Liebster Blog Award

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving & happy shopping today if you braved the crowd. Since Canadians do not celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day as Americans I found myself enjoying Macy's Thanksgiving parade with a bowl of ceral & french vanilla coffee while the hubby was off to work. I did get to Skype with my family who was all gathered together celebrating in Bossier City, Louisiana.. Boy I sure do miss them. Good news--- I decided to host an American Thanksgiving dinner this Saturday for my Canadian family. Wish me luck since it'll be my first time cooking a turkey, or a Thanksgiving dinner in general.

In the midst of all the planning & prepping I was SUPER excited when Gina from Beach, Sand & Lesson Plans notified me that she nominated me for the Liebster Award. In the words of Gina "The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It’s to show that new bloggers are appreciated and help spread the word about our little pieces of cyberspace." I was just stoked when I reached 30 followers & now I am just jumping with joy!!! I think this is a great way to get to know other new bloggers.

Here are the rules:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

4. Choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them in your post.

5. You cannot “tag back” the other blog, but leave a comment on this post with the URL of your Liebster post so I can learn more about you & see who you nominate.

So for 11 random things about ME:

#1: Teaching has been a passion of mine since I was in 9th grade when the counselors would make their talks to you about careers, college, & the choices. While some of my friends were unsure, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to educate young children & make a positive impact on their lives. I know that I wanted to make a difference & be that teacher that kids look back on as they're adults and think "Wow, Mrs. Weidlich was my favorite teacher." That's how I look back and think of many of the teachers I had growing up. My best memory is of Mrs. Randazzo, my kindergarten teacher & 5th grade teacher. She was so good that I got lucky to have her twice!

#2: I would love to open up my own boutique. I have always wanted to own a clothing store with pretty paintings and other cute nic-nacks.

#3: I married a Canadian hockey player... This makes me giggle.... Never in my dreams would I have ever imagined myself meeting, much less marrying a hockey player. I have never watched hockey and didn't even know we had a hockey team in Biloxi, MS. This makes it even more funny at that fact that my family are big baseball & football fans. I can only imagine what they thought in their heads when I first mentioned to them that I was "hanging out" with a hockey player. Steven played for the Mississippi Surge when I met him at the bar I worked at on weekends. I asked him why he talked funny & that's when he notified me that he was from Canada & playing for the local hockey team. He retired from hockey 2 years ago.

#4: Did I mention I am currently in Canada & not just North of the border either... Crazy I know! I was born in Bossier City, Louisiana and then moved to Gulfport, Mississippi when I was 4 years old where I have been my Whole Life. Can you say Southern gal meets Canadian Lifestyle?! Right now I am back & forth between here & there since I don't "live" here yet. My husband lives here so I spend a few months at a time here & there. It's a LOT of work switching countries and not as easy as you would think. Unfortunately this has put my teaching career on hold this year, which is why I spend my days volunteering at schools.

#5: I love bacon and mayo. What do you have when you put the 2 together--- bacon & mayo sandwhich... Delicious!!! When I think of bacon I always think of that dog on the commerials that is like "Bacon? bacon? Baacccooooon! I love Bacon!" ha ha ha... Is that possibly how I think when I eat bacon. It's a possibility.

#6: I saw Twilight this week for my birthday. Is it sad when all you want for your b-day is to see Twilight? (Don't answer that) I loved reading the Twilight series, but not as much as I liked reading Fifty Shades. I am hoping they come out with a movie soon though kind of scared to see how they play that one out.

#7: I'm super ADD. Seriously took medicine for it since 3rd grade. After college I decided that I wanted to not take it anymore because I didn't want to rely on medicine my whole life and to figure out how to manage my ability to pay attention. I think this some times drives my hubs crazy since I know the poor guy feels like he repeats himself at least 10 times a day after me responding with "Huh?"

#8: I am an awful driver. Again seriously... I blame my ADD... ha ha.. Though it could be a possibility. Or maybe it's because I am a girl. I don't know which one is to blame, but on a good note I think I am becoming a little bit better and more aware now.

#9: Loving Pinterest right now! Anyone else out there love Pinterest? I find so so so many great ideas for the house, classroom, or just bits of good to knows.

#10: Can't wait to have kids one day. I am looking forward to when that day comes in a year or so.

