Sisters in Faith

I was pleasantly surprised to be awarded this from Charlotte over at Cheeky Pink Girl. I enjoy reading her views on cultural and Catholic events. As always, there are some requirements for passing on this award:
1. You need to pass it on :)
2. Pass it to several sisters who have been with you on your blog(s) from the beginning or almost beginning of your blogging days.
3. Pass it on to at least one new sister in faith.
4. Be sure to give the links to their blogs.

I am awarding this to the following bloggers:
1. Kristen at Bits and Pieces
2. Jeanne at At a Hen's Pace
3. Sarah at Life in the Parsonage
4. Heather at Want What You Have
5. Abbey at Practically Perfect
Enjoy, ladies!

One Word Challenge

The Gamer's Wife was lovely enough to award me with this. Don't you just love the pic? As part of this award, I have to play -
The One Word Challenge!

1. Where is your cell phone? desk

2. Your hair? SHORT!

3. Your mother? conscientious

4. Your father? honorable

5. Your favorite food? Italian

6. Your dream last night? forgettable

7. Your favorite drink? hot

8. Your dream/goal? Christ-like

9. What room are you in? living

10. Your hobby? internet

11. Your fear? abandonment

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? home

13. Where were you last night? home

14. Something that you aren’t? disciplined

15. Muffins? Yes!

16. Wish list item? child

17. Where did you grow up? Georgia

18. Last thing you did? typed

19. What are you wearing? clothes

20. Your TV? old

21. Your pets? none

22. Friends? busy

23. Your life? interesting

24. Your mood? anticipating

25. Missing someone? yes

26. Vehicle? SUV

27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

28. Your favorite store? Target

29. Your favorite color? purple

30. When was the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? yesterday

32. Your best friend? working?

33. One place that I go to over and over? Danville

34. One person who emails me regularly? Z

35. Favorite place to eat? Outback

I know the beginning of the school year is hectic for many people. Plus, I just tagged people last week for an award. So I am passing this award onto everyone on my blog reading list. If I read you, you're awesome! And if you're not on the list, comment on this post and let me know that I'm missing out on a great blog - yours! :)

One Lovely Blog

The rules of the "One Lovely Blog Award" are: accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I got this award from Kim over at Thoughts by Kim. She has had a lot going on in her life this past year or so. If you haven't checked her out, please go over and drop her a line of encouragement.

I'm afraid that I won't really be able to follow the "newly discovered" part of this award. I recently have trimmed down my list of blogs that I read and follow. I felt I was spending too much time reading blogs that I didn't comment on, and let's face it - if you're not going to comment, why read? Of course, if you follow me, I'll follow you and not delete you off the list! ;) The blogs that I am listing, then, you can be sure that they mean a lot to me. These ladies challenge and inspire me to do a better job of so many aspects of my life:

At a Hen's Pace
Betty Beguiles
Bits & Pieces from My Life
Blue Castle
Cheeky Pink Girl
Conversion Diary
Elizabeth Esther
Everyday Miracles
Frugal Upstate
God Will Provide
Kingdom Twindom
Life in the Parsonage
Stretch Mark Mama
Vita Familiae
Want What You Have

There are many more that I could nominate, but these particularly have been speaking to me. If you don't read these blogs already, check them out!

SuperSTAR!

A big thanks to Boogers, Screams, Headaches, and Dreams for giving me this award! Can you tell that she is a mother to boys? ;)
I am passing this award on to:
EVERYONE on my sidebar's blog roll! If I have your blog listed, it's because I think you are a terrific blogger. Whether you blog multiple times a day, or just a few times a year, thank you for allowing others to glimpse into your life. Please pass this award on to every blogger that inspires YOU!!

An Award

Kim has graciously awarded me with this Attitude of Gratitude award. As with most awards, there are a few requirements:
* Put the logo on your blog or post
* Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an an attitude of gratitude
* Link to your nominees within your post
* Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award
* Share the love & link to this post & the person who nominated you for the award
* Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude
My nominees for this award are:
Wendi at Every Day Miracles
Becky at Everyday Becky
Sarah at Kingdom Twindom
Sarah Mae at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee
Leigh at Victory of Sexual Abuse
The Queen at The Queen B
Narelle at Moments for Mum
Stretch Mark Mama at Stretch Mark Mama
Kelli at "Writing" the Waves of Motherhood
Sarah at Blue Castle
Whew! I don't think I've ever listed 10 blogs for an award before - but these ladies all deserve it. I am usually uplifted and inspired when I read their posts.
As for how I came to have an attitude of gratitude, I don't think that I have a positive attitude. I tend to be very much worse-case scenario about things. I suppose a lot of my negativity stems from my past. Yet as a Christian, I am given the power through the Holy Spirit to overcome my past. After all, 1 Peter 3:15 urges us to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." While I may do a fair job of staying positive on my blog, all too often I fail at this in real life.
However, since I know that I tend towards the negative, I am trying to change this behavior with God's help. I have several examples around me of what not to do in terms of attitude and relationships. I try to allow my interactions with these people to inspire me to do the opposite of them. So while my attitude of gratitude is very much a work in progress, it's nice to know that at least one person thinks of me as positive :) Good motivation for me to continue!

Uber Amazing Blog

Upstate Mom awarded this to me last weekend. Thank you!

Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

~ inspires you

~ makes you smile and laugh

~ or maybe gives amazing information

~ a great read

~ has an amazing design

~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:

* Copy the badge and put the logo on your blog sidebar or post.

* Nominate 5 blogs that for you are Uber Amazing!

* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.

* Share the love and link to this this post and to the person you received your award from.

