Acknowledgements!

Does anyone else feel like they are the only person in the world who missed out on the Vegas meet-up!?  I am SO bummed that I missed out on meeting some of my bloggy BFFs in real life, and I am equally disappointed that I didn't have the opportunity to make new gal pals.  It looked like SO MUCH FUN!  Anyway, since we're on the topic of friendship, I guess the purpose of this post is to count my blessings. 

We are all so fortunate to teach NOW.  We have access to so many ideas and materials with the click of a mouse.  I'm entering my seventh year of teaching this year, so I am not necessarily an expert, but I know that I would have done back-flips for a collaborative culture like this when I had my first third grade classroom. Blogging has truly transformed by teaching, and it's given me an outlet to share my favorite hobby with all of you too!  I am so thankful for all of the friendships I have made in the past TWO YEARS.  Holy moly!  I can't wait to see where this blogging journey takes me... and I can't wait to make even more friendships and connections along the way.  By the way, you'll be happy to know that I bit the bullet, and I finally used Kristen's tutorial to embed threaded comments into my posts.  Now I can respond to everyone, and I am SO excited!  {It's so easy!  If you want to know how to do it, make sure you click on the link to check it out!}

In other news, I am not very good at keeping up with blog awards, and I am SO SORRY!  It means a lot to me that other bloggers would take the time to acknowledge my little slice of cyberspace.  My life has been whack-a-doodle for two years.  I've been going through one BIG change after another, so I really appreciate your patience, and I appreciate the fact that you keep coming back to read by blog.  :)  My hubs and I are getting ready to celebrate our two-year anniversary at the end of the month, so between getting married, buying a new home, trying to sell our other home, switching jobs, and grad school, you can basically get the picture.  LOTS of changes.  The good thing is... change can be really wonderful and exciting!  I am so thankful for every single moment.

Versatile Blogger: Include 7 random facts about yourself:

1.  I met my hubster in college in 2005.  We met at a party next to a cardboard cut-out of George W. Bush.  No lie.  We dated briefly... then we went our separate ways.  Well, except for the geology class we took together,  and except for the fact that he dated a girl in my dorm during my senior year, so I saw him all of the time.  A few years after graduation, I went back to visit friends and cheer at homecoming for a special alumni shindig.  We bumped into each other, he ditched his friends to hang out with me, and the rest is history, as they say. :)

2.  I really like volunteering!  These days, most of my involvement is with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, although this year, I had to take some time off to catch my breath.  I plan on jumping back in next year! :)  

3. I am obsessed with HGTV and everything home decor.  I am also a self-proclaimed Maxx-inista and Kirklands fan.  I am allergic to buying anything that's full price.  :)  Ha!  I guess you could say that my decorating style is "chic for cheap"!  Now that we have our forever home, it's been a lot of fun pulling in lots of personal touches.  I can't wait to make this house feel more like home over the next several years!  Thank you, Pinterest!

4.  I grew up with shelties, but I have fallen head over heels for my golden retriever, Loralei.  She is my favorite dog... ever.  I just LOVE her, and I don't think I'll ever stray away from this breed.  She is the biggest sweetheart, and she's sooooo obedient!  Look at that face! :)

 

5.  I am a Cleveland Browns fan.  I have faith that SOMEDAY the team will turn around.  I just want to see them to go the Super Bowl before I die.  I'm adding that to the Bucket List.  The beautiful girl in this picture is my little sister, Jess.  :)  We have fun together.  Clearly.

6.  I am probably Taylor Swift's biggest, oldest fan.  Don't judge.  :)  My girlfriends crack up over this, but I seriously just adore her.  She's such a great role model, and she's so talented.  I LOVE singing her songs too.  SO fun! Last year, the love of my life surprised me with tickets to her concert in Cleveland!  It was amazing!!! :)

7.  I am slowly becoming domesticated.  Besides my love of decorating, I have discovered that I actually enjoy gardening, and I love cooking!  It's so much fun trying out new recipes on Pinterest and cooking/baking blogs, but sometimes family recipes are the best.  :)  This is my grandmother's squash casserole recipe... with small adaptations from my mom... and some of my own! :)

5. Nominate 15 other blogs for the award.... 

{I'm breaking the rules and directing you to click on my Blogger profile to check out the oodles of blogs I follow.  Literally, I am pretty sure I passed up 1,000 a year ago.  No joke!   

I want to share the love, and I honestly feel bad narrowing my list down to 15 blogs.  I don't think I could do it if I tried without feeling like a big jerk.  :)  Please forgive me!!!!

 

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the fabulous ladies who have nominated this little blog for the Versatile Blogger award:  Sweet Sarah from Permanently Primary, Vicky from Keep Calm & Imagine,  Katie from I Want to be a Super Teacher,   Jessica from My Different Worlds, and Stephanie from  Maestra Bilingüe.  Thanks, ladies!

Lara from Organized Teaching Addict, Miss Johnson from How to Dress Like a Teacher,  Megan from Newman's Third Grade , Amber from Sweet Kinders, Molly from Psyched to be in Second,  Rhonda from Classroom Fun, Michelle from Smitten with First, Kristie from Learning with Mrs. Chavis, and Rene from A Passion for Primary were sweet enough to give my blog the One Lovely Blog award.  Thanks for thinking of me! :)

I hope I caught everybody!  If I missed you, just let me know.  I'll add you to the list! :) Now that you know seven useless & random facts about me, please leave a comment letting me know ONE random fact about you!!!! Let's have fun with this!!!! :)