Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Leibster

Leibster, (Leibste) meaning "kindest, dearest, beloved, cute, endearing" in German.


Whaaaaa?!?

I am both flabbergasted & humbled to be nominated for this very cool swag award by a new friend from Sweet Pea Pod, Danielle. After stalking perusing her blog for quite some time, I find that she is quite the crafter and momma to 3, which...is such a fantastic combo. Not to mention the whole army wife thing, which puts her up there in my hero book. You should totally check her out {and follow her while you're at it!}. Thanks, Danielle! Seriously. I'm floored.

The Liebster Award is a blogger to blogger, peer award, used to highlight up and coming, smaller, lesser known blogs that are less than 6 months old and/or have less than 200 followers. Liebster is an award that you accept with an intention of paying it forward. How awesome is that?!? {and what a surprise, too!}

When you accept your Liebster, you must pay it forwards and nominate other bloggers that you would like to award. {Not gonna lie...this has taken me weeks to comb and find some new fun bloggie friends!}

So here are the guidelines for the award:
1) You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2) Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3) Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4) Choose 11 new blogs that you love and link them in your post.
5) Leave a comment on this post with the URL to your Leibster post so I can learn more about you!

So - here we go!

11 Random Things about me:

  • I love green. Pretty much any shade of it.
  • I'm an adoptee who is adopting {and isn't done yet!}
  • I love to read...mostly books & blogs, but my fave is the Bible. #shereadstruth is my favorite reading plan (you should totally join in on the fun)!
  • I'm a terrible housekeeper - even when I try hard I'm not good at it. {Now THAT is hard for this type-A perfectionist to admit "out loud."}
  • I'm not very good at making friends. But when I do make them, I am loyal and love them to death. I'm thankful for a few new people God has brought in my life the last couple of years. And of course, I'm thankful for my lifees - Trish, Qzie, Beffie, Belle, JonJon & B, who have been my friend FOR.EV.ER. (despite the whacko nicknames I've given them!)
  • I talk to my mom almost every day. {Although she is ONE.BUSY.LADY and sometimes we just can't get in touch.} She's amazing and one of the biggest blessings in my life!
  • I love driving a mini-van. I'm a total dweeb, I know. {But seriously...stow-n-go? You had me at stow.}
  • Life isn't what I thought it would be. And in most cases, it's better...but different. And I'm learning to not live on my expectations. {I did say learning...I'll hopefully  & eventually just grow out of my expectations.}
  • I'm passionate about adoption. Seriously.
  • I've only had 2 pedicures my whole life. And I'm pretty sure I could make a habit of it if only I had the cashflow.
  • I love to craft & DIY, but sadly have very little time for it with a toddler running about. I do what I can when I can, and pin the rest! {Find me on Pinterest!}
{Not gonna lie. It was kinda hard to come up with stuff that's just about me. Huh...whodathunk.}

Here are the questions that Danielle set for me: My answers are after the questions.

1) What is your dream home? My dream home is many things: wrap around porch, separate laundry room, spacious kitchen with actual storage, a room/space where I can be crafty (and close the door), outdoors to play, grow & make memories, a safe place for my kids & their friends, etc. Mostly my home is where my family is...as cheesy as it sounds, it's real. My Mister would also add that our dream house has to stay in our little village. So...I guess that's part of it too. Short question. Long answer.

2) What is my favorite song & why? Oh, boy. You had to go there. My current favorite song is Kings & Queens by Audio Adrenaline. I cry EVERY.Single.Time I hear this song. {Am I the only one relieved that Kevin Max is singing again?!?} But my 2nd favorite is close - Home by Philip Phillips. Both of them are OOZING with adoption lyric-age, not to mention fantastic melodies & all around great musica. You should totally click & listen.

3) Who is your celebrity design alter ego? (ex: Nate Berkus, Martha Stewart, Holly Becker @ Decor8, etc.) To be perfectly honest, I don't know if I have one. I love the thrifty style of Kristy @ The Diary of Dave's Wife. I also love everything Stacy from Not Just a Housewife does. They're bloggers, so they're celebrities to me!

4) What is your favorite blog post you have ever done & why? Probably most of my adoption posts, I'm proud of. But the one I love most is My Never Ending Story. Read it. You'll see why it's my fave. I am so blessed.

