Sunday Scoop: The Feeling Better Edition

Thank the heavens that I am feeling more like myself today. I was out for an entire week last week! I originally went to the ER and was told I had the flu! I went because I'm also pregnant, you see, and having a high fever that Tylenol doesn't help... insert panic stricken face here. After my trip to the ER, I wasn't feeling better at ALL, so I followed my gut and went back to my regular doctor who graciously squeezed me in. Turns out... I did NOT have the flu, but a really bad upper respiratory infection that was on the fast track to pneumonia! Yikes. I miss my students terribly and hate that an entire week was wasted on sub plans. :(

Either way... I am feeling much better! And with feeling better comes inspiration to blog and create, which is how I have spent my Sunday so far!

I have felt so much better that I FINALLY was able to finish up a work in progress! This summer I'll be watching my best friend's little guy and he is obsessed with trains! So I created this little set up for him to play with this summer. I am so excited to share it! It is also HALF OFF for the next 48 hours so check it out or pin it for later! Click the pictures below to head there now!

Sunday Blues

I know it's early, but I gotta tell ya, being pregnant just makes me want to stay home and get my house ready! I mean, I'll have all summer to prep the nursery and buy cool things and set up the things I receive from baby showers... but I want to start now! Can you tell I'm excited? I don't even know if this little shrimpy is a boy or a girl yet! (Although, I really think it'll be a girl... anyone else just get a feeling when they were pregnant?).

So this Sunday, I've got a bad case of the Sunday Blues. My sister-in-law has been living with us for a while, but she moved out last month which actually gives us a legitimate guest room! My home office has been crammed into the guest room and it hasn't been very inspiring in there. So now that we have the space, we are renovating my work space as well and I cannot be more excited! I've got so many ideas and pretty much everything picked out and... well... I just want to stay home and make this place my own!

That being said... here's my Sunday Scoop. Because really, there's a LOT that NEEDS doing over these things that I WANT to do. :/

Thanks, Teaching Trio for the fun linky! Still one of my all time faves!

I don't think my Scoop post today needs much elaboration. However, I will ask now for suggestions for things to binge watch after Gilmore Girls. I've already done Friends recently so not that (although I could easily do it again...). What are your thoughts? What are you binge watching right now?

While I'm at it, I'd like to share a new forever freebie that I posted in my store last week. It is a quick printable I created as a Word Work center material, but it's great because I don't ever have to change it! I just make a TON of copies of it and then just change the content. You'll love it. To download the freebie, just click the image below and don't forget to leave a comment on TpT! I'd love to hear how it is working in your classroom.

Happy Sunday, teachers!

Oh dear...

What happened to the first week of February? Where in the WORLD did it go?? This has got to be the fastest time has flown by for me. I feel just awful about neglecting my little blog the past couple of weeks, so I thought, what better way to hop back on board than with a Sunday Scoop! It is one of my favorite linkies, after all. Thanks, Teaching Trio, for providing this one. Love it!

HAVE TO DO:

1. One thing you may not know about me is that I sing. I used to be a Musical Theater major but wound up finishing my college years with a degree in Education. The goal at the time was to teach theater. I fell in love with teaching and although I do teach at a community theater, I wouldn't trade my regular teaching job for the world! My mom is a song writer and she's asked me to come over to her house and record a new song. Let's hope it is a hit!

2. Nothing like waiting till the last minute, am I right? I was SO pooped at the end of last week and when my principal said "plan elsewhere" over the intercom on Friday afternoon, I bolted and took a nap. My lesson plans were put on the back burner. Gotta get them done!

3. My husband's 30th is on Friday AND our class Valentine's Day party is that day as well. I have a lot of shopping to do to get ready! Friday is going to be a big day. Stay tuned for pictures and maybe even a video. My IG and FB pages will be covered with them. :)

HOPE TO DO:

1. I'm working on a fun new product and I'm hoping I can squeeze some work time in today. One can only hope.

2. Bra shopping is probably one of my least favorite things to do in the entire world. But it's that time.... I hope to get it done today, but I won't be unhappy if I don't. Sigh.

HAPPY TO DO:

1. I am just happy to be posting today! I feel so guilty for neglecting my blog for the past couple of weeks. I know that I will definitely be posting again on Friday this week. I've got some fun things to share that day!

