tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20046202505734512132024-03-15T21:09:15.968-04:00First Grade FrenzyLizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-39310674127474395622011-12-09T17:29:00.001-05:002012-03-09T13:16:46.213-05:00OPERATION Zipper PouchHey friends! First, I want to start by saying thank you to all of you for the amazing ideas you post every day! And I want to apologize for not being around as of late. With simply being a substitute, the ideas aren't exactly flowing out! I promise to get back in the swing of things soon.<br />
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With that being said, I want to bring a very special program to your attention. As an independent consultant for Thirty-One Gifts, I have the honor of using my business to give back. Especially at this time of the year. We are all privileged to be spending our holidays with our loved ones, where as there are many soldiers who are defending our freedom many miles away. And those men & women will not get to see their family on this special Christmas day.<br />
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As a way to say thank you to those who are serving, I am hosting an event called Operation Zipper Pouch. You, either individually, with your family, or with your classroom may purchase a zipper pouch for $12 and then personalize it with the words THANK YOU for an additional $7. The overall total comes out to $22.16 with tax & shipping to me. I am using any commission I make on the sales to purchase different items to stuff the pouches with. Then over the holiday break, a group of young girls and I will be stuffing the pouches and sending them overseas. You are encouraged to include a note to the soldier, if you choose not to, I will add one.<br />
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This is a great way to "adopt" a soldier for Christmas and teach your students about the true meaning of the season. Giving.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizqBa6qocGRp9s4vbDJPqNRXP66aqApBvTIVGxccgRqlG82IyEQnU9ffINn5mxpGF1-OVtfuqbgmZE-uRtGLyq49uxHjFWbbQ4ksWLzsgPxe7RDK9N1dadaUI7tM8nZKlFFLFgXnKmRc/s1600/Operation+ZP+original-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizqBa6qocGRp9s4vbDJPqNRXP66aqApBvTIVGxccgRqlG82IyEQnU9ffINn5mxpGF1-OVtfuqbgmZE-uRtGLyq49uxHjFWbbQ4ksWLzsgPxe7RDK9N1dadaUI7tM8nZKlFFLFgXnKmRc/s400/Operation+ZP+original-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The website sometimes gets tricky, so please email me if you have any questions.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/shop/eventhome.aspx?eventId=E1300674&from=MYEVENTS" target="_blank"><img alt="Operation Zipper Pouch" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/opzbutton-001.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you so much,<br />
Liz</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a border="0" href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/BLOGBUTTONPINK-1.png" /></a></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-31352054156649129032011-09-21T19:36:00.000-04:002011-09-21T19:36:10.876-04:00Apple Crafts<div style="text-align: center;">Apples are a huge hit this time of year. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thought I'd scour the little land of pinterest and see what I came up with.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love ripping paper and gluing?!?</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/205198735/" target="_blank"><img 319'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/205198735_fPZoX3ZV_c.jpg" width="320 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com/2011/09/abc-fun-is-for-apple-torn-paper-art.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">momto2poshlildivas.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/kmullev/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Kerri</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">How cute is the candy necklace worm??</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/185471489/" target="_blank"><img 268'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/185471489_kIJQ4ND5_c.jpg" width="300 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2011/09/apple-craft-for-kids.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">notimeforflashcards.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/love2bmommy/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Motherhood</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">These are hysterical! </div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/177102200/" target="_blank"><img 260'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/177102200_jo29GQ4V_c.jpg" width="260 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/autumn/fall-crafts/apple-crafts/3-things-to-do-with-apples-710710/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">familyfun.go.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/tldcorbin/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Terri</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I love all things paper plate craft related!</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/184036121/" target="_blank"><img 403'="" border="0" height="290" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/184036121_1fRe4heR_c.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?q=back+to+school+crafts&start=82&num=10&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&biw=1251&bih=806&tbm=isch&tbnid=FTRNpPdvxg1o8M:&imgrefurl=http://kiddiecatnip.com/category/cool-crafts&docid=BO4ItfoA6-ccvM&w=600&h=437&ei=GyhsTtvRBojWgQfQqsiBBg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=178&vpy=397&dur=277&hovh=151&hovw=207&tx=103&ty=71&sqi=2&page=4&tbnh=119&tbnw=163&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:82" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">google.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/sarahscotti/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Sarah</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Have a taste test of apples!</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/176291238/" target="_blank"><img 503'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/176291238_XJVCS4QC_c.jpg" width="400 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://tumblrgym.tumblr.com/post/9960536661/spectrum-of-apple-flavors-get-more-fitness" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">tumblrgym.tumblr.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pitli27/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">pitli27</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Hand print crafts make me swoon. How sweet are kiddos little hands!</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/177767625/" target="_blank"><img 319'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/177767625_sWAF2fgg_c.jpg" width="425 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://www.kiboomu.com/2011/08/24/johnny-appleseed-handprint-apple-tree-craft/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">kiboomu.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/sunghee_choi/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Sunghee</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I love a good wreath! I love apples! So why not put them together!</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/173821626/" target="_blank"><img 300'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/173821626_pg6cKTmQ_c.jpg" width="400 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://craftberrybush.blogspot.com/2010/09/apple-print-wreath.html" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">craftberrybush.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/oopseydaisy/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Alison</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/sweet-treats-for-thanksgiving-798890/#The%20Apple%20of%20Our%20Eye;19" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">familyfun.go.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/liesell/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Liesel</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And who doesn't love cupcakes?!?!</div><div style="line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/189750551/" target="_blank"><img 420'="" border="0" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/189750551_N6aoZAfv_c.jpg" width="420 height =" /></a></div></div><div style="float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/thanksgiving/sweet-treats-for-thanksgiving-798890/#The%20Apple%20of%20Our%20Eye;19" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">familyfun.go.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/liesell/" style="color: #76838b; font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Liesel</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="color: #76838b; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Linking up <a href="http://www.thevintageapple.com/">{here}</a></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-45260703793575597572011-09-16T09:51:00.000-04:002011-09-16T09:51:23.844-04:00Last Day to Enter & An Extra EntryHurry friends! Today is your last chance to enter to win one of these ---<img alt="Image of Rosette Hair Clip {Choose your color}" height="240" src="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/42382317/300.JPG" width="320" /><br />
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and one or the other of these----<br />
<img alt="Purple zipper pouch" height="320" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.267428779.jpg" width="213" /> <img alt="Pink flower earrings" height="213" src="http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.268264468.jpg" width="320" /><br />
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These two ladies are some of the most creative crafters around right now. So you seriously won't want to miss out!<br />
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<center><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways" target="_blank"><img alt="Behind the Scenes" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/giveawaybutton-picnik-1.jpg " /></a></center><center><br />
</center><center style="text-align: left;">And to sweeten the deal for you, if you enter come back here and leave me a comment for an extra entry. (I'll just combine these comments with those left over at Behind the Scenes)</center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-65046160382234822192011-09-14T09:59:00.000-04:002011-09-14T17:49:46.346-04:00It's time for week 2 giveaways from {Pink Lemonade & Moreygirl} & A FREEBIE<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Week 2 of my Grand Opening Giveaways is going on right now!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You could win a rosette clip from Miss Paige over at...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shoppinklemonade.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pink Lemonade" src="http://i749.photobucket.com/albums/xx137/ComeShopPinkLemonade/paige4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And a zipper pouch OR some cutie earrings from Miss Heather over at...</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://moreygirl.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6088/6089117798_eb7a4b87ce_o.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<center><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>There are lots of ways to enter, so click on over and find out how you can win!</b></span></center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Behind the Scenes" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/giveawaybutton-picnik-1.jpg " /></a></div><br />
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<center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></center><center><br />
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</center><center>And because I love my bloggy friends & I haven't given a freebie in a few days, here is something I call Sailboat Spelling. The sample shows you what you should do. I print mine on colored card stock, laminate, then use with dry erase markers in one of my literacy centers.</center><center><br />
</center><center><img height="320" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?pid=explorer&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSMDM1NzE5NzQtZjAyYS00ZDlkLWE4YmMtNzhmZTY2MjVhYzZj&chrome=true&docid=a1360356058300fadbc64d7a0e20954b%7C4c27bafd82ae3d49706bf29cb9d2a75f&a=bi&pagenumber=1&w=800" width="247" /></center><center><br />
</center><center><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSYWU5ZmYzMTktYzllOS00YTM4LTk3MDctYTc5MzY0M2UzNWU2&hl=en_US">Sailboat Spelling</a></span></center><center><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSMDM1NzE5NzQtZjAyYS00ZDlkLWE4YmMtNzhmZTY2MjVhYzZj&hl=en_US"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sailboat Spelling Sample</span></a></center><br />
