Forgive me readers...for I have sinned...

Forgive me readers...for I have sinned...

It's been 8 months since my last post.

I could sit here and list all of my excuses...

I planned a weddin'.

I moved.

I got married.

Photo credit: Caroline Brantley Photography

I went on a honeymoon.

My grade level had 4 state tests.

I took up a new hobby of cross-stitchin'.

I read books that didn't start with "Once Upon a Time".

 I watched a lot of Netflix and Amazon Instant Video.

I cut open and broke my finger.

I was tired.

Or...

I could just ask you for forgiveness.

Forgive me?

Pleeeeeeeaaaaassssseee!?!

I'm not goin' to make empty promises that I will be back full force

with bloggin' because I might be lyin' to both of us.

I will just have to take it one linky at a time.

I've missed you all though.

That should count for somethin'...right?

Lots of cool things happened in my classroom this past year.

You'll just have to take my word for it.

I thought the best way to ease myself back into bloggin' would be to 

link up with my friend Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for "Monday Made It".

Tara's post last week was an inspiration to me
because she made it a point

to state that it's okay to make stuff for home and not just school
...so I did.

(Disclaimer:  Jerm, my awesomeness husband, did all the dirty work...

I just bossed him on what to do...
because I still have a broken finger...
he's the best!)

Jerm and I have been watchin' HGTV's "Flea Market Flip" on Netflix.

It gave us the idea to browse some antique and second hand/thrift stores to find

some treasures to "flip".

We got this table for free.

We found these two chairs at a shop for $20 a piece.

We talked the lady into givin' them to us for $40...

instead of her askin' price of $50.

We got this outdoor fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics for 50% off.

The sweet lady accidentally cut into our yard so we got an additional 30% off.

This cost about $7.50

We sprayed them with Rust-Oleum's Gloss Seaside.  

Three cans of this cost about $12.

Total project cost less than $60.

I'd say our table and chairs flip was a success!

I can't wait to read what everyone else has made.  

Happy Monday, friends!

Suspended pearls?....Tried It Tuesday

Well....HELLO there!

It's been one month since my last confession....

I mean...blog post!

Y'all...I didn't fall off the planet, 

but I did fall into some major 

lesson plannin' and weddin' plannin'.

I haven't taken any naps...SHOCKER!

I have been fallin' asleep readin' my Kindle app...early... 

just about every night 

since school started.

I'm not gonna lie...I needed a break.

I can't promise that I will be back on my

bloggin' routine, but I will pop in every now

and then in the next comin' months.

I'd ask for understandin', but I know I don't 

need to explain myself.

Y'all KNOW.

I did want to share a pretty neat-o "tried it", so...

I'm linkin' up with one of my BBB's Holly 

from Fourth Grade Flipper

for her Tried it Tuesday.

I saw this super awesome pin and I wanted to test

it out before the weddin'.

Source

Pearls suspended in water?  

Sign me up!

Except...they aren't really suspended in water.

They are suspended in clear gels...in water.

I wanted.

I NEEDED!

What did I do?  

I got on my trusty friend, Amazon,

 and found these to order...

Transparent Water Gel Vase Fillers 

and 

Unique Elegant Vase Fillers-Black and White Pearls

I did read the reviews and found out that the red

ones look more pink, so I didn't buy red.

My colors are black, red, and white, so I stuck with

just black and white.

I waited patiently for them to arrive to my mailbox.

You know I'm NOT very patient...at all.

They FINALLY came though and

I was so ecstatic when I opened the package.

I read the directions and they were pretty intense.

I made my bestie read them too...to tell me I wasn't crazy.

I ran up to Dollar Tree and got two clear vases.

I stopped at Winn Dixie and got a gallon of Distilled Water.

My supplies...

The little clear things on the left are the gels.

The assorted black and white pearls are on the right.

Distilled water and vases in the back.

I used 8 cups of water and filled up the two vases

with the gels and water.

It takes about 12 hours for them to expand.

Look...you can't even SEE the clear gels. 

It just looks like water.

Why didn't I invent this?

WHY?

You move the pearls wherever you want.

I was impatient and put them in before the gels

were finished expandin'.

