On My First Blogoversary, My Blog Buds Gave To Me

On my first blogoversary, my blog buds gave to me: FIVE BLOG AWARDS (that I didn't have before)!

Ok, to be honest, I've been holding on to a couple of these for a while so that I could astound you on my blogoversary with just how awesome Aria'z Ink is. I've been going for a year, and I'm so thankful for all of my followers and the many comments I've had over this year. I thank you for showing up at all, never mind coming back more than once!

With this post, I'd like to thank all of you that decided that I was worthy of awards. I'm grateful and still kind of shocked that y'all keep being totally snookered thinking I'm deserving. I do want to apologize though. When I envisioned this day, a few months back, I didn't foresee hubby's unemployment. I wanted to give y'all something to show my appreciation... so, in light of recent economic events, I'll just have to give you what I give best... posts... Two, instead of the usual one. And since I'm a big fan of sharing my cheesecake and being lazy at the same time, I have added each and every single blog that I follow to my blogroll. I enjoy you all in your many different ways. If, then, you are on my blogroll, please feel free to take any and all of the awards here that you want, and I'd love a linkback if you can cause my rankings are sinking like a stone, but if you don't that's cool, I'm not gonna send Mister Jedi Mousy after you to get 'em back or anything...

God Bless, and thanks again y'all for showing up!

And a special thank you to all of these award givers:

"C" a.k.a. Wonder Wifey for the Interesting Blog Award


Stacy for the One Lovely Blog Award



Myra for the Most Wonderful Favorite Award: “These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.”


And The Bee for A Lovely Blog Award and the Best Blog Award.





Thank you all ~ Free Refills for Life!

Smart and Worth Reading, Are You Talkin' To Me?

I've received the Smart Blogger award and the Worth Reading award, and I didn't have to steal either one... Honest! Joan at The Retirement Chronicles bestowed both awards on me over the past few days... in part because she's racking up followers and awards at an nauseating astounding rate. Not surprising because she's funny, she's easy to read, she's got great pictures, and she's following her passion which people can tell with one post, so they're flocking to her. I'd be uber-jealous, but she's so cool, that I'm genuinely happy for her. I was tapped by Ms. Joan back in December for some advice, and she's never ever forgotten it, so I was super lucky cause I was wearing my Nice Hat that day and managed to garner her favor. Honestly, y'all, I don't know how many of you are reading me that don't read The Retirement Chronicles, but if you aren't, your loss. And I don't mean that snarkily, I mean it honestly... You Are Loosing Out cause you'll really enjoy the read if you head on over there.

And now onto my bling *winkwink* (you have to say bling like the mom in Transformers or it's not really bling. That's my story... you know the rest of the line)





This award is known as the "Worth Following" Award! This award, as the name suggests, is given to blogs that you would highly recommend to other readers. Give this award to three of your favorite blogs, ones you make a point of reading as often as possible!

When you nominate them, you have to write a short description (just a few sentences) about the blog and why you are nominating the blog. Link to each of your choices, as well as the the blog that nominated you!





1. Link the one who gave this award and let them know you posted it.
2. Pass this to as many Smart Bloggers as you can think of and make sure to write something about them (like why you think they are a Smart Blogger).
3. Let them know they have an award by dropping them a comment on their blog.


OK, and the newly awarded (y'all get both awards!) are:

Brittany at Barefoot Foodie. Brittany has recently changed over her entire layout and moved over to WP, but the writing is as fantastic as ever... In fact, it's almost too good... slightly intimidating for other blog authors. Intimidation factor aside, she's the reason I added a blogroll when I first started. A must read.

Jen at jennsylvania. Jen is a well known author. She has another book tour coming up for another book that's coming out. I love her blog for it's wit and great writing. It isn't super consistent cause, let's face it, who would be consistent with book tours and publishing commitments going on... but when she does post, it's a great read.

Captain Dumbass at Us and Them. Yes, that's really what he posts under, I'm not being a bitch. for a change He cracks me up and he's the HE part in the He Blogs/She Blogs series. Also, right now, (till Friday) he's got an Eden giveaway going on, so head on over!

