Versatile Blogger Award!

Come on now, you know you guys have been missing my most interesting blogging awards!  It’s been over a week, I think, since I’ve bombarded you all with not so cool facts about myself hasn’t it?  Well, because I love you guys and I don’t want you to have to wait a second longer to read ALL about ME, I’m going to be sharing a few more awards with you all 🙂  Thank you Olivia, for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award!  Actually, I joke a lot about these awards but I am always humbled and honored that anyone would include me in their list of other cool blogs.  I really DO appreciate the love and I’m always happy to pass along the love.  If you guys haven’t already discovered how awesome Olivia is, you’ve GOT to check out her writing!  She’s one of the most interesting people I’ve encountered on WP.  Here’s what she says about herself:

“

Olivia Stocum

If you’re reading this, then you’re wondering who I am. So here you go.

I live in New York state with my husband, three children, and our Jack Russell Terror. Oh, sorry, I meant Terrier. I’m a Celtic musician and love folk rhythms. Growing up, I rode horses and shot a bow, and generally lived in my own little world where I had adventures with Robin Hood.

I have placed in a number of writing contests with my fiction and I even won first place once. (That may never happen again!) I am currently working on two series. One is set in 1600’s Scotland and the other is a paranormal romance. I expect to release my first novel July 2013.

Tìoraidh an-dràsta (bye for now)”

Here are the rules for accepting The Versatile Blogger Award:

1) Add The Versatile Blogger award photo on a blog post
2) Thank the person who presented you with the award and link back to him or her in your post
3) Share seven things about yourself
4) Pass the award along to 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered. Contact the chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

Here are my 7 self absorbed facts all about me.  I’ll try to add pictures so you won’t be so bored 🙂

1.  When I was little, I used to pretend that I was a beautiful singer/movie star (usually Dolly Parton or some other singer with big hair and lots of pretty make up).  Who ever was on the radio singing passionate love songs that would make people cry.  I would imagine that everyone was hearing ME on the radio and that they all loved me.  I was the most famous person in the world!  lol  I think I did this to escape the reality of my abusive family.

2.  My bff’s 20 year old son is VERY likely to become a professional baseball player.  His pitching is OFF THE WALL fast and accurate and I sure wish I knew more about baseball so I could tell you about how much potential he has!  lol  The point is that on April 30, he’s going to go show off his stuff to the major leagues.  It’s pretty much a done deal that he’ll get signed (this is me VISUALIZING positive stuff for him because I know he can do it!).  PLEASE, positive thoughts and prayers for him?  It’s been his dream since he was a very little boy and now it’s our dream for him too.

(remember his name cause you heard it here first!  Bryar Langley 🙂

3.  I used to sneak home every stray animal that I could find.  The last time I did this, I was 17 and found a white German Shepherd.  I named him Joey and loved to go to the park and play ball with him.  One day I came home from school and found that my mom had taken him to the pound because she couldn’t afford to buy dog food for him.  I hated her for this and cried for months over that dog.  I don’t know why I couldn’t understand.  She couldn’t afford to feed us, let alone a dog.  I just wish she would have told me… but I would have had a melt down and made her life miserable.

(this isn’t Joey but it’s one that looks like him)

4.  I’m a believer in the paranormal and supernatural.  I believe that there’s just so much out there that our human minds are not able to comprehend or understand.  I think it’s CRAZY that some people are so egotistic that they believe in only what THEIR eyes can see.  I believe that God can speak to you in dreams.  Oh and while we’re on THAT subject, I love the Long Island Medium and yes I believe she’s the real deal.

5.  During the Spring and Summer, I treat myself to a pedicure every 2 weeks.  I think everyone woman who sports a pair of flip flops SHOULD pay attention to how pretty their toes are.  lol

 6.  And while we’re on the subject of “feet”…  although feet generally make me grossed out, I can NOT resist baby feet!  I absolutely adore chubby little baby toes 🙂

7.  One of the suckiest things about having this ulcer disease is that I can’t drink alcohol at all for fear of extreme pain and potential bleeding.  I used to LOVE Long Island Ice Tea and I really wish that every once in a while I could have one (like right now).

Here’s where I’m going to probably break the rules.  I’ll try to name 15 bloggers more recently discovered but 15 is a big number and if I don’t really know your blog, how am I going to know how versatile you are?  Basically, I’m just going to bring you 15 cool blogs so here goes:

