3.28.2012

Getting My Kumbaya on


Okay, so here's the deal: this is going to be kind of a sappy post.  All kinds of sentimental.  If that isn't your thing you might want to stop reading now.  (Don't say you weren't warned.)

So I've talked a number of times about blogging, both why I started and what I'd like to get out of it.  As it turns out, my favorite thing about blogging is something that wasn't even on my radar until I'd been doing it for a few weeks: the friendships and connections that keep springing up as a result.  


Not that I didn't want connections, I simply wasn't looking to make them via the blog.  (In my mind that was what Facebook was for ;)  I'm not sure why, I just hadn't envisioned blogging as such a give and take type of thing.  But of course, this is the internet and nothing is done in isolation.  Nope, if I write something in the morning I'm often getting feedback before lunch.

And so far, the feedback has been so... nice.  No, not just nice.  Nice doesn't cover it.  It's also been interesting and... somehow fulfilling.  I've gotten feedback from people all over the world.  Like New Zealand (I'm looking at you Simoney).  Or Italy (okay, I suspect this woman stopped by because my blog has an Italian title, but she stayed long enough to leave a comment: "Sono fantastiche. Bravissima. Ciao," and I now follow her blog which I faithfully translate from Italian to English).


And of course there are all the friends that I've made here in the US.  One in particular, Linda from It All Started With Paint, stopped my my blog in its infancy (which admittedly was only a few weeks ago ;).  Her encouragement really inspired me to take things up a notch and I am oh so grateful.  She also sent some really nice blog-friends my way (seriously, she told a bunch of people to come read my blog--and they did!) and now some of them are also dear blog friends (ahem, cough, Karianne). 


Believe it or not, I'm going somewhere with this.  


You see, yesterday I was awarded The Liebster Award.  


Twice.  


In one day.  




For those of you who aren't familiar, Liebster is a German word which means "dearest" or "beloved". It can also mean "favorite". The idea behind the Liebster Award is that it's given to up-and-coming bloggers (with fewer than 200 followers) in order to create new connections and bring attention to some wonderful, growing blogs.


And now I get to pass the Liebster Award along to someone else!  Here are the rules:  



1. Link back to the person or people who bestowed the honor on you.
2. Pick 5* blogs with less than 200 followers to pass the award forward.
3. Leave the awardees a comment informing them about their designation.
4. Post the award on your blog!


The two bloggers who bestowed the award on me were Lisa from Budget Design Girl and Emily from Sweet Bliss Bakery.  


Lisa is clearly a kindred spirit.  We're both Midwestern transplants (living in Southern California) who are doing our best to feather our nests without breaking the bank.  Her home tour is beautiful and she's done some amazing projects (like this vintage desk redo).  

And Emily, well, just go to her blog and click on the cupcakes tab.  Trust me, you won't regret it!

Thanks ladies!!

Now accepting an award is easy but the bestowing part is always a challenge for me.  The last time someone gave me one I was so paralyzed by indecision that I simply never followed through.   (I still feel ashamed about this.)  Truth be told, at that early stage in my blog, I just didn't feel qualified to give anyone an award.  (I kind of envisioned the recipients going, "Who are you to be giving me an award?" which is silly when you consider all the nice things I've just said about the blogging community.)  

Now that I've been at it a bit longer I feel a slightly more qualified to give out the Liebster (*though I've only picked three recipients as opposed to the usual five).  

Here they are:
  • Sara from Everyday Sadie.  Sara is funny and I love funny.  (Here is an excerpt from her "About Me":  I'm a coffee-connoisseur (read: addict)... and I've been married so long I'm practically a sitcom.  See?  Funny.  (Plus this recipe looks awesome!)  So please, go and check her out.  (Tell her I sent you ;)
  • Next up is Courtney from Thoughts From the Birdhouse.  At some point Courtney quietly came by my blog and became a follower.  When I stopped by to return the favor I was delighted.  Courtney is smart and articulate and I love her blog.  In short, I totally want to be Courtney when I grow up.  The problem with that?  I'm also totally old enough to be her mother.   Yup, Courtney is in high school.  (And I am sooo glad that she'll be running the country when I'm old and in need of care.)
  • My final pick is a person I know in real life.  Her name is Sabine and our daughters do children's theater together.  Sabine is a true Renaissance woman.  Her "real life" job is something technical (that I don't understand).  At home she's a mom to three beautiful (tri-lingual) children.  She's also an amazing cook (did I mention she's French?) and an avid crafter.  In her copious amounts of free time ;) she started The Tech Foodie a blog that chronicles all of this.  The blog is new, but she's already posted some amazing recipes and I'm sure there's lots of great stuff to come!  Please be sure to check her out!
So that's it!  The Liebster award is just the latest warm and fuzzy thing that's happened to me since I've begun blogging.  Can't wait to see what's next ;)
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10 comments

  1. I am so very touched by your gesture! Oh.my.goodness. And no one has ever called me a "Renaissance Woman". Awesome. I love it. and I LOVE the award. I'll find a nicely prominent place for it on my blog with your blog linked to it...ehem, i just don't know when. My 'something technical' job has taken everything over lately. LOL. Currently, i'm creating some training classes on integrating immersive education and virtual worlds. The classes are designed as quests with badges and XP points. Anyway, I've been going through your blog many times a day....with some serious crafting envy. and ....curling paper ribbon? Really? oh my gosh, i am so impatient to find an excuse to buy some and make a basket (I'm sure I can fill it up for a birthday). and by the way, i have been Berry Berry Good, but was not fast enough to get a taste of it. Chocolate is a food group of its own in my house. I.love.your.blog. and i am so very pleased that I know you in real life. Ciao Chica

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  2. Congrats on the award! It's amazing how thoughtful and supportive the blogging community is - on top of being crazy-talented and super-creative!

    Kelly

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  3. Sabine--I have a hard time believing that no one has ever called you a Renaissance woman; you are the very embodiment of a Renaissance woman!!

    And Kelly, thank you! (I like how you said that in two concise sentences. I could learn a thing or two.... ;)

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  4. You are so wonderful! I feel EXACTLY the same way. I love seeing comments in my inbox and commenting back and visiting :) It's kind of like a giant open house sometimes. I am so blessed to have met you in blogland. I always smile when I see your comments.

    Congratulations on your award....the first of many, many more :)

    Have a blessed and wonderful day!
    karianne

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  5. Congrats!! Lisa awarded me, too! Such fun and now we get to spread the bloggy love. :)
    Happy weekend!

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  6. Congratulations E!! xoxo,L

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  7. You are so deserving on not just one but two Leibster's!

    And thanks for the shout out ... and now I'm going to check out your recipients.

    :)

    Linda

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  8. Congrats on your award! I adore Linda, also and I agree with her that you should join our Linky Party Anonymous group :)

    Following you now...

    xox

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