I am absolutely speechless. Seriously, I’m sitting here with my hands over the keyboard trying to figure out what to type! I can’t express to you just how much it means to me to receive these awards. I am so honored to be recognized by my fellow bloggers. All of you are so wonderful and talented, so, to be recognized like this is truly awesome. Thank you so much!!!

Before we continue with the awards, I wanted to find a way to say thank you to my nominators as well as each and every person who reads my blogs. You all know how much I like sharing videos. So as my way of saying thank you, I found a wonderfully touching song and video called “Grateful: a love song to the word.” By: Empty Hands Music, which is a non-profit organization. Empty Hands Music creates free music as a gift to the world. Here’s a bit about them:

Empty Hands Music’s mission: is to spread seeds of goodness in the world through selfless service, music, and love. All of Empty Hands Music’s offerings are gifts to the world. Empty Hands is a 501c3 US-based Non-Profit, 100% Gift offering with an intention to spread seeds of goodness through its music, events & sharings all across the world, as well as through its grassroots, arts-based service work from the Gandhi Ashram, for underprivileged children in the slums of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

They are an amazing organization. As you watch the video, you’ll see a link, where you can download their 10 song album for free. I hope you watch and enjoy the song before reading on. It is truly a lovely and touching song. You can almost feel the love and gratefulness emanating from the video. (video is 4:57). I’d love to hear your thoughts! ENJOY! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!

Ok, on with the show!! (This will be a bit long, I’ll try to keep it brief!-bare with me)

Mystery Blogger Award

RULES:

• Display Award Logo On Blog
• List The Rules
• Mention Creator Of Award & Provide A Link
• Thank The Blogger(s) Who Nominated You & Provide A Link
• Say 3 Things About Yourself
• Nominate From 10 To 20 Bloggers
• Notify Nominated Bloggers By Leaving A Comment On Their Blog
• Answer 5 Questions From Nominee
• Write 5 Questions For Your Nominees
• Share Your Best Post

This award was created by Okoto Enigma to give unseen bloggers a chance to show yourself a world.

 Knowing where it came from and why it was started makes me humbled and honored to have been chosen by two of my favorite bloggers. The first person to nominate me was Smiling Dreamer , who is a teenager from Egypt, known for her witty writing and creative use of GIF’s in her blogs. Here’s what she says about herself:

Hey There! I’m Smiling Dreamer – a teen just like any other who comes from Egypt. It feels like that I’ve been forever thinking of the possibility of creating my own blog…and here I am! Just so you know, this isn’t a topic-wise blog. I’ll be writing about everything & anything – but I’ll promise it’d be interesting

And she has kept her promise. Every blog she writes is interesting and fun to read. She recently took a week off for exams and I can honestly say, I missed reading her blogs. No matter how bad my mood is, she always makes me smile. You absolutely need to check out her blog! So, Smiling Dreamer these GIF’s are in honor of you! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

 The second phenomenal blogger to nominate me for this award is Dinosaurs, Donkeys and MS. She is a 27 year old actor and teacher from England. She creatively uses Dizzy the Donkey to talk about being diagnosed and living with Multiple Sclerosis. She posts information about MS, her struggles with MS, recipes, relaxation and exercising info. Here’s a bit about Dizzy:

She is an amazing writer with many wonderful posts. I love the recipes she includes in her blogs, anything from kale chips to vegan cheesecake. Her posts on dealing with MS contain great and helpful information. She discusses things such coping with anxiety, and dealing with denial. You MUST check her out!! Dinosaurs, Donkeys and MS THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!

1.  I love horses-but have never owned one
2. My ultimate bucket list destination is Antarctica
3. I have 2 sons-21 and 16

MY MYSTERY BLOGGER NOMINEES (Due to the number of awards, there will only be 6 nominees for each award)

1. Three Gallons of Crazy
2. Low FODMAP Works
3. Minnesota Yogini
4. Kool Kosher Kitchen
5. OM Project Blog
6. Health Hustle

SMILING DREAMER’S QUESTIONS

1. What is 1 question you hate to answer? QUESTION #4–That’s hard!!!!
2. Are you usually late, early or right on time? Early. I was taught if you’re on time, you’re late.
3. What are the top 3 apps you use on your phone? WordPress, Instagram, Facebook
4. If you could be any age in a week, what age would it be and why? probably 25 yrs old-Healthy, vibrant and just wise enough not to do too many dumb things. 🙂
5.  What’s the worst punishment you had as a child? I was once grounded for a month because of my school grades.

BEST POST-One I just posted “The Real Truth About Baby Carrots”. This post has received the most comments by far.

QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES:

1. If you could have one (just one!) super hero power what would it be and why?
2. If you could only eat 1 food for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?
3. If you could meet 1 person, living or dead, who and why?
4. What is your favorite quote and why?
5. If you had a chance to be a colonist on Mars, would you go (Knowing you’d never come back)? Why or Why not?

