If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?

Words that are speaking to me today...

If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?

Ribba Picture Frames from IKEA

Ribba Picture Frames from IKEA are my absolute favorite! They are available in many different sizes, but I've only found myself purchasing the 15x19 size so far. I've already completed a grouping of three in my office and at our latest IKEA visit, I picked up four more to make another grouping. Stay tuned for photos! :-)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I come from a family who loves chocolate chip cookies! It's amazing to me how simple modifications in the ingredients produce such varied results. I love this graphic from handletheheat.com - click on over for more awesome recipes!

I found these awesome tips from My Story in Recipes blog:

1.  Use room temperature butter and make sure that you cream the butter and sugar REALLY well.  

2.  Use the very best chocolate chips that you can find.  (I like Trader Joe's semi sweet chips and Ghiradelli bittersweet chips.)

3.  Scoop the dough BEFORE you chill it.  (Otherwise, your hand is going to be sore.)

4.  ALWAYS chill the cookie dough before you bake it.   (1 hour minimum but overnight is preferred.)

5.  Only bake the number of cookies that you will eat in 24 hours.  Store the rest of the dough in the freezer so you can bake them fresh.  

And here's a delicious recipe for Ritz Carlton Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1 1/4 pounds unsalted butter (5 sticks), room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

2 cups dark brown sugar

5 eggs

1 tbsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp kosher salt

6 cups flour

4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about two minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated. Stir the dry ingredients in. Add the chocolate chips. Scoop batter onto baking sheet. Chill dough at least one hour. Transfer 6 cookies at a time to a separate baking sheet and bake 10-12 minutes until edges are golden and centers are almost set. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte Controversy

I don't know if you've seen the image above all over Facebook lately, but when I saw it my heart sank.  I look forward to pumpkin everything in the fall, including Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Reading that the entire drink is filled with chemicals and unhealthy ingredients, I think I may think twice next time I order my fall beverage.  I am completely aware that the drink isn't exactly healthy for you.  You should only treat yourself every once and a while to a Pumpkin Spice Latte anyway, but if it is that harmful, why even bother?  

I did some research and didn't really learn much.  Starbucks states that the ingredients can vary with the size that you order, in addition to the kind of milk you prefer.  Regardless, if there is a chance that this drink (among, I am guessing many others) is harmful, are you still going to indulge?  I'm not quite sure yet.  We have until September 2nd...when the delicious, and maybe dangerous, drink makes it's fall debut!

Every Kid Needs a Champion: MUST SEE VIDEO!

Today was the FIRST day of the 2014-2015 school year for teachers and staff. Our superintendent used this video in his Welcome Back speech. I believe Amanda shared this video on the blog months ago and it's totally worth watching again... especially as we start the new school year!

My classroom feels like my second home again. Everything is clean, fresh and new. Although I still feel like I have a lot to do before my kids walk into my room on Tuesday... I'm eager to meet my new students and ready for the new year to begin! 

Tickled Pink Gift Idea!

HOW ADORABLE?! I found this idea on Pizzazzerie blog and I love that she markets it towards teacher's gifts AND for other possibilities, like bridesmaids gifts! "I'm tickled pink that you're my bridesmaid!" 

For this simple gift, you can use as many or as few items as you would like. Fill a Mason jar, tumbler, or even just a simple pink gift bag with all things…you got it…PINK! Here are a few ideas:

• Nail polish
• Pink gum
• Pink Tic-Tacs
• Cherry Chapstick
• Pink erasers
• Pink highlighters, pens, and pencils
• Pink candy
• Pink notepads
• Pink stickers

Click here for the FREE PRINTABLE tag! 

In the Classroom: Book Cover Collage

Alycia Zimmerman is a Scholastic teacher blogger and she's absolutely amazing. I've been following her for a while now, and even though she teaches 3rd grade, she blogs about fantastic ideas to use in any K-8 classroom. I was captivated by her latest blog, "Getting to Know My Students as Readers." I love every idea that she has shared and plan on implementing almost all of the ideas in my classroom this year. One that I wanted to share here was using Scholastic Book Club orders to decorate the reader's notebook. 

Alycia says:

I bet you have old Scholastic Reading Club flyers lying around somewhere. At my school, they pile up in our office near the mailboxes. My students cut out book covers that particularly tempt them — books that they’ve read or would love to read. They glue the pictures onto the front of a marble notebook and have a bookish collaged cover for their reading journal. 

I've always had my students cut and paste photos from home to decorate their notebooks, but this year, I definitely want to try this idea! Anything to encourage reading... and to encourage the sharing of new books! 

Click over to Scholastic teacher blogs for many more amazing ideas!  

Classroom Redecorating!

Getting into my classroom at the end of August is sometimes the best feeling. Starting fresh. Starting new. Feeling fresh! Feeling new! I have an incredible urge to recreate, move things around, and change things around completely this year... and I am! 

I was in my classroom a lot last week and tomorrow will be my last full day to redecorate/setup. These past few years, I've been lucky to have former students help me reorganize and setup. Tomorrow I'm lucky enough to have a former student who's now in high school! :-)

I found this blog post on BuzzFeed about 36 Ways to Decorate Your Classroom. They're all DIY and really worth checking out! Make sure to click on over!

I can't believe the new school year is here!