Five for Friday! {Aug 30}

I made it through the first week of school and I am so excited about having a long weekend! Friday couldn't come soon enough!

1> I decided to get adventurous and try a new hair color. Turns out that it wasn't near as light as I was expecting, but I like it. Glad my hair isn't two completely different colors anymore.

2>> The hubby and I have had a hard couple of weeks, but we're coming out of the valley. We've had a really good week. For those of you married folks, I'm sure you can identify with not just loving your spouse, but actually liking them. We like each other right now and are enjoying marriage!

3>>> As we were searching for a game for students to practice double-digit multiplication, Trista and I ran across Sugar, Sugar! The game is simple, you have to get the sugar that comes out of the comma in "Sugar, Sugar" into the coffee mugs. Trista even found that there's an app. This game was just what we needed to avoid working on Thursday afternoon.
You know you want to play...stop resisting and click the link!

4>>>>  I posted on my classroom website's blog every day this week! I am so excited that I have taken at least one picture of my classroom everyday this week. I have a really great group of kiddos and am looking forward to an excellent school year!

5>>>>> I bought five pairs of flats from Old Navy and they are super comfy. They were on sale this past weekend for $10 each and I had a coupon for $15 off a $50 purchase. The math teacher in me got super excited to get five pairs of shoes for 35 bucks!

What were the highlights of your week?! Go exercise your brain and play some Sugar, Sugar!!!

Linking up with:

Lauren Elizabeth

Doodle Bugs Teaching

The Good Life

Teacher Week '13: Classroom Tour

I'm super excited about my classroom this year! My classroom decor was inspired by a room done by Melanie @ Inspired in Style using the Dots on Black Collection from Creative Teaching Press. Here's a quick look around the room.

I think my favorite part of the room are the positive affirmations that line the ceiling. I debated over buying them, but I'm so glad I did. They're made by a company named Foster Mind, LLC, but I bought them for less here.

I'm really excited about the fact that I ditched the student desks and swapped them out for tables. I love that there's less furniture and I think the arrangement will make collaboration in the classroom much easier.

Here are a few of the details.

I like to think of this area as the command center. This table is just to the right of the door as students walk into the classroom. The bulletin board has a calendar, classroom officers, tutoring schedule, reminders, QR code for class website, and hall passes. I love the hall passes! You can find them over at The Brown-Bag Teacher, where Catherine shares her rationale for making these awesome hall passes. Just under the bulletin board is where I have chosen to put supplies for student use, a file box for absent work and for turning in work. Love how the shoe organizer gave me room to add more to the table and still have room to put handouts for the day at the front of the table.

Just to the right of the command center are my students' time cards. This will be my first time doing a classroom economy. I got the idea from a session by Dia Collins at CAMT this summer. Hopefully, I'll post more about this as I get the system all figured out. Each student has a time card, where they will keep a record of their class attendance and I will make notes about participation and behavior. Students will get paid for their work in class and be able to spend their money of various classroom supplies and privileges.

Meet Abima, our UglyDoll/class mascot! I never would have looked twice at Abima if I hadn't seen a pin that led me to Jennifer @ Teaching with a Smile and he was on sale, 50% off, at my local teacher store. Abima is hanging out at the top right hand corner of my word wall and will make announcements for the class as well as recognize student birthdays! Isn't he a cutie?!

Alright, last detail is over my desk. We were ready to give these frames away after we put some new things up in our guest room. They were sitting on the floor and I decided to take them to school with me and I'm so glad I did.

Of my six years of teaching, I think this classroom is my favorite! I hope my 6th graders love it as much as I do!

Okay, I'm a day late for the link up, but I had to put the finishing touches on before doing the blog post. Better late than never! Head over to Blog Hoppin' if you'd like to tour some more classrooms!

Also linking up with:

Flying High in First Grade

Surfin' Through Second

The Applicious Teacher

Teacher Week '13: Let's Talk About Me Monday

I can't believe that summer is over and it's time to go back to school this week. I had a meeting at 8am...eek! Since I was already up, I spent the rest of the day in my classroom, trying to get ready for the school year and tomorrow's Blog Hoppin' topic. Today, I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week '13: Let's Talk About Me Monday!

>1< I love teaching! So much that I left a leadership position to go back to the classroom this year. I am looking forward to meeting my 6th graders!

>2< I was in the Army for six years. I went to the Army after college when I couldn't find a job in accounting. I had a great experience in the Army and got to do things I never would have done, had I not been in the Army! When I post Army pictures, I usually use the clean, patriotic ones...figured I'd give you a picture that actually looked like I did something this time.

>3< My face often speaks before words ever leave my mouth. If looks could kill, there would be some dead bodies on account of my facial expressions. I'm working on that!

