School's Out Blowout Blog Hop

Happy summer break!! Yay! In celebration of this fine event, I'm linking up with some other great teacher bloggers for a "School's Out Blog Blowout" event! We're here to share our summer reading, summer goals, and a freebie with you. PLUS, we're going to raffle off a $100 TpT gift card!

I have TONS of stuff on my summer reading list! I want to get a jump start on this year's battle of the books titles! Here's our 2016-2017 list:

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz
Joshua Dread by Lee Bacon
Knucklehead by Jon Scieszka
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller Quinny and Hopper by Adriana Brad Schanen Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
Rescue on the Oregon Trail by Kate Messner Skateboard Party by Karen English
Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski
Woof by Spencer Quinn 

Ok...woah! I am currently reading Woof and I am excited to get to read A Snicker of Magic. I love children's literature!!

I'm going to share one of my NEWEST uploads with you this week for FREE! This is HUGE! I just created this item and it's part of my (soon to be) complete Robot Classroom Decor Set. I am so in love with the bright colors and funky vibe of this set. I've also been very inspired by all things robots lately. 

                                                                         

Well, my first summer bucket list item has already been checked off. I wanted to go visit my mom in Northern California and I recently went down for a visit. We had so much fun and I can't wait until I get to go back in August.

                                                                        

Second thing on my summer bucket list is launching a killer new business. I have been working incredibly hard to get everything prepared for the launch of my LuLaRoe clothing business. I am launching just in time for back to school shopping and I can't wait to see my business grow this summer!

                                                                       

Next, I'm going to FINALLY head up for a trip to Wild Waves water park this summer. This is something that I have been wanting to do for AT LEAST three years. I haven't spent a summer at home since 2009 so this is a very exciting thing for me!

                                                                      

Along with the rest of my "summer trip" plans, I am taking a trip to the beach with my boyfriend this summer. Again, I haven't spent a summer at home since 2009 so this is also a super big deal for us. We have a fun little getaway planned with a beachfront resort booked. 

                                                                     

Work, work, and work! So, last on my list...but certainly the most prevalent of all is that I am going to spend tons of time this summer creating for my TpT store and blogging. I am hoping to bring you tons of content and useful resources! I want head back into back to school with tons of great resources ready for all of our students!

Make sure you click here to enter the giveaway for a Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card! With Back to School coming up, you are NOT going to want to miss this!!!

School's Out Blog Blowout

Last, click the image above to hop on over to the next stop on the blog hop!! 

What's Been Going On & A HOT Giveaway!

Hey there! I promise that I haven't already given up on my promise to blog, create, and bring you awesome content all summer long. I have been creating like crazy and I have posted 4 things to my store since I finished out the school year two weeks ago! 

I did take a few days off because I was out of town visiting my mom! We had an awesome time but I am happy to be home. Those weekend road trips get super tiring. 

Since I came home, I have been fully hands-on with getting my LuLaRoe business going. I am so excited about everything that's going on and I can't wait to get my new shipment in!

I also have been prepping a big blog post for a huge blog hop that's launching on Sunday! You're going to want to make sure you come back here Sunday morning for all the info. There might be a huge TpT gift card and some great freebies included!!

Have I Gone Mad? Why Am I Going to Whole 30 Again?

Alright, let me first remind you that I have been down this road before! Actually, I LOVED the Whole 30 when I first did it! I felt AMAZING. Are you aware of what it is?

If not, the Whole 30 is a guideline for eating that cuts out:

• Foods without brakes (potato chips anyone)
• Dairy
• Grains
• All Sugars

Why? The premise is that these foods are making us feel badly and we aren't even aware of it. However, I will tell you that I am HIGHLY aware of it. Just check out the lethargy present in my recent Orangetheory workouts. You'll see what I mean.

The thought is that by eliminating these foods for 30 days, our bodies can heal and reset. Then, you reintroduce foods to find out what triggers you and how your body reacts. 

Easier said than done.

In my first endeavor with Whole 30, here's what I experienced:

• Better sleep
• No coffee dependence
• Better energy during the day
• Happier mood
• No sugar cravings

I'm ready to try it out again. This time, in the summer so I'll have more time for cooking and experimenting in the kitchen. I am going to bring you updates, tips, recipes, etc.

Think of it as another layer of content. I mean, I did promise you some serious blog content this summer, right?

Want to join me? You'll definitely want to get this book! I'll be getting started on Tuesday. This is my first 4th of July at home since 2009 so I wanted to be able to enjoy the day! Afterward, it's GAME ON!

A New TeachersPayTeachers Scope Series

Alright, teachers! I'm here with something a little different today! I'm starting a new limited show on TpTLife's Periscope channel. If you've ever thought about getting started as a Teachers Pay Teachers seller, this is the show for you! Also, if you're interested in learning new tips and tricks, you might find some inspiration here.

Let me start by saying...I am not a top seller. I do not make more than my teaching salary on TpT. However, I have learned everything I know about product creation by reading, reading, reading, practicing, practicing, practicing, and through trial and error. I have wasted loads of time learning all of these lessons the hard ways and I want you to learn from my mistakes so that you can hit the ground running rather than spend time going in circles fixing your past mistakes!

