Comprehension Pinwheel

I love switching things up in the classroom to keep myself growing as a teacher and to keep the kids engaged. I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be such a fun, new way to assess comprehension after read-alouds.

Does everyone else love the Target dollar section as much as I do? I found these cute little pinwheels there last week and knew I had to give this a whirl (pun obviously intended)!

I decided not to write the questions directly on the pinwheel for two reasons.

1. The polka dots could intrude on the words.

2. I like the idea of being able to take off the questions and switch it up for different books, purposes and differentiation throughout the year.

I don't want to commit too much here, you know.



We decided whichever question lands at the top by his eyes is the one we will answer. I love having the kids blow at the pinwheel or spin it and get excited about answering the questions!

I love thinking of other ways to incorporate this pinwheel idea....

-Math facts

-Spelling word review (read it then use it in a sentence)

-Shapes

-Blend/Chunks (have them name a word that contains that blend/chunk)

-Money (after two spins, add up the amount you have together)

Teachers, any other cute ideas to share about how to spice things up in the classroom based on this pinwheel idea?

Who knew a pinwheel could be so inspirational?

Laura

Show Your Love

I am loving all these love accessories...

Love Shoes



Can I please get this in A <3 L?

Simple Love

Lo Ve Earrings

Love in Cursive

Love is not just for Valentine's Day,

Laura

A Case of the Mondays

May your Monday be this dreamy.



via

I'd like to try that,

Laura

Arms 'n' Abs

One of my favorite blogs to read is Peanut Butter Fingers (PBF)- it's a healthy living and fitness blog that has some great workout ideas!

With a beach trip in the near future for me and the hubs, I have been frequenting the gym a little more than usual.

I found this Arms 'n' Abs workout on PBF and have been incorporating it in a few times a week. I love the variations so that when my arms are getting tired, it focuses on the abs for the next move. I've especially noticed more definition in my shoulders which never hurt anyone!

via

I have to do this to even out that Reese's popcorn,

Laura

I really love my...{denman paddle brush}

Another post in the I really love my...  series!

Spoiler Alert: This post is pretty girly, boys. (If any boys are even reading this...)

I really love my Denman Paddle Brush!

This brush is perfect for my long, thick hair but I'm told it will work on any hair type and any length! I love how gently it de-tangles wet or dry hair and how light and smooth it leaves my hair. The bristles have an air-cushioned rubber pad underneath which helps leave hair static-free!

Check it out!

Is it weird to love a hairbrush?

Laura



Butterscotch Puppy Chow

Here I am, fulfilling my promise from yesterday, with a new twist on the classic peanut butter and chocolate puppy chow!

I scoured the internet (and pinterest, of course) for a puppy chow version that included butterscotch! I found nothing on Pinterest (gasp!) and a few variations in a google search but nothing that really jumped out at me and made butterscotch the main flavor! So, I took matters into my own hands and experimented a few times and am happy with the end result!

Pour 5 cups Chex Mix or Crispix cereal into a large bowl.

(Full recipe is listed at bottom of post)

Measure 2 cups of powdered sugar into a gallon size ziploc bag.

Combine 1 cup butterscotch chips, 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 2 tbsp. butter and 1/4 c. peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl.

(Oh hey there, iSi flex bowls)

Microwave for one minute and stir until combined. Do not over cook or over stir as the butterscotch chips will harden!

Add in 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract and combine. 

Pour the yummy goodness over the cereal and gently stir to coat.

Pour the covered cereal into the bag of powdered sugar, zip tight and shake to coat.

Sorry about the lack of picture!



Yum! It's the perfect amount of butterscotch and chocolate deliciousness!

Butterscotch Puppy Chow

Yield: 5 cups

Prep: 5 min. Total Time: 10 min.

Ingredients:

2 c. powdered sugar

5 c. Chex Mix or Crispix Cereal (I used half corn chex, half wheat)

2 tbsp. butter

1/4 c. peanut butter

1 c. butterscotch chips

1/2 c. chocolate chips

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

-Pour the cereal into a large bowl and the powdered sugar into a gallon size ziploc bag.

-In a microwave safe bowl, combine the butter, peanut butter, chocolate chips and butterscotch chips. Microwave for one minute and stir to combine and melt. Stir in the vanilla extract.

-Pour the mixture over the cereal and gently stir to coat. Pour the covered cereal into the bag of powdered sugar, zip tight and shake to coat.

Enjoy!

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Another dog food post,

Laura

Puppy Chow

Is there a more crowd-pleasing dessert than puppy chow? Crispy cereal coated in butter, peanut butter, chocolate and powdered sugar?

Of course, I am a big fan of the traditional pb and chocolate version but these new ideas are enticing me to branch out a little!

Citrus Puppy Chow

S'Mores Puppy Chow

Puppy Chow Granola

Lemon Puppy Chow

Bacon Puppy Chow
(my sister-in-law made this for my brother for Valentine's Day and it got rave reviews!)

Cake Batter Puppy Chow

Nutella Puppy Chow

Come back tomorrow (or even better- follow me on the right side of the page!) for a different twist on the classic puppy chow made by yours truly (that's me)!

A whole post on dog food,

Laura

PB Smoothie

Say hello to my go-to lunch, sometimes breakfast and sometimes a small version for a snack.

It's no secret that I love peanut butter which makes this smoothie one of my favorite treats!

Gather your ingredients.

