tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4965408637625975002024-02-20T00:20:48.928-05:00my own twist on thingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-48282093928589147512015-07-28T20:49:00.003-04:002015-07-28T20:49:45.408-04:00the perks of being an organization freakHello, my name is Michelle and I'm obsessed with organization.<br />
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Organization makes me smile.<br />
It calms me.<br />
It is second nature to me.<br />
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For you fellow organization freaks, you get it. You know what I mean. You're my people. <br />
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For those of you who are skeptics, or just don't have the Organization Bone (I'm sure there is one, right?)....well, I'm guessing you wouldn't be here based on the title of this post. But if you are, how sweet are you? Reading my little blog just for the fun of it. :)<br />
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So maybe I should get to the inspiration behind today's post, and what pulled me out of the almost one-year drought of writing here. Each summer, I make a list of projects I want to do around my house. All of those little things that I have no time to do throughout the school year, and finally get to do during some of that much-needed down time.<br />
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Lots of this year's list included cleaning and organization projects....and I'm checking some of those things off my list this week. <br />
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Yesterday's project: <br />
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<b><i>Organize my Junk Drawer</i></b><i><b>!</b></i></h2>
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Everyone has a junk drawer, right? <br />
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That Drawer of Randomness. <br />
The Pit Where Unwanted Items Go to Hide.<br />
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Here's what mine looked like yesterday morning....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUTCynR2eQ9NG2ONFBZVWMibO3Vh7I7tHIU7eIYjNzbTT8DgTXSCn6yMbPSLuRQp74beNK0pefEy3XgGpNsKl7AI5EavCKfgWNG1UnUKEe4zRsm-F5_SKccnXu_JH02n3b0Xxlfla0tmr/s1600/2015-07-27+12.57.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUTCynR2eQ9NG2ONFBZVWMibO3Vh7I7tHIU7eIYjNzbTT8DgTXSCn6yMbPSLuRQp74beNK0pefEy3XgGpNsKl7AI5EavCKfgWNG1UnUKEe4zRsm-F5_SKccnXu_JH02n3b0Xxlfla0tmr/s640/2015-07-27+12.57.04.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Keepin' It Real for you all.</i></div>
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<i>(and now I'm slightly embarrassed)</i></div>
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So the first step, as with any good reorganization project I do....empty EVERYTHING out of the drawer. </div>
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And, as I've learned through years of organizing....as I touched every item, I put it into one of three piles:</div>
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1- Keep in this drawer</div>
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2- Relocate to a different area that makes more sense</div>
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3- Trash/recycle</div>
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For the items that I was going to keep in the drawer, I also grouped like items to come up with a game plan of how I was going to put it all back together.</div>
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One group happened to be "paper items"....like coupons, menus, pamphlets, reference pages, product info, etc. So I grabbed an accordian file from the amazing Target Dollar Spot, labeled the sections, and filed away what I didn't recycle.</div>
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Speaking of the awesomeness of the Target Dollar Spot....which is always my first stop when I enter my favorite store....</div>
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I bought these a couple months ago, knowing that I'd find a use for them....for a DOLLAR people!</div>
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All my little clips, rubber bands, and wet wipes fit nicely into this square one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtA3gSOFlfgy3-TFs03RErfPp7CtD2FfuDVMnJttORFHQ03CpVP78d_6Pmvsx066PChkgK-cSRHKxSQIEzjpkTnLU_9CvMa8nbFfOIDNuV7o1pP0xP4nxSIuitmaw00gFdsFT2ObFN8r-/s1600/2015-07-27+16.21.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtA3gSOFlfgy3-TFs03RErfPp7CtD2FfuDVMnJttORFHQ03CpVP78d_6Pmvsx066PChkgK-cSRHKxSQIEzjpkTnLU_9CvMa8nbFfOIDNuV7o1pP0xP4nxSIuitmaw00gFdsFT2ObFN8r-/s640/2015-07-27+16.21.18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had a few partially full boxes of candles, and a few other random ones...plus some match books found in different drawers. Now they're all in one place thanks to this cute little container.</div>
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And the best part is that both of these plastic boxes come with clear lids!</div>
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FOR A DOLLAR! </div>
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<i>(Seriously, Target isn't paying me to say this....I just LOOOOOOVE Target!)</i></div>
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I had a few more groupings of markers/pens/pencils that needed places to go. I put the pens and pencils in my desk drawer where I'd need them, and the Sharpies and dry erase pens went in this drawer. Since those are the only writing utensils I need in the kitchen.</div>
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I had one organizer that I took from a different drawer where it wasn't really needed, and used it to corral my Sharpies, and a few other small items.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZIcf1hxTAmK4mCpXevYkqBvqqQ6_XwqpfGykk3ngc30RFVX32cqMjp2qwCbnM7wRYquw7awmbJLXbiz7UtEE_Yb_hFaztFLiezybUxkuIgSgcjhyphenhyphenlCBofKAQEP5lkx8OiVwVD4Gufrl4/s1600/2015-07-28+20.38.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZIcf1hxTAmK4mCpXevYkqBvqqQ6_XwqpfGykk3ngc30RFVX32cqMjp2qwCbnM7wRYquw7awmbJLXbiz7UtEE_Yb_hFaztFLiezybUxkuIgSgcjhyphenhyphenlCBofKAQEP5lkx8OiVwVD4Gufrl4/s640/2015-07-28+20.38.42.jpg" width="504" /></a></div>
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But....I needed something for my dry erase markers and mini eraser that I wanted to keep in there because the drawer is right next to my dry erase calendar.</div>
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I didn't want to spend ANY extra money on this project (all of these items were ones that I had stored for months in my craft closet)....so I made a box!</div>
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I cut the top off a pasta box that was going in the recycling anyway....</div>
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Next, I covered it with this adhesive drawer liner I got at....yes, the Target Dollar Spot.</div>
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<i>(Note: It was one of those "3 Dollar" items-- but still a great deal in my opinion!)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewb99S5aYvJU-OZEkE8hMEHraIc4Vaf0OgIQSqjniSKXG4UOSTu242LHQj_6wXigE2yoz2PYbvoi5b4ywjDi-V0Qfv4AbblFDmFxCp7e7iPBTARMpiuOwr2ITPjKD1Lzgt-BiDPyI69R_/s1600/2015-07-27+15.27.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewb99S5aYvJU-OZEkE8hMEHraIc4Vaf0OgIQSqjniSKXG4UOSTu242LHQj_6wXigE2yoz2PYbvoi5b4ywjDi-V0Qfv4AbblFDmFxCp7e7iPBTARMpiuOwr2ITPjKD1Lzgt-BiDPyI69R_/s640/2015-07-27+15.27.58.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's the finished project....cheap and easy! :)</div>
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And here it is with the dry erase board materials, and a few other small items that needed a "home".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm33F4srfEm_2-a33-9cAUblWDTZ7TbF7V9MKbyv1zQiXqsp110VT2yRd7tZvN0ySP6nXcOu7peYWL7y-DB9KM6Zefsyaq9t6fQF7jIJ2R46OwlAkMiKp9F-t26iCvoYY7NI1LeCCAGbN/s1600/2015-07-28+15.25.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSm33F4srfEm_2-a33-9cAUblWDTZ7TbF7V9MKbyv1zQiXqsp110VT2yRd7tZvN0ySP6nXcOu7peYWL7y-DB9KM6Zefsyaq9t6fQF7jIJ2R46OwlAkMiKp9F-t26iCvoYY7NI1LeCCAGbN/s640/2015-07-28+15.25.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So, once everything had a "home", I cleaned out the inside of the drawer, and lined it with more contact paper (same design, but different color).</div>
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Finally....time to put everything back in the drawer! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6X7OglNTYhP7Lhl-eJg13ECGpx8Kg8m0xkN-zKZwkSXTxouLPeh7pKoULCi02QrMXJ0AGRsYnhgclPZAV6FZdl9M0uBO-Luqb88ygWK9dvkfxsXz_0mRFnFssSu4RYOOj_gGUrU8eJ9J/s1600/2015-07-27+16.26.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6X7OglNTYhP7Lhl-eJg13ECGpx8Kg8m0xkN-zKZwkSXTxouLPeh7pKoULCi02QrMXJ0AGRsYnhgclPZAV6FZdl9M0uBO-Luqb88ygWK9dvkfxsXz_0mRFnFssSu4RYOOj_gGUrU8eJ9J/s640/2015-07-27+16.26.32.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The back of the drawer</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyVNJXpUp9NzsmRKpw5JVfDC3vqoiJcDvXpCTTqWt03NpH6f3hrpVf25YjYAK3HLb91f9mSdxf2oiQJ0KRnstwobb8S_oLAgmfMw-5IM7AzeQkqoxqbO-Kw8ZX-g4m8MHKXOFNZP4rI8M/s1600/2015-07-27+16.26.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeyVNJXpUp9NzsmRKpw5JVfDC3vqoiJcDvXpCTTqWt03NpH6f3hrpVf25YjYAK3HLb91f9mSdxf2oiQJ0KRnstwobb8S_oLAgmfMw-5IM7AzeQkqoxqbO-Kw8ZX-g4m8MHKXOFNZP4rI8M/s640/2015-07-27+16.26.49.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The front of the drawer</i></div>
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The finished project!!!! This makes my heart happy.</div>
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Seriously, I've opened this drawer to peek inside almost every time I've gone past it.</div>
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And since every other organization project I've done like this has remained organized and pretty, I'm sure this one will last, too!</div>
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So I'll leave you with my top five reasons why I spend time on projects like this....</div>
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1. You save time- you don't have to search for things you need! </div>
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2. You don't keep things you DON'T need....because if everything has a place, then you don't have place for "extra stuff". In other words, you won't become a hoarder!</div>
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3. You save money- you won't buy items you don't need because you can SEE what you have.</div>
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4. By using items you already have, you save money and exercise your Creativity Muscles.</div>
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5. Once you start reorganizing/decluttering, it becomes addictive. And you want to find more projects to do. Okay...maybe that's just me. But I bet I'm not alone!!</div>
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Here's evidence of that....right after I finished this drawer, I reorganized my desk drawer!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qBAWmAsOUp0AkPOleBC353FH0REKQPJ2Iv5vAIed8sdsVTExqtj-lXPkhpzlvPpwdB4hacrEZdWtZabsUSshSD26TizSzB9gaup_pYwCgOAeR4MzAFQLL2NJLM-BLbpz00nqbKLzPl9Z/s1600/2015-07-28+15.21.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qBAWmAsOUp0AkPOleBC353FH0REKQPJ2Iv5vAIed8sdsVTExqtj-lXPkhpzlvPpwdB4hacrEZdWtZabsUSshSD26TizSzB9gaup_pYwCgOAeR4MzAFQLL2NJLM-BLbpz00nqbKLzPl9Z/s640/2015-07-28+15.21.35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hope this inspires a few people to dive in, join the Organization Club, and have fun with it!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-67087507033924990552014-09-01T17:45:00.000-04:002014-09-01T17:45:42.283-04:00pacific northwest trip....part twoIf you didn't already read <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-whirlwind-tour-of-pacific.html" target="_blank">my last post</a> about the first two days of my trip to Seattle and Olympic National Park....go<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2014/09/my-whirlwind-tour-of-pacific.html" target="_blank"> here</a>. <br />
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My favorite day of the trip may have been described in that post, but plenty more fun was had in the second half of my trip, too....<br />
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Day Three- Vancouver</h3>
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Since we knew ahead of time how close we would be to the Canadian border, my sister and I made sure to get our passports renewed before the trip. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_NNorYoROZHq156-tCDtkDEN4_9jJVn6dbO1rx613gQ4bJm8mRO9BEsOmT1yXfKlVABgF1RE5i-9bLhL-BtMrm6QpPDDW9oq69HdefYgP4mRn5dhkI7aPdGKZa_iL1KJZr7KTLiKPPqe/s1600/2014-06-20+16.42.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_NNorYoROZHq156-tCDtkDEN4_9jJVn6dbO1rx613gQ4bJm8mRO9BEsOmT1yXfKlVABgF1RE5i-9bLhL-BtMrm6QpPDDW9oq69HdefYgP4mRn5dhkI7aPdGKZa_iL1KJZr7KTLiKPPqe/s1600/2014-06-20+16.42.38.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out with the old...in with the new...</td></tr>
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Being from Michigan, I've been to the eastern part of Canada a few times, but that was also before passports were required. I've always wanted to see Vancouver, and this was the perfect chance.<br />
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It was a long drive from our hotel in Washington (just south of the national park) up to Canada....plus the long wait at the border (about an hour)....but finally around lunchtime we made it to a small town across the border called White Rock.<br />
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If you've seen the TV show "Psych"....this is the location of the Psych office (where the two main characters work), which is actually the town museum. The front window on the corner was covered with the "Psych" window...probably to make it easier for consistency when filming over the years.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mCNATxBA60Pc0UnXPQ-8C-b1sEFJCfLnv27ksspImO7FC8jVvLtWgSeVLnQIjskbK4Vd1tUUbM5STYxs-nqIl99HPaKoq38vJdWm1Jtqsl5a5NUvhaxG4lPAMGTbiHWFFYQnlY-49xYd/s1600/2014-08-09+12.09.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3mCNATxBA60Pc0UnXPQ-8C-b1sEFJCfLnv27ksspImO7FC8jVvLtWgSeVLnQIjskbK4Vd1tUUbM5STYxs-nqIl99HPaKoq38vJdWm1Jtqsl5a5NUvhaxG4lPAMGTbiHWFFYQnlY-49xYd/s1600/2014-08-09+12.09.48.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The shoreline and pier near the building are two locations they used to make it look like they're in Santa Barbara, since most of the show is actually filmed in Vancouver.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVqISp2hvK_i6y-tibManbKQdslkkIgkDq695NieiGFpewmnfeBXiZHUcjCBg5Ds4qnwKISXJFxrO6DFF0Z6z0cAmngWuqMDxs5OGCnrMeoEr-p4Of_OWp3-Q6a9TLfCioeteaBwWeatq/s1600/2014-08-09+12.17.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVqISp2hvK_i6y-tibManbKQdslkkIgkDq695NieiGFpewmnfeBXiZHUcjCBg5Ds4qnwKISXJFxrO6DFF0Z6z0cAmngWuqMDxs5OGCnrMeoEr-p4Of_OWp3-Q6a9TLfCioeteaBwWeatq/s1600/2014-08-09+12.17.26.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"> When we were there, the tide was really low so there was a larger shore near the water.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMccyfCaBWQoZs5cSPW9rPc2_XrfBvz2RUQ_6DQkeJI-g05mHtGxMYKJsKmxFvlTcnP4SioBpsfwDuauvC2REoYxXYjw__KsRNDUuglgOWyLZGWoUs9bpcbgyA1a4GdEstJ2R5aO1ugM8/s1600/2014-08-09+12.02.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMccyfCaBWQoZs5cSPW9rPc2_XrfBvz2RUQ_6DQkeJI-g05mHtGxMYKJsKmxFvlTcnP4SioBpsfwDuauvC2REoYxXYjw__KsRNDUuglgOWyLZGWoUs9bpcbgyA1a4GdEstJ2R5aO1ugM8/s1600/2014-08-09+12.02.48.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boardwalk, right in front of the "Psych Office" was definitely in some episodes.</td></tr>
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Thanks to my nephew who loved "Psych" from the beginning, I've watched all of the seasons over the past couple years. When we found out how close we were going to be to filming locations, we "had" to stop. :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyQy_IE1i3UH-QdSY9FPZtbtk3HnAy5v20bzQEvc9Y0L46VBfsuLEKLjGvDzkONbjWsp5A9nDSsl2P5hxum12awEFFRov3qJpWdY_mNei8Kki6c54IJZ-O-9iEDUY1HAAplPHrNhGhGTL/s1600/2014-08-09+12.30.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyQy_IE1i3UH-QdSY9FPZtbtk3HnAy5v20bzQEvc9Y0L46VBfsuLEKLjGvDzkONbjWsp5A9nDSsl2P5hxum12awEFFRov3qJpWdY_mNei8Kki6c54IJZ-O-9iEDUY1HAAplPHrNhGhGTL/s1600/2014-08-09+12.30.37.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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The town of White Rock is built on pretty steep terrain....they have some seriously steep hills going up into those neighborhoods...but I bet everyone has great views of the water!</div>
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Next....we traveled through downtown Vancouver (SOOOOOO congested- it took forever to get through the downtown area) and finally made it to one of our destinations for the day.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgMWg2csxuU-GraCiTNpraW9CcotMoWRdfN9vS0LKMPwsUEWFSkX8rKbj98gRm8JbM4eNvl_d6wI91OiOEFM8Sfd7tLXqJD-7RfTLZnOaqfUCdpsFqgbl6mSrGT9NL7hlPfBirwZCqiR9/s1600/2014-08-09+14.47.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgMWg2csxuU-GraCiTNpraW9CcotMoWRdfN9vS0LKMPwsUEWFSkX8rKbj98gRm8JbM4eNvl_d6wI91OiOEFM8Sfd7tLXqJD-7RfTLZnOaqfUCdpsFqgbl6mSrGT9NL7hlPfBirwZCqiR9/s1600/2014-08-09+14.47.30.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We saw that this was one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver, so we had to see why.</div>
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For the price of admission, you can walk the main 450 foot long suspension bridge and a separate "Cliff Walk" that both cross hundreds of feet above the Capilano River. There's also a fun "Treetop Adventure" where you walk shorter suspension bridges that connect trees, and lots of other activities available for all ages. If you like outdoorsy stuff and are not afraid of heights, this is a great place to visit!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofdku6G5VtKrZ57B8SV-F7f49RuIOId_aiFG5FHZdZ_wVhIAjTwqTKmOVebfi2Zk9Ez1SLz6k8Y4kklXaLPugttPoKap5myPEXREy_x3unVDL67GX0zieYW6rulp1jPEZZ0ShWtcDnbrQ/s1600/2014-08-09+15.00.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgofdku6G5VtKrZ57B8SV-F7f49RuIOId_aiFG5FHZdZ_wVhIAjTwqTKmOVebfi2Zk9Ez1SLz6k8Y4kklXaLPugttPoKap5myPEXREy_x3unVDL67GX0zieYW6rulp1jPEZZ0ShWtcDnbrQ/s1600/2014-08-09+15.00.53.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When you start on one side.....you can't really see the end of the other side! So fun.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczDST0hymLN0Tko2uxgOH99dRD2sqvitRTYOJfamO3XkSlIhtiOIZkd-8TU-lOQSQOYZY8XlILBNFJ-n7tjo07iKfocUYDBLouBs2SPqVCBqHJGdjqC2BiGR8QLV3OI3BAiT88VGS3BUM/s1600/2014-08-09+15.03.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczDST0hymLN0Tko2uxgOH99dRD2sqvitRTYOJfamO3XkSlIhtiOIZkd-8TU-lOQSQOYZY8XlILBNFJ-n7tjo07iKfocUYDBLouBs2SPqVCBqHJGdjqC2BiGR8QLV3OI3BAiT88VGS3BUM/s1600/2014-08-09+15.03.48.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Looking down on the river from one side...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pBdCnIKfV9s7tkaNNthR52wuxNybxaE22Mt7hkP-NnYZ_Kp1L8AcCVUUZLnA3riVWjnNlZHmC6_sXKBS8AJ-5-TW5m929geRj0uw9pQtpohxQGvrln6W2BNbBRZ4Jp_CloNAdis8WuFl/s1600/2014-08-09+15.03.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pBdCnIKfV9s7tkaNNthR52wuxNybxaE22Mt7hkP-NnYZ_Kp1L8AcCVUUZLnA3riVWjnNlZHmC6_sXKBS8AJ-5-TW5m929geRj0uw9pQtpohxQGvrln6W2BNbBRZ4Jp_CloNAdis8WuFl/s1600/2014-08-09+15.03.53.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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And the other side....I had to hold on to the side because of how shaky that bridge gets. Taking a picture while you're on the middle of the bridge was pretty risky, but I had to try!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqco4sXkJnLQ7dl87U6s-NvHH088x5UpOSCyGl3ydmE3-JvUQMwoSRXw7nCgFL0tl3yZ66sewKHBUTmKd7y7qDu1RIkk1pM4RIx2t7TTj243Ytrx4HxsM9BEiJ6q490_oy1nTXpPJY0DF/s1600/2014-08-09+15.23.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqco4sXkJnLQ7dl87U6s-NvHH088x5UpOSCyGl3ydmE3-JvUQMwoSRXw7nCgFL0tl3yZ66sewKHBUTmKd7y7qDu1RIkk1pM4RIx2t7TTj243Ytrx4HxsM9BEiJ6q490_oy1nTXpPJY0DF/s1600/2014-08-09+15.23.22.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Going through the "Treetop Adventures"....bridges and stairways connecting huge Douglas Fir trees. One thing I loved about this place is how much they were dedicated to protecting nature. They figured out how to build all of these bridges and structures <i>around</i> the trees, so they were not damaged in the process.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqheypot9oKoOQGHoIXOrv6IH3ci8Mw5oK4Ec8CsvQ1TPsDX8oqY4G9gEDcO2wK4iesB7fiQk_gGUGju_ErX4btAB012hGro20KweTYKe6MvW4-0wOzkvHnXavwicsOiRqY49H6u93Wk7/s1600/2014-08-09+15.37.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqheypot9oKoOQGHoIXOrv6IH3ci8Mw5oK4Ec8CsvQ1TPsDX8oqY4G9gEDcO2wK4iesB7fiQk_gGUGju_ErX4btAB012hGro20KweTYKe6MvW4-0wOzkvHnXavwicsOiRqY49H6u93Wk7/s1600/2014-08-09+15.37.00.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Stopping for a break on the other side of the big bridge....looking over at people crossing it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkdfFt0zJoEZPI-KCVEcPKfTojEQnIYbRL4bOUpHLSPEcie3VMMYQXwrnJBVVDBVKPK8QIIzJ1tRk3vozBpF_chFrSRT3ckPcjrP_EWEc5nQAzRfrnteAuGw-lztpZG9VuBB0N7wFjR5/s1600/2014-08-09+16.52.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrkdfFt0zJoEZPI-KCVEcPKfTojEQnIYbRL4bOUpHLSPEcie3VMMYQXwrnJBVVDBVKPK8QIIzJ1tRk3vozBpF_chFrSRT3ckPcjrP_EWEc5nQAzRfrnteAuGw-lztpZG9VuBB0N7wFjR5/s1600/2014-08-09+16.52.12.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Cliff Walk....a little easier to take photos because the structure was suspended but not shaky.<br />
The perfect spot to get a clear view of the huge forests and mountains in the area.</td></tr>
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Looking down below to the river....and you may even be able to spot a waterfall down there.</div>
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Kind of gives you perspective of how high we were.</div>
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After a filling late lunch, we left this park....and drove to another. :)</div>
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If you've traveled to Vancouver, you probably visited Stanley Park at some point.</div>
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It's a huge park outside of the downtown area, spreading out for 1000 acres of nature goodness.</div>
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Not knowing much about where to go in this huge park, we just picked one "end" of the area to park and just started walking. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKece_nIJf4SKgkScQJ3w43ukkaEVzF5sV4MtE2DfNXqFOPvjtFawp19-Q45DmCiFa3djKajTg2onT3ov69UmHd4a6TAD4S3rafrGPfnNpuOrCGCDTWcFDVGoNuXLniQ8jdfrvnkLz-mw1/s1600/2014-08-09+17.52.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKece_nIJf4SKgkScQJ3w43ukkaEVzF5sV4MtE2DfNXqFOPvjtFawp19-Q45DmCiFa3djKajTg2onT3ov69UmHd4a6TAD4S3rafrGPfnNpuOrCGCDTWcFDVGoNuXLniQ8jdfrvnkLz-mw1/s1600/2014-08-09+17.52.54.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English Bay to the left of the boardwalk where we started walking</td></tr>
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If I ever go back, I think I'd park closer to the forested/nature trail area so that I could enjoy more of those trails. By the time we got to that area, we had already walked for a LOOOONG time, and we knew our parking meter was going to expire soon if we didn't turn back.</div>
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Lesson learned.</div>
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We did get to walk the forest trails for about 45 minutes, so it was better than nothing.</div>
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So quiet....you wouldn't know that you were so close to a large city.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSXj4vvbfx9lo37ODoYUoB_0fqNd5lCz46AhMPvQqUPlOSz9Kmx5abJoTie9n3vvUFg9UnRLdrG8senEQ7zeHNtvUp5H9n2wbR7XFIUFg63x5nr-hJ0T-b60adsVCmzfZrIZJa3zDPX_J/s1600/2014-08-09+18.39.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSXj4vvbfx9lo37ODoYUoB_0fqNd5lCz46AhMPvQqUPlOSz9Kmx5abJoTie9n3vvUFg9UnRLdrG8senEQ7zeHNtvUp5H9n2wbR7XFIUFg63x5nr-hJ0T-b60adsVCmzfZrIZJa3zDPX_J/s1600/2014-08-09+18.39.52.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBhbTWjZT-b9Egl87g5hA-ydFzu3v8gJs_zKpo8J6KxXUEXhogoGLyRhiNokoMgr4ONI_90PP_46s9tPvnbfhM2Kpx2SPvfZdr3uIbRcKFzusocvTCSmrUuqn3quS9gh8gWSYj_e_RNUt/s1600/2014-08-09+18.57.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBhbTWjZT-b9Egl87g5hA-ydFzu3v8gJs_zKpo8J6KxXUEXhogoGLyRhiNokoMgr4ONI_90PP_46s9tPvnbfhM2Kpx2SPvfZdr3uIbRcKFzusocvTCSmrUuqn3quS9gh8gWSYj_e_RNUt/s1600/2014-08-09+18.57.34.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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This was the "Lost Lagoon" that we stumbled upon while hiking the trails....it was so pretty there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcVNvktsZUNCdvWlbxrSRlo9tz9OFPGVMHSQiebpwgq8sySEzgE7cV_hIU4AojWucNN5JzrI-1HLIBcJv9jiTFaexMiLcLqBIusJeav_h02dBmAlFzuKJIEmzyasxbnTlF6IpQ1q1gqs2/s1600/2014-08-09+19.00.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcVNvktsZUNCdvWlbxrSRlo9tz9OFPGVMHSQiebpwgq8sySEzgE7cV_hIU4AojWucNN5JzrI-1HLIBcJv9jiTFaexMiLcLqBIusJeav_h02dBmAlFzuKJIEmzyasxbnTlF6IpQ1q1gqs2/s1600/2014-08-09+19.00.46.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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One other lesson I learned from this day.....bring water when hiking for hours.</div>
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I know....that probably seems obvious....but I forgot.</div>
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When we got back to the car, my hands were swollen and I was getting lightheaded-- dehydration is not a pretty thing!</div>
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After the long day outdoors, and the long drive ahead of us....we once again crashed almost immediately after getting to our hotel that night. Luckily, we thought ahead and crossed the border at a different spot on the way back...shorter lines!</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Day Four- Portland</h3>
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Our first stop of the day was actually Kalama, Washington. As we were driving down the highway, I saw the name of the city on a sign and remembered something from my "research" while we were in Forks two days earlier. We stopped here....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpwJ478N4ynAQahetK7lT1jjDX0WFZcPiFJ7dL9FTzzxHHd-xV4xRgnodI7EhZGpU3IVUtITbnVyhDG_qSR3j4hENC4Qp12CUklzWoI00sYJyfXRvEggT438a-G7-vwDDACO_KVTyV6Ns/s1600/2014-08-10+10.47.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpwJ478N4ynAQahetK7lT1jjDX0WFZcPiFJ7dL9FTzzxHHd-xV4xRgnodI7EhZGpU3IVUtITbnVyhDG_qSR3j4hENC4Qp12CUklzWoI00sYJyfXRvEggT438a-G7-vwDDACO_KVTyV6Ns/s1600/2014-08-10+10.47.26.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Okay, Twilight fans....recognize this place? It's the outside of "Forks High School" from the movies.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAx88es76hQ_GrCDYYOVgfhnY4YjLG-SyUCaJxVmlxl1VsVxFT8E0g-3MddZPbDDV8c5IfQ5SB9tMSGm5U579j0F1OKIqUbKYQ2xZl-kUaPPiMLpK1DN5sNCySpmrCLUhVjAG48BLN4hu/s1600/2014-08-10+10.48.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAx88es76hQ_GrCDYYOVgfhnY4YjLG-SyUCaJxVmlxl1VsVxFT8E0g-3MddZPbDDV8c5IfQ5SB9tMSGm5U579j0F1OKIqUbKYQ2xZl-kUaPPiMLpK1DN5sNCySpmrCLUhVjAG48BLN4hu/s1600/2014-08-10+10.48.40.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yep....I was that crazy fan who was in an empty high school parking lot taking pictures and saying "it looks just like in the movie!" And no...I'm not a teenager. I just sometimes act like one. :)</div>
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Finally, we arrived in Portland (where my sister's friend lives) and she took us to one of her favorite places in her new city-- Washington Park.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1KbACpYdfbONX7NDXR1SofVfqHvZ80gdJGsAcRLb-t4NHvfrb7ao1OVtAJh6br2TKM0QZMkLPBD1vYDzfgZXCB5qWHA4Xl4a_9d-Spfz4RlaErPvfKHiLjxr01YMssKkOs2po_xGUx0C/s1600/2014-08-10+13.00.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD1KbACpYdfbONX7NDXR1SofVfqHvZ80gdJGsAcRLb-t4NHvfrb7ao1OVtAJh6br2TKM0QZMkLPBD1vYDzfgZXCB5qWHA4Xl4a_9d-Spfz4RlaErPvfKHiLjxr01YMssKkOs2po_xGUx0C/s1600/2014-08-10+13.00.17.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Going along with the theme of the trip.....beautiful scenery, and lots of hiking opportunities!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfRxXt2p_dyZAvDUriuGKvBEjVh2kjbzIHYdyWXaVAUaTWPNq4PhJgfQZ1Wy2g2tvtL7f6u2-E-yg0LXkitMlKCerEn1kdTVqXczCLsgt6mTTnooYBXLNY4RKe_njHBLeKunyskwGCBcv/s1600/2014-08-10+13.01.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfRxXt2p_dyZAvDUriuGKvBEjVh2kjbzIHYdyWXaVAUaTWPNq4PhJgfQZ1Wy2g2tvtL7f6u2-E-yg0LXkitMlKCerEn1kdTVqXczCLsgt6mTTnooYBXLNY4RKe_njHBLeKunyskwGCBcv/s1600/2014-08-10+13.01.12.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It was in the high 90's and muggy that day, so unfortunately it was very hazy. Which meant we couldn't really get a good view of all of these volcanoes, which on a clear day you can see from this spot.</div>
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Luckily, I had seen most of them (Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, and Mount Hood) on our travels the days before, so it wasn't a huge deal. </div>
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I just didn't get a good look at Mount St. Helens, which I was hoping to see.</div>
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Oh no....I guess I just have to go back someday. Such a bummer.</div>
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(sarcasm font is needed)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-fgK1pGjSG8lS4AzowmKu6TYIcwl4XMOTrEfkV7lC-SOMhQet-8E9flZ3SF7IYyiUvdzSmg8Va2gifF2cbS_rBDt2rJeVeRwzd0nEsveK_4Zgr5y240EOmUgGtV1bl3lxydzmQDzEKNg/s1600/2014-08-10+13.21.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-fgK1pGjSG8lS4AzowmKu6TYIcwl4XMOTrEfkV7lC-SOMhQet-8E9flZ3SF7IYyiUvdzSmg8Va2gifF2cbS_rBDt2rJeVeRwzd0nEsveK_4Zgr5y240EOmUgGtV1bl3lxydzmQDzEKNg/s1600/2014-08-10+13.21.57.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Hiking through the woods in the park was the only way we could somewhat escape the heat, but there was no way around being hot and sweaty that day. I did remember to bring a huge bottle of water though!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhlCDYFEdlCfEjnFK_JrIam5GYGLD7qnp7xcJb_4kV-gFW4HjtnGKtMqGoJIFNAEoA_f5RkoEp02hLxDegZAaY7a_RRk-i4zWv7qhudvw-xwhZ6ASPy6jS7J2FabjlxeGZ05n7xwv50dF/s1600/2014-08-10+14.43.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhlCDYFEdlCfEjnFK_JrIam5GYGLD7qnp7xcJb_4kV-gFW4HjtnGKtMqGoJIFNAEoA_f5RkoEp02hLxDegZAaY7a_RRk-i4zWv7qhudvw-xwhZ6ASPy6jS7J2FabjlxeGZ05n7xwv50dF/s1600/2014-08-10+14.43.51.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Portland is dubbed the "City of Roses"....and they had this free rose garden you could go through right in the park. It was definitely the perfect place to "stop and smell the roses". ;)</div>
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They also have a Japanese Garden and Zoo in the park, which I've heard are great in their own right. However, they both had admission prices and with the limited time we had, we decided to go with free places on the last day of our trip. </div>
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<b><i> A few close up shots I got of the pretty roses.</i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9e73kvqbnmqjGJIhQaetg1rJ0aCv92cko_ptsEgNJx1y4hozw5tRDxYZPVL7C6LdSp_UL6T-migH-sNPirf3S5JSVb2QoSrd-9sS73GU5Pjlbf17ruCL42MB3XFQiYNwq1QfdVmkwgTW/s1600/2014-08-10+14.51.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9e73kvqbnmqjGJIhQaetg1rJ0aCv92cko_ptsEgNJx1y4hozw5tRDxYZPVL7C6LdSp_UL6T-migH-sNPirf3S5JSVb2QoSrd-9sS73GU5Pjlbf17ruCL42MB3XFQiYNwq1QfdVmkwgTW/s1600/2014-08-10+14.51.53.jpg" height="640" width="590" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbObwlQm9WFQIH5NbIiS-AqAtA8uM0NF0xvwBgDyU5gkXG7tcOvxKQLP7G3rM1o4abtXR79I2lOaf04Utfsvd_LxjgZMafhOyJeeCyzAXa5yr71Q65nWbZNVhlEf0AbqC0a4v4HsSxB9pV/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbObwlQm9WFQIH5NbIiS-AqAtA8uM0NF0xvwBgDyU5gkXG7tcOvxKQLP7G3rM1o4abtXR79I2lOaf04Utfsvd_LxjgZMafhOyJeeCyzAXa5yr71Q65nWbZNVhlEf0AbqC0a4v4HsSxB9pV/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.07.jpg" height="640" width="514" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBAUDYGqKOTuugtB34G7uaSAeGIVR70ED0g3HniZeSV6wt46OjQun6JgvBtqxNEQqzY6WVBzz4v2GrrZ-oYYkSA5lqEUi7wCyi_7Sn2AAnUFeqHZlE_419XDvle0YKz6RyNVea5BA3K-h/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBAUDYGqKOTuugtB34G7uaSAeGIVR70ED0g3HniZeSV6wt46OjQun6JgvBtqxNEQqzY6WVBzz4v2GrrZ-oYYkSA5lqEUi7wCyi_7Sn2AAnUFeqHZlE_419XDvle0YKz6RyNVea5BA3K-h/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.25.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6mTuov5dvORTrbXi1WOFbdCQDc0oKA1Dq5vtNYY5FXGhCfBePIts7Xd8CYn5qGvHsZ8-qKUoTBePq5fIDREX7PE0JCxMY8iHsQ9PvEwxS2YzEdAJpbeJA8czZZv7bjDnkjeGMhrQnUAM/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6mTuov5dvORTrbXi1WOFbdCQDc0oKA1Dq5vtNYY5FXGhCfBePIts7Xd8CYn5qGvHsZ8-qKUoTBePq5fIDREX7PE0JCxMY8iHsQ9PvEwxS2YzEdAJpbeJA8czZZv7bjDnkjeGMhrQnUAM/s1600/2014-08-10+14.54.43.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm proudest of this shot....only because I have a crazy fear of bees. <br />
Look closely at the center of the flower to see what I mean.</td></tr>
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After spending a long time in the park, and stopping for lunch, we drove to the Columbia River gorge and the second tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. </div>
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Apparently, Multnomah Falls is also the most visited attraction in Oregon.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT6-2BZNCm26YWn4scjiERFskPWOkSl1SnB9eRMPxoIKUcWsEUXrYVkuxO1QSk5YeQA5PDvkLrElstxmjM8N4CrMGkxICTkFnvZEzipvlzLefH0VrVtmbBHDUSWcxMrnL3x_gK_7Afwe8/s1600/2014-08-10+17.16.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT6-2BZNCm26YWn4scjiERFskPWOkSl1SnB9eRMPxoIKUcWsEUXrYVkuxO1QSk5YeQA5PDvkLrElstxmjM8N4CrMGkxICTkFnvZEzipvlzLefH0VrVtmbBHDUSWcxMrnL3x_gK_7Afwe8/s1600/2014-08-10+17.16.27.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't even get the entire waterfall in one picture....it's just that tall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-CrVMPbdKs2t2ykOllrK10I1-fUrkVW7O63dmrgpD25W1Em7wsEhkNezi96xIEXRICazhEurfUiB3Fcbv1CKnbVaWgUznz_Ur-ZSmi4d_J_ota8wiFEK_bzV7M435kQyipbMQjSq8qV6/s1600/2014-08-10+17.23.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-CrVMPbdKs2t2ykOllrK10I1-fUrkVW7O63dmrgpD25W1Em7wsEhkNezi96xIEXRICazhEurfUiB3Fcbv1CKnbVaWgUznz_Ur-ZSmi4d_J_ota8wiFEK_bzV7M435kQyipbMQjSq8qV6/s1600/2014-08-10+17.23.23.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not the widest or loudest waterfall I've ever seen, but definitely the tallest.<br />
And being able to stand on a pedestrian bridge and feel the mist from the falls was pretty cool.<br />
Which felt great on this crazy hot day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down off the bridge onto the Lower Falls.</td></tr>
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And finally....our last stop in Portland was at Rocky Butte.</div>
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It's actually an extinct volcanic cinder cone that they turned into a city park, as well as the perfect spot to look down on the city of Portland. </div>
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Kind of like the Space Needle is to Seattle, the Rocky Butte is to Portland. Only it's not a building. And not as tall. And it's free. And there isn't a wait.</div>
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Which was the perfect way to end our last night....a simple spot to look out on the city.</div>
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And just as the sun started setting, too....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ-8PZai3foOOjUbtz0nCKvYf9TLEA9XIADU-hkvbRnT4Ht_WIx885mJC5cmvjD_Ng1Mk3QF9IySB0Xmp1lA08E8WE7dd-7brGXpHf917bgBkgHVCaH2LvCKC33rlE-NktmX095ZmI8GH/s1600/2014-08-10+19.27.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ-8PZai3foOOjUbtz0nCKvYf9TLEA9XIADU-hkvbRnT4Ht_WIx885mJC5cmvjD_Ng1Mk3QF9IySB0Xmp1lA08E8WE7dd-7brGXpHf917bgBkgHVCaH2LvCKC33rlE-NktmX095ZmI8GH/s1600/2014-08-10+19.27.58.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again...hazy day meant we couldn't see all of the mountains in the distance as we could on a clear day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsfbm37t40LTrH7srrDzZCIEk75WXnekhXYzzIIu8klCJVYtNdaodoalIpOrDvq6b14wOzZ7IubnkRNo_q6W_TJ2bnjA4hLxEScVYEKFlVKILYY4t5lrhfSmwqmVRKcYH15dVqfd5lTuq/s1600/2014-08-10+19.29.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsfbm37t40LTrH7srrDzZCIEk75WXnekhXYzzIIu8klCJVYtNdaodoalIpOrDvq6b14wOzZ7IubnkRNo_q6W_TJ2bnjA4hLxEScVYEKFlVKILYY4t5lrhfSmwqmVRKcYH15dVqfd5lTuq/s1600/2014-08-10+19.29.13.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top of the observation area was a fun spot for kids to run around....one kid was doing laps. :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW270FTPyI8Tf5iXjj8atNslqopvtgEY1ts7I1TGuvKTINcOzGsyWNO1GTQX66yy1iTu9Lco6p_JxIi_XpYq0gDDt326AoTe7cdHCU3YkWn4SLH5ifdJ6_gWDjutuPFVlx0asiHhTAya-/s1600/2014-08-10+19.31.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdW270FTPyI8Tf5iXjj8atNslqopvtgEY1ts7I1TGuvKTINcOzGsyWNO1GTQX66yy1iTu9Lco6p_JxIi_XpYq0gDDt326AoTe7cdHCU3YkWn4SLH5ifdJ6_gWDjutuPFVlx0asiHhTAya-/s1600/2014-08-10+19.31.32.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mount Rainier is out there....somewhere....hard to see through the haze! :(</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQdrQ4kmvtH1RJNTfNqA7mBAp1YqOI3354LIurvNAO_BwuBhkN5ThLq35rXnsKN1CPRB9jAaAttWxStE0xNmPLqQPUwusjtxkq5JVliZRNYQd7MKhORpKvgvbdgO2heyO9Wc7WOAWU2__/s1600/2014-08-10+19.34.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQdrQ4kmvtH1RJNTfNqA7mBAp1YqOI3354LIurvNAO_BwuBhkN5ThLq35rXnsKN1CPRB9jAaAttWxStE0xNmPLqQPUwusjtxkq5JVliZRNYQd7MKhORpKvgvbdgO2heyO9Wc7WOAWU2__/s1600/2014-08-10+19.34.53.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Good night, Portland!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpzyWUF70BIhC-0HCOu9QSLfilfByb03kscoxWnMNH41HHBGn3mRrwXYT3jVZ1m0sbIDd2BelQ566THxFsoe3Pq-_aBidjgO8eHFq7RSBC0w6J-7uctA7qUu1Zkcc_d1bMGlNqydJqHzD/s1600/2014-08-10+19.37.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpzyWUF70BIhC-0HCOu9QSLfilfByb03kscoxWnMNH41HHBGn3mRrwXYT3jVZ1m0sbIDd2BelQ566THxFsoe3Pq-_aBidjgO8eHFq7RSBC0w6J-7uctA7qUu1Zkcc_d1bMGlNqydJqHzD/s1600/2014-08-10+19.37.05.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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And goodbye, Pacific Northwest......I miss you already!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0Vancouver, BC, Canada49.261226 -123.113926849.09541 -123.4366503 49.427042 -122.7912033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-53614409418277961432014-09-01T11:25:00.000-04:002014-09-01T11:25:51.081-04:00my whirlwind tour of the pacific northwest...part oneA little background for those who don't know me well....<br />
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*I love traveling to new places<br />
*I love flying in planes<br />
*I don't get to do either very often<br />
(teacher salary + paying down debt = lack of travel funds)<br />
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<i>A wonderful aunt of mine recently passed away, and a couple weeks ago when she was still able to have full conversations with us, she told me about how she had traveled to every state except for two. As she said, it was one "regret" she had that she didn't get to all fifty. Someday....I'll find a way to travel to those two states for her. And I'm sure Aunt Marie will be with me in spirit.</i><br />
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<i>When we got back from our trip, the first thing she asked me was "How was your trip?". I gave her a quick recap, gushing how gorgeous it was there, and showed her several pictures on my phone. So, in honor of my Aunt Marie who loved to travel and who I'm named after (Marie is my middle name), I'm going to share some of my favorite things about my way-too-short trip to the Pac NW. </i><br />
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As I posted on Facebook....here's my trip by the numbers:<br />
<br />
Four Days.<br />
Three Major Cities.<br />
Two Countries.<br />
One National Park.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzBVhnFp_Y-2k3yK2wv3sKtnSyAryD9QA1B0lAIlaG_J7pPOza1Z1I0kKB4FUFmWxUL3J5dNxfRMDyyMoWFCXk9qJQ3tiXCHUzin7n3VSdbNNOoRnLdUjeqXv3YZB3xA3uRu85BqYsH-R/s1600/Rainforest+Title+Pic.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzBVhnFp_Y-2k3yK2wv3sKtnSyAryD9QA1B0lAIlaG_J7pPOza1Z1I0kKB4FUFmWxUL3J5dNxfRMDyyMoWFCXk9qJQ3tiXCHUzin7n3VSdbNNOoRnLdUjeqXv3YZB3xA3uRu85BqYsH-R/s1600/Rainforest+Title+Pic.jpg.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>All photos were taken on my iPhone 4s, since I always had my phone with me and was constantly in awe of the beauty around me....and I think I came back from this four-day trip with about 400 more pictures on my phone. </i><br />
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Let's just say....I won't be showing you everything.<br />
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But honestly, photos can't truly capture what it is like to be there.<br />
There's just something about being there.....surrounded by landscapes and environments I've never seen in person, breathing in the clean air, listening to the gentle sounds of nature....it was just magical.<br />
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And....although you'll only see me in any of the pictures, I promise I didn't take this trip alone. ;)<br />
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I went with my sister and for a couple days we met up a friend of hers that lives in that area....but they are both "off the grid" kind of people, so I didn't think I should post pictures of them on a public blog. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrEWPIU_XHes9nq7QvN0HfKRmP5QOGBMN8lCAUdklDmld6YRCPuqadoTG7SW5xQJM8MM1DYDZVKJvNXCidSgmZnamOzoL7Yo_kUs91RqmffFKspwyiFvzA0rp47yWsaaIvXY8CgT99SZJ/s1600/2014-08-07+11.15.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrEWPIU_XHes9nq7QvN0HfKRmP5QOGBMN8lCAUdklDmld6YRCPuqadoTG7SW5xQJM8MM1DYDZVKJvNXCidSgmZnamOzoL7Yo_kUs91RqmffFKspwyiFvzA0rp47yWsaaIvXY8CgT99SZJ/s1600/2014-08-07+11.15.47.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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At O'Hare airport....I found a Coke bottle with my name on it.</div>
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And I paid over three dollars for it. </div>
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I really needed some caffeine.</div>
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And I love Coke.</div>
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Day One...SEATTLE</h3>
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There was a delay on one of our connecting flights, which....long story short....meant we actually got switched to an earlier flight into Seattle. Although that also meant we were split up on the plane.</div>
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Luckily, we got in two hours earlier than expected...early enough to explore the city for a couple hours before we had to drive to our hotel in Olympia. </div>
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Even though my sister had been to Seattle before, I had not. So we did the tourist-y thing. </div>
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First, we parked near the Seattle Center and the Space Needle, took the monorail to get closer to downtown and walked to the famous Pike Place Market. We had a few samples of delicious local food, and actually were there just in time to have dinner at one of the fish stands who cooked up fresh fish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmESq52VchhCKRUn2OhXAWWcVEw2CWc8lgYpIXY-Z0JkrNIwfb0TyAMSdPCbegjXwqO4EmkKe50jeo5z_3dCY_xFsP114O5b1TDnps9MQGkImfpD0QaouFCBo9PQjYoTT6vbRoeSXAr60/s1600/2014-08-07+16.27.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmESq52VchhCKRUn2OhXAWWcVEw2CWc8lgYpIXY-Z0JkrNIwfb0TyAMSdPCbegjXwqO4EmkKe50jeo5z_3dCY_xFsP114O5b1TDnps9MQGkImfpD0QaouFCBo9PQjYoTT6vbRoeSXAr60/s1600/2014-08-07+16.27.09.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVcfNVgxJESi0k4Qjj1Ly699bMC8Onzk3qkQkiJKc7fSDlQ61VkY-zW8SDe0gt8l-7sKB7sndZ_YLOYQOKMQrcgE3HSs9TDgNARrTysrIGNvJmIXGcJPpPl95D7acXTuNEdTc8CP09uA1/s1600/2014-08-07+17.04.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVcfNVgxJESi0k4Qjj1Ly699bMC8Onzk3qkQkiJKc7fSDlQ61VkY-zW8SDe0gt8l-7sKB7sndZ_YLOYQOKMQrcgE3HSs9TDgNARrTysrIGNvJmIXGcJPpPl95D7acXTuNEdTc8CP09uA1/s1600/2014-08-07+17.04.38.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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My sister's dinner....the whole trout....staring back at her.</div>