Kreativ and Passionate

I'd like to say, thank you to Joan at The Retirement Chronicles and Military Momz both of whom gave me this award...



And thanks again Joan for this award


Neither of which I had before... So, awesome, cause I love awards, even if I don't post them immediately...

For the Kreativ Bloggers Award, you are supposed to name 7 other bloggers to give the award to. In addition, the award winner must list seven things they really like.

So for my Kreativ 7 things that I really like...

1. Coffee. Love it. Cannot go without it. Can be very not-nice until I've had some, so I love it on both a psychological and a physical level.

2. Writing. Love it. Cannot go for long without doing it. I talk in my head about things like I'm posting when I'm not engaged in conversation. And when I am in conversation, sometimes I take notes so I can blog it later... this is rare I swear... usually I just remember it without taking notes...

3. My Kids. Not only do I love them, but I like them too. Somehow, despite myself, they're great people. I am honored to have them in my life ~ even on the days when one of them makes me crazy... cause I realize that 'make parents crazy' is part of their job description.

4. Architecture. Building design intrigues me, soothes me, and ignites my imagination. The Frick Museum in NYC is my fave cause it combines great architecture with an amazing art collection. If you like either of these things and happen to be in the area... Go. Today. And bask in the knowledge that I'm envious of your visit.

5. Movies. Everything but scary ones can get me to sit immobile for hours. And comedies are my lifeblood... although now that Daniel Craig is James Bond... (pause for yum factor) I'm enjoying Bond flicks more and more.

6. Housework. Yeah, I know you're rubbing your eyes, rereading this one, and thinking that you want to be on the drugs I must be taking. Let me clarify. I almost never enjoy the actual DOING of the housework. But when it's all done, I have a sense of accomplishment, and when I'm all cleaned up from cleaning up, and I sit down and look around at our nice clean home, I kinda get the warm-fuzzies.

7. Sleeping. This is probably because I'm not getting to much sleep time in these days. Since the munchkin started bouncing out of his 'cell' and opening doors, I have to stand watch every night until he's asleep so that he doesn't go in and wake up Daddy... which he totally will, cause he's a Daddy's Boy and Daddy needs to get up and put in a 12 hour day 5 days a week, so I play Living Room Goalie to keep the boy from going any further up the hall than the living room. Currently, I'm rocking a max of 5 hours sleep a night cause I've given birth to the Energizer Bunny on meth.

Ok, that's seven... and as far as awarding them to others... If you're on the blog roll, or if I follow your blog, but you aren't on the blog roll; please, by all means, help yourself to either one or both of them... You're worthy cause I don't follow or blogroll crap.

Sharing My Cheesecake

Getting back to some semblance of normal. My Girl went home last week... don't get me started.

My blog reconstruct is complete enough for me to not have nightmares about it [just a note here, if you're looking for your badge or networking reciprocal link ~ it may have been moved, check Relating (for social networking) or It's Just Business (for directory buttons) pages]... now I just have to update all my listings so they know where to find the links so they quit dinging me on my rankings... Just when you think you're done, you realize how much more you have left to do (true of website and home ownership)...

And soon, really really soon now I can relax and just write for y'all, and visit and comment on your blogs, and answer comments here, and drink coffee from my new birthday giftie from Jos ~ a completely customized, by My Girl, 20oz coffee mug (perfect size) ~ and yes, I've given up the pink-shit cause I don't want this mug to die.

I also replaced my RAM with the help of our friend Don, who I've mentioned before cause he lives and breathes computers, I especially want to thank him cause I woke him up Saturday morning for the specs I suck sometimes too and am now rocking 1 gig... mind you it's been raining and foggy and even with a new external modem I'm only pulling a top speed of 21K out of my phone line... but that's to be expected with country living so I've learned.

Anyway, now that all the excitement and upheaval and other life-stuffs are behind me for now (they'll totally come up again, but hopefully not all at the same time; crossing fingers) I want to thank three blog authors for giving me awards while my head was up my ass so I didn't even acknowledge getting them cause I suck so much sometimes.

