Eight is Enough....I've Been Tagged!

I was tagged! Tagged by Jennifer from Life with the Lebedas. Thanks for including me :)

I have 8 interesting questions to answer for you all. The rules are that after answering my 8, I have to think of 8 different questions and tag 8 of my blogger friends.
 
1. Where are you from {you don't have to give the city}?

Missouri, Texas and New Mexico (I'm a west of the Mississippi River kinda girl!)

2. If you could live any place in the world, where would you live?

Manly Beach in Australia
(a ferry ride from Sydney...picture taken at sunset last November)

3. What's your favorite blog? I'll check them out of course!
There are so many...Permanent Posies, Chubby Cheeks Thinks, A Daft Scots Lass (but don't read if you're looking for PG - she's just not there!), The Spunky Diva, Family and Life in Las Vegas...Oh I could keep going!

4. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
Blog plagiarism and not coming up with original thoughts!  And spam comments!

5. What's your favorite tv show this season? I need a new show! :)
How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory - I need comedy!

6. What's your favorite 'down' time {nothing computer related}?
Jewelry Making - not beading, but actual silver casting and starting to learn the art of fused and slumped glass design

7. Are you a mom? If so, what's your favorite thing to do with your child/ren?
Visiting parks, living room picnics, and reading stories!

8. What about my blog would you change?
I like it and I haven't read it long enough to change something! :)  We're new bloggy friends...gotta test the water still...I can't be completely honest yet!  It's like dating :)

Okay, so now I have to come up with 8 questions for my fellow bloggers to answer!  I'm sure they are going to love me for these :)

1.  What's your favorite children's storybook? (even those without kids have a favorite children's story)

2.  If we went out for dinner & drinks, what would you order?

3.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor?  and why?

4.  If you had $500 to spend on yourself, where would you go shopping and what would you buy?  You can't save it!

5.  Do you have any regrets or things you wish you had the chance to do over?  If so, why?

6.  What sports do you enjoy?  playing and/or watching?  or playing/participating in back in high school?

7.  If you could drive any car, what would you pick, and what color would it be?

8.  When you go grocery shopping, what's the one thing you tend to buy on impulse?  You know that thing that looks so yummy that it has to be thrown in the cart?

Tagging some of my fave bloggers so I can find out more about them and get to know them a little better:

1.  Permanent Posies

2.  Chubby Cheeks Thinks

3.  3 Princes and  Princess 2

4.  Family and Life in Las Vegas

5. Confessions from a Working Mom

6. Crazy About My BayBah

7. Life of a Sippy Cup Mom

8. At Home With My Monkeys

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I'm famous...well sorta...

...okay, not really but it got your attention right? I was featured at Seams Inspired today on her Thursday Concatenation! I'd like to think people stop by for more than just the reviews and giveaways, but hey I like you for that too! Guess I'll just have to post more of the other things in between! If you're stopping by from Seams Inspired, feel free to check out my reviews and giveaways, there are some pretty awesome ones right now and I've got a great feature event coming up too! If you'd like to see what else I write about, click on over to my Finding Me Mondays, check out our Great Dane Logan, or find a new recipe on Cooking with Kids! I'll be featuring bloggers starting on Tuesday, October 19th so make sure to fill out the form if you're interested!

Thanks again for including me in your Thursady Concatenation!  I truly appreciate it!

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Bloggy Awards! It just keeps getting better!

Okay, so I am terrible about posting these, not because I don't enjoy receiving them or passing them along because there are so many amazing blogs to read but because I have the hardest time thinking of interesting things to tell you about that I haven't already said before...regardless I need to thank those that have sent me awards and pass them along so I hope you're not too bored!

I received the Versatile Blogger Award from Lolo at Crazy About My Baybah!  Stop by and check out her amazing blog!  You'll love it!
Here are the rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fabulous.
4. Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award.

Seven things about me:
1- I love hockey...the St. Louis Blues are my team, but I never have time to track their stats...luckily they will play in Dallas this year so we'll get to see them at least once!

2 - I love to cook and can't wait for the fall and winter when there's a good excuse to cook slow-cooked meals in the oven! (on weekends since I work full-time)

3 - I love those orange circus peanuts and orange slices...oh, and chick-o-sticks!

4 - I'm always amazed that play means getting every toy that can be found in the house and laying it in the middle of the floor to trip over and walking away to find more!

5 - I love having two boys...and never cared one way or the other!  I never found out before my boys were born whether they would be boys or girls and I'm so glad I had that surprise in life!

6 - I contemplate starting my own business on occassion but still have to determine what I would enjoy so much in life that it would never again feel like working!  I'm giving myself three years to figure it out!

7 - Someday I will own a beach house where I can sit and listen to the waves and let my worries wash out to sea!  I am always at peace when I am at the beach and if only on weekends, I can't wait to get there!

15 amazing blogs you should go and visit (in no particular order):

Dropped Stitches
The Life of Rylie...and Bryce, too!

Mommy Only Has Two Hands!

