All my products are currently 15% off, so stock up on literature tests and social studies units before the craziness of the holiday season hits full swing.

Here are some of my best sellers:

Budget Unit Project

Civics Unit

Core Democratic Value Book Project

Hatchet Book Test

Human Rights Unit

Treasure Island Test

This is also available as an Examview Testbank for the program Examview.

I recently purchased a great resource from Teachers Pay Teachers that I turned into an anchor chart by printing on multiple pages.

Not only will these help my students, but they will help me stay consistent from text to text with our annotations.

You can buy this resource HERE.

What is your favorite resource that you have recently downloaded (or uploaded) to Teachers Pay Teachers?

Check out more Wordless Wednesday Posts:

Yesterday was a good day of doing nothing terribly productive, so today will be a marathon for me.

HAVE TO:

1) I blew all the leaves out to the road a week ago only to have the blow back into the yard, along with those belonging to the neighbor across the street, before the city came to suck them up.

2) Apparently the coach though that the last practice before the first game was the best time to tell the girls (not even send a note home) that they need a white turtleneck, shoes, and black yoga pants.  Guess I am off to find those today.

3) I need to seriously revamp my Frankenstein test for tomorrow since we spent a lot of time on themes and figurative language, so I will be making my standard trip into the school at some point today.

HOPE TO:

1) I have five baskets of laundry in my living room.  They are all clean, but I need to get it folded.  That will be my project while I continue to binge-watch Gilmore Girls.

2) Hubby has to be to work at 6 A.M. tomorrow, which means I will be by myself with the girls in the morning.  Last time I was on my own, our youngest went into full melt-down mode and I dropped the crock-pot.  Here is to getting all the clothes out and lunches done before bed tonight.

HAPPY TO:

1) Yesterday the girls slept until after 11 due to Daddy keeping them up late Friday night, so I got to enjoy a full morning of peace and quiet.  Today I wasn't so lucky, but I am still okay sitting here with my coffee for an hour or two.  That is one of the things I miss most about summer...quiet mornings.

Check out more:

I have a two for one post going this morning: My Sunday Scoop and My November Currently

Thanks Farley for the great linky and template!  Check out the other currently posts.

Listening: Right now the dishwasher is running.  I have cleaned my kitchen six time since Friday morning. I need to get the hubby and kids to clean up after themselves, ideas?  In general right now, though, I am listening to the free Google Albums of the week.  I now have a reminder set to track them down each week.  I have gotten three good ones so far.

Loving:  I always dread the coming of fall, but I am getting into it right now: the colors, the crisp mornings, and the desire to make soup.  I also appreciate the fact that we are back in school and don't have AC, so I want it cooler then I don't feel so bad about being stuck inside either.  I am sill jjealousof those of you down south though ( I will be a snowbird someday).  

We got a new Meijer in the town where my girls dance, and they have an amazing selection of flavored coffee creamers.  I currently have coconut, caramel machiado, buttered toffee, and Girl Scout cookie in my fridge.

I recently started Gilmore Girls on Netflix...a season every two weeks so far...love the books on the show :)

Thinking:  I have gotten so much great mail this month; September SLANT box, Jamberry order, Birchbox, first Ipsy, Nerdblock, Naturebox, free samples, Stitch Fix, and three pairs of pants from The Loft.  I am looking forward to more great mail this month.

Wanting: Our Christmas Club account payout will be coming this week, so I want to get a list started, so I can get going when the check arrives.  I also want to get my sewing done ahead of time this year, so I need to make a list of what I need to sew.  I am hoping to clean out the fabric piles this year and maybe finish some 1/2 done projects.

Needing:  Quarter One ended Friday, and I have two sets of essays to read.  Yes, I procrastinated on them.  Grades are due Wednesday at noon, so I will be spending a portion of today in my classroom.  I enjoy being in there on Sunday as it is quiet, and I get a lot done.  Hopefully I can finish today.

Reading: I just finished Gone Girl.  What an ending!  Now I am hunting for something new.  I'm not sure if I want fiction, memoir, or school book.

Check out more:

In August I signed up for my first Stitch Fix.  The promise is that for $20 (which gets credited towards any items you keep) you get five items hand-selected for you by a stylist.  You fill out a style profile and link a Pinterest board.

Sorry about the photo quality; I am still working on a good place to take my outfit photos.  Until last week the only full-length mirror was in my older daughter's room.  Now to figure out a good place to hang mine where there is decent lighting.

I awaited very, very anxiously until my first box arrived in September; I even biked to the post office in the rain to get it when my car was in the shop.  I was very disappointed.  I searched all the items in my cart as soon as my box shipped and was disheartened with the items I was being sent.  I specifically asked for jeans in my not to my stylist.

The packaging is so much fun.  The boxes are great quality too and are being saved to holiday shipping.

I loved the style cards and personalized message from my stylist.

The stack of items looked so nice on my bed.  Even though I wasn't super excited over the items I was sent, I was hoping trying them on would win me over.

