CURRENTLY September 2014

WHAT TIME IS IT????
that's right...
BUT before we get started...
I want to thank Megan from....

she is adorable... go check out her blog and see for yourself

alright alright alright...

let's do this...

I am in love 

LOVE

L.O.V.E with little campers...

i want one..

actually Hubs was going to get me one BUT it SOLD... insert super sad face

it was the perfect shade of turquoise 

and it was all shabby chic and OH JUST PERFECT

well it was missing the potty and shower... 

BUT other than that it was OH so PERFECT!!!

OK enough about the camper that was going to be mine...

somebody needed it more than me...

so what's going on...

listening - I am obsessed with BIG BROTHER...

I use to get Showtime just so I could watch the Big Brother feed...

now I am not so cray BUT I do love me some Nicole...

I really loved Donnie too... 

loving- who doesn't love a 3 day weekend... it has been productive and relaxing

and tomorrow I am going up to the school to hopefully get my stuff copied... fingers crossed

the copier is WORKING... I am not holding my breath!!!

thinking- Bub's birthday is coming up... FAST

I have to order his cake for the party and cookies for his class

for both he wants R2D2... he is my Hubs son... 

I puffy {heart} my nerds

wanting- do you remember I said my house flooded during the summer???

well we are still without baseboards and carpet and sheetrock in most of our rooms...

they are suppose to come next week to start getting us back together...

they want us to move into a hotel...

UMMMM NOPE that ain't gonna happen... 

they had agreed to do one room at a time or a couple at a time...

if you don't remember... ALL except one room in my house got damaged

I can't move into HOTEL... we have pets and a 5 year old and well let's face it...

I am a brat and I don't want to

OH and not to mention my roof is getting done next week too... thanks HAIL storm!!!

needing- NOTHING

I am truly blessed

I have a lot to be thankful for

3 trips-

you have to state your TOP 3 places you have never been BUT want to vaycay there one day

OK YEAH... I have NEVER EVER EVER been to VEGAS... am I like the only one???

I was going to head to the TpT conference this summer BUT... we had already planned a trip 

to see my Mississippi Grandma and I NEVER miss a trip to The Sipp to see my Gma

my goal is to go there next summer... we will see

I would love to see Paris... OOH LA LA

and ever since I did a report about the Galapagos Islands in 4th grade  I have wanted to go there...

BUT

I have read recent reports that tourism is killing its habitats.... soooo i will 

NOT contribute to that

that's depressing right???

ok so enough of how Farley would never go to her NUMBER one dream vacay because she would have major guilt that she somehow ruined the Galapagos... 

soooooo here is yours....

  soooo

I finally did it...

I made a RULES poster

even though I don't really have RULES RULES...

well I kinda do...

but they are EASY...

and I was tired of typing them over and over...

even though I had to type them again for the poster

HE HE 

sooooo here are the BUCK n RULES...

ha ha ha get it???

let's get this partay started!!! her we go...

An InLinkz Link-up

CURRENTLY (command + C)

If you have followed me for a long time...

or maybe even a little...
you know I do NOT hold my feelings back...
it is something I am constantly working on personally and socially!!!
I have made great strides in holding my tongue...
BUT sometimes there comes a time where the truth and I mean the HONEST truth needs to be told...
I told myself when I started this blog I was going to do it
just like me
I speak from the heart... ALWAYS
I tell the truth
I speak my mind...
however ghetto fabulous the lingo is or snarky my opinions might be... or lack of sentence structure...
it is me

I want you to read it like we were having a nice conversation at lunch...
the conversation we are about to have would probably be better suited with an adult beverage and some chips and queso and maybe some dessert... I am a stress eater
anyways
I have tried my darndest to keep to that...
I also have tried really really hard to keep it less LOOK AT MY PRODUCT
and more just sharing the knitty gritty with a splash of look at this and a monthly dose of a partay

I am not... a big seller...
and maybe that might surprise some of you...
I have been on TpT since 2009 and I just hit my first...
YES FIRST milestone... last week I think...
I am grateful for every single cent that comes our way and thank my lucky stars to be in the
TpT community
it has blessed us in many ways... including... helping me become a mamma to BUB!!!!

