All about the W's

It is Wednesday, time to link up around the theme of W! 

Worksheet Wednesday

What I am Wearing Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Since this post won't really be wordless, I will start with Wordless Wednesday hosted by Miss DeCarbo. If you only want the wordless part, you can choose to skip the rest or soak in the photo, then read on for the free worksheet and some pictures taken by a 4 year old photographer.

No matter, how many toys my kids have, they still want more. Toys are like an addicitive drug.

Time for another free worksheet with The Teaching Tribune. This week's theme was for it to be summer related. 
Once again, I really got in to the worksheet and created a little back to school activity inspired by a picture I saw floating on Pinterest. Click here for the link to the original picture.

I know there are tons of teachers who used the Instagram idea last year, but this board idea is cute and great to leave up all year long, simply change out the pictures. SO that it doesn't remain bare for long, you can use this icebreaker to spice up your room and have something cute up in time for parent open house night.  

Click here or on the image for the the link to the packet: Snapshots from my Summer Break. 

Graphics Credit: Mel from Graphics From the Pond and Krista Wallden 

If you download the packet, please leave me some love through a comment on Teachers Pay Teachers and/or spread the word through a pin. {THANKS!}

I mentioned the other day that I am not really a glamorous gal, but I do appreciate great clothes. I decided I was going to be brave and share some of the things I got through Stitch Fix for the fun linky party with the awesome Ideas by Jivey! 

My summer wardrobe consists of shorts, t-shirts, bathing suit, and flip flops. I want to maintain my followers, so I will spare you pictures of me in my bathing suit, you are welcome! Instead, I will share some of my recent Stitch Fix items. 

Love the inside of the box!

Sorry about the pictures. My 4 year old jumped at the chance to help me out and I did not glam up for the photo session! 

Love this navy print Maxi Dress. I usually do not sport sleevelss tops, but this one is so comfortable and will be perfect with a light sweater in the fall. (For some reason my son insisted I kneel for the picture (so I wasn't headless), and that is the dog checking out our photo shoot.)

Except for the Maxi Dress, I have always returned the dresses I received in my fixes. They are either too short, lacking shape or just blah. This dress is going back because I could not zip it, talk about a reminder that I should be working out instead of typing! I think it might be too busy for my taste.

I was giving instructions on how to take pictures with my phone.

Ok on the next few items, chime in to tell me if I should keep them or send them back.
I am iffy on a few of them, so with your honest feedback I will be able to make my decision. (During the school year, I take my unsure items to school and show them to my style savvy teammate, she has not mislead me ever!)

And the photographer gets a turn at being the model. Don't you love his accessories? 

So what do you think? 
Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

Two for Tuesday & Tried it Tuesday 6/24

Greetings blogger friends! 
Today's weather looks a little dreary, but I plan to make the most of this summer day. It looks so gloomy out and there is a good chance of rain, it might be a perfect day for the $1 summer movie at our Regal theater. Everything is AWESOME since today's feature in my area is  The Lego Movie, the boys have been waiting for this week. 
Before heading out for the movies I am linking up with the wonderful team of bloggers at The Teaching Tribune for the Two for Tuesday deal. I am also linking up with Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday. 

The first item available at 50% is my Scoring Spelling Sheets packet. Today, it only costs $0.50. This packet includes a scrabble like spelling activity for students to spell and add up their points. The sheets are great for word work centers, homework, sub tubs, and early finishers. 

Today's second item is my Coordinate Grids Task Cards set. Today, they are only $1.10. These were a huge hit with my 5th graders this year. My teammates really enjoyed them too. For our unit test I copied two of the task cards and used them on their test. They were excited and surprised to see the task card questions on the test. 

Something else that I did with the task cards was to copy the cards for them to work on in their notebooks, then they explained how to solve it to their classmates. 
Don't forget to hop over to The Teaching Tribune to see the other great Two-for-Tuesday deals. 

I always imagine the best outcome for everything. 
I think that is a good approach to life. 
Of course that means that not everything lives up to the expectations. 
Today, I am going to tell you about some things I tried, that did not really work up to their potential. I would not want you to think that everything is butterflies, lullabies, and rainbows in my world, it is more like tantrums and bruises with some wonderful victories along the way!
I want my sons to grow up to be responsible, well-rounded, and able to take care of their home and selves. Over the years, I have set the expectation and envisioned them helping us out with tasks around the house. I think it is really important for them to grow up knowing that I am not going to wait on them hand and foot. I am sure you can guess where this is going, chores. 
Oh, the boys doing chores! Yes, it means less work for me with them helping around the house. Right? Wrong! Take a look....

The top is a picture of the counter after my youngest tried to bring in the mail. He LOVES to help and I never discourage it, but it often means a mess that I end up cleaning up. Since he is stubborn and determined to do it his big-boy self it is tough to help him out during the process. This was what the mail ended up on the counter, this was of course after he went back to pick up the pieces off of the driveway. Hopefully only ad flyers flew away. 
The bottom is not really bad. It is my oldest son's version of putting away the silverware. He obviously does not have any OCD tendencies! I left it as is, I can live with it. He helped and I did not have to empty the silverware tray, left me plenty of time to clean up the counter. 
Being eager and motivated about encouraging them to help out I made chore cards for them. After all, they wanted to earn money and were so excited about the opportunity. Success? Nope, another fail! 

