Wonders BUNDLE Giveaway!!! (Giveaway Closed)

Happy Summer, teachers!!!

I have some news that I have mixed feelings about...

This is me right now.

My district is adopting a new Reading curriculum. I like change, so I'm not worried, but I have spent many countless hours creating a supplement resource for our current Wonders program! I am sad that I won't be able to use them anymore, but I am also excited to see what I can do and create with this new curriculum coming our way.

That being said, I know TONS of schools are using Wonders currently and will be adopting it as their new curriculum in the coming years. So, why not give a bundle away?!

I have NEVER given away a year-long bundle before. EVER. Not only am I giving away a year long bundle... I am giving away one PER GRADE LEVEL! That means THREE teachers will win a year long bundle for their Kindergarten, First grade, or Second grade classes! Click the images below for your grade level to check out all the awesomeness!

Here's how to enter:
Find the Rafflecopter that fits your needs below (Kindergarten, First, or Second). Click or tap each category to enter. Rafflecopter will be choosing a random winner on Saturday, June 16th.

If you just can't wait that long or if you don't win, don't worry! All Wonders resources in my shop will be 20% off till June 17th!



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Oh Baby! A Giveaway!

I'm 38 weeks pregnant today, people. Where did the time go?? I'm seriously melting in this Florida heat and SO READY to have this baby. Not much longer! It's so worth it.

All that being said, I know it is seriously time for some Back to School shopping! I can't believe I won't be joining in this year, but that doesn't mean I can't help celebrate! So I've decided to do a giveaway!

I'm giving away a $10 Teachers Pay Teachers giftcard (I think there's a sale coming up! *wink) and a copy of this year's edition of my FAVORITE binder pack! It's 114 pages of pure organization glory...

Enter below and tell your friends! And let's hope I'll have some cute baby pictures to share out soon. :)

WE HAVE A WINNER! GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! Thank you to everyone who entered. Be sure to check back for more giveaways and freebies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Seven Truths of Not Teaching for a Year

I am currently approaching 37 weeks of pregnancy in the Florida heat. I am pretty ready for this baby boy to come on, but as the beginning of the school year approaches... I can't help but feel a bit sad that I won't be there. My husband and I made the decision that I will stay home throughout the entirety of this school year. Here are my thoughts on the matter:

1. Feeling the "back to school" envy.
All the sales, all the Facebook and Instagram posts, all the adorable things at the Target Dollar Spot...

I love Instagram bc it y'all enable me to be a school supply snob 😂😘

A photo posted by PeppyZestyTeacherista (@peppyzestyteacherista) on Jul 20, 2016 at 8:55am PDT

Jackson's at school, Harrison is napping so the hubby said go enjoy Target by yourself 💛💛 he didn't have to tell me twice 😊😊 #targetdollarspot #targetteachers #teachersfollowteachers

A photo posted by Caity Schrock (@mrsschrock4) on Jul 13, 2016 at 6:35am PDT

Teacher Target Dollar Spot finds from #tptorlando16 !! 🌴🍎☀️

A photo posted by Lawren | TN Teacher 🍎 (@teachingisaroyaladventure) on Jul 18, 2016 at 6:18pm PDT

My target dollar spot haul! Had to really dig for these but totally worth it! #targetdollarspot #target #stationery #stationeryaddict #stationerylove #planneraddict #plannerlove #plannernerd

A photo posted by @hello28kitty on Jul 18, 2016 at 2:06pm PDT

I want all the notebooks!!!

And my all time favorite thing to do is get my classroom lookin' shnazzy! At least I have the baby's nursery to decorate.

2. That glorious Back to School TpT Sale that usually happens...
My TpT Wishlist always seems to be multiple pages long. At least I can still snag some good deals on Clipart, right? I would like to just go ahead and buy ALL THE THINGS, but money is better spent elsewhere right now. Sigh.

3. Missing the team.
Everyone has a TBFF, right?? I saw that term on Kindergarten Smorgasboard's blog once and it's definitely April and me. If you don't have a TBFF (Teacher Best Friend Forever), you need one STAT! <3 Going to miss her this year. She better not replace me!

Look at her, checkin' in on me and stuff. Feeling so loved. <3 

4. Missing out on the excitement of a new year with new kiddos.
I LOVE the first week of school! I love the excitement of all the students and I even love the monotony of teaching routines and procedures a bazillion times in one week. But I'll especially miss the fist-bumping and high-fives morning welcome I do with my students as they enter.

Image from ndm.edu

5. My friends won't be able to text me back until the end of the day.
What is this?? I won't be able to talk to anyone until 3pm?? I officially feel bad for my best friend Heather who is a stay at home mom for all the times I couldn't text her back until after work.

Oh... and there's also this...

6. My cute teacher clothes are being neglected.
I've been pregnant since November, people. Granted, my regular clothes fit fine until about March, but still... I haven't been able to look real cute in some time, because pregnancy got me feeling like...