1.  Beth at http://1flashychick.wordpress.com/ (My bff is starting her own blog and here’s my shameless plug!)

2.  Justin at http://justingawel.com/

3.  http://overstandpodcast.wordpress.com/

4.  Ms Red Pen at http://msredpen.wordpress.com/  (someone I’ve loved since the days of Vox!)

5.  Shaun at http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/ (cause I’m always going to shout out to Shaun!)

6.  Sue at http://scvincent.com/

7.  Laura at http://lauradgumm.wordpress.com/

8.  Champ or Will at http://technoteamblog.wordpress.com/

9.  Dave at http://barclaydave.wordpress.com/

10.  http://soletusknow.wordpress.com/

11.  http://projectfirestarter.wordpress.com/

12.  Carla at http://randomthoughtsofatwentysomething.wordpress.com/

13.  Amy at http://nellieanddot.wordpress.com/

14.  Sarah at http://andthisiswhyiwilldiealonesurroundedbycats.wordpress.com/

15.  Steven at http://justafterwords.com/

Okay… have you left me yet?  Hope not!  I tried to bring you all a variety of different types of blogs so a lot of thought really DID go into this!  lol  As always, this is a no pressure award.  Take it or leave it but know that I appreciate ALL of you and look forward to these days when I can spread the love around 😉  If you don’t have time to do this, I won’t be offended.  Hey, you can always save these awards for the days when you’re having trouble thinking of something new to blog about!

Peace out my fine fellow bloggers!

 

WordPress Family… Brand new and very thoughtful award

I know…  I’m getting sick of myself too!  I SWEAR I’m going to be doing other blogs besides these where I’m accepting awards!  Geesh..  But here’s the thing, I feel that if someone I care about, takes the time to show me love, I’m going to show it right back and pass it around a little 🙂  Here’s a BRAND NEW award that just started floating around WordPress today!  And…  my very dear friend Shaun (Praying for one day) started it!  How cool is THAT?  So I made the list for the very first set of people to receive this award?  Now THAT’S what I call epic!  Thanks Shaun 🙂

Here’s what he says about this award:

“This is an award for everyone who is part of the “Word Press Family” I start this award on the basis that the WordPress family has taken me in, and showed me love and a caring side only WordPress can. The way people take a second to be nice, to answer a question and not make things a competition amazes me here. I know I have been given many awards, but I wanted to leave my own legacy on here by creating my own award, as many have done before. This represents “Family” we never meet, but are there for us as family. It is my honour to start this award”

Rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.

2. Link back to the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your wordpress experience and family

4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them

5. That is it. Just please pick 10 people that have taken you as  a friend, and spread the love

So all I have to do is nominate 10 people?  No answering questions?  No coming up with new questions?  No stating 10 not so fun facts about me?  lmbo  PERFECT!  Here are my 10 wp family members 🙂

1.  http://charlieandpearl.wordpress.com/

2.  http://rachieadventures.wordpress.com/

3.  http://livonne.com.au/

4.  http://yeoldehumdrum.wordpress.com/

5.  http://lolarugula.com/

6.  http://datingasociopath.com/

7.  http://patinspire.org/

8.  http://theverybesttop10.com/

9.  http://thelovemanifesto.wordpress.com/

10.  http://simpletombornhigh.com/

There are so many more that make up my family but I think they all may be tired of me tagging them and making them have to answer me.  YOU all might be too but I wanted to acknowledge you and how much you mean to me!  As always, NONE of you have to play.  Don’t feel obligated.  But really, all you’d have to do is pass this along to 10 other people, so in other words, I don’t feel TOO terribly guilty about making you feel like you have to do this!  lol  Seriously, it’s that simple!

I’m “IT” a lot…

Ahhhh…. I’ve been tagged by Tazein.  Thank you very much!  lol  I feel like I’ve been tagged in different ways a lot these days…  Because I love Tazein and I want you to check out her blog, I’ll participate.  Besides all that, I’m honored that she even thought of me!

The first rule is that I’m supposed to pass along “tags” to the number of people in my name.  My name is Michelle, and there’s 8 letters in my name… I’ll tag 8 people.

Now I’ll answer the questions Tazein has set aside for me (there are 11 of them):

1-What is your earliest childhood memory?

My earliest memory is of myself as a baby in a baby bed with my brother who was exactly 1 year (to the day) younger than me.  He crawled to my side of the bed and took some of my toys and I bit him. I guess I remember it so well because it could possibly be the first time I received a spanking.  I would have had to be not 2 years old yet and I remember trying to tell my mom that I was going to “Tell dada on her”… in baby jibber.  She wasn’t impressed.  lol

2-From where do you get inspiration for your writings?

Mostly day to day happening or whatever pops into my mind.

3-Are you content and at peace with yourself?

Some days I am, some days I’m not.  I think it’s a work in progress.

4-Which is your favorite movie?

There are a few that I love.  Gone With The Wind is one big one, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mar Popins, The Beasts of the Southern Wild.  Actually I have too many.

5-What is the one thing you wish to achieve in life?

Again, there are MANY things I wish to achieve…  I guess the big one is just trying to live for 4 more years and beat the odds that are given to me so that I can finish raising my daughter.  Other than that, I want to break the cycle of abuse that’s been in our family and be the first generation to raise our children with love.  I think I’m succeeding with that one.

6-Are you a believer in God?

It amazes me that ANYONE could be so self involved that they think their is no God or higher being.  Of course there’s a God.  I’ve seen evidence of this many, many times in my own lifetime.

