Don't Worry, Be Happy =)

I have received the Happy 101 Award from a few blogging friends, latest was Kait. I've been really remiss in thanking everyone so I'd like to do so now. THANK YOU everyone!

This blog has been so negative lately (which is a part of life, but still!) and so I will gladly do the list of 10 things that make me happy. Nothing like focusing on the good!

So here's my list of 10, in no particular order except for #1 and 2.

1. My son. No person has ever made me happier in my life. Not even my DH, but he comes a very close second. It's different. Anyway, my son has the sweetest, most loving spirit. He's extremely intelligent, fights for causes he believes in, and is extremely compassionate. He just makes me melt.

2. My husband. We drive each other crazy, we annoy each other, and he hogs the TV. But when he comes home at night or from a trip, all is right with the world again.

3. The blogging community. This ranks really high on my list because the support I have received has been paramount to my success. I love all the blogging friends I have, even though I get really behind on reading blogs. You guys just brighten my day.

4. Vintage stuff. Girly, vintage items just make me smile. I love to hold an old object, especially kitchen object, and wonder who it belonged to, how she used it, and what her life was like. I like vintage stuff because it reminds me of my mom, whom I miss terribly. It reminds me of both my grandmas, and my childhood. It makes me feel warm and cozy.

5. My doggies. Three border collies bring a smile to my face every time. I get kissed, French kissed on accident, jumped up and hugged every single day.

6. My kitties. One will snuggle and follow me through the house. The other likes to snuggle in bed at night. They keep me warm and their purring lulls me to sleep.

7. Exercise. The Firm, Tracie Long, Cathe, Jari Love, Tracey Staehle...they rock! Nothing makes me happier than getting a good workout in. My DVDs and VHSs are my favorite things. Those, and our photos,are what I would grab after the people and animals, of course, if we had a disaster.

8. Thrift stores. That's where I can acquire vintage stuff plus old exercise videos. Plus it's just fun to look and people watch while at thrift stores.

9. My bedroom. It's dated--dark purple walls with white sponged on top. Pretty white lace curtains. I painted all our furniture white. The room has a south-facing window, and it just glows during the day. It is my favorite room in the house and it is just a cozy retreat.

10. Me. I make myself happy. I am changing my life, losing weight, getting fit and growing muscle. I am working through my problems, having a little more fun. I am pretty fantastic. I don't mean that in a conceited way at all--it comes from confidence I'm gaining and self-esteem.

Blog Awards

Hadley honored me with this lovely blog Gorgeous Blogger Award! Thank you so much!

The Kittehs also honored me with a wonderful award. Again, thank you. I am very honored.

The Kitteh's award comes with no rules--love that! Here are the rules for the Gorgeous Blog Award:

Rules are: say six things about yourself that your readers wouldn't already know, and then pass it along.

Six things. Can I come up with six more things?? I'll try.

1. When I started my blog, I was adamant that I would not read men's blogs because they lose weight a lot faster. Boy, was I proved wrong on that one and thankfully when I'm wrong, I say I'm wrong and move on.

2. While I pour my heart out on my blog about my anxieties and seem like a weak duckling, I'm not in real life. In fact, I'm a pretty tough cookie when I need to be. (Not always, but when needed.) In fact, sometimes I might even be perceived as bitchy. You all should have seen me have a stand down with the chief of staff of the hospital my dad was in. I stood up to that bast- um, jerk and didn't back down. Well, sometimes I'm a weakling, but usually I'm pretty confident.

3. I worked at Wendy's in college when the "Where's the Beef" campaign was on. I got so sick of people coming up to the counter and saying, "Where's the Beef?" like it was sooooo original!

4. I love Amish communities. It's like going back in time, and I imagine my ancestors and how they lived when I see the horses and buggies.

5. I love to walk cemeteries. What genealogist doesn't? They're very beautiful and peaceful places.

6. My first car was a Gremlin.

There, how's that?

Now, to pass the award on to six others. (Actually, I'm passing both awards to these six.) In honor of my answer to number 1, I hereby award it to the men in my life--well, the male bloggers that I read and enjoy.

1. Sean
2. Fools Fitness
3. Fat Daddy
4. Roder
5. Emmett
6. JackSh*t

Will any of these men put up that cute pink award on their blogs??? Just let it be known, I really enjoy the men in my blogging life.

Significant Milestone Award

266 has created an award and given it to me for a significant milestone reached. In my case, it was hitting the 50-pound lost mark. Thank you so much!

I am going to pass this award on to two people who just recently had significant milestones:

Missy who reached goal!!! It doesn't get any more significant than that!

Dawn who doesn't participate in awards (that's okay!) but I just have to share this anyway because she reached ONEderland!

Thank you, 266!

