Sunshine Blog Award (the last of three)

Know what today is?

Today is the day that I finish giving out the awards that I've gotten over the last several months. Because I'm a slacker.

At the beginning of March, I received an award from Kellie over at The Chubby Girl Diaries. I was thrilled to receive the award from her because I really enjoy her blog!


Apparently, you need to have 12 recipients of this award...but because I've already given out 10 so far, I feel silly passing it on to 12 more. In no particular order, here are some bloggers that you might want to check out:

1) My Healthy Living Thru Weight Control: I wrote about her the other day, but Margie is one of my biggest supporters on here. She's a few years older than I am, but she's still putting in the hard work to keep her body healthy. I find that completely inspirational.

2) The Chubby Girl Diaries: Is it bad to give an award back to someone who gave it to you? Probably. It's also a sign that I didn't plan out my previous awards as well as I had thought. So Kellie? You totally can pick whichever award you actually want - you deserve any one you want! :) I enjoy your blog and can't wait to read all of the things that you'll accomplish in this next year. You've worked hard and that hard work WILL pay off.

3) Fat Bridesmaid: I love her humor, her style, and her cute hairstyles. Hers is one of the first blogs I read when I first started and I always enjoy reading what she's up to.

4) Questions for Dessert: She's a wife, a runner, and a person who is trying to be healthier. Scratch that, she IS healthier. I can relate to her so much - and sometimes when I'm running outside or on the treadmill and I want to stop, I ask myself, "What would Krissie do?" And I keep running. She is one tough cookie. Also she has great taste in music.:)

5) Escape From Obesity: I can't say enough about this wonderful woman. First, she's had some crappy stuff happen to her and she persists through it. She's a fantastic mom and great supporter. She had the courage to decide on an eating plan that works for her and follow through - ignoring (or at least not paying too much attention to) the naysayers. It was through reading her blog that I realized that it's okay to be brutally truthful on blogs...and I decided to follow suit. She's SO close to the 199 mark and I will be one of the people cheering the loudest when she reaches it. She is phenomenal. :)

6) Here We Go - Hold On Tight: Lesia has been diagnosed with MS and STILL has lost weight. She spent years in a wheelchair and is happy to be up and walking again (so what's my lame excuse to not work out?). She gives thanks for things that we take for granted and reading a bit about her has made me a more thankful person. She is a very supportive blogger and really does spread sunshine to the people that she communicates with!

7) Running my Mouth: A runner, a bride-to-be, a success story, and an inspiration. I really enjoy reading her blog - especially when she has quotes that make me think about things in a different way.

8) Journeying to Lose 200 Pounds: The Triumph of Perseverance: Another blog I LOVE. She recently came through a rough patch and when I think of her resiliency and her ability to bounce back, I'm just so proud of her! You know how when you read someone's blog and you just KNOW they're a nice person? That's Chubby Chick. She's sweet and I wish I knew her in real life. :)

9) MissPudding's Food Blog: I hesitate to name this one (just as I did on my first award) because I'm not sure how much traffic she actually wants on her blog (the opposite of me!). She's another IRL friend - one that I was lucky enough to meet 15 years ago. What I love about her blog is that she keeps it real - as in really, real. She is delving into the WHY she's overweight and struggles. She is a brilliant, vibrant person - one who you can't help but get swept up in her tornado of activity. I really wish we lived closer.

10) Healthy Stride: Lindsay does SO much to be healthy: losing 100 pounds was just the start. What I enjoy about her story is that she's battling the healthy fight on all levels...she runs, she watches her weight, she takes classes to mix up the exercise, and she has fun with it. I just started reading her blog and I really love it...plus, she does a great job at taking pictures to illustrate her point. I should probably take a pointer or two from her. :)

Alright - go out and enjoy your Monday! No more awards posts for a while - I promise! :)

Oh My Blog Award (The Male Version)

I don't know about you, but I love a good man. And when he has the ability to write well? (swoon)

A few days ago, I was honored with an award over at Sam's (at Believe In Yourself).

As with most awards, it came with some rules:

1. Get really excited that you got the coolest award EVER!

Wow. So it's all downhill from here? Yikes.

2. Choose ONE of the following options of accepting OMB award:
(a) Get really drunk and blog for 15 minutes straight, or for as long as you can focus.
(b) Write about your most embarrassing moment.
(c) Write a “Soundtrack of your childhood” post.
(d) Make your next blog a ‘vlog’/video blog. Basically, you’re talking to the camera about whatever.
(e) Take a picture of yourself first thing in the morning, before you do anything else (hair, makeup, etc) and post it.

Uhh...okay. Since I'm over the age of 18, (a) doesn't exactly appeal to me. They made the soundtrack already to my childhood. It's called "Annie." Exactly like mine, only without Sandy, Daddy Warbucks, an orphanage, and all the singing. But other than that...just like mine. I'm not likely to make a vlog of myself (I can't stand watching them and don't want to put you all through the pain) and first thing in the morning pictures might actually never develop due to the morning breath that accompanies them corroding my camera lens.

So we're left with the most embarrassing thing. Since this is a healthy living blog, I'll make it my most embarrassing thing related to my efforts of getting healthier.

Last year, I started most mornings with a run in the neighborhood where I used to live. It was a great chance to start my day "right." One beautiful morning, I had a particularly great run. As I'm finishing my run, and trying to cross the street, I could've sworn that I heard someone yell "Anne!"

So I, still running, turn to see who was calling me...but I couldn't see anyone who looked like they were trying to get in touch with me...

