HOLY, Holy Grails

And no, I am not talking about Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I think when I was 13 I saw one scene with a rabid rabbit and never looked at the Easter Bunny the same again.

My holy grail items, products, apps, what have you not, are things that I simply can NOT live without. Well, I mean I can, but life would be a lot less fabulous without these things. Today I am going to let you peek into my lair of holy grails and show you a glimpse of two things that will just make your life down right fantastic.

THE PERFECT PINK NUDE NAIL POLISH. 

Just picture the M&M's Christmas commercial with Santa...

 "What?! He does exist?" -M&M "WHAT? THEY DO EXIST?!" -Santa. 

IT EXISTS! I REPEAT THE PERFECT PINK NUDE NAIL POLISH IS A REAL THING!

The voyage for a perfectly opaque pink nude can take a lady ages, and I mean ages to discover. Look no further women of the interwebs - meet "Romper Room," by Essie. 

This dream polish applied completely opaque in 2 coats, unlike the other 10 pinky nude polishes I own. Not too pink, not too nude, I know... you are getting chills aren't you!? This gem is part of Essie's new spring collection - haul out to your local Walgreens, CVS, or Target and GET ALL UP IN this bottle of gold - you'll thank me now AND later.  :)

Could I say pink and nude anymore times? I think not.

Alright, alright, now that my fangirl moment of a dang bottle of nail lacquer is over I'll scoot on to my actual profession - teaching. With 12 iPads in my classroom full of projects on projects on projects of 25 students - management can be, well, a beast. Unless you have your right hand man... Sir Dropbox. He is a fancy man I tell ya. After a couple years of touch and go with this baby I am going to share with you some of my top tips for using Dropbox in your classroom.

It is a big fat lovely tech CLOUD for all of your student work. After lots of trial and error with this app, I have found letting students have and manage their own folders of work is key. They keep everything they are currently working on in their own folders by first name. When I want them to turn something in I create a folder with that assignment name and bada-bing-bada-boom, I grade them all on my one iPad. Here is a handy dandy bookmark to keep on hand so students can remember the username and password. 

Holy grails make me happy. And we all should...

Even if... and ESPECIALLY if it is painting our nails, laughing, learning, and teaching. 

:)

Stay chip free and standards based!

Doodle4Google

If there was ever a lesson that beats to the rhythm of my heart, this one would be it. It is state testing time and I've been moving my nest so posting will be short and sweet. All I have to say is #doodle4google

The lesson plan I used came straight from www.doodle4google.com and it was absolutely GENIUS. They have lessons for every grade level surrounding their theme of "if you could invent one thing to make the world a better place." The issues my students came up with that are apparent in their lives were so eye opening. Mostly when presented with the word "technology." They wrote all of the words that they so often use in everyday conversation as *issues* with technology. Facebook, Instagram, vine, selfies. They all claimed were issues with technology... Interesting. They picked a cause to doodle their own google logo based upon. It was actually magical :) 

Oh and yes, my nails are springy. Wishful thinking my friends. 

Stay chip free and standards based!