Since today marks the last day of my summer break I have decided to have a flash sale at my TPT store. Visit my store today to purchase those wish listed items. Everything is on sale for one day only. Happy shopping!
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Stewart
Friday, July 26, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Getting Crafty and Enjoying the SUN!!!
I had an amazing day finally getting to soak up some sun by the pool. I had to get out of the house and enjoy the rays. After an afternoon at the pool I decided to get crafty. Thanks to an new teammate for a super cute "Teacher Toolbox" idea. I went to Home Depot (not my favorite store), and purchased a "toolbox". I then went to Michaels and purchased Zebra print craft tape and silver glitter spray paint. The actual project took about an hour. It took five minutes to paint the toolbox, 20 minutes to dry, then another 40-45 minutes to add the tape and labels. Here is the finished product...
Thursday, July 11, 2013
A little late this week...
A new blog and I am already behind on posting. I have a good excuse, this has been a busy week.
Monday- Dr. appt for my son
Tuesday- I went to items to be submitted for our new GA LA/Reading curriculum with my new team. We absolutely love Cengage: National Geographic Reach for Reading. It is an amazing program!
Wednesday- Since I missed "Make it Monday", I decided to have "Make it Wednesday" with my nanny. She taught me how to use a sewing machine. I was able to add all the patches and ribbon to my son's new uniform before his Black Belt Testing in two weeks, and make curtains for my classroom. Now I am itching to make something else...Any suggestions? I also went to the farmer's market and scored on fresh corn, potatoes, and squash. Now, I need a bushel of half white runner beans....anyone have beans for sale?
I have to say I really enjoyed the sunshine here yesterday. I was beginning to think my "Make it Monday" would need to entail building an ark.
Thank you for all of my wonderful followers. I would like to hear from you. What are some items that you have made this summer?
Happy Thursday!! I plan to enjoy my last two weeks and two days of summer.
Monday- Dr. appt for my son
Tuesday- I went to items to be submitted for our new GA LA/Reading curriculum with my new team. We absolutely love Cengage: National Geographic Reach for Reading. It is an amazing program!
Wednesday- Since I missed "Make it Monday", I decided to have "Make it Wednesday" with my nanny. She taught me how to use a sewing machine. I was able to add all the patches and ribbon to my son's new uniform before his Black Belt Testing in two weeks, and make curtains for my classroom. Now I am itching to make something else...Any suggestions? I also went to the farmer's market and scored on fresh corn, potatoes, and squash. Now, I need a bushel of half white runner beans....anyone have beans for sale?
I have to say I really enjoyed the sunshine here yesterday. I was beginning to think my "Make it Monday" would need to entail building an ark.
Thank you for all of my wonderful followers. I would like to hear from you. What are some items that you have made this summer?
Happy Thursday!! I plan to enjoy my last two weeks and two days of summer.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Do you want it for free?
As my readers know I am very new to blogging. I have found this to be a fun activity to get my thoughts out there. I added the counter to my page to see how many views that I get.... Just to see if I actually have any followers, I have decided to have a give-a-way. Please go to my TPT store and look through my items. Next, come back to this blog and comment on which items you would like for free ($7 or below), and why you want that item. I will pick one winner tonight at 8pm. The only thing I ask in return is that you follow me on TPT and spread the word to visit my blog and my store.
Happy (free) shopping for one lucky winner. AND....if I have more than 15 comments I will pick two winners.
Happy (free) shopping for one lucky winner. AND....if I have more than 15 comments I will pick two winners.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Rainy Day Work
I hope everyone had a fabulous 4th!!! Despite the rain, we had a great time with family and friends!
I just pulled up the forecast and it looks like rain for the next week. I have been so board stuck in the house that I have been working on baking and back to school. These are my "Oreo Delight" cupcakes that received rave reviews last night. Next time I am going to attempt "Nutty Nummies".
Oreo Delights are easy:
I box of Double fudge cake mix. (Follow directions on box for mixing and baking- eggs, oil, water)
1 package of full size Oreos
1 bag (small) of small Oreos for decoration
This will make 24 cupcakes. After placing the liners in the pan, I added a whole Oreo to the bottom of 12 liners...the other 12 I left them out.
Follow direction on cake box for making the batter. Using a food processor take 1 sleeve of Oreos and process them into a powder. Add to batter and mix well. Bake following box directions.
Frosting:
8oz cream cheese-room temperature
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 stick of butter-room temperature
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
Oreos
Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add sugar a little at a time. After the consistency is creamy add vanilla and mix. Finally take your last sleeve of Oreos and using the food processor make them into a powder and add to the frosting. Mix well. Now you are ready to frost and decorate!
