Shine On | The Sunshine Award

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The lovely Mrs. Tee over at LoveLifeLaughter nominated me for me second Sunshine Award!  How awesome is that!

I’m a little behind on accepting my nomination, with having a baby and all, but I never forgot about it.  I’m totally stoked to have been nominated and be a recipient of the Sunshine Award.  Its another way to give recognition to fellow bloggers and pay it forward.

Mrs. Tee vlogged her acceptance, so I decided to follow suit and do so as well.  I really enjoy vlogging, and will totally be including more of it into my posts.  In the meantime, lets get to that award:

Here are my 11 Blogger Nominees for the Sunshine Award.  By accepting this award, you are building community, networking, and connecting…isn’t that what blogging’s all about?!  So go ahead and slap that award on your blog and shine that ray sun on your blog!

1.  Joy In The Midst Of

2.  Mail4Rosey

3.  A Peek Into My Paradise

4.  My Personal Accent

5.  The Jenny Evolution

6.  The Chic Stay at Home Mom

7.  The Lovely Photog

8.  Davenport DIY

9.  Your Writing Coach

10.  Hand and The Heart

11.  Patience In The Jungle

Sunshine Award Rules:

♥Thank and recognize your Nominating Blogger
♥Give 11 random facts about yourself
♥Answer the 11 questions given by your Nominating Blogger
♥Pick 11 Bloggers Nominees
♥Post 11 questions for your Nominees (you can not nominate your Nominating Blogger)

My 11 Nominee Questions:

1.  What is your favorite thing about blogging?

2.  Do you have a pet peeve?  If so what is it, and does it just drive you crazy or those around you too?

3.  Summer or Winter?

4.  Mountains or the Beach?

5.  If you had a million dollars, and 24 hrs to spend it in, how would you spend it?

6.  If you had to go one day without modern technology, how would you spend it?

7.  Would you rather be hot or cold, and why?

8.  What’s your favorite gemstone?

9.  What’s your favorite beverage (alcoholi/non-alcoholic)?

10.  If you could have your dream car, what kind would it be?

11.  Do you prefer to cook or eat out?

I’m so excited to hear/see your answers, so be sure to let me know of your acceptance!

xxoo,

NaBloPoMo | What’s In The Name?

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I go by the moniker Tenns.  I like it, its short and sweet and cuts down on confusion unlike my actual given first name.  My parent’s thought it was cool to name all of their kids fun, funky, unique names, because well it was the 80s and the thing to do.  My two brothers and I have all have very unique first names.  While they love theirs, I never really liked mines very much.  The older I get the more it grows on me, but I can’t say if I had a name to pick for myself that my first name would be it.  On the flipside, I feel like no other name would fit me better.  As much as I just wanted a common name growing up, I wouldn’t want one now and I’m glad I don’t have one.  I wasn’t JaneDoe #1, #2, or #3 in school, because everyone other little girl had that same name.  I seriously went to middle and high school with at least 5 Ashley’s or Brittany’s.  While those are very cute names, its was always Ashley A, B, or C, never just Ashley in school. There was always only one of me with my name, and I liked that.

This really came into play when it came to naming my son.  My husband really wanted a Jr., like really bad.  It meant a lot to him to give our son his name, even though I have never been a big fan of junioring a child, we did.  Hubs has a common first name and I was weary to give our son a name so common.  Although I didn’t want him to experience how I felt growing up, with disliking his name because it was unique, I also didn’t want the opposite.  Its  human nature to want what you can’t or don’t have, to think that the grass is greener on the other side.  As we all know it never is, so you just have to be content with what is.  That is pretty much where I’m at with my first name.  Plus, no one really calls me by my first name anyways, so I never really think about it anymore.

