The Blessing Box

• I am blessed to have warmers in my car seat. I don't know what I would do without them. I love whoever invented. He or she is a genius. A warm tush is a happy tush!
• I am blessed to have the beagle that will walk with me at any time of the day. Monday morning we walked at 6 AM and she was happier than ever to join me.
• I am blessed to have a husband who will allow me to throw a hissy fit now and then. Not that I do that very often.
• I am glad you had a group of friends together to celebrate the ending of summer with a trip to the pool. And a family who will go to the Apple orchard and farmers market with me.
• Finally I am glad to have season tickets to SEC football. The football season is less than a week away you it is football time in the bluegrass state! Can't wait! I'm over teh moon with excitement

Miscellany monday

1. I have pics to download from my camera, but I am too stinkin lazy. I hope this will change soon because there are some good pictures on there.

2. It is almost that time of year again, the time when I change out my candles. Do you do this? You see, I believe there are fall/winter scents and then there are spring/summer scents. Currently I have out vanilla coconut and clean cotton. I will be breaking out the pumpkin and nutmeg candles soon and I can't wait.

3. I had to work late on Thursday and my sweet beagle was neglected. Due to a miscommunication she was starving by the time I got home at 9:00 and then realized at 9:45 that she hadn't eaten. She has a 6:00 dinner schedule and made me feel so bad that on top of her late dinner she got 2 treats. Pathetic right?

4. I have so much fresh veggies and fruit due to my visits to the apple orchard and farmers market. I am so looking forward to trying out the eggplant and the yummy salad I bought. I wish I could have this stuff all year long!

5. Alright I need your help, I have the fabrics picked out, and the crib but I also need to know your favorite children's books. Being that I paint on the side I have decided to do canvases with a children's book theme. I know I want to do Max from Where the Wild Things Are and of course a Dr Seuss Character. What books do you love to read to your kids, or do you love from your childhood?

Deep Breathe

Thank you God for the ability to take a breathe. Thank you God for the weekend. And what a wonderful weekend it has been. On Friday my mom and dad came up. Mom and I went to the consignment sale and then to Babies R Us and the mall. I was exhausted and Babies R Us was an overload to me (I can't even imagine girls who are actually pregnant trying to get all of this stuff ready). After a week in the classroom I am still adjusting to being needed and called by name all the time. So, at the mall I treated myself to a makeover (so much better- I'll take a pic to show y'all) and mom bought me a couple new shirts. Then we met Anthony, my dad, and Anthony's mom and little brother at Bucca for dinner. On Saturday we went to Lexington and headed to farmer's market and then to the apple orchard to pick apples. Today I'm finishing some things around the house before I head to the pool to meet up with all of my friends for our end of summer hoorah. All and all it has been a wonderful weekend. Here are some pics from the apple orchard. These are mom's pics. I'm feeling a bit too lazy to download my own, but I have a few from the last couple weeks to share with you. Happy Sunday!

Fabric

After an afternoon of searching for a cute bedding set for the nursery we are working on I decided that just like anything else I do I just can't do the easy thing. I am not a bed in a bag type of girl. On top of the fact that since we won't know if we will be getting a boy or a girl the choice is neutral which in the baby bedding world really just means tan. I love to create my own things, so my mom and I decided to do just that. We bought a chocolate brown bumper, and a cream dust ruffle. Then I asked Anthony's aunt if she would make a quilt for the crib. Of course she said yes and gave me a website that I loved called fat quarter to pick out some fabrics. Finally, I have picked out the fabrics for the quilt and the pillows(which I'll make). Here's what I have picked.

Wordless Wednesday

Here's a hint at what I did tonight and will do a bit more of this weekend. We should be hearing soon about our approval, and there is a big consignment sale in town.

The Blessing Box

My sweet friend Caitlin has been linking up to The Blessing Box on Tuesdays. I think this is a wonderful way to link up! We all need to count our blessings! So on this beautiful Tuesday here are my blessings.

Blessing 1: I was able to leave school early today. I try to walk Gracie every day, but today it was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed the fresh air and some time with my sweet furbaby.

Blessing 2: My sweet student from last year who runs up to me at recess everyday to visit with me. Even my old kiddo who tells his buddy in my class now that I'm am mean... I love him too, and I know I made a difference with him too (if mean is making you do your best, then yes, I'm a big meanie).

Blessing 3: I love that I have such a strong support system. My friends, hubby, and family are so supportive of me and what I am doing, regardless of it is with fostering, my painting, or my grandma. I have some crazy ideas! I am so grateful!

