Letter Exchange Update, Giveaways, and More

Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom Alphabet Letter Exchange UPDATE:

Things are going well so far. I sent out an email to about 100 teachers this morning to get everyone's addresses. I've heard from about 40 of them already! Once I get all this information, I'll make the groups, send out the list and letters, and then the decorating and mailing can begin as soon as school starts. If you did not get the email but think you should be on my list, please email or leave a comment and let me know. There are just a few people whose email's have come back as "undeliverable." If you're one of those few, I replied to your original comment about joining the project. Please get back to me- I don't want to have to leave you out. Thanks, everyone! What do you think about linking up with pictures once the project is finished?

Earlier today I got an email from Cathy over at Mrs. I's Class (she's participating in the exchange) and told her about how I got lost in blogland. I went over to check out here blog, which is great! by the way, and found that she's having a giveaway (she's got over 500 followers!) with lots of chances to win. Soooo, in checking out the blogs she listed, I got WAY sidetracked and found so many great things going on that I had to share them with you. 

First of all there's Cathy's giveaway. You can check it out here

And then there's Janis' Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop where "new" bloggers can link up together. I consider myself new since I just started blogging last summer. And I feel like a newbie because I know there's lots more to learn. So I thought I'd jump in.
First question
What state are you in? 
I live in California.
Your current teaching position?
I'm teaching 1st grade and having so much fun doin' it!
Your teaching experience?
I've taught it more than any other grade. But I also spent 2 years in 2nd grade and 3 in Kindergarten.
When did you start blogging?
I started last summer. Actually my little blog turned 1 year old about a week ago.
Can you share a blogging tip/resource?
Check out Virtual Teaching Expo's Blogging 101. It helped me so much! One night very early in my blog I was trying to post pictures. It took about 3 hours and I knew there had to be a better way or else no one would be doing it! I purchased Blogging 101 the next day and it answered all my questions plus much, much more.

Thanks for organizing this, Janis! If you're new, please link up too!

Along my journey through blogland this morning I also discovered some things you may want to check out:
Deanna Jump's Common Core Standards Posters for Kinder and 1st grade. Thanks for including 1st, Deanna!
Ashley's giveaway of an Erin Condren plan book!
Barbara's great Brown Bear, Brown Bear inspired class book!
Decoding tips for Parents! from Finally in First. I'm printing these for Back to School night!
A fantastic number/color word Elmer freebie from Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives. I teach these words right at the start of the year and know my kiddos will love this!

I hope you're having a pleasant Sunday!