It’s been another exciting month of watching my blog grow and making lots of wonderful online friends! I keep discovering great, new sites as well!
Now for the most recent news: I’ve been listed as one of the top contributors for the #ECE Daily before, but last Friday, my “How to Make Your Own Montessori Materials” was the lead story. I think it just means that my post had the most #ece (early childhood education) retweets, but I think that’s great! I LOVE that people are reading and sharing my posts!
Also on Friday, I was given the Versatile Blogger Award by Mia at Online Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom. On Saturday, I was given the Sunshine Award by Natasa at Leptir. I’m SO grateful for the awards and excited to be able to pass them on to some great Montessori/homeschooling/parenting/education blogs!
First, for the Versatile Blogger Award, I must:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave me the award.
Thank you, Mia! You are very sweet, and I love visiting Online Confessions of a Stay-At-Home Mom. It feels like a vacation when I visit your blog in the Philippines.
2. Share 7 things about myself.
1. My husband is 8 years older than I am.
2. My children were born 5 years and 2 days apart (which was perfect for our family).
3. I’ve exercised for an hour 3 times each week since June 2006 (not because I always want to but because I don’t give myself the option not to exercise). I was very irregular in my exercise before that (except for when we were all obsessed with skiing, which is another story).
4. My daughter dragged me to Zumba and Nia classes (and made me fall in love with them). OK, so she didn’t drag me (I love to do things with her), but she did have to convince me that I could enjoy an exercise class in public!
5. I love exercising on the rebounder, Power Plate, and Pilates machine to audio book classics (especially Charles Dickens).
6. I typically sit on a fitness ball at my computer desk.
7. I turn 55 on Friday (shhh, don’t tell!). Now you know why I don’t give myself the option not to exercise!
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who I have recently discovered and think are fabulous (also contact the bloggers I chose and let them know about the award).
It’s always hard for me to decide on just 15 fantastic bloggers because there are so many great blogs I love. Here are some of my favorite individual bloggers I discovered recently (in the last month or so). I’m passing on the Versatile Blogger Award (as alphabetized by my computer) to:
A Real Housewife of Atlanta with Mom Cents Online Magazine
Live, Learn, and Love Together
Please check out the following posts for links to other great blogs I’ve passed on awards to previously:
Awards to Happily Pass On August 20, 2010
Outstanding Blogger Award July 26, 2010
Now, for this Sunshine Award I must
1. Write a post about the award.
2. Thank and link back to the person who gave me the award.
Thank you, Natasa! You are a wonderful Montessori blogger and I’m very thankful for Google translator which allows me to easily translate your ideas at Leptir from Croatian to English.
3. Pass the award along to 12 bloggers (and let the bloggers know they have received the award by commenting on their blogs).
There are a number of great collaborative sites I regularly visit, such as Maria Montessori.com. Here, though, I want to award blogs run by one blogger that I regularly visit. Even so, it’s still difficult to choose among all the wonderful blogs out there! So here are 12 (as alphabetized by my computer): Updated to remove dead links
And always, I am SO thankful to have you as a reader. To you, I happily pass on:
Maria - Förskoleburken says
Hi!
Thank you so much for the award, I’m truly honoured!!!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Maria! And thanks for all the great Montessori downloads and ideas you share!
Leah says
Thanks Deb!!! I love your blog toooo 🙂 I’ll welcome a bit of sunshine to my day anytime. Have a great week!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Leah! Thanks for the sunshine you bring to my day!
Erica says
Thanks for the award it was so nice of you to think of me!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Erica! And thanks for all the great homeschooling ideas you share!
Betsy at Zen Mama says
Thanks so much for giving me the sunshine award! I’m thrilled! I do try to create a happy environment over at http://www.zen-mama.com. So glad to have discovered your blog!!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Betsy! I always love visiting your blog for inspiration. I’m so glad you found me, too!
Carrie says
Deb!! Thanks so much for the award!! I’m flattered that you thought of me and my blog!!
Have a blessed day!!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Carrie! I always love visiting your blog and reading about your family’s interesting homeschool projects!
The Magic Onions says
Thank you, sweet Deb. I’m honored. So excited that I don’t recognize some of your favorites as there’s nothing nicer than finding new blog treasures.
Blessings and magic to you.
Donni
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Donni! I’m glad you found some new-to-you blogs! I hope people will discover your wonderful blog as well!
Counting Coconuts says
Congratulations on your awards, Deb! MUCH deserved!! 🙂
Deb Chitwood says
Thanks SO much, Mari-Ann! I really appreciate your encouraging words! I hope your move has been going well!
Daisy says
Hi, Thanks for thinking of me. I am very grateful. It’s always nice to find other great blogs out there too!
Blessings xx
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Daisy! I was excited to find your blog and the wonderful ideas you share! Blessings to you, too!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much! What a wonderful surprise! I really appreciate your encouragement.
Have a blessed day!
~Jennifer
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Jennifer! I always enjoy reading about your homeschooling experiences!
Joelle says
Thank you so much. I was really surprise and honoured. You are a great friend and encourager. Many blessings to you!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Joelle! And thanks for your kind words! I always appreciate the encouragement you give both here and on your blog. Many blessings to you, too!
Bethany LeBedz says
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day and thanks for the award :-). How sweet!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Bethany! And thanks for all the great homeschooling/organization ideas you share!
Jolanthe says
Thanks so much for passing the award along, Deb. 🙂
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Jolanthe! I love the great letter ideas and other homeschooling ideas you share!
Jessie says
Thank you so much!! I can’t believe YOU gave ME this award. I just may call my Mom 🙂 A million thanks. I loved your post about making materials. I printed it for keeps!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Jessie! You definitely deserve it – I love your blog! It’s always fun to visit and see what lovely Montessori activities you’re doing at home!
alicia says
Thanks so much for the award. Sorry I’m so late to accept. I took a few days off. lol. I feel honored and can’t wait to add it to the trophy case. And I have 2 kids 2 yrs and 1 day apart. Too funny that it happens like that sometimes. Have a good one!
alicia @ a beautiful mess
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Lish! I hope everyone checks out your Project Smile! It is interesting having children with birthdays so close, isn’t it?! I always found it easy to do birthday shopping and party planning for two at the same time of year – and my kids even enjoyed doing their celebration together when they got older!
about a girl says
Thanks so much Deb for the award! I’m enjoying reading your blog as well!
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome! I’m happy you’re enjoying my blog – I definitely enjoy reading about all your wonderful Montessori and Waldorf activities with your daughter!
Sherry says
Thank you so much, Deb! What an encouragement! 🙂 Have a blessed weekend!
Sherry
Deb Chitwood says
You’re welcome, Sherry! I love the homeschooling wisdom you share on your blog – and the Friday Funnies! I hope you have a blessed weekend, too!
Leptir says
Thanks for Sweet Reader Award 🙂
Deb Chitwood says
Thanks again for the Sunshine Award, Natasa! And you are definitely a sweet reader – I always love visiting with you!