Monday Made It ... Bulletin board, tool box, time filler, Oh my!

Phew! I am finally finally finally able to contribute to Monday Made It.

Monday Made It

To say it has been a busy few weeks is an understatement! We just finished school on the 24th and I had two days to try and sort my room.
This is what I kinda left it like ...

Emmm two days was not quite enough to get myself organised and sorted! Unfortunately this disaster area is not getting sorted until the beginning of September. I may have had my priorities set on another task (whoops)!

Made It #1

I may have found some fab wallpaper a month or so ago. I really wanted it but could hear the voice of Dan and my friends in my head saying 'Stop spending money on your room!' so I left the wallpaper. For two weeks I thought about it and finally caved in and bought it.

How stinkin' cute is this paper! I love the varied fonts. I love the moustache. I love love love the inspirational quotes. I decided to use this as my backdrop for my intro board.

**Disclaimer - I got this intro board idea from Pinterest, but realised I hadn't actually pinned it! If you know who this is by, please let me know and I'll give credit where it is due.

I decided to add some lovely curlicue (??) frames which I bought off TPT. 

I also added a lovely black border to hide the uneven edges make the paper stand out a bit more.

(Almost) final result of my introduction board:

I can't wait to take the students' pics and stick them in. I am also toying with the idea of adding welcome lettering above the board. 

Made It #2

I made a teacher toolbox a few months ago but never posted about it. This was mainly due to my lack of bits and bobs that were actually in the toolbox. Like other teachers, my only gripe with the toolbox is the length of the drawers. I can't quite fit my pens and Sharpies in and lord knows I've got a billion of them!

I'm sorry about the super wonky pic! Literally took it as I was running out the door to catch a bus.

Made It #3

So I'm not sure if this last one technically counts as a Made It, but I'll be cheeky and add it in anyways.

As I mentioned before, school has only just finished. The last few days I have needed to have some random activities up my sleeve because of different schedules, sports day, etc. I found this idea on Pinterest (I know, I'm an addict). It was a really cool and seemingly simple art project. Turns out it might be simple for older students, but my 8 year olds had a go. Some of them were able to really get it and some just had not spatial awareness. It was okay though, ticks the art box and the filling time box.

This was my finished masterpiece, if I do say so myself!

So that's it for me. One week exactly until my wedding and I have only been majorly minorly stressed out.

Liebster Award ... An interesting nomination

Thank you so much to Lauren over at Love, laughter and learning in Prep for nominating me for the Liesbster. I've noticed this week that some of my fave bloggers had been nominated, so it's a real surprise and honour to have Lauren recognise me.

To accept the nomination I must:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator. 
4. Share 11 random facts about myself.
5. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them.

My nominees are:
Matt from Digital: Divide and Conquer
Kaytie from Orange Polka Dots
Kelli from Tales from a Traveling Teacher
Amy from Littlest Superheroes
Arlene from LMN tree

You should definitely check these blogs out. All the writers are so different and bring something unique to the blogging world!

Here are my answers to Lauren's questions:

1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?

During my master's research I volunteered in a kinder and 3rd grade at two very different schools. I really enjoyed my experience as a volunteer and thought I could possibly make a go of it as a career.

2. What is your favourite thing about blogging?

I enjoy sharing my ideas, but my most favourite part about blogging is actually reading everyone else's ideas. I actually feel like my brain wants to explode with all the ideas I've picked up.

3. What is your favourite food?

All of it? 

4. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Canada, Australia - somewhere warm and friendly

5. Who is your celebrity crush? 

em ... not sure

6. Pepsi or Coke? 

Coke all the way

7. How do you relax after a tough day at school? 

Eat, watch TV, read blogs

8. Can you do a handstand? 

I used to be able to. When I was 7 I was doing a handstand against my couch and feel backwards and cracked my head on the coffee table. Amazingly, this incident didn't faze me or put me off handstands.

