Thank you & New things to share!

I have a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the bloggy world and the year 2011.
I started my blog in April, slightly unsure of it's direction and slightly sure. I knew what I wanted to post about, but wasn't sure how it would all come together. Before I knew it I was caught up in the teacher blog world and I. AM. LOVIN. IT. I also try to throw in my crafting and baking projects as well. I have to thank everyone in the bloggy blog world for helping me get my feet wet. Especially Hadar, who answered my endless questions about how to do this, and how to do that. Now I get questions like that and love it! I am so glad to help when I can!

I have 3 blogging goals for 2012:

1. Post more freebies.
2. Comment more on others blogs, activities, and freebies.
3. Learn blog design html. (I REALLY want to design blogs. Someone. PLEASE help!)

I'd also like to use this post to introduce some new bloggers I have found & new clip art sites I have found. Now we can all start 2012 with new bloggers & clip art!

New bloggers:

 Gina teaches second grade and has JUST started her blog. Literally, her first post was yesterday and she has 2 followers. This is her first year teaching and she sounds ready to jump into the blogging world with 100%. She's already posting freebies!

 Julia is also in her first year of teaching and teaches pre-k. I love finding other pre-k bloggers. She is starting to post excellent units in her TpT store and is looking for more followers. Right now, she has 20. In the next week or so, her and I will be teaming up to offer a giveaway for her Winter Activity Pack & my Brr! Winter Activity Pack. (no, I have not posted about that pack yet!) Be sure to start following her so you know when the giveaway starts!

 I've shared some things recently about Mrs. Russell's blog. She too teaches pre-k and her ideas are amazing! I was instantly inspired to do so many activities with my kiddos after reading through her blog posts. She has 23 followers and I'd like to keep talking her up too! 

New clip art sites:

 I recently purchased clip art from here for my Winter pack. ADORABLE clip art! And through today (12/31) you can get 2 sets free when you purchase 2. It's an Etsy based site, you must check it out!


  Lauren from the first grade diaries is new the blogging scene, but she also does her own clip art. Just in the past few days she has set up her Etsy shop with her first clip art sets. Be sure to check her work out! So inspiring. I wish I knew how to create my own clip art! P.S. her pricing is great!


Be sure to check out all of these blogs and these new clip art sites! I can't wait to see more and more units created with their stuff! And again, thank you everyone for a great 2011 with my new blog! 

P.S. Don't forget. Still looking for that blog design html help! :)

I'm more than fashionably late for this party..

I stepped away from bloggy land for a few days. I went to visit my sister, her family, and the rest of my family. I didn't take my laptop because I didn't plan on staying as long as I did. But I'm back! And I have a lot of blogging to catch up on, AND a party to attend!

Hadar & Kristin have teamed up to have an 11 in 11 linky party.







They have provided some suggestions for 11 things for your to answer. I plan to take their suggestions, unless I absolutely cannot decide on an answer. Then I might come up with my own! :) 

11. Favorite movie you watched:
   - Well, this has to be MOVIES. Never have I ever been in to Harry Potter. After my boyfriend made me watch ABC Family Harry Potter weekend several times & flips the channel at every commercial so I miss some parts, I felt it necessary to buy & watch all movies. I actually really like them. (Shocked myself with that one)


10. Favorite TV series:
    - Gossip Girl. I know, I know, aren't I a little old for this show? I can't help it. I have every season on DVD and it's my absolute favorite. I've also taking a liking to the Walking Dead. Zombie apocalypse anyone? 


9. Favorite restaurant:
   - I don't know if I have a favorite restaurant. My favorite local restaurant is called Stingray Sushi. Love. Their. Sushi. If you ever find yourself at the Delaware beaches & you love sushi, you must go.

8. Favorite new thing you tried:
   - Selling items on TpT and TN. I still feel like I have a long way to go, but I'm glad I started this adventure. It is fun creating items for my own classroom & sharing them with others. I also love taking requests and making things people are specifically looking for!

7. Favorite gift you got:
   - I love gifts. I love surprises. I love giving gifts. My boyfriend hands down gave me the best Christmas present & surprise this year. I wasn't expecting it. No it wasn't an engagement ring, but it's a lovely accessory for my arm...can you guess?

6. Favorite thing you pinned:
   - Okay. Really. Do ya'll honestly expect me to answer this one? I love everything I pin. I can't honestly choose just one thing. I just recently posted about multiple items I attempted off of pinterest. You can check that out here.

5. Favorite blog post:
   - This is a tricky one too. But I do have to say, I loved sharing how I organize ideas for themes. I think it's a great system and everyone should do this! You can check the post for that out here.

Um. Hopefully no one noticed my (clean) laundry in the background of this picture before I edited! How embarrassing! Embarrassing blog moment of 2011!

4. Best accomplishment:
   - I was proud of myself for completing my first year of teaching in June. I was also proud of myself for applying and getting accepted into the Masters program I wanted! 

3. Favorite picture:
   - I don't think I can answer this one. At least not yet. My boyfriend hates having his picture taken so I honestly don't think we've had one since last Christmas. I always love our annual sister Christmas pic in front of the tree, however, my camera battery was dead so I have to wait and get the picture from someone else! 

2. Favorite memory:
   - My sister announcing that she is pregnant with baby #2! She is going to be the 10th girl in the family, due in April! 
The first ultrasound picture!

1. Goal for 2012: 
  - General life goals: go to the gym at least 3x a week & DRINK.MORE.WATER. Don't we all have this goal? I'm absolutely horrible. 

  - Blogging goals: more freebies & comment more on other blogs!

Head over to Miss Kindergarten or Teeny Tiny Teacher to link up to the party! I'm sorry I'm so late. Hopefully they will still let me in! :)

P.S. Don't forget that the 50% off sale at my Teacher's Notebook store ends tomorrow! (Friday)

2011's Top 3 Posts

So Hadar has posted about this lovely linky party to post your top 3 blog posts with the most page views. It's being hosted by Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas!


While I will never have 59,000 like Hadar does on her table top organizer, I was shocked by some of my numbers. However, this has made me wonder about a few things.

#1. Why do so many of my much older posts have the most page views? Have I gotten boring?

#2. Have all 4,254 of you actually tried to make the pumpkin puppy chow? Because I'd love to know how it turned out since I came up with this recipe all my own, AND I only see 2 comments. Hmmm.

#3. I don't have anything for three. Maybe I should have just said a couple things.

But, on to the Top 3. Drum roll please!

#1. Bug Word Clips- 6,614 page views
#2. Substitute Binder- 5,361 page views
#3. Pumpkin Puppy Chow- 4, 254 page views

I was PUMPED to find numbers in the thousands, let me tell you! Actually, shocked. When I first looked I'm thinking about maybe a couple hundred here, coupe hundred there. Nope. I was wrong.

I never look at my individual page view stats, so this was fun for me to actually take a peek. Now I might find myself doing it 2, 3, 4 times a day, but hey, it can be my secret.

Make sure you head over to her page and link up! You know, so I can compare yours to mine and everyone elses check out your top posts & make sure I've seen them before!

50% Off Teacher's Notebook Sale- Wednesday!

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up to check out my Teacher's Notebook store starting Wednesday December 28, 2011 through December 30, 2011. Every item originally priced over $1.00 will be 50% off! Now is an excellent time to stock up on any items you've been waiting to purchase!


Now remember, this is ONLY in my Teacher's Notebook store! Don't forget to add my store to your favorites while you are there! :) Happy Shopping!

P.S. I'm working on some winter/snow/snowmen/penguin activities over the break. Is there anything in particular you are looking for along these themes? Suggestions are welcome!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!


Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)