Liebster Award - 2014

Today, I'm taking a break from the graduation / wedding week series.

A friend and fellow Air Force wife I have "met" through blogging recently nominated me for a Liebster Award... my first thought? SWEET! I can answer the questions and not think of a topic for a new blog post! So, Melissa, thank you for that! Check out her blog at A Pearl and Her Pilot.

The rules of the award state:
1. Post 11 facts about yourself.
 2. Answer the 11 questions created by the person who nominated you.
 3. Create your own set of questions for the people you are going to nominate.
 4. Choose 11 people (who have under 200 followers) to nominate, and link them to your blog.
 5. Let the people you've nominated let them know they've been tagged. No tag backs!

11 facts about myself
#1: I am currently unemployed (after moving across the country with my husband) - but that'll be a whole different post some other day.

#2.  But my Etsy shop seems to be taking off... little by little! (Check it out here: Two Cats Decorations)

#3. I still listen to my favorite morning radio show from Colorado Springs. I listened to these DJs for four years as I drove to work in the early mornings, and I feel like I know them. Weird? Maybe. But it's also great that I can listen to them all the way from Ohio! Thanks, TuneIn! 

#4. One of my cats, Gilligan, has had a hernia since he was a kitten. It causes him to throw up every day, and I adopted him seven years ago knowing that. Everyone thinks I'm crazy for that, but he is seriously my baby. 

#5. I didn't have a job until I was in college. I started tutoring in the writing center on my campus during my sophomore year at UCM. I helped people write and edit their papers for class.

#6. I used to think I could be a veterinarian. I even went into college with that dream. I majored in biology and minored in chemistry... for one year. And despite doing well, I hated it and changed my major to English.

#7. I traveled out of the country for the first time this summer. I was 26 when we left, and I was terrified, but it was a great experience seeing other cultures. I'll post about that soon too! 

#8. I am struggling to be the best wife I can be. I know I've only been married for 2.5 months, but it's tough to make dinner every night, keep the house clean, pre-set the coffee maker before bed, and pack a lunch for Dan. I know it's not completely my responsibility, but since I'm not working right now, I feel like I need to do those things... but it's tough to remember to make his lunch all the time... and I've had a couple dinner fails as well. 

#9. I am obsessed with candy. It's an awful habit, but if I somehow end up in one of those bulk candy stores in a mall, game over. I buy SO much. Sometimes, I eat it all right away. Other times, I hoard it until I REALLY want it. I guess it's a good thing I run.

#10. Moving to Colorado after college was the most spontaneous thing I have ever done... and it was planned for six months ahead of time. I just don't like doing things on a whim.

#11. I am usually a really good judge of character. I know if someone is a good person or not right away. If not, I try to keep a good distance, but my friends and family have never understood. Until time passes and they realize I was right from the very beginning. I don't know what it is exactly, but it comes in handy. 

11 Questions From Melissa

1. Beaches or Mountains? 

MOUNTAINS for sure! I hate water and fish and everything else in there! But I could play on the mountains all day long. 

2. Why did you decide to become a blogger?

I have a lot going on in my head, and it's a way for me to get it all out in a (somewhat) logical fashion. I also created a challenge for myself and blogged (on a different blog called Always Write 2012) EVERY SINGLE DAY for the entire year of 2012. 

3. Whats the bravest thing you've ever done? 

This probably goes along with one of my 11 facts, but I moved to Colorado right after college after assuming that I'd live in Kansas City my entire life. I had help from people, but it was still scary! 

4. What did you have for dinner last night?

I made jalapeño popper grilled cheese sandwiches and roasted cream of tomato soup! It was a really good meal, and I'll definitely try it again! 

5. Why did you name your blog what you did?

This one's easy: because it was made to chronicle our lives as we move around and Dan progresses through the Air Force. I feel a name change coming soon, though, perhaps. We'll see.

6. How did your parents come up with you name? 

They were looking through their high school yearbook (yes, they met there) and saw a girl with long, dark hair named Janelle that they didn't know. Here I am - and with long, dark hair! :)

7. If you could have one superpower what would it be?

I would want to be able to teleport wherever I want, whenever I want. I have wished for this even since watching the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers in the early '90s. A girl can dream, right?

