And the Award Goes To...

Me! I feel so honored to have been nominated for a Liebster Award by not one but two fellow bloggers! Both Memories Made in First and Mrs. Jones Teaches nominated me around the same time, so I figured I would answer both of their questions! 

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

To accept this award I must:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me

2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers

3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator

4. Share 11 random facts about myself

5. Create 11 questions for my nominees

6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them

Questions for me to answer: (From Memories Made in First)
1.  Who inspired you to start blogging? I have been a blog reader for about two years and actually kept a blog when I lived in Italy. I started this blog when I found out I had my first teaching job. I wanted to document how the summer before teaching and my first year went! 
2. What blogs should I add to my must-read list? My favorite blogs for teaching are Clutter-Free Classroom and Sunny Days in Second Grade. Favorite personal blog is Enjoying the Small Things. 
3. Shoes, purses, or accessories? Accessories all the way! I have more scarves than shoes. 
4. What has been your favorite grade to teach and why? I really like 2nd-4th grade. I student taught 4th and was a longish term sub in 2nd, but I think that 3rd is my favorite just because it is a combination of the two. 
5. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be? I would own a bakery. Baking has always been a passion of mine and I think it would be fun to own a business! 
6. Top three things on your bucket list? Go back to Europe, see snow (well, more than the 3 inches I have seen before!), and learn sigh language. 
7. What is something new you want to try next school year? I am really excited to integrate Whole Brain Teaching this year. I can't do much of it because of my school's engagement plan, but I want to as much as possible. 
8. Children, pets, or both? Both! I come from a large family and would like one of my own. But at the same time, I adore pets. I am working on a pet grant for my classroom right now and can't wait to be at the point in my life where I can have a dog. 
9. Movie star crush? Any man with some scruff and a southern accent.
10. Favorite book of all time? The Education of Henry Adams is my favorite adult book. A Series of Unfortunate Events is my favorite children/ya book. 
11. Favorite read-aloud story? Hog-Eye

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Would You Rather's for me to answer!: (From Mrs. Jones Teaches)

1. Would you rather write with a pen or a pencil? Pencil, but a mechanical one please. I am left handed, so pen gets all over my hand. 
2. Would you rather have recess duty or lunchroom duty every single day? Recess all the way. I really like having lunch to myself. 
3. Would you rather teach Math or Reading? Science or Social Studies? Reading and Social Studies. I am getting my masters in reading right now and history was always my favorite subject in school, and now one of my favorite to teach.
4. Would you rather eat 5 whole bags of M&Ms or 2 bugs? M&Ms, I cannot even look at a bug, much less eat one. 
5. Would you rather get a brand new car or go on a vacation with your mother-in-law? I don't have a mother-in-law, so I cannot be sure...but I in general would rather travel than have things. 
6. Would you rather go skydiving (free fall) or rappelling (hug a rock)? Neither, my feet stay firmly planted on solid ground at all times! 
7. Would you rather walk with a pebble in your shoe for a week or go without shoes for a week? Without shoes. I grew up barefoot and it is miserable having to wear shoes all the time! 
8. Would you rather eat out every meal for a month or eat in every meal for a month? Eat in. I enjoy cooking and don't go out more than 2-3 times a month anyway. 
9. Would you rather be a salesman or a librarian? Both! That is why I loved working in a bookstore. 
10. Would you rather live right across the street from the school you work at or live an hour away? Right across the street. I hate getting up early and having to factor in commute time! 
11. Would you rather lose your voice or have nonstop verbal diarrhea?  Lose my voice. Then I will force myself to learn ASL! 

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Eleven Random Facts About Me: 

1. Throughout my K-12 education, I was educated via public schools, private schools, and homeschooling. 

2. I cannot whistle. I have tried and tried for many years, but it has never worked! 

3. I won a cooking contest in highschool. 

4. In junior high I wanted to be a chemist that made make-up, so I would experiment mixing beauty products to make new ones. They never worked. 

5. I have had straight, wavy, and curly hair in my life that has ranged from white blonde to light brown. None of this was in my control. Thanks a lot hormones! 

6. My favorite show of all time is Gilmore Girls. I have watched the entire show through several times. To quote Scrubs, "They talk so fast, but they talk so true!" Gotta love it. 

7. I can mirror wright with my right hand (I am left-handed). 

8. Scrap-booking is one of my favorite crafts, but I don't do it often because it consumes me once I start. 

9. I took 5 years of Spanish and one semester of Italian, yet I am much better with Italian. 

10. I love random facts about everything from history to politics to crafts. 

11. I am so excited and terrified to start teaching!! 

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For My Lovely Nominees: 

1. What is your favorite first day of school activity? 

2. Have you always wanted to be a teacher? If not, what did you want to be? 

3. What is your craving: salt or sugar?

4. How do you see your life looking in 10 years?

5. What is your favorite blog (teaching or otherwise)?

6. Coke or Dr. Pepper? 

7. If you could pick any city/state to live in, where would you life and why?

8. Describe your perfect afternoon. 

9. What is the one beauty product you can't live without?

10. Who do you admire most?

11. When is your favorite time of day?

My Nominees!!

Making Lemonade in Second Grade 

Sweet Tea and Mosquitoes 

Teaching Times 2

Sommer Pride

Mrs. Holder's First Grade

I hope you enjoy answering my questions as much as I have enjoyed writing them. Don't forget, answer my 11 questions, share 11 random facts about yourself, and nominate up to 11 blogs with less than 200 followers.