{Five for Friday}- June 19, 2015

Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday again this week! Its so fun to read everyone's Five for Friday's during the summer because so much is going on! 

My husband  & I recently purchased new bedroom furniture, with all of the last week of school crazy, summer traveling, and grad school..I just had time to get my vanity all organized. Since this is the place where I start my days, I like to have it look inviting and organized! The top drawers are very very shallow {it is supposed to be a desk} so I was struggling to find makeup trays to fit. THEN I found these $1, Dollar Tree serving trays & they worked like a charm! 

So since we got new furniture, I am looking for the perfect lighting to hang above our sitting area! We have two, VERY ugly fans in our bedroom, we will be replacing the one above our bed with a prettier fan & the one above the seating are with something like this! The best part is that I told my MIL I liked this one and 30 minutes later, she texts me a photo of almost the same thing for sell at HEB!? What...haha who knew HEB had chandeliers!? 

I ordered new glasses, I have been wearing the same pair since 10th grade! I wear contacts 96% of the time, so I don't normally need glasses, but it was time! I got the glasses in the picture above for less than $30! WHOOP.

I am so glad that I join in {I almost didn't, but FOMO} the #TPTSellerChallenge. I hadn't created or refreshed any product since September of this last school year. The challenge got me back into the groove & I ended up making over about half of my products & I deleted some altogether! 

I was even inspired to create my logo banner & make my 'quote' a picture ad! I love the end results, but I think I need to try again on the quote! 

I saw so many wonderful lists of summer reading, I really had to be honest with myself, I KNOW I will not finish 8 PD books this summer. So I tried to choose the ones that I really thought I could read and internalize before August. I just got these last night & I already read 3 chapters of "Unshakable". It is so real and motivating at the same time. It doesn't pretend that every teacher is happy everyday and is always prepared. It helps you see your 'authentic self' and offers small improvements for your daily mindset. If you are looking for a PD book this summer, I highly recommend it! 

What are your summer PD must reads?

Five for Friday- June 12, 2015

Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! The last time I participated in this was quite a few months ago! I'm excited to share with you my first Five for Friday of summer break 2015! Whoot!

I am thoroughly enjoying my summer break. It has been one entire week since it began! I have spent the whole week in Boston with my husband. We have had everything delicious you can dream of, but most importantly, CANNOLIS. AH I just love love love them! I have had them in about five or six states..nothing beats Mike's! Boston has been wonderful, but I am excited to get home to my furbaby & start in on my LONG summer to do list! 

If you follow me on IG you know, I love Moscow Mules, or really any sort of mule! Since I got totally hooked on them from a dear friend, I try a speical local version everywhere I go now! This is number 7! I have had  Texas mule, Thai mule, Moscow mule, Kentucky mule, Polish Mule, Manhattan mule, and this is a Mission High mule in Boston! They change the name based on the type of alcohol inside the drink! If you haven't tried one you should, so refreshing! 

Classroom decor...I saw some of the CTP bloggers previewing the paint chip and chalk theme, I am just in love! I have had several themes over the last five years, I think this may actually be able to pull my mangerie of decor and organizational items together for a nice simple cohesive look. I feel like when I started teaching, I couldn't find enough stuff to cover every wall and shelf, now I envy a nice sleek clean simple classroom. I will be aiming for that this summer! 

I am officially on Facebook as "MrsDecatursLittleGators" I'd love if you follow me there too, I have uploaded  a special fan freebie you can only download through that link! Click the picture above to be redirected to my FB page! Here is a preview of the freebie available there:

Summer teaching reading list! Everyone is posting their list on IG, I am feeling the pressure! I need to get going on what I want to brush up on and which new books I want to dive into. Since I started grad school, selected PD reading has been on a back burner & its time to bring it to the fore front. What are you reading this summer? I'd love some suggestions, I teach first grade, reading ELA & social studies only!