Oh My Liebster!

I'm notorious for saying "Oh my lanta!" about ten billion times a day in my classroom... but "Oh my Liebster!" Not only did Kristen over at Kinderdoodlez absolutely make my week, but shocked me just as much! My poor little blog has not been getting the proper love and care lately and it floored me that she would think of me! 

So this nifty little award is a way to recognize new bloggers. It is a really cool way to give some props to newbies on this big teacher blog scene. 

So here we go!

WHY AND HOW LONG AGO DID YOU START BLOGGING?

Hmm.. All I remember about starting my blog is that it was around Thanksgiving break last year. Boyfriend would watch football on Sundays, and in a successful effort to avoid planning for the week (hehe) I would paint my nails and BLOG! 

I started blogging because I was yearning for positivity. Every educator knows those days, weeks, months, or even school years when you just can not find the silver lining. My blog was something I could control and be proud of - so I created my own silver lining. 

WHAT ONE WORD SUMS UP THE HEART OF YOUR BLOG AND WHY?

Reflection. Is that cheesy? Another reason I started a blog was to reflect on my teaching. I found myself teaching a lesson, it absolutely taking off in totally the right direction, and found myself saying, "I can't WAIT to blog about this!" Now I knew, probably my mom would be the only one reading my blog, but I was consistently reflecting on my teaching and wanting to plan "bloggable" lessons. 

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU LEARNED LATE IN YOUR BLOG JOURNEY THAT 

YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN EARLIER?

It's okay to post about little things. I would feel like every post I read by other bloggers was a huge, long, wonderfully crafted piece of text. It is for YOU. You blog for yourself first then for others (not common in our profession, the whole think of yourself mode). So it's okay to do a short little post about whatever your heart desires.  

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PAST TIME BESIDES BLOGGING?

Crafting and shopping. Done and done. 

HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO YOU DEDICATE TO YOUR BLOG?

Not enough! I have becoming shamelessly addicted to my teacher Instagram - lacquer_teach_repeat. I find the visual aspect and ease of Insta to be very appealing. I get just as much out of Instagram as I do out of blogging - plus I love taking pictures of what my kiddos and I do. It is my goal to be more consistent... I mean - it is football season again, and I don't even know how to set my own fantasy lineup, so manicure and blog it is!

WHAT CATEGORY OF BLOG POSTS DO YOU ENJOY MOST?

I love DIY and literacy posts. I am in the minority when it comes to teacher blogs being a 6th grade teacher. I love to make anchor charts, do read alouds, and craft like crazy. So I love reading posts about different topics and making them work for my little pre-adolescent munchkins. 

WHERE DOES YOUR BLOGGING INSPIRATION COME FROM?

Like I previously stated - my lessons where my kids just amaze me. THEY are the ones who make a lesson amazing, not me. I can plan, but they take it to another level and those are the lessons and things I love to blog about. 

WHICH OF YOUR POSTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

That's tough. I don't think one sticks out more than the others. I really only blog about things I am uber proud of - that's what makes them blog-worthy in my mind. :)

IS THERE ANY POST THAT YOU ARE PLANNING TO DO, BUT HAVE BEEN PUTTING OFF FOR A WHILE NOW?

Nope - I sorta fly by the seat of my pants!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF BLOGGING?

It has put me out of my comfort zone. When I started the blog it was about my two favorite things - nail polish and teaching. I wanted the happy factor from blogging, but was scared about what others would think of me (go away 7th grade Jessica!) I have been AMAZED at the love and support of other bloggers and Instagrammers! They fill my heart with happiness whenever there is a positive reaction to something I am doing. Being a new-ish teacher you still need that support and don't always get it. I am also learning SO much from other bloggers. It is instant Professional Development without sub plans and a dreaded 6 hour workshop. 

I recently went out on a limb and attended a Midwest Teacher Blogger meet up. I was nervous because none of my co-workers or teacher friends blog, so I was ridin' solo - but it was SO FUN!

Okay, I just figured out Bloglovin' recently and how to follow bloggers (noob over here) - so I am really only following those famous famous bloggers with thousands of fans! But one little lady who I have connected with on Instagram and follow her blog, loves all the same things as me (ya know, coffee, doodling, shopping, teaching!) So I'm nominating Megan over at Cardigans and Caffeine

A. I'm so jealous she left my home of Illinois for SCOTTSDALE! I'm obsessed with that place!

B. Her blog is BEYOND adorable!

C. She rocks. 

So check her out!

THE DEETS. 

To those who have 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." (Follow their blog if you haven't already!)  

2. Answer the 10 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).

3. Nominate 5-10 blogs of your choice that each have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 10 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!)

Have Fun!