Blogger Exchange!

I was so super excited to participate in this Blogger Exchange hosted by Covered in Glitter and Glue! I mean who doesn't love getting fun mail!

My buddy was Tamra from First Grade Buddies! Here are a few pictures of what she sent:

I got a lovely note, a pack of Post-Its, some super cute binder clips, a Starbucks gift card (yay!) and a really neat little notebook. 

I love this thing! At first I thought it was just a pretty little notebook, but then I opened it up and it has 3 sections: To Buy, Remember, and To Do. You can write on each section and then pull it off! I will totally be using this as I am SUCH a list maker. I'm constantly writing myself sitcky notes! Now I can be even more organized in my list making!

Thank you Tamra!

I am now a TPT Seller! ... or I guess a TPT Freebie-Giver for now!

I just posted my first product to Teachers Pay Teachers! I'm so excited, but a little nervous as well! I'm not 100% convinced that I'm cut out to be a TPT seller. There are so many fabulous blogger/seller teachers out there that I pretty much think of as teacher celebrities (like I'd probably get nervous if I saw them on the street!) and I have a hard time seeing myself potentially as one of them! My wonderful husband actually encouraged me to do this. I've mentioned it before, but never thought I would have the time or creativity, and what if I (gasp) use a copyrighted font or clipart!! Sooo... this first freebie item is actually a test. We'll see how it goes over, if people actually like this and download it and give me feedback... maybe, just maybe, I'll keep going.

Anyway, on to my FREEBIE! I've only used QR codes a time or two in the past, but have really gotten into them recently. Plus, my school just got a whole mobile cart of iPad Minis and I am beyond excited to get my hands on those babies! My freebie is a packet of audio sight word QR codes for my students to listen to. I will likely use these during Daily 5 as word work, but they could be placed around the room as a scavenger hunt type activity as well. There is one set of cards with just the QR code, and one set with a blank spot. The students can scan the code, listen to the word, and then record the word on the card (with a dry erase marker if laminated, or build it with letter tiles, etc.) or they can write it on one of the recording sheets provided.

I am super excited to use these in my own classroom, and hope that you can use them as well. If you like the product, and find it useful, I'd LOVE some positive feedback. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions for improvement please let me know here in the comments, or by emailing me at mrsapplesandchalkdust@gmail.com.

Follow my store... just in case I create more! :-)

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Apples-And-Chalk-Dust

Sunday Smorgasbord

Wow, look at me... another post, and another linky! Really hoping to keep up on my blogging this year! Anyway, I thought this would be a good one to join because I always have random in my week!

First, I have really been doing my best to enjoy every moment of my summer with my little Bug. I was so fortunate to be able to work part time last year, but will be going back full time next month (gasp) and it makes this mama all kinds of sad! Today we went to the local discovery museum. I'm not sure if Bug or dad had more fun!

On a sad note, we had to make the very difficult decision to put our Suzy dog down this week. She started having kidney issues and despite everything we did, she just wasn't getting any better. It was so hard, but we are relieved that she isn't suffering anymore. We're doing our best to adjust, our remaining dog seemed confused and out of sorts at first, but is starting to come around as well. 

I've always enjoyed a bargain and done my best to use coupons and shop sales etc. However, now with an enormous vet bill hanging over our heads, it is even more essential! So I cut coupons, looked at sales, got mobile coupons, and got everything pictured below for only $7.80 at Target! AND I didn't buy anything at the dollar spot! Phew, all these back to school sales are going to kill me!

When driving home from the above mentioned trip to Target (on Friday night, how cool am I?) I just had to pull over to take a picture of this sunset!

Thanks for reading! Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Bloglovin!

An award... for me??

Wow, I was so surprised to see that Mary from Fit to be Fourth had nominated me for a Liebster Award! At first I thought it must be a mistake! My little blog is nothing special, and a far cry from the majority of the blogs I follow. However, after looking into the award, I realized it is an award for someone just like me! A Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Yep, definitely me. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Actually, after looking into what it was, it reminded me of those chain letters I did as a child... remember those!?

Anyway, here are the rules:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them.


Here are my questions from Mary:
1.  How did you come up with your blog name?
     I was given this book early on in my teaching career and the name came back to me when I was trying to come up with a blog name. I wanted something that wouldn't tie me to a specific grade. 

