Teacher Talk Thursday: Birthday Wreath

To help narrow my topics I've decided to come up with a little blogging schedule. I figured I'd limit the teacher talk to Tuesdays and Thursdays. With that said I've been working on lots of fun little projects over the summer. Yesterday I put together this beauty...

I have been seeing these pop up all over pinterest. I'm so excited to be able to put it up in my classroom for each kiddies birthday. A necessary project? No. Super cute? You better believe it.

To make your own special birthday wreath you will need...

2 packages of 72 balloons

Pipe cleaners

Straight pins

A straw wreath (leave the plastic on to avoid a huge mess) 

Once you've collected your materials this wreath is super easy to put together. Take 1 balloon and fold it in half. Place one pin through the balloon and then press firmly into the wreath. 

Continue adding your balloons to your wreath... This is a great time to turn on the tunes or one of your favorite shows you've been waiting to watch on dvr :) 

Once your wreath is completely filled twist your pipe cleaners around your finger to make them swirly. Stick them piper cleaners into the wreath to add a little extra flare. 

I can't wait to put this up in my classroom. You could keep it put away until someone's birthday or you could put this up on the birthday bulletin board for a little added flare. Either way it will be completly adorable and super fun! 

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

With all my added free time I've been browsing through my pinterest boards looking for fun new recipes to try out. I've been telling Tom I'm just practicing for when I get to stay home for good some day :)

Tonight we tried out a twist on a recipe for buffalo chicken pasta salad. The recipes I had found online all used blue cheese dressing which is not one of my favorites. I figured I'd try it out with ranch instead. Tom loves all things hot wings. It's his most favorite food. I'm in a wing mood every once in a while but I'm telling you the kid could eat them everyday for every meal. With that said I like to try to find a twist on his favorite flavors of the wings. With that I give you...

I think this is one of my new go to recipes. Let me tell you this stuff is A-MAZING! Did I mention it's super easy as well. Double bonus!



You will need

1 Bottle of Ranch Salad Dressing
3/4ths a bottle of Reds Buffalo Wing Hot Sauce
1 box of pasta
6 stalks of celery
1 onion
2 chicken breasts
salt and pepper to taste

Cut up your chicken breast and cook it in a skillet.

Cook pasta and rinse with cold water when it's done.

Chop up celery and onion (let me know if you ever figure out a way to chop onions without turning into a blubbering mess. I have yet to discover this trick which leads to me crying over the cutting board nightly. ugh)

In a large bowl combine ranch dressing and hot wing sauce. Stir together.

Combine all ingredients into the dressing and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

It's best if you chill it for a while before serving.

A Year Ago Today

A year ago today is a day I'll remember forever. A year ago today my Gramma, one of the greatest women I have ever known passed away. She was just days away from her 93rd birthday. My Gramma truly was a saint. She went to church everyday, baked the best bread and brownies, and ALWAYS put others before herself. She is one of my greatest role models.

When my Dad was in 4th grade his Dad passed away. My Gramma raised 4 children completely on her own without even blinking an eye. I was told times were hard but she did it with grace because that's the kind of woman she is. My Gramma never once batted an eye at another man. She wore her wedding ring until the day she died. Harvey was her one true love and she knew that they would someday be together again.

I knew on this day a year ago that things were not good. I got a text from my Dad while I was at work saying call when you are not busy. Gramma's passing had been a long time coming. I swear the woman had 9 lives. She lived on her own until she was 91 when they put her into an assisted living center. She had been in and out of the hospital suffering from various strokes and eventually congestive heart failure. The doctors always said she was a walking miracle. Which she was from the day that she was born.

Gramma was born a few months premature after her mother fell off of a ladder. They called the doctor who came to the house and told them things did not look good. He proceed to warm up the over, put my Gramma in a cigar box, turned off the oven, and put the box with the little baby inside. He hoped that this would keep her warm for the night. Gramma ended up making it through the night and out lived many of her brothers and sisters. She always told that story and ended it with the tag line "so everyone always called me half baked adeline". It still makes me smile to think of my little old Gramma saying that.

