Motivational Monday Linky!

So, Sara over at Smiling in Second is having a pretty cool linky party!

Well about a month ago, I posted some cute printable inspirational signs. Click the image below to go to the correct post to download for yourself. :)

And here are a couple more that I like:

(source)

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So what motivates you? Go link up so that I can read about it! :)

For the Dogs

If you know me, then you know I have two cats. 

Here is King Charlie on top of his "castle". 

(Jasmine never seems to be around when I need to take a picture!)

And I love my cats, but what I REALLY would like is a dog.  
I'm just not home enough to justify having a dog right now. 

Instead, when I can, I donate to a local shelter.

So when I came across Laura's post over at Love to Teach, I just knew I had to show her some support. 

For the next two weeks all of the proceeds from her store will go to Green Mountain Pug Rescue. 

She has items for a variety of grade levels, so stop by and get amazing learning tools for your classroom, and help save a pug in the process. :) 

How My TPT Wishlist Changed My Life . . . Not Kidding . . .

You know how when you download FREE items on TPT, they don't transfer into My Products? 

Well I , ALWAYS, "shop" for freebies on TPT at HOME and e-mail them to myself because I am CONSTANTLY losing my flash drive.
  
I'm the kind of girl who is going to need to download something at least 10 times. :) 

AND . . . sometimes when I'm reading blogs, I just don't have TIME to stop and download!

SO . . . I came up with this GROUNDBREAKING idea!!!! 

Are you ready??

I started adding all of the files that I download for FREE onto my WISHLIST!! Ta-da!!

This is also perfect for when a coworker is like "cool, where did you get that" and you can just WHIP it right up, instead of having to do a search, and wait . . . . . and WAIT (if you are on the servers at my school). :)

Maybe you already do this . . . maybe I am behind the times, but I think its revolutionary. 

Okay  . . . . yes, I know that your quality of life has only SLIGHTLY improved but I don't care because: 

 

(source)

hehe.

Where Do You Get YOUR Graphics?? A Linky Party!

So, I have my regular haunts, where I know that I can grab some really awesome graphics. 

But lately, I have been scrolling to the bottom of your blogs to see your credits and I have been finding out about some cool stores that I NEVER knew about before!

So inquiring minds want do know! Where do you get YOUR graphics?

I've been Boo-ed, Now Get Yourself Some Freebies!

Thanks to: 

And Thanks, Tori for hosting this shindig! :)

AND, here are some of my fave October FREEBIES:

 

If you've been Boo-ed here are the rules:

If you've been booed, copy and paste the above pic and these "rules" into your post.

1.  Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!

2. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (yours or someone else),

or freebie(s) that you love!

3.  Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers- make sure you check this link to make sure you don't boo someone again:
 http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html

And don't forget to tell them that they have been BOOED!

4.  Link up {here} so that others can find you and read about your October ideas!  And while you are there... check out the other great blogs!

My First Trip to DC . . . Ever!

Some of you know that I reside in the Tar Heel State, if you didn't, well then now you do. And I have taken several trips up and down the east coast but I had never actually stopped in Washington D.C.! 

So . . . in honor of my 30 before 30 list . . . my best friend (also a teacher) offered to go with me yesterday. 

AND, although I was still sore from my accident, I decided that I REALLY wanted to go anyway.  

We drove up, took the metro and walked around for hours AND we had SO much fun! 

Here I am in my favorite part of the National Museum of Natural History, the DINOSAURS! They were SO cool! 

I must lament, however, that I only took a total of FOUR pictures. I guess I was just too excited to remember my camera!

And here is my field trip reflection:

1. I am an AMAZING map reader. (This is INSANE because I get lost in my own town all the time)
2. There is NO "Smithsonian Museum" there are 19!
3. The metro can be as much fun as the Himalaya.
4. The National Mall is NOT a place to go shopping. 
5. You have to PAY to LEAVE the metro station. 
6. You really should wear backs on your earrings.
7.  If you live in DC you MUST drive a black car. 
8.  When driving in DC, keep one hand on the HORN at all times.
9.  Security Guards will NOT tell you how long it would take for you to get tackled on the White House lawn. 
10. SAM's are the kindest people ever, but the Metro Station workers are pretty kind too. 

Have a great week everyone! :)

And . . . if you haven't checked out my new blog, you SO should! 

How I Became the Talk of the Neighborhood and Spooktacular Giveaway

Well, this evening I was in my first ever car accident that was not caused by me!! 

It happened SO quickly that the air bag deployed and I don't even remember it touching me. 

In fact, the two nice ladies who stopped to check on me were asking how it happened and I couldn't tell them, because I had NO idea. I was glad that the officer puzzled it all out pretty quickly because all I remembered was hitting the brakes.

I am fine, my car is not. 

I actually felt really bad for the guy after he told me that it was his Mom's car. I have never wrecked my Mom's car but I have caused an accident (errr . . . accidents) before so I knew what a sick feeling it was to have to tell your parents that you damaged (eerrrr. . . destroyed) someone's property. 

The funniest part was that it happened next to a neighborhood where apparently a LOT of children live and my wreck TOTALLY made their day. 

They were shouting out things like "look at that lady, I think she's going to throw up!" and "Whoa, man I've never seen a airbag go off before." and "Look at his face! haha! His Mama is yelling at him!" 

So while I am SUPER bummed that my beautiful car is damaged, I am glad that I brought joy to AT LEAST 30 children who I'm sure had something to share at the dinner table tonight. AND, also thankful that I lived to tell the tale. 

I am also participating in the Spooktacular Giveaway hosted by Krista at Stellar Students . . . so go win some free stuff!

And please drive safely everyone, because in the mean time I will be driving MY Mom's car. :/

New Blog: Second Grade Freebies!

I know that there are other blogs with freebies for teachers, but just a few that offer only second grade materials. So, I decided to start one myself! I know that I sometimes get frustrated trying to sort through all of the awesomeness to find things that I can actually use in my classroom, so I was thinking that some of you might feel the same? 

I posted my very first freebie there just a few minutes ago. Head on over to pick yours up! 

Math Monday Giveaway IV

This week's Math Monday Giveaway features my Hundreds Board Color By Number Mystery Puzzles for October!!  

These have been flying off the shelf like hotcakes, and I'm excited to share one of these babies with one my followers for FREE! 

Just enter using the rafflecopter! Giveaway ends tonight and I will announce the winner officially on Tuesday. :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

AND, if you would like a math product to be featured on my Math Monday Giveaway just shoot me a line at secondgrademathmaniac(@)yahoo.com. 

AND . . . . I realize that I have neglected doing the Currently for the last couple of months, so here is mine for October. :)

Yes, Jennifer, if you are reading, I am watching Friends . . . AGAIN. To the rest of you, I love Friends, Friends is my favorite. 

And I need a recliner because my cats have mutilated the one I have. Not that getting a new one would help this . . . which is why I need a cat trainer . . . .

Something New, Giveaway Lowdown, and an Update!

Hello. Hello. Hello. 

Something New:

I just finished this:

I started working on these after I realized how much trouble my second graders were having with a simple color by number that we were doing for fun! We really need to practice following directions! 

I couldn't wait to show you! It is on my TPT store, check it out. :)

 Giveaway Lowdown:

I am also participating in two giveaways this week: 

 Update: 

AND . . . Remember how I had to leave room 314, and I was tho' sad. Well, I love my new room 304. And I really think I needed to move down the hallway to reorganize, regroup, and somehow I am a better teacher for it. If you are in a funk at your school and have the opportunity to switch classrooms it is something I would highly recommend. :)