8. What is the best tip about blogging that you would pass on to a new blogger?

Be connected! Don't just post on your own blog... actually interact with other bloggers, and make connections! It's a lot more fun that way!

9. If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive who would it be?

While I'm inclined to pick my father because he's been gone for over eight years, and let's be real; that's who I would ACTUALLY choose... my answer for the sake of this question would be Lucille Ball. I have always felt like we would get along great. I grew up watching I Love Lucy on rerun, and she is the funniest. 

10. What is your favorite recipe on Pinterest?

Oh, gosh. I have so many. I think I'll go with the Tangerine Butter Cookies I made last year for Christmas. They were a huge hit, and they weren't too difficult for me to make. Here's the pin: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/179721841354991049/

11. What is your favorite workout?

I'm boring, and I like running long distances... I ran my first marathon earlier this year! I've been running for as long as I can remember, so it's just what I know.

My 11 Questions For You:

1. What is the significance of your blog?

2. Do you have goals for your blog, or do you just post on a whim?

3. What is your favorite type of cookie? (bonus points for recipe!)

4. Do you prefer baking or cooking?

5. What is the place you dream about living in?

6. What is the best book you've ever read?

7. Do you enjoy DIY projects, or would you rather buy finished products?

8. What was your favorite vacation destination?

9. Are you one of those people who is always early, on time, or late?

10. How did you pick what you wanted to study in school?

11. Do you like sleeping in, or would you prefer to get up early to accomplish things?

My Nominees!

Lizzie at Seis Matters

Haley at A Long Distance Love

Emily at Adventures of Alex and Emily

Michelle at Anything for 10

Bailey at Becoming Bailey

Ashley at Eights on the Move

Emily at Inhabit Your Moments

Rachel at My Wholesome Home

Rachel at The Ross Family

Michele at Verbose Michele

Ashley at American Honey

Thanks again for the nomination, Melissa!

Liebster Award

My friend (and fellow USAFA significant other) Emily chose me for this fun blog post! You can find her at Inhabit Your Moments, and I'm sure she'd appreciate it if you checked out her blog! :) 

Basically, she answered 11 questions herself that a previous blogger asked, and then she nominated five lucky bloggers to answer 11 questions that she came up with herself! I am one of them, so here goes! 

 Here's the Deal: 

• Answer the 11 questions asked.
• Leave a link back to the blogger(s) that nominated you.
• Choose 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers to nominate.
• Write 11 new questions for them to answer.  

Questions From Emily; Answers From Me:

1. What is your favorite song and why?

When You Come Back Down by Nickel Creek -- I love it because I found it when Dan was in USAFA Prep School Basic Training, and the lyrics really spoke to me. It's a wonderful song, and I listen to it when I'm feeling down. You can hear it BY CLICKING HERE.

2. What is something beautiful (no matter how small) about today?

I was able to have some really in depth conversations about life in general with a few of my students after we finished testing. Instead of playing on the computer and listening to music, some of them CHOSE to spend time with me. It was awesome.

3. What is your favorite quote?

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It's yours." -Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged

4. What is your favorite book?

Oh boy. This is a tough question. I read so much. In fact, I have already read 16 books this year, and it's only early March. This is probably the craziest question I could EVER be asked. Although Jodi Picoult is my favorite author, and I love all of her books, my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIME is The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. I put off reading it for a long time, but when I finally took the time to sit down with it, I was completely captured. I couldn't put it down. I sat outside on my deck at my old apartment with a glass (or bottle) of wine and just kept reading. That book was the most connected I have EVER felt to a piece of literature. You can check out my review of it BY CLICKING HERE.

5. If you could hop on a plane right now, where would you go?

Anywhere? In the entire world? South Africa. Have I been there before? Nope. But it's #1 on my Bucket List, and I can't wait to explore it someday with my handsome fiancé (who will undoubtedly be my handsome husband by then). I am dying to go on a no-kill safari and see all of my favorite animals in their natural habitats. Yep, I'm a sucker for African animals. 

