I have been awarded two different awards in the past week and a half:  The Stylish Blog Award and the Versatile Blogger Award.  I’m incredibly grateful to the two awesome ladies that presented these to me, and honestly a little surprised.  Michelle at Heartfelt Balance gave me the Versatile Blogger and Our Family Forest gave me the Stylish Blog Award.  However, the reason I love getting awards so much is that I get to pass them on to other deserving bloggers! 

Here are the rules for accepting the awards:

1. Thank and link back to the person (or people) who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

Because I was given two awards I’ll share 14 things about me and pass it on to 30 blogs… but it might take me a few days to get them all passed on so bear with me while I do that, kay?
THINGS ABOUT ME:
1.  I am five feet tall.  My husband is six-foot-three.  We make it work.  The only thing we really have trouble with is dancing…  I get to listen to all the gurgles of his stomach when we do.
2.  Uhm, I wish I was craftier than I am.  And that I had the space to be so.
3.  I make up words.  All the time.  Weird words.
4.  My little family of three lives with my parents currently.  And I ache for our own space.  It’s also one of the reasons I don’t take on “big projects” like remodeling the kitchen or redecorating the bathroom… I don’t have a kitchen or a bathroom.  But, if when we get our own house…. just you wait.
5.  I love being a mom, but sometimes I wish I could just jump in the car and run errands without having to pack a diaper bag first or watch a movie from beginning to end without it taking three times as long as the movie’s running time.  And I’m so sick of Finding Nemo.
6.  I am an Army wife.  It’s a love-hate relationship.  I love my husband, and often hate the Army.  It’s a lot of politics and who-ya-know.  I hate when it frustrates My Mr Right.
7.  I’m a night owl.  I’ll even keep Little Monkey up late with me so I can sleep in… Bad Mommy?  Maybe, but my life is a lot less hectic and I’m a lot less tired than those who put their babies to bed early and have to be up at 5am.  Rested mommy=happy mommy.
8.  I love to sew… but I hate using patterns.  I often times just “make it work”.  This blog hasn’t changed that.  I don’t want you all to think I’m a moron, so if it doesn’t work… I don’t tell you about it.  =] 
9.  I over use ellipses… See…
10.  I don’t like the idea of having the same stuff as everyone else.  I don’t often use the subway arts I give away.  But I LOVE to see all the different ways people do use them.  I would never have thought to make a pillow with it!  It amazes me how many different things can be done with the same piece of art.  And it always makes me smile to see a project with my pieces.  I love that “hey, I made that!” feeling, even though I just did the easy part.
11.  I’m running out of ways to keep my little toddler busy and happy.  He longs to be outside.  I’m also running out of things to post on this blog… Guess I better get to work with the brainstorming and projects.  =]
12.  I do my smiley emoticons with an equals sign and a left bracket because I don’t like to do things like everyone else.  I like it, but it probably looks dumb.  I don’t care.
13.  I was due on the 4th of July, although born two days early, I’m still of the opinion that Fourth of July firework shows are in celebration of my birth… And I like sparkly things.  And fire.
14.  I love the outdoors, but hate the cold.  I love the beach.  I’m a simple girl.  I get angry and bite my tongue, rather than talking it out.  My Mr Right hates it.  I love to play.  I love to tease.  I love to write.  I don’t have many real friends, never have.  Quality, right?  I love to learn, just not math.  I love to shop, but I’m frugal almost to a fault.  I just do the best I can with what I have.  I love my life, most days… =]

PASSING IT ON:
Ok, I’m gonna start with 3 blogs and the Stylish Blog Award.  I’ll get to the others over the next few days. 

Simply Designing – Ashley and her blog are simply adorable.  She’s got everything!  A weekly link party, giveaways, tutorials, recipes, and so much more.  I often get sucked into her blog during nap time.
Mommas Kinda Crafty – Joy has a fantastic blog.  It’s a place I like to go in my free-time.  I don’t get there often, but more than one dinner has been late because I lose track of time trying to get all caught back up on her amazing ideas!
RACKS and Mooby – Kyra is on my same craft wavelength.  I am always in love with her projects and ideas.  And her writing style is so fun.  I leave her blog always feeling like there is someone else out there a little like me.

I’m just gonna keep adding on here… This post will be like 10 pages long, but all the info is already here.  The next few blogs I’m awarding the Stylish Blogger Award to are:
Keeping It Simple – Before I ever started my blog, I blog stalked Kaysi.  Her blog has grown and her ideas are amazing!  Thus, the reason behind the growth, duh, right?  I’m grateful for her nap time-friendly posts.  It’s always nice to find projects that won’t take days to complete, but she does have more involved projects for you “highly crafty” people too.
Living In A Creative Bliss – Angi’s blog is one that I have just recently stumbled upon.  She has super cute ideas, and a lot of them are kid-friendly.  Even for my Destructor Toddler.  I am really loving her stuff!
Karen’s Ideas Galore – Karen’s blog is also another one I’ve just somehow ended up at.  Weird how that happens sometimes.  But, I’m so glad I found it!  She has great, easy gift ideas in abundance all over her pages. 
Young & Crafty – Hannah has a great blog.  Her blog name says it all.  She has some awesome ideas and her creations are often times renovations of things she has found at Goodwill, on Craiglist and at garage sales.  I love that she can see the potential in things others are getting rid of.  One man’s trash easily becomes Hannah’s treasures.

