Shopping Spree(s) and a Free Sweet Tea!

It's been happening all summer long. 

I try to avoid it.

I try to save my money instead of spend it.

Let me introduce myself.....

I'm Mrs. Lochel, and I'm a kindergarten classroom shop-aholic!

It doesn't matter where we are or where we go, I am always on the lookout for items for my classroom.  It's like a little sensor in my brain that always stays lit.  It's always thinking and helping me see how regular items could be used to benefit my students in my classroom.  My sensor has a "Good Deal" radar on it too!  That's what leads me to the clearance racks and dollar spots!  You all know what I'm talking about!

As I've been unloading all my summer finds into my classroom this week, I've snapped a few pics and wanted to share!

Alphabet stickers can be used for so many things!  I am planning on using these in alphabet books for the children.  I am going to create the books before school begins and the children will add words/stickers/pictures to each page as we learn about each letter. The were only $1 a pack at Target!



Now, I love a good art project!!  I found these dish scrubbers for just $1 a piece at Target.  I am planning on putting paint in them instead of dish soap for the children to paint with!  I hope the paint isn't too thick.  If it works, the texture should be pretty cool!



Much like the ABC stickers, the foam sticky numbers can be used for so much!  I think I will make use of these at the beginning of the school year during our number sense unit.  The children can order them, match and stick them to groups of items, or sort them. Only $1 a pack at Target!



Hooray for number/quantity matching puzzles!!  Only $1 at Target.  I can use these as morning "wake up work" or as a math center!

Now, come MARCH, I am going to be all set!!  Target has gone all out with Dr. Seuss materials!  I got cups and plates!!  I am stickler for recycling and reducing waste whenever possible.  When I realized how much trash my class was creating using disposable snack cups, plates, napkins, coffee filters, etc, we immediately switched to reusable.  I can't wait to break these out in March!

Only $1 at Target!

Mr. Lochel took me to lunch today after my last shopping spree and come to find out......it was FREE SWEET TEA day at McAllisters!  Lucky us! 

Happy Shopping, my friends! 

What good deals have you found? 

Summer Bucket List and Great Deal!

A few weeks ago I was inspired to create a Summer Bucket List.  And then, I posted an update about the "strides" I was making towards each item!

Well, I am happy to report that I can finally cross a few more items off the list! 

1. Trip to the beach
2. Read a book, or two, or three (finished Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner.  Just decided what book #2 will be)
3. Start a new tradition at home
4. Give a heartfelt surprise to someone (purchased said surprise, in search of the receiver)
5. Give a good report to a manager about an employee
6. Extreme Makeover: Kindergarten Closet Edition (starts THIS WEEK!)
7. Begin writing a children's book
8. Clean out all 4 3 closets (one down, three to go!)
9. Try Yoga again (my friend Kristy invited me to go...I have been a slacker, but am still hoping to go soon!)
10. Write a letter to the editor
11. Write a letter to a friend
12. Go on a picnic
13. Start a blog
14. Learn about Guided Math Groups (professional book in hand!)
15. Go to a concert (looked up ticket prices, thinking about Rascal Flatts)
16. Finally beat my husband at a game of Clue: The Office edition
17. Complete and mail in Foundation Grant (letter of rec received from principal. Now onto finishing touches)
18. Complete and mail in STAR Teacher Application

Quite a long ways to go.....

Now, onto the Great Deal! 

I love a Sunday morning when my hubby and I can just sit and enjoy each others company, hot coffee, and the newspaper.  I knew I had to make a trip out later to pick up a new ink cartridge so I was browsing the circulars for Office Depot and Office Max to see if anything else caught my eye.  And something did!! 

If you are anything like me, you love for sets of things in your classroom to match.  I am this way about many things in my classroom, especially the take home binders.  I dread buying these each year because it's usually the biggest purchase I have to make with my own money.  To me, however, it's worth the sacrifice when I can look over to my counter and see all the lovely, matching binders sitting in a neat row!

And what do you know?  Office Depot has these beautiful white, clear view, 1 in binders on sale!  A set of 12 for $14.99.  I got my whole class set for just $30!  The ones I got last year were not nearly as good quality as these and were falling apart by the end of the year. 

So happy to have that taken care of! I love a good deal and hope that if you were looking for binders that this helps you too!