Some Great Web Sites & Blogs

 OOPS!!! So...my blog says that this post never posted. Could that be true??? I swear it did, but it shows up as just a "Draft" instead of a post. Anyhow, it's worth re-posting JUST IN CASE because these are some awesome websites! Sorry it's like 3 months late...

ORIGINAL BLOG POST from 5/10/12

As most of us, I spend a fair share of my "free time" on the computer. I have a few blogs that I follow daily (they are listed on the right side of my blog) but there are also a few other sites that I thought might interest you.

 http://www.peoniesandpoppyseeds.com



Peonies & Poppyseeds

This is a great web site for free printables. I love their lunchbox jokes, which I print off, cut out and put in Payton's lunch box every few days. He loves to read them to his lunch table, which makes me think of him as the class rockstar. :)
They also have party printables and lots of other great stuff that make you look like you were super creative, when all you really have to do is print it off her blog. Love that.

 http://thecrockstar.blogspot.com/

This is kind of an "old school" blog, but she has some really great crock pot recipes on here and she intermingles some funny life stories along the way. I am making her "Best Beef Stroganoff Ever" tonight. I'll be sure to let you all know if it lives up to its name!


 http://www.groopdealz.com


WARNING! This site is addictive. It's like Groupon, but for boutique designers (like people who have Etsy sites). I have purchased some AMAZING deals off of this site. For example, today, I purchased 2 yellow & white Chevron print pillow shams for my decorative couch pillows for $11 each (check out the other options below)! That's cheaper than you can get at Target! 
 
Every day they have different deals ranging from children's cloths, to jewelry, to pre-made vinyls, to teacher's gifts. You never know what the deal will be for the day, but it's bound to be something you'll like!
Here are a couple of other items I've purchased on Groopdealz:

These delicate earrings for $4.75 each (they came in a ton of different colors/designs):

 

This distressed cadet hat for $14:

And I'm so excited for some personalized teacher note pads that I ordered for end-of-the-year gifts for only $3! And of course my pillows! Yeah - I love a good deal!  

(Did I mention this site can be addictive???)

 www.greatschools.org

This has been a wonderful resource for picking out books for Payton. I love to go to the library every week (yes, every single week) and pick out as many books as will fit into my reusable Publix bag and bring them home for my little book worm. He is an avid reader and I do think it has to do with providing him new material every week to keep in interested in reading. We also have a pretty strict bedtime at 7:30, but he can then read in bed until he is tired, which can sometimes be 30 minutes to an hour.

This site lists "Favorite Books" for each grade. I look at the titles, then reserve the books at the library. He has loved every single book from this list.


I have so many other great sites that I'd love to share with you, but Payton just walked in from school, so now it's off to do homework! Hope you enjoy these sites. Let me know if you use any of them.