My 2 Scents (HA!)

    Everyone needs a Yankee Candle!  During the summer, I try to use a citrus scent and in the fall and winter months, a baked apple or cinnamon something or rather. I know the Yankee Candles are a tad pricey, but if you buy them on sale (or at the outlet stores), then I feel one can justify spending a little extra cash.  I buy the one wick, pillar candles and one candle can scent the whole house!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!


Here is what I am burning right now

Here is what I burned last winter (and plan to burn again this fall):

Oh, and their room sprays are amazing!  I ONLY buy those on sale for sure.  The McIntosh Apple is so fresh, perfect for my classroom after my sometimes stinky little angels come in from a hot recess or PE session!  

*Right now they are having a buy one, get one 1/2 off sale!!  Wahoo!*

Yankee Candle Website

Happy Smelling!
xoxo
Summer

Frosty Mug Memories

Today has been a HOT, busy day.  I have not had time to experiment much with Pinterest activities lately...typing up sub lesson plans for 8 weeks of school is exhausting!


Here is the post I have chosen for today:

 Make Your Own Photo Coasters!

• Great Christmas presents for family!
• Cheap materials!
• Directions seem simple enough!

I will be making these after my son is born so I will have sets with both Rylie and Zacharia in them.  (I might try to make a couple of just Rylie to see if I know what I'm doing...HA!)

Here's the link:
Mine for the Making; Photo coaster blog

Happy Monday!
xoxo
Summer

Heating Up the Kitchen

   Summer time is brutal in Oklahoma, even cooking in my house causes the temperature to rise!  It has been quite a task trying to feed my family without passing out by the stove.  I broke down and bought a couple of frozen 'dinners in a bag' that you simply toss on a skillet and cook for less than 10 minutes. 

   I tried this one from Stouffers and we loved it!  (I felt it needed more veggies so I added my own extra carrots and peas.  I just tossed them in some water in a bowl and 'steamed' them in the microwave for 5 minutes and added them to the pan).

Needless to say, it was a big hit...

  We are off to our weekly Sunday Supper with our friends.  Tonight we will be having Sweedish Meatballs and Noodles.  (Since we aren't hosting, we are bringing a side dish-- roasted Summer vegetables and those delish cookies I shared in a recipe earlier this week.)

Happy Eating ya'll!

xoxo
Summer



What I'm reading now!

There are virtually thousands of books in the world about being pregnant and child birth, but who reads the 'after books'?  I didn't!  But I read this woman's article in the Wall St. Journal about French parenting.  The title threw me off (Why French Parents are Superior-- whoa lady, really?!) but reading the article was so intriguing, I bought her book as soon as I could!  It.  Is.  Fascinating!  I love it! 

I am only on the first two chapters (just started today) but her theory is that parenting is not hard, and parents shouldn't 'helicopter' over their children.  Be a proactive parent but don't hover over them, helping them with every move.  It makes sense. 

Here is the link to her article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816.html

Here is what her book looks like (since it just came out, it's only available in hardback for a while. But still worth the price--check it out on Amazon.com!)

Well, we had a BIG day in Sand Springs at our friend's birthday party, this mama is pooped. 
Night ya'll and happy reading!

xoxo

Summer

First Day of Pre-K

   I'm assuming I will be able to make it the first day of school this year...or maybe my baby will come sooner?  Who knows!  Regardless, here is an adorable, EASY project for my class to do the first day of school (or first week if time goes by fast!)

Here is what you need:

• Cardboard (blank) puzzles (Dollar Tree?, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc)
• Medium sized manila envelopes (our supply closet at school has a plethora of them because no one ever uses them!)
• Poem
• Non-Toxic, washable paint (finger paint, Crayola classroom paint, etc.)
• Sharpie to label each puzzle

   (*I would like to point out that I have an AMAZING aide who manages most of our art projects.  The best time to attempt this painting activity is during centers and she pulls 2 or 3 kiddos aside at a time.*)



   I retyped the cute little poem.  Here is the text (I don't know how to attach a Word Document or convert one into Adobe. :(  If you do, feel free to show me!)

