Carolina Blogger Meet-up

I was so excited to get a chance to attend my first meet-up this weekend in Greenville, SC! Amanda did such a great job organizing everything and it went so smoothly. The Facebook event page made connecting so much easier. I was one of many that arrived Friday evening to extend our get together time. The hotel was very nice and super convenient to all of our activities. My roomie was Kris from Poole's Pages. We had never met before but she was such a pleasure to spend time with and I'm glad we were able to hook up. 

The festivities started with an impromptu happy hour gathering in the hotel bar. We walked as a group p to The Lazy Goat. I'm totally not a foodie but I loved the atmosphere at the restaurant and I even ventured out of my comfort zone to try some different tapas. Everything I tried was delicious so I guess I should be more adventurous in the food department. We were scattered around at smaller tables so I got a chance to really visit with teachers at my table. Everyone was super nice.  

Following dinner we walked over to a new dueling piano bar called Jack n Diane's. Amanda had made reservations so they had three big booths set up for us just to the side of the stage. It was a hoot! Everyone had a great time there was even some dancing up on the stage. 

The following day we met for lunch at another yummy spot called Chicora Alley. We had a huge table so everyone could sit together. I tried to make a point of sitting by different people at each of or activities and it was wonderful meeting so many fabulous people. For our lunch there were cute name tag with everyone's blogs, goodie bags with G-Vegas themed treats as well as tasty cupcakes. After lunch we took a big group picture. I will have to add it once someone posts it. A smaller group finished off the event by participating in a vocabulary filled downtown scavenger hunt, organizer by the fabulous Ginger. There was even some shopping thrown in. 

I LOVED ALL OF IT! I'm so happy I was able to participate and meet so many great folks. I just wish I had been better about taking some pictures to document the fun.

Amanda even put together a list with the blog buttons from our different attendees. She rocks and I so appreciate all her hard work (and Ginger too).

Brooke from Whooo's in Second?

Sarah at Education Electrification

Diane at Fun in Second Grade

me (Heather) at Room 4 Imagination

Elisabeth at Twins, Teaching, and Tacos

Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Natalie at Teachery Tidbits

Kim at Thanks to a Teacher

Kris at The Poole Pages

Brandee at Creating Lifelong Learners

Courtney at Classroom Snapshots

Ginger at GingerSnaps

Rachel at The Tattooed Teacher

Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B

Ashley from Primary Teacherhood

Tammy at Life, Love, Literacy

Emily AND Kerry at Third and Goal

Lauren at The Sweetest Thing

Jeannie at The Second Grade Surprise

Lana at 4 The Love of Teaching

Amanda at Teaching Maddeness

I guess I better get to bed since we started back to school last Thursday. 

Saturday Snapshots from vacation

Another first this this week - I've never linked up with  Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera for

Edition

My husband and I have had a great time being tourists in Northern California. Unfortunately the majority of the pictures are trapped on our camera right now but I did take a few on my phone that I can share.

We started our trip in San Francisco last Saturday. We wandered around Fisherman's Wharf and I ate some chowder in a bread bowl. I went to Alcatraz on Sunday morning while my husband got a couple of work things done. We went to a show called "Beach Blanket Babylon" that night. Monday we went out to Muir Woods and Sausalito. That afternoon we also hung out at America's Cup Park watching some fun videos and going through the really well done exhibit "flying on the water." Tuesday we went out on a sailboat the see some racing. That was a bit of a let down because there was only one boat running the course because the other one was out of commission for repair. In the late afternoon we rode around on the hop on hop off bus with a stop at Haight Ashbury. Wednesday we rode the bus some more and spent time at Golden Gate Park going in the Japanese garden and the Conservatory of Flowers (which was having a special butterfly exhibit). I also went to the maritime museum on the pier with tons of old unique boats that once were used in the bay. That night we did a sunset catamaran under the Golden Gate Bridge. We headed out of town on Thursday morning.

When we left San Francisco we headed down the Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1). We stopped for lunch in Santa Cruz and then arrived in Monterey. I went out kayaking just behind our hotel and paddled along cannery row up to the aquarium. There was a raft of 12 otters just off of the aquarium which was very cool as well as a few pairs of seals and a bunch if sea birds. Unfortunately I totally didn't think of bringing a camera. The next morning we drove down Hwy 1 to Big Sur and then stopped at a place with a great view for lunch. I had so much fun kayaking the day before that I convinced my husband to go and we brought a camera. This time there was a raft of almost 30 otters as well as seals and otters scattered in other spots. That night we walked around Cannery Row and checked out all the motorcycles since the Red Bull Grand Prix had started that day. We went into the races today. My husband is a big MotoGP fan. Last year we planned a trip around coming to the races this time it just worked out that it fell during the only time we could come. As luck would have it we are actually staying in the same room we did last year which I loved because you can see otters and tons of birds just outside our window.

We have been really enjoying ourselves on the trip. Tonight they have Cannery Row closed off to cars and it will be wall to wall motorcycles. It was totally crazy last year. We go to the final day of racing tomorrow and then Monday we head back up to the San Fran airport to fly home.

Marvelous Monday

I glad to be here again sharing some new projects for Tara's

 

  But first I am excited to announce the winner of last week's giveaway.

I got in touch Saturday and she selected the purple glitter just like mine.

Shar's personalized clipboard

just a reminder what the other side looks like.

My favorite new project this week came from this pin.

inspiration pin - original source lost :-(

Here is my version

I got the adorable little mailbox from Hobby Lobby for $4. I didn't do any directions because you pretty much cut scrapbook paper the proper size and glue it on. I used spray adhesive. I did throw some paint on the flag and brad as well as cut the letters from Vinyl with my cameo.

I also did a recreation of 3rd grade thoughts project from last week because I loved it.

inspiration

my version

I made one for my classroom and one for my teaching partner. Stephanie has great directions on how to make them.

I did a couple of other quick projects last week inspired by previous Made It Mondays and other pins.  You can check them out at my Pintervention Party post from Friday.

Besides my school projects I also did two little fun ones for me and a friend.

These are some little glass tile necklaces. I made a sailboat for a friend's birthday that I race with as well as one for myself. I thought the fish would go cute with my classroom theme. I also made a flag but it seems to be MIA since 4th of July. 

 Earlier this summer while I was visiting my family in Connecticut my mother and I did a short stay at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York. This promo picture is obviously in the fall but it give you a good feel for the property. 

Mohonk Mountain House

While there we explored some of the grounds, took a house tour, attended a guest speaker, did some hiking and enjoyed the fabulous food (which is included in the price). We loved our stay and were browsing the gift shop for a memento. I got a kick out of all the little "summer houses" around the grounds (a few of the little shelters are pictured below) and I fell in love with a stone necklace with a silver summer house on it. I asked the price at it was over $200! Who knows what stone it was attached to but I didn't care it was just the general look that I liked. I couldn't believe/justify the price and decided if I bought a small charm I could probably recreate my own version. I also bought some simple earring which were very reasonable.

a view and some "summer houses" tucked all around - the top right was the view from our room

Here is my version ($5 for the charm and $4 for the stone necklace at Hobby Lobby). Definitely more in my price range :-)

Thanks for dropping by