Lovely Blogger Award

7 FACTS ABOUT MYSELF

1. I used to work as a mortgage officer at a credit union
2. I plan on doing my Masters Thesis on Brain Nutrition
3. I went to a Catholic High School
4. I dream of one day owning a cabin in the mountains
5. I wish to start my own Non-Profit one day
6. My goal is to travel to all 7 continents
7. I used to work as a special education teacher on an Indian Reservation

MY NOMINEES FOR THE ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD

1. Princess of Paperback
2. Capture the Moment in the Woods
3. Everyone Feels It
4. Devise, Create, Concoct
5. Mrs. Twinkle: My Little World
6. Chasing Kites in Neverland

The Versatile Blogger Award

1. I LOVE to read
2. One of my all time favorite movies is THE OUTSIDERS
3. I am taking cooking classes with my 16 year old son
4. One of my favorite TV shows is THE GILMORE GIRLS
5. I must have butter on my popcorn
6. I have a severe allergy to gluten
7. I used to be a waitress in a Chinese restaurant

MY VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD NOMINEES

1. Yoga with Surjot Kaur
2. Electric Blue Food
3. In the Autumn of my Life
4. L.E.E. Bakers
5. Avolicious
6. The Nomad Gem

Blogger Recognition Award

RULES!

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
2. Write a post to show your award.
3. Give a brief story of how your blog started.
4. Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers.
5. Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to.
6. Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them & provide the link to the post you created.-In other words-let them know they’ve been nominated

This was another double nomination. The first blogger to nominate me is Lean Sixteen. Lean Sixteen is written by Emma, a 16 year old fitness and foodie fanatic. With her concern about nutrition and fitness, and being only 16, Emma has a somewhat unique viewpoint from most people her age. Here is a bit from her on why she blogs:

I have started this blog to share what I have learned when it comes to fitness, food and just about all else. This blog is dedicated to making healthier and happier easy! From workouts, recipes, sportswear advice and how too’s, I hope this blog has something that helps you…

If you are interested in anything related to fitness and health, you should check out Emma’s blog. She has a clear and descriptive writing style, that brings you right into her articles. These articles include topics from fitness fashion and ways to stay fit, to healthy meal plans and shopping carts. Absolutely check her out. Emma– THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE NOMINATION!!

The second person to nominate me was DINOSAURS, DONKEYS AND MS. I am so extremely grateful for your kindness. It means so much to me that you have nominated me for these awards.

Give a brief story of how your blog started.–I started this blog the summer of 2015, when I wrote my first blog. I started it just prior to beginning work on my MS in holistic nutrition. However, I was so scared to write any more, that I waited almost 1 1/2 to write my second blog. But, I’m so glad I did. I absolutely found my new passion. I just love writing and blogging.

Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers 

1. Network with other bloggers.-This is so important. You can’t just post a blog and sit back and wait for people to find you. A few may trickle in this way, but, not many. If you really want your blog to grow, you need to get out there. FOLLOW OTHERS-they’ll be more likely to follow you. LIKE and COMMENT ON OTHER ARTICLES- This helps support the other bloggers and will also get you noticed. REBLOG/REPOST-There is no better way to support others than to reblog/repost their content. Once again, it helps you AND them. It’s a win-win
2. BE YOURSELF!!!!!!!!!!-  I seriously can’t stress this enough. You will automatically stand out if you are yourself. I’ve said it before, but it bares repeating: you are the only you in the entire universe. You don’t get any more unique than that. Part of why I love blogging so much is I get to be myself. It’s a BLAST! In so many other parts of my life, I don’t feel as if I can truly be myself. But, when I blog I can. Your blog will start to stand out for it’s uniqueness if you are TRULY and ABSOLUTELY YOURSELF. 

MY NOMINEES FOR THE BLOGGER RECOGNITION AWARD:

I NOMINATE EVERYONE WHO HAS WON ONE OF THE OTHER THREE AWARDS  IN THIS BLOG ! HERE YOU ALL ARE!!

I ASK ALL NOMINEES TO PLEASE LEAVE YOUR AWARD ARTICLE LINKS IN THE COMMENT SECTION! THAT WAY OTHER’S CAN SEE IT AND IT’LL BE EASIER FOR ME TO FIND THEM!!! THANK YOU!

1. Three Gallons of Crazy
2. Low FODMAP Works
3. Minnesota Yogini
4. Kool Kosher Kitchen
5. OM Project Blog
6. Health Hustle
7. Princess of Paperback
8. Capture the Moment in the Woods
9. Everyone Feels It
10. Devise, Create, Concoct
11. Mrs. Twinkle: My Little World
12. Chasing Kites in Neverland
13. Yoga with Surjot Kaur
14. Electric Blue Food
15. In the Autumn of my Life
16. L.E.E. Bakers
17. Avolicious
18. The Nomad Gem