Blog Roll

Today’s #blogging101 assignment was to create a blog roll and share it.  Again, this was something I had done years ago, so I decided to go through my blog roll and edit out people that I don’t really keep up with or follow anymore.  I’m still subscribed to their blogs, but they either haven’t posted in a long time, or we just really lost touch.  I have a few new followers that I am also following and am hoping to add them to the list soon.  For now I like having my blog roll located on my sidebar, but if it gets bigger, I would consider making it have its own page.

Let me know if you would like to be added to my blog roll.  I’m looking for blogs that are similar to mine and/or bloggers that will be continuing to read my blog, provide comments and feedback and overall encouragement.

Howdy Neighbor

Today’s blogging101 challenge is to “meet the neighbors”. As in, make new blogging friends. The tasks are to follow 5 new topics and 5 new blogs.The idea behind these tasks is that blogging is communal. I’ve already been working on those tasks the last couple of days since this challenge started. I’ve gained some new followers and have found some new blogs to follow myself. Topics and blogs that I tend to gravitate towards focus on family, photography, cooking, DIY/crafts, and those where the author just shares about their life.

Part of what makes blogging such a rich experience are the relationships we develop with people from around the world. Those relationships only happen when we engage with one another. Plus, reaching out to other bloggers is the best way to have them return the favor.

That being said, it reminds me of 2010 when I first started my blog, and the team at WordPress put out the idea of “blog buddies”. Basically the same idea; you find some blogs to follow, make friends, read and comment on each other’s posts. It was a great way to meet fellow bloggers, learn about new things, get feedback on your writing, keeping you accountable for writing your posts, etc. If anyone is interested in being a blog buddy, let me know.

Ahhsome

My blogging buddy Sandi, over at ahhsome.wordpress.com, had put together a great community of her favorite bloggers, where they all support each other by reading and commenting on each other’s posts, and really just network and encourage each other.  We initially met in March of last year, I believe, as we were both doing the April A-Z Challenge (you should read all my A-Z challenge posts by clicking on the link under MILE MARKERS just over there on the right).  It turned out that we also had other blogging buddies in common as well.

This week, Sandi has welcomed me and my blog into the Ahhsome Community.  I got a great welcome mat, which I have placed on my right side bar, and you can click it to read the Ahhsome post she did about me.  She also came up with a FABULOUSLY Ahhsome picture to represent my blog.  She designed it herself, incorporating all of the things she has learned about me so far, such as my love for shoes, Coach purses, sports and photography.  It is so cute I am posting here for you all to see:

I think she looks just like me….what do you think?

Thanks again Sandi for my official welcome into the Ahhsome Community AND for the great post you did.  For those of you who want to read it (because I think you should) and to check out Sandi’s blog, click here.

Scattegories

I found this game on my blog buddy Sharon’s blog and thought it would be fun to play along.  You just answer each topic with something using the first letter of your first name.  Since her name and mine start with the same letter, it will definitely be more challenging for me to not use her answers.  Hope you will play along:

Using the First Letter of your First Name, Answer:

First of all, Your Name: Stacey

A Color: Sapphire blue

A Place: Shopping mall

A Store: Saks 5th Avenue

A Street Name: Stewart St.

A Famous Female Celebrity: Sandra Bulluck

A Famous Male Celebrity: Stephen Moyer

A Band Name: Samsung

A Song Title: “Sweet Home Alabama

A Drink: Sangria

A Boy Name: Sam

A Girl Name: Sadie

A Car: Subaru

A Food: Stuffed Shells

Something found in the bathroom: Soap

Something found outside: Sun

Something you wear: Shoes (sorry Sharon…I have to keep this one 😉  )

A TV Show Title: Saturday Night Live

A Movie Title: Something Borrowed

A Holiday: St. Patrick’s Day

Something you find in the kitchen: Spoon

A Job Title: Secretary

A State: South Dakota

A Famous Landmark: Stonehenge

A Notorious Person: Steven King

A Mood: Silly

A Weapon of Choice: Shotgun

Something you shout: Shut up!

Reason for being late: Stuck in traffic

Book Title: Sense and Sensibility (Jane Austin)

 

My ABC’s

I stole this from my blogging buddy Sharon, who stole it from someone, who stole it from someone…lol. (Feel free to steal it from me and answer it in your own post).

