Sunday, November 30, 2014

It's a BIG OLD TPT SALE!!!

Happy Sunday folks!!  Kerri and Lindsay here . . .

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a super successful Black Friday!! Well, get ready to shop AGAIN because TPT is having a GINORMOUS Cyber Monday and Tuesday SALE!!

That's right. You can get 28% off all of the products in both of our stores! BAARGAIN!!
Here are some goodies from Kerri's shop you might want to pick up for the Holidays and the upcoming New Year...













You can get a closer look by clicking on any of the pictures above! Thanks friends!!
Kerri B

Here's Lindsay...

Here are some of the items you can check out in my store (click the cover image to be taken to my TPT store):

I am finishing my Science Notebook Winter Edition as we speak and it will be uploaded to my TPT store tonight, just in time for the BIG sale!!


Merry & Bright {Holiday Math and Literacy Centers} - a great way to add some fun holiday cheer to your centers with 10 ready-to-use activities!


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Merry-Bright-Holiday-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-430500





Mittens & Marshmallows {Winter Math and Literacy Centers} - 10 wonderful winter-themed activities for your little learners.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mittens-Marshmallows-Winter-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-471016





And finally . . . The Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy CVC Practice Pack {Tools to help your beginning readers}.  This is a great resource to use all year 'round, and especially great for your little kinder kidlets in the winter/spring as they start reading and writing like crazy!! :)


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Easy-Peasy-Lemon-Squeezy-CVC-Practice-Pack-781876




Friday, November 28, 2014

Magic Elf is back and ready to meet my kidlets!!!!

Good Evening!! Kerri B here...
Did you all have a fabulous Turkey day yesterday?? I know my family did. We did it up right, complete with a giant dinner, football in the front yard AND on TV, and some Black Friday (almost) ONLINE shopping (This girl prefers to do her shopping online, thank you very much!!)
On the subject of the holidays, have you met Magic Elf??
Magic Elf magically appeared in my classroom last year to teach my students about the true meaning of Christmas! On December 1st, my students walked into my classroom and saw this little guy...
...holding a note that explained why Santa had sent him-to remind my class all about the true meaning of Christmas, namely that Christmas is a time for joy, sharing, love, family, being neighborly, and many more things! Each night, he flew around the room and landed in a different spot. When the children came in the next morning, they would find him with a new note!

People, my kidlets went cuckoo for Cocoa puffs over this little guy! Like, for reals! Magic Elf also would watch for good behavior and report back to Santa the students who were following the rules and showing each other the true meaning of the holidays. I kid you not, my students' behavior was AMAZING the month of December, and as we all know, most kids' behavior gets a little, shall we say, NUTSO the month before Christmas! Am I right??

Some days, certain well-behaved students would walk in to find a certificate from Magic Elf on their desk, congratulating them on showing the true meaning of Christmas. My kids ATE. IT. UP! 

We also had a Magic Elf book that we worked on the whole month, and each day we would write what Magic Elf had taught us for the day and illustrate how we could show that to others. At the end of the month, my students took the book home to their parents so they could teach them all about the true meaning of Christmas. It was truly precious!!

Would you like to experience the Magic in your own classroom?? 

Presenting, my Magic Elf Writing and Activity Pack!!


Here's what you get...


Magic Elf and Daily Messages-Purchase a stuffed elf or laminate the clip art elf that is included in this packet. Laminate messages for durability and cut out. Each morning before your students arrive, hide “Magic Elf” somewhere in your classroom along with one of his messages about the true meaning of Christmas. I have included 17 days worth of messages, so you can choose the ones that work best for you, depending on how many days you are in school the month of December. 

Magic Elf Story Paper-Students can write a story about Magic Elf visiting their classroom, and then illustrate their story.

Magic Elf Letter-Students can use the writing paper to write a letter to Magic Elf about what he has taught them, or what they would like him to tell Santa!

Magic Elf Book-Copy the cover and inside pages back to back, including as many inside pages as there are school days in December. Instruct students to draw Magic Elf on the cover. Every day, after reading Magic Elf’s clue each morning to your students, instruct them to write what Magic Elf’s meaning of Christmas was for the day and illustrate what that means to them. At the end of the month, your students will have their own book on the meaning of Christmas to take home and share with their parents!

Magic Elf Acrostic- Students can write their own acrostic poem about Magic Elf, or write one together as a class!

Magic Elf Certificates- Let Magic Elf pass these certificates out to students who are caught showing the true spirit of Christmas! My students find their certificate on their desk each morning!

Magic Elf Scramble-Students can unscramble the Magic Elf sentence, glue it in the correct order, write it, and illustrate it!

Magic Elf Art Project- Students follow directions to create their very own Magic Elf art project. These look great mounted next to the acrostic poem or Magic Elf Story on construction paper and displayed for all to see!

Here is a picture of our Magic Elf art and Acrostic Poems from last year... sooo fun!


You can use ANY elf at all as your Magic Elf. Two years ago, I has a tiny one that I found at Target. I also found this huge one at a grocery store last year and he was so darn cute too...
You can even do this project without any stuffed Magic Elf at all, and simply use the provided clip art elf that I included in my Activity Pack! 
But, here are a couple of links to AMAZON if you would like to purchase a stuffed Magic Elf (they have both boy and girl varieties-sooo cute!!)...
                                                         


Would you like some Magic Elf FREEBIES?? Click on the Magic Elf poster above to download your own poster via Google Docs!