Ok, I totally slacked on this, but I’m gonna pick it up…
Paisley Passions – Lori always has cool stuff going on.  She’s also got several link parties to join, one is a great blog hop!  And I love when she links up to Weekend Wander.  =]  This is one blog where I look at the clock and think, “shoot, I was only gonna be here for a minute!”
Krafty Kat – Kat has some serious crafty pants going on.  She has projects that are nap time friendly and don’t have to be out for days at a time, waiting to be finished.  She’s got all sorts of good stuff!  I love looking through her blog.
Sweet Bee Buzzings – Bethany’s blog is a new one to me… and I am in LOVE!  I was looking through several link parties and I kept ending up back on her blog!  I’d say that’s a pretty sure sign that I need to hit the “follow” button.
A Girl & A Glue Gun – This was probably where I got my first taste of public blogging… not my public blogging.  I had a family blog and I enjoyed keeping up with that.  But, we didn’t do interesting things very often, so the updates were few.  I started posting some of my projects on our family blog… and then more and more and more… and then I found Kim’s blog.  I thought “that’s what I need, a separate craft blog!”  My family was grateful when that happened!  Kim’s blog is witty, funny and she has some amazing ideas.  This is another one I could spend hours on…
Nap Time Crafts – Uh, hello, the name says it all.  Serena’s blog is another one that I kept finding myself at, a little unsure of how I got there.  But, oh so glad I was!  Seriously, it’s where I go for baby shower gift ideas… no joke.  And she has a super cool Army bunker tent she made.  That’s a winner in my book!

P- Pamper, Pretty, Promise, Package, Play
So “P” seems to be a little more naughty than the other letters…  =]

Ideas:
Pamper-  Devote the evening (or an hour or two) to your sweetie.  Give a foot massage after a soak in some yummy-smelling warm water.  Rub down the shoulders, neck and back muscles.  A scalp massage is always nice.  Pamper your honey.

Pretty-  Get all gussied up and take your man out to dinner.  Even if “out” is a picnic in the back of your SUV at “your spot” or on the living room floor.  A Choose Your Own Adventure Date would be fun.

Package-  Make your sweetie a package.  Or two or three or four or…  This is what I did for our anniversary this year.  My Mr Right loved opening little gifts all day long.  It was a fun way to celebrate all day.  Unfortunately, I didn’t take a picture of my pile of packages.  Ugh!

Play-  Do something fun!  Mini-golf, bowling, laser tag, rock climbing, board games, whatever suits your fancy.  Play together.  “Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.” ~Oliver Wendell Holmes.  I’m a huge believer in this quote, it is so true.  To keep the romance alive, you have to play together!

Maybe this letter is a good time to show your honey some lovin’… Intimacy is a great thing and those seemed to be the majority of the words I could find for this letter.  Happy Romancin’!

Risque Ideas:
Pasties, Panties, Private Peep Show, Passion, Parking.

Krista

O-  One & Only, Olive, Ocean, Opera, Outdoor, Oasis, Oath, Officer, Oils, One Hundred

Ideas:
One & Only-  Do something with the theme one and only.  Make a basket of ‘memories’.  Or one of plans for future memories.  A year of pre-planned (and prepaid?) monthly date nights?  If you decide to do the pre-planned dates and want ideas, let me know…

Ocean/Oasis-  Plan a trip to the nearest ocean sometime this coming year.  Start saving your pennies!  Or plan an ocean/cruise/beach themed date night.  Seafood for dinner?  Watch an Ocean movie (Oceans 11 just jumped to mind, but that’s not the kind of ocean I meant).  Beaches?  Jaws?  Something with gorgeous scenery.  Build sandcastles with sugar cubes.  Wade in a kiddie pool or the bathtub.

Opera-  Throw in Phantom of the Opera and pop some yummy popcorn.  Wanna make it extra special?  Make up some tickets and present them to you honey beforehand.  He’ll wonder what you’re up to.

Outdoor-  Brave the weather and head out for some ice skating, sledding or skiing.  Make sure to bring along hot cocoa or at least curl up by the fire with some when you get home.

Oath-  Renew those vows without the cost of a big, fancy to-do.  A simple handwritten note will be enough.  And if your sweetie isn’t the type for that stuff their car with balloons and a candy gram declaring your love.  Make sure to tape a safety pin to the door handle…  =]

Oils-  Make your own massage oils AND use them!  Let me know if you’re interested in any recipes.  I know there are tons out there though.

