Category: Blogging

Liebster Blog Award #2

charleneaross10 Comments

Yes, Liebster Blog Award #2. In the words of my dear blogging buddy, Tina (and maybe someone else, almost as famous), “You like me! You really, really like me!” Thank you! I’m a little verklempt!

Liebster blog

Once again, the word Liebster means “dearest” or “favorite” in German, and the award is given as a form of recognition and support for smaller, up and coming blogs. Last week my fellow skirt blogger Demetria Foster Gray awarded me with a Liebster Award (#1).

This time I have been awarded by my blogging soulmate Tina Drakakis, known to the skirt blogging world as eyerollingmom. Tina and I started blogging around the same time for skirt and it was love at first word. I really like to think I’m hilarious, but compared to Tina, I’m only maybe a tiny bit funny. I’d be bitter with jealous of her superior wit and mad writing skills  if I just wasn’t so damn in love with her. She really (REALLY) needs to get a blog of her own! I would have awarded her the Liebster, but she awarded me first. I’d tell you to read her blog, but then you might stop reading mine! (I’m kidding. Read her blog. She’s awesome!)

Tina lives in Massachusetts (way to freaking far!) so we have become virtual BFFs. We email. We text. We’ve never actually spoken on the phone. I think we both fear that if we do we’ll never (ever) hang up and our poor husbands and children will have to fend for themselves for days. One day we will meet in person and when we do -watch out world- there will not be anyone, anywhere having more fun than us!

Here are the Liebster Award rules again:

  1. Answer your nominator’s eleven questions.
  2. Think of eleven questions of your own.
  3. Choose a few worthy bloggers (who have fewer than 500 followers) to interview and pay it forward.
  4. Make sure to inform the bloggers they’ve been nominated winners.

Here are my questions from Tina:

1.       What’s the one thing you regret blogging about?

Pretty early in my “blogging career” I worded some things poorly and came across as something I wasn’t and in the process really hurt some people I love dearly. I really do regret that.

2.       What’s the one food that – if taken out of existence – would ensure your skinnydom?

Definitely carbs. (Which I know is more of a food group than one food. But like a politician I can answer any way I want!) Life is short. I’d rather have tight jeans and eat french fries (and pasta and BREAD) than be a super-skinny mini and eat my cheese alone (instead of on a cracker where it belongs!)

3.       You have 2 children.  Which is your favorite?

You have 4 children. I’ll tell you my favorite if you tell me yours! (I’ll give you a hint though – one is my favorite son and the other is my favorite daughter.)

4.       Shower:  hand or washcloth?

Well, that’s a little personal. But as you know, my middle name might as well be TMI. At home, usually hand. (Less laundry that way, and I use bar soap.) But at a hotel – always a wash cloth.

5.       You could spend one hour with someone who’s passed.  Who is it?

My grandmother. Without a doubt. (And I’d make sure she gave Tammy a kiss when she got back.)

6.       What’s the one thing you did in high school you wish your kids NEVER do?

You know my mom reads my blog right? Haha! I was actually pretty tame in high school. I never even got drunk. (For reals!) Now college on the other hand…

7.       Favorite guilty pleasure…

I’m racking my brain for something really trashy that I love, but am coming up blank. (Must be because I’m so classy!) I do still love 80’s music. And chick flicks. Even ones that I know are bad. In fact those stupid teenage versions of chick flicks that are on Disney and Nickelodeon – I do love to watch those with Marley. Even though every minute I’m watching I know exactly what’s going to happen and that I’m totally wasting my time, but I can’t help it. (And after all, I am spending time with my daughter!)

I also really love to have a small glass of red wine with 3 or 4 sea salt dark chocolate covered almonds after dinner. Sea salted chocolate is the new crack!

8.       We’ve all cheated.  Diets, tests, boyfriends.  Fess up to one time.

Again, mother reads blog. (So does husband!) HA! I’m kidding! So let’s just say that maybe, perhaps, I’ve logged onto Scrabble Finder while playing Words with Friends a time or two. (Not that it ever helps me win!)

