she's baaaaack... & giveaway help!

I'm baaaaaaaack! I had SUCH an awesome time on my cruise to the Bahamas with momma - I think I'm ready to go back now! We went snorkeling, swam in the ocean, ate A LOT, watched a lot of shows, played Bingo, walked around, shopped, and all kinds of other things. We had our ups and downs, but overall, it was an amazing vacation! THANK YOU, MOMMA!!

That beautiful lady I call my momma.


Our ship - it was HUGE!

The pool deck.

CocoCay when we first arrived and when we left!

Our dinner set up (corn bread, of course!)

Our waiters at dinner - both very sweet- Darwin from India & Diana from Jamaica! 

Chuck Norris' house in Nassau.

Atlantis in Nassau.

Rain cloud from far away in Nassau!

City of Nassau

I have SO many more pictures beyond these, but I just wanted to share a few!

GIVEAWAYS I'M PARTICIPATING IN

I'm participating in TWO amazing giveaways! First, I'm participating in Kate's 100 follower giveaway at EduKate & Inspire! This woman has become one of my good bloggy friends, and I'm giving away a $10.00 Target gift card! She's also got some other great bloggers lined up to give things away, so GO ENTER (click the picture below)!



Second, I'm participating in MrsMc's MEGA Anniversary giveaway at Buzz Buzz Buzz! She's got a great lineup of prizes going, and I'm giving away ANOTHER $10.00 Target gift card in her giveaway! GO ENTER (click the picture below)!

MY GIVEAWAY
So, I came back to having OVER 200 followers!!! What?! I was planning a giveaway for hitting 100 followers, but now I've gotta make it bigger & better for the other 100 that have joined me! I'm still asking for anyone that is interested in helping with my giveaway!! E-mail me @ ventrellasara@gmail.com - Thank you for following me and I'll put out details about my giveaway relatively soon - keep checkin' back for information!

INKY LINKY
There's a linky party going on called "Inky Linky" - I just thought that I would HAVE to join this, as my two tattoos are a large part of me. This linky party is going on at Mr. B's Beach Brains - stop on by and see Mr. B., and link up if you have a tattoo, too! Click the picture below to join!

Here are my tattoos:

This tattoo was my first tattoo. It's on my front left hip. I got it when I was 18 years old and I couldn't be happier. These three words - live laugh love - are the three words I live by daily. Making sure that you live your life is important to me - don't stand by the wayside and watch it go by! You should ALWAYS laugh - it's one of the best types of medicine anyone can have! It also burns fat ;] Love is important in any situation - love is a powerful thing and you shouldn't ever play with it! Make sure to tell everyone that you love that you LOVE them any chance you get - never know when you'll not be able to tell them again!

This tattoo was my second tattoo. It's on my right shoulder blade. I got it in memory of my father, who passed away when I was 19 years old. This was one of the hardest days in my life to go through, but I got this tattoo in a way to remind myself to have strength and courage in everything that I do. Strength is what gets me from day to day, and always will - but courage is the big push. To have courage is a big deal, to me anyway, and I like to remind myself to keep  courage in everything that I do.

Those are my tattoos - go link up!

GIVEAWAYS


For the following giveaways, click on the pictures and it will take you right to the websites/posts that are holding the giveaways. These giveaways are hosted by amazing bloggers and they have awesome resources available for you, as teachers!! What more could you ask for? :) Go check them all out! Good luck!

I apologize for the LONNNNNNG post, but I had a lot to share!! Have a good day, y'all!

MIA & giveaways

Hi all! I'll be MIA for about the next 10 days! I'm going to THE BAHAMAS!!! See y'all when I get back!

While I'm gone though... check out these giveaways:

*500 follower giveaway @ Think, Wonder, & Teach - stop on by and say hello to Misty!

*50 follower giveaway @ Teachin' Little Texans - stop on by and say hi to Dixie!

*Welcome giveaway @ Diving Into Learning - stop by and say hello to Jenna!

*200 follower giveaway @Primary Possibilities - stop by and say hello to these three ladies!

*100 follower giveaway @ Delighted in Second - stop by and say hi to Jennifer!

*Florida's Fabulous 15 Giveaway @ Simpson's Superstars! - Stop by and say hello to Stacy!

*First giveaway going on @ Teacherific - stop by and enter yourself in!

*50 follower giveaway @ Teaching Little Miracles - stop by and say hello!

