Liebster "Award"

About a month ago, some friends nominated my blog for the "Liebster Award"...which basically isn't an award as much as a shout out saying they read my blog and want me to answer some questions here.  So here you go girls.  Better late than never.  (Note: I answered most of these questions a month ago and am just posting.)

Here are Ashlee's questions:

1.  What did you do on your last date? We went to the temple and then had a very late dinner (it was after 10:00 pm when we got there) at Native New Yorker. (Not really our restaurant of choice but we didn't have many options at 10:00 pm on a Tuesday night.)
2.  What was your GPA when you graduated from High School? I really don't know.  I didn't care about my GPA until I got into my social work program and decided I wanted to go to grad school. Then I became super anal about it.  

3.  What is your favorite form of exercise? As boring as it sounds, either walking on a treadmill or step aerobics in a class setting.  Lately I LOVE working out and look forward to hitting the gym with my friend, Autumn, once the kids are bed.  I've never looked forward to working out this much before.  (It might have something to do with having a little "me" time after being home with my kiddos all day.)

4.  Do you care what way the toilet paper goes on the holder? I prefer over the top but if it's the other way I'm not going to change it.  
5.  On average, how many hours of TV and/or movies do you watch per week? 1-2, often none. 
6.  What is your favorite dessert? Tough decision but I think I'll have to go with ice-cream. I love going out for ice-cream when I'm on a date with Wendel. I did have some homemade German Chocolate Pie yesterday that was absolutely amazing. 
 7.  How many days per week do you eat the same thing for lunch? 3-4. I usually make a veggie wrap now that I'm home.  When I was working, I ate Subway almost every single day and got so sick of it (not many options in the little town I worked in).

8.  How long was your longest labor?  17 hours with Oliver if you count when I first started feeling contractions to delivering. 

9.  What super-hero-power do you wish you had? I wish I could keep all kids safe.

10.  What is your biggest fear? Something happening to Wendel or our children. 

11.   What is your favorite vacation spot?  I've had a long standing dream of going to Ireland someday but having lived in Washington, maybe I'm okay if I don't ever make it there.  Hawaii was pretty cool (and no, I still haven't blogged about our Hawaii trip from 2010).  I would love to take Wendel to Australia someday to show him where I served my mission. 

Now for Katie's questions:

1. What is so cool about the person who nominated you?  When I was in grad school and had just had Oliver, I was kind of a mess.  Katie called me one day and invited me to come over for lunch.  We had a good conversation, I felt uplifted  and it was really what I needed at the time.  I later found out Katie felt prompted to call me and invite me over.  I was grateful she was in tune to get that impression.  It was probably a little thing to her but it was huge for me at that time.
2. What is your biggest regret of 2012? Really not sure.  I know that's a lame answer but that's all I've got.
3.  What was the highlight of 2012?  The birth of Joshua. 
4.  Who do you wish you still kept in touch with, but haven't seen in awhile? My guy friends from high school.  That's the thing about growing up and getting married - you kind of lose your friends of the opposite sex.  You might still be friendly with them but it's not the same level of friendship.  Back in high school, I was the only girl in our group of friends after my two best friends got married the year after graduation (two weeks apart from each other).  It was me and five guys and we did everything together.  I was particularly close to a three of them and really miss their friendship. 
5. If you could meet one famous person, who would it be? It would be interesting to meet Joseph Smith.
6.  What is the best part about your "job"?  My job at CPS - my supervisor.  He's the best supervisor ever.  My job as a mom - the cute things Oliver says and does and when he says "I love you mommy" or signs it to me it melts my heart.  Seeing Joshua smile (even though he's only three weeks old and I know it's not intentional at this point) is so sweet too. I also love being able to comfort my children.
7. Where is your favorite place to eat? (Restaurant.  Not "over the sink" or "in the tub")  I am kind of a foodie type person and could never pick just one but I will say Anthony's and Salty's are at the top of the list. I also love La Grande Orange.  Their Sonoma Salad is so good.
8. What is your dream job? I think I'll eventually be able to say being a stay at home mom...but I'm still working on it right now to be honest.  I do love being a social worker too.
9. Who is your hero, and why? My husband.  He has always supported me and believed in me.  I wouldn't have graduated with my BSW or MSW without him.  He is my rock.  I love his guts (and the rest of him too).
10. What is your lucky number? I really don't have one.
11.  What was the last book you read? I'm currently reading Parenting with Love and Logic.  Before that it was Heaven is Here.  

Thanks girls, this was fun.  This "award" reminded me of "tags."  Whatever happened to those?  

a few things and a tag

1. I finally posted about our Mexico trip (which was way back in September). See, I am on Spring Break, so I can finally wrap up a few things like that. For those of you who use google reader or another RSS Feed site, you were probably a bit confused. For the rest of you, if you want to see the longest post ever and read about our crazy trip, you can do that here.