>4< I have a phobia of balloons. Well, phobia may be a bit extreme, but I seriously dislike balloons. Blame it on a childhood experience at field day. I hated running to the chair and sitting on that darn balloon.

>5< My husband and I had a small wedding of only 24 guests. We were married on the same day we started dating a year prior...hope that makes sense...we started dating 2/12/09 and married on 2/12/10. I thought it was such a novel idea. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't have chosen a date so close to Valentine's Day.

>6< My favorite candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! I even took a picture with him/her/it when I visited the Hershey store in Chicago!

>7< My favorite number is 21, my line number when I pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Oo-oop!!! I love my line sisters! We always have a great time when we get together!

>8< I usually get car sick when I ride in the back seat of a large vehicle...and lately, when I ride in the passenger seat too, so I prefer to drive rather than ride!

>9< I absolutely loved high school (and college). I personally think my graduating class had the best 10-year class reunion ever. Granted, I've never been to another class reunion, but I know ours was a blast! My hubby always talks about it and how I'm a different person when some No Limit, Cash Money, or LL Cool J comes on.

>10< I have the best friends! They went skydiving with me for my 30th birthday and flash-mobbed me for my 31st birthday! Don't mind me and my laughing all through the video...I was so tickled!

Alright, there's my 10 fun facts! Hope I make it back tomorrow with a classroom tour!

And don't forget that you've only got one day left to enter the Erin Condren Giveaway!

Dressed for Success [School]!

'What's Success School?' you may ask! Twice a year, Advocare puts on this event where the big dogs, pro athletes, and some special guests rally to provide product education, business motivation, and life-changing inspiration.

Since the hubby and I just started our Advocare business as a means to a healthy lifestyle and financial freedom, we figured we should definitely attend Success School and "Catch the Vision!" This was my first time at Cowboy AT&T Stadium, and I must say that the stadium is amazing!

So, the attire was business casual. That kind of bummed me out because I really want to wear a t-shirt and shorts...but I accepted it and this outfit just came together! It will definitely be worn again! (sorry for the blurry picture)

>> Details <<

Top, Pants, and Belt: Target (here, here, and here)

Loafers: Kenneth Cole Outlet

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace: Forever 21

Bracelets: JCPenney

Linking up with Jenna @ The Fashionista Teacher for Back to School Style Week.

And don't forget to enter the giveaway! Only 2 days left!

{Monday Made It} Ribbon Rules & Initial Lantern

I've been loving seeing all the ribbon signs on Pinterest and in teacher supply stores. I knew I wanted some classroom rules posted at the front of the classroom. I have a skinny space to the left of my SMARTboard that I knew would be the perfect space.

I printed the rules using a  powerpoint template that you can find here. I then laminated them and hot glued them to 2.5" ribbon. Too easy!

My DIY home project was inspired by a Pin as well. I knew I had to make it this week when I saw that all lanterns were 50% off at Hobby Lobby. So, I got my lantern, some potpourri, and a wooden letter 'H' that I spray painted and ta-da! I feel like it's the perfect addition to our guest bedroom!

Hopefully, I'll share the full guest room with you soon...still have a few more finishing touches I'd like to add.

I am so in love with Pinterest! I can't believe how it has inspired me to do so much this summer. What Pinterest projects are you working on?

Cuteness on a Cloud {Newborn Photography}

So, I've told you a little about photography, but haven't posted many of my pictures as I learn the craft. My friend Angela @ Selfless Ambition has been graciously allowing me to practice on her and her family. You can see Angela's pregnancy announcement, gender reveal, and maternity pics that I've taken! I can't wait to capture her and Quentin's little bundle of joy when she arrives.

Well, there was no point in waiting to capture a newborn, so I was so excited when Virginia, chef extraordinaire and owner of Mostly Cupcakes, contacted me to capture pictures of her 5 day old granddaughter. Now, with no kids of my own, I was extremely nervous, but that wore off as I warmed up to Baby B! And, I had my hubby there to help and coach me. Here are a few of the shots that he has processed so far...

Okay, she is such cuteness! Right?! And I love the blanket, like she's laying on a little cloud...hence the name of this post, 'Cuteness on a Cloud!' Grandmother and Mom had great props and bows on hand to make this a great photo session! And Baby Girl was so good. She made it through almost two hours of shooting without too much fussing and only needing one feeding.

So, this is only my first newborn shoot. I enjoyed it so much and I have notes for improvement on future sessions. Most photographers have a niche, or an area of photography that they specialize in...this may be mine. I can't wait to do another one!

If you're in need of photography in the DFW area, my hubby and I would consider it an honor! Check out Team Howard Photography for details!