Thank you Pehpot of Make or Break and Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts and Joan of The Retirement Chronicles for all bestowing upon me the same award... Does this make my blog Triple-Uber-Amazing?




Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award is a blog award given to sites who:

~ inspire you

~ make you smile and laugh

~ or maybe give amazing information

~ a great read

~ has an amazing design

~ and any other reason you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

* Copy the badge and put the logo on your blog sidebar or post.

* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!

* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.

* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

* Come back and comment here so that your link could be added to the master list of awardees.

My list of Uber-Amazing Recipients:


1stopmom
In Pursuit of Fulfillment
70 Plus and Still Kicking
jill jill bo bill
Pearl, why you little...
Mama's Losin' It

And Kaye of RandomWAHMThoughts also gave me the Friends Award... So thank you again, Kaye!




These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to those bloggers who must choose at least 5 more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Friends Award Recipients:
Same list as above
AND ADD

Make or Break
The Retirement Chronicles
Cheaper Than Therapy - Musings of The Mom Jen
Barefoot Foodie
[zany life + crazy faith]
The Greer 5

Congratulations Y'all... now go and pass 'em on, or as I call it ~ Share Your Cheesecake!

The Awards Ma'am and Nothing But The Awards

As prefaced in my last post, I was awarded two more blogging awards last week that I would like to accept and pass on. Unlike the Oscars, I will not be thanking everyone I ever met or worked with up to and including my cousin's-sister's-third-stepmother's-goldfish in my acceptance speech.

I would, however, like to thank Pehpot over there at Make or Break for giving me the Triple award.




Rules of the Award:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they have received this award by commenting
on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award


And The Retired One aka Joan at The Retirement Chronicles for bestowing upon me (and anyone who didn't have this award that was on her blog roll) the Noblesse Oblige award.




This Award is presented to bloggers who display consistency in any one or a combination of these conditions:
1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.
2. The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage and offers solutions.
3. There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture and Sciences and Beliefs.
4. The Blog is refreshing and creative.
5. The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps:
1. Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award.
2. The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post.
3. Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older Post to support.
4. The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions.
5. The Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.


As y'all are aware by now, I'm not (unless legally obliged) a big-time rule follower.

I will say, that this blog has achieved several things. I've illustrated in precise clarity how messed up my family can be. I've showed on numerous occasions that I'm an internal-disaster-area with a hair-trigger. I've illustrated how parenting is a task not suited to the meek. And how it's never to late to develop an interest in politics. Just don't do it while hopped up on sugar or caffeine.

Aside from that, for both awards ~ I am (totally stealing this awarding process from Joan at The Retirement Chronicles!) forwarding both of these awards to anyone on my blog roll that has yet to receive them. You're all awesome, and I'm tired of trying to give to as many as I can, even when some of you I'm so addicted to that I would give you every single solitary award I've gotten over and over again ~ (*ahem Barefoot Foodie!... and now the Bloggess... and 1StopMom... and... you get the point!)

Congratulations to me and any and all recipients. Great day to us all!

You Like Me... You Really, Really Like Me

So, I'm embarrassed to admit, that Kaye from RandomWAHMThoughts gave me the Cute's Blogger Award in December... those of you that have been reading for a while can imagine why I didn't feel up to posting it at the time (see category: on a pale horse ). It was, and is very appreciated. Thank you, Kaye!

Then, Friday, Joan from The Retirement Chronicles won her very first blogging award, the Honest Scrap award, which, in my opinion, is very well deserved! And, lo and behold, she passed it on to me! Thank you Joan!

After which, I could hold out no longer, I had to claim my awards and pass them on to those seriously deserving blogs I have found... I apologize for laggin' the world y'all, and I thank you for deeming me worthy, of two more awards ~ I feel so special, but to keep myself from getting a big head (in the bad way *wink, wink*) I'll only admit to being special in the short-bus sense...

