Summer is here! {FINALLY!}

Summer is here!  Ahhh, I can say that with confidence now.  Gone are the days of throwing away grading papers, lesson planning, and filling out paperwork for meetings.  I can now kick back and enjoy time with my son, Sebastian.  We spend every waking moment together (he goes to my school) and I wouldn't have it any other way!  Yesterday, we had a great time taking my husband to breakfast at Bonefish Grill.  Here are my two sweeties enjoying their time together...

 

I felt so motivated being out of school that I created a new product for TpT already!  Given the fact that it usually takes me awhile to get motivated in June, I am proud of myself.  This one will be used in my classroom because it is in our school colors. 
 

 

 

 

Please let me know if you are interested in these in any colors and I will gladly whip them up!  I am getting ready to dig my heels in and attack Common Core head-on!  Although I am on break, I still want to be ready for the school year.  I can't stand to feel unprepared- it's just not my style.  So, as I prepare, I will share with you and hopefully, we can grow in our understanding together!  In the meantime, I have purchased an AMAZING book with sample lessons/objectives aligning to the Common Core.  You can purchase it by clicking below...
 

 

While you are shopping, check out one of my FAVORITE summer products!  It's a top-rated snow cone maker that my son and I use ALL.THE.TIME!  I add pineapple juice and marshmallow for a sweet treat over the summer.  Yum!  (No, I do not get paid for this...I truly use it and LOVE IT!)

 

Enjoy those lazy summer days that we teachers work all year for!

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Jammin' June Monthly Goals

I'm linking up at I {Heart} Recess with my June Monthly Goals!  I am so thankful for such a cute way to keep things in perspective!

 

Personal:  Okay, so my home is new but I've been here since November 30th.  I haven't decided which furniture I want in my living room.  I don't know which color the curtains should be.  I'm not sure which kind of comforter I'd like on the bed. Aaahhhhh!  Decisions are so tricky, especially when you're a Pisces!  Wishy washy is my world! 

 

Family:  In true mom fashion, I can't wait to spend EVERY WAKING MINUTE with my son, Sebastian!  I want to take him to the pool every chance I get so he can show off his new skills!  Last year's swimming lessons were soooo worth it!  When hubby is home, he loves to cool off with us and I just love (in that wifey kind of way) when he wears his Baltimore Ravens swim trunks! ;-)  Love you, honey! xoxoxo

 

Health:  I've been doing fairly well with my health this year.  So far, I lost 12 pounds and would love to keep going.  I joined the gym a few months back and have now become best friends with the treadmill and the elliptical.  Summer is great because I can really get into making a variety of salads and munching on fruits and veggies.  I totally need a fridge in my classroom so I can eat healthier snacks. 

 

School:  The school year is coming to a close with just 10 days left to go!!! WOO HOO!!!!  I am as antsy as my fifth graders to get this over and done with!  I have, however, been sobbing every time I think of them moving on.  Try listening to their farewell speeches and not shedding a tear...impossible!  I will so miss those cool kiddos!  Each of them had a journey and it is so AWESOME to see them check this stage of their lives off of their lists!

 

Blog/TpT:  I just got an AMAZING blog redesign over at Honey Bunch Blog Design .  They made a blog that is sooo me with a mix of fifth grade thrown in!  You've gotta love that!  I can't wait to bring some new blog friends over to my site to check it out!  I blog for all elementary grades but since I'm staying in fifth, I'd like to see more of you over there!  As far as TpT goes, I am determined to give summer sales a swift kick in the rear!  Last year, my sales in June/July weren't so hot.  This year, I am not allowing that to happen!  I don't care if I have to create and market EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. from sun up 'til sun down (aside from swimming and spending time with my son of course!) in order to make my goals become a REALITY!  How's that Oprah?!? ;-)

 

Check out my newest resource for the end of the school year by clicking on the preview below!  It's a writing activity and a craftivity all in one!



Read:  I am so interested to read "The Ultimate Guide to Pinterest for Business."  My best friend, Sharon Winter, over at Animal Crackers and Apple Juice is featured in this guide!  All of her boards are mentioned and I am sooo lucky to have one of those boards!  Thank you, Shar!!!  I am interested to see what kind of advice is offered for growing my small business through Pinterest.  I am at approximately 14,500 followers and counting!  Come and join me if you haven't already!  Just click on the "P" on the sidebar and hit "follow" once you're there!   



If you want to link up your June Monthly Goals, just head here:

Thanks for hanging out!  Have an EXCITING SUMMER!!!

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So Much to Say {and a Little Soft Kitty}

Wow!  How time flies when you're having fun and ending the school year!  Can you say 10 DAYS?!?  I think I am more excited waking up in the morning now than I was the first week of school!  One of the things that got me SUPER-EXCITED was our 5th Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.!!!  I mean, if the Nation's Capital were in your backyard, I think you'd like it, too!  Anywho, our trip was so much fun! 

I had never seen the Lincoln Memorial before so I dragged my fifth graders up all the steps to take this picture! 

 

This pic was one I took from the bus!  What a view!  We couldn't walk up to The Capitol Building because there had been a Memorial Day concert on the lawn.  It was blocked off to the public.  I really didn't need to get close, though, as you can see from this AMAZING PIC!

 

We didn't know anyone in this pic, but we were really glad to get a view of The Washington Monument.  I can't wait to see how our class photo book of this trip turns out!

 

We stopped over to The Museum of American History next.  Check out the dress Michelle Obama wore to the 2009 Inauguration!  It was absolutely breathtaking! 

 

Her jewelry was SOOO SPARKLY!!! OOOOHHHH!!!  I love the classroom but I sure would enjoy wearing some of this ice!  My fifth grade girls didn't want to leave this exhibit!

 

Did I mention the FABULOUS SHOES that went with the dress?!?  Yep, you read the label right...JIMMY CHOO!!!  Oh, to live the life of a First Lady!

 

We had so much fun on our trip!  I had too many pics to even post here!  I knew it was a success when students left D.C. wearing Abe Lincoln hats, carrying copies of the U.S. Constitution, and eating rainbow sno-cones to beat the heat!  We had so much fun despite the accident that caused the bus to take 3 hours to get to our destination.  Did I mention the train derailment and explosion in Baltimore that closed many of the major roadways on the way home?!?  When things like this happen, I think of my favorite song...

 

Happy End of the School Year/Start of Summer!!!  WOO HOO!!!

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