Liebster Award!

I was just nominated for a Liebster Award by Elle from Lipstick & Lace. It was super sweet of her to nominate me, and you should all definitely go check out her blog! I'm also going to admit that my friend Amber from Book Geek Speaks also nominated me for a Liebster Award back in July (Oops!), but things got crazy busy and I never did my follow-up post.

The Liebster Award is for bloggers with under 300 followers and the rules of the award is that the nominee must link back to whoever awarded them, write 11 random facts about themselves, answer the 11 questions from the award giver, and then nominate another 11 bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer. It's a great way for new and undiscovered bloggers to meet new people, get more followers and find some blogs that they want to follow.   11 Random Facts   1. This will be the second year in a row that I have not put up a Christmas tree (unless you count the Charlie Brown Christmas tree my mom sent me).  2. My favorite type of pen is the Pentel RSVP with a fine tip. 3. I coach a high school color guard. 4. I started painting the downstairs hallway back in July, but it isn't finished yet (I said that life got away from me). 5. My fiance and I had a long-distance relationship for 5 1/2 years. 6. I recommend Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series to EVERYONE. 7. I make homemade toffee for the holidays because it has become a family tradition. 8. My fiance and I will have to drive around 13 hours in three days to attend back-to-back family Christmases that are on opposite sides of the state. 9. I live so close to where I work that I have gone a month on one tank of gas.  10. My home office is extremely messy at the moment.  11. I haven't gotten a haircut since February. I'm hoping to get one this week. 
11 Questions from Elle  
1. What inspired you to start blogging?   I love trying out and talking about beauty products, but I don't have any girlie friends to share my passion, so I figured blogging would be a way to share this interest with others.    2. What motivates you to continue blogging?   I am motivated to continue blogging by a lot of things. Honestly, I love seeing the number of GFC followers continue to go up. I love sharing about fantastic products I've found, and I love the challenge of constantly trying to improve.   3. What other hobbies do you have besides blogging?   I consider color guard a hobby. Even though I'm the coach, I don't really get paid for it, and I do it because I love it. I read all the time. I also occasionally enjoy doing cross stitch and crocheting.    4. What is the concept of your blog (e.g., is it makeup based, fashion based, life based, etc.)?   My blog is makeup based.   5. What is your dream job?   I would love to become a professional beauty blogger, but that's a stretch. If I'm dreaming a little more realistically, I would love to be able to continue to substitute teach while getting paid a full-time salary with benefits. Still not exactly realistic, but I would love it.   6. What's your favorite clothing store?   Hmmm....I can't really think of one favorite. I love my jeans from Old Navy. I love my dress pants from Maurices. I get a lot of my tops from Target.    7. What's your favorite makeup brand?   My favorite makeup brand would probably get Tarte.    8. What's your favorite color?   My favorite color would be teal.   9. What's your favorite number?   My favorite number is the number 22. I got to go to England for a week when I was in high school, and we had a crazy tour guide. When we would count off our numbers to make sure we had everyone, he would always finish it off with "Twen-ty TWO" in his fabulous British accent. It's been my favorite number ever since.   10. PC or Mac?   I would love a Mac, but I've got more of a PC budget.    11. What is on the top of your wish list right now?   Inglot or Makeup Geek eye shadows.    Questions from Amber    1.  Where is your favorite place to read?   I love curling up in bed to read after a long day.  
2. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?   I would probably go to France. I took French in high school, so I've always been a bit fascinated with France.
 
3.  How long have you been blogging?   I'll be having my one-year blogiversary on my blog on January 1.  
4. 3 things you would "magically" have with you if you were stranded (pretend food water and shelter are taken care of)   Okay...I'd want a working cell phone (that has GPS), a mode of transportation to get me back home, and someone else with me who is more capable than I am to help me get home. OR...if I'm not cheating, I would probably say a lifetime supply of lip balm, a lifetime supply of sunscreen, and a good wardrobe (I don't want to go naked or wear leaves).  
5.  What did you want to be when you grew up?   Most of time when I was growing up, I wanted to be a teacher.  
6. Favorite Movie?   Just one? Hmmm...I'm going to cheat again. I'm going to say The Three Musketeers (the one with Chris O'Donnell), Real Genius, and Lilo and Stitch. All three a fun movies, but, more importantly, I have fond memories connected to these movies.  
7.  Quick look! What is outside your window?   My blinds are closed, so I can't see anything. Odds are pretty good that I was see a squirrel running around though.  
8.  What are your hobbies?   See above.   
9.  Coffee or tea?   Sweet tea or a super sweet coffee drink.
 