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Deep fried goodness.</div>
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I got a less-impressive-looking fish and chips combo. Still delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_oZ0SD8d2TH9yPAkAkJo-XfpYg9j8uSgomYz5bnzsPPzYiH7wxSEIySwldPqtPjPtIrwyck-l45-MQr_nP0GzYAf6V34uAJ4ficvJM1H3HZzazUH5IdfhLWEXjNXZ8pXzkB4jZcKBniL/s1600/2014-08-07+17.04.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_oZ0SD8d2TH9yPAkAkJo-XfpYg9j8uSgomYz5bnzsPPzYiH7wxSEIySwldPqtPjPtIrwyck-l45-MQr_nP0GzYAf6V34uAJ4ficvJM1H3HZzazUH5IdfhLWEXjNXZ8pXzkB4jZcKBniL/s1600/2014-08-07+17.04.46.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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We then took the monorail back to the Space Needle and waited around for our trip up to a 360 degree view of the city. Totally worth the money....and the wait.</div>
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Mount Rainier peeking up in the distance. We saw it from Seattle, Portland, and driving through other parts of this area. It was even peeking up above the clouds when we flew in that afternoon! It's a presence that can't be missed.</div>
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There was some boat race going on that evening....pretty fun to watch from up above.</div>
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We stayed in the Olympia/Lacey area of Washington that night....and woke up with a view of the tallest trees I've ever seen in a hotel parking lot! Notice the tops of the trees aren't even shown in this picture.</div>
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Day Two....Olympic National Park</h3>
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This was my favorite day of the trip....easily.</div>
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When I read info before going here about how this park is basically "three parks in one"....I knew it would be awesome. Actually being there to witness these things in person....priceless.</div>
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Mountains.</div>
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A Rainforest.</div>
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Ocean Tidepools.</div>
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Words can't describe.</div>
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You would think I was a crazy person who had just been plopped down onto a different planet or something. I kept saying "NO WAY!" "OHMIGOODNESS!" or "It's just so PRETTY!!"</div>
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Good thing I don't care too much about what strangers think of me. :)</div>
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And now....a few of my favorite pictures. I say a few because I took over a hundred that day.</div>
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Not exaggerating.</div>
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After stopping at the Welcome Center near Port Angeles, we took the crazy winding road up the mountains to the Hurricane Ridge stop. </div>
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At one point, we had to stop so I could take a few pictures from the side of the road because I didn't want to run off the road from trying to look up and over at the mountains.</div>
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We went on a couple hikes in this area, and I could definitely feel the change in elevation. I had to walk a little slower than normal, and stop to catch my breath more often. </div>
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I guess you could say it was literally breathtaking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7c6cfrlwnozswp6nobb-td-yoWh0fh_jKxVY1e7aAtBmTil2KYB1uLi8R7CyRvoevfBmA35hUYJH0QO82GFlqwbBN943EedUNUxXl0lrK_7-j2eEyQCqR1xVHtYCiNr_pEsCZHJUJ_so/s1600/2014-08-08+13.39.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7c6cfrlwnozswp6nobb-td-yoWh0fh_jKxVY1e7aAtBmTil2KYB1uLi8R7CyRvoevfBmA35hUYJH0QO82GFlqwbBN943EedUNUxXl0lrK_7-j2eEyQCqR1xVHtYCiNr_pEsCZHJUJ_so/s1600/2014-08-08+13.39.12.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0YtASwraR57Ct24mMjTODFYPlajBl-qBIR9pS2ho5kjPU6Z1EvUDoQML1F2_ubXEb94Qptq2RToUXz-r800Gzsoc7ASGRhZq2EgUQBMg7mkHe76g4WqE0usEjL7w1HOPBdfDB7khyphenhyphenrIL/s1600/2014-08-08+13.29.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0YtASwraR57Ct24mMjTODFYPlajBl-qBIR9pS2ho5kjPU6Z1EvUDoQML1F2_ubXEb94Qptq2RToUXz-r800Gzsoc7ASGRhZq2EgUQBMg7mkHe76g4WqE0usEjL7w1HOPBdfDB7khyphenhyphenrIL/s1600/2014-08-08+13.29.52.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Looking back at the Hurricane Ridge information center and the Olympic Mountains!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBue-hTBQIha42HoH53UWus-tJvtZK-ur1umFzaFzOISozMvscBftEEVODYtcf2KnRpNzWFpAhlS11eMHk3mcwXR5udQ__mjmcPdc4W_rJBBAAaH1hLPuAhz8UmUwxUkm1jgOzj-UZqQB/s1600/2014-08-08+13.39.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBue-hTBQIha42HoH53UWus-tJvtZK-ur1umFzaFzOISozMvscBftEEVODYtcf2KnRpNzWFpAhlS11eMHk3mcwXR5udQ__mjmcPdc4W_rJBBAAaH1hLPuAhz8UmUwxUkm1jgOzj-UZqQB/s1600/2014-08-08+13.39.31.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Loved all of these mountain trails- such an exhilarating adventure!</div>
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Next stop was Lake Crescent....a gorgeous, glacially-carved lake among the mountains.</div>
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The water was pretty cold, but a few brave souls were jumping in for a quick dip.</div>
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From here, we drove to the small nearby town of Forks for dinner.</div>
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And a few dorky photos.</div>
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Yes, Twilight fans....*that* Forks....home of Bella and Edward.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaJdhQTTK09trddsShMbwiHnmLcU9uYRazhPnIMmaYwkXqeXqO_wzi3tljnBXvqGU4QUfdiemkc21NseXupyVUTZgKuLOQUkLUZ1J5QudKufVRB-S3CJibIdDPQNzzQgaVBCqhHOLwBhA/s1600/2014-08-08+15.57.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaJdhQTTK09trddsShMbwiHnmLcU9uYRazhPnIMmaYwkXqeXqO_wzi3tljnBXvqGU4QUfdiemkc21NseXupyVUTZgKuLOQUkLUZ1J5QudKufVRB-S3CJibIdDPQNzzQgaVBCqhHOLwBhA/s1600/2014-08-08+15.57.55.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bella's trucks. ;)</div>
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We stopped for a late lunch at Pacific Pizza....who had a lot of Twilight-inspired menu items.</div>
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It was a quick stop in Forks, but enough to satisfy my YA-fiction-fan-geekiness.</div>
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From there, we drove to my favorite FAVORITE stop of the day....</div>
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<b>The Hoh Rainforest!!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSMpb1mwVwn5o3WA-gHLKmGJKRGvbxbu2AJOCTmOq-twuhSIBHJ5mhjNvDmaUlsA-jG-_EZsrJVK3GTMMdLnZMx792Ufyxjb8Dvj_bFWExlGXXPF0RBYNdyRhzhclNBqw0-o9QvQ_BXjK/s1600/2014-08-08+18.23.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDSMpb1mwVwn5o3WA-gHLKmGJKRGvbxbu2AJOCTmOq-twuhSIBHJ5mhjNvDmaUlsA-jG-_EZsrJVK3GTMMdLnZMx792Ufyxjb8Dvj_bFWExlGXXPF0RBYNdyRhzhclNBqw0-o9QvQ_BXjK/s1600/2014-08-08+18.23.48.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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The tall trees, over 200 feet high, provided a canopy for the rest of the rainforest below.</div>
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One of the trails, the "Hall of Mosses" was like stepping into a different world. I kept saying I felt like I was on some futuristic, sci-fi movie set. Like some blue Avatar creatures were going to pop out at any time.</div>
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Everywhere we walked there was evidence of the interdependence and competition in a rainforest.....huge logs that had fallen many years ago that are now the feeding ground for other living things.</div>
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Another trail took us through a less "mossy" part of the rainforest, but just as beautiful. This also led us to the Hoh River, with more gorgeous mountain views from the river. I wished we could have stayed and set up camp there....it was so relaxing and we were blessed with the absolute BEST weather that day!</div>
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Selfie #2. :)</div>
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We had one more stop we wanted to make that day....to the Pacific Ocean to see some tide pools and hopefully get there in time for the sunset.</div>
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We made it!</div>
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JUST. IN. TIME.</div>
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The closest spot to stop was Ruby Beach, and it didn't disappoint.</div>
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After it started getting pretty dark, we made the late drive to our hotel for the night (a few hours away) since we had a long drive ahead of us the next morning.</div>
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And more about that....in my next post! :)</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0Olympic National Park, 3002 Mt Angeles Rd, Port Angeles, WA 98362, USA47.9690682 -123.4982506999999746.6056832 -126.08003769999998 49.3324532 -120.91646369999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-59384969121837261352014-07-29T15:37:00.001-04:002014-07-29T15:57:25.324-04:00monday made it....cute craft closet!My first "Linky" of the summer!! <br />
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I'm linking up with <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2014/07/monday-made-it-summer-week-9.html" target="_blank">Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics</a> for a Monday Made It.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyv48cFLU1D2iG_mmjzM_p9YKXopr8qTmgFNIrT_4jDqmjJ435ZZAuuBniyzr22Pc9tOzgx_Lc7YZS6W3SEroTHS2uddjMFJmaNIgcvGYvbIBCfUmlvhhc3EA6KnjuJVNpzK1s-V_HU6l/s1600/Monday+Made+It.png" height="320" width="320" /></div>
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I know....it's Tuesday...but better late than never. Also, unlike most projects on this linky, this isn't a classroom/teaching based project, but it's definitely one I'm proud of sharing!<br />
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After years of living with all of my crafty/DIY materials scattered about in about seventeen different places around my house (okay...maybe seven....but it felt like seventeen when I had to find something)....I finally have corralled them all together in one place.<br />
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My new.....Craft Closet!</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjdkfpSf_jr93ZD9-nDnkH9GBhv-klP_RepsS6HDkIpyIVvW-hwxMIS2jlSOEDzQ1fPE3WouTHnoH2Dxj-KJCzKVh8EoBit50egdC69uDo7AMoVUry2IKewx8MGd04eIC0rL35ovLOh9M/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjdkfpSf_jr93ZD9-nDnkH9GBhv-klP_RepsS6HDkIpyIVvW-hwxMIS2jlSOEDzQ1fPE3WouTHnoH2Dxj-KJCzKVh8EoBit50egdC69uDo7AMoVUry2IKewx8MGd04eIC0rL35ovLOh9M/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.54.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Please note....all photos were taken on my phone in low lighting....so don't expect super high quality here.</i></div>
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First.....time to be real with you all. Although I think of myself as an organized person, one who doesn't deal well with clutter, when I get busy (also known as "September through June")....I tend to pick one place to pile up the clutter when I just don't have time to deal with it.<br />
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Here's what the closet in my guest room looked like before this transformation....yikes. <br />
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BEFORE</h3>
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Left Side....Top.</div>
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Left Side....Bottom.</div>
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Right Side....Top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLDx2EQdU5pPDlAKpkaQdc2fPvp6uni_2Hrkn5QPzTC0rorA6IQXkxydjSpSJvbY_1lpMiYEwdvA0OURDK17khO2TXdA7YxLwS9ScZXcBdRwnU0rvd54ejphUtgPZJPrBBHaHOqS9RR2g/s1600/2014-07-14+14.35.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYLDx2EQdU5pPDlAKpkaQdc2fPvp6uni_2Hrkn5QPzTC0rorA6IQXkxydjSpSJvbY_1lpMiYEwdvA0OURDK17khO2TXdA7YxLwS9ScZXcBdRwnU0rvd54ejphUtgPZJPrBBHaHOqS9RR2g/s1600/2014-07-14+14.35.33.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Right Side....Bottom.</div>
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<i>I'm a tad embarrassed to show this, but I also love a good "Before and After" comparison.</i> </div>
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So, luckily my family was having a garage sale this summer and I ended up selling enough to make a good dent in all of that stuff hanging out (some of it literally) in the closet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42dseDeOw0-2l8zQJrrMvSQqk_ImD8A03MunRdj-psXXtfj4V69VzLdAfi2VhJt2flowzdzBdEB-9u12fvxK8Bt6IxBCOb6VSU1bKBvDV26cNOvntQkpOJcSbxvVUqE8gbPq5lCxwEWuf/s1600/2014-07-14+17.34.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42dseDeOw0-2l8zQJrrMvSQqk_ImD8A03MunRdj-psXXtfj4V69VzLdAfi2VhJt2flowzdzBdEB-9u12fvxK8Bt6IxBCOb6VSU1bKBvDV26cNOvntQkpOJcSbxvVUqE8gbPq5lCxwEWuf/s1600/2014-07-14+17.34.22.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I started out with SIX baskets of purses.....and now I'm down to just four. For those who know me well, that wasn't easy. I loooooooove purses! The other basket was wallets, and I downsized those, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39T2C-39H5Ep_DDnsPY9aZynGTn4B-4OODh-Y2GlbsnaM9ZVJtW5U4IwB5B9kDCqE4jbAgeLmhIOriCxsDjzpc-qA07MWsABkXmyNv0tGh5ySUZp-vLJuBrYYcD11crCHKPhaIx5b2jk3/s1600/2014-07-14+18.08.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39T2C-39H5Ep_DDnsPY9aZynGTn4B-4OODh-Y2GlbsnaM9ZVJtW5U4IwB5B9kDCqE4jbAgeLmhIOriCxsDjzpc-qA07MWsABkXmyNv0tGh5ySUZp-vLJuBrYYcD11crCHKPhaIx5b2jk3/s1600/2014-07-14+18.08.31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The bed in my guest bedroom first became a dumping ground for all of the clothes I was going to sell or donate. Yes, there IS a bed under there somewhere!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaAXdxWOjP_REF2uhyphenhyphenbZabWJhgyKSO-F7UMrjTfxzE9TdeOXi317Vss2tmLX79SwUxwD8EdmzUNv5v3MVC4TGj0mMxT45EcmScQbmQD45q1-zp21iYCPU2kR1os-k1h_U4QDqvpkvPjM8/s1600/2014-07-16+00.09.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaAXdxWOjP_REF2uhyphenhyphenbZabWJhgyKSO-F7UMrjTfxzE9TdeOXi317Vss2tmLX79SwUxwD8EdmzUNv5v3MVC4TGj0mMxT45EcmScQbmQD45q1-zp21iYCPU2kR1os-k1h_U4QDqvpkvPjM8/s1600/2014-07-16+00.09.32.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once all of my garage sale stuff was cleared out, it was time to collect all of my craft items in one place. This made it much easier to see what type of storage I would need, and I could start grouping like items together.</div>
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Sorry, guest room bed.....you'll see daylight soon.</div>
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This left me with a completely cleared out closet.....a blank slate for my organization-loving self to embrace.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt2HHWy0JXJDhV238PBGXYQsuGmuReOqKoTRHCyFWWZgAMzZA_7ApgzyuLRCtPpSzC0M7xxqHDGp0DO1wz-azL1jWZVlqSX6MeR4cccVITJ2b0KqBdf_b9GkuL0Ilm2Dp0kMF_2zG4cM0/s1600/2014-07-14+17.39.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOt2HHWy0JXJDhV238PBGXYQsuGmuReOqKoTRHCyFWWZgAMzZA_7ApgzyuLRCtPpSzC0M7xxqHDGp0DO1wz-azL1jWZVlqSX6MeR4cccVITJ2b0KqBdf_b9GkuL0Ilm2Dp0kMF_2zG4cM0/s1600/2014-07-14+17.39.34.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Perfect time to clean the shelves, walls, and floors that had been covered up for a while.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB2EktRckar1DZVeHQD3FJeGaejvMJjknS18Sj6rwjDuxc_hZsDhLLFCswEzXKy_uyM0O9uW8xQ6Xr41MERvjfDvLq4rbTiF8M2hF4TU-ajkMleSq-ylGbGDs8BU7tpbp0Ei8BLtLKlu-/s1600/2014-07-14+17.42.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaB2EktRckar1DZVeHQD3FJeGaejvMJjknS18Sj6rwjDuxc_hZsDhLLFCswEzXKy_uyM0O9uW8xQ6Xr41MERvjfDvLq4rbTiF8M2hF4TU-ajkMleSq-ylGbGDs8BU7tpbp0Ei8BLtLKlu-/s1600/2014-07-14+17.42.25.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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My next stop was my favorite store....Target of course....to stock up on some items I needed for this project and a couple others I had in the works.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13R03HaQfx__5B4ARCuFXfxzvcU2bZgqQYunMEaxvNqGrFuDHc-2FQe3zNHzLJPg_Envd7q9bZzZgy5Utxgm8ljlytAXbjBOcchpyYwQMV0uZpboy_dXBc_XgXs0JaW5k3rzocGf8oj6n/s1600/2014-07-05+20.38.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13R03HaQfx__5B4ARCuFXfxzvcU2bZgqQYunMEaxvNqGrFuDHc-2FQe3zNHzLJPg_Envd7q9bZzZgy5Utxgm8ljlytAXbjBOcchpyYwQMV0uZpboy_dXBc_XgXs0JaW5k3rzocGf8oj6n/s1600/2014-07-05+20.38.39.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wanted to do a little something extra....a little something cute....a little something different....to make this stand out from other closets I've recently organized.</div>
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Target came through again.</div>
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I was in the paint aisle (for another project I'll blog about soon) and saw that they have "wallpaper". Not the typical wallpaper that people cringe about taking down because it's been literally glued to the wall. </div>
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It's actually more like contact paper....just thicker and higher quality.</div>
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And of course, since it's Target....it's absolutely the cutest.</div>
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So I found a print I loved, in a color that coordinated well with my paint project, and I brought it home and used a good amount of patience, along with a little compromising with my semi-OCD self, to get this result:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QDQHnbLRjZdjntmPcsy7fI1iyNdq3AiiiEQi-krbiimqRAENHyR4e3Gp5JUe_Vvk778GdtglgYS994bMv_sOH8mpEsnoDHAN7AtzTHa57hVERygEy9qYc7iJwyo0lJbw34Knmb_G_qwX/s1600/2014-07-25+12.18.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QDQHnbLRjZdjntmPcsy7fI1iyNdq3AiiiEQi-krbiimqRAENHyR4e3Gp5JUe_Vvk778GdtglgYS994bMv_sOH8mpEsnoDHAN7AtzTHa57hVERygEy9qYc7iJwyo0lJbw34Knmb_G_qwX/s1600/2014-07-25+12.18.08.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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You may already notice the "compromise" on the bottom, right-hand side. There's a section that I couldn't get to match up with the rest. Since I had decided to put the pieces on horizontally, I matched up the sections the best that I could, but since I had precut the three pieces I had to shift them down to match.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh307_KI0CODJUt3UgOhOL05Yj7fcB7zWkGG3L7E83abnEYRh65-_DlN2U-s5GfRwq3BvvnzbkXA6lUna1ZQEMN6L7I-3xEWQRVVCxpjCg1RLicqvJxpvS0G25Xamy7pbrPlJLtkaVWGPf2/s1600/2014-07-25+11.51.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh307_KI0CODJUt3UgOhOL05Yj7fcB7zWkGG3L7E83abnEYRh65-_DlN2U-s5GfRwq3BvvnzbkXA6lUna1ZQEMN6L7I-3xEWQRVVCxpjCg1RLicqvJxpvS0G25Xamy7pbrPlJLtkaVWGPf2/s1600/2014-07-25+11.51.40.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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That left a little section at the end of each piece that was "missing" and had to be replaced with another piece that didn't match with the pattern.</div>
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My advice....don't precut all of your pieces. Also....it probably would have been quicker and easier if there was someone else to help hold the paper while I smoothed it down. Like I said.....LOTS of patience.</div>
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However, since I knew I had some items to put in front of the wall, I wasn't too worried about it. Most of "that area" will be covered the whole time. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUNJ8-fLbjsyd_rRzmlIRT58tmZmZ5jYxaLy4KwKjZtD4AeFjdae6JxnOZzE4VQWJwEt3IynV-d31_cvjZXSaJxx7PiTeqvhOu2RpsO25ylu5JDnQ-ozZoaPdd-GnjUTnBYu4lOONNSgJ/s1600/2014-07-26+00.24.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUNJ8-fLbjsyd_rRzmlIRT58tmZmZ5jYxaLy4KwKjZtD4AeFjdae6JxnOZzE4VQWJwEt3IynV-d31_cvjZXSaJxx7PiTeqvhOu2RpsO25ylu5JDnQ-ozZoaPdd-GnjUTnBYu4lOONNSgJ/s1600/2014-07-26+00.24.39.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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So I brought in the drawer cart and storage container I got from Target, along with a bookcase I transformed from a thrift-shop find. The bookcase will get it's own post soon. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ygUnizqkHqu_ywfgioMTEBINz8k4wlkVhO2yFIaTRIAa0qh9V-2JteHWr6opJz6lG5Xcf05_UiMYDnOiHgFEg8ksA_P-uiZ2oTx69g0F-KfxlkQEPo_pWwzGh8UJuZ87-59QodAYmQcn/s1600/2014-07-29+00.11.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ygUnizqkHqu_ywfgioMTEBINz8k4wlkVhO2yFIaTRIAa0qh9V-2JteHWr6opJz6lG5Xcf05_UiMYDnOiHgFEg8ksA_P-uiZ2oTx69g0F-KfxlkQEPo_pWwzGh8UJuZ87-59QodAYmQcn/s1600/2014-07-29+00.11.31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And then I just started filling in the rest! Lots of these were organization items I already had, so in the end this project didn't cost very much at all.</div>
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AFTER</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWqITGGk8_G2h5GjbgLN8UyY4cyVw5_LMexeVZDlvPmDa9pE8WAbNDZNwDKPjv0xpa6Gr7nwHxZN-ToT1YzxMoEODzyjBxkPoonmOB1d4c2lX7Ac3IAQeia30TOMKlb7u62sdXV4YQEpH/s1600/2014-07-29+00.10.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWqITGGk8_G2h5GjbgLN8UyY4cyVw5_LMexeVZDlvPmDa9pE8WAbNDZNwDKPjv0xpa6Gr7nwHxZN-ToT1YzxMoEODzyjBxkPoonmOB1d4c2lX7Ac3IAQeia30TOMKlb7u62sdXV4YQEpH/s1600/2014-07-29+00.10.53.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Left Side....Top. </div>
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<i>Purses, wallets, and less than half of the clothes I had in here before!</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJT6PWbOHqKPOFuveWwYTqL6r2d8PZnB7xW2U5w-Cdvj6q4fYhIyvJLK_ttSQyjaezVfCjqIgr8d0VrJ1HXVrpAmjnIoF0QXtZmRtx7Pvx3-IE1y0b32R0d3Pv9doQnbQwpDj3EkbotJw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.21.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJT6PWbOHqKPOFuveWwYTqL6r2d8PZnB7xW2U5w-Cdvj6q4fYhIyvJLK_ttSQyjaezVfCjqIgr8d0VrJ1HXVrpAmjnIoF0QXtZmRtx7Pvx3-IE1y0b32R0d3Pv9doQnbQwpDj3EkbotJw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.21.01.jpg" height="285" width="320" /></a></div>
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Left Side...Bottom.</div>
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<i>Scrapbook paper supply, craft books, baskets with random items, and a paper cutter.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJ4GM2INAoq9lbKClAUmr_f70PGXJr61f8AmaJW4xS1A1ze0XkFQHNE43oyMNaA2y1gDtcvyEir8E0vwSs7nDuHMM5ma8K4_YtueA8VNnrDK2t2l0256DCjNy0c1QudyofExb4zQL0fw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJ4GM2INAoq9lbKClAUmr_f70PGXJr61f8AmaJW4xS1A1ze0XkFQHNE43oyMNaA2y1gDtcvyEir8E0vwSs7nDuHMM5ma8K4_YtueA8VNnrDK2t2l0256DCjNy0c1QudyofExb4zQL0fw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.36.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right Side....Top.</div>
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<i>Gift wrap storage (the long gray thing), extra totes, and a shelf of crafting items.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjdkfpSf_jr93ZD9-nDnkH9GBhv-klP_RepsS6HDkIpyIVvW-hwxMIS2jlSOEDzQ1fPE3WouTHnoH2Dxj-KJCzKVh8EoBit50egdC69uDo7AMoVUry2IKewx8MGd04eIC0rL35ovLOh9M/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjdkfpSf_jr93ZD9-nDnkH9GBhv-klP_RepsS6HDkIpyIVvW-hwxMIS2jlSOEDzQ1fPE3WouTHnoH2Dxj-KJCzKVh8EoBit50egdC69uDo7AMoVUry2IKewx8MGd04eIC0rL35ovLOh9M/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.54.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right Side....Bottom.</div>
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<i>Extra frames, and lots of craft items now grouped and stored in containers!</i></div>
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<i>Here's a closer look at some of the groupings....</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcGPm3hBuTOguRC1rwdPC0SMlliEZzQJ6hy3G_PSpqzjc7aej_fv68-iFQLll1yGNUKoJt6ZvDBebG-KVfqiUkMX3dgM7wvfNQRzcGazAc-Gbbfc-ezOym7PmVM5dbPQdOwQiyQldz-kA/s1600/2014-07-26+15.52.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcGPm3hBuTOguRC1rwdPC0SMlliEZzQJ6hy3G_PSpqzjc7aej_fv68-iFQLll1yGNUKoJt6ZvDBebG-KVfqiUkMX3dgM7wvfNQRzcGazAc-Gbbfc-ezOym7PmVM5dbPQdOwQiyQldz-kA/s1600/2014-07-26+15.52.37.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I put this on Instagram a couple days ago....I found this adorable jar on clearance at Meijer, and knew exactly what I could use it for-- my washi tape collection/obsession!</div>
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The three little boxes (super cheap- from IKEA) hold smaller items, like this one that has mostly ribbons.</div>
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Underneath those, some extra small frames in a cute basket that my washi collection outgrew, and any extra fabric and my glue gun/sticks (underneath the fabric) are stored in this cute Thirty-One bag.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5VCUyKyQvLcXY2kF6Q1Y_kuSXhOGg64qVnvSAGlP-4kcydafsQPnfD97w1yhvZgh3ITjUQy-o_bWI5bs3gS-psCgFCMsZ6UX_eG5-ZY8piEizx8yaAQ9OL451bn4ZWDWQ4eMN8o8hZKM/s1600/2014-07-29+00.14.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs5VCUyKyQvLcXY2kF6Q1Y_kuSXhOGg64qVnvSAGlP-4kcydafsQPnfD97w1yhvZgh3ITjUQy-o_bWI5bs3gS-psCgFCMsZ6UX_eG5-ZY8piEizx8yaAQ9OL451bn4ZWDWQ4eMN8o8hZKM/s1600/2014-07-29+00.14.44.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This larger storage box (from IKEA) holds all of my stamping and card making items. I had more than I remembered....mostly because they weren't all in the same place. Now I know not to buy more!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EeK6zUG0qL6l2sjnfJRHzGEVYLzz1cki2L5NS99lOXw-6nqU9UaPTrLOP1qWSRcrQJTdzskTbvtDMJ4Oxao6nukZOO37JDJaFtHMACX08Z3k9JvnQEZcNdiHFwajgVPAJdbiQDLlZffh/s1600/2014-07-29+00.16.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EeK6zUG0qL6l2sjnfJRHzGEVYLzz1cki2L5NS99lOXw-6nqU9UaPTrLOP1qWSRcrQJTdzskTbvtDMJ4Oxao6nukZOO37JDJaFtHMACX08Z3k9JvnQEZcNdiHFwajgVPAJdbiQDLlZffh/s1600/2014-07-29+00.16.32.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Small scrapbook papers, stickers, and other embellishments filled one drawer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWJvjanIwSpZifGrS-Z0FQoudgH-uSdZr0ii0iANQ7JzCqTe53JPNUsAaHIXjmaWJGAcmQTqkUdmC_oRVOEJl6CQpaOjzfWdPeIkacd4QmC7JIV0R9oE1QhH_GH-0vWndUBuNl1N7wwpY/s1600/2014-07-29+00.16.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWWJvjanIwSpZifGrS-Z0FQoudgH-uSdZr0ii0iANQ7JzCqTe53JPNUsAaHIXjmaWJGAcmQTqkUdmC_oRVOEJl6CQpaOjzfWdPeIkacd4QmC7JIV0R9oE1QhH_GH-0vWndUBuNl1N7wwpY/s1600/2014-07-29+00.16.46.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Hole punchers, and other cutting tools (including my adorable mini-paper-cutter) filled another.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Oum750g-HNxJUzzUTAcpQ7V5nHT0pb0rWc8bhCFbyKnyvdinjB-2kfoan7AYX_b1PlDw7NuyTd5agj65t0zM-_GZK1eE59UX2z2pH6CmgIkaFmLmVcrIsTcWvS4m7ZekwPBel2Y29mdw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.17.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Oum750g-HNxJUzzUTAcpQ7V5nHT0pb0rWc8bhCFbyKnyvdinjB-2kfoan7AYX_b1PlDw7NuyTd5agj65t0zM-_GZK1eE59UX2z2pH6CmgIkaFmLmVcrIsTcWvS4m7ZekwPBel2Y29mdw/s1600/2014-07-29+00.17.56.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This storage box was the perfect size for my extra gift bags, and party plates, napkins, and straws.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3joNYdHR0-i_Ic7hMcfhPtHyZSrI1fFKgVAinYIeYh9SuYMTV4GiS3C7N6Y44RSJfILhFhCrsw5_whXwA2OJUVLJFQgWOVPsTtcqG_Ciu0zXPJfi0q5-0xD8F1rnLUOmV2gvExPDOH4qU/s1600/2014-07-29+00.19.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3joNYdHR0-i_Ic7hMcfhPtHyZSrI1fFKgVAinYIeYh9SuYMTV4GiS3C7N6Y44RSJfILhFhCrsw5_whXwA2OJUVLJFQgWOVPsTtcqG_Ciu0zXPJfi0q5-0xD8F1rnLUOmV2gvExPDOH4qU/s1600/2014-07-29+00.19.15.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I relocated this basket from my bedroom and it now holds all of my "adhesives"- glues, tapes, and sprays.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQTDV6bCI5dc1nsYV7Gv5tBGOcTu-t3HVELa4aDPaWiTkQQAkqtBH-jxHzBLlVGzT802z2ZqsuNJ9RcIX5tVh2MjXRdYnjHCoAN8CGuFYhwXeA2aPER7MdHi0Zdr-m5mLhy_N9RZE8fbC/s1600/2014-07-29+00.19.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQTDV6bCI5dc1nsYV7Gv5tBGOcTu-t3HVELa4aDPaWiTkQQAkqtBH-jxHzBLlVGzT802z2ZqsuNJ9RcIX5tVh2MjXRdYnjHCoAN8CGuFYhwXeA2aPER7MdHi0Zdr-m5mLhy_N9RZE8fbC/s1600/2014-07-29+00.19.33.jpg" height="320" width="316" /></a></div>
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This box, which holds all of my extra greeting cards, got a little makeover with some extra wallpaper and....of course....washi tape! :)</div>
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That pot and plant (fake) are both from IKEA. It serves no purpose other than to be cute.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZf_3DBvAD8Xq5N9UneDjQ99gsA7pTx-FA0Q3BNZUdEGoWs3de8H8fcHgcImsA8eL4-u0gDm7SVvFpnohJOTSuRAUT9Dpx0_WCvDiMspUyT9pdTnH02KSWIExepvbz_a3_L6jeFwoGGvl/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZf_3DBvAD8Xq5N9UneDjQ99gsA7pTx-FA0Q3BNZUdEGoWs3de8H8fcHgcImsA8eL4-u0gDm7SVvFpnohJOTSuRAUT9Dpx0_WCvDiMspUyT9pdTnH02KSWIExepvbz_a3_L6jeFwoGGvl/s1600/2014-07-29+00.20.01.jpg" height="305" width="320" /></a></div>
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This tray.....which once held things in my bathroom....got cleaned up and is now holding some of my paint supplies. The rest are in the bottom drawer in the cart, along with other larger items.</div>
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The little drawer set next to it just holds smaller items that would get lost in the other boxes/bins.</div>
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That's about it. Except for some labels that I'll be making for those boxes/drawers. Yep, even when I'm "done"....I just can't stop organizing! </div>
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I can't tell you how exciting this project is for an organization freak like me. Not only does it make it easier for me to find things when I need them, but now I won't buy things I don't need. I'll be saving money and crafting more now that this is finally done! :)</div>
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And now....guests can stay at my house again.</div>
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The bed is free!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-71650599828203187112014-07-28T21:14:00.001-04:002014-07-28T23:06:22.984-04:00summer kale pasta saladIt's summer.....although you wouldn't know it today. Late July in Michigan, and it struggled to get out of the 60's. This is usually one of our hottest stretches of the year, but today feels a little like fall.<br />
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Not that I'm complaining....I don't wish for a repeat of the heat waves we've had in the past few summers.</div>
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There is a point here.</div>
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Trust me.</div>
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So....as summer comes, my food cravings change. I think it's pretty typical-- I don't crave warm, hearty soups, stews, and heavy pasta dishes. I generally want meals that don't (a) require me to use the oven/stove, and (b) are on the "lighter" side.</div>
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However....as I have written about in the past in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-comfort-food.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, I am a huge fan of pasta, even in the summer.</div>
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My "summer pastas", while lighter and definitely more figure-friendly, still require me to crank up the heat in my kitchen. Not my favorite thing to do on a hot summer day.....but today.....</div>
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Following me now? ;)</div>
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I decided with the cool weather today, what better time than to make a new summer pasta dish!</div>
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A couple weeks ago, a coworker saw that I was<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/06/crispy-kale-anyone.html" target="_blank"> making kale chips</a> after I posted a picture on Instagram....and she told me about this recipe she just pinned on Pinterest. (Thanks, Maggie!) Since I had just bought some kale at the store yesterday, I decided to make it today.</div>
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My recipe was inspired by this <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/07/kale-pasta-salad/" target="_blank">Kale Pasta Salad by the Pioneer Woman</a>. </div>
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Summer Kale Pasta Salad</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KzlL2WNvNx2pcWfeKd_xTL7NYXF-SZh_M_FRfrDsy3WRrR8gc52iXDu8rK_7r6J9k9wb0LtmhvQ4O2pucfgPAR8CG_p5l08qFvPBC3Yma3fSBUtT0yeB2P1YNswpp6wmMz-YMrzazLl4/s1600/2014-07-28+18.43.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KzlL2WNvNx2pcWfeKd_xTL7NYXF-SZh_M_FRfrDsy3WRrR8gc52iXDu8rK_7r6J9k9wb0LtmhvQ4O2pucfgPAR8CG_p5l08qFvPBC3Yma3fSBUtT0yeB2P1YNswpp6wmMz-YMrzazLl4/s1600/2014-07-28+18.43.38.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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First, I assembled all of my ingredients like the good little blogger that I am....and in true "my own twist on things" fashion, I changed up some of the ingredients to fit with what I had at home and what I love.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQuuJLaBa64eWbR_xrW0Ab8eYa0LmgQQ6J03ENNv4gd70WIcbi7OZIhgPmVG-CIhyphenhyphenlD8esSJsPX2Wn6aAEaC_Vz_NzmjCIet9VBes1zsRxCqaZLxiz6EsCMuw5DZq6eeBTFyh8A8WBMQH/s1600/2014-07-28+17.53.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQuuJLaBa64eWbR_xrW0Ab8eYa0LmgQQ6J03ENNv4gd70WIcbi7OZIhgPmVG-CIhyphenhyphenlD8esSJsPX2Wn6aAEaC_Vz_NzmjCIet9VBes1zsRxCqaZLxiz6EsCMuw5DZq6eeBTFyh8A8WBMQH/s1600/2014-07-28+17.53.40.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></div>
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<b><i>What I used....</i></b></div>
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Olive oil </div>
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Balsamic vinegar</div>
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Bowtie (Farfalle) pasta</div>
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Grape tomatoes</div>
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Slivered almonds</div>
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Garlic</div>
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Salt & Pepper</div>
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Shredded cheese</div>
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Kale</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j-EWpZDmSHNcWbzuj5q0sckX8JzJ66GV5j1INfnLye14D7gdYUSNVDx8EF6du65YG-cI7LghNJ5l-6MmZOjOO2PexPboINpp-w5AMpFN3W1kMg5OOKdMLhMlgeFnvNP1woE6ilvFHycL/s1600/2014-07-28+18.03.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j-EWpZDmSHNcWbzuj5q0sckX8JzJ66GV5j1INfnLye14D7gdYUSNVDx8EF6du65YG-cI7LghNJ5l-6MmZOjOO2PexPboINpp-w5AMpFN3W1kMg5OOKdMLhMlgeFnvNP1woE6ilvFHycL/s1600/2014-07-28+18.03.11.jpg" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
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First, I poured about a quarter cup of slivered almonds into a small pan and let them slowly warm/lightly brown up over low heat. I would shake/turn them once in a while, and probably left them on the heat for about ten minutes. The original recipe used pine nuts....but (a) I didn't have any at home and (b) I LOVE almonds! This was one of my favorite parts of the salad. Their crunch was the perfect complement to the softer texture of the rest of the ingredients.</div>
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At the same time, I brought a pot of water to boil, added a little salt to the water, and dumped in a pound of pasta. Although I generally stick with whole grain pasta only, for this recipe I really wanted to use the bowtie pasta like in the original recipe. So I "splurged" a little. Honestly though, you could use any short-cut pasta that you like or have on hand.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUFWVq0K6fc-3Ze9u6QdPwnyOrFxGTgmbs87IkOoxtXPp1h8RhvwUTuxWmtDX-nC2F6r-ABkQkc-LucDejMaNrHCc_ZNpxSHRObclm5JV5LYag_siU6RSRykR9kqAfVf_DP-BK0pY0-22/s1600/2014-07-28+18.11.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUFWVq0K6fc-3Ze9u6QdPwnyOrFxGTgmbs87IkOoxtXPp1h8RhvwUTuxWmtDX-nC2F6r-ABkQkc-LucDejMaNrHCc_ZNpxSHRObclm5JV5LYag_siU6RSRykR9kqAfVf_DP-BK0pY0-22/s1600/2014-07-28+18.11.06.jpg" height="320" width="270" /></a></div>
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Next, I broke apart a bunch of cloves of garlic, and did the fun "pound the flat side of the knife on the cloves" trick to get the skins loose. You could just mince the garlic at this point, but I have a crazy love of using my hand grater to finely grate garlic. </div>
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So that's what I did. I just don't have the skill (coordination) to take a picture of me doing it. ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWrdsGejbssRyS-6I-y4rPyf1YnR9hT2SKdqO34Rz3CgMC2EwsZJRQSuKs5P-XbE023aI30xdekEnu0WypoG_6gHwaRhd956km9xKH9Iqg9RyECDqniWXuLtUOwmRuJJ2tXpdqVXgrpKF/s1600/2014-07-28+18.23.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWrdsGejbssRyS-6I-y4rPyf1YnR9hT2SKdqO34Rz3CgMC2EwsZJRQSuKs5P-XbE023aI30xdekEnu0WypoG_6gHwaRhd956km9xKH9Iqg9RyECDqniWXuLtUOwmRuJJ2tXpdqVXgrpKF/s1600/2014-07-28+18.23.35.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I coated the bottom of a large frying pan with olive oil (I don't measure....sorry), and then grated in the garlic.</div>
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Smells. So. Good.</div>
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And then, because I LOVE grape tomatoes, especially when they get warmed up and burst open....I added those to the pan after the garlic had some time to infuse the oil with its deliciousness.</div>
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<i>(NOTE: I added about a cup of tomatoes to start, but later (not pictured) added another cup because I thought it needed more)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LWxfp6M4gIvZWEUpbI3KucjwxleIai637KQ1Rlj9JyQGo3M43kb5vqKqkWQOs96pG11vD37PTKEDAiacgVgOj99bHdregClCWrDICuhMmRlb97R2bTd8kj5pdKCAZi0vhQWzjWMU8S-o/s1600/2014-07-28+18.25.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0LWxfp6M4gIvZWEUpbI3KucjwxleIai637KQ1Rlj9JyQGo3M43kb5vqKqkWQOs96pG11vD37PTKEDAiacgVgOj99bHdregClCWrDICuhMmRlb97R2bTd8kj5pdKCAZi0vhQWzjWMU8S-o/s1600/2014-07-28+18.25.07.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></div>
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When the pasta was done cooking, I drained it and poured it back into the hot pot (off the heat).</div>
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Then....when the tomatoes were just starting to shrivel a little, I poured the garlic oil/tomato "sauce" over the cooked pasta.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaLA3fw6H0Qghq9rM0tDJF7tmotT6uEGd_EQxtp058DRfs0aRNXrQjvfMBdULTDAZVs_oZ103EjilYDqbqRMJJ2NAjRiaAL99eXp4b0e-rXu82-P6asttuj1wnfm0B_DCSezh38Rj4AP5/s1600/2014-07-28+18.27.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaLA3fw6H0Qghq9rM0tDJF7tmotT6uEGd_EQxtp058DRfs0aRNXrQjvfMBdULTDAZVs_oZ103EjilYDqbqRMJJ2NAjRiaAL99eXp4b0e-rXu82-P6asttuj1wnfm0B_DCSezh38Rj4AP5/s1600/2014-07-28+18.27.42.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Add a little salt and pepper at this point, and just let the pasta sit and absorb all that flavor, and the tomatoes will continue to warm as well.</div>
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Drizzle in some balsamic vinegar to give it an extra "zip" of flavor....but be careful. This stuff can be strong.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh9wk8Eyr2vFX2KSZ95-wzZKyg_93oIP__O5awdRAC_Cu-InjJKUsFCutNyxP7oG3Bn_0NApmrsi8-qRfYlzth3ahNUuPJc37jffN5HuqMqWhmYpfVSLCyYgriSx_r0vSMTJRIOQ5xxZA/s1600/2014-07-28+18.29.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh9wk8Eyr2vFX2KSZ95-wzZKyg_93oIP__O5awdRAC_Cu-InjJKUsFCutNyxP7oG3Bn_0NApmrsi8-qRfYlzth3ahNUuPJc37jffN5HuqMqWhmYpfVSLCyYgriSx_r0vSMTJRIOQ5xxZA/s1600/2014-07-28+18.29.49.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile....I had ripped the leaves off the stems of a bunch of kale and then gave it a good "rough chop".</div>
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Which is a cooking term meaning.....not fancy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuw2Jg_7F35PzDkxcSU7lxp6oRVKpM4bhyphenhyphenfNMMzQFuK8vYPArYjP6E-GNRhHmYekBLJ639OiDkaLlcIacpTpK6z4AvbcEeWtePoI-bUEZHiOr_ioSqwMAGPEFtryad-F-RDwlozxGZqIU/s1600/2014-07-28+18.32.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwuw2Jg_7F35PzDkxcSU7lxp6oRVKpM4bhyphenhyphenfNMMzQFuK8vYPArYjP6E-GNRhHmYekBLJ639OiDkaLlcIacpTpK6z4AvbcEeWtePoI-bUEZHiOr_ioSqwMAGPEFtryad-F-RDwlozxGZqIU/s1600/2014-07-28+18.32.13.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then....all of that kale gets dropped into the SAME pan you made the garlic oil in.....which you DON'T wipe out after pouring the sauce into the pasta. It's the perfect amount of oil/seasonings to cook the kale. I just kept tossing it over low/medium low heat until it had wilted down a bit.....kind of looking like this.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtET4mPBWPRuzU5XOfX5pfZD83ySg7KfYfSGN-EXd5WK2iyrzF1kwdY7Ts_dVuyEUCTC8TaAu_k5ZjYlAGpSpBxxGbyyUGPWML9C8D_1Q5e4-QrDKqRHxDQ16Dn28gPb8QxX9tAsMXeLa/s1600/2014-07-28+18.36.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtET4mPBWPRuzU5XOfX5pfZD83ySg7KfYfSGN-EXd5WK2iyrzF1kwdY7Ts_dVuyEUCTC8TaAu_k5ZjYlAGpSpBxxGbyyUGPWML9C8D_1Q5e4-QrDKqRHxDQ16Dn28gPb8QxX9tAsMXeLa/s1600/2014-07-28+18.36.16.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then I added the cooked kale to the pasta....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcFiIaJWEjlLL1lcIjrH4w52qT-PSsEzQizyY4_SQB0ox2dIhSyIbrS8pN2BGcwnU8UtA4eZqLY4PhnPLrb5btrwy9p4Xpg5d3Ye20h2dwJrnP2n2rxBwgGN7t_li_004xuqI1BK3PxNx/s1600/2014-07-28+18.37.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcFiIaJWEjlLL1lcIjrH4w52qT-PSsEzQizyY4_SQB0ox2dIhSyIbrS8pN2BGcwnU8UtA4eZqLY4PhnPLrb5btrwy9p4Xpg5d3Ye20h2dwJrnP2n2rxBwgGN7t_li_004xuqI1BK3PxNx/s1600/2014-07-28+18.37.00.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sprinkled in the toasted almonds....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCkn2CL_MnHHiH-_6HOOQ1hIuT2QQEM0FaDvZ3Mh_uOPMysua_Dxzp57Wk9tUhDsYQ7nx3HiSQoZjF90bCrub2HKd5ZhLGgTHZCIjwCrtSfxtH4mExBG9hSH0O6J9oDx8IZPQ6Mw8DrdN/s1600/2014-07-28+18.38.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCkn2CL_MnHHiH-_6HOOQ1hIuT2QQEM0FaDvZ3Mh_uOPMysua_Dxzp57Wk9tUhDsYQ7nx3HiSQoZjF90bCrub2HKd5ZhLGgTHZCIjwCrtSfxtH4mExBG9hSH0O6J9oDx8IZPQ6Mw8DrdN/s1600/2014-07-28+18.38.25.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
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And while the original recipe called for shaved Parmesan at the end, and that sounds amazing....I didn't have any at home. I did have shredded mozzarella....so I added about a cup of that. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-hYyMkxoySlnAhfxvVHEOn6nxRVUQ34lRsuDNc8vcgB6GYFtIva-43uayXjohN7wGJSGSL5fjVbVmmuFXv9LXW7kdZ_XY4CPk686mGzrZC3hBlYtkK5bxqhk3zQQvaZwCq9DEn7XpKnm/s1600/2014-07-28+18.39.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-hYyMkxoySlnAhfxvVHEOn6nxRVUQ34lRsuDNc8vcgB6GYFtIva-43uayXjohN7wGJSGSL5fjVbVmmuFXv9LXW7kdZ_XY4CPk686mGzrZC3hBlYtkK5bxqhk3zQQvaZwCq9DEn7XpKnm/s1600/2014-07-28+18.39.00.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></div>
