The Liebster Award

I am one lucky lady. I say this because after 4 months of blogging I have been awarded the Liebster award by not one, not two, but THREE lovely bloggers! Whew! I am so excited (insert happy dance *here* are you done dancing? OK let’s get back to it!). When I first found out I was nominated I literally could not withstand my excitement! Why would I want to? People were actually reading my blog!!! and *gasp* they liked it!

Liebster is a German word meaning dearest, nicest, beloved, valued, endearing… most awesome rocking blogger ever! (OK maybe I made that last part up 🙂 just go with it alright?) Basically another blogger awards the Liebster award to a new blog, one that they find potential in.

Once presented with the award you have the ability to accept or refuse… but seriously why would you refuse? On top of recognition by your peers that you’re doing something right there is the urban legend claiming that people who have refused the award end up with abandoned blogs! yikes! no thank you!

In order to accept the award you do have just a couple things to do!

Post the award image on your blog.

Acknowledge and thank the blog who nominated you.

Give eleven random facts about yourself.

Answer the 11 questions asked by the person/blog who nominated you.

Nominated 11 blogs, with less than 200 followers, to receive the award.

Let the bloggers know that they’ve been nominated.

Give them eleven questions to answer.

Since I was nominated 3 times I am going to split this up a little. Today I’ll share 5 random facts, 2 of the lovely bloggers who nominated me (with their 11 questions) and nominate an additional 5 bloggers myself!

Here are the first two gals who nominated me for this prestigious award:

Mariet blogs at Practicing Normal and is a mama to five crazy kids! She blogs a bit about life and a lot about love. My favorite post of hers (at this minute) is called Tiger Mom and will leave you absolutely smitten with her littest mouse!

Diane blogs at 5 Little Monkey’s and writes about her five wonderful kids. She is an accomplished writer and will draw you in with her words. Hop on over to read all about her family, I absolutely love her post titled “The Time We Cut Down Our Christmas Tree”

Now onto 5 facts about Moi:

I absolutely hate coffee…. Diet Coke is my drink of choice and you can often find me referring to it as “The nectar of the Gods”.

I was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. My mama was born in Louisiana and my Daddy is from Pennsylvania… Daddy and I are die-hard Steelers fans!

I took Tae-kwon-do as a little girl, I got all the way to my brown belt! I started going to class with my Dad and little bro… so much fun!

I was raised an army brat and throughout my childhood lived in Alaska, Maryland, Kansas, California, Texas, Virgina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Colorado, and now Alabama! I moved to Colorado at the age of 14, so we moved around quite a bit when I was little!

I am the oldest of two children (Hi Will!), my little brother is 6’1 and probably doesn’t know this blog exists!

On to the questions! This first set is from Practicing Normal:

If you were writing a book about your life, where would you begin the story?

I would have to start at the beginning! Moving 10 times in 14 years my childhood was pretty eventful… I have written Diaries since I was a little girl. I currently have all of my diaries split into three categories: Childhood, Dating/Engaged to my hubby, and married life. My life as a book would be a trilogy following those three areas.

What made you decide to start a blog?

I have followed blogs for years and love the idea of sharing projects with the world. Every time I completed a project or saw something amazing that I wanted to share I would feel a void… If only I had a blog to share this on! Well now I do! Yay!

Coffee or tea and why?

If I get to pick DIET COKE! But if we’re sticking to the question… Peach Tea! It’s the only type of tea I like!

How has technology changed your world?

My family got its first computer when I was still fairly little… I grew up with technology. I suppose the biggest change for me is going mobile, with my phone and iPad I can go pretty much anywhere.

What is the strangest present you have ever received?

A boxed set of cheese and beef jerky, sent in the mail, intended for my entire family. I don’t know why but my brother and I thought it was the funniest thing!

Share your favorite quote.

It changes but at the moment: “You know that quote that Kate Moss said that’s like ‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels?’ I can name a lot of things, that taste better than skinny feels! Potatos! Bread!” – Jennifer Lawrence

Do your family and friends follow your blog?

Some of them! My mama reads every post (Hi Mom!) so do my besties from college (Hi Girls!). My husband usually gets to proof-read my posts on the pre-production side of things (doesn’t that make me sound fancy?) so he doesn’t read things on the blog. Last week when I was talking to Daddy I said “My blog was nominated for an award!” and he said “What the heck is a blog?”

What goal do you have for your blog for 2015.

My goal was to reach 100 followers…. recently I’ve started to gain more momentum. I went from 18 to 54 in the last week alone! So I may need to revise my goals! I would love to figure out this monetizing thing (mama needs a new laptop!).

What is your special talent?

I have a great imagination and an amazing ability to problem solve. I don’t take no for an answer… if I want something IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN! I just may have to be a little more creative in how it happens!

Do you have siblings and how many?

One, a little brother named Will. He’s two years younger than me and we’re actually pretty close! (surprise!) Of course things change over the years but growing up military there were many summers where Will was my only friend, that sticks with you.

What would be the first thing you would definitely put on your bucket list?

