summer time and the livin' is easy. aka too many DIY projects later...

one of my kiddos left this on the board on the
last day of school!

i hope everyone has had a fun and relaxing summer...i know i didn't keep up my promise from my last post in what, march??? ooops.... forgive me?? Well, to make it up to you, i have TONS to share....updates, ideas, DIY projects, and lots of photos!! so get excited, ok? GREAT.

my absolute favorite place to be... seagrove, fl (outside destin)
my family goes every year.
i earned my full week of laying on the beach this year! ;)

at the beginning of summer i was worried that i was going to run out of things to do...has that happened?? NO. I have kept myself busy and the time has flown by...why is it already the end of july?? 

• Question: who took a ton of stuff to work on from their classroom at the end of the year, and is just NOW starting to look through it???  

           that would be.....ME, ME, ME, Me!!!! 


when i walked into target about two weeks ago and saw this particular sign....i decided it was time to get busy preparing.... :)

i mean it is just cruel to children to have this up so early in the summer!!!!

ok ok...now to the good stuff! 

I am so excited to start using the 'daily 5/cafe' program in my classroom this year!!!...one of my favorite things about the daily 5 is the 'i pick' system and 'shopping' for 3 good fit books once a week!! i know that last year some of my kiddos would spend half our reading time searching for a good book....instead of actually reading a good book!!! I wanted my kids to have a separate place to keep their good fit books because i don't know about your kiddos desks....but mine become a black hole after about 2 weeks! ;)

I looked into buying the chair pockets, but they were a little TOO pricey for me. Natrually i headed over to my second home, hobby lobby...and picked out some fun colorful fabric to make my OWN chair pockets, or 'reading bags' in my case. 

• They are super easy to make, all you need is....fabric, thick elastic, fabric scissors, ruler/yard stick, pins, and a sewing machine (is faster)/ or needle & thread.

the fabric!!! (minus the top right...that is for my apt)

the elastic i used

you need lots and lots of pins!!!

my new favorite toy!!!!! i learned how to use it
this summer.....

 once you have all your materials...cut your fabric to the size you want them....make sure you have your 2 pieces of fabric 'bright side to bright side'...pin all four corner, and then put your piece of elastic inside of the 2 pieces, about an inch to the top and pin each side of the elastic to the fabric...so it stays in place!! Just like my picture below....

ready to sew!!!

make sure you only sew 3 sides together....then turn your bags inside out...ok now...you need to fold the top edges down and iron them so you can stitch the top to look more finished, and so they don't fray!!

finished bags!

I hope you could follow my (probably) confusing directions!!

next on the list....i made these adorable 'crate' seats for my small group table (i made 5)....that you can also use as storage! they are SUPER easy to make...

All you need is... crates (i got mine at wal-mart), thick foam (it comes as a roll, i got mine at hobby lobby), plywood to fit in the top of the crate (i got mine at home depot, they cut it for you for FREE), scissors, and a staple gun.

staple gun & fabric scissors  

home depot to get the plywood cut ready to be covered!

cut your fabric about an inch larger than
the plywood!

cut one piece of the thick foam the same size as the plywood and
a second piece about an inch or so smaller. place the smaller one
on the plywood first, then place the larger piece on top.

Then you just wrap the fabric around to the back of the plywood (pull very tight) and staple the fabric around the edge of the plywood! I also made small pieces of fabric to use as 'pulls' to staple on the bottom of the plywood. if you use the crate as storage, the pull makes it so much easier to pull the 'seat' up!!.... just like the picture below!

fabric to use as a 'pull'

now you've got yourself, your very own, crate seat!!! :)

 

all 5!

I had alot of extra fabric from the reading bags & crate seats so i made pillows for my reading area!! :)

pillows pillows everywhere

front

back

front

back

I hope you have enjoyed some of my DIY craft projects that i have had fun with this summer...if my quick directions didn't help you, please don't hesitate to email me...sophie.kranz@gmail.com 


Also...if you don't already have a pinterest account, you need to get one NOW...and if you do have one feel free to follow my boards (sophie kranz)...i will warn you though....it is soooo addicting!!!! 


i'll leave you with this inspiration for the new school year...

a month has gone by? neglect? what?

wow!!...i have neglected my poor blog this past month...hopefully i can manage my time better after my much needed fabulous spring break....i made a (long) list of things that i need to do better on an everyday basis...i still consume myself into my classroom,children,lessons, etc...which is goooooood...BUT on the other hand, everything else in my life i tend to neglect....which is not so gooooood. i'll let you know how it goes...ha ha ha.


today is the end to such a wonderful week...i was able to visit family in bowling green, ky and one of my best friends from my childhood (we met in 2nd grade and still going strong!) in nashville, tn where she moved with her husband!....more stories/pictures to come to give you a glimpse into my trips, but i have to finish my esl writing grading test...whoops (an other example of me neglecting something).


i wanted to share my lastest diy project i did yesterday afternoon...i'm really excited about how they turned out!

i decorated clothes pins.

the finished product! ribbon, fabric 'flowers' (from hobby lobby),
vintage buttons from my mom's collection, and clothes pins!

now off to do my esl work stuff...ugh. how i wish i wasn't such a procrastinator. hopefully the dave matthews pandora station can help me through this.

andy warhol. inspiration.

