Liebster Award

Thank you Jodi over at KY Fire Wife for giving me a Liebster Award!  I am sometimes very bad about responding to these and answering all the questions and such.  (Just ask Robin.  Sorry, Robin.)  This time I am going to give it a try. ***Over the weekend I messed around on blogger and lo and behold what do I see?  I see that Robin over at YOUR DAILY DOSE has also bestowed the Liebster Award upon me.  So yes, I will be answering her questions as well.  And I'm glad to get a second chance at responding to an award from Robin!***

After digging around on the net a bit I found this:
The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

Well... I do try to be pleasant most of the time, so here goes!  I need to give 11 facts about myself, answer 11 questions from the person who gave the award & ask other bloggers, that I pass the award on to, 11 questions of my own.

I've really been struggling with coming up with facts about myself, so I am just gonna' go with whatever comes to mind right now.  Hopefully this goes well!

11 Facts about me:

1) I like fun girly things.  Not fussy things that require tons of time and effort, but the little touches that make things unmistakably feminine.

2) I can go to the store and pick out something that is an exact color match to something I would like to match at home- like a fabric or paint, without bringing said item with me.  For the longest time I thought everyone did this.

3) If I spend more than one day at home without leaving the house I go stir crazy!

4) I am blessed with natural energy. 

5) I am often the hardest working person on the job.

6) Outside of being stuck in a lousy class with a lousy teacher, I can't remember ever really being bored.

7) I would rather be too hot than too cold.  I spend most of my time being too cold.

8) I can't stand maybe.  It's yes or no for me!

9) I love color, texture and design.

10) I am much more likely to use power tools than my husband is.  We blur the traditional roles very comfortably around here.

11) I would rather be constantly traveling and moving around than be stuck in one place forever.

And now it's onto the 11 questions and their answers from my nominee, Jodi, over at kyfirewife.
1) How do you usually spend your free time?  I try to be productive whenever possible.  I usually turn to fixing, cleaning or making something.  I'm not much for sitting still.

2) How would you like to spend your free time?  I really should think more about getting out and being active as much as I can as I know darn well how much more toned I could be and when the weather is decent I should be taking advantage of it!

3) If you could live anywhere, where would it be, and why?  I actually started this blog so I could document how I'm feeling as I accomplish a long distance move to Texas and that is still where I really long to be.

4) How long have you been blogging?  Since September of 2010.
5) High heels or flats?  Definitely high heels.  I don't wear them on a daily basis or anything, but I am certainly willing to give up a little comfort for fashion and I love how I feel when I wear them.
6) What advice would you give to your former 18-year-old-self?  Get out of the house as soon as humanly possible.  You WILL finish college and make something of yourself and staying 4 more years in a hell hole is totally not necessary to prove anything.
7) What color is your car?  Red!
8) You just won the lottery, check has been deposited... what do you do first?  I actually told my nephew the other day that if I won the lottery he would know it because I would arrive on his doorstep with lots of guns and ammo and have a private jet waiting outside for him.  Yeah, I come from a long line of crazy, what can I say?!
9) On an average day, how much time do you spend watching television?  The TV is almost always on at my house.  I don't do quiet.  It makes me think something bad is about to happen.  But actually watching it, ummm, maybe 2-3 hours a day between news, some HGTV and maybe a reality show on TLC.
10) Have every played an organized sport? if so, what / when?  I'm pretty much a dance girl only, but I did play on the church soft ball team once back in high school.

11) Do you have any siblings?  Yes, only one half sister that I share a mother with.  However, I am pretty sure there are others on my Dad's side that I don't actually know... it's a long story.

