One of the greatest things about blogging is the sense of community. And you are a giving group. In accepting the awards below from so many of my blogging heroes, I want to also give back.
Without further ado:
The Liebster Blog Award
“‘Liebster’ means ‘favorite’ or ‘dearest’ in German. This award, which originated in Germany, recognizes up and coming bloggers! In accepting this award, I agree to:
-
Thank the person that gave me the award and link back to their blog
-
Copy and paste the award to my blog
-
Reveal the 5 blogs I have chosen to award and let them know by commenting on their blog
-
Pay it forward by awarding it to bloggers I would like to honor”
Here are the five blogs that I have chosen to receive this award, please check out their great blogs:
The Candle Lighter Award
Thank you so much to the following awesome bloggers for nominating this blog for the Candle Lighter Award:
Being Arindam …. Arindam
happykidshappymom Melissa
This award is for those bloggers whose words light the way through the blogosphere. It originated at Believe Anyway, for blogs “that bring light to the world [and offer] inspiration, hope, optimism, good advice, faith filled assurances, and even humor.”
There are no rules for this award. It’s just a way of pointing out inspirational blogs.
I would like to pass the Candle Lighter Award on to the following blogs:
1. stayoutofmyhead
2. i know i made you smile
3. These Are Days
4. Fork and Beans
5. For You, Daddy!
6. iliketheworldfuzzy
7. FiftyFourandAHalf
8. The Heartbreak of Invention
9. candy coated musings…
10. jayjaysfavorites
11. Day by Day the Farm Girl Way…
The Versatile Blogger Award
Many of my favorite bloggers nominated my blog for this award:
critters and crayons Patricia
Mother, Beader and Coffee Lover Jen
http://cathyespiritu.wordpress.com/ Cathy
http://jayjaysfavorites.wordpress.com Judy
Cause Mom Says So Jess
allaboutlemon Dolly
FiftyFourandAHalf Elyse
Please show some blog love to the following nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award:
- Life, Love, & Baby
- I’d Rather Be In Iceland
- earthriderdotcom
- Sunny Side Up
- ARTICLES OF ABSURDITY
- Me 2.0
- The Wordslinger
- http://aggiesprite.wordpress.com/
- http://www.thelainelist.com/
- musings of a twenty-something
- livingoutmypurpose
- queensrules
- My Haphazard Proclivities
- Violets and Cardamom
- THE BACKGROUND STORY
- August McLaughlin’s Blog
- Sweet Sophia
To cover all my bases, I’m going to give ten things about myself that you may not know:
1. Bacon – it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Very versatile.
2. I’m the second oldest of seven.
3. Always sleep with my socks on – winter or summer – and that’s all I’m sayin’!
4. Favorite city is San Diego, and the north San Diego coast is my favorite area.
5. I get along well with numbers.
6. Have a tremendous love for England – the people and the countryside. We lived there for four years.
7. Hate being scared. Have hit people who surprised me by scaring me, not knowing my fear.
8. Got married in upstate New York.
9. Won a national championship (in my division) in 3-on-3 basketball in my mid 30′s.
10. MLB says I have trouble saying “I’m sorry.” She could be right.
You all shouldn’t have, but it gave me a great opportunity to recognize other amazing bloggers.
How fantastically sweet!
Thank you so much for the acknowledgement.
And, for helping me to feel that I sometimes do touch the world in a very small way.
Very well-deserved honor. I hope many readers come to know the profound words on your blog.
Congratulations mj, my friend – this post is like a blogging review and a sweep all in one! Thank you so much for nominating me for the Candle Lighter Award…read your nominees 1 & 2 together out loud…it’s cute and it is the rest of my reply
I fixed your comments … don’t worry about that.
I’m so glad I got the opportunity to share this with you. You have been such a bright spot in blogging for me.
All the best to you, vixy!
Congratulations on getting all those awards. You deserve them. Your entries are funny and informative.
And whoa, you have lots of siblings! Was it fun growing up in a big household?
Also, thank you for including us in your nominees list. <3
Thanks so much.
