HUGE Giveaway & Sunday Social

Lynda over at Curls and a Smile is having a huge.......I mean HUGE giveaway! Head on over and see what its all about!!!

I'm linking up with Neely and Ashley this week for Sunday Social!

1. What is your dream job?

My dream job was always to work with children. Which I do now!! If I could take my career in a different direction it would be to open a school for those hard to teach boys. The classrooms would be setup for boys to learn! 

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time?

At first I would spend time with family and friends! Take a few vacations ect.... but then I would get bored and open my school for boys!!

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I looked through my "school box" and it was always a teacher. I didn't start out in that direction  but it is where I ended up!

4. What piece of career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?

Follow your heart,

5. What are your biggest pet peeves in life, blogging, or at work?

life: if you want something done right your have to do it yourself!
blogging: the comment verification thingy.....it drives me nuts! If you're afraid of spam, just check your comments pg. or select the option that requires you to OK all comments before they are posted!


6. What are your biggest fears?

My biggest fears are spiders & snakes!!!

Next week's questions

This week's questions are all about fall! Neely loooooves fall weather!

1. What is your favorite fall activity?

2. Do you follow a football team? If so which one and why?

3. What is something fun about fall in your area?

4. What are your favorite fall outfit staples?

5. What things are you looking forward to most about this coming fall season?

6. What is your favorite fall holiday? Traditions?

Hope y'all have a great Sunday!

Would you like $25 to Spend in your Classroom??

Teacher's Notebook is ALL about the teachers it was created for and here is another perfect example:

Steve and Debbie Esemplare have started a campaign to raise $10,000 for teachers like you and me. 

The goal of the campaign is to raise $10,000 from corporate sponsors and parents that will be used to give away $25 Gift Certificates to Teachers Notebook members starting on Thursday August 9, 2012. The campaign will be run on the crowd-funding site IndieGoGo.com and can be viewed here.
Every dollar contributed will be converted into Gift Certificates that can be used to purchase items from Teacher's Notebook shops. It is a win-win for everyone. Members get $25 to spend and the shops get $25 in sales. If more than $10,000 is contributed, which we know is possible, a sweepstakes will be run giving away $5,000 per day in Gift Certificates everyday until all the contributions are distributed to members.

Are you a Teacher's Notebook member?

If not, go here to sign up.  It's FREE (of course!). 

You will want to be a member because only members will be benefiting from the following during this Back to School Bonanza:

• Teacher's Notebook Product Giveaways
• Teacher's Notebook exclusive back to school sales
• AND $25 gift certificates for you to get products to get your year off to a super start
•  (divide $25 into $10,000 and you'll see your chances are pretty GRAND)!

They need your help to make sure educators have access to the educational resources that they need for back to school as well as for the school year. Additional educational resources enables educators to better reach the varied academic levels of their students. Educators constantly strive to reach students above and below their grade level. Additional resources will help students be actively engaged and more likely to reach their fullest potential!
Please help spread the word by visiting the fund-raising site and sharing it everywhere. Share it on Facebook, your blogs, your Pinterest boards and Twitter. The more people view the campaign, the more contributions will be made and the more gift certificates can be given away to educators.

   

Friday Letters

I'm linking up with  Ashley over at Adventures of Newlyweds for Friday Letters! You should too!!!

Dear Kinder's & Firsties, Thank you for making our first week of summer school a success! You guys rock! Dear Father-in-Law, Thank you for letting us clean out your old pop-up camper! Dear Friday, Thank you for arriving quickly! Dear Summer, Why did you come to an end so quickly! Dear Dewey (dog), Thank you for always bothering your daddy to let you out 100 times a day. Dear Olympics, I can't wait to watch you! GO Micheal Phelps! Dear Rain Showers, My Garden LOVES you!!

It's ok...... and blogger award

Thank you Mrs. T. ( My kindergarten teacher's name was Mrs. T and she was the best!!!) over at Teaching Mrs. T for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award!

Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you. Check!

2. Include a link to their blog. Check!

3. Include the Award image in your post. Check! 

4. Give seven random facts about yourself. Check

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award. (ALMOST CHECK)

6. When nominating include a link to their blog. Check!

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated. Check!