*300 follower giveaway @ Fun in 1st Grade - stop by and say hi to Dana!

*Beginning blogging giveaway @ Fourth Grade Fanatics - stop by and enter her giveaway!

Have a good night, y'all!

tried it tuesday: fail - giveaway help??

GIVEAWAY PARTICIPATION
I'm participating in a giveaway at Lisa's Learning is Something to Treasure blog! Click the picture below to be linked to her giveaway - you could win a $10.00 Target gift card from me, and many other fabulous prizes! What are you waiting for? Go, now!

So, we're not doing Tried It Tuesday today - instead, that will be Thursday! Things popped up today (broken windshield getting fixed, broken iPhone 4S screen getting fixed... notice a GLASS theme here???) so instead, I'm packing!

I really don't have anything to update y'all with except that I'M OVER 100 FOLLOWERS!!! Never in a million years did I think I'd make it to this number in such a short time. Thank you to everyone that follows me. I will eventually be making my own documents (once I learn how and get the time) and will be doing a GIVEAWAY!!! Yayyyy! SO, if you are interested in helping me with my giveaway, please e-mail me at ventrellasara@gmail.com. I'd totally appreciate it!! (The giveaway won't be until AFTER my vacation... I need a break!!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

One more thing, I was nominated by Candace at 005 Watkins' Way for the Liebster Award! Candace, you are such a sweet woman!! Thank you so much for this!! This award is given away to highlight those blogs with less than 200 followers on their blogs. I'm happy that Candace chose myself as one of those blogs!

There are rules to this award, though, so here they are:

1. Copy and paste this award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver and link back to them.
3. Reveal 5 other bloggers and comment on their blogs.

So, here's my five bloggers that I'm nominating!

Katie & Lisen @ Second Grade Smartypants




Ms. Walter @ Hoot Hoot Hooray!




Sara @ Miss Elementary




Kate @ EduKate and Inspire



Cassandra @ Adventures in Room 5

Stop by these amazing blogs and say hello - they're all super friendly ladies that are willing to help anyone :]



Giveaways UPDATE
Going to be a GREAT giveaway!! At Mrs. Sykes' blog, she's doing a one year bloggiversary giveaway! Stop on by and enter yourself into this great drawing - there are SO many nice things up for grabs! Click the picture below :]

There's also one at Elisabeth's blog! Stop on by and check it out. You will NOT want to miss it :]

Have a good day, y'all!

monday made it: glitter clothespins

GIVEAWAY PARTICIPATION
I just wanted to let you all know that I'm participating in a few giveaways that are going on right now! For both giveaways, you could win a $10.00 Target gift card from me and many other things from other fabulous bloggers! Click on the pictures below to be linked to the different giveaways. Good luck!!

MONDAY MADE IT!

It's time for Monday Made It on my SUPER SUMMER SCHEDULE! I'm linking up again with Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It linky party! Stop by and add your craft to her linky party :]

I decided today i was going to do Glitter Clothespins in the colors of the ocean. When I get a classroom, I plan on making my theme ocean-y and so I chose to do my clothes pins in blues and greens. I made 7 of each color and I'm really happy with the way they came out!

MATERIALS:
Mod Podge
Clothespins
Glitter
Foam brush

I'm not going to provide a step by step since it was an easy-ish project! But, here's kinda how it went:

I just took the clothespins, put Mod Podge on with my foam brush, then dipped the clothespins in glitter that I poured out on styrofoam plates. Then, I set them on another styrofoam plate to let them dry. Once they were pretty much dry, I took my foam brush and put another layer of Mod Podge on top to "seal" the glitter on.

I really like the dark blue and dark green the best, but hey, ya live and ya learn! :]

I did get this idea, though, from another blogger. Check out Katie's post on Building a House of Love for her last week's Monday Made It!

PS. I also made my teacher toolbox!! I featured it on Friday, but I'm posting it here again for you all to see because I'm really proud of it!! :]

GIVEAWAYS


There's a HUGE, ginormous giveaway going on over at Kleinspiration. She's hit 1,000+ followers and has AMAZING prizes to giveaway. Click on the picture below to go enter yourself!

Have a good night, y'all!

thank you, giveaways, July currently!

I received another bloggy award! This time, I received my "The Versatile Blogger" award from Kelly over at I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher, Michelle at No Monkey Business, and Storie at Stories by Storie! Thanks SOOOO much Kelly, Michelle, and Storie :] I truly appreciate it and couldn't be happier to have received this award from anyone but you all!