7-How do you pull yourself out of sadness?

I pray and ask God to take it from me.  I play the piano or sink myself in a book.  I talk to friends and then count my blessings 🙂

8-Which is your favorite place to visit?

So far, I think it might have to be The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina.  I’ve seen MANY places and all are so beautiful in their own right.  The prettiest is the mountains of Tennessee and the waterfalls and the bear and and and….  lol

9-Do you have a family, that is are you married with kids or single?

I’m married with children.  lol  Actually this is my THIRD marriage!  Ughhh…  But I’ve been married to THIS man for 10 years so I guess I’m gonna stick around 😉  hehehe

10-Do you cry easily or keep it bottled up?

If I were honest, I’d say that I get angry when something makes me sad enough to cry.  It scares me so I get mad.  It’s very rare that I cry.  I DO cry over my children and of course I cried for years when my brother was killed.

11-Aer you self- confident, ready to take on the world?

I’m VERY self confident… the only things I’m NOT confident about pertain to my children.  I didn’t have a good parenting example when I was small because my own parents were abusive and unavailable.  It’s hard to know if I’m doing the right thing so I’m always consulting others… books, people, professionals… etc…

Now I’ll share 11 facts about myself (which will be extremely hard to come up with new factoids.. lol).

1.  I’m watching the Today’s show right now.

2.  I’m looking outside my french doors as I type this and realize I need to wash my pathetic and filthy windows.

3.  Weird things always happen to me like they do in the movies.  It amazes me sometimes.

4.  I learned to ride a bike without training wheels AFTER my little brother did.  I was 7 years old.

5.  I was 9 months old when I started walking for real.

6.  I’ve always, from birth, been extremely independent.

7.  I was voted Best Dressed in my senior year of high school.  Some days, fashion is still important to me.

8.  I’ve learned that material possessions won’t make you happy.

9.  I’m currently reading “Proof of Heaven” by Eben Alexander.  WOW.  EVERYONE needs to read this book!

10.  I have green eyes.

11.  When I was young, my hair was blonder… as I get older my hair gets darker and darker.

How’s THAT for some boring factoids?  I’m telling you, I’m running out of stuff to talk about ME.  lol

Now I’m going to come up with 11 questions for my 8 people (in case they want to participate).

1.  Have you ever had a NDE (Near death experience)?

2.  Where is your favorite vacation destination?

3.  Do you have a good relationship with your parents?

4.  Who is the funniest person you know of?  It can be someone you don’t personally know.

5.  Do you play video games and if so what?

6.  What do you do to exercise?

7.  What’s your favorite food?

8.  Do you cook or go out to eat, for the most part?

9.  What color is your kitchen?

10.  Have you ever said NO to someone who’s asked you to marry them?

11.  What is your favorite song?

So here are the 8 people I’m tagging:

1.  http://livonne.com.au/

2.  http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/

3.  http://sethsnap.com/

4.  http://ihelenblog.wordpress.com/

5.  http://urbanwallart.wordpress.com/

6.  http://thedissocialmom.wordpress.com/

7.  http://andthisiswhyiwilldiealonesurroundedbycats.wordpress.com/

8.  http://littleyellowcar.wordpress.com/

So a recap on the rules.

1.  Post a picture of the award on your blog

2.  Tagback the person who tagged you to let them know you’ve accepted the award.

3.  11 facts about you.

4.  Answer the 11 questions I’ve asked you.

5.  Tag the same amount of people as their are letters in your name.

6.  Ask your OWN 11 questions to the people you’ve tagged.

7.  Contact the people you’ve tagged to let them know they’ve been tagged.

And Here are MY special rules:  NOBODY I’ve tagged really needs to be obligated to play if they don’t want.  I realize many people are busy and don’t have time to do something like this and it’s really no big deal.  It’s something that should be fun and if it’s not, then please don’t give it a second thought.  Have a HAPPY MONDAY!

I’m Inspiring AND Inspired!

Today I’ve been working on my acceptance speeches for certain awards I’ve recently received.  *snicker* Admittedly, I’m at a loss for words… I know, shocking, right?  A couple of days ago, Deborah at Container Chronicles blessed me with the very inspiring blogger award!  Gosh Guys!  You’re KILLING me!  lol  I don’t feel worthy and I’m hoping everyone doesn’t get sick and tired of me!  I love you all though, I do, I REALLY do 🙂  Thank you Miss Deborah!

The rules: 

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements.

