Life: It's a new year...

Hi 2016!
2015 was amazing, crazy, scary, long, short, hectic, funny, thrilling, and so much more.
Let me catch everyone up quickly.
We moved back to Texas. I got a job teaching 4th grade at an amazing school. Tim works for a construction company as a project manager. We got the boys into a great daycare that we love. Cogley started walking...and now running. He is now 21 months old. Asher is doing therapy and getting a helmet to re-shape his flat head, poor baby. He is now 10 months old. He still isn't crawling, barely sitting up, and doesn't like baby food, but we are working on all of those things.
One of the most exciting things we did in 2015 was buy our first house. Over the last 5 years we have rented, so it was time to settle down and get a place of our own. WE. LOVE. OUR. HOUSE.
We are in the process of decorating and making it our own. The fun part.
Now for some pics!

Happy New Year and God Bless!

Teaching: TpT Seller Challenge Week 3 Make your Masterpiece...

The challenge for this week was to make your masterpiece. Create a new product for your TpT store.
This was just the motivation I needed to create my Teacher Binder Covers that I've always wanted to make.
One aspect of the challenge was to swap your item with another TpT seller to have them proof it. Through the comment page I connected with Ashley from the Adventures with Miss A.
She was so helpful in proofing my new product and I made a new TpT friend!

First, I made this Pink Dot & Lime Teacher Binder Cover Set.

After it was proofed and I made the listing, I went ahead and made 3 OTHER SETS!
It's addicting y'all!!!

Rainbow Stripe Teacher Binder Cover Set
Black & White Leopard Teacher Binder Cover Set
Bee & Purple Teacher Binder Cover Set

I hope y'all love them as much as I do. I wonder which one I will use this next school year.
Oh, and be on the look out for more products throughout the summer!!!

God Bless!

TpT: I'm moving back to Texas TpT GIVEAWAY!

**Update: Winner Announced!!!**
So, I was so impressed by the number of entries for the giveaway that I decided to choose 2 winners!
Congrats ladies!

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Good Morning Everyone!
I'm feeling giddy about moving back home and decided that a giveaway was in order.
I'm feeling so giddy that I'm giving away my entire store!
That's right. EVERY. SINGLE. PRODUCT!
Now you're excited!
The giveaway will be going on from Monday, June 29th to Thursday, July 2nd at midnight!
The winner will be announced on Friday, July 3rd!!!
Go check out my TpT Store to see what you could win!!!

Click HERE or on the image to download and SHARE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

God Bless!

Teaching & Design: Polka Dots & Pals...

My sweet friend Lauren over at Polka Dots & Pals is the best!
She has started creating clip art and is specializing in Pals! A pal is a clip art version of yourself.
She makes the process very simple.
1. You download this listing on TpT for her Pal form.
2. Fill it in and email it to Lauren.
3. After a bit she will send you an email, you purchase on TpT, and voilá, you have a Pal!

Here's mine. She was so sweet and made me one with Asher's shirt also!

I then made mine into my TpT button! Super cute!

AND I am one of her Feature Teachers for her 2015-2016 Teacher/Pal Calendar. I'm going to be January 2016!

So, go check out her TpT Store, Blog, Instagram, and Facebook Page.

God Bless!

Teaching: TpT Sale June 26-29...

After a long, hard school year I think we all deserve a SALE!
Head on over to my TpT store and get 20% off until June 29th!
ENJOY!

Also, I finally finished my Behavior Charts with Student Calendars and Parent Notes for July 2015-July 2016! I put a lot of time and thought into this product and I hope y'all like it as much as I do. I can't wait to use it in my classroom next year!

God Bless!

Teaching: TpT Seller Challenge Week 2 Dare to Dream...

This weeks challenge was a bit hard. Think about how you want to grow your TpT business.
How do I want to grow?
Oh my!

Well, I gave it some thought and came up with 3 things that I would like to see happen over time.

My main goal in life has always been to be a stay-at-home mom. Unfortunately, we are not a place where that is possible. I love teaching and I love my babies. I miss them all day when I'm at school, but at home I dream of creating products and resources for my classroom.