Over the Top Award

Debbie and
Little Miss Fatty Pants have awarded me the Over the Top award! Thank you, ladies!! I'm honored. =)

The rules of this award are:

Copy these 35 questions and change the answers to suit you then pass it on. Once you have filled it out, be sure to pass it on to 6 of your favorite bloggers and alert them that they have been awarded! I have also seen this where you are supposed to use one word to answer, so I'll take a stab at one word.

1. Where is your cell phone? breadbox

2. Your hair? messy

3. Your mother? deceased

4. Your father? deceased

5. Your favorite food? pizza

6. Your dream last night? dogs

7. Your favorite drink? chocolate milk

8. Your dream/goal? health

9. What room are you in? kitchen

10. Your hobby? genealogy

11. Your fear? everything

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? 50/healthy

13. Where were you last night? kitchen

14. Something that you aren’t? mean

15. Muffins? chocolate chip

16. Wish list item? happiness/good life for son

17. Where did you grow up? Wyoming/Colorado

18. Last thing you did? coffee

19. What are you wearing? nightgown

20. Your TV? off

21. Your pets? shedding

22. Friends? patient

23. Your life? boring

24. Your mood? tired

25. Missing someone? daily

26. Vehicle? Pontiac

27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

28. Your favorite store? Kohl's

29. Your favorite color? pastel

30. When was the last time you laughed? yesterday

31. Last time you cried? ?teary often, both happy and sad tears

32. Your best friend? husband

33. One place that I go to over and over? blogger

34. One person who emails me regularly? friends

35. Favorite place to eat? Taco Bell

I pass this award to:

Missy

HopeFool


Christa

Mae Flowers

The Black and Orange Kittehs

MackAttack

Honest Scrap Award

S. (That's Sarah with an h) at Ethereal Endeavor awarded me with the Honest Scrap Award.

Thank you! She wasn't sure what the intent of the award was, so I Googled it. This is what I found: Award given by bloggers to other bloggers who express themselves and write/blog from their heart & soul. She assumed correctly, as did I.

Thank you, Sarah.

The Rules that go with receiving this blog:

1.“The Honest Scrap” award is not one to hold all to yourself, but it must be shared!
2.The recipient has to tell 10 true things about themselves in their blog that no one else knows.
3.The recipient has to pass along this prestigious award to 10 more bloggers.
4.Those 10 bloggers all have to be notified they have been given this award.
5.Those 10 bloggers should link back to the blog that awarded them.

Oh, this is the worst thing for me, picking X amount of bloggers to award to. I am still having anxiety waves from the last award I received where I had to pick. I'm very serious about that. If I read a blog, it's because I like the blogger very much. Period. I really struggle with singling out blogs. But I can follow rules, so I will.

Also, I must share 10 things no one knows? I'm pretty honest here, this is difficult! They're boring, and probably already known about me.

Here goes:

1. I sometimes talk with a southern accent. It drives my son nuts. If I have listened to anyone with a southern accent, I'll do it for a few days. I can't help it. I don't do it around my husband, just my son. I have never lived in the south. I think I was a southern belle in a former life.

2. I was born in Wyoming and lived there through the sixth grade, moved to Colorado and lived there through college, moved to South Dakota and lived there 10 years 8 months, and moved to Minnesota. I have lived in Minnesota 12 years and 1 month, the longest I've lived anywhere, and it is my least favorite state ever. (I'm really sorry and don't mean to offend my fellow Minnesotans. The cold is worse here than anywhere I have ever lived, and I live in a very small town--and I'm a big-city girl at heart. Well, a city with at least with a population of 70,000 or more.) I'm still in culture shock here. Also, my house is my least favorite of any I have lived in. Yet I try to be thankful that we have a roof over our heads, live in a safe community, and have food, clothing and some fun things.

I have never felt at home here in my small town. It's boring, there's nothing to do, and it just bugs me to the core. I know a lot of people, but I don't really have any good friends here. I have never had that happen anywhere that I have lived. I don't fit in here and I definitely don't belong.

3. I have two cats and three dogs. One kitty is getting really old, the other has had liver problems since we found him on the dock where my husband works. I love them both, but I'm really a dog person. We have three border collies, and BCs are my favorite-ever breed. I can't imagine life without canine companions. I love all my critters almost as much as my husband and son! Almost--but a lot.

4. I adore vintage. If I were rich and single, I'd live in an old house that was decorated entirely in vintage. Well, except for the couch and beds--they'd be modern. Cottage style is my second favorite. Soft, feminine, and very girly--that's me. I was a tomboy as a kid, go figure.

