Vegas Baby! Vegas!

So, I just got back from the most amazing trip ever.  I was incredibly blessed to attend the 2015 TPT Conference in Vegas.  It was everything I had hoped for and much, much more.  My head is swimming and I am totally overwhelmed trying to process everything I learned... and I am LOVING it.  It feels amazing to be so inspired and motivated. I am also jet lagged and exhausted.  That is not as amazing.

I was also really looking forward to sitting in a room with some of my idols.  I got to sit in sessions with Deanna Jump, DeeDee Willils, Rachelle Lynette, and Hadar from Miss Kinderarten.  It was such a thrill.  I was talking with my new friends Laura and ReddishAnn about how sometimes it can be a real let down to meet people that you admire.  NOT the case this week!  Everyone we met was so incredibly gracious and kind.  It was really wonderful.

One of the sessions that I was really looking forward to was the Blogging Panel.  It was Fabulous.  So inspiring.  I took about 6 pages of notes and haven't stopped replaying the session in my mind for days.  If you know me, you know I like to talk... like, I really like to talk.  A lot.  I also like to write.  I genuinely enjoy writing and always have.  It would seem that blogging would be a great "fit" for me right?  I know that's what I thought last year when I hired the wonderful Kristy, from KristyBear Designs to help me get started. 

However, it hasn't proved to be as intuitive or enjoyable as I'd imagined.  I have had a terrible time finding my "voice" on this blog.  It can be hard to write when no one is reading (and believe me... no one is reading... except for you Mom- Thanks :) ).  I want this blog to convey how much I love little people.  Especially MY little people... the ones that I am blessed to spend 180 days with each year.  I also want my personality and my passion for language and reading to come through... and let's face it, sometimes I just want a place to post photos of my adorable children.

So, back to the blogging panel, I learned great things from Miss Kindergarten and Kinder Craze who I admire so much... and I am now totally president of A Teeny Tiny Teacher's fanclub.  What's that?  She doesn't have a fan club?  I am starting one right now and voting myself in as president.  She is FAB. U. LOUS.  Hilarious, down-to-earth and incredibly insightful.  Her advise to "keep it real" and write about mistakes is what I needed to hear.  I loved it.  When she talked about how she doesn't want to read about how perfect another teacher's day was if she had the type of day where she sat in urine I GOT IT. 

So, I am going to take down the fancy features of this blog that intimidate me and that I never use. (Actually, I am going to call Kristy and ask her to do it.) I am going to start blogging for the non-existent readers and I am going to keep it real.  I am going to make it fun.  I am so excited!

...and I'm going to figure out how to incorporate lots of great photography, watermark all my photos, use this blog as a way to make deep connections with other teachers, think about writing some "list posts", consider keywords and google analytics, include quality content, share freebies and unique content on my blog, think about consistency in blogging, concentrate on the "above the fold" look, break up text with graphics and remember "quality over quantity". 

But, for right now I am going to "keep it real" and start blogging regularly.  The rest will come :)