Liebster Award

Exciting news over here in blog land.  This little blog of mine has been nominated not once, but twice for the Liebster Award!  Ah, you have no idea what the Liebster Award is, do you?  (Neither did I!) It's an award given to new, up & coming blogs to help network with other newbies!  It really is quite an honor because it's now like I have a built in bloggy buddy!  And since I was put in charge of nominating 11 more for this award, I have a whole slew of bloggy buddies now!  Score!!

I'm so thankful to have gotten to know Ashley from 3 Little Greenwoods over the past 5 months since she contacted me for the first time back in October... blush... You have to remember, though, that basically right after I was nominated, I ended up taking a long, unannounced absence because I was plagued with morning sickness like nobody's business!  That's right, I'm blaming baby #3 on my procrastination!  Sorry, Ashley!  Hope you're a big believe in "better late than never", like I do!

So here are the rules:

11 Facts About Me:
1. I have a St. Patrick's Day Birthday...There's always a party!
2. I have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.  On purpose.
3. I have run 3 full marathons with my husband. Each with a faster time than the last. I was pregnant for the last two we ran.
4. We planned our wedding in 6 weeks (3 of those weeks we spent on vacation at the beach together).
5. I'd rather hike up-hill than down-hill any day of the week.
6. My parents taught me how to drive a manual transmission and I taught my husband while we were dating.
7. I learned how to surf while in Waikiki, Hawaii.
8. I could nap all day and still sleep perfectly fine at night.
9. I could eat an entire bag of Salt & Vinegar chips and not feel guilty about it. (Okay... I feel guilty, but not enough to stop because they are SOO darn good!)
10. I rarely bake.  I'd much rather cook eat a meal.
11. I have played the piano since I was 3.  I hate playing in front of people.  Consequently, my kids and husband just started hearing me play for the first time recently.


Here's Ashley & the questions she came up for me:

1. What is the most favorite part of your house?

Any place I can get a quiet 5 minutes without anyone noticing that I'm missing.  My favorite hiding place is our kitchen pantry.  There's a window in there, and everything!  Plus, I hide chocolate there, too!

2. If you could wave a magic wand to redo any room, which would it be?
Ha... Oh man... Well, it would have to be my son's big boy room!  We need to move him out of the nursery to make room for the bun that'll be here in June.  We haven't even started, yet!  A close second would be our basement.  There's still so much work to do down there.

3. What’s a new home or fashion trend that you hate?
A fashion trend that I DO NOT understand are Mom Jeans! Maybe that's because I'm a mom now, so "I don't understand kids these days..."

up left: assos, down left: urban outfitters, middle: topshop, right: bershka

4. Everyone’s had a Pin-fail! Tell me about your Pinterest project that didn’t turn out exactly as you hoped.
Maybe a few recipes?  I can usually tell what I "can" and "can't" do... But sometimes, especially with baking, you don't expect for the recipe to turn out Oh, SO Wrong!

5. What’s that one project or post you thought was outstanding but didn’t get much notice in blog-land?
That would have to definitely be my "Home of the Free" sign that I made for our kitchen mantle. Whomp-Whomp!

6. If you could have any job, what would you choose?
I'd love to be a "tester" for backpacking equipment or someone who write trail reviews for Backpacker Magazine.  How fun would that be to just walk in the woods and get paid for it?

7. Say a famous author wanted to write a book about your life, what’s the title going to be?
Things My Grandchildren Should Know
Even though I have toddlers running around my home now, who wouldn't cherish more stories from their grandparents?

8. Speaking of books… What’s the last one you read?
My husband talked me into reading Ender's Game.  It was actually really good!  We still need to sit down and watch the movie at some point.  Have you seen it?

9. Got a secret talent?
I am super amazing at free-hand painting that straight line that hits between the wall and the ceiling.  So, I guess I have a steady hand and a bit of patience somewhere inside of me.