9.       What makes you happiest?

Hmmm… I love going to see a band I love, Love, LOVE in concert – like U2 or INXS. (yes, still, even without Michael Hutchence, see guilty pleasure above.) I love going to the beach – I’m ALWAYS happy there. But I think the times I am happiest is simply when I’m surrounded by people I love. I love being with my family at holidays. I love playing board games with my husband and kids. I love getting together with my girlfriends for a night out of wine and gossip. (And if there is a cute waiter to flirt with I’m even happier!)

10.    Favorite Real Housewife or Survivor contestant….or both.

Not a Real Housewives watcher. (I hate people with cleaner houses than me!) Without a doubt hot former NY fireman Tom Westman from Survivor. I Swooned over rooted for him the entire Palau season. And started watching Survivor again when he came back for Heroes vs. Villains.

Tom Westman winner Survivor Palau
Me likey….

11.    What would we be most surprised to learn about you?

Sometimes I’m very shy. (It’s true.)

Whew! Well, that was fun. (I think?) Thank you Tina for choosing me (I really am so touched!)

My Award Nominees…

For my second set of awards I would like to nominate two bloggers I have had the privilege of becoming friends with.

First, Julie Gardner and her awesome blog, By Any Other Name. Julie is a former English teacher (and my go-to grammar coach) who took an extended leave of absence from teaching so she could write. And thank god she did. Here words are gorgeous. She is funny and talented and her writing is just beautiful. Every time I read her blog I think, “I wish I could write like that.” We were turned on to each others blogs by a mutual friend and instantly knew that we must meet. Fortunately we live 15 minutes from each other (ahem, Tina!). We clicked instantly and are now each other’s biggest fans. I urge you to read her blog. You will love it!

My next award goes to my blogging mentor, Kim Tracy Prince and her blog House of Prince. Kim and I met when we were both writing for Patch.com and again – instant writing love and instant in-person chemistry. Kim has been blogging even longer than me (since 2006) and has actually figured out how to make money blogging. (I’m still working on that!) She is super-cool and a great writer. Like all the best blogs, she will often make you laugh or cry. I think she has well over 500 followers, but I’m a rebel and giving her the Liebster anyway!

Here are my questions for Kim and Julie:

1. What is your favorite season?
2. What was your favorite childhood toy?
3. If your life were a movie who would play you? (And who would play your husband?)
4. If you HAD TO give up wine or coffee for a month which would you choose?
5. What book can you read again and again?
6. What was the last film you saw in a cinema. That wasn’t animated.
7. We’re all moms. We’ve seen every single Disney movie. Which villain do you love best?
8. What is one item that is always in your purse?
9. What is your guilty pleasure? (Hey, I had to tell mine!)
10. Always…
11. Never…

Once again, thank you so much Tina! And congrats to Julie and Kim. You ladies are awesome. And I hope you have as much fun as I did!

Leibster Blog Award #1

charleneaross6 Comments

Wow! I’ve been selected for the Liebster Blog Award. The word Liebster means “dearest” or “favorite” in German, and the award is given as a form of recognition and support for smaller, up and coming blogs. (Who me?!)

And the most amazing thing is I’ve been awarded the Liebster Blog Award twice! That’s right – two amazing bloggers have given me this award. I am truly touched and honored – thank you!

First, my sincere thanks to Demetria Foster Gray, a fellow skirt blogger and writer of her own blog, Shaken But Not Stirred for selecting me as a blog favorite. It truly is a gift to be acknowledged by your blogging peers. Check out Demetria’s blog to experience her thoughtful and inspiring viewpoints. She is an incredibly talented writer.

Liebster Award rules:

  1. Answer your nominator’s eleven questions.
  2. Think of eleven questions of your own.
  3. Choose a few worthy bloggers (who have fewer than 500 followers) to interview and pay it forward.
  4. Make sure to inform the bloggers they’ve been nominated winners.

Here are my questions from Demetria:

1.   Why did you start blogging?

I started writing little slice of life essays and submitting them to national magazines – like Redbook and Parenting. Unfortunately all I received was a stack of rejection letters. (Really, magazines like that don’t want to take risks on unpublished writers?! Huh!) I stumbled upon skirt.com and applied to be a skirtsetter blogger. They said yes! Hooray! (Although, I’m pretty sure they say yes to everyone that applies. Oh well…) Blogging was a way for me to write and have my voice be heard. (And not get rejected.)

