Whoa! Liebster Award!

Most of the time I write my blog under the assumption that very few people ever read it.  It is, in fact, one step up from talking to myself.  Aren't all bloggers, at heart, in this bucket?  I mean, I know my mom reads it.  I know my husband refuses to (thank goodness.  Some things in a marriage should remain private and shared only with an infinite number of anonymous strangers).  I have a suspicion my coach reads it sometimes.  But that's it.  So imagine my surprise last week when I found out that, not only do I have a reader, but that she nominate me for a Liebster Award!  Thank you Lori from Journey to Fit & Healthy!  Both for the nomination and for dropping by and listening to all my ramblings!

For those wondering, the Liebster Award is one for bloggers by bloggers with a small following, and is just a nice way to give someone you follow and think deserves a little recognition a bit of a Hey-yeah!  Rock on!

The Liebster Award Rules

1. You must link back to the person who nominated you

2. You must answer the 10 Liebster questions given to you by the nominee before you

3. You must pick 10 bloggers to be nominated for the award (with a small following)

4. You must create 10 questions for your nominees

5. You must go to their blogs and notify the nominees

Without further ado, here are the questions (and answers) that Lori asked I share with y'all:

Why did you start blogging?

This one easy.  To stop annoying my husband and my friends.  Triathlon takes a lot of head space, and although the man is a saint, there's really only so much blah-blah your spouse should have to put up with.  Now this way I get to bleed out my thoughts on people who actually chose to hear [read] them.  Plus it's a nice record for myself of how far I've come and what I've accomplished.

Do you have any "furbabies"? If you do, tell us a little about them.

Two kitties - the love and lights of my life.  The white one is Andromeda (Andy).  She's been through a lot - after years of chronic gingivitis she jumped onto my very pregnant belly where I was balancing a dinner plate and knocked out one of her canine teeth.  Four days in the hospital and the removal of most of her teeth followed.  She's a much happier kitty since the surgery.

The tan one is TJ (Tigger).  She's named for TJ Maxx, as that was the store that I caught her in front of.  Someone had dumped her out in a busy parking lot on Labor Day weekend.  I was shopping for baby clothes and saw her.  I chased her and rolled around under cars with my 7-months pregnant belly for 30 minutes before I caught her.  She is the most affectionate cat I've ever known.

Who do you admire the most and why?

I don't have a name for this.  I admire people who are fighting their own demons.  Who deal with tremendously challenging situations (a child with cancer), live life gratefully with chronic pain, or fight against the grain to tell an unpopular story about themselves to raise awareness.  I admire courage.

What is a habit that you had that you are most proud of breaking?

Feeling the need to judge people as soon as I meet them.  I made a lot of wrong assumptions over the years.  Now I try to keep an open mind about everyone.  This is one of my favorite quotes and words to live by:

Now if I could only judge myself by those same standards (not need to feel perfect at all times), I'd be REALLY proud of myself....

What is your favorite holiday?

Thanksgiving.  I love watching the parade.  Now we run a Turkey Trot in the morning, and the last 2 years my bakery has baked 1000s of cupcakes for the runners.  Then family and food.  No fuss about presents, not much preparation.  My husband watches the game and we all chill out.  We stay in our pajamas all of Black Friday as well - no shopping with the crazies for us.  Wait, did that sounds judgmental? ;)

What would be your dream job?

Wildlife biologist.  This was actually my original goal, and my first degree.  This would be in the world where it paid enough to support my family and I could somehow travel all over Australia and the Congo with them without missing teeball practice....

What is the first website you check when you turn on your computer/phone?

Training Peaks.  Triathlon nerd.  It's what I do.

What did you study in university/college? Would you do something different if you could go back?

My undergrad degree was in Biology, then my first Masters in Wildlife Biology.  My second Masters is in Regulatory Affairs for Medicinal Products (related to my current career).  Even though I took a career track that was more corporate and stable, I wouldn't trade that wildlife degree for anything.  Time spent studying something you love is never wasted.

From my wildlife days - bird survey in the Bahamas

Who is your biggest celebrity crush?

I don't crush on celebrities much, but I do have to say I'm very impressed with Jennifer Lawrence.  Both for her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen as NOT a skinny fashion wraith but as someone strong (role model for teenage girls please?) and for her general goofiness and good humor.

