Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...

You know you want to start singing in you best Julie Andrews voice!  I'm not making kids clothes out of ugly curtains, but I am exploring the artist side of me this week.  Little known fact- I went to art school and have an Art History degree (I was young and actually though I could survive being an artist/ researcher!).  As I paint, my mind wanders and I was just thinking about my favorite things (hence the bad Sound of Music reference).  This is my self-involved/ self-indulgent post :)


These are a few of my favorite things...


I am an avid list-maker, so as I work/paint/read, I always have a notebook next to me.  I hate losing a great idea just because I'm without paper!  I love notebooks!  I go through a lot of them- sometimes just doodling or random thoughts.  I have a few go-to items for this.  I order the FREE and personalized ones from VistaPrint.com.  You can get them with lined or plain paper inside.  I always have one in my bag!

Another favorite, but pricey-er is the awesome mole-skin line of notebooks.  I feel very fancy and writer-ly (think Hemingway) when I use these.  I used to get them at Borders (insert sad music here), but now Target carries them.

Another item I use at home and the classroom is my label maker.  I like to create the illusion that I am organized!

I have a thing for office products in general, but I REALLY love me some flair pens.  The more colors, the better (although I think yellow should be for highlighters only- mine never gets used).

I use a lot of music in my classroom for cues and to stimulate learning (another post for another time!).  During Readers Workshop, my kiddos and I like to listen to "our reading music".  What they don't know is that it is actually baby lullaby CD's that I bought when my own children were born.  The cool part is that the lullabies are music from a few of my favorite bands.  There are over 20 to chose from on Amazon.  I will warn you.... I'm a HUGE Nirvana fan, but the Rockabye version creeped me out and I can't listen to it (think demented clown music!).  However, Nine Inch Nails is on my list for the fall.  Seriously.... (we all have a past, right?).  Last year, these were in our rotation:

              

I also L.O.V.E my camera.  I have been nick-named the "Moma-razzi by my son's baseball coach.  He laughs all season long, but can't wait to see the awesome shots I can capture with my mac-daddy lens!  I also have a smaller camera, just for school.  So much learning takes place that isn't represented by paper/ pencil.  I like to share it with the kids (recounting their learning) and parents.

I also have a strong relationship with my public library.  They let me check out 30 books at a time!  This is how I get books for my social studies and science units.  It keeps my classroom library fresh and well-stock with nonfiction options.  If you haven't tried this avenue as a source, please check it out.  Public libraries are always there to help!

Well, I'm off to read (a Kindle book lent from my public library!).  Happy Friday the 13th!