Awards! Awards!

Confession time: A couple of weeks ago, I worked REALLY HARD and wrote a couple weeks' worth of blog posts. I know! I was so proud of myself! It allowed me to focus on my WIP for a couple weeks, which I sorely needed. BUT since I already had my posts scheduled, when I was awarded some awesome blog awards, I wasn't able to accept them very quickly. And I feel like a heel for waiting this long, especially when they're so darn sweet! I really am crazy flattered.

Thanks to the fabulous people who gave me awards! They are seriously awesome people. If you don't already follow them, you definitely should.

Stacy Henrie at Live, Laugh, Love, Write awarded me the Liebster award

Francesca Zappia at Zap's Lobster Tank awarded me the Versatile Blogger and 

Irresistibly Sweet Blog award

Jeff King at Author's Union awarded his favorite blogs

Lora Palmer at A Writer In Bloom awarded me the Versatile Blogger and 

Irresistibly Sweet Blog award

Julie Tuovi at From Pen To Paper awarded me the Versatile Blogger

Tara at More Than Fiction awarded me the 7 x 7 Link Award

Krista Wayment at I Take the Pen awarded me the 7 x 7 Link Award

Maeve Frazier at Lollipop's Cottage awarded me the Versatile Blogger

The Writing Well awarded me the Versatile Blogger award

Rachel Bean at I Read. I Write. I Control the World. awarded me the Versatile Blogger

The rules were all different, but they all seemed to have you list seven random facts about yourself. So here goes!

1. Whenever I hear a phrase, I feel the need to figure out where it came from originally. Ones that still stump me: “Who let the cat out of the bag?” I’m wondering why someone put the cat IN the bag in the first place.... and when people refer to a “laundry list” of things. Are laundry lists normally that long? Whites, darks, inbetweens, delicates.... Wouldn’t “grocery list” make more sense?
2. I feel unbelievably fortunate to have had THE Brandon Sanderson as my creative writing teacher one semester. It was one of those “Make an outlandish wish that couldn’t possibly ever come true, and then it does” kind of things.
3. I can memorize a string of 50 numbers in 5 minutes.
4. I hated the movie “Peggy Sue Got Married.” I’ve never seen it, but for years after it came out, I got asked if my middle name is Sue by hundreds of people. My middle name is ANN.
5. I don’t watch, listen to, or read the news. It messes with my belief that all is right with the world. Unless a news story is on msn.com’s home page on a day I go to their home page, I don’t know about it. So if something major happens, leave a comment about it! No, seriously. I’m not kidding. But... only if it's something major. I like believing all is right with the world. :)
6. I like to do cartwheels. Especially in the halls at church.
7. I love to close my eyes and smile up at the sun. It's possible I got my incredibly bad eyesight from smiling up at the sun WITHOUT closing my eyes as a kid. It might be hereditary; I think my son got glasses for the same reason.

The 7 x 7 Link Awards also come with a part where you link to your own blog posts. It's a fabulous idea! I think I might do it in a post by itself. (If you are receiving this award, though, in your post, link to the post of yours that are Most Beautiful, Most Helpful, Most Popular, Most Controversial, Most Surprisingly Successful, Most Pride-Worthy, and Most Underrated.)

And now, the best part! Passing the award on to seven other fabulous bloggers. Feel free to choose your favorite award, one you haven't received before, or even accept them all! You totally deserve it. (And if accepting blog awards on your blog isn't your thing, just smile, stick a little feather in your hat, star on your forehead, let it warm your heart-- whatever-- and know that I will NOT be offended if you choose not to.)

Cristina at Once Upon A Time... Cristina is made of awesome, and it shows in all her posts. Check her out!

Tara at Tara Tyler Talks because she brings the funny and her posts are totally enjoyable.

Carrie So, You're a Writer... at because not only do her posts rock, but her comments KILL ME.

Linda at Wistfully Linda because her posts are fabulous. They are so well thought out and have so much great info.

Talei at Musings of an Aspiring Scribe because not only is she awesome, but her posts make me happy Every. Single. Time.

John at A Universe Behind Your Eyelids because not only does he have great writing posts, but great how-to blogging posts.

Alexis at Alexis Bass Writes because her posts have fabulous voice.

Go check out every one of these blogs! You'll be glad you did. Have a fabulous writing week, everyone!