Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Preschool at Home: Spelling Spoons

During school drop off one morning I noticed one of the activities for the morning were "alphabet spoons". It looked interesting and the kids really seemed to enjoy it. They were sounding out words and learning to spell in a fun way.

At first I wondered why they weren't using regular flashcards but then I realized that the spoons made it fun and different. I decided to make Savannah some of her own spelling spoons. There are so many ways to use them. I've thought of a few different games already.

All you need to get started is a bag of plastic spoons and a sharpie. Write each letter of the alphabet on a spoon.

preschool phonics spelling spoons

That's it. Here are some of the games and activities I've thought of to use our spoons...

-Make a phonetic sound and have your child find that spoon.

- Say a word and have your child spell it out using the spoons. Have them sound out the word as they look for the right spoons.

- Play a rhyming game. Choose an ending sound and teach them how to identify words that rhyme.

preschool activity using plastic spoons

- This game is for 2-4 players. You will need at least three sets of spoons. Hand each player 10 spoons. Place the remaining spoons in a plastic cup scoop down. Have each player create words using the spoons in their hand. If a player needs another letter have them choose from the cup. You can only pull from the "deck" once per turn. Using a timer, each player has 60 seconds to spell out their word. The first player to get rid of all the spoons in their hand wins.

- Spell a word and leave one letter space blank. Have your child fill the blank with the missing letter.

- Scramble up the letters of a word and have your child move each spoon to their correct place to spell the word correctly.

What do you think? Sounds fun, right? I'm looking forward to playing more games like this over the Summer with the kids. Will you be trying 'spelling spoons'? It's a fun a alternative to flashcards!

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Friendship Friday: Blogiversary $200 Giveaway Celebrating Nicole from Pharr Away

Celebrating the 3rd Blogiversary for Nicole over at Pharr-Away! Be sure to enter for your chance to win! Her story is below, enjoy and good luck!

1

Today is the day that Pharr Away turns three years old! This blog has come such a long way, and I'm so proud of it's growth.  I have a heart to make this space better year after year and I am on a mission:  

To inspire, encourage and inform in a way that impacts the world, 
no matter how small, through the sharing of my own experiences and findings.


I hope you'll continue to come to this space for years to come. To share in my experiences, to discuss ideas and concepts, and to dream and take risks right along with me. I pray that we continue to work together, grow together, support and build each other up!

This community means so much to me, and I'm so glad to have met fellow bloggers along the way as well.  Like my past two blogiversaries, I wanted to do something to commemorate this milestone.  What better way to celebrate than to give something away to those who keep coming back week after week.  With that said, I've teamed up with just a few other bloggers in order to provide one lucky winner with a chance to win $200 via PayPal, and it's easy to participate. Simply enter the rafflecopter below, and get to know these beauties while you're at it.  
Just Mi! (Mionna)| Lovely You (Tasha) | The Chic Stay at Home Mom (Tia)
Life as His Mrs (Rondra) | She Got Her Own (Adeola) | Coily Locks (Alisha)

I can't wait to connect with the new and reconnect with the old. 
So what are you waiting for? Win some cash already!

Monday, April 20, 2015

Thoughtful Mother's Day Gift for the #BestMomsDayEver


This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine.
#BestMomsDayEver #Collective Bias


My Mother is one of the best women I know. She is my best friend and my role model for motherhood. When I think of the type of Mother I want to be it looks a lot like my Mom. My Mom is smart, funny and kind. She has been my biggest teacher of unconditional love.

I enjoy learning from and laughing with her. She has always done so much for my brothers and I so this year I want to give something back to her. My Mother is thoughtful. For my very first Thanksgiving as a married woman she made me a cookbook full of all of our family's recipes. I think it's time that I put a little something special together for her so that she knows how much I love her.

After all, she is where I got my awesomeness from so it is only right that I celebrate that!

My Mom enjoys reading and writing so I thought it would be a great idea to put together a box full of some of the things she enjoys. While in WalMart doing a little shopping I came across the One Stop Shop by American Greetings.

American Greetings One Stop Shop at WalMart

I love sending cards in the mail. My Mom saves them all so I always make sure to take my time and read through them until I find one that speaks to how I feel about her. My favorite cards are the ones with bookmarks on them. Not only will she enjoy the card but she can use the bookmark. She'll think about me every time she saves her spot in a book.

American Greetings One Stop Shop at Walmart

I really want to make her gift special. Finding a journal was super important to me. After doing some scanning at the One Stop Shop I found the perfect journal for my Mom. 

American Greetings One Stop Shop

To complete her box I'll include pictures of the kids (because what Grandma doesn't love that?!), special crafts done by my babies and of course a beautiful Mother's Day card.



The journal is my absolute favorite part of her gift this year. There are different sections in the journal that I know she'll appreciate. I'll use the tissue paper to wrap her journal and stuff the box. 

Mother's Day Gift idea for the #BestMomsDayEver

Savannah made a flower pot magnet to send in the box. I hope this gift touches my Mom the way all of her love has touched us over the years. I also have a stepmom and a mother-in-law that I needed to grab cards for and I was able to grab some things for them too. I love it when I'm able to get everything I need in one store visit. I know they'll enjoy receiving their gifts as well.

What are your plans for Mother's Day? How do you plan to give your Mom the #BestMomsDayEver? 

Be sure to visit the One Stop Shop by American Greetings in Walmart for the #BestMomsDayEver!

Enter below for your chance to win a $4000 prize...

