Blog Award!!!!!

Special thanks to Christina at Lou Lou Runs Florida for tagging me in this little Blog Award!

The Rules

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 11 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post,

and then create 11 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

 

11 Fun Facts:

1.  I have Beiber Fever...there, I said it...it's now off my chest!

2.  My handwriting has never advanced beyond the way I learned in the 4th grade...Seriously, terrible handwriting!

3.  I had an incident while in the handbell choir in grade school in which I threw the handbell into the audience by accident.

4.  I received Dance Dance Revolution for Christmas one year and I beat the game the first time I played it.

5.  I have an extreme addiction to caffeine.

6.  I have lived in the same state all my life.

7.  I REALLY don't like drinking water, but I make myself drink 8 glasses per day.

8.  I never had a single Apple product until 2011 and now I have an iPod Shuffle, and iPhone, and an iPad...and I have no idea how I lived without any of them.

9.  I wold much rather stay in touch with family and friends via e-mail as opposed to phone or text.

10.  Everyone in my life says I walk fast and have heavy feet (i.e. you can always hear me coming), but I just think they need to keep up.  =)

11.  The TV in my bedroom is the same one I got for Christmas when I was 12.  At this point in my life, it's still around because of principal more than anything else.

 

Christina's Questions:

1.  What is your dream vacation?  Probably to see all 50 states before I die...I know that's probably SEVERAL vacations, instead of one, but that's what I'd like to do.

2.  Are you more outdoorsy or indoorsy?  Probably more indoorsy, but I enjoy the occasional night of camping...

3.  What has been your best vacation to date?  Why?  Probably mine and Patrick's first cruise back in April 2010.  We had never really traveled on a trip just the 2 of us, and it was just constant fun!!!!!  I wish we could go back RIGHT NOW!

4.  What would the first thing you do be if you wont he lottery?  Probably sit down and make a one year travel plan with Patrick.  =)

5.  If money were no object, what is your dream car?  Not a huge car person, so I'm going to be boring and say the one I'm driving...a 2006 Honda Accord.

6.  Harry Potter or Twilight?  Neither!!!!!  I have never understood the infatuation.

7.  Favorite book of all time or what are you reading now?  Having a hard time of thinking of my favorite of all time, but right now I am reading The Obamas by Jodi Kantor.  Just started, but so far, so good.

8.  What's your biggest pet peeve?  When peopel interupt me when I'm speaking...

9.  What's your favorite domestic activity?  Straightening the house?  Not a huge fan of domestic activities, honestly...

10.  When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Accountant...how sad is that...and here we are today.

11.  What is your favorite city?  Nashville...the city I live in...so much to do, such nice people, small town feel.  It's great!

 

My Questions:

1.  What has been your favorite time in your life so far and why?  Childhood, high school college, career?

2.  If you to move away from your current city/town, where would you move?

3.  What are you most looking forward to in 2012?

4.  Which do you prefer, coffee, energy drinks, or 5-hour energy?

5.  Valentine's Day?  Love it or hate it?

6.  What is your favorite TV show?

7.  iPone or Android?  Which do you prefer?

8.  What is your occupation?

9.  If you could be a contestant on any reality TV show, which one would you choose?

10.  Do you enjoy board games?  If so, what is your favorite?

11.  What is your favorite form of exercise?

 

12 Tags:

Jenn @ Happily Ever Faster

Marcie @ Justin & Marcie

Anna Catherine @ Kelso Thoughts

Alysia @ What's Going On With Ms. Jones?

Aly @ Analyze This

Beth @ Beth's Life...and a Whole Lot More

Rachel @ Nothing Rhymes with Rachel

Meghan @ Shine On...Tales of a Twenty Something

Amber @ The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous & Not-So-Newlywed

Morgan @ When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Jenn @ West Sac Honey

Lindsey @ Lovin' My Life

 

Can't wait to get to know you all even better! 

Stylish Blogger Award

So, I know it's been over a week, but I'm finally catching up with all my blogging and wanted to send a special "thank you" to Christina at Lou Lou Runs Florida for giving me the Stylish Blogger Award!

This award comes with 7 random facts about myself and then I tag 7 people.  Here goes:

1.  I'm soooo glad it is the weekend!  I have been looking forward to this since Monday!  Not sure why I am living for the weekends these days...maybe it's because work has been so busy!

2.  Our kickball team is currently undefeated!  Let's hope we can keep up our winning streak at this week's game!

3.  This week I started planning a trip for my mom and I to go visit my sister!  I can't wait to head to South Carolina later this summer!

4.  Why is it that even though I have bought plenty of clothes this summer, I still feel like I have nothing to wear?  I think maybe I just don't like the styles...

5.  When I was younger, I was in a handbell choir...at our first performance, I accidentally let go of the handbell and it went flying into the audience...that was the end of my handbell career.

6.  I have a slight addiction to Thirty-One Gifts.  In fact, I just picked up an order yesterday.  I have some really cool things though!

