Welcome Back to Me & a Freebie

Hey Y'all

Oh my Giddy Aunt Gemima! I just realised that I have not blogged in over a year. Literally I sat down to blog a year ago - and the posts were not even that meaningful. Y'all! Life has happened. It has been a crazy roller coaster ride of many ups and down but here I am blessed to do what I do.

I am so glad to be back. I know a lot of my American teacher friends have already finished  or close to ending their school year (lucky fish!!), where here in South Africa, we are only hitting the half way mark.

We are currently in our second semester / term out of 4. I am so excited for the holidays- coming up the end of June... I am literally counting down the days. I have 19 school days left and we have a long week end coming up in 2 weeks time. Can someone yell - OH YEAH!!!

So for those of you who do not know me, I am OCD with planning and having a schedule. I use a planner every single day! Who's with me on that?

Every year (I made it to cater for when I was visiting in the USA) I make / update a calendar, with monthly to do list, weekly schedule etc etc etc for the upcoming school year.

I couldn't believe it I was scrolling TPT when it struck me it was that time again.

Included is monthly calendars - Starting from June 2017 (which is already here) until July 2018 (for those early bird planners). These are all printer friendly in black and white. I jazz mine up with flair pens of course.

I normally punch holes on the side and slide it into my school planning or sometimes I paste it into my diary/schedule. A friend of mine print's all of the pages for the year (including weekly planners and to do lists)  and has them ring / spiral bound at a print and copy shop.

I then have a weekly schedule, to break my month down into bite sizes and take the week as it comes. I have started filling in this week's schedule. I include personal and work. 

I also included 2 different to do lists, but this one is my favourite. I break down it down into sections - I find it more manageable and then I don't get so overwhelmed with what I need to do. I take it step by step.

I hope that this helps you getting organised for the summer and the school year. If you would like this awesome FREEBIE, just click on the product image to be directed straight to it. 

I wish all of you a wonderful summer. Relax and Recuperate! YOU DESERVE IT!

Until next time.... 

Currently: May

Hello Sweet Friends.... and HAPPY MAY!

I can't believe we are already this far into the year. It felt like just like the other day that we were celebrating New Years, and back to school for me.

I am so happy I have managed to find some time to blog! I am joining Farley from Oh Boy It's Farley for her last Currently link up! I am so thankful that I managed to link up a few times and have made some new friends along the way.

So for the last time, let's do this.

So right now I am LISTENING to the Chainsmokers - Don't let me down. I love their music. I think I became slightly obsessed with them when they released the song Roses. That is one of my FAVE FAVE FAVES!!!! I love my music, so when I find artists that I love, I kinda go a bit goo-goo ga-ga over most of their songs or hits.

I am absolutely LOVING the fact that yesterday was a public holiday, so we get today off. YAY! for a 4 day week! I have such a long to do list (as always) so I am so thankful for this extra day to get it done. Thank you Worker's Day!

I am a bit of a dawdler. Procrastinator is the better word to be honest. I'm THINKING I better get a move on with that to do list, especially if I want to relax and chill this evening.

As for my WANTING, right now I really want 2 things. First, I bought a car recently and I can't wait for Wednesday because it arrives! WOOO HOOO! I can't wait. BUT I also really want school holidays so I can jump on a plane and fly to a place called Durban about 672.7km (418 miles) away from me and go see my special *insert love eyes emoji here*

Finally some cooler weather and a taste of Autumn (Fall) and I am NEEDING a nice big cuppa hot chocolate. Let's not spare the bells and whistles and I think I'll just add a huge dollop of cream and sprinkles and mini marshmallows. Diet? OOPS... yeah let's not even go there! Go big or Go home right?

My TRUTH confession is that I am absolutely EXHAUSTED already and we only in May. I still have 7 months left of school and I am buggered! 40 needy little kindergarteners is kind of draining to say the least. I still love them to the moon and back even though they drain me.

Well friends, its been good to catch up and I am so glad we have managed to link up for one last time! I can't wait to hear and read all about what y'all are up too but first I better go make that cuppa hot choc and tackle that to do list. So I will check up on y'all later! Be sure to hop on over to Farley's blog and see what everyone else is Currently up to. Just click on her logo below.

Have a blessed week!

Valentine's Day Sunday Scoop

Happy Happy Valentine's Day Sweet Friends!

 I hope you have all had a wonderful day filled with abundant love and sweet little goodies.

Today I am linking up with Teaching Trio for their Sunday Scoop. I haven't Sunday Scooped in a while, so I thought I would join back up today.

So here is my have to do's, hope to do's, happy to do.

Have to do: I am such a procrastinator. I actually don't have that much to do, and because I know that, I have been putting it off, until now, on a Sunday evening at 6:21pm. Eugh.

Hope to do: Such a gorgeous day and evening. I really hope that I will manage to squeeze in a quick walk down on the beach. Joys of living on a beach estate :)

Happy to do: Self explanatory. I am a qualified couch potato, especially on a Sunday. I am happy to park on the couch and channel surf all day!

