It's an Honor Just to be Nominated...

Or at least that is what people say when they are up for an Oscar.  So, my nomination isn't quite that big of a deal but I was pretty pumped about it.  My much-cooler-than-me friend Stacy (high school teacher/photographer/fiance/Chicago lover) has given me a punch of excitement by tagging me in her post for a Liebster award.  It is apparently a fun way to support smalltime bloggers like me who don't have a huge following but still refuse to shut up.  :)

The idea is that people win the award and pass it on to other Bloggers who are in the same boat.  So here's the deal of what you are supposed to do with it:

• Each person tagged must post 11 things about themselves.
• They must also answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for them.
• They must create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they have decided to tag.
• They must then choose 11 special bloggers to tag with the Liebster award with less than 200 followers.
• These lucky bloggers must be told in a comment on their blog

So here goes, 11 things about me!

1. I am a sympathetic crier.  Movies, commercials, even emotional songs make me cry.
2. I graduated high school in a class of only 82 people.  A lot of them still live in the same town today. I couldn't wait to get far, far away from there.
3. After several traumatic things happened to people in my family, I had about 4 years of monster depression.  The fall is an especially hard time for me and I am thankful to have a husband who understands.
4. I have two children, and some days I look around and think, "When did this happen?  How am I this old?"
5. My favorite movie is "In Her Shoes" because I have sisters of my own and love the story.  Best part is when the older sister explains how shoes are how she rewards herself because no matter if her weight goes up or down, shoes always fit.
6. I am still learning and studying the Bible but I am a firm believer in Jesus.  (And I have studied a lot of other religions too.)  I love having a moment when you realize something that was written thousands of years ago feels like God just put it on paper for you  in that moment.  And that it is perfect, rich with symbolism, and is the ultimate story of romance - God's romance of me.
7. I am fascinated and slightly turned on by breakdancers, stand up comedians, and guys with sleeves of tattoos.  But I know I would never date any of them in real life.
8. I hate doing housework and would probably live like a total slob if it weren't for my husband.  I have to be in the mood to clean and then I do it for hours straight, from one side of the house to the other.
9. A friend and I actually wrote a skeletal framework of the book we could author together.  And then we each had two children and realized we never have time to think. (Oh hey, my son is crying right now... pause.)
10. I have briefly visited Boston, Baltimore and New York City and would love to go back.  That part of the country seems so completely different than Texas and I have a fantasy where I live in a ridiculously expensive brownstone that I have renovated.
11. I grew up in the "You Can Be Anything You Want to Be" generation, so I sometimes wonder if I have what it takes to be a writer or a singer.  But then I remember that I already complain about not having any money.

And now, I have 11 questions that Miss Stacy has posed:

1. We all multi-task so what else are you doing while you're typing this blog?  I am putting off washing dishes, watching TV and continuously putting the pacifier back in my son's mouth.
2. When you're sad do you listen to sad music or happy music?  Sad music.  And cry.
3. What would be your perfect night of TGIF (remember Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, etc.)?  Ooh, Modern Family, New Girl, and The Voice.
4. If money were no object what would your dream job be?  A writer for the magazine Vanity Fair.  Such a great mix of pop culture. politics, world news and fascinating profiles.
5. Why do you blog? And do your friends think you're weird? I write because it is like therapy to me, and it helps me preserve memories for my family.  I don't think too many friends read my blog consistently, but it did come in handy for keeping people up to date when our son was born and was very sick.
6. What is one of your strangest quirks?  (I will like you MORE for this the stranger it is) Probably the weirdest thing about me is that I own and use a big old lady plastic shower cap.  Bo makes fun of me but my hair is so crazy thick that I refuse to wash and dry it every day.
7. What is your favorite HOLIDAY CANDLE scent?  I love pumpkin or apple pie.  Whatever smells like Thanksgiving, i.e. food.
8. List one of your guiltiest pleasures.  That I would publish?  Shopping.  I buy things that I know are expensive, but I love them and plan to use them for a long time, so I talk myself into it and hope that my husband doesn't notice.
9. What is your favorite Pandora station?  Probably Miranda Lambert or Sara Bareilles.  Both great songwriters that I never get tired of.
10. If a celebrity played you in a movie about your life, who would you pick?  Well, do you pick someone who actually looks like you or just someone you wished you looked like?  I am going to go with Natalie Portman or Katie Holmes.
11. More importantly, who would play the love of your life?  Oooh, that's even harder!  He looks nothing like him, but can I say Ryan Gosling just because I want to imagine myself kissing him?

Well, now comes the passing of the torch!  Here are the bloggers I love and want to give the award to:

Natalie at Southern Grace

Julia at Julia Loves Pink (though she is busy with a brand new baby!)

Aubrey over at The Jarretts

My sweet cousin Brittney

Maci of the infamous Funky Time with Maci

The ever-stylish Courtney of Stanley, Texas

My oldest friend (meaning longest, not that she is old!) Lindsey living the ranch life

The world traveler Crystal and her Grand Adventures

Mama Stacey at I Heart Rykken
and last but not least....
My awesome sister Rachael

Now, to be perfectly honest, a lot of these bloggers are busy moms like me and they haven't blogged in a while.  So this is my encouragement to them!  I love reading about your lives and seeing your sweet pictures.  So don't let your blog fall to the wayside.  Don't worry about time lost and just jump back in.  Here are my 11 questions for you to answer:

1.  What is the most expensive thing you ever bought for yourself (other than a house or car)?
2.  What website do you have to check out every day?
3.  What meal would you say is the best thing you cook?
4.  What is your favorite movie quote?
5.  Which place is at the top of your "Must Travel To" list?
6.  Who is the person in your life that you think most encouraged or impacted you to end up where you are now?
7.  What would you be willing to do to take back your most embarrassing moment?  (Better make it good and bonus points if you share what it is)
8.  Name one person you think you have lost touch with and your best memory of them.
9.  What is the nicest compliment you have received about yourself?  (Embrace that it is probably true about you and you should be proud!)
10.  What book did you buy intending to read and never finished, but you still hang onto it anyway?
11.  Pick one reality show that you could be on and why!