Let's see 7 random things about me.............hmmmmmmm :-)

1. My favorite color is purple!

2. My favorite show is "Deadliest Catch."

3. I have 2 dogs, 2 birds, a painted turtle and 3 fish tanks!

4. I LOVE coffee!!

5. My favorite dinner meal is Taco's!

6. I hate spiders! (shivers)

7. I love to fish and spend time with my family out on the water!

Now for the nominee's of the Versatile Blogger Award:

A New Teacher's Journey

Every New Beginning Blog

Kroger's Kindergarten

Annie @ Kindergarten at Heart

Mrs. Orman's Classroom

2nd Grade Pig Pen

A Turn to Learn

Buggy in Kindergarten

Mrs. Davis over at Carried Away In Kindergarten

Dye's Delights in Teaching

Encouraging Patience

First in Maine

It's Grow Time

It's ok...............

....that it has rained off and on for most of the day here in Michigan because my tomato plants LOVE it!!

....that I put extra hours in at work that I don't get paid for. The kids LOVE the games and activities I plan for them. 

.....that I get to sleep in tomorrow while my husband heads off to work. 

....that I have a TON of laundry to do, but I don't want to do it! I need a laundry fairy!

......that I love coffee and drink WAY to much of it!

.....that I enjoyed the week away when my son went to boy scout camp!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!!!! 

Here is what I'm Loving this week.................

I'm loving being back in the classroom. Summer School started this week! 

I'm loving having my son home from camp! He has a blast! It is nice when he goes away for a week but even better when he comes home. 

I'm loving pasta salad! My husband works in a hot nasty car plant so when it is 90+ out he isn't a big fan of hot dinners. One of our fav's is pasta salad. 

• 1-box tri-colored pasta. (cook according to al'dente directions)
• 1- green pepper (diced)
• 1- red pepper (diced)
• 1- orange pepper (diced)
• 1- med. cucumber (diced)
• 1- cup cherry tomatoes
• green onions or red onion to taste
• 1 bottle Newan's Own-Family Recipe Italian Dressing
• 1/2 bottle McCormick's Salad Supreme Seasoning

You can add cheese, pepperoni, or chicken to it as well. 

I'm loving Pinterest! I have found so many great games ect..... for summer school. 

I'm loving Target! They have TONS of great teacher stuff in dollar bins!

I'm loving that I finally hit 50 followers!! Thank's everyone!

Tell me more, tell me more!!! {A Linky Party}

Amy Lemons is having linky parrrrr-tay so we can all share a little about ourselves outside of our teaching world! Since I'm still new to blogging I thought I would share some of my quirks................please no judging my little quirks.

1. I love my family!! Family is the most important thing in my little world. My mom.......is my best friend and I love her dearly! My dad...I miss him with all my heart but we will meet again at the pearly gates! My son.......although he tests my patients every day I love him to the moon and back!  My hubby..... He is my best friend, we have been married for almost 2 years, been together for 5 years but long time friends since 1998. 

2. I love my furbabies.....Dewey(left) & Fletcher(right)! They are both 4 years old. We adopted them about a year apart. We work with a local rescue and foster dogs until they find their forever home. 

 

3. I LOVE coffee!! Dunkin Donuts is my fav!

4. I have a hard time shutting my brain off at night. I can fall asleep right away but there are many nights where I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. TOO many thoughts going on in my head!

5. I did choir for 5 years through middle school (2) and high school (3). I don't sing for anyone but kids! They are non-judgmental. 

6. I took the 5 year plan on graduating high school. My parents  (Love them dearly) were not very encouraging through school. Neither of them graduated high school or college. 

7. When I started college I was going to be a nurse. I changed my major after having a horrible Anatomy & Physiology 2 Teacher. I am glad I changed into education. It was the best decision!! 

8. My first car was a  1981Chevrolet Chevette!

                                                                      

9. I am a U of M fan!! Go Blue!

                                                                       

10. I hate- ketchup, mayo, & mustard! 

11. I love.................Deadliest Catch!

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop!

But first! In order to join you have to answer a few questions about yourself.

1.)  What state are you in?
Michigan

2.)  What is your current teaching position?
I have been teaching Math & Literacy Intervention for 2 years!

3.)  What is your teaching experience??
I have teaching experience from infant-middle school aged kids. I have taught summer camp, lit & math intervention. Student taught in 1st and 3rd grades. I also subbed for several years while going to college!!

4.)  When did you start blogging?
I blog stalked for a LONG time but I officially started my own blog in May 2012!

5.)  Share some blogging tips or a resource.
-Leave comments on other blogs to tell them how much you appreciate their blogs!
-Gaining followers takes time!

-Be yourself! Let people get to know you :-) I post everything within reason on here. I have told my dear hubby and son that nothing they do or say is off limits!!! 