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<center></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-48722316946770394852011-09-10T11:42:00.000-04:002011-09-10T11:42:33.985-04:00First Grade Fresh-Love<div style="text-align: center;">Last week I won a giveaway from Ms. Simoneaux over at <a href="http://firstgradefresh.blogspot.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First Grade Fresh</span></b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="First Grade Fresh" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPV7TxMumZvKjpaH_OwK3O_Uu9GqgvpBZJU6pOQQo_0kDlgKcZviI7cfweZDmy11qxrePcDuJIlhKlcS1eKviuekga-3jiVC3FYLE-Z7PVxI2LNyZfNAEuidFd9NY786s2Nk0QJjPE92M/s320/Header.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I won some awesome Dot Math Cards. Can't wait to use them in my *future* classroom!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Visit Morgan's <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Simoneaux/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teachers Pay Teachers Store</span></b></a> and check them out!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She also gave a little preview of them on her <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://firstgradefresh.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-and-new-math-workstation.html">blog</a>.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanks Morgan for being so generous & hosting a giveaway :)</span></b></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-56621608445301509942011-09-08T14:55:00.000-04:002011-09-08T14:55:52.812-04:00LAST DAY TO ENTER!!!Today is the last day to enter the giveaway!<br />
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You could win one of these....<br />
<img alt="Image of Bloomin' Broach - Turquoise & Gray " src="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/41584959/175.jpg" /><br />
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or<br />
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<img alt="Image of Bloomin' Barrette - Pink Damask & Green" src="http://cache0.bigcartel.com/product_images/41584911/175.jpg" /><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">&</span><br />
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One of these...<br />
<img alt="AQUA - Chrysanthemum Cabochon Pendant Necklace on a Silver Chain" height="320" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_570xN.265203629.jpg" width="213" /><br />
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or<br />
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<img alt="CINNAMON - Chrysanthemum Cabochon Pendant Necklace on a Silver Chain" height="320" src="http://img2.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.265234194.jpg" width="213" /><br />
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I plan on picking the winner tonight, so hurry over and enter!<br />
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<center><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Behind the Scenes" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/giveawaybutton-picnik-1.jpg " /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-68811774451361676192011-09-07T10:16:00.000-04:002011-09-07T10:16:09.071-04:00Time's Almost Out..<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To enter my giveaway!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I know you have all heard about Natalie from Johnny In A Dress.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And I would love to introduce you to Trisha from Trisha B Designs & 3 Four And Under.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So click over and enter to win some of their amazing things.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Bloomin Broach or Barrette from Natalie.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A Chrysanthemum necklace from Trisha.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You know you want to! I'm wishing I could enter this! So let me live vicariously through all of you while you enter & then wait on pins and needles to see if you win!!</span><br />
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<center><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways" target="_blank"><img alt="Behind the Scenes" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/giveawaybutton-picnik-1.jpg " /></a></center><br />
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<center></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-63082358890946234072011-09-06T09:00:00.009-04:002011-09-06T09:00:17.655-04:00Oh-Me-Oh-My, I'm In The Top 10<div style="text-align: center;">Imagine my surprise when I got a super sweet email from Melissa over at <b><a href="http://plug-n-plan.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-top-ten.html">Plug-n-Plan</a> </b>telling me, yes ME, that she was giving me the Top Ten Blog Award (from TBA)!!! </div><div style="text-align: center;">She also provided some encouraging words that touched my heart! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks Melissa, you're too kind :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And now I get to pick my top ten blogs.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some are new gals I have found recently & others are ones I've been reading for awhile.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But all are A-MAZING and inspiring!<br />
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Here are my favorites:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="1+1+1=1" border="0" src="http://i688.photobucket.com/albums/vv250/carisafrank/1plus1button150.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This gal has created a homeschool program for her super cute kiddos called <a href="http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/RaisingRockStars.html"><b>Raising Rock Stars</b></a>! Although it is primarily for homeschooling, a lot of the activities can be done in the classroom! If you are a Christian parent or teacher, you should head there pronto and check her out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.creatingandteaching.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Creating & Teaching" border="0" src="http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/eblecki/Blog/PinkButton-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Such a sweet blog. Especially since she throws in some baking recipes! She just posted pics of her to-die for classroom, so if you are still looking for some classroom inspiration for your room go there now!<br />
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<img src="http://www.dots-n-spots.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/button-png.png" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Are you looking for a ton of bright colored decorating ideas? This is your chicky! She also just posted about her new behavior plan for this year & I'm excited to see how it works!</div><br />
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<center><a href="http://firstgradefactory.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/ALiciaLochridgeButton-1.png" /></a></center><center><br />
</center><center>Talk about a perfect name! This lady shares lessons & ideas like it is a factory! I'm not complaining though, I've gotten a TON of from this friend.</center><center><br />
</center><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ohthelessonslearned.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" " src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z78/mikerin3/Premades/New%20Premades/Amelie/blogbutton-2.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sydney has to be the sweetest gal around. She has been so open about her struggle with landing a teaching job. Obviously I can relate. I'm not sure why she isn't running a school by now with all of her fabulous ideas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i730.photobucket.com/albums/ww307/LeslieFLambert/Blog%20Items%20New/meghanfbutton.png" target="blank" width="200px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh. My. Goodness. This gal will have you laughing while your learning. Such a great resource for upper grades!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://teachinginhighheels.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/ladybugteacher/teachinghighheelsgrabbutton.png" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are you ready to get lost in reading? If so, this is the place you will. Hours & hours of ideas to "borrow" from Miss Gladys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="The Adventures of Miss Elisabeth" height="145" src="http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z459/kwalsky/elisabethheader.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the first friends I made in blog land because she hosted an Accessory Swap & she was my awesome partner. Of course she showered me with goods, on top of sharing loads of fun on her blog!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2ye_rNK6oYQkFF3f0VmhLiP0LVHOScFTkfnhFex6lHnCM7dNv9vQKicYo4XL6bhqLd_8mhLpWTeej6TazMYXrJPSQdxt8ekybDeyOqB13-Ret7PLK9afbudvHoZOcaGjMDQyUu0vTUw/s190/Froggie-DJ-Inkers-Two-Sided-Decoration-N23811_S.jpg" /> + <img alt="The Fairytale of a First Grade Teacher!" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9xlSxNJRhfVmwK4U7foM2PKoUVYDnkOWzOIUPV7IljOUJk6KfOepdx-T191CprDgmikdpygJpiudO6dQ13i1b3o7qA2Y3llhNg0pD2HTMnagendolUpvnRUvlvz1VOr0nYSkWb_bV7oI/s200/samson.png" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brooke is awesome. She just moved to 3rd grade & thus has 2 blogs. I'm counting her as one! She wrote about these things called "Brain Feelers" that I'm dying to try out in my future classroom!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brandnewpencil.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3r8WNMnOow7Tbqxs0-h_f8Fyd0ivFV5vlyBFPCGsM9e97TT8psCoIDbPKkPUp35BVbsWO5qeI2c9bPVhS30Z0Y5mNtR6RRtc8QPyZrjcTzVopoJyzdq5n3Hph2iT0k-juVkV1M71cRA/s144/brandnewpencil2.jpg" style="height: 125px; width: 125px;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This blog friend has been a bit MIA lately, but I'm blaming that on the fact that she was getting married in July! She did this post on fractions that seriously had me wishing I could hire her to come teach fractions to my firsties. Go give her some blog love & hopefully she will come back soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There ya have it friends! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I tried to seek blogs that had not been awarded yet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course there are hundreds of teaching blogs that I attempt to read daily!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now it's your turn bloggy friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/rtHPbL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Top 10 TBA" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl150mUGK6Tbtn1NamSVl6hNt7mzS_ENvhpnQDcBC2S929MUmXKtroUg0PU7Xv-vNr-dQKOVxVh45YWpYlLOIEs8BLubJBf9RsTkzZCJG2-lU81jglKaKqjkBnw9TOqTfBWG79Q23AOCp/s1600/button.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click above & go claim your award! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You all deserve it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You will have to read the directions and pass the award on to your top 10!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for being so inspiring and creative and encouraging and kind and awesome and motivating. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Should I continue? :)</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-70851798109130257462011-09-05T11:07:00.000-04:002011-09-05T11:07:12.601-04:00Labor Day & a New Challenge<div style="text-align: center;">How are you spending your Labor Day?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For some of you it's probably a nice little break in your already started school year. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Or for others it is soaking up the time with your families & friends before your school year starts.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For me it is about looking back over a busy & exciting summer and admiring God's hand through everything we did. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As summer is quickly fading, I have been challenged to start something new. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My life is in a state of crazy right now & the only way I know how to get through is by seeking Him.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In an attempt to do just that every day & be accountable to others for doing that, I have joined a <a href="http://demasu.blogspot.com/2011/08/365-days-of-his-word.html"><b>challenge</b></a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can go <a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/2011/09/365-day-of-his-word-challenge.