School Related Items:
I also decided on a border to match my new orange/coral background...BOHO birds! I have never been one to pick one theme and run with it. I love color, so I just mix and match and like to make it colorful for my kids. In the end it always looks great! Below you will see a few of my great deal finds from Books A Million, Dollar Tree, and Joann's. Teachers remember with your badge you can get 15% off at Joann's, and they have a nice teacher area.
- I found this at Joann's Fabric and got 15% off with my ID Badge!
- New books for my 4th grade classroom from Books-A-Million.
- Great finds at Dollar Tree!
I just pulled up the forecast and it looks like rain for the next week. I have been so board stuck in the house that I have been working on baking and back to school. These are my "Oreo Delight" cupcakes that received rave reviews last night. Next time I am going to attempt "Nutty Nummies".
Oreo Delights are easy:
I box of Double fudge cake mix. (Follow directions on box for mixing and baking- eggs, oil, water)
1 package of full size Oreos
1 bag (small) of small Oreos for decoration
This will make 24 cupcakes. After placing the liners in the pan, I added a whole Oreo to the bottom of 12 liners...the other 12 I left them out.
Follow direction on cake box for making the batter. Using a food processor take 1 sleeve of Oreos and process them into a powder. Add to batter and mix well. Bake following box directions.
Frosting:
8oz cream cheese-room temperature
3 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 stick of butter-room temperature
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
Oreos
Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add sugar a little at a time. After the consistency is creamy add vanilla and mix. Finally take your last sleeve of Oreos and using the food processor make them into a powder and add to the frosting. Mix well. Now you are ready to frost and decorate!
School Related Items:
I also decided on a border to match my new orange/coral background...BOHO birds! I have never been one to pick one theme and run with it. I love color, so I just mix and match and like to make it colorful for my kids. In the end it always looks great! Below you will see a few of my great deal finds from Books A Million, Dollar Tree, and Joann's. Teachers remember with your badge you can get 15% off at Joann's, and they have a nice teacher area.
- I found this at Joann's Fabric and got 15% off with my ID Badge!
- New books for my 4th grade classroom from Books-A-Million.
- Great finds at Dollar Tree!
With rain in the forcast for today, it looks like Isaiah and I are off to see what we can find at the Thrift Stores. :)
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Reading Punchcards and Connection Posters.
These are two of my new additions to my TPT store. I am having so much fun creating posters for my new classroom.
- Reading Connection Posters
- Reading Club Punchcards
- Reading Connection Posters
- Reading Club PunchcardsBiscuits
After eight years of marriage, and many unsuccessful attempts at biscuits, I have finally succeeded!!! I owe a huge Thank you to Trisha Yearwood...not that we are personal acquaintances, but her show has changed my "cooking life".
Biscuits: (follow exactly)
2 cups self rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons Crisco
Preheat Oven to 450 degrees
Sift 2 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl. Put in 4 tbs Crisco in the flour. Use a fork to cut the Crisco into the flour. It will form a meal like texture. Add buttermilk and mix, dough will form. Sprinkle a little flour on your working area. Roll out dough. Use a biscuit cutter ( I use a small mason jar). Lightly grease and flour a 9 inch cake pan. For crispy biscuits place 1 inch apart, for softer biscuits allow them to touch. I actually use a Pamper Chef pizza stone to cook these. I also place my touching because I like soft biscuits. It will make between 12-15 depending on size.
I cook for 14-15 minutes (until golden brown on top). My oven cooks fast.
My husband and son love these and ask me to make them often!!! :)
Biscuits: (follow exactly)
2 cups self rising flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons Crisco
Preheat Oven to 450 degrees
Sift 2 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl. Put in 4 tbs Crisco in the flour. Use a fork to cut the Crisco into the flour. It will form a meal like texture. Add buttermilk and mix, dough will form. Sprinkle a little flour on your working area. Roll out dough. Use a biscuit cutter ( I use a small mason jar). Lightly grease and flour a 9 inch cake pan. For crispy biscuits place 1 inch apart, for softer biscuits allow them to touch. I actually use a Pamper Chef pizza stone to cook these. I also place my touching because I like soft biscuits. It will make between 12-15 depending on size.
I cook for 14-15 minutes (until golden brown on top). My oven cooks fast.
My husband and son love these and ask me to make them often!!! :)
Monday, July 1, 2013
Make it Monday
After reading blogs all day I decided to get creative. This is my "make it Monday" Cause and Effect anchor chart for my new classroom.
The picture is a little dark, but I am very happy with the outcome!
July is here!!!
July is here, and for me that marks my summer being half-way over. This is a time of mixed emotion. I am sad to see summer end: late nights, late mornings, pool time, midday naps, etc.. I am also excited about the start of my new adventure at school next year.