 I take great pride and joy in my products...
and I think that is why it upsets me so much when I see something that looks so similar to mine...

and so grab your beverage my friend...
it's a long one...

for several months now I have noticed an upswing in products similar to mine...
one in particular...
one I hold near and dear to my heart...
CURRENTLY
and let me be HONEST there have been several DIFFERENT people
SEVERAL!!!
I don't go trolling TpT looking for stray copy cats...
I just don't have time for that...
family comes first
about 99% of the time my loyal followers... aka blog buddies contact me and fill me in...
I really appreciate this... even though it leads me into a whirlwind of  sadness, madness, and confusion and let's face it betrayal
oh and I am a stress eater sooo... great....
it basically makes me a nervous wreck... seriously it does...
i have issues... i know

I usually contact the sellers and voice my concerns...
some graciously apologize and quickly remove their products... thank you
while others fight back and force me to take other avenues...

one of the ways they fight back
and this finger pointing has happened several times...
SEVERAL
is to inform me that CURRENTLY was originated in the scrapbooking (slash) smashbooking world...
and it is NOT my original idea...
in an effort to make their copying ok... they throw this my way...
here is my answer to that...  and to squash this excuse...

UMMM YEAH I KNOW that...
thanks...
here's proof!!!

after a little bit...
and after lots of reading up on the RIGHT WAY to give credit for PINS and what not...
I got a little nervous that I had done something wrong...
I was brand spanking new to the blogger world and
I thought maybe I had stolen something and was feeling very guilty...
I get like that...
if you really know me
you know I WORRY about everything... issues I tell ya
(might be why I am writing this)
so any who...
I wrote an email to my PINspiration, apologizing if I had done anything wrong, thanking her for her comment, and asking her about CURRENTLY

in a nutshell...
she wrote back stating that she was happy with what I had done
and thanked me for giving credit and a link and that she had no idea where the CURRENTLY trend had originated...
the basic format had been around for a long time, all over the scrapbooking world, and the questions change with different scrapbookers and there are many titles to it... and that was about it...

I also contacted other scrapbookers who had similar things to CURRENTLY
(because I am that kind of paranoid person and wanted to cover all of my bases)
and they too confirmed that they had no idea where it originated and based on the author or creator... it took on its own life and form... and to go for it...

so my nerves were settled and
that is how the CURRENTLY monthly link up was born...

in under a year I went from 63 partay goers to over 300...
I was floored...

it has been an absolute blessing to host this linky partay
I have met most if not all of my BESTEST blogging buddies through this linky...
I had NO IDEA it was going to take off like it did...
and after what 3 years... it is still going strong!!!!
BLESSED

if I ever got comments or questions about it...
I was COMPLETELY honest and told them exactly what I just explained to you guys...
not in so much detail BUT you get the point...

I have had mommy bloggers, fashion bloggers, foodie bloggers, and other blogging genres reach out to me asking if they could do a CURRENTLY link up partay for their niche...
and OF COURSE
just like my PINSPIRATION... I told them to make it their own... and GO FOR IT!!!

you can search all over the bloggy world and see all kinds of CURRENTLY LINKYS...
I think it is wonderful...
mine just happens to fit nicely into the teacher niche
and
even after its huge success I don't take FULL credit for the linky...

I was creating templates for my linky parties
and even had made a few for my kiddos...
eventually I was making one for the blog and one for my classroom
and so that is how
CURRENTLY for the CLASSROOM
came about...
my own classroom kiddos loved it so much... you guys loved linking up
and so I felt like I could create it for the classroom!!!
was I stepping on anybody's toes...
NO...
with hard work, lots of hours, LOTS OF HOURS, and dedication , and LOVE...
I had successfully created a nice place for my blog in the top of  the Teacher Linky Parties
(if I do say so myself... I also don't like to brag... which makes this post even harder)
and I felt I had every right to recreate that into a product on TpT
and
I DID!!!

 it is one of my best sellers and I am very proud of it...
and many of you guys have bought it and have shared your feelings and pics
thank you for that

then came....

 I had several technology teachers contact me about using my blank templates right off my
CURRENTLY LINKY PARTY
and then I also had a few scrapbooking peeps ask if they could use it with their classes
(talk a bout full circle)
and then I had homeschoolers contact me too...
of course I said GO FOR IT!!!
and then a nice technology teacher asked if I could bundle all of the templates together...
and she would buy it from me...
I sat down one weekend and went through all of my blank CURRENTLY blog templates and compiled all the kid friendly ones into one product...
I sent it to her for free *wink*
and thanked her for the idea...
I realize most will just go and copy straight from the blog...
but there are those that like the convenience of it

and THEN this SUMMER...
I did this...

several of my bloggy peeps and store followers
asked if I could do a non holiday specific CURRENTLY for the CLASSROOM
and so I made a 2nd edition
it is not holiday specific for the months BUT does have additional pages with specific holidays
I have to admit... I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ONE...
and so do my kiddos...

one of my kids has a love hate relationship with Tallulah the Tarantula's food... hilarious

and so this leads me back to where this post all started...