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">here</span></b></a> to learn more about what that is.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I encourage you to join.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> It has been such an encouragement through a tough time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know I'm not alone in the world of education when it comes to job cuts.</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is just the way I am searching for my next step. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy your Labor Day sweet friends. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for being part of my life in a positive way.</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-15978772875111517902011-09-03T09:09:00.001-04:002011-09-03T09:09:34.933-04:00Grand Opening Giveaway #1 @ Behind the Scenes<div style="text-align: center;">I told you all that over at my personal blog, <a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Behind the Scenes</span></b></a> I had some pretty major giveaways about to happen. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And today is the day to enter the first one!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Up for grabs is something from 2 very talented ladies..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Johnny In A Dress" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXmUH42TQdvccRi3M7dsWNIDuj68Jg2JUtxZ1YFD05sIq2eA6xQ0iFLwyNijuJCX96KpULu_yD-xRgEcC57kdKCefczCapVTlNNFp6aUCcguvK7hcAi4x1GpH_rnOj3Og13KzTr1RqhFx/s320/Johnny+in+a+dress+header.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">and</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="3 Four and Under" height="60" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6HjziAM9TnV3c_ukScJMPAvfQreF_WRjOvp0HZsSOarOrzo_jbAV5huOCEuv4YmXUs6Ms35365e-UbDk_yYkOhKStDOWApP5vVatwkq34VEcyPzfsvo4ERlO-jNkc_KtVXgLLZ2sAHBs/s320/3+Four+and+Under+Header5.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
(Who has an etsy shop called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/people/trishabdesigns" style="font-weight: bold;">Trisha B Designs</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">They are offering some pretty amazing products from their shops.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So head over there to enter!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Who wouldn't love some snazzy new jewelry or accessories for the start of the school year?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/search/label/Giveaways" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Behind the Scenes" src=" http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb340/ekedwards/giveawaybutton-picnik-1.jpg " /></a></div><br />
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</div><div align="center"></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-60486714223292767452011-09-02T09:00:00.000-04:002011-09-02T09:00:08.307-04:00Teaching Blog Expo-You Won't Want to Miss This!<div style="text-align: center;">Something so amazing has happened over at Teaching Blog Addict, where I am an author.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We, in partnership with Teachers Notebook, have created an event so big you will go ca-razy for it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eCKXtRwRjHVXFzTwg8jjlUJH6EIPBytrdWVggH3-gVz6fVxd99kUvYpyvLV8E5PU53QkgTWp4v2lJEqbFUxqbxBznnh7SoYCspfayjUB_AwriYyEBzF8AYW2O2WO5fnHOaFmU7sIwzAX/s1600/TBE+button+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eCKXtRwRjHVXFzTwg8jjlUJH6EIPBytrdWVggH3-gVz6fVxd99kUvYpyvLV8E5PU53QkgTWp4v2lJEqbFUxqbxBznnh7SoYCspfayjUB_AwriYyEBzF8AYW2O2WO5fnHOaFmU7sIwzAX/s1600/TBE+button+200.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Join me on <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">September 17th </span></b>for the first ever <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teaching Blog Expo</span></b>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can totally come in your jammies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You all know that's what I'll be rockin.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Along with my giant cup of Bailey's White Chocolate coffee creamer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's going to be amazing, I promise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The line-up is as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blogging Basics from <a href="http://misskindergartenlove.blogspot.com/"><b>Miss Kindergarten</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cindy from <a href="http://cindysintheteacherslounge.blogspot.com/">I<b>n the Teacher’s Lounge</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charity Preston from<b> <a href="http://theorganizedclassroomblog.com/">The Organized Classroom Blog</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Annie Moffatt from <b>T<a href="http://moffattgirls.blogspot.com/">he Moffatt Girls</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jenaya from <a href="http://lessonplandiva.blogspot.com/"><b>The Lesson Plan Diva</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Erin Klein from <a href="http://www.kleinspiration.com/"><b>Kleinspiration</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ashley from <a href="http://teachinghappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/"><b>Teaching Happily Ever After</b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Go <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/TeachingBlog/Expo/prweb8762580.htm"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">here</span></b></a> to see the ultra-swanky press release!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I have now convinced you attend....AWESOME!!!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Please visit <a href="http://teachingblogexpo.com/">Teaching Blog Expo</a> to register.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>If you have questions:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>phone: 732.305.0023</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>email: events@teachingblogexpo.com</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You will not regret attending this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I promise!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There will be freebies too, like a super awesome gift bag just for attending!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And anytime you are looking for some new teacher ideas or some inspiration, please visit:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://teachingblogaddict.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z343/ladybugteacher/teachingblogaddictbutton.png" /></a></div><br />
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<center></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-11190492484502861322011-09-01T11:55:00.000-04:002011-09-01T11:55:24.538-04:00Everyone Loves Olivia<div style="text-align: center;">It's Freebie Thursday!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wait, that has no ring to it does it? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Whatevs, I know you all love freebies, no matter what day I dish them out for you :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You all know Olivia right?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://neenmachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/olivia-the-pig.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">(maybe my favorite book in the collection)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My class always went ga-ga outrageous for Olivia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It just so happened that we were learning about the long O during the week of Olivia in our Basal.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I had to make a fun game using Miss O.</div><div style="text-align: center;">During our literacy centers, there was always a building words center, focusing on the letter or sound of the week.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The whole letters on index cards gets <strike>kind of</strike> extremely boring if you ask me.<br />
Oh, you didn't ask?<br />
Eh..I'm telling you it DOES!<br />
<br />
In an effort to jazz things up in the Edwards Education plan, I put those letters on cute little Olivia bodies.<br />
Printed them.<br />
Cut them out.<br />
Laminated them.<br />
Cut them out again.<br />
Put them at the building words center.<br />
And the kiddos went ba-nanas!<br />
No, seriously it was like I had just given them Justin Beiber, in the flesh!<br />
They went that crazy.<br />
Who knew a letter on Olivia's body would do that to them?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9uZms-9u_SuqCZvr2V0H-awya4Xz-C6xcD4liAKoRFsi6AmLb6Gz_LOAmcQkfTcohukyd4XNv7aHzXsoqt_WpYlxWWQx6hKTM8oBLwSfNvmGetAqLstBfZjzYFCffr0LK3IsGrlNw8M-/s1600/Olivia+Preview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9uZms-9u_SuqCZvr2V0H-awya4Xz-C6xcD4liAKoRFsi6AmLb6Gz_LOAmcQkfTcohukyd4XNv7aHzXsoqt_WpYlxWWQx6hKTM8oBLwSfNvmGetAqLstBfZjzYFCffr0LK3IsGrlNw8M-/s320/Olivia+Preview.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSZTllNjZhNTQtZmFjNS00Y2Y3LThmZGItNmViZDAyNDc0MDMz&hl=en_US&authkey=CIiU--MH"><b>Click here to get your copy because I have no idea how to make it fancy so you can just click on the picture to get the file :)</b></a></div><br />
<br />
I have just made your week of teaching long O with Olivia much more exciting.<br />
You're welcome friends.<br />
<br />
And now if you would kindly click over to my new personal blog & share some blog lovin.<br />
Oh and the fact that I have about a million awesome giveaways coming up over there too should really get ya interested!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd438/EightDaysDesigns/Liz%20E/Button.png" /></a></div></div><br />
<center></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-30068342355852744922011-08-31T09:28:00.000-04:002011-08-31T09:28:05.852-04:00My New Blog<div align="center">Friends!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Exciting news!!!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I have decided to start a personal blog. I felt like maybe, just maybe I was being misleading here at First Grade Frenzy. Because I wasn't posting strictly about school related things. </div><div align="center">Sorry! </div><div align="center">Now you can go follow my new blog.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">There are some crazy exciting things happening there, such as a GIANT giveaway.</div><div align="center">(perhaps bribes to get you to follow it :))</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I am so nervous that I won't have anybody that reads my new blog, so if you read this one and feel like we are already bloggy friends, please visit my new blog and follow. </div><div align="center">It will make my heart smile.</div><div align="center">Don't mind that it isn't exactly chock full of posts yet, all of this came about in the past 2 days & I'm still entertaining family from out of town so busy busy.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Thanks friends for being such a support system. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><br />
