Hyperlinked Credits Page

I wanted to share with you a file I made for myself which makes my life easier, as a blogger/creator.   I'm sure some of you already do this, but just in case it could help some of you...

I like to make a document file in powerpoint for credits, this way all I have to do is copy and paste for each new document!

One of the pages I have is a "thank you" page for the purchases. I also have one for downloading a freebie, I just changed the wording a little but.

But my BIG time saver is the clip art and font credits page. It took a while to make, and when I lost it in the great crash of 2014, I was pretty devastated. But it's one file that I have to have. 

I took all of the buttons for my favorite clip artists and font makers and put them in a file, then I hyperlinked them in the document.  So now, whenever I need to credit someone, I just copy and paste the button in my document and it's already hyperlinked for me!

I know some people just like to keep all the buttons on the page and just put them all in their pack. I personally don't like to do that because if I see some clip art or frames that I like in the pack, I want to know specifically whose they are.  So, I just keep all the buttons on a template and then I have a separate "Credits" page where I copy and paste the already hyperlinked buttons that I used in that document.

Something so simple, yet such a time saver!   And make sure you head over to Kristen's blog to check out how she did the default fonts!  Her post is what inspired this post!  She's seriously a genius. She's been one of those ladies that I have loved since the beginning of blog-stalking...almost 4 years ago now!

22

Something New!! and On the Menu Monday #3

Something new!!  I had a friend go into my blog settings and add in this new little diddy ... She did it, because, well, html scares me, actually..lol! ALTHOUGH, I did go in and change it from being in the center of the pictures, to the bottom right, ALL. BY. MY. SELF (yes, I know myself is one word, but I had to separate it so that you knew that's how I was saying it. lol)

Now, whenever you hover over any of the pictures, a red P for Pinterest pops up. You can click on that P and it INSTANTLY pins! woo!!!

You have to click on the P to do that, and if the mouse is on the picture, but not on the P, you can still click on the picture to get wherever the picture is hyperlinked to.

I'm so super excited about it!!  Wanna know how to do it??? Check out the POST, where it tells you how!

That's my post for Katie's Techy Tuesday linky party!

Also - in other news...

I'm going to start doing a monthly newsletter!! Make sure to sign up - they'll be exclusive freebies!!

and one more thing... I apparently forgot the link for the freebies from my visual plans the other day...oops!! lol. Click the pic to go back to the post to download your freebies!

(p.s.... as I'm going through the week, I'm thinking of more ideas to add to the pack!! I will let you know when I've uploaded the newly revised pack!)

And I totally forgot yesterday was Monday...lol.

That happens, especially with hub's schedule, since he doesn't work a 9-5, M-F job.

Soooo, 

Here's On the Menu Monday - on Tuesday - ha!

Chicken and Corn Chowder!

It's actually my friend's recipe. She sent it to me, and it is so yummy!! 

So I asked if I could share with y'all.

So - here's her recipe for it.

Start by browning garlic in a little oil, add cubed chicken and cook through. 

Add chopped green onion and celery and brown. 

Add about 3/4 C flour (give or take), then add milk (as much as it takes to thicken to desired consistency. Then add 1 package frozen creamed corn (already cooked, in a separate pan). 

Season with salt, pepper, and blacken seasoning powder. 

Top with bacon bits and green onion. 

You can add or take away ingredients as you want. She's also used broccoli instead if corn and added baked potato and shredded cheese to make a potato soup.

And I leave you with some new pictures...

Today was actually cold!!! And when I say cold, I mean it was in the low-mid 60s haha!!

BUT, I thought it was cold enough to wear a scarf.

Yeah - I was wrong. I was SOOOO hot all day long!! BUT, I was determined to keep it on, though I'm not sure why, maybe because I get like all of 5 days a year to be able to look cute in winter clothes?? haha!

And just in case you needed a smile,

B has brought one to you to turn your day around!

Gosh, I could just kiss on those chubby cheeks all day!!

nom nom nom.

14

Guest post - and IPod advice!

I'm a guest blogger today!!!

 

Go check out my post :)

On a quick side note - 

My Media Specialist just showed me that we have a set of IPod touches now!! Just one for the whole school though...poo!!

 

BUT, I wanna know - what do you all do with them in the classroom?!? I've seen them being used in y'alls posts...so tell me!! I wouldn't even KNOW where to begin. But I would LOVE to be able to snag them to use in my classroom!!

Oh, also - there's a Spring Linky! :)



Click the pic to go check it out at 2nd Grade Superkids. There are some food and craft ideas too!

TPT

or

TN

7

Housekeeping

It has come to my attention that Google is "deleting" their Friends+ thingy....I don't how that will affect me/us!! I'm really tech-illerate. Seriously, I know how to click and make things happen, but I don't get all this jargon (I need lessons from Reagan's genius 10 year old! lol).

So help me out here.

Since I can't follow y'all by clicking your "follow me" buttons, I have to physically copy and paste your blog link (I totally just typed that word as blink! lol) into my "subscribe" box in google reader. That's the only way I have gotten it to work - and stay working. Otherwise, you guys never show up in my blogger dashboard. I just have to read everything in google reader. It's all good. I don't mind.

