11 January 2011

My Daily Addictions {The Teacher Edition}

We all have “those things” that we just HAVE to have to get us through the day.  Sometimes, a nice pair of earplugs would be amazing, but since that won’t be happenin’ anytime soon, here’s what I “need” to get me through the workday…

 

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1.  A large SONIC coke. Y’all.  I.MUST.HAVE.CAFFEINE.TO.START.MY.DAY.  And usually in this form. REfreshing as all get out.  And Sonic is kind of a big deal at our school.  EVERYONE has a Sonic drink in their hand at some point of the day.  My favorite kind of day is the “Sonic Surprise” day when a sweet mom might bring one up for me.  And I LOVE that Sonic gives discounts to teachers!! 

zstarbucks-cup_3002. If my lips aren’t glued to the straw of my favorite Sonic beverage, then I’m definitely leavin’ lipstick on the rim of a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte…y’know, because saving those extra 500 calories on another Starbuck’s beverage comes in handy when I’m shoveling M&M’s and donuts in my mouth by the fistfuls.  Dang teacher’s lounge!  When I’m feeling extra adventurous, I’ll splurge on a White Chocolate Mocha {whipped cream, yes please!!} or a caramel frappuccino {pure heaven}.

 

 

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3.  I love me some Pandora.  Since my little nano is broken {thanks to my curious boys and a heckuva lotta slobber}, I pull up my Frank Sinatra radio station on Pandora and all is right in the world of 1st grade.  The kids refer to Sinatra & friends as our “brain music”.  Love it!!

 

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4.  I might have an obsession with notebooks.  I’m just sayin’.  I buy one practically every time I’m at the store.  I always carry one with me to jot down ideas that I don’t wanna forget.  Even though I’m 2 years out of being pregnant, I still have pregnancy brain.  I forget EVERYTHING.

 

 

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5.  Fine tip sharpies are my first love.  If they would pay the mortgage, I’d make my husband move out.  They seriously make my heart sing.  Nothing looks better in a planner than a fine tip sharpie!!! I MUST have fine tip sharpies in my stash in the classroom and at home.  I love those things!!!

 

 

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6.  Speaking of pens, these are another fave.  If they weren’t so danged expensive, I’d keep ‘em stocked all year round.  However, I usually “borrow” them from my sweet teacher friends and accidentally forget to return them :)

 

 

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7.  I don’t think I could live without a planner!!!  My favorite are the kind that the Teacher’s Credit Union gives us at the beginning of the school year.  SO random, but I’ve saved every planner since I first started teaching 9 years ago.  My favorite personal planner is my sassy little zebra print Mom Agenda.  That thing ROCKS my face off.

 

 

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8.  Can y’all tell I’m a little obsessed with fonts?!  I get tons of emails asking me what my favorites are and where I get them.  My most favorites are DJ Jumble, Doodle Tipsy, Balker, DJ Daze, Smiley Monster, Wish I Were Taller, and almost any and every Pea Font.  You can grab the pea fonts…along with LOTS of scrapbooking fonts…over at Kevin & Amanda’s blogSugar Frog Fonts has some cute handwritten fonts, too.

 

 

 

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9.  TEACHER BLOGS!!!!  Omiword, y’all.  There are some serious rockstars out there in the world of teaching.  Holy creativity people!!!  My team would like to thank you all for my absence in the lounge during lunchtime.  I’m scouring every.single.blog just DYING over your amazing ideas and activities as I savor every bite of my Lean Cuisine…or bag of popcorn ;)  And the printables are killing me!!!  You can scroll through some of my favorite blogs on the sidebar!!  Don’t see yours listed?!  PLEASE send me your link!!!  I don’t wanna miss out!!!

 

And at the end of a long day…after all the kids are safe in their homes and mine are snug in their beds…I like to wind down with this..

Wine figures

HA!!!! 

What are some of your “must haves”?!?!  I’d love to hear about ‘em and know what I’m missing!!!

41 comments:

  1. You and I are the same person....amazing! Santa gave me two huge packs of fine point sharpies......my husband thinks I am nuts! I love those medium point flair pns in all colors, too! I have drawers and drawers of journal type notebooks....love my lists! My sonic drink is an unsweetened tea...teacher discounts? Tell me more.....and I am a starbucks queen....love those sweet teacher gift cards to sonic and starbucks! Have a great week!