I have had my fair share of copy cats...
and you know what it hurts...
it really hurts...
I have shed many a tear over this...
I have issues

one of the RULES I try my hardest to live by... is to be honest and true.
and I carry that with me when I am creating a product for TpT...
and I guess I am dumb in thinking others should do the same


and if I am not mistaken...
one of the number one rules for TpT is to make sure your product is of your creation...
it shouldn't look similar to another product already posted...

and HONESTLY that is just nice!!!
it is just cordial!!!
it is THE RIGHT THING!!!!
we are all teachers struggling in a world and
teachers do not get the same respect as they did in the past

and when a TEACHER
a fellow comrade
creates a product that is so similar to your own
that your followers think that it is YOURS...
heck I even had to question if it was mine...
that is NOT RIGHT!!!

we shouldn't be tearing each other down
in order to make a buck...
and then pointing the finger with a backhanded excuse
in an effort to somehow tarnish another's character...

my character can stand on its own...
I have done nothing wrong to tarnish it...

I went through all the right avenues to get my Currently Linky up and going
and did the same when it came to the CURRENTLY products...
and I did it in good faith...
with honesty and integrity
which is something that cannot be said about blatant copiers
SQUASH
your excuses can be left at the door...
they are NOT welcomed here!!!!


toddles

DONUT miss this blog post... Meet the Teacher Night just got sweeter

The Mailbox contacted me about their
#BeTheDifference campaign
I was excited to join because I feel being a teacher we are making a difference
EVERY DAY

if you haven't done so...
you need to check out their #BETHEDIFFERENCE  FACEBOOK contest
CLICK HERE to check it out
be sure to enter too...
the contest ends Sept. 5th
go enter
but come back... please!!!

one way to #BeThe Difference is to set the tone right away
and what better way to do it right away than at Meet the Teacher Night
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Meet the Teacher Night
and this year I decided to do it up BIG!!!
Meet the Teacher Night can be very intimidating for some kids
so I decided to make it fun...
you could see the nervousness melt away when they walked into this...

I ordered these giant inflatable donuts (on Amazon) thinking they were going to be a bit smaller...
OK
a TON smaller...
my poor hubs had to run home and use an air compressor to blow them up!!!
They turned out amazing though!!!
Go Big or GO HOME... right
or everything is bigger in Texas!!!
whatev... they were awesome

I also had one at the sign in table outside my room...
my sign in sheet said... DONUT forget to sign in... ha ha ha get it...
sorry NO pics of that!!!

 You know every year...
there are some things you still need...
so I had a DONUTation section.
I made paper donuts that had the name of the items we might still need.
The parents took theses paper donuts with them... if they wanted to donate these special requests.
The paper trays and fabric were all purchased at Hob Lob.

This was my FAVORITE part...
I get all excited about it... just looking at it again!!!
Also on the table... were custom made DONUT cookies!!!
My girls from 2Tarts Bakery in New Braunfels, Texas hooked me up!!!
Attached to each cookie was a tag (read above)
The smiles these created made my day...
worth every penny!!!
I actually got this idea when we were visiting 2Tarts and saw there displays of custom sugar cookies...
one day they had a donut and BAM!!!
my brain was on donut overload...
even if you DONUT have a 2Tarts
 (unless you are in Central TX sadly you don't... they are a family owned business)
anyways... you could do this too...
you could attach it to powdered donuts or visit a donut shop and have yummy REAL donuts
or if you are a Martha Stewart Betty Crocker kinda gal... you could make them yourself!!!
AND AND AND
don't think you missed out if you ALREADY had your Meet the Teacher night...
this would be a super CUTE Open house theme too!!!