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This is a great time to check your seasonings....a.k.a. take a taste.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6dyZKag6_eEI9MANQDyjrStIhcajzeKF3C7Ap50_k-l058fM7bDfxKS8pbd4Sf8k7sD6iIDR97qhDXJQBISaYf5BjT7HY_zLkevuQKTiB0sRiRMN8ym32bZOGo4io2b412OEPoHU5tjc/s1600/2014-07-28+18.40.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy6dyZKag6_eEI9MANQDyjrStIhcajzeKF3C7Ap50_k-l058fM7bDfxKS8pbd4Sf8k7sD6iIDR97qhDXJQBISaYf5BjT7HY_zLkevuQKTiB0sRiRMN8ym32bZOGo4io2b412OEPoHU5tjc/s1600/2014-07-28+18.40.31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I felt like it needed a little more pepper, so after adding that I mixed it all up and that's all there is to it!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KX6hA5vlTc4X_9Sn5j1wTA3TDg8YvQWVTFW35vWkajQ-DwWovg0BgwLn5ZzPf8rfVTH8TUIFHXt9juIgG77hlg8ck7QdnKHxux7guK4FfGGBkOkuNJ7mGPnq85Tm0EO7VcH8OsP24GGg/s1600/2014-07-28+18.41.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KX6hA5vlTc4X_9Sn5j1wTA3TDg8YvQWVTFW35vWkajQ-DwWovg0BgwLn5ZzPf8rfVTH8TUIFHXt9juIgG77hlg8ck7QdnKHxux7guK4FfGGBkOkuNJ7mGPnq85Tm0EO7VcH8OsP24GGg/s1600/2014-07-28+18.41.13.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Like I said....it is a great summer salad, but you could have this any time of year. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX2kdho8u3PoX-ITe08_0dPLmfZQ_8SR-OTS9BsIjr1YagWYDrZxX5W3QKbvMT7deav7mEkn6P3uW3X7m3fnU4N1ejdIs2Y9dtxfgUxa1lcsxzMFTXB75ynfjN867vNyuwtLAvQJsKMqP/s1600/2014-07-28+18.44.25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrX2kdho8u3PoX-ITe08_0dPLmfZQ_8SR-OTS9BsIjr1YagWYDrZxX5W3QKbvMT7deav7mEkn6P3uW3X7m3fnU4N1ejdIs2Y9dtxfgUxa1lcsxzMFTXB75ynfjN867vNyuwtLAvQJsKMqP/s1600/2014-07-28+18.44.25-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had a large bowl of it for dinner and it was SO filling....but it would also make a great side to something off the grill.....chicken, burgers, steak.....so many ideas of what I can eat with the leftovers!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-26263918189725383462014-07-09T20:11:00.001-04:002014-07-10T18:50:56.635-04:00even knife blocks can be cuteI'm back! It's been so long since my last post.....and of course, I blame life.<br />
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And work. </div>
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Mostly work.</div>
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So now that my summer is in full swing, and I've caught up on some things that have been put on the back burner for so long, I now have.....dare I say it....free time!</div>
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This week, I've been finishing up some small projects around the house, so I thought I'd share a few of them on my little blog-who-has-been-neglected. </div>
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Today's project was inspired by two things....</div>
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<b>First</b>, I was cleaning my kitchen cupboards out (like the full-on, taking-everything-out-and-cleaning-the-inside-and-outside type of cleaning) and decluttering everything in my kitchen. Getting ready for a garage sale in a couple weeks! </div>
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<b>Second</b>, I was also starting a big reorganization of my craft supplies and was looking through my washi tape collection. And realizing how much I love my washi tape but "need" to use it more.</div>
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So, if you're following my train of thought....which I realize is hard sometimes....I was thinking as I was cleaning, how can I use my washi tape to brighten up a few things in my kitchen? </div>
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And here's what I came up with for project #1...</div>
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Simple and Cheap Knife Block Makeover</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmwR-ZZ8QbQXpjLWg6tJ74AV1sDj6KF4IV4y178RKRxq_Tjgv2BJ1BQ20tx5lBuvvrnZckA4QchIBWH0bbD9QejwAEipD25AeOco1TJ6QsA_9aWH-bbsJ_fQGaw39lUSpsKHaEXCvgCe/s1600/2014-07-09+14.34.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopmwR-ZZ8QbQXpjLWg6tJ74AV1sDj6KF4IV4y178RKRxq_Tjgv2BJ1BQ20tx5lBuvvrnZckA4QchIBWH0bbD9QejwAEipD25AeOco1TJ6QsA_9aWH-bbsJ_fQGaw39lUSpsKHaEXCvgCe/s1600/2014-07-09+14.34.54.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uZdFe_duXhiOXkAOXIIdJgmRt_5g7waSuIIQ1ncdql9Cg1iTwtBcjNiNvJy0QzTiy7yJBi29Qj52E55EhYNNWu7wTJpqyto7LtMqUjcpl6l8agt1CPPVkDEX43Hyn0Y2khRSKJy5iPWC/s1600/2014-07-09+14.33.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uZdFe_duXhiOXkAOXIIdJgmRt_5g7waSuIIQ1ncdql9Cg1iTwtBcjNiNvJy0QzTiy7yJBi29Qj52E55EhYNNWu7wTJpqyto7LtMqUjcpl6l8agt1CPPVkDEX43Hyn0Y2khRSKJy5iPWC/s1600/2014-07-09+14.33.03.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Okay.....so I didn't <u>just</u> use washi tape. I painted it, too!</i></div>
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Here's the quick play-by-play of how to do it.....but honestly, if you're at all crafty, you probably have it all figured out by now. Plus, there's no one way to do this. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination! (Cheesy, I know) :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZY85FCc1ypq6D3uxogUEphRdWTFh-ZFbX8uL2RrybskpYN6jAkX-zU1y9M5z-11MfN2AsYq68PwaoUws2fsZhO7XngpVKA-myx43GfBy0JS4BR5-MrWDhCvd5CCemNFoJ9POHWN-KSY/s1600/2014-07-08+17.27.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNZY85FCc1ypq6D3uxogUEphRdWTFh-ZFbX8uL2RrybskpYN6jAkX-zU1y9M5z-11MfN2AsYq68PwaoUws2fsZhO7XngpVKA-myx43GfBy0JS4BR5-MrWDhCvd5CCemNFoJ9POHWN-KSY/s1600/2014-07-08+17.27.26.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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First, assemble all of your craft goodies.</div>
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I spread out something to protect my counter, and took out a piece of sandpaper, painters tape, paints and paintbrushes, and of course....washi tape!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vW-OWzRcAk3iwwxUGLIB6f-_0RCHqhxsoka8JYdKS7-trBR2r2klzopuFqsG9XJH5E0K6lWPrMJ_0I9WwJ460PsQ5B04gReiJRoVgCPexpeQEu7oYNfHJ6FZhI7V5D_aA6UoExmvMK63/s1600/2014-07-08+17.17.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vW-OWzRcAk3iwwxUGLIB6f-_0RCHqhxsoka8JYdKS7-trBR2r2klzopuFqsG9XJH5E0K6lWPrMJ_0I9WwJ460PsQ5B04gReiJRoVgCPexpeQEu7oYNfHJ6FZhI7V5D_aA6UoExmvMK63/s1600/2014-07-08+17.17.23.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></div>
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Clean your knife block. Just soap and water is good.</div>
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<i>(If you're like me....that part of the knife block in between the knives, which has been neglected for a while, might be pretty dusty. Oops.)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTQIFxqgO0UY0AzsRvlNmpS65bN44hNnRQ0bNm4wgVIsj1NQaPeihHPk6Rh76ns-sEEhEzEWhblZyF1gEwtTeelCsj_jp3ipBrV0dN0TwnDT1wjmmPG2FZMooxmG6P-56CxNU2s6SqI8t/s1600/2014-07-08+17.29.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTQIFxqgO0UY0AzsRvlNmpS65bN44hNnRQ0bNm4wgVIsj1NQaPeihHPk6Rh76ns-sEEhEzEWhblZyF1gEwtTeelCsj_jp3ipBrV0dN0TwnDT1wjmmPG2FZMooxmG6P-56CxNU2s6SqI8t/s1600/2014-07-08+17.29.55.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Give it a good sanding down. Nothing too crazy, just enough to make it easier for the paint to adhere.</div>
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Wipe it down and dry it well before the next step.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQYM-EHqAR0IcVPUljSmjW_GiXpHSGVxKZkyHQ3qR8hjDdkrHMKprHuHz_tecKmI5TNgs2NrVz97XXLYLWET5AOVm_lyfLBLn5E_bwebFvXqOvRkeVk-UGV5gDaX2r7d4SsZwvfHzEzaO/s1600/2014-07-08+17.36.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQYM-EHqAR0IcVPUljSmjW_GiXpHSGVxKZkyHQ3qR8hjDdkrHMKprHuHz_tecKmI5TNgs2NrVz97XXLYLWET5AOVm_lyfLBLn5E_bwebFvXqOvRkeVk-UGV5gDaX2r7d4SsZwvfHzEzaO/s1600/2014-07-08+17.36.10.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This step is only if you're like me and couldn't decide on one color....so I decided to use two.</div>
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Use some painters tape to mark off the areas where you want to divide your colors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nwDyUO3mbJrfdnMG_6-RzJGtePBzYWulK_NL7so8_pcgq7-cqhRTl8bpr0gVt12pZOG3ss2yClmJuEJrARrTOoPi4fczJACj5bTxJeaGYWvXo2AJDKoeknRIkUS2cZloP5kyVCsiOWWQ/s1600/2014-07-08+17.55.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nwDyUO3mbJrfdnMG_6-RzJGtePBzYWulK_NL7so8_pcgq7-cqhRTl8bpr0gVt12pZOG3ss2yClmJuEJrARrTOoPi4fczJACj5bTxJeaGYWvXo2AJDKoeknRIkUS2cZloP5kyVCsiOWWQ/s1600/2014-07-08+17.55.37.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, paint away! I used two coats of each color.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2LfmJlM0c1opbP7mzH6UQ0d6CRUn6wlxvTSmILDMMT_QNd-dbUKinIovy9mYo2fC6tZTqIfHqQlJWDNd_T5pkHuh4LxeVgWuhxZWf6O_Wg9ROwkt3LI7dzK8aQV5o-oJw3_2GrF35KUL/s1600/2014-07-08+18.10.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2LfmJlM0c1opbP7mzH6UQ0d6CRUn6wlxvTSmILDMMT_QNd-dbUKinIovy9mYo2fC6tZTqIfHqQlJWDNd_T5pkHuh4LxeVgWuhxZWf6O_Wg9ROwkt3LI7dzK8aQV5o-oJw3_2GrF35KUL/s1600/2014-07-08+18.10.27.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I was a little impatient and didn't want to wait until the gray was absolutely dry. Instead of taping it off, I just took a small flat paintbrush and slowly cut in where the colors met. Worked perfectly!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHl8_LKCliIMDZLFgvoC0vzez4XPmXHGcyGgspL2uj-SVlzCtjwZIvz1kdGCAaZ8C7y3AVYcQRJX9Ek7cZrN61jwnICfONC-B9dmmVdQKY_lKeCcbvVQ1p072ZTphSHr7KFT5O5hJViLs/s1600/2014-07-08+18.20.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHl8_LKCliIMDZLFgvoC0vzez4XPmXHGcyGgspL2uj-SVlzCtjwZIvz1kdGCAaZ8C7y3AVYcQRJX9Ek7cZrN61jwnICfONC-B9dmmVdQKY_lKeCcbvVQ1p072ZTphSHr7KFT5O5hJViLs/s1600/2014-07-08+18.20.14.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Let it dry completely. I just let it set out overnight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL8nb8ni9xhqg9sUO5YQOYr_IGhyphenhyphenkOnTVX3eik99Z0BfhjTNcUFWtJdeK0ionc7OLAc0zAp7qj0OTkIf0IkGCy6kkIs9hwpfxLZ8k185Svs9Sb44CBjjoyZZk7-TGAGxq1YYFU7AsNezr/s1600/2014-07-08+22.20.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYL8nb8ni9xhqg9sUO5YQOYr_IGhyphenhyphenkOnTVX3eik99Z0BfhjTNcUFWtJdeK0ionc7OLAc0zAp7qj0OTkIf0IkGCy6kkIs9hwpfxLZ8k185Svs9Sb44CBjjoyZZk7-TGAGxq1YYFU7AsNezr/s1600/2014-07-08+22.20.32.jpg" height="320" width="275" /></a></div>
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Choose your washi tape.....and because it's easily removed, just try out a small section first.</div>
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Since a lot of washi tape styles are somewhat transparent, it's a good idea to check what it will look like on top of a color.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCOUfkNUbAtBQPLc_C3EX7rdnIGocVNUcPo76biOZuok0en6ZzvnEP8wlj6EvY7r4JbdXc1H-3Kc7o5EnIyaySm3iMOyLXpp6K0GpGo-U1Sz0kCNh5ZBb3RioB-WlyNd80xGZQjI-W5iI/s1600/2014-07-08+22.29.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCOUfkNUbAtBQPLc_C3EX7rdnIGocVNUcPo76biOZuok0en6ZzvnEP8wlj6EvY7r4JbdXc1H-3Kc7o5EnIyaySm3iMOyLXpp6K0GpGo-U1Sz0kCNh5ZBb3RioB-WlyNd80xGZQjI-W5iI/s1600/2014-07-08+22.29.59.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I ended up loving this coral-colored, chevron tape with the paint colors I used. It was so fun to try the tape in different positions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsgXENd1mkN5sQmtGiKKDuzLqtYK7XAl0_l1gGz-I0pVBoXudf8O5T9rZaHm9uH4WDlYg6GjWxO9-_HoSvz4uBOs4LyGKEx7WPXTlb2FWbFuUmbSqDZfrzLS0l4Qaf6DeknVdcMdMxF4y/s1600/2014-07-08+22.34.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsgXENd1mkN5sQmtGiKKDuzLqtYK7XAl0_l1gGz-I0pVBoXudf8O5T9rZaHm9uH4WDlYg6GjWxO9-_HoSvz4uBOs4LyGKEx7WPXTlb2FWbFuUmbSqDZfrzLS0l4Qaf6DeknVdcMdMxF4y/s1600/2014-07-08+22.34.18.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This was one of the easiest projects ever, and I'll be doing a few more to feed into my washi obsession!</div>
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Stay tuned....</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-27692511730282850392013-11-23T00:11:00.001-05:002013-11-23T00:11:07.669-05:00lucky meIt's so easy to get wrapped up in the everyday things....annoyances, aches and pains, insecurities, stress and fears...and focus on what's not going your way. <br />
<br />
Like...this annoying cough that WON'T. GO. AWAY.<br />
<br />
Or....feeling like even when I stay late at work I'm still just keeping my head above water. <br />
<br />
And the fear that every time we get a lot of rain in a short period of time (like last week) I'm going to have water in my basement.<br />
<br />
That tire that needs replacing.<br />
<br />
Those meals that I haven't been cooking.<br />
<br />
That stack of bills I need to pay.<br />
<br />
Since I'm human, I worry. <br />
About the little things.<br />
The big things.<br />
And even the non-existent things.<br />
<em>(like worrying about book characters-- seriously, I do that)</em><br />
<br />
What I'm deciding to do....actually, what I often decide to do, is stop myself on that worry track. <br />
Turn around.<br />
Look at what's important.<br />
<br />
And count my blessings.<br />
<br />
Because.....those things I listed above? <br />
<br />
They are greatly outweighed by the magnitude of how lucky I really am in life.<br />
<br />
I often joke that I'm the world's most unluckiest person, but really I'm just talking about the little things-- I don't win contests, I pick the wrong line/lane/route, I'm extremely clutzy (like you-wouldn't-believe-it-if-you-weren't-there clutzy)....all things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things.<br />
<br />
When it comes to the big picture.....I'm very, very lucky.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv54hmNsw203Sf0JC9MuxUXFnkOTFvokIrmHureFOrbekCzl83arukgsBZzU9Y90meAMWRP8-s9HMFJrI-jGAdd_sNMtRercZxhkLTWDDCn6wC3Uvum-jLixIAmkV24SCaUWRy-YqahPB/s1600/iPhone+pics+downloaded+on+November+11+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv54hmNsw203Sf0JC9MuxUXFnkOTFvokIrmHureFOrbekCzl83arukgsBZzU9Y90meAMWRP8-s9HMFJrI-jGAdd_sNMtRercZxhkLTWDDCn6wC3Uvum-jLixIAmkV24SCaUWRy-YqahPB/s1600/iPhone+pics+downloaded+on+November+11+047.JPG" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
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<em>(Really....what's luckier than seeing a double rainbow?)</em></div>
<br />
<br />
My parents- amazing role models<br />
<br />
My family- fun and loving<br />
<br />
My friends- supportive and generous<br />
<br />
My job- being able to do something I love and that inspires me everyday<br />
<br />
My coworkers- so hardworking, dedicated and thoughtful<br />
<br />
My home- having my own place, being able to have an outlet for my creativity, and feeling safe where I live<br />
<br />
My health- I can walk, talk, see, hear, breathe, smell, feel.....I'm alive.<br />
<br />
My mind- I can think clearly, problem solve, remember, comprehend, and feel compassion.<br />
<br />
I've had a pretty stressful couple of weeks where I had a lot of those "poor me" moments. It's prevented me from doing a lot of things that I wanted to do, or even really needed to do. After a much-needed fun night out with a great group of friends, I felt the urge to turn my thoughts to the positives in my life.<br />
<br />
Lucky for me, it wasn't hard to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-66780977290239831742013-11-09T17:30:00.001-05:002013-11-09T17:42:30.150-05:00changes are coming...If you have visited my blog in the past, you may have noticed a different, stripped down look for the past couple days. That's due to my old blog template (which was free) not being free anymore. Until my new template can get loaded, I'm in temporary free-blogger-template mode. <br />
<br />
Stay tuned to see the new look for my blog....and although it's not going to be a custom look (yet), I definitely think it will be cute! I wouldn't have it any other way. :)<br />
<br />
On a different note....today is my dad's birthday. While he passed away over twenty years ago, I still think of him all the time, and November 9th definitely puts me in a bit of a sad mood. <br />
<br />
Rereading last year's post about my dad last night did help me to recall all of the cherished memories I have of my dad.<br />
<br />
If you'd like to read more about the wonderful man who was, along with my mom, a huge influence of who I am today, go <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/11/remembering.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday, Dad!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxLyrZgFlgtw_LHqiDmYxcaY_h3vUmVqsxSwOT-5NlFi6EhTSvcrHdLpeyHwUABs0ZmDGomd4_zSDMwUw6t_Fr9HH28Ab3ipqQ4i3MRWd8_r1T1zkWIb3VHHr6ZstY3xdNd462YinRGN-/s1600/2013-06-16+11.31.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxLyrZgFlgtw_LHqiDmYxcaY_h3vUmVqsxSwOT-5NlFi6EhTSvcrHdLpeyHwUABs0ZmDGomd4_zSDMwUw6t_Fr9HH28Ab3ipqQ4i3MRWd8_r1T1zkWIb3VHHr6ZstY3xdNd462YinRGN-/s320/2013-06-16+11.31.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-23105534623993637942013-10-09T23:48:00.000-04:002013-10-09T23:48:18.557-04:00welcome...to my home away from home!You know how teachers joke around about how their students think they "live" at school?<br />
<br />
Well....it's closer to the truth than I'd care to admit sometimes. I spend an average of 11-12 hours at school (sometimes more, sometimes less) a day during the week and then I usually come back on Saturday or Sunday for a good chunk of time to get ready for Monday.<br />
<br />
The past two nights, I was literally giddy over the fact that I left work at or before 5:00.<br />
State testing= less planning for the next day. <br />
Really the only perks of standardized testing.<br />
<br />
The reason I bring this up.....I spend a lot of time in my classroom, so I want it to be comfortable, inviting, appealing, colorful, organized, and a reflection of who I am.<br />
<br />
So I bring to you tonight.....my very first.....<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="background-color: cyan;">CLASSROOM TOUR!</span></strong> <br />
<br />
Please note that all of these photos were taken the week before school started, so everything is new and clean and neat and organized. And while it's still neat and organized (I wouldn't have it any other way), it's definitely more "broken into" like a new pair of shoes after a month of wearing them.<br />
<br />
<em>Warning: An obnoxious amount of photos are to follow. I just love my classroom that much.</em><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSW8i0k9dV1ARkI5aQz-4-9iodvoh3DNvlGKeoq00DRMCIB4-knZaDeMc50i0lQXb25JmMxYvRfnhe5BgtTbiyZbw-UvvxS4O7to5h92mV5d7f2u8yFpoARYNBfmq-nkHjhHyykxNb_-4/s1600/2013-08-25+18.56.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSW8i0k9dV1ARkI5aQz-4-9iodvoh3DNvlGKeoq00DRMCIB4-knZaDeMc50i0lQXb25JmMxYvRfnhe5BgtTbiyZbw-UvvxS4O7to5h92mV5d7f2u8yFpoARYNBfmq-nkHjhHyykxNb_-4/s320/2013-08-25+18.56.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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View of the front of the room</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYgoMc4cBo5TD4gShviFikEwoapkK3gmwgm5s-XVRqPWXirGio7s_6eoLzbxPAY68_ywCySifOwkZcEKiX9v93cODhxpYqy1T-obXltgIlHAjZl63ECF3R-IBJz6smj_DXQ4Vkf_hz_wY/s1600/2013-08-25+18.56.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYgoMc4cBo5TD4gShviFikEwoapkK3gmwgm5s-XVRqPWXirGio7s_6eoLzbxPAY68_ywCySifOwkZcEKiX9v93cODhxpYqy1T-obXltgIlHAjZl63ECF3R-IBJz6smj_DXQ4Vkf_hz_wY/s320/2013-08-25+18.56.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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View from the door toward the "window side" of the room</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-HyFLEPK47YgFDrhZEFZBEjZtfX8DYPAyYhCM_hdobJAJ1kU9xEAw0zbMHlXC0yxwaswn9VTSM26SbUxpUq8z-8DbA8G6tBhiQnL4AfiNwXSxQ_FV48e2S8KC71vPv938pbfsOfYJKTI/s1600/2013-08-25+18.57.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-HyFLEPK47YgFDrhZEFZBEjZtfX8DYPAyYhCM_hdobJAJ1kU9xEAw0zbMHlXC0yxwaswn9VTSM26SbUxpUq8z-8DbA8G6tBhiQnL4AfiNwXSxQ_FV48e2S8KC71vPv938pbfsOfYJKTI/s320/2013-08-25+18.57.28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Standing in the front, looking toward the back of the room</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg0goJ3tBmVK2yAGHomymb8uEVDQ8cB416z_rVl1IgEOzTJtQaDUXCTlJMyDYMN037lAug1_eGsUMecov8vCZNYP3tc4_eSLVl1Aw0ILsp9uWKtKRbC9dPMyWJlPN0JgQa-lHuKrM4elr/s1600/2013-08-25+18.57.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg0goJ3tBmVK2yAGHomymb8uEVDQ8cB416z_rVl1IgEOzTJtQaDUXCTlJMyDYMN037lAug1_eGsUMecov8vCZNYP3tc4_eSLVl1Aw0ILsp9uWKtKRbC9dPMyWJlPN0JgQa-lHuKrM4elr/s320/2013-08-25+18.57.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the last full view- to the "cubby side" and doorway</div>
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Cubby Wall</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHFeXJgQ9UIWbakECx3j8dOklF36ZXKX-JWlTXs5Vm-9kxtoX3ksUkbH3BD71zW9Px1RLjbyZgkfEBLaV2jnfXrvhLwMZcH2jKWXJjALNl4HgXEvTYplZS2rw0sayHhGXv65TWmA2mFIT/s1600/2013-08-25+18.58.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHFeXJgQ9UIWbakECx3j8dOklF36ZXKX-JWlTXs5Vm-9kxtoX3ksUkbH3BD71zW9Px1RLjbyZgkfEBLaV2jnfXrvhLwMZcH2jKWXJjALNl4HgXEvTYplZS2rw0sayHhGXv65TWmA2mFIT/s320/2013-08-25+18.58.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All the cubbies are loaded up with the student supplies, ready for the first day!</div>
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Above the student cubbies are all of my Reading Street teaching resources (we got a TON of stuff for this new curriculum!). </div>
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On top of the cubbies are totes of all of my extra books. </div>
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I'm kind of addicted to buying books for my class....:)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPxQ01W6UMbOeEw3BU1dV84nywK4XqnExcNCUhnMP17SoCUMr6QbuE7OTapgNmtzC1NydYP3ZPp_dppkpMsroDsanFOx1b1kLutVjTnnCbCkYQnwlLaaqxvXfpZ4Hu1DZaXHDY0Ozt8JG/s1600/2013-08-25+18.59.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPxQ01W6UMbOeEw3BU1dV84nywK4XqnExcNCUhnMP17SoCUMr6QbuE7OTapgNmtzC1NydYP3ZPp_dppkpMsroDsanFOx1b1kLutVjTnnCbCkYQnwlLaaqxvXfpZ4Hu1DZaXHDY0Ozt8JG/s320/2013-08-25+18.59.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As you can probably tell, I heart organization. All of my Reading Street resources are now organized by unit and reading level.</div>
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Such a time saver!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXnEs8aQsVAmgU-lvp-qCX_YJgyjzd8-InjDCFhrnbrSo8XWOhKRUu7QY2t-Rgbds5oDDEhrirXghavsmYiDnz0nc4-uyIu_FiatuL1Ng7ur7dXerd-iWT8NGnbEd19C7L5rpiGJ7ij8i/s1600/2013-08-25+19.00.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXnEs8aQsVAmgU-lvp-qCX_YJgyjzd8-InjDCFhrnbrSo8XWOhKRUu7QY2t-Rgbds5oDDEhrirXghavsmYiDnz0nc4-uyIu_FiatuL1Ng7ur7dXerd-iWT8NGnbEd19C7L5rpiGJ7ij8i/s320/2013-08-25+19.00.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I provide my students with five colored folders and label them ahead of time. </div>
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(The past two summers I've bargain shopped and got them for a penny each!)</div>
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This is one of my favorite organization tips that lasts the entire year. Papers for every subject have a place, and with a quick scan of the room I can tell which students have out the correct folder!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTJhWJ6XDA2AQbWIW6BWTf9T20pl9K6X9CHm9qm1UkAiey7c1tsvd5vcDSoMxI5rLdFT1sYR4a89l5twu9xIeggWRTzWijDQFLH9on7p5BPtNJK3i2qvy2immAMqm8XN4Na8Qg4V-YEuO/s1600/2013-08-25+19.00.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTJhWJ6XDA2AQbWIW6BWTf9T20pl9K6X9CHm9qm1UkAiey7c1tsvd5vcDSoMxI5rLdFT1sYR4a89l5twu9xIeggWRTzWijDQFLH9on7p5BPtNJK3i2qvy2immAMqm8XN4Na8Qg4V-YEuO/s320/2013-08-25+19.00.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I put everything they need in their cubbies before the first day: all of the books, workbooks, notebooks, folders, planner, clipboard, etc. are numbered and ready for them. </div>
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<em>These do NOT stay in their cubbies-- that would require way too much getting out of their seats and wasted transition time.</em></div>
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Within the first couple days, all of this (except for the clipboards) will be brought to their desk. This process provides a great opportunity to practice efficient procedures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIopue4YuZxOZizS4iWkcB7lh98yik7HZnlstRlgHgL6wooDq_QvuuFAYYc7VcNt4p6AZfX2ovRI-26ENpMfR62HpUgIjkLYRB05yCrLynaPhf9zlNNxY1W0dk5FcULX2aL-6fSSsf8r3z/s1600/2013-08-25+18.58.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIopue4YuZxOZizS4iWkcB7lh98yik7HZnlstRlgHgL6wooDq_QvuuFAYYc7VcNt4p6AZfX2ovRI-26ENpMfR62HpUgIjkLYRB05yCrLynaPhf9zlNNxY1W0dk5FcULX2aL-6fSSsf8r3z/s320/2013-08-25+18.58.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Next to the cubbies is a small bulletin board, with a weekly calendar of events, reminders about our Michigan Miles, and a few signs with inspirational quotes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhku9CUAPKhw341cp8fdgF4nSSM1nKlDveeG4arC2GxEy3o3_vArqQWjq3cJvc5cOhhqWsVpAYeigMLeR-VFpG66z7JQvnDblcucx97nqYuIk0Qvfy0hzFiEJPLj3eDi10kJwOwUL6ZhXtI/s1600/2013-08-26+17.24.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhku9CUAPKhw341cp8fdgF4nSSM1nKlDveeG4arC2GxEy3o3_vArqQWjq3cJvc5cOhhqWsVpAYeigMLeR-VFpG66z7JQvnDblcucx97nqYuIk0Qvfy0hzFiEJPLj3eDi10kJwOwUL6ZhXtI/s320/2013-08-26+17.24.36.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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Michigan Miles are a behavior reward program we came up with years ago to have the students "earn" their trip to Fourth Grade Camp. They earn miles through good behavior, turning in homework on time, and getting their planner signed. It's been a great motivator for the kids!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSo2GW6biuYOOfxwFa-v2TkhpBdARwJ8bkTDJIANVgbbNrs1zcGZfW5lYEkxT7q2TOwKnBiT-kTbsMzzqUE-D5kY26geU0j5ZoPP8lfIXgjkYC71DrZv6ZFcErpMrAsLRX-NdyuP9mCyo/s1600/2013-08-26+17.24.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSo2GW6biuYOOfxwFa-v2TkhpBdARwJ8bkTDJIANVgbbNrs1zcGZfW5lYEkxT7q2TOwKnBiT-kTbsMzzqUE-D5kY26geU0j5ZoPP8lfIXgjkYC71DrZv6ZFcErpMrAsLRX-NdyuP9mCyo/s320/2013-08-26+17.24.56.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Another sign next to the door.....a list of what students can do when they're done with work. These "May Do" activities aren't choices every day, but often enough to keep up as a reminder.</div>
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Front Wall</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp__q2x1RnMAMz2nTnMd9B2v3Ng0_gqOpkLer5_k_DCMp8Q34x3k0F0fL0u9RPnOLWVXBwaYu9Dcju4p3v_E6klTcspbQ5ajibL7GlJG2yEa5dqn8zeSN1mS8nzBQTWkgD-cKYz-f3D4U/s1600/2013-08-25+19.01.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp__q2x1RnMAMz2nTnMd9B2v3Ng0_gqOpkLer5_k_DCMp8Q34x3k0F0fL0u9RPnOLWVXBwaYu9Dcju4p3v_E6klTcspbQ5ajibL7GlJG2yEa5dqn8zeSN1mS8nzBQTWkgD-cKYz-f3D4U/s320/2013-08-25+19.01.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of my bulletin boards up front.....with my calendar/birthdays, jobs board (which I explained in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/monday-made-it-classroom-jobs-board.html" target="_blank">this post</a>), and Social Contracts for my homeroom and math classes.</div>
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On the table in front of this board are some free choice activities- Hot Dots, writing prompts, and math facts practice activities.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy7ia4zsrF78wqV5Cotv2eXd7bhnVWU7Jl8HlPo4hNTZHG3_THgKGiRMYaDtL3L2NHMhgkxAGZSWrzUFaoQsxi1rX2BIVnTydwJXSnE7Umrb0x0mDo1-_4YJuIxpfaGcKnQmVYaf6Y52e/s1600/2013-08-19+18.23.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPy7ia4zsrF78wqV5Cotv2eXd7bhnVWU7Jl8HlPo4hNTZHG3_THgKGiRMYaDtL3L2NHMhgkxAGZSWrzUFaoQsxi1rX2BIVnTydwJXSnE7Umrb0x0mDo1-_4YJuIxpfaGcKnQmVYaf6Y52e/s320/2013-08-19+18.23.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You can get these calendar pieces at my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blue-Chevron-Calendar-Labels-919626" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers store</a>. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BSqUZQ1poQArNepMt3h5oZRI3ezcfWrhOVNKWio_rDwTkGUVfbe2SyXjKX-Ab4ASL0w02MNznITTv7TIYu8DLsBgyeYpJRXjmUdpObR7Kj1tj2Y_h9JLgeRC8b5GmIiiE97VQ9cRVpF/s1600/2013-08-25+19.01.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9BSqUZQ1poQArNepMt3h5oZRI3ezcfWrhOVNKWio_rDwTkGUVfbe2SyXjKX-Ab4ASL0w02MNznITTv7TIYu8DLsBgyeYpJRXjmUdpObR7Kj1tj2Y_h9JLgeRC8b5GmIiiE97VQ9cRVpF/s320/2013-08-25+19.01.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On this side of my board-- Volume Control (<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Volume-Control-Sign-846045" target="_blank">freebie here</a>), the poster where I list each day's homework assignments for students to copy into their planners, a pocket chart for our daily schedule, and a few other signs for reference.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIewCRMvw5Nw8R_QmUHGz-eqBrkRGaCRDIxYu5YCciM6Zn-TBzcyV4SmENkY8IXTrIAYfxHRv4WI2SconDr4pXgy6II5UlNaRk-gS18Cy156naSDfCUZlqZley0SN9eLqN2UZ6GjYQKJA/s1600/2013-08-25+19.02.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIewCRMvw5Nw8R_QmUHGz-eqBrkRGaCRDIxYu5YCciM6Zn-TBzcyV4SmENkY8IXTrIAYfxHRv4WI2SconDr4pXgy6II5UlNaRk-gS18Cy156naSDfCUZlqZley0SN9eLqN2UZ6GjYQKJA/s320/2013-08-25+19.02.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right in front of the board-- my Elmo/Projector table, covered easily with some chevron fabric (see more about that process <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ7xDtKhPbttJrYPz-aWE_opjYVaIIZUAnRhC5m4r52nFwjp8DiEuROPN_TYvGuOCiODbbAKwcS3HP2q7NG20RAH5b24S2IUQph31Ep93k5V06RSk59l65u7sBoTZHLySc1FElZjiiBUe/s1600/2013-08-25+19.02.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ7xDtKhPbttJrYPz-aWE_opjYVaIIZUAnRhC5m4r52nFwjp8DiEuROPN_TYvGuOCiODbbAKwcS3HP2q7NG20RAH5b24S2IUQph31Ep93k5V06RSk59l65u7sBoTZHLySc1FElZjiiBUe/s320/2013-08-25+19.02.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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On the left side of the board-- my daily objective frames (read more about these <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/objective-frames-update.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/daily-objective-dry-erase-boardsnot.html" target="_blank">here</a>), a spot for missing work stars, behavior clip chart, and SLANT reminder poster.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH29e3OK11l1N09mvohW1LDnvx3B-71KMY13TxtxynJmvzan0diJePN8F2vSe9M9JvE4WpUzigwizvcHHnNKBYh9gEzxsBJtMTv9I8ung08FJE2cVoKCkQtxF3Ve_qlnu6k3UIW1DjQ1B/s1600/2013-08-25+19.03.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyH29e3OK11l1N09mvohW1LDnvx3B-71KMY13TxtxynJmvzan0diJePN8F2vSe9M9JvE4WpUzigwizvcHHnNKBYh9gEzxsBJtMTv9I8ung08FJE2cVoKCkQtxF3Ve_qlnu6k3UIW1DjQ1B/s320/2013-08-25+19.03.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My other bulletin board....Reading Street Concept Board and posters with literary elements and different genres of literature.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBKF-qVgL0phIobBCDyWe4rAKzsjrjGL6Hl1LVW2R86aw-ATy1Ev53_OUT3YN33ipzEDKiCYnhfKzQruHsGNrG4rKzZnaSYstEbM4QKuu1Bv8-DgYwkZ0i3HXeuPaSN8sUpfSt-FBgCz-/s1600/2013-08-25+13.33.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBKF-qVgL0phIobBCDyWe4rAKzsjrjGL6Hl1LVW2R86aw-ATy1Ev53_OUT3YN33ipzEDKiCYnhfKzQruHsGNrG4rKzZnaSYstEbM4QKuu1Bv8-DgYwkZ0i3HXeuPaSN8sUpfSt-FBgCz-/s320/2013-08-25+13.33.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This part of the board changes every week.....if you teach 4th Grade Reading Street, go to <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fourth-Grade-Reading-Street-Unit-Question-Signs-841608" target="_blank">my TpT store</a> to find these Unit and Weekly Question signs!</div>
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Window Wall</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SfI765vFVw30Uu3DK8n-5l0VU_7ECgiQczgAJcdOMyo-Nlm60qGiU6-HThNYaecaxDfDgR-qypj7_HVf040P2073Yg6Dk-oKMxkceXJTx7OP9Nxd5YOsLhWjGy0-z9iBtTJ2uKQnQvii/s1600/2013-08-26+17.22.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SfI765vFVw30Uu3DK8n-5l0VU_7ECgiQczgAJcdOMyo-Nlm60qGiU6-HThNYaecaxDfDgR-qypj7_HVf040P2073Yg6Dk-oKMxkceXJTx7OP9Nxd5YOsLhWjGy0-z9iBtTJ2uKQnQvii/s320/2013-08-26+17.22.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My classroom library....and there are more book boxes in the front of the room.</div>
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Did I mention I am addicted to books? ;)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN_j7Bzd08Bh197kWpPfRBszcFM0I7jTn6AMuyKh09iwu4KVyqdMnJMpwLfzIxW8oGhyphenhyphenRNFITknBSeG-HW85YaxvtZ95pMlIdIcOLEr6hOrmVewITgrIzHLedJj8hXjxP8as15Fp_0Ql1/s1600/2013-08-26+17.22.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN_j7Bzd08Bh197kWpPfRBszcFM0I7jTn6AMuyKh09iwu4KVyqdMnJMpwLfzIxW8oGhyphenhyphenRNFITknBSeG-HW85YaxvtZ95pMlIdIcOLEr6hOrmVewITgrIzHLedJj8hXjxP8as15Fp_0Ql1/s320/2013-08-26+17.22.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Above the bookshelves is my "Moral Focus" wall. I teach at a charter school with a Moral Focus and Citizenship component. We teach the Core Democratic Values along with Moral Virtues. Each month, this display changes but the CDV posters above it stay there all year.</div>
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<em>Sorry this is so blurry-- I tried getting everything in the picture. I should know better by now!</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojrte34FC5sKp5JFHL-fTvpLTk1E2TEwBp7c_kl5Yb8AEeg3xvHTGjyJrNpf3-TDAeu7OLM5dHQcx_29uuEgPj6DIx7MOqBmhdLLrY9liO2_N6CwZmdpkqsJX8cyHpSgK3i5tgDmYJBdO/s1600/2013-08-26+17.23.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojrte34FC5sKp5JFHL-fTvpLTk1E2TEwBp7c_kl5Yb8AEeg3xvHTGjyJrNpf3-TDAeu7OLM5dHQcx_29uuEgPj6DIx7MOqBmhdLLrY9liO2_N6CwZmdpkqsJX8cyHpSgK3i5tgDmYJBdO/s320/2013-08-26+17.23.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The dull and sharp pencil cans I made from metal buckets I found at the Target Dollar Spot last summer. Love these! And with my new pencil sharpener (described in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/09/five-for-friday-second-week-of-school.html" target="_blank">this post</a>), I start each day with a supply of perfectly sharpened pencils for the kids to trade.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsS3xm-QCd7WayvDMDPGLafuQ19TASMV6xTc8lb0Z7msDPY9YZytpd1nr2inpvEmrc11w-a-D82aWUQDlemeJrwdjT1_wQqG73DHQzgEQpcgiSVXmODXXEpnHumhR_FccYi6Yn54neN3C/s1600/2013-08-26+17.23.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsS3xm-QCd7WayvDMDPGLafuQ19TASMV6xTc8lb0Z7msDPY9YZytpd1nr2inpvEmrc11w-a-D82aWUQDlemeJrwdjT1_wQqG73DHQzgEQpcgiSVXmODXXEpnHumhR_FccYi6Yn54neN3C/s320/2013-08-26+17.23.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had to include this.....one of the few things I still have (and use) from my first year of teaching.</div>
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A shoe box, covered with contact paper, having seen better days, but still serving its purpose.</div>
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Students write compliments to each other when another student does something for them that they want to recognize. I read these at our weekly class meetings, and give the students their compliment slips to keep. Those little pieces of paper mean a lot to many of the kids.</div>
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And they mean a lot to me, too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz8L6yeqYLxGetRkM0m0Oh0hO0qxBZKd_ASlVczIMQOra_ig4eAZsM5DGiwrsfm0BzPW3HM5ntGsMlZpA5cqJIefJJgsM_RJQraAy4Jh9m6OnMyitVqhSPchxw_T3OsHR8J8A9TzEIjZL/s1600/2013-08-25+19.03.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGz8L6yeqYLxGetRkM0m0Oh0hO0qxBZKd_ASlVczIMQOra_ig4eAZsM5DGiwrsfm0BzPW3HM5ntGsMlZpA5cqJIefJJgsM_RJQraAy4Jh9m6OnMyitVqhSPchxw_T3OsHR8J8A9TzEIjZL/s320/2013-08-25+19.03.38.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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The front corner of my room-- storage for supplies (read <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/five-for-friday.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about the labels I created), class rules/consequences/behavior reminder posters, and my bookshelf that I wrote about in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</div>
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<em>(Yikes....I apologize for the blurry pictures-- my classroom has some areas of low light)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwi_4l5LXSSR1dttWRZMY1HxgzhDpbdiQgU2EtE3I0_Bl2v1wk5hO5NCegw3lHtk3MKooVe0DWh1-6pUxcRYV8EZJ7d79dbzYC4I4zDby-uBKslNJMKewsP5hC09bLSWAV5ubdyHANm0QY/s1600/2013-08-26+17.22.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwi_4l5LXSSR1dttWRZMY1HxgzhDpbdiQgU2EtE3I0_Bl2v1wk5hO5NCegw3lHtk3MKooVe0DWh1-6pUxcRYV8EZJ7d79dbzYC4I4zDby-uBKslNJMKewsP5hC09bLSWAV5ubdyHANm0QY/s320/2013-08-26+17.22.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Two motivators-- Homework Stars and Catching Compliments.</div>
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I'll write more about these two things in a future post. :)</div>
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Back Wall</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunfZ2w1NeBvzCtO19h7O_BEd7GJxmh2HfvBieO7uR8z-tHLoWz2mmBu9EmqjDWk2s3JXEMZemm4fx45a9Hp4npl5A3-B1QfW2fy-AsHGlBIqLMcdERSuyDIIwKOZvA8GHE_4bujI9Rq0r/s1600/2013-08-25+19.06.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunfZ2w1NeBvzCtO19h7O_BEd7GJxmh2HfvBieO7uR8z-tHLoWz2mmBu9EmqjDWk2s3JXEMZemm4fx45a9Hp4npl5A3-B1QfW2fy-AsHGlBIqLMcdERSuyDIIwKOZvA8GHE_4bujI9Rq0r/s320/2013-08-25+19.06.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On my back counter....drawers for organizing my supplies/copies for each subject area, and the binders/resource books/Teacher Editions I need for planning.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ349WAfHgXnx_JWr2WUiVJIY3t0mxtgyfqIyUuvSrYmplOuk6BaLRXn6MSlUQjnt3NuMPK-BjRR7K0LMaEj1Y2b9kPg07wGHMHRbSGG3AjnJ29ye4sHqPXmmMnXX0sDX3IF_gHTiCwi64/s1600/2013-08-25+19.09.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ349WAfHgXnx_JWr2WUiVJIY3t0mxtgyfqIyUuvSrYmplOuk6BaLRXn6MSlUQjnt3NuMPK-BjRR7K0LMaEj1Y2b9kPg07wGHMHRbSGG3AjnJ29ye4sHqPXmmMnXX0sDX3IF_gHTiCwi64/s320/2013-08-25+19.09.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The file box is for "Extra Papers"-- I make a couple extra copies of homework assignments, study sheets, spelling lists, and reading logs for students who lost theirs.</div>
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Proudly displaying my two diplomas as well!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpDswToHfu2UCmL6uwCxtNjpks5s8hdROsQPDFXeKvjwbaTEX_yl0WJUvVfbPdX658srgBq17W3Ud575YlVGrpd_eUKyzQVHTJh2XrMdiDtriDInQ7Ij4FO2rqRmg9qO28qloh9P_VXay/s1600/2013-08-26+17.25.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpDswToHfu2UCmL6uwCxtNjpks5s8hdROsQPDFXeKvjwbaTEX_yl0WJUvVfbPdX658srgBq17W3Ud575YlVGrpd_eUKyzQVHTJh2XrMdiDtriDInQ7Ij4FO2rqRmg9qO28qloh9P_VXay/s320/2013-08-26+17.25.23.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
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Close up of this Command Center--- Bandaids, Travel Passes (basically like a hall pass), Lunch Parent Reports, and Behavior Notes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOxvEuhxU6XKHUGjf-LrHSvKDay5KgYijhgG2UMPAmub4tvwRJLqBKLHPnOTtFPYk2BoTYEWTCuBw5jI_uVAGeo4tBowgPwfLDVKF3_glIHqb3mYJOD8g5nJQRbetRKL1LpLirekutlxQ/s1600/2013-08-25+19.09.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOxvEuhxU6XKHUGjf-LrHSvKDay5KgYijhgG2UMPAmub4tvwRJLqBKLHPnOTtFPYk2BoTYEWTCuBw5jI_uVAGeo4tBowgPwfLDVKF3_glIHqb3mYJOD8g5nJQRbetRKL1LpLirekutlxQ/s320/2013-08-25+19.09.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My second microwave with lunch supply tub on top, and the filing cabinet that I beautified this summer (as described in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">this post</a>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSWbrZ25Gicm25wG0wv6AXrfQc-Rcaz12I6ivkWGv5qcl1oo5v7xo0QRxrgXUfMwgqKN-eCVceqCqHgQys8RmgwfyGrKxhodFs1DBygkOT1tdyQkiGYRem-RrS4NUd7zEre4mZN82ldJh/s1600/2013-08-25+19.09.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVSWbrZ25Gicm25wG0wv6AXrfQc-Rcaz12I6ivkWGv5qcl1oo5v7xo0QRxrgXUfMwgqKN-eCVceqCqHgQys8RmgwfyGrKxhodFs1DBygkOT1tdyQkiGYRem-RrS4NUd7zEre4mZN82ldJh/s320/2013-08-25+19.09.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reading Area.....lots of comfy pillows to read comfortably around the room during silent reading time. I even have a student whose one job is to keep the pillows organized. </div>
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I'm a little OCD like that. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKahSmlYJCDyuIRTlMQcoSZM_ZY8Bn8-JJKvrmlnwVyhbysgUAoHZm9o37zyr7t-x4eeLBuf8A7xYVAPgAwURfpf8WgLaMqr2S40gl48fanTa4lQJwGZvQ9EMb47b-O_OfZbqDlpOtMon/s1600/2013-08-25+19.09.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKahSmlYJCDyuIRTlMQcoSZM_ZY8Bn8-JJKvrmlnwVyhbysgUAoHZm9o37zyr7t-x4eeLBuf8A7xYVAPgAwURfpf8WgLaMqr2S40gl48fanTa4lQJwGZvQ9EMb47b-O_OfZbqDlpOtMon/s320/2013-08-25+19.09.38.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Right above the reading area....my Star of the Week board (which isn't bare anymore) and my "bed" of Scooby Doo dolls. Many gifts from many students over the years. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvtK4PGMk-Fd3_GcKzzZIC9rrR3HkfdZZQ294mPpgIGu7-CQUp17BHB6dAOI-EXY-zi1i1o3VnC9ur0foPeXcrmfdFLvhauI8kcgocKvuocdAn4B8OHADdNCW1-jJedJhHeqG2rY4dr9c/s1600/2013-08-26+17.21.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvtK4PGMk-Fd3_GcKzzZIC9rrR3HkfdZZQ294mPpgIGu7-CQUp17BHB6dAOI-EXY-zi1i1o3VnC9ur0foPeXcrmfdFLvhauI8kcgocKvuocdAn4B8OHADdNCW1-jJedJhHeqG2rY4dr9c/s320/2013-08-26+17.21.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next to that....my gallery-wall of "Wise Words". Most found via Pinterest.</div>
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This came to be after changing my objective frames to plastic magnetic ones.....I took the glass out of the remaining ones and used the frames to go around some laminated signs.</div>
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I did the same with a couple cheap Target frames too (glass taken out for safety reasons!)...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj386ClfQMlifgHAyHgox4_PosESj1b-Wuzqrik327B_SFUmzx-xYJVplVKVzRD-GHEV5riRqJ8SaE3Fo4gwT9VRYySqWjssgL9RzLeckbSlq_oaAiX4qAvrKS6H8A1le04kXfdoGMt1QxL/s1600/2013-08-26+17.21.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj386ClfQMlifgHAyHgox4_PosESj1b-Wuzqrik327B_SFUmzx-xYJVplVKVzRD-GHEV5riRqJ8SaE3Fo4gwT9VRYySqWjssgL9RzLeckbSlq_oaAiX4qAvrKS6H8A1le04kXfdoGMt1QxL/s320/2013-08-26+17.21.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One of my favorites. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9XNJ1bsweru83WxjIg87z2NWBJw8zDK-rYX0luLQQ_9ieIfQDCImCQ55KeOlfIU4aygyWGrQC9JT9aQmnugrsXsghgJXKOg48KxUP1fSAh2bMRJ7i61GjWnwOqa4QEckgMddB0TN_TGr/s1600/2013-08-26+19.51.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9XNJ1bsweru83WxjIg87z2NWBJw8zDK-rYX0luLQQ_9ieIfQDCImCQ55KeOlfIU4aygyWGrQC9JT9aQmnugrsXsghgJXKOg48KxUP1fSAh2bMRJ7i61GjWnwOqa4QEckgMddB0TN_TGr/s320/2013-08-26+19.51.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And finally.....a Welcome Sign that I whipped up an hour before our Parent Orientation this summer. Because for some reason I needed to do one more crafty project....</div>
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Phew! If you made it to the end of this tour, I congratulate you.</div>
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And thank you.</div>
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And am impressed by your stamina.....and patience.</div>
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As you can probably tell, I love my classroom.</div>
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I should.....since I kind of "live" there. :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-2073200649293894982013-09-13T23:38:00.000-04:002013-09-13T23:38:19.754-04:00five for friday- second week of school It was one week ago that I was sitting at home, exhausted after the first week of school.<br />
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I wish I could say I felt better one week later (a.k.a. today).....but, this week I went from just tired-- to sick and tired. Like, <em>can't sleep at night from coughing fits</em> sick. And <em>losing my voice</em> sick.<br />
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Teachers....you know how fun that is, right?<br />
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One week later, it seems to finally be making a turn for the better.<br />
So, I'm celebrating with a fun "Five for Friday" linky party. <br />
Yeah, I'm such a party animal. :)<br />
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Linking up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a>....<br />
