I Won A Liebster! What The Heck Is A Liebster?

Last week I received an email from one of my readers.  She told me that she was a fellow blogger and she was going to nominate me for a Liebster Award.  Immediately, I felt honored!  I had no clue what a Liebster award was, but honored nonetheless.  I thanked her and then hit Google.  The Liebster Award is a less of an award and more like an old-fashioned chain letter meant to boost readership amongst fledgling bloggers.  Still honored, my nominator, Ms. Toody Good Shoes, thought my blog was worthy of being boosted, and I was thrilled.  This award is not one that comes with a piece of carved crystal with my name on it, or the chance to wear a fancy dress and be interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, but it does come with something - a set of of rules:

1.  Acknowledge the blogger who made the nomination.

2.  Share 11 facts about yourself.

3. Answer 11 questions posed by the nominator.

4. Nominate 11 other bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.

5. Pose 11 questions to your nominees.

My first thought when I reviewed this list of tasks was how was I going to do all of this in one post.  I decided to take the pressure off myself since there was no rule for how soon you had to pay it forward; remember chain mail letters and how you had to copy the letter a certain amount of times and get them out of your house in 48 hours or bad things would come to you?  With a Liebster, I figured that only good things can come from supporting other newbie bloggers, so I accepted the challenge.  And I did so in my pajamas since there was no red carpet event.

For my first task at hand, I want to thank Ms. Toody Good Shoes for the nomination, the support, and for consistently reading my blog and leaving comments on a regular basis.  In the past (almost) four months since I have started blogging, I have been flying by the seat of my pants - not really knowing anything about blogging.  But hearing from my readers that they can relate to me has been the greatest compliment, and Ms. Toody and I just may be kindred spirits ;-)

Now for 11 facts about myself...ugh...I don't like to talk about myself.  Okay, here goes nothing:

1. I love chocolate.
2. I met my husband 32 years ago but didn't realize I loved him until 18 years ago.
3. I still cry every time I think about my grandfather who passed away over 6 years ago.
4. I think the hospital was crazy for sending me home with my first-born child without an owners' manual - I had more training to drive a car than to parent a preemie.
5. I love my dog so much, I think it may be unnatural.
6. I love living in CT, but I don't consider myself from here.  I am a New Yorker through and through, so when someone asks me where I'm from, I say, "I'm from New York but I live in Connecticut."
7. My happy place is on a beach, under an umbrella, with a book.  Rain or shine.
8. I have had the same best friend since 2nd grade.  It's a title we have both earned.
9. I exercise at least 5 days a week and hate every minute of it.  Well, except for Zumba.
10. I wish on 11:11 every time I see that time.  I've been doing it since I was a kid.  I don't think one of my wishes has come true, but it hasn't stopped me yet.
11. I didn't have a plan when I started my blog and I'm still not sure I have one.

Enough about me, on to the next task.  Well that's not true, the next task is more about me.  So, here are the answers to the questions that Ms. Toody posed:

1.  What is your favorite meal of the day?

Believe it or not, it's my morning protein shake.  It's the one meal I can count on not to disturb my unpredictable gut.  It consists of almond milk, frozen strawberries, a banana, chocolate vegan protein powder, and a dash of carob powder as the base.  If I am feeling inflamed, I can add quercitin or raw honey or both, as they each act as natural anti-inflammatories.

2.  Why did you start blogging?

I didn't really have a reason, I did it on a whim thinking it might be a fun, creative outlet.  I shared it accidentally on Facebook when I added a plug-in on my site and hit it to see if it worked.  After that, there was no turning back.

3.  When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I have absolutely no clue.  Probably an artist or a mommy since I loved to draw and I loved my Raggedy Ann dolls.

4.  What characteristic to you find most attractive in others?

A good sense of humor.  I'm a goofball and I like to be surrounded by other goofballs (you know who you are!)

5.  What is your favorite sport?

I don't play a sport and I don't consider myself an athlete.  I don't like to watch sports on TV or sit at a baseball field for five hours.  But there is nothing like having frozen toes and a sore throat from screaming at a hockey game in April.  Especially if it's at a Stanley Cup game or Bantam A game.  I am the ultimate hockey fan.  I am a Hockey Mom.

6.  Gold or Silver?

I like to wear both, but if I had to choose one, it would be gold.  I love brushed gold and I love Marco Bicego pieces.

7.  Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world?

Right now, I think to one of those huts in the water in Bora Bora - the ultimate beach vacation.  It would be even better if I had a mojito and a massage.  Checking flights right now...

8.  What is your pet peeve?

Noise.  Sadly, I can't stand when the television is blasting or when people talk loudly, and I live with three television-blasting loud-talkers.  They're cute, but damn are they loud!  Even the dog is a loud-talker, so technically, I live with four of them.

9.  Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning person, hands down.  My husband, children, and college roommates can attest to my ability to function early in the morning and forget how to function late in the evening.

10.  Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall?

Fall has always been my favorite season.  I live in New England and the fall is the most beautiful time of year.  Crisp air, crunchy leaves, and new sweaters!

11.  How many pairs of shoes do you have?

Too many, probably close three figures.  But in my defense, I don't throw old ones out in the hopes that they will come back in style.  I am a major purger, except when it comes to shoes.

The fourth and fifth tasks are to nominate 11 other bloggers with readerships below 200 people.  I must admit that the few blogs I follow have thousands of followers, so I am going to have to put the final two tasks on hold until I start to look around for other blogs that I like enough to recommend.  And I am going to follow what Ms. Toody did and ask you to recommend bloggers you think would benefit from receiving a Liebster Award, or let me know if you have your own blog that could use a boost.  I would be happy to have the help and choose some from your suggestions.

Thanks again, Ms. Toody!

For more of my posts, head over to Goodness Gracious Living!