2.   If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?

First, to have my book published, become a best seller and made into a movie starring Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper. (That’s one wish, right?) Second to win a smallish Lotto, say $10,000,000 -I really don’t want the responsibility of a ridiculous Lotto- just enough money to be able to vacation wherever and whenever I want, send my kids to whatever college they can get into, get a bigger house and have someone clean it, and to get daily private yoga and massages. Third for my kids to become happy, healthy, confident, well adjusted adults who enjoy life and never give into peer pressure to do things they don’t want to and shouldn’t do. (Hmmm, I probably should have listed that one first!)

3.   When you don’t want to be bothered, where do you go to hide?

As a mom of two kids hiding isn’t really an option. And I have a small house, so that doesn’t help. But usually if I go in my room and shut my door I can hide out for a little bit. (Like 10 minutes, maybe.) In my fantasy life I hide at the beach. But that never happens in real life.

4.   Sunny day or cloudy day? Which one and why?

Sunny, without a doubt. Why? I’m a SoCal girl born and raised. We like the sun!

5.   Exercise or TV? Which one and why?

Depends on the time of day. I like to exercise in the morning and watch TV at night. (I almost NEVER exercise after noon. Except for yoga – but that’s pretty rare.) Once the sun goes down I am a total couch potato.

6.   Pepsi or Coke? Which one and why?

I guess Coke. Diet Coke specifically. Or better yet – Tab. (A Coke product.) But honestly, I don’t drink very much soda. As a teenager and in college I was addicted to it. But now I only have two or three a month, if that.

7.   Sex or sleep? Which one and why?

I never seem to get enough of either. (Who has the time?)

8.   If you could ask God only one question, what would it be?

Why do you take children from their parents? Especially violently. It doesn’t make sense.

9.   What is the best age of your life and why?

I like the confidence that being in my 40’s brings. I just wish I had a bit (or a lot) more money to enjoy this time of my life.

10. If you had to eat only one type of food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Cheeseburgers

11. If you could change one physical trait about yourself what would it be?

If you had asked me this question most of my life -from puberty until just a few years ago- I would have said my thighs. I have saddlebags for days that poke out below my hips and don’t ever seem to firm up no matter how much I exercise. But to be honest, I’m now kind of used to them (I’m not saying I like them) and have a whole wardrobe built around how to camouflage them. But my upper arms the last few years – WTF? These batwing triceps have got to go! We SoCal girls need to be able to wear tank tops. And yes I do work out. My arms just haven’t seemed to have received the memo!

 My Award Nominees

I would like to nominate a couple of my skirt sisters for this first set of awards:

First Kim Sisto Robinson of skirt and her own blog, My Inner Chick. Kim and I both started blogging for skirt in 2008 and immediately fell in love with each other. Every time I read her words I cry or I laugh. Sometimes both. Her writing is so beautiful, I think you will fall in love with her too. She mostly writes about her sister, Kay, who was murdered by her husband two years ago. It’s heartbreaking and honest and raw. I think she has well over 500 followers because not only is she incredibly talented, but she is a cheerleader for everyone she reads. But I’m still nominating her because she is amazing. Take the time to read her blog!

Next I would like to nominate another skirt blogger Elizabeth Cassidy. Elizabeth truly has a unique outlook on life and makes me laugh (out loud) every time I read her funny words. She is a brilliant artist and former stand-up comedian. Her blog is called My Views from the Edge and is definitely worth checking out.

Here are my questions for Kim and Elizabeth:

1. What would you do if you won the Powerball Lotto?
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
3. If you could trade lives with anyone (from any period of time), who would you trade with?
4. Morning person or night owl?
5. Do you listen to music when you write or does it have to be silent?
6. What do you love most about your husband?
7. What is it about your husband that drives you absolutely insane?
8. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
9. If your life were to become a movie, who would you want to play you?
10. Your desk – messy or neat?
11. What are you reading right now?

Again, thank you so much Demetria for choosing me. It is truly an honor. And check back tomorrow when I accept Liebster Award #2 from another skirt! blogger – my bestie Tina. Her questions are kind of mean. (I would expect nothing less!) I think you’ll enjoy watching me squirm as I answer them!