My bucket list (at the moment) is almost entirely comprised of travel destinations. I am currently planning a trip to Italy and Greece with my hubby, my mama, and my mama-in-law (and her hubby David). If it all works out we will take an 11 day tour of Italy and Greece ending up in Athens. After all of that we will spend a week relaxing and exploring curtsey of my mama’s time-share…. which trades into Athens.

Are you tired yet? Here are 11 more fabulous questions from 5 Little Monkeys:

What subject do you enjoy writing about most?

Definitely home decor, specifically projects that I have worked on, or thought up that are completely original to my brain. Things that can help others solve the same problem that was plaguing me!

Why do you blog?

I love to write! I love to share! I have loved reading blogs for years but I never felt like I had a voice.

If you could have one wish, what would it be?

That’s a hard one… I don’t want to say “for a big pile of money” but really wouldn’t that be nice? I would wish to be debt free, to pay off my mom’s house and car, to pay for one of my besties national boards (she’s so worried about that), to pay for my other besties training to become a missionary (she’s currently taking classes and hopes to travel to India before long), to pay for a round trip for my Daddy to see the Steelers play in Pittsburg (he’s never been to a game at the home stadium). The list goes on and on… I suppose my wish is for every one I love to be worry-free. Wouldn’t that be nice?

What is your favorite vacation spot?

In my mind vacation means “time to relax and unwind” which is completely different from a trip. During a trip you are constantly running around, trying to fit everything in and see as many sights as possible. So for a vacation… anywhere with a beach!

Who is your very best supporter?

I have two: my hubby and my mom. My hubby helps me with every project and is always there to lend an encouraging word when I need it most. However he doesn’t always understand the logistics of running a blog! I think his favorite phrase is “You’ll figure it out honey.”

My mom on the other hand reads every post, she’s my sounding board for ideas and my go to person when I’m trying to figure out the logistics of all the behind the scenes details. When I called to tell her about my first feature blogger spot she squealed just as loud as I did!

What is your weakness?

Knowing when to stop writing… I could write a million word post. We’re already at 1722 words… are you tired of reading yet?

What is your blogging goal?

To reach people. I was talking about this with my mom the other day, While I would still blog if no one read a single post the main goal is to have readers! If I didn’t want anyone to read my posts I would keep a diary, not a blog. (I do keep a diary but that’s completely off topic!)

Is your original blogging goal the same as it is now?

Since I have only been blogging for a short time… yes.

What is your favorite food?

Depends on my mood but I’m a creature of habit. Cheeseburgers, Chinese food, spinach-artichoke dip (yum), anything with chocolate. At the moment it’s the tin of handmade fudge my hubby’s Nana send us in the mail…. delicious!

What is one of your biggest regrets?

Spending so many years being a quiet little mouse. I let people push me around when I should have stuck up for myself and told them to shove it!

What has inspired you the most?

So many things: My Mom and the way she always made our house a home… no matter how many times we moved. My Husband and his unwavering faith in my… when I told him I wanted to start a blog he didn’t say “but there’s so many out there you’ll never make it” he said “Great idea honey, you’ll do great!” Blogs like Miss Mustard Seed, Perfectly Imperfect and The Lettered Cottage. The list could go on and on but we’ll leave it there!

Now on to 6 new(ish) blogs that I find absolutely fabulous! If you would like to participate please follow the guidelines to accept your very own Liebster! If you don’t want to participate just know that I think you’re pretty cool. 😉

Baby Your Babies Katie writes about life as the wife of a Naval officier and the mama of two (almost three) babies.  She throws in a good dose of DIY and crafting along the way. She also has the cutest ideas for handmade ornaments!

Ellie and Addie Liz is a wife and mama and the head honcho over at Ellie and Addie. She is a DIYer, crafter and designer of paper products. Check her out!

Bumps to Bottles The ladies behind this blog have the most amazing pictures, stories and photogenic babies!

The Anti Mom Blog Amanda writes all about how to stay true to yourself, and not lose your identity as you raise your child. Moms need lives to you know!

Scavenger Chic Joan is the mind behind dozens of fabulous transformations. She’s always searching for new ideas and materials that she can reinvent in a fun way.

Southern Chik Christie is a southern gal who loves to decorate. Head on over to see how she juggles writing, decorating and her family (kids, a husband and three cats!)

Finally, Here are my 11 questions for each of the bloggers above… happy Liebstering!

How much time do you spend blogging each week?

You just won a million-gazillion dollars, What do you use it for?

If you had time to grab one thing during a fire (not counting people, kids or pets… they’re all safe) What would it be?

How many siblings do you have?

You just won an all expense paid vacation to anywhere in the world, Where are you going?

What do you do each and every day FOR YOUR BLOG? Write posts? Hit up social media?

If you had a day off, all to your self… no chores, no work, no kids. What would you do?

What is your earliest memory?

What is your goal for 2015, for your Blog?

When do you Blog? In the morning? Late at night? When the kids are napping?

What’s the funniest joke you’ve heard this week?

Thanks for sticking around until the very end! I hope you’ll have a very Merry Christmas… I’ll be back after the 25th to share the second installment of this crazy adventure that is the Liebster Blog Award!