An award for me? Liebster Award Information

I cannot believe that I was nominated by a reader of mine for a wonderful bloggy award!  The TechKnowledgey Teacher has said that my blog is worth a read ;).  The Leibster Award is for new and upcoming bloggers and is used as an introduction to the world, or at least to those people that love to read 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 you by your nominator 
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself 
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees 
6. Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them

The Questions I must answer:

1. Who inspired you to start teaching? I was inspired to teach by teachers.  They instilled a passion for education and gave me the information that I needed to be as wonderful as they are/were.  (A few have retired)  I did get off the educational track though after a year in college.  I ended up getting a degree in Marketing Management.  However, one day when visiting a teacher cousin she was grading papers and I told my hubby (boyfriend at the time) that I was going back to school.  The rest is history.
2. If you had an all-expenses paid trip, where would you go? New York City would have been my answer before my wedding, but that is where we went on the honeymoon! <3  My other TOP destination that I would love to visit is Australia.  I would love to travel the whole continent and see everything from kangaroos to the opera house. :)
3. What is something you have always wanted to try or do?  I've always wanted to be an actress!  :) I'm not sure why, but I think I would a good one. Lol
4. Who is your favorite author? Hmm, I guess my favorite author would have to be Shel Silverstein.  I read A Light In the Attic too many times to count as a kid!  :)
5. PC or Mac? iPad or tablet? It really depends what I'm doing.  My laptop is a Mac and is my usual source of browsing and working.  My desktop is a PC and I prefer to longer tasks on, such as creating a Powerpoint.  **I do like the designs offered on my Mac though, so once I set up the Powerpoint and go back to the mac to spruce it up. :)  I have an IPad and an IPhone, too.  I love the IPad, but I miss my Driod phone. (BTW, am I really answering any of these questions! Lol)
6. What made you start blogging? I loved reading blogs and getting ideas even in college!  Once I became a teacher I wanted to create a blog that I could express myself and teacherness within. :)  
7. Coke or Pepsi? Coke for sure.  Pepsi tastes like it has dirt in it to me.  :/
8. Where did you go to school? I received my Bachelors from Brenau University and my Masters from Southern Wesleyan University. :)
9. What is your favorite grade and subject? This is a tough one.  I've been teaching three years and every year I've taught a different grade level and subject or subjects.  I enjoyed fourth grade just science because I focused on one subject, plus it was not a testing grade (meaning there wasn't a state test they had to pass to go to the next grade).  I enjoyed third grade all subjects because I was responsible for 18 students the entire year, that was it!  I enjoyed fifth grade science and social studies because the kids are older and able to do more independently! :)
10. What is your favorite season? I love FALL. The weather is absolutely perfect here in Georgia. <3
11. Are you married? Do you have any kids? Yes, I am married.  In October it will be 5 years.  :) At the time we do not have any kids other than our fur baby, Bandi. :)  
    

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I love to shop!  I wish I could be a personal shopper for myself! ;) <3

2. My favorite drink is Sweet Tea! 

3. My hubby told me to shut up in the 7th grade.  During our senior year I wrote him a note that said he should ask me out.  We went on a couple of dates, but he ended up taking another friend to prom.  I stopped talking to him and moved away for college, but came back after a year.  I then went to his house and left a note with his Mom that said  he should call me! 

4. I actually told my friend in High School that I was going to marry him even though we were not boyfriend and girlfriend. :)

5. In the 10 grade I had a metal rod put in my back, two discs fused, and a rib removed.

6. I'm a home body.

7. I am very clumsy, plus I bruise easily.  **Trust me this is not a good combination!  I get a new bruise everyday and am not sure where they came from!

8. I sell Scentsy. I started selling it in January and absolutely love the company and products.

9. I love to dance!  I might not be that good, but I love it! <3

10. I would rather be on the computer than watch tv.  I love looking up ideas for my classroom, house, or just for my knowledge. 

11. I have baby fever. <3

My Nominees Are:

1. Fabulous 5th Grade Fun (She is almost at 200 followers, but I absolutely love her bog!)

2. Nerdy, Nerdy, Nerdy! Is another blog that I frequently visit.  FYI, we currently are sporting the same template. lol

3. Mrs. Laffin's Laughings is a cute blog that I follow with great ideas!

4. The Eager Teacher has great TECHNOLOGY posts, plus more.

5. Diary of a 5th Grade Teacher is an up and coming blog that I found through Teaching Blog Traffic School.  

Questions for my Nominees Are:

1. How long have you been blogging?

2. What inspired you to blog?

3.  How long have you been teaching?

4. What is the best advice you can offer a new teacher?

5.  What do you believe is the major public education issue of today?

6. If you were not in education, where do you see yourself?

7. What celebrity closely resembles you not necessarily by looks, but personality?

8. What is your favorite television show?

9. What is your favorite book?

10. What do you do for fun?

11. Describe your family life, spouse? Kids? Etc.


UPDATE: I was nominated by The Pencil Monkey on 8/10 and wanted to add her questions! ;)  Thank you for the shout out! I appreciate it very much!!

1.  What is your guilty pleasure when you are not teaching? I love being lazy. That sounds totally bad, but during the school year I am ALWAYS on the go and doing something for my classroom. It really consumes me, so whenever I can I enjoy doing nothing! <3
2.  Who is your hero or role model? I know you want me to say someone that inspires me and I want to be like.  However, I have a real life hero!  When I was younger (like four?) I ran out into a busy road whenever my brother was supposed to be watching me.  Obviously he wasn't and I was just trying to get my little puppy that had ran out there, too.  So my across the street neighbor Mr. Stevenson, saw me and the pup in the road and he ran out and rescued both of us!  He is literally my hero!
3.  Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to be a Mommy in 5 years! ;)  I would love to be a stay at home Mommy, but I don't see that happening. :/
4.  What is your favorite part of your day as a teacher? My favorite part of the day would be one on one time that doesn't happen to often with my students. I like to find out what is going on in their lives and make a real connection.  Now come Monday (when I start back school) the answer will be planning or the end of the day! ;)
5.  What would your students say about you? I think students would say that I am fun!  I like to play games with them to help them review! :)  Some might even say that I am the "nice" one! hahaha
6.  If you could buy one resource for your class what would it be? Why? Hmm, last year I was fortunate enough to get a VERY nice microscope for my classroom!  So this year, I'm going to say it would be nice to have some Ipads for my students.  I only have three student computers, so it would be great to have more technology available for the students!
7.  What is your biggest strength? My strength would be my dedication.  I really commit myself to the school, classroom, and students throughout the year.  It becomes my life and I will do anything for them to succeed! 
8.   What is your favorite pen or pencil? My favorite pen are the Sharpie Flairs! :) Whoop, Whoop!
9.  If you could take your class anywhere on a field trip where would it be? I would love to take them to Tybee Island 4-H center. I went there as a fifth grader and had so much fun!  They learn about habitats, including the marsh! They would get to visit the ocean and catch a few sea creatures with a net! Plus, a lot of bonding! ;)
10.  What is your favorite book? My favorite book, one of them is definitely the Hunger Games! 
11.  One random item that you can't live without as a teacher. I cannot live without my Scentsy Odor Out Room Spray!  I literally spray it at the moment I smell something funky and it covers it up! Lol

**BTW, don't forget to enter my giveaway!!