Somebody 'Round Here Needs Some New Duds! - 5 Favorites For Joey

You know what I love about Wednesdays, besides the fact that it means we're halfway through the week? I love Five Favorites! FF is where I discover fresh new finds in every category of life from ways to organize your home and tail gate recipes to great books for kids and natural remedies for whatever ails you.

Last week I was sorting through a tote of hand-me-down clothing for Joseph (he's growing so fast!) and found that almost everything was either stained, faded or falling apart.  Time for some bargain hunting! Now that I've made my shopping list for our handsome fella, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite finds!

/1./ 

Football Beanie

{He's in that, "Hey! I found my fist!" phase. *love*}

Okay, so this is one hand-me-down that has actually survived the big brothers and made it all the way down to Joey! We're pretty big football fans here, and although I'm not sure where I snagged this cute little beanie, I'm glad I bought it! If you're on the hunt for one for your little tike, there's a lot of links on Pinterest.

/2./ 

Bibs from Whole Parenting Goods  

Now that Joey is teething (already.... oi, oi, oi) he's in 24/7 bib mode. If not for the bibs, he would literally bathe himself every day in drool. I love these bandit bibs from Whole Parenting Goods. They are so stinkin' cute (and so are her sweet babies)! If you haven't already found Nell's blog and Etsy shop, you are missin' out! I also have my eye on her blankets which are made with the love and the loveliest materials!

/3./ 

Mocs from Freshly Picked 

The minute I saw these sweet slippers on Shark Tank I added them to my baby wish list.  They're on a "wish-list" because, um, well, at $60 per pair we would have to eat beans for a week before I could cough up the cash to buy them. The abundance of colors (especially for girls) and patterns to choose from is delightful! Dream, dream!

/4./ 

Baby Boy Tie Body Suit from Antsy Pants

After you get over the yumminess of those adorably squishy legs, check out his shirt! I've bought two tops from this shop (one for St. Patty's day and one for Valentine's day) in the past and love them. They are so cute for every day, but are also great for church.  Throw on some khakis and some jazzy shoes (like those mocs!) and you're good to go!  

/5./ 

Halloween Costume

In our little community, Halloween is a pretty big deal.  The town is small enough that the kids can stroll about anywhere and everywhere to gather loot. I missed out last year because I was at home trying not to yak (first trimester fun). Since Steve and I will be out walking with the kids, I thought it would be fun to dress Joey up, too!

Do you have any favorite baby boy must-haves??

- Do tell! - 

Cankles, Popsicles and a Baby Pool - Enough to Inspire a 5 Favorites Swimwear Edition

Two weeks ago, my OBGYN and I were discussing the crazy Kansas weather, because you know, that's what you talk about when you're trying to get to know a near-retirement physician who's delivered some 6,500 babies and you're trying to establish some sort of relationship before it's time to push.

Anyway, that morning it was a lovely 45 degrees of cool outside, and our chit-chat was not on the positive side.  Nothing like a good gripe while the tape measure is being stretched over the ol' abs.  We both wanted spring to be here. Doc wanted to golf, I wanted to plant my flowers, and we both wanted the eternal winter to be over.

Well, guess what.  It's over.  And, tomorrow, I'm going back for another weather chat, I mean preg check, and I am going to try my level best not to complain about mother nature breathing her scorching breath all over us in the form of 100 degree temps. Those digits are just a tad high for May, and really wouldn't even bother me too terrible much if it wasn't for the fact that our a/c keeled over last week.

88 degrees in la casa.  Oooo, Lawd.  

I really can roll with the heat, and have always been a lover of summer, but when I'm pregnant it tends to accelerate the swelling of my limbs, which is truly lovely....

How about an Instagram of my feet?? Better yet, I'll just tell you what I see: they look like moon boots, extra puffy, with squishy toes swollen together, yet glamorously disguised by a chipped and faded coral pedi, and all that business is attached to a sweet set of cankles to match. Just to make you extra jealous, I've been wearing my husband's flip flops, the only shoes that fit. They should look super jazzy with my Sunday Mass attire. Be sure to tune in for that mess in my What I Wore Sunday post *wink.*

Thankfully, there are remedies for this situation. Camping out at the library with my gang or lingering in the ice cream isle at the grocery store, or, better yet, laying in the baby pool under a shade tree with a plentiful stash of popsicles seem to be the top options for escaping the suburban sauna until the air conditioner hero sweeps in on Saturday to save me from the fires of hell.

