And the Liebster Award Goes To...

I was nominated for this sweet award by Heather over at Recipe for Teaching weeks ago. 2 and a half weeks ago to be exact. Yup. I'm the worst. 

Apparently the Liebster Award was designed to help recognize new teacher bloggers with fewer than 250 followers. Liebster also means dearest, favorite or beloved! Am I blushing?

I have to be honest, I had heard of this adorable blog before, but I hadn't really explored stalked it until this week! She has some really great resources! I especially looooove her math QR codes.

I definitely need to get on the QR code bandwagon! Luckily she has a really simple to follow tutorial for me :)

So here goes, the rules for the Liebster Award:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.

2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 250 followers.

3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.

4. Share 11 random facts about yourself. 

5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.

6. Contact your nominees by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to communicate the nomination.

Here are the Questions I was given by Heather :)

How long have you been teaching? 

This is officially my 3rd year teaching! Although it feels much longer. I was lucky enough to have 3 years of student teaching between my bachelors and masters programs so I have been "teaching" for 6 years! And that's not counting the 5 years of teaching preschool during my teacher prep programs. 

 What is your favorite subject to teach?

I absolutely LOVE teaching reading. That is one of the reasons I love 1st grade so much! Students make so much progress during 1st grade and it is really exciting to be a part of that.  

What are 3 things you would say describe you?

Organized (maybe a tad OCD), motivated and funny! Or at least I like to think so!

What is the best thing about teaching, in your opinion?

For me the best thing about teaching is being able to provide that "safe place" for students. Having been in several Title I schools, there is a lot of chaos/drama at home and I love being able to provide that sense of stability for my students.

If you weren't a teacher, what other career would you have?
I'm pretty sure I would be a party planner! I love to plan elaborate parties. 

What is your favorite children's book? 

This is such a tough question! I would probably say any and all Kevin Henkes books! They are adorable!

What is your favorite movie?
Magic Mike. Don't judge. 

No but seriously, I have so many favorite movies. Pretty much any comedy, chick flick or movie with Channing Tatum is A-OK in my book!

What are your hobbies?

I love to run/weight train! I also really enjoy baking (although I don't eat sweets), organizing and crafting. 

Where is the best place you've ever traveled?

I haven't traveled much (yet). In the last few years my husband and I have just started traveling and it has been so exciting! Our first trip I was THAT person in the airport that asked a million questions because I didn't know what to do. But don't worry, I'm a pro now. I think the best place we've been to so far was Hawaii for our belated honeymoon. It was so relaxing and beautiful. 

What is your favorite food?
I looooooove fruit. And salt. But typically not together. 

What is your favorite quote?

Right now my favorite quote is "Don't let your struggle become your identity."

And now for the fun part! 11 random facts about me!

1. I think I am a rapper and also a broadway musical star.
2. I wear children's shoes and clothes (well, not pants because I got hips for days).
3. I have a slight shoe obsession. And by slight, I mean my shoes have their own closet.
4. I want to own all the kittens in the entire world. All of them.
5. I am a die hard 49ers fan. Enough said.
6. I often mix words or phrases together and make new sayings. Yesterday I said "Omitting my eyes" (omitting from memory and averting my eyes...) My husband loves to make fun of these. He writes them down in a book. I expect a book signing any day now.
7. I have been trying really really really hard not to start playing Christmas music already #sorrynotsorry
8. Despite my answer to #7, I LOVE fall. I wish it were always fall.
9. I don't read. Well, not for fun. It's always PD books.
10. I haaaaate the "m word" (it rhymes with joist). It literally makes me cringe. My entire family refers to it as the "m word" around me because I will lose it.
11. I am petrified of lawn gnomes. They are terrifying. Spiders I'm fine with. Clowns we're besties. Lawn gnomes...That's my nightmare!

And now my nominees for the Liebster Award! I'm sorry if you've already been nominated!

Megan over at A New Box of Crayons! She is so freaking adorable and funny.

Marcy from Searching for Teacher Balance! She has been blogging for awhile but I was SHOCKED when I saw how few people actually follow her on Bloglovin. Marcy is a friend of mine who teaches in the same district! We had a chance to meet this summer and found out that we actually have a few friends in common! Her blog is full of great ideas!

Yari over at Sweet Tooth Teaching! First of all, her name is freaking adorable (both blog and her actual name) but she also has some great ideas! I love that our classroom decor is almost identical. Great minds think alike :)

Uh-oh! Her button doesn't work! You'll have to go click on her name to check her blog out. It's definitely worth it!

That was all the nominations I had! Everyone else already had over 250 followers or were already nominated by Heather! It looks like I'm going to have to go blog snooping to find some new blogs to follow! :)

Here are my questions for you!

1.  How long have you been teaching? 

2.  What is your favorite subject to teach?

3.  What are 3 things you would say describe you?

4.  What is the best thing about teaching, in your opinion?

5.  If you weren't a teacher, what other career would you have?

6.  What is your drink of choice?

7.  What kind of music do you like?

8.  What are your hobbies?

9.  Where is the best place you've ever traveled?

 10.  What is your favorite food?

11.  Morning or night person?

Have fun! 

October! October! October!

October! October! October! 

Can you tell I'm just a tad excited!? Anyone who knows me, knows that I am cuh-ray-zee about fall! I love everything about it. Seriously, everything. 

I was so excited in fact, that I forgot to do my currently until October 6th! For shame. "Better late than never, but never late is better" or at least that's what Drake told me.

I had every intention of getting to it this weekend but I was just too busy soaking up all the fall fun! Saturday I went to the pumpkin patch and Sunday was the annual casserole bake! Now I have all kinds of delicious fall casseroles just chillin' (literally in this case) in my freezer for easy weeknight dinners! 

But now, back to the fabulous currently that Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade sets up every month. She is seriously my favorite! And this currently design is to die for! If you've never checked out her blog you totally should! Her personality is infectious!

And now for my currently! 

Listening: So a friend of mine recently recommended the show Scandal to me. I was a little skeptical at first but she assured me that it was sooooo good. So I decided to watch a few episodes (and by that I mean I binged watched an entire season one Saturday) and I have to say I am hooked! How did I not know about this before!? It makes me wonder what else I am missing out on. 
Loving: I don't think this needs any explanation! I went to Target this weekend and bought everything pumpkin. Literally, everything. My husband just laughed at me. I swear I'm not addicted. I can stop anytime I want. 
Thinking: I should really go make dinner. But Scandal. 
Wanting: It has been so freaking hot here lately. Like unnaturally hot for Oregon. I am not a fan of this. I went to the pumpkin patch on Saturday and it was 83 degrees. I was sweating while picking a pumpkin. Sweating. Not okay. 
Needing: I attempted to be super productive this past weekend. I managed to get 2 loads of laundry done amidst all the fall fun, but they are still unfolded....Oops. 
Book: I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a book for kids or for myself, but I have been dying to read Gone Girl. I just can't decide if I should read it before or after I see the movie!


OH! And I somehow I managed to create a new product this weekend! Look at me go! 
Gotta make up for that entire month I didn't do anything, right!?
 Reading strategy posters to fit my classroom decor! Simple but effective!

I hope you have a fabulous fall! I'm off to actually make dinner! Homemade chili and cornbread with a cup of hot cocoa! That's my kind of night!