Friday, August 30, 2013

And We're Off!

School is officially back in session!

Monday and Tuesday were PD days. The students came Wednesday and Thursday, but we have today off. Our long weekend starts today!

::phew::

We made it!

I love my kiddos--all 26 of them--the most I have ever had! 
It's going to be a great year--a crowded, busy, nonstop year--but a great one.

I may not be blogging super often over here as I work to beef up my classroom blog for parents and families. I'll showcase daily snapshots, class reminders and a peek into our jam-packed days there--a classroom reveal will be there soon!

I'll leave you with a few Pinterest and blog-inspired first day goodies I put together.


Keep Calm tag can be grabbed here.


Nametags can be purchased here from Hope King at Shenanigans in Second.
The glasses tag is free here.



The pencil tag is a free printable found here.


It's a work in progress but come check my new blog out over at 




Sunday, August 18, 2013

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Alert the presses! It's that time of year again! (I cannot tell a lie. I've been looking forward to this sale for a few weeks now!)

Though most of the items in my store are forever free, all others will be 20% off! What's even cooler is that you can use the promo code: BTS13 to get an additional 10% off of that, so it comes out to be 28% off of the regular price of the product. Clear that wish list and fill your shopping cart!


(Thank you to Krista at The Creative Chalkboard for the cute graphic.)

So what are you waiting for?! Click here to check out Spelling Tic Tac Toe boards, Classroom Currency and other literacy, math, science, and writing activities! The items are on sale through tomorrow night. :)


Happy Shopping!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

August Currently: Short and Sweet

On a bright and sunny Thursday, here's a positive spin to a 3:45am wakeup....


Of course I would've loved a few more hours of sleep--especially with school starting in a little under 2 weeks. (!!) But I'll be honest, I did miss the munchkin. I ventured out last night with a few teacher friends to do some back-to-school classroom supply shopping at Lakeshore. (Fun but overwhelming, for sure! That's a post for another time!) Post-shopping we dined out at Stone Hearth Pizza and capped off the night with build-your-own cupcakes at Treat Cupcake Bar. (Thank you Mr. Lovie for the night out!) But I missed Miss K. Her spontaneous smiles. Those cheeks. Her sweet "talking." And those cheeks!

And, when she does wake up in the middle of the night/early morning, there's a good chance she'll nap for a substantial time (read: an hour or so) in the morning.  And voila-- I have a few minutes to pump, shower, eat breakfast, straighten a few things up around the house, run the dishwasher, prep laundry, catch up on a few Bloglovin' posts and maybe squeeze in a quick post of my own! (Several of those tasks being completed simultaneously, right Mr. Lovie??) :)

Excited to link up with Farley for my first Currently.

 
 
 (I'm only just noticing my typo under wanting and wishing I had edited it better! It's not an easy fix so I've got to let this one go. Better editing next month!)
 


*I am in love with all things Ladybug Teacher Files! I love how bright and bold her collection is--not to mention it will all match! Click here to check out her fabulous Teachers Pay Teachers shop.


Miss K is awake! Time for cuddles and a walk!

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Teacher Week '13 and a Mustache Monday Made It

Linky parties with topics, themes, or questions designated on specific days encourages me to take a few me minutes and blog. And I love it!


I realize I am already a day late in posting this but I have a good excuse! In between taking care of my sweet sick babe, a doctor's appointment, and setting up Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts for my up-and-coming bakery business Sweet Mack Bakery, I had to tackle 2 presentations for two iPad classes I am teaching next Monday. Once Mr. Lovie and I both returned home last night, I had two free hands to tackle the bakery accounts and finish the presentations. (I hope to devote a later post about those presentations, the apps I've come to discover, and technology in the classroom...) Voila!





 Without further ado....



Sisters
I have been blessed with two amazing sisters I call my best friends. I can call them whenever and I know they would rush to my side at a moment's notice. As the middle child, I have the best of both worlds and have fostered strong, unique relationships with each of them that stems from our early childhood. We didn't have the luxury of dance class, gymnastics teams, or organized sports, but we had each other. That was our normal. Saturday morning trips to the library and playing "house" and "school" day after day. (Yup, I was the teacher--grade book and hall passes to boot.) Our mom did not tolerate fighting or bickering. at. all. I think  know our upbringing and the values instilled in us at that pivotal age has been what has defined us to this day. I have a difficult time relating to friends who have lost touch with their siblings or have had tumultuous history. Were we lucky? No. Blessed by the values of our upbringing? You bet.