...and then I ran into a parked car.

I'm not kidding. I wasn't looking where I was going (obviously) and just smacked right into the side of a van. I felt SO stupid, but I was so thankful that it was early in the morning so it's not like the owner would've seen me or anything. But as I passed the drivers window, I realized that the motor was on. I turned around and saw a person in the front seat looking completely confused.

I smiled, waved, and kept running.

Because seriously, what else could I do?

3. Pass this award onto at least 3, but preferably more, awesome bloggers as yourself. Don’t forget to tell them.

Since I'm supposed to give it to three, people, I figured I'd give it to the three guys whose blogs I read.

1) Jack Sh*t Gettin' Fit - Has anyone heard of this guy? :) Alright, he may be one of the most popular male health bloggers EVER, but if that's the case, it's for a good reason. His posts are motivational, funny, uplifting, and well written. As my mom would say, he's a good egg.

2) Stages of Change - I'm not sure where I found his blog, but I LOVE it. He's very motivational and doesn't sugar coat things. I wish he'd post more. Just read his post about the Pine Box Derby and see if you don't get chills...

3) Fit With A Purpose - Last but not least is this blogger. I'm sad to say that he's been a follower of mine for a little while and I just started reading him back a few weeks ago. I'm sorry that I didn't read him earlier. He's a runner (and a great one at that) and he's on his on quest to be healthier.

Now go out there, and hug a man. If you don't have a man of your own, smile at one. If you don't "swing" that way, pet a dog. :)

Beautiful Blogger Award & Seven Things You Didn't Know About Me

I don't know about you, but one of the hardest compliments (and yet, one of my favorites) for me to receive is when someone says that I'm beautiful. I can think of about 15 things in a minute that I don't like about myself, so when Margie over at My Healthy Living Thru Weight Control gave me the Beautiful Blogger award I was both thrilled and amazed.

She gave me that award on January 20th of this year. So you know, I'm just a little over 4 months late.


This award is apparently given in sevens:

1) Project Look Good Naked - This first blogger is relatively new to the blogger side of things...but the courage that she has shown by blogging about very real issues in her life makes her truly beautiful to me. I love reading her blog. Because she also lives in Denver, I was lucky enough to find out that she's smart, sarcastic, and sweet in real life. And holy moly her eyes are to die for!

2) Thufferin' Thuccotash - This blogger is one great lady and one that I've been lucky enough to have bonded with - even if it's over a few states. She's survived cancer, lymphedema, and her husband dying. If you want to find strength, read her blog. Plus, her humor is FANTASTIC. :)

3) Scribbing In The Margin - I can't say enough about this other IRL friend. She is such a wonderfully giving person. She recently elected to have Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) and is blogging through her reaching milestones (hello! She just lost 100 pounds!) and some struggles that she's encountered along the way. Her effervescent humor and ability to keep it real at the same time are things that I really enjoy.

4) 1/2 an Amy - An old college friend who is discovering herself and all the things that she can accomplish. Recently divorced and realizing that she is truly one fantastic and strong lady.

5) Becoming an Ex Yo-Yo Dieter - This blogger is seriously beautiful. I haven't been following her for a long time, but her perseverance to do the things that we all know she can do is absolutely beautiful to me. Her insight into herself makes her successful - no matter what her weight.

6) Believe in Yourself - This blogger is a new one to me, but I really think that it's great that she's finding out that she can do great things - not only by herself but with the help of others.

7) The Pursuit of Healthyness - Last but not least, this blogger is one who is doing the same thing I am - trying to be healthier mind, body, and spirit. She has the courage to look inside herself to realize what it is that she wants to do to get to where she wants to go. I love that she's trying to be more mindful about her own life and trying to figure out why she struggles with the stuff she does. I can't believe she doesn't have more followers - I really love her writing.

And now, seven things you may not know about me:

1) I have a Slanket and I LOVE it. Seriously, I was that person that laughed at the commercials too (although in fairness, the commercials are for a Snuggie, not a Slanket - the Slanket is much better). It's the best invention in the world and although I'm semi-embarrassed of it, I wouldn't part with it willingly.

2) I'm the middle child of three girls. Growing up, we never even had a male animal. My dad was always outnumbered.

3) I love logic puzzles. You know, the things that say "Sam is taller than Phil, but not as tall as Pheobe who is 9 inches shorter than Zeke and half as tall as Bud" and then you have to rank them in order. I LOVE LOVE LOVE those things.

4) I hate beans. I wish I didn't because they're a great source of protein, nutrition and blah blah blah, but really, I just don't like them.

5) I love Converse shoes. Currently, I have a pink pair that I'm really enjoying a lot. Even though I may be too old to wear them (or too uncool or too...well...anything) they make me happy.

6) I have a GIANT dog at home. Her name is Chassis and she is almost the tallest dog in the world. The tallest dog, according to Guinness, is 43 inches tall from his shoulders to the floor. My dog? 42 inches tall (measured in the same way). She turns five on Tuesday. :)

7) I wear funky socks. If I can, I wear socks with stripes, dots, argyle prints, or some other random pattern on them. The only time I don't wear socks like these are when I'm running (because then I wear good running socks). No one usually ever sees them and they always match the color shirt that I'm wearing, but I wearing them makes me feel like I'm funky, fresh, hip, fly, or whatever the kids are saying these days.

Eesh. That took longer than I thought... Well, I'm off to another mindful eating/mindful yoga class, so I'll have to post the two other awards posts later.