Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Adopted!

Disclaimer: This post is school-related. I teach, it's bound to happen from time to time. But, I promise it's delightful! Scroll to the bottom for pics.

In case you didn't notice from yesterday's post, I'm not one for splurging on things that aren't a necessity. Shoes are necessities, right?!?! Anyway, my point is that I know how to stretch a dollar or two. I can be one frugal lady.
I've been buying things for my classroom for years. Yes, way before I had a classroom. Heck, way before I had even graduated college with a degree that allowed me to teach. It started out innocent enough with trips to Target's dollar section, a random excursion to Building 19 3/456, after holiday sales for decorations, craigslist perusing while watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, on breaks at my retail job, used bookstores, clearance tables at bookstores, and then one day the teacher store at the mall was closing. This was the day it all really started. The day I realized that even though I had been getting sweet deals on teaching trinkets, there were much bigger eggs I should be adding to my basket. Construction paper, stickers, die-cut letters, manipulatives, math games, file folder games, decorative file folders, shelving systems... oh my! My world has been full of teaching stores & websites ever since.


Now let me interrupt this by saying that one of my very best friends in life is a hair dresser & I've been with her to beauty supply stores. The deals there are extraordinary. That Paul Mitchell dye they put in your hair? They buy it at half price. That OPI nail polish you can buy at Target? Yeah, they pay $4. Don't even get me started on flat irons! I'm positive that other professions get great deals on things, right? I would hope they do. Not teachers. Teaching stores don't offer any 50% off deals. If that book cost $24.99 from the manufacturer, you'd better believe that's what your teacher butt is going to pay. Maybe more if you aren't careful where you shop. Is that a complaint? Maybe. But it's definitely an observation.

Okay, back to the excitement-

Last year, I took over a 4th grade classroom after a beloved teacher had passed away. I came into the classroom with the supplies I had already purchased and found that {believe it or not} I still needed more. I'm not a worksheet teacher and I needed manipulatives, games, things to really open students' eyes that learning could actually be fun and something that you want to do forever. I knew that my wallet alone couldn't fund turning a classroom into a place where the possibilities were endless. So, I decided to go on a bender searching for various fundraising options. I found several, wrote out plans, wrote out profiles and waited. Then it happened & our classroom was adopted by a company in Massachusetts. I had $250 to spend on supplies from a list of companies. Knowing what I already knew, I had quite the job ahead of me to find the best deals & the best shipping prices possible.

This year, I revamped my profile because I had a new agenda {science, science, science} and a new group of kiddos to share a room with for 180 days {okay, less because I was hired at the end of September, but you know what I mean}. It happened again! Within one month of editing our class profile, we were adopted & given $250 to spend. I spent many hours coming up with what we needed, scouring each site for the least expensive items & shipping costs and finally sent my order in. I'm so excited to show you what I found. Are you ready for this jelly? I think maybe you are ready for this jelly. Without further ado, I bring to you:

tornado tubes for our weather unit
pipettes for each student because we always need these for various experiments
recycled science 101.
Less worksheets, more hands-on activities in all academic areas
these books are full of great printable activities for each of my kiddos
This will really help when we're filling out our charts for all the ways we use math in our daily lives.
Including reading directions, which is even difficult for me sometimes
A few comprehension cubes for my small group work. No more dollar store inflatable beach balls for us... maybe.
2 hanging bag racks to store our math activities. One for basic principles & one for more difficult concepts
Storage for our graphic organizers
Storage for Reading File Folder Games

Storage for Science & Social Studies File Folder Games
2 paper bookshelves so the kids will notice all of the books available in our classroom library & so the librarians can add more popular books & new books to the collection.

Super cute stationery which I will laminate & use as locker tags.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

no, i don't think i will

We all have things that we are willing to spend a lot of money on and things that we can't rationalize dropping more than a few pennies. It's not that I'm a cheapskate so much as I just don't see why I would pay more than I think things are worth.

No, I don't think I will...

buy a greeting card unless it's unique &/or makes me laugh out loud. First, the so-called sentiments aren't really all that impressive. Second, the price is absolutely ridiculous for some letter pressed & folded cardstock. I'd rather make my own using inspiration that I find online.

via Zimbio

rent a movie for $3.99 {or more!} when I can go to redbox and pay under $1.25 for it. In fact, I try to reserve it online just so I can save the quarter.



pay full price for a dvd when I can go to amazon & buy it brand new {and probably on blu ray} for less.
{Have you seen this movie? So good!}
pay for popcorn & soda at the movie theater. After paying $9 for a ticket, I'll either sit through the movie without anything or bring in my own beverage thankyouverymuch.


What are some things you refuse to spend a lot for?