One day I hope to grow my TpT business so much that I can work from home. To start that process I need to complete #1 and #2. Getting myself out there is going to be the key to success.

Fellow TpTers and Bloggers: What do you suggest???

Thanks and God Bless!

Teaching: TpT Seller Challenge Week 1 Makeover Madness...

I am so excited to be participating in the TpT Seller Challenge over the next four weeks.
Here are my beginning stats:

Week 1: Makeover Madness had us revamping one of our products in our store. I chose my Classroom Helper Signs and Passes.

I love the way they turned out and wish I had the time to revamp my whole store. Maybe this summer???

AND the Classroom Helper Signs and Passes is on sale until June 20th. So head on over and check it out!
God Bless!

life: school has taken over...

I've been very busy. It's crazy!

But I am so happy to have a job.

Too tired to really type, but lots coming next week!

Just two things:

1. I posted this Daily Lesson Planner in my TpT store.

2. Get in on the Back to School sale going on in my etsy store!

Enjoy and God Bless!

life: new job...

We moved to Maryland in the middle of June. I had applied for teaching jobs as early as March, since I  had already submitted my paperwork for my Maryland Certification. It took FOREVER to get my certification, but it finally came at the end of July. 

But, I still didn't have a job or had any interviews. In Maryland, the districts are divided by counties. So I applied for a job in my county and the surrounding counties. Still nothing. My father-in-law (a former principal), my mother-in-law (teacher/presenter extraordinaire), my parents (just plain ol' smart), AND my hubby (brilliant and raised by educators) all suggested that I stop by the nearby elementary schools to meet the principals and drop off my resume.

I went to the district website and looked up the schools in my neighborhood. There is only one elementary school. I got all pretty and drove over there. I asked to see the principal and WAHLA, there she was, nice as can be, and very impressed that I took the initiative to come by the school and drop off my resume (thanks Y'ALL)! She said they didn't have any positions at the time, but she would keep my resume just in case. 

I left and got in my car, and as I was leaving I noticed a school across the street. I drove over there and it was ANOTHER elementary school. Apparently the district is divided into smaller districts and this one wasn't "in" my neighborhood on the map. The principal wasn't there, but I left my resume anyway. This all happened two Mondays ago.

Last Monday I get a call. 

It's the principal from the first school.

A teacher had to leave because of a family emergency.

Can I come in for an interview?

Why yes, I can!

The interview was great. Probably the least nervous I've ever been. 

30 minutes after arriving I'm being asked to join the team as a 3rd grade teacher!

Yes PLEASE!

For the next few days afterwards I was at inservices and signing paperwork.

But today, I am at the school for my first day! The kiddos come in on August 19th so I need to get my room all ready!

I plan on posting before and after classroom pics as soon as I get my key!

I am a little nervous to be teaching 3rd grade (since I've only taught 1st and 2nd), but know that I learn fast and am very flexible.

God is great and is truly looking out for the hubby and I during our Air Force adventure. 

I miss my last school and colleagues so much! I learned so much from those two years and will forever be grateful for all they did for me!

Have a FANTASTIC day and God Bless!

Life: Pant suits and apps...

Yesterday, the hubby and I were waiting around for dinnertime so we went into my favorite thrift shop.  I was just "looking", of course, when whatdoyaknow I find a cuter than cute pant suit. In the coming months I foresee many job interviews and we thought it would be a good idea for me to get a nice pant suit. Say hello to my new used Ann Taylor pant suit that I got for just $20! Say what!? That's right; be jealous!

Once we were home I started surfing Instagram and stumbled upon multiple people using this new app called A Beautiful Mess and I fell in love! So, of course, I bought it! So cute!

Look at how cute this photo looks after using the app!!

As you can see I had a fantastic day {except for the day long inservice I sat through, ugh}!

God Bless!

Life: Now that the hubby is home...

As you know my sweet hubby surprised me by coming home two weeks early. He got me good. It's been a week and a half now and we have done SO much in that short time it's friggen amazing. I have yet to be bored. 

1. Right after he surprised me we went to see our sweet friends in The Little Mermaid. It was adorable and they were both so good! 