Now you can sit down on the floor With your favorite Pre-K kid. We’ll put it together while I tell about All the fun things we did!

I made a puzzle just for you, At school on my very first day. It’s made with love and my handprint, In a very special way.

 
   Once everyone has painted their precious puzzles, they can illustrate their envelopes and you can send them home!  Love?  I do!

Happy Friday, Ya'll!
Summer

First Grade Funny...

I will never forget Emilio.  He was one of my favorite kiddos in my first year of teaching.  He was so hyper and full of energy.  Back then, I would have said he was a 'handful'.  The best part about him was you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth...

One day during math centers, a friend accused him of cheating at a game.  I asked him if he was.  He said no.  I gave him my 'best teacher look' and asked him if he was lying.  Honest to Moses, he looked right at me and said, "No ma'am.  I only lie at home."  Priceless.

For all you teachers out there, you know those stinker kids keep us on our toes. Here's a 'funny' to top it off:

WW Wednesday (Weight Watchers)

It has been almost two years since I have been an official WW member...I was actually following the program when I became pregnant with my first child, Rylie (the doctor thinks my losing weight kicked off my ovulation...being overweight stops normal body functions like that-- so AMEN to WW!)  Anyways.  I am so excited to start again, I have gotten out all my books and read through them...I've looked at healthy recipes and scoured over endless blogs and websites from people who are successful and WW and cook yummy foods that even Zach will eat.

 Let me pause for a minute to help you understand...my husband is not a picky eater by any means.  But some WW recipes out there are BIZARRE and gross.  I will never forget the first time I made Weight Watchers Shepard's Pie.  Virtually everything came from a can and it didn't even taste like food.  My dogs wouldn't even eat it!

I am 8 months pregnant with my second (and last) child, and this pregnancy has been unique in that all I have wanted to eat is fast food, coke, and Reeses Pieces...oh and it is also a back to back pregnancy with my last one (our children will be about 11 months apart!  EEK!)  So I will have a LOT of work to do on the treadmill!  I am starting to change my eating habits now, and let me tell you friends-- celery sticks, salad, and endless bottles of water really don't make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside like a warm chocolate chip cookie and a frosty glass of Coca Cola...Just sayin.  If you have any amazing recipes out there that are healthy and worth tryin, shoot 'em my way!  I am going to attempt a cookie recipe tonight using cake batter?!  The pictures look pretty awesome and they are only a few points per cookie...if they turn out I will bring them to our weekly Sunday Suppers with our group of friends we have.  If they don't turn out...well, we will have two very happy dogs in our back yard!

Here's the link to the cookies (and this chickie's blog and pinterest site have the best WW stuff I have found.  You should poke around her sites if you have a minute or two).

http://livingachangedlife.blogspot.com/2010/09/recipe-review-cake-mix-chip-cookies.html

Vacation is over!

     I have been contemplating keeping up with my blog and adding things to make my life seem..more interesting! HA!  So I am going to make a conscious effort to blog every week about something.  Here is what I have come up with:
   Monday:  Pin-interesting!  (I love Pinterest, I will give feedback on something new I have attempted from the site.)
   Tuesday:  Love to Pieces (something I love and I feel everyone must have!)
   Wednesday:  Weight Watchers update (I will be doing this to help myself stay on track and to provide ideas and support for others.)  I obviously can't do a whole lot until my baby boy is born in a few weeks...but I will try!
   Thursday: Food for Thought/Funny Bones (because life is boring without laughter or inspiration)
   Friday:  Something school related ?!  I won't be back in the classroom for a while due to Maternity Leave...but I still have good ideas!

    I have so much on my plate right now, I hope I can keep up.  But I am looking forward to writing again and really putting myself out there.  Now if I can only keep  my sanity while waddling around, trying to deter the choas and calamity that is my house (a 10 month old; a husband; excessive Oklahoma summer heat; and swollen, unhappy feet!) 

(Sigh, the living room WAS clean...)