Kut From The Klot Sonja Straight Leg Jean $78

I was most excited about the jeans; however, when I looked them over, I realized they were two sizes bigger than what was on my style profile.  They were super soft and comfy; I wanted to keep them so back, but I couldn't even make them work with a belt.  I was so bummed as the price was even right.  I wore them with each top.

Sent Back

41 Hawthorn Filbert 3/4 Sleeve Popover Blouse $58

This was the most promising of the tops.  I put it on over a black tank, which I wore under the other two pieces as well.  I actually fell in love with this.  I was hoping to have something worth keeping, and this was it.  It was so soft and not too fitted.

Kept

Ezra Shaye Ribbon Detail V-Neck Blouse $48

I really thought this might be a winner, but it was so boxy on me and the neck was too wide that my tank showed.  I can't handle that type of fit on a shirt.  The color was good though.

Sent Back

Sanctuary Sheslton Solid Trim Waffle Knit Sweater $68

This piece was awful.  The color was wrong, the fit was wrong, and the size was wrong.  It looks like something my grandfather would have worn.  The sleeves were too long for me too.  I don't know what this stylist was thinking.

Sent Back

Zad Dawson Hammered Layered Metal Bib Necklace $34

I was surprised to get jewelry in my box, but this was a decent piece.  I just didn't know what I owned that I could wear it with.  I tried it on with several items and it wasn't doing it for me.

Sent Back

Here is to hoping the second box will be better.

If you are interested, please use my referral link.  I earn $25 for each person who uses my link.

Today I am being featured on Teaching Sam and Scout, one of my favorite blogs to read, in her month-long series on working moms.  You really should read all the posts when you have time because we are not in this alone.

I think I have a wide range of experience as a mom; I am a stepmom to Red, 17.  I was a single mom with Potumus, 13, and my husband and I have Shmurtz, 6, together.  We are a blended family at its finest.

I had Potumus while I was still in college.  I would never go back and undo that, but it was a challenge.  I never would have survived without the help of my roommate, friends, sorority sisters, and family. I managed to finish on time with honors, work part-time, and complete my internship with flying colors.  I lived with my parents during the summer.  It is tough to be alone, but I had to learn quickly to ask others to help out.  I want all the single mothers out there to learn that they are not alone, and you will survive the sleepless nights and temper-tantrums in the stores.  My dear teenage daughter is one of the kindest, sweetest, most hard-working people that I know, and that is because of me.  I know I could have done a lot of things better, but she is an AMAZING kid.

This one was tough at first.  As a step-parent, you are new to the scene and have to tread lightly at first.  Red was in second grade when her dad and I got married.  There was quite a bit of adult drama in the early years.  I read books on how to parent with an ex (I have a great relationship with Potumus' dad's family) when it is hard to get along.  It also wasn't easy to form a relationship with someone that you only saw for a few hours every other week.  I think it has gotten easier as Red has gotten older.  She is graduating from high school in the spring, and we are hoping that means she will spend some real-time with us.  Stepmoms have a very very hard job, so props to all of you.

I remember someone once telling me that a wife only gets epic vassal status once when she is pregnant because then her husband figures out she can do stuff while pregnant, and it isn't such a big deal the second time around.  I never got that because my husband had already been through a pregnancy with his ex-wife, and I was single when Potumus was born.  My little Shmurtz was a welcome addition to our family.  We knew we didn't want to wait too long to have a baby together because our girls were already getting older.  The hardest part about going from a single mom to sharing the responsibilities with my dear hubby was just that, sharing the responsibilities with my husband.  It was no longer the mom show, but the mom and dad show.  I had to learn to consult him on issues and back him up, so what we say goes.  This little girl is my nighttime challenge; she gives us both a run for our money in the evening at bedtime; she really should go to law school (not that I advocate that career) because she is a master negotiator.

When I was a single mom, I never imagined being a SAHM, but when Shmurtz was born, I developed major mom guilt.  I think that was just my age and experience.  

Last school year was a very work-oriented year for me with lots of extra work (and extra money to go with it) and duties put on my plate, but dear hubby and I made the choice for me to take this on because of what it would mean for us financially and career-wise.  I have recently had a rejuvenation of having to put my kids and home first.  I take sick days when one of them is ill; I don't work crazy hours at home, and I try to maximize my time at school more efficiently.

I think I am pretty good at some things as a working mom: meals are one of those things.  I make it a point to plan our dinners out for the week on Sunday.  I have even started blogging on my menu each week.  I think I am also pretty organized: I organize chores every day of the week so that I can make small dents in the chores instead of slaving away for hours on Saturday and Sunday.

I do, however, have room to grow in other areas.  I really wish I spent more time one-on-one with my girls as they are growing up so fast.  I pride myself on having a fairly picked-up home, which sometimes takes over the few hours I have at home, so I could probably let things go a little more.   This usually results in me staying up later than usual.  We also let our girls have more tech time than we should; we know it, but there are nights when we don't have the energy to fight.

My biggest guilty pleasure as a working mom is a day home alone.  I feel bad about wanting that as my mother's day and birthday gift (this is literally what I ask dear hubby for), but I am a better mom when I have time for myself too.