I made 3 sets of daily chores so I could rotate the jobs (wipe down the bathroom, recycle, vacuum, set the table, clear the table, empty the dishwasher, pooper scooper, swiffer the dog hair from the floor, and help with the laundry). They would each get I set of 3 jobs a day; read and clean room was a mandatory daily chore. All was well for the first 3 days, then the enthusiasm fizzled out. 
My youngest always asks to help, so for him he still works on the chores or jumps in to help when I am doing something. 
The cards weren't motivating them and I heard lots of complaints. My oldest told us he wanted to find another place to live where he wouldn't have to do any work. I told him that he was welcome to move, just give me the forwarding address. I don't think he expected that response, which lead to a whole other set of issues.  
So what am I doing? Giving up? No way, they need to help out. 
I still post the chores, remind them about them. I am not fighting it. Honestly, I don't clean that much daily so if we skip a day or two, all will be fine. But as I am working on something, I call them to help. I have stopped myself from doing everything all of the time. 
They can carry in groceries and help put the items away. The end result might be a little messy, but they need to learn. 
I have learned to ask them for help and do the chores alongside them.
I have not given up, just adjusted my vision back to reality. Small steps will lead to great strides in the future. 

I must have huge finger beds, the sample only fit my pinky!
(Day 1 - looks nice)

Here is another high expectations, but fall on my face tried it, Jamberry nails. I keep seeing all these cute posts, and wonderful offers. I love the look and really wanted to hop on board, I even considered joining as a sales consultant. Well, after a brief trial, I found my reality. They just do not work for me. 

Day 3 - not looking so good - besides the sample did not fit my ring finger)

My nail polish did not last nor did the Jamberry.

I am not saying anything about the quality of the product, I do not think my experience is necessarily a reflection of the quality. It is more about what works (or doesn't) for me. They are so cute and I love the sassy styles. But as I talked about yesterday, I am a KLUTZ! I am not a glam girl partly because I am awkward with the utensils and products necessary to go all glam. I constantly burn myself with a flat iron and mess up make-up application. Why would nails be different? It probably doesn't help that I am hands on with my kids. Climbing and playing at the park does not lend itself to finely manicured nails. 
The stickers did not stick to my nails too well either, especially after swimming. Once they started to lift, I was doomed, I peeled them off. So for me, it is back to natural and polish free. 
If you are interested in trying Jamberry for yourself, you can then tell me how well it worked, check out Tori's Jamberry webpage. 
So I think I have shown you that I really am just a normal girl who tries things and sometimes fails. It is all about learning and growing. I am thankful for all of the great lessons I am learning and not afraid to admit, sometimes I learn the most from my mistakes! 
I hope you have a wonderful day full of success! 

Monday Meet Up Week 4 & Monday Made It

The Teaching Tribune kicks off week 4 of Summer Bloggin' with Monday Meet Up. This week is 3 random facts about me.

Random fact 1 is pretty self-explanatory. I strive to be graceful, sophisticated, and quieter. Reality is a different story. I trip over my own feet, laugh and talk loudly, and may even say something embarrassing! 
I am SAPPY. I tear up a lot at sad things and happy things. Holiday commercials do me in. Show footage of a soldier reuniting with family and you might as well offer me a box of Kleenex. Maybe empathetic is a more sophisticated way to describe myself. 
My husband and I were set up by friends. I worked with someone in college who was married to my husband's best friend from high school. I did not know that my invitation to their house was more than a friendly invite to a party. 
Since we did not connect the first time they tried (he ran home,probably because  my beauty was so overwhelming) they ran intervention with him and told him he was being set up, but did not tell me. It worked. 
I am 7 years younger than my husband, when I mentioned my age he did not believe that I was only 21, so he carded me. He assumed I was in my mid-20s because I graduated college and worked with his friend's wife on her PhD. I am sure my sophistication and grace had him convinced I was older. {Insert laughter!}

The two of us, 19 years ago. 

What random facts are you willing to share? Comment below and/or link up with The Teaching Tribune. 

One of the things I love about summer is the time I have to cook, bake, and make fresh meals. I am linking up today with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It to share about one of my summer staples, fruit smoothies.
Before kids, I loved to cook elaborate dishes, I would read recipe books for hours looking for the perfect new dish. Fast forward to life with kids and time is limited. Now, I prefer things that involve easier clean up and pack a healthy punch. A fruit smoothie is perfect for that. 
Summer is perfect for smoothies because you can get a few servings of fresh fruit in one drink, and it has a cooling effect. 

I prefer to use a smoothie maker because it blends in one cup that you can drink directly out of, one dish clean-up!  
So what do I combine?

• Coconut milk, banana, berries (one or a combo of: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries), chia seeds (high protein), ice if one of my berries are not frozen. Option: add a scoop of greek yogurt.
• Coconut milk, banana, peanut butter, chocolate chips, chia seeds. 
• POM juice, handful of ice, fruit: banana, watermelon, berry.
• Coconut milk, greek yogurt, banana, strawberries, chocolate, chia seeds. 

The coconut milk keeps the calories down and provides healthy fats, adding chia seeds adds more protein. If you choose to add chia seeds and let your smoothie sit (like my kids do) the drink will thicken to the consistency of a pudding, eat it with a spoon it is pretty good! 
In my book, smoothies are a perfect option to cool down, fill up in a more healthy way, assure that I get vitamins and minerals, and it feels like a treat. 
What is your favorite healthy treat? 
Have a wonderful day; hope you are able to indulge in a cool drink! 

Your sophisticated friend,