The Liebster Award - My First Blog Award!

The Liebster Award is passed on by a previous recipient to bloggers with less than 500 followers. The purpose of the award it to recognize up and coming blogs, and to give them a little boost in followers and blogging confidence. I have done a little research, and it appears the Liebster Award has been passed from one blogger to another, much like a chain letter, since at least 2010. There are no judges or actual award, yet it is an honor to have one's own blog nominated, and to be able to recognize other young blogs by passing it along.  

The recipient is under no obligation to participate, however should he/she choose to do so, there are some rules to follow.  In order to accept the award, the nominee must do the following: 

• Make a post about the award, thanking the blogger that nominated you. (It is a nice courtesy to provide a link to their blog here)
• State 11 interesting facts about yourself
• Answer the 11 questions asked by the blogger that nominated you
• Nominate 11 new bloggers with 500 or less followers 
• Write 11 new questions for your nominees

Be sure to leave a comment on each of the new blogs you have selected, informing them of the award -  with a link to your Liebster post with the above information.

As you have possibly already guessed ... 

the reason I am writing about the Liebster Award, is that 

I HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO RECEIVE THE AWARD! 

Thank you Lana!

Tremendous encouragement and support from other bloggers has been a wonderful surprise benefit of blogging. I have already begun to enjoy some new friendships. 

Last  weekend I  received the honor of being nominated for the Liebster Award by Lana, at Two Teens and Their Mama. Thank you SO much Lana - it is truly a privilege, and I am thrilled that you think my blog is worthy of the award!  I am very pleased to accept it, and pass it on to others!

So here goes ...

11 Interesting Facts About Me:

1. I cannot sing.  At all. (Or at least you wouldn't want to listen to me!)

2.  I once nursed a very sick goldfish back to health, because my children loved it so much.

3.  When I got married, I wore my mother's wedding dress, with alterations sewn by my mother-in-law.

4.  I have a difficult time with facial recognition, and may not recognize someone I know or think I know someone I have never met!  This can be embarrassing!

5.  If  I had a choice to live life as something besides a human, I would be a house cat! 

6. I read all of the Harry Potter books aloud to my kids, and I pronounced Hermione wrong the entire time!

7.   I dislike driving in bad weather, in cities, or on crowded highways!

8.  When I was about 11, I called the Zoo to find out how I could get a pet monkey!  (They discouraged this idea, so it never got to the point where I had to convince my parents.)

9. A broken leg turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me!

10.  I think chocolate and peanut butter is one of the best combinations ever - especially if ice cream is involved!

11.  Once I start writing, hours can go by and it is often 2 am before I get to bed!

My answers to Lana's questions

 1.  What is your favorite color? 

It was yellow until I realized wearing it was NOT complimentary of my complexion!  Now, it is probably blue - the color of the Montana sky.

2.What would you wish for if you had a magic lamp.
I figured out a long time ago that the best answer to this question would be to wish for a million wishes! With those, I'd wish for:

• Happiness for family and friends - which would ensure that they were also then safe, healthy and wealthy enough to be happy!  
• World peace, the end of world hunger,a stop to global warming, of course, and similar things to make the world a better place.
• An indoor soccer facility, and a new Natatorium (50 meter x 25 yard indoor competition pool and warm-up pool) for our community. 
•  To be able to continue writing and blogging, because it has been so much fun thus far!

3.  What is your guiltiest pleasure.

Ice cream is the first thing that popped into my mind!

4. What made you decide to blog?

When I realized many freelance writers have blogs, and it appealed to me. I did not realize until I actually started blogging though, how much there would be to learn and what a fun, creative outlet it would be.  

5. If you could have dinner with any celebrity who would it be?

The King of Spain, Rey Juan Carlos.  
My family was living in Spain when Generalissimo Francisco Franco died.  He had been a dictator in that country for almost 40 years.  It was a time of great political uncertainty and there was great concern of a coup. I remember my school being abruptly closed for a bit, people being forbidden to gather anywhere in large groups, and being told it was better not to speak of Franco aloud. Fortunately, Juan Carlos, the appointed successor, was peacefully able to assumed leadership and led the transition to democracy.  I have always wondered what that time was like for him. It would be interesting to hear a first hand account of his perspective, and gain a better understanding of what was actually happening in Spain at that time.

6.  What was your best vacation?  

With "nomadic" parents, a spirit of wanderlust, and an adventurous spouse, I am fortunate to have had many adventures and good vacations.  I can not pick one as better than the rest - but maybe the best vacation is always the one being looked forward to next!

7. What do you collect?

In my 20's I began collecting a Christmas tree ornament from each vacation or new country  I visited.  Even when an ornament has been unavailable to purchase, I have always found some small meaningful item to hang on the tree.

8.  Disneyland or Disney World?

I've enjoyed both, but I would have to say Disneyland.  When I was 12 my family  visited LA, and dear, dear family friends (our honorary aunt and uncle) who lived there got us "Keys to the Kingdom" for a day.  They seemed to be a part of a magic, as her name was "Mickey" and "Uncle" Keith could carry on an entire conversation talking just like Donald Duck!  In later years I realized just how special these two people really were, even if they were not officially a part of Disney!

9. What is the first thing you do in the morning?

 Since starting my blog, the first thing I do in the morning is turn off my phone alarm, then check it for new blog comments, emails, and Facebook posts! lol!

10.  What is your favorite holiday?

Mother's day!  I was SO excited the first year I knew I was going to be a mom - and I have considered it a day to celebrate ever since!  

11.  What advice would you give your 16 year old self?
I would encourage myself to try to develop a wide range of interests and not just focus on a career path.  As a writer now, I regret not having taken college electives in some other subjects besides mostly nursing and science.  

My 11 Nominees for the Liebster Award

It is sometimes difficult to know if a blog fits the Liebster criteria, so if any of these do not, I hope their authors will just take it as a compliment that I have enjoyed their blogs!

 1. Kerlundphoto  

 2. Three Boy Circus 

 3. She Read until the lights had long since gone out 
 4. To Work with My Hands 
 5. My Aud Life
 6. Chocolate and Sunshine  
 7. Inkstruck 
 8. Pecked to Death By Chickens   
 9. Minnesota Farm Living 
10. Karen's Lists
11. Simply Kiersten 

11 Questions for my Nominees:

1. What writing and internet experience did you have before you began your blog?
2.  What is the most challenging part of blogging for you?
3. What is your favorite season and why?
4. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
5. What is your favorite meal?
6. How would you describe the decor of your home?
7. Who is your favorite movie or tv actor?
8. What is your oldest memory, and how old were you at that time?
9. What if your favorite way to relax?
10. If you won the lottery, what would you do?
11.  What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Many thanks again to Lana of Two Teens and Their Mama for nominating me, and congratulations to all of the bloggers above.  I hope my readers will click on their links and explore their blogs as well as my own.