All this pool talk has got me thinking swimwear.  Not that I'll be jumping into anything remotely fitted for the next few months, but for now thinking about what I would wear if I weren't making a baby and retaining 22 pounds of fluid at the same time is a nice distraction!

Here are my Five Favorite places to find modest yet 

fun and feminine swimwear:

- 1. - 
Rey Swimwear

My sweet friend, Andrienne, introduced me to Rey swimwear, and I have to say that I absolutely love their designs and cannot wait to order one of their suits....um, perhaps next summer! Of course these girls are looking fab with gorgeous make up and hair in addition to their sweet vintage suits, and while that's neverrrrrr going to be me poolside, I can't help but love the romantic ideal they're trying to achieve with every look.

- 2. -
Divinita Sole

Choices, choices, choices!! That is exactly what you'll find here! Mix and match patterns, colors and embellishments until you find the perfect suit.  This is my favorite website of the 5, there's something fun and flattering for every lady right here!

- 3. -
Lime Ricki

Last summer I wrote a little ditty from my modest swimwear soapbox perspective, and the biggest responses I received were from moms who "can't seem to find" modest swim wear for their daughters or who find it impossible to get their offspring to agree to wear a modest suit because they're all ugly. Lime Ricki is the answer!! This company was built by moms who wanted to give their daughters fun, fashionable swimwear that offered a bit more coverage than say a bra and panties, or as some might call it, a bikini.

- 4. -
Popina

The vintage suits on this site definitely give Rey a run for their money! And, I really like that they also offer cover-ups and other accessories. Yes, they do sell bikinis, but we'll leave that department fully stocked for, for, for....well, for those who are completely comfortable sporting a bra and undies in public.

- 5. - 
Lands End

Lands End is like old trusty in the bathing suit department. With descriptives like miracle, minimize, and maximize on their site, you really can't go wrong.  They offer so many choices, from fit, style and mix and match colors and patterns, there's something for every mama here.  I'll admit, L.E. is a bit pricey, but thankfully, you can usually find a pretty decent coupon on RetailMeNot.com or shop their overstock department, too.  The bright side of the expense is that L.E. suits are durable, they hold their shape and color so you can enjoy them for more than one season.

Is 9 a.m. too early for a popsicle?? I didn't think so!  Cherry or lime...that's the question for the day. Stay cool, my friends!!

What We're Reading Wednesday + Five Favorites

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Happy Wednesday, Friends!! I really love Wednesdays, the day when lunch lingers a little longer because I lack the will power to pull myself away from all of the goodies that my favorite bloggers have shared in their What We're Reading Wednesday posts at Housewife Spice or their Five Favorites at Moxie Wife. Pouring over them with a cup of tea, notepad and pen in hand, has a magical way of diffusing the testosterone army of chaos that routinely streaks through my house wielding Nerf guns and swords. I love it (the blogs, the blogs!), I tell ya!

Here's my combined list of personal picks from our homestead:

1. The Boys in the Boat

"Out of the depths of the Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times - the improbable, intimate account of nine working class-boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant."

I'm really drawn to stories that are written about unlikely heroes, underdogs and the like.  And, as a lover of history, The Boys in the Boat packs both a great story of human endurance and triumph as well as glimpses into Great Depression and pre-WWII into it's pages.  Reading Brown's book has also opened my eyes to the beauty and discipline in the sport of rowing (so much so, that I foresee a rowing machine taking over some Lego space in our basement very soon. Thank you, e-bay.).

2. Wonder

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. (Excerpt from Amazon)

I must confess that this book is here entirely due to the fact that I was under the blogger influence when I bought it.  A few of my favorite writers mentioned it on their sites, so I caved to their cyber suggestion, added it to the ol' Amazon cart thinking that I would read it aloud to the boys. Honestly I'm just not a fan of current day literature, especially what is written for kids.  Call me ancient, but I cannot help but love the classics, and therefore, my kids also read from our "Great Books" list ,too.

Reading Wonder aloud has been a challenge for me.  The author, writing from the perspective of various characters, has chosen a language style completely true to the way in which we converse today (oi).  Even though Wonder is "real life" reading, I struggle to get through the pages, simply because I am not inspired, whatsoever by this modern, conversational style of writing and storytelling, and must depend solely upon content as motivation to keep reading.