7 things about myself

1.  I’m the biggest procrastinator that I know.

2.  I’m a very loyal friend.

3.  I love canoeing and kayaking!

4.  I have a very sarcastic sense of humor.

5.  I can’t WAIT till the weather gets warm enough so we can start fishing again!

7.  One of my favorite summer time activities is camping!  I still love tent camping.  We usually go somewhere on the river where we can float and fish and swim 🙂

Now for the people who also inspire me 🙂

1.  http://toddlohenry.com/

2.  http://katestull.wordpress.com/

3.  http://workingmansparadise.wordpress.com/

4.  http://learus.wordpress.com/

5.  http://rickmallery.wordpress.com/

6.  http://angeloolegnaart.wordpress.com/

7.  http://miartedoris.wordpress.com/

8.  http://yeoldehumdrum.wordpress.com/  (gotcah back!  lol)

9.  http://meganhasocd.com/

10.  http://realitydreamer24.wordpress.com/

11.  http://melissawritesofpassage.wordpress.com/

12.  http://emphaticasterisk.com/

13.  http://petilea.wordpress.com/

14.  http://moolta.wordpress.com/

15.  http://mainstcuisine.wordpress.com/

Once again, I feel like I need to let you all know to NOT feel pressured.  This is supposed to be fun so if you have time to do it, please do 🙂  If you don;t have time or don’t feel comfortable, don;t worry about it.  Just know that I think of you and appreciate your inspiration!

Congratulations to me! I won the Liebster Award!

I’ll have to admit that this award is intimidating to me ONLY because they take so much time to ask and answer specific questions.  However, someone I admire VERY much, Comely Miss, nominated me and I love her AND am honored that she thought of me…  so here I am again!  Feel free to skip this post because I’m positive you’re all sick and tired of hearing all the fun facts about myself.  lol   I won’t know the difference and I know you all really love me, right?  lol

Here are the rules:

1. The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
2. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
3. Each blogger should answer the 11 questions given to you.
4. Choose 11 new bloggers to pass the award on to and link them in your post.
5. Create 11 new questions for the chosen bloggers.
6. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
7. No tag backs.

Now the 11 facts about me.

1.  It’s getting extremely hard for me to come up with anything new and this is hurting my brain.

2.  My first “love” was named Pete and when he broke up with me, I started dating someone who looked a lot like him and his name was ALSO Pete.  Pete #2 became the father of my oldest daughter.

3.  I am an EXTREMELY strong woman who’s personality sometimes is intimidating to others, or so I’ve been told.

4.  I’m not very proud of this but I like to smoke.  I don’t ever smoke in the house or enclosed enviroments and I respect others right NOT to breath my smoke.  I try to hide when I’m outside in a public place.

5.  I appreciate art but am not good at it.  I can spend ALL day at the art museum.

6.  One of my favorite places to go EVER is the Smoky Mountains.  I could live in a mountain cabin, away from everyone.

7.  I’m a VERY social antisocial person

8.  I’ve been very blessed to have my husband’s family in Texas.  They’ve shown me unconditional love and are teaching me to show unconditional love.  Sounds like a no brainer for most people but I wasn’t raised with anything CLOSE to unconditional love and sometimes I put too much pressure to be perfect on my own children.  Here’s some pics of my family in Texas 🙂  They ALWAYS make me smile!

This is Bobby, our cousin.  He doesn’t know it but he’s one of my hero’s.  He’s just a regular man who is probably one of the most funny people I know.  He’s studying to be a preacher but you’d never know it.  He’s so non judging.

Bobby’s wife and our cousin Netta.  She’s always annoyed with me for snapping pictures.  lol  Another very strong woman and so accepting.  She’s a role model for me 🙂

My sister in law Lisa and her husband Stace 🙂  Love them both so much!  Lisa is the stereotypical Southern Belle and exudes LOVE.  She’s just like her mama.  When you’re around these people, you feel like you’ve always been in their family.

9.  In July of last year, I came very near to death.  After I was released from the hospital I had a dream that God told me I was supposed to go to a hot spring.  I woke up and told my husband that I needed to go to Hot Springs Arkansas so he packed us up on THAT day and we went.  I spent a day at the hot spring bath house and drank the mineral water.  I was barely able to walk when we arrived in Hot Springs.  By the time we left, I was SO much better.  I believe I was really supposed to be there and drink the waters.  Crazy I know but it worked.

Here’s the view from our hotel room in Hot Springs.

The bath house we spent the day in.  Awesome place.

10.  The only time of year that my mom’s enormous family gets together is at Easter.  She came from a family of 10 kids and between them and all of us grandkids and now great grandchildren…  there has to be 100 of us who gather at my cousins house.  I look very forward to seeing all my aunts and cousins every year.  Oh and EVERYONE is a fantastic cook so the food is something EVERYONE would be jealous of 🙂

11.  I’m having issues with “aging gracefully”.  I mean I believe in aging gracefully BUT, in all honesty, if I had the money to have a complete makeover (plastic surgery)… I probably would.  I know, vain.  Honest though 🙂

Here are the questions that Comely Miss wants me to answer:

♣ What caused you to start blogging? (I like this question, so I’m keeping it!)

Okay, I started blogging for a site called Vox and I LOVED the sense of community!  Sadly, Vox went away but I missed it and couldn;t get the same feeling on FB (although I love my fb friends).  I finally found WP a few moths ago and LOVE it 🙂

♣ What career did you think you’d pursue while you were growing up?

