Inspiring Blog Award!!

Oh my! I was NOT expecting to recieve this wonderful (and beautiful!) award!! To think that someone thought my crazy, random writing is inspiring is such a sweet compliment! A big THANK YOU to Deirdra over at A Storybook World!! You simply must check out her blog!! It is not only beautiful, but educational and well written. She is a professional writer & illustrator and her work is AMAZING!

Here is the award that she gave to me ----

Isn't it beautiful!!! 

Thank you again, Deirdra!

THANK YOU, Susan!!

I am slowly starting to catch up on all of my blog reading from this past week. One of my favorite blogs is KardKornerKrib by my good blogging friend, Susan in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Last night, I popped into her blog to see what she has been up to. Little did I know that I would find THIS wonderful BLOG AWARD just for ME!!

Susan wrote some of the kindest words that I think I have ever read in honor of me! WOW! She brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Not to "toot my own horn" here, but I would like to share with you what she wrote. But.... PLEASE visit her blog, too!! You won't be disappointed! She writes a wonderful blog that is not only fun, but also educational -- in a fun way!

Here are Susan's words regarding little ol' me!

Becky, I hope you don't mind-I borrowed your picture to design this award for you! Becky is just what her blog implies-"Just Being Me-Becky". She lives in Georgia and is a pre-school teacher. And it sounds like to me that her tiny students love her dearly. Becky writes frequently on her blog about everyday happenings around town and in her life. She shares great photos of the events and outings she attends. At Christmas, she attended a party and got some lovely pictures of the home where the party was hosted. Becky loves to experiment with her own home by decorating with "cents". And she does great tablescapes with great finds by shopping for bargains! Becky and her beautiful family spend a lot of time with friends and relatives camping and fixing yummy food. Her thoughts are unpredictable (I mean this in a good way!), and you never know what to expect from one post to the next. For example, I suppose my favorite post of Becky's, (because I have mentioned it before on my blog, and have talked about it to my co-workers) is her October 16, 2010 post titled, "Dust Bunnies-Friends or Foe". This is a most hilarious post, and also very informative, and, then, hilarious again! I laughed, and I learned from this post. Becky has even helped me figure out some things to put on my blog. When I ask her how she put an item on her blog, she sends me back a friendly answer and instructions right away-sometimes it takes me a while to turn the light on tho! Becky's link to her blog is on my sidebar (thank you Google for the sidebar post lists).

Becky, this award comes to you with gratitude and hugs!!!

It sure is fun to be appreciated! 

Thank you so VERY much for this award, Susan!

You TOTALLY made my day!!

Sending BIG ((HUGS)) to you, my friend!!!!



Another Blog Award!

My good blogging friend ThisIsMe over at Southhamsdarling has presented me with this wonderful (I think! --- You'll understand in a moment!) blog award!!

She is SUCH a sweetie and I am enjoying her blog and her friendship so very much!

She lives in the United Kingdom. The photos that she sometimes shares of the area in which she lives are absolutely beautiful!!!!

While recently tracking my family's heritage, I discovered that my father's paternal side of the family is from the same area that ThisIsMe lives!! So.... I am very anxious to visit over there someday!

Be sure to check out her blog. You won't be disappointed!!

Ok... So, now I need to share what the instructions for receiving this award are...

I have to post a photo of myself at my computer while I am blogging!!! YIKES!! My first thought was that I will have to do that after I have had a shower, done my hair, gotten dressed, and have put my make-up on! --- I have to look presentable!

But... after giving it some thought.... I decided to just take a picture of myself right now, BEFORE my shower... BEFORE doing my hair...... BEFORE getting dressed.. (well, I am dressed. I just haven't gotten "dressed", if you know what I mean!).... and BEFORE I have put my make-up on!

So.... here you go ThisIsMe...

I was surprised that this picture turned out as well as it did! Hahaa!! --- Otherwise... I would have had to take that shower, done my hair, gotten "dressed", and put my make-up on!! **Smile**

Now... do I pass this blog award onto some other blogging friends????