One Hundred-  There are endless possibilities.  100 balloons (rent a tank or pump up the air compressor for this one.  100 is a big number!)  100 Reasons I Love You Book.  100 kisses.  100 anythings!

The Risque Ideas:
Orgasm, Oral

Have fun!
Krista

N-  Nightie, Nice, Names, Nature, Necessity, Neck, Need, Never-ending, Newspaper, Night, New, Nostalgia, Noticeable, Novel, Notorious

Ideas:
Nightie-  Invest in a new little “something” or revisit some of your old little somethings.  Give your honey a fashion show.

Naughty & Nice-  I made up some coupons around Christmas with a naughty and nice theme.  You could do something similar.  The NICE coupons had things like holding hands while we go on a walk, getting a new pair of sheets for our bed, a back rub.  The NAUGHTY coupons had more intimate and risqué things to exchange them for.  I have a set of 52 coupons made up already, but they do have a Christmas theme.  If you’re interested, let me know.  I don’t know if I could bring myself to just give them away, there are 52 of them and they took a fair amount of time to make, but I’ll let you have them for super cheap.

Never-ending-  Your love, of course.  Use your sweetie’s Love Language to let them know that they will always be the one for you.

Newspaper-  Write up a newspaper article dedicated to your sweetheart.  If you’re really ambitious, make a little mini newsletter all about them.

Notorious-  Do something a little naughty…

… but not too naughty.  It would be awkward to have to call the babysitter or your kids to come bail you out of jail…

Risque Ideas:
Naughty, Naked, Nipple

Have Fun!
Krista

Sorry I missed yesterday.  My Mr Right and I were disagreeing when I finally had time to sit down and construct a post.  I didn’t really feel like trying to be all mushy and lovey.  I’ll make up for it in the next few days though.  Promise.

M- Make out, Memories, Mine, Movie, Massage, Magic, Maid, Manly, Muscles, Manhattan, Marriage, Mocktail, Mental Health Day, Million, Minutes, Monopoly, Months, Moon, Morning, Mountain, Museum, Music

Ideas include:
Memories-  Make a small memory book for your sweetheart with photos and written snippets about the memories you treasure.  Your first date, first kiss, proposal, wedding day, special trips or anniversaries or any other occurrences.  Or arrange to do something your honey has long-wanted to try.  Making new memories is always a good thing.

Massage-  Check out this date night kit.  Plan a special night to pamper and indulge your lover.  There is a digital kit available as well, if you just want the paper goods.  Pull out all the stops.  Full body massage.  For no reason at all and no expectations for reciprocating.  Make your own massage oils and yummy lotions or body butter.  If you’re interested in my recipes, let me know. 

Manhattan-  Plan a destination date to NYC!  Now, I have never been, and probably never will get to go, to New York so I wouldn’t be disappointed with this date.  If you have been, it might be a bit of a let down.  It’s like comparing the pet store to the zoo.  And I mean a really good zoo.    Get (or make) the best pizza around, take in a Broadway play (Phantom of the Opera on DVD?), take a walk through Central Park (just a nice park), check out the zoo.  Ok, my idea for this one is kinda lame… but sometimes that’s how I roll.  You know those little foam animals that come in the capsules.  You put the capsules in hot water and they melt, revealing your “prize”.  Well, check out the zoo by mixing up all the capsules and trying to guess what it will be when it opens up.  The one with the most correct guesses wins.  Of course, this is just pure dumb luck if you get it right, but sometimes dumb luck is ok.  And yes, I know that not all of those destinations aren’t technically in Manhattan, but ‘New York’ doesn’t start with M.  If you want less of a stretch, go to Morocco or Minnesota instead.

Mocktail:  Ok, If you haven’t already, do the In For Drinks date night.  Digital kit available here, complete with non-alcoholic recipes.

Mental Health Day:  Both of you call in sick to work and spend the day together, doing whatever you want!  You’ll just wish tomorrow could be M again.

Monopoly-  When we were first married, I made our own Monopoly game.  Each of the spaces was somewhere or something we’d done while we were dating and “Park Place” was our wedding day.  It is currently in storage 8 blocks away, it’s snowing here and I don’t have a car or else I’d show you a photo of it.  It took me a while to make, but it’s a fun reminder of our dating days and how we got to where we are.  I used the values from the real Monopoly (easier that way) and printed money I designed in Photoshop out on printer paper.  For the hotels and houses I used shrinky dinks and just drew them with permanent marker.  If you do this, put down a sheet of wax paper on your cookie tray before you put your shrinkys on it.  You’ll leave irremovable marks on your tray if you don’t.  Ask me how I know this…  For the playing pieces, I made little figures of a bride and groom out of air-dry clay.  They don’t look great, but meh, we get the point.

Happy Romancin’!