That being said, even though Wonder is not a book that I believe my boys would particularly enjoy reading on their own, it has offered us several opportunities to engage in rich and meaningful discussion on virtue, suffering, compassion, empathy, fear and social influences, and to examine our own perceptions of and behavior towards others, which has been of great value.

3.  Saints in the World (formerly Man, the Saint)

"Life is worth living if it is dedicated to some ideal; the nobler ideal, the nobler the life, 

and there is no ideal higher than Christ crucified."

If you are looking for a spiritual life boot camp, this one is a doozy.  It's one of those books that Steve and I both reach for time and time again throughout the year, reading excerpts aloud to each other when we're needing a little push interiorly.  We picked it up again during Lent, and I was reminded of what a treasure this little book is in our library.

4.  Rifle Paper Company

Several months ago, my sister, Sara sent me the most beautiful care package in the mail.  Included in the box of goodies were a lovely selection of stationary and papers from the Rifle Paper Company.  In a world of texting, e-mails and phone chatting, receiving hand written notes on beautiful paper has become a lost art.  I'm hoping for it's revival, and should there be, I'll know just where to go to stock my stationary box! The company, which is included on Martha Stewart's American Made website, also offers calendars, frame-worthy prints, phone cases and more! By the way, have any of you been watching Signed, Sealed and Delivered on the Hallmark Channel? I am loving it! If it doesn't make you want to pick up a pen, I'm not sure what will!

5.  Greater by Mercy Me
Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed
When others say I'll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world.

Easter joy is alive and well in our home! Every day, we've been listening to praise music in the afternoon while tidying up the house before Steve comes home from work.  This song by Mercy Me is definitely the boys' favorite.  I wish I had a video of Charlie dancing to it, because he absolutely goes bananas! It's one of those tunes that can turn around a bad day, really! I hope you like it, too!

Have a lovely day, everyone!!

Keeping Spirits Bright: Our {5 Favorite} Merry Christmas Traditions

After hosting my entire family for several days during the Thanksgiving holiday, I have to admit, I wasn't prepared for the sudden entrance into Advent.  Usually, I have a few days of cushion between Thanksgiving and Advent to prepare all of the little seasonal inspirations - the Jesse Tree, the Advent wreath and calendar, our book basket and St. Nicholas activities. Thankfully, so many of our family traditions are becoming just that - rock solid TRADITIONS, and the older boys especially have reached the point of knowing just how to help make all of the preparations, unlike cleaning the house and roasting a turkey (one of these days!).  While I'm in hostess recovery therapy, otherwise known as HRC, I'll let the testosterone run wild with Adventus abandon.  I have complete confidence in their decorating skills (as long as I'm a non-conscious state).

For today's Five Favorites (graciously hosted by Hallie at Moxie Wife), I thought I'd share a few of our favorite Advent and Christmas "extras," aside from the faith-based traditions, that really help keep the season bright for all of us around here.

- 1.  Music -

Words cannot express how much I LOVE listening to music during Christmas. No two sweeter words were ever put together than Pandora and FREE.  We like to mix it up, a little Michael Buble here, a dash of George Winston there.  But for me, it's all about finding the perfect song with the perfect lyrics, something fresh, poetic, inspiring and memorable to savor throughout the season.  

Last year, my great discovery was Leaving Heaven, sung by Matthew West and Vince Gill.  Oh, Vince, Vince, Vince, Vince.  Let me count the ways I love thee. The guy is a musical genius.  I savor his solo work, but must admit that I get a little giddy when he sneaks in on a duet. His voice is like butter, it blends with with everyone so beautifully, making musical yumminess.  He can even make Taylor Swift sound like a singer. {Sorry!} Anyhoo....my fave line of this song?

So, if you've ever wondered how much you're worth,

You should know....

You're the reason why I'm leaving heaven.

 - 2.  Special Sips  -

It wasn't until a few years ago that I really embraced the truth that Advent, like Lent, is also a time of preparation.  Therefore, the Church really encourages us to consider particular spiritual exercises, such as fasting, prayer and sacrificial offerings, in order that our souls might be strengthened for what is to come: the arrival of our Savior into the world.  

