Work it Wednesday! Week 2

I love these Work it Wednesday posts!  They are so motivating!  I'm not motivating because I'm too lazy to "work it"...but everyone else's posts are motivating!  Anywhoo, here we are again for Week 2!

So last week I told you about my "exercise routine" with a disclaimer that if you really want to get fit, my rules aren't the best.  But if you're a lazy gal and you want to slowly work your way into fitness, that's right where I am on my journey.  Since my stubbornness has the best of me, here's my second rule to fitness that probably isn't a good rule, but I'll never break it.

Isn't that terrible?  I mean I'm kind of blasting my weight loss goals with that one, but dieting is no fun!  I've tried it, and let me tell you it makes me hate life!  My students probably think I'm Viola Swamp when I have attempted dieting.  The only thing it does is make me crave more food.  which makes me miserable and pouty.

Instead, my life plan goes more like this:  Drink a lot of water.  Eat all of the fruits and veggies you want (My husband says this is not a good idea...because binge eating on baby carrots isn't really great for you either.  Like I said, my advice might not be the best.).  Try not to eat fast food.  But never ever diet.

Here's my super amazing Camelbak.  It's my appetite lifesaver.  Did you know if you drink through a straw, you'll drink more?  It's true!  I was lucky to drink my 24 oz. Tervis in a day's time, but with this water bottle with a straw I'm drinking almost a gallon some days. When your belly is full of a gallon of water, you don't have much more room for cupcakes.
 *NOTE* As tempting as it may be, don't fill your Camelbak with Coke.  I have considered it many times, but just don't do it.  As wonderful and miraculous as Coke may be, 33 oz. of Coke isn't good for anybody.

 I also try not to snack.  It's hard, because I'm a grazer.  No joke, I'm like a sheep.  I'll get a plate at say...O'Charley's and I won't be able to finish it.  In 2 hours I'm starving.  I just have to keep eating!  Some people say it's better to eat smaller meals more often, but when you're a teacher that's close to impossible.  A few years ago, I cut out unhealthy afternoon snacks.  That's it.  No going on a diet, just cutting out one mini meal that I didn't really need.  After a few months, I lost 20 pounds and went down two pant sizes.  It was awesome!  I am completely serious when I say that's the ONLY change I made in my life.  No exercise, just cutting out unhealthy snacking.  Now, I do allow myself to snack on fruits and veggies (remember my "you can eat as many as you want" idea), but just not Little Debbie Cakes.

Speaking of Little Debbie Cakes, I splurge.  Sometimes you go to a blackberry farm and pick blackberries to eat them.  Other times you just make a cobbler (...or 3...yes, 3 cobblers) out of the blackberries.  This is not a good choice by any means, but I don't believe in cutting it out.  When I cut things like this out, I go crazy (see Viola Swamp).  In moderation, I splurge a couple times a week...because remember, I'm not on a diet.  Anyways, if you've got a gallon of water and a whole big bunch of baby carrots in your belly, you might just be too full for blackberry cobbler, and that's okay too.

Make your Masterpiece: Week 3

This week for the TPT Seller Challenge, the theme is Make your Masterpiece!  While I wouldn't call this my masterpiece, it's something I've been needing to finish because I think it will be a great routine for my firsties this year!

This resource has 20 prompts for every month of the year!  It also has 40 extra prompts for anytime, for a grand total of 280 prompts.  I love giving students a chance to choose what they write about, so I created this to give them a structured choice.  I plan on using this in centers, but you could use it for early finishers, homework, morning work, and honestly anywhere else you like!  In celebration of finishing a product, this is just a dollar for today only so snatch it if you'd like it right here!  The prompts do contain holiday and culture references specific to the US, so if you don't teach in the US you might not get such a great benefit from this product.

What's your masterpiece?  Or an awesome product I should check out?  Let me know in the comments below!

Work it Wednesday!

Hey, friends!  Today I'm linking up with Katie King for Work it Wednesday!