Hiding From The Kids

Mrs. Sassy Crafter

That 22 yr old Housewife

Shibley Smiles

Only the Curious [Have something to find]

my life as a domestic nerd

This Mama Loves Her Bargains

A Little Lilac

Bare Feet & Blue Jeans

Cars, Trucks & Teething Rings

Extreme Personal Measures

Girl In Air

Thanks again for the award!  Now go and check out these amazing blogs!

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Bloggy Awards...So much sweeter each time!

Emily at Family and Life in Las Vegas gave me the Cherry On Top Award and I can't thank her enough!

1. Thank the person who gave this award to you:

Emily - you are the sweetest!  Love all your stories about your little man!

2. Copy the award and put it on your blog.

Done!

3. List three things which you love about yourself.
Hmmm...this is one I definitely struggle with these days...

• I've always had long straight blond hair...no need for a hair dryer or straightening iron here!
• Even on days when I feel like I am too rough on my kids, I know in the end that I am a good mom and they will respect me.
• I've always been the one to find new ways to do things...when it comes to efficiency and getting the job done, I know that I am depended on!

4. Post a picture you love. (so many to choose from...so I'll share with you a wedding pic)

The day we were married in 2001!  We've been together since 1998...wow - time flies!

5. Pass this award on to 5 of the sweetest (okay, I opted for some of my cool bloggy friends here too)bloggers:

3 Princes and a Princess - check out her newly redesigned site!

A Dafts Scots Lass - because I love her sense of humor!

Ten Talents - you just have to check out their site!

Mommy's Sippy Cup - she's reaching for wine!

Boobies, Babies & a Blog - well, she's just awesome!  who else can write about ticks like her? (don't click if you're easily offended or you don't think people should write about sex, ever!)

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A bloggy award - love em, love em, love em!

If anything...now I have proof! At least one person thinks my blog has substance! YEAH!

Thanks so much to Terra at Heck of a Bunch for sending me this bloggy award! 

The Rules:

•Thank the blogger who awarded it to you. - Done (see above, and I left her some comment love too!)

•Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.

•Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Hmm...blogging philosophy in only 5 words...
1)  satisfying
2)  time-consuming
3)  exciting
4)  sociable
5)  fulfilling

I always have a hard time picking just 10 since I love reading so many of the blogs that I follow and subscribe to...so don't think I am intentionally leaving you out if I don't pick you!

The ten blogs I am passing this award onto in no particular order are (go and check them out, I'm sure you'll be happy you did - they are each unique and offer something special!):

Seams Inspired

La Bella Vie

Jus Keep Smiling

Itsy Bitsy Learning

Twin Inspiration

Mom-A-Logues

No Apology Crafts

Our Breezy Beach Life

Render Me Mama

A Little of this, A Little of that

Read more...

Like I said, I love bloggy awards!

I am always excited when I receive a bloggy award!  I remember my very first award on my first blog (no longer in existence and was so excited)....it was over a year before I received another award and I felt like I had been pushed out of the bloggy world!  I love it everytime someone sends me one and I hope that those that I send them to feel the same way!  So thank you, thank you, thank you to Sarah who has the cutest crafting ideas....you keep inspriring me to endure more insomnia and get started on some crafts!  Go and check out crafting and creativity!

The rules for this award are as follows:


1.  thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.
Thank you again to Sarah at crafting and creativity - you are awesome!

2.  share 7 things about yourself.
1.  I was inspired to walk for the American Heart Association...come back this weekend and read more about it!  Live in DFW and want to come out and join me...I'll tell you how!
2.  If you haven't figured it out yet, or are new here, I work full-time...this is my hobby and I wouldn't change it!  Blogging makes me happy - even if keeping up can be stressful at times!
3.  Someday I will own waterfront property...it soothes me and puts me at peace.  I can relax!
4.  I want a "no rules" weekend home to take my kids where we can go as a family and stay up late watching movies and just have fun without the stress that daily life seems to throw at us!
5.  In addition to Logan, we have three cats and as our vet says, we love big animals...our smallest cat is 20 pounds and he isn't really overweight...a Maine Coon, Missouri Tom Cat, and a B&W mutt cat.
6.  If I won the lottery, I would definitely support pet rescue efforts and hope to invest in opening a no-kill pet shelter that could take in all those that can't speak for themselves and provide them with loving care.  I'd love to be able to provide homes to loving pet foster parents so that they could care for the animals as well without worrying about the expenses of caring for their own families while providing for the animals in their care.
7.  I love traveling but have a hard time finding time to do it with travel for work and minimal leave, since I'm still recovering my time off after having my boys....I can't wait to see more sights in the world!

3.  pass the award to 7 fellow bloggers that inspire you. and  4.  let them know about the award.

Here are seven bloggers that I've recently come across, keep reading, or am inspired by for their creativity that I think you should go and check out!
Danielle at My Life in Jenga (love her site...stop by and help her hit 100 followers)
Tanyia at Surviving Motherhood
Leigh at Inside My Head
Megan at Twinsonmia
A Cuppy Cake Life (so going to blow my diet when I try these recipes)
The Spunky Diva (inspiring me to get crafty!)
Felicia at Living Just Like Grandma

So go and check them out!