If you are not following me on Instagram, get on it! There was a really neat Freebie loop last night that you can still snag the goodies from. Click below to follow me on IG and tap each picture to get the freebies in everyone's profiles. I got some GREAT things to add to my Valentine's Day resources that I will certainly be using this week. Have fun and happy weekend!

Share the love and tag a teacher friend for this awesome freebie loop! Temporary links to the freebie are in each participant's profile. Tap the picture to go to the next freebie and like and follow them all! #freebieloop #freebies #teachersofinstagram #teacherfreebies #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers #iteachtoo #iteachsecond

A photo posted by Amanda Smith - Daisy Designs (@daisydesignstpt) on Feb 6, 2016 at 3:59pm PST

Sunday Scoop and Lots of Excitement!

Can't forget one of my favorite linkies! Thanks, Teaching Trio!

HAVE TO:

I was a smart cookie and did most of my lesson plans last week. Just need to finish up a few things that I didn't have time for and send them on to admin. Woo-hoo! Feeling good!

I have been amazing at the gym lately... which is great considering all the crappy food I've been eating....

If you haven't heard, today is the first official Daisy Dollar Day! Click the images below to go to the original blog post and see what I've got cooking for only $1 today!

HOPE TO DO:

I have been reading the same book for so long because I just can't seem to get a good reading schedule down. It doesn't help that I am so pooped after work that when I do start to read, I'm so relaxed that I immediately fall asleep!

That being said, let's watch Gilmore Girls instead! ;)

HAPPY TO DO:

TWD is back and I am SO EXCITED!!!!! Episode 3 tonight!!!

Loving This October Sunday!

Living in Florida means we don't really GET a Fall season. I mean, the weather cools down a tiny bit, but then all of a sudden it is a Florida Winter without the leaves changing color and of course, no snow. That being said, it actually feels like a Fall day here today! The air is crisp and not humid like it usually is and a few of the leaves are crunchy! Just a few... Happy Sunday!

What are you up to this fine day?

If you do not follow me on Instagram, you need to GET ON THAT. Tonight there is a Freebie loop for Halloween Freebies! I have teamed up with a huge group of teachers that will be offering a Halloween FREEBIE through Instagram starting at 8pm EST. Click below to go to my Instagram and follow me so you can get in on the fun!

Another Sunday Another Scoop

Thank you as always to The Teaching Trio for one of my favorite linkies!

HAVE TO: The other day was my best friend Heather's birthday! I made her what we call a "Loot Crate." My husband and I came up with the idea and modeled it after the popular subscription box Loot Crate. Basically I make a box of surprise items that my best friend will totally love. My husband and I did it for our anniversary and the opening of said loot crates is on YouTube:

HOPE TO: I have such a fun Science unit in the making and I am ALMOST done!!! Here's a sneak peek I posted on Instagram the other day. I am totally in love with it and can't wait to share the finished product (hopefully today?!).

Sneak peek at a big project I've been working on. Love interactive notebooks! #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #teachersofinstagram

A photo posted by Amanda Smith - Daisy Designs (@daisydesignstpt) on Oct 4, 2015 at 2:57pm PDT

HAPPY: My baby puppy has an allergic reaction to something or something like that. She doesn't feel well now and is under the influence of puppy Benadryl. There's a picture on my husband's phone that I'll post to my Instagram when he wakes up ;) So make sure you follow my Instagram!


Happy Sunday, ya'll!

Sunday Scoop - September 27th

Before I begin... Happy birthday to my sister-in-law Autumn! <3 Here's a throw back picture to celebrate: (hopefully she doesn't read my blog a lot or she'd kill me for this...)

LOOK AT DA BABY FACES!

I was probably 21 ish in this picture which would make her a teeny tiny 15 ish. :P

Now onto The Sunday Scoop!

As mentioned in my last Sunday Scoop post, my Kindergarten Wonders packs are all bundled together with the exception of a couple of missing units. Unit 4 is up next to add and I promised it would be done by the end of September. I still have a few days left to keep my timeline going... but let's be real here... not a lot gets done after school in my exhausted state (am I right, teachers?), so I'm going to try to finish up today. NO... I HAVE to finish up today. One less thing to worry about this week! Other than that, the gym and the seriously never-ending laundry pile are on my to-do list today.

