Loft and now Talbots!

Loft is probably a favorite store for many of you!  The extra little love they give with the teacher discount is so sweet!  Today, I just got an email from probably my ultimate favorite store - Talbots!  Now, don't get me wrong, I know they are on the pricey side. But the quality of clothing, it is totally worth it to me, mainly because everything fits me to a tee.  It's like a taylor measured every inch (and trust me, there are a LOT of inches to measure, especially on the backside! ha ha!) and made all the clothes in the store for mwah!   I will usually only buy clothing from Talbots, IF it is on sale. (unless it REALLY jazzes me and there's only one more of my size)  So, now until Sept. 30th, all teachers get 20% off the full priced purchase.  It's something!  Every little bit counts!

Did Someone Say Container Store?!

Marisa from First Grade Glitter and Giggles is teaming up with 3rd Grade's a Hoot for her 100th Follower Giveaway.  If you like The Container Store, then jump on over to enter!  One can never have too many bins, boxes, or crates!  PLUS, plus, she is giving away some of their creative creations from both their Teachers Pay Teachers stores.  I highly recommend spending some time on both their sites and stores for a new twist on some pouplar items. 

On a separate note, yesterday's post I inquired about comment troubles.  I tried again using some of your recommendations with Google Chrome.  It totally worked and I even have the little picture next to my name and everything!  Silly to get so excited over the simplest of things! (or not so simple in my case!)  ha ha! 

Comment Conundrum and Cute Giveaway!

First, I'll mention my issues with comments.  I want to leave a message and some blogs are no problem.  Others however, don't let me select my name or url.  I've tried using my Google account, but it just repeatedly asks for my login/password info.  I've typed and retyped my comments only for them to be gone completely each time.  Someone mentioned Google Chrome may be better, or Blogger Draft.  I'll have to play around a bit.  I also found a link saying that it's a setting that needs to be adjusted by the owners of the blogs.  I am reading more about Open ID too.  If anyone knows the solutions to my problems with commenting, I'd love any tips you might have!  Thanks in advance!

Okay, enough of the technical stuff, now on to Precious Perks giveway!  Leigh is teaming up with Ashley from Polka Dot Patch for some adorable "awesomeness" like these!  Oooo la lah!  Go check it out!

I May Just Have to Splurge On...

this adorable timer from Reallly Good Stuff! It's not that expensive, under $6.  I do need to start using a timer again.  I'm always forgetting to send kids to the office for early appointments, special Reading classes, Speech, you name it!  I get so absorbed in teaching, I forget!  I even write it on the board.  Maybe this little gadget will help me stay on top of things.  Although, I can totally see myself thinking it's my actual Starbucks cup and sippping the timer instead of coffee!  Won't that be fun!   I'm buying it anyways!  Look at the side and the back, how creative is that?!

Favorite School Year Recipe Linky

Linking up with Clutter Free Classroom to share my favorite recipe during the school year- Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing.  Mmm, mmm, good! If you like easy peasy, few ingredients, tastes like Amish cooking, then this dish is for you!

Ingredients: 
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can Cream of Chicken soup
2/3 c. of milk
1 box Stove Top stuffing (chicken flavor)

Get your crockpot out and grease the bottom with a little butter. (I know, sounds like Paula Dean!)
Cube 2-3 chicken breasts (If the chicken is partially frozen, it's actually better. Two reasons: it's easier to cut and I think it makes more gravy!) After your chicken, add 1 can Cream of Chicken or cream of celery or mushroom if you like).  Add 2/3 cup of milk.  In a separate bowl, put stuffing mix and water(follow the box directions for amount of water, I think it's like a cup and a half?), mix to moisten the stuffing.  Spoon stuffing mix over top the soup/milk.  Cook on low for 4-5 hours.  That's it!

I like to serve this with a few veggies, corn, green beans and some mash potatoes.  You could pair it with a salad and some rolls.  Wal-lah!  Everyone will think you cooked all day!  The chicken is so tender and the soup/milk create a creamy gravy. 

