Trick Or Treat: Monster Mix Bag Topper Freebie

No tricks here, just treats! Enjoy this free HALLOWEEN Monster Mix bag topper!

Click the picture below to grab your FREEBIE!

Are you stuck?

I feel STUCK. Felt this way for months.

STUCK as in life zipping by while I watch & whine like a cry baby b*tch. 

Daily, this nagging feeling gnaws at me. Telling me, I am meant for more than mediocrity. I dream of making huge life changes: moving to another state (preferably Cali), leaving my job, creating my own business, traveling abroad, etc. But alas, I ALWAYS fail to follow through. 

On several occasions, I made half-ass attempts to get UNSTUCK. I even created a Pinterest board titled STUCK. From past experiences I learned, you can pin until your heart's content, but pinning quotes on Pinterest rarely helps improve a situation. 

Last weekend after a "last straw single-girl dating moment" and a monumental meltdown, I asked myself, "How the hell did I end up here?" It was at that moment I decided, I need to tap into my inner badass and LIVE the life of badassness I am meant to live! Time to LEAVE this story and write a new one.

Easier said than done, right? One thing I do know, being stuck is easy. Getting UNSTUCK, therein lies the challenge. Stay tuned for my next post to find out how I plan start living the life of badassness I deserve.

Are you stuck?

Earth Day Freebie

Every morning I typically begin my day with a quick look through my Instagram feed. Yesterday while perusing, I ran across these Earth Day cookies posted by Jen Jones form Hello Literacy. 

So...of course I texted my mom. And of course my mom activated her SuperMOM powers, and BOOM!! I picked up my Earth Day cookies on my way home from work. I may...or may not be a little spoiled. This may...or may not be the reason why I am single. Since tomorrow is a planned Mental Wellness Day for me, I gifted my students their Earth Day cookies to take home and enjoy. 

Grab these FREE Earth Day TAGS!

Happy Earth Day!

100 Day Freebie

Our campus celebrated the 100th day of school on Monday. Time seems to be flying by. I find it hard to believe the 100th day of school has already come & gone. And I find it even harder to believe...I survived yet another year without suffering a nervous breakdown or being escorted off campus by the school district police. HA! JK. 

As my students counted down to the 100th day, their excitement & anticipation grew as we inched closer and closer to the BIG DAY! I planned many engaging 100 Day activities, which I intend to elaborate on in a future blog post. But for now, I wanted to share my bag topper I created. 

Click the picture below to grab this fabulous 100 Day FREEBIE!

Stay tuned for more 100 Day FREEBIES!

Sweet Treats Sight Words Freebie

While perusing the Valentine's aisle at Walmart, I ran across the most adorable candy holders. I purchased three packs and immediately decided to create sight words centers.

How To Create a Sweet Treats Sight Words Center:

1. Number each candy holder.

2. Write the words of your choice on each candy holder. (side note: I am going  to             attempt cutting the sight words from vinyl with my Cricut. I'll let you know how that turns out.)

3. Stuff each candy holder with letters to spell the word written on the outside of the candy holder. 

I created a recording sheet for my students to place in their writing journal when completed. 

Click the picture below to grab the Sweet Treats recording sheet FREEBIE. 

Should I add my coworkers on Facebook?

Not only no...but HELL to the no. Do not feel obligated to add coworkers. Am I friends with coworkers? A few. A select few. A minuscule, micro, select few. And for some of my colleagues added, I customized my privacy settings to limit the amount of my personal life to be judged. 

For coworkers added, who initially appeared harmless, but later proved otherwise...DELETED!!

My advice...free of charge, refrain from adding colleagues altogether and here's why:

1. People love to talk sh*t!
People love to talk behind your back and smile in your face. I guess I missed Jesus' memo about job openings. Apparently someone granted my Facebook friends the authority to judge me, and I doubt that someone was Jesus. 

