Random Bits and Pieces!

Hello my beautiful friends :) How is your week going?! Mine has been a bit wild! It was soooo nice to have off on Monday for MLK Jr. Day. I spent the entire day with my big sis (who is also a teacher - but she teaches 4th grade and thinks I'm a lunatic for teaching kindergarten haha). She got engaged over Christmas break to her boyfriend of 5 years  and guess who the Maid of Honor is?!?! YES! It's me :) I am like beyond excited to be planning this shindig. She has basically told me that I am going to have creative liberty over the planning because it is not really her thing. I was like: Oh My Gosh. Planning? Organizing? Creativity? This is ridiculously up my alley. I've already pinned about 400 amazing ideas. So on Monday, we started our first project: the "will you be my bridesmaid?" gifts. I found the idea somewhere to use little bracelets that are tied in a bow and pair it with a card that reads "Help us tie the knot - will you be my bridesmaid?" I made some cute clipart of a wedding ring and a band and designed the card myself. Then I ordered the little bracelets and some plain brown boxes from Etsy. With the help of adorable purple and glittery gray ribbon and some rhinestone letters with each bridesmaid's initials, everything came together! (and yes, I did make my own) Here's how they turned out:

 

 

 

Aren't they the cutest?! She loved them! The rest of my week has been completely consumed with trying to prepare my kids (and myself) for my impending doom surgery. My sub plans are taking me fooooooorever. I am planning for two weeks, just to be safe. I'm hoping to be back in a week though if all goes well! My dogs are beginning to feel deprived I think. I looked up from my computer and this is what I saw:

Could she look any more pitiful? She was sleeping sitting up, just waiting for me. The good news for her is that pretty soon I will be in bed for a whole week with her! I have about 10 million things on my to do list during my down time. The first thing is to make a Chit-Chat pack for TPT. After posting the pictures of the Chit Chat I have been doing this year, I have had a few people email me and ask if I could create a set that teachers could use. SO, hopefully I will be finishing that soon. I have a few other things up my sleeves as well.

Be on the look out for an upcoming Giveaway that I am a part of! Kimberly Ann over at "Live, Laugh, I LOVE Kindergarten" is hosting it. There will be lots of good stuff to win! I'll let you know when it begins :)

Sorry this post wasn't really about my littles. As much as I love them, the past 2 days have been a bit of a scramble trying to prepare myself for my time off. The sub that I will be having came in to shadow me all day today. She is sooooo fabulous and I feel a lot better having had time to explain everything to her. After seeing my color coded sub plans and baskets that I have prepared for her she said, "Short of speaking for me, I'm not sure there is anything else you could have done to prepare me. This will be a breeze!" and then she asked me "Have you always been like this?" I had to laugh out loud at that one. I am a bit of a perfectionist.

And in conclusion, I am so excited! My principal came in today to congratulate me because I have been recognized as a "Golden Apple Teacher of Distinction" for our school district! Woo hoo! I am so proud :) I will be getting my picture taken (ew) to be a part of the recognition ceremony where I will be honored. Can you believe it!?

This will probably be my last post before my surgery on Friday. EEEEEEEEEEEEK! Wish me luck my sweet friends! Love and hugs to you all!

Liebster Award - Take 2!!

Wowie Wow Wow! I am so honored and super excited that I have been nominated a second time for the fantastic Liebster Award!

Thank you soooo very much to Jill Cruz over at Cruz'n In First!

Here are my answers to her sparkling questions:

How long have you been a teacher?

*I am currently in my third year as a kindergarten teacher!

What was your best purchase from TPT?
*Deanna Jump's Common Core Standards Posters for kindergarten
*This saved me soooo much time and they are adorable :)

How do you celebrate Christmas in your classroom in one or two sentences?
*Lots of fun, music, and food! I do weekly holiday themes for the 4 weeks up to the christmas break, for example: elf week, snow week, gingerbread week, etc.

How did you discover the blogging world?
*A friend of mine mentioned BabblingAbby's blog 'The Inspired Apple' and that was it, I was hooked!

What is your favorite read aloud?
*I looooove the book 'Big Pumpkin' by Erica Silverman. This was my favorite book as a child and my kids just adored it this year. I make sure to do all the voices and my kids were rolling on the floor when I did the vampire voice!

What are you wishing for this Christmas-money is no object?

*A Canon EOS Rebel t3i DSLR Camera with both a 18-55mm lens and a 75-300mm lens! Please oh please santa, let's make this happen!

How do you incorporate learning goals into your day?
*In our classroom we set weekly and daily goals! You can see my goal posters by clicking here!

What is your favorite treat to order from Dairy Queen?
*A banana split! Mmmmm....

