Sharing Giveaways and Oops

I had something different in mind for today, but well....this happened:

That's my car :( I was looking for a parking spot to meet my friend for lunch and I got into an accident, so my car is currently sitting at a closed collision center, waiting for Monday for it to hopefully open so they can fix it. I'm fine, and the other person is fine (since we were going like 5 mph), but I'm without a car for a little bit...unless my mom lets me borrow hers.

Enough Gloomy Gusing! I've seen some really cool giveaways around that I want to share with you.

Sabra from is giving away a copy of her Fraction War game for reaching 50 followers! Go follow her to pick up your copy (she is really funny and has some great reading ideas!)

Elizabeth from 
is giving away The Quietest Pencil Sharpener Ever!

Cassandra from 
is having a 50 follower giveaway...the prize...a $25 gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers!

Amanda from 
is having a 300 follower giveaway with some cool prizes!

Tonya from 
is having a 200 follower giveaway.

Go check out this fabulous ladies and their cool giveaways!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

P.S. Don't forget that the Daily 5/Cafe book study starts tomorrow at: 

So excited! :)

Fiction Friday

I'm linking up today with Amanda over at The Teaching Thief for her Fiction Fridays. I'm a big reader myself, and try to encourage my kids to read as much as possible.

For my first recommendation, I'm going with an oldie, but goodie. I read this one to my students at the beginning of the year, and made constant references to it during lessons. They loved it!

Peter tells the tale of living with his little brother, Fudge, and the interesting things that happen when Fudge gets an idea in his head (like cutting his hair, or eating things he shouldn't). A great read for the beginning of the year (or any time!).  I did read the others in the series as well, and they enjoyed it greatly!

This one was suggested to me by one of the Special Education teachers I'd worked with. I thought it was an excellent book, though I would recommend it for grades 5+ (some 4th grades might be able to understand it)

This story is told by Caitlin's point of view. She lost her brother in a school shooting and she is now having some difficulties adjusting because she as Asperger's, and he was the one who could reach her and explain things in a way she could understand. This story chronicles how she is able to heal, and in turn, heal the community.


Both of these are great reads and I recommend both of them! Happy Reading!!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Making Presents

I'm sitting here watching The Big Bang Theory (it's the one where Sheldon doesn't get a haircut on time and he starts to play the bongos in the middle of the night...I love this show!) :), and thinking about my friend's birthday next week. I like to make my presents if I can, since I am crafty and all that, and I feel that sometimes (not always) it is more meaningful to someone than store bought (although I never turn down a present!)

I was in Michael's the other day (part of my June shopping haul) looking for inspiration (my original idea was no where to be found) and I stumbled across the glass painting/stencil aisle. I found a cool Martha Stewart press on stencil-on clearance (not normally a big fan of her...but this stuff was pretty cool), and some paint, and viola! an idea!

I could make some votive candle holders and personalize them to her style. This is what I used.

Some paint, foam daubbers, votive candle holders and stencils. The cool thing about these stencils is that they are self adhesive and flexible, so they can curve around objects. The ones I bought have a floral theme.

I put the paint into different corners of a paper paint, to make clean-up nice and easy. I also recommend having damp paper towels and some q-tips on hand to wipe up any extra paint.

I centered the stencil on one side of the class and used a daubber to 'paint' the glass. I stippled it on (think of bouncing it up and down on glass). This is where having the paper towel and q-tip come in handy, so you can wipe up paint from the edges of the stencil if you're messy like me!

After I did one side, I removed the stencil and tried to center it directly across on the other side. It stuck without any problem! This time though, instead of laying the votive holder down on the table I did the 'stick your finger in the glass to hold it steady' manuever.

The finished product! After the paint dries a little more, I am going to spray it with a finishing spray to make sure that it won't flake off.

I made three more in different colors/flowers, but you are going to have to wait until Monday to see them!

I just need to buy the tea lights to go in the votive holders, and my friend is going to have a wonderful (if I do say so myself! :) unique gift for her birthday.

You can also reuse the stencils many times, so think of the things that you can create! I also though about doing a couple of vases to match, and candlesticks, but maybe that will be a Christmas present! ;)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

June Shopping

 We just had new outlet stores open up and I took my sister and her friend shopping and we went out to lunch!  This is what I wore (it was a little cooler here yesterday)  

Shirt: Old Navy
Tank: Target
Jeans: A.N.A @ JC Penny
Shoes: Kohls
Glasses-so I can see! :)





 I'm also linking up with Kristen for her Summer Shopping Linky.

