TARRA'S FAVOURITE THINGS

Oprah had her own annual list...Here's mine!

With Christmas just mere days away, I thought I would share a few of my favourite things that I wouldn't mind giving or getting!  

Paperclip Bookmarks

Posted on Pinterest 

What a wonderful, inexpensive gift to make and give to all my book-loving friends! I L-O-V-E the beautiful ribbon, what a nice touch!

Bedazzled Starbucks Cup

Posted on Tumblr.com 

I am completely addicted to Starbucks, and well on my way to earning a 30 Star Gold Card in only a few short months! Well I might not give this away as a gift, I wouldn't mind finding it in my stocking on Christmas morning. I can't imagine a better way to start your day, than with a bit of glitter and Starbucks Hot Chocolate. YUM!

Muffin Tin Teacher Caddy

Posted on http://contemporarymosaic.blogspot.com

Now I know what to do with my old, crummy muffin tins! Ingenious! What a great way to practice 'upcycling'! 

Drinking Glass with Chalkboard Paint

Posted on http://everylastdetailblog.com

I am always losing or misplacing my drink at parties...What a great spin on the tired old 'wine charms' or 'glass bracelets'. 

To all my friends, may your holidays be filled with merriment and lots of love! Happy Holidays!

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!

With Christmas just days away, I was forced to brave the stores today, in an attempt to finish my shopping list. As organized as I am (or try to be!) in the classroom, why is it, that I am so disorganized with my Christmas shopping? Yes...I am one of those people who is trying to put together the last minute holiday touches and finish off my shopping with mere days until Santa shimmies down the chimney. I wish I could be more organized around the holidays! 

There are 4 days of school left before we break for the holidays and I have been contemplating a gift for my firsties. I always purchase something special for my firsties to take home before the holidays, but this year I decided I wanted to 'make' a gift for them. There are lots of monogrammed holiday gift ideas on the internet, such as ornaments and stockings, but many of them can be pricey to buy or make. This is my inexpensive version of a monogrammed holiday ornament that I plan to gift to my students. The box of jeweled coloured ornaments were on sale at Walmart and I purchased the rhinestone stickers at Michael's Craft Store, but I did see similar ones at a local dollar store.

 Monogrammed Christmas Ornaments

As always, I apologize for my photography skills, or lack there of! Let me know what you think of the ornaments and what you plan of gifting to your students. I would love to see everyone's holiday creativity!

Have a wonderful weekend!
 

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER

Well, here we are...just 8 more days until the Winter Break! I am so excited to have some time to myself, but also S-U-P-E-R excited to do some fun things in the classroom before the holidays. My grade 1 teaching partner and I have some wonderful activities planned over the next week and a half, including an entire 'Gingerbread Day' and of course the holiday classic, The Polar Express, with pajamas, bells, and crock pot hot chocolate!

After browsing the internet for some holiday activities, I found some cute (and inexpensive) reindeer inspired Christmas crafts. I have to admit, after completing the 'Rudolph...We Want Your Job!' art and job application, I have been a bit obsessed with reindeer themed activities. Here are a few cute ideas that I may have to try in my own room with my firsties. 

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Cookies

Originally posted on Baker Girl: Confessions of a Budding Baketress

The cookies in the recipe are peanut butter based, but I am sure you could modify it slightly to a simple sugar cookie, or something else comparable, to ensure that it fits with most schools' nut-free policy. 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas Tree Ornament

Originally posted on Ozark Mountain Family Blog 

Ruldolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Hand Print Ornament

Originally posted on www.examiner.com

O CHRISTMAS TREE!

This weekend I was busy getting into the Christmas spirit by taking the time to decorate my house for the holidays. It was so much fun! My husband, 'W', and I had our mugs of hot chocolate and Starbucks' newest holiday CD (we buy their holiday CD every year. Wonderful!) playing in the background. And of course our dog Della, had to be right there beside us, adding to the chaos! She ended up falling asleep amongst all the ornament boxes. It was the C-U-T-E-S-T! We have only been in the house for a few years, so I am still collecting Christmas decorations to fill our home. Each year, I buy a few new decorations and find new nooks and crannies to fill with sparkly baubles! Here are a few pictures of our entry way, formal living room, and dining room. This year I changed the theme of my tree, and went with rich browns, coppers, sparkly golds, olive greens, and deep reds. The ornaments all have a 'nature theme', such as sparkly copper acorns and glittered pine cones! Some of the lighting isn't the best in the pictures, I apologize, as I am not the greatest photographer.

I hope you all have a week full of merriment!

Front Entrance 

Living Room View from Front Entrance

Fireplace

Tree

Woven Basket with Glittered Pine Cones

RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER RETIRES!

Now that report cards are done, I can relax a little. We have Student Led Conferences coming up later this week, and those are always a bit stressful, trying to get the students and their portfolios ready for their excited parents can be quite the job! One of the things on my list of 'Things To Do' for this week, is to complete the 'Reindeer Job Application' activity originally posted on the wonderfully creative blog First Grade Teaching. I fell in love with the holiday art and writing activity when I first saw it this summer and knew it was something I wanted to do in my own classroom! Kristen Walsky, the creative force behind First Grade Teaching has some great ideas, so be sure to check out her site. 

While you can find lots of reindeer and elf job applications out there, I decided to make my own. Here is a sample of what I came up with. Feel free to help yourself!  

My Reindeer Application