Do you wear heels, flats, boots, or other in the classroom?
*I wear heels most days, but lately with the cooler weather I have been on a boot 'kick' (heh heh)

What is your favorite song to listen to when you are sad? ...when you are happy?
*Sad Song: Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle - it gets me every time!
*Happy Song: Valerie by Amy Winehouse - I just love it!!

What was the best field trip you ever went on or planned?
*We went to the circus this past year and it was such a blast! My favorite act was the dancing dogs - they were so darn cute!

So there you have it!! Thank you so much again to my amazing nominators, you have warmed my heart! Have a terrific Tuesday everyone!

Liebster Award Nomination - WOO HOO!!

Oh my goodness me, I am so super excited! As I checked out my blog today I found a comment from the lovely Kimberly Ann from http://livelaughilovekindergarten.blogspot.com/. I have been nominated for a Liebster Award and am absolutely thrilled! This is such a fantastic way to help spread the news about new bloggers (such as myself!) Thank you so much to Kimberly Ann :) I cannot wait to pay it forward to other fabulous blogs out there.

So here are the official Liebster Blog Award rules:

*If you are tagged/nominated, you have to post 11 random facts about yourself.
*Answer the 11 questions the tagger has given you & make 11 questions for the people you are going to tag.
*Choose and tag 11 more fabulous blogs out there and link them in your post (the blogs you tag must have less than 200 followers)
*Tell the people you tagged that you did.
*No tagging back (but if you are tagged by me, please leave a comment on this post with a link to your Liebster post!)

 

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I love music! My classroom is filled with music each and every day, both from my iPod and from me (though I'm no Celine Dion!)

2. Reading is my passion in life! I have a Kindle and a Nook (which is a bit redundant, I know)

3. My favorite book series is Harry Potter!

4. Fashion is a huge joy of mine. I love high heels, jewelry, and everything in between!

5. I really enjoy being creative! Painting, drawing, and doodling - such fun!
6. I am not at all athletic. I trip over my own feet daily.
7. I loooooove TV! My favorite shows are Pretty Little Liars and Once Upon a Time!
8. I used to live in St. Louis and so miss the snow!
9. I'm very superstitious!
10. My best friend is my mommy :)
11. My favorite thing to do in the entire world is laugh!

11 Questions From My Nominator - Kimberly Ann
1. If you didn't teach the grade you do now, which grade would you want to teach?
Hmmm... That's a toughy, I just love kindergarten soooo much! I would have to say either 1st grade or go in the complete opposite direction and teach a creative writing course at a university!

2. What is your favorite holiday?
Oh this one is obvi! CHRISTMAS OF COURSE!! Who doesn't looooove Christmas?! It's just the best!

3. Where would you want live if you didn't live where you currently live?
I'd have to say somewhere in the midwest - maybe back to good ol' St. Louie!

4. What is your favorite hobby, besides blogging?;)
Reading reading reading! I looove to read!

5. What is your favorite sports team?
Ew, sports! HA!! I am soooo not a sports fan, but I'd have to say the St. Louis Rams!

6. Are you a risk taker?
Absolutely! I try to be at least...

7. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
Oh yes, I went a bit crazy this year! I'm wearing my brand new comfy pants right now!

8. Favorite place to visit?
My parents house! It always makes me feel like a kid again!

9. Favorite season and why?
Winter - I love cuddling up in cozy blankets and drinking warm drinks!

10. What was your first ever job?
Sigh, Mcdonalds! At 15 years old I worked the drive-through!

11. What is your favorite teaching memory?
Making a break through with one of my little ones who had struggled all year long! It was amazing to finally see him understand :)

11 Questions to My Nominated Blogs
1. What is your favorite thing about teaching?
2. If you won $2 million, what would be your first purchase?
3. What was your favorite movie/tv show as a kid?
4. If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why?
5. What is the last book you read? Did you like it?
6. Do you have a special talent (other than teaching of course!)?
7. What did you want to grow up to be when you were little?
8. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
9. What is your guilty pleasure?
10. If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you take and why?
11. What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you or that you have done for someone else?

11 Blogs I Am Nominating
1. Clearly Kindergarten
2. Fun in K/1
3. Ms. Mentzer's Kindergarten Class
4. Peace, Love & Pencils
5. Mrs. Janelle's Kindergarten Kingdom
6. Heidi's Krazy Kinder
7. The Lower Elementary Cottage
8. The Constant Kindergartener
9. Kindergarten Kel
10. Mrs. Kelly's Klass
11. Cruz'n In First

YAY BLOGGING! Isn't it just the best?! Don't forget about Cyber Monday!! I have posted a few more holiday inspired things in my TPT store - stop by and check it out! Have a fabulous week!