New Blog Design!

Oh my goodness I am so excited to share my new blog design with you! I did it all by myself with LOTS of thanks to Google search and these lovely blog tutorials:

Pure Imagination

Makin Cute Blogs

Xomisse

Carrie Loves

Pro Blog Tips

Help Logger

Blog Designs by Dani

Creative Clips

KG Fonts

I also have a little knowledge of HTML coding that I learned in my Graduate program, so I sorta knew where to begin. 

I started with my fave designer - PowerPoint! 

I just started with a rounded rectangle and added my text with different fonts and colors until I found what I liked. I saved each piece individually as a picture to upload into Photoshop CC. 

In Photoshop I placed objects until I was happy with my header. 

NOTE: I have already purchased the licenses for 10 of KG Fonts so I could use multiple ones in my blog design. 

I used the image mapping tool available at Image-Maps.com to link my pages. Then uploaded the pic to my HTML coding in Blogger. 

I haven't mastered clip art design yet so until I do, I will continue to use the FAN-TAB-U-LOUS Krista Wallden from Creative Clips. LOVE!

I made my buttons: 

My Sidebar Titles, About Me Pic, Signature, etc. all done the same way! I'm still working on my skills with Photoshop so I'm by no means a pro yet! 

I've also created cover photos for Twitter and Facebook: 

Also redid my TpT store. 

And I'm currently working on business cards for our blogger meetup in June. 

This whole experience has been so much fun! I'm thinking of taking up design as a hobby :)

I've also taken the leap and purchased my own domain. Google makes that so easy and cheap to do!

Thanks for checking out my new design! 

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Five For Friday!

Hello all! I'm excited to be joining Doodle Bugs Teaching for the weekly linky party for the first time! It's Five for Friday y'all!

On the computer this week: I have officially been out of school for 1 week today. And you know what? I kinda miss it :/ Already! So this week I have been working on my math curriculum that I am rewriting from scratch because we just can't seem to get it right. We have been using a mashup of Math in Focus, Envision, and Engage NY/Eureka for the past two years and we just don't like it. It's not for our school. The other members of my grade level team are not math peoples so I've taken over the task of creating something for our kiddos.

I love it so far! It's going to be so much fun!

And I've also been helping out a friend design her blog - a new hobby of mine. 

This is what I have so far. I love the owls!

In my life this week: Look what we got here-

Boxes. Yep. I'm moving! I have ADHD when it comes to packing. I started in the living room but didn't finish because I found a book that belonged on the recipe shelf so then I moved to the kitchen but then I found some pins that belonged in my sewing corner so I moved over there and I'm sure you can guess what happened next. So I've got boxes started all over the place. I'll finish sometime I'm sure. Maybe. 

In the kitchen this week: This has been the weather every day. Every. Day. 

Yeah, we haven't been outside much. We did make ice cream in our Mickey Mouse Ice Cream maker! Two different kinds: Chocolate Coconut Milk and Peanut Butter Banana. Both came out GREAT!

Also in the kitchen this week: Red Velvet Cupcakes with filling and buttercream icing. YUM. This recipe is my Grandfather's and it's really the best ever. In the world. Ever. 

Life with the kid this week: Carly Summer got her report card this week! She's officially promoted to 9th grade and I officially have a high schooler in the house. 

You see, but I still think of her like this in first grade: (top row, second from the left)

All those kiddos are now 13 and going on to high school. They were my 3rd year of teaching class. 

Professional work this week: We are working toward our very first blogger meetup at the end of June!

We are meeting up at my fabulous school and we are looking for fabulous companies to help us out with some giveaways and lunch and what not. I'm so excited about this!! Can't wait to meet other bloggers from around the state. Should be very informative and fun!

Well that's it in my life this week. What have you been up to? Have a great Friday!

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Weekly Summer Link-Up: My Goals for Summer

Whoop Whoop! It's summertime for me and I am beginning to thoroughly enjoy it. Yes, even the heat down here in South Louisiana. And it's only May! Here is a screen shot of our temps. Oh, and there's rain like everyday. 