What about you? – Do you like your name?  Are you content with it or do you go by something else you prefer?  Do you think names say a lot about someone?

xxoo,

 

NaBloPoMo | Surrendering To Change

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I’d love to be cliché and say I would change nothing about myself, but that wouldn’t be true.  Since my blog is a space of integrity, even if it means baring my soul every now and then, I must come to you all honestly.  I’m human, so that means I’m imperfect, which in turn means that there are many things I would change about myself if I could.  In no way, however, does this mean I’m unhappy with myself.  I’m very happy, especially at this point in my life.  Every day I’m growing more and more into the woman I want to be.  As a mother, wife, daughter, sister, etc. I’m a better version of who I was when I was younger.

As I evolve in all of these areas, I expect change to occur.  I welcome change, although I don’t do well with uncertainty.  I have posted here and here, about my qualms with uncertainty.  I try my best to be as prepared as possible, but of course you can’t account for every single thing that happens in life.  I’m realizing this more and more since becoming a mother.  In the two weeks I’ve been one, I’ve already learned some pretty tough lessons.  Some of these lessons have hit me to my core, while others I’ve been able to take in stride.

I’ve experienced a huge change in my life, my marriage, and many of the relationships I have/had with family and friend recently.  I’d like to be able to accept these changes with an open, and if need be forgiving heart.  I have a pretty hard exterior, but a soft core.  While I wouldn’t change that about myself, I would like to work on keeping a better balance of the two.  Change will always occur, so if anything I would “change” or hope to change over time would be my ability to deal with it in the healthiest and drama-free way possible.

What would you change about yourself? Anything at all or are you completely content with who you are right now? – I’d love to hear your insight or experience!

xxoo,

 

 

My Writing Space

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My writing space is usually anywhere in my house that I can get comfortable.  Most of the time that means on the couch in my living room.  I do the bulk of my writing on my laptop, occasionally on my iPad, and seldom on my phone.  However, I have the WordPress app on both my iPad and iPhone in case I need to create a draft for a post idea or make a quick post.  When I write, I typically have the tv going in the background or I’m carrying on a conversation with my husband.  Since having my son, this has changed a little, because I’m having to cater to his needs.  Fortunately, but unfortunately he sleeps during the day, so that’s my prime for writing.

You may think why I wouldn’t choose a quite, serene space away from everything and everyone.  Well the thing is that I just don’t operate that way.  I like noise, light, and at least someone around at all times.  While I do enjoy alone time, I’d rather have some around, even if I’m busy.  I’m the ultimate multi-tasker that way.  I like to be stimulated visually and verbally, and on my couch in front of the tv, looking out my windows into the Virginia Highlands treeline behind my house does just that for me.

So of my best ideas come from what’s on the tv, a conversation with my husband, or gazing out of my living room windows.  I have a little bit of nature, some human interaction, and some entertainment value all in my writing space.  Its simply what works for me. – What works for you?  Do you have a dedicated writing space or alone space that you go to in order to get your thoughts out?

xxoo,

Who is your favorite character of all time?

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To be completely honest, I don’t have a single favorite character of all time.  I’m a huge movie buff, so I have tons of favorite characters from the many movies I love.  I’m more of a magazine reader than I am a book reader, with the exception of the Bible of course.  And when it comes to tv…well that’s pretty much right up there with movies.

I thought I’d show a few instead of one, since I have so many!   Seems fair, right?!

Ron Burgundy from Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy

This guy is absolutely hilarious in the worst way!  He’s frank, candid, and misogynistic to the fullest, but the poor guy doesn’t know any better.  The same things that make him so ridiculous, make him so likable and funny. Continue reading →

Motherhood | Life With A Newborn

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I’ve been a mother for a little over a week now and I have been loving it. Even through the sleepless nights and countless diapers changes, it has been wonderful!  Every time I look at my son’s (and yes…that feels good to say!) little face my heart melts.  Its not just the cute face with chubby cheeks, big brown eyes, and ear-pleasing coos that he makes, it’s the entire gravity of being a mother now.  I’ve always wanted children, for as long as I can remember!  I’m the youngest child in my family, so I never had the experience of seeing my mom pregnant or having a baby brother or sister.  Continue reading →