Blog Awards: Kreativ Blogger Award, Liebster Blog Award, 7×7 Link Award, the Candle Lighter Award and the Happy Blog Award

Have you ever seen those little Russian Dolls? They’re called matryoshkas, or “nesting dolls.” I gave a set to each of my children for Christmas. And those dolls, like this post, bring a little surprise each time you open one. Another doll!

Only instead of dolls, this post is about Blog Awards. Yay!

It’s a wonderful thing — to receive a blog award. If for no other reason than it solidifies what you are doing as a blogger. That is, being a writer.

A blog award is a little something “tangible” you can hold onto and smile upon as you read its description and see why you were chosen to receive it. It connects you to other bloggers and offers a window into worlds you may otherwise have missed. And most of all, it’s a gift.

In that spirit, along with accepting these awards, I have created a new one, the “Happy Blog Award.” You can read about it at the end of this post. Also, this post will be part of my Blog Awards page, which appears in my header. Have you received awards like these? Why not make a page of your own? I won’t mind that you copy!

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Kreativ Blogger Award — given by Mama’s Empty Nest

1. Complete the questions below
2. Link back to the person who gave you the award
3. Pass the award on to 5-10 of your fellow bloggers and let them know you did so

Favorite Song?
This is a hard one! I love all types of music. Heavy metal, Opera, Rock, Oldies, Jazz, Country — each medium has something unique to offer, and so many memories to alight. When I hear, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” I remember the year I spent in Idaho as a reporter/anchor, which is also where I saw my first rodeo. Have you ever seen Mutton Bustin’?

Do not click on that link if you are faint of heart. The first time I saw this “event,” I nearly had apoplexy.

In any event, back to songs. My favorite song at this very moment is “Over the River and Through the Woods,” because both my children sang this to me as a duet the other day. Priceless.

Favorite Dessert?
Anything chocolate.

What Breaks Your Heart?
Seeing one of my children in pain.

Biggest Fear?
Many of my fears are personal, so of course I’m not going to list them! But a “superficial” fear would have to be Nutcrackers. Not the utensils, but the soldiers with bared teeth. Eek.

What is Perfection?
A noun.

Guilty Pleasure?
Reading a book. I read every night before I fall asleep, as during the day I just don’t have time. Well, I do read during the day, to my children, but as for my own literary choices, there’s nothing I like better than curling up with a good book. Or — on a weekend morning when my husband is home and can take care of the kids, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to crawl back into bed and open up a book!

And now for the pay-it-forward part. In searching for the origins of this award, which I’m assuming is given to bloggers who are considered creative, I found this link. This blog’s author suggests a new way to interpret the award by “creating” your own new dish. In that theme, here are 5 Kreativ Food Bloggers to whom I would like to pass this award:

Cookie-Spree – because I have made her Mexican Wedding Cookies three times this past month

Michelle & El’s Kitchen – because her recipes are fun, bright and inspiring

She Cooks, He Eats – because the stories which accompany her recipes are like dinner and dessert

Leah’s Thoughts – because she is a dedicated mom who makes great meals for her family

Bento Lunch — because her bento lunches for her children are awe-inspiring

And one more, Sanja Panja – she hasn’t posted in a while, but I know she’s still around, and her food-based posts are moments of welcome calm in my hectic days!

And here are 5 Kreativ non-food bloggers who have unique and enjoyable points of view:

Wacky Womanhood – because she’s a great writer and knows how to laugh at herself

Peg-o-Leg’s Ramblings – because she has the kind of quick wit to make me smile every time

Nineteenfortyeight — because he sees the funny side in just about everything

Bye Bye Brooklyn – because her home renovations are slightly insane (in a good way) and always tempered with humor

Big Happy Nothing — because through her humble attitude, she finds a smile in every day

Congratulations all!

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Liebster Blog Award — given by Being Arindam

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

Liebster is German (n.) and means: sweetheart, beloved person, darling.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to his or her blog
2. Copy and paste the “Liebster Blog Award” icon into your post
3. Pass the award on to 5 of your fellow bloggers and let them know you did so

Thank you, Arindam, for honoring me with this award! And congratulations to you, too, for receiving it. Based on its name, the Liebster Blog award is a way to show a fellow blogger you appreciate the kindness they bring to the blogosphere. As such, here are my 5 nominations. Okay, I’m breaking the rules. I have more than 5 nominations, but they are all deserving bloggers!