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<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4TaHFkKej7XbglJBBabC6ZDX0zBJI8oOSKu89nHLB5BAkAo1dgIZ7v_aB11hWAI3t_Cl0tF2M3ysNBTwE62v-KwYNTW8f-c9b-p1QDbkaA7fWwGNsR0QdiyP-Rw4I9Jw2kU0qW-cBiKQq/s320/fiveforfriday2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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number one</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkYdpFdSKX7r3ikimURMFEUqcdy9b2vbEma5xY8cCkosJ0ZTNmj0TryzAZ3wTApjtUbz217hvXMzhqqYANak4Tt9OabCZoKdyvUedLmpTMs7Yv9TzlcoC7hzVWvnTGwjcOLdb4t6Ztnck/s1600/2013-08-21+12.57.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbkYdpFdSKX7r3ikimURMFEUqcdy9b2vbEma5xY8cCkosJ0ZTNmj0TryzAZ3wTApjtUbz217hvXMzhqqYANak4Tt9OabCZoKdyvUedLmpTMs7Yv9TzlcoC7hzVWvnTGwjcOLdb4t6Ztnck/s320/2013-08-21+12.57.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I. LOVE. THIS. SHARPENER.</div>
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Sharpening pencils has always been a source of frustration for me. Maybe because it's a never-ending cycle. Maybe it's because my electric sharpeners always break pencils. Or break down. Or are extremely loud and grating to hear.</div>
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<a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">This one</a>....sharpens pencils perfectly, doesn't break the pencils, and although I wouldn't call it "quiet"....it's definitely quieter and less annoying-sounding than my electric ones.</div>
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If this sharpener keeps this up all year, I would be even more impressed.</div>
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So excited to have found it through <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a>!</div>
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number two</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIyEKaN1kI-BSyNQl66dNbZnYRuPuf82t9K9o8NBX8PFq_f0rEl31Mu9v1m0IqcXJsiN2IW45v4Xmg7HaBdN-nEUc-IoJbgoevK8Pe-uZgTk53zNiDEabCcUzcB-RqLixyJZD6bAKev9F/s1600/2013-08-21+14.47.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtIyEKaN1kI-BSyNQl66dNbZnYRuPuf82t9K9o8NBX8PFq_f0rEl31Mu9v1m0IqcXJsiN2IW45v4Xmg7HaBdN-nEUc-IoJbgoevK8Pe-uZgTk53zNiDEabCcUzcB-RqLixyJZD6bAKev9F/s320/2013-08-21+14.47.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I found <a href="http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/09/fun-friday-on-sunday-night-and-freebie.html" target="_blank">this idea</a> from Pinterest for a "Mystery Walker", and thought it might be a fun new thing to try this year. So I took some poker chips that I randomly had accumulated over the years, numbered some round stickers and keep them in a large coffee mug that I got from a student last year.</div>
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<em>(I don't drink coffee, so finding ways to use the teacher mugs I get is always a good thing)</em></div>
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Basically, each time we leave the room to travel to one of our specials classes (like music or art), I choose one of these chips from the mug, look at it secretively, and put it in my pocket....announcing that I have my "mystery walker". The students know that I will be paying attention to this student and if he or she was walking up to my expectations, when we get back to the classroom I will reveal it to the class and they get to come pick a prize ticket.</div>
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Note: If they don't meet my hallway expectations (i.e. talking, goofing around, etc.) then I just put the chip back and say that the mystery walker didn't earn a prize. I don't reveal who it is though-- it keeps the students guessing if it was them. </div>
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This has worked SO well this year, and it's amazing how a little incentive can motivate the kids to improve their hallway behavior! Best thing-- the prizes are free and easy like being able to sit next to a friend at lunch, or sitting in one of my rolling chairs for a day.</div>
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number three</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcQW6Zuad5DoBSpcuUJqfZYV4hbv40Ldu_xvsPgUUUPG9cENv2vDvTaZB-NWDgHCABP_e9L0SxHDgCadv5jLVY803loztw8hUzuRjaGI5D0dFsuEJK2sq13JN7q7cVmoMXPTbtylHxmZl/s1600/2013-08-22+10.09.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcQW6Zuad5DoBSpcuUJqfZYV4hbv40Ldu_xvsPgUUUPG9cENv2vDvTaZB-NWDgHCABP_e9L0SxHDgCadv5jLVY803loztw8hUzuRjaGI5D0dFsuEJK2sq13JN7q7cVmoMXPTbtylHxmZl/s320/2013-08-22+10.09.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So this isn't from this week, but I had to share it....it's the second year in a row that I've used this "Welcome Bag" and I think I'll keep doing it. The kids really seem to love it, it's a sweet way to start off the first day of school, and a chance to make sure they have a couple things they need right when they arrive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDIiOny9nraJorWLdC_PFtVAeyu2L2jo5z_MH8GmnyV6rpJpQbn1_AoZjHxdUGd7w39QYzcKbqEfn7TIxXswG3z4tp235YFMB19O2psHdFZW6QdIKy74kmmh5M-UP8xfpG4zl7dOp-apS/s1600/2013-08-22+10.10.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDIiOny9nraJorWLdC_PFtVAeyu2L2jo5z_MH8GmnyV6rpJpQbn1_AoZjHxdUGd7w39QYzcKbqEfn7TIxXswG3z4tp235YFMB19O2psHdFZW6QdIKy74kmmh5M-UP8xfpG4zl7dOp-apS/s320/2013-08-22+10.10.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This note explains what's inside the bag. I can't take credit for coming up with this idea. I found it through (shocker!) Pinterest, which linked me to the blog <a href="http://pencilsandmagicwands.blogspot.com/2012/08/10-days-of-back-to-school-frenzy-day-3.html" target="_blank">Pencils and Magic Wands</a>. The note and homework pass can be found <a href="http://pencilsandmagicwands.blogspot.com/2012/08/10-days-of-back-to-school-frenzy-day-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecFgclpH6EM2VjBtf6Dqp_cklQPChwDJLyYqZNCC7z0n0CWA6IfvoTSr_4DohydvQVC2rfk1A3Ll3sqB4KCR4S1z-ulzwIYJqk5gScd87mlH78t2cC7skuGeVE54bSLhLonIA9GLEi2dJ/s1600/2013-08-22+10.10.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecFgclpH6EM2VjBtf6Dqp_cklQPChwDJLyYqZNCC7z0n0CWA6IfvoTSr_4DohydvQVC2rfk1A3Ll3sqB4KCR4S1z-ulzwIYJqk5gScd87mlH78t2cC7skuGeVE54bSLhLonIA9GLEi2dJ/s320/2013-08-22+10.10.58.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuhazQ4wBQ-gyZ2euLo32H0jJPqwdcQxXkgWdT29SIYUdA7153fhB5bMgDFECD_vJVJO4HW9_8SFWqG9aYQrxUL_k_GEwYhdZnDwCgg_nkgQciSWi64IssGNwz4TJz_6WTSvJ9-vkUVts/s1600/2013-08-22+10.11.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuhazQ4wBQ-gyZ2euLo32H0jJPqwdcQxXkgWdT29SIYUdA7153fhB5bMgDFECD_vJVJO4HW9_8SFWqG9aYQrxUL_k_GEwYhdZnDwCgg_nkgQciSWi64IssGNwz4TJz_6WTSvJ9-vkUVts/s320/2013-08-22+10.11.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's what else they get....some cute stickers, a happy star eraser, a welcome pencil (sharpened with my amazing sharpener of course), and a bright and fun bookmark.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGQ-1vIPgcvmY2pwBgKp-AMA-j27_hihtuk86XFDFk4XZfq9KxdoOId9fqHktWHEeBfTgFEZrpIGWFKVgOsXUUdRsP-vK7cj-PuIwPET5Tuvc9LreAnnlie6xsZYRdYkJCNXia6qJufHN/s1600/2013-08-22+10.14.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGQ-1vIPgcvmY2pwBgKp-AMA-j27_hihtuk86XFDFk4XZfq9KxdoOId9fqHktWHEeBfTgFEZrpIGWFKVgOsXUUdRsP-vK7cj-PuIwPET5Tuvc9LreAnnlie6xsZYRdYkJCNXia6qJufHN/s320/2013-08-22+10.14.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I put them all into clear cellophane gift bags, and staple the note to the top.</div>
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Once I had everything in an assembly line, it didn't take long to get it all put together.</div>
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Totally worth it to see the kids' excitement finding them on their desk on that first day!</div>
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number four</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7InFRKJd6Fq2NyD17wvQrECUnURduH4wEkMaxTsGnGa27B-JD76lXBiM6XfOaBnw65bcFyuzxkbQNCLG9agE2UzSUOvQrGT-8LvxknFzjPU-gJnsq8lAbJtgZZQlKQ2AsXYue5mO1updZ/s1600/2013-08-30+10.14.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7InFRKJd6Fq2NyD17wvQrECUnURduH4wEkMaxTsGnGa27B-JD76lXBiM6XfOaBnw65bcFyuzxkbQNCLG9agE2UzSUOvQrGT-8LvxknFzjPU-gJnsq8lAbJtgZZQlKQ2AsXYue5mO1updZ/s320/2013-08-30+10.14.25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2012/04/better-bathroom-pass.html" target="_blank">Another new idea</a> inspired by Pinterest....and another success!</div>
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Instead of your traditional bathroom passes that students either wear around their neck, wrist, or clip to their shirt....these actually stay in the classroom.</div>
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One for boys, one for girls.</div>
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Just simple labels (see link below) that I laminated and taped to a bottle of hand sanitizer.</div>
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When students need to use the bathroom (not during instruction, but any work or break time), they just take the "pass" and put it on their desk and then head to the bathroom.</div>
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When they come back, they can of course use some sanitizer and then put it back on the counter for the next student to use.</div>
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It's awesome because (a) I can always scan the desks to see who is gone, (b) I don't have the kids asking me if they can go since they can see where the bottle is, and (c) I don't have to worry about passes being left in the bathroom, wet and dirty from who-knows-what-they-do-with-it in there, or having a kid forget that they are wearing the pass.</div>
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My students have learned this new procedure very quickly, and I can already tell that I love it!</div>
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Note: If you want those labels, you can find them FREE through the original blogger I found through Pinterest. Go <a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2012/04/better-bathroom-pass.html" target="_blank">here</a> for that post.</div>
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number five</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkd6_H3sRkeRsnqJkeP3W7x18QBDXn2BOHvRlTE4eIDFy6EqZXL_xwaAIUmCKAYELWg5TT5UReK_P6JkNqW7S_bpRFQSFZhspbHqhhk4aNrij88O7wVI4jDhrtPsIpEMt7t-T4iDyaFD7/s1600/2013-08-30+10.15.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkd6_H3sRkeRsnqJkeP3W7x18QBDXn2BOHvRlTE4eIDFy6EqZXL_xwaAIUmCKAYELWg5TT5UReK_P6JkNqW7S_bpRFQSFZhspbHqhhk4aNrij88O7wVI4jDhrtPsIpEMt7t-T4iDyaFD7/s320/2013-08-30+10.15.28.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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One of my awesome fourth grade teaching teammates showed me how she had organized all of her meeting notes for this year into an adorable bound notebook.</div>
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Of course, I couldn't resist making my own.....through the seller "A Modern Teacher" I bought the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teachers-Classroom-Organizer-Black-and-White-Damask-716777" target="_blank">organizer pages on TpT</a>, and then I brought it to Staples for the binding. The front and back covers are heavy-duty laminated so it will last all year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj599aBYzWRmpjvkql_Tb45vGQC6E3F8ZJrXpq_pU_9-OntMsUphsEy21WeK81FR7DSkMM5lg_eeEAPQmX2igcOQQ6Nw5NqtP0q5XM04bJ2PpGugJm9XQG-rodU-Q97B9pl6Ab6AjVnc7xf/s1600/2013-08-30+10.15.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj599aBYzWRmpjvkql_Tb45vGQC6E3F8ZJrXpq_pU_9-OntMsUphsEy21WeK81FR7DSkMM5lg_eeEAPQmX2igcOQQ6Nw5NqtP0q5XM04bJ2PpGugJm9XQG-rodU-Q97B9pl6Ab6AjVnc7xf/s320/2013-08-30+10.15.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Inside, I made tabs to label all of the sections for the different types of meetings I'll have regularly this year. </div>
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This doesn't even include special ed meetings, parent meetings, and other random committee meetings! Whew. I'm exhausted already.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VATOK-rx47eBSFaiIcTpE2o-RzROxDnb1IoShctn2mRKTrZuj-FThifMHbD7uA0NVjikqmLn9VK-xatW3LM8kxShL5ajMXwkMYu-hhZChSejwNO4EpOpVCobfygO-Rgl9oopLjM88s6I/s1600/2013-08-30+10.17.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VATOK-rx47eBSFaiIcTpE2o-RzROxDnb1IoShctn2mRKTrZuj-FThifMHbD7uA0NVjikqmLn9VK-xatW3LM8kxShL5ajMXwkMYu-hhZChSejwNO4EpOpVCobfygO-Rgl9oopLjM88s6I/s320/2013-08-30+10.17.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here's a look at one of the meeting notes pages....I've already used it for a few meetings and I LOVE it-- it keeps me organized, focused, and helps me to remember those random things we talk about but I sometimes forget about if I don't write it down.</div>
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Now I have no excuse! :)</div>
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And now....I'm finally going to sleep. For about ten hours. </div>
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Because I finally can.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-48499629231717565112013-09-09T22:24:00.000-04:002013-09-09T22:24:11.864-04:00bathroom transformation....part two!I've been a little behind in my blogging lately....both with reading my favorite blogs, and writing new posts. Really though....I have NO clue how teachers keep up with blogging during that week before and first week of school. <br />
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I. Had. No. Free. Time.<br />
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It doesn't help that I literally am not teaching <u><strong>any</strong></u> subject with the same materials/objectives as last year....switching over to the Common Core for Math and ELA, and switching back to state standards (long story) for Science and Social Studies. <br />
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And I caught a nasty cold.<br />
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So....it's a small miracle that I'm even writing tonight. <br />
I just missed blogging. :)<br />
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And I had a great reason to finish my bathroom post-- a fun DIY link that I read about through a great blog I follow. Thanks to <a href="http://justagirlandherblog.com/get-your-diy-on-the-color-blue/" target="_blank">Abby at Just a Girl and Her Blog</a>, I was inspired to join this "party"! Each week for the next 16 weeks, they have set a topic to blog about.<br />
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Since this week's theme is "The Color Blue"....I knew this was the perfect time to write about how my white bathroom walls became blue....more specifically, "Embellished Blue" from Behr Premium Plus.<br />
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<a href="http://justagirlandherblog.com/get-your-diy-on-the-color-blue/" target="_blank"><em><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzhw7iTw4T5nqUUVOKhoWjPq_k9UIolDWakfKNfQFdBVC2O1CeYfeKP58roIGUjKJNSCIh_p85aJnz3xuQFUKaqtOs4zl3CEhSvHOe_uuAj-In0IH7sScT8novFoCPwdkmptsm3lVOfxWy/s320/DIY+Linky+Button.jpg" width="311" /></em></a></div>
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<em>I'm also going to head over and check out all of the other blogs listed above....probably not tonight....but soon. I only have so much motivation for one night. :)</em></div>
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So here's where I left off on my <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/bathroom-transformationpart-one.html" target="_blank">last pos</a>t....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrhAg7FeX7cO_9Dlq6kQVdPjsqWQIqq7eeBQGOFApAY2FbJyYQs-5YrBCFWyYysxPBXQIxy1hzL9xEjj_Cl0BE92qAlcFiR1-Th3GJtsX4Kcm2AxyI3x6zlFAS5kxUlLoyiI1bV-X0rfW/s1600/2013-08-18+10.14.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHrhAg7FeX7cO_9Dlq6kQVdPjsqWQIqq7eeBQGOFApAY2FbJyYQs-5YrBCFWyYysxPBXQIxy1hzL9xEjj_Cl0BE92qAlcFiR1-Th3GJtsX4Kcm2AxyI3x6zlFAS5kxUlLoyiI1bV-X0rfW/s320/2013-08-18+10.14.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had painted my cabinets a dark brown.... Behr's "Thick Chocolate" to be exact.</div>
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Also, above this sink was a large, plain mirror and that was taken down.</div>
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After getting all the prep done on this day, the next morning I assembled everything I would need to paint the walls. Which....if you've ever painted a bathroom before.....is NOT easy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-DGA9UKhxRXNgVS-zpkV881Rh_zxSHXjnpL27TO6Jnno6p-Kx4Jvu6pl37lGBJ70hZI8s6zdS4Y8z2mNX1J6vLct-x78YUy_-Ls1ayCrC-gcWCJOs2HQfNBpI9lTTnQZynTcAGfuYCgQ/s1600/2013-08-18+10.27.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-DGA9UKhxRXNgVS-zpkV881Rh_zxSHXjnpL27TO6Jnno6p-Kx4Jvu6pl37lGBJ70hZI8s6zdS4Y8z2mNX1J6vLct-x78YUy_-Ls1ayCrC-gcWCJOs2HQfNBpI9lTTnQZynTcAGfuYCgQ/s320/2013-08-18+10.27.16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Paint, paint pan, large roller for the walls, smaller roller for tighter spaces, a quality angled paintbrush/container to carry around for the "cutting in", gloves (yes, I'm *that* kind of painter-- messy). Oh, and one more essential item when painting a bathroom....</div>
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A close up look of my <em>(super techy-name alert)</em> "behind the toilet painting tool".....also known as a paint-pad-duct-taped-to-a-paint-stick. It worked perfectly for that tight space behind the toilet, so I didn't need to take the toilet out! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGR4IAXRA4s8lVamtmZiHUYgQv-gsmhq0QK362o7HHPB-z0Q2JydpD4TDAN9miqX3onJnmGUyST-8ZMaLRCOl0bApeE0s8UbcBeaPhcFMp7e6QJ_FQbLKR5M03jAQMvYIfUE7JDdSwJhq/s1600/2013-08-18+10.22.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGR4IAXRA4s8lVamtmZiHUYgQv-gsmhq0QK362o7HHPB-z0Q2JydpD4TDAN9miqX3onJnmGUyST-8ZMaLRCOl0bApeE0s8UbcBeaPhcFMp7e6QJ_FQbLKR5M03jAQMvYIfUE7JDdSwJhq/s320/2013-08-18+10.22.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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front (painting) side</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h7rInRSvENgi7_KUi_9UVrBU6ZV9NQmZtuXJvBXYljj_P-oFseKDzEG5OVvNCvXxDmzvJ7a1ZBTqwQSfQ4quToggynsj_igCaNovEWSCquIOOnrgEOiR2E6AirZ3KvZrV5O8-YDY5yVT/s1600/2013-08-18+10.22.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h7rInRSvENgi7_KUi_9UVrBU6ZV9NQmZtuXJvBXYljj_P-oFseKDzEG5OVvNCvXxDmzvJ7a1ZBTqwQSfQ4quToggynsj_igCaNovEWSCquIOOnrgEOiR2E6AirZ3KvZrV5O8-YDY5yVT/s320/2013-08-18+10.22.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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back (MacGyver) side</div>
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I also took down the glass cover off the old, 80's-style? light fixture. No crying occurred when this came down. In fact, there may have been some happy-dancing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FUvcjspakCfpwdr1aRM3jgvPoKX8FPDyh8NekjeLU3lJoU0_BJli2c4D89xqds-6lBfLT8_qgUj_DwL1NQYrSt2d6eh3EZXOL0zahtYSaPdwejBe0rjtFnu-J19UIIG4z_dksIZz_dyV/s1600/2013-08-17+12.10.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4FUvcjspakCfpwdr1aRM3jgvPoKX8FPDyh8NekjeLU3lJoU0_BJli2c4D89xqds-6lBfLT8_qgUj_DwL1NQYrSt2d6eh3EZXOL0zahtYSaPdwejBe0rjtFnu-J19UIIG4z_dksIZz_dyV/s320/2013-08-17+12.10.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wasn't planning on changing the fixture that day (I needed help with that), so I was just painting around it. I did take out the two end bulbs, and I painted around the fixture first since I was going to turn the lights off for that section (didn't really feel like roasting up by the hot lights while painting up high in a small bathroom).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEP5T52XMiTx-L0ZnuDJKSRR_7fUD9U9Guf0QQ7MFPKPxrnoQSOD-Dy7FlWdqjUQB6gLiewRMnG6XhGOVgz4hgmI_SB9_X3MTg07po33GaWUt_1MXV6lLXQsnlKmTb5txaPC4fA_L1wLg/s1600/2013-08-18+12.46.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEP5T52XMiTx-L0ZnuDJKSRR_7fUD9U9Guf0QQ7MFPKPxrnoQSOD-Dy7FlWdqjUQB6gLiewRMnG6XhGOVgz4hgmI_SB9_X3MTg07po33GaWUt_1MXV6lLXQsnlKmTb5txaPC4fA_L1wLg/s320/2013-08-18+12.46.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And since I didn't really have time to take any other painting-process pictures, (Plus....do you really need them? It's painting a bathroom. As I said, it's not easy. Or fun to watch.) here are the "after" pictures. It needed two coats, and I still had about a third of the gallon left. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSRoBf-a2IN4tl5_V6UInFCaTQ3PcCqlh7OpqTK1CLCaZzoS7ltWt_HEHAHO5non-pmHDudOUi5suPS6U9g6Vd5cEZZcW7nJxg6AvjWF65g76VO2Gttn7ELqmWug8fuUabnqJjgze5Jv7/s1600/2013-08-23+14.43.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSRoBf-a2IN4tl5_V6UInFCaTQ3PcCqlh7OpqTK1CLCaZzoS7ltWt_HEHAHO5non-pmHDudOUi5suPS6U9g6Vd5cEZZcW7nJxg6AvjWF65g76VO2Gttn7ELqmWug8fuUabnqJjgze5Jv7/s320/2013-08-23+14.43.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXW1ZsM4Ztbo6LpTcFvRDAdzgCGZQU-qNirHQnmSI4jRAH7x-OUhAiEo2u872slhJl2omRl31bONAH7x0mme6fn4RBYVbXQVscDDd6H-pVSdfSNCyubG74zClNZj_2ciWrJ9hckAnQsMZ/s1600/2013-08-23+14.43.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXW1ZsM4Ztbo6LpTcFvRDAdzgCGZQU-qNirHQnmSI4jRAH7x-OUhAiEo2u872slhJl2omRl31bONAH7x0mme6fn4RBYVbXQVscDDd6H-pVSdfSNCyubG74zClNZj_2ciWrJ9hckAnQsMZ/s320/2013-08-23+14.43.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<em>Crazy how different the color looks between the top and bottom pictures. All about the lighting.</em></div>
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Here's what it looked like next to the newly painted cabinets.</div>
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Love this combination!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4GzmLQMmf7S501LG0UN91q_Nu4urQKDw_e6PzJv6MYhd87u_mBsC7W8041Pxyh6yd5xW3CX_UMGlYEe-moKaZugmFSNEAzOamaBpdB4ZG9qSQE8gChsvGV6I21cQ3toIY6mFNd0XhzDX/s1600/2013-08-23+15.02.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4GzmLQMmf7S501LG0UN91q_Nu4urQKDw_e6PzJv6MYhd87u_mBsC7W8041Pxyh6yd5xW3CX_UMGlYEe-moKaZugmFSNEAzOamaBpdB4ZG9qSQE8gChsvGV6I21cQ3toIY6mFNd0XhzDX/s320/2013-08-23+15.02.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The inside of the cabinets weren't very pretty....some spills/stains from the previous owner.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh6TinoF7cIbafPa2_G9QMzFzo2eh5yulet5yjubgCEO0mZO8N6u3cN58h0ZcihxhMyh5LIctA67-gBxl7-G-FP73STBJBovpEFKFPVRXhbRTsF4E6pCa91vkZrSd-pviN7QqmwG5GjjR/s1600/2013-08-23+15.16.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzh6TinoF7cIbafPa2_G9QMzFzo2eh5yulet5yjubgCEO0mZO8N6u3cN58h0ZcihxhMyh5LIctA67-gBxl7-G-FP73STBJBovpEFKFPVRXhbRTsF4E6pCa91vkZrSd-pviN7QqmwG5GjjR/s320/2013-08-23+15.16.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Covered up with some pretty contact paper.</div>
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Which....if you've followed my blog....has made it into my classroom in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">this post</a> and <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/five-for-friday.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJO0-0a_FcGCZ6wFiZFa2agciTpSzeJzSJiKDjXI3Kc6Owlr0Wwz41Tl0vyyObfoLuSjtP4Ac6CQSLaf9tNyPPFK4Q3-NTm0biZ8z5vwLzXMICHTT9llNpW2qr1eVguL5WBB_FkA88grk/s1600/2013-08-23+15.22.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJO0-0a_FcGCZ6wFiZFa2agciTpSzeJzSJiKDjXI3Kc6Owlr0Wwz41Tl0vyyObfoLuSjtP4Ac6CQSLaf9tNyPPFK4Q3-NTm0biZ8z5vwLzXMICHTT9llNpW2qr1eVguL5WBB_FkA88grk/s320/2013-08-23+15.22.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also lined my two drawers with the same paper....I might have a slight obsession with it.</div>
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Or just a need to find more places to use it. </div>
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Or both.</div>
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Anyway....I let all of the paint set for a week before doing anything else. </div>
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With the humidity in the air (this was August) and this being a high-moisture room, I wanted to make sure that everything was set before putting on the finishing touches.</div>
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My awesome Mom came over to help install the new light fixture.</div>
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As usual <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/counters-and-faucets-and-lights-oh-my.html" target="_blank">when my Mom and I install new electric fixtures</a>, it didn't go right the first time. In fact, I think she made two trips to Home Depot for me.</div>
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<em>Love you, Mimzy!!</em></div>
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I had to touch up with a couple coats of paint since it was smaller than the previous one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnIvy54VXef_vzBD0Wk2AICECpa8X0cyhaREAOF_qnuxvVOGmXGWbJFs7vFZsIi4pzgar5piWSI0gZmLX1xZz8yPJiNFDUtpIgH8BR47srgwUR2qm3TRZ-kJ-BM0C5KcEDRkjj-7QvYID/s1600/2013-08-23+21.18.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMnIvy54VXef_vzBD0Wk2AICECpa8X0cyhaREAOF_qnuxvVOGmXGWbJFs7vFZsIi4pzgar5piWSI0gZmLX1xZz8yPJiNFDUtpIgH8BR47srgwUR2qm3TRZ-kJ-BM0C5KcEDRkjj-7QvYID/s320/2013-08-23+21.18.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And before putting on the light shades/bulbs, we also hung my new framed mirror!</div>
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I love this change-- it's exactly what I wanted and not a bad price (free- since I had a gift card).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV5Bgw1RVMD3lFT0bn2vH1kUl_YGvNI7VUcFztd9uinPxxSSOVU54lqCdt-Q1S658T5jWBvR6BrxpDoUsFkfyZPI4vlU8PUNaX6s2EFMG6czmkfZcQfHFuDbVkdSNtVJeGGIdMI7oGKEb/s1600/2013-08-23+21.19.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV5Bgw1RVMD3lFT0bn2vH1kUl_YGvNI7VUcFztd9uinPxxSSOVU54lqCdt-Q1S658T5jWBvR6BrxpDoUsFkfyZPI4vlU8PUNaX6s2EFMG6czmkfZcQfHFuDbVkdSNtVJeGGIdMI7oGKEb/s320/2013-08-23+21.19.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's covered because I put the mirror up before painting around the light fixture.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj3FWrRvwu1Q-qYb5_IWulJyhqNmeRrSI3qyWjZscot0vRwPXZ3wFERSXz6FioUGJ0pkcSXflb4rppwG3ISdi_buGvDIQ7kh83m0v65OYZ5oTIxKlshtfYJnPxYEn3BB6M3j667ICGq1K/s1600/2013-08-24+11.05.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj3FWrRvwu1Q-qYb5_IWulJyhqNmeRrSI3qyWjZscot0vRwPXZ3wFERSXz6FioUGJ0pkcSXflb4rppwG3ISdi_buGvDIQ7kh83m0v65OYZ5oTIxKlshtfYJnPxYEn3BB6M3j667ICGq1K/s320/2013-08-24+11.05.31.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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Then, the shades/bulbs were installed, brushed silver hardware on the drawers/doors (all thanks again to my Mom's help!)....and with some accessories including a new shower curtain, rug, and towels, my bathroom is put back together!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VZcEOOz5ZH81AfZYR2AUTOgXQ_UO71LJisUJjQ3yH55WmT6Nj8bgJOqQ7ZxOJ_FYD47hXdBbhDIDBLMtVzMgGUOuBvEUpylzaqL0dHhSSIGkNbYD7B2xum0bYzjfaLYAPmvD_trh6MF0/s1600/2013-08-29+15.49.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3VZcEOOz5ZH81AfZYR2AUTOgXQ_UO71LJisUJjQ3yH55WmT6Nj8bgJOqQ7ZxOJ_FYD47hXdBbhDIDBLMtVzMgGUOuBvEUpylzaqL0dHhSSIGkNbYD7B2xum0bYzjfaLYAPmvD_trh6MF0/s320/2013-08-29+15.49.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sorry about the bad lighting in some of these pictures.....phone photography + low light + small spaces= not the best quality.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dhFT750PsyjkFpWox3bkAV8wLmTYPod29Zeg2AjNQKbVnQkRY4z0Rt5f5hQABFKRbcumIBo1DpXZIA3vIX9VbXceq6TVDLk2C50wF2tbGoPWfSFX3uEe4v-OQT3ZL8BcpwUODjLBB8T0/s1600/2013-08-24+12.28.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dhFT750PsyjkFpWox3bkAV8wLmTYPod29Zeg2AjNQKbVnQkRY4z0Rt5f5hQABFKRbcumIBo1DpXZIA3vIX9VbXceq6TVDLk2C50wF2tbGoPWfSFX3uEe4v-OQT3ZL8BcpwUODjLBB8T0/s320/2013-08-24+12.28.32.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgO-rAbWbmcBgYoYBGXiYjQU6UfubHC7Q8FSksIaIyWaqVJMApuKyph7ehYs6Ozu9tn6h6Q6-ig45jbyOUG0m7d7SylcUNdpiSOBuCHMV4EKrB4Cg1fOK6EVsXc4N6ideFMaXhM0_bBod/s1600/2013-08-24+12.29.14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgO-rAbWbmcBgYoYBGXiYjQU6UfubHC7Q8FSksIaIyWaqVJMApuKyph7ehYs6Ozu9tn6h6Q6-ig45jbyOUG0m7d7SylcUNdpiSOBuCHMV4EKrB4Cg1fOK6EVsXc4N6ideFMaXhM0_bBod/s320/2013-08-24+12.29.14-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm so happy with how it all turned out, and next summer when I (hopefully) can get new floors installed, it will finally be complete!</div>
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With the new school year just starting, I will be taking a DIY-hiatus, but maybe once things start slowing down (i.e. summer 2014), I'll be back on the DIY wagon. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNmiJzGGT8nAx-NUK5DG9QBeFFRLz1LBh9sUQf5CmznnmsnGU4YBm0d2OE29bNleS-vcSphKlMleH-Fb1JzBaRfy5YnGY2nHNfBR900GN7sEmpHpbHBiSeUBvE-LC1J2CiSCv0FxTa2qG/s1600/2013-08-24+12.28.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNmiJzGGT8nAx-NUK5DG9QBeFFRLz1LBh9sUQf5CmznnmsnGU4YBm0d2OE29bNleS-vcSphKlMleH-Fb1JzBaRfy5YnGY2nHNfBR900GN7sEmpHpbHBiSeUBvE-LC1J2CiSCv0FxTa2qG/s320/2013-08-24+12.28.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For now.....this makes me smile. Every time I walk in the room.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-76886579617782006442013-08-29T22:20:00.000-04:002013-08-29T22:20:19.187-04:00bathroom transformation....part oneMy big project of the summer is done.....for now.<br />
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I may need to make a couple other changes, but hopefully those can wait until next summer.<br />
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Two reasons: money and time. <br />
No shocker, right? Isn't that really why most people put off home projects?<br />
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Here is what my bathroom looked like back in the fall of 2009...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK5SrBdQ01fArphp9BeYxmEfkILnDig8CRlCym-gJoLzCfrhRrU5ZJucnIRZh3df7mpKoUP0FAg-Zi3xuNSmhkvksTtHl2vVEpGy8FHpLLVadgYCwNk13gAmTXGGUXiBxcK7_X_cqLga9/s1600/IMG_1962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK5SrBdQ01fArphp9BeYxmEfkILnDig8CRlCym-gJoLzCfrhRrU5ZJucnIRZh3df7mpKoUP0FAg-Zi3xuNSmhkvksTtHl2vVEpGy8FHpLLVadgYCwNk13gAmTXGGUXiBxcK7_X_cqLga9/s320/IMG_1962.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sorry....this is the best picture I had taken when I first moved into my house.</div>
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Notice the <strike>fabulous</strike> hideous WOODEN switchplates.</div>
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Yeah, they matched the cabinets.</div>
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Awesome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlsyiFis0oVMOYSXsdmqhTUSMMfasy7R3nvFv52hyVBNPKswdV777GFlt3KMf3mu4m3MLlrefzi2kJLEe7zYfabIbC83ncLB7H3KGT-Cgn_jVFGWg-aJsvHQshFAQPmaow-IyaXJPOyoV/s1600/IMG_2314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlsyiFis0oVMOYSXsdmqhTUSMMfasy7R3nvFv52hyVBNPKswdV777GFlt3KMf3mu4m3MLlrefzi2kJLEe7zYfabIbC83ncLB7H3KGT-Cgn_jVFGWg-aJsvHQshFAQPmaow-IyaXJPOyoV/s320/IMG_2314.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The most I could do to the bathroom at this point was use what I had in my old apartment bathroom....I literally spent nothing on it at this point.</div>
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And it stayed this way until last summer when I changed the faucet out.</div>
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This was the first step to developing my vision of a new look to my bathroom...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL-q9HlS-krxO-T1lR-tVz83COFgpb9CPcIl3g194FTX3Zfu6_mJwCw1yVceG6JP8v7ZK9A1NiZg4XHMsaIfkENC2kx2MbkyyOQkC3-Z3Zr57ZgnKkBZv18UazIQqIKKe8gFmhx2KiM0T/s1600/IMG_1045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL-q9HlS-krxO-T1lR-tVz83COFgpb9CPcIl3g194FTX3Zfu6_mJwCw1yVceG6JP8v7ZK9A1NiZg4XHMsaIfkENC2kx2MbkyyOQkC3-Z3Zr57ZgnKkBZv18UazIQqIKKe8gFmhx2KiM0T/s320/IMG_1045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look closely and you'll notice the WOODEN handle on the old faucet.</div>
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<em>Seriously, wood must have been hugely popular in the late 80's interior decorating.</em></div>
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Now...onto this summer's changes!</div>
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I had considered keeping my old mirror up and framing it, like I've seen on Pinterest so many times. However, after researching it I thought it seemed like more work than my skills would be able to complete. So, after a trip to a home improvement store, I found a great framed mirror that was the right size, the right color, and the right price.</div>
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In fact, I had a gift card that covered the cost of the mirror- so the price was FREE. :)</div>
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The first step was to take down the old mirror. </div>
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After reading up online for tips on how to do this, I was a little hesitant to do it myself.</div>
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But....I decided to go for it.</div>
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I prepared for the worst case scenario and duct-taped up that bad boy first....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bB6__irrntBkEkczdFK2QxYGHrLgv0MrzGhc_WUFlumm3rd-4u6oQz7hMMEzS42glFdnCi8lE8dsmfT3MdiMyF-b3g4w1TT0zIIECANm8RXOEnTq9EJ35U3fKqQqkWGSdKRf_GSo541w/s1600/2013-08-11+21.11.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bB6__irrntBkEkczdFK2QxYGHrLgv0MrzGhc_WUFlumm3rd-4u6oQz7hMMEzS42glFdnCi8lE8dsmfT3MdiMyF-b3g4w1TT0zIIECANm8RXOEnTq9EJ35U3fKqQqkWGSdKRf_GSo541w/s320/2013-08-11+21.11.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't know if you can tell, but I also taped flattened cardboard boxes over the sink/counter top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhLrVlntZMqOzzv4gv8nWErmMgYdCwCkvHpr8fJdA9OYDgBn3-kDKH4-Yogx8cYSMQ5zw7xwKeQkKAAe8aCS1wgRjVagbTJLnJf_y_Dp3Dl_P3bbFIh4cT1s8tz73Ze8lGtou5oXe4MtP/s1600/2013-08-11+21.21.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhLrVlntZMqOzzv4gv8nWErmMgYdCwCkvHpr8fJdA9OYDgBn3-kDKH4-Yogx8cYSMQ5zw7xwKeQkKAAe8aCS1wgRjVagbTJLnJf_y_Dp3Dl_P3bbFIh4cT1s8tz73Ze8lGtou5oXe4MtP/s320/2013-08-11+21.21.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, I couldn't take pictures of the process of taking off the mirror itself. I was a tad busy....well, taking down the mirror and hoping not to drop it.</div>
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My sister came over to help. This is of course not a job for one person!</div>
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Luckily, the mirror wasn't glued to the wall, so all we had to do was loosen the screws on those plastic hanger thingys. We started with the top ones, and only had to slightly loosen the bottom ones before simply lifting the mirror off the wall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dznOHnYyzJfwjxOTIZv3QVv5y57h7bkZJ76RQmhvlT53SqRTT5ISwi4Yiu_RAEUzL8ixsKwVoP4SeYePZtEsvZxJHk2LzI4fBw9NAMsEZGNKJ53-e-6r7MIQ9hVY_OmX5pdEExIxmZl_/s1600/2013-08-11+21.34.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dznOHnYyzJfwjxOTIZv3QVv5y57h7bkZJ76RQmhvlT53SqRTT5ISwi4Yiu_RAEUzL8ixsKwVoP4SeYePZtEsvZxJHk2LzI4fBw9NAMsEZGNKJ53-e-6r7MIQ9hVY_OmX5pdEExIxmZl_/s320/2013-08-11+21.34.12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After taking out the screws, I found that there were anchors in the wall and researched the best way to get them out. Since I couldn't pull them out, I placed a flat head screwdriver over the anchor, and lightly tapped the anchor until it actually "sank" into the wall.</div>
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Which of course.....left some huge holes in my wall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtWc3VixA8GBgQEMxO9H25XtV-fwpd_eFG84PSM84-gmBfUqY4W-sJAx2JbWW6-Pa8q1f7tpWfKsBNYP4QsiX67RM2qZ88x9i6nqslp9lyu54pBtBJQyNpfWw34TRAxHa0DDgoflBJruz/s1600/2013-08-17+15.26.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZtWc3VixA8GBgQEMxO9H25XtV-fwpd_eFG84PSM84-gmBfUqY4W-sJAx2JbWW6-Pa8q1f7tpWfKsBNYP4QsiX67RM2qZ88x9i6nqslp9lyu54pBtBJQyNpfWw34TRAxHa0DDgoflBJruz/s320/2013-08-17+15.26.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And this led to a trip to Home Depot....one of many trips I made there this summer.</div>
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This time was for a spackling paste.</div>
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I loved this one because of the color-changing property. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rGJcM0HiK5SA8xOXhBj3fRDwWqw0ifLojKGOviX4F4mDLqp1XvWowbMbl5O2RHWxM9MT49biCy_vSeafrndCc6iUx683nD-Of0vSbu7Ex-GePXuiyhyphenhyphenBkclamhtG1uou35dDVouHenBU/s1600/2013-08-17+15.27.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rGJcM0HiK5SA8xOXhBj3fRDwWqw0ifLojKGOviX4F4mDLqp1XvWowbMbl5O2RHWxM9MT49biCy_vSeafrndCc6iUx683nD-Of0vSbu7Ex-GePXuiyhyphenhyphenBkclamhtG1uou35dDVouHenBU/s320/2013-08-17+15.27.16.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZimJ6MLXsO4EUnNvoCjVwEJnZpCJzlGQy8hD82vo51P0KlolwexaHAXH1rW7n1vP9l_-0ttsSqZh4keZIPz5ArRvnAL6_JsOJTOX8ufj1lual10LTASfNQ_CJ4st-K3ncQ4940-UF5VAV/s1600/2013-08-17+15.31.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZimJ6MLXsO4EUnNvoCjVwEJnZpCJzlGQy8hD82vo51P0KlolwexaHAXH1rW7n1vP9l_-0ttsSqZh4keZIPz5ArRvnAL6_JsOJTOX8ufj1lual10LTASfNQ_CJ4st-K3ncQ4940-UF5VAV/s320/2013-08-17+15.31.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It starts out pink.....and when it's white, it's ready to be sanded.</div>
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Which of course, I didn't take a picture of because really how exciting is it to see someone sanding white spackling on a white wall?</div>
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So, after prepping the wall my next step was to wash all of the walls, the ceiling, and the cabinet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJA5iofbJPubaHeZernoB2Np67xtQ5XJVRAtanjBEZwYCKpLs2EdXYR_HxuAtpvAMtyEDzC7yTqLtx5AjywhJWZohLu-YzGbFOQLXsvnrvWTH9i7uxkFE0FxSD6BS8bZXPDmQooD0cMIu/s1600/2013-08-17+13.54.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJA5iofbJPubaHeZernoB2Np67xtQ5XJVRAtanjBEZwYCKpLs2EdXYR_HxuAtpvAMtyEDzC7yTqLtx5AjywhJWZohLu-YzGbFOQLXsvnrvWTH9i7uxkFE0FxSD6BS8bZXPDmQooD0cMIu/s320/2013-08-17+13.54.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just like my<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-thing-leads-to-another.html" target="_blank"> kitchen cabinets</a>, I didn't have any hardware on the doors and drawers and the color was definitely not my style.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMzIJzUtSVBhAzK7ukX_H4_snWnlSgcja1ykusHxeiHRkAwWXyelTHZyCe6agqAbvJdst5_egezmnuuR7c1SCE_UJlEF6MzSTKrWCxMQ9T1x7haim6qeigRDM-dcxQnMMfcIf5_J7AO0X/s1600/2013-08-17+16.04.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMzIJzUtSVBhAzK7ukX_H4_snWnlSgcja1ykusHxeiHRkAwWXyelTHZyCe6agqAbvJdst5_egezmnuuR7c1SCE_UJlEF6MzSTKrWCxMQ9T1x7haim6qeigRDM-dcxQnMMfcIf5_J7AO0X/s320/2013-08-17+16.04.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So I took the drawers out, the doors off, and cleared everything out of the bathroom.</div>
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Always a fun task- emptying cupboards.</div>
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Luckily, a couple weeks before I had gone through and decluttered in here so it was pretty organized.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxzY720E8L10Ol8vuyIaos4g6bY9-rNNbDb8vFrAs1a-sKTArYNBGk7O1jCrEtJbhzueC7AdbzfXGnjUIEa-TkFGrYRoEu4X-NEFT_ElH6NjOKqHUMiWY7k4wS2rD25tnbYeyF1WClsGu/s1600/2013-08-17+16.44.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxzY720E8L10Ol8vuyIaos4g6bY9-rNNbDb8vFrAs1a-sKTArYNBGk7O1jCrEtJbhzueC7AdbzfXGnjUIEa-TkFGrYRoEu4X-NEFT_ElH6NjOKqHUMiWY7k4wS2rD25tnbYeyF1WClsGu/s320/2013-08-17+16.44.08.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I had set up a table in my dining room as a painting station, but once I started sanding I realized it would be too messy to do inside.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B_Ja0ErRCL4gtQ8pDNeV7zqtZyxJATctX1wRo5TSp6i4BUXK8zFIqffVsVqp9ZiPD4uvCd4eA9phW3La_xkQpvbymHbgultlGA3y0fSzTHbbopqoAkxet7wkbtqqiwxcKCwXjKmCXbV8/s1600/2013-08-17+17.04.04-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3B_Ja0ErRCL4gtQ8pDNeV7zqtZyxJATctX1wRo5TSp6i4BUXK8zFIqffVsVqp9ZiPD4uvCd4eA9phW3La_xkQpvbymHbgultlGA3y0fSzTHbbopqoAkxet7wkbtqqiwxcKCwXjKmCXbV8/s320/2013-08-17+17.04.04-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So out on my deck I went....and I used fine-grained sandpaper to roughen up the drawers and both sides of the doors.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0pIFGNO3R0GoNPE-x3Qr8L6sKtkm7g__0mL0SKL9gO2IrX5iDNfuSmgSrx1IxagmUpaK31xznjIjM6NkYVPoGB3kswhxnE9RPYYl5R7mIUTM8vIl9f0MYEDMliHbE3Btke0Hf35dahx0/s1600/2013-08-17+17.06.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0pIFGNO3R0GoNPE-x3Qr8L6sKtkm7g__0mL0SKL9gO2IrX5iDNfuSmgSrx1IxagmUpaK31xznjIjM6NkYVPoGB3kswhxnE9RPYYl5R7mIUTM8vIl9f0MYEDMliHbE3Btke0Hf35dahx0/s320/2013-08-17+17.06.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After wiping down the sanded pieces, I brought them in and set them up on these little cuties I read about on some blog.....they're called Painter's Pyramids.</div>
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They're supposed to allow you to paint both sides of something without waiting for it to dry.</div>
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I'll talk more about that later.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv-9yZMChhkbGhyphenhyphenzks2cJA2LTNnbs4wtOrcgQK9FWD06E0wv8kxhxQmC4K934_y2OcC1CAvorxy609wo9aiIm6bYX6YBfE23o3fNy_YKZ4WVikLUVXCWEJY7EZyqtHtMg1oNqH-zWvMo1/s1600/2013-08-17+17.06.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFv-9yZMChhkbGhyphenhyphenzks2cJA2LTNnbs4wtOrcgQK9FWD06E0wv8kxhxQmC4K934_y2OcC1CAvorxy609wo9aiIm6bYX6YBfE23o3fNy_YKZ4WVikLUVXCWEJY7EZyqtHtMg1oNqH-zWvMo1/s320/2013-08-17+17.06.53.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's what I used to paint the cabinet-- Behr Premium Plus (with the paint and primer in one) in semi-gloss enamel...I think the color was called "Thick Chocolate". </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mic0koHQAL3FAaibe9hZclAu3qgteJXLWzB0qZsfcq2s_5_WwU8lzwaK1N83nQKhUrDALT7lC7HLEZ9CYE7jcA7ukxDf2ohQBfr6bHS9y-Bg-LwLStvtlHKsJtbbgBtfZzGgfFJ0FrKr/s1600/2013-08-17+18.02.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Mic0koHQAL3FAaibe9hZclAu3qgteJXLWzB0qZsfcq2s_5_WwU8lzwaK1N83nQKhUrDALT7lC7HLEZ9CYE7jcA7ukxDf2ohQBfr6bHS9y-Bg-LwLStvtlHKsJtbbgBtfZzGgfFJ0FrKr/s320/2013-08-17+18.02.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, I put the first coat on everything, including the frame of the cabinet (below).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRivpkTT9JxPv6K_Snnm1g6_H-sYwr89bK5PV4Q5VknuLfKkK31wNDpGZGiCQZKr0PpQXZ2oIyaQqetrFCkAtQ6j9qZdNzOfUu34mbCp-RLFA60PR3iDfrMS3_hx3NTIfNN7TP8jzfzq6/s1600/2013-08-17+19.07.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRivpkTT9JxPv6K_Snnm1g6_H-sYwr89bK5PV4Q5VknuLfKkK31wNDpGZGiCQZKr0PpQXZ2oIyaQqetrFCkAtQ6j9qZdNzOfUu34mbCp-RLFA60PR3iDfrMS3_hx3NTIfNN7TP8jzfzq6/s320/2013-08-17+19.07.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And here's what happened when I let it dry and flipped over the doors.</div>
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I guess those pyramids moved around a little when I was painting the other side because there were these little "scratches" on the flip side.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZUa9fsyqkOBH0WhNQlJouWqFvKV2xht7jg-PljCeKDFjtMy_zAnK8UzcTG_pbAPvD9zHX1hONEkOglW0tk4Ogmb6FbWAA6Y8ryaaH5fjFpqgL0Q_pAPxkw8zP8ZCqgZjXiDSi6XBT0_V/s1600/2013-08-17+19.23.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZUa9fsyqkOBH0WhNQlJouWqFvKV2xht7jg-PljCeKDFjtMy_zAnK8UzcTG_pbAPvD9zHX1hONEkOglW0tk4Ogmb6FbWAA6Y8ryaaH5fjFpqgL0Q_pAPxkw8zP8ZCqgZjXiDSi6XBT0_V/s320/2013-08-17+19.23.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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So for the second coat, I let one side dry before flipping it over to paint the other.</div>
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I guess the pyramids are good for holding up something to let it dry on all sides, but when you have the possibility of it moving around and getting scratched up, I would suggest waiting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHnhYH1GHwTFEJ7Ffwh-m26Vlsd7baRe5Syqx52X1-ydZYWGoo8YHiy1R7InqzfHCvtMI-NTUBDalwCjf9Lh1Gy4bOITuvEINlzCCzaXCqxEeeIV-zp5eq2apKu4pPLQEF8zYElwgsFsc/s1600/2013-08-18+10.14.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHnhYH1GHwTFEJ7Ffwh-m26Vlsd7baRe5Syqx52X1-ydZYWGoo8YHiy1R7InqzfHCvtMI-NTUBDalwCjf9Lh1Gy4bOITuvEINlzCCzaXCqxEeeIV-zp5eq2apKu4pPLQEF8zYElwgsFsc/s320/2013-08-18+10.14.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's what it looked like after Day One. Two coats are on the cabinet, all of the outlet/switch plates are taken off, as well as all of the other things on the walls (towel rods/rings/hooks) and painters tape is ready for Day Two.</div>