2. I updated my recipe blog with a few new recipes as well as my photography blog, for those who are interested (and I am finishing up another shoot of two super cute girls that will be added to our photography blog this week).

[This is one of them. Is that not the cutest face you've ever seen? I love her crooked smile.]

2. I am really liking this article. I know I am personally guilty of quite a few of the things he listed and could try better to make life a little more simple. I sometimes think about what life was like for people back in simpler times, before tv and the internet and even telephones. When people visited each other in their homes when they wanted to talk, when playing games together was entertainment, when going on walks was what families did together instead of watch tv. It sounds nice in a lot of ways (but of course I do love the internet too.)

3. If I had lots of money to spend on home decor, I would buy these pillows. I love these three colors together too.

4. I was tagged by Becky:

1. Take a picture of your self right now, no primping or preparing. Just snap a picture.
2. Load onto your blog.
3. Tag 3 people to play…remember if you are tagged on another blog we will all be heading to yours to see if you played along.
So when I read this on Becky's blog and saw that she had tagged me, I had just woken up. I was in my pjs with no make-up, no bra, my hair wasn't brushed...you get the idea. The rules don't say that I had to take a picture of my face, so here you go:

[Sorry for those of you who are grossed out by feet. Mine aren't even looking pretty.]
So now I tag Lindsey, Jackie, and Melanie.

5. I hear back about my first choice of graduate school "at the end of March." That time is quickly approaching so with every passing day I get a little more anxious to find out. Hopefully just a few more days.

*the things I've done*

I saw this tag on my sister's blog forever ago and thought this would be fun. Maybe my posterity will get a kick out of it someday.

Copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done. Have fun! :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band [They didn't specify which kind of band.]
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie / commerical [I was in a made-for-tv movie before I was born, when my mom was pregnant with me. I'm counting it.]
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible [The New Testament and The Old Testament separately - never all the way through from cover to cover.]
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
98. Owned a cell phone
97. Been involved in a law suit
99. Been stung by a bee [On my nose.]

Join in if you feel up to it. I think I have some new goals for my life now...

inspiration

I am so very glad that it's Friday and that I have a little time to breathe. It has been a rough week.

I saw this idea on this blog and thought I would do my own version here. I love finding inspiration on other blogs (when I have them time). Let me just say that there are a few blogs that fall into many of these categories, so I listed them more than once. Here is my list for you (which is not comprehensive...just some inspirational blogs off the top of my head):

link a blogger who...
has an online shop: my happy little life / a beautiful mess / marta writes
takes fantastic photographs: tara whitney / karen Russell
has a new baby: ali / marci
has flawless taste: karla / my happy little life / simple as that
is unique: emily
has admirable qualities: my happy little life
crafts up a storm: my happy little life
is an artist: a beautiful mess
is intriguing: shutter sisters
you've bookmarked: tangled and true
lives far away: shimelle
is an old favorite: becky higgins
is creative: molly irwin
features fabulous ideas: becky higgins' recipes
features loveliness: marta writes
features pretty products: anna marie horner
features fantasticness: danielle
features weddings: james carson photography
writes about life: pioneer woman
is a daily must see: my happy little life / karen Russell
tells great stories: my happy little life / pioneer woman
is funny: bits & pieces
is a designer: how about orange / ali
you are inspired by: my happy little life / millie holloman photography
recently added to google reader: the jackson family
gives fabulous tips: stephmodo / pioneer woman photography

So there you go. Blog inspiration in many different area to suck hours of your time.

Can you tell that I really love my happy little life and karen russell's blogs? They are my very favorite to read.

It was difficult to keep this list to one or two per category. Of course there are many blogs I read, written by people with admirable qualities. I put down my happy little life for that one because she openly writes a lot about her feelings and beliefs, and the things she writes about are admirable in my mind. And there are lots of people who write about life and fit in many other categories. Like I said, these are just a few. (Many more on my blog list.)

Also, I took out "works a letterpress" because I couldn't think of anyone off the top of my head who does.

Okay, so now it's your turn. I would love to read your list and get some more inspiration!

(Also, sorry this showed up so many times for those of you who have google reader. I went back through a double checked the links and there were a few that were wrong so I had to make some changes.)

pay it forward / lucky you

ETA: So it was brought to my attention that I contradicted myself while trying to combine both the "pay it forward" and "lucky you" challenges. So I will count five people rather than three.

So I've read a couple of friends' blogs lately who have a similar made similar offers but they are slightly different, so I will include both parts here. This is the basic idea:

1) The first 5 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a gift from me sometime in the next month!

2) When and what you receive will be a surprise!

3) Then you have to post this "Pay it Forward" challenge on your blog, then come back and leave a 2nd comment telling me you've done it.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!}

Just a little tidbit of fun for those who love to WIN ANYTHING/better the world through kindness!! Good luck!! Happy commenting!