If you could do a workout/run with anyone, who would you chose?

Cheesiness alert.  I'd choose my little girl.  I love running with her.  Just today we did a mommy & me run.  I ran with an empty stroller for a mile while she ran, then she hopped in and chattered at me the rest of the way.  I love the special time with her and I love the feeling that my fitness choices are having such a positive influence on her as she grows up.  Now if she would just stop swiping my Sweaty-Bands....

Heading out to run

[Adding in an obvious question] What the heck did you do to your nose???

I got in a bar fight.  Really.  At a playground.  Really.  Which means that I was under-caffeinated while at the playground the other day and walked straight into a chin-up bar that was exactly eye level.  I scraped a chuck of skin off and blackened my eyes a bit.  Which is why I'm sporting the awesome-looking band-aid.  The band-aid is Phineas and Ferb because the Jedi didn't get my regular ones when he want to the store this morning so they are all we had in the house.  Boo.  Yeah.

The blogs I nominate for the Liebster award are:

1.  My coach!  Anthony from Anthony Bagnetto Fitness
2.  Courtney from The TriGirl Chronicles
3.  Laura from A Fat Girl's Ironman Journey
4.  Amanda from Just a Mom who TRIs
5.  Axel at Iron Rogue
6.  Leyna at Mid-Pack Swim Bike Run
7.  Rebecca from Tri-ing the Best that I Can
8.  Davey & Jess from Two Tri Triathlon Training
9.  The Unexpected Runner
10.  Darilyn from Time to Just Get Moving

Go check them out!  And bloggers - here are YOUR questions to answer and pass on the award!

1.  What's your favorite workout and why?
2.  What motivates you?
3.  Looking back over your last year of training, what would you change and why?
4.  Favorite thing to do as a training reward
5.  How do you get yourself going again after a training "funk"?
6.  Hobbies outside of the athletic?
7.  Biggest challenge in training?
8.  Moment you are most proud of (could be athletic or not).
9.  Embarrassing workout story (be brave.....)
10.  What's your "Mt. Everest" goal?  What's keeping you from going after it?

Thank you again Lori and enjoy everyone!

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

Just when I'm having an off day and can't think of anything to write about (meaning that I've slept in the last 3 days and only ran a measly 3 miles), I get a nice surprise.  Sue at This Mama Runs for Cupcakes, one of my very favorite runner moms, nominated me for a Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award!

What is this?  Basically it's a nice way to recognize other bloggers that you follow and enjoy.  It meant a lot coming from Sue, as her blog is one of the first I ever started following when I began running.  I mean... cupcakes, hello???  Clearly we are sisters.  Someday she'll come around and like swimming and biking too....

There are a few rules:

1.  Post the logo on your blog.
2.  Thank the person who nominated you.  (Sue you rock thank you thank you!!)
3.  Answer the questions.  (see below)
4.  Choose 10 or so other ladies who blog as YOUR nominees.  (Sorry Sheriff - it says ladies.  I'll sneak in a reference to your awesome blog anyway.)
5.  Post the links to the nominees and notify them on your blog.

Without further ado... here's my Q&A.  Though really, these questions are pretty tame.  You can ask me more in the comments.  I'll probably answer just about anything.

What is your favorite color?

Blue.  No, AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ok fine.  It's green.  For growing things.  Or maybe blue like the ocean.  But the ocean is also grey, so... any color the ocean can be.  Those sunsets where the water looks pink are nice too.  Ok next question.

Favorite animal? 

Duh.  Whoever hasn't noticed my fascination and tendency to take way too many pictures of my cats just hasn't been paying attention.  Heck in writing this post I had about ten pictures to choose from on my phone that I've taken in the last few days.  Ok fine since you asked here's some more.....

My to favorite speedbumps

If we are talking non-specific animal, as in a type, I am quite fond of toothed cetaceans.  (That means whales with teeth and dolphins in geek speak).  Not in the Flipper-hugging, moonstone chanting way, but appreciation of these complex, intelligent and very social animals who have taken a very weird backward road of evolution.  I actually did my first Master's on dolphin skeletal anatomy, and spent a summer out in British Columbia volunteering on a research study of killer whale vocalizations.  Very interesting stuff.

