Ready or not, here they COME!

It finally happened....at 7:30 this morning my room was infested with 20 eager second graders--I couldn't have been more nervous, excited!

This was the first year I didn't work all summer on school stuff--I know, how dare I!  However, after moving rooms for the 6th time in a row {not bitter I swear}, getting strep throat four days before Back-2-School Night, I think it's safe to say I am happily settled :)

In July I moved to a room that was almost half the size I was in last year.  Wanting to keep the same layout, this presented a bit of a challenge.  I wasn't able to keep things exactly where I had them before, however with a turn of a table {or three} I am very pleased with the way it turned out!

New Room Set Up:

Classroom Jobs & Behavior System

Reflection Desk-Poem for students to read during that time, timer, stress reliever, and student reflection forms

This says it all-download it here!

View from the door

Line Lead & Door Holder labels--migraine reliever!

Writing Center Materials

Table Basket with Labels--download them here!

Writing Center--yoga balls for chairs.  The kiddos WANT to go to writing after they see this area :) I'll take it!

These are the best investment if you have tables in your classroom--we store so much junk  supplies in here!!!

Clock labels--download here!

What was SUPPOSED to be highlighter, pencil, marker, AND glue stick holder...

It has been overthrown...

Reading/ Math Small Group Area--plastic drawers under the table for storage

Genre Tree--it "magically" gets the little ones to remember genres!

Magazine Storage! Three curtain rods, 6 command hooks, and 21 hanging curtain clips! Finally an easy way to display magazines where the students can get to them!  I am very proud of myself on this one :) #toot_toot

Reading CAFE Strategies board--download bundle here!

Teacher Hub AKA "NO ZONE"

Calendar with Engineering Design Process Poster--bundle to come!

Student Mailboxes

Student Laptops--download labels here!
iPad Labels here!

Yes, those chair pockets are jumbo book covers, found at Target for $1! Flip one half inside out and WA-LA!  I use them to keep the headphones in until students need them--frees up clutter from the computer area.

Question of the day & Classroom Reward {Bingo} Board behind it--

Our Best Friends :)

Writing rubric examples, Helpers and "SPARKLE" Writing Display

Writer's Eye Sign and Check List Poster--download here!

Weekly standards/ objectives, Class Score Board, Whole Brain Teaching Classroom Rules, Apple a Day Tree, Voice Level Cards, Can & Can't Do Cards--download here!

Writing Helpers, Editing Wheels, Dictionary, Thesaurus, Class Books, sample alphabets from other countries

Daily 5 Word Work Containers--I change these out every 9 weeks to keep it interesting :)

iMath! Center Baskets--bundle to come!

Back-2-School Night Goodies!

This was on the students' desks when parents came for Open House.
1. Classroom Pamphlet--this contains news and information about our classroom in a fun, easy to read template! It's one of my favorite back to school items :)
2. Classroom Webpage Pencils
3. Homework/ Communication Folder
4. Stick Person Popsicle Stick--students decorate and use this for class scoreboard
5. Remind101 Directions (if you're not using this App you NEED to download it! Super easy and crazy convenient!
6. School Info (too much of that to list)
7. Sweet Dreams Note :)  Another one of my favs
8. Smart Cookies :)

Students wrote on the chart paper while parents were filling out information cards for me--not only did it keep them occupied while their parent's were busy, but it gave me an idea on what kind of writers/spellers/hand-writers  I'd have this year!

QR Reader Sign--another popular item!  Use any QR Code website to link to your class webpage! 

Truth About Second Grade my friends wrote last year--great to have something to display in the hallway for the beginning of the year :)  I loved reading what they wrote!! Makes me miss them a little... 

Had this outside the classroom door for parents to write a Wish or Two for the year--great to find out what parents are looking for from the year

Webpage Reminder Pencils--great for putting on the fridge at home.  Added magnets on these bad boys :)

Used for class Score Board--students decorate the "people craft sticks" from Hobby Lobby--they always turn out too cute!!!

Student Information Cards--THESE.ARE.A.LIFE.SAVER! I love having these for the first day of school--seriously relieves SOOOO MUCH STRESS for the first day and days after.  I keep these in my foldable clipboard and use them all year instead of the clunky information cards from the school.  Seriously, you need these.

Download here!