Hmmmm..... any volunteers???

Another Award! How fun!

** I must say, first, that this award was given to me last week and I am just NOW getting around to posting about it! To tell you the truth, I forgot about it and then... I started working on this post and then forgot completely that I had started it!! Oops!

My sweet, sweet friend Thisisme over at Southhamsdarling has blessed me with another award!! I had no idea there were so many awards even out there, and yet here I go receiving ANOTHER ONE! Thank you so very much, Thisisme!

If you have not popped in over at her blog, please do so! You won't be disappointed! She lives in England and has so many wonderful stories to tell. She is a fascinating person and I am thrilled to have her as a Blogging Buddy!

Along with this award... comes... yes, you guessed it... RULES!! The first rule is to tell 7 things about yourself. The second is to pass the award along to other blogger friends. Both of these things are getting harder to do, especially the "passing of the award". There are so many wonderful blogs out there!!

Well, let's start with the first rule and worry about the second a bit later.

1) I attended the Art Institute of Atlanta for a short time. I enjoyed art very much and thought that I would like to become a comercial artist. After a year of being a student there, I became discouraged and dropped out. -- Yes. I am a college drop out. :(

2) I absolutely LOVE rollercoasters!!! I have often thought how fun it would be to be in one of those clubs where the people go all over the country and ride different ones!

3) I'm only afraid of heights when there is no barrier between me and the edge! If there is a barrier there... I can look down and I am not afraid at all.

4) I don't like to cross streams that have stepping stones to get across. My sense of balance goes right out the window and I fall right in just about every time!!

5) I don't like to be in places that don't have windows for very long. I have to be able to see out. I may be a wee bit claustrophobic. Although.... being in a movie theatre doesn't bother me. I guess it is because I am too busy watching the movie!

6) I do not like the sound of metal scratching on metal (or anything else!). To me... it's like fingernails scratching a chalkboard!! It makes me cringe!!! I don't like to replace light bulbs because of this reason.

7) There are two tastes that I reaaalllly don't like. They are bananas and tea. Most "southerner's" love iced tea... "sweet tea", that is. But, nope. Not me. And bananas, I have never liked them. I can't even eat a banana popcicle!! Blech!!

Now, to pass this award on to some deserving blogger friends. (The directions didn't specify how many to pass it along to, so I just picked a few of my favorite ones!) I know that not all of these sweet ladies accept blog awards, but I want to recognize them anyway!!

Heather at Mrs. C's Life

Susan at KardKornerKrib

Marti at A Stroll Thru Life

Linda at A La Carte

Melissa at Greener Grass

I love all of your blogs very much and enjoy visiting them often! Keep up the wonderful work that you do with them!

Blessed With Another Award!

Growing up, I can't recall receiving many awards. I did receive one in 3rd Grade for creative writing .... Hmmmmm.... Imagine that! **Smile**... And I think I received a trophy for the one year that I played softball for the church that I went to as a teen. But, that's about it.

I haven't won many awards as an adult, either... but, that's ok. I don't feel as if I've done anything to truly deserve one.

An award could be a trophy, a certificate, a plaque, a ribbon, a medal, a pin, or even a prize. Whatever kind is it.... when you are given one, it is an honor! Being the recipient of one shows that those that are watching you, listening to you, or reading your written words, like what you are doing and believe that you deserve recognition for it.

I truly am enjoying being a "Blogger" and it is an honor to know that someone enjoys reading my posts. Becca over at My Life is one of my blogging friends and has bestowed upon me this lovely award...

Thank you, Becca, for reading my blog and being a loyal "follower". It means a lot to know that you enjoy my writings!


Along with many of these fun blogging awards, there are rules to follow. With this particular one, the rules are:


1. Thank and link back to the blogger who gave me the award. --- Done! Thank you again, Becca!!
2. Share 7 things about myself.
3. Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers.