And now onto Robin's questions:
1. Who do you miss the most?
I think that would be my friend Donna.  I actually visit her grave site on a regular basis where I talk to her and look out at the beautiful lake view.  This is SO not like me.  I  hate funerals and don't actually dig cemeteries so much either.  I think I feel like we were so much alike and we didn't have very much time together.  I met Donna only 4 years before she died.
2. What is your favorite word, and why?
I have never actually thought about this!  So for now I'll say that it's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious because that's kind of fun!  By the way, I hate the term 'for now'.  It says 'this is going to be done half-assed and never really finished' to me. 
3. Where do you want to go that you have never been, and why?
I have a long list of National Parks to get to.  I need to see the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Zion, etc.  I also need to spend more time on tropical islands!
4. Where do you want to you go that you have already been, and why?
I need to get back to Montana in the summertime and I need to take my husband to see Cancun as that is the place that I just can never get over.
5. If you could relive any experience in your life just for the pleasure of doing it one more time, what would you choose?
I might go back to when I was 10 and spent the summer before my favorite aunt turned 18, having her read the Winnie The Pooh chapter books to me.  She is probably the only person who ever really tried to nurture me in any way and I remember loving that she was doing this with me, even though I was never really into kids stuff.
6. What is your favorite holiday?
Definitely Thanksgiving.  A pretty easy going holiday as holidays go, and I absolutely love to cook!
7. Do you feel like you are doing what you are meant to be doing?  If so, what is that?  If not, what is holding you back?
I definitely know that I am meant to be serving people's needs in some fashion that allows me to use my creative flair. And I do that quite a bit right now.  I also know that I like change and I sense that I will probably find a new way to anticipate and fulfull others' needs in the future.  I see myself dancing again in the future as well.  Sometimes I have such a vision of myself leading dance classes for senior citizens.  I think that would be so much fun!  Right now, I need to know that I'm not preparing to move in order to be comfortable in changing things up.
8. Do you remember your dreams?  Have any of them ever been significant in your life?
Once in a while I remember dreams, but I mostly remember very vivid nightmares that leave me breathless and terrified.  I try to analyze them and see if I can learn something.  I often can.
9. Tell me about the first time you learned the lesson that life simply was not fair.  (It's not a question because I know it has happened to you.)
On the day that I fell in the mud on the way to school and had to go back to my grandma's house to wait out the day, with nothing to do and no one there to talk to.  I hated missing school and she had only diet food in the house!
10.  Who, or what, did you want to be when you grew up (earliest memory)?   (For example, I wanted to be Cher when I grew up when I was about five or six.  That is my earliest desire that I can recall.)
A writer in New York City.  So funny now- I can't stand NYC!
11. Why do you blog?
I started out wanting to document the process of moving out of my home state to a place that felt more like home.  Now I do it because I like the way it makes me think about things and I like the interaction with other bloggers.  :) :)

Now, I don't have a full list of 11 bloggers to pass my questions on to mainly because so many of the bloggers I read have already been included from the 2 people that I received the award from.  However, here are some people I'd like to pass the award on to and will ask my questions of-
 
Arlee Bird @ Tossing It Out
Amber @ Faith, Love, Kids and Me 2
Loretta @ Loretta's Journey
Myra @ Myra's Journey
 
And now here's the list of my own questions:

1) Do you speak any other language, other than English?

2) Do you have any serious regrets? 

3) Have you ever broken a bone?

4) If you could change one major law, what would it be- and why?

5) Have you ever had a pet that was truly a terror, but you loved it anyway?

6) Are you a home body?  If so, why?

7) Do you sometimes break the law if nobody gets hurt?  Or do you always toe the line?

8) Have you ever discovered something that you absolutely love that you thought you never could or would?

9) What is your guiltiest pleasure?

10) What is the biggest surprise of your life?

11) If you needed to live somewhere outside of the United States, where would you choose? 

Again, I thank anyone who has read all of this and hopefully you've found something interesting here.  If I didn't nominate you but you're reading and would like to get in on the fun, hit me up in the comments and tell me where I can read your answers! 

We Came Back Home To The Northwest And It Was Still Sunny!!!

I think all this sun has gone to my head! 

I mean how am I supposed to act when I come back from Palm Springs and the sun is still shining all the way up north around here?  And even for Easter Sunday???  Now, that's a rare treat in these parts...

So I think I kind of lost it for a while and checked out. 

In an effort to make a decent blog post I thought I'd try one of those nifty question lists.  I honestly did not look past the first couple of questions before committing to going right ahead with this post.  Sooooo.... here we go!

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?  Probably about 23.  I'm 39 irl.
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?  Definitely never trying.  Not trying is just as bad as having someone do everything for you.  You never get the chance to fail- and that's important.
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?  Good question.  I think a lot of people feel like they have to do things they don't like.  As you get older you do less of that.  It took me until I was 30.
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?  Uh, yeah... cuz' I talk A LOT.  But I Do an awful lot too.  Just ask my husband.  He can't keep up with me.  Still, it is just easier to talk more.  You can even do it while you're doing other things.  Just ask my elementary school teachers....
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?  Right now- almost everything.  I feel like the whole world is upside down and backwards.
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?  Chatting it up with friends!
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?  Definitely what I believe in.  Don't have it in me to do it any other way.
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?  I wouldn't know any different so I'd probably be doing things the same.
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?  At first, not much.  But after 30 it's been all look out world- here I come!
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?  I used to have to have everything as perfect as it could be.  Then I realized I was a stressed out basket case that wasn't fooling anyone.  So yeah- the second part of that question.
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?  Stick up for my friend and talk up all her positives, OF COURSE!
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?  Hmmm...  Maybe to stay true to themselves so matter how much they like what other people are doing or feeling.
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?  Yup.
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?  Yes.  Actually my own mother illustrates this beautifully.  She is probably always going to be pretty insane and that has always made me sad.  However, her creativity is so fabulous that I can often smile through the tears.
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?  I pretty much accept that I am an odd duck.  I don't do much that would be seen as conventional.  My husband loves this about me.
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?  I figure my strange perspective on so many things is most likely the reason.  Otherwise I just don't get it, because everyone should love what I love.  Don't you think?! 
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What's holding you back?  Learning to fly a plane.  I'm just waiting for my husband to get his FCAS designation.  That will mean we have the money and time for me take on this wonderful new endeavor. Don't worry.  I WILL DO IT!
    