Luckily for me, the terms of both awards are the same... 10 things about yourself and pass the award on to 10 people each... Well, I'm a three kind of girl, so I'm doing 9 and 9... I know, I'm a Maverick in a maverickey sort of way because it's my blog, and Yes I Can...

First of all, the skinny on me...

1. I hate getting on the down escalators. I don't know why, but I've been damaged in this capacity since childhood... to the extent of having strangers lift me and place me on one of the fully formed steps (at some mall) when I was like 5 years old. BTW, up escalators don't bother me in the least.

2. My spice cabinet is pathetic; consisting of only salt, pepper, garlic powder, poultry seasoning and cinnamon... and I'm pretty sure I'm out of garlic powder cause I've been grating cloves instead. If you haven't clued in yet, I'm a really plain eater.

3. The only John Wayne movie I can stand to watch is The Quiet Man. I own it, but can't sit through any other one... not sure why, just is.

4. I can not play video games. I totally suck. I was OK at Pong once-upon-a-time, but that last statement alone says it all.

5. I sing in my car when I'm alone. I know all the words, but couldn't carry a tune with a handle. I don't care. I sing loud and with feeling as if I'm singing to end world hunger. I envision myself on stage singing to the cheering throngs as I do this.

6. I have discovered the Flair application on Facebook, and am hopelessly addicted. Not surprising, because before I found Flair, I could get lost in the greeting card aisle for hours...

7. I am way better on paper. I can write a witty, funny, easy to read post from first letter to final publish in under three hours, but in person, I'm the one over in the corner, hardly talking to anyone, and when I do, it's rare that I'm in any way funny, witty or easy to understand.

8. I've had, and wear faithfully, the same sneakers for 5 years. They're from Payless of all places, and they're men's sneakers. I've looked, and been unable to find another pair that fit me properly... I wear a women's size 13 wide; it's either the men's shoes or the boxes at this point.

9. I talk to my sister at least 6 times a week. We're now closer than two sheets of toilet paper. When we were growing up, we fought constantly and never, ever though this time in our lives would come; even though we were told we'd be best friends someday.


OK, and now the good part ~ I'm passing these awards on to...

The Cute's Award

The Retirement Chronicles
Musings of a Barefoot Foodie
Angelika
1StopMom
Cheaper Than Therapy -- Musings of a Mom of Three
Happy Meals and Happy Hour
Carole's Thoughtful Spot
I Need A Martini Mom
Pearls of Wisdom


The Honest Scrap Award


RandomWAHMThoughts
Musings of a Barefoot Foodie
The Bloggess
Angelika
I Need A Martini Mom
Man in the Moon
Wit's Bitch
Becoming Mom
Postcards from the Edge

Congratulations and YAY YOU to all the winners... and for your "rules" tell us in list form some stuff about you, and hey, keep the ball rolling and pass 'em on to those you think deserving...

Someone Thinks I'm Great!

I was given three more awards this week (and it's only Wednesday--Yay Me!!!) so two bloggers think I'm great! OK, they may just like to read my stuff, and I mistakenly think I'm great cause they gave me awards... this is probably much closer to the truth, but tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner, I'm gonna go with the first story...

All three awards require:
1. Adding the award badge to your site.
2. Back linking the person who bestowed them upon you.
3. Passing them on to a maximum of 10 people.
4. Leaving newly awarded a comment on their blog, so they know about it!

I'm glad about the having to comment part, because there are a few of these blogs that I have been telling myself since Sunday that I need to get over to and catch up on... But it is Thanksgiving week; which will be the topic for the next post: Holidays Are No Vacation.

It is without further ado that I award ALL THREE of these awards to these blogs, cause the blogs and the bloggers behind them are just too cool to split up the awards; they literally deserve to receive them all...

The Lemonade Award
Which was awarded to me by Tricia at 1 Stop Mom

The Power Blogger Award
Which was awarded to me by Kaye at Random WAHM Thoughts

The Sparky Blogger Award
also presented to me by Tricia at 1 Stop Mom!

“This blog invests and believes, in ‘proximity’ [meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' - being close through proxy]. These blogs are all charming and they aim to show the marvels of friendship. Let’s give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to eight bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text.”