I thought I would be a psychologist.  I also PROMISED myself that I would open up an abused women and children’s shelter.  I have done work for some of these but I’m going to keep my promise, I think.  One day, before I die I WILL open up one of these homes.  I think it’s my destiny.

♣ Who do you think has had the biggest influence on your life?

Sadly, I think my mother has had the biggest influence on my life.  I was CONSTANTLY trying to receive her love and her pride.  I always, without fail, fell short of making her proud.  I viewed her as perfect and knew that if I could EVER do 1 thing that would make her REALLY love me and be proud of me, I would have succeeded.  That never happened.  I feel like I’ve wasted WAY too much time not loving myself because I always felt like I didn’t deserve to be loved.  If your mother can’t love you, there MUST be something wrong, right?  The problem lies with her, not me.  However, I feel pretty good about myself that I finally figured that out.
♣ What kind of games do you like to play? (I don’t care if it’s video, board, or mind games, I’m just curious.  )

I LOVE playing LIFE with my daughter and grew up playing board games.  Sometimes, I secretly play WOW (shhhhh… don’t tell), I loved Diablo and still love playing UNO, Skipbo, Yatzee and Dominos.  I pretty much just like playing games.  Oh and there Apples to Apples and Pictionary 🙂

♣ What is your favorite movie?

This is hard.  Sound of Music?  Breakfast at Tiffany’s?  Gone with the WiInd?  Beasts of the Southern Wild?  Wizard of OZ?  It’s a Wonderful Life?  I just have so many 🙂

♣ How did you meet your husband/wife/significant other?

I actually met Ben online.  American Singles.  I didn;t want to meet another man in a bar!  lol  Although I’m not entirely sure online dating is any better, from what I’m seeing on TV these days.  lol  It worked out for us though!  I met him when online dating was kind of new in the early 2000’s.  I don;t think the weirdo’s perfected the games they played with people.  I wonder, now, if I were single, what the best way to meet people is?  It’s ALL scary!

♣ Have you ever had any “unusual” pets? (This may be unusual based on species or attitude.)

The most unusual pet I ever had was a rabbit.  lol  In the 80’s and 80’s though I used to show and breed Alaskan Malamutes.  I also used to sled with them… like they do in the Iditerod?  Pretty cool.  I miss that!

♣ How do you unwind at the end of the day?

I blog when everyone is sleeping in my house.  lol  OR I’ll play a computer game or read or play the piano OR go on Facebook.

♣ What is your biggest pet peeve?

Oh GAWD!!!  I have so many I don’t know where to start.  I think the thing I bitch the most about is hair in the bath tub.  I don’t like dirty bathrooms and am pretty anal about keeping it clean.  When I go into the bath tub I don;t want to see little hairs stuck to my bath tub.  It will NEVER change, meaning it doesn;t matter how much I crab about it.  My husband is the culprit and I swear I’m going to start posting pictures of these little hairs.  GROSS.

♣ What item is to your left?

HAHA!  Good one!  My coffee cup on a coaster!  Never without coffee 🙂

♣ How do you think of material to blog about?

Whatever pops in my head.  I haven;t really had a problem running out of material.  If there’s nothing in my head, then I read all of YOUR blogs 🙂

Okay now I’m going to name some people to pass this award on to.  I’ll get as close to 11 as possible but I think people are getting tired of me nominating them.  lol  It’s a lot of work but I just want you guys to know that even if you don;t want to do awards (and I don’t blame you)… at least you know I believe you’re deserving of the award!

1.  http://thelazysuzan.com/

2.  http://kellyvision.wordpress.com/

3.  http://fleurdeselsf.com/

4.  http://theartstudiobymarkmoore.wordpress.com/

5.  http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com/

6.  http://ssbits.wordpress.com/

7.  http://otrazhenie.wordpress.com/

8.  http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/  (haha  gotcha back FINALLY!)

9.  http://mamacristinasworld.wordpress.com/

10.  http://wordsforworms.com/

11.  http://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/

Here are my questions to all of you!  Now THIS will be fun!  And I hope that at least ONE of you will answer 🙂

1.  What’s your favorite thing to watch on TV?

2.  Have you ever experienced the death of someone close?

3.  Do you color Easter Eggs?

4.  How is the biggest influence in your life and why?

5.  What do you enjoy reading in a blog the most?

6.  What book are you reading now or what was the last book you read?

7.  How many people were in your family when you were growing up?

8.  What was the biggest disappointment so far in your life?

9.  What has been your biggest achievement in your life so far?

10.  Where do you go to find peace?  For example, a river, the woods, a room in your house?

11.  What do you want to be when you grow up?

*Deep breath*  It’s over.  lmbo  Remember, I don’t want any of you to feel obligated.  If you have time and feel like sharing, please do 🙂  If you don’t, that’s cool too.