6. What is the last thing that made you laugh until you cried?

This is going to sound lame to everyone else, but I cried in the middle of class a couple weeks ago. Another teacher and I were putting grades in the grade book online while our students were taking a test (we co-teach the class together), and we were trying to give an abbreviation for our Bias, Assumption, and Generalization test because the system requires an abbreviation. Anyway, we were scoring the part where the students defined bias, assumption, and generalization. My co-worker whispers, "Just type: "D-BAG", so I did. And then I noticed what it said. And I started laughing and showed her. Then we both became hysterical because we had to remain quiet, and you know how that goes... when you're supposed to be quiet, everything is 6840950 times funnier, especially when 14 year olds keep looking at you like you're a raging lunatic. You had to be there, I guess.

7. What movie did you last see in theaters?

This is going to show how long it's been since I've seen a movie, but I saw Lincoln with Dan in early December. Yep, it's been that long. I don't typically see more than two or three movies a year. It's just not my thing. That said, Lincoln was PHENOMENAL. Good enough to last me at least three months, apparently! 

8. What piece of clothing could you not live without?

Gym shorts. I am THAT girl. I would wear them everywhere if I could. They are so comfortable, AND they've always been my style. I am NOT a girly-girl. I never have been. I have over 20 pairs of gym shorts. I wear them ALL THE TIME at home. Don't judge. 

9. What was the last spontaneous thing you did?

Hmm, this is a toughie as well because I am NOT a spontaneous person. I wish I was. I have tried. But when I tried, it turned into me PLANNING to do something spontaneous and completely canceling out the entire point of spontaneity. I honestly can't even think of ONE instance in which I was spontaneous. How sad. I am a complete planner by nature. 

10. What is your favorite season?

I love fall. Autumn. Call it what you want. But the smell of trees gets me every year. It smells like football. It smells like cross country. The weather is PERFECT that time of the year, and the colors are beautiful. Oh, and brand new school supplies. I AM HOOKED. Is anyone surprised? Thinking about the fall makes me anxious because I love it oh-so much. I've got a long time to wait, though, so I'll settle for spring arriving in a couple of weeks. I really am a seasons girl, though. If I ever have to live somewhere without all four seasons, I will be completely devastated. 

11. What is your favorite TV show and why?

This is going to show the complete and total nerd in me. I don't watch a lot of TV. I never have, really. Sure, I enjoy a few shows, but if I miss them, it's no big deal. The one I absolutely ADORE, though, is Jeopardy. Yep. I have a SLIGHT obsession with Alex Trebek. In fact, I ran up to the TV screen at my great grandparents house when I was only a year old or so and KISSED him on the screen! He may have been my very first crush. (How embarrassing). I would always rush home from track practice in high school to watch Jeopardy at 4:30. And now that it's on at 4:00 in Colorado, I started using the stair-climber machine at my gym because it's the only way I can see Jeopardy! I really should invest in DVR... Anyway, once upon a time, I tried out for Jeopardy. I took a few online tests but didn't make it past the third round of try-outs. Bummer. It is my biggest goal in life that I will probably never accomplish... such is life, I suppose. 

My Nominations (aka people who should participate in this!)

Lizzie at Sweet Kansas Girl

Megan at Identify My Design

Michele at Verbose Michele

Julie at The Girl in the Dress

Melanie at Tyler and Melanie

My Questions For You Ladies:

1. What is the story behind your given name? 

2. What is your birth order? (Are you the oldest, middle, youngest, only child, etc?)

3. What is/was your favorite subject in school?

4. What do you do when you are stressed out? 

5. What is your favorite fruit?

6. What is the best dish you make? Do you have a recipe? (sorry to double up!)

7. How did you meet your significant other? 

8. What kind of computer do you use? 

9. How many kids do you want (if any), and boys or girls?

10. Do you have one song that really pumps you up when working out?

11. What is your favorite school supply? Be as general or specific as you want.