So...if you constantly publish posts highlighting drunken shenanigans or if you post plans of happy hour intoxication (every week or sometimes in my case, every day...JK), I guarantee your colleagues gather around the water cooler to judge & talk sh*t about your bouts with alcoholism. If you constantly publish posts regarding how much you HATE Monday and you'd rather be somewhere other than work, I guarantee some shady snitch is running to your supervisor to parade your post in your supervisor's face. #SNITCHESGETSTITCHES (LOL. JK)

2. People get offended by EVERYTHING!
The one thing I will never understand...I offend you, but yet you continue to follow me on Facebook. Please explain the logic behind that. For some individuals, being offended is their job. Personally, I rarely discuss the following topics on Facebook: politics, child rearing, religion, sexual preference, etc. It boggles my mind how people get enraged over the most inconsequential topics that bear no relation to them. #getoveryourself So, if ( like me) you tend to post offensive material containing profane language, think twice before friending your "holier-than-thou-stick-up-the-a** coworker. 

3. People really want to be friends...
A Facebook friendship, does not equate a REAL friendship. On occasion, colleagues comment on my Facebook exploits and suggest we "hangout." Ummm...no thanks. I  look like a "good time" on Facebook ( I really am. Like Kesha said, "The party don't start 'til I walk in."), but I keep my circle of acquaintances (or as I like to call them my Partners-In-Crime) small.

The invaluable free advice provided above stems form personal experience. You live and you learn. Whenever possible, I make every attempt to separate my professional and personal life. If I do decide to add colleagues on Facebook, I add them on a case-by-case basis.  

Word of advice, if you are "that teacher" who wants to be every one's friend  & you accept friend request from colleagues because you don't want to hurt their feelings...grow a pair. Truth be told, I experience awkward moments with coworkers after I receive a request and ignore or decline it. I imagine my rejected colleague thinking, "Who does that biyotch think she is? I know she saw my friend request!"  I did. I ignored it. #girlbye


But like I tell my sons, everyone is not your friend. 

"Everybody isn't your friend. Just because they hang around you and laugh with you doesn't mean they're for you. Just because they say they got got your back, doesn't mean they won't stab you in it. People pretend well. Jealousy sometimes doesn't live far. So know your circle. At the end of the day real situations expose fake people so pay attention."  -Trent Shelton

If you feel the need to network with colleagues,  I suggest LinkedIn. 

Are you friends with coworkers? Your boss? 

meet the teacher monday: Holiday Film Faves

I know what you're thinking...

"WEEKLY LINKY! Ain't nobody got time for that!" With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, let's keep this week's Meet the Teacher MONDAY, short and sweet. From Halloween to New Year's Eve some of my favorite movie and TV titles air. As if anyone really cares...LOL (*side-eye*)...I drafted a short list of my HOLIDAY FAVES.

Your turn. What holiday faves are a must watch for you?

If you are new to Meet the Teacher Monday, here's the skinny:

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Just follow these simple guidelines:-)

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

DON'T FORGET TO RETURN TO MY BLOG TO LINK UP.

December Sneaked Up on Me!

Nothing screams the beginning of a new month like posting your monthly CURRENTLY. Once again I am linking up with Oh'  Boy Fourth Grade for the December CURRENTLY. 

Listening

As I began completing my December CURRENTLY, a notification to watch Brooke Brown on Periscope popped. I found the scope beneficial, and I scribbled down a few notes to improve my literacy centers. Before Brooke's scope, I was listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio (Holiday) Radio on Pandora. 

Loving

Truth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year...the most wonderful time of the year. I love the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season. You can read all about my holiday faves here.  Although this time of year makes my heart sing, there's nothing like the holidays to reinforce the fact...I'M STILL SINGLE at 42. And according to the society, I have failed in life. But one of the benefits of being single during the holidays, I don't have to share my wine. 

Thinking 

So many TPT ideas trapped in my brain. I need 28 hours in the day. The extra four will be set aside for creating...or napping.

Wanting

Self Explanatory.

Needing

I need to PRIORITIZE. I wasted too much time during my Thanksgiving break week. I intended to complete TPT products, blog, etc. Instead I napped, shopped, and socialized. I squeezed in some time for a couple of blog posts, but I wanted to write several blog posts, in order to schedule posts throughout the week.  Although I failed to meet my blogging quota, I am proud of a motivational post I wrote about strippers. 