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  3. I am obsessed with fine point sharpies myself. Too funny. It's the little things, right? :)

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  4. Have you seen these pens?
    Pilot Precise V5 Retractable Pen....just google it. They have them at Target. LOVE me a fine point rollerball and RETRACTABLE pen. These are all over my classroom and home!! We are one in the same on many of your faves -- except the coffee - that's a no go for me...and the fountain soda - too much chlorine in the water here ...but I'll go for a bottle Diet C or Diet DP anytime!!
    growingkinders.blogspot.com

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  5. HA, LOVED this post. Couldn't have written it better myself :)
    www.msdurning.blogspot.com

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  6. I am OBSSESED with teacher blogs too. I spend my plan time checking for updates & taking pictures to post on my blog.

    I also LOVE chips & chocolate covered almonds but what I really need to get me through my day is som Yerba Mate tea with honey! Delicious.

    Ms. M
    www.msk1ell.blogspot.com

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  7. I love medium tip Sharpies and Bic Markers. My husband gave me a pack in my stocking and I was so happy! I love post-its too!

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  8. I felt as if I was reading my post. I am enjoying a glass of white wine as we speak :)! The things that make our day...only a teacher would ask for fonts as a birthday present! One of my favorite gifts.

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  9. These are great! Teachers are so similar.

    Things that help me get through the day:

    1. Coffee. Last year I received a thermos, so on days when it is freezing, I don't leave the house without it!

    2. Starbucks is always a close second when I want to treat myself to a coffee!

    3. My music. Some mornings, I pop a favorite CD in to get me going!

    4. Tazo Orange Tea. I keep it in my bag and at work. It is helpful b/c the room is always freezing!

    5. Post it notes! I use them everywhere!

    Happy teaching!

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  10. This could have been MY list! Almost every single item, except the soda. Back in the day, I started every morning with a Diet Coke. I drank LOTS of it when I was younger. Now that I'm old, I can't handle drinking soda. All the carbonation really upsets my stomach.

    I laughed out loud when I read about your planners. I do the EXACT same thing with the planners that our union gives us every year! I have at least 15 planners in a drawer. I write EVERYTHING down in those planners.

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  11. Oh, and minus the wine. Hate it! I'd much rather unwind with a steaming mug of chai tea. :)

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  12. Everything except for Sonic nails me on the head!
    Love your blog! Glad we share the same sense of humor and ideas!!! :)

    Raising my glass of wine to a teacher that rocks (i'm doing my daily teacher blog status update)!

    Kelly
    www.mchaffiek.blogspot.com.... it's a work in progress

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  13. What I would do if I had a SONIC close by!!!! Vanilla Diets are my FAV. YUM!

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  14. Mrs. Carroll, What kind of pen is #6? Thank you!

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  15. I must have 3 vanilla bean scones and a chocolate banana vivanno on Fridays on my way to work! <3

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  16. Nevermind! I found the Pentels on Staples website. Thank you for the recommendation! You can never have enough favorite pens!

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  17. I totally agree with your list! Love it! I could have Starbucks everyday but love our new Keurig coffee maker at home! The K-cups rule! I love all the blogs and share with my other teachers all the time! So much fun to get new stuff! The only thing you left out was a Dollar section of Target or a Dollar store... Teachers love their deals!

    http://reallyroper.blogspot.com/

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  18. Don't forget about "To-Do Lists" and the oh-so-satisfying moment of CROSSING SOMETHING OUT.

    I am constantly adding to my list throughout the day- and I keep mine in one of my 10,000,000,000 notebooks too!

    :) Thanks for making me smile!
    Katie
    www.persnicketypickles.blogspot.com

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  19. GIrl, I feel you...a sonic drink (in my case Dr Pepper) is a must to start the day. I love your blog, I teach 5th grade and do a lot of posts on teaching (amongst other things) on my blog. Come visit me...I got a new teacher toy today. :) katielately1.blogspot.com

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  20. *Super Sticky Post its...if it isn't super glued down, I'll lose it and these babies stick!
    *Flash drives. I lost my big one (SIGH of epic proportions!!!)so now I have 3 littler ones.
    *DJ Inkers clipart. I have enough trouble picking out my clipart, so I have to watch my budding font obsession.

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  21. I enjoy your blog and love taking a peek into your classroom. Some of my loves: coffee, a glass of red wine and my I Pad. Here is a list of some of my teacher favorites.

    http://learningwithmrsparker.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-favorite-tools-for-teaching-and.html

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  22. Your blog "rocks my face off"!! I swear my whole hallway is stalking you! It looked great at Christmas with all the work on the walls! We are looking forward to filling it up with more as the seasons change! We have added an afternoon coffee moment into our day in the 300 hall,December was a cold and snowy month up north in WNY and the pick me up was SO needed that we have branched out to having a Keurig pot in one teachers' room! Hazelnut coffee with creamer on demand, it gets me through the day! Keep rocking, girl!