I have had the honor of receiving TWO other blogging awards recently. The rules of those awards were similar to this one. So that I don't repeat myself... and, so that you can learn more things about me.... you can go to those two blogs by clicking HERE and HERE.
Now, on to 7 NEW THINGS about me:

1) I try very hard to keep a neat and tidy desk at home, but the truth is... it's a cluttered MESS!! It's not that I like it that way. It just ends up that way! I do know where things are, even tho it may not look like I do!
2) You have to promise not to laugh at this one!! ---  I have a fleece blanket that is red that I love to cuddle with! It is a small, "throw-blanket" size and it is perfect for cuddling with! I love to snuggle up with it in the evenings, while watching TV and I also snuggle up to it when I go to bed at night. I even take it when we travel! I use it in the car and sleep with it. I haven't had the blanket very long... maybe two years. But, I love it!

3) Many of you know that I work at the preschool at my own church. What you may not know is that I am only a teaching assistant, at the moment. What you also may not know is that I used to be a lead teacher before I left the preschool for a better paying job. This was in 2006, right after my mom had her stroke. I needed to find a higher paying job so that I could help my mom pay her bills. I got a job as a church secretary for another church. I LOVED THAT JOB!! But, they had to let me go in September of 2009 due to the poor economy. So, I returned to the preschool but in an assistant position because there were no openings as a teacher. After a year now of "assisting", I REALLY want to return to teaching! I am praying that a position opens up for the Fall!

4) I was born in Columbus Georgia, but grew up in the suburbs, on the east side of Atlanta. I feel like I have come full circle, by returning to the Columbus area. I never thought I would live here again... but, here I am and I love it!

5) I never lived in a "house" until after David and I were married and bought our first home. I grew up living in apartments with my parents.

6) I do my best work in the morning hours. That is my favorite time to clean my house, exercise or get anything done. And I do it best when I am home ALONE! When my family is home, I am way too distracted!!

7) I have a collection of Bibles. I love them! I love to refer to different translations. My favorite translation is the NEW LIVING TRANSLATION. It is the one that I understand the most. I have several Bibles in this particular translation, but my favorite Bible is my LIFE APPLICATION one. It has notes at the bottom for almost every verse that explain the verses and help me to apply them to MY life, today.

So, there you go. Seven things about me that you most likely didn't know!

So now to pass this lovely award onto more styling blogs!! This is the hard part because there are so many that are deserving!! It's also hard because many of the bloggers that I follow do not accept awards, but I would at least like to recognize them! They are just a FEW of my favorite blogs that I go to and read each day! If you get the chance, pop on over and check them out!

1) Leigh over at Bloggeritaville (love that title!)
2) Jen over at Tatertots & Jello
3) Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch
4) Linda over at A La Carte
5) Beth over at The Stories of A 2 Z

Thank again Becca, for this fun award!!! ((HUGS))

I've Won Another Award!!

Two days ago, my dear blogging friend "Thisisme" over at Southhamsdarling, awarded me (along with four other fellow bloggers) the Honest Scrap Award. What a happy surprise this was for me!! I love that my blog is being read and enjoyed! Thank you, Thisisme!!!

According to the rules... I have to share FIVE random things about myself with you, and then pass the Award on to FIVE other blogging friends. 

Okay.... here are mine ---

1) I love to read magazines (or at least look at the pictures and read the headlines!) and I don't like it when someone else picks up my magazine to look at it before I have had the chance to! I have to be the FIRST one to look at it! ~ Kinda' silly, huh??

2) Before we moved to the Columbus, Georgia area back in 1998... I had a successful pet-sitting business!! It started out with our neighbor offering to pay me to "pet-sit" their dog while they were on vacation. Then, a light bulb went off in my head and I decided that this would be a way to make a little bit of extra money for our family. I advertised in our neighborhood newsletter, and by the time we moved away... I had over 40 clients!! ~ I have never started the business back up again here, but I have often thought about it.