Me? Epic AND Awesome? lol

Thanks to my good buddy Shaun, I’m being kept in awards that should take me till next year to complete!  lol  I wish I really was as awesome as he thinks I am but you know?  I’ll TAKE this compliment and run before he decides to take it back!  Anyway, if you guys are looking for an intelligent, athletic, loving, caring and insightful Scottish friend, you HAVE to go check his blog out!  http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com/about/

So the rules are as follows:  Post a picture of the award on your blog, post 10 EPIC fun facts that you haven’t already told about yourself AND nominate 10 people for this EPIC award!  Simple as that 🙂

I just was to say that I’m going to nominate 10 people but I realize that some may be too busy to participate.  NO PRESSURE.  Juts know that I’m thinking of you and appreciate you but you don’t have to play if you don’t want:-)

Now 10 EPIC facts about me (probably not TOO epic but here goes..)

1.  When I was cool (a million years ago in the 80’s) I owned a ’78 Trans AM Golden Classic like this:

2.  I’ve had 9 miscarriages in my life time.  The last babies I lost in 2002 were twins.  AFTER all the devastation, they found out that I had a condition called Factor V (5) – a blood clotting condition that caused a blood clot to form at the placenta, causing my babies to starve to death.  This could have been corrected by taking blood thinners.  It is a COMPLETE miracle that I was able to carry 3 babies to term.  Makes me wonder what great things they were born to do because according to medical science, they should not be here.

3.  I’ve lived in the same house since 1989.  I won’t move because I hate moving and I promised my girls I’d never let their home go to someone else besides them.  In the even of my death, my husband and I have decided to give it to all of the girls and let them do with it what they will.

4.  My aunt was more of a mother to me than my own mother was.  When I was 14, I moved in with her and she taught me how to cook and how to do other girl things.  She cared and showed me love.  She was a clothing designer and used to give me all of her models clothes.  Because of this, I was voted “Best Dressed” during my senior year in High School. Here’s a picture of my Aunt who is now battling Parkinson’s and Althzeihmers.

5.  Like many in my family, I was born with a “gift”.  That’s what the older women in my family call it, anyway.  I see things in my dreams and they come true.  I am almost always able to tell when someone is about to die or if they have died because I’l see it in my dream OR smell “funeral flowers” in my sleep.  It’s a HORRIBLE sweet, sickly smell like when you go into a funeral home and smell all the horrid funeral arrangements?  I also just know things.  A wee bit psychic.

6.  I married my FIRST husband because my mother convinced me that nobody else would ever want me.  I had a baby and she told me that I would never be able to provide for that child in the fashion that was necessary and who else would want me besides the man who married me?  I knew I didn’t love him and I’m SO sorry and ashamed that I put him through all I did based on the unkind words of my mother.  I hope he’s doing well.

7.  My uncle breeds and races Thoroughbred’s and is very successful.  He’s nearly 80 now and would like to give me a Mare that goes into “Secretariat” on both sides of her pedigree (assuming I can stay well enough to take care of her).  Disney made a movie based on her life and my uncle knows how much I’m in awe of her story!  Here’s a picture of Secretariat:

8.  I grew up in the automotive repair industry and learned more about cars and the way they run than most men know.  I learned to run a business that was male dominated and earned the respect of these men.  I had to fight my way to the top and I enjoyed the ride 🙂 It’s good to have the respect of men who started out NOT wanting to have to deal with me simply because I’m a woman and they didn’t think I’d understand their world.

9.  I used to love to race cars.  My dad taught all of us kids how to drive and how to race extremely fast cars.  I also had to learn how to put an engine together.  The last engine I helped my dad build was a Pontiac 455 big block.  Awesome 🙂

10.  I am terrified of roaches!

Now for the people I’m nominating!

1.  http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com/

2.  http://leveluphealth.wordpress.com/

3.  http://transcendingbordersblog.wordpress.com/

4.  http://otrazhenie.wordpress.com/

5.  http://cruisingthroughmylife.wordpress.com/

6.  http://prinsesamusang.wordpress.com/

7.  http://ramblingsofabipolarwoman.wordpress.com/

8.  http://learus.wordpress.com/

9.  http://runeatplayblog.com/

10.  http://thewanderinggourmand.com/

Sorry, I don’t have time to tell you more about the awesome people I’ve chosen but you’ll find out if you click on their site, I promise!  Have a BEAUTIFUL day an be sure and let me know if you decide to take your awards so I can come and see what you wrote!

2 awards in one? Beautiful blogger AND Inspiring Blogger :-)

My day started out screaming the news of the deaths of not one, but TWO people.  NOT a cheery way to start the day.  Many tears were shed and WAY too much time spent on the phone.

It ended SO much better than the way it began, proving that behind every cloud, the sun is still shining 🙂  Thanks Shaun for brightening my day!  Shaun is my Scottish friend who writes on a blog named “Praying for one day”.  He’s full of hope and love and the fight of the Scottish!  He loves to debate…  if you’re up for a good debate or up to just be enlightened, like I have been reading his blog, please go check him out!