Enjoy!

Out of the Mouths of Babes Linky Party

I am brand spanking new to the "teacher blogworld".  What better way to start, than by linking up with Mel D. at Oh The Places You'll Go Teacher Resources and share some of the hilarious things my students have said over the years.  I just realized the linky party was posted a few days ago.  I hope I'm not breaking any "blog etiquette" by linking today. Someone PLEASE tell me if that's a no-no!  Anyways, we could all use a good laugh no matter what day it is! Right?!

O.K. so here goes...

Several years ago, while taking my 1st grade class to the restroom, the first week of school, a boy comes out quickly to announce, "Mrs. M...someone '2ed' in the '1'!"  I was puzzled and asked, "What?!".  He looked frustrated and explained again, "Someone 2ed in the 1!"  I finally figured it out, in the boys restroom, there are 2  freestanding urinals and one toilet in a stall.  Some little cutie apparently didn't know where to go "number two" and did it in the "number 1".  That had to be awkward!  The urinals in the primary restrooms are very low to the ground though.  Needless to say, I called the custodian on that one!

Just this year during Writer's Workshop a little girl was fully engaged in her story.  She was almost ready to write her final copy.  She quietly leaned over to the student next to her and whispered, "How do you spell giraffe?".  I was conferencing with a different student across from her and I knew her story had nothing to do with animals.  (I had conferenced with her the day before.) Curious, I stopped and asked her, "Sweetie, why do you need to know how to spell giraffe?" She proceeded to tell me, "Ya know, like when we first start writing our rough "giraffes", then you write a final copy next".  Ah ha!
Rough Draft, DOES indeed sound much like "rough giraffe"!  I tapped out the sounds, wrote it down on a sticky note, and showed her the correct word.  Then, she stopped and said, "I wondered why they called it ROUGH giraffes (notice she still said it incorrectly), when really giraffes look pretty soft and smooth!"

And finally, one last giggle...

Two of my boys had just came back from Title I Reading one afternoon and asked to use the restroom.  I normally don't let both go at the same time, but we were going to take a math test soon, so I allowed both to hurry and go.  These two had been known to get on each others nerves from time to time.  Lo and behold, one returned rather quickly and said, "T said a bad word!"  I said, "What did it start with?"
Don't ask me why I said that!  Little boy replied after a few seconds of thinking and finally said, "Ummm, the word started with 'C' ."  I was stumped and thinking he meant "S".  Then, "T" returned with his head down low, trying to sneak in... but I called him over to see what the story was.  I asked him, "Did you say something inappropriate in the restroom?"  Long sigh... "Yeah... I said crap!" 
I was proud of both of them: the one who told the truth, and the other who got the first letter right!
He later admitted he wasn't sure if it started with a "c" or a "k"!  I explained that the word wasn't a "bad" word, but one we probably shouldn't say.  Then, I looked up at the clock and saw how much time we had left in the day and wanted so badly to say, "Oh crap, we gotta get going with our math test!" JUST to myself of course! 

Diving In!

Well, I'm hoping that by starting this new blog, it will jinx me in a weird sort of way! I started my whole love affair with "blogland" when I began our adoption blog. It was a way for me deal with the stress and ups and downs of the long and difficult process. We are still waiting, but I have a whole new addiction to teacher blogs! It is summer and I thought, why not give it a whirl right?! So, I'm diving in, trying something new. I am hoping to join Teachers Pay Teachers and the new Teachers Notebook soon, as a way to share and make a little extra $ on the side. Going back to my first thought... why on earth am I hoping to jinx myself? Well, I hope that if I keep busy with my blogs, that God will bless us soon(er) with a little one. I know I can continue to blog, but probably just not as often. All you moms out there are probably saying, "keep dreamin' sista!" right? Nevertheless, I am excited to begin!