Blessing 4: Every week I have about a half hour to an hour conversation with my grandma (mom's mom). I'm not gonna lie sometimes I am in a rush, sometimes she is negative, but I am blessed that I get to talk to her every week.

Blessing 5: I am blessed that I can stretch out in my bath tub with hot water and bubbles up to my ears and enjoy my Coastal Living magazine. I know that I'm lucky to get to have that time.

Miscellany monday

1. Being that I have a side business of children's artwork, since we bought the crib I have been trying to come up with a gender neutral theme for artwork, since when we get a call we will have no idea if it will be a boy or a girl. I finally think I've decided on a children's book theme! I love to read and always have. So far I've come up with Horton from Horton Hears a Who, Max and a monster from Where the Wild Things Are, and the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Any other thoughts on your favorite children's books? There are so many choices!

2. My mom and dad received their issue of Coastal Living in the mail and mine hasn't come yet. I'm sad. I could totally use some Costal Living in my life right now.

3.At recess the other day one of my old students told me her mom could hypnotize a sweat bee... I told her that wasn't possible, and then she proceeded to tell me her mom was from the country and her mom could do that kind of thing. Then she told me how to do it, you know because that is a skill I'll need for a rainy day!

4. I (with the help of my parents painted 3 dressers white on Sunday. Now the guest bedroom is full of bright white dressers until furniture is moved around and the basement is complete.

5. I absolutely love to wear the hubby's big comfy t-shirts around the house. It is the epitome of comfort!

Does the bedding come with it?

Yesterday when Anthony got home from his golf tournament we went to a local baby store to purchase a crib. Originally we had planned on not getting a crib until we got a call for a baby, but then my friends clued me in on the fact that it can take anywhere from 6-14 weeks to order a crib. That on top of the fact that this particular store was having a sale that was hard to pass up. The lady who helped us actually had fostered for 11 years. It was nice to hear her viewpoint. It's funny how many people do this that you never even realize. In the end we settled on this crib (which they did had in stock) for a great price- $199.

While we were there we had a few euphonies:

• Well $199 if you purchased a mattress- then we got to the mattresses that were almost as much as the crib. Who knew?
• This whole process seems surreal. Anthony kept on saying, "well if we don't use it we can take it back". And I kept on explaining, that there is no way we wouldn't need it. This goes up to a twin bed. It was a bit like the Abbot and Costello who's on first routine. I think he won't really get it until we actually get a call. Besides the fact that when I got home and checked out the receipt there are no returns on furniture.
• Best question of the day from my sweet hubby "do you have to buy the bedding separately"... I don't know much, but I do know this!

My first full week back

My first full week as a 5th grade teacher has been a whirlwind of management strategies (this is a noisy crew), PowerPoints (the only way I can keep with this math program), and sore feet (still can't adjust to my wedges). In saying this I also must say I am loving the challenge. I feel like I am actually using skills I haven't pulled out in awhile. So, while I am sitting here taking a break from yet another PowerPoint I am ok with that. It is totally worth it when a 5th grade boy tells you that you are awesome, or your girls from last year run to meet you and chat on the playground. Please remind me of this when I have hit my wall and can take no more wedges, PowerPoints, and may just want to scream "BE QUIET" instead of using my management techniques. I'm sure this positive outlook will continue, as long as I get my occasional naps, workouts, and some free time to myself (this morning I woke up at 6:30 but took a nap at 9:00 till 11:00 and last night we went to Wicks for pizza and Woodchuck with a friend).

My cat is a dog

Sorry I've been more pictures than words this week, and I promise I will post more later. This week is kicking my butt. But tonight when I went upstairs this is what I found.

And when she noticed me, this is what she did, looked at me as if there was nothing unusual about the situation. Didn't you know every cat gnaws on a dog rawhide bone? Just a normal day in this little household.

Wordless Wednesday- beagle's first lake trip

Get on the bus

I live in a different district than the one I teach and today it was their first day of school. I left at 6:30 today and they are lined up at the bus stop. Last night on the news I heard them say that the longest an elementary student rides the bus is 75 minutes and their goal is 60 minutes, it blows my mind that 60 minutes is even okay. In this town they drive the kids all over the place so that all schools are equal. But in my opinion keeping a kiddo on the bus for 75 minutes is absurd. I wouldn't even try 75 minutes to work let alone an hour. I bet the little ones are exhausted after such a long day and then I long bus ride. And then there's the whole teacher aspect of it too. As a teacher I know that some parents are not able to get to school. Especially if their child's school and 75 minutes away. So that parent contact that is important is taken away. I'm not sure if this is a common thing but where I grew up at it definitely wasn't. It really leaves me with the question how many parents actually want that for their child why not keep them in their neighborhood and get the parents involved that's far more important then how many ethnicities are in each school.