I'll be the first to admit that it's easier to fast during Lent than during Advent.  Who can pass up the plates of cookies, cakes and sweet breads that the neighbors bring by??  While we make a strong effort to scale back the irresistible indulgences, Steve and I realize that this particular sacrifice is meant more for our good than the children's.  One of our traditional treats during this season is to drive around and enjoy all of the beautiful lights and then come home to savor a special cup of cocoa.  I like to jazz it up a bit, and make something unexpected for the family each year. A few days ago,  in my quest for the perfect cup, I found this amazing list of recipes on Pinterest.

3.  Movies 

Confession: I have a serious thing for the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas Movie series.  I know, I know many of them are a little cheesy, and definitely predictable, but hey, I get a lot of laundry done in the evenings with all of the cheese and sentiment and predictability to distract me from the agony of matchless socks. As for the kids, they would probably be scarred for life if we didn't watch It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas every year.  They can pretty much quote both shows word for word.

This year I'm hoping to break away from my domestic delights and escape to the theatre to see The Christmas Candle.  Have any of you seen it?? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Sideways? Your thoughts, please!

- 4.  Tour of Lights -

As a child, one of the most treasured traditions I delighted in during Christmas was bundling up and piling into the car with my family for an evening drive to see the Christmas lights around town. Now, I love sharing that same experience with our kids.  Last night we took the kiddos out to experience the Illuminations Exhibit at the Botanica Gardens.  It was absolutely stunning!! We had a ball!!

- 5.  Great Books Around the Fireplace -

If you've passed by the blog over the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed that I'm a little bit book obsessed, especially when it comes to great Christmas reads.  Is it shameful to admit that our basket is overflowing with approximately 42.5 stories?? The inventory would probably be closer to 50, but unfortunately 7.5 books have been shredded over the past 12 years since my blissful delivery of 5 mini wrecking balls into our home. Every year I add a title or two to our basket, and this year the kids are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Christmas From Heaven to our doorstep.

What are your favorite family traditions??

LIttle Delights for Droopy Days ~ Five Favorites

Happy Wednesday, friends! Here's my 5 (fast) favorites for today! 

Thanks, Jenny, for hosting this week!

{More goodness right here!}

 For my tired heart....

1.  Charming Charlie

This entire house is smitten with Charlie these days. I keep waiting for those "terrible twos" to creep in and kidnap all of the cuteness, but so far, nothing.  "Oh, Fank you, Mama!" and "Pease, Mom?" in the sweetest little voice never gets old.  He can pull me out of a funk fast with his sweetness (and the pink sparkle slippers?? Robbed right off my feet!)!

The other night Steve was noshing on some steak and taters that he had brought home from our date night last Saturday. Leftover steak? I know...it's a rarity. Because, Lord knows if you can't finish your din-din, I am always ready to lend a fork. But, this place we dined at serves up elephant size portions, so neither one of us could polish our plates. Anyway....as Steve was enjoying the leftovers, Charlie shimmied up to the table to mooch a couple bites. Daddy thought it would be funny to teach him to say filet mignon (please pardon the mouth full).  We've been giggling over it every day this week!

For my tired hair....

2.  John Frieda Luxurious Volume Shampoo

{Hello. You had me at luxurious.}

Since the texture of my hair is very fine, without great volumizing products, my mane is flatter than a pancake. Paying big bucks for the fancy brands burns a hole in my budget, so I am happy to have found this little wonder. I use the shampoo & conditioner as a set, and they give my hair the perfect amount of poof.  Another bonus: it makes your hair super soft.

For my tired feet...

3.  Yoga Toes

Supper time and story time with the boys are, for me, sacred time to SIT.  In fact, I'm standing and typing right now, because I know if I try to park it, someone will fall down the stairs or the doorbell will ring, so why bother, right? Yoga Toes are awesome if you are on your feet all day, especially if you wear heels of any kind.  They're also awesome for long distance runners. I wear them for 15-20 minutes at night while I read or chat with my lover (wildly attractive, I know), and my feet feel amazing afterwards!

For my tired tastebuds...

4.  Pioneer Woman's Beef with Snow Peas

Do you ever get in a rut with cooking?? With 72 cookbooks and a Pinterest page full of recipes, you would think my family would be overwhelmed with vittle variety, but, sadly I'm a repeater. There are times, thought, when I walk the wild side of the kitchen and whip up something new. When I want a really good recipe that's easy to prepare and I know my family will eat it, I head over to the Pioneer Woman for the answers to my ambition.  Her beef with snow peas recipe has now entered the repeat list.  It's that good!

