Leibster Award

My friend Chelsea over at The Perfect Catch informed me that she had nominated me for the Leibster Award - an award given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. Well I sure don't think I am "up and coming", but I know I have less than 200 followers and it seemed like a fun thing to answer the questions so here I go... :-)

The Rules!

Each person must post 11 facts about themselves

..and answer the 11 questions that are tagged for them

...and list the 11 bloggers you nominate

...and make up your own 11 questions to ask your nominees

Facts about me:
1. I believe your marriage is the single most imporant earthly relationship you can have and fortunately mine is with someone that I truly respect, love, and cherish.
2. I don't know how to relax.
3. We are moving to Norway around November for work and I couldn't be more excited about the opportunities to travel and be outdoorsy again!
4. I love to cook.
5. I'm a nerdy engineer who loves to organize things. My absolute favorite is unpacking. Call me if you need help with that. ;-)
6. We have a garden where we grow zucchini, squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, beans, lots of herbs, cucumbers, carrots, corn and most recently Japanese hullless popcorn that you pop on the stove top like in the olden days. It's the most delcious thing ever!
7. I have two cats, one of which has ADD.
8. I am missing 4 toenails right now because of a 4-day, 45 mile hike we did to Machu Picchu in June.
9. I've run 2 marathons and done the MS 150 (a 2-day, 170 mile ride from Houston to Austin) twice.
10. I'm addicted to almost everything on HGTV and the Food Network and plan to nominate ourselves for House Hunters International (you know it's staged, right?).
11. I judge cakes/cupcakes by their icing and have been known to eat just the icing and leave the cake for my husband...which he does not appreciate.

Questions for me:
1. How/why did you start blogging? I started blogging July 2010 as a way to document our adventures and share them with our family spread across the US.
2. How do you cheer yourself up after a bad day? Working out. Or ice cream. I realize those are counterproductive...
3. Favorite book or author? Bible, multiple authors.
4. Favorite musician/singer? Fail. I was hoping Chelsea wouldn't ask this one after I started accidentally answering her "Questions for me" section... um, Spice Girls? They are a classic! ;-)
5. Beauty product you can't live without? Mascara.
6. What is one of your pet peeves? Not closing things - doors, cabinets, drawers, etc.
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Bora Bora.
8. What would you tell a younger you? Talk less, listen more. Still applicable today!
9. What was your first job after college and are you still doing it? Petroleum engineer for ConocoPhillips and yep, still doing it.
10. Favorite flower? Any that's bought on sale and given to me (they die too quickly otherwise!).
11. What would your theme song be? I'm Sexy and I Know It. Wait, that's Jason's! .

My nominees:
1. Nikki, The Structure of Spontaneity
2. Maryam, The Schellstedes
3. Emily, Home on the Range
4. Teriann, Life with the Tidwells
5. Caitlyn, Blessed Blog
6. Stephanie, Life's Little Blessings The Greenes
7. Trisha, The Four Frogs
8. Chelsea, Two Plus One
9. Lynne, Lynne's MedBlog
10. KiKi, I Still Hate Pickles
11. Brittney, A Short Stack

The questions for my nominees:
1. What is the best advice you've ever been given?
2. What is your favorite dessert?
3. What is the average length of a swallow?
4. Favorite musician/singer?
5. How do you relax?
6. What is your favorite movie/TV show?
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
8. What is one of your pet peeves?
9. What special or unique talent do you have?
10. Did you attend college? If so, what was your major?
11. What is one thing you hope to accomplish in the future?