Leibster Blog Award

Two very lovely ladies, creative and inspiring teachers, helpful and collaborative colleagues, have nominated my Blog for the Leibster Award. I am delighted to accept and there are a few things I must do to make this award complete.

To accept the nomination I must:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about myself.
5. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them.

Sharon from Teaching With Sight and Stef from Miss Galvin Learns are my nominators. If you have not yet discovered their blogs, you should go and check them out. Stef is a Techno Guru who always has great ideas for the classroom and when you discover Sharon's 'Super Power' you will be both amazed and in awe. Thank you for the nomination, ladies!

Since I don’t “do” favourites well, this has not been an easy task for me! And Stef started off  with 3 ‘favourite’ questions !!! 
(…seriously thinking about boycotting her blog now!!) Sharon only asked two, so her blog might be safe!    Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of me, you see, it’s not that I’m indecisive and cannot choose, I am simply ‘over-decisive’ and want to choose it all!! ... and it causes me all sorts of problems! It always has!! While every-one else has made their ‘single’ choice and moved on, I’m still standing, fingers rubbing chin, wondering  … should I just get all 3 !?? Anyway, here goes!!

Stef’s Questions …

1. What is your favourite part of your day?

Yes – I have 2!! I love greeting my sparkly-eyed Preppies in the morning and sharing their enthusiasm for the new day… and I love the sound of our gate squeaking in the afternoon/evening time when I know my husband is home from his busy day at work.

2. What is your favourite drink?

Okay … so … Bacardi and coke should make the list and Kahlua and milk might possible just nudge Bacardi out of top place … but gin and lemon soda is so hard to resist … hmmm … I’ve been known to promote a good Dolcetto … Heck, they’re all alcoholic!!! So… I’m saying HOT WATER!! Definitely!   .... or Chocolate Milk ...

3. What is your favourite way to relax?

Easy! I paint, I bead, I make jewellery (usually from scratch) and all things arty!!

4. What is your morning song (the one that gets you going)?

Ha! There have been many … and I laugh because some are certainly not for the faint-hearted!! I call them my ‘power songs’. Currently, I enjoy “I don’t care, I love it” by Icona Pop … but I would never, never, never be found sky-pumping with my hands off the steering wheel whilst driving to school…. EVER!  ... Okay… ONLY at the lights!

5. If you could have a conversation with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be and why?

I’ve always enjoyed reading the quotes of Eleanor Roosevelt so I think a discussion with her would be interesting, but I loved and lost my Nan 20-odd years ago and miss her very much. I’d love to have the chance to talk with her once more. 

6. Do you like gardening?

Love it! Especially if I have a slave helper to do the heavy back-breaking parts.

7. Have you ever met anyone famous?

Fame actually doesn’t interest me much! I’m not impressed by it in the slightest … but…I had my photo taken with Elvis outside a casino in Vegas 7 years ago. I was even wearing blue suede shoes!!!

8. If you were going to watch a movie marathon, what movies would you want to see?

Romantic Comedy’s that end the ‘right’ way. Notting Hill / My Best Friend’s Wedding /Love Actually / Four Weddings and a Funeral / You get the idea!

9. If you could have anything for your classroom/students, what would it be?

A magic Wand!  ….. Just imagine!!

10. Do you use an electronic or handwritten planner?

I like the paper version – but I come equipped with a 2B pencil and an eraser! I never use a pen because of my indecisions ‘multi-decisive’ nature.  I like to work big and scratchy and I like to be able to see the whole thing in front of me.

11. Have you ever lived overseas?

My husband and I lived in England for nearly a year in 1991.

 Sharon’s questions…

1. What is your favorite room in your house, and why?

It’s not really a room, it’s just a little cordoned off area where I torch my beads, create my jewellery and do my arty thang! It’s not at all organized, never neat and tidy but it’s my creative zone.

2. Where would you travel if money was no object?

I’m comin’ to see you, Sharon!!