5. My greatest worry in life is that I'm raising my son right. It keeps me up at night sometimes.

6. My husband and I for years used to make fun of Suburban drivers. We were convinced that they all drove like idiots, were selfish drivers, and road hogs. We now own a Suburban. =) (We're the exception to our rule, I hope. lol)

7. I am very lonely. Not for friends, but for family. I miss my mom and dad terribly. It makes me very sad when I read blogs when people are talking about their families, getting together. It makes me remember fun times, laughter, love and support. When my parents were both alive, all the siblings got along. Now they don't. I really feel as if I have no family now. It makes me feel orphaned and all alone. It helps me cherish my husband and son all the more, but I ache for my son because he doesn't have a someone special--grandparent to dote on him and have a special relationship with.

8. All four of my grandparents were born in the 1800s. Two of my great-grandfathers fought in the Civil War, one on dad's side and one on mom's side. That's unusual for someone my age. My father fought in WWII. I'm 44. I'm the youngest cousin on mom's side and second youngest on dad's side. Both my parents were either the youngest or second youngest. I never met my dad's father, he died in the 1950s. My other grandparents died at old ages in the 70s and early 80s.

9. I love Family Guy and South Park. I get and love the Colorado references in South Park and actually really appreciate the humor and lessons of the show--they do have lessons. Family Guy shocks me and makes me laugh.

10. I snore. I think it's better since I've lost weight, but many times my husband sleeps on the couch due to my snoring, my tossing and turning, and my inability to fall asleep. (I secretly love having the bed to myself. lol) No offense, honey, but I can toss and turn in peace.

Now for the ten bloggers I choose to share the award with. Again, I mention the love-hate relationship with having to chose only 10. If you're not on the list, that doesn't mean I don't love your blog--I do!



Katie J.
Shelley
cmoursler (Chris)
Fat[Free]Me
Pam
Dawn
Hadley
VRaz60
Hope Fool
F. McButter Pants
Heather
Anne H

So much for following rules. Don't count the recipients, please.

Thank you, again.

Lovely Blog Award

Skinny Hollie has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you, I am so honored. This made my day!

The rules are, I must:

1. Acknowledge the giver.
Thank you, Hollie! I love your blog.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs I love.

Now this is the difficult part. Must I choose only 15? What happens when you love more than 15 blogs? Because I do! I am not going to let on how this stresses me, that I get near panic attack mode trying to figure which bloggers to choose. I like all the blogs I read, and they're all deserving of an award, they're all lovely--even the guys' blogs are lovely. lol I will admit I spent a long time going over my blog roll, trying to select. Oh, it was stressful, I think some more of my hair turned gray. I am dead serious that this stresses me.

In no particular order, here are my 15:

1. Ang Get Fit After 40
2. Hadley Halving Hadley - A Weight Loss Blog
3. Amber Dropping It Like It's Hot
4. S. Ethereal Endeavor
5. Kimberly The Woman Inside Me
6. Amy The Not So Secret Life of a Not So Super Together Mom
7. Bonnie No More Stinking Thinking
8. Erin My Personal Weight Loss Journey
9. Val Festively Plump All Year Round
10. Michelle Journey to Onederland
11. Jen Mission Thin
12.Crys Bigger Than My Body
13. Tania Baby Shoes3
14. A Tail of Two Kittehs on WW (To both The Orange Kitteh and The Black Kitteh!)
15. 266

Blog Award!

Ang at Get Fit After 40 has awarded me the Super Blogger award. Thank you, I am honored.

Here are the rules:

1. 
   Tape it up on your blog somewhere.


2. 
   Pass it along to 5 fellow super bloggers, and comment on their blog to let them know how lucky they are today!


3. 
   When you present your Super Blogger awards, link back to the super blogger who gave it to you.

I love awards and memes and all that. The only part I don't love is having to choose people to pass awards on to out of all the blogs I read. I read them because I like the blogger, I can relate, and I want to follow that person's journey. I would gladly award this to all the bloggers I read, but I will follow the rules, because I am a rule follower. In no particular order:

1. TJ at TJ's Test Kitchen. TJ at was the very first person to follow my blog. I love her food pictures. She inspires me to get a little more creative in the kitchen. She has done a terrific job and looks fabulous!

2. Summer at Mommy Need Coffee. She is someone that I know I would like instantly if we were to meet in real life. She inspires me with her food journals and she gladly shares recipes when I ask. She works hard on this difficult journey. She shares some of the same struggles I have.

3. SeaShore at Weight by the SeaShore. I was drawn to her blog immediately and secretly hoped she would find mine. She did. She has worked hard and looks great. She loves border collies. I love border collies. I love following her journey.

4. Fat[free]Me at Fat[Free]Me. I can really relate to her. She inspires me. Her posts have touched me and made me do a lot of thinking about my own journey. She's doing a great job, and is working hard at fitness and weight.

5. Wildfluffysheep at in[FAT]uation: it will eat you. She is working hard on her journey! She just makes me smile. She's cute as a button, sweet, supportive and caring. I wish I had her confidence: I admire her so for putting a picture of her cute little knickers on her blog!