 I wanted to show you...
that these tags are in my TpT store...
and I was thinking about having a totally separate product too...
a DONUT themed Meet the Teacher or Open House  Pack...
what do you think???
anyways...
as of right now you can find the tags in my 2,4,6,8 Who Do We Appreciate Pack...
it has lots and lots of tags to choose from...
below is just a small sample :)

OK the COOL peeps
from The Mailbox
are being extra SWEET...
they want to give
TEN
yes
TEN
of my readers a GOLD MEMBERSHIP to Mailbox!!!
Have you seen what the GOLD MEMBERSHIP gets ya...
it is awesome... CLICK HERE to check it out!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

QR codes, BUCK talks... and winners

I wrote this last night
BUT I am coming back in and linking up to my really good bloggy bud.... TARA
for...

oh my what a first week back...
well it was really half a week
BUT good gravy it felt like an ENTIRE WEEK
my bootay is still hurting from sitting on those wooden chairs in the library

one of the things that keeps our PD fun
is this activity where we wrote 3 interesting facts about ourselves... BUT they had to be hard...
well I guess they did... mine are...
well every transition our RTI genius... really she is... she pulls a few facts  and reads them and we have to guess who it is...
SOOOO FUN!!!
we have learned a lot about each other
I really look forward to the facts being read...
I would tell you mine... THEY ARE GOOOOOOD... BUT
none of mine have been called out yet... NONE (insert sad face)

ONE of the best trainings so far was our QR code training
I really never made one or bothered with them...
I have a qr reader on my phone because of TARGET but never thought about using it in my class
YEAH YEAH YEAH... I have bought some qr code stuff on TpT... BUT I have never made any
during the training we were asked if any of us have used QR codes in the classroom..
I raised my hand because I have BOUGHT some off of TpT and I used them in the class...
well I was identified as an expert on QR codes...
WHAT???
note to self... be careful when you raise your hand

sooooo we were learning and doing and testing our qr codes... just simple things
words and pics and some youtube videos...
WHEN it happened...
we got homework
you have to make a QR code that will link to a video
that introduces you or your grade level to your new kiddos

I was NOT happy... WHAT???
I had a room to get ready... I have things to label.... I got schtuff to do PEOPLE... and
making a QR code that links to a video WAS NOT ONE I had on my list...
I looked... NOPE it wasn't on there... and I have a lonnnnnng list
BUT now it was...
and NOW I am glad it was...

I went home and for hours worked on an animated version of myself...
with my voice and all kinds of do dads...
I wasn't really that happy with it...
so tonight I changed it...
and I am Happy Happy Happy
HOLLA

WELLLLLLL... I decided to post it on my BRAND NEW board outside my classroom... here it is

 NOTE... this QR code is the old one... the new one
will link to the video below

I {PUFFY} heart LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!

I need to thank my good friend Charlotte for telling me about CHATTERPIX!!!
head on over to her blog and tell her HI!!!


if you look in the corner of the bulletin board... there is a frame
the frame has ribbon and clips... I have made a few more QR codes
they have pics of me and my fam and my favorite things...
and they will get clipped in the frame tomorrow...
I am kinda in LOVE with this board...
I can't wait for my kiddos to scan my QR codes... and
I can't wait to show you what else I have planned for Meet the Teacher Night...
I have gone a little CRAY... but I am super excited!!!


***** squirrel *********
if you saw my last post... I had a contest...
and we have winners...
I already sent the winners their prizes...
but I thought you might want to know...
so here the WINNERS ARE

a Rafflecopter giveaway


and well that is it...
back to the classroom tomorrow...
or should I say back to the wooden library chairs
more training... fingers crossed my facts get read tomorrow!!!

toodles

Made It on a Tuesday

I am so excited that I have some things to share for

Tara is one of my dearest Bloggy Friends and I am so HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
to link up with her FaBuLoUs linky partay!!!

So let's get started!!!

I always PINstress out that I need a cutey patootie Meet the Teacher goody
I mean
have you seen all of the cuteness out there???
The PINstress will swallow you up with guilt if your
Meet the Teacher night is anything less than a full out best show on earth...
So this year...
yes I will have pictures...
but this year...
I am doing donuts and milk theme...
I have made this tag to attach to a pack of donuts... or something else...
I have an idea... it will be ADORBS but we will see...
anywho
if you like this tag...
no worries I have you covered...

one of my favoritest and BESTEST products is my Appreciation TAGS!!!
It is filled with all kinds of TAGS
over 50 for parents, teachers, and students!!!
plus I give you ideas and some pics to help you out!!!
and and AND as I make new TAGS for myself... I add them to the product!!!
click on the pic to hop on over!!!

my door had the fringe already....
it is from last year...
but I needed something else to fill in the big ole blank space...
seriously this project was SUPER EASY and I have to say my phone pics don't do it justice...
it is SUPER CUTE...
you know it is cute when teachers
(working on their days off)
walk by and stop
and tell me how cute it is
*wink*