And it was great to share the love with your blog. Such a cool site with your pics and words together.
Oh, and yes, it was great having a big family. We didn’t have video games, but were never short of things to do!
Ah video games are fun but there’s nothing like playing outdoors with other kids — running, screaming and sweating! I had video games growing up but at that time, they weren’t too much of a big thing yet so I still got to play outside.
Hi, just stopping by to catch up on more thoughts and musings, you’ve share some great tips and laughs here mj. Just read how procrastination should be a noun as nothing is done, then I really had to laugh knowing that is so very true!
Janae, thanks for stopping back in, my friend! You have a great blog!
Oh wow. Congratulations! By the way, I also hate being scared, the kind when people shock me out of my senses. Hahaha
Thank you for the nomination! And yes, I’m serious, I REALLY hate someone coming around a corner and jumping out. My reflex is to strike back – quickly!
Fabulous Michael! Job well done, my friend! And thank you so much for the nomination of the Versatile Blogger award. Although I might have trouble finding 15 blogs for my nomination. Not that there aren’t 15 great blogs out there that deserve this award, but my “circle” of blogging buddies pretty much all have this award already. Looks like I’ll have to get out there and hunt down some more blogging buddies.
Congrats on your success and again, thank you!
It’s blogs like yours Joe, that make me better. I look forward to continuing the friendship. You deserve the attention that you get.
I’m sure you’ll have no problem coming up with the other blogs, my friend.
Again, good on you, Joe!
Very thoughtful, Michael. You never fail to mention other bloggers in your blog. Thank you for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award. As a techno-phobe, I have no idea how to do some of the things mentioned above. (I’ll look into it.) About revealing things about myself that people might not know … Under the Witness Protection Plan covering me, I’m not sure I’m allowed to do that.
Witness Protection trumps the award criteria every time. You were one of the first bloggers to share the blogging love with me and I love your blog. I am very loyal to my friends!
If you have any questions on how to do the links, just google the award and there are people who show how to do it. Shhhh, that’s what I did!
Congrats!
Michael … If this were old Chicago, I’d show my appreciation for you by voting multiple times. But I’ll bet I’m not allowed to do that. Just remember, my heart’s in the right place. We O.C.ers have to stick togehter.
You got that right, Judy – will stick together! Stuffing the ol’ ballot box; definitely old Chicago!
Thanks for all your comments and posts!
Thank you for “Candle Lighter Award”. Will continue to light up our days with a few cartoons each week. Lay off that bacon Mj. My triple by-pass in 2006 was no picnic and far too many my age do not make it to the “table” to have one before the widow maker hits. Think “raisin bran”
Carl, this is an honor you fully deserve. So glad I’m getting to know you.
In terms of the bacon, I’m doing okay so far. I try to stay mostly with protein and my cholesterol is around 135. But you’re right, I should watch it. I do want to be there for the wife!
congrats Mj.
Awards are raining on your blog and you deserve all of them. I will visit all of these blogs, although i know some of them already. I know you had a wonderful choice, so i am looking forward to making some new blogging friends.
Arindam, one of my kindest blogging friends. Thank you for honoring me with the nomination. It was great to then pass it on to so many great blogs out there.
That is so well set out! And I understand more about how these awards work thanks to your educational entertainment – not to mention the fact that I have even more good reading to catch up on.
Thanks!
Thank you for saying that. I was afraid it was too long and would be somewhat hard to follow.
BTW, your time is coming soon … stay tuned, Mel!
Thank you MJ…you are a light in the world, a light in the winter with socks on in the dark.
I’m learning from the best, Patrice. I’m actually trying to dig deeper after reading and becoming more acquainted with your blog. You have so much depth of feeling. And yes, always with the socks on!
Thank you my friend for nominating me for an award. You’re right, it’s so cool to have your peers acknowledge your work from time to time…and so many bloggers share the love. You are awesome and thanks again!
Jim, you’re another one of those super-smooth writers that I aspire to write like. Unfortunately, it’s gonna be a slower process for me since I am an “old dog.”
