And the nomination goes to…

So this time last year, this blog was nominated for an Okie Blog Award. I was thrilled, elated and honored. It didn’t matter that this little piece of cyberspace didn’t win, it was simply the fact that anyone cared enough to nominate “…From The Burbs”in the first place.

Over the past six months, “…From the Burbs” has kind of taken a backseat as I have been rearranging my life to fit around a five-year-old who is now in school full-time, a two-year-old who only goes to school twice-a-week, my constantly under-construction home, and of course my new photography business.

I knew that my personal blog would not be up for an award this year and I was okay with that….really : ) What I wasn’t expecting was to find my photography blog up for an award! How crazy is that?!?! Of course I am up against the Pioneer Woman of all people and some other really amazing Oklahoma photographers, so there is like zero chance of winning; but again, I am truly honored to even have been nominated for this category.

If you are an Oklahoma blogger, please head on over to http://oklahomablogawards.blogspot.com to check out all of the other categories and nominees. And if you get a chance, place your vote before this Sunday.

Some friends who are also up for awards that I’m sure would also appreciate your vote: Food Blog: Dishin and Dishes

Family Blogs: Dawn’s Diversions and Decisionally Challenged

Rural Blogs: Brit Gal in the USA

Best Tulsa Blog: That’s Baloney!

Food Blog: Dishin and Dishes

(I hope I got everyone, if not leave me a message and I will be sure to add you)

Honesty: the best policy

I am so sorry. I am still trying to catch up with all of my award posts.

This particular one came from both Dawn at Dawn's Diversions and Heidi at The Hernandez Family. Thanks girls so much for awarding this to me!

This one did come with rules. I am supposed to list seven things about myself and you are to do the same if I pass it along to you. So don't disappoint.

1. When I was younger, I broke my nose three times: once I was pretending to be Superwoman and jumped off a table at preschool, once I was roller skating and two not-so-nice boys stuck their feet out in front of me, and once when I was ice skating backwards with a group of people during some speed drills and one girl had zero-control over her arms and smacked me in the face. All of this resulted in reconstructive surgery, or better known as a nose job, in the fifth grade.
2. Before I had Jack and became a SAHM, I coached ice skating. There are definitely days I miss it, especially my students; but I am so thankful that I am able to be at home with my kiddos.
3. During college I spent an entire semester in Vienna on a studies program. During that time I got to travel to 22 different countries in Europe. I couldn't tell you which one was my favorite because I LOVED them all; but I can tell you that if my husband ever wanted to move over there, my bags would be packed in a heartbeat.
4. I performed during the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.
5. I suffer from migraines on a regular basis.
6. I have only been camping once and even then it was only for one night and it was a mere 15 minutes from my house. I am what you might call a snob, because camping to me is when the hotel doesn't put a mint on my pillow (lol).
7. I am a somewhat lazy person...If I don't have to go anywhere, I don't put make-up on and my boys run around in their pjs all day (why create another load of laundry for myself?!).

Okay, I hope that was honest enough. It was certainly random. Now as to whom to pass this award along to...I nominate: Devin at What a Wonderful World, Jessica at Another Day In Paradise , Jill at Newberry News, Amber at The Davis Kids, Amber at A Small Peak Into My World , Mandy at Life with Viv, Lynn at Lynn and The Gang, and whomever else would like this award that has yet to receive it, because I think you all are pretty special! : )

When life hands you lemmons

This particular award was from Knit Purl Gurl at Mommatudes. She is one of the sweetest and craftiest bloggers. What I wouldn't give to meet her in real life.

It didn't come with any rules, so I'm not real sure what to do with it. Let's face it, someone like me needs all the guidance she can get. So I decided to pass it on to bloggers whom I truly feel make the most out of life. Thanks girls, for being such an inspiration to the rest of us! (Again, my apologies if you have already received this award.)

Michelle at The Froggy Bottom Blog

Georgie Decisionally Challenged

Joni at That's Baloney

Amber at A Small Peak Into My World

Stacey at The Cannon Family

and Jessica at The Russo Corner

**Speaking of awards, if you are an Oklahoma blogger, today is the last day to vote for the Okie Blog Awards**

You've got a friend in me

Once again, I have fallen behind in handing out awards. I hope those that awarded them to me don't think me ungrateful or rude, because I do appreciate them more than I can express and am honored that you all would think of me when handing them out. It has just been rather crazy around here lately - what with sick kids and all.

At first I was going to try to group them all together in one post but that seems to be just putting me further and further behind. So please excuse me while I catch up over the next few days with numerous award posts.

First, I received the following award from KJAMAMA at The Phrase "Working Mother" is Redundant.(Isn't her blog title the cutest?!)

