26 October, 2013

2 weeks, fever, and I was a minion

OK I have been missing 
2 weeks since my last blog
but 
my life has been cray cray
ONE - I had a little sickie on my hands
TWO- we had a field trip
THREE - Fall Festival
FOUR - baby shower hosting
well instead of listing I have pics...







we did the bestest we could... our math room is just a classroom with lots of shelving and lots of math schtuff and most of the time it is not replaced nicely
I never do that... NEVER!!! so as you can see draping is IS WAS needed!!!

we didn't want the traditional cake shower sooooooooo popcorn, soda pop, and blow pops



seriously... I was going through my pics to add to this post and
AHHHHHH I got scared...
these pics popped up...
THIS IS MY COMPUTER...
he has his own...
it is not the fact that he was on MY laptop... but he did that...
and well...
I don't share very well :)



I thought this was beautiful!!! they are breakfast radishes!!!




this bakery is owned by the wife of the LONE RANGER...
it is so neat inside... and really everything was DEEEE LISH

he took a nap after FM and woke up with a really high fever...
bless his heart

I will post pics next week of some of the things they have added...
like Pepto for the vampires because they probably get tummy aches from eating blood
LOL

Nefertiti is a spider that was sent into space...
this little girl wanted to use Nefertiti
I couldn't say NO... I had no idea a spider was sent into space





Poor Bub was sick for almost a week...
he took big long naps everyday...
it is tough being a spunky 5 year old with a fever tummy runny nose cough virus

none of the following are from my kiddos... our librarian does this project as a school wide thing...
and then at carnival people vote for their favorite... it is 50 cents to vote and it is a HUGE fundraiser for her...
this is a required project for 4th and 5th BUT is optional for the rest
BUT tons of kiddo do it... because they know it helps the library
FUN FUN FUN


my kiddos present their project on Halloween... they have to turn in their pumpkins first to the library for the contest and then they will present to the class on the 31st and they can dress up in a coordinating costume...
it is so fun.. I will have pics next week!!!

this is me and hubs and the photobomber was my buddy and fellow 4th grade teacher Shelley
she was the photographer for the night!!!

did I mention Hubs made my costume....
yep and he made his too... he is crafty like that...
crafty in a boy way :)

thank goodness Bub was feeling better so he could come to the carnival



OK so that does it...
last night was the carnival so I have completely caught you up
and now I must rest...
I am hurting like cray from wearing that costume
and not to mention I lost like 50 pounds of water wt. wearing that thing...
but really I have laundry and lesson plans to get done!!!
but before I go...
I forgot to tell you about....
our field trip...
my class was in the next to last row...
at the symphony...
I had two boys sitting by me and I moved 2 little girls behind us to the last row
because they couldn't see because of an adult sitting in front of them...
soooooo
the conductor tells us that we have to be super quiet for the next song...
and so we are all sooooo sooooo quiet and then
I hear a TOOT...
not a horn toot
a tooty fart toot
and it came from behind me
not my behind...
but behind me
the 2 boys looked at me
we knew it wasn't us
and then we looked behind us
REMEMBER it is the QUIET SONG
and the 2 girls are pointing at each other and shaking their head NO NO NO
the boys and I look at each other and BUST out in the best
MIME laughing you can imagine...
we were so good not to make a sound...
I was crying and I am pretty sure I peed a little...
it was hilarious...
we couldn't look at each other the rest of the performance...
and that was the longest symphony ever
and the best one yet!!!!
ok so that totally catches you up...
tooties and all

so toodles for now!!!

12 October, 2013

Five Things and a SALE

Where did this week go...
I mean seriously...
I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for....

alright let's get this partay started....

1- Last weekend we had a trip to the pumpkin patch... we go there every year...
and this year I am pretty sure their prices went up.... 
Bub picked a big pumpkin for our front porch (like he does every year) and 
AND AND AND it was like 65 buckaroos... problem was
we had 60 with us 
AND
we still had a wagon full of pumpkins to get... AHHHHH so anywho...
we had to adjust our pumpkin selecting
we went ahead and bought our other pumpkins and had like 
40 dollars left...
 and then after asking for some help because 
really their pricing chart was a TAD bit confusing...
and I needed a BIG pumpkin for my porch...
and so after asking for help
a little old lady and a young girl helped me find several pumpkins that would fit into my 40 dollar range...
and after a few selections by them and then they decided oh no those are NOT 40 dollar pumpkins 
(they were like 30 dollar pumpkins)
so after they did that like 3 times....
I ended up with our original BIG pumpkin... for $40
WHY? because their pricing chart confused them too...




sorry no pic of our super huge pumpkin... 
I could go to the front porch and take a pic real quick... ok
you convinced me...
PLEASE HOLD!!!
*******************Holding********************
ok I am back...
now I have to load my pics into google....
*********************loading*******************
and here ya go....



 here is part of my front porch....
don't ask to see the whole thing....
I haven't swept it in over a week and well the answer is not today
anyways.....the big guy is on the end...
the star one is a fake one from TJ Maxx
that lights up

did you see this little guy was in the top pic???
posing for the blog...
little green lizard... thanks for making me smile
and here is the PUMPKIN!!!
drum rollllllllllll
I LOVE HER!!!!