1 c. milk, 1 frozen banana and one large spoonful peanut butter

(Free words of wisdom: I keep a bag of peeled, halved bananas in the freezer at all times for creamy smoothies!)

Combine all the ingredients in a blender...

...and blend away!

Mmmm creamy and peanut butter-y! Delish.

For an extra special treat, add a spoonful of cocoa powder before mixing for a liquid Reese's flavor!

I really love peanut butter,

Laura

Take Me Here...

The Nautilus Undersea Suite at The Poseidon Resort, Fiji which is located 40 ft under the water.

Swoon.

Better Start Saving,
Laura

An Excellent Brain

I couldn't help but smile when I was going over my student's homework and I saw this...

(the parents write down how their child got the answer)

"He had 8 hamburgers and three buns and I know he needs 5 more because I have an excellent brain."

I love that the dad added "He really said that."

He's adorable,
Laura



Meatloaf

Why does meatloaf get such a bad rap?

Or is it rep...hmm...tricky.

Anyways, this meatloaf deserves nothing but compliments! Praise! Applause! Kudos! I think you get the picture- it's good.

This is another tried and true recipe that I've been making for about 3 years now from Kraft Food and Family Magazine.

Gather your ingredients.

egg, v8 juice, bread crumbs, onion soup mix, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, ground beef and ketchup

(Full recipe is listed at bottom of post)

I served this with a side salad and honey roasted butternut squash!

Meatloaf

Recipe from Kraft Food and Family Magazine

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep: 10 min. Total Time: 45 min.

Ingredients:

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 can (5 1/2 oz) V8 juice

1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs

1 envelope onion soup mix

1/4 c. Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef

1/2 c. ketchup

-In a large bowl, combine the egg, V8 juice, bread crumbs, soup mix, cheese and garlic powder. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Pat into an ungreased loaf pan.

-Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Spread ketchup over top, bake 5-10 min. longer or until no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

Side Note #1: I like to make two of these at a time. The soup mix comes with 2 in a pack, I can easily buy 3 lbs. of ground beef instead of having a half pound left over and the V8 bottle (from a gas station or drug store) is the perfect amount to split in half. I cook one that night and put the other in a disposable loaf pan, cover with foil, place in a large ziploc bag and freeze it for an easy dinner in the future!

Side Note #2: If you don't have a meat thermometer, I highly recommend investing in one! This is the one I use! Super useful.

Enjoy!

Let's give meatloaf a fresh start,

Laura

100's Day Can Drive

100's day is one of my favorite things that we celebrate in Kindergarten! Besides dressing up like we are 100 years old (hysterical!), we also hold a can drive to try and collect 100 cans for the 100 days!

We ended up collecting over 250 cans and when I delivered it to the Food Bank of the Rockies, it weighed in at 327 pounds!

I love this project because it is a simple, inexpensive project for the families and a fun activity for the kids to watch the can pile grow larger and larger each day!

Love my job,

Laura



Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn

Let me say that again...Reese's Peanut Butter Cup POPCORN, people! This could change the world! This could be the answer to all the unanswered questions out there! This could make all the clothes in my closet too small!

Okay, maybe not the first two things...but definitely that last one.

Gooey, peanut butter, caramel-esque coating, drizzled with chocolate and mini Reese's cups.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Popcorn

Recipe from Two Peas And Their Pod

Yield: 8 cups

Prep Time: 5 min. Total Time: 15 min.



Ingredients:

8 cups plain popcorn
1/2 cup honey
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, melted
1 1/2 cups Mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

1. Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl. Set aside.

2. Mix the honey and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes, then remove from the heat and add the peanut butter. Stir vigorously until all the peanut butter is melted, then mix in the vanilla extract.

3. Immediately pour the peanut butter caramel over the popcorn and gently stir with a long-handled wooden spoon until it's all coated. Spread popcorn on a large baking sheet. Drizzle popcorn with melted chocolate and let sit until chocolate hardens (about 5 min.). Top with Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups (can also use chopped up regular Reese's).

Enjoy!

Off to the gym...then to buy more mini Reese's,
Laura

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you a day filled with the ones you love...

{besties}

{family}

{the hubster}

I love love,

Laura

P.S. Interested in the history of Valentine's Day? Click here...

Strawberry Hot Springs

Steamboat Springs is easily one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, place in Colorado.

About twenty minutes outside of Steamboat is an amazing little wonderland, Strawberry Hot Springs.

We have been there in the summer and winter and both times the scenery was breathtaking, the atmosphere serene and the water was so relaxing!

I love how the snow and steam from the hot springs makes the trees look!

Check it out!

Everything is more fun when your best friend comes too,

Laura

Valentine's for Kiddos

Loving these ideas for Valentine's to give to my students...

I "Wheelie" Like You



Stache and Lips

I Dig You

You Make My Heart Glow

This time of year is so fun!

I think I will go with the glowsticks,

Laura

Edible Valentine's

I'll take one of everything, please.

Strawberry Brownie Pizza

Peanut Butter Kisses

Valentine Chex Mix

Cupid Cupcakes

(by the infamous Bakerella herself)

"Olive You" Cookies

"Sitting In A Tree" Cookies

Valentine Breakfast

What are your dinner and dessert plans for Valentine's Day?

Do you like to cook together at home or go out for a romantic night on the town?

The hubster and I like to go out on the 13th to beat the crowds! Now you all know the secret...

Not Good At Keeping Secrets,

Laura