And the award goes too...

ME!  Well, sort of. But it is super fun pretending.  I was so very excited to see in the comments of my last blog post that Christy from Mrs. Holder's First Grade had nominated me for a Liebster Award. I went straight to her blog (of which I am a follower) to check it out.

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

Thank you SO MUCH, Christy, for nominating me!  I have been a part of the blogging community for such a short time, but I am so looking forward to getting more involved. All of you amazing bloggers have already given me the greatest gift - a renewed excitement and enthusiasm for being creative in my classroom!

And without further adieu, my nominees are...

1. Lauren from The Sweetest Thing

    Before I name my next nominee, I just have to ask all of you, HAVE YOU SEEN LAUREN'S GIVEAWAY? It is awesome. I am a follower of her TpT store, and I have to say that I am in LOVE with her products. Everything is super cute and useful for your classroom. Her blog posts are SUPER informative as well. You should definitely go and pay her a visit!

2.Debbie from Teise's Tidbits

3. Kheila and Jess from Two Friends in First

4. Heidi from In that Room...

5. Carolyn from Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together

Questions for Me!

1.  Do you have a theme for your classroom? My classroom theme is OWLS with the colors purple, lime, and pink. I completely LOVE it.
2.  What's your favorite picture book? Enemy Pie. I just love the message it gives to kids about friendship.
3.  What's your favorite back to school activity? I actually love shopping for school supplies. I know - crazy, right?
4.  What grades have your taught and which is your favorite? I have taught 13 years of first, with one year of second way back near the beginning. My heart will ALWAYS be in first, hence the name of my blog...
5.  What are your favorite blogs (teaching related or other)? TOO MANY TO NAME!  Some of my faves are A Teeny Tiny Teacher and Doodlebugs Teaching.
6.  What's your favorite subject to teach and why? I have a huge passion for reading and I love passing this along to my little loves.
7.  What's your guilty pleasure? Reality TV, all the way baby. I will watch ALMOST any reality TV show.
8.  What's your favorite movie? I like the oldies but goodies, like Dirty Dancing and Top Gun. 
9.  Are you a salty or sweet kind of person? Both - Chocolate Covered Pretzels are one of my favorite snacks.
10.  What's your favorite classroom management trick/technique? I use 1-2-3 Magic in my classroom and at home with my own little loves. It has helped me so much!
11.  What's the best advice you have ever received? The best advice I have ever received is simple - If you are doing what you think is best for kids, that's all that really matters. 

11 Random Facts about Me:

1. I am an aquarius.

2. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

3. I am a former cheerleader.

4. I don't love roller coasters.

5. My oldest daughter was born on the 4th of July.

6. I have a serious obsession for cheesecake, but hardly ever eat it.

7. I go to crafts stores (Michael's, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby) more often than the grocery store...LOL

8. My youngest daughter is 23 months old and weighs 23 pounds...haha!

9. I do not know how to whistle.

10. I am a night owl.

11. I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember!

11 questions for my nominees:

1. How long have you been teaching?

2. What is the best "teacher book" you have read?

3. Coke or Pepsi?

4. What is your dream vacation?

5. Do you prefer desserts or appetizers?

6. What is your favorite blog(s)?

7. Who was your favorite teacher?

8. What is one of your personal goals for the 2013-14 school year?

9. Do you use a store-bought or self-made planbook?

10. Who is your favorite children's author?

11. How long have you been blogging?

I just wanted to say thanks again for the nomination!  I am always looking for more followers as well as more blogs to follow, so please leave me a little love so I know where to find you. Happy blogging everyone!