Favorite non-alcoholic drink

Nuun, if consumed at any point 24 hours before or after working out.  Which is pretty much always.  After over a year my stomach is still waiting for me to knock it off with this whole exercise bit (see - even my internal organs have stubbornness issues), and keeping my blood sugar and electrolytes happy makes it happier.

Facebook or Twitter?  

Facebook.  After building my cake business, largely through our page, I feel like I know all its eccentricities (even though they change every month).  Twitter is a black box.  Someone please teach me.  

See how I sneaked a link to my bakery facebook page in there?  Toldja I was good....

Favorite pattern

Really?  This is a question?  Does the inside of my eyelids count?  Or are we trying to get into how obsessive I am by analyzing how geometric my favorite pattern is?  I'm sure there's a Zimbio quiz for this... I'll get back to you.

Favorite number?

This question makes me laugh today.  You see, I am usually pretty good with numbers.  Remembering them, that is.  Until very recently I could still recite the SKU# of all the Black North Face Denali jackets from my post-grad school days working at Eastern Mountain Sports.  (Yes folks, studying dolphins does NOT get you a real job).  I can will always still remember that the code for bananas at the grocery store is #4011.  

But today, I am exhausted.  My daughter is sick with a cough.  Not life-threatening, but enough that no one in this house has gotten sleep in three days.  This morning I went to Walgreens to get her more medicine and apple juice, I got to the register, swiped my debit card, and..... nothing.  Whatever cluster of brain cells that used to hold my pin number, the number I use every single day, has apparently died of sleep deprivation.  Because I cannot remember to save my life.  So that would be my favorite number.  If I could remember it....

Favorite flower

Forget-me-nots.  These tiny blue and purple flowers grow wild in Oregon, where I was born.  My parents and grandparents used to take me to feed the ducks in the many rhododendron gardens in and around Portland.  These gardens are indescribably beautiful.  Rhodies grow four six ten feet tall, but from my two-foot tall, three-year old vantage point, I saw the forget-me-nots much more.  I always associate them with those cherished early childhood days, and with my grandparents who have since passed away.

What is your passion?

Oh man.  Now this is a question.  One that I struggle with.  There are two sides to the coin that is me - on one hand, I have a lot of hobbies, interests, and issues I feel strongly about.  Fitness, creativity, music, art, and the outdoors.  Wildlife and conserving our natural heritage.  Nutrition, specifically how it relates to mental health and obesity in our population.  Reducing the stigma around mental illnesses and empowering more people to seek help for these debilitating conditions.  On the other hand, all this means that I've never settled on one all-consuming thing that brings meaning to me.  I tend to bounce through phases in life - never spending more than a year or two on any one thing.  Sometimes I feel like this is great because it brings variety into my life.  Sometimes I envy that single-minded passion in others.  I don't think I'm likely to change though, so for now I'm happy fighting whatever battle is foremost in my mind - even if that battle is on multiple fronts.

Now that you know more about me, here are some of the blogs that I follow regularly, and why I like them:

• Cara @ Cara's Cravings.  This girl can cook.  Oh my goodness.  A guru on all things clean eating, including recipes for her (and my) wicked sweet tooth, I have yet to try anything of hers that isn't divine.
• Jessie @ No Cigarettes No Bologna.  She writes more honestly about marriage and parenthood than any other blog I've ever read.  Makes me cry with nearly every post.
• Cynthia @ You Signed Up for What?  The name alone got me.  She is funny... she is a music geek too... and she also has the nasty habit of signing up for triathlons and other exercises in group stupidity.
• Meredith @ Swim Bike Mom.  The Queen of all beginner triathlete woman, this girl is seriously inspirational, wickedly funny, and has more jobs that I do.  Which I always respect.  Now go read her blog (or her book) to find out why me calling her "The Queen" is funny.
• Karen @ Trading In My Heels.  Karen is the type of runner I hope to be someday.  Fast, confident, always looking well put together.  Although there was an incident with her bike and a squirrel that was very disturbing....
• Courtney @ The Trigirl Chronicles.  Courtney is from near where I grew up (bonus), but also has great tenacity.  Her workouts inspire me to get my sometimes lazy self out the door and into the cold (or similar excuse).

Go check out these girls if you haven't already!