For my tired soul..

5.  Watermark on Pandora

We've got a nice little collection of musical numbers on the Mac, and while I love listening to all of it, most days, I just want to hear the words that will help keep me on track with life.  A few weeks ago, I met a truly awesome woman, who texted me this song from Watermark.  I hadn't listened to Watermark for years, and am now back in the groove.  Plug it in on Pandora and it makes your ora et labora life a little less labora. 

Have a great day!! 

Five {Favorite} Reasons I love to Travel With My Man

Monday night, Steve and I returned home late after a 4 day hiatus from the real world....the world of goldfish crackers and football cleats and goldfish crackers ground into the carpet by football cleats, and other precious visions of parenting.

I spent our first day home trying to cope with reality check-checkin' me in the face every five seconds. Snap out of it mountain princess! There's diapers to change, mouths to feed, and minds to warp educate. While I am so thankful to be back home with the boys, the withdrawal from the beauty and serenity of the mountains (and the wine, and the cheese, and sleeping through the night) is really cramping my new rest and relaxation lifestyle.

I'm pretty sure that I consumed enough cheese on the trip to keep the dairy industry a float for at least the next 6 months.  I won't even mention the wine details.  My palette, my liver, my eyeballs and my eardrums were overindulged for 96 hours and are now on involuntary detox...okay, maybe not the liver.  Baby steps here, people, baby steps.

Traveling to spectacular Vail, Colorado with my beloved to see old friends and to meet a few new ones was precious time that I won't soon forget.  In memory of our trip together, I'm dedicating this post to my husband, who, after 13 years, still makes traveling anywhere a grand time. Here's Why:

1. We have a mutual love for 

(what we call) "trashy" magazines. 

Get you mind out of the gutter. I'm not talking about that kind of trashy magazine.  Trashy is just the descriptive we use for magazines in general.  We love to run into the airport gift shop, grab a few goodies, and then fill up on mindless reading on the plane, sometimes with an M & M's kicker.

Then it hits us: we're on vacation.  The adrenaline it takes to run the home ship plummets and cannot be sustained by magazines or chocolate.  Thus, we nap.

2. Food & Beverages

I really do love, love, love the fact that my husband will try just about anything that I ask him to try when it comes to food and drink, even roasted artichokes! Way to go, baby! He does have frosty glass filled with a nice full-bodied amber ale from Breckenridge Brewery to wash it down with. You know, just in case.  I'm merciful like that.

3.  Culture

Vail Village is host to a number of exceptionally talented artists.  One of them is Gib Singleton, the sculptor who was commissioned to design the papal cross for Blessed Pope John Paul II.

I'm so thankful that Steve is open to experiencing art in all forms.  He never complains when I suggest visiting museums, going to musicals, or popping into a gallery or two on our travels.  Gib's version of the Pieta was stunning, one of Steve's favorites. You can read more about Gib's life story as an artist here.

4. Adventure

When planning any trip, we always try to incorporate as many opportunities to get out and enjoy nature as possible.  Steve and I are completely united in this way.  Hiking, fly-fishing, rafting - we love the adventures that nature offers to us and to the boys.

During our trip, we spent a lot of time hiking in the mountains.  The group of friends whom we hiked with was always asking, "Where did Steve go?" I usually just shrugged my shoulders, knowing he had wondered off the path and into the woods or across a ridge somewhere where we would never see or hear him if he should fall.  Crazy man.  I love that about him.

Never content just to enjoy the view overlooking the rapids, nope, he has to be in the water.

5. Meeting New People

Whether we're at an airport bar or on a narrow trail, Steve is never shy.  He loves to talk to others, to hear their story, to tease them, to learn about their family, their job, their interests.  He never overwhelms, but shares just enough warmth, graciousness and friendly humor to show others that they are important. 

Am I a lucky gal, or what?

Thank you, Hallie, for hosting!

5 Things That Don't Collect Dust In My Classroom

Like most homeschool families, my first venture into educating at home began at the kitchen table with a mental list of unrealistic expectations, 1 attention-less Kindergartner and a heaping bucket of craft supplies. While many of you still manage to educate the littles in the same location as the snacks, I had to surrender the dining area a long time ago, due to the high frequency of unnecessary, interrupting trips to the pantry and the fridge by myself and my students (who are always starrrrrrving) and also because grape jelly stains on spelling tests was starting to get a little old.

