Liebster Award

You know when you're going along having a so so week and then something totally amazing happens.  You get a pep in your melencholy step.  It's a breath of fresh air.  Well, that's how I felt when I saw that Luaren of My Passion Journey had nominated me for a Liebster Award.  Pretty fricken pumped over here.  To tell you the truth, I've seen these awards floating around and I've been a bit envious of the ladies receiving them.  It's such an awesome concept and I am beyond thrilled to be a part of it.  Even better, I get to pass the awesomeness on to 11 other well deserving bloggers (all of whom have under 200 readers, just like me).  Lauren, thank you so much for making my week!

So, the way this works is that the nominee (me) shares 11 random facts about themselves, answers 11 questions given to them by the person who nominated them (in my case, Lauren), and then nominates 11 other bloggers to do the same. So here goes.

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I'm legally blind.  I was born with cataracts and developed glaucoma in my teens.  I have very little vision in my left eye (like I can't see the big E on the eye chart)  Thanks god for my right eye :)
2. I'm 34 and in a well established career but I still don't know what I want to do with my life.
3. I don't eat meat on the bone.
4. It took me 8 years to get a 4 year degree.
5. My middle name is Denise.
6. I can polish off a bag of Lays Limon chips in one fail swoop.
7. I talk to my cats like their human.  In face, I just realized that I've yet to introduce you guys to my catss.  Meet my girls, Poochie and Beeps.  We've had them since they were 8 weeks old.  Poochie is 8 and Beeps is 9.  They mean everything to me.


Poochie

Beeps

8. I'm currently addicted to english muffins and wearing my hair in a high pony (like Pebbles from the Flintstones).
9.  At any given time during the day you will probably catch me singing a song from Taylor Swifts Red album.  I saw her in concert last summer and am obsessed.
10. My favorite cocktail is a dirty martini.
11. My favorite worldly possessions are my Phillip Lim Pashli (cobalt), these babies, my wedding ring and a Christmas tree skirt made by hand for me by my grandma.

11 Questions From Lauren:

1. What song from your high school days can you still recite every word to?  Ha, I'm totally gonna  date myself here, but it's gotta be Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette (from her Jagged Little Pill album).    
2. Who is your favorite comedian or your favorite comedic movie/tv show?  I want to answer them all.  Favorite comedian, Joe Rogan (from Fear Factor),  Favorite comedic movie, Old School,  Favorite comedic tv show, Fashion Police.  I know FP isn't technically a comedic show but Joan Rivers is hillarious and has these one liners that have me laughing out loud.  I love you Joan!
3. What is your favorite blog post you have ever written? Give us a link!  Oh man, tough one.  I think I've got to go with this one.  It was the first post I wrote where I really felt like my voice was shining through.  I was kind of desperate when I wrote it.  I didn't hold back and I just let what was in my head and heart fall out.  The series has connected me with some amazing people.  I have a feeling it will be a favorite forever.
4. What is a favorite post you have read this week? Give us a link to that one too!  Easy, this one.  I just discovered Allie over at Between Dreams this week.  I knew right away she was going to be a regular read for me.  I have a feeling she's been where I am right now and that she's going to be able to teach me some pretty amazing things.  I've re-read this post 4-5 times in the last 3 days and every time I read it I get excited.  The capable image is my screen saver now too.  So glad I found you Allie.
5. What movie would you nominate for an Oscar this year?  Sorry guys, I haven't seen a new release since...crickets.  God, maybe the last Twilight movie??? 
6. What does winter look like in your neck of the woods?  Don't be mad.  I took this picture on Saturday and it is 85 degrees today.

7. What is your favorite Disney movie?  Beauty and the Beast.  I can recite almost every word.
8. What was your least favorite subject in school?  Math, true story.  I failed college Algebra twice, and was about to get kicked out of school so I had to take it for the third time in summer school.  I don't get it.
9. What do you love about your current stage of life?  I love that I'm finally starting to really discover who I am.  You spend so much of your twenties trying to get the basics in order (a career, a relationship etc) that you don't have much time for soul searching.  At least I didn't.  My thirties have been about me getting to know me.  It's hard work believe it or not, but it feels amazing.
10. Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner?  Breakfast
11. What does your name mean? If you don’t know you can look it up here!  Shannon is Irish and means old and wise. 

My Nominees (ladies, no hard feelings if you don't want to participate, I'll still love you):

A from I Will Come Home
Mollie from Molliepop
Missy from Take All Chances
Rachael from Tossing The Script
Mariah from Food, Booze and Baggage
Sarah from Not Like The Movies
Amanda from Voyage of the MeeMee
The Peanut Program
Nikki from Rural Rookie
Kris from Loveyouduh
A from History In High Heels

Is it cheating if I use Lauren's questions?  I hope not because I loved every last one of them and had so much fun answering them for you all.  Nominees, please follow suit and answer the 11 questions above from Lauren.  And please be sure you stop by her blog, My Passion Journey, to say hello.  Hugs friends.