I’m really looking forward to your novel, and a signed copy – since you’ll probably dedicate the book to me for this prestigious award!! Right??
I had no idea you gave me this. Thanks. I really appreciate it.
*expecting GI Joe award ceremony*
You write wonderful things here at your blog and are very deserving of all of these awards! Congratulations! And thank you for sharing the Candle Lighter award with me. I’m honored to be recognized this way.
You are too kind, Terri! And you should be recognized for the writing and pics on your blog. You are a kind and compassionate person, my friend. Great job!
Congrats! You have a great blog that deserves this abundance of awards!
Stay tuned lola, you’re on my upcoming list, my friend!
OOH!
Looks like I have a lot of homework to do now with all of these blogs you’ve recommended.
Thanks MJ — I so love reading your blog and sharing in your stories — it’s like having another brother! And thank you for thinking of me for the Candle Lighter Award. Especially since I don’t have to do anything with it!
Of course, my friend. You are one of my favorites, but don’t tell the other sisters!
Congrats again, Elyse!
MJ! Congrats on your awards and thank you so much for awarding me the Versatile Blogger Award! I am so honored to receive this from you – I enjoy you and your blog so much!!!
Now that you have this trophy, be careful going around the rink with it – you might get a ding or two in the metal!
Thank you for the kind words, Laine!
Thank you for the award!!
You are quite welcome!
I got the envelope in my hands…..and I’m choking up as I give my acceptance speech: I’d like to thank, first and foremost, MJ, for inspiring me to try some creative writing, to stretch myself in ways I hadn’t done until now. Thank you, MJ, for the Candle Lighter Award, and for the wonderful encouragement you give me. I will do my best to live up to the ideals of this Award.
And congrats to you for all the awards you have received! Exit stage…..
Wow, I should have had you write my acceptance speech, Judy! You are so much better at this!
I have no doubt you will keep the Candle Lighter flame burning brightly.
Honored, MJ! I mean that from the buttery depths of my heart.
Excited to check out blogs on your list… Congrats on your well-deserved accolades!
August, when I “grow up” I hope I will be able to write as well as you! It’s been great getting to know you through your blog. Congrats to you, my friend.
Thank you kindly for your acknowledgement. It means a lot!
You have such a great way with story-telling. Congrats on all your awards!
You have a great blog, v and c! Such richness and visual joy! Well-deserved.
Congrats MJ, on all your awards! Well deserved!
Thank you so much Nisha!
Many felicitations to you for these awards, and thanks for explaining them so well. Until now, I’ve never really known what to do with these when I see them.
Well deserved.
Thank you, Andra. And thank you for making me use my dictionary, yet again!
You may need to know what to do pretty soon, so watch out!
MJ. Thank you so much for the award! This is my first, and it was an honor to receive it from you. You deserve all of these awards you’ve gotten!
I’m so glad I was able to bestow this honor on you, my friend! So nice that it was your first one, too.
Keep on blogging!
And you are far too kind. Thank you!
Wow! Thanks MJ, I truly appreciate the nomination! I’ll be investigating these awards and posting my nominations tomorrow. And of course, well done on being nominated yourself
P.S. Tomorrow’s my birthday – this is a lovely present!
A VERY happy birthday to one of my smartest, most resourceful blogging friends. Your recognition is so well-deserved. I hope many come visiting your way, RJ!
Have some cake on me – well not literally of course, but figuratively, you know!
BOO!
hehe…I didn’t get a hit from ya so I guess I didn’t scare ya!
Again, thank you soooo much for the Liebster award…you are as sweet as honey my friend!
You are a ray, or, should I say, several rays of sunshine every day! You deserve the recognition – Again!
And, yes, I just missed your back as you ran after scaring me!! Good thing you’re fast!
Thank you so much for the recognition. You have no idea how much this means to me……
You have a great “voice” on your blog – so smart and profound! Please continue to write from your heart.
I’m so glad I was able to recognize you and hopefully many other readers will be able to see your insight as well. Congratulations again, my blogging friend!