 
 
Four Paws and a Big Smile
From Bentley to Spencer, Nana's Heidi, Harry, Sandy, and our own Ellie. Dogs have always been in my house. I imagine life simply wouldn't be the same without one.
meeting Ellie for the first time: October, 2009

Splash!
Junior year of high school I joined a few girlfriends who had been on our school"s swim team for many years. I loved my time on the diving team, and while I was hardly qualified for conferences, I learned a lot from my teammates. (We didn't officially have a diving coach, so what I learned I learned from the other girls.) Whether it was swimming in my grandparents' neighbor's pool or (reluctantly and nervously) swimming in relays in high school, I've always loved the pool. Will Miss K? I sure hope so.

Tokens, Tickets, Toys and a Husband 
Many of my high school years and countless memories are at LazerZone--alas ear tag party facility in my hometown. I began working there as soon as I was eligible to work. I made a lot of great friends and built some strong relationships there. Spending many afternoons, evenings, and countless weekends--from open to close--together, those friends became a second family. Hey, I met my husband there! (I found out years later that he got the job there to spend more time with me!)
 
 LZ's "Flower Girls" and the "flower girls" at my wedding

From Boston to Bourbon Street
I've been fortunate to have traveled to many places in my short 27 and a half years. In college I traveled to London and Paris with a few college friends--one of whom I am still very close to today, Israel on a Birthright trip with a childhood best friend. Boston College (where I attended undergrad and grad school) strongly promoted social justice and serving others. Service trips were the norm on spring break. It was rare that students traveled to remote tropical islands on their spring break. While at BC, I traveled to Tarboro, North Carolina and Huntington, West Virginia for two Habitat for Humanity trips. I traveled to the Dominican Republic through the School of Education and visited and volunteered at a school and orphanage. Twice I traveled to Natchez, Mississippi on School of Education-sponsored service trips. The first year I went as a student participant and the second time I went as a trip leader with two of my roommates. We had a chance to work both in and out of the classroom, and had an incredible time. While there, we took a detour on our return home through New Orleans. What a city!
 
 London and Paris with Jen, 2004

DR service trip March, 2005
 
 
 
 Israel, January 2006
 
 
Huntingon, WV March, 2006
 
Natchez, MS March, 2007 
 
Alligator! Tastes Like Chicken
While in New Orleans, albeit a few hours, we dined on Bourbon Street--at Pat O'Brien's I believe. Easy to please, I often choose a burger, sandwich, or salad, but when in New Orleans alligator it is! It was delicious, 
and it sure did taste like chicken!

Teaching 
 Public and private. City and suburban. Rich and poor. I've taught in it all. Each classroom experience has shaped the teacher I am today. From student teaching in Boston Public Schools like the Winship to the more affluent neighborhood of Brookline, I've grown so much. I worked with some amazing, talented veteran teachers and learned so much from them. I also had experience with some not-so-organized teachers and learned a tremendous amount from them as well. Teaching is my passion and I love what I do. (I forgot it was actually a job my first week teaching in my own classroom. I was pleasantly reminded when I found a paycheck in my mailbox.)


Mr. Lovie as "Secret Reader" in the first grade class where I student taught in Brookline in 2006 and 2007
 
Four Eyes
For as long as I can remember, I have worn glasses or contacts. The last pair of glasses I owned and would dare to wear outside was in college--at least 6 years ago. My husband has said he likes me in glasses but me, no thank you!  Yesterday, I got a new prescription for both my contact lenses and eye glasses. Perhaps I'll finally find a pair I like and dare to wear them out--in daylight!
 
My Dear Friends, the Real Housewives
 
I will be the first to admit that the Real Housewives series is in a league of its own and a fine example of scripted reality. But I love it. It's mindless, hysterical, at times, awkwardly uncomfortable, and downright over-the-top. Before Miss K, it was my after-school companion while grading, planning, and prepping. When Miss K would up in the middle of the night for feedings, it became by 2 am companion. Though I don't dare watch it when it initially airs (too late and too long with commercials), I love seeing a new episode or two waiting for me in my DVR. (RHOM started lasted night--yayy!)
 
 
 
 Little Red Riding Hood and a Baby Announcement
Shortly after my husband and I received news that we were expecting a baby, we were eager to share the news with family and friends. After announcing it to family, we chose to tell my best girlfriends all together. The perfect opportunity came at a friend's Halloween costume party. I nervously and excitedly carried the ultrasound in Little Red Riding Hood's basket. The girls were all so thrilled when we shared our wonderful news.