OH MY GOSH!!!!
I DID IT!!!
I have numerous requests and suggestions about my
ORIGINAL CURRENTLY for the CLASSROOM
and I listened...
so here it is...
CURRENTLY for the CLASSROOM 2nd Edition... click on the pic to get it
I have to say I am super proud of this one...
it covers ALL 12 months... just in case and it is not specific to UNITED STATES themes...
I listened to our friends to the north and south *wink*
anywho... I am so excited to use this one this year and
and
AND
I might just add in a few sheets from the ORIGINAL...

so we can have a couple of CURRENTLYs each month


OK that is it...
I am done...
I am running late to get my hair DONE!!!
go and link up with my friend Tara...
it will make her HAPPY
she is B2S today

and as a B2S
get rid of my BLAHS...
I am going to give away CURRENTLY for the CLASSROOM 2nd edition
to 3 followers and in addition to that... they will also get my Appreciation TAGS too...
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet Farley

Oh My Gosh what a fun linky...

Thanks Stephanie for inviting us all to come to your partay...

So Howdy...

My full name is Meghan Farley

BUT all my friends call me Farley

I am going on my 14th year teaching.

I spent 10 years in 3rd and this will be my 4th in 4th...

HA HA HA 4th in 4th... awesome!!!

and all at the same great little school *smile*

I married my high school sweetheart... 

and we are going on 15 years married this October... 

but we have been an official item since 1994...

and friends since 7th grade

what?? WHAT???

look at that pic... 

Homecoming our senior year.

check out that hair!!!

my hair is huge and he has hair... ha ha ha

Hubs and I have a rowdy and  ridiculously smart 5 year old 

that you all know as BUB...

he starts kinder this year

(((nail biting)))

*tears*

ok now for the Q&A

this is going to be fun...

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

my family * fishing * TJMaxx * Sharpies * traditions

RHWO anything * walking * Mississippi

pumpkins * the color orange 

Wimberley Market Days

blue footed boobies

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

I would love to be a fashion stylist.

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

sassy * sarcastic * stubborn
 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

Oh I love standardized state tests, said no teacher ever!!! 

 IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

I would invite my Grandpa... he passed away before he could meet his great grandkids.

He would love Bub!!!

 IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

 Better yet here is my book cover... 

ha ha ha...

after I made this... 

I thought it would be funnier if the title was

I Have Issues... Grab a Tissue

 YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 I have said this before... and I will say it again!!!

I want the power to... 

make someone have immediate explosive diarrhea...

YEP... seriously...

my hubs and I have had this conversation...

it really is a TOP Super POWER...

he is a nerd... he knows these things

seriously... he has his own PODCAST called NERD 411

and he and his nerd friends have had conversations about how awesome 

and diabolical my power is...

seriously!!!

think of the Big Bang Theory of nerds discussing 

this AWESOME power

and I am PENNY...

they were super impressed with this unheard of SUPER POWER

My idea was I would pretend push the Jeopardy Button... you know... 

make a fist and then thumb up... thumb down...

and SWOOSH... potty problems...

BUT hubs and his nerds said that if someone freezes me

 (because you know this schtuff is real)

well if someone freezes me... I couldn't do the push the button thing... 

so it needs to be a mental thing...

I prefer the push the fake button and adding the tooty noise...

we even find ourselves doing this in the car...

when someone cuts us off...

actually I tell Hubs he can't do it because it is 

MY

 SUPER POWER... 

and so....

I

 push the button... make tooty noise and SWOOSH...

you feel better...

this may be a GROSS and disgusting super power... 

BUT it is NERD approved

and AWESOME...

think of the possibilities 

just THINK

 WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

I don't sing... and most of the songs I know I can't mention on here!!!

  ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

NIGHT OWL... 

which is going to be real hard... in um like 2 days

I love staying up late and the house is super quiet... and my boys are asleep!!! 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I REALLY love my Appreciation Tags...

I have over 50 different tags... for parents, teachers, and kids!!!

and as I make new tags for myself I ADD them to the pack!!!

SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!

ummmm.... 

hmmmmmm......

this is hard because I am pretty upfront and truthful on here... 

hmmmmmm....

maybe you don't know 

I wasn't going to be a teacher...

my first degree is in Pre Vet Large Animal Science

Ok that was fun... 

thanks again to Stephanie for such a fun linky...

if you haven't checked it out... 

head on over... BUT be sure you have lots of time 

to read about all the great bloggers that have linked up