Tell me more, tell me more

I decided to link up with Amy at Step into Second Grade and share a little more about me. 

Here I am with one of my second graders, Nathan, in the 2010-2011 school year.

1.  I am crazy obsessed with red pandas.  I think they are precious animals.  Here is my most recent visit to the Houston Zoo - which is the closest location to red pandas.  It takes three hours to get there from Austin, but we go at least once a year.

I love them so much that my hubby sponsored one in my name for Christmas last year.

Side note - my hubby is so sweet to go with me to zoos.  I love animals and enjoy zoos a lot.  Here we are at the San Diego Zoo.

2.  I love Audrey Hepburn movies.  My favorite is Funny Face, but I could watch Audrey Hepburn movies all day.

 

3.  I love the color pink.  I have so many clothes that are the color pink.  Here are some of them.

 

Pink shoes

Pink purse

Pink coat

4.  I wear dresses all the time.  I would rather wear a dress than jeans or shorts any day.  I have about 50 dresses and they are all worn.  In fact, I wear pants so little that the first time I wore pants this past year one of my students said, "Mrs. Crowder - why are you wearing pants?"

5.  I love Paris, France, more than anywhere in the world.  I have been once and just might get to go back next summer with my hubby's aunt and uncle.  

 

6.  I could eat watermelon ALL DAY LONG.

 

9.  I started college as a pre-med/chemistry major.

10.  My two favorite shows are Jeopardy and So You Think You Can Dance.  We don't have television, though, so when I watch these shows, I go to the gym and pedal a bike the whole time.  Our gym is set up so you have to be working out in order for the tv to come on.  It makes me not feel so guilty for watching tv this way.

11.  I was blessed to be named District Teacher of the Year for my district in 2010-2011.  I went on to be one of three finalists for Regional Teacher of the Year.  I was quite shocked to be given the honor but I am very grateful for the chance to have represented my district in many ways.  This plaque hangs in the lobby of our administration building.

12.  I love my fabulous hubby!  We laugh all the time.  He is my bestest friend and I love him oodles.  Our foundation and hope is in Jesus.  We love going to church together and doing service projects.  Here is a pic of a pic of us as Mary and Joseph for our church's live nativity at Christmas.

  

13.   We sponsor a child through World Vision.  I learned about this organization at a Women of Faith conference in 2005.  Since then, I have become a regular volunteer for the organization by being a representative at events.  I tell people about the organization and try to get kiddos sponsored.  Click the pic below to learn more about it.

 

Thanks for being kind enough to read a little bit about me and my life.  :)

And while you're all here, I just had to share the updated burlap bee that I made.

Made it Monday and 2 Awesome Giveaways!

Hi peeps!  I am linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for my first ever Made it Monday.  

Here are some of my little creations:

This first creation is my birthday cupcakes, which originated from this pin.

 

Here are my bathroom passes, which came from this pin.

 

Here is my Guided Reading binder and my Substitute binder.

I have shared these two before, but thought I would throw them into the mix just for fun.

My Word Wall header from this pin, which came from Kindertrips awesome blog.

Here is my teacher toolbox.  I am not sure of the original pin because there are so many out there.

Okay, and last is the one I need some advice on.  I made my first burlap sign.  It's a little bee for my bumble bee classroom.  It originated from this pin.  

Now, I did not have any thick black ribbon, so I tied on the smaller ribbon, but I am thinking I should add a big bow.  What do you think?  I am also thinking of adding a little smile for the bee.  Do you think it will look better with a littler smile?  I would love any advice on this one.

I also wanted to share 2 fabulous giveaways:

Lori at Teaching with Love and Laughter is having am Easy Speak Microphone giveaway.  Click the pic below to enter on her blog.

 

Jennifer at Herding Cats in Kindergarten is having a gift card for Donors Choose giveaway.  If you don't know what Donors Choose is, it's a site where public school teachers can request materials and random people can donate to your project.  It's AMAZING!  I have had 16 projects funded in less than two years.  Here is my Donors Choose site.

Click the pic below to enter on her blog.

My new unit...

Happy Sunday!  A few days ago I posted that I was about to finish a new unit and would give it to the first three people who guessed what it was about.