<center><a href="http://behindthescenes2009.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd438/EightDaysDesigns/Liz%20E/Button.png" /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-72322742728565421302011-08-29T14:37:00.000-04:002011-08-29T14:37:51.324-04:00What's on my heart...<div align="center">So today I planned on posting about this amazing new challenge in my life. A good challenge. A happy one. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">But instead I'm not. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Life, seriously. </div><div align="center">It just keeps knocking me down. </div><div align="center">I'm feeling angry and upset and hurt and frustrated.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">My faith is being tested. My mouth is being tested. My friendship is being tested.</div><div align="center">Although, I'm not entirely sure there is much of a friendship left.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I'm supposed to be in my best friends wedding in October. By best friend I mean the girl I lived with for 2 years and the girl who used to finish my sentences. Now I'm questioning what I did or didn't do. Because this friendship is teetering on the verge of ending and I'm completely heartbroken.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">My first mistake came when I even agreed to be in her wedding. I should have said no. </div><div align="center">She is not marrying a Christian man.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">"Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?"- 2 Corinthians 6:14</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">It's black & white in the Bible. DO not marry non-believers. My "friend" feels as though she is going to be the one that leads her "mate" to Christ. I thought that was possible until she got engaged. That changed it. Now she is about to enter into a partnership that does not honor God. I have told her how I felt, long before she got engaged. I expressed my concern immediately following her engagement, but yet I said yes. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I said yes because I'm selfish. I'm weak. </div><div align="center">I felt like I was such good friends with her that I absolutely had to be part of her wedding. </div><div align="center">And now I am being treated so poorly. I am being accused of stealing her day and being difficult and complaining.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Let me rephrase that, I am being accused of stealing her day because I have been asking questions and wanting to learn details of her special day, while offering help.</div><div align="center">I have been accused of being difficult because I refuse to dance in a seductive way with a stranger during her choreographed wedding party dance.</div><div align="center">I am being accused of complaining because I only have one working car and can't rearrange my only income to attend dance practice. And because I won't be able to make it to the beginning of her bachelorette party.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">All the while being told that I am the only one causing this type of problem. Which makes me the only one getting her wrath. Yet in talking to other bridesmaids I find that they all feel similar. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">What do I do? </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I tried calling her in the mist of text messaging and she ignored my phone call. </div><div align="center">I called her a month ago and she never called me back.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">When I tell her that I don't want to fight or argue through texts, she says she has nothing more to say. </div><div align="center">So does that mean I just stop?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Of course I called my mom. She told me that my heart has never been fully in this and that maybe this is God's way of giving me the chance to express one more time how I feel about the union and then bow out of being in the wedding</div><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">I just can't give anymore.</div><div align="center">I'm exhausted from trying. </div><div align="center">I'm tired of the tears. Tears over losing such a special friendship.</div><div align="center">Pain over ending something that has meant so much to me for so much of my adult life.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I can't help but think of Francesca Battistelli's new song, Motion of Mercy.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MMqkd2UhZhk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">"Living for the lost</div><div align="center">Loving 'til it hurts</div><div align="center">No matter what the cost</div><div align="center">Like You loved me first</div><div align="center">That's the motion of mercy</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">God give me strength to give something for nothing,</div><div align="center">I wanna be a glimpse of the Kingdom that's coming soon."</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Should I be loving til its hurts? Loving my friend til it hurts? </div><div align="center">Because it hurts. Right now. It hurts. </div><div align="center">The cost is our friendship, something that I'm seeing means more to me than her.</div><div align="center">I have been praying for a change. A change in both of our hearts.</div><div align="center">My husband sees my pain. He is my partner, my priority. I value his opinion. I respect his advice.</div><div align="center">He knows my friend, he knows she has changed. He tells me I should walk away.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">How do I do that?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I'm asking you, my friends, to pray for me. I'm struggling so much.</div><div align="center"> I plan on calling her until she answers, but then what? </div><div align="center">Do I tell her how I feel & end this?</div><div align="center">Or do I bite back everything I believe & feel & try saving our friendship?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Sorry for this. Sorry for rambling. Sorry for asking this of you.</div><div align="center">I just feel so sick. Of all of this. </div><div align="center">I can't continue to feel so horrible when I think about this situation.</div><div align="center">I need something. </div><div align="center">Something to change.</div><br />
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Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-68460807719764609862011-08-27T14:03:00.000-04:002011-08-27T14:03:46.986-04:00It's Funny Face Time<div style="text-align: center;">Busy. Busy. Busy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">My sister in law & her family are in town, so we are on the go. All. The. Time.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For example. I was here yesterday. With not a care in the world.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0WJoS5GWLHhOw-0ytyomc0Qxiv4gah_cj3HEzlbdaBtAhcGR8JsQ3xTk8OYV5dFocFOV295UzsI2BO42ZZUKKibZmQriuaYcvE-CoHkukEay4Fpaqch5tfzkF2zuakuEsJqDOiHbQU7-/s1600/Presque+Isle+Beach.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0WJoS5GWLHhOw-0ytyomc0Qxiv4gah_cj3HEzlbdaBtAhcGR8JsQ3xTk8OYV5dFocFOV295UzsI2BO42ZZUKKibZmQriuaYcvE-CoHkukEay4Fpaqch5tfzkF2zuakuEsJqDOiHbQU7-/s400/Presque+Isle+Beach.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have lots of fun things to share with you, but for today I'm trying to get a week load of laundry done in a 2 hour time span so I can get back to my in-laws to deliver a su-pwise to my nephew.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, please sit back and enjoy the many faces of my little sis Gianna as she steals my iPhone and takes self portraits.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL8Ie6ryr3oAGyKB34DmET-ndP2N5q_dgZOZWNK0uXwIC-gNP0M67Q8SOo8s9ik2T1Owk1VHxQhuY3wxnlOg3JrlQbRmO0M-jnKWIEMIZfm-hdegwtJgvYia2zy4usReThlBMgoquhKDR/s1600/1000000378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXL8Ie6ryr3oAGyKB34DmET-ndP2N5q_dgZOZWNK0uXwIC-gNP0M67Q8SOo8s9ik2T1Owk1VHxQhuY3wxnlOg3JrlQbRmO0M-jnKWIEMIZfm-hdegwtJgvYia2zy4usReThlBMgoquhKDR/s400/1000000378.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h7V6Tn2RG7v68S_PqxufoSbM9yXQCyE-W7gDzCT3yfHfWwr-SavfVHDsww6rB1xF2jeRK-qQDmlPEhdbt2qGLtOdBofUiVUEMES2DAyhjr_r40kucZeykwyh7FQR9WXhq8SZKEdRT4eo/s1600/1000000379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h7V6Tn2RG7v68S_PqxufoSbM9yXQCyE-W7gDzCT3yfHfWwr-SavfVHDsww6rB1xF2jeRK-qQDmlPEhdbt2qGLtOdBofUiVUEMES2DAyhjr_r40kucZeykwyh7FQR9WXhq8SZKEdRT4eo/s400/1000000379.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvT6pac5teTICFBDanvleUS-O1L18kAmj6J7esbUfYAAaubfV3PjDIeyfSG5qiXwmdX-NPb0ujbpYU8eLbkixb_r0fPGuQgEihmyrOHA142qqaesw6dm-GmMI49BEHoSGtnxoVw5DQj-b/s1600/1000000380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvT6pac5teTICFBDanvleUS-O1L18kAmj6J7esbUfYAAaubfV3PjDIeyfSG5qiXwmdX-NPb0ujbpYU8eLbkixb_r0fPGuQgEihmyrOHA142qqaesw6dm-GmMI49BEHoSGtnxoVw5DQj-b/s400/1000000380.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5-iuhYE04NEBqzF0MMIibZM_evnt5dzw7qAgmr8xAQOonahXpXJO2y9flc5puuLUtLNU50kDj3nGNxymDYY5MnXjhyYhi9vUjy2_VhOyhKdOPffar-ek7X6vPnLXn_T_ubQlpJatOmga/s1600/1000000382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5-iuhYE04NEBqzF0MMIibZM_evnt5dzw7qAgmr8xAQOonahXpXJO2y9flc5puuLUtLNU50kDj3nGNxymDYY5MnXjhyYhi9vUjy2_VhOyhKdOPffar-ek7X6vPnLXn_T_ubQlpJatOmga/s400/1000000382.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls2EUrha3FO5caz5BlwuxtUj9aOg8uzkzLT2C0kEX2YcTcbiuMIAZJlWw78Zr88duOiI1yp0ee7hyOoV2onZI1XGZU1WTPbBh6m945RZHc0gEFGYSSABcXPwyTIrSywfY8Zpdv3w5DlXC/s1600/1000000383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgls2EUrha3FO5caz5BlwuxtUj9aOg8uzkzLT2C0kEX2YcTcbiuMIAZJlWw78Zr88duOiI1yp0ee7hyOoV2onZI1XGZU1WTPbBh6m945RZHc0gEFGYSSABcXPwyTIrSywfY8Zpdv3w5DlXC/s400/1000000383.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVDLiyK5WG303ecJFjbAfBPa2m-dC_WdHbsRgd6do8TctcuJjVzKJEXeQPaWTR4ZJJSJ5nW1IoVFwyDqD0K5uiRtf1j0Ri2-08mz2JU_09qlL4oxQ_9vczjRircBk81kpC851tEB4ou9A/s1600/1000000384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVDLiyK5WG303ecJFjbAfBPa2m-dC_WdHbsRgd6do8TctcuJjVzKJEXeQPaWTR4ZJJSJ5nW1IoVFwyDqD0K5uiRtf1j0Ri2-08mz2JU_09qlL4oxQ_9vczjRircBk81kpC851tEB4ou9A/s400/1000000384.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And because he is just so darn silly, here's the Mr. playing with the fat face camera.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-27LQT4fx4tuZmDHtr4jmLyNeWd5IJ68uuE0aNXQ2mdAOOzTtQCTtCO53O3l-h4EVwwd4ziyrjfdaqS7aATP8XMYDHuziYCsMEuec8nfGT82L55XMQEaVjYM_m4NihO9EjmqHRJ1QHyjO/s1600/1000000370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-27LQT4fx4tuZmDHtr4jmLyNeWd5IJ68uuE0aNXQ2mdAOOzTtQCTtCO53O3l-h4EVwwd4ziyrjfdaqS7aATP8XMYDHuziYCsMEuec8nfGT82L55XMQEaVjYM_m4NihO9EjmqHRJ1QHyjO/s400/1000000370.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-38581067205345057902011-08-26T08:55:00.000-04:002011-08-26T08:55:15.574-04:00Free for All Friday<div align="center"><img alt="[TeacherWeek%255B12%255D.png]" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A1iTpvzLA39M666sGpCy7pYFE0XCSpSs2ixtSnCBRcbngclcGDyF1e9kRSU-Re2sMqPmeQs8wwN8jMw9Ptwvpn51PYe-d9U5PraLrVMvwKcT_IiEuuxNvak7B4J4JQk-iumHZyLNOcf/s400/TeacherWeek%25255B12%25255D.png" width="400" /></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today is Friday!! I'm off to the beach with my family, hope Irene stays away!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today is all about sharing freebies with all of you fabulous bloggers!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I won't claim to be this awesome teacher resource creator & I'm still navigating through all of the clip-art usage terms. So instead I am just going to share 2 sheets that I used as quick assessments while teaching capitalization and punctuation.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSZmZiYzYwOWQtYjc0Mi00MzkwLWFmOWQtYzc5MDE4M2ExMzI1&hl=en_US"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">{Capitalization Worksheet}</span></strong></a></div><div align="center"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6GTEWyNCzvSYzMwNDdkYjktZGYwMy00OGFhLWJkNGItYmYxZjlhN2IyOTc3&hl=en_US"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">{Punctuation Worksheet}</span></strong></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Head over to Blog Hoppin for the last day of Teacher Week 2011</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><br />
<center><a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/BlogHopperButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-39095900929966213282011-08-25T11:05:00.000-04:002011-08-25T11:05:28.653-04:00Three for Thursday<div align="center"><img alt="[TeacherWeek%255B12%255D.png]" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A1iTpvzLA39M666sGpCy7pYFE0XCSpSs2ixtSnCBRcbngclcGDyF1e9kRSU-Re2sMqPmeQs8wwN8jMw9Ptwvpn51PYe-d9U5PraLrVMvwKcT_IiEuuxNvak7B4J4JQk-iumHZyLNOcf/s400/TeacherWeek%25255B12%25255D.png" width="400" /></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today's Teacher Week topic is your favorite 3!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Your favorite font.</div><div align="center">Favorite blog.</div><div align="center">Favorite online resource.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Ok, first let me start with I might possibly be a font hoarder. Eeeek! I have so many downloaded on my computer, that Mr. thinks it's enough to legitimately diagnose it as an addiction. Which is fine in my book, except when I am supposed to narrow it down to my absolute favorite. </div><div align="center">Well.....I can't do that so you are gonna get my top 3. (yes, I am aware I am not following directions, maybe I should have listed that as one of my improvements in my <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/08/meet-teacher-monday.html"><strong>Meet the Teacher Monday</strong></a> post)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="218" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHKUiTHMAZENg7U7z1CgdkbCeVB27rz009PnCFbABj14neEn-Twg-5NcrRSsXaG3-aiqx4TwEgBZzrfWAC5oRZzGHNGj3-Jomtm_Cz_mMi4b2xLoqQ1Z4hMQJNkS4nEV6N_CbyLMcN0mv/s320/fonts2.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/impervious/"><strong>Impervious {click here}</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dafont.com/skinny-capkick.font"><strong>SkinnyCapKick {click here}</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kevinandamanda.com/fonts/fontsforpeas/pea-cara-in-tx/"><strong>Cara {click here}</strong></a></div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">Now onto my favorite blog. This also poses a problem since I have over 200 blogs I follow, meaning I have over 200 blogs to read through each day. Perhaps some would call that a problem too? </div><div align="center">Since I can't pick just one, I will simply go with the blog that started it all for me.</div><div align="center">When Miss Cara hosted <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2011/02/time-for-party-i-love-reading-blogslove.html"><strong>Meet the Teacher...Link Party</strong></a> I decided it was high time for me to stop stalking, and start writing. <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/02/welcome.html"><strong>(This was my post from that linky party, my how far we've come)</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The First Grade Parade" height="200" id="Header1_headerimg" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJSBJUadeWk3L7yynVsz0LqNPHUzAirfajSC3A4FXO6cWidQ8TWOjkakERYHcbqa-0wvIZiC5_Bzmy9guLMS1Mz-NZ3US1UyLKlAxvLyWZ4tYL99tIAGCtSh_NUaWs0PY86nxrhyphenhyphenU8Ue1/s950-r/FirstGradeParadeHeader.jpg" style="display: block;" width="400" /></div><br />
