Blogger Recognition

A huge thank you to Sandra over at A Momma’s View for nominating me for this. I managed to trace this award back 10 generations. I’m honored that it has come my way. It’s given me Tuesday material without having to use my A-Z Challenge topics.

The Rules

• Thank the person who nominated you and give a link to their blog. Done
• Display the award on your post and write about it. Done
• Give a brief history on your blog itself. See below
• Offer a piece of advice to new and upcoming bloggers. See below below
  
• Select 10 other bloggers you wish to nominate. See all the way below

How it all started

April 25th, 2013 was my introduction to the blogging world. I started at Blogger via Google. I posted only a few times a month while there. I think the most ever was seven in one month. I certainly wasn’t a prolific writer. I wrote there until January of ’15. However, I was having trouble finding other blogs to read and making connections with other bloggers. Then a friend posted her blog to Facebook and I discovered WordPress. 45 posts and nearly two years later I made the switch.

I really can’t say why I started blogging. I enjoy writing and have for the longest time. So I guess it was only a matter of time before I started writing for the internet. Unfortunately there isn’t a wild and crazy or inspirational story behind my blog. Unless you count Crash and Bang. They’re wild and crazy enough. So I decided to write about my joys and frustrations with them. From calling windmills “giant fans” to doing chores (or not doing them). From heart check-ups to igloos to bath times.

My tips for new bloggers

WordPress is about community. Sure we all like to watch the numbers go up because it means people are reading and sharing what we write. The easiest way for that to happen is to ignore the numbers and join the community that is WordPress and the blogging world. Want others to read your posts? Read theirs. Want others to comment on your posts? Comment on theirs. Want others to share your writing? Share theirs. It’s a two way street here in the bloggosphere. Plus you’ll meet some great bloggers and make some virtual friends.

My nominees

As always, if you don’t do this award thing, no worries. Consider this shout out to be a virtual high five.

Grubbs-n-Critters
A Texan’s View of Upstate New York
Bumbi’s Mom
Coach Daddy
Dramatic Momologue
Kismaslife
Ah Dad
Single Family Asylum

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Twice the Versatility

It’s not often one gets awarded for doing something they would be doing anyway – even without the recognition. Much like coaching, there are rewards, there are up and downs, there are people, there’s a reason bigger than ourselves. Wait, maybe that’s teaching. Either way, blogging has become more enjoyable than I ever imagine when I first started. Like running, you get out of it what you put into it. No one to blame but yourself. Or your kids. They’re good for blaming stuff on.

In a matter of 3 days I was nominated for this award twice (same award, different badge so I get two badges for the price of one).  A huge thanks to Georgia over at McKinley’s Milestones and Lisa Pomerantzster. Without knowing, they both nominated me for this award within days of each other. High fives all around!

• Thank the person who nominated you and link up to their blog ☑
• Nominate at least 15 bloggers of my choice, including links to each one so you, my lovely readers can see what I am talking about! (When thinking about The Versatile Blogger, one must keep in mind writing style, technique, uniqueness of  subject matter and the level of love that exudes from the words on their pages) (See Below)
• Share seven facts about yourself (See under below)

Since I was nominated twice I hope I don’t have to nominate 30 bloggers! Or give 14 facts about myself. I’ll just do 15 and 7.

I know not all you do this award thing. They’re kinda silly, but the recognition is nice. Or if you’ve already accepted this award. If I nominate you consider it to be a virtual high five or slap on the ass after a touchdown/homerun/goal.

1. I Didn’t Have My Glasses On
2. Riddle From the Middle
3. Secret Diary of a Computer Science Student
4. Grubbs-n-Critters
5. When the Kids Go To Bed
6. Sounds Like Life To Me
7. Bumbi’s Mom
8. Anxious Mom
9. Coach Daddy
10. A Momma’s View
11. Ah Dad
12. All
13. my
14. loyal
15. readers

Now for seven facts about me in case you missed the ABC’s of me:

1. Sometimes I sleep with socks on
2. I’m excited for the 25-35 cm (10-14 in) of snow we’re supposed to get tomorrow
3. I worked 14 years (summers) as an agricultural consultant and loved it.
4. My three favorite animals are wolves, cheetahs, and green red eyed tree frogs.
5. I have a tattoo of two of those three in five.
6. I want a tattoo for my kids, but don’t know what yet (maybe wolf prints?)
7. I have the best DW ever in the history!

I was going write about our igloo again today. But it makes me sad. Two days of 6C (42F) and rain will destroy any igloo. Though, as a testament to how sturdy ours actually was, only the south facing roof section fell down. Not the whole thing. Perhaps it can be rebuilt. I’ll show ya later. Tomorrow is question answering day (Hint: one of the question wasn’t asked by the kids). And Saturday is Story Saturday – chapter four is officially in the works). And Sunday has become sharing day. Perhaps I’ll give you a bonus read this weekend?

Happy reading! Happy blogging!

We’re outta here. Time to go to playgroup!

