Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award.

Y'ALL! Did you know Kasey? Well, if you don't I highly suggest heading over to her little corner of the internet because she's the bomb dot com. I'm totally and completely flattered that she nominated me for the Sisterhood of the World Blogger Award. I humbly accept. 

So the questions Kasey provided to her nominees with my answers...
Kasey, these were really good questions.

1. What is the weirdest question you've ever been asked in an interview (job or otherwise, it can't be this question)?
My kids ask me some pretty weird stuff. I wish it was an interview question that I could think of, but The first question that popped into my head was from Zander. Y'all should know, boys playing with themselves starts very early: "Mommy, why is my penis up?" He had shouted that from another room, so of course I had to go investigate. Try explaining to a 3 year old (at the time) that the more you play with it, the longer it will stay *ahem* "up". 

2. If you could only read one book for the rest of ever, what book would you pick?
I Love You This Much by Lynn Hodges and Sue Buchanan. I read this every night to my kids anyway, so it only makes sense that I'd be able to read it for the rest of ever. If you haven't read it, you need to. It's only $6 at walmart. 

3. What is your favorite ever summer memory? 
Camping in St. Augustine, FL. At the time I really hated it. (It was hot and my ex step dad was there) but looking back, I really miss it. We would camp (real camping... like, in a tent!) for a week on a small island just off of St. Augustine. 

This was the last time we were there. @ Alligator Farm

4. Describe yourself using only song titles. (I know that's not a question, just, okay? just be cool. just once.)
 I had to leave Kasey's editorial note in there because it just had to go with the question... and I will be cool... (click the link to check out the playlist)

#NowPlaying I'm listening to About Me http://t.co/2d9X6Kq0tH via @instantDOTfm
— Melissa Louise (@RamblingLlama) March 17, 2015

5. If you had $1,000,000 but had to spend it all in one week, what would you do with it?
I would travel. I'd take my kids to exotic locations. We'd see the Seven Wonders of the world. I'd do as much as I could and go to as many places as possible. I am DYING to travel!

6. What is your favorite holiday (religious, birthday, or otherwise) + why? 
Christmas. No questions asked. It's always been my favorite because it's pretty much the only time of the year that I get to see all of my family in one spot. I'm very family oriented (Josh is too). So I really love getting a chance to just be with everyone. PLUS, it also happens to be my birthday that day, so that's a win-win! 

7. What is one interesting thing that people who read your blog probably don't know about you?
UGH. I've shared a lot on this blog. I guess something y'all might not know is I used to be on swim teams in high school. I even qualified for county one year. Have I mentioned I really miss swimming? 

Me in front, 1994 ish. I've always been a water-lover!

8. Who is your biggest role model + why?
Cliche answer: my mom. She is without a doubt the strongest woman I know. She's been through two failed marriages (one of which almost broke her). She's always been the soul provider of the house. Plus, she's managed to not kill 4 kids. 
After my mom would definitely be my late Grandma though. She was just as strong as my mom (That's probably where Mommy got it from!) but she was the MOST Christian woman I knew. She absolutely loved Jesus, and was just 100% GOOD.  Those that knew her would agree. 

9. Who's attending that imaginary dinner party people always ask about? 
Well, I hope you! If you're taking the time to read my blog, I want you to be at the dinner party. But seriously, I'd really want to meet Julia Roberts though. For real. I hear she's just as amazing in real life as she is on movies. 

10. What is your favorite cocktail?
Hands down, no questions asked, FUZZY NAVEL! This is what I will always order. I just really love peaches. 

doesn't everyone have a picture of their favorite cocktail handy in their phone?

and here are my Questions
(ps: I'm not great at coming up with questions so this took me days!)

1. Something or someone you miss from childhood? 
2. What do you think would be the hardest thing you'd have to give up if I
    said you had to give it up in an hour?
3. What was the worst punishment you got as a child?
4. If you had the chance to be invisible for a day, what would you do?
5. Would you rather play on the beach or play in the water?
6. Who is your favorite superhero and why?
7. What was the last item you bought? (bonus points: convince us we need to buy it too!)
8. If you could teleport by blinking your eyes right now, where would you go?
9. What is your favorite black and white movie?
10. Would you rather be a tree or live in a tree and why?

And now for my nominations!
In no particular order, and for no particular reasons, I nominate:

• Ashlen @ A Diamond with Sapphires 
• Kristyn @ Chits & Giggles 
• Ashley @ That Southern Mama
• Chelsea @ The New Wifestyle 
• Amanda @ Knock on Wood 
• Kendra @ Kenji is Here
• Lora @ Heart of Life 

and there y'all have it! Thanks again, Kasey! I also found out, in case my nominees are wondering... there's no rules on how many people you have to nominate, qualifications for nominees, or number of questions. So there's that! :) Have fun!

I'd Like to Thank The Academy + A Giveaway!