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Which.....will of course be part two....coming soon! :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-27305461196262314562013-08-14T23:48:00.002-04:002013-08-14T23:48:11.768-04:00objective frames updateWhen I posted about making my daily objective frames last summer, I had NO idea how "big" that post would get. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHfnryDxPwPcuQJGyWJjijxcNo-BoGNNX_veKqNFIqxYoAZKceD6NdfnAJnpykgBYbeL7_taZZvFZWpdgubk5yCmbYo_K11cKWqaQpqi3PAsiA3G1omOYU1HrYVJP6MCiNLUiIZ6Rfafp/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHfnryDxPwPcuQJGyWJjijxcNo-BoGNNX_veKqNFIqxYoAZKceD6NdfnAJnpykgBYbeL7_taZZvFZWpdgubk5yCmbYo_K11cKWqaQpqi3PAsiA3G1omOYU1HrYVJP6MCiNLUiIZ6Rfafp/s320/IMG_1618.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
As a little newbie blogger, just learning as I go, to see one of my posts get over 100 pageviews is an exciting milestone. It affirms that there are people out there reading what I'm writing, and as I'm sure any blogger will tell you, that means a lot.<br />
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<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/daily-objective-dry-erase-boardsnot.html" target="_blank">This post</a>.....has, as of today, had almost 40 THOUSAND pageviews. <br />
I kid you not. Mind-boggling.<br />
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I do attribute a lot of those views to the power of Pinterest.<br />
I "pinned" my post, which was inspired originally by a pin I saw, and from there it must have just had some sort of crazy pin-domino-effect. <br />
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A few other very fun things have developed after posting about that project....<br />
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*The original inspiration photo had no link attached to it, so I couldn't give credit to the pinspiration. Until <a href="http://www.ourpinterestingclassroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jillian</a> found my post and I was able to give credit where credit was due!<br />
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*A few other blogging teachers commented on my post letting me know that they not only made their own versions of these frames, but blogged about it....and linked back to my little ol' blog. So sweet!<br />
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*A TON of readers asked for copies of the documents I made on my computer for the frames. After sending out about thirty different emails, and not being able to figure out a way to link a PDF document to a blog post, I caved and opened a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Lehan" target="_blank">Teachers Pay Teachers seller account</a>. <br />
If you go to the link to <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Lehan" target="_blank">my store</a>, you'll see that I not only have the vertical and horizontal frames (with many additions as suggested/requested by other teachers) for free, but I now have TWO more inexpensive products that I added on today!<br />
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<li>My <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Black-Circle-with-Polka-Dot-Frame-Labels-827784" target="_blank">black circle labels</a> (link to TpT) started out as just<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank"> cubby numbers</a>, but I added a few other things to make the product more versatile for teachers who may be interested in it.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVaI7vREXRzm3KlvmlABiflWdsNJZzj1LJrbk4GH9_8IXTbTiHfq6jK8U4p0ihM2eWe56JvUKBh0QVrZhMjyDOfIY6xzStodZPV-gYnc5VIQV4GpVt5mA5KZTxKMDG4UApNQoHKuIy-o5/s1600/2013-08-07+18.23.51-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggVaI7vREXRzm3KlvmlABiflWdsNJZzj1LJrbk4GH9_8IXTbTiHfq6jK8U4p0ihM2eWe56JvUKBh0QVrZhMjyDOfIY6xzStodZPV-gYnc5VIQV4GpVt5mA5KZTxKMDG4UApNQoHKuIy-o5/s320/2013-08-07+18.23.51-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2DLa_v_jAYIWwrTKeIg0Qw7qmTYYFDrYEIXm-neEEzP5e-eTLtiw0D9vbga_i_2-A5_IKhul8HbQHXnJFZTyT8kHy2ZwG3OUwTxcZ1SAhB9_Iw9WYY1uxghK2UryNDQg_-e_WFS3kZZo/s1600/2013-08-07+19.37.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2DLa_v_jAYIWwrTKeIg0Qw7qmTYYFDrYEIXm-neEEzP5e-eTLtiw0D9vbga_i_2-A5_IKhul8HbQHXnJFZTyT8kHy2ZwG3OUwTxcZ1SAhB9_Iw9WYY1uxghK2UryNDQg_-e_WFS3kZZo/s320/2013-08-07+19.37.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>My <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Frame-Labels-827899" target="_blank">blue chevron labels</a> (link to TpT) started out as a way for me to <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/five-for-friday.html" target="_blank">revamp the things I labeled</a> all around my classroom, organizing the items in cupboards, drawers, and shelves. Again, I added a few other things to the set to make it work for other teachers.</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxEs22vMFPwtSUvCM3M8RrQDqTBqCMIs1PC6bxvepIm9tWRKgv3QA6I-utnhCIWuzj9wrN9R7u5ObKe9s1jfdJ361EITErzwngwCaIbcIF6U023Ot1B2UJRCAMuiHDgp7TKMmSBVF90-b/s1600/2013-08-08+16.52.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxEs22vMFPwtSUvCM3M8RrQDqTBqCMIs1PC6bxvepIm9tWRKgv3QA6I-utnhCIWuzj9wrN9R7u5ObKe9s1jfdJ361EITErzwngwCaIbcIF6U023Ot1B2UJRCAMuiHDgp7TKMmSBVF90-b/s320/2013-08-08+16.52.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgwiLN_GBOb_yn_4wXfEHxloCz6VFMP7OICp-fHar3BTojdda3JKBM5uR_yRlh0JOK_rU9_gQA59Ahbh5jc_ZSvdUeho1bXCVjcuxfn_zke47HOCrVp3OqOtlT75dGRFZXjw_OsMuqnov/s1600/2013-08-08+17.14.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgwiLN_GBOb_yn_4wXfEHxloCz6VFMP7OICp-fHar3BTojdda3JKBM5uR_yRlh0JOK_rU9_gQA59Ahbh5jc_ZSvdUeho1bXCVjcuxfn_zke47HOCrVp3OqOtlT75dGRFZXjw_OsMuqnov/s320/2013-08-08+17.14.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li>I also have another product that is so close to being ready....look for a post about it soon!</li>
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<br />
<strong><em>And now onto the update....</em></strong><br />
<br />
Over the summer, one of my beloved frames either fell or was knocked down during the cleaning process. In hindsight, I probably should have taken them down for the summer. <br />
Oh well, lesson learned.<br />
Actually.....I'm kind of glad that it happened.....because I got to update my frames to something I love even more!<br />
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<strong></strong> </div>
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<strong>Magnetic Frames!</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvRRA1BajL7hvGZ4-UJM9U5Hdf688od3xC8l1fuo84edtBSzGBgGcWyed1Q1aAhE6j945HKAcsJIKz8isyGapFVv0Ng8mSGk3lO2mFUynJmC5iPIx6tWRCZDacdL5th9LNgpJx6rzYAFa/s1600/2013-07-31+21.29.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvRRA1BajL7hvGZ4-UJM9U5Hdf688od3xC8l1fuo84edtBSzGBgGcWyed1Q1aAhE6j945HKAcsJIKz8isyGapFVv0Ng8mSGk3lO2mFUynJmC5iPIx6tWRCZDacdL5th9LNgpJx6rzYAFa/s320/2013-07-31+21.29.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>(sorry for the glare....my overhead lights made it hard to take a good picture)</em></div>
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So, when I made a trip to Michaels to pick up a replacement frame, I was sad to find that they didn't carry that brand anymore. However, I found this gem.</div>
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At about 3 dollars a piece, they are slightly more expensive but definitely for those commenters who were worried about having glass in the classroom, these are the perfect solution!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTHo-o4K7oaO3BtecXcrwk7NUdJR-AB3hNQ3P5fCI9t4NxVjDMaIJ5EiXLCsRZRn3layuLToD13Kv-W40SlzvHJbrlGP8NtrNIOTKDPg8cUTYGQ5Eujch6ArZuWUTerHkR-PbvSqYAfyv/s1600/2013-07-31+15.33.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTHo-o4K7oaO3BtecXcrwk7NUdJR-AB3hNQ3P5fCI9t4NxVjDMaIJ5EiXLCsRZRn3layuLToD13Kv-W40SlzvHJbrlGP8NtrNIOTKDPg8cUTYGQ5Eujch6ArZuWUTerHkR-PbvSqYAfyv/s320/2013-07-31+15.33.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-KpcqbAAKup7JYsPTkRcZ8KGdEJuAPiL-9jNO5ISO2yRI-sa3I9ub-mfqRjT3zxJAb4HaxMmp6Fd0CFnKtgVkFkQg0Fl1nlzXm4dnkqaRCyuECS5a0V58wwCaWLCJWqoKhpMMT7QjDDZ/s1600/2013-07-31+21.07.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-KpcqbAAKup7JYsPTkRcZ8KGdEJuAPiL-9jNO5ISO2yRI-sa3I9ub-mfqRjT3zxJAb4HaxMmp6Fd0CFnKtgVkFkQg0Fl1nlzXm4dnkqaRCyuECS5a0V58wwCaWLCJWqoKhpMMT7QjDDZ/s320/2013-07-31+21.07.30.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
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<em>(close up in case you wanted to see the specifics)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhDjSZlxOALl59sMESzGgxsf-995Ooa4miEHGuFHmYBTr9hI6Gmz4aLgzO2wwAv_d-1tNPYJ25iY13-f-62olWrTKx0J0GXvQMyv0GD5u-6OpNE00ChXqHvvVEBWKZctWlBISogCz4X51/s1600/2013-07-31+15.33.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhDjSZlxOALl59sMESzGgxsf-995Ooa4miEHGuFHmYBTr9hI6Gmz4aLgzO2wwAv_d-1tNPYJ25iY13-f-62olWrTKx0J0GXvQMyv0GD5u-6OpNE00ChXqHvvVEBWKZctWlBISogCz4X51/s320/2013-07-31+15.33.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Check out those magnets on the back-- these aren't going anywhere!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPGq98ICTVL0UZnbX0DUw3V0lroiMdP29I4MdvZPUFC4OnVZwntRYXh78D_mZMz-V4Fv8hQt4liHVEP86tVaABLLsk9M_AvtQyMxXKicHn2BvHc3DgFQhDjQRvSy2VSRXyT2LxbIAIiNL/s1600/2013-07-31+21.07.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPGq98ICTVL0UZnbX0DUw3V0lroiMdP29I4MdvZPUFC4OnVZwntRYXh78D_mZMz-V4Fv8hQt4liHVEP86tVaABLLsk9M_AvtQyMxXKicHn2BvHc3DgFQhDjQRvSy2VSRXyT2LxbIAIiNL/s320/2013-07-31+21.07.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And since I already had made the papers, assembly was SUPER quick and easy.</div>
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Simply slip the pages in...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikLC46nrCsAYpfIlxP9vikwq6vk3MScSAYdqrXk9hQ2PTAUjOlXEZdySGJpHfe4d4ZuffVhcCtHjFIdRASNG1Q8S-Xsq3B-LqXbC2ABSgC7nRsnI1yOzQh9J7PLpAkBPF85YjSB5jPIB-/s1600/2013-07-31+21.12.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikLC46nrCsAYpfIlxP9vikwq6vk3MScSAYdqrXk9hQ2PTAUjOlXEZdySGJpHfe4d4ZuffVhcCtHjFIdRASNG1Q8S-Xsq3B-LqXbC2ABSgC7nRsnI1yOzQh9J7PLpAkBPF85YjSB5jPIB-/s320/2013-07-31+21.12.12.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
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Take down the old Command Strips....you're no longer needed. </div>
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Thanks for your hard work last year.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOoMas9eONXOcYi2vnDfh_k_LXMZDD_q22QoLmAmpVuPHgdaYQxzmiilR24tBCTvcNoZnhdnAm9eIPvJWCZs3rZeP-8pZo5Khft7VKmcjlxQqp4dh4Z1KZ4Z37AzkUz9nj1q_YFLIp9hB/s1600/2013-07-31+21.14.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheOoMas9eONXOcYi2vnDfh_k_LXMZDD_q22QoLmAmpVuPHgdaYQxzmiilR24tBCTvcNoZnhdnAm9eIPvJWCZs3rZeP-8pZo5Khft7VKmcjlxQqp4dh4Z1KZ4Z37AzkUz9nj1q_YFLIp9hB/s320/2013-07-31+21.14.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reposition everything in place on the board.</div>
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And just because I can't leave well enough alone....I broke out my favorite black and white polka dot craft tape (like washi tape) and framed my frames!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHnKdhyrfwfCpjE-YxEw0RR9TDvQZ_mn3ecNjbo0V4_gXujQkhdU7Lo4w8r-VreVvLExlxMKyzez68cSNReSMr1RyZXjGg6Ea4g1ye0dw4fXdJw540O7OParCRx_FbhOw-Kf9LciPQei7/s1600/2013-07-31+21.29.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHnKdhyrfwfCpjE-YxEw0RR9TDvQZ_mn3ecNjbo0V4_gXujQkhdU7Lo4w8r-VreVvLExlxMKyzez68cSNReSMr1RyZXjGg6Ea4g1ye0dw4fXdJw540O7OParCRx_FbhOw-Kf9LciPQei7/s320/2013-07-31+21.29.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've never been so glad to see something of mine broken before! :)</div>
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If you haven't read my first post on how to make the frames, here's where you can get the PDF documents for the labels inside the frames-- go <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Objective-Frames-Vertical-779989" target="_blank">here</a> (for vertical frames) and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Objective-Frames-Horizontal-779979" target="_blank">here</a> (for the horizontal frames).</div>
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Here's to hoping that this post gets over 100 views.....time for Pinterest to work its magic! :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-16156697780061238842013-08-13T00:07:00.001-04:002013-08-13T00:07:46.891-04:00liebster award...sharing a little blog love!Kristin over at the blog <a href="http://thisoldartroom.blogspot.com/2013/08/liebster-award.html" target="_blank">This Old Art Room</a> was sweet enough to nominate me for a Liebster Award!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rcczxkt8hTXxzKcSdZ60gh8BHaTe49cY9-c4qR_AQsLYx21ZhapfBMWOgQxYQ2fggK9_JSUKaUdkzsT1MD1vYXNNIiB2PT5wBZQd-4xFoFoJqMww3k0dl9q70_TFUx0_YVV-9_0vxYB-/s1600/liebster+award.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rcczxkt8hTXxzKcSdZ60gh8BHaTe49cY9-c4qR_AQsLYx21ZhapfBMWOgQxYQ2fggK9_JSUKaUdkzsT1MD1vYXNNIiB2PT5wBZQd-4xFoFoJqMww3k0dl9q70_TFUx0_YVV-9_0vxYB-/s320/liebster+award.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Of course, being a newbie blogger I had no idea what that meant so I hopped over to her blog to find out what this was all about. Then I did a little more research because I thought it was such a fun, warm-fuzzy kind of recognition. Not really an "award" per se, but more of a "keep up the good work and remember someone is reading your stuff" reminder. No matter what, it has all good intentions and I intend to keep it rolling.<br />
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One blogger, Sopphey Vance, really dug deep and tried to discover the origins of this award. You can read her blog post about it <a href="http://sopphey.onimpression.com/2012/05/liebster-blog-award-origins.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<em>The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Pretty long list of adjectives there, but all together pretty positive as well.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
It is given out to bloggers who have less than 200 followers, most likely as a way to support and encourage them to keep blogging! If there's anything I learned from blogging so far is that if you feel supported and encouraged, you are more likely to keep doing it. I know personally that once I realized people were (a) actually reading my blog and (b) getting something useful out of it, I knew that I was going to keep it up.<br />
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So here are the rules I was given to follow if I chose to "accept this mission". <br />
<em>(Ha! That totally reminds me of Mission: Impossible....please say you're with me)</em><br />
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Back to the rules....<br />
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1. Link back to the blog that nominated me. <em>(The link to Kristin's blog is at the top of this post!)</em><br />
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2. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.</div>
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3. Share 11 random facts about myself.</div>
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4. Create 11 questions for my nominees.</div>
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5. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers. </div>
6. Contact my nominees and let them know that I have nominated them.<br />
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<strong><u>Here are the 11 Questions Kristin gave to me</u></strong>:<br />
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<strong>1. What is your favorite food?</strong><br />
<em>Italian food....I love all kinds of pastas, pizzas, and anything with garlic and/or pesto! Let's just say it would be very difficult for me to go on a no-carb diet. :)</em><br />
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<strong>2. What do you collect?</strong></div>
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<em>Accessories! Purses are my biggest weakness (I have six baskets of purses in my guest room closet- I think at last count I had over 50), but I also love buying scarves, necklaces, watches, rings, bracelets...basically anything that can dress up an outfit!</em></div>
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<strong>3. What did you want to be when you were little?</strong></div>
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<em>Actually, I pretty much always wanted to be a teacher except for that one year in high school when I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Crazy. I also had dreams when I was younger of being a famous actress, or an archaeologist, or an interior designer. Yep, when I was a kid I actually knew what an archaeologist and interior designer were! :)</em></div>
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<strong>4. What is your biggest pet-peeve?</strong></div>
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<em>As a teacher, my biggest pet-peeve are pencils. They break, kids lose them, they don't have one, someone stole theirs, they pop the erasers off, they drop all of their pencil shavings on the ground.....I could go on. I often joke around with kids that I wish someone would invent the everlasting-never-needs-sharpening-or-replacing-pencil.</em></div>
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<strong>5. What is something you've always wanted to learn?</strong></div>
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<em>I've always wanted to learn how to skydive, how to sew/crochet well, how to speak another language fluently, and how to play a musical instrument.</em></div>
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<strong>6. What is your favorite movie?</strong></div>
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<em>I love movies way too much to choose one....sorry, I know that's a total cop out on this question. Literally though, I go to the movies on an average once a week and I've seen SO many outstanding movies. Last year, I literally saw all (nine) movies that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. That's why I can't pick!!</em></div>
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<strong>7. What would be your ideal Saturday night?</strong></div>
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<em>Either being with my family or friends. If I'm with my family, it would be hanging out, playing games, eating, laughing and being goofballs. If I'm with my friends, it would be hanging out, maybe having a few drinks, eating, laughing, and talking for hours. Sometimes I love going out to a bar or dancing or a party, but for the most part I like being around smaller groups of people where you can just be yourself. </em></div>
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<strong>8. Are you a dog or cat person?</strong></div>
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<em>If I had to choose, I'd be a dog person because I loved all the dogs we had growing up....but honestly, I don't have any desire to have a pet myself. I've lived with both cats and dogs, and it's just not "my thing" I guess. I have a very sensitive sense of smell, and let's face it....animals stink.</em></div>
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<strong>9. If they were going to make a movie about your life who would play you?</strong></div>
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<em>Well...since I love movies so much this is again a very hard question to answer. I think I would want someone like Jennifer Garner, not because I think she looks like me because she's so down-to-earth and that's really close to my personality. </em></div>
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<strong>10. Did you play sports?</strong></div>
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<em>I played soccer all four years of high school, and soccer and volleyball (indoor and outdoor) on rec teams in college. Now...I'm too out of shape to do either of those. Maybe someday....</em> </div>
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<strong>11. What is your favorite creative activity?</strong></div>
<em>I definitely see blogging as a creative activity, but I also really love doing DIY projects around my house (painting, decorating, repurposing objects) as well as fun creative projects in the classroom, many of which I've blogged about! I also love creating things on the computer (using Publisher) for my classroom, and will hopefully start selling some of them on Teachers Pay Teachers. At one point in my teaching career, I considered going back to school to study graphic design so I could actually do that for a living (this was before TpT), but I realized I would miss my students too much!</em><br />
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<u><strong>Okay....and now 11 random facts about me.</strong></u><br />
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1. Since I go to the movies so often, I have a "Celebrity Card" with the movie theater's rewards program. I like to pretend that it's cooler than it is, but really I just love the freebies I get.<br />
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2. I love going antique shopping. I could literally spend all day in one of those huge antique malls. It's so fun to search for little treasures, but mostly I just love seeing all of those "vintage" collections. I put vintage in quotes because some of those things are from my childhood and I don't think I'm old enough to be labeled as vintage yet!<br />
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3. I have never had a professional manicure or pedicure. I know, the girlie-girl in me is ashamed. But when I can do it for myself for way less, I'm okay with that.<br />
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4. I am extremely ticklish, and I bruise easily. I don't know if they're related, but somehow in my head I thought they should be in the same category.<br />
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5. I'm addicted to caffeine, but can't drink coffee. Which is why I drink (too much) pop every day.<br />
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6. I can not wear anything with leather against my skin. I get a serious allergic reaction in the form of a large, very itchy rash. Not being able to wear leather sandals and dress shoes without socks has seriously limited my wardrobe choices in the warmer months at work.<br />
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7. I bought a house (by myself) almost four years ago. It was the scariest, smartest, and most rewarding decision I ever made. <br />
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8. I own and have seen every season and episode of Gilmore Girls and The X-Files. Even though those two shows are extremely different from each other, they are my two all-time favorite shows. Which shouldn't surprise you knowing the eclectic variety of TV shows that I enjoy.<br />
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9. I was born in and have lived in Michigan all my life, but my favorite baseball team is the Chicago White Sox. It all originates with my dad who used to listen to baseball on the radio and the Chicago stations came in better than Detroit so he ended up being a Sox fan.....which of course meant I became one. <br />
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10. I only applied to one college during my senior year of high school- the University of Michigan. For my whole life, that was the only place I wanted to go. I had no back up plan in case I wasn't accepted. Good thing I was! <br />
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11. My favorite smell is the smell of the beach. Lake Michigan to be exact. It just reminds me of home. Well, that and the smell of my mom's homemade apple pie. :)<br />
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Questions for my Nominees:<br />
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1. If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go and why?<br />
2. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?<br />
3. When you get a day (or for you parents, an hour?) to yourself, what do you like to do?<br />
4. If you could only pack three beauty products for a long trip (gasp!), what would they be?<br />
5. What is the best book you've read recently?<br />
6. Do you ever wish you were in a different career? If so, what would you dream to be doing?<br />
7. If you had to pick one meal to eat the rest of your life, what would it be?<br />
8. What is one of your favorite childhood memories?<br />
9. If you could live during any other decade/period in history, when would it be and why?<br />
10. When you go on vacation, would you rather be adventurous or relaxing (like on a beach)?<br />
11. What are three things you would like to be remembered for?<br />
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My Nominees:<br />
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1. Jackie at <a href="http://mysunnymoments.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Sunny Moments</a><br />
2. Lindsay at <a href="http://aboyabrunetteandababy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Boy, A Brunette, and a Baby</a><br />
3. Calli at<a href="http://www.callifrog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Living My Best Life</a><br />
4. <a href="http://teachingtidbit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teaching Tidbits and More with Jamie</a><br />
5. Ali at <a href="http://teachingpoweredbycaffeine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Teaching Powered By Caffeine</a><br />
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<em>Nominees....please let me know when you write your posts. I can't wait to hear your answers!</em><br />
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Thanks again to Kristin for the award....this was a lot of fun! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-9331252707974727942013-08-12T21:49:00.000-04:002013-08-12T21:49:55.352-04:00monday made it: classroom jobs boardWith all of the little projects I've been doing for my classroom lately, it wasn't hard to find one to write about to join the<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2013/08/monday-made-it-with-sunday-start.html" target="_blank"> Monday Made It by Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics</a>.<br />
<em>I'm getting a little addicted to all of these great teacher linky parties....they're a fun way to blog hop and learn some fabulous new ideas! :)</em><br />
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<a href="http://www.4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbVeeMFns-tvO2nJPMVeRWYa1neSanVB6BHIj_eKcjZ5gebzxLEaHMT4Lpjna7em8vmpHT-kq4hx5jRRPbJmIlQ-QynReOp__KIp1eyCntNCNyeFlfuwTYY5WxGqyO6IyHx691tNx-iEq/s1600/monday+made+it+logo.jpg" /></a></div>
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One of the new changes I made this year was to revamp my classroom jobs. Not only what the jobs board looks like, but the jobs I'm giving the kids, how they're getting the jobs, how often they're changing jobs, and how to move the responsibility from me to them.</div>
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I was inspired when I read<a href="http://www.clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2013/07/tips-for-creating-and-managing.html" target="_blank"> this post on the Clutter-Free Classroom blog</a>.</div>
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<em><strong>There were three things that I took away from reading this post:</strong></em></div>
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1. Instead of changing classroom jobs every week, and making sure that every student had every job at some point during the year....students have a job for a longer period of time- a trimester, semester, or marking period. This gives them an adequate amount of time to learn their job well and get into the habit of actually<strong> doing</strong> the job (this was the struggle I had most- with students forgetting their jobs!).</div>
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2. Don't assign jobs until you know the students better...wait a few weeks so that you can best understand their personalities, strengths, and needs in the classroom. For example, if you have a student who needs to have a "get up and move" break once in a while, maybe a "messenger" like job would be a perfect fit. They have a purpose- to deliver something to the office or another teacher- and they get a movement break. </div>
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3. When it's time to switch jobs, students train each other. So whoever was in charge of filing for the first trimester will train my second trimester filers. The responsibility transitions from the teacher to the students. Love this!!</div>
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Taking all of this in, I decided to go with this new philosophy, but I needed to add more jobs and my old pocket chart wasn't going to work. So.....of course....I made a new one. :)</div>
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Here's what new Jobs Chart looks like:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NExYDVpR471whiE6fhO98OspKHWD3236IOdJUzz243bLjCRNH7nPZ62DTw5LpCLAYFjpPb6tYfuJzHkU69h6_fwT6HzHHxIrKec8AkJKSgH1EZyFdyTOvvM8q7eu_Hqo7hHoO3a4cAZ7/s1600/2013-08-07+17.29.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NExYDVpR471whiE6fhO98OspKHWD3236IOdJUzz243bLjCRNH7nPZ62DTw5LpCLAYFjpPb6tYfuJzHkU69h6_fwT6HzHHxIrKec8AkJKSgH1EZyFdyTOvvM8q7eu_Hqo7hHoO3a4cAZ7/s320/2013-08-07+17.29.26.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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And here's how I put it together....</div>
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First, I made the sign for the top. I loved how in the post I read, the shift went from "here's what we need to do" to "here's what we're responsible for". So I went with that idea and made a sign to make that clear.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips1tTonaiRqZY9F1JjE3Hr4re-KaU7_8ByHY5g0WTqimQ443yrA3tch-bPVwaNconZ6prR1uLdv_WSHyD2NZ4RESS4yLjCiywW-kZymqMe4si6nI2CTmioBbu0PLjGo9zDexKagtX2_75/s1600/2013-08-07+17.12.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips1tTonaiRqZY9F1JjE3Hr4re-KaU7_8ByHY5g0WTqimQ443yrA3tch-bPVwaNconZ6prR1uLdv_WSHyD2NZ4RESS4yLjCiywW-kZymqMe4si6nI2CTmioBbu0PLjGo9zDexKagtX2_75/s320/2013-08-07+17.12.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, I printed up labels for my job cards. I used clear labels because I really wanted the adorable polka-dot envelopes to stand out. I laid out the pockets on a table to create the color pattern first.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvXfqMhntiB7fIlC8aPPkSJQJgtOXUnh1l7a75zivUGPsJE4ttB4paS1WeDz0CTZ_fqv_IHz95CjNPEBqB9yUUBQ1s9xQpZ7tTQmJyH6F3XoXv9uOzIS9SIDctULm1N8Jx2wxqvWAI-Ch/s1600/2013-08-07+16.45.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvXfqMhntiB7fIlC8aPPkSJQJgtOXUnh1l7a75zivUGPsJE4ttB4paS1WeDz0CTZ_fqv_IHz95CjNPEBqB9yUUBQ1s9xQpZ7tTQmJyH6F3XoXv9uOzIS9SIDctULm1N8Jx2wxqvWAI-Ch/s320/2013-08-07+16.45.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaxd3ZJiX4MW8B1RDrD5NfekfQxfUuV5Qf10DERHpoFxQLcD4Qi5bgs0oAwTEH7ITJF1bYWMIOxyTOc15em-yx4Ar8HyJ7-nxA5b3eqtER4OPz7rIlJJofKbgsQ2xnaE8CGnQeP_wS8mK/s1600/2013-08-07+16.45.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaxd3ZJiX4MW8B1RDrD5NfekfQxfUuV5Qf10DERHpoFxQLcD4Qi5bgs0oAwTEH7ITJF1bYWMIOxyTOc15em-yx4Ar8HyJ7-nxA5b3eqtER4OPz7rIlJJofKbgsQ2xnaE8CGnQeP_wS8mK/s320/2013-08-07+16.45.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, I carefully stapled everything onto the <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/chevron-and-stripes-and-dots.html" target="_blank">black background</a> that I had created when I put up my new bulletin boards a couple weeks ago.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN6_lTXn1ZM6EoPWX3LaJXlo031Z01WHTjq0TR6BnQtTPhYiFa2LC-AbfkHF3jn-hcrgXD1B8Ivy4v_wFkeIpLQIvzjTU-z6PZsQuccECoJaktRyCp6ck1myg48xiHpgofFnAr7HQc5yW/s1600/2013-08-07+17.28.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN6_lTXn1ZM6EoPWX3LaJXlo031Z01WHTjq0TR6BnQtTPhYiFa2LC-AbfkHF3jn-hcrgXD1B8Ivy4v_wFkeIpLQIvzjTU-z6PZsQuccECoJaktRyCp6ck1myg48xiHpgofFnAr7HQc5yW/s320/2013-08-07+17.28.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And when I finally do assign each student their job, I'll simply put a large craft stick with their name on it inside that job's envelope.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUw0o9il4Uk7lf65IMRGHaU9UFgffSsaMCaA8FqwFe-46byc6_QXCanAgt1OTz20uLD1io-3IYTUvViuWRFniEhQz50rhm_9xe4XG7aAbGhhQGFw3A1-ey2WgOcgu1b3rp0HiODdA5W58/s1600/2013-08-07+17.31.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUw0o9il4Uk7lf65IMRGHaU9UFgffSsaMCaA8FqwFe-46byc6_QXCanAgt1OTz20uLD1io-3IYTUvViuWRFniEhQz50rhm_9xe4XG7aAbGhhQGFw3A1-ey2WgOcgu1b3rp0HiODdA5W58/s320/2013-08-07+17.31.23.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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Since I have 29 students and only 20 jobs, that will obviously mean that some jobs will be for more than one student. Which is okay, because honestly some of them need more than one to do it well.</div>
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I'm super excited to implement this new job philosophy in my class this year.</div>
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Thanks again to the Clutter-Free Classroom for this wonderful new outlook on classroom jobs!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gLaPMjlnTd-gMoJk4zpr64fRKj1qojhORyZENryUQghugMji3FRBPxRrk5BQMa9wc2kQy9eu9B1TOzD26pTdZLj9ln08E17ueiVrWWWpDtgC-wlO0A-7naSQtXkmeBQ1SJMQqmSGUfcf/s1600/2013-08-07+17.29.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gLaPMjlnTd-gMoJk4zpr64fRKj1qojhORyZENryUQghugMji3FRBPxRrk5BQMa9wc2kQy9eu9B1TOzD26pTdZLj9ln08E17ueiVrWWWpDtgC-wlO0A-7naSQtXkmeBQ1SJMQqmSGUfcf/s320/2013-08-07+17.29.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And for those of you who are like me and are wondering what all of those jobs are on my board, here's a list so you don't have to squint. ;)</div>
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*Collecting Papers</div>
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<em>(gathering the papers when students need to turn them in to be graded or recycled)</em></div>
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*Passing Papers</div>
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<em>(except for tests which I always pass out myself)</em></div>
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*Microwaves </div>
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<em>(cleaning them- I have 2 because we eat lunch in the classroom)</em></div>
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*Helping the Teacher</div>
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<em>(for any jobs that come up that aren't on the job board)</em></div>
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*Filing Folders</div>
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<em>(filing papers into our Friday Folders to go home)</em></div>
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*Pencils</div>
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<em>(sharpening pencils in the "Dull" can, checking the floor for pencils at the end of the day)</em></div>
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*Lights and Doors</div>
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<em>(turning on/off lights as needed, holding the outside doors for the class)</em></div>
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*Recycling</div>
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<em>(taking the paper recycling out to our "Paper Gator" as needed)</em></div>
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*Calendar and Board</div>
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<em>(changing the calendar at the end of the day and cleaning the board as needed)</em></div>
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*Lunch List</div>
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<em>(taking the lunch order in the morning and reading off the lunch list each day)</em></div>
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*Cubbies</div>
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<em>(checking the area under the cubbies at the end of each day so students don't forget anything)</em></div>
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*Chair Stacks</div>
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<em>(making sure everyone's chairs are stacked and in the right place at the end of the day)</em></div>
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*Surface Dusting</div>
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<em>(yep, I give my kids a Swiffer sheet and let them dust away!)</em></div>
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*Desks and Floors</div>
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<em>(making sure the desks are lined up and floors are cleared at the end of each day)</em></div>
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*Checking in "Do Now"</div>
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<em>(this is our morning work- last year I had a few students ask if they could check in what students turned in, put them in number order for me, etc. I LOVED them for this!!)</em></div>
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*Messages</div>
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<em>(delivering anything to other teachers or the front office)</em></div>
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*Class Library</div>
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<em>(straightening up the shelves, making sure the books are in the correct baskets)</em></div>
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*Library Books</div>
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<em>(collecting and delivering our school library books once a week)</em></div>
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*Absent Student's Jobs</div>
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<em>(pretty self-explanatory)</em></div>
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*Pillows</div>
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<em>(I have 8 or 9 pillows in my reading area and I can just imagine what they'll look like everyday if I didn't have someone trained to straighten them up for me. I'm a tad OCD.)</em></div>
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If you have any fantastic ways that you've implemented class jobs into your teaching, I'd love to hear more about it!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-63156991717370478502013-08-09T17:28:00.000-04:002013-08-14T14:54:31.901-04:00five for fridaySince I successfully did my first "link-up" with Throwback Thursday yesterday, I decided to try another one today- it's "Five for Friday", linking up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzQeTIuiFlkbeDXfSG0YU6miaYAz2uG5htN7W_o6r62rm0Jpqrw3avQ-1LEXZq8FSF5st9u44gUN2WE86JsIBaVT1lxMG6_s767uDR2IOymXHdg51C6b1dKtNWZQgC8qqDsCfJwCQe-H3/s320/fiveforfriday+button.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love how this linky is simple: write about five things you did today or this week and link up your post to hers. A fun way to quickly read about the great things that other bloggers are up to at this crazy time of year! :)</div>
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Here's what I've been up to this week:</div>
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Number One:</h3>
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<strong><em>Target Dollar Spot Pocket Chart</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C8X2-VGUbdCYbghkDFvsqA6IJZ8PRp6e0xEdbRuPgWQkvmLIDdkGnbYnrJYkVayYGgGbzhyphenhyphenXxvrC_Lf8GcOwqQqwBAg7iLFNKmg7USnL1jXvzqxIqIcq4G0IvoiorAKRNyRZT0JaMP-r/s1600/2013-08-07+11.56.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C8X2-VGUbdCYbghkDFvsqA6IJZ8PRp6e0xEdbRuPgWQkvmLIDdkGnbYnrJYkVayYGgGbzhyphenhyphenXxvrC_Lf8GcOwqQqwBAg7iLFNKmg7USnL1jXvzqxIqIcq4G0IvoiorAKRNyRZT0JaMP-r/s320/2013-08-07+11.56.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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When I saw these little pocket charts at my <strong>Favorite Store in the World</strong> the other day, I thought "Hmm..I wonder if those would be good for my Reading Street Amazing Word cards?"</div>
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<em>(Yes, I do realize that I have extremely riveting inner dialogue....you're jealous, right?)</em></div>
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The answer: PERFECT. </div>
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Eight slots and the maximum each week has is....you guessed it, eight.</div>
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And they fit so well it's almost like Target and Reading Street teamed up to make a teacher's life easier. And cuter. And more organized. You get the idea.</div>
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Number Two:</h3>
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<strong><em>New Jobs Display</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3NVM4vS-vcRLV0Ek1RP0sxx6d-lbT7jJteK9CIwTbJ8PqQ0fTRprbCkRqgHNOxnOzJoZARE8uq2EZ7U3U5aYfrT9pc-LvIZXzzhHIWCUM7dCkLE1C7e-FCWVYKzUhyphenhyphenkIIGonqaDJ_nWn/s1600/2013-08-07+17.12.20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3NVM4vS-vcRLV0Ek1RP0sxx6d-lbT7jJteK9CIwTbJ8PqQ0fTRprbCkRqgHNOxnOzJoZARE8uq2EZ7U3U5aYfrT9pc-LvIZXzzhHIWCUM7dCkLE1C7e-FCWVYKzUhyphenhyphenkIIGonqaDJ_nWn/s320/2013-08-07+17.12.20-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Okay, so this is just a computer shot of the sign I designed to top my display.</div>
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The reason I'm not including any other pics is because I have a blog post in the works to explain and show the process I went through in making it.</div>
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I also like to make people wait for things.</div>
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Must be the teacher in me.</div>
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Number Three:</h3>
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<strong><em>Cute Covered Bookshelves</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lDbRl1HSlZ9tMjYMjTWL6HB7MrCbBX5zElx8VvgQKyVpSUZoV5khSjNLoE2hME3k0GiWM0pM-6XSQaM4M1Qbvyahpis76zonW2hV0XWenrhsOPXbIdwp3iWkr9MhtrVPaErntQidbsdN/s1600/2013-08-08+11.48.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lDbRl1HSlZ9tMjYMjTWL6HB7MrCbBX5zElx8VvgQKyVpSUZoV5khSjNLoE2hME3k0GiWM0pM-6XSQaM4M1Qbvyahpis76zonW2hV0XWenrhsOPXbIdwp3iWkr9MhtrVPaErntQidbsdN/s320/2013-08-08+11.48.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is an "After vs. Before" shot of the metal bookshelves in my classroom.</div>
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Note the lovely rust spots on the bottom one.</div>
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Gross.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C8TJiuwM_-9n3szHuqeSwxlRMDOyVMcJpCq0Zf6cUbKkUdZQGxDpILemv802tNWhXMbufBlgWWN0LeVT2tOEice6RmLdhPnywmQ23UUHd7SuRBxT3GedT37JfrVEFjEiRTe1zmaVvQmA/s1600/2013-08-08+12.25.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7C8TJiuwM_-9n3szHuqeSwxlRMDOyVMcJpCq0Zf6cUbKkUdZQGxDpILemv802tNWhXMbufBlgWWN0LeVT2tOEice6RmLdhPnywmQ23UUHd7SuRBxT3GedT37JfrVEFjEiRTe1zmaVvQmA/s320/2013-08-08+12.25.39.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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With the extra contact paper I had from my other projects like <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/08/crafting-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">these</a>, those rusty shelves are now adorably bright and stylish.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfo8kw-xlOdAiSUgydgFqQY5wPhawvQYKjh9SS79DHpuyU9Wf-FtuY5hkrDlGvWgpcrWhRl1WX2FHCLaGTxDzaqt4CXWUFyGgbrsW6tQloTvTK4zYMYA_JzrC-0pNNDhpdBC-Fh8Dnxz3/s1600/2013-08-08+14.17.42-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzfo8kw-xlOdAiSUgydgFqQY5wPhawvQYKjh9SS79DHpuyU9Wf-FtuY5hkrDlGvWgpcrWhRl1WX2FHCLaGTxDzaqt4CXWUFyGgbrsW6tQloTvTK4zYMYA_JzrC-0pNNDhpdBC-Fh8Dnxz3/s320/2013-08-08+14.17.42-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And with the books now organized and back on the shelves, I'm so excited to share it with my new group of students in a few weeks!</div>
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Number Four:</h3>