Herding Cats in Hammond River — because Wendy has a way of smiling at the world

SoapBird — because of her work with children in need

Life As We Know It — because she just seems to appreciate her “glow worm” so much

Chaotic Tea — because the things she does and makes for her daughter are unbelievable and full of love

Allegro Non Tanto — because she’s been through very trying times, and still has a beautiful outlook

Dear Rosie — because she cares about the planet and her family, and shows how to respect both equally

Lenore Diane – because she’s energetic and enthusiastic about writing, and I enjoyed the string of short stories she posted for Christmas

Today’s Dad — because his goal is to encourage dads to be the best dad they can be

Mafooz’s Expositions — because he is thoughtful and generous with his comments and ideas

MagsX2 — because every time I stop by I am surprised by unique/fun pictures and videos of our world

Moco Babies — because she is a loving mom with a great product for children to learn sign language

Maloquacious — because she has a happy spirit, and is a colorful fun-loving blogger

Congratulations all!

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7 x 7 Award — given by An Improbable Life and Mama’s Empty Nest

1. List your top posts (of all you’ve ever written) under the 7 categories below
2. Pass the award on to 7 of your fellow bloggers and let them know you did so
3. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to his or her blog

Categories:

Most Beautiful
But Mommy, Are You Gonna Be An Angel?

Most Helpful
Homemade Halloween Decorations

Most Popular
Stand Back. I’m Cleaning.

Most Controversial
Why Storytellers Are Vanishing

Most Surprisingly Successful
What’s a Waistline?

Most Underrated
Rub Some Chocolate On It

Most Prideworthy
Turn the Page

And now, I would like to pass this award on to the following 7 bloggers. These are bloggers whose posts have a certain variety, a certain “voice” and a certain welcoming relatability. Bloggers with many more interesting posts than just the 7 required. I know some of you have received this award before — but my list wouldn’t be complete without you!

She’s a Maineiac – because her blog is something I look forward to, filled with humor and depth

Reeling In The Years – because her perspective on life is one I’d like to emulate

The Brown Road Chronicles – because he is a masterful storyteller

My Haphazard Proclivities – because he has a rich history, is a dedicated family man and has a great spirit

All Write – because he writes with humor and charm and his posts make me feel like I was there

Wish I Were There 24/7 – because he is dedicated to his life, personal growth and his family

Butterfingers for Breakfast – because she knows when to smile and when to frown and is a great mom

Congratulations all!

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The Candle Lighter Award — given by The Woman At The Well

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. To that end, I would like to pass the Candle Lighter Award on to the following blogs:

My Wife Doesn’t Think I’m Funny – because he’s funny, good-spirited and big into his family

From Bogans to Mormons – because she has a rich family history and an adventurous life in the Outback

MJ Monaghan – because he is gracious, insightful and welcoming

Technicolor Day Dreams – because she has one of the most beautiful outlooks on the world I’ve come across

Arbor Familiae – because he cares about history, family and sees through to the important things in life

The Barefoot Indian – because she is a loving frontier mom whose boys live an adventure every day

Being Arindam – because he speaks from the heart and is curious about why we do what we do

An Improbable Life – because she is bright, loving and appreciates her improbable life

The Island Traveler – because he is a dedicated father with an overwhelming love for his family

Notes to My Muses — because my friend Jane has come up with a unique and delightful way to blog: by writing letters to her favorite authors

Mama’s Empty Nest — because she fills up her empty nest with love every day, family when she can, and gratefulness always

And since there are no “rules” for this award, I would like to give it to the person who gave it to me, The Woman at the Well, as she is a source of devotion and inspiration and already has all these awards anyway!

Congratulations all!

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And finally, I’d like to introduce the Happy Blog Award!

I have a problem. I know this. I say “thank you” too much. You’d think I’d be finished — after a post like this! But I can’t stop myself. Sometimes I even say it twice, because I think I may not have been heard the first time.

To that end, the Happy Blog Award is for a blogger who has personally made you happy. Someone who you consider a friend, someone who has put a smile on your face, left a comment that made your day, wrote a post you thought about all week, made you laugh out loud — a blogger who shares the happy.

They say good things come in threes. As such, here are the three rules for this award:

1. Thank the person who gave it to you
2. Answer the 3 happiness questions below
3. Thank (and link to) as many bloggers as you like who have made you happy, explain why, and let them know you did so

Happiness Questions:
1. What is your happiest memory?
2. Which of your posts makes you the happiest to have published?
3. What was today’s happiest moment for you?