Off to hop and through and meet some new bloggy friends!
This is a Blog Hop!

It's ok...................I think!

It's time for "It's ok" hosted by Neely and Amber! and Tracey for Thankful Thursday!

It's ok.................

--that I don't have much of my lesson planning done for Summer School that starts Monday!

--that I will spend the majority of the weekend catching up!

--that I spent 3 weeks doing NOTHING but relaxing and enjoying vacation!

--that I polished off a 1/2 of bottle of wine with dinner! 

--that I enjoyed the WHOLE week at home by myself while my son was at boy scout camp!

I'm thankful........

--that my co-worker worked her magic today with our summer school schedule while I was talking to our boss. I don't think I could have done it! I was sooooo frustrated as it was!

--that I am able to work for the next 5 weeks to bridge the summer money gap. We get paid hourly so they have to pay us for hours worked we can't bank the money to get a pay check through the summer. 

--that my son will be home on Saturday.......I miss him!

--that we have had 2 great camping trips so far this summer. We have one more next month.....we are going to Pennsylvania-white water rafting!

The 411 about me!!!

The BLOGGER 411; all you need to know about ME!

I'm linking up with Becky over at "From Mrs. to Mama"  for her blogger 411! 

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?

I started out as a blog stalker up until may ish when I started a blog of my own. I started blogging to find ideas for math and literacy intervention. 

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?

I went to a local community college and graduated with a Associates in Early Childhood Development. Then I was on a roll so I started my Undergrad at Baker College Auburn Hills, MI. In June of 2010 I received my Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education-Language Arts (BX) and Early Childhood Education (ZA).

3. Where have you traveled?

 All my of Travel has been in the United States and Canada. I have been to Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Illinois.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?

I would definitely buy a vacation for my family to take together. Then I would buy a house with property in Northern Michigan on a lake! Then the sky's the limit from there. 

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

1. Bad Drivers.
2. People who are late.
3. People who are fake.

6. What is your favorite movie?

Hmmmmm this week is Magic Mike :-)

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?

I prefer coke, miller lite, coors lite and my new fav is 45 North's Late Harvest Riesling. 

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?

Shopping for something other than groceries!

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?

I would have to say Target! I can shop for anyone in my family there!

10. What day would you love to relive again?

I would have to say our wedding day! It went by so fast!

11. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?

My first job was at BK when I was 14. Then I was a dishwasher, waitress and worked in a tanning salon. My 1st Career was in Retail/ Restaurant Mgmt.  Then I went into Education. 

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

I would take an Alaskan Cruise! Yes I could go somewhere warm!

13. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you. 

14. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?

Having my forever home in a classroom to call my own. 

Social Sunday w/Ashley!

I have decided to hook up with Ashley over at Ashley's Carnival Ride for Social Sunday! This weeks questions are ALL about vacations!

1. What is the best trip you've ever been on? I would have to say Niagara Falls. It was a LONG time ago but it was a great trip! 

View from our hotel room!

My sons favorite part of the trip was the Bird Kingdom. He enjoyed feeding the Lorikeet birds!

2. What is your best idea for a girls weekend trip?

Hmmm I would have to say Wine Tasting in the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan! Two of my fav's are....

&

3. What is your best idea for a couples trip?

I could use the Wineries tours here too. We had a blast with the couple we went with! 4. What is the best vacation on the cheap?
I would have to say camping!! We typically spend 3-4 weeks of our summer camping somewhere in Michigan. 
5. What is the place you most want to visit?
I have two.....
Europe 
Alaska
6. What are your vacation necessities?

I have packing lists for each type of vacation that we take. But here are a few..........

Camera

Memory Cards

Camera Batteries

Tripod/Monopod

Cell Phone

Great books to read!

What do you like to pack? What can you not leave without? 

Where have you been?

Giveaway! & More

Jenna at Yours Truly is hosting a giveaway!

The grand prize??

An e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner and a $15 Target giftcard.

Check it out! And even if you don't enter, check out her blog anyway, just because!!

************************************************************************

Well my son goes to boyscout camp this week and hubby and I get a WHOLE week kidless. I am always happy sad when he goes. He is growing up so fast. Before I know it he will be a teenager!

We spent the last week camping in Gaylord, MI at Otsego Lk State Park. It was a blast! I definitely didn't want to come home. It's beautiful up there and so peaceful up north. Gaylord is about 1 hour everywhere up north that is fun to go!

I found these at Target yesterday! I can't wait to make them for Made It Monday! I have been waiting patiently for them to come into the dollar bins at Target all summer! I found this cute picture from Sister Teachers on Pinterest !

