I like Smiling, Smiling's My Favorite!

I think that is my favorite movie quote.  It's either that, or "All reds."  If you know what movie that is from, major props to you.  I don't know why I think it's so funny, but it gets me every time.  Um, hello? Back to the blog post.  I get off topic all the time sometimes.  Why am I smiling, you ask?  So many reasons!

First, I was awarded the Liebster award AGAIN!  Wow - I'm so honored!  I got so caught up in holiday stuff, that I didn't even see my nomination.  A giant thanks to Julie over at Second Grade Style!

Check out my nominees here!

Next, I'm now a guest blogger on The Best Endings - I'm so excited!

It's a brand new blog that Erika from The Honey Bunch  started.  It's all about books!  I love, love, love to read and wish I had so much more time to do so!  I am so ready to write my first post, but she said only one person could post a day.  That means I'm getting up early tomorrow (and I can beat all you west coast people)!  Go check it out to get some ideas for good reads!

Lastly, I had someone comment on my TpT products and even request more!  I feel so honored.  So here's the deal.  A fellow TpT-er asked for additional labels for my Out of the Classroom Poster.  Learn more about my poster here.  She wanted to see labels such as: Lunch, Gym, P.E., Media Center, Courtyard, Playground, Cafeteria, Gym Lobby, Front Lobby, Front Field.  We don't have some of these areas at my school, so I'm curious what are some other labels you would like to see me make?  I'm hoping to get them done tomorrow!

Where did it go?? (and a freebie)

This post has been moved to my new blog, The Colorful Apple.  Check it out here!

D.O.N.E. - Done!

Hellooo vacation!  Finally.  I'll share some of the activities that I did this week when my energy level rises again.  This was one longgg week.  Thought I'd share some giveaways while I'm here though:

Mrs. Lirette over at Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives is giving away a $15 Amazon Gift Card to celebrate 50 followers (although I think she's at a lot more now!).  Big congrats to her - now go visit!

Then hop over to Step Into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons.  She is giving away a DJ Inkers font cd.  Have you seen their stuff?!?  It's so cool!  I'm obsessed.

And one more...

Lisa over at Live, Laugh and Love to Learn is giving away a mystery prize!  I'm more excited about the surprise aspect of it than the actual prize!  

I'm so happy to be joining the rest of you who are already enjoying your break!  Merry Christmas..Happy Holidays to all! :)

We Have a Winner!

The winner of my first ever giveaway is....

(I didn't number my posts...so I used my wicked math skills to count my posts)

Congrats Courtney over at Swimming into Second!   Check your email soon!

Also, major props to Courtney for helping me figure out how to use the random number generator!  Thank you thank you!

Thanks to all who participated - I had so much fun!  Can't wait to do one for when I reach 100 followers ;)

Extra Chance to Enter My Giveaway!

Only 2 hours left to win a $10 gift card to Target! And now you have an extra chance to enter! If you can tell me how to do one of those random number generator thingy-majigies, leave me another comment on my giveaway post. I'm pretty tech-savvy and could probably figure it out on my own, buttt I'm sick and don't really want to. And, hey, you get an extra chance at the prize so don't call me lazy! Oh, and I have to go to school ALL week (yep, till Friday) so please feel bad for me and help a girl out!

Remember to comment on my original giveaway post - not this one! That way it will count towards the giveaway.

$10 Target Giftcard and December Currently!

Farley is at it again!  She's having her December Currently linky party.  Check out Oh Boy Fourth Grade to link up.

Also, don't forget to enter my Target giftcard giveaway!  Click here to enter.  You have 24 more hours!  I know you could all use a little extra something before Christmas :)

Caution: This post MAY explode with excitement.

Giveaways, awards, wow! So many things going on, I don't know where to start.  Let's number them, shall we? (I like things neat and in order).

1. Not 1, not 2, but 3 (THREE!) bloggers awarded me with the Liebster award!  A HUGE thank you to Jen at The Teacher's Cauldron, Traci at Dragonflies in First, and Jen at Kindersmarten.  Check out their blogs full of wonderful ideas!

The goal of this award is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers.
Kind of awesome!
The rules are:

{1} Copy and paste the award on your blog.

{2} Thank the giver and link back to them.

(see above!)

{3} Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my picks:

Charmed in Third Grade

First Graders and Cupcakes

(I couldn't find a button but she has a great blog!)

Going Nutty in Miss Squirrels First Grade!

Live, Laugh, and Love to Learn

and

Today in First Grade

Go check out all their wonderful blogs!

2. Now a giveaway opportunity!  Check out Dreamlike Magic Designs blog for a $25 giftcard to their Etsy shop.  They have awesome printables, blog templates and so much more!  I really want to re-do my blog layout with one of their colorful designs.

3. Speaking of giveaways, I've reached 50 followers - yay yay yay!!  That means it's time for me to do a giveaway.  How about a $10 giftcard to Target?  Only because it's my favorite store in the WHOLE world!

Here's what you have to do:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment that you do.

2.  Follow me on Pinterest and leave me a comment.

3. Follow my TpT store and...guess what...leave me a comment!

4. Finally, blog about my giveaway and in your comment, leave a link to your post.

That's four ways to win!  

The giveaway ends on Sunday, December 18th at 8:00pm.  

Winner will be announced on Monday, December 19th. 

Good Luck!

(and good luck to me, I hope I get more than one comment!)

7-Year Olds and Things that Break

Ok, it's not as bad as it sounds.  But, really?!? The PTF decided it would be okay for our second graders to purchase glass items and take them home on the bus.  Isn't it a general rule that breakable things and single-digit aged human beings should not mix?

Here's the deal.  The PTF sets up a Holiday (politically correct, people) Workshop in the gymnasium for one week during December.  Each class is given a time to go down and the students can purchase crap gifts for their family/friends.  It's all cheap-o things, but the kids love it.  I do really like it too.  It gives the children a lesson in setting a budget, purchasing items, adding money, making decisions, etc.  Usually it's stuffed animals, scarves, school supplies and all those simple things.  Not this year!  We decided, apparently, that large glass items were okay to sell too.  Well, let's just say that not all of my kids "gifts" even made it out of the gymnasium.  I don't want to even think about how the bus rides went...

Aaanndd rant over.

Anyways, as a Social Studies teacher, the holidays are my favorite.  In the past, I've always done Christmas Around the World.  This year I'm working on switching it up a bit.  I'm changing it to a Holidays Around the World unit.  I think that it's important for my students (who live in a town that has very, very little diversity) to learn, not only about Christmas, but other December holidays as well.   As soon I get it together, I'll share!  I've got time, we go to school all the way up till the 23rd.  Yep, you read that right.  December 23 we are still in school.  Needless to say, I'm a little jealous of all of you who are out way before then!