Liebster Award...AWESOME!

Oh my goodness! I'm so excited about how many views I've had on my blog...I hit over 1,000 views last night after launching my giveaway and Facebook page! WOW! AWESOME!! In case that wasn't awesome enough, my fellow newbie blogger Brittany nominated me for the Liebster Award! WHAAAAT??!!

As many of you know, the Liebster Award is for up and coming blogs that have less than 200 followers. So what is a Liebster you may ask? A Liebster is a German word that means sweetest, kindest, dearest, cute, endearing, etc. Such a thoughtful award
Here are rules to accept this award:

(1) Link Back to the Person that Nominated You
Check out Brittany's blog here! How cute are those elephants?!

(2) Answer the questions from you nominator
1. How did you come up with your blog name? That's easy! I feel like my teaching career is a never ending journey and I'm a beginning teacher! It seems to fit! ;-)
2. How many days this summer did you think about school for the upcoming year? EVERY SINGLE ONE!
3. How many students is your ideal number? 24! I like even numbers...and even though 20 would be great...I'm not that optimistic!
4. What new and upcoming styles do you love/hate? LOOOOVE Chevron! Haaaaate Dislike floral print jeans. Ew, I didn't wear those as a kid in 90s, and I'm not going to start now!
5. What's the last movie you saw in theaters? Rate it! Hmm. Now You See Me! It was excellent!! You need to get it on DVD when it comes out!
6. If you could teach anywhere in the world, where would you teach and why? Honestly, I wouldn't want to teach anywhere but here in good 'ol Burlington! It's my home and I love it! Although, I wouldn't hate teaching in Hawaii near the ocean! :)
7. How did becoming a teacher change your life? Wow. When kids come to your class excited to learn because YOU make it exciting for them...how can that NOT change your life?!
8. Did you have a student who impacted your life? If so, how? Oh my gosh, yes! There have been several, but a 7th grade of mine especially. I don't want to get into the details, but she went through an incredibly difficult death in her family. My heart broke for her. She wasn't gone from school too long, and she came with a smile on her face, ready to learn. She showed tremendous strength at such a difficult time. She is so beyond her years of 13!
9. What is the worst/best part of the school day for you? Best: Every time a student smiles! Worst: Lunch. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE TO EAT, but I just feel so rushed to eat, go to the restroom, make phone calls, and BREATHE before the afternoon begins.
10. When do you start school??? In-service days begin 14th and kiddos return 19th!


(3) Share 11 Random Facts About Yourself
1. I have a tattoo on my left side/rib that says "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You STRONGER"

2. The above statement {left picture} probably deserves an explanation. When I was 17, a senior in high school, I got really sick. I had double mycoplasma pneumonia. I was hospitalized for 16 days. It was very serious and my doctors told me that I'm luck to have made it through it.

3. My favorite band is Hanson! Yes, think 1997 hit MMMBop! I've seen them live 5 times and I'm going to see them again in October. Here's a picture of me and Issac {the oldest} the first time I saw them live in 2008.

4. I was born in Wurzberg, Germany. My dad proudly served our country in the Army 23 1/2 years, and we were stationed there twice! 

5. My 4th grade teacher and ELP teacher are still teachers at my school and they have become great mentors for me!

6. My boyfriend and I bought our first house this summer!

7. I love Diet Coke!

8. I love all kinds of music! I grew up on country and pop, but when I was in high school I started listening to up and coming alternative rock/pop bands. I have been to Warped Tour 3 times with 2 of my great friends!

9. I have 21 pairs of TOMS shoes! Hanson actually started my passion in 2008! They're one of TOMS' partners! AWESOME WORK!

Promoting ODWS 2010

Promoting ODWS 2011

A picture of some of my TOMS I took for a photography class.

My collection to date!

10. I cheered for 8 years: middle school {football & basketball}, high school {football & basketball}, and my first 2 years in college {basketball}. I'm now the winter cheerleading coach {freshman basketball, sophomore basketball, varsity girls basketball, varsity boys basketball, and varsity wrestling} for my high school!
11. I LOVE BLOGGING! Did any of you have a Xanga account back in the day? Well I did! I was obsessed with HTML coding and even had my own "layout" Xanga. I was so cool! ;-)


(4) Nominate Five More Blogs with Less Than 200 Followers
See Bean Teach
Teaching with Grace
Mrs. Groom's Room
TGIF: Third Grade is Fun
Sailing into 2nd


(5) Pose Questions for Your Nominees
1. If you weren't a teacher, what career would you have?
2. Who was your favorite teacher?
3. Share a tip for newbie teachers {like me}!
4. Cats or dogs?
5. What is your favorite board game?
6. What is your fondest memory from your teaching career?
7. Why did you start a blog?
8. What is your favorite school supply?
9. Besides your current grade/content, what other grade/content would you want to teach?
10. What is your favorite school related Pinterest pin?

Again, thanks to Brittany for the nomination of the Liebster Award! I'm so thankful!

Annnnnd in case you missed my post yesterday...you have until Wednesday at midnight to enter my 1st ever GIVEAWAY! Check it out here!

Until tomorrow,