Five for Friday Favorites 6.20.14

I'm once again joining my bloggy friend Chandra from Teaching with Crayons and Curls for her weekly linky...

Hmm? The question is what should I share as my favorite find of the week; I have several for a change...five as a matter of fact... so I am also joining Doodlebugs for...

First, I think I'll share the great deal I found on the IKEA Tolsby frames on eBay. I got a box of thirty for under 25 dollars with free shipping... that is less than what I would've paid for them at IKEA. WOOT! WOOT!

I used these little wonders as table signs last year. On one side was the table number and on the other an inspirational quote. I switched out the quotes periodically throughout the year and used them as discussion or writing starters.

This year I'm planning on using the frames to showcase my anchor charts. I've already given the older ones a facelift by spray painting them gold. They turned out really nice!

I just do not have the wall space to hang the myriad anchor charts we create in class (three different sections of middle school ELA). I saw an idea on Pinterest that uses the Tolsby frame with miniaturized (take a photo and resize) anchor charts. I can line-up the frames along the narrow window ledge, and the anchor charts will be readily available for any student to peruse.

Next, I also have several non-teaching finds. First, well, really second,  I received the prettiest copper colored nail polish in my June Julep shipment (check out the Julep Maven program if you haven't already... just click HERE for more info.) LOVIN' it!

And second/third?... I bought a purse! EGADS! Me, who said she would never carry a purse again! When I quit smoking fourteen years ago I no longer NEEDED to carry a purse, so I turned to a lady's wallet instead. I could even slip my keys and cell phone inside of it.  Now that I have a Smartphone I can no longer just stick it in my wallet or pocket. It's just too large. So I splurged and bought a Vera Bradley. I used it for the first time this past Thursday and received three compliments, one of them from my grown nephew... surprise! I'm glad that I bought it!

Next up is not so much a find, but definitely a favorite... a favorite that is until it is FIVE O'CLOCK in the morning. How does one retrain fur babies to a summer schedule???? This week they finally have let me go back to sleep after feeding them.

Fifth and finally, I leave you with a little bit of Ohio sweetness... one of the best parts of summer! I forgot to snap a few shots of the aftermath... DELICIOUS strawberry jam, which by the way I have eaten each morning this week as part of my breakfast! YUM!

Don't forget to stop by Chandra's blog to read about all the great finds we teachers have found this week and Doodlebugs for some teacher randomness and fun on a Friday!

Also don't forget to participate in my Mystery Picture Bundle giveaway going on now through June 22, 2014. Visit this blog post for your chance to enter.

Friday Favorites

Today I'm joining Chandra over at Teaching with Crayons and Curls for her brand new linky...

During the school year I am not the best of eaters. By this I mean I grab what I can when I can, be it fast food, junk food, or a dinner out. Seldom do I shop for or cook nutritional, REAL food. It takes too much time and effort for just one person and two furry babies as far as I'm concerned! Plus, there is the mess to clean up!

I sooooo look forward to summer break, not just for the time off, but for the time to search out, buy, and prepare wholesome food. I still don't cook much (it's those pots and pans, I'm telling ya!) but I do eat well! One of my summer favorites is all the readily available fruit. Two days straight I've gone shopping for a variety of sweet, yummy fruit. Two days straight I've made beautiful fruit salads to take to my friends' houses for dinner (another summer favorite: being able to leisurely visit with friends neglected during the school year). Here's one of the delicious treats I whipped up this week.

Doesn't this look yummy? Not to mention, healthy? And one more favorite... notice the beautiful bowl the fruit is in? I have time once again to poke around at flea markets and garage sales for pink depression glass and other, unusual older glassware. LOVE the stuff! I've been collecting it for more than twenty-five years (and am running out of space to store it). I'm itching to find a new piece to add to my collection.

Don't forget to visit Chandra's blog, Teaching with Crayons and Curls, to see what other favorites our fellow teacher bloggers have to share.