Top 5 Blog Posts of 2014

Graphics by I Teach! What's Your Superpower? and Glitter Meets Glue Designs

As the year is coming to a close, I decided to link up with Ideas by Jivey for my top 5 blog posts of 2014. Since I just recently (meaning the last three months) began blogging my top five are more recent than most. Click on the image links below to take you straight to the blog post. Have fun and enjoy reading!

What's in a name

Last Week of Mayhem

In preparation for something blue

We're off to see the Wizard

 

About Me

I hope you enjoyed viewing my top 5 blog posts of 2014. Don't forget to link up with Ideas by Jivey. 

Top Ten Insta Pics of 2014

As I am coming off the high of Christmas, I sit down to my computer to see what's going on in the blogger world. I see on my blog lovin' account that there are many posts about the top ten instagram pics of 2014. I am linking up with Teachery Tidbits for top ten pics from 2014. If you don't currently follow me on instagram go check out 4th Grade Funky Town. I post a variety of pictures anywhere from teaching, wedding planning, adventures, proud dog mom pics, and the list goes on and on. Here are the top ten pics from over the last year. Here goes (do realize this is very difficult to select the top ten pictures from the entire year).

 This would be the "original" fourth grade funky town bunch. This was field day back in May. Please go to read my post What's in a name? to find out the full scoop about the history of the name. 

Lord help me if I decide to go on a painting adventure again. I think boredom had set in and I almost bit off more than I could chew with this Moody Blue Sherwin Williams adventure. 

This was the beginning of my quest to begin to design and sell products on TPT. I set out with a goal to get atleast 100 products by the end of the summer. I some how surpassed my goal and I now have over 200 products. I am still trying to advertise and get the word out that I sell a variety of product for 3rd-5th grade. 

Who doesn't love a Pinterest DIY project. Amongst the many DIY projects I ventured out to accomplish this past summer this is one of them. I made this stools for my reading table and they have had great success. 

 I read this book in only four short days while basking in the sun on the beach this summer. Let me first say that I am not an avid reader, but this book is amazing and every teacher should read it at some point in their career. 

This picture is the second day of school this year. It amazes me that we are basically half way through the school year already. This group of kiddos is so special to me, and I wouldn't trade any of them (not even THAT child in every classroom). They really are a great group.

Another DIY project except this one was designed by me. I didn't copy this idea from somewhere else. I ordered the vinyl decal from Jane.com (if you have never been there then stop what you are doing and go now). The pallet was from my dad's barn and he took it apart and nailed it back together so the slats would not have any spaces between them. I applied the decal and modge podged over it to secure it.

These were not our actually engagement pictures, these are ones that my dad took at my parent's house. They really turned out grade and are sentimental because my non picture taking dad took them. He did great!

Sorry to keep bringing up the engagement and wedding this, but this picture was taken right after he proposed and has so much meaning.

Yet again here I am blabbering about our engagement, but this picture takes the cake (no pun intended) for the best of 2014. This is a picture of my engagement ring and it is so valuable to me. The stone is actually a family heirloom from Wes' family, which make it even more important to the both of us. 

So there you have it....my Top 10 Insta Pics of 2014!

Soap Making

Back in October I went to a Mennonite community to purchase some produce and I came across some delightful homemade oatmeal, honey, almond soap. OMG I am now such a fan of homemade soap making. I attempted to sort of "home make" soap the other day. I found an easy recipe that anyone can follow and make soap easily. The other recipes that are "legit" soap making include lye which is hard to get your hands on since it is used for explosives. That would be a situation for a teacher to have to explain to someone why she is purchasing explosive materials to make her own soap. Yikes. I don't need that on my rap sheet. Here are the steps to make the soap.

Firs,t I purchased a goats milk soap base block from Hobby Lobby. I also purchased honey almond flavor from there as well.

Next, you may add your own oatmeal, if you would like some exfoliation. You can also add vitamin E oil for added moisture.

Cut the goats milk into blocks and put it into a bowl and nuke it for about a minute and a half. Add your flavor (about 15 drops). If you are into the essential oil kick you can also use those. Add half a cup to a cup of oats depending on how much you want. At this point you can add the vitamin E oil as well. Now stir it up. It should be all liquid at this point. You can use soap molds, but I went the cheap route and used bread loaf pans and wax/saran wrap. Put it in the freezer and let it cool and congealed. Then you just slice the bars into whatever size you prefer. Good luck and enjoy!

Freebie Friday

 

I'm linking up with the teaching blog addict for freebie Friday. Here's a link to a freebie from my teacher pay teacher store 4th Grade Funky Town. 

 

This freebie is a popular download for teachers who teach any grade. It includes all 55 essential rules from the Ron Clark Academy. If you haven't read the book or toured the school I HIGHLY recommend going for a visit. If you don't live close run out and buy the book now. Go here and buy it:

 

I read it this summer at the beach and I was very impressed and inspired. Don't forget to visit the teaching blog addict freebie Friday link above to enjoy a variety of products from fellow bloggers. 

14 in 14

It is hard to narrow down a favorite quote, so I am going with a favorite quote and a favorite bible verse. 

Hmm, now this one may be harder than the first. I love fashion and anything that has to do with clothing, my closet is secretly screaming HELP ME. Today I'll say my favorite article of clothing is my new wedge bootie toms. 

By the way, if you haven't tried these they are fabulous. They are the most comfortable shoes with a heel to teach in. 

I know what your thinking ugh that is an old movie. You don't understand my best friend and I growing up watched this every weekend and can still to this day quote it. 

I have been a faithful supporter of the series 19 Kids and Counting since the Duggar's first aired many, many years ago. I think the family stands for what they believe in and I respect that. 

I mean who doesn't love a slice of cheesecake to go with the most amazing meal ever. Well here is where I have never had a bad experience and would choose to eat her more often if I lived closer to one. 

My fiance and I just reccently within the past year have gotten completely addicted to sushi. Any shape, size, flavor, restaurant, you name it we will try it and most likely love it. 

I would have to say my engagement ring that I received in July. The ring is exactly what I wanted and Wes couldn't have picked out anything more beautiful. The center stone is his grandmother's which hold such a sentimental value to the both of us. 

Oh geez now how do I narrow this down.... I guess I would say this barn door headboard. My wonderful craftsman father made this for me. 

It is probably this post of our engagement pictures. We just went to view them a week ago and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the photos. It excites me to see how good out wedding pictures will be in June. 

This would probably be gaining my Master's of Arts in Elementary Education. I didn't come by teaching the traditional way. My undergraduate degree is in Interior Design, so I made a complete life change when I decided to enroll at Liberty University and complete my Master's. 

I hate to keep brining up our relationship, but my favorite memeory would be our first date to a tacky Christmas sweater party. Wes was wearing a Griswold family christmas t-shirt and it was quite a first day. I wouldn't change it for the world. 

My goal for this year is to be more proactive about being healthy, working out more and being fit. 

Blessed. The definition is to be holy of sacred. I think of it as more of a blessing. Bless those who persecute you and bless those who curse you. Romans 12:14. Now that is a challenge and I think I need to more mindful of blessing others whether they deserve it or not.