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  23. You're blog is awesome! I love all your ideas. This list was great. Teachers are all alike on the inside ;)
    I'd love for you to check out my blog if you get a chance.
    www.fun-in-first.blogspot.com

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  24. Just found your blog and love it! We teachers seem to have lots of similar loves- great minds think alike I suppose! Do you mind if I add you to my list of blogs? I'm planning to add a section of teacher blogs and would love to add yours if you don't mind!

    http://technologyrocksseriously.blogspot.com/

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  25. yes- a fine tip Sharpie and a Starbucks can get me through any day! :>) Would love for you to add my BLOG to your list
    www.fabinfirst.blogspot.com
    I already have yours on mine and am a faithful follower. Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas!
    Leslie

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  26. I have to have a good book and a good friend!

    Here is my blog, it's a work in progress since I just graduated and I'm still looking for a job.

    http://themissadventuresofmissjoanne.blogspot.com/

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  27. I could have written this....except Pandora, I will have to check that out! Oh and the "pregnancy brain" is only 7 months old, lol. I adore your blog, keep trying to convince a co-worker we could make one together! Thank you, thank you for all the inspiration!

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  29. Mrs. Carroll,
    We are also one in the same! I LOVE LOVE LOVE sharpies and have to get new ones when they start "getting dull." I get a new back of fine tip sharpies and bic markers every year for Christmas. I also love the pen you listed in all different colors. When I taught K we used them for reportcards. Now I just am spoiled and use them for just about everything. You blog is so helpful and I've got my co workers hooked. Thanks for the hard work. I'd love for you to visit my blog:
    www.laurasopenhouse.blogspot.com

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  30. Sonic rocks!! I have them add to my diet coke a couple of whole cherries. Yummy! :)

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  31. Ok, I have a confession. Until about a month ago, I never even really knew that teacher blog existed. Maybe I was living under a rock? Not sure about that one.

    Then my teaching buddy across the hall came and showed me this AMAZING blog with Grinch Day (sound familiar yet?). I'm hooked. As in, obsessed. So, thanks for showing me that there is a big wide world of teaching blogs- I never would have know about if it weren't for your blog! I've been reading all of the archives...

    As if that wasn't enough, I just started my own blog- Check it out!

    http://teachinghappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/

    ~*~Ash~*~

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  32. You are a hit at my school with K and 1st teachers! Thanks for all your adorable ideas!

    Katie

    www.queenofthefirstgradejungle.blogspot.com

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  33. I LOVE post it notes! I use them for everything. At the start of every school year I'm giddy when Costco gets their jumbo pack of 20 post it pads in all different colors. I post it EVERYTHING!

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  34. Love your post! These things are all my favorite things too!!!! What's the pen that is under the fine point sharpie? I must know so I can try one myself! Love your blog!

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  35. ok, I wanna hear about Sonic giving teachers discounts. I LOVE me some sonic~

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  36. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Sharpies!!! They are my FAVORITE!!! Also, those of you with a love for post-its. Have you seen the lined ones that are different colors? I bought 5 packs! So exciting!

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  37. I, too, just discovered teacher blogs a month ago. I did not know what I was missing! I spend hours reading what other amazing teachers do in their classrooms!

    I laughed out loud reading this post! I would have to add post its in any shape, size and color. Love the fine tipped Sharpies on a post it! I also love fancy paper to jazz up centers and other areas around my room; scrapbooking paper or paper with borders!

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  39. Those sharpies are THE ABSOLUTE BEST!!! I probably squealed out loud when I found the big pack at Walmart with PURPLE and ORANGE!!! My firsties know NOT to touch those pens, and even my mom helpers learned pretty quick that those pens were MINE.

    Sonic. Yum. Wish ours was closer. Probably a good thing it's not. :)

    Love your blog!
    Oh My Little Classity Class

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  40. I am SUCH a Sonic Coke-aholic! It is truly sad, but it totally helps me through the day! lol I L.O.V.E. sharpies and colored pens are everywhere in my classroom and home. We are truly kindred spirits!

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  41. With the exception of the Sonic coke it was like reading my own post!!! I have to have my morning coffee and do not manage well if I don't get my ipod going on the way to school. Love your blog. Come over to check out mine when you can.

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