#11: I volunteer as a Cheerleading coach. I taught 3rd & 4th grade cheerleading for the past 3 years and loved it! I didn't get to do it this year with the whole back & forth through countries but I do hope to get back into next year.

11questions from Beach, Sand & Lesson Plans:

1. What is your favorite subject to teach?

Teaching kindergarten I am lucky enough that I get to teach all subjects but Reading is the one I like the best. I think there is nothing else like having a child come to you not knowing their letters or sounds and leaving your classroom at the end of the year reading above their grade reading level. It just amazes me at the progress I see with children in their reading and it is so rewarding to see them grow.

2. What movie could you watch over and over?

Sweet Home Alabama... I just think Reese is a great actor and could watch anything she is in, even Legally Blonde.

3. Would you rather live in a place with a cold or warm climate?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the warm weather and boy do I miss it!!! I love flip flops, sun-dresses & swim suits. Hopefully I don't get to used to this freezing weather to the point that when I go back to Mississippi I think it's too hot.

4. Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

I have never got much around to traveling, so the only place I have ever been to many times for vacation is Destin, Florida. I do really like Florida and the pretty Gulf water, but I would LOVE to travel to Europe. I think Italy and Ireland would be beautiful to visit!

5. Do you cook most nights or eat out?

I actually cook every night... This may not be that big of a deal but if you knew me & how I never cooked before getting married you would be like "What? You cray" as my hubs would say. Ha ha ha... I am actually getting a lot better at it. Before I relied on my mom, and my hisband cooked when we were in Mississippi (our first year). I put "our first year" because I feel like all men cook that "first year". ha ha

6. What professional book have you read lately or do you have any that you couldn't live without?

I have not read any lately or have any that I couldn't live without. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.

7. What do you do for you that is fun?

Lately I have gotten more into crafts with the spare time I have. As a new home-owner I am taking on DYI home projects via Pinterest & Blogs. Another new thing I have taken up is Blogging and I have come to love it!

8. Are you a dog or cat person?

DOG DOG DOG! Not a fan of cats, though I like kittens. I just love dogs and think they are so much fun. Talk about a gal's best friend.

9. Are you a middle child, oldest, or baby of the family? Or are you an only child?

I am the oldest child and the only girl. (I say that with a big smile on my face) I just love being the oldest and the only girl. It makes me feel special. I was the only child/grandchild for 7 years. (Another big smile on my face) I have two younger brothers who I am very blessed to have. I like that I am 8 & 11 years older than them because I actually remember them growing up and getting to help out with them a lot. I am a protective big sis & think it's only right when I get to pick on them. :)

10. How did you pick your blog name?

My blog name at first was Mrs. Weidlich's Kindergarten Kids but it was TOO long and I know if I have trouble pronouncing my new married name that others probably wouldn't know where to begin either. As I stated before, my fav. thing to teach is Reading and literacy is key in young children so that's where I got Lovely Literacy from. And the & more part just seemed obvious since literacy wouldn't be the only thing I would blog about.

11. What is your favorite dessert?

I am normally not a dessert person since I didn't really grow up having desserts after every meal at home but it has all changed now. I can't say I have one favorite and if I did I don't know what it is called. My mother-in-law made me my fav. dessert for my b-day though... It's some sort of chocolate cake with chocolate whipped icing... Mmm- mmm good! (Here's a photo of it)

Here are the 11 blogs I nominated:

1. Teaching With Sight

2. 2nd Grade Frosting

3. Watters Wharf

4. Welcome to First Grade Room 5

5. Twirly Bird Teaching

6. The Lightbulb Lab

7. The Eager Teacher

8. Our Sweet Success

9. Rockin' in First Grade

10. Mrs McDaniels 2nd Grade

11. Learning With Susie Q

Now my 11questions for the bloggers I'm nominating:

1. What is your favorite holiday?

2. What type of music do you like to listen to?

3. Have you had an embarrassing moment while teaching this year?

4. Do you have a recipe that you would recommend?

5. Do you mostly have sweet dreams or nightmares, or do you even remember?

6. Who is a person that had a great impact in your life?

7. If you could be any Disney character who would you be?

8. What flavor icecream do you prefer most?

9. When was the last time you were surprised?

10. What can you not leave the house without?

11. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Don't forget to leave me a link to your blog so I can learn more about you! Hope you enjoyed learning about me!