Tag Time!

That girl looks kind of like she's running, right?? Or, at least, it's a pretty close representation of me running. Slowly. I'm not lazy, I swear!! I love to walk...just not run!

But I do love games. I'm a teeny bit competitive (or a lot, as my sister says). And even though I'm always a bit shy to share personal stuff on my blog, my very good friend Ms. M made me feel empowered to do so! Plus, the two sweetest girls tagged me: my lovely pal Kelley over at Buggy for Second Grade and a new friend Mrs. S over at Stapler's Strategies. Thanks ladies!!


So, here are the rules of the game:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Ok, 12 things...I don't know if I can do that many, but I will try:

• I have been skiing my whole life and snowboarding since my early 20's...still not too hot at snowboarding, but love trying it anyways! Gives me the excuse to buy new snowboarding jackets every couple of years (or sooner...refer to number 3). What else are you gonna do in the winters around here?!
• I love to watch the NFL and wait anxiously for each new football season. I'm all about the Patriots so I am anxiously awaiting the Superbowl...
• I love shopping. Clothes, bracelets, makeup--at the stores, online. Actually, the online part is a bit of a problem.
• Related to number 3. I love shopping for graphics and clipart. Online. ALL of the time!! Very bad.
• I am ridiculously close to my family. My sister and I are two years apart and best friends...we have almost always hung out with the same friends.
• I am not married, nor do I have any children, but I totally love my life. I do have three dogs and I consider them my children!!
• You probably already know this, but I am obsessed with everything to do with blogging. Blogging itself, reading all of yours, designing blogs (I LOVE that the most), making printables, everything.
• I think I am secretly British. Or was transplanted here accidentally at birth. I watch as many British movies and shows as I can...particulary those Jane Austen-esque ones. Pride and Prejudice? LOVE! I can't get enough of them! Books too.
• I live in New England and have traveled throughout the region and to Florida and California. I REALLY, REALLY want to go to the UK but haven't had the chance yet.
• I have been teaching for 10 years and have taught every grade level (K-5) in ELL and one year in a mainstream 5th grade class.
• I once (tried) to drive my sister and one of our friends up a famous mountain in our area and I got stuck in a ditch on the way up. It was on the inner slope of the mountain, so we weren't in danger of falling off an edge or anything, but I was TERRIFED!!! Worst part?!? They tried to pull my car out of the ditch (holding up the entire line of traffic on the mountain) and tore out my car's something-or-other (not a car girl, but love my Jeep) and broke it. So we had to be TOWED by a tow truck...UP the mountain halfway, then turn around and head back down. We could barely fit in with the tow truck driver, who swore his head off the entire way down at all of the people in the way. If I wasn't so scared of us driving off the edge on the steep slope down, I would have laughed 'til I cried. Which we did later!
  

Ok, that's 12ish and I'm starting to bore myself. I have a hard time talking about myself that much, so now let's get to the questions.

From the fabulous Kelley...
1. What is your favorite T.V show? It changes constantly. Right now it's Project Runway All-Stars (I cannot get enough of Project Runway). I watch a lot of reality and Glee and Once Upon a Time for my non-reality.
2. Do you have any hobbies? See the beginning of this post!
3. What was your New Years Resolution? I actually didn't make one this year...I had too many and couldn't narrow them down.
4. Are you a dog or cat person? Dog!! Or should I say dogs!
5. What is one color that describes you? Turquoise? Not that I feel blue, but I try to be calming always with my students? Not sure...
6. What type of music is playing in your car right now? Every station...I am a constant-station-changer to find the best song possible at that moment to sing loudly (and poorly).
7. Favorite subject or unit to teach? I love to teach writing, especially this year.
8. How many siblings do you have? One, my sis.
9. How did you husband propose to you? No husband! :)
10. What is your favorite drink? I love coffee--black!! I am a caffeine-fueled girl!
11. What is your go-to blog or website for teaching? I have to cop-out and say my entire Blogger Dashboard...it's all of you guys!
12. What is your favorite guilty pleasure? Spending hours upon hours on the Internet blogging and designing blogs in my fleecy pajamas. Or Lifetime movies.

And my new friend Mrs. S!
1. How did you decide to become a teacher? I tried out an introductory course in college during my Sophmore year and fell in love right away. I knew it was the career for me.
2. Did you marry your high school sweetheart? No, not married.
3. Where would you choose to retire and why? You know what? The longer I live in New England, the more I'd like to move West and be nice and warm. I just love California.
4. What is your favorite cook-at-home meal? Mmmm...too many things! I love this chicken and vegetable stir-fry dish that's really healthy, so good!
5. Do you have a teacher "bestie" with whom you plan? Tell about him/her if so. Pretty much. I have a absolutely awesome colleague and friend who I talk to on the phone practically every night. We have so many of the same philosophies on children and education and will plan ideas out over the phone (how bad is that?!?).
6. What is your pet peeve? When people are unnecessarily rude in public. Maybe because I worked in retail throughout high school and college.
7. Does your team share everything or do you have some "stingy" teamies? They're lovely and they share :)
8. What is one of the funniest stories you can tell about your teaching experiences? I can't think of one stand-out story...more just funny and cute quotes my ELL students say. I should write them down, they are so adorable sometimes.
9. Have you ever run into your garage door? (I personally--not my car--did this last week one morning before school and slammed myself to the ground...OUCH!) No, but I'm sorry this has happened to you! I am always doing something like that though and saying, "where'd I get this bruise?!" to everyone.
10. Do you have pets? What kind and how many? 3 gorgeous black labs...two boys who are brothers and a baby girl.
11. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Night owl!!! And I loathe getting up in the morning...
12. Where is the most exotic place you've ever been? Does Disneyworld count? Or San Francisco?? 'Cause that's it!!! For now...

Ok, that's way more personal stuff than I have ever shared on here so I will stop there. Thanks for reading, if you were interested enough to read this far (ha!). I have so enjoyed reading all of your responses! :)