Fun Friday

In honor of the US team rocking at the Olympics, I thought it was fitting to pick this beautiful eagle for our puzzle today.  My time was 3:39.  What was yours?




The past couple of weeks, I've been given quite a few blog awards.  I've tried to keep track of all of them, but I apologize if I've missed anyone.  Rather than pass the awards along, I'm simply going to give a warm "hello" to the generous bloggers who've really made me feel special.  Please take a couple of minutes to visit their interesting blogs.

-Al
-Dawn Brown
-Cher Green
-ChristaCarol Jones
-Kayeleen
-Embee


What are your plans this weekend?  We're going to my niece's birthday party.  Other than that, I'm not too sure.  We kind of plan as we go.  What about you?

Have a great weekend!

Are Blog Awards a Good Idea or a Waste of Time?

Are blog awards a good idea or a waste of time? Granted, it takes me a while to pick the nominees and link their blogs to my post, but I definitely feel these awards are worth every minute.


Here are the reasons I came up with:

-When you nominate others for blog awards, they’re supposed to put a link from their blog to yours in acknowledgment. That’s a bonus for you because their readers might jump over to check out your blog. Free advertising.

-When someone nominates you, they have a link to your blog from theirs, so their readers can see how great your blog is. More free advertising for you.
-Bloggers who’ve been nominated by you feel special and may follow you (if they aren’t already) or send you an award the next chance they get. They may comment more often and visit more frequently, too.

-When you stop by someone’s blog who has nominated others, you have the chance to meet new bloggers and read their posts.

-It feels good to be able to give to your blogger friends.

Rebecca A. Emrich awarded me an award yesterday.  This one goes out to all my readers because I luv you.  Thanks, Rebecca.

What do you think? Are blog awards worth you time? What do you like about them?

Handing Out Awards

Ash. Elizabeth created an award because she felt a need for it.  The award is the Helpful Blogger Award and she was kind enough to nominate me.  Yay!  Thanks.  Now, it's my turn.  But first, the rules:

-Include the award logo in your blog or post.

-Link to post where you received the award.
-Nominate seven blogs that you feel are helpful to others.
-Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
-Let them know they've received the award by commenting on their blog.
-Share one thing that no one knows about you & quote a sentence from your favorite book.


I nominate:

-Lori Brighton
-Amber Argyle
-Rebecca A. Emrich
-Janna Qualman
-Tess Hilmo
-Shelli
-Travis Erwin

Something about me:  I had HELLP Syndrome and almost died when pregnant with the twins.  Cheery thought, isn't it?

I just read a great quote the other day, so I'm glad I can share it now.  This is from Anne Perry in the forward she wrote for Donald Maass's book "Writing the Breakout Novel".

"Sometimes I am asked, 'Is it true you should write what you know about?'  I say, "No, write what you care about.  If you don't know, you'll find out.  But if you don't care, why should anyone else?'"

Do you have any quotes you'd like to share?

It's 'Bout Time.

Last week, Patricia Stoltey gave me the Honest Scrap Award. I followed the instructions and dished out ten truths about me, but didn't have time to nomimate others, so here we go.

-Tara McClendon
-Amy Tate
-Jody Hedlund

Now, it's your turn to tell us ten things about yourselves and nomimate your own batch of bloggers. Don't forget to link to my blog and theirs.

Next, I also received the Heartfelt Award from Jeannie Campbell.




Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when you're relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules:Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside. Be sure to link your nominees within your post. Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.


Since I already nomimated three for the Honest Scrap Award, I'll do the same for this one.

-Kelly Hoeckelberg-Young
-Danyelle Leafty
-Janna Qualman

Please check out these fabulous blogs! Have a great day!

Award Time Again

Thanks to Rebecca Emrich for awarding me with the Literary Blogger Award for Energizing and Inspiring Reading.




Here are the rules:

1. Accept the award and post a link to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Pass the award on to three people and link to their blog.
3. Notify those you nominated for the award.