This will mark my 9th year teaching. I have taught two years in 1st grade, six years in 2nd grade, and this will be my first year in 4th grade. I will be teaching Reading, LA, and Writing. For those that know me well, this is a great fit for me. I LOVE to read. I am always looking for a new book to start, and my husband....well, he jokes when I start a new book and says "there goes supper until she finishes..."
Another interesting fact about my blogging is simple... I am very ADD when it comes to writing. It is like cleaning my house. I begin to clean one areas and before I realize it, I have four or five different task started. My writing is similar in that as I beginwriting blogging I jump around on subjects. That is one reason I think I am going to like this! I love having a forum to address great ideas and not have to always worry about staying on task. There is a time in writing to stay on task and a time to just have fun and let your thoughts flow.
Here is to happy blogging and reading!
Be sure to check out my TPT store at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Stewart
This will mark my 9th year teaching. I have taught two years in 1st grade, six years in 2nd grade, and this will be my first year in 4th grade. I will be teaching Reading, LA, and Writing. For those that know me well, this is a great fit for me. I LOVE to read. I am always looking for a new book to start, and my husband....well, he jokes when I start a new book and says "there goes supper until she finishes..."
Another interesting fact about my blogging is simple... I am very ADD when it comes to writing. It is like cleaning my house. I begin to clean one areas and before I realize it, I have four or five different task started. My writing is similar in that as I begin
Here is to happy blogging and reading!
Be sure to check out my TPT store at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Stewart
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Welcome to my blog
Welcome to my new blog! This is a new journey that will introduce my life as more than just a teacher, but also that of a country girl at heart.
To begin I will introduce myself. I am a Georgia born, and raised, country girl. I grew up with my Grandparents, and believe that I am where I am today because of the strong family and life values that they bestowed upon me.
I still live in Georgia with my husband, son, and our dog. I teach Elementary School at a STEM Academy and find an absolute joy in my daily work. Outside of class most of my time is spent with my family. I am lucky enough to still have my Grandparents in my life, along with my parents and many other extended family members.
I love the saying, "to teach is to touch a life forever". This has meaning beyond measure even to those that have never taken the time to think about the words. We are all lifelong learners, and with that being said we have teachers that we have placed in a "Hall of Fame" and those that we have placed in a "Hall of Shame". (I bet you are now thinking back about all of your teachers and diligently placing them in the appropriate category.) With that being said, I prefer for my students to place me in the "Hall of Fame". That is not an easy task to obtain, and it is not one that should be obtained by simply being friends with your students. Students want respect, but like I tell my son, they have to earn respect. My philosophy is to teacher kids the same way I want my son's teachers to treat him.
So after my rambling here I guess I need to explain why I decided to start a blog. I decided to begin this blog as a new outlet in my teaching career. I love reading other blogs, and recently started a Teachers Pay Teachers store, so I decided to start a blog of my own. I am not sure how often I willramble post, but hope that is often. I love hearing feedback.
As a final thought: I plan to post more than just teacher related items on this blog. I hope to post recipes that I find easy and yummy, great sale finds, and other in general information.
Happy Reading and Following! Check out my TPT store at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Stewart
To begin I will introduce myself. I am a Georgia born, and raised, country girl. I grew up with my Grandparents, and believe that I am where I am today because of the strong family and life values that they bestowed upon me.
I still live in Georgia with my husband, son, and our dog. I teach Elementary School at a STEM Academy and find an absolute joy in my daily work. Outside of class most of my time is spent with my family. I am lucky enough to still have my Grandparents in my life, along with my parents and many other extended family members.
I love the saying, "to teach is to touch a life forever". This has meaning beyond measure even to those that have never taken the time to think about the words. We are all lifelong learners, and with that being said we have teachers that we have placed in a "Hall of Fame" and those that we have placed in a "Hall of Shame". (I bet you are now thinking back about all of your teachers and diligently placing them in the appropriate category.) With that being said, I prefer for my students to place me in the "Hall of Fame". That is not an easy task to obtain, and it is not one that should be obtained by simply being friends with your students. Students want respect, but like I tell my son, they have to earn respect. My philosophy is to teacher kids the same way I want my son's teachers to treat him.
So after my rambling here I guess I need to explain why I decided to start a blog. I decided to begin this blog as a new outlet in my teaching career. I love reading other blogs, and recently started a Teachers Pay Teachers store, so I decided to start a blog of my own. I am not sure how often I will
As a final thought: I plan to post more than just teacher related items on this blog. I hope to post recipes that I find easy and yummy, great sale finds, and other in general information.
Happy Reading and Following! Check out my TPT store at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mandy-Stewart
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