Image from Pregnancy Humor

And now, another year of my clothes collecting dust. Oh well, at least I'll have some time to lose some of the baby weight so that they'll fit next year...


7. But it's all worth it.
There's a reason this is the best decision right now. Whatever your reason is to take some time off, it's worth it.

Learning With Liam: Outside Fun and Painting!

This summer has so far been a blast, although it is completely flying by! I am babysitting my best friend's little guy once or twice a week this summer and it has added such a fun element to my summer. Liam is three years old and I've been trying to come up with some different activities we can do together. His little three year old mind blows me away with what he retains and he seems to really love learning games, especially those involving numbers (more on that in a future post).

Here's the first of a series of posts about our adventures this summer called "Learning with Liam."

Day 1: Name writing and mask painting!

Sidewalk chalk is a really fun way to have little people start writing their name! I also discovered this little guy is a lefty!

We started with uppercase letters because the straight lines in the letters of him name are easier to form than the curvy kind in the lowercase letters. 

M is tough! Loving his "A." <3 

Outside adventures are not complete without some scooter fun!

I grabbed these little wooden masks for 75 cents at Joanne's Fabric and the little pack of paint tubs for $1. He LOVED these. We painted a turtle and a lion on this day, but I went back to Joanne's and bought 3 more. 

We used Q-Tips instead of paint brushes, one because I forgot to buy brushes... and two, because these are cheap and disposable. They are also easy for little hands to hold. They are also great for fine motor because since they are short, they cannot be held in a fist, forcing him to figure out an easier way to hold it. 

Liam and I had a lot of fun painting and playing outside. Next week, come back and check out the games we played with numbers! This little guy LOVES numbers and counting!

Daisy RE-Designs: HALF OFF Updated Products!

I have been a BUSY BUSY BEE! I've been getting some oldies but goodies updated with better graphics and fonts as well as improved content. I have also been much more conscious on providing easier printing options! Take a look below at a couple of updated products that are HALF OFF through July 4th!

I'm calling these updates "Daisy RE-Designs," and every time I redesign a product, it will be on sale, so keep checking back for more updates! Click the images below to check them out in my store!

#2forTuesday

Hey there readers! I hope you are having a fantastic summer so far!!! If you're like me, you're already thinking about next year. Based on what I'm seeing on my Instagram, a LOT of teachers are already thinking about it, too! The Target Dollar Spot is the happening place right now, but summer is also a great time to stock up on some TpT items.

There's a little sale going on called 2 for Tuesday! Just type in #2forTuesday in your TpT search bar and you'll find tons of products that are HALF OFF today! I decided to put my Dice Games on sale today for HALF OFF. I'm kind of cheating, because it's actually 3 products... Shhh... I just couldn't leave out Volume 3 from the sale!!! Click any of the images below to head there now and check out all of the other sale items!

Summer Bucket List

Ahhhh, Summer. The time of year where teachers catch up on their "me-time." Well, somewhat. If you're like me, you're making lists too long to handle and wind up not doing much of it. Either way, I have a Summer Bucket List and found a fun blog to link up with! Looks like these other teachers are going to have a great summer, too! Thanks, Mind Sparks, for hosting a fun linky!

1. I am an avid reader but during the school year, especially towards the end when it gets CRAZY busy, I just don't have the time to put into a good book for pleasure! And any time I read, I get so relaxed, I wind up falling asleep. So being a tired teacher, you can imagine I don't get much of the actual reading done! What's on your summer reading list? I've been out of school for 1 week and I've already read through 2 of the books on my list! I'm devouring them!

2. Ryan and I are going on a "baby-moon!" I just learned that term the other day! We have a trip planned next week to the Dillard House in Georgia. I have never been but it was his family's usual summer vacation spot and he has always wanted to take me there. Before travelling gets more difficult with a baby coming in August, we are going! His sisters and mom are joining us and I am getting really excited! One of his sisters is a photographer, too, and she's going to do some awesome maternity photos for us. I will make sure I post some when they're done. Can't wait! The pictures below are from the Dillard House's website. How beautiful!

3. The nursery is on its way to completion! We hired a lady to super deep clean the room since it has been a storage/junk room for the past like 3 years. Now we are starting to piece it all together! I'll post some pictures soon when it's nearing completion. Lots to do!!! But so fun!!! 

4. I have a list of some TpT products that need a makeover! Like most TpT sellers, I use the Summer as a time to make some necessary changes. It is always so nice to visit some old products and give them some attention again. My first update this Summer will be my Fairy Tale Unit, so keep your eyes peeled for some new goodies in it!