10.  What is your dream job?   See above.  
11.  What is one thing you wish you could do?   I wish I could be a motivated person who jumps out of bed every morning, attacks the day, and gets a ton of stuff accomplished.      I nominate: 
Blush and Brunch Beauty and Fashion on a College Budget Blush Bug Random Drawers Swatch Soiree Blush and Barbells There's Always Time for Lipstick Beauty Infinitum Ellie Harper Fashionable Cents Gl0ssy   My Questions   1. How close to done are you with your holiday shopping? 2. What is at least one of your holy grail beauty products? 3. What is your favorite book? 4. Are you going to make any New Year's Resolutions? 5. When you are cooking at home, what is your favorite dinner to make? 6. Are you more interested in going to see The Hobbit or Les Miserables?  7. What is one wardrobe staple every woman should have in her closet?  8. What is your favorite healthy snack?  9. What is your favorite NON-healty snack? 10. Do you buy cheap or expensive watches and/or sunglasses? 11. How good are you at resisting sales?     Thanks again to Elle and Amber for nominating me!  

Blogger Appreciation Award

First of all I want to thank Shortylegsbeauty for giving me this award. Even though my blog it still really small, the positive feedback that I've received has made me feel amazing.

There are some rules for this award and they are:

1) Thank the person who gave you the award with a blog link on your post
2) Answer the following 4 questions
3) Award the Blogger Appreciation Award to as many readers/commenters/supporters/followers as you´d like
4) Let the blogger know you´ve awarded them, either by commenting on their blog or sending them an e-mail.

THE QUESTIONS ARE:

1) How long have you been blogging?  

I started my blog on January 1, 2012, so it is just over 3 months old. 

2) What are 1-2 reasons you started blogging?  

A blog seemed like a good way to put my obsession with makeup to good use. I get to share my passion, interact with a lot of wonderful people, and practice my writing skills with one activity.
 
3) What types of blogs do you like to follow/read? 

I mostly follow beauty blogs, but I have a couple of book and home blogs that I read as well.

4) What is 1 thing you would like to improve as a blogger on your blog? 

I'm going to cheat here and list more than one. The first thing has been one of my goals from the beginning. I want to improve the details that I include in reviews. I'm not very good yet at noticing little details about products, and I want to keep improving on that. I also want to get better about posting more regularly. AND...I want to figure out better lighting for my pictures. It isn't horrible lighting, but I want it to be a lot better.

THE AWARD GOES TO:

I'm passing this award on to:

Discovering Beauty at Discovering Beauty

Emi at Project Swatch

Kori at The Musings of an Awkward Panda

SilhouetteScreams at Silhouette Screams

Please check out these wonderful ladies! What other blogs should I check out? I'm awful about finding new ones, so I'd love some suggestions. 

Kreative Blogger Award

I was just awarded a Kreativ Blogger Award by Kori from The Musings of an Awkward Panda. Thanks Kori!

Rules for People I Award, if they choose to do it:

1. Link back to the person who gave you this award. 


2. Complete the form below/answer the questions.


3. Award ten other bloggers, and let them know.


4. Share seven random thoughts about yourself.

The form..

1. What is your favorite song? This is going to sound odd, but I don't have one. I enjoy so many songs and different songs at different times that I can't pick one.

2. Name your favorite desserts. Cheesecake, creme brulee, ice cream, cake...there are very few desserts that I don't like.

3. What ticks you off? When technology doesn't work correctly (like my printer). People who lie. A million other things that I can't think of right now.

4.When I'm upset I? Read. It takes enough focus that I can usually forget about what it bothering me for a little while. 

5.What's your favourite pet? Pets owned by other people. I love animals, but I don't want to deal with the mess, so I enjoy pets that other people own.

6.Black or white? black

7.Biggest fear? Not being successful (even though I have no idea how I would personally define being successful.).

8.Everyday attitude?It really depends on the day.

9.What is perfection? Something that doesn't exist. 

10.Guilty pleasure?  Cheesy romance novels - I know that they aren't exactly quality literature, but I like picking up books that I know will have a happy ending. 

Seven Random Facts: 

My fiance and I bought a house back in August. 

My hometown didn't get a gas station until I was in college.

I read the first 10 books in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series in one week.

I just got my first smartphone. 

My current job is substitute teaching.

I enjoy cross stitching.

My favorite meal to make for a low-key holiday with my fiance is carbonara.  

I am passing this award on to:

Swatch Storm

Jennifae's Beauty Blog

Darling Girl Cosmetics

Just Peachy

LipGlossFiend

Kookith

JennySueMakeup

Phyrra

Adventures in Beauty

Caribbean Beauty Blogger

Check them out!