<div align="center">So I have to give favorite blog to <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/"><strong>The First Grade Parade</strong></a>. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Now for some non-teacher favortes! When I want all things food I visit <a href="http://www.lovintheoven.com/"><strong>Lovin' From the Oven</strong></a>. It's mainly full of deserts, but who said those aren't normal dinner options! </div><div align="center">For all things crafty I usually head to <a href="http://sheskindacrafty.blogspot.com/"><strong>She's Kinda Crafty</strong></a> or <a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/"><strong>eighteen25</strong></a>.</div><div align="center">I usually visit <a href="http://www.johnnyinadress.com/"><strong>Johnny in a Dress</strong></a> when I need some fun inspiration. </div><div align="center">Or <a href="http://erikandkatekrull.blogspot.com/"><strong>2 Kids, a Mini Van, and a Mortgage</strong></a> when I'm in serious need of a reality check, since my walk in life is not nearly as difficult as this precious little familes is.</div><div align="center">Our girl, <a href="http://babblingabby.blogspot.com/"><strong>Babbling Abby</strong></a> is always good for some giggles.</div><div align="center"><a href="http://demasu.blogspot.com/"><strong>Fly with Me</strong></a> & <a href="http://www.nameyourjoy.com/"><strong>Name Your {Joy}</strong></a> are where I head when I need a little faith booster. (Be on the lookout for a post about a fun & much needed adventure that I'm doing with Kelly & Chelsea)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Ok there are a million more that I would love to share with you, but I don't want to break the rules too horribly, wait who am I kidding. I already have!!! Guess I just got my clip moved down on the behavior chart! Oy, me!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Last up it's my favorite online reasource {s}.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sisterview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/pinterest-logo.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" id="il_fi" src="http://www.sisterview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/pinterest-logo.jpeg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Can you say..... <a href="http://pinterest.com/lizfgfrenzy/"><strong>pinterest</strong></a>!</div><div align="center">I can't stop pinning! And now I can't stop crafting!</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.carlscorner.us.com/Gifs_/schlsg1a.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="schlsg1a.gif" border="0" height="202" src="http://www.carlscorner.us.com/Gifs_/schlsg1a.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My other fav. was always <a href="http://www.carlscorner.us.com/"><strong>Carl's Corner</strong></a>. Fantastic place to get pre-made activities! This site saved my life many times during the first few months of my first year teaching!</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So there you have it. My {shortened} list of favorites. Hope you can find some inspiration from them. And if you visit any of my favorite blog friends, be sure and comment on their posts! We all love comments, they make everyone smile. Tell them I sent you in their direction too! </div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Hop on over to Blog Hoppin & add your favorites :)</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/BlogHopperButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-32636198711208671702011-08-24T08:58:00.000-04:002011-08-24T08:58:05.808-04:00Where It All Goes Down Wednesday<div align="center"><img alt="[TeacherWeek%255B12%255D.png]" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A1iTpvzLA39M666sGpCy7pYFE0XCSpSs2ixtSnCBRcbngclcGDyF1e9kRSU-Re2sMqPmeQs8wwN8jMw9Ptwvpn51PYe-d9U5PraLrVMvwKcT_IiEuuxNvak7B4J4JQk-iumHZyLNOcf/s400/TeacherWeek%25255B12%25255D.png" width="400" /></div><div align="center">Today at blog hoppin, it's all about your classroom. Well since I don't currently have a classroom for the upcoming school year, I figured I'd show you what my room looked like last year. Sound like a plan? </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Looking into my room:</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aolmPybwGtAokbahb5qMSSKpkq3xvvcRqiBoQgts-5fe04oq4ugJOnSN5K7gryWHlzIbWhXApTe378zAGxC7V9wSk-KfB_DeFD9nN4pt0fmvdt58E2zpUlSmwJnIyNR1Usq6sFXUknP3/s1600/DSCN5341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aolmPybwGtAokbahb5qMSSKpkq3xvvcRqiBoQgts-5fe04oq4ugJOnSN5K7gryWHlzIbWhXApTe378zAGxC7V9wSk-KfB_DeFD9nN4pt0fmvdt58E2zpUlSmwJnIyNR1Usq6sFXUknP3/s400/DSCN5341.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SMARTboard & Carpet Area:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKxO4tm0jFDbnFsmMau4aJ70RBQWntGSEiaXr6-2hvIsVQ4IJdEAisvZ_zQYUUd1VsKhcIO6ZHn-yGdi43mNrNtHgNhOBBlhX-brJIvu-yvkwgQ5WHhTZK1S564khhXI3mMTu6yOFFgZU/s1600/DSCN5345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKxO4tm0jFDbnFsmMau4aJ70RBQWntGSEiaXr6-2hvIsVQ4IJdEAisvZ_zQYUUd1VsKhcIO6ZHn-yGdi43mNrNtHgNhOBBlhX-brJIvu-yvkwgQ5WHhTZK1S564khhXI3mMTu6yOFFgZU/s400/DSCN5345.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My {messy} desk-that totally got cleaned up after I was forced to look at this pics.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2WiP3mhx6COUvCxUNdJDrl8u6VcruHN795Z1H4MfMg3ri-4PynrHXjCdVsEjgQlPlNXMAzQs4x98jTfUtey4-_xBVZsIdii07FXDEQXapZmxTK552OG65GRE8WbP-CyUjTSjVmgDGtuC/s1600/DSCN5327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2WiP3mhx6COUvCxUNdJDrl8u6VcruHN795Z1H4MfMg3ri-4PynrHXjCdVsEjgQlPlNXMAzQs4x98jTfUtey4-_xBVZsIdii07FXDEQXapZmxTK552OG65GRE8WbP-CyUjTSjVmgDGtuC/s400/DSCN5327.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Library:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66-aDs5GytPCj3Snt-MXcaOVn9_rJAjApVZlL2hfaoSJG3lRu7jJVKDgyb8gaxw7-jQrc5hjjFyHIZLSuCpiwz2Mil0-B4JpLWPgXaOB7kVggcm7acu2-HT_2movtx-U0oDTzL_91pBJv/s1600/DSCN5337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66-aDs5GytPCj3Snt-MXcaOVn9_rJAjApVZlL2hfaoSJG3lRu7jJVKDgyb8gaxw7-jQrc5hjjFyHIZLSuCpiwz2Mil0-B4JpLWPgXaOB7kVggcm7acu2-HT_2movtx-U0oDTzL_91pBJv/s400/DSCN5337.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Guided Reading Table: </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXdjnpeSwcA3d9YId14AdeBODBaklbc1pddGCauTwAdnla8EQx-PIMZz4con-jJRzuM7uatA286s8bWmtzqA_0UV77kGSZKJBVF5I51HrI_mLyXXer78q6lsd_Gz342XCvFFE8SW_0ybf/s1600/DSCN5336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXdjnpeSwcA3d9YId14AdeBODBaklbc1pddGCauTwAdnla8EQx-PIMZz4con-jJRzuM7uatA286s8bWmtzqA_0UV77kGSZKJBVF5I51HrI_mLyXXer78q6lsd_Gz342XCvFFE8SW_0ybf/s400/DSCN5336.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Word Wall:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibheDMpQALbm8TiTHN39ENJQVKtm0o8YI4uMfQewTXfIuJSAbfTZGnDvBlpFQbiOEHxfrERhPTjAqFpGbqqFkF5LRoS7KodeRO3JYxZhsElE4SgM5glhCVayx7Eouc6zRP0YojLTElioee/s1600/DSCN5335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibheDMpQALbm8TiTHN39ENJQVKtm0o8YI4uMfQewTXfIuJSAbfTZGnDvBlpFQbiOEHxfrERhPTjAqFpGbqqFkF5LRoS7KodeRO3JYxZhsElE4SgM5glhCVayx7Eouc6zRP0YojLTElioee/s400/DSCN5335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Morning Check-in Station:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAWMEJo154oOdLbK9OY6Iz3zg51jXrVNJD40jb12l8y-6ESEBMTJm0IQBEqrEwJc2DxV3oRB7EAcO35AAGYfUhMTIaTCiv5rIDFWoZpYTdyBZfFTFb1SCTV-VGl0ZK4UyJLhVEUnjejk1/s1600/DSCN5338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAWMEJo154oOdLbK9OY6Iz3zg51jXrVNJD40jb12l8y-6ESEBMTJm0IQBEqrEwJc2DxV3oRB7EAcO35AAGYfUhMTIaTCiv5rIDFWoZpYTdyBZfFTFb1SCTV-VGl0ZK4UyJLhVEUnjejk1/s400/DSCN5338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sink Area:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQffJjdjUdvO8VCvAKnVH7qHrsMWeHE-sxUYoVNj_rb0PivVIl5B8uNfWje06W_zSgukgE1MX_bxOL9-CpyAKgzVTq05s1LeeIP5Ha70YQCpZdI41eaAPp_Ehj0a4NIm2uB35NodOBY9Pn/s1600/DSCN5340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQffJjdjUdvO8VCvAKnVH7qHrsMWeHE-sxUYoVNj_rb0PivVIl5B8uNfWje06W_zSgukgE1MX_bxOL9-CpyAKgzVTq05s1LeeIP5Ha70YQCpZdI41eaAPp_Ehj0a4NIm2uB35NodOBY9Pn/s400/DSCN5340.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Reading Center Table:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc8n7c85gvtM-a55Wj7_vsxfjcht0bDpencYa_ipali6Ei4nQYxIRC4t-vZuPtZJLU3f6z81721-AV7iTIff6jaiQ4w-0UAnn_SKHeK31UeoW3Q7USVcNdQgIYIfHJdlR4U6llhLFMm53/s1600/DSCN5346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQc8n7c85gvtM-a55Wj7_vsxfjcht0bDpencYa_ipali6Ei4nQYxIRC4t-vZuPtZJLU3f6z81721-AV7iTIff6jaiQ4w-0UAnn_SKHeK31UeoW3Q7USVcNdQgIYIfHJdlR4U6llhLFMm53/s400/DSCN5346.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And now just because I can (and because I love looking at peoples classrooms and getting ideas, so of course all of you are exactly like that too)...here are some pictures of the classrooms I student taught in. (which by the way, were few of the most amazing teachers I have met)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Grade Calendar Area:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC0AoQ63fUkMGhOVnmAipbSFEMVGghLsnViSYwvQRU3rZwauQViWOQ2qAJmairhYrxq-h5Xo5ImG9YAYHvV5T_XiRzX5_93cl0A1HdpjCOj-qONHWP0bLXe1yRX8mN3LNcx5hxZGhjMxi/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWC0AoQ63fUkMGhOVnmAipbSFEMVGghLsnViSYwvQRU3rZwauQViWOQ2qAJmairhYrxq-h5Xo5ImG9YAYHvV5T_XiRzX5_93cl0A1HdpjCOj-qONHWP0bLXe1yRX8mN3LNcx5hxZGhjMxi/s400/008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First Grade Word Wall: (talk about making use of every possible space)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN5BpH5SWUmvTkT7gqh4MSEpBvXB_uTS9VakaDsoAhyphenhyphenghE-kjbTvJQPWA8GkbtzwWWvU2FRTkClJX5EOOscffMP0E_E59YkQb1ErBoS2kOjaAgphCjxLs0-Bu6JrEGSZvSfAOQ8tsIwgS/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLN5BpH5SWUmvTkT7gqh4MSEpBvXB_uTS9VakaDsoAhyphenhyphenghE-kjbTvJQPWA8GkbtzwWWvU2FRTkClJX5EOOscffMP0E_E59YkQb1ErBoS2kOjaAgphCjxLs0-Bu6JrEGSZvSfAOQ8tsIwgS/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fourth Grade Word Wall:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgA5GTCFN_MunX3RDhIyoZ8ecADsSUzskl14WqapGnaiAC-3WnSvmeVJ4Vej4t5sEjPos69NO5gpTLAbmb5L9T-TfXNeABlkFkPyAJ2LVatTC_HIS4rTpGD8ug5uEhn44soKxQWQcGDLT/s1600/March+09+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZgA5GTCFN_MunX3RDhIyoZ8ecADsSUzskl14WqapGnaiAC-3WnSvmeVJ4Vej4t5sEjPos69NO5gpTLAbmb5L9T-TfXNeABlkFkPyAJ2LVatTC_HIS4rTpGD8ug5uEhn44soKxQWQcGDLT/s400/March+09+023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fourth Grade Morning Check-In Station:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyuf6PaP3eaQCZ5JLeixUFsriwvkgPCEVg6DTZ2LsOxvmKzETG_xLQFDFuxGohoN3nCv5Fz9b8FO4BnUKhuTFoFHRWEde9Z7OlA_wnCm5_YtEXZppRVcmc8VHrrJTf_qOou6gzl43geWZ/s1600/March+09+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOyuf6PaP3eaQCZ5JLeixUFsriwvkgPCEVg6DTZ2LsOxvmKzETG_xLQFDFuxGohoN3nCv5Fz9b8FO4BnUKhuTFoFHRWEde9Z7OlA_wnCm5_YtEXZppRVcmc8VHrrJTf_qOou6gzl43geWZ/s400/March+09+024.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fourth Grade Carpet/Meeting Area: (I love that my supervising teacher still taught her whole group lessons on the carpet, the students loved it)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg371RoE4-fhaDcumNii7xOhXeWNe_X9fplg8joN07K872PUYKnUM7b8GIAve_MV7Co6ZcGTfPlK2Hf1fEs1-a9q8UV73W8LTIJ3ik_-KWRuWmPGdCcpCCKsv5WsoaxOO0tmMyFw0tRltEc/s1600/March+09+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg371RoE4-fhaDcumNii7xOhXeWNe_X9fplg8joN07K872PUYKnUM7b8GIAve_MV7Co6ZcGTfPlK2Hf1fEs1-a9q8UV73W8LTIJ3ik_-KWRuWmPGdCcpCCKsv5WsoaxOO0tmMyFw0tRltEc/s400/March+09+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So there ya have it. Hopefully you found some inspiration in one of these pictures. If not then I guess hop back over to Blog Hoppin & look at a different classroom :) Aren't linky parties great!