3) In the Summer of 2003, I won a radio contest and won a trip to the Atlanta Motor Speedway where I got to ride in a real race car and go 168 mph on the NASCAR race track!! It was such an AWESOME experience and one that I will never forget!!

4) I am currently reading the Harry Potter book series. I have finished the first one and have just started the 2nd one. They are VERY good!! I have always wanted to read them, but never took the time to.

5) I have Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). The definition of RLS, according to the Mayo Clinic is this...

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable while you're sitting or lying down. It makes you feel like getting up and moving around. When you do so, the unpleasant feeling of restless legs syndrome temporarily goes away. If you care to read more about it, you can by going to this site. It is NOT a fun thing to have and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy! There are a number of ways to control it, but the only way that I have found that works for me is to take medication.

There you go! Now, you know a little more about me!

Now, I have to choose FIVE friends whom I deem worthy of this award. If I could.... I would give this award right back to Thisisme. She is a fabulous blogger and someone that I am happy to call... "my friend".

Here are my choices ---

Susan from KardKornerKrib

Heather from Mrs C's Life

Sandy from The Funny Side of the Street

Evy from Yes, They Are All Mine

Kelly from UnDeniably Domestic

Congratulations! You are ALL wonderful people and great bloggers! Now, I get to look foward to hearing some "Random" things about YOU!!

And the Blog Awards go to....

Yesterday, I was blessed with this award --

According to the rules of this award... The FIRST thing that I must do is to pass this award along to 3 blogging friends that I feel deserve such a "sweet" award. It's a difficult choice, because I read and follow so many "sweet" and wonderful blogs!! But, I have given it some thought and have chosen 3 sweet people who have often commented on my blog and said some very "sweet" things. (I thank you for that!!)

The first sweet friend that I have chosen is --- drum roll, please..... Susan over at Kard Corner Krib. I love Susan's style of writing and how she is constantly adding new pictures and info to her blog. There is always something new to look at and read! She has also commented on my blog many times and is always so very "sweet". 

The second sweet friend is Evy over at Yes They Are All Mine. Evy is such a "sweet" lady and I love reading about her family and her life. I have been praying for Evy's mother who has been ill, to which I can relate to, being that my mother is not well, either. Evy has also commented on my blog several times and said some very "sweet" things.

And the third sweet friend is Heather over at Mrs. C's Life. Heather is a newlywed and I love reading about her young married life. She blogs about yummy recipes that she is trying out and other fun stuff! Heather is so very "sweet" and often comments on my blog. I appreciate that!

The SECOND thing that I must do, upon receiving this award, is to name 5 indulgences that I enjoy!! So.... I've given this some thought and I came up with a list. It was harder than I thought!!

1) STARBUCK'S COFFEE - I don't get it very often, but I really enjoy their "Tall, Skinny, Vanilla, Latte'".

2) BIKING AT CALLAWAY GARDENS - I don't do this as often as I would like to, but I truly enjoy cruising the bike trails there! I usually make a morning of it and stop along the way (several times!) and enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

3) CHILL YOGURT SHOP - This is a little shop that opened in town this past summer. They have the most delicious flavors of frozen yogurts!! Many of them are "non-fat" and "low-fat". It is a fun place to go for a yummy treat!

4) McDONALD'S CARAMEL FRAPPE' - This is a frozen coffee treat that's yummy!! I don't normally don't like frozen coffee drinks, but one week... McDonald's was having a sale on their Frappe's, so I decided to try the caramel one. It sounded good... and it WAS!!!

5) SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE - This is my favorite thing to do when we go camping! I love all things about it --- sitting talking to friends, cuddling up to David, reading a good book (or magazine), or roasting marshmallows and making smore's. It's all fun and relaxing!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 17

Today, I can't help but be thankful for my first BLOG AWARD that I recieved today!

I pretty much thanked my friend "Thisisme" in my previous post, which you can read -- HERE. But, I will thank her again.....

THANK YOU!!   THANK YOU!!   THANK YOU!!

How fun and what a surprise it was to wake up to this morning!