So, there are rules that go along with this award! They are listed below:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you - Thank you, Kelly, Michelle, and Storie!!2. Include a link to their site - they're above in blue!3. Include the award image in your post4. Give 7 random facts about yourself5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award6. When nominating, include a link to their site7. Let other bloggers know they have been nominated

So, here goes my 7 facts:


1. I have two tattoos on my body. On my front left hip, I have "Live Laugh Love." On my right shoulder blade, I have "Strength & Courage." I've always loved the saying live laugh love, so I wanted it on me to remind myself each and every day to do those three things. Strength and courage is for my Daddy. He passed away in 2010, but I got this tattoo to remind myself to have strength and courage in everything that I do.

2. I got into blogging because of Pinterest. I kept getting linked to so many different blogs that I decided I wanted to start my own and begin creating my own things for my future classroom. I love being creative and need something to do ALL the time, so blogging is the perfect filler.

3. I graduated from the University of Cincinnati this year with my Bachelors in Early Childhood and two certificates, Deaf Studies and Child Abuse Recognition, and I'm getting my Generalist Endorsement AND will be going to Bowling Green State University for my Master's degree starting August 20th!!!! (Just found out!!!) Man... I'm a school nerd!

4. I have an obsession with anchors or anything nautical. My boyfriend is in the Coast Guard so I've gotten into the whole fad of anchors, sailboats, ropes, knots, etc. I love it!

5. When I was little, my parents pulled my arms out of their sockets by swinging me by my arms to do a "helicopter" while we were playing outside. I also got poked in the eye by my mother when she was flying a kite - I think they're abusive.... :]

6. I really think I'm a hoarder... my family and friends joke that I am a hoarder but I really do have a TON of stuff! I just can't help it... if I see something cute, I go for it!

7. I am scared to death of bees. I have been stung more times than I can imagine - on my hand when I was throwing trash away, on the corner of my eye to the point where my eye swelled up on the first day of Kindergarten, between my toes running around the backyard, and more beyond this! So, if you're around me and I see a bee, I turn into an instant sprinter and ninja master.So, that's a little about me .. nothing ecstatic but that's me!

So now, I have to choose other bloggers to give this award to! Congrats, y'all! My list is below, but in no order:


Moe @ Uniquely Monique
Krista @ The Second Grade Superkids
Candace @ 005 Watkins' Way
MrsMc @ Buzz Buzz Buzz!
Stevi & Tamara @ 2 Crazy Texas Teachers
Kristie @ Learning with Mrs. Chavis
Kate @ EduKate & Inspire
Kelley @ Teacher Idea Factory
Liliris @ Fourth Grade Garden
Corinna @ Surfin' Through Second
Hooty @ Hooty's Homeroom
Cassandra @ Adventures in Room 5
Terri @ First Grade Princess
Vicky @ Traditions, Laughter & Happily Ever After

This weekend has been no fun - lots of DRAMA. But I'm looking at it as a bump in the road and that's all it'll be!

GIVEAWAY UPDATES
These lovely ladies below are holding giveaways! They have all reached a specific milestone in followers. Make sure to stop on by, follow their blogs, and enter yourselves in their giveaways! You will NOT regret it :]

This is the giveaway going on at Mrs. Stanford's Class. Click the picture above to be linked to it.

This is the giveaway going on at Liliris' blog, Fourth Grade Garden. Click the picture above to be linked to it.

Click here to go to Mrs. Shelton's giveaway at Kindergarten Korner!

Click here to go to Cassandra's giveaway at Adventures in Room 5!

Click here to go to Donna's giveaway at Peace, Love, and Learning!

JULY CURRENTLY


It's time for the July Currently with Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade! Here's my currently for the month of July - stop on by and link yourself up, too!

So, I didn't follow the directions so I updated my Currently! Farley has asked for the last group to be 1) book that you enjoy reading out loud the most and 2) a go-to professional development book.

1 - I LOVE Shel Silverstein. You can do so many things with his poetry, and I love poetry as is. Children love the poems, too.

2 - I'm loving this book by Donalyn Miller. She's such a sweet, kind hearted lady, and she has the cutest Southern accent. She also has some amazing ideas surrounding literature.

Have a good rest of the night, y'all!

PS. I leave a week from tomorrow for THE BAHAMAS!!! :] And a week from yesterday to Rosemary Beach, Florida! Wooohoooo for summer time.