First, you have to know something about me.  I don't like getting fit.  I don't exercise, I don't sweat, and I ESPECIALLY don't diet.  But for some CRAZY reason, my husband decided to do all of that at the beginning of this year.  And he lost A LOT of weight.  Meaning right now, I weigh more than him.  Sometime in my life I'll probably be okay with that fact, but right now I feel like a giant when we're out together.  Soooooo...I decided to get fit in attempts of not feeling like the Jolly Green Giant.  Sigh...

So if you're looking for great advice for how to get fit, you will probably want to just hop onto another blog.  If you HATE everything you possibly have to do to get fit and want to know how you might not hate it so much, then go ahead and keep reading.

I have some inner rules for myself.  They're probably not good rules, but I'm pretty stubborn about them so here's the first one.

That's it!  Never.  I can't stand paying that much money for something I may or may not use.  A gym is great if you really want to get in shape, but it costs you every single month.  I know myself well enough to guarantee that if I have to leave my house to go work out, I will never work out.

Instead, this is what I did...

I got this for my husband for Christmas a few years ago.  I think it was $200, but I know there are many even cheaper than that (less than $100).  In my eyes, $200 for my husband and I to work out for as long as the machine works is a lot better than paying $30+ a month, every single month, for both of us to have a membership at a gym.

I don't like this machine just like I don't like working out.  The seat is probably the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on, and it makes me love my fat-padded booty even more.

But, as much as I hate it, it's getting me fit because of this little tray right here.

See that thing?  Right above the silver part is a glorious tray.  You know what can sit right there?  MY PHONE!  YES!

I'm working on reading the Bible through in a year on my Bible app.  Let's just say that I'm way behind...as in May's readings may or may not be done yet.  Every time I work out, I multitask.  I'll start reading my Bible and sometimes I get so interested in what I'm reading, I'll forget I'm pedaling while sitting on a rock!  It's fabulous!

Other times if I'm having a rough day, I'll watch Ellen while I cycle.  That woman is so funny, I have cycled for 40 minutes before without even noticing (and that's a BIG step for this girl right here).

I'll even get on a Teacher Blog binge sometimes and start reading those until I forget I'm cycling.  It's amazing.  PD and fitness at the same time.

So if you hate working out just as much as I do, find a hobby to do while you work out so that you don't realize you're working out.  If you like bird watching, go take a hike to watch the birds.  If you like listening to your Pandora station, put some headphones in and walk to the beat.  If you have kids, spend time with them by playing tag or other outdoor games.  If you like reading and watching TV, invest in a cycle for a lifetime of fitness.

Dare to Dream: Week 2

This week for the Teachers Pay Teachers Seller Challenge, the theme is Dare to Dream.  I'm sharing with you the reason I make products for Teachers Pay Teachers and what I plan to do with my life...besides teach.

I love everything Disney.  I especially love Disney World.  I don't think I can really express how much I love it, so just believe me when I tell you I do.  It is really my happiest place on earth.  I have so much fun acting like a kid again with my husband!  I love seeing his goofy side, and when they say "Show us your Disney Side" on those commercials, they aren't kidding!  My husband has a Disney Side!  And it's so attractive!  Okay, back to dreams...

I learn so much as a teacher in Walt Disney World.  Just watch a child carry on a conversation with a character.  They're completely engaged, completely engrossed, and soaking in everything that character is saying.  Perhaps it's because they've watched Frozen 2,934,123 times and they are obsessed with Elsa - so every word out of Elsa's mouth is sacred.  Or perhaps it's also the magic that Walt Disney World creates in itself.  I think it's some of the first, but a lot of the second.  That's the whole reason I called my blog "Simply Magical Learning."  I want learning in my classroom to be like Walt Disney World every single day.  All smiles and excitement, soaking up words and making learning fun.

So right there is my main reason for selling products on TPT - trips to Walt Disney World.  They're rejuvenating for myself as well as next year's classroom environment.

If I really go far on TPT (or grow up and have kids someday), I would love to go to Grad School.  I LOVE LIBRARIES.  In my list of favorite places to be, it goes like this: 1. Disney World, 2. Anywhere that sells ice cream, 3. Libraries.  I would love to be able to return to school to get my Master's in Library Science to become a librarian.  I'd still be teaching lessons on books, but I'd be able to range from picture books to young adult novels.  I don't know if this is a practical goal, or a reachable one, but I'm daring to dream it anyways.