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<strong><em>Supply Labels</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEKi4QULtIWqd_VGdQ6MYq_oN0nIH-HwVpT-zvCL6YmSZugwoU9-OXgOTSz98W9sQb_YtFm2n17VM98LjbxaMq7fYmtRVhDIxPnofzQ9Lbz7DzNY7jDIKWRf_Q14tkV6c10ZWR0KQIuap/s1600/2013-08-08+16.51.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEKi4QULtIWqd_VGdQ6MYq_oN0nIH-HwVpT-zvCL6YmSZugwoU9-OXgOTSz98W9sQb_YtFm2n17VM98LjbxaMq7fYmtRVhDIxPnofzQ9Lbz7DzNY7jDIKWRf_Q14tkV6c10ZWR0KQIuap/s320/2013-08-08+16.51.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I used to have all of my shared class supplies in different areas of the room, in baskets and tubs and cans. For a couple different reasons, I needed to change my organization of these items this year and decided on this seven-drawer cart. I really wanted black (to match the other two rolling carts I have), but I went for function vs. fashion in this case. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRDNII0HasB0wZjWrYmDz286qJEk8YhW6Ogwtg0EQWviIeTj7N454rkSgFO62YbqzRl6cB-MFIA1pbonwefWtgBKWOB6jG-kwxKs7kf0AhX7WbblEQDw7F_AZJNlLFx3UY43Q7PVYyfLb/s1600/2013-08-08+16.52.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRDNII0HasB0wZjWrYmDz286qJEk8YhW6Ogwtg0EQWviIeTj7N454rkSgFO62YbqzRl6cB-MFIA1pbonwefWtgBKWOB6jG-kwxKs7kf0AhX7WbblEQDw7F_AZJNlLFx3UY43Q7PVYyfLb/s320/2013-08-08+16.52.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><b>UPDATE: You can get these labels, and many more like it, at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.</b></i></div>
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<i><b><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Frame-Labels-827899" target="_blank">Go here for this set of labels</a>.</b></i></div>
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Since I was changing some patterns and colors in my room already, I decided to create my own labels for these drawers. After laminating and cutting out the labels, I attached them to the drawers with my favorite-- clear contact paper. </div>
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When I say favorite, I am being sarcastic.....I've had some issues with it in the past.</div>
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<em>Not sticking right. Not being able to get the backing off. Curling up or getting stuck on things that I don't want it getting stuck on. Ruining my hard work labeling something. You get the point.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UwpqzzT-7wKCn3OhL0IopdTieCgYUorXHbudj1vK3G5oZIHKxlnuC7ydfucbarruaQqSor274mH_KgyDgW57MuJuHLbp_n5pwxrlifxpmNX9PThkoT0USN2jbzBB8IEa3wt_UvNIkhOM/s1600/2013-08-08+17.13.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UwpqzzT-7wKCn3OhL0IopdTieCgYUorXHbudj1vK3G5oZIHKxlnuC7ydfucbarruaQqSor274mH_KgyDgW57MuJuHLbp_n5pwxrlifxpmNX9PThkoT0USN2jbzBB8IEa3wt_UvNIkhOM/s320/2013-08-08+17.13.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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However, on this day....I won the battle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oC9fOfQkuFO6rsSPMWZiMQY9sDNIIoS2LXPzwZ0UvfjCS_0oGdEVxPv341fEkFe6muo1aWiQRaa_INpDlNgnvRk0VzxUgXzDxfXYzyUhfmGpvwv7Y3FDon9w33e76_kJRqpVW2hpy-fS/s1600/2013-08-08+17.14.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oC9fOfQkuFO6rsSPMWZiMQY9sDNIIoS2LXPzwZ0UvfjCS_0oGdEVxPv341fEkFe6muo1aWiQRaa_INpDlNgnvRk0VzxUgXzDxfXYzyUhfmGpvwv7Y3FDon9w33e76_kJRqpVW2hpy-fS/s320/2013-08-08+17.14.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm a tad bit obsessed with labeling things.</div>
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Please join my support group.</div>
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(oh right....I don't have one)</div>
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Number Five:</h3>
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<strong><em>Day of Laziness....or Relaxation</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwTwT3_AJPRmzuSSmi0vkOgQS8OwfB3wklzQ8277brEPFmeuFa8sTHRhYf0sr6ncfW6j2HYWHknvTvtIrqbapgO1tVr2ghfYe-uL5Rmd-Eo2g2Hq5v1OObkzSrWogmcJQFFBB1hb9W03V/s1600/2013-08-09+14.07.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCwTwT3_AJPRmzuSSmi0vkOgQS8OwfB3wklzQ8277brEPFmeuFa8sTHRhYf0sr6ncfW6j2HYWHknvTvtIrqbapgO1tVr2ghfYe-uL5Rmd-Eo2g2Hq5v1OObkzSrWogmcJQFFBB1hb9W03V/s320/2013-08-09+14.07.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all of the work I put into my classroom this week, I decided to "take a personal day".</div>
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I'm still in my pajamas (and it's 5:00 PM).</div>
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I've either watched TV, gone on the computer, or cooked/ate all day.</div>
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Oh, and I did a little cutting out of laminated numbers, too....but it was while watching America's Next Top Model, so I really don't count that as work. ;)</div>
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It's been a lovely day.</div>
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I needed it.</div>
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If you're a blogger, you should think about joining this "Five for Friday" linky....today or another Friday. It's a fun way to write about the little things you want to share, all in one place! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-76658484195140627152013-08-08T22:53:00.001-04:002013-08-08T22:53:09.698-04:00throwback thursday<br />
It's Throwback Thursday!<br />
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If I'm doing this right, I'm "linking up" with Cara from <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2013/08/throwback-thursday.html" target="_blank">The First Grade Parade</a> for....<br />
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<a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2013/08/throwback-thursday.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1IPdL6Vbhv8HJOaJTZ-XuX0XwWdWo9GlACLiicBxzFNRyH6n7_UWAPtTIVXTxKRJDRO73Zx99XNnUYP9jNxpbuvaeEogZ6LkFxaTlQQIBaUh-_Fj6tzKBJ_7_jK2aLxqH9hg69wotsFR/s1600/throwbackthursdaybutton.jpg" /></a></div>
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Basically, you repost something from the past and get a chance to read blog posts from bloggers who you haven't been following forever. This isn't a teaching post, it isn't a DIY post, it's just one of those "stand alone" posts....a personal one....that was inspired by a simple moment of finding an object that I hadn't seen in years.<br />
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So here's my first attempt at participating in Throwback Thursday!! :)<br />
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<strong><em>This post....titled "Happiness is..." was originally posted on July 11, 2012.</em></strong></div>
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So if you've read any of my facebook or instagram posts lately, you probably know I'm getting ready for a garage sale this week. This was a goal of mine for the summer in order to clear my dumping-ground (a.k.a. spare bedroom downstairs) and reorganize my storage room. <br />
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And wow. I have accumulated a LOT of stuff over the years.<br />
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Of course, as with everything I do, it is not a quick process. And while going through a bunch of my plastic tubs over the past couple days, I found myself stopping to reminisce on my childhood, adolescence, college years, and early years of teaching.<br />
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One item that I discovered was this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZo6b7pzmN0D_S2JC09S_vsx9f_rzsuJ3jo_iacFmNv_cbnqv_kkbqWJBdRg9K_KY7tEbO2Z703Dj5ImTeG0FnCj1rTvwSe7NFFbSameJiRcztmo97R5H00si_uc2cdMnjmndflQy-2V/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKZo6b7pzmN0D_S2JC09S_vsx9f_rzsuJ3jo_iacFmNv_cbnqv_kkbqWJBdRg9K_KY7tEbO2Z703Dj5ImTeG0FnCj1rTvwSe7NFFbSameJiRcztmo97R5H00si_uc2cdMnjmndflQy-2V/s320/IMG_1271.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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About ten years ago, I bought this notebook with the idea that I would use it to write down daily the little things that make me happy.....to focus on the positives, and put some perspective on life's blessings. This came at a great time, as I had just moved to a new city, was jobless for a few months, got a new job teaching middle schoolers (after three years of teaching second graders!), and was still struggling a little with the debt that college put me in......so I guess this was my own form of therapy. :)<br />
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Here are some things that I wrote down in this journal:<br />
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Happiness is.....<br />
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*seeing my niece laugh at the smallest things, like me shuffling cards<br />
*going for a long walk on a sunny spring day<br />
*riding in my car with the windows down and the sunroof wide open<br />
*finishing up my thank you notes<br />
*fixing a computer problem on my own<br />
*my soccer team winning their game vs. Cross Creek in double overtime<br />
*having the windows open at night....in April!<br />
*mailing out an Easter package to my nephew<br />
*calling Mom<br />
*finding out that I just have a pinched nerve in my leg-- nothing serious like I worried it was<br />
*a good night's sleep-- eight hours!<br />
*working out on my pilates machine<br />
*renting movies<br />
*not working at school all weekend<br />
*balancing my checkbook<br />
*having my voice back for teaching after a few days without it!<br />
*being invited to my brother's for dinner- and seeing my niece crawl for the first time<br />
*getting all of my grades entered in the computer<br />
*fresh strawberries for a morning snack<br />
*cooking a yummy dinner with leftovers for lunch<br />
*going to Michael's for some scrapbooking supplies<br />
*finishing a challenging crossword puzzle <br />
*taking a short nap to get rid of a migraine<br />
*the smell of freshly picked lilacs in my classroom....a gift from a student<br />
*hearing from Joy and making plans to see her soon<br />
*finally organizing my nightstand<br />
*getting some very positive comments on my research paper<br />
*shopping at Target<br />
*hearing the birds chirping outside when I woke up this morning<br />
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I thought I'd add a few more, but new ones. Things from the past couple days that make me happy.<br />
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Because even though this has been a very relaxing summer, it's been a packed summer. Getting projects done, checking off things from my to-do list, running lots of errands, making phone calls, lots of trips to the home improvement stores, squeezing in things whenever I have time....it's busy, but it's a good busy.<br />
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I just don't want my summer to fly by....I want to stop and notice and appreciate the little things every day that make me happy. I want to enjoy every small, seemingly insignificant part of my day while I can. For teachers, summer is a time to rejuvenate ourselves. We work hard.....really hard....all school year long. Summer is the reward.....the bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow.<br />
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And since I can't resist making a Top Ten list.....<br />
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Happiness is:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWJYG5SYQIgYLQ4n6L-p5IR-c8SnovaYCO_p_wlF2r2WedvNXuGgOSbt5LBpoWBn3qJQHtQh_kOgTAo6bJIESLUffMnyXispsROh5AQiekh4hyphenhyphenRke8yK9-LgBeRmSOw87Xrtmbl0wUM2/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbWJYG5SYQIgYLQ4n6L-p5IR-c8SnovaYCO_p_wlF2r2WedvNXuGgOSbt5LBpoWBn3qJQHtQh_kOgTAo6bJIESLUffMnyXispsROh5AQiekh4hyphenhyphenRke8yK9-LgBeRmSOw87Xrtmbl0wUM2/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
1. Getting packages in the mail two days in a row-- my Stickygrams came- and they're proudly displayed on my new fridge already! <br />
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2. Having my windows open all day and at night....after the Heat Wave of 2012, it feels great to have fresh air in my house again!<br />
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3. Going through my old keepsakes and finding this gem.....my friend Joy made this for my birthday one year. We dubbed ourselves the "Wondertwins" in college (and even had matching cheap superpower rings!) and I just love this picture of us "in disguise". As if you could hide the fun that we brought to the party! :)</div>
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4. Reading old letters from my friends and family members when I went away to college. Reading my old diaries.....from middle school, high school, and college. They. are. hilarious.<br />
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5. Finding small items I kept from my childhood. Like this set of Scratch-and-Sniff stickers that came in boxes of the "monster cereals". Count Chocula was my favorite, but I also liked Frankenberry and BooBerry, too. <br />
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6. Seeing the final step in the process of my kitchen tile backsplash.....pictures to come soon! <br />
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7. Ordering online some prints for my kitchen/dining room.....and seeing my vision for my kitchen remodel all coming together. <br />
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8. Cleaning out and reorganizing my storage room for the first time since I moved in to this house.<br />
This one area.....is JUST Christmas stuff. Totally serious. <br />
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9. Getting an iced capp from Tim Hortons. Okay.....and a donut. <br />
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10. Looking up at the clouds on this gorgeous summer day. Thick, puffy, fluffy cumulus clouds.....vibrant blue sky......love. it. </div>
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Hopefully this will inspire some of you to create your own lists, or even just stop and reflect on those little things that make you happy. It just takes a few seconds out of your day, but let me tell you.....it's worth it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-17879630606081828342013-08-07T23:11:00.000-04:002013-08-14T13:20:09.810-04:00crafting in the classroomI've been spending some quality time with my classroom over the past couple weeks....not full days, but for good chunks of time I've been productive.*<br />
<em>*When I'm not getting distracted by Bloglovin, Pinterest, Facebook, or....basically anything else that seems more interesting at the time. </em><br />
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So just to prove that I actually have been getting things done, and to make myself feel<em> </em>better about spending my summer days working, here are a few things that I've accomplished. <br />
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<em><strong>Project #1- Bookcase Backing</strong></em><br />
This bookcase, which I believe I got at Target a few years ago, needed a little face lift. The backing came off when I moved it at the end of the year so I thought that was a sign to do something fun with it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rg_hQOc4iH_n-pqsutZ_A-xxB0JJiCGgbLSb6Iw9iH57zYvI3qGKCeFxIJPK0Emle1bDxTaYvIuCWZCBjNEEpnyMSkWgAHcbVyTierL0hQOaCbNCpy2QIvtxm10tnIDnzA5-pVCbEgys/s1600/2013-07-29+17.18.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rg_hQOc4iH_n-pqsutZ_A-xxB0JJiCGgbLSb6Iw9iH57zYvI3qGKCeFxIJPK0Emle1bDxTaYvIuCWZCBjNEEpnyMSkWgAHcbVyTierL0hQOaCbNCpy2QIvtxm10tnIDnzA5-pVCbEgys/s320/2013-07-29+17.18.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>Before</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQS3p3UT40RZu_3Wr4n6DVmBTEJZ2GmX80MW6ylmelWqUIH38kg-SwLkpXJRMxjHQfD_RtuKibfxd9jMnunb5F7gCMaiqgFIWUoItQa8_bLAO2qUOCmG8DBnzERC1NbQImWUZCXiyGO66/s1600/2013-07-29+17.47.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQS3p3UT40RZu_3Wr4n6DVmBTEJZ2GmX80MW6ylmelWqUIH38kg-SwLkpXJRMxjHQfD_RtuKibfxd9jMnunb5F7gCMaiqgFIWUoItQa8_bLAO2qUOCmG8DBnzERC1NbQImWUZCXiyGO66/s320/2013-07-29+17.47.56.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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All I needed was some cute contact paper from Home Goods and a little patience.</div>
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I laid out the backing, measured and cut a length of the contact paper and sloooowwwly smoothed it down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHanUOyEPk1wxFZw4j3wA1Q-Y-vEhha3GxuiWA4sLhk-kdj-0paVF4QaEHv5qiZSkDRgTpt_IdCgAZY4YKwZfa3J9VHEBZvs04xBr5pu2Sbay1bXPvP31lpVhZPwsVY5xAT-njLjkY2mM5/s1600/2013-07-29+17.18.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHanUOyEPk1wxFZw4j3wA1Q-Y-vEhha3GxuiWA4sLhk-kdj-0paVF4QaEHv5qiZSkDRgTpt_IdCgAZY4YKwZfa3J9VHEBZvs04xBr5pu2Sbay1bXPvP31lpVhZPwsVY5xAT-njLjkY2mM5/s320/2013-07-29+17.18.40.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW61UMM_-6VnxqatEgICKd-9BHG8TjXF3aVKhCg7MmXU3ztiE0K-kIiUzdbX1eMFTmmtysRqsDXXqiRgi_bkqasnFlxysde_5LHq2XFAGNXGu5bnXyfQQD4UUhK9qfMM7S-FJwvk2dA_x/s1600/2013-07-29+17.25.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW61UMM_-6VnxqatEgICKd-9BHG8TjXF3aVKhCg7MmXU3ztiE0K-kIiUzdbX1eMFTmmtysRqsDXXqiRgi_bkqasnFlxysde_5LHq2XFAGNXGu5bnXyfQQD4UUhK9qfMM7S-FJwvk2dA_x/s320/2013-07-29+17.25.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, the contact paper wasn't wide enough for the backing, so I had to do two pieces.</div>
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I tried to line up the pattern, but it was harder than I thought.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI9MYEVDuTGTUwLwKfxlfUKN8mxwSa8T27MRIqhRUOqS_jeB1QDrPKAOdQloKrkVREaIK_eAsd50Kw5rtJy7vMNm7CQK-qbvM5da0MqFim__9hWZ0o27OxLItkKLqyPLx12NlB5E8KIbX/s1600/2013-07-29+17.28.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI9MYEVDuTGTUwLwKfxlfUKN8mxwSa8T27MRIqhRUOqS_jeB1QDrPKAOdQloKrkVREaIK_eAsd50Kw5rtJy7vMNm7CQK-qbvM5da0MqFim__9hWZ0o27OxLItkKLqyPLx12NlB5E8KIbX/s320/2013-07-29+17.28.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTnv_jumVoY_5kCaVxJl34rbNty-uA0N_zJfsBYLsQLaVh0AovwQRZ3zp3xbrv8rda7ulVFEiDxnNUY1wir6MyivF8z-dxhwKOKS-p4OD1Ha1a-ZCrbvNt-nbFHGkNSScYO9yqbeRckpx/s1600/2013-07-29+17.29.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTnv_jumVoY_5kCaVxJl34rbNty-uA0N_zJfsBYLsQLaVh0AovwQRZ3zp3xbrv8rda7ulVFEiDxnNUY1wir6MyivF8z-dxhwKOKS-p4OD1Ha1a-ZCrbvNt-nbFHGkNSScYO9yqbeRckpx/s320/2013-07-29+17.29.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here it is with everything back in the bookcase. </div>
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Yes, I do realize that most of the beautiful paper isn't visible when I load up the shelves like this, but until I find a better home for my reference books, that's just how it has to be. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i3JtcIiganiI8si0eohMqmfEMtKzUA9FuaUUlQhR5mWnTmP84SFn9NS8nmMyBhWS-2FQJaOYArk_9kxrcSK6ev6on-lC8C-5_ggNFPNlf-_HjYGpvLAyl2KQ1VDK03bwBN7IUiTCrXrZ/s1600/2013-07-29+18.11.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2i3JtcIiganiI8si0eohMqmfEMtKzUA9FuaUUlQhR5mWnTmP84SFn9NS8nmMyBhWS-2FQJaOYArk_9kxrcSK6ev6on-lC8C-5_ggNFPNlf-_HjYGpvLAyl2KQ1VDK03bwBN7IUiTCrXrZ/s320/2013-07-29+18.11.53.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<em><strong>Project #2- Table Cover</strong></em><br />
In the front of my classroom, I have a rectangular table which houses my Elmo, projector, and DVD player. This is how it used to look:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb5P6Se-DPsqiBimEI4omd3NvR9wuDeQX_AV9RMNYAt5fIC0zRiAbjb3ZPRCes5-zpCVcc3nu_7sd4QbE_xjuT6zCsTloBw9PaX8i4YYQIyxXJh8HPLtR8dfzmrfdJhRq8Dl7u0j0du70/s1600/2013-07-19+15.38.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb5P6Se-DPsqiBimEI4omd3NvR9wuDeQX_AV9RMNYAt5fIC0zRiAbjb3ZPRCes5-zpCVcc3nu_7sd4QbE_xjuT6zCsTloBw9PaX8i4YYQIyxXJh8HPLtR8dfzmrfdJhRq8Dl7u0j0du70/s320/2013-07-19+15.38.04.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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Technically, there's nothing *wrong* with this.....I just wanted to (a) put something on it to hide the mess of cords underneath the table and (b) have another excuse to use my <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/chevron-and-stripes-and-dots.html" target="_blank">chevron fabric</a>.</div>
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I just measured the fabric to make it long enough to go down both sides, and it was the perfect width to cover the top of my table as well as hang about halfway down the back.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzni0UmoCgNMCEBv3zNEYkRHLaouZaiIpVjew6AGOwrOPU_Q45C2ZvU0MadM_7eSwuIfrx5XjFoX8uVjAVuf5m-FeaifDzLneUuwoyRi4ZIKBYWjKMeSjbv5sf96F4Nfy00CIe3pK5KWV/s1600/2013-07-25+14.03.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzni0UmoCgNMCEBv3zNEYkRHLaouZaiIpVjew6AGOwrOPU_Q45C2ZvU0MadM_7eSwuIfrx5XjFoX8uVjAVuf5m-FeaifDzLneUuwoyRi4ZIKBYWjKMeSjbv5sf96F4Nfy00CIe3pK5KWV/s320/2013-07-25+14.03.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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My mom sewed the two side hems the same night that she sewed my four <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/chevron-and-stripes-and-dots.html" target="_blank">chevron pillow covers</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-qOhexigryqZC4dqBpdl0zNi8Mx2KzAseLtpPke7EN1mzhFOHgajrDIHgfHG4xafK0DCR481g5RXL6UHanTQ_l0At9yEjo87nWXn8uosZAMcceOLfklDy26EnEwa-sulUCpowW7Tx5v7/s1600/2013-07-25+14.03.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-qOhexigryqZC4dqBpdl0zNi8Mx2KzAseLtpPke7EN1mzhFOHgajrDIHgfHG4xafK0DCR481g5RXL6UHanTQ_l0At9yEjo87nWXn8uosZAMcceOLfklDy26EnEwa-sulUCpowW7Tx5v7/s320/2013-07-25+14.03.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I just used Scotch brand foam mounting table on the edge of the table to secure the tablecloth in place. If I do this again, I will probably use Velcro so that I can take off the fabric to wash it every summer. Another teacher at my school did that with fabric she put around her front table, and I thought that was a brilliant idea!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8kcAJW_5lPljZVVv04yCMPZImQp8zAGScw8wfeXmNflbaLOGyimmsNXnRg8pfbU4nXqW3kKk1MfcBDVaYxnAb-R9LCKi6PEH2tFRYmbHiS41tDl_XQa3QJF8iCf34JaALu6UpB51Nins/s1600/2013-07-25+14.03.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8kcAJW_5lPljZVVv04yCMPZImQp8zAGScw8wfeXmNflbaLOGyimmsNXnRg8pfbU4nXqW3kKk1MfcBDVaYxnAb-R9LCKi6PEH2tFRYmbHiS41tDl_XQa3QJF8iCf34JaALu6UpB51Nins/s320/2013-07-25+14.03.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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But...I bought this and it will get the job done....for this year at least.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9btkEelRiHlgbOufvGDcv6eMklcLW0fzNVZcH3_yYhqGrhJS9rRp5GjIWH3IkAHlD-288SCSH951TdSeB0jSn9hciuE-z3DsjKI-rI-BBhR5a5MTCFgtWvaV2u26sUYexVe2r8yLG9ot/s1600/2013-07-25+14.04.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9btkEelRiHlgbOufvGDcv6eMklcLW0fzNVZcH3_yYhqGrhJS9rRp5GjIWH3IkAHlD-288SCSH951TdSeB0jSn9hciuE-z3DsjKI-rI-BBhR5a5MTCFgtWvaV2u26sUYexVe2r8yLG9ot/s320/2013-07-25+14.04.36.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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Yep, I put one loooooonnng strip of the tape down the edge of the table, removed the backing and pressed the fabric onto the tape. Easy schmeasy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNRnv4gjYruBZacFTSvshIHIxUGY07UVl-bVGAKvJ7nmxm-Fte_AV5fLyb8xIXxtApHtNvWsRkdi3dmZnx8wDXqtNZvdXpqDJjpNi0DLIsOFSHvUTUfcN11QhxT9dU-rf5Za1JrMvHlpe/s1600/2013-07-25+14.07.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNRnv4gjYruBZacFTSvshIHIxUGY07UVl-bVGAKvJ7nmxm-Fte_AV5fLyb8xIXxtApHtNvWsRkdi3dmZnx8wDXqtNZvdXpqDJjpNi0DLIsOFSHvUTUfcN11QhxT9dU-rf5Za1JrMvHlpe/s320/2013-07-25+14.07.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7ESXl6d8RdHr9fKyG7Z8bUImhFmjT-a9DfcPyF83Uf7AS5fP2-L3Qi2Ii5ydE1mC_3B3NTzRyGUMwpab6MGxfG_vIjY2m1eH4BY0lyXeCyda3gedqMJnpTmOvNoU0uNjgkF40bee9ydF/s1600/2013-07-25+14.09.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu7ESXl6d8RdHr9fKyG7Z8bUImhFmjT-a9DfcPyF83Uf7AS5fP2-L3Qi2Ii5ydE1mC_3B3NTzRyGUMwpab6MGxfG_vIjY2m1eH4BY0lyXeCyda3gedqMJnpTmOvNoU0uNjgkF40bee9ydF/s320/2013-07-25+14.09.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Okay....I promise, no more chevron.</div>
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(Well, no more chevron <strong><em><u>fabric</u></em></strong> at least!)</div>
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<em><strong>Project #3- Filing Cabinet Makeover</strong></em><br />
When I first moved to this classroom from the middle school about eleven years ago, my filing cabinet had this on top of it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHv0d4Jq2DIlI0nLWH7vVMs0AWszigxSmRtts1PLD6-jOJTok5U7nH3r_TCcPJFfsnUp6zbxcy7HNSz1F8okDkDH17oTAN2OA-oGm42mKYJRE-_nOlUFV6N24dv8KzFEK5LLgViFPd5zy/s1600/2013-07-31+13.38.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHv0d4Jq2DIlI0nLWH7vVMs0AWszigxSmRtts1PLD6-jOJTok5U7nH3r_TCcPJFfsnUp6zbxcy7HNSz1F8okDkDH17oTAN2OA-oGm42mKYJRE-_nOlUFV6N24dv8KzFEK5LLgViFPd5zy/s320/2013-07-31+13.38.50.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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It looked like someone left some photocopy or transparency on the top, and the ink transfer is permanently stamped on there. I tried covering it with some fadeless paper and double sided tape, but after eleven years it was looking pretty ragged.</div>
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Enter my fabulous contact paper to the rescue!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPpzcBJTdHUy6jyLJfarSP-6pBLiN8vbo2zKBPHK58v9tKU_T1duQ8tJrIPhROPgbUxyP0mIcXqRwS6RO_NPh2tkcSz3N4IfAkFHTEv3RbBWWlRlE1RqvTsZly7OZ_SKaS0fdz-9YuP8q/s1600/2013-07-31+13.55.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPpzcBJTdHUy6jyLJfarSP-6pBLiN8vbo2zKBPHK58v9tKU_T1duQ8tJrIPhROPgbUxyP0mIcXqRwS6RO_NPh2tkcSz3N4IfAkFHTEv3RbBWWlRlE1RqvTsZly7OZ_SKaS0fdz-9YuP8q/s320/2013-07-31+13.55.16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After I measured and cut the piece, I used a ruler to really smooth down the paper as I adhered it to the top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UfBloOVyzdLyzHiMsinG4VsfwcnftJlQfLOfg4xvpCcjqK0ZcZ04AwVb9lgjnw_I7DabmbXgGzUbIKAAu-TOtTR6nirBlv9x36GHzqgxtvF9wm_ZDWcyaYbK30QqfWMKuehM3RSyNWi7/s1600/2013-07-31+13.59.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UfBloOVyzdLyzHiMsinG4VsfwcnftJlQfLOfg4xvpCcjqK0ZcZ04AwVb9lgjnw_I7DabmbXgGzUbIKAAu-TOtTR6nirBlv9x36GHzqgxtvF9wm_ZDWcyaYbK30QqfWMKuehM3RSyNWi7/s320/2013-07-31+13.59.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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SO much better!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIH5tS8T-juEWNzONiB_YqOEVotb_ajTjvUPJjvklWeIoPJdH-aG7yd4i2CIosVFQuNwrXJN9q9vIdchQHI89d2Wcc3ypCpM3k_rRsj6FAK_vwoi64hyphenhyphenSZavP5-z3pl4GjoommATi599L/s1600/2013-07-31+14.01.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIH5tS8T-juEWNzONiB_YqOEVotb_ajTjvUPJjvklWeIoPJdH-aG7yd4i2CIosVFQuNwrXJN9q9vIdchQHI89d2Wcc3ypCpM3k_rRsj6FAK_vwoi64hyphenhyphenSZavP5-z3pl4GjoommATi599L/s320/2013-07-31+14.01.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I also had a few other details to add to this makeover, including removing some old worn stickers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0R9pu49tO_yIq00zN5ts-iiQcKY6UFA6cswnX9ddYQPQWIF5CuNtRaYhHcBGofDf6OZhuSEe8TGxqIVqdNDhHHqO4yVORnEFouNsiAHNT9RVIB_3ZLcamq75G5gJjwVagB9ps7bAaTXM/s1600/2013-07-31+15.14.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0R9pu49tO_yIq00zN5ts-iiQcKY6UFA6cswnX9ddYQPQWIF5CuNtRaYhHcBGofDf6OZhuSEe8TGxqIVqdNDhHHqO4yVORnEFouNsiAHNT9RVIB_3ZLcamq75G5gJjwVagB9ps7bAaTXM/s320/2013-07-31+15.14.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And creating some new labels for the drawers (a.k.a. index cards cut and covered with the contact paper). Someday, when I finally break down and buy a label maker, I'm going to make some labels to put on these. For now, they can just sit there and look pretty.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivzqfg69WZfrgZYL2J0cG5N5E6eS00LpjNeZiNyh-ViQk_hsTTtZKAizOhrO1jA0EuaXZ4jgjcPCLKGF3x5lviHu2n4QRA8y_HyZ_-uvCWmy34mL1Sg2fF9F6g1frCvf9jwKl6tsSjO23/s1600/2013-07-31+15.26.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivzqfg69WZfrgZYL2J0cG5N5E6eS00LpjNeZiNyh-ViQk_hsTTtZKAizOhrO1jA0EuaXZ4jgjcPCLKGF3x5lviHu2n4QRA8y_HyZ_-uvCWmy34mL1Sg2fF9F6g1frCvf9jwKl6tsSjO23/s320/2013-07-31+15.26.38.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
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And lastly, I couldn't help it. I had some extra black and white polka-dot washi tape and just had to make a sweet border to finish off the cabinet's new look.</div>
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And here's the "after" picture:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq599Ihz9WuZo2tspYhumMyzy6Hso1QhA2XfyoVjT4TT26heYTQvPATKSe7W44N7MjXoIBt5EhGEbG3dxDoNDkLg4yN0NUFUytiJDffO5G6xFT4BpOD0Cmwh1EmJiXjKBI0-DLdnEC0aXs/s1600/2013-07-31+22.29.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq599Ihz9WuZo2tspYhumMyzy6Hso1QhA2XfyoVjT4TT26heYTQvPATKSe7W44N7MjXoIBt5EhGEbG3dxDoNDkLg4yN0NUFUytiJDffO5G6xFT4BpOD0Cmwh1EmJiXjKBI0-DLdnEC0aXs/s320/2013-07-31+22.29.24.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<em><strong>Project #4- New Cubby Numbers</strong></em><br />
As I said in my last post, I used to have a "fish" theme in my classroom. Once this slowly faded away, I decided that I wanted to change my cubby numbers since they.....of course....were on little fish. While this<strong> seems</strong> like it should be an easy change, it actually took longer than the other three projects in this post.<br />
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First of all, I couldn't go the easy route and just buy new shapes to number by hand....no, I had to MAKE them. Maybe I'll just put them on Teachers Pay Teachers at some point and that will make it all worth it. :)<br />
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Secondly, I made circles.<br />
Which, after laminating them, I realized are a PAIN to cut out.<br />
Literally, my hand cramped up. How lame is that?<br />
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Here are all thirty. Even though I have 29 students, I decided to make an extra....just in case someday we go up to thirty students. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIxcYCD6C2-zhYpxpNQHbJ7-2h6VcujGX9v45DjYZj4j3P2Gt9TJAtmzsG0ICRfWi-e1ILbdP2T7-Bc_C3kGrHtsx_k_iZe6E8x2kdVghz4N5FEpEOOB8qY8uOaRWPchJgIjmnMlNgspI/s1600/2013-08-07+18.23.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIxcYCD6C2-zhYpxpNQHbJ7-2h6VcujGX9v45DjYZj4j3P2Gt9TJAtmzsG0ICRfWi-e1ILbdP2T7-Bc_C3kGrHtsx_k_iZe6E8x2kdVghz4N5FEpEOOB8qY8uOaRWPchJgIjmnMlNgspI/s320/2013-08-07+18.23.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here they are....finally on the cubbies.</div>
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<b><u>UPDATE:</u></b> <b> I have uploaded these labels, along with a few other things I made with the same design, to my Teachers Pay Teachers store. If you're interested in purchasing them, go <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Black-Circle-with-Polka-Dot-Frame-Labels-827784" target="_blank">here</a>.</b></div>
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<em>Sidebar Alert: If you are a teacher who uses clear contact paper to attach things, you may understand my source of frustration here.</em></div>
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I almost lose my patience (that is HARD to do-- honest) when I use clear contact paper.</div>
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Whenever I cut it into small pieces to cover something, I can not for the life of me "find a corner" where I can easily remove the backing. It. Is. Irritating.</div>
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Okay....sidebar done. </div>
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Seriously though, if you have a better way of doing it....please share!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R-Y1rzix6-UYPU0eFfP-4MGIpUjDM0WQWktzL_6sifz0X_M6hYKVsrHIGh0QuM-BviuzlOECurbCa0pys_mHrepqt1DsHnHezt59yBP9WizoE-bPTOsT_1CfThjgHDWum7X6sHTc4QJZ/s1600/2013-08-07+19.37.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_R-Y1rzix6-UYPU0eFfP-4MGIpUjDM0WQWktzL_6sifz0X_M6hYKVsrHIGh0QuM-BviuzlOECurbCa0pys_mHrepqt1DsHnHezt59yBP9WizoE-bPTOsT_1CfThjgHDWum7X6sHTc4QJZ/s320/2013-08-07+19.37.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All of that hard work did pay off though.....I love my new cubby number tags!</div>
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Okay, so I was going to add one of the projects I did today (my new jobs board) to today's post, but after looking back at (a) the length of this post and (b) how much I really could just fall asleep right now, I'm going to postpone that for another day.</div>
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Something for you to look forward to! ;)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-42310343349333876582013-07-29T00:35:00.001-04:002013-07-29T00:35:22.678-04:00chevron and stripes and dotsI know....chevron is <em>ev--er--y--where</em> right now.<br />
Some people might be sick of seeing it....some can't get enough of it....I'm kind of in the middle.<br />
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Yet....you wouldn't think so after reading this post.<br />
You might think I'm chevron-<em>obsessed.</em><br />
I would call it chevron-<em>inspired.</em><br />
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In my house, there are just a few small chevron details....a rug in my kitchen, a set of coasters in my living room, a decorative plaque on my guest room wall. Nothing overwhelming, just a few pops of chevron throughout the house.<br />
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And then....there's my classroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnTeIkfJbfVRje4ehgqmK8li1viWcU0aBVplKp0S_HTqPilkIgEezr5z55OHgXDtDUgPMTkABXkZyUnpgbrfCTts9nGHUi9-gDQb6Wz0XDb6biTSx_yzXBTjBr9Th6NxBILIpUYeYeHil/s1600/2013-07-25+14.59.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnTeIkfJbfVRje4ehgqmK8li1viWcU0aBVplKp0S_HTqPilkIgEezr5z55OHgXDtDUgPMTkABXkZyUnpgbrfCTts9nGHUi9-gDQb6Wz0XDb6biTSx_yzXBTjBr9Th6NxBILIpUYeYeHil/s320/2013-07-25+14.59.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Three boards in my classroom....see, it's not ALL chevron....there are zebra stripes and polka dots, too. I love myself some black and white patterns!</em></div>
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The problem started when I decided that my bulletin boards needed some TLC. Sure, they had fadeless paper on them (an amazing invention for borderline-OCD teachers like me who despise putting up that large bulletin board paper....cutting the right size, making sure it's not stapled on crooked, making sure that there aren't any "bubbles" in the paper...I could go on). </div>
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So while they weren't faded and I didn't *need* to change them, a few things were really bugging me about them and they were looking a little sad.</div>
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<em>Plus....I just wanted a change.</em></div>
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<strong><u>Exhibit A</u></strong>: This one had been "patched up" over the past couple years....it had some food stains on it from being near the microwave table (we have lunch in our classrooms at my school) and rips from a few students being overzealous with "helping" take down things for me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2uW_Ij7N3cJ8h3qUMZDcPTf1bEhQ0Vjvxk0ck3828wKUmzcrhCRjwOgJ5vqZLY9Z9r5aLPqI1s0J5H5nioaHyy-d-NVo28WClvsIzYSv1jHl6yLylcyZa5Ix7nUVhBO8yfzT5Yf2flvt/s1600/2013-07-19+16.14.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2uW_Ij7N3cJ8h3qUMZDcPTf1bEhQ0Vjvxk0ck3828wKUmzcrhCRjwOgJ5vqZLY9Z9r5aLPqI1s0J5H5nioaHyy-d-NVo28WClvsIzYSv1jHl6yLylcyZa5Ix7nUVhBO8yfzT5Yf2flvt/s320/2013-07-19+16.14.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Exhibit B:</u></strong> This one had been used so much that there were TONS of staple/push pin holes in it and I really wanted to change out the purple....plus I was kind of done with the fish-theme that I had years ago (if you can't tell-- the borders had fish all over them).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwivl9E1Nl5dqNj70scEzeLLs0lMu8Qg0W3Sew4EtSCSLS6RcyS782TsOQ836C0B0mnIhQlg5xVA3scdD-n4BpVpeK364KXiG5aLPXm5hsN6rTGiB027jWCS8rkRCuEC6dfXzu-mkSR-WW/s1600/2013-07-19+16.12.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwivl9E1Nl5dqNj70scEzeLLs0lMu8Qg0W3Sew4EtSCSLS6RcyS782TsOQ836C0B0mnIhQlg5xVA3scdD-n4BpVpeK364KXiG5aLPXm5hsN6rTGiB027jWCS8rkRCuEC6dfXzu-mkSR-WW/s320/2013-07-19+16.12.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So after <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/daily-objective-dry-erase-boardsnot.html" target="_blank">making my objective frames</a> last year, I decided that when I changed the boards I would go with a polka dot/zebra stripe theme. </div>
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Until I saw tons of ideas on teacher blogs about using chevron in the classroom.</div>
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So that completed my trifecta of patterns that you see above!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ89cXx5Xnd2iP75y06UWYCKhRs58ce7oIAo9_CzjrkaP634ZZpHVucZhJwgbnhu1wx6KcXJxDbDO6nVpNq1RXV9lstOWBL6LJw84WDX4smoaOdPv-LlYu23V8np-2zJ8qdYmk7S61i3NO/s1600/2013-07-19+17.03.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ89cXx5Xnd2iP75y06UWYCKhRs58ce7oIAo9_CzjrkaP634ZZpHVucZhJwgbnhu1wx6KcXJxDbDO6nVpNq1RXV9lstOWBL6LJw84WDX4smoaOdPv-LlYu23V8np-2zJ8qdYmk7S61i3NO/s320/2013-07-19+17.03.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I bought some chevron fabric at JoAnn's a couple weeks ago when it was on sale and I had a coupon....but when I put it on this bulletin board I started to realize it was a little hypnotic.</div>
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Not exactly the best thing for a classroom full of energetic kids.</div>
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My solution....came from Target. </div>
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I really think that statement applies so many times in life, couldn't it?</div>
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<em>My solution came from Target.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPak-132ZgneHU9NH27blW6_g7U_g7PDV4NP_Nyr4GHDnXNQ5DQg9sgwzNdg5LSsVf2STLNiJKqBwUAvqhzgkg7suu4qCda22hhK6RA8EIUE8Z-3CUom5hbtEJUKA4J2KL13pQ5NsZMh3/s1600/2013-07-25+13.18.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPak-132ZgneHU9NH27blW6_g7U_g7PDV4NP_Nyr4GHDnXNQ5DQg9sgwzNdg5LSsVf2STLNiJKqBwUAvqhzgkg7suu4qCda22hhK6RA8EIUE8Z-3CUom5hbtEJUKA4J2KL13pQ5NsZMh3/s320/2013-07-25+13.18.25.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I wanted something that would cover most of the chevron, that came in black, and that I could keep up (or replace easily) from year to year.</div>
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Target had this plastic table cover that fit the all of those requirements!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6cjawuGaw3lSsU_4xYH8QlL1q_ZQX1_S4sWSuMRRY55gqeDdrjbcuflpwmhacrwg2qIk9kQvmWwqOVs-C1RAz0S8ayJ3JsloQ598bA9KFhxDBSBTDAe2gafm_ls7OqBC7EilxDI0p9Ff/s1600/2013-07-25+13.33.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6cjawuGaw3lSsU_4xYH8QlL1q_ZQX1_S4sWSuMRRY55gqeDdrjbcuflpwmhacrwg2qIk9kQvmWwqOVs-C1RAz0S8ayJ3JsloQ598bA9KFhxDBSBTDAe2gafm_ls7OqBC7EilxDI0p9Ff/s320/2013-07-25+13.33.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I measured and cut a piece from the plastic that left a thick border of chevron peeking from behind it. </div>
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Hypnotic problem solved!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JkaSlrk_LlAn6b0XIeG0YNZX99YK8oB04Zd0NcUvh-JpBzTQEKT1UagW9C9y9lp6MaOpPzK9D3ns2EmmXQyMei4oGK-ihMCZaEYKsvbGdzzaJVNThCuXDci8VbxI9TC1A7n0WSHgkLjJ/s1600/2013-07-25+13.53.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JkaSlrk_LlAn6b0XIeG0YNZX99YK8oB04Zd0NcUvh-JpBzTQEKT1UagW9C9y9lp6MaOpPzK9D3ns2EmmXQyMei4oGK-ihMCZaEYKsvbGdzzaJVNThCuXDci8VbxI9TC1A7n0WSHgkLjJ/s320/2013-07-25+13.53.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just to "test it out", I started putting up a few things on the board that I would want up for the beginning of the year. Since this is going to be my "reading" board, I put up a literary elements wipe off chart, and some of the genre posters that I found <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polka-Dot-Genre-Posters-793995" target="_blank">here on Teachers Pay Teachers.</a></div>
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On the other half, I'm going to create something that I can use as I go through the units in our new ELA curriculum, Reading Street. If anyone uses this and wants to share ideas with me, I'd love to share what I come up with, too!</div>
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The other large bulletin board in my classroom (the formerly patched-up blue one above)</div>
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got a little chevron-love as well.</div>
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Target to the rescue again!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtcwIOtqZ9L8J42PjkiasrDTqOBCd836burJkPQwKycwICaSTe-LdWre6HhDbS3Gy7rjcHaTmmNdN6iKOmvWHE8dH0JbRlWK5aI-WJeC1Smc3-gTLlLBNJ-l00C7mJj_btYqpG3aT40xt/s1600/2013-07-19+17.20.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtcwIOtqZ9L8J42PjkiasrDTqOBCd836burJkPQwKycwICaSTe-LdWre6HhDbS3Gy7rjcHaTmmNdN6iKOmvWHE8dH0JbRlWK5aI-WJeC1Smc3-gTLlLBNJ-l00C7mJj_btYqpG3aT40xt/s320/2013-07-19+17.20.56.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Have you noticed how adorable Target's line of wrapping paper is? </div>
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I literally bought 11 rolls there the other day (mostly for home, but a few came to school with me).</div>
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And even better-- it's like three bucks a roll.</div>
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WAY cheaper than buying the fadeless paper.</div>
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<em>(sorry fadeless-paper company, but I think we may have just broken up)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cgYFeVYyqSGeZasQON3n8Gqfb8418IUtj-Volc9w2h3olkGy7xrfK6RR0XrTFqnYYpWor5oqdFUlXbSgCFLRf213RKx97LF7VHHgT7WuCK69t-cmtxTtf_hjt4zF_-JIvHw7ECQvI29q/s1600/2013-07-19+17.37.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cgYFeVYyqSGeZasQON3n8Gqfb8418IUtj-Volc9w2h3olkGy7xrfK6RR0XrTFqnYYpWor5oqdFUlXbSgCFLRf213RKx97LF7VHHgT7WuCK69t-cmtxTtf_hjt4zF_-JIvHw7ECQvI29q/s320/2013-07-19+17.37.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So you can't really tell from this far shot what the patterns look like, so here's a close up:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2a_FVuPzrIKsYFb9sFL2EV7Nw1wlfZ1RwwcrrCPPxjq7T7AYdUyVCawe_QCFHwRup5RlXM0olutE-p_fnKoIXydhbbvQGRE9_4fNSp7QXJoFpU7VAOijsCULIZH2tv29H3c03OEhLuKq/s1600/2013-07-19+17.37.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2a_FVuPzrIKsYFb9sFL2EV7Nw1wlfZ1RwwcrrCPPxjq7T7AYdUyVCawe_QCFHwRup5RlXM0olutE-p_fnKoIXydhbbvQGRE9_4fNSp7QXJoFpU7VAOijsCULIZH2tv29H3c03OEhLuKq/s320/2013-07-19+17.37.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And because I had lots of extra black plastic table cover left, I created a section of black (with my zebra stripes border) in the middle of the board for something I'm working on....I'll write a post about it once it's done. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFSb_IYKIwMWz6DOQ1t2CieNhkiEw0nOGMTT8Z_pUKTy1cBxeLqGSq_TPYP-VHZ857O6HJbUYeoBiDaeJOzews5OXjb6P6l5S_ftHNM7gdnIJMk4RL1thVn8jJApMTdaXg-305GDNNIIi/s1600/2013-07-25+14.47.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFSb_IYKIwMWz6DOQ1t2CieNhkiEw0nOGMTT8Z_pUKTy1cBxeLqGSq_TPYP-VHZ857O6HJbUYeoBiDaeJOzews5OXjb6P6l5S_ftHNM7gdnIJMk4RL1thVn8jJApMTdaXg-305GDNNIIi/s320/2013-07-25+14.47.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I am also changing my Star of the Week board from the same one I've had up for years (it was looking a little worn out) and more Target wrapping paper and zebra stripes border came together to become the blank slate for a soon-to-be revamped display for my Star of the Week!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITg7atbUnvjTNVfT4mhZBCSKW4wcxyywzeMmbXGOC6ns6TSd95IBST7Cby2qPIX_pEqPUjf21r6uAl6WFmV8-ud4-I8klkarUwSNMzcFdhZETO6a73cQCESEE2sWS7Le0XPUBhgqUOnKi/s1600/2013-07-25+14.47.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITg7atbUnvjTNVfT4mhZBCSKW4wcxyywzeMmbXGOC6ns6TSd95IBST7Cby2qPIX_pEqPUjf21r6uAl6WFmV8-ud4-I8klkarUwSNMzcFdhZETO6a73cQCESEE2sWS7Le0XPUBhgqUOnKi/s320/2013-07-25+14.47.42.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