It is the Friendship Award which means:"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So I give this award to the following ladies (I apologize now if you have already received this award):

1. Dawn's Diversion
2. Dustin, Mandy and Thomas
3. Simply Grand Central
4. Maggie's Mind
5. All Because I Fell In Love
6. A Moxie Mom
7. Having A Ball
8. The Adventure of an Airman's Wife

Again, my thanks go out to KJAMAMA for this award. It was so nice of you to think of me when handing it out. As for the rest of you please stop by and check out some of these other sweet bloggers and leave them some lovely comments.

**Speaking of awards...if you are an Okie blogger and have yet to cast your vote for the Okie Blog Awards, don't forget to do so by this Sat, Feb. 7!**

We've got spirit...

yeah, yeah, yeah.

You can thank me later for getting that cheer stuck in your head but for now I have another blog award to hand out courtesy of one of my new bloggie friends, Lolli over at Life is Sweet. Talk about Super Moms...Lolli is the mother of FIVE! Yes, FIVE! And she still manages to cook, clean, organize, take photos...you name it she does it, and does it well!

She sent me this 2009 New Year's Spirit Award on Monday and it couldn't have come at a better time. That is about the same time I was feeling all sorts of down about my parental skills, or rather lack-there-of, while being sick. The award and her sentiments were a huge pick-me-up and greatly appreciated.

So, here are the rules for this award:

1. You must be a true lover of the New Year to receive this award. The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with the New Year.

2. List 5 things that you love about the New Year. If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space.

3. Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 50. It's up to you! But keep the New Year cheer going.

4. Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving a comment on their site. Also, link back to the person who gave you the award.

The reasons I love a New Year:

1. It is Josh's and my anniversary of when we first started dating. Therefore a New Year signifies another year that has gone by that I got to spend in love with my hubby.
2. A New Year = new beginnings, new hopes, new dreams "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 13b-14
3. Thus far, I have been pretty generic. As for why I am excited about 2009 specifically: another year of house renovations; which means another year closer to being done!
4. Jack will start school in the fall which is sad, yes, but it also means I will get to watch him participate in school programs, make new friends, learn new things...no doubt it will be an experience for us all!
5. Beau will start really talking this year! I can't wait to hear what all he has to say...I think : )

Now, as for passing this little Spirit Award along. I really hate this part. I never know whom to give it to. So, let's try for some newbies this time:

• Vanessa at the Baby Bryant Blog - she is almost a first time mommy so she has plenty to be excited about in this coming year!
• Amanda at The Brandon Family - her hubby is deployed and she has been raising their little boy all by herself. She is one super amazing woman!
• and last but not least, Jessica at MomShots - this lady gives some of the most helpful tips when it comes to taking photos. I love being able to watch her grow as a photographer and I love being able to learn from her successes and mistakes.
• Oh, what the heck, I'll add one more: my sister Beth at Beth and Drew (even though I know she won't pass this on to anyone) - her "boyfriend" will be returning home this year from Baghdad and I know she will have A LOT to be excited about as well. Love ya, Beef!

Humbled

Wow! I am totally feeling the blogger love today. After receiving three blog awards over the weekend, I am still blushing. So thanks girls! I am truly humbled.

From This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood (a seriously funny blog about the trials and tribulations of being a mommy)According to her blog, "This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So, the eight people I nominate, in no particular order are:

1. Life as a MOM
2. The Cannon Family
3. Dayona's Daily Dealings
4. Lillian & Lucas: Lovin' Life
5. Another Day in Paradise
6. The Davis Kids
7. The McDowell Family Blog
8. Newberry News

The second award (and a ridiculously cute one at that) came from Dawn over Dawn's Diversions (another Oklahoma blogger whom I seem to have quite a bit in common with).

According to Dawn's blog, I am suppose to list five of my addictions and then pass it along to five friends.

So my addictions are (again, in no particular order and excluding the obvious things like my family, etc):

1. Pepsi
2. Blogging/Writing
3. Photography
4. Reading
5. Cooking

And I am passing this award on to :

1. The Happy Mom Blog - a fellow shop-a-holic with impeccable taste
2. What a Wonderful World - a friend from college, a budding photographer, and the mother of two adorable little girls.
3. Stevey Wonders - he totally deserves this award after his designer shoe excursion
4. Knit Purl Girl at Scrap Paper Scissors - this lady has three different blogs and all of them are wonderful but I am in love with her cute recipe cards that she makes on this particular site.
5. Suburb Sanity - one of the funniest blogs I have ever read.

And last, but certainly not least, I received this next award from The Happy Mom Blog (head on over there and check out what this fabulous shop-a-holic lady has found and reviewed today).

I am passing this award on to: Dawn's Diversions and This Crazy Thing Called Motherhood (click on over to their sites and leave them some lovely comments - these girls are truly some of the nicest people you will meet in blogger world).

Again, thank you so much ladies for thinking of my blog when handing out these awards!