Great post! You obviously spent a lot of time on this and I sure appreciate it! I can’t wait to check all these bloggers out!
It was worth the time to be able to recognize so many bloggers. Thanks for checking them out – they’re all worthy!
Dude, you are sweeping awards season like a champ! Congrats on your many, much-deserved awards! I’m excited to read the blogs you listed!
Thanks for the holla, sizzle! I’m just trying to reach Super T’s pedestal, fo shockety!
I feel 103.8% more hip just reading this response. You, sir, are the Snoop Dogg of blogging
Behind all my garrulous outpourings is a spotlight shy person. Oh, make that a brimming-with-happiness spotlight shy person right now.
This uncharacteristically short and to the point comment is inversely proportional to the thrill of figuring on one of your lists.
Thank you, mj.
Kate
I see no loquacity in your “outpourings,” Kate! Sorry to call attention to your blog, but it had to be done. You deserve the honor and recognition!
I love the lively repartee, my friend! Happy blogging.
>Sorry to call attention to your blog
- Please do not apologise. (Although I sense it was hardly an apology and more of “You deserve that!” … in a nice way.) I am not ungrateful for the recognition. The very opposite, in fact.
When I decided to finally start blogging this past November, it was purely with the intention of giving back to strangers the help I got from them by merely reading their stories. From the start, I had decided my format – not updates about my moves, the frequency – fortnightly, and the focus – sharing my experiences with minimal fluff simply because I’m not much of a (material kind of) fluff person any more.
The ‘Candle Lighter Award’ is *exactly* the kind of recognition I had hoped for with my penning. And I feel good that my intended goal is what uh, shone through with my words.
>I love the lively repartee, my friend!
- Takes two to tango, amigo. So in your words – “Right back-atcha!”
Kate
You are deserving, and I’m sure more will come your way. Just don’t go into hiding and put your light under a bushel basket because you got some spotlight on you!
I am honored, thank you very much for the nomination! I like your style, I may have to borrow the format! I still need to accept a few awards and this looks perfect!
And San Diego is my new favorite place!
Your quite welcome and well-deserving, Lori! Feel free to borrow liberally. It’s time-consuming, but so worth it to be able to recognize so many great writers out there.
Yay San Diego!
I’m really honored to be part of this wonderful award ceremony. Even better than the Oscars by far! I’ve already checked out one of the blogs you listed, the Background Story, and what a wonderful site – thank you for sharing your community.
I’ve also really enjoyed your visits and comments – it means a great deal to me. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your life!
Your blog offers so much in terms of depth of feeling. So much more than mine. I admire your courage to share. It’s inspiring to me, and perhaps in the future I will be able to tap into this side of my being as well.
It’s my pleasure to be able to recognize, and share in, your great blog.
If you don’t mind me asking, where in Upstate NY did you get married? I’m in Upstate/Central NY!
Not at all. We were married in Oneida. Where are you?
I was stationed at Rome (Griffiss AFB) in the late 80′s.
We still try to find our “ideal pizza” to match Gino’s and Joe’s – that we got frequently at Sangertown Mall. Not sure if it’s still there or not, but it was the best NY style pizza. EVER!
Oh, okay! I’m south – right outside of Ithaca. Between Ithaca and Cortland, really if you know the area. And Cortland is about a half hour south of SYR. I’ve never had that pizza, but I will have to check it out the next time we go north!
You’re kind of out there then. You have Cornell in Ithaca, but what’s near where you live?
My lovely bride (MLB) was an anchor/reporter in Syracuse in the late 80′s. If you google Cate Monaghan, you’ll see a few old clips of her on youtube from back in the day. She was very good.
>She was very good.
- She *has* to be! She complements you, yes?
What I also meant was “Aww!”
By the by, I didn’t find any of Cate’s YouTube clips when I went digging around.
Snoop Kat(e)
Yeah, I’m about ten minutes from Cornell. We also have Ithaca College (go Bombers!), and Cortland State.
I’m gonna YouTube your wife!
Kate and Laine – Here’s the link to one of the clips:
And no laughing at the big hair! It was the 80′s!!