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So you can probably tell that my classroom "colors" are different shades of blue or green with accents of black and white. The same day that I bought the black & white chevron fabric from JoAnn's, I couldn't resist getting a little more chevron fabric in a different color.</div>
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This was transformed into <strong><em>(thanks to my mom's sensational sewing-skills)</em></strong> new pillow covers for four throw pillows that once <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/little-changes.html" target="_blank">used to be on my couch and love seat at home</a>, and are now part of my reading corner in the classroom.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqBst5nBGIYNZd6C215WYu5riYl7wnLjTIOZtHQC3tdPoXTIGXYsYUXlY5fSd9kykjFeSYvPMdZbmBg8QT96DeARCtW7dAFWiVxsRK-leSdUsHoFHKDqQvbWax4zs6ZdZk90YpJFAiyfR/s1600/2013-07-22+23.19.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqBst5nBGIYNZd6C215WYu5riYl7wnLjTIOZtHQC3tdPoXTIGXYsYUXlY5fSd9kykjFeSYvPMdZbmBg8QT96DeARCtW7dAFWiVxsRK-leSdUsHoFHKDqQvbWax4zs6ZdZk90YpJFAiyfR/s320/2013-07-22+23.19.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have a lot more changes and updates to blog about soon....and probably a few more trips to Target!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-18913409608708399112013-07-26T16:22:00.000-04:002013-07-26T16:22:00.877-04:00favorite pins fridayI recently discovered Bloglovin as a way to organize all of the blogs that I like to follow, as well as discover new ones! Now that August is almost here, and I'm slowly entering my teacher-mindset again, I've been reading through quite a few teacher's blogs and getting a lot of great ideas in the process.<br />
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Today, I saw this "Favorite Pins Friday" post from <a href="http://fourthgradeflipper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fourth Grade Flipper</a>, one of the blogs I follow. She is linking up with The <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">First Grade Parade</a> to share the Pinterest love with everyone in Blogland. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsezWhupWp-XybpUUyu5saZwRLh-VseK98Bp2qfOpWRoqzDkkMl8_htfiEbLh7CZv1pdpBnj6dixzJApw8vgpWyrbmsT0omtQGPYBJB26W9TbgnB9vYz-FXDY1ZlakOkBJkIEN0YJAfIu8/s1600/FavoritePinsButton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsezWhupWp-XybpUUyu5saZwRLh-VseK98Bp2qfOpWRoqzDkkMl8_htfiEbLh7CZv1pdpBnj6dixzJApw8vgpWyrbmsT0omtQGPYBJB26W9TbgnB9vYz-FXDY1ZlakOkBJkIEN0YJAfIu8/s1600/FavoritePinsButton.png" /></a></div>
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So basically, it's just a chance to share some of your favorite pins from Pinterest, linking them back to the original person who posted it, and explaining a little about them.</div>
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You're probably "supposed to" stick with what you pinned for that week, but being the first time I've done this, I think I might give myself a little wiggle room. :)</div>
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Since I'm starting to get back in my classroom, I'll start with a few from those boards. If you're not a teacher, scroll down to find some non-teaching ones!</div>
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TEACHING PINS</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevnUUsMzsbD4Tiq0vMTRMjMQB8zk1Qo1hjvNqXK2oXs4XiJIpFnllp2i0ULP1CeUj1msUyypraSrZOlc9SvSgOTF6ZuvOHQOJ_3j-MTGpWqIY0_6bFW3yhMySNS7RFs8UH3TU96rAoKhi/s1600/name_expo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevnUUsMzsbD4Tiq0vMTRMjMQB8zk1Qo1hjvNqXK2oXs4XiJIpFnllp2i0ULP1CeUj1msUyypraSrZOlc9SvSgOTF6ZuvOHQOJ_3j-MTGpWqIY0_6bFW3yhMySNS7RFs8UH3TU96rAoKhi/s320/name_expo.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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After seeing this pin from <a href="http://timeoutsandtootsierolls.blogspot.ca/2012/11/no-more-name-plates.html" target="_blank">Timeouts and Tootsie Rolls</a>, I was like......oh...my...goodness!!! </div>
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This might be the solution to an enormous source of annoyance for me. </div>
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<em>As small as it might sound, dealing with student desk name tags is such a headache. Making them, cutting out the contact paper, putting them on, having them messed with/ripped off within days, and then being left with over twenty desks with no names on them....ugh.</em></div>
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This is the answer....and I have already bought two of these magical pens.</div>
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Can't wait to start labeling the desks!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNdaySov9EG99Gp2fXYS52IxXvacdndTPHWIg_XZEEoGMCmnbf_AdhNiDITnlvcMFj9Ec-pdx10VAD7EZAKY6-CG8nr1Y2GwbDlyCWrpY5RUK7EaVdP8q1Z5w5PAN6rqk9jwjyj42EwXA/s1600/jobs+board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNdaySov9EG99Gp2fXYS52IxXvacdndTPHWIg_XZEEoGMCmnbf_AdhNiDITnlvcMFj9Ec-pdx10VAD7EZAKY6-CG8nr1Y2GwbDlyCWrpY5RUK7EaVdP8q1Z5w5PAN6rqk9jwjyj42EwXA/s320/jobs+board.jpg" width="179" /></a></div>
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This jobs board....from a post from<a href="http://www.clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2013/07/tips-for-creating-and-managing.html" target="_blank"> Clutter Free Classroom</a>....is the inspiration for a new approach I'm going to take with classroom jobs this year. Once I get it all hashed-out and put into action, I'll write a post about it. Oooh, the anticipation.....</div>
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If you just can't wait, go to the link above to read about how this teacher does it. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJivjAgsv-LeT1hzwpNDfVtbC0IspJOi1lppVpvEQAdeHPFNvZ4pb5zlN2YcQDU0cyX9cA6OMMGHvnSD299iGHmHpTaOWrJmbLdOnGD-Kpbi1wSIMUjpwftclNw-fcoPfAzn4ZTyc8j94/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJivjAgsv-LeT1hzwpNDfVtbC0IspJOi1lppVpvEQAdeHPFNvZ4pb5zlN2YcQDU0cyX9cA6OMMGHvnSD299iGHmHpTaOWrJmbLdOnGD-Kpbi1wSIMUjpwftclNw-fcoPfAzn4ZTyc8j94/s320/poster.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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This is a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hard-Work-and-Learning-Classroom-Poster-546512" target="_blank">FREEBIE</a> from Teachers Pay Teachers....thanks to the teacher at Elementary Endeavors for sharing it! I've already printed it up, ready to be laminated for my classroom wall.</div>
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Now that I'm getting into my room to start setting up a few things, I decided to change up some of my bulletin boards/wall decorations that have been the same for a few years.</div>
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This poster goes well with the color/design theme I'm incorporating into my room.</div>
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I'll be blogging about that another time....lots of pictures to upload and edit. :)</div>
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Speaking of freebie posters, here's another one from <a href="http://www.cotesclass.com/2012/10/a-new-classroom-sign-freebie.html" target="_blank">The Hands-on Teacher in First.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Jk-0bNa2wZv0padnKN8KLLO0IYRCk1KiZEfn5FSnqGbwCodKkwBnwPHhUJ9rmXTcxKbd1QR2bhnfzsHlTbozfEfX76lT14IA7oc_5VeK6VsLpb4UFmYZzzwlDBMiSc-qLbOSlidxQwZC/s1600/thinking+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Jk-0bNa2wZv0padnKN8KLLO0IYRCk1KiZEfn5FSnqGbwCodKkwBnwPHhUJ9rmXTcxKbd1QR2bhnfzsHlTbozfEfX76lT14IA7oc_5VeK6VsLpb4UFmYZzzwlDBMiSc-qLbOSlidxQwZC/s320/thinking+poster.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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For both of these, it's not only the chevron that caught my eye, but it's also what they say. </div>
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I think with the shift to Common Core this year, it's really going to be important to help the kids shift their mindset as well. A few reminders on the wall to refer back to might help.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yOwOFTfQkTlbdrRxcJm0Sl2BvHkvd7MOV7swpT8retNG0esBUQZ4o4fPBc_eKoMmCl6uU_xCVnTSjIT81sE_WtEB5a0THfL-fqcNLlxS27FHcqlllVBuxLQUOgMEDJBhBX5BogJcRH72/s1600/mystery+walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yOwOFTfQkTlbdrRxcJm0Sl2BvHkvd7MOV7swpT8retNG0esBUQZ4o4fPBc_eKoMmCl6uU_xCVnTSjIT81sE_WtEB5a0THfL-fqcNLlxS27FHcqlllVBuxLQUOgMEDJBhBX5BogJcRH72/s320/mystery+walker.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I love this idea of the "Mystery Walker" from the teacher at <a href="http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/09/fun-friday-on-sunday-night-and-freebie.html" target="_blank">What Happens in First Grade</a> and will definitely be incorporating it into my classroom management this year. My class is usually pretty good in the hall, but there are times when we are transitioning from one class to another and they need to wait around...I'd also be paying attention to that "waiting time" as well.</div>
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Now I just need to come up with what the reward will be for my fourth graders.....</div>
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Any suggestions would be welcome! </div>
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PERSONAL PINS</h3>
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And just so you don't think I'm only pinning teaching-related things.......here are some to prove you wrong. I'm a bit of a pin-a-holic actually.</div>
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I really love the blog<a href="http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2013/01/diy-cereal-box-drawer-dividers.html" target="_blank"> I Heart Organizing</a>, probably because (a) I'm an organization freak, (b) she does a lot of DIY using inexpensive items, and (c) her stuff is so darn adorable.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEsM2KRhk2cKOIdvR5pU3qd_uQia-HIl41iIVy6QjVDf4jRBAqJwQCf8f25znLToMYnkNOuDoETtZRezY3ib0Sqp-2cQnDSulS8UCSWaaEh42m7Q_NQ1-MR-zS5192nZq_u9ZwhdUCKJT/s1600/drawer+organizer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEsM2KRhk2cKOIdvR5pU3qd_uQia-HIl41iIVy6QjVDf4jRBAqJwQCf8f25znLToMYnkNOuDoETtZRezY3ib0Sqp-2cQnDSulS8UCSWaaEh42m7Q_NQ1-MR-zS5192nZq_u9ZwhdUCKJT/s320/drawer+organizer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This was one of the more recent pins I found from her blog. I love the idea of combining reusing items you already have, making them useful and cute. </div>
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Those are cereal boxes, people......covered in cute paper and used as drawer dividers. </div>
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LOVE.</div>
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Another blogger I follow is <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/07/freezer-cooking/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman</a>, and now that she has her own show on the Food Network, I love her even more. She always seems so down-to-earth and has great ideas that even us non-moms and non-ranch-wives can use! :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCYsU9u2nPoMVNqPE6BEe4s5g4X77rRc7A3OausrIWxNum8F7cY1gYMi41_OPjYdw6C-3RDrmN3QKTkuEEbc_YuNRLPCbPK2PUvlBcoq8DAxtRN7XaKnykC_j9txUjjLp59tmQFkv0Dfs/s1600/pioneer+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCYsU9u2nPoMVNqPE6BEe4s5g4X77rRc7A3OausrIWxNum8F7cY1gYMi41_OPjYdw6C-3RDrmN3QKTkuEEbc_YuNRLPCbPK2PUvlBcoq8DAxtRN7XaKnykC_j9txUjjLp59tmQFkv0Dfs/s320/pioneer+woman.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Recently, she had an episode that was all about freezer cooking.</div>
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It was one of my favorite episodes of her show.....and this pin was a link to the blog post that she wrote about it. Lots of great tips there!</div>
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Okay....so while this is related to teaching, it's actually was inspired by something on my DIY board. I have a bookcase in my classroom that is inexpensive and the backing fell off as it was being moved over the summer.....enter <a href="http://www.switcheroom.com/2010/12/13-things-we-can-do-with-left-over.html" target="_blank">this idea</a> from a pin:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC9k3ZoKGaqMQo03z62D6L5Xk3B-kunhsBM1KgubkeMq6DI5Tc6T5TZtEQkaMr5VoksjLRpHHfQzt8FblfW8ucIYvQu5ypwUrp15Aq9-MhRoDWH3QSqB4854XpGjazTfB1dN-802g6aYF/s1600/bookcase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizC9k3ZoKGaqMQo03z62D6L5Xk3B-kunhsBM1KgubkeMq6DI5Tc6T5TZtEQkaMr5VoksjLRpHHfQzt8FblfW8ucIYvQu5ypwUrp15Aq9-MhRoDWH3QSqB4854XpGjazTfB1dN-802g6aYF/s320/bookcase.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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While I'm not actually using fabric like this blog post suggests, the idea inspired me to cover the back of my bookcase with some cute contact paper that I got at Home Goods the other day. Since I need to reattach the backing, I figured I should make it prettier at the same time.</div>
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Speaking of DIY....I've been learning more about using spray paint on projects this summer....and I came across <a href="http://www.craftynest.com/2010/11/new-spray-painting-tent/" target="_blank">this pin</a> that I am definitely going to try in the future. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I70Hneb-C1SfYctOnQ0qjmHzvcTPiFY7sbIlo62bn3y5021uTCZZ9YTF00Br5TsS12blgE-Dkw3ygk1nyNEr6iIaZexVKYFL0M6p21R21CvXS8zit55Xj1hS-UFVt43Jj7C_zmjS8eJa/s1600/spray+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0I70Hneb-C1SfYctOnQ0qjmHzvcTPiFY7sbIlo62bn3y5021uTCZZ9YTF00Br5TsS12blgE-Dkw3ygk1nyNEr6iIaZexVKYFL0M6p21R21CvXS8zit55Xj1hS-UFVt43Jj7C_zmjS8eJa/s320/spray+tent.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Although I'm not so sure if you can find these at the dollar store like the person who pinned this suggested.</div>
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<em>Note: the original post does not say that this was found at the dollar store....I think someone added that when they pinned it.</em></div>
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<strong>Lastly, I'll leave you with one of the most recent quotes from <a href="http://someecards.com/">someecards.com</a> that I pinned:</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6uKDPYm5SWektZkQlci0LJuUG-8amaBaxOQ944T6pEBcwRKUNCDo_bA9QAUN-P3IXyHTl019_gApjv9mrJJyho3NpDaoKNlPlIPpTc9JZ88UVnFutaplRzN8dV0LMAM_M1AIXkFYwi4e/s1600/target+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6uKDPYm5SWektZkQlci0LJuUG-8amaBaxOQ944T6pEBcwRKUNCDo_bA9QAUN-P3IXyHTl019_gApjv9mrJJyho3NpDaoKNlPlIPpTc9JZ88UVnFutaplRzN8dV0LMAM_M1AIXkFYwi4e/s320/target+card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Truth.</div>
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(and now...I really want to go to Target....okay, when do I not?)</div>
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If you're a blogger, feel free to share a link in the comments below if you ever do a Favorite Pins Friday, or just if you think that your blog is something I'd be interested in following!</div>
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<em>Also....if you know how I can link from a picture directly to the blog, instead of using the text link, let me know. I have the "pin-it" button on my pictures now, so I wasn't sure how to make that work.</em> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-46942332034271585662013-07-15T20:48:00.001-04:002013-07-15T20:53:13.227-04:00little changesWith summer projects in full swing, I have a lot of things started or in the planning stages, but not much is actually done. This worries me a little....mid July is kind of the halfway point for summer, and I typically start thinking more about school stuff once August hits.<br />
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I know...I should enjoy every bit of my summer vacation and stay away from work for as long as possible. That's easier said than done.<br />
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Because....I'm a huge dork who loves my job.<br />
It could be worse. :)<br />
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To motivate myself to keep going on my home projects, and to mentally check some things off my Summer To Do List, I'm going to share a few small changes I've made so far.<br />
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First of all, let's just say that my poor bedroom gets neglected every year whenever I renovate or change up the decor in my house. To be honest, it's probably because it's not a "common area" of the house, and I like to decorate not only for me but also for anyone who comes for a visit.<br />
But....I think next summer I'm going to give it a little more attention. It's been a good sport so far.<br />
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I already wrote a post a couple weeks ago about a small change that I made in my guest room- decorating the wall with some frames and antique shelves that I spray painted. <br />
You can read more about that process <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2013/07/from-antique-to-chic.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSesN0ksImukxyld-XHR7KKXnK-m0QUCdbpM21n0gwhiWq8cXKtuI2_qg8a5CD3tArIwcv252GF7jh5HyICNsC48rPrQnUv1D1EaZiZpUTEq6sRWfCxI1aFued48wvVo5JxcVOt_KeYCt/s1600/2013-07-15+19.24.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSesN0ksImukxyld-XHR7KKXnK-m0QUCdbpM21n0gwhiWq8cXKtuI2_qg8a5CD3tArIwcv252GF7jh5HyICNsC48rPrQnUv1D1EaZiZpUTEq6sRWfCxI1aFued48wvVo5JxcVOt_KeYCt/s320/2013-07-15+19.24.15.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The other room that I've made some updates in, nothing huge or expensive, was my living room.</div>
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There was nothing really "wrong" with my living room. It's functional, I have lots of storage, and nothing needed to be replaced.</div>
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It was just a little....well....blah.</div>
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Neutral may be a better word.</div>
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My couch is dark brown, all of my furniture is very dark wood, the carpet is the typical neutral color, and the walls are light brown. </div>
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The one "colorful" piece in the room is my loveseat....a crazy light green.</div>
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I kid. Yes, it's actually green, but it's not crazy. Very subtle.</div>
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Here's how it looked back in the fall of 2009 when I moved in to my house:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVj806cFjeAwFlWtai50yBQkRzoTW5EOmazh5UgRbSfitJadVq_RWz-NirYjubukn7clvNlOJcJxSOe2lRexjmvkza8d6W6scv-_rIiwX7UOLtcQosdkj2nTMewDuj8P6QlS-8gHTlowy/s1600/IMG_2321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVj806cFjeAwFlWtai50yBQkRzoTW5EOmazh5UgRbSfitJadVq_RWz-NirYjubukn7clvNlOJcJxSOe2lRexjmvkza8d6W6scv-_rIiwX7UOLtcQosdkj2nTMewDuj8P6QlS-8gHTlowy/s320/IMG_2321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HG5bNsG2PHrj978hcTrNv7P_D5aNFhCuInPA4QT9FYXm-uHnAc6iwW95atFyNWhj6lZBqvp9hC2cm5w_OGR2TOFOtOajGpgqbTN1qXFTiNYbKBH74q8bc3oE03y5ixo4YUNF5xNy3N8O/s1600/IMG_2319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HG5bNsG2PHrj978hcTrNv7P_D5aNFhCuInPA4QT9FYXm-uHnAc6iwW95atFyNWhj6lZBqvp9hC2cm5w_OGR2TOFOtOajGpgqbTN1qXFTiNYbKBH74q8bc3oE03y5ixo4YUNF5xNy3N8O/s320/IMG_2319.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFUbFgS2ogniHz2zQWHc_jZJyl9hwPkSp4GiYW8UPr8kOENQQs-eJsI7qIfEl1lvwJiKUjmhwus_OyMItoHzJ9WBpaoPswk21ntmDWiyueUiwXXLJdsZXtnXHG8Ed6B4jDePLekRMjsWp/s1600/IMG_2322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFUbFgS2ogniHz2zQWHc_jZJyl9hwPkSp4GiYW8UPr8kOENQQs-eJsI7qIfEl1lvwJiKUjmhwus_OyMItoHzJ9WBpaoPswk21ntmDWiyueUiwXXLJdsZXtnXHG8Ed6B4jDePLekRMjsWp/s320/IMG_2322.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Crazy to see this picture....my dining room isn't green anymore!</em> </div>
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Check out that transformation <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/kitchen-updatepart-three.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Since then, I've added a new coffee table, a new flat screen TV, and a shelving unit with lots of baskets for storage.</div>
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But still.....it's all very....brown.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwHpWR8dtBXxXRNQgHKIWgdIj_wfOOaOF3NVXdHEzxpXiPrJXbSTNb5sd84eG_CpPRj801yG3txrvirKSlruwiqySLurSWqvRGv7bF1faKXJLiPezM40qQpppgWgqFeqSP97nYi4YlUh-/s1600/iPhone+pics+downloaded+on+November+11+193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EsJBrU-ofuyrZJwzm2u_wKDm_sIIAfXPzhXR4j_M2j5QdyLvi4en19HkFpYs2MkkITqqOsWm12ksaONF7BmQSDX7L8GKLCOTUWIJRSQ7zFY00wdjUysmmsrJcAHYcmy28fJsRR100y11/s1600/IMG_1058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EsJBrU-ofuyrZJwzm2u_wKDm_sIIAfXPzhXR4j_M2j5QdyLvi4en19HkFpYs2MkkITqqOsWm12ksaONF7BmQSDX7L8GKLCOTUWIJRSQ7zFY00wdjUysmmsrJcAHYcmy28fJsRR100y11/s320/IMG_1058.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last summer, I also took down the ugly "wooden-looking" vertical blinds from my front window and replaced them with this curtain rod and somewhat neutral pattern on the curtains. But....it wasn't brown. I was making a little progress!</div>
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You can't tell from this picture, but the leaves are actually a dusty green-blue color. They look a little gray here. </div>
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This summer, my goal was to add some color into my living room....and a little more interest and style in the process.</div>
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Here are a few of the small changes I've made.</div>
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<em>Like I said, I wasn't making any huge investments here.....just moving things from one room to another, or buying a few new items to change the overall feeling of the room.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzOipYdaQQgxuAh4dCEDJvpBSVmya6fepx8ID9mG-UmwRlqu0hLGr87ISYfy-D7Es86lBRWXGhivybsbDe1kVh8omoyZJkc9GAAWnoOmXbwxYZ-Nw67VvEQRCz6holNSEObsx01-o-z22/s1600/2013-07-15+14.21.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzOipYdaQQgxuAh4dCEDJvpBSVmya6fepx8ID9mG-UmwRlqu0hLGr87ISYfy-D7Es86lBRWXGhivybsbDe1kVh8omoyZJkc9GAAWnoOmXbwxYZ-Nw67VvEQRCz6holNSEObsx01-o-z22/s320/2013-07-15+14.21.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Before</u></strong>....all brown or beige accents on top of my dark brown storage unit (which also has dark brown and tan baskets, so that was kind of boring).</div>
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<strong><u>After</u></strong>....the small lamp was replaced with a bigger one (lamp base on clearance at Meijer, lamp shade from Target), and I added a few color accents that I purchased recently- all on sale of course. The blue frame is from TJ Maxx, the vase was from Michaels, and the "orchid" is from Kohls. </div>
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<em>Yep, it's not real because I've already killed the real one I got from a student this year- I'm horrible with houseplants.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecm7eXdkXfFaoR8poPFeP9C_YYugzksttZZ4QPDhfWfiBAQ_xy_acuYrOATYcgJn5ifpQk0LI10KCjJYVtqV868-NDhGRYT5PafbDX7RIO4_ALMZwg1bs8HZILU8wFKZnmZaIn4kvo3Ml/s1600/2013-07-15+14.22.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecm7eXdkXfFaoR8poPFeP9C_YYugzksttZZ4QPDhfWfiBAQ_xy_acuYrOATYcgJn5ifpQk0LI10KCjJYVtqV868-NDhGRYT5PafbDX7RIO4_ALMZwg1bs8HZILU8wFKZnmZaIn4kvo3Ml/s320/2013-07-15+14.22.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Before</u></strong>....last summer, my green loveseat got two brown throw pillows to add to the matching green ones that came with it. Still very neutral.</div>
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<strong><u>After</u></strong>....two colorful pillows replaced the green ones. The different size and patterns/colors complement the brown pillows and loveseat much better. And, let's face it....they're more interesting.</div>
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Both of these were from either Home Goods or TJ Maxx....I can't remember which one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgB3oOjDpYuhahnBtYMAl-jVstKUas4G0ZDMHPPaYVX9NgI-iII665zQyMUg31xCIp0GaGlju8DPSrQ8UQhlOX0gAX3ZoEutJBpAI4Y8pqAf5VdwytB4ycf3KVRbvmWZDs2ELDfRnKJXB/s1600/2013-07-15+14.26.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgB3oOjDpYuhahnBtYMAl-jVstKUas4G0ZDMHPPaYVX9NgI-iII665zQyMUg31xCIp0GaGlju8DPSrQ8UQhlOX0gAX3ZoEutJBpAI4Y8pqAf5VdwytB4ycf3KVRbvmWZDs2ELDfRnKJXB/s320/2013-07-15+14.26.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Before</u></strong>....I've had these two framed photos on my wall since I moved in. I bought them both from an Art Fair before I got my house and just loved them. However, having two small frames on this wall seemed a little off scale-wise.</div>
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<strong><u>After</u></strong>....I found a similar photographer at an art fair this summer, and bought a larger print to frame and put in the middle of the two smaller ones. I was so lucky that I didn't even need to reposition the small ones- there was the perfect amount of space left in between them.</div>
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Plus, the frame I bought (which was a really hard size to find) was very inexpensive at Michaels (it's actually a poster frame, but it worked even with the matted print) and they were buy one, get one free so I have another one for a future DIY project. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagkXJVYICNJinXx-juZGvwvqNT52cmkF9ATpLlP5dxEw7g1jlpbrumhxuVLN5vw7ls5Ejubxt-A2s_cT3ErrkEKWYNtia0F8NvrxEJx2GhDeUMsEA-WJwr-SX0dfqgdJOcEf8PmPdDugX/s1600/2013-07-07+14.13.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjagkXJVYICNJinXx-juZGvwvqNT52cmkF9ATpLlP5dxEw7g1jlpbrumhxuVLN5vw7ls5Ejubxt-A2s_cT3ErrkEKWYNtia0F8NvrxEJx2GhDeUMsEA-WJwr-SX0dfqgdJOcEf8PmPdDugX/s320/2013-07-07+14.13.02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Before</u></strong>....right by my front door is a console table that I bought from Target right after I moved in here. I loved how it filled that space, but what I put on it wasn't too exciting. Again, very neutral items and a tiny lamp.</div>
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<strong><u>After</u></strong>....another (larger) lamp base from Meijer and lamp shade from Target and a new colorful frame from TJ Maxx add some needed color here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx7gEj2R90wEZrYYWHIS-U11Ea0vqgJF3uIfVsZQ9yoy4DzzDGyKjI_7KIfJc1VL9SNC8S7O3b09RlJlfbOI7jX6F6ADki9iU7tsuClZ30nXykk-iE6KTUzpEzPvVLMlKTg2RIPUWpwIx/s1600/2013-07-15+19.22.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx7gEj2R90wEZrYYWHIS-U11Ea0vqgJF3uIfVsZQ9yoy4DzzDGyKjI_7KIfJc1VL9SNC8S7O3b09RlJlfbOI7jX6F6ADki9iU7tsuClZ30nXykk-iE6KTUzpEzPvVLMlKTg2RIPUWpwIx/s320/2013-07-15+19.22.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>Before</u></strong>....last summer, my brown couch got two patterned throw pillows to add to the matching brown ones that came with it. These at least had some color, a dusty blue that complemented the color in the curtains.</div>
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<strong><u>After</u></strong>....I found these large blue patterned pillows at Kohls to replace the brown ones. The larger size goes better with the scale of the couch, plus they aren't flattened and camouflaged by the couch like the old ones.</div>
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Note: That orange tray and adorable chevron coaster set (both from World Market) and red vase (from Michaels) were also added to my coffee table this summer. More "pops of color"! </div>
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And I did consciously add in blues and oranges to my living room since those are the two predominant colors in my kitchen and since the rooms flow together I wanted them to complement each other better. I'm pretty happy with the results!</div>
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My summer goal....to add color and interest to my living room, without breaking my budget....has been met. Mental check!</div>
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Now.....onto my "big" project of the summer.....the bathroom!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-60554444119286560282013-07-14T23:50:00.006-04:002013-07-14T23:50:59.707-04:00summer comfort foodI turned my air conditioning on today for the first time all summer....for two reasons.<br />
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1. It was in the 90's today and is supposed to be for the next few days...and while I'm usually a "fresh-air-and-bear-with-the-heat" kind of girl, trying to sleep when it's muggy and in the 70's is not my idea of fun. So I caved.<br />
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2. I had bought some veggies at the store the other day with a plan to make up a new recipe with them, and turning on the oven was NOT going to happen without some relief from the heat.<br />
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So, basically....today's recipe post was inspired and made possible by me turning on the A/C. <br />
And my love of comfort food.<br />
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In the summer, most people lean towards "lighter" vs. "heavy" comfort foods. Instead of a hot, creamy, gooey lasagna....we might make a cold, simple pasta salad. I'm kind of "in the middle" when it comes to my summer comfort food. I still like warm food, but nothing too heavy. <br />
This recipe fits that description.<br />
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Here's how to make my....<br />
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<h2>
Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Pasta Toss</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YWfpFDx4-Brnc_r19fA-vJhXg-JTVkmBmmglW3_vrvY6WO4yfuKS0VheLkuR7Ng2f7z_gZCkUgXByk_-XXh8sB3C77vVZI1YJZ0Df3OlGrii1NX_Zpv9zzCyPsoUqflKFZAN-v1RxWJO/s1600/2013-07-14+20.07.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YWfpFDx4-Brnc_r19fA-vJhXg-JTVkmBmmglW3_vrvY6WO4yfuKS0VheLkuR7Ng2f7z_gZCkUgXByk_-XXh8sB3C77vVZI1YJZ0Df3OlGrii1NX_Zpv9zzCyPsoUqflKFZAN-v1RxWJO/s320/2013-07-14+20.07.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>*Side Note: This could easily be made vegetarian by omitting the chicken....I just (a) love chicken and (b) had some defrosting in the fridge today.*</em><br />
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First, we have the ingredients:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCiQLQXUsx53pyLaTo6eWVIytGtLbphWPxX6yN0bPyb3RSLfUXBwUHCRuYbMHcM9vemKHnAkHOw5o_1TYWtq6HtQmfvHytRmif1te-xQtlWr8y20GeHCDBeogC_jV-Qbg6HPxD7z-IVLs/s1600/2013-07-14+18.30.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCiQLQXUsx53pyLaTo6eWVIytGtLbphWPxX6yN0bPyb3RSLfUXBwUHCRuYbMHcM9vemKHnAkHOw5o_1TYWtq6HtQmfvHytRmif1te-xQtlWr8y20GeHCDBeogC_jV-Qbg6HPxD7z-IVLs/s320/2013-07-14+18.30.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pasta (I used whole grain penne- about 3/4 of a pound)</div>
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Veggies: garlic, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, red bell peppers, and grape tomatoes</div>
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Olive Oil</div>
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Salt and Pepper</div>
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Grated Cheese (I used a blend)</div>
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<em>Not Pictured</em>: Chicken (I used about a pound of chicken tenders) and herbs (more about that later)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMx8LYkjWRFeYtSb594MyfvIE_3qwwo5oLGf5-JjJMeo_xkblp0hJ1BRos9PWQPyds3bRr_v4JezWcvn7tn1_kjfnoTWDmjTSZAYYXQUhkEqBMlcMYVk2ixLbevARz1DnOQ0wMfYW9KlQ/s1600/2013-07-14+18.38.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMx8LYkjWRFeYtSb594MyfvIE_3qwwo5oLGf5-JjJMeo_xkblp0hJ1BRos9PWQPyds3bRr_v4JezWcvn7tn1_kjfnoTWDmjTSZAYYXQUhkEqBMlcMYVk2ixLbevARz1DnOQ0wMfYW9KlQ/s320/2013-07-14+18.38.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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First step....preheat the oven to 400 degrees.</div>
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If you want an easy clean up, line two cookie sheets (the kind that have sides) with foil.</div>
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I used the amazing foil that has one "non-stick" side. </div>
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<em>The next thing you want to do is roast the garlic. This takes the longest, so you want to make sure it goes in before any other prep. You could even do this ahead of time. I roasted three heads but was only going to use two. The other one is in a paste in my freezer for a day in the future when I really want some roasted garlic but don't have the time to make it.</em></div>
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Ah....<strong>roasting garlic</strong>.....once I learned how to do this I was hooked. </div>
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If you've read my recipe posts before, you know about my infatuation with garlic.</div>
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And while I'm all for grating or mincing garlic to add it to recipes.....roasting it just gives it such a different yet equally delicious taste. </div>
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Okay....love letter over.</div>
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Back to the recipe. :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrPGTOM6bG-t5jdr3yAnP_P6Iw3EW6Uq4KcZ4YYyiuagpL5AihzfEhrvjLmRlvH2Y-RC9FDW80BOab2fGb-Nj1kKqcXOSFIS7CBMZP-zH5xNXuYak4OnMAhXyJgjj2y9Ic5wUe7o2tcyV/s1600/2013-07-14+18.40.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrPGTOM6bG-t5jdr3yAnP_P6Iw3EW6Uq4KcZ4YYyiuagpL5AihzfEhrvjLmRlvH2Y-RC9FDW80BOab2fGb-Nj1kKqcXOSFIS7CBMZP-zH5xNXuYak4OnMAhXyJgjj2y9Ic5wUe7o2tcyV/s320/2013-07-14+18.40.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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First, you need to cut off the tops of the garlic heads (not the side with the roots). I cut off about half an inch down, but it really depends on the size of the bulb.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuv-CIrTffTtwL-RvcOHt9i06chjZyEG9kJ18pKnLgnoGrzVbiO6oGZiX8JZwz5KMY_CghLnmmP0bNl9SHQD1yv78ZXacF9HLkkMQLIVOZFab6qADmKEF-xgInQo1SnTeClinOrlpKKZD/s1600/2013-07-14+18.43.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuv-CIrTffTtwL-RvcOHt9i06chjZyEG9kJ18pKnLgnoGrzVbiO6oGZiX8JZwz5KMY_CghLnmmP0bNl9SHQD1yv78ZXacF9HLkkMQLIVOZFab6qADmKEF-xgInQo1SnTeClinOrlpKKZD/s320/2013-07-14+18.43.36.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is what it should look like.</div>
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Then, I peeled off some of the outer layers of papery "skin" from the bulb, but not from the actual cloves themselves. Just basically until you can see where the cloves separate. </div>
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<em>This is not a necessary step....I just have found it's easier to get every roasted clove out when I do this. But you can totally skip this step and it will be fine.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Hsgqz-iiC9RBRI05gDaYYnpeayDIw5-FPMIaUXmlzTH7a_R3ziWcyVOKw2GLGnVGn84jICAH0J4JQhwO_79wFEU528J1QBlqAhBxeh1R1q40gN5ceRivJfN2POErry4OulAUCtj7Dib/s1600/2013-07-14+18.48.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7Hsgqz-iiC9RBRI05gDaYYnpeayDIw5-FPMIaUXmlzTH7a_R3ziWcyVOKw2GLGnVGn84jICAH0J4JQhwO_79wFEU528J1QBlqAhBxeh1R1q40gN5ceRivJfN2POErry4OulAUCtj7Dib/s320/2013-07-14+18.48.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Put them all on a large piece of aluminum foil and drizzle them with olive oil.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygTxBBfEBdd3c6P0cbwAelE4dZnqmYDzTB_BOrW0v9m6FunEOiZiHq2G12WbWkQ5x64L6BA7u3xzcGFC6Ev2Gd4Atg1k0qsFdH6kVlscXLJSTAQbztelRZ5szCiHOy_b2mD9_j3OUB4S5/s1600/2013-07-14+18.49.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygTxBBfEBdd3c6P0cbwAelE4dZnqmYDzTB_BOrW0v9m6FunEOiZiHq2G12WbWkQ5x64L6BA7u3xzcGFC6Ev2Gd4Atg1k0qsFdH6kVlscXLJSTAQbztelRZ5szCiHOy_b2mD9_j3OUB4S5/s320/2013-07-14+18.49.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sprinkle with salt and pepper.</div>
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And wrap them all up in a "pouch". I put the pouch on a pie plate for stability, but you can actually put this right on the oven rack, too. </div>
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I roasted mine for about 45 minutes, but the cooking time will vary slightly depending on the size of the bulbs.</div>
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<em>The next step.....prep the other veggies for roasting.</em> </div>
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These don't need as much time as the garlic, but I roast them at the same temperature (400) so I probably put them in the oven for the last 20 minutes. Again, the time you'll need will depend on the size that you cut your veggies and how much you use.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wc22CE6KbwFgX-AUEHbvCrunNcjx5W2R0mpmmmeWa6lnbb-2dSCZmPhNuFpvcX4WwfoEt0rExfIZ9-5oymocsFGZBQGCsySCyjsme-PYxVy9Bxis31x0YnnNNRfBXwHmpoQY4rDF5FNV/s1600/2013-07-14+18.55.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wc22CE6KbwFgX-AUEHbvCrunNcjx5W2R0mpmmmeWa6lnbb-2dSCZmPhNuFpvcX4WwfoEt0rExfIZ9-5oymocsFGZBQGCsySCyjsme-PYxVy9Bxis31x0YnnNNRfBXwHmpoQY4rDF5FNV/s320/2013-07-14+18.55.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I cut up two red bell peppers, first in strips that were about a half-inch wide, then into chunks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwxtWiwtoR7O68nrHoNsV3SKXe8ETyGhmsot95CRJlfUrSQ05nDucgj-WZOMAdJ8FBx71ddEiUFDg1L68ASOEMPnqqtPU1DPghlYKcmvpnZvlIk4Sl_b2K353zUWiADui2hGwMrzO_aW_/s1600/2013-07-14+19.03.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwxtWiwtoR7O68nrHoNsV3SKXe8ETyGhmsot95CRJlfUrSQ05nDucgj-WZOMAdJ8FBx71ddEiUFDg1L68ASOEMPnqqtPU1DPghlYKcmvpnZvlIk4Sl_b2K353zUWiADui2hGwMrzO_aW_/s320/2013-07-14+19.03.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Then, I cut the ends off my zucchini and squash and cut those both into pieces that were similar in size to how I cut the peppers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A4fnppXVmJMVCkgSVefHeRNCmST0ZupG5gZ-vS7d7bNbt7nfQ7lZFbmL7fUvrFyYYJZehZo8EIZQ8OgVsDtG1Uo08IGny_3slDY-Ardluo8Hl2SPT1cGfntdYaGbh26vDEvXfjEnXD71/s1600/2013-07-14+19.06.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7A4fnppXVmJMVCkgSVefHeRNCmST0ZupG5gZ-vS7d7bNbt7nfQ7lZFbmL7fUvrFyYYJZehZo8EIZQ8OgVsDtG1Uo08IGny_3slDY-Ardluo8Hl2SPT1cGfntdYaGbh26vDEvXfjEnXD71/s320/2013-07-14+19.06.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Did I ever mention that I love chopping? </div>
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So much fun.</div>
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(I'm not being sarcastic....I really do love chopping.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf9MeU6lzJTuk8GmTMo9hYy8HDngEjelV9uPAUP2i5GZxa5aoPDFSsGHh_rQ645TNefVZr6crpcPABn9C1lV6EWfPUFH1AN7_kqO6egfVGq3AX2nBZRvb1_efxt6luvmwuhQpMAU7vK0O/s1600/2013-07-14+19.07.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGf9MeU6lzJTuk8GmTMo9hYy8HDngEjelV9uPAUP2i5GZxa5aoPDFSsGHh_rQ645TNefVZr6crpcPABn9C1lV6EWfPUFH1AN7_kqO6egfVGq3AX2nBZRvb1_efxt6luvmwuhQpMAU7vK0O/s320/2013-07-14+19.07.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wanted to get an orange and yellow bell pepper to make this even more colorful, but they weren't looking too great at the store. Mushrooms would be good, too.</div>
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Lots of possibilities for next time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXfefL-Atot5ndIdDFyMveVAV3AcwP073ZB2on8lQvhyOx0A3hupotQlPGVPuGjtpsOKJ7XND4Y7agqAlxene4R8i-i7zqvSJ21r1lbCbLFyCK4gNBznwe9QdyBhz3j-Hif-UOjeXpLbB/s1600/2013-07-14+19.13.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXfefL-Atot5ndIdDFyMveVAV3AcwP073ZB2on8lQvhyOx0A3hupotQlPGVPuGjtpsOKJ7XND4Y7agqAlxene4R8i-i7zqvSJ21r1lbCbLFyCK4gNBznwe9QdyBhz3j-Hif-UOjeXpLbB/s320/2013-07-14+19.13.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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More chopping....I chopped up two small onions.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCuCxkWIv6s4y5P_FwqeObYkyeeC8J7k4x05O9dQ_p39kISMmt5cZ0RHBUi0qllaXY7TjrVDLHxi9MZOOfbbQNrfIIGCG45VstRosw8zSeONVWXuhI3b2JrtCwPEe9ewa9nZVKcW3vKgR/s1600/2013-07-14+19.17.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCuCxkWIv6s4y5P_FwqeObYkyeeC8J7k4x05O9dQ_p39kISMmt5cZ0RHBUi0qllaXY7TjrVDLHxi9MZOOfbbQNrfIIGCG45VstRosw8zSeONVWXuhI3b2JrtCwPEe9ewa9nZVKcW3vKgR/s320/2013-07-14+19.17.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the onions was mixed in with the chopped veggies, then tossed with olive oil/salt/pepper on the cookie sheet.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VS4v6FZjFChpyeCNH4adhQPYQi6uq0qDKDNCHY1oUrKy3qJ0FA2zhtawsEmxpAXCNhj5HHJUXpySFU757oVakbO8gUhKFM05g8H_3HyB8qsBKoSwmResuY8dQNCSWVnrGuCXfzKQuhrC/s1600/2013-07-14+19.21.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1VS4v6FZjFChpyeCNH4adhQPYQi6uq0qDKDNCHY1oUrKy3qJ0FA2zhtawsEmxpAXCNhj5HHJUXpySFU757oVakbO8gUhKFM05g8H_3HyB8qsBKoSwmResuY8dQNCSWVnrGuCXfzKQuhrC/s320/2013-07-14+19.21.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The other onion was thrown together with two pints of grape tomatoes, olive oil/salt/pepper....and some herbs. Which I forgot to take out for the first "ingredients mug shot" so they get their own special photo.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnO_jlSYl5Ig55DYEq8wKjL_A7YPqRwvAL-5_yWF0NQ1fcKZrVt7YJRhNiWIV4buxQErcOF-or-LVAO7yz-34QLZFi8Z8hUSKuRJOKN4kyh0VzLmpNuRrqqPcr0geDm1vb-f9nV6PRTjN/s1600/2013-07-14+19.21.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnO_jlSYl5Ig55DYEq8wKjL_A7YPqRwvAL-5_yWF0NQ1fcKZrVt7YJRhNiWIV4buxQErcOF-or-LVAO7yz-34QLZFi8Z8hUSKuRJOKN4kyh0VzLmpNuRrqqPcr0geDm1vb-f9nV6PRTjN/s320/2013-07-14+19.21.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Since these were going to be the base for my "tomato sauce", I went Italian with my herbs-- parsley, basil, and oregano. If you're lucky enough to have fresh herbs growing at home, you could definitely use those. You just wouldn't put them in at this point, but instead wait until the end.</div>
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At this point, I put the two pans of veggies in the oven with the garlic, and just kept checking on them until they were ready. It was about 20 minutes. </div>
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While everything was roasting away, I prepared the chicken and pasta.</div>
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I cut up the tenders into bite-size chunks. </div>
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This....is not my idea of fun chopping. Raw meat is gross.</div>
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But cooked meat is yummy.</div>
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<em>(sorry vegetarians and vegans....I'm a meat lover)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8HypxwVA1x4dt0-wDdBK1Mzs__LENUE4RxfCBWu5mcTFER_pA3horwJ1muMuMeQiQs07g_UUZxcwhmMPH4TNU93Lp8PfcMS63kMh2YXD5O4_MNRMeBhEOcDTAhd7TwR7QuSqCYrCjIi2/s1600/2013-07-14+19.41.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq8HypxwVA1x4dt0-wDdBK1Mzs__LENUE4RxfCBWu5mcTFER_pA3horwJ1muMuMeQiQs07g_UUZxcwhmMPH4TNU93Lp8PfcMS63kMh2YXD5O4_MNRMeBhEOcDTAhd7TwR7QuSqCYrCjIi2/s320/2013-07-14+19.41.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And added the chicken to a pan that had some olive oil and a pat of butter melted. A little salt and pepper to season the chicken, and then just sauté away!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgHCy-wqpeujllL-H1s93rIUhJU_gjkR6nDKMmqxwAqTmtvlXKQzAtsSMBkoVAk7Q4mNpCaAqa-Hj4xRtF3swdFkTka7mlRnnMPT35Gu7YNYVZ48eKRAVQFs9DdWmf7HzPK4fE1Nw91wg/s1600/2013-07-14+19.42.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgHCy-wqpeujllL-H1s93rIUhJU_gjkR6nDKMmqxwAqTmtvlXKQzAtsSMBkoVAk7Q4mNpCaAqa-Hj4xRtF3swdFkTka7mlRnnMPT35Gu7YNYVZ48eKRAVQFs9DdWmf7HzPK4fE1Nw91wg/s320/2013-07-14+19.42.40.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Once the chicken was started, I dropped the pasta into the boiling water.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG-y7eVuf02x0A09UwsXUg_ZhIXUysLgNe1jBTMEOGO_mGwQ4f6QLdeJ1QhJOA6y1Q4OxF6n1cDxTfcdphVjiFOvgTphf8bASG3_STLyx_OHlpPuJVNOMlGmNmU9tE0JWAp2x_Ol6OcVY/s1600/2013-07-14+19.43.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoG-y7eVuf02x0A09UwsXUg_ZhIXUysLgNe1jBTMEOGO_mGwQ4f6QLdeJ1QhJOA6y1Q4OxF6n1cDxTfcdphVjiFOvgTphf8bASG3_STLyx_OHlpPuJVNOMlGmNmU9tE0JWAp2x_Ol6OcVY/s320/2013-07-14+19.43.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And once everything was cooked and ready.....I started to assemble the pasta toss!</div>