9. What would your perfect day at school involve?

I am really boring and love love love the routine of my school day. My perfect school day (as lame as this will sound) would be all my lessons being amazing and the students all being excited about what they've learned. Possibly do some type of sporting activities in the afternoon.

10. Which website do you have to check daily?

Blogger to keep up to date with all my blogs I follow.

Facebook, to catch up with friends and family

11. What is your middle name?

Claire

I'm not sure I have 11 random facts so here are ones I can think of:

I'm half Puerto Rican

I was bilingual when I was younger, but refused to speak Spanish after moving to Cali (biggest regret ever)

Switzerland has really clean air and you can actually feel it when you take in a breath

I've been snowboarding in 5 countries

I'm older than my fiancee

I skipped 4th grade

I got my masters just so I could live in England for a year

I used to skateboard to classes at university

My university, UCSB, is one of the most beautiful places to live

Questions for my nominees:

1. Why did you get into teaching?

2. What is your favourite age to teach? Why?

3. What was your favourite subject in school?

4. What type of music do you like?

5. What is your most annoying habit?

6. What do you find annoying?

7. What would you most like to do before you die?

8. If you won the lotto, what would be the first thing you do?

9. What is your favourite condiment?

10. What are your favourite blogs that you follow?

11. What is your favourite word?

Thanks again to Lauren! 

Monday Made It - Wedding Decorations

So the official countdown is on, less than a month until my wedding! Cray-cray, the time has flown by, just like everyone said it would.
I am hopeful that I have most of the big things organised, but have now started sweating the small stuff .. the small stuff being those decorations that really make the day special.
I'm finally linking up with Tara. Now I feel a bit naughty because this isn't a school one, but I do have a few projects in the pipeline, it's just this impending wedding has taken over!

Monday Made - It

We are getting married in a medieval barn which has exposed beams and a thatched roof. We've decided to go for a rustic, vintage-type theme.
I have been stalking pinterest for over a year and saw lots and lots of chalkboard ideas.



Love this menu idea

We are having a BBQ for our wedding, so I thought it would be nice to display what is on offer. My sister had suggested painting the glass on a picture frame or mirror ... but I was unsure how well the paint would stick and if it would be streaky.

Got my supplies. When I took apart the frame it hit me ... duh! Why don't I paint the hard back board.

I bought a rather large frame for £8. I also bought blackboard paint and some brushes. Total cost = £12 ($15). I painted the woodeny-type backboard with two thin coats of blackboard paint. I let them dry between coats. I managed to do this whilst watching Wimbledon. Paint. Watch the set. Paint. Watch another set. Andy Murray for the win!! Put frame back together.

So I know this looks super black, but it is only because I had to adjust the pic brightness. Would you believe we had a gloriously hot day and it was hard to get a picture. Can't wait to use this and am sooooo stoked at how cheap this was. 
Another win is the fact that I can potentially use this as a frame after.

Thanks for linking up.
Cheers!

Pinning and a Faux Five for Friday

I was gutted that there was no Five for Friday this week, mainly because I FINALLY had something to write about. No worries though, First Grade Parade has come up with an awesome linky idea - Favorite Pins Friday!

 Last year I caved in and signed up to Pinterest. There has been no turning back. You can follow my Pinterest boards here. I've got some awesome pins if I do say so myself, they are not as organised as I'd want. I promise to sort them out soon.
My first pin is like an OCD teacher organisation dream ... and it comes from one of my real-life BF's, Miss Kaytie over at Orange Polka Dots.

The most amazing resource binder!

 This blogpost has all the details on how to organise and create a fabulous binder with all your resources. I love love love the post-it circular tabs she created.

This next pin is one of my faves because I've actually just tried it in class and it was great.

There are lots of different plant Science Activities on this website. I did this very bean plant activity with my kiddos but used plastic CD cases instead. It was great to see the seeds germinate and grow. The kids were so excited to see the roots, especially when we replanted them into pots.

I found this pin a few weeks ago and was IN LOVE! I'm still not sure what colours and things I want in my room, but love love love this original idea from Primary Graffiti.

