Does putting away all of the Christmas decorations make you feel a little glum? I was in the mood to make something fun and whimsical to save my library media center from the winter doldums... and this was it! I used to love those little boxes of conversation hearts when I was a kid. (Even then I loved WORDS!) I remember sitting on the curb with my friends, taking turns digging them out one by one, and reading what they said before letting them melt away in our mouths -- such a sweet memory!I have one spot on my LMC's entry table that needs something tall. So I decided to make a valentine tree. I came up with 36 book-themed, conversation-heart-worthy sayings...repurposed some sparkly branches that came from the floral department at Walmart once upon a time... and found a bright blue vase to serve as the base. Next, I tucked in a few sprigs of "early spring" silk flowers to add interest. I printed the hearts onto white cardstock, and then one of my precious library volunteers ... Keep Reading...

I'm thankful and excited to share that my 2018 New Year's Resolution has been COMPLETED! I kicked a HUGE Diet Dr. Pepper habit that spanned many, many years -- from high school to late December 2017 -- with the exception of nine months when I was pregnant in 1993! :)I replaced my extreme diet soda habit (about 2 liters per day) with lots of water and a daily tea combo that my little sister dubbed "Julie Juice." (The recipe is on the graphic above.) Replacing (what I believe to be) bone-leaching, insulin-spiking, sugar-craving diet soda with healthier alternatives was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. To be honest, I had days during the first months of 2018 when I still thought about grabbing a DDP, but I never had the horrible withdrawals that I feared. I KNOW the credit for this goes straight to my amazing, faithful God because I prayed -- A LOT -- for Him to please grant me a broken stronghold, an absence of withdrawal symptoms, and consistent strength to say NO ... Keep Reading...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello there and Happy 2019 --  I’m wishing you a few more days of rest, relaxation, and renewal -- but if you’re like me -- thoughts of those second semester library plans are beginning to permeate your brain already, right?! Well, maybe I can help!Just in case you haven’t heard, many TpT sellers have selected two of their favorite resources and marked them down to just $1 each for a short time. (They’ll ONLY be available for this low price on December 30th and 31st! You can find all of the $1 sale items by typing #RingIn2019 into the TpT search bar.)My $1 resources feature fun bookmarks to print, trim, and give away:Winter Bookmarks – January and February ($1 on 12/30-31 only)Birthday Cupcake ... Keep Reading...

 I mailed our letters to Operation Gratitude today -- fourteen earnest, warm-hearted notes thanking unknown soldiers for their sacrifices this holiday season. Each one was inspired by a sweet Christmas story of selflessness and teamwork. You see, last week I read The Night Santa Got Lost : How NORAD Saved Christmas to my fourth graders. I had run across and gotten interested in this book last spring, but had to wait to share it until December rolled around, of course. I introduced the book by explaining the purpose of NORAD to my classes. I pointed out Colorado Springs (where Peterson Air Force Base is located) on a digital map and showed them the official website of the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Then, I told them the funny, but true story of how a misprint in a Sears department store Christmas ad gave out NORAD's secret military hotline phone number by accident. I told them what happened when the hotline rang and a General answered, fearing the ... Keep Reading...

Hello! The winners of our Holiday Blog Hop were announced on Saturday, and I was excited that Cari White of Library Learners had one extra gift card to add in at the last minute! So we got to give away THREE cards! The more the merrier, right?! Thanks to everyone who participated. I hope you gathered some fun ideas to round out your December lesson plans! ... Keep Reading...