I would like to thank Chelsea from Blooming Into First Grade and Melissa from Ms. M’s blog for nominating me for the Sunshine Award!  You are both so sweet to think of me!  Since the award has been passed on to me, I have to answer a few questions.  Here I go…

1.  Favorite Color

This is really, really hard – I find beauty in every single color.  I LOVE pink for sure, so girly and feminine – pink really reflects a part of my personality.  I also love lime green, robins egg blue, black, yellow, coral/orange.  The one color that I like the LEAST…blue.  Blue does nothing for me – I bet it is from all the country blue my mom decorated with when I was a kid! 🙂

2.  Favorite Animal

My father-in-law passed away 11 years ago of cancer.  He was a teacher and was SO loved by all of his students and anyone that came in contact with him.  He had a favorite animal…the gorilla.  He would tell people that he loved gorillas because they are big, powerful, and most importantly they are very protective of their families and extremely family oriented.  Students gave him tons and tons of gorillas throughout his teaching career.  He would often let his students place the gorillas on their desks and would tease that they had been in his classroom so long that the gorillas knew all of the answers on his tests!

Now that he is gone, gorillas remind us of him.  Right before my last daughter was born, I turned on my computer and there were gorillas and gorilla products all over the screen – we couldn’t help but think that it was grandpa telling us that he was here and that he knew he was expecting a new grandchild any day.  We see gorillas everywhere.  It gives my husband and family great comfort when we see a gorilla – it makes all of us feel like he is with us and watching over his family.

So…gorillas are DEFINITELY my favorite animal!

3.  Favorite number

My favorite number is 4.  My birthday is December 4th, so I have always loved that number.

4.  Favorite drink

If you have read my “About” section on my blog, I confessed about my addiction to Diet Coke.  It can’t be ANY Diet Coke, it has to be McDonald’s Diet Coke.  There is a difference.  I drink about 3-4 large Diet Cokes everyday.  I am trying to quit, honestly, I am.  UGH!  It is so hard!  I am already gearing up for my New Years Resolution…eliminating Diet Coke all together.  I don’t plan to go cold turkey, but slowly reduce the amount I drink on a daily basis.  Diet Coke is probably the WORST habit that I have!  I just love the bubbly and fizzy sensation of the first sip…ahhhh…pure heaven!

5.  Facebook or Twitter?

Definitely Facebook.  I am in the process of learning Twitter and utilizing it a little more, but I just don’t understand the attraction.  I feel like my little posts and comments on Twitter are dumb – almost like I am just talking to air.  So, make me feel better and tweet back the next time I send something out into Twitter land!

6.  Passion

Well, that is pretty easy…decorating.  I think everyone knows that about me now!  I eat, sleep, and dream about decorating and color combinations.  I wish I could turn it off sometimes!  I see inspiration and decorating opportunities everywhere I go.

7.  Giving or getting presents?

No doubt about it…giving presents.  I am a giving person by nature.  I always feel funny taking gifts from anyone.  I can still remember my own birthday party in 1st grade…one of the girls gave me an old wallet and a pair of used slippers – I can still remember thanking her and thanking her.  I was so worried about not making her feel like I appreciated her gift.  Weird that I remember that.  My wedding and baby showers…I am breaking out in hives and freaking out because I am worried that I am not exhibiting enough excitement for my gifts.  Receiving gifts is just too stressful for me!

8.  Favorite day

Gosh, do I need to only pick one?  I have a few…1.  The first day of school  2.  The last day of school  3.  New Years Eve – we have a tradition of staying home and I make a special dinner with a zillion appetizers.  There is nothing better than staying in with my pj’s on and eating good food with my hubby and kids.  4.  My kid’s birthdays – I love decorating, cooking, and preparing for their big day! 5.  Snow days!  We get a few each year living in Michigan!  Nothing better than getting the call that you can go back to bed!

Now, I am suppose to pass this award on to 10-12 blogs that I think are deserving of the Sunshine Award.  Well, in typical “Melanie Style,” I can’t hurt anyone’s feelings.  There are so many blogs that I love and so many teacher bloggers that have written me and supported me.  Sorry, can’t limit my list.  So, I am bowing out on this one…but would LOVE to thank Chelsea and Melissa again – you girls made my day!