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The roasted garlic came out first....and I let it cool down for a while. </div>
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If you try to squeeze it out too early, you'll definitely burn your fingers.</div>
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Learn from my mistakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnbkuzHA98WpZznU4aDIbz-ptf_YH_64MVqdzzc-0XuhdYnA1EdpGLjA0-VvbGuM-1i5M_pvcLsTJ-VaEeFevkU3dcgcEpKXhHD3X0RM-qraIVGqd_A071L8imQoLyl1VfdimljM0MPAp/s1600/2013-07-14+19.52.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnbkuzHA98WpZznU4aDIbz-ptf_YH_64MVqdzzc-0XuhdYnA1EdpGLjA0-VvbGuM-1i5M_pvcLsTJ-VaEeFevkU3dcgcEpKXhHD3X0RM-qraIVGqd_A071L8imQoLyl1VfdimljM0MPAp/s320/2013-07-14+19.52.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Doesn't this look DEEE-LICIOUS?!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl5zH8rifDDTxFJjftKJbdkqEDMHfEfbFjNV0ihzyfkDsKN1DlN6vrnpXNWm7PCa15Uk_KkmjBX5kzkt7IsSa9loPDsf-Prr9A6cZZGO1kr7hUhQZ1Oskv81Cte0x96flW9PhaNfPy52N/s1600/2013-07-14+19.54.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl5zH8rifDDTxFJjftKJbdkqEDMHfEfbFjNV0ihzyfkDsKN1DlN6vrnpXNWm7PCa15Uk_KkmjBX5kzkt7IsSa9loPDsf-Prr9A6cZZGO1kr7hUhQZ1Oskv81Cte0x96flW9PhaNfPy52N/s320/2013-07-14+19.54.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<strong><u>IMPORTANT</u></strong>: Before you drain your pasta, reserve some of the starchy cooking water. You'll be using it for your sauce. I probably took a cup or cup and a half out, but take out more to be safe. You don't have to use it all, but once you dump it, it's gone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDyE6JjllHO8to4TRbtNYzfLmxoMApxd0cDOZEtAAUK-kUKkX4cZYzQCxuMBh4cMnt6xOVZXS-iiRq3-cdraXnNFfjFmCZj7x5ocaU-9yIJmgU8t9K3c7gdj9vIQIUz1Bh_IeLIn48LMC/s1600/2013-07-14+19.56.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDyE6JjllHO8to4TRbtNYzfLmxoMApxd0cDOZEtAAUK-kUKkX4cZYzQCxuMBh4cMnt6xOVZXS-iiRq3-cdraXnNFfjFmCZj7x5ocaU-9yIJmgU8t9K3c7gdj9vIQIUz1Bh_IeLIn48LMC/s320/2013-07-14+19.56.19.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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See how the tomatoes look all shriveled up and there's a lot of juices in the pan?</div>
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You want that.</div>
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It makes for a fantastic sauce.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsixhwPCWREgopzoAaeIlSnqqc00meKj8BvlHSGr7QYtPob42yeInveJ_CPUL6x-qcmFtFrGkMfblhY1KLKu4qu6MZAzodVYZ-wLhi0p06PxnT96LXrIA3aUIuQ-7uzE6kUG_8ObR8npGC/s1600/2013-07-14+19.56.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsixhwPCWREgopzoAaeIlSnqqc00meKj8BvlHSGr7QYtPob42yeInveJ_CPUL6x-qcmFtFrGkMfblhY1KLKu4qu6MZAzodVYZ-wLhi0p06PxnT96LXrIA3aUIuQ-7uzE6kUG_8ObR8npGC/s320/2013-07-14+19.56.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And not to be outdone, here's the other pan of tender, roasted veggies.</div>
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YUM.</div>
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<em>Here's how I made the sauce:</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkTHzMBrd6thQKe3otREjQy69MiF7xEuQHjVUqzVQQu2V20dmkM0UJrgkJQg9Hx_SobiLI62eE7q8-tFAFSrWFhx8tgWCTOZv4cw_Kb22eig3Km-cuggIpSoYzPhts0CsrwbRuXIIalNj/s1600/2013-07-14+19.58.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkTHzMBrd6thQKe3otREjQy69MiF7xEuQHjVUqzVQQu2V20dmkM0UJrgkJQg9Hx_SobiLI62eE7q8-tFAFSrWFhx8tgWCTOZv4cw_Kb22eig3Km-cuggIpSoYzPhts0CsrwbRuXIIalNj/s320/2013-07-14+19.58.09.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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After draining the pasta, I used the pasta pot to start the sauce. </div>
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First, dump ALL of the tomatoes/onions/juice from that pan into the pot. </div>
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Add some of the starchy water and use a potato masher (carefully- it will spatter) to squish the tomatoes and make a chunky sauce.</div>
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But wait....there's more....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUqx3XG0dmp-fEkN3GxhZY5dIw-XOALNNzsbJ7QBSVF8hJH43FjTiCViBMuXxB4_pzyifahLbfHuR9UvqMlPJzs4TWBFzwQI0NyEbPUsx4xGDrSORpQ3a30wBh9fJt76Zr-4onS38-VPv/s1600/2013-07-14+19.59.18-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUqx3XG0dmp-fEkN3GxhZY5dIw-XOALNNzsbJ7QBSVF8hJH43FjTiCViBMuXxB4_pzyifahLbfHuR9UvqMlPJzs4TWBFzwQI0NyEbPUsx4xGDrSORpQ3a30wBh9fJt76Zr-4onS38-VPv/s320/2013-07-14+19.59.18-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Remember that gorgeous roasted garlic? Squeeze those beautiful cloves right out of their skins and into your sauce. I used two whole heads of garlic, but you could use anywhere from 1-3 depending on your love of garlic. I really should have used three. :) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAQO7Ey8NZxVlIqmdhEXTTc7SGX5003NWhxVcGkP22fWLIra5H7nSThvd8FWx3BOqj1AEW8LH07kT8H9EC7AL4jBoBZrweoEhdYdg4RQo9tDYo0YwPxxuJbkanhSYZ5M4uk2HOBCWd5Ku/s1600/2013-07-14+20.01.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAQO7Ey8NZxVlIqmdhEXTTc7SGX5003NWhxVcGkP22fWLIra5H7nSThvd8FWx3BOqj1AEW8LH07kT8H9EC7AL4jBoBZrweoEhdYdg4RQo9tDYo0YwPxxuJbkanhSYZ5M4uk2HOBCWd5Ku/s320/2013-07-14+20.01.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Mash the garlic into the sauce.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZicgL9A8o_bTxan87yVV_Tg4FVbXBRJo86drHB4qZXwLABpME5cMvOlCIOuwHNxHDvR1Gr2AnDPZt0y38Tp_Cplsj6x7vNSba6NT-CuvmXpDBUfOQzRRQrMpWSRtXnQdjarH1Uz7BvfC/s1600/2013-07-14+20.04.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZicgL9A8o_bTxan87yVV_Tg4FVbXBRJo86drHB4qZXwLABpME5cMvOlCIOuwHNxHDvR1Gr2AnDPZt0y38Tp_Cplsj6x7vNSba6NT-CuvmXpDBUfOQzRRQrMpWSRtXnQdjarH1Uz7BvfC/s320/2013-07-14+20.04.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Add in the other pan of the roasted veggies, and the chicken. </div>
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If it's not "saucy" enough for you, add some more of the cooking water.</div>
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If you've been seasoning as you go, you really shouldn't need to add anything at this point....but take a taste just to be sure. Even the best chefs get sent home on "Chopped" because they didn't add enough salt. Seriously, do they not taste their food as they go??</div>
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With a little sprinkle of grated cheese on top, and you're done!</div>
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<strong><em>Now that's MY kind of summer comfort food.</em></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fE2ZdSUbng1YBF9v3YUBUtSCIKUkdeALfXc-ejMw9hWP6KKKvzlSdwMFJd5nq4h7GVzJHg1l8ZUgs7XMMFFyKNTNdWQSHtAJneVZWtt6QaCRBkczMs3VtrubTMJ7kF2l8Qo1Sm03woxq/s1600/2013-07-14+20.07.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fE2ZdSUbng1YBF9v3YUBUtSCIKUkdeALfXc-ejMw9hWP6KKKvzlSdwMFJd5nq4h7GVzJHg1l8ZUgs7XMMFFyKNTNdWQSHtAJneVZWtt6QaCRBkczMs3VtrubTMJ7kF2l8Qo1Sm03woxq/s320/2013-07-14+20.07.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And really.....it's pretty healthy, too....bonus!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfcskN0TTZ_rmqQsNrzFnS1XxJqalW7_FBJxUVWWhtMyoLq3eeGplvclSZYrvZR_yidGuKd7x3iojpm5N2QE1WvXKMlWkeUWL6aPSTSsmKQqN-mJLclP5bxmtO4Or7z6T9UTTGA7Ck0sY/s1600/2013-07-14+20.08.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXfcskN0TTZ_rmqQsNrzFnS1XxJqalW7_FBJxUVWWhtMyoLq3eeGplvclSZYrvZR_yidGuKd7x3iojpm5N2QE1WvXKMlWkeUWL6aPSTSsmKQqN-mJLclP5bxmtO4Or7z6T9UTTGA7Ck0sY/s320/2013-07-14+20.08.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Enjoy!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-45839073080102943982013-07-01T18:18:00.000-04:002013-07-15T20:49:13.709-04:00from antique to chicOn a road trip to Chicago last summer, we stopped at a couple antique malls on the way and I came home with some fun "new" items:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpo828nD4UVccG93T4WA2mdz1g87dsXpaKRIW_6f9E_QMUZ2k9AoKeQ1Xvo6akdgezNgPJTvdjN_u8I5oj0ljNb_gJS9QadaQICnT9OLn3snFQeYVCE8aa3Fvuh5tZnbsZDpKvzAhm2B3/s1280/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpo828nD4UVccG93T4WA2mdz1g87dsXpaKRIW_6f9E_QMUZ2k9AoKeQ1Xvo6akdgezNgPJTvdjN_u8I5oj0ljNb_gJS9QadaQICnT9OLn3snFQeYVCE8aa3Fvuh5tZnbsZDpKvzAhm2B3/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well....the bowls have been used, the necklaces have been worn, and the adorable little spice rack has taken permanent residence in my bright, cheerfully remodeled kitchen. </div>
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Read more about that process <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/kitchen-updatepart-three.html" target="_blank">here</a>. (I'm pretty proud of it.) ;)</div>
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But those two shelves.....I had something else in mind for those.</div>
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Which I finally got to this weekend.</div>
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When my sister moved out of my house last year and I turned her room into a guest room (read more about that <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/on-my-own.html" target="_blank">here</a>), I had a general idea of how I wanted to decorate it, but not enough time to do everything before the summer wrapped up.</div>
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These shelves, with their intricate design, were begging to be hung in that room. If you look at the bedding, you'll see what I mean. However, the colors of the shelves didn't really go with my vision, and they were pretty dirty and scratched up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0aOPZLVYbjErm6G_RQ8_lyqsBwpm3DBTaVSz8D1rq_PNogJRTcB74PUO7umYyoUReruQjR6x_TZQ-K1wKI6As75SEZkyv_VwvGIS5yOK0lHP7jwVoNDm9fUI2qMsgx1h9nn82tM5tF8Z/s1600/2013-06-27+13.07.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0aOPZLVYbjErm6G_RQ8_lyqsBwpm3DBTaVSz8D1rq_PNogJRTcB74PUO7umYyoUReruQjR6x_TZQ-K1wKI6As75SEZkyv_VwvGIS5yOK0lHP7jwVoNDm9fUI2qMsgx1h9nn82tM5tF8Z/s320/2013-06-27+13.07.04.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Enter.....my new obsession with....spray paint!</div>
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I had also found this amazingly perfect picture at a small shop near my hometown (where the heart is), and the aqua-blue color in this was the inspiration for the color I decided on for my shelves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vUFAhqgI3ARBZ9N9-BTYVIvIAptJrYdm7CnAFwtWVgYr7aOqSptKqoWZSnXasQjng_IibhM9Fjj3gW1dhQEVlDkSV1b01tRmwiKmDpEtni1W3k6MPRTkHchO3WNAPQNerPKFJBaFRArV/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vUFAhqgI3ARBZ9N9-BTYVIvIAptJrYdm7CnAFwtWVgYr7aOqSptKqoWZSnXasQjng_IibhM9Fjj3gW1dhQEVlDkSV1b01tRmwiKmDpEtni1W3k6MPRTkHchO3WNAPQNerPKFJBaFRArV/s320/IMG_1726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I also found this frame at a garage sale for.........wait for it................25 cents!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFTlGdfdYs40nmhwRbcemXdTE-DSs-3ZwO8WdagQTAXFucw9r7E9rni4TiLrnE58r_sv83e6ppWmc1DuR4dXcj-rjBr91SfOzQ8oaXnntkRKHApsnZ_sETNJBNsaIPgOrA7VvNcAbPI-1/s1280/IMG_1770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFTlGdfdYs40nmhwRbcemXdTE-DSs-3ZwO8WdagQTAXFucw9r7E9rni4TiLrnE58r_sv83e6ppWmc1DuR4dXcj-rjBr91SfOzQ8oaXnntkRKHApsnZ_sETNJBNsaIPgOrA7VvNcAbPI-1/s320/IMG_1770.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now granted...it is tiny (about 4x6 in.) and had a faded and ripped print stapled onto the back of it. </div>
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(Yep, stapled.)</div>
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So it really wasn't worth much....but for 25 cents I thought I could use this for something!</div>
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<strong><em>So here is the process of how I turned these from antique.....to chic.</em></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprxBDIXVuVpASsJNZBlAz7DUbdoOjWPd-tj9h05jQMevoUkqw4HFLDqqzLlz9tTGuUVjwuPSxqThgBl92Mpi9YpBsPsL_OCY3ZyTn3ArdAp77z96Qrd2awXVi6RnhGD5FhRhBJomVSDLn/s640/2013-06-27+14.36.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprxBDIXVuVpASsJNZBlAz7DUbdoOjWPd-tj9h05jQMevoUkqw4HFLDqqzLlz9tTGuUVjwuPSxqThgBl92Mpi9YpBsPsL_OCY3ZyTn3ArdAp77z96Qrd2awXVi6RnhGD5FhRhBJomVSDLn/s320/2013-06-27+14.36.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I laid everything out on a large piece of cardboard. And, while I did this in the shade on my deck, I would definitely suggest covering a larger area than I did. </div>
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Let's just say that I have the blue outline of where that flattened box was on my deck.</div>
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But, that's okay.....my deck is in some serious need of a repainting job anyway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVwOa-yRBrhwX4ZURr6yfJX3ftVgA9R_8YQGD-Dh0FY6jHB1QO0ho9X9lpoE7OptwFV_PbNfetBBgGztwL3aNdMpN1ccMKfXZnm6qjj-KzU38q4Rb3gdhkSXeIhunyzTYv2G-T5lNTbue/s1600/2013-06-27+13.07.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVwOa-yRBrhwX4ZURr6yfJX3ftVgA9R_8YQGD-Dh0FY6jHB1QO0ho9X9lpoE7OptwFV_PbNfetBBgGztwL3aNdMpN1ccMKfXZnm6qjj-KzU38q4Rb3gdhkSXeIhunyzTYv2G-T5lNTbue/s320/2013-06-27+13.07.30.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<u>Here are all the materials you'll need:</u></div>
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*Spray Paint </div>
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<em>(I used Rustoleum Paint Plus)</em></div>
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*Sanding tools </div>
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<em>(I had some medium-grain sandpaper sheets and a fine-grain sandpaper block)</em></div>
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*Plastic gloves</div>
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*Optional: safety mask </div>
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<em>(In other words, I didn't use this but thought it might be a good idea in the future. There were a couple times when I had to take a break and walk away from the fumes.)</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoASiTOeyU9LeNt8Kw75bcPdNVvH0I9utavNQ8MAyypeUymLA33LZjGny6wPcmGVE6IzVPksFdRDhgkU4Tfg7EZej9OHk7TOblvO5qxs-ASOzG9qopbhtANMjJxkMPsGHYBylcUbwaL1ru/s1600/2013-06-27+13.16.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoASiTOeyU9LeNt8Kw75bcPdNVvH0I9utavNQ8MAyypeUymLA33LZjGny6wPcmGVE6IzVPksFdRDhgkU4Tfg7EZej9OHk7TOblvO5qxs-ASOzG9qopbhtANMjJxkMPsGHYBylcUbwaL1ru/s320/2013-06-27+13.16.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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First step- prep the material you're painting. </div>
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For my shelves, I cleaned both of them off with soap and water, dried them really well, and then sanded them. I used the medium-grain paper first, then smoothed them out with the fine-grain block.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3QX_r28n_cd8vFbcoaNBZX_npJSUHutqQ07fmuha67h5i88QmlBgu4A2rnLJn9R2xma3jQ8AlaP7-7ZJgDgPp-Q5253LSyBVzCO7cJgJ_G-yBs3_pAfBH_HHk4J5aBJ3rdtP18KsfGcc/s1600/2013-06-27+15.59.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3QX_r28n_cd8vFbcoaNBZX_npJSUHutqQ07fmuha67h5i88QmlBgu4A2rnLJn9R2xma3jQ8AlaP7-7ZJgDgPp-Q5253LSyBVzCO7cJgJ_G-yBs3_pAfBH_HHk4J5aBJ3rdtP18KsfGcc/s320/2013-06-27+15.59.42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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For the frame, it was pretty clean so I just lightly wiped it down with a cloth. </div>
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Also....it's not wood so I didn't need to sand it!</div>
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I also cut a piece of paper to cover the print because I wasn't sure yet what I was going to do with the frame. Not positive why I felt the need to "protect" it, but I did.</div>
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If you were actually spray painting a normal frame that has removable glass/backing....you would do that first. But mine didn't have that option.</div>
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Because....as I said....it was STAPLED onto the frame.</div>
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So strange.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEESfgeuCuyk1bjhrpLGmTGoeBCmfspU_HahOxd521AtoI_6rUgdrnGfqroF2gqQwWPeiiOOeTMDhFJsBiA4dSwXd6iF8W7vIMCxoEmRCsdrkNwDUYfata6BhTthewQ17cv8TKyY4ucL/s1600/2013-06-27+13.24.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgEESfgeuCuyk1bjhrpLGmTGoeBCmfspU_HahOxd521AtoI_6rUgdrnGfqroF2gqQwWPeiiOOeTMDhFJsBiA4dSwXd6iF8W7vIMCxoEmRCsdrkNwDUYfata6BhTthewQ17cv8TKyY4ucL/s320/2013-06-27+13.24.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Second step- set up what you're painting on something so you can get at it from every angle.</div>
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I used shoe boxes. </div>
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Because I just bought two new pairs of flip flops.....and they were going to the recycle bin anyway.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_JKnJ5gos5-sSGkiEwGJOlrQLAb0b15pvb0tUJ-aMZ4I0Dj6UyD6wFCFwBVS5Iv5VNvFQd6dllAoaifUQ6bfahYvnQjQaXHEXMSyzzVFPQ6pF2YKtstA0L3vTiMpIJ-6mElCORixbqeJ/s1600/2013-06-27+16.00.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_JKnJ5gos5-sSGkiEwGJOlrQLAb0b15pvb0tUJ-aMZ4I0Dj6UyD6wFCFwBVS5Iv5VNvFQd6dllAoaifUQ6bfahYvnQjQaXHEXMSyzzVFPQ6pF2YKtstA0L3vTiMpIJ-6mElCORixbqeJ/s320/2013-06-27+16.00.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Third step- follow the directions on the spray paint can and go crazy! </div>
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Well, not really crazy because that would be unsafe.</div>
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And unhealthy.</div>
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And.....well, crazy.</div>
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But have fun with it! That's what I meant. :)</div>
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I only sprayed light coats each time, to prevent any dripping, and I let each coat dry for an hour before spraying on the next coat. I'm not sure what the standard amount of wait time is, but that's what I did and it worked so I'm going with that.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev2c76cwbb8yuZRbmlOzvMCDM9jBRbiHLprNhRshohLiV00ecDDABxkv4eqTzCIyeBhQ7c_uwQbGIt4uWuF33q1EcOwbGHWTjh82dris94lK2sQ0mf2PMqhvgPbuhl4OoSb5GAC__aTVF/s1600/2013-06-27+16.54.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjev2c76cwbb8yuZRbmlOzvMCDM9jBRbiHLprNhRshohLiV00ecDDABxkv4eqTzCIyeBhQ7c_uwQbGIt4uWuF33q1EcOwbGHWTjh82dris94lK2sQ0mf2PMqhvgPbuhl4OoSb5GAC__aTVF/s320/2013-06-27+16.54.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here they were after three coats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLlJFLmDj248P58S9ViL0UPC2dIhSEMhwgXuQyFkGfVWVm27Ya1E9wxsfKBJMq1KfBcUTio4PAxP-py22opUdbjRl58uyjHOK8X7VcbjBgT0TOjPB7wJ0InEgeLfnS2GEZvFRikuBGXTJ/s1600/2013-06-27+16.55.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLlJFLmDj248P58S9ViL0UPC2dIhSEMhwgXuQyFkGfVWVm27Ya1E9wxsfKBJMq1KfBcUTio4PAxP-py22opUdbjRl58uyjHOK8X7VcbjBgT0TOjPB7wJ0InEgeLfnS2GEZvFRikuBGXTJ/s320/2013-06-27+16.55.21.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
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And a close up of the frame....just because it was so cool-looking with its monochromatic-ness.</div>
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(I know....not a word.)</div>
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A few days later....after I was sure they were dry and ready to manhandle, I tackled the next and final step- hanging them up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQXvC68XBMhBxsq_4FlU31UP2l-HdJi7KZDm7PQmyvZjY6Eysl_yjOZ2psTwE4CXpn4PLN-_LhmSbX1KW7qgMEd4DHiC8zqcQDhEcAuBP2k3pqFRMxykO4_lH7ee5u2obegpf-SD9OSJo/s1600/2013-07-01+11.37.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQXvC68XBMhBxsq_4FlU31UP2l-HdJi7KZDm7PQmyvZjY6Eysl_yjOZ2psTwE4CXpn4PLN-_LhmSbX1KW7qgMEd4DHiC8zqcQDhEcAuBP2k3pqFRMxykO4_lH7ee5u2obegpf-SD9OSJo/s320/2013-07-01+11.37.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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These shelves had some very flimsy-looking contraptions that you might use to hang them.</div>
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If you were okay with them possibly falling off your wall and breaking.</div>
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Which I wasn't okay with, so I removed those and put on new contraptions.</div>
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<em>Sorry, I really don't know a better word for these than contraptions. </em></div>
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<em>Thingamajigs? </em></div>
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<em>Whatchamacallits? </em></div>
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<em>I'm not technical with any of my DIY-terms. I apologize.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAXrI8hn17It2ynzerPP7xUFVsxU9oMibmZcAQ10xTZQK36Ns4co3pc9y73xl9fYYC9NgmphG2iFZCm5aoasJoYmVa3CM-JPYalSPEt_kZnqDrqDpQVQlkEvw2UMrIR1If-xm3PG13Af/s1600/2013-07-01+11.42.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAXrI8hn17It2ynzerPP7xUFVsxU9oMibmZcAQ10xTZQK36Ns4co3pc9y73xl9fYYC9NgmphG2iFZCm5aoasJoYmVa3CM-JPYalSPEt_kZnqDrqDpQVQlkEvw2UMrIR1If-xm3PG13Af/s320/2013-07-01+11.42.43.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Here's what I bought....oh look- a technical term for them? D-Ring Hangers.</div>
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Yep, that's what I used!</div>
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Of course they came three to a pack and I needed four.</div>
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Well played, Readyscrew company, well played.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvwvghW_T8qBjy5fv9ZStJIYxUuowUe4YnZNSsD1-ig5hxlaFZEDBXGFylZ37NG02p2suZXSeH2OxNq66ZDNnsQPy6c1ZqnXEl7IQDbFjQa4WTck0gxh2InB0g2as01AXBiGpdGtOCej-/s1600/2013-07-01+11.45.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvwvghW_T8qBjy5fv9ZStJIYxUuowUe4YnZNSsD1-ig5hxlaFZEDBXGFylZ37NG02p2suZXSeH2OxNq66ZDNnsQPy6c1ZqnXEl7IQDbFjQa4WTck0gxh2InB0g2as01AXBiGpdGtOCej-/s320/2013-07-01+11.45.27.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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They were super easy to install, especially since I already had tiny holes from the tiny rusty nails that were already on the backs of the shelves.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6R_nI6jL8mAw6a5xB1oc_EF3-X77-8l6VNu4urzilpHpYRO2FEPFy_iS01-LSJc5BfcoBfy-TOhSEPcm0YkSMGwczYsyHjhMJfPkeAWJSi5LGTaHz1CkhDn8g6NsK3kZ8o7O90pn82qh/s1600/2013-07-01+11.47.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6R_nI6jL8mAw6a5xB1oc_EF3-X77-8l6VNu4urzilpHpYRO2FEPFy_iS01-LSJc5BfcoBfy-TOhSEPcm0YkSMGwczYsyHjhMJfPkeAWJSi5LGTaHz1CkhDn8g6NsK3kZ8o7O90pn82qh/s320/2013-07-01+11.47.35.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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Then...I came up with a brilliant idea....kind of similar to what I did in <a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/08/getting-crafty.html" target="_blank">this post</a> when I hung up artwork in my dining room.</div>
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Only, instead of using a clear sheet of plastic, I just used painters tape.</div>
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I cut off a piece a little wider than the space between the two D-Ring Hangers (technical term- check!) and taped that over them. Then I used a sharpie to mark the exact middle and top of each of those hangers. Basically, where I wanted the nails to be.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrN94f743kYXY2fvu-qaMR6dUJKzmYdbCZv0PhQUSla-AAIA3C9Zw3ZFmY9AuVTQ34VSsxoAgxtiPQsnqSex5sfj00PS7Lta49fHHTc08tyzbE9XpHEL5oN9vNkofeqoe36EfNGE6-jwU/s1600/2013-07-01+11.50.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrN94f743kYXY2fvu-qaMR6dUJKzmYdbCZv0PhQUSla-AAIA3C9Zw3ZFmY9AuVTQ34VSsxoAgxtiPQsnqSex5sfj00PS7Lta49fHHTc08tyzbE9XpHEL5oN9vNkofeqoe36EfNGE6-jwU/s320/2013-07-01+11.50.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Here's the one thing I am most proud of.....eyeballing where I wanted the shelf to be, sticking the tape to the wall, and...with a level on the shelf, holding it with one hand while at the same time taking a photo. </div>
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Okay, proud might be the wrong word. Impressed, maybe? </div>
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I'm a clutz....so really, this is impressive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5brqxZuUOX5LL6ysL71HSK9crV282m9qbJH4jTBx2-Ca_TQegzqUS7TjQGKJx1gMICRB3h7HrIeFg8UADo6Evxq4jtxkbEVyMOZPzQx0L-QUtky9GyzAlYU_JPtk6qz2zqdOUJ6sC28gR/s1600/2013-07-01+11.51.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5brqxZuUOX5LL6ysL71HSK9crV282m9qbJH4jTBx2-Ca_TQegzqUS7TjQGKJx1gMICRB3h7HrIeFg8UADo6Evxq4jtxkbEVyMOZPzQx0L-QUtky9GyzAlYU_JPtk6qz2zqdOUJ6sC28gR/s320/2013-07-01+11.51.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Anyway, once I had it level, I pressed down on the tape and carefully took the shelf away.</div>
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I even double checked the dots with the level a second time before hammering in the nails.</div>
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I really didn't want to have to do that balancing act more than necessary!</div>
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Then, I just slightly hammered each nail into where the sharpie dot was, just enough to see where they needed to be. Then I removed the tape and hammered them in all the way, and then put the shelf up on the wall!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpJj2cyXkO4Bj6CjsKIRUfZqvCHC53ZOvnwSDfb-n7SM1Hh3IYy86xKMHjjRKQRc1dzRhEiBCNNHyyuByjLy8keshVwN_PVPCpnnHx0Ua8pZmAHZ2rANUPkWQ8CRVMeAP2YsZ9xr4jaq0/s1600/2013-07-01+11.53.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpJj2cyXkO4Bj6CjsKIRUfZqvCHC53ZOvnwSDfb-n7SM1Hh3IYy86xKMHjjRKQRc1dzRhEiBCNNHyyuByjLy8keshVwN_PVPCpnnHx0Ua8pZmAHZ2rANUPkWQ8CRVMeAP2YsZ9xr4jaq0/s320/2013-07-01+11.53.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And....although this photo is slightly askew, the shelf is actually perfectly level.</div>
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I promise.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AbhFlEPagdKYeUJ3TrCqmTzWstrNQPYZLyH-z14ucdD_KbbR9GCAYPTWX36G7qvCBAbHwAbYDuOB3OYnNQZcJ2W6f9fMbsEwbm8Pw1e64x71lPQfkCwiRNaMmtPaEnOO2RYBKtWcbkXj/s1600/2013-07-01+15.45.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AbhFlEPagdKYeUJ3TrCqmTzWstrNQPYZLyH-z14ucdD_KbbR9GCAYPTWX36G7qvCBAbHwAbYDuOB3OYnNQZcJ2W6f9fMbsEwbm8Pw1e64x71lPQfkCwiRNaMmtPaEnOO2RYBKtWcbkXj/s320/2013-07-01+15.45.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have had the middle set of frames up since last summer, but the space around it was perfect for my two shelves, and some smaller very inexpensive frames to decorate them for now.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6wdWex0mpxopAJSPiQ1a7qFXmfXcPoxMcNgQ7y1EYEDkGCRlGK1C3fOClBJXoiW-E2vydDmBc15DeYbZYjLSaOJkxlTepz2ZoadPlz1rUJqHvniflQsxG3zEm0WsNgMCTrEE-x-3tlJN/s1600/2013-07-01+15.45.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6wdWex0mpxopAJSPiQ1a7qFXmfXcPoxMcNgQ7y1EYEDkGCRlGK1C3fOClBJXoiW-E2vydDmBc15DeYbZYjLSaOJkxlTepz2ZoadPlz1rUJqHvniflQsxG3zEm0WsNgMCTrEE-x-3tlJN/s320/2013-07-01+15.45.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And that frame I spray painted.....got a cute piece of scrapbook paper glued on top of the original print. My first time using spray adhesive, but it turned out just how I hoped!</div>
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And how adorable are those miniature bird salt-and-pepper shakers? Found them in the clearance bin at Michael's last year, along with the little white frame.</div>
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I just love when I can combine antique finds with clearance finds and make them my own!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-67992213224704059432013-06-26T20:36:00.001-04:002013-07-12T23:01:49.217-04:00breakfast (or lunch...or brunch) sandwichesSome days....okay, most days....Pinterest makes me hungry.<br />
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Which can be a good thing <em>(on days when I find healthy recipes</em>) or a not-so-good thing <em>(exhibit a: I have an entire board dedicated to "Sweet Stuff").</em><br />
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And then some days I meet somewhere in the middle, and find a pretty healthy recipe that also satisfies my craving for some good old comfort food.<br />
The other day I found a link to this recipe:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOTBvKSGQtwJPuO6X_UUMZYESr92wZQU_RpYCS4pSBrQhrXCWUXJ3PWGpCoyqkzI-L2C1VCS2CM7bt3JqKyj54fiELrNMrD4Q8AKtBOcBrRODhpYjeErJxOdUXLP-IsLvm8mxHDV6r-bn/s1600/egg+breakfast+pizza.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOTBvKSGQtwJPuO6X_UUMZYESr92wZQU_RpYCS4pSBrQhrXCWUXJ3PWGpCoyqkzI-L2C1VCS2CM7bt3JqKyj54fiELrNMrD4Q8AKtBOcBrRODhpYjeErJxOdUXLP-IsLvm8mxHDV6r-bn/s320/egg+breakfast+pizza.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/english-muffin-egg-pizzas-10000000663044/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/english-muffin-egg-pizzas-10000000663044/index.html</a><br />
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Although I'm really not a fan of the hard-boiled egg (I just eat the white part and throw away that gag-inducing-pasty-looking cooked yolk)...this breakfast sandwich (or "pizza" as they call it) looked pretty good. So, of course I needed to put my own twist on it and change the recipe a little. :)<br />
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Quick shout out to McD's for the changes I made to my recipe-- I had a coupon to try their new breakfast sandwich, and I used a lot of their ingredients to inspire my adjustments. <br />
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<h2>
Here's how I made my <em>Egg White, Tomato, Ham, and White Cheddar Breakfast Sandwich</em></h2>
We'll start with the cast of characters (a.k.a. ingredients)...and note, this is just for one sandwich, which ends up being two open-faced "pizzas".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgey4vz7vqvLtet85A86lV8w1gd6rP4dmn3MCUMBGo1aZ1XxAyx4Gv0j39PW7qCTGxY-wPgGTRCT6URT24Tsn9xLTXDpzCddfXg0K_KCrERdEABesjOsjE_XY5Oyl2s_mPv2HsZ-aZhR8P3/s1600/2013-06-26+11.53.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgey4vz7vqvLtet85A86lV8w1gd6rP4dmn3MCUMBGo1aZ1XxAyx4Gv0j39PW7qCTGxY-wPgGTRCT6URT24Tsn9xLTXDpzCddfXg0K_KCrERdEABesjOsjE_XY5Oyl2s_mPv2HsZ-aZhR8P3/s320/2013-06-26+11.53.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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English muffin <em>(I used whole wheat)</em></div>
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Ham </div>
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<em>(McD's uses Canadian Bacon, and I might try that sometime but this is just thinly sliced deli ham)</em></div>
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White cheddar cheese, sliced</div>
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Tomato</div>
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Eggs <em>(I used two since I was only using the whites)</em></div>
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Salt & Pepper</div>
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Very basic ingredients....and I might play around with them the next time I make this. I'm thinking a white cheddar/béchamel sauce would be DELICIOUS on these! Fresh herbs would be a great addition as well. Okay....on to the actual recipe I used.... </div>
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First step: Preheat your broiler on high and have a pan/cookie sheet ready for the sandwiches.</div>
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Separate the whites from the yolks if you're making it egg-white-only like I did. </div>
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And revel in your masterful skills of separating eggs and juggling your iPhone to take a picture!</div>
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<em>(sorry....I was just so proud of myself for not dropping either the egg OR my phone....I'm a <strike>little</strike> lot clutzy so this was a big deal).</em></div>
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Slice up the tomatoes.</div>
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Heat up a little butter in the pan, then pour in your egg whites.</div>
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I'm sure there is a more technical way to describe this cooking method, but I just kind of scooted around the egg whites until I had a rectangular-shaped egg. I was eyeballing it to make something twice as large as the muffin halves.</div>
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Don't forget to season your eggs during this step- salt and pepper is all I used.</div>
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When it's ready, flip it. I've never been great at flipping fried eggs, so leaving out the yolks makes this much easier for success. :)</div>
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When it's done, cut it in half.</div>
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And lay the cooked egg whites on your muffin halves. </div>
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Note: I forgot to toast these, but they were fine as is.....although next time I am going to toast them. Because I love the texture and taste of a browned bread.</div>
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Lay on your ham slices....I used one and a half of the thin slices on each, but go more/less depending on your taste.</div>
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Then add a slice or two of tomato.</div>
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And a couple slices of the sharp, delicious white cheddar.</div>
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Set in under your broiler, leaving the oven cracked open so you can watch them.</div>
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If you're like me, this step is super important. Because otherwise, I'd get distracted and forget about them and burn them and then wonder why I never learned my lesson in the first place.</div>
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I've learned my lesson. </div>
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See....since I was watching them, they came out just in time!</div>
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The cheese was melted and bubbly, the ham was a little browned on the ends, and the muffin was toasty but not burned.</div>
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A great breakfast (or in my case....brunch....since I had it at 11:00 this morning). </div>
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And for me, I could only eat like one and a half of these. They're pretty filling!</div>
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If you have any ideas of what I could add to these, let me know....I'm always looking for ways to make my recipes more interesting! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-496540863762597500.post-37608808544074822592013-06-20T11:50:00.003-04:002013-07-12T23:02:12.236-04:00endings...and beginningsFor those who know me, you already know this. Bear with me.<br />
<br />
I'm an emotional, sappy, nostalgic, sensitive, easily-brought-to-tears kind of person.<br />
<br />
Movies (okay, even movie *trailers*), a good book, those background stories they show during the Olympics or reality competition shows, touching commercials, great concerts, musicals.......it is a miracle to get through any of these without shedding a tear (or becoming a hot blubbering mess).<br />
<br />
Which brings me to part of the title of today's post: endings.<br />
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A couple weeks ago, we had our last day of school. Now, I've been doing this for a while so you'd think I'd be a pro at saying "see ya!" to all of my students....no problem.<br />
<br />
You'd be wrong.<br />
For three reasons.<br />
And three words.<br />
The Last Day.<br />
<br />
First....even with the challenges and struggles we have gone through this year, I genuinely care for and will miss each of my students. Yes, some more than others.....teachers, you know what I mean. When it comes down to it though, I have made a connection with each student. I love getting to know them as individuals, seeing them grow and change and mature throughout the year. That's really why I continue teaching- for the kids. <br />
So....as nice as it is to finally have a break to rest my mind and rejuvenate for next year....I'll miss them.<br />
<br />
The second reason-- my end of the year slide show. An emotional experience that I endure multiple times before even <em>showing</em> it to my students. I don't have any fancy program that I use....just good old PowerPoint. And with over sixty slides, and most slides having more than one photo, it takes a while to create. Going through the pictures I've taken throughout the year is always a fun (yet tedious) task, but once I put them into the slides and set them to music......waterfall of tears. <br />
My favorite part though is when I show it to my class (twice-- because they always ask to see it again). I absolutely love hearing them find themselves, their friends, their favorite trips or activities....some laugh, some cry, some just smile....but I know it was worth doing.<br />
<br />
And the third reason I'm an emotional mess on the last day of school.....this story.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdaVYQkMy4KH3GeVk31WrCf7KrJ1Hw-uwrRiNh-HVZhk4N21qhNTF-V_KW9EcMUxkeYHTFsSYV1dT7wVk-5bngSxTmSsIzo7kxkq12p8pgNd0wg-WSKSlnhYxoCT4hASf2g-BQiAQewcO/s1600/2013-06-02+16.02.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdaVYQkMy4KH3GeVk31WrCf7KrJ1Hw-uwrRiNh-HVZhk4N21qhNTF-V_KW9EcMUxkeYHTFsSYV1dT7wVk-5bngSxTmSsIzo7kxkq12p8pgNd0wg-WSKSlnhYxoCT4hASf2g-BQiAQewcO/s320/2013-06-02+16.02.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't remember where I found this story, or if I changed the title....but it's something I've been doing as a last day of school activity for as long as I can remember.</div>
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Quick summary....a teacher has her students write down something positive about each of their classmates, she compiles those and makes a list for each student, hands them out and never really goes back to the activity. Years later, one of those former students is killed in Vietnam and she attends his funeral. Someone finds out that she was his teacher, and she finds out that he kept that list with him at all times....in fact, many of his classmates from that year (who are also at the funeral) also kept their lists. And of course, this brings the teacher to tears. And I literally have to stop reading a few times during the story because I get all choked up. </div>
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I'm actually glad that the students get to see me this way.....to show them how much of an impact they not only make on each other's lives, but on mine as well.</div>
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You probably have guessed it.....we make lists for each other on that last day. I want the students to see how others see them, how amazing they are, and how much they have meant to each other. And of course....I participate in this not only so I can have my own list, but so that I can tell the students what I'll always remember about them.</div>
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I ended the last day of school with a gift to my students that I found from a link on Pinterest. It led me to this Teachers Pay Teachers page:</div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Survival-Kit-for-Life-260074">http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Survival-Kit-for-Life-260074</a></div>
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For free, you get to download these super cute labels for a student's "Survival Kit for Life"....and then you get to be creative in putting together the kits.</div>
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First....I went shopping for all the items.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87GpHUTOGszmr-sAZDyD-NQtcDFpoEZ2eIkOdsni4An8AM-4hxAXMV-KS2vtLE_p-r2C0Jao-hvfjFURpGvealb_JNCOeLKHcKbmviiB0WC-6rF80yvnv0ZY0E3D1H02KO5PDoDnA-9kg/s1600/2013-05-28+16.58.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87GpHUTOGszmr-sAZDyD-NQtcDFpoEZ2eIkOdsni4An8AM-4hxAXMV-KS2vtLE_p-r2C0Jao-hvfjFURpGvealb_JNCOeLKHcKbmviiB0WC-6rF80yvnv0ZY0E3D1H02KO5PDoDnA-9kg/s320/2013-05-28+16.58.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>I got almost everything from Meijer....except for the Pop Rocks. Those were 3/$1 at the Dollar Store!</em></div>
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Once I had all of the items, I set up an assembly line and put one of each item (except for the candy- I had enough for two of each for those) in clear cellophane "treat bags"- like the ones you'd use for kids' birthday party treats. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUClp7nbwLL_fvM5qOw274r_o4StkPWjMdEsT8xGM8vP7UOHEWAdJDfcXKoIa784j16oqglxKZZdJcMfSlPIR6WTr8H7fHHUIsA4BFbo0Y4IJlPYkkImBvK_gDPBU94d6KG8w0ZwMSQRNl/s1600/2013-05-29+20.36.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUClp7nbwLL_fvM5qOw274r_o4StkPWjMdEsT8xGM8vP7UOHEWAdJDfcXKoIa784j16oqglxKZZdJcMfSlPIR6WTr8H7fHHUIsA4BFbo0Y4IJlPYkkImBvK_gDPBU94d6KG8w0ZwMSQRNl/s320/2013-05-29+20.36.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a close up of what is in each bag, including the tag...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNMaxjtKAoTCaoRLcc0Kw9NfjHt6EtkVJ7m3I7hht_JmMgs7PYzQfXMR-i9taBpVw0CVDbARCNGMqPyRedUpoSPHpmbtGhyphenhyphen1tL-LAvkDvRO-8K0X9JBvG7Vx4_gIiWpDViJNW8N8o072i/s1600/2013-05-29+21.37.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNMaxjtKAoTCaoRLcc0Kw9NfjHt6EtkVJ7m3I7hht_JmMgs7PYzQfXMR-i9taBpVw0CVDbARCNGMqPyRedUpoSPHpmbtGhyphenhyphen1tL-LAvkDvRO-8K0X9JBvG7Vx4_gIiWpDViJNW8N8o072i/s320/2013-05-29+21.37.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I stapled the tag on the front, added their name and signed mine at the bottom. So fun!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A4S18YRe_LfzPnd9uKpLtxKKwSq8f1me7NzaNBX7Od7wDKOGZr02CPEq-MjhvWmkZXEg9evC9CSzBSKMtbtj7vrbkk1GkObk6qRrTPxzzKguf5YHyWWy14e664I4ZdxYT3-4UzIJHokU/s1600/2013-05-29+21.40.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3A4S18YRe_LfzPnd9uKpLtxKKwSq8f1me7NzaNBX7Od7wDKOGZr02CPEq-MjhvWmkZXEg9evC9CSzBSKMtbtj7vrbkk1GkObk6qRrTPxzzKguf5YHyWWy14e664I4ZdxYT3-4UzIJHokU/s320/2013-05-29+21.40.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It was the perfect way to end the last day.....by giving my students a few reminders as they leave me, and each one went with each item like "You rock!" (Pop Rocks) and "Keep smiling!" (smiley face stickers). :)</div>
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To quickly explain the second part of the title of today's post.....beginnings.</div>
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As it's the beginning of summer, I have created my long list of things I hope to accomplish in the next couple months. Just like I did last year- check out that post<a href="http://myowntwistonthings.blogspot.com/2012/07/checking-my-list.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.</div>
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It's always way longer than necessary, but having goals is good and keeps me from having too many lazy days. Like yesterday when I literally did not leave the house, stayed in my pajamas, and did whatever I wanted. It. was. amazing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPArww4i5EnQf-04t4tfeUUdJLMDlrVRA-kFEe17R5RWtiExUk09k1KwU8jW9SA4n79ONHHDhBs70a6M8SIrn0xToJuk_W9UrjbRqs8fAa2WGoy6QKNTmzIuaLszv5x3cIUwi05ryY7Xo/s1600/2013-05-26+14.51.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilPArww4i5EnQf-04t4tfeUUdJLMDlrVRA-kFEe17R5RWtiExUk09k1KwU8jW9SA4n79ONHHDhBs70a6M8SIrn0xToJuk_W9UrjbRqs8fAa2WGoy6QKNTmzIuaLszv5x3cIUwi05ryY7Xo/s320/2013-05-26+14.51.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm sure there will be future posts about some of these summer projects....so stay tuned! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05024234218568805613noreply@blogger.com2