Here’s what I love about Praying for one day (This is taken straight from his blog):

“We live in an world full of love, but also we are fed violence through the media. A world that is more connected through technology, but less connected than ever as people.

We don’t interact, and the world has become a corporate machine, where money  rules over the heart.

One person at a time, one blog at a time, one conversation at a time, we CAN change our world”

Shaun

Now you see why I like him, right?  Sooooo, he nominated me for the Beautiful Blogger Award AND the Most Inspiring Blogger Award.  Wow.  This is JUST the medicine that the doctor ordered after the day I’ve had.  Again and ALWAYS humbled, I feel unworthy but grateful.

I’m going to take this one at a time.

In order to accept these awards, I have to post and follow the rules.

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 7-15 bloggers for this award.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

Here are the 7 facts about myself, once again.  lmbo  By now, you know that I ALWAYS try to list 7 things I haven’t already told you.  This is getting difficult but bear with me and I’ll TRY to be as interesting as possible.

1.  My paternal grandfather, who died when my father was 3, was a personal friend of President Harry S. Truman.  

2.  My paternal great grandfather, grandfather and great aunts were all prominent educators and were published.  I’m sad that they were all dead long before I was born.

3.  My oldest daughter is following in their footsteps as she became an educator last year.  She’s working on her masters now.

4.  I LOVE reading and have always taught my children that if you read, it doesn’t matter if you have money because you can pick up a book and travel to worlds you may never see in “real” life.

5.  My favorite author is Taylor Caldwell.

6.  When I was little, I used to pretend that I was a famous singer who everyone loved and adored. lol

7.  I used to show and breed Alaskan Malamutes.  I was VERY successful and made it all the way to #5 breeder in the USA during the 90’s.  I miss it very much.

Now I will nominate 7 lucky bloggers!

1.  Judy (judylesko)  She blogs about everything from HERSELF to the most beautiful photography and will keep you laughing!  She is INDEED beautiful!  lol

2.  Taylor will SHOCK and surprise you.  Did I mention SHOCK?  lol  But SO brutal and honest.

3.  Iliana, my new Romanian friend who gives me a chuckle AND is sweet and beautiful 🙂

4.  Andrew  Another Romanian friend who brings me BEAUTIFUL pictures of his country

5.  http://3rdculturechildren.com/about/  My friend from Bolivia.  VERY interesting life and SUCH beautiful photos.

6.  Lola  and again, her food is ALMOST as beautiful as she is!

7.  Sweet Tea and Fried Chicken  she’s lovely and funny.

And now for my Most Inspiring Blogger Award:

Here are the rules:

1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Thank and link back to the person who nominated you.
3. State 7 things about yourself.
4. Nominate 7-15 bloggers for this award.
5. Notify those bloggers of the nomination by linking to one of their specific posts so that they get notified by ping back.

So once again my 7 not so interesting, at this point, facts about myself:

1.  I’m a very spiritual person.

2.  1 own 2 old cats named Noel and Stewart.

3.  My basement is very cluttered and needs to be cleaned.  Any volunteers?

4.  When I was little, I used to cry when I’d see even a fish die.  VERY sensitive toward animals but I could handle seeing people die on TV.  Does that mean I was ALWAYS a sicko?  lol

5.  My very best friend has been like a sister to me since we were in 5th grade (35 years).

6.  I do most of my very BEST reading in the bath tub.

7.  My maternal grandfather tried to teach me French (his first language) but I couldn’t learn it because I couldn’t understand him.

Now I will nominate 7 more inspiring bloggers!

1.  http://apronhead.wordpress.com/  I keep nominating her because she truly IS probably the most inspiring of all bloggers.  WHAT a lady!

2.  Tammy   She’s a loving person who is also an animal lover.  She’s rescued many pets.

3.  http://ourcloudlounge.com/about-me/  You have GOT to check out this young photographer from Maryland.

4.  Coco  She’s just too cool to put into words

5.  Lady or not   She’ll having so hard you’ll pee!

6.  Dan the man  you want to know about a movie?  this is the place to go.

7.  Eyes wide open  Great reminders and SO insightful and spiritual

Thanks once again for allowing me to share with you some of my favorite people and all about my crazy life!  lol

The Versatile Blogger Award… Yay I won!

Lucas nominated me for the Versatile Blogger award!  I’m SO honored to be nominated by one of the most loving and inspiring people I’ve had the pleasure of talking to since joining WordPress.  Lucas is fighting his way back to health.  He was almost paralyzed from a spinal chord injury he sustained while playing basketball and he’s teaching himself to walk and move again.  If you guys haven’t discovered Lucas yet, you HAVE to go check him out.  He has the most positive attitude of anyone I’ve known in such a condition.  He’s a fighter AND a lover and so encouraging.  Love you Lucas!