Well that's all from me this Sunday friends. I'll catch you on the flipside. Have a fabulous week and enjoy the rest of your Valentine's Day

All my love

February Currently

I know I know! I am late to the party again and I haven't blog in a while. There goes my new year's resolution... but oh my worm I have been busy busy busy! Chaps, 38 Kinders is no joke!

Let's look on the bright side, I'm here now, and I am joining Farley for her Currently Link up.

So let me get to it :)

Listening: I love my music - ANY kind, genre, type. I have no specific taste, and this may not be everyone's cuppa tea, but I LURVE it. This is one of my favorites at the moment. Its 2 South African artists. Euphonik (who is a DJ) and Micasa (a Band of sort). If you would like to have a listen, go HERE.

Loving: Friends, February is the HOTTEST month in my home town (no air cons in our homes). We are only on the 3rd day of February and I am wishing for winter. We finally have some rain and even had a storm. I am scared of storms, but it was welcomed today. Loving the cool breeze blowing through the door.

Thinking: I am a list maker. I make lists for my lists. I'm one of those. I have a to do list about the length of my left arm. I need to tackle it! I guess I could say I did. Top of that list was to blog currently. There are about another 12 tasks I NEED to get done! Wish me luck!

Wanting: I want to buy a book, curl up on my couch and read (preferably listening to the rain outside) ;) Any book suggestions? Would love to hear what y'all are reading.

Needing: Normally I'm on top form with my planning and prep for the upcoming week. However, this week has thrown a few curve balls and I am running behind. Need to get it done. When do you plan for the week? Over the weekend? Do you have a specific planning day? Tell me about how you get your planning done.

Swooning: Hi! I'm Tamsyn and I love Peach Ice-Tea. Especially if it is frozen .... slightly melting..... and you can make it slushy, like an icee. It goes down like a home sick mole on these hot days. Great! Now I am dying for one! It will have to wait for tomorrow.

Anyway friends, hop on over to Farley's blog and read about everyone else's currently, or join in on the fun. Click below to go right on over.

Have a great month of love sweet friends. 

January 2016 Currently

HAPPY NEW YEAR Sweet Friends! 

What a year 2015 was! Full of ups and downs and adventures! I hope y'all had a wonder night ringing in the new year with friends, family and loved ones. I don't often make new year's resolutions, but this year I am going to try and blog more.

And starting off with a bang... I am joining Farley for her monthly "Currently" link up.

Listening: 

My family and I have moved back to South Africa and we rang in the New Year with very special friends who we consider family. Our New Year's Day tradition is spending the morning down on the beach (we live about 500m away from the sea) and a Braai (pronounced br-eye) or what y'all call a cook out, when we get home.

However, because we all got home at a ridiculous hour this morning, the beach trip kind of fell away but the Braai at our house continued. So they are all downstairs laughing, playing games and chatting.  I'm upstairs in my office and hearing this just fills my heart with such love.

Loving:

To be honest, I am not a fan of the heat in Summer!! TOOOOO HOT for my liking. I am such a winter baby! BUT creating awesome memories with my loved ones are always one for the books! So I am actually loving the Summer vibes this year :)

Thinking:

All good things must come to an end, and in a blink of eye we will be heading back from the break. I am so EXCITED because this year I am going to be teaching Kindergarten. Here we call it Grade R. I have never taught this grade before but am so ready for a new challenge! My class is going to have 40 little beings. Any of y'all K teachers? What advice can you give me for teaching this age group?

Wanting and Needing:

I want and need a nap! Simple as that! I am getting way to old for late night parties.

One little word:

Blessed. Explains it all!

Well friends, that's it for this month's currently. I am going to head back outside and enjoy the gorgeous sunset (See below). Don't forget to head on over to Farley's page and grab a blank currently and join in!

Have a blessed year Sweet Friends!

Fall Blog Hop

Hello Sweet Friends,

First of all... Happy Fall Y'all! I don't know about you but I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall. So sad I am going to be missing it and have to wait until March / April for South African Autumn! Fall is my favorite season. The fabulous cooler weather, cute fashion, fun classroom activities and things to do... I just adore it.

But anyway... I am so excited to be joining Stephanie from Mrs D's Corner and some amazing teacher blogger friends for a "FALL BLOG HOP". You can read all about a bunch of exciting things based around FALL!

Let me start off with a list of my "FALL FAVORITES"...

1.  FOOTBALL

Those of you who know me, know that when I came over to the USA, I fell instantly in love with the game of football! Oh my word. I am addicted. I have amazing friends, who were patient enough to sit through a few games with me and explain the rules and what exactly was going on. I was lucky enough to go to a few games and tailgate! And because I was in South Carolina, I was told I have to choose my team very wisely (or I might be disowned as a friend). Thank goodness I picked the right team... and they are of course... THE CLEMSON TIGERS!

I absolutely love and adore anything orange and purple and tiger! I have been following this season's games on Twitter, and so far so good. Hope my boys keep it up! Do you watch football? What team do you support?