Miscellany monday

This will be my first full week of school this week, three days under my belt already. Here's wishing for a good week! Happy misclanny Monday.

1. We took Gracie to the lake for the first time this weekend. She would rather hold on to her mommy with her paws then actually swim, even with a life vest!
2. There is a UK basketball game on and a football game on later tonight. I can almost smell fall in the air! Have I mentioned I can't wait for the season. I can barley contain myself.
3. I have tried to help my mom with her school blog over the phone, do you know how difficult that is? Frustrating to say the least, especially when she repeats back to me everything I say.
4. Tonight is our last bible study. We are meeting at Jason's Deli for a special treat. It is my favorite place to eat, because of the healthy food, and free soft serve ice cream. You can't go wrong.
5. My mom and dad are repainting their kitchen and wanted my input on paint colors, which is no problem because I have a ton of the sample chips at my house, just in case. That's normal right? If I wasn't a teacher I'd be an interior designer.
6. This weekend I couldn't help but think about the fact that we should be approved for foster/adoption program in about a month. So fun!
7. I was wiped at the end of Friday, my class is full of chatter boxes. I did some research in an old book I have "Positive Discipline"- I highly recommend it for all parents and teachers. I now feel refreshed with some new ideas, and ready for a new day, conquering the chatter issue and instilling a love for learning. No small feat, I have to admit.

Weekend sneak peak

A sneak peak at our lake weekend getaway. More to come! Had an amazing time with the hubby and our friends, and of course our sweet beagle. It was her first time at the lake.

Ramblings of a back to school teacher

I have now survived my 2nd day of school. I have to admit, I am tired! I am currently stretched out on the couch, and thinking in broken sentences... forgive me if I ramble. My feet are so not used to my wedges, they long for my flip flops. I will wear them tomorrow. Flip flops, my old friends. My cat is insisting she needs to lay on top of me as I am typing this, she is needy. She will not win. I am also watching my dvred episode of Teen Mom. It is addicting, I wonder if I am dependent on this ridiculous show? Anthony and I were supposed to go out to dinner last night, but I was way too worn out, so he made pasta and then we went to the club tonight for dinner. I couldn't even eat my dessert, that is not like me. All this brings me back to me on the couch. Did I mention I am waiting for Anthony. That is why I am on the couch. We are going to P90X it tonight, and I don't want to exert any energy I might be saving in my pinkie, or big toe. So when he gets home we will P90X it and then I may even eat my dessert, because I can. And then I have even more plans for tomorrow, after school of course. It will start with driving home, in silence. I love my new kiddos, but wow they are chatty!

Random Wordless Wednesday

First, Happy 3rd Birthday Miss Hanna!

Next, and not nearly as important, this was the sky on my way home from my parents' house stuck in traffic the other day. At least it was a pretty view!

Teacher Week: Creative Ideas

I love to be creative, I always had plans to be the teacher with the best bulletin boards, updated every month.... well, we know how that goes. Anywho, here are some creative ideas I do have time to keep in place.

1. Pick a theme, make it cozy. Reds and greens are great to activate the brain. The theme keeps everything cleaner.

2.Use ribbon for border and fabric for your bulletin board background. It lasts longer and is so much brighter.

3. Cover the awful overhead lighting with fabric. It softens the bright light.

4. Create centers for the children to explore based on subjects, science, math, reading, writing. This is a science center kids explore in their free time.

Classroom Must-Haves

Today is Classroom Must-Haves (anything you just couldn't live without) on Babbling Abby's Teacher Week. I haven't really thought about it much.

hmm... here are my top 3 must haves, although I'm sure if I were in my room I would probably change my mind. These are just off the top of my mind.

• a LOT of binders/folders/organizers
• my blog
• couches, rugs, etc to give my room a homey feeling

Miscellany monday

Back at work today, but can't pass up on a Miscellany Monday.

1. I went to Victoria's Secret today to check out their bathing suits. There were 2 little girls there (like 9 or 10 years old) by themselves, trying on suits. WHAT?!?! I mean, I'm not a mom but should a 9 year old be wearing a string bikini from VS? Hope not, because I will be a very uncool mom when my daughter asks for one.

2. Did you know there is politics in schools, with teachers, administration, the board, etc. It is actually ridiculous. There are days I would be happy just interacting with the kids.