"I'm just so busy ... not working, but busy playing, because work is play when it's something you like." -warhol

when i am looking for inspiration....i look for the perfect song, quote, magazine article, blog, or look over my favorite book that has highlighted sentences/paragraphs from beginning to end.

tonight i ran across alot of andy warhol quotes that inspired me....so obviously i'm going to share them with you....and hopefully they will inspire you to do something great this weekend....

"I would go absolutely anywhere I heard there was something creative happening."-warhol

"You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you." -warhol

 "It's not what you are that counts, it's what you think you are." -warhol

'sophie warhol'
hahahahaha
this is a cover of an art book i made. if you can't tell its
a glittered black frame on top.

"If you feel you have nothing to lose, then there's nothing to be afraid of." -warhol

"You have to do stuff that average people don't understand, because those are the only good things." -warhol

if my warhol findings didn't help excite you, i'm sorry...but it is time for this teacher to go to bed (watch law&order svu or criminal minds) after my longgggg 12 hour Thursday.

what do you do to find inspiration??? 

21 valentines???

heart day card via 2008

i hope everyone had a wonderful heart day this year... i am not usually a big fan of february 14th, but this year i think i'm going to like it more and more...getting to decorate the classroom for the kids, seeing how excited they are, all the fun themed activities leading up to the valentines day party (that our wonderful room mom's put together for us), and of course having 21 valentines. 

the kiddos had a blast, and i was exhausted....so the day was definitely a success!

these are my 2011 heart day cards...yes i used the same song...but its a perfect song, wouldn't you agree???...i think the 2011 card got a little bit more 'classy'... i had so much fun making these for my family and friends/co-workers! :)

more pictures to come of our heart day activities, valentine bags, and a glimpse of our party...so be on the lookout.

now i must get back to my 'hott date'....report cards.....

4 snow days and a project.

just to give you some background information....dallas NEVER....no way no how....ever ever ever cancels school due to 'inclement' weather....why you ask?? i have no clue...because when the weather forecaster  e.g. pete delkus (because he delivers) come on and says, "there might be a wintery mix on the way"... dallas shuts down, but the school district never does. we always brave the storm for education. BUT not this time around....we were granted 4 full snow days, and it was amaze....until i needed out of the house..... here are some pictures to enjoy....

you never.ever. see this in dallas. REAL snow.

just because. its texas.

this is when i realized i needed out of the house, and
missed my job....i was wearing a beret and
dressing my dog up in burberry.

on snow day #3....i decided that i had watched enough law&order svu, criminal minds, and sex and the city; they all always have marathons...and its hook line and sinker for sophie. anyways...last weekend i bought little valentines to make for my kiddos, so i thought this would be the perfect time to fill them out because 'normal no snow day sophie' would wait until the last minute to fill them out and my mom or sister would have to help. (i start WAY too many projects at a time, for those of you who don't know me)

here  they are in all their glory....

ok, this is the card that each kiddo will get...my mom and i found them at this AMAZING store, paper source at northpark. if you like scrapbooking, cards, stationary, funny/fun gifts, stamps, and/or creating in anyway shape or form...i advise you to go now. 

I wrote each students name on the card with small note... 'my favorite thing about you'...here are some examples if you were wondering ....you are always sweet to others....you are a great leader....you are a wonderful artist....you are a fabulous writer....i think you get the point. BUT each student has a different note.

then.... these are the envelopes i stamped and wrote their name on the outside in pink (i'm obsessed with stamps by the way).

this is the final project together....they don't look like much...but i'm pretty excited about them....and hey, they are better than the 'hello kitty' ones i would have bought from target, right??

i am also going to make them bags with their name on it...to play the part of the 'valentine mailbox', so they can deliver cards during the class party....also, we are very lucky in second grade with parent support this year, and they will have a present for each child to go home with....but since i am an excited 1st year teacher i wanted to get them a little something from me....they will each get one of my 'home made' cards, a fun valentines day pencil, and of course the ever popular conversation hearts.

so all in all that is what one of my snow nights consisted of....also finding like 30 (not an exaggeration) new centers, activities, worksheets, etc... for the kiddos to enjoy when we finally get back to school. yes thats right, sophie said FINALLY...working was never 'my thing'...but we won't get into that now...just know.... i'm obsessed with it now, so good thing i love my job! 

that's all i have for you today, hope you enjoyed....i know i enjoyed history in the making during my 4 dallas snow days this week....stay warm.

i ventured out today for lunch with one of my good
girlfriends....this was out the window of where we
were lunching. my favorite flowers.

meet the teacher.....