Stay strong MOMS!

Time for another Wordless Wednesday with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice.

I saw this online last night and it made me laugh.  Mine would also need wine if that was allowed at school!  I have coffee, chocolate, and ibuprofen in my emergency bins at school.

Here some other pictures of what I keep in the closet for me.

What are your must-have items  for you in your desk or cabinet at school?

Check out the other Wordless Wednesday Posts.

I'm getting Menu Monday out a little late AGAIN this week.  My excuses aren't near as good this week as last.  I have to try and be better about posting...especially my series.

I am loving the the Working Moms series over on Teaching Sam and Scout, so let this be my contribution to the working moms this week.  We have to help each other out, right?

My husband is a chef, so I often steal and borrow from his skills to enhance my cooking, so it should be good stuff.  Pick up a new dinner idea!

Sunday: I actually was checking my Time Hop app on Sunday morning and saw that last year on Sunday I was making corn chowder and bread, so I figured I should continue the tradition.  I made some roll dough in the bread maker (I don't ever bake it right in the bread maker, but I always mix my roll, bread, and pizza dough up in it), which I can set and forget.  Hubby was a dear and rolled them out while I went into school for few hours.

The corn chowder is all mine.  I used a box of vegetable stock, pepper, parsley, and garlic.  I chopped an onion, three potatoes, five mini peppers (I love the bags from the store), and some stray mini carrots leftover from lunches.  I added two cans of corn, but you can use frozen.  I let that go most of the day.

Tuesday: Meatloaf.  I adore meatloaf and haven't had it in forever.  I buy the bag and season to cook it in and spice it up.  To the glorious beef that we purchased last month I also add some breadcrumbs, an egg, and a diced onion.  That all gets mixed with the seasoning packet and baked in the special bag.  I will be adding to that baked potatoes, which I now do in the cockpot, and roasted brussel sprouts.

A side note on brussel sprouts: I use to hate them, but I think that was because my mother would steam or boil them to mush.  My hubby the chef showed me how to roast them with olive oil and they are much better.

Wednesday: The ever-famous leftover night.  I really recommend planning this night after a few days of cooking.  It will ease your dinner rush and use up what is in the fridge.

Thursday:  Whatever fast food the kids want.  The girls have dance at 4, so I play delivery mom while they are in class.

Friday: The girls and I are headed North to my parents' house for the weekend, and that means we will probably eat on the road.

Saturday:  I have no idea what my mother has in store, but maybe burgers at my favorite place up there: Moose Jaw Junction.

I would love your feedback on this new weekly post: do you like it? What else would you like to see in this? 

Follow me on Instagram for pictures of my meals throughout the week. 

We had so much fun out with friends last night for grown-ups night out.  We had Indian food.  As a result I am late getting up and getting going today. 

HAVE TO:

1) All the kids stayed at our house last night while the grown ups were out, so I need to run the vacuum and broom this morning to finalize the clean up.

2) Mail and homework from the week has been piling up on the table, so I need to deal with that stuff today or we may not be able to get to it for meals soon.

3) I refuse to put laundry on my list yet again this week, so I want to get out decorations out, so we can enjoy them a little before the end of the month. Plus the girls like getting all the fun stuff out.

HOPE TO:

1) My post on journals last week was fairly well-received, so I am hoping to get another such post up.

2) I always have grading to do and since hubby is home, I can drive the three blocks to the school and sit in my classroom to be productive.  I just don't have the same productivity at home.

HAPPY TO:

1) We didn't have many nights at home this past week, so I have stuff to catch up on.  I have also starting watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

Check out more:

It has been almost a month since I last linked up with Doodlebugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

My first thing from this week is this article that I came across:

21 Things that will be obsolete in education by 2020

I shared it with my principal, and we had a great conversation about classroom design (we passed a bond in the spring), technology, and homework.  I really want to try and be at the forefront of these types of changes at our school.

My first Ipsy bag arrived this week.  I have been getting Birchbox for moths now and love it.  When I found out that Ipsy does a similar thing and includes a bag, I jumped on board.  $10 a month and I get some great samples.

I tried all these samples.  The lotion was great as was the eye liner and mask.  I let my little one have the lip gloss, which I don't wear, but I did try it.  My older one got the facewash.  All three of us walked away happy.

My Birchbox referral link.

My Ipsy referral link.

I got some serious grading on Thursday while the girls were at dance class.  I got lesson plans done too.  I am not caught up, but I am getting there.  Hopefully a few hours on Sunday will make it happen.

We didn't have students on Monday because there were parent teacher conferences in the morning and we got to leave at noon!  I only had about five parents show, but I got a bulletin board changed out.

AP literature terms on the left and American founding documents and Washington, D.C. pictures on the right.

My 11th grade DOL book finally gave in this week.  I knew it was happening, so I ordered a legal binder.  I took the book apart ,and our librarian laminated all the pages for me.  I had some trouble punching the pages, and it isn't perfect yet as it doesn't flip nicely, but I can tweak it.  I supposed I might just have to buy a new one as the binder is a lot bulkier than the book...I don't know.