When I called my Dad and he told me the news I broke down. Gramma was the first person that I had lost that I was very close to. I knew however that she was in a better place.

March 4th also happens to be my boyfriend Toms birthday. I remember felling like I needed to be in two places at once on this day last year. I needed to be in Iowa for Tom's birthday but I needed to also be in Illinois for my family. Tom, being the wonderful boyfriend that he is, told me to go be with my Dad. I felt so terrible that Tom's birthday would forever also be the day that we lost Gramma.

I have chosen however, to look at it in a positive light. The day my Gramma passed was the day she was reunited with the man she had loved her whole life. I know that he came to get her and they finally got to be together after all of those years. So my Gramma passing on Tom's birthday was almost like a gift. The relationship the two of them had is one to model my own after. They had an unconditional love for one another that could not be broken even when one of them was called to heaven too soon. Gramma leaving on this day, and being reunited with the love of her life, could have been her way of saying that Tom was special.

So today, a year later, is still a sad day but I feel blessed that I get to celebrate this day with Tom. He deserves the very best birthday ever. I still miss her everyday but she taught me so much in her time here and I know continues to watch over me today.

Happy Birthday Boyfriend!

Things, Things, Things!

Over the weekend I posted my Dr. Seuss things tutorial. You can view the step by step directions here.

As promised here is the finished product. I LOVE how it turned out!

Oh the Places You'll Go Display

I have been a pinterest inspired crafting kick. As the winter disappears here in Iowa I decided it was time to take down the snowman glyphs and If I lived in a Snow Globe from out in the hall. To go along with my post from yesterday I figured I'd carry a little Dr. Seuss out into the hall as well. I had seen this cute bulletin board on Pinterest that a High School counselor had made outside her office. I used this as my inspiration but changed it to be a little more elementary hence the what we'll be when we grow up.

I'm loving the finished product.

You will need: 

Butcher paper

Glue

Scissors

Masking Tape

Ribbon

Brown Construction Paper

Photos

I began by creating the background. All I did was cut my butcher paper into little hills and glue them down. 

And yes it did look like a butcher paper bomb went off in my apartment. Good thing the boy is working today and I'm home alone. 

Once you have your background put together you are ready to start creating your balloons. 

Trace your circles and cut them out. 

Next onto the baskets. I used cardstock scrapbook paper. Cut into... 

Thirds

Then 

Each strip into fourths

Finally do a diagonal cut to make your basket shape

Next your ready to finish off your baskets 

Tape your photo down. I used the pictures I had from the I have a dream door. The kids were holding up a sign saying what they wanted to be when they grew up. 

Then tape down the ribbon from the basket up to the balloon

Finished Product

Tape down all your balloons to your background and then add your text. I used my cricut to cut out the "Oh the Places You'll Go" Letters. 

I'm excited to get this up in the hall tomorrow morning. I'll post a picture of the finished product then :) 

From There to Here and Here to There Funny Things are Everywhere: A Dr. Seuss Inspired Project!

With conferences just around the corner I decided it was about time to take down the "I have a Dream" door and spruce up the classroom a bit.

Dr. Seuss's Birthday is in March. In the elementary school world we have lots of fun celebrating in lots of fun yet educational ways! Dr. Seuss is one of my all time favorite authors. I have wonderful memories of reading The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham all by myself when I was little. I couldn't resist paying tribute to the famous children's author in my classroom via these little guys...

Are those not the cutest things you ever seen? 

I will warn you they are a bit time consuming but totally worth it in my opinion. I'm all about something that is not seasonal and could be kept up for a longer period of time because let's face it as teachers we don't have a lot of free time. 

You will need: 

Red and White Construction Paper

Photos of the kiddos

Double Stick Tape 

Blue Easter Grass (the paper kind) 

Scissors 

Glue

Start by making a stencil of your things. I free hand drew mine... not perfect but they will do. 

I was able to fit 2 things on a piece of paper. After tracing on one side fold the red construction paper in half (hamburger style) and cut out your things. 

Glue your picture down first then apply 3 pieces of double stick tape around the face. 

