TPT is having one of their big sales tomorrow.  Everything in my store will be 20% off, plus you get an additional 10% off if you use the code: TPTCYBER.
Enter below to win!  I'll be giving away 2 $20 TPT gift cards on Monday night at 8:30 pm.  I'll email the winners tomorrow night, so you will have plenty of time to shop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
My goal was to get all my shopping done by 11/30!  I've pretty much met my goal. 

We are keeping Christmas simple at my house. 
In addition to their stocking which will have some little goodies (lip gloss, small legos, candy, fun socks, fun mittens/gloves) my children will get the following:
Something they Want
Something they Need
Something to Wear
Something to Read

My children are SUPER excited about doing this.  They have everything they could ever want or need, and they look forward to being surprised.

Disclaimer:  my children have amazing grandparents and aunts and uncles and will get plenty of gifts from them :)

I thought I'd share some of my favorite stores.  I love Nordstrom because they have free return shipping!!

I love this Etsy store.  You can customize your sign for your favorite sports fan :)

I'm not sure if all Major League Baseball teams have something like this, but the Kansas City Royals have a great children's program.  For $25, the kit includes a shirt, baseball cap, sunglasses, 2 tickets to a game, a VIP run the bases pass after the game, and many other offers for when you are at the stadium.

I found out about this story from Momastery.   She has a great gift giving guide with FANTASTIC BOOKS and I loved one of the stores she recommended:  Purpose Jewelry.  Their website explains that they are working to empower women that have been victims of modern day slavery.  Each piece is hand signed by the women that made it.

The other gift that I've given to my friends and family that love to travel is packing cubes.   It makes it so easy to keep clothing organized when you are traveling with a family.  We each have our own colors...that way they can all go in the same suitcase, but it is super easy to unpack when you get to your destination!

I'm also a huge fan of giving board games as gifts.  Here are a few of my favorites to give this year!




Our Barnes and Noble has signed books!!  Here are a few that I picked up for teachers, librarians, and my own children!


Here are some other books I'm giving for children age 8-14!






I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin!  Today on this first day, I'm thankful for my cozy home!


I've lived in my house for 15 years now.  It is cozy :)  That is realtor speak for "tiny!"  That's okay.  My husband has asked me many times if I want to move to a bigger house and I always say the same thing, "no way...I'd just have more to clean!"  :)

I work with a number of students that are homeless and my daughter and I have volunteered at the homeless shelter which makes me even more grateful to have a roof over our head.  In the winter we stay warm, and in the summer we are cool.  I know this is so much more than many people have.  We also have traveled quite a bit, and in other countries, my house would be considered a mansion!

I love this quote :) It is ultra true for me!



I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin!  Today on this first day, I'm thankful for my Terrific Family!


I'm thankful for my terrific family!  I have the most patient and kind husband in the world!  He is a great dad and my best friend :)  My children are simply amazing.  I'm not sure where they came from, because they have every talent that I wish I had!!! They are musical, athletic, and love to share their talents with others.

My extended family is also terrific!  I look forward to spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with them!


The purpose of this linky by Fun in Room 4B is to help make everyone's lives a little easier!  I first must say, that I cannot live without my family and my friends.  I feel so blessed to have a great group of family and friends that love me :)  They make my life easy AND fun!!!!


1) My Erin Condren Planner has been a great way for me to keep everything organized.  It keeps my home and school calendars, blogging ideas, menus/grocery lists, and fitness goals/workout history all in one place!

2)  An organized place to keep backpacks/school stuff...for us this is the laundry room which leads out to the garage.  I have baskets for hats/mittens/gloves.  My children have hooks to hang their backpacks.  Their shoes are kept in this room.   Every morning when it is time to go to school, everything we need is in this room.  We grab our bags and walk out the door.  We used to even have a checklist to make sure nothing was forgotten, but now that we have our routine down, I was able to put it away.  




I have a group of students that are still struggling reading CVC words.  Any extra practice they can do is great!  We've been using this game as a quick warm-up before guided reading.

I also have them use each word in a complete sentence!  They can keep the Gobble, Gobble cards and they like to play to see who has the most.  There are different ways you can play this game, and they are included in this freebie!





I had a great Halloween with my family!  I cannot believe it is already November.  It seems like November is going to go by VERY quickly...then it is December.  

November is CRAZY, BUSY at my house.  Both my children play basketball and we have games on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday!!  My planner sticks to me like glue, so I don't ever forget anything!

I'm hoping to get a good three mile run in today.  The last two weeks have been kind of "blah" for me in terms of exercise!  I always feel better when I get a really good run in :)

I love the month of November!  I have so much to be thankful for!  I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing, stress-free, and time to enjoy your blessings November!


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