10. It’s almost Halloween. So what’s the candy that mysteriously disappears from your kid’s candy stash while they are sleeping?
Ouch... this question really dates how long ago I was nominated for this Liebster Award, huh?  Well, those tiny packages of sour patch kids are automatically mine.  Bonus points if there's a giant bag in their stash.. Oh, I bought that big bag.  Never mind.

11. What’s the main reason you choose to blog?
I love creating and I wanted to document it for myself.  I have already looked back at projects I did over a year ago that I forgot about.

How about 11 more questions!?  This time from Becky & Glenna from My Paper Craze?  These two lovely ladies were my second nomination!  Their blog is so creative and they have way too many great tips! You must check them out!

Here they are and their questions for me:

1. Why did you decide to start a blog?
See the last question above :)

2. Is blogging your obsession or a hobby?
Definitely just a hobby. I have too much vacuuming and reading the same book over and over to two little faces for blogging to be my obsession.

3. What is your greatest source of inspiration for your blog?
Besides my mom (crafty queen, herself), everything I see & touch.  I love looking at something and knowing that I could do that... or better!

4. Do you plan your posts in advance or are you a spur-of-the-moment blogger?
Oh, I wish I wouldn't procrastinate so much.  I could have blog posts written out for weeks if I'd just sit down and edit pictures and write posts... I'd rather just create stuff, though!

5. If you could choose a blog-idol, who would it be?
If I don't pick The Pioneer Woman, my 3 year old would be heart broken.  We love watching her show on the Cooking Channel (and I was a follower of her blog before her show).  My daughter calls her "A Real Cowgirl!"  Plus, any recipe I've ever made of hers is a winner!

6. What do you consider your biggest success so far as a blogger?
Just having readers!  I'm still shocked every time I see my numbers grow.  You guys are the best.

7. What has been your biggest obstacle?
Accepting that social media is a must-have for the success of your blog.  For somebody who write a blog, I may be the most anti-social-media person you'll ever meet.

8. Is there anything you would change about your journey into blogging?
Not being so embarrassed about having a blog in "real life".  Everyone knows that I love creating and building but I am no expert so it seems silly to have a DIY blog since I usually have no idea what I'm doing!

9. Do you have any insight to share with those contemplating starting a blog?
Just do it!  But make sure you're only doing it for yourself.  Don't expect anyone to read what you write.  Especially family.  What you write about might not interest them at all.  (My family is special, though... they read. Thanks guys.)  And if you want to grow your blog, social media is your friend.

10. What is your favorite activity (or non-activity) to relax?
Almost any outdoor activity with my kids and husband will be at the top of my list.  Berry or apple picking at our local orchard, hiking at a nearby park, or even a walk around the block together.  I'm beyond excited for warmer weather!

11. What do you envision for your blog in 10 years?
I'm surprised about every 10 hours with my blog.  As in, people actually read what I post?  So to think 10 years in the future is too much for me to even fathom. Is it pessimistic to assume I won't be blogging anymore?  I mean, blogging was so 2014!

Whew!  I feel like I just laid it all out there!  I don't think there's much left for anyone to discover, now! haha

So are you so anxious to meet the 11 amazing blogs I discovered?  Click through the collage and find a new blog to follow!  Be sure to leave them some comment love and follow them on their social media pages!  It would mean the world to them.  You would literally make their day.  I swear.

And of course, these girls are patiently waiting for their 11 questions that I have for them.  Here they are, girls!  Please make sure you let me know when you have finished your post & definitely keep in touch.  It has been such an honor getting to know a few of you even more!

1. What's your favorite food?
2. What word makes you cringe?
3. How many brothers & sisters do you have?
4. What's your all time favorite movie?
5. If you could furnish your entire house for free what catalog/store/website would you choose?
6. How do you stay creative?
7. When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Did you do it?
8. What book(s) would you recommend that I read?
9. What is one skill or hobby you've always wanted to learn?
10. Do you speak any other languages?
11. Do you have any collections?