Periscope~What is it???? Let Me Tell You More...

Good morning!  I had planned to do this blog post last night, but...well no really good reason, I just didn't...woke up this morning feeling a bit anxious about that fact & thinking about my classroom & looking at what blog hops & giveaways & awesome posts are out there & I had to come back to this AWESOME verse that I only this last week came across...

I made this printable soon after feeling stressed ...before I went for my walk & prayer time... before tackling this post...I DON'T need to compare myself to others, I DON'T need to beat myself up for not doing this last night {Praise God His mercies are new EVERY morning!}  I just need to keep my mind stayed on Him & trust Him with RIGHT NOW & He WILL keep me in PERFECT PEACE! :)

Okay, now to PERISCOPE!!!  When I went to the TpT Conference I started hearing about Periscope & I saw it popping up all over social media...I thought...NO...not one more thing!...about a week ago something out there on Twitter or Facebook piqued my interest, so I downloaded the app & watched...I LOVE IT!!! So, what IS Periscope...

 WHY should you check it out???

To follow up on my last bullet~here are some of the people I am following on Periscope...didn't find Ron Clark on there, but I did watch him as I was working on my classroom library yesterday!!

A few days ago I attempted my first Scope

My daughter broadcast with me...as a matter of fact she held the phone...I had 11 live views {thank you, thank you, thank you to those who viewed!!!} & 4 replays...issues...HOPE KING, yes the amazing teacher who teaches at Ron Clark Academy, was Scoping at the same time...I don't know how my scope looked to live viewers, but when I replayed, the video was really blurry & poor quality :( so I didn't save it...so...I am trying again today at noon Pacific Time on the same subject...I would LOVE for you to join me!!!{my daughter is off at camp, so she won't be with me on this Scope}...hopefully none of the biggies are broadcasting at the same time!

New Logo, New Look, Moving Forward!

If you have ever been to my blog before you are probably noticing a difference!  I hope you like it...here is the story....
I began my blog in 2011 as The Apple Basket Teacher.  I found an artist who used apples in one of her sets of graphics and I purchased that set.  I designed my own blog and this is what my header has looked until just recently...

Part of this artist's Terms of Use are that you can't use her work on products & items...not a problem when I began, it was just for my blog...then I started my TpT store...in August of 2014 I uploaded some freebies to my store & used my blog button as my logo for my TpT Store...

 Since I couldn't use this image on my products, as I started to creating items for sell last year, I placed a variety of clipart apples or apple baskets on my products.  I also decided to 2 summers ago to purchase my own Mini Me done by The Library Fox... 

BEST $15 dollars EVER!~ I HIGHLY recommend her!  I have not been super comfortable with pictures of me {I'm getting over it, look at my last post! LOL} & so I have used this image on LOTS of things including my Facebook & Twitter images...

 When the 4 lovely ladies created the TpT Seller's challenge this summer & I was working on my 'Makeover Madness' my sister pointed out the importance of consistency & so I decided upon one particular clipart basket to place on my products...okay, on my PAID products...Terms of Use for that clipart...only on PAID products, so  I chose a different one for freebies...while at the TpT Conference I searched my store on my phone {it comes up differently on the full web version} & up popped another store with a VERY similar title & her logo....USED THE VERY APPLE BASKET I WAS PLACING ON ALL OF MY PAID PRODUCTS!!!...

Now, hear me correctly, there is nothing WRONG with her choosing that for her logo...I have NO negative feelings towards her...AT ALL...I just realized I needed something that was UNIQUELY MINE...I kept hearing at the conference 'Branding, Branding, Branding' & I really do like the feel of this blog...it is mine & none out there are quite like it...so I didn't want to hire someone for a complete makeover, just for a unique logo for me that I could use with this blog~just making a few changes to the blog {header & blog button}...

 I remembered hearing about an online company that performs various goods & services for $5 & up...I checked out what they had to offer...I hired someone & explained what I wanted ...THIS was what I was first sent...

Ummmmm...NO.....did NOT like the Green basket or the fact that looking at it THE is what caught my eye...when I gave my feedback this is what I got...

Better, but I still had some major issues with it...looks like clipart was used for the basket & apples...don't want to run into copyright issues or others with the same thing...and it just didn't feel right....

I did a little more homework looking at lots of work samples & reading reviews...I decided on Danny from Design_line36... his first design was close, but it just wasn't a fit yet...he went back & redesigned it & this is my new logo...

I am very pleased & I have played with it a bit so that I can use the basket in TpT~it uses a round logo & I needed a square for my favicon~that cute little picture up on the tab that says The Apple Basket Teacher...hopefully he won't be crushed with the additional buttons, icons, labels I have made with it...

In addition I added it to the back of my Mini Me's Laptop!!

I hope you like it too!  What do you think???

My only issue right now is redoing my blog button...I watched on tutorial...tried to follow it step by step, but it didn't show up on my sidebar...soon I hope!!

Vegas Baby! My 2nd TpT Conference!

I can't believe that is has already been over a week since the TpT Conference!!..I was only home for part of a day & then headed to Northern California with my family to spend time with my brother's family...got home & now I'm busy with VBS!!  So, here is my experience!!

Vegas!  Wow!
The most important thing to me was seeing & meeting people {if you look on my sidebar at the top & read my mission statement, one the of the items is I want to develop & maintain meaningful relationships!}

As I look at this collage, my heart fills & I realize I have more stories than I will be able to share in this post.  It was beyond amazing to talk with these incredible individuals!

Wednesday

Last year I attending the conference & met Kelly Malloy from An Apple for the Teacher & we really hit it off.  We have been growing our long distance friendship all year & the first thing that I wanted to do when I arrived was meet up with her...she was attending the Differentiated Instruction conference that was taking place there too...we met up for lunch as soon as I arrived...she brought a new friend she had met at her conference & I ran into one of my teammates from my school who was at the conference...the four of us had a nice lunch, but no pictures... :-(  This shows us from last year & this year!