And the award goes to...
Helen Ginger, Tess Hilmo, and T. Anne. Congrats!

Come back tomorrow for Fun Friday.

Award Time!

It's that time again. I've received the Kreativ Blogger award from Amanda Bonilla from The Keyboard. Thanks Amanda.

Here are the rules for the award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting. (see below)

5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Hummm... 7 interesting things about me?

1. I love animals. I own a bichon frise (dog), cat, hamster, and fish, but have owned more animals in the past.

2. I have twin 4 year old girls. Yes, they're identical.

3. I get up at 5 during the week to get a little writing time in before the twins wake up.

4. When my hubby and I met, it was pretty much love at first sight. We met mid November and by January were booking people and places for our wedding, which was in August. Yep, kind of fast, but when you know, you know.

5. I'm vertically challenged. Yeah, kind of forgot to grow. I'm only 5'. You read that correctly. Five foot nothing.

6. I used to teach in French most of the day at a French Immersion school. That's where you take English speaking kids and place them in a French environment. All courses (except English, of course) are taught in French.

7. My first three books were YA romances. Although, I only completed one of them. Now, I'm writing romantic suspense. I've completed two r/s (first draft) and am reworking the second one now.

There you have it, a little something about me.

Now, check out these 7 great bloggers and find out more about them: Roni at Fiction Groupie; Rebecca Emrich at Living a Life of Writing; K.M. Weiland at Word Play; Carrie Kei Heim Binas at Heim Binas Fiction; Stephanie Faris at Steph in the City; Tabitha Bird at Books, Bubs, and Writing Blabber; and Rebecca Knight: Writer in Progress.

And don't forget to tell your friends about my critique group contest. We're looking for romance writers or writers of (genre) with romantic elements. The deadline is Wednesday at midnight, so get the entries in! In case you missed the post, here's a link.

To All Ye Scribblers Out There

Yay! We have an award for our scribbles. Thanks to Heather Sunseri and Jeannie Campbell for honoring me with the Superior Scribbler Award. I'm tickled!

According to the "rules":

1. Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.

4. Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we’ll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!

5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Congratulations go to:

*The Blood Red Pencil

*Patricia Stoltey

*Tess Hilmo

*Rene Miller Knudsen

*Elizabeth Spann Craig

Check out these blogs. They're great! Have a great weekend everyone!

Awards

I’m very happy to announce I’ve received my second blog award. Thanks, Casey! I was actually nominated for the Lemonade Stand Award and the One Lovely Blog Award, but since I already have the first one, I chose to only accept the second.


The One Lovely Blog Award Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 5 other bloggers that you’ve newly discovered.

3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.


I award the One Lovely Blog Award to:

1) Keli Gwyn
2) Sarah Tormey
3) Shelli
4) Bekah
5) Enid Wilson

If you have a chance, check out these blogs. Are there any new bloggers you’ve recently discovered? I’d love to check them out.

My First Award

Lady Glamis from The Innocent Flower awarded me The Lemonade Stand Award for gratitude and/or attitude. Yay! My first blog award. I'm so proud. Thanks, Lady Glamis. In return, I shall award 10 of my followers with this wonderful prize. You're supposed to follow these rules if I nominate you.

1. Post the logo on your blog

2. Nominate 10 blogs with great gratitude/attitude
3. List and link your nominees

4. Alert them of their nomination on their blog

My nominees for The Lemonade Stand Award are (in no particular order):

1. Carrie Harris

2. Gumbo Writer (Angie Ledbetter)

3. On the Path (Jody Hedlund)

4. BookingIt (Jessica Nelson)

5. Tess Hilmo

6. Something She Wrote (Janna Qualman)

7. Terri Tiffany

8. Dreams of Quill and Ink (L.T. Elliot)

9. White Platonic Dreams (T. Anne)

10. Spunk on a Stick (L. Diane Wolfe)

Congratulations to all the winners. Sorry, if you weren't chosen. I was only allowed 10. You know I love you. :)

Do you have any blogs you'd like to recommend?