For this award, I’m supposed to name 7 interesting facts about myself.  I’ll try to mention things I haven’t already said before, which will be hard, so bare with me!  lol

1. In my late 20’s, I battled (and won) anorexia.
2. I have a spare bedroom that I’m trying to turn into a library.
3. I have NO patience.
4. I hate the sound of the letter “p”.
5. I’ve had so many blood transfusions that I’ve lost count.
6. When I was little, I wished my name would have been “Renee’ or Maria”.
7. One of my very favorite movies is “The Sound of Music”.

Now, I have to nominate 15 people and this is the hardest part.  SO many people I follow are versatile and interesting.  I wonder if we can nominate people who’ve already been nominated?

Prego and the Loon  (my so called fairy tale uncensored)  All I can say is WOW.  Check her out.

Lola Rugula  (A new friend who is pretty dang awesome AND she’s a food hoarder just like me!  lol)

Ottoman Dandy (the most VERSATILE of fashion!)

Tuttacronaca  (Cool news from Italy and all over)

Prinsesa  (this girl is FUNNY, a recluse but funny and someone I want to know more about!)

AndrBov  (I’m in AWE of this photography… you will be too!)

Bex Houghagen   (The Savvy Senorita is the most versatile of versatile bloggers)

Evelina Galli  (and all around cool person and a self proclaimed fashion addict)

Michael / My Life Afterglow  (You’ve got to see the world through HIS eyes)

Mama (mama’s Empty Nest)  Her writing is just so beautiful..  get lost in it the way I did 🙂

Shaun – Praying for one day, (find out what’s going on in Scotland and listen to him on Youtube!)

The Lazy Susan  (some of the most unique and delicious recipes)

Jill Reini Days  (she lifts me up and is just so insightful….  you won’t meet anyone else like her!)

Ilona Fried  (a la cart spirit)   WOw!  What a writer!

Pianolearner  (I love reading about music!)

So these are my people.  I don’t want you to feel obligated to do this but I’d sure love to read more about you!  If you decide to participate in this award, here are the rules.

1.  Place a copy of the award on your blog

2.  Link back to the person who nominated you and thank them (in my case you really don’t have to thank me)

3.  list 7 interesting facts about you and try not to say something you’ve already said

4.  nominate 15 other blogs

5 notify those people that you’ve nominated

Have fun and congratulations!

Most Inspiring Blogger Award!

I feel SO unworthy, yet appreciative 🙂  Carissa, who writes on ramblingsofabipolarwoman, nominated me.  You should TOTALLY go check her out.  Why?  Because she’s honest and doesn’t beat around the bush.  She writes about things that would shock most people and you might raise your eyebrows because she’s an open book.  Hers is the only kind of blog I actually enjoy following because I don’t feel like she’s lying to me or sugar coating anything.  Her feelings are real and I’ve learned from them.  I’m actually mad that I wasn’t the one who nominated her!  lol  I’m new to blogging though so I wouldn’t have known how to do it anyway.

Here are the rules:  I’m supposed to post a pic of the award (which I did) and link back to the person who nominated me (check).

Now I have to share 8 facts about myself:

1. My name is really Michelle
2. I love the water.  I love the sound of rushing water or the sound of a creek babbling.  I love to be anywhere near the water during the summer or winter.
3. I was born on April 10, 1966 (3’oclock), Easter Day and my dad said I was the “rottenist egg” he ever received from the Easter Bunny!  lol
4. My brother was born on April 10 (3’oclock) 1967.  I believe he was my twin who forgot to be born a year earlier with me.  Weird about the date and time, eh?
5. I became a mom, the first time, at the age of 17.
6. I graduated from HS 9 1/2 mos pregnant.
7. I LOVE to travel and see new things.
8. I have been diagnosed with a terminal condition 8 years ago and have survived anyone’s predictions….  however, the grim reaper won’t stop trying to come for me and I need an intestinal transplant to keep living.  

Next:  I’m going nominate some people for The Most Inspiring Blogger Award.  When I nominate you, you will do the same as me and go through the steps.  I can’t wait to read all the facts about you!

http://parkgang.wordpress.com/

http://simpletombornhigh.com/author/thomasmaxwell12/

http://theme.wordpress.com/credits/patinspire.org/

http://courtingmadness.wordpress.com/

http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/2013/02/13/happy-clicking-my-biggest-baddest-bucket-list/

http://ladyornot.com/

http://passionatechristianmarriage.wordpress.com/

http://5kidswdisabilities.com/

http://floodedroses.wordpress.com/

http://aboutthechildrenblog.com/

http://lifeasaculinarygirl.wordpress.com/

http://parentingandstuff.wordpress.com/

http://attemptsindomesticity.com/

So, stop by these awesome blogs and share with us what you like 🙂  The people I nominated need to nominate the bloggers they’re inspired by and then notify those people with a link back to their page.  Be sure and display the blogger award on your page so everyone knows how awesome you are!  lol  I have SO many more people who inspire me, but in the interest of time, I’ll stop here.