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?  Yeah, probably the hope that my sister or my mother is ever going to change.  I know they won't in my rational mind.  However, I hate giving up hope.
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?  Oh come on!  This is actually on the list?!  OK, so let's all say it together- TEXAS!  Now as for another country that would be Mexico if it wasn't so dangerous now.
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?  Not anymore.  I did for a long time.  Then after being married to my husband I realized that there really is no need to do this.  Some of his quiet, secure ways have rubbed off on me over the years.  And vice versa- I have done quite a bit to bring him out of his shell.
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?  I have been way too much of a worried genius this time around.  In my next life I am so going for the joyful simpleton.  I think I'm working on a head start on that these days.
22. Why are you, you?  Because God wanted me that way.  And I have been fortunate enough to experience a lot of different things in life- both good and bad.
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?  I honestly try.  But no, not always.  Sometimes it's worse to just go along to get along.
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?  Definitely losing touch with someone right near you.  Sometimes you just don't know why.  And some long distance friendships can pick right up where they left off every time you see your friend.  I love that!
25. What are you most grateful for?  My husband.
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?  Never being able to make new ones.  The latter part of my life has been so much more worth having memories of.
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?  Absolutely yes!  A person's truth is often already inside them.  People who have to question every side of everything drive me nuts!
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?  Unfortunately, yes.
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?  It still shapes my life, but I'm grateful for it now.
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?  When I got to do things like walk down to the store with a friend or cousin.  I felt free and able to make choices of my own.
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?  When I finally told the truth to people that I had never been honest with before.
32. If not now, then when?  Whenever things work out...  I'm learning to trust that timing is what it is and you can't rush things.
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?  Not much anymore.  And that feels wonderful!
34. Have you ever spent time with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?  Not really.  But I love this idea.
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?  I don't think religions cause war.  I just think wars happen in spite of how much we all wish that the world was all love all the time.
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?  For the most part- yes.  However there are those things and people that are deceptive and manipulative so you have to be careful.
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?  As much as I enjoy it, hell yeah!  I'd enjoy doing different things and not worry about having to get paid to do them.
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?  Less work.  There's so many other things to try.  Maybe then I should find some way to get paid to try stuff!
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?  No!  Never!  That's the best part of being me.  No two days are ever the same!
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?  Last November- when we purchased our vacation home.
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?  My husband.
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?  No, but I have to admit I had to think about the extremely attractive thing for just a second there....
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?  Anybody can be alive.  Only a small percentage of people truly live.  I am working to be on the truly living side of things and I feel as if I am certainly getting there.
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?  As often and as much as humanly possible!
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?  For me I don't want to hurt anyone.  I think we all get caught up in that quite a bit.  Other than that I'm not really afraid.
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?  I might try politics!
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?  I honestly do not remember.  As long as I'm not having a bout with asthma, I don't think about it much.
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?  I love hot sunny days, the times when I just know my husband is proud of himself even though he'll never say it, spending time with friends that goes so fast that it's 2am before we know it, watching my nephew learn important life skills that he doesn't even realize he's getting and wiggly goofy dogs that make me belly laugh!  At least that's my list for today.  I have done so much to incorporate the things I love into my life lately.  And it is so worth it!
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?  Probably not.  I might remember Easter day this year as it was so very beautiful and fun.
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?  No question- I make them for myself now.  Sometimes I consult with my husband. ;)

If you got through all that, thanks for hanging in there with me.  This was fun and I hope you find it interesting!

What Would You Do?

I was out doing errands the other day and I had a very interesting experience.
There was a woman cutting fabric at a counter in the back of a store where no one else was around and she started talking to me.  She asked me if my husband was a nice man.  She then asked me if he had ever cheated on me!  Naturally, I was shocked. 
It turned out this was just a preface to her telling me all about how her husband was cheating on her and she knew it.  She also told me that he was never really ever kind to her and gave me several examples of how mean he could be.  She was so sad and looked just lost.
Eventually, she ended up asking me what I would do if I were in her situation.  Again, I was shocked.  I sensed that she needed someone to talk to about all of this and that I just happened to be there at a desperate moment.  But I didn't expect her to ask me for any sort of advice and I wasn't sure what I should say with her being in such a fragile state.
Still, I felt the need to be honest.  So I was.
I told her that if I were in her situation I would probably feel pretty sad and that I would need to take the time to make sure that I was taking good care of myself.  I also said that I wouldn't do anything rash as sometimes the best answers to a problem take time to figure out.  Then I said that in the end I was sure that for me the answer to this particular problem would involve me leaving this man, knowing that there were better men out there in the world that would love to spend time with a quality woman.
With that said I made it clear that no one can tell anyone what to do in any certain circumstance, but that there must be people close to her who could support her through this particular problem, if only she were able to open up to them.
Then I went about the rest of my day.  But, of course, I couldn't quite shake this woman from my mind.
I couldn't help but wonder if I had done the right thing.  Was she really looking for an answer?  Would it have been better to just listen?  What would you have done in this situation? 

 

photo credit: stunning mesh