3. I bought the furinator, for Gracie and Phoebe. It is amazing and totally worth the money. I totally recommend it!

4. I really wanted to mark "painting the master bathroom" off my summer list. So Saturday am I got up and painted it. I feel better, and it only took a couple of hours so that I could run errands afterwards. I would post pics but it is the same color (pretty much). The only difference is it isn't crappy builder's paint.

5. I got an eggplant from Farmer's Market. They are just so pretty. Now, saying that, I also should tell you I have no idea what to do with it. Does anyone have a healthy eggplant recipe.

* As you read this I am probably at work, in a meeting, please feel sorry for me. I am not a good sitter!

Teacher Week Day one

Over at Babbling Abby it is Teacher Week. Today is Open House (this will be a meet the teachers in bloggy world day and can include a brief bio, pictures and referrals to your teaching website if you have one). All you teachers jump on over and link up.

Here is my teacher bio:

Let's see, This is my 6th year teaching. I taught 1 year at another school as a fifth grade teacher before I moved to the school I am at now. For 4 years I taught a 3rd/4th multiage classroom. I loved having the kids for 2 years, and the leadership of the 4th graders, but it was tough to teach this way with Kentucky curriculum. This year I am back to teaching 5th grade. I can't say I'm overjoyed to be dealing with the hormones, or drama again, but I am up for the challenge. My kids will tell you I love to laugh and have a good time, but in the words of one of my sweetest students "there is Mrs. Thornton, and then there is the hulk". Obviously he is being a bit over the top, but I do expect my students to "be respectful, responsible, the best they can be". I truly enjoy my job and all that it entails. The kids are amazing above all else. Click here to check out my teacher.classroom blog. You'll be able to find out my classroom theme, and lots of other interesting tips/facts. Looking forward to the rest of Teacher Week, even though the kids hit the doors on Wednesday.

A Green cleaner

I love to use earth friendly products, but honestly the ones I find in stores don't work as well as I'd like. I had switched back to plain old cleaning products, but my dad found something different for me to try. He likes to cut things out of the paper, that he thinks I'd like. This page was on homemade cleaning products. There was one that stuck out to me, so I gave it a try, and I loved the results. It was super easy to make too. Below is the recipe. I changed the essential lemon oil to essential lavender oil (since I had some Aveda oil around the house.

Furniture Polish:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white vinegar

20-30 drops lemon essential oil.

shake well before using. I just bought an inexpensive spray bottle from Target, and it works perfect. Enjoy!

My Grandma's Awesomeness

Today I was at the grocery and I thought of my grandma. They had the sweet old ladies demoing some new products, and my grandma used to do that. Hence the thoughts of her. I don't think I have ever mentioned my grandma on here before. She is 93 years old, and has Alzheimer's. I love her to pieces. Unfortunately, she is at the point in her disease that she can't really talk, and doesn't know who I am. Regardless, she is an amazing women, so I thought since I was thinking of her I'd share some of her amazingness with you here.

1. She made cream candy every Christmas, and she taught me how to make it. Now every Christmas I carry on the tradition.

2. She is a proud southern woman.

3. She would sit at the head of the table (that is now my table) for family meals and "hold court", always the last to finish eating, but never really eating that much.

4. She is independent (that means stubborn as a mule)!

5. Every Easter she would make this horrible coconut cake with jelly beans on top. Nobody liked it, and yet every Easter there was still a coconut cake.

6. She had the most beautiful pink and white rose bushes, that I would get to pick flowers from in the summer to take home with me.

7. When I was younger we would have family get togethers often on the weekends, we would have dinner and play Rook. She was always my oldest uncle's partner, and she would make him so mad. It was great.

8. She had 3 boys. Enough said.

9. She hummed all the time.

10. When I was little we played Little House on the Prairie, because she had the perfect yard for it.

Giveaway Winner

I'm so happy there were some last minute entries! I was starting to get a little nervous that my first giveaway was going to be a dud. But like any 10 year old knows... entering double digits is a good thing. This morning I used random.org to choose a winner. And random.org chose entry #7. That would be Ana Goncalves. So, Ana Goncalves, just contact me at graciejess@msn.com and let me know what you would like. If you would like a theme not shown just let me know and I can do that too. Congratulations!