* Come back and comment here so that your link could be added to the materialist of Awardees

I nominate : Blue Castle, Irish by Marriage, Moments for Mum, Nesting Place, Want What You Have

Keep up the good work, everyone! I look forward to reading your blogs every day!

A Kute Award

Debbie over at Stop Her She's Knitting gave me this award. Doesn't she have a great title for a blog? Here are the rules:

1. Copy the award to your site
2. Link to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate 7 other bloggers
4. Link to those on your blog
5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominated.

My nominees are:
1. Saige at The Saige Page - she doesn't post too often, but her projects are great!
2. Leah at 152 Insights into My Soul - this blogger doesn't post too often, either, but she is definitely creative with words!
3. Z at Rear Window Ethics - Z does amazing things in and around her house with thrift store finds (and I'm not the least bit biased because she's my best friend)!
4. Tara at Feels like Home - this is one busy lady, let me tell you! If you have toddlers, be sure to check out her weekly Grace's Kitchen feature.
5. The Nester at The Nesting Place - if you don't already read this blog, what are you waiting for?
6. Jennifer at The Miles Family Adventures - she has embarked on an ambitious project this year - take one photo and post about it every day.
7. Kristen at We are THAT Family -in addition to funny and/or thought-provoking posts each day, Kristen has a great DIY project each Saturday.
Congrats to each of these recipients. Be sure to check out their blogs!

Superior Scribbler

A big thank-you goes to Charlotte over at Cheeky Pink Girl who awarded me with this:

As with all awards, there are some rules and they are as follows:

* Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass the award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

* Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received the Award.

* Each Superior Scribbler must display the award on his/her blog, and link to this post, which explains the award.

* Each Blogger who wins the Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List (scroll down). That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honor!

* Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

I hereby bestow the Superior Scribbler Award upon:

1) Steve at Undeception - yes, I know I just tagged him. But he puts a lot of research into every blog post.

2) Heather at Want What You Have

3) Jenni at One Thing

4) Lora Lynn at Vitafamiliae

5) Elizabeth at Three's a Crowd

An Award

Josh recently awarded me this. The requirements for this award are:
1) Write a post bragging about this award. You must give the name of the person who gave you this award. You must also link back to them, so that other people can verify that this person does, indeed, exist.
2) Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends. Show the 7 names and links below. Leave a comment on their blog informing them that they were awarded with “Honest Weblog.”
3) List at least ten honest things about yourself.

My 7 choices:
1) Jenn at Conversion Diary
2) Amy at Amy's Humble Musings
3) Kristen at Bits and Pieces from My Life
4) Wendi at Every Day Miracles
5) Sarah at Kingdom Twindom
6) Sarah at Life in the Parsonage
7) Charlotte at Cheeky Pink Girl
In addition to selecting blogs that are brilliant, I tried to give the award to people who had not received the award before. If you have already received this before, just disregard the requirements and give yourself a pat on the back.

Ten honest things…okay, here goes:
1) I write far more posts than I publish. New posts frequently get deleted.
2) I have a hard time being open, both on-line and face-to-face. On-line because the internet is forever and you never know who might read. Face-to-face because chances are, I already know you and I'll see you again after you know whatever it is. No one on either side of my family knows about this blog. I plan on keeping it that way. Just in case I ever do say anything.
3) DH and I have been "not trying, but not preventing" another baby for 18 months now. We still have 1 child. I am debating whether or not to try in earnest.
4) I am starting a diet (again). I am always nervous and filled with self-loathing when I diet. Does it make sense to anyone else out there that I feel safe fat?
5) I wish that I had a talent for writing. Some of the blogs that I read make me want to shut my little blog down.
6) I haven't spoken to my birth mother in 3.5 years. I don't plan on ever speaking to her again.
7) I am a terribly nosy person, which is partly why blogging appeals to me. I consider it ironic that I want to know so much about others but not the other way around.
8) I get really mad if I don't get my way, but I try not to let on that I'm mad.
9) I am afraid that BB will be embarrassed by me when he gets older.
10) I am afraid of being abandoned. I can't stand the thought that I might be excluded from something.
Whew! That was tough!

I. Am. Fabulous.

Kelli gave me this award a few days ago. I think she might have just felt sorry for me because of my recent bad haircut, but I'm not picky :)


Now for the copy and paste!

As with any award, there are rules. The rules of this award are:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gidget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Now for the fun part -

My Five Fabulous Blogs:
1. http://atahenspace.blogspot.com
2. http://from-my-life.blogspot.com
3. http://laurazim-godwillprovide.blogspot.com
4. http://www.elizabethesther.com
5. http://lifeintheparsonage.blogspot.com

My Five Fabulous Addictions:
1. The internet. I don't know how well I would be able to handle being a SAHM if it wasn't for the internet. I know I could do it, but my quality of life would definitely suffer. Missing out on adult interaction has been the hardest thing about my life these past 2 years.
2. Reading. I love books. I'm currently trying to plow through some of the classics, although I did take a lovely detour a couple of weeks ago to read the Twilight series.
3. Coffee. Specifically Dunkin Donuts coffee, but I'm not too picky. I don't know if I am so much addicted to the actual drink itself and to the experience. To me, coffee is something you sit down to drink as you read or carry on a logical conversation. In order to do that, there must be some peace and quiet present, or at least another adult.
4. BB. Can I list a person as an addiction? BB has totally changed my life, in ways I never would have imagined. I think about him almost constantly, miss him like crazy when he is gone, so I think that fits the bill for an addiction.
5. I honestly can't think of a fifth addiction. I can think of a lot that I should list, but not a real addiction.

Have a Fabulous Thanksgiving!