I'm sorry that I don't have an official speech planned. This was completely unexpected. I'd like to thank my new friend Mary-Keith for nominating me for the Liebster Award. If you haven't checked out Mary-Keith you totally should! She's just the sweetest. Love her!

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<a href="http://theramblingllama.blogspot.com" title="The Rambling Llama"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g167/PineappleHead87/images_zps5c15c370.jpg" alt="The Rambling Llama" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

This award comes with some rules though. Good thing I'm not a rule breaker (today).

• Post 11 random facts about yourself
• Answer 11 questions asked by the person that nominated you
• Nominate a few bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to do the same
• Let the bloggers that you nominate know that they've been nominated!

Easy peasy, right? Right! So let's get to the fun part!

11 Random Facts About Me

I've done 7 random quirks about myself, but I'm guessing those don't count so let's start from scratch.

1. I went to three (yes, THREE) different high schools.
2. I had my belly button pierced and tried to hide it from my dad. He found out when it got infected.
3. I'm the first girl in 50 years on my dad's side of the family
4. I was the first grandchild to make my grandparents on both sides of my family Great-Grandparents
5. I'm not the oldest grandchild.
6. I burn almost everything I attempt to bake. (don't expect homemade cookies if you come to visit me)
7. I like to dip my french fries in milkshakes. Especially strawberry milkshakes. YUM!
8. Whenever I see Minnesota typed out, in my head I read it like they say it up north: "Min-EH-soooooohh-DAHH"
9. People from Minnesota make fun of the way I say "Y'all".
10. I would prefer to just have a cup of coffee for breakfast but I force myself to eat so I get my metabolism going
11. I'm friends with more people that are 10-12 years older than me than people my own age. I feel like I have an old soul

Mary-Keith's Questions

1. Do you like Christmas music? I do! My birthday is ON Christmas. It's always been my favorite holiday, and I really love the music!
2. Do you like to cook? Yes. I'm actually better at cooking than baking. My pinterest has a food board, but I've only ever attempted the ones that don't require baking.
3.Do you watch Gilmore Girls? Gilmore Girls is one of my all time favorite shows. I love that so many people are re-watching it now. This was something I'd watch everyday after school.
4. What is your favorite hobby? Do you remember sand art? Actually, I really love doing the arts and crafts projects that you can buy in a kit at the stores. candle making kits, key chain kits, etc. I love doing them with the kids.
5. What are three goals you have in the next 10 years?

• Buy a house. We've been renting for as long as we've been together. We're saving up to buy our own house
• Be at a steady job with benefits and minimal risk of me being let go
• Go back to school. I don't have a college degree. My friend Amanda from Knock on Wood has inspired me that going back to school in your late 20's isn't that hard or scary!

6. Do you watch reality T.V.? Not as much as I used to. I still love America's Next Top Model along with a few others, but our T.V is mostly on PBS Kids lately. 

7. How do you feel about your current job? Welllll. I loved it. I really enjoyed going everyday. However, last Friday I was let go. I'll post more about that later. I'm still having a hard time processing it. 

8. What is your most embarrassing moment? HA! That can be summed up in one picture:

This was my birthday party in 2006. I was in the bathroom, and Josh ran in with the camera to snap a picture. This was me screaming because he scared me! At the time we had only been dating for a few months. 

9. Any hidden talents? I can speak gibberish. I can also knit. I don't know if those are hidden, but that's what I can do!

10. How do you  feel about flying? I love it! I've been on planes several times. The first time I flew I was 10 or 11. We flew to Wisconsin to visit my Aunt. My favorite flight is to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands though. ;)

11. What did you want to be when you were little? A vet. I've always had a deep love for animals. After 10th grade, this changed to wanting to be a Chemistry Teacher. 

My Questions to the nominees 

1. What made you start blogging?
2. Do you have any nicknames?
3. What's one thing you'd have to have with you if you were deserted on an island?
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
5. What is your favorite movie quote?
6. What is your go-to accessory staple? 
7. What is the best thing you've ever cooked? 
8. If you were one of the four seasons- which would you be and why?
9. Where you born in the state (or country) you're currently living in? If not - what brought you there?
10. What do you do for a living?
11. What do you think MSDS stands for? 

And now for the nominees! 

Amanda at Knock on Wood

Kasey from Kasey at the Bat

Lindsay from Bourbon, Lipstick & Stilettos 

Kendra from Kenji is Here

Rebecca at The Adventures of Bug and Boo

Ashley at That Southern Mama

congrats, ladies! I love y'all!

AND NOW! A really fun giveaway! 

i am so excited to announce this amazing giveaway with boutique sui numeris!! they have an AMAZING collection of dresses and accessories!! one lucky winner will receive a $50 gift card plus a surprise accessory from the shop!! all entries will be verified and shipments to USA addresses only please.  good luck!!

lauren: lot 48/ melissa: the rambling llama/ amanda: lil mrs chatterbox
karen: a peek at karen's world/ emelia: dream big and buy the shoes

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