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I love bloggy awards!

The time has come to pass along my Beautiful Blogger award I received from The Spunky Diva. Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award.

2. Share 10 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award along to bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!

4. Contact the bloggers you've picked and let them know about the award.

I thanked Kimberlee, so now onto the ten things about ME

1. I'm not very nice until caffeinated in the morning. One cup of coffee is all I need, but my kids (& husband) have learned to avoid me until I am fully caffeinated!
2. I love jewelry making and crafts and used to never wear jewelry unless I made it...now I just need to find the time again!
3. I blog to "color outside the lines". This is my space to just be me since I work in a structured environment, I like to have somewhere to have fun!
4. I am not looking forward to my oldest starting kindergarten..he's growing up too fast!
5. I love circus peanuts (those orange marshmallow like things)...they are my go-to stress relieving candy when the world is on my bad side - and I don't have to worry about anyone stealing because they all look at me in disgust when I eat them (although I don't think they fit with my diet).
6. My husband and I met at a summer job orientation. I had just ended a long relationship and didn't want anyone new, and he wasn't interested...you can tell where that got us...we've been together since (over 12 years now).
7. I love camping and can't wait for my youngest to sleep a little deeper (about another year) so we can pull out the supplies and find some great places to camp in North Texas for starters!
8. When I was 8 I dreamed of visiting Australia and that was the only place truly on my bucket list...we made the trip last year, so I'm good now! Guess I should add to my list :)
9. I love having my toenails painted pink and have determined that if my toenails don't look good that I am truly stressed for time because I think you should always make time for the thing you see as the easiest to keep up! (and I do my pedicures at home)
10. I love bargains...I hate paying full price for anything...which makes some people feel guilty when they open gifts from me and the limit was $25 during a gift exchange because I will have triple in their bag what they have in mine...I love the thrill of the hunt for amazing finds at great prices!

So, now that you know 10 more things about me, check out these "Beautiful Bloggers"!

Jess at And Then There Were Four...

Kristen at Ladybug Blessings

Lindsey at Tidbits Parenting

Tiffany at My Crazy Kind of Wonderful

Kim at Chubby Cheeks Thinks

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Yeah - bloggy awards!

Thanks so much to Kim at Chubby Cheeks Thinks for sending me these two bloggy awards!  Both awards require that you award them on to ten bloggers that you enjoy and tell everyone ten things about yourself!

I'm sending both of these awesome awards on to some very deserving bloggers, so make sure you stop by and show them some bloggy-love!  Thanks again Kim!  To add them to your own blog, just right-click and save the picture, then upload to your own post to share the love with your fellow bloggers!  Don't forget to include 10 things about yourself too!

1.  Tamona @ Tamona's Tips (great work at home tips and she's hilarious)

2.  Shell @ Things I Can't Say (you'll love her site)

3.  Nikki B @ Life as we know it (because she makes me laugh even when she isn't trying)

4.  Jody @ Family Ramblings (because she answered all my new bloggy questions and didn't laugh)

5.  Janelle @ At Home with my Monkeys & Not Just Leftovers, Brand New Meals (she was my first follower and has some great recipe ideas too)

6.  Elizabeth @ Confessions from a Working Mom (you'll just love her "confessions")

7.  Susan @ Permanent Posies (beautiful artwork, recipes, and more)

8.  Dian @ Grocery Shop for Free (who wouldn't want to go check that out?)

9.  Kady @ Take a Mom's Word for it (inspriration and giveaways)

10.  Elle @ Elle Says Relax (she's just getting started and has some great posts)

Ten things about me!  Like you really care, you're off blog hopping - I know you well enough by now :)

1.  I use blogging as my creative outlet since I work "between the lines"!

2.  I'd love to dabble in photography and keep up with the iheartfaces challenges, but my kids will be lucky if we get pictures of them on a quarterly basis eventhough we have a nice camera!

3.  I don't expect to become famous by blogging but if you know someone who knows someone, you can sure send them my way!

4.  Okay, I'll be serious now - someday I want a beach or lake house where the kids can stay up late and always have a place to call home!

5.  I love cooking but never measure and never make the same recipe twice (at least not exactly the same)!

6.  If I could afford to be a professional party planner and caterer, I would quit work tomorrow to do it but it doesn't pay as well!

7.  I love my kids but am blessed that they get to spend so much time with their "MiMi" during the day!  I don't think she was as patient with me as a child, but she has much more patience than I do with my boys!

8.  My husband and I have been married for over 9 years, have owned three different homes, and moved from the midwest to the east coast and landed in Texas.

9.  I'm going to lose weight this year...no matter what...I have my red dress picked out already and it's a Size 6!

10.  I love pets and if I were to walk into a shelter, I would try to take them all home with me!  When I donate, I have to drop off at the side door!  If I won the lottery, I would open a sanctuary for the pets that nobody wanted!

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