Liebster Award Nomination

Wow . . . what a relaxing and fun Sunday! Sheri from Early Years with Sheri 

just nominated my blog for the Liebster Award. This award goes to new bloggers with less than 200 subscribers. Thanks again Sheri for the nomination!

I now get the pleasure of answering 11 questions about myself and then nominate 11 more new bloggers for this award.  So, here I go:

1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?

I seriously just started blogging this past Summer. I have been following a lot of teacher blogs, fashion blogs, lifestyle blogs, and crafting blogs for quite some time now. I even tried my own lifestyle blog last year, but constantly having to update all the time was very time consuming and it just didn't work out for me. Then my friends whom I worked with started blogging and I saw how much fun they were having exchanging ideas and collaborating with people around the world. It really opened my eyes to how you don't have to be in the same school as someone else to collaborate and share best teaching practices. I want to grow as an educator and part of it is learning from others and sharing what I know and do best.

 2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? 

Love. Which is why I came up with the play on word with my last name "Li" for my blog. I love what I do and am passionate about what I do from the moment I wake up and step out of my bed to the moment my students greet me on school campus. Teaching and sharing what other great teachers have passed on to me truly makes me feel happy and gives me a meaning and purpose to my life. I just LOVE it!

3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before? 

I did learn that there are some people that don't bother responding to your comments just because you are a brand new blogger or because you CHOOSE not to sell products you create on TpT. I wouldn't change anything about my journey; as I know in my heart my blogging intentions and am content with what I have. Megan, from Teaching Super Power has been a real sweetheart! Not only does she make and design blogs, is a BIG time blogger, but she is a teacher herself and always makes time for her followers by answering and commenting back on their questions. She really gave me some great advice on tips and tricks to the blogging world. I heart her!!!

4. What is your favorite past time other than blogging? 

Napping! Back in the good ol' days I used to stay up all night and sleep all day. I didn't take care of my body by giving it the proper 8+ hours of sleep. Then came my 30s and my body is now paying for it. Like my mother likes to tell me, "Before your 30s you abuse your body. After your 30s your body abuses you!" Why don't I ever listen to my mother when she is trying to teach me a lesson at the moment of....but pay for it way later? Booooo.....

5. How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog? 

Maybe 2-3 hours per week depending on if I have content to share or if I am busy at school. I like to stay in my classroom after the day is over until I am ready for the following day. I try, again keyword: T-R-Y, very hard to not take work home. But things like printing my centers, laminating, and making my anchor charts can only happen at my home. So that is always going to be my priority after my family, of course. 

6. What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most? 

I LOVE anything classroom organization related, D.I.Ys, fun projects and art, fashion outfit of the days, and anything subscription box related. I can read and troll these blogs for hours! Which means I learned nothing about the importance of sleep because I often give up valuable sleeping time to stay up reading these blogs.

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from? 

My first blog inspiration came from Hope King's Elementary Shenanigans. She has the cutest blog layout template, classroom decor sets, and awesome teaching ideas! Then there is Kristen from Lady Bugs Teacher Files who makes the most awesome products I know! They are truly awesome and all my $$$ often goes to their TpT products. They are both just SO organized and talented!!!

8. Which post that you've written are you most proud of?

My Pinterest Board Covers from August 3, 2014 that was inspired by Lady Bugs Teacher Files after I saw how she organized her Pinterest. It took me HOURS to make my own covers and A LOT of Melonheadz (not complaining because I HEART Melonheadz clip art) clip art to make my covers. 

9. Is there any post you have been planning to do, but have postponing it for a while now? 

Yes, I keep forgetting to show my super organized sub tub and sub folder organization. For years now, subs always leave me a thank you note to my attention to detail and explanation. I do take pride in the fact that I take good care of my subs. In turn, they take good care of my kiddos and follow the lesson plan that I leave for them. Unfortunately, every time I remember I want to make a post about this, I am either exhausted, sick, lazy, or busy catching up on my Tivo.

 10. What is your favorite aspect of blogging? 

I think Sheri from Early Years with Sheri  said it best. I think my favorite part is that I am learning from teachers across the web some truly rigorous and engaging lessons to incorporate in my classroom. It keeps me motivated to give my students instruction that is meaningful and challenging at the same time. 

11. Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself? 

I'm a big believer in Interactive Notebooks. So much so, that I am incorporating them in Social Studies and Science this school year. I would LOVE to incorporate Sheri's 2D shapes page when I hit my Geometry Unit.

Pay it Forward: My Liebster Nominations

1. The Teaching Trio 

2. Katie Foley - The Pawsitive Pencil

3. Felicia MacFarland - Oh, Snap! Elementary

4. Alexis Hudgens - Mrs. Hudgens Hears a Who

5. Melissa Cloud - A Teaspoon of Teaching

6. Ashley - Teaching in Bronco Country

7. Nicole - Beginning with Baer

8. Brittany - Tickled Pink in Primary

9. Jessica -Tk And Tassels 

10. Karmen - The Naturalista Teacha

11. Dawn - Revenge of the Thirds

Now that you've been nominated, here are the "official" rules for accepting:

1. In your post, link back to the blogger who nominated you as a thank you and "shout out."
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).
3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice that each have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions to answer or have them answer the questions above.
4. Let your nominees know that they've been nominated and provide them with a link to your post so that they can accept.
5. Send your nominator a link to your post so that s/he can learn more about you as well! (You can just put your post link in the comments below!)