Monday Made It (partial) and a Freebie!

I'd like to start off by apologizing for not posting in over a week... but, I can promise you I have something you're really going to like! :) 

Ryan and I spent a week in Williamsburg, and I made a vow to myself that I would not spend time posting on my blog during our vacation.  Because he works so much, it is really important that when I have him away from work, I seize that time and make the most of it!  We went to Colonial Williamsburg for 2 days, and we did Busch Gardens 1 day.. We had SO much fun!  He took me out for 2 "fancy" and romantic dinners... I felt like a queen! :) 

Here is a picture of my honey and I dining in 1770's style.. :) 

And in front of the fire place after our wine pairing dinner at the resort!

Then came the time to come home.. and here we are.. back to the daily grind.   Except for one thing.. I started a week-long camp this week called Camp Invention.  It is basically a full day of modules where students are challenged to problem solve, be inventors, scientists, and more!  I forgot how exhausting it is to teach a full day... PHEW!  We must build stamina during the school year, because I don't remember every day feeling this exhausting!  



Next comes my Monday Made It!!   I am linking up with Fourth Grade Frolics again... 

You may remember my last post (Fabulous Find Friday) where I raved about this broken frame I found at Target.

So far, I have spray painted it.  I am in the process of finding a colorful bow/ribbon that I can use to spruce it up, but I think I will wait until my school year starts to add that so I can be sure it works well with my color theme. 

I used Krylon Colormaster Semi-Gloss paint (shown below)

 and sprayed in layers.  I did a total of 5 layers, about 15/20 minutes between each layer to make sure it dried smooth.. Here is the final project! 

I am thinking I will use it for a Weekly Inspirational Quote instead of an Objectives board. .  it is way too small to clearly write the objectives for our day for all to see.. That will have to be another day's project!  :)

The last thing I am going to talk your ear off about is the Freebie I promised if I reached 10 followers on Bloglovin'.... Well I am thrilled to say I have reached 15!  I created "Brain Break" Cards for you to print, laminate, and randomly draw during the school days when you are noticing your kids are getting a little antsy.  I have used things like this in the past during our 2 hour LA Block in particular, but they could be used at any point during the day!   Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store and download your free copy of these cute and colorful Brain Break cards!  If there is something you'd like to be added to them that isn't there, leave a comment and I will add it and re-upload a newer version!! 

As always, thanks so much for reading!  I am so excited to have been able to chat at you again.. :) 

Happy Monday,
~Miss McDonald :)

Fabulous Find Friday!

So today I went to Target.... again.. with a few teacher friends.  Target + More than 1 teacher= NOT GOOD!  Luckily, today was pay day AND I stayed under my budget. :)  I am super excited though because I have been wanting to make an "objectives" board for quite some time.  Our county is adopting Common Core Standards 100% this year, and I think it would be nice to involve the kids in the awareness of what we are doing, and that everything we do has purpose.  SO, I found this neat frame on the clearance rack for 7.00.  It is a little damaged, but that's nothing some spray paint and a big old bow/flower/embellishment can't fix!  I am hoping to have it ready by Monday to share for Made It Monday!

Here is the Fabulous Find before refurbishment....   

I can't wait to refinish and make it pretty!  Stay tuned for the final product!


On another school related note, today was the last day of summer school. :(  I must admit- I got a little teary-eyed after one of the kiddos I have been working with boarded the bus and rolled out.  At the time it felt silly, but as I  thought more about it,  I came to realize why the end of this summer school was so emotional for me.  Being a Special Education teacher for the summer, I had the opportunity to work closely with a few students.    It is even more amazing to me that I had actually at one point before signing up to teach summer school, decided I didn't want  to, and that I "needed the summer off to recuperate."  (What a joke! I can't believe I actually thought sitting at home all day would be relaxing for my ADD personality- not a chance!)   An administrator at our school spoke with me about the opportunity to do ESY when it was time to fill positions, and I couldn't turn it down- and am I ever glad I didn't!  God sure does work in mysterious ways. :)  This summer, my working with that child reminded me why I chose to do what I do every day.  He truly inspired me.  His light, his smile, his positive attitude, patience, kindness, and joyfulness are beyond anything you could imagine.  I think we all need that reminder sometimes.  Something tells me this reminder will last a long, long time.

How has your Friday been?

~Miss McDonald :) 

Thursday Thoughts

So today ended up being another very busy and crazy day filled with early sunrise boot-camp, summer school, errands, and..... Target... my arch budget-nemesis.  It is impossible to go into that store and not spend over $20.00!!!!  Their marketing scheme is amazing.. maybe I should get them to help me advertise my blog! ;)

I am excited, though, because the "Teacher section" has surfaced in preparation for the school year!  They had magnets, dry erase boards, fun write-on decals, clipboards, cute post-its, bulletin board borders.. I could go on and on!  The impulsive side of me wanted to purchase all of it, but I decided to wait and make sure I know what my classroom colors will be before I start going crazy with all of that.  I have a new room this year, and I haven't had a chance to scope it out yet... My room the past two years has been on the simple but colorful side, and I really loved it- I am just afraid that all of the fabric I purchased won't fit the new bulletin boards.. sigh..  Until then, I will be Pinterest-ing and dreaming up something bright, colorful, and clean. 

On a different note,  I am THRILLED to have 7 followers on BlogLovin'!  That doesn't seem like a lot, but it means a WHOLE lot to me as such a new blogger!  I am thinking I will do something special when that "Followers" number reaches 10...! :)    Who will be the 3 sweethearts to help me do that?  I can't wait to see!

I hope your Thursday was as awesome as you are!
~Miss McDonald :)