Oh, Laine, I forgot about Ithaca College.
So pleased to finally see the Cate Monaghan. Very pretty and no doubt very sophisticated. And no laughing at the hair for sure – it’s beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I watched some of these this morning! She’s great! And I love the hair!
As you can see, i clearly “married up!”
>As you can see, i clearly “married up!”
- *You* said it. I merely thought it.
Thanks for the clip, mj.
Was lovely, uh, meeting you, Cate. Now I know exactly why you are HLB!
Am I the only one or did you also notice that not much has changed on the news front? My upcoming post is along similar lines.
Kate
No problem, Kate. I’m always happy to show off MLB!
See, I was being very truthful when I said that I married up. Glad you agree!
Still squealing here.
And congratulations on your having received the awards. Very well-deserved, that’s for sure.
Squeal away, Addie – you should be recognized, my friend!
Thank you for always being so supportive.
Thank you so much for the shout out! I will do my best to continue to be versatile!
Also, on your 10 things about you list… where in Upstate NY did you get married? Redbeard and I grew up in Rochester and went to college in Potsdam….
Wow! Thank you for this wonderful honor! I appreciate the shout out!
May I ask where in Upstate NY you were married? Redbeard and I grew up and went to college in NY and are always curious what parts of NY others call Upstate!
You are well-deserving of the honor!
Good point about what is upstate NY. It is a “floating” area in a lot of people’s minds.
We got married in Oneida in the late 80′s. I was stationed at Rome (Griffiss AFB).
I’m such a dick.
Look at all these expressions of gratitude. And mine is, like, the LAST?
Ugh.
So I will do my best to make up for my dickishness by being the one who yells the loudest:
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MY AWESOME AWARD! I’M HONORED! AND YELLING! AND SO HONORED I’M YELLING!
I do love you so (in a non-threatening, totally non-stalkerish, blogging kinda way). Thank you, my friend…
XOXO,
The Dick.
Oh, please. Don’t beat yourself up, Dikalee, woops, Mikalee!
I know that my li’l old blog isn’t the only thing that’s out there. *picture world revolving around me*
And you know, she who yells the loudest wins. So you dun good, my friend!
See you actually have other things going on in your life, while I sit, PATIENTLY, waiting for comments back on the tripe, I mean great stuff, that I throw out into the blogosphere. Just hoping for something, like spaghetti, to stick on the wall.
Please stalk anytime.
XOXO back-atcha,
mm
I thought I commented but I don’t see it. If this dupicates itself, I apologize!
Thank you for the shout out and the honor of the award. I really appreciate it.
In your 10 Things list you mentioned Upstate New York.
Where exactly? Redbeard and I grew up in the Rochester area and went to college in Potsdam (way up in the North Country).
Yes ma’am, you did comment. It’s just a few below this one. Thanks for double-checking though.
Congrats again.
Mike- Congrats- well-deserved- You can always grab a “I got a lot of awards” award from my right hand margin in my blog. hahaha! I made the button for folks who were getting a million and one awards. So glad your blog has taken off!!!!
I may have to do that, Tricia! I still have four more, different awards to respond to.
I’m no c&c yet, but I will forever give you a lot of credit for letting me tag along like a little brother when I first started out. I still check your blog out frequently to see what new things you’ve added, along with reading your posts, of course. And MLB got me an 8 in 1 WordPress for Dummies book for Christmas.
So much to learn. Still thinking about changing to .org, but scared I might get over my head on the tech side.
Thanks Rosemary!
Thank you for the link, Laine!
Wow, for the “Liebster” award, you had five blogs to give the award to. And one of those five you gave to us. Thank you, so very much.
You have such a great blog. Love your art and humor – you all deserve much recognition!
More blixie dust! Ever so willing to lend a helping hand you are. Loved all the blogs you picked out and love your blog most of all
You are so sweet! BTW, I love the hat on Sophia. She needs to get used to wearing them.
Quite the action packed post, my friend! Well done on every count!
Thank you, Hook sir!