 

So in other news ...

I'm getting married in a month! Holy Moly this last year has flown by.

I can't find the original link for this next pin, so if you know where it came from, just let me know.

Our wedding is in a barn and going to have a rustic/vintage feel to it. I love this pin and have been on a hunt for an affordable suitcase. It seems like this theme is popular now, as they are like £40 ($60) in thrift stores.

Yesterday I was shopping browsing our version or Target (although nowhere as good!) when I found exactly what I had been looking for ... a three-drawer organiser. I had been inspired by many a blogger who had created those 'File, Copy, Mark' drawers. Fun in 4B has even recently blogged about it for her Monday Made-It.

She was kind enough to offer her drawer labels for free ... check it out.
I digress ... so I was on a bit of a hunt for similar drawers. Seriously looked in loads of shops, which offered 4-5 drawers, drawers that were long enough, but not wide enough, drawers that were £20 ($35). I was really bumming that these drawers seemed so elusive. But then ...

I found this beauty sitting alone on a random shelf. It had no price and it was on a stationary shelf, so I left it. I went upstairs to see if I could find more, but lo-and-behold only 4-drawers. Decided to grab this guy and asked someone for a price-check before I paid £20 for plastic.

They were £1 ($1.50). No freakin' way! Best buy of the year!

Last week was my Hen Do (Bachelorette Party) and I had too much fun. I wish I had some pics to post, but at the moment all the pics are living on my friend's camera. I do however have 1 pic ...

I might have snagged this bag in Cath Kidtson in the sale. My man doesn't know about it yet ...
He bought me a different Cath Kidtson bag for my bday in Jan and I have been using it faithfully. But I love me some spots and I love the canvas style and space of this bag.

In sports news...

Loving Wimbledon. As you can imagine, everyone over here is pumped about Andy Murray. Could the UK finally have a Wimbledone champ after all these years?

Okay last of my rambling ... I promise.

It has been crappy weather all spring/summer. Now I know, I live in England, it's known for it's crap weather, but seriously, it has been super bad.

Yesterday it was finally 'hot' (I do use that term loosely, especially for those of you that have been suffering in the heat waves). It was probably in the high 70's. The kids were outside and I heard one of them say it was like the desert... Bless, they really are deprived of hot weather.

Okay for reals, the last thing.

My blog got a makeover! Thank you so much Christi. You can find her button at the bottom.



Currently ... going crazy?

Just checked Farley's blog.

I can't believe how many people have linked up. Crazy. 

Listening: Wimbledon. I love this time of year. I don't even play tennis. I have been a fan of watching Wimbledon since HS, probably because I had a crush on a tennis player and I was an Anglo-phile. Lots of people say tennis can be boring, but it's great to have on in the background.

Loving: My friend's threw me the most fabulous hen (bachelorette) weekend. We went tubing, had facials, got vintage hairstyles and then cocktails, finished off by tree course (?), which involves walking across obstacles and ziplining in the trees. 

Also currently obsessed with teacher blogs. Been getting real bad lately :/

Thinking: Wedding. Crap. Wedding. Crap. One month! Totally don't feel anywhere near prepared. Also still thinking about school, as in, what should I do for such-and-such lesson tomorrow. (Not great at really planning ahead). 

Wanting: I really want to start making some simple products and have watched a YouTube tutorial, but not quite confident enough to do it yet. 

Needing: Sunshine. England has had the WORST weather. I know that is such a cliche, but it's totally true. Being a California girl, this whole, no sun thing is getting wearing. It's gotten to the point that a hot day is like 60!

Also really needing to lose weight. At least my wedding dress fits, just doesn't mean that I look particularly good in it. I'm the only bride I know that hasn't actually dieted properly. I have probably done more of the opposite and stress ate.

Tips: Are welcomed. I've had this blog for almost a year and haven't done much with it. Thanks to the 19 of you that have followed me :)

I wanted to add more to this post and will try to put some pics in from the weekend when I get them through.

Cheers!