Mystery Reader packet (parent sign ups), Parent Information sheet (for help in and out of the classroom), Photo Consent Form--download FREEBIE here

Class Wish List--totally forgot to take a picture of this BEFORE the doors opened--I had a total of 20 clouds on here so yay for Wish List goodies! :)

Classroom Information Pamphlet--tells information about me, what to expect from the year, homework, classwork, Star Student, and more! 

Sweet Dreams Booklet--I just love this!

The littles sprinkle the confetti under their pillow the night before school starts--the poem explains the confetti represents all the fun things we're going to do this year. It is precious!

WHEW--I'm tired.  Today was such an amazing first day of school! I am going to have so much fun with these sweeties this year!  We toasted to a fun, fabulous, and fantastic year of second grade.  CHEERS, everyone!

~Jamie

Sometimes it's ok to FAUX it

I can't believe it.  This is my LAST FRIDAY of summer. :( What makes it even more upsetting is the home projects will most likely have to come to a halt until the school year ball starts rolling and I have my old routine back in place. {Feeling sorry for myself-I'm done now} Since this will be my last home post for awhile, I wanted to make it a good one.   I know I may be a little bias, but I think this is the most beautiful and fun reno I  we have completed this summer!  *I say we because I was in need of a strong, burly man to help me with this one--B to the rescue!

I don't know about you, but I just hate looking at the black hole they call a fireplace pit. Living in North Carolina, we don't particularly use our fireplace that often.  I love having it on at Christmas time for the ambiance, but other than that, here we sit...looking into a boring, lifeless, black hole...blah.

I recently updated the fireplace using AirStone from Lowes! Oh.my.word. It is the easiest way to update your existing fireplace and took no time at all.  No one can believe I did it myself {the nerve, right?}.

Before: BOOOORRRRIIINNNGGG

After: AHHHHHH-much better

After looking through home decor catalogs, I have seen stacked logs EVERYWHERE- Ballard, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and even an Art magazine.  After looking at these issues back to back, I knew they were trying to tell me something.  I felt like Nicolas Cage in Knowing, scrambling my brain to figure out what to do with it.  Stacking the logs in the center was not an option since our fireplace is electric, so the center console had to stay in place.  Hmmm....When life hands you a problem, google it.

I googled "stacked log fireplace" and found some beautiful photos. All of them seemed to be real working fireplaces--which wouldn't work for me.  However, it was this one that stuck out as to what I wanted the overall "look" to be:

photo credit

"Recreating this will be a piece of cake," I said to myself.  "All I need is a piece of plywood, black paint (which I already have), and wood.......oh snap.....wood. Perfectly cut, round, wooden logs.  Shouldn't be too hard to find right?" I told myself over and over in my most convincing tone.

I searched all around my neighborhood for a few pieces of wood, but nothing was large enough for what I was looking for.  Resorting to my sweet friend Facebook, I posted my request online.  A friend said to come by her house because she may have something in the backyard I might be able to use.

I have never been any good at directions but this was the one time it paid off!  I, of course, got lost on my way to her home. As I turned around to head back, I saw this glorious sight:

 Looking back, I don't know how I managed to pick these puppies up.  I like to think of it as the story of the woman who lifted a car to get her baby out from under it.  Well the fireplace was my baby and the logs were the car.  Bring it on!

The chosen ones

The assembly of this project was a piece of cake (or plywood in the literal sense).

Step 1: Find logs--getting lost while driving around will help with this.

Step 2: Purchase a piece of plywood from Lowes and cut to fit for the opening of the fireplace--check it before going any further.

Step 3: Paint a piece of plywood black (or whatever color your interior fireplace may be).

Step 3 1/2: Enlist help from a dashing fellow to help you with step 4.

Step 4: Slice logs as if it were a baguette. We varied the thicknesses to make it appear more realistic.  Trim up any sharp edges for a cleaner look. I also used a large brush to dust off any excess dust, cobwebs, or tiny critters lurking about.

Step 5: Arrange logs into a puzzle so they all fit, appear sitting on top of one another, and stay inside the square of the plywood.

Step 6: Glue on using wood glue and let dry.

Step 7: After glue is dry, nail logs to plywood {from the back} using a nail gun .  Dust off with large brush one last time.

Step 8: Place into fireplace opening and WAH-LA! Bye-Bye black hole!

This project took 2 days and will probably be used for 10 months out of the year.  It adds such a warm, fuzzy feeling to our living room and is certainly more appealing to the eye.  Sometimes is ok to faux it--No one will ever know...

