Sale-bration at The Laughing Tree!!

So, today is my birthday. And if you did not know, it falls on International Women’s day, March 8. Therefore, it is cause for a weeklong giant celebration at The Laughing Tree, meaning that you will get a 38% discount from now until next Tuesday with the discount code “38”!!!! One week!! I’m in a great mood, my favorite 8 year-olds sang Happy Birthday to me. Smiles!!

Stuff Kids Say - She's a pious one

Mattie: You know what the one good thing about church is? 
Me: What? 
Mattie: I've been there once, and the only good thing about church is the snacks they give you at the end.

Stuff Kids Say - Curly hair woes

Me: I loooove your curly hair...I wish I had curly hair.
Mattie: Hm. I don't really like it.
Me: How come you never put it down?
Mattie: Well my mom said if you have curly hair and you put it down a lot, flies will get in it.
Me: Oh, so THAT'S why.
Mattie: Also because it gets in the way when I eat.
Me: Ok, that's REALLY why.

Stuff Kids Say - And I thought I was just fine the way I was...

At the start of school, William sees me...

William: "FINALLY, you're wearing some makeup." (continues conversation with friend)

I could have cried. I admit, I don't pretty myself up, but I didn't think eight year-olds cared whether I used purple eyeshadow or no eyeshadow, volume-length mascara or naked lashes. I also didn't think a third grader could shatter my self-esteem. 

Stuff Kids Say - Just excited to show you this

Behold...

Chocolate APPLE with a WORM inside!!

It's not for me, of course...it's for a Mrs. Lee.

Stuff Kids Say - It's Valentime's Day!!

Here is why I want to be a teacher: PRESENTS!!! And today is no exception because it's Valentime's Day (as the kids say)!!! And my favorite below:

From Maggie, just overflowing with love and tape.

We're close like that...as in she can call me
by my last name and spell it a different way.

A giant kiss because I'm #1 Teacher :)  

Happy Valentine's Day to all!! I hope you have people who make you smile and laugh...if not, read my blog, I'm good about sharing.

Stuff Kids Say - My wish came true

Today, we did Vocabulary Plays, which is when the students divide up into groups and act out the vocabulary word that they are assigned. This is a group acting out the word "royal":


William: "Ok, Lindsey is a princess, Maggie is a princess, Carlos and Marvin are kings. And I'm the butler."
Maggie: "Yes, but we call him butter. You know, like this. *shakes her butt*"


Note: Last week, when we talked about what we wanted to do when we got older, William said he really wants to be a butler. School makes dreams come true!!

Stuff Kids Say - I have a sister?

First grade, as we were talking about the "c" sound...

Student: Oh oh! My sister's name starts with a "c" sound, too!

Teacher: Really, what's her name?

Student: *silence* I forgot.

Big family, perhaps.

Stuff Kids Say - Use it in a sentence

When I student taught first grade last year...


We were talking about using the word "leaves" in a sentence.

Kobe: Not all people eat leaves...but I know who does!! *dramatic pause, looks around* ...Vegetarians!!!!!

Stuff Kids Say - What is the spinal cord?

This installment of Stuff Kids Say is actually not from my third graders, but from my little sister when she was about their age.

Sister: Helena, what is a spinal cord?
Me: It's a long bone that runs down your back, like here.
Sister: Ohhhhhhhh, a bone. So like, chicken bones, duck bones, turkey bones...

I guess she only heard the "bone" part.

Stuff Kids Say

I've decided that the stuff I see and hear in school is too deliriously funny not to share, and it deserves grander a forum than my Facebook statuses, so I will post on my blog in more detail "Stuff Kids Say." 420 characters in a status is not enough and I have to condense the text, but here, I can ramble forever. 


This year, I teach third graders, so most of these posts will come from the ingenius things they do and say and write. These are the reasons why I love kids and why I love teaching and why I laugh. 


Today, I brought a little mailbox to school and told the class that since they always have a million questions and comments for each other and for me, they can write them down and put them in the mailbox. I will write back to them or answer the questions for the whole class if it is appropriate. On the first day, I got 10 letters (though not all of them were for me)! 