This mornin' when I woke up,

I had more gels than fit the

two vases.  

I really could have used three.

Check the clear gels out. 

It's crazy to me that you can't see 

them when they are covered with water.

I still have pearls left to put in a third jar.

 Now all I need are some floatin' candles.

I'm doin' lots of different table decorations,

but I will definitely be purchasin' some 

more supplies on Amazon this week to 

make more of these vases.

These could be used in your house with flowers,

or candles, or whatever...not just for a weddin'.

I'm gettin' giddy because so many things are startin' 

to come together with plannin'.

I've missed you!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Why'd I buy it?

I'm linkin' up with one of my most awesomeness BBB's,

AMC from Elementary AMC for her new monthly

linky...Why'd I buy it?

It's no secret that I like to shop.

My most favorite form of shoppin' involves the internet.

Why?

I'm lazy.

I can scroll, click, stick it in my cart

and a few days later, 

stuff magically appears at my doorstep.

I can lay on the couch in my jammies,

avoid traffic, long lines...and...people.

Stress free.

The only problem...I spend money.

You can't win them all.

Recently I bought a big purchase, not online...

and I didn't even go to a store.

I won that one.

My dear sweet friend Miss Nelson is 

an amazin' photographer.

She has some awesome cameras and lenses.

I don't know how to use not a one of them, but 

it's pretty neat watchin' her snap shots.

I'm jealous of her talent and I want to be just like her.

So...I begged her to sell me one her cameras..and she DID.

I love her.

Why'd I buy it?

I want to take amazingness pictures for my blog

and to torture my friends and family every chance I get.

Shhh...don't tell them I said that or they will hide.

This is my biggest Back to School purchase and

by far my most favorite.

I can't wait for the kiddos to smile for me on the 

first day of school.

I'm goin' to paparazzi them all year and it's goin'

to be so much fun!

Be on the lookout for some photos.

No judgin' though...I still don't know what I'm doin'!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Wordless Wednesday...What I'm Wearing Wednesday

Happy middle of the week friends.

Today I'm doin' two link-ups.

The first one is Wordless Wednesday with Miss DeCarbo

from Sugar and Spice.

Okay...time to be honest...

Did you play M.A.S.H. when you were little and a Ferrari

was your dream car that you would end up with?

Admit it!

I'll know if you're lyin'...I will.

No, this is not mine, but I sure do wish it was!!

I'm also linkin' up with Jessica from Ideas by Jivey for

What I'm Wearin' Wednesday.

Nicole Marciano Infinity Scarf from

Tuesday Morning for $9.99

Tiffany & Co. Necklace and Pendant-Atlas Collection

I'm just goin' to put it out there that I thought my friend A 

from The Babbling Box was nuts when she was wearin' scarves in late

spring in Texas.  Now I owe her an apology since I'm in 

California in late June wearin' a scarf.

I'm sorry, A...I hope you forgive me and still love me.

O.P.I. Strawberry Margarita nail polish with pink glitter

sprinkled on top of wet nail polish.  

Black Reef Flip Flops-Ginger

So sparkly...the pic doesn't do it justice.

Super fun!

Spring Cardigan with pockets from Jane.com for $7.99

Black Maxi Dress from Target

Black and White Striped Sanuk Sidewalk Surfers

Dear Jivey, I found a full length mirror in the clubhouse bathroom.

I was so scared someone was goin' to walk in there and 

catch me takin' a picture of myself.

I would've been so embarrassed!

Haha!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

Five for Friday...I'm havin' FUN!

I seriously cannot tell you the last time I linked up for 

Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching, but I'm on a roll

with all the linky parties, so I figured I shouldn't stop now!

Today's post will be random.

I like random.

It's baaaaaaaaack!

Saturday Snapshots with my bestie Miss Nelson from 

Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera is my absolute FAVORITE link-up 

and not just because she's my bestie.

I enjoy snappin' photos and bein' random...like I said above.

I hope you link-up too because I'm a Nosy Rosie

and I want to spy see what you are up to.

It doesn't have to be teacher-y.

It can be snapshots of whatever you want.

You're in charge.

Tomorrow I'm leavin' for Oakland for the weekend.

I'm goin' to watch the Boston Red Sox play

on Saturday and Sunday.

