Blogger Recognition Award

What Is It?
The Blogger Recognition Award is given to bloggers by fellow bloggers as a way to recognize and appreciate all of the hard work and talent that goes into their websites and blogs.

Where'd I Get It?
I would like to express my gratitude to ShaShi @ scribbles n pebbles  for nominating me for this award.  It's truly an honor to be nominated by someone so talented!  Her blog is gorgeous, chock full of useful info and laid out in an easy to read, conversational format.  Check her out!

So just how did my blog start?
Welp, to be quite honest, I got shit canned from my job last year and started blogging on the free Weebly format, basically as a way to pass the time, but also because I loved to write, I thought I had something to offer and knew that I would fit in perfectly with other lifestyle bloggers out there.  However, I wound up landing another full time job and had to put the blog on the back burner because work was sucking the life out of me.  Fast forward a year, and guess who gets shit canned again?  That's right, yours truly.  (I'm almost 50, you would think I'd get this being employed thing down by now, huh?)  Anyway, I pulled out the blog again and said to myself, 'Self?  You got the chutzpah to do this, wtf are you waiting for?'  And you know what, Self was right.  I went pro and got hosting, and I haven't stopped or looked back.  It must be working out for me, because I got me this here award, right?

My Advice To New Bloggers (As per the rules of nomination, I'm only supposed to give two pieces of advice, but I like to live on the edge, so I'm giving you three):

• My best piece of advice is simple and cliche--DON'T EVER GIVE UP.  I don't care if you have a brain fart, lost your way for a hot minute, feel like giving up, throwing in the towel, waving the white flag--whatever--don't you do it.  If this is something you truly want, you go for it.  YOU CAN DO IT.
• You aren't going to make money for awhile, so get that thought out of your head right meow.  If you work hard, put yourself out there, accept that you will be denied, declined and looked over at first, you WILL make money.  Eventually.  At least that's what I'm told.  Hey I'm up to $10.84 in that sweet, sweet Ad Sense revenue so saying I haven't made anything would be lying, yeah?
• Connect with other bloggers.  They are your allies, your friends, your confidantes and more.  There's room for everyone in the world wide web, and fellow bloggers know it.  Don't be afraid to reach out for help, advice, suggestions and ideas.  Get out of your comfort zone and ask if you can guest post on their blog.  Ask if they would back link to your site.  USE them, and let them use you.  It's all quid pro quo in the bloggersphere!

My Nominations.  Nominations = Winners Winners, Chicken Dinners:

I only put one shout out on a Facebook Bloggers Support Group, and I'm so glad I did.  Because I got to check out some absolutely beautiful, perfect, lovely, awesome blogs, just from that one post.  Everyone who responded are amazing in their niches, and I wish I could have chosen them all.  But here are my noms, in no particular order, along with the first thing that came to mind when I read their blogs.  Congrats, peeps!

www.thewrightlife.ca - inspiring & informative
www.virtualorchards.com - thought provoking
www.joannsfoodbites.com - love the message, very knowledgeable in her niche
www.simplysaidy.com - beautiful photos!
www.partyoffiveblog.com - spent awhile here & her smile is infectious
www.worldofnabeeda.com - travel & inspo, right up my alley
www.sizzlebliss.com - beauty & brains
www.midnightsunhomestead.com - just wow, how do you do it?
www.jareshamoore.com - love it!
www.lightlylex.com - well organized & beautiful photog
www.blogtrovert.com - all beginning bloggers need this site
www.dapperhousedesigns.com - lovely home & garden site
www.areshasbookcorner.simplesite.com - all about steamy books & romance novels, I'm in!
www.thefashionatemom.com - lovely lifestyle blog
www.beautythatwalks.com - ditto for this blog!
Throwing Simon's blog in for good measure:  www.simonwyhuang.com because it's incredibly informative!

What's Next:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post to show your award.
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated and provide the link to the post you created.

Thanks again, ShaShi!  And congrats to the winners above.  You deserve it!