I managed to start a few TPT products, but I wanted to finish the products before the TPT sale. Didn't happen.

Real or Faux

Faux. I am too lazy to deal with the rigmarole that's accompanied with a real tree. Currently my tree is in a box and that's probably where it will stay. This meme captures my feelings about a Christmas tree this year...

meet the teacher monday: Sense and Sensibility

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

The winter holiday season is by far my favorite time of year. My senses come alive as the smells, sights, and sounds unique to the holidays make their long awaited debut.

My ears are filled sounds of the musical styling of the Vince Guaraldi Trio's, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and silky smooth crooners like Nat King Cole and the Rat Pack. 

My eyes feast on twinkling lights sparkling along city streets. Dazzling displays of bright red, sliver and gold litter the landscape as far as the eye can see.

And the smells...THE SMELLS. The aroma of fresh baked cookies and gingerbread lattes penetrate the air. I said this before and I will say it again, by the end of the holiday season I will have either a fat (fatter) ass or (*in my Wilfred Brimley voice*)diabeetus. 

The sounds, sights, and smells are what make the holiday merry and bright!

Here are a few of my holiday faves that stimulate my senses...

What are your favorite holiday sounds? Sights? Smells?

For those new to Meet The Teacher Monday, here's the scoop:


MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Just follow these simple guidelines:-)

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

3 Things I Learned From A Stripper

For a minute there, I managed to gain some momentum on my edupreneurial journey. Momentum meaning: blogging more, making authentic connections on various social media platforms, and creating quality TPT products. But alas, my momentum started to wane as my professional workload increased, and my time to create decreased. As a result, lacking time to devote to my entrepreneurial endeavors, extinguished my creative spark.

To reignite my spark, I need two key ingredients, a dose of inspiration and a dash of motivation. While in search of these key ingredients, I recalled an inspirational post I wrote 5 years ago on my weight loss blog. Yes, I know. Judging from pictures recently posted, you may be asking yourself, "She had (has) a weigh loss blog?" I do. My blog chronicled my trials and tribulations  as I painstakingly struggled and lost 58 lb. That's neither here not there, and this is a conversation for another day,

So, in attempt to reignite my creative spark, I recalled an inspirational and motivation post I wrote. Although the post pertained to my weight loss journey, it also relates to my edupreneur story.

I enjoy many guilty pleasures. And the guiltiest of them all...I watch Maury, when time allows. Nothing pleases me more than yelling, "You are NOT the father!" from the comfy confines of my couch. Yes, I know. My time could be spent more constructively.

One day while watching Maury, I caught a glimpse of the preview for an upcoming show, EXTREME NERD MAKEOVER. The show planned to feature a stripper exotic dancer with one leg, Amber, wanting to surprise a former crush. Needless to say, I tuned in the next day. Surprisingly, I learned a lesson or two from Amber.

Despite a disability, Amber overcame adversity and fulfilled her dream of becoming an exotic dancer (Don't judge.). You may be wondering, did Amber showcase her skills??? Of course Amber showcased her skills on the show. The Maury show just wouldn't be the Maury show without a stripper and a pole. Grabbing the stripper pole, Amber lithely jumped up, seductively slid down the pole, and rocked it! 

You may be asking yourself, "What lesson can be learned from that?" Well...for starters, Amber never let the fact that she has one leg get in the way of her dreams. So many times, I let obstacles detour me from allowing my edupreneur dreams to become a reality. I often find myself making excuses as to why my personal goals remain unaccomplished. And if there's one thing I know about making excuses, "Excuses don't build empires!"

 So the lesson to be learned here ladies and gentlemen...

Like Amber, we need to overcome our own adversity and jump on the "stripper pole of life" and RIDE! 

Amber focused on the positive. She chose NOT to allow a disability to shape her destiny. And judging from her profession of choice, she's not lacking in the self-esteem and confidence department. Seriously, it takes confidence to strut and display your wiggly bits for the world to see...and to do that with one leg, BRAVO to you Amber. Like Amber we, need to tap into our confidence reserves and strut our stuff...not our wiggly bits. You know, stuff like your edupreneurial skills and teaching expertise. 

