Dare to Dream!

I'm a dreamer!  I dream all the time.  Sometimes my dreams are realistic but lot of times that are not!  You can probably all relate to that!

When I opened my TpT store back in March 2013 I dreamed of all possible ways I can spend my extra earnings.  My dreams took me TpTing fulltime on the beaches of Hawaii- HA!

Like most, my store didn't take off so fast!  In fact it wasn't until the 2014- 2015 school year that I was making some decent money.  Now remember, "decent money" has a different definition for all of us!  Let's just say, if I wanted to buy a new car, I could easily afford the monthly payments.   What I started making in a month is what some make in a week or even in a day... OH MY!  Could you imagine?!

I knew I couldn't compare myself to others so I just focused on MY GOAL for my TpT earnings... A NEW KITCHEN!!  I search Pinterest all the time for kitchen ideas and pin them to my board "Kitchen Ideas"!    If you like white kitchens, you might want to check it out, if not, STAY CLEAR!!

So, last year I had a kitchen guy come over to give me an estimate.  I was SO close at going through with it until BAM, I need a new roof- boo!  Unfortunately, I could't choose between the two :(.  Oh, and I couldn't get just any roof, I had to get a metal roof (chi- chang!) due to the low pitch of my roof- WHATEVER!  So, now my kitchen is on my roof and you sometime see me up there eating- JUST KIDDING!

Now, why stop at a kitchen, I'll take a new bathroom, too!  Why not!  HA!  TpT is getting me closer to achieving my dreams but I need to keep at saving for hopefully just a little bit longer :).

Now, I would love to know... What is YOUR dream?!

Makeover Madness!

I have joined a bunch of teachers on a #tptsellerchallenge for the next four weeks!  Week one is a product makeover challenge.  I actually lucked out because I redid this product cover just yesterday!  One of my favorite clip artists came out with a safari clip art set and I had to snatch it up to help redo my Researching and Presenting Research Using QR Codes- African Animals product!  I LOVE how it turned out!  To celebrate my product cover makeover, you can grab this product ON SALE this week! 

Happy Summer!,

Northeastern Regional TpT Seller Meet-Up! #TPTFLOCK

This past weekend (May 2), 
I had the opportunity to attend the first 

Northeastern Regional TpT Seller Meet-Up 

in Binghamton, NY!  This meet-up did NOT disappoint!  

First, I was on the look out for Jennifer Jones from Hello Literacy!  My first ever "big" TpT purchase was made at HER store!  What TpT seller doesn't need tons and tons of new fonts to work with (my all time favorite being Type Hype)?  Check them out!

Here is my selfie with her... maybe just a little too up close on me, but oh well :).

Here is a picture of the awesome presentation that she presented that was helpful to all TpT sellers, both novice and veterans!  
Side note:  I wish I knew where she got that dress from!

However, before I saw Jennifer Jones, I was starstruck when I saw Amy Berner!  I was like, I know that face from the forums!  I had no idea she'd be there, too!  She took notes throughout the whole day to take back to TpT headquarters!  It's awesome to know that our suggestions/ideas are really valued! :)

The meet-up truly was AMAZING!  Not only did I spend the day talking and learning with others, I received a number of awesome swag gifts throughout the day.  Like somebody shouted out,

"It feels like we're on Oprah!"

Check out the gift tables! The first picture shows prizes donated from numerous TpT sellers, Etsy Sellers, business, etc.!  SO MUCH COOL stuff!  The second picture shows the gift exchange items we brought to exchange with another seller at the meet-up.  We each brought something that we truly love using in our classroom-- What a great idea!

Now check out almost all of the swag I took home!

Here is a picture of two friends of mine that teach and sell with me!  I'm in the middle!  To left of me is Melanie from Purposefully Primary and to the right is Kelsey from Kiddie Kreations by Kelsey... check out their stores! :)

I CAN'T WAIT until next year's Meet-Up!  I hope to see all my new friends there again plus some new faces! Until then, maybe I'll see you at the TpT Conference in Vegas this July?  I hope so!  Look for me :)

Christmas FREEBIE Giveaway Hop!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Now who doesn't like a FREEBIE resource from TpT? I sure do! That's why I hopped on board the Christmas Freebie Giveaway Loop (Click on my Instagram icon above to join in on the fun!). Not only will I share my freebie with YOU but I will grab all the other freebies along the way, too!

Now, I don't want you to get TOO excited about my freebie unless you have iPads for your students to use. I know, not yet. Hopefully one day you will, so wishlist my item for the future. Who knows, maybe Santa School Board will grant you a class set ;-). If you do have iPads, GREAT! Download know...  What are you waiting for :-)?!?...

CLICK ON THE PIC BELOW!

Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Tsu... Giveaway!

Hi Y'All!

I jumped on board and am part of the Tsu social media!  You can find my page by clicking on the link:

 CLICK HERE!  

I'm happy to be part of this blog hop to promote it!

A teaching strategy that I like to share with you is a behavior management one.  It's nothing fancy, just simple and effective!  You say...

PUT YOUR FINGER ON YOUR NOSE IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.

I've been teaching for over a decade now AND just started saying that this year!  And, WOW!  It's so simple to say and tells me what I need to know- WHO IS OR IS NOT LISTENING ME?! lol  It's a quick way to let me know who needs a special invitation from me to listen ;).

Thank you for "hoping" to my blog!  I hope you decide to enter the Giveaway.  There is A LOT of great stuff to win!  Check it out...

Before I go, I'd like to thank Celeste, from The Education Highway,  for setting up this blog hop! There you can find a link to enter the Giveaway!

Thanks a bunch for stopping by! 

An InLinkz Link-up

And This is Why I Don't Call off!

Ugh... The dreaded substitute planning has snuck up on me for the first time this year!  How many of you HATE planning for a substitute?  Who would rather come in sick... sick as a dog?  How many of you have pulled off teaching with no voice, absolutely NO VOICE!  I bet many of you have b/c we all know...

IT'S EASIER TO GO TO WORK SICK THAN IT IS TO PLAN FOR A SUBSTITUTE!

Now, what's that on my desk?  Hour and Hours and HOURS of substitute planning!  Ahhh!

Now, I can't complain that much... I'm lucky, VERY lucky!  A lot of times there are two retired 2nd grade teachers (I am 2nd grade) who will come in to sub only for 2nd grade.  So, that means, I have a good chance that I will get one of them AND my day will go on as normal.  Such a good feeling!!  Unfortunately though, my sub plans don't get done with a snap of a finger :(.

Before anybody wishes me back to good health, I am not sick! lol.  I have a training day for iPads tomorrow that I'm actually pretty excited about!  I will get to learn more about how to get kids using iPads during math class.  Hopefully I will learn some fun ideas to share!

Until then, I wish you good health in the months to come b/c like you, it's no fun planning for a substitute teacher... no matter how good they are! :)

Until next time!,

Welcome to my redesigned blog!  I am SO excited to share my new blog with you all!  My last blog, while cute, just wasn't me!  I decided I needed a little bit of sparkle and a little bit of my favorite color purple to jazz it up!  Thanks to Blogs Fit for a Queen for the redesign!  Oh, and I can't forget about my custom made avatar from my FAVORITE clip artist on TPT- Sarah from Educlips!  THANKS SARAH!!

Now that the school year is in full swing and I'm into my routine, I plan to focus more on networking- something I just devoted a little time to and never fully understood.  I just have to tell myself, "This is all a learning process!!"

Please help me get started by connecting with me on the links above!  I'll definitely follow you back!Thanks so much for stopping by!! Have a great week with your class! :)