So I am linking up with I Heart Grade 3 for a Weekly Summer Link-Up: My Goals for Summer. I am excited about this! I love reading teaching blogs and I get so many wonderful ideas. A weekly Linky is just what I need to keep me blogging through summer. 

1. Update products on TpT. 

Some of my products are in serious need of a face lift. I haven't been able to devote as much time as I would like to my store because the end of the year is crazy! But now that school's out til August I can update and upload new products. Lots of fun things in mind!! 

2. RELAX

Yes, apparently I have problems doing this. Every time I sit down to relax, a thousand things bombard my brain that I need to do or haven't done or would like to do! Every. Single. Time. 

But I need to find time and relax. My neck and head would really appreciate the less stress!

First stop on the relaxation train - I'm going to Arkansas in 2 weeks!

3. Math Curriculum

We are unhappy with our current Math Curriculum with consists of a mash up of Engage NY/Eureka and Math in Focus. Eh, they are both okay I guess. Just not what our school is all about. So I am writing our own math curriculum. My goal this summer is to have the first half of the curriculum done. I'm already through with the first 9 weeks! 

4. Pack up and Move

Oh yeah! I'm moving June 25. Just to a new apartment closer to my daughter's new school. HIGH SCHOOL that is. Yes, she's in high school. I have a high schooler. That's just too much for me right now. (I'm gonna pretend she's still in first grade, k? K.) I have got a lot to pack up. A LOT. So that's what I'll be doing the next month. In addition to packing for our trip to Arkansas that is. In between there, somewhere. 

There's a short list of my ever growing To-Do list!! I just keep thinking of things I want to do, need to do, have to do. 

What's on your summer list? Have a great one!

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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Freebies for you! #becauseweloveteachers

It's May and that means it's Teacher Appreciation!

I am so happy to be linking up with some AMAZING teacher bloggers for a extraordinary We Love Teachers Blog Hop!

Let's get things started! I have a fabulous freebie for you today :)

I would like to share with you one of my favorites units to teach at the end of the year.

In this unit we talk all about different types of insects and learn about their life cycles and habitats and how they help our environment. 

After reading many insect books, we go on a nature walk to find and document different insects around our school. They carry their Insect Journals with them and draw pictures and write descriptions. 

We share our discoveries and talk about how the insects all share the same body parts. Then we get to design our own NEW insect using My Bug Book. 

Click on any of the pics above to grab this Bug Book Freebie for yourself :)

And if you want the whole unit, click below. 

Now hop on over to visit with Tiffany at Shoelaces & Sweetfaces to see her amazing site and terrific ideas!

And don't forget that Teachers Pay Teachers is having a site wide Sale May 5 and 6 this week. Save up to 28%!! Do some spring cleaning on your wish list and make sure to check out all the wonderful products out there. 

Happy Teaching!! 

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Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Freebies for you! #becauseweloveteachers

It's May and that means it's Teacher Appreciation!

I am so happy to be linking up with some AMAZING teacher bloggers for a extraordinary We Love Teachers Blog Hop!

Let's get things started! I have a fabulous freebie for you today :)

I would like to share with you one of my favorites units to teach at the end of the year.

In this unit we talk all about different types of insects and learn about their life cycles and habitats and how they help our environment. 

After reading many insect books, we go on a nature walk to find and document different insects around our school. They carry their Insect Journals with them and draw pictures and write descriptions. 

We share our discoveries and talk about how the insects all share the same body parts. Then we get to design our own NEW insect using My Bug Book. 

Click on any of the pics above to grab this Bug Book Freebie for yourself :)

And if you want the whole unit, click below. 

Now hop on over to visit with Tiffany at Shoelaces & Sweetfaces to see her amazing site and terrific ideas!

And don't forget that Teachers Pay Teachers is having a site wide Sale May 5 and 6 this week. Save up to 28%!! Do some spring cleaning on your wish list and make sure to check out all the wonderful products out there. 

Happy Teaching!! 

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