Back in Black

Every girl needs a LBD to make her feel fabulous, right?  Most people keep their's stored in the back of their closet, tucked away for special occasions.  But not this girl.  I keep mine right in the middle of my living room for the world to see.  I am of course speaking of my "Little Black DOOR!"

Shortly after we moved in, I painted our front exterior door, along with the two panels on the side.  Having all three pieces painted one color, would make the entry look wider, grander, and much more welcoming!  I thought black was a go to color for a front door, as opposed to the outdated "been there done that red"that was made popular by Elizabeth's Arden's Red Door perfume set, because it adds a timeless feel that would look good on ANY house color. 

Front Door Before-narrow and dinky looking

After-wider, more welcoming entrance :)  

 I saw Lowes had a Natural Trust for Historic Preservation line out with Valspar, so I decided to cheat-just this once- on my other two paint loves {Sherwin Williams & Ben Moore}.   I  wanted a beautiful, historic looking black that would feel new yet old.  I began frantically searching in the whites and neutral section {yes, that is where the black is kept} and then I saw it-- Lincoln Cottage Black- it is the PERFECT black paint color! It has a teeny tiny bit of gray but is still so strong and clean! I just love it!

While multitasking on another project involving my beautiful black paint, I decided to take the plunge and do what I've wanted to do since we moved in--paint the INTERIOR doors, yes you guessed it, BLACK!  

My hands couldn't roll fast enough!  I started with the hall closet upstairs= LOVE.  Proceeded with the coat closet in our living room downstairs= DOUBLE LOVE.  I can't believe the impact it makes on the entire look of the room! It makes it feel so homey but adds a luxurious feeling by the contrast of the color of the walls, trim, and flooring. I left the interior white because I didn't feel the need to use my paint on the side you would never see. Totally personal preference. 

Upstairs hall closet before

After

Living Room Coat Closet

After

Each door needed 2-3 coats of paint and the only supplies needed was a small roller and a 2 inch brush.  I had an extra piece of plywood lying around, so I decided to use that as my work zone--it might be my new obsession.  It was so nice to not worry about moving a drop cloth around, and making four trips up and down the stairs to move supplies.  I used that board for everything!  You can read more about how to paint an interior or exterior door here. 

Aprox time for this project was about 25 minutes each door--took no time at all.  I always let the tape sit for at least 12 hours before removing it--fight the urge and don't pull it off!! It can cause some serious damage {don't ask me how I know that...}

Everyone needs a LBD in their life.  To make it even better, you're husband won't give you an earful about how much this one costs. He may even want a LBD of his own....let's just hope the D continues to stand for DOOR...

An Apple a Day Keeps the PC Away

One of my favorite things in the entire universe is my computer-I'm in love with it actually. As a teacher, I think that's a pretty obvious statement.  I don't know how teachers taught during the floppy disc era.  I'm pretty sure I would have a daily migraine from looking at that black and green pixelated screen for 10+ hours/ day.

Between my husband and I {the only two human occupants in our home} we have four computers...yes, four. My passion for computers grew immensely when I received my first MacBook in 2008.  Was I apprehensive and totally confused for the first 72 hours? Yes. Did I think Apple just made everything the opposite of what you would do on a PC? Yes.  Am I forever grateful for getting my hands on one of these bad boys because without it I would have been missing out on meeting one of the greatest loves of my life?! Well, let's just say my heart's been fluttering like a butterfly for the past 5 years...

Benson boycotting mommy working over the summer-seriously, how precious is he?!

I'm almost positive Taylor Swift wrote her, "We're never getting back together" song about a PC. Yes, the new operating systems PC's offer now are a lot better than when I was using them in college, however it's nothing compared to what Apple has on the table.  Yes I know, they are a tad pricier than the traditional run-of-the-mill computer, however they are going to last MUCH MUCH longer, if not forever!  I had to say good-bye to my beautiful white plastic Macbook last year when it got in a fight with a Frappuccino on the last day of school :/ It's sitting on the bottom shelf of my office bookcase waiting to be repaired.  Luckily, computer number 3 was there to save the day!

current laptop: MacBook Pro

Below is a list of people that would benefit from using a Mac:

-All Mankind

Well....that pretty much sums it up. {Getting down off my soapbox now...}

When I got my first iMac years ago, I also purchased the Mac Box Set-it came with OSX Snow Leopard, iLife, and iWork.  We mainly bought it for the upgraded operating system, however little did I know two of these programs would work their way into my heart in no time.

iLife includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, and iWeb. *Another plus of using paired products: When I take pictures in my classroom with my iPhone, they automatically show up on all of my computers & iPad through the magic of iPhoto's photo stream!  This is definitely a time & sanity saver if you use class photos quite often for your newsletter, webpage, etc.  iWork included Numbers {similar to excel-never use it due to my hatred of spreadsheets}, Keynote {900 steps up from PowerPoint}, and the mother of all word processing programs....Pages. 