Meet the Teacher!!!

ok so....i know this is alot 2 blogs in one day?! crazy!....but i wanted to join in on this 'meet the teacher' blog 'linky' party, that one of my favorite teacher blogs is hosting!! so enjoy some Q&A's of yours truly....

a little bit about myself...i am a twenty something year old in the first year of her 'big girl' teaching job.I graduated from texas tech university, and i loved every second being there...Now I teach 2nd grade....and yes there have been some ups and downs but i wouldn't change ANYTHING about it.....i am teaching in the school district that i grew up in and couldn't be happier about it.

this is me now! 

and this is me the summer
before 2nd grade!!!

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                              
A:  I would be doing something with fashion....when i was growing up, when i wasn't playing "school teacher" with my best friend adrian...i was drawing and designing purses and shoes. when kate spade became really popular my logo looked just like hers...sophie kranz dallas (instead of new york...you get the picture)...or a couple years ago, i tried to start my own jewelry business on etsy.com 'simply sophie'...

my logo i used...

my cousin ali sent this to me...
so me. rachel zoe and shoes. yes.

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                     
A:  Ummm....anything 'artsy' if that makes any sense....photography, music, art....now the ever popular blogging....and making fun activities for my students to enjoy...   

one of my fist collages i made...
its on stretched canvas.

music....that is all.

                                                             

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                      
A:  I kind of answered that in the first question....BUT since i was about 8 years old i knew i wanted to be a teacher....you know have 8 year olds are though...i wanted to be a teacher/designer...and i wanted to live in nyc...hahaha oh the life....

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                   
 A: shopping..well spending money really...i have a sickness, i CANNOT say no to shoes. you should see my closet...it is over flowing with shoes!!! Real Housewives of NYC (the others aren't worth the time), gossip girl (its addicting...i love chuck bass)...vampire diaries (at least i don't read/watch twilight, right?)...coke zero (my students know i'm addicted)...

that is only the top of my closet....

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                        
 A: hmmmmmm.....this would have to be failing. i cannot fail at anything. worst fear of all time. yup. it gives me chills.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                    
 A: this is hard....but first and foremost the beach....not just any beach...the laid back funky beaches of seagrove, florida (right outside destin)....it is like our own PRIVATE beach. we have been going every summer since i was in 3rd grade?? and my second vacation would be to new york city. i just love it there. and am jealous of anyone who gets the chance to live there in their life.

seagrove i miss you.                                                

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                   
A:  i have received a lot of smart advice through the years from my mom, dad, sister, grandmother, friends, teachers, etc... too many to list so i'll leave with you with picture....

i couldn't think of anything better to live by than this....

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                    
A:  ummmm kindness, honesty, and a sense of humor?? yes? no? well it is true.

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                         
A: ummmm....hmmmm....let's see....probably my honesty...i couldn't lie for the life of me, i'm the person that looks everywhere but at the person i'm trying to lie to, or the student in class that had a stamp on her forehead that said 'HEY LOOK AT ME I'M TRYING TO CHEAT ON THIS TEST!!!'....i could never do it. and also my sense of humor...i get it from my dad, or rather the 'Kranz' side...we are all pretty funny people. (at least i think so)

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                                
A:  my grandparents....well 'meme' becuase i miss her so much. and then my other 3 grandparents because i 'born too late' to meet them... haha :) and of course...the beatles...DUH. i would be in heaven.

meme.

Now tell me something random about yourself:

ok so this is kind of embarrassing but so what...so who cares?!?! it's a funny story, or at least i think so. Ok, so here it goes. In elementary school for whatever reason, learning how to ride a bike (without training wheels) just didn't interest me...my american girl dolls were simply more important, and my 2 best friends lived within walking distance...so who needed a bike??? not me!!...well as the years went by, my friends became more interested in going to ride bikes around the neighborhood....one day while hanging out with my 2 best friends....some boys rode their bikes over and wanted us to come...i had to think fast, and was freaking out...these boys could NOT find out my dirty little secret that I was in 5th grade and didn't know how to ride a BIKE?!?!?!!!!....so i blurted out..."sorry guys, i'm just all biked out from summer"....HAHAHA WHAT??? well it worked...they just said ok? all confused.... well that excuse worked for about a year...and then i finally learned how to ride a bike in 6th grade with the help of my dad, and 2 best friends....haha. so there is my random 'sophie' fact....

2 blogs in one day??? well, happy snow day...