Rent a kid

Today my brother-in-law went with me to school to help out. He is 12 and is now "bored" since his school doesn't start back for 2 more weeks. So, last night he text he telling me "it was better that staying home being lazy", plus I think he knows I buy a dessert of some sort when he's around. Regardless of the reason he decided to tag along, I have to say he was a huge help. So my question is this, can you just rent one of these kids for a day. Know know, to help set up a classroom, or dust a room. I mean it couldn't hurt right? And the greatest thing is they don't argue with you, they just politely do what you ask. Who wouldn't want that? Life would be simpler, and all it may cost you is a little ice cream or a cookie!

Don't forget to sign up for my blog giveaway today! I promise it is totally worth it!

Sea glass

If you know me in real life, or even from this blog, you know I LOVE the beach! Yes, this landlocked Kentucky girl loves the ocean, salt, sand , and breeze. One of my favorite things to do at the beach is look for sea shells. It is an age old tradition, with my dad and I. As a result I have oodles of seashells lying around my house in various places. I would have more but the hubby is insistent we would look crazy, being that we do not own a beach house, and instead own a house in suburbia Kentucky. Anyway, back to the subject. One thing I have never been lucky to find at the beaches I visit is sea glass. I have a small container of it in my house, but it is nothing compared to the shells. Honestly because of the beaches I visit, I really didn't know a lot about sea glass. Something I saw in Coastal Living sparked my interest a bit more, so I did some research. Here is what I found:

What is Sea glass:

1 - A piece of glass has beentumbled by natural wave action to the point where there are no sharply-defined edges or corners, and

2 -The natural action of elements in the water along with sunlight and tumbling action have produced a unique frosted or etched surface covering all sides of the glass.

What can you do with it:

HERE ARE THE 12 Sea Glass Crafts Ideas:

1. Sea glass scrapbook: Want to remember your wonderful vacation? Why not glue your sea glass into a scrapbook along with other memorabilia from your wonderful beach vacation? There are a number of sites on scrapbooks that give many excellent suggestions that could easily by adapted to a scrapbook either only on your sea glass or as part of a collage.

2. Sea glass fountain.

3. Sea glass table lamp.

4. Sea glass candles, candle holders or votive holders.

5. Beach motif mirror or sea glass photo frame.

6. Colorful night lights and light switch plates.

7. Sea glass wine glass markers or charms: Personalize wine markers or party charms are popular. A novel way of helping your friends and loved ones remember whose glass is whose.

8. Sea glass wind chimes, suncatchers, or hanging mobiles.

9. Sea glass mosaics or a sea glass tile.

10. Sea glass, stained glass style.

11. Sea glass beads.

12. Sea glass bead id lanyard.

I plan on putting mine in glass jars/vases and putting them around the house, especially by windows where it catches the light. Since I can't find sea glass in KY and already had my summer beach vacay, I plan on ordering some. It's just too pretty not to!

Wordless Wednesday- How does your garden grow

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway here !

Shark Bait

I feel like all my time is devoted to work, and the house right now. Even though school hasn't started I am in full on teacher mode. I have to admit I am a bit anxious this year, there is so much newness. I'm not always a fan of newness, but I am willing to embrace it. When I'm not prepping for school, cleaning the house I am watching one of my favorite things... SHARK WEEK! Don't you just love it, if not you totally should? Ever since I dissected a shark my 2nd year of teaching I am in awe of the amazing creatures. Last night was extra interesting. There was this green beret guy who said things like "what happens when you are diving in a cage and you get stuck in that cage with a shark"? Who wonders those things. And then he does it, he gets a shark to come into a cage with him. -or- "what do sharks respond to more, blood, or noise?" And then of course he gets in chummed water and a buddy is further away making noise, and of course the sharks come. So, if you have never watched shark week I highly recommend it. You may not go in the ocean for a while, but it is so interesting. At least you will seem more sane when you see the crazies hanging out in the chum filled water.

* On a side note don't forget my giveaway is still going on. You can enter 5 different ways! Just click here to sign up!

Miscellany monday

Better late than never!

1. and most exciting for today, my dear friend (who got me involved in the foster/adoption) got a call to foster another little one today. They have adopted a little boy already from the program, and I am super happy for them.

2. I worked a full day in my classroom today. Wow! I have a lot to get used to. I need to start to go to bed earlier and get up earlier, or I might die of exhaustion.

3. I tried a giveaway... I think I am doing something wrong. You can click here if you want to check it out.

4. I would love to visit the west coast. All the pics I see are beautiful, and I think it would be something different than what I'm used to.

5. We have watched a few great movies lately: When in Rome, The Book of Eli, Hot Tub Time Machine, and She's Out of Your League. I haven't watched this many movies in forever. I love to cuddle in and watch a movie at home.