I created this calendar for you to help you get an idea of what's going to be highlighted each week on the show!  If you click the image below you can download the calendar and save it so that you don't miss the shows you're interested in!

Make sure you share the icon at the top with your friends and let's get some learning going on!!

#2forTuesday on TpT

Welcome to another Tuesday edition of #2forTuesday on TpT. I'm linking up with some other sellers who are going to run a 2 for Tuesday sale all summer long! Each Tuesday, we will mark down two of our products and feature them in our stores and (sometimes) on our blogs. You'll be able to find them by searching #2forTuesday on TpT!

I thought that this would be the perfect time to highlight another one of my math games! School is still in session for me and I've been all about revisiting my math games from earlier in the year to review and reinforce concepts that we've covered in the 5th grade.

Both products are super fun for the end of the year but can also transition well into the next school year as you teach about decimal long-division and decimal multiplication. The recording sheets have options for both open-ended questions as well as multiple choice responses.

Although all of these pictures feature division problems, there is another set with multiplication problems that looks identical! The strips are labeled on the sides so you can remember where the slips go when your students (inevitably) lose pieces of their game!

Click on the pictures below to pick these games up for 50% off!

                  

Want to check out some of the other #2forTuesday blogger? Visit the link up below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Then, leave a comment telling me your favorite things to do during math at the end of the year!

How to prepare for your LuLaRoe business launch & a free checklist!

Yes, yes. It's another LuLaRoe post! As the school year winds down and my launch date approaches, I have been going 100% in with all things LuLaRoe. I have to admit, all the bright and pretty images have been making my soul feel so happy! Want to join in on the launch party fun?! Click the image above to be taken to my private VIP group on Facebook! 

I've been getting tons done and I found that it was hard to recall exactly what I've been doing during all of this time. I'm blessed with the ability to be able to keep track of ridiculous amounts of tasks mentally but I know that it can be very challenging for others. So, I put together this LuLaRoe launch checklist that contains everything I've been going through to get ready for the next couple weeks. I'm sure that the list will change over the next two weeks and I promise to edit it if I feel that anything needs changed but I feel like this will give you a pretty solid start!

Guess what...the checklist is yours...FREE.  Just click on the download button below to be taken directly to the link where you'll be able to download it to save forever OR print the PDF file.

Let's discuss some of the items above. First of all...shopping. 

Clothing Racks:

I've found some clothing racks at a local warehouse that are going to be perfect for my business. I know that doesn't help most of you. I do suggest looking into fixture warehouses in your area. You can also check out Bed, Bath & Beyond or Amazon.

Hangers:

Costco has their 35 pack of velvet hangers on sale right now for $7.99. They're normally $9.99. This post is written in June of 2016 so they may not be on sale by the time you read this. I'll be picking up a ton of those. I'll checkout some skirt hangers on Amazon until I can upgrade to higher quality skirt hangers. I have to watch my budget in certain areas and hangers are one of them for now.

Dress Form:

I'm really stuck with deciding between a solid black dress form on Amazon or a cute Paris themed one from JoAnn's. The one at JoAnn's is cheaper but it's not as tall either. Ugh...decisions!

Periscope & Facebook Live Tools

I've decided to pick up some things specifically for live parties since I didn't need to purchase a printer, lighting kit, camera, or computer. I've decided to get the following things from Amazon:

iPad Stand

Lapel Mic for iPad or iPhone

I think that both of these items are going to really help me host more professional Periscope and Facebook live sales!

Mailers:

I ordered a bunch of free mailers from USPS. I set up an account with them. I also ordered these mailers from Amazon because I want to double up my bags just in case something happens to the outer packaging! Clothing is one thing that you want to keep extra safe!!

Business Tools:

While there are tons of cards that you can download and edit yourself from the LuLaRoe assets and there are also tons of items that you can order from LuLaRoe Custom, I opted to order custom made cards from Etsy. If you just run a search on Etsy, you're going to find TONS of options. 

Next Steps:

I'm working on some hand-made items to use during my photo sessions and I'll make another post later detailing all of my LuLaRoe creations as I get set. 

Want to chat about any of the steps that I've been taking to prepare for launching my business? Want to chat about becoming a Fashion Consultant with LuLaRoe? Just want some LuLaRoe styling tips? Leave a comment below or email me! 

Reinforce & Review with Math Games!

I have to admit, when I created a bundle of math games, I envisioned myself using them regularly during instruction while teaching the corresponding unit. Let me tell you a secret. I used them irregularly during my instructional units. Here's where I've been able to really put them to use....end of the year reviews and reinforcement. I've been loving being able to pull these games out and see my students work independently on their math skills from the year!

One skill that my students have been needing tons of reinforcement with is rounding decimals. While they were able to accurately perform this during our instructional unit, it has continued to require tons of practice throughout the year. This is one skill that seems to slip away from them quickly. This game is fun to play and gets students to practice rounding in a fun and competitive way.

The students take turns writing a number and then they roll a dice to see what digit they're going to round too. If the partner gets stumped, you win a point. If the partner gets it correct, they win a point. In the end, the person with the most points earns the bragging rights for the day!

Want to pick up this game or a set of place value math games? Click on the images below!

            

Want to help students practice their mental math and reinforce their place value skills? Check out my freebie below!