Here are some to share:

Got straight to the point.

And hip hop, as an afterthought. 

Boys are very interested in this Marvin-being-a-DJ business.

And here's why girls are made of sugar, so warm and fuzzy. *heart* *peace sign*

I'm gonna have stickers!!!

I'm getting stickers printed!! You'll get one, and you and you and you and you, and you over there too. They're mostly to fulfill my own girly childhood sticker desires. I would have been the coolest girl in the bathroom sticker-trading club if I walked in with my own personalized stickers. Stickerbookers, look out!

Below is a sticker idea that my always-fabulously-talented designer Kevin Kwok created. For some reason, I am really set on the idea of round stickers. It's quite amazing how he can create exactly what I see in my head. Wait, can he see inside my head? *panic*

Love is in the air! 25% off + free gifts!

Valentine's Day is in exactly three weeks. And The Laughing Tree would like to commemorate this beautiful day of love by giving you 25% off your whole purchase, AND a free gift for every $5 you spend!!!!! I know, you didn't think you could love me any more.


Use coupon code: loveapples


The code will work from now until sometime before February ends!! I love mystery. 

The Big Apple Laughs its Apples Off

I told you all I was going to New York. Well, I'm back!! For seven days now, actually. Sorry, I type slow.


My first trip to New York can be captured in one word: magical. As in, Harry Potter would be jealous of me.  I am completely enamored with the city in all its fire escape glory. I introduced New York City to the awesomeness that is The Laughing Tree, though I did not take as many pictures as I would have liked because it was so cold there and my hands were being selfish inside my warm pockets. 


All the pictures are on the Facebook page, and here are a few highlights:

Top of the Rock overlooking NYC!

Left our mark in Times Square.

In front of J's house...the snow was knee-deep!

Subway ride. Saving a seat for my wire winder friends.

Possibly my favorite picture in the album...Sweety Dog is so excited he's hopping instead of walking.

This post was for The Laughing Tree in NYC...I will post a more detailed update of my trip and adventures for your stalking pleasure! 

My first domestic flight within the continental US? and cool product pics to share

The past few summers and winters, I have been traveling by plane a LOT, mostly in Asia. To Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and all over China's countless cities.


And tomorrow marks my very first domestic flight to another continental state within the United States! Funny that I have never flown domestic before (ok, except to Hawaii, but those are islands). Also funny that I'm actually kind of nervous flying domestic by myself for the first time, when I have flown everywhere else internationally by myself, and the fact that people speak English where I am going. 


Oh, where am I going? NEW YORK! I will reunite with two (or possibly three) of my best friends, one of whom goes to med school there, and the other happens to be a link. Been collecting places go and things to eat! My pockets are of full of suggestions. This will be The Laughing Tree's second adventure out into the world!


And as always, I've been keeping my eyes out for all things cute, possibly to join The Laughing Tree family. I will share with you some of my favorites:

pineapple paper slices in a tin

 the Leaf-it

toast & eggs, yum.

coffee milk carton of memo paper

for when your papers have booboos

sticker tabs for page-marking. SO COOL!

hanger for your pen cause it shouldn't get wrinkled

i like you pen. perfect for valentine's day!

stamp or pen? identity crisis.

my fav: bookmark corners!!

Send me anything you see that's cute enough for The Laughing Tree! 

Shoutout to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because it's his day on Monday and we will forever remember his greatness and leadership.

Vegas adventures!

Hello loves!


As promised, I've posted the pictures of The Laughing Tree's adventures onto our Facebook page. "Like" it if you haven't already!


We had a wonderful 4 days in Las Vegas. My family and I saw Le Reve and Phantom of the Opera, both of which were crazy amazing. My eyes were going to explode from the visual ingenuities in Le Reve, with all the flying and swimming and bald muscle men. And Phantom of the Opera completely took my breath away with the music and singing and story...I cried at the end, I did. Still need to do: get the soundtrack.


We ate at The Buffet at Aria, which was DELICIOUS. They had the best mashed potatoes I've ever tasted!! Anyway, without further ado, feast your eyes on our trip!

More: The Laughing Tree in Vegas!