Ready-Made templates to choose from

I could talk about Pages all.day.long! I don't know how I ever functioned without it!  Have you ever started making something on your computer and thought, "Is this lined up?  Are those pictures the same size?  Is that line straight?"  Well, never again will you question your creative design with Pages by your side. These magical blue lines will occur on your document when something is lined up evenly-it's glorious!  Adding clipart? Easy-drag & drop it, move it anywhere your little heart desires, and admire it. Stuck on ideas for a template or layout?  No problem.  Get bea-u-tiful ideas ranging from newsletters, brochures, flyers, posters, cards/ invitations, business cards, certificates, resumes, envelopes, reports, and muchos mas! Worried about having to convert your existing Word documents? Ain't nobody got time for that! Let pages take care of it for you!  You don't need to purchase the entire box set to obtain this miracle working program-download it instantly at the App store {they even have an iPad version}.  It really is a teacher's BFF. 

photo credit @pagesformac 

Ready to dive in?  Here is a helpful video to get you up and running! You'll be devouring it whole!  Don't say I didn't warn you...

So, it's time to call it quits with that dusty, clunky PC and join me in my love affair of everything Mac.  The saying is "An Apple for the Teacher" ya know. :)

The High/Low Project: Wooden Accent Chairs

One of the great things about being on summer vacation is having the opportunity to shop 7 days a week! Now, what some people don't know is shopping does not equal purchasing (contrary to what my husband might think).  Places like Target, TJ Maxx, and Steinmart to name a few, change things out weekly-if not DAILY, which means you have to be on your toes if you want to find the best bargain to "homey up" your home.

HGTV magazine features a "High/ Low" project in every issue.  For normal people like me {I use the term "normal" loosely}, this is always a go to for projects and products on a budget.  I'm fairly certain my sisters and I got the bargain gene from my mom who is like the coupon queen without the coupons.  She always finds the best deals simply from being out and about multiple times during the week.  The minute one of us finds an awesome deal, a group text is created, shared, and the ogling begins.  The High/ Low project we have among ourselves is the reason why all of our houses are accessorized in quite a similar fashion.

This was one of my most favorite High/ Low projects by far. EVERYTHING Restoration Hardware sells is beautiful, however my 10 month teacher salary doesn't like it coming into my home.  My sister recently purchased the Madeleine Side Chairs for her eat in kitchen in the brown oak drifted finish and let me just say they are bea-utiful! They have that rustic, lived in feel while adding texture to the room at the same time {not to mention they are surprisingly comfy on the boo-tay for not having a cushion}.  One chair retails between $139 and $199.  We were all so excited to see RH had them on sale for a whopping $99!  Me, being the hesitant card swiper that I am {insert sarcastic joke here}, didn't want to make the plunge just yet.  I knew there had to be a dupe out there...and of course I was determined to find it.

I'm not a huge fan of Kirkland's home decor style, however, a good shopper checks in from time to time. My heart sank when I saw these chairs in the front window.

Seriously?! They were IDENTICAL to the weathered oak drifted finish from RH! I became frantic wanting to see the price of these bad boys.  No. Flippin'. Way.  The chairs were originally priced at $79, which was a bargain in itself, but to my surprise they were on sale for-drum roll please-BDDDDDDDDDDDD-$52! I wanted to buy every last one in the store, but thought I should share the wealth and only buy what was needed {hey, there's a first time for everything}.

Let's break it down...

High:

Low:

High:

Low:

High:

Low:

High:

Low:

These chairs are not available online so hop out to your local Kirlands to get your hands on one...or four... or eight of these puppies before they're all snatched up. In the mood for something darker? A simple sand and stain of your color choice will fix that right up. At $52 you can afford to try out a few different colors :)

High/ Low Project Success!