I've been buying some craft supplies, books and other things. I also got some cute shoes and pants at the outlets yesterday as well.

Cute Shoes and Pants

Some Summer Professional Reading

I really want to do interactive notebooks next year

For a Mailbox makeover

Who doesn't need circle punches? 1 in and 3/4 in

For a friends birthday present

Next week's Monday Made It

Next week's Monday Made It

I think that's enough for June!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It

For this school year, I wanted to have community pencils. Students would be responsible to grab 2 pencils to start their day, and if they break, they can switch them out. Students will also be responsible to return them at the end of the day. This should (hopefully!) solve the 'I can't do my work because I don't have a pencil' problem, as well as the 'I think that it is a really awesome idea to sharpen my pencil as soon as Miss M starts teaching and talking' problem. :)

I wanted something cute and went along with my blue/green/ocean theme. I found these adorable buckets at Target Dollar Spot :) I added some stickers and ribbons to jazz them up and these are my new community pencil holders!

 My question to you is.... with ribbons...

 or without...?

 Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Sharing Giveaways and Awards

Hi! I know this is my second post of the day, but the first one was announcing a winner so it doesn't really count ;) (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Here is a heads up on some cool giveaways going on now.


is having a 100 follower/New Job giveaway



is having a 250 follower giveaway



is giving away a digital copy of Laura Candler’s Graphic Organizers for Reading: Teaching Tools Aligned with the Common Core


is giving away a custom clipboard made by Outlaw Chic.

 I have also been awarded the by

and

The rules for this are:
Once you receive the award you have to pass it on to others!   Here are the 3 rules to follow:
1. Follow the person that gave you the award.
2. Link back to the person that gave you the award.
3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers. (umm...this might not happen but I'll send it to some new peeps!)

My picks for this are:


Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

And the Winner Is...

Entry # 21-April W.!

April, look for your giftcard in you email!

Happy Summer!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Finding a Home

So as y'all know, I am looking for a place to live. However, I haven't had much luck, as the western part of the state is more scenic (as in not a lot of towns, or very small towns), and there haven't been a lot of listings in my price range (hopefully under $850 VERY max $900-the place will have to be gorgeous and have tons of amenities for $900).  I saw one place that said it was spacious 1 bedroom and well, let's just say my classroom was bigger than this place (plus the fact there was like no light, slightly dilapidated and very small rooms. You couldn't fit a couch in the living, people, that's how small it was!)

I've called a couple of places with no return calls, so I called a realtor in the area to help me find a place to live. I have an appointment on Monday to see 5 places! Has anyone ever used a realtor to help them find an apartment? I'm a little nervous because I will have to pay them a commission (1 months rent) for helping me find a place. If I were staying in the area I am in now, or even moving closer to my former school, I would have no problem finding a place on my own, because that is where most of the population lives and there are loads of listings on Craig's List. I just wish this process was a little easier. :( 

Hopefully this will be successful and I'll have a place to live!

Last Friday was the last day of school for the kiddos. They went to their 5th grade teachers (I had 3 criers), I went up to the teacher's room, did their cum folders and chatted with some peeps. We came back, they watched some movies and then we had our goodbye assembly.

I actually got a flower from the Sunshine Committee, (although it's starting to go already...maybe I have a black thumb?), since I was not coming back next year.

Shrug: Kohls
Shirt: NY & Co
Tank: Target
Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Endless


I got these shoes the day before, and just had to wear them! They are cute, comfortable and go with practically everything!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Dollar Tree Finds

Today I took my sister and we went to visit the Dollar Tree. I found a stack of these:

I got all the ones they had (a total of 15!). I'll have to troll other Dollar Trees to see if I can find 5 more in this color (or another color that compliments it), just to make sure I have a full set in case I get more students or if I change districts (hopefully not!). What are they going to be, you ask? Well, I am going to combine them with these ribbons that I picked up at AC Moore earlier this week

I picked out all the ribbon first, so how lucky was I that I found baskets to go with it! I'm working on a blue/green ocean theme for next year, so these will fit right in! You'll have to wait for a Monday Made It to find out what I'm going to do with them (not this Monday,  but soon!).

It is wicked hot here today, so I dressed appropriately for 95 + heat!

Shrug and Shirt: Kohls
Shorts: Old Navy
Tank: Target
Flip-Flops: NY & Co.

I had my sister as a photographer, so these turned out better than me setting the timer and running in front of the camera!

Yes, I really am that white :) Between the Irish and Norweign in me (and the fact that I spend a lot of time indoors :), I light up in the dark. :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn