Just Me…..

Now as we are approaching the holiday season, we often think about how to make our celebrations even more special. We look at sales, suggestions in House and Garden magazines, and catalogs that have begun to pour in. After taking a look at what Amazon has to offer to help make decorating your holiday table more fun, here are some that I came up with:

Thanksgiving Table Runner with Autumn Leaf for Kitchen Dining Pumpkin Sunflower Fall Harvest Dresser Scarves for Fall Decor Black White Check Table Setting Decor for Thanksgiving Party – 13 x 120in

–Thankful Autumn decor dresser scarves are 13 x 120 inches (33 x 304 cm), with rectangle hem, fits square, round, rectangular tables. Before purchasing, get the right size of width and length of your table or furniture on the cover or protector needs.

• Made of high-quality 30% polyester and 70% cotton Linen material, with exquisite sewing, making the Thanksgiving table runner very easy to keep fresh-looking.
• PERFECT for THANKSGIVING & FALL USE  Check it out with this Amazon link:

–36 Thanksgiving Placemats Dinner Dining Table Décor Large 13 X 17 -Maple Leaf Shaped Paper Place mats Fall Autumn Harvest Maple Leaves Tablecloth Home Decorations. Check out with this Amazon link.

• SIZE: 13 Inches Wide X 17 Inches Length
• PERFECT to use it under your trays, plates, bowls, and all Thanksgiving Dinnerware
• ENHANCE your thanksgiving table decor with the looks of this beautiful maple leaf
• Matches and Blends With All Turkey, Maple leaves, Autumn, Fall and Harvest Decorations. Cups, Banners, Tablecloths, Hanging Streamers and Banner

–Jofefe 12Pcs Premium Wood Place Card Holders and 24Pcs Kraft Table Place Cards, Rustic Table Number Holders Stands, Table Sign Stand, Name Card Photo Picture Holders for Wedding, Party, Birthday. Click here for Amazon link.

• √ Best Style-Matching Sets–12Pcs wood place card holders and 24Pcs kraft place cards, The place card holders match the kraft cards perfectly, so you can get them together and saving time to search for cards.
• √ Natural Wooden Style –This rustic number holders are made from real wood with bark, bring you rustic atmosphere and make you get compliments from your guests.
• √ Mini Cute Size But Study Support — Mini size with rustic style makes it cute and useful, While Smooth surface enables it to support card or picture study.
• √ Perfect for —Displaying table numbers, place cards, pictures, photos, table signs, small menus, food labels, price tags, party or wedding table markers and so on.
• √ Great for writing down unexpected office tasks;Perfect for wedding favors,engagement,anniversaries party,birthday party as well as baby shower.

–Laura Stein Designer Dinnerware Set | 32 Disposable Plastic Party Plates | White Wedding Plate with Burgundy Rim & Gold Accents | Includes 16 x 10.75” Dinner Plates + 16 x 7.5” Salad Plates | Vintage. Click here for Amazon link.

• HIGH-END DESIGNER TABLEWARE WITH AUTHENTIC DESIGN – Inspired by the artisanal nature of fine genuine china, our disposable tableware set was carefully created by designers and crafters who take artisan-level pride in each line, design and product that rolls off our factory line.
• PREMIUM HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC PLATES – These sophisticated party supplies are made from the highest-quality, extra heavy-duty, recyclable plastic and painstakingly hand inspected for integrity of style, strength and finish. Our disposable plastic plates will reliably hold a full plate of hot or cold food without breaking, chipping or flaking and are reusable.

–Ornativity Maple Leaves Candle Holder – Thanksgiving Fall Harvest Themed Candleholder Centerpiece Decorations with Pinecones and Acorns. Click here for Amazon link.

• The holder is 5″ x 5″ x 20″, can hold 3 candles (size up to 2.4″ that are not included – The candles used in the Images are 2.2 Inches in Diameter), and works for a coffee table.
• Fits right in with a farmhouse theme home dinner and can be set on a long kitchen table center.
• This wrought iron sleigh with pinecone decor looks pretty when placed with live floral arrangements.
• Ornativity manufacturers their items with care and quality to enhance your Christmas Experience.

–OGORI 40-Piece Gold Silverware Set for 8, Superior Stainless Steel Flatware Set Cutlery Set with Gift Box, Mirror Finish. Click here for Amazon link.

• 40-PIECE GOLD SILVERWARE SET FOR 8】: This silverware set comes with 8 Dinner Forks, 8 Salad Forks, 8 Dinner Knives, 8 Dinner Spoons and 8 Tea Spoons, ideal for home, kitchen or restaurant use.
• 【FOOD-GRADE 18/8 STAINLESS STEEL】: The flatware set is made of 18/8 stainless steel, which is durable and corrosion-resistant, rust-proof, non-toxic, BPA-free, healthy for your daily use. At the same time, good sturdiness ensures that it will not bend easily and always maintain a beautiful appearance.
• 【GORGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE】: The high-grade mirror polishing process makes the surface of the knife and fork soft and smooth. This gold silverware set has good reflective properties, will shine with a golden glow to add brilliance to your dining table.

These are only a few suggestions. Most important is the company we have, the holiday we celebrate, and the gratefulness we feel. It is so important to take time out from our busy lives to really understand the true meaning of why we work so hard and why family and friends make it all worthwhile.

Happy Thanksgiving! Remember all the reasons you are thankful……

As many of us know, you can never have enough in your classroom for students to do. Whether it is part of your regular curriculum or work you need to have on standby for a substitute in case you are sick or called into a meeting, resources are a commodity that teachers cannot live without. It is important to keep your resources organized by subject, month, or substitute to be able to access them whenever you need something.

When developing products for my TeachersPayTeachers store, I always include free resources for teachers to pick up when they need something quickly or as an extra worksheet/activity for students to use when they are finished. Check out some of my free resources:

. Summarizing Using Beginning, Middle and End

. Book Review Template

. Reading Response Reflection Template

. Favorite Character Reading Response

. Character Double Bubble Map

These are only a free of the resources you can find on my TeachersPayTeachers store, Elly Elementary.

I have over 150 products available on my store. Most of my resources are Literacy and Writing, with some Social Studies, Science and Math. I have products ranging from Grades K-6. Take a look and let me know if you have any questions or even if there is something you are looking for. I am still in the process of uploading many more resources.

How do you organize your resources in your classroom? I would love to hear your suggestions.

The summer always passes quickly and by the end we are usually ready for changes in the air. This summer on the East Coast was especially hot and dry, and our grass looks worn out and brown. Every time it was supposed to rain, mother nature had a different agenda. Starting in September, you can feel air getting a little crisper as the children get ready to go back to school, teachers go back to work, and everyone gets somewhat back to reality. It’s always fun to think of what lies ahead to make fall spectacular every year.

Leaves Falling

When the trees change color and the leaves fall, we sometimes feel despair that winter is coming. We should, however, just enjoy the beauty of the fall season. You can take long walks without getting winded while enjoying the subtle changes around us. Animals seem to have a new life, we are enjoying simple pleasures like pumpkin spice coffee and we are thinking about Halloween costumes and fall decorating.

Decorating

Don’t you love putting fall decorations everywhere?! I do. I love the pumpkins, the fall colors, changing pillows and just adding some warmth to the dining room with a fall centerpiece. It makes you feel reborn and you know the holidays will be right around the corner after the beauty of September and October fades.

Halloween

I love going through the store aisles and playing with all the new Halloween decorations. Pressing buttons and hearing sounds adds to the excitement of this fun holiday. At some point I think I have almost as many Halloween decorations as Christmas. Witches, ghosts and graveyards accompany pumpkins and fall leaves inside and outside my home. And I get to keep most of it up (not the scary stuff) through Thanksgiving.