 Unit 4 INCOMING!!!

My best friend was feeling under the weather this week and she texted me yesterday that she got all her homework done (my friends get really big degrees and stuff... I'll stay over here and play with the 7-year-olds for now). I'm hoping I get everything I need to do DONE so she can come over and we can have some friend time. I'm missing the summer days! But in the mean time, I'll be working on lesson plans for the week and binge watch Gilmore Girls at the same time. Anyone else do that?

Speaking of lesson plans, I'm excited to plan for the Wednesday Science Day!!! I don't know about your school/county, but in our district on Early Release Days, we do Science ALL DAY LONG. The kids love it, I love it, and it gives us the time necessary to really delve deep into hands-on experiments that we don't normally have the time for. We are working on the human body right now and I have a lot of ideas colliding in my brain. Can't wait till Wednesday!!! 

I also have a Human Body Unit in the works to post to TpT and will be finalizing it in the coming weeks to share. I am loving the results so far and I think you will, too.

Have a fabulous Sunday, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

What's the Scoop?

Yesterday FLEW by, ya'll. Don't you hate when your weekend days just fly by like they didn't happen?? Phew! Another busy week ahead and I'm telling ya, I just want to lay around today. Can't do it though! I have a LOT to do and here's the scoop:

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!

I am not happy that I have another week of soft/liquid foods after this oral surgery. Two weeks!!! That's just too long! On the bright side, I've lost 4 pounds... But I really need to blend up my lunches for the next couple of days. My Ninja blender is too loud to do in the morning.

I REALLY hope I have the time today to work on a couple of projects for my TpT store, one possibly being a freebie (more on that later...)! If you haven't seen, my Kindergarten Reading Wonders packs are now bundled together. They are quickly becoming some of my best selling packs on TpT and I'm so excited to get them finished. I bundled them together before I have completed Unit 4. The good news is that the bundle is a growing bundle, meaning it's cheaper right now than it will be when it is fully completed. I really would like to finish up Unit 4 today (probably won't happen but if I work SUPER hard, maybe...) and add it. So if you are on the fence about purchasing the bundle, NOW is the time before the price goes up. If you purchase it before Unit 4 is added, don't worry, you will get the updated product free of charge when the unit is added. This goes for Unit 10 as well which will be posted in February.

Click the image below to check it out now. It has all the links to the products included which are individually $20.

I also really hope I can get some reading in today! I am reading Ken Follett's World Without End at the moment and it is soooooo good. It is the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth which was AMAZING. 

These books have been out for a while, but I just recently discovered them. He also has written a newer series which I can't wait to get my hands on. Have you read these books? I LOVE them! 

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Sunday Scoop on the New Blog!

I know I've had this blog design by Blogs Fits For a Queen for a few weeks now, but I can't stop starting at how beautiful it is now! If you are looking for a blog designer, check these girls out! They were amazing to work with and the quality of their work is fabulous.

I'm back on the blogging train, ya'll! Let's get this party started with my favorite linky brought to us by The Teaching Trio!

My biggest priority today is to make sure I have what I need for the week. I have a dental procedure on Friday so I need to do some sub plans and there MIGHT be a hurricane day on Tuesday. Living in Florida means August and September are our weird months for weather and Tropical Storm Erica is looking pretty nasty right now. I spent yesterday making a few new centers for my second grade class since all my centers from last year were for Kindergarten. I gotta tell you, I'm really enjoying my second graders. I am having a total blast planning for them and LOVE their personalities. I can't wait to really dive into the curriculum this week and be DONE with teaching procedures. *yawn*

Don't forget to click the tab at the top of my new gorgeous blog and check out my classroom this year! Here are a couple of sneak peek pictures in this post:

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Scoop on Mom's Birthday

Happy Sunday! And happy birthday Mom!!!

I'm here after a crazy busy two weeks of rehearsing for the summer musical at the Ocala Civic Theater. I was contracted this summer to direct and choreograph the show We Are Monsters and it was AWESOME! It was hands down the best cast of kids I've ever worked with. I could NOT believe they were as dedicated as they were. And even with the stomach bug that floated around, we had a fabulous run of shows and the kids were amazing. I am SO proud of them!