2.  What type of music do you like?
     I typically like just about all kinds of music!

3.  What is your favorite sport to watch/play?
     I am not much of a sports player. I run, but not competitively anymore. However, I enjoy watching football (Go Broncos!) and baseball (Go Rockies!).

4.  How many siblings do you have?
     I have one sister.

5.  What is your favorite restaurant?
     Oh there is no way I could pick just one! 

6.  What do you enjoy doing most when you are on vacation?
     I actually have not been on an actual vacation in quite some time. Pretty much all of our trips lately have been to visit family in various locations. Not that family trips aren't fun, it just isn't a relaxing 'vacation'! Hopefully we'll go on a true vacation some year soon... and then I will look forward to eating great food and sleeping!

7.  What do you enjoy most about teaching?
     Working with kids who are starting out behind, who are struggling with the basics, and those who need lots of extra help. I love working with the 'under dogs'! :-)

8.  What are your hobbies?
     I enjoy reading, cooking (when I have time), and outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, running, etc. 

9.  What is your favorite children's book?
     Again, don't think there is any way I could pick just one!

10.  What do you enjoy most about having a blog?
     I love being able to share ideas... granted, I'm still working on my blog, but I love the collaboration and sharing that is possible through blogging!

11.  What do you like best about where you live?
     My family is here! We moved away for about 4 years, and being away from my family was difficult! Glad to be back!

11 random facts about me:

1. I would rather be 20 minutes early, than 20 seconds late. 
2. I have run a marathon, and two half marathons. 
3. I use exclamation points when I type! A lot!
4. I can't stand humidity... glad to be living where there really isn't any!
5. I may or may not have called my husband home from work to kill bugs.
6. I love race cars and racing, and wish I could be a professional race car driver. 
7. I have never seen the movie Goonies. 
8. I could watch House Hunters on HGTV all. day. long. 
9. I love spicy food, and in fact I almost killed my husband (then boyfriend) the first time I made him my spicy chili!
10. My husband and I spent more time apart (in different countries and states) than we spent together before getting married. 
11. I got married in Las Vegas... and would recommend it to anyone!

My questions for my nominees:
1. What is your greatest accomplishment?
2. How long is your commute to work?
3. If you weren't a teacher, what job would you want to do?
4. What is your drink of choice?
5. What is your favorite ice cream?
6. What is your favorite season, and why?
7. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
8. What talents do you have?
9. What was the last movie you saw? Would you recommend it?
10. Where was the most interesting place you've traveled?
11. What is the last book you read?

Blogs I am nominating are:

The East Coast Teach

Okay, okay, I know I'm supposed to nominate more blogs but this is all I had time to find and my little one is waking up! I will look for more and update this post!!

My First Monday Made It!

Um... is it seriously the middle of July already!?? I can not believe how quickly the summer is going! Anyway, I've made a resolution to get better about my blogs (all 3 of them!). They've been neglected for the past year or two, mostly because I had other things to worry about (namely my cutie little 15 month old!). So I decided to join my first linky! SO excited!

My first Monday Made It is nothing new... but I thought I'd start simple!

I made the crate seats for my classroom almost 3 years ago. I have loved them every year since! I bought the crates from Wal-Mart and they have held up really well. Originally, I had used a fun alphabet fabric, and while I still like the fabric, I'm really looking to tone down my classroom colors this year.

 

So I found some awesome chevron fabric at Hobby Lobby and re-covered them! I really like how they came out.

I still have 2 crates at school, and I am not sure I'm ready to actually step foot in there yet! Those will have to wait at least a few more weeks!

I'm in love with some of the other fabric Hobby Lobby had! I have some pillows in my reading area that I'm thinking of making new covers for! Maybe I'll link up again next week!

Instagram!

I joined the recent teacher on Instagram craze! I only have a handful of pictures, but will hopefully have more once I get back into the school state of mind! It has been so much fun!

Feel free to follow me @applesandchalkdust!

Thanks Rachel for the cute graphic!

New Educational Website!

I am super excited to see what this new website has to offer! If you go sign up now, you can get a free gift card to try it out!

http://educents.com