So now....will this affect me? Will I lose all of you!?! I don't wanna lose you!! I'm almost to 400!! lol (How in the WORLD did that ever happen!? I STILL get totally excited when I see my follower numbers go up in both my blog and TpT store...lol. "They like me! They REALLY like me!!" lol)

Just wondering...

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Next....

So, I did a post a while ago about being able to reply to your comments....NOT on the actual blog, but by email. You know how you get notifications in your email that you have received a comment? Well, you can actually reply to THAT email and it'll go to the person who commented - in THEIR email...as long as they have it set up that way.

I have a *few more followers since I did that post, and some of you new ones, I can't reply to because THIS is what I see when I try to


 and I can't get the reply thingy to work on my blog, so....

PUH-LEEZ go HERE to check out that post.

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Don't forget to enter the giveaways!!!

Jaana's ends on the 26th...the day before I go back to work...hmmmmm....



And TBA's ends tomorrow (Friday)!!

And CONRATS to Staci for winning Reagan's giveaway!!




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And HERE are some "Doctor" Reader's Theater

They aren't very pretty because I wanted to save space - keep it just for the words, some of them were already like 4 pages long..lol, but I DID have to add my fave clip art from Michelle!

This pack contains 4 Reader's Theater from the books of 

Green Eggs and Ham

Fox in Socks

The Cat in the Hat

The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

Click the pic to go download.

While you're there, you can check out all the TONS of "Doctor" stuff I have!

Ok, I think that's it...

I'm off to make my grocery list for Mardi Gras dinner tonight! :) yum!!!

10

wreath and new picture editing site

TADA!!!!

I'm finished with my wreath from the flowers I showed you a few posts back...

AND I even turned it into a hair clip :)

The original siteI found it on was one of my favorites...Becoming Martha. HERE is her post on the wreath she made, that inspired me to do mine.

HER site took me to the original owner of the flower posts....HERE at Infarrantly Creative.

I took the liberty of copying her directions and pictures here for you :)

Supplies:

felt

scissors

Fabri-Tac glue

pin backs

cardboard (I used a recycled cereal box)

needle

embroidery floss

1. Cut a piece of felt 1 1/2” wide by any length (depending on how big you want your flower).  Fold it in half and glue just the edge closed.

2.  Cut little slits into the folded part of the felt.

Now here is where you can get creative with how you cut your felt which will give you variations in the flowers.  All of the ones pictured below are cut the same way.  The only different is how wide I cut the slits.

This larger flower is done simply by adding another strip of the felt to make it larger.  Next to it the the size comparison of one strip versus two.

This one is done by cutting the slits on a diagonal rather than a straight cut.

This last one which looks more curvy is done simply by skipping the gluing part in Step 1 and just holding the felt closed while you cut it.  Somehow when you go to roll it up it gives it this look.

3.  Roll your flower up gluing it along the way.  Once the glue is dry fluff it in place.

NOW....onto my NEW picture addiction...

You all know how much I take pictures...whether it's of my classroom, or my children, or the beach (hehe)...well, you know that App that Iphone users around the world use?? The instagram one?? Yeah...us Android users can't use that.

But have no fear!!

I have come across my NEW favorite picture editing site!! And, it's actually pretty easy to use!!

It's pixlr.com

There are two options when you log in....the photo editor (please pay no mind to my tabs at the top of the pic...I forgot to crop those out..lol. oh...p.s. Did you miss my post on how PC users can take a snapshot of their screen??? Go check it out {HERE} - that's how I got these next two pictures!)

Or you can go "into the dark room" and play around with the effects of  your picture. SUPER FUN!!! The two pictures at the top (of the flowers), I did that in the effects part...actually on the app on my phone, but same thing.

Tomorrow (Thursday) is our school's 100th day...I think...lol. I'm excited to see what my sub does with them!! She emailed me the other day and told me that my kids keep asking her "where's your camera so you can take pictures for Mrs. Ross?!"  Awww....I love my kiddos this year. :)

9

Screen shots and penguins

Ok y'all....today was Back to Work day for all my friends here. No kiddos, just work. I miss them :( But I'm glad to be home with my babies for the time being. Although, I had a few friends come to see me today, and apparently the copiers were ALL offline until like 3:00!! HOW could that happen today?? Of all days?? Yeesh. So it's basically going to be mayhem at the front office at our 2 copiers come Monday morning. 

Tonight was my first night alone putting both girls to bed (remember? Hubby is a firefighter who works 24 hour shifts?)...I was really scared that this was going to be a serious problem- it all rested in Brooklynn's hands - if she would stay down while I was putting down Autumn. Though it took a while for B to actually go down...and STAY down, everything worked out. But now....my fear is what's going to happen in the middle of the night. ha!

Anyway, I wanted to show you guys, that I'm NOT the only one in my family that is keen on cleaning and organizing..ha! Look at what my 2 year old did..and they're all in a straight line! No, we don't fry a lot...the bottles of oil are courtesy of Publix's BOGOfree sales - coupled with some coupons...who can pass up such a great deal?? lol. I'm actually quite the health nu t:)

And these were taken today...A CONSTANTLY begs to hold B...actually it's more like "hold me?" but in a tone that you know she's asking to hold B, not to be held..lol.

She just loves her! I hope this continues - my dream was always to have siblings that were BFs.

So, it seems as though it's finally catching up with me - this whole tired thing. ha! Naps have been a regular part of my day for the last few days, and I can't seem to get back up once I wake up. Though, in the mornings, I'm rearin' to go! 

OK!!! I JUST figured something out - like TWO seconds ago!! How to take a screen shot on a PC - you know, you MAC users and Iphone users can??? SOOO simple. You know that button on the top of your keyboard {PrntScr} (print screen)?? When you have what you want on your screen - push that button and it copies it to your clipboard ready to be pasted onto whatever! What?! so easy!! Here's what I just did it on...

(I did have to crop it in Paint so you couldn't see all my tabs and files I've downloaded on the bottom! ha!)

Anyway...since there are so many penguin activities out there, I wanted to share something I did with my kiddos all the time.

After a few days of learning about penguins (these nonfiction penguin books are some good ones for younger kids - do you have a fave nonfiction penguin book?), I have my kids go online to this website at Discovery Kids and take this penguin quiz (what I took a screen shot of - look up!)...I have done this with my 3rd graders for a few years, but I haven't tried it out on my 2nd graders yet...and I won't be there this year for my penguin unit to try it out.

Ok...I have to go watch Tori & Dean now....or Hawaii Five-O...or both.

Don't forget to send me some love - I love getting your comments! :)

17

New version of Wordle!

Ok, so my Thanksgiving {POST} had a wordle on it....

our school LOVES doing these.

But, I just came across a new fangle-dangle version of this at Tagxedo!

 

You HAVE to go to the website to see the full effect of this, because the WORDS MOVE when you  mouse over them!! ah!

HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!

3

A little bit of Verbs....and a lot of Thanksgiving!

I have to start off by saying, THANK YOU to all of you for all your inspirations for my lessons this week! My kids and I are having so much fun!! Though I must say, we seriously do NOT have enough time in the day! Where does all the time go????

First. we've been hitting up verbs this week - I bought Lindsey's Action Verb Unit on TpT, and my kids LOVE IT! Just look at these action heros....aren't they super cute?! And we did a section in her unit as a Scoot Game...the kids had SO MUCH fun with that! We didn't even get to do all of it, but it was so much fun!

And we've also been in high gear with our Thanksgiving lessons....I have borrowed ideas from a lot of you out there to make our own!

We started with our book for the week... 

Then we did a "Somebody wanted, but..." activity. 

Click {HERE} to snag a copy.

Then, they turned that into their summary writing....can I just tell you how much easier this is for them to use to summarize something!?!? OH -EM- GOSH!!! Summarizing is sooooo hard!  Like, pull your hair out hard, but I really didn't have high blood pressure when doing this activity. I have just recently come across this type of form - and I L-O-V-E it!

Here are some of their examples....the one on the left is one of my cutie ESOL students...see??? It even helps my ESOL kiddos!

  

We also did a bubble map to describe Mini, her character...which is really hard! lol

Click {HERE} to get a copy

This next idea, I was inspired by Chalk Talk's activity. (First Grade Parade also has something similar) She has some great printables she shared for this activities that she used with her Kinders, but I wanted my 2nd graders to come up with their own....we're later going to be using these ideas to complete our activity that was inspired by another blog (see....I told you I borrowed from a lot of you out there!)

 In our Computer class this week, our teacher in there did a wordle with them....if you haven't heard of Wordles, I URGE you to check it out at wordle.com

And our Mayflower activity was inspired by First Grade Parade.... LOVE her Thanksgiving week ideas!

 See? I'm trying to get better about using anchor charts...ll

 They had two fact pages they had to write, using our "Circle Map"...

And then they did a brace map and graph that Mrs. Carroll provided printables for.

My turkeys were inspired by Fun in First. I did change what she had to fit our students' (supposed) level. Three-digit numbers, and the feathers were

-expanded form

-word form

-Place value blocks

-money (eek!!)

-2 addition facts

-1 subtraction fact

 To go with our Mayflower Voyage, we talked about what they would bring if they migrated from Europe to the United States...and they were NOT allowed to even mention technology type items...lol. But, surprisingly, I only had 1 or 2 kids that had only t.v. and video games as their only thoughts. The First Grade Parade had such a CUTE suitcase activity....My kids LOVE it!
My intern actually came up with the subtitle...think "brown bear, brown bear..."

And I leave you with our Family turkeys that they have been turning in. Arent' they cute!?

If you visit any of these blogs, tell 'em I sent ya!!

Next week, we are finishing up our pilgrims to go with our Double Bubble, and making our Rice Turkeys! I'm excited to share those with you....that'll be Monday's post! 

And I'm super excited about starting up my Christmas weeks...I was thinking a regular Christmas week, then a Gingerbread week, and then a Grinch....what are you all doing?!?! Any ideas??? I've bought a few units on TpT I'm excited to print up, laminate, and use. 

Happy Teaching!

2