Also, here is a Magic Elf Sentence Scramble FREEBIE on TPT (click picture to head over to TPT)...

and to complete your Magic Elf collection, you can also check out this Magic Elf creation, combining Christmassy math and literacy centers, available now at my TPT shop...



Have a wonderful week friends and a beautiful Thanksgiving!!

XOXO Kerri B




Monday, November 10, 2014

Presenting...Stitch Fix #6!!

Good Evening, Bits and Bobbers!! Kerri here...

Sooo...today was just about the BEST DAY EVER. Wanna know why? Not only did I survive Halloween and live to tell about it, but also today we had a teacher inservice and I got to see all of my first grade teacher peeps from our district (Holla girls!!). PLUS, today was the day that my Stitch Fix box arrived! I literally LIVE for this day each month, and today I came home to this on my doorstep...

Not sure what Stitch Fix is?? Don't worry, I'll give you all the deets at the end of this post!
This month, I specifically asked for 2 dresses, a cardigan, a pair of skinny cords and a top. Guess what?? I got exactly what I asked for. I am telling you, my stylist Jessica is THE BOMB!

 Here is my style card that I found when I opened my box....all of my choices this month looked fabulous! I was especially excited about the dresses they sent me. Both of these I had pinned on my Stitch Fix Pinterest board and I was so happy my stylist was able to find them for me!

And here are my beautiful pile of clothes, just sitting there, begging to be tried on! The colors this month were absolutely gorgeous! I especially love the blue and purple print...soooo me!
Okay girls, here is the part of my presentation where I show you each piece, give you my initial impressions, and then show you how it looked on. I took the pictures AFTER school this time, so I don't look like a puffy faced, half asleep weirdo like I did the past 2 times. You can thank me later for sparing you my 40 year old wake up face. :)

Up first...the Market and Spruce Shiva Filigree Print Mixed Material Top.
My initial  thought were that I LOVED the color and print and I liked that the sleeves and back were a solid material. I wasn't sure about the size though, because it looks HUGE on the hanger. The material was also SOOO soft and not too heavy.

This one was a WINNER! I loved it on...so comfy and cute, plus the bright colors were right up my alley! This will be perfect with jeans and flats, and BTW, I will be wearing it tomorrow!!!

Up next, The Abrianna long sleeve open cardigan in dark green. This was GORGEOUS on the hanger, and such a soft cozy material, a little heavier, which will be perfect for Fall...

And....I LOVED it!! It is deliciously cozy and looks so pretty with the top they sent me and my Kendra Scott abalone set. This will also match the chevron tunic they sent me last month. SCORE!!
 

Aren't these colors oh-so-pretty up close??

Item Number 3-The Misti Belted Fluter Sleeve Dress by Papermoon.
OK, AGAIN With the flutter sleeves?? I am just not a fan of flutter sleeves! However, I did have this one on my Pinterest board, so I must have though it was cute, right?? And, it is SUPER cute on the hanger, so maybe it'll work on me???


Well, the sleeves did feel big at first AND I did feel like I was going to fly away, but I kinda liked it on! I generally do not wear black, so I thought this would be a good dress for me to expand my color horizons on. Keeping it!!


Item Number 4-the Annabelle Abstract Chevron 3/4 Belted Dress from 41 Hawthorn. This was another dress I pinned to my Pinterest Board, and I just LOVE the color and print. HOWEVER, wrap dresses in general don't work on me, cause I am just not busty enough. Can I say that here?? Well, DARNIT, it's true. There is just no cleavage to be found ANYWHERE on this girl. Like at all. 
I had high hopes, but I think the boob issue is going to be a problem...


And, it was. I was just not comfortable in this dress AT.ALL. Too low cut, too clingy, just meh. This one is going back STAT!

Last item...the Frieda Corduroy by Mavi in black. 
I had specifically asked for a pair of skinny corduroys this time, so I was stoked that she found some for me, but when I put them on, they fit okay, but they were just blah. Kinda boring, and at $98, they were DEFINITELY not calling my name. Boo hoo...no skinny cords for me! I didn't even take a picture in them. Blargh!!!


So, there you have it. This time around, I kept 3 items...the top, the cardigan, and the black and white dress. I am so SUPER happy with my Fix this month, even though the other 2 things didn't work out for me! My next one is due to arrive right before Thanksgiving, and I CANNOT wait. I hope I get some cute things for Thanksgiving!


So, what is Stitch Fix, you ask??
1. Create a Style profile on the Stitch Fix Website
2. Have 5 handpicked items that fit your style profile delivered to your house.
3. Keep what you like and check out online. Send back the rest in a pre-paid envelope via the US Post Office.
4. Look fabulous at work!!

It takes about 10 minutes to fill out your style profile online, and it is very fun, because you get to choose different outfits that best represent you. I loved this part! 

This really is the easiest service in the world. There is no pressure to keep anything. If you don't like anything, they charge you a $20 styling fee, but if you keep at least one item, the $20 fee goes toward the cost of that item, and shipping is FREE both ways. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!! Plus, you can do it once a month, every 2-3 weeks, or just one time to see what it's like. It's totally up to you!

If you sign up, would you please click on my links? See, I get a little referral every time someone like you signs up, and then I can keep doing this little fashion show for you each month, which I am sure is the highlight of you month, right?? :)
Win win win!!

Hope you're having a fantabulous week, friends!!
XOXO Kerri B