7.  Patrick made me a delicious drink tonight...white wine mixed with Diet Citrus Drop (aka generic Diet Mountain Dew).  It was amazing.  Who would have thought?

Okay, now it's my turn to tag a few friends:

Anna Catherine at Kelso Thoughts

Alysia at What's Going on With Mrs. Jones

Marcie at Justin & Marcie

Stacy at The Surprises of Life

Morgan at When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Kelsey @ The Seattle Smith's

Caroline @ Simply Smithwick

Stylish Blogger Award!

Christina at Skip to my Lou gave me a blog award!  I couldn't be more excited because I've been reading her blog for awhile now.  It is super cute, and she seems like such a fun girl...AND, she loves SEC football...you should definitely check her out. 
Now, on to the award.  The rules for the Stylish Blogger Award (BTW, it doesn't get any better than being called STYLISH) are as follows:

Tell 7 things about myself

Tag 15 of my favorite Stylish Blogs

7 Things about Myself:

1.  I love Christmas shopping, and I have a feeling that this year will get out of control!  I think my favorite gift to buy is stocking stuffers.  I love finding a small little gift for someone and seeing the look on their face when they see it.

2.  I hate the process of decorating my house, but I love the way it looks when it's all done.

3.  I am sooooo looking forward to the week of Thanksgiving.  I am taking the entire week off work and hope to get sooooo much done.

4.  Patrick and I are planning a trip for this time next year to somewhere overseas...any suggestions anyone?  We have differing views on where we go.  =)

5.  I think that the only invention better than HDTV is DVR!

6.  I will be so glad when Saturday at 11:15 has come and gone.  This should be the approximate time that I cross the finish line for my half marathon.

7.  I made a pumpkin cheesecake one time and it was terrible.  However, it's always been my favorite type of cheesecake...I think I'll try again this year.

15 of My Favorite Stylish Blogs (so, I only picked 10...15 is a LOT of work)

Black Tag Diaries

Lovin My Life

My Heart Shaped Life

Simply Smithwick

The Daily Dose

What's Going on With Mrs. Jones

Justin & Marcie

So Are You to Me

A Step Into My Life

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

I think that's it from me.  Hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!

A Blog Award!

Yea!  I just found out that I got my second blog award.  Special thanks to Morgan at When Irish Eyes are Smiling!  I recently discovered her blog!  She tells super funny stories about her teaching experiences.  And...to make things even more interesting, she lives in a town close to Nashville!  Go check her out when you have a second!

To accept the Versatile Blogger Award the rules are:
Thank and link back to who gave you the award.
Share 7 things about yourself.
Pass it along to 15 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy.

7 Things About Me:

1.  I am in DESPERATE need of a vacation...and no, I don't mean one of those "go somewhere cool and stay busy checking everything out" vacations.  I mean one of those "grab a book, some sunscreen, and my boyfriend and find somewhere secluded so I can do nothing but relax" vacations.  However, I don't see one of those in my future any time soon, so I guess I just need to enjoy the few relaxing evenings I have at home.
2.  I MAY have responded to one of my Facebook friends' posts that says she is trying to find a good home for a 5 year old pug.  =)  Yes, I know that I need a dog like I need a hole in the head.  However, I have really been wanting a dog for quite sometime, and figure that since this one is free, I might as well look into it.
3.  I have learned as I get older that I like the smell when I walk into my parents' house.  Weird, I know!  Not sure what that smell is, but it definitely reminds me of my childhood.
4.  I am currently looking forward to this weekend a lot!  I get to hang out with Andi (who I talked about here, here and here) on Friday night, tailgate on Saturday, and then head to the UT/AL game Saturday night with my beau (thanks mom and dad for finding us tickets).  Here's hoping that Tennessee can at least play a good game!  I still love my Vols no matter what though!
5.  As an adult, I have lived in 5 different zip codes, but only 1 state.
6.  While I think that traveling overseas would be wonderful, my #1 travel goal is to visit every state in the US.  I am almost half way there, but still have a long way to go.  Hopefully, I can knock a few more out in the next few years.
7.  Ever since I bought a house, I have become addicted to HGTV!  I love watching all the "how to buy a house" type shows, and pretty much always have it on if I'm at home.

Here are the blogs I am tagging (I think I am only tagging 5 though...15 is soooo many):
1.  What's Going on With Ms. Jones
2.  The Survival Guide for the Young Fabulous and Newlywed
3.  My Heart Shaped Life
4.  Simply Smithwick
5.  Overwhelmed by Grace

Thanks again for the blog award, Morgan!  Well, friends, this may be all from me for a few days...lots of busy things coming up.  I'll try to check in, but if not, I'll be back early next week with a Weekend Update!

One final thing...here's hoping my beau feels better soon...he's been a little under the weather this week, and I'm REALLY hoping his cold runs its course...it's so sad when he's sick, because he's usually in SUCH a good mood and happy and outgoing!  I'm sure he'll be as good as new in no time!  =)

My First Blog Award!