So the lesson to be learned here ladies and gentlemen...
Stay positive. Always try and find a positive to every negative situation.  

Amber experienced a setback at the age of eleven months old when doctors amputated her leg due to a birth defect. I basically arrived in this world with all standard factory functions: two legs, two arms, a somewhat semi-normal (but what is normal) functioning brain, two eyes to see with, as well as two ears to hear with. Everything necessary to create and succeed.

As an edupreneur armed and endowed with everything I need to fulfill my dreams, I need to STOP complaining about what I lack and “USE WHAT I GOT TO GET WHAT I WANT!” 

And what I want…

I believe what most entrepreneurial minded individuals want...

                      a clear vision and opportunities to come your way. 

And the lesson to be learned here ladies and gentlemen...

"Use what you got and JUMP on the STRIPPER pole of life and RIDE that biatch until the wheels fall off..." 

*find the meaning of "til the wheels fall off" on urban dictionary dot com.

*Side Note

The prolific quote, “Use what you got to get what you want,” I first heard it in the movie, Players Club…coincidentally, a movie about strippers. If you know me, you know...I subconsciously wish to be a stripper (LOL) #truestory. Should a stripping opportunity arise, my music set list is already prepared. I can envision it now, "Coming to the stage...MochaTrina!" You know like mochaccino coffee? #ineedjesus. 

With the state of the teaching climate today, a career change to exotic dancer sounds like a viable option. #forrealthough

meet the teacher monday: Teachers to be Thankful For

It's Sunday, but this girl is NOT suffering from the usual case of the Smondays. Smonday is that moment when Sunday stop feeling like Sunday, and the anxiety of Monday kicks in. And the reason why the Smondays escaped me THIS Sunday...Yours truly is OFFICIALLY on Thanksgiving Break.

I am in much need of some down time. As break approached I participated in 4 ARD's. Special Education teachers feel my pain right about now. For non-SPED teachers, preparing for an ARD consist of conferencing with the parents ahead of time, assessing the student to obtain their present levels of performance, desegregating data, creating new goal and objectives (if applicable). Working on paperwork for each ARD can vary from a few hours to a week or two...or maybe more. Many factors determine the amount of time invested in each ARD.

The last week before break also brought with it, students bursting with holiday excitement in anticipation of a week with NO school. If only they knew, I was probably more excited than they were. And how could I forget to mention  the walk-through that happened whilst these students burst and inappropriately vied for attention. Let's just say many conversation happened with parents last week. 

So, this week's prompt: 3 Teachers to be THANKFUL For!

If this is your first time participating, just follow these simple guidelines.

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Here's the skinny:

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

Well, let's get to it!

I am thankful for these three(in no particular order).

Kelli Alaina Wise

I discovered Kelli on the Facebook group, Teacherpreneur Tribe. Kelli recently hosted the Instagram Insiders challenge on Facebook. Thanks to Kelli, my IG account received a face-lift, I changed the way I connect with my audience, and in the process, I made some new connections. For me it's not about the number of followers, it's about growing an "authentic following."

Kristin Kalani
In my opinion, Kristin Kalani from @easyteachingtools (...you can also find her on Facebook under the same name) represents what I call the "big dawgs." Although Kristin is a big dawg or educelebrity, she remains humble and willing to lend her expertise when needed. Believe it or not, NOT everyone is willing to "mentor" a budding teacherpreneur. (Read about those type of people here. #shamelessblogpostplug) I digressed. Thanks to Kristin I am more  knowledgeable about creating products for my TPT store, and through her I connected (in real life) with two fantabulous (fantastic+fabulous = fantabulous), down-to-earth, real souls from Cali, Cheryl from @auntiessweetlife and Janice from @islandloverteacher. It's all about the connections...