Happy Bloggers:

1. Didi of My Little Dog – Didi was my first blogging friend. She is a loving wife, mother and dog-owner. When something needs attention, Didi speaks out, as with this post: Open Your Hearts for Red Nose Day. It can be hard to take a stand while blogging, and she did it graciously. For that, I consider her brave. Most of her posts are about her fun-loving dog, George, but those are intertwined with stories of her beautiful daughter, Brianna. When I read Didi’s blog, I sense her measured calm, open-mindedness, dedication and good spirit. Recently, when I was overwhelmed with pre-Christmas cleaning, I left a little rant on her site. She responded with such caring words I was humbled: “Melissa, you’re welcome around our house anytime, whether it’s for a few minutes, a day or a whole month! … I feel a bit sorry for you with all the cleaning and tidying up you have to do all of the time. I can only imagine how hard it is to raise 2 small children so close in age… I’m always amazed at how much mess little kids can make. But I know you’re tough, and I also know that (despite these necessary little moans) you love it.  So hang in there, my friend, and when you’re too tired, just look away and leave everything exactly where it is… There’s always tomorrow “ Those are the non-judgmental words of a friend, and they’re exactly what I needed. Thank you!

2. Charles of Mostly Bright Ideas — A blogging friend introduced me to Charles back before he had an uncountable fan base. From the first post I read, I knew he was a magnificent writer, and I soaked up his words like a favorite book. He writes with such depth and emotion, and manages quite singularly to connect that depth to humor. More than once I’ve laughed out loud while reading his posts, and called over to my husband, “Hey, listen to this!” I can’t even list a favorite post; I have too many. They are all so good in fact, he published them in a book that just “dropped” (as the cool people say) last month: Who Knew? Check it out. But what’s really special about Charles is the thoughtful and on-point comments he leaves. Every time I see what he’s written on one of my posts I feel — happy. He told me once I was a master storyteller. He has complimented and appreciated what I do as a mother. And he has a fervent grace to speak his mind, shore up his friends and encourage all who read his words to look at life as a little bit brighter than we’d realized.

3. Priya of Partial View — Priya is one of the most complex and emotionally-layered women I know. She has filled her blog with heart-wrenching stories of grief, and eye-opening tales of hope. She is a true friend, and always knows the right thing to say. Through her, I learned the term “etheree,” which is a type of poetry she humbly displayed on her blog. She writes fiction and non, and the over-arching theme of her posts is the deep emotion that drives us all. She calls her blog “partial view,” as it represents her particular view of the world. She is well aware that her view is not the only one, and strives to understand the varied commenters’ blogs who stop by. She pushes herself to grow, and create things “worthwhile.” But most captivating to me, are the photos she takes herself of the world around her. Things others would simply pass by catch Priya’s attention and are caught by her camera. If I need a break, or a reminder to halt the ebb and flow of daily life, all I need to do is visit one of her peaceful, colorful slideshows.

4. Bob and Jack of Bob and Jack’s Writing Blog — I don’t even have the words to properly thank and appreciate Bob and Jack. They are my writing mentors. They are two published authors I met at a writing group in Seattle I was fortunate enough to stumble into (read: invite myself). Well, Bob invited me, Jack seconded it, but I still felt as if I was invading, scribbling on the same wobbling tables as these two giants. I kicked and screamed and ate up every word they said. They gave me “homework,” so I could harness the power of nouns and verbs. They taught me structure, how to write a mystery, and The Grid. Recently, thanks to modern technology, their thrillers and mysteries and how-to books (The Weekend Novelist Writes a Mystery was the first I purchased, and a must-read for any mystery writer) are undergoing a rebirth on platforms such as Kindle. They have a website, The Weekend Novelist, and between it and their blog (linked above) you could lose yourself for a year and still have more to learn. They are men I am proud to call my friends. It was Jack who first asked me the halting question, “Do you want to be a reader, or do you want to be a writer?” And it was Bob who siphoned all the verbs I knew in my mind, and encouraged me to bare them on the page. They are the reason I believe I am a writer. And for that — I will always be happy.

Those are the very first recipients of the Happy Blog Award. Congratulations!

There are many more new blogs I’ve discovered over the past couple of months, all of which are worth reading, worth commenting on and thought-provoking. I look forward to getting to know those bloggers and more as we slide into 2012. For now, many Happy Wishes to you and yours for the Coming New Year!  :)