5. I am SO EXCITED to go to the TpT Conference this year!!! I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that it is in Florida this year. I was planning on going before they announced the location change and was saving up my pennies to afford a trip to Vegas. Then I found out I was pregnant... and I wouldn't be able to travel that distance at 8 months pregnant. I'm sure you can imagine my joy when they announced it would be in Orlando this year!! I live an hour's drive away from Orlando, people! I can handle an hour drive! And my doctor gave me the okay to do so. So wide load coming through! I have a lot to learn and a lot of people I want to meet!

6. We all have Netflix goals these days, right? Gotta finish Gilmore Girls.

7. There are some Summer activities that this preggo just can't handle in the heat this year. But let me tell ya, there are a LOT of good movies coming out this summer! So you know where I'll be on the weekends. I'm also babysitting my best friend's 3-year-old and the theater in town does $1 kid movies during the week. So, they'll be seeing a lot of me at the theaters this summer...

8. Speaking of my best friend's 3-year-old... Liam is his name and he's stinkin' adorable. The teacher in me has all kinds of fun ideas for us this summer and you know I'll be blogging about it. Learning With Liam will begin sometime pretty soon. I have so many ideas pinned in Pinterest!

9. Other than Liam, I want to make sure I get some hanging out time in before the baby comes in August. My mom is a teacher, too, so its always nice to get to hang out with her over the summers!

10. And last but not least, I have an idea book that is over flowing with stuff I've been meaning to create and now is the time, people! I actually just made something for the beginning of next year for my substitute to use and it's super fun! I'll share it this evening when it is all completed! I might even have a video of it! ;)



At the end of the summer, my baby boy will be greeting the world! I have tons to do to get ready for his arrival and to make sure I capitalize on every moment before he's here that way... I'll have the ability to capitalize on every moment after he's here. <3

Another Makeover!

This week has been Makeover Madness week and I am loving it! I have been working really hard on getting my binder cover sets (three total) redone AND planning pages added to go with them! If you don't know already, I made these cover sets about a year and half ago for myself and two friends to use for our first year teaching, but we need a change! I already updated my namesake, the "Amanda" Edition... so here's.... drumroll, please! The "Calli" Edition!!

It went from THIS

to THIS!

This one did not change as drastically as the "Amanda" Edition did because the colors and patterns worked SO well together. I consulted Calli and added the flowers at the bottom as well as some bolder lines to make things POP! I LOVE it! I kind of even love it more than my own version!

And just like the "Amanda" Edition, the "Calli" Edition comes in a Covers Only set (which is 50% off through the weekend) and now it also comes in a FULL 116 page planning package (which is also on sale!). Click the images below to check them out! I also have images below of the "Amanda" Edition so you can compare and see which one suits you best. 

FULL pack!

FULL PACK!

FULL PACK!

Covers ONLY

Want a sneak peek of the "Susannah" Edition? Head over to my Facebook page to see a follower only sneak peek image of the Earth tone pack I made for my pal Susannah! The full pack will be updated this weekend! ;)

July Currently and Teachers of Summer on Instagram!

It makes me so sad that I missed the June currently. June was INSANE. Between a different summer camp every week (and one week with 2 camps everyday...) and the move to the new house, June FLEW BY! The contractor who we hired to remodel the "new" (new-to-us) house, took FOREVER. And he's still not done! Of course, he says he is, but there are so many little things that need to be addressed. We were supposed to be moved in June 1st, and here we are moved in FINALLY on July 1st! Anyway, all of our stuff is in boxes, so no pictures yet, but when I have them, I will post them! It is very exciting!

But I made a point not to forget the currently this month! WOOO!! Click the picture below to check out other currently's!

LISTENING: Really, I'm listening to a playlist, that just happened to be the one that was on when I was typing! *Now* I'm listening to Am I Wrong by Nico & Vinz. Sometimes you just gotta love the Top Hits...

LOVING: The hubby and I just moved out of about 300 square feet into a 4-bedroom HOUSE! It is... glorious. Period. 

THINKING: Oh man, we've been eating fast food for every meal for like 2 weeks with this ridiculously long move. It was fantastic to eat home cooked food on our brand new dishes. Sigh.

WANTING: This is going to be my first year teaching and I want my first classroom!!! I have so much STUFF packed up (in addition to the rest of my belongings...) for my classroom ready to load up! I hope they call soon. I'm off this week... ;)

NEEDING: I have one more day to get my physical done and get all my paperwork turned in. I had my New Hire Session yesterday!

4TH PLANS: Nothing. And I'm so OK with that. I'll be giving thanks for my day of quiet solitude with Ryan in our new house. <3

In addition to the currently this month, you gotta check out the fun July Photo Challenge on Instagram. I am a new Instagram addict, so if you are on it, come find me! @DaisyDesignsTpT. Kacie over at Managing and Motivating Math Minds started it today, so we will see how I do keeping up with it! So far... so good. One day! Woot! Follow me on Instagram to keep up with it and I'll follow you back! www.instagram.com/daisydesignstpt

Until next time!

Amanda