It's Elementary My Dear Watson

Our class is going to turn into a group of detectives!   My higher reading group is finishing up a book study on Magic Tree House: Tonight on the Titanic.  We've had a great time reading and discussing it together!  Next up?  A mystery!  I haven't quite decided on one that I think will work form them.  It all depends on whether or not I have access to a set of books.

To go along with it, I created a Detectives Book Club packet {clipart courtesy of Ashley Hughes}!  The best part is that it works with any mystery book!

Check out what's inside!

Bookmarks for their books that allow them to write down what pages they are supposed to read before the next book club meeting.

A briefcase to carry their notebook - shhh...it's top secret!

There are name badges for your detectives to wear.

A poster (with movable clock hands) to announce the meeting time!

A detective's notebook with lots of pages to record their thinking as they read and discuss the book.

I recommend keeping everything in a manila envelope or folder so it doesn't get lost!

Interested??  Check it out in my stores:

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Want to win a copy?  Leave me a comment with your favorite children's mystery book.  I'll randomly choose a winner by midnight tonight!

Sweet Synonyms {Flash Giveaway}!

Happy New Year's Eve!

I'm not going to lie.  New Year's Eve is my least favorite holiday.  I seriously need my sleep people!  I don't know how some of you do it.  I need a full eight hours or watch out!  I wasn't allowed to go to sleepovers as a little girl because I was so miserable for days afterwards.  So tonight, the hubs made me dinner, we are going to curl up on the couch and probably fall asleep before the ball drops.  I'm okay with that!

Since I'm not preparing for a big party tonight, I started creating instead.  I made some Sweet Synonyms!  I love, love the candy theme to this one.

There's a Memory Match game:

Puzzle Pieces:

I Have, Who Has:

And more!

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Since we are talking about candy here, can you guess what my favorite candy is???

Leave a comment with your guess and your email address and the first person to guess correctly will win the Sweet Synonyms pack!

Congrats to Sara for winning!  My favorite candy is, indeed, the Milky Way.  Yum!

I'll give you one chance to win here and one chance to win over at my Facebook page.

I might drop hints...

...so make sure you follow me!

Since it is almost a new year, it is time to link up with Farley's Currently!

Listening...my husband built himself a computer for Christmas and the thing is so dang loud.  And, yes, he is a total computer geek.  And, yes, he knows it!

Loving...Did I mention that I need my sleep?  Staying in for New Year's - whoohoo!  Does this mean I'm getting old??

Thinking...it just got cold in RI.  Like, real cold.  I didn't like the 40 degree weather.  The 15 degree weather is worse!  Trying to convince the hubs to move South.  It is not working so far.

Wanting...um, do I need to explain this one?  Christmas vacation goes by so fast!

Needing...a nice warm bath.  My brother ordered me a bath pillow, bath salts and a tub caddy for Christmas.  They haven't come in yet and I can't wait till they do!

OLW...Focus.  I am trying to expand my blog through social media, but I have to learn to focus on one at a time.  I am so all over the place right now!

And P.S. ~ My stores are still 20% off!

It's a New Year!

Well, almost.

Jen over at The Teacher's Cauldron wants to know what are New Year's Resolutions are!

Personal Resolution:

Save some major money!  2012 was a big year for the hubs and I.

Hawaii, Disney, Georgia.  A new house.  A new car.  A new puppy.  It was a busy one!  I hope we get to have just as many experiences in 2013.  However, I am taking on the art of extreme couponing.

The hubs has even signed me up for a class to learn more!  Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Blogging Resolution:

To expand more through social media.  I want to be more active with:

Click on any of the links above to make sure I keep my resolution!!


And to end the year, I am having a 20% off sale in both of my stores!

Graphics by Aisne's Creations, Scrappin Doodles and Sassy Designs

Get it?  Sale-ing??  I know, creative.  Everything is 20% off, not just the items in the picture.

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Happy {almost} New Year!

Mini-Vaca to Georgia!

Last weekend, my husband and I, along with my parents and grandmother visited Atlanta, Georgia for the weekend.  All I have to say is, y'all have a pretty city!  We went to down to visit my brother who is doing an internship with the Atlanta Hawks.  We saw as many sights as we could in three days.  Check it out!

We went to an Atlanta Hawks game...

and got to meet some of the team at the after-party!

They make me look short and they aren't even the tallest players!  I also met Dikembe Mutombo, but he  didn't seem to be in a picture taking mood.  My husband was excited to meet the cheerleaders (I got to hold their pompoms!) but that picture didn't come out for some reason.

We went to the World of Coca-Cola - so cool!

I did not try all 64 flavors of Coca-Cola, but my husband and brother came close!

And the aquarium, which is hands-down, the best one I've ever been to.

We visited Stone Mountain, but the Skyride was down :(

Still, very beautiful!

We went on the CNN Studio Tour.

It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait to visit again!

On the plane ride there and and back, I got a jump on Thanksgiving!

I made some games for my students to play in class before we go on Thanksgiving Break.

Check it out:

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Georgia on My Mind

Just landed in Atlanta, Georgia!  So excited to see the sights and visit my brother!

I spent the plane ride, creating...

{Check out that sunset!}

I made a unit on using Thanksgiving to teach the 5 Senses!

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What should I visit while I'm here in Georgia??

It's My Birthday!

Today is officially my birthday, but it's been a great weekend for me (despite being sick).  Here's why:

1. My grandmother gave us her couch so we've created a TV room in our spare bedroom.  Our living room only fits about 3 people, so I am so excited about this!  Here's my dad moving furniture yesterday:

2. My husband took me shopping so that I could use my birthday coupons that I got in the mail.  First stop was Vera Bradley ($20 off - woohoo!).  I had finally decided on something when the sales lady asked me if I got my extra coupon.  I said no and she had me reach into a purse to pull out a random coupon.  This is what I got:

$50 off any purchase?!?  I was so excited, I almost hugged the lady!  So I obviously had to do some more shopping.  I ended up with a wristlet and laptop bag (for my new laptop) in the new Breast Cancer print.  So beautiful!

We then headed to Ann Taylor Loft to spend my other coupon.  Brand new shirt for $3?  Yes, please!

3. My husband planned a birthday dinner for me at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for tonight.  I was so happy that he planned a night out for me, but 7:00 on a Sunday night is a little difficult for this (sick) teacher.  So we decided to go out last night.  We got to The Cheesecake Factory and the wait was too long.  

So we headed to Marchetti's, an Italian place near us.  Again the wait was over an hour.  We went to the car and ordered take-out from Marchetti's instead!  It was chilly so we sat in the warm car for a 1/2 hour while they cooked our food.  And, well, the car battery didn't like that too much.  The car wouldn't start when it was time to go!  Asked the nice people next to us to help us jump-start the car and we were off!  What a night.

And Fall has officially hit New England.  It was 30 degrees out when I took the puppy out this morning - brr.  I was in the Fall mood, so I whipped up some Fall Words!

Click the pictures to check them out.

And my Birthday Sale is still going on!

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We Have A Winner! And a Sale!

Congrats to our winner, Sara V.!  Check your email!

And to continue the celebration...

Both of my stores are 20% off this weekend!

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Some of my best sellers:

Happy shopping!