And now for a Sunday Scoop! Day OFF style!

NEED TO DO:

Being so busy for the past two weeks means that chores have just NOT happened. At ALL.

Today is my mom's birthday and I had this plan on making something for her that I know she will love.  But with all the hubbub, it got started and never finished! I gotta finish today! She's actually really sick today with the stomach bug that was I referring to so we won't really be celebrating today so she can feel better first. But I still want the present to be done (photos will be posted, don't worry) so I can give it to her ASAP!

REST. HOLY COW DO I NEED TO REST. I am thoroughly exhausted from the run of this show and still have Into the Woods to help finalize (I choreographed this show). This whole rest thing bumped up to a NEED real quick today.

HOPE TO DO:

Finish creating a product that I've been working on. I've been dabbling on a product that I'm really excited about and I'd like to finish it today, but it is not a priority. Sleep is.

I am planning on going to work in my classroom sometime this week and unpack the stuff that is crammed in my closet. I moved classrooms and nothing is unpacked yet. I'd like to start printing and laminating some wall decorations today, but we will see.

HAPPY TO DO:

I am going to the 10th anniversary of Motion City Soundtrack's "Commit This to Memory" album!!!!!! Any other MCS fans out there? Man, the nostalgia.... And it will be my bestie's first ever concert! (WHAT?!?!) I can't wait!

Make Your Masterpiece Sunday

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope everyone had a marvelous holiday yesterday. I'm still enjoying the holiday weekend myself. :)

This post is a combo post! A Make Your Masterpiece post and a Sunday Scoop! Enjoy!

Last week the ladies hosting the fabulous TpT Seller Challege issued week 3's challenge: Make Your Masterpiece. I was SO insanely busy at the theater last week that I had to wait till this weekend to even get started! I teach at a community theater and the summer is the busiest time for the kids. I've been working 12-14 hour days at the theater all week! But only one more week left. I got this!

Anyway... this week's challenge:

As some of you know, I have a series of packs that supplement the Reading Wonders series for Kindergarten. I used them daily last year teaching Kindergarten, however, I did not start creating them until Unit 5! Half way through the school year. Well, I will be teaching second grade next year and I have been debating whether or not to create Units 1-4 for my store. The answer came quickly in a question from a buyer on my store. She said that she loved my previous units and was wondering if I could create the missing units. Although it was a lot of work that I will not personally get to use next year, I could not disappoint her and the other teachers who purchase the Wonders units! So, I created Unit 1!

Includes:
Sight Word Cut and Paste
Sentence Builders
Sentence Starters
Poetry Activities (12 total)
Flash Cards and Practice Cards (black and white and in color)
Phonics Activities (8 total)
Phonics Board Games (3 total)
Labeling Activities (highly differentiated)
Handwriting Activities
Writing Activities (with picture dictionary)
Blank Lesson Plan Sheets
Pre-made Lesson Plans
Binder Covers (variety in black and white and in color)
Essentail Question Posters (full page and half page, black and white and color)

UNIT 1 ONLY BONUS CONTENT included!!!

Unit 1 includes some bonus content that I'm thrilled to share! I will leave it as a surprise though. But here's a hint: Unit 1 is the beginning of the year unit... so the bonus content is only something that can be used at the beginning of the school year!

Click any of the images above to check it out in my store! It will be on sale through Wednesday July 8th!

And now, for my favorite linky of course:

Summer Sundays are Still BUSY!

Phew! I can't believe I'm here before my day starts this week. Today is going to be very busy as will NEXT Sunday, too! So I'm here with the Sunday Scoop!!

HAVE TO DO:

I taught a performance summer camp last week at a church and the church staff would like for the kiddos to perform this morning at the church service. I need to be there to guide them. After all, they're only 5 and 6... They were SO GOOD. I am planning on doing a blog post about the entire experience this week.

I also need to go to the gym today. I won't be able to tomorrow due to an insane schedule at the theater, so I'm bumping my usual Monday workout to today.

My mom is cleaning out the storage shed! Which means... I need to go get some of my old things before she throws them out!!