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<center><a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/BlogHopperButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-73517238412308853662011-08-23T09:10:00.000-04:002011-08-23T09:10:30.791-04:00Teacher Talk Tuesday<div align="center"><img alt="[TeacherWeek%255B12%255D.png]" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A1iTpvzLA39M666sGpCy7pYFE0XCSpSs2ixtSnCBRcbngclcGDyF1e9kRSU-Re2sMqPmeQs8wwN8jMw9Ptwvpn51PYe-d9U5PraLrVMvwKcT_IiEuuxNvak7B4J4JQk-iumHZyLNOcf/s400/TeacherWeek%25255B12%25255D.png" width="400" /></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today's topic is all about sharing advise with new teachers. Well since I'm pretty much still a newbie, I'm not sure how much stock you want to take in my advice. But I think I learned a WHOLE LOT at the crazy town I called work last year. So here it goes...</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">6. Coffee & Diet Coke & Chocolate &Sweets in your top drawer are your lifesavers. Coffee in the morning, Diet Coke for your afternoon. Candy for a quick pick me up whenever you need it. Tylenol &Advil work too :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">5. Be prepared! (I could definitely take this advice too) No matter how perfect you think your lesson is, plan more. Something always happens that throws a curve into your day and you don't want to be left standing in front of a bunch of little ones scratching your head wondering what magic trick you can do to keep your kids focused and working for those 20 minutes that you didn't plan on having.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">4. Have a mentor. Now, I can't say that this was an entirely positive experience for me since my mentor was out on disability for about 4 months during the school year, but when she was there it was nice to be able to bug her and ask advice. If your school assigns you a mentor, usually they take pride in the fact that the mentor they chose is a well-(classroom)-educated teacher. Use them for that! If you don't know something, ASK. I promise you will look more silly if you do something wrong instead of swallowing your ego and just asking for help!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">3. Make friends with the secretarys, janitors, lunch monitors, nurse, gym teachers, music teachers, art teachers, reading specialists. Seriously be friendly to all the people that you don't see as often. They are the ones that run the school, especially the secretarys and janitors. Once you have them on your side, it makes for a smooth year. I'm not saying you should bake them cookies, that might seem like you are trying to hard...but definitely go out of your way to say hi to them and actually ask about their lives. Don't just worry about the teachers on your team either, yes it's important to have them as allies but it's the other faculty that you want on your side in case you ever need a favor. </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">2. This is still a job. I am a teacher because I have a passion for kiddos & a passion for filling them with knowledge. But I also have a passion to be the best Godly wife I can be & be active in my church & spend time with my little sisters & eventually start a family & etc. etc. Somedays you have to just leave work at work. The only way to stay healthy, (physically, mentally, & emotionally) you need to spend time with your support system and do things you enjoy. (Now don't you all tell me that you ONLY enjoy doing teacher things, because I know it's not true. Reading is considered a non-teacher activity when you read something other than Daily 5 or classroom management related :)) It was super hard for me to follow this bit of advice last year. I wanted to make such an impression that I ended up staying until 8 or 9 at night sometimes and ya know what, the only people that knew that were the janitors and my hubby (who neglected to eat dinner those nights) Try managing your prep times better so that within an hour of school ending, you can be on your way home to enjoy time with your family. It's extremely important!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">1. Always remember your students don't have a clue what is going on in your life outside their 4 walls of the classroom. Last year I went through some pretty terrible stuff & the day it all started I had to teach my firsties for 2 hours after I learned I wouldn't have a job. There were fresh tears in my eyes and I was a literal mess. It made my little ones worried, it stressed them out that I was upset. I did not like that. You have to pick yourself up and realize that for most of your students you are that safe place, the one place they feel loved and protected so if you let your problems spill into the classroom, they won't feel safe and loved anymore...they will feel stressed. After my horrible day, I added a new duty to my personal assistant. They became the smile monitor...whenever I needed a pick me up, I would say "time for a smile break" and everyone would stop what they were doing, turn to a friend, & smile their biggest smiles. Seriously, it works. It completely changes your mood to see your "babies" smiling away with no cares in the world. They had no clue that they were really helping emotional Mrs. Edwards change her attitude, they simply thought it was time to make happy faces!</div><div align="center"><br />
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</div><div align="center">Now it's your turn to hop on over & link up your fabulous teacher advice!</div><div align="center"><br />
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<center><a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/BlogHopperButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-34106646490595762752011-08-22T10:01:00.002-04:002011-08-23T09:15:02.678-04:00Meet the Teacher Monday<div align="center">Have any of you heard about teacher week? Of course you have, you are all fellow blog stalkers!</div><div align="center">But just in case you have been living under a rock for the past few days, let me introduce you to <a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><strong>Blog Hoppin'</strong></a>. The fabulous blog being used to host...</div><div align="center"><img alt="[TeacherWeek%255B12%255D.png]" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0A1iTpvzLA39M666sGpCy7pYFE0XCSpSs2ixtSnCBRcbngclcGDyF1e9kRSU-Re2sMqPmeQs8wwN8jMw9Ptwvpn51PYe-d9U5PraLrVMvwKcT_IiEuuxNvak7B4J4JQk-iumHZyLNOcf/s400/TeacherWeek%25255B12%25255D.png" width="400" /></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Today is obviously Monday which means it's meet the teacher time!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9aJzQEXQtMh7LjuWJrbp8HrB8GlTYf8e7Zy9TmxdxKIT-VyN3drFhandINng_ZifcrbMyEsmCY-67FgN8HhkH6Dmy_VcGsKSlSHgpDtly5Esjy9cmYsV-hJ-m_6ykKC7oz1Smcau8Tuh/s1600/1000000190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9aJzQEXQtMh7LjuWJrbp8HrB8GlTYf8e7Zy9TmxdxKIT-VyN3drFhandINng_ZifcrbMyEsmCY-67FgN8HhkH6Dmy_VcGsKSlSHgpDtly5Esjy9cmYsV-hJ-m_6ykKC7oz1Smcau8Tuh/s400/1000000190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Mr. & me at my besties wedding a few weeks ago.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Tell us a little something about you...</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My name is Liz & this is my blog :) I have been through a ton of changes over the past few months. I went from being a busy, busy teacher to know being a busy, busy job-hunter. Yes, I was <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-still-here.html"><strong>let go from a 1st grade teaching job at crazy-town</strong></a>. It was sad & frustrating, but eventually became good & needed. I won't air the details again (I'm sure my normal readers are tired of hearing about it) so I'll just refer you to the previous post to learn more. I am in the process of thinking up a new name and design for this blog here, since I no longer teach 1st grade. So far the brainstorming has been unsuccessful, <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/whole-lotta-random-math-freebie.html"><strong>I asked my readers</strong></a> for help &it was so overwhelming I just can't pick one!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'd love to blame my foodless & dirty house on the busy-ness of being back to school, but since I'm not I'll pass the blame onto my hubs. We are remodeling his parents house, which has kept us crazy busy..not to mention we have been watching my 2 little sisters for the past week (and you parents know it's like a tornado walks through the house everyday)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>How long have you been teaching?</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This would be my 2nd official year teaching, if I had a job. (still holding out hope) I graduated from college in 2009 with an elementary education degree, but only for grades 1-6. I was the lucky year that New York State changed their year requirements so that I could no longer be kinder certified. They changed it back the following year, so now I'm forced to pay extra money to get birth-k certified. I am planning on going back for my masters degree (and by planning I mean it was supposed to happen last fall, then this summer, &here we are at another fall and I haven't registered!!! What's my problem, people?!?!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>You might not know...</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am addicted to Diet Coke & coffee!! Oh what? You already know that? Hum well then, I have 4 siblings...none of which are full. Confused? I have an older sis & bro...who share the same dad as me. I have 2 younger sisters...who have the same mom as me. Total mess up in my family details, right? It's all good though because I get the best of all 3 worlds. I get to be the youngest in my dad's family, the oldest in my mom's, & the middle of it all. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What are you looking most forward to this school year?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well...if I somehow manage to get a teaching job, I am looking forward to working with a new team and group of kiddos. Hopefully a team that is happy & willing to help. I am so over the competitiveness of the last school I was at. Now...if I am just subbing, I won't lie when I say I am looking forward to no lesson planning! Don't get me wrong, I love planning my days/weeks and being in charge of what happens in the classroom, but it will be kind of fun to just be able to teach & spend time with students and then leave at 4 without endless hours of work each night.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What do you need to improve?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">How much time do ya'll have? :) </div><div style="text-align: center;">I would like to do a 100% better in my guided reading groups. I tended to get distracted by problems going on at centers & didn't focus as much attention as was needed on some of my higher reading groups because of it. I would also like to get a better handle on teaching math. I minored in English in college so you can imagine that I put a lot of emphasis on writing, but not a whole lot on math. Oh and of course I wish I could manage my prep times better----think less chatting with co-workers, more work.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Mr. Sketch Smelly Markers-need I say more?</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Are Diet Coke & Coffee considered teaching supplies?</div><div style="text-align: center;">*My SMARTboard. (well the one I had last year....a-mazing)</div><div style="text-align: center;">*Anything laminated! </div><div style="text-align: center;">*BOOKS!</div><div style="text-align: center;">*My (student) personal assistant. Makes my life less hectic.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Can't get enough of me? Let me share some more random facts!</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-anniversary.html"><strong>I married my best friend in 2009</strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Also graduated college & moved to a different state that same summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We walked out to "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" By-Stevie Wonder. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It down-poured during our ceremony, totally unexpected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(My hubs & I have been together since I was a junior in highschool-that's 8 yrs.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I used to nanny for an amazing family when I lived in the south. They were an absolute blessing in my life & I am still in touch with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZIE_Z-jZ4qDpLLj8fxhjpfzw5S7qwbmfAJ8Gh-Lw5VjH9KBMbeKoQwYM2_mbOF-86Uf1-BZgeQavfsSiG_6AoKUvZdepzPvBlkx9iVshCUb0va54Odi7UuZIoYtY8eKxp-NnQmpFLiG0/s1600/dream+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZIE_Z-jZ4qDpLLj8fxhjpfzw5S7qwbmfAJ8Gh-Lw5VjH9KBMbeKoQwYM2_mbOF-86Uf1-BZgeQavfsSiG_6AoKUvZdepzPvBlkx9iVshCUb0va54Odi7UuZIoYtY8eKxp-NnQmpFLiG0/s320/dream+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVlO_rvBlRw5EMg3_n65cBWqVuz6233MjNVxXppgYKzczIN5wj-TPxnTSXcJfuH78LDyr8KF8cqQ2m-XA9tpXikjWWVUp60oC0jDo78AVCuclmucESNmbEWbPIoMTtqCErY0U9_6sb6W1/s1600/dream+house1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVlO_rvBlRw5EMg3_n65cBWqVuz6233MjNVxXppgYKzczIN5wj-TPxnTSXcJfuH78LDyr8KF8cqQ2m-XA9tpXikjWWVUp60oC0jDo78AVCuclmucESNmbEWbPIoMTtqCErY0U9_6sb6W1/s320/dream+house1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> This is my house! Just kidding, it's the house that I want & it's not at all creepy that the hubs and I peeked in windows & drove by it once a week & checked online every day to see if the price lowered. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh, you think that's kind of creepy? My bad.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have been on 3 missions trips with the church I belonged to in high-school. I went to Mexico twice &Oklahoma once. Best summers of my life, by far. Amazing to see the Lord work in others lifes through me.</span><br />