2. SCARVES

Hi! I'm Tamsyn and I have an addiction to scarves. Woolly, infinity, straight, soft, cuddly, blanket type, patterned, plain... you name it, I will want it or probably have it (in every color too). I mean, a girl can never have too many scarves! And errr I have about 80 (half of which are in storage and I just could not get rid of). I am always topping up my collection. Fall, Winter and even a few cool days in Spring are my scarf days. My favorite style at the moment is the Plaid Blanket type scarf. I have 1 or 2 of these and I will admit now... it won't be my last.

My Favorite Fall Scarf Fetish for this year

A scarf with boots is just the perfect Fall outfit. What is your favorite fall style? What inspires your fall fashion?

3.  DARK CHOCOLATE AND HOT CHOCOLATE

Yes, nearly all y'all love pumpkin spice lattes from StarBucks. I am that 1% exception that doesn't. I don't drink tea or coffee, so pumpkin spice drinks don't tickle my fancy. Neither does pumpkin pie! GASP! I would rather indulge in a slab of dark chocolate and a cuppa hot chocolate, curled up on the couch with a blanket and Netflix!

Those are my top 3 things for ME, but onto my top 3 things for my classroom and kiddos. Even though I am not teaching at the moment, my mind is constantly on the GO for ideas and things that I can use when I am back in the classroom.

1. ARTS and CRAFTS

I love creating, and I love to find things for my kids to make on a "Fun day". Pinterest and blogs I love you! I always find amazing things on there. My favorite this year is APPLE STAMPING. Fall reminds me of apples. So apple stamping would be a sure thing in my classroom. It is so versatile and can be used with many activities.

You could use the apples for the shapes of leaves on a tree, scarecrow faces, apple stamped banners, counting crafts etc etc. The list is endless.

2. FLAVORED PLAY DOUGH

While I said before I don't like pumpkin spice, I know my kiddos and families do. I found this awesome pumpkin spice play dough recipe. This would be used non stop in my classroom. My kiddos (even though I taught 3rd Grade) loved play dough. Even at their age.

Click HERE to be directed to the recipe :)

3.  BOOKS

I LOVE READING. Rain or Shine, I love to be curled up with a good book. I try instill that passion for reading in my kiddos. I get a few who feel "forced" but majority of my kiddos loved reading. Watching them blossom into fluent expressive readers was so rewarding for me. Some of my favorite fall story books are:

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

Johnny Appleseed by Jodie Shepherd

Friends, I would love to hear what your fall favorites are for yourself and the classroom. But before you hop on over to the next blog, I have a freebie for y'all. I have just uploaded it into my store. Go check it out :) 

Hop on over to the next blog to find out what Kristina has to say about fall. Click the image below. 

September Currently

Oh my goodness! I can't believe that we are already in September! This year is sure flying by fast! I can't believe its already my birthday month and I am going to be another year older in just a few days time.

 This is the first time I am linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for "Currently" and I am so excited! SO here we go:

*** So the weather in my home town is so unpredictable. Sometimes we have all 4 seasons in one day (hot, cold, windy and rainy). It is also notorious for being a windy city, especially being on the coast! I don't know why, but the wind makes me so grumpy. I just hate being blown about (messes up the hair - lol)

Today's forecast

*** Now those of you who know me, know that I LOVE CHOCOLATE! I have recently discovered that I have a liking for dark chocolate! My favorite is Cadbury's Bournville Dark Chocolate. The mint flavor is the BEST!! I have an addiction to it! What is your favorite chocolate?

MMM... my favorite

*** I don't know about you, but I have a daily battle of what to wear? What I do though is pick a piece of clothing in my closet that I want to wear. Then, I rely on my dear friend Pinterest to get "inspiration" from there. Do any one of you do that? THANK YOU Pinterest for being a fashion stylist and life saver!

Pinterest outfit search

*** I love going to the movies. Popcorn always tastes better when bought from the cinema! I haven't been for a while. When last have you been? What did you watch? I want to go and watch "Trainwreck". Anyone seen it? I need to make a plan ASAP to go!

*** I have been back in my hometown for almost 2 weeks already. I have been so busy getting things together, that I haven't even had a chance to catch up with friends! I especially want to see my oldest friend. We were friends in our mama's tummies and when we tell people that, we get stares of death. BUT it's the truth! Our parents have been friends for years! We are only a month apart in age and have been friends for our whole lives! Truly blessed to have such a special friend.

Friends for Life (Literally)

***As for my goals that I want to achieve. My list is endless. However, I have 3 short term goals that I want to achieve within the next year.

This is always a goal and I am trying my best to achieve it. And that is to exercise more. I need to get fitter! Jelly Belly and Bat Wing arms are just not going to cut it for the summer.

My idea of  exercise 

Then the next two goals go hand in hand. I am in the process of doing my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certification. It's a 150 hour, 12 module course. I want to get it completed by the end of the November! My last short term goal is to go teach English in Hong Kong or South Korea. Hence, why I am getting the TEFL Certification! New Adventures are on the horizon. I CAN NOT WAIT! EEEEK! Excited!