Here it is...

It's a pumpkin unit!

Click on the pic above to check it out at my little shop.  It will be on sale through Tuesday evening for $3.  

Oh, and congrats to Diane and Kelly for guessing correctly!  I have sent it to you.  

Talk to you tomorrow!  I am going to participate my first ever Made it Monday!  I can't wait to show you my little creations!

Winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here are my two fabulous winners from my 400 followers giveaway!

Congratulations Kim and Denise!  I emailed you already.  Thank you to everyone who entered.  You're all my favorite followers.

Doing the happy dance!

Hi friends - just having a happy dance party at the Crowder pad today.

 

Don't we look great!

Ha ha ha!  But really, I am doing the happy dance because of these pictures of my brand new school!  It's coming together.  Sprinkles to Barron Elementary!

While we're talking about my new school, check out this precious shirt I got from Tammy Mullinik's at Sweet Nothing Designs:

 

Isn't it CUTE!  I found the little earrings at Sam Moon.

Okay, now it's your turn to do the happy dance because I am throwing a flash sale starting RIGHT NOW until tomorrow night at midnight to celebrate the almost finished school!

Check out my store for some goodies and shop till you drop.

Also, I am almost finished with a new unit pack.  The first three people to guess what it is and leave their email will get it for free when I finish it.

Here is a clue:

Think fall fun!

Enjoy your Friday and don't forget to enter my giveaway!  It ends tonight.

400 Followers Giveaway!

Hi friends!  I am so excited to have 400 FABULOUS followers!  To celebrate, here is a giveaway filled with fun!  There will be two winners with LOTS of prizes.

Here are the fabulous bloggers who have donated for this giveaway and what prize the FIRST WINNER will receive from them:

Heather at Heather's Heart is donating any two items from her store of your choice.

Nicole at Rowdy in Room 300 is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

Vickie at Mrs. Plant's Press is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

Lori at Conversations in Literacy is donating any two items from her store of your choice.

Sarah at Yeehaw!  Teaching in Texas is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

and me - Erica at Sprinkles in Kindergarten is donating any two items from my store of your choice and a $10 Teachers Pay Teachers gift certificate.

Here are the fabulous bloggers who have donated for this giveaway and what prize the SECOND WINNER will receive from them:

Heather at Heather's Heart is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

 

Nicole at Rowdy in Room 300 is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

Sarah at Yeehaw!  Teaching in Texas is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

Angela at The Daily Alphabet is donating any one item from her store of your choice.

and me - Erica at Sprinkles to Kindergarten is donating any two items from my store of your choice and a $10 Teachers Pay Teachers gift certificate.

You have lots of chances to enter on the RaffleCopter below.  This giveaway will end on Saturday, so enter now!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Picture Books Linky Party and Giveaways

Hi friends!  I am linking up with The Teacher Wife to share some of my favorite picture books for school.

There are many that come to mind that I think everyone knows about, but here are some that may now be as familiar to you.

How Rocket Learned to Read AND Rocket Writes a Story

These books are perfect for encouraging and laying foundations for reading and writing with this precious pup.

I love Todd Parr books for kinders!  I use this one at the beginning of the year when we talk about Science safety in the classroom.  It's not about science, but does help kiddos understand that there are things we do and don't do while conducting science experiments.  Then we create our own class book of do's and don'ts for science safety.

I LOVE Dex!  Maybe because he's a doxie?  But he is great for helping kids understand stamina while starting the Daily 5.

Kevin Henkes is my favorite children's book author.  He is fabulous.  I use this book at the beginning of the year to help students understand rules and boundaries and that rules are needed to help our classroom learn.  {On a side note, I got to meet Kevin Henkes last year!  The pic of us is on my website.}

I know we all love Pete and I just couldn't leave him out.  

I hope you will link up with The Teacher Wife and share your favorites!  Click the pic below to link up.

Also, check out Rowdy in Room 300's giveaway.  She is so super craft and is giving away a burlap do hanger made by her.

Click the pic to visit her.

Another great giveaway is at Crayons and Curls. She is giving away this precious Skippy Jon Jones costumes.  Click on it to enter.