Fall Eating

Another thing I love about fall is that you can start to make homemade soups and chilis and indulge in all the pumpkin specialties, like pumpkin latte and even a beautifully scented candle to add to your enjoyment of fall eating. Darker colors come around with different fruits and veggies to explore new menus with. It is always important to make changes more fun each year. Look for some new recipes on Pinterest, host a fall get together and share your new fall favorites.

We are always sad to see summer go, especially thinking about winter, but let’s look for the brightness in every season. Fall is the new beginning for school, new goals and rejuvenation. Share some of your fall plans with us…..

When August arrives, we not only rush out to buy school supplies but we have to get Fall Ready. We have to think about leaving behind all the leisure flip flops of summer, the carefree days, and get ready to be back to serious. Besides school supplies our kids need new clothes, new sneakers, lunchboxes, and sometimes a new backpack. So we browse the online sales, run to the stores to compare prices and start writing lists of what we need. Well, with the cost of gas and the wanting to enjoy every last minute by the pool or at the beach, go to Amazon for your back to reality needs.

Backpacks/Laptop Carriers

The laptop backpack professional owns 17+ independent pockets for large storage and organization for small items with 3 spacious main compartments as well as many hidden pockets which can accommodate lots of stuffs like college supplies, travel accessories, clothes, stationery, school books. Side pockets hold your umbrella, water bottle, small accessories and more. Check this one out at Amazon using the following link:

Or go for a simpler (and less expensive one), try the Tzowla backpack which has one separate laptop compartment that can hold any laptop up to 15.6 inch. It also has one spacious compartment for storing any item like daily necessities, tech related items, accessories, toiletries and many more. The front compartment comprises of many pockets, key hook to store your item in an organized manner and easier to find. Check it out via the following Amazon link:

Comfortable Footwear

Going back to school (and work) means getting more comfortable shoes and putting away the sandals til next year. We need to look closely at our needs. Will you just be walking with your new sneakers? Or will you use them to hike, travel and just get through the shorter days of fall.

Do you want to try Converse sneakers instead? They come in 16 different colors and are always fashionable and comfortable. High top canvas sneakers are made with canvas material, contrasting stitching on upper and tirpe vulcanized rubber sole. They are durable with washable canvas and also two sliver eyelets at the side ,keep comfy and breathable the whole day. Check them out via this Amazon link:

You can never go wrong with Skechers. For both men and women, they offer comfort, durability and sole protection. Check out the link for Women’s Skechers and Men’s Skechers at Amazon during back to school savings month.

Bring Your Lunch to School or Work

With more and more people eating healthy and saving money, we are always looking for interesting and affordable ways to bring our lunch to school or work. Do we need to have the type of lunchbox which keeps things cold or do you have access to a refrigerator during the day? It’s time to start off fall on the right foot by making healthy lunches and thinking ahead.

There is the practical Bento box with many compartments. Leakproof and food separated the MISS BIG bento box keeps meals and snacks fresh and mess-free during carrying– The lunch box kids includes four kid-friendly latches that are easy for small hands to open and close. Upgraded for kids lunch box portion control and special diet by keeping food separated. It’s also a bento box adult lunch box.The 3 compartment bento lunch box for kids perfectly keeps your lunch delicious too.This bento lunch box for kids is also cute and practical for children. Check it out with the Amazon link below:

Besides all the “character” lunch boxes for children, there is one that is practical for all ages. The Inside the Insulate Lunch Tote Bags With Thermal insulation Could meet 100% leakproof. You could use it as fish tank if you need. Don’t worry the liquid spoiled in the bags and difficult to clean again. These insulated lunch bags inside is easy to clean and dry. Machine washable as well, it will last a very long time. Check it out via Amazon link below:

We have only listed a few choices for back to school and reality savings. Clothes are very personal. I have used the new Amazon try before you buy, because I often change my mind after buying something. And I always enjoy using my Kohl’s coupon I receive when I return Amazon items there.

Savings is very important during these recession times. So check out the deals I mentioned and happy shopping.

Next time, we will look at Fall decorations.Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. In the meantime, enjoy every last moment of the summer.