After lunch I headed up to the vendor fair and who did I see & meet??...Kimberly Geswein & family {this picture was taken later}

I decided to get checked in at my hotel across town...mistake!  By the time I got across town, checked in, stuff up to my room, back to the Venetian, I was LATE for the Cool Kids Meet & Greet I couldn't find the restaurant!!! :-(  I think because my emotions were so on the surface, excited about the conference & seeing everyone, that when I was oh, 40 minutes late to the get together I just couldn't stop the tears from flowing...Kayse's husband was so sweet & tried to find a spot for me to sit down & eat.  I met several people & enjoyed some great food...sweet Kayse & Sheri gave us the little key ring with what?...an apple!  That made my day! ...

From there we headed to the Teacher Blogger Meet-up...I had attended 2 years ago when there were about 150 of us, last year I missed it & this year...there were about 1,000 of us!!! We received a goodie bag {bottom left square} & I love that my Coke said "Dreamer"...perfect for the conference... Amie from Glitter Meets Glue...had put out on Social Media that if you said, 'Glitter Swag' she would give you some clipart!!...it is on the cute flashdrive!...the sponsors of the Meet Up gave away a TON of amazing prizes & I WON!!!...AN Ellison Super Star Machine.  If you click HERE you can see me on Ellison's Blog Page!!!!! THANK YOU ELLISON!!!!!!!

Thursday 
The day began with a chance to meet & mingle with people at your grade level...I enjoyed meeting new friends & connecting with others that I have 'known' online.

While the TpT Conference was happening there were several other Educational Conferences happening in the same place.  I was able to have lunch with one of my teammates...it was great to share what a great experience I had already had & we hadn't even had the opening session yet!

It was incredible to be in the conference room for the opening session with 1,100 other TpTers...from multimillionaires to little fish like me...
I enjoyed the sessions I went to on Thursday!  I was inspired, challenged, enlightened, and entertained!  Thank you to all of the fantastic presenters!


Friday
Friday morning was a little frustrating because my phone died...charger wasn't plugged in all of the way & so I overslept & had a major headache :-(  I missed the breakfast, but was able to grab some fruit to take into the Opening Session, the Keynote.  I was thrilled to learn all that I did in the sessions I attended.  One I went to the wrong room number, but it was one of those things where I was EXACTLY where I was supposed to be!  Another session I had changed my mind & went to a different session then I had signed up for.  I learned a TON of information & the presenter was someone I did not know of before. I am a major fan of hers now!!!  

The closing was a Meet & Greet happy hour...
NOISY...but wonderful!!!

I grabbed a super 'healthy' dinner...NOT








{hmmm...notice anything different about this picture...another thing that has been keeping me busy...that will be part of my next post!}
After that 'healthy' dinner I headed to the last the the get togethers...The Primary Pack Kick Back.

Saturday

I had my room through Sunday morning {originally my family was going to come up, but didn't...I decided to stay}
My focus on Saturday was to rewrite all of my conference notes, reflect on what I had learned & make 'To Do' Lists.


Take Aways~Changes~Other

Last year before the TpT Conference I blogged about feeling 'STUCK', the kind of stuck that feels like you are in tar~ I shared a scene out of The Croods & said how I was praying that the conference would get me 'Unstuck' for this last year my password for TpT has been Outofthetar^5 {5 is my favorite number} is has been a good reminder for me.  I now have 30 products in my store & I am ready to take things to the next level!

One of the joys of the conference was meeting the person behind the logo...Laine came all the way from Africa! I really enjoyed meeting her & telling her of a friend {also a teacher} who had gone to South Africa twice & Laine not only gave me a bracelet for her, but also some stickers she had made as well.

No new logo on this one because I had created this collage while still in Vegas & put it on Instagram...

Speaking of Instagram~I am there!!! @The_apple_basket_teacher...now Periscope is sucking me in too!!  :)  Love sharing with other great teachers!!!

I am still two weeks later reflecting & digesting it all, I spoke with so many amazing people!!!  Look at all of these business cards{!!}  I DIDN'T randomly pick up cards either~I had conversations with every person these cards represent!!

 Now, if you have seen other pictures of Vegas you have probably seen a lot of group pictures...many times when there are large groups of people...schools, churches, other organizations, you hear about cliques...as I reflected I realized there were groups~those from the same area, those who work on collaborative blogs, those who have presented together, but cliques~NO!~ I think of a clique as excluding~EVERY SINGLE PERSON I saw & met was warm, friendly, encouraging, & INCLUSIVE!! what a rare group of individuals to be a part of~I am BLESSED!

Now, if the TpT Vegas Linky is still open, I am off to FINALLY link up!!!~~ it is, it is!! Link up here~~
 

5 for Friday~5 Linky Parties!~{Currently, GoNoodle, TpT Seller Challenge~Make Your Masterpiece, COMING SOON~~TpT Seller Challenge~Makeover Madness, Top Ten}

Click above to go to the Camp GoNoodle Linky

 To see my Pop See Ko shirt click HERE!
Thanks to Mrs. Ehle's Kindergarten Connection for hosting the Camp GoNoodle Linky!

 I always love the Currently Linky with the wonderful Farley who is {Yippeee!} going to be in Vegas next week!

I am sooooo excited that I finally finished this project and I am very pleased with how it turned out!!  Click here to go to my store...it will be on sale for 4 days!

This is the 3rd week of the TpT Seller's Challenge!

Tomorrow I hope to  be back with another linky, but for now I want to get back to family!

Tomorrow I hope to  be back with another linky, but for now I want to get back to family!