2. Hubby took me to buy a computer. Love that man!

3. I've been sick and still am. Ugh!

4. CSTs started last week and ended TODAY! Praise Jesus!

5. Hubby and I have been walking. A lot. Thankfully the walk is beautiful. 

6. Tried the margarita at Chipotle and it was yummy. I suggest you go out and get one. NOW!

7. This happened...

8. Then THIS happened.

I think we like it. Ha!

We've been quite busy. Jeepers. Sorry to overload you with pictures. More writing next time.

Don't forget that this weekend is the Carmel Etsy Mother's Day Sale. Read about it here!

AND you can get 15% off until May 10th in my etsy shop by using coupon code SPRING2013 at checkout!

God Bless!

Teaching: Weekly Lesson Planner that I Found!

I just love organization. I don't care what we're organizing, I'm there! My house at this moment doesn't reflect that skill, but I'm using the excuse that we're moving. 

When it comes to teaching I am SUPER organized. I must have everything in the right spot and in a cute binder/case/box/etc.

In a few weeks I am going to be out of the classroom all week long. Thankfully I'll have the same sub all week, but I wanted to make the plans better than what I have done before and where I wouldn't want to throw my computer against a wall after typing them out for hours.

I went searching on TeachersPayTeachers for a free weekly lesson planner. I stumbled upon THIS beauty and fell in love! I downloaded it, made it into 2 documents (one for each page), and then set them as backgrounds in PowerPoint. 

Now, you may be asking, "Why PowerPoint?" Well let me tell ya! I have used Word for all my document making needs since middle school and I have had such trouble, but dealt with it because I didn't know any better. Then one day I'm surfing the web and come across this tutorial for making a document using PowerPoint. I was forever changed! PowerPoint allows you to move text boxes, objects, etc around in the document without everything moving and getting messed up. 

Here is my final product. 

I used Kevin and Amanda's font Pea Natalie for the text. Just download the font and install it on your computer. If you have any questions on how to use PowerPoint for your document, how to install the font, or just want to chat please leave a comment or email me!

Oh, and don't forget to use coupon code SPRING2013 to get 15% off in my etsy shop until May 10th!

Enjoy & God Bless!

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Teaching: I opened my very own TpT Store...

Long time no post!

Well, I finally did it. I opened my very own TpT Store! Now, I've only posted a freebie that I actually posted on here a few months back. BUT, I plan on making many more once I learn all the fancy rules and techniques to making great products for the elementary classroom.

Go ahead, check it out!! AND let me know what you think!



God Bless!

Life: 1st day of school, graduation, ninja...

Hello, my name is Charlotte and I am an awful blogger. :[

So, to get you up to speed on what's been happening I'm going to make a list:

1. The first day/week of school has come and gone. The principal and 1st grade team decided to make me the 1st/2nd combo class. I was a bit sad at first, but quickly got over it. I love my kiddos and can't wait for this year. I have some of my 1st graders from last year in my 2nd grade. They are such angels. The cute 1st graders are so smart and are transitioning well into learning 1st grade things.



2. On the second day of school I was absent. I'm such a bad teacher, but it was for a good reason. Timmy was graduating from his Chinese class. I HAD to be there! He and another classmate gave the speech in Chinese and English. They did so good and it was funny, which is totally Timmy. I'm so proud of him and can't wait to see where this language takes us over the years. God is so good!



3. For funsies we love going to Target. It's like hanging out at Wal-Mart in the south. :] While we were there the other day I found these cute "fake" glasses in the kids section. I had to try them on and almost bought them. I've always wanted to wear glasses, but I have pretty good vision. Ha!! I know I'm weird!



4. Timmy came home one day with this little ninja. I don't know where he gets these things. At least he isn't bringing home stray animals. :] Anyways, he has been putting it everywhere. I found it on my purse one morning when I was ready to leave. What a crazy boy!



5. Finally, I updated my etsy business cards and just love them. Can't wait to send them with someones purchases. Oh, and I just got some great jewelry making goodies in the mail this week. When I have a free moment from school stuff and life stuff I will TOTALLY be making new stuff! :]



Have a fab week and God Bless