  
Today's actual topic is Classroom Digs. My classroom is in the earliest stages of set up. As in, we don't start again for a few weeks so my tables, bins, and crates have only recently been placed back into my classroom after the floors had been waxed. And boy, are those walls bare! So while I may not have pictures of what this year's classroom will look like, I'll lead ya'll on a tour of my class in 2010--my what a difference a few years can make! (I credit my southern bloggers for the use of ya'll--that's you Hope, Dana, and Erin!)




 


Also a day late to the party...but better late than never...


A couple Mr. Lovie and I have been friends with for awhile (The Mr. was my first good friend at LazerZone.) are expecting their first baby in October. I was asked to bake for her mustache and bow tie themed shower on Sunday. What a pin-spired shower it was! Down to the last detail! (You can find more pictures from the shower on my Instagram account.)


And, as a Monday Made It throwback, I am sharing a pretty-in-pink batch of cupcakes I baked in honor of a good teacher friend Erin's 60 mile Breast Cancer walk in September, 2011. This past weekend she participated in another in Chicago. Yay Erin! Be sure to stop on by her fabulous blog-- First Grade Fitness Foodie.




Friday, August 9, 2013

Five on Friday: Back-to-School Freebies and Baby Outtakes

Are you following me on Instragram? No!? You totes should. While I may not blog every day or even every other day, I manage to sneak some "me" time in every day to chronicle my life on Instragram--just another creative outlet I have been drawn to--be it shots of the babe, Fat Mum Slim's photo-a-day, third grade happenings, flashbacks, sweet deals and buys, baking creations, or daily excursions.  So follow me @thirdgradecupcakes if you don't already. 

 

Beyond the day-to-day mommy responsibilities of snuggling, reading, entertaining, feeding, soothing, rocking, bottle prepping....I attempt to tackle a daily to-do list that often includes neighborhood errands, laundry (about every other day), emails, thank you notes, birthday cards, prep for an upcoming bridal shower or baby shower, household organization (baby clothes, sorting and rearranging my clothes, sorting baking toppers and accessories into organizers, creating a gift wrap station downstairs, rethinking the unused contents of the linen closet)...

If and when that is accomplished and the baby naps, I selfishly choose between pumping, showering, school prep, reading, BlogLovin' (for fear my unread items will creep beyond 99...), Pinning, Instragramming (Is this even a word?) and chronicling our daily happenings or the aforementioned household organizing. I'm finding it hard to sit and devote solid time to create, format, tweak, and perfect activities that could hardly be shared or sold alongside the likes of the fabulous Hope King and Amy Lemons! 

So while I have not found much time to sit down and create lessons, activities, and units from scratch for TPT recently, (where is the time!?) I have stolen a few minutes here and there to print, cut, laminate and prep a few fabulous activities and back to school goodies from a few of my favorite teachers and bloggers.

So here is my Five on Friday 


 {one}

What better way to welcome back-to-school than with a photo shoot and these adorable {free} printables from A Blissful Nest, found at Living Locurto

(Click on the image to take you to the printables!)


 {two}

 Another back to school goody I did last year and will be sure to do again this year is Shenanigans in Second Grade's Hope King's fabulously colorful tag and sunglasses found on Amazon. The kids loved them last year, and I'm excited to use them in a first day photo shoot. 

(Click on the first image to take you to the printable. 
The photograph of the shades will take you to the product page on Amazon.)

 


 
 
 {three}

Third grade math begins with number sense and place value. Here's an I Have Who Has game from Math Coach's Corner that I am in the process of cutting, gluing, matting, laminating, and re-cutting. 

(Click on the image to take you to the {free} printable!)
 
 
 {four}

I'm looking forward to starting the year off with this Back to School iPhone from the very talented Katy at Stickers and Staples

(Click on the image to take you to the TPT product page!)



 {five}  

I have been in love with Pitner's Potpourri's fabulous math and literacy activities for a long time. I'm trying to get ahead as best I can, so I am tackling a large pile of fall/Halloween themed activities now. I'm in the process of prepping this fun literacy activity. 

(Click on the image to take you to the {free} printable!)
  


And on a personal note, this week marked a few milestones around our house...

Miss K turned 3 months old...







 (I love her face in that one!) 




  
 (Really, Momma? This bunny isn't even real...)

And, the hubby and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary yesterday. The traditional gift is leather so he opened up a love note in a leather journal and tickets to next week's Patriots game bookmarked within. (Because football's are made of leather...Duh. Just go with it. :) )


What will our fourth anniversary bring? 
What milestones and everyday joys will we experience in the coming year?

No matter what, I've got my very best friend by my side.