as terrible as all that... 

but close!

Sadly, next week is scheduled 

for more of the same.

To prepare, I'll need to triple my daily consumption of caffeine  and double those multi-vitamins.

At least.

In any case, I'm going to push through the exhaustion and 

link up with the sweet girls over at

Covered in Glitter and Glue  and  

Adventures of Ms. Smith 

for one of the sweetest linky parties!

 Let me just say I was blessed to have been paired with the sweet Carolyn over at 

Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together.

If she didn't live so doggone 

(that's a southern synonym for dag-nabbit)

far away in New York I'm sure 

we would be best friends right about now.

Honestly!

Days later... look what the mailman 

(in this case, a lady) 

 brought to my door!

It's always a happy day when a beautiful package like this arrives at my house.

I mean, the bus clipart was so FUN!

Only a teacher would have thought of that!

 

My eyes were fixed on this delicious surprise as I shook my package a little to the left and 

I shook it a little to the right and 

I might even have danced just a bit...

 only after 

I made certain no one was looking.

Carolyn took the time to individually wrap all my goodies so I would not be overwhelmed by  such a vision of loveliness.

 And then I saw this.

(cue the angelic choirs)

This honestly rocked my world!

I have never received anything, and I mean anything as 

delicious as THIS.

Carolyn, your imagination knows no boundaries!

After I read the note and took the photo I might have embarrassed myself just a wee bit when I was forced to snatch a candy bar away from one teenage child and pried the peppermint patty out of the fingers of the other teenager. 

I mean... really?

What made them think this was for the family?

Silly children.

Rest assured,I did apologize to my kiddos before I dove right in to unwrap each delicious package.

They were allowed to watch - from a reasonable distance, of course.

My new best friend sent me 

the cutest notepad 

(I write LOTS of lists),  

a collection of dice for centers, 

a ladybug finger puppet 

(perfect for the story 

"The Grouchy Ladybug"),  

stickers, 

and more chocolate 

(like I could ever have too much?).

There were pencils and pens, too.  

Lovely writing utensils.

(How did she know I hoard these things?)

 

Carolyn even took the time to write a 

sweet little message for each prize.

Truly, y'all.  

I've been blessed!

Thank you again and again, Carolyn!

I'm so pleased to have had the opportunity 

to have made your acquaintance!

I can't wait to participate again next year!

 

It's August!

It's August, people! 

I happen to be a lover of all things August not only because it's my birthday month, but I also get to shop for school supplies! 

And who doesn't love to do that?

Anyway... I'm linking up with Farley's Oh, Boy Fourth Grade 

for this month's "Currently".

Here we go...

1.  Shhh!  One teenager is still in the bed and the other is babysitting.  My darling hubs is working out and I'm all alone. 

I believe that last happened in 1987 and I couldn't be happier to experience it again.

2.  My daughter and a friend both convinced me to try Hay Day this summer and that probably wasn't a good thing.  

It's absolutely addictive... in a good way, I guess.

3.  The patio door still needs a coat of paint.  I first recognized that fact in June and it's yet to be done - two months later.

4.  I am more productive when my house is clean - not that it's nasty, mind you.  Although a little dusting would go a long way.

5.  I've got to get motivated to go dust!

6.  I've recently seen some of the cutest door decorations on FB and I think I'd like to have one for my classroom door.  Maybe that would make a good birthday gift for myself...

Plus, one coke a day - that's the limit and

finally...

Hello.  My name is Leslie and I hoard pencils.  

Isn't admission the first step in the healing process?