I want to send a special Thank You out to Amber at The Daily Dose!!!!!  She gave me my very first blog award!!!!!  Amber and I have been friends for several years and after talking one night about how much we enjoyed other peoples' blogs, we confessed to each other that we had each created our own.  =)  I have been reading her blog ever since, and it's full of all the fun that she and her husband are having getting ready for their first child.  You should head on over and check her out!

Now on to the award...the rules are to link back to and thank the person who gave you the award, list 7 things about yourself, and nominate 15 other bloggers (since I haven't been blogging very long, I think I'll just stick with 5, because like Amber, I think 15 is a lot!). Now on to the good stuff! 

• I received my bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (GO VOLS!!!!!), and have been working as a tax accountant ever since.  In 2007, I FINALLY passed the CPA exam.  It was the biggest load lifted, and I have actually been able to enjoy life A LOT more ever since!
• I am the slowest reader ever!!!!  I mean, seriously, I started a book the first week in July and I am still trying to finish it.  I love it and it's a great book, but I just never seem to find time to read.  I usually end up reading a few pages every night and then eventually I read the whole thing...although, I must confess that many times I never finish a lot of the books I start.
• I met my beau playing on a kickball team...actually, now that I think about it, I have Amber to thank for that set up, too.  She and one of her guy friends (Mickey) decided 2 1/2 years ago that they wanted to play kickball with Nashville Sports Leagues.  Amber said she could bring the girls, and Mickey said he could bring the guys.  Well, wouldn't you know it...a few short months later, and Patrick and I were dating!  The way we met is probably very fitting for our relationship since it seems that no matter what we are doing, it's all about having fun!
• Most of you remember from this post that I was in my friend Andi's wedding a couple of weekends ago.  Well, this past weekend, I attended my friend Andrea's wedding (yes, some people also call her Andi...very confusing, I know).  Because I knew that Andrea's wedding would be kind of dressy and also because I LOVED the dress I wore in Andi's wedding, I contacted my seamstress (C. Johnson Alterations...she is FABULOUS) and asked if there was any way she had time to cut the bridemaid's dress to be "above the knee."  She definitely came through and altered the dress in less than 48 hours.  Take a look at the before and after pics...the finished product was an awesome black cocktail dress, and I only paid $35 for it!  AH-MAZING!!! 

Before Pic (Andi's Wedding)

After Pic (Andrea's Wedding)...BTW, doesn't Kat look pretty?  She was a Bridesmaid in Andrea's wedding!

A pic of the girls with the beautiful bride!

• I love to cook...although, I have never really considered myself very GOOD at it (I'm much better at baking), I still love to do it...I find it so relaxing. Tonight (even though I only had myself to cook for because my beau is still out of town) I decided that I wanted to try a recipe from my favorite cooking magazine.  I made Cheeseburger Chowder (yes, I realize it's 90 degrees outside and way too early for soup, but it sounded soooooo delicious!), and it did not disappoint!  Here are a few pics:

My Yummy Dinner!

• I am addicted to caffeine...no, really, a lot of people say that, but I really mean it...I get these really bad headaches that sneak up on me, and once I have one, it's all over...the only thing that can make it go away is to go to bed.  Yes, this is terrible and I really need to ween myself off soft drinks...however, it's just so hard...No, I'm not proud, but at least we get free soft drinks at work, right?  =)
• Last but not least, I secretly wish that I could make money being a back up dancer for Justin Timberlake...Most people think I'm joking when I say this, but I have to admit that I'm a little bit serious.  I saw him in concert 2-3 years ago, and it was absolutely the coolest thing I have ever watched...to be able to dance on stage while he performs would be the best job EVER!!!!!

Shew, that was a lot of work!  =)  Well now time for me to pass the award on to others, so here goes:

Going Places -- This blog is all about Brittney!  She is a 20 something who just made a big cross country move!  She is also the lady who did such a fabulous job designing my blog!  You should definitely go check her out.

The Survival Guide for the Young, Fabulous, and Newlywed -- Go see what her blog is all about!  She is a fellow accountant.  Like I hope I do, she proves that not all accountants are boring!  Her blog is totally fun!  =)

Justin & Marcie -- I really enjoy her blog!  She talks about several things that I enjoy and in fact, she's the one who I "borrowed" my 101 Things idea from!  Definitely go check her out!  Oh, and she's also a cool accountant...I'm seeing a theme here.  =)

In This Wonderful Life -- Megan is truly an inspiration to me!  She has been through so much in the last few months, but yet, she is finding a way to move forward everyday, a little bit at a time!  If you haven't been reading this blog, you need to.  It is very touching!

Meade Family Blog -- Summer is a friend of a friend, and she has recently become my friend, too.  She's a great girl and in May she became a mother to 3 (yes, I said THREE) boys!  Her blog is full of super cute pictures of her baby boys and is also about the fun she and her husband have raising them!