HOPE TO DO:

Tomorrow begins the rehearsal process for the kid's musical at the theater I work for. I am directing this year and I am prepared for it, but I don't feel very organized. I certainly could be better, so I hope to get my act together a bit better before tomorrow morning.

I also just got together with my best friend and we shared some sweet new music with each other. I have so much ear candy to listen to right now and it's killing me that I can't just turn up the music and dance around the house today.

HAPPY!!

My husband and I decided to splurge since we have been so busy and we have a MASSAGE today!! YIPPEE!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Gotta run! Church starts in 30 minutes!

Sunday Scoop Summer Style!

Well, because it is Father's Day, I was not on top of my game this morning with my favorite weekly linky! Ahhh! I'm a bit late, but here ya go!

Thank you The Teaching Trio for this fun link-up!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's Day! My dad was in town to visit and we all had breakfast together. My husband snapped this picture of us and I'm hoping it will be the memorial image of my dad's hippie hair. It's driving me crazy. Retirement in Florida does crazy things to people! ;)

My shirt's pretty cool, though.

Happy Father's Day!

I also snuck by my mom and stepdad's house today and have to squeeze a picture of Ralph, my stepdad in. This is our "mafia" look from my wedding.

;)

Sunday Scoop and SALE!

Happy end of the year, teachers! This is my last week of my first year teaching! What. A. Ride. To celebrate, I have my ENTIRE store on sale for 20% off! So if you are looking for some last minute end of the year activities or are starting to plan for next year and need some beginning of the year activities, check out my store by clicking my button below! My store will be on sale through Wednesday June 3rd... my last day of Kindergarten!

And now it's time for another Sunday Scoop! Thanks Teaching Trio for this fun linky! Click the button below to check out other Sunday Scoops. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that this is my favorite weekly link-up!

Here we go!

HAVE TO DO:

- I absolutely have to finish packing up my room. If you don't know, I've been in an old portable this year. It hasn't been too bad really. I just don't have any storage. Oh, and it has tried to KILL me 8 times! First, some of the wooden planks on the walkway right outside my door broke which means there was a literal hole in the floor. Then my AC broke (did I mention I live in Florida?) FIVE times. And now there are literally millions of ants in my room. I'm afraid they're going to eat the children. It looks like my floor is moving! But I will be moving to a new grade level and a new classroom (in the main building with a Smart Board and a closet the size of my house!) so I gotta get a move-on!

-Sundays is always errand day! I've got a few things to grab, specifically gift bags.

- I was able to get a GREAT deal on an end of the year gift for my kiddos from Scholastic! Their $1 book for May was:

How perfect, right??

HOPE TO DO:

- I'm addicted to adult coloring books. Get one. Now. I hope to do another one today. They are so calming and relaxing and super fun!

- My school gives us a pretty hefty print/copy limit and since there's only 3 half days of school for the entire month of June... I need to figure out what more I want to print for next year and get it started. If you have any suggestions of 2nd grade things for me, send them to me! I'm scouting out new blogs to follow and new stores to buy from!

HAPPY TO DO:

- My husband and I are headed to a mini family reunion of sorts. Ryan's favorite cousin is in town so he is super excited! I am, too... and did I mention there will be pizza? It's gonna be a good day!

Have a great Sunday! 

Sunday Scoop for May and a FREEBIE!

It's that time again! Another Sunday has rolled around! Time for my favorite linky!

Click the button above to see the other teacher bloggers who have linked up. Thanks Teaching Trio!

I am sick again. Life of a first year teacher, am I right? I made it through most of March and the entire month of April germ free, though! It's getting better! The problem is, I just cannot be sick right now. Kindergarten testing begins this week and I just can't miss. Hopefully I can knock this nonsense out today. My bestie brought over some chicken noodle soup, Gatorade, and chocolate chip cookies last night and we watched our favorite show. I already feel a little better after that! Maybe a night of puppy snuggles and Game of Thrones will help, too. :)

I also have to take a moment to celebrate and THANK YOU ALL! This morning my TpT store reached 400 followers! I am so thankful and excited to be a part of such an amazing community of teachers. To thank you and celebrate, I just posted a NEW FREEBIE in my store! Click the image below to check it out and don't forget to leave feedback on the download in my shop.

NEW FREEBIE!!! HOORAY!