Thank You for the Nomination

I started my blog over a year ago, but life got in the way and I wasn’t really actively blogging until this past month. I was so excited to find out that Jo Anne nominated me for a Liebster Award! Check out Jo Anne’s blog at Teaching in Cardigans. I love “meeting” other Bay Area teachers.

The "Rules" to Accept the Award:

• Link back to the blog that nominated me

• Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers 

• Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator 

• Share 11 random facts about yourself 

• Create 11 questions for your nominees 

• Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

Jo Anne’s Questions:

1. What was your most memorable teaching moment? My most memorable teaching moment was watching all of my fourth graders participate in a Gold Rush experience that my co-teacher and I organized.  They had such a great time searching for “gold” around the schoolyard and looked adorable dressed up like miners.  I love being able to bring learning to life for my students. 

2. What has been the most exciting thing you've done this summer? Getting the keys to our new house was definitely the highlight of my summer…and year.  2013 hasn’t been so great so far, so I’m glad it is finally looking up.

3. What was your favorite TV show as a child in the grade that you teach? I was a huge Full House fan as a child.  I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every episode at least twice.  I still get giddy when we drive by the Painted Lady houses near Golden Gate Park. 

4. What do you keep in the trunk of your car? On any given day you would probably find a water bottle, several canvas tote bags (don’t want to be caught without one and have to pay 10 cents per bag at the store), and a few dog toys. One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to keep the inside of my car clean…it is a struggle for me not to become a pack rat. 

5. Why did you decide to become a teacher? I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I spent my childhood playing school with my dolls and stuffed animals.  I love making a difference in a child’s life and can’t imagine doing any other job.

6. If you could have had the starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick? I would have to choose Eat, Pray, Love so that I could go to Italy, India, and Bali. I have been to Italy before, but would love to go back.  India and Bali are two places on my bucket list.  I don’t think I would want to leave Bali.

7. What are your favorite books about teaching? I absolutely love all of Ron Clark’s books. If I lived closer to his school in Atlanta, I would definitely try and visit.  I think his positive outlook on teaching is so inspirational.  I have his third book on tape and listen to it when I need to get pumped up about teaching again. 

8. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you save? Before grabbing any items, I would make sure my fiancé and two pups were out safely because they are much more important than any objects. 

9. What thought or message would you want to put in a fortune cookie? What an interesting question…I tend to keep my fortunes in a pocket in my wallet. I rarely ever look back at them, but I like to keep them.  I love the fortunes that talk about going on a trip or traveling to other countries.

10. What is one item that you really should throw away, but probably never will? After moving over 20 times in my life, I have had to part with lots of things I never thought I would get rid of.  My first Cabbage Patch doll has made all these moves with me and she is falling apart, but I will probably never get rid of her.  She is packed away in a box and hopefully will one day be given to my future little girl. 

11. If you had to give up a favorite food, which would be the most difficult to give up? Sushi would definitely be the hardest food for me to give up.  I could eat sushi every day if it wasn’t so expensive. I know that I will struggle with this when I eventually get pregnant.

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. My fiancé and I met while I was on vacation in Hawaii.

2. My two dogs (Stella and Guinness) are named after beers even though I don’t drink beer.

3. I love to travel and would love to live in another country for at least a year.

4. I am a terrible parker and would choose to take public transportation almost any day. Thank goodness we moved back to the Bay Area.

5. I worked at Chili’s as a waitress and bartender for 7 years…I still have 90% of the menu memorized and it’s been 3 years.

6. I am obsessed with subway art, you will find it all around my house. 

7. I love to take black and white photos of architecture.

8. I have an irrational fear of seaweed…if a piece touches my leg in the ocean, I freak out.

9. I was an only child until I was 15 years old.

10. Baking is a way for me to relieve stress.  I can often be found bringing in plates of baked goods to the teacher’s lounge.

11. I also enjoy winding down with a glass of wine.  Since moving back to the Bay Area, I have joined 4 wineries.

Blogs That I'm Nominating:

• Kaitlyn at Second is the Best!

• Lauren at The Sweetest Thing

• Britney at Tailor Made Teaching

• Laken at Whole Brain Teaching in the Ladybug Club

• Jessica at Teach on a Limb

My Questions:

1. What song describes your personality?

2. What is one item in your classroom that you could not live without?

3. How did you end up teaching at the school you are at?

4. If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

5. What is your favorite hobby outside of school?

6. What is your favorite unit/concept to teach?

7. If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

8. What is your favorite thing about having summers off?

9. How do you spend your weekends during the school year?

10. How do you unwind after a long day of school?

11. If you could time travel, what era/time period would you go to?

Jo Anne’s Questions:

1. What was your most memorable teaching moment? My most memorable teaching moment was watching all of my fourth graders participate in a Gold Rush experience that my co-teacher and I organized.  They had such a great time searching for “gold” around the schoolyard and looked adorable dressed up like miners.  I love being able to bring learning to life for my students. 

2. What has been the most exciting thing you've done this summer? Getting the keys to our new house was definitely the highlight of my summer…and year.  2013 hasn’t been so great so far, so I’m glad it is finally looking up.

3. What was your favorite TV show as a child in the grade that you teach? I was a huge Full House fan as a child.  I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every episode at least twice.  I still get giddy when we drive by the Painted Lady houses near Golden Gate Park. 

4. What do you keep in the trunk of your car? On any given day you would probably find a water bottle, several canvas tote bags (don’t want to be caught without one and have to pay 10 cents per bag at the store), and a few dog toys. One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to keep the inside of my car clean…it is a struggle for me not to become a pack rat. 

5. Why did you decide to become a teacher? I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I spent my childhood playing school with my dolls and stuffed animals.  I love making a difference in a child’s life and can’t imagine doing any other job.

6. If you could have had the starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick? I would have to choose Eat, Pray, Love so that I could go to Italy, India, and Bali. I have been to Italy before, but would love to go back.  India and Bali are two places on my bucket list.  I don’t think I would want to leave Bali.

7. What are your favorite books about teaching? I absolutely love all of Ron Clark’s books. If I lived closer to his school in Atlanta, I would definitely try and visit.  I think his positive outlook on teaching is so inspirational.  I have his third book on tape and listen to it when I need to get pumped up about teaching again. 

8. If your house was burning down, what three objects would you save? Before grabbing any items, I would make sure my fiancé and two pups were out safely because they are much more important than any objects. 

9. What thought or message would you want to put in a fortune cookie? What an interesting question…I tend to keep my fortunes in a pocket in my wallet. I rarely ever look back at them, but I like to keep them.  I love the fortunes that talk about going on a trip or traveling to other countries.

10. What is one item that you really should throw away, but probably never will? After moving over 20 times in my life, I have had to part with lots of things I never thought I would get rid of.  My first Cabbage Patch doll has made all these moves with me and she is falling apart, but I will probably never get rid of her.  She is packed away in a box and hopefully will one day be given to my future little girl. 

11. If you had to give up a favorite food, which would be the most difficult to give up? Sushi would definitely be the hardest food for me to give up.  I could eat sushi every day if it wasn’t so expensive. I know that I will struggle with this when I eventually get pregnant.