Top Ten Thursday: Blogging Challenges

     Hello there and welcome to Top Ten Thursday!  I've recently joined a group of bloggers who are given a theme for the week and asked to write their top ten (kinda like Letterman used to do).  So here goes nothing...  This week's topic: Blogging Challenges 

Submitted by Liz over at An American in Basel

Top 10 Things I Love or Hate about Blogging Challenges:

1.  I love reading the other blogger's challenge posts. 

2.  I hate how hard it is to capture the blogging challenge's button or picture, only to get it downloaded but not being able to upload it on to the post about the challenge.

3.  I love challenging myself to come up with something creative for each post.

4.  I hate it when I sign up for a challenge, then forget about it, only to be reminded a day or so before the post goes live.  Oops.

5.  I love being involved in the blogger world.  Sometimes you make some good friends. (Tamara)      

6.  I hate it when I get stumped trying to rhyme a word for a poetry challenge, then I have to resort to Google or a thesaurus to find a new word.

7.  I love that I count on my blogger friend and Top Ten Challenge host who helps me when I get stumped at number 7.  

8.  I hate that I am stumped at number 8 now.

9.  I love that the next Top Ten Challenge theme will NOT be about loving or hating blog challenges.

10.  I hate when I link up my permalink wrong and then have to go back and correct it.  Sorry Tamara.   

Check out some other Top Tens:

Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom

The Last Rain Girl

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy An American in Basel The Bergham Chronicles

Internet Friends

     

     I am so excited to share with everyone that I got a big shout out from my fellow blogger friend Tamara at Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom!  I was very surprised and flattered that she thought of me for this challenge.  We have been online buddies for about 2 and a half years now.  I'm so excited that with our move to Germany I might actually get to meet her and her family in person!      She is in a group of bloggers that take on weekly writing challenges by Karen over at Baking in a Tornado.  This particular week was Secret Subject Swap, where different bloggers pick a subject from another fellow blogger and write a post about that subject.  Here is Tamara's:

"Throughout our lives we meet people that show us qualities we want to strive for in ourselves. We also meet people who teach us who we don't want to be. 

Who taught you the most about the qualities you wanted to strive for in yourself? What did you learn? 

What was the most important lesson you learned about who you didn't want to become?"

         After she posted her challenge, I asked how to join this fabulous group of bloggers.  She put me in touch with the coordinator and we've been emailing back and forth.  I decided to join the weekly Funny Friday Challenge I wanted to start doing some other types of blogging where I could put my writing skills to use.  Don't get me wrong, I love posting the parties, recipes, crafts, photography, but I look forward to this new challenge that awaits me!  Join me and the other bloggers for Funny Friday April 24th for a good laugh!

Sunshine Award

The other morning I woke up and discovered I was awarded the Sunshine Award by my friend Tamara over at her blog Confessions of a Part-Time Working Mom!  

The Rules:

     Display the award on your blog, then give 7 random facts about yourself.  Answer the 7 questions I had to answer, then nominate any amount of bloggers you choose up to 11.

My 7 Facts About Me:

1.  I was in a beauty pageant when I was younger and actually placed 5th!

2.  When I was pregnant with Liam I had a HUGE craving for cereal! And yes, there are 7 boxes of cereal in that picture! I could never decide on just one! With Kinely I was obsessed about anything pickled! From pickles to artichokes to olives to banana peppers...I wanted them all!

3.  I have to admit, yes I am a kinda of a Vampire fan! I am totally a Twilight Fan!  I have the books, soundtracks, scores, and ALL of the Blu Ray movies!  I even hosted a Twilight Breaking Dawn Birthday Party for one of my Besties.  I also love True Blood!  I have the Sookie Stackhouse Series books and True Blood DVDs!  Even made some True Blood Red Velvet Cookies to snack on while watching the episodes.

4. I received a Best Cheesecake Award in the Vandenberg AFB Spouse's Club Bake Off with my White Chocolate Cheesecake topped with Mandarin Oranges & Cranberry Compote!

4.  I grew up as a military brat and have lived many places growing up, then married back into the Air Force and have lived in a few more places!  I was born in Georgia, then moved to Berlin, Germany (before the wall came down), then to Florida, lived a little in Ohio with family before moving to Terciera in the Azores, Portugal, then to Texas (where my dad retired and I met my future hubby), I moved out to Colorado to be with him (we got married & had Liam), moved to California, currently we are in New Mexico (Kinley was born). 

5.  I love making fun edible masterpieces for Liam.  Especially around the holidays!  Can't wait till Kinley is old enough so I can make some for her too! Here are a few that I have come up with!

6.  I love being crafty.  Since Liam was about 9 months old we have been making cards for all the major holidays and send them to our family and friends.  Now Kinley is old enough to make some too. 

7.  I've always loved writing, especially short stories.  A while back my mom talked me into writing a children's book.  So I did, it hasn't been published, but I did make it into a real book using Shutterfly using my illustrations.  I was inspired by my Grandma Hazel who's nickname was Toots growing up and she loved red foxes (which explains why I love them so much!) I'm hoping one day I can get it published, who knows.

Here's my book if you want to check it out:  Toots and the Golden Coin

Questions for Me:

If you could go back in time ten years and tell yourself one thing, what would it be?

     Just to have fun and enjoy myself with my boyfriend (future hubby), friends and family before the big responsibilities like being a wife, parent, home owner, etc set it.

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

     I love ice cream so that's a tough one, but I would say my newest favorite is actually Sea Salt Caramel Talenti Gelato.  I know it's not technically an ice cream, but it's soooo good!

If you were to take me on a date, where would we go and why?

     I am a huge foodie, so it only fitting that I take you to Avant Tapas & Wine Restaurant, one of my favorite Wineries and places to get some great food!  Of course, it's in California, so we will have to take a little trip, but definitely worth it!

   

     

Above all else, what are you afraid of?

     I am actually afraid of losing my family and friends.  Miss my grandparents all the time.

What would you do if you new you couldn't fail?

     I would run my own party planning business or a cupcake shop! I love to plan/host parties, and of course baking cupcakes!  Here's the most recent party I planned, Christmas Cookie Swap.

And here's some of the Cupcakes I've baked up!

What has been your favorite age to be and why?

     I don't really have a favorite age.  I had a great childhood.  I just wish I would have enjoyed it more and not try to grow up too fast.

Coffee or tea?

     I like to drink coffee, usually a White Chocolate Mocha, Pumpkin Spice Latte, or a Peppermint Mocha every once in a while.  They are more of a sweet treat for me!  I love Startbucks, but our Nespresso Machine makes a pretty awesome coffee too!  As far as tea goes, I only drink sweetened hot tea when I'm sick.  I can't stand flavored tea!

I would like to give the Sunshine Award to some of these great blogs I follow:

Lil' Mrs. Tori

Blessings A 2 Z

FIVE DUDES AND A LADY

Disney 'n Diapers

Little Wonders' Days