Thankfully, the last three homes we've nested in have had adequate space for me to set up a more structured place to lead the children through their yearly academic tour.  I'm always arranging, and rearranging, bringing stuff in and tossing stuff out.  But, after seven years of easing into our homeschool groove, I can honestly say that there are five essential elements that I have found to be necessary goods for our classroom.

I snapped this photo just before the daily destruction.  You don't think it always looks this clean, do you??

Side note: This post is one where function clearly trumps design.  Trust me, I'd love to coat that little beige box with a nice light shade of grey and hit it with some aqua and orange accents, whip out some brilliant white built-ins, throw down a fabulous rug and some bean bags.... but I'm still trying to recover from the trauma of renovating our Dolly Parton Steel Magnolia looking master bedroom, a nauseous vision of floral mauve wallpaper, into something my husband wouldn't have nightmares in. However, due to the looming effects of paint fume inhalation and the carpal tunnel in my wrist from scraping off tiny pieces of roses and vines, boring beige will have to due for now.

1. Whiteboard or Chalkboard

Okay, this may seem too basic, but I really do love having a great big whiteboard in our classroom. Not a day goes by that we don't use it. Boys are busy creatures, and when they're given a chance to get up out of their seats to work at the board, it gives them a nice break from the desk.  I have found that it's also perfect for little ones, who are just learning to write, to be able to gain penning confidence by beginning first with exaggerated motions using a colorful chubby marker. 

2.  Proper Seating  

I know that having the proper table height for little learners might seem a little over-the-top, but having that "just right" size table or desk really does help them to stay focused on their work.  When they can rest their busy feet on the floor and sit with good posture, their penmanship and their focus both improve.  

I bought this table years ago from a discount school supply store.  It works over-time as a playtime fort, a puzzle platform and extra meal-time seating during family functions and  social gatherings. The older boys have certainly outgrown it, but have graduated to the next level:

My inspiration for their workstation, which was built by an Amish craftsman, came from Pottery Barn. The P.B. model was perfect but, for us, a big budget breaker. Luckily, I found a gentleman who was willing to build it for me for a fraction of the price.  It doubles as bookshelves (the opposite side is identical to the facing side), and when the school days are done, it will make a great place work on creative projects.

3.  Maps

I love, love, love a beautiful set of maps.  This dual set of World and U.S.A. pull down maps have been a solid investment for our school.  Steve built the frame out of scrap wood pine, then we painted it to give it a bit of polish.  Each week we learn the location of a different country and waterway. I love to enter the classroom and find the boys studying different locations on the maps!

4.  Clock and Calendar

Never underestimate the value of simple basics in the school-room.  As adults we take for granted the ability to tell time and to understand how a calendar works.  For children, repetition and routine are great ways for them to learn life-long concepts.  Every day, we study the calendar, the weather, and the boys use the clock for time management.

5.  Toy and Game Basket

If you've ever tried to teach with a toddler around, you know it can be a challenge ! One tip I love to share is to keep a large basket filled with a variety of toys for toddlers in the classroom.  Every week, change a few things out to keep it fresh.  Using a basket keeps the toys contained, and holds the amount of toys underfoot down to a minimum. We also keep a few learning games, puzzles and manipulatives in clear storage boxes on the lower book shelves, so that they're easily accessible.  Using clear boxes makes it easy for non-readers to see what's inside.  Place a label at the narrow end for big kids, who help with clean-up, to get the objects into their proper place at the end of the day.

Charlie loves to dig into his basket! Thankfully, he's great at entertaining himself! 

Extras: Inspirations

- Words - 

Great quotes have always been an inspiration to me throughout my life.  When I saw this sign in a vintage decor shop, I knew that it would have a permanent place in our schoolroom.  It's the first thing the boys see when they walk in!

- Rewards -

A few weeks ago, Jen at Conversion Diary shared a link to A Philosophy Degree and Fifty Cents blog. While browsing through some back-posts, I found a sweet little tip on giving candy as a reward to your precious Poe's when they recite a poem each week.  The boys all work on poetry memorization throughout the year, but I have never given them a reward for their achievements. I can't wait to see how many stanzas they master this year!

What are your favorite classroom essentials??

Higher expectations for more exciting 5 Faves can be met here.