Next you are going to need your Blue Easter Grass

Take out a handful and begin applying it to the double stick tape. You decide how long you'd like their hair to be. It's pretty easy to work with when the tape it sticky. I began by trying elmers glue and it turned into a hot mess! Double stick tape is definitely the way to go! 

Keep adding your hair all the way around. After you have finished glue down the white thing circle in the middle of it's belly and give him a number. 

Your finished product is sure to be too cute for words! 

I'll post a picture of the finished door on Monday :) 

Happy Seussing! 

DIY St. Patricks Day Wreath

As you know I'm all about a little holiday decor on our front door. I've found creating my own wreaths to be lots of fun, cost effective, and super easy. I love finding a photo for inspiration and then being able to make it my own. If you are looking for a simple method for creating a wreath look no further.

You will need...
A round foam wreath
Ribbon in colors of your choice (I wait until it goes on sale 50% off at Hobby Lobby to stock up)
Scissors
Straight Pins

Begin by cutting your ribbon in about 2 inch pieces... It doesn't have to be perfect!

Next you will roll the ribbon into a circle using a straight pin to secure it like this..

After you have your ribbon roll find your spot on the wreath you'd like to place it and push it in until it's secure. 

Repeat this process spacing your colors out as you go. You get faster as you go along. 

Once  I had the whole wreath done I looked around to be sure there were not any spots that needed to be filled in. 

For about 10 bucks your finished product will look something like this... 

I can't wait to hang it up on our door! 

Valentines Day

I had such a wonderful Valentines Day. I forgot how much fun the day is for the kiddies. We spent all day in 3rd grade doing lots of Valentines Day Activities. I must share this adorable picture!

Are they not the cutest things ever? I'm so lucky to be able to spend my days with them! 

I was surprised with some flowers from the boy that were delivered to school. He then made me a wonderful dinner at home. I'm so blessed.

Now that Valentine's Day is over it's time for this DIY beauty to come off the door until next year.

I've been working on our March decor... stay tuned!

Valentine's Day Filled Weekend

What a wonderful weekend. With Valentine's Day falling on Tuesday I was lucky enough to get to spend the whole weekend with the boy, just him and I. This doesn't happen to often so it was a lovely treat.

Saturday we went on a little adventure to Cracker Barrel to find the candy dots. Lucky for me we had some success! We then headed off to the mall to pick up our tickets to see the Vow for date night. What a cute movie just in time for Valentine's Day. Tom was a little skeptical at first but he ended up enjoying it. I would highly recommend it to anyone. A truly heartwarming love story.

It wouldn't be the weekend without a little teachery work. I got my Valentines for my kiddies put together. I was thinking of the boys on this one. Pinterest inspired of course but for the price I would have paid for a box of cardboard valentines I got a super cute finished product. I couldn't help but sneak in a little something pink on the backs. The jars are full of lovebugs.

To finish up the weekend I had a little girl time to paint my nails while enjoying a little Desperate Housewives. Pink, white, and hearts of course :)

Hoping your week is filled with love! 

A Lazy Saturday

Tom and I have been busy, busy, busy since before Thanksgiving. With State Testing wrapping up yesterday at work this girl is certainly ready for a little break. I spent last night with a glass of wine, a delicious dinner that I prepared, and a little pinteresting. I have been really into door wreaths since moving to our new apartment. Just a little seasonal something on the door when you arrive home can help but make you smile. I have been looking for my next craft idea for March. Stay tuned.

Today however, Tom and I are taking a little road trip to Cracker Barrel. Tom has learned to humor the fact that he is dating a teacher. We teachers always seem to have random things to be looking for. I have been on the hunt for that dot candy from back in elementary school for a little Valentine Day craft with the 3rd graders.

Remember these?

I have looked high and low for these lovely sugary delights but I cannot seem to find them anywhere. I'm talking 2 Walmarts, Walgreens, CVS, and Target. Cracker Barrel always has all sorts of random things so hopefully we will be successful! 

Nothing like a little adventure on a sunny winter Saturday.