The Sparky Award comes with the text so the members of the Academy know exactly what they are winning for... Please pass it on along with the badge, newly awardeds...

"And the Winners Are..."
will you look at that Skippy-Jim, we have a 9 way tie!
(I'm a three girl, don't judge me for going over/under!)

Brittany at Musings of a Barefoot Foodie
who is totally my blogger hero, and I am one of her many blog-stalkers...

Judi at [zany life + crazy faith]

who took all of November and turned her blog over to guest posts... I get tired just thinking about all the work and non-ego that entails!

Pearl at Pearl, Why You Little...
who makes me laugh out loud and wake up my son & who posts damn near daily...WOW!

Jay at halftime lessons
for Mission Mondays as well as your writing & who also posts daily, I'm in awe of daily posters.

Jill at jill jill bo bill
who's hundred things post, right before vacation no less, had me in stitches!
Welcome back, btw.

Deb at Dirty Socks and Pizza
who is so easy to read, is in on Mission Mondays with Jay, and totally cracks me up...

HappyHourSue at Happy Meals & Happy Hour
who I only read once a week now, because Depends are really expensive.

texasholly at June Cleaver Nirvana
who is a low maintenance girl doing battle with a toddler, I am SO with you!

Eve at thatsfunnybecause
who I can only read on the same days as Sue, the dialogue is priceless!

Congratulations Ladies and Gentleman...
It is my pleasure and honor to award you for you're GREATNESS!

In your honor the blog roll below reflects ONLY your blogs--
along with 1 Stop Mom for awarding me FOUR awards this year.

*If you were on the blog roll prior to this post, I will put you back on the list on December 1st.

Tagged and Awarded!

So, in my post Hormone Hell and Thank You, I thanked 1 Stop Mom for making my day by Tagging me and giving me TWO blog awards.

I have been racking my brain to come up with 10 new blogs to award, and 7 to tag... Truth is, I simply don't have that many yet that I love to the point of awarding... So, I have decided to award and Tag those that I really love to read, whatever that number may be, and reserve the right to tag and award any in the future that I deem worthy to come up to my "quota" of 10 per award and 7 to tag.

The rules set forth for the Butterfly Award ( it did catch my attention that the grammar at the bottom is completely incorrect, but it's nice to be awarded anyway!)


And the I Love Your Blog Award

are the same, and simple...

1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate 10 other blogs
4. Tell the nominees they've been awarded.

That's it! Easy, right?

As for the "tagged" part, it's also fairly simple...

1. List 7 random/weird things about yourself
2. Link back to whomever tagged you
3. Tag 7 more people
4. Tell the tag-ees they've been tagged

As 1 Stop Mom gave me all three of these distinctions, the link back part, for me, is very easy...
Thank you again, 1 Stop Mom! I am honored to be included in your list, period, and more-so because I've only been blogging for 5 months.


Seven Things About Me...

1. I used to edit my girlfriends' English papers during free time in our Beauty Culture Vocational Class.

2. I was listed in the 1987-1988 edition of "Who's Who in Mathematics"

3. I went to 3 different high schools in 4 years.

4. My first husband asked me out for 6 months before I said, "yes".

5. I met my current husband in an astrology chat room on Yahoo.

6. My son and I are both born at the same time to the minute, (including time change) on 3/6 and are exactly 36 years apart.

7. I am a born and raised Jersey Girl, and cannot stand Springsteen--except for that one song; Jersey Girl.


OK, so I am Awarding both the Butterfly and the I Love Your Blog awards to these blogs and Tagging their owners, because I read them regularly and enjoy them enough to award and tag them... As I stated earlier, I reserve the right to finish the 7 tags and 10 each awards as I find other blogs I deem worthy... Here are the first 5 to make the list...

Congratulations and Great Day TO:

Musings of a Barefoot Foodie

The Husband Blog

[zany life + crazy faith]

Per Se

thatsfunnybecause

Yes, they're also all on my blog roll, but I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't love em too...