Exclusive Stitches specializes in felt toys and embroidery. The entire shop is stock full of hands-on learning opportunities in the form of the sweetest little felt toys you've ever seen. If you have little ones at home or you teach in the primary grades you're going to want to check this shop out. Can you even cope with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" set below? It will be so nice to bring Eric Carle's book to life in my classroom list year. What's your favourite set by Exclusive Stitches?

Casey, the artist responsible for Time to Talk's many creations is a primary school teacher and the mother of twins so you can be sure she understands the concepts of learning for little ones. She sent us a sweet hand sewn matching game like the one you see below. It came in the most adorable case, too. It's going to be a great Kindergarten tool. Next, I think I'll be exploring her beautiful mobiles. Wouldn't they be sweet in a little girl's room or a classroom? Take a look around this sweet shop and tell her I sent you. 

You can stop taping those sight words all of your house and your classroom. Snap Words is the solution. I do lots of reviews and giveaways on here and most of the time I am approached by the company. This time, I went to them. I have used these in my classroom ever since the school psychologist introduced them to me and they work. They really work. There is something about associating the word with a moment that helps get it cemented into a child's brain. 

Now, I was gifted a whole set for my class. Score! And for you, a set of Snap Word Cards B and a booklet explaining how they are used. 

All you have to do to be entered to win is comment below or on Facebook a word that you always misspell (or at least have to think about every time you write it). I'll go first. 

Tomorrow (I always want to add another M)

It's giveaway time again. This time the good people at Orkin are offering a Back to School prize pack. I'm especially interested in the travel charger because my phone is always running on empty. The coffee mug looks nice too. I can never find one big enough to hold two full glasses of wine. (How else are us moms supposed to get through Back to School this year?)

All you have to do to be entered is tell me (in the comments) about a time when you could have used some pest prevention help. I'll FaceBook the winner at the end of the week. 

Here's mine: There were hornets living in the walls of our first house. *shiver*

See prize details below.

Back-to-school time is a great time to #LearnWithOrkin about pest prevention. Take the Pest Prevention Pop Quiz to find out if you know how to think like a pest! Find the link to the quiz below. 

The Orkin Back-To-School Prize Pack includes: 

One (1) Silver USB Portable Charger – We know you’re on the go from sun up to sun down and you can’t afford not to be accessible. This emergency charger is small, sleek and can help your phone keep up with your busy lifestyle!

One (1) Double Wall Stainless Steel Travel Mug w/ lid - Your car isn’t the only thing that needs fueling up in the morning … this stainless steel travel mug is a great way to ensure your morning coffee is always within arm’s reach.

One (1) Orkin “Protect Your Home” PDF Checklist - This handy checklist from the experts at Orkin will help you think like a pest in order to help protect your home from pests.

At Orkin, we use the latest technology and unparalleled training to develop an effective treatment that's right for your needs. To learn more about our pest control based in science or to schedule an inspection, visit orkin.com or call 1-800-800-ORKIN.

Orkin on Facebook: facebook.com/OrkinPestControl 
Ask The Orkin Man® on Twitter: twitter.com/AskTheOrkinMan 
Orkin YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/OrkinVideo

Mrs. Kinderhearted just hooked me up with the absolute best work work package I have ever come across. My Word Work/Play planning is done for the whole year and my students are going to love it. 

Not only did I print and laminate the whole set so the kids could manipulate it each day but Mrs. Kinderhearted also sent me the SmartBoard files for everything. No joke, this might the most excited I have ever been to get back in the classroom. 

I would love to spend a day in her classroom learning how it's done. 


You'll have to explore her store to see what might work best for your classroom. Happy Shopping!

Project Mc2 proves that little girls want to look up to smart girls more than anything else. The girls in this neighbourhood are loving it, and it's teaching them that not all scientist are men wearing lab coats and glasses. I'm happy to let my seven year old indulge in some screen time when the message is as important as this one: Being smart is the new black.

As you might know, for my five year old, it's a little different. She is into a little construction and a lot of destruction. Also, kinda sciency right? Well, no matter, because she is thrilled to catch up on Dinotrux whenever her sister is lost in Project Mc2. 

It's probably a coincidence, I'm sure, but it's as if the #StreamTeam knows my girls because when two packages showed up on my doorstep this week, one was a doll from Project Mc2 and the other was a box of Dinotrux stuff, my girls were thrilled. The five year old kept asking: "How did Netflix know?" 

I guess Netflix is just really great at figuring out what its customers want. Even the little ones.

I found the best seamstress on the internet at Ooh Baby Infinity. I think she triple checks everything and that may be the key to her success. That and her great taste in fabrics, patterns and styles. Look at the tote! I almost wouldn't mind taking work home if I could carry it in that baby.

Some of her bags are reversible and everything is fully lined and totally on-trend.  There is nothing in this shop that you won't love. We ladies aren't feeling the machine-made, big box store bags, anymore. We deserve better. You deserve better! Treat yourself to a little something for all your hard work. You can bet I will. I'm thinking that sweet infinity scarf with the splash of lime green and maybe this, or this, or maybe even this.

What's your flavour?

When you teach you spend a large portion of your pay check on materials for your classroom. You do this mostly for your students and a little for yourself because teaching is just way better with fun stuff. So, it's such a relief to find such quality, handmade items at Magic Rabbit Toy. Children learn far less from paper and pencil activities than they do with these bright and colourful tactile learning toys. But you already knew that.

Every stitch is painstakingly sewn to perfection so that wee hands can have years of fun with these lovely felt learning tools. It's fair to say that I have a new favourite shop for kids activities. Now, the only question is, what do I want next?