5) What are 3 of your favorite blogs and why? Oh, goodness. I follow like 100 blogs for 100 different reasons. I guess the ones I don't miss {ever} are: Little Miss Momma {Ashley's fantastic. She writes awesomely. She loves her mister. Her style is...enviable, and her kids have GOT to be the ca~utest kids ever (besides mine, of course)} Better Life Bags is another favorite. One day I will be able to buy one of her bags. Until then, I will stalk follow her and pray for her ministry. She is a dreamer, a fantastic mom, loves Jesus & her mister, and is one of the first bloggers I started reading. I won the prayer set cards from another blog and was hooked. {The prayer set cards are fantastic. You should totally get them. And everything else she has in her shop.} My all time favorite blog {EVER} is Finding Joy. Rachel is down to earth, challenging, and passionate about motherhood (among other things). I never miss a post of hers and honestly have most of her posts pinned in my Mommy-hood board on Pinterest. She is inspiring {and sometimes I feel like she's peering in through my windows so she can find a great new idea for a post}. Her Dear Mom letters are so great, and I read them over and over when I'm overwhelmed. She is also a great photographer.

6) How long have you been blogging and why did you start? I've been blogging for a long time...I don't know. The reason I started (and still do it) is just to release pieces of me. I've had a few ideas at times along the way about what I'd like my blog to be...but the truth is, it's a release for me. It's great to put my thoughts out there. It's like a great friend.

7)  "I'll ---------- if it's the last thing I do." Is it sad that I want this to be about sleep? I'll sleep well (and good and get really rested) if it's the last thing I do. But the truth is...the thing I'm most passionate about is adoption. So "I'll keep on pushing, advocating, adopting, helping, educating, empowering, learning, encouraging, and supporting adoption if it's the last thing I do." That'll be the official one. :)

8) Best vintage or decor find of all time? Um....I mostly shop at garage sales & thrift stores. So...I have a lot of great frames (that I will eventually turn into something else or use to frame a picture). I do hope to one day find a great vintage find. I love the individuality of vintage-ness.

9) What is a home trend that you have tried/followed that you've regretted? Oh, boy. Another one I don't really relate to. Not much of a home trend follower. I have a SUUUUPER small house. And my walls are filled with pictures, paint, and things I've made. I have a different sense of style that's all hodge-podge of things I like & see (and can afford). So...I'm good.

10) Who is your favorite author? Karen Kingsbury, Nicolas Sparks, Ann Voscamp (I know...that's three.)

11) Favorite pattern? POLKA DOTS!!! #fortheloveofpolkadots

My 11 Questions for my Nominees:
1) What is your dream home?
2) What is your favorite song and why?
3) What do you love most about being a momma?
4) What's your favorite blog post & why?
5) What are your three favorite blogs & why?
6) What tv shows are must-watch for you?
7) How long have you been blogging & why?
8) "I'll ------------ if it's the last thing I do."
9) Favorite decor find of all time?
10) Who's your favorite author?
11) What's your favorite "homemade" gift?

Now for my 11 blog nominees (drum roll, please):

2) Susan @ My Grace-Filled Mess 
3) Momma Hughes @ That You May Be Comforted
6) Aprille @ Beautiful in His Time
7) Lynne @ Living Life Wildly
8) Amanda @ Chaos & Coffee
9) Abbey @ A Moment's Peace
10) Martha @ Martha Anne
11) Carissa @ Carissa Miss

Welp, that's it folks! Don't forget to put your Leibster link in the comments here! And really, I totally understand if it takes a while to find some new bloggie friends. Be blessed, y'all!

4 comments:

  1. Wow!!!!!! I can't believe you nominated me!!!! I am so unbelievably floored right now!! Thank you... for reals!! Thank you!!! I loved your post and will now stalk you proudly :)) I will get on my post and nominations too! How cool is this... love, LOve, LoVE it!!!!
    Always - Abbey

    ReplyDelete
  2. I finally finished mine! :) http://myblessingsareborrowed.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-leib-what.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. Finally I managed to do this - Thank you so much for the nomination!!
    http://www.themarthaanne.com/2013/10/i-won-leibster-award.html

    ReplyDelete