#BestMomsDayEver Giveaway- $4,000 Prize Value

Sunday, April 19, 2015

#SSSVEDA TMI Tag

Happy Sunday!!!

These past few days were super busy with my Dad in town. Little Mike seems to have a bit of a cold with a tiny fever. Regular posting will resume tomorrow with an inspiring story about Mother's Day. How will you be celebrating this year?

In the meantime, enjoy this video. It's a tag that will hopefully give you a bit more info about me!


Friday, April 17, 2015

Fiesta® San Antonio Methodist ER App

San Antonio it's time to Fiesta®!

Every April one of the biggest festivals in the United States takes place. The festival honors the memory  of the heroes  of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. From April 16 to April 26, 2015 the city will celebrate the diverse heritage, culture and spirit that make the city of San Antonio what it is today.

With several different ways to celebrate Fiesta® it's important to remember safety precautions and ask for help when you need it.

Methodist Healthcare San Antonio has facilities all over San Antonio and will be providing emergency healthcare services during Fiesta®. At any time during the two week long celebration should you feel the need to get some help you can use the the new Methodist ER app to find the nearest emergency service station near you. Cool, right?

Whether you ate too much, drank too much or got too much sun the folks at Methodist Healthcare can help you keep calm and Fiesta®. "We want people to have a good time, but should a medical emergency arise, we want our community to know that our new app will help them get the help they need quickly and conveniently", says Palmira Allerano, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations at Methodist Healthcare.

Fiesta San Antonio Methodist ER app

The Methodist ER app lists all the Methodist hospitals and emergency centers throughout the city. The app can tell you ER wait times, addresses and distance in miles from your current location. 

Here are some safety tips to help you during Fiesta®:

Stay hydrated.
Dress for heat.
Be mindful of the foods you eat.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Put on sunscreen.
Listen to your body.

Download the new Methodist ER app for all your Fiesta® San Antonio emergencies and win two commemorative t-shirts. 

Fiesta San Antonio Methodist ER App

The Methodist ER app is available on the Fiesta® San Antonio app or through the App store on iPhone. Since emergencies can happen at any time continue to use the app after Fiesta® for all of your emergency needs.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Thought Bubbles...

My Dad is coming to visit...

Today's parent teacher conference at school went well...

This will be the last time I allow us to have an office space in our kitchen...

That desk stays cluttered and it kills me...

I'm currently looking for a small cross body bag for summer...

Still haven't found any flat black sandals that I love...

The inside of my car has been clean for a whole week. They thought I was kidding when I said, "No more eating in the car"...

Who am I kidding? It's only been a week...

I'm so ready for all the summer activities we have planned...

The baby now wants everything he sees his sister with...

No Oreo or juice box is safe...

I am halfway done with retyping the eBook...

Some guacamole would be so good right now...

Today I wore blue instead of black. Still trying to decide how I feel about it...

Not that the dress is new, it's old. I've just been wearing black for so long...

Speaking of old dresses, I found an old denim goodie in my closet today. Save and I are going to be twins one day soon...

I'm trying to stay hype about getting my haircut. My excitement comes and goes...

If I had a private jet I would fly my girls here for fun Saturdays and then fly them back home...

The first time I get a chance - I'm going to have a day out solo...

A mani, pedi and quiet shopping experience is calling my name...

Friday, April 10, 2015

#SSSVEDA YouTube Mini Marathon

I'm back!!! It feels so good to have my computer up and running again. She is like my third child and without her I was a little crazy. So glad to have her back.

While I was away I hope you all were checking out my daily vlogs on YouTube. If not, no worries. I have gathered them all here for you. All of these videos were shot and edited on my iPhone. Please don't judge them too harshly, LOL! I expect the production factor to go up now that my computer is back. 

Then again, with the way my life is set up I may have to keep using my phone because it's super convenient. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my daily blogs. Subscribe to my channel to make sure you never miss a new "episode". 

Thanks for watching!















Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Shrimp Étouffée Recipe Link

I really hate that I'm unable to do full posts right now.

I shared a pic of the dinner I made tonight and everyone wanted the recipe. The link to the post is below. It was so easy to make, enjoy!





Shrimp Étouffée Recipe


-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Blogger Down Situation...

New posts will resume on Thursday. My computer is in the hospital. I'll be posting videos everyday this month on my YouTube channel. Join me over there to see what I've been up to!

Happy Easter!




Thursday, April 2, 2015

Vlogging Everyday in April - VEDA Day One

I'm joining the fun over on YouTube and logging everyday this month, or at least I'm going to try. If you haven't subscribed to my channel please do! Yesterday I posted a "Day in the Life" video. Today I am sharing my fitness routine and tomorrow I'll be sharing an Easter basket haul.

If you're participating please leave a link to your channel in the comments so that I may subscribe to your channel and see what you're doing this month!



I hope you enjoy getting to see another side of me. Thanks for watching!

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Hello April

Hey, Girl! Hey!!!

It's April already?! Whoa. Can not believe that. I thought it would be fun to share some of the goals I have for the month of April. In some strange way sharing my goals here helps me. It's like my own personal accountability system.

Hello April


My goals for the month of April:

  • Apply for the copyright to my eBook
  • Workout 3x a week using the NTC app for the Operation Snap Back® April challenge
  • Attend barre class 2x a week
  • Participate in the VEDA Youtube challenge - Subscribe to my channel to see my videos! 
  • Start another book project 
What do you hope to do during the month of April?