Infinity Dreams and Loyal Dragons

Awards are interesting. If only they would provide some extra cash flow… But it does mean someone was thinking of my blog and feels it’s deserving of such admiration. Big thanks to my blogging friend over at A Momma’s View for nominating me. You should check out her post from yesterday. I swear it has something about nudity. On a beach! In Australia!

As with most awards, there are rules? Will I follow them? Will I bend them? Or will I just break ’em like dried puhsketti?

Here are the rules for the award:

• Thank and follow the blog that nominated you. Yep.
• Tell us 11 facts about yourself. See Below
  
• Answer questions that were set for you to answer. See Below Below
  
• Nominate 11 bloggers and set question for them. I’ll Try

11 facts about myself. I’ll try to get too personal and cross that TMI line.

1. I’m bald but only because I shave my head thanks to a spot of alopecia on the back of my head. Perhaps one day it’ll cover all of my head and I won’t have to shave it any more!
2. I would rather play a sport than watch a sport.
3. My favorite ice cream is Mint Chocolate chip, or mint oreo or anything that is mint and chocolate.
4. I speak two languages. English and igpay atinlay.
5. I think Cards Against Humanity is hilarious.
6. I sleep fully dressed (t-shirt and pajama pants)
7. I love cooking. Most nights.
8. I can fall down the stairs and I can fall up the stairs.
9. I am a Star Wars fan(atic). I would love to take the fam to see The Force Awakens.
10. I tan very easily.
11. 11 facts is a lot.

Now to one of my most favorite parts: Answering the questions:

1. Your greatest strength?
   The distance I can run without stopping, my patience, and my cooking.
2. Your greatest weakness?
   Birthdays. I suck at birthdays.
3. Your favorite season of the year and why?
   Fall. I love the warm days and cold nights.
4. What item would you want to save from your burning home if you could only save one?
   I would save the four stuffies pictured in my header and the external hard drive.
5. If you and Bear Grylls would be stranded on a deserted island, with what would you be able to impress him?
   That I could out-survive him? Unlikely, but I would be willing to do whatever it takes to survive.
6. If you’d have a bucket list, what would I find on top of the list?
   Run the Boston Marathon?
7. What is the one destination you would love to travel to?
   Pyramids in Egypt or Maryland. Or Australia.
8. What mystical creature would you like to have as a pet and why?
   A dragon like Valcor or an Owl like Hedwig.
9. What other language than yours would you like to be fluent in?
   French or Gaelic.
10. If you could ask one question to a very special person, what and who would it be?
    I would ask DW for a foot massage.
11. What kind of ice cream flavor would you like to invent?
    Mint Chocolate chunk with candy cane pieces.

 

Nominations:
Finding Rachel’s Way
Of Life She Writes
Peek Into My Life
Kismaslife (When she returns)
Grubbs-n-Critters

I’m going to cheat and just say “use the above questions to answer” should you choose to accept the award.

There are many others. However, they don’t do this award thing, but they know who they are! Right, Ah Dad, Coach Daddy, Strong Enough to Break, and Elen? Should you decide you want an award, it’s all yours!

Lastly, thanks to Ann over at Grubbs-n-Critters for the nominating me for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award. It’s rules were pretty much the same as the Infinity Award. So this is two-fer one.

I do love dragons. Though I’m not quite the fair, red-headed maiden depicted here.

 

I’ll be back to my normal writing (whatever normal is) tomorrow…

My Liebster Award

Thank you to Manny over at The Greenwich Mummy for nominating me for this award. While I’m not one for praise and recognition and chain mail, it is nice to know my blog means something other than words on page. Plus, my blog appreciates the decorations.

Highlight of this year:
It hasn’t happened yet, but the highlight will be our trip to the States. It’s been 5 years since we’ve been as a family. Bang has never been!

Favourite Quote:
Never laugh at a live dragon. (Bonus points if you know the source)

Where do you source your inspiration from whether it be in life or writing?
It comes, of course, from our 2 kids Crash and Bang who are 4 and soon to be 8 years old

What is your favourite colour and how does it inspire you?
I have several favorites. Green. Black. Orange for the Orioles. Not sure how it inspires me.

Where were you born?
In a hospital somewhere on the East Coast of the U.S.A.

How many countries have you visited?
USA. Canada. Costa Rica.

Can you play an instrument?
I can play piano, violin, guitar, trumpet, and the drums. I can’t play ANY of them confidently, I know no songs on them and it’s usually painful to listen to. Just because I know how to play them doesn’t mean I should. The guitar is my best. I at least can play parts of songs and strum a few chords.

What one thing is guaranteed to make you cry?
BingBong getting left behind.

What would you say is your favourite restaurant?
Papa’s Pub here in town. I also really like Carrabba’s, Olive Garden and Applebees.

What is the word/phrase that you use way too much?
Actually, I use the words actually too much. I actually know this because Crash and Bang actually use it frequently, too actually.

Who do I nominate? All of you. If you’re reading this post, this award is for you. A few mentions of those who I read often are:

A Momma’s View
Terri @ Perspectives On
Hoda @ Loud Mama
Ah Dad
Eli @ Coach Daddy
E @ Strong Enough to Break
Tracey @ No Page Left Blank
Ann @ GrubbsnCritters

Happy reading!