Have a great Sunday! We have a graduation party today and I get to go to Lakeshore Learning today to pick up some stuff that I ordered! 

Friday Letters!

Love Ashley's Friday Letter's! Head on over and link up!!!

Dear Friday, In many ways you are wonderful, but today I despise you because we had to come home from vacation.

Dear Vacation, Why did you have to end so soon?

Dear Otsego Lake (Gaylord, MI), You are beautiful and we enjoyed our time with you this week. 

Dear Otsego Lake State Park,  I will miss you so. See you again next year, this time for a longer stay!

Dear Husband, Thank you for working your butt off today while I did some running for my mom.

Dear Nathan (son), I am glad you are going to Boy Scout Camp, but I will miss you while you are gone. 

Dear Club Pet Too, Thank you for taking such good care of our fur-babies while we were camping!

Dear Leelanau Peninsula, Thank you for having some amazing wineries! I came home with a new case of wine and I can't wait to drink them all! 

What are you thankful for?

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm hooking up with Jaime over at Little Daisy May for her What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm Loving that we are camping! We are at Otsego State Park in Gaylord, MI.

I'm Loving that the HOT weather has finially broke and we can enjoy our camping trip. 

I'm Loving that tomorrow we are going on a Winery Tour/Run  in Traverse City. 

I'm Loving our mini-trip to Petosky to hang on the beach!

I'm Loving The Traverse City Cherry Festival. 

Friday Letters

I am linking up with Ashley over at Adventures of Newlyweds! With something called Friday Letters!

Dear Chrysler Corp, Thank you for giving hubby and I a chance to go out on a date. The DSO Symphony of Brands had TONS of good food and music!

Dear Summer School, How dare you come up so fast upon me. I feel so unprepared!

Dear Mother Nature,  I love you so, except when it's nasty muggy at 7:30 a.m. I will be glad when they weather breaks for camping next week. 

Dear Laundry Fairy, Will you please visit my house soon? My laundry is all washed I just HATE to put it away! 

Dear Swimming Pool, Thank you finally clearing up! You are so clear and inviting now. Please stay that way while we are on vacation.

Dear Dewey & Fletcher (our furbabies), Please forgive us as we drop you off at Daycare for a week. We love you so but we can't take you on every camping trip! 

Dear 4th of July, Thank you for being on Wednesday this year! I gave us two weekends for parties!

Dear Kroger,  Thank you for being so patient and kind as they boy scouts from troop 308 turned in $400 from their bottle and can drive for new tents. 

Dear Caribou Coffee Barista, Thank you for making the best White Chocolate Frappcino's. 

Dear A/C, Why do you work so well downstairs but lousy upstairs? It's a 10 deg difference!

Dear Blog Friends, Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you guys! Have a great weekend!

Do you have any "letters" you'd like to write this week? Let's hear 'em!

International Blog Hop Day! TBA

What being a teacher means to me...........

I started teaching as a 2nd career. All through school I had always wanted to be a teacher but after graduation things didn't work out that way. I had a wonderful job in retail/food-service mgmt. It wasn't until I had my own son that they opportunity came to go to school and get a degree. I started with Early Childhood Education at the Community College level then went on to get my Bachelors in Elementary Education.

To be a teacher takes a special kind of person. We put the needs of our students before our own. We are a mother, father, nurse, friend, psychologist, life coach, book keeper, motivational speaker, manager, tie breaker,secretary and the list goes on............. We spend tons of our own money to make sure that our classrooms are just right for our students. We purchase school supplies so that everyone will have what they need. We put in hours before and after school. We create a love for learning. Nurture their social and emotional development. We are a positive influence in their lives. We create a consistent positive relationship with them guiding them to make the right decisions. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

This is what I am loving today!!

And since all the pictures are from Pinterest I'm hooking up with Michelle over at The Vintage Apple!

I'm loving that today is the 4th of July! We are hang out at home and cooking steaks on the grill! Here are some of my fav's for 4th of July!

Here are some of my favorite things on pinterest that I found for July 4th!

Aren't these just the cutest?!?!

Chocolate dipped pretzels are super easy!

Who doesn't like chocolate sipped strawberries? YUM!!

I'm Loving these shoes!

I'm loving these bracelets!

I'm loving this outfit...... Very casual and laid back! 

I'm Loving my hubby and son!

I'm Loving "Magic Mike" with Matthew McConaughey & Channing Tatum

What are YOU loving today?

Link up and let us know!

Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!