Samantha Zuniga
Samantha and I work in the same school district, but unfortunately not on the same campus:-( If we worked together we would be dream team of creativity and innovation...a force to be reckoned with. Samantha keeps it real and never comes across as a self-important diva (Can't say the same about myself...I have my moments). Samantha worked as a paraprofessional for many years and recently became a Special Education teacher. If no one has told her, she needs to know she is rocking her new position and I am learning a thing or two from her.

If the mood strikes you, feel free to add more than three. Rounding out my list of "Teachers I am Thankful For," Cheryl, who I mentioned earlier. I love that Cheryl keeps it gangsta sometimes. Hahaha:-D MY favorite quote from her and my new life mantra, "Hugs to the hustlas who get sh*t done!" 

And my friend Janice (also mentioned earlier), this lady keeps me in stitches with her quick wit. Janice recently wrote a post on the Global Glitter Tribe's blog, and the following resonated with me: 

"However, I never suspected that I would meet people from online, all over the world, and pray each night that God keeps them forever safe and healthy, for fear that my heart couldn't endure such heartbreak."

Knowing that she prays for her teacher friends makes me all the more thankful for Janice...

Did you think I would leave out Shelia Jane?!  Thanks to Shelia, I changed my perception in regards to teaching and entrepreneurship. I am taking ownership of my future! 

So, who are you thankful for?

Don't forget to return to my blog and link up.

Reindeer Buffet

With the holidays fast approaching, I wanted to share my Reindeer Food Buffet product with you (*The fonts displayed on the product photographs below have been updated. A preview is available in this post.) 

Last school year, I introduced this Reindeer Food Buffet activity to my classroom and in the process...I started a new holiday tradition! The buffet was a HUGE hit.  The students were engaged and chomping at the bit to create their own blend of holiday magic. This activity provided my students with the opportunity to promote mathematical thinking: measuring, weighing, counting, and estimating.

Here's a preview of the Reindeer Buffet product contents:

Page 1: Cover Page
Page 2: Thank You
Page 3: TOU
Page 4: Reindeer Buffet How To Steps 
Page 5: Reindeer Buffet How To Steps (version 2)
Page 6: Reindeer Buffet Directions
Page 7: Reindeer Buffet Directions (version 2)
Page 8-15: Ingredient Place Cards ( 2 different fonts available)
Ingredients:
Red Glitter
Silver Glitter
Flying Powder
Oats
Potato Chips
Bread Crumbs
Raisins
Cocoa 
Page 16-17: Reindeer Food Tags
Page 18: Reindeer Food Buffet Sign
Page 19: Blank Ingredient Cards
Page 20: Credits

Start a NEW holiday tradition in your classroom! This Reindeer Food Buffet will be a guaranteed favorite in your classroom year after year! Added plus, with your special blend of reindeer food, Santa will be able to locate your home, as well as the homes of your excited students anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival! Enjoy and thanks in advance for your support! As always...make the ordinary, EXTRAORDINARY!  

P.S. A letter from Santa will be added to this product. I am waiting on Santa's elves to proof the letter and email it to me;-)

meet the teacher monday...this or that?

Geesh...Another Monday had rolled around yet again. Currently, I am experiencing a case of the Smondays . It's the moment when Sunday stops feeling like Sunday and the anxiety of Monday kicks in. (I saw a Smonday meme on a friend's Facebook page)

So, this week's prompt: This or That: Thanksgiving Edition! If this is your first time playing along, just follow these few guidelines:

MEET THE TEACHER MONDAY is a weekly linky celebration, dedicated to making and culminating friendships among our tribe of fellow teachers. Here's the skinny:

• Snag the MTTM graphic. On your blog, please respond to this week's questions or prompt provided.
• Return to my blog and link your post.
• Visit one or two bloggers ahead of you in the linky, and leave a comment in response to their Meet the Teacher Monday post.
• Visit one or two bloggers after you in the linky line-up and leave a comment as well.
• And because it's so hard to find time to blog, feel free to post any day of the week, not just Monday.

Well, let's get to it!

Let me sum up my thoughts on all of the yummy goodness Thanksgiving has to offer:

 Your turn!

Don't forget to return to my blog to link up!