Star Sponsor and Giveaway: Seek First

Hello! My name is Lauren and I love Jesus more than anything else. I also love my husband who I married last December. During the day I do cancer research, and truley love where I am. I blog over at Seek First, where you will find me talking all about Houston, my husband, our day to day stuff, and issues that pull on my heart. The blog is called Seek First because I strive to seek His kingdom in all I do-and the rest is just a bonus! I started my etsy shop as a creative outlet and as a way to pay for going back to school.


Isn't she adorable?! She creates fantastic rosette jewelry! Take a peek:

**COUPON CODE**

Enter TEACHER for a whopping 30% off your order!

**GIVEAWAY**
Want to win some pretty accessories? Lauren is offering a $10 gift certificate to her shop!

 

MANDATORY ENTRY:

 

Visit Seek First and leave a comment here with your favorite item. Make sure you include some way for me to contact you!

OPTIONAL:

+1 Follow Lauren's blog

+1 Heart her etsy shop

+1 Follow her on Twitter

+1 Share this giveaway on Twitter or Facebook (once daily)

(Sample tweet: You can score a gift certificate for some lovely rosette jewelry from @seek_first ! Enter on @yes_teacher 's blog: http://tiny.cc/89bio )

Giveaway ends Tuesday 11/1 at 11:59 PM. Open to US residents only. Winner will be announced here as well as notified by email. Good luck!



Tickle Me Tuesday, 41st edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Tickle Me Tuesdays, where we all share what's been tickling our fancy!

If you'd like to participate (and you know you do!!), here are the rules:
  

1. Write a short post with anywhere from one to five items that have been tickling your fancy recently. Please include pictures and links :)

2. Make sure to link back to the party in your blog post (you can grab the button or include a text link)

3. Come back here and link up your blog post!  

4. Visit some other links and HAVE FUN!

Infinity Scarf from Moriah Makes

Mustache Pendant Necklace from Barberry and Lace

Cadet Hat from Jack n Molly

Now it's your turn! What's been tickling your fancy?

<a href="http://yesteachercrafts.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s92/french_mk/tickle.jpg"/></a><br /> <br /> <script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=113045" type="text/javascript"></script><br /> <br /> </span></span></span></span><br /> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"></span><br /> <div class="msg-body inner undoreset" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319455378598281" style="margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 29px; margin-right: 24px; margin-top: 25px; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden;"><div id="yiv131429539"></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br /> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319501664608106" style="border-collapse: separate; display: table; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319501664608105" style="width: 586px;"> <tr id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319501664608104" style="display: table-row; vertical-align: inherit;"><td id="yui_3_2_0_1_1319501664608103" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; display: table-cell; font: inherit;" valign="top"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /> </span></span></td></tr> </tbody></table></div>

Missionary Kid Monday: Language School

{For more on this series, click here}

It was Year One on the mission field for us: Language School. We lived in a sort of compound with all the other families who were learning French for missionary work. While the grown-ups were sweating it out, learning to be fluent in a second language, my siblings and I (along with all the other kids on the compound) were sent to the local public school. It was my second grade year.

The language school was in Albertville (in the southeast of France)

via

In the mornings, we gathered in a special classroom where we were explicitly taught French. My teacher knew precisely two words in English: "shut" and "up". I wish to goodness I remembered how they taught us French. I vaguely remember picture slides of various scenes, then the teacher telling us stories about the slides. Then we wrote the stories down in a notebook.

In the early days, I remember playing outside at recess and trying to have a conversation with some French girls. I was getting increasingly frustrated because I didn't know how to say a specific word. My friends were being so helpful: guessing random words and asking me "Is it this? This? This? This?" Not surprisingly, they never did figure it out.

In the afternoons, we were mainstreamed into the regular French classrooms for math. Because, duh, everyone speaks numbers and there surely isn't any need to understand the words around the numbers. I was confused and embarrassed when the teacher jumped right into subtraction WITH BORROWING. And I had never seen that before and had no concept of what the heck borrowing was. And since they do their math all funny in France, it wasn't until I was in the States for college that I understood about hundreds, tens, and ones.

COLLEGE.

But I survived the trauma and I magically spoke French pretty fluently by the end of that school year. In fact, it had become so natural to speak it that I would start using it around the house with my sister and brother. Sometimes it would be come "Frenglish".

via

My parents tried to outlaw French at home.... they claimed they were worried we would lose our English. But I think maybe they were just jealous of our flawless accents!

{For more, tune in next Monday!}

Fun while it lasted

A while back, the hubby and I went to Game 1 of the Rangers-Tigers series. We were in hostile territory, rooting for the Tigers at Arlington stadium! (Max grew up in Michigan and he informed me that you are "born into a team").

I'll happily follow his rules.... just give me the FOOD:

Ahhh. The series was fun while it lasted - and now we truly don't care who wins the World Series!

I didn't grow up going to baseball games, but I find them to be quite fun as an adult! What about you?

My Self-Centered Alphabet

A. Age: 29


B. Bed size: Full - hubby and I love this size!


C. Chore that you hate:  scrubbing the shower and tub


D. Dogs: Barney is our fur baby


E. Essential start to your day:  Black tea and devotions


F. Favourite color: Right now? Rusty orange


G. Gold or Silver: Silver


H. Height: 5'4


I. Instruments you play:  I used to "play" the piano. It was my 17th birthday present to quit!!


J. Job title: Special Education teacher to the Deaf/Hearing Impaired

K. Kids: Maybe someday!


L. Live: currently in DFW area in Texas


M. Mother’s name: Jan, but I call her "mom" haha.


N. Nicknames: when I was in France, it was "L'Americaine", in the States it was "Frenchie"

O. Overnight hospital stays: None thank goodness!


P. Pet peeve: stepping in something wet when I'm wearing socks


Q. Quote from a movie:  No favorite quotes but my favorite movie is Newsies


R. Right or left handed: Right


S. Siblings: A younger sister and a younger brother


T. Time you wake up: 5:15 AM unless I'm on summer vacation!


U. Underwear: umm yes. always.

V. Vegetable you hate: brussel sprouts

W. What makes you run late: checking too many blogs in the morning!

X. X-Rays you’ve had: knee

Y. Yummy food that you make: Pumpkin cheesecake

Z. Zoo animal: Elephants

Contain Your Pretties

Gussy's prompt this week is all about ACCESSORIES! I don't know about you, but I love me some pretty accessories! The trouble is.... they can get out of hand - fast!

Here are some organizers (some for purchase, some DIY) to help you contain all your pretties:

via

via

via

via

via

via

via

How do you organize your jewelry?

PS: The winner of the Threes 4 Me giveaway is Lauren from Seek First!

PPS: Ready to boost traffic to your shop? November sponsorships are now available!

Bookshelf Envy

I've been dreaming about bookshelves lately. There are just so many creative ways to display your books! Check out some of these practical and inspirational bookshelves:

Arrange your books by color:

via

Create a book case out of salvaged drawers:

via

Paint your bookshelf:

via

Decorate your books:

via

Create shelf out of books:

via

Organize with lots of fun baskets and boxes:

via

Go round:

via

Wallpaper your bookshelf:

via

 I think I like the wallpaper idea best :) Which one's your favorite?