number 2....
my little morning helpers...
overheard me tell someone it was going to be my anniversary ....
so they got to school extra early and decorated my room....
THO SWEET!!!
made my day!!! 

number 3
yes it was my anniversary...
we have been married 14 years
together for 20
he got me some fab sunnies....
I LOVE HIM!!!


number 4
we had our Thunder Cake Author Celebration...
I am so proud of my kiddos writing... 
they worked very hard to get to their final publishing!!!
we had to celebrate with some 
THUNDER CAKE
if you recognize this cake...
don't you say a word...
they think I made it...
I DID add the strawberries!!!
and I put it on a real plate...
he he he



if you are curious about what we wrote about...
we wrote about what scares us
and now for my self promotion...
we used my 
click on the pic to head on over and 
and and and 
it is on sale right now...

number 5

I was going to tell you about how I have been RUNNING
and show you some pics like this....
 1/2 mile in
 3/4 mile in
 mile in (fastest mile yet) and I was pushing bub
and trying to take a pic and stick out my tongue...
not easy
over a mile and in my driveway... I am DUNNO


BUT I thought 
NUMBER 5
should be this....
http://simplyskilledinsecond.blogspot.com thanks for the cute sale poster!!!


TpT is RUNNING 
a flash sale....
 that running is WAY more exciting 
and I have decided to put my ENTIRE store at 20% off
so use the code and get a good deal!!!


ok if you are like me...
you just want to get off of here and SHOP SHOP SHOP
go ahead do it... because I am!!! :)
toodles

09 October, 2013

Dixon Ticonderoga and the winner is.....

SO I was contacted by DIXON TICONDEROGA
right when school started to do a review for them!!!
AGAIN!!!

yeppers...
I am one lucky ducky to get to review their amazingness
AGAIN!!!
and you know my love of DIXON TICONDEROGA!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE

THANKS A MILLION for having me review again...
I got a box full of goodies and have been 
making and decorating and coloring all kinds of SCHTUFF ever since
I have been having so much fun.... 

one thing they asked me to do is compare their PRANG products to the other products out there
SO I DID....
first let's look at the PRANG MARKERS....


since my review last year....
I ONLY USE 
PRANG markers...

their colors are true to their name and they don't feather or bleed like the other markers out there


 HERE is my comparison chart....
the TOP ROW is DIXON TICONDEROGA Prang Markers
the next row is a brand very familiar to teachers everywhere
and the last is..... a generic store brand

OK if you know me....
you know I will give you my honest opinion... so here it goes....
 I was really shocked that the 2nd row was by far not my favorite...
I mean come on .... look at the purples...
the TOP row and bottom row are by far... purplier
and look at the greens...
and the blues...
IMO the PRANG is more true to the color... and richer
it was more apparent in the pic above...
BUT just because I know you want to see...
I have a close-up of the other colors too!!!

the tip of the Prang is also more durable...
it doesn't get wobbly ( you no-la what I mine-la)
like some others I have used OR used in this intense study!!!
prang marker tips are PERFECT

and I will tell you something else too...
I had these PRANG markers available at my interactive door for my kids to use... 
and they did.... 


so the top row is a USED marker sample...
and the other 2 rows were FRESH out of the pack... HMMMMMMM
and PRANG was still the winner
OK and because I love my markers so much....
I brought my PRANG markers home to work on this.....
NOTE* this is not done... I need to glue on some clipart... work in progress

 and I put in the middle row markers as replacements for the interactive door.....
my kids COMPLAINED and complained that they liked the other markers better...
soooooooo I had to take back the markers...



Another product I reviewed was the PRANG... colored pencils....
OK I love these so much I want to marry them....
K.I.S.S.I.N.G 
these colored pencils are like BUTTER!!!
smooth and delicious
and VIBRANT

and of course I have another comparison chart


I was sure to be very VERY fair in my coloring...
I went ---> this way.....
then <----- that way
and then ----> that way again...
so 3 swipes and
well do I need to explain... there is NO comparison...
NONE!!!!
BY FAR the PRANG colored pencils are HEAD of the CLASS
they are the first column....
second column was the common teacher used brand
and the last column is the generic store brand

WINNER WINNER chicken DINNER PRANG!!!!
plus
and this is a BIG PLUS
they come with silver and gold
SILVER & GOLD I tell ya
every good teacher needs a silver and gold colored pencil!!!
AND another plus...
which I think is SUPER CLEVER...
GENIUS!!!
is the PRANG colored pencils are triangular in shape...
and guess what....

 THEY DO NOT ROLL OFF YOUR DESK!!!!
holla....
what what...
GENIUS I tell ya



another genius idea... I didn't get these free but I bought all my fave store had...
but NEON Ticonderoga pencils are genius too!!!
PURE GENIUS
And I know you are on teacher supply LOVE overload...
so let me recap quickly...
Ticonderoga... contacted me to do a review
I said yes
I got a box of goodies
I played and colored...
my conclusion is....
the PRANG markers are da bomb
the PRANG colored pencils are champions
and DIXON TICONDEROGA is the BESTEST!!!
and last but not least.... I LOVE {puffy} heart love them!!!!
love them all!!!!