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I became a consultant for <a href="http://www.mythirtyone.com/lizedwards/"><strong><span style="color: purple;">Thirty-One Gifts</span></strong></a> & I love it. I'm hoping that I can make a career out of it & eventually become a stay at home mommy...someday!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">*********</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ok, I've rambled enough. Now it's your turn to hop on over & join Meet the Teacher Monday @ <a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/"><strong>Blog Hoppin'</strong></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e62/caralesley/BlogHopperButton-1.jpg" /></a></div></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-69359840812347991572011-08-20T12:33:00.000-04:002011-08-20T12:33:35.862-04:00Who's your hero?What a loaded question, right? When I taught 4th grade, we did a unit on heroes. Now..I am all about a study on heroes and what makes them so special. But in this particular school, the books we used had Gloria Estefan as one of the heroes. Are you confused yet? Yea, so was I. Don't get me wrong I love me some "come on, shake ya body baby..do the conga" but I was totally unsure about her being a hero of some sort. Along side Gloria, was Martin Luther King, Jr. & Lou Gherig. I could understand King, Gherig had me stumped again.<br />
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Of course once I actually read through their stories, I was humbled by what they had to conquer to get where they wanted to be. As a culminating project for this unit, I wanted to really test my students knowledge on character traits that should be connected to heroes. I came up with the idea of giving a hero award. Students had to pick one of the three above people, and come up with 3 character traits that contribute to their hero status. I taught a mini lesson on human characteristics and how to determine good ones verse bad ones. <br />
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For my example I used Abraham Lincoln. I read the "Abe's Honest Words" (seriously amazing book) and then showed my hero certificate that I created for Abe.<br />
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I called my kiddos the "Hero Hunters" and sent them out on their own to come up with their awards.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NjfROC92COpMuhnuPJgrQ7w6y4dRse4kd3OHHwKk4xrBOfLCifrC5wSF5-H7i0j1wdFnYDtw6dQW0qA4eWMBRixRwkiiruPiQyIg6H6eLaJ21PJoU4qwReFbaTXFeeYpOKHEyrLgA3FI/s1600/March+09+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NjfROC92COpMuhnuPJgrQ7w6y4dRse4kd3OHHwKk4xrBOfLCifrC5wSF5-H7i0j1wdFnYDtw6dQW0qA4eWMBRixRwkiiruPiQyIg6H6eLaJ21PJoU4qwReFbaTXFeeYpOKHEyrLgA3FI/s400/March+09+021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(please excuse the "pre-blog" picture taking. I don't have any up close pics. I am going to hunt through my papers and see if I can find the class book I made and then I will update this post)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNpsJmKEzn87ExyYtNbJIBdmx4QCK36k8amcEy19T5XCrEEGCTJQnv9JqU2B2JL9Ok9KcXbENFc4cFgL7lQUB-08e7-3LbP7jn2ypGX7dLmSmM-7wwlpICHXUlo3AxhDPH9iiNOV-Tjmn/s1600/March+09+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNpsJmKEzn87ExyYtNbJIBdmx4QCK36k8amcEy19T5XCrEEGCTJQnv9JqU2B2JL9Ok9KcXbENFc4cFgL7lQUB-08e7-3LbP7jn2ypGX7dLmSmM-7wwlpICHXUlo3AxhDPH9iiNOV-Tjmn/s400/March+09+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was seriously blown away by how amazing they turned out. That's when you know you did a good job teaching a skill, when the student work is just absolutely awesome & all you want to do is BRAG about it to everyone that will listen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is the bulletin board I put up to showcase their certificates. I used the characteristics from the previous activity (I hung those up around the room & had my students go stand next to the characteristic they thought they represented most. I used that as my "hook" and boy did they find it challenging to narrow it down to only one)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am having such a horrible time getting the certificate to upload to google docs, I think because it was made in publisher. So if you would like a copy, please email me & I can send it out...I hope :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-84631225688943333232011-08-19T09:00:00.001-04:002011-08-19T09:00:08.129-04:00The Fair<div align="center">How many of you have a county fair?</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I love love love the fair.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We have one in the town next to mine. </div><div align="center">We have one in our main county town.</div><div align="center">And finally we have one giant one for the county next to us.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">This year the hubs & I hitched a ride with my 'rents to attend the big giant one in the county next to us.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">And when I say giant...I truly mean giant.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">We left at 8:30 am and rolled into the driveway at 12:45 am that night.</div><div align="center">Yea talk about a long day.</div><div align="center">My knee was a tad bit swollen, but it was so worth it.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Yummy lemonade made from real lemons---if I could have an IV drip of that all day long, I'd last all day at the fair with ZERO complaining. I can't get enough of it.</div><div align="center">Then there is the italian sausage. </div><div align="center">And fried dough.</div><div align="center">And Chiavetta's chicken.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Oh man the fair is going on until this Sunday so maybe I need to convince M to make a trip back up there, if not just for the food!</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Of course we looked inside all of the RV's & sheds. </div><div align="center">Caught the pig races & dockdog jumps.</div><div align="center">Walked through the little craft exhibits.</div><div align="center">And all of the animal barns.</div><div align="center">Watched a mama cow love on her 5 minute old calf. (that sadly we missed seeing by that 5 minutes...we were watching my sisters milk a pretend cow on the other end of the barn while wondering what all of the commotion was but clearly not caring enough to leave the pretend cow for the real live cow birth happening 20 feet away)</div><div align="center">This year I opted out of the rides. Partly because of cost & partly because the hubs isn't big on rides.</div><div align="center">My sisters, however, had a blast on the rides & definitely got my parents moneys worth on those ride wristbands. ( I will admit I was a tad jealous of some rides...hey, who knew it..I'm still a kid at heart)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">I'll leave you with some pictures from the fun filled day.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KZYpXkZrS6zGSUryOCVIVAgxCFpqhJaMzhJMfJoGkf3R-L8lA04Sbt7fPJmpmRNbufGgT2jrx9DVCqsr7IATOE7Tdrhx9x5I8Vsh1-khMgsH2VnVcgMvA_g11dC3T2PDyQxmBvMK0qxX/s1600/1000000351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KZYpXkZrS6zGSUryOCVIVAgxCFpqhJaMzhJMfJoGkf3R-L8lA04Sbt7fPJmpmRNbufGgT2jrx9DVCqsr7IATOE7Tdrhx9x5I8Vsh1-khMgsH2VnVcgMvA_g11dC3T2PDyQxmBvMK0qxX/s400/1000000351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just enjoying the amazing wood crafted rockers. G-always attached to the Mr.'s hip.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MGI2sANCaf-KkrPNzb6HtLZcCO8EAYqicfi7rnQnJ-QqglQxX59-0qevj2E0rH9ksDMiVqZNPJco8VoEJEpmVm_wsdqFXFdZq5i4K8-uMaBnX8LRRJHE10oYtn0N_JtJo3Hza7VMKKO5/s1600/1000000347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MGI2sANCaf-KkrPNzb6HtLZcCO8EAYqicfi7rnQnJ-QqglQxX59-0qevj2E0rH9ksDMiVqZNPJco8VoEJEpmVm_wsdqFXFdZq5i4K8-uMaBnX8LRRJHE10oYtn0N_JtJo3Hza7VMKKO5/s400/1000000347.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mama cow lovin on her new baby.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd04T-psz3OttTAxFQEEax942x97Idhf9oWae18cIY-tW1HnDdjtCWDuRcZ4iDfxhwwtyYzE3_0Gxc1IIbPv_ak9p-t-27F012Etq9OrQYHhObrO2Fc18p2twi861TULLoI6ZC8GeAkhp/s1600/1000000352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJd04T-psz3OttTAxFQEEax942x97Idhf9oWae18cIY-tW1HnDdjtCWDuRcZ4iDfxhwwtyYzE3_0Gxc1IIbPv_ak9p-t-27F012Etq9OrQYHhObrO2Fc18p2twi861TULLoI6ZC8GeAkhp/s400/1000000352.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">G won best cheerleader at the Swifty-Swine Piggy Races-her prize: a pig nose & Oreo's</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLWsJhTxGGEYJIeejSUcABiZBKiW4sNnNa1ZsCQWaOG-wJZho3IUcSqxxkJeGz5wPnMwBM8HF0tYP_6PvssOsxGmMRYNNPEXS2TMCR8f3XrSFIgwfdHLfqtxJhrSRDN8GU8XDL1hyphenhyphenyTT-/s1600/1000000346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLWsJhTxGGEYJIeejSUcABiZBKiW4sNnNa1ZsCQWaOG-wJZho3IUcSqxxkJeGz5wPnMwBM8HF0tYP_6PvssOsxGmMRYNNPEXS2TMCR8f3XrSFIgwfdHLfqtxJhrSRDN8GU8XDL1hyphenhyphenyTT-/s400/1000000346.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just her size water bumper cars.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo4_mvHJER8YsybRsh0MBmsjF-G6H3gC0rjRL8PcHUZPMXqNa2Jh5JwMnTSJ0q4T2lJk-RapUDW7nXEV35hdh8BeF48d2uAvQ2FNvqfS01-YXWUD_sUhA82xgQOnCJAx1iGnmwSxn_lDT/s1600/1000000340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo4_mvHJER8YsybRsh0MBmsjF-G6H3gC0rjRL8PcHUZPMXqNa2Jh5JwMnTSJ0q4T2lJk-RapUDW7nXEV35hdh8BeF48d2uAvQ2FNvqfS01-YXWUD_sUhA82xgQOnCJAx1iGnmwSxn_lDT/s400/1000000340.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mini-horse--funky color, but cute none the less.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8paNi5j2_1rUkuGfLfXawQDEo6PviKxjH96WwVoR1Eq-o7kJ6mZFssGJPNhTUHQKzzEJ_0eCwC0cZPWQwona9-VDR4BDl6mfWrzi0Msz5VBWdHddEpzAUntO8ujOhnQFsPWHbB3T40uRK/s1600/1000000339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8paNi5j2_1rUkuGfLfXawQDEo6PviKxjH96WwVoR1Eq-o7kJ6mZFssGJPNhTUHQKzzEJ_0eCwC0cZPWQwona9-VDR4BDl6mfWrzi0Msz5VBWdHddEpzAUntO8ujOhnQFsPWHbB3T40uRK/s400/1000000339.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Giant work horse that could probably break every bone in my body by simply looking at it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_O44Xns81Ua-hZ6xdBSCa7fXpY_oJJw7YhT8YhrSG4mmMzlTkVujTDDN_leVbkH4OUxCMojSJbqOoKKTA_MmP_8ntGLxglf-nrdpvRA2DUAETVbDIM-JTNOCSmMvUfPw4k_1U_t3pcNF/s1600/1000000336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw_O44Xns81Ua-hZ6xdBSCa7fXpY_oJJw7YhT8YhrSG4mmMzlTkVujTDDN_leVbkH4OUxCMojSJbqOoKKTA_MmP_8ntGLxglf-nrdpvRA2DUAETVbDIM-JTNOCSmMvUfPw4k_1U_t3pcNF/s400/1000000336.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lexi & her friend playing with my stretchy-face iphone app.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOka_n5cFASafNGd1fLzfAxbkP00L8_s2B5YED9YQJSYKiGtalV_VpGtOMrIRkQ94ykDKNmjbxxUHO7uMitlUUZqiDeZnYmC911GpWl4QGt79bOs-_ZAXcZQjQgDhfeHEKcaeWbqdRC6c/s1600/1000000342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOka_n5cFASafNGd1fLzfAxbkP00L8_s2B5YED9YQJSYKiGtalV_VpGtOMrIRkQ94ykDKNmjbxxUHO7uMitlUUZqiDeZnYmC911GpWl4QGt79bOs-_ZAXcZQjQgDhfeHEKcaeWbqdRC6c/s400/1000000342.