I’ll also be going the long way around and stopping off in Sweden or Finland to see the Aurora Borealis. I’ll pop in for a quick ‘Spriss’ and a gondola ride in Venice on the way past! Possibly walk the Ponte Vecchio and pick up some glass art in Florence and then treck up to Machu Picchu to renew my wedding vows  … though I haven’t really thought about it much …

3. If you could rename yourself, what name would you pick?

I’m actually quite happy with my name. I can’t really think of any other for me … though I’m sure I have a few ‘friends’ who would have a few!!?? (Be kind, Melinda!)     Have you ever repeated your name over and over and over and over until it sounds like the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard???  ….. No??? ….. Me neither!

 I did find it extremely excruciating to decide on the names of my daughter’s … who would have thought!!??

4. What is your favorite fairytale, and which character in it do you like the best?

Since many of them have horrid events or characters in them … I’d probably have to say Cinderella – the romantic thing’n’all … but I DO like the modern day Antonio Puss in boots. … and out of boots, too!! (insert cheeky wink here!)

5. When teaching, do you prefer using manipulatives, music, games, or books?

Not a fair question, Sharon!! I defy any-one to, truthfully, choose only 1 of these!!!

Manipulatives are the best way for kids to see what is really happening.

Music gives us sooooo much fun and pleasure.

Games are a fun way to trick them into learning.

And I’m simply a ‘nutter’ when it comes to reading stories to children … ask any-one!!

I refuse to choose!

6. If money was no object and you were building a school, what would you put into the building?

Lots of magic wands!

7. Which famous actor would you pick to have lunch with, if you could?

I’m not impressed, nor fazed, by Fame. I’d prefer to be a party pooper on this question and go out to lunch with my sister and my friends ... I might invite Ellen…

8. If you could be the lead in a musical, play, or TV show, what would you pick, and why?

I’d prefer to be in charge of the artistic props and costumes behind the scenes, thanks!

9. Do you prefer wearing jeans, dress pants, or skirts?

Who doesn’t like twirling in a skirt?? I have been known to sleep in my jeans, though!

10. What flower best represents you?

I’d like to say a Jacaranda (possible the one and only true favourite I do have !!!) but it’s a tree!! So, I’ll choose the Gardenia because it has a delightful fragrance (in my opinion) and, Sharon, you don’t require sight to appreciate it.

11. If your life was made into a movie, would it be categorized as a comedy, romance, drama, or action movie?

Definitely a Dramatic Comedy filled with lots of fun-filled love and action!

11 Random Facts about Me.

I torch glass beads using a straw-like stick of glass and an open flame torch.

I have two beautiful daughters.

I have sewn 6 wedding gowns for friends (and lost count of the number of Bridesmaid’s dresses.)

I’m missing a whole disc in my lower back.

I was the 1 millionth shopper in a Rockhampton shopping centre in 1990. … I know ...  truly, 'one in a million'!!!

I am the middle child.

I broke a metatarsal in my left foot in 2008. It wouldn’t heal so I had to have a piece of bone grafted from my hip and 2 screws to fix it. … only took 10 months to heal.

I enjoy wearing scarves.

I love rings … the bigger the better.

Antiques and most things ‘old’ give me great pleasure.

I couldn’t live without music.

My Nominees Are ...

Allison

http://littleleapsoflearning.blogspot.com.au/

Sami Wansink

http://mrswansink.wordpress.com/about/

Sarah Winchell

http://www.idreamoffirstgrade.blogspot.com.au/

 Regina Frazier

http://123kteacher.blogspot.com.au/

 Shannon Henderson

http://www.classygaldesignsandpublishing.blogspot.com.au/

   My Questions for them are ...

What is the funniest thing you’ve heard your students say?

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

What is your most helpful teaching tool?

Describe your perfect day…

Do you have a food you delight in?

What place would you like to visit?

Is there a book you are currently reading?

Why did you start blogging?

What is your best de-stressing activity?

How have other teaching blogs helped you?

How will you celebrate your next birthday?

I hope this award links us all in helpful ways!