Sorry

I’m sorry for my absence from the blog. I promise to be better but this year has been CRAZY! I’ll try and explain and fill you in.

1.    WORK

This year our district opened three brand new school buildings. The air conditioning was great at the beginning of the school year. However, it is TOUGH to move all of your things into a new room, get organized and prepare for a new school. Add to this that this year I wasn’t allowed to departmentalize so I had to prepare materials for Science, Social Studies and Math (as I have NEVER taught these for second grade).

Add to that – that this year is NOT like last year. You all know what I’m talking about I’m sure. I have THE CLASS. Yeah, I know we all have them but this year…they may just do me in. I have a runner, a cusser, a biter, a puncher…

And the biggest crazy!

2.   I’M PREGANT

My husband and I are having a baby boy of our own! The first trimester did NOT go well. I think just this week I finally kept down dinner for the first time in 2 months. And then we had a pregnancy scare and for two weeks, I was worried about my health and the health of the baby. Luckily everything is all good.

So there is a lot going on around here. But I promise to share more and be more active. So be prepared.

Menu Monday (or well Wednesday)

Are you always scrambling for dinners after a long day of teaching? I always run into this problem especially with two boys who play football every night. There just isn’t enough time! I’ve decided to start trying crockpot meals out and letting you know what my family thinks of them!

I will share a new meal every Monday for what I call Menu Monday (or as close to Monday as this busy lady can get). I plan to try these and then if they are good make them and freeze them for a quick and easy meal on the fly!

Pepperoni Pizza Rigatoni

Ingredients:

-      1 lb ground beef (browned and drained)

-      8 oz pkg of rigatoni pasta (cooked)

-      16 oz pkg shredded mozz (this equals out to two bags I did one of mozzarella & one bag of pizza cheese)

-      10 ¾ oz can cream of tomato soup

-      2 14oz jars of pizza sauce

-      8 oz pkg sliced pepperoni (I used a bag of large size and a bag of small cut pepperoni)

My Alternative Ingredients

Alternate layers of ground beef, cooked rigatoni, cheese, soup, sauce, and pepperoni in slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 4 hours. Serves 6.

** I put mine on warm for 8 hours and it was perfect **

 Final Result

Review

I loved this meal. It really did have a pepperoni pizza taste to it. J I will definitely try this again!

Back to School - HELP I'VE LOST MY MIND!!!

I was finally allowed into my brand new classroom today. YAY! I was so excited but after a minute I realized I am not ready for back to school! I am not in ANY way ever going to be ready and I still have plenty of time (according to the calendar) anyways. I’m hoping I will feel more settled tomorrow! I even lost my car keys in my classroom that took me a REALLY long time to find them.

Among other things I am finishing a class tomorrow and have a big final project to share and discuss tomorrow. But do you think I could find a stapler in my entire house?!? It’s okay I couldn’t find one at school today either.

Back to school I think it makes me LOSE MY MIND! Does anyone else feel that way?!?

TpT Conference - Las Vegas

I went to the Teachers Pay Teachers conference last week in Las Vegas (Let me just say that I love Vegas, I mean LOVE Vegas! If you ever have any questions or need ideas of where to stay or what to do out there ask me, seriously I have a LOT of Vegas knowledge and tips).

Anyways… let me tell you…

IT WAS AWESOME! I’m sharing that fact with you (if you are a seller) because you were either there and agree or weren’t there and are wondering if you should go next year (which is of course a BIG yes). It is very overwhelming but there are tons of things I can’t even begin to tell you I learned about. If you are a buyer on TpT let me tell you, there will be tons of new and smart teachers out there doing wonderful things and creating wonderful things for you and your kiddos at school.

I had the opportunity to see and meet some amazing TpT staff. I enjoyed hearing their inspiring words and learning a lot about TpT.

The best highlight is that I ran into my cooperating teacher from student teaching! She was out here too! It was amazing to see her and she actually is a second grade seller too!

Like I said earlier, I love Vegas! I crossed off 3 new things on my Vegas to do list!

The first was the High Roller. It is the world’s tallest ferris wheel.

I also went to Circus Circus to do the Adventuredome (because I am a HUGE roller coaster junkie). We rode El Loco (which was my favorite), there are  only 2 of this roller coaster in the United States. They also have another roller coaster the Canyon Blaster (also pretty fun) and a bunch of other thrill rides and stuff for kids.

Lastly, we did the Eiffel Tower at Paris Paris. It goes 460 feet above The Strip. It had amazing views and also allowed you with the use of an Ipad to see what your view would look like if you were at the REAL Eiffel Tower, which I thought, was awesome.

Overally, an amazing trip. It has me thinking about TpT and also about going back to school….

Exciting!

I am slowly getting ready for my upcoming two vacations but wanted to take a quick moment to share my excitement in seeing this with you J It is just nice to see myself on this for once! I have been anxiously waiting for it to happen for AGES!

Tonight we begin our family adventure to Iowa to see my husband’s family (I have never been to Iowa so I’m glad to cross this state off of my bucket list of visiting all 50 states). After that my husband and I are headed to Vegas (a city with both love) of course I am going for the TpT conference and he is going to play poker but I honestly can’t wait. I will try and update as much as I can.