Makeover Madness: Week 1

For this week's Makeover Madness, I had to pick a product from my TPT Store and redo something about it.  This has been on my to-do list FOR-EVER, but I have absolutely zero motivation to do it.  I'm so happy this got me pumped up for it!

So here's one of my first products from last year, My Word Wall Book.  There wasn't too much content-wise I wanted to change, but the cover, clip art, and borders definitely needed some updating. 

So now it's a whole lot prettier!  My kids loved this last year and I know my kids this year will love it even more.  And because I want you to experience the prettiness and wonderfulness of it, it's on sale for $2 (regularly $3) through Friday. Just click here to go visit my shop.

Where, oh where is my hair?

Hooray for finally posting something on here!  You know it's summertime when I have time to blog!

So this week I FINALLY got to do something I've been working on for months, but first you have to read my story.

One day, a precious student of mine came in with the most adorable haircut.  She came to the back and handed me a Ziplock bag filled with all the hair she had cut off.  As a teacher, kids bring you all sorts of homemade trinkets and treats as presents, but I have never been given a bag of hair.  I know my facial expression wasn't exactly what she was hoping for, but really - who gives you a bag of hair?!?!  Then she explained to me that her mom wanted me to get a wig made of it for a child who didn't have any hair...and that made a lot more sense.  So I sent it off and got it done!

Right around this time it was about time for my usual haircut and I decided to do what my sweet little girl did.  I grew out my hair for another 2-3 months and finally ended with enough to donate!

Here's what I looked like a few days ago:

I must admit, somedays I got attached to my long hair. I almost chickened out and got a trim instead.  Luckily on the day of my haircut, it was super annoying so AWAY IT WENT!

And this is me, right now writing this blog post.

I LOVE how this little girl in my class inspired me to do something way out of my comfort zone.  Her cute haircut and sweet heart just did me in!  That's one of the best parts of teaching - learning from your students.

FYI: If you're thinking of donating your hair, I'm donating mine to Pantene Beautiful Lengths.  My childhood neighbor and second mother was diagnosed with cancer around Thanksgiving last year.  When she started chemo and lost her hair, Pantene gave her a wig for free.  She's an amazing high school English teacher who kept teaching through her treatment, and I was so impressed with a company that would provide her with a wig free of charge!

May Pinterest Linky

Can you believe it's May already?  The countdown has begun!  And here's some pins to help you make it though the next few days!  The end of the year is my favorite time of year because all of the stress of testing is gone and we get to have fun while learning!  The worst part is coming up with engaging activities so your students don't go absolutely bonkers.  Here are three ideas to keep your end of the year somewhat sane. :)

I love this first idea!  It's the CUTEST craft, a great bulletin board, and a good self-reflection activity.  I'm loving the idea of a graduation cap, too!  I'll be making this next week with my littles to keep their antsy hands busy. :)

Peanut Butter Bird Feeders are a mess, but the kids will absolutely love them!  Last year I did these at the end of the year.  I made a few to hang outside our windows at school and the kids made some to take home. We really spent way too long watching out our windows.  I'm not joking...I turned out the lights and we got quiet and we counted how many different birds came to our bird feeder...for a lonnnng time.  We honestly might have counted more squirrels than birds, but the kids were still totally engaged!

You just HAVE to click the Pinterest link for this one.  This blogger did her child's birthday party with snacks from various books.  At our school, we are only allowed to watch one movie between now and the end of school...which leaves a lot of activities to be planned between now and then.  This made me think, why not have a book themed snack party?  I am super psyched!  If your students are allowed to bring homemade snacks, you could have them bring in their favorite book with a matching snack.  If they're not allowed to bring homemade snacks, make your own snacks!  Now I am no Betty Crocker, but I can do break and bake cookies and goldfish.  I'd LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have my kids read the books to their class while they eat their snacks!  Oh, what a nerdy teacher's dream party!

Hoping you have a magical end of the year filled with fun!

An InLinkz Link-up