I am both thrilled and honored to have been nominated twice for the Liebster Award. A very heart-felt and special thank you to both Jasmine and Ginger and The Complete Savorist for this honor.

This “award” is given to bloggers by bloggers.  Each nominee gives 11 random facts about themselves, answers the questions asked by the person who nominated them, then each nominee must in turn nominate other fellow bloggers and ask them 11 questions.
Here are the questions posed to me for both nominations.

11 Random Facts About Me:

1.  I do not like for my foods to touch except meatloaf and mashed potatoes. I would still use my childhood divider plate if it was socially acceptable.

2.  I owned a Marketing & PR firm for 8 years, during which I won Small Business Person of the Year.

3.  I have been a SPAM Recipe Champion.

4.  I’ve won close to 300 ribbons and awards in various cooking competitions including state fairs.

5.  I lived in ONE house for 39 years.

6.  I love football. Let me repeat…I LOVE and ADORE FOOTBALL!!!!!!

7.  My favorite word is “Question”. I just like to say it.

8. I wanted to name my daughter Victoria Winter Rose, but was out voted. I still love that name for a little girl.

9.  My mother was deaf. She didn’t sign, but could read lips like nobody’s business. We swore she had “selective hearing.”

10. If I’m not drinking wine, I’m a whiskey girl.

11. I never thought fairy tales were real, or true gentlemen still existed until I married my husband. He is all of the above.

 

Questions From Jasmine & Ginger:

Where’s the best place you’ve traveled to and why?

As I thought about this question I thought about all of the places I’ve been and how each was unique in it’s own way. I thought about which one I loved best and all of the memories I had associated with all of those places. I realized very quickly, it’s not where I’ve been that’s my favorite, but where I return. It holds all the love, the memories, the friendships, my family and the one true love of my life. The best place I have ever traveled, is home.

What’s your favourite book and why?

The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. It was the sequel to The Notebook. Simply put, it’s about dreams coming true when you least expect it and had all but given up hope. Either that or Betty Crocker’s Greatest Recipes 😉

What are your top 3 favourite songs of all time?

There is truly no way I could possibly answer this as much as I love music and how eclectic my tastes can be, so I’m going to choose the first three that come to mind: Summer Breeze by Seals & Croft, What’s Going on by Marvin Gaye, and Treat Her Like A Lady by The Temptations. Hmmm. Who knew?

What’s your knee-jerk reaction to anything bad that happens and how do you handle stress?

I kick, scream, get mad, cry, yell, kick a tree…for 30 minutes. That’s the max I allow myself to wallow. Then I put on my “big girl panties” and figure out a solution. I give the same advice to all of my friends and family.

Who is your most favourite person that is not your offspring or spouse or immediate family?

My best friend Rhonda. I have so many amazing friendships that are no less in meaning to me, but Rhonda has been by my side for over 20 years. She has loved me through every single thing that has happened and forgiven things when I’ve acted negligent in our friendship. She has always been there and I know without a second of a doubt, she always will be. I hope I give her the same sense of security she has given me in that I will never be alone in anything I ever endure. To the moon and back…

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Red, Red WINE!!!!!!!

Who / what inspires you in your day to day life?

My husband, my daughter, my stepsons and my friends. I learn multitudes and am inspired by anyone around me who goes through rough spots and comes out on top. I am inspired by those who never give up and never give in. I am most inspired by those who know who they are and they live their life their way.

What are you most proud of?

My marriage, my husband, my daughter, and my step sons. I’m also proud of myself in that I finally learned it’s ok to be good to yourself and it’s ok to want more for yourself. Being good to you first, means you can be so much more for everyone else later.

What do you want / hope for yourself?

I hope that I am an inspiration to others. I hope that I always provide a good role model and example for our children. I hope that I always make my husband proud that I am his wife. I hope my children are proud of me and the life I’ve lived. If I can accomplish those things, I will have all I want for myself.

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

Think before you act. Get to know yourself. You’re really a pretty cool chick!

 

Questions From the Complete Savorist:

What was your favorite food when you were a child?

It was and still is and probably will always be SPAGHETTI!!!!!