Source

Go Sox!

You can look for me on T.V....if you're bored.

If you see me, you can pretend you know someone famous.

I'm kiddin'...sorta!

Tonight I'm goin' to see "Jersey Boys".

Source

I'm super duper excited!

You realize there will be movie theater popcorn there...yes?

Do I need to say more?

If you don't know how much I love popcorn,

read here.

Who is lovin' summer?

I AM!

I also love YOU...so,

I'll keep this as a freebie until 

Sunday night when I get back from my trip.

I won't be upset with you if you leave me some love

if you decide to scoop this up from my TpT.

Coach Factory Online's Summer Clearance Event

starts today...June 20th through June 24th.

If you buy Coach purses, but don't like payin'

full-price,  you should hop on this site.

(I'm sayin' this because I like Coach...they don't know me)

Purses are cute, cheaper and are delivered fast.

They sell quickly though, so hurry up!

I have ordered from them a bunch!

Shh...don't tell Jerm.

If I always order black he doesn't know the difference...right?

Also, eBay is havin' a Vera Bradley sale up to 70% off.

I may or may not have ordered three new bags for the price of one.

(Vera doesn't know me either...but I wouldn't be upset if she did and

wanted to adopt me)

I will not be held responsible if you spend too much money, so 

don't even think about blamin' me. 

Got it?

Happy Friday, friends!

Nailed it, again...bein' glam-glow-orous!

I'm baaaaaaaack.

I didn't really go anywhere.

I just lost touch with reality

because I started playin' a new app...

Candy Blast Mania.

I'm on level 124.

It's similar to Candy Crush, but I had to try somethin'

new after bein' stuck on level 409 of CC for months.

I abadoned it because it made me say

bad things.

I'm sure this new obsession will be short lived.

It's Tuesday...time to link-up with my sweet friend Holly from

Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried it Tuesday AND I'm linkin' up with my

other favorite Ali from Teaching (Powered by Caffeine) for her 

"lovin' it & over it" linky!

& 

Tried it Awesomeness #1: Jamberry Nails

 Hello Black and White polka-dot Jamberry nails!

These make me happy!

 Not bad for a first timer!

Still goin' strong four days later!

This took me about 40 minutes from start to finish.

I went back and forth between usin' a hair dryer and 

a warm rice bag for application.

It's easy.  I promise.

If I'm able do this...YOU can do this!

Keep readin' to find out how!

What are Jamberry Nails?

So pretty aren't they?

How would you like to win your very own Jamberry nails?  

Go to my Jamberry consultant Veronica Porche's

(from Teaching With Giggles)

Facebook page & her Pinterest page

and LIKE them for your chance to win

a half sheet...which is enough for a full mani & pedi!

Be sure to leave me a comment that you have entered.

Tried it Awesomeness #2: Glam Glow

Have you seen this on Pinterest?

I couldn't NOT order it...it looked too amazin'.

Of course I hopped on Amazon and it came 

in two days..I'm lovin' Amazon Prime.

It's a lil' pricey, but I shopped around for the best

price.  Just make sure it is sold by Glamglow.

Before...a lil' nervous...

It smells like licorice and the color was questionable, but

I was too far into it to give up.

I can't believe I'm postin' this on the interwebs.

It was definitely gettin' somethin' up from my face.

I'm sure I will need to use it more than once

to see some super duper results, but

I felt like I was havin' a face lift because 

my skin instantly tightened from the mud.

I don't know if I'm in the ranks of a glamorous

movie star yet, but I'm gonna keep tryin'!

I'm over standardized testin'.

OVER IT!

I don't really think I need to elaborate.

If you're a teacher readin' this...you probably feel

the same way I do.

Just let me teach.

Sendin' out positive vibes to my buddies

givin' FCAT Writes this week.

Oh yeah...and let's not forget laundry...

I'm over that too!

I hope you have your cart full for the 

3 Millon Teachers Strong Sale 

on Feb. 27 & Feb. 28.

I've got my TpT store set for 20% off and

Double Trouble also.

We've got some new Spring question cards that

we will be addin' soon.

Head over to Pinkadots Elementary to link-up!

Happy Tuesday friends!