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The step-pops getting nuzzled up by a horse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxcR4nfRmNle9qWnZD2ldyM5IzqMCa7_EkHjZWfryhzyaoTihoxhRZflaX5-ReC7ZFtp-g7DQYN2Da5DJDNHA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Here is the tail-end of a ride the little was on. You could hear her scream a mile away. M & I were actually not at the ride when she got on but it was hilarious when he looked at me & said "I think I hear your Lexi screaming, is that her?" You know it's family when you can determine your little sistas scream without actually seeing her.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">To sum the day up-total fun.</div><div align="center">I highly recommend checking out your local fair. Be prepred to spend some money though----on the food!</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-58592820398403980412011-08-18T10:00:00.000-04:002011-08-18T10:00:05.326-04:00Strawberry Banana-Smoothies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefmDr4WLMdz-85Py8HkvREk9z0vMpubZEFpmxy3UAde-KFm7p17-ahEePjR03vP_fXD7ULOBmVXX5N61rUTOgPF0F5oPJq7mwTcWJoGQ9UCsXWT_rnfdYeLcUfa-XK2jVXm1mBIirEF0n/s1600/1000000334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefmDr4WLMdz-85Py8HkvREk9z0vMpubZEFpmxy3UAde-KFm7p17-ahEePjR03vP_fXD7ULOBmVXX5N61rUTOgPF0F5oPJq7mwTcWJoGQ9UCsXWT_rnfdYeLcUfa-XK2jVXm1mBIirEF0n/s400/1000000334.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">YUM! </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Strawberries.</div><div align="center">Bananas.</div><div align="center">Ice Cream.</div><div align="center">Ice.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Best mix ever :)</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR9h0nOQl-ps1pODnN4f3WTF57ZuaXVW8oYSsupAlGFltVs2_pUWfDIRZEmal5kLbMN4iSEiWlnndIqg4kkeFyZgQvhDIpU47fuvUrzTnmtDS1IEVs5ZmTnvDX9JyXY3fGMpNvUWpbdsy/s1600/1000000329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR9h0nOQl-ps1pODnN4f3WTF57ZuaXVW8oYSsupAlGFltVs2_pUWfDIRZEmal5kLbMN4iSEiWlnndIqg4kkeFyZgQvhDIpU47fuvUrzTnmtDS1IEVs5ZmTnvDX9JyXY3fGMpNvUWpbdsy/s400/1000000329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All ya need is a couple strawberries, 2 banana's, 2 scoops of ice cream, & about 5-6 ice cubes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cut up the strawberries & bananas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Toss it all in the blender.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9QoQfAOlXcMP20L_WQL1uvm7AVdGdb7VXcOpbkChZqTNMcw93dVbL2eR2Le5GQ1BnYTY6Tp8LvXuEezqCO8TykdDvHSmoqGpaXhAlHpBUdYtQmQf76x_ilFHrNOq8pI6zycijZLeC9pC/s1600/1000000330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9QoQfAOlXcMP20L_WQL1uvm7AVdGdb7VXcOpbkChZqTNMcw93dVbL2eR2Le5GQ1BnYTY6Tp8LvXuEezqCO8TykdDvHSmoqGpaXhAlHpBUdYtQmQf76x_ilFHrNOq8pI6zycijZLeC9pC/s400/1000000330.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And blend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And blend some more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stop & stir a bit so that the fruit doesn't get stuck on the bottom and block the spinner thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then blend again.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9TQnvgwQZJEXiHRNIU-hVcyn0PHeMscS2jUsvhLvFogidRDCFO9PtjYi0D8nZTHL711_XVGR2fSydsJlFloBBWolL7snKqB46wgiJiK5757Zk5zs29XAcBwWMXMhQxJ3Sz0Qzx9iU5rB/s1600/1000000331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9TQnvgwQZJEXiHRNIU-hVcyn0PHeMscS2jUsvhLvFogidRDCFO9PtjYi0D8nZTHL711_XVGR2fSydsJlFloBBWolL7snKqB46wgiJiK5757Zk5zs29XAcBwWMXMhQxJ3Sz0Qzx9iU5rB/s400/1000000331.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eventually it will start to resemble a liquid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's when ya know it's ready.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr150L6fawkQz0uVUomPgOQgjC7v0aLAcTJ4LCInPU4ZdlcNv3oMJOyLwM_HsE76irAvaXT_qicDFEILTiq9etA7pbTqL8Z6ZxfVeL_38KW_DUA6xV_zf7JyPYfLw1gm02mZiNDuumNnL7/s1600/1000000332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr150L6fawkQz0uVUomPgOQgjC7v0aLAcTJ4LCInPU4ZdlcNv3oMJOyLwM_HsE76irAvaXT_qicDFEILTiq9etA7pbTqL8Z6ZxfVeL_38KW_DUA6xV_zf7JyPYfLw1gm02mZiNDuumNnL7/s400/1000000332.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pour into some cups & enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I made this with the little sis and she couldn't get enough. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She actually finished hers & tried stealing mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was that yummy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And did I mention how simple it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you get an easier smoothie recipe?</div><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So gather some fruit, toss it in the blender, & enjoy a summer treat before those hot days are over.</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And for you workout peeps out there-just add some protein mix. That's what I did for the hubs, of course he wanted some peanut butter added too! (which was equally as delish)</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-4721120355702286632011-08-17T10:00:00.002-04:002011-08-17T10:00:08.643-04:00Perhaps I should title this week card week?I'm back again today with some more cards! Yea, I know, I'm totally "carding-out" aka-wiggin out on the card talk. But I'm ok with that.<br />
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Today I want to share about my little's birthday & the invites she made. I'm totally rubbing my craftiness off on her. (She told me that I have set a standard for when she comes over to my house-some type of crafting has to be done or else she will report to the mama that she is bored at my home. Oh no, can never have that word uttered in a sentence with the cool big sista's house!!!) Thus the invitation crafting began....<br />
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For her *gasp* 11th birthday, she planned on having 5 girls stay over, sleep in the tent, & play some Minute to Win it challenges. So for her invitations, she wanted to play up the challenge part.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the cover, we picked a font & typed it up. Then cut it out & glued it onto some scraps I had, which just so happen to be the perfect size for invitations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the inside we typed up what we wanted it to say, printed & cut it out then just glued it down. She had so much fun creating it. I had little envelopes that we stuffed it into & sent them on their way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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And in an attempt to keep you all reading this bloggy here, I decided I wouldn't drag the card thing out with another day of posting. SO here is the card that I made for the little's birthday. <br />
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I used a sheet of that <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/08/homemade-cards.html"><strong>shimmery card-stock</strong></a> that I scarfed from Joann's for $.50! Played around in Microsoft Word and came up with this. I'm pretty proud of it, if I do say so myself. <br />
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Here is the inside. It was a hit at the party & Lexi really liked it, so that's all that matters.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-F2FSfOa3Flp-b7xTejuVbv_FZlFFHnnvHHxlLHjCgW9b9CJlRYJTtBcqIQni8jX_EfmTK3Lm26KEfOSaYjTSiyWZd-3wf780etnJiImMbeGcp0XdVZbdBCm6GPzcB1T771DNvufQT-p/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-F2FSfOa3Flp-b7xTejuVbv_FZlFFHnnvHHxlLHjCgW9b9CJlRYJTtBcqIQni8jX_EfmTK3Lm26KEfOSaYjTSiyWZd-3wf780etnJiImMbeGcp0XdVZbdBCm6GPzcB1T771DNvufQT-p/s400/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkSahFCnbiMYU36FFxbU9ZCvEFIFHjK9qyJfaky4w0b9q7HPpTmgIaba5Zkik-Ze3UUyI_lDNURBkJsyovo_seFwQZqFkZMxDbsUKVA31DsfVberkt8KpFW2H_slaNyjhkEOm6TkySo62/s1600/photo+2+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkSahFCnbiMYU36FFxbU9ZCvEFIFHjK9qyJfaky4w0b9q7HPpTmgIaba5Zkik-Ze3UUyI_lDNURBkJsyovo_seFwQZqFkZMxDbsUKVA31DsfVberkt8KpFW2H_slaNyjhkEOm6TkySo62/s400/photo+2+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>For the envelope, I used my Cricut to cut out some letters & a flower. I used poster board since the scrapbook paper I have seems to be way to thing. (it is impossible to get it off the cutting mat & rips into a million pieces when I try) The poster board seemed to work perfect, although I'm sure it will weaken my cutting needle.<br />
And just because it's my blog & I can...here is a picture from this past winter (before the sis &I chopped off our hair for Locks of Love)<br />
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I love her. I can't believe she is 11 and going into 6th grade. Not possible. I seriously can't wrap my head around it. She is becoming such an amazing young lady whose heart is currently set on following Jesus & I couldn't be more proud. My only wish for her is that she will continue to cling to His word through all the turmoil of middle school, jr. & sr high, & college. I'm hoping she has learned from my mistakes and will remember her true reward is in Heaven, after she has lived a life full of Jesus lovin & sharin :)<br />
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Love you Lexi-Lou.Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2004620250573451213.post-71607680200692073382011-08-16T10:00:00.002-04:002011-08-16T10:00:03.039-04:00Cards Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a card I made for my hubs for our anniversary which was <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-anniversary.html"><strong>last month</strong></a> for those of you who are unaware & dying to find out when I said I do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I actually started this card at a recent Ladies Night Out at <a href="http://www.believerschapel-allegany.com/"><strong>my amazing church</strong></a> (if you want to quick click over there & check it out, I won't mind).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once a month the ladies get together and do something crafty. One month was making blankets, then there was knitting/crocheting, then card making, & bracelet making. This month we are just planning on watching Soul Surfer, which I'm super excited about!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So anyways, back to the topic. My card. I love cards. I am totally & absolutely a card person. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mr. Edwards-not so much. He hates cards. Thinks they are a waste, which usually translates to me not getting one. But I was taught by my mama <strike>to hoard</strike> not throw away special cards. So I have a box in my office full of all the cards I have gotten since going to college 6 years ago (all the cards before that are at my parents house, since my mom kept them all)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">{You might remember my quick mention of the <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/06/head-hung-low.html"><strong>Father's Day Card</strong></a> I made at Ladies Night Out.}</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is the cover. I am pretty proud of it. A friend at church busted out her Cricut and cut out the letters for me. And now that I have my own Cricut, I'm thinking I can make a whole lot more of these. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh Honey--look out for card overload :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't be surprised either M, you married this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Below is the inside of the card that I finished up at home since I wanted to type up the saying inside it. I found the saying on <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/61409987/"><strong>Pinterest</strong></a>, go figure. Are you surprised? No, ok. Since I didn't have time to make the actual canvas craft, I decided just to use the saying for my card. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Needless to say, M loved it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center">Have I motivated you to start making your own cards? At all? Maybe a little? I promise it's fun, pretty easy, & cheap. (Which totally makes it easier to free up money in the hubs strict budget to buy other things...like say a <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/08/ask-me-how-much.html"><strong>Cricut</strong></a> or a <a href="http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/08/chevron-wall-art-tutorial.html"><strong>canvas for some Chevron playing</strong></a>? </div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">The possibilities are endless really.</div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13259409014027760649noreply@blogger.com0