Monday, February 27, 2012

Happy List Monday

Today is the first official day of my school's February vacation. I'm pretty sure I have the stomach flu & the potential for pink eye {courtesy of my beautiful niece & nephew}, but I also have abcFamily on demand & a shelf full of books I've never read. Somehow I added an extra number to my Happy list, so I have a treat for you today that will get me caught up & then some.


42.      getting a great deal on just about anything {amazon is a champ for this}
43.      BHG Do It Yourself magazine
44.      puzzles {I go through spurts where I do loads of puzzles}
45.      trips to the craft store
46.      getting a really great deal in my email from Couptopia
47.      taking a long shower when you aren't feeling well
48.      colored denim {I am LOVING this trend}
49.      Mountain Dew
50.      smoothies




you can see my other Happy Lists here or you can just review the list below.

1.        organization
2.        brand new {Crayola} crayons
3.        forehead kisses
4.        the grainy look of a black & white picture
5.        calligraphy
6.        clean sheets
7.        making a meal that turns out perfectly- the first time you cook it!
8.        rollercoasters
9.        the feel of brand new socks
10.      watching my cats sleep in weird places/positions
11.      the idea of an elephant in a suit
12.      spoonfuls of cream cheese
13.      watching a student go out of his/her way for a classmate
14.      owls
15.      pink & gray
16.      Once Upon a Time
16.5    You fabulous readers
17.      handwritten letters in the mail
18.      teensy weensy, itty-bitty, kissable, nibble-able baby fingers
19.      The winter holiday season allowing me to wear sequins to work.
20.      turbo-speed internet
21.      putting glitter on anything & everything
22.      waking up to an impeccably clean apartment
23.      playing {and winning} a new board game
24.      teaching blogs
25.      spinach pie
26.      finding a perfume sample I like & storing it in my sock drawer
27.      the intial feeling that I might win a contest I've entered
28.      playing on a swing set
29.      big purses
30.      going a whole day without watching TV
31.      getting a strike in bowling
32.      printables
33.      reruns of Golden Girls
34.      50% off sales coupons
35.      unique jewelry
36.      pinterest
                                       5 from the holiday edition
37.      Hood golden eggnog
38.      sequins
39.      wrapping paper
40.      Bing Crosby's rendition of Baby It's Cold Outside
41.      gingerbread houses




Monday, February 6, 2012

Happy List

Do you ever wonder why Monday can't just be an extension of the weekend? It seems that it is the only fair way for the week to go. I mean, why do I have to work 5 days & rest for 2? Is it resting if I'm doing laundry, planning lessons, changing sheets, or worse {the dreaded kitty pan}? You think the unknown "they" will institute a 3 day weekend if I get enough signatures on a petition? I wonder... I just wonder.

30.    getting a strike in bowling. It almost doesn't matter that the remainder of the time my ball is in the gutter. :P
31.   printables. I love colored printers, don't you?
32.    reruns of The Golden Girls
33.    50% off sales/coupons. How glorious!
34.    unique jewelry.
35.    pinterest; how the heck is this number 35?!?!

I have decided to include the other Happy Lists here, for your viewing pleasure

Friday, February 3, 2012

you're invited

Remember when I said that I want to have an arm party? I can't stress just how obsessed I am with bracelets. I like the look of one single bracelet, no matter the size. I love the look of a stack of bracelets. Sadly, having to write on the overhead & the projector thwarts my arm party on my writing hand. Are you having arm parties these days?

via Natalie on pinterest

via Melissa on pinterest

Is there anyone who does the arm party better than Blair? I am envious of her jewelry collection.


via Blair of Atlantic-Pacific

via Blair of Atlantic Pacfic

via Blair

via Blair

via Blair




via Kelly from The Glamourai's twitter feed

I think I know exactly what I need to do. I need to make this or this mine. I believe one or both of them will be the life of the party.


Thursday, February 2, 2012

until tomorrow

I am a pathological procrastinator. I have so many things to put off until next week. I guess I had better get started with that. I've stayed at work quite late the past few nights and I'm getting my absurd paperwork in order. Next year might actually be a breeze if I can get my things in order. I love learning new things.

I have nothing to say today, but I didn't want to leave you hanging. I also had an idea to post a list of things I'm putting off for another day. I added the list to my list.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

wanting wednesday

I feel like it has been far too long since I posted a plethora of pictures with all the pretty things that I want in my life. Isn't it just too bad that you can't buy me thick hair with slight waves a la any celebrity with long hair? The answer is yes.








pink skinnies...I'd like some mint-colored ones, too please.



pink Hunter boots


Yes I still want & love you, instax!

Are you noticing the bracelet theme here? I want an arm party!



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