 

A. Age: I’m in my 30’s but won’t tell you exactly.  But I pretend that I’m forever 27, at least for a little while longer, as I’m told I don’t look  in my 30’s, so I figured I can get away with it.

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore that you hate: Washing dishes and laundry

D. Dogs: don’t have any….but I prefer medium to large sized dogs and hope one day to have one.

E. Essential start to your day:  starts with a shower to wake up, followed by a protein shake

F. Favorite color:  red

G. Gold or Silver: white gold for nice jewelry.  For everyday wear, I tend to wear silver.

H. Height: 5’5″

I. Instruments you play:  in school I played the clarinet and bass clarinet.  I am currently learning how to play the native american flute for a flute circle we have at work.  we will be performing at our Christmas luncheon.

J. Job title:  Service Coordinator for developmentally disabled (basically like a social worker)

K. Kids: Not yet, but I want at least 2

L. Live: Los Angeles

M. Mother’s name: Sharon (not the Sharon I stole this from)

N. Nicknames: Stace, Cheese (only my sister calls me that)

O. Overnight hospital stays: surprisingly none

P. Pet peeves: liars, people that don’t keep their word, people who are late

Q. Quote from a movie:

1. Annie: You read my diary?
2. Brynn: At first, I did not know it was your diary. I thought it was a very sad, handwritten book.  (from Bridesmaids) – I hope people don’t think that when they read my blog posts…..

S. Siblings: 1 sister, she is 2 1/2 years younger, unless we are sticking with my forever 27 theory, then I am now 3 years younger 🙂

U. Underwear:  Yes, I wear it, and often it does not match.

V. Vegetable you hate: I love vegetables. I think the only one I don’t really care for is brussell sprouts.

W. What makes you run late: I am never late. I am usually early or right on time.  Since I have moved and now have to go with traffic in the morning to work, it has slowed me down and made me a little late.  I have tried leaving earlier and it does not make a difference.

X. X-Rays you’ve had:  My foot, my knee, my head, chest/lungs, back, dental..lol

Y. Yummy food that you make: I make a lot of mexican and italian foods.  I think my current favorite is chicken enchilladas.  you can also check out recipes on my SAVORY STUFF page.

Z. Zoo animal: giraffes and elephants.  I also like to see the lions, tigers and bears (oh my!).

Ask Me – Question 2

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s question in this series is “Who Inspires You?” which was from my blogging buddy  – Joss.

 

 

 

 

INSPIRE –verb (used with object)

1. to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence.

2. to produce or arouse (a feeling, thought, etc.): to inspireconfidence in others.

3. to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought, etc.

There are so many people that inspire me actually.  For starters, all of you, my readers and blog buddies.  I know for me it was hard to build up the confidence I needed to even start a blog, and then worry about who would read it, what they would think, what would people think about my posts, etc.  When the daily challenge put out a post about getting blog buddies, I started meeting many people who felt just like I did at one point or another, and yet, they continues to get past their fears, and bare their souls with each post. There are days that trying to find something to blog about are harder than others, but you all keep at it and in turn, inspire me to keep going as well.

Another source of inspiration to me have been some of the women I have met through my church.  I did not grow up in a Christian home and was never really taught much about religion.  I have met some amazing Godly women that have come along side of me and encouraged me and have been excellent models of Christ’s love and Christ-like behavior, showing me the kind of woman that I aspire to be like.

Finally, another source of inspiration for me comes from the clients that I work with.   I am a service coordinator/social worker for developmentally disabled young adults.  They are all diagnosed with mental retardation, autism, seizure disorders, or cerebral palsy.  Often they have multiple diagnosis and some are very medically fragile.  I have about 80 clients currently, and I see them all a couple times per year.  One part of my job is to constantly be reviewing their current situation and needs, and helping them set goals each year that they work on.   Most all of them have touched my heart in some way.  It is awesome to meet with them and see their progress, whether small or great, as they work towards their goals.  Some of them that are more high functioning, really have amazing dreams and desires and have such a determination to be as independent as possible.  They inspire me to be the best service coordinator I can be for them.

Thanks for the great question Joss.  Now I ask you all, who inspires you?

 

**This is part of a series I am doing where you, my wonderful readers, can ask me anything you want, whether in my comments section or using my BLOG THIS page.  I will then answer your question in a blog post and link back to your blog.**